Decriminalizing Drugs Increases Drug Use, Study Finds

Scientists Make The LEAST Shocking Discovery You Ever Heard

(TruthandLiberty.com) – Across America, 19 states and Washington, DC, legalized recreational marijuana. Still, the federal government classifies the drug as illegal, which could lead to unintended consequences for many people. According to a new Columbia University and City University of New York study, cannabis usage has skyrocketed in states where the drug is legal versus those where it isn’t.

From 2004 to 2017, cannabis consumption and the frequency of use increased much more in states that legalized the drug. For states where it remained illegal, cannabis usage increased but not dramatically compared to the other states. Still, researchers noted that trends show the drug’s prevalence is increasing, including among minors. According to Pew Research, 90% of Americans approve of legalizing marijuana in some form, and only 46% of adults say they’ve never tried cannabis.

Caption: Cause and effecthttps://t.co/CNUN3WwSQb

— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) July 21, 2022

While many states have legalized the drug, the federal government has not. If federal officials catch someone using it, the offender could have problems joining the military or acquiring a federal job. On Wednesday, July 20, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) introduced the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act. The measure would decriminalize cannabis at the federal level if passed into law. Still, its odds of passing the evenly divided Senate are slim. Yet, Democrats say they’ll slip parts of the legislation into other bills to get something passed this year in the event Republicans take over either the House or Senate after the midterm elections.