MEDICAL MARIJUANA

A High to Remember

jeremiah — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:23:04 -0800

There has been a long debate over legalization, but is marijuana a good thing? Recent studies show that while certain chemicals in marijuana damage adolescent brains, they are beneficial to adults, especially those with diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

Veronica Campbell, a neuropharmacologist from Trinity College in Dublin, says that marijuana truly works both ways.

No Dope: Man to Smoke 115,000th Joint

jeremiah — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:14:15 -0800

When you think of the world's most prolific pot smokers, certain names come to mind: Snoop, Cheech and Chong, Willie Nelson.

How about Irvin Rosenfeld?

The 56-year-old Fort Lauderdale stockbroker will put his name among the greats when he sets a world record tomorrow for weed consumption while lighting up his 115,000th joint.

The best part is that it's all legal.

"Yep, provided by Uncle Sam," Rosenfeld told NBCMiami.com. "They grow it for me, I find that quite ironic."

LA Council to Consider Medical Marijuana Ordinance

jeremiah — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:42:26 -0800

Four years, six drafts and nearly 1,000 stores later, the City Council on Wednesday will consider a long-awaited, oft-debated medical marijuana ordinance whose provisions have shifted dramatically in recent days.

City Attorney Carmen Trutanich had sought to ban sales at dispensaries, but two city committees rejected the idea and suggested that cash could exchange hands as means for reimbursement but must comply with state law.

AMA Ends 72-Year Policy, Says Marijuana Has Medical Benefits

jeremiah — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:33:10 -0800

The American Medical Association voted today to reverse its long-held position that marijuana be retained as a Schedule I substance with no medical value.

The AMA adopted a report drafted by the AMA Council on Science and Public Health (CSAPH) entitled, "Use of Cannabis for Medicinal Purposes," which affirmed the therapeutic benefits of marijuana and called for further research.

Medical Marijuana vs. Liquor Licence Feud Continues

jeremiah — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:16:39 -0800

The Federal Court has declined to throw out the case of an Ontario restaurant owner who wants one of his former patrons stripped of his right to smoke medical marijuana.

Ted Kindos, owner of Gator Ted's Tap and Grill in Burlington, Ont., is seeking a declaration from the Federal Court that people with a permit to smoke medicinal marijuana cannot do so in a public place or any licensed establishment.

Prop 215 Anniversary Surprise

Ed Rosenthal — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 08:54:46 -0800

Friday, November 6, 2009: Thirteen years ago the day after the state election when voters passed Proposition 215 and made medical marijuana legal in California. It has been momentous, a slow moving earthquake that is convulsing around the world.

Medical Marijuana School Teaches Growing

jeremiah — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:03:34 -0800

Organizers of a medical marijuana "university" in Oregon said the program has helped dozens of people learn how to grow cannabis and use it to manage illness.

The Oregon Medical Cannabis University, which opened last month in Hillsboro, offers classes and contains community centers where students can access the drug, KPTV, Portland, Ore., reported Wednesday.

Dude, Where's my Trauma? Marijuana Could Treat PTSD

jeremiah — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:30:35 -0800

Many millions have been made in Hollywood by lampooning the acute effects of marijuana on memory—but Israeli researchers suggest that they might one day be harnessed to prevent or treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

And today's election results bringing medical marijuana dispensaries to yet another state suggest that day might be sooner than ever.

Health Canada Demands Medical Pot Users Pay In Advance

jeremiah — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:22:48 -0800

Health Canada is getting tough with patients who use government-certified medical marijuana, demanding full payment in advance before shipping the weed.

The move, effective Nov. 30, is designed to halt the rising number of accounts in arrears - and force more patients to pay off old debts that now total more than $1.2 million.

Feds to Continue Raids on Medical Pot in California

jeremiah — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:55:43 -0800

Medical marijuana at Emmalyn's California Cannabis Clinic, located near the edge of the Mission District.The federal government will continue raids on medical marijuana operations in California despite guidelines issued by the Justice Department two weeks ago indicating the contrary.

Restaurateur, Pot-Smoking Patron Take Fight to Court

jeremiah — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:25:01 -0800

Federal government lawyers will ask a judge today to throw out the case of an Ontario restaurant owner who wants one of his former patrons stripped of his right to smoke medical marijuana.

This is the latest manoeuvre in the legal battle between Ted Kindos, owner of Gator Ted's Tap and Grill in Burlington, and former customer Steve Gibson.

The restaurant owner is facing a human rights complaint for asking Mr. Gibson not to light up outside his business.

Can Marijuana Help Kids with Autism?

jeremiah — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:31:07 -0800

As the mother of an autistic child, Marie Myung-Ok Lee is navigating uncharted territory as she struggles to manage her son's condition.

Marijuana Mercy: Pardon John Ray Wilson

jeremiah — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:00:11 -0800

The state Attorney General’s Office believes we have to get John Ray Wilson off the streets. He was caught growing marijuana behind his Franklin Township home — enough to make him, in the eyes of the law, a pot producer, a drug distributor. Heck, some of the plants were taller than an NBA point guard, cops say.

Marijuana Advocate Mason Tvert Launches Petition Targeting Drug Czar

jeremiah — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:48:16 -0700

The Obama administration's relaxed rules regarding enforcement of laws regarding medical marijuana has led to renewed optimism among weed advocates that across-the-boards legalization might be a more realistic possibility. But shortly thereafter, Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Gil Kerlikowske issued a statement referring to such a move a "non-starter."

One City's Insane Fight Against Obama's Sane New Pot Policy

jeremiah — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 07:19:02 -0700

Two years ago, in the throes of a Bush administration that disregarded states' rights whenever it felt like getting high on itself, there were fewer than two hundred medical-marijuana outlets in Los Angeles. Today, even the most conservative estimates say that number has quadrupled. On one stretch of Santa Monica Boulevard alone, four thriving pot shops estimate their tax payments at $4 million a year.

Canadian Medicinal Pot Users Triple

jeremiah — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:41:56 -0700

The number of Canadians legally permitted to use pot as medicine has tripled in the past three years since the Conservatives took power.

At last official count by Health Canada this past June, 4,029 people were authorized to possess cannabis under Marijuana Medical Access Regulations, 2,841 were allowed to grow their own plants and 481 had special permission to grow it on behalf of another patient. That’s up from 1,273 who had permits in February 2006.

Minimal Relationship Between Cannabis And Schizophrenia Or Psychosis

jeremiah — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 08:07:49 -0700

Last year the UK government reclassified cannabis from a class C to a class B drug, partly out of concerns that cannabis, especially the more potent varieties, may increase the risk of schizophrenia in young people. But the evidence for the relationship between cannabis and schizophrenia or psychosis remains controversial. A new study has determined that it may be necessary to stop thousands of cannabis users in order to prevent a single case of schizophrenia.

Obama's Statement on Federal Medical Marijuana Busts

Ed Rosenthal — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:11:45 -0700

I was so overjoyed when I first heard about Obama’s statement regarding the prosecution of medical marijuana patients and caregivers that I started singing “Happy Days Are Here Again”. I was overjoyed that our Joints for Obama campaign had finally shown some results. As I understand it, the White House received over 10,000 joints.

Medical Marijuana Providers Targeted?

jeremiah — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 08:25:46 -0700

A lawyer on Thursday said his clients are registered medical marijuana providers targeted by "rogue" federal agent. DEA agents this week arrested several people in and around the city that they described as pot growers.A lawyer for some of the pot growers busted by the DEA earlier this week said his clients are registered medical marijuana providers targeted by "rogue" federal agents ignoring a directive to leave such people alone.

Cannabis and Longevity

Chris Bennett — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:55:23 -0700

One of the things I’ve found with working in extensive research projects, as I have over the years with three books and various articles, is that right up until publication I always seem to find new bits of information, as with this recent find I somehow missed regarding the record-holder for world’s oldest woman.

Time For Some Rare Praise

Kirk Tousaw — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 07:31:50 -0700

Anyone that reads my blog knows that I’m extremely critical of the Obama administration, particularly on the “national security” front (read: warmaking and civil liberties denying front). But its only fair to praise Obama when he does good things, and his change in federal medical marijuana enforcement policy is a very good thing.

Obama’s commendable change in federal drug enforcement policy - Glenn Greenwald - Salon.com

The Memo

jeremiah — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 08:53:43 -0700

The Obama Administration has issued an historic memo from the office of the Deputy Attorney General directing federal prosecutors not to arrest medical marijuana patients and caregivers who follow state laws.

Here's the memo:

October 19, 2009

MEMORANDUM FOR SELECTED UNITED STATES ATTORNEYS

FROM: David W. Ogden, Deputy Attorney General

SUBJECT: Investigations and Prosecutions in States Authorizing the Medical Use of Marijuana

read more

Obama Issues New Medical Marijuana Policy

jeremiah — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 07:16:51 -0700

The Obama administration will not seek to arrest medical marijuana users and suppliers as long as they conform to state laws, under new policy guidelines to be sent to federal prosecutors Monday.

Two Justice Department officials described the new policy to The Associated Press, saying prosecutors will be told it is not a good use of their time to arrest people who use or provide medical marijuana in strict compliance with state laws.

Los Angeles Prepares for Clash Over Marijuana

jeremiah — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 07:14:51 -0700

Harborside Health Center, a nonprofit medical marijuana dispensary in Oakland, Calif., is looked upon as a model of how others could operate. (Photo by Jim Wilson)There are more marijuana stores here than public schools. Signs emblazoned with cannabis plants or green crosses sit next to dry cleaners, gas stations and restaurants.

The dispensaries range from Hollywood-day-spa fabulous to shoddy-looking storefronts with hand-painted billboards. Absolute Herbal Pain Solutions, Grateful Meds, Farmacopeia Organica.

Marijuana Proven Effective in Treating Different Types of Cancers

jeremiah — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 06:59:05 -0700

Marijuana opponents in the federal government are up against the wall and the wall is crumbling. The feds have fought marijuana use for decades, disregarding its medicinal applications, in a senseless war against the herb.

The demonized killer weed is turning out to be anything but that. As myths about this ancient herb are dispelled, scientists are using it to treat everything from chemotherapy-induced nausea to different cancers.