Legalized Marijuana/Cannabis

So here we are in a society that has all but outlawed cigarette smoking due to its ill health effects, which then turned to vaping before its ill health effects were known and now have to be addressed, and is now embracing marijuana in all of its forms—marijuana which I would argue is an order of magnitude even more damaging than cigarettes or vaping. Mark my word, it will only be a matter of time before the public realizes this (although it will likely take longer for a stoned public to realize this) and start suing cannabis companies for selling defective products. In the meantime, I predict the damage done to our society will be immense.

But first let's talk about how marijuana affects the body. Below is pasted from the CDC website (https://www.cdc.gov/marijuana/data-statistics.htm):

"Fast Facts

Marijuana is the most commonly used federally illegal drug in the United States; 48.2 million people, or about 18% of Americans, used it at least once in 2019.1
Recent research estimated that approximately 3 in 10 people who use marijuana have marijuana use disorder [i.e. addiction!].2 For people who begin using marijuana before age 18, the risk of developing marijuana use disorder is even greater.3
Marijuana use directly affects the brain, specifically the parts of the brain responsible for memory, learning, attention, decision-making, coordination, emotion, and reaction time. Infants, children, and teens (who still have developing brains) are especially susceptible to the adverse effects of marijuana [i.e. brain damage!].4,5
Long-term or frequent marijuana use has been linked to increased risk of psychosis or schizophrenia in some users [just what we need more of in our armed society—NOT!].6,7
Using marijuana during pregnancy may increase the person’s risk for pregnancy complications. Pregnant and breastfeeding persons should avoid marijuana.8"

But wait there's more (https://www.cdc.gov/marijuana/featured-topics/what-we-know-about-marijuana.html):

"Brain Development and Function

Developing brains, such as those in babies, children, and teenagers, are especially susceptible to harmful effects of marijuana and THC. Using marijuana during adolescence or young adulthood, before the brain is fully developed, may affect how the brain builds connections for functions like attention, memory, and learning. These effects may last a long time or even be permanent.
Recent marijuana use (defined as within 24 hours) directly affects parts of the brain responsible for decision-making, coordination, emotions, and reaction time and can impair important skills required for safe driving. [Emphasis added as I will further expand upon this point later.]

Heart and Lungs

Smoking any product, including marijuana, can damage the lungs, increase risk of bronchitis, and scar small blood vessels. Smoking marijuana can also increase the risk for stroke, heart disease, and other vascular diseases. [Sounds similar to cigarettes, you know, the companies that got sued because Congress abdicated its responsibility to anything about a detrimental product that was providing too much wealth. By the way, does weed come with any warning labels?!]

Mental Health

Marijuana use has been linked to social anxiety, depression, suicide, and schizophrenia. Scientists don’t yet know whether marijuana use directly causes these health issues, but it may make symptoms more severe. [We are legalizing a drug before we fully understand it's full adverse health effects?? Hmmm—where are the anti-COVID vaccine activists vowing never to use marijuana as well??]

Inhaling or Eating Marijuana

Vaping THC-containing products has been linked to lung injury and even death. Use of concentrates in vaping or dabbing devices delivers very high levels of THC to the user and may carry health risks because of the high concentration or strength of THC being used.
Eating edibles (foods and drinks that contain marijuana) can take longer to kick in compared to smoking marijuana. The delayed effect of consuming edibles may increase the risk of consuming too much, which can lead to poisoning or serious injury."

Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS)

How many of you have heard of this very serious syndrome caused by marijuana use? This article was most recently posted to the PBS News Hour website (https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/what-is-cannabinoid-hyperemesis-syndrome-heres-what-to-know-and-why-experts-say-its-on-the-rise):

Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS), [is] a little-known illness characterized by an onset of intense vomiting....Doctors say CHS is rare, but its frequency may be growing. There’s no cure for this syndrome, with the only known, surefire treatment being abstinence from marijuana.

Paranoia

And last but not least, the following excerpt from a study in 2014 proves the link between THC (the "high causing" chemical in marijuana) and paranoia: (https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/279630#THC-causes-negative-feelings-and-changes-in-perception-that-induce-paranoia)

THC causes ‘negative feelings and changes in perception that induce paranoia’

Results of the study revealed that among participants who were injected with THC, around 50% reported paranoid thoughts, compared with 30% of participants who received the placebo. The researchers note that as the compound left the bloodstream, feelings of paranoia reduced.

The team found that THC also induced anxiety, worry, reduced mood, negative thoughts about oneself, changes in perception – including the report of louder noises and clouds being brighter – and altered their perception of time. Using a statistical analysis, the researchers found that it may be these negative feelings and changes in perception that cause paranoid feelings among marijuana users.

The team says their findings not only “very convincingly” show that cannabis can cause short-term paranoia in some users, but they may also explain how our mind encourages paranoid feelings.

“Paranoia is likely to occur when we are worried, think negatively about ourselves, and experience unsettling changes in our perceptions,” says Prof. Freeman, adding:

“The study identifies a number of highly plausible ways in which our mind promotes paranoid fears. Worry skews our view of the world and makes us focus on perceived threat. Thinking we are inferior means we feel vulnerable to harm. Just small differences in our perception can make us feel that something strange and even frightening is going on.”

Hmm...makes me wonder if the 84-year-old man involved in the recent tragic shooting of a black teen knocking on his door had been using "medical marijuana" or just listening to too much white supremacist propaganda—or both!

Symptoms of Marijuana Addiction and Withdrawal

The following signs of marijuana use disorder (i.e. addiction) were copied from the CDC website (https://www.cdc.gov/marijuana/health-effects/addiction.html):

Using more marijuana than intended
Trying but failing to quit using marijuana
Spending a lot of time using marijuana
Craving marijuana
Using marijuana even though it causes problems at home, school, or work
Continuing to use marijuana despite social or relationship problems.
Giving up important activities with friends and family in favor of using marijuana.
Using marijuana in high-risk situations, such as while driving a car.
Continuing to use marijuana despite physical or psychological problems.
Needing to use more marijuana to get the same high.
Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when stopping marijuana use.

People who have marijuana use disorder may also be at a higher risk of other negative consequences, such as problems with attention, memory, and learning.

The following symptoms of marijuana withdrawal were copied from drugrehab.com (https://www.drugrehab.com/addiction/drugs/marijuana/withdrawal/):

The symptoms of marijuana withdrawal are more subtle than those of alcohol, opioids and benzodiazepines. But weed withdrawal is uncomfortable, and it can cause a range of debilitating physical and psychological symptoms.

Marijuana withdrawal symptoms include:

Irritability

Anger and aggression

Nervousness and anxiety

Restlessness

Decreased appetite

Weight loss

Disrupted sleep or insomnia

Unusual dreams

Daytime tiredness

Cravings for marijuana

Abdominal pain

Shakiness or tremors

Sweating

Chills

Like other drugs, marijuana causes biochemical changes in the brain when it’s used repeatedly. These changes create a physical dependence on the drug, which causes people to feel like they need the drug to function normally.

People who are dependent experience distressing withdrawal symptoms when they stop using weed or reduce their use. The symptoms typically begin within one to three days of last use of the drug, and they peak during the first week of abstinence. Withdrawal symptoms typically resolve within one to two weeks.

On occasion, sleep difficulties and other symptoms may last longer. Some studies have reported that insomnia and strange dreams can persist for at least 45 days after quitting marijuana.

Typically, marijuana remains in the body much longer than withdrawal symptoms last. THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, and its metabolites can be detected in the urine of heavy marijuana users for one to two months after quitting.

My bottom line is do not believe anyone who says that marijuana is largely harmless and not addictive!!

Secondhand Marijuana Smoke

The following is copied from the CDC website (https://www.cdc.gov/marijuana/health-effects/second-hand-smoke.html):

The known risks of secondhand exposure to tobacco smoke—including risks to the heart and lungs1—raise questions about whether secondhand exposure to marijuana smoke causes similar health risks. Secondhand marijuana smoke contains many of the same toxic and cancer-causing chemicals found in tobacco smoke and contains some of those chemicals in higher amounts.2

Secondhand marijuana smoke also contains tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the compound responsible for most of marijuana’s psychoactive effects (or the “high”). THC can be passed to infants and children through secondhand smoke, and people exposed to secondhand marijuana smoke can experience psychoactive effects, such as feeling high.3,4 Recent studies have found strong associations between reports of having someone in the home who uses marijuana (e.g., a parent, relative, or caretaker) and the child having detectable levels of THC.5,6 Children exposed to THC are potentially at risk for negative health effects. More research is needed to understand how secondhand marijuana exposure may affect children. Other research shows that marijuana use during adolescence can impact the developing teenage brain and cause problems with attention, motivation, and memory.6

Here's another article copied from the National Institute of Health website (https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/marijuana/what-are-effects-secondhand-exposure-to-marijuana-smoke):

People often ask about the possible psychoactive effect of exposure to secondhand marijuana smoke and whether a person who has inhaled secondhand marijuana smoke could fail a drug test. Researchers measured the amount of THC in the blood of people who do not smoke marijuana and had spent 3 hours in a well-ventilated space with people casually smoking marijuana; THC was present in the blood of the nonsmoking participants, but the amount was well below the level needed to fail a drug test. Another study that varied the levels of ventilation and the potency of the marijuana found that some nonsmoking participants exposed for an hour to high-THC marijuana (11.3% THC concentration) in an unventilated room showed positive urine assays in the hours directly following exposure80; a follow-up study showed that nonsmoking people in a confined space with people smoking high-THC marijuana reported mild subjective effects of the drug—a "contact high"—and displayed mild impairments on performance in motor tasks.81

The known health risks of secondhand exposure to cigarette smoke—to the heart or lungs, for instance—raise questions about whether secondhand exposure to marijuana smoke poses similar health risks. At this point, very little research on this question has been conducted. A 2016 study in rats found that secondhand exposure to marijuana smoke affected a measure of blood vessel function as much as secondhand tobacco smoke, and the effects lasted longer.82 One minute of exposure to secondhand marijuana smoke impaired flow-mediated dilation (the extent to which arteries enlarge in response to increased blood flow) of the femoral artery that lasted for at least 90 minutes; impairment from 1 minute of secondhand tobacco exposure was recovered within 30 minutes. The effects of marijuana smoke were independent of THC concentration; i.e., when THC was removed, the impairment was still present. This research has not yet been conducted with human subjects, but the toxins and tar levels known to be present in marijuana smoke (see “What are marijuana’s effects on lung health?”) raise concerns about exposure among vulnerable populations, such as children and people with asthma.

Here is a third article on secondhand marijuana smoke research from the PBS News Hour website (https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/many-people-think-cannabis-smoke-is-harmless-heres-how-how-that-belief-can-put-health-at-risk):

The most insane quote is:

Tobacco policies are becoming more restrictive, with bans on smoking in public places and limits on sales, such as statewide bans on flavored products. In contrast, more states are legalizing cannabis for medical or recreational use, and there are efforts to allow exceptions for cannabis in smoke-free laws.

Are you kidding me??!! Smoking marijuana maybe become exempt from "No Smoking" laws?? Just what we need—bars, restaurants, and who knows where else now becoming drug dens.

So we are on the path to nationally legalizing a smoking product whose adverse health effects from secondhand smoke have been woefully inadequately studied. Again, where are all the anti-COVID vaccine talking heads vowing never to use marijuana and encouraging others to follow suit because of all of the "unknowns"??

So let me tell you about what is going on within my own community here in Arlington, Virginia with regard to marijuana use. Arlington sits right across the Potomac river from Washington, D.C. and is the fourth smallest county by land area in the U.S. but sixth largest county by population in Virginia with about 240,000 people. It is also one of the top ten richest counties in the U.S. with a median household income of ~$120,000.

I currently live in an apartment complex and with the high density of employment, shopping, worship, entertainment, and restaurant establishments in the area as well a great access to airports, trains, and public transportation, I do not own a car. So that means I do a lot of walking.

In May 2020, the governor of Virginia, in his infinite lack of wisdom, signed a bill passed by the State legislature, in their infinite lack of wisdom, decriminalizing marijuana beginning July 1, 2020. For the past two years as marijuana use rapidly spread, I literally do not go a day without smelling that putrid, skunky odor of marijuana as I walk around town. Believe or not, many times the odor is coming from passing vehicles. In fact, I am willing to bet that anyone standing on the corner of a major intersection in Arlington County will smell marijuana from a passing vehicle within only a few minutes. Being a huge source of frustration for me, I attended a local civic association meeting where the Arlington County police gave an update on crime and security issues within the county. When I asked what they can do about drivers smoking marijuana, the answer was, "Absolutely nothing since marijuana had been decriminalized." They went on to explain that because of this, even if they were to personally witness a driver smoking marijuana in their vehicle while stopped at a traffic light, they now have no "Primary Cause" to pull that driver over. When I asked if they have a quick way, similar to a breathalyzer test, to detect marijuana use by a driver pulled over for another reason, the answer was no but they believed that was being worked on. I have to think that if a police officer saw me in my car taking gulps from a bottle of Jack Daniels while I sat at a traffic light, they'd be quite quick to pull me over even though drinking alcohol is not against the law.

So what this tells me is that my state leadership passed this decriminalization law without any attention given to the dangers of marijuana use nor did they include any safeguards to protect the public from people driving stoned. I'm even more glad now that I don't own a car, but then again as a frequent pedestrian, a car would likely provide me more protection from drug-induced collision than my jeans. So what's it like in your state and do you even know the laws or lack thereof? Remember, the CDC states marijuana "can impair important skills required for safe driving."

Many claim (egregiously in my opinion) that marijuana is safer than alcohol (including members of my state government). But I would argue that one can drink alcohol without getting drunk, but ONE CANNOT SMOKE MARIJUANA WITHOUT GETTING HIGH! If you show me a person who claims they can, I will show you a person with brain damage. Also, we have laws against alcohol abuse and public drunkenness, including drinking alcohol on the street (unless in a designated event or restaurant/bar area). Where are the laws against public "highness" and smoking marijuana in public? Alcohol overuse also has its own built in deterrence for many i.e. nausea and headache. Unfortunately marijuana doesn't, until in some cases it is too late.

Things have even gotten to the point here in Arlington where on multiple occasions marijuana smoke has seeped into my apartment from my neighbors smoking it in our supposedly nonsmoking apartment complex. What is our country coming to when I can't even escape the smell of marijuana in the sanctity of my own home? I once called the police and was told there is nothing they can do, "It's a management issue." And if you think Arlington is bad, it doesn't hold a candle to Washington, D.C. where fresh air is an increased rarity these days. I used to love going downtown for various events but now I go there only when absolutely necessary because of the marijuana smoke all around. As an example, on one recent Saturday morning I took the Metro subway to Union Station to run an errand. I could not believe my eyes and nose to see the main entrance literally lined with pot smokers filling the air with their noxious fumes. It seemed like Union Station had deteriorated into the pot equivalent of a crack house. I fear D.C. risks going from being the Freedom Capital of the World to the Marijuana Capital of the World – what an embarrassment to our country! In fact, last year the D.C. Council unanimously passed a bill "that prohibits private employers and city agencies from refusing to hire a potential employee or fire, suspend or in any way penalize current workers for testing positive on a cannabis drug test or for their use of marijuana outside of work."

(https://wtop.com/dc/2022/06/dc-city-council-passes-drug-testing-protections-for-employees-2/)

There is an exception for workers involved in "public safety," but doesn't almost every job involve safety to some degree whether it is the safety of coworkers, databases, manufacturing, advice, food preparation, cleaning services, and just about everything else including your own self? They way I read the law, an employer can do nothing about workers who smoke marijuana on their way to work or during their lunch break. Didn't the studies I cited above just prove that the mental impairment from the use of marijuana lasts for hours? Again I say we have lost our minds to marijuana. And remember, all of our Federal legislation is crafted and voted upon in Washington, D.C....

In wrapping up, let me share some of the latest statistics of marijuana use in our country (https://cfah.org/marijuana-statistics/):

"Report Highlights:

12% of American adults have smoked marijuana in 2021 [12].
52 million Americans will have consumed marijuana by the end of 2022 [20].
44% of American college students used marijuana in 2020 [28].
51% of Millennials have tried marijuana and 20% of them smoked weed [12].
10.1% or 2.5 [million?] American teens use marijuana illicitly [31].
15% of men smoke weed compared to 9% of women [11].
39 states now have legalized high-THC medical cannabis, including the District of Columbia [20].
19 states have legalized medical and recreational marijuana, including the District of Columbia [20].
74% or 248 million Americans now have access to some form of legal weed [20].
91% of American adults are in favor of legalizing marijuana use [9].
67% of physicians favor the nationwide legalization of medical cannabis [8].
The state with the longest legalization timeline is California with 20 years. Virginia has the shortest timeline of one year [20].
Deliveries made up 60% of the cannabis orders in 2021 because of the COVID19 pandemic [2].
California has the highest legal cannabis sales at $5.7 billion [1].
U.S. legal cannabis industry could generate $32 billion by the end of 2022 [20].

The United States cannabis industry has grown stronger over the past few decades. It even surpassed expectations."

With 91% of American adults in favor of legalized marijuana, looks like in the very best of circumstances, I'm only competing for 9% of the popular vote. So very, very sad. So my final question is, how many people will have to die from the effects of marijuana use by themselves or others before our country wakes up to its dangers? That is why if Congress and the States don't reverse course and do everything possible to make marijuana illegal again, my Administration will do everything possible to turn the trial lawyers and class action lawyers loose on the cannabis industry! My only caveat to this is that I do support research into the medical use of cannabis as I do believe that cannabis, like opioids, can be used under the proper care of a medical doctor to treat certain ailments. But like opioids, any such drugs resulting from this research will be subject to FDA approval, issued under strict guidelines, and distributed via prescription through our country's existing network of pharmacies.

Finally, I was contacted by a reader of my website who was doing research on addiction treatment centers and was quite complimentary of my discussion of the ills of marijuana use. She apparently works at such a center saying, "As someone who is passionate about addiction treatment, I wanted to share our site with you, which I think would make an excellent addition to your resources." So, I am more than happy to include the link below to this facility in New Jersey. Thanks, Jane!

https://gardenstatetreatmentcenter.com/