cannabisnews.com: NORML's Weekly News Bulletin -- September 29, 2005










  NORML's Weekly News Bulletin -- September 29, 2005

Posted by CN Staff on September 29, 2005 at 14:10:43 PT
Weekly Press Release 
Source: NORML 

Positive Marijuana Result Not Associated With Auto Crash CulpabilitySeptember 29, 2005 - Baltimore, MD, USABaltimore, MD: Marijuana use, as indicated by the presence of cannabis metabolites, is not associated with crash culpability among injured drivers, according to data presented at the annual conference of the Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine.
Researchers at the University of Maryland's National Center for Trauma and EMS obtained clinical toxicology reports for more than 2,500 injured drivers to identify the presence of alcohol, cocaine, and marijuana. Authors found that drivers who tested positive for alcohol in the blood had" significantly higher crash culpability" than sober drivers. Authors further found a "significant association" between cocaine use and crash culpability for male drivers between 21 and 40 years of age."In contrast, for both men and women, [the] study did not find an association between crash culpability and marijuana use," researchers determined. Drivers between the ages of 41 and 60 who tested positive for marijuana were less likely to be culpable than drug-free drivers, they added.Because researchers based their analysis on the presence of drug metabolites in the urine rather than the presence of controlled substances in blood, authors could not determine whether the drivers' drug use directly preceded their injury or had taken place days earlier."While the current study does not provide evidence of cocaine and marijuana impairment, or use at the time of injury, it provides information about culpability relative to users of cocaine and marijuana," authors concluded. "To clarify the role of marijuana use in crash culpability, a large study of injured patients treated in acute care settings using blood tests to assess for marijuana use proximal to time of injury would be quite useful." According to an analysis of on-road crashes released earlier this month by an international expert panel: "The most meaningful recent culpability studies indicate that drivers with THC concentrations in whole blood of less than 5 ng/ml have a crash risk no higher than that of drug-free users. The crash risk apparently begins to exceed that of sober drivers as THC concentrations in whole blood reach 5-10 ng/ml." Authors added, however, "Because recent studies involved only a few drivers with THC concentrations in that critical range, a reliable assessment of the associated crash risk is still lacking."THC blood levels typically fall below 5 ng/ml in recreational cannabis users within 60 to 90 minutes after inhalation. For more information, please contact Paul Armentano, NORML Senior Policy Expert, at (202) 483-5500. Full text of the study, "Crash culpability relative to age and sex for injured drivers using alcohol, marijuana or cocaine," appears in the 2005 Annual Proceedings of the Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine. A comprehensive breakdown of state drugged driving laws appears in NORML's report, "You Are Going Directly to Jail: DUID Legislation: What It Means, Who's Behind It, and Strategies to Prevent It," available online at: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6492DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=668135th Annual Midwest Harvest Festival To Take Place This WeekendSeptember 29, 2005 - Madison, WI, USAMadison, WI: Event organizers are expecting several thousand attendees at the 35th annual Great Midwest Marijuana Harvest Festival, taking place this weekend at the Liberty Mall in downtown Madison. The two-day event, which advocates for the legalization and regulation of cannabis for adults and features dozens of speakers and musical acts, is one of the largest and most long-running annual marijuana-law reform rallies in the United States.Speakers scheduled to appear at this year's Harvest Festival include: NORML Founder Keith Stroup; Madison NORML chapter coordinator Gary Storck; noted authors and activists Chris Conrad and Mikki Norris; IMMLY (Is My Medicine Legal Yet) founder Jacki Rickert; longtime Hempfest organizer Ben Masel; and State Representative Mark Pocan.For more information on speakers and events at this year's 35th Annual Midwest Harvest Festival, please visit: http://www.madisonnorml.org.DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6683Cannabis Extracts Effective In Treatment Of Pain-Related MS Symptoms, Study SaysSeptember 29, 2005 - London, United KingdomLondon, United Kingdom: Cannabis extracts reduce neuropathic pain and pain-related sleep disturbances in Multiple Sclerosis patients unresponsive to standard treatment, according to clinical trial data published in the current issue of Neurology.Sixty-six patients participated in the double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Volunteers self-administered Sativex, a whole plant medicinal cannabis extract containing precise doses of the cannabinoids THC and cannabidiol (CBD), as an adjunctive analgesic treatment to their existing medications throughout the trial."Our findings demonstrate that Sativex was effective in reducing both central pain in MS and pain-related sleep disturbance in a population with moderate to severe central pain inadequately relieved by existing medication," principle investigator Carolyn Young stated in a press release.In previous clinical trials, Sativex has been demonstrated to alleviate numerous MS-associated symptoms compared to placebo, including pain, muscle spasms, and bladder incontinence.The drug, now available in Canada, is pending regulatory approval in the United Kingdom.For more information, please contact Paul Armentano, NORML Senior Policy Analyst, at (202) 483-5500. Full text of the study, "Randomized, controlled trial of cannabis-based medicine in central pain in multiple sclerosis," appears in the September 27, 2005 issue of Neurology.DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6682Source: NORML Foundation (DC)Published: September 29, 2005Copyright: 2005 NORML Contact: norml norml.org Website: http://www.norml.org/CannabisNews NORML Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/NORML.shtml

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Comment #41 posted by FoM on October 03, 2005 at 11:02:21 PT
Another Off Topic Neil Young Comment
I am painting again today and listening to Prairie Wind over and over again and I must say this new album gets better and better with each listen. I can't really pick a favorite song because they all are great in my book. I hope he wins some award for it. 
Neil Young: Prairie Wind
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Comment #40 posted by Hope on October 01, 2005 at 22:24:41 PT
Neil Young
I'm so glad he didn't die, too. He has brought, and still brings, much joy to many people.
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Comment #39 posted by FoM on October 01, 2005 at 20:20:59 PT

Hope
Thank you. I have a very thoughtful husband. I have listened to all the songs on Prairie Wind on Neil Young's web site but I hadn't seen the video which was the actual recording of the album in Nashville. It was written and recorded during the time of Neil's brain surgery. It is beautifully done and deals with our own mortality and the mortality of those we love. My mother died of Alzheimers and Neil's father died of a form of Dementia too. The words in the one song were done so tastefully. Neil Young shows so much respect and love for his family that he seems to be a role model for many people. I'm glad he didn't die.Trying to remember what my daddy saidBefore too much time took away his head
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Comment #38 posted by Hope on October 01, 2005 at 19:11:23 PT

*smile*
FoM, I'm happy for you...both that you now have the latest Neil and that you have such a thoughtful, loving husband.
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Comment #37 posted by FoM on October 01, 2005 at 16:16:38 PT

Truth
I love his new album. It's just beautiful. I probably won't listen or watch anything on tv tonight. This new CD is a tranquilizer for the soul.
Neil Young: Prairie Wind
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Comment #36 posted by Truth on October 01, 2005 at 16:10:51 PT

Neil
I like that Neil's gotten back to his roots....
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Comment #35 posted by FoM on October 01, 2005 at 15:13:43 PT

Woo! Woo! Woo! EJ
My husband knew how much I wanted to have Prairie Wind and he went shopping and surprised me with a copy. Now I'll have more then one. I love it!
Neil Young: Prairie Wind
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Comment #34 posted by runruff on October 01, 2005 at 10:20:09 PT:

Bill Bennett,"there's nothing to discuss".
I mentioned Bill Bennett here at C/News before. I once told the story about how I saw him on a talk show when he was
The US drug csar. The talk show host ask him why the 
ONDCP or the FDA were not engaged in a dicussion concerning the ligalization of Marijuana or at least for medical purposes. He said, "Marijuana is bad". "Marijuana is illegal". "End of discussion". These were the very words
that told me something had to be done. Then soon after I arrived at a friends house while he was being busted. I ask the cop in charge, "Don't you have any criminals to after, I now this guy and he is no criminal". The cop said, "He is growing pot". I said, "even if he is he is not hurting anyone." "You guys just like pot laws because they are easy and profitable for you". He smirked back, "If you dont like the law change it". That was in 1993 and I've been trying to change the law with all my heart ever since. 
We all need to hold hands in this. Lock our spirits together
and want this horrible law to go away more than they want to keep it.Namaste,Peace
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Comment #33 posted by The GCW on October 01, 2005 at 06:36:31 PT

The Bennett mindset in action.
 "Imagine," said Cole, "one of the most racist places in the world: South Africa, 1993. At that time the South African government was incarcerating black males at the rate of 859 per 100,000 population." And yet in 2004 in the United States -- with a higher percent of its population in prison than any country in the world -- the incarceration rate for black males was 4,919 per 100,000 ( compared to 726 overall ). He pointed to an FBI estimate that one in three black male babies born in the U.S. in 2004 has an expectation of going to prison during his lifetime. "That just blows my mind," he said. CONTUS TX: Vets Against The (Drug) Warhttp://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1558/a04.html?397To American racists, prohibition works.
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Comment #32 posted by mayan on October 01, 2005 at 04:55:41 PT

Off Topic
Billboard company yanks ads with marijuana imagery:
http://www.wisinfo.com/dailytribune/wrdtlocal/284983056752086.shtmlPot harvest outgrows legal crops in Canada:
http://www.sltrib.com/business/ci_3077256Joining together for a shared goal:
http://nsnlb.us.publicus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051001/NEWS01/110010015/-1/businessTHE ONLY WAY OUT...Incoming FDNY Chaplain Forced to Resign After Doubting 9/11 - 911Truth.org covered in New York Newsday:
http://www.911truth.org/article.php?story=20051001023512308‘BOMBS INSIDE WTC’: FIRE OFFICER SAYS FIREMEN, COPS KNOW TRUTH:
http://www.americanfreepress.net/html/bombs_inside_wtc.htmlKristol Clear: Bill Kristol, PNAC, 9/11 & The Media: 
http://tvnewslies.org/html/kristol_clear.html911 Flight 93 Passengers 'Lost':
http://rense.com/general67/911pass.htm
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Comment #31 posted by AOLBites on October 01, 2005 at 02:05:25 PT

Fyi : Dutch docu on the US WOD.
got broadband?http://www.mininova.org/get/121421 This is a documentary from The Netherlands' DNW which focuses on theAmerican so-called "War on Drugs". (The video is in English with Dutchsubtitles.) It provides a snapshot of a foreign view of the US justicesystem. -=snip=-must see ... link to torrent: http://www.mininova.org/get/121421
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Comment #30 posted by FoM on September 30, 2005 at 21:46:17 PT

No Prairie Wind
No I haven't gotten it yet. It hasn't even been shipped from Amazon. I got it ordered before the release date but I think they sold more then they thought and ran out and are restocking. I'm really looking forward to seeing the DVD. I love the album but I've read that they DVD is really good. The interview with Neil Young tonight was great. That's a nice radio station. Where it broadcasts from was my old stomping grounds many years ago. 
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Comment #29 posted by E_Johnson on September 30, 2005 at 21:37:01 PT

FoM did your CD arrive yet?
Prairie Wind is a nice way to forget that awful man.
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Comment #28 posted by FoM on September 30, 2005 at 19:21:20 PT

PainWithNoInsurance 
What Bennett said has bothered me all day. I'm in one of my mad moods. I'm just mad, mad, mad. I'll get over it. I'm listening to a really good radio program now and I've tuned out the news so I'm getting over it slowly. If I only typed what I thought sometimes I'd blow everyone's mind. LOL! At least I'm laughing a little now.
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Comment #27 posted by PainWithNoInsurance on September 30, 2005 at 18:52:50 PT

Former Drug Czar Bennet Shows He's an Idiot
I saw on TV where Mr. Bennet was the drug czar under president Bush senior. I cannot beleive the racial comment he said on that radio show. That was the stupidest thing I have ever heard any politician say. It just shows any idiot can be a drug czar, or is it more fitting to say any idiot can work for a Bush administartion.
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Comment #26 posted by global_warming on September 30, 2005 at 18:13:23 PT

Hey Jake
President Nixon backed out in disgraceLaw and JudgementPlaced NixonIn that shameful place
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Comment #25 posted by ekim on September 30, 2005 at 18:01:49 PT

hope Jake is reading this
> U ain't kiddin! Go to the Ft. Worth Weekly website at
> http://www.fwweekly.com. Great cover, great pics and great story. 6000
> words!
http://www.fwweekly.com
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Comment #24 posted by FoM on September 30, 2005 at 17:57:35 PT

Off Topic 
Coming on now is an interview with Neil Young on WorldCafe.org radio. I thought some here might like to hear it.http://worldcafe.org/index.php
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Comment #23 posted by global_warming on September 30, 2005 at 17:46:10 PT

Meant to say
To "our" Heaven
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Comment #22 posted by global_warming on September 30, 2005 at 17:39:33 PT

Mrs. Nall 
Go AlabamaThis women,Got ballsPush her on her rollTo Heaven...
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Comment #21 posted by FoM on September 30, 2005 at 17:35:57 PT

It Really Bothers Me EJ
Thanks for telling me the difference. I guess I live in my own world and somethings really bother me but maybe it doesn't bother everyone. 
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Comment #20 posted by mayan on September 30, 2005 at 17:35:08 PT

GCW
Thanks for that letter and for the info regarding Emery. Let's hope he doesn't get kidnapped by the DEA!
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Comment #19 posted by The GCW on September 30, 2005 at 17:21:48 PT

mayan,
Letters the week of 9/29/05 9/11 questions (Re: "CSI: 9/11," cover story, Sept. 8) Thank you! Finally someone in the mainstream newspapers is covering what has occurred to millions of people in this country since 9/11/01. There is no way an intelligent being can accept the official version of the events of that day. I have a question about where all those people who were on the flight manifests went though, in particular Barbara Olsen, Ted Olsen's wife. I can see a sort of witness protection program or, sadly, that this administration really did sacrifice all those lives for the New Pearl Harbor. Please, please continue to push for another, truly scientific investigation that really makes them answer the hard questions. Sue Bailey/North Kingstown http://www.boulderweekly.com/letters.html
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Comment #18 posted by The GCW on September 30, 2005 at 17:18:11 PT

Canadian - Marc Emery
CN BC: Charging Emery May Keep Him HerePubdate: Fri, 30 Sep 2005 
Source: Province, The (CN BC) A Vancouver philanthropist is to file drug charges today against pot activist Marc Emery and two associates in an attempt to throw a wrench into an American bid to extradite them on marijuana charges. "If he gets charged in Canada that will have major legal consequences for that extradition request," said David McCann. 
 
Cont.http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1559/a12.html?397
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Comment #17 posted by E_Johnson on September 30, 2005 at 17:14:54 PT

FoM Bill Bennett sure does like to gamble
Gamblers and alcoholics are different. Alcoholics are triggered by anxiety, according to recent science. A chronic gambler, they say, is triggered by boredom. He craves the sensation of danger, the feeling that the next thing he does could potentially ruin his life.I think that's what motivared Bill Bennett to say what he did. He can't gamble now in casinos without being publicly outed. His wife is on his case. So now instead of using his hands to gamble away his financial capital, he's put his mouth to work gambling away his political and social capital. 
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Comment #16 posted by mayan on September 30, 2005 at 16:07:32 PT

WHOA!!!
Check out the cover of NYC Newsday!!! I figured something big was about to break considering how the Weekly Standard and CBS just ran pieces ridiculing the 9/11 truth movement. The sh*t is headed for the fan...http://img318.imageshack.us/img318/8031/lny9hy.jpgIncoming FDNY chaplain questions 9/11 story:
http://www.nynewsday.com/nyc-imam0930,0,4529238.story?coll=nyc-topheadlines-spanFDNY Chaplain Resigns After Remarks About 9/11 Conspiracy Theory:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/30/nyregion/30wire-chaplain.htmlPentagon revokes 9/11 officer's clearance:
http://tinyurl.com/9gfeo9/11 Safety Group Warns No Government Involvement in Katrina Study (read last two paragraphs):
http://www.arcticbeacon.citymaker.com/articles/article/1518131/34479.htmRunruff, in Mike Ruppert's video, "The Truth and Lies of 9/11" he says something like, "A snake eating it's own tail is not nutritious." He was referring to the U.S. government, of course. 
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Comment #15 posted by global_warming on September 30, 2005 at 15:46:15 PT

New head for FDA
Might there be changes in the air?http://www.cnn.com/2005/HEALTH/09/26/fda.commissioner.ap/index.html"..von Eschenbach has seen cancer from both sides, having survived three diagnoses: melanoma, prostate cancer and basal cell carcinoma.".."He replaces Commissioner Lester Crawford, out only two months after the Senate confirmed him for the post. Crawford had functioned as acting head for more than year. Crawford's surprise resignation Friday gave no specific reason for his departure. His tenure was marked by increasing criticism of the agency by those who contended it had become more interested in politics or benefiting drug companies than in its mission to protect consumers."We can hope,

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Comment #14 posted by ekim on September 30, 2005 at 09:48:00 PT

VETS AGAINST THE ( DRUG ) WAR 
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1558/a04.html?397This Is Your Society. This Is Your Society On An Endless, Losing Campaign Against Drugs. NOW DO YOU GET IT? As a Texas prison warden, Richard Watkins saw the drug war's effects every day. 'If you can't keep drugs out of a maximum-security prison, you can't keep them out of schools' White: 'I got fed up with the corruption.' Jack Cole, LEAP's founding director, today and ( at right ) during his days as an undercover narc. He believes the drug war has increased police corruption and institutional racism. Woolridge, left, in his suit, after giving a speech on drug legalization, and right, back on the road riding Sam. He's been wearing various versions of the t-shirt for six years. 

http://www.leap.cc/events
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Comment #13 posted by runruff on September 30, 2005 at 09:36:49 PT:

Feds + Logic = Duh!
One of the armed facist DEA soldiers who paid a suprise
visit to my home was one now retired taxpayer parasite 
Randy Snow. [I wonder if he is any relation to Chrissy ?]
Randy is now retired for a life time of funds and fun
at our expense after commiting acts of terror on his fellow countrymen for the last 20 years. Such a deal! 
He asked me on the day we met if I realized that I was supporting terrorists world wide with my activity? Growing
herbs. I told him that I was exercising my god given right to grow any of his plants that I choose. It is the
artificial value of this plant created by prohibition
and the fact that anyone who wants to is not allowed by law to grow it that is creating finances for terrorists. Besides it has been US policies that have created terrorism in the first place. This guy spent the night guarding me. By morning he was agreeing with me. So you see how they brainwash these guys. The rewards make it eaiser to do so.
These guys get so much money and perks and a sweetheart retirement. Many of them even deal drugs on the side with impunity. I mean with an act of congress you couldn't get one of these guys busted.
So hear this. One fellow I know is best friends with an agent in charge of his regional office. He said his friend was looking forward to retiring but when the time came he was offered incentives to re-up. A month off $20,000 and a paid trip to Disneyland for his whole family for a week, first class. He said no, he promised to take his wife on a second honeymoon to Paris then buy a cabin in Lake Tahoe
and settle down. OK, His boss said, 2 months off, we'll send your family to Disneyland and you and your wife to Paris for a month all expenses paid plus we will buy you a cabin in Tahoe if you stay 5 more years. He said do I still get the $20,000 thousand? His boss said yes. So the feds bought another soul with our money.
I see the feds as a giant snake swallowing itself by it's
own tail. Fighting the problems they create for themselves.
Is this stupidity or by design? Without problems to solve there would be no need for these obscene budgets and monumental waste of our money.
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Comment #12 posted by FoM on September 30, 2005 at 09:27:33 PT

About Bennett
Why do Republicans say they are moral and democrats are commies? I watched the series on PBS about the 60s. I saw what Wallace said about the counter culture. I know I would never be a republican because they seem to be like the KKK to me. How dare them for thinking God made them superior to others. Why is caring for society such a bad thing? Why is caring about the enviornment a bad thing? Why? Why? Why?Bennett - - gamblesBush -- drinking again maybe
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Comment #11 posted by ekim on September 30, 2005 at 08:48:19 PT

read about Howard in New York City
http://leap.cc/howard/weblog.html
http://www.leap.cc/howard
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Comment #10 posted by FoM on September 30, 2005 at 08:48:06 PT

EJ I Am
Something is really wrong with some of these Republicans. It's like they think they are better then everyone. I find them the lowest of low in my book.
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Comment #9 posted by E_Johnson on September 30, 2005 at 08:43:57 PT

Semi-OT: Bill Bennett is in trouble again
Is anyone following this story?http://mediamatters.org/items/200509280006*****************************************Addressing a caller's suggestion that the "lost revenue from the people who have been aborted in the last 30 years" would be enough to preserve Social Security's solvency, radio host and former Reagan administration Secretary of Education Bill Bennett dismissed such "far-reaching, extensive extrapolations" by declaring that if "you wanted to reduce crime ... if that were your sole purpose, you could abort every black baby in this country, and your crime rate would go down." Bennett conceded that aborting all African-American babies "would be an impossible, ridiculous, and morally reprehensible thing to do," then added again, "but the crime rate would go down."**************************************************The crime rate would also go down if we stopped the War on Drugs.But as a good Christian, Bennett would never entertain such a shocking idea in public.
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Comment #8 posted by dongenero on September 30, 2005 at 08:39:42 PT

news links
Cops come up short at harvest timehttp://www.poststar.com/story.asp?storyid=1646Paris Hilton cleared of allegationshttp://www.fox23news.com/entertainment/story.aspx?content_id=F989684C-A9F2-4AF3-A4AE-6A2FCA1F7576Marijuana surpasses wheat as biggest Canadian crophttp://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000082&sid=ai1jmKtWGgEE

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Comment #7 posted by runruff on September 29, 2005 at 21:32:17 PT:

Toker00
Yes that would work. I always put donations and overages into getting out more tapes and dvd's. Thank you very much.
My friend said he was getting a hissing sound in the new copies but he now has it fixed. We will be ready again soon.Toker, You've really got the spirit. We will overcome!Peace.
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Comment #6 posted by Dankhank on September 29, 2005 at 19:27:08 PT

for your edification ...
DOT HS 808 078 "Marijuana and Actual Driving Performance" Final Report, Nov. 1993 Conclusions on page 108 of the copy I received from the NHTSA are interesting and informative. A sample : "It is possible to safely study the effects of marijuana on driving on highways or city streets in the presence of other traffic." "Drivers under the influence of marijuana tend to over-estimate the adverse effects of the drug on their driving ability and compensate when they can; e.g. by increasing effort to accomplish the task, increasing headway or slowing down, or a combination of these." DOT HS 808 939 "Marijuana, Alcohol and Actual Driving Performance" July 1999 Conclusion on page 39 midway of paragraph 5.1 of the copy I received: The addition of the new data, (for marijuana), broadens the range of reactions that may be expected to occur in real life. This range has not been shown to extend into the area that can rightfully be regarded as dangerous or an obviously unacceptable threat to public safety.
 
DOT HS 809 020 "Visual Search and Urban City Driving under the Influence of Marijuana and Alcohol" March 2000: Conclusion 1 on page 24 of the copy I received. "Low doses of marijuana taken alone, did not impair city driving performance and did not diminish visual search frequency for traffic at intersections in this study." General Discussion on page 22 . Previous on-the-road studies have also demonstrated that subjects are generally aware of the impairing properties of THC and try to compensate for the drug's impairing properties by driving more carefully (Hansteen et al, 1976; Casswell, 1979; Peck et al, 1986; Robbe 1994). DOT HS 809 642 "State of Knowledge of Drug Impaired Driving" Sept 2003: Experimental Research of Cannabis, page 41 midway: "The extensive studies by Robbe and O'Hanlon (1993), revealed that under the influence of Marijuana, drivers are aware of their impairment, and when experimental tasks allow it, they tend to actually decrease speed, avoid passing other cars, and reduce other risk-taking behaviors." 
DOT HS 808 065 "The Incidence and Role of Drugs in Fatally Injured Drivers" Oct. 1992 In discussing the "Distribution of Ratings on Driver Responsibility" Table 5.12 page 64 of the copy I received, paragraph (p.65); "Responsibility, drugs and alcohol, third paragraph, "the following appears: "Note that the responsibility rates of the THC-only and Cocaine-only groups are actually lower than that of the drugfree drivers. Although these results too are inconclusive, they give no suggestion of impairment in the two groups. The low responsibility rate for THC was reminiscent of that found in young males by Williams and colleagues (1986).” This study is remarkable in it's propensity to attack itself as inconclusive. 
Forensic Science Review Vol. 14, Number One/Two, Jan 2002, surely must be the reference of note regarding metabolic functions and where the THC goes following ingestion. This review discuses THC and it's metabolites; THCCOOH, 11-OH-THC to mention the most discussed. Location and type of measured quantities of these and other metabolites should be easy to use to determine if a driver is "stoned" or was stoned yesterday, or last week. Mention was made of a man who had measurable levels of metabolites sixty-seven days after ingesting Cannabis. Chap IX paragraph D, "Summary" appears to be of two minds. While stating: "Studies examining Cannabis' causal effect through responsibility analysis have more frequently indicated that THC alone did not increase accident risk …" it continues optimistically suggesting that further exhaustive research may rebut that.
 
All of the studies agree that combining Cannabis with any other drug, such as Alcohol ... a major deleterious effect on driving skills, as is benzoates with Cannabis … it rapidly becomes evident that Cannabis in combination with any number of other drugs is not to be desired, but that Cannabis and Cocaine alone in all six studies have the smallest perceived safety risk of all the drugs and drug combinations tested and against drug-free drivers.

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Comment #5 posted by observer on September 29, 2005 at 19:10:04 PT

Pot smokers - safer drivers than ''drug free''
Drivers between the ages of 41 and 60 who tested positive for marijuana were less likely to be culpable than drug-free drivers, they added.Oops! Another bit of truth slipped past the gatekeepers. Time for a full-court press, time to "mount a surge," and try to associate pot with deadly crashes, all the more. If the truth slips out, just lie all the more. Yeah, that's the ticket. So expect lots more MADD-type people and vested-interest prohibitionists to scream that pot causes crashes (no evidence of course), all the louder.Australia: No Proof Cannabis Put Drivers At Risk (2001)
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01/n1849/a09.htmlUK: Cannabis May Make You A Safer Driver (2000) 
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n1161/a02.html University Of Toronto Study Shows Marijuana Not A Factor In
Driving Accidents (1999)
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1999/03/990325110700.htm Australia: Cannabis Crash Risk Less: Study (1998) 
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v98/n945/a08.html Australia: Study Goes to Pot (1998) 
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v98/n947/a06.html 

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Comment #4 posted by mayan on September 29, 2005 at 18:21:16 PT

Cultural War
Drivers between the ages of 41 and 60 who tested positive for marijuana were less likely to be culpable than drug-free drivers, they added.Very interesting, indeed. Looks like the drugged driving laws have been proven to be just more ammunition for the drug warrior's cultural war! How pathetic.They're getting nervous...Weekly Standard Attacks 9/11 Skeptics:
http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/september2005/280905attacksskeptics.htmGandhi was right.
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Comment #3 posted by siege on September 29, 2005 at 17:30:29 PT

I have something for you:
The school kids took the TCAP test a while back, and for there grad level the sore to be about 32% this is though the 7 grad. kids in the 4-7 had scores of 83% to 98 % and they say that they have ADHD and have to have MED. for it.. it is the dumb teachers there, that don't see the kids are smarter then they are.. and the school had to give test to all the kids that cost them $1,800 each for gifted children.. and the better part of them made it and are off the big Riddlin and other drugs.. 
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Comment #2 posted by mastercy on September 29, 2005 at 16:55:06 PT

who cares about science
The Bush Administration, DEA, ONDCP, and the others don't care what scientifically sound studies say. Darn it, marijuana is terrible and even metabolites impair. We need to lock up everybody that has ever tried drugs in order to save the children. And if your child has a hard time sitting still, he probably has ADHD, so put him on Strattera. But be careful, there is a suicide risk. But what drugs don't these days right.http://money.cnn.com/2005/09/29/news/fortune500/lilly_warning.reut/index.htm?cnn=yes"Won't somebody think of the children."
Maude Flanders (god rest her soul.)
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Comment #1 posted by global_warming on September 29, 2005 at 15:06:13 PT

Out of Control and descending rapidly
"Marijuana use, as indicated by the presence of cannabis metabolites, is not associated with crash culpability among injured drivers.."Maybe they should have a test to determine if a person is too genetically impaired from birth to ever be a good driver?Then they can figure out a way to sue the parents or even the grand parents for damages?
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