The Golden Goat strain serves to remind us how nature can still surprise us, no matter how hard we try to control it. Some time ago, in Kansas, a male hybrid plant accidentally fertilized a female Island Sweet Skunk. The result was a sweet and smooth Sativa-heavy strain, which quickly found its way to dispensaries across the United States and into our hearts. It got its name after old aluminum can recycling machines, which smell like soda syrup in the summer.

Since the Golden Goat strain remains popular mostly in California, people assumed it’s just another crazy Cali strain. However, I’d like to point out its Midwestern heritage, which definitely left its mark on today’s versions. Unfortunately, its creators remain anonymous to this day.

Golden Goat Strain Review

Appearance and Aroma

Starting with the looks, Golden Goat usually comes in medium-sized light green buds, with a lot of orange pistils. The trichomes range from milky off-white to golden. Once in a while, I find an almost pink-looking Golden Goat bud. The pistils look more red than orange, and the trichomes make it look pinkish.

Personally, I love Golden Goat’s aroma. It’s sweet, smooth, and not too pungent. Unlike some Sativa strains, such as Cheese or Diesel, it doesn’t tickle your nose or make you cough. However, I can single out a slight citrus flavor among the sweetness, sort of like lemon zest, which is refreshing.

Effects

Much like the aroma, the Golden Goat strain provides you with a strong but quite manageable high. It comes on slow and steady, rather than hitting you hard and mellowing out later on. Even though it has mostly Sativa genetics, I can feel much of its Indica influences. Not so much that it makes me sit down, but just enough to relieve any pain and muscle tension I may have. In addition, it has a decently high CBD percentage, which explains the pain-relieving properties.

On the other hand, the anxiety-prone among you should be careful with the amount of Golden Goat you take at a time. Don’t let its smoothness fool you into believing it’s not strong.

Growing Suitability

Unfortunately, the Golden Goat strain’s accidental genetics make it impossible to fertilize. Since the male plant doesn’t exist, we only have two options — cross-breeding and cloning.

If you want, you can find Golden Goat cuttings to grow into a full plant. However, you have to do it indoors, preferably using the hydroponic method. Oxygenated water is perfect for promoting root growth. You can also enrich the water using some kind of root-growth hormone. And once it starts growing, your part of the job is pretty much done. The plant is bushy by nature, so it requires no topping or bending.

Conclusion

A happy accident, the Golden Goat strain found its home in California, far away from its Kansas birthplace. Much like a scruffy kid from the Midwest making it big in Hollywood, Golden Goat packs a stronger punch than you’d think at first. However, when you get used to it, you’ll grow to appreciate the uplifting, racy, but smooth high it provides you. I know I did!

The Northern Lights strain has only recently begun to spread in the U.S. market. Its exact origins are unknown, but it is believed to be a descendant of Thai and Afghani strains. However, the Northern Lights strain as we know it today wouldn’t have existed if it weren’t for Dutch scientists who perfected it.

Today, Northern Lights is in high demand, and it can be seen in most dispensaries in the United States, especially along the West Coast. It’s one of the purest, most Indica-dominant strains I’ve ever seen. In other words, it can have strong sedative effects, so you might want to consume it in the evenings or before bed. Naturally, it’s also quite potent, and it can contain more than 20% of THC. It’s also one of my personal favorites, so I can’t wait to tell you all about it.

Northern Lights Strain Review

Appearance and Aroma

The leaves of the Northern Lights strain are resinous, big, and dark green. Frosted with white trichomes and purple streaks, this strain resembles a gorgeous Aurora borealis, much like its name suggests.

Still, in my opinion, the most captivating thing about this strain is the aroma. It has a piney, fresh smell, but it tastes kind of sweet. It’s quite opulent, and it will probably leave you wanting more. Most people simply go for snacks, though.

Effects

Like I said, Northern Lights will make you want to munch on everything you have in the house. That’s why many people with anorexia use it to increase their appetite and gain weight. However, it can sometimes cause dry mouth, so you’ll need to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.

Aside from the munchies, this strain can turn anyone into a couch potato. After smoking Northern Lights, I have an instant urge to sit down, and I begin to despise the sheer thought of getting off the sofa. Of course, those with nine-to-five jobs should definitely avoid this strain during the day. On the other hand, it’s perfect for those evenings when you just want to relax, unwind, and shut off for a bit.

Growing

If you’re a beginner at growing cannabis, Northern Lights is an excellent choice for you. Thanks to its resistance to pests, mold, and disease, this strain is incredibly easy to cultivate. In addition, it grows quite quickly — the indoor flowering time is only about six to eight weeks. Also, you don’t have to do much work, as the plant grows in a single cola. One plant will yield about 100g of the product.

Conclusion

Although some experienced tokers claim that they feel focused and euphoric after smoking Northern Lights, that’s not usually the case. I found myself becoming sleepy and lazy from it. As it’s an Indica-heavy strain, you will get the most of it if you consume it before bed. Some people even say that it enhances their dreams — I know it did mine.

I’ll admit, the Northern Lights strain is not for everyone, but it can undoubtedly do wonders for people who have trouble sleeping or struggle with anorexia. And even if you don’t have a medical issue, Northern lights can help you get a good night’s sleep!

With the rise in cannabis consumption across America, numerous drug screening tests have emerged. They range from standard urine tests to slightly less common blood and hair tests. But in recent years, the go-to screening method is testing the saliva for the cannabis compound residue. Advancements in technology have made saliva drug tests the quickest and the least invasive method for both administers and test-takers. They are widely used for testing anyone from suspected drug users to job applicants and existing employees. If you enjoy using cannabis every now and then and you worry about an upcoming screening, here are my tips on how to pass a saliva drug test.

How a Saliva Drug Test Works and How Reliable It Is

The saliva drug test, aka oral fluid test or simply a mouth swab, is incredibly easy to administer, which has contributed to its popularity. It can be done on the spot, doesn’t require a professional medical examiner, and produces immediate results. Once you take the test, it’s practically impossible to interfere with the results. That means it can be performed without notice, for example, by your employer or police officers when they pull you off the road.

As opposed to traditional urine, hair, and blood drug tests, a mouth swab screens for THC residue on the lining of your mouth rather than its presence in your organism. Many people are in favor of saliva tests because they supposedly give the most accurate results. But, luckily for test-takers, they have a very narrow window for picking up the traces of THC, usually around 24 hours. That means that if we abstain from using cannabis for a day or so, we are likely to get away with the test. The cannabis compounds will become metabolized in our system and disappear from the mouth.

How to Pass a Saliva Drug Test — Here’s What You Can Do

Owing to such a short testing span, we can take the necessary precautions to ensure we pass the test. That is handy if we know in advance that we will need to undergo a drug mouth swab. Even if you have to take the test without prior notice, some of my tips on how to pass a saliva drug test may come in useful.

Refrain From Smoking for at Least a Day or Two

A tolerance break is a foolproof way to go. If you wait for 24 hours or more, if you can help it, the chances are that all THC will be absorbed in your metabolism, and none will remain inside your mouth. If you don’t want to risk failing the test, try to hold out on smoking weed for longer. A couple of days will undoubtedly put you in the safe zone. The same applies if you are a heavy user. It may be challenging, but it trumps suffering the consequences of a positive test result. If you have to use marijuana for some reason, give edibles a go in the days leading to your test. It’s easier to get rid of their trace, which is exactly what I explain in the tip that follows.

Wash Your Mouth Meticulously

Make sure that you brush and floss your teeth thoroughly and clean your gums with care. If you remove residue of food and drink from your mouth, the test will have fewer traces of cannabis to pick up on. In addition, you could use a mouthwash or an antiseptic, like hydrogen peroxide or Listerine. Use them right before you take the test, if possible, as their effect lasts for about 30 minutes. This tip could particularly come in handy if you need to take a surprise test.

Swirl Water in Your Mouth

Drinking excessive amounts of water can lower the risk of flunking the urine drug test, so logic has it that water can help rid your mouth of pot residue as well. No need to drink an ocean to fool a swab test, fortunately. What should work is swishing the water in your mouth as if it were mouthwash. Some would recommend adding ice to the mix too. Either way, repeat several times. Hopefully, the water will dilute the THC in your saliva so that the test would yield a negative result.

Abstain From CBD

Although cutting down on CBD is more relevant for urine tests, I suggest sticking to this tip as well. CBD products contain trace amounts of THC (less than 0.3%, but it’s there), so ditching them prior to your mouth swab will eliminate the risk of testing positive.

Bottom Line

Since they are on the rise, it’s useful to know the tips on how to pass a saliva drug test. Keep in mind that the best way to go is avoiding smoking pot at least a day before your screening. If you are caught unalert, cleaning your mouth with mouthwash, an antiseptic, or plain ol’ water might do the trick as well.

As you may know, marijuana is still not totally legal everywhere. You might find yourself asking the (in)famous question — where is marijuana legal by state? Before I answer this question, you should learn a bit of history. Ever since the United States crack down on cannabis by the 1970 Controlled Substances Act, marijuana remains illegal for possession, sale, use, and growing under federal law. So what happened?

The law, mostly in place to villainize the counterculture and hippie movement of the 1960s, stated that cannabis provides no potential for medical use, along with a high potential for abuse. However, after decades of prohibition, state governments realized that the law failed to hinder widespread marijuana use. Therefore, they either decriminalized cannabis for medical use or outright legalized both it and recreational use.

Where Is Marijuana Legal By State?

The Free States

So far, eleven states legalized the possession, sale, and cultivation of cannabis for both medical and recreational use. California and Colorado pioneered the cannabis legalization movement. California did it first and actually declared cannabis possession a misdemeanor all the way back in 1975. Later, it legalized medical use in 1996. Then, Colorado started the revolution in 2012, signing the Colorado Amendment 64. Besides the pioneers, cannabis is entirely legal in:

• Alaska
• Maine
• Illinois
• Massachusetts
• Vermont
• Nevada
• Oregon
• Michigan
• Washington

Marijuana is also allowed in a few other places. For instance, it’s legal in D.C., but selling it is prohibited. Moreover, you can find legal cannabis in Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and all the Native American reservations.

The Gray Area

Here’s where the waters get murky. In the following states, both medical and recreational use is decriminalized and widely tolerated:

• Delaware
• Hawaii
• Connecticut
• Maryland
• New Hampshire
• Minnesota
• Missouri
• New York
• North Dakota
• New Mexico
• Ohio
• Rhode Island

The next few states allow medical use, but recreational use is illegal. In other words, if you have a prescription, you can buy marijuana in these states:

• Arizona
• Montana
• Arkansas
• Louisiana
• Florida
• Utah
• New Jersey
• Pennsylvania
• West Virginia

No-Tolerance States

Finally, we’ve come to the states where cannabis still remains mostly illegal. However, in some cases, CBD oil and low-THC strains are exempt for medical use. In addition, some states tolerate recreational cannabis use, or they’ve bumped it down to a misdemeanor. Anyhow, you should still be careful if you’re in:

• Wisconsin
• Mississippi
• Alabama
• North Carolina
• South Carolina
• Georgia
• Kansas
• Wyoming
• Idaho
• Indiana
• Kentucky
• Nebraska
• South Dakota
• Iowa
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Virginia

Conclusion

Thanks to the brave states of California and Colorado, the list of places where marijuana is legal keeps growing by the day. Even though it still contradicts the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, cannabis use is tolerated in more than half of the U.S. In addition, what used to be a huge criminal enterprise, sending a huge number of otherwise law-abiding citizens to prison, is becoming a booming industry creating jobs and income for hundreds of Americans.

In my opinion, marijuana will soon be legal everywhere in the U.S. Until that happens, I hope this updated ‘where is marijuana legal by state?’ list helps you navigate.

Douglas Greene at Empire State NORML organized the press conference and it was a privilege for me to speak alongside some powerhouses of reform. Our job was to take an important message to the streets: Smoking marijuana is much safer than drinking alcohol for St Patrick’s Day.

The public gave us us a tremendously positive response. Scores of passersby gathered on both sides of Broadway listening to the speeches.

Read more about the event: Big Apple Goes Green with Most Expensive Pot in America

We’ll post a higher definition version next week.

This is one of the more astounding stories of a mainstream business looking to turn some profit on the marijuana cultivation communities. The CEO of Scotts/Miracle-Gro told the Wall Street Journal this week that America’s greenest business has their eye. Rather than creating new products within their existing retail line, the company may buy up small independents already catering to cannabis growers.

Aaron Houston, the executive director of Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) is featured in this CNBC program today. Prepare for a whole lot of pot puns.

Chris Goldstein is a respected marijuana reform advocate. As a writer and radio broadcaster he has been covering cannabis news for over a decade. Questions?  [email protected]

The reefer madness saga continues as one man blames two pot cookies for his recent meltdown.

Thirty-two-year-old artist Kinman Chan apologized during his guilty plea last Tuesday to interfering with the flight crew on board a US Airways flight from Philadelphia to San Francisco in January 2010. He was fined and sentenced to probation.

Apparently, the cookies he ingested before boarding made him pull his pants down and flip out on a flight. (I must confess, pot cookies may have caused me to pull my pants down in the past, but not on a flight luckily. A flight of fancy perhaps.)

How many more people will pull down their pants and blame it on a pot cookie? I just might…today.

PITTSBURGH – A San Francisco man claims he was high on a double dose of medical marijuana cookies when he screamed, dropped his pants and attacked crew members on a cross-country flight, forcing its diversion to Pittsburgh, the FBI said Wednesday.

Kinman Chan, 30, was charged in a criminal complaint with interfering with the duties of a flight attendant on allegations that he fought with crew members of US Airways Flight 1447 from Philadelphia to Los Angeles on Sunday. His federal public defender, Jay Finkelstein, declined to comment.

Crew members said Chan made odd gestures before he entered the plane’s rear restroom shortly after takeoff and began to scream, according to the complaint.

Chan told the FBI that he “came back to reality” and exited the restroom, at which point the crew noticed his “pants were down, his shirt was untucked and all the compartments in the restroom were opened.”

When crew members tried to get Chan to sit, he fought them and had to be subdued in a choke hold, the complaint said.

Chan told agents who interviewed him in Pittsburgh that he ate marijuana cookies while waiting for his flight to depart in Philadelphia.

“Chan advised he has a medical marijuana card and he took double his normal dose,” the complaint said.

Margaret Philbin, a spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney’s office in Pittsburgh, said Chan has a legally issued medical marijuana card for a “legitimate” health issue, which she declined to identify.

The flight was diverted to Pittsburgh International Airport, where Chan was arrested, then jailed until a federal magistrate granted him bond Tuesday, Philbin said.

Source: Huffington Post

Beth Mann is a popular blogger and writer for Open Salon and Salon. She is also an accomplished actor and director with over 15 years of experience, as well as the president of Hot Buttered Media. She currently resides at the Jersey shore where she can often be seen surfing or singing karaoke at a local dive bar.

Contact: maryjane {at } freedomisgreen.com

“Miss, either take off your sweatshirt or that woman right there will pat you down.”

“I’d prefer the patdown please.” Heck, someone wants to lay their pretty little hands on me, even at airport security, who am I to stop them? Pat away, baby.

I walk through the scanners and this attractive woman slowly begins frisking me in what I deem a sensual manner. I found myself slightly hypnotized by her firm but yielding touch. Reflections of the The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) conference I just attended begin floating through my mind.

Let’s get something straight: I’m not a huge medical marijuana activist (though I believe it should be legal). I’m more of a jaded bon vivant who observes life in her own special way. So when I was invited to this conference, I wondered what I could contribute, if anything. So instead of telling you about medical marijuana or the laws and science surrounding it and the pioneers behind it, I figured I’d just share my peripheral views, on the event and Denver itself.

So with no further ado:

1. Denver is brighter than other places:

I guess because it’s closer to the sun, but the place is bathed in this crystalline white light. People seemed friendlier here as well, though this may be the weed.

2. The Grand Hyatt is very hip.

The staff dedicated a whole floor to medical pot smokers, with these sweet letters left on our doors encouraging us to smoke as we see fit. Well, hello progressiveness. Stop by New Jersey when you get a chance.

3. People know far too much about weed. Crazy words were being bandied about: cannabinoids, phytocannabinoids, tetrahydrocannabivarin, etc. I can’t even roll a joint let alone dissect the damn thing.

(Don’t look at this chart below. Your eyes may bleed.)

4. Montel Williams is one slick cat. He served as the moderator for the mayoral debate held during the conference. Man, this guy is poised. He probably smells really good too.

5. Maximize your hotel room. I for one love the freedom of a hotel room. You can take scandalous photos of yourself. Then take a nap. Or no….go to the hot tub on the roof, then nap. Then take a bath. Then drink wine. Then take more scandalous photos of yourself. I call it vacation.

6. It’s hard to get a photo of Chris Goldstein standing still. Chris is one of key organizers of the event and a good friend of mine. This man is on the go. It’s a good thing he doesn’t have a cocaine addiction or he’d blow us all up.

7. Denver has good beer and coffee. Damn good. It must be the mountain water. Below, my friend Diane devilishly imbibes.

8. 4:20 on 4/20 is a mixed bag. Thousands of people gather in front of the city’s town hall and smoke out during this special time frame. I expected it to be an inspiring event but instead it seemed seedy and depressing. Pot is a tricky drug – it has the ability to really help people on so many levels, but it can still be abused.

9. Hippies can be bad asses too. A group of conference attendees went out to dinner one evening and these rude guys sat next to us and began playing their iPod at the table. (Really? Do we not know that’s rude?) Worse, they were playing some generic brand dance music from the 90′s or something equally ear-raking. I asked them (very politely, with teeth clenched) to turn it off.

Well, they didn’t appreciate my request. An argument ensued. I was ready to throw down (I’m from Jersey. It’s what I do!) Nobody at our table really saw how heated this was getting except for this guy, Brian Wallace of MAPS, who finally diffused the whole thing in a friendly but slightly fierce manner.

10. Science nerds can be turned into models. Cannabinoid researcher Jahan Marcu is a brilliant guy. Almost a little too brilliant. I decided to dumb him down a bit by having him pose for a few GQ style shots. As a media gal, I realize the importance of people like Jahan – they add a young, fresh face to the movement, which is always a good thing.

Before:

After:

11. The piano player at the Grand Hyatt in Denver is amazing! His name is Mark Pressey. He even let me sing “Someone to Watch over Me” with him my last night there. I love you, Mark!

12. Being in the presence of Ziggy Marley is just plain special.

I didn’t really think I’d be as moved as I was by hearing him perform. There’s this energy the Marleys possess; warm and inviting, like sunshine. I guess that’s no surprise.

13. Many people secretly like John Denver. “Rocky Mountain High” played through my mind the second we touched ground in Denver. The more I talked about him with others, the more I realized that many people are closet fans. Shh…

“Miss, you’re good to go” whispers the pretty security lady after our special encounter together. I tried to light a cigarette but it was forbidden. (But so is our love, isn’t it?)

“Are you sure you’re done? Wanna check again? There are….other places,” I ask. Wink, wink.

She smiled demurely and I boarded my plane back to Philadelphia.

Beth Mann is a popular blogger and writer for Open Salon and Salon. She is also an accomplished actor and director with over 15 years of experience, as well as the president of Hot Buttered Media. She currently resides at the Jersey shore where she can often be seen surfing or singing karaoke at a local dive bar.

Contact: maryjane {at } freedomisgreen.com

Esteemed criminal defense and civil rights lawyer Bill Buckman offers up another reasons to be wary of speaking to the police, particularly if suspected of growing marijuana:

Here in NJ, police euphemistically call one of their marijuana related operations a “knock and talk”, though it can often be anything but. When police suspect that marijuana may be grown in a household, they organize multiple agencies to “respond” on a predetermined date and time to the location – a show of force. (Indeed during cross examination police have conceded that a “ knock and talk” is organized just as a forcible search warrant raid would be.)

It usually goes down like this: Police have only a mere suspicion that folks are growing marijuana in their homes. Maybe they have been tipped off by informants at a growing supply store (which, of course, sell an entire range of legal articles) or maybe the police have done an illegal drive-by thermal imaging of a house to see if heat from some kind of grow situation exists.

(As an aside, its illegal for police to do a thermal imaging scan of a home without a warrant. But if they do perform one and then intimidate the owners to “consent to a search,” the illegality often goes by the wayside, as the law will see the consent as “ curing” the illegality.)

In any event, for the “ knock and talk,” police show up in force. Some go to each entry or exit of the residence. (Query if its just a knock and talk, by virtue of what right would cops have to stop anyone from leaving the house and refusing to talk. None, really). Yet too often faced with intentional, intimidating show of force, people often “consent” to let police in their homes. At that point, cops usually talk the occupants into signing a “consent to search form” by misleading them. Once signed, the form will allow police to search all areas of the residence and every nook and cranny, totally tossing the contents about if the police wish.

The best advice to deal with a “knock and talk” is to simply not open the door and certainly not to allow police the consent to search the home. When speaking with police, one should be extremely hesitant to sign anything, like a consent from, without a lawyer present. Since police have no search warrant when conducting a knock and talk, it is not necessary to open the door. One could speak through the door if he or she wishes. Stories are legion about how, once inside the house, police allege that they smell marijuana and can then get an actual warrant.

The “knock and talk” is a bit of NJ legal schizophrenia. Because of proven abuses with racial profiling, police need a reasonable basis to even ask to search a car. But, our Supreme Court has reasoned, the home was not the site of such abuses – despite the inherently intimidating and abusive nature of the “knock and talk.”

Lastly, it bears repeating that purchasers of growing equipment, even online, have been regularly subjected to “knock and talks.” In fact, to help shed light on the issue, it would be helpful to start gathering details of “knock and talks” that netted nothing other than legal indoor growing materials.

Bill Buckman is hailed as one of the most skillful, tenacious and dedicated criminal-defense attorneys in New Jersey. He is also a seasoned civil rights lawyer with a comprehensive list of successful cases that have received nationwide attention. Mr. Buckman has kept a constant focus on the relationship between the individual and large organizations, particularly government. To find out more about Mr. Buckman or his services in and around Moorestown, New Jersey, please visit his website.

What do you do? Your baby has just tested positive for marijuana. First you have to deal with the social embarrassment of it all. What will the neighbors say? But more importantly, your baby is now unemployable. That extra income your family so desperately need is tossed away like used Pampers.

But seriously folks, babies are testing positive for marijuana. And not because they found your stash and rolled a fatty. Apparently some of the compounds found in baby soap have a structure partly similar to THC or the chemicals in the soap change the way the test works.

Here’s a look at the brands they say produced a positive marijuana test:

• Johnson & Johnson’s Head-to-Toe Baby Wash
• J&J Bedtime Bath
• CVS Night-Time Baby Bath
• Aveeno Soothing Relief Creamy Wash
• Aveeno Wash Shampoo

Unfortunately this information could be used as a way for social services to become very involved in your life, though this article claims otherwise. (Figure it this way: in this day and age, if the “authorities” need an invitation into your life, they’ll find it.)

Another aspect you won’t see addressed in this article? The chemicals that are found in baby soap could practically degrease your car engine. Sodium laureth sulfate and sodium lauryl sulfate are cheap chemicals commonly found in about 90% of your toiletries that can cause a host of health problems. You won’t read as many articles about this because big companies hardly want to replace this cheap detergent with something less harmful. You don’t need suds to feel clean, whether its in your toothpaste, shampoo or soap.

Remember: If it bubbles, it’s trouble.

Certain soaps used to wash babies shortly after birth may cause the baby to test positive for marijuana on some newborn screening tests, a new study suggests.

In the study, urine samples that contained minute amounts of any of five baby soaps — Johnson & Johnson’s Head-to-Toe Baby Wash, J&J Bedtime Bath, CVS Night-Time Baby Bath, Aveeno Soothing Relief Creamy Wash and Aveeno Wash Shampoo — gave a positive result on a drug screening test for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active ingredient in marijuana.The researchers began their investigation after nurses at a North Carolina hospital reported an increase in the number of newborns testing positive for marijuana.

The amount of soap in the urine needed to produce a positive test result was tiny, less than 0.1 milliliters, the researchers said.

It’s important to note the soaps do not produce a “high,” or any other effects of marijuana, in infants. “It’s not marijuana a in any way, shape or form,”  said study researcher Catherine Hammett-Stabler, a professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

A screening test that indicates a baby has been exposed to marijuana can lead to the involvement of social services, and accusations of child abuse, the researchers said.

Given these consequences, it’s important for health-care providers and laboratory staffs to be aware that these soaps may lead to a positive test for marijuana, and to consider confirming positive tests with a more sensitive method, the researchers said.

“We really did this to help protect families from being falsely accused” of drug use, and to help ensure that intervention efforts are directed to babies who are truly at risk of drug exposure, said study researcher Dr. Carl Seashore, a pediatrician in the newborn nursery at UNC Chapel Hill.

Drug screening tests in hospitals that come back positive are not usually sent out to laboratories for additional conformation, because of the time and cost involved, said study researcher Catherine Hammett-Stabler, also of UNC Chapel Hill.

Newborn screening for exposure to marijuana is common, and is especially recommended for babies born to women considered to be “high risk” for drug use, such as those who do not come in for prenatal care visits, Hammett-Stabler said. At UNC Chapel Hill, 10 to 40 percent of babies born in the hospital receive the test each month, Seashore said.

Read more at MSNBC.

Ready to read the REAL Ingredients in Johnson’s Head-to-Toe Baby Wash which is “as gentle to the eyes as pure water”? (Better put your Hazmat suit on first.)

(Thanks to the SmartMama.com for this analysis.)

Ingredients of Johnson’s Head-to-Toe Baby Wash include:

Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, PEG-150 Distearate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Chloride, Polyquaternium-10, Fragrance, Quaternium-15, Citric Acid.PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate and PEG-150 Distearate are all ethoxylated compounds.

Ethoxylated compounds, unless vacuum stripped, are contaminated with 1,4-dioxane. 1,4-dioxane has been identified as a probable human carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 1,4-dioxane is not listed on the ingredient list because it is a contaminant from the manufacturing process, not an ingredient.  The FDA encourages manufacturers to remove 1,4-dioxane from products, but there is no requirement that it be done.

And, testing reported by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics did find 1,4-dioxane in Johnson’s Head-to-Toe baby wash at 5.3 to 6.1 parts per million (ppm). In fact, in its FAQ section of its website, Johnson & Johnson admits that “[s]ome of the ingredients in our products may contain 1,4-dioxane as an incidental ingredient at extremely low levels.”

Further, sodium laureth sulfate can cause eye and skin irritation. Do you think that is consistent with the claim that the product is “hypoallergenic”? Wouldn’t you expect it to be free of any ingredient known to cause irritant responses? As a note, sodium laureth sulfate was widely reported on the web as being a carcinogen, but at least to date, research by the EPA, OSHA, NTP and IARC has not suggested that sodium laureth sulfate is a carcinogen.

Cocamidopropyl betaine, PEG-80 sorbitan laurate and PEG-150 disterate can all cause allergic reactions.  Again, these ingredients aren’t what you would expect in a product advertising itself as hypoallergenic.  Cocamidopropyl betaine may also be contaminated with nitrosamines.

Quaternium-15 may release formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen. But, I actually think that Quat-15, as it is called, is more of a problem because it is the number one cause of contact dermatitis from preservatives, according to the American Acadmey of Dermatology’s Testing Tray results. Also, it is identified by the cosmetic industry’s Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel as a sensitizer, but is still considered safe by the CIR as a cosmetic ingredient. (If you want to learn about the function of the CIR, I encourage you to read Stacy Malkan’s Not Just A Pretty Face). It has also been linked to birth defects in laboratory animals when administered orally.

Finally, the product contains “fragrance” – which means synthetic fragrance and, of course, phthalates. Phthalates are used in fragrance to sustain the fragrance and make it adsorb better to the skin.  Johnson & Johnson admits that it uses diethyl phthalate (DEP) in its baby products.  And, as reported in a recent study, exposure to DEP in baby care products results in the presence of a DEP metabolite in baby urine.  Phthalates are endocrine disruptors, which means that they can mimic hormones and disrupt’s the body’s normal function. Phthalates have been linked to premature breast development in girls, deteriorated sperm quality, low sperm counts and poor sperm morphology in men, and a host of other adverse health effects.

Beth Mann is a popular blogger and writer for Open Salon and Salon. She is also an accomplished artist with over 15 years of experience, as well as the president of Hot Buttered Media. She currently resides at the Jersey shore where she can be found surfing or singing karaoke at a local dive bar.

Contact: maryjane {at } freedomisgreen.com