medical marijuana
Meghan McCain Says Yes to Marijuana Legalization
As the two mainstream candidates for president continue to dodge and squirm away from marijuana related questions, others in the political arena are gladly standing up to address the issue. Marijuana.net has previously covered outspoken supporters such as Gary Johnson, Barney Frank, and Ron Paul, but a new voice has entered the discussion.
The daughter of longtime senator and former presidential candidate John McCain (R-AZ) has been taking her father’s moderate and often bi-partisan platform to a new level. Meghan McCain is known for being a centrist and represents a younger generation of voters who are not locked into conservative bullet points. Some of her actions have upset American conservatives, especially recently as she appeared in a photo shoot (fully clothed) in Hugh Hefner’s Playboy magazine. She now has come out in support of legalizing marijuana, making conservatives already weary of both her and John McCain’s middle of the road approach to government, even more aggravated.
Joining the skyrocketing number of Americans who are tired of watching tax dollars being thrown into an abyss, Meghan McCain strongly supported legalization in her new book “America You Sexy Bitch: A Love Letter to Freedom” which was also co-written by comedian Michael Ian Black. In one segment she states I believe the legal ramifications of possessing marijuana are egregious. For one reason, I think it is a substance that does no more damage than alcohol does, and second, if we legalized marijuana in this country and taxed the hell out of it, our economic problems would at least be temporarily helped a great deal. In fact, you could even use the revenue stream to pay for universal health care if you wanted.” She also went on to say “Mostly though, I do not completely understand the allure and taboo associated with marijuana. The few times I have partaken in smoking pot it has been a mild experience. Yes, it is a substance that will alter your mind frame and judgment, but as someone who is high strung and has a natural tendency to get nauseated, I can see its appeal.”
While this nation may be polarized, campaign strategists often seem to overplay the hand. Meghan McCain’s view on marijuana is quickly becoming the consensus of the mainstream. Gary Johnson and Ron Paul’s popularity already show a country ready for a more compromising voice, instead of the gridlocked and dysfunction we typically see in Washington. As unemployment continues to be a concern in the United States, we see politicians desperate to do anything to avoid unemployment lines filled with regular working class people. However, walking the lobbyist line may no longer offer the job security it once did, but opening up an entirely new multi-billion dollar per year job market may help everyone get off the unemployment line.
Educating Teens Strikes Blow at Tobacco Numbers
Youtube, smartphones, Facebook, reality TV and Rickrolls certainly may represent a new generation that has no idea about vinyl album artwork or Woodstock. However a new study may show even more evidence of a cultural shift.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released its findings from a new study that shows U.S. teens are smoking marijuana more than cigarettes. Several decades ago, youth cigarette smoking was way more common than marijuana smoking. With education and more information regarding the risks of smoking, the gap has steadily been closing between the two. During the 1990s 14.7% of high school teens had smoked marijuana within 30 days of taking the CDC survey. In 1997, 36.4% of high school students had smoked at least one cigarette in the past month of participating in the survey. In recent years teen cigarette and marijuana smoking numbers started to mirror each other but the numbers now show a definitive trend toward increased marijuana smoking and decreased cigarette smoking. The new study indicated that 23.1% of teens had smoked marijuana in the past 30 days while only 18.1% had smoked a cigarette in the same time.
These numbers highlight an increasing generational gap. Experts cite education and rising pricing in cigarettes for the decline. There has also been a growing effort to id customers and increased penalties for selling to minors. We all understand how the finances can impact accessibility but decades of propaganda cannot keep up in an age where information is shared instantly. Tobacco education worked because cigarettes actually do cause many of the things we have been taught to fear. Many of us have family members who have suffered heart attacks or have developed cancer that has been linked to cigarette smoke.
However, what was a successful education campaign for cigarettes is anything but for marijuana. Big Tobacco would never have tolerated exaggerated lies to be taught about their products so educators had to rely on the truth. Without such a giant advocacy group for marijuana, propaganda was able to run wild, until recently. Often, teens understand the computer age better than their parents and online patient testimonials and new marijuana research is published, the scare tactics have lost their effect. If we are truly concerned with a rise in teenage cannabis use, then there has never been a more obvious argument for regulation. If a marijuana purchase required an i.d. and was locked behind a store counter, then teens may be less likely to use it.
The Millennials (also known by many names such as Generation Y) are known for demanding evidence and are accustomed to sharing information at a much quicker pace than older generations. Since authorities have not presented evidence other than hearsay and propaganda against cannabis, millenials do not seem to be worried about marijuana. A recent article describes their increasing distrust of the government. One statistic truly exemplified the shift in attitudes. Of the 18-29 year olds polled, 69% felt that community service was an honorable deed while only 35% felt the same about running for public office. In theory the two are supposed to be viewed the same, even as that seems naïve in this day and age. The world is changing and it is changing quickly. We are living in an age where those governing have no idea how to deal with a new block of voters, a changing interconnected global economy, and a failed marijuana policy.
Medical Marijuana Laboratory’s Quest for Safer Medicine goes National
As politicians still take a wait and see approach on the “research” associated with marijuana, they ironically often avoid speaking to those who have been in the field gathering piles of data on the subject. As this industry shows it is here to stay, we must accept that patients need safe and tailored medicine which can only be ensured by quality lab testing after proper cultivation.
Unlike a pharmaceutical pill which takes hundreds of millions of dollars to get to the market and cannot easily be altered, marijuana strains can be cultivated in a way that addresses the specific concerns of the patient. We are happy to see that Jeffrey Raber Ph.D and The Werc Shop are being well received across the country. Getting past the typical talking points and eye rolls can be tough, but Jeff has started to notice a change in this trend. Authorities are also starting to realize that medical marijuana is here to stay and it is going to need regulation.
Recently Jeff took The Werc Shop’s message across the country as he traveled from California to New Jersey. At the New Jersey Association for Forensic Scientists (NJAFS) annual conference, Jeff was asked to address the attendees. He made a great presentation and described many of the cutting edge techniques they are utilizing for terpene profiling, microbiological screening, and cannabinoid profiling. With years of experience, Jeff may be able to help the east coast states get up to speed on the sophistication of the testing done out west. While New Jersey government officials may have delayed their medical marijuana program from starting, Jeff feels the members of the NJAFS are ready and willing to do a thorough job once the program starts serving patients. One impressed crime lab chemist told him that he tests cannabis everyday but has never looked at it quite the way Jeff does. They were also amazed at how benign marijuana cannabinoids are in comparison to the synthetics found in recently outlawed products such as “K2” and “Spice”. Overall, it seemed that those who took part in the conference were very receptive to Jeff’s presentation and are looking to increase their scientific knowledge of the cannabis plant.
Jeff was excited to finally get to speak to audiences about utilizing terpene data to identify phenotypes and accurate strain names. As many of us know, “The Marijuana Name Game”, while fun, has been a bit of a roadblock for this industry to gain total mainstream support. A silly name such as “Purple Urkle” does not exactly tell patients if the medication is suited to their needs. Marijuana.net and The Werc Shop are both working hard to bring uniform definitions to strains. Jeff’s excitement was shared and he was immediately approached to give a similar presentation at Rutgers University. Jeff agreed and again noticed an engaged audience.
For those who question a lack of research in medical marijuana, they need only look to labs like The Werc Shop. The benefits of medical marijuana are constantly becoming more widely known. When conventional treatments fail, it is not realistic to assume patients are not going to seek alternatives, especially when these alternatives can relieve pain and produce little side effects. Medical marijuana is here and the future of this industry needs to rely on regulation and testing to endure the best and safest medicine gets out to patients.
Modern Medical Marijuana Debate is simply Opening a Closed Case
As the debate wages on today regarding the effectiveness of medical cannabis, it is easy to assume that the discovery of marijuana being able to bring relief is a new discovery. This could not be further from the truth as evidence suggests that marijuana medicine predates most of our organized religions.
Thousands of years before the Marihuana Tax Act, the 1960’s, and federal dispensary raids, Chinese Emperor Shen Nung was quite familiar with the healing properties of marijuana. He was an expert on botany during his time and discovered the healing properties of ginseng, ephedra, and cannabis. According to The National Academic Press an ancient text that recorded much of his findings was published later but is still considered to be the oldest pharmacopoeia. In this text Shen Nung recommended marijuana for over 100 ailments including gout and rheumatism. He also is thought to have developed acupuncture and the idea of using tea leaves in beverages, showing his true brilliance.
This makes many wonder about other ancient knowledge that is being withheld from us. Our technology is far more advanced than ancient China’s, and yet their knowledge of the natural remedies the cannabis plant offers is an embarrassment to modern culture. It simply seems arrogant to hear so many opponents question the collective knowledge of several millennia. Several decades of propaganda should not be able to outweigh thousands of years worth of shared medical information.
As in many areas we should try to learn from our past instead of mocking or ignoring it. Western medicine is only about a century old. Marijuana has probably been around since before mankind could walk upright, it is a very short sighted act to lose sight of this. In ancient China there was no moral debate regarding marijuana’s medical properties. We can only wonder what would have been had we continued the research conducted by ancient scholars and doctors instead of being marveled at our newfound technological glory.
Medical Marijuana Industry News June 8, 2012
Dean Skelos and NY Republicans Oppose Governor’s Decriminalization Plan
New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo made national headlines earlier this week when he announced that he was seeking to amend New York’s marijuana laws. Though marijuana was decriminalized in the 1970s, possession of less than 25g is still a misdemeanor crime if it is in plain sight. Police officers often exploit a loophole by demanding that that people empty their pockets, then say the marijuana is in plain site, eliminating the possibility of the lighter civil citation ticket that would be issued. Many New Yorkers have been outraged at the tactics that seem to target the Black and Hispanic communities. Cuomo has expressed a desire to change the eliminate the plain sight provision and now only smoking marijuana in public would be considered a misdemeanor offense. State Senate Majority leader Dean Skelos was joined by other New York Republicans in opposition to Cuomo’s proposal. The Senator issued a well thought out statement and said “Being able to just walk around with 10 joints in each ear, and it only be a violation, I think that’s wrong.” John Vlasto, Governor Cuomo’s spokesperson responded by saying “Carrying 10 joints in each ear would require some set of ears.” Mr. Skelos did say that those keeping small amounts of marijuana should not be penalized just because they were following a policeman’s orders.
For more on this story click here
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says Prescription Drug Abuse has become an Epidemic…
Though opiates are legal through pharmaceuticals pills, they pose a major addiction problem. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently stated that opiate addiction has become an epidemic in the United States. Additionally, many feel that painkiller addiction is so high that a recent crackdown in opiate pills has pushed addicts to seek out illegal heroin because it contains the similar opiates found in products such as Vicodin and Oxycontin. While this may be news to some, marijuana advocates and patients have long been aware of the dangers that many legal medications possess.
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New Hampshire Senate Passes Medical Marijuana Bill…
New Hampshire lawmakers are attempting to make their state become the 18th state to permit medical marijuana. This week they passed a bill that would make that happen, but many feel Governor John Lynch will not sign the bill due to fears of how it will be distributed. In 2009 a similar scenario occurred where lawmakers passed a bill only to be vetoed by the Governor. An override of the veto fell two votes short and state legislators fear that could happen again. Evalyn Merrick, a state representative who attributes marijuana with helping her personal fight with cancer said “Over the years, we have convinced many legislators to support this critical reform, With support either from Gov. Lynch or from two additional senators, this bill can finally pass and patients will finally have legal access to medical marijuana.”
For more on this story click on this link
Marijuana Advocate and Presidential Candidate Gary Johnson Appears on the Daily Show…
Getting your fair share of the political spotlight is not always easy if you are a third party candidate. However, former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson has been doing well in getting his libertarian message out there. Johnson is known for supporting progressive social issues such as same sex marriage and marijuana legalization. This week he appeared on “The Daily Show” to talk about his approach to fixing America. He has also been featured several times on “The Colbert Report”. As always he was not shy about calling for an end to the failed war on drugs and continues to be an advocate of small government.
Click on the video below to see the interview
| The Daily Show with Jon Stewart | Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Gary Johnson | ||||
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Medical Marijuana Causes Crime? Not so Fast says Study
One of the most popular criticisms by opponents of medical marijuana has to do with a perceived increase in local crime. Politicians and outraged community members frequently claim that marijuana dispensaries will increase local crime. Often, they seem reluctant to even accept the idea that this may not be the case even though nobody really knows the impact of dispensaries on crime as legalized marijuana is only in its infancy.
A new study recently published shows that the presence of dispensaries does not increase crime, at least in the Sacramento area. The July issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs includes the results from a study conducted by University of California researchers. In Sacramento, there was no evidence that indicated that violent or property crime rose in neighborhoods with a higher concentration of marijuana dispensaries. Nancy Kepple, who was in charge of the research said the study was a “good first step” but cautioned that it “was not designed to address the bigger picture of how these dispensaries might be affecting neighborhoods.”
While the results are encouraging more research is clearly needed in other regions. Could this just be a phenomenon in Sacramento or will future research produce similar results? It may be important to realize that criminals are everywhere and that a marijuana dispensary may not be anymore motivating than robbing a bank. If someone is looking for an illegal quick money grab, perhaps the type of business is not their primary motivation. Many businesses keep cash on hand but we have not tried to shut down or drastically limit jewelry or department stores. Even if future research shows that marijuana dispensaries are attracting criminal activity, there will not be a level playing field until caregivers have access to banks. In short, dispensaries have no other discourse other than stockpiling cash. Since they likely will not have the same protection of a bank vault, criminals may target a dispensary simply because they know the money cannot be placed in a bank.
Social progression can be compared to Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity. Though this article will not attempt to dissect the entire theory, the basic premise of Einstein’s idea is that time and space are relative and not fixed. The speed of an object will appear slower for someone already in motion as opposed to someone standing still. If an individual’s thoughts are not progressing, but rather staying still, then new ideas will pass them by at a much higher speed than someone already moving forward. Opponents of reform may have a difficult time interpreting the changing world in front of them.
Update on Medical Marijuana Issues in Michigan
While the coastal areas of New York and California have dominated marijuana reform news lately, we would like to turn our attention today toward the middle of the country. Michigan approved medical marijuana legislation in 2008 and though Attorney General Bill Schuette has sought to bring an end to the program, advocates have rallied to ensure patient safety.
There was a major landmark court decision issued recently by the Michigan Supreme Court. In a unanimous decision the court upheld a voter approved statute that would protect patients even if they have not applied for a medical marijuana card. However, they would need a previous recommendation from a physician. The current decision stems from lower cases where individuals were arrested for marijuana possession but should have been protected under the voter approved law. Karen O’Keefe, an attorney with the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) was pleased with the victory. MPP sponsored the initiative to get Michigan’s medical marijuana program passed. Ms. O’Keefe did urge patients to register in order to avoid the stress of being arrested and any legal fees associated with it. However, the victory is huge and patients can seek relief quicker as they can get their recommendation and start medicating as they wait on their paperwork to be processed.
Another interesting development in Michigan has to do with the medical marijuana program’s inclusion of 44 minors under the age of 18. For many this is controversial at best, and maybe even downright wrong. However, we must ask ourselves if there would be any attention paid to these children if they were taking highly addictive opiates in order to combat pain. The Detroit Free Press recently ran an article that focuses on Cooper Brown, a 14 year old who is a Michigan cardholder and uses marijuana to relieve complications associated with Dravet Syndrome (a severe form of epilepsy that is untraceable and begins in infancy). Cooper’s mother, Rebecca Brown, says that his seizures have drastically reduced since he began using marijuana. In line with the growing trend, Rebecca relies on laboratories to select strains that are low in THC and high CBD (the cannabinoid associated with pain relief without feeling “stoned”). She does not permit him to smoke it and, instead, prepares it in his food.
Rebecca and Cooper highlight just how desperate the need for medical marijuana regulation is. Though Rebecca seems capable of selecting her son’s medicine, there should be much more information and professional recommendations available. The time for simply dismissing marijuana as taboo is not a luxury Rebecca Brown can afford. Her son needs help and a lack of information on the subject is simply unacceptable. Thankfully they live in Michigan where the Supreme Court’s decision and Cooper’s situation show that patients are still a high priority.
Bill Proposed by Tom Ammiano could Erase Setback in Los Angeles
The battle over marijuana dispensaries has been a major point of contention for the city of Los Angeles lately. Even as patients have voiced their concerns over the idea of shutting down marijuana caregivers, lawmakers from the Los Angeles City Council are pushing for a ban on all dispensaries.
Fortunately for patients, there was some great news to come out of state level government. Tom Ammiano has been working for a long time to get a bill passed that would provide the necessary state level regulation that the California medical marijuana program desperately needs. Assembly Bill 2312 was passed by the California State Assembly by a vote of 41-28. It now will face the California State Senate and then possibly would await Governor Jerry Brown’s signature. It is unclear if the bill will survive the entire legislative process, but if enacted, it would bring much more structure to the state’s medical cannabis program. Dispensaries would be legal but could be limited our outlawed on a local municipal level, a fact that reminds advocates of the current muddled legal situation. The law would also see a council created which would oversee the selling, growing and transporting marijuana. Critics have blasted the bill as being light on specifics on how California can govern so many dispensaries and employees and feel it is not nearly as thorough as Colorado law.
Assembly Bill 2312 would eliminate the legal guessing game that has frustrated patients and dispensary owners. Patients are often faced with uncertainty as to where they will find safe access to their medication. With over 80% of the states residents supporting medical marijuana in a new poll and the thousands of cardholders, shutting down the dispensaries in LA without a contingency plan could turn out to be a regrettable move. The bill could also prevent many of the dispensary raids that have rocked the state. Federal authorities have attributed many of the raids to the fact that dispensaries were not operating within state law. Colorado, for example, has had far less raids which seems mostly due in part to its tighter run program. Additional revenue could be generated as a provision for a potential 5% tax was also included in the bill.
As it has been since medical marijuana was first approved in 1996, patients and advocates have been faced with many setbacks. However, many of these setbacks are often accompanied by uplifting news. The LA dispensary ban seems no different as Tom Ammiano’s plans has gained the spotlight even when the mood in LA is down. Even if the bill does not pass this time around, it may generate enough momentum for future legislation or the upcoming decision by California’s Supreme Court when they review the situation next year.
Marijuana Media Propaganda continues today
The line between propaganda and politics can be razor thin. Laws in this country are often passed only when jobs are on the line and/or the public demands action. Propaganda has been used throughout history to perpetuate the political and social agendas. Marijuana in the 20th and 21st century in America is a standout example of this.
Most of us at least viewed clips of “Reefer Madness” and while this would be considered absurd by today’s standards, it actually may have helped set marijuana back by decades. As always, people feared the unknown. As a result there has been a cultural and generational divide for so long. It is now only in recent years with global communication now becoming instant, that we are seeing a real difference. The facts are taking hold and patients are able to share their stories. However technology often has its drawbacks, and of course the internet is no different.
With marijuana skyrocketing in acceptance and popularity, it no longer is viable for the media to claim that “marijuana is the smoke of hell”. The media now tries to deceive in a more subtle way. “Spin” is the common term used in political and campaign circles when describing how to take a singular event and dress it up in a way that is politically self serving. This week alone we were able to see two high profile examples of this. We at marijuana.net were not even looking for these stories, but there are so many like this that they basically fell into our laps.
We reported several weeks ago that cannabis was found to help patients deal with the symptoms of MS. Another study published this week stated that marijuana does not stop the spread. No one made the claim that marijuana would be curing MS, just that a patient’s quality of life can improve if they use medical marijuana. The article headlines regarding the study jump on marijuana not being able to cure the condition, placing a negative focus on medical marijuana. Would we say that aspirin is a failure because it did not cure a migraine but allowed a person to have a pain free afternoon? In another separate story, media outlets jumped on a poll that showed that California residents were split and even slightly opposed to totally legalizing marijuana. However, the polls also show that an overwhelming 80% of residents in California want medical marijuana to be permitted. Many of the articles barely mention this while jumping on the legalization numbers. However, is it not impressive and newsworthy that such a diverse state has come to a consensus on medical marijuana especially in the midst of the LA City Council trying to shut down dispensaries?
Blatant falsehoods regarding marijuana may be on the decline, but this new propaganda war will be fought much more subtlety. This is a headline reading culture with many people not taking the time to read what is under the title, and those with an anti cannabis agenda certainly are aware of this. As creative as the headlines can be, they are often devoid of any charm after the title sentence and we just ask that you read on.
Medical Marijuana Industry News June 1, 2012
Anti- Marijuana Stance may have caused Congressman his Job…
The Huffington Post’s website recently posted an article that describes a congressional election that may have been won and lost because of medical marijuana. What has marijuana advocates even more excited is this did not occur in California, Washington, or Colorado, but in Texas. El Paso Democrats decided to let Rep. Silvestre Reyes exit office in favor of Beto O’Rourke. While the race was for the primary, the mostly Democratic district is expected to choose O’Rourke, the winner of this race. Over the years, Reyes has been very adamant in his opposition to marijuana reform. The election seems to have highlighted El Paso voters concern with the growing violence along the Mexican border. Beto O’Rourke helped to push a 2009 legalization resolution in response to the growing problems along the border. Reyes, who maintains very close ties with President Obama and former President Clinton opposed and said that the district risked losing federal funding even if they simply discussed and debated the issue. Residents did not find the explanation of his opposition satisfactory and have moved on. Activists nationally are showing their political muscle as the Attorney General race in Oregon also may have been determined by the candidate’s position on marijuana.
Click here for the Huffington Post article which describes the story in further detail
Poll: California Residents overwhelmingly support medical marijuana but split on total legalization…
As the Los Angeles City Council is considering a ban on all dispensaries in the city, California residents should make them think twice. A new poll shows that an absolute vast majority of residents in the state support medical marijuana. Apparently, the growth of medical cannabis has not caused residents to want an end to the program. Today, the City Council may choose to shut down all of the dispensaries while allowing patients to grown their own medication. Activists say that could compromise “safe access” as many patients do not have the means or knowledge to grow safe medicine. Another plan will also be discussed that would limit the amount of legal dispensaries to 100. All of this is a temporary fix until the state supreme court issues a ruling which is expected next year. The poll also shows that Californians are mixed on recreational legalization and only 46% favored it. Interestingly enough, the rest of the country may support legalization even more than residents in California as a recent poll showed 56% of Americans were in favor. With such strong support from the people on medical marijuana but still opposition from lawmakers, an eventful year is expected.
Click here for info and Toke of the Town’s Coverage
White House Ignores Returning Soldiers Pleas for Medical Marijuana…
It is not secret that for generations American soldiers have returned home only to fight a new internal struggle. While marijuana has showed great promise in treating PTSD symptoms, the federal government has refused to alter their position. Thousands of veterans banded together and sent in a petition requesting that the White House reconsider its stance on medical marijuana. Unfortunately they have been rejected. PTSD is a serious and often underrepresented condition. Statistics actually show that suicides are far more of a risk for military personnel as they outnumber combat deaths by a staggering 25-1 margin. Al Byrne, co-founder of the Veterans for Medical Cannabis Access (VMCA) said in response, “Vets have used cannabis for PTSD since the Revolutionary War, we know what we need and to be told by our President, the Commander in Chief, that he does not care about those he has sent to war by denying medicine to the wounded is unconscionable.”
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Strange News: Denny’s Customer tries to pay for meal with Marijuana…
Although marijuana.net is pleased with the progress the marijuana reform has made, the following story shows us why educating is so important. We encourage readers to check out our legal section and to verify the marijuana laws in your state. However, even education may not have been enough for a man in Niagara, NY. The man tried to pay for his burger and fries at a local Denny’s (approximately $10) with one dollar of acceptable United States currency, and the rest with marijuana. When employees did not accept the well thought out proposal, the man bolted for the nearby woods. Reports indicate that employees informed police of where the man lived. It is unclear as to what charges may be brought if he is caught because he did not eat any of the food and New York has decriminalized marijuana possession for amounts under 25 grams. The penalty is a civil citation carrying a maximum of a $100 fine. It is unclear if authorities will view the action more severely considering he attempted to use the marijuana in a transaction.