A spatial analysis of green teams: a tactical response to marijuana production in British Columbia

Over a period of 4 years (1997–2000), British Columbia (BC) experienced tremendous growth in the illicit production and distribution of domestically grown marijuana. By the close of 2000, each policing jurisdiction in BC had adopted a particular policy in response to grow operation proliferation. In summary, four policy responses were noted. First, some maintained the status quo wherein enforcement of police initiated investigations and citizens’ tips continued, but with no additional resources specifically dedicated to grow operations. Second, some jurisdictions suspended the majority of investigation and enforcement of grow operations. Third, some agencies implemented or reinforced existing resource intensive drug squads, which focused on trafficking, sales and production of all types of drugs. Finally, some of the jurisdictions formed specialized tactical units known as “green teams” that focused solely on the enforcement of marijuana production. In this paper, we evaluate the effectiveness of green teams using a Geographic Information System (GIS) and difference-in-difference estimates. The results indicate that green teams decrease grow operations within their target area without significant displacement to surrounding areas.

A Capture–Recapture Model to Estimate the Size of Criminal Populations and the Risks of Detection in a Marijuana Cultivation Industry

Originally developed in biology, capture-recapture methodologies have increasingly been integrated into the study of human populations to provide estimates of the size of “hidden populations.” This paper explores the validity of one capture-recapture model—Zelterman’s (1988) truncated Poisson estimator—used to estimate the size of the marijuana cultivation industry in Quebec, Canada. The capture–recapture analysis draws on arrest data to estimate the number of marijuana growers “at risk of being arrested” for a period of five years (1998–2002). Estimates are provided for growers involved in two different techniques: (1) soil-based growing, and (2) hydroponics. In addition, the study develops an original method to estimate the prevalence of cultivation sites “at risk of detection.” A first set of findings shows that the cultivation industry is substantial; the estimated prevalence of growers compares to estimates of marijuana dealers in the province. Capture–recapture estimates are also used to compare the risks of being arrested for different types of offenders. Results indicate that hydroponic growers—those involved in large scale and sophisticated sites—face lower enforcement-related risks than growers involved in smaller enterprises. The significance of these findings is discussed in the context of the widespread development, both in Europe and in North America, of a successful domestic production-driven, rather than importation-driven, marijuana trade.

“Good moral characters”: how drug felons are impacted under state marijuana legalization laws

This article examines how drug felons will be impacted by marijuana legalization in the United States. What will happen to drug felons whose charges would be legal under current law? Can drug felons work in the newly developing legal marijuana industries? In this article we will overview the statistics on arrests and convictions with their high rates of racial disparities. The war on drugs has inspired the development of more repressive criminal justice tactics such as asset forfeiture, high rates of re-incarceration during parole for marijuana violations, drug courts and their further reach into lifestyles, and the difficulties of prisoner reentry, especially for drug felons, who are barred from many jobs and social services. We will look at the regulations of felony offenders working in the cannabis industry. And we will consider the outcomes of retroactive ameliorative relief for this case of marijuana possession felonies under legalization.     

合肥市大蜀山几种药用植物体内铅的含量分析

目的:以安徽省合肥市郊大蜀山几种常见的药用植物为例,分析铅(Pb)在药用植物不同部位的分布,初步探索Pb在药用植物体内分布的规律。方法:采用湿法消化、原子吸收分光光度法测定Pb元素的含量。结果:植物体内Pb的含量与植物种类和生长环境有关。本实验为从源头控制中药材和中成药重金属超标提供科学依据。     

Attributions of responsibility,blame and justifiability to a perpetrator and victim in an acquaintance rape scenario: the influence of Marijuana intoxication

Abstract

Marijuana is a commonly used illicit drug by young adults and has been implicated in about one third of sexual assaults. However, the influence of Marijuana intoxication on rape attributions has not been previously investigated. This study examined the effects of perpetrator and victim Marijuana intoxication and participant sex on rape attributions. Young adults (N = 285) read an acquaintance rape scenario where Marijuana intoxication was manipulated and completed measures of perpetrator (responsibility, blame and justifiability) and victim attributions (responsibility and blame). The results revealed that an intoxicated, compared to sober, perpetrator was attributed less responsibility for his sexual aggression. When the victim was intoxicated, compared to sober, the perpetrator and victim were attributed less and more blame for the assault, respectively. These findings demonstrate that, irrespective of perceiver sex, Marijuana intoxication, like alcohol intoxication, results in an attributional double standard in favour of the perpetrator.     

Carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes as indicative of geographical origin of marijuana samples seized in the city of São Paulo (Brazil)

The drug trafficking is one of the most serious problems related to the Public Safety in Brazil, especially in the most populous areas of the country, as is the case of the city of São Paulo. In this work, it was developed a methodology that can help tracking the traffic routes of marijuana samples seized in the city of São Paulo, based on stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes, which are related to the climate and plant growth conditions. A model to classify the origin of unknown samples was built using linear discriminant analysis based on about 150 samples apprehended in the main producing regions of the country. Results for 76 samples seized in the city of São Paulo showed that most of them were cultivated in a humid region with the same origin as those from Mato Grosso do Sul. The provenance of 13 outliers samples from Northeast region (an important producing region) also were evaluated and some of them presented same profile of those from Mato Grosso do Sul, pointing to the existence of the traffic routes between the Northeast and Midwest region, probably as a consequence of the intensive field raids by Brazilian Federal Government since 1999.     

Extraction and isolation of cannabinoids from marijuana seizures and characterization by 1H NMR allied to chemometric tools

Marijuana, a drug derived from the Cannabis sativa L. plant, is the world's most consumed illicit drug. In this paper, a total of 156 marijuana samples seized in the state of Espírito Santo (ES), Brazil were studied and analysed by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) spectroscopy to identify the major cannabinoids present. A crude extract of all samples was purified using high performance liquid chromatography so that these compounds could serve as reference substances. Nine fractions were obtained and analysed by ¹H NMR and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), with five presented cannabinoids. ?⁹-THC (Δ⁹-trans-tetrahydrocannabinol), ?⁹-THCA (?⁹-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid), ?⁸-THC (?⁸-tetrahydrocannabinol), 11-hydroxycannabinol, CBV (cannabivarin), and CBN (cannabinol) were found, and their chemical structures were confirmed by GC–MS. The latter compound was obtained with high purity (≈100%), while the others were obtained as less complex mixtures with purity higher than 75% (except for Δ⁸-THC). Principal component analysis (PCA) was used on the ¹H NMR spectra of the 156 samples, and it was found that the samples were grouped according to the months, differentiating into two groups (from July 2014 to January 2015 and from February 2015 to July 2015), where non-grouping was observed from four macro-regions of the ES state (North, Central, Metropolitan, and South). The chemical profile of the seized samples was correlated to the ¹H NMR spectrum of an isolated CBN sub-fraction, in which the group formed by samples seized in the year 2015 presented lower CBN content in the chemical composition. From the PCA score plot, two groups of samples were confirmed using the partial least squares discriminant analysis and orthogonal projections to latent structures classification methods.     

补益脾胃法结合虫类药治疗中后期脊髓损伤

目的 观察补益脾胃法结合虫类药对中后期脊髓损伤患者神经功能恢复的影响。方法 将40例脊髓损伤中后期患者随机分为治疗组和对照组,每组20例,对照组予综合康复治疗和甲钴胺片口服,治疗组予综合康复治疗和龙芪强肌饮及虫类药煎服,观察比较治疗前后两组患者美国脊髓损伤协会（American spinal injury association,ASIA）感觉功能、运动功能评分,功能独立性测量（the functional independent measure,FIM）评分以及体感诱发电位（somatosensory evoked potential,SEP）潜伏期。结果 两组治疗后ASIA感觉功能评分、运动功能评分,FIM评分均明显高于治疗前（P＜0.05）,SEP潜伏期低于治疗前（P＜0.05）。两组治疗前后ASIA感觉功能评分、运动功能评分,FIM评分,SEP潜伏期差值比较,差异均有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。结论 补益脾胃法结合虫类药能有效促进中后期脊髓损伤患者神经功能的恢复。     

THE RACE/ETHNICITY DISPARITY IN MISDEMEANOR MARIJUANA ARRESTS IN NEW YORK CITY

RESEARCH SUMMARY: This article examines the growth in marijuana misdemeanor arrests in New York City (NYC) from 1980 to 2003 and its differential impact on blacks and Hispanics. Since 1980, the New York City Police Department (NYPD) expanded its use of arrest and detention for minor offenses under its quality-of-life (QOL) policing initiative. Arrest data indicate that during the 1990s the primary focus of QOL policing became smoking marijuana in public view (MPV). By 2000, MPV had become the most common misdemeanor arrest, accounting for 15% of all NYC adult arrests and rivaling controlled substance arrests as the primary focus of drug abuse control. Of note, most MPV arrestees have been black or Hispanic. Furthermore, black and Hispanic MPV arrestees have been more likely to be detained prior to arraignment, convicted, and sentenced to jail than their white counterparts. POLICY IMPLICATIONS: In light of the disparities, we recommend that the NYPD consider scaling back on MPV enforcement and reducing the harshness of treatment by routinely issuing Desk Appearance Tickets when the person is not wanted on other charges, so that most MPV arrestees would not be detained. Furthermore, we recommend that legislators should consider making smoking marijuana in public a violation and not a misdemeanor. Lastly, we suggest ways that NYC could monitor the effectiveness of these policy modifications to assure that the city continues to meet its goals for order maintenance.     

Cultural Orientation as a Protective Factor Against Tobacco and Marijuana Smoking for African American Young Women

The present study examined cultural orientation as a protective factor against tobacco and marijuana smoking for African American young women (ages 18 to 25). African American college students (N=145) from a predominantly White university were administered subscales from the African American Acculturation Scale-Revised (AAAS-R); the shortened Individualism/Collectivism (INDCOL) Scale; a Tobacco and Drug Use Survey; and a background survey. Multiple logistic regression was conducted using cultural orientation variables as predictors and smoking status (i.e., tobacco and marijuana) as the criterion. It was expected that young women who endorsed traditional African American cultural characteristics (i.e., religious beliefs, health, family values, and socialization) and were collectivistic in their community (i.e., cultural interdependency) and familial (i.e., familial interdependency) interactions would be less likely to smoke. Results show that traditional religious beliefs and practice was protective against tobacco smoking for this sample of young women. Familial interdependency (e.g., supportive exchanges between friends, and consultation and sharing with parents), and traditional religious beliefs and practices surfaced as protective factors against marijuana smoking. Traditional health beliefs and practices was a risk factor for both tobacco and marijuana smoking. The implications signal the need for smoking prevention and cessation programs to focus on interpersonal factors which may strengthen African American young women’s religious and familial bonding. Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA. Dr. Nasim also serves as affiliate research professor in the Center for Cultural Experiences in Prevention (CCEP), Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA. He received his Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from Howard University, Washington, DC. His primary research interests focus on the etiology of substance use behaviors among African Americans Professor of Psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University, and Director of the Center for Cultural Experiences in Prevention (CCEP). She received her Ph.D. from the University of Maryland. Her research and programmatic efforts focus on the role of culture, community, and context in psychological, physical, and social outcomes among African Americans Assistant Professor at Virginia Commonwealth University. She received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles. Her major research interests focus on minority youth adjustment, adolescent sexual health, and families affected by HIV/AIDS. Associate Professor at Virginia Commonwealth University in the Department of Psychology. He received his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Fordham University. His research interest is in the area of African American culture and mental health. Institute for Innovative Health & Human Services at James Madison University. She received her B.S. in Psychology from James Madison University. Her research focuses on school-based interventions for adolescents.