Maxwell Kusi Obodum

Life-changing: Multiple Sclerosis sufferer Clark French shows a note from a US doctor authorising the drug for his condition
 
A HEALTH campaigner who uses cannabis to ease the crippling pains of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) found himself on a national stage this week when he starred in a mini-documentary aired on Channel 4.
Clark French from Lower Earley claims his appearance on 4thought.tv on Tuesday night will prove a “springboard” in his campaign for the drug to be legalised in Britain for medicinal use.
The 26-year-old from Sutcliffe Avenue, who triggered a fierce debate on the Chronicle’s website last month when we exclusively revealed how his campaign was sparked by a three-month trip to California where the drug is available for medicinal use, said after the programme: “It’s really exciting. I hope to use this to get my story out there and use it as a springboard for more media attention. My whole Facebook wall has exploded with comments and with people congratulating me.
“It solidifies my belief that I have a valid argument and I plan to be a sword in the side of prohibition.”
 
Complete article:
http://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/reading/articles/2012/09/30/63118-a-sword-in-the-side-of-prohibition/

By Corey Jones – THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

Dr. Jon Hauxwell, a retired family physician who now lives in Hays, speaks Saturday afternoon at a rally on the south steps of the Statehouse in favor of marijuana and its medicinal uses.
 
Topeka City Councilman Andrew Gray sees benefits to legalizing cannabis.
For instance, he said, a wonderful revenue source for governments would be created if marijuana were regulated and taxed. Gray also cited potential quality of life gains to be had from medical weed — more diverse treatment and pain management options would be available outside of pharmaceutical drugs.
Gray was among several speakers Saturday afternoon during a rally on the south side of the Statehouse in support of cannabis. Experts and advocates stood behind a lectern in turn to tout marijuana and stump for its legalization.
But the first point the councilman drives home is that he doesn’t feel government should be delving so deep into people’s lives as to ban cannabis.
“I don’t really care what a consenting adult does if they’re not depriving someone else of their property or liberty,” said Gray, a Libertarian. “And somebody at home using marijuana for recreational or medicinal purposes is no different than someone having three or four martinis at their home.”
 
Complete article:
http://cjonline.com/news/2012-09-29/speakers-call-legalization-marijuana-statehouse-rally
 

BY JOANNE LAUCIUS, OTTAWA CITIZEN

 
Jeff Garner comes by his fashion influences honestly. He grew up on a horse farm in Franklin, Tennessee, inspired by the dressmaking techniques of the Civil War era, when gowns were taken apart to create new dresses.
And that’s where the sustainability comes in. Garner reimagines the silhouettes of the past and gives them a twist. He works with recycled materials and fabrics like flax and hemp, naturally softened with baking soda. He uses plant and earth-based dyes from a community garden in Nashville.
Complete article:
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/Life/Fashion-Beauty/moment+time/7316493/story.html

by Susan DeFreitas

 
ECOLAR took top marks in the Engineering and Construction category via a smart, efficient design that makes use, notably, of hemp insulation. Though outlawed in a number of countries, fast-growing hemp is both abundant and cheap (especially as compared to, say, old denim), and here it helps to minimize thermal losses through the home’s floors, walls and ceiling. Another key feature of the home is the fact that it is constructed using six modules (four of which are interior and two form patios), and can be designed as small or large as the customer desires. That means that pretty much everything about this house can be customized, including its columns, walls, windows and even roof.
 
Complete article:
http://www.earthtechling.com/2012/09/solar-decathlon-german-team-takes-top-prize-in-engineering/

Written by Jessica Johnson

 

 
LINCOLN COUNTY, Ark. (KTHV) – We’re putting a face to controversial medical marijuana story.
39-year-old Daniel Hankins of Lincoln County has dealt with chronic pain for a decade now. He says not a day or night goes by when he’s not feeling his chronic pain. And now he’s now hoping Arkansas voters will feel his pain and allow medical marijuana in our state.
 
Complete article here:
http://www.todaysthv.com/news/article/228542/2/At-10-Meet-a-veteran-who-supports-medical-marijuana-measure

by Andrew Michalscheck
 
PHOENIX — The American Civil Liberties Union is lending their support to the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act.
On Thursday, the ACLU joined a lawsuit filed by White Mountain Health Center, Inc. that seeks to allow them to open a medical marijuana dispensary in Sun City.
The Arizona Medical Marijuana Act, which was approved by voters in 2010, requires anyone who wants to open a not-for-profit dispensary to receive documentation from the local jurisdiction that the proposed location fits with local zoning ordinances, or that there are no local zoning ordinances.
 
Complete article here:
http://www.azfamily.com/news/ACLU-joins-lawsuit-supporting-Arizona-Medical-Marijuana-Act-171603981.html

 
Willie Nelson brought activist John Trudell to the stage just before his signature closing set.
Trudell, a Native American, brought his appeal for hemp farming in the USA:
“As a person of the land and as a human being I relate to farmers as being people of the land. With all of the problems that we are confronted with and are faced with…I would like you all to consider learning the realities of industrial hemp.”
 

John Trudell (center), Lucas Nelson (right)
 
The crowd cheered and Trudell added:
“The economic and environmental realities of industrial hemp; teach it to the young. Have your organizations and the people who represent you; and take it upon yourself, to learn the realities of industrial hemp  It will save the family farm. [Hemp] will give the young farmer a future. It’s a part of American history. It’s always been here… And in the next election 2016… Vote Hemp!”
 
Complete article here:
http://www.freedomisgreen.com/hemp-on-stage-at-farm-aid-2012-in-hershey-pa/

by ANDREW DeMILLO,Associated Press
Sep 27, 2012
 
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — The Arkansas Supreme Court on Thursday upheld a proposed ballot measure that, if successful, would make the state the first in the South to legalize medical marijuana.
Justices rejected a challenge by a coalition of conservative groups who had asked the court to block the proposed initiated act from the November ballot or order the state to not count any votes cast on the issue.
Complete article here:
http://www.calhountimes.com/view/full_story/20289546/article-Arkansas-court-upholds-medical-marijuana-proposal
 

By: April Hansen

 
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Monday night, City Council voted 7-2 to repeal a marijuana ordinance it had passed the previous month.
After months of collecting signatures and rewrites, supporters of the marijuana ordinance say they’re disappointed.
Those in opposition of the vote have an option to take legal action or pursue a referendum, and that’s what they plan to do.
Read More: Springfield City Council Repeals Marijuana Ordinance
The group Springfield Cannabis Regulation says Council violated the City Charter, in which it states voters, “shall have power to propose any ordinance, except an ordinance appropriating money and to adopt or reject the same at the polls, such power being known as the initiative.”
Group president Maranda Reynolds issued a statement: “When the council is presented with an initiative petition, they have two options: Pass the proposal into law or send it to the voters…The initiative process exists to allow voters to enact their will into law over the objections of the council, but these tactics render that process meaningless.
“We are exploring our options for holding these elected officials accountable, including litigation, a referendum, and recalling certain council members. This action by the Council makes a mockery of the City Charter’s initiative process. By using this political dirty trick, the Council can deprive citizens of the chance to vote on any initiative which the Council majority dislikes.”
 
Complete article here:
http://ozarksfirst.com/fulltext?nxd_id=706742

By: Jennifer Alexander

 
As the November Election approaches, with only 44 more days to go, marijuana has become a hot topic among mothers and women in general. Women played a crucial role in ending alcohol prohibition and are likely to play a significant role in ending prohibition of marijuana for adults as well. In the three states considering legalizing marijuana this fall, winning the support of women is critical, and both opponents and proponents for legalizing marijuana are reaching out to this important demographic.
 
Complete article here:
http://www.examiner.com/article/women-play-crucial-role-ending-adult-marijuana-prohibition-oregon-44-days