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Marijuana Use Associated With Lower Mortality In Schizophrenics

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 30, 2012 Medical, News

The use of marijuana is associated with lower mortality risk in patients with schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders, according to a new study to be published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research.

Investigators from the University of Maryland School of Medicine and South Korea’s Inje University studied the effects of lifetime substance use on mortality in 762 patients with schizophrenia or related conditions, reports Paul Armentano at the NORML Blog.

“[W]e observed a lower mortality risk-adjusted variable in cannabis users compared to cannabis non-users despite subjects having similar symptoms and anti-psychotic treatments,” researchers reported.

The association between marijuana use and lessened mortality risk could be because “cannabis users may (be) higher functioning” and because “cannabis itself may have some health benefits,” the reports authors said.

THC Capsules Fail To Slow Progress Of MS: Clinical Trial

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 29, 2012 Medical, News

examiner.com

Cannabis capsules do not slow the progression of multiple sclerosis (MS), a large clinical trial has concluded. But while researchers were disappointed by the results, the findings could well be due to the fact that only one cannabinoid — tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC — was used in the capsules, rather than the complex symphony of at least 60 cannabinoids found in natural marijuana.

Particularly disappointing is the fact that the researchers failed to include cannabidiol (CBD) in the capsules, since it is one of the most medically promising cannabinoids found in marijuana. It’s especially heartbreaking that now, in the minds of many members of both the scientific community and the general public, “marijuana doesn’t work for MS” may become conventional wisdom due to a flawed study.

White House To PTSD Veterans: No Medical Marijuana For You

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 29, 2012 Medical, News

AllGov

“First, President Obama’s administration ejected medical marijuana patients from the workplace then he threw them out of public housing then took away their ability to buy a gun then closed down their dispensaries and now he has apparently set his sights on veterans,” said Michael Krawitz, executive director of Veterans for Medical Cannabis Access (VMCA).

Thousands of veterans asked the Obama Administration to at look into the science showing how cannabis works to alleviate suffering and save lives of veterans with brain injuries such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and to then make appropriate changes in policy. “Allow United States Disabled Military veterans access to medical marijuana to treat their PTSD,” the petition simply requested.

But the White House response to the veterans’ petition was very disappointing. “We asked for a change in policy,” Krawitz said. “To have our petition answered by the drug czar, an ex policeman, is most inappropriate given the drug czar is bound by law to ONLY discuss current law and has no power to discuss policy change with the public.

NORML Backs Survey On Marijuana And Autism

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 28, 2012 Medical, News

Montana Connect

Joey and Mieko Hester Perez. Mieko founded the Unconventional Foundation for Autism (UF4A) after seeing how useful cannabis is in treating her son’s condition

With more and more anecdotal media reports appearing regarding the use of marijuana to help autistic children and adults, the need to perform proper scientific research to possibly develop cannabinoid-based treatments for autism has become obvious.

The response from parents around the country to the touching stories of two brave mothers — one on the East Coast and one on the West — has been overwhelming, according to National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) Executive Director Allen St. Pierre.

Marie Myung-Ok Lee wrote about her experience in Rhode Island, a state which allows medical marijuana, in 2009. Soon after, inspired by Marie’s bravery, Mieko Hester Perez and her son also had a positive experience with treating his autism in California.

Medical Marijuana Mistrial: Judge Dismisses Refiling Of Charges

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 25, 2012 Dispensaries, Medical, News

San Diego Americans for Safe Access

Dexter Padilla, left, shown with his wife Mariesol, saw the case against him dismissed after a mistrial on Thursday

Another devastating blow to San Diego District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis’ fierce fight against medical marijuana patients; Judge Laura Parsky declares a mistrial after the jury was hopelessly deadlocked

By Eugene Davidovich

San Diego Americans for Safe Access

On May 16, 12 jurors and two alternates were selected in the trial of San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis v. Dexter Padilla, Navy veteran, medical marijuana patient and president of Therapeutic Healing, a San Diego based non profit medical marijuana coop.

One Year Later, Medical Marijuana At A Standstill In Delaware

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 21, 2012 Dispensaries, Legislation, Medical

The California Pot Blog

Hundreds of Delaware residents suffering from serious health problems thought a year ago when Gov. Jack Markell signed the state’s medical marijuana law that they were on the verge of finally being legally allowed to use the herb to treat nausea and pain. But they’re still waiting for safe access to cannabis — and are becoming more disappointed and frustrated by the day.

Many doctors, who must write the recommendations which authorize medicinal cannabis use, are reluctant to give their approval, and the state is in a stalemate with the federal government over plants for distributing marijuana, reports Doug Denison at Delaware Online.

The reluctance of Delaware’s medical community to embrace marijuana come from two main sources, Denison reports: Some physicians just aren’t convinced that cannabis is an effective treatment, while others worry that they could get in legal trouble if they authorize patients to use the substance, since it is federally classified as a Schedule I drug. (If they were lawyers instead of doctors, they’d realize that question has already been addressed and resolved by the Supreme Court in the Conant v. Walters case.)

Oregon U.S. Attorney: ‘I Don’t Care About Medical Marijuana’

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 21, 2012 Dispensaries, Medical, News

United States Attorney’s Office, District of Oregon

U.S. Attorney Amanda Marshall: “I don’t care about medical marijuana”

Oregon’s new federal prosecutor said that while she’s “concerned” about the proliferation of medical marijuana dispensaries in the state, she’s not going to prioritize going after medicinal cannabis providers.

“People say, ‘You’re the U.S. Attorney; are you going to go after medical marijuana?’ No, I’m not,” Amanda Marshall told Nigel Duara of The Associated Press. “I don’t care about medical marijuana.”

Marshall’s office estimates the number of medical marijuana dispensaries in Oregon as at least 100, most of which are in the Portland metro area. Her predecessor in 2010 joined his counterparts in other medical marijuana states in sending warning letters which threatened medical marijuana providers and their landlords with civil asset forfeiture if they continued to operate.

Marshall told the AP that Oregon’s medical marijuana law itself isn’t so much the problem as is the “lack of oversight” of medicinal cannabis grows and distribution.

Her backing away from the Obama Administration’s crackdown on medical marijuana may have been at least partially inspired by the political fate of former interim Oregon U.S. Attorney Dwight Holton, who had criticized the state’s medicinal cannabis program as a “train wreck.”

Marijuana Provider’s Defense Sets Tuesday Press Conference

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 21, 2012 Dispensaries, Medical, News

San Diego Americans for Safe Access

A press conference on behalf of Navy veteran and medical marijuana patient/provider Dexter Padilla has been set for Tuesday, May 22, at 12:30 p.m., in front of the Hall of Justice at 330 West Broadway, San Diego, California. The press conference was arranged by the San Diego Chapter of Americans for Safe Access.

A jury was selected last week and Padilla’s marijuana trafficking trial began on May 16 in Department 27 of San Diego Superior Court for the Honorable Laura Parsky.

Throughout the last week, the prosecution presented its side in the criminal trial of District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis v. Padilla, a Navy veteran, medical cannabis patient and president of Therapeutic Healing Collective (THC), a San Diego-based nonprofit medical marijuana cooperative.

The prosecution’s entire case consisted of two witnesses from D.A. Dumanis’ Cross Jurisdiction Task Force. The Task Force, which is strongly supported by Dumanis, was formed to commandeer local law enforcement in an effort to help the federal government circumvent California’s medical marijuana laws.

Marijuana Entrepreneur Charged With Defrauding Oakland

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 18, 2012 Culture, Medical, News

Armando Trull/WAMU

Dhar Mann, 27, has been charged with defrauding the city of Oakland

Dhar Mann, a controversial young businessman who sought fame and fortune as an entrepreneur in the medical marijuana industry, was charged Thursday with 13 felonies for allegedly defrauding an Oakland, California grant program that helps property owners pay for renovations.

Alameda County prosecutors charged Mann, 27, with stealing thousands of dollars from Oakland in 2008 and 2009, report Demian Bulwa and Matthai Kuruvila at SFGate. Mann was not arrested; his arraignment is scheduled for Wednesday.

Mann’s attorney, John Runfola, admitted that his client “took shortcuts” in the grant program, but claimed the charges were trumped up.

DEA Agent Implicated In Marijuana Trial Records Theft

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on May 17, 2012 Dispensaries, Medical, News

FederalJack.com

By Eugene Davidovich

San Diego Americans for Safe Access

San Diego District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis presses on with the state trial of a medical marijuana patient in full compliance with California law — even after the feds refuse to prosecute and court records show the federal Drug Enforcement Administration’s involvement in theft of attorney-client records.

Twelve jurors and two alternates were selected on Wednesday in Department 27 of San Diego Superior Court, officially starting the criminal trial of Dexter Padilla, a Navy veteran, medical marijuana patient and president of Therapeutic Healing, a San Diego-based non profit medical marijuana coop.

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