Author Steve Elliott ~alapoet~

Firm Developing Diagnostic Tool For Medical Marijuana Treatment

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on February 27, 2012 Medical, Products

A California company has announced development of a USB‐enabled diagnostic support device designed to help patients suffering from critical illnesses such as cancer, to match the most effective plant variants for physician-recommended medical marijuana treatments.

The device, according to BG Medical Technologies, based in Los Angeles, will collect patient data in a non-‐invasive manner by detecting subtle shifts in the patient’s physiology and then upload encrypted data to HIPAA‐compliant servers for further analysis and physician review.

Physicians will interact with patients and data history through a bundled video conferencing application. This will offer patients the ability to discreetly pursue medical marijuana treatment from the privacy of their home, according to BG Medical.

NORML Releases Official Reply To Patients Against I-502

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on February 24, 2012 Legislation, News

NORML Foundation/Russ Belville

Alan St. Pierre, NORML: “We fully recognize that the per se DUI provisions in I-502 are arbitrary, unnecessary, and unscientific, and we argued strongly with the sponsors for provisions that would require proof of actual impairment”

Executive Director Allen St. Pierre of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws has released NORML’s official reply to the group Patients Against I-502, which opposes a Washington state cannabis legalization initiative because of arbitrary DUI limits and other concerns.

“NORML supports (and publicly endorses when requested by the principal organizers) marijuana legalization, regulation, and medical use initiatives that qualify for the state ballot, so long as they move us closer to full legalization, even if they contain provisions we do not believe should be included in a perfect proposal,” St. Pierre said.

“We fully recognize the per se DUI marijuana provisions in I-502 are arbitrary, unnecessary, and unscientific, and we argued strongly with the sponsors for provisions that would require proof of actual impairment to be shown before one could be charged with a traffic safety offense,” St. Pierre said, echoing the concerns of Patients Against I-502.

Worth Repeating: Marijuana and the Psychology of Optimal Experience

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on February 24, 2012 Culture, Medical

Cage Potato

Worth Repeating

By Ron Marczyk, R.N.

Health Education Teacher (Retired)

The reductionist, “group think,” cold, dogmatic drug warriors of the National Institute of Drug Abuse, the DEA, and the FDA have been digesting their own misinformation for so long they have lost their humanity.

As counterintuitive as it sounds, the” high” or “feel good” buzz from marijuana is an actual “therapeutic effect” that heals the brain, produces homeostasis and prevents many neurodegenerative conditions.

Brain homeostasis is restored by the direct action of THC/CBD-activating CB1 receptors in the amygdala which regulate our “happiness / emotional salience module.” This pathway is dedicated to seeking for “meaningfulness” in our existence.

This innate drive is the need for self-actualization. THC increases the probability of these events occurring, through inducing metaphysical “flow states” and “peak experiences.”

We live near the edge, where the view is better.

Pain Boogeyman Scares Lawmakers, Leaves Cannabis Patients In The Cold

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on February 24, 2012 Legislation, Medical

The Dangerous Servant

By Bob Starrett

Of all the baloney that has come out of the various battles in medical marijuana states, the notion that “anyone” can get a medical marijuana recommendation from a doctor is the scariest to legislators who are considering medical marijuana bills in their states this year.

In 2012, 17 states have pending medical marijuana legislation. And you can be sure that this argument — that chronic pain is used as a catchall for doctors to hand out medical marijuana recommendations to “anyone” — will come into play as it has in Montana and New Jersey.

In an apparent attempt to prevent wholesale stoned-ness among the citizenry, New Jersey specifically excluded chronic pain as an eligible condition in their legislation.

Last year, the Montana Legislature, having failed in their attempts to repeal the state’s medical marijuana law entirely, made significant changes that included specific doctor rules for a chronic pain diagnosis. A recommending physician must have either x-rays or an MRI to back up the diagnosis. If they do not, a second physician must sign the “Physician Statement for a Chronic Pain Diagnosis.” It is a separate form.

Miley Cyrus Spotted Shopping At A Marijuana Dispensary

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on February 24, 2012 Culture, Dispensaries, News

X17online.com

Miley Cyrus, in the shorts, and an unidentified female friend leave Therapeutic Health Care, a medical marijuana dispensary in Sherman Oaks, California

Pop tart and self-proclaimed “stoner” Miley Cyrus was photographed leaving a medical marijuana dispensary in Sherman Oaks, California, with a friend this week. Hey Miley, are you about ready to stick up for weed, yet?

Cyrus, 19, was looking casual but hot in denim cut-offs and a Pat Benatar t-shirt when X17online.com got some paparazzi shots of her and a female friend exiting Therapeutic Health Care. Miley didn’t seem to be very worried about being spotted outside the dispensary; after all, medicinal cannabis is legal in California for anyone with a doctor’s authorization.

Therapeutic Health Care (THC, get it?) is listed on WheresWeed.com as selling ounces of OG Kush indica for $18 a gram, $50 an eighth, $90 a quarter, $140 a half, or $280 an ounce. Oddly, no other strains are listed.

Former Baseball Star Tries To Eat Bag Of Weed, Gets Busted

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on February 24, 2012 Culture, News

Fox Sports

Elijah Dukes was arrested after allegedly trying to eat a bag of marijuana

Former Major League outfielder Elijah Dukes was arrested in Florida early Thursday after he allegedly tried to eat a bag of marijuana, according to the Tampa Police Department.

Dukes, 27, who played for the Tampa Bay Rays from 2003 to 2007, then the Washington Nationals from 2008 to 2010, was pulled over about 1 a.m. in Tampa “after he committed a traffic violation,” an officer wrote in the arrest report, reports the Tampa Bay Times. The police report does not specify the violation.

The IRS Is Coming! Are Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Ready?

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on February 23, 2012 Dispensaries, Medical, News

280E Reform

The Internal Revenue Service is threatening to turn back the clock on medical marijuana. But now a national alliance of industry leaders, patients and elected officials is fighting back with a new project aimed at education and policy change.

The 280E Reform effort says it plans to bring an end to the current IRS campaign to close medical cannabis dispensaries.

The IRS campaign of aggressive audits — sometimes resulting in collectives being held responsible for millions in supposed back taxes — began a couple of years ago and uses Section 280E of the IRS code to deny dispensaries the ability to claim any legitimate business expenses. Denied expenses include essential items such as rent, payroll, and all other necessary business expenditures.

Arkansas Group Gains Support To Legalize Medical Marijuana

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on February 23, 2012 Legislation, Medical, News

Arkansans for Compassionate Care

A petition is circulating in Arkansas to allow the sick and dying access to medical marijuana with a doctor’s recommendation.

Arkansans for Compassionate Care (ACC) are encouraging others to support the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Act, which would legalize the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes, reports Will DuPree at KAIT.

“It’s common sense,” said ACC campaign director Ryan Denhem. “It’s time to have a policy like this in Arkansas.”

WA Medical Marijuana Group Files Initiative To Clarify State Law

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on February 23, 2012 Dispensaries, Legislation, Medical

Washington Medical Marijuana Society

A week after a medical marijuana reform bill died in the Washington state Legislature, a group is filing an initiative to the people with the Secretary of State’s office on Thursday. According to the Washington Alternative Medicine Alliance, the initiative would ensure safe access to medicinal cannabis statewide, and would finally give real arrest and prosecution protection to patients in the state.

“The Legislature failed to act this year, so now it’s up to the people of the state,” said Philip Dawdy, director of WAMA. “We’ve been left with an unclear state medical cannabis law that is hurting patients as much as it’s helping them.

“Much of our state is a black hole when it comes to medical cannabis access,” Dawdy said. “That’s an unacceptable situation and it must be addressed. Taking this issue directly to the voters is our best option.”

The initiative would also create a state-licensed system of medical marijuana patient cooperatives and growers, similar to systems already operating in Colorado and Arizona.

The main backers of the initiative, besides Dawdy, are Seattle-based defense attorney Kurt Boehl and Ezra Eickmeyer, a political activist and lobbyist in the state capitol, OIympia.

SLO Prosecutors 0-11 In Medical Marijuana Dispensary Cases

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on February 23, 2012 Dispensaries, News

True News

San Luis Obispo County prosecutors are now 0-11 in their yearlong effort to convict a dozen medical marijuana collective operators, after a SLO Superior Court judge dismissed the cases of two more defendants last week.

None of the so-called Doobie Dozen has even made it to trial, reports Matt Fountain at New Times SLO.

On February 15, Superior Court Judge Jacqueline Duffy dismissed all charges against Shelly and Rianna Allred after prosecutors said they couldn’t bring the cases before a jury.

The Allreds were arrested along with 10 other SLO County residents near the end of 2010 after a two-month investigation into medical marijuana collectives. The arrests were carried out under “Operation Green Sweep” by they SLO County Narcotics Task Force, which has since been disbanded.

Prosecutors are now just one case away from being complete, 0-12 losers on the local level.

The District Attorney’s Office has said it will take all 11 dismissals to the state appellate court. Chief Deputy D.A. Jerret Gran claimed the office had filed the paperwork for its intent to appeal.

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