Earlier this year, children’s advocates across Mendocino County began to take notice of the rapidly changing landscape of the marijuana industry. With the prospect of the potential legalization of recreational use of marijuana on the horizon, marijuana stakeholders are working with their local and statewide elected officials to shape and influence cultivation laws, business and environmental regulations, and tax proposals related to medical cannabis. Many expect that the regulations and laws related to medical cannabis will be largely replicated for the recreational use of marijuana, if Proposition 64 (The Adult Use of Marijuana Act) is approved by voters in November.
After a six-month process of researching and developing potential policy language related to Marijuana and Youth, the Children’s Health Committee of the Mendocino County Policy Council on Children and Youth brought the proposed policy language before the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors on August 16th. The goal in developing the policy statement is to highlight the potential risks of marijuana legalization as it relates to children and youth. “This is a new frontier for our community,” says Megan Van Sant, facilitator for the Children’s Health Committee. “Our community institutions haven’t yet experienced the decriminalization of a drug, and we don’t yet know how the process will impact children and adolescents. Marijuana activists promote legalization with language that implies that marijuana is harmless. Our concern is that children hear this message and are led to believe that marijuana is safe and harmless for them, too. But with recent research about brain development, we now know that the adolescent brain may be particularly at risk when impacted by marijuana, especially if that child is already at risk for socio-emotional problems. As advocates for children, we do not take a position on marijuana legalization, but we do feel strongly that the interests of children must be represented. To that end, we support strong protections for children and adolescents, as well as designated resources for local youth prevention and public awareness campaigns.”
The Policy Statement was further endorsed and supported by the Mendocino County Health and Human Services Agency (MCHHSA) Advisory Board. "The Health and Human Services Agency Advisory Board believes the legalization of marijuana inadvertently increases the risk to our children. These policies will help to insure the safety of our children through prevention measures and education, and is an imperative and important first step," says Jacque Williams, Chairperson of the MCHHSA Advisory Board. The policy statement is also supported by CASA- Court Appointed Special Advocates. “As child advocate, my message is simple” says Sheryn Hildebrand, Executive Director of CASA. “NO to substances that impact brain development in youth; “YES” to wanting every child to shine, which means advocating for choices that support positive brain development.”
At their August 16th meeting, all members of the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors were receptive to the proposed policy statement and agreed to add a modified version of the statement to their Legislative Platform. For a copy of the latest draft of the proposed policy statement, click here.
###
Anne Molgaard is the Chief Operating Officer, Mendocino County Health and Human Services Agency Chairperson, Mendocino County Policy Council on Children and Youth.
For more information on Marijuana and Youth view these links:
Author:
Anne Molgaard
Resource Date:
August 27, 2016
Resource Type:
Topics:
