U.S. Officials Launch Cannabis Public Health Campaign

U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams and Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar have announced a cannabis public awareness campaign saying that cannabis use “carries more risk than ever” amid increased access and potency, according to a Washington Post report.

The public awareness campaign is funded by President Donald Trump, who reportedly donated his full second-quarter salary of $100,000 to the effort.

Adams said that current cannabis “isn’t your mother’s marijuana,” pointing out that in 1995 the average potency of cannabis flower was 4 percent and now it’s about 12 percent to 25 percent, while concentrates can run as high as 80 percent or 90 percent.

Azar said he does support increasing federal cannabis research into both the risks and potential benefits into cannabis. Earlier this week, the Drug Enforcement Administration announced it was moving forward with expanding cannabis research and would approve some pending research applications.

“We need to be clear: Some states’ laws on marijuana may have changed. But the science has not. And federal law has not.” — Azar, during a press conference, via the Post

According to the report, the health advisory is only the second issued by Adams. His first came in December and was aimed at e-cigarettes. Officials said that Trump using his own salary to back the cannabis health awareness campaign underscores his – and the administration’s – concerns about addiction and substance abuse.