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Even though California law supports the existence of medical marijuana storefronts in their state, the United States government has other ideas. An October 7, 2011 a press article relayed that our federal government has begun to crack down on California’s medical marijuana storefronts.

The storefronts were targeted recently; letters were sent to 16 or more pot dispensaries requesting they close down their businesses. Prosecutors warned the storefronts and their landlords that if they did not shut down voluntarily within 45 days from the letter’s issuance, they could face charges and penalties.

Many citizens have wondered why marijuana is outlawed in the United States. Some sources believe that marijuana is not addictive. In fact, pharmacologist Leslie L. Iverson’s book “The Science of Marijuana” shows that only 10 to 30% of regular marijuana users become hooked and that withdrawal symptoms are not severe.  

So why crack down on medical marijuana storefronts? Well, marijuana can be a gateway drug. More often than not, it is a gateway leading to more drug use. Continuous non-medical pot usage can lead users to view other, more dangerous drugs in a new light, leading them to use crack, meth, PCP, etc. And these drugs can wreak havoc on their lives and on the lives of those who love them, often leading to the necessity of length, life-long drug rehab programs.

In comparison, if illegal marijuana use is caught before the transition to more serious drugs, drug rehab can be short and withdrawals can be minimal. If you or someone you know needs drug rehab for marijuana use or other drug use, Vista Taos Renewal Center can help, and is located in New Mexico, not terribly far from the state of California. Vista Taos helps people from all around the southwest, including the surrounding states of Texas, Oklahoma and Arizona. Contact them for further information.

Arizona is a state that is now allowing people with certain medical conditions to visit a doctor and obtain a medical marijuana card. This makes it legal for them to purchase the drug via licensed dealers and have the drug on their person. The problem that is being investigated is that just a handful of doctors have written thousands of prescriptions in a short time. One doctor, in particular, has written 1300 medical marijuana prescriptions. That number seems high; considering the physicians are supposed to be checking a state database before prescribing to see if an individual “in need” of a medical marijuana prescription has been treated for marijuana addiction or any other substance addiction in the past. When checked by state officials, these doctors haven’t been logging into the records very much. In fact, the doctor who prescribed over a thousand medical cards for pot had only logged on about 5 times.

Marijuana addiction seems to be a laughable matter by most, however, it is a very real situation that many people in America deal with. Marijuana has a lot of myths that surround it. People feel they cannot become addicted to it and that it cannot cause long-term health problems. Marijuana contains hundreds of carcinogens, just like tobacco smoke. Just because people tend to smoke marijuana less in a day than a person who smokes cigarettes does not make them less at risk, it just takes more time for the damage to be done. You can get lung cancer, COPD and emphysema from a marijuana addiction just like those who smoke tobacco. And yes…marijuana is addictive. If it didn’t possess addictive qualities, why would so many people seek out the drug?

Marijuana addiction is no joke. The caring and compassionate staff at Vista Taos Drug Rehab Clinic in New Mexico understands the hold marijuana can have on a person. They are ready to help you detox from the drug and start living a life without the bonds of addiction. Call today to learn more.

Working out of Norman, Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics have been spending a great deal of time tracking and destroying marijuana crops. With the latest techniques, they’ve been covering ground in many areas of the state. Their hard work is resulting in a great payoff. Just a few decades ago when the pot sweeps were just starting out, they found and destroyed about 200,000 plants. The past few years have still produced many finds, but the numbers are only in the tens of thousands.

The Narcotics Bureau starts their marijuana sweeps in early summer and continues until the first freeze. They hope to continue to have successful marijuana eradication missions and spread the word that Oklahoma is not the state to try and grow marijuana for sale.

The news on marijuana has been a hot topic as of recently. Many states are revising the laws and even allowing marijuana to be used for medical purposes. Despite those who consider this drug to be of use for medical purposes, it is an addictive substance. Not only is it addictive, the medical benefits that marijuana holds are not that good when compared to the negatives. Smoking marijuana can cause lung cancer, heart disease and emphysema. Unlike filtered cigarettes, those who smoke marijuana most likely aren’t adding any filtration device to cut down on the thousands of dangerous compounds that enter their system when ingested. If marijuana was so helpful for medical assistance, why would pharmaceutical companies bother with creating Marinol, a synthetic THC in pill form? The pill is widely available through prescription in the United States and is approved by the FDA for treating patients that suffer from cancer and other serious ailments.

Regardless of the so-called benefits of the drug, marijuana addiction is a serious reality. If you or a loved one needs help with marijuana addiction, please contact New Mexico’s experts in substance abuse rehabilitation at Vista Taos Drug Renewal Center.

With acceptance and legality of medical marijuana on the rise, use among mainstream society is increasing. Because it is deemed for “medical” use, many believe that it is healthy and safe for their bodies. Unfortunately, the risks associated with medical marijuana are very real, and have been largely undisclosed as the prominence of use has dramatically increased. Because of the lack of public education regarding use of these substances, instance of drug rehabilitation due to marijuana addiction will likely increase in the near future. Already, episodes of emergency hospital care related to marijuana abuse more than tripled between 1993-2000, even before the recent burst of popularity among the mainstream public.

The financial market related to medical marijuana is booming, even in the currently weak economy. With only 15 states providing medical marijuana services, the market is estimated at $1.7 billion, expected to increase to $8.9 billion by 2016. This is estimated based on the assumption that another 20 states will legalize medical marijuana, which is the expected course of action.

While financially, medical marijuana seems like a promising venture, little attention is paid to the health risk factors associated with continued use. Short-term effects include memory loss, distorted perception, trouble with thinking and problem solving, loss of motor skills, decrease in muscle strength, increased heart rate, and anxiety. In addition, it was found that occasional users had lower white blood cell counts, averaged at 39% lower, than non-users. Considering that many use medical marijuana as symptomatic treatment for cancer, the benefits seem debatable.

The common popularity of medical marijuana seems a danger, especially to the adolescent and young adult market. More teens seek treatment through drug rehabilitation centers for marijuana than any other drug. Teen admissions for marijuana rose from 43% to 60% between 1994-1999. Because marijuana is a gateway drug, it can be assumed that many seeking treatment for other drugs also have or have had issues with marijuana abuse.

Addiction to marijuana led more than 200,000 adults to seek treatment in a drug rehabilitation center in 1999. This will continue to increase as it becomes more available to the public. Contact Vista Taos Renewal Center, located in serene Taos, New Mexico, today to learn about treatment programs available to assist those with addiction to marijuana.

Recent popularity of synthetic forms of harmful drugs has caused concern within the DEA. Synthetic marijuana, especially, has been highly publicized as a more “healthy” alternative to the real substance. Due to its legality and accessibility, it is becoming more popular with youth, seen as an easy and cheap high. Despite the manner in which it is advertised, recent studies have shown synthetic marijuana to be just as dangerous, if not more so, than its natural counterpart.

It is highly likely that the increasing popularity of these synthetic substances will cause an increase in the need for drug rehabilitation, especially amongst youth. Many use the substance without taking time to learn about how it is produced. Herbs are sprayed with a variety of chemicals that simulate the effects of THC. In fact, the DEA found that certain brands contain chemicals which could be five times more potent than marijuana, and highly dangerous in respect to both long-term and short-term use. Many states, like Oklahoma, started banning these cannaboids in 2010.

The U.S. Naval Academy has expelled a total of eleven midshipmen so far this year for the possession or use of synthetic marijuana. Although it can be purchased legally, the academy recognizes the potential dangers associated with any amount of use, and treats its use equally to the use of any other form of controlled substance. While offering drug rehabilitation for these offenders seems like a more effective solution as opposed to complete expulsion, the academy is making an effort to address the issue on a school-wide level, as well as monitoring online access to synthetic drug websites. Potential effects from use include increased heart rate, hallucination, and increased blood pressure, not to mention countless others. The chemicals used to enhance these effects also have a tendency to attach themselves to the brain, upping the chance of long-term, or even fatal, effects. Conveniently, these chemicals are not advertised on synthetic marijuana packaging, eliminating the possibility for interested buyers to know what they are putting into their bodies.

Because of the lack of information available to the public regarding synthetic drugs, many people will not realize the potential for a dangerous addiction while using these substances. If you or someone you know are showing signs of dependence, contact Vista Taos Addiction Center in New Mexico to speak with a counselor about the different types of drug rehabilitation programs available. Being proactive could potentially save the life of you or someone you love.