by Libby Hutton

With Sonoma County’s passage of the Medical Cannabis Land Use Ordinance in 2016 and the subsequent amendments in 2018, there was no apparent consideration by about the impact of these ordinances on public health. Since then, extensive studies have emerged defining the diffuse public health risks and impacts of cannabis in multiple domains, risks which impact citizens of every age, including users and non-users.

A limited list of these risks includes the following:

1.   Respiratory Impacts from Smoking or Breathing Cannabis

The damage from inhaling cannabis has been well-documented and can be worse even than cigarette smoking. The same is true of second-hand cannabis smoke which impacts non-participants who often are children.

2.    Mental Health and Addiction Issues

The data overwhelmingly demonstrates the dangers to mental health of cannabis ingestion in all its forms. These dangers have been magnified by the increasing and uncontrolled THC levels in cannabis products. One in five users becomes addicted to cannabis and cannabis use disorder is a recognized mental health diagnosis. A recent article in the Press Democrat described “the rising number of people whose use of the drug has brought on delusions, paranoia and other symptoms of psychosis” and “dangerous misconceptions” among many users that “people cannot become addicted to cannabis. But millions do.”

3.   Impacts on Youth and Adolescents

The concerns about cannabis ingestion by youth and adolescents cannot be overstated. Although youth can obtain cannabis without a prescription at age 21, the use and ease of access by those under that age is beyond dispute. One study reported 17% of 10th graders used cannabis. The growing brain is not complete until age 25 therefore the impact of cannabis impacts the actual brain structure and development. The American Academy of Pediatrics reported, “Regular use of marijuana is also linked to psychological problems, poorer lung health and a higher chance of substance use disorder in adulthood. Even using marijuana one time can alter motor control, coordination and judgment. This can contribute to unintentional deaths and injuries.” Adolescents who use cannabis regularly are 37% more likely to develop depression than those who don’t use cannabis, and their rates of suicide are higher.

The JAMA Pediatr. Just published online October 7, 2024, reported:

“In this meta-analysis of 63 studies including 438 329 individuals, moderate-certainty evidence showed cannabis use during adolescence and young adulthood is probably associated with lower school grades; less likelihood of high school completion, university enrollment, and postsecondary degree attainment; and increased school dropout rate and school absenteeism. Low-certainty evidence suggested cannabis use may be associated with increased unemployment.”

4. Prenatal and Genetic Issues

Studies demonstrate the harmful effects of secondhand smoke before pregnancy which can later impact the brain development of the fetus and the deleterious impact of neonatal exposure to both nicotine and cannabis. Exposure to cannabis, alone, in utero, has been linked to premature births, small gestational age, and perinatal mortality.

5. Dangers to Young Children of Ingestion of Edibles

Cannabis edibles come in all shapes and sizes, many of which resemble candies, cookies or other treats. These represent magnets for young children and are toxic to them. A recent order by the State requires appropriate packaging which, when enforced, should help alleviate these risks.

6. Cardiovascular Issues and  Increased Head and Neck Cancer Risks

In addition to the damage to the respiratory system caused by cannabis, research has revealed the damage it presents to the cardiovascular system resulting in heart disease, heart failure, heart attacks, coronary artery disease and strokes. There is extra vulnerability for older adults. Other studies report the increased risk of head and neck cancers from regular cannabis inhalation.

7. Beta-Myrcene

For the most part the risks relate to an individual’s decision to use cannabis. However a very concerning risk puts those living near outdoor cannabis cultivation areas at risk from the emissions of cannabis plants. It’s the toxic risk associated with Beta-Myrcene – a carcinogen emitted by the cannabis cultivation itself. This is exposure which is involuntary and unavoidable for people in areas of cannabis cultivation.

Beta-Myrcene is a recognized carcinogen . Beta-Myrcene (a volatile organic chemical often dominant in cannabis plant emissions. It is listed under Proposition 65 as a cancer-causing compound and is part of the distinctive “skunk” smell of cannabis cultivation which is not a normal agricultural odor. Beta-Myrcene is a component of cannabis odors that humans often find objectionable and that have resulted in immediate deleterious encompassing nausea, headaches, cough, eye irritation, respiratory distress and asthma. Emissions are greatest during flowering and harvest. Exposures are amplified when winds are blowing toward residences.

Research has also shown toxic effects on liver and kidney in animals after only 70 days. Beta-Myrcene also contributes to formation of secondary pollutants including formaldehyde (also a carcinogen listed on Proposition 65) and formic acid, both of which cause eye irritation and nausea , as well as to formation of ground-level ozone, a known irritant. The risks are likely even greater for children and fetuses in utero.