Yearly Archives: 2013

Hospital Opens First Inpatient Treatment Program For ‘Internet Addiction’

"You may recall that a couple of years back, China declared that spending six hours in a day on the internet meant you were addicted. Even some of our domestic psychiatrists were lobbying for an addiction to the internet beingincluded in the DSM book, which is the kind of light reading that would give a hypochondriac a case of the tight-pants. Sadly, to date, the concept of an overarching addiction to the internet hasn't been deemed fit for inclusion. But that won't stop hospitals from profiting off of the concept, now that the very first inpatient program to treat internet addiction has been launched at Bradford Regional Medical Center in Pennsylvania." Continue reading →

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Cops Cry Foul Over Holder Marijuana Policy Move

"Organized law enforcement has some problems with Attorney General Holder's announcement last week that the Justice Department would not seek to block Colorado and Washington from implementing their marijuana legalization laws. Those law enforcement groups are the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Major County Sheriff's Association, the National Sheriff's Association, the Major Cities Chief's Association, the Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies, the National Narcotics Officers' Associations Coalition, and the Police Executive Review Foundation." Continue reading →

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The People Who Profit from Marijuana Prohibition are Upset with the DOJ

"'Smart Approaches to Marijuana' sends a letter to the DOJ: Re: State Laws Legalizing Marijuana: 'We represent tens of thousands of people working in drug prevention, drug and mental health treatment, medicine, criminal justice reform, and millions of individuals and families in recovery from alcohol and drug dependence.' Of course, it’s signed by a Who’s Who of people who profit from marijuana prohibition. Patrick Kennedy, Kevin Sabet, Peter Bensinger, Robert DuPont, Calvina Fay, Howard Meitiner, Steven J. Pasierb, Betty Sembler, and some others in the treatment industry." Continue reading →

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Pot Apocalypse Looms, Marijuana Foes Warn

"Not everybody is happy with Thursday's Justice Department announcement that it would not interfere with taxed, regulated, and legalized marijuana in Colorado and Washington. While the announcement was greeted with accolades (and some questions) by the drug policy reform community, opponents of marijuana law reform were up in arms and prophesying hellfire and damnation. Despite the bitter disappointment of the prohibitionists, marijuana law reform is moving forward, and the momentum is only likely to accelerate in the years to come. We may see in a few years if their dire warnings are correct -- if the country is still standing, that is." Continue reading →

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So Much Cool Science Happening In The Marijuana Industry These Days

"Dixie Elixirs is setting itself to be the Pepsi of marijuana. They're a marijuana-infused products company, with a wide-ranging array of cannabis products ranging from soft drinks to chocolate to mints to ointments. Meanwhile, CannLabs is poised to dominate the cannabis quality testing market in the post-legalization Colorado. But once a marijuana infused products business like Dixie Elixirs makes these products, they need to be sure that they know exactly what they're selling. That's where a business like CannLabs comes in. Owned by Genifer Murray — one of the prominent women involved in the marijuana industry — CannLabs is a full-fledged marijuana testing lab." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSo Much Cool Science Happening In The Marijuana Industry These Days

These Are Heady Times for Glass Blowers’ High Art

"Now that marijuana has been legalized for medical purposes in 20 states, and for recreation in Washington and Colorado, makers of what is known as 'heady glass' are showcasing their work in art books and public competitions. There are as many as 12,000 head shops in the U.S., experts estimate. The Champs Trade Show, described as 'the premier counterculture B2B expo since 1999,' the show has grown from 4,300 square feet of exhibition space in its first year to 180,000 at its latest event in July at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Jeff Hirschfeld, the show's chief executive, estimates some exhibitors draw in more than $500,000 in sales." Continue reading →

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Administration Gives States Conditional Okay on Marijuana Legalization

"Attorney General Eric Holder told the governors of Colorado and Washington Thursday that the Justice Department would not -- at least for now -- block their states from implementing regimes to tax, regulate, and sell marijuana. The memo listed a number of activities that could draw federal prosecutorial attention or result in a Justice Department reassessment, including sales to minors, profits going to criminal actors, diversion to pot prohibition states, marijuana sales as a cover for other drug sales, violence and the use of firearms, drugged driving and other 'adverse public health consequences,' and growing marijuana on public lands. That leaves some wiggle room for federal prosecutors." Continue reading →

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What the Justice Department Pot Memo Means

"How soon is 'relatively soon?' The answer is 296 days. That’s how long it took for the Obama Justice Department to respond to the passage of last November’s historic statewide ballot measures in Colorado and Washington authorizing the commercial production and retail sale of cannabis to those over the age of 21. Cannabis law reformers welcomed the Justice Department’s directive, though some also expressed skepticism. Their caution is understandable. In a 2009 memo (the Ogden memorandum), the administration pledged not to intervene in medical cannabis states. But federal officials reversed course in 2011. Yet there are indications that things may be different now." Continue reading →

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Mexico City mulls legal marijuana ‘clubs’

"The capital hosted a three-day forum on drug policy amid a growing debate in Latin America over the course of the region’s deadly struggle against narcotrafficking, with President Enrique Pena Nieto taking a stance against legalization. Esthela Damian, a councilwoman of the city’s ruling Democratic Revolution Party (PRD), told AFP the proposals on the table include allowing the cultivation of three cannabis plants per person, as well as a system of cooperatives or 'non-profit private clubs.' Mexico City, home to almost nine million people plus 11 million more in its suburbs, has stood out from the rest of the country in recent years by legalizing abortion and allowing gay marriage." Continue reading →

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NJ Weedman on Jury Nullification vs. The Drug War

"NJWeedman, a medical marijuana patient fighting bone cancer and a pot legalization advocate, found himself in trouble after being pulled over by a New Jersey state trooper with more than a pound of marijuana in his possession, as well as a large sum of cash. This was sufficient to trigger a 'possession with intent to distribute' charge, and he faced up to a decade in prison if convicted. Because he represented himself and argued not for his innocence but against the morality of the law itself, NJWeedman believes he was acquitted by 'jury nullification.'" Continue reading →

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