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As more states across the country legalize recreational marijuana, some doctors and lawmakers are raising alarms about the risks of certain mental health conditions associated with the product’s use.

In California, Senate Bill 1097, the Cannabis Right to Know Act, would mandate mental health warnings be included on existing cannabis labels, similar to the health risks currently seen on tobacco products. Under the bill, an assessment of the labels’ efficacy would be conducted every five years.

Similar measures have been proposed in Oregon, Colorado and New York.

Although cannabis use has been linked with the development of mental health disorders like schizophrenia, it is unclear to what extent the substance actually causes conditions. According to the National Institutes of Health, “the strongest evidence to date concerns links between marijuana use and psychiatric disorders in those with a preexisting genetic or other vulnerability.”

After California legalized recreational marijuana in 2016, emergency department visits and hospital admissions related to cannabis use increased by 89 percent by 2019.

But frequency of ingestion, potency of the substance and the age at which individuals consume cannabis can all factor into risk profiles.

Severe cannabis use disorder is more common among adolescent users than adult users, and is more common among those with poor mental health. Frequent use of high potency marijuana has also been linked to poor memory, psychosis, and suicidal ideation.  [Read more at The Hill]

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The Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center, part of the Southern University System, together with Ilera Holistic Healthcare (Ilera Holistic), on Wednesday became the nation’s first historically Black university (HBCU) to launch its own THC medical cannabis products. The university and Ilera share one of two cannabis licenses in the state of Louisiana. The launch of this historic brand, called AYO, comes on the heels of Louisiana’s unprecedented extension in June of its own medical marijuana program.

“This is yet another great and historic day for the Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center,” said Orlando McMeans, chancellor of the Ag Center.

“The goal of this program is to provide quality medicine for the citizens of the state of Louisiana through education, research and outreach, all of which are included in the mission of the Ag Center. The release of AYO, along with our CBD products, will enable us to help patients better manage their medical issues and improve their quality of life.”

The AYO line joins the ALAFIA product brand, a hemp-derived tincture developed by Southern and Ilera. ALAFIA launched on January 25 in the Louisiana market, making Southern University the first HBCU producer in both cannabis and hemp. ALAFIA will be available online nationwide later this summer. [Read more at Shreveport Times]

Dan Scotland lives in northeastern Massachusetts and uses medical marijuana to treat insomnia, anxiety and sleep issues.

He used to go regularly to Patriot Care in Lowell — but then the medical dispensary began selling to the recreational market.

“When they went adult use, their stock pretty much dwindled,” said Scotland, who also runs a podcast about marijuana. “A lot of products have been funneled to the adult use side.”

Since the dispensary opened up for recreational sales, Scotland said, “Every time I’d check their menu before going, they didn’t have anything I needed.”

Scotland’s complaint is not unique. As medical marijuana dispensaries have begun selling to the newly legal recreational market, medical marijuana patients say they have had mixed experiences buying marijuana at dispensaries that sell to both markets. While some dispensaries have maintained adequate inventory, many patients say they have fewer choices for medical marijuana than they used to.

While patients can buy off the recreational menu, they must pay taxes and their purchases are not recorded in their medical records.

“Some dispensaries … have very similar menus from the medical and adult use side,” said Nichole Snow, executive director of the Massachusetts Patient Advocacy Alliance. [Read more at Mass Live]