MMJ vs. Starbucks: San Fran Showdown
November 18th, 2008 by Perry
Click me for full BS impact.
In its last few desperate days before what we can only hope will be a complete overhaul of its regime, the ONDCP is trying to spread as much disinformation as it can.
The office recently tried to spread the claim that there were more medical marijuana dispensaries than there were Starbuck’s locations in San Francisco. Knowing San Fran, who would ever believe that?
Here’s the link to the ONDCP’s erroneous article and further explanation of their shoddily pieced together map.
Regardless of your feelings on Starbucks, because I have no idea why people spend $5 on a cup of coffee, consider the fact that it’s not even close to true. Who knows where the government gets its statistics from, or why it continually chooses scare tactics that are completely ineffective?
The feds contend there are 98 marijuana dispensaries in San Francisco, compared to 71 Starbucks Coffee shops.
The Department of Public Health lists 24 dispensaries in the city that either have permits or are trying to obtain one.
Don’t let the door hit you on the way out ONDCP…
Marijuana Ads I Like
November 18th, 2008 by Perry
The good folks at the Marijuana Policy Project put together this great ad in response to some of the more ludicrous claims by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP).
Here’s the story behind the ad, now I just want to see one with Obama in it.
Join the Fight for the BC3
November 18th, 2008 by Perry
The BC3 needs your help.
Marc Emery, Michelle Rainey, and Greg Williams are Canadians heavily involved in American anti-prohibition activism for the last 10 years, though remained in Canada throughout. All three are now facing lengthy sentences in federal prison for their pro-marijuana activism.
Emery recently had a plea deal arranged with the American and Canadian governments, where he agreed to serve five years for his part in a running a company that was at one point thought to be the largest importer of marijuana seeds in North America.
Emery was planning to use the time to work for the movement, his political party and a campaign to “overgrow the government” while in prison, and has said several times he has come to terms with the eventuality.
At the last minute however, the Canadian government reneged on the deal and now Emery will have to face another extradition trial June 9, 2009.
Marc had no business outlets in the USA, and never went to the USA to conduct seed transactions. Everything was done openly and transparently in Vancouver, BC. Marc even paid Revenue Canada and Revenue BC half a million dollars in taxes for his income as a “marijuana seed vendor.”
If you wish, here’s the number for Canada’s Minister of Justice to show support or voice your opinion: (613) 957-4222
As the article points out:
If Canadians have broken the law in Canada, they should be given a fair jury trial in Canada. If they wouldn’t face any severe imprisonment in Canada for the charges laid, they should not be extradited to another country to face possible life imprisonment for those same charges.
Obama Drug Reform: A Troubling Sign
November 17th, 2008 by Alex
Jacob Sullum, from Reason Magazine, wrote an extremely insightful article on the possibilities of drug reform in the Obama era.
We’ve already documented Obama’s vague positions since becoming a major party candidate, but Jacob takes the topic a step further.
Beyond nitpicking the meaning of ‘decriminalization’ or the potential to follow in Bill Clinton’s footprints, it should be noted that Obama’s new Chief of Staff - Rahm Emanuel - is a staunch anti-drug crusader.
His quotes on drug reform sound more like a military commander than a former Democratic representative. It should be noted, while Emanuel was in office, NORML rated him as a -20. That’s right in the middle of NORML’s -10 to -30 rating for “hard on drugs.”
Although a Chief of Staff doesn’t directly affect policy (his main duty is to co-ordinate and support the President at the highest level of executive interactions), it’s still worrisome to know someone so militant about drug reform will have Obama’s ear.
NORML CON 2008
November 17th, 2008 by AlexAlthough this video won’t make anyone grip their seat in suspense, it’s a good example of the more advanced dialogue that goes on between active members of the marijuana reform movement.
Above is a talk that involves the bias of mainstream media in its presentation of cannabis to the public. You could also listen to Rob Kampia talk about pot and politics.
Or, find something interesting in this long list of NORML CON 2008 videos.
Pot + Sea Urchins = Super Drug?
November 17th, 2008 by Alex
Mmmm, tasty.
Filed under the ’strange but true’ category, it turns out that chemists have been experimenting with the hybridization of two different substances that bind to cannabinoid receptors.
The first the substance, which we all know and love, is THC (or tetrahydrocannabinol if you’re being specific). The second substance is called anandamide and is commonly found in sea urchin eggs.
Organix, the firm behind the research, plans to use its findings to better understand the endocannabinoid system. Cannabinoid receptors, which both these chemicals stimulate, are largely linked to pleasure areas of the brain. This isn’t just true for humans, but also for other mammals, birds, fish and reptiles.
So why combine those two? Anandamide works much faster than THC, but is also used up by the body more quickly. THC, on the other hand, takes longer to get going, but once it does the feelings last for several hours. Matching these together might mask each others weak point and create one hell of an effective drug.
Tail-flick assay tests on mice seem to prove that this combo-drug might be leading us down a very promising path. Just don’t expect your local dealer to have any in the near future…
Legal Pot in Boston? Oh noes!
November 14th, 2008 by Perry
Jim Carnell, an Area A-1 representative of the Boston Police Patrolman’s Association, recently published an editorial on decriminalization.
While we may disagree severely on the lasting effect of Massachusetts voters’ recent move to decriminalize weed, Carnell brings up a lot of heavily opinionated points about how and why police officers will no longer be able to crackdown on marijuana. He also uses terms like “beer swilling idiots,” “cretins smoking doobies” and “starry-eyed nitwits” to illustrate his subjects.
While Jim’s article misses the point - which is ‘negative’ situation he describes is exactly what Boston voters want - he makes an interesting observation that drinkers will now be more persecuted than smokers.
While that may seem unfair to some, this is exactly how non-drinking marijuana smokers have felt for the last 30 years… now pass me a Heineken.
LSD Tested on Cancer Patients in Maryland
November 14th, 2008 by PerryDr. Roland Griffiths, a Maryland area doctor, got rare government permission to test whether psychedelic drugs could aid cancer patients.
He conducts research at John Hopkins not with the goal of making patients physically better, but mentally better.
This is not a cure for cancer, but it is an intervention that back in the 60s people found very helpful for terminal cancer patients. [...] These are not drugs that can be used lightly.
In this video, Dr. Derek Valcourt examines whether drugs that cause hallucinations could actually make a difference.
If unsupervised, hallucinations can be an obvious danger. To some, they may induce acute flashbacks, intense fear and panic that in the worst case lead to suicide. On the flip side, 60% of Dr. Griffiths patients reported an almost spiritual feeling and said these mental trips brought on long-lasting positive changes.
The second part of “LSD Medical Research Used For Terminal Cancer,” after the jump.
