Ed

MPs concerned over anti-drug campaign’s similarity to US group
Radio NZ News 2 July 2020
Family First Comment: Andrew Little and Chloe Swarbrick raised concerns that a US organisation is ‘interfering’ in New Zealand politics. SAM-NZ Campaign Spokesperson, Aaron Ironside, set the record straight with Corin Dann this morning. Listen to the interview.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/audio/player?audio_id=2018753175#

‘Say Nope to Dope’ campaigners have come under fire for their ‘affiliation’ with a powerful US anti-cannabis lobbying group.

Both groups – SAM and SAM-NZ – share the same name.

SAM also provides research, speakers and experts to the New Zealand group.

Several MPs have raised concerns the US organisation is ‘interfering’ in New Zealand politics.

SAM-NZ insists the support goes no further than a shared name and common interest: to stop the legalisation of recreational cannabis.

SAM-NZ Campaign Spokesperson, Aaron Ironside, speaks to Corin Dann.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018753175/mps-concerned-over-anti-drug-campaign-s-similarity-to-us-group

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Mike Hosking deals with the claims by Justice Minister Andrew Little that the SayNopeToDope campaign is being funded by US groups.

Newstalk ZB 1 July 2020
The Justice Minister isn’t happy about an international organisation getting involved in our cannabis referendum here

(right is the speaking lineup for a conference held in Parliament Buildings by the Drug Foundation – Andrew Little along with 2 speakers from… the US (2019))

The group called Smart Approaches to Marijuana, or SAM, is fighting legal cannabis in the US, and has set up a branch here.

Bob McCoskrie from Family First said they’ve been drawing on SAM’s experience.. but haven’t taken any money.

“We haven’t received one cent from SAM. We won’t received one cent from SAM.”

He says that they want their information and insight as SAM are fighting against legislation in many US states.

Justice Minister Andrew Little told Heather du Plessis-Allan that we don’t want the influence of big American corporations.

“This is a debate for New Zealanders so they can make a decision about what they want to do about the future of cannabis.”

He says that it is similar to how the NRA attempted to infiltrate the debate on gun legislation.

Little says that we don’t need or want the American style influence of over the campaign.

“What I think looks dodgy is, even if it is a New Zealand organisation, calling on a big American organisation to provide their messaging and resourcing.”

Media Release – Sensible Sentencing Trust 1 July 2020
There is a major push to legalise cannabis in New Zealand and all the while, drug addiction problems are growing.

Sensible Sentencing Trust (SST) have joined with SAM-NZ in their Vote Nope to Dope campaign.

SST National Spokesperson Jess McVicar says the trust have supported families of victims who have died because of the selfish actions of a person getting behind the wheel and driving while high on drugs and believe more innocent lives will be lost if marijuana is legalised.

Jess McVicar said “The Government have already made a significant impact on the courts by allowing reduced sentences for anyone showing a sign of drug addiction, as it is considered a mental health condition, so why would they think it is acceptable to legalise the root cause of the problem?”

“To legalise marijuana, the substance that has been proven to be a gateway drug, is a very dangerous move that will end in the tragic loss of lives, both young and old.”

Jess said “This Bill is completely contradictory toward the movement of a healthy society and the wellbeing of all New Zealanders. We absolutely believe will see a rise in crime, mental health issues and drug addiction if the use of cannabis is legalised.”

Bob McCoskrie, a member of the SayNopeToDope coalition, spoke to Kerre Woodham this morning on Newstalk ZB to correct statements being made about funding of the campaign.

We want to be open and transparent about our work. We receive no government funding. We receive no overseas funding.

Have a listen to this short phonecall.

BreakPoint 29 June 2020
Our additional comment: The title of the study telegraphs the punchline: “Legalized Cannabis in Colorado Emergency Departments: A Cautionary Review of Negative Health and Safety Effects.” Cannabis legalization has led to significant health consequences, particularly to patients in emergency departments and hospitals in Colorado.” The consequences that are, in their words, “most concerning” are “psychosis, suicide, and other substance abuse,” not to mention the impairment of a user’s “complex decision making,” which may be irreversible, even by subsequent abstinence. In Colorado, cannabis-related emergency and urgent-care visits among “teenagers and young adults” increased nearly three-fold after legalization. Most of these visits required “behavioural health evaluation.

Recreational marijuana is legal in 11 states and another 21 states permit the use of so-called “medical marijuana.” I say “so-called” because, as NYU drug policy expert Mark Kleinman has put it, “the vast majority of ‘patients’ buying ‘medical marijuana’ aren’t doing so under any sort of active medical supervision . . . Many of them aren’t ‘treating’ anything but their desire to get high . . .”

In the push to legalize, America has been sold dangerous lies about marijuana – of financial windfalls with no accompanying social cost and of therapeutic benefits with no accompanying dangers. But marijuana is dangerous. In fact, for some, it’s potentially lethal.

Dr. Erik Messamore, a psychiatrist with a doctorate in psychopharmacology, recently brought attention to a study published by a branch of NIH about my state, which is ground zero of the marijuana push in the United States. The title of the study telegraphs the punchline: “Legalized Cannabis in Colorado Emergency Departments: A Cautionary Review of Negative Health and Safety Effects.”

This “cautionary review” begins rather bluntly: “Cannabis legalization has led to significant health consequences, particularly to patients in emergency departments and hospitals in Colorado.” The consequences that are, in their words, “most concerning” are “psychosis, suicide, and other substance abuse,” not to mention the impairment of a user’s “complex decision making,” which may be irreversible, even by subsequent abstinence.

In Colorado, cannabis-related emergency and urgent-care visits among “teenagers and young adults” increased nearly three-fold after legalization. Most of these visits required “behavioral health evaluation.”

To quote the G.I. Joe public service announcements of my youth, “Now you know, and knowing is half the battle.” Except, and this should disturb us all, the link between cannabis use and mental illness was already well-known before legalization.

In his book, No One Cares About Crazy People, Ron Powers (who co-wrote the World War II history Flags of Our Fathers) told the story of his two sons, both diagnosed with schizophrenia in their early twenties. Marijuana use, Powers learned, contributed to their diagnosis. Specifically, marijuana use increases the chances of schizophrenia for people who carry the genes AKT1 and COMT, which “affect brain chemistry.” Powers’ sons had these genes. One of them committed suicide, and the other attempted suicide but was saved through a timely intervention.
READ MORE: https://breakpoint.org/the-link-between-marijuana-psychosis-and-suicide/?_hsmi=90329413&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-80qR6EnlQmf4TW9WuSC-IKA3141cMWo9IXgarDX0ZkINIdQ0gKPneMstKAXvN961lmDB_FCiRi-uB1xOdo7OpcKDHi_A

TVNZ One News 29 June 2020
Our additional comment: Excellent result – despite a significant spend by the Drug Foundation ($300k)..
“According to the poll, those more likely than average to be against legalising cannabis are National Party supporters and people aged 70 and over. Those more likely than average to be for the legalisation of cannabis are Green and Labour Party supporters, people aged 18-29, Wellingtonians and Māori.”

Kiwis who were hoping they might soon be able to smoke cannabis legally might be out of luck, according to the latest 1 NEWS Colmar Brunton poll.

The Conversation 15 June 2020
Our additional comment: Compared to babies whose mothers did not use marijuana before or during their pregnancies, babies whose mothers were still using the drug at 15 weeks had a smaller birth weight, head circumference, and length and were born at an earlier gestational age.

A study in Australia analysed data from 5,610 women who were in their first pregnancy and therefore at low risk for pregnancy complications. Of these, 314 (5.6 percent) self-reported marijuana use three months before pregnancy or during their pregnancy. Of these women, 97 stopped using before their pregnancy and 157 percent stopped using during the first 15 weeks of pregnancy. Sixty were still using marijuana at 15 weeks.

Compared to babies whose mothers did not use marijuana before or during their pregnancies, babies whose mothers were still using the drug at 15 weeks had a smaller birth weight, head circumference, and length and were born at an earlier gestational age.

Read the researchers’ account of their study in the Medical Journal of Australia here.
READ MORE: https://theconversation.com/using-cannabis-during-pregnancy-could-be-bad-news-for-your-baby-new-research-140443