Pot, not rhetoric or guns, may be to blame

As a retired peace officer of 33 years, I find it interesting to hear the cry that rhetoric or guns are to blame for the tragedy in Tucson, Ariz. If we look a bit deeper into the incident, we find the acts of a mentally deranged assassin.

Other than pure political motivation, history is replete with assassinations and assassination attempts being carried out by the mentally ill. Do your own homework, it’s all there. It’s interesting that no one talks about the fact that this “suspect,” is a heavy user of marijuana and that it may have played a major role in this tragedy.

Experienced members of law enforcement and first responders can relay incidents where marijuana played a

 major role, yet all we hear is the “need” to legalize marijuana because of all of its wonderful medicinal qualities that cure everything from ingrown toe nails to bad breath!  Really? 

What you don’t hear is that marijuana has long been suspected to trigger drug-induced psychosis. Most first responders know marijuana affects behavior from experience in the real world. That suspicion was recently proven. http://mental-health.families.com/blog/positive-proof-marijuana-can-trigger-psychosis.

In law enforcement, there is no such thing as a coincidence. Actions have consequence. The rampant drug/marijuana use and addiction in this country will not end well, especially concerning persons predisposed to mental illness.

Marijuana’s harmless?  Remember the aftermath of Tucson and also the current bloodbath in Mexico related to trafficking drugs and marijuana.

MIKE PALMER

Sagle