Press Releases

Viewing by tag: research

  • The Media Should Stop Pretending Marijuana’s Risks Are a Mystery — The Science Is Clear

    posted on the December 20th, 2013 by Chris

    We now know as much about cannabis as we know about alcohol, tobacco and many prescription drugs. Speaking recently with the Los Angeles Times, UCLA professor and former Washington state “pot czar” Mark Kleiman implied that we as a society are largely ignorant when it comes to the subject of weed. Speaking with Times columnist Patt […]

  • Study: Marijuana smoking not associated with airway cancers, COPD, emphysema, or other tobacco-related pulmonary complications

    posted on the July 10th, 2013 by norml

    Last week we reported a new study that found cannabis reduces cravings for tobacco. It turns out pulmonary complications associated with the regular smoking of cannabis are “relatively small” and far lower than those associated with tobacco smoking, according to a recent review published in the June edition of the scientific journal Annals of the […]

  • Second NZ study fails to find downside to cannabis use

    posted on the June 5th, 2013 by norml

    Two studies from New Zealand have failed to find the downside to cannabis use they were looking for – but don’t expect to see any coverage in our local media. Last month we revealed a new re-analysis of NZ data that, when it was first published, was widely reported as showing a lung cancer link […]

  • Study: Regular Cannabis Use Associated With Reduced Risk Factors For Type 2 Diabetes

    posted on the May 15th, 2013 by norml

    Smoking cannabis could reduce the risk of diabetes by controlling blood sugar Marijuana users had 16% lower fasting insulin levels than non-users They were also less likely to be insulin resistant and had smaller waists Previous research has found cannabis smokers are less likely to be obese   Study: Regular Cannabis Use Associated With Reduced […]

  • NORML’s Chris Fowlie talks legalisation in Colorado and how it might apply to NZ, with Newstalk’s Jack Tame

    posted on the April 20th, 2013 by Chris

    http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/player/ondemand/948590092-world-cannabis-week-to-take-over-colorado World Cannabis Week to take over Colorado New Zealander Chris Fowlie researches cannabis use and cultivation, and he talks to Jack Tame in Colorado, where the drug is legal and celebrating that this weekend. Click to listen in external player or download the mp3 here

  • Study: Smoking Cannabis Associated With “Significantly Better” Health Outcomes Than Tobacco

    posted on the March 28th, 2013 by Chris

    Australian research has found cannabis users are just as healthy as non-users, but you probably didn’t see any coverage of this in the mainstream media. The key points are: Cannabis-only subjects reported “significantly better” general health and fewer smoking-related health concerns compared to the tobacco-only group. Cannabis-only subjects were less likely to report diagnoses of […]

  • New Zealand still the world’s top consumer of cannabis

    posted on the March 22nd, 2013 by Chris

    New Zealand and Australia have the highest rates of using cannabis in the world, according to the United Nation’s 2012 World Drug Report. In 2010 (the most recent year for which international data was available), marijuana consumption was most prevalent in Australia and New Zealand, with the United States and Canada tied for second, followed […]

  • Regulation will reduce teen cannabis use, says NORML

    posted on the September 3rd, 2012 by norml

    Current drug policy is resulting in widespread teenage cannabis use while a regulated market would make cannabis use adults-only in licensed premises. Despite strict cannabis laws, New Zealand has the highest rate of teen cannabis use in the world. Meanwhile, the Netherlands have the most relaxed cannabis laws for adults in the world but has […]

  • Scientific Review: “There Is Now Clear Evidence That Cannabinoids Are Useful For The Treatment Of Various Medical Conditions”

    posted on the August 9th, 2012 by norml

    by Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director (USA) August 9, 2012 For the second time in recent months, a scientific paper published in a peer-reviewed journal has thoroughly rebutted the present Schedule Istatus of cannabis under US federal law, which states that the plant and its organic constituents possess a “high potential for abuse,” and that […]

  • Five Scientific Conclusions About Cannabis That The Mainstream Media Doesn’t Want You To Know

    posted on the July 27th, 2012 by norml

    The government and mainstream media like to push studies touting the purported dangers of marijuana, while ignoring scientific evidence that demonstrates the opposite, writes Paul Armentano. While studies touting the purported dangers of cannabis are frequently pushed by the federal government and, therefore, all but assured mainstream media coverage, scientific conclusions rebutting pot propaganda or demonstrating […]

  • Medical cannabis laws associated with fewer suicides

    posted on the February 25th, 2012 by Chris

    “Policymakers weighing the pros and cons of legalization should consider… that (these) laws may lead to fewer suicides among young adult males” New Zealand has one of the highest rates of suicide in the world – especially for young males. We also have the highest rate of cannabis arrests in the world, with police spending […]

  • Medical Cannabis Laws Have No Discernable Adverse Impact On Adolescents’ Pot Use

    posted on the February 14th, 2012 by norml

    by Paul Armentano, US NORML Deputy Director The enactment of state laws allowing for the limited legal use of cannabis by qualified patients has little to no causal effect on broader marijuana use, according to data published online in the journal Annals of Epidemiology. Investigators at McGill University in Montreal obtained state-level estimates of marijuana […]

  • NZ’s 540,000 marijuana users “too many to arrest”

    posted on the January 18th, 2012 by norml

    A new Horizon Poll has found New Zealand has 540,000 marijuana users including over 70,000 who use it every day. NORML says this is more evidence in support of it’s campaign theme of “too many smokers to arrest”. “New Zealand has one of the highest rates of cannabis use in the world, and despite decades […]

  • Problems with cannabis potency claims

    posted on the January 18th, 2012 by Chris

    New Zealand Police are complaining that domestic cannabis has apparently “quadrupled in strength“. Aside from the obvious point that if cannabis is stronger consumers don’t need to smoke as much, there are several problems with this claim. We thought the NZ Drug Foundation covered it well: http://www.drugfoundation.org.nz/mythbusters/cannabis-potency Cannabis potency Thursday, November 25, 2010 “New Zealand […]

  • Canada’s Liberal Party votes to legalise

    posted on the January 18th, 2012 by norml

    Canada’s Liberal Party, the country’s oldest registered political party, has overwhelmingly adopted a policy of supporting the regulation and taxation of cannabis commerce, something New Zealand’s conservative government should also consider. The Liberals have often been the governing party in Canada, and have previously attempted several times to introduce legislation to legalise, regulate and tax […]

  • Drug driving campaign may backfire

    posted on the January 13th, 2012 by norml

    NORML supports efforts to reduce impairment on the roads, and our own “Principles of Responsible Cannabis Use” invoke a no-driving clause. However, like with alcohol it is important to distinguish between use and impairment. Furthermore, efforts to reduce the use of drugs may actually backfire by encouraging more use of alcohol, a far more dangerous […]

  • JAMA: Long-Term Exposure To Cannabis Smoke Is Not Associated With Adverse Effects On Pulmonary Function

    posted on the January 11th, 2012 by norml

    by Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director Exposure to cannabis smoke, even over the long-term, is not associated with adverse effects on pulmonary function. That’s the conclusion of a major clinical trial published today in the prestigious Journal of the American Medical Association(JAMA). Investigators at the University of California, San Francisco analyzed the association between marijuana […]

  • Aussie Gangs and Drugs – Prohibition is Great for Business & Increasing Violence

    posted on the January 29th, 2011 by norml

    Aussie biker gangs like the Rebels gain power through violence and trafficking in illegal drugs; that means prohibition is great for business and will only help them get a stake established more quickly in New Zealand. “It isn’t surprising that a gang like the Rebels is looking at starting an operation here,” says NORML President […]

  • Restore Public Trust in Police – Stop Criminalising Cannabis

    posted on the January 20th, 2011 by norml

    The New Zealand public needs to have its confidence restored in the police and the quickest way for that to happen is to stop criminalising cannabis. “The announcement this week of Police Commissioner Rob Pope’s resignation signals a healthy change in the nature of Police culture,” said NORML NZ President Stephen McIntyre today. “But over […]

  • Prohibition of cannabis counter-productive

    posted on the October 7th, 2010 by Chris

    The International Centre for Science in Drug Policy (ICSDP) today released a new research report that demonstrates the clear failure of U.S. marijuana prohibition and supports calls for evidence-based models to legalize and regulate the use of cannabis. The British Medical Journal, one of the world’s most influential medical journals, published a supportive commentary to […]