The Charlie Kirk Show The Disaster of Marijuana Legalization with Alex Berenson
May 2, 2024
Author and journalist Alex Berenson discusses the harmful side effects of marijuana legalization and the implications of surrendering in the war on drugs. The podcast also covers campus anti-Israel protests, the GOP's approach to the 1st Amendment, and the Biden Administration's reclassification of marijuana from Schedule 1 to Schedule 3.
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Legalization Did Not End The Black Market
- Legal dispensaries have not eliminated the illicit market because black market sellers undercut prices and avoid regulatory costs.
- Berenson notes cartels hide high-THC plants among hemp and illicit farms have produced violent, cartel-linked incidents in California.
Heavy Cannabis Use Has Risen After Legalization
- Overall cannabis use hasn't fallen after legalization and heavy use has increased as prices drop.
- Berenson emphasizes price sensitivity and easier access lead some users to escalate to constant use, increasing harms like driving while high.
Cannabis Is Not A Reliable Long-Term Medicine
- Cannabis is poor long-term therapy for pain and psychiatric conditions and should not be framed as a general medicine.
- Berenson cites studies showing cannabis doesn't reduce opioid use and warns it causes paranoia and rebound anxiety for vulnerable people.