cannabisnews.com: NORML's Weekly News Bulletin -- February 23, 2006





NORML's Weekly News Bulletin -- February 23, 2006
Posted by CN Staff on February 23, 2006 at 14:05:30 PT
Weekly Press Release
Source: NORML
Marijuana Detection Time Shorter Than Previously AssumedFebruary 23, 2006 - Columbia, MO, USAColumbia, MO: The length of time cannabis metabolites may be detected, on average, on a standard urine screen is typically no longer than ten days for chronic users and between 3-4 days for infrequent users, according to a literature review published in the current issue of the journal Drug Court Review.
"Recent scientific literature indicates that it is uncommon for occasional marijuana smokers to test positive for cannabinoid [metabolites] in urine for longer than seven days" at 20 ng/ml or above on the EMIT (Enzyme Multiplied Immunoassay Technique) test, the author concludes. "Following smoking cessation, chronic smokers would not be expected to remain positive for longer than 21 days, even when using the 20 ng/ml cannabinoid cutoff."When tested at the 50 ng/ml cutoff threshold, infrequent users typically test negative for the presence of marijuana metabolites within 3-4 days, while heavy users typically test negative by ten days after ceasing use, the study found.While several clinical trials from the 1980's found cannabis metabolites to be identifiable in the urine at low concentrations for longer periods of time, particularly in heavy users, the author suggests that more advanced drug-testing technology has narrowed this window of detection."As cannabinoid screening tests evolved, these improved assays became more selective in the manner in which they detected marijuana metabolites," the author writes. "As detection specificity increased, the length of time cannabinoids were being detected in urine decreased. ... Therefore, the results of cannabinoid elimination investigations performed in the 1980's may no longer be applicable to estimating the detection window for marijuana in urine using todayıs testing methodologies."After reviewing data from more recent clinical investigations of chronic marijuana smokers, the author reports that the "average detection window for cannabinoids in urine at the lowest cutoff concentration of 20 ng/ml was just 14 days." However, the author also notes that a minority of subjects continue to test positive for cannabis metabolites after 28 days, even when tested by more advanced drug-testing technology.Approximately 55 million drug screens are performed annually in the United States. The majority of these are workplace urinalysis tests, which detect the presence of drug metabolites (inert byproducts produced after a substance is metabolized by the body), but not the substance itself. Consequently, the US Department of Justice affirms that a positive drug test result for the presence of a drug metabolite "does not indicate ... recency, frequency, or amount of use; or impairment."For more information, please contact Paul Armentano, NORML Senior Policy Analyst, at (202) 483-5500. Full text of the study, "The marijuana detection window: Determining the length of time cannabinoids will remain detectable in urine following smoking," is available online at: http://www.ncdi.org/ndcirpub.htmlDL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6821 Maternal Marijuana Use Not Associated With Childhood Leukemia, Study SaysFebruary 23, 2006 - Chapel Hill, NC, USAChapel Hill, NC: Marijuana use by mothers is not associated with an increased risk of childhood acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in offspring, according to a case-control study to be published in the March issue of the journal Pediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology.Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill analyzed 517 cases of children with AML and 610 unmatched controls. Incident cases were defined as children less than 18 years of age who had been diagnosed with AML between 1989 and 1993, and were registered with the Children's Cancer Group (a pediatric clinical co-operative group). Control children were selected via random digit dialing and individually matched. "Overall, no positive associations between parental marijuana use and childhood AML were observed," investigators found. In addition, researchers found that self-reported maternal marijuana use "in the 3 months before, or during pregnancy was associated with a decreased [risk] of childhood AML."They added: "Some evidence of a dose-response relationship was observed with those reporting use once or more per week in the 3 months before pregnancy having a more reduced odds ratio than those reporting less than once per week. Decreased odds ratios were also noted for maternal marijuana smoking in the year after birth."Investigators did not conclude, however, that maternal marijuana use could protect against AML. Rather, they suggested that the inverse association may be the result of "recall bias" (e.g., case mothers may have been less likely than control mothers to report having used marijuana before or during pregnancy).The study's results contradict the findings of a 1999 investigation that did note an association between maternal cannabis use and childhood AML."The previously reported positive association between maternal marijuana use before or during pregnancy and childhood AML was not confirmed in this study," investigators concluded. "Parental marijuana use is unlikely as a strong risk factor for childhood AML."The UNC study is the largest epidemiological study of childhood AML to date in the United States.Acute myeloid leukemia comprises approximately 16 percent of leukemias diagnosed in individuals younger than 15 years of age.For more information, please contact Paul Armentano, NORML Senior Policy Analyst, at (202) 483-5500. Full text of the study, "Parental marijuana use and risk of childhood acute myeloid leukaemia: a report from the Children's Cancer Group," appears in the March issue of the journal Pediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology.DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6822Source: NORML Foundation (DC)Published: February 23, 2006Copyright: 2006 NORML Contact: norml norml.org Website: http://www.norml.org/CannabisNews NORML Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/NORML.shtml
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Comment #8 posted by museman on February 24, 2006 at 11:22:05 PT
#6comment
Yes that's the one. Unfortunately American citizens are left with no recourse other than our 'free speech' which by the looks and sounds of it has dwindled to a pitiful state, albeit there is plenty of air filled with words. Americans are 'Chief Bowels' and our Tee Pee is the governmental doubletalk, doublethink, lies to cover lies, and in general filled up with crap. Our forefathers had America to run to to escape tyranny. Chief Bowels is sh*t out of luck.
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Comment #7 posted by dongenero on February 24, 2006 at 08:30:33 PT
wouldn't want to promote free speech
"I told him it was not the practice of this station to promote that type of thing because it was illegal," Freeman said. Freeman said Morgan had run the PSAs without checking with station managers.Hmmm, not in the practice of promoting freedom of speech. That would be a tough position for a radio station to take I would think. Maybe they're content with a move towards only state sponsored media.Time to change the channel.
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Comment #6 posted by whig on February 23, 2006 at 17:05:25 PT
This one? :)
Indian Chief Bowels was sitting on his reservation one afternoon when two government officials approached him. They tried to explain as best they could that his land was about to be taken over by the government to build a freeway. They told the Chief that he would have to leave and they would pay him a tidy sum for his land.
Chief protested simply by stating, "BOWELS NOT MOVE!"The government officials felt he needed medical attention, so they coaxed him into riding with them to see a Doctor. Chief Bowels repeated to the Doctor "BOWELS NOT MOVE!"
The Doctor prescribed him an extra strength laxative and sent him home. Three days later, the government guys came back to see the Chief.Chief stated to them, "BOWELS STILL NOT MOVE!" So off to the Doctor they went again. This time the Doctor prescribed the most powerful laxative there was. Chief went back home.Three days later, the government guys came back to see the Chief. Chief met them at the door with his bags packed and stated, "BOWELS MOVE NOW, TEE-PEE FULL OF S**T!"
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Comment #5 posted by museman on February 23, 2006 at 15:52:45 PT
Money well spent - not
"While several clinical trials from the 1980's found cannabis metabolites to be identifiable in the urine at low concentrations for longer periods of time, particularly in heavy users, the author suggests that more advanced drug-testing technology has narrowed this window of detection."Gee, somebody got a real good deal of money to do tihs research. Why? So that law enforecement has a 'better' tool for harrassing people over use of a plant that is healthier in it's worst case scenario than 90% of the 'legal' drugs on the market. Money spent on sophisticated BS. Meanwhile seniors can't get the legal drugs they need because mR. MonkeyBush (and his 'shadow government') have created a national debt beyond credible reality in their various wars.Medical insurance for the poor and working poor has been scaled back to medieval times; your access to good medical help is equal to letting a 'barber' bleed you.But let's fund the war on drugs first and foremost. After all we need those boys to fight the (freedom fighters of) 'terrorism.' They won't want ot fight if they smoke herb. But hey if they do a little meth in the battle, we won't mention it, after all they're all speeded out to fight for mom and apple pie right?Crap, crap, and more crap.Reminds me of an old 'dirty joke' form my childhood;punchline from that joke;"Chief Bowels GOT to move now, TeePee full of S**t" (crap)
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Comment #4 posted by Dankhank on February 23, 2006 at 15:14:32 PT
My response
At one time gambling was only in Nevada, but laws changed. I lived in a "dry" county in the sixties in Georgia. It's not dry, now. Some Americans were required to ride in the back of the bus for decades, but not now.Cannabis was illegal; now one-third of all Americans live now in a state that allows Medical Cannabis.Law evolves even when a Police Chief takes it upon himself to decide what we can talk about.Shouldn't police recuse themselves as judges do, instead of trying to comment on matters that directly affect their job/budget/personnel?With over 725,000 arrests for simple Cannabis possession yearly for the last few years, many of whom use it to self-medicate, what would be the effect of not haveing to chase those people?Lower budgets? Less personnel? Or to have to go after REAL crime?Police Chief Mike Reed, recuse yourself, please.
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Comment #3 posted by whig on February 23, 2006 at 14:57:57 PT
Cannabis and cancer
Maternal Marijuana Use Not Associated With Childhood LeukemiaThis is at least the second time that a study attempted to show or confirm a positive correlation between cannabis and cancer and came up with a slight *reverse* correlation.
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on February 23, 2006 at 14:53:34 PT
Thanks Mayan
I have it posted now.http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21624.shtml
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Comment #1 posted by mayan on February 23, 2006 at 14:17:25 PT
MPP Ads Censored!
I just posted this on the previous thread but what the hell...Rawlins radio stations pull medical marijuana PSA after complaints - By The Associated PressRAWLINS -- A pair of local radio stations has pulled a set of public service announcements advocating medical marijuana use after receiving complaints from the police chief and others.Scott Freeman, a salesman for Mount Rushmore Broadcasting in Casper, which owns KIQZ-FM and KRAL-AM in Rawlins, said he pulled the PSAs as soon as he learned about them.A disc jockey at the stations, Jack Morgan, had run the 30-second PSAs."I told him it was not the practice of this station to promote that type of thing because it was illegal," Freeman said. Freeman said Morgan had run the PSAs without checking with station managers."As soon as we were made aware that it was being done, we made the change to have it canceled," Freeman said.The station received three PSAs from the Marijuana Policy Project.Rawlins Police Chief Mike Reed was among those who called Freeman to complain about the spots."For me, it was disturbing that the local radio station was running advertising that is counter to what the public and our community stand for ...," Reed said.http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2006/02/23/news/wyoming/21-pot-psa.txtYou can comment at the bottom of the article!
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