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

2. 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

3. THC Potency
Potency is for Plants

4. 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

5. 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

6. Marijuana: Negative Impact on Youth

7. Perception of Risk
Use of Marijuana

8. 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
Grade
Source: The Legacy Center 2016 Midland County Youth Study

9. 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

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

11. 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 and 2015, the three years after recreational legalization in Colorado

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. Legislative Landscape

16. 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

17. 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.

19. 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
Marijuana related ER visits increased 35% after legalization
Hospitalizations increased 72%
All crime rates increased 10.8% from
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?

20. 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.

21. 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.

22. 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

23. 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
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

24. Call to Action Become educated about the initiative
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?

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

26. 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
blications/MichiganManual/ /09-10_MM_IX_pp_01- 03_Issue_Becomes.pdf

29. 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