So-called “medical” and recreational marijuana use has become increasingly widespread in the United States after 38 states and Washington, DC legalized “medical” cannabis—23 states and DC have legalized its recreational use.
Many well-meaning people around the country have internalized the propaganda of the well-organized cannabis industry suggesting that cannabis products can cause no harm and may even mitigate specific health problems such as glaucoma or anxiety disorders. In an astonishing volte-face, cannabis went from a dangerous gateway drug to a wellness product in a couple of decades.
Marijuana is a mind-altering drug derived from the Cannabis sativa plant. It has over 480 constituents, with THC (delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol) being the main ingredient producing its psychoactive effect. Despite the widespread use of the term “medical marijuana,” there is very limited scientific evidence for the efficacy of the substance in a medical context. Products you buy in cannabis “dispensaries” are not FDA-approved medications.
However, most Americans are unaware of those facts or choose to ignore them. A 2021 poll by Elon University found that 73 percent of North Carolinians supported “medical” cannabis. A subsequent poll in May 2022 showed even more support across bipartisan lines. These surveys indicate that North Carolinians want “medical” cannabis legislation.
For the time being, cannabis products remain illegal In North Carolina for any use except for very limited “medical” usage, though decriminalized for possession of 0.5 ounces or less for individuals with three or fewer misdemeanor convictions.
The use and possession of cannabis also remain illegal under federal law. However, in April, US Attorney General Merrick Garland in a historic shift in federal drug policy recommended loosening the restrictions on marijuana, and reclassifying marijuana from Schedule I (“no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse”) to the much less restrictive Schedule III.
Reclassifying cannabis products is likely to broaden access to the drug even further and boost the cannabis industries in states where it is already legal.
ADDICTION ISN’T THE ONLY DANGER
While believing in the mostly unproven health benefits of cannabis—some of which may or may not exist—few people are aware of the danger of addiction and other mental health impacts of marijuana use. Recent research estimates that approximately three in ten people who use THC products have cannabis use disorder (CUD). For people who begin using cannabis before the age of 18, the risk of developing a marijuana addiction is even greater.
During a question and answer session with the speaker panel of The Blanchard Institute’s recent Recovery Awareness Day, Samanda Stevenson, the clinical director of Blanchard’s Lake Norman Treatment Center, pointed out that THC is now causing significant mental health problems in North Carolina despite being an illegal substance. “We keep getting people coming in with psychosis,” she told the audience. Her colleague, Lenny Segal, the executive director and founder of Pace Recovery has had similar experiences. “We see clients with significant psychosis. We had to adjust our treatment program, this is weaponized THC.”
Most people are unaware that today’s cannabis products are still largely unregulated and extremely potent. “Over the last several decades, the THC content of cannabis has changed substantially,” explained Isabella Backman in a blog post for the Yale School of Medicine last year. “In 1995, the average THC content in cannabis seized by the Drug Enforcement Administration was about 4 percent. By 2017, it had risen to 17 percent and continues to increase. Beyond the plant, a staggering array of other cannabis products with an even higher THC content like dabs, oils, and edibles are readily available—some as high as 90 percent.”
The “weed” that people smoked 50 years ago was very different from what’s out there today. “Cannabis is involved in approximately 50 percent of psychosis, schizophrenia, and schizophreniform psychosis cases,” wrote Shrivastava, Johnston, et al. in a 2014 study on the neurobiology of cannabis and psychosis. An article in the Wall Street Journal published in January pointed out that “more frequent use of marijuana that is many times as potent as strains common three decades ago is leading to more psychotic episodes, according to doctors and recent research.”
Panelist Harold Hong, MD, the medical director of New Waters Recovery mentioned the danger posed by synthetic cannabinoids known as “spice” or “K2,” trade names for synthetic designer drugs that are intended to mimic the psychoactive effect of THC. “People don’t understand what’s in these manufactured cannabinoids because this is a completely unregulated space,” explained Dr. Hong. “There are products that are being sold at gas stations as herbal remedies for anxiety. What people don’t realize is that they are loaded with a chemically modified form of Kratom, a plant that has opioid-like properties.” Once again the danger is that these products can cause a much more powerful reaction—frequently psychosis—than any “pot” in the 20th century.
Despite all these risks, “people argue ‘it’s just marijuana,’ the same argument as with alcohol,” explained panelist Jacqueline Brown, the clinical director of Newport Healthcare. “We often can’t convince kids that marijuana is bad for them.”
THC is certainly not a good treatment option for mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. “I don’t know of any protocol that declares cannabis a safe and effective treatment for mental health issues,” said Dr. Hong. “So it’s hard to say that THC would be the only option or even a superior option.”
“There are just much better treatments available for anxiety without the risk of a substance use disorder,” said panelist Clark Gaither, MD, the medical director of the North Carolina Professionals Health Program.
The drugs that people encounter nowadays are much more powerful and in some cases deadly. The THC levels in cannabis products have dramatically increased in the last few decades and an even deadlier enemy is fentanyl. Illicitly manufactured fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that can be up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. The potency and contents of illicit drugs, including fentanyl are always changing. This makes it nearly impossible for someone to know the strength or the mixture of substances in their drug product.
“There is no more safe experimentation,” warned Blanchard founder and CEO Ward Blanchard in a recent online presentation.
The Blanchard Institute cultivates a safe, comfortable environment for clients and their families across North Carolina. Our family-centered approach is designed to educate, support, and empower families to play a crucial role in the recovery journey. Family members need to understand the complexities of addiction and their role in the recovery process.
Our admissions process is discrete, confidential, and non-invasive. Call us at (704) 288-1097—our experienced admissions specialists will guide you through the process and treat you with the dignity and compassion you deserve.