12/10/2019
Ma*****na Facts
1. WHAT DOES THE SCIENCE SAY ABOUT MA*****NA?
The dangers of ma*****na containing THC extend far beyond its role as an initiator for other drug abuse.
See:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6690273/
https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/reports-and-publications/addiction-and-substance-misuse/advisory-on-ma*****na-use-and-developing-brain/index.html
https://nccih.nih.gov/health/ma*****na-cannabinoids
https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm628988.htm
http://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/what-you-need-know-and-what-were-working-find-out-about-products-containing-cannabis-or-cannabis
http://nationalacademies.org/hmd/~/media/Files/Report%20Files/2017/Cannabis-Health-Effects/Cannabis-chapter-highlights.pdf
THE MOST SERIOUS DANGERS OF MA*****NA USE ARE BELOW:
1. Mental Health - There are serious effects of ma*****na use on mental health where it can trigger measurable psychotic symptoms in 40% of individuals with no family history of psychosis; and in regular recreational users, full-fledged chronic psychotic disorders at a greater rate than any other recreational drug, i.e. more than L*D, P*P, co***ne, methamphetamine, amphetamine or alcohol.
https://learnaboutsam.org/the-issues/ma*****na-mental-health/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6690273/
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/597f5bd2f7e0ab110dbfb2e5/t/5db71317f017032d0f9c4c1e/1572279064602/6.CIVEL.MA*****NA+USE+AND+MENTAL+ILLNESS+AND+BRAIN+DAMAGE.pdf
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/599a426ee45a7ccab72c77d2/t/5ded2d9a4d5f2571c8d4199e/1575824806374/ALLM.LETTER.TO.THE.SURGEON.GENERAL.DECEMBER.2018.pdf
2. Cardiac Damage -There is an emerging literature on serious cardiac events being triggered by potent ma*****na use in the young, including some fatalities. Stroke, Arrhythmias, and cardiomyopathies are major outcomes of concern.
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/597f5bd2f7e0ab110dbfb2e5/t/5db712f032d2b013c84626d1/1572279031117/2.CIVEL.MA*****NA+AS+A+MEDICINE+-+POLICY%2C+SIDE+EFFECTS%2C+SPECIFIC+ILLNESSES.pdf
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/599a426ee45a7ccab72c77d2/t/5ded2d9a4d5f2571c8d4199e/1575824806374/ALLM.LETTER.TO.THE.SURGEON.GENERAL.DECEMBER.2018.pdf
3. Risk of Cancer - Although the risk for lung cancer does not appear to be consistently increased by ma*****na use, three independent studies have shown that the risk for testicular cancer is doubled by regular use.
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/597f5bd2f7e0ab110dbfb2e5/t/5db712f032d2b013c84626d1/1572279031117/2.CIVEL.MA*****NA+AS+A+MEDICINE+-+POLICY%2C+SIDE+EFFECTS%2C+SPECIFIC+ILLNESSES.pdf
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/599a426ee45a7ccab72c77d2/t/5ded2d9a4d5f2571c8d4199e/1575824806374/ALLM.LETTER.TO.THE.SURGEON.GENERAL.DECEMBER.2018.pdf
4. Use by Pregnant Women - Use by pregnant women of ma*****na to curb the nausea of morning sickness is a growing problem, particularly in light of the fact that no drug should be taken during pregnancy until proven safe. Colorado, which legalized possession of recreational ma*****na in 2012, is currently exhibiting a continued rise in birth defects.
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/597f5bd2f7e0ab110dbfb2e5/t/5db7131e5f79051502f2dd6d/1572279071257/7.CIVEL+-+MA*****NA+USE+AND+DAMAGE+TO+HUMAN+REPRODUCTION.pdf
https://www.acog.org/Clinical-Guidance-and-Publications/Committee-Opinions/Committee-on-Obstetric-Practice/Ma*****na-Use-During-Pregnancy-and-Lactation
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/599a426ee45a7ccab72c77d2/t/5ded2d9a4d5f2571c8d4199e/1575824806374/ALLM.LETTER.TO.THE.SURGEON.GENERAL.DECEMBER.2018.pdf
5. Op**te use - Case control studies demonstrated ma*****na users are more likely, not less likely, to abuse op**tes. In point of fact, ma*****na use is not curbing the opioid epidemic in any state. It seems unlikely that ma*****na use will be effective in dealing with the op**te epidemic or in dealing with chronic non cancer pain.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6140166/
https://learnaboutsam.org/the-issues/ma*****na-and-opioids/
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/597f5bd2f7e0ab110dbfb2e5/t/5db712f032d2b013c84626d1/1572279031117/2.CIVEL.MA*****NA+AS+A+MEDICINE+-+POLICY%2C+SIDE+EFFECTS%2C+SPECIFIC+ILLNESSES.pdf
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/599a426ee45a7ccab72c77d2/t/5ded2d9a4d5f2571c8d4199e/1575824806374/ALLM.LETTER.TO.THE.SURGEON.GENERAL.DECEMBER.2018.pdf
6. Damage to children - Research shows that infants exposed to THC before birth suffer a wide array of neurocognitive and neurobehavioral deficits that cascade throughout childhood and adolescence, resulting in adverse social, health, educational and economic consequences. In the 2018 Arizona Child Fatality Review of the substance use related deaths, ma*****na was identified in 46% of deaths. The rate of ma*****na exposures among children under the age of six increased by 610% in the “medical” ma*****na states according to a study published in Clinical Pediatrics. The Surgeon General has stated: “We know that exposing the developing brain to ma*****na can prime the brain to addiction and have potential negative consequences including promoting cancer.”
https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/reports-and-publications/addiction-and-substance-misuse/advisory-on-ma*****na-use-and-developing-brain/index.html
https://learnaboutsam.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/2019LessonsFinal.pdf
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/599a426ee45a7ccab72c77d2/t/5ded2d9a4d5f2571c8d4199e/1575824806374/ALLM.LETTER.TO.THE.SURGEON.GENERAL.DECEMBER.2018.pdf
7. Violence - According to research studies, ma*****na use is linked to aggressive behavior, causes or exacerbates psychosis and produces paranoias all of which lead to violence and homicide.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6690273/
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/597f5bd2f7e0ab110dbfb2e5/t/5db7131176c6430f00245fe0/1572279058165/5.CIVEL.MA*****NA+AND+VIOLENCE.pdf
https://learnaboutsam.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/2019LessonsFinal.pdf
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/599a426ee45a7ccab72c77d2/t/5ded2d9a4d5f2571c8d4199e/1575824806374/ALLM.LETTER.TO.THE.SURGEON.GENERAL.DECEMBER.2018.pdf
8. DUI - Epidemiology data from road traffic arrests and fatalities indicate that after alcohol, ma*****na is the most frequently detected psychoactive substance among driving populations. The data clearly shows a reduced ability to drive safely after ma*****na use.
www.duidvictimvoices.org
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6690273/
https://learnaboutsam.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/2019LessonsFinal.pdf
2. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FDA APPROVED CANNABINOID-BASED MEDICINE AND STATE LEGISLATURE APPROVED CRUDE BOTANICAL “MEDICAL” MA*****NA?
FDA approved cannabinoid - based medicine has been proven to be safe and effective for certain medical conditions. State legislature approved crude botanical “medical ma*****na has not been proven to be safe and effective for any medical condition. The delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol or THC in ma*****na causes the “high”. The ma*****na of today can reach 99% THC. These high potency products cause mental illness, violence, brain damage, school problems and a variety of health problems. Botanical crude ma*****na products approved by state legislatures pose many challenges including lot-to-lot consistency and variability to include that THC content can vary widely; is notoriously subject to contamination to fungus, microbes, toxic materials, heavy metals, and pesticides; warnings are absent or inadequate; people who use high potency ma*****na may get intoxicated and may hinder patients from obtaining more appropriate treatments.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6690273/
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/597f5bd2f7e0ab110dbfb2e5/t/5db7130076c6430f00245e59/1572279041100/3.+CIVEL.THE+FAILURES+OF+THE+STATES+TO+REGULATE+MA*****NA.+STUDIES+SHOW+THAT+MA*****NA+PRODUCTS+HAVE+HIGH+LEVELS+OF+CONTAMINANTS+INCLUDING+PESTICIDES%2C+FUNGUS%2C+HEAVY+METALS+AND+SOLVENTS.pdf
https://learnaboutsam.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/SAM-testimony-Kansas-Feb-2017.pdf
3. WHAT IS BEHIND THE RISE IN THE ACCEPTANCE OF MA*****NA - SO CALLED MEDICAL USE, RECREATIONAL USE, AND FULL LEGALIZATION?
The “Big Ma*****na” industry includes businesses and lobbyists who put their financial gain over our health and safety. They include pro-ma*****na lobbying organizations, and those seemingly independent third parties, who spread false and deceptive statements about the risks of ma*****na. They have perpetrated a fraud upon the American people by these action.
1. False advertising by deceptively marketing “medical” ma*****na.
2. False statements concerning the safety of ma*****na.
3. Misbranding ma*****na as less addictive and less subject to abuse and diversion and less likely to cause tolerance and withdrawal than other medications.
4. Misrepresentation as to side effects and harms.
5. Misrepresentations as to the existence and frequency of occurrences, severity and extent of the overall risks of ma*****na use.
6 Misrepresentations as to the respective number of adverse events and deaths reported with the use of ma*****na.
7. Misrepresentations regarding the respective nature, seriousness, and severity of adverse events reported with the use of ma*****na.
Smart Approaches to Ma*****na - Advocacy and education. www.learnaboutsam.org
https://learnaboutsam.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/2019LessonsFinal.pdf
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/599a426ee45a7ccab72c77d2/t/5ded2d9a4d5f2571c8d4199e/1575824806374/ALLM.LETTER.TO.THE.SURGEON.GENERAL.DECEMBER.2018.pdf
4. WHY IS MA*****NA STILL A SCHEDULE 1 DRUG?
Based on the evaluation of the federal Department of Health and Human Services and the Food and Drug Administration and the Drug Enforcement Administration and all other relevant data, it has been concluded that there is no substantial evidence that ma*****na should be removed from schedule I. because:
(1) Ma*****na has a high potential for abuse. The HHS evaluation and the additional data gathered by DEA show that ma*****na has a high potential for abuse.
2) Ma*****na has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Based on the established five-part test for making such determination, ma*****na has no “currently accepted medical use” because: As detailed in the HHS evaluation, the drug’s chemistry is not known and reproducible; there are no adequate safety studies; there are no adequate and well-controlled studies proving efficacy; the drug is not accepted by qualified experts; and the scientific evidence is not widely available.
(3) Ma*****na lacks accepted safety for use under medical supervision. The HHS evaluation states that ma*****na does not have a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States or a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions. At this time, the known risks of ma*****na use have not been shown to be outweighed by specific benefits in well-controlled clinical trials that scientifically evaluate safety and efficacy.
https://www.dea.gov/press-releases/2016/08/11/dea-announces-actions-related-ma*****na-and-industrial-hemp
https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm628988.htm
http://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/what-you-need-know-and-what-were-working-find-out-about-products-containing-cannabis-or-cannabis
Here is what the US Surgeon General had to say about ma*****na as a medicine on June 24, 2019
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YeVs7aTh9vw
https://learnaboutsam.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/SAM-testimony-Kansas-Feb-2017.pdf
FOR MORE GENERAL INFORMATION ON MA*****NA SEE:
Parents Opposed to Pot - They educate parents. poppot.org
Smart Approaches to Ma*****na - Advocacy and education. www.learnaboutsam.org
Coalition for a Drug Free California - Anti-drug coalitions. www.drugfreecalifornia.org
National Families in Action - Drug education. www.nationalfamilies.org
Drug Free America Foundation - Drug use prevention. www.dfaf.org
Educating Voices - Drug education. www.educatingvoices.org
Drug Endangered Children Training and Advocacy Center - Trains first responders to rescue children from dangerous drug environments. www.dectrainingcenter.com
Moms Strong - A parent support group to inform and educate about the harms of ma*****na to prevent the tragedies they have experienced. momsstrong.org
DUID Victim Voices - Support for the victims of drugged driving. www.duidvictimvoices.org
Ma*****na Victims Alliance - Support for the victims of the ma*****na industry www.mvaa.info
Dedicated to Supporting Victims of Ma*****na