https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/11/synthetic-marijuana_n_3908171.html
"The chemicals in synthetic marijuana are also harder to detect than marijuana in drug tests, and the drug is the second most used illicit drug among high school seniors, behind marijuana itself according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. While certain chemical compounds of synthetic marijuana were banned in Colorado in 2011, there are possibly hundreds more anonymous compounds that haven’t been identified yet and thus, aren’t illegal.
A lot of people are advocating for legalization of Marijuana these days, but with synthetic marijuana circulating in the market. An it being hard to identify because of certain characteristics in the make up. Would it be beneficial to legalize marijuana, to try and regulate and protect against the sell or producing of this synthetic marijuana or would it not matter?
I'm glad you brought up the use of synthetic marijuana. It is scary that people are altering the chemical compound/ increasing the THC levels of marijuana. Similar to other street drugs marijuana is becoming potentially dangerous, because you don't know exactly what it is.
ReplyDeleteI feel that legalizing marijuana would allow people to purchase the drug in "safer" dispensaries and well-regulated environments, rather than on the streets or shadier markets where you don't know where it's been or who it came from.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your opinion, Viet. I think that while there will be “safer” and “cleaner” marijuana, synthetic marijuana will be circulating the market at a large scale. I am afraid that because marijuana will become known across many individuals for those not able to be prescribed marijuana, a way to access “marijuana” would be resorting to synthetic marijuana. This is scary given that is something that can be bought even at a gasoline store (last time I remembered). What I see occurring is that synthetic marijuana will eventually include so many chemicals that will cause an elevated “high” that cannot be reached through medical marijuana. This can create the process of individuals chasing the potency and thus becoming addicted.
DeleteThis reminds me of the discussion about heroin and how often times, fatalities from heroin use come from it being cut with fentanyl. I definitely think legalizing marijuana could help eliminate these issues that have arisen.
DeleteI would argue this supports legalization, because now people are buying from safer vendors where marijuana can be regulated as opposed to people off the streets who might lace it with stronger chemicals.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that is being implemented in Michigan is the seed to sale tracking of marijuana .That means that every step from the plant being a seed to when it's sold over counter is tracked. Also, every marijuana plant must be tested. Policies such as this is what we should be moving towards .
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