Not that this came as a big surprise, but Big Alcohol is fighting the marijuana legalization movement. If marijuana were to become legalized in all 50 states, alcohol manufacturers would see a large loss in revenue. As Jeremy Kossen with Clear Choice reported:
It should be no surprise: Big Booze hates cannabis. Cannabis, notably safer than alcohol (by every measure), poses a threat to the alcohol industrys bottom line.
So it should come as no surprise that a recent report by Marijuana.com citing leaks from infamous whistle-blower website WikiLeaks shows that the alcohol industry is spending big bucks to get members of Congress to promote anti-cannabis propaganda. Marijuana.com found a leaked DNC email in which the alcohol-industry lobby group, Wine Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA), calls for accelerated funding of Section 4008 of the FAST Act (PL 114-94) in the FY 2017 to outline impairment standards; document the prevalence of marijuana impaired driving; and, determine driving impairment detection methods.
Further, read an excerpt from a paid ad by the alcohol-industry in the May 24, 2016 edition of Huddle (a daily Politico newsletter). Emphasis in bold is mine:
While neutral on the issue of legalization, WSWA believes states that legalize marijuana need to ensure appropriate and effective regulations are enacted to protect the public from the dangers associated with the abuse and misuse of marijuana
In the years since the state legalized medicinal use, Colorado law enforcement officials have documented a significant increase in traffic fatalities in which drivers tested positive for marijuana
One problem: the increase in traffic fatalities was not causal to cannabis. It had nothing to do with cannabis legalization. Not only did nearly all drivers test positive for alcohol or other drugs, as well, the uptick in fatalities followed a nationwide trend attributed to more drivers on the road due to dirt-cheap gas prices. Other studies (see below), have found correlations that directly contradict Big Booze.
Almost all studies find that driving drunk is more dangerous than being any other drugs, especially marijuana. So with science contradicting what Big Alcohol is claiming their interest is, what do you feel their true interest is in marijuana legalization?
Leave your comment below
