Elizabeth Rice Grossman, like many legalization proponents, claims that legalizing weed will solve criminal injustices and budget challenges (“No more recriminations: Legalize recreational cannabis,” Island Voices, Star-Advertiser, Dec. 18). However, lessons learned, and facts taken from Colorado and other legal states, paint a picture of unexpected costs beyond promised revenues, increased drugged driving deaths, and new law enforcement challenges.

How much increased black-market activity would it be worth? Narcotics officers in Colorado have been busy responding to the 50 percent increase in illegal grow operations across rural areas in the state.

How many lives would it be worth? The number of drivers in Colorado intoxicated with marijuana and involved in fatal traffic crashes increased 88 percent from 2013 to 2015.

Marijuana tax revenue represents less than 1 percent of Colorado’s fiscal 2017 budget.

Legalization is a poor substitute for evidence-based criminal justice reform.

Legalization of marijuana is bad public policy. It’s bad for kids, public safety and health, and wrong for Hawaii.

Greg Tjapkes

Executive director, Coalition for a Drug-Free Hawaii

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