Marijuana in Michigan: What’s Happening Now? Michelle Beeck – Community Educator Kathryn Tate - Community Integration Leader

Marijuana Today Forms THC levels Joint, Dab, Vape, Edibles, Hash, Concentrates THC levels Plants have been genetically modified to increase THC from ~4% to 11% Concentrates range from 40-80% THC Marijuana looks different today than it did in its hey-day of the 60s. Instead of just smoking pot, marijuana now comes in a variety of forms – joints you can smoke a joint or a dab, vape it through e-cigs, eat marijuana-infused edibles, and marijuana concentrates that may be used in a variety of ways. *Could be genetically modified to increase CBD, as well, although this has not been the trend. Photo Credit: smartcolorado.org

THC Potency Potency is for Plants

Other potential benefits Medicinal Use Pharmaceutical Marinol (US) Chemo-induced nausea and vomiting Dronabinol (US) Post-operative and neuropathic pain Sativex (Canada, EU) Symptoms of MS Other potential benefits Anticonvulsant Relieve Pain Digestion Antipsychotic The Legacy Center believes that there are some medicinal benefits of the compounds in marijuana. Some are FDA approved. The research is constrained because of Federal restrictions. If additional research were available, it may uncover benefits and safer means of delivery. More research needs to be done to determine if there are benefits! These are FDA approved medications, with the exception of Sativex which is in the final stages of FDA approval. Due to Federal Restrictions, research on marijuana is limited Additional research may uncover more benefits and safer means of delivery

Known Challenges Marijuana can be addictive Marijuana causes impairment Hazardous in vehicle operation and certain types of employment High levels of THC can cause psychosis Marijuana users are 2.6 times more likely to begin using other drugs Source: National Institute for Drug Abuse

Marijuana: Negative Impact on Youth

Perception of Risk Use of Marijuana

Midland County Perception of Risk Perception of Risk, by Grade Alcohol Tobacco Marijuana Prescription Drugs Linear (Marijuana) 100 80 60 40 20 Percent of Students 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Grade Source: The Legacy Center 2016 Midland County Youth Study

Midland County 30 Day Use 30 Day Use As youth enter middle school and throughout high school 30 day use of alcohol and marijuana increase. Alcohol Marijuana Linear (Alcohol) Linear (Marijuana) Source: The Legacy Center 2016 Midland County Youth Study

Past Month Marijuana Use, Ages 12-17, 2014-2015 12% 10% 8% 6% 4% 2% 0% Past Month Marijuana Use, Ages 12-17, 2014-2015 As of 2015: Legalized Recreational Marijuana Legalized Medical Marijuana Non-Legalized Medical Marijuana Legal age is 21, but use has increased for 12-17 year olds Source: SAMHSA.gov, National Survey on Drug Use and Health 2014 & 2015

Youth Access The ten states with highest rate of youth marijuana use have some form of legalized marijuana Thirty day use among youth increased 12 percent between 2013 and 2015, the three years after recreational legalization in Colorado

Why do we Care? Cognitive and education problems Potential IQ loss up to 8 points Increased absenteeism Decrease in academic performance Risk of Mental Health Problems Depression, Anxiety, and Social Problems Risk of contributing to development of schizophrenia and psychosis in some people Potential for poisoning from marijuana edibles Strengths vary, and can be very small (e.g. less than one gummy bear) Delayed onset of desired feeling (~30-45 minutes) Source: National Institute for Drug Abuse

Why Do We Care? When parents use, youth are impacted Decreased perception of risk by youth Increased access to marijuana products Increased negative health effects due to secondhand smoke When pregnant or breastfeeding mothers use marijuana THC crosses the placenta THC is found in breastmilk

Why do we Care? Midland County Abuse and Neglect Cases 66% of Abuse & Neglect Cases involve Substance Use Disorder Of those cases, 80% of Mothers and 87% of Fathers had Substance Use Disorder Most Common Drug of Choice was Cannabis for both parents Earlier admittance to legal system = longer stay in legal system 55% of victims of abuse and neglect are under age 7 37% Mothers Used Marijuana; 47% of Fathers Used Marijuana

Legislative Landscape

Definitions Medical Marijuana Recreational Marijuana Legalization Use of marijuana to benefit various medical conditions. Recreational Marijuana The use of marijuana to experience a feeling of euphoria, or “high.” Legalization Establishes parameters for legal use, sale, and purchasing of marijuana Decriminalization Lessens legal penalties for use of marijuana Commercialization Establishes industry for financial gain from marijuana

The Big Picture Federally, marijuana is a Schedule I illegal drug Several states have legalized medically and/or recreationally State laws governing medical marijuana are different from the laws that govern recreational marijuana. Schedule I = a category of drugs not considered legitimate for medical use; Special licensing procedures must be followed to use these or other Schedule I substances.

Observations in Colorado Potential imbalance between tax revenue and social costs Increases in: Marijuana-related traffic deaths where driver tested positive more than doubled from 2013-2016 Marijuana related ER visits increased 35% after legalization Hospitalizations increased 72% All crime rates increased 10.8% from 2013-2016 Employment Challenges Colorado Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area committed to annual studies of the impact of legalization in Colorado. Four years in, they are seeing some of the following. Should we expect the same types of challenges in Michigan under the current proposal?

Michigan’s Picture Marijuana was approved by voter initiative for medicinal use in 2008 In December 2017, the Marijuana Facilities Act was enacted Allows for Municipalities: To “opt In” for commercialization Select the type and number of facilities Create regulations around local marijuana facilities Once opted in, a municipality can only opt out with a local ballot initiative in a regular election Some municipalities select to “opt out” Schedule I = a category of drugs not considered legitimate for medical use; Special licensing procedures must be followed to use these or other Schedule I substances.

Status of MI Recreational Marijuana Proposal The Michigan Board of Canvassers approved the signatures collected for the citizens’ initiative to “Regulate Marijuana like Alcohol” on 4/26/2018. Legislators had three options: Legislature takes no action by June 5th and the initiative will go to the ballot in November Initiative would become a public act, requiring a ¾ majority to change Legislature votes to approve citizens’ initiative, as written Initiative would become law and would require a simple majority to change Legislature develops a competing ballot proposal for consideration by voters Early polls indicate a high approval rating. Some of our legislators are concerned that legalizing through a ballot proposal will severely limit and restrict their ability to regulate it. Therefore, they are considering approving it legislatively by June 5th, but it would have to be approved “as-is” by June 5th. That would mitigate it as a ballot proposal, but would allow them the opportunity to make changes.

Recreational Legalization Laws At a Glance State Year of Passage Ballot or Legislative Action Personal Possession At-Home Possession Commercialization? Total Retail Tax Michigan – Proposed Ballot 2.5 oz 10 oz Yes 16% Alaska 2014 1 oz 4 oz* $50/oz flowers, $15/oz leaf California 2016 22.25% Sales tax Colorado 2012 27.9% Maine 10% Massachusetts 17-20% Nevada 32-38% Oregon 8 oz Vermont 2018 Legislative Action No 0% Washington 45% *Alaska’s ballot proposal limited home possession to 1oz, but court found that a person could have 1-4 oz. *Massachusetts allows up to 3% locality tax to be added *Ballotpedia.com

State Local Control Zoning Restrictions Public Consumption Michigan – Proposal Opt out with 5% voter petition to add to regularly scheduled ballot 1000 ft. K-12 schools No, unless in a designated area Alaska Opt-out and zoning via ordinance or voter initiative 500 ft. Schools, Youth, Religious, Jail No California Opt-out and zoning via ordinance 1000 ft. Daycare, School, Youth Center Colorado Opt-out via ordinance or measure on ballot; local zoning Recommends 1000 ft. from schools Maine Local regulation may limit or prohibit TBD Massachusetts Local ordinances to limit, but may require vote 500-2000 ft. from schools, parks Nevada Opt out with 10% voter petition to add to biennial ballot Oregon Initial Opt-out period for communities opposed; 6-15% voter petition to add to regularly scheduled ballot; some local zoning Vermont N/A Washington Being decided in State Courts 1000 ft. Schools, Parks, Rec Facility, Library, etc. On this chart, I have noted the ways that local communities can opt-out of recreational marijuana. In some States, it is a simple ordinance by a commission or twp board. In other States, it must be a ballot initiative in the local community. In Michigan, it must go through a ballot initiative initiated by a voters’ petition. *All States with legalized recreational marijuana have a legal age of 21. *Ballotpedia.com

Call to Action Become educated about the initiative https://ballotpedia.org/Michigan_Marijuana_Legalization_Initiative_(2018) Decide for yourself if this proposal is the right way to legalize marijuana in Michigan Colorado Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area committed to annual studies of the impact of legalization in Colorado. Four years in, they are seeing some of the following. Should we expect the same types of challenges in Michigan under the current proposal?

Gummy Bear Experiment CALL 911! How many did you eat? 70 mg 60 mg 10 mg THC

References Regulate Marijuana like Alcohol Initiative Alaska.gov Norml The Legalization of Marijuana in Colorado: The Impact, Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Ballot Pedia Market Watch Midland County Youth Study, The Legacy Center for Community Success Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Agency National Institute on Drug Abuse Alaska.gov California.gov Colorado.gov Maine.gov Mass.gov NV.gov Oregon.gov Vermont.gov Access.wa.gov http://www.legislature.mi.gov/pu blications/MichiganManual/2009- 2010/09-10_MM_IX_pp_01- 03_Issue_Becomes.pdf

8 States have legalized recreational marijuana State-by-State Legalization 9 8 States have legalized recreational marijuana 22 States have legalized medical marijuana 22 States have no laws legalizing marijuana in any form Vermont has since legalized for recreational use, but banned the development of an industry. D.C. also has approved recreational marijuana. Source: Governing.com