MarijuanaIt’s not what you remember

By: Judi ZabelLa Crosse County Health Department/La Crosse County Prevention Network

Marijuana Work Group

Woodstock

Weed

• Potency about 3-4% THC

• 72% of all pot was imported

• Primarily leaves, stems, flowers and hodgepodge pieces of the plant

• Brought into the country in bricks

• Smoked – maybe pot brownies

The New Marijuana

Edibles

1 in 6 teens become addictedKeeping in mind that this is based on THC content <12%

• The adolescent brain is especially susceptible to marijuana use.

• When kids use, they have a greater chance of developing addiction.

5

Wagner, F.A. & Anthony, J.C. , 2002; Giedd. J. N., 2004

1 in 10 adults and 1 in 6

adolescents who try marijuana will become

addicted to it.

Marijuana and School Performance

Adolescents who

smoke marijuana

every weekend

over a two year

period are:

6X more

likely to

drop out

3X less

likely to

enter

college

4X less likely

to earn a

college

degree

Drug charges at time of booking

Cocaine Heroin

Phen/Amph/Meth,

Bath Salts, Plant

Food, LSD

THC Narcotics (Opioids)Controlled

Substances

Rx Drugs-Combined

(Narcotics/Opioids/

Controlled

Substances)

2013 59 30 137 304 122 125 247

2014 60 30 253 287 91 148 239

2015 33 31 297 254 104 122 226

2016 33 44 275 291 93 20 113

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

Nu

mb

er

of

Ch

arg

es

Hospitalizations for Cannabis are on the rise.

225

55 6035

183

328

10288

47 36

3

414

251

129

52 40

8

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

Cannabis Amphetamine,

Stimulants, and

Psychoactive Substances

Opioid Cocaine Sedative, Hypnotic, or

Anziolytic

Hallucinogen

NU

MB

ER

OF

IN

DIV

IDU

ALS

HO

SP

ITA

LIZ

ED

(IN

PA

TIE

NT/

OB

SE

RV

AT

ION

& E

ME

RG

EN

CY

)

TYPE OF DRUG ABUSE

2013 2014 2015

*Combined Hospitalizations = patients admitted to the hospital for inpatient/observation and TEC (emergency).

Source: Dr. Brenda Rooney, Gundersen Health System, Community and Preventive Care Services, 7/26/2016.

Half of Drug Overdose Deaths Have Marijuana Present

Drugged driving

What can happen in 5 minutes?

Perception of Problem-Marijuana

15

*2014 & 2017-Young Adults and Adults Combined

Teenagers Young Adults Adults

2009 67% 72% 59%

2012 62% 68% 65%

2014 63% 0 61%

2017 61% 0 64%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%%

Mo

de

rate

or

Se

rio

us

Perceptions of Marijuana Use as a Moderate or Serious Problem among Teenagers,

Young Adults, and Adults, 2009-2017

2009

2012

2014

2017

Support for Marijuana Legalization, 2017

16

62%

41%

10%

17%

22%

22%

10%

16%

19%

11%

21%

48%

Legalizing marijuana for recreational use

Legalizing marijuana for medical use without FDA

approval

Legalizing marijuana for medical use with FDA

approval

Community Support for Marijuana Legalization, 2017

Not at all Supportive Somewhat Supportive Mostly Supportive Completely Supportive

“My brother does [marijuana]—

he used to be a fun person,

but when he started doing drugs he started doing

risky things,

he also sits in his room alone,

and when he’s with friends he’s a completely different person.

He’s not stupider, but he doesn’t try to think.”

Where do we go next? Burden of Marijuana Report Data yet

to be collected:

• Impaired driving and fatalities

• Youth marijuana use

• Hospital and Emergency room admissions

• Marijuana-related exposure cases

• Employers

• Disparities

• Neo-natal drug impact

Questions?