Reader: Centers for Disease Control Is Full of Sh*t When it Comes to Marijuana

The decision of the Denver coroner's office to list marijuana intoxication as a contributing factor in a 2014 death was controversial at the time. And it still is. The Centers for Disease Control is using the death of Levy Thamba, a nineteen-year-old student who feel from a hotel balcony after...

By Michael Roberts

July 29, 2015

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The decision of the Denver coroner's office to list marijuana intoxication as a contributing factor in a 2014 death was controversial at the time.

And it still is.

The Centers for Disease Control is using the death of Levy Thamba, a nineteen-year-old student who fell from a hotel balcony after consuming a pot cookie, to emphasize the risks of THC-infused edibles.

Our post on the subject incensed plenty of readers, many of whom questioned the conclusion or argued that blaming the item was unfair, since Thamba ate far more than the recommended dosage, particularly for someone described as being "marijuana-naive."

Here's an example.

Eric Axel Lyle writes:

Isolated incident....booze kills a lot of kids...guess what, dicks, it's legal in all 50 states. Not to mention all the suicides and psychotic breaks due to psychological. pharmaceutical drugs you seem to approve of. I swear, the CDC and the DEA are full of shit when it comes to THC.

Send your story tips to the author, Michael Roberts.

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

Contact: Michael Roberts

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