University of California
Marijuana Industry News December 13, 2013
Uruguay Becomes First Nation to Legalize Marijuana…
The story has been developing for a long time but now it looks official. Uruguay will become the first nation to legalize recreational marijuana. Uruguay, like many other countries in Central and South America, is attempting to rectify the growing problems related to failed marijuana policy, including the brutal cartel violence. This week, Uruguay Senators voted 16-13 to legalize and regulate marijuana. The idea has been championed by Uruguay President, Jose Mujica. His wife, Senator Lucía Topolansky told Reuters “We begin a new experience in April. It involves a big cultural change that focuses on public health and the fight against drug trafficking.” Residents, 18 and over, will be able to purchase up to 40 grams per month so long as they are properly registered.
For more on this story click here
New York State Lawmakers Considering a Legal Marijuana Industry…
The marijuana conversation in New York has been front and center over the course of the past year in New York. Unfortunately, most of the focus has been on “Stop and Frisk”, the NYPD’s ruthless strategy to work around a decriminalization law passed in the 1970s. New York allows possession of up to 25g to be considered a civil citation, punishable by a ticket. However, the law does not allow for the cannabis to be in plain sight in order to prevent public consumption. The NYPD tells individuals to empty their pockets. Refusing to do so is illegal while following the officer’s instructions puts the marijuana in plain sight, where the charges will escalate. NY State Senator Liz Krueger wishes to put an end to the unjust practices that overwhelmingly target minority residents. She recently introduced a bill that would create a legal recreational marijuana market similar to Colorado and Washington, complete with state oversight and tax revenues. She recently said publicly that “There is marijuana usage and there has been forever and we have to stop wasting lives and wasting police power and our courts.” It is not clear yet if the bill will have enough votes or support from Governor Cuomo to pass.
For more on this story click here
Poll Shows California Support for Recreational Marijuana Law is Increasing…
While California residents have been pioneers in medical marijuana, having passed Proposition 215 (California Compassionate Use Act) in 1996, support for legalizing recreational use has taken far longer to grow. A majority of residents, even up to a few years ago actually were against legalization. Recently those numbers have been much more evenly split. The newest polling on the issue shows a majority of California residents now outright support legalizing and regulating recreational marijuana. A Field Poll found that 55% of California residents support legalizing. Residents may get their chance to do more than answer survey questions as serious efforts are underway to bring the issue to the ballot for residents to vote on next year. Mark A.R. Kleiman is a Professor at the University of California, Los Angeles. He is considered an expert on drug policy and recently said “Debating about whether to legalize now is pointless, because we’re going to. The smart debate is about how we’ll do it.”
For more on this article click here
Medical Marijuana Causes Crime? Not so Fast says Study
One of the most popular criticisms by opponents of medical marijuana has to do with a perceived increase in local crime. Politicians and outraged community members frequently claim that marijuana dispensaries will increase local crime. Often, they seem reluctant to even accept the idea that this may not be the case even though nobody really knows the impact of dispensaries on crime as legalized marijuana is only in its infancy.
A new study recently published shows that the presence of dispensaries does not increase crime, at least in the Sacramento area. The July issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs includes the results from a study conducted by University of California researchers. In Sacramento, there was no evidence that indicated that violent or property crime rose in neighborhoods with a higher concentration of marijuana dispensaries. Nancy Kepple, who was in charge of the research said the study was a “good first step” but cautioned that it “was not designed to address the bigger picture of how these dispensaries might be affecting neighborhoods.”
While the results are encouraging more research is clearly needed in other regions. Could this just be a phenomenon in Sacramento or will future research produce similar results? It may be important to realize that criminals are everywhere and that a marijuana dispensary may not be anymore motivating than robbing a bank. If someone is looking for an illegal quick money grab, perhaps the type of business is not their primary motivation. Many businesses keep cash on hand but we have not tried to shut down or drastically limit jewelry or department stores. Even if future research shows that marijuana dispensaries are attracting criminal activity, there will not be a level playing field until caregivers have access to banks. In short, dispensaries have no other discourse other than stockpiling cash. Since they likely will not have the same protection of a bank vault, criminals may target a dispensary simply because they know the money cannot be placed in a bank.
Social progression can be compared to Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity. Though this article will not attempt to dissect the entire theory, the basic premise of Einstein’s idea is that time and space are relative and not fixed. The speed of an object will appear slower for someone already in motion as opposed to someone standing still. If an individual’s thoughts are not progressing, but rather staying still, then new ideas will pass them by at a much higher speed than someone already moving forward. Opponents of reform may have a difficult time interpreting the changing world in front of them.
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.
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.
Research Highlights Advantages of Medicinal Marijuana Usage
Health care is becoming one of the leading hot button political issues within the U . s . States. There exists a pricey system that may frequently prevent necessary strategy to patients or lead to costly tort suits for doctors. Clinical tests are continually being carried out for medicines, however this research cost billions each year. Another cost is commonly of the more personal currency, but has related to the unwanted effects and deaths associated with these new aggressive medicines. Using the battling character of America’s health care system, the responsibility is around the medical community to locate cheaper and much more reliable treatment.
After decades of the research blackout for medicinal marijuana, studies finally received the consent from the U . s . States government. The College of California’s Center for Medical Cannabis Research came to the conclusion in Feb of 2010 that medicinal marijuana ought to be an initial option for treating neuropathic issues. Nerve discomfort associated with Aids/Helps, cancer, spine problems etc. may benefit considerably from medicinal marijuana use based on the study. The center’s studies have also established that medicinal marijuana should be thought about when dealing with discomfort associated with ms.
As the College of California’s studies highlight the medical advantages of marijuana use, you will find other potential benefits which are coming too. It’s greater than well recorded that medicines and remedies in the usa are progressively becoming too expensive. Without health care insurance, many People in america have to move ahead without correct care. Medicinal marijuana may propose a less expensive and much more accessible option to discomfort alleviation.
Clinical tests are usually worried about safety and effectiveness. As increasing numbers of details are removed from medicinal marijuana studies it appears that cannabis is meeting individuals goals. Regrettably, the character of clinical tests prevents cost from becoming an achievable goal. Medical cannabis clearly works well when it comes to cost when in comparison towards the pharmaceutical industry’s medicines. With People in america already extremely supporting medicinal marijuana and it is safe of dangerous unwanted effects, research appears certainly going to accelerate as increasing numbers of People in america requires an alternative choice to the pricey options provided by the big pharmaceutical companies.
To learn more, see:
NORML.org Recent Research on Medicinal Marijuana
ABCNews.Go.com High Support for Medicinal Marijuana