As the legalization of recreational marijuana passed in the state of California, Temecula’s city council revised their own cannabis regulations in early 2017. Temecula does not allow recreational use, manufacture, or sale of this drug; instead, commercial production of recreational marijuana is banned.1
While this may change in the future, Temecula is one of many cities throughout Riverside County and Southern California to opt out of this new, growing industry. Other cities across the state are allowing recreational marijuana use and purchase, so the drug can be better regulated, similar to how alcohol and nicotine is. However, Temecula has decided that it does not want to regulate this it, in part, because of how addictive the substance can be.1
Alcohol and tobacco are also both very addictive, but some believe that permitting marijuana for wider legal use has associated problems. For instance, the more people purchase legal, recreational marijuana, the more available this drug will be to adolescents or younger children. In most places, the age requirement for recreational marijuana use is 21, however, as with alcohol, teens can find ways to steal or illegally purchase this drug and abuse it. This can harm brain development, leading to mental and mood struggles for the rest of their lives.
Riverside County public officials have indicated they may be willing to change the law, but this requires a lot more discussion on how to prevent abuse, educate the public, and provide needed treatment for those who do struggle with marijuana addiction.
There is no obligation to enter treatment and you can opt out at any time.