Tag Archives: Washington

Data to track Child Abuse and Neglect for 11 + years

As of January 2024, we’ve tracked 312 child abuse deaths related to cannabis in the United States over the past 11 years. Our data comes mainly from news stories found online.  Where are the academic researchers who should be studying this problem?

In three states that track substance use in reports of child abuse  — Arizona, Florida and Texas — marijuana is most frequently listed.  

Yes, Virginia Governor Youngkin was correct to veto a bill that prevented marijuana use from consideration in child safety decisions.

Our count begins in November 2012, when the first two states, Colorado and Washington, voted to legalize pot .Legalizing marijuana sends an underlying message, ‘If it’s legal, it must be safe’; we suspect the number is much higher.  

When recreational pot shops opened in January 2014, the Colorado news media reported on three pot-related child deaths. Pro-pot activists wondered if it could dampen public opinion of legalizing pot, but national media chose not to report it.

Using Texas to typify what happens

Although a new report should be released any day, we share the chart from the report from Texas in 2022.  Of 182 child abuse or neglect deaths in 2022, 73 of the perpetrators were active marijuana users at the time, 40 percent. Fifty-nine percent were former marijuana users.  Texas includes unsafe sleeping as a factor in death, as it contributes to about 30 -50 deaths per year.  Education on child safety and not using drugs would reduce that number.  Texas has made admirable attempts to bring down the number of child deaths, but 60 to 75 percent of reported deaths over several years involve substance use. Continue reading Data to track Child Abuse and Neglect for 11 + years

Marijuana advertising lies, so where’s the outrage?

Billboards across the country advertise marijuana with false health claims that would never be allowed for tobacco or alcohol.  Big, bold and high (no pun intended), these signs help to sell the drug — while being seen by thousands of children.

Seen in Massachusetts

Why can’t state regulators stop these assaults on the public that attempt to portray weed as the road to a long life and better health?

Our answer: the cannabis industry which has legions of lobbyists in state governments — routinely prevails against sensible legislation. Only the states of Vermont and Montana ban billboard advertising. Most states struggle to regulate marijuana because the industry overpowers legislators with incredible promises.

Portland, Oregon

This sampling of billboards from around the country proves that the cannabis industry gets away with “murder” in legalization states.  It also proves that the ganjapreneurs, or so-called cannabis “doctors,” make fraudulent claims.  

Las Vegas

Quack Medicine and Phony Doctors

No ethical doctor would claim that cannabis is the road to a long and healthy life.  It’s about as medical as 100-proof alcohol.  Heavy, long-term cannabis users, like smokers and heavy drinkers, shorten their lives.   Even when some choose cannabis for palliative care, the drug doesn’t do anything comparable to real medicine.  Many with cancer try cannabis and reject it. Washington state

The “medical” marijuana industry’s false advertising began when they adopted a green cross, a pharmaceutical sign used in Europe.  The gimmick continued by using the term “dispensary, ” which means a clinic, or a room where medicine is dispensed.  Marijuana is numbness, not medicine.   Chicago in 2021

The pot industry understands addiction marketing.   In Chicago, 2021, Cresco Labs ran billboards repeating the word, EVERYDAY several times.   Of course, a public outcry followed.  

Marketing sex

After public outcry, an advertisement for cannabis-infused drinks near O’Hare Airport was replaced with something less sexual.

More recently, drivers into Chicago and O’ Hare Airport were greeted with a large billboard exclaiming that cannabis-infused drinks are better than SEX.  Big bold letters and hot red on a white background were used to capture attention.

A public outcry followed, with complaints written in the Chicago newspapers.  We’re happy to see that the sign was recently replaced,  but it still advertises for cannabis-infused drinks.

In Washington state, signs of pretty young women lure people into a pot shop called “Green Lady Marijuana.”

What about the Freebies?  

In Colorado, one billboard announced Free Dabs.   

Even worse, an activist group in Washington, DC,  gave out free marijuana with COVID shots.  The program was called “Joints for Jabs.”   Washington, DC, bans pot shops but allows gifting.

Most despicable are the advertising campaigns trying to get parents, and particularly women, to use weed.   Based on the number of child abuse deaths caused by pot-using parents and the knowledge that pregnant women must not use cannabis, these promoters must be stopped.

We may hate the cannabis industry, but give them credit for being some of the biggest con artists of our era — better than Big Tobacco and the opioid industry.

Have any complaints ever worked? 

Yes, a Colorado store with a mural of Cookie Monster from Sesame Street was forced to take it down after Sesame Street sued.  

Cookie Monster with pot cookies in Colorado, 2015.  A lawsuit forced the mural to be removed.

In California, a father complained the pot shops weren’t following the promise of Prop 64 not to advertise on interstate highways. He sued and won.

Editor’s Note:  Many of these signs are no longer visible, but the article is meant to alert the public of cannabis industry tactics.

With the push to legalize, pediatric pot poisonings surge

Pot poisonings are increasing the caseload of emergency rooms, all over the country

Over the last decade, there has been a national push to legalize marijuana. Pop stars, athletes, actors, and politicians have created a culture celebrating Pot as a wonderfully benign narcotic. So far, twenty-one states and Washington, D.C., have legalized weed, with several others laying the groundwork to do so. However, as more data becomes readily available from studying the impact of legalization, it is becoming clear that making weed legal has had one devastating effect – endangering the lives of children.  

Our last article revealed over 300 child abuse and neglect deaths associated with cannabis. 

Recent studies have revealed a correlation between the legalization of recreational marijuana for adults with a significant increase in “pediatric cannabis poisonings.” Continue reading With the push to legalize, pediatric pot poisonings surge

Politicians play into Koch vs. Soros models of pot legalization

Politicians take sides when it comes to marijuana legalization. A Koch model believes that marijuana legalization offers new ways to make money (good for the economy), while a Soros model wants to undo the “war on drugs,”   which the US abandoned long ago.  Read Part I.   Follow us by email to get our blog articles.

The first two states to legalize, Colorado and Washington, may illustrate the differences.  Colorado has always been a libertarian free-for-all of legalization.  (However, Colorado has been forced to put warning labels on products over 10% THC, resulting in the largest downturn ever seen.

Washington State, on the other hand, used an ACLU lawyer to write its ballot and Soros bankrolls the ACLU.  The ACLU cares deeply that minorities are incarcerated at higher rates than white Americans.

However, Washington may have to crack down on its marijuana industry too.  A leaked scientific report from Washington recom-mends raising the age requirement for high-potency products to 25.
Continue reading Politicians play into Koch vs. Soros models of pot legalization