By Joel Warner
In a striking example of medical marijuana’s growing legitimacy, the Denver-based Namaste Hospice will begin offering free medical marijuana to patients with terminal illnesses. While end-of-life care might not seem like the most cutting-edge of industries, Namaste, which has been providing Denver-area hospice services since 1998, seems to be downright forward thinking when it comes to medical marijuana 
“One of our guiding principles is patient self-determination, autonomy and choice. To this end Namaste respects the needs and desires of the patient and family before those of the health care system, staff, or the organization,” says Namaste President Jan Bezuidenhout in a media release. “If cannabis can help us better manage the pain for our patients and at the same time eliminate the negative effects of morphine and similar drugs, then it is our obligation to offer that choice to our patients.”
Read complete article here:
http://blogs.westword.com/latestword/2011/05/medical_marijuana_namaste_hospice_free.php

Barcelona, Spain–(ENEWSPF)–May 20, 2011. The use of cannabis is associated with beneficial effects on various symptoms of fibromyalgia, including the relief of pain and muscle stiffness, according to the results of an observational case-control study published online in the journal PLoS (Public Library of Science) ONE. Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain syndrome associated with musculoskeletal pain and fatigue. Symptoms of fibromyalgia are poorly controlled by conventional medications.
Investigators at the Institut de Recerca Hospital del Mar in Barcelona, Spain, assessed the associated benefits of cannabis in patients with fibromyalgia (FM) compared with FM patients who did not use the substance. Twenty-eight users and non-users participated in the study.
Authors reported: “Patients used cannabis not only to alleviate pain but for almost all symptoms associated to FM, and no one reported worsening of symptoms following cannabis use. … Significant relief of pain, stiffness, relaxation, somnolence, and perception of well-being, evaluated by VAS (visual analogue scales) before and two hours after cannabis self-administration was observed.”
Cannabis users in the study also reported higher overall mental health summary scores than did non-users.
Read complete article here:
http://www.enewspf.com/latest-news/health-and-fitness/24362-inhaled-cannabis-beneficial-for-fibromyalgia-patients-study-says.html

The other day we asked our readers what they thought of Dr. Drew’s assertion that, not only is marijuana addictive, it has a “rather severe withdrawal syndrome.” Our readers responded, but we also wanted to get a professional medical opinion on the TV doctor’s claims.
I contacted Dr. William Eidelman in Los Angeles, CA and asked him what he thought of Dr. Drew’s statements. “Dr. Drew’s assertions are not based on any science I’ve seen,” Dr. Eidelman told me. “The real experts say that cannabis is not addicting. Of course, it can cause dependence, as can many classes of phenomena. People can be dependent on television, books, music, corn flakes, sugar…. There is really not much if any withdrawal syndrome. The statements of a heavy withdrawal are not based in reality. Even the FDA/DEA say that any withdrawal is mild, if it exists at all. These kinds of statements are really just to back treatment programs that are usually unnecessary.

“That being said, there are people who misuse and abuse cannabis, but compared to the severity of the misuse and abuse of other drugs, cannabis is very benign. And most of the people who are regular users of cannabis are self-medicating their anxiety or depression. For this, cannabis is much safer than Prozac and related drugs. Much, much safer than Seroquel and related drugs.
Read complete article here:
http://the420times.com/2011/05/dr-william-eidelman-responds-to-dr-drews-cannabis-claims/

by Senator Mark Leno
 
Ed Note: Senator Leno’s hemp bill will be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee on Monday
 
If you like shopping at your local natural foods or specialty grocery store, you’ve probably noticed the growing popularity of hemp as an ingredient in food and skin care products. Hemp seed, which is high in protein and essential fatty acids, is found in everything from bread, energy bars and waffles to coffee and protein powder. Thanks to its natural antioxidants and moisturizing oil, hemp is also a common ingredient in soaps, shampoos and lotions. Perhaps your favorite T-shirt is even made of hemp, which is an excellent alternative to cotton.
Even though most of these consumer products are created by California companies, our farmers are prohibited from growing industrial hemp. Instead of buying hemp from local farmers, local manufacturers are importing thousands of dollars of hemp seed, oil and fiber from growers overseas.
California farmers are missing out on a golden opportunity to tap into the growing industrial hemp products business of food, clothing, shelter, paper and fuel, which would greatly benefit our state’s economy and family farmers. Industrial hemp is a perfect, environmentally sustainable crop for our state. It requires little or no pesticides and herbicides and produces two to four times more fiber than an acre of timber. Hemp grows quickly, can be harvested every 90 days and is a great rotational crop, especially for organic farmers.

Read complete article here:
http://www.beyondchron.org/news/index.php?itemid=9179
 

By MATT VOLZ Associated Press

HELENA, Mont. – May 12, 2011 (WPVI) — Two medical marijuana providers have accused the U.S. government of civil rights violations in what may be the first lawsuit of its kind in response to a federal crackdown on pot operations across the nation.
 The owners of Montana Caregivers Association and MCM Caregivers claim federal raids on pot businesses across Montana in March were unconstitutional, exceeded the government’s authority and pre-empted the state’s medical marijuana law.
Since then, federal agents have raided two Washington state dispensaries, and federal prosecutors have sent letters of warning to leaders in most of the 15 states with medical marijuana laws.
The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Missoula against the government, Department of Justice, Attorney General Eric Holder and U.S. Attorney for Montana Michael Cotter.
The plaintiffs claim the intent of the raids was to shut down the medical pot industry.
“The federal government has made clear its intent to threaten and eventually eliminate any business or enterprise related to the medical use of marijuana,” Christopher Williams of the Montana Caregivers Association and Randy Leibenguth of MCM Caregivers claimed in the lawsuit.
The Department of Justice did not comment when contacted Wednesday. Cotter spokeswoman Jessica Fehr also declined comment, saying the U.S. attorney’s office had not been served with the lawsuit.
New Mexico attorney Paul Livingston, who is representing the plaintiffs, believes this is the first constitutional challenge of the government’s actions.
“I’m surprised nobody’s raised a 10th Amendment challenge,” Livingston said. “This is a process going on in all the states that have approved medical marijuana. They’re trying to set limits.”
The 10th Amendment says powers not delegated to the U.S. or prohibited by the Constitution are reserved to the states. Current Montana law says a marijuana provider can’t be arrested, prosecuted or penalized if they do not exceed the amount of pot they are allowed to keep per patient.
Read complete article here:
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news%2Flocal&id=8126707

WASHINGTON, May 12, 2011
Senate  Bill  In  Support  of  Industrial  Hemp  Farming  Expected  to  Follow
WASHINGTON, May 12, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — For  the  fourth  time  since  the  federal  government  outlawed  hemp  farming  in  the  United  States  over  50  years  ago,  a  federal  bill  was  introduced  on  May  11,  which  if  passed,  will  remove  restrictions  on  the  cultivation  of  industrial  hemp,  the  non-drug  oilseed  and  fiber  varieties  of  Cannabis.  The  chief  sponsor,  Rep.  Ron  Paul  (R-TX)  circulated  a  “Dear  Colleague”  letter  last  week  seeking  support  for  H.R.  1831,  The  Industrial  Hemp  Farming  Act  of  2011.  H.R.  1831  is  almost  identical  to  H.R.  1866,  which  was  introduced  in  the  111th  Congress  in  2009.  
“We  are  pleased  to  see  the  re-introduction  of  the  Industrial  Hemp  Farming  Act  in  Congress.  Vote  Hemp  is  currently  working  with  a  Democratic  Senator  who  is  preparing  to  introduce  companion  legislation  in  the  Senate  in  support  of  industrial  hemp  farming,”  says  Vote  Hemp  President,  Eric  Steenstra.  “It  is  due  time  for  the  Senate  as  well  as  President  Obama  and  the  Attorney  General  to  prioritize  the  crop’s  benefits  to  farmers  and  to  take  action  like  Rep.  Paul  and  the  cosponsors  of  H.R.  1831  have  done.  With  the  U.S.  hemp  industry  valued  at  over  $400  million  in  annual  retail  sales  and  growing,  a  change  in  federal  policy  to  allow  hemp  farming  would  mean  instant  job  creation,  among  many  other  economic  and  environmental  benefits,”  adds  Steenstra.  
U.S.  companies  that  manufacture  or  sell  products  made  with  hemp  include  Dr.  Bronner’s  Magic  Soaps,  a  California  company  that  manufactures  the  number-one-selling  natural  soap  in  the  U.S.  as  well  as  best-selling  hemp  food  manufacturers,  such  as  French  Meadow  Bakery,  Living  Harvest,  Manitoba  Harvest,  Nature’s  Path,  Nutiva  and  Sequel  Naturals  who  make  their  products  from  hemp  grown  in  Canada.  Sustainable  hemp  seed,  fiber  and  oil  are  also  used  by  major  companies  such  as  Ford  Motors,  Patagonia  and  The  Body  Shop.  
“Public  support  for  industrial  hemp  farming  is  growing  in  leaps  and  bounds  in  the  U.S.,”  explains  Steenstra.  “The  second  annual  Hemp  History  Week,  celebrated  from  May  2-8,  2011  featured  over  550  events  in  all  50  states.  The  campaign  mobilized  the  support  of  tens  of  thousands  of  consumers,  grass-roots  activists  and  many  high-profile  celebrities  from  health  and  wellness  experts  to  TV  and  entertainment  personalities,  professional  athletes  and  renowned  musicians.”  
Read complete article here:
http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/306878#ixzz1MCLOxhcK

Farmer Tim Sellers in a field of spelt

 
AN “ECO” open day is to be held at an organic farm and bakery on Sunday to celebrate the opening of a straw bale barn that is thought to be the only one of its kind.
Tim and Caroline Sellers of Carr House Farm and Side Oven Bakery, at Foston on the Wolds, are inviting people to join them for an interactive day that will include demonstrations of hemp plastering, nest boxes for wildlife and nature walks.
The addition – called the Gingerbread Barn – was built exclusively from Wolds-grown straw from organic primitive wheat species spelt and plastered with lime and clay mixed at Brandesburton and reinforced with home grown hemp.
It was commissioned by the Sellers as a sustainable storage area that would also serve as a teaching room for the increasing number of educational visits they host.
The barn took eight months to build and needed 350 bales of straw.
Mr Sellers said: “Straw bales are a superb natural, sustainable building material.
“They provide a high level of insulation that can significantly reduce the energy needed to heat or cool a building and when combined with plaster on both sides, straw bale walls are fireproof, vermin proof and airtight.
Read complete article here:
http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/around-yorkshire/local-stories/organic_business_to_unveil_unique_straw_built_barn_1_3365160

By CHARLES S. JOHNSON Missoulian State Bureau missoulian.com
HELENA – Medical marijuana advocates preparing to mount a signature-gathering effort to suspend a soon-to-enacted law restricting the industry won’t need to collect nearly as many names as they initially believed.
They will need to obtain between 31,238 and 43,247 signatures, depending on which state House districts they use, but they don’t need to gather a total of 73,010 signatures as some originally believed.
Once Gov. Brian Schweitzer lets Senate Bill 423, by Sen. Jeff Essmann, R-Billings, become law without his signature, they can take the initial steps needed to launch a signature-gathering effort. Suspension backers first must file documents with the secretary of state’s office, which triggers a review by several state offices.
Secretary of State Linda McCulloch’s office concluded Tuesday that any efforts to suspend laws need only the signatures of at least 15 percent of the registered voters in at least 51 of the state House districts as the Montana Constitution specifies.
They do not also need to obtain the signatures of 15 percent of the total number of people who voted for governor in 2008, said Jorge Quintana, the office’s chief legal counsel.
That will make a huge difference in the signature-gathering efforts.
Read complete article here:
http://missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/article_654a6152-7b71-11e0-8964-001cc4c002e0.html

By Kyle Midura

BILLINGS – A Montana woman says medical marijuana helps her autistic teenage son communicate. She’s concerned all his progress will be for naught if the bill to reform medical marijuana legislation makes it past the governor’s desk.
Coral Campbell says in 2001, her son was uncontrollable. “I have a 14-year-old son that has high-functioning Asperger’s,” she said, “Nick was never able to sit still and play Legos, or color in a coloring book.”The family took up sign language because he only spoke gibberish. Desperate, Campbell signed him up for a Canadian experimental drug trial.”It totally changed his life,” said Campbell, “at the end of 19 months, we found out was taking THC capsules.””Not only was I ecstatic to hear ‘I love you mommy,’ but to be able to understand it,” she said.These days, Nick will eat a cannabis cookie, or have a sucker before bed. He’s capable of attending school, if only for a few hours, and has been able to stop taking prescription drugs that hurt his kidneys.”It’s very disturbing to me to know that I might not be able to get (edible marijuana products) for him,” said Campbell.
Read complete article here:
http://www.kulr8.com/news/local/Mother-Worries-Son-Will-Struggle-to-Find-Marijuana-121603614.html

On Saturday some 25,000 people amassed in downtown Toronto, Canada for The 6th Annual Global Marijuana March and Freedom Fest. In an awesome display of unity, the crowd is possibly the biggest for a city in Global Marijuana March history.
It is perhaps a backlash to the Conservative Party’s gains in the last election, but you have to wonder how the Conservatives won in the first place if a marijuana march can put up numbers like this.
Read complete article here:
http://the420times.com/2011/05/25000-attend-toronto-marijuana-march/