Characteristics of cannabis cultivation in New Zealand and Israel
Drugs and Alcohol Today,Volume 18, Issue 2, Page 90-98, June 2018. Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the characteristics of small-scale cannabis cultivation in New Zealand and Israel. Design/methodology/approach An online survey of predominantly small-scale cannabis cultivators had previously been conducted in 11 countries in 2012/2013. The same core online survey was subsequently conducted in New Zealand and Israel in 2016/2017, and comparisons made with the original 11 countries. Findings Only around one third of the New Zealand and Israeli cannabis growers had sold cannabis, and the majority of these di...
Source: Drugs and Alcohol Today - May 29, 2018 Category: Addiction Source Type: research
The German medical cannabis law of 2017
Drugs and Alcohol Today,Volume 18, Issue 2, Page 117-122, June 2018. Purpose The purpose of this paper is to give a review on the developments leading to the 2017 law on the medical use of cannabis and cannabinoids in Germany, and to present the major advances arising from this law for the supply of patients with cannabis-based drugs and its major limitations. Design/methodology/approach This paper used an Analysis of the major political statements and documents as well as court decisions of the past 20 years, which can be regarded as the major steps of this development. Findings Since 1998, when dronabinol/THC was made...
Source: Drugs and Alcohol Today - May 23, 2018 Category: Addiction Source Type: research
The impact of employment on perceived recovery from opiate dependence
Drugs and Alcohol Today, Ahead of Print. Purpose Less than 15 per cent of people starting opiate substitution treatment (OST) in England are employed, but few gain employment during treatment. Increasingly punitive approaches have been tried to encourage individuals with substance dependence into employment in the hope of facilitating recovery. It is not clear which factors are associated with the successful maintenance of employment whilst receiving OST, and whether this group can be said to be “in recovery”. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional study of the OST popul...
Source: Drugs and Alcohol Today - May 18, 2018 Category: Addiction Source Type: research
Tales of the Frenchfry: on Cannabis and uphill battles
Drugs and Alcohol Today,Volume 18, Issue 2, Page 147-156, June 2018. Purpose The purpose of this paper is to disclose the author ’s personal experiences regarding the war on drugs, specifically detailing cannabis encounters. Design/methodology/approach This work is autobiographical, with notes of science-based fact. Findings Cannabis could be the gateway to the end of the war on drugs. Social implications The hope for this publication is to explain some of the author’s hope is that by sharing the author’s personal story, people will rally behind the cause of cannabis legalisation and legitimisation; resources are...
Source: Drugs and Alcohol Today - May 16, 2018 Category: Addiction Source Type: research
My 28-year journey with cannabis: from terminal disease to post-pharmaceutical healing
This study fills a major gap in the literature on medical cannabis growers. (Source: Drugs and Alcohol Today)
Source: Drugs and Alcohol Today - May 14, 2018 Category: Addiction Source Type: research
The war on some consumers of some drugs
Drugs and Alcohol Today,Volume 18, Issue 2, Page 123-125, June 2018. Purpose As a prominent Cannabis Activist in the UK, the purpose of this paper is to articulate some thoughts on where activists should go next, to challenge stigmatising drug laws. Design/methodology/approach A personal narrative is interweaved with a drug policy discussion and views on how activists can best promote reform. Findings Activists ought to fight moral injustice by breaking unjust laws if necessary. This paper demonstrates how activists can develop regulatory models from the bottom up via cannabis clubs and the importance of talking to and ...
Source: Drugs and Alcohol Today - May 8, 2018 Category: Addiction Source Type: research
Quality of life and better than well: a mixed method study of long-term (post five years) recovery and recovery capital
This study provides support for the quality of life measure as useful in recovery research. The empirical data support the concept of recovery involving improvements in many areas of life and potentially beyond the norm, termed “better than well” (Best and Lubman, 2012; Valentine, 2011; Hibbert and Best, 2011). Limitations: snowballing method of recruitment, and undertaken by public health practitioner. Some suggestions of women and those who attend mutual aid having higher quality of life but sample too small. Pract ical implications Use QoL measure more in recovery research. Public health practitioners and policy ma...
Source: Drugs and Alcohol Today - May 4, 2018 Category: Addiction Source Type: research
Introduction: cultivation, medication, activism and cannabis policy
Drugs and Alcohol Today,Volume 18, Issue 2, Page 73-79, June 2018. Purpose The purpose of this paper is to introduce the special issue on Illicit Cannabis Cultivation in a Time of Policy Change. Design/methodology/approach The paper reviews some of the different adaptations made by cannabis growers in countries where cannabis has not been legalised. Findings Cannabis growers are adjusting to different legal settings by focusing on home production. Participation in cultivation is a crime, but can also be activism: an effort to change the law. Medical use of cannabis is a particularly important driver here. Having to brea...
Source: Drugs and Alcohol Today - May 4, 2018 Category: Addiction Source Type: research
Quality of life and better than well: a mixed method study of long-term (post five years) recovery and recovery capital
This study provides support for the quality of life measure as useful in recovery research. The empirical data support the concept of recovery involving improvements in many areas of life and potentially beyond the norm, termed “better than well” (Best and Lubman, 2012; Valentine, 2011; Hibbert and Best, 2011). Limitations: snowballing method of recruitment, and undertaken by public health practitioner. Some suggestions of women and those who attend mutual aid having higher quality of life but sample too small. Pract ical implications Use QoL measure more in recovery research. Public health practitioners and policy ma...
Source: Drugs and Alcohol Today - May 4, 2018 Category: Addiction Source Type: research
Introduction: cultivation, medication, activism and cannabis policy
Drugs and Alcohol Today,Volume 18, Issue 2, Page 73-79, June 2018. Purpose The purpose of this paper is to introduce the special issue on Illicit Cannabis Cultivation in a Time of Policy Change. Design/methodology/approach The paper reviews some of the different adaptations made by cannabis growers in countries where cannabis has not been legalised. Findings Cannabis growers are adjusting to different legal settings by focusing on home production. Participation in cultivation is a crime, but can also be activism: an effort to change the law. Medical use of cannabis is a particularly important driver here. Having to brea...
Source: Drugs and Alcohol Today - May 4, 2018 Category: Addiction Source Type: research
