NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep 19, 2023--

People who use marijuana were found to have higher levels of lead and cadmium in their blood and urine, in comparison to those who do not use weed, according to a new study. The team of researchers at Columbia University analysed data from blood and urine samples collected between 2005 and 2018 as part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a program conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics. They looked at samples of 7,254 people who said they had used marijuana in the last 30 days. Participants were examined for levels of heavy metals and 358 people were found to have 27 per cent higher blood lead levels than those who said they didn’t use either marijuana or tobacco. There were also 22 per cent higher levels of cadmium in those marijuana users according to the research, which was published Wednesday in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. Researchers also found that the urine samples showed similar results. High levels of cadmium can cause stomach irritation, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, according to Better Health. Researchers found that although tobacco is the main source of cadmium exposure in the general population, the study showed similar exposure levels among cannabis users. “For both cadmium and lead, these metals are likely to stay in the body for years, long after exposure ends,” Tiffany Sanchez, an author of the study and an assistant professor of environmental health sciences at Columbia’s Mailman School of Public Health said to NBC News. As cannabis plants can absorb heavy metals from soil - the new findings demonstrate that heavy metals in cannabis plants can also wind up in the human body. “Previous studies have measured metals in marijuana plants, products, or marijuana smoke,” study authors have said. Lead exposure can be particularly harmful to children and pregnant women. In adults, chronic exposure to lead increases the risk of high blood pressure, heart problems and kidney damage. “Our study wasn’t able to tease apart whether or not self-reported cannabis users were using medical or recreational cannabis, so we can’t say definitively if medical cannabis users specifically had higher metal levels,” Sanchez said as reported by CNN. “This is something that should be evaluated in future studies.” Heavy metals bind to parts of your cells that prevent your organs from doing their job, according to the Cleveland Clinic and symptoms of heavy metal poisoning can be life-threatening and can cause irreversible damage. “Immunocompromised people, such as those going through chemotherapy, may be at greater risk from metal exposure or from other common cannabis contaminants like molds. However, this is very much an understudied area,” Sanchez added. On Wednesday, the Department of Health and Human Services recommended that the Drug Enforcement Administration ease restrictions on marijuana by moving it from Schedule I drug to Schedule III. HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that the agency has responded to President Joe Biden’s request “to provide a scheduling recommendation for marijuana to the DEA.” “We’ve worked to ensure that a scientific evaluation be completed and shared expeditiously,” he added. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement that HHS had recommended that marijuana be moved from a Schedule I to a Schedule III controlled substance. “HHS has done the right thing,” Schumer said. “DEA should now follow through on this important step to greatly reduce the harm caused by draconian marijuana laws.” Rescheduling the drug would reduce or potentially eliminate criminal penalties for possession. Marijuana is currently classified as a Schedule I drug, alongside heroin and LSD. According to the DEA, Schedule I drugs "have no currently accepted medical use in the United States, a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision, and a high potential for abuse." Additional reporting from agencies Read More Biden health agency recommends classifying marijuana as lower-risk, opening potential for major policy changes Seth Rogen reveals why he smokes marijuana ‘all day, every single day’ Rugby star Ugo Monye: Boarding school shaped my career and my personality Queen Latifah calls for more ‘inclusive healthcare’ for people with obesity As Simon Cowell shares positive therapy experience, how can it help even if you aren’t in crisis?

The husband of iconic adult star Sophie Anderson has announced that she’s alive days after starting rumours about her “death”. Fans of the 35-year-old actress were left grief-stricken by reports on social media that she had passed away following a drug overdose. The devastating claim was made by Anderson’s partner and fellow OnlyFans performer Damian Oliver, who doubled down when he was accused of fabricating the whole thing. Screenshots and messages shared online show Oliver telling friends and admirers of the adult entertainer that she had “died unfortunately”, and even providing details of her funeral. In one X/Twitter reply, he insisted that he “hadn’t lied” about the “bad news”, adding that people could pay their respects at a crematorium in Bromley, southeast London, last Tuesday. However, on the evening of Sunday 10 September, Anderson’s one-time 'C**k Destroyers' collaborator Rebecca More reassured the concerned community that the 35-year-old was alive and well. Writing on X/Twitter, More said that the Metropolitan Police “have spoken to Sophie and she is [OK]”. The update was met with a collective sigh of relief from hordes of loyal supporters, while many shared their confusion and revulsion at the rumours. Meanwhile, Oliver responded to More’s claim, writing: “Not the case so cringe. More is out for herself. [It’s] funny to see sheep still believe her lies.” However, on Wednesday, the former Crystal Palace Youth footballer tweeted a lengthy statement, revealing that he had “20 hours in a cell because of the stupid hoax”. He continued: “I cannot say anything more as part of my bail conditions but it was just a silly drunken joke.” Oliver then lashed out at More, insisting she was “not a friend” of Anderson. “Sophie hates her. Sophie loves me.” He then dropped two bombshells, writing: “We are having a baby. We are also now married. We are unbreakable.” His message was swiftly followed up by a photo showing him standing beside Anderson, apparently during their wedding, which he claimed took place at the Little White Chapel in Las Vegas. Oliver also ominously insisted that he had “saved Sophie many times” and that he had had to do “nasty s**t” to cover her surgery.” It comes just weeks after one of Anderson’s 32JJ-sized breast implants exploded while she was in the shower, days after she’d suffered sepsis for the fourth time in a year. The blue movie legend has undergone major breast reconstruction surgery and told M.E.N back in July that the ongoing issues had seriously impacted her work. In the interview with the local news outlet, she credited Oliver with helping her get through her “darkest days”, saying that she and her beau had been “inseparable” since they met on set together two-and-a-half years ago. “I honestly couldn’t have asked for anyone better to be by my side during all of this,” Sophie said. “He’s been my total support when I've not felt good.” At the time of writing, there had been no word from Anderson herself about her wellbeing, with her last X/Twitter posts shared last month. On 12 August, the 35-year-old uploaded a video of herself in a nightclub in Clapham, followed by a series of emotional tweets. In them, she wrote: “Wish my [Damian Oliver] was here. “I miss him so much.” Indy100 has contacted Damian Oliver, Sophie Anderson and Rebecca More for comment. Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

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