cannabisnews.com: NORML's Weekly News Bulletin - July 5, 2007 NORML's Weekly News Bulletin - July 5, 2007 Posted by CN Staff on July 05, 2007 at 13:23:44 PT Weekly Press Release Source: NORML Pending Texas Law Gives Cops Discretion In Minor Pot CasesJuly 5, 2007 - Austin, TX, USAAustin, TX: Legislation that will go into effect in September grants police the option of issuing citations to minor marijuana offenders in lieu of making a criminal arrest. The new law was passed by the legislature to reduce criminal justice costs associated with the prosecution of certain misdemeanor crimes. Under House Bill 2391, law enforcement will have the discretion to issue a citation mandating local individuals who commit specific Class A and/or Class B misdemeanor crimes to appear in court. An arrest warrant will be issued for defendants who fail to appear in court by the date specified in the citation.Under Texas law, possession of up to four ounces of marijuana is a misdemeanor offense punishable by up to one-year in jail a fine of up to $4,000. Individuals who sell less than one-quarter ounce of cannabis are also guilty of a misdemeanor. The possession and/or sale of larger quantities of cannabis are felony offenses.According to US FBI data, approximately 95 percent of all marijuana arrests in Texas are for misdemeanor possession. House Bill 2391 goes into effect on September 1, 2007.For more information, please contact Keith Stroup, NORML Legal Counsel, at (202) 483-5500.DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=7296Colorado Judge Suspends Limit on Number of PatientsJuly 5, 2007 - Denver, CO, USADenver, CO: On Tuesday, July 3, Chief Denver District Court Judge Larry Naves issued a temporary injunction blocking the enforcement of a rule limiting to five the number of patients to whom a caregiver can provide medical marijuana under state law.The ruling came in a case brought by a 47 year old man suffering from AIDS and hepatitis C. The patient, Denver resident David LaGoy, had asked the state to designate one Daniel J. Pope to serve as his medical marijuana caregiver. The state had refused to permit Pope to serve in this capacity because he was already the authorized caregiver for five other patients.In 2000, voters approved Amendment 20, the Colorado medical marijuana law, which permitted authorized caregivers to grow and provide marijuana to authorized patients. Under the law, caregivers must have "significant responsibility for managing the well-being of a patient," but no limit on the number of patients was included. The Colorado Department of Health subsequently adopted a rule limiting a caregiver to no more than five patients.The judge said the rule was arbitrarily enacted without public input, putting patients at risk. The injunction applies to all medical marijuana patients and caregivers statewide.This suit challenging the limitation on the number of patients a caregiver may serve was brought by NORML Legal Committee members Robert J. Corry and Sean McAllister, and Brian Vicente, the head of Sensible Colorado, a medical marijuana advocacy group in the state.For additional information, contact Brian Vicente at Sensible Colorado at (720) 890-4247 or Keith Stroup, Esq., NORML Legal Counsel at (202) 483-5500.DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=7295Doctors Not Proficient At Interpreting Drug TestsJuly 5, 2007 - Jacksonville, FL, USAJacksonville, FL: Physicians who administer urine drug tests to their patients frequently misinterpret the results, according to data published recently in the Journal of Opioid Management.The study posed seven multiple-choice questions to physicians who employ urinalysis to monitor their patients’ opioid therapy. Investigators reported that none of the doctors surveyed answered all seven questions accurately, and only 30 percent answered more than half correctly. "Physicians who employ urine drug testing to monitor patients’ [drug use] are not proficient in test interpretation," authors concluded. "This study highlights the need for improved physician education."A 2006 Harvard Medical School study of pediatricians who order drug screens for their patients reported that few physicians knew how to properly administer the tests or how to correctly interpret the results.For more information, please contact Paul Armentano, NORML Senior Policy Analyst, at: paul norml.orgFull text of the study, "Urine drug test interpretation: what do physicians know?" appears in the Journal of Opioid Management.DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=7297Source: NORML Foundation (DC)Published: July 5, 2007Copyright: 2007 NORML Contact: norml norml.org Website: http://www.norml.org/CannabisNews NORML Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/NORML.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #29 posted by FoM on July 06, 2007 at 10:13:48 PT Hope To be fair to Al Gore this is a very big event and I am sure some people will be missed that should be there. I just hope it comes off with the message about climate change that people need to hear. [ Post Comment ] Comment #28 posted by FoM on July 06, 2007 at 10:11:47 PT Washington Post: More on Live Earth Live Earth Concert to Be Held in Washington on Saturdayhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/06/AR2007070600684.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #27 posted by Hope on July 06, 2007 at 10:08:29 PT If Gore is really into caring for the Earth.... He'll see to it that the White Plume Family are flown out to Washington for this occasion. Their story should be an integral part of what he is trying to do...if he's really trying to do it...and he's trying to do it for people...and not corporations that surely are willing to come up with a great and profitable, for them, corporate way to control the degradation of the Earth. [ Post Comment ] Comment #26 posted by Hope on July 06, 2007 at 10:01:33 PT Ekim and FoM So very true! It would be great to present the White Plume family and their story.Does Gore have the male hormonal fortitude to do such a thing? [ Post Comment ] Comment #25 posted by FoM on July 06, 2007 at 09:45:32 PT ekim And thank you for all you are doing. [ Post Comment ] Comment #24 posted by ekim on July 06, 2007 at 09:37:11 PT good one FoM --- thanks for all you are doing Pete has good story on Ruth Hemp Bar kind of neat red-white- and blueberrys-if only Gore had a clue-- he could do so much to help the people-- come on Al ------- remember what Frank Zappa sang about-- http://www.drugwarrant.com [ Post Comment ] Comment #23 posted by FoM on July 06, 2007 at 09:16:21 PT ekim That would be very good. I will get see it on the 9th at 12 AM. [ Post Comment ] Comment #22 posted by ekim on July 06, 2007 at 09:10:11 PT Gore how about having Alex White Plume on Sat Comment #4 posted by FoM on July 01, 2007 at 15:55:28 PT Friendly Reminder: PBS Standing Silent Nation PBS Looks At one Lakota Family's Struggle To Grow Hemp July 1st 2007 By Adam FinleyHere's the gist of the story:Alex White Plume of the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota had been trying to grow various crops on his land, but none of what he planted could sustain. Finally, after a bit of research, he decided to grow industrial hemp, a close relative of marijuana but with a much lower amount of THC. While it is not illegal to sell hemp products, it is illegal to grow it, but Plume assumed he could grow and sell the hemp due to tribal sovereignty.Standing Silent Nation, http://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2007/standing/index.html which airs this Tuesday July 3 at 10:00 p.m. as part of the PBS series POV (check listings), http://www.pbs.org/pov/local_broadcast_v4.html is a documentary shot over four years that delves into the problems Plume and his family faced when federal agents raided their land and destroyed their crops. Later, Plume had eight federal civil charges leveled against him. This documentary caught my eye for two reasons: one, it deals with an unending drug war that often veers into territory that is utterly inexplicable, and two, it deals with the nature of Native American sovereignty. As an American, I'm intrigued by both of these issues and what they've meant to the country as a whole.You can watch a trailer for the doc here.http://www.pbs.org/pov/shared/mediaplayer/2007/standing.htmlURL: http://www.tvsquad.com/2007/07/01/pbs-looks-at-one-lakota-familys-struggle-to-grow-hemp/ http://cannabisnews.com/news/23/thread23141.shtml http://blog.leap.cc/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #21 posted by FoM on July 06, 2007 at 08:41:41 PT Washington To Host Live Earth Concert After All July 6, 2007WASHINGTON (AFP) - Former US vice president Al Gore, co-organizer of the Live Earth concerts, announced Friday that Washington was added to the global event and would feature country music stars Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood. Gore told CNN the National Museum of the American Indian had offered its concert venue for Saturday's concert, which will also feature the Native American band Blues Nation.The last-minute addition came after organizers had failed to bring Live Earth to Washington's national Mall because other events had booked spaces on the sprawling green space, US media reported.A Congressional resolution was introduced in a bid to let the show be held on the US Capitol grounds, but some Republicans resisted the effort.Complete Article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070706/pl_afp/entertainmentmusic_070706134510 [ Post Comment ] Comment #20 posted by FoM on July 06, 2007 at 08:34:03 PT OverwhelmSam Thank you. What an amazing event it must be. [ Post Comment ] Comment #19 posted by OverwhelmSam on July 06, 2007 at 08:31:38 PT FoM - In case you missed it... This link shows pictures from past events. There are 313 pictures, click on the first picture and then you can click next through the rest. I see a lot of friends here.http://images.burningman.com/index.cgi?q_photog=&q_category=&q_keyword=cafe&q_year=&skip=0 [ Post Comment ] Comment #18 posted by FoM on July 06, 2007 at 08:20:55 PT Live Earth and Obama I really am looking forward to watching Live Earth. This is very important for people who could have their lives turned upside down by rising sea water and increased heat. We might have more deserts in the future in the USA if we don't try to slow this process down.http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/liveearth [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by FoM on July 06, 2007 at 06:15:36 PT OverwhelmSam I think it would be quite an experience to see The Burning Man. If you go I hope you take pictures so we can see them. [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by OverwhelmSam on July 06, 2007 at 03:05:45 PT Don't Miss - Burning Man! Hope to see you there if you can make it.http://www.burningman.com/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by goblet on July 05, 2007 at 22:34:43 PT: wow I didn't know a prius could do 100MPH. Maybe it was KPH :) [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by whig on July 05, 2007 at 22:31:22 PT gloovins That's basically my take too. [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by FoM on July 05, 2007 at 21:45:25 PT gloovins I read the marijuana charge is a misdemeanor but the other drugs are considered a felony. I know that marijuana wouldn't have caused him to go 100 miles an hour.The GCW enjoy the race. [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by gloovins on July 05, 2007 at 21:25:16 PT Al Gore's son Al III, was also going 100 mph on the fwy, I think that is why he had to post $20,000 bail, I could be wrong but I suspect that accounts for at least 1/2 of the bail I'm sure - just a thought.It's clear he needs to get off the big Pharm drugs & just probably medicate with medical cannabis, that's my take. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by The GCW on July 05, 2007 at 21:10:00 PT Saturday in London Also in London Saturday is the start of the Tour de France.http://www.cyclingnews.com/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by FoM on July 05, 2007 at 20:27:42 PT RevRayGreen I did see the coverage today about the drugs that young people are taking. That one drug that is popular sounds like an old fashioned diet pill. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by RevRayGreen on July 05, 2007 at 20:20:26 PT CNN is all over the OT pharm abuse vs. marijuana story too. http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/07/05/drug.use/index.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by FoM on July 05, 2007 at 20:12:19 PT Here's The Schedule CAN'T ATTEND THE SHOWS? HERE'S WHERE TO WATCH In the USA, Live Earth will be carried by NBC Universal networks. Sundance and Universal HD are offering live coverage and highlights for 22 hours starting Saturday at 4 a.m. ET, and MSNBC is mixing concert footage with reporting from London and New Jersey throughout the day. NBC will air a three-hour special at 8 p.m. ET/PT, with additional programming on CNBC, Bravo, Telemundo and Mun2.Radio options include Sirius Satellite and XM. The former launched a four-day broadcast channel, Green 119, on Wednesday, with interviews and commentary. It will be carrying each concert on separate channels, with one dedicated to highlights. The latter will offer more than 90 hours, starting tonight at 9 ET on multiple channels featuring the eight main concerts live, as well as highlights and interviews.MSN will bring the shows to 465 million potential visitors in 21 languages through a global feed Saturday and in the coming months, "so that anyone can go to any show at any time," says Live Earth producer Kevin Wall. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by FoM on July 05, 2007 at 20:06:34 PT ekim I am not sure who is covering the concert but I will check tomorrow. I hope it is a success. ***Live Concerts Rally Round EarthAl Gore realized that music could influence public opinion long before he was in a position to run for national office."I remember when I was quite young, and the civil rights movement was beginning, listening to Bob Dylan's Blowin' in the Wind," says the former vice president. "It was unbelievable in its impact. And a lot of the music being written and performed for Live Earth is hopefully going to have the same kind of impact."Complete Article: http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2007-07-05-live-earth_N.htm [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by ekim on July 05, 2007 at 19:56:43 PT lets hope gore gets a clue------ Al Gore Says Live Earth Is Just The Beginning The former vice president talks about why the event will make a difference and convincing the Red Hot Chili Peppers to be on the bill http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?name=news&id=1564119&vid=161001 [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Sam Adams on July 05, 2007 at 19:30:41 PT discrimination Yes, you could call it discrimination; you could also call it protectionism.Thinking about it more, you know Big Pharma has VERY detailed sales and marketing information. They are able to track how much each doctor prescribes of their drugs. I wonder if anyone at the big companies has analyzed California since 1995. I wonder if CA's prescription drug use grew at a slower rate than the rest of the country. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by The GCW on July 05, 2007 at 18:03:05 PT US: CO: Put this in your pipe Put this in your pipe http://www.boulderweekly.com/incaseyoumissedit.html A fair warning to students: the First Amendment doesn't really apply to you. That's what the U.S. Supreme Court said last week when it ruled that Joseph Frederick's First Amendment rights were not violated by his high school principal, who suspended him in 2002 for unveiling a 14-foot banner that read, "Bong Hits 4 Jesus." Frederick unfurled his banner on a public sidewalk during a school-sponsored trip to watch a Winter Olympics parade. Principal Deborah Morse (aka Principal Buzz Kill) confiscated the banner and suspended Frederick for 10 days. The Supremes sided with Morse, claiming that any suggestion that the Son of God smokes weed constitutes a pro-drug message and is therefore a clear violation of the school district's drug policy. Apparently the fact that Jesus's Dad created marijuana — according to Genesis 1:11 this occurred on the third day of creation and "was good" — had no influence on the justices' decision whatsoever. Free-speech advocates blasted the ruling as yet another setback to the First Amendment rights of students, which are already in tatters. It seems that America's schools like to teach the Bill of Rights but don't particularly want to abide by it. But if this wasn't a good ruling on the part of the Supremes it was at least humorous, for, in order to deliberate the matter, this bunch of high falutin' lawyers had to define the term "bong" first. And what did they in their vast wisdom decide? Bong is a "slang term for drug paraphernalia." So rolling papers are bongs? Coke spoons are bongs? Idiots! Go pick the lint from your robes and leave us — and our water pipes — alone. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by The GCW on July 05, 2007 at 17:54:50 PT Cannabis discrimination. Sick citizens may get cannabis from people that grow it and make it available... but the growers making it available may legally only supply 5 people.How come that law doesn't apply to Pharm Corp's?Cannabis discrimination; that's why. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Sam Adams on July 05, 2007 at 17:16:32 PT Gore So Al Gore smoked herb himself, now his son uses it. The beat goes on, Prohibition doesn't stop anyone from using drugs.The Vice President of the United State's kid can't be stopped from using the herb. But your local town cops will be able to stop your kid from using it! makes perfect sense, doesn't it?I think the Colorado judge's decision is very exciting. Can anyone else remember an instance where a state's judiciary has expanded a medical MJ law instead attacking it? I can't. There have been cases where an individual was acquitted or let go, but I think the actual laws have only been improved by a piece of legislation or a ballot initiative. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on July 05, 2007 at 15:53:07 PT Off Topic Gore Son's Arrest Puts Spotlight on Prescription Drug Abusehttp://www.sanluisobispo.com/348/story/85443.html [ Post Comment ] Post Comment