Even those with experience should be careful—the effects can be stronger than you think.
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.com/Karin Hildebrand Lau
February 7, 2014
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We are witnessing the beginning of the end of our disastrous war on drugs.
58%
of Americans nationally support marijuana legalization. World leaders
like former UN head Kofi Annan are calling for an end to the drug war.
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder is speaking out against racist
mandatory minimum drug laws and mass incarceration. Uruguay became the
first country in the world to legalize marijuana (and its president has
been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize). This has been a watershed
year in the fight to end America’s longest failed war.
With
Colorado and Washington making history by legalizing marijuana we are
finding ourselves in new terrain. The benefits of taxing and regulating
marijuana are obvious, starting with the tens of thousands of people in
those two states not being arrested annually for possession of small
amount of marijuana. But with these changes, there is a need for more
education and prevention.
Last week the
New York Times ran a front page story about
the growing popularity of marijuana edibles in states with legal
medical and recreational marijuana. In addition to the “old school”
brownies, there is now an array of edible products, such as lozenges,
candy, gummy bears and sweets. While many folks prefer the edible forms
of marijuana. While no one has ever died from marijuana consumption,
there have been reports of kids and adults mistakenly eating the
marijuana and having adverse reactions.
I have worked for the last
fourteen years to end our nation’s disastrous war on marijuana users
and I agree that we need to be very careful when it comes to foods and
desserts that are infused with marijuana.
I know of kids and
adults who have accidently eaten marijuana cookies, such as the
40-year-old babysitter who was combing through the freezer and munched
on some cookies. She had never tried marijuana and had no idea what was
happening when the high from the cookies kicked in. It was a traumatic
experience for her.
I also know of two kids who accidently
consumed marijuana cookies. They ended up ok after sleeping off the
effects, but it was very scary for all involved.
We need to
educate people about the effects of edibles, even for those who are
consciously eating them. Even those with experience should be careful
when eating marijuana products.
Some people may think that
brownies or candies are more mellow or safer than smoking marijuana.
They eat more than they need to and then can’t take it back. Other times
people may eat a little, don’t feel anything for a while, and then eat
more. Then it all kicks in, and they are much more intoxicated than
planned. I know many people who are regular marijuana smokers who have
stories about eating too much marijuana and finding themselves on a
whole other level of high that was scary and intense.
I suggest
that anyone who has marijuana edibles (or other drugs, like prescription
pills) lock it away in a secure place. Edible marijuana can be a safe
and enjoyable way for people to ingest marijuana, but with that comes
responsibility to make sure no one, especially kids, stumble upon them.
We
also need to encourage people who eat marijuana to eat appropriate
amounts. Maybe all edibles should be in single doses so people know how
much to eat. Better to start with small amount and feel good than to eat
too much and be in a place you don’t want to be. We should also be
careful about the packaging and make sure it is not something that is
attractive to kids.
It is obvious to most that the
war on drugs is a total failure. But it is not enough to point out the
futility of the drug war. We also need to show people that what we are
proposing will improve our society and make us safer, healthier and
stronger.
This piece first appeared on the Drug Policy Alliance Blog.
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