JANUARY 2019

MARIJUANA continued from page 17
who own dispensaries or other marijuana
businesses but then also happen
to own liquor stores themselves,”
said Bahoura. “The irony is not lost
on the rest of us. This industry is
here to stay, embrace it.”
The Community Perspective
There are several groups who strongly
oppose the law including those
concerned about it getting into the
hands of minors. There is great concern
regarding the impact marijuana
will have on the youth. “We are very
disappointed about the law and are
concerned about youth,” said Lisa
G. Berkey, executive director of the
Greater West Bloomfield Community
Coalition. “We want our kids to
make wise choices and we know they
don’t always do that because their
brains don’t develop until mid-20s.”
Over the years, there have been
national campaigns designed to educate
people against the dangers of
cigarette smoke. “They have been
affective,” noted Berkey, “however,
kids think that smoking cigarettes is
worse than smoking marijuana. They
have been taught their entire lives
that cigarettes cause cancer but they
don’t think marijuana is dangerous.”
Although the legal age to consume
is 21 years old, there is still great
concern that marijuana will become
available to tweens and teens. “It is
harmful for their developing brains,”
noted Lisa Kaplan, LMSW, CAADC,
CPC-R, program coordinator-Maplegrove
Community Education. “It creates
and worsens depression and anxiety,
and can cause psychosis.”
Kaplan also shares the concern of
police and that people will drive under
the influence, and cause more traffic
accidents, injuries and deaths. She also
does support studies that marijuana use
leads to other drugs. “There is disagreement
on whether it is a gateway drug. I
strongly believe that it is,” said Kaplan.
“Nobody begins with heroin. After using
a drug for a period of time a user
will look for a stronger high and turn
to other drugs. Tobacco, alcohol and
marijuana are drugs and we think of
them as gateway drugs.”
There are 19 coalitions in Oakland
County as well as task forces reviewing
the current law and are waiting
for more information. “There is
so much gray area with this law,”
explained Berkey. “We still don’t
know enough about the regulations
but that doesn’t change the dangers
related to marijuana. We put the cart
before the horse with this law.”
Lisa Kaplan is on the board of the
Greater West Bloomfield Community
Coalition which has many programs
designed to educate parents,
students and school officials on the
dangers of drugs.
“Legalization of marijuana sends
a mixed message to students. Similar
to alcohol, being legal for adults indicates
it must not be harmful,” said
Gerald Hill, Ph.D., superintendent
of West Bloomfield Schools. “Being
illegal for youth is something that
parents need to stress, as possession
or being under the influence at school
will bring disciplinary consequences.”
The mission of the Greater West
Bloomfield Community Coalition is
to build community partnerships to
reduce high risk behaviors including
alcohol, tobacco and other drug use,
to help ensure that our youth may
grow to their greatest potential.
“The Greater West Bloomfield
Community Coalition’s “Kids in
Charge” curriculum, taught by community
volunteers in our elementary
schools, will need to be revised/updated,”
said Dr. Hill. “I’m sure that Parent
Teacher Organizations (PTOs)
and social service agencies will be
requesting and providing educational
programs on the legalities and health
issues related to use and abuse.”
Dr. Hill shares many of the same
thoughts as others. “The concerns
include health, mental health and
safety risks, potential legal consequences
of using a prohibited substance,
and another distraction from
learning,” he said. “I am surprised by
how easily the proposition passed in
the November election.”
It’s not just smoking marijuana
that poses problems, edibles also create
significant issues. “There are edibles
packaged in boxes that look like
other commercialized treats. Imagine a
kid taking a marijuana-laced pastry to
school,” said Berkey. “We are not proactive
in this country. We are reactive.
Tobacco started out by being glamorized
by showing TV stars smoking. But
when they realized the problems, they
started educating people on the dangers.
It is the same with vaping. If they
regulated in the beginning, maybe our
kids would not be vaping.”
Both Kaplan and Berkey highly
recommend that parents educate
themselves on the signs and symptoms
of use. “Do not do the research on the
computer,” said Kaplan. “Be familiar
with vapes/electronic cigarettes, wax,
shatter, and marijuana oils. Take adolescent
use seriously, as the younger
a person starts using, the higher the
likelihood of addiction. Have a zerotolerance
policy, and give the clear
message that use is forbidden.”
The Religious Perspective
Among those who not just frown
upon it, but strongly speak against
recreational marijuana are religious
leaders. The Chaldean Eparchy of
Saint Thomas the Apostle of the
United States issued an official statement
last month regarding recreational
marijuana and other drug use
in the Chaldean community. The
full statement is on the Chaldean
News Website.
“Our Diocese is another voice
in the church condemning drug use
outside strict therapeutic reasons,”
said Fr. Matthew Zetouna. “In particular,
the church is against the
legalization of recreational marijuana
in Michigan for many reasons.
Wherever marijuana has been legalized,
it has had a detrimental impact
and terrible consequences hitting
the family, hitting the youth, and
hitting society … In the interest of
protecting our family, our human
dignity and our youth, the church is
very vocal against the legalization of
recreational marijuana.”
Fr. Matthew, among many clergy,
receive numerous phone calls regarding
drug issues in the community.
“Have you had to bury a young kid
who overdoses? Have you had to
think of the words to give to the family
looking at you to help them make
sense of the situation? I am sick of
burying people who overdose,” said
Fr. Matthew. “I am terribly sick of it
and it’s unfortunate that our community
will hide away instead of getting
help because of shame on the family.”
Fr. Matthew urges people to consider
their moral obligations before
going into this business.
“Like anything else you have to
look at the proper protocols and the
right way to do things,” said Fr. Matthew.
“Are you being honest or dishonest?
Look at your buyers. If your
buyers are using for strict therapeutic
reasons and following the norms that
are given, then it could be morally
permissible to sell. In that way, it is
similar to selling alcohol. If your clientele
is abusing marijuana, then you
have an obligation to stop selling to
them. If you know someone is abusing
it, then you cannot enable them.”
In recent months, Fr. Matthew
has heard many arguments, defending
the use of Marijuana including,
how is it different from alcohol? “The
mere fact that an activity is made legal
by the government does not automatically
mean that it is morally
acceptable. Like alcohol, marijuana
has intoxicating effects, but marijuana
causes one to experience a “high,”
often accompanied by grogginess and
impaired judgement,” he said.
“If it is used therapeutically, the
resulting impairment is seen as an
unintended secondary effect outside
of the drug’s main beneficial use. In
other words, if one is using marijuana
for its intoxicating effects, it is wrong
for several reasons (like getting
drunk with alcohol). With alcohol,
one may justifiably drink it as long as
the intention and result is not to get
“buzzed” or intoxicated.”
“There is no question as to the social
evils that will increase as marijuana
usage is continued to be embraced
as a neutral practice in society,” stated
the church. “To our young people,
especially, the normalization of recreational
marijuana socially is unacceptable.
Children and families will
be damaged as a result. Using marijuana
for adolescents often results in
significant changes to brain structure
and cognitive functioning.
Fr. Matthew reiterated the statement
with a personal appeal to the
community. “The reason I didn’t
touch Marijuana when I was in high
school is because I value myself too
much and I didn’t want to lose a fraction
of who I am. Marijuana is not
worth the risk of losing who I am,
my ability to articulate. I encourage
people to speak up. Encounter Christ
for encouragement. Ask for help.
You are all worth it. Your life is too
valuable to compromise.”
RESOURCES REFERENCED
IN THE ARTICLE:
Catechism of the Catholic Church 2291
https://www.apa.org/monitor/2015/11/
marijuana-brain.aspx
https://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/marijuana/nida-research-marijuana-cannabinoids
https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/
aap-press-room/Pages/American-Academy-
of-Pediatrics-Reaffirms-Opposition-to-
Legalizing-Marijuana-for-Recreational-or-
Medical-Use.aspx
https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/
research-reports/marijuana/marijuanagateway-drug
www.henryford.com
*This information does not constitute legal
advice. If you have questions or are interested
in entering the cannabis industry, you
should consult with legal counsel.
18 CHALDEAN NEWS JANUARY 2019