cannabisnews.com: NORML's Weekly News Bulletin -- December 18, 2003 NORML's Weekly News Bulletin -- December 18, 2003 Posted by CN Staff on December 18, 2003 at 19:31:49 PT Weekly Press Release Source: NORML FDA Approves First Ever Clinical Trial Comparing Inhaled Marijuana To Vaporized Pot December 18, 2003 - Washington, DC, USAWashington, DC: The US Food and Drug Administration has granted permission for investigators funded by California's Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research (CMCR) to conduct the first ever human trial comparing inhaled marijuana to vaporized cannabis. The clinical trial, which will be conducted by Dr. Donald Abrams of the University of California at San Francisco, will commence in early 2004, according to a news release issued by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). The pending study will compare subjective effects, cannabinoid blood levels, and carbon monoxide levels in inhaled breath in volunteers following both smoking and vaporizing marijuana.MAPS President Rick Doblin said that the use of vaporizer technology in clinical research "will demonstrate that we can address all reasonable concerns about the safety of marijuana as medicine."According to a previous laboratory analysis study completed earlier this year by California NORML and MAPS, toxins in marijuana smoke produced by combustion are eliminated by the use of a vaporization device. In that study, marijuana vapors produced by the Volcano vaporizer 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. By contrast, combusted smoke contained over 100 other chemicals, including several polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), carcinogenic toxins that are common in tobacco smoke.In general, 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.For more information, please contact either Allen St. Pierre, Executive Director of The NORML Foundation, at (202) 483-5500 or Rick Doblin at (617) 484-9509.DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=5861 Feds Lack Authority To Arrest Pot Patients December 18, 2003 - San Francisco, CA, USANinth Circuit Court Of Appeals Says Non-Commercial Cultivation, Possession And Use of Medicinal Marijuana Doesn't Violate The Control Substances ActSan Francisco, CA: The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 this week that federal prosecution of patients who possess and cultivate marijuana for their own medicinal use is an unconstitutional exercise of Congress' Commerce Clause authority. As a result, the court ordered a preliminary injunction barring the Justice Department from arresting the plaintiffs - California medical marijuana patients Angel Raich and Diane Monson - for violating the Controlled Substances Act."As applied to the limited class of activities presented by this case, ... the cultivation, possession and use of marijuana for medicinal purposes and not for exchange or distribution is not properly characterized as commercial or economic activity," as defined by the CSA, a majority of the court determined. "This conclusion, coupled with the public interest considerations and the burden faced by the appellants if, contrary to California law, they are denied access to medicinal marijuana, warrants the entry of a preliminary injunction."NORML Executive Director Keith Stroup praised the Ninth Circuit's opinion. "This is a crack in the blanket federal prohibition of marijuana, the first ever recognized by the federal courts," he said. "The court found that Congress may not allege that all drug offenses impact interstate commerce per se. Unless the offense actually impacts interstate commerce, the federal government has no legal authority to criminalize that conduct."Stroup also noted that the ruling could have widespread significance in states with medical marijuana use laws in the Ninth Circuit. "While this restraining order only protects the individuals who brought this legal challenge, the ruling has the potential to protect all users living in states in the Ninth Circuit who cultivate and possess marijuana for their own personal medical use with their doctor's permission."Stroup said that the ruling did not address plaintiffs' additional arguments that federal prosecution of California patients violates the Fifth, Ninth and 10th amendments.For more information, please contact either Keith Stroup at (202) 483-5500 or California NORML Coordinator Dale Gieringer at (415) 563-5858. Full text of the court's decision may be found at: http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/ruling.pdfDL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=5860A Landmark Victory - Ann Harrisonhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17996.shtmlFeds Ordered To Halt Pot Raidshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17980.shtmlAppeals Court OKs Medicinal Pothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17987.shtmlAppeals Court Upholds Medical Marijuana Use http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17983.shtml ACLU Challenges DEA's Use Of "RAVE Act" To Target NORML Events December 18, 2003 - Portland, OR, USAPortland, OR: The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Oregon recently filed a complaint with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) over the agency's effort to shut down the second annual Oregon Medical Cannabis Awards Banquet, sponsored by Oregon NORML. Though the Banquet went on as scheduled at the Doubletree Hotel, DEA officials approached the venue's management prior to the event and warned them that they could be federally fined and prosecuted under the "RAVE Act" if it took place.Under the provisions of the "RAVE Act," formally known as the Illicit Drug Anti-Proliferation Act of 2003, federal law enforcement may prosecute business owners if they make their property available for "the purpose of manufacturing, distributing, or using any controlled substance."ACLU of Oregon spokesperson David Fidanque said that the DEA is misusing the Act to try to silence opponents of the government's drug policies. "The only two instances the DEA has used this law have been against NORML, where NORML was publicizing medical marijuana laws and their opposition to federal law and federal policies," he said. "We think it's clear that the DEA did this for political reasons because of their political opposition to NORML's politics."Findanque also noted that uniformed Portland police officers were posted outside the banquet room doors, and that their presence may have violated Oregon laws and city policies prohibiting police from spying on the political activities of individuals and organizations.For more information, please contact Allen St. Pierre, Executive Director of The NORML Foundation, at (202) 483-5500DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=5862Party Busters - LA Weeklyhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16013.shtmlMusic Promoters Fear Anti-Drug Clausehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15994.shtmlFeel Like Dancing? - National Reviewhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15329.shtmlRaving Lunacy - Fox Newshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13536.shtml Source: NORML Foundation (DC)Published: December 18, 2003Copyright: 2003 NORML Contact: norml norml.org Website: http://www.norml.org/NORML's Weekly News Bulletin -- Dec. 11, 2003http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17958.shtmlNORML's Weekly News Bulletin -- Dec. 4, 2003http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17911.shtmlNORML's Weekly News Bulletin -- Nov. 26, 2003http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17873.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #13 posted by ekim on December 19, 2003 at 17:03:28 PT Dam Jose that is the s- - - you have driven the silver spike. Where oh where are the PHDs why have you forsaken us. [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by druid on December 19, 2003 at 11:22:33 PT yippierevolutionary Here is a forum dedicated to cooking with cannabis. People can share and swap recipes and stuff. Have Fun! Cooking With Cannabis [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by kaptinemo on December 19, 2003 at 05:59:49 PT: Ganja Gumbo!! Hot d**n! Sign me up! I love Cajun cookin' :) [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by jose melendez on December 19, 2003 at 05:56:32 PT ONDCP IS PAID TO LIE to parents about pot. YES! Soup is one of the leverage points we have in exposing illegal and unconstitutional cannabis suppression.The argument that 'feeling better' is not 'healing' is, easily deflected by the self-evident truths that cannabis is extremely high in essential fatty acids, as well as by pointing out that cannabinoids indeed reduce tumors.Read on: http://www.naturalhealthdirect.com.au/fats.htmand from: http://www.healthrecipes.com/essential_fatty_acids.htmESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS Life without essential fatty acids is impossible. They are crucial to the electrical reactions of cells. Essential fatty acids heal, carry vitamins, enhance metabolism and bring oxygen to the tissues. They are required by brain cells, sensory organs, synapses, retinas, adrenal glands and testes. Essential fatty acids act as solvents to remove hardened fat. They are involved in generating the electric currents that maintain a regular heartbeat. They appear to regulate chromosome stability and will even help you to lose weight! There are two essential fatty acids:Alpha-Linolenic acid (LNA) or Omega 3 is found in abundance in hemp seed, flax seed, pumpkin seed, walnuts, dark green leaves, canola, soybean and cold water fish.Linoleic acid (LA) or Omega 6 is found in abundance in safflower, hemp, soybean, walnut, pumpkin, sesame, corn, sunflower and flax.Essential fatty acids attract oxygen and generate electrical currents. They are also converted into hormone-like substances called prostaglandins which reduce allergic response and inflammation.from google's html version of: http://www.damm-virtuell.de/dgnc2001/abstract/Abstractband2_254.pdf" . . . Compared to the control groups with only the solventdimethylsufoxide (DMSO) or without anything added, the cannabinoidagonists WIN 55212,2, CP 55940 and HU 210 showed a strongsuppression of tumor growth: CP 55940 5 µM for example shows amaximum suppression of 3.2 % with U87MG and 2.9 % with TU81compared to (DMSO-control). The LD 50 of CP 55940 for both malignantastrocytomas is approximately 1 µM. Similar results were seen for the othercannabinoid agonists and the other cell lines.Conclusion: Cannabinoids strongly inhibit tumor growth in malignanthuman astrocytomas at a dosage that should cause only slight side effects.The LD 50 of the human malignant astrocytomas corresponds to theexperience made in other studies using cannabinoids."see also: http://www.hempfood.com/IHA/iha03101.htmlGLA sources and importance Gamma-linolenic acid (C18:3w6) or "GLA" is found in minute quantities in most fats of animal origin (Horrobin 1990a, 1990b). Oats and barley also contain small amounts. Human milk contains some GLA (Carter 1988), but any significance is probably overshadowed (Erasmus 1993) by the greater presence of its metabolic derivative dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid or "DGLA" (C20:3w6). GLA is available exclusively in health food shops or pharmacies, mostly as soft gelatine capsules, and is not found in oils usually consumed by most people. Good sources of GLA include the blue-green alga Spirulina (~1% of dry weight) and (Table 2) evening primrose oil, black currant seed oil, borage oil and some fungal oils. Black currant seed oil also reportedly contains up to 9% stearidonic acid (Erasmus 1993) or "SDA" (C18:4w3), although 2-4% is more usual (Clough 1996). Hemp seed oil from sterilised seed analyzed in the US contained 1.7% GLA (Weil 1993, Wirtshafter 1995), but higher levels (3-6%) have been measured by German investigators (Theimer and M–lleken 1995, Theimer 1996), although it is apparently rare in most tropical varieties of Cannabis (ElSohly 1996). However, absolute amounts of GLA are not the only criteria for ranking the desirability of an oil. The particular arrangement of these fatty acids on glycerol (as the natural triglyceride), as well as differences in possible toxicity among the various oils, may be important (Horrobin 1994). The potential physiological effects of GLA have been extensively investigated only recently. In the body, GLA is normally derived from LA and serves as an intermediary for the formation of longer-chain fatty acids and eicosanoids. Eicosanoids are short-lived hormone-like substances which fulfill numerous vital roles, ranging from control of inflammation processes and vascular tone to initiation of contractions during delivery. The metabolic conversion of LA to GLA is slow in mammals. Further, it has been suggested that due to stress, ageing or pathology (e.g., hypertension, diabetes, etc.), formation of a sufficient amount or balance of eicosanoids may be impaired. This problem may be relieved by direct GLA supplementation (Horrobin 1990a, 1990b), although caution is warranted since overconsumption could be harmful (Phinney 1994). Its alleviating action on psoriasis, atopic eczema, and mastalgia are already well documented and GLA preparations are now frequently prescribed for the treatment of the latter two disorders. GLA has also been under investigation for its beneficial effects in cardiovascular, psychiatric and immunological disorders (Horrobin 1990a, 1990b, 1992). If a favorable response to GLA supplementation does not occur, additional application of stearidonic acid (SDA) or use of black currant seed oil may be indicated, since the same enzyme (delta-6-desaturase) that converts LA to GLA is also responsible for converting LNA to SDA (Erasmus 1993). However, relatively few people suffer from a defect in this enzyme compared to the nearly universal lack of adequate LNA levels in the diet. A chronic LNA deficit is best acutely treated with flax seed (fresh linseed) oil, although it is unsuitable for prolonged consumption due to an imbalance in its LA (14%) to LNA (58%) content, a ratio approximately equal, but inverse, to that of hemp (Erasmus 1993).of course, there's: http://www.jackherer.com/chapter08.htmlOf the 3 million plus edible plants that grow on Earth, no other single plant source can compare with the nutritional value of hempseeds. Both the complete protein and the essential oils contained in hempseeds are in ideal ratios for human nutrition. Only soybeans contain a higher percentage of protein. However, the composition of the protein in hempseed is unique in the vegetable kingdom. Sixty-five percent of the protein content in hempseed is in the form of globulin edestin.1 (The word edestin comes from the Greek "edestos," meaning edible.) The exceptionally high edestin content of hempseed combined with albumin, another globular protein contained in all seeds, means the readily available protein in hempseed contains all the essential amino acids in ideal proportions to assure your body has the necessary building blocks to create proteins like disease-fighting immunoglobulins - antibodies whose job is to ward off infections before the symptoms of sickness set it.2 Cannabis seed protein even allows a body with nutrition-blocking tuberculosis, or almost any other nutrition-blocking ailment, to get maximum nourishment.* * Cohen & Stillman, Therapeutic Potential of Marijuana, Plenum Press, NY, 1976; Czech. Tubercular Nutritional Study, 1955. Even more important for building a strong immune system, hempseeds are the highest source in the plant kingdom of essential fatty acids. These essential oils, linoleic and linolenic acids, are responsible for the luster in your skin, hair, eyes, and even your thought processes. They lubricate (clear) the arteries and are vital to the immune system. These essential fatty acids were used by Dr. Joanna Budwig (nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize every year since 1979) to successfully treat "terminal" cancer patients, as well as those suffering from cardiovascular disease, glandular atrophy, gall stones, kidney degeneration, acne, dry skin, menstrual problems and immune deficiency. This, as well as other research, prompted William Eidelman, M.D., UCLA, and R. Lee Hamilton, Ed.D., Ph.D. Medical Researcher-Biochemist UCLA Emeritus, to speak out on behalf of "the life-giving values" of cannabis hemp. They state: "These essential oils support the immune system and guard against viral and other insults to the immune system. Studies are in progress using the essential oils to support the immune systems of persons with the H.I.V. virus. So far they have been extremely promising." "What is the richest source of these essential oils? Yes, you guessed it, the seeds of the cannabis hemp plant. The insane prohibitions against the most valuable plant on Earth, cannabis hemp, must yield to public demand. The promise of super health and the possibility of feeding the world is at our fingertips." (December 29, 1991 and July 1997) Hempseed extracts, like soybeans, can be spiced to taste like chicken, steak, or pork and can be used to make tofu-type curd and margarine, at less cost than soybeans. Sprouting any seed improves its nutritional value and hemp can be sprouted and used like any other seed sprout for salads or cooking. Sprouted hempseeds make milk, just as soybeans do. Alan "Birdseed" Brady of Santa Cruz, California and Abba Das of Colorado use this milk to make a delicious and nutritious ice cream in many flavors that actually lowers cholesterol levels. Hempseed is ground and used like flour, or cooked, then sweetened and combined with milk to produce a nutritional breakfast cereal - like oatmeal or cream of wheat. This type of porridge is known as a gruel. (Like the fiber, hempseeds will not get you high.) "Hemp is a favorite [bird seed] because of its nourishing oily content." (Margaret McKenny, Birds in the Garden, Reynal & Hitchcock, NY, 1939.) Incredibly, when cannabis hemp is grown for seed, half the weight of the mature, harvested female plant is seed! English and European fisherman who cast in freshwater lakes and rivers first told me in 1995 that hempseed has always been the preferred bait in Europe for chumming - that is, casting the hempseeds on the water - causing the fish to scramble from all over to get the seeds, thereby getting caught. Not one of the many European fisherman I talked to knew that hemp seeds and marijuana were one in the same. So hempseed is the favorite of fish as well as most birds. The byproduct of pressing hempseed for its nutritious vegetable oil is a high protein seed cake. Hempseed cake was one of the world's principal animal feeds until this century.* Hempseed can supply a nearly complete diet for all domesticated animals (dogs, cats), many farm animals and poultry, and allows animals maximum weight gain for less than current feed costs. And without any need for artificial growth steroids or other drugs currently poisoning the human race and food chain. Isn't it strange - doesn't it make you mad as hell - that the number-one food of all time for most birds, fish, horses, humans, and life in general, is illegal to have naturally and healthfully in the United States of America, as ordered by the Nazi/Gestapo-like Amerikan Drug Enforcement Administration and, through them, the USDA? * U.S. Agricultural Index; Frazier, Jack, The Marijuana Farmers, Solar Age Press, New Orleans, LA, 1972. Fats that Heal, Fats that Kill; Udo, Erasmus, 1996. http://www.gwpharm.com/cann_ther_anti.htmlhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12514108&dopt=Abstracthttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?holding=npg&cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=1159836&dopt=Abstract Congress: sponsor THIS [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by Virgil on December 18, 2003 at 22:33:54 PT Yippie I think soup really is going to big on the medical front. I would want whole buds in the soup and let them get tender and eat them. I have called for pot-tv to gather real and fictional commercials and you know they have a piece on commercials. I could do a 30 second commercial pretty easily involving soup. When they have a contest with a trip to Vancouver as the prize I will enter.There is a cooking classification on the homepage of pot-tv called Shake N Bake written at the top that leads here- http://www.pot-tv.net/archive/series/pottvseries-68-0.htmlThere is a keyword on this subject that I do not know how to spell. It is something like "carbolize." You know how they say that THC bonds with the fat in the body. It also needs fat to draw it into a more absorbable form when cooking. That is why cannabutter is popular in cooking. Someone please spell it correctly so people can do a search and find Dr. Russo speaking on cooking.That is the only way I know how to spell it. A search for that spelling will lead to where I first spoke of cannabis soup- http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread15900.shtmlIn my commercial I would advertize "High Guy's Oyster Stew." This would lead to dethroning the most common of expression of "What's up" from the beer commercials with an expression of cannabis culture. People would greet each other with "High Guy" instead of being rude with a question. Oyster stew needs butter and is best with whole milk if not cream. All I need for my commercial is some laughing grass and a beautiful woman. Well, if I had that I would not problem on commercials for High Guy's Oyster Stew. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by drfistusa on December 18, 2003 at 21:53:30 PT drinking cannabis as Bhang only the poor in india smoke it, the use by people who have the bucks drink bhang, it has many spices and is a very ancient use of cannabis other than smoking or making brownies. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by yippierevolutionary on December 18, 2003 at 21:33:14 PT You can make just about anything with Ganja I would like attest to the superiority of eating cannabis, and I think our side has to stress that route since tobacco has biased people so much against smoke. But my question is does anyone have good ideas for eating cannabis that doesn't involve sugars or grains? Brownies are the stereo type for eating pot but some people can't handle the sugar or don't like to eat sugar. Spoonfulls of olive oil don't go down well. Using the olive oil as a salad dressing seems good but an empty stomach is preferable so any ideas? [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by FoM on December 18, 2003 at 21:03:29 PT Virgil Well that I'm not familar with just chicken! LOL! [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Virgil on December 18, 2003 at 21:01:26 PT FoM I was thinking of Ganja Gumbo. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Virgil on December 18, 2003 at 21:00:08 PT Kean is on Nightline I was so suprised I forgot to include it in my comment2. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on December 18, 2003 at 20:59:14 PT Virgil You wish you had soup? I wish you did too. I only have Campbell's Chicken Gumbo but they haven't created a way to email soup yet. Someday maybe! [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Virgil on December 18, 2003 at 20:56:01 PT See, we have them scared with our news network Thomas Kean is the chairman of the 9/11 Commission. He just said 9/11 could have been prevented. The powers that be have decided to do the real news because we have a network of truth on the Internet watching them.I have made my point. I can let it rest. I wish I had some good soup. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Virgil on December 18, 2003 at 20:39:12 PT Relevancy by damning the media On the coin of prohibition we have the government and its laws on one side and the media on the other. This concerns the media and the fact that many now damn the media for the conspirator it is in protecting government interest to the peril of the people.This election is completely different than any election before as the Internet has raised awareness of the wrongness of the leaders of the country and the failure of the media. It is the failure of the media and those who plainly see it that are in direct conflict and it is easy to show where the media fails. There is no excuse for this failure and there will be remedy and true sources of news will develop.Yesterday we had the chairman of the Independent Commission studying 9/11 flat out say Bush was warned of the events and could have prevented them. There was nothing in the news.Today there are two big stories that will not make news. One is Putin saying the war in Iraq was in violation of UN law- http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=276541There is another story that Japan wanted to surrender before the A-bombs fell, but we wanted to show the Russians we could kick their butt too- http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=938749The only reason I mention these is to make sure everyone knows there thoughts are being herded. It is the lesson of our times. We must learn the lesson and then teach/preach it. When the horror of the situation with the media hits you, you will be ready to war on prohibition. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment