pot and public health 

(Summary by Hannah)

This article discusses the public health implications of the legalization of marijuana in Colorado. It criticizes the lax regulation on edibles especially, noting that marijuana-laced candy and cookies look innocent at first glance. The author brings up that several children and even adults have been hospitalized after eating these edibles without realizing what they were consuming. Edibles can be quite potent, and when eaten, there are very specific serving sizes that need to be followed. Of course, a young child would not know any better. Besides the problem of edibles, the article mentions that in 2014 alone there were 31 explosions in homes while people were trying to extract pure THC from marijuana plants by cooking it with butane. Despite this abject criticism, the article continues with a solution: heavier regulations. The author believes that the amount of THC in a product should be restricted and clearly labeled to prevent misuse.
Although the author values the restriction and control of marijuana production and sales, they make a point to disapprove of the major damage done to communities across the nation due to the “war on drugs”. They write that this approach puts nonviolent offenders into jail, which is an expensive solution that doesn’t even work.

Through out the article, the author relies on two arguments: one, that the sale and production of marijuana and THC products needs to be regulated to protect public health after legalization; and two, that past methods of imprisoning marijuana users are ineffective, costly, and harmful. The author values community, safety, and encouragement rather than punishment. Overall, this article favors legalization, as seen in the author’s belief that marijuana should be decriminalized, but it does bring up some criticism of issues that the government can improve on, such as regulation of edibles.

Here is the article…

Pot and public health. (2014). Christian Century, 131(15), 7-9.