There are some severe public well being considerations concerning the legalization of marijuana, however they’re in all probability not what you would possibly anticipate.
Relating to marijuana legalization, “opinions vary from relating to this as a landmark human rights advance granting entry to a miracle remedy, to certainly one of a disastrous, anarchic profiteering sham.” Most could agree, although, that the trillion-dollar conflict on weed has been a failed coverage, “a automobile for the hideous expression of American society’s racism,” diverting regulation enforcement assets away from violent crime, but having “no considerable impact on the supply of unlawful medication.” Sure, legalization would possibly free up regulation enforcement, however opponents “argue that it’ll enhance marijuana use amongst youth”—not as a result of they couldn’t get it earlier than, however as a result of legalization “will make marijuana extra accessible at a less expensive value and scale back the perceived dangers of its use.” Cheaper and extra socially acceptable. In different phrases, the argument goes, take into consideration the kids.
What occurred in states like Washington and Colorado after they legalized marijuana? Amongst teenagers in Washington state, “perceived harmfulness of marijuana use decreased and marijuana use elevated,” doubling from 2 to 4 p.c. In distinction, there was no change in Colorado, however, presumably, that’s as a result of Colorado had 5 years of commercialized medical marijuana earlier than leisure use turned authorized. And, certainly, with the unique liberalization in Colorado, perceptions of danger amongst teenagers dropped greater than elsewhere and charges of dependence went up, as you may see at 1:24 in my video Will Hashish Flip Into Large Tobacco?.
“A often cited concern with legalization is that it’ll enable the rise of Large Hashish, much like Large Tobacco and Large Alcohol.” After the hashish trade efficiently beat again pesticide rules in Colorado, public well being advocates skilled a sense of déjà vu attempting to “mitigate the adversarial public well being penalties” within the face of an trade that simply “goals to maximise revenue.”
The largest concern, nevertheless, might not be Large Hashish turning into Large Tobacco, however quite Large Tobacco turning into Large Hashish. “Marijuana legalization advocates haven’t thought of the potential results of the multinational tobacco corporations getting into the market,” and, certainly, inside memos present that Large Tobacco has simply been ready within the wings for the correct time to strike. The truth that Large Tobacco created cigarettes, maybe the main explanation for preventable dying on the planet, exhibits how a lot they care about individuals in comparison with earnings—so that ought to elevate some crimson flags.
Large Tobacco is anticipated to revenue from marijuana legalization whether or not or not it takes over, although, as frequent hashish use is a predictor of future cigarette dependancy. “For teen non-smokers…weekly hashish use within the teenagers predicted a greater than eightfold enhance within the odds of later initiation of tobacco use”—transferring from simply joints to joints and cigarettes. This can be as a result of “tobacco is blended generally with hashish largely to make sure it burns extra easily. Thus, hashish use could not directly deliver publicity to tobacco,” which can be seven or eight instances extra addictive than hashish.
Or, it might simply be that teenagers who use marijuana hang around extra with a crowd that tends to smoke extra cigarettes. However, even after controlling for peer use, hashish does nonetheless appear to be a gateway drug to tobacco, maybe as a strategy to take care of hashish withdrawal. Both manner, “probably the most doubtlessly dangerous and under-appreciated results of hashish use is the ‘reverse gateway’”—that it might result in nicotine dependancy, which wipes out practically 5 million lives yearly, about 24 instances greater than all unlawful medication mixed.
For extra on hashish, try my whole video sequence on marijuana right here.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The marijuana legalization debate options opinions starting from it being “a landmark human rights advance granting entry to a miracle remedy, to certainly one of a disastrous, anarchic profiteering sham.” Opponents additionally argue it’ll enhance hashish use amongst younger individuals by making it inexpensive and extra socially acceptable.
- After legalization in Washington state, marijuana use amongst teenagers elevated and “perceived harmfulness” decreased. In Colorado, medical marijuana was legalized 5 years earlier than leisure use, and perceptions of danger of use amongst teenagers dropped whereas charges of dependence went up with the unique liberalization.
- A typical concern with legalization is the potential rise of Large Hashish, like Large Alcohol and Large Tobacco, however a bigger challenge could also be Large Tobacco turning into Large Hashish.
- Frequent use of hashish is a predictor of future cigarette dependancy. Certainly, weekly marijuana use in non-cigarette-smoking teenagers predicted a greater than eightfold enhance within the odds of later utilizing tobacco, which can be seven or eight instances extra addictive than hashish.
- Even after controlling for peer use, it seems that hashish does nonetheless appear to be a gateway drug to tobacco. The truth is, “probably the most doubtlessly dangerous and under-appreciated results of hashish use is the ‘reverse gateway’”—resulting in nicotine dependancy, which takes practically 5 million lives yearly, about 24 instances greater than all unlawful medication mixed.
In well being,
Michael Greger, M.D.
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