The marijuana industry is spending big on lobbying efforts this year, amidst growing concerns about the health risks associated with cannabis use and an ongoing feud with hemp producers.
Federal lobbying disclosures show that five major marijuana vendors and trade associations spent over $2.2 million in the first two quarters of 2024, more than double their expenditures during the same period in 2023.
Related: The Alarming Link Between Teen Marijuana Use And Psychosis
This increase in lobbying comes as new studies link cannabis usage to heart disease, stroke, and mental health issues.
A recent study found that daily marijuana users have a 34% greater chance of experiencing heart failure. Despite these risks, the cannabis industry continues to push for federal legalization.
Read: Florida GOP Sen. Joe Gruters Backs Recreational Marijuana But Eyes Public Smoking Ban
The industry is also battling hemp producers over the 2024 farm bill, which could ban intoxicating variants of the plant. Hemp-derived THC products have cut into marijuana vendors’ profits, leading to a push to make THC in hemp illegal again.
Studies have also linked cannabis use to an increased risk of psychosis in teens and heart problems in older adults.
A recent study published in the prestigious journal Psychological Medicine has uncovered a startling revelation: teenagers who used cannabis within the last year had an 11-fold higher risk of developing a psychotic disorder compared to their non-using peers.
When the analysis was narrowed down to emergency room visits and hospitalizations, the risk skyrocketed to a staggering 27-fold increase.
“When I see youths with psychotic symptoms, they’re almost always using lots of cannabis,” said Dr. Leslie Hulvershorn, a child psychiatrist and chair of the psychiatry department at Indiana University, told NBC News. “It would be unusual to see someone present with psychotic symptoms to a hospital and not have smoked cannabis.”
Read: Trulieve Boosts Florida Recreational Marijuana Campaign With Additional $5 Million
While the current study did not specifically examine the impact of marijuana potency, previous research has found that the use of higher-potency cannabis products is linked to an increased risk of mental health disorders, including schizophrenia, anxiety, and depression.
This is a crucial consideration, as the marijuana landscape has evolved significantly in recent years, with the proliferation of concentrates, edibles, and other high-THC formulations that can deliver a more potent psychoactive experience. As these products become more widely available, the potential for adverse mental health consequences among young users is a growing concern.
The Biden administration’s recent move to potentially reschedule marijuana from Schedule I to the less dangerous Schedule III acknowledges the potential medical benefits of the substance at the federal level. However, this shift in policy also raises questions about the potential public health implications, particularly for vulnerable populations like adolescents.
Read: Trulieve Coughs Up Nearly $50M For Florida Marijuana Initiative
With cannabis now legal for recreational use in 24 states, the normalization of marijuana use among high school students remains a significant issue. According to the 2023 Monitoring the Future Survey, nearly 1 in 3 12th graders reported using marijuana in the previous year.
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