Marijuana

Employers in Colorado are receiving mixed messages about how to deal with employees who use marijuana, according to NPR. Recreational use of marijuana is now legal for adults in both Colorado and Washington state.

Using marijuana at least once a week can lead to cognitive decline, poor attention and memory and decreased IQ in teens and young adults, according to researchers at the American Psychological Association annual meeting.

A new ad campaign warns teenagers in Colorado about the long-term effects of marijuana use. The “Don’t Be a Lab Rat” campaign targets 12- to 15-year-olds, Reuters reports.

Illegal marijuana operations are diverting precious water in California, The New York Times reports. The state announced a drought emergency in January.

Many homeowners’ associations are dealing with conflicts among neighbors about marijuana use, in states where the drug is legal for medical or recreational use, the Associated Press reports.

The four U.S. senators from Colorado and Washington state have asked the White House to establish “consistent and uniform” marijuana guidelines.

As the use of drug courts expand, critics say people with minor marijuana infractions are more likely than those with serious drug problems to end up in these programs.

Government researchers are studying the effect of marijuana on drivers, USA Today reports. The findings will help regulators decide on guidelines for drugged driving.

The Oregon Secretary of State has certified that a petition campaign for a measure that would allow recreational marijuana for adults 21 and older has turned in enough valid signatures to qualify for the November ballot.

The U.S. House on Wednesday rejected a measure that would have blocked the Treasury Department from implementing guidelines to make it easier for legal marijuana businesses to conduct banking.

Marijuana use in Colorado has been much higher than expected, according to a new study by the state. While only about 9 percent of state residents use the drug, they are likely to use 121.4 metric tons of marijuana annually, The Washington Times reports.

Pro-marijuana tweets are reaching hundreds of thousands of American teens and young adults several times a day, a new study concludes. The researchers say they are concerned about their findings because young people can be especially influenced by social media.

Sales of recreational marijuana are scheduled to begin as early as Tuesday in Washington state. The first 24 marijuana retailer licenses were issued by the state’s Liquor Control Board on Monday, NPR reports.

Marijuana use is increasing in the United States as Americans change their attitude about the drug’s risks, according to a new report by the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime. Globally, marijuana use seems to be decreasing.

Washington State Governor Jay Inslee this week announced rules designed to keep marijuana out of the hands of children, now that recreational use of the drug is legal for adults 21 and older.

A growing number of drugged drivers are testing positive for prescription drugs, a new study suggests. More drivers involved in fatal crashes tested positive for prescription medications than for any other drug type.

Top headlines of the week from Friday, June 6- Thursday, June 12, 2014.

The online tool Google Trends may be able to help track the public’s use of marijuana, a new study suggests. The researchers say the tool can also be used to gauge growing interest in other drugs.

As marijuana becomes more readily available, a growing number of researchers are studying the possible link between marijuana and fatal car crashes, USA Today reports.

Some Massachusetts physicians have resigned from marijuana companies after being told by U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration investigators they must do so or be faced with relinquishing federal licenses to prescribe certain medications, The Boston Globe reports.

Marijuana is linked to several significant adverse health effects, and can be addictive, National Institute on Drug Abuse Director Dr. Nora Volkow writes in this week’s New England Journal of Medicine.

A measure passed by the U.S. House of Representatives last week would end federal interference in state medical marijuana laws.

Law enforcement and health officials in Colorado are seeing a variety of problems stemming from the legalization of recreational marijuana. They range from poisonings from edible marijuana to drugged driving.

A former Hershey chocolate production plant in Ontario, Canada has become home to a marijuana production facility, The New York Times reports. The facility houses 50,000 marijuana plants.

Top headlines of the week from Friday, May 23- Thursday, May 29, 2014.