Public forums & uncivil behavior

Over the past year, those of us working in the youth substance abuse prevention field have been asked repeatedly, "Where was the voice of prevention?" during the I-502 debate.  "Where are they now?"

There are several responses to this question.  One is that there are not that many of us specifically in the field of substance abuse prevention.  Most of us who are working to prevent youth substance use are direct service providers and do not feel comfortable with policy work.  In addition, most of us receive federal funding, precluding us from activities that may be construed as "lobbying".

What happened during a recent medical marijuana hearing conducted by the Liquor Control Board in Lacey provides another example of why people concerned with youth substance use don't voice concerns publicly.

Guy in crowd at MMJ hearing gives finger to speaker from drug-abuse prevention group. Another fine moment for MMJ movement.
— Bob Young (@PotReporter) November 14, 2013

The person who was on the receiving end of the bird flip was a WASAVP board member.  After making her comments she felt so unsafe in the raucous crowd that two colleagues escorted her out of the auditorium and to her car.  They were pushed and shoved along the way.

Another WASAVP board member reported, "The noise level where I was sitting was such that it was hurting my ear.  I left out of self preservation.  [A colleague] sitting next to me didn't feel safe, so she left about a half hour before I did."  

(Thank you to Bob Young for publicly calling out the uncivil behavior.)

American Medical Association statement on drug policy and marijuana legalization

The American Medical Association recently updated its position on marijuana policy:

Our AMA:
(1) discourages cannabis use, especially by persons vulnerable to the drug's effects and in high risk situations;
(2) supports the determination of the consequences of long-term cannabis use through concentrated research, especially among youth and adolescents; and
(3) supports the modification of state and federal laws to emphasize public health based strategies to address and reduce cannabis use.

Our AMA believes a plea of cannabis intoxication not be a defense in any criminal proceedings.

The AMA, in an effort to reduce personal and public health risks of drug use, urges the formulation of a comprehensive national policy on drug abuse, specifically advising that the federal government and the nation should:
(1) acknowledge that federal efforts to address illicit drug use via supply reduction and enforcement have been ineffective;
(2) expand the availability and reduce the cost of treatment programs for substance use disorders, including addiction;
(3) lead a coordinated approach to adolescent drug education;
(4) develop community-based prevention programs for youth at risk;
(5) continue to fund the Office of National Drug Control Policy to coordinate federal drug policy;
(6) extend greater protection against discrimination in the employment and provision of services to drug abusers;
(7) make a long-term commitment to expand research and data collection;
(8) broaden the focus of national and local policy from drug abuse to substance abuse; and
(9) recognize the complexity of the problem of substance abuse and oppose drug legalization.

Our AMA:
(1) encourages national policy-makers to pursue an approach to the problem of drug abuse aimed at preventing the initiation of drug use, aiding those who wish to cease drug use, and diminishing the adverse consequences of drug use;
(2) encourages policy-makers to recognize the importance of screening for alcohol and other drug use in a variety of settings, and to broaden their concept of addiction treatment to embrace a continuum of modalities and goals . . .

Our AMA believes that:
(1) cannabis is a dangerous drug and as such is a public health concern;
(2) sale of cannabis should not be legalized;
(3) public health based strategies, rather than incarceration, should be utilized in the handling of individuals possessing cannabis for personal use; and
(4) additional research should be encouraged.

What do you think about marijuana in bars? The Liquor Control Board wants to know.

Two more opportunities to weigh in on marijuana policy . . .

Marijuana in bars
The Washington State Liquor Control Board would like your input on a proposed rule to revise a rule about bars and marijuana.  The revision would ban the use of marijuana in businesses with liquor licenses.

Public Comment

Please forward your initial comments to the Liquor Control Board by mail, e-mail, or fax by December 11, 2013.

By mail:         Rules Coordinator                   By e-mail:                 By fax:

                        Liquor Control Board           rules@liq.wa.gov     360-360-664-9689

                        P.O. Box 43080

                        Olympia, WA  98504-3080

Public Hearing:     December 11, 2013

1000 foot buffer 

The Washington State Liquor Control Board approved filing the CR 101 to revise WAC 314-55-050 on how the 1000 foot buffer is measured for marijuana licenses. Comments will be accepted until December 27, 2013.

Public Comment
Please forward your initial comments to the Liquor Control Board by mail, e-mail, or fax by December 27, 2013.

By mail:         Rules Coordinator                           By e-mail:                             By fax:
                     Liquor Control Board                       rules@liq.wa.gov                    360-360-664-9689
                     P.O. Box 43080
                     Olympia, WA  98504-3080

If you have any questions, please contact rules@liq.wa.gov. 

Marijuana impaired driving cases increased in past year, many are minors

According to a recent NPR story, the Washington state toxicology lab shared preliminary data that indicate an increase in marijuana-related DUIs.

"According to preliminary statistics, roughly 27 percent of the blood tests for suspected impaired driving showed detectable THC.  Before this year, that number was around 20 percent.  That's a 7-point jump in the months since legalization."

What the story did not include was information about how many of those marijuana DUIs were among minors.  According to the state toxicologist:

• Typically, one quarter of those cases confirming positive for THC are aged under 21 years.

• Marijuana is the most frequently detected drug in those aged under 21 years (including alcohol).