Category: Marijuana

Revisiting Medical Marijuana’s False Promises

Research continues to shatter the myth that marijuana is effective medicine.

A major study published last month in the prestigious Cochrane Library found “no clear evidence” that medical marijuana helps with pain relief.

The review analyzed 21 high-quality clinical studies involving nearly 2,200 participants and found that THC-dominant medicines, CBD-dominant medicines, and balanced THC/CBD medicines all failed to provide meaningful pain relief compared to a placebo.

This research contradicts years of claims by groups who have promoted “medical” marijuana in Arkansas and elsewhere around the country.

Today’s marijuana is not the same drug from decades past — and it certainly is not “medicine.” Modern marijuana products are far more potent and more dangerous. High-potency marijuana can trigger serious mental health problems.

From deadly heart disease and cancer to stroke, mental illness, and birth defects, marijuana has been found time and time again to be dangerous.

Arkansans should be skeptical of any effort to expand so-called “medical” marijuana in our state.

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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Oklahoma’s Marijuana Legalization Fuels Massive Black Market Operations

News reports in Oklahoma show marijuana legalization has created a shocking black market problem across the region.

The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics (OBN) revealed that law enforcement in other states have alleged 40% of America’s black market marijuana comes from Oklahoma.

The numbers are staggering. Over a twelve month period from 2023 to 2024, authorities say more than 85 million pounds of marijuana in Oklahoma went unaccounted for. That means it’s possible tens of millions of pounds of marijuana grown legally in Oklahoma may have been sold illegally on the black market in just one year.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond told reporters that criminal organizations have exploited the state’s “lax medical marijuana laws” to “flood the black market across state lines.” His Organized Crime Task Force has shut down more than 7,000 illegal operations and seized over 329,000 marijuana plants.

Contrary to popular belief, legalization in other states has actually emboldened drug cartels and increased the flow of illegal marijuana across the country.

Arkansas State Police routinely confiscate illegal marijuana from Oklahoma and other states.

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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Even “Casual” Marijuana Use Harms Teens: New Study

A major study from Columbia University confirms what many parents have long suspected: There is no such thing as “harmless” marijuana use for teenagers.

The study, published in Pediatrics last month, analyzed data from over 160,000 American students. Researchers found teens who used marijuana just once or twice a month showed higher rates of depression, anxiety, and impulsive behavior compared to teens who didn’t use the drug at all.

Students who used marijuana nearly every day were almost four times more likely to have poor grades and more likely to be frequently disengaged from school activities. The younger the student, the stronger these negative effects became.

The study comes at a time when an estimated one in five high school students use marijuana, and approximately 6% of 12th graders use it daily.

Today’s marijuana is not the same drug from decades past. Modern cannabis products are far more potent and dangerous. High-potency marijuana can trigger serious mental health problems. This is especially concerning for teenagers, whose brains are still developing.

Marijuana has been found time and time again to pose serious health hazards like deadly heart disease and cancer to stroke, mental illness, and birth defects.

Researchers now say marijuana doubles a person’s risk of death from heart disease.

And instead of decreasing crime, marijuana legalization has actually emboldened drug cartels and increased the flow of illegal drugs across America.

Arkansans should also pay attention. As other states move to legalize marijuana, we’re learning more about the serious dangers it poses—especially for children.

The evidence is clear: 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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