Post on 15-Jul-2015
Trending Topics Track
The Naked Truth About “Medical” Marijuana: Translating the Science
into Messages that Matter
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 (HIDTA)
Moderator: Nancy Hale, President and CEO, Operation UNITE
Disclosures
Susan R. Thau, MCRP; Thomas J. Gorman; and Nancy Hale 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:– Kelly Clark – Employment: Publicis Touchpoint Solutions;
Consultant: Grunenthal US– Robert DuPont – Employment: Bensinger, DuPont &
Associates-Prescription Drug Research Center– Carla Saunders – Speaker’s bureau: Abbott Nutrition
Learning Objectives
1. 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.
The Naked Truth About “Medical” Marijuana:
Translating the Science into Messages that Matter
Sue Thau, Public Policy Consultant, Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of
America
5
Sue Thau, Public Policy Consultant, Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, has disclosed no relevant,
real or apparent personal or professional financial relationships
with proprietary entities that produce health care goods and services.
6
Goals
• Understand the latest science about marijuana use
• Understand how CADCA has framed marijuana prevention messages from the science
• Understand how to employ these prevention messages locally to educate residents and key community leaders
7
“The naked truth is always better than the
best-dressed lie.” – Ann Landers
8
Marijuana is Addictive
9
• 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.
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.
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
10
According to the 2014 Monitoring the Future Survey, perceptions about the risks of marijuana
are going down among 12th graders.
11
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.
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,
12
FACTS on Medical Marijuana
–Is not even good for conditions it is touted for
–Could exacerbate symptoms (American Glaucoma Society)
1American Glaucoma Foundation. Available: http://www.glaucomafoundation.org/UserFiles/File/TGF_Summer_10_Web.pdf
1
13
Medical Marijuana Is Easily Diverted To Youth
• Teens who know somebody with a medical marijuana license are more like than those who don’t to report ‘fairly’ or ‘very’ easy access to marijuana
• 74% of Denver-area teens in treatment said they used somebody else’s medical marijuana an average of 50 times
Thurstone, 2013; Salomonsen-Sautel et al., 2012
14
Diversion To Youth
15
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.”
Wall, M., et al., 2011; Johnston, L.D., et al., 2011. and Pacula et al 2013
Pacula slide 16
17
A Recent Australian Study on Individuals Prescribed Opioid Painkillers That Also
Used “Medical Marijuana” (1 in 6 participants)
• 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
• Medical marijuana users 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 18
19
20
Play #1
•Pass “medical” marijuana initiatives
21
Using “Marijuana as Medicine”a “Permission Structure” was built
about the safety and acceptability of marijuana use with the general
public.
23
24
25
Play #2
• Open “medical” marijuana dispensaries
26
Play #3•Full legalization of marijuana
27
The Ultimate Play?
•Full legalization of all drugs
28
“I’m always telling my marijuana reform allies, when they say we need to legalize marijuana and get tougher on the other drugs, ‘shut the hell up’”
The whole, of course, is safe and legal access to all drugs. Cocaine. Heroin. Hash. Ecstasy.
“Legalize all drugs? The man behind loosening pot laws in US eyes new goal” Available: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/11/27/21578665-legalize-all-drugs-the-man-behind-loosening-pot-laws-in-us-eyes-new-goal
Ethan Nadelmann – Head of Drug Policy Alliance
29
HOW TO FRAME OUR MESSAGES TO WIN BACK THE PUBLIC
30
Using Science with High Evidence from NIDA to Change the Frame:
From negative to positive
From “old” to “new”
From complicated to simple
31
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 Evidence
Marijuana Effects on Health and Well-Being.
Overall Level
of Confidence*
Addiction to marijuana and High
other substances
Diminished lifetime achievement High
Motor vehicle accidents High
Symptoms of chronic bronchitis High
33
Based on the Science
We need to give people an “A Ha! I got it!” message.
It’s going to actually affect ME.
Best Example: Second Hand Smoke
If you care about academic achievement:
You need to care about increased marijuana use.
34
Because: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.
35
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
36
37
The more a student uses marijuana, the lower their grade point average is likely to be and the more likely they are to drop out of school.1
1 Johnston, L. D., O'Malley, P. M., Bachman, J. G., & Schulenberg, J. E.. University of Michigan, 2011. Monitoring the Future Study
Because:
• Marijuana use negatively effects motivation, memory, AND learning.1
1 National Institute on Drug Abuse, “Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know.” 2011. Available: www.nida.nih.gov/marijbroch/parents/001.php
Because:
38
Take Away Message for Parents:
Marijuana use will hurt
YOUR child’s IQ, grades, and
ability to graduate from high school!
39
Take Away Message ForTeachers/School Systems:
40
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.
41
• 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
Because:
42
Because:Daily marijuana use among college students is the
highest it's been in more than three decades.
A MTF study found:
• In 2013, 1 in every 20 college students is smoking pot on a daily basis, including 1 in every 11 males and 1 in every 34 females
• In 1990, 1 in 50 college students used marijuana that frequently
• This is the highest rate of daily use observed among college students since 1981
http://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2014/09/regular_marijuana_use_among_co.html 43
Average cost of college
in 4 years is: $89,044
Average cost of college
in 6 years is: $133,566
Source: National Association for College Admission Counseling 2012-2013.
44
Take Away Message for Parents:
Your child’s marijuana use could derail their college career and be very costly to you!!
45
IF YOU CARE ABOUT HIGHWAY SAFETY:
YOU NEED TO CARE ABOUT INCREASED MARIJUANA USE.
46
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
47
• Between 1999 and 2010, the prevalence of drugs other than alcohol in fatally injured drivers increased significantly.
• While the prevalence of alcohol remained stable at 39%, the prevalence of other drugs increased from 16.6% in 1999 to 28.3% in 2010.
• The greatest increase was for marijuana, which tripled, from 4.2% in 1999 to 12.2% in 2010.
Because: Marijuana Most Prevalent Drug Detected in Fatally Injured
Drivers
Source: Adapted by CESAR from Brady, J.E. and Li, G., “Trends in Alcohol and Other Drugs Detected in Fatally Injured Drivers in the United States, 1999-2010,”
American Journal of Epidemiology, Advance Access, 1/29/2014. For more information, contact Dr. Guohua Li at gl2240@columbia.edu.
48
Impaired Driving in Colorado:
• Traffic fatalities involving operators testing positive for marijuana have increased 100% from 2007 to 2012.
• The majority of driving-under-the-influence-of-drugs arrests involve marijuana and 25 to 40% were marijuana alone.
• Toxicology reports with positive marijuana results for driving under the influence have increased 16% from 2011 to 2013.
49
http://www.rmhidta.org/html/August%202014%20Legalization%20of%20MJ%20in%20Colorado%20the%20Impact.pdf
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
50
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:
Because:
• According to the 2012 Monitoring the Future Study, three times as many high school seniors reported driving after smoking marijuana than drinking alcohol (8.6% to 2.9%)
51
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
52
IF YOU CARE ABOUT
EMPLOYMENT:
YOU NEED TO CARE ABOUT
INCREASED MARIJUANA USE.
53
According to the American Council for Drug Education in New York, employees who abuse drugs are:
• 10 times more likely to miss work
Why? Because:
54
Because:
3.6 times more likely to be involved in
on-the-job incidents.
55
Because:5 times more likely to file a workers’
compensation claim.
And since regular users can’t pass drug tests, this hurts employability!
56
Many big companies, industries and professions nationwide
conduct drug testing
• Big Retailers (Target, Walmart)
• Food Services
• Police/Fire Departments
• Military
• Transportation
• Banking
• Real Estate
57
These students are virtually unemployable.
58
TAKE AWAY MESSAGEFOR JOB SEEKERS:
Marijuana use can RUIN
your chances of employment!
59
TAKE AWAY MESSAGEFOR BUSINESS:
Increased marijuana use is BAD for your business and
your bottom line.
60
IF YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR TAX BURDEN,
YOU NEED TO CARE ABOUT INCREASED MARIJUANA USE
61
Why? BecauseBecause 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
62
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_Marijuana
2 Ibid
63
TAKE AWAY MESSAGE:
Increased marijuana use will COST
tax payers much more money
than it can possibly bring in.
64
BEWARE: Our Nations Future Could Look Like This
65
Instead of This!
66
Thomas J. Gorman, DirectorRocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areawww.rmhidta.org2015
DRUG POLICY 101
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN COLORADO
THE LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA IN COLORADO: THE
COLORADO: THE IMPACT
Disclosure Statement
Director Tom Gorman has disclosed no
relevant, real or apparent personal and
professional financial relationships with
proprietary entities that produce health care
goods and services.
Learning Objectives
• Identify concerns related to marijuana, medical
marijuana and legalization
• Evaluate the impact of marijuana legalization in
Colorado
• Describe the impact of marijuana use on the
adolescent brain
• Explain how to track the impact of medical marijuana
and marijuana legalization on public health and safety
• Prepare attendees to deliver science-based messages
that resonate with the general public
The War on Drugs
Has Been a FailureQuestion:
Why do you and/or others feel our drug policy has been a failure?
Questions
What is the purpose of
drug policy?
Isn’t drug use a
victimless crime?
Background• Purpose of Drug Policy
• Limit the number of people using drugs
• Victimless Crime?
• Four classes of victim:
1. User
2. Family/Friends
3. Victim of Crime
4. Taxpayers
Question
What are the factors that
affect the rate of drug use?
Background
• Factors Affecting Rate of Drug Use
• Four primary factors:
1. Price
2. Availability
3. Perception of Risk
4. Public Attitude
Some Common Issues
• Alcohol Prohibition Didn’t Work
• Legalization Experiments in Other
Countries
• Everyone Uses and, if Legalized,
Marijuana Wouldn’t Increase Much
Some Common Issues• Marijuana is Safe
– No, it’s more harmful than most think
• Intoxication
• Physical and health effects
• Addiction
• Psychological or mental health impact
• Brain development and deterioration
• Impaired driving
• Impact specifically on youth
• Employment issues
Some Common Issues
• Drug Laws Invade Privacy
and Freedom
• Drug Laws Don’t Deter Use
or Limit Availability
Some Common Issues
• Marijuana Arrests and Prison
• Drug Laws are Racist
Some Common Issues
• Mexican Cartels and Profits
• Tax Revenue from
Legalization
• Federal vs. State Law
The Issue
Drug “War” a Failure
Question…
What would it take for you to
consider our drug policy successful?
The IssueAlcohol and Tobacco
Heroin, Meth, Crack,
Hallucinogens,
Cocaine, Tranquilizers,
Pain Relievers and
Marijuana
The Issue
SOURCE: 2013 National Survey on Drug Use
• Americans age 12 and older (past
month):
9% used any illegal drug
26% used tobacco
52% used alcohol
The Issue
91% of Americans
do NOT use illegal
drugs
SOURCE: 2013 National Survey on Drug Use
Licensed Marijuana Businesses
Medical Marijuana(January 1, 2015)
Recreational Marijuana (January 1, 2015)
• 497 licensed
dispensaries
• 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…
Medical Marijuana Centers = 497
Recreational Marijuana Stores = 369
Starbucks Coffee = 405
McDonalds = 227
Denver: The Mile HIGH City
Denver: The Mile HIGH City
Full-page ad
WestwordFebruary 6 –
12, 2014 issue
“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)
• Salvation Army: 33% rise since 2014
compared to 2013
• Salvation Army: Survey 25% increase
related to marijuana
Marijuana and Public Consumption
“Boulder
[Colorado]
pot smoking
tickets up
nearly 4
times”
Boulder Daily CameraDecember 23, 2013
Forecast
What Does the Data and
Trends Show?
Impact
Comparison Dates
2007 – 2008: Early Medical Marijuana Era
1,000 – 4,800 cardholders and 0 known
dispensaries
2009 – 2012: Medical Marijuana Commercialization
and Expansion Era
108,000 cardholders and 532 licensed dispensaries
2013 – Present: Medical Marijuana
Commercialization and Recreational Marijuana
Era
DUID – Colorado State Patrol
0
200
400
600
800
1000
Total Number ofDUIDs
Positive forMarijuana with
Alcohol or OtherDrugs
Positive forMarijuana Only
874
674
354
Year 2014 Totals
SOURCE: Colorado State Patrol, 2014
100% 77% 40%
Marijuana and Impaired Driving
SOURCE: Colorado Department of Transportation Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS)
2006 – 2011 and Rocky Mountain HIDTA
- 200 400 600 800
1,000 1,200 1,400 1,600 1,800
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Chematox 79 190 1,076
CDPHE 223 650 1,322 1,342 596
DUID Blood Tests Confirmed THC
Marijuana and Traffic Fatalities
Driving Fatalities Data Involving Marijuana
2007 – 2012• Colorado fatalities with operators testing
positive for marijuana increased by 100 percent
Marijuana and Traffic Fatalities
SOURCE: National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, Fatality Analysis Reporting System
(FARS), 2006-20011 and RMHIDTA 2012
0.00%
2.00%
4.00%
6.00%
8.00%
10.00%
12.00%
14.00%
16.00%
18.00%
20.00%
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
6.92% 7.04%7.85%
10.10%10.89%
14.09%
16.53%
Pe
rce
nt
of
Tota
l Fat
alit
ies
Percent of All Fatalities With Operators Testing Positive for Marijuana
Marijuana Use in Youth and Adults
Teens and Marijuana
“Since legalization, reports of pot in
middle and high schools soar.”
Marijuana Use in Youth
Youth (ages 12 to 17 years)
Current Marijuana Use 2013
National average for youth was 7.15 percent
Colorado average for youth was 11.16 percent
Colorado was ranked 3rd in the nation for current
marijuana use among youth (56.08 percent higher
than the national average)
Marijuana Use in Youth
SOURCE: National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2012 and 2013
0.00%
2.00%
4.00%
6.00%
8.00%
10.00%
12.00%
2006-2008(Pre-Commercialization)
2009-2012(Post-Commercialization)
2013 (Legalization)
8.29%
10.32%11.16%
Ave
rage
Pe
rce
nt
Colorado Average Past Month Use of MarijuanaAges 12 to 17 Years
(25% Increase) (8% Increase)
SOURCE: SAMHSA.gov National Survey on Drug Use and Health 2012 and 2013
Past Month Usage by 12 to 17-Year-Olds in Medical Marijuana States, 2013
0.00%
2.00%
4.00%
6.00%
8.00%
10.00%
12.00%
14.00%
AL KS MS OK WV NJ AR WY TN NE IL MN MO GA OH FL NY NV MT MA DE ME OR WA VT
Ave
rage
Pe
rce
nta
ge
As of 2013:
Legalized Recreational/Medical Marijuana State
Legalized Medical Marijuana State
Non-Legalized Medical Marijuana State
0.0%
2.0%
4.0%
6.0%
8.0%
10.0%
12.0%
Non-Medical MarijuanaStates
Medical MarijuanaStates
Recreational/MedicalMarijuana States
6.1%
8.9%
10.5%
Ave
rage
Pe
rce
nta
ge
Average Past Month Use by 12 to 17-Year-Olds, 2013
SOURCE: National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2012 and 2013
Marijuana Use in Youth
0
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
2004-2005to
2008-2009
2009-2010to
2013-2014
3,864
5,167
Ave
rage
Nu
mb
er
of
Susp
en
sio
ns/
Exp
uls
ion
s
Academic Years
Average Drug-Related Suspensions/Expulsions
34% Increase
SOURCE: Colorado Department of Education, 10-Year Trend Date: State Suspension and
Expulsion Incident Rates and Reasons
High School Discipline
High School Discipline
SOURCE: Colorado Department of Education, 10-Year Trend Data: State Suspension and
Expulsion Incident Rates and Reasons
3.2 3.2 3.0 3.1 3.1
4.45.0 5.1
5.4
6.4
1.2 1.3 1.1 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 0.9 0.9
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Pe
rce
nta
ge o
f To
tal S
usp
en
sio
ns
Percentage of Total Suspensions in Colorado from 2004 - 2014 School Years
Drug Violations
Alcohol Violations
Commercialization
Legalization
College-Age Marijuana Use
College-Age Adults (ages 18 to 25 years)
Current Marijuana Use 2013
National average = 18.91 percent
Colorado average = 29.05 percent
Colorado was ranked 2nd in the nation for current
marijuana use among college-age adults (53.62
percent higher than the national average)
College-Age Marijuana Use
SOURCE: National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2012 and 2013
0.00%
5.00%
10.00%
15.00%
20.00%
25.00%
30.00%
2006-2008Pre-Commercialization
2009-2012Post-Commercialization
2013 Legalization
22.36%
26.18%29.05%
Ave
rage
Pe
rce
nt
Average Past Month Use of Marijuana College Age (18 to 25 Years Old)
(17% Increase) (11% Increase)
Adult Marijuana Use
Adults (ages 26+ years)
Current Marijuana Use 2013
National average = 5.45 percent
Colorado average = 10.13 percent
Colorado was ranked 5th in the nation for current
marijuana use among adults (85.87 percent higher
than the national average)
Adult Marijuana Use
SOURCE: National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2012 and 2013
0.00%
2.00%
4.00%
6.00%
8.00%
10.00%
12.00%
2006-2008Pre-Commercialization
2009-2012Post-Commercialization
2013 Legalization
6.03%
7.98%
10.13%
Ave
rage
Pe
rce
nt
Average Past Month Use of Marijuana Adults (Age 26+)
(32% Increase) (27% Increase)
Marijuana and Emergency RoomVisits
SOURCE: Proceedings of the Denver Epidemiology Work Group (DEWG), Denver Office of Drug
Strategy/The Denver Drug Strategy Commission, October 29, 2014
0.00
50.00
100.00
150.00
200.00
250.00
300.00
350.00
400.00
450.00
2011 2012 2013
Colorado 147.80 179.00 248.32
Denver City and County 315.34 331.22 415.46
Rat
es
Pe
r 1
00
,00
0
Emergency Department Rates Per 100,000 Marijuana-Related, 2011-2013
Legalization
SOURCE: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Monitoring Health Concerns
Related to Marijuana in Colorado: 2014
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
2011 2012 2013 Jan-Jun2014
618701
873
1,105
Rat
es
Pe
r 1
00
,00
0
Data Not Available Pre-2011
Rates of Emergency Department (ED) Visits with Possible Marijuana Exposures, Diagnoses, or Billing
Codes per 100,000 ED Visits by Year in Colorado
Jan-Jun2014
Legalization
SOURCE: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Monitoring Health Concerns
Related to Marijuana in Colorado: 2014
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Jan-Jun2014
810 818911 963
1,260 1,3131,417
1,779
2,277
Rat
es
Pe
r 1
00
,00
0Rates of Hospitalization (HD) Visits with Possible Marijuana Exposures, Diagnoses, or Billing Codes
per 100,000 HD Visits by Year in Colorado
Jan-Jun2014
Commercialization
Legalization
Marijuana and Poison Control Cases
Rocky Mountain Poison Center
SOURCE: Rocky Mountain Poison Center and American Association of Poison Control Centers
0
5
10
15
20
2006 - 2009 2010-2013
3.76 4.97
9.74
17.81
Average Percent of Children Ages 0 to 5 Years forReported Marijuana Exposure Cases
National
Colorado
Rocky Mountain Poison Center
SOURCE: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment/RMPDC
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
28 29 27 2534
2532 37
18
5340
61
88
151
Nu
mb
er
of
Exp
osu
res
Re
po
rte
d
RMPDC Marijuana Exposure Calls Through December 31, 2014
Commercialization
Legalization
THC Extraction Lab Explosion
THC Extraction Labs
SOURCE: Rocky Mountain HIDTA Investigative Support Center
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
20 0 0
12
32
Nu
mb
er
of
Exp
losi
on
s
Explosions
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
30 0 0
18
30
Nu
mb
er
of
Inju
rie
s
Injuries
Marijuana Diversion
Diversion of Marijuana fromColorado
Diversion – By Motor Vehicles
SOURCE: El Paso Intelligence Center (EPIC), National Seizure System
5441
57 5892
281
321
274288
360
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Colorado Marijuana Interdication Seizures
Diversion – By Motor Vehicles
SOURCE: El Paso Intelligence Center, National Seizure System
0
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
2005-2008 2009-2014
2,763
3,667
Average Pounds of Colorado Marijuana fromInterdiction Seizures
Diversion – By U.S. Postal Service Packages
SOURCE: United States Postal Inspection Service
** Preliminary data
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
0 1536
158
207
320**
Par
cels
Parcels Containing Marijuana Mailed from Coloradoto Another State
Diversion – By U.S. Postal Service Packages
SOURCE: United States Postal Inspection Service
** Preliminary data
0
100
200
300
400
500
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
057.20 68.20
262.00
493.05469.91**
Po
un
ds
Pounds of Colorado Marijuana Seized by theU.S. Postal Inspection Service
All Reported Crime in Denver
2012 2013 2014
43,867
reported
crimes
48,147
reported
crimes
49,258
reported
crimes
5,391 reported
crimes increase
from 2012
through 2014
(+12.3 percent)
Reported offenses using the National Incident Based Reporting System (NIBRS) definitions
in the City and County of Denver, January 9, 2015
Alcohol Consumption
SOURCE: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
2.72
2.72
2.78
2.77
2.70
2.71
2.73
2.76
2.33
2.28
2.31
2.31
2.23
2.27
2.28
2.33
0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 2.00 2.50 3.00
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
Gallons
Year
s
Alcohol Consumption Per Personin Gallons by Year
National
Colorado
John Aguilar, The Denver Post, Saturday, February 7, 2015
County Responses to A-64
As of November 5, 2014 related to recreational
marijuana businesses:
36 counties prohibited
8 counties have a moratorium or temporary
ban
5 counties prohibited new businesses but
allowed medical to migrate to recreational
15 counties have allowed (23 percent)
City Responses to A-64
As of November 5, 2014 related to recreational
marijuana businesses:
179 cities prohibited
40 cities have a moratorium
6 cities prohibited new businesses but
allowed medical to migrate to recreational
41 cities have allowed (15 percent)
PollingNovember 2012 A64 Election Results
54% in Favor 46% Opposed
Sept. 2014 Suffolk University/USA Today Poll
Colorado
46% continue to
support A64
50.2% do not agree
with A64 decision
Polling
October 2014 Gallup Poll
Favor
Legalized
Oppose
LegalizedUnsure
2013 58% 39% 3%
2014 51% 47% 2%
Polling
October 2014 Pew Research Center Poll
Favor
Legalized
Oppose
LegalizedUnsure
Feb. 2014 54% 42% 3%
Oct. 2014 52% 45% 3%
Thank you for what you do.
Remember:
Trending Topics Track
The Naked Truth About “Medical” Marijuana: Translating the Science
into Messages that Matter
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 (HIDTA)
Moderator: Nancy Hale, President and CEO, Operation UNITE