'implements of their own destruction'
Nbc11.com
September 28th 2005

Sonoma County's Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved allowing pharmacies to furnish hypodermic needles and syringes without a prescription and a medical marijuana identification card program. The separate measures are permitted under state law and the county's Department of Health Services will implement both programs. Under SB 1159 that became law on Jan. 1, pharmacies may sell 10 or fewer hypodermic needles or syringes to persons over age 18 without a prescription. The intention is to reduce the spread of hepatitis C and HIV infection through shared needles. Supervisor Paul Kelley voted against the resolution authorizing the program. He has also opposed the county's needle sharing program. "It's not good public policy to give people the implements of their own destruction," More Implements......

'possession, transportation and production'
Eacourier.com
Lindsey Stockton
September 27th 2005

In November 1996, Arizona voters approved an initiative (Proposition 200) that endorsed the legal use of marijuana under a doctor's care and, since that time, the issue has been debated at the state and federal level. In recent months, a local man was arrested for having a large number of marijuana plants, and the Graham County Attorney's office charged him with possession, transportation and production of marijuana. The accused has told authorities that he had acquired the plants for medicinal use under Oregon law, and an interstate agreement allowed him to have the plants in Arizona. According to Deputy County Attorney Allen Perkins, such an agreement is alegal impossibility."Oregon cannot tell Arizona how to enforce its laws or what to enforce," Perkins said. "The same goes for Arizona - it couldn't tell Oregon or any other state how to enforce its laws. It's an impossibility of the law." Full PTP......

Ultra-skunk
NewsWraps.com
September 26th 2005

Cannabis can trigger strokes and heart attacks doctors have warned. Users are nearly four times more likely to have a cardiac arrest straight after smoking it, a report in the International Journal of Cardiology, revealed. A man of 32 suffered a heart attack minutes after having a reefer made with Ultra-skunk a strong form of the drug. And a girl of 18 had a mini-stroke immediately after using cannabis. Professor Henry-John of London's St Jude's Hospital, said there may be many more such cases that are going unnoticed. He added: "It's possible Ultra-skunk is a factor because it has strong effects on the cardiovascular system. It causes the heart rate to speed up."

Compassion Club
Vancouver.24hrs.ca
Robyn Stubbs
September 25th 2005

The legal avenues for growing pot legally in B.C. are more convoluted than a corn maze. People with licenses issued by Health Canada to use marijuana for its medicinal benefits not only deal with municipal bylaws and Health Canada regulations, but they have to surrender their personal information to police so they won't get busted. And all this red tape is driving people with legal permits to obtain their marijuana illegally through Compassion Clubs, said the founder and director of the Vancouver Island Compassion Society, Philippe Lucas. "Compassion Clubs (across Canada) are serving about 10,000 people right now," said Lucas. "And we supply over half of the legal exemptees in Canada. Ironically enough, after going through the onerous application process, you still end up at a Compassion Club to get a good source of (marijuana) medicine." Full Tale........

Bayer to market cannabis
Corporatewatch.org.uk
September 24th 2005

Battles over the legalisation of cannabis continue, in the UK and globally. In the UK this has resulted in muddles over the re-classification of cannabis to Class C. On the one hand there has been an apparent 'relaxation' of the law towards medical use -- but this has been coupled with police harassment and imprisonment of medical user Colin Davis, who opened a cannabis cafe in Stockport. Certain companies seem to be fairly certain that one day we will see legalisation, and they want to be in on the act. Hemp Industries has estimated that cannabis/hemp has many possible uses, including fibres for textiles, analgesic and anti-nausea properties and highly nutritious seeds for eating. And there is, of course, the recreational value. What is worrying is the way that, in a corporate-led world, some of these benefits from herbal cannabis could be exploited in a way that goes along with conventional farming and industrial methods -- in other words, involving environmental and social damage while reinforcing corporate power. Full Story.........

'medical use of marijuana in the workplace'
Newsreview.info
September 19th 2005

Salem> Ore:The Oregon Supreme Court says it will review an appellate court ruling that suggests employers make allowances for workers who use medical marijuana. The case involves Robert Washburn, a former millwright at the Columbia Forest products plant at Klamath Falls. Washburn had a state-issued card allowing him to use marijuana to ease neck and muscle pain that disrupted his sleep. But the company, which prohibited workers from coming to the plant with controlled substances in their system, fired Washburn in 2001 after he failed several urine tests.Washburn sued the company, claiming it should have made an allowance for his disability. A circuit court dismissed the lawsuit, citing a provision in the state medical marijuana law that employers don’t have to “accommodate the medical use of marijuana in the workplace.” Full Urine Test........

'according to a leading drug charity'
Timesonline.co.uk
Will Iredale, Holly Watt
September 18th 2005:



The number of children treated for mental disorders caused by smoking cannabis has quadrupled since the government downgraded the legal status of the drug, according to a leading drug charity.
Since April last year, three months after police stopped arresting anyone found in possession of small amounts of the drug, the overall number of users treated for such conditions rose 42%, according to data from Addaction. But it is the figure for children that will cause the greatest alarm. Addaction treated 1,575 cannabis users for psychotic problems between April 2004 and April 2005, of whom 181 were aged 15 or below — a rise of 136 on the previous year. Many experts blame the relaxation of the law and the wider use of skunk, a high-strength variant of cannabis, Full Funding..........

'Drug Stores'
Cfra.com
Josh Pringle
September 15th 2005:

Dope drugstores could be open for business in Canada early next year. Health Canada's plan to sell government-certified marijuana in drugstores across Canada is back on track. Medicinal marijuana would be available in pharmacies for use by authorized patients. 237 patients currently get Health Canada's medical marijuana through Prairie Plant Systems. 943 Canadians are authorized to possess marijuana for medical conditions once a doctor has indicated that traditional remedies are ineffective.

'Ed Rosenthal asks court to overturn conviction'
Sfgate.com
Jim Herron Zamora
September 14th 2005:

Attorneys for Oakland pot advocate Ed Rosenthal asked a panel of federal judges today to overturn his 2003 conviction for growing medical marijuana, while the prosecutors sought to have his one-day prison sentence thrown out because they thought it wasn’t long enough. Rosenthal, 60, was arrested in 2002 for growing marijuana for the Harm Reduction Center, a San Francisco dispensary for medical patients. Rosenthal, who is well-known for his “Ask Ed” advice column for cannabis growers, was convicted a year later on federal cultivation and conspiracy charges. But in his trial U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer forbid Rosenthal and, Full Conviction.........

'vested interest in keeping marijuana illegal'
Santacruzsentinel.com
Nancy Pasternack
September 12th 2005:

Santa Cruz > Eighty-four-year-old George Van Vlaenderen’s early experiences with marijuana were in the mid-1930s, before its use was prohibited by federal law. Now, smoking the drug relieves eye pressure caused by his cataracts, the World War II veteran Navy pilot said. He stood in the sunshine near a members-only smoking tent at the Wo/Men’s Alliance for Medical Marijuana gathering Saturday and shared his thoughts. Those who could legalize the drug, he said, have a vested interest in keeping marijuana illegal. Allowing people to use products of the cannabis plant legally, he said, "would eliminate the need for a lot of prescription drugs." "They’ll do everything in their power to make sure it’s not legal," Van Vlaenderen said, "because it would cost them millions of dollars ... they’re scared like hell." Full Interest.....

'recognized one of the robbers'
2020news.com
September 10th 2005:

San Jose> On Thursday morning, three people entered a home in the 3800 block of Prescott Drive with a gun and bound the residents with duct tape. The robbers took medicinal marijuana plants, a small amount of cash and electronic devices before fleeing in an unidentified vehicle. One victim recognized one of the robbers as a classmate from high school. The victim provided police with the classmate's name and yearbook photo. Through investigation, an address was located.

'processed pot'
Turnto23.com
September 10th 2005:

A medicinal marijuana shop in Oildale Bakersfield was shut down Thursday morning after several law enforcement agencies seized nearly 200 pounds of processed pot. Agents with the U.S Drug Enforcement Administration, Bakersfield Police, Sheriff's departments and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms served warrants today at the "Free and Easy Compassionate Care" Marijuana dispensary.
Officials say the owner, James Holland, threw a loaded handgun out of his car as he was driving away from the business. Holland was arrested on Federal firearm and drug charges, even though state law permits the sale of medicinal marijuana, Full Investigation.....

'requires cautious and careful handling'
Drugpolicy.org
September 9th 2005:

A new study shows a decrease in marijuana use among teenagers in states that have enacted medical marijuana laws, refuting the frequent claim that such laws "send the wrong message" to adolescents. The study, authored by Mitch Earleywine, a State University of New York psychology professor, and Karen O'Keefe, a legislative analyst with Marijuana Policy Project, used data from state and federal government-sponsored drug use surveys to compare teen marijuana use before and after the passage of medical marijuana laws. Up until California's medical marijuana law, Proposition 215, was passed in 1996, surveys conducted with 6000 students every two years showed a steady increase in recreational marijuana use. Following the passage of Prop 215 however, the statistics dropped drastically. In their report, Earleywine and O’Keefe state that "perhaps medical marijuana laws send a very different message than opponents of such laws have suggested: Marijuana is a treatment for serious illness, not a toy, and requires cautious and careful handling.” More Caution..........

'I'll sleep like a baby'
Kgmb9.com
Stacy Loe
September 8th 2005:

A new clinic opened its doors in Honolulu today, but at this facility, patients can only get one thing: a permit for medical marijuana. It was a busy first day as doctors at the clinic saw several dozen people, all hoping to get relief from their chronic pain with pot. "The marijuana, if I do it before I go to bed, I'll sleep like a baby and then I'll feel fresh," said Frank Abrue, who has a degenerative disc disease. "I won't wake up in the middle of the night with pain." Full Sleep.............

'forget something bad that has happened'
News.scotsman.com
Ian Johnson

Cannabis researchers find tool to fight obesity.
Scientists studying cannabis have located a part of the brain that could be key to fighting obesity, stress and bringing pain relief. The research could also lead to ways to help cannabis users give up and help smokers of normal cigarettes to quit. Human brains have a receptor which, when stimulated by the body's own cannabis-like chemicals, produces the classic effects of smoking the drug, such as relaxation, short-term memory loss and a craving for sweet food. It is thought the body does this naturally in moments of crisis to reduce post-traumatic stress, helping people to stay calm and "forget" something bad that has happened, Full Amnesia....

'pot clubs under scrutiny'
Jo Stanley
September 5th 2005:

Two of San Francisco's better-known medical pot clubs have been put on notice by The City as officials grapple with the burgeoning industry amidst growing neighborhood protests. The Green Cross in the Mission must make major changes to regain its permit and the Mendo Healing clinic may not relocate to Potrero Avenue while The City's current moratorium is in effect, city planning officials have ruled. In April, the Board of Supervisors imposed a 45-day moratorium, that has since been extended, as it began to sort out how to regulate The City's medical marijuana business that functions with little legal supervision, Full Story.........

'support for therapeutic use of cannabis'
Emediawire.com
September 4th 2005:

The Virginia Nurses Association, representing some 80,000 nurses, have recently reconfirmed their support for Medical Cannabis and are continuing their support for immediate legislation legalizing its medical use. The Virginia Nurses Association, representing some 80,000 nurses, have recently reconfirmed their support for Medical Cannabis and are continuing their support for immediate legislation legalizing its medical use. The Virginia Nurses Association (VNA), representing 80,000 Nurses, at their October 2004 VNA Delegate Assembly, resolved that: "The Virginia Nurses Association will continue to support legislation that would legalize the medically prescribed use of cannabis/Marijuana for the purpose of relieving pain and distressful symptoms of acute, chronic, or incurable illness." The VNA "will continue" to support this patient care position since the VNA was the first of now 14 state nursing associations that have taken written published positions in support of the therapeutic use of cannabis. The VNA leadership in 1994 has been echoed, Full Support...........

'call it neo-populism'
Dissidentvoice.org
Joshua Frank
September 3rd 2005:

There is something going on in Montana. Call it neo-populism. Last November, Montanans voted in favor of medical marijuana and shot down an initiative that would have returned open-pit, cyanide heap-leach mining to the state. Mining companies put up millions to raise support for the bill, but Montanans didn't bite. The barons were defeated. Montanans also forced Republican Governor Judy Martz from office. She had a horrible record and her popularity plummeted in the waning months of her tenure. In fact, Martz was so hated that she decided not to run for reelection. Instead of replacing Martz with another conservative, Montanans opted to elect Brian Schweitzer, a wealthy cattle rancher from the state. Schweitzer is fast becoming recognized as a prototype of the leadership the Democratic establishment is looking for. Indeed, Democrats could learn a few things from Schweitzer. He's vocal. Full Populism............

'a medical marijuana grower'
Calaverasenterprise.com
Ray Estrada
September 1st 2005:

A Vallecito medical marijuana grower, who was sentenced to two years in prison Aug. 5 for violating probation, could be released in eight months. Meanwhile, the family of landscaper Bill Roth Harrison is preparing to sell his ranch and leave the area because they believe they are in danger of being robbed by former tenants again. Harrison's attorney, Omar Figueroa, said Monday he is advising his client to accept a plea bargain with the prosecution that would allow him to just serve eight more months of his prison sentence. "At this point, he wants to cut his losses," Figueroa said. Harrison could get credit for time already served, but he would have to plead guilty to marijuana cultivation and possession for sale. A trial on those charges is set for Sept.15th, Full Grow.....

'$40 for an eighth of an ounce'
Mary Anne Ostrom
Centredaily.com
September 1st 2005:

San Francisco> Kevin Reed has a broad smile as he watches a stream of customers - as many as 300 a day - examine the neatly displayed merchandise at his Green Cross medical-marijuana dispensary.
Several dozen large glass jars, stuffed with green buds and labeled with names such as "Juicy Fruit" and "Wonder Woman," sit on the counter in the narrow San Francisco shop that shares the block with a hair salon and Irish bar. An extensive price list on a large white board starts at $40 for an eighth of an ounce. Reed and the city's estimated 40 other pot-club operators are at the center of a raging debate over who, if anyone, should regulate them - a subject that grew more hazy in June when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that medicinal-marijuana laws in a dozen states including California do not protect users or suppliers from federal prosecution. Full Ounce.............