These flowers look like snapdragons to me. And if they’re not, don’t tell me, because then I’ll have to change the name of this post.
Do you get the feeling this flower is sticking its tongue out at you? Or is it just me? LOL.
Snap your fingers today. Snap them to the beat. It’s good for you. (Don’t believe everything you read on the internet.)
The pro-legalization Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol (CRMLA) in Arizona erected a pair of Mother’s Day billboards in Phoenix and Tucson on Monday. The ads flip the classic “Have you talked to your children about drugs?” public service announcements by asking, “Have you talked to your parents about marijuana?”
http://www.hightimes.com/read/oakland-passes-ambitious-new-medical-marijuana-measure
On Wednesday, Oakland’s City Council voted unanimously to approve a measure expanding the number of cannabis dispensaries and related businesses operating in the city. The new law seeks to bring the existing black market under the city’s regulatory regime, covering everything from grow operations to retail sales.
It will allow adding up to eight new dispensary permits each year, and foresees up to 30 new cultivators, 12 delivery businesses, five distributors, five transporters, two testing facilities and 28 manufacturing businesses…
But there was some controversy around what Councilmamber Desley Brooks called her “Equity Amendment” to the measure, requiring half the new business licenses to be issued within six areas that have higher marijuana arrest rates—all in heavily African American East Oakland. Brooks posed the amendment as a step toward racial justice, telling NBC Bay Area: “When you look at cannabis industry across nation, it’s dominated by people who are white, and they make money. And the people who go to jail are black and brown. I wanted some parity. There needs to be equity in this industry.”
Some criticized the mandate that applicants live in the designated neighborhoods as an obstacle that could deter some of those it is intended to help…
I don’t know what the answer is to diversify the marijuana industry, but something has to be done. Access and affordability are very important, so location is therefore also important. Legalization would solve a lot of these problems.
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news/article-warns-of-deaths-from-imodium-overdoses-050416.html
Consumers were trying to relieve their opioid withdrawal symptoms and overdosed on imodium
Two case studies in Annals of Emergency Medicine tell of patients who overdosed on imodium — also known as loperamide. Although both were treated by emergency medical crews with cardiac life support and naloxone, both died…
This was an interesting article about the history of Oxy, but I’m not sure it told me anything I don’t already know.
http://static.latimes.com/oxycontin-part1/#nt=oft12aH-1gp2
But OxyContin’s stunning success masked a fundamental problem: The drug wears off hours early in many people, a Los Angeles Times investigation found. OxyContin is a chemical cousin of heroin, and when it doesn’t last, patients can experience excruciating symptoms of withdrawal, including an intense craving for the drug.
The problem offers new insight into why so many people have become addicted to OxyContin, one of the most abused pharmaceuticals in U.S. history…
“What was happening was that they were taking more than they were prescribed because the pain medication wasn’t working,” Hughes recalled in an interview…
The doctor kept raising the dose, eventually putting Bodie on 400 milligrams a day…
Holy cow, that’s a high dose. And it’s probably very rare.
Anyone who has taken Oxy knows that it doesn’t last for 12 hours, even though our doctors have tried to convince us otherwise.
https://painkills2.wordpress.com/2016/01/24/the-effectiveness-of-pills/
I understand that some patients experienced the symptoms of withdrawal as described in this article, but that didn’t happen to me. I had to convince my pain doctor to lower my dosage of Oxy, as the main side effect I experienced was nausea. Yuck. And the nausea wasn’t worth the very small amount of pain relief I obtained from Oxy.
I don’t have proof that my doctor accepted bribes from Big Pharma, but he didn’t pay for all those international vacations on his own. So, I had to keep taking the Oxy, because the medical industry decided that short-acting pain medication could only be used for breakthrough pain. As the article details, breakthrough pain only happens because the stupid pills don’t last as long as they’re supposed to. (Doctors suck.)
If you haven’t been offered antipsychotics like Abilify for chronic pain, then you probably will at some time in the future, especially veterans.
http://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/abilify-gets-warning-for-binge-eating-sex-urges-added-to-label
One of the potential side effects listed for the antipsychotic Abilify and its generics is an uncontrollable urge to gamble. But the FDA is now saying that does not nearly encompass the uncontrolled impulses the drug can inflame. And so it is now warning about pathological urges to binge eat, shop or have sex… While the urges are rare…
From what I’ve read, these drugs are somewhat successful in treating insomnia related to chronic pain. But I’ve also read that they turn you into a zombie. Everyone has to decide for themselves what is the best treatment, keeping in mind that our options are quickly dwindling. And really, sleep is one of the most important treatment options — and it’s free. So, if you feel the need to try one of these drugs, just be careful of the side effects.
Sometimes, you just have to treat yourself. LOL.
And sometimes, you have to use food to help relieve your pain. Because drug war.
Have I mentioned lately how much I love the ranch dressing at Pelican’s Restaurant?
I could bathe in that stuff. LOL.
While I was waiting for my take-out, I noticed the only thing on the big-screen TVs was basketball. I asked my waitress, do you think if women ran the world, there would be something else on TV, like maybe Martha Stewart? And she’s like, maybe we could watch Ree Drummond? I love that show. And I said, that woman’s got a great accent. LOL.
I sat through quite a few commercials — not really used to that, since I cut the cord. Tina Fey for American Express, and William H. Macy for something else. I’m not sure why advertisers think celebrities can sell their products — I guess it’s all about the audience they’re trying to reach, which obviously doesn’t include me. LOL.
Above the bar, a sign read: “If you’re drinking to forget, please pay in advance.” LOL.
I have to admit, I’m enjoying my ranch dressing (even though they charged me for it this time). But it ain’t doing anything for my pain levels. Thankfully, I can report that I had a visit from the Bud Fairy. Unfortunately, my pain levels are pretty damn high… it will probably take awhile to bring them back down. Lots of art therapy on the way…
And it’s time for some chocolate. LOL.
(I always said that I wouldn’t use LOL. I mean, how often do I laugh out loud? Still, it’s better than having monster-sized emojies turn up in my emails. Like, Boo! I’m not saying that other people shouldn’t use emojies, I’m just saying that my head hurts and it’s irritating. Dear WordPress: Can’t you fix this?)
All Things Chronic 