Legalise ganja to treat HIV, cancer, doctors tell gov’t

BY NADINE WILSON
 
DIRECTOR of the Caribbean Drug and Alcohol Research Institute Dr Marcus Day believes the time has come for regional governments to legalise marijuana to counteract the spread of HIV.

“I think we should regulate cannabis (marijuana) use the same way we regulate alcohol use, the same way they are talking about regulating it in the states of Washington and Colorado in America,” said Day, an HIV/AIDS specialist and coordinator of the Caribbean Harm Reduction Coalition.


 

“Cannabis actually keeps viral progression down in a body. If you are HIV positive and you are not on medication, smoking cannabis is actually therapeutic, and that’s science, not people’s opinion,” he told the Jamaica Observer on a visit to the island last week.

Full Article:
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Legalise-ganja-to-treat-HIV–cancer–doctors-tell-gov-t_13260593

Teen Marijuana Use May Show No Effect On Brain Tissue, Unlike Alcohol, Study Finds

Kathleen Miles
 
A teen who consumes alcohol is likely to have reduced brain tissue health, but a teen who uses marijuana is not, according to a new study.
Researchers scanned the brains of 92 adolescents, ages 16 to 20, before and after an 18-month period. During that year and a half, half of the teens — who already had extensive alcohol and marijuana-use histories — continued to use marijuana and alcohol in varying amounts. The other half abstained or kept consumption minimal, as they had throughout adolescence.
The before-and-after brain scans of the teens consuming typically five or more drinks at least twice a week showed reduced white matter brain tissue health, study co-author Susan Tapert, neuroscientist at University of California, San Diego, told HuffPost. This may mean declines in memory, attention, and decision-making into later adolescence and adulthood, she said.
However, the level of marijuana use — up to nine times a week during the 18 months — was not linked to a change in brain tissue health. The researchers did not test performance; they only looked at brain scans.
The study was conducted by researchers at UC San Diego and is scheduled to be published in the April issue of the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.
 
Full Article:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/21/teens-marijuana-brain-tissue-alcohol_n_2331779.html
 

Free Eddy Lepp!

e
 
From the Desk of Ms. Heidi Grossman
HeidiG311@Gmail.com
December 20th, 2012
Re: Charles Edward “Eddy” Lepp, Inmate #90157-011 ~ Case# CR 04-317 WHA
Dear 420 Community Members:
My name is Heidi Grossman and I am writing on behalf of Charles Edward “Eddy” Lepp. If you don t know who Eddy is I highly encourage you to please Google him. Eddy is a Hero to all of us in the 420 Community and his story is much too long for this request.
This is a very important and time sensitive matter regarding help for Eddy s early release or possibility of a new trial. Eddy filed a 2255 motion on November 8th, 2012 which was previously in Judge Marilyn Patels courtroom. She has graciously retired and Eddy s case has been transferred to Judge William Alsup. Alsup is already a hero to many of us. On Sep. 8th, 2009 he ruled federal officials may not interfere with the freedom of California doctors and patients to discuss the potential medical benefits of marijuana, or of doctors to recommend its therapeutic use, under the terms of a state ballot initiative approved by voters in 1996. In doing so, Alsup expanded a previous injunction that prevented the government from revoking a doctor’s license to prescribe medicine and made it permanent. YAY Prop. 215!!
Eddy s case could be another Landmark ruling by Alsup in our history of prohibition. As of now, the Fed’s have 60 days to reply to Eddy’s 2255 motion. Eddy will then have 30 days to respond and Judge Alsup will make his ruling. Please help Eddy by writing a letter TODAY!! In your letter Eddy requests we ask for one of three things: 1. PLEASE FREE EDDY LEPP, 2. Please set aside his conviction and re-sentence Eddy for time served, or, 3. Grant him a new trial that is fair and just with the facts and the whole truth. Please also let the Judge know how much we LOVE and want our hero and freedom fighter of what is right home!
Here is the court address:
Honorable Judge William Alsup
United States District Judge
San Francisco Courthouse, Courtroom 8 – 19th Floor
45o Golden Gate Avenue
San Francisco, CA 91402
Sadly, Eddy is short on money and representing himself in this matter. Please send him a letter or put your donations directly on his books through Moneygram or Western Union. The easiest way is www.JPay.com. You will need this information: Charles Edward Lepp, Inmate #90157-011, FCI La Tuna, Federal Satelite Low, PO Box 6000, Anthony, Texas 88021.
Eddy is one of the wisest, most appreciative and loving men that I know and I hope you will all join me in this fight for him, for our community and for what is right. If you have any questions please email me anytime and I will get back to you! If you would like to read the letter I wrote here is the link:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HNgTyZWO4qK1BnvzdWXFg8drsrSs378oel1j2mPdG1w/edit
Thank you so much for your time and generosity and being a soldier of Love! Cannabis Can!! Respect All, Hurt None, Love One Another~ Rev. Eddy Lepp.
One Love,
Heidi Grossman

Houses.com Finds Increased Interest in Marijuana Lenient States

MIAMI, FL — As the dust settles in the weeks following the Presidential Election, Americans are returning to life as usual. Gone are the political ads, debates and polls and most citizens are thankful to that end. However, the leading real estate website, Houses.com is detecting a small yet increasing trend under current in the ocean of politics. There is an amplified interest in the states where medical marijuana can be used without criminal consequences.
 
gI_132506_Marijuana-HOUSES-Infographic3
 
The voters in the states of Washington and Colorado have gone a step further and given their blessing to the recreational use of marijuana. Many other states have passed similar legislation that downgrade possession of the drug to the equivalent of running a stop sign. Each state will have different ordinances as to how much you can carry without the fear of facing a judge but, that aside there is a growing trend to legalize the use of medical marijuana in the United States.
The infographic illustrates (in green) the states that have legalized or passed laws allowing either the medical or recreational use of the plant. One eye opener was the increased number of homes for sale searches in New York and Maryland on Houses.com. Several states saw increases in the single digits; the searches in the tiny state of Maryland swelled to a full 14% and a whopping 22% in New York.
 
Full Article:
http://www.thedailychronic.net/2012/13867/houses-com-finds-increased-website-interest-in-marijuana-lenient-states/

Feds settles with Montana medical marijuana provider

by MTN News
MISSOULA – Montana medical marijuana provider Chris Williams has reached a settlement with prosecutors.
Under the terms of the highly unusual, post-conviction compromise, the second of its kind offered to Williams – six of the charges will be dismissed, in exchange for Williams withdrawing his pending motions for acquittal and a new trial.
Williams faced a mandatory minimum sentence of 92 years in prison until Tuesday’s deal, but by agreeing not to appeal, the mandatory minimum penalties against Williams have been reduced to five years.
The government also agreed to dismiss the criminal forfeiture against Montana Cannabis, the company Williams co-owned with three other men, as part of the deal.
“It was not easy for me to give up my Constitutional fight, but as I navigate this complex federal penal system, it has become clear that punishment is the only thing that is guaranteed,” said Williams in a phone call from the Missoula County jail.
“With the rest of my life literally hanging in the balance, I simply could not withstand the pressure any longer,” explained Williams.
“If Judge Christensen shows mercy and limits my sentence to the five year mandatory minimum, I could be present at my 16-year-old son’s college graduation,” Williams added.
 
Full Article:
http://www.kaj18.com/news/feds-settles-with-montana-medical-marijuana-provider/

Newark Mayor Corey Booker On Medical Marijuana: ‘I Want To Go Beyond That’ (VIDEO)

By 
Cory Booker Marijuana
 
Newark Mayor Corey Booker said last Monday that he supports medical marijuana in New Jersey and that he wants to “go beyond that,” and move toward a complete overhaul of state and federal drug policy.
Booker’s comments came during an appearance on HuffPost Live in which he discussed his political future, including apossible run for New Jersey governor in 2013.
Booker has been an outspoken critic of federal drug policy in the past.
 
Full Article:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/17/cory-booker-marijuana_n_2274494.html
 

Marijuana May Be The Next Big Growth Sector In The U.S. Stock Market

We’ve all seen in the news US states such as Colorado legalizing and making marijuana smoking legal.
Public support for further legalization is building. There is also talk thatmore states could soon legalize. Since this is a new growth industry, we can only speculate in what direction it will grow. But what’s clear, plans to keep Marijuana illegal have gone up in smoke.
Marijuana History in the United States
Cannabis was made illegal in the US in 1937 with the passing of theMarihuana Tax Act of 1937. Before the 20th century, Cannabis was widely used both for industrial and recreational purpose with little social stigmas.
Pot smokers have widely referenced that our founding fathers, such asThomas Jefferson and George Washintgon were active growers and smokers, and that the constitution of the United States was originally written on hemp paper. In Virginia in the 18th century, hemp was promoted as a Tobacco alternative for farmers who worried about Tobacco’s soil depletion and less industrial use than hemp.

Some parties have argued that the aim of the Act was to reduce the size of the hemp industry[7][8][9] largely as an effort of businessmenAndrew MellonRandolph Hearst, and the Du Pont family.[7][9] The same parties have argued that with the invention of thedecorticator, hemp had became a very cheap substitute for thepaper pulp that was used in the newspaper industry.[7][10] These parties argue that Hearst felt that this was a threat to his extensive timber holdings. Mellon, Secretary of the Treasury and the wealthiest man in America, had invested heavily in the Du Pont family’s new synthetic fiber, nylon, a fiber that was competing with hemp.[7]

That fits the irrationality of such an act, where it was growing in popularity both socially and industrially. A long time has passed and recently, there is growing social pressure to legalize and regulate this wonderful plant.
 
Full Article:
http://seekingalpha.com/article/1067361-marijuana-may-be-the-next-big-growth-sector-in-the-u-s-stock-market
 

Free Industrial Hemp Education Event In Missouri

Posted by 
Industrial hemp education event joplin missouri
 
I came across the following event in Joplin, Missouri. If you are in the area, you should attend:
Joplin, MO – The Ridge International Cannabis (Manitoba, Canada) & Crane Home Energy Consulting (Joplin, MO) invites you to a free Industrial Hemp Education Event at The Hive 506 S. Main St. Joplin MO 64801, Friday December 28, 2012 at 6:30-8PM.
 
Full Article:
http://www.theweedblog.com/free-industrial-hemp-education-event-in-missouri/

Holy Crap hemp breakfast cereal rockets to the International Space Station on December 19

Holy Crap cereal was one of 12 Canadian foods that won the Canadian Space Agency Snacks in Space contest. The cereal will be on Canadian Astronaut Chris Hadfield’s menu at the International Space Station during his mission departing December 19, 2012.
“We’re thrilled that Riley, a Grade Four Abbotsford, BC student suggested our Holy Crap cereal be sent to the International Space Station,” says Corin Mullins, CEO of HapiFoods Group. “We originally developed the cereal for emergency kits because of its healthy nutritional content and long shelf-life so it seems more than fitting for it to go to the Space Station.”
 
Full Article:
http://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/holy-crap-breakfast-cereal-rockets-155500727.html