The Naked Truth about Medical Marijuana

1. The Naked Truth about
Medical Marijuana
Presenters:
• Susan R. Thau, MCRP, Public Policy Consultant,
Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America
• Thomas J. Gorman, Director, Rocky Mountain High
Intensity Drug Trafficking Area
Advocacy Track
Moderator: Nancy Hale, MA, President and
CEO, Operation UNITE

2. Disclosures
Thomas J. Gorman; Susan R. Thau, MCRP; and Nancy
Hale, MA, have disclosed no relevant, real, or apparent
personal or professional financial relationships with
proprietary entities that produce healthcare goods and
services.

3. Disclosures
• All planners/managers hereby state that they or their
spouse/life partner do not have any financial
relationships or relationships to products or devices
with any commercial interest related to the content of
this activity of any amount during the past 12 months.
• The following planners/managers have the following to
disclose:
– John J. Dreyzehner, MD, MPH, FACOEM – Ownership
interest: Starfish Health (spouse)
– Robert DuPont – Employment: Bensinger, DuPont &
Associates-Prescription Drug Research Center

4. Learning Objectives
1. Identify concerns related to marijuana, medical marijuana
and legalization.
2. Evaluate the impact of marijuana legalization in Colorado.
3. Describe the impact of marijuana use on the adolescent
brain.
4. Explain how to track the impact of medical marijuana and
marijuana legalization on public health and safety.
5. Prepare attendees to deliver science-based messages that
resonate with the general public.
6. Provide accurate and appropriate counsel as part of the
treatment team.

5. Marijuana 101:
Science-Based Marijuana Messages
That Matter
Sue Thau
Public Policy Consultant
CADCA 5

6. 6
Much of the content presented today has been created and then
formatted into a presentation by CADCA’s Public Policy
department. Thus, this presentation is property of said
organization and cannot be presented by anyone else.
Please contact CADCA for more information.
The data and other information that does not belong to CADCA
has been cited or is available in the public domain. It may be used
elsewhere depending upon the requirements of the original
source.

7. “THE NAKED TRUTH IS ALWAYS BETTER
THAN THE BEST-DRESSED LIE.” – ANN
LANDERS
7

8. THE NAKED TRUTH ABOUT
MARIJUANA
8

9. Marijuana is Addictive
• Long-term marijuana use can lead to addiction.
Approximately 9 percent of users will become addicted to
marijuana.
• This number increases to 17 percent among those who start
young.
9
Budney AJ, Vandrey RG, Hughes JR, Thostenson JD, Bursac Z. 2008. “Comparison of cannabis and tobacco withdrawal: Severity and contribution to relapse.” J Subst Abuse
Treat, e-publication ahead of print.

10. Marijuana is Addictive
10
who start using marijuana in
adolescence become addicted
National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse. 2011. Topics in Brief: Marijuana. Available:
http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/topics-in-brief/marijuana

11. 11
52.42%
25.36%
7.96%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
A L C O H O L T O B A C C O M A R I J U A N A
PAST MONTH USE OF SELECT SUBSTANCES, AGES 12 AND
OLDER, 2013 NSDUH
Source: 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health,
http://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUHsaeShortTermCHG2014/NSDUHsaeShortTermCHG2014.pdf

12. Alcohol and Tobacco: A Model?
• Use levels for alcohol and tobacco are much
higher than marijuana (7x and 2x respectively)
• Industries promote use and target kids and lower
socio-economic status individuals
12Schiller JS, Lucas JW, Peregoy JA. Summary health statistics for U.S. adults: National Health Interview Survey, 2011. National Center for
Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 10(256). 2012.
Centers for Disease Control and +. Vital Signs: Current Cigarette Smoking Among Adults Aged ≥ 18 Years—United States, 2005–2010.
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 2011;60(33):1207–12

13. Alcohol and Tobacco: A Model?
• In Colorado, adult marijuana use is now HIGHEST in the country
– 13.6% of adults in CO are regular users, with rates of 18.5% in
Denver
• Just like tobacco and alcohol, a report prepared for the Colorado
Department of Revenue showed that “the vast majority of marijuana
demand” in that state “emanates from the regular users” – those who
consume daily or near daily
– In CO, the top 21.8% of users make up almost 67% of demand for marijuana in
the state
13
1
https://www.colorado.gov/cdphe/marijuanause
1
2
2 https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/sites/default/files/Market%20Size%20and%20Demand%20Study,%20July%209,%202014%5B1%5D.pdf

14. Alcohol and Tobacco: A Model?
• The negative social and health effects of marijuana legalization will
fall on those least able to bear the burdens of cost and health
• EXAMPLE: Legal marijuana businesses in Denver are already
concentrated in lower income and minority neighborhoods
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2015/03/12/the-stereotype-of-the-college-educated-pot-smoker-is-wrong/?tid=sm_fb1
1
2
2http://www.thecannabist.co/2016/01/04/unbalanced-denver-marijuana-landscape-regulation-concerns/45849/

15. According to the 2015 Monitoring the Future Survey,
perceptions about the risks of marijuana
are going down among 12th graders.
15

16. Diversion To Youth

17. Increased Use Among Teens
• Pacula et al found that two features of medical marijuana – home
cultivation and dispensaries – are positively associated with
youth marijuana use and “have important implications for states
considering legalization of marijuana.”
• An Emory University study found an 8.3% increase in the baseline
prevalence rate caused by having retail dispensaries, as well as a
5% increase in youth initiation rates for marijuana related to
medical marijuana laws
17
Wall, M., et al., 2011; Johnston, L.D., et al., 2011. and Pacula et al 2013
Wen, Hefei. Hockenberry, Jason M. Cummings, Janet R. The effect of medical marijuana laws on adolescent and adult use of marijuana, alcohol, and other substances. 22 May 2014. Journal of Health
Economics.
1
2
1
2

18. A Recent Australian Study on Individuals
Prescribed Opioid Painkillers That Also
Used “Medical Marijuana” (1 in 6
participants) found that they:
• Were more likely to take opioids in ways not recommended by their
doctor
• Were over twice as likely to have an alcohol use disorder and four times
as likely to have a heroin use disorder
• Were over 50 percent more likely to be taking anti-anxiety medications
(benzodiazepines), which when combined with opioids are particularly
likely to cause an overdose
Degenhardt, Louisa. ,Humphreys, Keith. Medical Marijuana and the Risk of Painkiller Overdose. Scope, Published by Stanford
Medicine. January 13, 2015.
Experience of adjunctive cannabis use for chronic non-cancer pain: Findings from the Pain and Opioids IN Treatment (POINT) study.
Drug Alcohol Depend. 2015 Feb . http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25533893
18

19. FACTS on Medical Marijuana
–Is not even good for conditions it is
touted for
–Could exacerbate symptoms
(American Glaucoma Society)
19
1American Glaucoma Foundation. Available: http://www.glaucomafoundation.org/UserFiles/File/TGF_Summer_10_Web.pdf
1

20. Marijuana as “medicine” to treat veterans
suffering from PTSD
• Medical marijuana can exacerbate symptoms. Researchers
found that veterans using marijuana were associated with having
HIGHER levels of PTSD symptoms, including PTSD
avoidance/numbing and hyper arousal symptoms.
• Research shows the Marijuana use can cause increased
paranoia, anxiety, and psychosis in some people
Bonn-Miller, M.O., Boden, M.T., Vujanovic, A.A., & Drecher, K.D. (2011, December 19). “Prospective Investigation of the Impact of Cannabis Use Disorders on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Symptoms Among Veterans in Residential Treatment.” Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy. This study was done with the National Center for PTSD and Center for Health
Care Evaluation at the Palo Alto VA Health Care Center.
20

21. FACTS on Medical Marijuana
• Less than 3% of state “medical marijuana” users
have cancer, HIV, or glaucoma.
• Vast majority are white males in
30s and 40s with self-diagnosed pain.
• Most cancer doctors and other physicians do not
recommend smoking or ingesting marijuana.
21
California average medical marijuana patient statistics, found at: O'Connell, T and Bou-Matar , C.B. (2007). Long term cannabis users seeking medical cannabis
in California (2001–2007): demographics, social characteristics, patterns of cannabis and other drug use of 4117 applicants. Harm Reduction Journal,

22. Using “Marijuana as Medicine”
a “Permission Structure” was built
about the safety and acceptability of
marijuana use with the general
public.

23. 23

24. Marijuana on Front Page of Business Journal in WA

25. YOUTH REGUARLY RECEIVE PRO-MARIJUANA TWEETS
• A STUDY OF 2,285
MARIJUANA TWEETS
DURING AN EIGHT-
MONTH PERIOD SHOW
THAT 82% OF THE TWEETS
WERE POSITIVE ABOUT
MARIJUANA.
• INVESTIGATORS FOUND
THAT OF THOSE
RECEIVING THE TWEETS
73% WERE UNDER THE
AGE OF 19

26. Changes in Social Norms Increase Use
• As social norms around the acceptability of marijuana use change, use
and abuse have gone up
• NIH released a report in October 2015 that showed from 2001/2002 –
2012/2013 past year marijuana use among adults increased from 4.1%
to 9.5% nationally
– The increase in marijuana use disorder during the same time frame
was almost as large
26
http://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/prevalence-marijuana-use-among-us-adults-doubles-over-past-decade

27. 27
How to Frame Marijuana Messages
for the Public

28. Volkow, Nora M.D., Baler, Ruben D. Ph.D.,
Compton, Wilson M. M.D., Weiss, Susan Ph.D.
Adverse Health Effects of Marijuana Use. The
New England Journal of Medicine. June 5,
2014.
NIDA Scientific Evidence
Marijuana Effects on Health and Well-Being.
Overall Level
of Confidence*
Addiction to marijuana and High
other substances
Diminished lifetime achievement High
Motor vehicle accidents High
Symptoms of chronic bronchitis High

29. Based on the Science
We need to give people an
“A Ha! I got it!” message.
It’s going to actually affect ME
Best Example: Second Hand Smoke
29

30. 30
• If you care about academic
achievement:
• You need to care about increased
marijuana use.

31. Marijuana & Adolescence
Use by age 15=
1.) 3.6 times less likely to graduate from high school
2.) 2.3 times less likely to enroll in college
3.) 3.7 times less likely to get college degree.
Thurstone, Christian, Dr. Marijuana Use & Pregnancy. May 14, 2014. Available at http://drthurstone.com/?s=pregnancy&x=0&y=0.
31

32. 32
Because Marijuana Use Lowers IQ1
• A recent study found that those who used marijuana heavily in their teens
and continued through adulthood showed a permanent drop in IQ of 8
points.
• A loss of 8 IQ points could drop a person of average intelligence into
the lowest third of the intelligence range.
1M.H. Meier, Avshalom Caspi, et al. 2012. “Persistent cannabis users show neuropsychological decline from childhood to midlife.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Why?

33. 33
Take Away Message for Parents:
• Marijuana use will hurt YOUR child’s
IQ, grades, and ability to graduate
from high school !!

34. 34
Take Away Message For
Teachers/School Systems:
Increased marijuana use will result in reduced
academic achievement for which teachers/school
system will be blamed

35. If you care about college completion:
You need to care about increased
marijuana use.
35

36. 36
• College students with high levels (17 days/month) of
marijuana use were twice as likely as those with minimal
use (less than 1 day/month) to have an enrollment gap
while in college.1
• (e.g. dropout and not graduate on time)
1 Amelia M. Arria , MD. Drug Use Patterns and Continuous Enrollment in College: Results From a Longitudinal Study. January 2013. Vol 24 Issue 1.
Available: http://www.jsad.com/jsad/article/Drug_Use_Patterns_and_Continuous_Enrollment_in_College_Results_From_a_Long/4775.html
Why?

37. Increased Use Among College Students
37
http://www.monitoringthefuture.org/pressreleases/15collegepr.pdf?utm_source=Legislators+List&utm_campaign=e543cbde3f-
September_2_2015_TMR_LEGS9_2_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_ce2346c3fe-e543cbde3f-334806865
Credit to themarijuanareport.org September 2, 2015. Data is from:

38. Average cost of college in 4 years is: $89,044
Average cost of college in 6 years is: $133,566
Source: National Association for College Admission Counseling 2012-2013.
38

39. 39
Take Away Message for Parents:
• Your child’s marijuana use could derail
their college career and be very costly
to you!!

40. If you care about mental health
You need to care about increased
marijuana use
40

41. Cannabis Use and Risk of Psychiatric Disorders
• Study published Feb. 16th, 2016 that
examined prospective associations between
cannabis use and risk of mental health and
substance use disorders in the general adult
population.
• In conclusion authors suggested “caution in
the implementation of policies related to
legalization of cannabis for recreational use,
as it may lead to greater availability and
acceptance of cannabis, reduced perception
of risk of use, and increased risk of adverse
mental health outcomes, such as substance
use disorders.”
Rasic D, Weerasinghe S, Asbridge M, Langille DB. Longitudinal associations of cannabis and illicit drug use with depression, suicidal ideation and
suicidal attempts among Nova Scotia high school students . Drug Alcohol Depend. 2013;129(1-2):49-53.
Authors: Carlos Blanco, MD, PhD1; Deborah S. Hasin, PhD2; Melanie M. Wall, PhD2; Ludwing Flórez-Salamanca, MD3,4; Nicolas Hoertel, MD, MPH2,3,4,5;
Shuai Wang, PhD2; Bradley T. Kerridge, PhD, PhD2; Mark Olfson, MD, MPH2

42. 42
Because:
• Regular marijuana use by adolescents and young adults is strongly associated
with developing psychotic symptoms and disorders such as schizophrenia in
adulthood for those people with an underlying genetic vulnerability to
developing this disease
• This risk is higher among those who start using marijuana at a younger age
• This risk is higher with more frequent marijuana use
• Volkow, Nora D. Baler, Ruben D. Compton, Wilson M. 2014 June 5. Adverse Health Effects of Marijuana Use. The New England Journal of Medicine

43. Take Away Message for the Public and
Decision Makers:
Early persistent marijuana use is associated, in vulnerable
individuals, with the early onset and some exacerbated
symptoms of schizophrenia. This is a debilitating mental
illness that is costly to individuals, families and society.

44. If you care about the environment, you
need to care about increased
marijuana use.
44

45. Why?
Because
• Marijuana grow sites are already having major adverse environmental
impacts including:
• Vastly increasing fish kills from fertilizer runoff that creates toxic
aquatic conditions; and
• Poisoning watersheds with arsenic and acaracide, used to keep
rodents away from the marijuana plants.
45
1 Allen, Hezekiah, Mattole Resoration Council and Scott Greacen, Friends of the Eel River. The Ugly, the Bad and (Maybe) the Good? (April 17, 2012).
Available; www.treesfoundation/org/publications/article-486

46. Because:
• An average marijuana grow site of 1,000 plants uses 5,000
gallons of water a day
• Question: Where does all this water come from?
• Answer: Your local streams and rivers
46
http://www.think-mag.com/your-world/high-dry/

47. Because:
• 45% of the increased demand in Denver for
electric power is coming from legal marijuana
growers
• This is putting upward pressure on carbon
emissions from coal-burning power plants
http://www.denverpost.com/environment/ci_28417456/pot-boom-spikes-denver-electric-demand-
challenges-clean

48. Take Away Message:
• Increased marijuana grows will further
degrade our environment and
exacerbate water and energy
shortages
48

49. 49
If you care about employment:
You need to care about
increased marijuana use.

50. According to the American Council for Drug Education in New York,
employees who abuse drugs are:
• 10 times more likely to miss work
Because:
Why?

51. • 3.6 times more likely
to be involved in on-
the-job incidents

52. 52
• 5 times more likely to file a workers’
compensation claim.

53. 53
Many big companies,
industries, and professions
nationwide conduct drug
testing
• Target
• Walmart
• McDonalds
• Police/Fire Departments
• Military
• Transportation

54. 54
These students are virtually
unemployable

55. 55
Take Away Message For Job Seekers:
• Marijuana use can RUIN your
chances of employment!

56. 56
Take Away Message For Business:
• Increased marijuana use is BAD for
your business and your bottom line

57. 57
If you care about highway
safety:
You need to care about
increased marijuana use.

58. 58
Why?
• Because marijuana use impairs
driving ability1
1For a comprehensive review, see DuPont, R. et al. 2010. “Drugged Driving Research: A White Paper.” Prepared for the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Available at
http://stopdruggeddriving.org/pdfs/DruggedDrivingAWhitePaper.pdf

59. Because Cannabis use impairs driving as much
as alcohol
A new NIDA study found:
–Marijuana's active chemical THC affects weaving within a road
lane in a similar way to a blood alcohol level of .08, the legal
limit in many states.
–Marilyn Huestis of NIDA:
“One of the things we know happens with cannabis is that it
reduces your field of vision and you get tunnel vision, so you're
unable to react as quickly.”
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3137943/Marijuana-DOES-impair-driving-kind-comprehensive-government-study-reveals-cannabis-use-affect-motor-skills-three-drinks.html

60. 60
• Marijuana is the most
prevalent illegal drug
detected in impaired
drivers, fatally injured
drivers, and motor
vehicle crash victims.
1
1 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Drug Involvement of Fatally Injured Drivers. U.S. Department of Transportation Report No. DOT HS
811 415. Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2010.
Because:

61. 61
• Driving under the influence of marijuana is
associated with a 92% increased risk of
vehicular crashes. 1
• Such driving is associated with a 110%
increase in fatal crashes. 2
1 Asbridge, M., Hayden, JA, Cartwirght, JL. Acute cannabis consumption and motor vehicle collision risk: systematic review of observational studies and meta-
analysis. British Medical Journal, 2012; 344 (ePub): e536. PMID: 22323502.
2 Ibid.
Because:

62. 62
Because:
• Researchers at the University of
Massachusetts, Amherst, found 44 % of
college men said they drove after
smoking marijuana in the previous
month, compared with 12% who said
they drove after drinking.
• Jennifer M. Whitehill, PhD; Frederick P. Rivara, MD, MPH; Megan A. Moreno, MD, MSEd, MPH; Marijuana-Using Drivers, Alcohol-Using Drivers, and Their Passengers. AMA Pediatr. Published online
May 12, 2014. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2013.5300

63. Because:
• A new study conducted by the National Cannabis Prevention and
Information Centre, found nearly 70% of recent cannabis users had
driven while under the influence of the drug.
• 16% of users said they had driven on a daily basis less five hours
after using
• Many users were oblivious to the impact cannabis had on driving
skills
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-10/cannabis-users-report-driving-under-influence/6534368

64. 64
Take Away Message:
• Increased marijuana use will
increase car crashes and fatalities

65. 65
If you care about your tax
burden, you need to care
about increased marijuana
use

66. 66
Why?
Because
Because the total overall costs of
substance abuse
in the U.S., including productivity,
health and
crime-related costs, exceed $600
billion annually.1
This includes approximately:
• $235 billion for alcohol
• $193 billion for tobacco
• $181 billion for illicit drugs
1 Office of National Drug Control Policy. The Economic Costs of Drug Abuse in the United States, Executive Office of the President (Publication No.
207303). 2004. Available at www.ncjrs.gov/ondcppubs/publication/pdf.economic_costs.pdf

67. 67
Because
• Federal and state alcohol taxes raise $14.5
billion, covering only about 6% of alcohol’s total
cost to society.1
• Federal and state tobacco taxes raise $25 billion,
covering only about 13% of tobacco’s total cost
to society.2
1 Dupont, Robert M.D., Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (1973-1978), “Why We Should Not Legalize Marijuana.” April 2010. Available:
www.cnbc.com/id/36267223/Why_We_Should_Not_Legalize_Marijuana
2 Ibid

68. Legal corporations work hard to
keep prices low and consumption
high!
68
• Alcohol taxes are now
1/5 of what they were
during the Korean War
(adjusted for
inflation).
Cook, P. J. (2007). Paying the tab: The economics of alcohol policy. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University
Press.

69. Take Away Message:
• Increased marijuana use will
COST tax payers much more
money than it can possibly
bring in.

70. Thomas J. Gorman, Director
Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area
www.rmhidta.org
2016

71. www.rmhidta.org
click on
“Reports”

72. Has the “War”
on Drugs Been
a Failure?

73. Background
• Purpose of Drug Policy
• Limit the number of people using drugs
• Victimless Crime?
• Four classes of victim:
1. User
2. Family/Friends
3. Victim of Crime
4. Taxpayers

74. Background
• Factors Affecting Rate of Drug Use
• Four primary factors:
1. Price
2. Availability
3. Perception of Risk
4. Public Attitude

75. The Issue
Drug “War” a Failure
Question…
What would it take for you to
consider our drug policy successful?

76. The Issue
2013 National Survey on Drug Use
• Americans age 12 and older (past month):
 9% used any illegal drug
 26% used tobacco
 52% used alcohol

77. The Issue
91% of Americans
do NOT use illegal
drugs
Source: 2013 National Survey on Drug Use

78. The Issue
Alcohol and Tobacco
Heroin, Meth, Crack,
Hallucinogens,
Cocaine, Tranquilizers,
Pain Relievers and
Marijuana

80. Licensed Marijuana Businesses
Medical Marijuana
(January 1, 2015)
Recreational Marijuana
(January 1, 2015)
• 497 licensed centers
• 748 marijuana
cultivation facilities
• 163 infused products
(edibles) businesses
• 369 licensed marijuana
retail stores
• 397 licensed marijuana
cultivation facilities
• 98 licenses for infused
product (edibles)
businesses

81. Perspective
• Colorado Business Profile, January 2015
2014 Colorado
Starbucks 405
McDonalds 227
Medical Marijuana Centers 505
Recreational Marijuana Shops 322

82. Denver: The Mile HIGH City

83. Denver: The Mile HIGH City

85. “Legal pot blamed for some of influx of
homeless in Denver this summer”
The Denver Post, July 25, 2014
• Haven of Hope: 500% rise over normal in
homeless in summer 2014 (50 to 300)
• “They have an attitude”
• Salvation Army: 33% rise since 2014 compared
to 2013
• “30% relocated for pot”

86. “Legal pot blamed for some of influx of
homeless in Denver this summer”
The Denver Post, July 25, 2014
• Urban Peak: 152% increase
• “Majority of new kids here because of
weed.”
• St. Francis: 50 more people a day
• “Marijuana only trails looking for work as
reason.”

87. Marijuana and Public Consumption
“Citations for using pot in
public rising”
Denver police say they’re not purposely trying to nab users
since marijuana was legalized.
The Denver Post
Sunday, December 28, 2014
2012 = 8 citations
2013 = 184 citations
2014 = 770 citations

88. Marijuana Edibles

89. Marijuana Edibles Deaths
Levy Thamba Pongi and
Kristine Kirk
(Denver, CO)
Luke Goodman
(Keystone, CO)

90. www.rmhidta.org
click on “Reports”

91. Forecast
What Does the Data and
Trends Show?

92. 0
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
220
619
1,152 1,264
1,583
1,903
398
NumberofScreenswithActiveTHC Number of Positive Cannabinoid Screens
with Active THC
1ng/mL
2ng/mL
SOURCE: ChemaTox Laboratory and Rocky Mountain HIDTA

93. Marijuana and Traffic Fatalities
37 39
43
47 49
63
78
71
94
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
NumberofFatalities
Traffic Deaths Related to Marijuana *
*Number of Fatalities Involving Operators Testing Positive for Marijuana
Commercialization
Legalization
* Number of Fatalities Involving Operators Testing Positive for Marijuana
SOURCE: National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, Fatality Analysis Reporting
System (FARS), 2006-2013 and CDOT/RMHIDTA 2014. NOTE: Cannot confirm 100%
reporting prior to 2012.

94. Marijuana and Traffic Fatalities
* Number of Fatalities Involving Operators Testing Positive for Marijuana
SOURCE: National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, Fatality Analysis Reporting
System (FARS), 2006-2013 and CDOT/RMHIDTA 2014. NOTE: Cannot confirm 100%
reporting prior to 2012.
6.92% 7.04% 7.85%
10.10% 10.89%
14.09%
16.53%
14.76%
19.26%
0.00%
5.00%
10.00%
15.00%
20.00%
25.00%
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
PercentofDeaths
Percent of All Traffic Deaths That Were Marijuana
Related*
*Percent of All Fatalities Where the Operators Tested Positive for Marijuana
Commercialization
Legalization
* Percent of All Fatalities Where the Operators Tested Positive for Marijuana

95. Operators Positive for Marijuana
* Number of Fatalities Involving Operators Testing Positive for Marijuana
Marijuana
ONLY
33%
Marijuana and
Other Drugs
(No Alcohol)
15%
Marijuana and Alcohol
37%
Marijuana,
Other Drugs and
Alcohol
15%
SOURCE: Colorado Department of Transportation/RMHIDTA 2014

96. Teens and Marijuana
“Since legalization, reports of pot in middle
and high schools soar.”

97. Marijuana Use in Youth
Youth (ages 12 to 17 years)
Current Marijuana Use 2013/2014
 National average for youth was 7.22 percent
 Colorado average for youth was 12.56 percent
 Colorado was ranked 1st in the nation for current marijuana
use among youth (74 percent higher than the national
average)
 2013/2014 Colorado youth use increased 20 percent
compared to pre-legalization years 2011/2012.
 Nationally a decline of 5 percent.

98. Marijuana Use in Youth
0.00
5.00
10.00
15.00
05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 12/13 13/14
National Average 6.74 6.67 6.67 7.03 7.38 7.64 7.55 7.15 7.22
Colorado Average 7.60 8.15 9.13 10.17 9.91 10.72 10.47 11.16 12.56
Percentof
ages12-17Years
Annual Averages of Data Collection
Youth Ages 12 to 17 Years Old
Past Month Marijuana Use
National vs. Colorado
Commercialization Legalization
SOURCE: SAMHSA.gov, National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2013 and 2014

99. Marijuana Use in Youth
0.00%
2.00%
4.00%
6.00%
8.00%
10.00%
12.00%
2006-2008
(Pre-Commercialization)
2009-2012
(Post-Commercialization)
2013/2014
(Legalization)
8.64%
10.37%
12.56%
AveragePercent
Colorado Average Past Month Use of Marijuana Ages
12 to 17 Years-Old
(20%
Increase)
(21%
Increase)
SOURCE: National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2013 and 2014

100. Student Marijuana Sources
SOURCE: Colorado School Counselor Association (CSCA) and Rocky Mountain HIDTA, 2015

101. High School Discipline
SOURCE: Colorado Department of Education, 10-Year Trend Data: State Suspension and Expulsion Incident
Rates and Reasons

102. High School Discipline
SOURCE: Colorado Department of Education, 10-Year Trend Data: State Suspension and Expulsion
Incident Rates and Reasons

103. College-Age Marijuana Use
College-Age Adults (ages 18 to 25 years)
Current Marijuana Use 2013/2014
 National average = 19.32 percent
 Colorado average = 31.24 percent
 Colorado was ranked 1st in the nation for current
marijuana use among college-age adults (62 percent
higher than the national average)
 2013/2014 college age use increased 17 percent
compared to pre legalization years 2011/2012.
Nationally a 2 percent increase

104. College-Age Marijuana Use
SOURCE: SAMHSA.gov, National Survey on Drug Use and Health 2013 and 2014

105. College-Age Marijuana Use
SOURCE: SAMHSA.gov, National Survey on Drug Use and Health 2013 and 2014

106. Adult Marijuana Use
Adults (ages 26+ years)
Current Marijuana Use 2013/2014
 National average = 6.11 percent
 Colorado average = 12.45 percent
 Colorado was ranked 1st in the nation for current
marijuana use among adults (104 percent higher
than the national average)
 2013/2014 adult use increased 63 percent compared
to pre-legalization years 2011/2012.
Nationally an increase of 21 percent.

107. Adult Marijuana Use
SOURCE: National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2006-2014

108. Colorado Emergency Department Rates Likely
Related to Marijuana
SOURCE: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

109. Colorado Hospitalization Rates Likely Related to
Marijuana
SOURCE: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

110. Rocky Mountain Poison Center
SOURCE: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment/RMPDC

111. Marijuana Diversion

112. States to Which Marijuana Was Destined (2014)

113. Diversion – By Motor Vehicles
SOURCE: El Paso Intelligence Center (EPIC), National Seizure System

114. Diversion – By U.S. Postal Service
Packages
SOURCE: United States Postal Inspection Service – Prohibited Mailing of Narcotics

115. All Reported Crime in Denver
2013 2014
55,115 reported
crimes
60,788 reported
crimes
5,391 reported
crimes increase
from 2013 to 2014
(10 percent
increase)
Reported offenses using the National Incident Based Reporting System (NIBRS) definitions in the City and
County of Denver, January 9, 2015

116. Alcohol Consumption
SOURCE: Colorado Department of Revenue

117. Colorado General Fund
Colorado's Total General Fund Revenue, FY 2015*
Marijuana Tax Revenue
(Medical and Recreational) =
0.7%
* Preliminary Numbers Based on June 2015 Forecast

118. FY 2015 Tax Revenue

119. A Snapshot in Colorado
2014
Marijuana-Related DUIDs
Marijuana-Related Traffic Deaths
Youth Marijuana Use
College Marijuana Use
Adult Marijuana Use
Marijuana-Related Emergency Room Admissions
Marijuana-Related Hospitalizations
Marijuana-Related Exposures
Marijuana-Related Treatment
Marijuana Diversion
THC Extraction Labs

120. Local Response to Medical and
Recreational Marijuana in Colorado
Of 321 total local jurisdictions:
 228 (71 percent) prohibit any medical or
recreational marijuana businesses
 67 (21 percent) allow any medical and
recreational marijuana businesses
 26 (8 percent) allow either medical or
recreational marijuana businesses, not both

121.  Important to Remember with Statistics…
Why We Do This

122. Thank you for what you do.
Remember:

123. The Naked Truth about
Medical Marijuana
Presenters:
• Susan R. Thau, MCRP, Public Policy Consultant,
Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America
• Thomas J. Gorman, Director, Rocky Mountain High
Intensity Drug Trafficking Area
Advocacy Track
Moderator: Nancy Hale, MA, President and
CEO, Operation UNITE