Showing posts with label Marijuana. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Marijuana. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
'Bud in a Bottle' to be released next month
Time Magazine published an article yesterday about a new line of marijuana soda to be released in Colorado in February.
Click to read.
Click to read.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Gateway effect of marijuana is overblown new research says
New research from the University of New Hampshire shows that the "gateway effect" of marijuana -- that teenagers who use marijuana are more likely to move on to harder illicit drugs as young adults -- is overblown.
Whether teenagers who smoked pot will use other illicit drugs as young adults has more to do with life factors such as employment status and stress, according to the new research. In fact, the strongest predictor of whether someone will use other illicit drugs is their race/ethnicity, not whether they ever used marijuana.
Conducted by UNH associate professors of sociology Karen Van Gundy and Cesar Rebellon, the research appears in the September 2010 issue of the Journal of Health and Social Behavior.
"In light of these findings, we urge U.S. drug control policymakers to consider stress and life-course approaches in their pursuit of solutions to the 'drug problem,' " Van Gundy and Rebellon say.
For more information click here.
Whether teenagers who smoked pot will use other illicit drugs as young adults has more to do with life factors such as employment status and stress, according to the new research. In fact, the strongest predictor of whether someone will use other illicit drugs is their race/ethnicity, not whether they ever used marijuana.
Conducted by UNH associate professors of sociology Karen Van Gundy and Cesar Rebellon, the research appears in the September 2010 issue of the Journal of Health and Social Behavior.
"In light of these findings, we urge U.S. drug control policymakers to consider stress and life-course approaches in their pursuit of solutions to the 'drug problem,' " Van Gundy and Rebellon say.
For more information click here.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Washington DC approved the use of medical marijuana
The New York Times reported on May 4, 2010, that the Washington, DC city council will aprove medical marijuana. Here is what the article says in part:
The District of Columbia Council approved a measure on Tuesday that would allow people with certain chronic illnesses to obtain medical marijuana from a handful of dispensaries regulated by the city.
The 13-member Council voted unanimously to allow doctors to recommend marijuana for people who are infected with H.I.V., as well as people with glaucoma, cancer or a “chronic and lasting disease.”
The legislation permits Mayor Adrian M. Fenty to establish up to eight dispensaries where patients could receive two ounces of marijuana a month. The measure gives the mayor the option of raising the amount to four ounces without further council action.
Some doctors say marijuana helps relieve nausea, vomiting, certain AIDS symptoms and some side effects of chemotherapy. For glaucoma patients, the drug is believed to help lower eye pressure.
The District of Columbia Council approved a measure on Tuesday that would allow people with certain chronic illnesses to obtain medical marijuana from a handful of dispensaries regulated by the city.
The 13-member Council voted unanimously to allow doctors to recommend marijuana for people who are infected with H.I.V., as well as people with glaucoma, cancer or a “chronic and lasting disease.”
The legislation permits Mayor Adrian M. Fenty to establish up to eight dispensaries where patients could receive two ounces of marijuana a month. The measure gives the mayor the option of raising the amount to four ounces without further council action.
Some doctors say marijuana helps relieve nausea, vomiting, certain AIDS symptoms and some side effects of chemotherapy. For glaucoma patients, the drug is believed to help lower eye pressure.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Medical Marijuana now legal in 14 states - Can New York be far behind?
14 states now have legalized "medical" marijuana the such state being New Jersey. NPR's show Planet Money distributed an interesting show on this topic on 01/27/10. Here is the blurb from the Planet Money web site:
Fourteen states have adopted medical marijuana laws. We talk to Harvard economist, Jeffrey Miron, about what happens when drugs move from the black market to the open market. Do they get 100 times cheaper? Or instead, more expensive? Miron talks about the economics of prohibition, and reveals his drug of choice (which is legal) and one he would like to try (which is not).
You can access the show by clicking here.
Fourteen states have adopted medical marijuana laws. We talk to Harvard economist, Jeffrey Miron, about what happens when drugs move from the black market to the open market. Do they get 100 times cheaper? Or instead, more expensive? Miron talks about the economics of prohibition, and reveals his drug of choice (which is legal) and one he would like to try (which is not).
You can access the show by clicking here.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
New Jersey to pass medical marijuana bill
From New York Times on 01/12/10
TRENTON — The New Jersey Legislature approved a measure on Monday that would make the state the 14th in the nation, but one of the few on the East Coast, to legalize the use of marijuana to help patients with chronic illnesses.
The measure — which would allow patients diagnosed with severe illnesses like cancer, AIDS, Lou Gehrig’s disease, muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis to have access to marijuana grown and distributed through state-monitored dispensaries — was passed by the General Assembly and State Senate on the final day of the legislative session.
Gov. Jon S. Corzine has said he would sign it into law before leaving office next Tuesday. Supporters said that within nine months, patients with a prescription for marijuana from their doctors should be able to obtain it at one of six locations.
Finally some rational legal policy about cannibis on the east coast. It is about time. Can New York State be far behind?
Two years ago we had an OASAS program reviewer at GCASA telling us that an agency was cited in Syracuse because a nurse practitioner there had written into a treatment plan that she recommended that a patient confined to a wheelchair because of Multiple Sclerosis use cannabis.
I stated in the exit meeting that it seemed like a reasonable treatment plan to me. The reviewer said that it was unacceptable. When I asked why, the reviewer said that OASAS has an abstinence based treatment model.
This is not true. OASAS licensed programs use methadone, suboxone, and other psychotropic medications on a regular basis.
It is interesting how much of our drug policies are still not based on any rational science but rather on ideological myths.
It is a positive thing to see that New Jersey is finally legalizing the availability of cannabis to people who can be benefited by it.
It is interesting how New Jersey is leading the way. How long before New York follows?
And let me point out again, that alcohol causes 100 times the problems in our society that cannabis does.
TRENTON — The New Jersey Legislature approved a measure on Monday that would make the state the 14th in the nation, but one of the few on the East Coast, to legalize the use of marijuana to help patients with chronic illnesses.
The measure — which would allow patients diagnosed with severe illnesses like cancer, AIDS, Lou Gehrig’s disease, muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis to have access to marijuana grown and distributed through state-monitored dispensaries — was passed by the General Assembly and State Senate on the final day of the legislative session.
Gov. Jon S. Corzine has said he would sign it into law before leaving office next Tuesday. Supporters said that within nine months, patients with a prescription for marijuana from their doctors should be able to obtain it at one of six locations.
Finally some rational legal policy about cannibis on the east coast. It is about time. Can New York State be far behind?
Two years ago we had an OASAS program reviewer at GCASA telling us that an agency was cited in Syracuse because a nurse practitioner there had written into a treatment plan that she recommended that a patient confined to a wheelchair because of Multiple Sclerosis use cannabis.
I stated in the exit meeting that it seemed like a reasonable treatment plan to me. The reviewer said that it was unacceptable. When I asked why, the reviewer said that OASAS has an abstinence based treatment model.
This is not true. OASAS licensed programs use methadone, suboxone, and other psychotropic medications on a regular basis.
It is interesting how much of our drug policies are still not based on any rational science but rather on ideological myths.
It is a positive thing to see that New Jersey is finally legalizing the availability of cannabis to people who can be benefited by it.
It is interesting how New Jersey is leading the way. How long before New York follows?
And let me point out again, that alcohol causes 100 times the problems in our society that cannabis does.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Cannibis as a substitute for alcohol and other drugs.
There was an interesting article in the Harm Reduction journal on 12/03/09 entitled "Cannibis As A Substitute For Alcohol And Other Drugs." It is a descriptive study of 350 patients in a medical group in Berkeley California who substituted cannibis for alcohol and other drugs.
40% of patients said that they substituted cannibis for alcohol.
65.8% of patients said that they substituted cannibis for prescription drugs.
26% of patients said that they subsituted cannibis for other illicit drugs.
65% of patients said they substituted cannibis for other substances because it had fewer adverse side effects.
57.4% of patients said that they substituted cannibis for other drugs because it provided better symptom relief.
I found this study interesting because I have observed the use of cannibis in my private practice clients who often report beneficial effects. It seems to me that cannibis is less toxic and has fewer behavioral and social negative consequences than alcohol. I have also noted that cannibis seems to have fewer adverse side effects and better symtpom relief than prescription drugs.
As a society we would be much better off to raise the drinking age to 35 and legalize cannibis and tax it like we do alcohol.
You can access the article by clicking here.
40% of patients said that they substituted cannibis for alcohol.
65.8% of patients said that they substituted cannibis for prescription drugs.
26% of patients said that they subsituted cannibis for other illicit drugs.
65% of patients said they substituted cannibis for other substances because it had fewer adverse side effects.
57.4% of patients said that they substituted cannibis for other drugs because it provided better symptom relief.
I found this study interesting because I have observed the use of cannibis in my private practice clients who often report beneficial effects. It seems to me that cannibis is less toxic and has fewer behavioral and social negative consequences than alcohol. I have also noted that cannibis seems to have fewer adverse side effects and better symtpom relief than prescription drugs.
As a society we would be much better off to raise the drinking age to 35 and legalize cannibis and tax it like we do alcohol.
You can access the article by clicking here.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Is It Time To Legalize Marijuana?
Video lasts 4:58.
The McLauglin Group discusses the topic, "Is it time to legalize marijuana"?
The McLauglin Group discusses the topic, "Is it time to legalize marijuana"?
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Monday, November 3, 2008
A lot of pot smoked in Orleans County has been home grown
It appears that a lot of the pot smoked in Orleans County is not imported but home grown.
Click on image to enlarge for easier reading.
Video lasts 0:30
Click on image to enlarge for easier reading.
Video lasts 0:30
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
292.89 Cannabis Intoxication means being stoned
Cannabis intoxication means "being stoned." DSM-IV TR diagnostic criteria for 292.89, Cannabis Intoxication, is described.
Video lasts 5:40
Video lasts 5:40
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Long term use of marijuana causes significant brain injury
Reuters Health Day reported on June 2, 2008 on a study which appears in the June, 2008 issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry which was done in Australia which found that there are serious long term negative effects of marijuana use on the brain. Here is part of the what the Reuters article says:
MONDAY, June 2 (HealthDay News) -- People who use marijuana for a long time can develop abnormalities in their brains, Australian researchers report.
Although growing literature suggests that long-term marijuana use is associated with a wide range of adverse health consequences, many people believe it is relatively harmless and should be legalized, the researchers noted.
"However, this study shows long-term, heavy cannabis use causes significant brain injury, memory loss, difficulties learning new information, and psychotic symptoms, such as delusions of persecution [paranoia], delusions of mind-reading, and bizarre social behaviors in even non-vulnerable users," said lead researcher Murat Yucel, from the ORYGEN Research Centre and the Neuropsychiatry Centre at the University of Melbourne.
This new evidence plays an important role in further understanding the effects of marijuana and its impact on brain functioning, Yucel said. "The study is the first to show that long-term cannabis use can adversely affect all users, not just those in the high-risk categories such as the young, or those susceptible to mental illness, as previously thought," he said.
The report was published in the June issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry.
Video lasts 3:36
Friday, June 6, 2008
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