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• Local kids report either seeing no harm in using marijuana or using to self-medicate for depression, pain control/management, anxiety. (As marijuana is a central nervous system depressant that puts them into a circle of (illegal) use to "treat" with a substance which produces the symptoms they indicate they are trying to relieve.) • Our kids indicate their access to marijuana frequently comes from medical marijuana of family/friends • Nationally & reflective of our Healthy Youth Survey, a few facts about youth using marijuana: o To quote an American Child and Adolescent Neuro-Psychiatrist: "The toxic properties of chemical molecules and their cellular damage are not matters of opinion or debate. . . . We cannot vote for or against the 'toxicity' of a drug. o Chemically, marijuana is a far more dangerous drug than most of the scientifically ignorant media and North American consumer have been duped into believing." [Robert C. Gilkeson, M.D.] 0 2010 NSDUH: Of the 7.1 million Americans ages 12+ classified with illicit drug dependence or abuse, 4.5 million had marijuana or hashish dependence or abuse listed treatment causes 0 43% vs. 26% Depression reported by student users vs. non users o Critical skills (memory & learning) are significantly impaired in users even 24 hrs after o Lowest school grades are two to one more likely to occur for users through the higher grade levels 0 2010 58% of new users were under 18 Regarding our Adult Misdemeanant Caseload: • In a snapshot from December 12, 2013, of the 4,553 open cases by charge, Possession of Marijuana is the 4th highest criminal referral reason o Again if you add just Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, marijuana related crime becomes the 3rd highest reason for District & Municipal Court supervision o 25% of our referrals are DUI's (this does not include DUI's which are frequently reduced to Reckless or Negligent Driving) ■ 1,137 DUI's are reflected in our current caseload • In our tracking release of information to treatment agencies for DUI's since February, the DUI referrals usually involve either direct referral for marijuana being the drug effecting the driver's performance or a contributing factor • As is the same as youth facts, higher levels of THC than in the past are reflected in the adult probationers UA's I know you are concerned for the impact on our county. Following are effects of marijuana we know: • Marijuana usage poses significant health risks to: o Lungs & respiratory systems o Hearts o Brains o Central Nervous Systems o Cancer development o Mental Health o Learning and Social Behavior o Immune Systems o Pregnancy o Of Addiction ■ Withdrawal o Critical Thinking Skills z