E-cig Restrictions, Nek-nominate, Winter Olympics, Legalize-Tax-Discourage, Smoking and Mental Illness
Putting e-cigarettes behind the counter and not sold to minors in Cook County, while Chicago has banned e-cig “vaping” wherever cigarette smoking is forbidden. Nek-nominate, popular in UK and Australia, now here, involves drinking large amounts of alcohol often mixed with other bizarre things, then nominating one or two friends to follow suit, or do even more. Of course its recorded on YouTube. New performance-enhancing drugs coming out of Sochi. Massachusetts Representative Barney Frank advocating for legalizing drugs, and some success with smoking cessation among those with mental illness using the stop-smoking drug varenicline
Celebrities and Heroin ODs, CVS Stops Selling Cigarettes, 3rd Hand Smoke
Celebrity deaths increase the general recognition of drug problems, which lately have been heroin and prescription painkillers overdoses and deaths. Oscar and Tony-winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman’ s overdose death is the most recent in a long list celebrity drug death. Hoffman probably died of heroin mixed with some form of fentanyl, an extreme powerful opioid. Also the pharmacy chain CVS made news by announcing it would no longer sell cigarettes, with other large pharmacy chains like Walgreens saying they may follow suit. And the dangers of 3rd hand smoke are highlighted in a new study.
Strange Addictions, Meth for a Tip, Obama’s MJ Alcohol Comment, Sizzurp
Strange addictions point up the fact that addictions are not just to drugs, and not just for pleasure. An Oregon couple found out its not a good idea to leave a bag of meth for a tip, especially if you have a meth lab nearby. We also look at the implications of President Obama’s recent comment that pot is no worse than alcohol. And sizzurp aka purple drank in the news again, thanks for Justin Bieber.
MJ News Redux, Neanderthal Genes and Addiction/Disease, Strange Addiction of Week
Marijuana stories continue to dominate the news. Stories on the Super Bowl NFL players and pot, anti-MJ ads on Super Bowl, AJ Holder comments on ease banking restrictions for marijuana businesses, big investors meet in Las Vegas to discuss strategies for investing (lots) in the emergent pot industry, and marijuana enters county fairs competion. And the strange addiction this week is trying to look like Justin Bieber – strange indeed!
Heroin, Energy Drink Ban, Fingertip Drug Testing, AA vs Addiction Docs
Heroin is at epidemic levels in Vermont and a major concern, says its governor … Vermont and other small states have a greater per capita heroin problem than big cities, and overdose deaths have increased dramatically. Also, calls for banning of Monster Energy Drink, following a 19 year old’s death, and increased emergency room caffeine poisonings cases. Using the sweat from fingertips is the latest innovation in drug testing. And a discussion on the ongoing conflict between subscribers to the AA model of recovery vs. addiction doctors and their adherents. Also “amnesty boxes in Denver airport for MJ, and more on e-cigarettes, which have been banned in some places.
MJ Biz has Roaring Start in CO, Dabbing, Genetic Testing for ADHD, E-Cigs on TV
Recreational marijuana business got off to a roaring starting in Colorado, with $5 million is sales reported for the first week. Dabbing is a general term for several ways to extract the THC from the marijuana and greatly increase the potency. Genetic testing and treatment for ADHD is being explored. Low levels of dopamine seems to be part of the condition. And e-cigarette companies are planning a major advertising effort for this year, including TV ads. Meanwhile the FDA is intending to adopt new regulations for e-cigarettes, and New York City and a few other areas are requiring tobacco and e-cigarette purchasers to be 21.