I love Alaska. I was born here; and I trained here. I was so proud to represent the United States and Alaska in the Winter Olympics and share my snowboarding medal with the entire state upon my return. Now I am very happy to raise my family here. Throughout my life I have embraced health, focus, learning, determination, and helping others to do their best. I know that to succeed, it is important to surround oneself with a supportive, positive, and healthy environment. [continues 529 words]
Australia and New Zealand released an in-depth study on the affects of teenagers and marijuana. The findings were published in The Week magazine, dated September 26, and The Guardian online. The study found that there was "clear and consistent associations between regular cannabis use and high school ... rates (60 percent less likely to graduate), suicide rates (seven times more likely to attempt), other illicit drug use, and cannabis dependency." This study also showed "the risks of negative outcomes increased with the frequency of cannabis use." [continues 58 words]
A Psychology of Macho Law-Making Steers Policy - in Defiance of Public Opinion and Common Sense The government should ban all reports on drug legalisation. They get you hooked on rage. Evidence-based reform is a gateway substance to common sense. Just send a message: no thought means no. Parliament's response to this week's report on the 1971 Misuse of Drugs Act shows that psychoactive substances are the last taboo to afflict Britain's elite. It has got over past obsessions with whipping, hanging, sodomy and abortion, but it is still stuck on drugs. There is no point in reading the latest research on drugs policy worldwide. It is spitting in the wind. The only research worth doing is on why drugs policy reduces politicians to gibbering wrecks. [continues 961 words]
THE fresh air of the White House's rose garden may soon be fragrant with the smell of cannabis. On Tuesday, while other Americans are voting for their senators and congressman - residents of Washington DC are expected to vote overwhelmingly to legalise marijuana. The referendum would go beyond decriminalisation and give the drug full legal status, meaning it may one day be possible to set up a dope shop across the street from the halls of Congress. A yes vote in the US capital would be a hugely symbolic ripple in the wave of marijuana liberalisation sweeping America. Recreational cannabis is already on sale in Colorado and Washington state where the laws are more relaxed than Amsterdam - and may soon be legal in Alaska and Oregon. [continues 536 words]
Medical Marijuana in US Is Giving 7- Year- Old Kiwi Better Seizure Control and Motor Skills, Says Her Mother Hannah Norton For the first time in seven years, Jessika Guest feels like she is getting to know her daughter Jade. Since trialling medical marijuana in Colorado, seven-year-old Jade's seizures have dropped from 30 to 40 a day to five or less, and from 30 seconds each time to three or five seconds. "[ It] has been a big success," Mrs Guest said. [continues 437 words]
Superintendent Highlights Growing Problems That Come With the OK of Marijuana Sales Medical marijuana won't be a prelude to legalizing recreational marijuana in Illinois if Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy has anything to say about it. On the hot seat at City Council budget hearings Thursday, McCarthy went public with his professional misgivings about the sale of both types of marijuana. It happened after downtown Ald. Brendan Reilly ( 42nd) noted that medical marijuana sales were coming to Illinois in 2015, but other states "are taking it even further and going for recreational use." [continues 271 words]
Colorado is approaching the first anniversary of legally regulated recreational marijuana for adults. The implementation of our new laws has gone smoothly overall, providing an excellent example for other states to follow. Our success has made it clear that when marijuana is regulated like alcohol, it can decrease crime, help fund schools and drug education programs, and keep money out of the hands of criminals and cartels. Voters in Oregon should look to our experience and success as they make their decision on Measure 91 on their ballot November 4th. [continues 440 words]
John Morgan Says He Would Consider Getting Medical Marijuana On 2016 Ballot Florida medical marijuana honcho John Morgan hopes for a victory on Amendment 2 when polls close on Tuesday. But a loss may not end the campaign, Morgan told the Tampa Bay Times on Friday. As long as the vote is close to the required 60 percent approval threshold, Morgan said, he will try again in 2016. 'I plan to win this," he said, saying his internal polls show it winning by a thin margin. 'But if I lose a battle, I can damn sure still win the war." Most of the $5 million or so that Morgan or his Orlando law firm spent on the amendment campaign went toward collecting more than 700,000 signatures to put the question on the 2014 general election ballot. [continues 748 words]
Oregon has about 80 years of experience with the failed policy of marijuana prohibition. The results are clear: Treating marijuana as a crime has failed. Washington and Colorado legalized marijuana in 2012. Oregon and Alaska are voting on it right now. Measure 91, which would regulate, tax and legalize marijuana for adults 21 and older, deserves Oregonians' votes. A City Club of Portland member-volunteer research committee spent four months studying Measure 91. We interviewed experts from a variety of fields, including law enforcement, public health, and taxation, reviewed dozens of studies and articles, and weighed the pros and cons of legalization. The majority concluded that this measure is well written, comprehensive and could be implemented successfully. [continues 491 words]
