Facts About Marijuana:
Marijuana is a schedule I controlled substance. An addictive substance that can cause withdrawal when use is stopped, marijuana addiction treatment admissions since 2002 have been higher than any other illegal drug. Among the 60 to 100 separate chemical components of marijuana called cannabinoids, only one, Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is psychoactive. Higher THC content in marijuana produces greater and longer lasting effects. In the last 20 years due to market demand, constant genetic engineering has increased THC potency in marijuana plants and extraction concentration methods are becoming extremely popular and widespread. Marijuana is the second leading cause of impaired driving arrests. One in six adolescents that try marijuana will become addicted.

 

Facts About Medical Marijuana:
So called “medical marijuana” in other states has become a farce. The average user of smoked medical marijuana has no chronic illness. They are generally white males in their mid 30’s with a history of alcohol and drug abuse. States with medical marijuana laws have a dramatically higher incident rate in the general population of both “past month adult users,” and “new youth (12-17) users.”  10 of the 13 western most states, including Alaska and Hawaii, have authorized some form of legal use of the intact marijuana plant. Some states with medical marijuana laws have now graduated to full scale legal recreational use, including Colorado, Washington and Oregon. The attendant social problems created in those states is only beginning to be realized.
There is no scientific evidence that THC is necessary to boost the medicinal effect of cannabidiol (CBD) or other medicinal cannabinoids. Based upon the proximity of other medical and/recreational states, the black
and grey market potential in Utah is exacerbated by the fact that since October 1, 2015, possession of up to 99 pounds of marijuana in Utah is a Class B misdemeanor. That includes highly concentrated marijuana extracts (BHO, “dap” “shatter” “glass”) which can be up to 90% pure THC. Many national and local organizations, including the National Association of Drug Court Professionals, and the Utah Medical Association, are opposed to any use of intact marijuana as “medicine”.

 

UNOA POSITION STATEMENT ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA:

The Utah Narcotic Officers Association opposes any use, medical or otherwise, of raw marijuana or any extracts containing THC. UNOA acknowledges the potential future medical benefits of other cannabinoids, and encourages continued research, studies and clinical trials of those components under strict oversight by federal and state authorities