The archbishop for the Archdiocese of Denver has some thoughts on cannabis legalization, and he dropped them Nov. 10 in the form of a 9,000-word open “pastoral letter.”
In his message, Most Reverend Samuel J. Aquila, the highest-ranking Catholic official in the Mile High City, made a strong — and deeply flawed — critique of the plant’s use and its impact on Colorado communities calling it “disastrous to our society.”
With respect and a shared concern for the well-being of our communities, I humbly write to offer a different perspective on cannabis legalization and use. It is vital to approach this complex topic with a blend of compassion, reason, and an understanding of historical context.
In his letter, the archbishop conflates cannabis with drugs like fentanyl and connects it to societal problems like homelessness. Rather than presenting strong supporting evidence for his arguments, the archbishop appears to lean on the debunked “gateway drug” theory, and in doing so, presents a skewed narrative that is not grounded in reality. He advocates against marijuana legalization but fails to weigh the devastating impacts of criminalization in his assessment.
Since the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, cannabis has been unjustly classified as one of the most harmful substances alongside known killers like heroin. While weed’s federal scheduling will likely soon change for the better, finally, this categorization was never grounded in scientific evidence, but in political strategy.
John Ehrlichman, an advisor to President Nixon at the time, admitted before his death that the criminalization of marijuana was a strategic tool designed to disrupt and unjustly punish communities opposing the Nixon administration, particularly Black Americans and other marginalized groups.
This context is critical. The U.S. drug war has not only failed to address the root causes of addiction and abuse, but has also led to the disproportionate criminalization of vulnerable populations. When we speak of things that destroy lives and “assault…human dignity,” as the archbishop describes marijuana legalization and consumption, I believe it’s fair to say that criminalizing marijuana and incarcerating millions of people for low-level marijuana offenses has harmed far more lives than marijuana use ever has or ever could.
I also take issue with the archbishop’s use of the term “illicit” to describe cannabis. Nearly every state has legalized cannabis in some form, while 24 states have now legalized adult-use sales. There’s nothing illicit about the hyper-regulated weed bought at a licensed retail shop.
The archbishop interestingly goes out of his way to defend alcohol use, segregating it from other “recreational drugs,” and giving the term “drug” the definition of “any kind of psychoactive substance that is recreationally used to artificially cause significant changes in consciousness.” But anybody who’s spent a Friday night in RiNo knows that alcohol can cause seriously significant changes in consciousness.
Perhaps the archbishop’s favorable stance towards alcohol has something to do with the fact that grape wine is an integral part of the Catholic Communion ceremony. Or perhaps it’s just a reflection of the wider societal acceptance alcohol enjoys. Either way, it’s important to remember that excessive alcohol use is responsible for an estimated 140,000 deaths in the U.S. each year, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health.
Cannabis use, while not entirely without risk, has never been linked to overdose deaths or increased mortality rates in the U.S. or anywhere else. In fact, responsible, regulated use of cannabis can offer relief for many people suffering from various ailments without the high risks associated with alcohol and other drugs.
The archbishop’s prohibitionist stance towards cannabis also overlooks the proven public safety and economic benefits of legalization. A highly regulated marketplace provides safer, tested products, reduces many of the risks associated with the illegal market (such as cartel activity) and boosts state revenues and job creation.
The Catholic Church is, of course, well within its rights to offer whatever guidance to its 600,000-strong Colorado flock it sees fit. But I would implore the archbishop to remember that the church’s influence extends well beyond the realm of religion. It is critical that he takes Catholicism’s broad cultural and political influence seriously, and that he communicates fact-based, data-supported, holistic information to both the churchgoing and not.
Concerns about drug abuse and its societal impacts are valid. But this is a flawed take on cannabis. A public health approach coupled with responsible regulation offers a more compassionate, effective and just path forward. It’s time to learn from the mistakes of the past and move toward policies that truly reflect Colorado’s values of equity, justice and community well-being.
Ricardo Baca is the founder and CEO of public relations firm Grasslands: A Journalism-Minded Agency, The Denver Post’s former Marijuana Editor, and a current member of Colorado Gov. Jared Polis’ appointed Natural Medicine Advisory Board.
Sign up for Sound Off to get a weekly roundup of our columns, editorials and more.
To send a letter to the editor about this article, submit online or check out our guidelines for how to submit by email or mail.
