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DrugSense

The Journal Gazette, 15 Jan 2012 - FORT WAYNE -- With the help of a friend, a woman came into the Butler Police Department's lobby one day last summer gasping for breath. Her friend immediately placed her on the floor and frantically asked officers to call an ambulance. The woman, described by Butler police as in her early to mid-20s, wheezed as she said it felt as if an elephant were sitting on her chest.

Lexington Herald-Leader, 15 Jan 2012 - When my one-time political rival and always friendly acquaintance Gatewood Galbraith passed away this month, his eulogies invariably noted that his insightful political reform ideas were often overshadowed by his strident advocacy for marijuana legalization, consigning him to the role of perennial candidate and courthouse jester. Part of Gatewood's problem was that he looked the part: often disheveled, always mellow. He also preached an admirably consistent, but widely controversial, libertarian philosophy that scolded government whenever it tried to establish moral standards for society.

Midland Daily News, 15 Jan 2012 - The Michigan Medical Marijuana Act was approved by Michigan voters in November of 2008. This act allows doctors to prescribe marijuana as a medical treatment for various diseases including terminal cancer, HIV, AIDS, hepatitis C, multiple sclerosis and other debilitating diseases that cause severe nausea, vomiting, pain, muscle spasms, and seizures. Medical marijuana in Michigan has been a debated topic for years. One of the top reasons why legalizing medical marijuana is opposed is because it is thought to increase youth drug usage. Some say it leads to using harder drugs such as heroin or cocaine. Marijuana currently lacks FDA approval, so many question its safety. Others question its necessity, especially when there are other drugs on the market that do have FDA approval for treating the same symptoms. Additionally, marijuana is thought to have addictive qualities that make the idea of legalizing its usage very distasteful.

Press and Guide, 14 Jan 2012 - Legislation that would require drug testing of welfare recipients could soon hit the Michigan House's agenda, according to Rep. Jeff Farrington, R - Utica, who proposed the bill. Farrington proposed House Bill 5223 in December. That month the Michigan Department of Human Services released a legislatively-mandated report indicating that it would be feasible to drug test welfare recipients. Some type of pre-screen would be necessary, with testing for recipients suspected of drug use, and the matter of testing hadn't been worked out, but the department said it is feasible.

Abbotsford News, 13 Jan 2012 - Abbotsford Police are continuing to warn people about the dangers of using any form of illicit drugs, in the wake of toxicology results released from one ecstasy-related death in the Lower Mainland and five in Calgary. Provincial health officer Perry Kendall confirmed in a media teleconference today (Thursday) that one of the four recent B.C. deaths two in Abbotsford and two in Vancouver occurred because the drug was tainted by a lethal chemical known as paramethoxymethamphetamine (PMMA).

Coast Reporter, 13 Jan 2012 - How not to protect community health and safety" is the title of a report from the Stop The Violence BC (STVBC) coalition. It tells of how cannabis policy with its focus on prohibition and extensive efforts on enforcement have both failed. Quite spectacularly, too. Cannabis is more available, cheaper and more potent than ever even after billions of tax dollars have been spent on prohibition. Worse, organized crime is rolling in cash because of the same policies. It is time to think more clearly about cannabis policy. This is why the Health Officers' Council of BC (HOC) has stepped up with its support for STVBC. The HOC is not saying that cannabis should be legalized and taxed because is it safe. Rather, they are saying that proven public health approaches should be used to constrain its use.

The Times-News, 15 Jan 2012 - FILER - Administrators in the Filer School District are taking steps to educate students on the potential dangers of a herbal mixture commonly known as "spice" and sold locally under brand names like Hayze. Filer High School Principal Leon Madsen informed school board members Wednesday that two incidents where the marijuana-like substance was used resulted in students being taken to the hospital.

Record Searchlight, 14 Jan 2012 - Medical Pot Users Targeted, Advocate Says One of Redding's most vocal medical cannabis advocates is questioning whether a low-income housing program run by the city illegally discriminates against marijuana patients, and he's asked the Shasta County district attorney to weigh in on the matter.

Porterville Recorder, 14 Jan 2012 - Users: Cannabis Does More Good Than Harm "I will not issue you any more prescriptions because I'm not going to leave your children orphans." When Dawn Jobe heard these words from her doctor years ago, she opted instead for marijuana.

Arizona Daily Sun, 14 Jan 2012 - PHOENIX -- Gov. Jan Brewer agreed Friday to finally let the state issue licenses to operate medical marijuana dispensaries -- but not immediately. Brewer said she will not pursue a lawsuit seeking a ruling of whether state employees who process those applications can be prosecuted under federal drug laws. A judge threw out that lawsuit last month as legally flawed but gave the governor a chance to fix the problems and refile it.

Merritt News, 11 Jan 2012 - RCMP Chief Supt. Mike Sekela announced in a Chilliwack press conference Wednesday afternoon that Staff Sgt. Stu Seib, commander of the Merritt RCMP detachment, has been accused of stealing and using cocaine. Sekela said that Seib was arrested on Tuesday after an investigation that lasted several days. He is accused of taking cocaine from the same police drug exhibit on more than one occasion.

Arizona Daily Wildcat, 13 Jan 2012 - College Student Experiences Firsthand The Pros And Cons Of Contraband, Offers Her Take On Drug Laws And What She Wished She Knew About Tripping Krystle Cole has tried more psychedelic drugs than all of the Beatles combined, personally knew the operators of the biggest LSD laboratory in history and lived through some of the most profound and darkest experiences a human being can have, such as run-ins with the law and bad trips. A native of Kansas and former Tucson dweller, Cole is a pursuing a master's degree in psychology from Capella University. Through her experience, she became an expert in psychedelics and safe drug use, penned a book called "Lysergic" and founded Neurosoup.com, a website that focuses on trying to educate people on responsible drug use.

Record Searchlight, 12 Jan 2012 - A group of local medical cannabis advocates apparently fell short on their effort to collect enough signatures to force a recent county ordinance restricting marijuana growing onto a ballot before it became law today . "Even only with volunteers, it looks like we made a decent effort," said David Shore of Nor Cal Safe Access.

Globe-Gazette, 13 Jan 2012 - Last month's column about being against drug testing welfare recipients (Dec. 16) turned out to be somewhat controversial. Many statements were made about welfare recipients not being "beneath us," and certainly they are not.

Charlevoix Courier, 13 Jan 2012 - For months Charlevoix city officials have been working on amending its zoning ordinances to regulate where medical marijuana caregivers operate. After many public meetings and discussions, the city of Charlevoix could take action to enact the proposed ordinance amendment following a public hearing set to take place during the city council meeting on Monday, Jan. 16, at city hall.

The Press Democrat, 13 Jan 2012 - On 4-1 Vote, Panel Recommends Limit Of 9 Medical Pot Outlets In Unincorporated Areas Medical marijuana dispensaries in Sonoma County should be limited to nine in unincorporated areas, according to county planning commissioners, who see the limit as a first step to regulating a burgeoning pot industry.

Summit Daily News, 12 Jan 2012 - DENVER - Federal officials on Thursday began a California-style crackdown on medical marijuana dispensaries in Colorado that targets those located near schools, setting up a possible showdown with businesses that worked closely with state lawmakers to develop regulations they hoped would prevent such an action. U.S. Attorney John Walsh said 23 dispensaries within 1,000 feet of schools have until Feb. 27 to shut down or face federal penalties, which can include asset seizure or forfeiture of property. The warning letters dated Thursday were being sent to dispensary owners and their landlords. He said the letters were a first step and prosecutors were looking for medical marijuana businesses to target near schools. Walsh's office declined to release a list of targeted businesses, saying they do not make public individuals under investigation.

The Press of Atlantic City, 13 Jan 2012 - The effort to legalize the medical use of marijuana in New Jersey has been a long, tough struggle. The legislation was drafted to be the strictest in the nation. It was passed a full two years ago and signed into law in the final days of the Corzine administration.

Kamloops Daily News, 11 Jan 2012 - How much help can a person give a drug dealer before he or she is considered a dealer, too? That question dominated a one-day B.C. Supreme Court trial Tuesday that saw a brain-injured former drug addict convicted of trafficking cocaine.