Medical cannabis advocates are stepping up pressure on San Francisco officials to denounce the federal Drug Enforcement Administration's latest tactic of targeting landlords who rent to pot clubs in their long-running dispute with California over the use of marijuana to treat health ailments. "We are calling for people to stand up for safe access," said Shona Gochenaur, executive director of the local patient advocacy group Axis of Love and chair of the Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club's Cannabis Caucus. "This is a safe access emergency." [continues 713 words]
The City Hopes To Curb Meth Use Among Gay Men With Its "Resist Meth" Campaign. Despite some data suggesting that methamphetamine use among gay men has declined in recent years, a city panel tasked with addressing what health officials consider "the other epidemic" after HIV maintains that usage remains at a "high plateau." The Mayor's Task Force on Crystal Methamphetamine came to the conclusion in an April consensus report. Little noticed at the time it was issued, the report concluded that 13 percent of the city's estimated 54,000 gay and bisexual male residents use meth. Out of 5,524 gay and bi men who inject drugs, the task force concluded that 54 percent are speed users. Taken together, the numbers suggest that 10,003 gay men in San Francisco are meth users. [continues 2219 words]
