12/10/16
Recently, in response to the legislative changes made by the Federal Government, we have been contacted by quite a few people looking for information about how they can start their own cannabis farm or shop, here in Australia.
12/10/16
More than one thousand Australians search online for ‘marijuana plant’ every month, despite the fact there’s actually no such thing as a ‘marijuana plant’. In fact, there is so much misinformation, so many misconceptions and strange stereotypes about cannabis flying around the web, these strange rumors are often taken as fact. So we decided we would tackle five of the most common misconceptions Aussies have about weed, to help you separate fact from fiction.
12/10/16
Unfortunately, the comparison between cannabis and alcohol is not simple, and the consequences of statements like ‘alcohol is legal and it’s more dangerous than cannabis’ can be damaging and unhelpful.
17/08/16
The New South Wales Government announced late last year it would be cracking down on drug driving with a plan to triple the amount of mobile drug tests (MDTs) conducted by 2017. This has become a hot topic of conversation as police units across the country continue to announce increased presence on the roads with more regular and targeted drug testing strategies.
17/08/16
Illegal Australian weed tends to be produced domestically using two main growing methods known as ‘hydro’ or ‘bush weed’. You’ve probably heard both of these terms before, but what exactly is the difference between the two? We’ve put together a list of the five main differences.
17/08/16
Whenever drug policy is discussed you can guarantee Portugal will get a mention. There has been a lot of confusion about the changes made to Portugal’s drug laws since they were adopted a decade and a half ago. Many people believe drugs are legal in Portugal, regulated by the government, even taxed, and this is said to have had a range of great health benefits for the country, stopping overdoses, lowering the rate of HIV infections and reducing drug use overall. The reality of the policy in action is not simple, so we thought we’d clear up a few of the misconceptions.
17/08/16
At some point or another, many parents won’t approve of the company their kids keep. It’s a pretty common story: watching a child gravitate towards a group of people who are using drugs, rebelling against authority of various kinds or who seem self-destructive. It can be some of the most difficult territory you will ever have to navigate as a parent. So what can you do?
17/08/16
We recently spoke with two people who, on the recommendation of a therapist, have been using cannabis to manage their anxiety and/or depression. One person said their therapist recommended cutting out stimulants like coffee, but weed was encouraged as a great tool to help with anxiety. We were interested and concerned to learn of a health professional giving out this kind of advice, especially to vulnerable people who may just be seeking a quick fix.
02/08/16
Usually our media wrap up covers a range of different media stories from the month, but as none made a splash quite like the NSW medical cannabis legislative changes, the July media wrap will focus solely on this one issue.
01/08/16
In conjunction with this year’s Dental Health Week, we thought we would take the opportunity to remind you of the effect cannabis use can have on your oral health.
27/07/16
A popular celebrity’s collaboration with a renowned medical cannabis producer in the USA: the two have come together to produce a range of cannabis-based products designed specifically to help rid women of nasty period cramps and pain.
07/07/16
We know from the research there are some proven techniques to help overcome cannabis cravings for those trying to quit. Cravings come in waves and tend to only be strong for about 20 minutes, so if someone can push through the danger zone, the cannabis cravings start to become less intense and less frequent. Enter the four D’s: distract, delay, deep-breathing and de-catastrophize. The first of these – distraction – is the most important tool in your mental toolkit to riding the waves of those cravings.
Here are 20 things you can do to entertain your brain and body that don’t involve smoking weed. Maybe you’ve tried some of them before, or perhaps there’s something you’ve always been meaning to try but have never got around to – now’s your chance to give it a go!
07/07/16
National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) Week celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It is celebrated not only in Indigenous communities but by Australians from all walks of life.
This year, NAIDOC week is held from 3-10 July, and its’ theme is Songlines: the living narrative of our nation.
07/07/16
As a parent, there may be no bigger worry than wondering if your child is using drugs and just how you can help them and keep them safe if you find they are experimenting or using regularly.
Here are five tips to help you manage your suspicions and maintain a good relationship with your kids
07/07/16
A new study has found rewarding positive behaviours and offering incentives for a job well done, is much more in tune with how teenagers operate than punishing bad behaviour.
05/07/16
Last month was a somewhat confusing month when it came to cannabis news – publications from mainstream newspapers and popular niche blogs, to YouTube videos, presented the same stories twisted different ways depending on the agenda of the journalist or artist.
We all know research can be twisted and turned a lot of different ways, but as we sifted and sorted through the many cannabis articles published in mainstream media throughout the month, it’s no surprise some people are confused about exactly what cannabis will, won’t or may do to you if you use it!
04/07/16
Now don’t get us wrong, cannabis may have some positive applications, particularly in medicine – though right now the jury is out on most of those. But for recreational users, the focus on medical use and choosing to ignore possible negative effects, has made it difficult to encourage young people to consider objective information about cannabis, and talking to friends and loved ones about concerns relating to their use has become a bigger challenge than ever before.
24/06/16
Sometimes called a ‘bong over’ or a ‘stone over’, the after-effects of a big night of smoking weed impact everyone differently. While some don’t feel bad at all the following day, others can experience symptoms such as headaches, ‘cotton-mouth’, or feeling muddled and confused. So why does this happen and how can it be avoided?
24/06/16
We all know how it feels when we haven’t had enough sleep – our eyes feel gritty, we’re drowsy, we find it hard to concentrate and can generally feel like we’re below par, and unable to function well. But lack of sleep, or lack of good sleep, can mean more than this – it can actually damage our health and cause long-term problems.
24/06/16
The use of pesticides on cannabis plants is something NCPIC has warned users about regularly in the past. Over recent years, it has become even more concerning as parents consider giving the drug to their children who are suffering from serious illnesses, without being able to be fully aware of what different chemicals may have been used to support the growth of the plant. Pesticides can be highly toxic and have serious side effects, and pesticide testing regimes in the US differ from state to state
17/06/16
At NCPIC, we often get asked questions like ‘how can I recover my brain-health after I quit using?’ and ‘what kind of damage does marijuana do to the brain?’ While there is no one quick-fix solution and the jury is still out on some potential harms, the good news is it is possible to improve your brain-health over time. We’ve put together a few different ways to help recover from some of the effects of smoking weed and whip your brain back into shape.
09/06/16
With so much travel and so many election messages to report on, cannabis has taken a bit of a backseat in May. Despite this, there have been some interesting stories in both mainstream and niche publications.
19/05/16
People mix weed with other drugs for a range of reasons, whether they think it will help with the comedown after a big night on pills or maybe to intensify the high of another substance. While it can seem harmless enough, combining cannabis with other drugs is never a good idea as the results can be dangerous and unpredictable. Here’s why:
19/05/16
A lot of people who sit on the pro-cannabis side of the fence look at historic anti-cannabis materials such as ‘Reefer Madness’ and label it as outrageous propaganda designed to stigmatise cannabis and its users. And let’s be honest, it was. It was typical of the time it was created, and took ‘cannabis education’ (and we use the term loosely) to an extreme and often unrealistic place.
19/05/16
We know quitting weed is no cake-walk, but when you’ve been using it for a while and it’s baked into your daily routine, giving up anything demands some serious focus and determination. We spoke with people who’ve been there, who have overcome the various hurdles you face when quitting weed, and asked them for advice on how others can go about it. Here’s what they had to say.
18/05/16
In the world of medical cannabis, it seems Dr David Caldicott is a rock star!
Well at least that’s how it appeared on the second day of this year’s United In Compassion Medical Cannabis Symposium, where “I’m just David” had the notoriously difficult middle-of-the-day timeslot. A timeslot when most people sneak out early for lunch, switch off, or feign interest while they plan their afternoon.
Not in this case.
05/05/16
For yet another month, cannabis news dominated headlines in papers around the world. And while the recent legislative victories were cause for celebration for many medical-cannabis advocates, this news was often overshadowed by a growing focus on the commercial and economic opportunities medical legalisation of the drug may present.
15/04/16
In an effort to find out whether using weed actually helps people with creating original ideas, let’s take a look at a couple of objective studies using objective measures undertaken in this complex area.
15/04/16
Quitting weed can be rough. You make the decision to do something good for your mind and body and then, as a thank you, you get smacked in the face with some pretty hefty withdrawal symptoms which threaten to throw your best intentions way off-course. So if you’ve noticed you’re snapping at friends, family or co-workers, there are a few simple steps you can take to prevent unnecessary bridge-burning while your body readjusts to life without weed.
15/04/16
If you’re sporting-inclined, you may know how hard it is to turn up to Saturday cricket with a hangover, standing in the sun all day, dehydrated, nauseous and craving that fundraiser sausage sanga. But what about weed? Does having a toke affect your sporting performance at all? And does it make you more likely to win that half marathon or more likely to not even make it to the training session?
15/04/16
So you’ve got a few things you want to know about cannabis, but don’t know who you can ask? You’ve heard some weird stories, some strange rumours and some confusing gossip and you’re not sure what to believe – will it affect your ‘down stairs’, can people tell you’re stoned, does it affect your breath?
Here are six questions we’ve been asked by people who smoke weed or are thinking about trying it.
15/04/16
Your mates might have told you it’s impossible to get addicted to weed. Or it’s only a ‘mentally addictive’ drug and it’s easy to quit if you just have the determination. At NCPIC, we also hear the classic line: “I could quit anytime I wanted to” quite a bit; just as we’ve always heard from tobacco smokers. To help you work out whether your cannabis use might be putting you at risk for addiction and make quitting more difficult if you decided you wanted to go that way – keep on reading.
13/04/16
It’s a pretty reasonable question to ask: if I smoke weed now, how long afterwards will it be detectable in my system? The answer can help you increase the safety of co-workers and other drivers, protect yourself against breaking the law, and ultimately, just plan ahead.
06/04/16
In March, research studies in mainstream media were few-and-far-between. Overshadowed by the sheer number of articles focused on the commercial prospects of cannabis, science dropped from the headlines and almost right off the bottom of the screen.
29/03/16
Coping with boredom when you quit cannabis can be tough...unless you re-frame it as an opportunity to take control and find a new purpose in life!
24/03/16
Uruguay has received attention lately as having quite a different approach to cannabis policy than many other countries. Here's a quick overview of their cannabis policy.
23/03/16
Some people believe there aren't any problems with using cannabis because they personally haven't experienced any. But this isn't the same for everyone and many people do suffer significant problems from cannabis use.
21/03/16
Six key tips on what to consider when a new employee starts.
18/03/16
Colouring in books for adults are all the rage at the moment and lots of fun, but could they help you tackle serious issues like cannabis withdrawal?
15/03/16
Chronic, ongoing pain can be debilitating and exhausting. But some simple lifestyle changes may help with your recovery.
07/03/16
Is it possible to regulate and set standards for ‘safe stoned driving’?
29/02/16
We catch up with Mark to see how he's going 5 months on from quitting weed.
26/02/16
In February 2016, the Australian media covered stories on the progression of medical cannabis legislation in the federal parliament, as well as several stories on different cannabis research studies.
22/02/16
Talking to a work colleague about their concerning drug use can be tricky, but knowing how to approach the conversation can set you in the right direction.
15/02/16
Why is it that some cannabis users don't put on weight despite known side effects such as 'the munchies'?
09/02/16
Some useful tips on how to cope with pressure to do drugs at social occasions with work colleagues.
03/02/16
Vipassana is a meditation technique that helps you stay in the present moment.
01/02/16
Cannabis was a popular media story in January, with coverage on drug driving, how cannabis affects women and drug trials.
27/01/16
A quick and easy tool to help improve your mental health and wellbeing.
03/12/15
Throughout October and November 2015 the Australian media covered stories on medicinal cannabis, high potency 'skunk', and cannabis use in pregnancy.
01/12/15
What is the difference between pharmaceutically produced medicinal cannabis and whole-plant cannabis?
25/11/15
Straying from our usual blog style, this month we've compiled some of our most relevant resources for young people who will be attending schoolies, and their parents who might also need to get their cannabis knowledge up-to-date.
24/11/15
We talk to medicinal cannabis advocate Lucy Haslam about her views and perspective on using cannabis for medicinal purposes.
20/11/15
An honest account of the effect weed had on one young man's life and how he's managing after quitting weed.
19/10/15
Sometimes the word 'prevention' in our name can be confusing -- in this blog, we set the record straight on our position on all things medical cannabis.
15/10/15
A brief history of drug policy in Sweden and a personal perspective from a resident Swede
13/10/15
A brief round-up of how the Australian media covered cannabis stories in September 2015
14/09/15
There are many reasons why a good father figure is important for a child's development
02/09/15
This month the Australian media focussed on general cannabis research, synthetics and 'cannabis vomiting syndrome'.
27/08/15
These days, even the smallest of organisations have a social media policy - but does it cover everything? This article looks at the must-know workplace social media etiquette you should share with all your managers and employees.
26/08/15
How changing the way you think about your abilities can help you reach goals you never thought possible.
12/08/15
How parents can approach the topics of drugs and sex with their teenagers.
29/07/15
A quick round-up of the Australian media's take on cannabis issues and news stories in July 2015.
23/07/15
Mindfulness meditation is an evidence-based tool to help you tackle life's problems and calm your mind.
17/07/15
5 quick tips on how HR professionals can help employees cope with challenging managers.
15/07/15
Recovering from a traumatic event or crisis can be really hard, but relying on alcohol or drugs to help you get through it could be more detrimental in the long-run. Here are a few steps that may help you rebuild and get back on track.
09/07/15
Where do young people get their drug information from and who do they trust? And as a parent or teacher, how can we best educate our kids about drugs?
03/07/15
June was another action-packed month when it came to cannabis news. Significant funds were allocated to new research, the USA moved to facilitate further study on cannabinoids, and new reports highlighted the shortcomings in evidence to support the USA’s legalisation of medicinal cannabis for some illnesses.
29/06/15
We've all got regrets from our younger days. Here's 5 of the most common things young people often wish they had done differently.
19/06/15
Many people have trouble getting to sleep at night, but implementing a few simple techniques could be all it takes to improve the quality of your sleep and help you get to sleep faster drug-free.
17/06/15
How teachers can help teenagers deal with drug-related peer pressure, identify their values and stay true to themselves.
12/06/15
A lot of the time when we talk about the effects of cannabis, we focus on the links between regular use and mental and physical health. But using weed, or being caught with it, can have far-reaching effects on other aspects of your life.
03/06/15
Mulling up is when people mix cannabis with tobacco. But it's just not a smart thing to do - and here's why.
01/06/15
May saw a lot of media coverage about cannabis research. Although there was still plenty of coverage about medicinal cannabis, the media also covered stories on research into the effects of cannabis on lung health and driving skills. And it was great to see that some Australian media outlets found the floated idea that cannabis could increase creativity in school kids as crazy as NCPIC does.
26/05/15
In order to get on top of your finances it's important to create a budget. A good budget should be one that ensures your spending doesn't outweigh your expenses and also identifies any spending habits that could be leading you down a financial black hole.
20/05/15
Smoking weed can negatively affect many aspects of your work performance, including your concentration, motivation, safety and interpersonal skills.
15/05/15
Find out how to beat the winter blues and begin quitting weed now!
12/05/15
Read real-life accounts of people’s experiences using synthetic cannabis. We’ve scoured the forums and surveyed over a thousand people to find out how this unpredictable drug can affect you.
08/05/15
Decreasing employee performance, motivation and productivity could be a sign that they have a drug problem. It's therefore important to understand the signs of possible drug use and know how to effectively approach the problem.
05/05/15
An interview with the 2014 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander music competition winner Clay Cassar-Daley.
01/05/15
A round-up of media articles about cannabis over the month of April 2015. This month the media covered medicinal cannabis trials, synthetic cannabis and fake cures.
28/04/15
Find out how to positively influence your child to start thinking about quitting weed – without the tears!
23/04/15
Are you 100% sure about the facts? Read on to have some commonly held myths about weed well and truly busted.
21/04/15
Sometimes heavy cannabis use can be a symptom of a deeper problem that needs to be dealt with, such as anxiety, difficulty in social situations, stress or some deeper issues.
14/04/15
Struggling to help a mate quit weed? We’re here to help.
09/04/15
The impact of cannabis on motivation has long been debated - in this blog we look at the science and the personal stories.
07/04/15
Want to find out the top 5 reasons why NOT to smoke fake weed? Read on to discover why synthetic marijuana is unpredictable, illegal, unsafe and a waste of money, just to name a few.
02/04/15
Talking about the dangers of synthetic weed can be really challenging for parents trying to educate their kids about drug use, but it is a really important conversation every family needs to have. Here’s how to get informed and get the conversation started.
01/04/15
A round-up of media articles about cannabis over the month of March 2015. This month the media covered medicinal cannabis, legalisation, synthetic cannabis and the effects of cannabis on the brain
26/03/15
When someone you love is addicted to cannabis and not interested in quitting, it's important to have self-care strategies in place to look after yourself.
24/03/15
Do you use cannabis when you can’t sleep? Here are some reasons to reconsider.
20/03/15
There's a lot of 'research' and 'evidence' out there, but how can you tell the difference between real research, which is the result of a proper scientific study, and poor research, which sometimes produces big claims but is actually meaningless?
13/03/15
Parenting teenagers when drug use is an issue can be challenging and emotional. In this blog, we look at one of the most common calls to our cannabis helpline and provide some small insights that may go a long way.
05/03/15
Don’t smoke away your looks! Why quitting weed is a great natural beauty tip.
03/03/15
Respiratory diseases, chronic coughs and petrochemicals - just a few reasons why bongs aren’t cool.
02/03/15
February saw the quiet of previous months fade into a new year of debate about medicinal cannabis, more drug driving crashes and interesting new research.
26/02/15
Trying to quit weed is not always easy. One of our NCPIC team sat down with one of his closest mates to talk about his mate's decision to quit weed and how he is progressing two weeks in.
19/02/15
The key to being truly happy is finding the right kind of happiness, which means cultivating meaning and purpose in your life.
17/02/15
These 5 questions will get you thinking about your weed use.
11/02/15
The effects of weed can go beyond your health.
