Big marijuana grows moving into foothills, bringing environmental damage by HEATHER HACKING-Staff Writer POSTED: 08/25/2013 09:17:32 PM PDT
While one pot garden isn\’t a problem, having many grows in one area adds up, wildlife watchers said.
The public has heard horror stories from the worst scenarios – where people hike into the back woods, haul backpacks filled with chemicals, then hope there isn\’t a raid before harvest. Often, Mexican nationals are arrested.
Yet, the trend has been for marijuana growers to move into better growing areas, particularly elevations of 500-1,500 feet, closer to roads and communities. Some might even look like legal grows, and have Proposition 215 signs posted, but too many plants.
Brad Henderson, an environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, has studied Google Earth satellite images to spot marijuana grows.
\”If you look at aerial photographs and see 50 grows in a watershed,\” it\’s an environmental problem, Henderson said.
Fifty grows isn\’t an exaggeration, he noted
Landowners duped, more growers migrate
In areas where marijuana growing looks hospitable, people have been known to come in and lease or pay a low down payment for purchase of a property, then make no other payments, said Clint Snyder, assistant executive officer of the Central Valley Regional Water Quality board.
By the time the landowner checks in, the pot has been grown and the people have left a mess behind.
This becomes a cleanup nightmare for the property owner….
General mess
Snyder, of the state Regional Water Quality board, said the very remote grows usually result in a pile of trash left behind – car batteries, fecal matter, leftover chemicals.
To get to these areas and do cleanup is more than agencies can afford. Agencies already know many areas that haven\’t been cleaned up. But even more grow sites are unknown, and canisters of chemicals are slowly degrading.
\”I\’m not trying to overstate this, but we don\’t have a clue\” how much damage is being caused…We will be paying for these grows for years to come.\” Little said.
Full Article at http://www.orovillemr.com/news/ci_23940712/big-marijuana-grows-moving-into-foothills-bringing-environmental
Reach Heather Hacking at 896-7758, [email protected], or on Twitter @HeatherHacking.
Marijuana legalization wrong way to end war on drugs
By Robert L. DuPont 2 p.m. Sept. 4, 2013
The Department of Justice recently announced that it will not uphold federal drug laws in the face of marijuana legalization in Washington state and Colorado, giving these states the green light to move forward with their regulatory plans for marijuana. The United States is now the only country in the world to legalize the commercial production, sale and use of marijuana.
Legalization promises an end to the “war on drugs,” to stop the violence on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border, empty prisons and,through taxation and regulation, yield much-needed government revenue. But trafficking is two-way. Drugs flow into the United States to feed American drug demand, while guns flow out. Why is no one suggesting that because of Mexican demand for guns that country must legalize the sale of guns from the United States? Simple: a free flow of weapons would be too dangerous – just as would a free flow of drugs. Before jumping on the legalization bandwagon, serious consideration must be given to the resulting social costs.
Thanks to a well-funded and impressively executed, decades-long campaign to normalize marijuana use, much of the public believes that marijuana use is harmless. A national poll reports that more than 50 percent of respondents support marijuana legalization. What the public does not hear – or believe – is the truth shown by a growing body of scientific evidence about the negative effects of marijuana use.
The human brain is exquisitely vulnerable to drugs, including marijuana. Drugs hijack the brain’s reward system, producing a more powerful reward than any natural behavior. Nine percent of all marijuana users become addicted; this figure increases to 16 percent when use begins in the teen years. There is a bidirectional relationship between substance use, including marijuana, and academic failure and dropout from both high school and college. Heavy marijuana use in the teenage years is associated with an eight-point loss in IQ. The highest rates of marijuana use are among young people, the most vulnerable to its negative effects. Two-thirds of teens who have used marijuana and more than three-quarters of teenage heavy marijuana users said that marijuana legalization would make them more likely to use it.
It is clear that legalization increases drug use. In 2011, 52 percent of Americans ages 12 and older used alcohol in the last 30 days. The equivalent figure for tobacco is 27 percent. For all illegal drugs combined the figure is just 9 percent (for marijuana it is 7 percent). Drug legalization will push the use of currently illegal drugs into the usage patterns of the two legal drugs. What sort of country will we have then?
Colorado and Washington are now serving as test cases for marijuana legalization. Legalization will extend the damage done by the proliferation of “medical” marijuana that is now available in Colorado, Washington and 18 other states and the District of Columbia. Rates of marijuana use by both youth and adults have increased. Colorado has seen widespread diversion of medical marijuana among adolescents in drug-abuse treatment as well as increases in pediatric emergency-department visits for marijuana. National trend data shows that from 2006 to 2011, overall traffic fatalities have decreased, but marijuana-related fatalities in Colorado have increased each year. These changes are but the tip of the iceberg. The crisis caused by marijuana legalization will be hastened by the certain entry of big business into marijuana production and sale to create powerful economic interests to reinforce current political interests, a pattern that mirrors the current status of alcohol and tobacco.
Given the federal government’s response to legalization, it is nearly certain that other states will legalize marijuana. But the end of this drug-policy story is not the legalization of marijuana across the United States. It is the legalization of all drugs of abuse – the end-goal of the pro-drug lobby that is working hard to legalize marijuana today. Every argument used in support of marijuana legalization is used to support the legalization of the other drugs.
The solution to the modern drug epidemic is not to surrender by legalizing marijuana or other drugs. These policies increase drug use,addiction and the related social costs. To protect the health, welfare and economic well-being of the entire nation, the goal of drug policy must be to find effective and affordable ways to reduce drug use that are compatible with modern values and laws. Reducing the demand for illegal drugs will improve public health and safety and reduce drug trafficking and the related violence.
DuPont, M.D., is president, Institute for Behavior and Health, and former director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse.© Copyright 2013 The San Diego Union-Tribune, LLC. An MLIM LLC Company. All rights reserved.
Narconon Reveals How Cannabis Craving Drive European Drug Trends
http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/1443215
A new report from the European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction provides a new, overall look at the rates of drug abuse and trafficking across Europe. An examination of that report shows how prominently cannabis figures into current trends.
First, cannabis is the most-used drug across the European Union. More than three million Europeans abuse this drug every day. The Czech Republic measured the highest rates of abuse, with 42% of 15 and 16 year olds having tried the drug.
Across all of Europe, it’s estimated that more than 15 million people 15 to 34 years of age have consumed this drug in the last year.
While cannabis has long been the market leader, the synthetic cannabis market has been growing rapidly in the last few years. Synthetic cannabinoids (cannabis-like) are not similar to cannabis in their chemistry, but rather in the way they interact with the body. Synthetic cannabinoids can be extremely potent and may contain a variety of different ingredients. There is no predicting the effects when a person choses one of these substances.
\”While some synthetic cannabinoids are illegal, there are always new substances of this type hitting the market,\” said Clark Carr, president of Narconon International. \”It is impossible for legislative bodies to keep up with this trend. Currently, there is one new psychoactive substance per week being reported to the European early warning system.\”
Each year in Europe, there are more than a million seizures of drugs, with cannabis accounting for nearly three out of four seizures. Important to note is that seizures of herbal cannabis have more than tripled in Europe since 2001. Seizures of resin cannabis (hashish) remain high at more than 300,000 annually.
In addition, nearly every country has reported seizures of multi-kilogram quantities of synthetic cannabinoid agents, most of it being trafficked from Asia to Europe. About these synthetics, the new report, titled European Drug Report, Trends and developments, notes that: \”Many of the products on sale contain mixtures of substances, and the lack of pharmacological and toxicological data means it is hard to speculate on long term health implications of use, but increasingly data shows that some of these substances cause problems requiring clinical interventions, and fatalities have been recorded.\”
\”Users choosing these new, unpredictable drugs are playing with fire,\” said Carr. \”The more parents talk to their children about the problems related with use of synthetics, the better. It would be smart for parents to also mention the fact that 60,000 Europeans each year are entering drug rehab centers to get help for cannabis addictions, proving that this drug also creates severe problems for the abuser.\”
The primary countries reporting high levels of treatment for cannabis addiction are the UK, Germany, Spain, France, Italy and the Netherlands.
\”Our Narconon centers in Europe can, of course, help these people who have suffered damage due to abuse of these drugs, but when parents can prevent drug abuse by their children, then they can avoid the need for rehab,\” concluded Carr.
For more information on the Narconon drug rehab program, call 1-800-775-8750.
Reference
http://www.emcdda.europa.eu
Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/european-cannabis/drug-trends/prweb11079527.htm
\”Drug taking has moved from being outlawed behaviour, seen only on the fringes of society, to a widely accepted activity, even when illegal. In Britain, for all the talk of a “war on drugs,” no one ever tried to wage one. Instead, drug taking has become more and more legally and socially acceptable. We frame drug-taking as either a harmless diversion or, when taken to excess in the form of addiction, as an illness that needs to be cured. Regardless of the impact on physical and mental health, the hard truth is that self-stupefaction of any kind is morally wrong. Drug taking is pure self-indulgence. It prioritises personal pleasure and instant gratification in a way that wreaks havoc with any kind of ethical framework. If we don’t want to succumb to a culture of violence, greed, and selfishness, we should make sure that the moral argument about drugs is not pushed aside. Not even the most rabid advocate of legalisation would argue that more drug taking would be a good thing, so let’s have the courage to deter it by clearly saying: “it’s wrong.”\”
Peter Hitchens is an English journalist and author. His latest book isThe War We Never Fought: The British Establishment’s Surrender to Drugs.
Taking cocaine can change the structure of the brain within hours – we\’ll so was the opening line in this recent article on the impact of Cocaine on brain neuro-physiology
The article went on disclose that \”Experts described it as the brain \”learning addiction\””.
Based on this emerging evidence, it becomes even more clear why dealers continue to push ‘Coke’ as the new ‘red wine’ of the pseudo socio-sophisticates. It’s the A.T.S that not only gives you a so called ‘pick me up’, or conveniently ‘masks’ the impact of depressants, but most importantly for the trafficker of the Non-communicable Disease (NCD) known as ‘drug dependency’, it teaches the user’s brain to ‘pursue’ the NCD. It’s the ‘gift that just keeps on giving\’, but to who? Certainly it is no \’gift\’ for the hapless user. In this case the old axiom rings very true; \’The user ALWAYS pays\’ – and sadly with more than, money as the following clip humorously, yet very cleverly reveals…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLd9MZYQwy0
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-23811712 25th August 2013 By James Gallagher, Health and Science Reporter, BBC News
This is the first report and foundational for future reports. It is divided into six sections with each providing data on the impact of legalization prior to and during the creation of the medical marijuana industry in Colorado. Generally, except for diversion of Colorado marijuana, there is limited data for 2012 and 2013.
DRUG FREE AMERICA FOUNDATION, INC.’S RESPONSE TO ATTORNEY GENERAL HOLDER’S ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT CHANGING MANDATORY MINIMUM GUIDELINES
August 13, 2013
While improvements to drug policy and the criminal justice system are certainly needed, we, as a nation, need to remember that both violent crime and drug use in America have declined significantly over the past 3 decades. One must conclude then that we have obviously done some things right.
Until legalization advocates initiated well-financed campaigns to normalize and legalize drugs in the early 1990\’s, with an emphasis on the legalization of marijuana under the guise of medicine, we had made tremendous progress in pushing back against drugs, actually reducing overall drug use in America by greater than 50%.
Our nation’s drug epidemic peaked when in 1978, according to the Monitoring the Future report, 10.7% of 12th graders reported smoking marijuana daily. By 1992, those rates dipped to a low of 1.9%, an astounding 80% decline. Since the launch of those pro-drug campaigns, we have slowly been slipping back to the old mindset of “Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out.” In 1997, following the passage of Proposition 215 which legalized marijuana as a so-called medicine in 1996, daily use of marijuana by 12th graders jumped to 5.8% and in 2012, it rose again to 6.5%.
Attorney General Holder could do much to help us move in the direction of further reduction of drug use if he would respect the duties of his job and enforce our federal marijuana laws in Colorado and Washington where so-called recreational use of pot is now allowed. He also could take decisive action to stop the legalization of marijuana under the guise of medicine that is spreading across the country. Drug prevention and treatment groups and law enforcement officials have repeatedly and directly asked for his help on this issue now for almost a year, and he continues to ignore our pleas while lives are damaged every single day from the abuses of marijuana.
Some of AG Holder’s recent comments about revamping the mandatory minimum guidelines are rather confusing because, in reality, people rarely get charged in federal court for simple possession charges (a misdemeanor). And if they do, it is usually because of other related charges like firearms, immigration, or a serious criminal history, and the drug charge has very little to do with the ultimate sentence. Less than 1% of offenders are in prison for simple possession and these have typically pled down from much more serious crimes.
Mandatory minimum guidelines were instituted as a result of a bi-partisan commission and involved both congressional and judicial input to, among other things, address inequities in sentencing and provide national uniformity. They have also been a tremendous leveraging tool to find and prosecute the “Big Fish” while allowing the small-time drug peddlers to be diverted to alternative programs.
Eliminating mandatory minimums could actually resurrect the problems that they were intended to fix in the first place. The fact that violent crime and drug use in America have been declining should seriously be considered before we reverse the directions and policies that may be contributing to these declines.
Regarding Holder’s comments on rehabilitation and releases, we need a full spectrum approach that includes a working recovery system and a direct linkage to a job for those in recovery or being released. Just releasing prisoners is not going to improve anything and can be argued to be a form of political grandstanding. It may appear to reduce incarceration costs but the real costs to society will likely go up if we are releasing prisoners that are going to be back into our neighborhoods to sell drugs and commit crimes to support their habits or to compensate for their lack of real life ability and skills to cope with life on the outside.
We need more clarity from Mr. Holder about what his total plan includes. The devil is always in the details and details are rarely, if ever, contained in speeches. There is reason for all Americans to be concerned without a more in-depth policy description.
Drug Free America Foundation urges AG Holder to support drug courts and other diversion programs that hold drug users accountable while requiring them to stop using drugs, to support programs to help those incarcerated return to productive lives free of drugs, and to continue to exact swift and significant penalties upon drug traffickers that target and endanger our children. We further call upon Mr. Holder to uphold his duty to enforce federal marijuana laws in Colorado and Washington and bring our nation back into compliance with our international treaty obligations!
Contact information: Lana Beck, Communications Director Telephone: 727-828-0211, ext 102 or 727-403-7571 Email: [email protected] Website: www.dfaf.org
Agenda: Argument against legalising drugs
Ian Oliver – Tuesday 16 July 2013
Increasingly the assertion is made that international drug control policies have failed and the best solution would be to legalise drugs so that they would be controlled and distributed safely through Government authorised outlets, thus denying the trade to criminal traffickers.
Regrettably, these assertions are often made by self-appointed groups with grand sounding titles which have their own reasons for supporting legalisation. Frequently high-profile people claim legalisation is the best way of addressing a major social problem without cogent supporting evidence. The data used and distributed is inaccurate but presented to impress people who believe it must be true because it is published by such impressive sounding organisations and respected \”celebrities\”.
The flawed argument is that all prohibition monies have been wasted and would be better spent for the benefit of the community; it is claimed taxation on legally supplied drugs could be used to offset problems arising from drug use.
The truth is that all drugs are potentially dangerous including prescription and over-the-counter medicines unless taken under medical guidance and supervision. International organised crime has capitalised on drug trafficking to the point where the money generated often exceeds the GDP of many countries. Traffickers spread false information aimed at convincing gullible people that drugs are safe \”recreational\” and fun; it has to be remembered it is the demand for drugs that has made trafficking so profitable. Accurate information has been submerged by an abundance of deliberately false statements about all drug users being treated as criminals and drug control is an abuse of human rights which should allow all people freedom of choice.
Elementary research will reveal the problem with uncontrolled drugs just 100 years ago was vast and there were many people addicted to hard drugs marketed in various forms and widely used and abused. The international drug control system was born out of a real humanitarian crisis, a catastrophe that happened only because of a lack of global norms and standards. The UN Conventions were developed because it was universally agreed control was necessary to protect the health and welfare of mankind and most countries became signatories to agreements that are reviewed and approved every decade. The main Convention of 1961 is flexible in its approach and, far from being all about arrests and imprisonment, it emphasises the need that drugs should be used only for legitimate medical and research purposes; it stresses health and requires that all drug users are treated with respect and not marginalised or discriminated against. Conventions encourage evidence-based therapy for those who become dependent as well as education, rehabilitation and social re-integration. Criminality also has to be addressed.
There is another important UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989, designed to protect children from the illicit use of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and to prevent the use of children in illicit production and trafficking. This is important as the human brain does not stop developing until well into the 20s and substances such as cannabis are proven to damage the brain permanently.
The purpose of any effective drug policy should be to lessen the harm that illegal drugs do to society. Lowering or eliminating current legal and social restrictions that limit the availability and acceptance of drug use would have the opposite effect.
Any Government policy must be motivated by the consideration that it must first do no harm. There is an obligation to protect citizens and the compassionate and sensible method must be to do everything possible to reduce dependency and misuse, not encourage or facilitate it. Criminals will not stop their crimes, change course and become honest tax-paying citizens if drugs were legalised. Although there may be freedom of choice to use dangerous substances there can be no freedom from the consequences. International drug control is working; fewer than 6% of people globally use drugs regularly and legalisation is not the answer.
Dr Oliver was a police officer for 37 years and is an independent consultant for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. He is the author of Drug Affliction, published by The Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen
http://www.heraldscotland.com/comment/columnists/agenda-argument-against-legalising-drugs.21614050
A study in the July 2013 issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings warns that marijuana use for pain may interfere with normal development (released June 24, 2013). “The consequences may be very, very severe, particularly for adolescents who may get rid of their pain – or not – at the expense of the rest of their life,” said co-author J. Michael Bostwick, M.D., a Mayo Clinic psychiatrist.
Despite regular marijuana use, patients reported worsening of their pain and impaired functioning. None attended school full time and found it difficult to be more socially active with their friends.
http://www.examiner.com/article/marijuana-does-not-stop-chronic-pain-teens-says-study
