cannabisnews.com: NORML's Weekly News Bulletin -- November 4, 2004





NORML's Weekly News Bulletin -- November 4, 2004
Posted by CN Staff on November 05, 2004 at 08:32:49 PT
Weekly Press Release
Source: NORML
Cannabinoids Treat Pain, Protect Brain Cells And Delay Neurodegenerative Disease Progression, Society For Neuroscience Says November 4, 2004 - Washington, DC, USAWashington, DC: Compounds in marijuana may aid in the treatment of a variety of neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), as well as aid in the treatment of pain and obesity, according to clinical research compiled by the Society for Neuroscience.
The Society cited a number of recently conducted animal studies in which: cannabinoids were shown to slow disease progression and extend survival in a mouse model of ALS; a synthetic marijuana-like compound protected brain cells from degenerating in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease; the administration of endogenous cannabinoids in combination with ibuprofen doubled pain relief in rats; and, the administration of a cannabinoid-blocking agent significantly reduced food intake in animals."Marijuana-like compounds can aid a bevy of debilitating conditions, ranging from brain disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Parkinson's disease, to pain and obesity," the Society announced a prepared statement.The Society for Neuroscience is the world's largest organization of scientists devoted to the study of the brain and nervous system.For more information, please contact Allen St. Pierre, Executive Director of the NORML Foundation, at (202) 483-5500.DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6324A Marijuana Breakthrough? http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19773.shtmlMarijuana May Aid Parkinson's Diseasehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19725.shtmlCanada Reintroduces Watered Down Decrim Bill, Seeks To Drug Test Motorists November 4, 2004 - Ottawa, ON, CanadaOttawa, Ontario: Government officials reintroduced legislation this week that seeks to reduce minor marijuana possession offenses to a fine-only offense, and allow law enforcement the discretion to test motorists for the presence of illicit drugs. The two separate bills, introduced by Canadian Justice Minister Irwin Cotler, are nearly identical to legislation previously considered by Parliament this past spring.If approved, Bill C-17 would reduce penalties on the possession and use of up to 15 grams (approximately one-half ounce) of cannabis and/or the cultivation of up to three plants to a fine-only offense. Those convicted of growing larger amounts of marijuana would face increased penalties under the proposal.Similar Liberal Party-backed decriminalization measures failed in both 2003 and 2004. Presently, 12 US states - Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Ohio and Oregon - have decriminalized the possession of limited amounts marijuana for personal use.Bill C-16, if passed by Parliament, would allow police to demand a sample of a driver's urine or saliva "to determine whether [that] person has a drug in their body," if the officer has "reasonable grounds" to believe the motorist is under the influence of a controlled substance. The bill further notes that a "qualified medical practitioner" may also draw blood samples from motorists in certain cases.Similar laws in the United States have drawn sharp criticism because most standard drug tests detect only the presence of drug metabolites (inactive compounds indicative of past drug use), not illicit drugs. In the case of marijuana, metabolites can remain detectable in a person's urine for several days or weeks after past use. The positive presence of a drug metabolite in a subject's bodily fluid "does not indicate ... recency, frequency, or amount of use, or impairment," according to the US Department of Justice."While NORML supports the concept of removing drug-impaired motorists from the roadways, it is questionable whether the passage of Bill C-16 would accomplish this goal of properly identifying drivers who are under the influence," said NORML Foundation Executive Director Allen St. Pierre. "As presently drafted, Bill C-16 runs the risk of prosecuting sober drivers who happen to have smoked marijuana several days earlier. At a minimum, this proposal should be amended so that it identifies parent drugs only. Further, it should designate per se standards scientifically correlating drug concentration levels to impairment of performance, similar to the standards already in place for drunk driving. These changes would offer a reasonable alternative to C-16's troublesome language."For more information, please contact Allen St. Pierre of the NORML Foundation at (202) 483-5500.DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6323Let's Remember Prohibition and Legalize Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19755.shtmlOttawa Revives Plan To Relax Pot Lawshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19754.shtmlCanada Renews Plan To Decriminalise Pot http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19753.shtmlMarijuana Residue Present On US Currency, Study Says November 4, 2004 - Cleveland, OH, USACleveland, OH: Trace levels of THC and other cannabinoids are present in United States paper currency, according to the findings of a study published in the September issue of the Journal of Analytical Toxicology.Researchers from the Cuyahoga County Coroner's office in Cleveland analyzed 165 randomly collected paper currency notes from 12 US cities and four foreign countries (Colombia, Qatar, India, and New Zealand) for various cannabinoids, including THC, cannabinol (CBN) and cannabidiol (CBD)."THC was present in 1.6 percent (2 notes), CBN in 10.31 percent (13 notes), [and] CBD in 1.6 percent (2 notes)," authors found. "For the foreign currency, THC and CBN were present in 22.5 percent (9 notes)," all of which came from New Zealand."This study demonstrated that marijuana (cannabinoids) may contaminate both paper and [foreign] currency," authors concluded.NORML Foundation Executive Director Allen St. Pierre said that the findings illustrate the failure of US marijuana policy, noting, "The use of cannabis remains ubiquitous enough that even despite its prohibition, marijuana is detectable on a notable portion of both US and foreign currency."For more information, please contact Allen St. Pierre at (202) 483-5500.DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6325Voters Nationwide Embrace Marijuana Law Reform ProposalsNovember 3, 2004 - Washington, DC, USAWashington, DC: Voters nationwide approved numerous ballot proposals liberalizing marijuana laws, including a statewide measure in Montana legalizing the use of medicinal cannabis for medical purposes, and a citywide proposal in Oakland mandating police to make the prosecution of pot offenses the city's "lowest law enforcement priority."While this year's election was not a clean sweep for marijuana law reform initiatives, voters backed the majority of proposals put before them, particularly on the municipal level.In Oakland, California, 64 percent of voters approved Measure Z, which directs the Oakland Police Department to make the "investigation, citation, and arrest for private adult cannabis offenses the lowest law enforcement priority, effective immediately upon passage of this ordinance." Measure Z also mandates the city of Oakland "to tax and regulate the sale of cannabis for adult use, so as to keep it off the streets and away from children and to raise revenue for the city, as soon as possible under state law."In Columbia, Missouri, voters backed a pair of measures seeking to liberalize local pot laws. Approximately 70 percent of voters approved The Missouri Medical Marijuana Initiative (Proposition 1), which amends the Columbia city criminal code so that "adults who obtain and use marijuana and/or marijuana paraphernalia for medical purposes pursuant to the recommendation of a physician shall not be subject to any arrest, prosecution, punishment, or sanction."Six out of ten Columbia voters also approved The Missouri Smart Sentencing Initiative (Proposition 2), which amends the city criminal code to depenalize the possession of marijuana and/or paraphernalia to a fine-only offense.In Michigan, an estimated 75 percent of voters in Ann Arbor approved Proposal C, the Ann Arbor Medical Marijuana Act, which directs the city to allow qualified patients to possess and cultivate marijuana for medicinal purposes under the authorization of their physician. Detroit voters endorsed a similar initiatives this past August.In Montana, 63 percent of voters approved a similar statewide measure, I-148, which legalizes authorized patients to possess up to six marijuana plants and one usable ounce of marijuana to treat certain qualified medical conditions, including cancer, AIDS, and Multiple Sclerosis. Montana is the eleventh state to exempt medicinal marijuana patients from state criminal penalties, and is the seventh to do so via state initiative. Other states that have enacted laws protecting qualified patients who use marijuana include: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont and Washington.In Massachusetts, voters in three state Senate and eight House districts overwhelmingly backed several non-binding "public policy questions" depenalizing the possession of marijuana for personal use, and legalizing the medical use of cannabis for patients who possess a doctor's authorization.On the local level, only one marijuana law reform proposal - Berkeley, California's Measure R, which sought to replace the city's 10-plant medical cannabis limit with an amount in accordance with a patient's needs - appeared not to gain majority support from voters, though a final vote count is still pending.At the state level, both Oregon's Measure 33, which sought to greatly expand the state's existing medicinal cannabis law, and Alaska's Measure 2, which sought to eliminate all criminal penalties on the adult possession and use of marijuana and encouraged the state legislature to establish a system to regulate marijuana "in a manner similar to alcohol or tobacco," failed to gain voter approval. Oregon voters rejected Measure 33 by a vote of 58 to 42 percent, while Alaskans voted against Measure 2 by a vote of 57 to 43 percent.NORML Executive Director Keith Stroup said that the outcome of yesterday's ballot initiatives was generally positive. "What these results appear to be telling us is that Americans strongly support reforming America's marijuana laws, but that they prefer to do so incrementally," he said. "The results, once again, affirm that a majority of US citizens strongly back the legalization of medical marijuana for qualified patients, and that they don't want adults who use marijuana responsibly to face arrest or jail."For more information, please contact Keith Stroup or Allen St. Pierre at (202) 483-5500.DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6322Drugs and The Nation http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19772.shtmlA Good Day for Intolerancehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19769.shtmlSource: NORML Foundation (DC)Published: November 4, 2004Copyright: 2004 NORML Contact: norml norml.org Website: http://www.norml.org/NORML's Weekly News Bulletin -- Oct. 28, 2004http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19730.shtmlNORML's Weekly News Bulletin -- Oct. 21, 2004http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19689.shtml
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Comment #15 posted by ekim on November 06, 2004 at 15:27:35 PT
The Reformer's Calendar 
The Reformer's Calendar http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/361/drugwarmarket.shtml November 10, 3:00-6:30pm, Washington, DC, "Federalism under the Influence: Dope, Booze, and the Commerce Clause," forum at the American Enterprise Institute discussing Ashcroft vs. Raich and other cases. At Wohlstetter Conference Center, 1150 17th St., NW, 12th Floor, register at http://www.aei.org/events/ or contact Kate Rick at (202) 862-5848 or krick aei.org for further information. November 11-14, New Orleans, LA, "Working Under Fire: Drug User Health and Justice 2004," 5th National Harm Reduction Conference. Sponsored by the Harm Reduction Coalition, at the New Orleans Astor Crowne Plaza, contact Paula Santiago at (212) 213-6376 x15 or visit http://www.harmreduction.org/conference/5thnatlconf.pdf for further information. November 13, 10:00am-3:00pm, Phoenix, AZ, Sentencing Reform Mobilization Conference, preparing for efforts to pass sentencing reform bills in the upcoming legislative session. Sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) and the Arizona Coalition for Effective Government (AzCEG). At Arizona State University Downtown Center, 502 E. Monroe St., Building A, rooms A225-228, $10 per person donation requested. RSVP ASAP to (520) 623-9141 or cisaacs afsc.org, or contact AzCEG at (602) 234-9004 or azceg cox.net or visit http://www.azceg.org for information. November 18-21, College Park, MD, Students for Sensible Drug Policy national conference. Details to be announced, visit http://www.ssdp.org to check for updates. November 21-25, Barcelona, Spain, "Psychoactive Botanical Exposition: Magic Plants." At the K.O.L.P. "La Fera," C/ Santa Agata num. 28, contact alabcn nodo50.org for further information. November 22-28, Barcelona, Spain, various events celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Lliure Antiprohibitionist Association. At "Casal Antiprohibicionista," c/ dels Salvador num. 20-bajos, contact alabcn nodo50.org for further information. 
 
November 27, Portland, OR, "Oregon Medical Cannabis Awards 2004," Seminar & Trade Show 10:00am-4:00pm, Awards Banquet & Entertainment 6:30-10:00pm. At the Red Lion Hotel, Portland Convention Center, sponsored by Oregon NORML, visit http://www.ornorml.org or contact (503) 239-6110 or secretary ornorml.org for further information. 
http://www.stopthedrugwar.org
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Comment #14 posted by rchandar on November 06, 2004 at 13:05:05 PT:
ashcroft
god, I HOPE he does go!!! Everyone's sick of him! Anyway, his ideas are stupid, tyrannical: anyone who wants to get rid of magisterial discretionary powers can't be all that good.--rchandar
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Comment #13 posted by FoM on November 06, 2004 at 12:09:03 PT
ekim
You know why they don't like Hollywood types? Because actors and musicians are thinking people. They entertain so many and mostly make people smile. They generally care about the earth, believe in hard work and like to have a good time. They see beyond the narrow minds of the right. They show us things thru their music or acting that we didn't even think about before. It's not easy trying to herd free thinkers.
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Comment #12 posted by ekim on November 06, 2004 at 11:56:02 PT
Mr Univerese
today on C- Span the talking heads were all on board saying that the RR does not like the hollywood types that the Democrats had with them. Seems awfully odd that not one of them mentioned the fact that the number one Hollywood leading actor that has been paid more than any other and has made a living by showing the death and distruction of countless thousands of Humans was standing to the right of W in Ohio. 
http://www.aammi.org
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Comment #11 posted by ekim on November 05, 2004 at 19:33:56 PT
tolerance what a great deed
when all is said and done this is a great place to call home. I am so glad that the issues are so close. just like Mr. Nader has been sayen all along. there are millions of votes one has to go and ask for them. there are so many more that do not vote than vote. that gives me hope that as Humans get more information good will win out over fear. 
as moral has endless meanings.
http://www.bioneers.org
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Comment #10 posted by FoM on November 05, 2004 at 19:24:18 PT
Just a Passing Thought
I just thought of something after posting my comment about Gay marriage. If they were able to put that on state's ballots and we are expected to leave it stand then why aren't we allowed to stand with Initiatives that get passed on marijuana issues I wonder? 
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Comment #9 posted by FoM on November 05, 2004 at 19:13:20 PT
ekim
I believe I know why so many turned out in Ohio and voted for Bush. It was the issue about Gay marriage they put on the ballot. It fired people up to vote and because of Bush's stance on that topic they voted for Bush. It also was on Florida's ballot and other states too. 
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Comment #8 posted by ekim on November 05, 2004 at 19:08:43 PT
anyone going please tell us about it
hey siege got your ck yet -- leap will be in Tn soon ck out www.leap.cc/eventsFoM it was said that Ohio had 80,000 more for W gee all this came down to that many votes and some say "why should i vote it dont matter" well times a wasten so lets get busy.www.thehia.orgImmediately following the HIA Convention will be the Green Festival, where the HIA, VoteHemp and many hemp companies will be exhibiting.
Saturday and Sunday, November 6th & 7th
Produced by Coop America and Global Exchange. 
http://www.greenfestivals.com/
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Comment #7 posted by siege on November 05, 2004 at 14:57:59 PT
Jury Refuses off topic 
 Newsbrief: South Carolina Jury Refuses to Send Opium Smoker to Prison for Decades, Acquits Him of Trafficking Instead 11/5/04http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/361/opium.shtmlhttp://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/361/
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Comment #6 posted by ekim on November 05, 2004 at 14:48:25 PT
Yes Kapt we must do all we can to support others
 
get involved with Leap set up a event. take a leap speaker out for dinner or have them come to your home. Nov 7 04 "Due Process" TV Show: What about the War on Drugs? 09:30 AM Eric Sterling New Jersey USA 
 LEAP Advisory Board Member and Executive Director of the Criminal Justice Policy Foundation Eric Sterling, will appear on the New Jersey public television show "Due Process: What about the War on Drugs?" with the DEA Special Agent in Charge of New Jersey. Broadcast times are 9:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sundays and 11:30 p.m. on Tuesdays. Nov 8 04 Smoky Hill Rotary 12:00 PM Howard Wooldridge Aurora Colorado USA 
 Clear talk from Board Member Howard Wooldridge when he meets with the Smoky Hill Rotary to discuss the failure of drug prohibition. Nov 8 04 Smoky Hill Rotary 01:00 PM Howard Wooldridge Aurora Colorado USA 
 The Smoky Hill Rotary welcomes Board Member Howard Wooldridge for discussion of issues related to the failure of drug prohibition. Nov 9 04 Boulder Valley Rotary 12:00 PM Howard Wooldridge Boulder Colorado USA 
 Board Member Howard Wooldridge returns to the Centennial State to lunch and discussion of the failure of drug prohibition. Nov 9 04 Loveland Connection 09:00 AM Howard Wooldridge Loveland Colorado USA 
 The Loveland Connection welcomes Board Member Howard Wooldridge to their fine city for discussion of the failure of drug prohibition. Nov 9 04 Fort Collins Kiwanis 06:30 AM Howard Wooldridge Fort Collins Colorado USA 
 The Fort Collins Kiwanis welcomes Board Member Howard Wooldridge for discussion of the failure of drug prohibition and viable alternatives. Nov 9 04 Boulder Valley Rotary 01:00 PM Howard Wooldridge Boulder Colorado USA 
 None as bold as Board Member Howard Wooldridge when he visitis with members of the Boulder Valley Rotary to discuss issues related to the failure of drug prohibition. Nov 10 04 Aurora Colorado Rotary 12:00 PM Howard Wooldridge Aurora Colorado USA 
 Board Member Howard Wooldridge will be brighter than the Northern Lights when he meets with members of the Aurora Rotary. Nov 10 04 Alameda West Kiwanis (Denver), CO 07:00 AM Howard Wooldridge Denver Colorado USA 
 The Alameda West Kiwanis welcomes Board Member Howard Wooldridge for breakfast and discussion of the failure of drug prohibition. Nov 11 04 Aurora Kiwanis 06:30 PM Howard Wooldridge Aurora Colorado USA 
 Board Member Howard Wooldridge dines with members of the Aurora Kiwanis to discuss alternatives to the failure of America's failed war on drugs 
http://www.leap.cc/events
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Comment #5 posted by dr slider on November 05, 2004 at 14:20:35 PT:
chuckles
It's interesting that more Montanans approved of medcan than both voted Bush back in and to ban same sex marriage. Clearly many of Bush's supporters already know the feds are lying. The message'll morph soon. The day the election was called, NBC (the new Fox) was all over ONDCP's "it ain't yo daddy's pot" potency lie...again. They'll continue to harp on "an unregulated crude botanical" can't be medicine. They've already got the public salivating for magic pills, what with our new France trampling hero, Lance Armstrong and America's most trusted newsman, Tom Brokaw both shamelessly hustling drugs all over the airwaves. Don't bother searching Merke for cannabinoids, they have apparently, in their rush to cure cancer, never heard of them.Its ironic as hell that post history the infrastructure that delivers my medicine  will only surge while pharma collapses. I continue my cancer prevention regimen, thank you very much.
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Comment #4 posted by kaptinemo on November 05, 2004 at 13:38:33 PT:
On a lighter note
Study after study after study after study...How much longer can the antis continue saying with a straight face that cannabis has no medicinal uses? This is like saying you can't cure a headache by boiling white willow bark and drinking the liquid. Or treat a 'dicky heart' with foxglove. Nearly every modern pharma started life as a 'crude plant' and was used for centuries before corporations sought to control access to them. As they STILL ARE are being used in parts of the world not 'developed' enough to enjoy such modernity as plastic bottles filled with gelatin encased powders, for which we pay outrageous prices. And often die from taking them as prescribed, anyway. As scores of thousands do each year.I'll happily take my crude but safe medicine in lieu of gelatin encased poison any day.
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Comment #3 posted by kaptinemo on November 05, 2004 at 12:16:04 PT:
They don't need a worse man than Ashcroft
They already have in place what Crisco Johnny saddled us with. All the newcomer has to do is just turn the key on the fascism machine's ignition; the engine is already pumped and primed.
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on November 05, 2004 at 11:52:03 PT
Ashcroft
EJ I guess we will soon find out. 
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Comment #1 posted by E_Johnson on November 05, 2004 at 11:45:58 PT
Ashcroft is stepping down
I hope there won't be someone worse appointed in his place.
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