IMPACTS OF CHANGING MARIJUANA LAWS AND INCREASED USE … · 2015. 10. 13. · FEBRUARY, 2015 Wasting Syndrome Connecticut Association of Prevention Practitioners, Inc. Condition #

IMPACTS OF CHANGING MARIJUANA

LAWS AND INCREASED USE AMONG

YOUTH AND FAMILIES C R E A T E D B Y :

T H E C O N N E C T I C U T A S S O C I A T I O N O F

P R E V E N T I O N P R A C T I T I O N E R S . T H E

C O N N E C T I C U T C H A P T E R O F S M A R T

A P P R O A C H E S T O M A R I J U A N A ( S A M ) .

Connecticut Association of Prevention Practitioners, Inc.

BRIEF OVERVIEW OF CONNECTICUT’S

MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM


Public Act 12-55: AN ACT CONCERNING THE PALLIATIVE

USE OF MARIJUANA


PUBLIC ACT 12-55

A P P R O V E D D E B I L I T A T I N G M E D I C A L C O N D I T I O N S :


Cancer Glaucoma HIV Epilepsy Crohn's Disease Cachexia

Wasting Syndrome Parkinson's Disease Multiple Sclerosis Spinal Cord nervous tissue damage Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER

PROTECTION'S

PHYSICIAN’S ADVISORY BOARD

NEW PENDING DEBILITATING MEDICAL CONDITIONS:


•Amyotrophic Lateral

Sclerosis

•Fabry Disease

•Ulcerative Colitis

•Complex Regional

Pain Syndrome

PUBLIC ACT 12-55

To be approved for Medical Marijuana:

•Must be 18 years or older, not in prison to receive a medical marijuana card. Patients receive a one-year certification

•A CT licensed physician must certify the patient to DCP.

•Patients can not grow their own marijuana.

•Penalties for falsifying a certification.


PUBLIC ACT 12-55

•A patient, caregiver or physician acting within the boundaries of the law cannot be prosecuted.

•All medical marijuana in CT must be produced in state and may not be transported out of state.

•The DCP establishes a Board of Physicians to review petitions to add medical conditions to the approved list and to determine the appropriate amounts that patients will need for an uninterrupted one-month supply.

•H e a l t h i n s u r e r s d o n o t h a v e t o p a y f o r m e d i c a l m a r i j u a n a


PUBLIC ACT 12-55

•Employers and landlords cannot discriminate based on use of medical marijuana. Schools cannot refuse to enroll certified students.

•The law does not restrict an employer's ability to prohibit the use of intoxicating substances during work hours or discipline an employee for being under the influence of intoxicating substances during work hours.


DCP’S REGULATIONS

Department of Consumer Protection regulations:

Sec. 21a-408-55. Manufacturing of marijuana products

(A) a producer shall only manufacture or sell marijuana products in the following forms:

(1) raw material;

(2) cigarettes;

(3) extracts, sprays, tinctures or oils;

(4) topical applications, oils or lotions;

(5) transdermal patches;

(6) baked goods; and

(7) capsules or pills.


DCP’S REGULATIONS

Sec. 21a-408-55. Manufacturing of marijuana products

No marijuana product shall:

(1) include alcoholic liquor, dietary supplements or any drug,

except for pharmaceutical grade marijuana.

(2) be manufactured or sold as a beverage or confectionary;

(3) be manufactured or sold in a form or with a design that:

(A) is obscene or indecent;

(B) may encourage the use of marijuana for recreational purposes;

(C) may encourage the use of marijuana for a condition other than

a debilitating medical condition; or

(D) is customarily associated with persons under the age of

eighteen;

(4) have had pesticide chemicals or organic solvents used during

the production or manufacturing process


DCP’S REGULATIONS

SEC. 21A-408-56. PACKAGING AND LABELING BY PRODUCER

(A) A producer shall individually package, label and seal marijuana products in unit sizes such that no single unit contains more than a one-month supply of marijuana.

(B) a producer shall place any product containing marijuana in a child-resistant and light-resistant package. A package shall be deemed child-resistant if it satisfies the standard for “special packaging” as set forth in the poison prevention packaging act of 1970 regulations, 16 CFR 1700.1(b)(4).


DCP’S REGULATIONS

SEC. 21A-408-66. MARKETING: PROHIBITED CONDUCT, STATEMENTS AND ILLUSTRATIONS; COMMISSIONER REVIEW OF ADVERTISEMENTS

(B) an advertisement for marijuana or any marijuana product shall not contain:

(3) any statement, design, or representation, picture or illustration that is obscene or indecent;

(4) any statement, design, representation, picture or illustration that encourages or represents the use of marijuana for a condition other than a debilitating medical condition;

(5) any statement, design, representation, picture or illustration that encourages or represents the recreational use of marijuana;


DCP’S REGULATIONS

SEC. 21A-408-66. MARKETING: PROHIBITED CONDUCT, STATEMENTS AND ILLUSTRATIONS; COMMISSIONER REVIEW OF ADVERTISEMENT

(6) any statement, design, representation, picture or illustration related to the safety or efficacy of marijuana unless supported by substantial evidence or substantial clinical data;

(7) any statement, design, representation, picture or illustration portraying anyone under the age of eighteen, objects suggestive of the presence of anyone under the age of eighteen, or contains the use of a figure, symbol or language that is customarily associated with anyone under the age of eighteen;

(8) any offer of a prize, award or inducement to a qualifying patient, primary caregiver or physician related to the purchase of marijuana or a certification for the use of marijuana;


NUMBER OF CERTIFIED PATIENTS

BY DEBILITATING CONDITION:

FEBRUARY, 2015


Condition # Certified % Certified

Wasting Syndrome 50 1%

Parkinson's 53 1%

HIV/AIDS 68 2%

Glaucoma 106 3%

Epilepsy 135 3%

Cachexia 172 4%

Crohn's 183 4%

MS 382 9%

Cancer 568 14%

Spinal Cord Nerve Damage

1100 26%

PTSD 1339 32%

4156 100%

Condition # Certified % Certified

MARIJUANA-BASED MEDICINES

Marijuana-based medicines are being

scientifically developed.

• However this process needs improvement.

• Research must be done on marijuana’s components,

not the raw, crude plant.

MARIJUANA-BASED MEDICINES • Marinol has been on the market for years

• Sativex® is in the process of being studied in the USA for MS patients.

THC:CBD = 1:1

It is administered via an oral mouth spray

Already approved in Canada and Europe

• Also Epidiolex ®, pure CBD, no THC is being studied for seizure disorders, including with young children

CAPP AND PROJECT SAM

FOCUS ON FOUR MAIN GOALS:

1.) To inform public policy with the science of today’s marijuana.

2.) To reduce the unintended consequences of current marijuana policies, such as lifelong stigma due to arrest.

3.) To prevent the establishment of “Big Marijuana” — a 21st-Century tobacco industry that would market marijuana to children. Those are the very likely results of legalization.

4.) To promote research on marijuana in order to obtain FDA-approved, pharmacy-dispensed, cannabis-based medications.

WHAT HAPPENED IN THE 2015

LEGISLATIVE SESSION?

• Several bills were proposed to legalize marijuana for

recreational use for those over the age of 18 – None made it out

of committee, but the legalization process has begun.

• SB 1064 – Proposed to create marijuana research labs

- Expand medical marijuana to children

- Protect nurses from administering medical

marijuana even if their hospital or other medical

facility doesn’t allow it or has no policy for

administering medical marijuana

C R E A T E D B Y :

T H E C O N N E C T I C U T A S S O C I A T I O N O F

P R E V E N T I O N P R A C T I T I O N E R S . T H E

C O N N E C T I C U T C H A P T E R O F S M A R T

A P P R O A C H E S T O M A R I J U A N A ( S A M ) .

THE MYTHS OF INEVITABILITY (BASED ON THREE ASSUMPTIONS)

MYTH #1: Marijuana is Harmless

MYTH #2: Tax Revenues from Sales Will be a Boon

to the State

MYTH #3: It Will Save Money on Law Enforcement and

Incarceration

MYTH #1 : IT’S HARMLESS

Your Father’s Marijuana in 1960s-1970s: 1-4% THC

Today’s Marijuana: Up to 40% THC

Different numbers on this but regularly 4 – 40 X stronger

MYTH #1: IT’S HARMLESS

HEART: Can cause an increase in risk of heart attack more than fourfold in the hour after use and can provoke chest pain in patients with heart disease*.

LUNGS: Marijuana smoke contains 50-70% more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than tobacco smoke, which can be irritants to the lungs and result in greater prevalence of bronchitis, cough and phlegm production.

* S O U R C E : A M E R I C A N L U N G A S S O C I A T I O N

MYTH #1: IT’S HARMLESS

MENTAL HEALTH: Marijuana use is significantly linked with

mental illness, especially schizophrenia and psychosis but

also depression and anxiety.

PREGNANCY: Marijuana smoking during

pregnancy has been shown to increase

problems with neurological development.

in newborns

* S O U R C E : S U B S T A N C E A B U S E J O U R N A L , M A R .

2 0 1 5 : B A G O T , M I L I N , & K A M I N E R ,

N E U R O T O X I C O L T E R A T O L . 1 9 8 7 ; F R I E D , M A K I N

TRUE: IT’S ADDICTIVE!

1 in 6 teens who try marijuana become addicted.

1 in 10 adults who try marijuana will become addicted to it.

Children and teens are six times likelier to be in treatment for marijuana addiction than for all other illegal drugs combined.

U S I N G U S C E N S U S D ATA A N D C T Y R B S D ATA O N

H I G H S C H O O L M A R I J UA N A U S E R AT E S , C A P P

E S T I M AT E S A B O U T 10 , 0 0 0 H I G H S C H O O L S T U D E N T S

I N C T A R E A D D I C T E D T O M A R I J U A N A R I G H T N O W

S O U R C E : A N T H O N Y , J . C . , W A R N E R , L . A . , & K E S S L E R , R . C . ( 1 9 9 4 ) ;

G I E D D . J . N . , 2 0 0 4

CRASHES AND CRASH FATALITIES

The Colorado Department of

Transportation found that after

passing the “Medical Marijuana”

legislation in the state, drivers who

tested positive for marijuana in fatal

car crashes DOUBLED between 2006

and 2010.

S O U R C E : N A T I O N A L H I G H W A Y T R A F F I C S A F E T Y

A D M I N I S T R A T I O N

LESSONS FROM COLORADO Youth Marijuana Use

• In 2013, 11.16 percent of Colorado youth ages 12 to 17 years old

were considered current marijuana users compared to 7.15

percent nationally. Colorado ranked3rd in the nation and was 56

percent higher than the national average.

• Drug-related suspensions/expulsions increased 40 percent from

school years2008/2009 to 2013/2014. The vast majority were

for marijuana violations.

• There was a 20 percent increase in the percent of 12 to 17 year

old probationers testing positive for marijuana since marijuana

was legalized for recreational purposes.

S O U R C E : R O C K Y M O U N T A I N H I G H I N T E N S I T Y D R U G

T R A F F I C K I N G A R E A R E P O R T S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 5

LESSONS FROM COLORADO Driving under the Influence

• In 2014, when retail marijuana businesses began operating, there was a 32percent increase in marijuana-related traffic deaths in just one year from 2013.

• Colorado marijuana-related traffic deaths increased 92 percent from 2010 – 2014.During the same time period all traffic deaths only increased 8 percent.

• Marijuana-related traffic deaths were approximately 20 percent of all traffic deaths in 2014 compared to half that (10 percent) just five years ago.

• In 2014, when retail marijuana businesses began operating, toxicology reports with positive marijuana results of active THC results for primarily driving under the influence have increased 45 percent in just one year.



LESSONS FROM COLORADO Emergency Room Marijuana and Hospital Marijuana-Related

Admissions:

• In 2014, when retail marijuana businesses began operating, there was a 29percent increase in the number of marijuana-related emergency room visits in only one year.

• In 2014, when retail marijuana businesses began operating, there was a 38percent increase in the number of marijuana-related hospitalizations in only one year.

• In the three years after medical marijuana was commercialized, compared to the three years prior, there was a 46 percent increase in hospitalizations related to marijuana.

• Children’s Hospital Colorado reported 2 marijuana ingestions among children under 12 in 2009 compared to 16 in 2014.



LESSONS FROM COLORADO Diversion of Colorado Marijuana:

• During 2009 – 2012, when medical marijuana was

commercialized, the yearly average number interdiction seizures

of Colorado marijuana increased 365percent from 52 to 242 per

year.

• During 2013 – 2014, when recreational marijuana was legalized,

the yearly average interdiction seizures of Colorado marijuana

increased another 34 percent from 242 to 324.

• The average pounds of Colorado marijuana seized, destined for

36 other states, increased 33 percent from 2005 – 2008

compared to 2009 – 2014.



LESSONS FROM COLORADO THC Extraction Labs:

• In 2013, there were 12 THC extraction lab explosions compared

to 32 in 2014.

• In 2013, there were 18 injuries from THC extraction lab

explosions compared to 30 in 2014.

Diversion by Parcel:

• U.S. mail parcel interceptions of Colorado marijuana, destined for

38 other states, increased 2,033 percent from 2010 – 2014.

• Pounds of Colorado marijuana seized in the U.S. mail, destined

for 38 other states, increased 722 percent from 2010 – 2014.



LESSONS FROM COLORADO Related Data:

• Overall, crime in Denver increased 12.3 percent from 2012 to 2014.

• Colorado annual tax revenue from the sale of recreational marijuana was 52.5million (CY2014) or about 0.7 percent of total general fund revenue (FY2015).

• The majority of cities and counties in Colorado have banned recreational marijuana businesses.

• National THC potency has risen from an average of 3.96 percent in 1995 to an average of 12.55 percent in 2013. The average potency in Colorado was 17.1percent.

• Denver has more licensed medical marijuana centers (198) than pharmacies (117)



TRUE: POOR ACADEMIC

ACHIEVEMENT

Individuals who are daily

users of cannabis before

age 17 are over 60% less

likely to complete high

school or obtain a degree

compared to those who

have never used the drug.

T H E L A N C E T P S Y C H I A T R Y , S I L I N S & M A T T I C K

S E P T . 2 0 1 4 T H E S T U D Y W A S F U N D E D B Y T H E

A U S T R A L I A N G O V E R N M E N T N A T I O N A L H E A L T H

A N D M E D I C A L R E S E A R C H C O U N C I L .

TRUE: IT CAUSES BRAIN DAMAGE

IN ADOLESCENTS

The hippocampus, which is directly associated with regulating

memory and emotions, was found to be 12% smaller in marijuana

users as compared to non users.

A 2012 Duke University study demonstrated an average 6 point

permanent drop in IQ among teens who use marijuana 3-5 times per

week.

S O U R C E : M E I E R , M . H . , E T A L . , 2 0 1 2 ; M A C L E O D , J . ,

E T A L . , 2 0 0 4 .

SOURCE: http://www.drugabuse.gov

MYTH #1: IT’S HARMLESS TO RECAP—The science is emerging on the effects of marijuana, but we can say with certainty that marijuana use is significantly linked with:

Addiction

Heart and lung complications

Mental illness

Car crashes

IQ loss and poor school outcomes

Poor quality of life outcomes

MYTH #2 : THE REVENUES WILL BE A

BOON TO THE STATE

It Will Bring in Revenue

Just Like:

The Tobacco Tax

The Gambling Money

Alcohol Tax

MYTH #2: THE REVENUES WILL BE A

BOON TO THE STATE

MYTH #3: IT WILL SAVE MONEY ON LAW

ENFORCEMENT AND INCARCERATION



But S.A.M. agrees. There is no reason to imprison

Marijuana smokers. Treatment and or fines are S.A.M.’s

preferred option.

In CT it is a fine for the past 4 years for adult possession of

small amounts of marijuana.



THE MYTHS OF INEVITABILITY (BASED ON THREE ASSUMPTIONS)

1. Marijuana is Harmless

1. Tax Revenues from Sales Will be a Boon to the State

1. It Will Save Money on Law Enforcement and Incarceration

THERE ARE OTHER CONCERNS…

A Big New Marijuana Industry

There is big money behind marijuana

Among those looking to get in the business are the

tobacco companies

In early 2014 we heard 10 lobbyists had been

contracted in Connecticut, in 2015 or

2016………..?

EDIBLES • A variety of medical marijuana products and

‘edibles’ can be found at dispensaries:

• Brownies, carrot cake, cookies, peanut

butter, granola bars, ice cream. Many such

as ‘Ring Pots’ and ‘Pot Tarts’ are marketed

with cartoons and characters appealing to

children

EDIBLES

ALCOHOL INDUSTRY

“SELF-REGULATION”

Distilled Spirits Council of the United States(DISCUS) Code:

Beverage alcohol advertising and marketing materials

should not contain any lewd or indecent images or

language

Youth Exposure to Alcohol Advertising:

MAGAZINES In 2008, Kids aged 12-21 per capita saw (compared to adults 21 and over):

• 10% more beer ads

• 16% more ads for alcopops

• 73% fewer wine ads

The overwhelming majority of youth exposure (78%)

came from ads placed in magazines with

disproportionate youth audiences. The same

examples are found in radio ads and social media.

-

•

Center for Alcohol

Marketing and Youth

(CAMY.org)

U.S. TELEVISION

• In 2009, 315,581 alcohol product commercials

appeared on U.S. television

• Underage youth ages 12-20 were more likely than

legal age adults on a per capita basis to have seen

67,656 of them or about 21%.

• These ads accounted for more than 44% of youth

exposure to alcohol advertising on television. From 2001

to 2009 – the number of television alcohol ads seen by

the average 12 to 20 year-old increased by 69%, from

217 per year to 366 per year.

Center for Alcohol

Marketing and Youth

(CAMY.org)

DOES LIBERALIZING CANNABIS

LAWS INCREASE CANNABIS USE?

“ the impact of decriminalization is concentrated

amongst minors, who have a higher rate of uptake in

the first 5 years following its introduction”.

S O U R C E : J O F H E A L T H E C O N O M I C S 3 6 ;

W I L L I A M S & B R E T T E V I L L E - J E N S E N

IN CONCLUSION Marijuana is harmful (all drugs are).

Revenues will be eclipsed by new costs. The only money to be

made is by marijuana entrepreneurs.

We don’t save money on legal alcohol, so why would we save

money on legal marijuana? State coffers will suffer, taxes could

increase.

Corporations will act on behalf of their stock holders to

maximize profits. Efforts to put controls on tobacco, alcohol,

etc. have not worked.

THE 2015 CT LEGISLATIVE

SESSION Several bills were introduced to legalize recreational

use of marijuana – These bill went nowhere this session. This is often the pattern. The first several times medical marijuana bills were introduced, these bills were easily defeated.

SB 1064 proposed to expand medical marijuana to kids and create marijuana research labs (a compromise would have resulted in non-smoked medical marijuana for kids).

WHAT CAN WE DO?

Regarding Medical Marijuana

Insist that science and evidence rule our decisions

with both our legislators and regulators

Question DCP’s process of adding new debilitating

conditions without scientific evidence

Ask DCP to adopt a conflict of interest policy for the

Physician’s Advisory Board

WHAT CAN WE DO?

We Need to Educate our Legislators

These bills will keep coming. Both supportive and on-the-fence legislators are telling us that they’re hearing from pro-constituents and lobbyists far more than they’re hearing from opponents of legalization for recreational use

Your legislators need the information in this PowerPoint and to hear your opinions

Prepare for the 2016 Session. CAPP is planning a Feb 10 event up at the Capitol for youth and adults

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Become a member of CAPP

Join us in February

Use the information in this PowerPoint

[email protected]

Connecticut Association of

Prevention Practitioners, Inc.

[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Documents

IMPACTS OF CHANGING MARIJUANA LAWS AND INCREASED USE … · 2015. 10. 13. · FEBRUARY, 2015 Wasting Syndrome Connecticut Association of Prevention Practitioners, Inc. Condition #