today’s marijuana – its effect on our...

Today’s Marijuana – its effect on our kids

March 13, 2014

¡  A volunteer-run, non-profit organization dedicated to minimizing the negative consequences of legalized marijuana in Colorado, particularly for our youth.

¡  Formed March 1, 2013, after Amendment 64 passed, in response to observation that marijuana policy was being dominated and driven by for-profit marijuana industry. We were concerned that the health, safety and well-being of Colorado youth were not being considered.

¡  Concerned how increased marijuana commercialization will impact our communities, the state and our adolescents.

Who is Smart Colorado?

Amendment 64 allows:

¡  The possession of 1 oz. or less of marijuana, (about 30 joints) also includes concentrates

¡  Individual adults may grow 6 plants (in enclosed, locked space)

¡  Adults may consume marijuana (not openly and publicly or in a manner that endangers others)

¡  Four different licenses: marijuana cultivation, testing, product manufacturing, retail marijuana store

¡  Cities and counties may opt out of allowing the sale, cultivation, testing and production of recreational marijuana in their jurisdiction. (Colorado Springs has, Denver has NOT)

Amendment 64 limits:

¡ Applies only to persons 21 and older, unlike medical marijuana which is for 18+

¡  Employers may have policies that restrict employee use of marijuana, even zero tolerance for off-site consumption

¡  Landlords and other property owners may prohibit conduct related to marijuana on that property, including possession, consumption, use, sale, and growing

Commercialization of Marijuana in Denver

¡  344 marijuana shops in total will be in Denver ¡  217 medical marijuana shops (mmj), more than

Starbucks, McDonalds, or liquor stores ¡  127 recreational pot shops (rec mj), applied by 1/31/14 ¡  Compared to 21 total mj shops in Seattle, city same

size as Denver

¡  958 marijuana facilities in total will be in Denver ¡  544 Cultivation facilities (365 mmj, 179 rec mj) ¡  66 Marijuana Infused products facilities (37 mmj, 29 rec) ¡  4 Testing facilities ¡  344 total marijuana retail shops

As of 1/31/14 Denver Excise and Licensing

Today’s Marijuana in Colorado ¡  It is not like marijuana from your college days ¡  Extremely potent, THC levels 4 times higher than in

1980s, and 2xs higher than 90’s.

¡  Smoking is only half of the story ¡  Today’s marijuana is frequently eaten or vaporized

¡  Brownies are so yesterday ¡  Anything and everything can become a marijuana

infused product

¡ Marijuana concentrate is available ¡  highly potent, 75-90% THC ¡  Vaporized or smoked

Youth marijuana use on the rise ¡  Resurgence of marijuana use after more than a

decade of decline*

¡ Average age for first use marijuana is 14 years old**

¡  In Colorado, marijuana, not alcohol, is the number 1 reason adolescents are admitted to substance abuse programs**

¡  1 in 6 adolescents who use casually become addicted vs. 1 in 9 adults***

¡  In the last year, over 20% of new medical marijuana patients are between 18-20****

¡ Currently 5,638 18-20 yr olds have medical marijuana cards, a 40% increase from 2012.****

*Monitoring the Future National Survey Results on Drug Use 2012 Overview, 2013 **National Survey on Drug Use and Health, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2012 *** Crean et al.. An Evidence based-review of acute and long-term effects of cannabis use on executive cognitive functions, 2011 ****Colorado Department Public Health & Environment March 2013

Medical Marijuana States Have Higher Youth Rates

Marijuana Use Highest Among 18-20

“Pot Problems in Schools Increase with Legalization” Denver Post lead story 11/11/13

Denver’s youth marijuana use higher than national average

Denver Ranks Above the Rest

Healthy Kids Colorado Survey 2011

Impacts of Early Marijuana Use

¡ Marijuana affects adolescents differently than adults due to brain development which continues until about 25 yrs.

¡  Studies show marijuana can permanently change and damage teen brains*

¡ Affects the hippocampus (critical for learning and memory) and the prefrontal cortex (governs complex decision making and analysis)

¡ Affects processing, memory, perception, judgment and motor skills, also diminishing academic performance and motivation

*Meier, M.H., et al. Persistent Cannabis Users Show Neuropsychological Decline From Childhood to Midlife, 2012.

Scientific Studies Early Marijuana Use ¡  Heavy youth marijuana users reduced their IQ

levels as much as 8 points* ¡  comparable to IQ reductions from early childhood lead exposure

¡  cognitive declines affect chronic adult users as well, but are more dramatic for teens

¡  Association with long-term psychological effects such as psychosis and schizophrenia

¡  Even moderate cannabis use (weekly) increases risk for major depression**

¡  Adolescents who use daily are 2.5 times more likely to develop anxiety disorders***

¡  Teens who use daily had more difficulty performing memory tasks and had abnormal brain structure similar to schizophrenics.****

*Madeline H. Meier et al 2012

**Fairman, B. J., & Anthony, J. C. 2012. Fergusson, D. M., Horwood, L. J., & Swain-Campbell, N. 2002 *** Hall & Degenhardt 2012

****Smith, Cobia, et al., Schizophrenia Bulletin 2013

Marijuana messages sold to our kids ¡  Marijuana is an all-natural wellness product; an herb

that is not harmful

¡  It is a cure-all that helps with ADHD, concentration, sleep issues, headaches, anxiety, depression, OCD, menstrual cramps

¡  Getting high is an acceptable recreational activity

¡  Marijuana messaging gets to our kids through music, pop culture, advertising on-line, in magazines and newspapers, with primetime TV commercials coming next.

¡  Marijuana is glorified and politicized

Marijuana Edibles

¡  Huge, multi-million dollar industry that is growing, estimated 38% of the market

¡ Very few regulations and no limitations on “types” that can be sold

¡ Made to be “palatable” and “discreet”

¡ Creates confusion with regular food and accidental ingestions

¡ Marketed to be attractive to adolescents

¡  Infused, sprayed or baked into food

¡ Almost any food can become a marijuana edible (baked goods, candy, soda, chips, ice cream, pizza, bbq sauce, salad dressing, etc…)

Colorful sweets highly attractive to children

Infused with Sugar and Fruit Flavors

The industry infuses childhood favorites

Kids breakfast cereal sprayed with marijuana concentrate

Even toddler’s food, goldfish, can become a marijuana edible

Increased visits to ER due to marijuana

¡ Children’s Hospital saw new category of patients (children) being rushed to ER due to unintentional marijuana ingestion ¡ 2005-2009 there were 0 cases of

admissions from accidental marijuana ingestions

¡ After 2009, and rise of dispensaries, 14 reported emergencies at Children’s Hospital*

Wang, Mountain Poison Control and Drug, 2013

High Potency Marijuana Concentrates

¡  Highly potent, 75-90% THC, comes in liquids or solids

¡  Not legally sold to consumers anywhere else in the world, even Netherlands

¡  1 oz. equivalent to 2,800 servings (at 10mg/serving)

¡  Very portable and discreet -1 oz. fits in a pants pocket

¡  1 oz. enough to provide marijuana to every student at East High School

¡  Smoked or vaporized - electronic cigarettes, in cars or other individual discreet looking vapor pens, mini hookas etc…

¡  Tourist can buy 700 servings at once – more than they can consume in state

Wax Dabbing – concentrate in a solid form

Made to be hidden (Industry say’s it’s not marketing to kids)

Asthma inhaler or pot vaporizer?

E-Cigarettes or Vaporizers

Marijuana Exposure Linked to Increased Use

¡ Examples of Increased Exposure ¡  Billboard near Broncos stadium calling Marijuana “A Safer

Choice” ¡  Denver doesn’t prohibit marijuana use in front yards ¡  4/20 pot rally in Civic Center Park draws thousands and gets

media coverage ¡  Denver County Fair adds a “Pot Pavilion” where pot plant, pot

edibles, homemade bongs will be judged, and a speedy joint-rolling contest will be held

¡  Denver Post adds marijuana-dedicated section called “The Cannabist”

¡  Advertising in papers like Westwood, marijuana magazines available in convenient stores, restaurants etc.

¡  Radio and primetime television ads

Perception of harm dropped dramatically with youth

As perception of harm goes down, use goes up*

• Studies show a direct correlation

• Perceived risk of regular marijuana use has gone down to 39.5% in 2013, from 70-80% in early 1990’s**

• 61% of DPS seniors have used marijuana***

*Denver Office of Drug Strategy, Proceedings of Denver Epidemiology Work Group 3/1/11 **NIH’s 2013 Monitoring the Future Survey ***Healthy Kids Corlorado Survey 2011-12

Marijuana The Next Big Tobacco

¡  Similarities between Big Tobacco, decades ago, and today’s budding marijuana industry

¡  Health claims on their product, despite associated risks

¡  Encouraging use at a young age to secure future customers

¡  Making their product attractive to kids

¡  Safety claims contrary to science

¡  Influencing public policy through political pressure, lobbying and funding political candidates

¡  Both industries now using the E-cigarettes

Big Tobacco Eyeing Big Marijuana

¡  “The use of marijuana ... has important implications for the tobacco industry in terms of an alternative product line. [We] have the land to grow it, the machines to roll it and package it, the distribution to market it.” From a report commissioned by cigarette manufacturer Brown and Williamson (now merged with R.J. Reynolds) in the 1970s.

¡ Altria, the parent company of Phillip Morris, recently bought the web domain names: AltriaCannabis.com and AltriaMarijuana.com

Colorado Implements Most Permissive Marijuana Laws

in the World

¡  No meaningful limitations to commercialization ¡  production limits, caps on businesses, limit on number of licenses issued

¡  No limitations on THC strength, potency ¡  over 15% THC in the Netherlands is considered a hard drug like heroin

and cocaine

¡  No limitations on types of edibles

¡  Advertising and promotions restrictions not clear ¡  TV advertising permitted on primetime programs

Washington state is much more restrictive than Colorado ¡  Limiting commercialization by allowing retail stores

to be based on population. ¡  Seattle only allowed 21 recreational marijuana shops,

compared to Denver’s soon to be over 300 shops

¡  Caps on overall marijuana production

¡  Prohibition on marijuana concentrate

¡  Much higher taxes (75%)

¡  No home grows allowed

¡  Limits and restrictions on edibles

SMART Colorado 2014 Legislative Initiatives

Aim to Protect Colorado Kids

¡ Penalties, fines and suspensions that discourage marijuana establishments from selling to minors

¡ Potency Limits

¡ Public awareness, education and science curriculum ¡  Targeted at middle and high school students and the general

public ¡  Based on the latest science

¡ Restrictions on edibles and marijuana concentrates

¡ Proper funding and structural support for data collection

Summary ¡  Visit us at www.smartcolorado.org to donate and for more

information

¡  Sign up to received updates about timely policy decisions that impact Colorado youth

¡  Learn how early marijuana use impacts the still developing adolescent brain

¡  Consider contacting your city council representative; attend public hearings; testifying to voice your concerns

¡  Encourage your elected officials to protect our kids and communities by limiting marijuana commercialization and implementing policies that reduce youth marijuana consumption

Drugged Driving Increases

Overall traffic fatalities decreased in Colorado 16 % between 2006-2011, but fatalities involving drivers testing positive for marijuana increased 114%.*

* The Legalization of Marijuana in Colorado: The Impact Aug. 2013

¡  More high school students have smoked a joint (22%) than a cigarette (16%) in the last 30 days*

¡  57% of high school students say it is easy or sort of easy to get marijuana*

¡  More students see greater risk of harm from regular alcohol use than from regular marijuana use

¡  42% of high school students perceive no or slight risk from regular marijuana use*

¡  More students drove or rode with a driver after smoking marijuana than after drinking alcohol*

¡  More high school students used marijuana on school grounds than alcohol*

*Healthy Kids Colorado Survey, 2011-2012

Youth Marijuana Use In Colorado

Youth Marijuana Use in Denver ¡  1 in 10 DPS seniors are using marijuana on a daily or

near daily basis*

¡  32% of DPS seniors have used marijuana in the last month*

¡  14% of DPS students tried marijuana before they were 13*

¡  10% of DPS high school students have used marijuana at school*

¡  10% of DPS high school students have driven after using marijuana*

*Healthy Kids Colorado Survey 2011-2012

Municipal Regulation as of 1/10/14

¡  85 prohibit retail marijuana

¡  27 permit retail marijuana

¡  33 have moratoria in place

Colorado Municipal League reports more than half (53.1%) of municipal actions

have prohibited retail marijuana.

https://www.cml.org/uploadedFiles/CML_Site_Map/_Global/MMJ/election_mmj_recreational.pdf