Despite Legalization, Illegal Marijuana Sale Leads to Deaths in CO

Marijuana

Kush_closeAccording to the Denver Post, prosecutors in Colorado have charged three men in the case of a marijuana-related shooting that occurred earlier this month.

The Denver District Attorney said,

“The charges allege that Evans, Jones, and Turrentine came to Denver from Oklahoma to illegally purchase several pounds of marijuana, and that during the transaction on June 3, 2016, they shot and killed two men and tried to kill five others.”

The Denver Post writes, “Police have called the shooting deaths the result of a ‘drug deal gone extremely bad.'”

This situation underscores the fact that, contrary to the claims of many, black market marijuana sales continue even following full legalization of marijuana. For example, reports from Colorado in 2012 indicated so-called “medical” marijuana legalization had spawned illegal drug trafficking.

A study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in April 2012 found 74% of teens surveyed in two Colorado substance abuse facilities had used “medical” marijuana intended for someone else.The study surveyed 164 teens ages 14-18. Of these teens, 122 admitted to using “medical” marijuana; only 1 was legally qualified to do so.

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Churchgoers Accidentally Eat Marijuana-Laced Cookies After Service

Marijuana

Kush_closeSix churchgoers in Indiana went the to ER on May 22 after eating cookies laced with marijuana following church services.

According to various news reports, the individuals experienced symptoms including high blood pressure, anxiety, lethargy, and paranoia. All six tested positive for THC–the active ingredient in marijuana.

Unfortunately, accidental ingestion of marijuana and marijuana-laced foods is becoming increasingly common–especially among children.

For example:

  1. April, 2016: A Georgia woman was arrested after her five year old said he ate a marijuana cake for breakfast. The child was taken to the hospital for treatment following the incident; according to officials, his pulse was measured at over 200 beats per minute. According to the child’s mother, the cake laced with marijuana was given to her by another person.
  2. February, 2016: An eight-year-old Oregon boy was taken to the hospital after eating a marijuana-infused cookie he found. The cookie was sealed and labeled that it contained approximately 50 milligrams of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana.
  3. March, 2015: Four high school students were hospitalized after eating brownies laced with marijuana hash oil. One student was actually found unresponsive in a school bathroom after eating a marijuana-laced brownie.
  4. February, 2015: A 20-month-old Canadian toddler overdosed after eating a marijuana-laced cookie authorities say his father baked. The child survived, but suffered seizures and had to be admitted to a hospital.
  5. December, 2014: A high school teacher in Maryland was hospitalized after a student gave her a brownie containing marijuana.
  6. December, 2014: Two middle school students in Oklahoma were rushed to the hospital after one of them reportedly passed out following marijuana-use at school.
  7. November, 2014: A Connecticut teen was taken to the hospital from school after she started having difficulty breathing following ingestion of a marijuana-laced gummy bear.
  8. June, 2014: According to The Aspen Times, a seven-year-old girl was taken to the hospital after eating marijuana-laced candy her mother brought home from work at an area hotel. The candy was left by a hotel guest–presumably as a tip.
  9. December, 2013: A two-year-old in Colorado overdosed and was hospitalized after eating a cookie laced with marijuana.News outlet indicate the girl found the cookie in the yard of an apartment complex.

These examples underscore what we have said time and time again: Marijuana may be many things, but “harmless” simply is not one of them.

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7-Year-Old Paralyzed in Washington DUI Crash

Marijuana

Purple_KushAccording to news sources, police in Washington State report a 15-year-old girl in a BMW crashed into a pickup truck carrying a man and his 7-year-old son earlier this week.

Police say the BMW was traveling at “incredibly high speed,” and they have reason to believe the driver may have been operating under the influence of marijuana. The father was critically injured as a result of the crash, and his son was paralyzed.

In Colorado, news reports indicate a teen driver charged in a fatal crash earlier this month is suspected of using marijuana. The Associated Press writes,

Police say the teen rear-ended two cars stopped at a red light on May 7 and that there was “minimal breaking” before the crash.

Two people in one of the cars, 39-year-old Joe Ramas and 30-year-old Stacey Reynolds, both died after being taken to the hospital.

Sadly, these stories continue to demonstrate what we have been saying for years: Marijuana may be many things, but “harmless” simply is not one of them.

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