Pain medicine group cancels doctor training about marijuana

A national medical group Thursday abruptly canceled its plans to train doctors about marijuana for pain relief after a federal agency pulled its funding. The episode highlights an ongoing conflict between federal and state laws on marijuana. The American Academy of Pain Medicine scrubbed its plans for a one-hour online course next month after a request from the U.S. government agency that provided the funding, a spokeswoman for the pain medicine group said. The money came from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, or SAMHSA. “We cannot speak to the reason that SAMHSA has asked that we not proceed with this webinar, but the webinar will no longer take place,” spokeswoman Megan Drumm in an email Thursday. The group had informed a coalition of medical groups overseeing the government money about the course title and its learning objectives, Drumm said. But after an inquiry from The Associated Press this week, the federal agency said the coalition that gave the grant would no longer take part.

House approves big, bipartisan bill to deal with opioid crisis

In a fresh reminder that political cooperation is not dead on Capitol Hill, the House on Friday overwhelmingly approved a sweeping package of over fifty bipartisan bills to address the misuse of prescription opioid pain medicine, as lawmakers voted to expand a variety of services under Medicare and Medicaid to deal with the drug scourge. “We can do things when we put partisan politics aside and work together,” said Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), one of a number of lawmakers who touted various provisions in the sweeping opioids measure. “This particular bill, H.R. 6, is the crown jewel of all that legislation,” said Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX). “This legislation will strengthen our efforts to advance treatment and recovery issues, and bolster the fight against deadly and illicit drugs,” said Rep. Rick Allen (R-GA). Today’s SUPPORT bill fights the #OpioidCrisis by Advancing treatment and recovery programs Improving prevention efforts Providing resources to communities Fighting deadly drugs like fentanyl We won’t stop until we’ve ended this epidemic. pic.twitter.com/1lwSUVfE6R — Paul Ryan (@SpeakerRyan) June 22, 2018 “This is a big deal in the fight against the largest public health crisis in our country,” said Speaker Paul Ryan. “Mr. Speaker, so often we hear about the partisan wrangling in Congress and clearly there are dividing lines on some high-profile issues,” said Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA). “But this an issue where Republicans and Democrats have come together.” The final vote was 396-14. The bill now goes to the Senate. “Currently, Medicare doesn’t cover opioid treatment programs,” said Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA). “These bills are pieces of a large, complex puzzle. We need to find realistic solutions with long term outcomes.”

Toys R Us announces day stores will close for good

Toys R Us will be no more after next week. The toy retailer, which started liquidating in March, has said that all Toys R Us and Babies R Us locations will close on or before next Friday, June 29 via posts on the company’s social media pages. The locations that are still open are currently offering what’s left for up to 70 percent off. Many stores are also selling the fixtures, NJ.com reported. >> Read more trending news  There had been hope that some of the 735 stores in the U.S. could remain open after Isaac Larian, MGA Entertainment CEO and the creator of Bratz dolls, offered $675 million to buy some of the U.S. locations, in addition to $215 million for some Canadian stores, but Toys R Us said no, claiming the offer “was well below the liquidation value of the assets he was seeking,” NJ.com reported. It’s not just North American shoppers who are losing the toy store. It was announced this week that the Toys R Us Australian locations will close. There were 44 stores that some had hoped were going to survive, but now are expected to close over the next few weeks, ABC in Australia reported.