cannabisnews.com: NORML's Weekly News Bulletin -- May 8, 2003 NORML's Weekly News Bulletin -- May 8, 2003 Posted by CN Staff on May 08, 2003 at 20:25:17 PT Press Release Source: NORML NORML To Host Hollywood Benefit Concert On May 28 Tenacious D, Dubcat, Bill Maher Among Those To Appear At NORML FundraiserMay 8, 2003 - Washington, DC, USAWashington, DC: NORML is proud to present the first ever "Great American Bowl" concert on May 28 at the historic Hollywood Palace Theater in Hollywood, California. Tickets for this event which will feature musical acts Tenacious D (featuring Jack Black), Dubcat (featuring members of Hepcat and the Long Beach Dub All Stars), Fieldy's Dreams (featuring Fieldy from Korn), Silvertide, Whitestarr, and special guest Bill Maher (host of HBO's Real Time With Bill Maher and a member of NORML's Advisory Board) are now available through Ticket Master by phone at: (213) 480-3232 or online at: http://www.ticketmaster.com Ticket (and ordering) information is also available on NORML's website at: http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=5602NORML encourages its supporters in the greater Los Angeles area to join us for this star-studded benefit to stop the senseless persecution of responsible marijuana smokers.For more information or to purchase tickets for this event, please visit: http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=5608 or contact Kris Krane of NORML at (202) 483-5500.DL: http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=5640Use Of Vaporizers Drastically Reduces Toxins Associated With Marijuana Smoke, Study SaysMay 8, 2003 - Canton, MA, USACanton, MA: Toxins in marijuana smoke may be eliminated by the use of a vaporization device, according to the findings of a study conducted by California NORML and the Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), and funded in part by the NORML Foundation."While there is no scientific evidence linking marijuana smoking to lung cancer, vaporizers do provide an effective non-smoking delivery system that eliminates the unnecessary products of combustion," said NORML Board Member Rick Doblin, president of MAPS.Marijuana vapors induced by the device marketed in Germany as the Volcano were found to consist overwhelmingly of THC, and contained only minute amounts (less than 5 percent) of a suspected carcinogen, according to a gas chromatography mass spectrometer (GCMS) analysis of the vapor performed by Chemic Labs. By contrast, combusted smoke contained over 100 other chemicals, including several polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), carcinogenic toxins that are common in tobacco smoke.The respiratory hazards of marijuana smoke are due to toxic byproducts of combustion, not the active ingredients of the plant, known as cannabinoids. Vaporizers heat marijuana at a temperature sufficient to vaporize cannabinoids (about 200° C), but short of the point of combustion, which is approximately 250° C.Although previous studies have found vaporizes to reduce harmful toxins in marijuana smoke, this is the first to analyze the gas phase of the vapor for a wide range of toxins. An earlier study conducted by California NORML and MAPS on the efficiency of waterpipes as filtration systems found that the devices do little to shield smokers from harmful tars in marijuana smoke because they filter out similar amounts of THC and unwanted particulates. "[This] study suggests that medical marijuana patients can avoid the respiratory hazards of smoking by using a vaporizer," said California NORML Coordinator Dale Gieringer. According to a 1999 National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine (IOM) report on the efficacy of marijuana as a medicine, "Except for the harms associated with smoking, the adverse effects of marijuana use are within the range tolerated for other medications."Currently, no federally approved studies allow the use of vaporizers on human subjects, though a grant request for a research protocol to study the subjective effects and cannabinoid blood levels of vaporization compared to smoking has been submitted by University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) AIDS researcher Dr. Donald Abrams to the California Center for Medical Cannabis Research (CMCR).For more information, please contact either Dale Gieringer of California NORML at (415) 563-5858 or NORML Foundation Executive Director Allen St. Pierre at (202) 483-8751. A summary of California NORML's previous waterpipe and vaporizer research is available online at: http://www.canorml.orgDL: http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=5641Canada's Top Court Hears Constitutional Challenge To Nation's Pot LawsMay 8, 2003 - Ottawa, ON, CanadaOttawa, Ontario: Canada's Supreme Court heard arguments this week alleging that national laws prohibiting the non-medical use of marijuana violate Canadians' guaranteed rights to life, liberty and personal security.Defendants David Malmo-Levine and Victor Eugene Cain are appealing a 2-1 decision by the British Columbia Court of Appeals in June 2000 that upheld the constitutionality of Canada's pot laws. In that decision, the majority admitted, "The risk posed by marijuana is not large," but ruled that marijuana law reform must come from Parliament, not the courts. However, dissenting judge Jo-Anne Prowse disagreed, opining that the provisions of the Narcotic Control Act infringed upon the appellants fundamental rights under Section 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.The high court consolidated the Malmo-Levine/Cain case with that of marijuana activist Christopher Clay, who lost a separate trial in 1997. The court was initially set to hear arguments in the three cases last December, but postponed the hearing after Justice Minister Martin Cauchon announced that Parliament intended to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of pot. That policy change remains pending, and Parliament is expected to consider marijuana decriminalization legislation in June.No decision is expected from the Supreme Court for several months. For more information, please contact Keith Stroup, Executive Director of NORML, at (202) 483-5500 or John Conroy, Director of Canada NORML, at (604) 852-5110.DL: http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=5642Federal Government Defends Its Pot Lawshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16211.shtmlPot Law Goes To High Court http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16210.shtmlSupreme Court Hears Arguments in Pot Law Case http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16207.shtmlSource: NORML Foundation (DC)Published: May 8, 2003Copyright: 2003 NORML Contact: norml norml.org Website: http://www.norml.org/NORML's Weekly News Bulletin -- May 1, 2003http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16139.shtmlNORML's Weekly News Bulletin -- April 24, 2003http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16051.shtmlNORML's Weekly News Bulletin -- April 10, 2003 http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15933.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #3 posted by ekim on May 09, 2003 at 20:01:38 PT Airs live on KPFT Houston, 90.1 FM 89.5 FM >National NORML SPECIAL Pt. 2 > >As a continuation of our coverage of the 4/20 NORML Conference in San >Francisco, the Cultural Baggage NORML Special on Pacifica Radio, KPFT >Houston continues this Friday night. > >Who: > >SF District Attorney Terrence Hallinan who welcomed the NORML conference >to San Francisco. Hallinan offered the most cheerful greeting NORML could >expect from a district attorney anywhere in the U.S. He also showed he >knew what he was talking about, getting a little choked up as he described >visits to medical marijuana clubs in the city. > > >Thomas J. O'Connell, M.D. is a retired thoracic surgeon from San Mateo >California. A New York City native. O'Connell's intense education in the >history of drug policy has helped him develop a clearer understanding of >how his profession has been used historically by prohibitionists to >arrogate total control of drug policy. Dr. O'Connell is currently doing a >study of medical marijuana patient usage. > >HOST: Dean Becker, Publisher of "Drug Truth - Abrahamson to Zeese" > >What: Cultural Baggage - the Unvarnished Truth about the Drug War > >When: Friday night May 9, 2003 at midnight to 1 AM CDT Saturday May 10 > >Where: Airs live on KPFT Houston, 90.1 FM 89.5 FM in Galveston, live >online at www.kpft.org, stored online at www.cultural-baggage.com/kpft.htm >and airs six times a week on Sirius Satellite Radio on Channel 147. > >Why: To expose the eternal war on some drug users. > >Dean Becker [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on May 09, 2003 at 15:00:25 PT It's Was Great I like to comment while my emotions are up and Catherine Crier was angry and spoke her mind for us. What's this about losing in Ohio? We didn't lose anything in Ohio except the drug initiative. Keith Stroup did a great job! I like his fire! [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on May 09, 2003 at 13:05:57 PT Court TV: Keith Stroup - Today at 5:30 ET Hi Everyone,I thought some of you might want to see the show!Hello NORML Supporter,NORML's director and founder, Keith Stroup, Esq. will appear on former TX judge Catherine Crier's show on Court TV 5:30 (eastern).Topic: Debate with a prohibitionist (T.B.A.) on the topic of Canada's efforts towards decriminalizing mj possession and the US govt's over reaction, including trade threats and general prohibition bluster.We apologize for the short notice, but this notice was sent as soon as Court TV confirmed Keith's appearance. We hope you can tune in.Regards,Kris KraneAssociate DirectorNORMLhttp://www.courttv.com/onair/shows/crierlive/ [ Post Comment ] Post Comment