Pubdate: Wed, 20 Apr 2016
Source: Valley Courier (CO)
Copyright: 2016 2010 News Media Corporation
Contact:  http://www.alamosanews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5117
Author: Terry L. Wiley

MARIJUANA DISCUSSIONS IMPERATIVE

This week the Colorado Secretary of State will hold the second 
hearing to discuss the Marijuana Initiative. Issues to be discussed 
are the potency, child proofing, labeling of potency of marijuana, and others.

When we ask two questions: What will happen if these marijuana 
products are unregulated and what may happen if they are regulated?

We see the answer to the first question as the marijuana industry 
brings us ever stronger and stronger products. The THC levels had an 
average of 12.6 percent THC in 2013 according to the National Drug 
Control Strategy. Post legalization of marijuana has brought us 
concentrates of 62.1 percent THC. Concentrates of marijuana in 
Colorado varies between 60-80 percent and rates as high as 95 percent 
has been observed. These unregulated potencies have and are now 
contributing to costly emergency room visits, hospitalization and 
traffic accidents and deaths.

Irresponsible adults get high with edibles and leave them lying about 
in open packaging and young children eat them and they are off to the ER.

All drugs that have potentially dangers and a history of dangerous 
side effects soon receive warning labels of their dangerous side 
effects or get removed from the market. Marijuana should have the 
same side effects labeled on their products.

What happens if the Initiative does get discussed, with facts, true 
data and dialogue between users, manufacturers, and the public that 
isn't knowledgeable? What if ER directors, hospital administrators, 
police, justice, academic, and child care givers thoroughly 
investigate the facts and the real data showing up from loosely 
legalizing marijuana in Colorado and what is actually happening with 
our children, families, schools and communities over a very short 
period of time? These discussions need to happen.

I think it is 'About Time' and I welcome the dialogue at the state level.

Supporting our safe community,

Terry L. Wiley, D.C.

Alamosa
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom