Illegal ecstasy being studied to treat PTSD

CINCINNATI — Dubbed the "hug drug" and "X" by its users, the illegal drug ecstasy is being researched as a possible treatment for sufferers of serious stress disorders.

But a lot more research is needed before ecstasy-assisted psychotherapy ever would be made legal in the United States, said Gary Gudelsky, a University of Cincinnati professor who has spent 25 years studying side effects of the drug on the brain.

Read more: Illegal ecstasy being studied to treat PTSD

G20 officials decry lack of global growth | ArabNews

WASHINGTON: World finance leaders say they are determined to attack a sluggish global economy in which growth is too weak and unemployment too high. Their problem is arriving at a consensus over the proper mix of policies.


Finance ministers and central bank presidents from the world’s biggest economies issued a joint statement that papered over stark differences between opposing views.

The US and other countries are pushing for less budget austerity and more government stimulus while Germany and others contend that attacking huge budget deficits should be job No. 1.


Read more: G20 officials decry lack of global growth | ArabNews

Courage

President Obama at 2013 White House Correspondents' Dinner (C-SPAN)

President Obama at 2013 White House Correspondents' Dinner (C-SPAN)

FH board denies 2 variance requests for medical-pot site

 
 
Fountain Hills’ only medical-marijuana dispensary can be open only during traditional business hours and cannot have an ATM on site for patients.

However, the dispensary can offer water and coffee to its patients, and an existing outdoor-seating area can remain in place at the complex that will house the facility, but cannot be used by dispensary customers.

Read more: FH board denies 2 variance requests for medical-pot site

Medical-marijuana-packaging bill loses prosecutors’ support

The complexity of the legal debate over whether federal law trumps the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act has prompted the state’s prosecuting-attorneys association to withdraw its support of legislation their members had helped craft to protect children from accidentally eating medical cannabis.

A bill to enforce bland wrapping on candy containing marijuana will likely die, as attorneys say that it’s too difficult to keep legislating medical marijuana in an atmosphere of legal challenges and that the issue needs to be decided in the courts. The same argument was made last week when a bill to require police to destroy medical marijuana seized in criminal investigations was withdrawn by its sponsor.

Read more:  Medical-marijuana-packaging bill loses prosecutors’ support

Medical-marijuana bill nixed by sponsor

 

An Arizona senator has withdrawn a bill that would require police to destroy medical marijuana seized or forfeited in criminal investigations.

Instead of attacking the issue of what police should do with seized medical-marijuana plants and drugs through legislation, policy makers have decided to let it play out in the courts.

Sen. Kimberly Yee, R-Phoenix, withdrew Senate Bill 1441 after a state prosecuting-attorneys group outlined a potential conflict between state and federal laws and joined the case that gave rise to Yee’s bill. The bill was the outgrowth of a case in which a Yuma County Superior Court judge ordered the Sheriff’s Office to return marijuana seized from a California woman who had permission to use the drug for medical purposes. That case is now before the Arizona Supreme Court.

Read more: Medical-marijuana bill nixed by sponsor

Japan central bank revamps policy to boost economy - latimes.com

Japan is taking aggressive action to lift consumer prices, encourage borrowing and help pull the world's third-largest economy out of a long slump.

Like the U.S. Federal Reserve, Japan's central bank plans to flood its financial system with more money — its most far-reaching step to date to get consumers and companies to borrow and spend.

The Bank of Japan's action will also drive down the value of the yen. A cheaper currency will make Japanese goods — from Toyota cars to Sony TVs — less costly for Americans and other foreigners. And it will make U.S. and other exports more expensive in Japan.

Read more: Japan central bank revamps policy to boost economy - latimes.com

Quartz: China, North Korea’s only friend, is getting uncomfortable with its renegade neighbor

Officially, China is North Korea's biggest ally and trading partner. But behind the scenes, Bejing may be getting uneasy with its neighbor's bellicose baiting of the US. North Korea is possibly preparing another missile test, or potentially a launch, though this is not viewed as a serious threat to America. Yet rather than backing Pyongyang, Beijing. Read more... http://qz.com/71194