Federal Foot-Dragging On Cannabis Rescheduling Hampers Vital Research, Harms Veterans And Millions More

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December 2, 2021

Federal Foot-Dragging On Cannabis Rescheduling Hampers Vital Research, Harms Veterans And Millions More

Public health officials agree that the federal government’s current grip on cannabis as a Schedule 1 drug precludes it from rigorous research, harming millions.

The federal government’s current position on cannabis and its stranglehold as a harmful Schedule 1 drug, which makes it ineligible for rigorous medical examination, is hampering vital research on the plant and harming millions of Americans, including veterans.

Federal research of cannabis through the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has been woefully scant for decades, though respected sources show that cannabis is associated with a reduction in PTSD symptoms. Scientists agree that further investigation is necessary with larger sample sizes to explore a broader range of patient-important outcomes.

New Study Reinforces Marijuana's Power To Treat PTSD — Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images

But since 1968, U.S. researchers have only been allowed to use cannabis from one domestic source: a facility based at the University of Mississippi. That has meant that only a trickle of research is performed on a narrow range of cannabis products.

Add to that the fact that public health officials, such as the director of NIDA, Nora Volkow, agree that the federal government’s current grip on cannabis as a Schedule 1 drug precludes it from rigorous research.

“One of the barriers that has actually been noted is that cannabis, by being a Schedule I substance, requires certain procedures that actually can be very lengthy,” said Volkow. “In some instances, it detracts researchers who want to investigate it because it’s just much more cumbersome than doing studies with other substances.”

Crisis For Veterans Continues

The situation has now reached a boiling point as at least 20 military vets a day commit suicide due to PTSD and depression.

Recently, a few bipartisan voices who see cannabis as a crucial medical treatment are beginning to make some noise and implore access to cannabis for veterans.

In a recent letter to Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough, bipartisan Congressional Cannabis Caucus co-chairs Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), David Joyce (R-OH), Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Don Young (R-AK), conveyed the following: “Research has shown that cannabis can be safe and effective in targeted pain-management. Additionally, cannabis has proven benefits in managing PTSD and other health issues, including multiple sclerosis and seizure disorders. Despite its efficacy, antiquated bureaucratic red-tape continues to deny veterans these life-altering treatments.”

veterans PTSD — Photo by RODNAE Productions from Pexels

The feds are not only facing mounting pressure from lawmakers and public health administrators, but also from powerful union and financial groups, including the likes of American Bankers Association, United Food and Commercial Workers Union and Credit Union National Association, the latter of which alone has over 120 million members. Leaders from those groups came together and penned a letter that pushes for marijuana banking reform to be included in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), expected to pass this month or next.

The letter reads: “Banking is germane to NDAA because it bolsters national security by keeping bad actors out of the cannabis industry and the financial system, while also supporting the thousands of veterans who rely on the cannabis industry for medical treatment, employment, or entrepreneurial opportunities.”

This article originally appeared on Benzinga and has been reposted with permission.

Your Afternoon Snack Might Increase Odds Of Dementia

Wellness

Maria Loreto

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December 2, 2021

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Your Afternoon Snack Might Increase Odds Of Dementia

The food you consume plays an important role in your mental health. One particular type of food can increase your odds of developing dementia or Alzheimer’s.

Our days are made possible (and better!) with the help of healthy meals and snacks that maintain our productivity and keep us fueled throughout the day. But according to a recent study, your afternoon snack might increase odds of dementia.

Published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia, the study found that foods high in refined carbs can increase your odds of dementia, especially when consumed after lunch.

Researchers examined more than 2,000 people aged 65 and older, who provided food questionnaires covering their meals, snacks, activity levels, and calorie intake.

What To Use For Edibles When You Don't Feel Like Baking For Hours — Photo by Joyful via Unsplash

According to BestLife: “Results showed no connection between the total daily glycemic load or the glycemic load recorded at breakfast, lunch, or dinner and long-term increased risk of cognitive decline or Alzheimer’s at the end of a 12-year follow-up period. However, they did find that there was an increased dementia risk associated with eating foods high in refined carbs as a snack after lunch in the afternoon.”

Researchers theorize that snacking on things like sugary sodas, baked foods, and cereal bars can, over time, result in insulin resistance. This could then turn into conditions that have been linked with dementia and Alzheimer’s. “During meals, carbohydrates are rarely ingested alone, and their degradation and absorption rates during digestion are modified by the other macronutrients,” noted researchers.

The link between food and dementia has long been of interest to researchers. Cecilia Samieri, PhD, spoke to Healthline on the issue and explained it further. “People who developed dementia were more likely to combine highly-processed meats with starchy foods like potatoes, alcohol, and snacks like cookies and cakes,” she said of a different study she conducted.

Link Between Cannabis And The Munchies Is More Complicated Than You Might Think — Photo by Christopher Williams via Unsplash

We tend to place more importance on our meals than on our snacks, having balanced meals three times a day and snacking on whatever’s available in between. Experts suggest a complex approach to fixing this issue: having a plan for your meals and snacks, that way all elements complement each other.

While this all sounds exceedingly complicated when we have to work and have a social life, a good first step would be to avoid processed foods. Some good options for snacks include fruits, vegetables, grains, and other plant-based whole foods. Hopefully you avoid our afternoon snack might increase odds of dementia.

Marijuana Banking Reform: Millions Seek Banking Services Via Defense Act

Benzinga Staff Writer

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December 2, 2021

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Marijuana Banking Reform: Millions Seek Banking Services Via Defense Act

The feds have a vested interest in allowing marijuana businesses to access banking, if for no other reason than to more effectively collect taxes from them.

By David E. Carpenter

In a bid to see marijuana banking reform passed as part of this year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), vocal members of labor and financial organizations penned a letter to Senate leadership imploring them to afford legitimate cannabis businesses with banking services, which would also give them access to essential insurance products and protections that are given to other industries.

Marijuana Moment recently reported that the letter included contributions from the American Bankers Association (ABA), Credit Union National Association (CUNA), United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW), as well as 11 other organizations, asking members to adopt language protecting banks that work with state-legal cannabis businesses.

How Long Before The Senate Approves The SAFE Banking Act? — Photo by Kindel Media from Pexels

The member-backing of these organizations is enormous and far-reaching. CUNA alone has over 120 million members.

The Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Ac t, which is intended to create protections for financial institutions that provide banking services to legitimate cannabis-related businesses and service providers for such businesses, has been approved in the House five times, yet on each occasion has fizzled out in the Senate.

Of course, many large financial institutions are reticent to embrace cannabis businesses due to the plant’s designation federally as a Schedule 1 controlled substance alongside heroin and LSD. That makes it a risky business for some commercial interests.

The recent letter from powerful labor and financial groups impacted by the laws was written to express dissatisfaction by leaders of the organizations who believe that pending marijuana banking reform language may be in jeopardy again through the final processes of the NDAA passing this month or next.

“Our organizations have banded together because the status quo is untenable for workers, communities, ancillary businesses and law-abiding financial institutions … SAFE Banking is germane to NDAA because it bolsters national security by keeping bad actors out of the cannabis industry and the financial system, while also supporting the thousands of veterans who rely on the cannabis industry for medical treatment, employment, or entrepreneurial opportunities,” the letter reads.

In addition to listening to the millions of members of the groups who contributed to the letter, the feds have a vested interest in allowing marijuana businesses to access banking, if for no other reason than to better track their revenues and more effectively collect taxes from them.

This article originally appeared on Benzinga and has been reposted with permission.

8 Surprising Cannabis Facts You Probably Didn’t Know

Cannabis

Tom Gaffey

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December 2, 2021

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8 Surprising Cannabis Facts You Probably Didn’t Know

From the Mayflower to the American flag, and even the first internet purchase, cannabis has hid in plain sight.

Cannabis, in all its forms, is more prevalent and accessible than ever before in this country. Still, it often seems that much of its story is mysteriously unknown. Health studies are still very new, and it sometimes may seem that the plant had no relevant history before the 1900s.

As cannabis becomes more prevalent, perhaps it’s time to discover the lesser-known facts about this iconic plant to help understand what exactly makes cannabis so interesting and important. Here are eight fun facts you may not have known about this elusive organism we call weed.

Cannabis Dates Back Thousands of Years

It is easy to assume marijuana cultivation began in fairly modern times. However, the first recorded use of cannabis dates back thousands of years before The United States was even an idea.

cannabis crop — Photo by Olena Ruban/Getty Images

Cannabis was mentioned in the sacred Hindu texts known as The Vedas, estimated to have been produced around 2000 to 1400 B.C. Woven hemp fibers were even discovered at a burial site in Taiwan that date back 10,000 years.

Dispensaries Are Becoming More Popular Than Starbucks And McDonalds

As marijuana becomes legal for recreational use, its retail popularity is skyrocketing. In the last few years, marijuana dispensaries have become more plentiful than Starbucks and even McDonalds in some areas.

“In Denver and Portland, Oregon, for example, marijuana retailers outnumber Starbucks by close to double,” according to MJBizDaily. Some states have a cap on the number of dispensaries they allow, but this statistic is certainly telling.

Beer And Weed are Cousins

If you have ever taken a whiff of a particularly hoppy craft beer and thought you smelled weed, your nose wasn’t far off. Beer hops (or humulus), it turns out, are in the same family of flowering plants as cannabis.

“They confirmed that Humulus and Cannabis were very closely related and belonged in a single family, Cannabinaceae,” according to Popular Science. The two plant species may inspire two very different final products, but sometimes the smell is practically indistinguishable.

cannabis beer — Photo by Sarah Pender/Getty Images

Weed Affects Men and Women Differently

It may sound strange, but recent studies have concluded marijuana affects women differently than it affects men. The entire THC experience may be different for men and women, from the amount needed to get high to tolerance levels. The main way that cannabis acts differently in women as opposed to men is its interaction with the female production of estrogen.

‘Canvas’ Comes From ‘Cannabis’

Canvases have been the landing place for some of the most important artwork throughout time. Historically canvases were often made with the assistance of cannabis. In fact, cannabis was so important to canvas production that it inspired the name.

“The word ‘canvas’ is related to the word ‘cannabis.’ Historically, canvases were made of hemp,” according to Vocabulary.com.

The Birth Of E-commerce Was A Marijuana Sale

There exists great debate when it comes to who exactly started e-commerce. Still, there was a day in the early 1970s that is often regarded as the first internet transaction, and it involved marijuana.

COVID Not Expected To Hurt Holiday Cannabis Sales — Photo by rupixen.com via Unsplash

“In 1971 or 1972, Stanford students using Arpanet accounts at Stanford University’s Artificial Intelligence Laboratory engaged in a commercial transaction with their counterparts at Massachusetts Institute of Technology,” wrote John Markoff in his 2005 novel What the Dormouse Said: How the Sixties Counterculture Shaped the Personal Computer Industry. “Before Amazon, before eBay, the seminal act of e-commerce was a drug deal.”

Marijuana Affects Your Heart

Although marijuana is now frequently regarded as “safe,” it does come with some potential health side effects that are not always known. One potential health side effect of marijuana is an added strain on your cardiovascular system.

Marijuana can can affect your heart in several ways, “including raising resting heart rate, dilating blood vessels, and making the heart pump harder,” according to Harvard Medical School.

Hemp Is Woven Into American History

Hemp has a long history in the United states. Not only did Thomas Jefferson and George Washington both have it on their properties, but the famous Mayflower had sails and ropes made of hemp.

The first two drafts of the United States Declaration of Independence were written on paper made from hemp. The cherry on top of all this history woven with hemp lies within the first manufactured symbol of this nation.

marijuana legalization — Photo by wildpixel/Getty Images

The first American flag made by Betsy Ross was made from industrial hemp.

“Many of the very first American flags were made from hemp cloths. So there’s a real tie in to our country’s history and the important rule industrial hemp played in agriculture in our country,” said Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colo, who authored an amendment to the Farm Bill which allows industrial hemp research in states where it is legal.

From the Mayflower to the American flag, and even the first internet purchase, cannabis has hid in plain sight. The plant has woven a sometimes hidden, but always interesting path over time.

Men Who Vape Are More Likely To Have This Condition

Maria Loreto

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December 2, 2021

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Men Who Vape Are More Likely To Have This Condition

A new study suggests this condition is twice as likely to occur in men who vape compared to men who don’t vape.

The harms of vaping are not yet fully understood. Since the technology came out a few years ago, these devices remain heavily debated, with some claiming they are better than average cigarettes, yet still have their own negative side effects, which remain shrouded in misinformation. Vape pens are a favorite among teen users and have grown more prevalent within recent years.

But now, a new study that suggests that men who vape nicotine are twice as likely to experience erectile dysfunction when compared to men who don’t vape.

vape pen — Photo by Dmitry_Tishchenko/Getty Images

Published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine, researchers were looking to get a deeper understanding of vaping and sexual health when applied to men. They analyzed self-reported data from over 13,000 men over the age of 20. Among the findings: Men who used e-cigarettes were found to be 2.2 times more likely to have erectile dysfunction.

Some caveats in the study include that the data was self-reported, with there being the possibility of bias. Another thing to be mindful of is the fact that the survey didn’t ask any questions on whether or not the men were taking medications that increased the risks of erectile dysfunction, like antidepressants.

Nicotine has long been linked with a variety of sexual dysfunctions, including erectile dysfunction and decreased arousal. Researchers believe this link exists due to smoking and the damage it imparts on circulation, which can also increase the odds of heart disease and strokes. When circulation is impacted, it makes it more difficult for erections to occur naturally.

RELATED: 7 Pros And Cons Of Vape Pens

Vaping has become prevalent due to a variety of reasons. While safer than smoking cigarettes, eliminating some of the traditional toxins, it’s important to know that vaping is not completely safe, and that there are some side effects that we may not know yet. Vaping has been associated with deteriorated lung and heart health. THC vapes have also been linked with EVALI, a rare lung disease that has resulted in long-term lung damage and even death.

Teen Boys Associate Marijuana Use With More & Better Sex — Photo by Sammie Vasquez via Unsplash

As more and more people of all ages ditch traditional cigarettes for their electronic versions, it’s important to keep in mind that replacing one habit with another will likely result in similar if perhaps a little less damaging side effects. Both methods contain nicotine and are addictive and should be used in moderation.

When it comes to nicotine and sexual health, the more studies of this sort are conducted, the more likely we’re all to understand their relationship, one that affects men and women in different ways. No matter how it’s packaged, nicotine affects a variety of aspects in people’s lives, from their health to their sex lives.

Federal Official States No Proof Smoking Weed Occasionally Is Harmful

Benzinga Staff Writer

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December 1, 2021

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Federal Official States No Proof Smoking Weed Occasionally Is Harmful

Dr. Nora Volkow did however restate that she is “absolutely” worried about higher rates of marijuana use and that frequent consumption, in the long run, can produce “harmful effects even on the adult brain.”

By Nina Zdinjak

Director of National Institute On Drug Abuse (NIDA) Dr. Nora Volkow recently discussed the benefits and harms of cannabis consumption in an interview with FiveThirtyEight, wherein she acknowledged that there is no scientific proof marijuana consumption is harmful when used occasionally and in moderate doses.

“There’s no evidence to my knowledge that occasional [adult] marijuana use has harmful effects. I don’t know of any scientific evidence of that. I don’t think it has been evaluated,” said Volkow, who is a psychiatrist. ”We need to test it.”

Volkow did however restate that she is “absolutely” worried about higher rates of marijuana use and that frequent (daily) consumption, in the long run, can produce “harmful effects even on the adult brain.”

On the other hand, Volkow noted there are possible “benefits” of consuming cannabis, such as having a lower BMI. “BMI is lower in marijuana users, and that was very surprising, and yet we know that high BMI, particularly the older you get, can have negative effects,” she said. “This is why we need to study it.” BMI refers to body mass index, a measure of body fat based on height and weight.

Lack Of Research – Public Health Concern

These new comments from the NIDA director represent an important milestone, providing positive points for advocates who support marijuana reform, especially in view of NIDA’s efforts for years to disclose potential risks of cannabis use.

This does not mean Volkow is in favor of cannabis legalization, but she made an important point: more research is necessary. This view is in line with NIDA’s recent report to a congressional lawmaker, which pointed out that the Schedule 1 status of marijuana disables and discourages studies on both potential harms and benefits, wrote Marijuana Moment.

Smoking Marijuana — Photo by Jamie Grill/Getty Images

The report also noted that existing limitations on cannabinoid scientific research are practically a public health concern.

Volkow noted the risks marijuana usage poses for youth and pregnant women though she further emphasized the fact that cannabis legalization has not increased consumption use among youth, as she had previously believed.

Stigma: One Of The Biggest Obstacles Remains, Thanks To The Government

In an article Volkow wrote in November, the NIDA director said “stigma remains one of the biggest obstacles to confronting America’s current drug crisis,” and that the government is also responsible for keeping those stigmas.

“Government policies, including criminal justice measures, often reflect—and contribute to—stigma,” Volkow wrote on the Association of American Medical Colleges webpage.

“When we penalize people who use drugs because of an addiction, we suggest that their use is a character flaw rather than a medical condition. And when we incarcerate addicted individuals, we decrease their access to treatment and exacerbate the personal and societal consequences of their substance use.”

This article originally appeared on Benzinga and has been reposted with permission.

New York City First In The US To Open Safe Injection Sites For Illegal Drugs

Benzinga Staff Writer

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December 1, 2021

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New York City First In The US To Open Safe Injection Sites For Illegal Drugs

These harm reduction services will play an important role in helping to curb the drug overdose crisis plaguing New York City and the United States.

By Jelena Martinovic

On Tuesday, New York City became the first in the nation to open two overdose prevention centers (OPC) where people can use illicit drugs and receive medical care and services.

What are OPCs?

Overdose prevention centers are safe spaces for people to consume pre-obtained drugs in controlled settings under the supervision of trained staff and with access to sterile consumption equipment, tools to check their supply for the presence of fentanyl, and connections to health care, counseling, and referrals to health and social services, including drug treatment.

What US Government Could Learn From Oregon’s New Drug Decriminalization Law — Photo by LeszekCzerwonka/Getty Images

As such, these harm reduction services will play an important role in helping to curb the drug overdose crisis plaguing New York City and the United States.

According to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), New York City’s drug-overdose deaths surged 36%.

Drug Overdose Deaths Across U.S. Top 100,000 Annually

CDC provisional overdose data showed there were an estimated 100,306 drug overdose deaths in the U.S. during the 12-month period ending in April 2021, an increase of 28.5% from the previous year.

While cities like Philadelphia and San Francisco did not manage to open OPCs due to legal and political challenges, New York’s Mayor Bill de Blasio revived the long-stalled plan.

“New York City has led the nation’s battle against COVID-19, and the fight to keep our community safe doesn’t stop there,” de Blasio said in a press release.

Located at existing facilities that provide syringe exchange services, OPCs are “a safe and effective way to address the opioid crisis,” said de Blasio, who has just four weeks left in office.

The Drug Policy Alliance, since 2015, was at the forefront of advocating for OPCs as a critical component of curbing the overdose crisis. The first statewide bill for OPCs in New York was introduced in 2018 and accepted by Mayor de Blasio, the NYC Council and NYC’s Dept. Health and Mental Hygiene.

“Despite the obstacles, we kept up the pressure along with our coalition through consistent organizing, educating and lobbying,” the DPA wrote in an email to Benzinga.

“Studies from other countries have shown that these centers greatly reduce the number of overdose deaths. Despite overwhelming evidence of the benefits of OPCs and more than 120 operating around the world, none have existed in the U.S. due to legal barriers and misguided drug war hysteria.”

Meanwhile, though it remains to be seen how the U.S. Justice Department will approach the issue, Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Xavier Becerra recently revealed the Biden administration’s four-part strategy to deal with the overdose epidemic, which could include allowing supervised consumption sites, reported The Washington Post.

“When it comes to harm reduction, we are looking for every way to do that,” Becerra said earlier. “We probably will support the efforts of states that are using evidence-based practices and therapies.”

This article originally appeared on Benzinga and has been reposted with permission.

3 Side Effects Of Weed You Should Know

Maria Loreto

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December 1, 2021

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Over the past several years, the public has mostly focused on the positive effects of cannabis. But what about the negative side effects? Here are some you should be aware of.

Marijuana used to be interpreted to dramatic degrees, often referred to as a “gateway drug” and a substance that dumbed people down. While most of these beliefs have been debunked over the years, the truth is that marijuana can be addictive, and should be taken seriously.

Recently, people have started to view marijuana in a different light, focusing on its benefits and medicinal properties. While this is a good thing and will hopefully result in the end, or at least the derailment of the war on drugs, it’s still important to know marijuana’s effects; it was never as dangerous as it was painted out to be, but it’s also not a miracle drug.

Here are 3 of the most serious side effects associated with marijuana use:

EVALI

Vape Pens: Here Are The Pros And Cons Of These Popular Cannabis Tools — Photo by LexScope via Unsplash

Before COVID-19 took the spotlight, there was a mysterious “vaping disease,” which later became known as EVALI. This disease resulted in pneumonia, lung damage, and even some deaths.

Researchers discovered that most cases of EVALI were tied to Vitamin E acetate, a compound that’s present in vapes. While the disease has been eclipsed by more pressing and global issues, it’s still a concern, one that could be curbed by purchasing cannabis products from legitimate dispensaries and minimizing the distribution of black market cannabis.

Vomiting & nausea

One of the least covered and more concerning side effects associated with cannabis is Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome, a condition where the user experiences nausea and uncontrollable vomiting when exposed to cannabis. It sounds terrifying. While the condition is rare, it’s important to know about it, that way users can know what to target if they start showing symptoms.

Mental health disorders

Managing Nausea With Cannabis: What You Need To Know — Photo by elenaleonova/Getty Images

Marijuana and anxiety have a complicated relationship. While the majority of users claim it’s stress-relieving, a not insignificant group of people have experienced major anxiety and paranoia. Different studies have found links between cannabis and mental health disorders, which are particularly concerning for people with a history of mental health disease in their family, who may be more likely to experience these adverse results when exposed to cannabis.

These diseases are largely unknown and need scientific support now that cannabis is growing more and more popular. A simple and helpful preventive measure would be to use caution and moderation when consuming cannabis. Like any other substance, your body needs time to recover from its effects.

7 Common Myths About Marijuana Debunked

Cannabis

Tom Gaffey

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December 1, 2021

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We’re now armed with more facts about marijuana than ever before, but a lot of misinformation continues to circulate. Here are some untruths you should be aware of.

As marijuana becomes more mainstream, so do myriad myths and legends. Fallacies and untruths about marijuana have existed as long as its opponents have. The main difference between then and now, however, is legalization and popularity.

Increased data and newly-funded research have given birth to scientific findings that help shed light on how marijuana actually affects people and society. As weed becomes legal and the states that legalize it continue to operate normally, many skeptics are starting to realize some of the great myths of marijuana are just that — myths.

Marijuana Use Causes Cancer

The research and study of how marijuana affects or contributes to cancer is still very new and inconclusive overall. Although marijuana has proven to be a helpful therapy for those undergoing cancer treatment, whether or not marijuana causes cancer is still up in the air.

rolling a cannabis joint — Photo by Kampus Production from Pexels

A 2006 UCLA study concluded that marijuana can not conclusively be linked to causing cancer. In fact, this and other studies suggest that pot can actually inhibit the growth of cancerous tumors.”

Weed Is Not as Potent as It Used to Be

There is a common rumor, sometimes spoken among more senior generations, many of whom are reformed marijuana users, claiming the potency of marijuana has decreased. There is no denying the way cannabis is grown in this country has changed a great deal.

Marijuana was illegal and often farm-grown in the 1960s, and today it is a multi-billion dollar industry in the United States.

“Reports indicate that the potency of cannabis preparation has been increasing,” according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information. This study, and others point towards marijuana increasing, not decreasing, in potency overall.

Marijuana Use Leads to Addiction

Marijuana addiction is a frequently contested concept. Marijuana can cause Marijuana Dependence Disorder, which can lead to addiction. Cannabis has been found to be far less addictive than most other drugs, but still addictive to some users.

The hardest part about understanding marijuana addiction is the fact that this particular addiction is hard to quantify and identify in many users. “Estimates of the number of people addicted to marijuana are controversial, in part because epidemiological studies of substance use often use dependence as a proxy for addiction even though it is possible to be dependent without being addicted,” according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Marijuana is a ‘Gateway’ Drug

The term “gateway drug” has been used to define marijuana by its opponents for decades. “Scientists long ago abandoned the idea that marijuana causes users to try other drugs,” according to TIME.

rolling a marijuana joint — Photo by FilippoBacci/Getty Images

According to a 2018 paper published in the journal Drug And Alcohol Review:

“Given the expansion of cannabis legalization throughout North America, it is encouraging that cannabis use was associated with slower time to initiation of injection drug use in this cohort. This finding challenges the view of cannabis as a gateway substance that precipitates the progression to using harder and more addictive drugs.”

Even though the term “gateway drug” exists in reference to marijuana, more and more research continues to show this simply is not true.

Marijuana Is All Natural

Marijuana is a plant that can grow naturally and wildly in several areas in the US. Most of the cannabis that is consumed, however, is not completely natural. Cannabis plants are often exposed to pesticides, growth hormones and other chemicals while they grow. According to Healthline, “Unnatural — and more importantly, unsafe — toxins can sometimes show up in cannabis.”

Marijuana Leads to Violent Crime

Marijuana has also been linked to crime, particularly violent crime, by many of its opponents. Now that marijuana is legal in several states, data is available to see if there is a strong link between violent crime and marijuana use. There is not.

A 2019 study funded by the National Institute of Justice, researchers found that legal cannabis had little to no effect on crime. According to the study, the rates of both violent and property crime in Washington and Colorado remained close to other state averages after 2014, the year both states’ marijuana programs went into full effect. Another study revealed that “adding a dispensary to a neighborhood (of 10,000 residents) decreases changes in crime by 19% relative to the average monthly crime rate in a census tract.”

marijuana arrest — Photo by FatCamera/Getty Images

In fact, a 2018 study published in the journal Police Quarterly found that police are solving more non-drug-related crimes in states that have legalized marijuana, since they’re now freed up from dealing with pot offenders. Cops in legal states are now more efficient at bringing violent criminals to justice, as well as those connected to theft and burglaries. In other words, police is legal states are starting to do their jobs.

Legalization Has Been A Public Health Disaster

When states first began legalizing marijuana there were many cautionary tales and blanket statements written in apocalyptic terms. The end of days was near in the eyes of extreme cannabis opponents. This, of course, did not happen.

The Washington Post cited research done by economists who reviewed the consequences of legalizing marijuana: “They found little evidence suggesting that recreational marijuana laws result in greater teen drug use, but strong evidence that teens who do use marijuana are less likely to use alcohol.”

New Zealand: First In World To Legalize Drug Checking At Public Events

Benzinga Staff Writer

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December 1, 2021

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New Zealand: First In World To Legalize Drug Checking At Public Events

The primary aim of such testing is to assist people in making informed and safer decisions about whether or how to use an unregulated drug.

By David E. Carpenter

New Zealand has recently distinguished itself as the first country in the world to legalize drug checking services, most notably for people attending festivals and other events.

The decision is a landmark ruling that stresses harm reduction for individuals by testing often illicit substances they plan to consume.

drugs — Photo by Mireille Raad via Unsplash

New Zealand’s Ministry of Health describes drug checking services as scientific tests conducted on substances in order to indicate their likely identity and composition. Such services test unknown substances, which may be illicit drugs, and then interpret the results and provide harm reduction information to individuals who provided the sample.

The primary aim of such testing is to assist people in making informed and safer decisions about whether or how to use an unregulated drug.

Contrary to what some believe, these drug-testing services are not set up to promote illicit drug use or to claim that illicit drug use is safe. Rather, they are portable labs that use high-performance liquid chromatography or UV-Vis spectrophotometer equipment in order to ascertain both the potency and qualitative nature of often illicit drugs.

Dr. Carl Hart, a neuroscientist who specializes in how humans respond to psychoactive drugs, spoke earlier this year about the need for drug testing and safety at events and within communities in the general population. He used the example of a typical breakfast and the basic assurance people have that they won’t get sick from store-bought, regulated food.

“I can be comfortable knowing that there are no contaminants in the breakfast I had this morning because we have quality control for our food,” Hart said. “And so, when people are out at festivals, all of that quality control goes away, which increases the likelihood that people might have contaminated substances.”

Testing services around the world currently exist in a kind of legal gray area where local law enforcement can make the call whether or not they will allow them at events. Organizations like The Loop in the United Kingdom and DanceSafe often struggle to provide services that can be interpreted as promoting drug use.

Scientists Confirm Taking Psychedelics At Music Festivals Makes You Happier — Photo by Hanny Naibaho via Unsplash

In reality, testing often does the opposite. One leading drug-checking service in New Zealand that has been providing testing of unverified substances for the past five years is called Know Your Stuff NZ. The community volunteer organization addresses the “lack of factual, proven information available to drug users about the substances they intend to take by providing drug checking and drug-related information at festivals and events.”

The group notes that people often obtain substances from dubious sources that they believe are safe but may also have the potential to harm or kill them.

Prior to the worldwide pandemic, Know Your Stuff NZ provided harm reduction services free of charge at 13 events over the 2018-2019 season. During that time, the data they gathered showed that instead of condoning drug use, as is often feared, drug checking in fact reduced drug use and its associated harms. Know Your Stuff found that when festival-goers discovered that the drug they were planning to consume was not what they thought it was, they were inclined to abstain from taking it 50% of the time.

As part of the New Zealand government’s proactive approach to testing, it recently pledged $800,000 NZ for the coordination of national services to train drug checkers for large festivals and events and to provide information about harm caused by drugs.

Radio New Zealand reported that Minister of Health Andrew Little described drug-checking services as keeping people safe, not condoning recreational drug use. “There is clear evidence that having drug-checking services at festivals changes behavior and reduces harm,” Little said.

This article originally appeared on Benzinga and has been reposted with permission.

The Fresh ToastThe most trusted name in cannabis

Public health officials agree that the federal government’s current grip on cannabis as a Schedule 1 drug precludes it from rigorous research, harming millions.

Crisis For Veterans Continues

The food you consume plays an important role in your mental health. One particular type of food can increase your odds of developing dementia or Alzheimer’s.

The feds have a vested interest in allowing marijuana businesses to access banking, if for no other reason than to more effectively collect taxes from them.

From the Mayflower to the American flag, and even the first internet purchase, cannabis has hid in plain sight.

Cannabis Dates Back Thousands of Years

Dispensaries Are Becoming More Popular Than Starbucks And McDonalds

Beer And Weed are Cousins

Weed Affects Men and Women Differently

‘Canvas’ Comes From ‘Cannabis’

The Birth Of E-commerce Was A Marijuana Sale

Marijuana Affects Your Heart

Hemp Is Woven Into American History

A new study suggests this condition is twice as likely to occur in men who vape compared to men who don’t vape.

Dr. Nora Volkow did however restate that she is “absolutely” worried about higher rates of marijuana use and that frequent consumption, in the long run, can produce “harmful effects even on the adult brain.”

Lack Of Research – Public Health Concern

Stigma: One Of The Biggest Obstacles Remains, Thanks To The Government

These harm reduction services will play an important role in helping to curb the drug overdose crisis plaguing New York City and the United States.

What are OPCs?

Drug Overdose Deaths Across U.S. Top 100,000 Annually

Over the past several years, the public has mostly focused on the positive effects of cannabis. But what about the negative side effects? Here are some you should be aware of.

EVALI

Vomiting & nausea

Mental health disorders

We’re now armed with more facts about marijuana than ever before, but a lot of misinformation continues to circulate. Here are some untruths you should be aware of.

Marijuana Use Causes Cancer

Weed Is Not as Potent as It Used to Be

Marijuana Use Leads to Addiction

Marijuana is a ‘Gateway’ Drug

Marijuana Is All Natural

Marijuana Leads to Violent Crime

Legalization Has Been A Public Health Disaster

The primary aim of such testing is to assist people in making informed and safer decisions about whether or how to use an unregulated drug.

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