McHenry Co. Dispensaries To Warn Of Mental Health Risks

MCHENRY COUNTY, IL — McHenry County dispensaries will become the first in the country required to post warnings that warn pot buyers of the mental health risks associated with regular marijuana use.

The McHenry County State's Attorney's Office "felt compelled" to take actions to push for the now required changes at local dispensaries after "taking stock of the fallout from cannabis legalization locally."

In 2022, McHenry County's suicides doubled, with cannabis — not alcohol — being the common drug found in the blood samples of those who'd taken their own lives, McHenry County State's Attorney Patrick Kenneally said in a statement Friday. In addition, hospitalizations for mental health disorder and suicidal ideation have increased significantly since 2020.

In addition, about half of recent murders "involve cannabis-induced psychosis" and cannabis DUIS have doubled, Kenneally said.

In Kenneally's statement, he provided more insight into the changes: "To avoid a consumer fraud action, McHenry County cannabis dispensaries will be required to warn customers of the mental health dangers associated with use, including psychosis, depression, and suicidal ideation as part of a settlement. McHenry dispensaries will be the first in the country to post such warnings. Dispensaries will also be prohibited from making false claims that cannabis has any medical benefits in their product marketing materials and online content. Those dispensaries that have refused to warn consumers will face litigation."

Specific signs must be posted in prominent locations at the dispensaries that state:

• WARNING: Cannabis use may contribute to mental health problems, including psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia, increased thoughts of suicide and suicide attempts, anxiety, and depression. Risk is greatest for frequent users.

• WARNING: The FDA has not approved cannabis for the treatment of any disease or medical condition.

Kenneally said studies by the Surgeon General, CDC, National Academy of Sciences, National Institute on Drug Abuse and National Institute of Health state that there is a clear association between cannabis use and schizophrenia. In addition, more research is showing cannabis can initiate and worsen depression, bipolar, anxiety, and suicidal ideation, according to Kenneally's statement.

"Unfortunately, Illinois, which is making hundreds of millions from cannabis tax revenue, and its regulatory agencies have done nothing to warn consumers of the well-established mental health dangers or rein in cannabis dispensaries that continue to flout the law by brazenly making 'health, medicinal, and therapeutic' claims about their products," Kenneally said. "As such, it has fallen to local government agencies to protect consumers."

An excerpt from the lawsuit that would be filed in lieu of a settlement can be found on the state's attorney's office website.