cannabis
Pat Robertson becomes an Unlikely Supporter of Marijuana Reform
As the minority in our country refuses to back off of its culture war against a plant, supporters for marijuana reform are revealing themselves from all walks of life. We have all heard that politics make strange bed fellows, but even medical marijuana advocates still must have been shocked to find an ally in Pat Robertson.
The anti-liberal icon, Pat Robertson, is a former Baptist minister who has caused more than his fair share of controversy over the years. Robertson has taken a harsh stance on almost all groups of people outside of his circle. He has often attributed natural and man-made disasters to God’s fury, blaming Hurricane Katrina on America’s abortion policy. He also famously claimed that 9/11 was the joint effort of the ACLU, feminists, as well as gays and lesbians. Mr. Robertson also feels that the people of Haiti suffered the 2010 earthquake because of a pact they made with the devil to escape French rule.
For individuals who consider themselves to be on the liberal side of the political spectrum, they would likely not be expecting to see eye to eye with Pat Robertson on social issues. Surprisingly however, Pat Robertson has recently come out in support of marijuana legalization on his televangelist show “The 700 Club”. Perspective can be fascinating as Mr. Robertson has blamed liberals for the current state of marijuana laws while marijuana smokers (who are often assumed to be liberal), would likely place blame on many of the conservatives who have been against marijuana reform for decades. In what could only be categorized as a progressive approach, Pat Robertson said “I just think it’s shocking how many of these young people wind up in prison and they get turned into hard-core criminals because they had a possession of a very small amount of controlled substance.”
Although many marijuana advocates may not be seeking a political alignment with Pat Robertson, it is clear that America’s sentiments on marijuana prohibition are changing rapidly. When a staple of American conservatives is seeking an end to the war on drugs, who exactly is left supporting the failed policies of the last 40 years?
Marijuana in Music
“See I think drugs have done some good things for us. I really do. And if you don’t believe that drugs have done good things for us, do me a favor and go home tonight and take all your albums, all your tapes and all your CDs and burn them. Because you know what, the musicians that have made all that great music that’s
enhanced your life throughout all the years were reeaaaal f*cking high on drugs.” -Bill Hicks
Music and Marijuana, it’s like peanut butter and jelly. Some things just go great together. Musicians have been writing songs about cannabis for years. And it transcends all genres, too. Country, rap, rock, metal, blues, there are fans to be found everywhere, except maybe opera (although it may enhance the fan experience). Why does this matter? Some of the most outspoken members of society who are in favor of legalizing marijuana are musicians. The most famous event for music and cannabis was, of course, Woodstock. That began a grand tradition of music festivals that continue to this day. The most recent event was the San Bernadino SmokeOut, sponsored by Cypress Hill, and featuring many other bands who believe in the power of the leaf. But what do these bands have to say about it? Pop on an album and listen to them.
Cypress Hill has written numerous songs about marijuana, how much they love it, when they smoke it, and why they smoke it. One track, “K.U.S.H.” off their latest album Rise Up is all about a specific strain, and why they like that one more than the others.
K.U.S.H keeps us so high
the more I smoke, the higher I get
the better I feel, I can’t quit
One reason they love it, it brings people together. Everybody is down with Cypress Hill, “Snoop Dogg and Dre are down with us/ Cheech and Chong they’re down with us.” And so are Willie Nelson, Bruce Willis, Halle Berry, Dave Chapelle, and Dionne Warwick. It is a uniter, not a divider; how could smoking it be wrong?
Sublime’s “Smoke Two Joints” (written by The Toyes in 1983, not Bob Marley) is one of the most famous pro-marijuana songs of all time. Why not, “I smoke two joints in the afternoon, it makes me feel alright.” Some will argue, it can’t be good because drugs killed Bradley Nowell, Sublime’s original lead singer. It wasn’t marijuana that killed him; it was heroin. Hard drugs have killed many musicians, but not one has overdosed on cannabis.
Bands from the SmokeOut weren’t the first ones on the block singing about marijuana. Black Sabbath, the godfather’s of Heavy Metal, were all about the “Sweet Leaf.” That song really gets the introspective properties of smoking.
When I first met you, didn’t realize
I can’t forget you, for your surprise
you introduced me, to my mind
And left me wanting, you and your kind
I love you, Oh you know it
My life was empty, forever on a down
Until you took me, showed me around
My life is free now, my life is clear
I love you sweet leaf, though you can’t hear
Come on now, try it out
Straight people don’t know, what you’re about
They put you down and shut you out
you gave to me a new belief
and soon the world will love you sweet leaf
Ozzy vocals capture all the positive aspects that people look for when medicating with marijuana. It brings clarity of mind, and surety of self. A life once so negative is now euphoric. And then he invites all the non-believers to try it out too. Maybe it is something that the world could do with more of, open minds.
Anti-Marijuana Propaganda from the Mid-20th Century
For over 70 years Marijuana has been illegal in the United States. In that time, the powers-that-be have used many forms of propaganda to maintain their control over people’s fear of cannabis in order to prevent the reforms happening today. Initially, the fear and hatred of marijuana was stirred up by Henry J. Anslinger and his cunning use of racism and bigotry. Anslinger and William Randolph Hearst (Hearst publishing) preyed upon the feelings of the white majority and ideas of miscegenation (white women + not-white men). They also made sure people feared a minority uprising, led by unstoppable drugged-out berserker pot-heads. To this day there are still people who fear this, and push for continuing anti-marijuana legislation. However, one fear cannot be stoked continuously for 70 years. As time went by new fears were co-opted and put to use for the war on drugs.
Cannabis and hemp were made illegal in the 1930’s, but hemp was then re-allowed in World War 2 because of its industrial use. After the war ended the ban was reinstated and something else was needed to enforce it. Enter the threat to National Security. That’s right, after the Nazis were defeated and ideas of Superior Races were less popular the country needed something else to unify it. America had a new enemy… Communism! After the war, Anslinger continued to consolidate power into the government apparatus that would eventually become the DEA. With Senator Hale Boggs as his partner, President Harry Truman was convinced that drugs were being utilized by Communist China to subvert Americans and undermine our democracy. In 1951 Truman signed the Boggs Act which imposed strict penalties for violating the import/export laws pertaining to drugs. Part of these penalties were tough mandatory minimum prison sentences. In 1961, Anslinger had JFK used the US influence at the UN to push for an anti-drug convention that eventually saw over 100 countries agree to make marijuana illegal. It would not be the last time that national security would be used as a scapegoat for anti-drug sentiment. All of this helped build the reaction to the counterculture of the 1960’s and 70’s.
In the 1980’s and 90’s, most anti-drug PSA’s (Public Service Announcement) were focused on the negative effects of drugs on the mind, body and social ties. Anybody remember the “This is your brain on drugs” video with the smashed egg? Well, after the terror attacks of September 11, that type of ad moved to the back burner in favor of a terror and drugs cocktail. Many drugs are produced and exported by terror-supporting organizations (not going to debate that here) but once again cannabis was also targeted in these ads. So the teenager buying a bag from his dealer (which was probably grown domestically, in some backwood) is now helping Al-Qaeda to blow up airplanes and shoot marines. One particular PSA shows two men debating the truth of this. The skeptic says he doesn’t believe it, and the other guy says “It’s true,” repeatedly until the other man is convinced. There’s no evidence offered, or even a counterargument. He maintains his position and eventually the other guy is converted. As a 30-second tv spot makes a strong emotional impression, which is the crux of most propaganda. Facts are distorted in order to evoke an emotional response, which has been proven to create a stronger impression than just a factual argument… so far.
Medical Marijuana Industry News March 9, 2012
Study on Endocannabinoids Reveals Potential for Marijuana Weight Loss Pill
Several months ago researchers discovered that marijuana users were less likely to be obese. A variety of reasons including many lifestyle factors such as exercise and diet were suspected. In a newer study, scientists were able to alter the endocannabinoid levels in mice, and alter their weight. Mice lost weight without changing any diet or exercise habits. Study researcher and professor at University of California Daniele Piomelli said “We discovered that these mice were resistant to obesity because they burned fat calories much more efficiently than normal mice do.”
New Hampshire House Approves Marijuana Decriminalization by Slim Margin, but Bill faces additional Challenges
New Hampshire legislators approved a measure to decriminalize marijuana by a razor thin margin. House members in New Hampshire voted 162-161 in favor of less harsh penalties for marijuana possession. Currently the law allows for fines as high as $2000 and one year in prison. The amended law would carry a maximum fine of $250 on first offense and $500 on the second offense. The New Hampshire senate still has to vote on the bill but Governor John Lynch has promised to veto the bill if it crosses his desk.
Click here for more on this story
Border Patrol Agents Seize 1300 Pounds of Marijuana from Abandoned Vehicle
Critics have been loud lately in their opposition to the United States current marijuana laws. Joe Biden received an earful from Central American leaders at a meeting in Honduras earlier this week where they urged the United States to reconsider its stance on marijuana policy. The leaders believe cartel violence could be reduced dramatically with a different approach. The cartel has also developed a sophisticated tunnel system which has also threatened security. Border patrol agents found another disturbing sign of the dangerous marijuana smuggling industry. An abandoned vehicle was discovered by agents and had 1300 pounds of marijuana in it. Smuggling marijuana is a lucrative industry as agents say the 1300 pounds would was worth $680,500. Often violence can accompany the smuggling activities. Advocates for marijuana reform site these instances as yet another reason marijuana should be legalized.
Legislators in Connecticut Consider Medical Marijuana Again
While most of the focus from the major news outlets yesterday was on the Super Tuesday results, patients in the northeast may have been even more engaged in another development. Connecticut residents may find relief as state lawmakers are again proposing a medical marijuana program.
Previous efforts to legalize medical marijuana in Connecticut have failed, however advocates feel they have addressed the issues that led to political failure. The executive director of the Connecticut branch of NORML, Erik Williams, has reportedly said that a newly proposed bill would be the best in the nation if passed. Marijuana cultivators would have to submit to a detailed licensing process. The bill would require dispensaries to have licensed pharmacists either present or on call which Williams claims is a key difference between this and past legislation.
Erik Williams is not the only one who senses a different political environment for medical marijuana in Connecticut. State senator John Kissel, (R-Enfield) said “For some reason, even though this is a short session, I think this is the year.” Another state representative, John Hetherington, (R-New Canaan) backed up Senator Kissel’s feeling. In 2007, a bill made it through the state legislators only to be vetoed by former Governor Rell. While the current governor Daniel P. Malloy has not commented on this new bill, his spokesman Andrew Doba said, “The governor has said in the past that he supports the concept of the palliative use of marijuana for debilitating illnesses.”
Momentum seems to be in favor of patients residing in Connecticut as many state legislators and the governor seem to support medical marijuana. If Connecticut legalized medical cannabis they would join several northeast neighbors. Rhode Island, New Jersey, Vermont, and Delaware have legalized marijuana (click here for all states with legalized marijuana) while states such as New York, Massachusetts, and Maryland (here is a list of all states with pending marijuana legislation) have pending legislation that could start medical marijuana programs in those states.
Super Tuesday filled with Highlights
While the NCAA tournament will begin later this month, another “March Madness” occurred yesterday. Super Tuesday was the largest vote to take place this year besides the actual presidential election. Ten states participated in the vote Tuesday which treated political junkies to a dramatic day and a guarantee that the race for the Republican nomination will continue.
Mitt Romney had a chance to place an almost insurmountable distance between him and Rick Santorum. Mr. Romney may not have ended the race but his 5 wins including the highly coveted Ohio, places him in great position to secure the nomination. Romney also won in Vermont, Massachusetts, Virginia, and Idaho while Santorum was victorious in North Dakota, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. Newt Gingrich won in Georgia, the state where he served in Congress and launched his political career, and the Alaska caucus takes two weeks to finish completely.
As the battle within the GOP waged on yesterday, there was another important news story that may have gotten lost during the frantic elections but was a big part of this Super Tuesday. Joe Biden was in Honduras to meet with many Central American leaders, including Felipe Calderon, the president of Mexico who has a firsthand look at the violence and Cartel power due in large to America’s drug policy. Calderon has already implied that the U.S. should consider a new approach as the violence in Mexico has escalated. Mr. Biden may get an earful from the struggling countries in the Central America region as they are looking for desperate help from the U.S, help that does not even need to cost money except for the paper and ink the reformed laws would be written on. Biden said on Monday that “there is no possibility” of the U.S. enacting legalization efforts. He then followed up by saying it would be worth discussing, which of course only adds to the confusion as to what the U.S. is willing to do to solve the problem.
Although the political process in the United States can often leave a bitter taste in our mouths, keeping up with current discussions and issues is still necessary in order to have any chance at reform. Besides Ron Paul (who appears to have little chance of securing the GOP nomination) every candidate including the president seems ready to battle with marijuana advocates and ignore the desperate need for economic and medical reform, all of which marijuana can provide. We hope the community makes it a goal to focus on the next Super Tuesday in 2016, where marijuana reform should be front and center or hopefully it will be an issue we have already moved past.
http://youtu.be/EQwrB1vu74c
Colorado Collectives Warned by US Attorney
The early part of this week has delivered mixed news for medical marijuana patients. Those who attended the Cypress Hill Smokeout were treated to an excellent day long music festival and community gathering. There was one unfortunate development regarding Colorado, where the federal government has put their collectives on alert however.
Colorado has taken extraordinary steps to ensure patient access including a state wide licensing system for patients (which is what many advocates are hoping to see in California after the state Supreme Court takes on the issue later this year) and a tighter grip on dispensaries operating under state law. Additionally, a ballot initiative was successful and voters will get the chance to legalize marijuana for recreational use this November. As we mentioned last week, 23 of the over 700 collectives in Colorado were closed down, which only represented approximately 3% of all dispensaries.
A U.S. attorney in Colorado, John Walsh, does not want anyone to feel comfortable as they seek medical relief. The 23 collectives were shut down because they were not in compliance with state law. In most cases it involved collectives being too close to schools. President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder (who may have his hands full explaining his position on the US government’s right to target and kill US citizens overseas in the name of anti-terrorism) have said several times since their time on the 2008 campaign trail that they are not seeking to interfere with collectives and patients abiding by state law. Eric Holder even reiterated this idea as recently as December. However, John Walsh is saying that no collective should feel safe and that it is in his office’s discretion to go after any and all collectives in Colorado. Of course his office has to answer to the White House so we can wait and see if team Obama plans on keeping their word during an election year.
While we do not want to see patient access restricted, we should all take into consideration that a U.S. attorney may not want to describe a scenario where they basically green light a medical marijuana program that follows state laws, but is still under violation on a federal level. While John Walsh says everyone is on notice, they did only carefully select 23 to shut down. A spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office mentioned that dispensaries can be shut down for other non cannabis related violations such as possession of firearms and possessing marijuana when they are not in compliance with state laws. It sounds as if the U.S. attorneys are letting everyone know that they will go after any violation they can uncover. This should not be news as we know the feds are salivating to flex their muscle. However, with a vast majority of the country supporting medical marijuana, voters will have quite a bit to say in only a matter of months. It is important that advocates take action and make it out to the voting polls this November and support patient compassion and relief.
CypressHill Smokeout Brings Community Together for Memorable Event
Marijuana.net aims to be supportive of our community gatherings. The past week has been eventful as the community stood up and demonstrated their opposition the Los Angeles City Council’s threat to ban collectives. We also had the Cypress Hill Smokeout over the weekend which treated the community to full day of music, art, food, education and fun.
Those in attendance were treated to excellent performances by more than 20 artists on three stages. Cypress Hill has long been known for its great live performances and on Saturday they more than lived up to expectations. Fans were treated to many of their hits and of course loudly sang along to “Insane in The Brain” which, to no one’s surprise was one of the major highlights of the day. Korn also performed well as their signature deep base could be felt throughout the venue. For those who ventured to the stage inside, they were treated to unique sounds of Wolfgang Gartner. Sublime with Rome also put the crowd into a frenzy as they mixed up their playlists with both old and new hits. For a complete list and information on the 2012 Cypress Hill Smokeout performers click here.
There was also much more offered at the event other than just music. The vendor village included tents selling apparel as well as providing education and awareness for patient related issues. Marijuana.net would like to thank everyone who stopped by our tent in the vendor village. We found those who stopped by receptive to our shared goals of patient safety and awareness. There was also a designated patient area and of course, plenty of food.
As per the recurring theme, we at marijuana.net witnessed a very peaceful environment with law enforcement and attendees getting along well. Our diverse community knows how to handle a large scale concert festival without much of the issues that trouble sporting events or clubs. We look forward to seeing everyone at the next community event. Check back later as we post the winners of our raffle! Good luck and welcome to all of our new patients!
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.