Marijuana Users Have Higher Levels of Heavy Metals in Their Blood, More Likely to Develop Fungal Infections: WSJ

The Wall Street Journal recently reported on the growing evidence that marijuana products are often contaminated with dangerous toxins and pollutants, writing,

Marijuana contaminated with arsenic, lead or mold is causing serious, even life-threatening illnesses around the country as use of cannabis products explodes.

People who have used marijuana have higher levels of heavy metals in their blood and are more likely to develop fungal infections, according to studies. Researchers have linked contaminants found in marijuana to cases of sudden-onset numbness, fatal lung bleeding and artery disease that resulted in amputations.

The article notes that marijuana products are easily contaminated by pesticides and mold spores, because the marijuana plant itself easily absorbs toxins in the soil and chemicals or other substances sprayed on the plant.

These contaminants are passed along into marijuana products — posing serious health risks for marijuana users.

Research continues to underscore that marijuana use is dangerous.

Marijuana users face a 60% higher risk of first-time heart attack, stroke, or other major cardiovascular problem.

Heavy marijuana use has been linked to psychosis — especially among young men.

And regular marijuana use has been associated with lung problems and an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. A 2022 study published in the journal of the Radiological Society of North America found marijuana smoke may actually be more harmful to lungs than cigarette smoke.

This medical research comes as a proposed marijuana amendment is vying for the 2024 ballot in Arkansas.

All of this underscores what we have said for years, marijuana may be many things, but “harmless” simply is not one of them.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

Arkansas State Police Saw an Increase in Illegal Drugs During 2023: Report

Above: Nearly 900 pounds of high-grade, illegal marijuana found after traffic stop in Lonoke County.

A February 2 news release from the Arkansas State Police reveals that troopers saw a dramatic increase in illegal drug seizures during 2023.

All told, authorities confiscated some 11,000 pounds of illegal drugs and $1.4 million in cash from Arkansas’ highways over the course of the year.

Among other things, state troopers seized more illegal marijuana and illegal THC products in 2023 than in past years.

The press release notes,

Illegal marijuana seizures were up by more than 2,000 pounds year to year. 10,386 pounds were seized in 2023 compared to 8,015 pounds in 2022. Seven out of the top ten illegal marijuana seizures came out of Crawford County, with the largest confiscation from a traffic stop on Interstate 40 in January. During that stop, 939 pounds of illegal marijuana and 141 pounds of illegal THC products were uncovered. . . .

In 2023, ASP confiscated various illegal THC products, including 187 pounds of marijuana edibles, more than 30 pounds of THC wax, and 1470 illegal THC cartridges from a driver who claimed he was driving through Arkansas from California to Georgia.

The press release indicates that many of the illegal drugs seized last year may have originated from outside of Arkansas.

Stories like these underscore that marijuanas legalization in other states has actually fueled the black market and the drug cartels rather than weakening them.

For example, California’s Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce seized nearly $162 million worth of illegal marijuana during the first half of 2023.

Oregon has been inundated by industrial scale marijuana cultivation sites operated illegally by organized crime and drug cartels. Some of these marijuana operations are tied to labor trafficking and violent crime.

If Arkansas had passed marijuana amendment Issue 4 in 2022, our marijuana laws arguably would be more lax than many states’.

A similar marijuana amendment is currently vying for the 2024 ballot in Arkansas right now.

Contrary to popular belief, legalization does not decrease drug-related crime, and it does not alleviate drug abuse. If anything, it seems to make these problems worse.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.