Cannabis and Youth Health and Safety
To be heard and voted on in General Meeting 3 – Sunday, May 5
| 1. WHEREAS, | The tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentrations in current commercially available cannabis has increased substantially over the last 40 years, along with a large increase in the diversity of cannabis products and formulations, exposing our youth to high-potency cannabis preparations leading to increased frequency of use, increased dependency and the progression to higher potency products; and |
| 2. WHEREAS, | There are acute effects associated with youth use of cannabis, including the risk of cardiovascular events, hyperemesis syndrome, acute intoxication, and auto accidents when youth drive under the influence of cannabis; and |
| 3. WHEREAS, | There are long-term effects associated with youth cannabis use, including the risk of e-cigarette or vaping associated lung injury (EVALI), Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD), psychosis, schizophrenia, decreased cognitive function, negative impacts on attention, memory, learning and educational/vocational attainment, increased risks of dependency and addiction, adverse effects on mental health and chronic exposure to secondhand cannabis smoke; and |
| 4. WHEREAS, | The legalization of cannabis and has led to increased cannabis use in vulnerable populations during critical developmental windows, including during pregnancy, where in-utero exposure impacts long-term developmental outcomes and in early childhood development and adolescence, two of the most critical time periods for brain growth and development; and |
| 5. WHEREAS, | Although cannabis can be used medicinally, the wide variety of high-potency THC products and formulations, the lack of standardized dosing and limited dosing information on packaging and the lack of short and long-term safety information has led to increasing numbers of children unintentionally exposed to cannabis, resulting in increased calls to poison control centers, unscheduled emergency department and urgent care visits and hospitalizations; and |
| 6. WHEREAS, | Hemp-derived products containing psychoactive cannabinoids (compounds found in cannabis) and synthetic cannabinoids are marketed outside of the legal cannabis system, with limited or no dosage or potency information, have contamination concerns, no age restrictions, and are easily accessible to youth; and |
| 7. WHEREAS, | Cannabis manufacturers utilize product design, packaging, promotion, advertising, social media, smoking lounges, cafes and restaurants, product flavoring and a variety of delivery devices and preparations designed to appeal to youth and vulnerable populations; and |
| 8. WHEREAS, | Licensed storefront cannabis dispensaries are not allowed within 600 feet of schools, day care or youth centers unless allowed by local government; however, youth who regularly see cannabis advertising and dispensaries on school routes, within their communities and near youth-oriented facilities have positive early perceptions of cannabis and cannabis availability and are more likely to become early, cannabis users and this is exacerbated by high-density dispensary areas; and now therefore be it. |
| 1. RESOLVED, | That California State PTA and its units, councils and districts support education campaigns for families and educators on the evolution of THC potency, the diversity of cannabis products and formulations and the risks associated with youth exposure to high-potency cannabis that include increased risks for cannabis dependency and progression to higher potency cannabis products; and be it further |
| 2. RESOLVED, | That California State PTA and its units, councils and districts seek and support legislation, regulation and/or other national, state, and local measures to educate families and educators on the acute impacts of cannabis use on youth health; and be it further |
| 3. RESOLVED, | That California State PTA and its units, councils and districts seek and support legislation, regulation and/or other national, state, and local measures to provide families and educators education on the risk of youth driving while under the influence of cannabis and on existing laws regarding cannabis and operating motorized vehicles in order to prevent crashes, collisions and to save lives; and be it further |
| 4. RESOLVED, | That California State PTA and its units, councils and districts seek and support legislation, regulation and/or other national, state, and local measures to launch campaigns to educate families and educators on the dangers and negative effects of long-term cannabis use on youth; and be it further |
| 5. RESOLVED, | That California State PTA and its units, councils and districts seek and support legislation, regulation and/or other national, state, and local measures to launch campaigns to educate families and educators on the dangers of involuntary second-hand cannabis smoke exposure; and be it further |
| 6. RESOLVED, | That California State PTA and its units, councils and districts support education to families and educators about the health risks of using cannabis during pregnancy to both the mother and baby, and the potential long-term negative health consequences to children who were exposed to cannabis in-utero; and be it further |
| 7. RESOLVED, | That California State PTA and its units, councils and districts support education campaigns to families and educators about the risks of cannabis exposure in early childhood and adolescent brain development; and be it further |
| 8. RESOLVED, | That the California State PTA recognizes the rights of parents and legal guardians to access cannabis for use when medically prescribed or recommended by medical providers and the California State PTA and its units, councils and districts encourage our PTA leaders to offer programs to educate families and educators regarding their responsibility to properly secure and dispose of cannabis products; and be it further |
| 9. RESOLVED, | That California State PTA and its units, councils and districts seek and support legislation, regulation and/or other local measures to support the following for cannabis, synthetic cannabis and hemp-derived products containing psychoactive cannabinoids: the importance of secure storage, the early restriction of new products that do not have adequate safety data, child resistant packaging that does not appeal to children, with warnings about the importance of safe storage and labels that clearly and consistently state the dose of THC/psychoactive cannabinoids per serving; and be it further |
| 10. RESOLVED, | That California State PTA and its units, councils and districts seek and support legislation, regulation and/or other national, state, and local measures to restrict the sale and marketing of hemp-derived products containing psychoactive cannabinoids outside of the legal cannabis market, and to launch education programs for families and educators on the potential dangers of hemp-derived products containing psychoactive cannabinoids that include potential overdose, hospitalization, lung damage and e-cigarette or vaping associated lung injury (EVALI); and be it further |
| 11. RESOLVED, | That California State PTA and its units, councils and districts seek and support legislation, regulation and/or other national, state, and local measures to restrict the sale of flavors and flavored additives in all cannabis formulations, synthetic cannabis and hemp-derived products with psychoactive cannabinoids designed to appeal to youth; and be it further |
| 12. RESOLVED, | That the California State PTA and its units, councils and districts seek and support legislation to protect youth by encouraging the adherence to safety messaging about the risks of youth cannabis use in: manufacturers’ marketing, social media and in dispensaries and/or any location where cannabis products are sold and to discourage cannabis smoking lounges at all-age events and cannabis smoking in restaurants and cafes; and be it further |
| 13. RESOLVED, | That California State PTA and its units, councils and districts support community education about state, regional and local regulations concerning the location and density of licensed and unlicensed storefront cannabis dispensaries in relation to schools, playgrounds and other youth-oriented facilities to discourage the normalization of early cannabis access and use; and be it further |
| 14. RESOLVED, | Resolved that the California State PTA submit this resolution to the National PTA for consideration by the delegates at the convention. |
BACKGROUND SUMMARY
More than half of young adults in the US use cannabis by age 21, more than half of high school students believe that cannabis is not dangerous and 78% of 12th graders say that cannabis is easy to obtain. THC (the psychoactive component of hemp and cannabis) levels have increased significantly over the last 40 years, with many formulations including shatter, dabs, vapes, waxes, resins, edibles and oils, containing as much as 80-99% THC, with high-potency THC dominating cannabis markets.
The younger the age, and the earlier the exposure to THC, the greater the risk of addiction, the use of higher potency products and the ill effects of acute and long-term cannabis use. This includes increased cardiovascular events, hyperemesis, impaired driving, cannabis use disorder (CUD), decreased cognition, attention, memory and learning; poor school performance, sleep, coordination and social interactions; increased learning loss, missed school days, depression, anxiety, psychosis, schizophrenia and suicidal ideation, with regular users being seven times more likely to attempt suicide. Frequent use leads to IQ drops, with daily users 60% less likely to graduate from high school and attend college, impacting educational and vocational attainment. Secondhand cannabis smoke, containing several hundred toxic chemicals, carcinogens and fine particulate matter is an additional health concern.
Our vulnerable populations are impacted; the developing adolescent brain is more susceptible to cannabis exposure, increasing risks for impairment, neurocognitive decline and depression that may follow into adulthood. LGBTQ youth are 1.6-2.5 times more likely to use cannabis and be diagnosed with cannabis use disorder (CUD) and pregnant individuals exposing infants in-utero have risk of low birth weight babies with respiratory infections and neurodevelopmental problems at 9 years.
Pediatric cannabis exposure and accidental edible cannabis ingestion by children have increased over a thousand-fold according to Poison Control Center data. Lower socioeconomic status communities often have increased licensed and unlicensed storefront cannabis outlets, with locations disproportionately targeting communities with higher proportions of racial and ethnic minority populations. Outlet density increases the risk and frequency of cannabis use and addiction in students as young as 6th grade.
Product labeling is confusing with no standardized THC dose, limited/no potency or serving size information and products not comparable across different routes of administration. Cannabis is aggressively marketed with packaging and flavors that look and taste like candy and delivery devices designed to appeal to youth. Billboards, cannabis smoking lounges, manufacturer use of social media business pages that encourage youth followers etc., further normalize youth cannabis use. Additionally, the 2018 Farm Bill exempted synthetic cannabinoids and psychoactive hemp-derived
products from FDA regulation; cannabis with ≤0.3% THC is considered hemp and <0.3% THC is considered cannabis. Mislabeling is very common, with hemp edibles often containing large amounts of THC. With no age restrictions and products sold outside of the legal cannabis market in stores and online, these dangerous products are easily accessible to our youth.
Cannabis is a public health concern for our youth; PTA must use a collective voice to educate our communities on the dangers and act.