Panel Discussion: Who Benefits From Recreational Marijuana?
Prince George’s County Drug Policy Coalition, Inc. Bring Experts In To Discuss The Good and The Bad of Cannabis Use
The Prince George’s County Drug Policy Coalition, Inc. is hosting a panel discussion on Saturday, March 25 at the Fort Washington Baptist Church to share information about some problems with recreational marijuana and who may likely benefit. The in-person event begins at 1:00 pm.
Marijuana could do more harm than good. Data has shown repeated exposure to cannabis can add a greater risk of other substance use disorders and mental health disorders and then there are experts that say recreational marijuana can affect a person's ability to understand and also their reaction time.
This panel discussion will create greater citizen awareness about the harmful effects of recreational marijuana for individual users, interactions with law enforcement, and the presence of cannabis distribution shops in our communities, etc.
Expert panelists include:
Dr. Valencia Campbell, President of Prince George’s County Drug Policy Coalition, Inc. (Moderator)
Cheryle Mines, Behavioral Health Consultant
Honorable Aisha Braveboy, Prince George’s County State’s Attorney
Honorable Arthur Burnett, Retired Senior Judge, Superior Court of the District of Columbia National Executive Director
Brian Washington, 2nd Lt. and Program Manager Maryland National Guard Counterdrug Program
The drug affects a person's comprehension and reaction time. Some users get in car crashes more often than people who don't use marijuana. They also may have more risky sexual behavior. There is a strong link between drug use, unsafe sex and the spread of sexually transmitted infections.
Earlier this month, Maryland House approved the recreational marijuana framework bill that would create a legal framework and tax structure to enable recreational marijuana to be sold in stores as soon as July 1. The House voted 103-32 for the bill, sending it to the Senate, which is moving forward with a separate measure.
"You might not have agreed with marijuana or the vote that our citizens took, but they took it, so it's now our obligation to create an adult-use program," said Del. C.T. Wilson, the chair of the House Economic Matters Committee. "And it's our duty to ensure that Marylanders can receive the benefit of ownership in this industry, that citizens can have access to safe and effective cannabis without fear of adverse health effects or violence." This quote appeared in a March 11tgh AP article on pgsuite.com.
"We've compiled the best legal cannabis practices from other states, learned lessons from medical cannabis and created an equitable implementation framework," House Speaker Adrienne Jones wrote in a tweet.
