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State bans products with dangerous substance amid growing fears of overuse by kids

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State bans products with dangerous substance amid growing fears of overuse by kids

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Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine on Wednesday signed an executive order banning THC-containing beverages, gummies and other “intoxicating hemp.”

Retailers in the Buckeye State will be required to remove all gummies, beverages, cookies and other products containing THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) — the main psychoactive compound found in the cannabis plant — from shelves by Oct. 14.

“Intoxicating hemp products are known to have significant impacts on young, developing brains, yet these products are legally marketed to kids, sold to kids and ingested by kids in Ohio,” DeWine stated in a press release.

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Various intoxicating products are marketed in colorful packaging emulating popular candy brands. 

Exposure during adolescence, while the brain is still developing, has been linked to poorer learning, memory and attention problems, as well as changes in brain development, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). 

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has signed an executive order banning intoxicating hemp products. (iStock)

Intoxicating hemp is made by manipulating compounds found in hemp plants to create toxic compounds like delta-8-THC and delta-9-THC.

Exposures to these compounds among those aged 19 and younger increased to 994 from 419 between 2021 and 2024, according to Ohio Poison Control (OPC).

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Among children 5 and under, the number of exposures nearly tripled between 2021 and 2024, going from 202 to 555.

About 90% of children 12 and under who were exposed to THC ended up in the emergency room, with two-thirds requiring hospitalization, per the OPC.

Various intoxicating products are marketed in colorful packaging emulating popular candy brand wrappers.  (Office of Gov. Mike DeWine)

Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel told Fox News Digital that the problem stems from lack of regulation of cannabis products.

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“This ban is temporary but appropriate given the dangers.”

“The 2018 Farm Bill opens up a Pandora’s box, where hemp products are used to justify unregulated use of THC gummies, drinks and intoxicating hemp products,” he added.

The 2018 Farm Bill, or the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, legalized industrial hemp at the federal level.

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“This ban is temporary but appropriate given the dangers,” Siegel said.

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DeWine noted that when Ohioans voted to legalize marijuana, they only voted for licensing dispensaries to sell products to those 21 or older.

Retailers in the Buckeye State will be required to take all THC products off their shelves by Tuesday, Oct. 14. (Office of Gov. Mike DeWine)

“Intoxicating hemp completely bypasses these laws, and we must do more to keep these products away from kids,” the governor said.

Any THC-containing products must be returned to the manufacturer or handed over to law enforcement, the order states.

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Retailers who break the order could face a $500 fine per day if the products are still offered for sale, and the Ohio Department of Agriculture will have the authority to confiscate any of the products.

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3 Best Peptides for Weight Loss—and the Viral One Doctors Say To Skip

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3 Best Peptides for Weight Loss—and the Viral One Doctors Say To Skip


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Best Peptides for Weight Loss After 50 and One To Skip




















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Parasitic infection causing ‘explosive’ stomach illness exceeds 1,000 cases in northern state

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Parasitic infection causing ‘explosive’ stomach illness exceeds 1,000 cases in northern state

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Cases of cyclosporiasis infections are rising across America, with more than 1,000 people diagnosed in Michigan and more than 500 in Ohio.

This is the largest outbreak of its kind in Michigan’s history and one of the country’s largest in years, according to the Associated Press.

The parasitic infection can cause weeks of watery diarrhea. The source of the infections has not been identified and no deaths have been reported.

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Michigan officials announced the outbreak last week following the identification of more than 170 cases since June 22 in the southeastern part of the state. Typically, only about 50 cases are identified in Michigan each year, according to AP.

A cyclospora infection often causes watery, “explosive” diarrhea that can last for weeks or even months if left untreated, the CDC says. (iStock)

Similar illnesses have been reported in 28 other states, including neighboring Ohio, where diagnoses have popped up across the Michigan border.

Cases have been climbing since the CDC identified an uptick in infections in mid-June, with illnesses now reported in dozens of states.

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Michigan has now reported more than 1,200 cases and at least 40 hospitalizations. In Ohio, northwest counties have identified more than 500 cases, including at least 306 in Lucas County, according to the latest available local figures.

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Texas has reported at least 48 cases, and illnesses have been identified in numerous other states as health officials investigate the source.

The hallmark symptom of a cyclospora infection is watery, often “explosive” diarrhea that can last for weeks or even months if left untreated, the CDC says.

Other symptoms of cyclosporiasis include severe abdominal cramping, bloating, nausea, fatigue and significant weight loss. (iStock)

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Other symptoms include severe abdominal cramping, bloating, nausea, fatigue and significant weight loss.

The official outbreak season for the parasite runs from May 1 through Aug. 31, a window where warmer temperatures historically coincide with a spike in infections, according to the CDC.

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While the infection can sometimes clear up on its own, it frequently requires antibiotics. The CDC advises anyone experiencing symptoms of cyclosporiasis to contact a healthcare provider for testing and treatment.

The CDC, alongside the Food and Drug Administration and state health officials, is actively investigating several multistate clusters, but they have yet to find a cause behind the spread.

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Fresh produce should be washed thoroughly before eating, although this may not eliminate the risk of infection, the AP noted. (iStock)

Past infections have reportedly been linked to consuming contamined fruits or vegetables, or being exposed to contaminated irrigation water.

Fresh produce should be washed thoroughly before being eaten, although this may not eliminate the risk of infection, the AP noted.

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Michigan officials recommend purchasing salad mixes or whole heads of lettuce instead of pre-washed, bagged lettuce. Remove two to three leaves from the outer layer of the lettuce head before washing and cook vegetables when possible.

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Fox News Digital’s Khloe Quill contributed to this report.

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Dr Oz links obesity to chronic disease surge, says GLP-1s can ‘jumpstart’ better health

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Dr Oz links obesity to chronic disease surge, says GLP-1s can ‘jumpstart’ better health

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GLP-1 weight-loss drugs have become a prevalent part of American healthcare, and the current administration is getting behind the movement.

In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital at the Great American State Fair in the nation’s capital on July 6, CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz voiced his support for the use of GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) medications, such as Ozempic, for appropriate uses.

“I’m a fan of GLP-1 drugs when used correctly,” he said. “They do help people who are overweight lose weight quite effectively. They’re not a replacement for diet and exercise, but they might jumpstart the system so it’s easier for you to use healthier tactics.”

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This is especially helpful for those who may have trouble moving due to joint pain or are experiencing internal dysfunction, Oz said.

Certain GLP-1 drugs are covered by Medicare for overweight candidates with certain conditions, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, and Oz projected the benefits will continue to benefit taxpayers.

Dr. Mehmet Oz is pictured in Washington, D.C., at the Great American State Fair, where he spoke about federal health policy. (Angelica Stabile/Fox News Digital)

“We believe these are so effective in reducing conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes that they’ll actually save money for the federal taxpayer, because [they’re] going to make you healthy enough that you don’t have to consume health services,” Oz said.

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“We think about 70% of all the money we spend on healthcare is caused by chronic conditions, and obesity is the No. 1 driver of all that, so it’s a smart decision.”

Oz recently announced the launch of the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program, which will allow more seniors to access GLP-1 drugs for only $50 a month if they meet qualifying health criteria and receive prior authorization from a doctor.

The doctor expressed support for broadening affordable access to GLP-1 medications for Americans. (iStock)

“There are a lot of overweight people who don’t have high blood pressure, diabetes or other conditions, so they don’t get access to the drug normally,” he said. “We want them to have the ability to use it as well.”

Although these access shifts could boost Americans’ overall health — and in some cases could be lifesaving — Oz noted that there is “no silver bullet” when it comes to these medications.

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“I love the fact that the innovation that’s coming out of pharmaceutical companies is allowing us to save lives and make lives better,” he said. “But the real secret to longevity is eating right, exercising, sleeping, dealing with the stress of your life, finding some purpose in your existence [and] realizing you have agency over the future.”

“These are things that your mom would have told you [and that] you don’t need a doctor to be emphasizing.”

Medicating appropriately, combined with eating right, exercising and staying connected with others, can help make health goals attainable, the doctor said. (iStock)

While GLP-1s may not be a fix-all, combining these medications with foundational health practices “makes a lot of sense,” Oz said.

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“I don’t want people being fat-shamed … I don’t want you feeling guilty that you’re gaining weight even though everyone else around you seems to have figured it out,” he said. “It’s not that simple — our set points for hunger are different. We have different things going on in our lives.”

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“But if you realize how precious you are — the temple of the soul is so valuable. It’s the greatest gift your parents ever gave you, and you take advantage of every tool out there to make it work … which includes using medications when appropriate. That, to me, is MAHA.”

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