John Evans insists that calling post-traumatic stress a disorder is like cutting yourself and calling the blood a disorder. "It is a natural reaction to an unnatural event," says Evans, director of support group Veterans 4 Freedom. Not only military veterans, but women who have suffered domestic abuse or sexual assault, hospice workers, EMTs, firefighters, police officers and even those affected by natural disasters can have post-traumatic stress, he believes. Evans is a vocal member of the growing contingent of advocates demanding public health officials add medical marijuana to Colorado's approved list of PTSD treatments. Ten other states have passed similar measures. The Medical Marijuana Scientific Advisory Council, tasked by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment with reviewing petitions based on their scientific merits, recommended a yes vote. The state's chief medical officer Dr. Larry Wolk endorsed the proposal. [continues 709 words]
When Rocky Mountain Community Radio reporter Bente Birkeland began tracking legal marijuana's impacts on Colorado teenagers earlier this year, she discovered key data wasn't available. "The state does not require schools to report marijuana incidents separately," Birkeland says. "Alcohol and tobacco are in separate categories. But marijuana shouldn't be lumped in with cocaine or pharmaceuticals. It's a tough story to report." Birkeland personally talked to more than a dozen school districts and came away with the impression that most officials don't want to discuss drugs in schools with reporters. [continues 712 words]
A compassionate Republican legislator plans to introduce new medical marijuana legislation during Idaho's 2011 session. If passed, it would make Idaho the 15th state in the nation to legalize marijuana use for patients with chronic illnesses who are currently forced to buy legal medical marijuana out of state and risk bringing it home. Nearly a year ago, BW published my in-depth look at medical marijuana's supporters. Initially, my editor and I wondered if Idaho could save money on policing and generate revenue through taxation. Turns out, however, that decriminalization, taxation and lowest police priority are all off the table. [continues 371 words]
The Worldwide Marijuana March drew more than 300 demonstrators to downtown Boise on Saturday, May 2. Offering peace signs and garnering many supportive car honks, the marchers moved slowly under scattered showers along Capitol Boulevard to the front lawn of the Idaho Legislature. Speakers addressed the mass on the grass under the watch of a Capitol Annex camera and a few security guards. Boise police did not engage the pungent assembly. Rev. Levon Lion opened with a plea for support of religious cannabis use. He mentioned his organization, The Church of Cognitive Therapy, and touted the Omega-3 in edible hemp seeds, which he offered for tasting. Positioned in front of a "CREATE NEW JOBS" sign, he also spoke about hemp's industrial value for paper, plastic, fiber and fuel. [continues 1535 words]
