The use of concentrated marijuana by high school students in Colorado, among the first to legalize the drug, has increased 138% since 2015. In the past four years, liquid marijuana use has increased fivefold, and vaping it has doubled.
With such ultra-potent forms of the drug being promoted by the industry, calls to poison centers for marijuana exposure rose 112% after legalization in Colorado — and 140% in Massachusetts.
The harms are still growing. Use by Colorado children under 15 has increased 15% the past two years — and 20% or more in California, Nevada and Oregon, according to federal data.
On the highways, traffic fatalities in which drivers tested positive for marijuana have doubled since legalization in Colorado and Washington.
Meanwhile, the big tobacco companies have invested billions of dollars in the marijuana industry, preparing to take it over. It and the alcohol industry expect vast profits from massive marketing of this drug, which is addictive for 10% of users.
The university health and addiction experts strongly urged that if the senators go ahead anyway with creating a national marijuana industry, the legislation include the following regulations to reduce its harms:
• Cap marijuana potency at 10% to 15%;
• Ban or severely limit advertising the drug;
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