The evidence for the ecig gateway to smoking keeps piling up; ecig advocates continue to nitpick

Su Golder and colleagues paper “Vaping and harm in young people: umbrella review” sums up the large existing literature on e-cigarettes’ effects on youth, defined as people under 25. In contrast to systematic reviews which find and draw conclusions based on summing up individual studies, this umbrella review is finds and sums up all theContinue reading “The evidence for the ecig gateway to smoking keeps piling up; ecig advocates continue to nitpick”

Cannabis use linked to doubling in risk of cardiovascular disease death

Wilhelm Storck and colleagues new paper “Cardiovascular risk associated with the use of cannabis and cannabinoids: a systematic review and meta- analysis” published in Heart adds to the case that, far from being safe, cannabis use poses substantial risks. In an accompanying editorial, “It is time to treat cannabis as an important risk factor forContinue reading “Cannabis use linked to doubling in risk of cardiovascular disease death”

San Francisco’s proposed Recovery First Drug Policy is a good idea

In September, San Francisco Supervisor Matt Dorsey introduced his “Recovery First Drug Policy” that states “The cessation of illicit drug use and attainment of long-term Recovery from Substance Use Disorders shall be the primary objective of the City’s drug policy.” The policy allows for other steps, including harm reduction, as part of a comprehensive approachContinue reading “San Francisco’s proposed Recovery First Drug Policy is a good idea”

Trump gives Big Tobacco a big gift: He killed the National Youth Tobacco Survey, blinding public, researchers, and policy makers to the effects of changing tobacco industry products and practices

The now-shuttered CDC Office on Smoking and Health (OSH) has conducted the National Youth Tobacco Survey since 1999.  The survey provides important surveillance about how youth tobacco use is changing.  After Congress created the FDA Center for Tobacco Products, it partnered with CDC to expand the scope and depth of the survey, including increasing detailsContinue reading “Trump gives Big Tobacco a big gift: He killed the National Youth Tobacco Survey, blinding public, researchers, and policy makers to the effects of changing tobacco industry products and practices”

“Hard core” smokers are melting away in response to established tobacco control policies

The whole argument for promoting e-cigarettes, heated tobacco and other “potentially reduced risk” tobacco products is built on the assumption that there is a “hard-core” of smokers who “cannot or will not quit” using established smoking cessation therapies or in response to population level tobacco control interventions (e.g., clean indoor air laws, media campaigns, orContinue reading ““Hard core” smokers are melting away in response to established tobacco control policies”

DOJ and DEA should reclassify marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III to identify regulatory approaches from tobacco to apply to cannabis

My UCSF colleagues and I submitted this comment to DOJ supporting reschduling marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III ( PDF). The regulations.gov tracking number is lyx-h4jq-93z8. The Department of Justice and Drug Enforcement Agency should reclassify marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III to allow consideration of the health, safety, and abuse liability impactsContinue reading “DOJ and DEA should reclassify marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III to identify regulatory approaches from tobacco to apply to cannabis”

DOJ’s proposed transfer of marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III will facilitate research on cardiovascular impacts of cannabis use

My UCSF colleagues and I just submitted this public comment supporting moving marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III (PDF copy). The Regulations.gov tracking number is lyx-h4jq-93z8. The Department of Justice’s proposed transfer of marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act will facilitate research on the cardiovascular impacts of cannabisContinue reading “DOJ’s proposed transfer of marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III will facilitate research on cardiovascular impacts of cannabis use”