Marijuana/Cannabis News and Research

RSS

Marijuana is a green, brown, or gray mixture of dried, shredded leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers of the hemp plant (Cannabis sativa). Cannabis is a term that refers to marijuana and other drugs made from the same plant. Other forms of cannabis include sinsemilla, hashish, and hash oil. All forms of cannabis are mind-altering (psychoactive) drugs.

Synthetic cannabis ban in NSW from 1st of July

Kronic and other named synthetic drugs that induce effects similar to cannabis will be banned in NSW from July 1. NSW Mental Health Minister Kevin Humphries announced this saying use of the products sold online and at retail outlets have led to warnings from doctors. He added that the state government will ban the products under existing legislation.

28 Jun 2011

Nearly one third of the miners on a synthetic form of cannabis

New research has revealed that a synthetic form of cannabis is being consumed and has shown up in one in ten West Australian mine workers’ urine samples. The state's ChemCentre provides forensic testing for police and the State Coroner. They have been given the contract on an increasing basis by private companies in mining regions to test their workers for the substance, known as Kronic.

12 May 2011

Marijuana licensing laws vetoed by Washington Governor

Current laws regarding marijuana have come under the scanner. US attorneys have warned states that those who are licensed to grow marijuana or even those who regulate it could be subjected to prosecution. Because of this, several states have begun to change their existing laws for medical marijuana.

4 May 2011

Marijuana and psychosis linked in a study

...

3 Mar 2011

Fake pot now illegal in U.S.

...

1 Mar 2011

Cannabis use accelerates psychosis in the young: Study

A new study has shown that cannabis use can hasten the onset of schizophrenia by several years. The study included data from 20,000 patients with a psychotic illness and found those who smoked cannabis were diagnosed almost three years ahead of those who did not use the drug. The research is published in the journal Archives of General Psychiatry.

8 Feb 2011

Australian drug survey reveals teenage drug use trends

According to the latest national drug survey, ‘2008 Australian Secondary Students Alcohol and Drug Survey’, more school students use the drug ecstasy, but fewer of them smoke. The report came out this Tuesday.

18 Jan 2011

Fake pot now illegal

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) had to resort to its emergency powers this Wednesday to ban K2 and other “fake pot” products that mimic the effects of marijuana. As of now it is illegal to possess or sell the five chemicals used to make the products for at least one year. The agency and the Department of Health and Human Services will further debate whether the chemicals should be permanently added to the federal list of controlled substances considered unsafe, highly abused and without medical use.

24 Nov 2010

Young marijuana users suffer most cognitive damage: Study

Many marijuana smokers begin early. A new study shows that these people did much worse on tests of executive brain function than those who started smoking when they were older. Researchers highlight the danger posed by marijuana and the need to develop effective strategies to reduce marijuana use, especially among young people in their study.

15 Nov 2010

Cannabis “scratch & sniff” cards to stop illegal plantations

In a novel method to uncover illegal urban cannabis plantations nearly 30,000 Dutch households are to receive marijuana-scented scratch cards. According to authorities in Rotterdam and The Hague they are distributing the cards to help people recognize what cannabis smells like.

8 Nov 2010

Alcohol - the worst drug!

A new study shows that alcohol abuse is by far the worst habit to have when compared to other recreational drugs like crack or heroin. Neuropharmacologist David Nutt, of Imperial College London who is also a former British government drug advisor and his team rated 20 different drugs on a scale that takes into account the various harms caused by a drug. Drugs are rated on the nine harms a drug causes to an individual and seven harms a drug causes to the society. The scale was developed by a panel of experts called the Independent Scientific Committee on Drugs (ICSD), ranges from 0 (no harm) to 100 (greatest possible harm). It is weighted so that a drug that scores 50 is half as harmful as a drug that scores 100.

1 Nov 2010

Rising alcohol prices driving the young towards illicit drug use

A latest study that spanned over two years revealed a link between alcohol prices and consumption of illicit drugs such as ecstasy. The study says that as alcohol prices have risen young people have ‘switched’ to the party drug ecstasy as an alternative.

26 Oct 2010

Continuous boosting of natural painkiller shuts down brain cell receptor response

ERepeatedly boosting brain levels of one natural painkiller soon shuts down the brain cell receptors that respond to it, so that the painkilling effect is lost, according to a surprising new study led by Scripps Research Institute and Virginia Commonwealth University scientists. The study has important implications for drug development.

25 Aug 2010

‘Decriminalize’ but not ‘Legalize’ drug abuse says Australian Sex party

Professor Paul Wilson, an Australian criminologist revealed that illegal drug use in Australia costs the nation $3.8 billion every year. Australian Sex Party however claims personal drug use should be decriminalized and drug abusers sent for rehabilitation instead of imprisonment.

10 Aug 2010

Studies demonstrate analgesic properties of synthetic cannabinoid

A new compound similar to the active component of marijuana (cannabis) might provide effective pain relief without the mental and physical side effects of cannabis, according to a study in the July issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia, official journal of the International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS).

2 Jul 2010

Dim and demented under the influence of cannabis

New research shows what many Cannabis users have suspected or known for a while, continuous use can lead to dimmer brains. Australia ranks among the world's highest cannabis users and this puts the population at a high risk of developing dementia say researchers.

10 Jun 2010

Medical use of marijuana on its way to reality in Washington D.C.

After debate the Washington, D.C., city council has voted unanimously for use of marijuana for medical purposes in patients with “chronic and lasting disease” like HIV, glaucoma, cancer, severe pain, multiple sclerosis etc.

22 Apr 2010

16 kg Kava seized: an Aboriginal elder arrested in connection

16 kilograms of Kava was seized by the Northern Territory Police as they arrested a well respected 56-year-old Aboriginal elder in connection. He will appear in court this May. Police from Ramingining in Arnhem Land stopped a Toyota Landcruiser at Barge Landing Road on Good Friday. The haul included 16 kg of Kava and small amounts of Cannabis. A police spokewoman revealed on Monday, "The Kava had a street value of $16,000 and was headed for Milingimbi Island before it was intercepted by police."

5 Apr 2010

Re-classification of cannabis will have minimal impact on incidence of psychosis says study

The research follows last year’s decision by the UK government to reclassify the drug from class C to class B, partly out of concerns that cannabis, especially the more potent varieties, may increase the risk of schizophrenia in young people. However, the evidence for the relationship between cannabis and schizophrenia or psychosis remains controversial.

5 Nov 2009