A lot is happening right now that has the potential to impact youth and our work to protect them from the harms of cannabis. New research has been announced, state legislatures are in session, and lawmakers are having debates about what regulations should be put in place to protect young people. Accidental ingestion of edible THC and Hemp-based products are continuing to get attention as young people keep ending up in the hospital.
Rather than give you a couple of in depth looks at stories from around the country, this time, here’s a bit of a roundup of stories from every corner of our nation to give you a sense of all that is going on. Thank you so much for your concern and your continued support. Especially in the face of real opposition. We need each other in this fight.
Let’s start with the science…
🔬 Science Corner
Pregnancy Risks Often Overlooked: Medical experts are raising alarms about marijuana use during pregnancy. Despite cannabis legalization in many areas, doctors emphasize that its use during pregnancy poses significant dangers to developing fetuses. “Marijuana use during pregnancy is associated with risks to mother and baby. Studies have shown that prenatal cannabis exposure is linked to an increased risk of preterm birth, low birth weight, and small-for-gestational-age infants,” says Dr. Ilina Pluym, an OB/GYN and assistant clinical professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.“ Additionally, there is evidence suggesting that in utero exposure to marijuana can have significant and lasting impacts on a child’s neurodevelopment and behavior, including higher risks of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and autism spectrum disorder.”
Read the article here.
Read more about the impacts of marijuana use during pregnancy here.
⚖️ Legal Developments
Currently across the country state legislatures and city councils are in spring session. One Chance supports these guardrails being considered at the state and local level to put public health and safety for kids above industry profits. Here is a quick roundup of some of the proposed policy changes and what it would do…
Texas: Texas Senate Bill 3 aims to ban all forms of THC in consumable hemp products due to industry self-regulation failures and public health risks. Read the article here.
Ohio: Ohio passed Senate Bill 56 making significant changes to the state’s recreational marijuana laws and prioritizing child safety.
Read the article here.
Florida: Florida lawmakers are examining much-needed regulation of hemp products containing Delta 8 and 10 cannabinoids, which currently put kids at risk. Read the article here.
Arizona: House Bill 2179 in Arizona aims to tighten regulations on marijuana advertising, eliminating advertisements that use child-enticing names, images, or references to THC potency. Read the article here.
Kentucky: Kentucky’s Senate Bill 202 would impose a moratorium on hemp-based beverages until July 2026, regulating these drinks similarly to alcoholic beverages due to concerns over their potential appeal to minors. Read the article here.
Michigan: The Detroit City Council has unanimously banned marijuana advertisements within 1,000 feet of locations frequented by children, including parks, schools, and recreation centers.
Read the article here.
⚠️ What We’re Up Against
In addition to the legislative activity, stories about accidental ingestion of THC edibles by children continue to pile up across the country. The following stories span multiple states and settings—from schools to homes to daycares—and demonstrate the dangerous appeal of marijuana products that resemble candy or treats:
- Eleven students at Long Island Middle School were hospitalized after consuming marijuana gummies. Read the article here.
- A 13-year-old girl required hospital care after taking a marijuana edible at a Chicago elementary school. Read the article here.
- Nearly 200 children in New York visited emergency rooms after cannabis exposure last year, primarily due to edibles resembling candy. Read the article here.
The following round-up of op-ed articles from around the country have a common theme: as marijuana and hemp products become increasingly normalized and available across multiple states, children face growing risks of exposure through deceptive packaging, insufficient regulations, and notably, adult prioritization of economic benefits over youth safety.
- One Chance’s Board Chair Doug Robinson highlights the need for parents to get educated after Mayor Yemi Mobolade of Colorado Springs highlights concerns about recreational marijuana as data shows students in areas with higher marijuana marketing have lower harm perceptions and higher usage rates. Read the article here.
- Florida lawmakers are urged to implement sensible hemp regulations to protect children. Read the article here.
- New York’s celebration of $1 billion in marijuana sales is criticized for prioritizing economic gains over public health. Read the article here.
Together, we can continue building momentum for policies that truly protect our children from the dangers of marijuana exposure. Your advocacy makes a difference!
