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Marijuana and Public Health Implications for Children

Marijuana and Public Health Implications for Children. Tista Ghosh, MD, MPH Deputy Chief Medical Officer. History of Marijuana in Colorado. Medical Marijuana : Amendment 20 - November 2000 July 2001 – Registry established Retail Marijuana : Amendment 64 – November 2012

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Marijuana and Public Health Implications for Children

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  1. Marijuana and Public Health Implications for Children Tista Ghosh, MD, MPH Deputy Chief Medical Officer

  2. History of Marijuanain Colorado • Medical Marijuana: • Amendment 20 - November 2000 • July 2001 – Registry established • Retail Marijuana: • Amendment 64 – November 2012 • Dept. of Revenue adopts Retail Marijuana Code (HB – 13-1317) – Sept 2013 • Vote on Proposition AA, a 15% excise tax plus 10% sales tax - November 2013 • Regulations go into effect - January 2014

  3. Legal Marijuana and Public Health • Monitor health effects • Contaminated products • Accidents and Injuries • Poisonings • Chronic health issues • Education and Prevention • Adult abuse • Adolescent use • Pregnant or nursing mothers • Product safety and storage • Harm reduction • Infused product safety • Laboratory practices • Waste disposal

  4. Marijuana and Public Health Issues for Children • Unintentional Poisonings • Secondhand Smoke • Adolescent Use

  5. Unintentional Poisonings • Children’s Hospital study after medical marijuana legalization • Increase in emergency room visits among young children that had ingested marijuana • Many of the exposures seen were related to ingestion of edible products • With retail marijuana making edibles more widely available, concern is even greater

  6. Unintentional Poisonings

  7. Unintentional Poisonings • Many edibles come in the form of candy or desserts that entice children • Young children may be unable to differentiate from real food

  8. Unintentional Poisonings • Child-resistant packaging • Labeling requirements • Parent education on safe storage

  9. Secondhand Smoke from Marijuana • Many of the same chemicals as tobacco smoke • While more studies are needed, may increase risk of lung cancer • Can cause lung irritation, asthma attacks and higher risk for respiratory infections

  10. Secondhand Smoke from Marijuana Strategies to protect children • Implementing a smoke-free home rule • Implementing a smoke-free car rule: It is illegal to smoke or use marijuana in the car. Smoke–free car rule keeps you in compliance with law and protects children

  11. Adolescent Use • Concern about the effect f marijuana on teenagers’ growing brains. • Regular marijuana use among teens has been linked to: • social problems • memory problems • learning problems and falling IQ scores • mental health issues such as psychosis and schizophrenia, especially among those with a family history of mental illness.

  12. Adolescent Use • Problems do not necessarily go away after the teen stops using marijuana • The earlier in life a person starts using marijuana, the more likely the person will become addicted • According to the 2011 Healthy Kids Colorado Survey, approximately 55 percent of youth tried marijuana at least once by the time they reached 12th grade

  13. Adolescent Use –Strategies to Prevent • Laws: Illegal to use under 21 • Education: Campaign to prevent youth initiation and abuse • Statewide website: offers information from all state agencies. Provides information for parents on how to talk to children and more detailed information on health effects, laws, etc.

  14. Statewide Website www.colorado.gov/marijuana

  15. Statewide website Offers printable fact sheets and resources for parents and teachers

  16. Questions? Retail Marijuana Mike Van Dyke (303) 692-6375 mike.vandyke@state.co.us Medical Marijuana Ron Hyman (303) 692-2164 ronald.hyman@state.co.us

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