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trigger acute myocardial infarction.44 A more recent 2017 review reiter- ated the association between cannabis and symptoms such as ventricular tachycardia (increased heart rate), high blood pressure and orthostatic hypotension.45 The authors of the review also noted the potential for sudden death.
In fact, stories of cardiac deaths triggered by cannabis have appeared in the scientific literature. For example, a report by German forensic scientists identified cannabis as the cause of two fatal cardiac-related deaths in otherwise healthy young men.46 The researchers warned that the public is not adequately aware of marijuana’s potential to cause rapid increases in heart rate or blood pressure.
A New Jersey mom, Kristina Ziobro, has gone public with the story of her son, who began self-medicating by smoking cannabis, thinking it might help his irritable bowel symptoms. After becoming an avid advocate for cannabis, the young man died at age twenty-two of heart arrhythmia. The coroner initially told the family that their son’s death was likely caused by the cannabis but omitted that opinion from his final report. The Ziobro family believes that cannabis played a significant role in their son’s untimely death and is fighting to have the official report
reflect the coroner’s initial assessment.47
In a case in Colorado, poison control doc- tors attributed an eleven-month-old baby’s death from myocarditis (inflammation of the heart tissue) to probable ingestion of cannabis as the baby’s blood and urine tested positive for cannabis.48 The related news report described a fourfold increase in emergency room (ER) visits by young people who obtain cannabis “edibles” and show up in the ER with “drowsiness, dizzi- ness, vomiting, agitation, dangerous heart rates
and seizures.”49
MEDICAL MARIJUANA FOR SEIZURES Pediatric seizures are one of the most com- mon reasons parents turn to medical marijuana; indeed, many stories on the Internet describe children with intractable seizures who have experienced relief from using CBD products.
CANNABIS, VIOLENT BEHAVIOR AND PTSD
Dr. Christine Miller, a molecular neuroscientist who studied the causes of psychosis for twenty-five years, offers a download of scientific studies linking marijuana to violence on MomsStrong.org.76 Author Alex Berenson’s new book, Tell Your Children the Truth about Marijuana, Mental Illness and Violence exhaustively details the research from around the world proving the link (see page 34). For instance, a study in inner-city Philadelphia in the early 2000s “unexpectedly” found that marijuana users were as likely to engage in violent behavior as crack users, including reckless endangerment, weapons offenses and attempted homicide.77
However, two American professors who are often cited by the Drug Policy Alliance (a nonprofit seeking the legaliza- tion of all drugs) dispute the scientific consensus and criticize Berenson.78 Carl Hart of Columbia University and Charles Ksir professor emeritus of the University of Wyoming, in their 2016 review of the science on psychosis concluded that, “Evidence reviewed here suggests that cannabis does not in itself cause a psychosis disorder. Rather, the evidence leads us to conclude that both early use and heavy use of cannabis are more likely in individuals with a vulnerability to psychosis.”79 They note a variety of other problem behaviors (e.g. early or heavy use of cigarettes or alcohol and poor school performance) are associated with violent and aggressive behavior in later years.
On the other hand, Norwegian researchers analyzed data on cannabis use and violent behavior in over two thousand young people in the Norway Longitudinal Study, using statistical methods to determine to what extent the association was causal. Their results imply that a 10 percent increase in cannabis use frequency is associated with a 0.4 percent increase in frequency of violence. Their conclusion: “Analysis of panel data on Norwegian youths reveals a statistically significant association between cannabis use and violence.”20
Veterans afflicted with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)—who already suffer from flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety and depression—are particularly susceptible to alcohol and drug abuse. The cannabis industry, which views veterans with PTSD as a lucrative market for their products, is actively lobbying state and federal legislators to persuade them that PTSD should be a qualifying condition for medical marijuana. However, a study of cannabis use in PTSD sufferers found that the drug made their PTSD symptoms worse, not better, and was associated with more violent behavior and more alcohol use.80
Finally, self-harm and violent suicide are other unfortunate results of acute cannabis intoxication in veterans and non-veterans alike. A 2018 study of over three hundred veterans who had deployed to either Iraq or Afghanistan pro- vided evidence that “heavy cannabis use may be a unique risk factor for post-deployment suicide attempts among veterans.”81
MomsStrong.org provides a forum where parents can share stories of their children’s addiction challenges and cannabis-related deaths.82 These parents represent the most serious pushback against this emerging industry, and we would do well to hear them out.
SPRING 2019 Wise Traditions
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