President Trump, in his rambling alternative facts-infested press conference on Thursday, asserted the U.S. is becoming a “drug-infested nation” and drugs are “cheaper than candy bars.”
In reality, overdose deaths have ticked higher, but teens are abusing drugs at a lower rate than previous generations.
“Across all grades, past-year use of inhalants, heroin, methamphetamine, alcohol, cigarettes, and synthetic cannabinoids are at their lowest by many measures,” a December 2016 study by the National Institute of Drug Abuse says. Read story here.
However, one could argue the entire Trump administration is stoned; or, if they aren’t, maybe they should be, to get a little more mellow.
Trump hasn’t unveiled his drug policy yet, but keep in mind that while Washington and a few other states have legalized recreational pot, marijuana is still illegal under federal law in all the states, and federal enforcement can override state laws. I won’t be surprised if Trump moves to shut down the legal pot shops in those states.
Photo: Protesters hand out free joints at Trump’s inauguration.