Contests promote awareness of radioactive gas linked to lung cancer SPRINGFIELD–(ENEWSPF)–May 9, 2013.  Students from across the state recently put their creative talents to work to help spread the message about the hazards of radioactive radon gas.  More than 700 posters and 224 one-minute YouTube videos were submitted to the[Read More…]

Senators write letter to FDA Commissioner declaring process to reschedule highly addictive prescription drugs has exceeded “reasonable time” WASHINGTON–(ENEWSPF)–May 9, 2013.  U.S. Senators Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and a bipartisan group of seven other Members of Congress sent a bipartisan letter to the Commissioner of the Food and[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–May 9, 2013 – Rep. Jan Schakowsky Nurse Staffing Standards for Patient Safety and Quality Care Act: “In honor of National Nurses Week, I reintroduced the Nurse Staffing Standards for Patient Safety and Quality Care Act today. This bill will help save the lives of patients by improving nursing[Read More…]

SPRINGFIELD–(ENEWSPF)–May 9, 2013.  Following a hearing Wednesday, the Senate Executive Committee voted 10-5 to approve a bill that would allow Illinois residents with serious illnesses to use medical marijuana if their physicians recommend it. The full 59-member Senate will now consider the measure, which received approval from the full House[Read More…]

FLORIDA–(ENEWSPF)–May 9, 2013. by Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director Longtime Florida activist Cathy Jordan, a 63-year-old woman who consumes cannabis to mitigate symptoms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS aka Lou Gehrig’s disease), a debilitating condition that she has lived with since 1986, today filed a suit against Sheriff Brad Steube[Read More…]

Ron W. Lee, MD Pediatric Care Award – Clinical Excellence WHEATON–(ENEWSPF)–May 8, 2013.  The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Illinois Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) program today honored Patricia O’Connor RN, M.Ed, ILCSN with a special pediatric care award for her contributions to childhood care. The[Read More…]

Berkeley, CA –(ENEWSPF)–May 8, 2013.  One of California’s oldest medical marijuana dispensaries, Berkeley Patients Group (BPG), was served with a lawsuit Friday in an attempt to seize the property in which it operates and to ultimately shut the facility down. In the forfeiture complaint, which is similar to one filed[Read More…]

CDC reinforces need for appropriate follow-up testing for current infection Atlanta, GA–(ENEWSPF)–May 8, 2013.  Only half of Americans identified as ever having had hepatitis C received follow-up testing showing that they were still infected, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analysis of data from a multi-area study[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–May 8, 2013. by Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director The administration of synthetic cannabinoid agonists limits HIV infection in macrophages (white blood cells that aid in the body’s immune response), according to preclinical data published in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology. Macrophages are one of the first type of[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–May 7, 2013.  It has been over 30 years since asthma emerged as a growing public health threat. During this time, we have made important progress through clinical, environmental and community health interventions.  May is National Asthma Awareness Month, a time for us to renew our dedication to improving[Read More…]