Opinion: States need to wake up to public health risks from cannabis
Cannabis is on the march. Thirty-three states and the District of Columbia have legalized medical marijuana. Eleven states and the District of Columbia have legalized recreational use of cannabis for adults over 21, and others are considering it. More than 37 million Americans use cannabis each year in one form or another: flowers, concentrates, edibles, and the like.
Legalization brings some notable benefits. Among them, state tax revenues get a boost, new jobs get created, and law enforcement can move on to more serious crimes. But somewhere along the way, public health considerations have been pushed to the sidelines.
The Food and Drug Administration ensures the safety of only a , mostly those available by prescription. It does not oversee any of the plants, foods,
