Sources: Former Troopers Assoc New Jersey (Facebook); RollingStone.com
On Tuesday, October 6, 2020, New Jersey troopers responded to a multi-car motor vehicle crash with injuries. When they arrived on scene, they observed a man being pulled out of his vehicle by an off-duty firefighter.
The man was unconscious and not breathing. Without hesitation, Trooper Kyle Gorman retrieved an automated external defibrillator (AED) and began performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the victim. After several rounds of CPR, the victim regained a pulse, but he was still gasping for air and struggling to breathe.
Trooper Pierre Haddad, who is also an EMT (emergency medical technician), arrived on scene shortly afterwards. Trooper Haddad used an oropharyngeal airway, which is a medical device used to open or maintain a patient’s airway to assist in supplying oxygen to the victim. Paramedics arrived on scene to transport the man to an area hospital.
It was later discovered that the victim was a retired New Jersey Trooper, Sergeant First Class Peter Visconti. We are happy to report that due to the quick and decisive actions of Trooper Gorman, Trooper Haddad, and several other good Samaritans on scene, Trooper Visconti was able to make a full recovery.
Click here to learn more about CPR and training.
The United Nations’ Commission for Narcotic Drugs, made up of 53 member states, voted to remove medicinal cannabis from a category of dangerous drugs from the list of Schedule IV narcotics. The category includes mostly opioids such as heroin and various kinds of fentanyl.
While the UN’s decision has no impact on the marijuana laws of individual countries, it could make it easier to conduct medical marijuana research, it coincides with the United States House of Representatives announcing that it would vote on the first federal marijuana legalization bill.
The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act would decriminalize cannabis federally and institute various social and criminal justice measures that would benefit communities of color that were disproportionately impacted by the War on Drugs, and help them get a foothold in the legal cannabis industry.
But while the MORE Act is expected to pass the Democratic-controlled House, it’s unlikely the Republican-controlled Senate will vote on it any time soon.