Group Pushes to change federal law
Wcjb.com
Troy Kinsey
October 20th 2005

The head of the national group advocating state regulation of marijuana use for medical reasons visited Gainesville on Tuesday as part of a college tour central to the group's strategy. Marijuana Policy Project Executive Director Rob Kampia spoke to a gathering of University of Florida students, making special note of the Supreme Court's recent ruling upholding the right of federal authorities to arrest users of medicinal marijuana in the ten states that allow it. "Our strategy is the same, and that is that we are going to continue to change more and more state laws and make medical marijuana legal until finally we have a critical mass of states that are going to push the federal government to change federal law," Kampia said. The group has begun seizing on Florida as a possible battleground in upcoming elections, noting that a recent poll showed 63 percent of Floridians favoring the principle of medical marijuana. "Interestingly, Florida is the only large state where medical marijuana is not legal and not even being debated in the state house," Kampia said.

'slows down the short-term memory'
Breakingnews.iol.ie
October 19th 2005

The Department of Health has announced that it will be launching the country's first anti-cannabis drive this week. The radio and poster campaign is aimed at teenagers to highlight the dangers associated with the drug.
Irish teenagers are twice as likely to have tried cannabis as their counterparts in other European countries.
Spokesperson for the Health Promotion Unit, Martina Byrne, said there is a perception that cannabis is not a dangerous drug. But, she said, the reality is that the drug slows down the short-term memory, stops concentration and reduces motor skills and can prevent young users from succeeding in the academic and sporting arenas.

'health campaigners warned against complacency'
Bbc.co.uk
October 18th 2005

Cannabis smoke is less likely to cause cancer than tobacco smoke, a leading US expert says.
Dr Robert Melamede, of the University of Colorado, said that, while chemically the two were similar, tobacco was more carcinogenic. He said the difference was mainly due to nicotine in tobacco, whereas cannabis may inhibit cancer because of the presence of the chemical THC. But health campaigners warned against complacency. More.....

'thought it was for medicinal purposes'
Eurekareporter.com
Christine Bensen-Messinger
October 16th 2005

Although he previously denied knowledge of the marijuana growing operation he was arrested for, John Allison Church testified Friday that he knew marijuana was being grown on the property, but thought it was for medicinal purposes.
Church, 61, is charged with marijuana cultivation and possession for sale, as well as an enhancement for allegedly being armed with a firearm during the commission of the crime. The charges stem from an incident that occurred March 8 when law enforcement officers, who had been tipped off about the alleged marijuana-growing operation and were watching the property, caught him leaving a structure in Larabee Valley, east of Bridgeville along Highway 36, which housed more than 1,000 marijuana plants, Full Thought.....

'help for the effects of chemotherapy'
Abcnews.go.com
October 15th 2005

Melissa Etheridge says she smoked medicinal marijuana to help with the side effects of chemotherapy during her treatment for breast cancer. The 44-year-old singer, who was diagnosed over a year ago, is now cancer-free.
"Instead of taking five or six of the prescriptions, I decided to go a natural route and smoke marijuana," Etheridge says in an interview to air Sunday on "Dateline NBC" When asked how her doctors reacted, Etheridge says, "Every single one was, `Oh, yeah. That's the best help for the effects of chemotherapy, More....

Study favours pot smoking in pregnancy
Saanichnews.com
Mark Browne
October 13th 2005

Some people might be shocked at the idea of pregnant women smoking marijuana to deal with the nausea that comes with pregnancy. But a UK-based medical publication, Journal of Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, has taken the idea seriously and published a study conducted by the Vancouver Island Compassion Society on the topic. The Victoria-based society, which provides medicinal marijuana to people suffering from various illnesses, recently completed the study that examines the therapeutic potential of medicinal cannabis for nausea and vomiting associated with pregnancy. The study argues that marijuana is an effective method to deal with nausea and vomiting with pregnant women, Full Term.....

'in the best interests of the patient'
AsburyParkPress .com
Jonnathan Tamari
October 13th 2005

Trenton:NJ.> Advocates for medical marijuana use will have an ally in the governor's office next year, regardless of whether Democrat U.S. Sen. Jon S. Corzine or Republican Doug Forrester wins November's election.
Both candidates said Tuesday night that if elected, they would allow for the medicinal use of marijuana — if it is prescribed by a doctor."Under the proper circumstances, I think we need to provide all medical resources, and that includes what is emerging now with regard to this particular application," Forrester said. "I'm very much open to that." Full Interest............

'suffers from stress-related grand mal seizures'
Auburnjournal.com
Michelle Miller
October 12th 2005

The Auburn City Council postponed action that could have outlawed medicinal marijuana dispensaries in town Monday night. A current city ordinance regulates where dispensaries can be located. However, in June the Supreme Court handed down a decision that found federal drug laws apply, even in states which have allowed medicinal marijuana. California voters approved Prop. 215 allowing medicinal use of marijuana in 1996. Auburn resident Alex Colston addressed the council in public comment. "Now is time to embrace compassionate use that can help sick people, of which I am one," he said. Colston said he suffers from stress-related grand mal seizures, which can only be controlled with cannabis, Full Suffering.............

'I sure wouldn't have called the police'
Chieftain.com
Patrick Malone
October 9th 2005

Muddy waters swirl around the discrepancies between Colorado's medical marijuana law and the federal law that forbids possession of the drug. Those murky waters seeped into Pueblo on Monday when Yvonne Martinez, who has a state-issued license to possess marijuana for medicinal purposes, called police to report that someone had stolen a dozen cannabis plants from the greenhouse in her yard. Overnight, Martinez, 45, says she went from crime victim to suspect, largely because she reported the theft to police. "If I was a (drug) dealer, I sure wouldn't have called the police," Martinez said. "I don't have anything to hide. Now (the marijuana) is in the hands of someone who's using it illegally." Full Theft...............

'would approve of using cannabis'
Breakingnews.iol.ie
October 9th 2005

Research carried out by the National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD) found the majority of people in Ireland would approve of using cannabis for medicinal reasons. A synthetic product, containing cannabis, has been developed and is being trialled at the moment to fully understand and appreciate its benefits and effects. Head of the NACD, Mairead Lyons says the trial is in its early stages but if it proves successful it could be licesnsed here. The Irish Medicines Board has responsibility for approving all prescription drugs sold here.

Compassionate Use Act
Auburnjournal.com
Michelle Miller
October 8th 2005

The Auburn City Council will consider an ordinance banning medicinal marijuana dispensaries at Monday night's meeting. Although Auburn currently allows dispensaries in the city, a recent Supreme Court decision makes marijuana use illegal in states, including California, where it is used for medicinal purposes. Back in 1996, California voters approved the "Compassionate Use Act," which allows approved patients and physicians to possess and cultivate marijuana for medicinal purposes without fear of criminal prosecution. In the years following, many cities were allowed to regulate where such dispensaries could be located and how they are operated. An Auburn municipal ordinance approved by the council in 2004 prohibited dispensaries in certain districts and limited their proximity to schools, churches, parks and libraries, Full Compassion........

Medicinal pot-club debate moves to next stage
Sfexaminer.com
Jo Stanley
October 7th 2005

The controversial issue of regulating The City's medical marijuana business will get its first litmus test today as three competing pieces of legislation will be reviewed to be recommended for law. In addition to three different proposals that would each impose zoning limits, permits fees and hours of operation, suggestions by Mayor Gavin Newsom, the Planning Commission and the Budget Analyst Office are also on the table. Currently San Francisco's approximately three dozen clubs conduct business with little oversight from The City. Owners are not required to get a license or permit, are not held to zoning standards, and do not have to seek any public input before opening their doors. And because they are to be supposed nonprofit businesses, they do not pay taxes, Full Moves...........

These bans clearly conflict with state law
Associated Press
October 7th 2005

San Francisco> A patient advocacy group on Thursday filed lawsuits against three California cities, charging that bans on medical marijuana illegally restrict the rights of patients and their doctors.
The suits by Oakland-based Americans for Safe Access follow a similar lawsuit the organization filed against Fresno this April challenging that city's clinic ban. "These bans clearly conflict with state law," said Joe Alfred, the group's lead attorney. The suits against Concord, Pasadena and Susanville charge that the bans have forced patients to drive to other, often remote cities to obtain medical marijuana, More Conflict...........

755,000 arrests for marijuana in 2004
Madison.com
Sandy Cullen
October 3rd 2005

Advocates for legalizing marijuana for medical use in Wisconsin are rallying support at this weekend's Great Midwest Marijuana Harvest Festival for a bill they say is expected to be introduced by Rep. Gregg Underheim, R-Oshkosh. Underheim, who chairs the Assembly's Health Committee, said in June that after talking with cancer survivors while he was receiving treatment for prostate cancer, he planned to introduce legislation to allow limited use of medical marijuana when prescribed by a doctor. Local advocate Gary Storck said members of the Wisconsin Coalition for Safe Access plan to make an announcement at the Capitol on Monday, when they also will deliver cards signed by medical marijuana supporters to state legislators. Of the 755,000 arrests for marijuana in the United States last year, he said, 88 percent were for simple possession, Full Possession......