In yesterday’s column, I explained why I don’t think marijuana should be allowed in Benicia. Today, I dive into further data.
Health & Safety – Increasing Potency
Marijuana today is significantly more stronger than the weak homegrown versions of the ’90s. Marijuana strength has grown from about 4 percent THC in 1995 to nearly 12 percent in 2014; a 200 percent increase in THC and growing. Marijuana growers continue to hybridize plants to breed more potent strains with more and more THC while reducing CBD the natural anti-psychotic that counterbalances the effect of THC. In 2004 the CBD content was 0.5 percent and has dropped to less than 0.2 percent in 2015, a 150 percent reduction. It is noteworthy that the increase in ER admissions almost parallels the rate of marijuana potency over the same time period.
There is a direct link between marijuana and schizophrenic-like psychosis that has been known for years. Dr. Christine Miller, a Baltimore pharmacologist specializing in neuroscience said, “The old version of weaker pot would increase the risk for schizophrenia about twofold; now it is fivefold.” “That equates to about 1 out of 20 people who are moderately heavy users and the risk begins to increase dramatically with weekly use.” “About half of those who experience marijuana-induced psychosis, which can be temporary, will go on to be chronically mentally ill with continued use.”
Health & Safety –
Smoking marijuana does make people more violent
A study by five researchers from institutes based in Montreal examined the lives of 1,136 men and women who were patients at psychiatric hospitals in Missouri, Pittsburgh and Massachusetts. Records were gathered from interviews carried out every ten weeks for a year after their discharge. The conclusions of the study are:
* Researchers said that marijuana causes violence and they found no evidence that the link is the other way round – i.e. that violent people are more likely to use marijuana. This project is the first to demonstrate that marijuana is not only linked with violent crime but is the cause.
* The research found there was a more consistent relationship between marijuana and violence than alcohol or cocaine use and violence. The researchers said the link between marijuana and violence was not two-way but uni-directional.
Health & Safety – Knowing the difference between medical marijuana and recreational marijuana
It was disconcerting to read that Vice Mayor Young state that he thought medical and recreational marijuana was the same. That is simply not true. In layman’s terms, medical marijuana contains a lower level of THC and higher levels of CBD reducing the “high” associated with recreational marijuana. CBD is an anti-psychotic and can be used in treatment of mental illness, helping decrease anxiety, pain and inflammation.
Conversely, recreational marijuana has higher levels of THC combined with high levels of CBD producing a substantial mental high but also contributes to other psychotic conditions as discussed earlier.
Safety – Auto crashes are on the rise
A new study by the Highway Data Loss Institute of the three states that have approved the sale of marijuana for recreational use shows an increase in motor vehicle accident insurance claims. The number of vehicle collisions is 3 percent higher than what would have been if marijuana were not legal. After alcohol, marijuana is the drug most often found in the blood of drivers involved in crashes.
The difficulty in specifically linking marijuana to accidents is that there is no standard test to confirm the driver is under the influence. An added difficulty is that marijuana affects people differently especially if they are a first time user vs. a long term user. Blood test can confirm the presence of THC but the role marijuana plays in crashes is questionable.
The only clear learning at this time is the increasing trend analysis is directly correlated to the legalization of recreational marijuana to the increase in traffic accidents. More study and research is required to develop a hard scientific conclusion.
Safety – Crime
Colorado has experienced a thriving underground marijuana trade where legal pot sales have provided cover. In April, DEA agents told Colorado Springs City Council of more than 186 large-scale (illegal) marijuana growing operations in the city, mostly destined for out-of-state sales. In Oregon, hash oil extraction operations are becoming the new meth labs; explosions of butane used to extract hash oil have rocked houses in Medford and Springfield. In Washington State, 17 THC extraction labs exploded in 2014 alone. The risk to the public to these endeavors and explosions is significant.
Health and Safety – Teen Use of Marijuana
There is a direct correlation between the legalization of recreational marijuana and the use of marijuana by teens from the ages of 12 to 17 years old. Colorado has launched a significant campaign to reduce marijuana use by those 12 up. Currently they are ranked first in the nation for youth use of marijuana. This is a trophy no one wants, and significant work and expense must be dedicated to change that trend. Research shows marijuana is harmful to the developing brains of adolescents, which may result in psychotic symptoms, schizophrenia, drug addiction and lower IQs.
The above information is just the surface of a much deeper problem. It is up to the City Council to conduct their own research, consider all of the consequences, negative and positive before agreeing to proceed with authorizing the distribution and sale of recreational marijuana. The most important piece of information regarding a delay in the decision is that the state is not ready to allow sales to begin on Jan. 1. The state’s progress of developing a policy is only half-way at best with only a couple of months left this year. Benicia should join the more than 95 percent of cities in a 10-plus mile radius in passing ordinances denying the sale, growth and development of marijuana. After that, call a time out, take that time to really study and understand the issue and then proceed at a moderate rate after all of the state rules are in place and understood. Above all, I ask the City Council to remember, you are our representatives and we hold you accountable for developing plans and policies that protect the health and safety of everyone. Fail to do that, and you have failed to represent us faithfully. We will not forgive that failure.
Pastor Rick Warren said it best when he said, “A lie doesn’t become truth, wrong doesn’t become right and evil doesn’t become good just because it’s accepted by a majority.” Marijuana is both a health and a safety issue. Please keep it out of Benicia.
Dennis Lowry is a Benicia resident.
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Hey Dennis, news flash. Horse has left barn. No one really cares about your opinions, legalization is a fact. Prohibition is the equivalent of sticking your head firmly in the sand.
Very good Dennis. Very informative.
1. “That is simply not true. In layman’s terms, medical marijuana contains a lower level of THC and higher levels of CBD reducing the “high” associated with recreational marijuana.”. Nice try, Dennis. Please stop spreading falsehoods.
2. “City Council of more than 186 large-scale (illegal) marijuana growing operations in the city, mostly destined for out-of-state sales.”. This will become less of an issue as more state legalize.
3. “This project is the first to demonstrate that marijuana is not only linked with violent crime but is the cause.”. In essence, making it highly suspect.
3. cont. – Seems the “Motreal” study confirmed one thing and one thing only: crazy people are crazy.
4. “There is a direct correlation between the legalization of recreational marijuana and the use of marijuana by teens from the ages of 12 to 17 years old.”
Colorado, which legalized adult use in 2012, saw a sharp decline of teen cannabis consumption following the opening of recreational pot shops in 2014. The annual National Survey on Drug Use and Health, which was released in December 2016, found 18.35 percent of Colorado teens ages 12-17 had used marijuana within a year. When the 2015 survey was issued, 20.81 percent of teens reported using marijuana within a year.
5. “Marijuana today is significantly more stronger than the weak homegrown versions of the ’90s.” So, how does the marijuana of today fare against the non-homegrown of the 90s?
Contemporary facts are irrelevant to the rabid prohibitionists in our town.
A galactic amount of under-information has been demonstrated by this author alone.
There is no accounting for how many CA Prop. 215 consumers have no prevailing medical condition. It is easy for anyone over 18 to acquire a “medicinal” cannabis recommendation from either their regular clinician, or the host of “pot docs” that will authorize cannabis consumption, for fifty bucks or whatever. The cannabis available to us is hitting 28% THC in some strains. Some medical conditions benefit from high levels of THC and CBD working in concert to alleviate the symptoms the consumer is acquiring it for. Fully recreational consumers are acquiring high THC cannabis under the guise of a medical condition because they enjoy being high on it. The reason cultivators are producing cannabis with high THC levels is because these are driving the market in sales, presently ONLY for medicinal consumers (wink). People like to be high on cannabis, and so what? Responsible adult consumption is not to be feared. Come 2018, most medicinal consumers are expected to abandon the annual ritual and cost of a renewed recommendation, and state ID card that will give them a pass on paying the sales and use tax on the product.
“So while selecting a strain whose cannabinoid profile best suits the symptoms being addressed is definitely a big part of medical (cannabis), inferring that certain strains are medical while others are recreational is a sweeping generalization that simply isn’t true.”
https://tinyurl.com/ydzax9ch
Vice-Mayor Young was correct in his comment about there being no distinction between medicinal and recreational cannabis. This was VALIDATED in a televised workshop by a consultant hired by the city to educate the community. I like Oregon’s simple approach to cannabis product packaging requirements, basically you must be a patient or a 21 adult, keep away from children, and don’t drive a car.
There is NO political consequence to our Mayor, Vice-Mayor and Councilman Schwartzman. The people of Benicia have spoken on this issue. Schwartzman is GUARANTEED re-election next year.
“before agreeing to proceed with authorizing the distribution and sale of recreational (cannabis)”. Does this indicate you are supportive of safe medicinal access?
“Please keep it out of Benicia”? It’s here now.
I do know you can find info to support any side of the cannabis issue. I believe folks that comment have done some research but at the same time the writer has also. I assume it is who you want to believe or which side you are on. I do not want recreational cannabis retail in Benicia. I take the side of Dennis and the educators. But at the same time I also know we will have 1/2 retail recreational cannabis stores in town. Where they are going to be is up in the air. Cannabis will not solve the financial issues of this very fine city. Looking at city’s close by tells a much different story on revenue to the city. I do not think the city staff thinks there will be a huge flow of money to this city. So I guess because it passed that means everyone wants recreational cannabis stores in their backyard. I think not. As they say “Not in my backyard”. We shall see.
It is a drug. It does inebriate. There will be negative effects to society, just as alcohol has negative effects.
It is now legal. Benicia might as well benefit economically.
Kids will smoke pot regardless of it’s availability. They will find the drug and consume. It’s wishful thinking that people believe they prohibit use via law or preventing sales channels. Similar argument can be used regarding gun sales … but I digress ….
Go ahead and set up up the pot shops and tax. Parents will need to do their jobs to prevent kids from getting the stuff. There will be problems in Benicia due to intoxication and we shouldn’t deny that fact. Hemp has some positive effects in terms of medications, but the negatives will exceed the positives.
Bottom line: the stuff is legal. Let’s tax it. But those that believe legal availability to this drug will be a positive to society are, well, just high.
Good comment
A lie doesn’t become truth………………..just because it’s accepted by a majority.” As an aside, I find this a very ironic statement coming from a pastor. More to the point, what is the lie? YIMBY
The truth is there are THREE votes that did not buy the stale baloney offered up at the council meeting when staff was given direction on policy formation. It will be interesting to see who will dare give an encore performance in an attempt to flip one of them.
There may not be a need for a flip it barriers are put in. Such as 500 ft. from a park etc. First Street is out, Solano Square could be out as well as Raley’s. Just what is left. Not much. The real opportunity is at the BIP. That is where the action could be. Delivery etc. Not retail recreational cannabis. That is minor league.
A public health emergency was declared today because of the opioid crisis, in our nation and the world. Here is a scholarly article about opioids, how they work, and how you get to liking them very much, possibly consume too many, and die. It is estimated that close to 150 Americans a day are departing from opioid overdosing. Conversely, cannabis regimens have successfully replaced opioids for pain management. The response to both is pain relief and euphoria, only the cannabis CANNOT kill you if you get too euphoric. Who can forget First Street businessman Tom Hamilton telling the city council cannabis in lieu of opioids saved his veteran friend’s life? I used to get a new bottle of 60 Vicodin in my mailbox once a month until 2009, when I became a Prop. 215 patient. Statistics are indicating a reduction of opioid deaths in regulated states.
https://tinyurl.com/ybqagsos
Replacing one intoxicant with another intoxicant One less addicting than the other. Both will get you stoned. Please don’t drive.
“It was disconcerting to read that Vice Mayor Young state that he thought medical and recreational marijuana was the same. That is simply not true. In layman’s terms, medical marijuana contains a lower level of THC and higher levels of CBD reducing the “high” associated with recreational marijuana. CBD is an anti-psychotic and can be used in treatment of mental illness, helping decrease anxiety, pain and inflammation. Conversely, recreational marijuana has higher levels of THC combined with high levels of CBD producing a substantial mental high but also contributes to other psychotic conditions as discussed earlier.”
Medicinal cannabis with THC percentages from very low to very HIGH has been sold in this state for the last 21 years. In layman’s terms, the above statement is complete BALONEY. It does a great disservice to people that are trying to become more educated about cannabis for them to read BALONEY like this presented as facts. The only difference in “M” or “A” cannabis regulation is in amounts one may possess under the new rules. Additionally, “M” qualified patients can skip paying sales and use tax if they present a state “M” patient ID card. That’s it. Vice-Mayor Young was right all along, and his assessment was substantiated by the consultant that facilitated the cannabis workshop a few months ago.
Here’s more bad news. A lot of anti-cannabis voices rely on the 2009 CPCA position that has now flipped. Just stay home on the 7th if you were counting on the old policy to bolster your view.
https://tinyurl.com/ydd4lcxg
That’s very old news Stan. 3 1/2 years old. Why do you think Vallejo now only has 11 instead of 40 medical cannabis stores. This just puts more power behind the anti cannabis recreational retail stores issue in Benicia. Very simply put Stan. No rush until we have a handle on it. We should hold off get the city regulations in order then if all is well take another look at it. Thanks for the pat on the back to the anti cannabis recreational crowd . Much appreciated. I say vote no on recreational cannabis dispensaries in Benicia. See you on the 7th Stan.
The Republican-controlled legislature in Florida signed off on medicinal cannabis with one exception. They banned smoking but agreed to vaping and edibles, out of concern for the health of Floridians. However, the big money Democrat behind legalization of safe access has filed suit to allow patients to suck smoke if they want to.
https://tinyurl.com/yd6dakgy
Stan more old news. What’s next? Going tell us Jerry Brown is Governor. Stan, how about telling us how the vote will go on Nov. 7th. Just how will this council vote? Do you know?
Here’s more of the “out of sight, out of mind” approach from uber tony Palo Alto, allowing cannabis delivery, but waiting on neighboring communities to form policy. This seems to be the approach all around the Bay Area, cities waiting to see what some other city is doing. Meanwhile, to the consternation of a handful of rabid prohibitionists, the City of Benicia is taking the lead and setting the example for others to follow.
https://tinyurl.com/y988b5ux
Dixon council member tours dispensary, likes what he sees, but fears “bad operators” to sustain his prohibitionist views.
https://tinyurl.com/y8v7ausl
Here is one point of view linking energy drinks to future COCAINE use. Caffeine as a gateway to harder drugs?
“Researchers found that those that reported regular energy drink use were more likely to use cocaine, prescription stimulants, and abuse alcohol at age 25.”
https://tinyurl.com/y94ba8r2
Cross San Jose off the list. There will be a whole bunch more flipping their bans as the clock ticks.
https://tinyurl.com/ybxt6dok