The Nimbin Hemp Embassy in a non-profit association
incorporated under the name "Nimbin Hemp" and established
in 1992. The Embassy’s objectives are cannabis law reform
through educating the community about hemp products and cannabis,
and promoting a more tolerant and compassionate attitude to
people in general.
WELCOME TO
THE THEATRE
OF
THE WAR ON DRUGS.
"Prohibition was introduced as a fraud; it has been nursed
as a fraud. It is wrapped in the livery of Heaven, but it comes
to serve the devil. It comes to regulate by law our appetites
and our daily lives. It comes to tear down liberty and build
up fanaticism, hypocrisy, and intolerance. It comes to confiscate
by legislative decree the property of many of our fellow citizens.
It comes to send spies, detectives, and informers into our homes;
to have us arrested and carried before courts and condemned
to fines and imprisonments. It comes to dissipate the sunlight
of happiness, peace, and prosperity in which we are now living
and to fill our land with alienations, estrangements, and bitterness.
It comes to bring us evil --only evil-- and that continually.
Let us rise in our might as one and overwhelm it with such indignation
that we shall never hear of it again as long as grass grows
and water runs."
Roger Q. Mills of Texas, 1887.
People often write asking how they can help as a volunteer.
The HEMP Embassy runs an information centre/ paraphernalia
shop in Nimbin all year round to fund our fight against cannabis
laws. This is staffed by rostered volunteers
who live locally, or are on an extended visit.
If you do not live close enough, there is still an opening.
Every year, on the first weekend in May, we
have the Nimbin MardiGrass Drug Law Reform Rally.
To do this takes lots of volunteers
who live locally OR are attending the MardiGrass. We have volunteers
from all over the world who come to help make MardiGrass possible,
not just stand and watch. It's fantastic to see. Feel free to
come and joint in.
If you ever come to Australia, drop in to the HEMP Embassy
in Nimbin. Try to make it coincide with MardiGrass, if u can....otherwise,
come anyway, or oppose stupid laws wherever you are, and you
will be helping us all...
That is the Norml state of affairs, but if you feel you have
special skills that could help the cause, or see a need that
isn't catered to, then communicate
and contribute.
Send us your hemp related writings or art!
"Reject the illusion of power
brought by violence."
"Men, it has been well said, think in herds;
it will be seen that they go mad in herds, while they only recover
their senses slowly, and one by one." -- Charles Mackaya
George changed over to a blog after June 15th 2008...
Click above address for the "links
by george" blog. Top right of that page are links to all earlier
editions.
Greetings from the rain forest and hope everyone
is well. I invite you to check out the latest news stories as
well as art offerings. When opening the blog link, if you scroll
down to the bottom of the page, right above the Quotes and Punmaster
Music Article section, I keep adding new art images that you
might enjoy looking at.
As you know, the articles are arranged in a display ranging
from shamanism, health and environmental news, global stories,
politics and the economy in the US. Afterwards are the weekly
quotes and then the music news from punmasters.
Also, please consider any possible donation which of course
will be greatly appreciated.
Click on the link above for the latest "links by george"
newsletter and blog.
A nice week to you.
George
Come join us at
the next Tuntable family dinner cafe night this Sunday starting
at 5pm. The theme will be Greek and as always, it will be low
cost vegetarian cuisine with musicians encouraged to come play
as well. The new oven has been installed in the Tuntable community
center/shop and we are happy to start if off with lots of delicious
food items. Looking forward to seeing you then.
George, Stephanie, Nicolette, Sophia and now, our son John
"The
person who stands up and says, 'This is stupid,' either is asked
to behave or, worse, is greeted with a cheerful, 'Yes, we know!
Isn't it terrific!'" ~~~ Frank Zappa
On the 23 of August we will be going to NSW Parliament House
to hand over our terms for a treaty on Cannabis.
Leaving Nimbin at 10:00AM on Sunday 21st of August.
A treaty will be drawn up and presented to the Secretary of
Health as it is the Health Department that control the Growing
and Possession of cannabis in NSW for medical purposes. We will
be asking that person to discuss a treaty. With the help and
support of the Hemp Embassy we will be asking everyone to come
down and support this.
Bring a joint or we will be dispensing cannabis tincture free
of charge to all who bring a letter from their doctor stating
they have an illness cannabis is known to treat.
We will also be asking the NSW Health Minister to issue a Card
protecting patients from harassment. This should have been done
a long time ago in accordance with the TGA Special Access Scheme.
If they are unwilling to provide this medicine they cannot stop
you from providing your own. This is in Law.
If the Secretary of Health will not talk, or if for some reason
they do not exist, as has been implied in some correspondence,
then we will be going straight to the NSW High Court. A letter
of Notice has been sent to the NSW Health Department advising
action will be taken on that day.
It is time to stand up and show we have the courage. Not only
to help ourselves but to help others less fortunate. Lets help
them have a quality of life they deserve.
Lets sit down and have a smoke or a cookie or even a home made
tincture – whatever you like. Lets sit down and actually
talk about the end of the 100 year war.
MULLAWAYS MEDICAL CANNABIS PTY LTD
3 February 2010
I have recently become aware that seeds called “The Clever
Man” are becoming available and I wish to state that these
are not “The Clever Man” and I have never given
or sold seeds from this breed.
Anyone who is a medical grower and has been privileged to receive
my seeds (free) would know that I only give away hybrid’s,
which are NOT being used in my breeding programs.
While these will produce some very nice plants, they will be
unstable and I must stress to people these are NOT “The
Clever Man”, and its breeding is only known to me and
to IP Australia where it is currently being registered and is
nearly at completion.
So whoever is using this name should stop deceiving people,
and make their own breeds if they know how, they will find it
very hard to make a stable breed that is distinct and uniform.
Regards
MULLAWAYMAN
Director and Founder
MULLAWAYS MEDICAL CANNABIS PTY LTD
Hi All, in recognition of Colorado state's regulatory
efforts to balance the need to protect it's citizens from impaired
drivers, with an appropriate science-based protection of basic
rights of the states medical marihuana patients, I am providing
you with some peer reviews scientific articles that I hope will
shape your views especially with regard to the 5ng/ml plasma
THC level under consideration.
As you can readily see in table 2 of the attached
article (the relevant portion shown below), the plasma THC concentration
in the baseline control subjects (consisting of heavy cannabis
users with an average age of 23.2 years) was already well above
proposed limit for determining impairment.
________________________________________
Furthermore, the author's conclusions based on performance tests,
were fully consistent with previous studies that demonstrated
limited impairment caused by THC in regular cannabis users.
"Previous research has demonstrated that
daily cannabis users are less sensitive to the impairing effects
of ?9- tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) intoxication on cognitive
and psychomotor functions (D'Souza et al. 2008; Hart et al.
2001; Jones et al. 1981; Ramaekers et al. 2009) that have often
been demonstrated in occasional cannabis smokers (Curran et
al. 2002; Hart et al. 2002; Heishman et al. 1989; Lamers and
Ramaekers 2001; Ramaekers et al. 2004; Ramaekers et al. 2006a),
even when THC concentrations and levels of subjective high are
similar (Ramaekers et al. 2009). This loss of sensitivity or
tolerance to the behavioral effects of THC after prolonged use
is believed to result from a change in pharmacodynamic response
as evinced by CB1 receptor downregulation in large parts of
the brain (Gonzalez et al. 2005). Alternatively, it has also
been suggested that heavy cannabis users recruit alternative
neural networks as a compensatory mechanism during task performance.
Eldreth et al. (2004) and Kanayama et al. (2004) showed that
compared with controls, cannabis users utilized additional brain
regions to perform cognitive tasks, i.e., they compensated by
working harder and recruiting compensatory networks."
The authors further concluded:
"THC did not affect performance of heavy
cannabis users in the critical tracking task, the stop-signal
task, and the Tower of London. These tasks have previously been
shown to be very sensitive to the impairing potential of THC
when administered to infrequent cannabis (Ramaekers et al. 2006a)."
They also noted:
"However it was interesting to note that
tolerance was not apparent in all performance tasks. During
divided- attention task performance, THC increased the number
of control losses and reaction time and decreased the number
of correct signal detections. Number of times that subjects
lost control over the primary task (tracking) during this dual
task performance appeared particularly sensitive to the impairing
effect of THC." It is worth noting that sleep deprived
subjects also show performance deficits in this task.
In view of the above data, the proposed regulatory
plasma limit would unfairly single out sick medical marijuana
patients as being impaired through the use of criteria that
were inappropriate for this population. Furthermore, infrequent
users will tend to have lower THC concentrations while being
more impaired, thus defeating the very purpose of the regulations.
In view of the above peer reviewed science, setting inappropriate
THC plasma levels would needlessly harm patients and burden
the judicial system.
It would make a lot of sense to test for both
THC and alcohol to determine impairment. The 5 ng/ml would probably
make sense when determined in conjunction with the alcohol level.
I have also attached an study that examined marijuana
as a potential causative agent for automobile accidents in Colorado.
The authors concluded "Alcohol remains the dominant drug
associated with injury- producing traffic crashes. Marijuana
is often detected, but in the absence of alcohol, it is not
associated with crash responsibility."
On December 20, 2010 11:32:35 PM MST, DrBob wrote:
Hi All, in recognition of Colorado state's regulatory
efforts to balance the need to protect it's citizens from impaired
drivers, with an appropriate science-based protection of basic
rights of the states medical marihuana patients, I am providing
you with some peer reviews scientific articles that I hope will
shape your views especially with regard to the 5ng/ml plasma
THC level under consideration.
As you can readily see in table 2 of the attached article (the
relevant portion shown below), the plasma THC concentration
in the baseline control subjects (consisting of heavy cannabis
users with an average age of 23.2 years) was already well above
proposed limit for determining impairment.
Furthermore, the author's conclusions based on performance tests,
were fully consistent with previous studies that demonstrated
limited impairment caused by THC in regular cannabis users.
"Previous research has demonstrated that daily cannabis
users are less sensitive to the impairing effects of ?9- tetrahydrocannabinol
(THC) intoxication on cognitive and psychomotor functions (D'Souza
et al. 2008; Hart et al. 2001; Jones et al. 1981; Ramaekers
et al. 2009) that have often been demonstrated in occasional
cannabis smokers (Curran et al. 2002; Hart et al. 2002; Heishman
et al. 1989; Lamers and Ramaekers 2001; Ramaekers et al. 2004;
Ramaekers et al. 2006a), even when THC concentrations and levels
of subjective high are similar (Ramaekers et al. 2009). This
loss of sensitivity or tolerance to the behavioral effects of
THC after prolonged use is believed to result from a change
in pharmacodynamic response as evinced by CB1 receptor downregulation
in large parts of the brain (Gonzalez et al. 2005). Alternatively,
it has also been suggested that heavy cannabis users recruit
alternative neural networks as a compensatory mechanism during
task performance. Eldreth et al. (2004) and Kanayama et al.
(2004) showed that compared with controls, cannabis users utilized
additional brain regions to perform cognitive tasks, i.e., they
compensated by working harder and recruiting compensatory networks."
The authors further concluded:
"THC did not affect performance of heavy cannabis users
in the critical tracking task, the stop-signal task, and the
Tower of London. These tasks have previously been shown to be
very sensitive to the impairing potential of THC when administered
to infrequent cannabis (Ramaekers et al. 2006a)."
They also noted:
"However it was interesting to note that tolerance was
not apparent in all performance tasks. During divided- attention
task performance, THC increased the number of control losses
and reaction time and decreased the number of correct signal
detections. Number of times that subjects lost control over
the primary task (tracking) during this dual task performance
appeared particularly sensitive to the impairing effect of THC."
It is worth noting that sleep deprived subjects also show performance
deficits in this task.
In view of the above data, the proposed regulatory plasma limit
would unfairly single out sick medical marijuana patients as
being impaired through the use of criteria that were inappropriate
for this population. Furthermore, infrequent users will tend
to have lower THC concentrations while being more impaired,
thus defeating the very purpose of the regulations. In view
of the above peer reviewed science, setting inappropriate THC
plasma levels would needlessly harm patients and burden the
judicial system.
It would make a lot of sense to test for both THC and alcohol
to determine impairment. The 5 ng/ml would probably make sense
when determined in conjunction with the alcohol level.
I have also attached an study that examined marijuana as a potential
causative agent for automobile accidents in Colorado. The authors
concluded "Alcohol remains the dominant drug associated
with injury- producing traffic crashes. Marijuana is often detected,
but in the absence of alcohol, it is not associated with crash
responsibility."
Thank you for your consideration,
Dr Bob
Ramaekers, J. G. et al. Tolerance and cross-tolerance to neurocognitive
effects of THC and alcohol in heavy cannabis users. Psychopharmacology
(Berl) (2010).
Lowenstein, S. R. & Koziol-McLain, J. Drugs and traffic
crash responsibility: a study of injured motorists in Colorado.
J Trauma 50, 313-320 (2001).
On Jan 26, 2011, at 4:37 PM, Howard Weiss wrote:
Hi, Dr. Melamede. It's Howard Weiss, the psychiatrist
with whom you spoke yesterday. I am reminding you to send me
all the good data you told me about on the phone yesterday.
Would you be willing to come down here to Denver to testify
re- the asinine notion (of course, I know you will put it in
your own words!) of the 5 ng./ml blood level law they are looking
at?
Yesterday (Saturday January
9 2010) about 12 New Zealand Police walked through my open door,
entered The Daktory for the first time in the 14 months we have
been open and exercised a search warrant. They found a few plants
and a couple of ounces. I was arrested, charged with cultivation
of cannabis and released on bail.
Today Sunday News have a front
page headline “Pot shops to open across NZ” followed
by a two page spread.
Lets hope we see some of this
on the 6pm news, the more media coverage the better.
Stuff.co.nz have a poll going
with the article posted this morning about The Daktory, current
votes are: Yes, it should be decriminalised: 552 votes, 62.8%,
No, the laws are fine: 327 votes, 37.2%, so it seems the NZ
public is heading in the right direction.
We're very sad to announce that Rose Tattoo founding member
and guitarist Mick Cocks lost his battle against liver cancer
and passed away on December 22, 2009.
Medical Cannabis?
If you have a statement from your doctor confirming you have
a condition that is known to benefit from cannabis you may be
able to visit Australia’s first Medical Cannabis Dispensary
in Nimbin.
Director of Mullaway’s Medical Cannabis Pty Ltd, Anthony
Bower says he has waited long enough. “We are sick of
being ignored,” said Mr Bower who has been breeding, growing
and researching cannabis strains for their medicinal properties
for over thirty years. “The Premiers Department is taking
too long, and I have friends who are dying or suffering terrible
pain and I know I can help them. It is against my culture to
with-hold help from someone who asks, if I have the knowledge
and the means to assist and reduce their pain and suffering.”
“I have been in communication with the Premier and the
Health De partment for a year now and they are just stalling.
Premier Nathan Rees sent his best wishes in his letter last
week and I appreciate his support.”
A Medical Cannabis Dispensary, which provides therapeutic doses
of cannabis, of a known potency and character, to patients who
present evidence of their condition from their doctor, is an
entirely unremarkable sight in many western world communities.
In 14 of the US States, the dispensing of medical cannabis is
legal, with another 13 indicating an intention to follow very
soon. In Los Angeles there are currently more than 1100 dispensaries
operating, or three times as many cannabis dispensaries as there
are McDonald’s restaurants. In several Canadian provinces
medical cannabis dispensaries have been operating for more than
a decade.
Nimbin’s Medical Cannabis Dispensary began operating on
World AIDS Day, 1st December, with free medicine dispensed to
genuine cardholders from other countries and Australians with
a statement of condition from their doctor. Throughout the world,
medical cannabis is used to treat: nausea, vomiting, premenstrual
syndrome, unintentional weight loss and lack of appetite, spasticity,
neurogenic pain and movement disorders, asthma, glaucoma, in
flammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease / ulcerative
colitis) , migraine, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis and spinal
cord injuries, Tourette’s syndrome, obsessive–compulsive
disorders, alcohol abuse, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder,
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, collagen-induce d arthritis,
rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, atherosclerosis, autism, bipolar
disorder, childhood mental disorders, colorectal cancer, depression,
diabetic retinopathy, dystonia, epilepsy, digestive diseases,
gliomas , hepatitis C, Huntington’s disease , hypertension,
urinary incontinence, leukaemia , skin tumours, morning sickness,
methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Parkinson’s
disease, pruritus, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), sickle-cell
disease, and sleep apnoea.
Discuss this with your doctor. He does not have to write out
a recommendation, but merely give you a statement of your condition.
"To rank today's commonly used drugs by their addictiveness,
we asked experts to consider two questions: How easy is it to
get hooked on these substances and how hard is it to stop using
them? Although a person's vulnerability to drug also depends
on individual traits -- physiology, psychology, and social and
economic pressures -- these rankings reflect only the addictive
potential inherent in the drug. The numbers below are relative
rankings, based on the experts' scores for each substance:
[From: _In Health_, Nov/Dec 1990; eye-balling by Harel Barzilai;
relative rankings are definite, numbers given are (+/-)1%]
Drugs are a field of paradoxes. Those deemed
experts have not used the drugs they are supposed to be expert
on.
The opinions of those who have used the drugs are discounted.
Why? Because they are drug users and therefore are unreliable?
Tell me this is not a paradox.
There is no division of method of use in this list. The addictiveness
of a drug can depend to some degree on whether they are eaten,
smoked, snorted, or injected. There is some consensus that injecting
a drug indicates a higher level of dependence.
For those people susceptible to opiates, they are more addictive
than anything else. The same for someone susceptible to any
particular intoxicant. Thus I would have my own individual list
of relative addictiveness, as follows;
As many of you may be aware our pure
organic hemp oil is of the highest quality food grade and yet
we are still prohibited to sell it as a consumable product.
If you feel good health and nutrition is a basic right and would
like to see Australian legislation step in line with other western
countries to allow hemp foods for consumption please visit our
have
'your say!' page to lend your support.
Change is gently flowing in the wind and I feel positive outcomes
are on the horizon.
Please note if you purchase any hemp oil it is advisable to
keep it refrigerated after opening for optimal freshness.
To get an insight into the health benefits
of hemp foods please check out the You Tube video called "The
Hemp Movement with Living Harvest" Another thing to
consider is the potential economical benefits a thriving hemp
foods industry could bring to Australia.
Dear friend,
On November 11th, at 11am, there will be a gathering in Allsop
Park, Nimbin, to OM for World Peace, 11:11:11. We will sing
songs for peace, share food and relax together. If you can't
come, try and remember to send out an OM for peace wherever
you are.
May peace prevail on earth.
Love from Heidi, Katie, Benny and peace lovers around the world.
The report on the state of the drugs problem in Europe presents
the EMCDDA's yearly overview of the drug phenomenon. This is
an essential reference book for policymakers, specialists and
practitioners in the drugs field or indeed anyone seeking the
latest findings on drugs in Europe. Published every autumn,
the report contains non-confidential data supported by an extensive
range of figures.
Here is actual the memo from the US Dept Justice on
new ruling re mmj. This is profoundly good for the future.
This morning, the U.S. Department of Justice
issued new guidelines on medical marijuana. These guidelines
are a big victory for medical marijuana patients. There is still
much more work to be done, but this is a great step in the right
direction.
The Federal guidelines are directed
at U.S. Attorneys in states that have adopted medical use laws.
In the words of US Attorney General Eric Holder:
"It will not be a priority
to use federal resources to prosecute patients with serious
illnesses or their caregivers who are complying with state laws
on medical marijuana, but we will not tolerate drug traffickers
who hide behind claims of compliance with state law to mask
activities that are clearly illegal."
from Smokin' Moose
The Moose with Dr Norm Stamper of
LEAP, in Canberra.
On April Fool's Day, 2008, Police raided and searched the Hemp
Embassy, Hemp Bar, and Museum. After the raid a closure order
for the MardiGrass weekend was made under the Restricted Premises
Act.
So far none of the property seized has been returned, and all
attempts to negotiate the return of errelevant items have fallen
on stony ground. We are currently going through the courts to
try to get our stock returned.
October 2009: At long last we have got most of our
stock back!
"Users of alcohol are subject to formal control only for
defined public behaviour. By contrast, the use of cannabis is
subject to prohibition, irrespective of the behaviour which
that drug induces. This approach misses the mark of social concern,
and results in imposing control on many persons who have posed
little risk to self or society and have not exhibited behaviour
of the kind which normally warrants application of the criminal
law."
The Honourable Justice Peter D Applegarth Judge, Supreme Court
of Queensland
University Education
Bachelor of Civil Laws, University of Oxford (1985) Bachelor
of Laws, First Class Honours, University of Queensland (1980)
Bachelor of Arts, University of Queensland (1978)
Judicial Career
Judge, Supreme Court of Queensland (2008–)
The Big Joint had an eventful outing to the Lismore Hospital
when PM Rudd visited recently on his health rescue mission across
the country. AAP had written a story that was printed across
the nation that morning,'Lobbyists to ambush Rudd with giant
joint." And the giant inflatable didn't let them down,
dancing majestically in the sharp breeze until it pricked itself
on the hospitals "smoke free' sign.
"Isn't all drug use a health issue?" asked a Polite
spokesperson.
"We are as determined as ever to keep cannabis law reform
on the agenda. The PM needs to pull this issue out from the
bottom of the too hard basket. Just this month Mexico and Argentina
joined the growing list of countries allowing personal amounts
of previously illegal drugs. The reasons they gave...'to counteract
prison overcrowding, an increase in organised crime and rampant
drug violence' are a clear warning to us. There is also a new
report out about Portugal, decriminalised since 1996, having
less problems and a decline in drug use! How long do we have
to wait for some sanity on this issue?"
And so the Big Joint is again venturing off, this time to Sydney's
Powerhouse Museum to attend the first National Cannabis Conference
on September 7-8, hosted by NCPIC, the National Cannabis Prevention
and Information Centre. The Polite BJ crew will bring some real
life experience to the conference and again be collecting HEMP
Party members and putting decriminalisation on the menu.
"Stopping at a couple of beaches on the way down, we want
to bring awareness to the desperate need to end prohibition
and regulating medical cannabis as the obvious next step on
the way to full relegalization," said Max Stone, the unofficial
smokesperson for the mission.
On Friday September 4th, a "Cannabis Convoy" of unmarked
Polite cars and vans will be leaving Nimbin and if you are interested
in joining drop in to the Polite Bureau HEMP Bar. On Saturday
Big Joint plans to visit Dixon Park Beach in Newcastle and then
on Sunday visits Bondi Beach for a photo op and membership drive.
Monday, BJ visits the Power House Museum, 500 Harris Street
Ultimo, assembling at 8am. The Polite Service in conjunction
with the Interpolite will be doing a dawn photo shoot / live
web cast starting at 4.20.AM (Aussie time) so that our U.K and
European supporters can watch. This venue will be somewhere
in the Sydney C.B.D and will be announced 'twitterishly' at
WWW.BIGJOINT.ORG and facebooked as well!
They need people in Sydney to help with the joint at Bondi
on sunday and the Powerhouse at 8am on Monday!!
And the Polites are forming a choir, apparently to sing at
the Festival of Dangerous Ideas at the Sydney Opera House with
the Big Joint in early October.
Anybody wanting to join the Polite Choir should register at
Polite Headsquarters.
Hello,
My name is Adam Assenberg and I run a Medical Marijuana Radio
show on FM radio that is also streamed on the Internet. Please
check out www.marijuanafactorfiction.org
Giving a neural whip to anyone is an invitation to torture
others.
The Rick Simpson Story: After a serious head injury in 1997,
Rick Simpson sought relief from his medical condition through
the use of medicinal hemp oil. When Rick discovered that Hemp
Oil (not the same as Hemp Seed Oil) with a
high concentration of T.H.C. cured cancers and other illnesses,
he tried to share it with as many people as he could free of
charge. When the story went public, the long arm of the law
snatched the medicine - leaving potentially thousands of people
without their cancer treatments - and leaving Rick with unconsitutional
charges of possessing and trafficking marijuana!
And the website where there is currently an appeal to stop
restricting hemp's use in medicine. http://www.phoenixtears.ca/
The Embassy shop has been unable to find durable herbal vaporisers
within Australia. (Some parts were too easily damaged.) If we
import herbal vaporisers in quantity the duty is prohibitive.
We are currently advising people to buy their herbal vaporisers
individually over the internet, as duty is not normally levied
on individual items, and it is cheaper than buying a commercially
imported item in a shop.
You may need to do some internet research to find a GOOD DURABLE
brand. If a durable local model comes to our attention, we will
stock them.
Police in Nimbin are cracking down on the sale of bongs (water
pipes) and it appears they will no longer countenance the sale
or supply of bongs here and are enforcing the letter of the
law.
About: Dirk Hanson is a freelance science writer and the author
of "The Chemical Carousel: What Science Tells Us About
Beating Addiction." He is also the author of ''The New
Alchemists: Silicon Valley and the Microelectronics Revolution.''
He has worked as a business and technology reporter for numerous
magazines and trade publications. He currently edits the Addiction
Inbox blog.
For health care workers in psychiatric hospitals, it is no
secret: one of the major issues confronting psychiatric facilities
seeking to institute blanket no-smoking policies concerns chronic
inpatients with schizophrenia. Patients with schizophrenia are
almost always heavy cigarette smokers, given a choice. As Edward
Lyon wrote in an analysis of studies and surveys performed throughout
the 1990s: “Many patients in psychiatric hospitals would
smoke two, three, or even four packs of cigarettes a day if
an unlimited supply of cigarettes were available.”
Generally, the rate of inpatient smoking among schizophrenics
is three to four times higher than the general smoking population.
In one British study of 100 institutionalized schizophrenics
cited by Lyon, 92% of the men and 82% of the women were smokers.
Moreover, schizophrenics smoke more cigarettes per day than
other smokers do, and they commonly smoke high-tar, unfiltered
cigarettes — niche brands for heavy smokers used by only
1% of the total smoking population.
Australian research performed in 2001 found that because of
high rates of smoking, “people with mental illness have
30% more heart disease and 30% more respiratory disorders,”
according to Ann Crocker, now a professor of Clinical Psychiatry
at McGill University.
Not only do an estimated 80% of schizophrenics smoke, compared
to roughly 25% of the total adult population, psychiatric facilities
report that depressives and those with anxiety disorders also
smoke in great numbers.
Why?
The review of studies through 1999, undertaken by Lyon and
published in Psychiatric Services, shows unequivocally that
schizophrenic smokers are self-medicating to improve processing
of auditory stimuli and to reduce many of the cognitive symptoms
of the disease. “Neurobiological factors provide the strongest
explanation for the link between smoking and schizophrenia,”
Lyons writes, “because a direct neurochemical interaction
can be demonstrated.”
Of particular interest is the interaction between nicotine
and dopamine in the nucleus accumbens and prefrontal cortex.
Several of the symptoms of schizophrenia appear to be associated
with dopamine release in these brain areas. A 2005 German study
concluded that nicotine improved cognitive functions related
to attention and memory. “There is substantial evidence
that nicotine could be used by patients with schizophrenia as
a ‘self-medication’ to improve deficits in attention,
cognition, and information processing and to reduce side effects
of antipsychotic medication,” the German researchers concluded.
In addition, the process known as “sensory gating,”
which lowers response levels to repeated auditory stimuli, so
that a schizophrenic’s response to a second stimulus is
greater than a normal person’s, is also impacted by cigarettes.
Sensory gating may be involved in the auditory hallucinations
common to schizophrenics. Receptors for nicotine are involved
in sensory gating, and several studies have shown that sensory
gating among schizophrenics is markedly improved after smoking.
There is an additional reason why smoking is an issue of importance
for health professionals. According to Lyon, “Several
studies have reported that smokers require higher levels of
antipsychotics than nonsmokers. Smoking can lower the blood
levels of some antipsychotics by as much as 50%…. For
example, Ziedonis and associates found that the average antipsychotic
dosage for smokers in their sample was 590 mg in chlorpromazine
equivalents compared with 375 mg for nonsmokers.”
Smoking among inpatient psychiatric patients is not trivial.
Neither is the decision to institute smoking bans in psychiatric
hospitals, a move that is understandably unpopular with patients.
New Zealand- The Green Party's three-year campaign to allow
cannabis to be used for medicinal purposes came to grief in
Parliament on Wednesday night. Their bill failed on its first
reading, voted down 86-34 on a conscience vote.
Its promoter, Metiria Turei, pleaded with MPs to let it through
so it could go to the health select committee which could hear
evidence of how cannabis eased the suffering of seriously ill
people. "Many people already use it and they live in real
fear of the law," she said.
"Sick and vulnerable New Zealanders are being jailed ...
let MPs hear their stories, let these people have their say."
Under the bill, seriously ill people would be able to apply
for a cannabis card, issued on a doctor's authority and registered
with the police, which would allow them to grow small amounts
of it. Turei said they didn't have to smoke it, they could use
it in other ways to help relieve their pain such as making tea
with it or using it as oil to rub into their limbs.
Zip-ties to identify
Mendocino medical marijuana plants
Zip-ties to identify medical marijuana plants grown in Mendocino
County went on sale for the first time at noon Wednesday. About
1 p.m., a man arrived at the sheriff's headquarters and paid
$150 to buy the first six zip-ties sold by the Mendocino County
Sheriff's Office.
The voluntary zip-tie program for medical marijuana has been
in the works since 2007, when the Sheriff's Office provided
free identification ties.
"If law enforcement shows up and these are attached and
everything else is in compliance," Sheriff Tom Allman said,
"the plants will not be eradicated."
he blue zip ties with a serial number sell for $25 each; they
will be available to veterans and Medi-Cal qualified medical
patients for half price. Medical marijuana zip-ties will be
available at Sheriff's Offices in Ukiah, Willits and Fort Bragg.
Because of needed approval from the county Board of Supervisors
and finalization of the details, the program was not able to
start before now.
"I wish we could have been selling these in April,"
Allman said.
To buy six zip-ties like those sold Wednesday afternoon, bring
a California medical marijuana card or a physician's recommendation
to the Sheriff's Office front desk.
Zip-ties or tags expire either at the end of the calendar year
they were sold in or when a medical marijuana card expires,
is taken away, or surrendered, according to the Sheriff's Office
policy. Zip-ties cannot be transferred from person to person
or to next of kin.
The policy also states that some or all zip-ties can be given
to a designated care giver. Zip-ties are not good in other counties
and cannot be replaced if they are lost or stolen, according
to the Sheriff's Office. Confidentiality has been one concern
for the program and at one time it looked as though the county's
Health and Human Services department would sell zip-ties.
The Sheriff's Office makes a copy of a medical marijuana card,
but name, address, phone number, driver's license or medical
condition are not asked.
This site has a lot of internal links to interesting
news and images. Well worth a look.
Dr. Robert J. Melamede Ph.D. Chairman of the Biology
Department of the University of Colorado:
"The Cannabinoid System has been around for over 600 million
years. Before the Dinosaurs. The Cannabinoid System is continuously
evolutioning and has been retained by all new species. Food
and feeding is at the heart of the Cannabinoid System."
More here!
SAN FRANCISCO, Jun 18, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) ----Cannabis
Science Inc. (NASD OTCBB: CBIS:), an emerging pharmaceutical
cannabis company, announced today that patent filings are expected
for two of its key innovations. "The Drug Development Team
members recognize the importance of having our first cannabis-based
medicine covered, not just by one patent, but by two,"
Dr. Mary J. Ruwart, Vice President, Research & Development
explained. "A competitor can sometimes engineer
a way around a single patent. Patenting both the manufacturing
process as well as the delivery system virtually guarantees
that our product will be immune to 'invasion' by a competing
company."
Cannabis Science CEO, Steve Kubby, is the
inventor who will assign both of his patents to Cannabis Science.
"Our new manufacturing process allows for the rapid and
uniform harvesting of cannabis 'trichomes,' the part of the
plant containing the active ingredient, THC," Kubby told
potential investors today. "Just as the cotton gin made
cotton harvesting economically feasible, our innovative process
will revolutionize trichome harvesting."
"Having a creative mind like Steve Kubby's at the helm
gives us a competitive advantage," Dr. Robert Melamede,
Chief Scientific Officer commented. "The new manufacturing
process is only the tip of the proverbial iceberg. The unique
drug delivery system he has designed enhances the stability
and uniform absorption of the active ingredient. We expect our
first product to outshine the competition with rapid---and prolonged---blood
levels of THC." More
here!
Cannabis Science fires CEO Steven Kubby Posted by Jack Davis on July 9th, 2009 at 4:02 pm |
Categorized as Cannabis Science, Docu-Drama | Tagged as Cannabis
Science, Departures, Hirings, Robert Melamede, Steve Kubby
The board of Cannabis Science, the San Francisco research and
development firm aiming to develop medicines derived from marijuana,
resolved today to “immediately remove and terminate all
corporate contracts” with Chief Executive Steven Kubby.
Without citing specific instances, the board resolution said
Kubby (pictured) “failed to conduct his duty in the manner
that it is in compliance with his fiduciary duties to preserve
shareholders value and corporate integrity.” Furthermore,
the board said it “hereby” removed his power to
negotiate, sign agreements or conduct banking on behalf of the
company.
We previously posted about the company’s recent hiring
of a firm to provide investor relations activities for the company,
which began trading shares through a reverse merger earlier
this year between Gulf Onshore, a public company that in March
acquired Cannex Therapeutics, a privately held company founded
by Kubby involved in developing medical cannabis-based pharmaceutical
products.
Kubby is described as “an entrepreneur with a wide range
of experience and success in businesses ranging from property
management to publishing to political fundraising,” according
to biographical information included in the company’s
most recent annual 10-K report with the SEC.
Kubby is also identified as the executive director of the American
Medical Marijuana Association, “an internationally recognized
organization comprised of doctors, lawyers, nurses and patients
working for the rights of medical cannabis patients primarily
in the United States and Canada,” according to the 10-K.
Kubby played a key role in the drafting and passing of California’s
historic medical cannabis initiative (Proposition 215) in 1996
and has also authored two books on drug policy reform.
Described as “a widely recognized medical marijuana pioneer
and political leader,” Kubby is said to be “intimately
familiar with the legal and regulatory problems involved in
developing and marketing cannabinoid-based pharmaceuticals.”
As of March 31, the company listed 849,000 in cash on its balance
sheet.
Robert Melamede, a director on the board of Cannabis Science,
was named to take over as chief executive immediately, continuing
until the company’s next general meeting. He will also
serve as the company’s chief financial officer. Both Melamede
and Kubby will continue to serve as directors.
CSI Appoints Dr. Robert Melamede, Ph.D.,
Former Chairman of the Biology Department at University of Colorado,
Colorado Springs, As President & CEO
SAN FRANCISCO, Jul 09, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) ----Cannabis Science
Inc. (NASD OTCBB: CBIS:), an emerging pharmaceutical cannabis
company, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Robert
J. Melamede, Ph.D., as President & CEO, replacing Steven
W. Kubby in that position. Mr. Kubby will remain as a Director
and the company is in discussions with him about his future
role.
Dr. Melamede has previously served as the Chief Science Officer
of Cannabis Science Inc, and will continue in that capacity
as well. Dr. Melamede retired as Chairman of the Biology Department
at University of Colorado, Colorado Springs in 2005, where he
continues to teach.
Dr. Melamede has a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
from the City University of New York. He Dr. Melamede is recognized
as a leading authority on the therapeutic uses of cannabis,
and has authored or co-authored dozens of papers on a wide variety
of scientific subjects. Dr. Melamede also serves on the Advisory
Board of The Journal of the International Association for Cannabis
as Medicine, and the Scientific Advisory Board Medical of the
Marijuana Policy Advocacy Project, as well as the Scientific
Advisory Board of Americans for Safe Access. He also served
as a director of Newellink Inc, a Colorado-based company specializing
in cancer research.
The global market for oral cannabis medications has been recently
estimated at almost $6 billion annually. Cannabis Science proprietary
delivery systems, which insure rapid absorption with prolonged
blood levels of active drug, are expected to give the company's
products a competitive edge worldwide.
About Cannabis Science, Inc.
Cannabis Science, Inc. is at the forefront of medical marijuana
research and development. The company works with world authorities
on phytocannabinoid science targeting critical illnesses, and
adheres to scientific methodologies to develop, produce, and
commercialize phytocannabinoid-based pharmaceutical products.
It is dedicated to the creation of cannabis-based medicines,
both with and without psychoactive properties, to treat disease
and the symptoms of disease, as well as for general health maintenance.
This Press Release includes forward-looking statements within
the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and
Section 21E of the Securities Act of 1934. A statement containing
works such as "anticipate," "seek," intend,"
"believe," "plan," "estimate,"
"expect," "project," "plan," or
similar phrases may be deemed "forward-looking statements"
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995. Some or all of the events or results anticipated
by these forward-looking statements may not occur. Factors that
could cause or contribute to such differences include the future
U.S. and global economies, the impact of competition, and the
Company's reliance on existing regulations regarding the use
and development of cannabis-based drugs. Cannabis Science, Inc.
does not undertake any duty nor does it intend to update the
results of these forward-looking statements.
Dr. Robert Melamede Ph.D. and Cannabis
Science Inc. Respond to an ABC News Report
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Aug 03, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) ----Cannabis
Science, Inc. (OTCBB: CBIS:) an emerging pharmaceutical cannabis
company and its President & CEO, Dr. Robert Melamede Ph.D.,
the former Chairman (ret) of the Biology Department at the University
of Colorado (Colorado Springs.) is responding to an article
on the ABCNews.com website. Please click http://abcnews.go.com/Health/SwineFluNews/story?id=8214468&page=1
to read the article in full. The article portrays the company's
proposed use of cannabinoids in the treatment of Swine Flu as
hoping "to one day make marijuana available nationwide
to kids and teens -- as well as adults -- in the form of a medicinal
throat lozenge."
Cannabis Science would like to Thank ABC News for giving us
the opportunity to clear up common misunderstanding to the controversial
issues surrounding medical marijuana as demonstrated in the
their article. The article includes an interview with a "pulmonary
specialist" who is not associated with Cannabis Science
Inc. He is troubled by 'giving out THC like water', which is
an action that Cannabis Science has never suggested or endorsed.
It goes on to quote the "pulmonary specialist" as
saying, "I don't think many parents would want their kids
'on drugs' for a mild, flu-like illness." The Cannabis
Science influenza formulation has never been suggested to treat
'mild flu like illness' in adults or children. It will be tested
specifically to gain FDA approval for treating lethal conditions
associated with any deadly influenza infections resulting in
virally induced hyper inflammation.
The article concludes with a quote from the same doctor who
says, "No doctor in his right mind would tell a flu patient
to go smoke a joint." Cannabis Science agrees completely.
Publicly in its news releases, Cannabis Science has repeatedly
warned all medical marijuana consumers to not smoke cannabis
when they have an influenza infection and that in fact it could
be deadly.
Cannabis Science Inc., President & CEO, Dr. Robert Melamede
Ph.D., responded by saying, "Some of the comments in this
article are simply inaccurate. As an example, the article's
emphasis on making 'marijuana available nationwide to kids and
teens' implies our primary focus is 'kids and teens' and leaving
adults as secondary. This is not true. In fact, we have never
mentioned, 'kids and teens' in any of our public news release
statements. We left this out intentionally because we believe
this is a decision to be made by the FDA and subsequently upon
approval of our drugs, by licensed physicians. In fact, what
I told ABC News in my interview was that; our medical establishment
routinely gives dangerous addictive narcotics to our children.
If the use of medical marijuana would save the life of my child,
I would have no qualms about using medical marijuana."
Additionally, Dr. Melamede notes, "psychoactive cannabinoids
are in human mother's milk. If God thinks it's all right to
use cannabinoids in an infant's first food, who am I to disagree?
We believe one of our formulations will prevent many deaths
caused by H1N1 Swine Flu and H5N1 Avian Flu. If our formulation
becomes an FDA approved drug and works in adults, we believe
that all parents and their physicians should have the right
to choose the best treatment for a child with a potentially
deadly illness. Public health officials have warned that H1N1
may be comparable to the 1918 Influenza Pandemic that killed
tens of millions globally and hit young people especially hard.
We are optimistic that the FDA has not and will not be distracted
by non-science-based hysteria and will treat cannabis-based
medicines based on documented science as evidenced by its advancement
of other cannabis-based medicines going through the FDA approval
process now."
On 21st October, 2009, Cannabis Science Inc. (OTC:CBIS) an
emerging pharmaceutical cannabis company is very pleased to
announce they have added four prominent attorneys, who specialized
in marijuana-related cases, to its Policy Advisory Board, as
medical marijuana legalization moves closer with President Obama´s
New Medical Marijuana Policies and initiatives.
A note on eating cannabis confections.
If you take it orally (eating cookies, cakes, etc), you could
be in for quite a ride. The liver metabolises THC into 11-OH-*9-THC,
a compound three times more psychoactive. Foods made with high
THC "heads" or hashish can give a powerful, almost
psychedelic experience, which can be very uncomfortable if you're
not expecting it. The effects are slower to come on (1 to 2
hours) and last considerably longer (around 4 hours).
Different people have different experiences. While one person
might go to sleep, another might smile and laugh excessively,
while another might have a panic attack. These are classic responses
but they are by no means definitive. Experiences vary. If smoking
cannabis makes you nervous or agitated, then
consuming cookies (and indeed other temporarily mind altering
drugs) may be inadvisable.
Do not assume cookies from different sources are of the same
strength. Even different batches from the same source can vary.
Know thyself. Stay in your comfort zone. Try half a cookie
first, and assess the effect.
1973 Nimbin Street and Aquarius Festival archival footage.
Sativex is available now in 22 countries including Australia
via what is known as named patient
supply. GW Pharmaceuticals are not allowed to promote this,
so you are not going to see any advertisements or read about
it in newspapers.
Under this procedure, a patient's doctor writes a prescription
for Sativex that is sent to GW Pharmaceuticals in the UK. In
countries that allow this, the material is then sent directly
to the patient. The process begins with the doctor sending an
enquiry to:
Neil Morgan discusses his right to have a private life
which includes the growing and consumption of cannabis. He has
consistently challenged UK law by repeatedly growing cannabis
and going to jail to the point where the judiciary seem to have
grown tired of jailing him... His grounds for challenge? Article
8 of the UN convention on human rights.
Article 8: Right
to respect for private and family life
1. Everyone has
the right to respect for his private and family life, his home
and his correspondence.
2. There shall be no interference by a public authority with
the exercise of
this right except such as is in accordance with the law and
is necessary
in a democratic society in the interests of national security,
public safety
or the economic well-being of the country, for the prevention
of disorder
or crime, for the protection of health or morals, or for the
protection of
the rights and freedoms of others.
It is disappointing to see government bodies propagating
false information, and charging people money to learn that false
information. This is our tax dollars being misdirected into
socio-political agendas masquerading as science.
Weed Nation Soldiers is an advocacy
comic of stoners created by stoners for stoners!
Weed Nation is brought to you
by Inebria Entertainment
A LAW ENFORCEMENT POINT OF VIEW
Employees of Mark Emery, So Called
"Prince of Pot", Plead Guilty
By Drug Enforcement Administration , Enforcing
Controlled Substance Laws - May 08, 2009
In a U.S. court last week, Michelle Rainey and Gregory Keith
Williams both pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Manufacture Marijuana.
Rainey, 38, and Williams, 54, both of Vancouver, British Columbia,
Canada, voluntarily appeared in Seattle to resolve the charges
stemming from a 2005 grand jury indictment. Under the terms
of the plea agreements with Rainey and Williams, both sides
will recommend sentences of two years probation. Sentencing
is scheduled before U.S District Court Judge Ricardo S. Martinez
on July 17, 2009. The lead defendant in the indictment, marijuana
seed distributor Marc Emery, remains in Canada, fighting extradition
to the United States on the charges. Emery bills himself as
the “Prince of Pot.”
According to facts recounted in her plea agreement, Rainey
worked for Emery from 1998 to 2005. Rainey assisted with Emery’s
mail order marijuana seed business filling orders that came
in by mail. At Emery’s instruction, Rainey sent seeds,
as well as growing instructions, out to customers of which 75%
of the customers were located in the United States. Between
2003 and 2005, Rainey earned as much as $1,000 per week mailing
out the seeds and information.
According to his plea agreement, Williams handled the phone
orders for the business and the wire transfer information customers
used for payment. Williams also worked at the seed desk, selling
seeds directly to customers who came into Emery’s store.
On numerous occasions in 2004, Williams sold seeds to a DEA
undercover agent. At Emery’s request, Williams authored
the growing instructions that were mailed out with the marijuana
seeds. Williams income from the business increased over time
and by 2005, Emery was paying him $300.00 per day.
Williams verified that the information posted on the Emery
website claiming that Emery took in more than $3,000,000 annually
selling marijuana seeds was in fact accurate. Emery claims to
have sold more than 4,000,000 marijuana seeds, three-quarters
of those to customers in the United States. Emery is scheduled
for an extradition hearing in Canada on June 1, 2009.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration
and U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Orangeburg, NY: Daily administration of oral synthetic THC
significantly improves symptoms of schizophrenia, according
to the findings of an open-label case series published this
month in the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology.
Synthetic delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (dronabinol) can improve
the symptoms of schizophrenia.
Investigators at the Rockland Psychiatric Center in Orangeburg,
New York, and the New York University School of Medicine, administered
2.5 to 5 mg doses of oral THC (dronabinol) for a period of eight
weeks to six patients diagnosed with chronic, refractory schizophrenia.
All of the patients enrolled in the study had reported previously
using cannabis to mitigate their condition.
"Four of the 6 patients improved to a clinically significant
extent (after taking dronabinol)," researchers reported.
"Three of the six patients had a robust response, with
modest to marked reductions in core psychotic symptoms. Patients
1 and 2 showed improvement within several weeks of beginning
the medication, whereas patient 3 required 8 weeks to reach
significant improvement. In addition, robust improvement in
overall functioning was also observed, with patients 1 to 3
changing from being gravely ill to being functioning individuals
able to be discharged. Patient 4 had more limited improvement
in that he was calmer, cooperative, and less aggressive but
had persistence of his core psychosis. Nevertheless, his overall
functioning was significantly improved. ... There were no clinically
adverse effects."
Investigators concluded, "These results ... open a possible
new role for cannabinoids in the treatment of schizophrenia."
Previous studies assessing the use of marijuana in patients
with schizophrenia have produced mixed results. A 2007 German
study reported improved cognition in patients who used cannabis,
and a 2008 Australian study found that patients diagnosed with
schizophrenia report experiencing subjective relief from pot.
Critics of medical cannabis use have argued that heavy marijuana
use may exacerbate psychosis in patients with mental illness.
However, the largest trial ever conducted comparing cannabis
using and non-using schizophrenic patients reported no statistically
significant "differences in syptomatology between schizophrenic
patients who were or were not cannabis users" after controlling
for patients' age, sex, a nd ethnicity.
For more information, please contact Paul Armentano, NORML
Deputy Director, at: paul@norml.org. Full text of the study,
"Synthetic Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (dronabinol) can
improve symptoms of schizophrenia," appears in the June
issue of the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology.
Few, even in the drug policy world, have paid much attention
to Portugal’s remarkable but sensible 2001decision to
remove drug use and possession from the criminal realm and address
it solely as a public health issue.
The details of Portugal’s system are worth checking out,
but basically Portugal, after careful, empirical study, concluded
that criminalizing drug use was creating two barriers to introducing
treatment to those who might need it. First, it diverted funds
that ought to go to drug treatment to ineffective law enforcement
efforts. Second, the threat of arrest naturally caused those
who might seek treatment to avoid, rather than seek out help
from government institutions.
Under the current system, those caught possessing a personal
amount of drugs, including marijuana, are cited by police and
required to appear before a three-person panel made up of legal
and healthcare professionals within 72 hours. The panel then
conducts an informal interview with the person to determine
what, if any, treatment might be necessary.
Greenwald was careful to note that the policy change was not
an ideological decision, nor was it seen by Portuguese officials
as some sort of social experiment. Rather, it was viewed as
a necessary fix to alarming increases in drug abuse in the late
’90s.
The result, according to Greenwald’s analysis of the data
and countless interviews with Portuguese officials, law enforcement
and clients, has been a hands-down success. Despite some initial
fears, drug use and drug-related crime have not increased. In
many important categories and demographics, 15- to 19-year-olds
for example, drug use rates have actually decreased. And, nearly
eight years later, there’s little enthusiasm at all, even
among conservatives and law enforcement leadership, to go back
to criminalizing personal drug use and possession.
There’s nothing about the conservative, largely Catholic
country that would make its success with decriminal-ization
unique. He also suggested that empirical evidence supporting
reform might be far more persuasive for advocates than ideological
arguments about personal freedom or limiting government intrusion
in adults’ private lives.
Drugs in Portugal:
Did Decriminalization Work?
By Maia Szalavitz
Sunday, Apr. 26, 2009
Pop quiz: Which European country has the most liberal drug laws?
(Hint: It's not the Netherlands.)
Although its capital is notorious among stoners and college
kids for marijuana haze–filled "coffee shops,"
Holland has never actually legalized cannabis — the Dutch
simply don't enforce their laws against the shops. The correct
answer is Portugal, which in 2001 became the first European
country to officially abolish all criminal penalties for personal
possession of drugs, including marijuana, cocaine, heroin and
methamphetamine.
At the recommendation of a national commission charged with
addressing Portugal's drug problem, jail time was replaced with
the offer of therapy. The argument was that the fear of prison
drives addicts underground and that incarceration is more expensive
than treatment — so why not give drug addicts health services
instead? Under Portugal's new regime, people found guilty of
possessing small amounts of drugs are sent to a panel consisting
of a psychologist, social worker and legal adviser for appropriate
treatment (which may be refused without criminal punishment),
instead of jail.
The question is, does the new policy work? At the time, critics
in the poor, socially conservative and largely Catholic nation
said decriminalizing drug possession would open the country
to "drug tourists" and exacerbate Portugal's drug
problem; the country had some of the highest levels of hard-drug
use in Europe. But the recently released results of a report
commissioned by the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank,
suggest otherwise.
The paper, published by Cato in April, found that in the five
years after personal possession was decriminalized, illegal
drug use among teens in Portugal declined and rates of new HIV
infections caused by sharing of dirty needles dropped, while
the number of people seeking treatment for drug addiction more
than doubled.
"Judging by every metric, decriminalization in Portugal
has been a resounding success," says Glenn Greenwald, an
attorney, author and fluent Portuguese speaker, who conducted
the research. "It has enabled the Portuguese government
to manage and control the drug problem far better than virtually
every other Western country does."
Compared to the European Union and the U.S., Portugal's drug
use numbers are impressive. Following decriminalization, Portugal
had the lowest rate of lifetime marijuana use in people over
15 in the E.U.: 10%. The most comparable figure in America is
in people over 12: 39.8%. Proportionally, more Americans have
used cocaine than Portuguese have used marijuana.
The Cato paper reports that between 2001 and 2006 in Portugal,
rates of lifetime use of any illegal drug among seventh through
ninth graders fell from 14.1% to 10.6%; drug use in older teens
also declined. Lifetime heroin use among 16-to-18-year-olds
fell from 2.5% to 1.8% (although there was a slight increase
in marijuana use in that age group). New HIV infections in drug
users fell by 17% between 1999 and 2003, and deaths related
to heroin and similar drugs were cut by more than half. In addition,
the number of people on methadone and buprenorphine treatment
for drug addiction rose to 14,877 from 6,040, after decriminalization,
and money saved on enforcement allowed for increased funding
of drug-free treatment as well.
Portugal's case study is of some interest to lawmakers in the
U.S., confronted now with the violent overflow of escalating
drug gang wars in Mexico. The U.S. has long championed a hard-line
drug policy, supporting only international agreements that enforce
drug prohibition and imposing on its citizens some of the world's
harshest penalties for drug possession and sales. Yet America
has the highest rates of cocaine and marijuana use in the world,
and while most of the E.U. (including Holland) has more liberal
drug laws than the U.S., it also has less drug use.
"I think we can learn that we should stop being reflexively
opposed when someone else does [decriminalize] and should take
seriously the possibility that anti-user enforcement isn't having
much influence on our drug consumption," says Mark Kleiman,
author of the forthcoming When Brute Force Fails: How to Have
Less Crime and Less Punishment and director of the drug policy
analysis program at UCLA. Kleiman does not consider Portugal
a realistic model for the U.S., however, because of differences
in size and culture between the two countries.
But there is a movement afoot in the U.S., in the legislatures
of New York State, California and Massachusetts, to reconsider
our overly punitive drug laws. Recently, Senators Jim Webb and
Arlen Specter proposed that Congress create a national commission,
not unlike Portugal's, to deal with prison reform and overhaul
drug-sentencing policy. As Webb noted, the U.S. is home to 5%
of the global population but 25% of its prisoners.
At the Cato Institute in early April, Greenwald contended that
a major problem with most American drug policy debate is that
it's based on "speculation and fear mongering," rather
than empirical evidence on the effects of more lenient drug
policies. In Portugal, the effect was to neutralize what had
become the country's number one public health problem, he says.
"The impact in the life of families and our society is
much lower than it was before decriminalization," says
Joao Castel-Branco Goulao, Portugual's "drug czar"
and president of the Institute on Drugs and Drug Addiction,
adding that police are now able to re-focus on tracking much
higher level dealers and larger quantities of drugs.
Peter Reuter, a professor of criminology and public policy at
the University of Maryland, like Kleiman, is skeptical. He conceded
in a presentation at the Cato Institute that "it's fair
to say that decriminalization in Portugal has met its central
goal. Drug use did not rise." However, he notes that Portugal
is a small country and that the cyclical nature of drug epidemics
— which tends to occur no matter what policies are in
place — may account for the declines in heroin use and
deaths.
The Cato report's author, Greenwald, hews to the first point:
that the data shows that decriminalization does not result in
increased drug use. Since that is what concerns the public and
policymakers most about decriminalization, he says, "that
is the central concession that will transform the debate."
April '09 * HEMP PARTY
fails membership test again!
Forty two member sample. Eleven
of those sampled denied membership! Only
Fourteen confirmed!
Auckland
Cannabis club tilts at the law
4:00AM Sunday Apr 12, 2009
By David Fisher
A club for cannabis smokers has been openly flouting the law
for months, with hundreds of people a night turning up to buy
and smoke dope.
The "Daktory" has been operating from
an Auckland warehouse since November and boasts having 400 people
on a busy night.
Those behind the scheme are involved in efforts
to have the drug decriminalised, and say they accept arrest
by police is a possible outcome of their provocative club.
One of those involved, Brian Borland, has taken
a further tilt at authority by registering a business through
the Companies Office called the Roaring Lion Cannabis Shoppe.
He says he will pay tax on any cannabis he sells
through the business.
As a promotional stunt, Borland has delivered
cannabis plants to the electorate office of Prime Minister John
Key, and also to TVNZ and TV3.
It follows a trip around the country by the National
Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Laws group in its "canna-bus".
Protests were held in centres across the country where cannabis
was smoked - and overlooked by police.
Daktory manager Dakta Green, who changed his name
by deed poll from Kenneth Morgan, says police appeared to have
been avoiding arrests because it gave the protesters a platform
to campaign from.
The club began operating in November, charging
$20 a month to those who wanted to become members. "It
was a nice, secure place where people can get good quality weed
at a reasonable price."
Green says it proved so popular that the club
- which was R18 - would attract between 300 and 400 people a
night, and membership reached 1500 people by Christmas. He would
not reveal where he sourced the cannabis but said the large
membership meant a lot was sold.
It wound down in February for reorganisation,
and is reopening this week. This time, Green says it will not
sell cannabis because "you can get it anywhere".
When the Herald on Sunday visited, the warehouse
featured dozens of sofas, tables and bookcases, with an area
for table tennis and a bandstand. There were also dozens of
bongs - used for smoking cannabis - and the occasional bowl
containing shreds of the drug.
Borland said police were aware of his actions.
A detective recently rang to invite him to a police station
to be interviewed about delivering cannabis plants to television
stations.
He answered the phone with a cheery "Roaring
Lion Cannabis Shoppe", only to find a police officer on
the phone.
Borland was not charged over delivering the cannabis
plants. Police failed to return calls to answer questions about
the club.
LEGALISATION? YES WE CAN!
Sent in by: Smoking Moose
The Magic Plant
(48 minutes)
A History of Hemp
Report:
Legalising drugs would save UK plc huge
packet Common sense doomed by Guardian/Daily Mail
axis
By Lewis Page
Posted in Policing, 7th April
2009 11:51 GMT
Comment New research has confirmed a reality which is obvious
to many, but which can seldom be acknowledged in British mainstream
politics: that it is primarily the fact of drugs being illegal
which makes them so damaging to society. Furthermore, if drugs
were legalised - even assuming a huge increase in their use
- the public purse would gain substantially.
The confirmation comes in a report from the thinktank Transform,
funded by charitable foundations and individual donors. In it,
the authors note the poor record to date of today's prohibitive
drug laws, which were "established with the clear aim of
reducing drug supply and use, but have achieved the exact opposite
on a consistent basis". In the year 1970, the UK had fewer
than 2000 dependent heroin and cocaine users; by the turn of
the century there were 100,000 in government treatment programmes
and as many as 200,000 more in the population.
The report's authors also note the rather capricious nature
of the UK's drug laws: dangerous alcohol and tobacco are regulated
but permitted, and comparatively innocuous substances such as
ecstasy and cannabis forbidden. This backfires, of course: as
alcohol is mostly supplied by legal and regulated channels,
a parent - for instance - actually has more visibility of and
control over a teenager's alcohol consumption than his or her
possible heroin, cocaine or skunk habit.
Transform also points out the ridiculous way in which the case
for prohibition is pushed, citing as an example the HIV/AIDS
epidemic which resulted among intravenous drug users sharing
needles - a direct consequence of prohibition, not of drug use
itself. Nonetheless, the Home Office actually sought to use
this to justify strict drug laws.
In this case a specific drug-related harm that is almost exclusively
the result of the highrisk behaviours, rituals, products and
environments that stem directly from prohibition and the default
underground drug cultures it creates, is perversely being used
both to justify the continuation of the very policy that has
fostered it in the first instance, and also to argue against
the policy [legalisation and regulation] that would largely
eliminate it.
In the study, the Transform analysts generally describe a worst-case
scenario for legalisation and regulation. They consider only
the benefits from legalised use of cocaine and heroin; they
assume that there would be little or no tax revenue from these
drug users.
Potential taxation revenue is assumed to be fairly small (for
the non-prescribed opiate and cocaine market), in the region
of tens of millions, once the inflationary pressures of prohibition
are removed. These figures have not been calculated or included.
The analysis also ignores many large potential benefits to
Blighty of legalised drug use, such as no longer having to fight
the war in Afghanistan with one hand tied behind our backs.
(One of the greatest handicaps for our troops there is that
they are committed to wiping out the opiate-farming sector,
the region's main profitable business. This drives people into
the arms of the Taliban, as well as offering them a ready source
of funds.) But this is not included in the report.
We have deliberately been conservative in our assumptions
regarding the benefits of moving to legal regulation of drugs,
and the costs of prohibition. Substantial and acknowledged costs
of the current system of prohibition, prominently including
international drug enforcement and the illicit trade’s
impact on destabilisation of producer and transit countries
(conflict, corruption, terrorism in Afghanistan for example),
are not included ...
The main, easily visible benefit of legalisation, according
to Transform, would be that junkies would no longer need to
mug and burgle to pay for their habits. Legal drugs would be
much cheaper than prohibited ones, so that even poor addicts
could afford them. They would then leave the rest of us alone,
which would save an enormous fortune in policing, court and
prison costs.
There would still be drug crime of the same sort as today's
alcohol crime: druggies fighting, crashing cars, vandalising
and breaching the peace the way drinkers do. But the habit-feeding
robbery would largely cease.
It is a relatively small subset of the using population, made
up of marginalised low income dependent users offending to fund
their drug use, who are disproportionately responsible for creating
the secondary £13.9 billion in acquisitive crime costs
from the £3.7 billion turnover of the illicit market for
heroin and cocaine. That the heroin and cocaine market, freed
of the distorting influence of criminal market economic pressures,
would likely be worth around one tenth of the £3.7 billion
figure highlights this particular negative impact of prohibition
economics even more starkly.
Over half of all UK property crime is to fund drug misuse,
primarily heroin and cocaine. If drugs were available on prescription
or at affordable prices comparable to those paid by dependent
drinkers, it is assumed that levels of acquisitive crime related
to fundraising would be negligible. Intoxication-related offences
would be unchanged (at a given level of use).
Guardian and Daily Mail
readers: La la la la, we aren't listening
Another major potential benefit of legalisation - the massive
health improvements from using nice clean drugs made in pharma
factories rather than poisonous crap from illicit labs, adulterated
with god knows what - is also left out. The death rate among
users is predicted to drop significantly, however, owing to
the arrival of clean needles and the fact that the most unwell
users would be using prescription drugs in a medical setting
rather than a crack den or wherever.
It is argued that significant health harms stem from use of
illicitly supplied drugs in hazardous environments, and that
these would be dramatically reduced under a regulated system.
However, for this paper we assume that health and social care
costs per user remain the same.
As a substantial proportion of the drug death risk factors
stem directly from the behaviours, environments and products
associated with illicit drug culture, particularly around injecting,
we assume that the drug-related death rate would be reduced
...
Around 10% of the most high harm causing problematic users
would have heroin and/or cocaine available on prescription in
some form, so we calculate total costs of prescribing diamorphine
[medical heroin] and cocaine for each scenario modelled.
Finally, the report allows a £150m budget for regulators,
administrators and other infrastructure to manage the new legal
drugs sector.
Transform argues that in fact the level of drug use isn't much
affected by the level of prohibition and/or enforcement: anyone
who wants to will use drugs if they've a mind to and the police
can't stop them. All they can ever do is push up the price,
and so drive addicts to commit more crimes in order to afford
their fix.
Nonetheless, those in favour of prohibition often argue that
there would be a lot more drug use if the laws were relaxed:
and it is true that where only one country or district relaxes
it laws there is often "drugs tourism" by users from
outside. So Transform considered four different scenarios, including
a drop in drug use, no change, or big increases.
The results were, even in the worst-case modelling used, that
the public purse still came out ahead even with a doubling of
hard-drugs users:
The net annual benefit of a move from prohibition to legal
state regulation and control of drug markets would be: Scenario
a) 50% fall in use, net benefit = £13.943 billion Scenario
b) No change in use, net benefit = £10.834 billion Scenario
c) 50% increase in use, net benefit = £7.724 billion Scenario
d) 100% increase in use, net benefit = £4.616 billion
In fact things would probably be a lot better than that. It
seems quite reasonable to expect that you could actually raise
some tax revenue after a while, certainly from the prestige
nose-candy market and similar users.
Once you factor in an actual feasible way ahead in Afghanistan,
the health savings from nice commercial drugs (the difference
would be similar to that between drinking proper whiskey and
send-you-blind moonshine made in a plastic bucket) etc etc -
why, we'd probably be able to afford another bank or two. And
it would become hugely more pleasant to live in and around the
nation's council estates, as the formerly larcenous addicts
would be out of the picture - as would the perhaps still more
irritating dealers, their unpleasant and dangerous retail premises
and their violent business disputes. Those guys think they're
tough businessmen, but they wouldn't stand a chance against
the likes of Glaxo and British American Tobacco.
As the Transform people point out:
The policy of prohibition itself is the direct source of much
of what is perceived as ‘the drug problem’ - specifically
the vast majority of drug-related crime - rather than drug use
per se. The Government has also repeatedly failed to acknowledge
that prohibition is a policy choice ...
Could it ever happen?
Sadly, probably not. Even to speak of legalising cannabis is
to sign one's own political death warrant in Blighty. The kneejerk
Daily Mail reading government-by-crackdown legions up and down
the land are in this case being joined in many cases by Guardian
skunk-fear "liberals", who have only just woken up
to the fact that a certain proportion of people would rather
lie about off their faces all day than get on with their lives
- and will do that more or less regardless of the cost to themselves
and those around them even if there's nothing better than cider
or glue on offer. A certain proportion of these people will
also go mad - become schizophrenic - though this has no measurable
connection with cannabis use.
Unsurprisingly, so far from relaxing on drugs, there's a determined
push under way to prohibit or tax into illegality the remaining
legal drugs: booze, tobacco, even chocolate.
So the Transform report seems likely to fall on stony ground.
It can be read in pdf here.
Cannabis: NDLEA probes114-year-old
man
By Olalekan Adetayo and Femi Adetunji
Published: Thursday, 2 Apr 2009
Nigeria
The Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Alhaji
Ahmadu Giade, has ordered that a 114-year-old man, Mr. Sulaiman
Adebayo, be thoroughly investigated over a stash of cannabis
found in his premises.
A statement by the agency‘s Head, Media, Mr. Ofoyeju
Mitchell, on Wednesday, claimed that 6.5 tonnes of the drug
was recovered from Adebayo‘s premises in Oju Sango village,
Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State.
Giade said that the aim of the investigation was to unmask
the suspected trans-border drug cartel behind the seized drugs
and also ascertain the degree of involvement of the suspected
centenarian.
Dean Martin, stoned crooner!
Getting it Straight.
Most people cut down or stop their use of cannabis without
the help of formal treatments (e.g. GPs, counsellors, psychologists,
drug and alcohol services, etc). Despite this, little is known
about how people actually go about markedly reducing or quitting
cannabis.
If you have significantly reduced or stopped your cannabis
use and maintained this change for at least the last 6 months,
we would like to invite you to complete a web-based survey about
your achievement. If you are interested, please follow the link
below for further information and to complete the survey. It
is being conducted by the National Cannabis Prevention and Information
Centre (NCPIC) at the University of New South Wales and is anonymous
and confidential. The findings will be published on the NCPIC
website to help those who wish to quit or reduce on their own.
The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction
(EMCDDA) is one of the European Union's decentralised agencies.
Established in 1993 and based in Lisbon, it is the central source
of comprehensive information on drugs and drug addiction in
Europe.
Andy Frame
24 May 1948 - 6 March 2009
Died suddenly on Friday evening at home on Nightcap Farm, Mt
Nardi.
Andy's Family invite you to join them in a celebration of his
life to be held on the farm at Mt Nardi on Monday 16th March,
commencing at 10:00am.
Should I go to MardiGrass?
Got a Gordian Knot in your gut? We will have fear as long as
newspaper editors remain cynically addicted to fear inducing
headlines for sales. They profit by our fears. The more fearful
we become, the more newspapers we buy to validate those fears.
Hullo hamsters! Keep running. You are generating power for some
historical event somewhere, beyond our control and receiving
our sustenance.
Surely it is not a satisfying life to be afraid of everything
outside your box. Come to MardiGrass and see for yourself that
our difference can be enjoyed and that we threaten nothing.
There might be threateningly different views somewhere else
in the world, but not here.
We wear the peace sign, footprint of the chicken, with some
pride. We have a lighthearted romp and pageant organised round
a peaceful protest once a year. Come and see for yourself the
farce that drug laws, over-policing, and media indifference
or gullibility (you decide!) can combine to create . Compare
the experience to the following Monday's newspaper reports.
We believe cannabis laws and the enforcement of those laws are
causing more social harms than cannabis ever could by itself.
MOB have
been asked if we would like Cheech & Chong to come to MardiGrass,
but the asking price is bigger than the budget. There is a page
on Facebook put up by an Organising Body member that would
like to see them at MardiGrass. Do you really
want to see them?
There is a product called "Brix Plus" sold in hydro
shops that is produced by "Guerilla Gardener" and
claims to be 100% organic, Its purpose is to "Add weight
to your buds, enhance yield, taste and colour" On the back
the directions are to "apply directly from bottle, spray
onto plant 10 days before harvest, re-apply 5 days before havest
and spray with water 1 day before harvest.
Then it says to soak and agitate dry buds in the formula
for 10 mins and then allow to air dry.
There is another brand called "Green Planet Hydroponics
brix+"
Brix – A unit of measure used in the
refractometer. When the Brix reading is divided by 2 it will
be equal to the percent of crude sucrose in the plant tissue.
Refractometer – A device used to measure
the refractive index of plant juices in order to determine the
mineral/sugar ratio of the plant cell protoplasm.
Refractive Index of Crop juices are calibrated in
percent sucrose or degree Brix.
During the growing season it is possible to check a plant
for percent sucrose. A refractometer is easy to use. You will
need something like a garlic squeezer for juicing the plant
sample. To make a reading, place 2 to 3 drops of the liquid
sample on the prism surface, close the cover and point toward
any light source. Focus the eyepiece by turning the ring to
the right or left. Locate the point on the graduated scale where
the light and dark field meet. Read the percent sucrose (solid
content on the scale).
The refractometer measures in units called Brix. The Brix
equals to percent crude carbohydrate per 100 pounds of juice.
The higher the carbohydrate in the plant juice the higher the
mineral content of the plant, the oil content of the plant,
and the protein quality of the plant.
For example, if you were to have 100 pounds of alfalfa that
has a Brix reading of 15 it would mean that there would be 15
pounds of crude carbohydrates if the alfalfa was juiced and
dried to 0 percent moisture. By dividing 15 by 2 it tells us
that the actual amount of simple sugar would be equal to 7.5
pounds.
Crops with higher refractive index will have a higher sugar
content, higher protein content, higher mineral content and
a greater specific gravity or density. This adds up to a sweeter
tasting, more mineral nutritious feed with lower nitrates and
water content and better storage attributes.
Crops with higher Brix will produce more alcohol from fermented
sugars and be more resistant to insects, thus resulting in decreased
insecticide usage. For insect resistance, maintain a Brix of
12 or higher in the juice of the leaves of most plants. Crops
with a higher solids content will have a lower freezing point
and therefore be less prone to frost damage.
Brix readings can also indicate soil fertility needs. If soil
nutrients are in the best balance and are made available (by
microbes) upon demand by plants, readings will be higher.
You will find that when the phosphate levels in the soil are
not up to what they should be, the sugar in the plants will
vary from the bottom of the plant to the top. In other words,
the Brix reading at the bottom of the plant will be higher than
the top of the plant. The better the phosphate levels in ratio
to potassium the more even the Brix reading will be all over
the plant. Also the better the phosphate levels in ratio to
potassium the less fluctuation there will be in the brix reading
in any given 24 hour period.
You will also note that when you are looking into a refractometer
you will sometimes be able to see a very sharp line which is
very easy to read, while at other times it may be a very hazy
line and not well demarcated and so difficult to read. The very
sharp and dark and easy to read line means the crop is lower
in calcium and higher in acid. A very diffuse and hard to read
line tells one that the calcium is higher and the acid is lower
in the plant. This is why a lower Brix reading on a plant will
actually taste sweeter when there is high calcium than one that
may have a little higher Brix reading and a low calcium. The
available soluble sugar is what gives taste and sweetness to
food. The more calcium in the crop along with the sugar, the
sweeter the taste even though the Brix reading will be the same
on two samples.
According to one source,"brix plus is not a contaminant
mate. its a foliar feed or soak that boosts brix levels when
harvesting by helping break down the chlorophl into sugars,
it has nothing to do with adding thc like substances to your
weed it acts internally and enhances the plant sugar levels.
it has nothing at all to do with contaminated weed"
The listed ingredients do not present much of a hazard. The
recommended application, foliar spray in late bloom and soaking
after harvest, does increase the risk of mould, which can be
very harmful. Assuming the worst, that it has sugar to the saturation
point, one litre of solution will have roughly 200 grams of
sugar. The recommended post-harvest application is 1 litre per
500g of harvested material. Assuming all of that sugar ends
up stuck to the surface of the buds, that will increase weight
pretty significantly, at the cost of reducing the THC concentration.
With that much sugar, the buds will look like powdered donuts
and smoking them will taste strongly of burnt sugar. Of course,
since you are already doing a wet cure, you could just rinse
the treated buds off to remove any excess sugar before drying.
Many feel it is a dodgy way of adding weight to plants. On
the face of it, it is a similar practice to cutting powdered
drugs with inert substances.
Europe is reported to have many cases of people putting sand,
talcum, sugar or gravel into deals to inflate the weight. One
dealer put lead sulfide into his deals presumably not realising
he was about to cause an outbreak of lead poisoning, considering
that smoking lead sulfide is a most effective way to absorb
lead. He permanently affected the lives of about 500 people
living in and around Liepzig.
We would hope practices like this do not become commonplace
here, but urge buyers to always exercise caution, examine product
carefully, and not buy if obviously adulterated.
Tobacco-pot mix increases
THC uptake?
"In this study cannabis material has been mixed with tobacco
in order to determine whether tobacco has an influence on the
amount of and ratio between tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabigerol
(CBG), and cannabinol (CBN) administered while smoking. A small-scale
smoking machine has been used and cannabis mixed with various
ratios of tobacco was smoked. The trapped smoke was quantitatively
analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and
the amount of THC, CBG, and CBN was determined for each cigarette.
We have found that tobacco increases the amount of THC inhaled
per gram of cannabis from 32.70 ± 2.29 mg/g for a 100%
cannabis cigarette to 58.90 ± 2.30 mg/g for a 25% cannabis
cigarette. This indicates that tobacco increases the vaporization
efficiency of THC by as much as 45% under the conditions tested."
All tobacco-pot mixers, at last, something to say to your critics!
Passive smoking in a closed van will
not trigger saliva tests?
(and it doesn't matter whether it's straight or mixed
with spin)
"Two studies were conducted to determine if extreme passive
exposure to cannabis smoke in a motor vehicle would produce
positive results for delta-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in oral
fluid. Passive exposure to cannabis smoke in an unventilated
room has been shown to produce a transient appearance of THC
in oral fluid for up to 30 min. However, it is well known that
such factors as room size and extent of smoke exposure can affect
results. Questions have also been raised concerning the effects
of tobacco when mixed with marijuana and THC content. We conducted
two passive cannabis studies under severe passive smoke exposure
conditions in an unventilated eight-passenger van. Four passive
subjects sat alongside four active cannabis smokers who each
smoked a single cannabis cigarette containing either 5.4%, 39.5
mg THC (Study 1) or 10.4%, 83.2 mg THC (Study 2). The cigarettes
in Study 1 contained tobacco mixed with cannabis; cigarettes
in Study 2 contained only cannabis. Oral fluid specimens were
collected from passive and active subjects with the Intercept
Oral Specimen Collection Device for 1 h after smoking cessation
while inside the van (Study 1) and up to 72 h (passive) or 8
h (active) outside the van. Additionally in Study 1, Intercept
collectors were exposed to smoke in the van to assess environmental
contamination during collection procedures. For Study 2, all
oral fluid collections were outside the van following smoking
cessation to minimize environmental contamination. Oral samples
were analyzed with the Cannabinoids Intercept MICRO-PLATE EIA
and quantitatively by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry
(GC-MS-MS). THC concentrations were adjusted for dilution (x
3). The screening and confirmation cutoff concentrations for
THC in neat oral fluid were 3 ng/mL and 1.5 ng/mL, respectively.
The limits of detection (LOD) and quantitation (LOQ) for THC
in the GC-MS-MS assay were 0.3 and 0.75 ng/mL, respectively.
Urine specimens were collected, screened (EMIT, 50 ng/mL cutoff),
and analyzed by GC-MS-MS for THCCOOH (LOD/LOQ = 1.0 ng/mL).
Peak oral fluid THC concentrations in passive subjects recorded
at the end of cannabis smoke exposure were up to 7.5 ng/mL (Study
1) and 1.2 ng/mL (Study 2). Thereafter, THC concentrations quickly
declined to negative levels within 30-45 min in Study 1. It
was found that environmentally exposed Collectors contained
3-14 ng/mL in Study 1. When potential contamination during collection
was eliminated in Study 2, all passive subjects were negative
at screening/confirmation cutoff concentrations throughout the
study. Oral fluid specimens from active smokers had peak concentrations
of THC approximately 100-fold greater than passive subjects
in both studies. Positive oral fluid results were observed for
active smokers 0-8 h. Urine analysis confirmed oral fluid results.
These studies clarify earlier findings on the effects of passive
cannabis smoke on oral fluid results. Oral fluid specimens collected
in the presence of cannabis smoke appear to have been contaminated,
thereby falsely elevating THC concentrations in oral fluid.
The risk of a positive test for THC was virtually eliminated
when specimens were collected in the absence of THC smoke."
N.J. bill allows
use of prescription marijuana for those suffering debilitating
illnesses By Mary Jo Layton
The Record (Hackensack N.J.)
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
HACKENSACK, N.J. — Patients suffering from cancer,
AIDS and other chronic or debilitating illnesses could use marijuana
medicinally under a bill passed by the state Senate on Monday.
New Jersey would become the 14th state to have a medical marijuana
law, which would allow patients to keep six marijuana plants
and 1 ounce for personal use.
State Sen. Nicholas Scutari, D-Union, said the legislation he
sponsored was as “an avenue of last resort” for patients suffering
from nausea, chronic pain, wasting syndrome, seizures and other
ailments. “This is not the legalization of marijuana for recreational
use,” said Scutari, a lawyer and municipal prosecutor. “We’re
not talking about thrill-seekers and drug addicts here.”
Under the proposed measure, patients would have to be diagnosed
by their physicians as having a debilitating medical condition.
The patient would then obtain a photo registry card issued by
the state Department of Health and Senior Services so they could
obtain marijuana from an alternative medicine center without
fear of arrest or prosecution.
Supporters of the bill, including Sen. Bill Baroni, R-Mercer,
offered passionate testimony about suffering patients, including
a 37-year-old man, the father of three young children, plagued
by multiple sclerosis who found relief from medical marijuana,
not Oxycontin, sleeping aids or other prescription painkillers.
State Sen. Gerald Cardinale, R-Cresskill, was among several
Republicans who opposed the bill, claiming it was written too
broadly. Cardinale said he didn’t object to the concept, but
said that “a very small percentage” of users in states that
allow medical marijuana are patients the law is intended to
aid. Cardinale cited an analysis of medical marijuana patient
records reviewed by the San Diego County, Calif., district attorney,
which revealed that less than 3 percent of patients were suffering
from AIDS, glaucoma or cancer. Additionally, more than half
of those permitted to use medical marijuana were under age 30
and research indicates the substance is harmful. “Moderate use
of marijuana causes brain cells to die,” Cardinale said. “That’s
why the federal government made marijuana forbidden.”
After the vote Monday, state Sen. Loretta Weinberg, a co-sponsor
of the legislation, said she supported it because it could give
relief to chronically ill patients who were not benefiting from
pain-relief prescriptions. Weinberg noted that this weekend
was the 10th anniversary of her husband’s death following a
long illness. Hospice nurses provided morphine, but her husband
wasn’t able to remain conscious, said Weinberg, D-Teaneck. “To
get relief and still be able to communicate would have been
much better,” she said.
Stephen Cuspilich, 46, of Burlington County, N.J., lobbied lawmakers
in support of the measure before the vote Monday. Using a cane
and carrying a plastic bottle with more than a dozen prescription
pain medications to ease suffering from Crohn’s disease, he
said marijuana had alleviated severe pain in his hips and back
and stopped his vomiting. “It’s a social issue, not a criminal
issue,” said the father of three, a union pipefitter who can
no longer work due to his disability.
Opponents of the measure, including John Tomicki, executive
director of the League of the American Families, vowed to fight
the proposal when it is considered in the Assembly. Each member
would be polled by his organization to determine their vote
prior to the election, he said. “They are going to be called
and asked ‘yes’ or ‘no,’ ” he said. David Evans, executive director
of the Drug Free Schools Coalition, cited the lack of scientific
evidence on marijuana use and noted that several law enforcement
organizations and anti-drug groups — including the National
Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence of New Jersey — oppose
the bill. “The majority of people who are getting it are using
it for back pain, insomnia and other minor problems,” Evans
said. “The standards for who gets it are very loose.” However,
the public typically supports legalizing marijuana for chronically
ill patients, said Roseanne Scotti, director of Drug Policy
Alliance New Jersey. “It’s polled as high as 86 percent in favor,”
Scotti said. “Everybody understands ‘This could be me, my loved
one.’ It’s the option everybody would want.” The bill passed
22-16, mostly along partisan lines. Five Republicans voted for
it. Two Essex County senators abstained from voting. It was
unclear Monday when the Assembly might consider the legislation.
The Aviation Support Branch, as it is now known, has a wide
range of responsibilities including the provision of support
to all policing initiatives undertaken by the New South Wales
Police Service. These may include searching for missing bushwalkers,
vessels or aircraft, assisting police with pursuits of offenders,
specialised rescue missions, cannabis plantation eradication,
bushfire fighting and reconnaissance.
Over the past 2 years the Aviation Support Branch has flown
approximately 3000 hours being involved in the seizure of drugs
and property to value of over $450 million, arresting 317 offenders,
locating and/or rescuing 145 people and recovering 36 deceased
persons.
To increase its effectiveness, the branch deploys modern technology
such as the use of Forward Looking Infra Red (FLIR) systems
to assist with searches. Specialist equipment including rescue
winches, Nite sun searchlights (30 million candle power), DVP
communications and Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) navigation
systems is also used when appropriate. The Branch has a staff
of 28 police and public servants based at Bankstown Airport,
close to the geographical centre of Sydney. Aircraft and crew
are available to provide support 24 hours a day anywhere in
the State of New South Wales and can deploy anywhere in the
State, on relatively short notice.
The Branch utilises a fleet of four helicopters including a
Kawasaki BK-117, which in partnership with NSW Fire Brigades,
is used to respond to major incidents including Hazmat, Urban
Search & Rescue and Bush Fire & Natural Hazard operations.
***
HELICOPTER PILOT – AVIATION SUPPORT BRANCH
Line Pilot/Sergeant, Sydney, Permanent Full-Time, Position
Number 07/5811. Total remuneration package valued to: $90,936
p.a. ($75,477-$82,249). Package includes annual salary, flying
allowance, employer’s contribution to superannuation and
annual leave loading.
Performs pilot duties onboard police aircraft and other tasks
as directed, accountable to the controller, Flying Operations
(Chief Pilot).
Selection Criteria:
· Possession of current Australian Commercial Licence
(Helicopter) with appropriate ratings/endorsements as required
to act as pilot-in-command of aircraft owned and/or operated
by the NSW Police Force Aviation Support Branch.
· 1,000 hours as pilot-in-command rotary wing of which
500 hours is to be on turbine powered aircraft.
· Night Visual Flight Rules rating.
· Low-level flying experience.
· Sling/winch endorsement.
· Common selection criteria also apply.
Notes: Applications should detail nature and duration of experience
This is a photo of a new street sign in Amsterdam which locals
and tourists will see appear in some neigbourhoods. A neigbourhood
in Amsterdam has put up these new signs and is also selling
the signs to other neigbourhoods for 80 euros. When it became
obvious too many being "souvenired", they were made
available for public sale.
The text under it reads "blowverbod," which your
travel dictionary would translate as "blowing forbidden."
Barack Obama "I inhaled frequently"
"That was the point"
The Hemp Party has
its very own website once again
The masses obtained in European commerce are called Guaza.
Bhang consists of specially dried leaves and flowering shoots
of both male and female plants, wild or cultivated. Ganja consists
of dried flowering tops of the cultivated hemp plant which become
coated with a resinous exudation. Charas is the name given to
the resinous matter collected from the leaves and flowering
tops of the plant, and constitutes the active principle of hemp;
the best quality and the maximum amount of resin is obtained
from plants grown in Yarkand in Chinese Turkestan, and the major
part of the Charas produced in Chinese Turkestan finds its way
into India. In S. Africa it is smoked under the name of dagga.
Hello
I live in Thailand and this guy that lives down the road - simply
known as Peter - suddenly dies from a snake bite and then we
discover that he is AKA Luc Tournier.
Peter died here and cannot be buried or cremated as no one
can find his passort or visa.
Do you guys have any pics of him or any other details.
Regards Kelvin
Luc Tournier lived at Yelgun in 1978
and was raided by Qld police. John Burns of the Northern Rivers
Human Rights Group defended him. He had a wife and children.
All we know. Have sent this to few who might know. Await replies.
Great as without someone ID'ing the body
it will remain in the morgue for 12 months.
Luc was going by the name of Peter Bieg here and it wasnt until
he died that we found out from his estranged wife in Switzerland
that he was Luc.
Any info would help as then the proper embassy claim the body
Regards Kelvin
hello
Pete AKA Luc is entombed in a concrete box at the back of the
temple Wat
Here is a pic of him a few years before he died
Does anyone recognise him and if not then we will have to end
this investigation
thanks for your help to date
We have been living beyond the sidewalks for over 18 years.
Our little ‘A’ frame cabin sits on Tierra Sol Farm,
near the west branch of the Feather River, in the Sierra foothills.
Ten years ago, on a Mother’s Day morning, I scooped up
some runaway ducklings and slipped and fell. In one swift move,
I dislocated my ankle, shattered 3” of leg bone, shredded
my tendons, and severed the nerves!
The Doctor was sure I’d have to use a cane the rest of
my life and all he could suggest for the pain and swelling was
cortisone shots. This seemed pretty bleak, but I wasn’t
willing to settle for it, besides I have 30 acres to attend
to!
I have been making salves for the family for years, from the
herbs grown in our garden. So I started researching various
herbs that would help heal my injuries. While formulating the
cream I was introduced to cannabis root. I discovered that the
chief element in restorative creams of early pharmacopoeia was
Cannabis hemp, the active ingredient essential to oils prescribed
in both the Aramaic and Hebrew versions of the Old Testament.
Hemp root, myrrh, and olive oil preparations were applied topically
to alleviate swelling and joint pain, or as salves for burns.
So I added it to the batch, making a 9 herb formula.
After using the cream, The bruising was gone, The swelling
was gone, the circulation was back, I gained full movement of
my foot and ankle, and no more pain. I was so excited that I
shared the cream with family and friends. The results were fantastic.
It’s works on sore muscles, burns, eczema, arthritis,
and even insect bites too. Everyone has encouraged me to put
it on the market. So now I am working with our community college’s
small business development center to launch our new venture.
Last month a gal who is taking Hemp studies at the University
of Idaho in Hailey, contacted me about using my cream for her
study, of course I said yes. She took a jar with her to Holland
last week for a complete chromatography testing! I am so excited
to be a part of this! I'll share with you the results when I
get them back. Many people consider the root to be a by-product
to be tossed in the compost pile, but we all need to understand
that it's the whole mother that's healing.
"A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All" has
redefined the holiday special for the new millennium. But it
may also have redefined holiday songs for the 21st century as
well, especially Willie Nelson and Stephen Colbert's "Little
Dealer Boy." Think "Little Drummer Boy" 2.0,
substitute the phrase "finest gifts" for marijuana,
and you're there.
Or better yet, just check out the video of the entire song
above. It's a double-exposure romp that might make Jesus blush,
if he wasn't already rumored to have used cannabis himself.
After all, as Willie sings in the duet, cannabis is a "plant
that smokes more sweetly than either frankincense or myrrh."
Auckland
Cannabis club tilts at the law
