Cannabis farmers upend rural tranquility in Calif. Nov 15, 2009
Cannabis farmers upend rural tranquility in Calif ... Cannabis farmers upend rural tranquility in Calif ... Here in Trinity County, cannabis cultivation is upending the rural culture and economy of one of the state s hard-luck regions. (Boston Globe)
Check facts on pot Nov 15, 2009
Prohibition of cannabis for medical reasons keeps it in Schedule One of the Controlled Substances Act, making it impossible for doctors to prescribe it ... Marijuana or cannabis had a history of being prescribed in the U.S. and there is ample new science showing efficacy and acceptable safety ... With the upcoming possible legalization of cannabis in California I think its important to look at some of the original reasons why cannabis was made illegal in the first place. (Fresno Bee -- Opinion)
Coffee Break: Compound Brewing New Research In Colon, Breast Cancer Nov 14, 2009
13, 2009) A compound in coffee has been found to be estrogenic in studies by Texas AgriLife Research scientists. Though the studies have not been conducted to determine recommended consumption amounts, scientists say the compound, called trigonelline or "trig," may be a factor in estrogen-dependent breast cancer but beneficial against colon cancer development. (Science Daily)
Allow seriously ill to use medical marijuana Nov 14, 2009
Please support Senate Bill 1381, the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act. Kyle Kidwell, Normal. (The Pantagraph newspaper)
Drugs: Virtually legal Nov 13, 2009
For those who wonder about the sort of relief provided, its logo a cannabis leaf is a clue ... In a state that pioneered bans on smoking tobacco, smoking cannabis is now easier than almost anywhere in the world ... That is true even in the United States, where the Obama administration has announced that registered cannabis dispensaries will no longer be raided by federal authorities. (The Economist)
Sell drugs in shops - think tank Nov 13, 2009
Cocaine could be sold in pharmacies and cannabis in coffee shops under suggestions for decriminalising drugs set out by think tank Transform ... It proposes that the sale and consumption of cannabis and opium, for example, could take place at membership-based "coffee shop style" licensed premises. (BBC News -- UK)
Man to die for drug trafficking Nov 13, 2009
TEMERLOH: A man was sent to the gallows after the High Court here found him guilty of trafficking cannabis about two years ago ... 18 gm of cannabis at his brothers house in No 45, Jalan Bahagia 24, Taman Bahagia Jaya, near here, on May 21, 2007. (The Star Online, Malaysia -- News)
Medical marijuana business is growing ... up Nov 13, 2009
Will the new Obama policy kick off an entrepreneurial bonanza in the 13 states (Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington) where medical cannabis is legal ... But while the potential for a large medical marijuana market exists, cannabis remains mired in legal ambiguities and political sensitivities that while changing rapidly are still difficult for entrepreneurs to navigate ... where four licensed... (MSNBC -- Business)
Cannabis 'affecting young minds' Nov 13, 2009
Cannabis 'affecting young minds ... Half of young people using cannabis suffer side effects such as paranoia and blackouts, a UK survey suggests ... The charity is calling for urgent research on the effects of cannabis on the developing teenage brain. (Yahoo News -- Substance Use)
Experts fear backlash over killings Nov 12, 2009
High rates of abuse of cannabis, alcohol and amphetamine were involved. Information and advice about mental illness, treatments and support is available by calling the SANE Helpline, 1800 18 SANE (7263) 9am-5pm weekdays. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
Smoking in Pregnancy Risks Psychotic Children Nov 12, 2009
Only a few mothers in the study, which was published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, said they had smoked cannabis during pregnancy, and this was not found to have any significant link with psychotic symptoms. (Reporting by Kate Kelland. (MEDLINEplus)
Women and men show differences in crimes and drugs Nov 12, 2009
The relationship between mental illness, drug use and arrest was much stronger for women, with more than half of those in custody admitting to using cannabis in the past month ... The men were more likely to be using cannabis (59 per cent), but less likely to be using amphetamines (34 per cent) and heroin (13 per cent). (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
Youth to hang for ganja trafficking Nov 12, 2009
TEMERLOH: A youth was sent to the gallows after the High Court here found him guilty of trafficking in cannabis two years ago ... 18 gm of cannabis at his brothers house in No 45, Jalan Bahagia 24, Taman Bahagia Jaya, near here, on May 21, 2007 ... After the officers knocked on the door several times, the accused opened it and was immediately detained after they found three packets containing cannabis on the floor. (The Star Online, Malaysia)
Drugs adviser says politics rules Nov 11, 2009
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "When we made our recommendation on cannabis we saw no reason to change the classification and yet the government has already decided to move from Class C to Class B.". "That can only be because the government saw it as a votes-catching exercise.". (BBC News -- UK)
The Medical Marijuana Business Matures Nov 11, 2009
Will the new Obama policy kick off an entrepreneurial bonanza in the 13 states (Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington) where medical cannabis is legal ... But while the potential for a large medical marijuana market exists, cannabis remains mired in legal ambiguities and political sensitivities that while changing rapidly are still difficult for entrepreneurs to navigate ... where four licensed cannabis... (BusinessWeek)
Daily chart: Pot luck Nov 10, 2009
Cannabis use in Europe ... Which Europeans are most likely to have tried cannabis ... OVER a fifth of Europeans have taken cannabis at some point in their lives, according to new report on illegal drug use from the EMCDDA, the EU's drug-monitoring arm. (The Economist)
Medical marijuana shops abound in California Nov 10, 2009
Kruse opened Claremont All-Natural Nutrition Aids Buyers Information Service (CANNABIS) anyway. Several months later, he was convicted of operating without a business license and fined. (Jefferson City News Tribune, MO)
Click to read:Should Pot Be Legal? Nov 9, 2009
The government of the Netherlands stated that "cannabis is not harmless - either for the abusers or for the community." The Netherlands began to implement an action plan to discourage cannabis use. The action plan to discourage cannabis use includes elements such as drug prevention campaigns, mass-media anti-drugs campaign, increased treatment efforts to cannabis users, and encouragement of administrative and criminal law enforcement efforts ... This brings the Netherlands "closer towards full... (CBS News)
Reality check Nov 8, 2009
If the government is still there after the next election, it might eventually want to take the advice which Prof Nutt was apparently all set to offer, which is that cannabis is not so bad after all. The government might even eventually want to legalise cannabis, or at least follow the example of California, where you can buy it for medical purposes. (BBC News -- UK)
Medical marijuana: Area interest grows Nov 8, 2009
"That's B.C. bud," he said, referring to the popular strain of potent cannabis originally grown in British Columbia. Gibbons, 44, is part of the growing number of people in the Butte area participating either as a grower or patient in Montana's medical marijuana program. (Montana Standard, MT)
Patients flock to California doctors practicing pot medicine Nov 8, 2009
His recently opened cannabis evaluations clinic on Auburn Boulevard is a newcomer in an increasingly robust medical industry ... These days pot physicians, touting marijuana as a healthier alternative to pharmaceuticals, are writing medical cannabis recommendations for a far wider range of ills, from restless leg syndrome to psoriasis, from sleep apnea to menopause ... Under the law, physicians can recommend cannabis for. (Fresno Bee -- Local)
Risky business Nov 7, 2009
The dangers of smoking cannabis are hotly debated ... Scientific advice may suggest how dangerous things are - like smoking cannabis and horse riding - but risk is not all about numbers, says Michael Blastland in his regular column ... Sir David King, a former chief scientific adviser (not to be confused with Professor David Nutt of cannabis and horse riding fame - we'll come to him in a minute), said the government should press ahead, urgently, with a new generation of nuclear reactors because... (BBC News -- UK)
British scientists challenge government Nov 7, 2009
"I'm not prepared to mislead the public about the harmfulness of drugs like cannabis," Nutt said shortly after he was dismissed. Two members of his team have since resigned in solidarity and others are reportedly considering whether to follow suit. (MSNBC -- Environment)
Minister 'backs adviser autonomy' Nov 7, 2009
Prof Nutt, chairman of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, was sacked on Friday after using a lecture to say that cannabis was less harmful than alcohol and tobacco ... CANNABIS AND THE LAW. (BBC News -- UK)
Your views: Letters to the editor Nov 6, 2009
Wasting resources prohibiting otherwise responsible adults from using cannabis/hemp, and legitimate business people from bringing it to market is what doesnt make sense ... 2 million in revenue from taxing cannabis. (Florida Today)
Minister 'appalled' by Nutt exit Nov 6, 2009
A minister has said the removal of the government's chief drugs adviser in a row over cannabis was a "big mistake" ... Prof Nutt was controversially axed from his unpaid role as chairman of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs after using a lecture to say that cannabis was less harmful than alcohol and tobacco ... " Lord Drayson, a former businessman, is responsible for science policy within the Department for Business, including relationships with research councils and the interaction... (BBC News -- Science)
Opinion: Bias in pot laws' enforcement Nov 6, 2009
And in a recent style feature, the Los Angeles Times gushed that "cannabis culture is coming out of the closet," citing its ubiquity across the spectrum of pop culture and high-end design. "It's here to stay," the Times proclaimed. (CNN)
Medical marijuana shops abound The surge in medical marijuana in California has left many communities scrambling to regulate the free-for-all. Nov 6, 2009
Aimee Polacci, garden product manager, carries a tray of cannabis clones to be sold at the Peace in Medicine dispensary in Sebastopol ... Kruse opened Claremont All-Natural Nutrition Aids Buyers Information Service (CANNABIS) anyway. (San Diego Union-Tribune)
EU struggles to curb hard drugs Nov 6, 2009
But cannabis use, particularly among young people, is declining, according to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA). Heroin use in Europe is "stable but no longer diminishing", the EMCDDA says. (BBC News -- Europe)
Drugs policy: Time to come clean Nov 6, 2009
Professor Nutt was held to have overstepped the line between advising and interfering when he repeated his view that cannabis and ecstasy were less harmful than the government claims ... When its drugs experts began a review of the harmfulness of cannabis in 2007 (the third such review in five years, the previous two having failed to come up with the right answer), Gordon Brown, the new prime minister, made it clear that he intended to upgrade the drug on Britain s three-point scale of harm even... (The Economist)
Scientists urge respect on advice Nov 6, 2009
Page last updated at 00:02 GMT, Friday, 6 November 2009. By Pallab Ghosh Science correspondent, BBC News. (BBC News -- UK)
Smart switching could solve communication tangle Nov 6, 2009
Reefs' riches, Newton's heir, cannabis leniency and more. 00:00 14 October 2009. (Yahoo News -- Instant Messaging)
University Teaches People To Grow Pot Nov 5, 2009
The Oregon Medical Cannabis University, located in a warehouse off Cornelius Pass Road in Hillsboro, opened in October ... The Cannabis University is currently funded by the owner, but she said she hopes the school will eventually have enough paid memberships to make the university self-sufficient. (KIRO TV, WA)
Federer fires up anti-smoking emotions Nov 5, 2009
So should top players such as Federer who incidentally also supports Cool and Clean, a government-backed programme to keep tobacco, alcohol and cannabis out of sport boycott the tournament. "I'd naturally be very happy if Federer said 'I'm not going to take part in a Davidoff tournament nor in any other sponsored by 00004000 a deadly industry'," said Hurter at Pro Aere. (SwissInfo.org, Switzerland)
Medical Marijuana Hearing Wraps Up In Iowa Nov 5, 2009
Iowa Board Of Pharmacy Considers Whether Cannabis Has Medical Potential ... "With smoking cannabis, I can get just as close as I can get.". (7 KETV Omaha)
Legalize marijuana and watch Palm Beach County get a new groove Nov 5, 2009
Once it is legal, West Palm Beach could re-brand its "Clematis by Night" to "Cannabis by Night." Interstate 95 road rage would give way to road reggae. And Boca Raton would be permanently placid. (The Palm Beach Post)
Science chief backs cannabis view Nov 4, 2009
The UK government's chief science adviser has told BBC News that he supports the former chief drugs adviser's scientific view on cannabis ... He was fired after using a lecture to say cannabis was less harmful than alcohol and tobacco ... Asked whether he agreed with Professor Nutt's view that cannabis was less harmful than cigarettes and alcohol, Professor Beddington replied: "I think the scientific evidence is absolutely clear cut. I would agree with it.". (BBC News -- Science)
Scots cannabis crop 'worth 100m' Nov 3, 2009
Police video of a cannabis farm in Glasgow. Up to 100m of cannabis is grown in Scotland a year, more than the Scottish vegetable crop, according to the man leading the fight against the industry ... Det Supt Buchanan told BBC Scotland that cannabis farming has brought Chinese organised crime into suburban areas on an unprecedented scale. (BBC News -- UK)
Drugs dispute Nov 3, 2009
Prof Nutt was removed after using a lecture to say cannabis was less harmful than alcohol and tobacco ... CANNABIS AND THE LAW. (BBC News -- UK)
Hash in the attic Nov 3, 2009
Skunk, the type of cannabis grown in farms, is up to three times more potent than other varieties because it contains higher levels of the active ingredient THC ... Police estimate that it costs about 15,000 to establish a large-scale cannabis farm ... What type of cannabis is produced in farms. (BBC News -- UK)
Legalise drugs and society would benefit Nov 3, 2009
box").removeAttr("style"); }); }); It appears to be impossible to have a rational debate about drugs. David Nutt, the head of the government's advisory council on drugs, argued that alcohol and tobacco were more dangerous than some drugs which are currently illegal. That point seems so obvious as to be barely worth stating. Prof Nutt also said that it was silly to upgrade cannabis, from class C on the illegal drugs register to class B. The maximum penalty for using a class B substance is five... (Sydney Morning Herald -- Opinion)
Tips on how to get busted when smoking pot Nov 3, 2009
The plant which the founders of our nation grew in abundance, which was promoted to farmers by the United States Department of Agriculture during WWII, and has significant applications in nutrition, durable goods, medicine, and dare I say it, as a safer alternative to recreational ingestion than alcohol is illegal for many reason not one of them actually make sense to me and I m dumbstruck that so many people can be blind to the counterproductive effects of cannabis prohibition, especially with... (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Metro)
Debate over cannabis status Nov 2, 2009
Debate over cannabis classification ... The reclassification of cannabis from a Class C to a Class B drug means a higher maximum jail sentence for possession ... Announcing the move in May 2008, then Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said there was "uncertainty at the least" on the future impact on young people's mental health as a result of using cannabis. (BBC News -- UK)
Click to read:The 60 Minutes/Vanity Fair Poll Nov 2, 2009
Cannabis, I choose you. by culturechang November 1, 2009 9:37 PM EST. (CBS News)
Zambia: Cannabis Consumption Remains a Huge Problem [editorial] Nov 2, 2009
com: Zambia: Cannabis Consumption Remains a Huge Problem (Page 1 of 1). Cannabis Consumption Remains a Huge Problem ... THE number of people arrested for trafficking in cannabis over the independence celebrations period is an indicator that cannabis consumption still remains a huge problem. (allAfrica.com)
Johnson defends drugs row sacking Nov 2, 2009
The home secretary has defended sacking the UK's chief drugs adviser after his criticism of the government's tough approach to cannabis and ecstasy ... He was sacked last Friday shortly after using a lecture to say that cannabis was less harmful than alcohol and tobacco, and saying it was upgraded to Class B - against the council's advice - for political reasons ... CANNABIS AND THE LAW. (BBC News -- UK)
Zambia: DEC Nets 51 for Drug Peddling Nov 2, 2009
About 800 kilogrammes of cannabis was seized in the process ... He said Kerina Chivima was arrested when she was found with four pieces of compressed cannabis weighing 4 ... Mr Nyawali said the Zimbabwean was arrested together with Felix Musakanya, a bricklayer of Kaleya Township in Siavonga, who was allegedly found with 268 balls of loose cannabis, detected after a search at his house. (allAfrica.com)
Letter: Legalize marijuana, reap tax benefits Nov 2, 2009
Illegal activity would decrease, as the trade and possession of cannabis would no longer be illegal ... The Office of National Drug Control Policy has declared adamancy in the prohibition of cannabis. (Appeal Democrat, CA)
* Saying booze worse than pot gets UK drugs adviser fired Nov 1, 2009
You are more likely to die riding a horse than you are by taking cannabis or ecstasy. I am not prepared to mislead the public about the harms of drugs like cannabis and ecstasy just to give messages ... The British government sacked its chief drugs adviser on Friday and accused him of undermining its anti-drug campaign after he argued that ecstasy, cannabis and LSD were less harmful than alcohol. (Taipei Times, Taiwan)
The End of Prohibition Nov 1, 2009
I hope Barack Obama will come up with some comparably witty remarks as he presides over the dismantling of our contemporary forms of prohibitionlaws that prevent gay marriage, restrict cannabis as a Schedule I Controlled Substance, and ban travel to Cuba. "You may now kiss the groom," perhaps, ora version of he once made about smoking pot"I inhaledthat was the point.". (Slate)
Legal drugs spark a boom in pill popping Nov 1, 2009
I sampled several herbal highs, sold at Melbourne's Happy Herb Shops as alternatives for illicit drugs such as ecstasy, speed and cannabis. The bitter-tasting Buzzz made me feel slightly tingly and alert for a few hours. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
Delicate role of advisers Oct 31, 2009
Alan Johnson has said he "lost confidence" in Prof David Nutt, head of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, following his criticism of the government's decision to reclassify cannabis to Class B from C.. Sir David King, the UK's Chief Scientific Adviser between 2000 and 2007, was seen as someone who spoke his mind. (BBC News -- UK)
Cannabis 'affecting young minds' Oct 31, 2009
Cannabis 'affecting young minds ... Half of young people using cannabis suffer side effects such as paranoia and blackouts, a UK survey suggests ... The charity is calling for urgent research on the effects of cannabis on the developing teenage brain. (Yahoo News -- Substance Use)
Calorie counts for Big Macs, vending machines... Oct 31, 2009
Health care bill: Calorie counts for Big Macs, vending machines - Glenn Thrush - POLITICO.com. Health care bill: Calorie counts for Big Macs, vending machines. (The Drudge Report)
Prof Nutt comments on sacking Oct 31, 2009
Professor David Nutt, head of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, criticised the decision to reclassify cannabis to Class B from C.. Martha Kearney spoke to him about his views on government drug policy. (BBC News -- UK)
Alcohol, Cigarettes More Harmful Than LSD: Scientist Oct 31, 2009
Alcohol and cigarettes are more dangerous than illegal drugs such as cannabis, LSD and ecstasy, the British government's top drugs advisor has said ... Tobacco would come ninth on the list and cannabis, LSD and ecstasy "while harmful, are ranked lower at 11, 14 and 18 respectively". (Newsmax)
Papers focus on drug adviser sacking Oct 31, 2009
The Guardian says that by stating that cannabis and ecstasy are less harmful than tobacco and alcohol, he. "Does this government only want to hear advice that it is already inclined to follow", asks. (BBC News -- UK)
'More to quit' in drug advice row Oct 31, 2009
The professor most recently criticised the decision to reclassify cannabis to Class B from C. ... He told the BBC he stood by his claim that cannabis should not be a Class B drug, based on its effects ... He described his sacking as an example of the government's "Luddite attitude" towards science and accused Gordon Brown of making "irrational" remarks about the dangers of cannabis. (BBC News -- UK)
Profile: Professor David Nutt Oct 31, 2009
And it is Prof Nutt's analysis of the harms posed by cannabis, other risks in society, and his frustration with ministers' positions, which have caused his downfall ... " Perhaps predictably, the article sparked fury from anti-drugs campaigners who accused him of going on a personal crusade to downgrade the drug from Class A to B. Demand for apologyThe then Home Secretary Jacqui Smith ordered Prof Nutt to apologise, accusing him of trivialising the dangers of the drug. She said he had gone... (BBC News -- UK)
UK drug adviser fired after marijuana comments Oct 31, 2009
"I'm not prepared to mislead the public about the harmfulness of drugs like cannabis and Ecstasy," he said. A call and an email by The Associated Press seeking comment from the scientist were not immediately returned. (Sydney Morning Herald -- World)
Cannabis evidence 'was distorted' Oct 29, 2009
Cannabis evidence 'was devalued ... The row over the reclassification of cannabis has been reignited after the government's chief drug adviser accused ministers of "devaluing" the evidence ... The professor said smoking cannabis created only a "relatively small risk" of psychotic illness, and claimed those who advocated moving ecstasy into Class B from Class A had "won the intellectual argument". (BBC News -- UK)
Push to legalize marijuana gains ground in California Oct 29, 2009
In Oakland, which passed a tax on medical cannabis sales in July, several people who signed a petition backing Lee's initiative said they were motivated in part by the cost of imprisoning drug offenders and the toll of drug-related violence in Mexico ... In Oakland, which passed a tax on medical cannabis sales in July, several people who signed a petition backing Lee's initiative said they were motivated in part by the cost of imprisoning drug offenders and the toll of drug-related violence in... (Honolulu Star-Bulletin)
Willie Gary's son busted Oct 29, 2009
Kobie Gary, right, and Stephen Shepherd, center, are escorted by Martin County Sheriffs Office deputies after being arrested and charged with the cultivation of cannabis at a rental house in Hobe Sound on Tuesday afternoon ... Kobie Gary, 30, of Jensen Beach, and Stephen Shepherd, 33, a tenant at the $125,030 home in the 7200 block of Mulberry Drive, were each charged with cultivation of cannabis and possession of marijuana over 20 grams ... On Tuesday, Kobie Gary and Stephen Shepherd were... (The Palm Beach Post)
Documentary on Pollan's 'The Botany of Desire' Oct 29, 2009
We meet underground cannabis cultivators, whom Pollan calls "the best gardeners of my generation," and see the bustling Aalsmeer market outside Amsterdam, a warehouse the size of 200 football fields where 19 million flowers from all over the world change hands daily. The show is at its best when underscoring Pollan's message about the dangers of industrial agriculture. (San Francisco Chronicle)
Rare Mutation Dramatically Increases Schizophrenia Risk Oct 28, 2009
26, 2007) If cannabis causes schizophrenia - and that remains in question - then by 2010 up to 25 per cent of new cases of schizophrenia in the UK may be due to cannabis, according to a new. (May 22, 2009) The increased risk of persons with schizophrenia committing violent crime may be largely mediated by co-existing substance abuse problems, according to a new. (Science Daily)
