By Courtney Vaughn, Hi-Desert Star

Courtney Vaughn, Hi-Desert Star
 
YUCCA VALLEY — Medical marijuana advocates pleaded with the Town Council Tuesday, Dec. 17, to reopen the Morongo Basin’s only medical marijuana dispensary. California Alternative Medicinal Solutions was the last one standing earlier this month, until a sunset clause kicked in and the dispensary had to close its storefront.
The dispensary was permitted in 2008. The Yucca Valley Town Council voted in 2010 to prohibit dispensaries in town, but allowed CAMS to wind down its operations over a few years.
CAMS was given until December of this year to shut down its operations.
“I’ve been closed now for about 10 days,” CAMS Director Brian Nicholson said. “I see patients everywhere. I have everyone telling me they’re in pain. They’re hurting. I really need you to revisit this. I operated for three years without any issues.”
 
Full Article:
http://www.hidesertstar.com/news/article_55741fec-6a12-11e3-b6fc-0019bb2963f4.html

by David Downs

By: Bill Redekop

 
The Composites Innovation Centre (CIC) in Winnipeg has completed an evaluation of a series of tractor parts based on hemp composites as an alternative to traditional glass.
The biocomposites were made from hemp and agave plants sourced from Manitoba and used to build a tractor hood, shields, fan shroud and fenders.
“We didn’t know if it would be possible yet or not, so we engaged industry to see if we could put our trial biofibre mat into a test tractor to see if it would endure the application it was meant to,” explained CIC project manager Andrea Kraj. The CIC partnered with Buhler, which manufactures Versatile farm equipment, and the Eastside Group of Companies to produce and test the components.
Kraj said the parts had performed well during the past harvest season and in testing on a ‘bump track’.
“The biotractor survived the environment and the conditions of the bump track, which is great because it shows that it can succeed in its application,” she said.
 
Full Article:
http://www.ecocomposites.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10484%3Ahemp-composites-as-new-tractor-parts&catid=3%3Anews-free&Itemid=2

by Colleen Murphy

 
District residents busted for pot could soon see their cases sealed.
A D.C. Council committee discussed a bill Thursday that would wipe away criminal records for people caught possessing marijuana in cases that did not involve violence.
 
Full Article:
http://blogs.gwhatchet.com/newsroom/2013/12/19/d-c-council-considers-sealing-nonviolent-marijuana-cases/

By Rhoda Miel

Image By: PeugeotThe Peugeot 308 uses an injection molded biocomposite substrate, supplied by Faurecia SA, in the door panels.
 
Auto supplier Faurecia SA has launched production of an injection molded bio-composite combining hemp and polypropylene in Europe, and is looking for opportunities to expand the technology to North America.
 
Full Article:
http://www.plasticsnews.com/article/20131219/NEWS/131219914/faurecia-boosts-automotive-bioplastics

By: Sara Dilley

 
 
The holiday season is all about family, good food and, for some, religious tradition. In the spirit of the holidays, we at Leafly were curious about cannabis and religion. As a topic that’s seldom discussed, we wondered if cannabis had any ties to religion. What we found may surprise you.
 
Full Article:
http://www.leafly.com/(F(CPJmL5dJKHrC2TDn3v2JzOQjUBNHXCpl3Y6LiVnL8vYAaV19aeB7ff-LyYZBkYkBwD43kRpwjQvLpxXmM-SJVFqGvnCrNuIVl5OSk7nQURC6gP7wbaw_UHw2i_Km0YAJFEQzUNKEA64n1CFx0))/news/stories/cannabis-a-gift-from-the-ancient-gods
 
 

By Larry Gabriel

THE ERWIN FAMILY AFTER ALYSA’S DIOGNOSIS
 
IN JANUARY 2011, then-4-year-old Alysa Erwin began having intense, debilitating headaches. By that spring she was diagnosed with Grade 3 Anaplastic Astrocytoma — brain cancer — at University of Michigan Medical Center.
According to information at mdguidelines.com, “Individuals with grade 3 astrocytoma have a median survival time of 18 months with treatment (radiation and chemotherapy). … Even with aggressive treatment, astrocytomas of all types tend to recur, making the prognosis generally poor.”
 
Full Article:
http://metrotimes.com/higherground/what-if-cannabis-oil-cured-cancer-1.1601913

Sara Davidson 

 
This winter, retire your old bulky baselayer and replace it with Gramicci’s Winter Wonder pants, new this season from the company’s NPT (natural performance technology) athletic line.
The Tahoe (men) and Aquarius (women) pants are made from a blend of hemp, organic cotton and Spandex to give them an athletic, trim fit that goes under just about any pants without bunching.
 
Full Article:
http://blogs.militarytimes.com/pt365/2013/12/17/review-stay-warm-in-gramiccis-npt-winter-wonder-organic-cottonhemp-baselayer-pants/