KUSH (CANNABIS) LEGALLY LICENSED COMMERCIAL TRIAL OF MEDICINAL CANNABIS.[

2016gregora1 1

Fast facts about OG Kush medicinal cannabis:

Classification: Indica Dominant

Optimal environment for growing: Indoors

Prepares cooler temps (around 75 degrees F).

8 to 9 weeks required for flowering.

One of the "Ultimate" Kush strains..

Gardening Skills Required: Moderate

Medicinal Usages: Stress Relief, Anger, Bipolar Disorder, Nervous Conditions,

Alzheimer's, Migraines, Headache, Vomiting, Depression, Parkinson's Disease, Chronic

Pain and Many More 2016gregora1 2

• THE U.S. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION DOES NOT STRICTLY REGULATE HERBS AND

SUPPLEMENTS. THERE IS NO GUARANTEE OF STRENGTH, PURITY OR SAFETY OF PRODUCTS,

AND EFFECTS MAY VARY. YOU SHOULD ALWAYS READ PRODUCT LABELS. IF YOU HAVE A

MEDICAL CONDITION, OR ARE TAKING OTHER DRUGS, HERBS, OR SUPPLEMENTS, YOU SHOULD

SPEAK WITH A QUALIFIED HEALTHCARE PROVIDER BEFORE STARTING A NEW THERAPY.

CONSULT A HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU EXPERIENCE SIDE EFFECTS.

2016gregora1 3

• ALLERGIES

• AVOID IF ALLERGIC OR SENSITIVE TO CANNABINOIDS OR TO PLANTS OF THE CANNABACEAE FAMILY. ASTHMA, HIVES, PINK EYE, AND

RUNNY OR STUFFY NOSE HAVE BEEN REPORTED.

• SIDE EFFECTS AND WARNINGS

• CANNABINOIDS ARE LIKELY SAFE WHEN USED FOR SPECIFIC CONDITIONS AT THE RECOMMENDED DOSES FOR THE RECOMMENDED

AMOUNT OF TIME.

• SIDE EFFECTS HAVE MOSTLY BEEN LINKED TO THC, THE ACTIVE INGREDIENT IN CANNABIS SATIVA. DIZZINESS IS A COMMON SIDE

EFFECT. MARIJUANA MAY HAVE EFFECTS ON ALMOST EVERY ORGAN SYSTEM IN THE BODY, INCLUDING THE CENTRAL NERVOUS, HEART,

ENDOCRINE, AND IMMUNE SYSTEMS.

• USE CAUTIOUSLY WITH ALCOHOL. COMBINING ALCOHOL AND CBD MAY CAUSE SIGNIFICANTLY LOW BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVELS

COMPARED TO ALCOHOL ALONE, THOUGH SIMILAR EFFECTS MAY OCCUR.

2016gregora1 4

• MARIJUANA MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF BLEEDING. CAUTION IS ADVISED IN PEOPLE WITH BLEEDING DISORDERS OR

THOSE TAKING DRUGS THAT MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF BLEEDING. DOSING ADJUSTMENTS MAY BE NECESSARY.

• MARIJUANA MAY AFFECT BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS. CAUTION IS ADVISED IN PEOPLE WITH DIABETES OR BLOOD SUGAR

PROBLEMS, AND IN THOSE TAKING DRUGS, HERBS, OR SUPPLEMENTS THAT AFFECT BLOOD SUGAR. BLOOD SUGAR

LEVELS MAY NEED TO BE MONITORED BY A QUALIFIED HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL, INCLUDING A PHARMACIST, AND

MEDICATION ADJUSTMENTS MAY BE NECESSARY.

• MARIJUANA MAY CAUSE LOW BLOOD PRESSURE. CAUTION IS ADVISED IN PEOPLE WHO HAVE BLOOD PRESSURE

DISORDERS OR THOSE TAKING DRUGS OR HERBS AND SUPPLEMENTS THAT LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE.

• USE CAUTIOUSLY IN PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIVER DISEASE OR THOSE USING AGENTS TOXIC TO THE LIVER.

2016gregora1 5

• USE CAUTIOUSLY IN PEOPLE WHO ARE TAKING BARBITURATES, ANTIPYRINE, OR CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM (CNS) DEPRESSANTS.

• MARIJUANA MAY INTERFERE WITH THE WAY THE BODY PROCESSES CERTAIN AGENTS USING THE LIVER'S CYTOCHROME P450 ENZYME SYSTEM.

AS A RESULT, THE LEVELS OF THESE AGENTS MAY BE INCREASED IN THE BLOOD AND MAY CAUSE INCREASED EFFECTS OR POTENTIALLY SERIOUS

ADVERSE REACTIONS. PEOPLE USING ANY MEDICATIONS SHOULD CHECK THE PACKAGE INSERT AND SPEAK WITH A QUALIFIED HEALTHCARE

PROFESSIONAL, INCLUDING A PHARMACIST, ABOUT POSSIBLE INTERACTIONS.

• USE CAUTIOUSLY IN PEOPLE WHO ARE ON ESTROGEN THERAPY.

• USE CAUTIOUSLY IN PEOPLE WHO HAVE IMMUNE DISORDERS OR THOSE TAKING AGENTS THAT MAY AFFECT THE IMMUNE SYSTEM.

• USE CAUTIOUSLY IN PEOPLE WHO ARE TAKING P-GLYCOPROTEIN-REGULATED DRUGS.

• USE CAUTIOUSLY IN PEOPLE WHO HAVE A HISTORY OF DRUG ABUSE OR ADDICTION. MARIJUANA MAY BE ADDICTIVE.

2016gregora1 6

• USE CAUTIOUSLY IN PEOPLE WHO HAVE OR ARE AT RISK OF EYE PROBLEMS. MARIJUANA MAY CAUSE EYE PROBLEMS AND DRY EYES,

AND IT MAY INCREASE EYE PRESSURE.

• USE CAUTIOUSLY WHEN CONSUMING FOODS OR SUPPLEMENTS THAT CONTAIN CANNABIS SEEDS OR OIL. THESE PRODUCTS MAY

CONTAIN A HIGH LEVEL OF THC THAT MAY TRIGGER A POSITIVE DRUG SCREEN.

• USE CAUTIOUSLY IN PEOPLE WHO ARE AT RISK OF SEIZURE OR THOSE USING ANTISEIZURE DRUGS. MARIJUANA MAY CAUSE SEIZURES.

• USE CAUTIOUSLY IN PEOPLE WHO HAVE OR ARE AT RISK OF HEART DISEASE. MARIJUANA MAY CAUSE ABNORMAL HEARTBEAT,

DISRUPTED BLOOD FLOW TO ORGANS (KIDNEY, SPLEEN), HEART ATTACK, AND HEART FAILURE.

• USE CAUTIOUSLY IN PEOPLE WHO HAVE LEARNING DISABILITIES OR ATTENTION-DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER (ADHD). MARIJUANA

MAY CAUSE PROBLEMS WITH ATTENTION, LEARNING, MEMORY, ORGANIZATION, PLANNING, PROBLEM SOLVING, AND OTHER BRAIN

FUNCTIONS.

2016gregora1 7

• USE CAUTIOUSLY IN PEOPLE AT RISK OF SKIN PROBLEMS. MARIJUANA MAY CAUSE HIVES, PATCHES IN THE MOUTH,

AND SKIN ITCHING.

• USE CAUTIOUSLY IN PEOPLE WITH STOMACH DISORDERS. MARIJUANA MAY CAUSE STOMACH PROBLEMS SUCH AS A

BAD TASTE, BURNING OR SWELLING TONGUE, DIARRHEA, DRY MOUTH, INCREASED APPETITE, INDIGESTION, MOUTH

ULCERS, NAUSEA, PAIN, AND VOMITING.

• USE CAUTIOUSLY IN PEOPLE WHO HAVE OR ARE AT RISK OF MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS. MARIJUANA MAY CAUSE

BONE PROBLEMS, INCREASED RISK OF SIDE EFFECTS LINKED TO MUSCULOSKELETAL OR CONNECTIVE TISSUE

DISORDERS, FALLS, MUSCLE PROBLEMS (PAIN, TWITCHING, OR WEAKNESS), NUMBNESS, RECURRENCE IN MULTIPLE

SCLEROSIS, REDUCED COORDINATION, RESTLESSNESS, AND SPEECH DISORDERS.

• DROWSINESS OR SEDATION MAY OCCUR. USE CAUTION IF DRIVING OR OPERATING HEAVY MACHINERY.

2016gregora1 8

• USE CAUTIOUSLY IN ALL OTHERWISE HEALTHY PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT TAKING ANY MEDICATIONS. MARIJUANA MAY CAUSE

DISORIENTATION, DIZZINESS, HEADACHES, FATIGUE, A FEELING OF INTOXICATION, LIGHTHEADEDNESS, AND REDUCED ATTENTION.

• USE CAUTIOUSLY IN PEOPLE WHO HAVE OR ARE AT RISK OF EAR PROBLEMS. MARIJUANA MAY CAUSE EAR PROBLEMS.

• AVOID IF ALLERGIC OR SENSITIVE TO CANNABINOIDS OR TO PLANTS OF THE CANNABACEAE FAMILY. ASTHMA, HIVES, PINKEYE, AND

RUNNY OR STUFFY NOSE HAVE BEEN REPORTED.

• AVOID IN WOMEN WHO ARE PREGNANT, BREASTFEEDING, OR TRYING TO GET PREGNANT. MARIJUANA MAY HAVE SERIOUS RISKS AND

MAY CAUSE LOW BIRTHWEIGHT OR ABNORMALITIES IN THE BABY.

• AVOID LONG-TERM USE IN PEOPLE WHO HAVE OR ARE AT RISK OF LUNG PROBLEMS, SUCH AS ASTHMA OR BYSSINOSIS (A DISEASE

CAUSED BY BREATHING DUST). MARIJUANA MAY CAUSE BRONCHITIS, COUGHING, LUNG CYSTS, PHLEGM, REDUCED LUNG DENSITY,

AND WHEEZING.

2016gregora1 9

• USE CAUTIOUSLY IN ALL OTHERWISE HEALTHY PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT TAKING ANY MEDICATIONS. MARIJUANA MAY CAUSE

DISORIENTATION, DIZZINESS, HEADACHES, FATIGUE, A FEELING OF INTOXICATION, LIGHTHEADEDNESS, AND REDUCED ATTENTION.

• USE CAUTIOUSLY IN PEOPLE WHO HAVE OR ARE AT RISK OF EAR PROBLEMS. MARIJUANA MAY CAUSE EAR PROBLEMS.

• AVOID IF ALLERGIC OR SENSITIVE TO CANNABINOIDS OR TO PLANTS OF THE CANNABACEAE FAMILY. ASTHMA, HIVES, PINKEYE, AND

RUNNY OR STUFFY NOSE HAVE BEEN REPORTED.

• AVOID IN WOMEN WHO ARE PREGNANT, BREASTFEEDING, OR TRYING TO GET PREGNANT. MARIJUANA MAY HAVE SERIOUS RISKS AND

MAY CAUSE LOW BIRTHWEIGHT OR ABNORMALITIES IN THE BABY.

• AVOID LONG-TERM USE IN PEOPLE WHO HAVE OR ARE AT RISK OF LUNG PROBLEMS, SUCH AS ASTHMA OR BYSSINOSIS (A DISEASE

CAUSED BY BREATHING DUST). MARIJUANA MAY CAUSE BRONCHITIS, COUGHING, LUNG CYSTS, PHLEGM, REDUCED LUNG DENSITY,

AND WHEEZING.

2016gregora1 10

• AVOID USING CANNABIS PRODUCTS THAT HAVE BEEN OBTAINED ILLEGALLY. THESE PRODUCTS MAY CONTAIN UNKNOWN AND

POSSIBLY HARMFUL INGREDIENTS, SUCH AS THE ANIMAL TRANQUILIZER PCP.

• AVOID INHALING CANNABIS, DUE TO INCREASED RISKS OF LUNG CANCER, EMPHYSEMA (CHRONIC LUNG DISEASE), AND

SPONTANEOUS PNEUMOTHORAX (COLLAPSED LUNG).

• AVOID INJECTING CANNABIS INTO THE VEINS. CANNABIS SATIVA MAY BE EXTREMELY TOXIC.

• AVOID USING IN CHILDREN OR ADOLESCENTS. MARIJUANA MAY AFFECT BRAIN DEVELOPMENT IN THE YOUNG.

• AVOID USING IN PEOPLE WHO HAVE OR ARE AT RISK OF MENTAL ILLNESS. MARIJUANA MAY CAUSE ANXIETY AND PSYCHOTIC-LIKE

SYMPTOMS. IT MAY ALSO INCREASE THE RISK OF AGGRESSION, BIPOLAR DISORDER, DELUSIONS, DEPRESSION, HALLUCINATIONS, LACK

OF ENERGY OR MOTIVATION, AND SUICIDAL THOUGHTS.

2016gregora1 11

• AVOID USING BEFORE DRIVING MOTORIZED VEHICLES. MARIJUANA MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF COLLISION, AND

WHEN COMBINED WITH ALCOHOL, IT MAY AFFECT ALERTNESS AND DRIVING PERFORMANCE.

• MARIJUANA MAY ALSO CAUSE BLOOD RUSH OR DIZZINESS WHEN STANDING, A BURNING SENSATION, CANNABIS

ARTERITIS (REDUCED BLOOD FLOW TO FEET AND LEGS), CHANGES IN BRAIN STRUCTURE, CHANGES IN

CHROMOSOMES, CHANGES IN ERECTILE FUNCTION, CHANGES IN QUALITY OF LIFE, CONFUSION, DETACHMENT FROM

SURROUNDINGS, DIFFICULTY CONCENTRATING, DYSPHORIA (FEELING UNHAPPY OR UNWELL), EUPHORIA (FEELING OF

HAPPINESS OR WELL-BEING), FORGETFULNESS, HOARSENESS, INCREASED RISK OF MALE CANCERS, LIVER PROBLEMS

(DAMAGE, DISORDERS, OR POISONING), PANIC, PARANOID THINKING, PROBLEMS WITH BOWEL MOVEMENTS,

PSYCHIATRIC PROBLEMS, REDUCED SALIVA, REDUCED SPERM PRODUCTION, RISKY BEHAVIORS (UNPROTECTED SEX),

SUDDEN STOMACH UPSET, SWEATING, THIRST, THROAT IRRITATION, URINARY TRACT INFECTION, AND WEIGHT GAIN.

2016gregora1 12

MARIJUANA AND PREGNANCY13 Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

• NO AMOUNT OF MARIJUANA HAS BEEN PROVEN SAFE TO USE IN PREGNANCY.

• USING MARIJUANA DURING PREGNANCY OR WHEN YOU’RE BREASTFEEDING MAY

• INCREASE YOUR BABY’S RISK OF HAVING PROBLEMS WITH BRAIN DEVELOPMENT.

• TALK TO YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER IF YOU NEED HELP TO QUIT USING

• MARIJUANA OR ANY OTHER STREET DRUG.

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2016gregora1 13

• WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF CANNABIS?

• THE EFFECTS EXPERIENCED BY THE CANNABIS USER ARE VARIABLE AND WILL DEPEND UPON THE DOSE, METHOD OF ADMINISTRATION,

PRIOR EXPERIENCE, ANY CONCURRENT DRUG USE, PERSONAL EXPECTATIONS, MOOD STATE AND THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT IN

WHICH THE DRUG IS USED.

• EFFECTS OF CANNABIS INCLUDE:

• AN ALTERED STATE OF CONSCIOUSNESS. THE USER MAY FEEL "HIGH", VERY HAPPY, EUPHORIC, RELAXED, SOCIABLE AND UNINHIBITED.

• DISTORTED PERCEPTIONS OF TIME AND SPACE. THE USER MAY FEEL MORE SENSITIVE TO THINGS AROUND THEM, AND MAY ALSO

EXPERIENCE A MORE VIVID SENSE OF TASTE, SIGHT, SMELL AND HEARING.

• INCREASED PULSE AND HEART RATE, BLOODSHOT EYES, DILATED PUPILS, AND OFTEN INCREASED APPETITE.

• IMPAIRED COORDINATION AND CONCENTRATION, MAKING ACTIVITIES SUCH AS DRIVING A CAR OR OPERATING MACHINERY DIFFICULT

AND DANGEROUS.

• NEGATIVE EXPERIENCES, SUCH AS ANXIOUSNESS, PANIC, SELF-CONSCIOUSNESS AND PARANOID THOUGHTS.

2016gregora1 14

• PEOPLE WHO USE LARGE QUANTITIES OF CANNABIS MAY BECOME SEDATED OR DISORIENTED AND MAY EXPERIENCE TOXIC PSYCHOSIS - NOT

KNOWING WHO THEY ARE, WHERE THEY ARE, OR WHAT TIME IT IS. HIGH DOSES MAY ALSO CAUSE FLUCTUATING EMOTIONS, FRAGMENTARY

THOUGHTS, PARANOIA, PANIC ATTACKS, HALLUCINATIONS AND FEELINGS OF UNREALITY.

• THE EFFECTS OF CANNABIS ARE FELT WITHIN MINUTES, REACH THEIR PEAK IN 10 TO 30 MINUTES, AND MAY LINGER FOR TWO OR THREE HOURS.

THC IS HIGHLY LIPID SOLUBLE AND CAN BE STORED IN FAT CELLS POTENTIALLY FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THE STORED THC IS RELEASED VERY

SLOWLY, AND UNEVENLY, BACK INTO THE BLOODSTREAM.

• MEDICAL USES

• WHILE CANNABIS REMAINS A SCHEDULE 1 SUBSTANCE, RESEARCH HAS RESULTED IN DEVELOPMENT AND MARKETING OF DRONABINOL AND

NABILONE WHICH ARE SYNTHETIC CANNABINOID PRODUCTS.

• MARINOL (DRONABINOL) IS USED FOR THE CONTROL OF NAUSEA AND VOMITING CAUSED BY CHEMOTHERAPEUTIC AGENTS USED IN THE TREATMENT OF CANCER

AND TO STIMULATE APPETITE IN AIDS PATIENTS.

• CESAMET (NABILONE) IS USED FOR THE CONTROL OF NAUSEA AND VOMITING CAUSED BY CHEMOTHERAPEUTIC AGENTS USED IN THE TREATMENT OF CANCER.

2016gregora1 15

• THERE ARE EIGHT MEDICAL CONDITIONS FOR WHICH PATIENTS CAN USE CANNABIS:

• CANCER

• GLAUCOMA

• HIV/AIDS

• MUSCLE SPASMS

• SEIZURES

• SEVERE PAIN

• SEVERE NAUSEA

• CACHEXIA OR DRAMATIC WEIGHT LOSS AND MUSCLE ATROPHY (WASTING SYNDROME)

• AS OF JULY 2014, 23 STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA LEGALLY ALLOW CANNABIS FOR PERSONAL MEDICAL USE. RULES SURROUNDING THE USE OF MEDICAL CANNABIS (MEDICAL

MARIJUANA) VARY BY STATE. THE FIRST STATE IN THE UNION TO LEGALIZE THE MEDICAL USE OF MARIJUANA WAS CALIFORNIA IN 1996. STATES THAT ALLOW MEDICAL MARIJUANA INCLUDE

ALASKA, ARIZONA, CALIFORNIA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, HAWAII, ILLINOIS, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEVADA, NEW

HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW MEXICO, NEW YORK, OREGON, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WASHINGTON, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

2016gregora1 16

• IT IS IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT THESE STATE MARIJUANA LAWS DO NOT CHANGE THE FACT THAT

USING MARIJUANA CONTINUES TO BE AN OFFENSE UNDER FEDERAL LAW.

• MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN THE U.S. IS CONTROLLED AT THE STATE LEVEL. PER FEDERAL LAW, CANNABIS IS ILLEGAL

AS NOTED IN THE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT, BUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS STATED THEY WILL

NOT ACTIVELY PROSECUTE PATIENTS AND CAREGIVERS COMPLYING WITH STATE MEDICAL MARIJUANA LAWS.

HOWEVER, USE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA OUTSIDE OF THE STATE LAWS FOR ILLEGAL USE OR TRAFFICKING

WILL NOT BE TOLERATED BY STATE OR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

• STATES WITH BILLS OR PENDING LEGISLATION TO LEGALIZE MEDICAL MARIJUANA INCLUDE: FLORIDA, NEW

YORK, OHIO, AND PENNSYLVANIA.

2016gregora1 17

• KUSH REFERS TO A SUBSET OF STRAINS OF CANNABIS INDICA. THE ORIGINS OF KUSH

CANNABIS ARE FROM LANDRACE PLANTS MAINLY IN AFGHANISTAN, NORTHERN PAKISTAN

AND NORTH-WESTERN INDIA[1] WITH THE NAME COMING FROM THE HINDU KUSH MOUNTAIN

RANGE. "HINDU KUSH" STRAINS OF CANNABIS WERE TAKEN TO THE UNITED STATES IN THE

MID-TO-LATE 1970S AND CONTINUE TO BE AVAILABLE THERE TO THE PRESENT DAY.[2]

• KUSH STRAINS WERE AMONG THOSE CULTIVATED BY THE BRITISH FIRM GW

PHARMACEUTICALS FOR ITS LEGALLY LICENSED COMMERCIAL TRIAL OF MEDICINAL

CANNABIS.[3]

2016gregora1 18

• OG KUSH IS A CROSS BETWEEN LEMON THAI AND CHEMDAWG AND OLD WORLD PAKI KUSH.

IT IS A 55/45 INDICA DOMINANT HYBRID STRAIN ALSO KNOWN AS ORIGINAL GANGSTER

AND OCEAN GROWN. IT WAS CREATED IN LOS ANGELES AND IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR

STRAINS FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. WITH PROPER CARE, OG KUSH’S THC LEVELS CAN

REACH 20%. THE PLANTS TAKE 8–9 WEEKS TO FLOWER INDOORS. OG KUSH BUDS SMELL OF

PINE, EARTH AND SPICES.[4]

2016gregora1 19

CannabisSearch.com OG Kush Buzz Rating: Powerful Late-Night Body Stone

OG Kush Marijuana Description

From the sunny mountains of Southern California, OG Kush remains as one of the most

in-demand strains of medicinal cannabis. Rock stars, movie stars and every day hippies all enjoy

it's sticky feel, aromatic sent, crystal-covered buds and way-stoney high. It's an Indica-dominant hybrid

that produces an intense high, but also requires somewhat elongated recovery times. This is serious

medicine that sells in Los Angeles for about $30.00 per gram or $80.00 per eighth. It's one of the best

marijuana strains available on the planet in you should not toke it without paying respect to its

awesome history.

2016gregora1 20

• OG KUSH WEED IS TOP OF THE LINE, ALL THE WAY. IT HAS A VERY UNIQUE TASTE, SCENT, LOOK, FEEL AND HIGH. WHEN PROPERLY

GROWN AND DRIED, ITS LEAVES ARE NEARLY NEON GREEN AND ARE JUST A TREAT TO LOOK AT. ADD IN THE HEAVY CRYSTALLIZATION

THAT OCCURS DURING FLOWERING OVER EVERY INCH OF THE PLANT AND YOU'LL SEE THAT OG KUSH MARIJUANA IS REVERED FOR

LOADS OF EXCELLENT REASONS. BREAK APART ONE OF THE DENSE BUDS AND GENTLY PUSH IT IN YOUR BOWL. YOUR FINGERS ARE

LEFT STICKY AND QUITE DELICIOUS SMELLING.

• TAKE A HIT OF OG KUSH MEDICINAL MARIJUANA IN YOU WILL GET HIT BACK, RIGHT IN THE BRAIN! TOKE ONCE FOR LIFTOFF THEN

TOKE TWICE FOR COMPLETE RELAXATION. THIS BUD IS THE REAL DEAL IN MODERN MARIJUANA. JUST REMEMBER, IT'S INDICA-

DOMINANT NATURE MAKES IT A VERY GOOD CANDIDATE FOR LATE NIGHT SMOKING WHEN FALLING ASLEEP IS NOT A PROBLEM. OG

KUSH WEED IS THE CREAM OF THE CROP.

• ENJOY KUSH FOR OPIAN TYPE HOLES IN YOUR FRONTAL CORTEX

• LOOSE YOUR SHORT TERM MEMORY

• ENJOY KUSH! IT WILL DESTROY YOUR LIFE.

2016gregora1 21

SAN ANTONIO HOMELESS

2016gregora1 22

2016gregora1 23

AMY, SAN ANTONIO HOMELESS

2016gregora1 24

SMOKING SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA IS DANGEROUS BUT COMMON FOR SA’S HOMELESS

2016gregora1 25

• AMY HAS LONG BLONDE HAIR. SHE WEARS A PINK LEOPARD-PRINT TOP AND BLUE JEANS WITH DEEP POCKETS.

ONE BLUE CLOTH ROSARY HANGS AROUND HER NECK, A BROWN ONE WRAPS AROUND HER WRIST. SHE'S

SHOELESS, AND HER FEET ARE GRIMY. BLOOD HAS CRUSTED AROUND THE RIM OF ONE OF HER BIG TOENAILS.

SHE HAS A DEEP CUT ABOVE HER LEFT EYE THAT'S STILL HEALING. INSTEAD OF A SCAB, A SMALL BALL OF DEAD

SKIN HAS FORMED ABNORMALLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WOUND.

• AMY IS HOMELESS, AND SHE'S TRYING TO SELL ME SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA OUTSIDE THE PIK NIK FOODS

CONVENIENCE STORE ON COMMERCE STREET. THE GOING RATE IS ABOUT $5 FOR A JOINT OR $40 FOR A

BAG, WHICH IS ROUGHLY ENOUGH FOR FIVE JOINTS. OUR POTENTIAL TRANSACTION ENDS WHEN I TELL HER I

DON'T HAVE ANY CASH.

2016gregora1 26

• AMY, UNCONVINCED THAT I WAS A COUNSELOR AND NOT A COP, WOULDN'T TELL ME HER

LAST NAME. SHE SAYS THAT SHE AND HER BOYFRIEND SELL TWO TO THREE BAGS OF

SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA A DAY, ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY TO OTHER HOMELESS PEOPLE. SHE

STARTED SELLING THE DRUG INSTEAD OF PANHANDLING, WHICH POLICE SELDOM ALLOW IN

THE DOWNTOWN AREA. AND WHILE SHE'S AWARE OF SOME OF THE RISKS, THEY HAVEN'T

STOPPED HER FROM SMOKING SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA "ALL THE TIME."

• "IF YOU HAVE SEIZURES YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO SMOKE IT," AMY SAID. "IF IT'S GOOD SHIT

IT PUTS YOU TO SLEEP AND YOU PASS OUT."

2016gregora1 27

• THE PROBLEM IS, IT'S NOT ALL GOOD SHIT. SOMETIMES IT'S BAD SHIT – REALLY BAD – AND IT HAS

THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE SERIOUS HEALTH PROBLEMS. SOMETIMES IT'S FATAL.

• SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA ISN'T REALLY MARIJUANA AT ALL. IT'S OFTEN MARKETED AS POTPOURRI OR

INCENSE, AND MADE OUT OF A PLANT BASE THAT'S THEN SPRAYED WITH A CHEMICAL COCKTAIL.

WHEN SMOKED, IT'S SUPPOSED TO EMULATE THE EFFECTS OF REGULAR WEED. TECHNICALLY, MOST

STRAINS ARE ILLEGAL IN TEXAS, BUT MANUFACTURERS CAN SKIRT LAWS THAT BAN THE SUBSTANCE

BY SLIGHTLY ALTERING THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF THEIR SPRAY.

2016gregora1 28

• EVEN AS THE STATE HAS LED EFFORTS TO STIFLE SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA USAGE IN TEXAS –

NOTABLY THROUGH A 2015 LAW MEANT TO CAST A WIDER NET FOR POTENTIAL CHEMICAL

COMPOUNDS – THE DRUG'S POPULARITY AMONG SAN ANTONIO'S HOMELESS POPULATION HAS

SURGED OVER THE PAST YEAR OR SO.

• THE REASONS FOR THIS ARE PRACTICAL AND MARKET-DRIVEN. SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA – PRIMARILY

CALLED KLIMAX ON SAN ANTONIO STREETS BUT ALSO KUSH, SPICE, K2 AND OTHER NAMES – IS

CHEAP, READILY AVAILABLE, POTENT AND TOUGH TO BE PROSECUTED FOR. IT'S AN IDEAL DRUG FOR

PEOPLE WITH FEW RESOURCES WHO STRUGGLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES OR SUBSTANCE

ABUSE.

2016gregora1 29

• "I CAN MAKE FIVE BUCKS IN FIVE MINUTES. THEN I CAN SMOKE SOMETHING SO THAT I CAN ESCAPE FOR FOUR

HOURS," SAID BRIAN CLARK, ASSISTANT MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF RESTORATION SERVICES AT THE CENTER FOR

HEALTH CARE SERVICES. "I DON'T HAVE A DOLLAR TO MY NAME, I DON'T KNOW WHERE MY KIDS ARE, I HAVE

HEPATITIS C OR HIV ... WHY WOULDN'T I WANT TO ESCAPE? WHAT ELSE DO THEY HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD

TO? IT'S A QUALITY BUY."

• THE CENTER PRIMARILY TREATS HOMELESS PEOPLE AND OTHERS WHO ARE UNABLE TO PAY FOR THEIR OWN

CARE, AND CLARK'S UNIT SPECIALIZES IN PATIENTS WITH DRUG AND ALCOHOL PROBLEMS. OF THE ROUGHLY

600 PATIENTS CLARK AND HIS COLLEAGUES TREATED IN SEPTEMBER 2014, ONLY EIGHT REPORTED USING

SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA. THAT NUMBER SHOT TO 223 BY JULY 2015, AND THOUGH IT'S DECREASED SOME

SINCE THEN, CLARK CLAIMS THAT USAGE IS STILL RAMPANT.

2016gregora1 30

• SMOKING SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA CAN HAVE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES FOR THE HEALTH OF ITS USERS. BUT THE

ALLURE OF A CHEAP, DEEP HIGH IS SOMETIMES TOO MUCH TO RESIST.

• "IF YOU'RE ON KUSH, YOUR VOICES GO AWAY. SO YOU CAN CHILL, YOU CAN SLEEP, IF YOU HAVE THE RIGHT DOSE,"

SAID DAVID MIRAMONTES, MEDICAL DIRECTOR FOR THE SAN ANTONIO FIRE DEPARTMENT. "YOU DON'T FEEL THAT PAIN, THAT DEPRESSION ... THIS IS AN ESCAPE FROM ALL THOSE THINGS THAT THEY VIEW AS PROBLEMATIC."

• BETWEEN 2010 AND 2015 THE TEXAS POISON CONTROL NETWORK RECEIVED OVER 3,500 CALLS REPORTING

SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA EXPOSURES. MANY OF THOSE REPORTS INCLUDED SYMPTOMS SUCH AS CONFUSION,

VOMITING AND AGITATION. MORE SERIOUS SYMPTOMS INCLUDED SEIZURES, HALLUCINATIONS AND TREMORS. THE

MOST COMMON SYMPTOM WAS AN ABNORMALLY RAPID HEART RATE. ONLY FOUR OF THE CALLS – LESS THAN A

TENTH OF A PERCENT – RESULTED IN DEATHS.

2016gregora1 31

• YOU KNOW THE SCENE: IT’S A FRIDAY NIGHT, EVERYONE’S HANGING OUT, AND SOMEONE

PULLS OUT A JOINT. CHOOSING TO SMOKE TWO JOINTS (OR EVEN JUST TAKE A PUFF OF

ONE) IS ILLEGAL IN MOST STATES, BUT WE’RE NOT GOING TO GET INTO THE MEDICAL

MARIJUANA DEBATE HERE. WE’RE NOT EVEN GOING TO CHAT ABOUT IF SMOKING

MARIJUANA IS BAD FOR YOU (HINT: THE RESULTS ARE MIXED). RATHER, WE’RE INTERESTED IN

HOW MARY JANE AFFECTS THE BRAIN. READ ON FOR THE LOWDOWN ON THC,

CANNABIDIOL, ANANDAMIDE, AND OTHER HARD-TO-PRONOUNCE CHEMICALS FOUND IN JAY

AND SILENT BOB’S FAVORITE PLAN.

2016gregora1 32

• HOW THE HERB WORKS

• EACH LITTLE BUD AND LEAF OF THE MARIJUANA PLANT IS COMPOSED OF HUNDREDS OF

CHEMICALS, BUT SCIENTISTS HAVE MAINLY STUDIED JUST TWO MAIN COMPOUNDS:

TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL (THC) AND CANNABIDIOL (CBD).

• CANNABIDIOL IS A NON-PSYCHOACTIVE COMPOUND, BUT IT DOES CONTRIBUTE TO MAKING THE

SMOKER FEEL CALM AND RELAXED. IN FACT, CANNABIDIOL HAS SO MANY ROCK-STAR QUALITIES

THAT SCIENTISTS ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO TURN IT INTO A DRUG. CANNABIDIOL

CONTAINS ANALGESIC (AKA PAIN-RELIEVING), ANTI-INFLAMMATORY, AND ANTIPSYCHOTIC

PROPERTIES THAT HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO TREAT PATIENTS WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA,

2016gregora1 33

• TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL (TRY SAYING THAT 10 TIMES FAST!), A MEMBER OF THE

CANNABINOID CHEMICAL FAMILY, IS SPECIFICALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PSYCHOLOGICAL

AND PHYSICAL SIDE EFFECTS THAT OCCUR AS A RESULT OF LIGHTING UP. SMOKING REEFER

CAN PRODUCE FEELINGS OF EUPHORIA, RELAXED INHIBITIONS, FRAGMENTARY THOUGHTS,

LACK OF CONCENTRATION, IMPAIRED MEMORY, DROWSINESS, AND EVEN SUDDEN PANIC OR

PARANOIA. BUD AFFECTS THE BOD, TOO: MARIJUANA SMOKERS MAY EXPERIENCE PHYSICAL

EFFECTS LIKE INCREASED HEART RATE, RED EYES, DRY MOUTH, AND INCREASED APPETITE.

2016gregora1 34

• THC GETS MOVIN’ QUICKLY. WITHIN SECONDS, THE DRUG HITS THE BRAIN AND GOES TO

TOWN ON THE BRAIN’S CELLS, CALLED NEURONS. TO UNDERSTAND HOW THIS WORKS, LET’S

PAUSE FOR A BRIEF BIOLOGY LESSON. NEURONS ARE LONG, DANGLY CELLS THAT DON’T

ACTUALLY TOUCH ONE ANOTHER. THE GAP BETWEEN BRAIN CELLS IS CALLED A SYNAPSE, AND

THE BRAIN USES CHEMICALS CALLED NEUROTRANSMITTERS TO PASS MESSAGES ACROSS THESE

GAPS — THINK OF THESE CHEMICALS AS AN OPERATOR ON A PHONE CALL. YOU’VE

PROBABLY HEARD OF A FEW NEUROTRANSMITTERS, LIKE SEROTONIN, EPINEPHRINE, AND

DOPAMINE.

2016gregora1 35

• WHILE MOST NEUROTRANSMITTERS ARE MADE IN THE GLANDS, SOME MAN-MADE DRUGS

(BOTH LEGAL AND ILLEGAL) CAN MIMIC THE SAME EFFECTS AS NATURAL NEUROTRANSMITTERS.

NATURAL OR NOT SO MUCH, A NEUROTRANSMITTER BINDS TO A NEURON, WHICH SIGNALS

THE BODY TO DO (OR NOT DO) SOMETHING. WHEN A NEUROTRANSMITTER FITS INTO THE

CORRECT RECEPTOR—LIKE A KEY IN A LOCK—IT CHEMICALLY TURNS THAT NEURON OFF OR

ON.

2016gregora1 36

• THIS IS WHERE OUR FRIEND THC COMES IN. THE ACTIVE CHEMICAL IN MARIJUANA MIMICS A NATURAL

NEUROTRANSMITTER CALLED ANANDAMIDE. ANANDAMIDE IS OFTEN REFERRED TO AS THE “BLISS MOLECULE”

BECAUSE OF ITS ROLE IN BOOSTING MEMORY AND LEARNING, DULLING PAIN, AND STIMULATING THE APPETITE

. ANANDAMIDE NORMALLY BUDDIES UP WITH DOPAMINE, AND TOGETHER THESE NEUROTRANSMITTERS TURN

ON AND TURN OFF DIFFERENT CHEMICAL PATHWAYS AS NEEDED.

• THC MAY MIMIC ANANDAMIDE, BUT THEY DON'T PRODUCE THE EXACT SAME EFFECTS. AFTER A PERSON TAKES

A HIT OF MARY JANE, THC BINDS TO CANNABINOID CB1 AND CB2 RECEPTORS, WHICH ARE LOCATED IN

SEVERAL PARTS OF THE BRAIN (NAMELY, THE HIPPOCAMPUS, CEREBRAL CORTEX, CEREBELLUM, AND BASAL

GANGLIA).

2016gregora1 37

• SEVERAL THESE BRAIN AREAS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR SHORT-TERM MEMORY, COORDINATION,

LEARNING, PROBLEM SOLVING, AND UNCONSCIOUS MUSCLE MOVEMENTS. WHEN THC GETS ITS

GROOVE ON IN THE CANNABINOID RECEPTORS, IT GETS IN THE WAY OF NATURAL

NEUROTRANSMITTERS (LIKE ANANDAMIDE) THAT NEED TO BIND TO THOSE SITES TO MAKE ALL OF

THE FUNCTIONS LISTED ABOVE WORK PROPERLY. WHEN THC PREVENTS ANADAMIDE FROM DOING

ITS JOB, THE DELICATE BALANCE BETWEEN ANADAMIDE AND DOPAMINE IS THROWN OFF. THE

RESULT: WE’RE SUDDENLY EUPHORIC, OFF-BALANCE, RAVENOUS, SEEMINGLY IMPERVIOUS TO PAIN,

AND UNABLE TO RETAIN INFORMATION. THINK ABOUT THE CLASSIC STONER CLICHÉS FOR A

MINUTE…YEP, ALL THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS ARE THERE.

2016gregora1 38

“HE WAS A GOOD PERSON.” SAN ANTONIO HOMELESS RESIDENT

2016gregora1 39

EFFECTS OF HABITUAL MARIJUANA USE ON THE IMMUNE SYSTEM

• THE MOST POTENT ARGUMENT AGAINST THE USE OF MARIJUANA TO TREAT MEDICAL

DISORDERS IS THAT MARIJUANA MAY CAUSE THE ACCELERATION OR AGGRAVATION OF THE

VERY DISORDERS IT IS BEING USED TO TREAT.

• SMOKING MARIJUANA REGULARLY (A JOINT A DAY) CAN DAMAGE THE CELLS IN THE

BRONCHIAL PASSAGES WHICH PROTECT THE BODY AGAINST INHALED MICROORGANISMS AND

DECREASE THE ABILITY OF THE IMMUNE CELLS IN THE LUNGS TO FIGHT OFF FUNGI, BACTERIA,

AND TUMOR CELLS. FOR PATIENTS WITH ALREADY WEAKENED IMMUNE SYSTEMS, THIS MEANS

AN INCREASE IN THE POSSIBILITY OF DANGEROUS PULMONARY INFECTIONS, INCLUDING

PNEUMONIA, WHICH OFTEN PROVES FATAL IN AIDS PATIENTS.

2016gregora1 40

• STUDIES FURTHER SUGGEST THAT MARIJUANA IS A GENERAL "IMMUNOSUPPRESSANT" WHOSE

DEGENERATIVE INFLUENCE EXTENDS BEYOND THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM. REGULAR SMOKING HAS BEEN

SHOWN TO MATERIALLY AFFECT THE OVERALL ABILITY OF THE SMOKERS BODY TO DEFEND ITSELF AGAINST

INFECTION BY WEAKENING VARIOUS NATURAL IMMUNE MECHANISMS, INCLUDING MACROPHAGES

(A.K.A. "KILLER CELLS") AND THE ALL-IMPORTANT T-CELLS. OBVIOUSLY, THIS SUGGESTS THE CONCLUSION,

WHICH IS WELL-SUPPORTED BY SCIENTIFIC STUDIES, THAT THE USE OF MARIJUANA AS A MEDICAL THERAPY

CAN AND DOES HAVE A VERY SERIOUS NEGATIVE EFFECT ON PATIENTS WITH PRE-EXISTING IMMUNE

DEFICITS RESULTING FROM AIDS, ORGAN TRANSPLANTATION, OR CANCER CHEMOTHERAPY, THE VERY

CONDITIONS FOR WHICH MARIJUANA HAS MOST OFTEN BEEN TOUTED AND SUGGESTED AS A TREATMENT.

2016gregora1 41

• . IT HAS ALSO BEEN SHOWN THAT MARIJUANA USE CAN ACCELERATE THE PROGRESSION

OF HIV TO FULL-BLOWN AIDS AND INCREASE THE OCCURRENCE OF INFECTIONS AND

KAPOSI'S SARCOMA. IN ADDITION, PATIENTS WITH WEAK IMMUNE SYSTEMS WILL BE EVEN

LESS ABLE TO DEFEND THEMSELVES AGAINST THE VARIOUS RESPIRATORY CANCERS AND

CONDITIONS TO WHICH CONSISTENT MARIJUANA USE HAS BEEN LINKED, AND WHICH ARE

DISCUSSED BRIEFLY UNDER "RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES."

2016gregora1 42

CONCLUSION…

• IN CONCLUSION, IT SEEMS THAT THE POTENTIAL DANGERS PRESENTED BY THE MEDICAL

USE OF MARIJUANA MAY ACTUALLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE DANGERS OF THE DISEASES

WHICH IT WOULD BE USED TO COMBAT. THEREFORE, I SUGGEST THAT MARIJUANA SHOULD

NOT BE PERMITTED AS A THERAPY, AT LEAST UNTIL A GOOD DEAL MORE CONCLUSIVE

RESEARCH HAS BEEN COMPLETED CONCERNING ITS DEBILITATING EFFECT ON THE IMMUNE

SYSTEM.

2016gregora1 43

HOUSTON--MINH A. DANG, 42, WAS ARRESTED ON CHARGES OF ENGAGING IN ORGANIZED CRIME IN THE SALE OF THE ILLEGAL CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE.(HPD)

2016gregora1 44

KUSH IN HOUSTON NEIGHBORHOODS KUSH CORNER AND OTHER ‘HOT SPOTS’

2016gregora1 45

Weeks after a mass Kush overdose sent 16 people to area hospitals,

a sweeping undercover operation netted six arrests, court injunctions

and the seizure of hundreds of thousands of dollars in assets.

The mayor pledged to beef up efforts in June to combat use of Kush

after more than a dozen people overdosed at Hermann Park. He

said he would bulk up police presence in city parks and other key

areas of the city.

"Several parks, the downtown library, MetroRail stations and other

areas are being taken over by drug users," Turner said at the time,

announcing that 175 police officers would be moving from desk jobs

or other postings to beat patrols.

POLICE ARREST 2 BROTHERS IN SYNTHETIC DRUG KUSH CASE

HOUSTON (AP) -- Houston police say two brothers have been arrested in the investigation of synthetic marijuana

making more than a dozen homeless people sick this summer.

Police say 42-year-old Minh Dang and 46-year-old Tuan Dang are charged with engaging in organized criminal activity.

The Dangs own a retail chain called the Spice Boutique, which on Thursday was ordered by the state to stop selling

synthetic cannabinoids. The siblings were arrested Tuesday in an undercover investigation into sale and use of

what's known as Kush or K2. At least 16 homeless people suspected of using Kush got sick in June.

Online records don't list attorneys to speak for the brothers, whose bond was set at $500,000 each.

Four of their employees are charged with engaging in organized criminal activity and falsifying drug tests.

2016gregora1 46

HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY CRACKING DOWN ON KUSH

• HOUSTON, TX — THE CITY AND HARRIS COUNTY ARE STEPPING UP THEIR ANTI-KUSH GAME. THEY

ARE TRYING TO SHUT THE STORES DOWN AND LOCK THE PEOPLE UP WHO ARE SELLING IT. IN A

PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE MORNING OF WEDNESDAY, AUG. 11, HPD, MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER

AND HARRIS COUNTY ATTORNEY VINCE RYAN ANNOUNCED SOME GAINS IN THE WAR ON

SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA. THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAD WON A RESTRAINING ORDER

AGAINST THREE HOUSTON-AREA SMOKE SHOPS KNOWN FOR SELLING KUSH. THE STORES,

KNOWN AS SPICE BOUTIQUE AND SPICE INC., SOLD SOME OF THE KUSH THAT LED TO THE MASS

OVERDOSE IN HERMANN PARK IN JUNE. THE OVERDOSE SENT 16 PEOPLE TO THE HOSPITAL.

2016gregora1 47

HOUSTON AND KUSH

• HPD NARCOTICS INVESTIGATED THE THREE STORES IN JULY, WHICH RESULTED IN SEARCH

WARRANTS BEING ISSUED AND THE OWNERS — MINH A. DANG AND TUAN A. DAN —

ARRESTED. BOTH MEN ARE CHARGED WITH TWO COUNTS EACH OF ENGAGING IN

ORGANIZED CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.

• HOUSTON A KEY MARKET FOR KUSH

• SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA NOW ILLEGAL IN CITY

2016gregora1 48

HOUSTON

• HOUSTON - IT'S DEADLY, CHEAP AND EASY TO FIND AT CONVENIENCE STORES ACROSS HOUSTON BUT SYNTHETIC

MARIJUANA, SOLD IN TINY PACKETS AND MARKETED WITH CREATIVE NAMES, IS NOW ILLEGAL IN THE CITY.

• IT STARTED AS A TRAFFIC STOP FOR FAILING TO USE A TURN SIGNAL BUT INSIDE THE CAR, HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S

DEPUTIES STUMBLED ACROSS WHAT THEY IDENTIFIED AS SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA.

• THE SHINY PACKET WAS LIKELY CANNABINOID, CONTAINING MAN-MADE CHEMICALS WHEN COMBINED WITH PLANT

MATERIAL, MIMICS THC, MARIJUANA'S ACTIVE INGREDIENT.

• "I DON'T CONSIDER IT A DRUG BUT I GUESS IT IS A DRUG, BUT I WOULDN'T CONSIDER IT A DRUG, BUT IT'S A DRUG,"

SAID ROBERT DEAN.

• DEPUTIES EVENTUALLY RELEASED A 29-YEAR-OLD AND ANOTHER MAN IN THE CAR, BECAUSE AT THE TIME OF THE

TRAFFIC STOP, IT WASN'T ILLEGAL TO USE OR POSSESS SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA.

2016gregora1 49

• THAT CHANGED ON OCT. 8 WHEN COUNCIL PASSED A SWEEPING BAN ON THESE SO-CALLED DESIGNER

DRUGS. THEY'RE OFTEN LABELED "NOT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION" AND MARKETED AS "POTPOURRI" OR

"KUSH."

• THE DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY HAS LABELED HOUSTON A KEY MARKET AND SOURCE OF KUSH -- A

CHALLENGE FOR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.

• "FIRST, WE HAVE TO IDENTIFY THESE CHEMICALS THEN WE HAVE TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S A

CHEMICAL SUBSTANCE THAT IS ACTUALLY REGULATED OR CONTROLLED," SAID JAMES MILLER, CRIMINAL LAB

MANAGER AT THE HOUSTON FORENSIC SCIENCES CENTER.

• SYNTHETIC DRUGS ARE TESTED AT THE HOUSTON FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER, WHERE EXPERTS WORK TO

IDENTIFY INGREDIENTS. SOMETIMES, THE MANUFACTURERS INCLUDE A MIX OF LEGAL AND ILLEGAL

SUBSTANCES.

2016gregora1 50

HOUSTON

• "SO THAT THEY'RE STAYING AHEAD OF THE CONTROL STATUS OR LAW ENFORCEMENT WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING THESE

SUBSTANCES ILLEGAL," MILLER SAID.

• WITH CATCHY NAMES LIKE BLING BLING MONKEY AND CARTOON FIGURES, THESE DRUGS DON'T EXACTLY APPEAR ILLEGAL OR

DANGEROUS.

• "I'M AFRAID THAT WHEN PEOPLE LOOK AT THAT, IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S APPEALING, IT'S APPETIZING TO THEM, SURELY THEY DON'T

THINK, 'THIS IS SOMETHING HARMFUL,'" MILLER SAID.

• BUT NOW THERE ARE MORE THAN JUST POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES TO YOUR HEALTH. ANYONE CAUGHT SELLING OR USING

SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA IN HOUSTON FACES ARREST AND A FINE OF UP TO $2,000 PER PACKET OF DRUGS.

• THE HOUSTON FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER LAB HAS ALREADY IDENTIFIED TWELVE DIFFERENT CHEMICAL COMPONENTS USED IN

SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA JUST THIS YEAR AND OFFICIALS WITH U.S. CUSTOMS & BORDER PATROL SAID THEY DISCOVER AN AVERAGE OF

ONE NEW COMPOUND MAKE SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA EVERY WEEK.

2016gregora1 51

SELF-HELP GUIDE FOR QUITING KUSH

2016gregora1 52

MOODJUICE---SELF - HELP

• IF YOU FEEL THAT POT IS TAKING OVER YOUR LIFE AND REPLACING ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS,

HOBBIES, AND FAVORITE WAYS TO PASS THE TIME, THEN IT'S TIME TO QUIT SMOKING AND

GET YOUR LIFE BACK ON TRACK. MARIJUANA MAY BE PSYCHOLOGICALLY ADDICTIVE, WHICH

MEANS THAT YOU NEED TO BE MENTALLY PREPARED AND WILLING TO GIVE UP YOUR HABIT.

SO IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR HELP FOR GETTING YOUR OLD LIFE BACK AND DROPPING YOUR

OLD HABITS, YOU'VE COME TO THE RIGHT PLACE.

2016gregora1 53

COLD TURKEY

• THROW OUT ALL YOUR POT AND YOUR SMOKING PARAPHERNALIA. IF YOU REMOVE THE THINGS THAT MAKE IT EASY FOR YOU TO

START SMOKING AGAIN, YOU MIGHT BE LESS LIKELY TO GIVE IN TO YOUR CRAVINGS. HERE'S WHAT YOU SHOULD DO:[1] GET RID OF

ANY LIGHTERS, MATCHES, ROACH CLIPS, BONGS, OR CONTAINERS. EMPTY OUT ALL OF YOUR POCKETS TO MAKE SURE YOU DIDN'T

MISS ANYTHING.

• FLUSH ANY REMAINING WEED DOWN THE TOILET, SO YOU CAN'T SIMPLY DIG IT OUT OF THE TRASH LATER.

• DESTROY ALL OF YOUR SUPPLIES. OR, IF YOU CAN'T RENDER THEM USELESS, THROW THEM INTO A DISGUSTING DUMPSTER SO YOU'RE

NOT TEMPTED TO CLIMB IN AND GET THEM. (YOU MIGHT WANT TO WRAP THEM IN A DISCREET TRASH BAG FIRST, THOUGH.)

• GET RID OF ANYTHING THAT EVEN MAKES YOU WANT TO SMOKE POT, WHETHER IT'S YOUR FAVORITE VIDEO GAME OR A POSTER IN

YOUR ROOM. THIS MAY SOUND EXTREME, BUT REMOVING YOUR TRIGGERS CAN HELP YOU BEAT YOUR HABIT.

• IF YOU HAVE A DEALER, TAKE HIS NUMBER OUT OF YOUR PHONE.

2016gregora1 54

TELL EVERYONE

2016gregora1 55

2

Make your decision clear to your support system. Tell trustworthy friends and family members what you're doing,

and ask for their support in quitting. You'll probably find that they're thrilled to see you quit and support you

however they can. This is especially important if you want to remain close to people who are active smokers. Tell

them that you're not trying to get them to quit, but you'd appreciate it if they don't pressure you into using.

• IF YOU GET NO SUPPORT FROM ANYONE OR IF THEY TRY TO GET YOU TO "JOIN IN",

CONSIDER WHETHER THAT PERSON REALLY BELONGS IN YOUR LIFE IF HE/SHE CAN'T RESPECT

YOUR CHOICES AND REQUESTS.

• YOU MAY EVEN HAVE TO AVOID THE FRIENDS THAT YOU SMOKE WITH FOR A WHILE. IF YOUR

ENTIRE SOCIAL LIFE WITH YOUR FRIENDS CONSISTED OF GETTING HIGH TOGETHER, THEN

YOU'LL HAVE TO FIND A NEW SOCIAL NETWORK. THIS MAY SOUND HARSH, BUT THAT'S THE

WAY IT GOES.

2016gregora1 56

WITHDRAWAL

• 3

• PREPARE FOR WITHDRAWAL. THE GOOD NEWS IS IT'S TEMPORARY: MARIJUANA WITHDRAWAL BEGINS 1 DAY AFTER YOU QUIT COLD TURKEY, HITS A PEAK AFTER 2 OR 3

DAYS, AND EVENTUALLY LEVELS OFF AFTER 1 OR 2 WEEKS[2]. YOU MIGHT NOT EXPERIENCE ANY OR ALL OF THEM, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE FOR

WHAT YOU'LL DO ABOUT THEM INSTEAD OF GOING BACK TO POT. THE BAD NEWS IS, THERE ARE SYMPTOMS. [3] HERE ARE SOME OF THE SYMPTOMS YOU MAY

EXPERIENCE: SLEEPLESSNESS: TRY TO AVOID CAFFEINE FOR THE FIRST FEW DAYS, AND HIT THE HAY AS SOON AS YOU'RE TIRED IN THE EVENING.

• DECREASED APPETITE: YOU MIGHT FEEL NAUSEATED AT FIRST. TRY TO EAT BLAND FOODS THAT ARE EASY ON THE STOMACH, SUCH AS BANANAS, RICE, TOAST, OATMEAL

AND APPLES.

• IRRITABILITY: AS YOU EXPERIENCE THE MOOD SWINGS THAT ACCOMPANY WITHDRAWAL, YOU MIGHT FIND YOURSELF QUICK TO ANGER OR PRONE TO CRYING. PLAN

FOR THESE AHEAD OF TIME, AND WHEN THEY HAPPEN TRY TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT'S HAPPENING. TELL YOURSELF, "THIS ISN'T ME, AND THIS

ISN'T THE SITUATION. IT'S THE WITHDRAWAL." REPEAT IT AS OFTEN AS YOU NEED TO.

• ANXIETY: FEELING ON-EDGE OR GENERALLY OUT OF SORTS IS A COMMON SYMPTOM OF WITHDRAWAL THAT CAN COME WITH QUITTING ANY DRUG. WHEN YOU HAVE

A SPARE MINUTE, CLOSE YOUR EYES, BREATHE DEEPLY, AND REMEMBER THAT WITHDRAWAL IS ONLY TEMPORARY.

• INCREASED BODY TEMPERATURE: YOU MAY FEEL HOTTER THAN NORMAL AND MAY START SWEATING FROM TIME TO TIME.

2016gregora1 57

• FIND A REPLACEMENT ACTIVITY. INSTEAD OF USING, DEVOTE YOUR NEW FREE TIME TO A HOBBY OR SPORT.

TRY TO MAKE IT SOMETHING YOU CAN DO AS QUICKLY AND EASILY AS LIGHTING UP — SUCH AS PLAYING

GUITAR OR GOING FOR A RUN — AND TURN TO IT WHENEVER YOU'RE TEMPTED. IF YOU'RE FEELING TOO

BORED OR DEPRESSED TO DO THIS, WATCH A MOVIE THAT MAKES YOU SMILE OR SPEND SOME TIME WITH A

GOOD FRIEND WHO IS NOT A USER. HERE ARE SOME OTHER THINGS TO TRY: TAKING LONG WALKS

• TALKING TO AN OLD FRIEND ON THE PHONE

• SWIMMING

• COOKING

• READING THE NEWSPAPER

2016gregora1 58

• 5

• CHANGE YOUR ROUTINE. IN ADDITION TO FINDING A NEW HOBBY, YOU SHOULD SWITCH UP YOUR ROUTINE SO THAT YOU DON'T

START MISSING POT SO BADLY DURING THE TIME THAT YOU USUALLY SPENT GETTING HIGH. HERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU CAN DO:[4]

CHANGE YOUR MORNING ROUTINE. TRY GETTING UP A LITTLE EARLIER OR LATER, HAVING SOMETHING DIFFERENT FOR BREAKFAST, OR

SHOWERING AT A DIFFERENT TIME.

• CHANGE YOUR WORK OR SCHOOL ROUTINE. GO TO WORK OR SCHOOL BY A DIFFERENT ROUTE, SIT IN A DIFFERENT SEAT IF YOU

CAN, AND EAT SOMETHING DIFFERENT FOR LUNCH.

• CHANGE YOUR STUDY ROUTINE. IF YOU NORMALLY STUDY IN YOUR BEDROOM (WHICH LEADS TO SMOKING POT), MIX IT UP AND

STUDY AT A COFFEE SHOP OR A LIBRARY.

• DON'T START EATING LESS JUST TO CHANGE UP YOUR ROUTINE, THOUGH. YOU MAY FIND THAT YOU'RE LESS HUNGRY, BUT YOU

SHOULD TRY TO EAT THE SAME AMOUNT TO STAY HEALTHY.

2016gregora1 59

MANAGE YOUR URGES. YOU WILL HAVE AN URGE, OR A CRAVING TO SMOKE, PRETTY OFTEN.

• 6. IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW HOW TO REACT TO THESE IF YOU REALLY WANT TO QUIT. HERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU CAN DO TO

AVOID GIVING IN TO THE CRAVING FOR POT:

• FLEE THE SCENE. WHEREVER YOU FIND YOURSELF WHEN YOU GET AN URGE, GET OUT AS SOON AS YOU CAN. CHANGING YOUR

ENVIRONMENT AS QUICKLY AS YOU CAN IS YOUR BEST BET.

• BREATHE DEEPLY. TAKE A DEEP BREATH THROUGH YOUR MOUTH AND HOLD THE AIR IN YOUR LUNGS FOR 5-7 SECONDS UNTIL YOU

FEEL MORE CALM. BREATHE IT OUT THROUGH PUCKERED LIPS, AND REPEAT THESE STEPS UNTIL THE FEELING PASSES.

• PUT SOMETHING ELSE IN YOUR MOUTH. FINDING A SUBSTITUTE FOR YOUR CRAVING -- AS LONG AS IT'S NOT ALCOHOL OR ANOTHER

DRUG -- CAN HELP CURB IT. TRY SUGARLESS GUM, SUGARLESS CANDY, A DIET DRINK, TOOTHPICKS, A PEN OR PENCIL, OR EVEN A

STRAW.

• DRINK WATER. STAYING HYDRATED WILL KEEP YOU HEALTHY AND WILL HELP YOU BATTLE YOUR URGES.

• IN YOUR MIND PRETEND THAT YOU ARE ON A SURF BOARD AND RIDE OUT EACH URGE.

2016gregora1 60

• 7

• STICK WITH IT. THE WORST OF THE WITHDRAWAL SHOULD BE OVER IN A WEEK OR TWO, AND

WE'VE ALL HEARD THAT SAYING ABOUT HOW IT TAKES THREE WEEKS TO MAKE OR BREAK A HABIT.

BY THE TIME A MONTH'S PASSED, YOU SHOULD BE COMPLETELY IN THE CLEAR AND FREE OF YOUR

ADDICTION. IT MIGHT SEEM LIKE AN ETERNITY WHILE YOU'RE DEALING WITH IT, BUT TRY TO

REMEMBER THAT IT'S NOT THAT LONG. PLAN A SMALL CELEBRATION A MONTH FROM YOUR QUIT

DATE. HAVING A MILESTONE TO LOOK FORWARD TO CAN HELP YOU STAY ON-TRACK, AND YOU

CAN USE IT AS AN EXCUSE FOR A SMALL REWARD LIKE A NIGHT OUT OR A PRESENT TO YOURSELF.

2016gregora1 61

SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP

• VISIT A PSYCHIATRIST FOR PHARMACOLOGICAL HELP. A MEDICAL DOCTOR (MD) OR

DOCTOR OF OSTEOPATHY (DO) CAN PRESCRIBE MEDICATIONS DESIGNED TO HELP YOU EASE

OFF OF MARIJUANA. IF YOU'VE TRIED TO QUIT COLD TURKEY OR TO QUIT GRADUALLY, OR

EVEN IF YOU JUST KNOW THAT THERE'S NO WAY YOU CAN DO IT ON YOUR OWN, SEEING A

DOCTOR MAY BE YOUR BEST BET.

• ANOTHER ADDICT (YOUR FRIEND WHO HAS BEEN USING) CAN NOT HELP YOU. THAT IS JUST

ANOTHER MYTH. THAT IS PART OF THE DISEASE. THAT IS DENIAL.

2016gregora1 62

•CITATIONS

•Guy, Geoffrey William; Brian Anthony Whittle; Philip Robson (2004). The Medicinal Uses of Cannabis and Cannabinoids •. Pharmaceutical Press. p. 61. ISBN 0-85369-517-2. •Jump up ^ ElSohly, Mahmoud A. (2006). Marijuana And The Cannabinoids. Humana Press. p. 10. ISBN 1-58829-456-0. •Jump up ^ Jackson, Trevor (November 10, 2001). "Cannabis the wonder drug?". British Medical Journal. British Medical Association. • 323 (7321): 1136. • doi:10.1136/bmj.323.7321.1136. PMC 1121619 . •Jump up ^ "OG Kush strain information". CannaSOS. Retrieved 2016-06-07

Sources and Citations

http://oade.nd.edu/educate-yourself-drugs/marijuana-or-cannabis-sativa/marijuana-manual/making-the-decision-and-managing

http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana

http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana

2016gregora1 63