There was so much news in the health world that had me saying, WTH?! today that I couldn’t just choose one. So here’s a condensed version of some of the stories that may shock and uhhh on this hump day:

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HEADLINE: Oakland council OKs plan to set up factories

HEADLINE REINTERPRETED: More Californians to Get High(er)

QUOTABLE: “Oakland’s City Council on Tuesday approved an ordinance that could make it the first city in the state to permit industrial marijuana production…”

THOUGHTS: California, huh? It was bound to happen. Seeing as The Golden State’s economic situation has been less than golden, suddenly expanding the the cannibus industry (yeah, yeah, for medical reasons, I know) sounds like a grand idear. Except to the indy growers who fear getting squashed by big businesses looking to become the Mattel of marijuana production. Smells like a real David and Goliath story in the making! (Or is that just the green growing in Nor Cal?)

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HEADLINE: Cleaning Prouducts Linked to Cancer?

HEADLINE REINTERPRETED: If you haven’t found enough things to fear…here’s more!

QUOTABLE: “The study is believed to be the first published report linking household cleaning products and breast cancerrisk.”

THOUGHTS: The “first” published report may be the last with even the well-known Susan G. Komen foundation raising an eyebrow at the study. I mean, I can pretty much jump on the bandwagon bearing the message that sniffing household cleaners of the multi-colored variety every day is probably not the best thing for your overall health, but there was a point where we were told to eat ONLY organic apples, et al., but most folks aren’t burning down non-organic produce sections of their local market, are they? Not sure how much this will make a difference but… guess they just didn’t want to say they never told us so.

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HEADLINE: Researchers Use Ecstasy to Treat PTSD

HEADLINE REINTERPRETED: Uhhh, Dude, You Wont Buh-lieve What We’re Using to Treat PTSD

QUOTABLE: “But experts stressed that the study is preliminary and safety issues must be resolved before any recommendations can be made” & “People with post-traumatic stress disorder who may want to experiment with the drug should know it can be dangerous when not used properly” & “Another PTSD researcher…added that important safety concerns need to be resolved.”

THOUGHTS: OK, so, you can tell these researchers are freaking out about safety concerns just a bit – as they should! I mean, ecstasy is the “club drug” for goodness sakes (their words, not mine – but sounds sinister enough, yeah?). I mean, reckless and independent use could be appealing to someone who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, thinking that they could have their own little, scientifically-approved rave in their head. Between this and Oakland weed factories, D.A.R.E. Officers everywhere may have to rethink their agenda. (Just sayin…)

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