Shaping the Future: A New Technique for Sorting Micro-particles Unveiled February 23, 2024
Introduction:
(Eurekalert) Thanks to the rapid progress in tiny tech, we've been mainly using microfluidics to sort tiny particles by size. But now, there's a new way to sort them by shape, which could be a big deal for medical tests and chemistry. This study shows off a new method using sound waves to separate oddly shaped particles from round ones, without needing any labels. This breakthrough could lead to better ways to deliver drugs or diagnose diseases by offering a smarter approach to sort these tiny particles
Vice president criticizes federal cannabis restrictions during White House weed event
Vice President Kamala Harris called the current classification of marijuana under federal law “absurd” during a White House event on Friday, and said she is looking forward to seeing what the Drug Enforcement Administration decides about moving it to a different category.
“I’m sure DEA is working as quickly as possible and will continue to do so, and we look forward to the product of their work,” Harris said at the beginning of a roundtable discussion on cannabis policy with Gov. Andy Beshear (D-Ky.), a handful of people who received pardons from President Joe Biden for low level cannabis offenses and rapper Fat Joe.
The vice president’s comments came as anticipation builds for the DEA to release its final decision on the Department of Health and Human Services’ recommendation to move marijuana — or cannabis with more than 0.3 percent THC — to a less restrictive schedule under the Controlled Substances Act. Marijuana is currently classified as a Schedule I narcotic — the same as LSD and heroin — which means it’s deemed to have no acceptable medical uses and a high propensity for abuse.
The White House event is the latest sign that the Biden administration plans to tout its efforts to overhaul federal marijuana policies ahead of the presidential election. Biden also cited his moves to pardon federal marijuana offenders and loosen federal weed restrictions during last week’s State of the Union address. A whopping 70 percent of Americans back marijuana legalization, and that position is particularly popular with young voters, a crucial demographic that Biden is struggling to maintain support from.
Xylazine: Powerful 'zombie drug' known as Tranq has 'penetrated' UK market, experts warn
Wednesday 10 April 2024 13:34, UK
A powerful animal tranquilliser plaguing cities in the US has now "penetrated" the illegal drugs market in the UK, a report has warned.
Xylazine - often referred to as "Tranq" or "the zombie drug" because of its effect on users - has already been labelled an "emerging threat to the nation" by the White House.
The drug was linked to a UK death for the first time during a post-mortem of Karl Warburton, found dead at his home in Solihull in May 2022.
Users often develop skin sores and infections where they inject which can start to rot - leading it to be dubbed "flesh-eating" - and have previously told Sky News that the mix increases their addiction.
Researchers, led by academics from King's College London, say the health threat has "now expanded to the United Kingdom".
The DEA Is Finally Reclassifying Pot as Less Dangerous by Julia Métraux
April 30, 2024
Introduction:
(Mother Jones) On Tuesday, the Associated Press reported that the Drug Enforcement Administration is proposing that cannabis be reclassified from Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, a classification that comes with steep penalties, to the less severe Schedule III, for drugs with significant medical use. If the White House Office of Management and Budget approves the decision, the DEA would be able to offer its proposal for public comment.
Schedule I drugs, according to the DEA’s website, have “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse”; other Schedule I drugs include heroin and ecstasy. If the proposal moves along, its public comment period would need to be followed with approval by an administrative judge, and marijuana could then be reclassified alongside ketamine and testosterone on Schedule III. Just three states—Idaho, Kansas and Nebraska—currently do not have any laws that let residents use cannabis or cannabidiol for medical purposes.
The move follows a letter from FDA researchers submitted to the DEA in August, which argued that there’s enough scientific research to support the established medical uses of cannabis. On the potential for abuse, they wrote that “evidence exists showing that the vast majority of individuals who use marijuana are doing so in a manner that does not lead to dangerous outcomes to themselves or others.” Marijuana has been found to be helpful in easing pain, controlling nausea, and helping people regain their appetite after treatments like chemotherapy.
People still need prescriptions for Schedule III drugs, meaning that people in states where marijuana is illegal or only allowed for medicinal use could still get in trouble for recreational use. Some have raised objections to keeping the drug scheduled at all: “Rescheduling would allow for the criminal penalties for recreational and medical marijuana use to continue—disproportionately impacting Black and Brown communities,” House Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) said in a press release that followed the announcement.
