Virginia and South Carolina are two of the latest states to consider legalizing marijuana for easier access. While these moves are often viewed as a financial windfall, there is increasing resistance from many doctors, parents and former addicts.

Laura Stack told CBN News marijuana stole her son Johnny's life. She recalled that he was a happy, intelligent child who grew up in a Christian home. However, he began using marijuana at the age of 14 when his home state of Colorado legalized recreational use. It was a move that changed his life forever and led to ultimate tragedy.

“He took his own life when he was 19 five years later after he became psychotic, very delusional, paranoid and suspicious from marijuana use,” she said.

Little did Laura know that most marijuana today contains at least ten times the psychoactive compound THC than it did 20 years ago.

“In my head I said, ‘It’s just grass. I used it when I was a girl. I'm doing well. It's no big deal,' and I was so wrong,” she said.

Laura and her husband John founded Johnny's Ambassadors to honor their son and prevent other people from suffering the same fate.

Cannabis-induced psychosis

Former marijuana addict Zach Plant told CBN News that the drug almost took his life.

“I had the thought that other people wanted to hurt me, the thought that the only way to be safe was to end my own life,” he said.

Zach was hospitalized and diagnosed with cannabis-induced psychosis. Symptoms include loss of touch with reality, hallucinations, delusions and paranoia. Zach remembered the stark warning the doctors had given him.

“‘If you smoke marijuana again, there’s a chance you won’t come out of psychosis. If you slip back into psychosis, your brain may never recover,'” Zach said.

Nora Volkow, MD, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, told CBN News that these types of episodes become more common as the drugs become more powerful.

“For example, the higher the THC dose, the higher the likelihood of having a psychotic episode,” she said. “And that takes you to the emergency room.”

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In fact, emergency room visits related to THC are increasing, especially where the products are more widely available. John-Paul Jansen, an internal medicine doctor, told CBN News he saw this firsthand as a doctor in Colorado, the first U.S. state to legalize the sale of recreational marijuana.

“When it became legal, I definitely saw more delirium, hallucinations, paranoia as side effects of it, and then even just normal depression and anxiety,” he said.

Patients who consume high amounts of THC may also experience severe vomiting, heart and lung complications, sexual dysfunction, and stomach paralysis.

“They came and had long bouts where they couldn’t eat. “It lasted three or four days and it was widely known that it was due to marijuana,” said Dr. Jansen.

Push for legalization

Despite the risks, more and more states are legalizing marijuana in some form. It is currently completely banned in only four states. These are Idaho, Kansas, South Carolina and Wyoming. However, South Carolina is now considering legalizing marijuana for medical purposes.

Kevin Sabet, Ph.D., president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana, told CBN News he opposes this legislation.

“I really don’t like it,” he said. “It's a way to just completely legalize marijuana. There is a camel's nose under the tent and has been for years. We’ve seen this in several states.”

In Virginia, lawmakers voted to make Virginia the first Southern state to legalize recreational marijuana sales. The bill's sponsor, Virginia Sen. Aaron Rouse (D) of Virginia Beach, told CBN News that legalizing the sale of recreational marijuana “could give Virginians the opportunity to earn a living, start a business, and become a real citizen.” “To create generational wealth.”

The measure is now in the hands of Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R), who has indicated he may veto the measure. Virginia Mercury reports that Governor Youngkin said at a press conference, “Are you talking about putting a cannabis store on every corner?” and added, “I don't quite understand it.”

Dr. Sabet believes Youngkin will not allow businesses in Virginia to sell recreational marijuana.

“It causes psychosis, schizophrenia and mental health problems. I can’t imagine he won’t veto it,” Sabet said.

Delta-8

In addition to marijuana, there is growing concern about another THC-containing substance called delta-8. It does not come from the cannabis plant. Instead, it is synthesized from a similar plant called hemp. It can contain as much THC or more than marijuana.

Delta-8 products like vape pens can be purchased at gas stations, convenience stores and online, even in states where commercial marijuana sales are illegal. The reason for this is a legal loophole in the 2018 farm law, which legalized hemp nationwide.

Julie Killian, co-founder of RyeACT, Rye Action for Children and Teens, to educate families about drug abuse among teens, told CBN News she was surprised to come across the widespread sale of Delta-8 while visiting a state where commercial recreational marijuana is sold Sales have been banned.

“I was at a truck, one of those food trucks, and they were selling coffee in the morning, and you could get a shot of Delta-8 THC in your coffee,” she said.

Now she's part of a major push to get rid of it.

“We're trying to work on the Hill with federal lawmakers to change the definition of hemp in the Farm Bill so that it would then be illegal,” Killian said.

Some state lawmakers consider Delta-8 such an emergency that they are calling for an immediate ban.

“Essentially there are states like Wyoming, Florida and a few others that are trying to ban this on a statewide level,” Dr. Sabet. “They’re not waiting for Congress to step in.”

Meanwhile, parents are finding it difficult to protect their children from these dangerous and readily available substances. Christian parenting expert Kelly Newcom, founder of Brave Parenting, told CBN News the stakes couldn't be higher.

“Ultimately, God’s Word tells us to be sober. We must be on our guard against the devil, who prowls around like a roaring lion, waiting for someone to devour him. And marijuana is a way to somehow numb our children's brains, one.” “Another way that Satan uses to get children to stray from the faith,” she said.

As a mother of five children, Julie Killian believes there is no substitute for parental involvement.

“Talk to your kids,” she said. “It may not seem like they're not listening, but I always feel like you're in the back of their mind and they'll hear you. So never give up talking to your children.” “

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