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Treatment for addiction takes many forms and depends on the needs of the
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information on outcome-oriented treatment that adheres to an established continuum of
care. In this section, you will find information and resources related to evidence-based
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April 20, the unofficial holiday celebrating marijuana, has grown from counterculture origins in which users secretly smoked weed and ate marijuana-infused brownies into massive celebrations.
More than 100,000 marijuana fans, including rappers Lil Wayne and Wiz Khalifa, were expected to celebrate at Denver’s Civic Center as a part of the city’s annual 420 marijuana rally, according to the Denver Post. However, heavy snow in the days leading up to the event disrupted the celebration.
In California, thousands of people are expected to celebrate 420 at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. The event is not sanctioned or sponsored, but thousands of people have shown up in recent years anyway, according to the San Francisco Examiner.
The holiday’s origin is a matter of debate, but many sources say it started in 1971 with a group of five teens at San Rafael High School in California who smoked pot at 4:20 p.m. every afternoon near their school.
On April 20, 2016, the most controversial subject of the day was Snapchat’s attempt to help users celebrate the day. The app received scrutiny because one of its filters added dreadlocks, a Bob Marley hat, Marley’s name next to a Jamaican flag and what appeared to be blackface to photos. By midday, “Happy 420” had been tweeted almost 200,000 times on Twitter.
But public support of marijuana consumption hasn’t always been so widely endorsed or socially acceptable.
The Marijuana Legalization Movement
When the term 420 was first coined in 1971, the Nixon campaign was launching the war on drugs. The federal campaign would lead to the arrests of millions of Americans for possessing marijuana.
Public consumption of marijuana is still illegal in every state in the U.S., but possession is not.
Medicinal marijuana possession and consumption is currently legal in 24 states and the District of Columbia.
Recreational possession and private consumption is legal in four states:
However, marijuana consumption isn’t without risks. Many advocates say it’s safer than alcohol, pointing to DUI statistics and the number of health conditions related to alcohol abuse. But that doesn’t mean smoking weed is safe.
Marijuana Health Effects
The positive and negative health effects of marijuana consumption have long been debated. Research indicates that marijuana can reduce the growth of some cancerous tumors, relieve anxiety and subdue symptoms of several other medical conditions.
However, studies also show regular use can lead to marijuana addiction, and the drug might not necessarily be safer than alcohol. A March 2016 study conducted by scholars at UC Davis and Duke analyzed long-term social and economic consequences of regular marijuana use.
“People who smoked cannabis four or more days of the week over many years ended up in a lower social class than their parents, with lower-paying, less skilled and less prestigious jobs than those who were not regular cannabis smokers,” Magdalena Cerdá, a researcher at the UC Davis Violence Prevention Research Program, said in a press release. “These regular and persistent users also experienced more financial, work-related and relationship difficulties, which worsened as the number of years of regular cannabis use progressed.”
When compared to alcohol, the researchers found marijuana use led to more financial difficulties.
“This is an important finding, given the common conception that cannabis is safer than alcohol,” Cerdá said. “Alcohol is still a bigger problem than cannabis because alcohol use is more prevalent than cannabis use. But, as the legalization of cannabis increases around the world, the economic and social burden posed by regular cannabis use could increase as well.”
On April 20, hundreds of thousands of people will smoke and eat marijuana products. Where recreational use is legal, let’s hope they do so responsibly and recognize that every mind altering substance has risks.
Medical Disclaimer: DrugRehab.com aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with a substance use or mental health disorder with fact-based content about the nature of behavioral health conditions, treatment options and their related outcomes. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider.
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Associated Press. (2016, April 20). Thousands to puff for legal pot at San Francisco 4/20 party. Retrieved from http://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/thousands-expected-at-san-franciscos-420-party/
Business Insider. (2016, April 20). A Snapchat filter that turns you into Bob Marley is under fire for being ‘digital blackface.’ Retrieved from http://www.businessinsider.com/snapchat-420-bob-marley-filter-under-fire-for-digital-blackface-2016-4
Grim, R. (2013, April 20). 4/20: How ‘Weed Day’ Got Its Name. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/20/420-weed-day-marijuana-april-holiday_n_3122359.html
Phillips Erb, K. (2016, April 20). On 4/20, It’s High Time To Think About Taxes, Revenue & Marijuana. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyphillipserb/2016/04/20/on-420-its-high-time-to-think-about-taxes-revenues-marijuana/#7e5259957647
UC Davis Health System. (2016, March 23). Is cannabis “safer” than alcohol? [Press release]. Retrieved from http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/welcome/features/2015-2016/03/20160323_cannabis-alcohol-study.html
Doyle, K. (2016, February 1). Long-term marijuana use tied to worse verbal memory in middle age. Retrieved from http://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-cannabis-verbal-memory-idUSKCN0VA3BO
Nohlgren, S. (2014, August 29). Potential health risk of medical marijuana: It’s complicated. Retrieved from http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/elections/the-potential-health-risk-of-medical-marijuana-its-complicated/2195294
Williams, S. (2014, November 15). The most dangerous medical marijuana myth. Retrieved from http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2014/11/15/the-most-dangerous-medical-marijuana-myth/18661303/
Zimmerman, K.A. (2015, January 14). Medical Marijuana: Benefits, Risks & State Laws. Retrieved from http://www.livescience.com/24554-medical-marijuana.html
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