At a time when the opioid epidemic has its clutches on our society, and when national, state and local officials have sounded the call to launch an all-out effort to put the brakes on overdoses leading to death and ruined lives, our state auditor general is suggesting that we legalize, regulate and tax marijuana to help balance the commonwealth's balance sheet.

Eugene DePasquale saidearlier this month that Pennsylvania should cash in on a booming industry that is expected to be worth $20 billion and employ nearly 300,000 people in the next decade.It almost sounds like the huckster call that was made by supporters of casino gambling more than a decade ago, when it was portrayed as the cure-all of our financial woes. Well, guess what? Casino gambling is on a roll, and the state is still in hock to the tune of nearly $3 billion.So let's forget these magic bullet quick fixes that politicians are always trying to sell us.DePasquale's logic is simple: "The regulation and taxation of the marijuana train has rumbled out of the station, and it is time to add a stop in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania," he said. In other words, it's time that we got our share of the marijuana pie.Well, we're not buying it.The National Institute on Drug Abuse points to the National Epidemiological Study of Alcohol Use and Related Disorders, which found that adults who used marijuana were more likely than nonusers to develop a dependency on alcohol and nicotine.These findings are consistent with the idea that marijuana is a "gateway drug," although the Institute says that a majority of people who use marijuana do not go on to use other, harder substances. This is true of gamblers, too. A majority don't become problem gamblers, but there are enough who steal from their employers and wreck theirs and their family's lives to feed their insatiable habit. Same goes for drugs.This is our concern. Just like when the barn door was open to let out casino gambling, there was no turning back. Now, the Pennsylvania General Assembly and Gov. Tom Wolf are looking to expand gambling to bring in additional revenues in a desperate attempt to tame the runaway deficit.Research has shown that marijuana's negative effects on attention, memory and learning can last for days or weeks after the acute effects of the drug wear off, depending on the person's history with the drug.Studies have also suggested specific links between marijuana use and adverse consequences in the workplace, such as the increased chances for injury or accidents.Last May, the medical marijuana bill that Wolf signed went into effect. It allows for patients with one of 17 qualifying conditions to access the drug in pill, oil or ointment form. Wolf said law will not be fully operational until 2018.DePasquale's logic appears to be "if you can't fight 'em, join 'em." In his news conference on the topic, he said: "I make this recommendation because it is a more sane policy to deal with a critical issue facing the state. Other states are already taking advantage of the opportunity for massive job creation and savings from reduced arrests and criminal prosecutions. In addition, it would generate hundreds of millions of dollars each year that could help tackle Pennsylvania's budget problems."DePasquale said in 2012 Colorado was the first state to approve the sale of recreational marijuana. Since then, Alaska, California, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oregon and Washington have all regulated and taxed marijuana sales. Washington, D.C., has legalized marijuana, but does not yet have retail sales; three contiguous states to Pennsylvania are considering regulating and taxing marijuana: Delaware, New Jersey and Maryland.The auditor general said last year Colorado brought in $129 million in taxes on $1 billion in marijuana sales. Since implementation in 2012, the new industry has resulted in 18,000 jobs in the state, he said. There's more to his proposal than just dollars and cents, according to DePasquale. There is the human toll that marijuana arrests take on those who violate the law and on their families. Decriminalizing marijuana would generate millions in savings from fewer arrests and prosecutions. "All told, this decrease in arrest numbers represents thousands of people who would otherwise have blemished records that could prevent them from obtaining future employment or even housing," DePasquale said.Again pointing to Colorado, he said the number of marijuana arrests decreased by nearly half, from about 13,000 to 7,000. Marijuana possession arrests, which make up the majority of all marijuana arrests, were nearly cut in half, and marijuana sales arrests decreased by 24 percent.Some Pennsylvania cities, which have struck out on their own, have benefited from decriminalization of the substance. DePasquale said in Philadelphia marijuana arrests went from 2,843 in 2014 to 969 in 2016, saving the city $4 million.The auditor general recognizes that this major policy shift should not be entered into lightly. There are many considerations, including age limits, regulatory oversight, licensing, sale and use locations and possession limitations.We are wary to have the state head down this road. This is another example of how government is trying to use "sin taxes" to close budgetary chasms. We find this to be a desperate measure with the potential for far too many negative consequences.By Bruce Frassinelli |

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