http://oaklandnorml.org/cms/ Oakland County NORML en-us Mon, 21 Jul 2008 16:12:53 GMT 1440 CPG-Nuke Dragonfly Oakland County NORML News http://backend.userland.com/rss http://oaklandnorml.org/cms/images/logo.gif http://oaklandnorml.org/cms/ http://oaklandnorml.org/cms/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=286 Marijuana Extracts Provide Superior Pain Relief Compared To Plant's Isolated Compounds, Study Says. “Cannabis sativa evoked a total relief of neuropathic pain, ameliorating the effect of single cannabinoids” July 17, 2008 - Milan, Italy Milan, Italy: The administration of whole-plant cannabis extracts provides superior pain relief compared to the administration of the plant's isolated components, according to preclinical data to be published in the journal Phytotherapy Research. Investigators at the University of Milan, Department of Pharmacology assessed the antinociceptive efficacy of plant-derived cannabis extracts compared to the administration of a single cannabinoid in an animal model of neuropathic pain. Researchers reported that the administration of single cannabinoids such as THC or CBD (cannabidiol) produced limited relief compared to the administration of plant extracts containing multiple cannabinoids, terpenes (oils), and flavonoids (pigments). "[T]he use of a standardized extract of Cannabis sativa … evoked a total relief of thermal hyperalgesia, in an experimental model of neuropathic pain, … ameliorating the effect of single cannabinoids," investigators concluded. Read more. . . Mon, 21 Jul 2008 16:12:53 GMT http://oaklandnorml.org/cms/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=285 Case Study: Inhaled Cannabis Improves Symptoms Of ADHD July 17, 2008 - Heidelberg, Germany Heidelberg, Germany: Oral administration of synthetic THC capsules (dronabinol) mitigates symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a case study published by the International Association for Cannabis as Medicine (IACM, Germany). Investigators at the Heidelberg University Medical Center reported that smoking cannabis dramatically improved the performance, behavior, and mental state of a 28-year-old male patient diagnosed with severe ADHD. Read more. . . Mon, 21 Jul 2008 16:08:19 GMT http://oaklandnorml.org/cms/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=284 Across Midwest, interest in medical marijuana grows Michigan vote seen as test for region on issue By Tim Jones | Chicago Tribune correspondent July 13, 2008 The move to legalize medical marijuana is advancing in the Midwest, with Michigan poised to be the first state between the Rockies and New England to sanction the use of the illegal drug by terminally or seriously ill people. Michigan voters will decide in November whether to authorize marijuana use if a doctor determines suffering could be eased by the drug from such diseases as cancer, Crohn's disease, HIV/AIDS, Alzheimer's or hepatitis C. While years of public opinion polls show opposition to legalizing marijuana, polls and the overwhelming majority of state referendum votes also show strong support for medical use of marijuana. At the same time, some physician groups have dropped their resistance to medical marijuana. Read more. . . Sat, 12 Jul 2008 15:50:46 GMT http://oaklandnorml.org/cms/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=283 Massachusetts: Pot Decrim Initiative Qualifies For November Ballot Measure Would Replace Criminal Penalties With A $100 Fine July 10, 2008 - Boston, MA, US Boston, MA: State election officials have approved a measure for the November 2008 ballot that seeks to decriminalize the possession and use of small amounts of cannabis by persons age 18 or older. Sponsored by the Committee for Sensible Marijuana Policy, the measure would replace criminal penalties for the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana with a civil fine of no more than $100. Defendants who pay the fine would not have to appear in court, nor would they be subjected to a criminal record Under current Massachusett law, citizens arrested for minor marijuana offenses face up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $500. Read more. . . Fri, 11 Jul 2008 15:06:56 GMT http://oaklandnorml.org/cms/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=282 US Drug Enforcement Administration ‘Celebrates’ 35 Years Of Failure July 3, 2008 - Washington, DC, USA Washington, DC: The United State’s top federal anti-drug agency, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), turned 35-years-old this week, according to US Department of Justice press release. “The Drug Enforcement Administration was created 35 years ago on [July 1] by President Richard Nixon, who through an Executive Order established a single unified command to combat ‘an all-out global war on the drug menace,’” the DOJ release states. “At its outset, the DEA had 1,470 Special Agents, a budget of less than $75 million, and a presence in 31 countries. Today, the DEA has 5,235 Special Agents, a budget of more than $2.4 billion and 87 foreign offices in 63 countries.” Read more. . . Tue, 08 Jul 2008 22:40:45 GMT http://oaklandnorml.org/cms/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=281 3 HOT-BUTTON ISSUES POISED FOR NOV. VOTE by Charlie Cain, Kim Kozlowski, (Source:Detroit News) 08 Jul 2008 Michigan ------- Medical Marijuana Use, Government Reform, Stem Cells May Mobilize Voters. Michigan voters will likely decide a red-hot trio of ballot questions in November: a massive overhaul of state government, a plan to ease restrictions on stem cell research, and another that would allow seriously ill people to legally smoke marijuana. In a normal year, the marijuana proposal would trigger the most controversy, experts say. But the other two ballot propositions are laced with such high emotion that the pot proposal may turn out to be the tamest of all. "Medical marijuana is the least controversial of the three by far," said former state lawmaker Dianne Byrum, the spokeswoman for that proposal, as well as the reform proposal, which would trim the size of state government, slash the pay and benefits of elected officials and cut the size of the Legislature and the state's highest courts. Read more. . . Tue, 08 Jul 2008 22:26:48 GMT http://oaklandnorml.org/cms/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=280 Lots of good friends in this video.. nice job folks Fri, 04 Jul 2008 17:20:58 GMT http://oaklandnorml.org/cms/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=279 What Your Government Knows About Cannabis And Cancer -- And Isn't Telling You By Paul Armentano Posted June 24, 2008 | 04:20 PM (EST) Senator Ted Kennedy is putting forward a brave face following his recent surgery but the sad reality remains. Even with successful surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy treatment, gliomas -- a highly aggressive form of brain cancer that strikes approximately 10,000 Americans annually -- tragically claim the lives of 75 percent of its victims within two years and virtually all within five years. But what if there was an alternative treatment for gliomas that could selectively target the cancer while leaving healthy cells intact? And what if federal bureaucrats were aware of this treatment, but deliberately withheld this information from the public? Sadly, the questions posed above are not entirely hypothetical. Let me explain. In 2007, I reviewed over 150 published preclinical and clinical studies assessing the therapeutic potential of marijuana and several of its active compounds, known as cannabinoids. I summarized these numerous studies in a book, now in its third edition, entitled Emerging Clinical Applications for Cannabis and Cannabinoids: A Review of the Scientific Literature. (NORML Foundation, 2008) One chapter in this book, which summarized the findings of more than 30 separate trials and literature reviews, was dedicated to the use of cannabinoids as potential anti-cancer agents, particularly in the treatment of gliomas. Not familiar with this scientific research? Your government is. In fact, the first experiment documenting pot's potent anti-cancer effects took place in 1974 at the Medical College of Virginia at the behest federal bureaucrats. The results of that study, reported in an Aug. 18, 1974, Washington Post newspaper feature, were that marijuana's primary psychoactive component, THC, "slowed the growth of lung cancers, breast cancers and a virus-induced leukemia in laboratory mice, and prolonged their lives by as much as 36 percent." Read more. . . Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:50:24 GMT http://oaklandnorml.org/cms/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=278 Some Drug Traffickers Are More Equal Than Others Sunday, June 29, 2008 Published at Capital City Free Press Do you ever wonder if the justice system in Alabama is fair? Ever questioned whether justice here is indeed blind? Is it important to you that everyone be treated equal under the law? I believe most citizen's have asked themselves those questions at one time or another. Warning: If you are one of the citizen's who is convinced that we have a fair, neutral and blind justice system in this state and that everyone is treated the same according to the law then you probably shouldn't read any further. I take no responsibility for any meltdown you might have as a result of being exposed to the truth. On March 3, 2008 John Alexander Rochester, son of 40th Circuit Court Judge John Rochester, was arrested at the Ashland City Park in Ashland, AL for possession of meth, first degree possession of marijuana, trafficking cocaine, possession of paraphernalia, distribution of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance. I immediately began following the case. Actually, 'following' the case is not the right term. Reporting the case is much more like it, since no other media outlet in the state has deemed it newsworthy to report the arrest of a judge's son for drug trafficking and the special treatment he is receiving from the court system. Yet, every other regular Jim Bob or Mary Jane that has been arrested for the same or similar offenses has had their name and alleged crimes reported in their hometown papers and on the 5 O'Clock News. Read more. . . Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:59:08 GMT http://oaklandnorml.org/cms/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=277 Guest columnist: Drug war needs practical approach BY JOSEPH HEPP • JUNE 24, 2008 BattleCreekInquirer.com The war against the sale and use of illegal drugs has received very little media attention during our current political campaigns - probably because both parties feel that it is politically correct to oppose any form of legalization. It should be an issue because, in spite of the valiant efforts on the part of our law enforcement people, we are not winning this war! Besides not winning, it is costing taxpayers billions and billions of dollars for enforcement, not to mention increased crime. The high demand for illegal drugs remains strong in America and since it is a highly profitable business, the drug dealers will continue to find ways to meet the demand. We read about big drug busts and about the confiscation of large amounts of illegal drugs but very little about the overall success of the war on drugs. In some ways the prohibition of illegal drugs has created an appeal - you know the reaction of some people when a movie is banned. There are similarities between the drug war and the prohibition of alcohol (1920-33) which was an action taken to reduce crime and corruption. Unfortunately, conditions actually got worse, more crime and corruption, along with lost tax revenue. Read more. . . Sat, 28 Jun 2008 21:59:17 GMT