Health & Medicine
Thursday, April 12, 2012
The IRS and Melinda Haag’s True Goal Is To Snuff Out Medical Pot in California
Politics / Law Enforcement & Crime / Health & Medicine Robert Gammon — Thu, Apr 12, 2012 at 11:23 AM
The hypocritical attack by the IRS and US Attorney Melinda Haag against California medical cannabis dispensaries, particularly in Oakland, feels like it’s right out of a Kafka novel. On the one-hand, the feds (which include the IRS) adamantly maintain that the possession and sale of medical marijuana is illegal because pot is considered an unlawful controlled substance under federal law. But at the same time, the IRS maintains that any proceeds from the sale of medical pot by dispensaries to members of their cooperatives are taxable. On its face, this double standard is ridiculous. But the Internal Revenue Service’s mind-bending arguments don’t stop there.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Nadia Lockyer Deserves a Chance to Get Well
Politics / People / Health & Medicine Robert Gammon — Thu, Mar 1, 2012 at 10:51 AM
Watching the train wreck that is Nadia Lockyer’s life has been difficult. The Alameda County supervisor is now in drug-and-alcohol rehab after a bizarre incident in which she says she was assaulted by her ex-boyfriend at a Newark motel. She had been looking frail for months. And it’s come out that she took her eight-year-old son to the late-night rendezvous with her ex. Then the Chron reported last weekend, citing anonymous sources, that Lockyer’s ex has a sex video of her. Nadia Lockyer’s personal life, in short, has spiraled out of control.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Nadia Lockyer Enters Rehab; She Looked Frail for Months
Politics / People / Health & Medicine Steven Tavares — Tue, Feb 14, 2012 at 2:39 PM
Alameda County Supervisor Nadia Lockyer announced today that she has entered a rehabilitation facility for treatment of a chemical and alcohol dependency addiction. The news follows a bizarre incident at a Newark motel February 3, reported by the San Francisco Chronicle, in which Lockyer was allegedly assaulted by an ex-boyfriend. “The facts of the story are generally true,” said Lockyer, who is married to state Treasurer Bill Lockyer. In the article, published last weekend, Bill Lockyer insinuated that his wife had a drinking problem.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Friday's Best Quotes: On Komen, Using Taxpayer Funds to Lobby, and the Bay Citizen Merger
Politics / Health & Medicine / Transportation Robert Gammon — Fri, Feb 3, 2012 at 11:29 AM
Best quotes of the day:
1. “We want to apologize for recent decisions that cast doubt upon our commitment to our mission of saving women’s lives,” tweeted by Susan G. Komen foundation.
Friday’s Top Stories: Komen Changes Mind on Planned Parenthood; Bay Citizen and California Watch Are in Merger Talks
Media / Politics / Health & Medicine Robert Gammon — Fri, Feb 3, 2012 at 9:58 AM
Today’s top stories:
1. The Susan G. Komen foundation, a breast cancer organization that was under siege for its decision earlier this week to defund Planned Parenthood, reversed course today, The New York Times reports. In a statement, the Komen foundation said it had changed its policies and would continue to fund Planned Parenthood. Earlier this week, Komen had said that it wouldn’t give money to any nonprofits that were under “investigation.” But today, Komen said it was altering that policy to clarify that the investigation would have to be criminal in nature and not political. Congressional Republicans, who want to kill Planned Parenthood because it provides abortion services, had launched an investigation of Planned Parenthood, but the probe is widely considered to be nothing more than a political stunt.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Thursday’s Top Five Stories: No Snowpack, No Water; SmartMeter Opt-Out Criticized
Law Enforcement & Crime / Health & Medicine / Environment Robert Gammon — Thu, Feb 2, 2012 at 9:27 AM
Stories you shouldn’t miss:
1. State water officials are worried about the meager snowpack in the Sierra as Northern California continues to experience a bone-dry winter. The Chron reports that measurements yesterday showed that the snowpack is only 37 percent of normal for this time of year. The state’s reservoirs are still in good shape, but that will change if the dry weather continues. California may need another “Miracle March” of wet weather to stave off water rationing this summer.
Friday, January 13, 2012
Friday Must Read: Oakland to Lay Off 200 Employees; PG&E Diverted $100 Million in Safety Funds for Profits
Politics / Business / Health & Medicine Robert Gammon — Fri, Jan 13, 2012 at 6:58 AM
Stories you shouldn’t miss:
1. As expected, the City of Oakland plans to lay off about two hundred employees because of the state Supreme Court ruling that upheld Governor Jerry decision to kill redevelopment in California, the Chron and Trib report. However, because of union seniority and contract rules, the city actually plans to send out about 1,500 lay off notices in total. The large number of notices will give the city the flexibility to decide which departments to eliminate and who should be laid off, city officials said. The only departments that will be exempted from layoffs are police and fire. City Administrator Deanna Santana also hopes to renegotiate some public-employee contracts in order to reduce the number of layoffs.
Friday, January 6, 2012
Friday Must Read: Brown Proposes to Slash Social Safety Net; Occupy Protesters Barred from Oakland City Hall
Politics / Education / Health & Medicine Robert Gammon — Fri, Jan 6, 2012 at 7:00 AM
Stories you shouldn’t miss:
1. Governor Jerry Brown is proposing to shred California’s social safety net — even if voters approve his tax proposal in November, HealthyCal.org reports. If voters turn down his tax plan, then the state will have to dramatically slash funding to K-12 education as well. The governor is proposing deep cuts to welfare, MediCal, and home-based services for the disabled that would be enacted regardless of whether his tax plan passes or not. As a result, Brown’s proposed budget raises questions as to whether his tax-the-rich proposal goes far enough. Other tax tax-the-rich plans for the November ballot would raise more funds than Brown’s and likely would result in fewer service cuts for the poor.Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Wednesday Must Read: Occupy Protests Move to Foreclosed Homes; New Study Confirms that Cannabis Relieves Pain
Food / Health & Medicine / Occupy Robert Gammon — Wed, Dec 7, 2011 at 6:59 AM
Stories you shouldn’t miss:
1. Occupy protesters shifted their focus to foreclosures yesterday, as demonstrators throughout the nation, including Oakland, helped those who have lost their homes to re-occupy them, the Chron reports. The Occupy Our Homes demonstrations also included protests at banks and foreclosure auctions on the county courthouse steps. So far, the Obama administration’s feeble attempts to help homeowners who are underwater on their mortgages avoid foreclosure have failed.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Boys Should Get the HPV Vaccine, Too
Health & Medicine Rachel Swan — Tue, Oct 25, 2011 at 1:18 PM
So, according to government medical panel, it really does take two to Tango. No, really. Experts on the Advisory Committee of Immunization Practices recommended that 11- and 12-year-old boys get the HPV vaccine alongside their female counterparts, since it's licensed to prevent anal genital warts and anal cancer, as well as the spread of papilloma virus, which can cause cervical cancer in women. It could also help compensate for the abysmal rate of female vaccinations — just 49 percent of teenage girls have gotten the recommended 3 HPV shots, AP medical writer Mike Stobbe reported, citing statements from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The vaccine has actually been available to boys for 2 years, but a vote Tuesday among members of the Advisory Committee was the first to "strongly recommend." Admittedly, it'll be a tough sell.
