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MINUTES-Draft <br />ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH <br />April 24, 2019 <br />S:\Managers Working Files\BOH\Agenda & Abstracts\2019 Agenda & Abstracts/ April Page 2 <br />• Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Team (ADAPT) <br /> ADAPT is made up of high school students; 7 from Cedar Ridge and 5 from Orange <br />High. They help educate their peers about the downside of using drugs and alcohol <br />in hopes to reduce underage drinking and drug use. <br />• Marijuana <br /> Most commonly used illicit drug in the US. Slang used to describe it include weed, <br />pot, grass, gas, loud, ganja, mary jane and joint. <br /> Over 500 different compounds in the plant. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is found in <br />cannabis plants and is known for causing the “high”. Cannabidiol (CBD) is found in <br />both cannabis and industrial hemp plants. It is grown for fiber and seeds and only <br />has traces of THC. Hemp has a lower THC and is used to make auto parts, clothing, <br />soap, etc. <br /> Marijuana is a mixture of dried leaves, flowers, stems and seeds from the cannabis <br />sativa or cannabis indica plants. Mind-altering chemicals/properties are produced by <br />the leaves and buds, primarily in the female cannabis plant. <br />o Cannabis sativa plants – lower CBD and higher THC; creative high <br />Cannabis indica plants – have higher CBD and lower THC counts; mellow high <br /> Vaping, Smoking and Edibles <br />o The primary differences between smoking marijuana and eating an edible are in <br />the magnitude of the effects, the time lapse before the effects are realized, and <br />the longevity of the effects. <br />o After eating an edible containing marijuana, THC is absorbed into the <br />bloodstream through the stomach and then the liver. Since this absorption <br />process is much slower than in the lungs, the effects felt through an edible will be <br />less potent, but could last much longer – sometimes between 4 to 6 hours. Also <br />important to note, the liver can change THC into a stronger strain, usually <br />resulting in a greater sedative effect. <br />o Smoking marijuana can lead to health complications just as smoking tobacco can. <br />Health risks can include emphysema, bronchitis, and bronchial asthma. <br /> Addictive/Precaution <br />o DSM V has added it as an addictive disorder. 30% of all users show marijuana <br />use disorders. Marijuana is ranked only behind alcohol in the number of <br />Americans meeting clinical criteria for drug dependence or abuse in the past year. <br />About 1 in 6 people who start using marijuana as teens and 25-50% of those who <br />use it every day become addicted. <br />o Negative effects include: <br />THC – Psychoactive/mind-altering; long term health risks include lungs, heart, <br />psych reactions and addiction <br />CBD – Not psychoactive; less known long term risks <br />o You never know what’s in your marijuana as it could be up to 80% THC or be <br />laced with things like mold, glass shards, cocaine, or fentanyl. <br /> <br /> Legalization <br />o Medical /Recreational <br /> THC - used to combat side effects of chemo, muscle spasticity related to <br />Multiple Sclerosis (MS), chronic pain, and wasting disease. <br /> CBD - used to combat stress/depression/anxiety, MS, schizophrenia, <br />migraines, epilepsy, arthritis, some cancer and chemo side effects. <br />o Decriminalization <br /> Laws have been enacted to stop jailing for those possessing less than 0.5 <br />ounces. Possession of less than 0.5 ounces is a misdemeanor.