News & Articles
Discussion on Racial Inequality and The War on Drugs
Many of the marijuana decriminalization and legalization efforts have found support due in large part to the demographics of those jailed for drug charges. Even though more whites use marijuana, they are far less likely to be incarcerated for it. Additionally, even as have been groomed to assume that crack is a “black” problem, a discussion on the popular Current TV show, The Young Turks, crack use by African Americans only accounts for 13% of overall use. That stat is very similar to the overall African American population. Below is a video from “The Young Turks” highlighting many compelling issues in the failed War on Drugs.
Medical Marijuana Industry News September 28, 2012
Probation Workers Find That Chris Brown Tests Positive for Marijuana…
It has been an eventful few weeks in terms of marijuana developments in regards to celebrity. Lady Gaga publically smoked a joint onstage in Amsterdam and Fionna Apple was arrested in Texas for marijuana and hashish possession. Enter Chris Brown. The controversial star is again in the news. Because of his conviction in 2009 for assaulting then girlfriend, Rihanna, Chris Brown was placed on probation for 5 years. Mr. Brown failed a drug test in June while performing community service in Virginia. However, the plot thickens a bit because he is medical marijuana card holder. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge, Patricia Schnegg, said that mandatory drug tests were not a part of Chris Brown’s sentence. The judge scolded him and said “You are not an ordinary person who can sit in your living room and do whatever you want to do. More importantly, a lot of people look up to you, a lot of kids. What you do and what you say impacts a lot of people.” It appears this may just be grandstanding by authorities as Brown has not officially done anything that is in direct violation of his probation.
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Momentum Building in New York State For Marijuana Reform…
Several months ago New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that he was seeking to change the controversial “Stop and Frisk” tactics used primarily by NYPD officers. Now it appears there is a growing call to institute a medical marijuana program. New York’s closet neighbors, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Vermont now have all either passed or started medical marijuana programs. Additionally, at a recent forum in Syracuse, many speakers came out in support of marijuana for MS patients. The forum received considerable media coverage and could be important to changing minds of upstate New York politicians. New York City and Long Island residents support medical marijuana with upstate residents and lawmakers a bit more on the fence. Even though the overall population of New York supports marijuana (61%), many upstate politicians work for residents in rural areas that are divided on the issue. The result contributes to Albany’s epic reputation for stalemate politics. The momentum appears to be changing and New York should be joining the growing list of states with medical marijuana within a few years.
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Arkansas Upholds Ruling for Medical Marijuana To Appear on Ballot…
Medical marijuana has typically been a coastal and Midwest conversation. However, in a testament to compassion, economics, and widespread communication, Arkansas now may become the first state to legalize medical marijuana. The ballot initiative has been successful due in large part to the efforts of Arkansas for Compassionate Care. The group contributed significantly to gathering enough signatures to get the issue to the ballots. This seemed to have been decided months ago, however, a group named Coalition to Preserve Arkansas Values filed a lawsuit to remove the issue from the ballot on the basis that it mislead voters. The Arkansas Supreme Court disagreed and ruled that “We hold that it is an adequate and fair representation without misleading tendencies or partisan coloring. Therefore, the act is proper for inclusion on the ballot at the general election on Nov. 6, 2012, and the petition is therefore denied.” Even if voters pass the measure, there will probably be resistance from the Governor who has previously stated his opposition to the bill. However, as Arizona Jan Brewer has found, it may be a slippery slope to challenge the will of voters.
Will Recent Federal Raids On Los Angeles Marijuana Dispensaries Be Swept Under the Political Rug?
The first presidential debate between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney will be held next week on October 3rd. This debate will focus on domestic policy so we are sure to hear about plans for cost savings and stimulating the economy. Of course, for activists there is always that economic pink elephant in the room that politicians never want to acknowledge.
However, it remains highly unlikely that debate moderator Jim Lehrer of PBS will question the candidates as to exactly why the failed war on drugs is persisting. Earlier this week, there were three raids on marijuana dispensaries located in the downtown area of Los Angeles. Additionally, 68 other warning letters were issued. The efforts build on what is almost a year long target on dispensaries by the federal government. While the raids catch headlines, the collateral damage is rarely covered. Besides compromising safe access to patients, many jobs have been either put in jeopardy or eliminated totally.
We have yet to hear a coherent plan as to how either candidate will put Americans back to work. We do know that our government is perfectly constructed to destroy jobs, as thousands of jobs have been eliminated this year alone due to medical marijuana dispensary raids. However, it may require a new approach to creating jobs in the new age economy.
If other state laws were being targeted by federal authorities, political advocates would come out of the woodwork. With the vast majority of Americans supporting a physician’s right to prescribe medical marijuana one would think a discussion would even be advantageous to lawmakers. This is where the state of politics are. This is a serious issue with economic, safety, and healthcare concerns at stake and we cannot even rely on a full discussion, rather, we are resigned to hoping that a debate moderator asks a single question.
Marijuana Like Compound in Brain Shows Fragile X Syndrome May Be Treatable
The federal government has shown an unwillingness to entertain operational changes. In particular, federal authorities still prefer to suppress the monumental potential of medical marijuana as it is an uncomfortable topic because it may require regulation, rescheduling, and the admission of an almost 100 year mistake.
Medical marijuana breakthroughs are occurring at a frequent rate. Last week alone, marijuana.net reported on a breakthrough that showed cannabis had the potential to fight epilepsy. Perhaps even more groundbreaking was a study that showed components of marijuana had the ability to slow the spreading of cancer cells. Of course this builds on years research that have shown marijuana to be a miracle of sorts, and has demonstrated promise in fighting chronic pain, muscle conditions, MS, complications related to chemotherapy, glaucoma, the spreading of HIV/AIDS, nausea, PTSD etc (it would take too much time to list them all).
Fragile X Syndrome now joins the constantly growing list of medical conditions that may benefit from marijuana research. This complex condition is associated with autism and mental retardation in men and considered the most common cause of both. Fragile X syndrome is a mutation of the FMR1 gene in the X chromosome that is passed on by the mother. This mutation can result in mental disability, hyperactivity, physical disability, and language deficiencies.
The main problem has to do with messages and receptors in the brain. Researchers have now found that 2-AG, a marijuana like compound and endocannabinoid transmitter is showing considerable promise in reducing fragile x syndrome symptoms. Daniele Piomelli, a professor at UC Irvine was the lead researcher of the study and recently said “This compound is so important in regulating neural transmission in the brain that it seemed possible that it might be involved in a disease that is so devastating on brain function.” When the 2-AG signal is boosted, it appears the brain will relay the correct messages, at least in lab mice. Proffessor Piomelli explained “We asked, ‘If we boost a little bit of that 2-AG signal, will it be enough to correct the problems that occur in fragile X mice? The answer was a resounding, Yes. We corrected the physiology, but most importantly, we corrected their behavior. The animals behaved just like normal animals. They didn’t have the fears and movement problems of those with fragile X.”
We are only now seeing the tip of the iceberg as decades of potential research have been lost due to senseless marijuana regulations. However, as groundbreaking discoveries that have eluded modern medicine for decades are coming through marijuana research, how long can we truly afford to look the other way. As politicians are desperate not to admit mistakes (see Mitt Romney Campaign), there is something admirable about those who stand up, admit fault, and reverse a century long problem.
Colorado Governor Accused of Gang Mentality
The gang mentality of protecting your turf and merchandise is not a new concept, it may even be one of our oldest social norms. The idea has been well represented in movies and shows such as The Godfather, Goodfellas, New Jack City, The Wire, and Boardwalk Empire. Corporations in the real world, use lobbyists and economic leverage to accomplish similar goals. However, even if this sounds naïve, we are supposed to expect that our elected officials would refrain from these types of turf wars.
Governor John Hickenlooper of Colorado has actually been accused of operating like a “Drug Dealer Protecting his Turf” in an article appearing on heraldnet.com. The Governor recently made statements against Colorado voters possibly legalizing marijuana in November. Despite a solid majority support for legalization in the polls, he recently said “detracting from efforts to make Colorado the healthiest state” and for “sending the wrong message to kids.” The statement is odd for several reasons. For one, while politicians are not accustomed too (by the looks of how many ballot initiatives are out there they would be well served to get used to it quickly) the people’s voices being accounted for, it may be unwise to lecture and condescend to the electorate. Children are always put in the middle by those defending failed marijuana policy, but does the Governor truly think the majority of his state are terrible and selfish parents who never took their children into consideration? Second, Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol has addressed this for months by making concerned parents a significant part of their message. However, these parents actually WANT a regulated system so they can ensure it stays out of their children’s hands. The current and illegal/unregulated street vendor system can offer such protection.
Another reason why Governor Hickenlooper’s statements are out of place have to do simply with his choice of drugs. The Heraldnet article makes the “Drug Dealer” comparison because Mr. Hickenlooper is an avid brewer of beer. In fact he proudly has said “I’m the first brewer who’s ever been a governor.” When talking about tasty hops and barley the Governor seemed to have no issue with children’s health even as alcohol results in far more fatal car crashes, weight gain, and addiction. Additionally, we have to ask ourselves exactly how try to keep alcohol out of children’s hands. Instead of ignoring it, we as a nation have decided it would be a better idea to regulate, check identification to purchase, and even tax alcohol sales. However, if the Governor does not agree, is he merely protecting himself, and his turf as the facts betray his statements?
Politicians should have seen the writing on the wall and come up with new talking points years ago. The will of the people trumps any political rhetoric the Governor may recite. Challenging the people on a consensus issue seems to be a very nearsighted action. We truly live in a republic, so when the people get to participate in legislation directly, it is the most pure form of democracy offered in The United States, easily nullifying the contradictory statements of one lone Governor.
Indiana may be Next State to Decriminalize Marijuana
As Election Day 2012 quickly approaches, there have been many developments for activists to keep an eye on. Most of that attention is turned toward many of the ballot initiatives that residents across the country will be voting on. As public officials have still been hesitant to fully embrace marijuana reform, residents have found only they typically need to take matters into their own hands to try and change the tides of a losing drug policy.
However, there are several states where lawmakers are pushing for change through the traditional legislative process. Most recently, we learned that an Indiana lawmaker plans to introduce a bill to decriminalize possession of 10 grams or less of marijuana. State Senator Brent Steele is hoping to change the current law, which calls for a Class A misdemeanor for possession of any marijuana up to 30 grams. Mr. Steele noted that many other municipalities and college campuses have enacted decriminalization efforts and “Society didn’t melt down, and we didn’t turn into a drug-crazed culture as a result of it.”
The three state wide marijuana legalization bills (Colorado, Oregon, Washington) have received the most media attention as of late, but decriminalization measures may be equally important. For one, decriminalizing marijuana can have an immediate impact and reduce the time money invested by police officers. Additionally, courts and prisons are also strained by a high amount of los level marijuana charges. There are also broad economic implications as well to decriminalization. These arrests, which impact young non-whites at disproportionate rate have compromised the ability for many people to gain employment.
Even if Brent Steele is not immediately successful in getting this current law passed, new age economics seem likely to only increase calls for marijuana decriminalization. The slowed economy of the past few years has ignited serious conversations on wasteful spending. If the country wants to experience better years in front of it, it will require a new approach to how we allocate government resources.
Med Marijuana Advocates Rally in Front of Many Obama Campaign Headquarters
With the exception of Paul Ryan’s declaration that marijuana should be a state level issue (which was quickly recanted by Team Romney), marijuana reform has not garnered much attention this race. Only Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson has embraced the issue and vowed to legalize marijuana if elected president. Unfortunately he is having a hard time breaking through the two party system and his appearance at the debates seems unlikely. President Obama has certainly disappointed many medical marijuana patients and activists. Mitt Romney has vowed to “fight medical marijuana tooth and nail”, leaving patients with few options. Recent campaign stumbles, including a controversial statement accusing President Obama of “apologizing for American values” immediately following the Libya embassy attacks and a video where Romney claimed he was not targeting 47% of the country in his campaign make it increasingly likely that Barack Obama will remain the president of the United States. Marijuana activists launched a nation wide protest outside of the President’s campaign offices in 15 states. Americans for Safe Access have been helping to organize the rallies. Steph Sherer of the group said “There have been more raids under Obama in three-and-a-half years than eight years of Bush.” Even if President Obama wins, advocates are hopeful that he would reconsider his positions for a second term.
Both Current and Former Police Officers Urge Passage of Marijuana Legalization
When talking about marijuana reform and the war on drugs it is often assumed that law enforcement officials support the status quo. That assessment may be insulting to many officers as the war on drugs has proven to be a failure. It has taken many unnecessary lives, incarcerated teens, put an a strain on the legal system, and still provides no system of regulation. Voters in Colorado may approve Amendment 64 which would regulate, tax, and legalize marijuana. It appears that many current and former police officers are also joining the cause. They are part of a activist group called “Law Enforcement Against Prohibition” (LEAP). Tony Ryan now serves on the group’s board but was Denver police officer for 36 years. He recently said “I’d been thinking about this much of my career, I saw that marijuana wasn’t the cause of disturbances, crimes, or homicides—something like alcohol was.” He also described how much time he noticed officers spent processing low level marijuana charges. He said it could an officer hours and “That perturbed me, It detracts from the police officer’s job in my mind.”
Medical Marijuana Industry News September 21, 2012
New Evidence Showing Marijuana Fighting Cancer Emerges…
Marijuana.net has been providing updates on studies that highlight marijuana’s potential provide medical relief. Many of these studies show pain relief, while others have demonstrated that cannabis may hold the ability to actually fight cancer. Several years ago, there was a government study released showing this. More recently, Rick Simpson’s California Tears Hemp Oil has received praise from many who have used it to help fight their own cancer. Only months ago, Tommy Chong announced he would be seeking similar treatment. Although many of these breakthroughs have not received the deserved attention, it appears a new study is gaining a little more visibility. Huffington Post is reporting that two researchers from California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco identified a compound in marijuana that can stop the metastasis of many aggressive forms of cancer. One of the researchers leading the study, Pierre Desprez, described the findings by saying “It took us about 20 years of research to figure this out, but we are very excited.” The findings seem to revolve around cannabidiol (CBD), a cannabinoid that has received a great deal of attention as of late. This is also the cannabinoid found in the newly created Israeli marijuana that produces pain relief with no psychedelic effects. Desprez has been studying the ID1 gene, which causes cancer to spread. With the help of another scientist, Sean McAllister, who has studied CBD in depth, the two were able to determine that CBD can stop the spreading of cancer. Desprez also said “What we found was that his Cannabidiol could essentially ‘turn off’ the ID-1… “We likely would not have found this on our own, That’s why collaboration is so essential to scientific discovery.” Scientific collaboration on the issue can be difficult as experimenting with marijuana is often not allowed under current U.S. law.
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Fiona Apple Arrested for Marijuana Possession…
This week has been an eventful one in terms of musicians and marijuana. Earlier this week we reported that Lady Gaga smoked a joint on stage during a performance in Amsterdam and praised the benefits of marijuana. Now we have learned that longtime musician, Fiona Apple, has now been linked to marijuana. However Fiona Apple was arrested at a border stop in Sierra Blanca Texas due to marijuana and hashish possession. While the marijuana charge is a misdemeanor, possessing any amount hashish is considered a felony in Texas The singer has been on tour for her fourth studio album “The Idler Wheel”. This particular border checkpoint in Sierra Blanca has also been a problem for other entertainers as Willie Nelson and Snoop Dog have also been caught with marijuana there. It is unclear how severe her charges will be.
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Boxer Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Tests Positive for Marijuana
Julio Cesar Chávez Jr. comes from a family of boxers with a rich history. His father, Julio Cesar Chávez is often mentioned as the best fighter to ever come out of Mexico. Chavez Jr.’s brother is also a professional boxer. Chavez junior was a champion in his own right and only lost his WBC championship belt to Sergio Martinez only days ago, a title he held since June of 2011. Unfortunately for Chavez Jr. he may be at risk to lose more as he recently tested positive for marijuana. Because his previous fight was in Las Vegas, Chavez Jr. will face a review from the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Chavez Jr. has prior issues such as a DWI so it is unclear how the commission will rule. In theory they could revoke his license to fight or make him forfeit the entire $3 million purse from the Martinez fight. Chavez Jr.’s promoter, Bob Arum of Top Rank, tried to calm the situation down. He said “I can’t really get excited about it. There’s no promoter in boxing who could pass the marijuana test, including myself. “Julio is going to have to explain to the commission what happened and the commission will be guided accordingly. If there was a trace of marijuana, to me, it’s not the same as using a performance-enhancing drug. That is cheating.” The issue of treating marijuana as a performance enhancer has come under fire especially as recent Olympians were banned from the games solely based on testing positive for marijuana.
Lady Gaga Adds Marijuana To Her List of Causes
It may be easy to mock high profile entertainers and actors when they decide to take a public stand. Sometimes stars have been known to get themselves in over their heads when engaging on social issues. The most recent case and point may be Clint Eastwood’s debate with a chair that should have been a far easier conversation for “Dirty Harry” to win. However, there are times where stars use their notoriety push issues forward.
Marijuana has caused many famous individuals to come out of the shadows. It appears Lady Gaga will be joining this group. The famous pop star has traveled the world performing songs such as “Born This Way” and come across many different cultures. She seemed to be embracing Amsterdam’s culture in a recent tour stop. She was handed a joint on stage and lit up saying “I want you to know it has totally changed my life and I’ve really cut down on drinking. “It has been a totally spiritual experience for me with my music.”
Lady Gaga has an extremely loyal and engaged fan base worldwide. This is not to say fans will start smoking marijuana around the world but many may be encouraged to get the real facts on marijuana. Additionally Lady Gaga has a history of caring about social causes. In order to protest the military’s “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy (President Obama has ended the controversial policy) Lady Gaga donned the now famous “meat dress” at the 2010 MTV Music Awards. She has also donated large sums of money to many charities has also created The Born This Way Foundation, which according to the foundation website, was designed “to foster a more accepting society, where differences are embraced and individuality is celebrated. The Foundation is dedicated to creating a safe community that helps connect young people with the skills and opportunities they need to build a kinder, braver world.”
This is not to say that Lady Gaga or any entertainer can bring about marijuana reform alone. However, the chorus of those who support reform is growing louder. The issue has built up momentum and supporting marijuana in public is no longer a scarlet letter. Normally we see a wedge between entertainers and the working class, however, as marijuana gains acceptance we may bear witness to one of the few times where the two are aligned.