cannabisnews.com: NORML's Weekly News Bulletin -- February 20, 2003





NORML's Weekly News Bulletin -- February 20, 2003
Posted by CN Staff on February 20, 2003 at 16:24:23 PT
Press Release
Source: NORML
Lawmakers To Introduce Bill To Cease Federal Prosecution Of State-Sanctioned Medical Marijuana Patients And Providers Sacramento, CA: A bi-partisan coalition of federal lawmakers announced this week that they will introduce legislation prohibiting the federal prosecution of medical marijuana patients and providers who reside in states where such activities are legally protected by state law.
The pending bill is in response to a recent wave of federal prosecutions of several prominent California medical marijuana patients and providers each of whom were forbidden from introducing evidence at trial regarding either medicinal marijuana or Proposition 215, California's law legalizing the use and cultivation of medical cannabis.In the past year and a half, federal drug enforcement officials have taken action against approximately 40 medicinal marijuana patients, cooperatives and providers in the state.The federal government has "no respect for the laws we here in California [and seven other states] have established to allow patients to live pain-free lives," said Rep. Sam Farr (D-CA) at a press conference Wednesday. He announced that he, along with Reps. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) and Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), will be introducing federal legislation next month to create two separate legal categories of marijuana medical and criminal and allow defendants to raise the medical use of marijuana as a legal defense against federal prosecution."The purpose of this bill is to allow defendants in federal criminal trials to introduce evidence that their marijuana-related activity was performed for a valid medical purpose under state law," Farr said. "If a jury finds that a defendant was following [the] state's medical marijuana law, then the defendant should not be sent to prison. It's as simple as that."Currently, federal defendants cannot introduce evidence regarding the therapeutic use of marijuana or the existence of state laws legalizing it as a defense against federal criminal prosecution because the federal government fails to legally recognize marijuana's medicinal value.In the last Congress, bi-partisan legislation introduced by Reps. Barney Frank (D-MA) and Ron Paul (R-TX) sought to reschedule marijuana so that states could legally permit its use and distribution without running afoul of federal law. That bill gained 42 co-sponsors, but failed to receive a hearing in the House of Representatives. Representatives Frank and Paul are expected to re-introduce their bill later this month.Note: Feds' Have "No Respect" For The State Laws, Congressional Coalition ChargesFor more information, please contact either Keith Stroup or Paul Armentano of NORML at (202) 483-5500.DL: http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=5559State Lawmakers Craft Bill on Pot Defense http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15513.shtmlMedical Pot Bill Rejects Jail http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15512.shtmlFDA Approves Clinical Application For US Trials Of Pot For Head Trauma February 20, 2003 - Iselin, NJ, USAIselin, NJ: An Israeli-based pharmaceutical company announced this week that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted its Investigational New Drug (IND) application to begin Phase III human trials in the United States on the effectiveness of the synthetic marijuana derivative Dexanabinol for the treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). It is the first time that US regulatory officials have sanctioned such trials to take place in America.Phase III is the final stage of drug testing before regulatory approval.Hundreds of Americans are anticipated to take part in the trials, joining more than 500 patients already enrolled in over 60 neurotrauma centers throughout Europe, Australia and Israel. "Subject to the results of the study, we intend to submit the data of the combined international and US study to the FDA and to other international regulatory agencies for worldwide marketing approvals," said Pharmos Company President Gad Riesenfield. "If approved, Dexanabinol would be the first pharmaceutical product for head injury."A previous Phase II trial by Pharmos of 67 Israeli patients demonstrated that Dexanabinol reduced mortality and eased intracranial pressure in volunteers suffering from severe head injuries. A 1998 U.S. Army rat study also reported that the administration of Dexanabinol five minutes after the onset of nerve gas-induced seizures significantly reduced brain damage.Similar research conducted by scientists at the National Institutes for Mental Health found that naturally occurring cannabinoids THC and cannabidiol (CBD) are also neuroprotective. A 1999 report by the National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine (IOM) called cannabis' neuroprotective qualities the "most prominent" of its potential therapeutic applications.For more information, please contact Paul Armentano, NORML Senior Policy Analyst, at (202) 483-5500.DL: http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=5560Marijuana Ingredient Helps Head Injuries http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11046.shtmlCompound May Reduce Brain Trauma Damagehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11033.shtml Belgium To Ratify Pot Law ChangeFebruary 20, 2003 - Brussels, BelgiumBrussels: The Belgian Parliament recently approved legislation legalizing the possession and cultivation of marijuana for personal use, according to a press release issued by the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA).Parliament voted to allow recreational users to possess up to five grams of marijuana and/or cultivate one plant without facing any criminal penalty. The legal change follows a formal declaration by Parliament in 2001 mandating prosecutors and judges to "no longer interfere in the lives of people who use cannabis on a personal basis and who do not create harm or do not show dependence."The production and sale of large quantities of marijuana will continue to be actively prosecuted under the new policy, as will public smoking and/or marijuana use in the presence of a minor.For more information, please contact Allen St. Pierre, Executive Director of The NORML Foundation, at (202) 483-8751 or see NORML's report, "European Drug Policy: 2002 Legislative Update."DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=5561Dull Belgium Wants To Be as Hip as Holland http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15424.shtmlSource: NORML Foundation (DC)Published: February 20, 2003 Copyright: 2003 NORML Contact: norml norml.org Website: http://www.norml.org/NORML's Weekly News Bulletin - Feb. 13, 2003http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15472.shtmlNORML's Weekly News Bulletin - Feb. 6, 2003http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15399.shtmlCannabisNews -- NORML Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/NORML.shtml
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Comment #6 posted by mayan on February 20, 2003 at 18:11:00 PT
EXPOSE
"The purpose of this bill is to allow defendants in federal criminal trials to introduce evidence that their marijuana-related activity was performed for a valid medical purpose under state law," Farr said. "If a jury finds that a defendant was following [the] state's medical marijuana law, then the defendant should not be sent to prison. It's as simple as that."I'm sure that the creators and supporters of this bill know it has little chance to pass(I hope I'm wrong!), but they know it will further expose those who fail to represent the vast majority of the people. We have put the fascists on the defensive - a position they are not accustomed to being in! Whether or not this legislation passes it will be a win-win situation for medical marijuana patients and providers. Things are bound to get interesting!The way out is the way in -9/11 - The Road To Tyranny (Realplayer Video)
http://sf.indymedia.org/uploads/the_road_to_tyranny__34kbps_.ramAftermath: Unanswered Questions from 9/11(QuickTime Video, parts 1-4) http://www.guerrillanews.com/after_math/The 9/11 Truth Movement - Selected Resources for Researchers and Activists: http://www.globalresearch.ca/articles/LEV212A.html9/11 "Conspiracies" and the Defactualisation of Analysis: http://www.mediamonitors.net/mosaddeq37.html9/11 Skeptics Unite: http://www.osamaskidneys.com/links.htmlPaul Thompson's Complete 9/11 Timeline: http://cooperativeresearch.org/completetimeline/The People's Investigation of 9/11: http://www.911pi.com/
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Comment #5 posted by FoM on February 20, 2003 at 18:08:29 PT
Thanks i420
I bookmark the site and will check it out. 
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Comment #4 posted by i420 on February 20, 2003 at 17:45:20 PT
free email 
fom try www.techemail.com its free and practically no spam !!http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/Southwest/02/20/border.bust/index.html
 
Click the link for photo of vehicle and story
 
 
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Sharp-eyed U.S. officials foiled an innovative attempt to smuggle almost a ton of marijuana into the United States by packing it into two sport utility vehicles disguised as Border Patrol vehicles. Officials said agents from the Border Patrol and Customs intercepted the vehicles, which were emblazoned with the agency's logos, before dawn Wednesday as they crossed into Arizona near Paominas. They found 1,900 pounds of marijuana in the a 2000 Dodge Durango and a 2001 Ford Expedition. Both vehicles had government license plates. Authorities said it was the first time they have caught drug traffickers using fake government vehicles to smuggle drugs into the United States. One of the drivers, an undocumented Mexican, was arrested, officials said, but a second driver escaped. Customs Service and Border Patrol officials said the joint operation was a sign of improved cooperation between the two agencies, who now work together in the new Department of Homeland Security. "That teamwork means bad news for the bad guys," said Chief Border Patrol Agent David Aguilar in Tucson. 
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Comment #3 posted by Rainbow on February 20, 2003 at 16:54:06 PT
Another DEAth success
The DEAth squad has chosen another to die at the hands of their agents. They are real sorry and disturbed by it. The agent in charge is so concerned for his agents because they killed an innocent.Remember Alberto the 11 year old that they killed. Those drug warriors don't care what or who they kill _ Peter McWilliams, Alberto, and the sick and dying in california they handcuffed while in their dying beds.The DEAth is a sinister and sicko organization right up their with the columbian and latin american death squads.I say gone to you out of here and go kill somewhere else you monsters.See article at
http://www.washtimes.com/national/20030220-16821181.htmSadly 
Rainbow
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on February 20, 2003 at 16:36:49 PT
Hi Rainbow
For the time being because of many different problems I don't have an incoming email for CNews. Soon I should have a mailing list and that might help with the problem. I'm really sorry for all the good folks like you that can't reach me but I didn't have a choice since the spams and viruses became way too much for me to handle and do what I do. You can post a link to an article here and people can read it even if I don't get it posted and that way all the news can be read. I hope this helps.
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Comment #1 posted by Rainbow on February 20, 2003 at 16:28:46 PT
Help
Martha,I have sent you several news items to the submissions cannabisnews.com but they keep coming back as undeliverable.The message says that cannanews yahoo.com has exceeded its limit of email.Are you all connected? What address can we send news submissions to and feel like they may make it?Cheers,
Tom
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