POT KILLS: WHAT’S ON YOUR POT? WHAT’S IN YOUR WATER?
11/2/2018
The Marijuana Environment is Hazardous to Human Health
All creatures great and small are being poisoned by the pesticides and rodenticides in the water they drink, and in the food they eat. This polluted water from the northern California marijuana environment eventually flows to much of the State. The lawless pot industry is nothing less than purveyors of poison.
The recent scientific study “Cultivating Disaster: The Effect of Cannabis Cultivation on the Environment of Calaveras County,” points out that the cultivation of the drug was allowed by the State of California without adequate understanding of the impact on the environment and public health, welfare and safety. The chemicals that flow from the grow sites to the watershed had never been approved for these crops.
California classifies as an agricultural product. However, pot growers do not have to meet the same stringent requirements for chemicals and fertilizers as do all other farmers. Local water providers conduct limited testing to see if dangerous chemicals are leaching into water supplies or waste treatment systems.
However, independent water experts tested water samples in Calaveras County. They found that two-thirds of the samples contained chemicals proven to be deadly poison to humans, fish and animals.
Carbofuron is a threat
Of particular concern is carbofuron, an extremely toxic, water soluble granular pesticide. The US bans banned carbufuron, but Mexican cartels don’t follow the US ban. It is reported that an eighth of a teaspoon would kill a 300 lb black bear.
In 2017, UC Davis researchers found harmful bacteria and deadly mold and Aspergillus fungi on marijuana in grows and dispensaries. This critical threat from marijuana grows to our environment and the human population is just beginning to surface.
The damaging effects of marijuana (cannabis), often considered a hallucinogenic drug, have long been known. Marijuana with high levels of THC, the mind-altering chemical in marijuana, is being grown and sold today as a “medicine.” It is long-acting and addictive, causing brain damage, loss of intellect, psychotic breaks, suicides, mental illness, and birth defects and leads to other social costs from higher crime rates, highway deaths, excessive high school dropouts, and increased ER admissions, among others.
This lawless Big Marijuana Industry follows the playbook of Big Tobacco: GET KIDS HOOKED — ADDICTION OFTEN FOLLOWS. Their advertisements include images of Santa Claus, kids’ movies and cartoons, and they sell “edibles,” pot infused candy, lollipops and gummy bears with THC levels 50-70%. Many products are advertised as being 94-95% THC. Now there is crystalline THC that is 99.99% THC, known as “the strongest weed in the world.” Unfortunately, the public perception of marijuana is based on marijuana of the past — with 1- 5% THC.
For complete article http://www.stoppot.org/2018/02/11/pot-kills-whats-pot-whats-water/
Marijuana sales overtake alcohol in US city for first time
Friday 9 February 2018
Licensed vendors in Rocky Mountains ski resort Aspen made $11.3m (£8.2m) from selling cannabis in 2017
Sales of marijuana have overtaken alcohol in a city in Colorado, three years after the state became the first in the US to legalise recreational use of the drug.
Licensed vendors in the ski resort of Aspen raked in $11.3m (£8.2m) income from cannabis last year, compared to $10.5m (£7.6m) brought in by off-licences.
It is believed to be the first time legal marijuana sales have eclipsed those of alcohol anywhere in the US.
The US state growing three times more cannabis than it can consume
Aspen’s first cannabis shop opened in March 2014, three months after legislation for taxing and regulating sales came into force across Colorado. By the next year the resort, which has a population of less than 7,000, had seven licensed distributors.
Concern over 700pc surge in drivers caught on drugs behind wheel
Ralph Riegel — 12 February 2018
Gardai have mounted almost 52,400 roadside checks
There has been a massive 700pc increase in the number of motorists testing positive for drug-driving since roadside sampling was introduced in April 2017.
The revelation came as road safety campaigners demanded greater resources for garda traffic corps amid fears drug-driving is set to prove as deadly an issue as drink-driving.
PARC road safety founder Susan Gray warned that the statistics indicated motorists driving under the influence of drugs was a problem significantly greater than initially feared by the authorities.
Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan confirmed to Tommy Broughan TD that a total of 90 motorists had tested positive for drug-driving in routine roadside checks since the new regulations came into force.
The new provision of the Road Traffic Act (2016) allows gardai to conduct preliminary drug detection testing at roadside checkpoints.
The test is conducted using the Drager 5000 analysis device.
This can give gardai a preliminary indicator of the presence in a motorist\’s saliva of traces of cannabis and cocaine, opiates such as heroin and even the benzodiazepine drugs such as Valium.
Prosecution follows if the motorist fails a subsequent impairment test.
Does anyone care that \’safe injection sites\’ are neither safe nor legal?
FEBRUARY 16, 2018 – by Stu Bykofsky, @StuBykofsky | [email protected]
Thank you, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, for giving me cover so I don’t wind up being painted as the “worst person in the world,” the label Keith Olbermann used on his TV show to hang on people he didn’t like.
I have been silent as the opioid epidemic raged because I had no clear-cut solution. The debate currently swirls around the idea of city-approved “safe injection sites,” more formally known as CUES – comprehensive user engagement sites.
First, contrary to the name, “safe injection sites” are not “safe.”
We have so many overdoses because of the unpredictable potency of the drugs. “You shoot this poison in your veins and you have no idea whether you’re going to live or whether you’re going to die,” says Shapiro.
Second, the sites would be against the law, Shapiro was quoted as saying. I was so happy to read that the state’s chief law enforcement officer believes in law, I had to talk to him.
Turns out he has his own ideas about how to fight the opioid epidemic.
First, arrest the dealers. Second, go after doctors to prevent diversion of legal drugs to illegal use. Finally, he tells me, take on pharmaceutical companies to slow the flow of drugs into the community.
That injection sites are illegal is something CUES proponents like to ignore or brush off.
At the (not) safe injection sites, volunteers would provide life-saving doses of naloxone to those who overdose. Will the (not) safe injection sites do anything to reduce drug use, or will they actually expand drug use by providing life preservers?
I understand the impulse to help, but it is misguided.
Would we consider safe smoking sites where tobacco addicts could light up and be handed oxygen canisters? How about safe alcohol venues where drunks can get blasted with volunteers waiting to drive them home? Both smoking and alcohol kill, but not as fast as heroin or fentanyl.
For complete article http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/stu_bykofsky/attorney-general-josh-shapiro-cues-safe-injection-sites-illegal-opioids-stu-bykofsky-20180216.html
Melbourne hospital staff take a stand against \’violent, aggressive\’ patients
Emergency department staff deal with violent, aggressive patients at the Royal Melbourne Hospital so often they\’ve decided to lead the charge for change.
Last year there was almost 7500 incidents and nurse unit manager Susan Harding says it\’s only gotten worse.
\”We\’d have at least one incident of violence or aggression each shift every day,\” Ms Harding said.
A video containing CCTV footage of situations of violence towards hospital staff has been released by the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
To fight back, Emergency Department staff has produced a shocking video Help Us, Help You which will play in the waiting area to raise awareness of occupational violence. The video shows CCTV footage of patients throwing chairs, smashing doors and other examples of aggression against hospital workers.
There were 7438 \’code grey\’ incidents in 2017 – an 85 per cent increase in just four years. There were also nine \’cold black\’ situations, which involve aggressive patients with a weapon.
The most common reports included physical violence, threatening behaviour and harassment.
For more https://www.theage.com.au/melbourne-news/melbourne-hospital-staff-take-a-stand-against-violent-aggressive-patients-20180226-p4z1pw.htm
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Melbourne hospital staff release horrifying video of emergency room violence
Staff at Royal Melbourne Hospital have released a horrifying video showing the violence faced by those working in the emergency department.
The Cannabis Paradox
Roger Ladouceur — Canadian Family Physician February 2018
“The evidence indicates the most consistent effects of medical cannabinoids are adverse events. A variety of adverse events have a greater magnitude of effect than the potential benefits for the conditions targeted.1
The conclusions drawn by this analysis are not surprising. Study after study, analysis after analysis, and review after review2,3 have all reported the same findings: cannabis has little place within current therapeutic arsenals, except as a last resort in very specific situations or when nothing else has worked…”
For complete article The Canadian Family Physician http://www.cfp.ca/content/64/2/86.long#ref-1
Signs of a Meth Lab: How to detect a meth lab — Common ingredients
Although Methamphetamine can be produced or cooked in many different locations there are certain warning signs that may indicate a drug house.
Making or cooking methamphetamine requires minimal training and experience and limited amounts of equipment and chemicals, both of which are relatively inexpensive. Meth Labs can be found in almost any location, from houses, apartments, cars, rental storage units and motorhomes. There are many external recognition clues alluding to a meth lab. Some of the common warning signs of a suspected meth lab include:
- Strong odours (acrid, sour, ammonia, solvents, pungent)
- Windows covered with foils or plastics
- Renters who pay landlords cash
- Excessive trash and rubbish
- Unusual structures
- Increased activity, especially at night
- Discolouration of structures, soil and pavement or driveway
- Increased security systems or other devices
For complete article http://methlabs.com.au/signs-of-a-meth-lab/
Alcohol & Drugs, Criminal Justice / 17th February 2018 / 5 min read / CSEW, sexual assault
83% do not report being sexually assaulted
Alcohol-and drug-related
Respondents who reported they had been victims of rape or assault by penetration since they were 16 were asked whether they thought the offender (or offenders) was under the influence of alcohol or drugs and whether they were under the influence of alcohol or drugs themselves at the time of the incident.
In their most recent rape or assault by penetration (including attempts), 38% of victims reported that the offender(s) were under the influence of alcohol. The same proportion of victims (38%) said they were under the influence of alcohol themselves.
Fewer victims reported that the offender was under the influence of drugs (8%) and that they themselves were under the influence of drugs they had chosen to take (2%). In addition, 6% of victims reported that they thought that the offender had drugged them during the last incident of rape or penetration (including attempts) they had experienced.
More victims were under the influence of alcohol when the offender was a stranger (65%) compared with when the offender was a partner or ex-partner (19%). A similar pattern was evident for whether the victim thought the offender had drugged them — 17% when the offender was a stranger, 4% when the offender was a partner or ex-partner.
Criminal Justice posts are sponsored by Get the Data
For complete Article http://www.russellwebster.com/dastats18-2/
How a Police Chief, a Governor and a Sociologist Would Spend $100 Billion to Solve the Opioid Crisis
The consensus of the experts was that any effective strategy should include funding for four major areas: treatment, harm reduction, and both demand- and supply-focused solutions. The answer above is an average, as our panelists disagreed about the best way to divide up the money they were considering.
Our panel spent more money on treatment programs than anything else. (Over two million Americans are estimated to have a problem with opioids.) It was the top priority for more than 20 of the experts.
There was substantial disagreement about whether to focus on treating addiction or on trying to prevent the addiction from forming in the first place by addressing the underlying social issues that allow opioid addiction to thrive.
Our answers also suggest that the severity of the opioid crisis is breaking down longstanding divisions between public health officials and law enforcement, with over two-thirds of our panel including increased funding for law enforcement or international interdiction efforts. (Most of our panelists are public health and policy experts; others are politicians and law enforcement officials who have dealt with the crisis extensively.)
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