With the marijuana movement sparking these days, one of its seminal figures was just nearly snuffed out. Dennis Peron -- a longtime pot activist and the co-author of the 1996 medical marijuana ballot initiative, Prop. 215 -- on Sunday confirmed he'd suffered a stroke.
"That's why I didn't give a speech at the hemp expo" at the Cow Palace, Peron told SF Weekly. He noted that he suffered the stroke about a month ago and underwent an operation yesterday to "unclog my artery."
"Total success, total success," the 65-year-old continued. "I have so much more energy. I'm on the mend. Don't count me out."
Peron added that he's now quit smoking cigarettes. Well, not every cigarette.
"I have to go easy on the pot," he notes. But when asked if he could still consume marijuana brownies he immediately answered "Yeah, yeah. I'm enjoying life."
понедельник, 26 апреля 2010 г.
понедельник, 19 апреля 2010 г.
Cigarette shock pics confirmed
SHOCK images are to begin appearing on cigarette packets in France next year, more than two years after the idea was first proposed.
Health Minister Roselyne Bachelot said she had signed the decree that will force cigarette manufacturers to show pictures of the damage smoking does to the body.
One of 14 images will take up 40% of the space on the back of every packet sold in France, with messages such as "Smokers die early" and "Smoking causes deadly lung cancer".
Anti-smoking groups have been calling for the shock tactics for several years. Producers and tobacconists have a year to use up their existing stocks.
Ms Bachelot said she was "favourable" to the idea in October 2008 after a study by the University of Rennes showed that the method was an efficient way of reducing the amount of cigarettes sold.
Health Minister Roselyne Bachelot said she had signed the decree that will force cigarette manufacturers to show pictures of the damage smoking does to the body.
One of 14 images will take up 40% of the space on the back of every packet sold in France, with messages such as "Smokers die early" and "Smoking causes deadly lung cancer".
Anti-smoking groups have been calling for the shock tactics for several years. Producers and tobacconists have a year to use up their existing stocks.
Ms Bachelot said she was "favourable" to the idea in October 2008 after a study by the University of Rennes showed that the method was an efficient way of reducing the amount of cigarettes sold.
четверг, 15 апреля 2010 г.
Govt urged to raise tobacco taxes
The Rudd government must increase tobacco taxes if it is serious about preventative reforms in health care, the Cancer Council says.
Professor Ian Olver, chief executive of Cancer Council Australia, said tobacco addiction remained the nation's largest preventable cause of serious disease and death.
Prof Olver said he was hopeful media speculation about a significant increase in the tobacco taxes would become reality in the 2010-11 federal budget.
"Smoking is still the largest preventable cause of cancer death and disease in Australia, and increasing the price of tobacco products is the best way to encourage smokers to quit," Professor Olver said in a statement on Wednesday.
"If the Government is serious about disease prevention as a key part of healthcare reform, it must increase the price of tobacco products in the next budget.
"This would reduce tobacco disease burden and also help to fund prevention programs like tobacco control and bowel cancer screening."
News Ltd reports indicate the federal government was considering a hike in tobacco taxes to part-fund the $18 billion cost of its broader health reform agenda.
A $13.50 packet of cigarettes could be increased to $20 staggered over three years, according to reports.
It also said Australian tobacco taxes had lagged the developed world, standing at 68 per cent compared to 75 - 80 per cent for comparable countries.
The speculation also comes as a minority of petrol stations, corner stores and other retail outlets continue to flout the law on cigarette sales to the young.
A compliance operation involving more than 70 tobacco retailers in northern NSW found almost 10 per cent would sell tobacco products to children aged 14 and 15 years.
"A small percentage of retailers neglected to ask for identification and sold cigarettes to minors," said Hunter New England Health Environmental Health Manager Philippe Porigneaux.
"Currently two businesses have been prosecuted and fined for failure to comply with the legislation."
Businesses in NSW risk fines of up to $110,000, or $11,000 for individuals, for selling cigarettes to those under 18.
Mr Porigneaux said it was important to take action against these outlets as research showed 90 per cent of long-term smokers began their habit in their teens.
"Nicotine dependence is established rapidly, even among adolescents, and preventing young people from commencing smoking will reduce smoking deaths and illness and the associated costs in the long-term," Mr Porigneaux said.
Professor Ian Olver, chief executive of Cancer Council Australia, said tobacco addiction remained the nation's largest preventable cause of serious disease and death.
Prof Olver said he was hopeful media speculation about a significant increase in the tobacco taxes would become reality in the 2010-11 federal budget.
"Smoking is still the largest preventable cause of cancer death and disease in Australia, and increasing the price of tobacco products is the best way to encourage smokers to quit," Professor Olver said in a statement on Wednesday.
"If the Government is serious about disease prevention as a key part of healthcare reform, it must increase the price of tobacco products in the next budget.
"This would reduce tobacco disease burden and also help to fund prevention programs like tobacco control and bowel cancer screening."
News Ltd reports indicate the federal government was considering a hike in tobacco taxes to part-fund the $18 billion cost of its broader health reform agenda.
A $13.50 packet of cigarettes could be increased to $20 staggered over three years, according to reports.
It also said Australian tobacco taxes had lagged the developed world, standing at 68 per cent compared to 75 - 80 per cent for comparable countries.
The speculation also comes as a minority of petrol stations, corner stores and other retail outlets continue to flout the law on cigarette sales to the young.
A compliance operation involving more than 70 tobacco retailers in northern NSW found almost 10 per cent would sell tobacco products to children aged 14 and 15 years.
"A small percentage of retailers neglected to ask for identification and sold cigarettes to minors," said Hunter New England Health Environmental Health Manager Philippe Porigneaux.
"Currently two businesses have been prosecuted and fined for failure to comply with the legislation."
Businesses in NSW risk fines of up to $110,000, or $11,000 for individuals, for selling cigarettes to those under 18.
Mr Porigneaux said it was important to take action against these outlets as research showed 90 per cent of long-term smokers began their habit in their teens.
"Nicotine dependence is established rapidly, even among adolescents, and preventing young people from commencing smoking will reduce smoking deaths and illness and the associated costs in the long-term," Mr Porigneaux said.
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