Pubdate: Tue, 21 Oct 2014
Source: Alaska Dispatch News (AK)
Copyright: 2014 Alaska Dispatch Publishing
Contact:  http://www.adn.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/18
Note: Anchorage Daily News until July '14
Authors: Steven Compton, Mary Ann Foland, Paula Colescott
Note: Dr. Steven Compton is board certified in clinical cardiac 
electrophysiology, clinical cardiology, and internal medicine. Dr. 
Mary Ann Foland is a family physician practicing at Family Care 
Associates. Dr. Paula Colescott specializes in internal medicine. All 
three have medical practices in Anchorage.

MARIJUANA POSES TOO GREAT A RISK; ALASKA SHOULD KEEP IT ILLEGAL

With collectively over 60 years of experience in the field of 
medicine in Alaska, we have grave concerns about and oppose the 
legalization and commercialization of marijuana in Alaska. When 
Alaskans face this critical decision in November, it is essential 
that we all consider the implications to our health, our social 
service programs, our public safety, our youth and our communities.

Ballot Measure 2 seeks to legalize, commercialize and advertise 
marijuana and derived products such as drug-infused edibles and 
potent concentrates. These related products are very unlike marijuana 
of the past in their intensity.

In 1976, the average amount of THC in marijuana (the psychoactive 
ingredient of the plant) was 0.98 percent; and the average THC level 
in 1992 was 3.08 percent.

As measured in 2012, the THC concentrations of smoked leaves/buds 
averaged 12.3 percent.

By comparison, butane hash oil concentrates like shatter contain as 
much as 90 percent THC. Concentrates are explicitly legalized in this 
initiative.

In a review of current medical literature published in the New 
England Journal of Medicine, published this year, scientists from the 
National Institute on Drug Abuse carefully concluded that marijuana 
use is related to numerous adverse health effects including altered 
brain development, addiction, poor educational outcomes, chronic 
bronchitis, impaired motor coordination, reduced life satisfaction, 
cognitive impairment, and increased risk of chronic psychiatric 
disorders, including schizophrenia, in individuals who are 
predisposed to those disorders.

The adverse effects are especially powerful when marijuana use begins 
during adolescence, as the brain is still developing.

Many proponents of legalization argue that marijuana is not 
addictive. This is inaccurate. One in six adolescent marijuana users 
become dependent on the substance and meet criteria for addiction. 
For all marijuana consumers, that number rises to 25-50 percent when 
marijuana is used daily, according to NIDA. Anyone who doubts the 
possibility of marijuana dependence should watch, as doctors in 
Alaska and elsewhere have, someone experience the symptoms of 
withdrawal: the fatigue, irritability, dysphoria, sleep disruptions, 
and cravings are very real.

Regular marijuana use is also linked to brain abnormalities. The 
prefrontal cortex, responsible for executive functioning, suffers 
both lowered activity and reduced functional connectivity, and the 
hippocampus decreases in volume.

The functional consequences of these brain abnormalities may include 
lower educational outcomes and diminished life satisfaction and 
achievement. Frequent, heavy use of marijuana starting in early 
adolescence and continuing through adulthood is also associated with 
an average decline of eight IQ points.

Virtually every week new scientific studies are published documenting 
the real and serious medical problems associated with marijuana.

Very recently, a team of researchers found that teens who smoke 
marijuana daily are seven times more likely to attempt suicide and 60 
percent less likely to finish high school.

Adverse impacts on the lungs, the heart, and fetal development have 
also been documented.

The health dangers of marijuana are very real, yet legalization will 
make the substance seem safer and more acceptable. Historically, as 
perception of danger goes down, use has increased, especially among 
youth, and this effect will only be amplified by the aggressive 
marketing we can expect to see from the commercialized marijuana 
industry. While the initiative states that advertising and displays 
of marijuana and paraphernalia might be subject to "reasonable 
restrictions," the experience in Colorado shows that advertising is 
pervasive and aggressive, and the marijuana industry has challenged 
limits on advertising as violations of the First Amendment.

We can expect to see marijuana widely promoted as a safe substance in 
our communities and near our children.

In fact, Anchorage already has had Lower 48-inspired bus 
advertisements that pair an image of marijuana with the word "safer." 
The marijuana industry can be likened to Big Tobacco -- in order to 
make a profit, the pot industry needs to recruit new users and get 
current users to use even more.

As marijuana use increases, we can expect intensified needs for 
health care and social services such as substance abuse treatment and 
child protective services.

The state of Alaska is projecting this. Marijuana legalization would 
also introduce additional instability in the Alaska workforce and 
lead to job-site accidents and increased insurance costs.

While a select few members of the commercialized marijuana industry 
would see personal profits with legalization, the costs to all 
Alaskans in terms of health care, public safety, and social 
well-being are far too great.

We urge you to join us in considering the serious costs of marijuana 
to our communities and our future and vote no on 2.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom