VistaTaos

A Colorado marijuana farm was busted this November, and the growers were charged with cannabis trafficking, possession of cannabis, and unlawful delivery of cannabis. The operation was based on a 100 acre farm in Elbert County, Colorado. Elbert County is located about 70 miles south east of Denver, Colorado.

The four growers were arrested after ties with a Chicago distribution operation were linked to the pot farm in the Elbert area. The investigation had been going on since March, and the forces of the Illinois State Police, USDA, Colorado Springs Police Department and Elbert County Sherriff’s office helped narrow down the suspect list to an operation in Colorado Springs, based on information from a Chicago sting.

Once officials were on to the Colorado Springs operation, it was only a matter of time until another suspect with links to the Elbert County operation took the bait that officers dangled in a sting. Officers set up a controlled delivery operation from the Colorado Springs operation to the Chicago delivery site, and once the delivery took place, the suspect/delivery person was linked to Elbert County.

When law officials searched the Elbert County farm, they found 140 pounds of marijuana, 26 plants and numerous grow locations, some of which were greenhouses, rock outcroppings, buildings and trees. Four growers were arrested, including Daniel Haggerty, Matthew M. Tunzi and Anthony M. Munizzi.

This latest sting is just one of many in the fight against marijuana addiction. While the drug is often thought to not display addictive properties, many people have fallen to marijuana addiction. However, there is help in the form of marijuana addiction treatment centers, like Vista Taos Renewal Center in New Mexico.  

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.

Famous former talk show host Montel Williams is now facing legal problems when TSA agents found drug paraphernalia on his person as he was passing through a security checkpoint at an airport in Milwaukee this month. It was a pipe used for smoking marijuana. Williams ended his long career as a talk show host recently after announcing that he is battling Multiple Sclerosis and is retiring to take care of himself and treat his disease. He has been an advocate against the legalization of marijuana for treatment, like MS. In some places it is legal to have marijuana for medical purposes, but this was not the case in Milwaukee for Mr. Williams.

Though Montel Williams may benefit from medical marijuana, there is a problem with people who “self-medicate” with drugs like marijuana and prescription sedatives. They’re reasoning is not MS, cancer or the other health problems where medical marijuana use has been studied and reflects positive results. They’re usually struggling with life and are depressed. They become addicted to these drugs to help them simply survive their environment. Drug treatment at Vista Taos Renewal Center in New Mexico can help those who feel the need to self-medicate. The addiction is what will keep you sick. Depression or other emotionally related problems can be overcome without drugs. If prescriptions are needed, they can be monitored by a physician. Vista Taos provides drug treatment in Taos, New Mexico, and is prepared to help those who are in need of expert addiction therapy from drugs like marijuana, prescription sedatives and more. Do not self-medicate to overcome life’s challenges, self-improve.

Recently in the news there was a story about a Colorado physician (Dr. Manuel De Jesus Aquino) located in Denver that recommended a pregnant woman use marijuana to treat an illness.  He claims he had no idea the woman was pregnant, stating he did not take more than 3 minutes to complete an analysis of her condition.  This incident took place in January of 2010.  This young woman was in her second trimester of pregnancy when she met with the doctor.  When she delivered her child, a drug test showed marijuana in her system and her newborn’s. 

When marijuana is used during pregnancy, it can slow the growth of the fetus.  This means that when a baby born at term (40 weeks gestation) it should usually function very well once outside the womb.  If the growth rate was altered because of drug use, the baby may be underweight and the infant’s lungs may not be fully developed.  They can have a hard time feeding or even finding simple comfort.  Marijuana addiction during pregnancy is dangerous to both the mother and child. 

Vista Taos Renewal Center is dedicated to helping their patients recover from marijuana addiction or any chemical dependency.  If you or someone you care for is pregnant and suffering from addiction, get professional help.  No child deserves to be born into addiction.