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Marijuana: The Basics


CDC 
Colorado Children's Hospital
  • Can also be called weed, pot, herb, grass or cannabis
 
  • Can be smoked (joints, blunts, pipes/bongs, vaporizers) or mixed in foods (edibles) or brewed in a tea or added to beverages
 
  • It is the dried flowers, leaves, stems, and seeds of the cannabis sativa or cannabis indica plant

  • Extracts from the plant can be made into hash oil or wax
 
  • Contains mind altering compounds (THC) and non-mind altering compounds (CBD). The amount of THC determines its potency, or strength, and how it can affect the body. 
 
  • Marijuana growers have been increasing the THC content of marijuana over the past few decades. In the 70's potency was 3-4%.  Today, in the Coulee Region marijuana plant potency is between 10 - 17%.  Concentrates such as edibles, hash oil and shatter can have potency levels between 53% - 98% THC.  

  • They can also contain more than 400 other chemicals
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  • It is a Schedule I drug, meaning that it has no medical value and has a high risk of abuse
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  • 420 or 710 are popular subculture holidays celebrating Marijuana.  420 references April 20. Marijuana concentrates are often referred to as 710 (the word "oil"flipped and spelled backwards.  Ear was, honey oil, budder, butane hash oil, butane honey oil (BHO), shatter, dabs (dabbing), black glass and errl
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Today's Marijuana

  • The potency of marijuana has been increasing (potency has more than tripled in the last two decades)
  • This can put people at risk for a harmful reaction 

  • Increases risk of addiction
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  • Since it is illegal in Wisconsin, there is no way to regulate it, meaning one doesn't know exactly what they are putting in their bodies 

In La Crosse County

  • In 2016, 220 youth ages 12-24 were hospitalized in La Crosse County due to marijuana use/abuse
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  • In 2016, 302 people ages 25+ were hospitalized in La Crosse County due to marijuana use/abuse

Prevalence

  • ​In 2018, ​43.6% of 12th graders had used marijuana in their lifetime

  • In 2017, 47.5% of those ages 26 and older had used marijuana in their lifetime
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  • Medical emergencies possibly related to marijuana use have increased

Is it a Gateway Drug?

  • Studies in adolescent rodents have shown decreased reactivity in dopamine reward centers. Translated to humans, this can lead to increased vulnerability for addiction to other substances
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  • Studies support evidence that marijuana primes the brain for increased behavioral responses to other drugs, supporting marijuana's potential as a gateway drug
 
  • Data shows that the majority of users, however, do not move on to harder drugs
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  • Many factors can play into the risk of drug abuse, such as social environment

The Differences Between THC & CBD

  • There are the two primary cannabinoid products by the cannabis (marijuana) plant
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  • Both will interact with the endocannabinoid system, but with different effects
 
  • THC has psycho-activity, whereas CBD does not, therefore, does not produce a state of intoxication
 
  • CBD does not bind to CB1 or CB2 cannabinoids receptors, which is why it does not produce THC-like psycho-activity (Reefer Sanity, p. 88) There has found to be great therapeutic potential in CBD​
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  • CBD is legal in Wisconsin, as long as farmers obtain a permit and follow growing guidelines

Newsworthy 

Throughout La Crosse and the State of Wisconsin there is a push for legalization of marijuana and related products.
La Crosse County Referendum
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Pearl Street's New CBD Beer

Tony Evers Proposal to Legalize Medical Use and Decriminalize Possession

In Depth: Wisconsin considers marijuana law changes