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Olivia Newton-John shares cancer update

Olivia Newton-John has shared her experience as she battles cancer once again. The singer spoke about life with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer in an interview with Hoda Kotb of Today US, saying she’s “feeling pretty good” these days. “I’m winning over it well and that’s how I see it,” the 73-year-old star <a rel="noopener" href="https://celebrity.nine.com.au/latest/olivia-newton-john-cancer-update-i-have-my-pains/51d8c978-ccc6-4ffe-b141-36e9d047bcd7" target="_blank">said</a> on Wednesday’s episode. “I don’t think about it a lot, to be honest. Denial is a really good thing and I’m getting stronger and better all the time. I’m doing well.” Newton-John also revealed that she is managing her pain with medical marijuana. “I have my days, I have my pains,” Newton-John said. “But the cannabis that my husband grows for me has been such a huge part of my healing, and so I’m a really lucky person.” The Grease star was first diagnosed with breast cancer and received treatment for it nearly 30 years ago. However, it returned in 2012 for a second time, and in 2018 she was diagnosed for a third time. After Kotb shared that she is also a cancer survivor, Newton-John and the Today co-host had an emotional moment together. “We’re sisters,” Newton-John said. “Anyone that has gone on this journey with cancer, it’s unknown destinations and surprises and turns.” Newton-John <a href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/olivia-newtonjohn-is-doing-well-amid-stage-4-breast-cancer-battle/news-story/18b3ee0731fd077934a4b3b9bf0172da">said</a> she didn’t know Kotb had cancer and asked how she was doing, with Kotb saying: “Yes, I’m doing good.” “By the way, I’m just going to pause for a second,” Kotb added. “Another wonderful thing about you is what you just did there. Thank you. Thank you for asking.” Newton-John was also recently interviewed by Fox News in celebration of the 40th anniversary of her hit song ‘Physical’. The singer shared that she thought the lyrics may have been unintentionally “raunchy” when the song was first released. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CUNCQxQrLYT/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CUNCQxQrLYT/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Olivia Newton-John (@therealonj)</a> </div> </blockquote> “I wasn’t doing it on purpose. It just was the song that I was attracted to and the album,” she said. “But I feel very fortunate that I had the opportunity to record it.” “I felt a little embarrassed to be banned,” she admitted. “But looking back now I go, ‘That was great.’ It got attention. And also compared to what I’m listening to on the radio now, it’s more like a lullaby.” Image: @therealonj / Instagram

Caring

The missing question from New Zealand’s cannabis debate: what about personal freedom and individual rights?

Much of the debate on New Zealand’s referendum on recreational cannabis legalisation has focused on health, the economy, criminal justice and the uncertainties about the impact on youth and adult use. But one argument is oddly missing from the debate - personal freedom, autonomy and individual rights. This is striking, because the issue of personal liberties has traditionally been at the forefront of cannabis reform activism. At the heart of all public health laws is the conflict between the powers of the state and the individual’s liberty, privacy and autonomy. In the past two years, constitutional courts in several countries have ruled the prohibition of use, possession and private cultivation of cannabis interferes with an individual’s right to privacy. They’ve said protecting public health and security does not justify state punishment. It may come as a surprise, but about half of the countries in Europe do not prohibit the use of drugs (as New Zealand does). Instead, they choose only to ban their possession. The difference is more than academic. Prohibition of consumption may give police extraordinary powers, such as taking biological samples from people as evidence. Drug testing is intrusive and should only be done if there is a significant public interest to protect. Some countries go even further. They ban possession and use of drugs, but only in public spaces, on the understanding that drug laws exist to prevent public nuisance. In Spain, the distinction between use in public and private led to the so-called “cannabis social clubs”. Users grow and share cannabis among club members in private settings. The rights and the risks The fundamental personal right to ingest a substance that has little impact on others has long been argued by cannabis activists such as NORML (National Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Laws). With this argument largely absent from current debate in New Zealand (as well as many other jurisdictions contemplating reform), debate focuses instead on the potential to create jobs and tax revenue (Colorado), reduce arrests and discrimination (Illinois), address public security and drug-related violence (Uruguay) and restrict youth access to cannabis and enhance public health (Canada). The aim of New Zealand’s proposed Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill is to apply market controls to reduce harms associated with cannabis and restrict access by young people. But, as we have argued before, the goal of reducing overall use over time will be hard to achieve via a commercial market. The personal rights argument can struggle to win over people concerned about the health and social implications of legalisation, especially given their experience of other public health debates. The alcohol industry, for example, pushed individual rights and consumer responsibility to undermine effective public health measures such as higher taxes and bans on advertising. Personal choice vs public health The assumption all adults can make responsible choices about using psychoactive drugs is also challenged. There are risks of dependency that could interfere with personal autonomy, and the psychological influence of marketing that targets vulnerable groups such as the young and poor. There is a fine line between respecting people’s right to choose and facilitating the normalisation and commercialisation of something that could lead to poor public health. The use of any psychoactive substance carries the potential to harm personal and family relationships, and cause unsafe driving or workplace accidents. This reinforces the argument that some degree of regulation and state intervention will always be necessary. The age-old question is how best to balance the powers of the state with individual rights to privacy and autonomy, while protecting public health and vulnerable groups. The absence of recreational users’ voices Society appears more receptive to the personal right to use medicinal cannabis. Despite the (as yet) limited scientific evidence for the effectiveness of cannabis in medical treatment, greater legal availability of medicinal cannabis attracts good public support. This is largely based on respecting a person’s decisions about how to treat their illness. The right to use cannabis recreationally requires decision makers to consider the benefits people get from its use, such as pleasure or relaxation. But this is often forgotten or avoided in drug reform debates. Medicinal cannabis users have been actively involved in the cannabis law reform debate, with a representative on the Medicinal Cannabis Advisory Group. But recreational cannabis users seem to be largely absent from the public debate. Including more voices from recreational cannabis users could provide new ways of thinking about balancing the powers of the state with individual rights. Given the current uncertainties about the long-term health and social impacts of legalisation, the individual rights issue may actually be among the more convincing arguments for reform. Written by Marta Rychert and Chris Wilkins. This article first appeared <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-missing-question-from-new-zealands-cannabis-debate-what-about-personal-freedom-and-individual-rights-146304">The Conversation</a>.

Body

Sir Patrick Stewart admits he uses marijuana everyday

Sir Patrick Stewart has admitted he uses medical marijuana daily to help him manage the pain of his debilitating arthritis symptoms. The 76-year-old veteran actor revealed his usage to support a UK-first research initiative by Oxford University exploring the benefits of cannabis-based medicines. In a statement, Stewart said that he uses an ointment, spray and edible marijuana medicine to help him with his arthritis. “Two years ago, in Los Angeles, I was examined by a doctor and given a note which gave me legal permission to purchase, from a registered outlet, cannabis-based products, which I was advised might help the ortho-arthritis in both my hands. “This, it would seem, is a genetically-based condition. My mother had badly distorted and painful hands. “I purchased an ointment, spray and edibles. The ointment, while providing some relief from the discomfort, was too greasy to use during daytime and so I only use it at night. “It helps with sleep as the pain was reduced. The spray, however, is much more usable and I spray my fingers and particularly my thumb joints several times a day.” Stewart adds: “The spray very quickly evaporates and leaves my hands quite dry, though with a slight burning or tingling sensation, which is not unpleasant. “I believe that the ointment and spray have significantly reduced the stiffness and pain in my hands. “I can make fists, which was not the case before I began this treatment." “I have had no negative side effects from this treatment and the alternative would have been to continue taking NSAID's, Advil, Aleve and Naproxen, which are known to be harsh on the liver and to cause acid reflux. “This is an important step forward for Britain in a field of research that has for too long been held back by prejudice, fear and ignorance. I believe this programme of research might result in benefits for people like myself as well as millions of others.”

Retirement Life

Australian parliament passes medical marijuana bill

The Australian senate passed a medical marijuana bill yesterday, which is expected to pave the way for the use of medicinal cannabis by people with painful and chronic illness across the ditch. Amendments to the Narcotics Drug Act will permit legally-grown cannabis for the manufacture of medicinal cannabis products in Australia. The changes passed through parliament with bi-partisan support. Australian Federal Health Minister Sussan Ley said, “This is an historic day for Australia and the many advocates who have fought long and hard to challenge the stigma around medical cannabis products so genuine patients are no longer treated as criminals.” “This is the missing piece in a patient's treatment journey and will now see seamless access to locally-produced cannabis products from farm to pharmacy.” Recreational cannabis cultivation and use remains illegal in Australia. Related links: <a href="/news/news/2016/02/adorable-joey-is-desperate-for-food/">This adorable joey is desperate for food</a> <a href="/news/news/2016/02/baby-monkey-casual-bath-sink/">Baby monkey has casual bath in sink</a> <a href="/news/news/2016/02/squirrel-family-cat-wrestle-roof/">Sassy squirrel and family cat wrestle on roof</a>

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Olivia Newton-John shares cancer update

The missing question from New Zealand’s cannabis debate: what about personal freedom and individual rights?

Sir Patrick Stewart admits he uses marijuana everyday

Australian parliament passes medical marijuana bill