Medical Marijuana s Transition to a Legalized Structure Lessons Learned from Colorado
Marijuana Impact on Public Health & Safety in Colorado A conference for Law Enforcement, Regulators, and Policy Makers Colorado Chiefs of Police January 2015 Themes: If you have medical marijuana, recreational marijuana is coming your way Colorado Chiefs of Police didn t believe the threat & didn t get out in front of it Colorado Chiefs: 1). Thought it will never happen in our state 2). Underestimated the marijuana lobby & corporate influence on recreational marijuana 3). Overestimated public knowledge of today s marijuana 4). Failed to get involved early to ensure a law that law enforcement could live with
Lesson # 1 Don t underestimate the marijuana lobby
The Marijuana Lobby In Co. the lobby outspent the Opposition $20 Million to $450k MPP is a Machine, whereby you insert money in one end and policy change comes out the other end --Rob Kampia/ED of MPP in his 2014 end of year email fundraising initiative Slide Courtesy of Marijuana Impact on Public Health & Safety in Co.
Private Equity Slide Courtesy of Marijuana Impact on Public Health & Safety in Co. "We have 250 high net-worth accredited investors, which places us in the top ten for all angel investor groups not just cannabis, Troy Dayton -Founder Arcview 5
In Colorado, the marijuana lobby outspent the state sponsored public safety and educational initiatives where recreational marijuana was concerned 44 to 1. With drastic spending differentials come a one-sided message What was left out? When you invest this type of money, you expect a return on investment. Two things are necessary: infrastructure to dispense the product & a better product The only way to make a better marijuana product is to increase the Psychoactive THC levels or to create a more potent drug
Lesson # 2 Not educating the public & lawmakers that today s marijuana is not the same marijuana they remember from college
MARIJUANA POTENCY 14 12 Average THC and CBD Levels in the US: 1960 2011 144% THC increase 1999 2011 10 1999 4.67% 8 6 4 1980 1.5% THC: Psychoactive Ingredient CBD: NON- Psychoactive Ingredient 2011 11.42% 2 0 196 196 197 197 197 198 198 198 198 198 199 199 199 199 199 199 199 199 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 201 201 0 5 0 4 8 0 3 4 5 6 0 2 3 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 THC 0.2 0.2 0.4 0.5 1 1 1.5 3.3 3.3 3.5 3.5 3.1 3.1 4 4.5 5.2 5 4.7 5.4 6.2 7.3 7.2 8.3 8.1 9.1 10 10 9.9 11 11 CBD 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.4 Mehmedic et al., 2010 Slide Courtesy of Marijuana Impact on Public Health & Safety in Co. 8
The Last 4 Years in Colorado 10.96% Slide Courtesy of Marijuana Impact on Public Health & Safety in Co.
Lesson #2 Summary This is not the marijuana that the public and our lawmakers remember from college Average THC levels in 1980 were 1.5% From 1999 to 2011, THC levels increased 144% (4.67% - 11.42%) The last 4 years in Colorado, THC levels increased 155% to 28% THC (Return on Investment/Increase market share = a more potent drug) There are no studies on marijuana with these THC levels (THC<12%) And these THC levels pale in comparison to Medibles.
Lesson # 3 Allowing Medibles (butane hash oil)
Marijuana Concentrates/Extracts 80-90% THC Used in Medibles Stems, leaves & stalks (sometimes buds) are ground up and placed in a PVC, glass, or aluminum tube Butane gas is passed through the tube and strips the resins (nearly pure THC) from the cannabis As the butane passes through the tube the THC resin & butane run out the bottom The THC resin and butane are then heated under flame to evaporate the butane from the resin
But it s just a plant (80-90% THC) Concentrates Green Crack wax Ear Wax Butane Hash Oil (BHO) Shatter Budder Hash Oil Capsules Slide Courtesy of Marijuana Impact on Public Health & Safety in Co.
BHO Hazards Butane is odorless, colorless, and heavier than air Butane is a highly flammable gas and the canisters are compressed & pressurized If exposed to flame, the canisters are hand sized fire grenades and most scenes have hundreds of cans Butane seeps into low lying areas, like basements where there are pilot flames
Michigan State Police Western Wayne Narcotics Case 2013
Colorado House Explosions in 2014? 32
Lesson #3 Summary Allowing Medibles. When it comes to Medibles, the argument that it s just a plant has fallen well short in Colorado public health and safety arenas. Medibles are made with marijuana extracts that are 80-90% psychoactive THC The extraction process is very dangerous At $10,000 per pound some will overlook the physical risks of volatility in lieu of high profit
The Public Safety Focus THC levels & the impact on our children
1 in 6 teens become addicted Keeping in mind that this is based on THC content <12% 1 in 10 adults and 1 in 6 adolescents who try marijuana will become addicted to it. The adolescent brain is especially susceptible to marijuana use. When kids use, they have a greater chance of developing addiction. Wagner, F.A. & Anthony, J.C., 2002; Giedd. J. N., 2004 Slide Courtesy of Marijuana Impact on Public Health & Safety in Co. 19
Colorado & Washington Past Year Statistics Courtesy of SMART Approaches to Marijuana
Colorado & Washington Past Month Statistics Courtesy of SMART Approaches to Marijuana
Statistics Courtesy of SMART Approaches to Marijuana
Average Point Difference in IQ score (IQ at age 13 IQ at age 38) Persistent Marijuana Users Show A Significant IQ Drop between Childhood and Midlife Followed 1,037 individuals from birth to age 38. Tested marijuana use at 18, 21, 26, 32 and 38. Tested for IQ at ages 13 and 38 2 0-2 -4-6 -8 Non-users Slide Courtesy of Marijuana Impact on Public Health & Safety in Co. used 1 Dx used 2 Dx used 3 Dx Source: Meier MH et al., PNAS Early Edition 2012
More Use of Cannabis Associated with Worse Social Outcomes at Age 25 (New Zealand Study) % welfare dependent (ages 21-25) % Unemployed (ages 21-25) mean personal income at age 25 % gained university degree by age 25 400+ 300 to 399 200 to 299 100 to 199 1 to 99 # of occasions Never using Number of occasions using Cannabis between ages 14-21 Cannabis ages 14-21 Slide Courtesy of Marijuana Impact on Public Health & Safety in Co. Source: Fergusson and Boden. Addiction, 103, pp. 969-976, 2008.
Public Health Risk to Children The adolescent brain is more susceptible to THC & Kids have a greater chance of developing addiction And this is with THC levels < 12% Adolescent use correlates to a reduction in I.Q. 3x per day from 14 YOA = 6 point drop Adolescent use in Colorado & Washington is increasing faster than the national average and adolescent treatment admissions have increased 66% in one Colorado treatment center Adolescents who used 400+ times between 14-21 = using 4.8 times per month (once per week) for 7 years = nearly 60% on welfare and less than 5% college graduates by age 25 The marijuana industry is de-sensitizing the youth population to the risks of marijuana through advertising
Lesson # 4 Product Advertising and Un-Regulated Commercialization of Marijuana
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The relationship between expanding medical marijuana and a legalized market A timeline comparison of Michigan to Colorado
Once the lobby figures out how to get it done, the timeline accelerates Colorado Timeline 2001 9 years 2010 3 years 2013 Medical Marijuana Dispensaries legal for Retail / Recreational Marijuana Registry implemented Medical Marijuana & Marijuana Nov. 2012 Ballot Initiative Enforcement Division established Michigan Timeline 2008 7 years 2015 1 Year 2016 Michigan Medical Marijuana House Bill 4209 DRAFT Ballot Initiative Implemented Dispensaries legal for Announced for 2016 Medical Marijuana & Establishment of Licensing Board under LARA
What Will Michigan Look Like with Provisioning Centers? 632 Starbucks & McDonald s Combined in Colorado in 2014 827 Marijuana Dispensaries in Colorado in 2014 2014 Colorado Denver Starbucks McDonalds Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Recreational Marijuana Disp. Statistics Courtesy of Colorado HIDTA As of: Jan 2015
The Attractiveness of Provisioning Centers in Michigan Marijuana Growers Math in MICHIGAN 72 Plants x 3 Grow Cycles Per Year = 216 Plants per Year PER GROWER 1 Lb. of Marijuana per Plant = 216 Lbs. of Marijuana per year PER GROWER 216 Lbs. / 6 Patients = 36 lbs. PER PATIENT 1 Marijuana Cigarette = ½ gram 56 Marijuana Cigarettes in 1 oz. (28.35 grams) 896 Marijuana Cigarettes in a Pound (16 ounces) 896 Marijuana Cigarettes x 36 lbs. PER PATIENT = 32,256 Marijuana Cigarettes PER PATIENT THAT S 88 Marijuana Cigarettes Per Day PER PATIENT
Additional Unintended Consequences of Expanded Availability of Marijuana K-9 s they cannot tell you if they detected marijuana, cocaine, or heroin What has happened since 2008 in Michigan? Traffic crashes with bloodwork when did they consume the marijuana? Have OUID arrests gone up? Have traffic fatalities involving marijuana increased? How many butane hash oil explosions have we had?
Slide Courtesy of Marijuana Impact on Public Health & Safety in Co.
Questions?