Coinciding with the national marijuana holiday of 4/20, a notorious marijuana prohibitionist blasted efforts to legalize marijuana nationwide while speaking at a drug abuse summit in Atlanta, Georgia.
According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Kevin Sabet, co-founder of the anti-marijuana group Smart Approaches to Marijuana, told an audience at the National Rx Drug Abuse & Heroin Summit not to believe claims made about marijuana’s safety.
“You know what, poison ivy is a natural plant, but I wouldn’t suggest anybody mess with it,” Sabet said. “These arguments are ridiculous if you think about them for more than one or two seconds.”
Sabet’s comments came on the heels of a recent decision by the Atlanta City Council to table an ordinance that would have decriminalized marijuana possession in the city, “citing fear of moving forward without a strong implementation process between law enforcement personnel and the local administration.”
Despite the efforts of Sabet and his organization, support for legalization has never been higher. According to a recent poll conducted by Quinnipiac University, 60% of American voters support legalizing recreational marijuana, with approximately 94% expressing support for medical marijuana in particular.