Through The Alpha Smoke Screens

Cannabis remains the most commonly used illicit substance world-wide, with international estimates indicating that 2.8%-4.5% of the global population use cannabis each year. This prevalence rate has not changed substantially in the past decade and there is no indication that it will do so in the next decade. In line with this, many prominent organizations and individuals have acknowledged that the “war on drugs” has failed and are now calling for a rethink on drug-related policy and legal frameworks. With a growing number of jurisdictions across the world heeding this call and introducing legislation to decriminalize or legalize cannabis use, it is essential that any changes to legal frameworks and public health policies are based on the best available scientific evidence. To facilitate the adoption of an evidence-based approach to cannabis policy, the aim of this Research Topic was to gather a comprehensive body of research to clarify the current state of evidence relating to cannabis use. Of interest were articles addressing the following questions: • How do we study cannabis use? (e.g., recruitment; measuring dose/use; assessing dependence/problematic use; confounding; translation of findings from animal studies) • What do we know about cannabis use? (e.g., patterns, contexts, methods of use) • What do we know about people who use cannabis? (e.g., who uses cannabis and why) • What are the social settings, norms and cultural values that go along with cannabis use? • How is problematic cannabis use, as opposed to mere use, defined, judged and constructed in different societies? • What do we know about the effects/outcomes of cannabis use? (e.g., acute, short- and long-term; harms/ benefits) • What do we know about the factors associated with the initiation, continuance and cessation of cannabis use? • What do we know about the medicinal use of cannabis? (e.g., who uses medicinally and why; efficacy/effectiveness in different clinical populations; comparison with other medications) • What do we know about treatment for people who engage in problematic cannabis use? (e.g., who seeks/is referred to treatment and why; efficacy and effectiveness) • What do we know about cannabis? (e.g., pharmacodynamics/pharmacokinetics of different strains, cultivation, preparation and consumption methods) • How do policy and legal frameworks impact on the people who use cannabis? • What is the future for cannabis research? (e.g., potential avenues for future research; aspects needing more attention; innovative approaches; political/funding issues affecting cannabis research)

It has been used in sacred ceremonies, in medicine, and as a life-saving cash crop in the New World. But today, tobacco is a problem—a big problem. It is one of the first substances to which young people become addicted, and it contains thousands of chemicals that are dangerous to smokers and to those who are simply in the proximity of the smoke. In Tobacco: Through the Smoke Screen, you’ll learn the story of tobacco, its history, its role in culture, and its dangers. You will also learn about the power of tobacco over smokers and chewers, and how cigarette makers help increase its hold—and make it more difficult to live without it. Last of all, you’ll find suggestions on how to kick the tobacco habit and reverse its ill effects.

The first definitive guide to the rapidly expanding multi-manager industry. More than 20 leading practitioners (including product providers, distributors, private and institutional investors, trustees and consultants) provide you with a global overview of the industry.

New developments in assessing and managing risk are discussed in this volume. Addressing both practitioners in the banking sector and research institutions, the book provides a manifold view on the most-discussed topics in finance. Among the subjects treated are important issues such as: risk measures and allocation of risks, factor modeling, risk premia in the hedge funds industry and credit risk management. The volume provides an overview of recent developments as well as future trends in the area of risk assessment.

This book makes essential reading for all financial professionals who work with or allocate assets to hedge funds, including private and institutional investors, fund of funds managers, hedge funds managers themselves, brokers, administrators and custodians. Also helpful to anyone addressing the challenges of hedge funds, including traditional asset managers, financial analysis, consultants and advisors.

"Examines the ramifications of the 2007-08 financial crisis on the financial services industry and some of its practices and how these are likely to change in the future"--Provided by publisher.

The purpose of this book is to present the principles of alternative investments in management. The individual chapters provide a detailed analysis of various classes of alternative investments on the financial market. Despite many different definitions of alternative investments, it can be assumed that a classical approach to alternative investments includes hedge funds, fund of funds (FOF), managed accounts, structured products and private equity/venture capital. Alternative investment in keeping with this broad definition is the subject of consideration here. The theoretical part of each chapter is meant to collect, systematize and deepen readers’ understanding of a given investment category, while the practical part of each focuses on an analysis of the current state of development of alternative investments on the global market and outlines the prospects of future market development. This book will be a valuable tool for scholars, practitioners and policy-makers alike.