Warren County Connection - June 2021

Warren County Connection A Publication of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Warren County

June 2021

Straw Bale Gardening

By Kelly Allsup, Extension Educator, Horticulture, Illinois Extension

In this issue:

Straw bale gardening has transformed the way I grow vegetables.

With a minimal amount of preparation, a delivery of straw bales, and an understanding of how straw bale gardens work, I have had some of the most productive vegetable harvests in my gardening career. The advantages are: limited weeding; I can choose the sunniest spot on my property, even if it is the end of the driveway; and I only must commit to that location for a year.

through fertilization feeds bacterial growth to create "green manure." The bacterium then break down the straw, releasing nutrients. After a 10-day recipe of cooking your bales, you are ready to grow vegetables for less than the cost of building a raised bed, starting a garden bed amended with compost, or even a bag of high -quality soil.

1. Orienting your bales from north to south, planting the taller plants on the north side, will Straw bale gardening is essentially give you the most sun expogrowing your garden produce in a sure. Set bales up with the working compost pile. The science wires on the sides. You can behind the decomposition of the double them, placing them side straw bale is what makes it the ideby side. If you are placing them al growing media for vegetables. in a grassy location, you can put Nitrogen and water added to straw (Continued on page 7)

Stinging Insects: Paper Wasps

3

Choosing, Growing & Using Petunias

4

Nettles: Good to Eat and for Keeping a Safe Distance

6

The Benefits of Community Gardening

7

Pest Control Vital for Overall Pet Health

8

The Behavioral Affects of Marijuana Use

9

How to Care for Your Hands

10

12th Annual Golf Tournament

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Special points of interest: •

Calendar of Events

•

12th Annual CCE Golf Tournament & Silent Auction

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Cornell University Cooperative Extension of Warren County 377 Schroon River Road Warrensburg, NY 12885

Phone: (518) 623-3291 or (518) 668-4881 Fax: (518) 668-4912 Visit Our Web Site: www.cce.cornell.edu/warren

Who We Are

Nation-wide, thousands of people in each state tap into their state’s land-grant university research and know-how to make sound confident decisions concerning family, home, business, finances, and the future. In New York State, the land-grant university is Cornell University.

The Cornell Cooperative Extension network brings you the expertise of Cornell University, other land-grant universities across the country and locally-based Extension Educators, volunteers, and other experts through such programs as: horticulture, youth and families, leadership, environment, food, nutrition & health, home environment, and financial management.

Staff

Dr. James Seeley, Executive Director John Bowe, Associate Team Leader Dan Carusone, 4-H Natural Resources Coordinator Marybeth Mitcham, Nutrition, Food Safety & Healthy Living Educator Roxanne Westcott, 4-H Family Living Educator Jessica Holmes, Master Gardener Coordinator Sharon Bellamy, Finance Manager Amy Sabattis, Public Relations/Publications Manager Michele Baker, Administrative Assistant Chris Dittus, Administrative Assistant Samantha Sprague, Maintenance & Farm to School Assistant

Board of Directors

Laura Conway - President Peter Benoit - Vice President Dan Bruno - Secretary William Hamelin - Treasurer Aimee Azaert Lisa Earl Ed Griesmer Jim Kneeshaw David Little David Strainer Michael White

Extension Service Committee Chair - Sylvia Smith Daniel Bruno Ben Driscoll Andrea Hogan Brad Magowan

Warren County Connection

CALENDAR Please visit our website for more events www.cce.cornell.edu/warren PS: It Works! - 6/1, 6/8, 6/15, 6/22, 6/29/2021 - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM - This program is designed for parents/ caregivers of children whose ages are from toddler to teen. Learn tried and true basic parenting skills in this interactive program. We will explore five skills that you can implement in your role as parent/caregiver. To register contact Roxanne Westcott 518-668-4881 or e-mail rmw38@cornell.edu. Online Training Via Zoom Wildlife Habitat Education Program - A View from Above - 6/3/2021 - 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM - Hike up Hackensack Mountain and look for hawks, falcons, & other birds while we enjoy the view above Warrensburg. We will meet at the CCE office, 377 Schroon River Road, Warrensburg, then drive down to the Hackensack parking lot. Youth 8 & over, but Cloverbuds welcome with an adult. For more information contact John Bowe 518-623-3291.

Youth Day - 6/12/2021 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM - Calling all kids (and their families!) to the Glens Falls Farmers' Market Youth Day! Come and join us for some fun and family-friendly activities. This event is free of charge and is open to the public. Glens Falls Farmers' Market South Street Pavilion, Glens Falls, NY 12801 Intergenerational Hikes - 6/17/2021 Location TBD - Come and join us as we hike our way to better health, while also having the opportunity to get to meet some new people!

During the summer of 2021, CCE Warren will be hosting a series of 5 short intergenerational hikes on terrain that is easily travelled by people of all ages and ability levels.

Everyone is welcome! Hike locations and starting times will be shared closer to the hiking dates. To register, or to get more information on this event, contact MB at mem467@cornell.edu or at 518-623-3291.

Culinary Tour Around the World: Nepal! - 6/25/2021 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM - Come join us for a culinary tour around the world as we visit Nepal through videos and photos, and then sample a Nepalese dish! To register for this event, please contact Michelle Whitbeck at the Queensbury Senior Center 518-761-8224. Queensbury Senior Center, 742 Bay Road, Queensbury, NY 12804 If you have special needs as addressed by the Americans with Disabilities Act and need assistance with attending these workshops, please make your needs known by the registration deadline. Reasonable efforts will be made for accommodations.

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Warren County Connection

Stinging Insects: Paper Wasps Common name: Paper wasps Scientific name: Polistes dominulus, Polistes fuscatus Also known as: umbrella wasp Size: 1/2 to 1 inch long Commonly confused with: hornets, honey bees

pulp. She raises the first generation of workers on her own. After they emerge, these workers collect food while the queen restricts herself to laying eggs. The larvae are fed pre-chewed caterpillars caught by adults, while the adults feed on nectar. Nests are typically small, usually a few dozen workers, but may contain as many as 100 workers. As fall approaches, colonies produce males and new queens, which leave the nest to mate. After mating, the new queens burrow into the ground where they spend the winter. All workers, the males, and the old queen perish around November. The same nest is not used again.

Damage: These wasps are aggressive and will defend their nest if provoked. They deliver a painful sting. Their nests do not cause structural damage to buildings.

Adult paper wasp. Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University

Distinguishing marks:  body reddish brown to black with yellowish rings around abdomen  constructs paper-like nest of upside-down brood cells (compartments for young), supported by a single stalk, which resembles an upside down umbrella  each nest consists of a single tier of cells that is not enclosed by a paper cover  wasps appear “alert” to activity near their nest  long slender legs hang down in flight Distribution: throughout North America Habitat: meadows or fields, prefer to nest under an overhang, such as the eave of a roof.

Beginning of a paper wasp nest, the covered cell in the center is a developing wasp that will soon emerge as an adult. Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University

Life cycle: Paper wasps are social insects with annual nests. A solitary queen emerges from hibernation in the early spring and builds a small nest using chewed wood

Paper wasp nest Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University

Benefits: These insects are voracious predators of several residential and agricultural pests. They are especially valuable near vegetable gardens, where they provide natural and free control of herbivorous caterpillars.

Management: If the wasps are present in an area where they will not bother people, it is best to leave them. They will be gone after the first frost; and, in the meantime, they will reduce the populations of local pest species.

They do not present a danger unless the nest is disturbed, and they will not return to the same nesting site the following year.

If control is necessary, use an approved "Wasp & Hornet" spray that propels a stream of insecticide 15-25 feet.

Treatment is most effective in the evening when the majority of the insects are on the nest. Be sure to dress appropriately. Wear eye protection, a long-sleeved shirt, long pants and boots, and secure your sleeves and pant legs. Establish an unobstructed escape route and be ready to move quickly away from the area in case any of the insects fly towards you. Stand a safe distance from the nest and slowly approach while spraying with a (Continued on page 4)

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sweeping motion (follow specific directions of the insecticide). If you require illumination, use a flashlight covered with red cellophane for a light — wasps cannot see red.

You may need to repeat the treatment on two or three consecutive evenings. You may want to call in a professional, as there is a risk of being stung.

Sting: If a paper wasp approaches you, slowly raise your hands to your face and walk away. Remain calm! Avoid swatting at the wasp or running, as quick movements may elicit an attack. If possible, avoid the use of scented perfumes and soaps, and wear gray, white or tan to reduce the chances of a wasp approaching you. Unlike the honey bee, paper wasps have a smooth stinger and can sting more than once. If you are stung, cooling the area with ice may be soothing.

Remember! Insect stings can elicit a life-threatening, allergic reaction in some individuals. Check with your physician to determine what symptoms require a visit to the emergency room. Never attempt any control measure if you have a known allergy to insect stings.

Further sources: Turillazzi, S. and M.J.West-Eberhard.

2002. Natural History and Evolution of Paper Wasps. Oxford University Press, Oxford, U.K., 416 pages. Prepared by: Kathryn Gardner, Carolyn Klass, and Nicholas Calderone.

For more information regarding stinging insects check out http://www.masterbeekeeper.org/stinging/ paperwasp.htm

Have Gardening Questions?

We can help with: Landscapes, Vegetable, Fruit and Flower Gardens, Herbs, Houseplants, Plant Diseases, Soils, Beneficial and Harmful Insects, Composting and Water Conservation.

Contact Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Master Gardener office at 518-623-3291

Warren County Connection

Choosing, Growing and Using Petunias

By Dr. Leonard Perry, Extension Professor University of Vermont

Petunias are among the most popular annual flowers purchased each spring and summer. One reason is that they come in a wide range of flower colors and shapes. They range in habits from mounded—good in masses or “bedded out” as bedding plants, to trailing—good in raised beds, pots, and hanging baskets. Petunias are easy to grow, meaning they have few if any pest and disease problems, are adaptable to many climate and soil conditions, and require minimal maintenance.

Petunias are members of the Solanaceae or nightshade family, which includes tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, tobacco, and flowers such as flowering tobacco and Angel’s trumpet. This favorite annual flower was first discovered in South America more than two centuries ago. The earliest petunias were small-flowered and lanky and were found in only two colors, white and purple. But even as early as the beginning of the nineteenth century, European breeders were experimenting with crossbreeding to develop larger flowers and more colors.

Today, petunias are available in shades of white, yellow, pink, blue, purple, red, and even black, as well as bicolors, and as single or double flowers. Many have a light, sweet fragrance, especially the blue petunia varieties. Petunias will last four to six days as cut flowers too.

With so many colors to choose from, petunias are fun to combine into designs. For a more striking effect, combine contrasting colors such as yellow and purple, red and white. Or combine a bicolor star pattern of purple and white flowers with solid purple ones. For a more subtle effect, combine shades of one color, as a bed of pink petunias with a few darker red ones.

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Petunias combine well with other annual flowers too, such as purple or white alyssum with purple or white petunias; yellow lantana with reddish verbena and lavender petunias; white fan flower, pink twin flower, and lavender petunias; bright pink petunias with dark foliage, as from the sweet potato vine.

Most gardeners buy flowering plants in small pots or cellpacks, but you could grow your own petunias from seed if you plan ahead. Sow seed indoors eight to 12 weeks before the average last-frost date in your area. Since seeds are so small, sometimes you may find them “pelletted” with a casing to make them larger and easier to handle. Sow on the surface and lightly press in, but don’t cover as they need light to germinate.

When buying bedding plants, look for plants with healthy foliage and plenty of buds. There should be no signs of dried out or spotted leaves or diseases. Make sure soil in containers isn’t on the extremes—too waterlogged, or dried out.

When buying, and later at home, watch for a whitish growth on leaves which is likely powdery mildew. If you find a grayish growth on leaves and flower buds, this is likely botrytis disease. Both diseases signal improper culture, particularly lack of air circulation and too moist conditions. The latter can happen from watering too late in the day, the plants staying wet overnight.

For container planting, use a soil-less potting mix. If you're planting petunias in the ground, choose a location with light, rich soil and good drainage. Space plants about a foot apart for the mounded types, up to 2 feet apart for trailing types. Pot labels should give you an idea on spacing. Work in some peat moss or compost before planting. Mulch to help keep down weeds and retain soil moisture.

Petunias prefer full sun (over six hours a day) but will tolerate partial shade of 4 to 6 hours daily of direct sun.

However, in part shade the plants will flower less and get leggy.

These summer annuals are drought-tolerant, so once established and growing don't worry about watering unless there are prolonged periods of drought. Window boxes and containers, especially those located under overhanging eaves, should be checked daily, however, and watered as needed as the soil tends to dry out more.

Petunias require little care but will benefit from fertilizer.

Use according to the label directions on your product of choice. Those you grow from seeds may require a bit less than those you buy in pots, which are often grown from cuttings and bred to need more fertility. If plants grow slowly, have few flowers, or light green to yellowed leaves, and all other culture and conditions are right, then plants may be hungry and need more fertilizer.

In the past, most cultivars (cultivated varieties) would bloom, then need cutting back, and would then rebloom in a few weeks. Others might bloom longer, but needed old flowers pinched off or “deadheaded” after bloom.

Most new varieties that you find now for sale or from seeds need neither, older flowers just fading away and dropping off on their own, with a continual show of new flowers. This particularly applies to the smaller flowering selections. You may want to remove spent flowers from the larger flowering (“grandiflora”) and double types to keep them blooming longer, and more attractive.

Each year the National Garden Bureau chooses an annual Flower of the Year, the one for 2014 being the petunia. Visit their website to learn more about the history and many types of petunias, as well as other popular vegetables and flowers (www.ngb.org/).

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Nettles: Good to Eat and for Keeping a Safe Distance Paul Hetzler, Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County, Retired One of my favorite plants is either highly versatile, or very confused. On the one hand, professional herbivores like rabbits and deer refuse to even touch it, but many people, myself included, will gladly eat it every day it is available. While contacting it is painful, it has been proven to relieve certain chronic pain. It is steeped in over a thousand years of folklore, at one point imbued with the power to cleanse away sin, yet medical science recognizes it as a legitimate remedy for many disorders.

Some gardeners consider it a bothersome weed, but others actually cultivate it.

The stinging nettle, Urtica dioica, is native to Europe, Asia, and northern Africa but has been widespread throughout North America from northern Mexico to northern Canada for centuries. Experts disagree as to the number of nettle species and subspecies worldwide. To confuse matters, many of these cross with one another to form hybrids. Although a few species do not sting, if it’s nettle and it gives you a rash, it’s fair to call it stinging nettle.

Nettles sprout little hypodermic needles on stems, leaves, and even their flowers. Called trichomes, these glass-like silica-based needles inject a mixture of irritating chemicals upon contact. The cocktail varies by species, but usually includes histamine, 5-HTP, serotonin, formic acid and acetylcholine.

So why would one place this well-armed adversary in their mouth? Well, when nettles are cooked, the stinging hairs are destroyed. Furthermore, nettles are the tastiest cooked green, wild or domestic, that I have ever had. It tastes like chicken. Kidding. It tastes a lot like spinach, except sweeter. Nettles can be boiled, steamed, or stirfried. They are great by themselves or in soups, omelets, pesto, casseroles, or pretty much any savory dish you can come up with.

One of the things I really like about nettles is that they are some of the first green things to get going after the snow melts. I should mention that only the tops of young

Warren County Connection

plants are harvested to eat. The good thing is that the more you pick, the more young tops grow back. Eventually they will get too tall and tough, but frequent picking can stretch nettle season well into June.

On a dry-weight basis, nettles are higher in protein (about 15%) than almost any other leafy green vegetable. They are a good source of iron, potassium, calcium, and Vitamins A and C, and have a healthy ratio of Omega -3/Omega-6 fatty acids. Because drying also neutralizes nettles’ sting, they have been used as fodder for domestic animals. Today nettles are commonly fed to laying hens to improve their productivity.

The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that nettles help relieve symptoms, such as difficulty urinating, of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) in men. In terms of using pain to relieve pain, the U of M Medical Center also states that research “...suggests that some people find relief from joint pain by applying nettle leaf topically to the painful area. Other studies show that taking an oral extract of stinging nettle, along with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), allowed people to reduce their NSAID dose.”

As The Cat in the Hat said, that is not all. You’d think the U of M was selling nettles the way they seem to promote them. Consider this endorsement: “One preliminary human study suggested that nettle capsules helped reduce sneezing and itching in people with hay fever. In another study, 57% of patients rated nettles as effective in relieving allergies, and 48% said that nettles were more effective than allergy medications they had used previously.”

Gardeners use nettles as a “green manure” because they (nettles, that is—gardeners may be nitrogen-rich, but they’re not routinely added to soil.) are high in nitrogen, as well as iron and manganese. Nettles can also help attract beneficial insects.

What can’t you do with nettles? I guess they’re kind of like Dr. Seuss’ “thneed.” Turns out you can wear them, too. Nettles have been used for 2,000 years as a source of fiber for cloth-making. During World War I, Germany used nettle fiber to make military uniforms. I have made cordage from nettle stems using a simple technique called reverse-wrapping.

If you have a nettle patch, spend some time picking healthful greens as spring arrives. One thing’s for sure: When you’re surrounded by nettles, you don’t need to worry about social distancing!

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newspaper or landscape fabric under the bales but I found that the grass grows back the following season. Be sure to allow yourself ample room to mow around or between the bales, and somewhere with access to the water hose.

2. Joel Karsten, author of "Straw Bale Gardening" touts a specific 10-day recipe for getting the bales cooked and ready for planting. I have found that any combination of general fertilizer and water has worked to cook the bales. I have had less success with organic fertilizers as they don’t provide as high of nitrogen inputs as non-organic fertilizers.

Karsten also discovered that it didn’t matter what recipe was adhered to, it all worked.

3. During the cooking process, the bales will form dark soil clumps known as peppering. Mushrooms will form and can be removed or left but not eaten. Mushroom growth is a good indication that the process is working. Using a digital thermometer to make sure the interior temperatures reaches 160 degrees will let you know the bale is cooked.

4. After the cooking process, I have been surprised by how malleable the top portion of the bales have been and had no problem planting. However, if there is still a lot of heat, do not plant in the bale until the top 4 to 6 inches cool down.

5. If planting seed, place a 2-inch layer of soil on straw bales. Put down paper towels. Lay down your seeds and cover with soil. I always plant my basil and greens in this manner.

10. Vegetables that grow in the ground only need fertilizers at certain points in their development and that also depends on your garden soil. Most garden soils are rich in organic matter. However, when you are growing in a straw bale, you will need to add a complete fertilizer monthly. You want your fertilizer to work right away, so don't use the slow-release kind.

Just about every vegetable except sweet corn can be grown in bales, and the only reason sweet corn is discouraged is that it tends to flop over because of its height. If you have never gardened before start with plants that are easy to grow like herbs, greens, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and onions.

The Benefits of Community Gardening  Food production and access - Community gardens

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6. If planting vegetable transplants, dig a hole, fill it with soil and plant.

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7. Give your plants room to grow. Plant two tomatoes, four cucumbers, four peppers or two squash per bale and add supports as necessary.

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8. Add flowers like sweet alyssum, scaevola, petunias to the sides of the bales for added beauty.

9. Watering may be more important in dry hot summers. I have found that the straw bales are good at holding water.

enable people without suitable land of their own to grow high-quality fruits and vegetables for themselves, their families and their communities, possibly in places that lack grocery stores or other fresh food outlets.

Nutrition - Some research indicates that community gardeners eat more fruits and vegetables (Bremer et al., 2003).

Exercise - Gardening requires physical activity and helps improve overall physical health.

Mental health - Interacting with plants and having access to nature help reduce stress and increase gardeners' sense of wellness and belonging. (Malakoff, 1995) Community - Community gardens foster a sense of community identity, ownership and stewardship.

They provide a place for people of diverse backgrounds to interact and share cultural traditions.

Environment - Gardens help reduce the heat-island effect in cities, increase biodiversity, reduce rain runoff, recycle local organic materials and reduce fossil fuel use from food transport.

Education - All ages can acquire and share knowledge related to gardening, cooking, nutrition and health.

Some gardens have programs that provide training in horticulture, business management, leadership development and market gardening.

Source: University of Missouri Extension

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Warren County Connection

Pest Control Vital for Overall Pet Health

sances, homes can become infested with fleas, too. Biggs said the environmental conditions also must be treated.

“Pest control is a whole approach, including both the animal and the home. Again, a consultation with your veterinarian can get you started in the right direction for controlling fleas in the home,” she said. “Having fleas in the home isn’t a matter of living circumstances or cleanliness. Flea infestations can happen in any home.”

There’s more to caring for a pet than choosing the right food. Protecting pets from fleas, ticks and other parasites is vital to good health.

The first thing pet owners need to do when deciding on a pest control regimen is to contact their veterinarian, said Dr. Rosslyn Biggs, Oklahoma State University Extension veterinarian and director of continuing education for the university’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

“Choosing a plan of action depends on several things, including the pet’s age, how they’re housed, the risk of exposure or if the animal has existing medical conditions.

These factors will help determine which products are going to be the most effective,” Biggs said. “Pet owners may discover that indoor pets will have different recommendations than outdoor only pets.”

There are a variety of pest-control products available.

Collars, sprays, edible products and topical options are readily available. Choose a product that provides the most coverage. Parasites, including fleas and ticks, can develop resistance to some products, so visit with your veterinarian to get the latest update on these products.

Biggs said it’s important for pet owners to read and follow the directions of any product purchased for pest control.

“Some products are made specifically for dogs, which can be toxic for cats. It’s vital to use the right product for its intended use. Also, be sure to keep the packaging,” she said. “If your pet has a reaction, contact your veterinarian immediately and have the packaging handy. Contacting the manufacturer may also be needed. While reactions to pest treatments do happen, it’s a small percentage. Make sure the pet’s reactions are noted in their medical records.”

While people tend to think of pests being outdoors nui-

Breaking the life cycle of the flea is crucial. If the issue is extreme, pet owners may need to consult an exterminator. If the pet has a shelter outdoors, be sure to treat that area, as well.

Heartworm, which is carried by mosquitoes, is another serious health issue for dogs and cats. It can result in lung disease, heart failure, other organ damage and even death in pets. Oklahoma is right in the middle of heartworm country and regular preventative testing and treatment is a must.

Biggs said pet owners also must be aware of internal parasites such as gastrointestinal worms. Fortunately, most heartworm preventative treatments also address this issue.

“Something else to consider is tapeworm. Ingestion of fleas is the most common cause of tapeworm,” she said.

“You’ll often be able to see the actual worms on the area around the base of the tail and in fecal matter. Consider having a fecal exam done to check for internal parasites, and in particular, parasite eggs.”

There are other methods pet owners can take to protect their pets. David Hillock, OSU Extension consumer horticulturist, said try to make your landscape unattractive to pests.

“It’s important to keep your landscape tidy. Keep weeds pulled on your property. Also, mow the grass regularly,” Hillock said. “This removes habitat and breeding ground for pests. Saucers under potted plants, children’s toys and other items that collect water are places where mosquitoes breed. Make sure to dump water out of these types of collection points on a regular basis.”

While homeowners can’t completely eliminate pests from the landscape, general upkeep is important to help reduce the threat.

OSU Extension offers more information on flea control at https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/flea-control. html.

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The Behavioral Affects of Marijuana Use

who had not built up a tolerance to marijuana.

Motivation Compared with cognition, there is less evidence on how marijuana use affects motivation. The lack of standardized ways to define and measure motivation make it more difficult for researchers to study. In addition, the review authors only found cross-sectional studies on how marijuana affects motivation, which provide a snapshot in time rather than randomized, controlled trials which could provide more definitive causal explanations.

Even considering the limitations, there is some evidence that chronic marijuana use leads to reduced motivation, “a loss of desire to work or compete” and less interest in setting and attaining goals.

Weed, pot, grass: Whatever you want to call it, marijuana is steadily becoming legal in more U.S. states. The recreational use of cannabis is legal in 14 states and has been decriminalized – meaning it carries a very small penalty – in 16 others. In addition, 36 states allow the use of marijuana for medical reasons with a doctor’s prescription.

As marijuana becomes decriminalized, it’s no surprise that the evidence shows an increase in its use. Although many believe it to be harmless, marijuana contains compounds with psychoactive properties that affect a wide range of brain functions including pain, motivation, memory, mood and reward processing.

A new systematic review looks at the body of evidence to answer the question, does marijuana use lead to negative behavioral consequences?

To answer that question, researchers from the University of Toronto collected 124 studies conducted from 1995 to 2020 that looked at how recreational marijuana use affected mental health and functioning. They identified four main areas where marijuana had negative consequences for mental health.

Cognition The researchers found chronic marijuana use impacts certain aspects of cognition including memory, decisionmaking and attention. Specifically, they found that using more marijuana led to larger lapses in memory, mainly among participants who began using marijuana as adolescents.

They also found that cognitive impairments occurring while users were high were greater among participants

Psychosocial Functioning A considerably large set of data shows when young people use marijuana consistently during their development, they are less likely to finish high school and less likely to complete a college degree. High schoolers who use marijuana regularly are less likely to attend class, complete their homework and get – or even value – good grades.

Some of the evidence suggests that people who start using marijuana in early life and who use it frequently have less economic success compared to the general population.

The review authors found one study conducted in New Zealand that followed a group of children through middle adulthood while tracking their marijuana use. Participants were more likely to use marijuana chronically as adults if their parents used it, if they were diagnosed with a conduct disorder, if they were classified as novelty -seeking or if they experienced trauma as a child. And those who used marijuana frequently as adults were more likely to experience mental health problems and abuse additional substances, even after controlling for other factors.

Psychiatric Health There is some evidence that frequent marijuana use leads to mental health problems, but the issue is complicated and not fully explained by the data. For example, many studies show that the more marijuana someone uses beginning in adolescence, the more likely they will experience symptoms of depression. But the studies are inconsistent, and some of them don’t account for other factors, such as nicotine or alcohol use.

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The evidence on marijuana and anxiety is also mixed.

Some studies show that marijuana use leads to increased feelings of anxiety. But there are other randomizedcontrolled studies of cannabidiol, or CBD, that find CBD reduces anxiety on social stress tests.

Researchers don’t understand the mechanisms that connect marijuana use, depression and anxiety. They hypothesize that marijuana use causes a neurobiological chain of events that can lead to mental health problems.

But mental health symptoms could also be related to the psychosocial aspects of marijuana use; for example, lower educational attainment is also associated with a risk of depression and anxiety.

Researchers did find a strong, clear relationship between marijuana use and psychosis, a condition where the mind loses some contact with reality. Heavy, more frequent marijuana users and those who begin using marijuana earlier in life are at a greater risk for psychosis.

Taken together, these data paint a cautionary picture on marijuana use with some clear take-home messages: There is evidence that marijuana, especially when started at a young age and used frequently, leads to mental health problems and affects the user’s educational attainment and employment options. The strongest evidence shows that marijuana use can lead to psychosis, and may also contribute to depression and anxiety and affect cognitive function.

Visit Cornell University’s Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research’s website for more information on our work solving human problems.

Family Budget Coaching Program Now Available for Families and Individuals Cornell Cooperative Extension of Warren County is now offering a free, confidential Family Budget Coaching Program to community residents. The one-on-one sessions are available to individuals and families who want to improve their financial literacy, set goals, create a savings plan, reduce debt, and get a better handle on finances.

The trained coaches will offer sessions either via Zoom or in-person in Glens Falls, Warrensburg, and Johnsburg.

Call 518-623-3291 for more information.

How to Care for Your Hands Washing our hands is one of the effective ways of preventing the spread of COVID-19, particularly after using the restroom, coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose. However, frequent handwashing can lead to red, itchy or even cracked skin.

“We’ve seen a huge uptick in Utah of dry skin as concern about COVID-19 has arisen,” says Aaron Secrest, MD, PhD, a University of Utah Health dermatologist. “Utah is not an ideal state for people’s skin, even at the best of times, with the climate, high altitude, very little humidity, and a lot of outdoor activities.”

Here’s how Secrest suggests you wash and care for your hands, not only during this crisis, but every day:  Wash your hands with soap and lukewarm water for at least 20 seconds.  Moisturize your damp hands immediately after with a

cream moisturizer, the type you squeeze out of a tube. Pat your hands dry, then rub a pea-sized amount of moisturizer over your hands such as Eucerin, Cetaphil or CeraVe.  Avoid lotions you pump out of a bottle. Pump lotions

are loaded with alcohol that dry out skin, Secrest says.  Choose fragrance or dye-free moisturizers. They are

less irritating for your skin.  When soap and water aren’t readily available, use

hand sanitizer that is at least 60% alcohol. Be sure to apply moisturizer immediately afterward since alcohol can dry out the skin.  Over-the-counter hydrocortisone creams can soothe

dry and cracked skin.  Before bed, apply cream; then wear cotton gloves that

will protect your hands while you are sleeping.

If symptoms of dry skin persist or are worrisome, consult a dermatologist virtually.

Did you know?

Using moisturizer after washing your hands does NOT negate your handwashing efforts, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. In addition, there is NO evidence that using hand sanitizer makes you more vulnerable to infections or viruses.

Source: Shaun Ajay, University of Utah

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