Daily Marijuana Use Outpaces Daily Drinking in U.S.: New Study

A recent study shows daily marijuana use now outpaces daily drinking in the U.S.

The study published in the journal Addiction examined self-reported marijuana use — looking at the number of people who reported using marijuana in the past day, past month, and past year. The results show daily or near-daily cannabis use rates have risen 15-fold from 1992 to 2022.

The findings also indicate the spike in marijuana use corresponds with changes in the laws governing marijuana.

The findings are troubling in light of a growing evidence of marijuana’s serious — and permanent — impact on physical and mental health.

body of scientific evidence reveals that marijuana is harmful — especially for teens and young adults. 

Nationwide, since 2019, the number of kids diagnosed with cannabis-induced mental disorders, including schizophrenia and psychotic episodes, has increased by 50%.

And research has shown time and again that marijuana has a significant potential for dependence and abuse.

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

The group has until July 5 to collect 90,704 petition signatures from registered voters to place the marijuana amendment on the ballot.

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.

Group Hires 381 Petition Canvassers to Put Marijuana on the Ballot in Arkansas

The group promoting a marijuana amendment in Arkansas has hired hundreds of petition canvassers to place their measure on the November ballot, according to documents obtained from the Secretary of State’s office via the Freedom of Information Act.

Arkansans for Patient Access has until July 5 to collect 90,704 valid signatures from registered voters. The group has raised nearly $1 million their amendment campaign this year, according to reports filed with the Arkansas Ethics Commission.

State law lets ballot question committees hire Arkansas residents as petition canvassers to collect signatures.

The list obtained via FOIA indicates Arkansans for Limited Government currently has 381 paid canvassers. The paid canvasser list was first acquired by Family Council Action Committee is available at FamilyCouncilActionCommittee.com.

The marijuana campaign spent more than a quarter-million dollars last month — primarily on petition canvassing.

Most of the campaign’s funding has come from marijuana businesses that would be guaranteed a monopoly if the amendment passes.

Among other things, the amendment fails to limit the amount of THC that marijuana and marijuana products can contain.

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

The amendment lets people grow and use marijuana at home, and it would openly legalize marijuana in Arkansas if federal laws against marijuana are repealed.

The measure also repeals significant restrictions on marijuana advertising in Arkansas.

All of this would lead to more marijuana in Arkansas.

Arkansas voters rejected marijuana legalization at the ballot box in 2022. That amendment was opposed by a broad coalition of churches, business groups, elected officials, and citizens who knew that marijuana would be bad for Arkansas. We anticipate similar opposition to the 2024 marijuana amendment.

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

Arkansas Troopers Seize Over 200 Pounds of Illegal Marijuana From Out of State

On Wednesday the Arkansas State Police released a statement announcing troopers recently seized more than 200 pounds of illegal marijuana in traffic stops — all of which appears to have originated from out of state.

The drug busts are part of a larger trend, with troopers confiscating more 1,000 pounds of illegal marijuana from out of state in just the last few weeks.

Stories like these serve as a reminder that marijuana’s legalization in other states has actually fueled the black market and the drug cartels rather than weakening them.

California’s Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce seized more than $312 million worth of illegal marijuana in 2023.

Oregon has been inundated by industrial scale marijuana cultivation sites operated illegally by organized crime and drug cartels. Some of these marijuana operations are tied to labor trafficking and violent crime.

Oklahoma authorities describe illicit marijuana as a problem that “plagues” their state.

All of this comes as a proposed marijuana amendment is vying for the 2024 ballot in Arkansas — raising serious questions about how illicit marijuana could expand in Arkansas if the state goes the same route as California, Oregon, and others.

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