Marijuana

Marijuana has often been referred to as a ‘gateway drug’. This means that if a  person were to do something that had some kind of ‘risk’ attached to it, and there was no immediate (apparent) consequence, then the perceived threshold of risk may become lowered. A person is then more likely to try other risky things.

Marijuana has always been classified as an hallucinogenic drug. Today’s marijuana is more potent than ever.

The use of marijuana of years ago always had risks, but can barely be compared to the strains of marijuana available today. Today’s marijuana compared to two decades ago is 10-20 (or 300% to 400%) times more potent Recent reports are high as 30+ times more potent, and marijuana oil is reported to be 60 times more potent.  Marijuana can no longer be thought of as some sort of social or recreational drug. It is powerful and can cause great harm.

• Some Effects of Marijuana;
  • Is 10-20 times more potent than two decades ago (some super strains have been tested to 30+ times)
  • Compromises production of serotonin and melatonin, the hormones produced that facilitates us to ‘feel well’ is damaged. This may or may not be reversible damage. Accordingly marijuana can contribute to and cause lethargy, anxiety disorder, depression, bi polar disorder and other emotional and psychological issues. This includes a new finding as a result of relaxed marijuana laws in Colorodo.; CHS,  Cannibanoid Hyperemesis Syndrome which causes dehydration and kidney failure. Also a new psychiatric term is in use; Marijuana Psychosis
  •Is now been linked to triggering schizophrenia
  • Can cause respirator and increase risk of cancer as the smoke is inhaled deeply and held in the lungs
  • Has over 400 carcinogens
  THC, the active hallucinogenic chemical stores in the body’s fatty tissue for 1 1/2  to 2 years and can be released into the bloodstream at any time.
  • Loss of work and wages, irritability (even rage), relationship disconnects (anti-social), stubbornness and rationalization, compromised ability to cope.
  It takes up to 2 years for THC to be excreted from the body as it becomes stored in fatty tissue.
  • Marijuana is addictive

Potential Medical Benefits of Marijuana
THC9 is the active euphoric ingredient with no shown medicinal benefits. In fact higher THC means lower CBD (Cannabidiol). CBD is the desired medicinal ingredient. An abundance of CBD receptors are confirmed to be in our body.  It remains that TH9 the euphoric ingredient is  not a medically desirable trait for marijuana.

Recent research has shown that the body has an abundance of cannabinoid receptors making cannabinoid research very valuable as a medicinal substance or ‘carrier’ of other medication.  However, to date there has been little validating researcj of  medical benefits from the hallucinogenic component of the cannabinoid- THC9.
Marijuana has been available for over a decades without the hallucinogenic component THC9 removed, available in pill form (Marinol, Sativex) and soon as a Zero THC9 strain of  plant from Israel. These options are often less popular with the majority of users as as the user gets no feeling of euphoria.

Marijuana as a ‘gateway drug’
The term ‘gateway drug’ means that doing that drug can lead to other inappropriate things. Where there is some sort of ‘risk’ attached to a behaviour or in this case the substance of marijuana, and no ‘apparent’ consequence incurred having used it, then a person’s threshold of risk  may become lowered. A person is then more likely to try other inappropriate or risky things. Marijuana is a gateway drug.

Legalization of Marijuana
It has long been known that marijuana and hashish has been legal in Amsterdam, Holland. What has not been widely publicized (probably due to the powerful lobby for marijuana legalization all over) is that due to so many citizens using drugs (ie marijuana and hashish) the social – economic fabric of their society has reached an all time low. The health issues of users has cause epidemic numbers of depression, lethargy etc. The use of drugs ( particularly legalized marijuana and hashish)  has added costs to their health care system costs, and their welfare and housing costs  (due to a compromised desire to work ) causing a serious social and economic crash.

Recently Colorado (and other states) have  legalized marijuana as a way to control sales and distribution, and collect tax revenue. It is also initially very profitable and political platform (so are guns). They citizens and politicians need only  look at the Amsterdam model to see the decay and detriment to society. They are dealing with a serious social and economic  problem now as a result of their drug policies.

The result in Colorado so far is that the legalization has made it even more difficult to police. Now, due to legalization, it has become very easy to buy $20 worth of marijuana available in the store for $10 in the street… no tax collected or given to the government. Currently all sales are cash (millions upon millions of dollars)  that due to Federal regulations are unable to be deposited by growers and sellers in to any bank. This years sales in Colorado will be about  $1 Billion (2016). This has caused an immediate  ‘black market’ cash effect on the economy. Purchases are being made for everything from cars , houses , Home Depot and groceries in cash. With all that cash comes crime.  A floodgate has been opened, and time will tell.

The largest segment of marijuana users are youth in the age group of 16-25 years old. The American Pediatric Association amongst a myriad of other reputable sources  points out in detail  the damaging physical and psychological effects of marijuana use, especially in this vulnerable demographic.

Colorado legalized the commercialization of medical marijuana in 2010 and recreational marijuana use in 2014. For the study,  researchers reviewed the hospital system’s emergency department and urgent care records for 13- to 21-year-olds seen between January 2005 and June 2015. They found that the annual number of visits with a cannabis related diagnostic code or positive for marijuana from a urine drug screen more than quadrupled during the decade, from 146 in 2005 to 639 in 2014.

Following legalization in Colorado,  ER’s treatment of  marijuana related mental illness also quadrupled (2017) . ‘Adolescents with symptoms of mental illness accounted for a large proportion (66 percent) of the 3,443 marijuana-related visits during the study period, said lead author George Sam Wang, MD, FAAP, with psychiatry consultations increasing from 65 to 442. “Impact of Marijuana Legalization in Colorado on Adolescent Emergency Visits”  (University of Colorado Medicine and American Academy of Pediatrics, 2017)

The argument for ‘Medical Marijuana’ (as in Canada) is championed by those who are misinformed who may be  looking for a popular voting platform, or just wants to get high. Canada currently offers licensed use for medical marijuana. Given the numbers those with license to use and those with license to grow, it would appear that we have an epidemic health issue (see chart below). There are just not that many sick people in Canada that need marijuana.

Marijuana for medical purposes has been available in pill form for many years in organic or synthetic form going back to the 1970’s. It‘s analgesic and beneficial properties exceed the effects of smoking marijuana… and last twice as long. Every dose comes in pill form and unlike smoking is uniform and exact. There are no harmful side effects, and no effects of euphoria.

We often hear arguments of how with taxation revenues, the sale of marijuana makes good economic sense. Rubbish. With consideration  protracted mental , emotional, medical and all other costs involved the legalization of marijuana comes down to a quick cash grab, a current popular political platform , with an unfathomable long term price tag to the wellness of individuals  families and communities.

Recent research has shown that the body has an abundance of cannibanoid receptors. Making cannibanoid research very valuable as a substance as a‘carrier’ of other medication.    However , to date there have been no medical benefits  of  note from the hallucinogenic component of the canibinoid THC9.
There are available forms of marijuana today that have had the component THC9 removed resulting in an elevated (medically desirable) CBD (cannibidiol).  This is sometimes referred to a ‘Zero THC marijuana’. These options are often less popular with the  majority of users.

Where there may be wonderful medical benefits from cannabis in the future, the use of this substance is still in its early stages of research. Early exploitation of its use before adequate research is done could cause setbacks to its long term safe beneficial uses.

Where there are those that shout out that ‘Big Pharm’ is holding up the wider sales and  distribution of marijuana for selfish marijuana profit, there are some things that should be known.  When Big Pharm gets in the game they deal with the potential of  Big Liability…. big exposure so they need to be careful ensuring a drugs safe use. Big Pharm has annual revenues of $1072 Billion compared to the current marijuana industry’s annual revenue of $1 Billion (Colorado being the largest). Big Pharm has Big political and lobbying clout. If they wanted to dominate this market they would not have a problem doing so.

Stats Canada published (2012) that addiction costs the Canadian Government $40 Billion per Year.

Summary Trend in
Marijuana Licensing – Ontario vs British Columbia 2012 – Stats Health Canada
Regional Information as of
January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012

Region Authorization to Possess

Personal-Use           Production License           Designated Person Production License
Ontario Jan 1, 2012       5,368pp                           3,211                                                  427

Ontario Dec 31, 2012     8,617                               5,044                                                  640
Increase %per 1yr     +60.5%/yr                      +57% /yr                                  +49.8%/ yr 2012

British Columbia            4,982                                2,987                                                 1,182
Jan 1, 2012
British Columbia          13,362                                9,369                                                 2,232
Dec 31, 2012
Increase %per 1 yr   +171% /yr                        +213% /yr                                       +88.9% /yr 2012

Note the population of these 2 provinces; Ontario 13.5 million (2012)
British Columbia 4.65 million.(2012)

According to these stats, it would seem there are some serious health issues… some sort of ‘epidemic’ in the province of B.C. as the numbers of ‘authorized to posses, licensed for personal use and designated production’ are substantially higher than the larger population of the province Ontario. In 2012 the designated time of this census, the population in Ontario was 13.5 million vs B.C. 4.6 million. BC is approximately 1/3 the population of Ontario with increased rates far exceeding Ontario of authorized to posses 171%s, licensed to grow 213% for personal use and designated production of 88.9%.

In consideration of these statistics, perhaps the Government of Canada should consider quarantine or restricted travel of the province of B.C.

It should further be noted that in the US, of those states that allow the use of medical marijuana only 4-5% of users have been diagnosed with Cancer, Parkinson’s, Glaucoma or HIV/Aids. Approximately 90% of  those receiving medical marijuana are receiving their marijuana based on ‘indeterminable pain’ (i.e. pain that a person can claim they have but cannot be confirmed).

It is my opinion that where there is serious illness,  it is only compassionate that no drug  be  withheld. Such an approach does not require a broad brush change in legislation to legalize marijuana for all to use.

Lawrence Lax
Addictions and Counseling (Honors)
https://www.lawrencelax.com/