Voters say no more marijuana — Congress should take note

 On Nov. 5, voters in red and blue states alike delivered historic election results and rightfully rejected marijuana and psychedelic legalization ballot measures. In Florida, legalization was defeated by 4 points despite pro-marijuana groups investing over $150 million in the race. North Dakotans refused legalization by 5 points, giving addiction to marijuana its third loss in a row in the state. South Dakotans, too, rejected marijuana for the second time, and by 11 points. In Massachusetts, despite being outspent by more than 10-to-1, voters shot down psychedelic drug legalization, the new frontier for addiction-for-profit schemes, by 14 points. 

Even though pro-marijuana interests spent hundreds of millions to sell Americans on legalization, the voters didn’t buy it. This is as close to a mandate as we’ve received on this issue. Americans have seen addiction in their homes and deaths on college campuses. As we approach a new Congress, lawmakers should take note: Drug legalization isn’t just unpopular, it’s bad policy.

Many marijuana legalization proponents believed the “green rush” would result in permanent cultural normalization of marijuana and THC drug use and widespread policy changes. The industry didn’t count on people’s lived experience influencing their “no” votes. Parents around the country have watched their children suffer the consequences of marijuana use.

Young people are learning that, despite what they’ve been told, marijuana is addictive, and its use can create mental instability and long-term physical health problems. Communities of color have not benefited from legalization — just 2 percent of the marijuana industry is made up of Black-owned businesses. Meanwhile, the illicit market is alive and thriving in legal states, emergency room visits and hospitalizations are up, drugged driving crashes are a major concern, the list goes on. 

Since 2022, only three out of ten recreational legalization ballot measures have been successful. Changes in attitudes toward marijuana shed light on the industry’s failure to expand. According to Gallup, the number of Americans who think that marijuana has a positive effect on users fell by 10 points (53 percent to 43 percent) between 2022 and 2024. 

The reason for this dramatic shift in sentiment is clear: as marijuana use increases, Americans are seeing the negative impacts firsthand. Today’s 99 percent THC potency marijuana is an entirely different drug than the 1970s Woodstock Weed. According to the CDC, 30 percent of marijuana users meet the clinical definition for having a cannabis use disorder. Marijuana use also increases the odds of developing mental and physical health issues, including psychosis, schizophrenia, anxiety, depression, worsening PTSD symptoms, certain cancers, heart disease and stroke.

As recently reported in depth by The New York Times, regular marijuana use can often lead to Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome, a life-threatening condition that causes “scromiting” (screaming and vomiting, simultaneously). With more Americans today using marijuana daily than alcohol, the drug’s devastating effects are touching communities and families across the country.

Most concerning is legalization’s impact on marijuana use among adolescents. This month, one of the largest studies on marijuana legalization ever conducted found that recreational legalization results in a 13 percent increase in youth marijuana use. Another study found that teen marijuana addiction rates increase at a 25 percent faster rate after state-level recreational legalization.

Unfortunately, these findings are not surprising. There are now more marijuana dispensaries in our country than McDonald’s restaurants. The pot industry’s ubiquity in legal states and relentless advertising of child-friendly THC products like gummy candies are, of course, harming our kids.

It seems voters have awakened to the reality of marijuana, but Congress needs to learn these stories. Lawmakers need to listen to the voters’ clear message about how legalization is a failed public policy. 

Members of Congress need to follow the science on marijuana, not the legalization lobby funded by Big Tobacco that has worked overtime to spread disinformation about pot on Capitol Hill. They are pushing for the SAFE Banking Act, corporate marijuana’s top priority. This bill would supercharge the industry, defy the will of voters opposing legalization, and pave the way for massive corporate investment into marijuana.

The industry has also advocated for pushing pot on veterans, despite the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs strongly recommending against marijuana as a treatment for PTSD, stating in a 2023 report that “research to date does not support cannabis as an effective PTSD treatment, and some studies suggest cannabis can be harmful.” 

The same corporate, addiction-for-profit players are lobbying Congress to liberalize psychedelics, too. These lobbyists are attempting to convince lawmakers to again ignore the science by pushing to legalize MDMA-assisted PTSD therapy, despite the drug being rejected by the FDA.

Massachusetts voters rejected psychedelics just this month; there is no voter mandate to legalize or normalize drug use. Members of Congress should follow the research on harmful drugs like marijuana and psychedelics. Instead of advocating for expanding access, Congress should be laser-focused on understanding the reality of marijuana. 

Lawmakers may be tempted to follow what they believe to be a popular political issue. But the shifting winds of public opinion are beginning to align with the science, and it’s bad news for the marijuana industry. In the 119th Congress, members must educate themselves on this crisis and reject drug commercialization at every turn. Our children’s futures depend on it.

Pete Sessions represents the 17th District of Texas. Kevin Sabet, Ph.D., is president and CEO of Smart Approaches to Marijuana.

https://thehill.com/opinion/5007271-marijuana-legalization-voter-rejection/