Since the legalization of marijuana in Washington, there has been renewed interest in the scientific evidence related to marijuana and health. Now, thanks to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (a.k.a. The Academies), a new report details what is known and what isn’t. Importantly, the Academies’ report rates how strong the evidence for each health impact is.
Report highlights
Some of the conclusions in the nearly 400-page report include:
- Long-term marijuana smoking is associated with respiratory symptoms and more frequent chronic bronchitis episodes
- There is substantial evidence suggesting an association between marijuana use and increased risk of motor vehicle crashes
- Smoking marijuana during pregnancy is associated with lower birth weights
- Marijuana use is associated with the development of schizophrenia or other psychoses, especially among frequent users
- Strong evidence supports the conclusion that marijuana is associated with helpful therapeutic effects for some medical conditions, including chronic pain in adults and nausea from chemotherapy
You can learn more about these conclusions and others in the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine report.
Public Health – Seattle & King County’s contributions to marijuana-related research
Public Health – Seattle & King County is working to answer some of the questions health experts still have about marijuana and health. Through a partnership on a National Institute on Drug Abuse research grant, Public Health – Seattle & King County is researching whether local marijuana policies have an effect on health and other outcomes in our state. For example, if a local city or county restricts marijuana sales to specific business zones or bans sales from near parks or youth-heavy areas, does that have any correlation with youth marijuana use or crime?
Dr. Julia Dilley, the study’s principal investigator in a partnership with the Multnomah County Health Department stated, “Public Health – Seattle & King County team members bring unique public health legal expertise to our study. This expertise, coupled with their experience in building a policy surveillance system to track policies over time, is critical to understanding the role that local governments can play in keeping their communities healthy. As a result, our study will help to specifically identify “best practices” for policies that regulate marijuana to protect youth and public safety.”
The results of this grant and the information provided in The Academies’ report may inform future public health policies related to marijuana.
Learn more about Public Health’s marijuana activities here.
For information about trainings, funding opportunities and opportunities to get involved, subscribe to the King County Youth Marijuana Prevention Program newsletter.
Photo credit (top of page): http://www.npr.org
Originally posted on January 31, 2017
Propaganda. Sad to see scientist and public health spreading the lies about lower birthrates and respiratory probs. While I agree children shouldn’t use it, not enough studies have been done and so far the studies on cannabis focus on speculatory possible harm it does instead of all the good things it can do for us. The non psychoactive compounds (don’t get you high) offer many benefits for seizures, AIDs, nausea, etc.
he information stated above had been known to be factual for 20 years. The problem is: How do you
convey meaning information to people who are high? The fact is that it’s difficult to explain this information
to people who are under the influence of this drug. Even people who are high and having seizures don’t realize
that the marijuana is causing an increase in frequency and duration of the seizures. Yes, and even someone
who is coughing up a lung says marijuana doesn’t cause cancer or respiratory illness. It’s just sad when a guy
passes the 10th joint to his girlfriend who is 8 months pregnant and says that “it doesn’t matter, this drug is safe.”
See Science Chick above if you doubt my answer – 22 years old, pregnant, single, coughing and has whatever
disease you can catch from the drug dens she has survived in since she was 15. Angry and argumentative because her Probation Officer just violated her for failing a urinalysis test. Yep it’s safe LOL!
Smoking this drug is OK with some state laws. Should you smoke, you eliminate yourself from 50% or more of
all jobs. Ever get hurt at work- U/A per OCEA- no job. U/A when you interview – no job. Work with people or reputable businesses – no job. Want to work for a Union – no job. Want to buy more marijuana – no job. Want to join the military – no job. I could make a million dollars writing a book “Job Search For Dope Heads” but nobody who smokes dope can read LOL!
I would only write this because I sincerely want people to do their best and be their best at all times.
Even a doper or drinker knows they are not their best when they are drunk or high. In no way is
being drunk or high good for your kids. Children deserve better.