Minnesota Department of Health Issues Warning About High-Dose THC Products

Marijuana,

Last month the Minnesota Department of Health issued a warning about illegal marijuana products containing high-doses of THC.

In a statement, public health officials wrote,

Illegal, high-dose hemp-derived products may contain hundreds of milligrams of THC per serving, and with multiple servings in a package, this can add up to thousands of milligrams of THC – far above the legal limit . . . These products are produced by a variety of manufacturers and if consumed may lead to adverse health effects, such as becoming unresponsive, seizures, or psychotic episodes.

Edibles and other substances containing high doses of THC are sometimes manufactured from industrial hemp — or cannabis.

The health department’s statement noted that illegal, high-THC products were found  in 39% of hemp retailers inspected in the state.

Marijuana edibles containing high levels of THC pose a serious risk. According to the Minnesota Health Department, they can cause:

  • Unresponsiveness.
  • Extreme anxiety or panic attacks.
  • Psychotic episodes (hallucinations, delusions or a loss of personal identity).
  • An increase in heart rate, chest pain or heart attack.
  • Sudden high blood pressure with headache.
  • Uncontrollable shaking or seizures.
  • Decreased judgment, perception and coordination that can lead to injuries.
  • Consumers are advised to contact their health care provider if they become ill or begin suffering symptoms of THC overdose after consuming a high-dose cannabinoid product.

Nationwide, marijuana products like these — including gummies, candies, and other edibles containing THC — are sending kids to the emergency room.

In 2022 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration released a strong warning highlighting five serious health risks associated with Delta-8 THC manufactured from industrial hemp products. Likewise, researchers at the Oregon Health and Sciences University found poison center calls due to children exposed to marijuana rose 245% from 2000 – 2020.

Last summer the Centers for Disease Control released a report showing the number of children, teens, and young adults sent to the emergency room due to marijuana exposure increased from 2019 to 2022. The report revealed that marijuana-related ER visits surged more than 200% among children under age 11 during that time.

These drugs are dangerous — especially for children. That’s part of the reason Arkansas has taken steps to prohibit THC products made from hemp. 

Last year the Arkansas Legislature passed Act 629 by Sen. Tyler Dees (R – Siloam Springs) and Rep. Jimmy Gazaway (R – Paragould). This good law prevents Delta-8 THC and other THC varieties from being manufactured and sold via industrial hemp — or cannabis — in Arkansas. However, a group of companies that profit from Delta-8 THC are suing to block Act 629 in federal court.

Without laws prohibiting gummies, candies, and other edibles made from industrial hemp and marijuana, these drugs could send more children to the E.R. in Arkansas.

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

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Marijuana is Dangerous for Unborn Children: New Study

Marijuana
Photo Source: University of Utah Health.

Yet another study shows marijuana use during pregnancy poses a serious risk for unborn children.

In a study published earlier this month, researchers at University of Utah reviewed data from more than 9,000 pregnant women across the U.S.

Their findings show marijuana exposure during pregnancy is associated with a host of unhealthy outcomes — especially low birth weight for newborns. Researchers also found that higher marijuana exposure is associated with higher risks.

Marijuana use raised a woman’s risk of experiencing an unhealthy pregnancy outcome nearly 49% — from 17 in 100 to nearly 26 in 100.

The study goes to show once again just how important it was that Arkansans rejected marijuana at the ballot box in 2022.

Researchers have found over and over that marijuana use is harmful — especially for pregnant women and unborn children.

Earlier this year researchers from Oregon Health & Science University published a showing that consuming THC during pregnancy could affect an unborn child’s development.

A 2023 study found marijuana use during pregnancy could decrease a newborn’s birthweight by approximately one-third of a pound — which is a significant amount for a baby.

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

The list goes on and one.

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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Arkansas State Police Seize $3.6M Worth of Illegal Marijuana in Lonoke Co. Traffic Stop

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Above: a suitcase full of illegal marijuana seized in Monday’s traffic stop. Photo Credit: Arkansas State Police.

On Monday the Arkansas State Police seized an estimated $3.6 million worth of illegal marijuana during a traffic stop in Lonoke County, according to an official press release. The driver reportedly was travelling from California to Florida.

While very little is known about this particular situation, it serves as a reminder that marijuana’s legalization in places like California has actually fueled the black market and the drug cartels rather than weakening them.

For example, California’s Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce seized nearly $162 million worth of illegal marijuana during the first half of this year.

In New Mexico, a loophole in state law has allowed criminals to operate marijuana businesses without a proper background check, and 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.

Authorities in Oregon reportedly seized some 105 tons of illicit marijuana last year.

It’s worth pointing out that if Arkansas had passed marijuana amendment Issue 4 in 2022, our marijuana laws arguably would be more lax than Oregon’s and California’s in many ways. Fortunately, voters rejected that measure at the ballot box.

Contrary to popular belief, legalization does not decrease drug-related crime, and it does not alleviate drug abuse. If anything, it seems to make these problems worse.

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

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