CANNABIS: “Legal Weed Hurting Profits for Big Pharma Opioid Dealers” / The Young Turks / Cenk Uygur, and Ana Kasparian ☮

New data shows that legal marijuana is hurting the profits of corporate opioid dealers, aka Big Pharma. Look for them to double their efforts and their legalized bribes to congress to keep pot illegal nationally. Cenk Uygur and Ana Kasparian, hosts of The Young Turks, break it down. Tell us what you think in the comment section below.

“Research published Wednesday found that states that legalized medical marijuana — which is sometimes recommended for symptoms like chronic pain, anxiety or depression — saw declines in the number of Medicare prescriptions for drugs used to treat those conditions and a dip in spending by Medicare Part D, which covers the cost on prescription medications.

Because the prescriptions for drugs like opioid painkillers and antidepressants — and associated Medicare spending on those drugs — fell in states where marijuana could feasibly be used as a replacement, the researchers said it appears likely legalization led to a drop in prescriptions. That point, they said, is strengthened because prescriptions didn’t drop for medicines such as blood-thinners, for which marijuana isn’t an alternative.

The study, which appears in Health Affairs, examined data from Medicare Part D from 2010 to 2013. It is the first study to examine whether legalization of marijuana changes doctors’ clinical practice and whether it could curb public health costs.”

POLITICAL COMMENTARY: “Alison Flowers: Wrongfully Convicted” / RT America / On Contact with Chris Hedges, and Anya Parampil ☮

In this week’s episode of On Contact, Chris Hedges sits down with Alison Flowers, author of “Exoneree Diaries: The Fight for Innocence, Independence, and Identity”. They discuss flaws in the justice system that result in wrongful convictions and the challenges people face after spending years in prison for a crime they did not commit. RT Correspondent Anya Parampil measures the scale of known exonerations in the U.S.

CANNABIS: “Incredible Marijuana Research Proves Dr. Drew Even More Wrong” / Jimmy Dore ☮

A study about Marijuana’s effect on Crohn’s disease showed incredible results, adding to the long and growing list of ways pot can be used as medicine and therapy. Despite the evidence, the plant remains a schedule 1 drug. Time to stop listening to Dr Drew.

GUN CONTROL: “Father Kills Son, Spouts NRA Talking Points” / The Young Turks / Cenk Uygur ☮

A father in Florida accidently killed his son while shooting handguns at an indoor gun range. He blames himself and says it was “operator error.” Cenk Uygur, host of The Young Turks, breaks it down. Tell us what you think in the comment section below.

“A Florida father blamed himself for the “operating error” that resulted in him killing his 14-year-old son in an accidental shooting at a Sarasota gun range on Sunday afternoon.

“The gun didn’t kill my boy. I did,” 64-year-old William Clayton Brumby told CNN in an interview published Tuesday.

“Every round in the gun is your responsibility,” he added. “When it fires you need to stand to account for it. That’s what I’ve spent the last two days doing, accounting for my operating error.”

Brumby fatally shot his son Stephen in what he deemed “a very freak accident” at the High Noon Gun Range. After firing a round, an empty shell casing reportedly ricocheted off the wall and fell into the back of William Brumby’s shirt. While trying to fish it out with his right hand, which was holding the handgun, he accidentally fired the weapon at Stephen, who was standing directly behind him.

CNN reported that Stephen Brumby was taken to Sarasota Memorial Hospital but died from the shot, which struck him in the jugular vein.”

PATRIOTISM: “We Are America” / Love Has No Labels / John Cena / Ad Council PSA ☮

To love America is to love all Americans. John Cena takes a break between dropping body slams to drop some truth – that patriotism is more than pride of country, it’s love beyond labels. 

While the vast majority of Americans consider themselves unprejudiced, many of us unintentionally make snap judgments about people based on what we see – whether it’s race, age, gender, religion, sexuality, or disability. The Love Has No Labels campaign challenges us to open our eyes to our implicit, or unconscious, bias and work to stop it in ourselves, our families, our friends, and our colleagues. Rethink your bias at: www.lovehasnolabels.com

GREEN PARTY: “Is the Media Giving Green Party a Chance?” / Brian Stelter, and Green Party Presidential Candidate, Dr. Jill Stein ☮

Green Party presidential candidate Dr. Jill Stein tells Brian Stelter says there’s been a “virtual blackout” of her campaign and that she is “fighting for coverage.”

CANNABIS: “Being Stoned May Save You From Alzheimer’s?” / The Big Picture RT / Thom Hartman☮

For people dealing facing serious memory loss – people in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease – marijuana may be just what the doctor ordered.