Northwest Chronicle - October/November

What you need to know about vaping-related lung disease PUGET SOUND’S Premier CANNABIS Guide OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

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TESTING FOR MARIJUANA: WILL A TOPICAL BE DETECTED? TYPES OF MARIJUANA: What effect do you want?

A PUBLICATION OF A SUPPLEMENT TO CENTRAL KITSAP REPORTER

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TABLE OF CONTENTS What you need to know about vaping-related lung disease

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Types of marijuana

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Testing for marijuana

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Cannabis and driving

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Marijuana use in Washington State

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What you need to know about vaping-related lung disease

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By NICK TWIETMEYER ntwietmeyer@soundpublishing.com

ith two new cases of vaping-related lung illness recently reported in Washington and some 380 cases reported nationwide by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, many are wondering what this means for legal marijuana manufacturers that produce vaping products.

A national conversation surrounding electronic cigarettes has been heating up as new cases of severe lung illnesses continue to be reported. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo appeared to be following Michigan’s lead, stating his intent to pursue a ban on flavored nicotine vaping products.

Michigan passed a similar ban in early September.

The Washington State Department of Health reported on Sept. 11 that DOH officials reported the first case of severe lung disease related to vaping products in the state.

“The symptoms of this patient match what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have asked all state and local health jurisdictions to be on the lookout for in regards to the nationwide investigation into this matter,” said Washington State Health Officer Kathy Lofy. “This is the first patient identified in Washington associated with this outbreak.”

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Just days later on Sept. 16, the DOH confirmed another two cases reported by the Spokane Regional Health District, linking a teenager and an adult in their twenties to the severe lung disease associated with vaping products. While the definitive cause of the illnesses remains under investigation by the CDC, investigators with the New York State Department of Health appear to be narrowing in on black market THC oils as a possible culprit.

Unregulated THC oils distilled from cannabis for use in e-cigarettes often contain additives like vitamin E acetate which act as a thickener. According to a Sept. 5 release, the department noted a possible link between the reported cases of lung disease and vitamin E acetate.

“Laboratory test results showed very high levels of vitamin E acetate in nearly all cannabis-containing samples analyzed by the Wadsworth Center as part of this investigation,” the release reads. “At least one vitamin E acetate containing vape product has been linked to each patient who submitted a product for testing. Vitamin E acetate is not an approved additive for New York State Medical Marijuana Programauthorized vape products and was not seen in the nicotinebased products that were tested.”

Despite the findings of the New York Department of Health, as of Sept. 17, the CDC has yet to corroborate their findings.

Instead the CDC has urged the public to exercise caution.

Jamie Nixon of the Washington State Department of Health echoed the CDC’s calls for consumer vigilance.

“Right now we’re telling people the healthiest option is to not smoke or vape,” Nixon said. “If you are going to continue to vape, we urge that you use products from licensed retailers.

Don’t buy black market vaping products and don’t alter products.”

The caution urged by the CDC and Washington State Department of Health didn’t appear to stop Washington’s producers of THC oils from issuing written statements advertising the fact that their products do not contain vitamin E acetate.

Statements provided by Avitas Cannabis, BMF Washington and Smokey Point Productions all state that their THC oils Continues on page 6

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do not contain additives like vitamin E acetate, propylene glycol or polyethylene glycol. One company, Ionic, went so far as to send out a letter from the Institute of Food Safety & Defense which stated that, “no tocopheryl [vitamin E] acetate was detected” in any of the samples the group provided.

According to the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, patients suffering from the vaping-related lung disease exhibited the following symptoms: • cough • shortness of breath, or chest pain • nausea • vomiting, or diarrhea • fatigue • fever or abdominal pain Some patients also reported that their symptoms developed over a few days, while others have reported that their symptoms developed over several weeks. A lung infection does not appear to be causing the symptoms.

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Types of marijuana: What effect do you want?

Any seasoned smoker knows there are three distinct types of marijuana: sativa, indica and hybrid.

The plants of cannabis indica and cannabis sativa have been around since the 18th century with cannabis Hybrid being relatively new.

Hybrid indicates the mixing of seeds from different geographic locations around the world.

The effects of each vary.

INDICA: The Indica strain is a more relaxing effect with the tendency of making you want to hang out on the couch. The origin is believed to come from the Hindu Kush region close to Afghanistan.

Anyone who knows anything about marijuana knows that Kush is really strong weed. In this area of Afghanistan, the strain developed thick coats of resin as a mean of protecting themselves due to the harsh climate. Characteristics of indica include flowering time, yields, geography of where seeds came from and various flavors. Some of the epic names given to top flavors include Purple Haze, Granddaddy Purple and Northern Lights.

SATIVAS: The sativas strain alternatively has energizing effects which is why they’re often used in the morning or afternoon. This strain of marijuana is used primarily for depression and exhaustion.

Its morphology is a growth of up to 20 feet high, it is narrow with loose branches. The effects of sativa are said to be uplifting and allow you to be creative. Medicinally, it can treat ADD and mood disorders. Some of the more popular flavors under the sativa strain include Sour Diesel, Jack Herer and Lemon Haze.

HYBRID: There are many variables for the two ancient strains which is where Hybrid comes in. The seeds of many geographical areas are cross germinated to balance marijuana with both strains.

This offers the marijuana user a balance between the two so you get the best of both worlds.

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Testing for marijuana: Will a topical be detected?

While medical and recreational marijuana is legal in Washington state, some employers still do tests for drug use. Those who use topical creams with cannabis in them often wonder if that will make them test positive in a urinalysis drug test.

Here’s what Amanda Reiman, who teaches classes on drug policy at the University of California-Berkeley, had to say: Topical cannabis applications can be extremely helpful for localized pain and inflammation. Many people like them because they work on contact and are non-psychoactive.

In theory, the same reason you can’t get high from rubbing them on your skin is why using topicals will not cause you to test positive in a drug test.

The THC level in topical products tends to be far lower than that in smokable or edible products. Add that to the fact that applying a topical to the skin only allows it to break the skin/muscular barrier, but not enter into the blood stream. I have not seen any reported cases of positive drug tests from topical applications and the research supports this.

However, depending where you live, there might also be transdermal patches on the market. These work similarly to nicotine patches and do contain components that allow the THC to break into the bloodstream and will cause intoxication and a positive drug test.

The topicals I am referring to only include lotions, balms, salves, and other products that contain cannabis and are rubbed on the skin.

Think about it like rubbing alcohol. You can rub it on various places on your body, but you will not feel intoxicated or have a BAC over the legal limit if you use it, even though it has a very high concentration of alcohol in it. However, remember that, like the transdermal patch, consuming marijuana in other ways will show up on a drug test.

There are three main types of drug tests, urine, blood and hair tests, and saliva tests are becoming more common, especially for detecting marijuana smoking. However, a urine test is the most commonly administered because of ease and cost.

In reality, the only thing that will ensure a clean drug test is abstaining from ingesting drugs, at least for a while, but each test is different in terms of how long you need to abstain and what the test can tell about your use history.

Urine tests can detect the THC in the fat cells, since some of it gets washed out with the urine. THC can reside in fat cells for up to four weeks, sometimes longer if the person consumes large amounts of marijuana.

In a blood tests, THC is usually eliminated from the blood within 48 hours, however, blood tests are costly and harder to administer so they are not used as often. Hair follicle tests work by detecting THC metabolites that have been passively diffused from the blood stream to the base of the hair follicle. Hair follicle tests can detect drug use within the past three months, including patterns of use. However, they often show false positives due to environmental pollution and other factors.

Drug tests can be administered in a discriminatory way that many times includes violations of privacy and an assumption of drug use leading to negative consequences. However, in today’s world, it is a part of many opportunities for employment, athletic participation and part of criminal justice sanctions.

Whether you support the idea of drug testing or not, the consequences of having a positive test can be far reaching and detrimental.

Source: Amanda Reiman, PhD., doctorate in social welfare.

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At a Glance: Cannabis and driving

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What you need to know:

Using cannabis in the Evergreen State The facts about legal marijuana in Washington Only adults 21 and older can purchase and possess marijuana.

Marijuana can only be sold and purchased at state-licensed retail stores. A valid photo ID is required and no one younger than 21 is allowed on the retail premises. Retail marijuana stores only accept cash.

Adults 21 and older can purchase up to one ounce of usable marijuana (harvested flowers or bud), 16 ounces of marijuana-infused edibles in solid form, 72 ounces in liquid form, and 7 grams of marijuana concentrates.

Price will vary according to the quality and availability. Some strains are considered better than others. Most stores aim at $10-$12 per gram, although that price can go as high as $25.

There are 28 grams in one ounce, the amount that can be legally purchased at one time. Typically, that amount can cost $300 and up.

It is a felony for anyone but a licensed retailer to sell or provide marijuana to anyone else. Providing or selling marijuana to a minor younger than 18 is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

It is illegal to consume marijuana in public view.

It is illegal to drive under the influence of marijuana, and doing so may result in significant legal penalties.

Taking marijuana outside the state of Washington may result in significant legal penalties.

As with tobacco, smoking marijuana in any indoor location is subject to the restrictions in the Washington Smoking in Public Places law. The law prohibits smoking in public places or places of employment, and within 25 feet of entrances, exits, open windows and ventilation intakes. If you are a hotel guest and the hotel permits it, it is legal to consume marijuana in a private hotel room.

Possession of marijuana is still illegal federally. This is also true at national parks. And if you are in navigable waters, the U.S. Coast Guard will enforce federal law. It is never OK to operate a boat while impaired by marijuana or any other drug.

The law against marijuana use in public view applies to state parks, public hiking trails and ski resorts.

Source: Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Control Board.

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