Marijuana’s potency has many negative effects

Marijuana today is normalized. Our youths believe it’s a safe, natural, medicinal plant with no negative effects, fueling an increase in mental, physical and emotional issues as well as addiction. We educate on the negative effects of alcohol and prescription drugs, but there are no warnings on marijuana.

The perception that all marijuana is a harmless drug confuses youths. Parents believe it’s the same substance it once was. Acceptance in the media, school, social settings and the political arena leaves our youths misinformed.

At the core of the problem is increased potency. The psychoactive chemical THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) was between 1 and 3 percent potency in the 1960s and 1970s. Today’s marijuana contains THC levels bred to 15 to 50 percent, and in some forms up to 98 percent.

Studies confirm that THC has negative effects on those whose brains are developing (adolescents through age 30). In addition to more than 400 chemicals, the plant often tests positive for pesticides, molds and bacteria (even the organic varieties).

Negative outcomes include the onset or exacerbation of mental, emotional and physical illnesses. Marijuana use can trigger depression, paranoia, psychosis, amotivational syndrome and decreased IQ, and it is linked to the onset of schizophrenia. Early-onset dementia, lung disease and effects of second-hand smoke are also associated.

Repeated marijuana use negatively affects the brain’s ability to produce the “feel good” neurochemical dopamine. Receptors become damaged, causing major depression.

THC disrupts the developing brain’s “pruning,” which discards unnecessary neurological pathways. A recent study shows an association between schizophrenia and pruning. Marijuana users who have a family history of mental illness are vulnerable.

However, there is new research that shows a mutation in gene AKT1 may affect marijuana users even if they have no family history.

Studies show 9 percent of regular users and 17 percent who start young, will become addicted to marijuana. Up to 50 percent will suffer addiction if they use daily, negatively affecting relationships, finances, school and jobs.

Drugged driving fatalities have dramatically increased in recent years. Impairment is ongoing because THC can stay in the body’s fatty tissue cells for up to 60 days. Job-related accidents and crimes committed while using are on the rise — often because of cannabis-induced psychosis, as well as deaths related to marijuana use.

The confusion over what constitutes medical marijuana misleads youths to believe that smoking a joint is good for you. In contrast to claims that marijuana alleviates anxiety, it can actually exacerbate or prolong the symptoms.

The two main components of the plant are THC, the psychoactive compound, and the non-psychoactive CBD (cannabidiol), which counters the THC. Today’s average marijuana cigarette contains very little CBD. As THC levels have risen, the CBD levels have gone down.

A promising non-smoke medicine, CBDs are in laboratory trials to someday be a pharmaceutically-dosed, FDA-tested, medically-supervised prescription drug. If you are an informed adult and marijuana helps you, then perhaps it’s an option for you; however, those who have true medical marijuana needs should be helped by a qualified doctor, not by a salesperson in a dispensary.

Youths are being targeted by those looking to profit from this lucrative product. Just as the tobacco industry did, marijuana is packaged to appeal to young customers. Dispensaries are lined with marijuana-infused gummy bears and cookies. Addicting youths sustains the viability of the marijuana industry.

Legalization does not solve these issues. States that have legalized have not provided adequate safeguards, such as drugged driving and impairment tests, as well as proper dosing and dispensing regulations. Contrary to claims by advocates, these states are seeing numerous negative impacts:

▪  Increased use among youths.

▪  A doubling of the teen addiction rate.

▪  Increased fatal vehicle and other accidents.

▪  Increased crime rates.

▪  No curtailment of the black market.

▪  No reduction in prison populations.

▪  No tax benefits.

Treating mental disorders, accidents, injuries, deaths and illnesses is costly. The costs will far surpass any tax benefits. Alcohol costs the United States $249 billion annually and generates tax revenues of $16 billion; tobacco costs more than $300 billion and generates tax gains of $33 billion.

Our culture needs to catch up to the science. Our children deserve to be educated about the potential negative effects of marijuana before they make choices that can affect them for the rest of their lives.

This story was originally published February 24, 2016 at 8:28 PM with the headline "Marijuana’s potency has many negative effects."