Federal Government Announces Action against Marijuana Use by Youth and Pregnant Women

Aug. 31, 2019 (EIRNS)—A new Federal initiative against the use of marijuana by youth and pregnant women was announced Aug. 29 in Washington by Surgeon General Jerome M. Adams and Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar. They spoke out strongly against the harm from marijuana, in contrast to the arguments made in favor of various uses of marijuana, which 33 states have now legalized in some form.

Azar said, “We need to be clear: Some states’ laws on marijuana may have changed. But the science has not. And Federal law has not.”

The two officials said that a program would soon be launched through social media to convey the harm marijuana can cause to the development of the brain. For example, a baby is likely to have a lower birth weight and develop brain problems in utero if its mother used marijuana during pregnancy.

President Donald Trump has personally contributed his second-quarter salary of $100,000 to the new program, the officials announced, saying that he wants to underscore how important the administration regards the problem of addiction and substance abuse is in America.