As More People Use Marijuana, Secondhand Smoke Risks Rise

The Wall Street Journal: Rising Marijuana Use Presents Secondhand Risks 
The risks marijuana can pose to people—and even pets—near users is getting more attention from researchers, as consumption rises along with legalization efforts in parts of North America. ... New research examines the possible health effects of wider use. Bong smoke contains tiny pollutants that can linger indoors for up to 12 hours, one study showed. Secondhand marijuana smoke may harm people outdoors or children in adjacent rooms, other research has suggested. And the legalization of marijuana in parts of North America has coincided with an increase of cannabis poisonings in dogs and other pets, a study published on Wednesday in the scientific journal PLOS ONE reported. (Onque, 4/20)

And concerns are rising about the risks to children and pets —

CNN: Copycat Packaging Of Marijuana Edibles Poses Risk To Children, Study Says
At first glance, it looks like a single serving bag of Nerds Rope that your child might eat as a treat. But take a closer look. See the word “medicated” and the small white box at the bottom that says 600 milligrams of THC? Those three letters stand for tetrahydrocannabinol, the part of the marijuana plant that makes people high. Eating even a small fraction of that bag would “overwhelm a child,” said Danielle Ompad, associate professor of epidemiology at NYU School of Global Public Health and senior author of a new study investigating copycat packaging in cannabis sales. The study was published Tuesday in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence. (LaMotte, 4/19)

CNN: Marijuana Pet Poisonings Are On The Rise, Study Says
More pets are being poisoned by marijuana plants and edibles than in the past and some even die, a new study finds. A survey of veterinarians found cases of poisoning occurred most frequently in dogs, but cats, iguanas, ferrets, horses and cockatoos also fell victim to the hallucinogenic effects of marijuana. ... Veterinarians reported a rise in poisoning cases, which could be due to increased access to legal marijuana products in some US states and Canada, which legalized cannabis in 2018. (LaMotte, 4/20)

In other news about marijuana use —

Politico: Cannabis Sinks Amid Weed Glut, Congress' Inaction
The nation’s marijuana industry has boomed during the pandemic. So far, 2022 is looking like a bust. Weed sales hit $27 billion last year, nearly doubling figures from just two years earlier — and revenues are projected to double again over the next six years. Even pot supporters in Congress seemed well-positioned to dismantle decades-old restrictions. (Demko, 4/20)

The New York Times: A Mayor Dispenses Pardons As Alabama Holds Fast To Marijuana Laws 
Wearing a bright yellow shirt emblazoned with the words “Legalize Alabama,” the mayor of Birmingham, Ala., said in a video posted on Twitter on Wednesday that he had pardoned anyone in the city who had been convicted of misdemeanor marijuana possession charges in the last eight months of 2021. The announcement from Mayor Randall Woodfin — which fell on April 20, or 4/20, the unofficial holiday for marijuana celebrations — came a year after he pardoned about 15,000 people in the city who had criminal convictions for possession of the drug from 1990 through 2020. (Medina, 4/20)

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin Medical Marijuana Bill Gets A Hearing At State Capitol
Republican lawmakers who control the state Legislature for the first time allowed a Capitol debate on legislation that would legalize marijuana use, but the step forward for proponents won't result in a new cannabis law in Wisconsin anytime soon. A public hearing in the Wisconsin State Capitol was held Wednesday on a bill that would create a state-run medical marijuana program. But the committee hearing was scheduled weeks after GOP leaders concluded the Legislature's work for the year — prompting some Democrats who have long supported legalization to accuse Republican bill authors of using the hearing as a "political ploy" in an election year. (Beck, 4/20)

The Washington Post: Cannabis Quiz: How Much Do You Know About The Science Of Marijuana?
The seedy reputation of weed is changing — quickly. First of all, the correct name is cannabis, and most states have legalized it in some way. Earlier this month, the House passed a bill that would decriminalize it across the entire country. Legal sales around the world are expected to top $35 billion this year, according to industry tracker BDSA. But the science lags behind the movement, largely because studying cannabis is so difficult. Truth is, there’s a lot science doesn’t know. (Berkowitz and Steckelberg, 4/20)