LOUISVILLE…State Rep. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) announced today that Surgeon General Vice Adm. Jerome M. Adams, issued an advisory emphasizing the importance of protecting youth and pregnant women from the health risks of marijuana use. This position supports Rep. Darren Bailey's position to oppose recreational use of marijuana when it was voted on in the Illinois House.
"While I do support the use of cannabis for medical purposes, I continue to oppose the legalizing of recreational use because of the health implications and the public safety concerns of smoking and driving or using heavy equipment on the job," commented Rep. Darren Bailey.
“This new advisory reinforces my argument not to allow for the widespread use of pot because of the negative effects on the developing brain.”
Marijuana, or cannabis, is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a component of marijuana, binds to receptors in the brain, producing euphoria and a variety of potentially harmful effects, including intoxication and memory and motor impairments. Newer strains of marijuana have also shown to be increasingly more potent, leading to other risks like anxiety, agitation, paranoia and psychosis.
You can read the full report of the Surgeon General by clicking HERE.
The U.S. Surgeon General is considered the 'Nation’s Doctor,' providing Americans with the best scientific information available on how to improve their health and reduce the risk of illness and injury. Surgeon General Adams oversees the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps, a group of over 6,000 uniformed officers in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service (HHS) who are public health professionals. The USPHS mission is to protect, promote, and advance the health of our nation.
