This speech was originally given at a Voices of Victims event.
Hi. My name is Kira Russo. I’m here in honor of my younger son, Andy Bauer, who in September 2018 ended his own life. Andy was an amazing young man. Like many others describe their loved ones, he was very intelligent and loving. He got his first job when he was 15, and he loved to take his family and friends out for dinner or coffee. He bought his first car, a bright orange Ford Mustang when he was 16. Andy was really generous with his time, too. He was always willing to help people with car or house projects. One of the best parts about Andy was his sense of humor. I couldn’t understand at that time how my son—a young man with everything going for him could take his own life.
Shane was my first-born son who grew into a handsome 6’4” young man. He always seemed larger than life and he had a big heart, infectious smile, and zest for life. He excelled at sports, especially water sports, from a young age. Shane was a very normal, healthy teen and even weathered a back injury and surgery which made high school team sports no longer possible–so he transferred his athletic skills to wakeboarding !
When Shane moved away from home at age 19, he began using recreational marijuana (unbeknownst to his family). At age 22, Shane endured prolonged physical rehab to his knee following a serious boating accident. It was later realized Shane had increased his use of pot as he was intolerant of the prescription pain medications.
Shane was determined to proceed with his wedding to his long-term girlfriend...
The new book, Gone to Suicide tells the story of marijuana induced psychosis which led to Brant's suicide. Now available on Amazon and from major booksellers.
When my son Brant was 17 years old, he had an experience with marijuana that triggered a sudden,major change in his mental state. Overnight, he felt permanently damaged and even ruined. During the next three days it became apparent that his deteriorating condition was the result of a psychotic break, and it soon led to emergency care at two hospitals. While many people smoke marijuana with no immediate adverse effect, it can be psychologically harmful and even devastating to a small portion of the population, especially teens like my son and young adults.Before this experience, Brant was a healthy, happy, bright and normal teenager.
He was a senior in high school, got excellent grades, and planned to attend college in the fall. He had a part-time job on weekends in a restaurant, and he also cut lawns in the neighborhood to earn money. He never had any discipline problems either at school or with the law.
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Finally, Here is the Cure for Denial... Yes, Marijuana is Addictive! Read and share the article in The Atlantic: America's Invisible Pot Addicts.
New Brunswick Medical Society of Canada warned against marijuana use.
Latest Articles/Interviews
Commercialized Marijuana Doesn’t Pay
“The Colorado Department of Health found that 93% of cannabis in Colorado shops have dangerous high THC concentrations; the industry appears to clearly need potent pot to addict and profit. But this concentration is dangerous. Frequent use of 10%-15% THC is found in half of ER patients seen for psychosis in Amsterdam. These patients would be well but for their marijuana use, according to one of the world’s leading authorities on schizophrenia, professor Sir Robin Murray, and others.”
Editor’s note: This commentary is by Catherine Antley, MD, a community medical doctor, and Spencer Smith, a writer and retired Peace Corps volunteer. Both are from Burlington. After decades fighting Big Tobacco, will the Vermont Legislature really invite Big Cannabis into our state? This is not about decriminalization. We already have that.
Government distinguishes between therapeutic products containing compounds from the plant, and “raw, unprocessed” cannabis, which has harmful effects. (Updated: ) Share this content SINGAPORE: The trend towards accepting cannabis for medical use is driven by the “power of money and propaganda”, Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam told Channel NewsAsia as he charged pharmaceutical companies with hiding their intentions behind a smokescreen.
A New Survey Links Vaping to Higher Covid-19 Risk
A Stanford University report shows that teens and young adults who use e-cigarettes are five to seven times more likely to test positive for the virus.
A Stanford University report shows that teens and young adults who use e-cigarettes are five to seven times more likely to test positive for the virus.
Marijuana dependence goes hand in hand with poor mental health, and problems may persist long after stopping the drug, according to Canadian researchers. Nearly half of people who have been or are now dependent on pot have some form of mental illness or dependence on another substance, according to a report this month in the journal Advances in Preventative Medicine.
This story also ran on This story can be republished for free ( NBC News. details). KHN correspondent Shefali Luthra reported this article from Germany as a 2019 Arthur F. Burns Fellow. HAMBURG, Germany ― In 2016, 10 times as many Americans as Germans died as a result of drug overdoses, mostly opiates.
A Progressive Takes a Stand Against the “Green Rush” and Legal Cannabis
Colorado’s vote in 2012 to legalize marijuana united the progressive end of the liberal political spectrum with conservative libertarians. Progressives had long felt that the war on drugs was cruel and unfairly targeted minorities and, in many cases, agreed with libertarians that folks should be allowed to smoke a joint in peace without government interference.
Pennsylvania Newspaper Editors Take Anti-Legalization Stance
Thousands of young people hospitalized due to cannabis and other substance use, report reveals A
new report says thousands of young people in Canada were hospitalized
last year due to cannabis, alcohol and other substance use, and experts
say the numbers highlight the need for more mental health supports in
the community.
A new report says thousands of young people in Canada were hospitalized last year due to cannabis, alcohol and other substance use, and experts say the numbers highlight the need for more mental health supports in the community.
Depression/Anxiety Could Stem from Young People Using Cannabis
Cannabis use in young people may be linked to increases in depression, anxiety and other neurological disorders, a new study out of Toronto’s Centre for Addiction and Mental Health suggests. In particular, the research found that subjects who regularly smoked pot had significantly higher levels of a protein in their brains that is elevated when there is inflammation within the organ.
Kentucky Governor Warns Marijuana Legalization Leads to Social Ills
Courtesy of Gov. Matt Bevin’s Facebook page Governor Matt Bevin in a radio interview Wednesday repeated his criticism of those who favor legalizing marijuana and casinos in Kentucky to directed additional tax revenue toward the state’s underfunded pension system, adding that recreational
Canadian Columnist was Right, Her Editors WRONG on Legalizing Weed
Some years ago, in conversation with his wife, a forensic psychiatrist specializing in mentally ill criminals, former New York Times reporter Alex Berenson observed that the perpetrator of a recent violent crime had been high at the time, and had smoked pot regularly all his life.
by David G. Evans, Esq. Drug legalization advocates claim that prisons are overflowing with people convicted for only simple possession of marijuana. This claim is aggressively pushed by groups seeking to relax or abolish marijuana laws. A more accurate view is that the vast majority of inmates in prison for marijuana have been found guilty of more than simple possession.
Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that it has issued a warning letter to Curaleaf Inc., of Wakefield, Massachusetts, for illegally selling unapproved products containing cannabidiol (CBD) online with unsubstantiated claims that the products treat cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, opioid withdrawal, pain and pet anxiety, among other conditions or diseases.
New York Times notes, the CBD industry is pushing FDA to loosen restrictions on CBD products. But FDA’s acting Commissioner, Norman Sharpless, MD, pointed out in his opening remarks to some 140 people waiting to testify, that FDA statutes prohibit active drug ingredients from being added to food or dietary supplements.
WASHINGTON (ABC7/WJLA)- The cannabis derivative, CBD, is popping up everywhere- lip balm, body cream and even as a shot in your morning espresso. But not all CBD is created equal. The ABC7 I-Team has been given exclusive access to the largest set of test results and analysis on CBD products to date.
BOMBSHELL Study on Adolescent Marijuana Use: Anxiety, Depression, Suicide
Question Is adolescent cannabis consumption associated with risk of depression, anxiety, and suicidality in young adulthood? Findings In this systematic review and meta-analysis of 11 studies and 23 317 individuals, adolescent cannabis consumption was associated with increased risk of developing depression and suicidal behavior later in life, even in the absence of a premorbid condition.
Why Social Justice Arguments for Marijuana Are Flawed
Public health and addiction prevention professionals have been closely watching the development of regulations for, and roll-out of, a recreational marijuana industry in Massachusetts. Many concerning policies are being institutionalized with many public health and prevention professionals sounding the alarm regarding the “Social Equity Program” and all associated components included in the Cannabis Control Commission’s regulations, driven by industry representatives, both internal and external to the process.
The owner of a large Vermont organic vegetable farm said he’s been “sick to my stomach” since learning plants he thought were hemp had tested positive as high-grade marijuana.
CLOSE As more teens vape, schools have struggled to keep the practice in check. Now, area schools are seeing a disturbing twist – students vaping marijuana. Just as with tobacco, students can vape right under a teacher’s nose and go undetected.
Important New Study: Meta Analysis of Research on Marijuana and Violence
Findings showed a moderate cannabis-violence association in severe mental illness. * The association was higher for cannabis misuse in comparison to cannabis use. * Cannabis use should be considered in violence risk prevention and management. The relationship between cannabis and violence remains unclear, especially amid those with severe mental illnesses (SMI).
Roman, who runs Nature’s Way Medicine in Old City, was one of the first doctors to issue recommendations, similar to a prescription, for medical cannabis in the Keystone State. Since the launch of the medical marijuana program, Roman’s practice primarily has been limited to accepting $200 payments from a stream of patients seeking to access legal weed.
Exclusive: Chuck Norris demands, ‘Are we listening, America?’ Whoopi Goldberg wrote in her opening 2014 epiphany column (“My Vape Pen and I, A Love Story”) in The Cannibist: “The vape pen has changed my life. No, I’m not exaggerating. In fact, her name is Sippy. Yes, she’s a she.
The Marijuana Delusion
The History Behind MJ Legalization & Its Destructive Path Across America
Our first news article is a well done piece with historical perspective along with current knowledge of marijuana dangers.
After Colorado and Washington State voters gave a thumbs-up to recreational marijuana use in 2012, cannabis advocates needed another six years to win legalization battles in eight additional states. But in 2019 alone, at least eight more states seem ready to pass laws permitting recreational pot.
Scientific American: Link Between Adolescent Pot Smoking and Psychosis Strengthened
In an interview Murray said his research with users in London has shown that high-potency cannabis—approximately 16 percent THC(tetrahydrocannabinol)—was involved in 24 percent of all cases of a first episode of psychosis. (New laws permitting recreational pot use do not make it legal for teens to consume cannabis, but that has not impeded access.)
As physicians, we need to say clearly what is happening and what is not,” says Peter Falkai, a psychiatrist at the Munich Center for Neurosciences at Ludwig Maximilian University. “Looking into the data, clearly yes, the data show increasing risk of psychosis.”
Society’s embrace of cannabis to treat nausea, pain and other conditions proceeds apace with the drive to legalize the plant for recreational use. Pot’s seemingly innocuous side effects have helped clear a path toward making it a legal cash crop, with all of the marketing glitz brought to other consumer products.
Canadian Mental Health Expert Predicts Rise in Cannabis Psychosis Cases After Legalization
Even before nationwide marijuana legalization in Canada, there was a concerning rise in psychosis cases amongst marijuana users.
Fact is that while you’re a teen (and even into your early 20’s!), you’re still growing and developing, and drug abuse during these years in particular can have a lasting impact. Another fact to consider: the brain is much more vulnerable to addiction during these years. 90% of Americans with a substance abuse problem started smoking, drinking or using other drugs before age 18.
In the largest known brain imaging study, scientists from Amen Clinics (Costa Mesa, CA), Google, John’s Hopkins University, University of California, Los Angeles and the University of California, San Francisco evaluated 62,454 brain SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography) scans of more than 30,000 individuals from 9 months old to 105 years of age to investigate factors that accelerate brain aging.
New HHS Report: Marijuana Use Skyrocketing and Higher than Ever Before
There are now twice as many daily or near daily marijuana users in the US than just a decade ago, according to the most comprehensive survey on drug use released today by the federal government.
Commentary: Aldous Huxley Predicted Governments Would Encourage Drug Use to Gain More Control
More and more Americans are reporting near-constant cannabis use, as legalization forges ahead. The proliferation of retail boutiques in California did not really bother him, Evan told me, but the billboards did. Advertisements for delivery, advertisements promoting the substance for relaxation, for fun, for health. “Shop. It’s legal.” “Hello marijuana, goodbye hangover.”
Cannabis and psychosis: what do we know and what should we do?
Abstract It is now incontrovertible that heavy use of cannabis increases the risk of psychosis. There is a dose-response relationship and high potency preparations and synthetic cannabinoids carry the greatest risk. It would be wise to await the outcome of the different models of legalisation that are being introduced in North America, before deciding whether or not to follow suit.
Cannabis is used by approximately 200 million people across the world. The current trend to popularise its medicinal properties, real and imagined, and to decriminalise or legalise it in many countries, is likely to be followed by greater use., However, cannabis is not as safe as was once thought., Just as longitudinal studies of tobacco smokers versus non-smokers nailed the link between cigarettes and lung cancer, so similar prospective studies have shown that heavy cannabis use carries with it an increased risk of psychosis.
Former Representative Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) marked April 20th, a holiday in cannabis culture commonly referred to as “4/20,” by joining public health… read more Former Representative Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) marked April 20th, a holiday in cannabis culture commonly referred to as “4/20,” by joining public health officials and others to talk about federal marijuana policy.
This study replicates exactly what Henquet et al. found back in 2005 for the amount of use where you begin to see a rise in risk – 5 times of use.
On an afternoon I occasionally walk with my granddaughter in a London park where teens gather after school, and the smell of pot is unescapable. It’s more pungent than I remember and I presume stronger, possibly super skunk , which is flooding the UK.
“They may be infrequent and thus not problematic for the adolescent, (but) when these experiences are reported continuously, year after year, then there’s an increased risk of a first psychotic episode or another psychiatric condition.”
Marijuana is thought to cause psychosis-like experiences by increasing a user’s risk of depression.
he take-home message from research published last week in JAMA Internal Medicine – let’s liberalize access to marijuana as a way to address the raging opioid epidemic – captured the public imagination. We disagree. Supporting medical or recreational marijuana as an alternative to opioids for conditions like chronic pain is a bad idea, especially for America’s youths.
In a promo for his upcoming report on the role of marijuana in alleviating the opioid crisis, CNN chief medical correspondent Sanjay Gupta, MD, beckons viewers: “Join us as we investigate a search for answers and meet potential pioneers and outspoken critics. Whether you struggle with opioids or know one of the millions who do, …
Marijuana Induced Psychosis Causes Man with No Criminal Record to Attack Strangers
As the federal government prepares to legalize the recreational use of marijuana, an Ontario judge has ruled that cannabis-induced psychosis led a man to a seemingly hate-filled attack on a family, in what appears to be the first case of its kind in Canadian criminal courts.
Two ER physicians from both CO and CA present marijuana harms at SAM Summit
Doctor Who Was Taught to Overprescribe Pills Now Works to Counter the Marijuana Epidemic Ronnet Lev, M.D. ( ER physician at Scripps Mercy Hospital, San Diego, CA)
Karen Randall, ER physician in Pueblo, CO presents at the SAM Summit (Atlanta) 4-5-18 “join the fight against THC marijuana” Karen Randall, M.D. (ER physician at Parkland Medical Center, Pueblo, CO)
Britain could set off a schizophrenia timebomb if it ignores the dangers of super-strength ‘skunk’ cannabis, one of the UK’s most eminent psychiatrists warns today. Strong evidence now shows that smoking potent forms of the Class B drug increases the chance of psychosis, paranoid delusions and schizophrenia.
