Nation’s Leading Pro-Health Drug Policy Organization, Smart Approaches to Marijuana Action, Calls on Legislators to Protect Public Health and Safety
RICHMOND, VA) – A coalition of dozens of medical and health professionals, including pediatricians, obstetricians, nurses, and surgeons have authored a letter to Virginia State House Speaker Don Scott, State Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, Governor Glenn Youngkin, and other government officials calling on them to reject the marijuana industry’s push to create a new retail market for pot and high-potency THC drugs.
In their letter, the health care professionals cited the industry’s steady push to promote higher potency products – including vapes, edibles, waxes and dabs that can be up to 90% THC – that are associated with depression, suicidality, IQ loss and most recently psychosis and schizophrenia, especially for young people.
Sent this morning to legislators, the health care and medical experts also note that “marijuana legalization and commercialization is opposed by virtually every major medical society including the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Psychiatric Association.”
Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) President Dr. Kevin Sabet, a former White House drug policy advisor to Presidents Obama, Bush, and Clinton, applauded the health care professionals for standing up to the massive lobbying effort by the industry.
“The mantra should be, ‘Virginia is for lovers, not more drugs,’” said Sabet.
“Politicians often say ‘follow the science’ or ‘trust the experts’ but when it comes to drug policy, they’re often quick to take the word of an addiction-for-profit industry that has a record of preying on those who are most vulnerable in our society – the young, the low income, minorities and those suffering from substance abuse.”
“I want to thank these brave medical professionals for standing up to the industry and saying enough is enough. The data is very clear. Advancing commercialization of these drugs will imperil our children’s health and public safety for a pittance in tax revenue,” Sabet said.
Writing to Virginia’s legislative leaders, the medical professionals noted that “highly potent marijuana associated with substance use disorder, but it is also increasingly associated with psychotic events, particularly for children and teens.” They went further, pointing out that “marijuana use can impact brain development in youth and is associated with worse mental health and academic outcomes long after discontinuation of use.”
“Virginia’s political leaders would be better served following the volumes of data from the medical community and the government that shows marijuana commercialization will lead to a litany of public health, mental health and safety consequences, especially for young people,” said Sabet.