Why Were Arkansas’ “Medical” Marijuana Sales So High on 4/20?

Marijuana,

The Arkansas Times recently reported that “Marijuana sales on 4/20, the unofficial cannabis holiday, nearly tripled the daily average for medical marijuana sales in Arkansas this year.”

According to the Arkansas Times, users bought more than $2.1 million worth of “medical” marijuana on April 20. For perspective, the daily average for marijuana sales is $780,000.

But if “medical” marijuana is about treating illnesses and helping sick people — as Arkansans were led to believe when they ratified the state’s medical marijuana amendment in 2016 — then why would “medical” marijuana sales spike on a day dedicated to getting high?

We said in 2016 that “medical” marijuana is simply recreational marijuana masquerading as medicine, and that under the marijuana amendment, people would use marijuana recreationally.

The fact that “medical” marijuana spending was nearly three times above average on 4/20 would seem to prove people are using “medical” marijuana recreationally in Arkansas.

It’s worth pointing out that right now an amendment effort is underway to drastically expand marijuana in Arkansas.

If passed, the 2024 marijuana amendment would give free marijuana cards to immigrants and out-of-state residents who come to Arkansas to use marijuana, and marijuana users would no longer need to show they suffer from a specific medical condition listed in state law.

All of this would seem to further enable recreational marijuana in Arkansas.

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

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Updated: Biden Administration Plans to Propose Rule Rescheduling Marijuana

Marijuana

On Tuesday the A.P. reported that the Biden Administration’s Department of Justice plans to reschedule marijuana from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug.

Under federal law, Schedule I drugs are substances with a high risk of abuse and no FDA-approved medical use. Schedule III drugs are substances with a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence.

Reclassifying marijuana as a Schedule III substance would not legalize marijuana, but it would put marijuana in the same drug category as anabolic steroids or Tylenol with Codeine. As a rule, Schedule III substances are only available with a prescription from a licensed healthcare professional.

The Biden Administration is expected to accept public comments before issuing a final decision about rescheduling marijuana as a Schedule III substance.

Research has shown time and again that marijuana has a significant potential for dependence and abuse — especially marijuana products that are high in THC. And the FDA has not approved marijuana as a medical treatment for any illness or condition.

With that in mind, it seems inappropriate for the Biden Administration to reclassify marijuana.

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

This article has been updated to reflect the fact that rescheduling marijuana would not legalize it, but it would affect the type of regulation to which marijuana is subject.

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“Psychosis is an Increasing Risk of Today’s Strong Marijuana”: Psychology Today

Marijuana

On Monday Psychology Today published an article highlighting the growing risk of psychosis linked to high-potency marijuana.

According to research cited in the article:

  • Young adults and teens can develop an addiction to weed and become psychotic.
  • Many people don’t know that regular marijuana use may carry serious health risks, especially for the young.
  • No medication is FDA-approved for treating cannabis use disorder.
  • One cannabis-induced psychotic episode ups the risk of developing bipolar disorder or schizophrenia by 50%.

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

Legalization is tied to increased marijuana use among teenagers. 

Researchers have found marijuana use during adolescence is associated with an increased risk for psychiatric disorders and cognitive problems. 

A report published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found a disturbing 46% increase in self-harm rates among men aged 21 to 39 in states where marijuana sales were legalized.

Across the board, media outlets have repeatedly reported that legalization of marijuana has fueled black market operations rather than reducing them — emboldening drug cartels that operate industrial scale marijuana cultivation sites.

All of this comes as Arkansans for Patient Access is actively working to expand marijuana in Arkansas.

In March the group backing a marijuana in Arkansas raised more than $565,000 to place their marijuana amendment on the November ballot, according to reports filed with the Arkansas Ethics Commission.

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

Most of the money the group raised in March appears to have come from marijuana growers and sellers.

The amendment would drastically expand Arkansas’ medical marijuana law to enable recreational marijuana statewide. 

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

The amendment would give free marijuana cards to immigrants and out-of-state residents who come to Arkansas.

Marijuana users would no longer need to show they suffer from a specific medical condition listed in state law. People would be able to grow and use marijuana at home.

It also repeals restrictions on marijuana advertising.

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.

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