Month: July 2013

Hemp in Wisconsin; a perfect climate and soil for growing marijuana

Jeannie Herer

by Joseph S. Diedrich
Hemp cultivation has a rich history in Wisconsin, but now it is nowhere to be found. Should it be legal?Photo: wikimedia
 
Wisconsin has a rich history in hemp cultivation. The state’s soil and climate are ideal for the growth of the crop. Unfortunately, due to federal regulation, hemp cannot be grown in the state, or in any other state.
Hemp was first planted in Wisconsin in 1908. Over the next four decades, the state’s fertile south-central region proved to be a favorable location for cultivation. For many years, Wisconsin stood behind only Kentucky in terms of hemp acreage.
Granted, much of the production of hemp in the twentieth century was dedicated to wartime use. The military employed hemp for a variety of purposes in both World Wars. L.H. Dewey of the USDA once stated that, “Wisconsin hemp is now used in sewing the shoes worn by American soldiers and hemp fiber is at the present time the only suitable fiber available in sufficient quantities for this purpose. It is also used as cordage in ship building, and hemp tow is the best available material for calking vessels.”
 
Full Article:
http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/business-living/2013/jun/30/hemp-wisconsin/#ixzz2Y1oKwLbQ

A predictor of marijuana use? Higher education

Jeannie Herer

Jake Ellison
A young, well educated lawyer named Andreas smokes a marijuana joint at an outdoor cafe in 2001 in Berlin, Germany.
A young, well educated lawyer named Andreas smokes a marijuana joint at an outdoor cafe in 2001 in Berlin, Germany.
 
In a large national study of drug use in Ireland and Northern Ireland, researchers for the state found many of the patterns of marijuana use that we’ve come to expect:

  • More men than women use it
  • It’s the most used illegal drug
  • It’s easy to get
  • … and a significant portion of the population used it at least once (25 percent in Ireland and 42.9 percent in the US).

Then came the surprise: “Rates were highest among people who were still in education over the age of 20 and lowest among those who left education before the age of 15,” reports the Independent.
The Irish Examiner added this factoid from the survey: “Rates for lifetime cannabis use were highest among professionals and managers, and lowest among the semi-skilled and unskilled.”
 
Full Article:
http://blog.seattlepi.com/marijuana/2013/07/03/a-predictor-of-marijuana-use-higher-education/

Cannabidiol reduces cigarette consumption in tobacco smokers: Preliminary findings.

Jeannie Herer

Morgan CJ, Das RK, Joye A, Curran HV, Kamboj SK.

Abstract

The role of the endocannabinoid system in nicotine addiction is being increasingly acknowledged.
We conducted a pilot, randomised double blind placebo controlled study set out to assess the impact of the ad-hoc use of cannabidiol (CBD) in smokers who wished to stop smoking.
24 smokers were randomised to receive an inhaler of CBD (n=12) or placebo (n=12) for one week, they were instructed to use the inhaler when they felt the urge to smoke.
Over the treatment week, placebo treated smokers showed no differences in number of cigarettes smoked.
In contrast, those treated with CBD significantly reduced the number of cigarettes smoked by ~40% during treatment.
Results also indicated some maintenance of this effect at follow-up.
These preliminary data, combined with the strong preclinical rationale for use of this compound, suggest CBD to be a potential treatment for nicotine addiction that warrants further exploration.
 
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23685330

Poll: War on marijuana not worth the cost

Jeannie Herer

BY WALTER BROOKS

 

The war on pot is a bust

Suffolk University Poll: 67% say pot enforcement costs more than it is worth

A Suffolk University’s poll taken June 24 included more than just questions about Markey and Gomez. There was also a question about the drug war, and specifically the war on marijuana..
This writer believes that once our not-so-brave politicians explain the war on drugs’ true cost, the American people will scream for a cease-fire. We should then treat drugs as a health problem, not as a matter for the criminal justice system.
Even Thomas Jefferson said, “‎Some of my finest hours have been spent on my back veranda, smoking hemp and observing as far as my eye can see.”  And Conservative William F. Buckley said, “Even if one takes every reefer madness allegation of the prohibitionists at face value, marijuana prohibition has done far more harm to far more people than marijuana ever could.”
 
Full Article:
http://www.capecodtoday.com/article/2013/07/02/20294-poll-war-marijuana-not-worth-cost

RECIPE: Jessica Catalano’s Cannabis Infused Summertime Freshies

Jeannie Herer


RECIPE: Jessica Catalano’s Cannabis Infused Summertime Freshies
 
Image yourself lounging out in the sun filled mountains by a large alpine lake drinking a cannabis fruit infused ice water. Yes, you heard right, cannabis fruit infused ice water. You have seen the delicious non-medicated counterpart in spas, salons, and resorts over the years. Now I give you medicated versions, to fit three specific types of highs to either pamper or engage you.
 
Full Article:
http://www.ladybud.com/2013/06/28/recipe-jessica-catalanos-cannabis-infused-summertime-freshies/