Toke of the Town — Marijuana and Cannibis News

Marijuana Could Prevent PTSD Symptoms: Medical Study

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 21, 2011 Medical, News

The administration of marijuana cannabinoids after experiencing a traumatic event blocks the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)-like symptoms in rats, according to a new study published in the medical journal Neuropsychopharmacology.

“We found that there is a ‘window of opportunity’ during which administering synthetic marijuana helps deal with symptoms simulating PTSD in rats,” said Dr. Irit Akirav of the University of Haifa‘s Department of Psychology, which led the study.

In the study, conducted by Dr. Akirav with research student Eti Ganon-Elazar, the researchers set out to investigate how cannabinoids affect the development of PTSD-like symptoms jun rats, whose physiological reactions to traumatic and stressful events is similar to human reactions.

Medical Marijuana Intern Wanted By Denver Paper

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 21, 2011 Culture, Medical, News

Pot Party Photos

No bong-cleaning required.

My friend and colleague William Breathes, the nation’s first marijuana/dispensary reviewer employed by a major newspaper chain (me being the second), is a busy man. Breathes is so busy with marijuana news, in fact, Denver Westword is looking to hire a college student to fill what is likely the first medical marijuana dispensary critic internship in history.

Now, before you get all hyperventilated, I should tell you that you don’t have to be a medical marijuana patient to get the nonpaying gig; “there’s plenty of stuff to cover about medical marijuana that doesn’t require you to smoke legal herb,” Breathes said in Wednesday’s announcement.

“In fact, you’ll mostly be updating dispensary listings and reviews, covering a pot meeting or two and generally helping out with our Colorado cannabis coverage,” Breathes said. “Previous blog experience helps, but isn’t required — we’ve all got to start somewhere.

NYC Mayor, Leader In Pot Busts, Now Wants To ‘Help’ Young Men

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 21, 2011 Culture, News

NORML

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has been busily arresting record numbers of young men — especially young men of color — for the past decade. Now, with the so-called “Young Men’s Initiative,” Bloomberg claims he suddenly wants to “help” them instead of throwing them in jail.

Mayor Bloomberg was asked, shortly before he first ran for office, if he had ever smoked marijuana. “You bet I did. And I enjoyed it,” he answered.

While that quote became the basis of a NORML ad campaign, it certainly didn’t make any difference on the future Mayor’s practice of aggressively going after marijuana users in the Big Apple. Mayor Bloomberg made New York City the marijuana arrest capital of the world.

Marijuana Dispensaries Make Neighborhoods Safer: Study

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 21, 2011 Dispensaries, Medical, News

Whiteside Manor Blog

A report published by one of the world’s most respected research organizations, the nonpartisan RAND Corporation, shows that local crime rates generally increased in areas after the closure of nearby medical marijuana dispensaries in Los Angeles.

The study, conducted in June 2010 — just after many L.A. collectives were forced by the city to close — found that crime reports increased by about 60 percent within three blocks of a closed dispensary relative to the same distance around nearby open dispensaries.

Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Not Linked To Crime: RAND Study

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 20, 2011 Dispensaries, News

The Law Blogger

A new RAND study finds no connection between L.A.’s dispensaries and crime.

The RAND Corporation on Tuesday issued a report dispelling the myth that there are inherent links between medical marijuana distribution centers and crime. The study upon which the RAND report is based claims that crime was as much as 60 percent greater around medical marijuana dispensaries that had been shut down by the City of Los Angeles compared to those areas with open dispensaries.

“[W]e found no evidence that medical marijuana dispensaries in general cause crime to rise,” said Mireille Jacobson, the study’s lead author and a senior economist at RAND.

RAND’s study, which challenges the common claim that medical marijuana dispensaries promote criminal activity, affirms the findings of patient advocates.

War On Drugs: Worth It, Or Worthless? Debate Sept. 21

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 20, 2011 Culture, News

SSDP

Should we continue to fight the War On Drugs, or should we look toward alternative approaches such as legalization? If you have an opinion on this question, you’ll be interested in a debate scheduled for Wednesday night.

The University of Arkansas Chapter of Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP), in coordination with University Programs, is hosting a debate between Ethan Nadelmann, a former Princeton professor and current executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance, and former DEA Administrator and U.S. Congressman Asa Hutchinson.

The two will debate whether we should continue to fight the War On Drugs or look for other solutions including regulation.

Both speakers bring years of experience to the table, of vastly different kinds.

Hutchinson held the top position at the Drug Enforcement Administration from 2001 to 2003. Ethan Nadelmann is a leading voice in the drug policy reform movement worldwide, and is executive director of the DPA.

Great Midwest Marijuana Festival To Mark 41 Years

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 20, 2011 Culture, Products

Jay Selthofner

When it began 41 years ago, it was an anti-war protest. It soon morphed into a cannabis legalization rally, and the Great Midwest Marijuana Harvest moves into its fifth decade September 30-October 2 at the Library Mall adjacent to the University of Wisconsin campus in Madison.

The festival will feature live music, guest speakers, a parade, vendors, and plenty of good munchies, according to organizers. Sponsors include Wisconsin NORML, Is My Medicine Legal Yet? (IMMLY), and Madison NORML.

Banks Refusing To Deal With Medical Marijuana Dispensaries

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 20, 2011 Dispensaries, Medical, News

THC Finder

Even as protesters decrying how out of touch bankers are with everyday Americans are occupying Wall Street, home of America’s banking industry, many financial institutions in states where medical marijuana is legal are refusing to do business with cannabis dispensaries.

Sixteen states and the District of Columbia have legalized medicinal marijuana, but possession or sale of cannabis for any use is still illegal under federal law. It is this disconnect that is giving rise to an unwillingness on the part of many banks to do business with the marijuana collectives.

The banks fear that federal regulators will target them, reports Kathryn Glass at Fox Business, because the federal government says that banks which do business with dispensaries are supporting activities that are illegal under federal law.

Cannajobs Fights For Arizona Medical Marijuana Patients’ Rights

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 20, 2011 Dispensaries, Legislation, Medical

Protect Arizona Patients, Inc.

Cannajobs, a cannabis jobs service, has announced that they are founding members of Protect Arizona Patients, Inc., a nonprofit organization fighting the state’s refusal to fully cooperate with the will of Arizona voters by licensing medical marijuana dispensaries. Cannajobs said it has contributed financially to the nonprofit to help it file the first lawsuit against Arizona for ignoring the rights of medical marijuana patients in the state.

Arizona voters passed the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act (AMMA) last November, legalizing medical marijuana in the state. But Governor Jan Brewer in May blocked the rollout of the law, claiming clarification was needed about whether state employees would be subject to federal prosecution, as cannabis is still prohibited under federal law.

Gov. Brewer and the Arizona Department of Health (AZDHS) put all dispensaries on hold while they filed a federal lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona seeking clarification about the potential federal response.

Montana Law: Fewer Legal Marijuana Patients, More Illegal Users

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 20, 2011 Legislation, Medical

KTVQ

A study on the effects of Montana’s tough new medical marijuana law, adopted by the Republican-controlled state Legislature last year, shows the number of patients and providers has dropped since the makeover of the law passed by voters in 2000.

But the new law has also created a lack of access and forced many patients to return to the black market, according to Kate Cholewa, policy director for the Montana Cannabis Industry, reports Ryan Whalen at Beartooth NBC. Cholewa who said patients were scared they won’t be protected from the federal government by the new Senate Bill 423.

“This doesn’t necessarily end up with fewer people using cannabis,” Cholewa said, reports Charles S. Johnson of the Helena Independent Record. “It just ends up with more people you can put in jail for it.”