Just Facts

State and local officials say they are alarmed by a spike in calls they have received to report children and teenagers ingesting marijuana products since California legalized cannabis for recreational use by adults in 2016.

The number of calls to poison control centers involving people 19 and younger who were exposed to marijuana has steadily risen from 347 three years ago to 588 last year. In the first six months of this year, there have been 386 calls to poison control centers involving marijuana exposure by underage people. If that trend continues, there could be more than double the reports in 2018 as there were 2015.

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Los Angeles Times. “More California kids are having pot-related health scares, poison control officials warn” http://www.latimes.com. 13 July 2018. Web. 16 August 2018.

State governments and society lose money whenever pot is legalized. Whether it is costs to employers, increases to social service costs, the rise in homelessness or the regulatory system created to manage the marijuana program, the marijuana industry doesn’t pay these costs. Instead, we all pay: citizens, employers, and state government.

Thus, any revenue is outweighed up by the societal costs attributed to legalization. This is just like tobacco and alcohol, where costs far outweigh revenues.

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Healthy and Productive Michigan. “The Profiteers In The Marijuana Industry Promise Riches For States That Legalize Marijuana But Make No Mistake” http://www.sacramento.cbslocal.com. Web. 14 August 2018.

California State Controller Betty Yee was injured in a crash involving a driver suspected of driving under the influence of marijuana, the California Highway Patrol said on Friday.

The driver of the Nissan, Aaron Ba Sean George, 25, suffered major injuries in the crash. George is suspected of driving on the influence of marijuana and was transported to the hospital for his injuries.

Yee and her husband were injured and transported to the hospital, but are expected to survive.

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CBS Sacramento. “State Controller Betty Yee Injured In Crash Involving Suspected Marijuana DUI Driver” http://www.sacramento.cbslocal.com. 13 July 2018. Web. 9 August 2018.

Columbia University dental researchers have found that frequent recreational use of cannabis — including marijuana, hashish, and hash oil — increases the risk of gum disease.

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Science Daily. “Recreational cannabis, used often, increases risk of gum disease” http://www.sciencedaily.com. 24 May 2018. Web. 7 August 2018.

With the legalization of cannabis only a few months away, one of Canada’s top medical organizations is warning women about the risks the drug poses if used during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

According to the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, marijuana use can lead to preterm birth and low birth weight, as well as lower IQ and hyperactivity after a child is born.

“We want to make sure women understand just because it’s legal doesn’t mean it’s safe,” said Jocelynn Cook, chief scientific officer with the SOGC. “The science does suggest there are effects on pregnancy and on fetal development.”

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The Globe and Mail. “Ahead of legalization, doctors warn pregnant women of cannabis risks” http://www.theglobeandmail.com. 29 June 2018. Web. 2 August 2018.

Marijuana use is associated with an increased risk of prescription opioid use. The National Institute on Drug Abuse analyzed data from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions and found respondents who reported past-year marijuana use in their initial interview had 2.2 times higher odds than nonusers for having a prescription opioid use disorder and 2.6 times greater odds of abusing prescription opioids.

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Parents Opposed to Pot. “Big Marijuana Moves To Exploit The Opioid Epidemic” http://www.poppot.com. 29 June 2018. Web. 31 July 2018.

A Santa Rosa teen had smoked marijuana with friends at a Sonoma Coast beach prior to losing control of his car and crashing into an oncoming vehicle, killing one of his passengers and injuring three others, the CHP said.

Prosecutors on Tuesday charged the driver, Isidro Antonio Moya, 19, with felony vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence of marijuana, as well as driving without a license, possession of concentrated cannabis and a vehicle infraction for allowing the car to cross the double yellow lines. He didn’t enter a plea.

Moya was driving with two friends in the car, including David Etling, 18, of Petaluma, who was killed in the May 4 crash on Valley Ford Road near the community of Two Rock.

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The Press Democrat. “Teen driver smoked marijuana prior to fatal crash near Two Rock” http://www.pressdemocrat.com. 21 June 2018. Web. 26 July 2018.

Fires and explosions occurring at marijuana butane honey oil extraction (BHO) operations have increased significantly over the past several years, according to the Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management (OFMEM) in Ontario.

There are inherent hazards and dangers associated with the extraction process due to the volatile fuels utilized by the manufactures of the illicit marijuana concentrate product. The incidents, which are occurring at illegal drug producing facilities, have caused serious injuries, property damage and even death to those involved in the manufacturing process as well as members of the public. It is an issue all first responders must be prepared to handle, especially as the legislation governing marijuana is set to change in Canada.

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Blue Line. “The risky business of marijuana butane honey oil operations” http://www.blueline.ca. 18 June 2018. Web. 24 July 2018.

Frequent marijuana consumption may have serious long-term mental health consequences for teens, a 2018 a study from JAMA Psychiatry suggests.

Researchers from the University of Montreal in Canada found frequent marijuana use may increase teen psychosis. The results suggest connections between the use of cannabis with psychosis symptoms in the 3,720 teenagers tested.

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Advocate Health Care. “Is marijuana causing mental issues in teens?” http://www.ahchealthenews.com. 21 June 2018. Web. 19 July 2018.

A Bay County man has been arrested after an infant he was supposed to be watching drowned in a pool while he was allegedly smoking marijuana with a minor, according to the Bay County Sheriff’s Office.

Charles Lee, 45, was charged Wednesday with manslaughter of a child in connection with the incident. BCSO reported that a 1-year-old drowned May 31 in a pool in the backyard of a home on Lakeshore Drive in Panama City Beach while Lee was in the front yard smoking marijuana with a 15-year-old. Lee, after fleeing, is now in custody awaiting first appearance in the case, BCSO reported.

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Panama City News Herald. “Boy, 1, drowned while caretaker smoked pot” http://www.newsherald.com. 20 June 2018. Web. 17 July 2018.