Theories abound that cannabis use can help individuals recover from opioid use disorder or may serve as a less-risky pain management approach to pharmaceutical opioids. In this study scientists took an empirical, prospective look at the relationship between cannabis and opioid use disorder. Read more...
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"Colorado's DOT is taking surveys asking Coloradans how they feel about drugged driving. According to one survey, half of marijuana users admitted to getting behind the wheel within two hours of getting high."
See the story here: Denver Post-Colorado Auto Deaths While Stoned The list keeps growing! Old Orchard Beach, Richmond, MDI, Clinton, Skowhegan, Winslow, Oakland, South Berwick, Waterville, Hallowell, Augusta, Cape Elizabeth, Freeport, Gray, Standish, Biddeford, Blue Hill, Surry, Oxford, North Yarmouth, Topsham.
What do these municipalities have in common with each other? (besides that they are all in Maine) They have wisely chosen to put the brakes on pot clubs/storefronts in their towns. Westbrook again has said NO to pot clubs. See the story here: Westbrook looks to extend pot moratorium LEWISTON — A Lewiston man was charged with marijuana trafficking and manufacturing butane hash oil following a series of raids by state and federal law enforcement officers in Lewiston and Auburn on Tuesday morning. Richard “Stitch” Daniels, 52, was charged in U.S. District Court in a criminal complaint that alleges a drug trafficking organization in Lewiston-Auburn grew and distributed large quantities of marijuana under the cover of Maine’s medical marijuana program, but sold marijuana to buyers who were not participants in the program and included out-of-state customers.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said more than 20 search warrants were executed in Tuesday’s raids, including at a home on Danville Corner Road in Auburn and at a warehouse at 1830 Lisbon St. in Lewiston. Agents seized over 50 kilograms of marijuana – roughly 110 pounds – six mason jars filled with butane hash oil, and a kilogram of shatter. Daniels’ garage contained a butane hash oil laboratory, authorities said. Daniels, 52, is accused of operating a laboratory out of a garage at 1310 Sabattus St. in Lewiston, which is across the driveway from his home at 1302 Sabattus. He has been charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana and manufacturing a controlled substance. Rich said that each count carries a maximum of 20 years in prison. The story can be read at this link: Big Bust in Lewiston For Your Health: Legal marijuana use has unexpected drawbacks By Mark Netherda The recreational use of marijuana is now legal in California for adults over age 21. This new law is expected to benefit local and state budgets through a variety of taxes and regulatory fees applied to the growing and selling of marijuana and the new jobs it will bring. For some, marijuana-related convictions are being downgraded or erased, easing the burden on our criminal justice systems. While these changes appear to be positive, there may be some unexpected drawbacks. Because marijuana use has been illegal in the United States for decades, it has not been well studied and its overall safety remains a topic of debate for many medical professionals. One area that is not debated, however, is the safety and the serious risks marijuana poses for children. One of the active compounds producing the “high” associated with marijuana is called THC. THC can be removed from marijuana, dissolved and concentrated in oils and tinctures and used in foods called marijuana “edibles”. The list of edibles includes cookies, cupcakes, brownies, “pop tarts”, “crispy rice treats”, “magical butter”, honey, and fruit and citrus punches. Other edibles come in the “child-friendly” forms of familiar looking candies like gummy bears, fruit shaped drops and chocolate bars. Edibles are intended for adults and a “dose” is usually only one or two pieces, although the package usually contains many more. Edible marijuana products are very dangerous to children. While the packaging may list the recommended “dose,” this is not going to be clear to young children. The doses listed are intended for adults and the smaller size and different metabolism of young children make it very easy to overdose on only a single dose. Ask yourself, when was the last time you saw a young child with a package of candy eat only one piece? In 2014, Colorado became the first state to legalize recreational marijuana. In the year following legalization, the Rocky Mountain Poison Control center reported a 70% increase in calls related to marijuana exposure. Physicians working in emergency departments describe young children brought in by parents or by ambulance with bizarre behaviors, confusion or unconscious. If it is not immediately clear the child has been exposed to an overdose of marijuana, until the routine drug toxicology and poisoning tests are back, the doctors have no choice but to explore all the other possible causes of the child’s symptoms. This can lead to a large number of tests being done, including blood tests, CAT scans and MRIs, and even spinal taps. Sometimes the children have to be sedated for their own safety while doing these tests. When the test results do come back and it is apparent the child was exposed to marijuana, the parents or guardians may find themselves facing criminal charges of child endangerment or even child abuse. The American Academy of Pediatrics and other professional medical organizations strongly advise against using marijuana in any form in front of children. Avoid letting children see the often “child-friendly” packages of marijuana edibles. Store all marijuana, but especially edibles, safely where children will not have access, much like alcohol and all medications. If family friends or relatives use marijuana, be sure they also take these precautions. Whether or not one chooses to use marijuana under this new law, we all have a responsibility to keep our children safe, and recreational marijuana is not safe for children in any form. Mark Netherda, MD is Regional Medical Director for Solano and Yolo Counties with Partnership HealthPlan of California, a partner of Solano Coalition for Better Health. |
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Repeal marijuana in maineThe Green Gateway will keep you informed on what's happening in Maine. Check back often for the latest information Archives
June 2018
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