The latest news articles featuring BC Centre on Substance Use.
Canada’s PM says weed is ‘infinitely worse’ than tobacco and experts call bullshit
October 05, 2015 | VICE News
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper told reporters that marijuana is “infinitely worse” than tobacco – a claim that was widely dismissed by public health experts. The comment was made at a press conference on Saturday, after the final federal leaders’ debate of the Canadian election, in w...
Marijuana advocates warn NDP plans for decriminalization would leave organized crime in control
September 21, 2015 | The Georgia Straight
In November 2001, Kash Heed stood before the Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs and outlined why his police department had essentially stopped arresting people for marijuana possession. “It was de facto decriminalization,” the retired commanding officer of the Vancouver police drug squad ...
Psychedelics could trigger a ‘paradigm shift’ in mental health care
September 17, 2015 | The Huffington Post
Is American medicine on the brink of a psychedelic revolution? It’s seeming more and more likely. A scientific review of the existing research into the therapeutic applications of psychedelics, published last week in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, highlights the enormous potential of su...
Langley missing out on needle education: Councillor
September 17, 2015 | 24 Hours (Vancouver)
Langley city council voted down a motion Sept. 14 to have staff report back on advice and recommendations on the viability of a needle exchange program – leaving one councillor concerned about their lack of understanding regarding harm-reduction practices. … UBC professor of medicine Thomas Kerr...
Minimizing exposure
September 16, 2015 | Health Canal
Dr. Dan Werb wants to prevent potential injection drug users from ever starting, by limiting their exposure to experienced injection drug users. He also wants to increase the opportunities people who inject drugs have to find recovery support when they need it. Luckily, his new research may accompli...