News & Articles
Can Marijuana treat Autism?
Autism is a disease that has gotten a lot of press lately. Some believe it is naturally occurring, while others blame vaccines for its origins. Whatever its origin, it is one of those disorders that can be particularly trying on a family. It predominantly affects children and the symptoms and severity often progress as a child enters puberty, meaning it gets tougher to deal with as time goes on. Its symptoms include a wide range of mental, neurological and behavior disorders, with experts often disagreeing on what constitutes true autism, and other similar afflictions. As it is so complex, the treatments for it are also wide-ranging. Some doctors trust behavioral therapies, while others prefer a pharmaceutical approach, and many families wind up mixing and matching a combination of treatments to find out which is most effective. For parents it can be incredibly aggravating and heart-wrenching to see occasional progress slip away as their children’s minds and bodies react to treatments and then stop responding. Many reach the point where they are willing to try anything, and it is only then that many have chosen to try medicating with marijuana.
Investigations into any official links between autism and marijuana research prove to be difficult. This is because there is no official work being done on the topic. Because of the federal laws blocking marijuana, it is impossible to get funding for a set of studies. Much of the evidence for the relief that marijuana provides is anecdotal and reported on a case-by-case basis from families gone public with their stories. One of the more famous cases is from Mieko Hester-Perez and her son Joey. At age ten he weighed 46 lbs and was severely malnourished. Many autistic children are “picky eaters” and often will not feed themselves or offer resistance to caretakers trying to nourish them. At her wits’ end, she decided to try medicating Joey with marijuana-infused brownies. She claims that within hours there was a noticeable difference. He began eating and requesting foods and it altered his behavior too. Previously Joey had tended toward self-destructive behavior and aggression toward others. The mellow feeling of being “high” had calmed him down. Also, it reduced his wandering. Wandering episodes are of huge concern for any parent; now imagine the child in question has no way of communicating to people who find him.
Other “success stories” come from Marie Myung-Ok Lee, a Brown University professor, and Debbie Hosseini of California. Both women have children diagnosed with Autism who have seen little or no effect from prescribed pharmaceuticals. As is often the case with modern medications, there are numerous negative side effects as well as developed tolerance. Even Marinol, the THC-derived pharmaceutical drug only consists of THC and may only include trace amounts of other medically useful cannabinoids. Louis Spurgeon of Kansas has a pervasive developmental disorder and was helped by using marijuana. It seems to help most with ensuring nutritional intake and calming down aggressive and violent behaviors (sounds familiar). But for Louis Spurgeon and Kevin Hosseini it has also helped with social behavior and verbalization. According to his mother, Louis had been on several different medications but even as a teenager his scholastic skills were stunted. In high school though, he joined with the “wrong crowd” and started smoking pot. Though she protested, she noticed how it affected his mind and behavior in a positive way. It helped his sociability, calmed his anxiety and aggression and even promoted his verbal skills. After he began smoking, Louis and his mother were having actual conversations! For once the “wrong crowd” got someone onto the right path.
Marijuana may not be the answer for all autistic patients. It is a wide-ranging disorder that effects people in many different ways, just like marijuana. What these case studies highlight is the need for more research in a regimented manner. For the longest time the US government only funded studies that show the negatives to marijuana and none of the benefits. Their priorities are skewed; in fact many studies that previously showed benefits, had their funding cutoff and the results were buried. This is science that must be done for the sake of science and humanity. Often it is the surprise discoveries that lead to true breakthroughs. Politicians should know better than to try and steer a study to say what they want. In the meantime, Marijuana is something that parents may want to consider. One of the pros of marijuana is that its effects are short term. If it proves ineffective or even negative for a particular patient, discontinuing its use ought to return that patient to his previous state.
Medical Marijuana Industry News March 2, 2012
California Courts Rule against using Nuisance Ordinance to Shut Down Collectives
As the legal debate continues in California over medical marijuana, there were several new twists in the situation this week. The Fourth District Court of Appeal ruled that municipalities cannot use nuisance ordinance to shut down marijuana dispensaries. This would seem to be a victory for advocates as municipalities have shut down medical marijuana collectives through use of the nuisance ordinance before. The court also included in its decision that dispensaries can only dispense marijuana from where it is grown and cannot be imported from any outside source. The state supreme court is expected to review California’s medical marijuana laws later this year. Another court case that was decided this week involved a lawsuit against the Obama administration. The suit claimed that the White House was disingenuous and claimed they would not conduct any raids on dispensaries. The case was thrown out.
Marijuana Advocates From all parts of the Community Gather in Michigan
Residents of Michigan have been very active in pursuing marijuana reform. Last year, Kalamazoo residents voted to make marijuana law enforcement the lowest priority for police officers. A ballot initiative is underway to get a marijuana legalization bill to the voters in November. This week marijuana advocates from all walks of life joined came together to pursue changes in cannabis laws. Patients, caregivers, and advocacy groups all met at the Clarion Hotel in Ann Arbor in an effort to coordinate their legal efforts and testimony.
New Jersey Joins other states in Synthetic Marijuana Ban
New Jersey has joined the nationwide crackdown on synthetic marijuana. On Wednesday New Jersey Attorney General Jeffrey S. Chiesa announced that the state has outlawed synthetic cannabis. Across the country many have been worried about the potential side effects of products such as “K2” and “Spice” which have been linked to seizures and heart attacks especially in teens. The substance will now be held in the same regards as heroin and cocaine can result in a $25,000 fine and 3 to 5 years in prison if convicted of possession. New Jersey is now a part of an overwhelming 39 states that have outlawed synthetic marijuana products.
Cypress Hill Smokeout for Safe Access Protest Shows Huge Support for Patients
Although a vast majority of Americans support physicians prescribing marijuana for medical relief, the federal government and now Los Angeles City Council have targeted medical cannabis collectives. As marijuana.net reported yesterday from the rally, patients and advocates took action and protested the recent actions by local and federal municipalities.
Those in attendance gathered at city hall and marched to a local federal building in order to show opposition to the actions of both city and federal agents. The march occurred with almost no legal issues. Witnesses did observe one patient being arrested for medicating as the crowd gathered before the march. So far we have no indication that there were any further issues between law enforcement and attendees. The hundreds who took part in the march displayed their passion and enthusiasm as chants of “DEA, GO AWAY” were directed toward local federal offices. Drivers passing by acknowledged their support by pressing loudly on their horns
The event even boasted celebrity credentials as both Tommy Chong and B-Real of Cypress Hill took part in the protest. Tommy Chong serenaded the crowd with a song as they recognized his long term dedication to marijuana reform by chanting “Patient #1”. Cypress Hill and Americans For Safe Access helped to organize the event that serves as a precursor for the sure to be popular Cypress Hill Smokeout this weekend. The event will feature Korn, Mobb Deep, Sublime With Rome, Wolfgang Gartner as well as many other artists and surprise guests. Marijuana.net will also be there so come visit our tent.
Pressure put on LA City Council to drop Plan to Ban Dispensaries
Today activists have joined marijuana.net in the Smokeout for Safe Access protests held in front of Los Angeles’ city hall. Protestors were brought together by the efforts of the Cypress Hill Smokeout and Americans for Safe Access and are aimed at fighting back against the federal government crackdown on medical marijuana as well as the proposed dispensary ban in LA. the message is loud and clear and that patients are tired of a guessing game when seeking relief. If you can make it to the Cypress Hill Smokeout festival Saturday where featured artists such as Cypress Hill, Korn, Sublime, Mobb Deep and many others will be in attendance please stop by our tent and say hello.
Gary Johnson Links Border Security to Marijuana Prohibition
Border security has and will likely continue to be a point of debate in this election cycle. While we hear candidates talk about unrealistic and unaffordable “Great Walls” to separate Mexico and the United States, we hear very little in addressing the root causes of violence along our borders.
Giant security walls have not enjoyed their place in history. The GOP has taken a very rigid stance on immigration and border control (click here for a breakdown of recent statements made by GOP candidates regarding border security). However, the Republican modern hero, President Ronald Reagan famously said “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall” and then we all know what happened in Berlin shortly after.
Former republican Gary Johnson has actually decided to engage in a conversation on border security that avoids the typical clichés and talking points. Mr. Johnson, former republican and now libertarian candidate for president, recently told Fox News “It should not be under-emphasized how much the violence on the border has to do with the prohibition of drugs, I think if we legalize marijuana, we will take a huge step toward a rational drug policy.” When asked about building a giant border fence, Gary Johnson responded by saying “It’s a no brainer, don’t build a fence; it’s an incredible waste of money.” The party of supposed fiscal conservatism may have a hard time selling Newt Gingrich’s moon base and extremely costly (approximately 3 million dollars per mile) border projects.
Many Americans truly want to see a new approach to marijuana reform, immigration, and border security. Supporting marijuana reform would go a long way to appease patients and advocates. Taking money and power out of cartel hands with new marijuana laws could also enhance the party’s credentials on border security. Political strategists have identified cannabis supporters and immigrants as vulnerable groups for President Obama as many of them feel he did not live up to expectations on these issues. However, if the policies of the GOP remain on the current path, those groups will likely (even if reluctantly) throw their support behind Barack Obama.
We have to ask ourselves how effective a giant barrier is going to be dividing the Mexican and US border. For one, marijuana.net recently ran a story that described the massively complex tunnel system cartel members are using to smuggle in marijuana. A giant wall will likely result in more cartel resources being directed at the often undetectable tunnels. In a sense, the fence may drive the problems underground, literally, with security becoming even more of a concern. Does ignoring a problem and erecting a barrier ever truly deal with any of our problems on either an emotional or physical level? If we had a problem with our next door neighbor we would not request tax dollars during a troubled economy to separate two homes from view of each other. Additionally, if we erected such massive wall, what would we do about Canada? Would criminals and terrorists direct their efforts to the even larger border we share with Canada? Sooner than later America will set aside all the emotionally charged rhetoric against marijuana and decide to simultaneously improve our security, economic, and healthcare concerns.
Feds Oversee Colorado Marijuana Collective Shutdowns
The latter part of 2011 put a chill down the spine of many patients who were concerned about where they would have access to medication. Federal raids in California received a great deal of media attention as many news outlets claimed medical marijuana in America was over. Now that the dust has settled and the vast majority of collectives remain open, the raids seem to be targeting an altogether different goal than a total annihilation of the program.
The federal attention has now shifted toward Colorado. Several months ago, federal authorities issued letters informing 23 collectives that they would have to relocate or close their doors because they were too close to schools and in violation of Colorado law. Earlier this week federal agents were sent in to oversee the shutdown, which occurred without incident according to reports. While this is an inconvenience for patients, hopefully most will still be able to access relief without major issues.
Most patients felt that President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder indicated that the administration would not conduct federal raids on collectives. That seemed to match the tone of the statements made on the 2008 campaign trail, however, team Obama choose their words very carefully. They mentioned not raiding any establishment that followed state law, and even as recently as two months ago Eric Holder reiterated the position by saying “our thought was that where a state has taken a position, has passed a law, and people are acting in conformity with a law, not abusing the law but acting in conformity with it, and, again, given our limited resources, that would not be an enforcement priority for the Justice Department.” Of course the statement seems to be filled with exit clauses, but it does indicate that those following state law should not be a federal target.
Much of the media signaled the end for medical marijuana toward the end of 2011. That does not seem to be a well thought out idea as no state has revoked its medical marijuana program even in the face of federal pressure. Additionally, there are 17 other states considering medical marijuana laws and other states considering total legalization. Although California is in a state of legal uncertainty, the pending decision of the state Supreme Court may re-establish order and consistent laws so that patients are ensured their legally protected “safe access”. Colorado has over 700 medical marijuana collectives. With 23 shutting down, that represents approximately 3% of collectives. While those who are against providing accessible relief brag about the closings, it truly is just a drop in the bucket. Of those 23, many may relocate and be able to open up legally elsewhere.
While no advocates/patients want to hear about dispensaries being forced to shut down, it is important to keep everything in perspective. America has changed its views on marijuana and the Federal government does not even seem willing to challenge state laws. While the closings appear to be defeat on the surface, the fact that the federal government is only willing to enforce its laws on 3% of Colorado collectives may signal a victory for patients and advocates alike.
Colorado Residents Will get to Vote on Legalizing Marijuana in November
The 2012 election already was gearing up to be a historic election between the GOP and President Barack Obama. We also cannot lose sight of the house and senate races which will bombard our televisions. Besides its 9 electoral votes being up for grabs, Colorado figures to be a focal point this November as they were finally able to collect enough signatures to get the legalization effort on the ballot.
There has been a push (lead by the group Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol) in Colorado to collect enough signatures and get the marijuana legalization initiative on the ballot. Initially, almost double the required 86,105 signatures were submitted. State officials rejected many of the signatures on the basis that they were invalid. The initiative fell just short by about 2,400 signatures but over 12,000 were submitted just before the deadline. Yesterday, the Colorado Secretary of State’s office announced that enough signatures were collected and that the initiative will be placed on the ballots for voters to decide. Colorado voters had a similar opportunity in 2006 to legalize marijuana but chose not to. California also rejected similar measures in 2010, but advocates are hopeful that the current initiative is a better plan and polls show much more support around the country for legalization.
Colorado will not be the only state where recreational marijuana could be legalized. Through the efforts of New Approach Washington and their high profile team of U.S. attorneys, Judges, and law enforcement members, enough signatures were collected to place the issue on the ballots. The Washington plan calls for a system of regulation similar to alcohol. Other states may be poised to make serious changes to marijuana laws as well. Michigan and Missouri are among several other states where ballot initiatives are underway to legalize cannabis. There are also 17 other states with pending legislation to legalize medical marijuana and likely a few more on the way.
Calendar year 2012 already has the ingredients to make even more history than a normal presidential election year. This truly may be the year where we have one or more states that have totally legalized marijuana. While this may not provide any additional protection from the federal government, raids are harder to conduct when marijuana is permitted and available throughout a state and not just in easily identifiable store fronts. The federal government may be forced to consider reclassification earlier than they would like, unless they plan on storming the back yards of residents.
Families find Stress and Relief with Medical Marijuana Laws
As we constantly hear about “family values” in this election year, we find ourselves questioning the sincerity of those statements. The United States witnesses so many families struggling with healthcare, and even for those lucky enough to have access to pharmaceutical treatments it is often not enough to provide relief. Two families have been featured in the news recently as they try their best to provide a better quality of life for their children.
A recent article entitled “Without Marijuana, I’d Probably Be Dead” describes 17 year old Chaz Moore’s health struggles. Doctors say that Chaz is one of 50 people in the entire world who have been diagnosed with myoclonus diaphragmatic flutter. The condition causes muscle spasms that can occur dozens of times in one day alone. For most of his life, Chaz Moore was healthy, athletic, active and seemingly normal. Several years ago this all changed drastically and Moore started to notice hives and spasms several times a week. The symptoms became progressively worse as Chaz’s father recalled, “One week, we went nine times to the ER, we were going nuts, just totally freaking out. Nobody knew what was wrong.” Traditional medicine proved to be ineffective until Chaz was taking a combination of 16 pills per day.
Although doctors were able to treat his symptoms at first with an aggressive pill cycle, eventually the spasms returned and were unable to be controlled. Shan Moore eventually suggested to doctors that Chaz try marijuana as a way to regulate the attacks. To date, it is the only treatment that has proved to be consistent. Although Moore is one of 41 minors who possess a medical marijuana card in Colorado, he could benefit greatly from further marijuana legal reform. His situation requires him to medicate during the day and this has put him at odds with school administrators. Chaz Moore now takes online classes from his home.
Unfortunately, another family seeking relief for their child has even more legal hurdles to overcome. Gill and Catherine Mejias are seeking an alternative approach toward their son Deacon’s autism. Deacon is only seven years old which makes the situation even more sensitive. While it may sound extremely controversial to use marijuana in treatment for young children, many parents are claiming it has helped their children who have autism (click here for a letter from a mother titled “Why I Give My 9 Year Old Pot”). Deacon’s parents claim that his teachers noticed a drastic turnaround in his behavior after he started taking Marinol.
However, Catherine Deacon says that Deacon typically builds up a tolerance to synthetics and the Marinol regimen has lost its effectiveness. Oklahoma is not a state that permits medical marijuana although the Mejias family is hopeful that will soon change. State Senator Constance Johnson (D-Oklahoma City) has proposed senate bill 573, which would allow doctors to prescribe medical marijuana. The Mejias family has stated they will move to another state if the bill does not pass. Oklahoma state governor Mary Fallin has indicated she would veto any bill to legalize medical marijuana.
We are a country that places an emphasis on “family”. Is it not equally important that the word “compassion” closely accompanies family? Current laws have forced little choice but to break the law for those who have true family values.
Keep it Clean
Purity of product is one of the most essential requirements of any medication. To date, it is not something that has been overly emphasized for medical marijuana. It’s a naturally occurring plant that grows in the ground; what could be wrong with it? Well, usually nothing. But that is no reason to assume that any crop is 100% pure cannabis. So, what can go wrong with marijuana? There are some naturally occurring problems that plague growers, like molds, fungus, and pests. These strike during the growing process and can damage yields and potency of crops, but have minimal effects on users. The other, more dangerous problems are those that are man-made. The nefarious and artificial treatment of marijuana can be very dangerous and is popularly known as “laced weed.” Both of these problems can be addressed through regulation and proper laboratory testing of marijuana.
The diseases that strike cannabis crops are usually detectable by the vigilant grower. All diseases have symptoms, and the primary caretaker should know how to spot them. Proper climate control is the key to maintaining crop growth. Sometimes the plant’s environment will have a pH (acidity) imbalance and that can effect calcium intake, which severely impairs a plant’s life processes. Calcium is key for proper osmosis within the plant’s cells, which is how plants take in energy and remove waste on a cellular level. Growers will observe plants with yellow leaves or brown stalks, and these are indicators of imbalances in pH or nitrogen shortages. Molds and fungus also strike at cannabis and must be treated immediately or else the crop will be lost. Pythium is one such mold that leads to rot in the roots and stem. Mold and fungus can be controlled with proper humidity. And if a mold or fungus attack is spotted early enough, the effected plants can be removed or sometimes treated with fungicides. However, be wary of treating plants with chemicals. They must be removed, or catalyzed before people can enjoy a safe product.
Pests can also be a big problem for growers, especially as grow operations continue to grow in size and complexity. An unnoticed invader can easily spread and damage a whole operation. One of problems with cloning operations is that all the plants in a crop will be identical. So, if one plant is susceptible to a pest or disease then all of them will be. That makes it very easy for plagues to multiply across a garden in very short time. Some pests that have been striking California growers include spider mites, white flies, and lice. These bugs are small but they pack a punch. But why do they attack our plants? For the sweet sweet sap, the plant’s life-blood. The majority of these pests hide from the eye, underneath leaves but you will notice their presence. They chew into the plant’s veins and suck out the sap. This leaves white spots on leaves, buds and any affected area. But there is good news for growers. There are natural remedies for some of these killers. Spider mites, identifiable by the webs they spin (and the fact they are spiders and not insects), are the favored snack of Phytoseiulus persimilis (Predator Mite). So, get a batch of those guys and a magnifying glass then you can watch as your enemies are eaten and destroyed! White flies and lice can be treated with Assassinator wasps (awesome name) and Amblyseius cucumeris. However, the most effective way to protect a crop is through proper climate control and sterile surfaces. This prevents plagues and pests from finding their way to the plants in the first place.
By far the most notorious impurities in marijuana are those added to it by people, after it is harvested. Manufactured drugs (cocaine, heroin, meth, crack) are routinely cut with impure chemicals to increase profit and decrease potency. For years people have known that they can find sugar, baking powder, drano, other herbs, and even Crisco in their designer drugs (that’s if their drugs even have any of the real drug in it). It doesn’t happen too often in the United States that laced marijuana makes it into the news. Why would someone do that? Sometimes a plant yields a weak potency (perhaps due to previously listed problems) or maybe a dealer wants to add weight to make it seem like a larger crop. And sometimes, they’re looking to get users hooked on other drugs and use a sprinkle of coke or heroin to jump-start a smoker into a profit-bearing coke addict. These are serious issues that can mean life or death for the unsuspecting cannabis user. Marijuana effects people because the chemicals in it mimic those already in our bodies. When foreign chemicals (pesticides, embalming fluids, meth) are inhaled the experience is much different and can be life-wrecking, even deadly. The big problem for most people in this country, is that the majority of users must purchase their marijuana illegally from black market sources, and there is no accountability for purity from these suppliers.
The key to ensuring pure marijuana for patients is regulation and quality-control testing. In states like California and Colorado where medical marijuana is legal, regulation is underway and patients have a communal voice that can call for enforceable standards. In other states, patients have no way to ensure their products will be clean. All they can do is avoid known crop-adulterers and hope the next bag is clean. The Werc Shop is one of the leading labs for cannabis control and testing. They ensure that patients are getting 100% pure marijuana from their suppliers. They test for anything that people should worry about. Their dedicated technicians spot spider mites, find fungi and fungicides, and sniff out poisons. Also, they analyze and break down the chemical contents of the buds. It helps patients figure out what to buy. Some people want a higher CBD content for treating inflammation and pain. Others want something with more THC to treat depression or anxiety. And as research unfolds, letting us know which chemicals help treat which ailments, these “ingredients labels” will be a great aid for future treatments.
Cypress Hill Presents: The 2012 San Bernadino SmokeOut
Okay patients, waiting for is nearly over. The 2010 San Bernadino SmokeOut from Cypress Hill is simply nearby. For individuals individuals that do not know, The SmokeOut is definitely an annual event that Cypress Hill has backed and set together since 1998. Their mission statement, “The SmokeOut Medicinal Marijuana Expo is founded in the fact that the general public is much better offered when people and public authorities work cooperatively to be able to effectively accomplish goals,” is all about uniting to make sure that the Medicinal Marijuana Movement continues forward, building upon its achievements and conquering the brand new hurdles that rise to bar progress. It’s also about getting a lot of fun. The 2010 selection features heavy-players like Korn, Sublime with Rome is headlining, and also the ever-present Cypress Hill, along with a couple of other treats.
How can this be evening not the same as other festivals? You are able to break it lower into three parts. First may be the music, which is really a large draw for many people. Cypress Hill happens to be about disregarding limitations, and then any fan of the music notice they don’t hesitate to combine up styles and influences. That’s fantastic since it means they’ll draw an audience from individuals with diverse interests. So, should you appear only for the background music, you’re going to get individuals who like a myriad of tunes. Which means individuals are getting uncovered to new ideas also it will make them open their brains a little. Second, it’s a professional-medicinal marijuana event along with a huge setup for individuals individuals who require medication. You will see another area where people from the medical community will have the ability to medicate (verification needed for those patients trying to medicate for the reason). Third, it’s a massive trade event event for that marijuana community. Individuals who attend might find vendor platforms for items and tools from the trade. You’ll also have areas put aside for discussions by experts within the medical area, in addition to individuals pioneers of politics that need to grow the legalisation/decriminalization efforts. You’ll also have people from Cannabis Testing Labs, that is a large deal. The regulation and standardization of marijuana for treatment is an integral part from the movement. All medications are strictly controlled and should stick to recommendations. It ought to be exactly the same for cannabis therefore, farmers (large and small-scale) have to be educated and attributed for his or her product.
NORML, People in america for Safe Access (ASA), a couple of political figures, LEAP (Police Force Against Prohibition) and many other organizations is going to be getting sections and cubicles to assist spread information and promote activism. Marijuana.internet may have representation to ensure that people in our community will have the ability to meet those who make our website and work possible.
For individuals who reach attend the big event, you want a safe and enjoyable day. Make sure to go to the SmokeOut occasions page and appearance the rules for medicating prior to going. It might be a pity if our buddies weren’t permitted in simply because they did not bring their documents. Have some fun, but don’t forget it is not concerning the eventually, it’s about using the movement forward.