J. Michael Bostwick, M.D., professor of psychiatry, Mayo Clinic; Michael Elliott, executive director, Marijuana Industry Group; Kari L. Franson, Pharm.D., Ph.D., associate dean for professional education, University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences; Larry Wolk, M.D., M.S.P.H., executive director, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment; and Michael Booth (moderator), editor, Health Elevations, The Colorado Health Foundation, spoke on the panel “Medical Ramifications of legal marijuana.”
Here are some relevant stories from the panel:
Crime:
No, legalizing medical marijuana doesn’t lead to crime, according to actual crime stats, Emily Badger, Washington Post, March 26, 2014
Suicide:
Suicide Rates Fall When States Legalize Medical Marijuana, Scott Kersgaard, Colorado Independent, Feb 24, 2012
Driving:
Why medical marijuana laws reduce traffic deaths, Maia Szalavitz, TIME, Dec 2, 2011
Youth
Teen Marijuana Use May Show No Effect on Brain Tissue, Unlike Alcohol, Study Finds, Kathleen Miles, Huffington Post, Dec 23, 2012
Graduation rates up in Colorado, South High leads Denver school gains, Denver Post, Jan 23, 2014
Colorado teen marijuana usage is decreasing, according to Federal Government:
- Data from the Centers for Disease Control, Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, 2009-2011
- Since Colorado allowed for the sale of medical marijuana through licensed and taxed businesses, Colorado’s teen marijuana usage rate decreased almost 3% (2009 to 2011), dropping below the pre-dispensary average, and below the national average. In addition, availability of drugs in Colorado schools has decreased almost 25% since Colorado regulated medical marijuana.
The media’s absurd hysteria about teens and pot, Paul Armentano, altemet.org, Dec 18, 2013
Aggression:
- New Study: Acute alcohol use temporally increases the odds of male perpetrated dating violence (Shorey, Stuart, McNulty, & Moore, Addictive Behavior, Jan 2014).
- “Marijuana use days did not increase the odds of any type of aggression.”
Medical Efficacy:
Gupta: ‘I am doubling down’ on medical marijuana, Sanjay Gupta, CNN Chief Medical Correspondent, March 6, 2014
