Page 28 - AT

A28 SCIENCE
Friday 13 december 2019
California calls pot smoke, THC a risk to moms-to-be

By MICHAEL R. BLOOD ability of the information
Associated Press in doubt. The panel spent
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A several hours debating the
California panel voted studies, and in the end, it
Wednesday to declare found the weight of the
marijuana smoke and the evidence was sufficient.
drug’s high-producing The review was carried out
chemical — THC — a risk under the umbrella of the
to pregnant women and Safe Drinking Water and
their developing fetuses Toxic Enforcement Act,
and require warning labels better known as Proposi-
for products legally sold tion 65. It requires warn-
in the nation’s largest pot ing labels for chemicals
market. judged as dangerous and
The decision by the little- allows residents, advocacy
known Developmental groups and attorneys to
and Reproductive Toxicant sue on behalf of the state
Identification Committee and collect a portion of
will not take effect for a civil penalties for failure to
year, and it remains to be provide warnings.
seen what impact it will The 1986 law has been
have on the state’s emerg- credited with weeding out
ing marijuana industry. cancer-causing chemi-
The vote came after hours cals from products but also
of discussion by a nine- In this Aug. 24, 2018 file photo Keira Sumimoto plays with her daughter, in Irvine, Calif. faulted for setting the stage
member panel of scien- Associated Press for legal shakedowns.
tists who delved into the Lawyers looking for a quick
reliability and accuracy as being known to cause marijuana companies a duced conflicting results,” buck will say “give us
of dense research studies cancer, similar to tobacco target for lawsuits with un- she said. $10,000 or we are going to
involving people and ani- smoke. verified claims of injuries Some studies didn’t make take you into a long court
mals, including mice, rats The vote adds THC and pot from pot use during preg- clear how frequently a case,” said Los Angeles
and fish. smoke to the list of chemi- nancy. mother used cannabis dispensary owner Jerred Ki-
Surveys have indicated cals the state has judged Ellen Komp, deputy direc- during pregnancy or what loh, who heads the United
that a rising number of to be known to cause birth tor of the legal pot ad- products were being used. Cannabis Business Associa-
mothers-to-be have turned defects or other develop- vocacy group California Others didn’t account for tion, an industry group.
to marijuana products for mental problems and must NORML, told the panel instances when mothers The California Cannabis In-
relief from morning sickness carry warning labels. that the studies only exam- were using marijuana and dustry Association echoed
and headaches, though Cannabis industry offi- ined women who smoked tobacco and whether that that fear, noting that pot’s
it’s effectiveness has not cials say too little sound marijuana, not those who could skew the results. In standing as an illegal drug
been backed by science. research is available to used vapes, topical lotions other cases, studies relied at the federal level has
Since 2009, California has support such a move and or other methods. Taken on self-reporting by new choked off research by
listed marijuana smoke warn that it could make together, the studies “pro- mothers, putting the reli- government agencies. q

Officials want $100M for reef

restoration in Florida Keys

KEY LARGO, Fla. (AP) — the Florida Reef Tract, one “We have identified some
Federal officials have an- of the largest strategies iconic reefs here in the
nounced plans to raise ever proposed for coral Keys that we want to help
$100 million to fund proj- restoration, the National restore,” sanctuary super-
ects to restore seven sig- Oceanic and Atmospheric intendent Sarah Fang-
nificant coral reef sites in Administration said Mon- man said. “These reefs
the Florida Keys National day. have been suffering from
Marine Sanctuary. NOAA officials said the or- a number of threats for
“Mission: Iconic Reefs” ganization will work with years as have reefs around In this June 8, 2015 file photo provided by the Florida Keys
calls for restoring nearly partners to secure public the world.” NOAA officials News Bureau, volunteers with the Coral Restoration Foundation
swim to a coral reef planting site with staghorn coral clippings
70 acres (28 hectares) of and private funds. have received inquiries in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary off Key Largo,
from government leaders Fla.
wanting to know what can Associated Press
be done to save the reefs,
Fangman said. disease, first noticed off Mi- horn coral.Restoration
Since the 1970s, tropical ami in 2014, have spread efforts involving growing
cyclones, heat-induced as far as Cozumel, the Ca- and transplanting corals
coral bleaching, cold ribbean region, and have have proven successful
snaps and disease events baffled marine biologists. in the Keys, motivating
have reduced coral cover- The disease has not af- plans for the large-scale
age in the Keys. Outbreaks fected branching species restoration effort within
of stony coral tissue loss such as elkhorn and stag- the sanctuary.q