Group pushes to keep Idaho from legalizing marijuana
Many states around Idaho have legalized recreational marijuana use, and at least one drug prevention advocate wants to warn Idaho against doing the same thing.
Executive director of Drug Free Idaho Rob Stevenson says legalizing pot just brings problems, and so he assembled a team to help create a documentary called Chronic State to help promote a drug free Idaho.
The documentary premiered in Rexburg Romance Theater Tuesday.
“We put this documentary together to educate Idaho citizens on the products of when you normalize a drug like marijuana,” said Stevenson. “So we went to these other states that have normalized marijuana and show the other side that most people don’t see and some of those big products after legalization.”
“Help people understand that choices have consequences and that many of those consequences are terrible are terrible for children and to just help educate Idahoans on what they should not join in,” said Monte Stiles, a drug prevention advocate.
Those who watched the film left with a different perspective than the one they first came in.
“I learned that there are a lot of myths out there about marijuana being a safe product for people to use for lots of different reasons,” said Gay Miremont.
“I would say it’s very honest, in giving you data,” said Russell Martin. “In very general data but gives you data that to understand that tip of the ice-burg to understand what’s going on and I think that’s great. If you went detailed you lose everybody right now. But at least giving you but at least data that gives you both sides and to make a judgment call on it.”
With more and more states legalizing marijuana, whether that may be for medical or recreational use, this drug prevention group wants to make sure Idaho is not one of them.
“Idaho is an island of sanity in a sea of insanity,” said Stiles. “If you look around us, its just chaos.”
Chronic State will be premiering again Oct. 20 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Compass Academy, 655 Garfield, Idaho Falls. The event is open to the public and will be followed by the celebration of Community Youth in Action’s, Youth Leadership Retreat.
You can watch the full film below.
