420 Use and Health

[GoVegan]

I think the point was they jeopardized her life, and caused real physical damage to her body, all so they could be the "big man", and show her who's boss. The weed isn't relevant to the story.

Yeah I know, I was just trying to stir the pot a bit. Get it? Stir the pot?

[Crow]

Yeah I know, I was just trying to stir the pot a bit. Get it? Stir the pot?

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New Jersey (US)

Gov. Christie Puts New Jersey Medical Marijuana Back on Track

Yesterday, Gov. Christie announced that the wait is over for patients, and the medical marijuana program that has been on hold for months will finally move forward. He will instruct the New Jersey Department of Health and Social Services to begin implementation “as expeditiously as possible.” This includes establishing the six alternative care centers that were approved last year.

Christie had left the program in limbo while he determined how to allow dispensaries and not attract attention from the federal government. This behavior has been mirrored in other states in response to letters from U.S. Attorneys intimating that they would no longer look the other way for anyone other than patients and individual caregivers, exposing the booming medical marijuana industry to serious risk. But Christie, himself a former U.S. Attorney, said that when he occupied that role, he would not have gone after dispensaries, as they are permitted in New Jersey’s medical marijuana law. This, and the fact that the program is perhaps the strictest and narrowest in the country, led him to believe that neither the state nor the dispensaries would face federal prosecution.

The governor did not consult with the current federal attorney for New Jersey, but does not think the department will waste it’s resources prosecuting state-approved, non-profit medical marijuana providers. Let’s hope he is correct.

It is very heartening to see state leaders moving ahead with permitting and regulating the medical marijuana industry so that patients will not be forced to purchase their medicine from the illicit market. So far, the Department of Justice has been fairly decent about respecting state law with regard to dispensaries as long as those states have clear regulations for the industry. Other states, particularly Rhode Island, should not fear federal interference for implementing regulated dispensary systems.

http://blog.mpp.org/medical-marijuan...rack/07202011/

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New York (US)

Cuomo mulling medical marijuana use in NY

ALBANY, N.Y. — Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who in last year's campaign shut the door on a medical marijuana law, now says he's reconsidering.

The Democrat says he's talking to both sides of the issue, but hasn't changed his view opposing the prescription use of marijuana.

In the week before his election in November, Cuomo said the dangers of legalizing marijuana even for medicinal use outweigh the benefits. Cuomo said then that he had smoked marijuana in his youth.

On Tuesday, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie approved that state's medical marijuana program.

Democratic New York Sen. Diane Savino of Staten Island says New York must follow New Jersey's lead to help patients of cancer, multiple sclerosis and other diseases.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43829459

[MJ26]

I don't really know about the facts of medical marijuana, but they say about anything that marijuana can help. As I've been suffering with cronic pains many years I can say it didn't have any kind of help as a pain reliever. It even got it worse. I just can't stand the effect of mj if it isn't weed or some light stuff.

[Crow]

I don't really know about the facts of medical marijuana, but they say about anything that marijuana can help. As I've been suffering with cronic pains many years I can say it didn't have any kind of help as a pain reliever. It even got it worse. I just can't stand the effect of mj if it isn't weed or some light stuff.

Have you tried using a topical in the affected area(s)? What about medibles? Cannabis capsules?

How are you treating your condition today?

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Medical marijuana store gets Discovery reality show

Discovery Channel is set to announce a potentially controversial new series: A docu-soap reality show set in the country’s largest medical marijuana distributorship and starring a pot reform activist. This fall, the network will unveil Weed Wars, where cameras follow the day-to-day dealings of a California ganja store.

The show follows Steve DeAngelo, the owner of Oakland’s Harborside Health Center, which serves 80,000 clients. According to the network, DeAngelo strives to provide patients with the highest-quality product and uses his business to promote the national regulation and taxation of cannabis.

“Weed Wars fearlessly pulls back the curtain on a once illegal and still controversial world,” said Nancy Daniels, executive vp at Discovery Channel. “From the inner workings of the business to Steve’s distinctive leadership style, Weed Wars is a fascinating glimpse into this highly unique setting. Like Gold Rush or Deadliest Catch, these are guys pursuing their own version of the American Dream.”

California passed the Compassionate Use Act in 1996 that permitted legalized pot dispensaries where customers can select from a variety of toke-able or edible products if they have a doctor’s approval. Some have accused the Act of essentially legalizing marijuana. But in addition to providing relief to some patients struggling with severe illnesses, the passage has also resulted in a new breed of local-owned brick-and-mortar outlets at a time when retail stores are shutting down as commerce increasingly shifts to big box stores and Internet.


The show will follow the journey of the plant from germination to harvesting to sales at Harborside, which has opened up a second location in San Jose despite “constant police monitoring and security sweeps,” says to the network.


What do you think, will you check out Weed Wars this fall? It’s sort of like Cake Boss with pot … or not.

http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/07/20/ma...w+reality+show

[Crow]

Washington (US)

Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn signs law regulating medical marijuana shops

Medical marijuana dispensaries will be regulated in Seattle like any legal business under a new law signed Wednesday by Mayor Mike McGinn.

The law requires medical marijuana shops to obtain business licenses, abide by building codes and follow public-health regulations. For example, they would have to obtain food permits if they sell marijuana-infused foods such as cookies.

They also would be subject to the requirements of the city's "Chronic Nuisance Property Law," meaning if there are repeated complaints about activity at the establishments they could face fines or possible closure. However, it does not create a special license for medical cannabis dispensaries.

The City Council unanimously passed the ordinance in an attempt to provide some clarity in city law after legislation that would have legalized and regulated pot dispensaries at the state level was mostly vetoed by Gov. Chris Gregoire earlier this year .

"Prohibition does not work," McGinn said during a ceremony at City Hall. "I wish I could say that the action we've taken will provide complete clarity to the public, the law enforcement personnel and to medical marijuana patients, but it does not. We are in a time of transition, and because of a conflict between state law and federal law, the law creates an interesting situation."

The governor said she worried the state legislation, sponsored by Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, D-Seattle, would put state workers at risk of federal prosecution. Evergreen State voters approved legalizing medical marijuana in 1998. Washington is one of 16 states that allows marijuana use for medical purposes, but the federal government does not recognize any medicinal use for cannabis.

Seattle's ordinance is about providing safe access to medical cannabis for patients, and promoting public safety.

"The goal is to make sure people don't have to buy their medicine from the drug dealers," said City Attorney Pete Holmes.

But complying with city law won't protect dispensaries from investigations or raids by the the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, Holmes said. Federal authorities have given no assurance they wouldn't prosecute if a dispensary was licensed.

The only safe harbor for patients who are authorised under state law to use marijuana; is to grow their own.

"When you get beyond that, we're all in a gray area," said Holmes, who has joined former U.S. Attorney John McKay in backing an initiative that would legalize and regulate marijuana in Washington state.

Under the new state law, "collective gardens" are permitted where no more than 10 patients can grow medical marijuana. The law limits each person to 10 plants per person in the garden. No garden can have more than 45 plants and 72 ounces of dried product.

City Councilman Nick Licata said the council soon will take up legislation regulating where collective marijuana gardens can be. The city wants to ensure that larger collective grow operations don't wind up in residential areas. The new regulations will not affect licensed medical patients who grow pot for their own use.

The public can report problems with medical cannabis facilities to the Customer Service Bureau, the Seattle Police Department, or the Department of Planning and Development, according to the Mayor's Office.

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Tacoma Voters To Decide On Marijuana Deprioritisation Measure

Tacoma, WA: Tacoma voters will decide this November on a municipal initiative that seeks to make marijuana law enforcement the city's "lowest priority."

Proponents of the measure submitted over 4,000 valid signatures from registered municipal voters to qualify the measure for the 2011 ballot.

The proposal (Tacoma Initiative 1) seeks to make cannabis possession related offenses "the lowest enforcement priority of the City of Tacoma."

The initiative is modeled after a similar measure that was enacted by Seattle voters in 2003. A review of that measure in 2008 reported that implementation of the ordinance was associated with a reduction in local law enforcement costs and "no evident increase in marijuana use among youth and young adults."

Proponents in Portland, Maine have also turned in signatures to place a similar measure on the November city ballot, but those signatures have yet to be officially certified by city officials.

Previous 'deprioritization' measures have been approved by voters nationwide, including voters in Oakland, California and Denver, Colorado.

Proponents in Miami Beach have also turned in signatures for a citywide ordinance that seeks to reduce penalties for marijuana possession to a fine only.

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

[NewYork]

WE NEED Snusijuana!!! WEEEEEED SNUS! I would take up toking again if they came out with that sheeet! lol

[granola]

WE NEED Snusijuana!!! WEEEEEED SNUS! I would take up toking again if they came out with that sheeet! lol

Brilliant

You could probably make your own if you had some hash on hand. I wonder how that would taste.

[Crow]

WEEEEEED SNUS!

You could probably make your own if you had some hash on hand. I wonder how that would taste.

I would take a can of Oden's Extreme lös, and infuse it with cannabis oil.

I've never tried it, but I've thought about it.

[Crow]

‘Stoner Stupid’ Myth Goes Up In Smoke

[Editor's note: This post is excerpted from this week's forthcoming NORML weekly media advisory. To have NORML's media alerts and legislative advisories delivered straight to your in-box, sign up here.]

The consumption of cannabis, even long-term, poses few adverse effects on cognitive performance, according to clinical trial data to be published in the scientific journal Addiction.

Investigators at the University of Melbourne and the Australian National University, Center for Mental Health Research assessed the impact of cannabis use on various measures of memory and intelligence in over 2,000 self-identified marijuana consumers and non-users over an eight-year period. Among cannabis consumers, subjects were grouped into the following categories: ‘heavy’ (once a week or more) users, ‘light’ users, ‘former heavy’ users, ‘former light’ users, and ‘always former’ — a category that consisted of respondents who had ceased using marijuana prior to their entry into the study.

Researchers reported: “Only with respect to the immediate recall measure was there evidence of an improved performance associated with sustained abstinence from cannabis, with outcomes similar to those who had never used cannabis at the end point. On the remaining cognitive measures, after controlling for education and other characteristics, there were no significant differences associated with cannabis consumption.”

They concluded, “Therefore, the adverse impacts of cannabis use on cognitive functions either appear to be related to pre-existing factors or are reversible in this community cohort even after potentially extended periods of use.”

Separate studies have previously reported that long-term marijuana use is not associated with residual deficits in neurocognitive function. Specifically, a 2001 study published in the journal Archives of General Psychiatry found that chronic cannabis consumers who abstained from the drug for one week “showed virtually no significant differences from control subjects (those who had smoked marijuana less than 50 times in their lives) on a battery of 10 neuropsychological tests. … Former heavy users, who had consumed little or no cannabis in the three months before testing, [also] showed no significant differences from control subjects on any of these tests on any of the testing days.”

Additionally, studies have also implied that cannabis may be neuroprotective against alcohol-induced cognitive deficits. A 2009 study by investigators at the University of California and San Diego reported that binge drinkers who also used cannabis experienced significantly less white matter damage to the brain as compared to subjects who consumed alcohol alone.

For more information regarding the impact of cannabis on brain function, see NORML’s factsheet ‘Cannabis and the Brain: A User’s Guide,’ here.

[Crow]

Id say that our old cans of Gotlandssnus is the most air-thight can (for snus) in the world!! (you can try to put a papier in differnt cans and hold uit under water and see wich is the most sealable... No lekage no air in the can!)

Gotlandssnus: Official Sponsors of Cannabis Consumers Worldwide!

[Crow]

British Columbia (Canada)

RCMP seizes 4 kilograms of cannabis from medical dispensary, owner speaks out

The owner of a medical marijuana dispensary in Langley City is crying foul over a police raid which confiscated about four kilograms of weed for sick people.

Randy Caine, who once challenged the country's marijuana statutes all the way up to the Supreme Court, says helping people with chronic pain should not be a criminal offence.

"If my greatest fault was being overly helpful to sick people, is that a criminal offence?" Caine said Friday.

"I have been transparent about medical assistance with the authorities from the start. I had no idea they were this concerned. I was blindsided," said Caine.

Langley RCMP say five police officers wearing bulletproof jackets executed a search warrant on July 19 after receiving "numerous" complaints.

Cst. Jillian Roberts said up to four kilograms of marijuana was seized, as well as brownies and cookies.

She said the dispensary is not legally authorized by any authority or legislation in Canada.

Caine, meanwhile, said he has legitimacy - a licence issued by Health Canada. The country's top health regulator has issued 10,000 medical marijuana licences.

But Caine admits he was distributing to some 200 patients even though his licence only permitted two.

He justified the difference on the basis of a 2009 B.C. Supreme Court ruling from Madam Justice M. Marvyn Koenigsberg concerning a case about patients' rights.

Koenigsberg struck down a section of law which said, in effect, that if you're a designated grower, growing the drug for an authorized person, you can only grow for that single person.

Dispensary manager Carol Gwilt admitted the relevant laws are hazy.

"Medical marijuana is a grey market, but it's a necessary market," she said. "We're a small business operated as a community-based model."

Caine said his marijuana is obtained from small private growers who are not connected with the huge, illegal, gang-based trade in B.C.

He said clients come by appointment only and must have a doctor's recommendation in writing.

He was not granted a business licence by city hall for the tidy-looking premises, which are located on the second floor of a commercial building in the 20200 block of Fraser Highway. The lower entrance is secured by a coded lock.

Gwilt said the dispensary is resolved to continue servicing customers, whose diseases include cancer, AIDS and epilepsy.

"We have clients who need service in a huge way. They are suffering," said Gwilt.

Caine, 57, who was raised in nearby Surrey, said he knows the community "has a heart."

"I think this will be a defining moment about how this community takes care of its sick," said Caine.

RCMP said the investigation is continuing.

http://www.theprovince.com/health/Medical+shop+owner+slams+police/5151324/story.html#ixzz1TSvVJORE

[nicodude]

But the old can would be perfect for the "product" to keep in great condition , and long term storage

You got that right! I store my buds in empty gotlands cans all the time!

Best part is since they seal so well it keeps the herb aroma from wafting out and stinking up a room when your carrying it around

As a testament to the original cans, I had left a previously opened can of anis los in my nightstand drawer for 2 weeks and it was still just as or close to as fresh and moist as it was when first opened

[Ansel]

I like this Jacob Sullum guy...

[sirloot]

Terrible news for Cali http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-14351501

California police arrest 100 over marijuana growing
A marijuana plant Authorities are targeting illegal marijuana growers over the summer
Continue reading the main story
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Police in northern California have uprooted 460,000 plants and made more than 100 arrests in a major operation against illegal marijuana cultivation.

[Crow]

I like this Jacob Sullum guy...

Classic Bill O.

I watched it when it first aired, but after seeing it again; I had a good laugh. Thanks for sharing!