cannabisnews.com: NORML's Weekly News Bulletin -- August 26, 2004





NORML's Weekly News Bulletin -- August 26, 2004
Posted by CN Staff on August 26, 2004 at 16:27:15 PT
Weekly Press Release
Source: NORML
New Federal Report Contradicts Drug Czar's ClaimsAugust 26, 2004 - Washington, DC, USAWashington, DC: A newly released federal report refutes claims by US Drug Czar John Walters that the United States is being inundated with Canadian pot, that the drug's potency is dramatically rising, and that marijuana poses a greater public health threat than heroin or cocaine.
According to the US Department of Justice report, "National Drug Threat Assessment 2004," the overwhelming majority of commercial grade marijuana consumed in the US comes from California and Mexico. The report further adds that Hawaii, not Canada, is the US' "leading source of high potency marijuana." The report estimated that between 10,000 and 24,000 metric tons of marijuana is available in the US.In recent months, Walters has testified that the US marijuana market is being inundated with high potency cannabis from British Columbia, dubbing it the "crack of marijuana." Most recently, Walters has claimed that this influx of Canadian pot is directly responsible for sending rising numbers of Americans to the emergency room.According to the DOJ report, however, increased mentions of marijuana during emergency room visits "in recent years have not been significant," and account for less than ten percent of all drug mentions. The report further stated that the average THC content of US commercial grade marijuana is around five percent, despite claims by Walters that today's marijuana potency levels are "10 to 20 times stronger" than they were a generation ago.Authors of the report note that despite federal and state anti-drug efforts, marijuana remains "widely available" in the United States, with "98.2 percent of state and local law enforcement agencies nationwide [describing] marijuana availability as high or moderate." Nevertheless, only 13 percent of state and local law enforcement agencies identified marijuana as "their greatest drug threat," and less than five percent identified pot as "the drug most contributing to violent crime in their areas."The release of the DOJ report came on the eve of an announcement from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy that the administration plans "to shift some of the focus in research and enforcement from 'hard' drugs such as cocaine and heroin to marijuana."For more information, please contact either Allen St. Pierre or Paul Armentano of the NORML Foundation, at (202) 483-5500. Copies of the report are available online at: http://www.usdoj.gov/ndic/pubs8/8731/DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6213Potent Argument: The Latest Marijuana Scare http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19330.shtmlThe 'Potent Pot' Mythhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19259.shtmlBush Targets Marijuana Smokers http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19229.shtmlU.S. Drug Czar Warns of Potent Pot Herehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19209.shtmlAs Pot Gets Stronger, US Officials Change Policyhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19203.shtml Cannabis Extracts Reduce MS-Associated Spasticity, Other Symptoms, Study SaysAugust 26, 2004 - Oxford, United KingdomOxford, United Kingdom: Medicinal cannabis extracts significantly reduce spasticity and other symptoms compared to placebo in patients suffering from Multiple Sclerosis (MS), according to clinical trial data published in the August issue of the journal Multiple Sclerosis, Clinical and Laboratory Research.One hundred and sixty patients participated in the double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Volunteers were administered cannabis extracts containing equal amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive compound in marijuana, or placebo via an oromucosal spray. Researchers used a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) to evaluate the extracts' impact on patients most troublesome symptom, as well as other MS-associated disabilities, including pain, tremor, and fatigue.Authors found that cannabis extracts reduced patients' primary mean symptom score compared to placebo. In particular, spasticity VAS scores were "significantly reduced" by the extracts in comparison to placebo.Extracts had "no significant adverse effects on cognition or mood and intoxication was generally mild," authors added.Previous clinical data published last year in the journal Clinical Rehabilitation concluded that cannabis extracts can improve neurogenic symptoms unresponsive to standard treatments, including MS-associated pain, impaired bladder control, muscle spasms and spasticity.British authorities are currently reviewing the medicinal cannabis extract Sativex, produced by GW Pharmaceuticals, for licensing and regulatory approval in the UK.For more information, please contact Paul Armentano, NORML Senior Policy Analyst, at (202) 483-5500. Multiple Scelrosis, Clinical and Laboratory Research is available online: http://www.arnoldpublishers.com/journals/pages/mul_scl/DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6212GW Says Cannabis Drug Helps MS Patientshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19038.shtmlThe Cannabis Conundrumhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18285.shtmlBritish Firm Holds Hope for Users of Medical Pothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18277.shtmlAustralian State Approves Hemp Cultivation August 26, 2004 - Canberra, AustraliaCanberra, Australian Capitol Territory: Licensed farmers will be allowed to cultivate hemp for commercial purposes under legislation recently approved by the Australian Capitol Territory's (ACT) Legislative Assembly.Proponents of the law change argued that the crop will help to regenerate land around Canberra that was recently devastated by bush fires.Hemp is presently cultivated for commercial purposes in Australia in Queensland, and on a trial basis in Tasmania.In another recent change to the ACT's marijuana laws, legislators have also reduced the number of pot plants one may possess for recreational purposes without facing criminal charges from five to two. Possession and cultivation of marijuana for personal use has been decriminalized in the ACT since 1989.For more information, please contact either Allen St. Pierre or Paul Armentano of the NORML Foundation at (202) 483-5500. A summary of United States hemp laws and resolutions is available at: http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=3395DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6214CannabisNews Hemp Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/hemp.shtmlSource: NORML Foundation (DC)Published: August 26, 2004Copyright: 2004 NORML Contact: norml norml.org Website: http://www.norml.org/NORML's Weekly News Bulletin -- Aug. 18, 2004 http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19361.shtmlNORML's Weekly News Bulletin -- Aug. 12, 2004 http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19326.shtmlNORML's Weekly News Bulletin -- Aug. 05, 2004 http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19295.shtml
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Comment #8 posted by Hope on August 27, 2004 at 07:39:46 PT
Walters not knowing the facts
It's not Walters' job to know the facts...it's his job to lie and whip up hysteria.
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Comment #7 posted by Hope on August 27, 2004 at 07:36:42 PT
GCW....Bush's Monica
I despise to see anyone lie...but it was easier to endure watching Monica lie than it is to watch Walters lie. Think it has a lot to do with that big stick in his hand. A liar is bad...a liar with a big stick to throttle you with if you don't believe his lies...is decidedly worse.
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Comment #6 posted by CorvallisEric on August 27, 2004 at 00:28:10 PT
Canada vs Mexico
I think we all know what Walters and his RCMP friends say about Canada and "BC Bud" - here's some relevant quotes from the DOJ report ( 
http://www.usdoj.gov/ndic/pubs8/8731/marijuana.htm ):In 2002 almost 1,099 metric tons of marijuana were seized through investigations in which federal agencies participated, according to FDSS data, down from 1,214 metric tons in 2001. Texas, Arizona, California, and New Mexico continue to account for the vast majority of marijuana seized--nearly 1,016 metric tons in 2002 and 1,102 metric tons in 2001.For 2002, that's "nearly 1,016 metric tons" in states bordering Mexico out of "almost 1,099 metric tons" total for the entire country - about 92.45 percent.Some estimates have suggested that over half the marijuana produced in British Columbia--notwithstanding that produced in Ontario, Quebec, and other provinces--is smuggled across the border, but there is no accepted interagency estimate as to exactly what percentage of Canada-produced marijuana is smuggled into the United States.There's more stuff in the report about the importance of lots of places other than Canada as the source of marijuana in the U.S.
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Comment #5 posted by CorvallisEric on August 27, 2004 at 00:08:25 PT
Evidence that Walters is crazy
http://www.usdoj.gov/ndic/pubs8/8731/marijuana.htmI thought the following was interesting - direct quotes extracted from various places in the report are in blue - my comments are in black:NDTS 2003 data show that 13.1 percent of state and local law enforcement agencies nationwide identified marijuana as their greatest drug threat. Regionally, more agencies in the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic (23.0%), Great Lakes (19.7%), and Southwest regions (12.4%) identified marijuana as their greatest threat than did those in the West Central (4.2%), Southeast (4.0%), and Pacific regions (2.1%).The Pacific region is AK HI WA OR ID NV and Northern CA (Monterey-Kern-Inyo Counties and northward) - from map at http://www.usdoj.gov/ndic/pubs8/8731/scope.htm#Figure%201 . It has 2.1% "marijuana as their greatest drug threat." Now compare that with these excerpts of where the most domestic marijuana is produced: ... law enforcement reporting and eradication data suggest that California, Appalachia (Kentucky and Tennessee), Hawaii and, to a somewhat lesser extent, the Pacific Northwest (Washington and Oregon) are the primary domestic marijuana source areas.California is likely the leading domestic marijuana source area. The state solely accounted for more than one-third of outdoor cannabis plants eradicated under the DCE/SP program in 2001 (1,086,809 of 3,068,632) and 2002 (1,267,771 of 3,128,800). Humboldt, Mendocino, and Trinity Counties in northern California traditionally have been areas of high cultivation, typically of sinsemilla. The DEA San Francisco Field Division, Northern California and Central Valley HIDTAs, and state and local law enforcement agencies also identify Alameda, Contra Costa, Fresno, Kern, Lake, Madera, Merced, Monterey, Napa, Santa Cruz, Sonoma, and Tulare Counties as some other areas in which considerable cultivation has occurred in recent years.Hawaii is a leading source of high potency marijuana, according to the DEA Los Angeles Division.Add to this the wondrous BS (oops, I mean BC) Bud that comes primarily through this same region, and once again consider that only 2.1% of state and local cops consider "marijuana as their greatest drug threat." Also, note that 6 of the 9 medical marijuana states are here.Of course, the reason marijuana gets only a 2.1% rating is that methamphetamine gets 90.9% (see http://www.usdoj.gov/ndic/pubs8/8731/meth.htm ). And still, Walters is obsessed with MJ. As the NORML press release says:The release of the DOJ report came on the eve of an announcement from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy that the administration plans "to shift some of the focus in research and enforcement from 'hard' drugs such as cocaine and heroin to marijuana." And they don't even mention meth.
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Comment #4 posted by The GCW on August 26, 2004 at 20:07:03 PT
Is Walters, Bush's, Monika?
According to the US Department of Justice report, "National Drug Threat Assessment 2004," Walters is mistaken.420Walters; or 0Walters; it's Your decission, Sr.Cannabis even helps reduce Cannabis prohibitionists.Cannabis exposes the magots.Cannabis testifies, itself.Walters seems to be eating His own vomit.Cage the child that uses what God said is good on the very 1st page of the Bible. 
Fphfff.I will pray to the Spirit of Truth in search for a never ending better way to put it.Telling the child the table of the Lord is to be despised, is said to be a very bad work.Long ago foretold; make no mistake; the one who does this evil isn't walking free.Through the squint of My eyes I see Walters in the spiritual crosshairs of Truth.Have We done all that We can do to save Him?The Green Collar Worker 
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Comment #3 posted by mayan on August 26, 2004 at 18:42:02 PT
Credibility...
It's not like Walters has any credibility to lose. He never had any in the first place! He is simply a paid liar...paid by our own tax dollars!Give it up, Johnny Pee. I want my money back, scum! 
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Comment #2 posted by runruff on August 26, 2004 at 17:43:27 PT:
refer madness
Walters is reciting from Anslingers old play book.There is nothing new under the sun!Namaste
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Comment #1 posted by goneposthole on August 26, 2004 at 17:25:23 PT
cracks me up
BC bud is the crack of marijuana. American money ending up in Canadian hands is the only concern here. Canadians may begin to demand Canadian money and refuse American money. Watch out then. A greater public threat than heroin or cocaine? Obviously, Mr. Walters has never been around heroin users. Anyway, alcohol users pose a greater public threat than cannabis users. I've seen it happen many times. Not too difficult to figure that one out. Beautiful day in August.
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