It is no secret that many young people believe that marijuana is a safe and natural drug and is the most commonly tried illegal drug in New Zealand. However, recent research has revealed otherwise. A recent study found that cannabis use among adolescents increases the risk of being diagnosed with bipolar and psychotic disorders, as well as anxiety and depression, years later.
Hello, I’m Laura Stack, the Founder and CEO of the nonprofit, Johnny’s Ambassadors Youth THC Prevention. I formed our nonprofit after our 19-year-old son, Johnny, died by suicide after becoming psychotic from using marijuana. He started using at 14 years old when marijuana was first legalized in Colorado and then got a “medical card” at 18, even though he had no medical issues. The budtender at the dispensary told him high potency THC vapes and wax would be best for him. He lost his mind, thought the mob was after him, and jumped off a building to his death.
Family First says that the Green Party’s attempt to relitigate the cannabis debate is desperate politicking that refuses to accept democracy and to divert attention from the proven harms of legalisation which have been mounting since 2020.
A New Zealand-born doctor, now residing in Australia, and an advocate for medicinal cannabis use, is ringing the alarm bells when it comes to cannabis use while also on immunotherapies.
A new study has found that daily cannabis users are 34% more likely to develop heart failure than non-users.
Mainstream media, particularly here in New Zealand, is making a big deal about the supposed benefits of magic mushrooms, more often thought of as psychedelics and technically involving the chemical compound psilocybin, found in some mushrooms.
As the use of this potent synthetic opioid grows in New Zealand, so does its devastating impact. Our discussion with Tim Beck from the US offers us an in-depth look at the widespread reach of fentanyl, the lessons we can learn from the US experience, and strategies to combat its alarming rise in our communities.
Thailand, the first Asian country to decriminalise cannabis in 2022, is now preparing to reverse its course by restricting cannabis use solely to medical purposes.
The majority of New Zealanders thankfully voted NO to legalising the recreational use of cannabis – despite significant campaigning by the mainstream media, politicians and even government-funded organisations! But in this candid discussion of Colorado’s marijuana legalisation experiment, we find out what worked, what didn’t, and the lessons New Zealand must learn. Find out the consequences for public safety, law enforcement, and community health of legalising dope – and why New Zealand dodged a bullet in 2020. RAY PADILLA is an experienced Task Force Officer with a dedicated history in the law enforcement industry. He is an international law enforcement trainer and the Co-Founder of BlueVudu Training. MATT STONEBERGER is an Agent-in-Charge at the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and is assigned to the CBI’s Special Investigations & Illicit Marijuana Unit, Denver Team. Before joining CBI, Matt began his career with the Parker Police Department (Colorado) and later worked as an investigator for the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office (Colorado).
[The Drug Detection Agency (TDDA) recently held their 20th Anniversary Conference in Auckland, and Family First were granted access to interview some of the top international experts who were speaking at the conference. (Thanks TDDA!)] In the second of a series, we speak to KEITH GRAVES, a retired Sergeant, Narcotics Detective, SWAT Team member & Drug Recognition Expert Instructor in California. Keith outlines the ‘game plan’ and ‘marketing’ of drug liberalisation (medicinal marijuana, recreational marijuana, all drugs) which is clearly being used in New Zealand by drug proponents. He also exposes the harm of ‘drug testing’ which actually enables, not deters, and warns us that Mexican drug cartels are already operating in New Zealand offering fentanyl and ‘pink’ cocaine & other drugs. Keith offers advice to parents & churches for protecting children from drug use – and explains how harmful decriminalisation would be, and why strong enforceable laws are essential in protecting communities & families.