Get a Clue - Weed

Details: Published: 14 September 2021; Hits: 1427

(Volume 8 September 2021)

Executive Summary

The Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (RMHIDTA) program has published annual reports every year since 2013 tracking the impact of legalizing recreational marijuana in Colorado. The purpose is to provide data and information so that policy makers and citizens can make informed decisions on the issue of marijuana legalization.

Section I: Traffic Fatalities & Impaired Driving

Since recreational marijuana was legalized in 2013, traffic deaths where drivers tested positive for marijuana increased 138% while all Colorado traffic deaths increased 29%.
Since recreational marijuana was legalized, traffic deaths involving drivers who tested positive for marijuana more than doubled from 55 in 2013 to 131 people killed in 2020.
Since recreational marijuana was legalized, the percentage of all Colorado traffic deaths involving drivers who tested positive for marijuana increased from 11% in 2013 to 20% in 2020.

Section II: Marijuana Use

Since recreational marijuana was legalized in 2013:

Past month marijuana use for ages 12 and older increased 26% and is 61% higher than the national average, currently ranked 3rd in the nation.
Past month adult marijuana use (ages 18 and older) increased 20% and is 62% higher than the national average, currently ranked 3rd in the nation.
Past month college age marijuana (ages 18-25) use increased 10% and is 53% higher than the national average, currently ranked 3rd in the nation.
Past month youth marijuana (ages 12-17) use decreased 22% and is 39% higher than the national average, currently ranked 7th in the nation.

Section III: Public Health

Marijuana only exposures increased 185% from 2013 when recreational marijuana was legalized compared to 2020.
Treatment for marijuana use for all ages decreased 34% from 2013 to 2020.
The percent of suicide incidents in which toxicology results were positive for marijuana has increased from 14% in 2013 to 29% in 2020.

Section IV: Black Market

RMHIDTA Colorado Drug Task Forces (10) conducted 294 investigations of black-market marijuana in Colorado resulting in:
- 168 felony arrests
- 5.54 tons of marijuana seized
- 86,502 marijuana plants seized
- 21 different states the marijuana was destined
Seizures of marijuana reported to the El Paso Intelligence Center (EPIC) in Colorado increased 48% from an average of 174 parcels (2009-2012) when marijuana was commercialized to an average of 257 parcels (2013-2020) during the time recreational marijuana become legalized.

Section V: Societal Impact

Marijuana tax revenue represent approximately 0.98% of Colorado’s FY 2020 budget.
66% of local jurisdictions in Colorado have banned medical and recreational marijuana businesses.

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Details: Published: 08 September 2021; Hits: 1672

CMAJ September 07, 2021 193 (35) E1377-E1384; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.202392

Abstract

Background: Cannabis use is increasing among young adults, but its effects on cardiovascular health are poorly understood. We aimed to assess the association between recent cannabis use and history of myocardial infarction (MI) in young adults (aged 18–44 yr).

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study using pooled data from the 2017 and 2018 cohorts of the American Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey of US adults. We analyzed the association between any recent cannabis use and history of MI using a weighted logistic regression model that adjusted for demographic factors, socioeconomic factors, health-related behaviours, concomitant substance use and other comorbidities. We also assessed this association after stratifying by frequency of use and by primary method of consumption.

Results: A history of MI was more frequent among recent cannabis users relative to nonusers A history of MI was associated with cannabis use of more than 4 times per month and with smoking as a primary method of consumption

Interpretation: Our study provides evidence supporting an association between recent cannabis use and history of MI in young adults. Increasing cannabis use in an at-risk population could have negative implications for cardiovascular health.

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Details: Published: 02 September 2021; Hits: 1535

A study in the journal Neuropharmacology analyzing the public health impacts of marijuana legalization in the United States found the following developments have resulted due to the change in drug policy towards the substance:

Highlights

Perceived risk of cannabis use has declined in adolescents and adults over time.
Potency has increased and prices decreased in legal and illicit cannabis products.
Traffic fatalities involving cannabis increased in some states post-legalisation.
More presentations to medical services related to regular cannabis use.

Details: Published: 02 September 2021; Hits: 1516

Background: Vulnerability to COVID-19 hospitalization has been linked to behavioral risk factors, including combustible psychoactive substance use (e.g., tobacco smoking). Paralleling the COVID-19 pandemic crisis have been increasingly permissive laws for recreational cannabis use. Cannabis use disorder (CUD) is a psychiatric disorder that is heritable and genetically correlated with respiratory disease, independent of tobacco smoking. We examined the genetic relationship between CUD and COVID-19 hospitalization.

Conclusions: Problematic cannabis use and vulnerability to serious COVID-19 complications share genetic underpinnings that are unique from common correlates. While CUD may plausibly contribute to severe COVID-19 presentations, causal inference models yielded no evidence of putative causation. Curbing excessive cannabis use may mitigate the impact of COVID-19.

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Details: Published: 25 August 2021; Hits: 1431

Results: Higher average exposure to MM advertising was associated with higher average use, intentions to use, positive expectancies, and negative consequences. Similarly, higher rates of change in MM advertising exposure were associated with higher rates of change in use, intentions, expectancies, and consequences over seven years.

Conclusions: Results suggest that exposure to MM advertising may not only play a significant role in shaping attitudes about marijuana, but may also contribute to increased marijuana use and related negative consequences throughout adolescence. This highlights the importance of considering regulations for marijuana advertising, similar to regulations in place for the promotion of tobacco and alcohol in the U.S.

(Dalgarno Institute Comment: Permission models always and without exception create a level of psycho-social contagion leading to a higher chance of product engagement. Permission is still the most effective founding motivator for consumption in play and corporations have known this for well over 150 years.

American writer and cultural critic Ambrose Beirce commented around the turn of the 20^th century that, “A Corporation is an ingenious device for obtaining profit without individual responsibility.” These corporations have also understood (and particularly the addiction for profit industries) like alcohol and tobacco, that kids must be your target audience. Big Tobacco player R.J. Reynolds stated in in 1975 that, “Share penetration among 14 –24 age market….represents tomorrow’s cigarette business”. And the now famous principle authored by CEO Bennet Leslow of the Brook Group is that, “If you are really and truly not going to sell to children, you are going to be out of business in 30 years.”

Big Tobacco 2.0 – Big Cannabis – are desperate to get their addiction for profit product into the currents of trade, alongside the other socially acceptable drugs that do the greatest harms (because they are legal and socially acceptable) alcohol and tobacco. As you see with the above study and many others, the pernicious process is only the beginning of the harms that will come from this highly engineered substance.)

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