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Marijuana

Marijuana. What is it?. A green and brown mix of dried flowers, stems, seeds and leaves from the hemp plant Cannabis sativa The main active chemical is THC ( tretrahydrocannabinol ) Marijuana is a mild hallucinogen that can also act as a depressant or a stimulant. Growth & Use.

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Marijuana

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  1. Marijuana

  2. What is it? A green and brown mix of dried flowers, stems, seeds and leaves from the hemp plant Cannabis sativa The main active chemical is THC (tretrahydrocannabinol) Marijuana is a mild hallucinogen that can also act as a depressant or a stimulant.

  3. Growth & Use Can be grown indoors or outdoors Usually takes between 2-3 months to cultivate a plant, time also depends on strain Smoked through joints and bongs Consumed through various foods Vaporized

  4. Effects Euphoria Slowed thinking & Reaction time Confusion Impaired Balance & Coordination Cough & Respiratory Infections Impaired Memory & Learning Increased Heart Rate Anxiety Panic Attacks Tolerance Addiction

  5. Effects on the Brain Research has shown that, in chronic users, marijuana's adverse impact on learning and memory can last for days or weeks after the acute effects of the drug wear off.As a result, someone who smokes marijuana every day may be functioning at a suboptimal intellectual level all of the time.

  6. Use in Lynn High School • 38% of High School students report using Marijuana in their lifetime. • 56% of High School students report moderate to great risk from smoking Marijuana regularly. • 61% of High School students report parental disapproval of smoking Marijuana. • 7% of High School students report using Marijuana in the last 30 days. Middle School • 16% of Middle School students report using Marijuana in their lifetime. • 69% of Middle School students report moderate to great risk from smoking Marijuana regularly. • 89% of Middle School students report parental disapproval of smoking Marijuana. • 11% of Middle School students report using Marijuana in the last 30 days.

  7. How do we compare to the State?

  8. Lynn Surveys: Adults • Adult Surveys • 51.3% say they believe Marijuana to be very harmful to youth • 30.8% believe the youth they associate with smoke weekly. • 92% of adults surveyed said they believe it is fairly easy to very easy for youth to get marijuana

  9. Lynn Surveys: Youth • Youth do not know the current penalties for possession of Marijuana (47%) • 91% said it is fairly easy to very easy for youth to get marijuana • 11.6% said that in the last 30 days they had driven a car at least once when they had been using Marijuana • 22% said that in the last 30 days they had ridden in a car at least once by someone who had been using Marijuana

  10. Lynn Surveys: Patrol Officers • 74.4% of patrol officers believe that the reason for the increase in youth marijuana use is the decriminalization of Marijuana in 2008. • 56% of patrol officers they believe that changing Marijuana laws are effective in reducing youth marijuana use.

  11. Interviews • Approximately 20 interviews were conducted with youth workers and police officers in Lynn • Both youth workers and police believe Marijuana to be the current “drug of choice” for today’s youth • Approximately 90% of school drug-related suspensions were for Marijuana related issues • Over the past year there have been 3 murders of young people in Lynn in relation to Marijuana deals

  12. Current State and Local Law Decriminalization of Marijuana in January 2009 Decriminalized to civil offense for possession of 1oz or less 18+: Fine of $100 and forfeiture of Marijuana Under 18: Forfeiture of Marijuana and completion of drug awareness program and parents contacted. If not completed in 1 year, the fine may be increased to $1,000 Public Consumption of Marijuana Local Ordinance In addition to the $100 state fine, anyone who is caught smoking Marijuana in public will be fined an additional $300 and Forfeiture of Marijuana.

  13. Synthetic Marijuana (K2 or Spice) Designer drug made to mimic the high of Marijuana Originally became popular in Europe in 2004 and started being used in the U.S. in 2009 It is thought that K2 is a mix of various legal herbs coated in an unknown chemical. This is hard to detect due to the chemical reactions of these various herbs and chemicals. Effects: Couchlock (inability to move), persistent body numbness, blacking out, blurred vision, high blood pressure, lung irritation, and severe headaches

  14. Marijuana as “Medicine” Legalizing “Medical” Marijuana is just one step closer to complete legalization Research shows that there are some medical uses for various parts of the Marijuana plant Marinol and Cesamet: synthetic THC that is used to treat the nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy There are current studies on the medicinal benefits of the marijuana plant; however, to date, medical research does not support smoked marijuana as having any medicinal benefits. (Sativex, mouth spray)

  15. “Medical” Marijuana in the U.S. • 16 States & DC have “medical” marijuana • Alaska • Arizona • California • Colorado • DC • Delaware • Hawaii • Maine • Michigan • Montana • Nevada • New Jersey • New Mexico • Oregon • Rhode Island • Vermont • Washington • More than 13 States have pending legislation or ballot initiatives to legalize “medical marijuana”, including: • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Florida • Idaho • Massachusetts • Michigan • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Ohio • Oregon • Washington

  16. More than Starbucks?!?! • There are now more “medical marijuana” dispensaries in California and Denver than there are Starbucks • States that have legal “medical marijuana” are at the top of the list in terms of drug addiction and abuse among 12-17 year olds

  17. Bill HB3885 Current Status: May 2: The Joint Committee on Public Health’s deadline to take action on HB3885- Ballot Bill. If it dies in committee… July 3: Deadline for petitioners to get an additional 11,500+ signatures to ensure the question to legalize “medical marijuana” in Massachusetts is on the November 2012 Ballot. What this Bill will do: • Will create Marijuana Stores in MA • Allows Virtually ANYONE to obtain Marijuana- Not only “Chronically Ill” • Makes Health Care Professionals the Gatekeepers of an Illicit Substance • State Employees at Risk of Arrest • In Other States, this has NOT worked- there is increased drug use, crime, and nuisance; healthy people main utilizers

  18. What we are up against Compassion Reality More than 80% of “medical marijuana” card holders in CA and CO are white males 17-35 years old with no history of chronic pain but a history of drug and alcohol abuse. 90% of cards are registered for such ailments as headaches and athletes foot. Only 5% of cardholders have HIV/AIDS, Cancer, or Glaucoma Patients with HIV/AIDS, Cancer, & Glaucoma Pro-Marijuana groups have found a way to resonate with American voters by making their message about compassion for the sick and dying

  19. What would a dispensary look like? There’s no such thing as a prescription for Marijuana, it’s a recommendation, often made by a doctor who is not the patients normal doctor Dispensary owners and workers are NOT doctors or pharmacists A Medical Marijuana card allows a person to carry a 60 day supply on their bodies at any time.

  20. Arguments of Opposition Argument 1: If we legalize Marijuana there won’t be such a desire for people to use it. Fact 1: There are 15.2 million Marijuana users, 129 million alcohol users, and 70.9 million tobacco users. Massachusetts already ranks 30% higher in youth marijuana use than the nation. In 1979, after 11 states decriminalized marijuana the U.S. saw the highest rates of marijuana use in history, 51% of high school seniors that year.

  21. Arguments of Opposition Argument 2: Marijuana is NOT addictive. Fact 2: ~ 1 in 6 teens who use marijuana become addicted ~ 2/3 of people with substance abuse disorders are dependent on Marijuana

  22. Arguments of Opposition Argument 3: We should tax Marijuana so the state can make money off of it. Fact: U.S. costs vs. Taxes (federal + state) Alcohol: $235 Billion vs. $14.5 billion (6%) Tobacco: $193 Billion vs. $25 billion (13%) Illicit Drugs: $181 Billion

  23. Arguments of Opposition Argument 4: If we just make marijuana legal we won’t have as much crime or public safety issues. Fact: CO “medical” marijuana dispensaries attract or cause numerous public safety and crime issues including murders, burglaries, money laundering and decreased quality of life in neighborhoods near dispensaries. Marijuana is the most prevalent illegal drug detected in impaired drivers, fatally injured drivers, and motor vehicle crash victims. 2.7 Million Alcohol Arrests ~not including violence issues 847,000 Marijuana Arrests

  24. Perception of Harm Perception: “Oh it’s just Pot, I did it when I was a kid and I’m fine” Fact: THC levels in today’s marijuana is much stronger 1965: Approx. 3.4% 2009: Approx. 9.75%

  25. Problem with Ballot Initiative • Food and Drug Administration (FDA) The FDA is responsible for researching and defining which drugs are safe for human consumption. Can we as voters? • Determine the benefits and risks? • Determine the appropriate dosage levels? • Determine how it may interact with other drugs? • Identify and monitor side effects? • Assure standardization of the drug? • Identify safe drug administration? The FDA has determined that parts of the Marijuana plant would be beneficial medically, they are doing research as we speak, and we already have 2 synthetic drugs approved by the FDA and are being used today.

  26. Massachusetts Prevention Alliance Projected Statewide Messages. • (1) Youth • (2) Jobs & Economy • (3) Academic Performance • (4) Crime & Public Safety • (5) Drug use rates Making sure MA voters know what the bill really entails. • In CA, those who voted NO on Prop 19 to fully legalize Marijuana, thought that Marijuana should be legalized but did not like the specifics of the Bill.

  27. Massachusetts Prevention Alliance and Regional Groups • MAPA is in the process of breaking down CA votes by demographics • MAPA is in the process of testing messages to see which message resonates with different demographics, age ranges, and other various groups of people. • MAPA has also played a key roll in testifying to the Joint Committee on Public Health about the dangers of “medical marijuana” to the youth of Massachusetts • Subcommittees have been formed for each region of MA • A Northeast Regional Subcommittee of MAPA has formed and has a draft of a plan to reach out to supporters. If you are interested in being a part of the Lynn group and/or the regional group please let me know!

  28. References • National Institute on Drug Abuse: Research Report Series on Marijuana Abuse • Above the Influence Website • Science Daily: Dr. Anthony Scalzo M.D. • Presentations by Kevin Sabet, former policy analyst for Washington DC Drug Czar Gil Kerlikowski • Sue Thau, Police Consultant for CADCA • True Compassion. What’s Really Medical About Marijuana? 2011. Available: www.truecompassion.org • United States Department of Health and Human Services. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Office of Applied Studies. National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2009. • Colorado drug Investigator’s Association. Survey of 29 Colorado Law Enforcement Agencies on Crimes that Occurred at Medical Marijauna Dispensaries between January 2009-July 2009. • National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Drug Involvement of Fatally Injured Drivers. U.S. Department of Transportation Report No DOT HS 811. Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 2010. • Dupont, Robert M.D. Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse. “Why We Should Not Legalize Marijuana” April 2010. www.cnbc.com/id/362672233/Why_We_Should_Not_Legalize_Marijuana

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