Drug News

HIGHLY dangerous batches of cocaine and ecstasy pills have hit the Australian market, with drug experts and police warning they had been bulked up with pesticides and lethal chemicals. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/drugs-cocaine-and-ecstasy-laced-with-poison-in-australia/story-e6frf7l6-1225890529649

A blend of herbs laced with synthetic marijuana known popularly as K2 is being sold openly in head shops and online, often sending people who smoke it to hospitals with symptoms ranging from soaring heart rates to paranoia to near-death experiences, according to health professionals. http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Politics/k2-marijuana-substance-attracts-state-bans/story?id=11128843

Across the country, demand for a synthetic form of marijuana is soaring. Unlike the real thing, this drug – called spice or K2 – is legal in most states. Now, a handful of lawmakers are taking action. This week Missouri became the sixth state to ban the use of K2. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/07/10/eveningnews/main6666078.shtml

Legalizing pot may drop the price of a marijuana cigarette to as little as $1.50 in California, but taxing weed may create a whole new black market, according to a new RAND Corp. study. http://www.suntimes.com/news/nation/2484856,CST-NWS-pot11.article

Election results sign of a healthy democracy, belying claims country is on verge of becoming a narco-state Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Mexican+voters+defy+drug+lords/3265436/story.html#ixzz0tTg3xveU

Use of heroin and other opiates continued a significant upward trend in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area in 2009, according to the latest Drug Trends Report for 2009 released by the Minnesota Department of Human Services. http://www.echopress.com/event/article/id/76477/group/News/

A Scarborough woman who nearly killed her toddler with a cocaine overdose after giving him the drug for 14 months has been sentenced to seven years in prison. http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/crime/article/833912–mother-who-fed-toddler-cocaine-sentenced-to-seven-years?bn=1

Researchers have found that a specific and remarkably small fragment of RNA appears to protect rats against cocaine addiction – and may also protect humans. The discovery could lead to better ways of predicting drug abuse risk and treating addictions. http://sify.com/news/tiny-rna-molecule-could-prevent-cocaine-addiction-news-international-khjnakbgjdf.html

WA police have expressed their disgust at finding dangerous chemicals and drug laboratories in children’s bedrooms during state-wide raids. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/07/09/2949785.htm?section=justin

While medical marijuana is now legal in 14 states, California may be the first to legalize it for all – and that, says a new study, could have serious health impacts. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-20009979-10391704.html