A second proposed bill in CT would overhaul how the state taxes marijuana to an excise tax approach. A public hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, March 11, at 1pm in the Joint Committee on Finance, Revenue and Bonding. House Bill 5109, introduced by State Representative Jason Rojas (D), would eliminate the state’s current potency-based THC tax and replace it with

CT House Bill No. 5350: AN ACT CONCERNING CANNABIS, HEMP AND INFUSED BEVERAGE REGULATION proposes multiple changes to CT’s legal cannabis market, including increasing THC potency and authorizing on-site / in plain view consumption at locations such as retailers, restaurants and cafes. A public hearing before the General Law Committee is scheduled for Wednesday, March 4th starting at 10am &

The bad news: I am hearing more and more of our parents talking not only about addiction to THC, but also cannabis-induced psychosis (CIP). While in some cases the psychosis is temporary, in others–including many in their teens and twenties–the disorder transitions into a spectrum of schizophrenia disorders. Sadly, there are limited resources to help relieve families of the burden

At our August 29 New Canaan Vigil, I introduced the concept of Power of Story. By this, I meant that recovery stories told, in a courageous, vulnerable way, saves lives. I have even quantified it, even though–as I mentioned–I have no academic or work-related credentials. I said that every story told openly results in at least one life saved. Why

I first met Aidan C. at one of our parent support meetings. At his mom’s invitation, he came to the meeting to share his story and give hope to other parents in the room. During his talk, he mentioned how 12-step meetings and service to others was important to his long-term sobriety and recovery. He also mentioned that the meetings

I recently had a conversation with Joe Feldman, who is the Founder of CoverMyMentalHealth.com and mental health care advocate. While we all know there is supposed “parity” for insurance coverage of mental health and substance use disorders, in practice that is not the case. In our conversation, Joe brought up an important idea that can forestall the agonizing appeals process

A recent article brought to light the risks of self-medication to address mental health issues. While most people know that benzodiazepines like Xanax purchased on “the street” may contain fentanyl, I was surprised to learn that people are injecting themselves with compounded versions of ketamine for a non-FDA approved indication that has FDA-listed risks. (CLICK HERE for FDA alert.) The

The New Canaan Parent Support Group was founded on the concept that addiction is a family disease —one that affects every member, including parents. Personally, I find immense gratitude in knowing that our support meetings offer a safe, confidential space where parents and families can find community and solace. NCPSG is also based on authenticity and getting real. Too many

Parents with loved ones struggling with mental health and addiction disorders face tremendous financial challenges, despite the mental health insurance parity laws that have been passed at both the state and national level. Insurance coverage varies by insurer, the specific plan, and the state. The appeals process for overturning denied claims differs as well. There are several organizations who for

This is great news. Access to NARCAN will get even better, as the drug will be distributed through drug stores over-the-counter, without a prescription. Our support group already offers free NARCAN to family members who request it, through one of our strategic partners. Just contact us on our website or by email. Here is the link to the news article.