cannabisnews.com: NORML's Weekly News Bulletin -- March 17, 2005 NORML's Weekly News Bulletin -- March 17, 2005 Posted by CN Staff on March 17, 2005 at 16:10:51 PT Weekly Press Release Source: NORML Netherlands: Most Use Prescription Cannabis For MS, Study SaysMarch 17, 2005 - Cologne, GermanyCologne, Germany: Nearly four out of ten patients in the Netherlands with a prescription for "medical-grade cannabis" (cannabis provided by Dutch pharmacies with a standardized THC content of 10.2 percent) use it to treat neurologic disorders such as Multiple Sclerosis and spinal cord injuries, according to survey data published in the current issue of the journal Neurology. More than 100 patients with a physician's prescription to use medicinal cannabis responded to the questionnaire. Overall, 39 percent of respondents said they used "medical-grade cannabis" to treat neurologic disorders. Twenty-one percent said they used cannabis to treat symptoms related to musculoskeletal/connective tissue disorders (such as fibromyalgia, arthritis, or migraine), and 14 percent said they used it to treat symptoms of cancer and/or HIV/AIDS.Sixty-four percent of respondents reported "good or excellent" therapeutic effects from cannabis, with a greater percentage of patients experiencing perceived benefits the longer they used cannabis. Perceived efficacy was better among patients who inhaled cannabis versus those who took cannabis orally, authors found.Since 2003, Dutch patients with a doctor's prescription have been able to purchase government-grown cannabis at licensed pharmacies. An estimated 1,000 to 1,500 patients are believed to receive prescription cannabis from Dutch pharmacies.For more information, please contact either Allen St. Pierre or Paul Armentano of NORML at (202) 483-5500. Full text of the study, "Medical use of cannabis in the Netherlands," appears in the March issue of Neurology.DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6482British Docs Recommending Medical Cannabis, Study SaysMarch 17, 2005 - Salisbury, United KingdomSalisbury, United Kingdom: One out of six Britons who use medicinal cannabis do so at the advice of their physician, according to survey data published this month in the International Journal of Clinical Practice.Sixteen percent of respondents said that they use medical cannabis at the suggestion of their physician, while 62 percent responded that a friend or family member had recommended it. Approximately 950 Britons responded to the questionnaire, which authors called "the most extensive survey of medicinal cannabis use among chronically ill patients" ever conducted.Respondents were most likely to report using cannabis to treat symptoms of chronic pain, Multiple Sclerosis, or neuropathy. Ninety-five percent of patients said they had obtained some therapeutic benefit from cannabis, with just under half reporting that it provided greater relief than their prescribed medications. Nearly 80 percent of respondents said that their symptoms returned or became worse when they ceased using cannabis therapeutically."The results of our UK survey, including the extent of use and reported effects, lend support to the further development of safe and effective medicines based on cannabis," said the study's lead author, Mark Ware of the McGill University Health Centre in Montreal, Canada. "[T]hese data ... point to the need for clinical studies of cannabis and cannabinoids with standardized and quality-controlled products."For more information, please contact Paul Armentano, NORML Senior Policy Analyst, at (202) 483-5500. Full text of the study, "The medicinal use of cannabis in the UK: results of a nationwide survey," appears in the March issue of the International Journal of Clinical Practice.DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6481NORML Announces Willie Nelson Benefit Golf Tournament - Play Golf With Willie; All Proceeds Benefit NORMLMarch 17, 2005 - Austin, TX, USAAustin, Texas: Celebrate this July 4th weekend in style with NORML and country music legend Willie Nelson at the inaugural Willie Nelson/NORML Benefit Golf Tournament.Join Advisory Board member Willie Nelson and the NORML staff this July 3, 2005, for 18 holes of golf and festivities at Willie's personal golf course, the Pedernales Golf Club in Spicewood, Texas, just outside of Austin.Guests can play golf or enjoy a relaxing day in the VIP tent. Or, for a premium donation, guests can play golf side-by-side with longtime NORML supporter Willie Nelson in Willie's exclusive 'sixsome.'For information, or to sign up to be a part of this unique NORML benefit, please visit: http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6446 or contact Keith Stroup at (202) 483-5500.DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6479EU To Begin Roadside Saliva Testing For Drugged DriversMarch 17, 2005 - Brussels, BelgiumBrussels, Belgium: Law enforcement in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and throughout Europe will participate in a pilot study regarding the use of roadside oral fluid screening devices to detect for the presence of controlled substances, according to a press release from the European Police Traffic Network, TISPOL.Under the guidelines of the year-long project, known as ESTHER (practical Evaluation of oral fluid Screening devices by TISPOL members to Harmonize European police Requirements), authorities will administer various types of saliva drug tests to motorists to screen for illicit substances.Unlike urinalysis, which detects metabolites indicative of past drug use, saliva testing screens for the presence of 'parent drugs' (the identifiable psychoactive compound of a controlled substance). While certain drug metabolites are detectable in the urine for days and sometimes weeks after past use, parent drugs are only detectable in the saliva for several hours. To date, however, roadside oral fluid testing has only been implemented in Victoria, Australia, where critics of the technology have charged that the test is often inaccurate.The goal of the EU study will be to outline a standardized procedure for roadside drug tests, not to assess the reliability or accuracy of oral fluid devices, TISPOL said.For more information, please contact Paul Armentano, NORML Senior Policy Analyst, at (202) 483-5500.DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6480Source: NORML Foundation (DC)Published: March 17, 2005Copyright: 2005 NORML Contact: norml norml.org Website: http://www.norml.org/NORML's Weekly News Bulletin -- Mar. 11, 2005http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20348.shtml NORML's Weekly News Bulletin -- Mar. 03, 2005http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20312.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #8 posted by FoM on March 23, 2005 at 13:29:18 PT Rhode Island Legislature Considers HEA Reform The following is an alert from our friends at The Coalition for Higher Education Act reform, of which NORML is a member, about efforts to reform the Higher Education Act drug provision that denies federal financial aid to any student with a drug conviction. NORML has worked closely with CHEAR on this important issue and will continue to do so as HEA reform bills work their way through Congress and state legislatures.Please note that NORML will NEVER share your e-mail address or personal information with other organizations.*********************************************************************************Friends:Added in 1998 as an amendment to the Higher Education Act (HEA), the Drug Provision (section 484(r)) excludes students with drug convictions from receiving financial aid to attend institutions of higher learning. The provision has had the effect of disqualifying a large number of deserving, low- to middle-income students from receiving federal aid to attend college for what are often relatively minor drug offenses, including misdemeanor marijuana possession. To date, more than 160,500 financial aid applicants have been ineligible for aid as a result of the Drug Provision. Senator Lincoln Chafee, a Republican Senator from Rhode Island, is one of the campaign's target Members for introducing a bill in the U.S. Senate that will fully repeal the Drug Provision.On March 2 members of the Rhode Island General Assembly introduced H 6134, a bill which if enacted will restore state aid and make up lost federal aid for students affected by the federal Higher Education Act (HEA) Drug Provision, and call on Congress to repeal the Drug Provision. Enactment of H 6134 into law will send a strong message encouraging Senator Chafee to take the lead in the Senate for repeal of the Drug Provision. The Coalition for Higher Education Act Reform (CHEAR) is asking supporters to contact their elected officials in Rhode Island to express support for this important legislation. If you are represented by one of the cosponsors of H 6134, please call or write your state legislator and thank him or her. If your elected officials in Rhode Island have not signed on to this legislation, please call or write asking them to do so immediately. The original sponsors of H 6134 are Representatives Almeida, Diaz, and Slater.To send a pre-written letter to your Representative, please visit: http://ga0.org/campaign/RIlegislatorsSincerely,Chris Mulligan, Outreach Director CHEAR [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by FoM on March 23, 2005 at 13:24:53 PT Wisconsin Legislature Considers Decriminalization Take Action Now! http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=7287076&type=STFriends,NORML is pleased to announce that Assembly Bill 255, a bill to decriminalize marijuana possession for first time offenders, has been introduced in the Wisconsin Legislature. Now is the time to contact your state legislators and urge them to support this important piece of legislation.According to FBI data, an estimated 17,500 Wisconsin citizens are arrested annually for marijuana violations -- the thirteenth highest total of any state in the nation. Of these, some 15,000 -- or 86 percent -- are arrested for simple possession only, not cultivation or sale. Many of these are first-time offenders. The estimated total annual cost of these arrests to Wisconsin taxpayers is a staggering $105 million. Surely, the state's limited law enforcement resources would be better served targeting more serious and violent crimes.If passed, AB 255 would amend penalties for the first time possession of 25 grams or less of marijuana to a civil offense -- punishable by a citation and a fine. For juveniles, the AB 255 would amend penalties for first time marijuana offenders from a delinquent act to a civil law violation -- punishable by a fine of up to $50, as well as the temporary revocation of driving privileges. Passage of AB 255 will assure that the indiscretion of tens of thousands of otherwise law-abiding citizens will not result in an arrest or jail, or the lifelong indignity and lack of opportunity that accompanies a criminal record.Please take two minutes of your time to write your state legislators and tell them how important it is that they support Assembly Bill 255. Prewritten letters are available here: http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=7287076&type=STThank you for your help on this important issue.Sincerely,Paul Armentano, Senior Policy Analyst NORML [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by FoM on March 18, 2005 at 10:45:27 PT breeze Golf! Oh Golf! My parents were avid golfers. My one sister was a semi pro. They tried to make me like golf but all I wanted to do was ride horses. My father took my to a one and only golf lesson at the club and I thought what's this. When it was over my dad aked me if I liked the lesson and I said no. I said fore means to me fore what. LOL! [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by breeze on March 17, 2005 at 23:33:58 PT GOLF! Finally~ after years of enjoying the smell of grass in the morning- the secret is out! There aint NUTHIN' like chasin' the ball in picturesque nature!If you have never tried golf- you should. It is a LOT of fun, and it can be a very good workout! Plus- you get to wear weird outfits, smoke blunts, and curse- and no one really seems to mind! Just "act" like your really into the game when ever the angry banker is around! In other words- learn the etiquite first and FOREmost! [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Sam Adams on March 17, 2005 at 19:20:44 PT Holland Sixty-four percent of respondents reported "good or excellent" therapeutic effects from cannabis, with a greater percentage of patients experiencing perceived benefits the longer they used cannabis. Perceived efficacy was better among patients who inhaled cannabis versus those who took cannabis orally, authors found.You mean, the ones who SMOKED cannabis had better relief? Just thought I would highlight this in case Dr. Grubb is reading the site today. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by mayan on March 17, 2005 at 18:26:24 PT GCW I think it's real golf. LOL! The windmill does suck, though! Willie's always happy when he's on "the green"!Regarding the last article on the bulletin, it looks like Murkowski and the oil goons don't want any free thinking individuals up in Alaska when they start drilling in ANWR. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by The GCW on March 17, 2005 at 16:58:19 PT Golf? Golf is a good game but I always have trouble at the windmill. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on March 17, 2005 at 16:16:03 PT NORML: Bill To Recriminalize Marijuana in Alaska WHAT: Bill To Recriminalize Marijuana in Alaska To Receive Hearing Next Week!WHERE: Alaska Senate Health, Education, and Social Services Committee State CapitolWHEN: Monday, March 21, 2005 and Wednesday, March 23, 2005Next week, on March 21 and again on March 23, the Senate Health, Education, and Social Services Committee will hold hearings on Senate Bill 74, which would would make it a felony to possess marijuana in one's own home, despite the fact that Alaskan courts have twice ruled that marijuana possession in a person's home is protected by the state constitution. This bill was personally introduced by Governor Murkowski, and unless the Alaska Senate hears overwhelming opposition to the proposal from Alaska voters, it will likely pass into law.If you have not done so already, please take a moment today to write your Senator and tell him or her to oppose Senate Bill 74. Pre-written letters are available online from NORML at: http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=6852266&type=STIn addition, if your Senator serves on the Health, Education, and Social Services Committee, it is vital that you call him or her TODAY to voice your opposition to this harmful and unconstitutional bill. The committee is expected to vote on this proposal immediately following the hearing.The following Senators serve on the Health, Education, and Social Services Committee:Senator Fred Dyson (R-AK I), Chair - (907) 465-2199 Senator Gary Wilken (R-AK E), Vice-Chair - (907) 465-3709 Senator Kim Elton (D-AK B) - (907) 465-4947 Senator Lyda N. Green (R-AK G) - (907) 465-6600 Senator Donald C. Olson (D-AK T) - (907) 465-3707To help support NORML's state legislative efforts, please donate today at: https://secure.norml.org/join/Thank you again for your support of NORML's legislative efforts in Alaska.Regards,Kris Krane, Associate Director NORML [ Post Comment ] Post Comment