News & Views
President Carter opposes legalization
This morning, in Atlanta, Ga., former President Jimmy Carter announced his opposition to marijuana legalization and expressed support for Smart Approaches to Marijuana (Project SAM), an organization on whose board I'm proud to serve. Here's the full statement issued...
Let’s commercialize prevention
We have learned more about brain maturation in the last decade than we've ever known -- but the science hasn't been communicated quickly, loudly or effectively enough to the public. It's hard to boil down research findings into pithy soundbites and slap them on...
Urban Outfitters is irresponsible
"Oh, now, isn't this all just so edgy?!" "So fashion-forward?!" "So cool! So stylish! And so right for Spring 2013!" Can't you almost hear the pretentious banter in the offices of Urban Outfitters, which is pushing an array of druggie duds and doodads these days? And...
Higher and higher
In the last several months, my colleagues and I have noticed rising levels of THC in the urine of our young patients -- but the average increase I present here surprised even us. THC, which is short for tetrahydrocannabinol, is the active ingredient in marijuana that...
Not letting facts get in the way …
The folks who worked on this ditty for MSN were so busy cheerleading for marijuana that they probably didn't stop to consider the idiocy of their work product -- but you should. First, check out the headline below. Note: researchers at Temple University School of...
Have we got mail
As you might imagine, 4/20 and the week following are interesting ones for my husband, Dr. Christian Thurstone, and me. This morning, Chris, medical director of one of Colorado's largest adolescent substance-abuse-treatment programs, was off to the races with parents...
Denver Office of Drug Strategy on A64
The Denver Office of Drug Strategy submitted a report to inform the Denver City Council's deliberations concerning implementation of Amendment 64, which Colorado voters approved in 2012 to legalize recreational marijuana. The report, authored by Vanessa M. Fenley, is...
Denver mayor on marijuana legalization
Denver Mayor Michael Hancock has issued a strong statement regarding implementation of Amendment 64. In a letter, dated April 8, 2013, and addressed to a city council committee charged with recommending local regulatory enforcement of the amendment, the mayor stated...
Research: England’s relaxed laws a mistake?
When it comes to marijuana decriminalization, much of Europe is way ahead of us -- and their policies have failed. Miserably. And yes, that goes for The Netherlands, where they're working diligently to lower use rates and reverse liberal policies. Today, the results...
Medical Marijuana Use and Parenting: A Qualitative Study
The results of this research were published in April 2013 in Adolescent Psychiatry. Study Title: Medical Marijuana Use and Parenting: A Qualitative Study Authors: Thurstone, Christian; A. Binswanger, Ingrid; F. Corsi, Karen; J. Rinehart, Deborah; E. Booth, Robert...
Read the book
Clearing the Haze is a guide designed to help parents determine whether their child may have a substance problem and, if so, how to begin to address it. This book includes the voices and insight of experts in substance abuse counseling, young people in recovery, and parents who have lived the nightmare of adolescent addiction.