If we had known then what we know now about its health risks, the 24 states that have legalized recreational marijuana probably wouldn't have rushed to do so. What was previously marketed to users as harmless and healthy has been found to be associated with symptoms such as: cannabis hyperemesis syndrome (uncontrollable vomiting), marijuana use disorder (also known as leading to “addiction”)It has a negative impact on life and health.”); and even the onset schizophreniaespecially among young men.
Thomas McClellan, the Obama administration's deputy drug trafficker, said, “The vast majority of cannabis-related problems affect people between the ages of 12 and 25, which means the problem is going to be a long-term problem.'' Pointed out.
But here we are. Despite resistance from some states (including Florida, North Dakota, and South Dakota in November's elections) to legalization, there is no turning back. Even though cannabis remains illegal under federal law, cannabis $43 billion industry (Legal cannabis sales are expected to reach $700 million this year) New York state alone).
But in contrast to alcohol and tobacco, to which cannabis advocates often compare them, cannabis products lack standardized health warnings and easily understood potency measurements. The federal government still legally considers cannabis a dangerous “controlled substance” but plays no role in regulating it, leaving cannabis and related “edibles” regulated by a patchwork of state rules. are. Just like with alcohol and tobacco after Prohibition, it's time to bring order to this chaos. Strong, standardized health warning labels, easy-to-understand and standardized efficacy measurements, and taxes to discourage use rather than raise state and federal revenue. The whole pot.
Every package of cigarettes sold in America contains a strong, standardized health statement caveat“Smoking causes lung cancer, heart disease, and emphysema.” All alcoholic beverage containers are labeled regarding risks to pregnancy. In contrast, state health warnings for cannabis are wide-ranging. In California, the label says “This product can expose you to marijuana smoke, which is known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, and other reproductive harm. ” However, what is needed in neighboring Oregon is label warning The pot is “only for use by adults over the age of 21.” Keep it out of the reach of children. ” of New York State. cannabis control boardThe warning is much less specific: “Smoking or vaping is harmful to your health.” “We're just as concerned about dogs and cats as we are about children,” they warn, “and keep them out of the reach of children and pets.”
The same regulatory crazy quilt applies to drug potency, or how much THC, the chemical that causes marijuana's intoxicating effects, is in legal products. Most states require labels that indicate how many milligrams of chemicals per ounce are in “flower” products. However, states vary in what percentages they accept. In Massachusetts, that standard is just 5 mg. However, 13 states, including California, have set the standard at 10 mg of THC.
More concentrated but legal products may contain much higher percentages of THC. A “Blue Cookie” sold at a retail store on the Upper East Side is listed at 20.9%. Furthermore, just as we understand that an 8% ABV beer is stronger than Bud Light (4.2%), how should the average consumer interpret such numbers? Some of you may be wondering. you need to check. colorado cannabis website To know that “a single dose of 10 mg of THC is likely to cause effects.” Ability to drive, bike, and engage in other activities, especially for occasional consumption” Can be found in cannabis edibles in Oregon 50mg of THC.
As with tobacco, the Federal Food and Drug Administration should set product standards and the Surgeon General should issue standard health warnings nationwide. Everything else favors the growth of “big pots” like Big Tobacco. This goes against the romantic idea that small growers, for example, will revitalize upstate New York. This is a product of the fact that the Cannabis Act currently prohibits interstate transportation, and any cannabis that is legally sold must be grown in the state.
The Trump administration will have to make a decision if it wants to take steps to curb marijuana use. First, the drug would need to be removed from the official schedule of more powerful drugs. Democrats have pushed such proposals through party lines. Cannabis Control and Opportunity Act. The advantage of such a strategy is the opportunity for more extensive research and standardized national health warnings. The alternative would be to take steps to restrict existing state markets, but this is hard to imagine given the explosive consumption of cannabis in states where it is already legal. For example, even among the elderly, Marijuana use jumped from 11% in 2009 to 32% in 2019, according to a federal study.
But even if some federal standards were adopted, it would mean that cannabis regulation and how best to enforce it would remain at the discretion of state and local governments closest to their communities. This is the same as with alcohol. According to the National Alcohol Control Board, “Across the United States, there are hundreds of locations where the purchase of alcohol is completely or partially prohibited.” In fact, in states where marijuana is legal, such as New York and California, local governments may choose to “opt out” of permitting marijuana sales. Nearly half of New York City's 1,520 municipalities do so.
In jurisdictions where the sale of cannabis products is permitted, key approaches will remain to limit sales to adults, avoid the concentration of outlets in certain areas, and actually reduce overall cannabis consumption. .
Paul SamuelsMember of the Substance Abuse Center Expert Advisory Board The Act promotes “particular emphasis on taking measures to deter use by minors, who are of course most at risk from a health perspective.” He emphasizes education for young people and enforcement by vendors at the point of sale, and, as with liquor stores, suspending or revoking the licenses of retailers who do not comply. That means sending undercover law enforcement officers and increasing their numbers.
It also means cracking down on unlicensed black market cannabis sales, just as it did before legalization, even if it means criminal records for those involved in such sales. The black market is clearly widespread. To date, New York state has padlocked 415 illegal smoking establishments and seized 27,000 pounds of illegal marijuana.
Reducing the black market also means repealing unwise laws like New York's, which allows up to six household cannabis plants per adult. The law prohibits the sale of homegrown cannabis, but enforcement is difficult. It should no more be encouraged than condoning Appalachian moonshine.
Furthermore, assuming the authorities are able to control the black market (which is not an easy task), there will come a time when taxes on cannabis products will be significantly increased. It's not to increase state revenue, it's to discourage its use. Tobacco taxes provide a model. According to the American Lung Association, Every 10% increase in the price of cigarettes reduces consumption by about 4% among adults and 7% among young people.
Thanks to a nationwide “tobacco settlement” that funds state governments from tobacco companies responsible for increasing health care costs, our airwaves are left breathless, with dying people expressing regret over their choices. It is filled with images of lung cancer patients. We might be able to do the same with cannabis, starting with parents who have lost children to drug use that started with cannabis. Funding could come from the state's opioid settlement, which pharmaceutical companies and distributors are forced to pay to state and local governments.
Last but not least, as with drunk driving, there is still no accepted standard for driving while impaired. Legalization trumps technology here. According to the National Council of State Legislatures, “Driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) appears to be an increasing factor in impaired driving crashes.However, the group noted that “there is a lack of agreed limits for determining impairment”.
Donald Trump has suggested that important changes could come from Washington. He used the Truth Social platform to support Florida's failed ballot box legalization challenge. But when voters support legalization, he added: “It has to be done right.” That includes making sure you don't smell marijuana anywhere you go, like in many Democratic-run cities. ”
Importantly, he indicated he would be open to “rescheduling” pot to a less dangerous federal designation, which would open the door to further research into its effects, especially “We will focus on research to elucidate the medical uses of marijuana as a Schedule 3 drug.” What problems will he and the nation face, and what will we do if those effects turn out to be worse than expected?
When it comes to abortion, it was Bill Clinton who said our goal is for it to be “safe, legal and rare.” Although we have widely legalized recreational cannabis, it is not at all clear whether it is safe and we have taken steps to reduce its scarcity. These are the wrongs that post-legalization regulations must correct.
Howard Husock is a senior fellow in domestic policy at the American Enterprise Institute.
