Month: May 2016

Study Finds No Negative Health Effects for Children Living in Cannabis Grow Operations

A widely under-publicized study released in 2013 by the National Institute of Health found that “there was no significant difference between the health of the children living in cannabis grow operations and the comparison group of children”.

These findings, according to researchers, “challenge contemporary child welfare approaches and have implications for both child protection social workers and the policymakers who develop frameworks for practice.”

The study notes that under current law, children are often taken away from their parents when their caught growing cannabis, even if the parents are qualified patients under state law. Researchers say that this makes little sense, given that a child’s health is unaffected; however, no one can legitimately argue that it doesn’t harm a child’s health and well-being to be unexpectedly removed (sometimes for years, or even permanently) from their parents.

Here’s the method that researchers used to come to their conclusion:

The study examined the household, family and individual characteristics of 181 children found living in cannabis grow operations in two regions in British Columbia, Canada. Data was collected on-site on the physical characteristics of the homes, the health characteristics of the children, and their prescription drug history. Comparison of prescription drug use was also made with a group of children from the same geographic areas.

The study, conducted by researchers at the School of Social Work at the University of British Columbia, can be found by clicking here.

– TheJointBlog

The post Study Finds No Negative Health Effects for Children Living in Cannabis Grow Operations appeared first on TheJointBlog.

Read More

MPP Updates Cannabis Scorecard for Presidential Candidates, Includes Third-Party Nominees

The Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), the nation’s largest cannabis policy organization, has released their updated presidential candidate voter guide for the general election, which now includes third-party candidates. The full guide can be found by clicking here.

Former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson, who was nominated Sunday by the Libertarian Party, and physician Jill Stein, the presumptive Green Party nominee, were both added to the voter guide, and both received “A+” grades. Presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump received a “C+” – primarily based on his past support for legalizing medical cannabis – and the two remaining Democratic candidates, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, received a “B” and an “A,” respectively (though in all honesty, we here at TheJointBlog do take issue with Clinton receiving a “B”, when all she supports is rescheduling cannabis to schedule 2 alongside drugs such as cocaine; and even this she didn’t support until the current election cycle).

“This is the most marijuana-friendly field of presidential candidates in history,” says Robert Capecchi, MPP’s director of federal policies. “All of the candidates support legal access to medical marijuana, and most of them support making it legal for adults and regulating it like alcohol. Even the least friendly candidate agrees that states should be able to able to determine their own marijuana laws without federal interference.”

Once again, the full guide can be found here.

The post MPP Updates Cannabis Scorecard for Presidential Candidates, Includes Third-Party Nominees appeared first on TheJointBlog.

Read More

Illinois: Medical Cannabis Expansion Bill Passes State House, Governor Reverses Opposition

Legislation to expand Illinois’ medical cannabis program by extending it for two years and adding extra qualifying conditions has been passed by the state’s full House of Representatives. The proposal, introduced by Representative Lou Lang (D-Skokie), was passed with an 86 to 27 vote.

Under the proposed law, the state’s medical cannabis pilot program – approved in 2013 – would be expanded from 2018, to 2020. In addition, both terminal illness and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) would be added as conditions that legally qualify an individual to become a medical cannabis patient, allowing them to possess, use and purchase cannabis and cannabis products for medical use.

Governor Bruce Rauner, who has opposed an expansion of the state’s medical cannabis law including previously vetoing a bill to add PTSD as a qualifying condition, has reversed his position, according to the Associated Press, and now no longer opposes an expansion.

The measure now goes to the Senate for consideration.

The post Illinois: Medical Cannabis Expansion Bill Passes State House, Governor Reverses Opposition appeared first on TheJointBlog.

Read More