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The Naked Truth aboutMedical Marijuana
Presenters:• Susan R. Thau, MCRP, Public Policy Consultant,
Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America• Thomas J. Gorman, Director, Rocky Mountain High
Intensity Drug Trafficking Area
Advocacy Track
Moderator: Nancy Hale, MA, President and CEO, Operation UNITE
Disclosures
Thomas J. Gorman; Susan R. Thau, MCRP; and Nancy Hale, MA, have disclosed no relevant, real, or apparent personal or professional financial relationships with proprietary entities that produce healthcare goods and services.
Disclosures
• All planners/managers hereby state that they or their spouse/life partner do not have any financial relationships or relationships to products or devices with any commercial interest related to the content of this activity of any amount during the past 12 months.
• The following planners/managers have the following to disclose:– John J. Dreyzehner, MD, MPH, FACOEM – Ownership interest:
Starfish Health (spouse)– Robert DuPont – Employment: Bensinger, DuPont &
Associates-Prescription Drug Research Center
Learning Objectives1. Identify concerns related to marijuana, medical marijuana
and legalization.2. Evaluate the impact of marijuana legalization in Colorado.3. Describe the impact of marijuana use on the adolescent
brain.4. Explain how to track the impact of medical marijuana and
marijuana legalization on public health and safety.5. Prepare attendees to deliver science-based messages that
resonate with the general public.6. Provide accurate and appropriate counsel as part of the
treatment team.
Marijuana 101:Science-Based Marijuana Messages
That Matter
Sue ThauPublic Policy Consultant
CADCA5
6
Much of the content presented today has been created and then formatted into a presentation by CADCA’s Public Policy department. Thus, this presentation is property of said organization and cannot be presented by anyone else.
Please contact CADCA for more information.
The data and other information that does not belong to CADCA has been cited or is available in the public domain. It may be used
elsewhere depending upon the requirements of the original source.
“THE NAKED TRUTH IS ALWAYS BETTER THAN THE BEST-DRESSED LIE.” – ANN
LANDERS
7
THE NAKED TRUTH ABOUT MARIJUANA
8
Marijuana is Addictive
• Long-term marijuana use can lead to addiction. Approximately 9 percent of users will become addicted to marijuana.
• This number increases to 17 percent among those who start young.
9
Budney AJ, Vandrey RG, Hughes JR, Thostenson JD, Bursac Z. 2008. “Comparison of cannabis and tobacco withdrawal: Severity and contribution to relapse.” J Subst Abuse Treat, e-publication ahead of print.
Marijuana is Addictive
10
who start using marijuana in adolescence become addicted
So…1 in 6 Young People
National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse. 2011. Topics in Brief: Marijuana. Available: http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/topics-in-brief/marijuana
11
A l c o h o l T o b a c c o M a r i j u a n a0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
52.42%
25.36%
7.96%
Past month use of select substances, Ages 12 and OLDER, 2013 NSDUH
Source: 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, http://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUHsaeShortTermCHG2014/NSDUHsaeShortTermCHG2014.pdf
Alcohol and Tobacco: A Model?
• Use levels for alcohol and tobacco are much higher than marijuana (7x and 2x respectively)
• Industries promote use and target kids and lower socio-economic status individuals
12Schiller JS, Lucas JW, Peregoy JA. Summary health statistics for U.S. adults: National Health Interview Survey, 2011. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 10(256). 2012.
Centers for Disease Control and +. Vital Signs: Current Cigarette Smoking Among Adults Aged ≥ 18 Years—United States, 2005–2010. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 2011;60(33):1207–12
Alcohol and Tobacco: A Model?
• In Colorado, adult marijuana use is now HIGHEST in the country– 13.6% of adults in CO are regular users, with rates of 18.5% in
Denver• Just like tobacco and alcohol, a report prepared for the Colorado
Department of Revenue showed that “the vast majority of marijuana demand” in that state “emanates from the regular users” – those who consume daily or near daily– In CO, the top 21.8% of users make up almost 67% of demand for marijuana in
the state13
1
https://www.colorado.gov/cdphe/marijuanause 1
2
2 https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/sites/default/files/Market%20Size%20and%20Demand%20Study,%20July%209,%202014%5B1%5D.pdf
Alcohol and Tobacco: A Model?
• The negative social and health effects of marijuana legalization will fall on those least able to bear the burdens of cost and health
• EXAMPLE: Legal marijuana businesses in Denver are already concentrated in lower income and minority neighborhoods
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2015/03/12/the-stereotype-of-the-college-educated-pot-smoker-is-wrong/?tid=sm_fb1
1
2
2http://www.thecannabist.co/2016/01/04/unbalanced-denver-marijuana-landscape-regulation-concerns/45849/
According to the 2015 Monitoring the Future Survey, perceptions about the risks of marijuana
are going down among 12th graders.
15
Diversion To Youth
Increased Use Among Teens• Pacula et al found that two features of medical marijuana –
home cultivation and dispensaries – are positively associated with youth marijuana use and “have important implications for states considering legalization of marijuana.”
• An Emory University study found an 8.3% increase in the baseline prevalence rate caused by having retail dispensaries, as well as a 5% increase in youth initiation rates for marijuana related to medical marijuana laws
17
Wall, M., et al., 2011; Johnston, L.D., et al., 2011. and Pacula et al 2013Wen, Hefei. Hockenberry, Jason M. Cummings, Janet R. The effect of medical marijuana laws on adolescent and adult use of marijuana, alcohol, and other substances. 22 May 2014. Journal of Health Economics.
1
2
1
2
18
A Recent Australian Study on Individuals Prescribed Opioid Painkillers That Also Used “Medical Marijuana” (1 in 6 participants) found that they:
• Were more likely to take opioids in ways not recommended by their doctor
• Were over twice as likely to have an alcohol use disorder and four times as likely to have a heroin use disorder
• Were over 50 percent more likely to be taking anti-anxiety medications (benzodiazepines), which when combined with opioids are particularly likely to cause an overdose
Degenhardt, Louisa. ,Humphreys, Keith. Medical Marijuana and the Risk of Painkiller Overdose. Scope, Published by Stanford Medicine. January 13, 2015.Experience of adjunctive cannabis use for chronic non-cancer pain: Findings from the Pain and Opioids IN Treatment (POINT) study. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2015 Feb . http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25533893
FACTS on Medical Marijuana
–Is not even good for conditions it is touted for
–Could exacerbate symptoms (American Glaucoma Society)
19
1American Glaucoma Foundation. Available: http://www.glaucomafoundation.org/UserFiles/File/TGF_Summer_10_Web.pdf
1
Marijuana as “medicine” to treat veterans suffering from PTSD
• Medical marijuana can exacerbate symptoms. Researchers found that veterans using marijuana were associated with having HIGHER levels of PTSD symptoms, including PTSD avoidance/numbing and hyper arousal symptoms.
• Research shows the Marijuana use can cause increased paranoia, anxiety, and psychosis in some people
Bonn-Miller, M.O., Boden, M.T., Vujanovic, A.A., & Drecher, K.D. (2011, December 19). “Prospective Investigation of the Impact of Cannabis Use Disorders on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms Among Veterans in Residential Treatment.” Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy. This study was done with the National Center for PTSD and Center for Health Care Evaluation at the Palo Alto VA Health Care Center.
20
FACTS on Medical Marijuana
• Less than 3% of state “medical marijuana” users have cancer, HIV, or glaucoma.
• Vast majority are white males in 30s and 40s with self-diagnosed pain.
• Most cancer doctors and other physicians do not recommend smoking or ingesting marijuana.
21
California average medical marijuana patient statistics, found at: O'Connell, T and Bou-Matar , C.B. (2007). Long term cannabis users seeking medical cannabis in California (2001–2007): demographics, social characteristics, patterns of cannabis and other drug use of 4117 applicants. Harm Reduction Journal,
Using “Marijuana as Medicine”a “Permission Structure” was built
about the safety and acceptability of marijuana use with the general
public.
23
Marijuana on Front Page of Business Journal in WA
YOUTH REGUARLY RECEIVE PRO-MARIJUANA TWEETS
• A STUDY OF 2,285 MARIJUANA TWEETS DURING AN EIGHT-MONTH PERIOD SHOW THAT 82% OF THE TWEETS WERE POSITIVE ABOUT MARIJUANA.
• INVESTIGATORS FOUND THAT OF THOSE RECEIVING THE TWEETS 73% WERE UNDER THE AGE OF 19
Changes in Social Norms Increase Use
• As social norms around the acceptability of marijuana use change, use and abuse have gone up
• NIH released a report in October 2015 that showed from 2001/2002 – 2012/2013 past year marijuana use among adults increased from 4.1% to 9.5% nationally– The increase in marijuana use disorder during the same time frame
was almost as large
26
http://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/prevalence-marijuana-use-among-us-adults-doubles-over-past-decade
27
How to Frame Marijuana Messages for the Public
Volkow, Nora M.D., Baler, Ruben D. Ph.D., Compton, Wilson M. M.D., Weiss, Susan Ph.D. Adverse Health Effects of Marijuana Use. The New England Journal of Medicine. June 5, 2014.
NIDA Scientific EvidenceMarijuana Effects on Health and Well-Being.
Overall Levelof Confidence*
Addiction to marijuana and Highother substances
Diminished lifetime achievement High
Motor vehicle accidents High
Symptoms of chronic bronchitis High
Based on the Science
We need to give people an “A Ha! I got it!” message.
It’s going to actually affect MEBest Example: Second Hand Smoke
29
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• If you care about academic achievement:
• You need to care about increased marijuana use.
Marijuana & Adolescence
Use by age 15=
1.) 3.6 times less likely to graduate from high school
2.) 2.3 times less likely to enroll in college
3.) 3.7 times less likely to get college degree.Thurstone, Christian, Dr. Marijuana Use & Pregnancy. May 14, 2014. Available at http://drthurstone.com/?s=pregnancy&x=0&y=0.
31
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Because Marijuana Use Lowers IQ1
• A recent study found that those who used marijuana heavily in their teens and continued through adulthood showed a permanent drop in IQ of 8 points.
• A loss of 8 IQ points could drop a person of average intelligence into the lowest third of the intelligence range.
1M.H. Meier, Avshalom Caspi, et al. 2012. “Persistent cannabis users show neuropsychological decline from childhood to midlife.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Why?
33
Take Away Message for Parents:
• Marijuana use will hurt YOUR child’s IQ, grades, and ability to graduate from high school !!
34
Take Away Message For Teachers/School Systems:
Increased marijuana use will result in reduced academic achievement for which teachers/school
system will be blamed
If you care about college completion:
You need to care about increased marijuana use.
35
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• College students with high levels (17 days/month) of marijuana use were twice as likely as those with minimal use (less than 1 day/month) to have an enrollment gap while in college.1
• (e.g. dropout and not graduate on time)
1 Amelia M. Arria , MD. Drug Use Patterns and Continuous Enrollment in College: Results From a Longitudinal Study. January 2013. Vol 24 Issue 1. Available: http://www.jsad.com/jsad/article/Drug_Use_Patterns_and_Continuous_Enrollment_in_College_Results_From_a_Long/4775.html
Why?
Increased Use Among College Students
37http://www.monitoringthefuture.org/pressreleases/15collegepr.pdf?utm_source=Legislators+List&utm_campaign=e543cbde3f-September_2_2015_TMR_LEGS9_2_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_ce2346c3fe-e543cbde3f-334806865
Credit to themarijuanareport.org September 2, 2015. Data is from:
Average cost of college in 4 years is: $89,044
Average cost of college in 6 years is: $133,566Source: National Association for College Admission Counseling 2012-2013.
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Take Away Message for Parents:
• Your child’s marijuana use could derail their college career and be very costly to you!!
If you care about mental health
You need to care about increased marijuana use
40
Cannabis Use and Risk of Psychiatric Disorders• Study published Feb. 16th, 2016 that examined
prospective associations between cannabis use and risk of mental health and substance use disorders in the general adult population.
• In conclusion authors suggested “caution in the implementation of policies related to legalization of cannabis for recreational use, as it may lead to greater availability and acceptance of cannabis, reduced perception of risk of use, and increased risk of adverse mental health outcomes, such as substance use disorders.”
Rasic D, Weerasinghe S, Asbridge M, Langille DB. Longitudinal associations of cannabis and illicit drug use with depression, suicidal ideation and suicidal attempts among Nova Scotia high school students . Drug Alcohol Depend. 2013;129(1-2):49-53.
Authors: Carlos Blanco, MD, PhD1; Deborah S. Hasin, PhD2; Melanie M. Wall, PhD2; Ludwing Flórez-Salamanca, MD3,4; Nicolas Hoertel, MD, MPH2,3,4,5; Shuai Wang, PhD2; Bradley T. Kerridge, PhD, PhD2; Mark Olfson, MD, MPH2
42
Because:• Regular marijuana use by adolescents and young adults is strongly associated
with developing psychotic symptoms and disorders such as schizophrenia in adulthood for those people with an underlying genetic vulnerability to developing this disease
• This risk is higher among those who start using marijuana at a younger age
• This risk is higher with more frequent marijuana use
• Volkow, Nora D. Baler, Ruben D. Compton, Wilson M. 2014 June 5. Adverse Health Effects of Marijuana Use. The New England Journal of Medicine
Take Away Message for the Public and Decision Makers:
Early persistent marijuana use is associated, in vulnerable individuals, with the early onset and some exacerbated
symptoms of schizophrenia. This is a debilitating mental illness that is costly to individuals, families and society.
If you care about the environment, you need to care about increased
marijuana use.
44
Why?Because
• Marijuana grow sites are already having major adverse environmental impacts including:
• Vastly increasing fish kills from fertilizer runoff that creates toxic aquatic conditions; and
• Poisoning watersheds with arsenic and acaracide, used to keep
rodents away from the marijuana plants.45
1 Allen, Hezekiah, Mattole Resoration Council and Scott Greacen, Friends of the Eel River. The Ugly, the Bad and (Maybe) the Good? (April 17, 2012). Available; www.treesfoundation/org/publications/article-486
Because:• An average marijuana grow site of 1,000 plants uses 5,000
gallons of water a day
• Question: Where does all this water come from?
• Answer: Your local streams and rivers
46
http://www.think-mag.com/your-world/high-dry/
Because:
• 45% of the increased demand in Denver for electric power is coming from legal marijuana growers
• This is putting upward pressure on carbon emissions from coal-burning power plants
http://www.denverpost.com/environment/ci_28417456/pot-boom-spikes-denver-electric-demand-challenges-clean
Take Away Message:
• Increased marijuana grows will further degrade our environment and exacerbate water and energy shortages
48
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If you care about employment:
You need to care about increased marijuana use.
According to the American Council for Drug Education in New York, employees who abuse drugs are:
• 10 times more likely to miss work
Because:
Why?
• 3.6 times more likely to be involved in on-
the-job incidents
52
• 5 times more likely to file a workers’ compensation claim.
53
Many big companies, industries, and professions
nationwide conduct drug testing
• Target• Walmart• McDonalds• Police/Fire Departments• Military• Transportation
54
These students are virtually unemployable
55
Take Away Message For Job Seekers:
• Marijuana use can RUIN your chances of employment!
56
Take Away Message For Business:
• Increased marijuana use is BAD for your business and your bottom line
57
If you care about highway safety:
You need to care about increased marijuana use.
58
Why?
• Because marijuana use impairs driving ability1
1For a comprehensive review, see DuPont, R. et al. 2010. “Drugged Driving Research: A White Paper.” Prepared for the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Available at http://stopdruggeddriving.org/pdfs/DruggedDrivingAWhitePaper.pdf
Because Cannabis use impairs driving as much as alcohol
A new NIDA study found: –Marijuana's active chemical THC affects weaving within a road lane in
a similar way to a blood alcohol level of .08, the legal limit in many states.
–Marilyn Huestis of NIDA: “One of the things we know happens with cannabis is that it reduces your field of vision and you get tunnel vision, so you're unable to react as quickly.”
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3137943/Marijuana-DOES-impair-driving-kind-comprehensive-government-study-reveals-cannabis-use-affect-motor-skills-three-drinks.html
60
• Marijuana is the most prevalent illegal drug detected in impaired drivers, fatally injured drivers, and motor vehicle crash victims.1
1 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Drug Involvement of Fatally Injured Drivers. U.S. Department of Transportation Report No. DOT HS 811 415. Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2010.
Because:
61
• Driving under the influence of marijuana is associated with a 92% increased risk of vehicular crashes. 1
• Such driving is associated with a 110% increase in fatal crashes. 2
1 Asbridge, M., Hayden, JA, Cartwirght, JL. Acute cannabis consumption and motor vehicle collision risk: systematic review of observational studies and meta-analysis. British Medical Journal, 2012; 344 (ePub): e536. PMID: 22323502. 2 Ibid.
Because:
62
Because:
• Researchers at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, found 44 % of college men said they drove after smoking marijuana in the previous month, compared with 12% who said they drove after drinking.
• Jennifer M. Whitehill, PhD; Frederick P. Rivara, MD, MPH; Megan A. Moreno, MD, MSEd, MPH; Marijuana-Using Drivers, Alcohol-Using Drivers, and Their Passengers. AMA Pediatr. Published online May 12, 2014. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2013.5300
Because:• A new study conducted by the National Cannabis Prevention and
Information Centre, found nearly 70% of recent cannabis users had driven while under the influence of the drug.
• 16% of users said they had driven on a daily basis less five hours after using
• Many users were oblivious to the impact cannabis had on driving skillshttp://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-10/cannabis-users-report-driving-under-influence/6534368
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Take Away Message:
• Increased marijuana use will increase car crashes and fatalities
65
If you care about your tax burden, you need to care
about increased marijuana use
66
Why?Because
Because the total overall costs of substance abuse
in the U.S., including productivity, health and
crime-related costs, exceed $600 billion annually.1
This includes approximately:• $235 billion for alcohol• $193 billion for tobacco • $181 billion for illicit drugs
1 Office of National Drug Control Policy. The Economic Costs of Drug Abuse in the United States, Executive Office of the President (Publication No. 207303). 2004. Available at www.ncjrs.gov/ondcppubs/publication/pdf.economic_costs.pdf
67
Because• Federal and state alcohol taxes raise $14.5
billion, covering only about 6% of alcohol’s total cost to society.1
• Federal and state tobacco taxes raise $25 billion,
covering only about 13% of tobacco’s total cost to society.2
1 Dupont, Robert M.D., Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (1973-1978), “Why We Should Not Legalize Marijuana.” April 2010. Available: www.cnbc.com/id/36267223/Why_We_Should_Not_Legalize_Marijuana2 Ibid
Legal corporations work hard to keep prices low and consumption high!
68
• Alcohol taxes are now 1/5 of what they were during the Korean War (adjusted for inflation).
Cook, P. J. (2007). Paying the tab: The economics of alcohol policy. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
Take Away Message:• Increased marijuana use will
COST tax payers much more money than it can possibly bring in.
Drug Policy and
Legalization of Marijuana in
ColoradoThomas J. Gorman, DirectorRocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areawww.rmhidta.org2016
Has the “War” on
Drugs Been a Failure?
Background• Purpose of Drug Policy
• Limit the number of people using drugs
• Victimless Crime?• Four classes of victim:
1. User2. Family/Friends3. Victim of Crime4. Taxpayers
Background• Factors Affecting Rate of
Drug Use• Four primary factors:
1. Price2. Availability3. Perception of Risk4. Public Attitude
The IssueDrug “War” a Failure
Question…
What would it take for you to consider our drug policy
successful?
The Issue2013 National Survey on Drug Use
• Americans age 12 and older (past month): 9% used any illegal drug 26% used tobacco 52% used alcohol
The Issue91% of
Americans do NOT use illegal
drugs Source: 2013 National Survey on Drug Use
The IssueAlcohol and Tobacco
Heroin, Meth, Crack,
Hallucinogens, Cocaine,
Tranquilizers, Pain Relievers and Marijuana
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN COLORADO?
Licensed Marijuana Businesses
Medical Marijuana(January 1, 2015)
Recreational Marijuana (January 1,
2015)• 497 licensed
centers
• 748 marijuana cultivation facilities
• 163 infused products (edibles) businesses
• 369 licensed marijuana retail stores
• 397 licensed marijuana cultivation facilities
• 98 licenses for infused product (edibles) businesses
Perspective• Colorado Business Profile, January 2015
2014 Colorado
Starbucks 405
McDonalds 227
Medical Marijuana Centers 505
Recreational Marijuana Shops 322
Denver: The Mile HIGH City
Denver: The Mile HIGH City198 Licensed Medical Marijuana Centers
117
Pharmacies
“Legal pot blamed for some of influx of homeless in Denver this summer”
The Denver Post, July 25, 2014
• Haven of Hope: 500% rise over normal in homeless in summer 2014 (50 to 300)• “They have an attitude”
• Salvation Army: 33% rise since 2014 comparedto 2013• “30% relocated for pot”
“Legal pot blamed for some of influx of homeless in Denver this summer”
The Denver Post, July 25, 2014
• Urban Peak: 152% increase• “Majority of new kids here because of weed.”
• St. Francis: 50 more people a day• “Marijuana only trails looking for work as reason.”
Marijuana and Public Consumption
“Citations for using pot in public rising”Denver police say they’re not purposely trying to nab users since marijuana was legalized.
The Denver PostSunday, December 28, 2014
2012 = 8 citations2013 = 184 citations2014 = 770 citations
Marijuana Edibles
Marijuana Edibles Deaths
Levy Thamba Pongi and Kristine
Kirk(Denver, CO)
Luke Goodman (Keystone, CO)
Forecast
What Does the Data and Trends Show?
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 20140
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
220 619
1,152 1,264 1,583
1,903
398
Number of Positive Cannabinoid Screenswith Active THC
1ng/mL2ng/mL
Num
ber o
f Scr
eens
with
Acti
ve T
HC
SOURCE: ChemaTox Laboratory and Rocky Mountain HIDTA
Marijuana and Traffic Fatalities
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 20140
102030405060708090
100
37 39 43 47 49
63
7871
94Traffic Deaths Related to Marijuana *
Num
ber o
f Fat
aliti
es
*Number of Fatalities Involving Operators Testing Positive for Marijuana
Commercial-ization
Legalization
* Number of Fatalities Involving Operators Testing Positive for Marijuana
SOURCE: National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2006-2013 and CDOT/RMHIDTA 2014. NOTE: Cannot confirm 100% reporting prior to 2012.
Marijuana and Traffic Fatalities
* Number of Fatalities Involving Operators Testing Positive for Marijuana
SOURCE: National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2006-2013 and CDOT/RMHIDTA 2014. NOTE: Cannot confirm 100% reporting prior to 2012.
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 20140.00%
5.00%
10.00%
15.00%
20.00%
25.00%
6.92% 7.04% 7.85%10.10% 10.89%
14.09%16.53%
14.76%
19.26%
Percent of All Traffic Deaths That Were Marijuana Re-lated*
Perc
ent o
f Dea
ths
*Percent of All Fatalities Where the Operators Tested Positive for Marijuana
Commercialization
Legalization
* Percent of All Fatalities Where the Operators Tested Positive for Marijuana
Operators Positive for Marijuana
* Number of Fatalities Involving Operators Testing Positive for Marijuana
Marijuana ONLY33%
Marijuana and Other Drugs
(No Alcohol)15%
Marijuana and Al-cohol37%
Marijuana, Other Drugs and Alcohol
15%
SOURCE: Colorado Department of Transportation/RMHIDTA 2014
Teens and Marijuana
“Since legalization, reports of pot in middle and high schools soar.”
Marijuana Use in YouthYouth (ages 12 to 17 years)
Current Marijuana Use 2013/2014
National average for youth was 7.22 percent Colorado average for youth was 12.56
percent Colorado was ranked 1st in the nation for
current marijuana use among youth (74 percent higher than the national average)
2013/2014 Colorado youth use increased 20 percent compared to pre-legalization years 2011/2012.
Nationally a decline of 5 percent.
Marijuana Use in Youth
05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 12/13 13/140.002.004.006.008.00
10.0012.0014.0016.00
Youth Ages 12 to 17 Years OldPast Month Marijuana Use
National vs. Colorado
Annual Averages of Data Collection
Perc
ent o
f ag
es 1
2 - 1
7 Ye
ars Commercializa-tion
Legaliza-tion
SOURCE:SAMHSA.gov, National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2013 and 2014
Marijuana Use in Youth
2006-2008(Pre-Commercialization)
2009-2012(Post-Commercialization)
2013/2014 (Legalization)
0.00%
2.00%
4.00%
6.00%
8.00%
10.00%
12.00% 8.64%10.37%
12.56%
Colorado Average Past Month Use of Marijuana Ages 12 to 17 Years-Old
Aver
age
Perc
ent
(20% In-crease)
(21% In-crease)
SOURCE:National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2013 and 2014
Student Marijuana Sources
SOURCE:Colorado School Counselor Association (CSCA) and Rocky Mountain HIDTA, 2015
High School Discipline
SOURCE: Colorado Department of Education, 10-Year Trend Data: State Suspension and Expulsion Incident Rates and Reasons
High School Discipline
SOURCE: Colorado Department of Education, 10-Year Trend Data: State Suspension and Expulsion Incident Rates and Reasons
College-Age Marijuana Use
College-Age Adults (ages 18 to 25 years)
Current Marijuana Use 2013/2014
National average = 19.32 percent Colorado average = 31.24 percent Colorado was ranked 1st in the nation
for current marijuana use among college-age adults (62 percent higher than the national average)
2013/2014 college age use increased 17 percent compared to pre legalization years 2011/2012. Nationally a 2 percent increase
College-Age Marijuana Use
SOURCE: SAMHSA.gov, National Survey on Drug Use and Health 2013 and 2014
College-Age Marijuana Use
SOURCE: SAMHSA.gov, National Survey on Drug Use and Health 2013 and 2014
Adult Marijuana UseAdults (ages 26+ years)Current Marijuana Use
2013/2014 National average = 6.11 percent Colorado average = 12.45 percent Colorado was ranked 1st in the nation
for current marijuana use among adults (104 percent higher than the national average)
2013/2014 adult use increased 63 percent compared to pre-legalization years 2011/2012.Nationally an increase of 21 percent.
Adult Marijuana Use
SOURCE: National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2006-2014
Colorado Emergency Department Rates Likely Related to Marijuana
SOURCE: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Colorado Hospitalization Rates Likely Related to Marijuana
SOURCE: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Rocky Mountain Poison Center
SOURCE: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment/RMPDC
Marijuana Diversion
States to Which Marijuana Was Destined (2014)
Diversion – By Motor Vehicles
SOURCE: El Paso Intelligence Center (EPIC), National Seizure System
Diversion – By U.S. Postal ServicePackages
SOURCE: United States Postal Inspection Service – Prohibited Mailing of Narcotics
All Reported Crime in Denver
2013 2014
55,115 reported crimes
60,788 reported crimes
5,391 reported crimes
increase from 2013 to 2014(10 percent increase)Reported offenses using the National Incident Based Reporting System (NIBRS)
definitions in the City and County of Denver, January 9, 2015
Alcohol Consumption
SOURCE: Colorado Department of Revenue
Colorado General FundColorado's Total General Fund Revenue,
FY 2015*
Marijuana Tax Revenue (Medical and Recre-ational) = 0.7%...
* Preliminary Numbers Based on June 2015 Forecast
FY 2015 Tax Revenue
A Snapshot in Colorado2014
Marijuana-Related DUIDsMarijuana-Related Traffic DeathsYouth Marijuana UseCollege Marijuana UseAdult Marijuana UseMarijuana-Related Emergency Room AdmissionsMarijuana-Related HospitalizationsMarijuana-Related ExposuresMarijuana-Related TreatmentMarijuana DiversionTHC Extraction Labs
Local Response to Medical and Recreational Marijuana in Colorado Of 321 total local jurisdictions: 228 (71 percent) prohibit any
medical or recreational marijuana businesses
67 (21 percent) allow any medical and recreational marijuana businesses
26 (8 percent) allow either medical or recreational marijuana businesses, not both
Important to Remember with Statistics…
Why We Do This
Thank you for what you do.Remember:
“Do the Right Thing”
The Naked Truth aboutMedical Marijuana
Presenters:• Susan R. Thau, MCRP, Public Policy Consultant,
Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America• Thomas J. Gorman, Director, Rocky Mountain High
Intensity Drug Trafficking Area
Advocacy Track
Moderator: Nancy Hale, MA, President and CEO, Operation UNITE
