Aaron Granillo is a reporter for KIRO Newsradio. He grew up in Seattle and studied broadcast journalism at Arizona State University in Phoenix. Aaron started his news-talk career at KTAR before becoming a morning host and anchor for KNAU, Arizona Public Radio in Flagstaff. His story about a Native American chef won a 2017 National Edward R.
More than a decade after recreational cannabis was legalized in Washington, a new survey of health care providers suggests many clinicians are concerned about its effects on patients’ mental health. In a survey of nearly 400 Washington state clinicians, more than half said they are highly concerned about the mental‑health risks associated with cannabis use.
Nearly one in five reported seeing patients with cannabis‑related adverse health events as frequently as two to three times per month. “This is the first time that we actually in Washington State asked clinicians what they are seeing,” lead author Beatriz Carlini, a research associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the UW School of Medicine, said.. The 20‑question survey collected responses from 388 doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals between December 2024 and March 2025. Participants were asked about their clinical experiences treating patients with health problems they attributed to cannabis use.Four conditions emerged most frequently: cannabis hyperemesis syndrome — severe, repeated vomiting — reported by 70% of clinicians; cannabis-use disorder, at 65%; anxiety, at 63%; and psychoses or hallucinations, at 53%. More than a third called psychosis the most serious adverse event they encountered. The survey revealed significant gaps in training. Nearly 66% of respondents reported little or no knowledge of how cannabis interacts with other medications. More than 42% said they had a limited understanding of cannabis-induced psychosis. And nearly 75% said they want more training on how to screen for cannabis use and manage related health risks. “They are reporting being concerned. They are reporting being not educated enough to proficiently take care of the situation,” Carlini said. “We need more specific training for clinicians in our state.” More than 80% said they would be more likely to intervene if they had established treatment protocols and better referral options. “Cannabis was treated as a secondary, relatively benign substance for such a long time,” Carlini said. “There are no facilities, treatments, or resources specific to cannabis.”Cannabis sales in Washington drop for fifth consecutive year Carlini noted that today’s cannabis products bear little resemblance to what was on the market when voters legalized the drug in 2012. Washington does not cap THC concentration in flower or concentrates. The average THC level for flower was 21% in 2022, with concentrates averaging 69%, according to the “Before legalization, it was a way milder substance,” Carlini said. “Now the manufacturing has become extremely concentrated, so this has been causing more problems.” The Washington CannaBusiness Association, a trade group representing licensed operators, said the study does not distinguish between harm from regulated products and harm from the illicit market. “The THC content on regulated products is required on the label, and each product is subject to rigorous testing standards that are nonexistent in the illicit marketplace,” the association said in a statement. The group pointed to a 95% compliance rate among licensed retailers for restricting sales to customers 21 and older, and said it supports enforcement against unlicensed sellers rather than prohibition-based approaches. Carlini said she is not calling for an end to legalization but is advocating for potency regulation. She co-authored a 2022 report for the state Legislature with policy recommendations on THC limits, but none were adopted. “You actually need to make cannabis more similar to the cannabis we had in the past that we originally legalized,” Carlini said.Monroe native Benson Boone returns to Climate Pledge Arena this year, tickets on sale this week The Grammy-nominated pop icon, Benson Boone, announced his 2026 Wanted Man Tour on Sunday, with a stop by his hometown venue, Climate Pledge Arena, on Aug. 4.Drivers can save 20 cents a gallon at the gas pump on Fridays, as long as they are Amazon Prime members.Another lawsuit has been filed against multiple Motel 6 locations in King County for allegedly allowing, facilitating, profiting from, and concealing sex trafficking.Life-threatening blood pressure drop risks prompt nationwide chocolate recall A nationwide recall has been issued for a chocolate product with undeclared ingredients that may cause life-threatening drops in blood pressure.WSECU Community Champion: Chrystal Ortega’s mission to feed Spokane Chrystal Ortega's tireless dedication recently earned her the WSECU Community Champions Award and a $1,000 grant to further the mission.When Shawn Tibbitts opened Tibbitts FernHill, he was just trying to survive. The small Tacoma restaurant has since earned culinary awards and praise.Wilcox Family Farms is continuing its cherished holiday tradition of giving back by donating nearly one million eggs to food banks across the South Sound region this season.Matthew Ballantyne has transformed that early awareness into action, embodying the organization's mission:"No Kid Sleeps On The Floor In Our Town."
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