On Wednesday, April 9, Wright State University's Counseling and Wellness Services hosted a panel with a discussion on the importance of safety with cannabis, especially during National Public Health Week. The event was open to all staff and students to create a dialogue on the topic.
History of cannabis
Cannabis has long been a controversial topic in both legal and public health circles. As more states, including Ohio, move toward legalization, understanding the implications of cannabis laws on public health has become increasingly important.
Lee Hannah, a WSU professor of political science, discussed how laws have changed throughout the years and what socioeconomic events have taken place to cause these changes.
“There is evidence of cannabis use in the non-Western world dating back 10,000 years. Most of this happened in other countries and it has been brought to the U.S. through immigration,” Hannah said.
As the 1900s progressed, social, political and racial factors began to influence attitudes toward marijuana. The Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 caused a major shift in the way the media and government viewed cannabis use, especially when it came to minorities.
President Nixon started and perpetuated the war on drugs campaign in 1971. This movement had detrimental, long-lasting effects on drug use throughout the country, creating an intense stigma.
Although the movement was positioned as a way to get people away from drugs, the campaign’s true goal was mass incarceration, especially of those in the Black community.
Many people were put in jail because of possession or use of cannabis, a minor offense. Even after being released, being a felon follows you for the rest of your life. This unfair label, and the recognition of racial motives behind the war on drugs, are part of the push for legalization today.
Cannabis laws in the United States
The decision has been left up to the states to decide on whether or not the recreational use of marijuana should be legalized for adults 21 years and older. This law was put on the Ohio ballot in Nov. 2023, where it was passed by 57% of voters.
Although it is up to the states to decide on legalization, many laws regarding cannabis in the U.S. are still decided at the federal level. For example, scheduling, which says how strong or dangerous a drug is, is still decided by the federal government.
This can cause problems because, since cannabis is a schedule 1 drug, it can only be grown and manufactured in-state. This means it cannot cross state lines.
This can have a negative effect on our environment because not all states have safe ways to grow cannabis products. The amount of greenhouse gases produced can be dangerous if the plants are grown in locations that are not controlled.
Use and effect
One of the most important things about the legalization of recreational adult-use cannabis is it makes the drug safer for people to get through the proper channels. This can minimize risks in several ways.
The issue is far from solved, as people who are underage and cannot get into dispensaries, those seeking cheaper products or other reasons someone might choose not to go to legit dispensaries, and instead look for drugs on the street. It is important to know what and how much of something you are consuming.
Sydney Silverstein is an assistant professor for the Population and Public Health Services. She also used to work as a drug researcher for the Community Overdose Active Team. She talked about the importance of being aware of what you are taking and how it could affect you.
“With any sort of drug, whether it be recreational or medicinal, your personal factors, such as genetics, medical history, past experiences and more, will determine what effect the drug will have on you. Drugs do not affect people the same way,” Silverstein said.
The same way that drugs affect each individual differently, addiction also affects people in unique ways. It is important to be aware of all the possible risks before starting a drug.
Barb Marsh, the Director of CWS talked about the danger of addiction, especially in teens. This is why cannabis has only been made legal for those 21 or older, because adolescents brain’s are still developing and drugs can have very negative effects on a developing mind.
“Approximately 9% of users will develop some sort of cannabis abuse, the number is raised to 17% when looking at adolescents,” Marsh said.
As cannabis is becoming more legal in many places, the stigma around it is starting to fade. There are still steps that need to be taken to protect people from harmful drugs, but Issue 2 has been a big help for Ohioans so far.
