A cannabis plant. Photo from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service via Wikipedia
John Guenther urges Indian Country to study the harmful effects of marijuana, especially on youth:
I have been employed in many positions involving work with people impacted by marijuana. I have seen firsthand the destruction this drug causes. If you added up all the reasons for adolescents going to treatment—including alcohol—they would not equal the amount of adolescents going to treatment for just one drug alone, marijuana. Marijuana is a dangerous drug that impacts many tribal communities. There is now a push in our community to manufacture and distribute marijuana. Should we really be that easily influenced? I say we stand up against those who would influence tribal culture. Marijuana is not a harmless herb and it is not a traditional plant. We as NDN people have relied on our natural remedies, not foreign plants. This plant has been mutated with the intention to sell it to more individuals and it has more than doubled in potency. With alcohol, liquor stores are estimated to be in great abundance in minority communities than others at a rate of 7 to 1; it will be the same for marijuana, and I am concerned we will be targeted. As a possible cash crop, is this a sovereignty issue? Yes, and I would urge tribes to set up community meetings, and to study this drug very hard prior to allowing this to be grown commercially within our tribal communities. How would you even guard it? Would you have armed guards protecting your crop? There are many deaths due to marijuana growth, and sales; this would be a very dangerous venture. Nationally, marijuana is an illegal drug. Just because the laws are not being enforced does not mean that they will always be unenforced; this trend towards states attempting to pass laws in violation of the Federal law will end. In other words, a new Administration can come in and enforce Federal drug laws. A whole industry that was established will then need to be deconstructed and revenues could be seized as well as items purchased from the revenues. This could get very complicated for our nations and cause a great deal of legal and criminal proceedings. With heightened acceptance more and more youth are abusing the drug. Eventually drug laws will be enforced and an entire industry will come tumbling down. I urge tribes to take a stand against drugs, let our revenue-making ventures be guided by the principle of the good of our entire tribes, not on the false promise of money. If the Aleuts attempted to start a grow operation, I would stop them.Get the Story:
John Guenther: Marijuana Is Dangerous! Don't Let it Ruin Native Youth! (Indian Country Today 4/19) Relevant Documents:
Department of Justice Policy Statement Regarding Marijuana Issues in Indian Country (October 2014)
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