“Medical” marijuana factoids:

1. “Medical” marijuana is not medical. Medical would indicate specific dosages. THC (the active chemical in marijuana) varies from 4%- 36% depending on the sample.

2. Research shows that as young people’s perception of harm decreases, use increases.

3. After years of declining use, overall youth drug use among those 12 and older rose by 9 percent in 2009. The rise in overall drug use was driven in large part by increases in marijuana use (National Survey on Drug Use and Health).

4. Marijuana has more cancer-causing chemicals than does tobacco.

5. Marijuana negatively affects a person’s ability to learn, remember and be motivated.

6. Marijuana is getting easier to buy. Between 2007 and 2009 there was a 37% increase in the percentage of teens who say marijuana is easier to buy than cigarettes, beer or prescription drugs, from 19 to 26% (National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse XIV: Teens and Parents 2009).

7. Nearly one-quarter of teens (5.7 million) say they can get marijuana in an hour; four out of ten teens (10 million) can get marijuana within a day (National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse XIV: Teens and Parents 2009).

8. The City of Fort Collins, as of December 2010, has issued 22 medical marijuana business licenses for retail operations within city limits. While not every one of these are currently operating, they will be soon.