Smoking Pot In Teen Years Lowers IQ Later

Teens who smoke marijuana see their IQs drop as adults, and deficits persist even after quitting, according to a new study. "The findings are consistent with speculation that cannabis use in adolescence, when the brain is undergoing critical development, may have neurotoxic effects," study researcher Madeline Meier of Duke University said in a statement. The study followed 1,037 New Zealand children for 25 years. Subjects took IQ tests at age 13, before any of them had smoked marijuana, and again at age 38.

Throughout the study, participants also answered several surveys about their drug use. Roughly 5 percent of the participants started using marijuana as teenagers. Those who smoked marijuana at least four times a week and used marijuana throughout their life saw their IQ drop an average of 8 points, the equivalent of going from an A to a B student. The drop was not explained by other drug use, years of education, schizophrenia or using marijuana in the day before the test. People who eventually quit smoking pot still had lower IQs than they did at the start of the study. Interestingly, people who picked up the habit as adults had no IQ drop, suggesting that marijuana may not be as harmful to the mature brain.

The findings are the first to associate intelligence declines with marijuana use. Past work linked low IQ and marijuana, but couldn't rule out the possibility that people who choose to smoke pot are inherently less smart than abstainers. It's not clear why pot is bad for teen brains. One possibility is that teenagers are more vulnerable to marijuana's effects on brain chemistry, said Susan Tapert, a neuropsychologist at the University of California, San Diego, who was not involved in the study. During adolescence, neural connections are pruned in the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex, critical regions for learning, memory and planning, Tapert said.

Those regions may also soak up the active ingredient in marijuana."A lot of the areas that are still developing during adolescent years happen to be the areas with high cannabis receptor density," Tapert told LiveScience. But those who consistently smoke marijuana may simply make less intellectually stimulating choices at critical points in life. "What people tend to do when they're under the influence is different than they would otherwise," Tapert said. For instance, pot users may be less inclined to attend classes or do other activities that give the brain a workout. Getting off track early on can also limit future opportunities and thereby reduce IQ, she said. [10 Ways to Keep Your Mind Sharp] "Teens need to view cannabis as not an entirely benign compound, but as something that can impair your judgment and might not be great for your brain," Tapert said. The study is detailed today (Aug. 27) in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Sooners adhere to tobacco ban policy, OU officials said

A majority of OU employees and students seem to be observing the tobacco ban policy, as OU police have had limited interactions with policy breakers, and landscaping workers are spending less time picking up cigarette butts, OU officials said. Since the tobacco ban policy was implemented July 1, OU police have responded to about 12 instances of tobacco use on campus, OU police department spokesman Lt. Bruce Chan said. Citizens either flag down officers on patrol or call the non-emergency hotline to report the incident, Chan said.

Every officer response to tobacco use has been a verbal warning as of now, he said. OU police have not issued any citations. Landscaping and Grounds director Allen King said he has seen an improvement on campus since the policy was put into effect. The common clean up areas are noticeably cleaner, King said. There is more time to work on the gardens and other ground maintenance since workers aren't having to pick up butts and drive around to empty ashtrays, King said. “It gives us more time,” King said. “It's an hour to an hour and a half a week that we could be doing something more productive.”

King also said some of his 65 full-time employees are making efforts to quit, such as attending clinics set up by facilities management or using electronic cigarettes. King himself smoked but quit cold turkey more than 20 years ago, he said. “I completely understand what they are doing,” King said. “I always hated the phrase, 'I'm trying to quit.' You have got to have the mindset to quit.” Each time information is available about tools that smokers can use to cut back or quit, King said he takes the fliers and puts it into the mailbox slots of his employees.

The tobacco ban policy was implemented July 1 after OU put together a task force to create a policy. The task force recommended a policy with smoking areas, but an executive order from Gov. Mary Fallin mandating that smoking not be allowed on state property overruled the smoking areas. OU's tobacco ban policy can be enforced by any university official, and breaking the policy can result in a verbal warning up to a $50, according to the policy. OU's tobacco ban policy prohibits both cigarettes and smokeless tobacco. OU's tobacco policy truly will be a success if it can get just one, maybe two, people to quit, King said. “I've seen what [smoking] can do to people,” he said. “It's five dollars a pack...it's just not worth it.”

UTD to enact tobacco ban

University officials will implement a new ban on Aug. 31 targeted at further eliminating tobacco on campus, according to a university webpage that was under development as of Aug. 23 and email from the university. The ban will be discussed in a town hall meeting that has been scheduled for 11 a.m. Aug. 28 in the Engineering and Computer Science South Building.

Although the details are not yet finalized, the ban is the result of a requirement the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, or CPRIT, adopted in February. This requirement states that all recipients of CPRIT funding in amounts greater than $25,000 must be tobacco-free, and UTD is one such institution that is awarded CPRIT grants.

According to the webpage, the ban would include all forms of tobacco products, including smokeless varieties such as snuff and electronic cigarettes. Also known as e-cigarettes, the smokeless device lacks the health problems of a traditional cigarette and helps many smokers quit. The plan mentioned in the webpage will primarily affect the Berkner and the Natural Science and Engineering Research Laboratory, or NSERL, buildings, as they receive the CPRIT funding.

Although smoking is already prohibited in all buildings and within 25 feet of airways, the new policy would expand that to ban all tobacco products in the area and buildings immediately adjacent to NSERL and Berkner, as well as prohibit tobacco within 10 meters of campus buildings and other tobacco-free zones. In spite of the large population of smokers on campus, some people are excited about a tobacco-free policy and the prospect of healthier air.

“I have asthma. I hate walking around and having people smoke,” said biology junior Michelle Bui. “People don’t listen to the signs that say to smoke 20 feet away from the door. They just sit there and smoke and you smell it all throughout the air.” Despite the prohibition of e-cigarettes, there are still options for those who would want to quit smoking and other tobacco-related activities. The UT System’s Living Well program offers free tobacco cessation assistance, including counseling and various nicotine replacement drugs, to UT System employees. Students will be able to receive online assistance through the Student Wellness Center.

“We are going to try and have programs that will try to convince students to not use tobacco. It’s not healthy for you,” said Student Government President Rajiv Dwivedi. “The awareness has to come gradually, though. You can’t force it on someone.” Students, faculty and staff who consistently violate the policy may be subject to the standard disciplinary actions outlined in their respective conduct policy, though the university strongly encourages peers to remind offenders of the policy and encourage them to refrain. Until recently, the webpage had stated that all tobacco products were to be completely banned from the campus, including all outdoor areas, by the fall 2013 semester. It is unclear if this proposition will make it into the final draft of the new policy.

As the restrictions the webpage outlines on smoking do not differ greatly from the existing rules on smoking, there is a possibility that smokers on campus could ignore the new policy all together. “Banning something on what is essentially open air doesn’t make a lot of sense to me,” said Adam Burns, historical and literary studies sophomore. “You are going to have really irritable smokers. It is just going to result in the university trying to enforce something that is disobeyed so often that it cannot possibly be enforced.”

While there could be various improvements in the overall health and aura of campus resulting from the cleaner air, some believe it would promote more headaches than healthy lifestyles. “The evidence for secondhand smoke damage is kind of thin, but it makes sense; I’m not going to discredit it,” Burns said. “But you can’t even begin to argue a secondhand risk for chewing tobacco or electronic cigarettes. It’s water vapor; it’d be like banning humidity.” More information on the university’s tobacco-free policy will be posted on the UTD website.

Tobacco Use Higher in Rural Areas

Tobacco use is higher among rural communities than in suburban and urban areas, and smokeless tobacco use is twice as common. According to the American Lung Association, rural youth are more likely to use tobacco and to start earlier than urban youth, perpetuating the cycle of tobacco addiction, death and disease.

In its latest health disparity report, “Cutting Tobacco’s Rural Roots: Tobacco Use in Rural Communities,” ALA says the increased tobacco use is associated with lower education levels and lower incomes, which are both common in rural areas where there may be fewer opportunities for educational and economic advancement. The exposure to secondhand smoke is also likely to be higher, since rural communities are less likely to have smoke-free air laws in place, and that probably makes residents less likely to ask individuals not to smoke in their homes or other indoor places they control.

The report also pointed out that the tobacco industry "spends millions of dollars targeting rural youth," and "these young people are less likely to be exposed to tobacco counter-marketing campaigns. Rural tobacco users are also less likely to have access to tobacco-cessation programs and services to get the help they need to quit. Promotion of the availability of state counseling services by phone and online resources also lags in rural communities."

NCC cadets seek to stub out tobacco use

The NCC cadets attached to the Flight B –II, 3 (Tamil Nadu) Air Squadron (Tech) NCC unit of the National College took out an anti-tobacco rally to create awareness of harmful effects of using tobacco. K.Anbarasu, principal, flagged off the rally, from the college premises after Sergeant Mariyappan administered the anti-tobacco pledge.

The principal explained the noxious effects of nicotine and other tobacco components and advised students to say a firm ‘no’ to tobacco. Commending students for their social commitment, he urged them to continue the campaign vigorously. K. Raghuraman, secretary of the college, offered felicitations.

Led by Flight Lieutenant, R.Sundhararaman, the NCC cadets proceeded through Milaguparai, Collectorate, St. John’s Vestry School junction, Cantonment and returned to the college. They carried placards with slogans explaining evil effects of using tobacco . The permanent instructional staff of 3 (Tamil Nadu) Air Squadron (Tech) NCC, also participated in the rally.

Underage tobacco sales down locally

Fewer Santa Barbara County retailers sold tobacco to youths this year, but results of the undercover operation still put the area above the statewide average of 5.4 percent. Of 341 retailers visited, 12 percent, or 42 stores, sold cigarettes to an underage decoy, according to results from the joint operation between the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department, law enforcement and youth-serving agencies. The county percentage is more than double the state average, but a decrease from last year’s 17 percent.

“The results were encouraging in the county area,” said Dawn Dunn, program administrator of the county’s Tobacco Prevention Settlement Program. “Sales rates appear to be on the decline. Compared to state, it’s a little troubling.” As in past surveys, sales to teenage decoys varied throughout the county from 3 percent in Santa Maria (two of 79 retailers) and Lompoc (one of 33) to 39 percent in Goleta (12 of 31). Dunn said Goleta’s illegal sales rate was alarmingly high. “Rates near 40 percent are quite out of the norm,” she said.

This year’s illegal sales rates were the highest they’ve ever been in Goleta, Guadalupe and Carpinteria. Guadalupe’s rate for 2012 was 29 percent, or two of seven retailers, and Carpinteria decoys were successful 26 percent of the time, or in five of 19 stores. Cities that had no underage sales last year — Solvang and Buellton — saw significant increases as well. Solvang’s rate was 29 percent, or two of seven, and Buellton clocked in at 17 percent, or two of 12. Lompoc showed a significant improvement, falling from 31 percent (9 of 29) last year to 3 percent in 2012. Dunn said the best way to look at the data is to compare rates to last year and to keep in mind that some cities have more retailers than others.

“Each city obviously has its unique circumstances,” Dunn said. “We cannot control for all of the variables. These figures are a snapshot of a moment in time that paint a picture.” She attributed part of the overall county decrease to the county Board of Supervisors voting in 2010 to strengthen the penalties associated with selling tobacco to minors in the unincorporated areas. “It’s nice to see there might be some effect,” Dunn said. “We want to educate retailers that this is important.” The Tobacco Prevention Settlement Program will host a free Board of Equalization training for tobacco retailers Sept. 6 in Santa Maria, with video conference available in Santa Barbara. Retailers interested in attending can call 681-5407.

Gloucester County freeholders look to ban smoking in public parks

Smokers make have to take their butts elsewhere if the Gloucester County freeholders do what they intend to — ban tobacco use in all county parks and recreational areas. A resolution, up for consideration at tonight’s regular meeting, would amend the parks and recreation rules to clear the cigarette smoke out of the county’s four public parks. “We’ve thought about it for a while now,” said Freeholder Director Robert M. Damminger. “When the latest report (from the American Cancer Society) came out, we really got the ball rolling on this.”

The recent study — which closely examined New Jersey — revealed that South Jersey residents are more likely to have cancer than those in northern New Jersey due to smoking more. The report also showed that the rates of cancer and deaths from cancer in the state are higher than the national average. “We think our families and their children should have a clean and safe environment,” Damminger said. “And if they want to smoke, they can leave the premises.” The public seems to agree. And disagree. “I don’t see why they would be against it. It’s open air.

It’s not like sitting in a restaurant where people are getting second-hand smoke,” said Greenwich Township resident Cliff Boardman, who was at Red Bank Battlefield Park in National Park on Tuesday. “They’re really pushing this now, huh?” National Park resident Kari Tomeo and her friend Victoria Rastelli, both of Deptford Township, were split on the matter. Both women were also watching over their children at the playground. “I think that sucks,” Tomeo said. “I think it’s an excellent idea,” Rastelli said. “It’s outside. If you’re on a bench 20 feet from someone else, it shouldn’t matter,” Tomeo said. “But people litter and don’t throw things away,” Rastelli argued. “There’s kids around here and they don’t need to be picking up cigarette butts.”

Both women were at the park watching over their own children as they disagreed. Steve Sprague, from Cross Keys, wasn’t a fan of the idea. “I think it’s probably a bad idea,” Sprague said. “It’s out in public, in open air. There’s too many restrictions already. Too much government control can’t be a good thing.” Gloucester County’s four public parks include James J. Atkinson Memorial Park in Washington Township, Scotland Run Park in Clayton, Red Bank Battlefield Park in National Park and Greenwich Lake Park in Greenwich Township. More than 650,000 people visit these parks each year. The enforcement of a smoking ban falls within the jurisdiction of local law enforcement, according to the county.

Washington Township and Clayton already have ordinances in place that prohibit smoking at public and recreational locations. Damminger said the county has already engaged in a dialogue with both National Park and Greenwich to adopt similar ordinances so that the ban could be enforced. “Smoking is unhealthy and it sends the wrong message to children. When you go to a park you see toddlers playing and people engaging in healthy activities, the last thing you want is second hand smoke and cigarette butts on the ground,” Freeholder Adam J. Taliaferro said. Taliaferro, liaison to the Department of Parks and Recreation, said that although the volume of constituent complaints about smoking have been low, he felt it was important to officially act and prohibit smoking in the county parks.

WHO urges Philippine senate to defy tobacco lobby and boost cigarette taxes

The World Health Organization urged Philippine senators Friday to resist tobacco industry pressure and pass legislation to boost cigarette taxes to help deter smoking in a country where tobacco-related disease kills 87,000 people a year. WHO Philippine representative Dr. Soe Nyunt-U said making cigarettes more expensive -- they sell for about a half a dollar per pack in the Philippines -- is the "most powerful policy tool" to reduce tobacco use. He also warned of an "irreconcilable conflict" between public health and tobacco interests.

"WHO calls on the government to be alert and resist these efforts of the tobacco industry to undermine tobacco control policies," he said. The Philippine Senate is debating the measure after similar legislation was passed by the Philippine House of Representatives. Some 17.3 million people in the Philippines smoke -- one of Southeast Asia's highest rates of smoking -- and 87,000 die per year of tobacco-related disease, Philippine Health Undersecretary Paulyn Jean Ubial said. Most of the victims also are among the country's poorest, putting a strain on the already limited funds for public health care, she said. About 47 percent of smokers are adult men, but the number of smokers among women and children is growing.

Dr. Matthew Myers, president of the U.S.-based Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, warned Philippine senators that if they passed a watered-down version of the proposed law, "you are literally trading the lives of Filipino children for political compromise." The House has passed legislation raising taxes on both cigarettes and alcohol. After the 23-member Senate finalizes its own version of the legislation, a joint legislative committee will craft the final form before it is signed into law by President Benigno Aquino III. Aquino is a smoker but has backed the legislation as a way to "minimize vices and raise funds for health care."

The House bill is projected to raise cigarette tax revenues from 25 billion pesos ($581 million) to about 33 billion pesos ($767 million) in the first year it is implemented. Ubial says the House version of the legislation would reduce the number of smokers by 170,000 per year, based on experiences of countries that have passed similar laws. PMFTC Inc., which controls more than 90 percent of the Philippine cigarette market, has called the propose taxes `'unreasonable," saying it would encourage smuggling of cheap cigarettes and undermine the government's revenue goals.

Gloucester County freeholders look to ban smoking in public parks

Smokers make have to take their butts elsewhere if the Gloucester County freeholders do what they intend to — ban tobacco use in all county parks and recreational areas. A resolution, up for consideration at tonight’s regular meeting, would amend the parks and recreation rules to clear the cigarette smoke out of the county’s four public parks. “We’ve thought about it for a while now,” said Freeholder Director Robert M. Damminger. “When the latest report (from the American Cancer Society) came out, we really got the ball rolling on this.”

The recent study — which closely examined New Jersey — revealed that South Jersey residents are more likely to have cancer than those in northern New Jersey due to smoking more. The report also showed that the rates of cancer and deaths from cancer in the state are higher than the national average. “We think our families and their children should have a clean and safe environment,” Damminger said. “And if they want to smoke, they can leave the premises.” The public seems to agree. And disagree. “I don’t see why they would be against it. It’s open air. It’s not like sitting in a restaurant where people are getting second-hand smoke,” said Greenwich Township resident Cliff Boardman, who was at Red Bank Battlefield Park in National Park on Tuesday.

“They’re really pushing this now, huh?” National Park resident Kari Tomeo and her friend Victoria Rastelli, both of Deptford Township, were split on the matter. Both women were also watching over their children at the playground. “I think that sucks,” Tomeo said. “I think it’s an excellent idea,” Rastelli said. “It’s outside. If you’re on a bench 20 feet from someone else, it shouldn’t matter,” Tomeo said. “But people litter and don’t throw things away,” Rastelli argued. “There’s kids around here and they don’t need to be picking up cigarette butts.”

Both women were at the park watching over their own children as they disagreed. Steve Sprague, from Cross Keys, wasn’t a fan of the idea. “I think it’s probably a bad idea,” Sprague said. “It’s out in public, in open air. There’s too many restrictions already. Too much government control can’t be a good thing.” Gloucester County’s four public parks include James J. Atkinson Memorial Park in Washington Township, Scotland Run Park in Clayton, Red Bank Battlefield Park in National Park and Greenwich Lake Park in Greenwich Township. More than 650,000 people visit these parks each year. The enforcement of a smoking ban falls within the jurisdiction of local law enforcement, according to the county.

Washington Township and Clayton already have ordinances in place that prohibit smoking at public and recreational locations. Damminger said the county has already engaged in a dialogue with both National Park and Greenwich to adopt similar ordinances so that the ban could be enforced. “Smoking is unhealthy and it sends the wrong message to children. When you go to a park you see toddlers playing and people engaging in healthy activities, the last thing you want is second hand smoke and cigarette butts on the ground,” Freeholder Adam J. Taliaferro said. Taliaferro, liaison to the Department of Parks and Recreation, said that although the volume of constituent complaints about smoking have been low, he felt it was important to officially act and prohibit smoking in the county parks.

Voter Approval Sought for Long Beach Medical Marijuana

Medical Marijuana advocates in Long Beach filed documents yesterday notifying the City of their intent to collect signatures to authorize a Ballot Initiative. The proposed measure would require City officials to regulate medical marijuana dispensaries to comply with California State law. In addition to limiting the number of dispensaries in Long Beach, and ensuring that they are not located near schools, public beaches and parks, the initiative calls for a tax of up to 4% to be paid into the City’s General Fund.

Jeremy Coltharp filed documents on behalf of patient members throughout Long Beach, and indicated that patients seeking relief from debilitating illness are concerned with ensuring that they are able to receive medical marijuana in safe and secure locations. “It’s important that the City of Long Beach provides the leadership needed to ensure the health and safety of all its citizens, both medical marijuana patients and the community as a whole”, stated Coltharp.

“Regulation of medical marijuana distribution will ensure that dispensaries have clear expectations to which they must adhere, and will also ensure that sick patients are are not forced to turn to back alley drug dealers.” In July, the Long Beach City Council voted to outlaw medical marijuana, rather than regulate its distribution in the City, in violation of recent binding court rulings that declared total bans to be illegal under California law. Those key court decisions follow the Compassionate Use Act of 1996, a landmark voter initiative by which voters authorized the use and distribution of marijuana for medicinal purposes.

The initiative was passed by an overwhelming majority of Long Beach voters, and served as an example to seventeen other states and the District of Columbia that have since passed similar medical marijuana laws. At least six other states are currently considering such laws. Coltharp anticipates collecting signatures from 15% of registered voters in Long Beach in order to qualify for a special election. “We continue to look to our City leaders to find the best way to ensure public safety. ” said Coltharp, “I’m confident that our City Council will will find a way to do that without endangering the quality of life of so many people in need.”

Sullivan marijuana grow house ring leaders charged

Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Wilbert Plummer, the Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), announced on August 2 the unsealing of an Indictment against FRANK NATIELLO III, JOSHUA SCHULTZ, JESUS GUTIERREZ, CLEMENTE FERNANDEZ, and JUAN DAVID ZAPATA-MONTOYA (the “Natiello Organization”), for their roles in operating several marijuana “grow houses” in Sullivan County that grew and distributed multi-million dollar quantities of marijuana.

U.S. Attorney Bharara stated: “The Natiello Organization was hiding their alleged marijuana cultivation and distribution operation in plain sight – using houses and garages in rural Sullivan County as a cover. Thanks to the cooperative efforts of law enforcement, their operations have been shut down and they are out of business.” Acting DEA Special Agent-in-Charge Plummer stated: “Investigations reveal that residences and industrial locations located throughout the state are a popular choice for marijuana grows. The Drug Enforcement Administration continues to uncover sophisticated marijuana grows.

The marijuana grows operating in residences are designed to yield substantial quantities of high potency marijuana, while attempting to avoid prosecution. These multi-ton seizures ensure that these dangerous drugs will not reach our communities.” The following allegations are based on the Indictment unsealed today in White Plains federal court: From 1998 through April 2011, the Natiello Organization grew, and then distributed, thousands of pounds of marijuana that was cultivated in grow houses in rural areas of Sullivan County, New York. The Natiello Organization established their grow houses in residential homes, garages and other structures that were retrofitted with high intensity lights and ventilation systems.

They grew hundreds of potted marijuana plants at a time, which were then dried and trimmed so they could be collected and sold for thousands of dollars a pound. On March 29, 2011, law enforcement officers seized approximately 7,900 marijuana plants from grow houses operated by the Natiello Organization and arrested 15 of its members – each of whom has pled guilty to conspiring to manufacture, distribute and possess with intent to distribute, marijuana plants.

City strikes down smoking ban proposal

Beech Grove smokers can continue smoking in local bars, after the city council there voted down a smoking ban proposal. Beech Grove City Council voted 2-5 Monday night on the proposal to ban smoking in local bars; the measure failed. Before the vote, about 20 people spoke at the meeting, including four bar owners.

 Bar owners told the council that they believed people should have the right to choose whether they want to smoke. Indianapolis remains under a smoking ban. A statewide smoking ban that began this year exempts bars and taverns.