Since the legalization of marijuana, its potency has risen and can reach 99% pure delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).[1] It is the THC in marijuana which results in the “high,” and which can lead to addiction, violence, crime, mental illness, traffic deaths, and many other health and social problems. Many maintain that voters were not properly informed of these dangers when marijuana was legalized and that the current use and these levels causes harm that, had the public been aware, might have dissuaded many from supporting legalization.

Like the tobacco and opiate industries, the marijuana industry victimizes people and causes massive damage by creating a class of victims just like the tobacco, opiate and pesticide industries.

This CLE course will explain the path that the marijuana industry has taken and its resemblance to tobacco and opiates as well as the claims that injured plaintiffs may make under federal or state law such as:

• Consumer product liability for contaminated products
• Fraud for false advertising claims which resulted in adverse outcomes
• Medical malpractice on the basis that marijuana use could potentially have problematic interactions with other drugs and may be more dangerous than FDA approved drugs
• Exposure of workers (and customers) in the marijuana industry to heavy metals, pesticides, fungus and other forms of contamination
• The application of the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act to “medical” marijuana and recreational marijuana as illegal under federal law, which means that anyone economically damaged by those in the marijuana industry may be able to sue under RICO
• Liability for those who serve marijuana in stores or distribute individually to people who then kill, injure or otherwise harm others in accidents such as car crashes.
• Birth defects, brain damage, and child abuse caused by parental marijuana use
• The cost of rehabilitation from marijuana addiction
• Pollution and other harm to the environment caused by marijuana growing.
• Lawsuits under the Drug Dealer Liability Act - several states have passed laws that make drug dealers civilly liable to those injured by a driver under the influence of drugs or families who lose a child to illegal drugs and others injured by illegal drugs.