From Medical to Recreational: Lessons from Minnesota and Colorado in the Marijuana Debate

Editor's note: This is the third in a three part series exploring lessons learned about marijuana for medical purposes in other states.

MINNEAPOLIS – In Minnesota, opponents of marijuana for medical purposes have generally been silent since a law authorizing drugs was passed four years ago.

"I think a lot of the fears have been dispelled," said Dr. Jay Westwater, CEO of Minnesota Medical Solutions.

He runs one of only two companies licensed to grow, process and legally sell marijuana products.

But in Minnesota, concerns have been voiced in Utah: does the approval of marijuana for medical purposes create political momentum that could push a state to legalize marijuana for recreational purposes?

Surprisingly, Kim Bemis, who is organizing a lobby in Minnesota to pressure marijuana for recreational purposes, actually thinks Minnesota's law allowing marijuana for medical purposes is a good thing.

"I would not want to undo it, no, because I think we wrote a very strong law," said Bemis, who chairs a group called Smart Approaches to Marijuana, Minnesota. What worries him is the growth of marijuana as a big industry, and he thinks that the approval of marijuana for medical purposes would have pushed Minnesota more in the same direction.

Maren Schroeder, a pro-marijuana activist, believes this is a sign of approval.

"I think when people start to see that the sky is not in the medical realm, then it's good to start talking about adult use and limit criminalization, and put people in jail for have used marijuana, "said Schroeder, who has founded a group called Sensible Minnesota.

Several political candidates in the state of Minnesota have approved marijuana for recreational purposes this year. Bemis is worried about where this might lead.

"I'm not sure if someone is smoking a joint at home," Bemis said. "We do not really want to have commercial marijuana available in the state of Minnesota."

Andy Bohlen, Police Chief of Faribault, Minnesota, who chairs the Minnesota Violent Crime Coordinating Council, agrees. He said that "Big Marijuana" is becoming a reproduction of "Big Tobacco".

"For many years we have been fighting this battle against companies targeting child smoking," Bohlen said. "You always see commercials on TV. Are we going to have the same fight in 10 years with marijuana?

Bohlen and other critics refer to Colorado, which legalized marijuana for medical purposes in 2000. Has this decision created a political climate of marijuana acceptance that ultimately led to the 39, Marijuana Approval for Recreational Purposes?

"I think this definitely changes the marijuana culture around in a state," said Mike Van Dyke of the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment. "I think when you legalize marijuana for medical purposes, it becomes more accepted."

When Colorado legalized marijuana for recreational purposes in 2012, many critics feared that it would result in a much higher rate of marijuana use among teens.

"I think that was not what we saw in Colorado," Van Dyke said. "What we've seen in Colorado is really … marijuana use among teens has been pretty flat since 2005."

Yet other data from Colorado seem to reinforce the meaning of marijuana criticism.

A recent report on the marijuana situation in Colorado by HIDTA, the federal program of high-intensity drug trafficking zones, was leaked by critics in Minnesota. It indicates that overall marijuana use in Colorado has increased by 45% since the legalization of the recreational pot in 2012. Marijuana-related emergency room visits have increased by 52%. Traffic deaths involving marijuana-positive drivers more than doubled to 138 deaths in 2017.

However, marijuana use is not the leading cause of death on Colorado highways.

"Our data shows that alcohol remains the leading substance detected in fatal car accidents, closely followed by marijuana," said Dominique Mendiola, director of marijuana coordination at the Colorado governor's office. But there are other disturbing statistics in Colorado.

"We have seen impacts," Van Dyke said. "We have seen an increase in hospitalizations (related to marijuana). We found an increase in poisoning in children. In addition, we found in Colorado that the number of pregnant women who use marijuana was higher than in other states where marijuana was not available. So, I really think there is a risk to public health and you have to think about Utah. "

Of course, it is not certain that Minnesota – or Utah – will one day follow the Colorado initiative. Marijuana for medical purposes may or may not be a step in the direction of legalized smoking.

"I do not think this is a good argument for restricting patients' access to a drug that can change and save lives," said Schroeder.

Nevertheless, Bohlen fears that the pressure will continue to grow.

"Once you've opened the door and allowed part of it … So, even if we allow liquids, oils and pills, there's always pressure from a lobbyist to allow smoking. vegetative marijuana, "said the chief of police.

Bohlen admits, however, that this is a national trend. Regardless of what Minnesota or Utah do, polls show that momentum across the country is turning more and more towards marijuana Bohlen thinks it's a dangerous political drift driven by a marijuana industry whose product is very different from the days of hippie hordes and evenings with friends.

"I think the new substance is produced – THC levels are much higher," Bohlen said. "So, the effects of marijuana are felt much stronger than 30 years ago."

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