Articles

08/24/2024

08/24/2024

08/22/2024

Problems, Potencies, Products- Excellent Powerpoint with historial data on the impact of marijuana legalization in Colorado.

07/12/2024

This should not surprise anyone!  Beyond dissapointing the DeSantis put poltics before the health and safety of all Floridians & tourists visting Floirda. 

06/28/2024

When she picked her son up from school, she noticed something was wrong.
“He looked like he was really sick,” she said.
After questioning her son, he told her that after he ate the piece of candy, and said the other student revealed it was an edible.
The mother was concerned for her son’s health, so she rushed him to the hospital, where a urine test confirmed marijuana was in his system.
She immediately reported the incident to Kissimmee police and the school resource officers.
News 6 contacted school officials for comment regarding potential disciplinary action against the student who provided the edible.

05/25/2024

Researchers have raised particular concern about synthesized products that isolate chemicals like 7-hydroxymitragynine, saying they could carry risks that are different from the kratom leaf long used in Thailand or Malaysia. McCurdy said when that chemical is isolated, "it's no longer really a kratom product."

05/24/2024

If you can't open the article click here

05/02/2024

DELTA-8 THC

• One-page education information for legislators and the community
• Letter to legislators supporting, opposing, sponsors, article responses
• Articles - In schools, parents abusing, children overdosing, ...
• Powerpoint presentations
• Health & Mental Health issues

04/17/2024

Kratom is not regulated as a controlled substance, though the Drug Enforcement Administration lists it as a “drug of concern.” The FDA has not approved kratom for any purpose, but supplements do not require the agency’s sign-off to be sold.

Kratom was the cause of 91 overdose deaths from July 2016 to December 2017, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But some estimates put the toll far higher: An analysis by The Washington Post found kratom listed as the leading or partial cause of death in at least 4,100 deaths from 2020 to 2022, and an investigation by the Tampa Bay Times last year found that more than 580 people in Florida alone had died from kratom-related overdoses since 2013.

02/23/2024

Smoking marijuana impacts blood flow in the brain and body, decreases respiration and body temperature, contributes to airway blockages, raises blood pressure, increases heart rate, impacts heart rhythm, and more — all of which can make recovery from surgery more difficult, according to a November 2019 review of literature. Use of marijuana also increases post-op pain, according to an October 2020 study.

 
The new study’s finding is significant, the authors said, considering prior analyses have found nearly 3 of every 10 marijuana users develop a dependence on weed called cannabis use disorder.

02/22/2024

02/18/2024

We were told those seven students had to be rushed to the hospital after ingesting the gummies that officials said were brought to school by a student.
The sirens of first responders were heard loud and clear outside of the school Tuesday afternoon.
The seven students were taken to Texas Children’s and Kingwood hospitals after ingesting the gummies.
It’s unclear who originally gave one of the students those gummies, but if you’re 21 and up and live in Texas you can buy multiple forms of THC in most gas stations.

02/08/2024

Summary: Significant psychiatric risks associated with high-THC cannabis concentrates, demonstrating that even in healthy adults, THC can induce a range of psychiatric symptoms, including psychosis. Given these findings, there's a strong argument for legislative action to limit THC potency in marijuana products to a maximum of 15% to safeguard public health. This precautionary measure is particularly crucial as the legal status of cannabis may lead individuals to perceive it as safe. Legislators have a responsibility to protect the public by implementing regulations that address the potency of cannabis products, prioritizing the well-being of those who may not be aware of the risks associated with high-THC consumption.

02/05/2024

THC exposure during adolescence may cause microglial cell death and brain changes, increasing schizophrenia risks in genetically susceptible individuals.
 
Earlier, a 2023 study found heavy marijuana use may trigger schizophrenia, particularly in young men. This study examined the health records of nearly 7 million Danish citizens and determined that up to 30% of schizophrenia diagnoses — around 3,000 in total — could have been prevented if young men hadn’t abused marijuana.

02/04/2024

02/04/2024

Millions of Americans believe marijuana relieves pain, reduces anxiety, improves your mood, and has no side effects. Are they right? Dr. Drew Pinsky, physician, addiction medicine specialist, and media personality, answers this question.

02/02/2024

Cannabis legalization efforts are a boon to big business, but many Americans are paying with their health.

The hazy narrative of harmless recreation masks darker truths now coming to light. Evidence is mounting that the push for recreational drug use has led to increases in cannabis-related hospitalizations and links to mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, cannabis use disorder, and more.

01/25/2024

Researchers detail how lawmakers and regulators could establish key guardrails for selling and using the herb.

The kratom association says it has reported dozens of kratom companies to the FDA for making medical claims. When asked for these reports, the association declined to share them.
Haddow, the association lobbyist, recently told CBS News that the industry has about 8,000 players. When asked how many are legitimate, he responded: “I would say three dozen, maybe a few more than that.”

Haddow- is a highly paid national lobbyist for the Kratom industry.  

01/23/2024

Excellent, comprehensive research on Kratom.  Printalbe format. 

12/20/2023

Surge of THC products, vapes has states struggling to regulate the booming market

12/17/2023

Some of the tactics in the kratom business may sound familiar. They mirror the strategies that were used for another controversial product — synthetic cannabis compounds, or “Spice.”

More than a decade ago, U.S. officials spotted a trend. Importers, court records show, were slipping Spice into the country from China by calling the white chemicals “cosmetics” or “sodium.” Products found at gas stations promised Spice was “herbal incense” or “not for human consumption.”

12/10/2023

The development of the unregulated market for THCA cannabis. THCA is a naturally occurring cannabinoid that converts to THC when heated. It is legal in all 50 states. So, even Texas and Florida you can walk into a smoke shop and legally purchase cannabis—that in many cases is high quality—at reasonable prices. It's a brilliant example of the unstoppable energy and ingenuity of the community. We will get cannabis to the people no matter what obstacle is put in our way.

12/09/2023

The Times bought the products from online vendors, gas stations, smoke shops and other businesses around the region. Below are the key testing results for each product.
They are ordered most potent to least, by product type, based on mitragynine levels. The Times also tested one product containing a large amount of 7-hydroxymitragynine, another kratom alkaloid that is more potent than mitragynine.
READ ARTICLE FOR SUMMARY OF EACH PRODUCT.
Sample of product summary

• The package the product was sent in came with a printed-out sheet showing testing results for mitragynine, 7-hydroxymitragynine, heavy metals and bacteria. A section of the report showing who ordered the results was blacked out.
• The product’s label advertised “pain relief + mood enhancement.” Federal law prohibits kratom companies from making medical claims on packaging or in advertising because the substance is not an approved drug.
• This product had nine times as much mitragynine as Sharma believes is safe to consume over an entire day.
• This product type was found at the scenes of two kratom-only overdoses in Florida.
• This product type was found at the scene of a kratom-only overdose in Florida.
• This product type was found at the scenes of two kratom-only overdoses in Florida.

12/03/2023

Spejcher told police who responded at the time that she had smoked marijuana before the alleged incident, the VC Star reported. That marijuana was so strong that it caused her to feel like she had died and had to fight her way out of it. 

11/30/2023

Judge backs increased license fee for medical marijuana companies in Florida

11/30/2023

Meghan Martin is a pediatric emergency room physician, a mom of four, and now, a TikTok star, with 1.3 million followers and several videos getting picked up everywhere from Good Morning America to Scary Mommy.

11/25/2023

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) - A mother is facing child neglect charges after her 3-year-old was rushed to the hospital after possibly eating THC gummies, according to West Virginia State Police.
The incident on Monday, Nov. 20, in Mingo County is detailed in a criminal complaint that states Billie Sue Vandyke fell asleep for about two hours at a home along Alex Lane in Justice, West Virginia.
When she woke up, the criminal complaint states Vandyke found her 3-year-old lying on the bed and she could not wake him up.

11/24/2023

Marijuana and the Risks to Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Marijuana contains almost 500 components including the psychoactive ingredient THC that can pass through the placenta to the baby during pregnancy, causing harm to the fetus.
Marijuana use by a breastfeeding mother can expose the newborn to toxins stored in the mother’s fat tissues and slowly released to baby, even after the mother has stopped using.
Learn about the various risks of using marijuana during pregnancy and while breastfeeding through the resources below.

11/18/2023

Panel begins at 17 minutes; Public Comment at 1:33:00

11/16/2023

When teenagers smoked marijuana back in 1995, the amount of THC, or active ingredient in the drug, was about 4%. But times have changed. With new methods of testing, growing, and regulating marijuana, teens now have access to cannabis with increasingly higher levels of THC. One study found that in 2017 the average potency of marijuana had increased to 17%. This increased potency, plus easier access to many forms of marijuana in recent years, has some dedicated healthcare professionals working to address the possible mental health effects marijuana use may be having on young users, including the risk for psychosis.

11/14/2023

Ellen Snelling is with the Hillsborough County Anti-Drug Alliance. She said that state lawmakers should have outright banned the sale of Delta-8 as part of the hemp bill passed earlier this year.
“This law is a great step in the right direction but, in my opinion, not nearly enough,” Snelling told the committee. “I supported the original bill that did set limits and caps on THC content. THC limits are needed — and even better, in my opinion, to have a complete ban on these hemp-synthesized intoxicants to protect public health and safety.”

11/10/2023

“These products have not been deemed safe by any Nebraska or regulatory body,” he said. “In fact, even states where marijuana is legalized outlaw synthetically produced THCs, including delta-8, or place significant limits on their use.”
Consuming as little as 2.5 milligrams of a THC-containing gummy can “exceed the toxicity threshold” for a 3-year-old child and send that child to the hospital, the lawsuits say.

10/23/2023

10/21/2023

Conclusions: Our study provides evidence for the association between cannabis use disorder (CUD) and suicide risk among hospitalized adolescents and underscores the importance of recognizing and addressing co-occurring mental and substance use disorders along with CUD to mitigate suicide risk. Identifying high-risk adolescents in inpatient settings provides an opportunity for intervention.

10/16/2023

A total of eight children ranging from 6 to 8 years of age consumed the gummies. Six of the children were transported to Broward Health and Florida Medical Center, according to Lauderhill Fire Rescue officials.
CALLS TO POISON CENTERS FOR ADHD MEDICATION ERRORS HAVE RISEN 300% SINCE 2000, STUDY FINDS

10/01/2023

HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) - According to the CDC in 2022, 36% of 12th graders reported using marijuana sometime in 2022. 6% reported daily use at least within 30 days of the survey and study being sent out.
In the commonwealth of Virginia, it is illegal to consume and purchase cannabis under the age of 21. However, Blue Ridge Poison Center reports their largest demographic of people suffering from cannabis related issues are children under the age of 21.

09/28/2023

Tianeptine is banned in several other states including Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Ohio and Tennessee due to the highly addictive nature and severe withdrawal symptoms. According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, tianeptine is abused for its euphoric properties similar to other opioids, such as heroin. Severe adverse health effects, including respiratory depression, severe sedation and death have occurred from misuse.

09/18/2023

The language in farm bill has been interpreted to mean that any hemp-derived product with less than 0.3% THC in its final form is legal. Make a 70-gram brownie out of hemp containing just under 0.3% THC, and you get 21 times more THC than you can get in California’s regulated cannabis market. 
Furthermore, with some chemistry, innovative hemp manufacturers can create an alphabet soup of chemically synthesized cannabinoids that can get you high, like delta-8 THC, THC-P, and THC-O. The Drug Enforcement Administration has pushed back and classified two such compounds as dangerous Schedule I substances. Still, the regulations on synthetic cannabinoids made from compounds that naturally occur in hemp remain overwhelmingly unenforced.    

09/06/2023

Pooling of data from the identified longitudinal studies showed that ever e-cigarette users have an increased likelihood for subsequent cannabis, alcohol, and unprescribed Ritalin/Adderall use compared to never e-cigarette users. The findings indicate a need for interventions to reduce e-cigarette use in adolescents and young adults.

07/26/2023

07/03/2023

July 3 (Reuters) - Wrigley, the maker of multi-colored fruit-flavored Skittles candies, has settled a lawsuit accusing a seller of cannabis-related merchandise of trademark infringement for marketing products under the "ZKITTLEZ" name.
Under a proposed permanent injunction filed on Monday in Chicago federal court, Terphogz LLC agreed not to use Skittles, Zkittlez or similar terms for cannabis-related sales.
Terphogz would stop using slogans such as "Taste the Z Train" and "Taste the Strain Bro," which Wrigley found too similar to Skittles' longtime slogan "Taste the Rainbow."
It also agreed to give up the domain name zkittlez.com, though it may use the letter "Z" if people will not be confused.

06/26/2023

Powerpoint presentation with excellent ideas to help motivate and engage your community to help educate everyone on any issue specifically drug prevention.

06/06/2023

In contrast, a liquid diamonds cart contains just cannabinoids and terpenes, so not only is the potency noticeably high [up to 92% THC], but incredibly smooth. Kater says, "As someone who's been consuming personally for 30 years, I vape a lot less these days [because] as I get older I cough a lot, my throat gets irritated. It's almost shocking when you take a big hit [of liquid diamonds] and you exhale, how smooth it is."

05/08/2023

U.S. Marshals, along with U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigators, seized more than 250,000 units of dietary supplements and bulk dietary ingredients that are or contain kratom, including 1,000 kilograms of bulk kratom.

Mitragyna speciosa, or Kratom, is a plant that grows in certain Southeast Asian countries and has been indicated to have narcotic and stimulant-like effects.

The complaint alleges there isn’t enough information to provide assurance about the safety of kratom and consuming kratom can lead to serious health issues including respiratory depression, vomiting, nervousness, weight loss and constipation, the complaint states.

The compliant also says withdrawal symptoms may include hostility, aggression, excessive tearing, aching of muscles and jerky limb movements.

04/25/2023

The bill originally envisioned a limit of 0.5 milligrams of THC per dose, or 2 milligrams per container, a proposal which rankled the hemp industry. The cap was subsequently lifted from 0.5 milligrams per serving to 5 milligrams per serving, and from 2 milligrams per package to 50 milligrams per package.
“All caps are O-U-T, out,” Robinson said.

04/21/2023

In a committee meeting Monday, Manatee County House Republican Will Robinson Jr. said: “All caps are O.U.T., Out.”

04/03/2023

I am an emergency and addiction physician who practices on the front lines of the emergency department. I had the honor to serve as the first Chief Medical Officer at the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. Every shift I, along with my colleagues across the United States, treat patients with marijuana poisoning. CHS and Cannabis Induced Psychosis are the most common marijuana associated daily diagnosis in emergency departments across our country.

03/28/2023

COOK COUNTY - Northwest suburban Elk Grove Village passed an ordinance Tuesday night that prohibits license tobacco stores from selling any products that contain THC — the ingredient in marijuana that makes users feel "high."
The ordinance was introduced after the village discovered a "gray area" in state law that allowed products containing THC that weren't FDA approved to be sold at smoke shops.

Some of the unregulated products were delta 8 vapes and edible candies such as gummy bears.

03/25/2023

There are no FDA-approved drugs containing delta-8 THC. Any delta-8 THC product claiming to diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent diseases is considered an unapproved new drug. The FDA has not evaluated whether these unapproved drug products are effective for the uses manufacturers claim, what an appropriate dose might be, how they could interact with FDA-approved drugs or other products, or whether they have dangerous side effects or other safety concerns. 
The warning letters address the illegal marketing of unapproved delta-8 THC products by companies as unapproved treatments for various medical conditions or for other therapeutic uses. The letters also cite violations related to drug misbranding (e.g., the products lack adequate directions for use) and the addition of delta-8 THC in foods, such as gummies, chocolate, caramels, chewing gum, and peanut brittle. 
“The FDA is very concerned about the growing popularity of delta-8 THC products being sold online and in stores nationwide. These products often include claims that they treat or alleviate the side effects related to a wide variety of diseases or medical disorders, such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, nausea and anxiety,” said FDA Principal Deputy Commissioner Janet Woodcock, M.D. “It is extremely troubling that some of the food products are packaged and labeled in ways that may appeal to children. We will continue to safeguard Americans’ health and safety by monitoring the marketplace and taking action when companies illegally sell products that pose a risk to public health.”