A series of new studies and reports contributes to a growing body of evidence about the potential risks and dangers of marijuana and its derivative products containing CBD, the non-psychoactive component of the drug. In many cases, the findings contradict the claims of the marijuana legalization movement and the booming CBD industry. In one study published in JAMA Psychiatry, researchers looking into the “substantial and alarming” increase in suicide attempts in the U.S. over the past decade found that the largest increases were among women, young adults, and those who regularly use substances such as alcohol or cannabis. As more and more states legalize marijuana, pro-pot groups continue to falsely assert that pot is a mostly benign substance.
Meanwhile, the problem of drugged drivingwas addressed in a Canadian study looking at the prevalence of psychoactive THC in drivers who were moderately injured in traffic accidents. The result: the number had more than doubled since cannabis legalization in the country, which bolsters existing data showing an increase in driving-while-drugged traffic accidents in legal pot states and underscoring concerns that legalization is likely to lead to more injuries and death. Currently, there are no devices available to accurately measure the presence and level of marijuana and THC in the body.
Finally, as the market for CBD products continues to grow amid little or no government or industry regulation, a studyshows that consumer CBD products vary greatly in formulation, purity, and label accuracy—with beverages being particularly inconsistent. Many of these products also contain THC. Overall, the products—often touted as a panacea for stress, insomnia, pain, and other conditions, without scientific backing—show inconsistent labeling and vary in their label claims, thereby exposing patients and consumers to risks such as side effects, interactions, and failed drug tests. It’s time for federal agencies and public health organizations to finally crackdown on the CBD industry’s dubious claims and dangerous marketing.