Tag Archives: Proposition 64

California State Legislature Ignores Brain Health

Governor Now Has Opportunity to Speak up for Youth Brain Health

A group of six parents who spoke at a Moms Strong rally in Sacramento highlighted the egregious ways marijuana harms young brains. Their exposés shed light on how costly it has been to freely give out medical marijuana to 18-year-olds whose brains are still under development. The state legislature had a chance but failed to raise the age for smoking and ingesting medical marijuana to 21. Gov. Jerry Brown now has the opportunity to speak out once again against marijuana legalization, citing a need for taking brain health seriously.

Smoking cigarettes takes off from the end of life while using marijuana increases the risk of mental impairment in early life and increases the risk for suicide by 7x.  A poster at the rally showed photos of seven people who died from suicide following psychotic breaks after ingesting or smoking marijuana.

NAMI and Science Provide the Facts

National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) states that marijuana is the substance of abuse recognized for a relationship to schizophrenia.  NAMI’s webpage for schizophrenia states:  “A growing body of evidence indicates that smoking marijuana increases the risk of psychotic incidents and the risk of ongoing psychotic experiences. The younger and more frequent the use, the greater the risk. Another study has found that smoking marijuana led to earlier onset of schizophrenia and often preceded the manifestation of the illness.”

Dr. Christine Miller, a neurologist who has studied schizophrenia for 25 years,  spoke several times at the rally.  She maintains that there is no amount of marijuana that can be safely used and no way to detect who will be harmed.   Her handout from the rally cites numerous longitudinal studies from around the world.

State Legislature Sends Wrong Signals

In California, anyone aged 18 or over can find a doctor to give a recommendation for medical marijuana without reason. Given the strength of today’s marijuana, numerous  young people have gone into psychosis and have needed extensive mental health treatment, as well as addiction treatment.  A hospital in Washington state has one to two new psychosis patients every day, as a result of dabbing and the younger age of marijuana usage.

California does not track medical marijuana users for psychosis, schizophrenia, depression, suicide or other negative mental health outcomes.  In fact, the United States and individual states do not have tracking systems for psychosis and schizophrenia.

Canada and the American Society of Addiction Medicine insist that the age limit for “medical” marijuana should be 25 or over, after the brain has fully developed.  The State legislature should consider health in early adulthood–when one is completing their education and getting that very first job — as important as end-of-life issues.

Tobacco Cigarettes Versus Marijuana Smoke or Edibles

When California raised the age for buying cigarettes to age 21, Citizens Against the Legalization of Marijuana (CALM) vigorously lobbied the state legislature and the governor to include “medical” marijuana (excluding CBD for seizures or for terminal cancer).  It would have been logical to include another smoked product.

When the state banned vape pens and e-cigarettes for those under 21, it excluded medical marijuana.  “If California gets a national reputation as being a little bit kooky, sometimes we have only ourselves to blame,”  read an article in LA Weekly explaining the new law.  It means there is no limit on teenagers vaping marijuana, including concentrated pot products like hash oil, wax and dabs.

Our lungs develop until age 18.  When the age limit for buying tobacco products was set at 18, medical research had shown that lung damage could be mitigated by waiting until the lungs had fully developed before starting to smoke.

Our brains continue to develop until age 25, perhaps until age 28 or 29 for males.  Therefore, a person who begins smoking or ingesting marijuana after age 25 experiences less brain damage and fewer negative consequences than those who begin below age 25.  (While tobacco smoke has its greater influence on the health of our lungs, the THC of marijuana has the more influence on our brains than any other organ.)

Tom Steyer is Silent

tom-steyer
Tom Steyer

Billionaire political donor Tom Steyer is currently running a TV advertisement in favor of raising the tax on cigarettes by $2, but remains silent about the environmental damage of marijuana and Proposition 64.    Considering that he is an environmental activist and cares about lungs, his silence is on Proposition 64 is perplexing.  It is completely fine to be against BIG TOBACCO, but it is not progressive enough to be against BIG MARIJUANA.   The Dark Money behind Proposition 64 comes from George Soros, and from Silicon Valley billionaires.  People give BIG MARIJUANA a pass because this greedy industry is promoting itself as quite glamorous.

Here’s news for Mr. Steyer and others: Big tobacco is investing in marijuana.   However, Joe Camel is no longer cool or popular but marijuana is hyped as the next big investment.

When California allows doctors to recommend medical marijuana, there are no specifications for dosages. There’s no record-keeping.  It can be given over the phone without even seeing the doctor, with a minimal fee.

CALM and Moms Strong, a coalition of drug prevention activists and those who have lost family members to marijuana abuse, demonstrated in front of the capitol on October 4, 2016.  In a rousing series  of speeches which ended when legislature member Jim Cooper arrived at 1:30, the activists told how their lives had been influenced and changed by marijuana.  Jim Cooper is the Assistant Majority Leader in the state legislature and his district includes Sacramento.  Maybe he can spread his knowledge to other legislature members.

(Editor’s Note: The parents’ speeches were the core of the rally, but other talks were given by Bishop Ron Allen and other members of CALM, as well as prevention activists and visitors from Colorado)

Senate President Kevin de León Doesn’t Favor Pot Legalization

On August 3, California Senate President Pro Tempore Kevin de León said that he is not ready to support marijuana legalization.  Reporters at a Sacramento press briefing asked his opinion of Proposition 64.  De León replied:  “I don’t know if I am behind the times in comparison to other folks, but I still have my concerns.”

De León had an opportune meeting  with Governor John Hickenlooper of Colorado,  sitting next to him on a flight back from the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.  The men discussed the effect of a pot legalization measure which was approved by Colorado in 2012.

De León told reporters, “We had a very comprehensive conversation.”  The Senate leader worries that the marijuana of today is far more potent than in the past and that the sale of pot edibles in the form of candies and gummy bears attracts minors.   “These are real-life consequences.” he said.

AUMA
Senate President Kevin de León is right that marijuana edibles — now circulating in California — are designed to attract children.

Candies and edibles that appeal to children are already sold in California.  Jason Kinney, a spokesman for the Proposition 64 campaign, says that edibles “designed to be appealing to children or easily confused with commercially sold candy,” will be banned.  Kinney knows that it’s impossible to regulate this addiction industry hyped for its money making potential.

Deceptions Pushed by AUMA

Another message of the Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA, also called Proposition 64) is based on false innuendo. “The current system of prohibition has spectacularly failed to protect children, since drug dealers don’t card,”  cites Kinney, using a common cliché.           

Marijuana lobbyists told the same presumptuous lie in Colorado and Washington back in 2012, when they tricked voters into legalization.

The current system is not prohibition, since 17- year-olds can get medical marijuana cards for dubious conditions, and children get it from their parents.    Plus, in California, kids find pot is easier to hide from parents/schools than alcohol.   In California, marijuana possession calls for a $100 fine, less than most parking or traffic tickets. Why would police ever bother? 

To find a place with strict marijuana laws, one must look outside of the United States.  (The United States has more than 50% of the worlds drug users.)  Most states have decriminalized marijuana in practice.  Police arrest for pot possession only when other crimes have been committed or are suspected.

When Colorado legalized adult marijuana use in 2013, children began using pot at younger ages.  For example, instead of marijuana use starting in middle school, it began to show up with 4th graders.

Black markets thrive in Colorado, Washington and Oregon, as more people want to get into the business.

Can de Leon’s Wisdom on this Issue Spread?

Sen. de León listened to Governor Hickenlooper who has been trying to make pot legalization work in Colorado.   Hickenlooper did not support legalization in 2012.  In 2014, during a debate with his Republican opponent for governor, he called Colorado’s marijuana legalization “reckless.”   Marijuana taxes contribute to less than 1% of Colorado’s state budget, while thousands of dollars are spent on the consequences of legalization.

Kevin de León represents the Los Angeles area.  He has been in the California Senate since 2010 and quickly rose to leadership.  Two years ago the Senate elected him Senate president pro tempore.  He became the first Latino to hold that position in 130 years.

De León is  a member of the young guard of the Democratic Party which generally supports marijuana legalization.  Governor Jerry Brown and Senator Dianne Feinstein do not favor it.   Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom formed a committee to write the AUMA initiative.  However, he admits that his wife is very afraid of the message it sends to the children.

De León is co-author of a bill requiring colleges that receive state funds for student financial assistance, to adopt an “affirmative consent standard” for sexual relations (“Yes Means Yes”).   That type of leadership ability on key issues could be valuable again.  His background is as an educator, teacher and community organizer.  De León said he is still processing information to make an intelligent decision about marijuana legalization.  He has made it clear, however, that he is aware of major problems, even though other party members listen to the pot industry.  http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article93525057.html

If you are impressed that Senate President is cautious about marijuana legalization please fan his facebook page @KevinDeLeonKDL and tell him so!

They Got it Wrong Again! is the Slogan of No on Prop. 64

no-on prop.-63
Official Logo of the No on Prop. 64 campaign.

They Got it Wrong Again is the official Slogan of the campaign against Prop. 64, the Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA), also called Proposition 64 in which will be on the California ballot in November.  StopPot2016 joins CALMCa and SAM Action in opposing this measure.  This week the official campaign issued a statement:

“As expected, the ballot measure to commercialize non-medical marijuana has qualified for the November 2016 ballot.

This campaign will very be similar to that of Proposition 19. They have the money and No on Prop. 64 has the facts.

Under current law, convicted cartel meth and heroin dealers are banned from being involved in medical marijuana, but this initiative overturns that ban and lets these felons be licensed to sell recreational marijuana. The proponents were specifically advised by numerous law enforcement groups during the comment period about this huge flaw, but they deliberately chose to keep it in, and you have to ask “why?” Who is that provision for? They got it wrong. Again.

Proposition 64 is NOT Inevitable

For more information on this and other Proposition 64 initiative loopholes, please visit: www.TheyGotItWrongAgain.org.   The press release advises contact with Tim Rosales for more information, 916.475.4900

Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Governor Jerry Brown oppose the legalization of marijuana.  Although Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom supports the ballot, he admits that his wife is is “scared to death about the message (marijuana legalization) sends to our kids.”