Co-President Elect Debra Stokes led our meeting and began by introducing Mr. Michael Mumper, Executive Director of Georgians for Responsible Marijuana Policy, as our speaker. Michael began by saying the Georgians for Responsible Marijuana Policy (GRMP) was launched in 2017 by Dr. Greg Raduka to confront the unscientific approval of and access to Marijuana usages, that were gaining momentum in Georgia, especially among youth.  After Dr. Raduka's retirement, in 2023 the board of directors appointed Michael as the executive director to continue the work ... GRMP is determined to increase public awareness including convincing more state elected government officials to understand the impact of unregulated marijuana, enact legislation in line with research with the federal Food and Drug Administration policies and with major medical associations as a way to protect Georgians health.

  Michael cited the following negative impacts being experienced throughout Georgia and nationally:  roadway safety; workplace safety and productivity; harmful impacts for pregnant & breast-feeding mothers; weak or non-existent policies on drug education, mental health treatment, and addiction, because marijuana, like alcohol, is a drug with harmful effects.

  Michael is very concerned about the growing and negative impact of intoxicating high THC hemp-derived products like Delta 8 which goes unregulated. 

He also noted:

• More teens in Georgia enter treatment for marijuana than all other drugs combined.

• According to a 2019 meta-study published in JAMA Psychiatry (Journal of the American Medication Association), adolescents who used cannabis had higher rates of depression, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts.

Roadways and workplaces: 

• Marijuana impairs safe driving because of slower driver reaction time ... because drug user inhibits ability to make decisions; it impairs coordination and distorts perception. 

• Employees who tested positive for marijuana had 55% more industrial accidents, 85% more injuries, 75% greater absenteeism compared to those who tested negative.

Justice, Education, and Access to Treatment :

• Blacks in Georgia accounted for 65% of marijuana possession arrests in 2023 but number only 30.5% of the population.

• Employees who tested positive for marijuana had 55% more industrial accidents, 85% more injuries, 75% greater absenteeism compared to those who tested negative.

• Drug Education: Of 19 Georgia cities with decriminalized marijuana, only 2 offer systemic education, assessments, referrals.

   On the positive side on marijuana policy in Georgia, Michael presented find the top five medical and mental health conditions for which Georgians can get helpful treatment using marijuana:

(1) Intractable pain, (2) PTSD, (3) Cancer, (4) Peripheral neuropathy, (5) Seizure disorders.

  Because the lack of knowledge of how marijuana is contributing to negative impacts in the workplace, among youth and families, Michael wants people to contact him at Georgians for Responsible Marijuana Policy:

mmumper@GaMarijaunaPolicy.org;

_____

Neil Shorthouse, Keyway Reporter