Agency Denies MJ Is Less Toxic Than Alcohol

The National Institute on Drug Abuse released an eyebrow-raising statement to PolitiFact on Monday, denying that marijuana is less toxic than alcohol. “Claiming that marijuana is less toxic than alcohol cannot be substantiated since each possess their own unique set of risks and consequences for a given individual,” wrote the institute. NIDA, part of the […]

Read More

Ending the War on Drugs: Easier Said Than Done

Huff PostBy Ethan Nadelmann During his 2008 campaign and upon taking office, President Obama said he would shift the federal government’s drug control resources from a criminalization-centered approach to one based on public health. His drug czar, Gil Kerlikowske, even announced in 2009 that he would end the war on drugs: “Regardless of how you […]

Read More

Pot More Dangerous Than You Know

With the recent article published on May 12, 2013, “Mont.  goes its own way on pot,” it seems like the perfect opportunity to provide some clarifying facts about marijuana. There is no scientific basis for using smoked marijuana as a medicine, no sound scientific studies supporting the medical use of marijuana for treatment in the […]

Read More

DECRIMINALIZE MORE THAN JUST POT, EXPERTS URGE

The personal use of illegal drugs, including heroin and crack cocaine, should be decriminalized as part of a federal-provincial strategy to tackle drug abuse, a B.C.-based national coalition of drug policy experts argue. In a report to be released Thursday, the coalition denounces the Harper government’s aggressive war on drugs, which puts the emphasis on […]

Read More

Animals Self-Medicate Far More Than Previously Realized

Science Daily on animal pharmacology as part of the ecosystem: It’s been known for decades that animals such as chimpanzees seek out medicinal herbs to treat their diseases. But it now appears that the practice of animal self-medication is a lot more widespread than previously thought, according to University of Michigan ecologist Mark Hunter and […]

Read More