national Institute on Drug Abuse
Federal Authorities Refuse to Admit Marijuana less Dangerous than Alcohol
Last week, we at marijuana.net were pleased to report on Attorney General Holder’s decision to alter the way federal minimum drug sentences would be handled. This week we found out it may have been a case of the Lord giveth, the Lord taketh away.
The momentum for marijuana reform has been rising steady so it was right on cue that federal authorities needed to fight back with false and ridiculous propaganda. On Monday, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) released a statement that not only calls into question their grasp of the facts, but also questions whether or not the agency is operating in 2013 and not 1933. On Monday decision makers at the NIDA thought the following statement was a well thought out idea: “Claiming that marijuana is less toxic than alcohol cannot be substantiated since each possess their own unique set of risks and consequences for a given individual.” The statement seems to be a response to the group Marijuana Policy Project’s (MPP) recent ads that describe marijuana as less dangerous than alcohol.
Mason Tvert of MPP commented on the odd NIDA statement by telling Huffington Post “Our federal government has been exaggerating the harms of marijuana for decades, but at this point it has gone off the deep end…NIDA’s statement that marijuana can be just as toxic as alcohol would be on par with the FDA announcing sushi is as fattening as fried chicken.” The Huffington Post article also pointed out that PolitiFact was unable to identify a single marijuana related death in 2010 but found 41,682 linked to alcohol during the same year.
The public trust in federal drug policy has been declining for decades. However, the feds have learned to smile, dress nice, and say little when questioned on these issues. NIDA’s mission statement is “to lead the nation in bringing the power of science to bear on drug abuse and addiction .” Their actions indicate that perhaps the NIDA does not hold its mission statement in any sort of high regard. As we said last week with Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s reversal on medical marijuana, how do we trust those who have policy making influence when they are the last to be educated?
Veterans May Catch a Break in Oregon
As the 2012 presidential election nears, we will hear two men in suits talking quite a bit about our soldiers. They will congratulate and praise them, but they will also ignore their basic needs. Returning home after enduring the daily struggles of a foreign military conflict is not an envious position. Our government has a responsibility to help who protect our country. Integrating back into civilian life has proven difficult for many soldiers and with cuts to veteran hospitals and benefits the future does not appear to hold an easier path.
Of course there is an affordable and accessible plan by many to help our soldiers. Instead of addicting prescription pills that ultimately prove less effective, medical marijuana has been crucial to many returning soldiers. If we are unwilling to tax, regulate, and stimulate the economy with our antiquated marijuana laws, then of course we would be willing to make an exception for those who ensure our own comfortable lives. That assumption could not be further from the truth as many states, and The White House have ignored the pleas of veteran organizations.
Recently we did learn there was hope for those soldiers living in Oregon. Oregonlive.com published an article that describes the efforts of veteran groups and activists seeking to add PTSD to list of conditions that qualify for medical marijuana use. The article describes the situations of several struggling veterans including Jared Townsend. Mr. Townsend is an Iraq war veteran and recently said that cannabis use can “balance life out a little bit better.” He also went on to say “If I get racing thoughts and real worked up, it can break a panic attack pretty quick.” While there is considerable momentum for attempting to change the law, precedent is not encouraging. In the 14 years of Oregon’s medical marijuana program only new condition (agitation associated with Alzheimer’s disease) has been added to the list of permissible uses. In order to get the law changed, a petition will have to be submitted. Then the Oregon Health Authority will select who sits on a panel to review the submission. Veteran and marijuana advocates claim that past panels have included many anti marijuana members.
Research is still not conclusive on just how effective cannabis is toward treating complications associated with PTSD. Dr. John J. Halpern, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School said there is an “overabundance of case reports” that suggest that marijuana helps PTSD sufferers. However he cited political reasons for a lack of research. Cannabis is the only schedule 1 substance that requires additional review by National Institute on Drug Abuse in order to conduct research. Many are incensed that the least destructive substance in the schedule 1 category requires so much additional red tape navigation. Many analysts have noted that a lack of research seems to be a convenient answer as that line can be used over and over by the same lawmakers who simultaneously block the research. Although research is needed to determine the future of PTSD treatment, we at marijuana.net trusts the tens of thousands of soldiers who have no reason to coordinate a large scale conspiracy. Our heroes need relief and we cannot arm them to fight foreign wars but simply take away any tools that would help with reintegration.
Medicinal Marijuana Industry News The month of january 20, 2012
California Top Court Aims to obvious up Condition Medicinal Marijuana Laws and regulations
 
For more than fifteen years ,California has developed in the middle of numerous lawsuits regarding its implementation of Proposition 215. While Proposition 215 guarantees safe use of patients, many local cities have attempted to prohibit marijuana shops. Choices in appellate courts have allowed local government authorities to enact restrictions but later this season the condition Top Court will review if restrictions are allowed as Proposition 215 guaranteed safe access. Joe Elford of People in america For Safe Access was very happy to begin to see the high court taking on the problem. He was cited as saying “These cases were very problematic for patients as well as their capability to securely and legally access a medicine that actually works on their behalf.Inch
 
 
 
Major Studying Analyzing Medical Marijuana’s Impact on Post traumatic stress disorder may begin soon
 
Working underneath the Arizona College of drugs, the audience Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) aims to begin a significant study analyzing marijuana’s potential benefits for coming back soldiers suffering the results of Post traumatic stress disorder. The research is not able to maneuver forward before the National Institute on Substance Abuse concurs to supply the appropriate marijuana for that study or ensure it is shipped legally. Past research has outlined a hyperlink between cannabis and a decrease in Post traumatic stress disorder signs and symptoms, however this three month study will be the most thorough research about them. Dr. Suzanne Sisley will manage the research whether it progresses. Sisley thinks the study is essential and stated “We actually believe science should supersede politics, this illness must be treated inside a multidisciplinary way. Drugs like Zoloft and Paxil have proven entirely insufficient.”
 
Breathe deeply: Study Shows Marijuana Doesn’t Impact Long-term Breathing
We at marijuana.internet had high hopes entering this year. Nevertheless the news continues to be much more positive than we anticipated. Earlier within the week we reported that new research outlined marijuana’s effectiveness in assisting patients struggling with Aids/Helps. On the more surprising and myth busting note, new research implies that marijuana might not have any effect on long-term breathing.
The 2009 week is a result of the research were launched through the Journal from the Ama. The research spanned two decades and is among the longest ever to evaluate health results of marijuana. The research would be a collaborative effort with scientists from College of California (Bay Area) and College of Alabama (Birmingham) adding. The research started way in 1985 and it is an uncommon marijuana study to savor federal funding in the National Institute on Substance Abuse. The research chose 5115 participants, both males and ladies from Birmingham, Concord, Ontario, and Chicago.
Most professionals think that smoking marijuana involves much deeper inhales which can lead to a strengthening from the lung tissue. Researchers are warning more research must be done, however for medical cannabis advocates this news is welcomed. The research comes at any given time where competitors of medicinal marijuana continue to be flexing their muscles within the mirror following the federal raids last fall. The brand new information is a blow to detractors as recent news of increasing prescription abuse and the introduction of pure hydrocodone have worried many authorities and also the public. Although researchers informed the study didn’t concentrate on cancer particularly, previous studies haven’t created a hyperlink between marijuana use and cancer. Furthermore, scientists are wishing to evaluate the results of long-term marijuana use for individuals with heavier intake, even though this study implies that clearly cigarettes is much more dangerous in the long run.
The usual understanding on marijuana formally transformed now since many held the fact that ANY breathed in smoke was harmful towards the lung area. This seems to become simply incorrect and advocates are now able to see among the longest held counter arguments to medicinal marijuana finally be offer relaxation. Although this is tremendous news for that scientific community, many patients have moved beyond fretting about breathing in smoke as advocates have recognized for years that techniques for example vaporizing and dental ingestion (food items) happen to be viable options. Overall these answers are encouraging and really should hopefully signal the requirement for future research to ensure that us to know the entire potential from the marijuana plant.