Quitting marijuana as hard as quitting cigarettes
The News Review:
- Quitting marijuana as hard as quitting cigarettes
- Medical marijuana dealt a setback
- Calif. High Court Rules Employers Can Fire Workers Using Medical…
- School shooter convicted on gun charge
- Gozitan admits to cultivating cannabis part-time
- Court: Employers Can Fire Employees for Using Medical Marijuana
- California Approves Medical Marijuana Vending Machines
Quitting marijuana as hard as quitting cigarettes
News-Medical.net – Jan 28, 2008
Abstinence from each of these drugs appears to cause several common symptoms, such as irritability, anger and trouble sleeping – based on self reporting in a recent study of 12 heavy users of both marijuana and cigarettes. “These results indicate that some marijuana users experience withdrawal effects when they try to quit, and that these effects should be considered by clinicians treating people with problems related to heavy marijuana use,” says lead investigator in the study, Ryan Vandrey, Ph. , of the Department of Psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Marijuana is the most widely used illicit drug in the United States. Admissions in substance abuse treatment facilities in which marijuana was the primary problem substance have more than doubled since the early 1990s and now rank similar to cocaine and heroin with respect to total number of yearly treatment episodes in the United States, says Vandrey… Marijuana is the most widely used illicit drug in the United States. Admissions in substance abuse treatment facilities in which marijuana was the primary problem substance have more than doubled since the early 1990s and now rank similar to cocaine and heroin with respect to total number of yearly treatment episodes in the United States, says Vandrey. He points out that a lack of data, until recently, has led to cannabis withdrawal symptoms not being characterized or included in medical reference literature such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition, (DSM-IV) or the International Classification of Diseases, 10th edition (ICD-10). Since the drafting of the DSM-IV in 1994, an increasing number of studies have surfaced suggesting that cannabis has significant withdrawal symptoms. What makes Vandrey’s recent study unique is that it is the first study that compares marijuana withdrawal symptoms to withdrawal symptoms that are clinically recognized by the medical community – specifically the tobacco withdrawal syndrome. “Since tobacco withdrawal symptoms are well documented and included in the DSM-IV and the IDC-10, we can infer from the results of this comparison that marijuana withdrawal is also clinically significant and should be included in these reference materials and considered as a target for improving treatment outcomes,” says Vandrey. Vandrey added that this is the first “controlled” comparison of the two withdrawal syndromes in that data was obtained using rigorous scientific methods – abstinence from drugs was confirmed objectively, procedures were identical during each abstinence period, and abstinence periods occurred in a random order.
Medical marijuana dealt a setback
BP News – Jan 28, 2008
“Plaintiff’s position might have merit if the Compassionate Use Act gave marijuana the same status as any legal prescription drug. But the act’s effect is not so broad,” Justice Kathryn Werdegar wrote, upholding a lower court’s decision. “No state law could completely legalize marijuana for medical purposes because the drug remains illegal under federal law,” she added. Nothing in the text or history of the Compassionate Use Act suggests the voters intended the measure to address the respective rights and obligations of employers and employees… “Barrett Duke, vice president of public policy for the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, told Baptist Press he is “encouraged that everyone hasn’t lost their common sense in this matter. “”It is entirely appropriate for an employer to feel confident that all of his or her employees can perform their jobs without impairment,” Duke said. “Marijuana is an extremely dangerous drug which undoubtedly impairs a person’s mental and physical abilities, and employers should have the right to terminate someone who is using marijuana on the job. “California is one of 12 states with medical marijuana laws, and the Los Angeles Times noted that Rhode Island specifically protects workers from being fired for using medical marijuana. Supreme Court decision said state medical marijuana laws do not protect users from criminal prosecution.
Calif. High Court Rules Employers Can Fire Workers Using Medical…
Insurance Journal – Jan 28, 2008
The high court upheld a small telecommunications company’s firing of a man who failed a company-ordered drug test. Gary Ross held a medical marijuana card authorizing him to use the drug to treat a back injury sustained while serving in the Air Force… The high court upheld a small telecommunications company’s firing of a man who failed a company-ordered drug test. Gary Ross held a medical marijuana card authorizing him to use the drug to treat a back injury sustained while serving in the Air Force. The company, Ragingwire Inc. , argued that it rightfully fired Ross because all marijuana use is illegal under federal law, which does not recognize the medical marijuana laws in California and 11 other states.
School shooter convicted on gun charge
USA Today – Jan 28, 2008
The defense offered drug tests that showed no drug usage by Johnson and testimony from witnesses who said they had never seen Johnson use drugs or possess drug paraphernalia. A prosecution witness testified Tuesday that Johnson often smoked marijuana, but he later acknowledged that he lied under oath when he denied that he personally owned a gun. Dustin David Wynboom said that he and Johnson smoked marijuana once every week or two and that they once smoked marijuana while working at a local Wal-Mart. Wynboom, 21, of Springdale, said he also saw Johnson’s handgun and said Johnson told him “he needed it for protection, that people were after him. ”
Wynboom denied ever owning a handgun himself when questioned by Johnson’s lawyer, John B. Schisler, prompting a long recess. When court resumed, Wynboom admitted he lied under oath.
Gozitan admits to cultivating cannabis part-time
maltamedia.com – Jan 28, 2008
Police Inspector Nexren Grixti said that on the 16th of December he was informed that Muscat left his house with a small motorcycle and a sack on his back and headed towards one of his fields. When he was stopped and searched, the Police retrieved eight plastic bags each the size of a ball and containing cannabis in the sack. Later, a box containing around ten kilos cannabis was found at Muscat