Rutgers Professor Concerned About Marijuana Legalization: Here's Why

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — Should New Jersey legalize marijuana? States like Colorado, Massachusetts and Maine have all legalized recreational marijuana and pot has become a hot topic in the upcoming November governor's election. Democratic candidate Phil Murphy said he intends to legalize marijuana and tax it to help pay for social programs. Republican candidate Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, who comes from a law enforcement background, has been more cautious: She is opposed to legalizing marijuana, but does want to make it easier for patients to get medical marijuana and she's also in favor of decriminalization.

And now a distinguished Rutgers professor is voicing some of his concerns about New Jersey legalizing pot, as well.

Dr. Theodore Petti — a professor in Robert Wood Johnson Medical School’s Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry — talks about the effects of marijuana on the developing teen brain and the specific steps states should take when considering legalizing marijuana:

Rutgers Today: What are the most pressing concerns among healthcare providers in regard to the legalization of marijuana and young adults?

Petti: This legislation will promote increased acceptance that marijuana is harmless because it is legal. We have seen increases in marijuana use by youth in states that passed legislation with poor oversight, regulation and enforcement of law.

We also want to ensure that marijuana is available for research into conditions present in children and adolescents and is available for evidence-based treatment when appropriate for medical conditions. Currently, New Jersey allows use of marijuana for medical purposes in a tightly regulated fashion. Although some are critical that this tight regulation has limited the availability of marijuana for those who could benefit from its use, it also has resulted in a low rate of diversion to youth and others, who are turning instead to synthetic cannabinoids, such as K2 or Spice, or to marijuana that may be adulterated with PCP, formaldehyde or other toxic substances.

You say adolescents and young adults should know that the marijuana currently available is “not their parents’ marijuana.”

Petti: Young people think, “My parents used marijuana and turned out fine – what is the harm?” However, the potency has increased significantly since the legalization of medical marijuana in California in 1996. Coupled with the adulterated forms available today, marijuana use can result in significantly dangerous effects that in some cases cause irreversible harm.

Adulterated marijuana and synthetic cannabinoids can contain substances that cause seizures, severe agitation, aggression, hallucinations and other symptoms of psychosis, which can predispose vulnerable youth to schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders. This is a vulnerable period in brain development, which also predisposes individuals to addiction and substance use disorder.

We can learn from states where marijuana has gone through the evolution of availability for medical purposes with few restrictions and easy access. Diversion of marijuana to youth from eligible purchasers has been inadequately addressed and leads to easy access for young people, who are showing up in the emergency room.

What should states do to protect young adults as part of their marijuana legislation?

Petti: Lawmakers should look at successful public health efforts to decrease early initiation of youths’ use of tobacco, alcohol and cannabis, which are well documented but infrequently considered in discussions around marijuana legalization. Also, public education addressing marijuana’s adverse effects on the developing brain needs to begin before easier access is put into legislation, more openly available and deemed as acceptable. For example, there are studies that strongly suggest that pregnant women who use marijuana put their fetuses at risk for cognitive problems – yet pregnant women under 18 are more likely to use marijuana than their non-pregnant peers. Such data shows we need to do a much better job of alerting adolescents that there is a danger.

States where marijuana has been decriminalized or legalized for recreational use have given too little support to education about the effects of marijuana on the developing brain. We believe that legislators and other policymakers, when given the facts, will make decisions in the public interest – particularly around issues affecting children and youth – and allocate funds to education and treatment as part of the legislation. This is critical as the commercialization of marijuana is expected to result in advertising and associated marketing efforts that will need to be countered.

As more states pass laws legalizing marijuana use, health experts are voicing concern over the impact such legislation would have on young adults up to age 25. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, almost 70 percent of high school seniors do not view regular marijuana smoking as harmful and 44 percent report they have smoked marijuana at some point in their life – a figure that could rise as more laws are adopted.

On September 6, Rutgers University will bring together medical professionals, mental health practitioners and social workers to address the possible impact that further marijuana legalization could have on New Jersey's teens and emerging adults. For more information on the conference “Perspectives on Cannabis Legalization on Youth and Emerging Adults,” visit http://go.rutgers.edu/23ve9ppz.

Photo provided by Rutgers Today.