We have a major election cycle this November for U.S. President, U.S. Senator and numerous other elective offices. However, the single most important ballot measure may be Proposition 205, to allow recreational marijuana use in our state.

As a member of an Adult Wellness Drug Court team and member of the Fountain Hills Coalition to Prevent Youth Substance Abuse, I have seen what the marijuana of today has done to students and young adults. I want to share what has been seen in states having passed recreational marijuana.

*The passage of recreational marijuana has seen a large increase in heroin use due to the drug cartels lowering their heroin prices in order to regain their profits lost in state marijuana sales.

*Homeless populations in urban areas have increased from 15 to 20 percent as recreational marijuana has become an attraction to move into these areas.

*Colorado now has the highest rate of marijuana users in the U.S. for all age groups. Colorado youth use in 2013-14 is 74 percent higher than the national youth average.

*An increase in marijuana smokers has occurred in these states, drawing in more drug cartel traffic due to more users being developed. They then undercut the state taxed price.

*Prop 205 allows lookalike “repackaged” marijuana edibles such as lollipops, hard candies, pop tarts and other baked goods to be sold. Children in emergency rooms due to these edibles has dramatically increased due to these similar packaged products.

*62 percent of Colorado 2014-15 school suspensions were due to students being under the influence on school grounds. As the Colorado Cherry Creek School District Superintendent stated: “The only thing recreational marijuana has brought to the schools is marijuana.”

*The “Big Lie” about recreational marijuana is the tax profits go to the schools. Profits first go to pay off the new bureaucratic costs associated with the proposition. Colorado has only seen a third of the $40 million promised and the Prop 205 tax rate is much lower than Colorado’s rate.

Visit Arizonans for Responsible Drug Policy on its website, ardp.org, or on its Facebook page to fully educate yourself on Proposition 205.