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Parenting Just Got More Difficult With Marijuana Legalization
When it comes to preventing drug use among kids, parents are the most important factor.
“Legalization”a.k.a commercialzation of marijuana, destroys these protections.

Increased access to marijuana occurs rapidly, while at the very same time the perception of marijuana’s harm goes down for all of us and especially our kids.

Almost instantly after legalization, “it can’t be that bad for you - they made it legal” becomes prevailing sentiment.

The magnitude of this is hard to argue against even when the facts indicate kids are at risk.
People who begin using marijuana before age 18 are four to seven times more likely than adults to develop a marijuana use disorder
Pervasive messaging from an aggressive Industry with deep pockets - The Marijuana Industry (sometimes called Tobacco 2.0) - and many parents wake up reeling from constant pro-pot commentary and beliefs coming from their kids.

That belief can quickly become use, then heavy use in a short amount of time - some parents find their kids addicted before they realize their kids know about marijuana and are using.

In the most tragic cases, some parents lose their children to this drug - fatal car accidents, suicides and debilitating mental illnesses - all from what was thought to be just a little harmless weed.
SMART APPROACHES TO MARIJUANA
TOBACCO 2.0 (Video)
“Marijuana Legalization is being aggressively pushed across the country by a motivated, well-funded and politically sophisticated industry - these efforts are taking away every family’s right to live in pot-free communities”
Important Things Parents Need to
Know About Marijuana:
 
  • Marijuana is addictive – NIDA (National Institute on Drug Abuse) and the US Surgeon General’ s 2016 Comprehensive Report on Addiction in America finds about 30% of marijuana users exhibit a Cannabis Use Disorder. Teens in treatment for addiction to marijuana today out-pace treatment for other addictions.
 
  • Teenage brains are different from the adult brain neurologically and can be more easily injured by THC. That injury can lead to long term damage. THC is fat soluble, which means it stays and is detectable in the body for 2 - 3 weeks after use - this is a low level of impairment.
 
  • Marijuana is NOT better than alcohol for your kids.
 
  • Inhaling marijuana smoke can injure lungs in the same way tobacco smoke does.
 
  • Marijuana use impairs normal driving function and should be avoided - traffic fatalities due to marijuana increase substantially in states that legalize for recreational use.
 
  • Marijuana use goes up in all age groups including teens (12 - 17) and young adults (18 - 25) when legalized.
 
  • Cities & counties typically can retain some local control to restrict or ban commercial pot operations within its boundaries when legalized. Contact your local government representatives to make sure to OPT OUT before December 31, 2021 for the Greater Five Towns to prevent retail sales of marijuana in our community. For further information email: susan.blauner@guraljcc.org or see OPT Out Letter below.
 
  • Now, people 21 and older can buy, sell, grow and share marijuana for purposes of just getting high.
 
  • Marijuana visibility will increase in your communities as pot stores open, mobile delivery begins, home grows continue to mature and more people try marijuana for the first time. This increased access along with product advertising and promotion - now allowed - means kids will be more exposed to marijuana than before legalization.
 
  • The perception of harm relative to marijuana will decrease. This happens for the entire population, but can be particularly harmful for teens and young adults.
 
  • All of this, changes the calculus of drug use in your community - what was an individual or small group decision to use marijuana for getting “high,” is now replaced by media encouragement to use marijuana for “promised benefit and/or lifestyle.”
 
  • All these perceptual changes occur almost immediately following recreational legalization.
 
  • Today’s pot is NOT the pot of a parent’s teenage years – today is a new era in Cannabis:

  • Potency in marijuana is defined by “THC levels.” THC ( Delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol) is the cannabinoid in marijuana that intoxicates a user and addicts. As recently as the mid-1990s marijuana contained around 3% THC. Today, one does not find marijuana in plant form with much less than 18% THC.
 
  • Forms of marijuana have increased and modes of ingestion have changed:
 
  • Plant form – the marijuana you roll into a “ joint” or smoke in a “bong” is still widely available. It is officially called “flower” or “herb” and contains average THC levels in the mid-20% range.
 
  • THC concentrate in Liquid form – THC is extracted from the plant body. Liquid forms are used in Electronic Cigarettes or Vaporizers a.k.a. vapes. A user is “vaping” when using these devices. The aerosol created by these devices does not have much smell. Liquid nicotine and liquid flavorings can also be used in vape devices. THC levels vary widely in vape liquids. Some are labeled; most are not. ELiquids with potency as high as 85% THC are available in the legal market.
 
  • THC concentrate in Solid form – Again, THC is extracted from the plant body but stays in a sticky/gooey form. This material is also known as dabs, wax, shatter or budder. This compound/substance is generally smoked via a bong-like device, but vape pens that handle dabs/wax can be found in the market place. A user is “dabbing” when consuming this way. Dabs are very potent - 95+% THC.
 
  • Edibles – Every kind of food or drink we normally consume can be infused with these THC concentrates, and they are. Potency varies greatly and serving size can be difficult to manage, i. e. a small portion of a cookie, can be one serving. Eating an entire cookie can result in ingesting large amounts of THC.
Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA): signed into law by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, March 31, 2021
Courtesy of Liz Boylan
Rockville Centre Coalition for Youth
Concerns:
(Prepared April 12, 2021)

Now that marijuana is legal in New York State, to make an informed decision, please consider the following concerns:
 
·       12 home grows per household, up to 5Lbs stored in a home – equal to about 6500 joints, up to 3 oz. on a person – equal to about 168 joints;
 
·       Insufficient testing of marijuana in other states where it is legal – pot found to be laced with mold and dangerous pesticides; 
 
·       Intergenerational use – parents smoking pot, kids more likely to use;
  
·       Odor can't be used in a crime;
 
·       Allowed usage in private residences, cars, hotels/motels, restaurants;
 
·       Municipalities, excluding counties, have until 12/31/21, to opt out of having retail stores and on-site consumption sites. They cannot opt out of full adult use legalization;
 
·       Medical dispensaries will be allowed to sell recreational pot;
 
·       Potential for residents with mental health issues to self-medicate with the drug;
 
·       Lack of any testing protocol to determine whether a driver is impaired by marijuana, and odor can’t be used. Pot legalized before having enough trained Drug Recognition Experts throughout the state. How will residents be kept safe on the roads? ;
 
·       No protection for clean air in our home backyards or apartments;
 
·       Smoking marijuana is allowed almost anywhere where smoking tobacco is allowed;
 
·       Use by children and teens;
 
·       Advertising;
 
·       Siting of retail establishments;
 
·       Use by pregnant and breastfeeding women; 
 
·       Marijuana is no longer a natural plant. Issues with fentanyl and other dangerous drugs being added to marijuana to make it more potent;
 
·       No potency cap. 1970’s pot 1% – 3% THC, today can be as high as 90% THC;
 
·       Negative effects on the teen brain including addiction, deficit cognition, amotivation-likely to drop out of high school, depression, anxiety, and suicidal behavior;
 
·       Marijuana of today is far stronger than the marijuana of Woodstock days;
 
·       Increases in auto insurance claims;
 
·       Marijuana use and the workplace;
 
·       Consumption trends – beyond smoking i.e. concentrates, edibles, vapes, blunts, dabaratus;
 
·       BIG CHALLENGE – how do we educate our teens and children on the dangers of marijuana use?;
 
·       MAJOR CONCERN – not what the pot industry is doing FOR the minority communities, but what they are doing TO the minority communities?;
 
·       REVENUE - Will there be enough for 1,526 New York zip codes, 62 counties, 932 towns, 534 villages and 62 cities -- all of which have been promised and expect a piece of the pie? What about Law enforcement, impaired driving enforcement efforts, substance abuse and drug counseling and treatment programs, health care, mental health counselors, school district education programs, youth groups…..and likely more.
Opt Out Letter Sample
Date:
 
Dear _______________________ (Government Official, Mayor, City Counsel)
 
On March 31, 2021, New York State signed into law legalizing the commercialization of adult use marijuana in New York State. This law now allows anyone 21 years and older to possess up to 3 oz of marijuana and 24 oz of cannabis concentrate. Eventually New Yorkers will be able to grow up to 12 plants, and store 5 lbs of cannabis per household for personal consumption. 
 
This new law is very troubling. There is no cap on potency. There is no limit on the number of retail dispensaries in a locality. Young children are easily influenced. There is no accurate road side test for marijuana impaired driving, and as marijuana legalization increases, this could become the next big killer on our roads. 
 
This law will only lead to greater second and third hand smoking harms, and will expose small children to levels of THC that are damaging to their brains. Public possession of up to roughly 250 joints will be legal, which is more than the allowable amount that is legal in the overwhelming majority of states with a “legal” market. This new law will exacerbate our state’s drug crisis, and does not implement any limit on THC potency. The increased use of today’s highly potent forms of marijuana such as vapes, edibles, and concentrates, which feature upwards of 99% pure THC, has been linked to potentially severe damages to mental health.
 
In passing this law, Albany did recognize, that there are local governments and community groups that find the long term consequences of legalizing marijuana and formalizing its distribution are very troubling, and therefore allowed for an “OPT-OUT” clause in the law.
 
Although the law does not allow for opting out of full legalization, it does allow an “OPT OUT” provision for towns, cities, and villages to ban licensed adult-use cannabis retail dispensaries, and on site consumption establishments in their jurisdiction. PLEASE NOTE, THERE IS A DEADLINE - AN “OPT-OUT” MUST BE DONE ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 31, 2021. After that the municipality loses its right to opt out.
 
Therefore, we respectfully request that you immediately pursue and pass an “OPT-OUT” ordinance that will ban licensed retail sales dispensaries, and on site consumption establishments in our municipality.
  
As our elected officials your job is about Safety and Safety first, and by putting safety first, you will save people’s lives. Please make it your immediate priority to pass an “OPT-OUT” ban before the deadline of December 31, 2021. 
  
Thank you in advance for your consideration and attention in this pressing matter. I/We look forward to a response.
 
Respectfully,
We are here to ensure you have the
information and support you need.

If you know or suspect your child or teen may be misusing substances, have addictive behavior or may be having mental health issues,
please reach out to Saving Lives
Five Towns Drug & Alcohol Coalition
To Join Our Community Coalition
Please Contact:
Susan Blauner, Director
Substance Abuse Prevention,
Awareness and Education
516.569.6733
Under the Auspices of:
The Mazer
Family Fund
207 Grove Avenue Cedarhurst, NY 11516 PH: 516.569.6733