Source: chieftain.com
A Colorado State University-Pueblo professor who said a university study that found no link between commercial legalized marijuana and homelessness is challenging critics to debate that conclusion.
CSU-Pueblo's Institute of Cannabis Research released the 187-page report to the public last Friday. The report included a segment titled, "The impact of legal cannabis on poverty and homelessness in Pueblo County," led by CSU-Pueblo sociology professor Tim McGettigan.
In an email sent to The Pueblo Chieftain Monday, McGettigan cited a story in which Pueblo Police Chief Troy Davenport said his officers on the street regularly see a connection between legal cannabis and homelessness.
McGettigan also pointed to a Chieftain editorial opinion piece that ran Sunday in which the editorial described McGettian's portion of the report as "junk science."
"The authors of the impact study stand by their research. Science is a force for good because good scientists pursue the truth wherever it leads -- even (or especially!) when doing so debunks lies propagated by the powerful," McGettigan wrote in the email.
"Throughout history, scientists have often been attacked by narrow-minded egotists who prefer ignorance over enlightenment. The authors of the Social Impact of Cannabis Study encourage those who are interested in this subject to read the impact study and draw their own conclusions."
McGettigan -- later in his message -- challenged those that don't agree with the study to a debate on the subject.
"Anyone who would like to debate the strengths and weaknesses of the Social Impact of Cannabis Study is welcome to do so at the fast-approaching Institute of Cannabis Research Conference from April 26-28, 2018 at CSU-Pueblo," McGettigan said. "See you in April."
Throughout 2017, the institute conducted a study on the impact of local legalization of recreational cannabis within Pueblo County. Commissioned by Pueblo County, the research included an analysis of social and economic impacts, water and power usage impacts, and optimal buffer zones between sites that grow low THC (hemp) and high THC (legally approved recreational or medical) cannabis.
In addition to the principal investigators, numerous faculty from other departments were involved as co-principal investigators. A research technical report was provided to Pueblo County and presented to the commissioners on March 12.
The institute's second annual conference is scheduled to be a three-day forum where cannabis experts will share knowledge about scientific, medical, industrial, legal, economic and social elements of cannabis research at CSU-Pueblo. The 2017 conference attracted more than 500 people and researchers from every field of cannabis expertise.
A copy of the full study including the portion on homelessness is available at https://www.csupueblo.edu/institute-of-cannabis-research/_doc/2017-ICR-impact-study.pdf?pdf=impact-study.
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