Some justice in Texas: The raid on Henry Magee

“Why is it that when the complaint is about shooting guns, you can approach him in a civilized manner, but when drugs are involved, you now have to break the guy’s door down?”
“The whole process was flawed from the start,” DeGuerin says. “And the tragic thing is, a young officer is dead because of it.”
 
Full Article:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/opinions/wp/2014/02/10/some-justice-in-texas-the-raid-on-henry-magee/?tid=pm_opinions_pop

Senator announces new nonpartisan alliance to reform marijuana policy in Oklahoma

The Norman Transcript
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OKLAHOMA CITY — Senator Connie Johnson and former State Rep. Porter Davis announced a new alliance Wednesday to reform marijuana policy in Oklahoma. Johnson, a Democrat, and Davis, a Republican, share a common interest in ending marijuana prohibition in the state for medicinal, decriminalization and industrial purposes.
“The War on Drugs has utterly failed to achieve its stated intent. Instead, this costly program has violated rights, destroyed lives and families, militarized police and given us record prison populations,” said Johnson, D-Oklahoma County. “Half of all Oklahoma prisoners in Oklahoma are incarcerated for non-violent drug offenses, with communities of color experiencing incarceration at twice the rate of whites. Prohibition has created an illegal market that funds drug cartels and brings violence into our communities.”
 
Full Article:
http://www.normantranscript.com/new/x1783667790/Senator-announces-new-nonpartisan-alliance-to-reform-marijuana-policy-in-Oklahoma

Terpenes: The Flavors of Cannabis Aromatherapy

primary
 
 
There’s something about the aroma of cannabis that soothes the mind and body. Whether it’s the sweet fruity taste of Pineapple Trainwreck or that skunky smell that bursts from a cracked bud ofSour Diesel, we know there’s something going on under their complex and flavorful bouquets.
Terpenes are what you smell, and knowing what they are will deepen your appreciation of cannabis whether you’re a medical patient or recreational consumer.
 
Full Article:
http://www.leafly.com/(F(-jyfndo2B4OdLM4oQ24xdiYSS8SxeP1aHzjK5tbHr5LGN_RNaLohdaaeWg2yrd3stcD73O-D6NT0xB_tIPzjevk2olYjDRyV1OBYMp4hf9YWfWFJV3h7ZERMk6605bj6OjigVk1glcp8aSMh8g93g8bRW_I1))/knowledge-center/cannabis-101/terpenes-the-flavors-of-cannabis-aromatherapy
 

Bill Would Allow Drug Czar To Study And Support Marijuana Legalization

Hunter Stuart Hunter@huffingtonpost.com
p
 
 
The Office of National Drug Control Policy is prohibited by law from studying or lending support to the potential benefits of marijuana. But a bill introduced in Congress this week would change that by allowing the U.S. drug czar, who heads up the agency, to study the potential benefits of cannabis legalization.
Authored by Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), the Unmuzzle the Drug Czar Act, as the proposed law is called, would remove crucial language from the ONDCP Reauthorization Act of 1998.
 
Full Article:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/12/drug-czar-marijuana-bill-legalize-support-study-ondcp-steve-cohen_n_4776084.html

Is Texas Ready to Get Kinky About Hemp?

BY 
Kinky02
 
 
He’s run for office three times and lost. But here he is again, the novelist and troubadour that made a name for himself by turning country clichés into satiric social commentary. Richard “Kinky” Friedman (he got the nickname for his hair) is running as a Democrat for Agriculture Commissioner, and he has a plan to make Texas “greener.” He wants to make hemp and marijuana legal in Texas.
 
Full Article:
http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/2014/02/12/is-texas-ready-to-get-kinky-about-hemp/
 
 

18 members of Congress called on Obama today to remove pot from the federal government’s list of hard drugs

By  @katysteinmetz

Marijuana is broken up for use by customers at Frankie Sports Bar and Grill in Olympia, Washington, Dec. 9, 2012.

Nick Adams / REUTERS
 
More than a dozen members of Congress called on President Barack Obama on Wednesday to remove marijuana from the federal government’s list of hard drugs, seizing upon his own comments in a recent interview that pot is no more dangerous than alcohol.
“We were encouraged by your recent comments,”the letter from 17 Democrats and one Republican said. “We request that you take action to help alleviate the harms to society caused by the federal Schedule I classification of marijuana. … You said that you don’t believe marijuana is any more dangerous than alcohol: a fully legalized substance. …. Marijuana, however, remains listed in the federal Controlled Substances Act at Schedule I, the strictest classification.
“This makes no sense,” the lawmakers added.
 
Full Article:
http://swampland.time.com/2014/02/12/marijuana-legalization-california-congress-obmama/

Italy court strikes down drug law blamed for prison crowding

ROME, Feb 12 (Reuters) – Italy’s constitutional court on Wednesday struck down a drug law that tripled sentences for selling, cultivating or possessing cannabis and which has been blamed for causing prison overcrowding.
The constitutional court said the law, which was passed in 2006 by Silvio Berlusconi’s conservative government, was “illegitimate”, without giving further details. Some estimates suggest 10,000 people may be released from jail as a result.
 
Full Article:
http://www.vision.org/visionmedia/article.aspx?id=80373

Counties Vie For Control In Nevada’s New Medical Marijuana Industry

Posted by Paul Ebeling
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The stakes are growing for Nevada’s new Medical Marijuana entrepreneurs, with new restrictions being added to the maze of regulations already governing the industry in Clark County.

Elected officials are taking on a Key role in choosing which businesses will receive the limited number of coveted dispensary licenses. Henderson and North Las Vegas, meanwhile, are crafting their positions behind the scenes.
Full Article:

Researchers Demand Extensive Clinical Trials For Cancer, Cannabinoid Treatment

 Justin Kander  
clinicaltrials
 
 

Over the past several years, abundant evidence has accrued which suggests that cannabis extractscan eliminate cancer in humans.  Individuals, dispensaries, corporations, and doctors have all observed these effects. Most recently, the CEO of a biotechnology firm called Emerald Bio, Johan Pontin, toldThe Boston Globe of his observations regarding cannabis and cancer.

He pointed to caregivers in Rhode Island who had success combating cancer with concentrated oils, and said research is “a chance to develop new drugs that might actually cure cancer itself.” Given the enormous weight of evidence, clinical trials are needed now, and serious researchers are starting to speak up.

Full Article:

http://www.medicaljane.com/2014/02/11/researchers-demand-extensive-clinical-trials-for-cancer-cannabinoid-treatment/

Texas Gubernatorial Candidate Supports Medical Marijuana

Wendy Davis (File)
Wendy Davis (File)
 
DALLAS (February 11, 2014) Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis says she supports the use of medical marijuana and would consider decriminalizing possession of small amounts of the substance.
She explained her position Tuesday to the Dallas Morning News editorial board, telling editors that Texas should learn from the experiences of other states when considering revamping drug laws.
 
Full Article:
http://www.kwtx.com/centraltexasvotes/home/headlines/Texas-Gubernatorial-Candidate-Supports-Medical-Marijuana-245002271.html