A doctors’ group is taking on cannabis education. On May 20, 2021, the International Academy on the Science and Impact of Cannabis (IASIC) officially launched with a press conference held in San Diego and live streamed across the country.
President of the newly-launched group IASIC, Dr. Eric Voth, is no stranger to addiction and drug policy work. In his forty years involved in the fields of Internal Medicine, Pain Medicine and Addiction Medicine, he confidently asserts, “…We’ve seen marijuana become a serious public health problem…Today, as a direct result of rigorous efforts to legalize and normalize marijauna, it is responsible for a host of medical problems.”
Think on these things before getting too deep into smoking Weed* * Or what the science of marijuana is telling us about the harmful effects of marijuana for you, your friends, or your kids.
A book by Kevin G. Becker Ph.D. reviewed by Sally Schindel
It is a long title for a 222 page VERY readable book.
I have read dozens of books about marijuana – the drug and the industry, mental health harms caused by marijuana, substance use disorders and treatment and recovery. Additionally, I’ve read books about the reasons so many feel commercializing and normalizing marijuana is acceptable public policy.
Many of the books left me feeling buried and over my head.
I’m not a scientist or medical professional. I’m a retired accountant/financial advisor and a Mom forever grieving the loss of my son Andy to marijuana-induced suicide.
Colorado State Representative Judy Amabile of Boulder gave riveting personal testimony of her son on May 26. Along with many others, she spoke in favor House Bill 21-1317, “Regulating Marijuana Concentrates.”
She described how her son began using Colorado marijuana in 8th grade. He had his first psychotic break at 18. He now has schizoaffective disorder. “Let’s not talk about him today. It’s too late for him. Let’s talk instead about your children and thousands of other children who are negatively being impacted by the use of marijuana,” she said.
Speaking for all families affected by today’s high potency pot, she continued, “We are done being shamed and blamed into silence.”
Finally, a parent in a position to make a difference gave a story comparable to those told on Parents Opposed to Pot, Moms Strong and Johnny’s Ambassadors. Many parents testified in favor of the House bill. Some of their children survived marijuana, but others, such as Johnny Stack, did not.
The bill passed in the committee and then the Colorado House last week. Rep. Yadera Caraveo of Thornton, Rep. Tim Geitner of Falcon and House Speaker Alec Garnett of Denver co-sponsored the legislation.
The Denver Gazette wrote an article about the bill’s content and Rep. Judy Amabile’s remarkable speech. The bill passed the entire Colorado House of Representatives and a version is currently being debated in the Senate.
In the Senate testimony, Kirk Quitter, principal of a Boulder Valley High Schoo, said that he’s witnessed several psychotic breaks in school. “We’re gambling away our kids for money,” he exclaimed. Let’s hope the Senate uses its conscience and rubberstamps this bill.
A summary of the bill.
“The bill requires the Colorado School of Public Health to do a systematic review of the scientific research related to the physical and mental health effects of high-potency THC marijuana and concentrates. The bill creates a scientific review council to review the report and make recommendations to the general assembly. Based on the research and findings, the Colorado School of Public Health shall produce a public education campaign for the general public, to be approved by the council, regarding the effect of high-potency THC marijuana on the developing brain and mental health.”
The cannabis industry follows the devil’s playbook on a daily basis in states that have legalized it. After much trial and error, Colorado may put caps on its pot industry.
Two New Exposés of Big Weed
On April 20, Kevin Sabet’s new book, Smokescreen, went on sale across the country. The publisher picked a symbolic date, 420. In 2018, Sabet began to hear from whistleblowers, including Colorado regulators forced by higher-ups to look away. (Disclaimer: Sabet would not endorse the title of this blog, as we tend to be harder-edged than he is.)
