Letter to President Barack Obama - Facts About Effects of Marijuana
Letter
Dear Mr. President:
Yesterday, the House Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations Subcommittee, which I chair, held a hearing with Dr. Nora Volkow, the director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) at the National Institutes of Health. I was very impressed with Dr. Volkow's deep knowledge of the health impacts of drug use, including the lasting effects of marijuana on the brain. She also detailed the very significant differences between the effects of today's more potent marijuana from alcohol and tobacco.
With the increased availability of "medical" marijuana in a number of states, as well as Colorado and Washington's recent decisions to legalize recreational marijuana use, I am concerned that the public and policymakers do not have an accurate understanding of the health and public safety impacts of widespread marijuana availability. Just yesterday, there were reports of the first fatality in Colorado attributed to recreational marijuana use, and according to the Drug Enforcement Administration, public safety officials are already seeing a significant increase in traffic accidents and visits to the emergency room due to marijuana overdoses in children.
I must admit that I was surprised to read your comments earlier this year in The New Yorker magazine where you reportedly said, "I view [marijuana] as a bad habit and a vice, not very different from the cigarettes that I smoked as a young person up through a big chunk of my adult life. I don't think it is more dangerous than alcohol." While your comments likely reflect popular assumptions about the effects of marijuana, I think you would be interested and surprised to learn from Dr. Volkow that today's marijuana is significantly more potent than the drug was 10, 20 or 30 years ago -- and has greater health impacts than tobacco and alcohol.
Before this situation gets out of control, we need to have a clear understanding of the consequences. As a father of five and grandfather of sixteen, I am very concerned about what the impact will be on young Americans and families. As the father of two daughters, I know you similarly want the best for them and their generation. That's why I am asking you to meet with Dr. Volkow on NIDA's research so you have the best information available.
The subcommittee benefitted greatly from Dr. Volkow's testimony and I know that you and your domestic policy staff would benefit from a meeting as well. I know there are many demands on your time, but I believe you would find her presentation as eye-opening as I did.
Best wishes.
Sincerely,
Frank R. Wolf
Member of Congress
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