Reefer Madness: Are First Responders Ready?
Though still a federally controlled substance, legalized marijuana is becoming a reality in more states and localities across the nation. As of 2016, 24 states and Washington, D.C. have legalized marijuana for limited medical use.
Additionally, four states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana for recreational use with even more municipalities and states considering some form of decriminalization. If you live in one of these locations this information is either old news, a “so what,” or down right frightening. Is your community ready for what the proponents may or may not be telling you?
This isn’t the same weed from Woodstock and those really bad Cheech and Chong movies.
The intoxicating chemical in marijuana is tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. According to Dr. Mahmoud ElSohly, in the early 1970’s the average THC content of marijuana was less than 1%. THC content has continued to rise from 3% to 4% in the 1990s to an average of 13% today. However, with legalization and the advent of climate controlled commercialized grow operations, marijuana in retail shops averages 18% with some of the more potent strains testing at 25% to 37% THC. Other than getting a better high, increased THC content can also have unexpected negative effects on users. In just two years there more than 400 thousand patients entered emergency rooms with marijuana in their systems, a 19% increase. This includes numerous children who have mistaken pot infused edibles, like brownies and hard candy. Psychiatrist Dr. Stuart Gitlow with the American Society for Addiction Medicine estimates 1 in 100 users of high THC marijuana will experience psychotic symptoms. First responders and medical professionals need to be prepared for contact with those experiencing these often unexpected reactions to increasingly potent pot.
An explosive situation
Increased THC levels are not the only way people are getting high on legalized marijuana. A more concentrated form of THC is hash oil extracted from marijuana. There are several methods of extracting hash oil, but one of the least expensive, most common, but most dangerous, is blasting it with butane. Colorado had 12 explosions caused by butane hash extraction in 2013. In 2014 that number jumped to 32 with dozens of people hospitalized. The Aurora, Colorado, Fire and Explosives Investigation Bureau has published that butane hash production explosions can blow out windows, rip kitchens apart, and worst case entire apartments and mobile homes. Other states have reported similar rises in explosions and resulting injuries. Hash oil explosions pose a significant danger to not only those using this method, but also to unsuspecting neighbors, fire, and medical responders.
Reduce the Black Market?
Part of the sales pitch and appeal of marijuana legalization is to reduce demand from the black market and lessen the burden on law enforcement. In two of the states that have legalized recreational use, the opposite has taken place. One primary reason is the tax rates for legal recreational marijuana have made it noncompetitive with the black market. Excess weed produced under the cover of legal grows and home production for medical/recreational use is finding its way into the black market. States surrounding Colorado recently failed with lawsuit trying to force overturning marijuana legalization. These states have now been joined by others in filing civil litigation for the same purpose in order to combat rising enforcement costs due to the increases in Colorado black market weed coming across state borders.
What Can First Responders Walk Into?
Law enforcement is not the only first responder being burdened with the unintended consequences. Fire and emergency service personnel are continually walking into residential dwellings dangerously converted to grow operations. These residences have modified and overloaded electrical systems, major structural changes including floors removed to allow plant growth, mold, and armed growers. On one day alone, a Colorado Sheriff busted three residential black market grow operations using the cover of personal use in one subdivision. Over 900 plants were found in just one of those residences. All three homes were rental properties and have been condemned due to damage, structural, and electrical modifications.
The Conversation is Ongoing
This is just scratching the surface of the issues being confronted as a result of marijuana legalization. Additional issues include; water rights, increases in power consumption, incidents of students with pot at school, violence like the recent murder of eight family members in Ohio, cartel involvement, marijuana contaminated with pesticide and fungus, tax structures, and questions about medical benefits. The push for legalization will continue. First responders need to be prepared, informed, and have their voices heard during the discussions.
This story was produced by The Watch in the Homeland Security Publication.
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