Arkansas State Police Patrol “Drug Pipeline” on I-40

KLRT News in Little Rock recently reported how Arkansas State Police patrol a “drug pipeline” on Interstate 40.

The article notes Arkansas State Police seized more than 11,000 pounds of illegal drugs last year. Law enforcement say that illegal opioids, meth, and cocaine come from Mexico, but illicit marijuana actually comes from neighboring states:

“Oklahoma has legalized marijuana. They have opened the floodgates in the marijuana trade,” [Arkansas State Police Lt. Dennis] Overton said. “They have over 8,000 registered grows in Oklahoma alone. That’s a lot of marijuana so the only way to move that much product is on the black market.”

Family Council has written before about how authorities in Oklahoma describe illicit marijuana as a problem that “plagues” their state.

All of this underscores how time and again we have seen marijuana legalization fuel drug cartels and the black market instead of weakening them.

Oregon has been flooded by illegal marijuana operations controlled by organized crime and drug cartels. Some of these marijuana operations are tied to labor trafficking and violent crime.

Despite California’s decision to legalize marijuana, the state’s Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce seized nearly 32,000 pounds of illegal marijuana in the first three months of 2024.

Right now the group Arkansans for Patient Access is actively working to drastically expand marijuana in Arkansas.

If passed, the amendment would give free marijuana cards to immigrants and out-of-state residents who come to Arkansas to use marijuana.

The amendment would guarantee marijuana growers and sellers a monopoly over the state’s marijuana industry.

Marijuana users would no longer need to show they suffer from a specific medical condition listed in state law — making it easier to use marijuana recreationally.

The measure also fails to limit the amount of THC that marijuana products can contain, and it repeals restrictions on marijuana advertising.

All of this would lead to more marijuana in the state.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

CA Lab Finds “Concerning” Levels of Pesticides in Marijuana Products

KGTV News from San Diego reports that lab testing from California shows many marijuana products contain “concerning” levels of pesticides — often well above state health and safety standards.

Marijuana products are often contaminated by pesticides, because the marijuana plant itself easily absorbs toxins in the soil as well as chemicals or other substances sprayed on the plant. As a result, marijuana may contain pesticides, heavy metals, mold, or other contaminants.

These contaminants are passed along into marijuana products — posing serious health risks for marijuana users.

Earlier this year the Wall Street Journal reported that studies have found marijuana users have higher levels of heavy metals in their blood and are more likely to develop fungal infections. These toxins can cause serious — or even life-threatening — illnesses.

Research continues to underscore that marijuana use is dangerous.

Marijuana users face a 60% higher risk of first-time heart attack, stroke, or other major cardiovascular problem.

Heavy marijuana use has been linked to psychosis — especially among young men.

And regular marijuana use has been associated with lung problems and an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. A 2022 study published in the journal of the Radiological Society of North America found marijuana smoke may actually be more harmful to lungs than cigarette smoke.

This medical research comes as a proposed marijuana amendment is vying for the 2024 ballot in Arkansas.

All of this underscores what we have said for years, marijuana may be many things, but “harmless” simply is not one of them.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.