Ed

Our additional comment: Dr. Jerome Adams is the 20th Surgeon General of the United States. He addresses marijuana-related questions he often receives including those related to the chemical composition and potency of today’s marijuana, associated risks, and what parents and teachers can say to young people about marijuana.
Well worth a watch

The Nation’s Doctor, VADM Jerome M. Adams, M.D., answers top questions about marijuana. The U.S. Surgeon General addresses marijuana-related questions he often receives including those related to the chemical composition and potency of today’s marijuana, associated risks, and what parents and teachers can say to young people about marijuana.
For more information visit: www.surgeongeneral.gov
Dr. Jerome Adams is the 20th Surgeon General of the United States. His mission as the “Nation’s Doctor,” is to advance the health of the American people. As the Surgeon General, Dr. Adams holds the rank of Vice Admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. In this capacity, he oversees the operations of approximately 6,500 uniformed health officers who serve in nearly 800 locations around the world, promoting, protecting, and advancing the health and safety of our nation.

The Doctor Is In: Answering Your Marijuana Questions (Short)

The Nation’s Doctor, VADM Jerome M. Adams, M.D., answers top questions about marijuana. The U.S. Surgeon General addresses marijuana-related questions he often receives including those related to the chemical composition and potency of today’s marijuana, associated risks, and what parents and teachers can say to young people about marijuana.
For more information visit: www.surgeongeneral.gov
Dr. Jerome Adams is the 20th Surgeon General of the United States. His mission as the “Nation’s Doctor,” is to advance the health of the American people. As the Surgeon General, Dr. Adams holds the rank of Vice Admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. In this capacity, he oversees the operations of approximately 6,500 uniformed health officers who serve in nearly 800 locations around the world, promoting, protecting, and advancing the health and safety of our nation.

Surgeon General Adams Releases Advisory on Marijuana’s Damaging Effects on the Brain

Surgeon General VADM Jerome M. Adams issues an advisory emphasizing the importance of protecting youth and pregnant women from the health risks of marijuana use.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) | http://www.hhs.gov | HHS Privacy Policy | http://www.hhs.gov/Privacy.html

USA Today 31 January 2020
Our additional comment: If he remains off pot and symptom-free a year after the episode, the psychiatrist can say with certainty he suffered from “cannabis-induced psychosis.” “What shocked me is that I had never heard of it,” said McIntosh’s dad, Rob. “All you hear is all these proponents of legalization of pot without thought to the risks and the consequences.” In March, The Lancet, a British medical journal, reported a two to five times higher risk of psychotic disorders for daily consumers of high-THC marijuana compared with people who never used. 

A number of physicians and parents are pushing back against the long-held assertion of users and advocates that marijuana is a safe, benign and even beneficial drug.

Those sounding the alarm include the nation’s “mental health czar,” as well as doctors in Colorado, California and Massachusetts where marijuana is legal for recreational use. They say the facts are irrefutable: Excessive use of high-THC pot and concentrated oil is linked to psychotic episodes that in some cases develop into full-blown schizophrenia.

There is great disagreement over the strength of the science linking pot and psychosis. Advocates on either side of the marijuana debate have different interpretations of the connection reported in a National Academies cannabis study in 2017 and other studies. In March, The Lancet, a British medical journal, reported a two to five times higher risk of psychotic disorders for daily consumers of high-THC marijuana compared with people who never used.

Arguments surround how much of the illness is preceded or worsened by the drug use, how often marijuana is used in response to it and whether the psychosis would have occurred anyway.

“At the end of the day, you can’t make a causal statement,” said Ziva Cooper, research director of the UCLA Cannabis Research Initiative and a member of the National Academies panel. “You need to have some biological premise to show that this kind of exposure causes psychotic disorder.”

The federal government and other health officials say the type of psychosis McIntosh experienced and other psychiatric disorders are clearly tied to the drug.

“It is time for Americans to understand there are substantial risks with marijuana,” said Elinore McCance-Katz, the Department of Health and Human Services’ top mental health official. “This is not the government making up data.”
READ MORE: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/12/15/weed-psychosis-high-thc-cause-suicide-schizophrenia/4168315002/

NJ.com 27 June 2020
Our additional comment: “The unethical choices the tobacco industry made decades ago marketing its addictive and harmful products to kids and the lax government oversight that allowed it to happen are playing out again in California’s legal weed industry, according to a new study… Lynn Silver, the pediatrician and lead author, said she is not opposed to marijuana legalization, but based on what the study found is “deeply concerned by the irresponsible way legalization is occurring in the U.S. that is allowing the emergence of a new tobacco-like industry.”

The unethical choices the tobacco industry made decades ago marketing its addictive and harmful products to kids and the lax government oversight that allowed it to happen are playing out again in California’s legal weed industry, according to a new study.

With New Jersey voters going to the polls Nov. 3 to decide whether to approve a constitutional amendment expanding its medical marijuana law to all adults 21 and older, the study by the Public Health Institute offers ideas of how the state could take a firmer hand regulating the burgeoning industry.

The authors — a pediatrician, an attorney and a research scientist — examined the laws in 534 of California’s 539 cities and counties a year after marijuana was legalized for adults 21 and older in 2018.

Lynn Silver, the pediatrician and lead author, said she is not opposed to marijuana legalization, but based on what the study found is “deeply concerned by the irresponsible way legalization is occurring in the U.S. that is allowing the emergence of a new tobacco-like industry.”

California has a flourishing market for high-potency products, like edibles and concentrates known as dabs, which lack prominent and explicit warning labels, Silver said. It’s not hard to find dried flowers with THC levels as much as 30%, and as much as three times that amount for concentrates, she said.

Cannabis-infused soda and gummies and other products with names like “girl scout cookie” appear to target youth, much in the way “Joe Camel” lured young smokers and cherry and bubble gum-flavored nicotine vapes targeted minors. Billboards promoting marijuana products are commonplace, and cannabis consumption at concerts and fairs is permitted, according to the article.
READ MORE: https://www.nj.com/marijuana/2020/06/marijuana-industry-using-tobaccos-old-tactics-of-preying-on-kids-study-says.html

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Dr Dale Bramley is a public health physician and chief executive of Waitemata District Health Board.
NZ Herald 11 April 2014
Our additional comment:“As the district health board (DHB) responsible for running drug and alcohol addiction therapy services for the Auckland region, our staff see the clinical and social impacts of cannabis use on a daily basis. More than 14,000 clients are seen by our Community Alcohol and Drug Services each year. Of these, more than 15 per cent present with issues relating to cannabis use. There may be a perception that cannabis is benign. But staff running mental health, addiction and emergency services can tell you beyond doubt that it’s otherwise. We see on a daily basis the issues that cannabis use can have for people in their daily lives. Our clinicians see how it can exacerbate existing issues such as mental illness and dependencies on other substances, and how it is associated with poorer overall health… Let’s not convey the message – especially to our young – that cannabis is harmless. It is not. Any initiative that potentially makes cannabis more freely available will only further increase the burden of medical, psychological and social problems cannabis use has on our health system and our communities.”

The ban last month of so-called legal highs came as a welcome relief to staff at Waitemata District Health Board, particularly our doctors, nurses and mental health workers who see first-hand the effects synthetic cannabinoids can have.

As the discussion around synthetic cannabinoids evolved in the public sphere, it was not unexpected that talk would soon turn to the issue of decriminalising cannabis.

As the district health board (DHB) responsible for running drug and alcohol addiction therapy services for the Auckland region, our staff see the clinical and social impacts of cannabis use on a daily basis.

More than 14,000 clients are seen by our Community Alcohol and Drug Services each year. Of these, more than 15 per cent present with issues relating to cannabis use.

There may be a perception that cannabis is benign. But staff running mental health, addiction and emergency services can tell you beyond doubt that it’s otherwise.

We see on a daily basis the issues that cannabis use can have for people in their daily lives. Our clinicians see how it can exacerbate existing issues such as mental illness and dependencies on other substances, and how it is associated with poorer overall health.

Cannabis smokers often have the same respiratory problems as those of tobacco smokers, such as daily cough, more frequent acute chest illness, and a heightened risk of lung infections. Simply put, people who smoke cannabis have more health problems and miss more days of work than those that don’t.

The link between chronic cannabis use and mental illness is well-proven. A substantial number of individuals presenting to our mental health services have their presenting problem complicated or worsened because of the use of cannabis.

Smokers of cannabis are about 2.6 times more likely to have a psychotic episode than non-smokers.
READ MORE: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11271358

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Say Nope To Dope campaign spokesperson Aaron Ironside was on Rhema’s “The Talk Sessions” on Sunday evening.

He encourages listeners to vote NO in the upcoming referendum.

You can hear his interview here

Stuff co.nz 23 June 2020
Our additional comment: South Cantabrians are against a groundbreaking proposal to change New Zealand’s cannabis laws, include a former senior sergeant, youth worker and bereaved father – and they’re hoping their experiences may help inform others ahead of September’s referendum.
Former police officer Mark Offen points out that alcohol reform has not protected youth, and he sees the proposed new bill in the same light. “The alcohol age limit is 18, but the defacto limit is 12 or 13. It will be the same with cannabis, the limit of 20 will see 14 and 15 year-olds trying it.”

South Cantabrians against a groundbreaking proposal to change New Zealand’s cannabis laws, include a former senior sergeant, youth worker and bereaved father – and they’re hoping their experiences may help inform others ahead of September’s referendum.

Voters will get the opportunity to decide for or against the Cannabis Legislation and Control Bill at the general election in September. The bill, which aims to regulate production, supply and consumption of cannabis to those aged 20 and over, has already drawn mixed reactions.

One of those who opposes the changes, is former senior sergeant Mark Offen – who spent 30 years working on the front line and has seen the impact of drug use first hand.

“Once the genie is out of the bottle you can’t put it back,” warns Offen.

Offen, who left the police force four years ago, is concerned that there was no evidence that the legislation was the best thing to do as academic experts on both sides of the argument presented equally compelling points of view.
READ MORE: https://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/121420223/former-cop-youth-worker-and-bereaved-father-against-cannabis-legislation

Fox News 2 March 2019
Our additional comment: “Many teenagers believe marijuana is harmless because they consider it natural – it comes from a plant rather than a lab. But heroin, psychedelic mushrooms and other harmful drugs also come from plants. Some plants are even poisonous. In addition, today’s marijuana plants are grown differently than in prior decades and can contain two to three times more tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the addictive ingredient that causes the sought-after psychoactive and mood-related effects – the marijuana high. It doesn’t help that marijuana can be consumed in different ways. It can be smoked, mixed into foods and even brewed as tea. This may be enticing to the younger population. But as research and discussions continue, it is becoming clear that both short-term and long-term marijuana use can cause serious problems with physical and mental health.”
#VoteNopeToDope

There’s been an alarming rise in teenage marijuana use across the U.S. and it’s now at its highest level in 30 years. One reason may be that 10 states and the District of Columbia now allow recreational use of pot by adults, while 33 states have legalized medical marijuana.

Lawmakers in other states are considering legalization of the drug.

There’s a common misconception that marijuana is safer than alcohol and other drugs. As a medical doctor I know that marijuana is far from harmless and can have serious damaging effects on the health of users. A growing body of research confirms this.

And as a mother of three sons (one in college), I worry that legalizing the drug for adults sends a clear message to children that they can get high on pot with no negative impact on their health.

Yet a growing number of Democratic presidential hopefuls are calling for nationwide legalization of marijuana, realizing this is a politically popular cause, particularly among young voters. These candidates appear more interested in how their endorsement of legalized pot will affect their election hopes than in how legalization will affect public health.
READ MORE: https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/pot-and-teens-im-a-mom-and-a-doctor-heres-what-i-tell-my-own-teenagers

NZ Herald 18 June 2020
Our additional comment: “All such agencies should be explicitly prevented from taking the sort of stance that the (Drug) foundation has. The fact they are not prevented from this activity drags the main funder of the group – the Government – into play and stretches the idea of their neutrality. The fact that the Government raised the issue, initiated the vote and allegedly quite independently then have one of the agencies they heavily fund backing the change is asking a lot of us in terms of believing their transparency and credibility. And what makes it even more insidious is that the foundation have used their platform to raise money.”
Yep.

COMMENT: I view it as a very good sign that the Drug Foundation tried to slip the old medicinal line into their advertising.

It’s the line that’s led to dozens of complaints to the Advertising Standards Authority.

It’s the line that had Dr Kate Baddock of the Medical Association saying it’s rubbish, it’s completely misleading.

It’s the line that had the academic Bill Hodge saying it’s misleading and deceptive.

It is indeed.

Why did they do it? Because they are scared, they are scared the polls haven’t gone the way they would have hoped, they are scared this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to get things legally sorted the way they would like, and they are scared they are going to lose.

The question is not really whether it’s misleading. I will be astonished if the authority doesn’t rule against them. The question is – is it too late?

Wheels turn slowly at authorities who gather to review rules.

By the time they meet, debate, decide and release their findings, it may well be too late. The deed might have had the desired affect – to suck in the vulnerable.
READ MORE: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12340362

Radio NZ 18 June 2020
Our additional comment: “The report shows almost one in three Māori live with mental illness or addiction compared with one in five in the general population.” 
Until we can fix our mental health system, the last thing we should do is add demand by legalising a mind-altering drug such as cannabis.

Mental health and addiction services have got worse for Māori since work began to overhaul the system nearly two years ago and serious gaps remain for young mums and those in forensic units, according to a new report from the mental health commissioner, Kevin Allan.

Allan, who released his latest monitoring report yesterday, said those with serious and complex problems were still missing out.

He noted there had been “significant progress” since his last full report – He Ara Oranga in 2018 – especially in early support available through primary and community care and in laying the foundations for a new stand-alone Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission, which will be up and running in 2021.

However, many of the problems highlighted in the report were “stubbornly similar” to those raised previously, he said.

“We’re moving backwards when it comes to Māori.”

The report shows:

• Almost one in three Māori live with mental illness or addiction compared with one in five in the general population.
• In 2018 (the latest available figures), 6317 people were subject to a community treatment order (compulsory treatment), an increase of three percent over one year, of whom 38 percent were Māori.
• 44 percent of those put in seclusion (where patients at risk of self-harm or violence towards others are confined to an empty cell to “calm down”).
• Suicide is the leading cause of maternal mortality, with Māori whānau most affected.

There were, however, signs of progress, including increased investment in kaupapa Māori approaches, Allan said.

“All services need to work for Māori and be culturally safe. Strengthening Māori participation and leadership in the design and delivery of services is essential – both for improving outcomes and meeting obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi.”

Another area in need of urgent attention was the lack of specialist forensic services.
READ MORE: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/419262/mental-health-and-addiction-services-moving-backwards-when-it-comes-to-maori-commissioner