Bad Bill Would Legalize Drinks Containing Delta-9 THC

Legislation, Marijuana,

A bill filed at the capitol last week would legalize drinks that contain Delta-9 THC made from industrial hemp.

Delta-9 THC is a mind-altering substance found in cannabis plants. It is the primary psychoactive substance in marijuana.

In 2018 congress passed legislation permitting industrial hemp in America — which is defined as cannabis plants that are supposed to be low in THC. However, a loophole in the federal law has let manufacturers extract as much THC as possible out of industrial hemp and infuse it into products such as gummies, candies, and other edibles.

Last year officials in Minnesota issued a public health warning about “high-dose hemp-derived products” containing “hundreds of milligrams of THC per serving.”

H.B. 1578 by Rep. Aaron Pilkington (R — Knoxville) and Sen. Joshua Bryant (R — Rogers) would legalize intoxicating drinks made from hemp containing Delta-9 THC.

The bill treats hemp-derived drinks similarly to alcohol, allowing them to be manufactured, distributed, and sold in Arkansas.

The bill sets age restrictions, licensing requirements, and manufacturing guidelines for these drinks, but it does not clearly restrict the amount of THC a hemp-derived drink could contain. That raises serious public health and safety concerns about the measure.

You Can Read H.B. 1578 Here.

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

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High Risk: Another Study Finds Marijuana Use During Pregnancy Harms Newborns

Marijuana

Yet another study has found a possible link between marijuana use during pregnancy and lower birthweight.

Decreased birthweight is associated with health problems and developmental delays in children.

Researchers from Henry Ford Health and Michigan State University surveyed pregnant women at 23 clinics across Michigan between 2017 and 2022. The study found 15% of women surveyed indicated they used marijuana during pregnancy.

Time and again, science has shown a link between marijuana use during pregnancy and harm to unborn and newborn children.

In 2021, researchers in California found infants were 35% more likely to die within a year of birth if the mother used marijuana heavily; the study also found that infants were more likely to be born preterm, have a low birth weight, and be small for their gestational age.

A 2022 study published in JAMA Pediatrics showed children and adolescents face an increased risk of mental disorder if their mothers used marijuana during pregnancy.

Researchers found marijuana use during pregnancy was associated with attention, social, and behavioral problems that last as children enter early adolescence and may put children at an increased risk of mental disorders and substance use as they grow older.

A 2023 study published in the journal Frontiers In Pediatrics found marijuana use during pregnancy could decrease a newborn’s birthweight by approximately one-third of a pound.

The study also found newborns exposed to marijuana in utero suffered from smaller head circumference — which could indicate inadequate brain development during pregnancy.

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.

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Weeding Out Crime: Arkansas State Police Seized 15K+ Pounds of Illegal Marijuana Last Year

Marijuana

The Arkansas State Police seized more than 15,000 pounds of illegal marijuana in 2024.

In a news release, the ASP reported its Interstate Criminal Patrol played a key role in the seizures, noting,

Illegal marijuana seizures increased by approximately 50%, with more than 15,000 pounds confiscated in 2024, compared to just over 10,000 pounds in 2023. Cash seizures more than doubled, from $1.4 million in 2023 to $3.3 million in 2024. Methamphetamine seizures increased significantly from 56 pounds in 2023 to 509 pounds in 2024.

Besides illegal marijuana, authorities also confiscated 89 pounds of illegal THC wax and more than 3,700 THC vapes.

Much of the illegal marijuana that authorities in Arkansas seize actually comes from states that have legalized the drug.

Over the past decade we have seen how legalization has actually emboldened drug cartels and increased the flow of illegal marijuana across America.

For example, last year, California’s Unified Cannabis Enforcement Task Force seized 154,000 pounds of illegal marijuana and destroyed some 236,000 illegal marijuana plants.

Illegal marijuana operations often are believed to be tied to labor trafficking and violent crime — contributing to what some have dubbed “modern day slavery on American soil.”

Troublingly, Chinese organized crime is dominating black market marijuana in many states. The U.S. Department of Justice says Chinese drug cartels may be making millions of dollars from illegal marijuana in states like Maine, New York, Massachusetts, and elsewhere.

We appreciate the hard work of the Arkansas State Police keeping illegal drugs out of our communities.

As 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.

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