This week on Marijuana Media, we keep it green talking all things including high rats, robberies gone wrong, and busting the ‘lazy stoner’ stereotype once again – with Milly from 95bfm Drive and Chris from NORML – thanks to The Hempstore!
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A new study published in the journal Preventive Medicine Reports found adults with a history of cannabis use perform exercise and other physical activities at rates comparable to non-users.
Contrary to the ‘lazy stoner’ stereotype, researchers at the University of Texas and Ohio University found no significant differences between the cannabis consumers and non-users in their frequency of strength training or general activity. However, cannabis users had the highest number of times going for walks.
The study’s authors concluded: “These findings challenge the stereotype that marijuana … users are less active than their non-using counterparts.”
NORML says the findings are consistent with those of other studies concluding that adults with a history of marijuana use typically exercise as much or more than their non-using peers. Among those age 60 and older, marijuana use has been associated with increased exercise frequency.
NZ Herald reports “Rats eat confiscated marijuana from New Orleans police station’s evidence room”
Anne Kirkpatrick, the police superintendent, told the city council on Monday that an infestation of the rodents had played havoc with the force’s headquarters.
“The rats are eating our marijuana,” she told the council’s criminal justice committee. “They’re all high.”
The Herald noted the Louisiana rat pack is not the first example of rodents disrupting drug enforcement operations, and a 2019 study by Indiana University on the effect of cannabis on rodents reported that they were found to voluntarily consume cookies laced with THC, the active ingredient in cannabis “even after discovering its effects”.
Whanganui Chronicle asks “Medicinal cannabis: Why Kiwis are slow on the uptake”
MOH figures suggest around 250,000 New Zealanders use cannabis medicinally. It can be legally obtained from any doctor, but prescription rates suggest fewer than ten thousand (4%) are doing this each month.
Massey Uni’s Marta Rychart runs the NZ Drug Trends project and said, “the survey results revealed one important reason, was many general practitioners’ reluctance to prescribe.”
Respondents to the NZDTS survey also cited cost as a prohibitive factor with 56 per cent saying it was too expensive. However, Cannabis Clinic founder Dr Waseem Alzaher said “Contrary to popular belief, there has been a notable decrease in cannabis prices recently” and it is now often cheaper than unlicenced supplies.
Police bust cannabis robber and victim
It could also be the stigma and lack of help from the law after busts like this: a Hastings resident called police at 2am last Tuesday about a balaclava-clad man, armed with a butcher’s knife, in their garden stealing plants. Police found the guy nearby stuffing a cannabis plant “the size of a big Christmas tree” into a wheelie bin.
They busted him for aggravated robbery, and then busted the complainant for cultivation and utensils. Police found this so funny they issued a press statement with jokes like “Inquiries are continuing, but the cannabis tree won’t see Christmas.”
The NZ Herald / Hawkes Bay Today duly reported the “Bizarre cannabis bust”, 1News ran a big sticky bud pic to illustrate their story, RNZ called it “Reefer Madness” as “Police get two-for-one deal”. Stuff had just the facts please.
Coming up:
- Whakamana medicinal cannabis club Thursdays at the Blue Frog
- 420 Day is Saturday 20 April
- Auckland J Day is now in December!
Marijuana Media airs every Thursday at 4:20pm on 95bFM, with bFM Drive’s Milly and Chris Fowlie from The Hempstore. Stream or download hundreds of Marijuana Media pot-casts at 95bFM.com (or via iTunes / RSS feed). Thanks to The Hemp Store!
Chris – Thanks again for your contributions to this blog
This just seems like evidence that American stoners are as active as other Americans, not that either are as active as normal human beings.
Yep, that’s what the conclusion of the study pretty much says:
“Despite documented health benefits of physical activity, adults in our sample exercised less than three times per week on average. This is much lower than the CDC’s recommendation of at least 30 min of moderate-intensity physical activity five days a week”.
It could be argued that this study says more about Americans than it does stoners.
While my past experiences help me understand your enthusiasm for this drug the ability to exercise & what happens in the mind of a high user are often not related. We know that Marijuana is not toxic like alcohol so it is certainly physically safe but that does not mean that people should have unlimited use of it.
I also agree that our drug laws are a mess so I support change as long as people are made aware that there are health (mental and/or physical) issues involved with drug use.
“We know that Marijuana is not toxic like alcohol so it is certainly physically safe but that does not mean that people should have unlimited use of it.”
Thanks for your opinion but yeah, that’s not really going to work for me.
But it’s a little bizarre how “not toxic” and “physically safe” are in a sentence ending in denying adult free will.
It’s not like weed is paracetamol, bought from the supermarket for a few dollars on special, that we give to our children when they’re sick, and periodically some people overdose on and sadly die.
I dont think anyone is advocating unlimited use of pot, or anything. I just dont think having a couple of joints should be classed as some arrestable offence.
Personally, I think full legalisation for medical use and decriminalisation for personal use is the way to go. Plus there should be an aggressive help to quit campiagn and program, like there is with smoking.
More from the US (the Journal of the American Medical Association):
March 15, 2024
Cannabis Use Linked to Elevated Myocardial Infarction and Stroke Risk
Samantha Anderer
JAMA. Published online March 15, 2024. doi:10.1001/jama.2024.2075
Cannabis use may increase the risk of myocardial infarction and stroke independent of tobacco use, according to recent findings in the Journal of the American Heart Association. Compared with nonusers, daily cannabis consumers had 25% higher odds of myocardial infarction and 42% higher odds of stroke. More frequent use was associated with a greater possibility of adverse cardiovascular outcomes regardless of whether cannabis was smoked, eaten, or vaporized.
Mmm … stereotypes exposed? Still, The Big Lebowski and Inherent Vice are still up there on my movie list.