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• Medical pot shops get head start in Colo

  April 25, 2013 4:29 PM

  DENVER (AP) - Medical pot shops will get a head start when Colorado opens recreational pot sales next year. And marijuana felons will be allowed to work in the industry after five years. That's according to a measure adopted Thursday in a state House committee. Lawmakers will give current medical... more »

• Boston victims face huge bills; donations pour in

  April 25, 2013 4:24 PM

  Cost of amputating a leg? At least $20,000. Cost of an artificial leg? More than $50,000 for the most high-tech models. Cost of an amputee's rehab? Often tens of thousands of dollars more. These are just a fraction of the medical expenses victims of the Boston Marathon bombing will face.... more »

• Oregon Senate approves medical mistakes mediation

  March 5, 2013 3:52 PM

  SALEM, Ore. (AP) - The Oregon Senate has passed a bill creating a new mediation process for patients injured by medical mistakes. The bill passed Tuesday in a 26-3 vote despite criticisms from some lawmakers who said it should have included limits on the amount of money that juries can... more »

• Dems introduce bill to tax Wash. medical pot sales

  February 7, 2013 9:18 PM

  SEATTLE (AP) - With Washington working on plans to tax recreational marijuana sales, some Democrats in Olympia say it's time for the state to take a similar cut of sales at medical dispensaries. Reps. Ross Hunter of Medina and Reuven Carlyle of Seattle introduced a bill Thursday that would hit... more »

• Bristol-Pfizer anticlot drug gets key EU approval

  November 20, 2012 4:59 PM

  NEW YORK (AP) - European regulators have approved a crucial new anticlotting drug, Eliquis, for preventing strokes and dangerous clots in the circulatory system. Eliquis was approved for use in the 27 European Union countries in patients at risk for such clots, called systemic embolisms, or for strokes who have... more »

• Medical students care for homeless patients in Hawaii

  September 9, 2012 2:59 PM

  HONOLULU (AP) - The University of Hawaii medical students have treated homeless shelter patients more than 7,600 times in the six years since the university started its homeless outreach program. The John A. Burns School of Medicine said Friday nearly 450 medical students have volunteered for the program since 2006.... more »

• Veteran benefits that you may not know about

  April 12, 2012 8:25 PM

  Here's some good news for veterans: if you are over age 65, you may qualify for up to $24,000 a year, just for having served. It's because of the Non-Service Connected Disability Pension. The benefit was signed into law more than 60 years ago, but it's not widely advertised. ... more »

• JetBlue captain has 'medical situation' mid-flight

  March 27, 2012 2:43 PM

  AMARILLO, Texas (AP) - A JetBlue flight bound for Las Vegas landed unexpectedly in Amarillo after a "medical situation" arose involving the captain. JetBlue Airways says in a statement that the pilot in command of Flight 191 from New York then elected to land in the Panhandle of Texas about... more »

• Medical Diagnosis: Broken Heart

  March 9, 2012 6:14 AM

  Most of us know how difficult it can be to get dumped or to lose a loved one, but now, doctors are saying you can actually die of a broken heart! The symptoms are similar to those of a heart attack: chest pains and painful breathing. One cardiologist says... more »

• How dirty is your purse? Play Video

  February 2, 2012 10:04 AM

  For most women, living without our purse would be a nightmare. We take it everywhere: to school, work, the doctor's office, even the bathroom. Have you ever wondered how many germs your purse picks up in a day? We decided to find out. Three purses. A microbiologist with a... more »

• Medical marijuana industry bringing in sales tax dollars

  January 12, 2012 12:35 AM

  After just less than three years of business in the City of Colorado Springs, the medical marijuana industry says they're doing pretty well. "We're seeing good, steady growth." says shop owner Scott Saunders. He and his partner own two medical marijuana dispensaries in town, including MC Caregivers near Academy and... more »

• Medical marijuana license fees could be cut in half

  November 16, 2011 7:36 AM

  DENVER (AP) - The price of a medical marijuana license in Colorado could be lowered more than half. The state Board of Health planned Wednesday to consider lowering the fee from $90 a year to $35 a year. Already the $90 fee is lower than when Colorado first authorized... more »

• Adams State student treated for meningitis

  October 30, 2011 11:56 AM

  ALAMOSA, Colo. (AP) - An Adams State College student is being treated for meningitis, prompting warnings to other students. The (Alamosa) Valley Courier reports that the infected student does not live on campus. The newspaper also says that doctors believe the student appears to have the viral form of the... more »

• How to get health care without insurance Play Video

  October 29, 2011 7:33 PM

  Four years ago, Elaine Brandon did not have to worry about her health care costs. "I had, actually, 100% coverage," she says. After a divorce, now Elaine has to cover her own health care costs, and her monthly premium only keeps rising and it doesn't allow for many... more »

• Southern Colorado Health Fair underway

  October 29, 2011 1:15 PM

  Doors opened at 7am at the Palmer Ridge High School for the Southern Colorado Health Fair. People started lining-up around 6:30 am to take advantage of the 37different types of free and low-cost screenings and tests. During the fall, parents can bring along their kids to receive the... more »

• Blasting fat using lasers Play Video

  October 25, 2011 4:57 PM

  The battle of the bulge is timeless, and at some point, most people have tried something. Whether it is nips, tucks, sit-ups, master cleanses, diets, good old fashioned gym routines, or some kind of magic potion that promises it will melt away the fat. Recall the old adage: "If... more »

• Rapper Rick Ross reportedly hospitalized 2nd time

  October 15, 2011 8:50 PM

  BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (AP) - Rapper Rick Ross reportedly remains hospitalized in Alabama after suffering two medical scares that required plans to be diverted. Memphis basketball coach Josh Pastner told a crowd at a Friday night event that a private jet carrying Ross made an unscheduled landing in Birmingham, after the... more »

• Texas volunteers test altitude fitness in Colorado

  October 9, 2011 2:40 PM

  BRECKENRIDGE, Colo. (AP) - Two dozens volunteers from Texas are running and hiking in the Colorado high country this weekend to help the University of Colorado develop a test that can identify soldiers who are vulnerable to the headaches, nausea and fatigue of altitude sickness. The Summit Daily newspaper in... more »

• Local bank pulls business ties with MMJ shops

  August 24, 2011 11:00 PM

  Medical marijuana shops in Colorado Springs are looking for answers after a local bank canceled business with the industry. The Colorado Springs State Bank was the bank nearly all mmj shops had been doing business with since they all opened. In addition, store owners tell us that the bank... more »

• Council passes 1 of 14 medical marijuana fees

  June 28, 2011 11:32 PM

  After much discussion and even more questions, the Colorado Springs City Council has only decided to move on 1 of the 14 proposed fees for medical marijuana businesses. Councilman Tim Leigh and most everyone else on council tell us the proposed fees seem like they could be too high, as... more »

• State mmj shops get new regulations this week

  June 26, 2011 7:30 PM

  A landmark week is ahead for the medical marijuana industry in Colorado. On July 1st new state regulations, the toughest in the country, will officially go in to effect. Scott Saunders, who owns Natural Leaf in Colorado Springs, says he welcomes the regulation for legitimacy. "Regulations absolutely will provide legitimacy... more »

• Medical marijuana regulations take effect this week

  June 26, 2011 6:57 PM

  New state regulations involving the medical marijuana industry will take effect his week on July 1st. They range from new security measures all the way to a seed to sales tracking system. We're speaking with a local shop owner about how the regulations have affected his business on News First... more »

• Committee approves new MMJ rules

  May 2, 2011 9:01 PM

  DENVER (AP) - Colorado lawmakers are reducing the permitted size of medical marijuana growing operations following a federal warning that it's still a violation of federal law to grow and possess marijuana. The Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill Monday that changes rules for how the drug can be... more »

• Shots fired into mmj dispensary

  May 1, 2011 12:10 AM

  An early morning call to police has left one Colorado Springs business shot up and asking questions. It all happened at a medical marijuana dispensary on the 1300 block of North Academy around 3 Saturday morning. Police received a call of shots fired in the area. The suspects got away.... more »

• Update: Shots fired at mmj dispensary

  April 30, 2011 9:28 PM

  A News First 5 crew just returned from the scene of Saturday morning's shots fired at a medical marijuana center on North Academy. Tonight at 10 we'll have more with the dispensary's manager. He shows us the large bullet holes left by the shooters and tells us why he's not... more »

• Colorado gets marijuana warning from federal government

  April 27, 2011 3:26 PM

  DENVER (AP) - Colorado is the latest state to receive marijuana warnings from the federal government as state lawmakers mull regulating the drug. The top federal prosecutor in Colorado sent a letter Tuesday to Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper and some lawmakers. The letter says that states shouldn't pass bills... more »

• State House considers edible marijuana

  April 19, 2011 2:56 PM

  DENVER (AP) - Mandatory labels on edible marijuana in Colorado have won preliminary approval in the state House. The bill requires "edibles" such as pot brownies or cannabis-infused lollipops to be packaged in childproof packages and carry labels warning that the products are not for children. The bill is... more »

• Colorado medical pot users mostly men, figures show

  March 13, 2011 2:52 PM

  DENVER (AP) - Colorado Health Department figures show that men make up the vast majority of registered medical marijuana users in the state. The Denver Post reported Sunday that men consistently made up more than 70 percent of the patients listed on the state's medical marijuana registry list between... more »

• Colorado's marijuana rules up for public hearing

  January 27, 2011 8:05 AM

  GOLDEN, Colo. (AP)-Rules on how medical marijuana is grown and sold are up for two days of public debate in Colorado. The Colorado Department of Revenue opens a two-day hearing Thursday to consider 99 pages of rules about how medical marijuana is grown and commercially sold. The proposed rules... more »

• Police dispatchers honored

  December 7, 2010 7:04 PM

  The Colorado Springs Police Department dispatch center has been named an "Emergency Medical Dispatch Center of Excellence" by the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch. The Colorado Springs dispatch center was the 18th center in the world to be awarded this highest distinction for their comprehensive implementation and compliance with... more »

• Medical clinic tries to help former inmates find jobs

  November 11, 2010 3:03 PM

  SET Family Medical Clinics is trying to help former inmates get jobs. It's called Jail to Jobs. The goal is to reduce the number of repeat offenders. Statistically 64 percent of offenders in Colorado end up back in jail later. more »

• Colorado taxpayers may subsidize pot cards for poor

  October 20, 2010 11:29 AM

  Medical marijuana cards in Colorado cost $90 - but state health officials are hearing testimony Wednesday on lowering that rate for the poor. The Colorado Board of Health is planning to drop the fee for marijuana cards for patients in poverty. The new indigent rates come after complaints that... more »

• Medical marijuana tax issue on Pueblo ballot

  October 18, 2010 7:45 PM

  Voters in Pueblo will decide if medical marijuana users should pay an extra 4.3% in sales tax. The city says the tax could be used to help pay for increased law enforcement near dispensaries, but some argue it isn't needed. News First 5 is taking a closer look at ballot... more »

• More women suffering strokes following childbirth

  October 18, 2010 12:53 PM

  More young women are having strokes and other serious medical problems shortly after giving birth. Doctors are trying to understand why that's happening in hopes that it will help others catch the warning signs before it's too late. Everyday in America, two women die from complications of pregnancy... more »

• Octomom fertility doc's license hearing to begin

  October 18, 2010 9:26 AM

  The Medical Board of California is opening a licensing hearing against the doctor who helped Nadya Suleman conceive her octuplets and six other children through in vitro fertilization. Beverly Hills Dr. Michael Kamrava is accused of implanting too many embryos in Suleman, whose moniker "Octomom" is a reference to... more »

• Colorado Springs hits new high in pot tax revenue

  October 8, 2010 8:21 AM

  The city of Colorado Springs is reporting a record monthly high of nearly $57,000 in sales tax revenue from medical marijuana. The Gazette reports that sales of marijuana and marijuana-infused products generated $56,991 in tax revenue in August, a nearly 12 percent jump from July. So far this... more »

• Grand Junction votes to close marijuana centers

  October 5, 2010 12:45 PM

  The Grand Junction City Council passed a measure to close medical marijuana businesses in the city. The council voted 6-1 to pass the ordinance Monday night. Mayor Teresa Coons was the only member to vote against it. The ordinance requires that all dispensaries and other pot businesses shut... more »

• County Question 1A

  September 30, 2010 8:09 PM

  Supporters of the medical marijuana industry met in downtown Colorado Springs on Thursday to kick off their "No on 1A" campaign. The opposition group calls itself Citizens for Safer Communities. They hope to encourage voters to vote against County Question 1A, which will appear on November's ballot. If... more »

• Kids with ADHD more likely to have missing DNA

  September 30, 2010 8:31 AM

  Researchers say a new study provides the first evidence that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is genetic. The study says ADHD kids are twice as likely to have missing or extra chromosomes than other children. British researchers focused on a sequence of genes linked to brain development that has previously... more »

• Fort Carson opens $72 million medical clinic

  September 28, 2010 8:33 AM

  Fort Carson is formally opening a $72 million clinic for dental, pediatrics, acupuncture and other services. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned Tuesday. Maj. Gen. David G. Perkins, Fort Carson's commanding general, and Maj. Gen. M. Ted Wong, the Army's Western Regional Medical Command deputy commanding general for readiness,... more »

• Job of the Day: Florence Federal Prison Pharmacist

  September 23, 2010 5:35 PM

  The Federal Bureau of Prisons has an opening for a Staff Pharmacist in Florence. You have until Wednesday, Sept. 29 to apply. Starting pay is $57,400 - $74,600 per year. "The Pharmacist is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the medication delivery system and assures that the integrity of... more »

• Obesity hurts your wallet along with your health

  September 21, 2010 9:15 AM

  Researchers are putting a price tag on obesity. Doctors have long known that medical bills are higher for the obese, but a report from George Washington University finds that's only a portion of the real-life costs. The researchers added in things like employee sick days, lost productivity, even the... more »

• Battle intensifies over Colorado Springs pot shops

  September 16, 2010 4:56 PM

  The Colorado Springs Diocese and Colorado College say they support a zoning proposal to push medical marijuana businesses away from religious buildings and schools. The Colorado Springs planning commission is considering new zoning regulations to govern where medical marijuana businesses can be located. The diocese and the college... more »

• Illegal drug use on rise

  September 16, 2010 8:53 AM

  Illegal drug use is at the highest level in nearly a decade. The high rate last year was fueled by a sharp increase in marijuana use and a surge in ecstasy and methamphetamine abuse. The government report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration found marijuana... more »

• Doctors don't want cough syrup taken off the shelf

  September 14, 2010 6:07 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - A panel of medical experts says cough medicines like Robitussin should continue to be sold over-the-counter, despite increasing abuse among teenagers that has prompted calls to restrict the products. The Food and Drug Administration panel voted 15-9 against a proposal that would require a doctor's note... more »

• High fructose corn syrup name change: Corn sugar

  September 14, 2010 11:50 AM

  The makers of high fructose corn syrup want to sweeten up its image with a new name: corn sugar. The bid to rename the sweetener by the Corn Refiners Association comes as Americans' concerns about health and obesity have sent consumption of high fructose corn syrup, used in soft... more »

• FDA may pull diet pill over heart attack risk

  September 13, 2010 10:04 AM

  Federal health scientists are considering pulling Abbott Laboratories' diet pill Meridia off the market, based on data that it increases heart attack and stroke. The Food and Drug Administration has posted its safety review of Meridia online, ahead of a meeting where outside experts will weigh in on the... more »

• Researchers find genetic link to ovarian cancer

  September 10, 2010 10:12 AM

  Johns Hopkins University scientists have identified two genes critical to ovarian clear cell carcinoma, one of the most aggressive form of the disease. Those genetic mutations may cause 10-percent of ovarian cancer cases. The discovery could lead to new treatments for ovarian cancer and better understanding of the... more »

• Gov. Ritter could allow nurses to give anesthesia

  September 3, 2010 12:17 PM

  Colorado could join 15 other states in allowing advanced-practice nurses to administer anesthesia without a doctor's supervision. The Denver Post reports Gov. Bill Ritter is leaning toward making the change to help rural hospitals who don't have anesthesiologists on staff. A decision is expected in the next two weeks.... more »

• Bone drugs may raise risk of throat cancer

  September 3, 2010 9:15 AM

  A new study suggests that people who take bone-strengthening drugs for several years may have a slightly higher risk of throat cancer. The findings contradict another recent study that used the same database of 80,000 patients. It concluded that there was no link between drugs to prevent or treat... more »

• DASH diet dramatically lowers heart attack risk

  September 1, 2010 10:30 AM

  The DASH eating plan known to help lower blood pressure and cholesterol has also been found to reduce the risk of a heart attack. The DASH diet emphasizes fruits, veggies and lean meats, while reducing saturated fats, red meat and sugar. Researchers at Johns Hopkins found patients on... more »

• Former Colorado Springs executives indicted

  August 31, 2010 8:36 AM

  Three former executives of a Colorado Springs medical equipment company and a consultant are named in a federal indictment claiming that they imported medical devices that weren't cleared for use by the federal government. The U.S. attorney's office in Denver said Monday that the former Spectranetics Corp. officials have... more »

• Medical pot stolen from Colorado home

  August 30, 2010 9:23 AM

  Fort Morgan police say two people wearing masks broke into a resident's home, hit him with a bong-shaped pipe, and stole his medical marijuana. Fort Morgan police Lt. Jared Crone says it's unknown whether the masked people were targeting the home this week because of medical marijuana. Police say... more »

• El Paso County medicinal pot ban up to voters

  August 26, 2010 3:01 PM

  El Paso County voters will decide in November whether to allow or ban medical marijuana dispensaries in unincorporated areas of the county. Commissioners voted 4-1 Thursday to put the issue on the ballot. The county has held a series of meetings inviting public input. They could have made the... more »

• El Paso County resumes debate over medical marijuana

  August 26, 2010 9:44 AM

  The El Paso County commissioners are once again debating whether medical marijuana operations should be allowed in unincorporated parts of the county. The commissioners are expected to consider Thursday whether to ask voters to weigh in or decide the issue themselves. They postponed a decision after a daylong hearing... more »

• Some migraines linked to heart attack,stroke

  August 25, 2010 10:35 AM

  New research suggests some migraine sufferers have a higher risk of dying from heart disease and stroke. The study from the University of Iceland followed over 18,000 men and women for 26 years. Researchers found those who had migraines with aura, or vision problems during their headaches, were at... more »

• Medical marijuana forum

  August 18, 2010 4:21 PM

  The hour long debate proved one thing, you need more than an hour to cover this issue. City Councilmen Sean Paige and Tom Gallagher argued for medical marijuana dispensaries, saying the voters have already voted to approve them. "Unfortunately we've allowed politicians to react to the situation and... more »

• Dead man at Pueblo marijuana farm identified

  August 16, 2010 12:16 PM

  The Pueblo County Sheriff's Office is investigating a suspicious death. A man was found dead Sunday morning at the medical marijuana farm where he worked in Pueblo County. He's been identified as Kenneth Rose, Jr., 53. Pueblo County Coroner Dr. James Kramer performed an autopsy on Rose Monday. He... more »

• Woman still suffering a year after rattle snake bite

  August 13, 2010 6:38 PM

  A woman in Pueblo West is facing mounting medical bills and a terrifying health situation nearly a year after being bitten by a rattle snake. Rebecca Armstrong's pain and wounds are still so severe doctors may have to amputate her arm. "I never saw, I never heard anything, I felt... more »

• El Paso County delays decision on medical pot ban

  August 13, 2010 8:17 AM

  The El Paso County commissioners have postponed a decision on whether voters should have an option to ban medical marijuana centers in unincorporated parts of the county. The commissioners heard testimony most of Thursday from law enforcement and residents worried about the proliferation of the centers and from medical... more »