In 2012, Denver County documented


56,522 total crimes. In 2013, aſter the November 2012 legalization of recreational marijuana, the county reported a 29 percent increase in total crimes, to 72,644, and another jump of 15 percent—taking the total crime incidents in 2014 to 83,730. Crime is a complicated issue, but it is impossible to ignore these numbers. In addition, marijuana has a yet- undefined impact on healthcare. We know that smoking one joint is as damaging as smoking five cigaretes, and that marijuana smoke contains 50 to 70 percent more carcinogens than tobacco. We know that there is an impact on focus and learning, and that smoking marijuana has an impact on short-term memory, links to depression, and impaired coordination. All of this adds up to higher healthcare costs that are again paid, in large part, by taxpayers and employers. With evidence of the economic costs


associated with the use of marijuana mounting, it seems fair to expect that support for legalized marijuana would wane. However, that is not the case. As of January 2017, 29 states and the District of Columbia had some form of legalized marijuana, with eight states allowing anyone 21 years or older to legally use marijuana. Added to that, half a dozen new marijuana laws were submited in state legislatures in January 2017 alone. It may seem counterintuitive, but don’t be mistaken, the movement to legalize marijuana is not only successful; it is well funded, well organized, and well executed. Consider this… In the U.S., prescription and over-the-


counter drugs are considered unsafe until proven safe. Safety is proven through a series of stringent clinical trials, and before the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will approve a drug to be legally sold it must show “substantial evidence” that it is both safe and effective for each of its intended uses. Once the FDA approves the drug, it must be manufactured under close scrutiny, packaged with best dosage, and labeled to


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include the conditions the drug has been proven to treat, the known side effects, any contraindications or special conditions where using the drug would pose too much risk, and unsafe interactions with other drugs. Simply stated, it is a complex and arduous process. A process that marijuana—although legalized as a medicine—has not undergone. Nor has marijuana gone to market


following the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994, which puts supplements in the same category as food, and therefore under different regulations than drugs. DSHEA requires that dietary supplements must not pose “a significant or unreasonable risk of illness or injury when used as directed on the label or with normal use if there are no directions on the label.” Although manufacturers of dietary supplements are not required to test in clinical trials, the FDA can prove the supplement poses a significant health risk aſter they have caused harm. Because there is no requirement for healthcare providers or consumers to report adverse effects, the window is wide open for consumers to experience serious and/or fatal risks. Even if marijuana is legalized solely for


recreational purposes—and were to follow the model of the 21st Amendment that gives states the right to allow the manufacture and sale of alcohol, govern importing into and out of the state, control distribution, and monitor and enforce possession—it could not be legalized in its current form. Te Federal Alcohol Administration Act sets labeling and advertising rules, and prevents consumers from being deceived by misleading statements as to the quality and identity of a product. Following the alcohol standards, it would also require marijuana sold in individual states to indicate the content sold in each product. But again, marijuana is not following those standards. For employers, the costs are real and include rising workers’ compensation claims, higher healthcare and liability insurance premiums, and increasing


litigation expenses. All of these will impact the botom line, making drug testing and a sound drug policy even more critical. Drug testing, when consistently applied, will assist in protecting an employer from claims of negligent hiring. Failure of an employer to conduct a reasonable investigation of an employee that impacts the safety of co- workers, or the public at large, could result in the additional cost of negligent hiring claims. Taxpayers and employers alike need to


educate themselves, advocate on their own behalf, and protect themselves against the costs of marijuana legalization. Tey need to reconsider the idea that legalization is a harmless, personal decision. ❚


References 1


Sacks, J. J., Gonzales, K. R., Bouchery, E. E., Tomedi, L. E., & Brewer, R. D. (2015). 2010 national and state costs of excessive alcohol consumption. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 49(5), e73-e79


2


National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2006-2013 and CDOT/RMHIDTA 2014


3


https://www.fool.com/investing/general/2015/11/21/crime- rates-are-soaring-in-seattle-and-denver-is-m.aspx


Nina French is the Managing Partner for the Current Consulting Group, LLC. Ms. French has over 24 years of experience in employee screening. She specializes


in product and business development, drug testing marketing and sales strategy, and occupational health and wellness operations as part of an overall screening organization. Her consulting emphasis is on helping employee screening providers streamline operations, launch products, increase revenue, and retain existing clients. The Current Consulting Group (CCG) is a tenured team of experts in the drug screening industry, who together offer a comprehensive lineup of expert consulting services. Members of CCG speak at over 60 events annually, including client-customized webinars, iHeart Radio, OH&S, DATIA, SAPAA, NAPBS and SHRM, and they are published in leading industry magazines, blogs, and publications.


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