Liquor Control Board to limit marijuana-infused products appealing to children

Today, the Washington State Liquor Control Board adopted emergency rules adding a requirement that all marijuana-infused products, packaging, and labeling be approved by them.  The rules are to clarify the types of marijuana-infused products the board will allow to be produced and sold.  The board's issue paper on the emergency rules states:

"Many marijuana-infused products on the medical marijuana market today are appealing to children.  Products such as lollipops, gummy bears, and cotton candy are very appealing to children too young to read a label."

To gain approval from the board, marijuana processors must submit a picture of the product, its label, and packaging to them.  The board will not approve products that appeal to children.

Marijuana-infused products that look like foods and beverages that children commonly eat and drink have been a concern for Prevention WINS members even prior to the I-502 vote.  Concerns were expressed to the Liquor Control Board during their rule-making process and as they developed recommendations for reconciling the recreational and medical marijuana systems.  During rule-making, Prevention WINS included the following in our letter to the board:

Recently, a report published in the Journal of the American Medical Association – Pediatrics discussed the increase in unintentional ingestion of marijuana among children in Colorado.

As the Board knows from experience, many flavored malt beverages are fruit flavored and particularly attractive to minors. In one survey about underage drinking, when asked what one type of alcohol drink they would most prefer, 30% of teens said “alcopops” (the term used to describe these flavored alcoholic beverages – a combination of “alcohol” and “pop”).

In the past, the Board has banned the sale of certain alcohol products because of the high likelihood that the products are attractive to minors. A similar ban should be placed on marijuana-infused products that are attractive to minors and resemble products primarily consumed by children. Examples of such products, many of which currently may be sold in medical marijuana access points, include but are not limited to:

• Snow-cones,
• Hard candy, lollipops, and cookies shaped like animals, people, cartoon and other characters, Christmas trees, snowmen, stars, etc.,
• Soda-pop,
• Juice,
• Candy bars,
• Pop-Tarts,
• “Gummy” candies shaped like worms, bears, etc.

Some flavored tobacco and alcohol products are also banned because of their potential to attract young people. The Board should ban marijuana products containing flavorings such as fruit, candy, and vanilla.

The emergency rules also include guidelines regarding serving sizes.  The new rules read:

"Marijuana-infused products in solid form that contain more than one serving must be scored to indicate individual serving sizes, and labeled so that the serving size is prominently displayed on the packaging."

"Marijuana-infused products must be homogenized to ensure uniform disbursement of cannabinoids throughout the product."  

Prevent teen drug use, prevent teen DUIs

Earlier this year, the Washington State Toxicologist reported that the primary drug, including alcohol, detected in DUI cases among people under the age of 21 is marijuana.  A recent study confirms that marijuana-related driving crashes are a significant problem among younger drivers. From the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: 

The profile of a drugged driver has changed substantially since 1993, according to a new study released today in the journal Public Health Reports, which shows that more drivers are now testing positive for prescription drugs, marijuana and multiple drugs.

. . . The study examines trends in the characteristics of U.S. drivers who were involved in fatal crashes between 1993 and 2010 and tested positive for drugs.

. . . Almost 60 percent of cannabis-only users were younger than 30 years.  (About 36% of meth users and 25% of prescription drug and cocaine users were younger than 30.) 

We see that cocaine and methamphetamine are becoming less and less prevalent. Drugged drivers now would be much more likely to be using marijuana and prescription drugs, and they would probably be more likely to be mixing those drugs with alcohol. We see that overall fatalities are going down, perhaps because people are more likely to be in seat belts, but the mixing of alcohol with drugs is not trending down. It’s becoming more of a problem. 

The author notes that “these trends are likely to continue into the future given . . . increasing initiatives to legalize marijuana.”   

One way to prevent DUIs among people under the age of 21 is to prevent drug use, including marijuana and alcohol, among adolescents. Young drivers who do not use drugs don't drive under the influence. 

Underage Marijuana Use Prevention Toolkit now available online

An Underage Marijuana Use Prevention Toolkit was recently launched by the Washington State Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery to help educate people about the new law and the risks associated with adolescent use of the drug.  The toolkit is available online and includes several posters, including these two.

Since no current funding exists for a full scale educational campaign, DBHR is relying heavily on community-based organizations, including coalitions and their partners, to use the toolkit to educate parents, youth, and the wider community about the new law and how marijuana impacts adolescent health.  

Teen marijuana use is risky

As the Prevention WINS coalition plans for addressing the decreasing perception of risk associated with marijuana use among teenagers in NE Seattle, understanding what the risks are is important.

An article about the adverse health effects of marijuana use was published in the New England Journal of Medicine earlier this month.  It especially highlights the harmful effects of marijuana use among teenagers.  From the article:

Intoxication: When under the influence of marijuana, it can interfere with memory, perception of time, and coordination which can lead to consequences such as motor vehicle crashes.

Addiction: One in six people who start using marijuana as teenagers become addicted to the drug.  Among those who use marijuana daily, 25 to 50% become addicted.

Brain development: Frequent use of marijuana from adolescence into adulthood is associated with significant declines in IQ.  This may be due to fewer connections established in the brains of people who used marijuana regularly during the teen years compared to people who did not.  These long lasting brain changes can hinder academic and social achievements.  

Yes, teen alcohol, tobacco, and opiate use are risky, too.  Like most drug use prevention programs, the Prevention WINS coalition addresses multiple substances used by teenagers and provides information about the harms associated with all of them.  The current focus on marijuana is a result of the declining perception of risk among NE Seattle teens who receive messages from adults in the wider community that marijuana is a safe drug to use.  

Prevention WINS to address decreasing perceptions of risk

Over the past few months, the Prevention WINS coalition has been conducting a community assessment so that we may address new risk factors contributing to teen drug use in NE Seattle.

The coalition started by analyzing WA Healthy Youth Survey data to determine why alcohol and marijuana use rates and prescription drug abuse rates are increasing in our community.  Among several risk factors identified, coalition members chose to focus on the decreasing perception of harm/risk associated with drug use.  Perceptions of risk are well-documented indicators of teen drug use.

During last month's meeting, coalition members identified factors that may be contributing to these decreasing perceptions of risk.  The drafted logic model below outlines factors coalition members identified.  One of the next steps is to collect data to confirm that these factors are indeed affecting risk perceptions among NE Seattle teens.  

Coalition members formed a workgroup that will meet later this month to take a closer look at perceptions of risk, identify ways to collect local data, and begin to identify prevention activities to address the perceptions.  For more information about the meeting, contact the Prevention WINS coordinator.

When the logic model is complete, it will accompany a comprehensive plan for preventing teen drug use in NE Seattle,  In addition to coalition prevention activities, the plan will outline activities others in NE Seattle may conduct to address additional risk factors.  Other NE Seattle risk factors include increased access to alcohol and marijuana and perceptions among teens that they won't be caught by police if using alcohol and marijuana.  

MADD offers Power of Parents facilitator training June 6

From MADD Washington:

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) provides a Power of Parents program which includes tips and tools for parents to be able to have lifesaving conversations with their teens before prom, graduation and summer celebrations. With this program, thousands of Washington’s teens will have the real facts around underage drinking and understand what the expectations are around alcohol during the most dangerous time of year for them and their peers. MADD offers free 30 minute Power of Parents workshops, explaining the research, tips and tools around underage drinking prevention and giving parents the opportunity to meet and support one another. These workshops further the impact on the community and garner support for the prevention of underage drinking.

MADD is excited to be offering an upcoming training for individuals to become certified in facilitating our Power of Parents workshop. The training will be held on Friday, June 6^,th from 9 AM -3 PM at the Seattle Public Library downtown (1000 4th Ave, Seattle, WA 98104), and lunch will be provided. The library has parking available and the early bird price is $14 for the day if participants arrive before 9:30 AM. Once trained and certified, faciliators will have access to MADD's evidence based prevention materials for facilitating presentations to parents.

Space is limited.  RSVP by contacting MADD's Program Coordinator.

Enforcement of laws important for youth drug use prevention

If laws and regulations are going to deter people and businesses from illegal behaviors, they must be enforced. In this video, Jessica Hawkins from Oklahoma's Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services describes some steps her state took to enforce penalties for social hosts who allow underage drinking on their premises.  



Though she talks about the social host law, she provides good examples of how the enforcement of all laws regarding teen access to and consumption of drugs can be implemented and supported by the community.  This is a timely topic here in Washington considering our new marijuana laws and the rules that were adopted to keep marijuana out of the hands of minors.  Those underage marijuana use prevention rules are only effective if actually enforced.  

National Prevention Week: Suicide prevention

From the Youth Suicide
Prevention Program

This week is National Prevention Week and today's focus is suicide prevention.  While this blog usually focuses specifically on preventing teen drug use, today's post is about suicide because drugs often play a role.  

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, “Several factors can put a young person at risk for suicide. However, having these risk factors does not always mean that suicide will occur.

• Alcohol or drug abuse
• History of previous suicide attempts
• Family history of suicide
• History of depression or other mental illness
• Stressful life event or loss
• Easy access to lethal methods
• Exposure to the suicidal behavior of others
• Incarceration"

King County overall has a lower rate of suicide when compared nationally; however, it has recently seen an increase in the number of suicides. In 2010, there were 226 suicide deaths, approximately 25% more than in 2001. The most frequent suicide methods include:

• Firearms (38%)
• Poisoning (24%)
• Suffocation (21%)
• Cut/Pierce (4%)

Of poisoning-related deaths, drugs and alcohol make up 75% of them nationally.

The local Youth Suicide Prevention Program can provide additional information about prevention, intervention, and links to resources.

National Prevention Week: Preventing underage marijuana use

This week is National Prevention Week and preventing youth marijuana use is one focus area.  With recreational marijuana retail outlets expected to open this summer, many people are looking for information about how the drug affects teenagers and what parents can do to prevent their children from using.  

Last fall, local experts Drs. Leslie Walker and Kevin Haggerty developed a pamphlet for parents about preventing underage marijuana use. 

This week, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) released two updated booklets about marijuana for teens and their parents.

• Marijuana Facts for Teens discusses the health consequences of marijuana use in this age group, its effect on the developing brain, its addiction risk, and what we know about its potential as a medicine.

• Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know has tips for parents on how to tell if their child is using marijuana and how to talk about the issue with their teen. 

Both NIDA publications provide information about marijuana and its impact on adolescent health.  Missing from the parent booklet is information about marijuana concentrates and vaporizing.  Prevention WINS coalition members report that vaporizing marijuana products has become an increasingly popular way for teenagers who use marijuana to consume it.  

Since Washingtonians voted to create a legal commercial marketplace for marijuana, many people have been asking questions about what it means for those under the age of 21.  The Mercer Island Communities That Care Coalition created this video which answers many common questions. 

Key points:

• Marijuana laws did not change for adolescents.  It is still illegal for anyone under 21 to use "recreational" marijuana.  Minors can still obtain "medical" marijuana.    
• It is illegal for minors to drive under the influence of any amount of marijuana.  
• It is illegal for adults to supply minors with "recreational" marijuana.  

Like laws regarding alcohol, WA marijuana laws will change over time.  To keep abreast of marijuana policy, visit the Washington Association for Substance Abuse and Violence Prevention's website.  

National Prevention Week: Preventing prescription drug abuse

This week is National Prevention Week and today’s focus is preventing prescription drug abuse.

This video is from the Partnership at DrugFree.org Medicine Abuse Project:

Among NE Seattle teenagers, the abuse of prescription drugs has steadily increased over the past six years.  While the Prevention WINS Coalition is currently conducting a community assessment to determine what local conditions are contributing to this rise in abuse, the National Institute on Drug Abuse states that “multiple factors are likely at work:

Misperceptions about their safety. Because these medications are prescribed by doctors, many assume that they are safe to take under any circumstances. This is not the case. Prescription drugs act directly or indirectly on the same brain systems affected by illicit drugs. Using a medication other than as prescribed can potentially lead to a variety of adverse health effects, including overdose and addiction.

Increasing environmental availability. Between 1991 and 2010, prescriptions for stimulants increased from 5 million to nearly 45 million and for opioid analgesics from about 75.5 million to 209.5 million.

Varied motivations for their abuse. Underlying reasons include: to get high; to counter anxiety, pain, or sleep problems; or to enhance cognition. Whatever the motivation, prescription drug abuse comes with serious risks.”

Individuals and organizations have roles to play in addressing these factors.  Everyone can: 

• Educate their students, clients, co-workers, friends, neighbors, and families about the harms that are associated with the mis-use of medicines. 

•  Lock up personal medications to prevent theft and the misuse by others in their home.

• Dispose of unused medications either at a Group Health or participating Bartell pharmacy.  Some other pharmacies sell medicine return envelopes and the Drug Enforcement Administration hosts semi-annual medicine take-back days. 

• Recognize and address anxiety, pain, and sleep problems that teenagers may be facing.