NORML's Weekly News Bulletin

[LdyLunatic]

Week of February 9th, 2006

Virginia: Raising Pot Penalties Will Disproportionately Impact Young Adults, Study Says



Washington, DC: Raising state criminal penalties for possessing marijuana will have a disproportionate impact on Virginians under age 30, and would divert law enforcement resources from other priorities, according to a study released this week by Virginia NORML and the NORML Foundation.

The report, entitled "An Argument Against Increasing the Maximum Penalty for Marijuana Possession in Virginia," was produced in response to proposed legislation, House Bill 737, that sought to raise marijuana possession penalties to one year in jail and a $2,500 fine. The House Courts of Justice, Subcommittee on Criminal Law rejected the measure yesterday, after having received copies of the report.

"Research consistently reports that severe penalties do not effectively deter marijuana use," states the study, which notes that cannabis use, on average, is lower in Virginia than in states with more stringent penalties. The report further notes that over half of those arrested for marijuana possession in Virginia are under age 30, and one third are under the age of 25.

"Longer sentences for marijuana possession will send more young men to jail for longer periods of time, and this also means that these young men will spend longer periods of time in the company of more serious offenders," the study says.

"In conclusion, increasing the maximum penalty for marijuana possession in Virginia is unnecessary, too expensive, and counterproductive."

For more information, please contact Keith Stroup, NORML Legal Counsel, at (202) 483-5500 or Virginia NORML President Jon Gettman.

[LdyLunatic]

Boston, MA: Pediatricians who order drug screens for their patients often possess only limited knowledge of how to administer the test and interpret its results, according to survey data published this month in the journal Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.

Three hundred fifty-nine physicians participated in the survey, which was conducted by researchers at Harvard Medical School and Children's Hospital Boston. Among the respondents, 95 percent said that they had ordered urine drug screening for their patients. However, fewer than 25 percent of them reported that they administered the tests in accordance with federal guidelines, and only 26 percent said that they performed confirmatory testing to weed out erroneous ("false positive") results. Additionally, few physicians were able to accurately respond to survey questions regarding marijuana detection and passive exposure to cannabis smoke, and less than one percent of respondents correctly identified the range of substances that could cause "false positive" test results.

"Overall, our findings suggest that primary care physicians are not fully aware of the limitations of drug testing and do not use recommended procedures for collecting and validating urine drug test specimens," authors concluded. "The primary care workforce is not prepared to provide guidance to schools, parents, or patients with questions regarding drug testing."

A previous study published last year in the journal Pediatrics found that home drug testing kits sold online fail to provide adequate information regarding how to use the products properly, and downplay the possibility of inaccurate results.

The Harvard study appears the same week that Bush administration officials unveiled their 2006 anti-drug strategy, which calls for the increased use of random student drug testing in schools. The White House had previously called for a 150 percent increase in federal funding for student drug testing in 2005, and issued grants to 350 schools nationwide to pay for implementing drug testing programs.

This spring, for the third consecutive year, the White House is sponsoring a series of regional summits to encourage middle and high-school officials to enact random, student drug testing in public schools.

For more information, please contact Paul Armentano, NORML Senior Policy Analyst, at (202) 483-5500. Full text of the study, "Drug testing of adolescents in ambulatory medicine: Physicians practices and knowledge," appears in the February issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.

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Washington, DC: Congress approved budget legislation last week that includes provisions lifting the ban on federal aid to students who have a prior, non-violent drug conviction. The Congressional ban, known as the "drug offender exclusionary provision" of the Higher Education Act, has denied federal financial aid to some 175,000 students since its enactment in 1998.

Under the Congressional amendment, students with past drug convictions will now be eligible to apply for federal financial aid. However, students who are convicted of a nonviolent drug offense, including minor marijuana possession, while in college will continue to be stripped of their federal aid eligibility.

"This partial reform by Congress is long overdue and is a step in the right direction," said NORML board member Chris Mulligan, campaign director for the Coalition for Higher Education Act Reform (CHEAR). "Nonviolent, minor marijuana offenders should not be singled out and restricted from receiving college loans over a joint."

Mulligan noted that a new report released by CHEAR this week found that 35 states also deny educational funding because of drug convictions.

[LdyLunatic]

Week of February 16, 2006

Boston, MA: Senate legislation that would remove criminal penalties for the possession of less than one ounce of marijuana was approved by the Joint Mental Health and Substances Abuse Committee this week by a 6-1 vote.

If passed into law, Senate Bill 1151 would decrease penalties for the minor possession of marijuana to a civil offense punishable by a maximum fine of $250. Currently, state law treats simple possession as a criminal offense punishable by up to six months in jail and a $500 fine.

Twelve states and numerous municipalities have enacted similar versions of marijuana decriminalization.

The House Judiciary Committee is scheduled to hear testimony on House Bill 862, the companion bill to SB 1151, in March.

In 2004, voters in three Massachusetts Senate and eight House districts overwhelmingly backed several non-binding "public policy questions" depenalizing the possession of marijuana for personal use, and legalizing the medical use of cannabis for patients who possess a doctor's authorization.

For more information, please contact Allen St. Pierre, NORML Executive Director, at (202) 483-5500 or visit: http://www.masscann.org/

[LdyLunatic]

Washington, DC: Marijuana possession arrests have increased dramatically over the past decade and now cost taxpayers an estimated $4 billion annually, according to a study published in the February issue of the Harm Reduction Journal.

Researchers at the Sentencing Project in Washington, DC found that arrests for marijuana offenses, primarily simple possession, increased by 113 percent between 1990 and 2002, while drug arrests for non-marijuana offenses increased by only 10 percent. Authors further noted that this dramatic increase in annual marijuana arrests coincided with a significant decline in arrests for cocaine and heroin offenses. Today, nearly 50 percent of all drug arrests are for marijuana-related offenses; less than 30 percent of drug arrests are for cocaine and/or heroin.

Among those annually arrested on marijuana charges, only one in 18 receive a felony conviction, authors found, adding that the overwhelming majority of those arrested end up having their charges dismissed or adjudicated as a misdemeanor.

"Roughly $4 billion per year is being dedicated to minor [marijuana] offenses," authors conclude. "Our analysis indicates that the 'war on drugs' in the 1990s was, essentially, a war on marijuana."

[LdyLunatic]

Ramat-Gan, Israel: The administration of delta-9-THC protects heart muscle cells from injury during hypoxia (a deficiency in the levels of oxygen in the blood), according to preclinical trial data published in the February issue of the journal Molecular and Cellular Boichemistry.

Researchers at the Bar-Ilan University in Israel investigated the effect of THC on cultured heart cells during hypoxia. "The present study confirm[s] the ability of THC to confer cardioprotection on hypoxia-exposed cardiac cells in culture," authors concluded. Investigators defined" cardioprotection" as "delaying the onset of irreversible cell injury."

Authors also noted that THC appears to be non-toxic to heart cells.

"This research demonstrates that THC has beneficial effects on cardiac cells and supports the consideration of marijuana for specific medical uses," investigators concluded.

Previous research indicates that cannabinoids may also protect brain cells against alcohol-induced brain damage, stroke, and acute head trauma.

[LdyLunatic]

Ankara, Turkey: Cannabinoids, when administered in combination with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), produce a synergistic analgesic effect, according to preclinical data published in the February issue of the journal Anesthesia & Analgesia.

A research team at the Trakya University in Turkey investigated the analgesic interaction between cannabinoids and NSAIDS in mice. "Analysis showed additive interactions between [cannabinoids] and [NSAIDS] when they were co-administered systematically in an inflammatory visceral pain model," investigators concluded. "The combination of cannabinoids and NSAIDS may have utility in the pharmacotherapy of pain."

Currently, a research team at the San Francisco General Hospital in California is evaluating the effectiveness of inhaled cannabis when used as an adjunctive therapy in combination with opioids to treat persistent cancer pain. The findings of that clinical trial are expected to be published later this year.

[LdyLunatic]

Week Of March 2, 2006





Cannabis Use Not Linked To So-Called "Amotivational Syndrome"
March 2, 2006 - Los Angeles, CA, USA

Los Angeles, CA: Cannabis use, including daily use of the drug, does not impair motivation, according to survey data published in the current issue of the journal Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy.

Four hundred and eighty seven volunteers (243 daily users and 244 non-users) completed items from the Apathy Evaluation Scale (AES). Participants responded to 12 statements regarding their own feelings of motivation on a four-point scale (e.g. Not at all; Slightly; Somewhat; Very much). Researchers have successfully used similar measures of apathy in previous studies of substance abuse and motivation.

"Participants who used cannabis seven days a week demonstrated no difference from non-cannabis users on indices of motivation," investigators found.

After quantifying subjects' responses through advanced statistical procedures designed to identify even slight differences between users and non-users, researchers still did not detect any decreases in motivation among daily users of cannabis.

"These findings refute hypothesized associations between heavy cannabis use and low motivation," authors concluded. "Thus, emphasizing a cannabis-induced amotivational syndrome in drug prevention does not have empirical support and could harm the credibility of ... [drug] prevention efforts."

[LdyLunatic]

Non-Psychoactive Cannabinoid Staves Blindness Associated With Diabetes, Study Says

March 2, 2006 - Augusta, GA, USA

Augusta, GA: Administration of the non-psychoactive cannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD) prevents retinal cell death in the diabetic retina, and may one day prevent blindness in diabetic patients, according to preclinical data published in the current issue of the American Journal of Pathology.

Researchers at the Medical College of Virginia, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, investigated the protective effects of CBD in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats after one, two, or four weeks.

"Experimental diabetes induced significant increases in oxidative stress, retinal neuronal cell death, and vascular permeability," investigators wrote. "CBD treatment significantly reduced oxidative stress, decreased ... vascular endothelial growth, ... and prevented retinal cell death. ... These results demonstrate that CBD treatment reduced neurotoxicity, inflammation, and blood-retinal barrier (BRB) breakdown in diabetic animals."

Diabetic retinopathy, which is characterized by retinal oxygen deprivation and a breakdown of the blood-retinal barrier, affects approximately 16,000 Americans and is the leading cause of blindness in working-age adults.

Previous studies have shown CBD to prevent against neurotoxicity associated with stroke, cerebral infarction (localized cell death in the brain), and ethanol-induced brain damage. Clinical trials have also shown CBD to possess anti-tumoral properties - inhibiting the growth of glioma (brain tumor) cells in a dose dependent manner and selectively inducing apoptosis (programmed cell death) in malignant cells.

For more information, please contact Paul Armentano, NORML Senior Policy Analyst, at (202) 483-5500. Full text of the study, "Neuroprotective and blood-retinal barrier-preserving effects of cannabidiol in experimental diabetes," appears in the January issue the American Journal of Pathology.

[LdyLunatic]

Texas, Florida Pass Campus Wide "Marijuana Equalization" Initiatives

March 2, 2006 - Washington, DC, USA

Washington, DC: Students at the University of Texas (UT) at Austin and Florida State University (FSU) recently approved a pair of non-binding campus initiatives calling on campus officials to decrease university-imposed marijuana penalties.

More than 64 percent of UT students approved the "Alcohol-Marijuana Equalization Referendum," which calls on University officials to reduce penalties for minor marijuana offenses so that they are no greater than university-imposed penalties for alcohol possession. FSU students passed a similar measure last week by a vote of 60 to 40 percent.

"Students clearly recognize the truth: Alcohol is simply more harmful both to the user and society than marijuana," said Texas NORML President Judie Niskala.

Both campaigns were coordinated by regional NORML chapters, Texas NORML and FSU NORML, in conjunction with the Colorado-based SAFER (Safer Alternatives for Enjoyable Recreation).

Yesterday SAFER, which successfully passed a citywide initiative eliminating municipal marijuana penalties in Denver this past fall, began gathering signatures to place a similar proposal on the November 2006 Colorado ballot.



Source: NORML Foundation (DC)
Published: March 02, 2006
Copyright: 2006 NORML

[ZenLunatic]

Week of March 9, 2006

Frequent Cannabis Use Not Associated With Cognitive Declines In Working Memory, Selective Attention
March 9, 2006 - Utrecht, Netherlands

cannabis use is not associated with cognitive deficits in memory or attention, according to trial data published in the forthcoming issue of the journal Psychopharmacology.

Investigators at the Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience assessed brain function in "frequent but relatively moderate" cannabis users in the domains of working memory and selective attention using functional magnetic resonance imagining (fMRI).

"No evidence was found for long-term deficits in working memory and selective attention in frequent cannabis users after one week of abstinence" compared to non-using healthy controls, authors concluded. "Furthermore, cannabis users did not differ from controls in terms of overall patterns of brain activity in the regions involved in these cognitive functions."

Previous trials on cannabis use and cognition have reached similar conclusions. An October 2004 study published in the journal Psychological Medicine examining the potential long-term residual effects of cannabis on cognition in monozygotic male twins reported "an absence of marked long-term residual effects of marijuana use on cognitive abilities."

A 2003 meta-analysis published in the Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society also "failed to reveal a substantial, systematic effect of long-term, regular cannabis consumption on the neurocognitive functioning of users who were not acutely intoxicated," and a 2002 clinical trial published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal determined, "Marijuana does not have a long-term negative impact on global intelligence."

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Marijuana Production, Availability Rising, Federal Report Says

March 9, 2006 - Washington, DC, USA


Washington, DC: Marijuana production and the amount of cannabis available domestically are on the increase, according to the National Drug Intelligence Center's (NDIC) 2006 "National Drug Threat Assessment" report.

The report finds that marijuana production in Mexico, Canada and the US is rising, with domestic cannabis production increasing sharply in 2005 to its "highest recorded level."

Marijuana availability is also increasing, the NDIC finds. Among those state and local law enforcement agencies polled in the study, 98 percent rank pot's availability in their area is either "moderate" or "high." Last year's NDIC report estimated that between 12,000 and 25,000 metric tons of marijuana is available in the United States.

[ZenLunatic]

NORML's Weekly News Bulletin -- March 16, 2006


March 16, 2006 - Washington, DC, USA

Washington, DC: Nearly one out of two Americans support amending federal law "to let states legally regulate and tax marijuana the way they do liquor and gambling," according to a national poll of 1,004 likely voters by Zogby International and commissioned by the NORML Foundation.

Forty-six percent of respondents -- including a majority of those polled on the east (53 percent) and west (55 percent) coasts -- say they support allowing states to regulate marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol. Forty-nine percent of respondents opposed taxing and regulating cannabis, and five percent were undecided.

"Public support for replacing the illicit marijuana market with a legally regulated, controlled market similar to alcohol -- complete with age restrictions and quality controls -- continues to grow," NORML Executive Director Allen St. Pierre said. "NORML's challenge is to convert this growing public support into a tangible public policy that no longer criminalizes those adults who use marijuana responsibly."

Respondents' support for marijuana law reform was strongly influenced by age and political affiliation. Nearly two-thirds of 18-29 year-olds (65 percent) and half of 50-64 year-olds think federal law should be amended to allow states the option to regulate marijuana, while majorities of 30-49 year-olds (58 percent) and seniors 65 and older (52 percent) oppose such a change.

Among those respondents who identified themselves as Democrats, 59 percent back taxing and regulating marijuana compared to only 33 percent of Republicans. Forty-four percent of Independents and 85 percent of Libertarians say they supported the law change.

Respondents' opinions were also influenced by religious affiliation. Nearly 70 percent of respondents who identified themselves as Jewish, and nearly 60 percent of respondents who said they were non-religious believe that states should regulate cannabis, while only 48 percent of Catholics and 38 percent of Protestants support such a policy.

A previous Zogby poll of 1,024 likely voters found that 61 percent of respondents opposed arresting and jailing non-violent marijuana consumers.

[ZenLunatic]

March 16, 2006 - Washington, DC, USA

Washington, DC: Members of Congress introduced legislation this week to prohibit the manufacture and sale of commercial products intended to influence drug test results, such as diuretic teas and chemical adulterants.

House Bill 4910, the "Drug Testing Integrity Act," calls on the Consumer Product Safety Commission to define these items as "banned hazardous products" under federal law. The bill now awaits action by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

House Bill 4910 is the second proposal to be introduced in Congress since members held hearings last May vowing to bar the sale of any commercial products designed to influence drug testing results.

Of the estimated 55 million drug tests performed annually, approximately 90 percent of those are urine tests, which may be influenced by dilution or adding an adulterant to the sample. To date, fourteen states have enacted laws prohibiting the commercial sale of such products.

While often referred to as an impairment test, urinalysis cannot detect the presence of parent drugs, and only indicates that a particular substance may have been previously consumed at some unspecified point in time. In the case of cannabis, non-psychoactive marijuana metabolites (compounds produced from chemical changes of a drug in the body) may be detectable in urine for days or even weeks after past use. As a result, the US Department of Justice affirms that a positive urine test, even when confirmed, "does not indicate ... recency, frequency, or amount of [drug] use; or impairment."

Responding to the introduction of HB 4910, NORML Executive Director Allen St. Pierre said, "It's ironic that Congress is trying to quash legitimate businesses that have successfully emerged in the free market -- particularly when the market for this industry is a direct result of politicians' zeal to intrusively search the bodily fluids of tens of millions of law abiding Americans without cause."

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March 16, 2006 - Atlanta, DC, USA

Atlanta, GA: Student surveys underestimate the prevalence of substance use particularly the use of alcohol and tobacco, among young people according to findings to be published in the forthcoming issue of the Journal of School Health.

An international research team from Switzerland and the United States found that students who are absent on the day that self-report drug surveys are given are far more likely to report the use of alcohol, tobacco, or marijuana than their peers. Inclusion of the data from absent students more than doubled the percentage of students reporting substance use, researchers found.

"The prevalence of risk behaviors was higher in absent than present students," authors concluded. "Adjusting for data of absent students increased the prevalence estimates in the base population."

In the United States, government officials rely primarily on a single student survey of self-reported drug use, performed by the University of Michigan, to estimate the prevalence of substance use among young people. The most recent edition of the study, which has been performed annually since 1975, finds that slightly more than half of American 12th graders report having used an illicit substance during their lifetime -- a figure that has remained virtually unchanged over the past thirty years.

For more information, please contact Allen St. Pierre, NORML Executive Director, or Paul Armentano, NORML Senior Policy Analyst, at (202) 483-5500. Abstracts of the study, "Comparison of smoking, drinking, and marijuana use between students present or absent on the day of a school-based survey," is available online at: http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1746-1561.2006.00081.x

[ZenLunatic]

Week Of March 23, 2006



California: State Officials Ask Court To Reject Prop. 215 Challenge
March 23, 2006 - Sacramento, CA, USA




Sacramento, CA: California Attorney General Bill Lockyer is requesting the state Superior Court to throw out a lawsuit filed earlier this year by San Diego County supervisors alleging that California's ten-year-old medical cannabis law should be pre-empted by the federal Controlled Substances Act. San Diego supervisors filed suit rather than comply with a 2004 state law mandating the county to issue identification cards to authorized medical marijuana patients.

In motions filed this week in Superior Court, state officials argue that San Diego County supervisors "dislike" California's medical cannabis law, but have no legal standing to challenge it. "Because the courts can only hear cases that involve factual disputes between opposing parties, and because there is no actual dispute here, such a request for an advisory opinion requires dismissal of the charges," he said.

The court is expected to rule on the state's motion in May.

According to a recent telephone poll of San Diego County voters, 78 percent of respondents said that they opposed the supervisors' lawsuit. Sixty-seven percent said that they support the state's medical cannabis law.

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London, United Kingdom: The administration of Sativex, an oral spray consisting of natural cannabis extracts, significantly improves spasticity in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients who have failed to respond to currently available anti-spasticity treatments, according to the preliminary results of clinical trial data announced last week by the British technology firm GW Pharmaceuticals.

Three hundred and thirty five patients with MS-associated spasticity participated in the 14-week randomized, placebo-controlled trial. "Analysis of the per protocol population (those patients that complied with the study protocol) showed positive and statistically significant improvement ... in spasticity as measured on a 1-10 numeric rating scale," the company stated in a press release. "All patients entering the study were taking the best available anti-spasticity medication and remained on such medication through the trial. ... [I]mprovements seen in the trial were obtained over and above currently available treatment."

Patients in the trial who did not comply with the study's protocol also gained relief from Sativex, though not to a degree that reached statistical significance. Investigators attributed this result to a larger than expected placebo-response, thus reducing the size of the difference between the experimental and control groups.

The company also announced that a separate analysis of the three clinical trials now completed on Sativex and MS-associated spasticity, incorporating a total of 652 patients, shows the spray to be significantly superior to placebo.

Earlier this year, United States regulatory officials authorized the first-ever clinical trial in the US investigating the efficacy of Sativex for the treatment of cancer pain. Sativex is currently available by prescription in Canada and on a limited basis in Spain and Great Britain for patients suffering from neuropathic pain, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and other conditions.

Two additional Phase III clinical trials investigating the use of Sativex on peripheral neuropathic pain are scheduled to be completed later this year.

[ZenLunatic]

Washington, DC: The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Drug Law Reform Project, along with Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP), has filed a federal class action suit against the US Department of Education challenging the constitutionality of a Congressional ban on financial aid for students convicted of a minor drug crime while attending college.

The Congressional ban, known as the "Aid Elimination Provision" of the Higher Education Act, has denied federal financial aid to an estimated 200,000 students since its enactment in 1998. Though Congress amended the law earlier this year so that students with past drug convictions may now apply for federal financial aid, students who are convicted of a nonviolent
drug offense * including minor marijuana possession * while in college continue to lose their federal aid eligibility under the law.

The lawsuit contends that the federal ban is unconstitutional because it amounts to double jeopardy, further penalizing students who have already been criminally sanctioned by the courts. The suit also argues that the law violates students' right to due process, and disproportionately impacts minorities.

"This lawsuit seeks to ensure that no student will ever again have to worry about losing their financial aid, and with it, their access to higher education, because of a minor drug conviction," SSDP Executive Director Kris Krane said. He added that SSDP and the ACLU are actively seeking additional plaintiffs to join in the class-action lawsuit.

[ZenLunatic]

Week of March 30, 2006

Fourth National Clinical Conference On Cannabis Therapeutics To Take Place Next Week
March 30, 2006 - Santa Barbara, CA, USA

Santa Barbara, CA: Patients Out of Time and Santa Barbara City College will hold the Fourth National Clinical Conference on Cannabis Therapeutics next week, April 6-8, in Santa Barbara, California.

Speakers at the Conference include talk show host and medical marijuana patient Montel Williams, Joan Dangerfield (widow of Rodney Dangerfield), NORML Advisory Board Member Mitch Earleywine, Melanie Dreher, Dean of the University of Iowa School of Nursing, and other clinicians and health professionals from around the world.

This year's conference is accredited by the University of California San Francisco's Office of Continuing Medical Education.

[ZenLunatic]

Cincinnati City Council Passes "Emergency" Recriminalization Ordinance

March 30, 2006 - Cincinnati, OH, USA

Cincinnati, OH: The Cincinnati City Council voted 6-2 yesterday in favor of an "emergency ordinance" recriminalizing minor marijuana possession offenses within city limits. The new law takes effect immediately.

Under the ordinance, sponsored by Council Member Cecil Thomas, minor marijuana possession is re-classified as a fourth-degree misdemeanor. Offenders charged under the "emergency ordinance" will be subject to arrest, a $250 fine and up to 30 days in jail. Repeat offenders will face up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

By contrast, Ohio state law defines possession of up to 100 grams of marijuana as a minor misdemeanor offense, punishable by a $100 citation and no arrest or jail time.

Council Member Thomas, a former police officer, argued that the ordinance was "necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, safety and general welfare." However, federal data indicates that marijuana use is no greater, and in many cases, is less prevalent in Cincinnati than in surrounding regions of the state.

During public hearings on the measure, dozens of citizens spoke out against the bill and not one person spoke in favor of it. In a last minute compromise, Council Members did agree to add a "sunset provision" to the ordinance meaning the law would expire after a year unless renewed by the Council.

"For more than three decades, Ohio's state decriminalization law has served as an example for the rest of the nation," NORML Executive Director Allen St. Pierre said. "It's unfortunate that this unwarranted effort by members of the Cincinnati City Council has overturned this longstanding protection for its citizens."

For more information, please contact Allen St. Pierre, NORML Executive Director, or Paul Armentano, NORML Senior Policy Analyst, at (202) 483-5500.

[ZenLunatic]

Synthetic THC Reduces Nighttime Agitation In Dementia Patients

March 30, 2006 - Berlin, Germany

Berlin, Germany: Oral synthetic THC (dronabinol) reduces nocturnal motor activity in patients suffering from severe dementia and Alzheimer's disease, according to clinical trial data published this month in the journal Psychopharmacology.

Twelve patients with severe dementia participated in the open-label pilot study. Treatment with 2.5 mg of synthetic THC daily for two weeks led to a significant reduction in nighttime activity and agitation. No side effects were observed.

Dronabinol is a FDA-approved Schedule III drug that may be prescribed for the treatment of cachexia (weight loss) in patients with AIDS and for the treatment of nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy in patients who have failed to respond adequately to conventional antiemetic treatments.

Previous trials investigating the use of synthetic THC on patients suffering from dementia have shown it to reduce agitation, decrease negative feelings, and stimulate weight gain in Alzheimer's patients.

Aside from providing potential symptomatic relief, emerging evidence also indicates that cannabinoids may play a role in slowing the progression of certain neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (a.k.a. Lou Gehrig's Disease).

[ZenLunatic]

Cannabis Relieves MS-Associated Incontinence

March 30, 2006 - Plymouth, United Kingdom

Plymouth, United Kingdom: Cannabinoids and cannabis extracts significantly reduce incontinence in patients with multiple sclerosis, according to clinical trial data published this month in The International Urogynecology Journal.

Six hundred and thirty patients participated in the randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Volunteers were randomly administered cannabis extracts, oral THC, or placebo. Investigators assessed patients' progress via subjects' incontinence diaries.

Subjects administered cannabis extracts reported a 38 percent reduction in incontinence episodes from baseline to the end of treatment. Patients administered oral THC reported a 33 percent reduction. "The findings are suggestive of a clinical effect of cannabis on incontinence episodes in patients with MS," investigators concluded.

A previous clinical trial published last year in the Journal of Urology found that the administration of natural cannabis extracts relieved urinary dysfunction in patients with advanced Multiple Sclerosis. "Urinary urgency, the number and volume of incontinence episodes, frequency and nocturia (excessive urination at night) all decreased significantly" in patients following eight weeks of treatment, the study found.

Previous trials on patients with MS and spinal cord injury have also noted similar results.

[ZenLunatic]

Week Of April 6, 2006



Only Two Weeks Left Until the 2006 NORML Conference and High Times Cannabis Comedy Night
April 6, 2006 - Washington, DC, USA

Washington, DC: Only two weeks left until the 2006 Annual NORML Conference in San Francisco. If you haven't already done so, sign up today! The three-day "extravaganja" will take place April 20-22 at the Holiday Inn Golden Gateway in downtown San Francisco. Discussion panels at this year's event include:

- Grassroots to Grasstops: Activists Effectively Working Together at All Levels
- Race, The War on Drugs and Effective Legal Advocacy
- Reefer, Rhetoric and Retorts: Winning Ways to Frame The Marijuana Debate
- A Look Ahead at This Fall's Pot Initiatives
- Cannabis Dispensaries and Their Carrying Capacities
- Marijuana and Health: Myths, Facts and Mysteries
- Religion, Sacrament and Marijuana
- Big Brother Is Watching: Drugged Driving, Student Drug Testing and Dog Searches
- Emerging Clinical Applications For Cannabis
- American History, Marijuana and Marijuana Prohibition

But that's not all! Tickets are still available for the High Times Cannabis Comedy Night, a special benefit for NORML. Featured comedians include Doug Benson of Best Week Ever, Greg Proops of Whose Line Is It Anyway, Rick Overton of The Aristocrats and many more! The NORML benefit show is at 8pm on Saturday, April 22 at Cobb's Comedy Club.

Network with the nation's top marijuana activists and advocates, mingle with celebrities and members of High Times magazine, as well as NORML's staff and board of directors, and enjoy a one-of-a-kind Cannabis Comedy Night!

The National NORML Conference is the most respected and well-attended marijuana law reform conference in the US. Join us for the widest range of panels and speakers on topics of interests to cannabis consumers, and law reform activists!

For more information, contact NORML Executive Director Allen St. Pierre at (202) 483-5500.

[ZenLunatic]

Ohio Legislature Passes Per Se "Drugged Driving" Bill

April 6, 2006 - Columbus, OH, USA

Columbus, OH: The state House and Senate gave final approval last week to per se legislation sanctioning motorists who operate a motor vehicle with trace levels of marijuana or non-psychoactive marijuana metabolites (compounds produced from chemical changes of a drug in the body) in their blood or urine. Once signed into law, the measure will go into effect in 90 days.

Senate Bill 8 criminally penalizes motorists who drive with levels of THC above 2 ng/ml in their blood and/or levels of the inactive marijuana metabolite THC-COOH in their urine above 35 ng/ml. Ohio is only the third state to pass per se DUID (driving under the influence of drugs) legislation for motorists with trace levels of THC in their blood, and it is the sixth to criminalize motorists who drive with levels of non-psychoactive marijuana metabolites in their bodily fluid.

NORML Senior Policy Analyst Paul Armentano called SB 8 an "all out assault on Ohio's marijuana smoking community." He said: "THC may remain detectable in the blood at low levels long after the intoxicating effects of the drug have worn off. In addition, marijuana's main metabolite remains detectable in urine for days and sometimes weeks after past use. As a result, this legislation may potentially and improperly define sober drivers as if they were intoxicated. Someone who smokes marijuana is impaired as a driver at most for a few hours, certainly not for days or weeks. To treat all marijuana smokers as if they are impaired, even when the drug's effects have long worn off, is illogical and unfair."

Armentano added, "Ohio already has effect-based laws on the books targeting and prosecuting drivers who operate a motor vehicle 'under the influence' of illicit drugs. Under Section 4511.19 of Ohio's Revised Code, motorists face up to six months in jail if they drive 'while under the influence of a drug of abuse.' By contrast, SB 8 creates a separate crime of 'drugged driving' that is, potentially, divorced from impairment. This troubling bill looks to be nothing more than an attempt by the legislature to misuse the traffic safety laws to target the state¹s cannabis community."

A similar legislative effort was rejected by members of the California Assembly earlier this week.

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No More Decrim Debate In Canada, New PM Says

April 6, 2006 - Ottawa, ON, Canada

Ottawa, Ontario: Proposed legislation to depenalize the possession of minor amounts of cannabis will not be introduced in Parliament, according to public statements made this week by Canada's new Conservative Party Prime Minister Stephen Harper. While campaigning, Harper had vowed to enact tougher penalties for drug offenses.

Harper's position marks a sharp contrast to that of the previous administration, which had on several occasions endorsed decriminalizing marijuana, but had failed to act on a number of depenalization proposals.

In 2002, a Canadian Senate inquiry recommended legalizing and regulating marijuana for those 16 years and older, while a House inquiry recommended decriminalizing the possession of up to 30 grams (approximately one ounce) of marijuana. However, neither recommendation ever gained significant support from members of Parliament.

[ZenLunatic]

Week Of April 13, 2006


Alaska: Recrim Measure On Its Way To Governor
April 13, 2006 - Juneau, AK, USA

Juneau, AK: A legislative conference committee voted last night in favor of Senate provisions that seek to overturn a 1975 Alaska Supreme Court ruling (Ravin v. State) upholding the right of citizens to possess up to four ounces of marijuana in the privacy of their homes.

The committee decided to keep the controversial provisions -- which make the possession of less than four ounces of marijuana a misdemeanor and the possession of greater amounts a felony -- as amendments to House Bill 149, which primarily addresses the manufacturing of methamphetamine. The Alaska Senate had approved adding the anti-marijuana provisions to the bill earlier this year, but House members ordered them to withdraw the changes, arguing that they had not been properly debated by lawmakers.

House Bill 149 now returns to the House and Senate for ratification, and then to the Governor, who strongly supports the recrim measure. According to a recent telephone poll of 500 Alaskan voters, 56 percent oppose the legislature's effort.

If the bill becomes law, it will likely compel the Court to revisit its 1975 ruling. If that happens, NORML Legal Counsel Keith Stroup predicts that the Court will strike down the new law.

"The right to privacy, enshrined in the Alaska state constitution, is more important to the Court and to most Alaskans than the Governor's ill-advised war on marijuana smokers," Stroup says.

In 2004, the Alaska Supreme Court rejected a petition by the state attorney general's office to reconsider a September 2003 Court of Appeals ruling finding that the possession of marijuana by adults within the home is constitutionally protected activity.

[ZenLunatic]

University Of Maryland Approves "Marijuana Equalization" Initiative

April 13, 2006 - College Park, MD, USA

College Park, MD: Students at the University of Maryland voted overwhelmingly this week in favor of a campus referendum calling on officials to decrease university-imposed marijuana penalties.

Sixty-five percent of U-Maryland students approved the "Alcohol-Marijuana Equalization Referendum," which demands University officials reduce sanctions for minor marijuana offenses so that they are no greater than university-imposed penalties for alcohol possession.

"It's time for university leaders to recognize marijuana for what it is -- a relatively benign recreational substance that is less likely than alcohol to lead to violence, riots, or even death," said Victor Pinho, president of NORML Terps, which coordinated the campus referendum, along with the University of Maryland chapter of Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) and SAFER (Safer Alternatives for Enjoyable Recreation).

NORML, SAFER, and SSDP have previously coordinated similar campus initiatives at Florida State University and the University of Texas at Austin.

SAFER, which successfully passed a citywide initiative eliminating municipal marijuana penalties in Denver last fall, is now gathering signatures to place a similar proposal on the November 2006 Colorado ballot.

[ZenLunatic]

Tommy Chong To Appear At 2006 NORML Conference In San Francisco

April 13, 2006 - Washington, DC, USA

NORML To Screen Documentary A/K/A Tommy Chong At Friday Luncheon

Washington, DC: Veteran actor/comedian Tommy Chong has announced that he, along with writer/director Josh Gilbert, will appear at next week's 2006 national NORML Conference in San Francisco to screen their award-winning documentary A/K/A Tommy Chong. The duo will appear on Friday, April 21, from 1 to 3 pm.

Chong will also speak to conference attendees on the need to reform America's laws criminalizing the use and possession of cannabis. [QUOTE FROM TOMMY CHONG]

In 2003, Chong and members of his family were among 55 people indicted by the federal government for selling glass pipes over the Internet in a sting operation known as Operation Pipe Dreams. Chong was sentenced to nine months in federal prison, fined $20,000, and was forced to surrender more than $100,00 in cash and merchandise as a result of the bust. He was the only person arrested in the nationwide sting who was sentenced to time in prison. Most legal experts believe that Chong was singled out by government officials because of the actor's high profile as a cultural icon among the cannabis community.

A/K/A Tommy Chong documents the federal raid on Chong's family-run business, Nice Dream Enterprises, as well as his prosecution, incarceration and release in 2004 through numerous personal and heartfelt interviews with the noted actor and his family. The film has been called "an amusing and sometimes frightening portrayal of eroding civil liberties in modern-day America," by film critic Jason Buchanan of the All Movie Guide.

"NORML is pleased to bring Thomas Chong to San Francisco to speak first-hand of the injustices of the government's war on cannabis," said NORML Executive Director Allen St. Pierre. "This will not be an appearance of Tommy Chong the comedian. Rather, this will be an appearance by a man who was targeted by the federal government and served time in prison as a result of this country's misguided pot policies, and who has pledged to use his fame to bring about their long-overdue repeal."

NORML's 2006 annual Conference will take place from April 20-22 at the Holiday Inn Golden Gateway in downtown San Francisco. The three-day "extravanganja" will feature presentations from over 50 of the nation's top cannabis activists, educators, and advocates, as well as an awards banquet and auction, live musical entertainment, and a special Saturday evening High Times Cannabis Comedy Night to benefit NORML. Featured comedians include Doug Benson of Best Week Ever, Greg Proops of Whose Line Is It Anyway, Rick Overton of The Aristocrats and many more. The NORML benefit show is at 8pm on Saturday, April 22 at Cobb's Comedy Club.

[LdyLunatic]

Week Of April 27, 2006


April 27, 2006 - London, United Kingdom

London, United Kingdom: A recent statement by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) alleging that no animal or human data support the use of cannabis for medical purposes lacks "common sense," according to an editorial in today¹s edition of The Economist.

The editorial notes that the FDA's conclusion contradicts the findings of a comprehensive 1999 review by US Institute of Medicine, and ignores the reality that "today, cannabis is used all over the world ... to relieve pain and anxiety, to aid sleep, and to prevent seizures and muscle spasms."

The piece criticizes the US government for impeding clinical research investigating cannabis' medical potential, and for refusing to allow patients legal access to the drug - noting that there is an "unmet medical need" that could be addressed by cannabis "if the American government cared more about suffering and less about posturing."

Since the FDA published its statement last week, more than two-dozen newspapers - including the New York Times, the Los Angeles Daily News, and the Chicago Tribune - have editorialized against it, arguing that the agency is putting politics before science.

[LdyLunatic]

April 27, 2006 - San Francisco, CA, USA

San Francisco, CA: A three-judge panel of the Ninth US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled yesterday to overturn three felony marijuana cultivation convictions for noted author and cannabis advocate Ed Rosenthal. Rosenthal was convicted in federal court in 2003 for growing cannabis for local medical dispensaries, but was sentenced to only one day in prison because Judge Charles Breyer determined that the defendant did not believe he was violating federal law. Rosenthal had been deputized by the City of Oakland to provide medicinal cannabis to state qualified patients.

The Ninth Circuit ruled 3-0 that Rosenthal should be granted a new trial because a juror contacted outside legal counsel during deliberations. Jurors were instructed to uphold federal law - not state law - in the case, and were not allowed to consider evidence that the marijuana grown by Rosenthal was for medicinal purposes. Although jurors found Rosenthal guilty, they later denounced their verdict, saying that they were deceived by government prosecutors as to the true nature of Rosenthal's actions.

The US Attorney's office has not commented on whether they will appeal the Ninth Circuit's ruling or retry Rosenthal.

The appeals court indicated that if Rosenthal is retried and again found guilty, they would likely let the one-day sentence stand, noting that they "would not be inclined to disturb the court's reasoned analysis underlying its sentencing determination."

The court rejected Rosenthal's arguments that he was "immune" from federal prosecution because he had been deputized by the City of Oakland, ruling that he "was not 'duly authorized' to [grow cannabis,] as state law does not allow the manufacturing of marijuana by individuals other than patients or primary caregivers."

[LdyLunatic]

April 27, 2006 - Leiden, The Netherlands

Leiden, the Netherlands: Vaporization is a "safe and effective" cannabinoid delivery system for patients desiring the rapid onset of action associated with inhalation, but who are seeking to avoid the respiratory risks of smoking, according to clinical trial data to be published in the Journal of Pharamceutical Sciences.

Researchers at Leiden University's Institute of Biology (the Netherlands) found that use of the Volcano vaporizing device delivered set doses of THC to subjects in a reproducible manner while suppressing the intake of respiratory toxins.

"Our results show that with the Volcano, a safe and effective cannabinoid delivery system seems to be available to patients," investigators concluded. "The final pulmonal uptake of THC is comparable to the smoking of cannabis, while avoiding the respiratory disadvantages of smoking."

Cannabis smoke contains many of the same carcinogens as tobacco smoke, including greater concentrations of certain aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzopyrene, prompting concerns that chronic marijuana inhalation may be a risk factor for tobacco-use related cancers. Previous research by California NORML and others have demonstrated that cannabis vaporization suppresses many potentially harmful respiratory toxins by heating cannabis to a temperature where active cannabinoid vapors form (typically around 180-190 degrees Celsius), but below the point of combustion where noxious smoke and associated toxins (i.e., carcinogenic hydrocarbons) are produced (near 230 degrees Celsius).

A 2004 protocol by California NORML and MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies) to investigate the types of emissions produced by cannabis vaporization was recently rejected after an 18-month regulatory delay by NIDA (US National Institute on Drug Abuse), which stated that the study would "not add to the scientific knowledge base in a significant way."

"The US Institute of Medicine and others have repeatedly called for the creation of a non-smoked, rapid-onset cannabis delivery system to administer reproducible doses of active cannabinoids to patients," said NORML Advisory Board member Dr. Mitch Earleywine, author of Understanding Marijuana: A New Look at the Scientific Evidence. "These data confirm that vaporization can deliver all the essential components of medical marijuana safely and effectively while suppressing the intake of carcinogenic smoke. Now the Drug Czar's office and the Food and Drug Administration can rest assured that patients may receive the therapeutic relief they need without suffering from the unwanted health risks associated with smoking."

[LdyLunatic]

Week Of May 4, 2006


Mexican President Rejects Congressional Measure Codifying "Personal Use" Limits For Cannabis, Other Controlled Substances
May 4, 2006 - Mexico City, Mexico

Mexico City, Mexico: Mexican President Vincente Fox yesterday rejected legislation that sought to clarify the quantities of cannabis and other controlled substances that "consumers" may possess without facing criminal penalties. Fox abruptly abandoned his support for the measure after US bureaucrats at the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the State Department denounced the proposal, saying that it could promote "drug tourism."

As passed by Congress last Friday, the proposal set specific limits on the amount of cannabis (five grams) and other drugs allowable under federal law. Mexican law already exempts criminal penalties for those individuals who possess minor quantities of illicit substances for personal use; however, the law fails to define what amounts constitute personal use. As a result, police and judges must decide on a case-by-case basis whether to punish citizens caught possessing minor amounts of illicit drugs.

The proposed measure also authorized state and local police to enforce drug trafficking laws. Under current law, only federal police (about five percent of Mexico's law enforcement personnel) may arrest individuals suspected of selling drugs.

President Fox rejected the bill on Wednesday, stating, "Congress ... [needs] ... to make it absolutely clear in our country [that] the possession of drugs and their consumption [is], and will continue to be, a criminal offense." Officials from the US State Department and the White Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) had met with Mexico's ambassador earlier this week urging the President to "review the legislation and to avoid the perception that drug use would be tolerated in Mexico and to prevent drug tourism."

Fox said that he would send the bill back to Congress with proposed amendments.

In recent years, US officials have voiced similar disapproval against legislative proposals to liberalize marijuana and other illicit drug possession penalties in Canada, Jamaica, and Australia all of which eventually stalled due at least in part to US opposition.

[LdyLunatic]

May 4, 2006 - Oxford, United Kingdom

Oxford, United Kingdom: Cannabis use may be a "modest statistical risk factor" in populations vulnerable to schizophrenia or other mental health diseases, according to a review published by the Beckley Foundation Drug Policy Programme in Britain. The Beckley Foundation is an independent think tank that analyzes drug use and drug policy.

The review, "Cannabis and Mental Health: Responses to the Emerging Evidence," finds that cannabis, like alcohol, may "precipitate schizophrenia in people who are already vulnerable for individual or family reasons." Authors add, however, that the "increased rates of cannabis use in the last thirty years have not been accompanied by a corresponding increase in the rate of psychosis in the population."

The report concludes, "The studies reviewed here suggest that cannabis is a modest statistical risk factor and the vast majority of young cannabis smokers do not develop psychosis, supporting the hypothesis that a small minority of users may be vulnerable to the effects of cannabis."

The Beckley Foundation's findings are similar to those of Britain's Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), which concluded earlier this year: "Based on the available data, the use of cannabis makes (at worst) only a small contribution to an individual's risk for developing schizophrenia. ... For individuals, the current evidence suggests, at worst, that using cannabis increases lifetime risk of developing schizophrenia by one percent."

[LdyLunatic]

May 4, 2006 - Washington, DC, USA

Pot Programming Bests Senators Clinton, Frist In Popularity

Washington, DC: NORML's weekly podcast now ranks as one of the most popular political audio programs available on the Internet, according to tabulations released by Apple Computer's iTunes Music Store and published in the Washington, DC newspaper The Hill.

Of the 100 most popular political podcast recordings, NORML's program ranks No. 32 according to Apple, well ahead of podcasts offered by New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (No. 47) and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (No. 73). NORML's podcast, which began in August, features weekly news content as well as audio clips from special events, such as NORML's 2006 annual conference.

"The popularity of NORML's podcasts illustrates that there are large numbers of Americans who desire fact-based, educational information about marijuana and marijuana law reform, and that this population is increasingly turning to NORML and away from the federal government in order to obtain it," said NORML Executive Director Allen St. Pierre. "Senators Clinton, Frist, and other Presidential hopefuls ought to take note of this reality, and recognize that cannabis is rapidly becoming more popular with the electorate than they are."

St. Pierre said that NORML plans to begin airing daily podcasts early this summer.

[LdyLunatic]

Week Of May 11, 2006

Teens More Likely To Try Marijuana After Viewing Feds' Anti-Pot Ads, Study Says


May 11, 2006 - San Marcos, TX, USA

San Marcos, TX: Teenagers exposed to anti-marijuana public service announcements (PSAs) produced by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) are more likely to hold positive attitudes about the drug and are more likely to express their intent to use cannabis after viewing the advertisements, according to a study published in the May issue of the journal Addictive Behaviors.

Two hundred and twenty-six volunteers age 18- to 19-years old took part in the study. Participants viewed either a series of anti-marijuana PSAs accessed from the ONDCP website or a series of anti-tobacco advertisements. Investigators then surveyed viewers' attitudes toward the two substances by using a five-point scale (e.g., good-bad) and computerized implicit association tests (IATs). Researchers also measured respondents' intent to use either marijuana or tobacco via a 10-point scale (e.g., agree-disagree).

Investigators found that viewers expressed significantly fewer negative attitudes toward marijuana after viewing the ads. No such "boomerang effect" was noted among those who viewed anti-tobacco advertising.

"It appears that ... anti-marijuana public statement announcements used in national anti-drug campaigns in the US produce immediate effects [that are the] opposite [of those] intended by the creators of this campaign," authors concluded. "This reactance effect was triggered only by anti-marijuana ads [and] not by anti-tobacco ads. Therefore, it cannot be attributed to a general disposition [by adolescents] to respond with reactance (e.g. rebelliousness) to any anti-substance use persuasion."

Investigators added: "Students viewing anti-marijuana advertising [also] declared significantly higher intention to use this substance than students exposed to anti-tobacco ads, while controlling for pre-existing differences in attitudes to marijuana. ... [This] would suggest that exposure to anti-marijuana advertising might not only change young viewers attitudes to [become] more positive toward this substance, but also might directly increase [their] risk of using marijuana."

The National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign, initiated by Congress in 1998, has spent more than $2 billion in taxpayers' money and matching funds producing and airing anti-marijuana advertisements, including several alleging that the use of cannabis funds international terrorist activities.

[LdyLunatic]

Cannabis Exposure Not Toxic To The Developing Brain, Study Says





Cannabis Exposure Not Toxic To The Developing Brain, Study Says

May 11, 2006 - Orangeburg, NY, USA

Orangeburg, NY: Moderate-to-heavy adolescent cannabis use does not appear to be damaging to the developing brain, according to clinical trial data published this week in the Harm Reduction Journal.

Researchers at the Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research and the New York University School of Medicine found "no ... evidence of cerebral atrophy or loss of white matter integrity" attributable to cannabis use in the brains of frequent adolescent marijuana users compared to non-using controls, after performing MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans and other advanced imaging technology.

Participants in the study self-reported having used marijuana at least two-to-three times per week for several years prior to age 18, but were not current users. Study volunteers were matched for sex, age, and social class with control subjects with no history of cannabis use. Investigators scanned participants' brains using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), a sophisticated MRI technique that can detect the degradation of nerve fibers (e.g. white matter) that carry information between brain cells.

"It is concluded that frequent cannabis use is unlikely to be neurotoxic to the normal developing adolescent brain," researchers determined. Investigators further added that their findings, though preliminary, "have implications for refuting the hypothesis that cannabis alone can cause psychiatric disturbance such as schizophrenia by directly producing brain pathology."

Two prior MRI studies published in 2000 and 2005 also reported no difference in gray or white matter volumes in heavy adult cannabis users compared to non-users.

[LdyLunatic]

State-Authorized Medi-Pot Patient May Be Fired For Failing Workplace Drug Test, Oregon Supreme Court Rules



May 11, 2006 - Portland, OR, USA

Portland, OR: A private employer may terminate an employee for failing a company drug test, even if that employee is authorized under state law to use cannabis medicinally, the Oregon Supreme Court ruled. The decision reverses a prior ruling by the Oregon Court of Appeals that found that employers should make disability-related accommodations for workers who use cannabis for medical purposes.

A majority of the court ruled that the plaintiff did not meet the definition of a "disabled person" under state law because he could offset his symptoms (leg spasms) with prescription medications other than cannabis. "Because plaintiff can counteract his physical impairment through mitigating measures, his impairment does not, at this time, rise to the level of a substantial limitation on a major life activity," the court found.

In a concurring opinion, one of the judges also held that "federal law preempts state employment discrimination law to the extent that it requires employers to accommodate medical marijuana use."

A similar case (Ross v. Ragingwire Telecommunications) is now before the California Supreme Court.

[LdyLunatic]

Week Of May 18, 2006



Second "Cannabis" Pill To Be Available In The US
May 18, 2006 - Rockville, MD, USA

Rockville, MD: The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this week re-approved a synthetic cannabinoid analogue for prescription use in the United States. The oral pill, marketed as Cesamet (also known as naboline), is an analogue (a structural derivative) of the cannabinoid THC.

It will be available as a Schedule II controlled substance for the treatment of nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy in patients who have failed to respond adequately to conventional anti-emetic treatments.

Marinol (dronabinol), the only synthetic cannabinoid legally available on the US market, is classified as a Schedule III drug under federal law.

Although Cesamet was initially approved by the FDA in 1985, it was later withdrawn from the market by then-manufacturer Eli Lilly for commercial reasons. The drug has been marketed as an anti-nauseant in Canada and the United Kingdom by Valeant Pharmaceuticals, which purchased the rights to Cesamet in 2004. According to the manufacturer, potential adverse reactions to the drug include ataxia (loss of ability to coordinate muscular movement), euphoria, headache, vertigo, increased heart rate, and concentration difficulties.

Cesamet will be available in 1-milligram tablets, meant to be taken twice daily. Marinol (synthetic THC in sesame oil) is available in 2.5mg, 5mg and/or 10mg dosages.

Though legally available in the US, few patients report positive experiences with Marinol because of its high price tag, delayed onset, and heightened psychoactivity.

Mallinckrodt pharmaceuticals is currently developing a generic version of Marinol for sale in the US market.

[LdyLunatic]

Non-Psychoactive Cannabinoid Reduces Incidence Of Diabetes, Study Says

May 18, 2006 - Jerusalem, Israel

Jerusalem, Israel: Administration of the non-psychoactive cannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD) lowers incidence of diabetes in animals and may one day play a role in the prevention of human type 1 diabetes, according to preclinical findings published in the March issue of the journal Autoimmunity.

Researchers at Hadassah University Hospital in Jerusalem reported that injections of 5 mg per day of CBD significantly reduced the prevalence of diabetes in mice from an incidence of 86 percent in non-treated controls to an incidence of only 30 percent. In a separate experiment, investigators reported that control mice all developed diabetes at a median of 17 weeks (range 15-20 weeks) while a majority (60 percent) of CBD-treated mice remained diabetes-free at 26 weeks.

Investigators also reported that CBD significantly lowered plasma levels of the pro-inflammatory cykotines (proteins), INF-gamma and TNF-alpha, and significantly reduced the severity of insulitis (an infiltration of white blood cells resulting in swelling) compared to non-treated controls.

"Our results indicate that CBD can inhibit and delay destructive insulitis and inflammatory ... cykotine production in ... mice resulting in decreased incidence of diabetes," authors concluded.

Preclinical trial data published earlier this year found that CBD prevents diabetic retinopathy in animals. The condition, which is characterized by retinal oxygen deprivation, is the leading cause of blindness in working-age adults.

Cannabinoids have also been demonstrated to alleviate certain types of neuropathic pain associated with diabetes, and to reduce glucose levels in animal models of the disease.

[LdyLunatic]

Australian Government Urges States To Overturn Decrim Laws

May 18, 2006 - Perth, Australia

Perth, Australia: The federal government is endorsing a plan to implement nationwide uniform cannabis laws outlawing all possession or use of the drug, following a meeting of the Ministerial Council on Drug Strategy - the nation's top policy-making body on controlled substances.

The new policy, which calls cannabis as dangerous as heroin and cocaine, urges states to revise existing laws decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana in favor of criminal penalties. Virtually all eight Australian states treat minor cannabis offenses as civil, not criminal, violations. In four states - South Australia, Western Australia, the Australian Capitol Territory (ACT), and the Northern Territory - cultivation of cannabis for personal use is also a non-criminal offense.

Though government officials endorsed the policy change, they admitted that they lack the legal authority to compel states to overturn their more liberal cannabis laws.

[LdyLunatic]

Week of May 25, 2006



Santa Cruz Voters To Decide Lowest Pot Priority Ordinance
May 25, 2006 - Santa Cruz, CA, USA

Santa Cruz, CA: Santa Cruz officials this week confirmed that a municipal initiative that seeks to make marijuana law enforcement the city's "lowest priority" has been certified to appear on the November 2006 ballot.

The measure, sponsored by Santa Cruz Citizens for Responsible Marijuana Policy, directs Santa Cruz police to make activities related to the investigation, citation, and/or arrest of adult cannabis users their lowest priority. It would also appoint a Community Oversight Committee to monitor police activity as it pertains to marijuana law enforcement. Seattle voters passed a similar proposal in 2003, which has led to a 75 percent reduction in citywide marijuana arrests.

According to the results of a November 2005 city poll, 85 percent of Santa Cruz voters oppose criminalizing adults who use cannabis.

If passed, the Santa Cruz initiative would also demand city officials express public support for regulating cannabis as a legally taxed commodity. Oakland voters approved a similar proposal in 2004.

Proponents are gathering signatures in support of similar city initiatives in Santa Barbara, Santa Monica, and West Hollywood in hopes of gaining support for a potential statewide measure in 2008.

[LdyLunatic]

THC Analog Suppresses Pain, Bladder Over-Activity From Interstitial Cystitis, Study Says


May 25, 2006 - Atlanta, GA, USA

Atlanta, GA: Administration of a synthetic, structural derivative of THC reduces bladder inflammation and bladder over-activity in animals, according to preclinical findings presented this week at the annual meeting of the American Urological Association.

Rats administered the THC analog IP 751 experienced reduced irritation and pain in the bladder associated with interstitial cystitis (IC), investigators reported. Interstitial cystitis is a chronic pelvic pain disorder that affects an estimated 700,000 Americans, mostly women.

Previous preclinical research has demonstrated cannabinoids and the endocannabinoid system to play a potential role in the treatment of various gastrointestinal disorders, such as Crohn's Disease and colitis, while clinical trials of natural cannabis extracts have demonstrated cannabis to dramatically reduce incontinence associated with Multiple Sclerosis.

[LdyLunatic]

Cannabis Smoking Not Linked To Lung Cancer, Case-Control Study Says

May 24, 2006 - San Diego, CA, USA

San Diego, CA: Smoking cannabis, even long-term, is not positively associated with increased incidence of lung-cancer, according to the findings of the largest population-based case-control study performed to date. Lead investigator Donald Tashkin of the David Geffen School of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, at the University of California-Los Angeles, presented the results this week at the 2006 International Conference of the American Thoracic Society in San Diego.

Investigators assessed the possible association between cannabis use and the risk of lung cancer in middle-aged adults (ages 18-59) living in Los Angeles. Researchers conducted interviews with 611 subjects with lung cancer and 1,040 controls matched for age, gender and neighborhood. Data was collected on lifetime marijuana use, as well as subjects' use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, diet, occupation, and family history of cancer. Investigators used a logistical regression model to estimate the effect of cannabis smoking on lung cancer risk, adjusting for age, gender, ethnicity, education, and cumulative tobacco smoking and alcohol use.

"We did not observe a positive association of marijuana use -- even heavy long-term use -- with lung cancer, controlling for tobacco smoking and other potential cofounders," investigators concluded. Their data further revealed that one subset of moderate lifetime users (10-<30 "joint years") actually had an inverse association between cannabis use and lung cancer. The study did report a 20-fold increased risk in heavy tobacco smokers.

Investigators also did not report a positive association between cannabis use and increased incidence of upper aerodigestive tract (UAT) cancers. The five-year trial was sponsored by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH).

NORML Senior Policy Analyst Paul Armentano said that Tashkin's findings reaffirm the results of prior case-control studies dismissing a causal link between cannabis use and certain types of lung and upper aerodigestive tract (UAT) cancers. These include: a 2001 John Hopkins University hospital-based case-control study that found neither "lifetime use" nor "ever use" of cannabis were associated with head, neck or lung cancer in younger adults; a 2004 University of Washington case-control study that found "no association" between cannabis use and incidents of oral cancer, regardless of how long, how much or how often individuals had used it; and a 1997 Kaiser Permanente retrospective cohort study that found that cannabis use was not associated with increased risks of developing tobacco-use related cancers of the lung and upper aerodigestive tract or other cancers in men and women who used marijuana but did not smoke tobacco.

"The most remarkable aspect of this study is that its findings are, in fact, unremarkable," Armentano said. "As has been previously reported by the US Institute of Medicine and others, there is no conclusive evidence that marijuana causes cancer in humans, including those cancers generally related to tobacco use."

Armentano suggested that cannabis consumers who desire the rapid onset of action associated with inhalation but who are concerned about the potential harms of noxious smoke can dramatically cut down on their intake of carcinogenic compounds by engaging in vaporization rather than smoking.

[LdyLunatic]

Week Of June 1, 2006



Cannabidiol Dramatically Inhibits Breast Cancer Cell Growth, Study Says
June 1, 2006 - Naples, Italy

Naples, Italy: Compounds in marijuana inhibit cancer cell growth in animals and in culture on a wide range of tumoral cell lines, including human breast carcinoma cells, human prostate carcimona cells, and human colectoral carcinoma cells, according to preclinical trial data published in the May issue of the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics.

Investigators at Italy's Instuto di Chemica Biomolecolare assessed the anti-cancer activity of various non-psychoactive cannabinoids - including cannabidiol (CBD), cannabigerol (CBG), and cannabichromine (CBC) - in vivo and in vitro. Researchers reported that CBD acts as a more potent inhibitor of cancer cell growth than other cannabinoids, including THC, and noted that the compound is particularly efficacious in halting the spread of breast cancer cells by triggering apoptosis (programmed cell death).

Cannabigerol and CBC also possess anti-tumor properties, but lack the potency of CBD, they found.

"These results suggest the use in cancer therapy for cannabidiol," investigators concluded.

Previous studies have shown cannabinoids to reduce the size and halt the spread of glioma (brain tumor) cells in animals and humans in a dose dependent manner. Separate preclinical studies have also demonstrated cannabinoids to inhibit cancer cell growth and selectively trigger malignant cell death in skin cancer cells, leukemic cells, lung cancer cells, and prostate carcinoma cells, among other cancerous cell lines.

[LdyLunatic]

Alcohol, Not Cannabis Use, Associated With Increased Injury Risk

June 1, 2006 - Columbia, MO, USA

Columbia, MO: Past use of cannabis is not associated with an increased risk of injury requiring hospitalization, according to the findings of a case-control study published in the March/April issue of the journal Missouri Medicine.

Investigators at the University of Missouri, Department of Medicine, assessed the association between past cannabis use and injury among adults age 18 to 60. Researchers conducted interviews with 2,161 injured subjects requiring emergency room treatment and 1,856 controls matched for age and gender.

"Self-reported marijuana use in the previous seven days was associated in this study with a substantially decreased risk of injury," investigators reported. In contrast, use of other illicit drugs and/or recent drinking (in the prior six hours) was associated "with a greatly increased risk of injury."

Previous research published last year in the Journal of TRAUMA Injury, Infection, and Critical Care also reported that cannabis use is not independently associated with injuries requiring hospitalization. That study, conducted by investigators at SUNY (State University of New York) Buffalo's Department of Family Medicine, reported, "Alcohol and cocaine use is independently associated with violence-related injuries, whereas opiate use is independently associated with nonviolent injuries and burns. ... Associations of positive toxicology test results for ... cannabis ... with injury type, injury mechanisms, and outcomes were not statistically significant."

[LdyLunatic]

Spain: Medicinal Cannabis Use Rising

June 1, 2006 - Malaga, Spain

Malaga, Spain: An increasing number of Spaniards with terminal and/or chronic diseases are using cannabis therapeutically, according to a report published earlier this week in El Sur newspaper.

Use of cannabis for medicinal purposes among the Spanish population may be increasing by as much as 20 percent annually, the report said.

Though medicinal cannabis is not available legally in Spain, possession of marijuana is not defined as a criminal offense under federal law.

Last year, Spanish health officials approved the importation and use of Sativex, an oral spray consisting of natural cannabis extracts, for select patients suffering from Multiple Sclerosis (MS), neuropathic pain, and other conditions.

[LdyLunatic]

Week Of June 8, 2006



NORML New Jersey Files Suit Over State's Dormant Medical Pot Law
June 8, 2006 - Trenton, NJ, USA

Trenton, NJ: NORML New Jersey filed suit in Superior Court this week against the state Department of Health for failing to act on a 1981 state law that sought to make cannabis medically available to qualified patients.

The dormant law, entitled the "Controlled Dangerous Substances Therapeutic Research Act," requires the New Jersey health department to appoint a review board to qualify patients in therapeutic research programs. No review board has ever been appointed.

"The CDSTRA is New Jersey's only recourse for those seriously ill New Jersey citizens who seek to legally alleviate their symptoms through inclusion in federally monitored marijuana studies," the mandamus suit states. "Without a ... review board to qualify New Jersey patients, ... New Jersey patients ... cannot gain legal access to medicinal marijuana in New Jersey, in clear contradiction to the policy stated in the CDSTRA."

The civil action was filed one day prior to Thursday's hearings before the New Jersey Senate Health and Human Services Committee regarding Senate Bill 88: "the New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act." Among those scheduled to testify in favor of the measure are talk show host Montel Williams, who uses cannabis to treat Multiple Sclerosis, and NORML Advisory Board member John P. Morgan, co-author of the book Marijuana Myths, Marijuana Facts. NORML Senior Policy Analyst Paul Armentano submitted written testimony to the Committee.

If passed, Senate Bill 88 would protect qualified patients who use cannabis medicinally from arrest, prosecution, property forfeiture, and other state criminal penalties.

Various polls have reported that over 80 percent of New Jersey voters' support the proposed measure.

[LdyLunatic]

ACLU Files Lawsuit Challenging Alaska Recrim Law

June 8, 2006 - Juneau, AK, USA

Juneau, AK: The Alaska branch of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed suit this week in Superior Court to block the enforcement of a new state law criminalizing the possession of small amounts of cannabis in the privacy of one's home. The law, signed by the Governor last week, redefines marijuana possession of up to four ounces as a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail. Possession of greater quantities is now a felony.

The ACLU suit charges that the new law is unconstitutional because it violates the privacy clause of the Alaska constitution, which provides that "the right of the people to privacy is recognized and shall not be infringed." In a 1975 Alaska state Supreme Court ruling (Ravin v State), justices' determined that this provision encompassed the personal possession and ingestion of cannabis in the home.

Later court decisions defined the personal possession of cannabis as an amount up to four ounces.

The Alaska Supreme Court recently affirmed the Ravin decision in 2004.

"By imposing criminal liability for the use or possession of even small amounts of marijuana in the home, the marijuana prohibition statutes violate ... Alaskans' fundamental right to privacy," the ACLU suit contends. The suit seeks an immediate court order blocking enforcement of the law and an eventual ruling striking down the legislation as unconstitutional.

[LdyLunatic]

South Dakota Voters To Decide Medical Cannabis Issue This Fall

June 8, 2006 - Pierre, SD, USA

Pierre, SD: South Dakota election officials have confirmed that a statewide initiative that seeks to exempt authorized medicinal cannabis patients from state criminal penalties will appear on the November 2006 ballot.

Initiated Measure 4, sponsored by South Dakotans for Safe Access, would allow state-qualified patients to possess up to six plants and/or one ounce of cannabis for medical purposes. Qualified patients must possess a physician's recommendation to use cannabis and must register with the state Department of Health. Non-registered patients, or those who possess greater quantities of cannabis than allowed under state law, would have the option of raising an 'affirmative defense' of medical necessity at trial.

Eleven states - Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington have enacted similar laws. Eight of these did so by voter initiative.

A 2002 Lucas Organization poll of state voters found that that 64 percent of South Dakotans support allowing patients to use cannabis medicinally when recommended by their physician.

[CB]

wow very cool indeed.... number 12 aye

wonder just what the fed gov't will do when all states are on board :p

they can run but they cant hide mawahahahaha

[tHEaNIMICnEEDLE]

HAHA CB

I'm sure they will declare a state of emergency...:eek:

but seriously, when almost 25% of states in america (11 divided by 50)
are already using this what else can the feds do?

soon it shall be a majority of people sick and tired af oppression, not only with our own personal freedoms but our rights too.

like the overwhelming amount of people in jail for victimless crimes

Peaz i need some shaman

[CB]

I'm sure they will declare a state of emergency

for what state tho lol :p

peace

[tHEaNIMICnEEDLE]

ahahaha

political science humor.... love it

[midwestbluntman]

it sure would be nice if my state would,they have talked about it but it has never got to the ballot.I think that is some sorry legislation,mofo's are scared to put it on the poll cause they know what will happen.We'll bees some high ass hillbillies.

[CB]

it sure would be nice if my state would,they have talked about it but it has never got to the ballot.I think that is some sorry legislation,mofo's are scared to put it on the poll cause they know what will happen.We'll bees some high ass hillbillies.

say bro cant just post about it, gotta do something about it ;)

grow on ya ole hillbillie hehe

[Lollie1]

Thanks LdyLunatic.

It's so easy to see all the things that still need to be changed! It's harder to find places showing the hard work of people every where accomplishing something. Even if it's one small step at at time-it's going forward.

they can run but they cant hide mawahahahaha
YEAH!

Thank you for your work! :D

All the best,
Lollie

[LdyLunatic]

Week Of June 15, 2006


June 15, 2006 - Mainz, Germany

Mainz, Germany: Cannabinoids protect the gastrointestinal (GI) tract from inflammation and abnormally high gastric secretions, and could potentially treat numerous GI-related disorders such as Crohn's disease and irritable bowl syndrome, according to review data published in the Journal of Endocrinological Investigation.

Investigators at Germany's Johannes Gutenberg University report that activation of the body's cannabinoid receptors protect the gastrointestinal tract from inflammation and modulate gastric secretions and intestinal motility. "For such protective activities, the endocannabinoid system may represent a new promising therapeutic target against different GI disorders, including inflammatory bowel diseases, functional bowel diseases, and secretion and motility disorders," they conclude.

Though the use of cannabis to treat symptoms of GI disorders has been reported anecdotally for several decades, virtually no clinical trials on the subject have been conducted. Survey data reported last fall in O'Shaughnessy's: The Journal of Cannabis in Clinical Practice, found that Crohn's patients experienced subjective benefits from cannabis, including pain relief and increased appetite. German investigators at the University Hospital in Munich are now assessing the efficacy of cannabis extracts for the treatment of Crohn's.

Researchers in the United Kingdom also reported last year that cannabinoids promote healing in the gastrointestinal membrane, and may provide therapeutic relief to patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

[LdyLunatic]

June 15, 2006 - Washington, DC, USA

Washington, DC: NORML has launched a new daily, 30-minute edition of its weekly podcast. The original programming, entitled "NORML's Daily AudioStash: The Growing Truth About Marijuana," is available via podcast and direct MP3 download every weekday at 4:20pm at either http://www.normlaudiostash.com/ or http://www.norml.org/

Archived shows are also available online.

Episodes of NORML's Daily AudioStash will feature breaking news stories and interviews, NORML Chapter profiles, music and comedy sketches, as well as regular segments on cannabis and health, legislative reform efforts, and hemp technology. Featured guests on the show have included NORML Executive Director Allen St. Pierre, Mitch Earleywine - author of the book Understanding Marijuana: A New Look at the Scientific Evidence - comedian Tommy Chong, and NORML Board Member Dominic Holden, among others.

"With so much happening in the world of cannabis law reform, there was an urgent need for the creation of a daily audio show to capture the various voices of the reform movement and keep consumers up to date with the latest pot-related science, news, and events information that you won't find anywhere else but on NORML's AudioStash," NORML Executive Director Allen St. Pierre said.

NORML's podcasts rank as one of the most popular political audio programs available on the Internet, according to tabulations released by Apple Computer's iTunes Music Store.

[LdyLunatic]

June 15, 2006 - San Diego, CA, USA

San Diego, CA: A lawsuit filed earlier this year by San Diego County supervisors arguing that the state's ten-year-old medical cannabis law should be pre-empted by the federal Controlled Substances Act can move forward, a Superior Court judge has ruled. The ruling rejects a motion filed in March by state Attorney General Bill Lockyer, who argued that the supervisors "disliked" the law, but had no legal standing to challenge it.

The judge is expected to set a trial date in the case imminently.

San Diego supervisors filed suit in January rather than comply with a 2004 state law mandating county officials to issue identification cards to authorized medical marijuana patients.

Local governments from San Bernardino and Merced Counties have since joined the suit. According to a recent telephone poll of San Diego county voters, 78 percent of respondents said that they opposed the supervisor's lawsuit.

[LdyLunatic]

June 15, 2006 - Wellington, New Zealand

Wellington, New Zealand: Members of Parliament will debate legislation that seeks to allow authorized patients to use cannabis therapeutically. The proposal, backed by the Green Party, would allow physician-supervised medical cannabis patients authorized to register with the government and be issued an identification card exempting them from criminal arrest.

"Strict regulation of medicinal cannabis and supervision of use by a doctor will allow patients access to an effective medicine and prevent the unjust conviction of those for whom it provides relief from their illness," the Green Party stated in a press release.

Cannabis offenses comprise 80 percent of all drug arrests in New Zealand. Statistics indicate that New Zealand law enforcement arrest a greater percentage of their citizens for marijuana violations than any other nation.

[LdyLunatic]

week Of June 22, 2006



Michigan Supreme Court Upholds 'Zero Tolerance' Per Se DUID Law
June 22, 2006 - Traverse City, MI, USA

"It is irrelevant that a person who is no longer 'under the influence' of marijuana could be prosecuted under the statute," Court Rules

Traverse City: MI: The Michigan Supreme Court ruled 4-3 this week that the state's 'zero tolerance per se DUID (driving under the influence of drugs) law is constitutional, even if the statute might apply to drivers who are not under the influence of illegal substances. The majority held also that motorists could be prosecuted under the state's DUID law for having detectable levels of non-psychoactive cannabis metabolites in their blood - even though the presence of such metabolites are not associated with driver impairment, and are not defined under the statute as an illicit substance.

The ruling reverses a prior Appellate Court ruling that determined that the state had to demonstrate that the presence of a controlled substance in a driver's body was the proximate cause of an accident to move forward with a DUID prosecution.

Michigan's DUID law "does not require [driver] intoxication, impairment, or knowledge of that one might be intoxicated; it simply requires that the person have 'any amount' of a schedule I substance in his or her body when operating a motor vehicle," the Court opined. "It is irrelevant that an 'ordinary' marijuana smoker does not know that [cannabis metabolites] could last in his or her body for weeks. ... That the statute might apply to some persons who are not actually 'under the influence' of marijuana does not render the statute unconstitutional."

The Court further found that cannabis metabolites may be defined under the law as a Schedule I controlled substance with a "high potential for abuse," even though they have "no pharmacological effect on the body."

Michigan is one of 13 states that have enacted either per se or 'zero tolerance' per se DUID laws making it a criminal offense to operate a motor vehicle with trace levels of illicit drugs and/or drug metabolites in a driver's blood, saliva or urine.

Writing for the dissent, Judge Michael Cavanaugh opined: "Today's holding now makes criminals out of numerous Michigan citizens who, before today, were considered law-abiding, productive members of our community. Now, if a person has ever actively or passively ingested marijuana and drives ... he is [unknowingly] breaking the law, because if any amount of [cannabis metabolites] can be detected - no matter when [the marijuana] was previously ingested - he is committing a crime. The majority's interpretation, which has no rational relationship to the Legislature's genuine concerns about operating a motor vehicle while impaired, violates the United States Constitution and the Michigan Constitution."

The consolidated cases are Michigan v Derror and Michigan v Kurts.

[LdyLunatic]

Clinical Trial: THC Reduces Pain In Fibromyalgia Patients

June 22, 2006 - Mannheim, Germany

Mannheim, Germany: Oral administration of THC significantly reduces both chronic and experimentally induced pain in patients with fibromyalgia, according to clinical trial data to be published in the forthcoming issue of the journal Current Medical Research and Opinion. The study is the first-ever clinical trial assessing the efficacy of cannabinoids in the treatment of fibromyalgia.

Investigators at Germany's University of Heidelberg assessed the analgesic effects of oral THC in nine patients with fibromyalgia over a 3-month period. Subjects in the trial were administered daily doses of 2.5 to 15 mg of THC, but received no other pain medication during the trial. Among those participants who completed the trial, all reported a significant reduction in daily recorded pain and electronically induced pain, investigators found.

"All patients who completed the delta-9-THC therapy ... experienced pain relief of more than 50 percent," authors concluded. Investigators recommended that follow up placebo-control trials be conducted assessing the use of cannabinoids on fibromyalgia.

Previous trials have shown that both naturally occurring and endogenous cannabinoids hold analgesic qualities, particularly in the treatment of cancer pain and neuropathic pain, both of which are poorly treated by conventional opiates.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain syndrome characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and multiple tender points in the neck, spine, shoulders, and hips. An estimated 3 to 6 million Americans are afflicted by the disease, which is often poorly controlled by standard pain medications.

[LdyLunatic]

National MS Society To Fund Clinical Cannabis Trial

June 22, 2006 - New York, NY, USA

New York, NY: The National Multiple Sclerosis Society has announced that it will provide funding to complete an ongoing clinical trial by the University of California Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research investigating the use of cannabis to treat symptoms of MS. The clinical trial is the first study in the United States in almost 20 years investigating the use of cannabinoids in the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis, and is the first such trial funded by the MS Society.

Investigators in the study will assess the efficacy of inhaled cannabis and/or oral THC in reducing MS-associated spasticity compared to placebo. Previous preclinical and clinical data indicate that cannabinoids can alleviate MS-associated spasticity, pain, muscle stiffness, and incontinence, as well as potentially moderate the progression of the disease.

The trial is scheduled to be completed in the spring of 2008.

Unlike the MS Societies of Canada and the United Kingdom, the US Society has not taken a public stance in support of the therapeutic use of cannabis for MS. According to survey data, some 15 to 40 percent of MS patients use cannabis to treat symptoms of the disease.

[LdyLunatic]

Week of June 29, 2006

Drug Czar's Office "Obsessed" With Marijuana, Fails To Addre

Washington, DC: The White House Office of National Drug Policy (ONDCP) has wasted billions of taxpayers' dollars since its formation in 1988 on ineffective and counter-productive policies that fail to meet the agency's core objectives, according to a report released this week by the non-partisan Washington, DC think-tank Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW).

"The federal government and the ONDCP have chosen to ignore evidence suggesting that the methods being used in the war on drugs are not effective," the report says. "[T]he federal government has become so obsessed with marijuana use that it is spending money unwisely."

The report cites the ONDCP's National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign and the Justice Department's decision to prosecute medicinal cannabis patients and their caregivers as examples of two particularly wasteful and counterproductive programs.

"The government has thrown more than $1 billion at a campaign that has only succeeded in increasing the number of teenage marijuana users," the report states, noting that reviews of the media campaign have found that it often encourages - rather than discourages - cannabis use among viewers.

Regarding the Justice Department's prosecution of state authorized medicinal cannabis patients, the report determines: "It is useless to throw millions of dollars into attacking patients that are simply trying to find the most effectual medicine possible. ... [S]tates must be given the right to create and enforce these [medical marijuana] laws within their jurisdiction."

Congress voted 259 to 163 this week to continue enforcing federal penalties upon state-authorized patients.

The CAGW report also rebukes government claims that marijuana serves as a "gateway" to harder drug use, finding that ONDCP policies aimed at reducing marijuana availability are unlikely to make a dent in the use and availability of harder drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamine, or heroin.

Citizens Against Government Waste issued a similar critique of the ONDCP last year, calling the agency a "federal wasteland" that fails to show objective results.

ss 'Hard Drug' Use, Study Says

[LdyLunatic]

Congress Votes To Continue Prosecuting State-Authorized Medicinal Cannabis Patients




163 House Members Vote To End Federal Prosecutions

Washington, DC: State-authorized patients and their caregivers who use or possess medical cannabis will continue to be subject to federal arrest and prosecution, after the House of Representatives rejected a proposed amendment that sought to bar the US Department of Justice (DOJ) from targeting patients who use cannabis medicinally in accordance with the laws of their states.

The House voted 259 to 163 against the bi-partisan measure, sponsored by Reps. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) and Maurice Hinchey (D-NY). The 163 House votes in favor of the patient-protection provision was the highest total ever recorded in a Congressional floor vote to liberalize marijuana laws. Of those who voted in support of the Hinchey/Rohrabacher medical marijuana amendment, 18 were Republicans (a gain of three votes from 2005) and 144 were Democrats (a loss of one vote from last year). The House's only Independent Congressman, Vermont Representative Bernard Sanders, also voted in favor of the amendment.

"For the fourth year in a row, Congress had an opportunity to stop wasting taxpayers' dollars arresting seriously ill patients who possess and use medical cannabis in compliance with state law," NORML Executive Director St Pierre said. "Instead, 259 members of Congress chose to prosecute patients."

Representatives Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) and Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), along with Reps. Sam Farr (D-CA), Barney Frank (D-MA), Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), Barbara Lee (D-CA), David Obey (D-WI), and Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) spoke in favor of the amendment, while Reps. John Boozeman (R-AR), Steve King (R-IA), Tom Latham (R-IA), John Mica (R-FL), John Peterson (R-PA), and Frank Wolf (R-VA) spoke in opposition to the amendment.

Following the vote, Rep. Hinchey vowed to keep lobbying in favor of the medicinal use of cannabis. "People who are dying and suffering in states where medical marijuana is legal should be able to use the drug under a doctor's supervision to ease their pain without having to worry that the federal government is going to bust down their door and arrest them," he said. "It is immoral to deny people access to medicine that can help relieve their pain and suffering. We will continue our fight in Congress to protect medical marijuana users and doctors in states that allow such use. This is a battle that must be won."

For more information, please contact Allen St. Pierre, NORML Executive Director, at (202) 483-5500. Final vote tallies for the Hinchey/Rohrabacher medical marijuana amendment are available online at: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2006/roll333.xml

DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6940

Source: NORML Foundation (DC)
Published: June 29, 2006
Copyright: 2006 NORML

[LdyLunatic]

week of July 13, 2006

Cannabinoids Curb Brain Tumor Growth, First-Ever Patient Trial Shows
July 13, 2006 - Madrid, Spain

Madrid, Spain: THC administration decreases recurrent glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) tumor growth in humans, according to the findings of the first-ever clinical trial assessing cannabinoids' anti-tumor action.

Investigators at Complutense University in Spain administered THC intratumorally in nine patients diagnosed with recurrent GBM, an extremely rapid and lethal form of brain tumor. Patients in the study had previously failed standard therapy (surgery and radiotherapy) and had clear evidence of tumor progression. THC treatment was associated with reduced tumor cell proliferation in two subjects, authors reported.

Investigators did not determine whether THC positively impacted patients' survival, though they did conclude that cannabinoid therapy does not facilitate cancer growth or decrease patients' life expectancy. Median survival of the cohort from the beginning of cannabinoid administration was 24 weeks, and two patients survived for approximately one year. Survival for GBM patients following diagnosis is typically six to twelve months.

Researchers speculated that newly diagnosed glioma patients may respond more favorably to cannabinoid-based therapies.

Investigators also reported that THC demonstrated significant anti-proliferative activity on human GBM cells in culture.

"The fair safety profile of THC, together with its possible anti-proliferative action on tumor cells reported here and in other studies, may set the basis for future trials aimed at evaluating the potential antitumoral activity of cannabinoids," investigators concluded.

In 2005, investigators at the California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute in San Francisco reported that THC selectively decreases the proliferation of malignant cells and induces cell death in human GBM cell lines. Healthy cells in the study were unaffected by THC administration.

Separate preclinical studies indicate that cannabinoids and endocannabinoids can stave off tumor progression and trigger cell death in other cancer cell lines, including breast carcinoma, prostate carcinoma, colectoral carcinoma, skin carcinoma, and pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

[LdyLunatic]

Alaska: Judge Rejects Pot Recriminalization Measure

July 13, 2006 - Juneau, AK, USA

Juneau, AK: An Alaska Superior Court judge this week struck down provisions of a new state law seeking to criminalize the possession of small amounts of cannabis in the privacy of one's home. The law, enacted in June, redefined minor marijuana possession as a criminal offense punishable by jail time, and defined the possession of more than four ounces of cannabis as a felony offense.

The Alaska ACLU filed suit last month to block enforcement of the law, arguing that it violates the privacy clause of the state constitution, which provides that "the right of the people to privacy is recognized and shall not be infringed." In a 1975 Alaska state Supreme Court ruling (Ravin v State), justices determined that this constitutional provision encompassed the possession and use of small amounts of cannabis in the home.

Superior Court judge Patricia Collins ruled Monday that the Alaska legislature lacks the authority to override the Supreme Court's 1975 decision. "The Alaska Supreme Court has repeatedly and consistently characterized the Ravin decision as announcing a constitutional limitation of the government's authority to enact legislation prohibiting the possession of marijuana in the privacy of one's home," she determined. "That decision is the law until and unless the Supreme Court takes contrary action."

Collin's ruling strikes down sections of the new law criminalizing the possession of one ounce or less of cannabis, but leaves in place measures prohibiting the possession of greater amounts. Under the 2006 law, possession of one to four ounces of marijuana is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail.

"The Alaska Court of Appeals has held that the legislature has the power to set reasonable limits on the amount of marijuana that people can possess for personal use in their homes and that such regulation does not conflict with Ravin," Collins determined.

Lawyers for the Alaska attorney general's office are expected to appeal Collin's ruling.

In 2004, the Alaska Supreme Court rejected a petition by the attorney general's office to reconsider a September 2003 Court of Appeals decision that the possession of marijuana by adults within the home is constitutionally protected activity.

Governor Frank Murkowksi (R), who strongly advocated for the new law, has argued that Ravin should no longer apply in Alaska because cannabis may pose greater health and safety risks today than it did in 1975.

[LdyLunatic]

Week of July 20, 2006

NORML Advisory Board Member, Travel Author Rick Steves Contacts Washington Policy-Makers With Message: Decriminalize Marijuana Possession For Adults
July 20, 2006 - Edmonds, WA, USA

Edmonds, WA: Best selling author, travel show host and NORML Advisory Board Member Rick Steves has sent a letter to every state and federal elected policymaker in his home state of Washington asking them to immediately change state and federal laws such that marijuana possession and responsible adult use be decriminalized.

Mr. Steves decided to contact his state's politicians after recently participating in two public lectures sponsored by NORML in Seattle and on Bainbridge Island. After the public lectures received heavy media coverage in the Seattle-area, Steves received dozens of positive replies and notes of encouragement. Steves decided to share his experience with legislators in Washington State:

"I've been on the advisory board of NORML (the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) for several years so I see our marijuana laws as overly harsh and prohibition taking a negative and needless toll on our society as alcohol did back in the early 1930s. In the interest of wise drug policy and harm reduction, I am a proponent of taking the European approach and treating marijuana as a health rather than a criminal problem.

I've always found the both politicians and the media secretly agree with my stance. While politicians may agree with me, they understandably fear political fallout if they are considered "soft on drugs". The point of my communication with you is that I have never had such over-whelming and positive feedback from a controversy that I've stepped into. Everywhere I've gone in the last week, people have thanked me for bravely addressing what is generally considered a painful prohibition in our society. After reviewing this, let me know if I can be of any help in supporting you to speak out to get America to take the crime out of Marijuana."

[LdyLunatic]

NORML Announces 22nd Annual Key West Legal Seminar

July 20, 2006 - Washington, DC, USA

Washington, DC: This annual seminar for practicing criminal defense lawyers, scheduled for November 30 - December 2, will once again be held at the Pier House Resort and Caribbean Spa, located at the foot of Duval Street on the Gulf of Mexico. The hotel offers a full-service Caribbean Spa with therapeutic body massages and island facials. They are holding a block of reduced-rate rooms for those attending the NORML Legal Seminar.

We have a faculty of outstanding defense attorneys lined-up to provide the continuing legal education (CLE) program each morning, with the afternoons free for exploring the island, enjoying the beaches, or just hanging out with friends and colleagues. Program topics to include:

-Advance DUI Motions
-Wrongful Convictions and Govt. Leak Cases
-State Constitutions and Motions To Suppress
-Practice Tips for Young Lawyers and Pushing The Envelope
-Anti-Terrorism and The War on Drugs
-Federal Sentencing

Registration fee includes the three-day seminar, a continental breakfast each morning, and the opening reception on Thursday evening. The Saturday night NORML benefit banquet is an optional event, although we encourage everyone to attend.

[LdyLunatic]

New Zealand Relaxes Regulations for Industrial Hemp

July 20, 2006 - Wellington, New Zealand

Wellington, New Zealand: Beginning August 1, the New Zealand Health Ministry will introduce a new regulatory system for the processing, cultivation and distribution of industrial hemp as an agricultural crop, according to a press release issued by the Director-General of Health.

The new system will allow individuals and organizations to apply for a license to cultivate approved varieties of industrial hemp, and will allow growers to apply for other varieties to be considered for research and cultivation. Approved varieties of hemp will include only those containing less that 0.5 percent tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive compound in cannabis.

Derek Fitzgerald, director of Medsafe, the medicine regulatory agency overseeing the new program, commented that, "The new regulations ... take into account the low drug [THC] content of hemp, which was previously subjected to the same strict controls as those placed on illicit cannabis". The new regulations come after a two year trial period to determine if industrial hemp has a potential as a cultivation crop, and if the cultivation can be controlled and regulated.

However, Fitzgerald did note that, "the new regulations still classify industrial hemp as a controlled drug and consider it an offense to advertise hemp for psychoactive purposes or to supply it to unauthorized persons". Further, the new licensing system will cover only hemp, while other varieties of cannabis will continue to be regulated under the Misuse of Drugs Act of 1975.

Industrial hemp can be used for everything from food and body care products, to building materials, paper and textiles, and as an alternative renewable energy source. Currently over 30 other countries have laws allowing the cultivation and production of industrial hemp.

[LdyLunatic]

Week of August 3, 2006



Endocannabinoid System Plays Significant Role In Embryonic Development, Study Says
August 3, 2006 - Nashville, TN, USA

Nashville, TN: The endocannabinoid system plays a significant role in the development of healthy embryos and their implantation in the womb, according to preclinical data published this month in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

Researchers at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee reported that experimentally inducing elevated amounts of the endogenous cannabinoid anadamide and/or THC in newly mated mice "deferred on-time [embryo] implantation" and was associated with "poor pregnancy outcome."

Previous preclinical studies investigating the role of endogenous cannabinoids in prenatal development have shown that the body temporarily reduces the localized production of anadamide during embryonal implantation. Though some researchers speculate that smoking large quantities of cannabis during this period could negatively impact this biological process, there is - to date - a lack of clinical or epidemiological data supporting the theory.