recent posts for dwf_admin

(drug testing - employee - testing of certified labs) "The accuracy of certified labs has never been tested. Not a single study of the accuracy of HHS certified laboratories has ever been conducted. The National Academy of Sciences and other experts have urged HHS to conduct such tests,⁶ but HHS has never done so. Nor has HHS allowed independent researchers to see its data. HHS’ failure to conduct or allow accuracy studies of certified labs is especially troubling in light of the federal government’s assurances that the labs it used were reliable ..."

(drug testing - employee - certified labs) "In response to well documented quality problems in labs that were previously considered reliable, the federal government established certification programs. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has a program to certify laboratories.³ And the U.S. Department of Transportation has a program.⁴ Testing conducted by federal agencies or required by federal law must be conducted by certified labs."

(medical cannabis - multiple sclerosis) "We saw a beneficial effect of smoked cannabis on treatment-resistant spasticity and pain associated with multiple sclerosis among our participants."

"Conclusion: Using an objective measure, we saw a beneficial effect of inhaled cannabis on spasticity among patients receiving insufficient relief from traditional treatments."

(crime - strategy to combat transnational organized crime) "This [Strategy to Combat Transnational Organized Crime] complements but does not replicate the work of other major U.S. security initiatives. It is guided by the National Security Strategy and interlocks with other U.S.

(crime - transnational organized crime - definition) "Transnational organized crime refers to those self-perpetuating associations of individuals who operate transnationally for the purpose of obtaining power, influence, monetary and/or commercial gains, wholly or in part by illegal means, while protecting their activities through a pattern of corruption and/or violence, or while protecting their illegal activities through a transnational organizational structure and the exploitation of transnational commerce or communication mechanisms.

(2007 - economics - economic impact of illicit drug use) "In 2007, the cost of illicit drug use totaled more than $193 billion. Direct and indirect costs attributable to illicit drug use are estimated in three principal areas: crime, health, and productivity.

(medical cannabis - history) "The first known mention of cannabis as a medicine appears in the world's oldest known medical text, the Pen Ts'ao Ching. Apparently composed by Emperor Shen-Nung around 2800 B.C., the oldest written copy dates back to the first century and suggests that cannabis may be useful in treating hundreds of conditions, including rheumatism, menstrual fatigue, and malaria."

(medical cannabis - vaporization) "These results suggest that the respiratory effects of cannabis can decrease with the use of a vaporizer. The data reveal that respiratory symptoms like cough, phlegm, and tightness in the chest increase with cigarette use and cannabis use, but are less severe among users of a vaporizer."

(2009 - alcohol - driving fatalities) "Alcohol-impaired driving fatalities declined 20% from 13,491 to 10,839 from 2006 to 2009, the most recent year for which fatality data are available (7). However, the proportion of all motor vehicle fatalities that involve at least one alcohol-impaired driver has remained stable at about 33%, because non-alcohol-impaired driving fatalities have declined at the same rate as alcohol-impaired fatalities (7).

(2010 - alcohol - driving impairment) "The findings in this report confirm those from the most recent National Roadside Survey, which in 2007 found that only a small percentage of adult drivers are alcohol-impaired. That survey showed that 2.2% of drivers on the road on Friday afternoon or Friday or Saturday night had a BAC of ≥0.08 g/dL (12). Additionally, the findings in this report are consistent with alcohol-impaired driving fatality data.