By Noelle Crombie, The Oregonian
A 2009 photo shows jars of medical marijuana that had been donated to the Cannabis Cafe in Portland. The state of Oregon includes medical marijuana in its definition of medical expenses.
The government’s food stamp program isn’t the first place you’d expect to find a subtle nod to marijuana’s medicinal value, especially since the feds view the drug as contraband.
But a little-known practice by Oregon social service officials — allowing certain food stamp applicants to deduct medical marijuana costs from their income when qualifying for benefits — is welcomed by pot advocates. They say the medical deduction sends a quiet yet important message about the drug’s medicinal status and value.
Read complete article here:
http://www.oregonlive.com/health/index.ssf/2012/07/marijuanas_medicinal_value_gai.html
Category: Cannabis News Corner
New Jersey Assembly Passes Marijuana Decriminalization Bill
by Phillip Smith
The New Jersey General Assembly voted Monday night to approve a marijuana decriminalization bill, Assembly Bill 1465 , even after Gov. Chris Christie (R) threatened to veto it . The measure passed on a vote of 44-30, not quite enough votes to override a veto unless a current “no” vote switches over to the other side.
Under current state law, possession of 15 grams of marijuana is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and a $1000 fine. AB 1465 would make small-time possession a civil offense punishably only by a $150 fine for a first offense and a $200 fine for subsequent offenses.
The bill now awaits action in the Senate. The entire legislature typically takes a summer break in July and August, but the bill could move before then.
Read complete article here:
http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2012/jun/26/new_jersey_assembly_passes_marij
California – Appeals court rules marijuana dispensaries are legal in state
By Wave Wire Services
Court ruling overturned
The California 2nd District Court of Appeal ruled Monday that medical marijuana dispensaries are legal under state law and cannot be banned by local municipalities.
A state appeals court has affirmed the legality of medical marijuana dispensaries under California law and rejected bans imposed by municipalities.
A three-justice panel of the 2nd District Court of Appeal ruled Monday that Los Angeles County’s ban on medical marijuana is “preempted” by state law. The decision reverses a preliminary injunction granted to the county by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Ann Jones in May 2011.
“Los Angeles County’s total, per se nuisance ban against medical marijuana dispensaries directly contradicts the Legislature’s intent,” Justice Robert Mallano wrote in the 19-page unanimous decision.
Read complete article here:
http://wavenewspapers.com/news/local/article_86b28de4-c579-11e1-8324-001a4bcf6878.html
Ad Lizard Slams Stop and Frisk
Medical Marijuana: Clearing Away the Smoke
Recent advances in understanding of the mode of action of tetrahydrocannabinol and related cannabinoid in-gredients of marijuana, plus the accumulating anecdotal reports on potential medical benefits have spurred increasing re-search into possible medicinal uses of cannabis. Recent clinical trials with smoked and vaporized marijuana, as well as other botanical extracts indicate the likelihood that the cannabinoids can be useful in the management of neuropathic pain, spasticity due to multiple sclerosis, and possibly other indications. As with all medications, benefits and risks need to be weighed in recommending cannabis to patients. We present an algorithm that may be useful to physicians in determining whether cannabis might be recommended as a treatment in jurisdictions where such use is permitted.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3358713/
Hopkinsville Could Become Home of Hemp Museum
HOPKINSVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A private collection of equipment and memorabilia devoted to industrial hemp could someday be housed in a museum in Hopkinsville.
The president of the Kentucky Hemp Museum tells WKMS in Murray (http://bit.ly/Ndvys7 ) that she hopes to bring the collection to the Jackson Purchase from its current home in Lexington.
Read complete article here:
http://www.wbko.com/news/headlines/Hopkinsville_Could_Become_Home_of_Hemp_Museum_161061905.html
Most Canadians firmly in favour of decriminalizing marijuana: poll
BY MARK KENNEDY, POSTMEDIA NEWS
Most Canadians are at odds with the Harper government’s firm stance against marijuana decriminalization, a new poll finds. Photograph by: Ben Nelms , REUTERS
OTTAWA — Two-thirds of Canadians think the law should be changed so that people caught with small amounts of marijuana no longer face criminal penalties or fines, a new poll has found.
The nationwide survey for Postmedia News and Global TV, which examined the state of Canadian values, revealed that the public is distinctly offside with the Harper government on the issue.
Earlier this spring, Prime Minister Stephen Harper attended a summit of leaders from the Americas, where some called for a major review of the so-called “war on drugs,” and perhaps even the decriminalization of some drug use. Also this year, Liberals at a policy conference passed a resolution endorsing the legalization of marijuana.
That came after similar calls last year from a Global Commission on Drug Policy, which numbers former presidents of Colombia and Mexico, former United States secretary of state George Schultz and former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan among its members. That group also urged nations to consider “experimentation” with “legal regulation of drugs” such as marijuana “to undermine the power of organized crime and safeguard the health and security of their citizens.”
Read complete article here:
http://www.canada.com/news/Most+Canadians+firmly+favour+decriminalizing+marijuana+poll/6869861/story.html#ixzz1zo0UYwEd
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Sebastopol City Council candidate Jacob looks to make history
By BOB NORBERG
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Robert Jacob, founder and executive director of Peace In Medicine, is running for Sebastopol City Council. Christopher Chung / Press Democrat
Robert Jacob, founder and executive director of two medical marijuana dispensaries, is running for the City Council in Sebastopol, where a pot business hardly raises an eyebrow.
Running the dispensaries might even be a positive, Jacob said.
“It will be a great plus,” said Jacob. “It is a testament to my ability to be a community builder and take a leadership role.”
And if Jacob, who runs Peace In Medicine, is elected, it may be a first in California for someone making a living in medical marijuana.
Read complete article here:
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120701/ARTICLES/120709997?p=1&tc=pg
“It will be a great plus,” said Jacob. “It is a testament to my ability to be a community builder and take a leadership role.”
And if Jacob, who runs Peace In Medicine, is elected, it may be a first in California for someone making a living in medical marijuana.
Read complete article here:
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120701/ARTICLES/120709997?p=1&tc=pg
It’s a Safe Health-Food Wonder, Agricultural Dream and Economic Jackpot: It’s Time to End our Government’s Insane Hemp Prohibition
AlterNet / By Jill Richardson
David Bronner was recently arrested for attempting to eat a healthy breakfast. Does that sound stupid? Even once you know the details, it should sound stupid: Bronner’s food of choice was bread spread with hemp seed oil he pressed himself from industrial hemp plants, which he did in front of the White House under a banner reading: “Dear Mr. President Let U.S. Farmers Grow Hemp.”
Bronner’s company, Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps, spends over $100,000 to buy over 20 tons of hemp seed oil from Canada each year to use in its soaps. Bronner wants to give that money to American farmers instead.
If it’s legal to use in soaps – and even to eat – then why is it illegal to grow here? Because according to the government, hemp is a drug. Specifically, it’s considered identical to its close cousin, marijuana. But Bronner says it is no more a drug than a poppyseed bagel. The plants he gathered seed from to press his oil in front of the White House had been tested to confirm they contained less than 0.3 percent THC, which means it would be “impossible to get a high of any kind” even from smoking extremely large quantities of it. A more likely result from smoking that much industrial hemp would be a bad headache or perhaps a sore throat.
Read complete article here:
http://www.alternet.org/economy/156072/it’s_a_safe_health-food_wonder,_agricultural_dream_and_economic_jackpot:_it’s_time_to_end_our_government’s_insane_hemp_prohibition?page=entire
Bronner’s company, Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps, spends over $100,000 to buy over 20 tons of hemp seed oil from Canada each year to use in its soaps. Bronner wants to give that money to American farmers instead.
If it’s legal to use in soaps – and even to eat – then why is it illegal to grow here? Because according to the government, hemp is a drug. Specifically, it’s considered identical to its close cousin, marijuana. But Bronner says it is no more a drug than a poppyseed bagel. The plants he gathered seed from to press his oil in front of the White House had been tested to confirm they contained less than 0.3 percent THC, which means it would be “impossible to get a high of any kind” even from smoking extremely large quantities of it. A more likely result from smoking that much industrial hemp would be a bad headache or perhaps a sore throat.
Read complete article here:
http://www.alternet.org/economy/156072/it’s_a_safe_health-food_wonder,_agricultural_dream_and_economic_jackpot:_it’s_time_to_end_our_government’s_insane_hemp_prohibition?page=entire
Michelle Aldrich: Cancer Free with Cannabis Oil
Michelle thought she was just coming down with the flu, but the chest x-rays revealed much more – pneumonia, and a tumor. On January 12th, 2012, she was diagnosed with lung cancer.
Michelle has been a cannabis activist for over 40 years, so her course of action was certain, cannabis oil.
Michelle is a member of the San Francisco Medical Cannabis Task Force. She is on the Advisory Board for Patients Out of Time and, along with her husband Michael, are recipients of the High Times Lifetime Achievement Award.
Interview conducted at the Seventh National Clinical Conference on Cannabis Therapeutics, April 27, 2012 – Tucson, AZ.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AZU-brG7i4&feature=youtu.be