Legal cannabis laws impact teen use — ScienceDaily – PARTIAL BS ALERT

A new study has found that adolescents living in medical marijuana states with a plethora of dispensaries are more likely to have tried new methods of cannabis use, such as edibles and vaping, at a younger age than those living in states with fewer dispensaries.

Source: Legal cannabis laws impact teen use — ScienceDaily

 

I was going to denounce this as BS but it’s not– the correlation is there and the legality is likely causal.  BUT, it does NOT mean that the kids are getting their cannabis from dispensaries, directly, but through irresponsible adults.  It would be akin to making much fuss about liquor stores “impacting teen use”.  Or “Repeal of Prohibition impacts teen use of alcohol”.  So, that’s sort of a “DUH” moment, hardly worth a “study”

Like most problems are not caused by [drugs, guns, trucks, alcohol, opiates,…] but by irresponsible humans.  So, ANY cannabis availability, legal or illegal, will affect teen use, as long as irresponsible humans supply it to them.

AuntieBS

Lowering health risks of cannabis use with new public health guidelines: Evidence-based recommendations endorsed by Canadian medical and public health organizations — ScienceDaily

Canada’s Lower-Risk Cannabis Use Guidelines, released with the endorsement of key medical and public health organizations, provide 10 science-based recommendations to enable cannabis users to reduce their health risks. The guidelines are based on a scientific review by an international team of experts.

Source: Lowering health risks of cannabis use with new public health guidelines: Evidence-based recommendations endorsed by Canadian medical and public health organizations — ScienceDaily

Well, I began reading this expecting to issue another bullshit alert, but I have to agree that the bullet points in the linked paper are reasonable, and most of it is common sense.  I agree that kids have no business getting high and buzzed driving is NOT a good thing.  I am less fearful of concentrates because, like vodka, you don’t go chugging it like lite beer– you simply ingest less.  I also like my lungs for breathing air, not smoke, so my preferred method of ingestion is in edibles, accurately marked with dosage information– my virgin dose is 30mg THC after absention, up to about 120mg after chronic use for a few months.  Users should know their dosages, because exceeding them is not fun.

Anyway, reasonable article.  I recommend reading the referenced article.

AuntieBS

Marijuana use among college students on rise following Oregon legalization, study finds — ScienceDaily

College students attending an Oregon university are using more marijuana now that the drug is legal for recreational use, but the increase is largely among students who also report recent heavy use of alcohol, a new study has found.

Source: Marijuana use among college students on rise following Oregon legalization, study finds — ScienceDaily

 

I wonder how much Big Pharma paid for that brilliant revelation.  Let’s see, something is illegal– do I report that I use it or just keep quiet about it.  Or maybe I follow the laws and don’t use it.  Then, it is legalized, so I feel freer to report that I use it and certainly might indulge in it.  Any surprises?  Could anyone have not predicted that outcome?  The same could have been predicted about alcohol after Prohibition was lifted, or likely most ANY product that is suddenly found on store shelves.

What is not yet said is how problematic behavior is affected.  How many car accidents?  OD’s from alcohol or opiates?  Assaults?  Burglaries?  Shootings?  What is the overall effect on society from the legalization?

AuntieBS

Teen cannabis use and illicit drug use in early adulthood linked: One in 5 adolescents at risk of tobacco dependency, harmful alcohol consumption and illicit drug use — ScienceDaily– BULLSHIT ALERT

Researchers have found regular and occasional cannabis use as a teen is associated with a greater risk of other illicit drug taking in early adulthood. The study also found cannabis use was associated with harmful drinking and smoking.

Source: Teen cannabis use and illicit drug use in early adulthood linked: One in 5 adolescents at risk of tobacco dependency, harmful alcohol consumption and illicit drug use — ScienceDaily

It is amazing that this garbage gets published.  It would be akin to “Blind Kids less likely to see as adults”.  What is the CAUSALITY?  This paper would lead naive readers to think that teen cannabis use causes illicit drug use in adults.  But, how about teens who hang with the wrong crowds, who have lack of parental involvement, who may be flunking classes, who may have lower IQs, who may be struggling in school, who may disregard laws and prudence and use illicit cannabis and other drugs as teens as well as other illicit drugs later in life?

Time and time again, follow-up studies disprove the implications when CAUSALITY is considered.  More often than not, socio-economic conditions and IQ’s are the underlying causal factors which drive various conditions mistakenly attributed to cannabis.

AuntieBS

Why the marijuana and tobacco policy camps are on very different paths: In new paper, researchers examine the diverging trajectories of the two communities, and what each could learn from the other — ScienceDaily

New research looked at diverging trajectories of cannabis and tobacco policies in the US and attempts to explain some of the reasoning behind the different paths, while discussing possible implications.

Source: Why the marijuana and tobacco policy camps are on very different paths: In new paper, researchers examine the diverging trajectories of the two communities, and what each could learn from the other — ScienceDaily

 

Gee, let’s compare apples with coconuts– they must be similar, since they both grow on trees.  Tobacco use is an addiction; the primary benefit of it is to quell the craving due to addiction.  As the nicotine in the body and brain is metabolized, a sort of anxiety and craving ensues, which is relieved by the next cigarette.

Marijuana produces a relaxing, peaceful, comfort that is pleasant and enjoyable by many, in addition to its helpful medical properties.  So, comparing the two is like comparing the enjoyment of getting out of prison with the enjoyment of having sex.  One is an escape from discomfort, while the other is an enjoyable recreational activity.  The only commonality is that both are enjoyable experiences, but for different reasons.

AuntieBS

Small climb in mean temperatures linked to far higher chance of deadly heat waves: UCI-led analysis of data from India could have dire implications for future — ScienceDaily BULLSHIT ALERT

An increase in mean temperature of 0.5 degrees Celsius over half a century may not seem all that serious, but it’s enough to have more than doubled the probability of a heat wave killing in excess of 100 people in India, according to researchers.

Source: Small climb in mean temperatures linked to far higher chance of deadly heat waves: UCI-led analysis of data from India could have dire implications for future — ScienceDaily

This is not on my usual topic, but illustrates bad science clearly, and the difficulty that “scientists” have discerning causality, even in formerly reputable schools.  Here, it says that the mean temperature CAUSES the likelihood of occasional heat waves.  Hello– isn’t it quite apparent that the occasional heat waves are what increase the mean temperature???

Let me illustrate:  Suppose we have a stable mean of 100, but a one time spike of 120:  100, 100, 100, 100, 100, 100, 100, 120, 100, 100.  That one spike to 120 increased the mean from 100, to 102.  In other words, the heat wave raised the mean, not the implied vice versa.  And this also does not mean that the heat wave caused the mean– only that the mean and the occasional heat spikes are correlated.  So called “scientists” often confuse correlation with causality, as shown so often in cannabis studies.

AuntieBS

Low-dose THC can relieve stress; more does just the opposite — ScienceDaily

Low levels tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the main psychoactive compound in marijuana, does reduce stress, but in a highly dose-dependent manner, new research confirms.

Source: Low-dose THC can relieve stress; more does just the opposite — ScienceDaily

 

It should also be pointed out that experience with cannabis plays a role in anxiety reduction.  An inexperienced user may experience paranoia and increased anxiety at a much lower dose than an experienced user.

AuntieBS