As New York State prepares to introduce a legal, adult-use marijuana market, Governor Kathy Hochul is rolling out a public service ad campaign to warn New Yorkers about the potential dangers of using legal pot. The campaign, called Cannabis Conversations, is the state’s first public service campaign and goes into depth about the dangers of impaired driving while high, the risks of youth cannabis use, how to store cannabis safely in your home, and to respectfully consume cannabis in public. The ads bluntly tell consumers that it is never safe to drive under the influence of marijuana, and that cannabis can damage growing brains in youth—a finding supported by a growing body of scientific evidence, but which was passed over during debates about legalization. According to the state’s cannabis control board, legalization is grounded in the principles of public safety, social justice, and equitable economic development. Yet if safety were a primary concern, there would have been stricter measures included regarding underage consumption and impaired driving.
Meanwhile, public safety concerning pot apparently wasn’t on the agenda for a bride in Florida, who is accused along with her caterer of spiking the food at her wedding reception with enough marijuana to make many guests feel sick, nauseated, and dizzy. The bride and the caterer were arrested and charged with two felony counts including food tampering and distribution of marijuana, in a state where recreational cannabis is still illegal. The effects underscore warnings from the medical community about the possible dangers of ingesting or smoking marijuana, which can include disorientation, vomiting, impaired driving as well as other health issues.
And finally, another drug danger—the growing use of psychedelic drugs—was highlighted in an investigation by STAT News into the case of an elderly man who was allegedly taken advantage of by a caregiver who gave him hallucinogenics to treat depression and suicidal ideation. The case reflects not only the mainstreaming of psychedelics but also the growing industry around its use and so-called therapists who administer these very powerful drugs and “guide” patients through the experience. They are sometimes used to ease patients’ anxieties at the end of life, and therefore have the potential for an increase in elder abuse, the report points out. Psychedelic drugs, which are still largely illegal for treating depression and PTSD, are becoming more popular, and researcher is opening up in the field. As this happens, there’s a critical need for strong regulations to protect users of psychedelic medicines against potential abuse from unlicensed therapists—especially the elderly, who experience cognitive decline, are often frail, and are at risk of being taken advantage of financially.