This is the second in a series of blogs looking at the most recent “holiday” celebrated by many in the United States. I am talking about April 20th, or 4/20 as it is better known. Across the country and now around the globe, marijuana enthusiasts use 4/20 as a call to gather and weed in public. As reported in www.usnews.com. This year, Weed Day enthusiasts hoping to see the tide turn (both politically and socially) on the legalization of marijuana front have more to celebrate than ... [More]

Believe me folks, marijuana is not referred to as “dope” for nothing. Anyone who ever has used marijuana knows it makes them dumber. The fact that so many of our nation’s youth smoke marijuana is terrifying. There is a pervasive feeling among adolescents that marijuana is not harmful. Here is some scientific proof that you might not want to use marijuana, especially in your teens. As reported in teens.drugabuse.gov. Smoking Away Your IQ We already knew from past research tha... [More]

National Basketball Association (NBA) players better not toke it up when they visit the Mile High City this season because the league’s rules against marijuana are still in effect. For some crazy reason Coloradans decided to legalize marijuana. Many NBA players are known for indulging in cannabis. As reported in www.usatoday.com. Recreational marijuana use was legalized by Colorado and Washington voters in constitutional amendments Tuesday. Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, had the line o... [More]

As a recovering drug addict and alcoholic I can tell you with 100% degree of certainty that marijuana is a “gateway” drug. Whether it is the first drug a person experiments or the last, just using marijuana could be a gateway to even harder drug use in the future. No matter how many studies show the dangers of marijuana, including its use as a gateway to harder drug use is always laughed at by the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML). For NORML, all the fac... [More]

The last time I remember an Olympic athlete being busted for marijuana was 10 years ago and it was a snowboarder. You would think an Olympic athlete, or any professional athlete would be very careful about what they put into their bodies. Yet one American has been sent home from the Olympics following a failed drug test for cannabis. As reported in espn.go.com. American judo fighter Nick Delpopolo was expelled from the Olympics for doping. His excuse - he unintentionally ate something before t... [More]

As a counselor for both in-class and online drug classes I have strong opinions about drug and alcohol use and abuse. A recently completed study, noted as the most comprehensive ever, has uncovered some of the myths surrounding addiction issues. First is the perception that most of the people who wind up in jail are illiterate or poorly educated. The truth is that more than half of people in jail have graduated from high school or have received their GED certificate. Almost 25% had attended co... [More]

Between beer, marijuana and Adderall are there any high school kids still sober? Back in my time – many, many years ago, we drank. Some of us more radical and hard core partiers smoked marijuana. But we were in a small majority. When doctors tried to prescribe Ritalin for us those pills wound up in the toilet more often than not. Now marijuana and stimulants are the norm. One school district estimates that 25% of its high school seniors have used marijuana in the last 30 days, and those s... [More]

Do you think more teens are smoking marijuana today than in the 1960s and 1970s? If so, you are wrong! A recent survey according to wfaa.com, found that nearly 1 in 10 teens said they smoke marijuana at least 20 or more times a month. That’s up 80 percent for past month marijuana use since the last survey conducted in 2008. There are many explanations given for this. I think legal medical marijuana is one reason for the increase in use. Why? Because it is so readily available. A second ... [More]

Sir Richard Branson has long been outspoken on his views and opinions regarding drug use, abuse and enforcement. Once again he makes headlines by saying he believes drugs should be legalized. The founder of the Virgin Group who has been involved in some crazy things over the years, including attempting to circle the globe in a balloon and selling space travel to the affluent is all for legalizing drugs. This according to the Daily News. The British billionaire believes punishment fails to... [More]

One of the primary problems with medicinal marijuana is those using it and operating motor vehicles. If you are a non-pot smoker or marijuana user, how much tolerance do you have for people using THC and driving? Not much I bet. The fact is both users of medicinal marijuana and recreational marijuana are driving under the influence regularly. How do you tell if someone is too stoned to drive? Keep in mind - driving while impaired by any drug is illegal in all states! Most convictions for dru... [More]