cannabisnews.com: NORML's Weekly News Bulletin - August 30, 2007 NORML's Weekly News Bulletin - August 30, 2007 Posted by CN Staff on August 30, 2007 at 13:30:23 PT Weekly Press Release Source: NORML NORML Calls On Next Attorney General To End Medi-Pot RaidsAugust 30, 2007 - Washington, DC, USAWashington, DC: America’s next Attorney General should stop using federal justice powers and spending taxpayers’ dollars to arrest and prosecute individuals who are in compliance with state medical marijuana laws, NORML Legal Counsel Keith Stroup said today. Former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, who announced his resignation on Monday, oversaw a record number of raids and federal prosecutions against state-authorized medical marijuana patients and providers. In July, federal agents raided more than a dozen locally authorized cannabis dispensaries in California and moved forward with separate federal prosecutions against several additional medi-pot providers."The resignation of Attorney General Gonzales provides the Bush Administration with an opportunity to rethink and revise their misguided policy against medical marijuana patients and providers in California and other states that have legalized the medical use of cannabis under state law," Stroup said. He added: "Eighty percent of the American public now support the rights of patients to use marijuana as a medicine when a physician recommends it, and a total of 12 states have now adopted medical use laws. It is time for President Bush and his next attorney general to accept the will of the American public, and to stop harassing seriously ill patients who use medical marijuana and those who care for them."Gonzales’ resignation will become effective September 17. Solicitor General Paul D. Clement will serve as acting attorney general until a successor is confirmed. In contrast to Gonzales, all of the candidates for the Democratic nomination for President have pledged, if elected, to cease federal actions against state-sanctioned medical marijuana dispensaries and cooperatives.Nationally, total arrests for marijuana violations also rose dramatically under Gonzales’ tenure – hitting a record high of 786,545 in 2005, the last year for which data is available. For more information, please contact Keith Stroup, NORML Legal Counsel, or Allen St. Pierre, NORML Executive Director, at (202) 483-5500. DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=7344Feds Slash Funding For Controversial Student Drug Testing ProgramsAugust 30, 2007 - Washington, DC, USAWashington, DC: Federal funding to pay for the establishment of random student drug testing programs has fallen dramatically in recent years – from a high of $7.2 million in 2005 to less than $2 million for the 2007-2008 school year, according to figures released by the US Department of Education.According to the agency, school districts in 15 counties in seven states will receive approximately $1.6 million in federal funding to establish new programs for the 2007-2008 school year. Twenty-one states received federal funding in 2005 to develop new drug testing programs.Of the $1.6 million appropriated for the 2007-2008 school year, more than a third of the funding will go to schools in Texas.According to federal guidelines, education funds may be provided to public schools to pay for the implementation of random drug testing programs for students who participate in competitive extra-curricular activities. Schools that adopt policies allowing for students to be randomly drug tested if they have their parents’ written consent may also apply for federal grant funding. Earlier this year, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) sponsored a series of nationwide "summits" encouraging middle-school and high-school administrators to enact federally sponsored random student drug testing programs. The 2007 summits marked the fourth consecutive year that the White House funded the symposiums."Year after year the federal government wastes taxpayers’ dollars in their effort to persuade school administrators that they should adopt this failed policy, but each year there are fewer and fewer takers," NORML Senior Policy Analyst Paul Armentano said. Armentano said that only federally approved evaluation assessing the impact of student drug testing on youth drug use determined, "Drug testing, as practiced in recent years in American secondary schools, does not prevent or inhibit student drug use."Armentano added: "Random student drug testing is a humiliating, invasive, expensive practice that fails to achieve its stated goal of deterring student drug use. The Feds would do best to simply cease funding this failed policy altogether."For more information, please contact Paul Armentano, NORML Senior Policy Analyst, at (202) 483-5500.DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=7345Cannabinoids Associated With “More Restful Sleep,” Study SaysAugust 30, 2007 - Salisbury, United KingdomSalisbury, United Kingdom: The use of both natural cannabinoids and cannabis extracts are associated with improved sleep in patients with various debilitating illnesses, according to a review of clinical trial data published in the journal Chemistry & Biodiversity."Cannabis … has been utilized for [the] treatment of pain and sleep disorders since ancient times," authors wrote. "Modern clinical trials indicate that patients administered cannabis extracts report experiencing "more restful sleep, [an] increase [in] their daytime level of function, and [a] markedly improve[d] … quality of life." According to available data, of the 2,000 subjects that have been administered cannabis extracts in clinical trials, most "demonstrate marked improvement in subjective sleep parameters." Trial volunteers have not reported developing tolerance to the drug, even after using it for several years. Currently, cannabis extracts are available by prescription in Canada under the trade name Sativex. Regulators in Great Britain and Spain have also granted limited regulatory approval for the drug.For more information, please visit: http;//www.gwpharm.comFull text of the study, "Cannabis, pain, and sleep: Lessons from therapeutic clinical trials of Sativex, a cannabis-based medicine," appears in the journal Chemistry & Biodiversity.DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=7346Source: NORML Foundation (DC)Published: August 30, 2007Copyright: 2007 NORML Contact: norml norml.org Website: http://www.norml.org/CannabisNews NORML Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/NORML.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #24 posted by afterburner on September 02, 2007 at 22:28:25 PT CN ON: Editorial: Crackdown at Hempfest Too Severe CN ON: Editorial: Crackdown at Hempfest Too Severe http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v07/n1017/a01.html (Fri, 31 Aug 2007) The Sault Star CN QU: The Latest From Hemp - Brain Food, Indeed http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v07/n1017/a06.html (Sat, 01 Sep 2007) Montreal Gazette [ Post Comment ] Comment #23 posted by afterburner on September 01, 2007 at 07:40:51 PT OPP 'Military SWAT' style Compound - Hempfest 2007 To see photos of the RIDE stop on the road to Hempfest, click here. http://travel.webshots.com/album/560497215VlXSKa?vhost=travel [ Post Comment ] Comment #22 posted by afterburner on September 01, 2007 at 07:32:19 PT "Mean"-while: News from Hempfest CN ON: PUB LTE: Put an End to Abuse of Rights at Hempfest, The Sault Star, (30 Aug 2007) http://www.mapinc.org/newstcl/v07/n1014/a02.html?176CN ON: OPP Says RIDE Check At Hempfest Was Legitimate, The Sault Star, (31 Aug 2007) http://www.mapinc.org/newstcl/v07/n1014/a09.html?176Harper-style police intimidation or legitimate safety concerns? You decide. [ Post Comment ] Comment #21 posted by Hope on August 31, 2007 at 23:31:16 PT Afterburner From one of those pages you posted. A snarky comment after a letter was printed... hey, they did print it! The way those Canadian Editors like to do to get the last word, with a usually stupid and snarky comment."( Are you saying that if you make crime legal, you no longer have a crime problem? )"No, To The Editor, That's not what he's saying. Why do they do that? Maybe a few people stick with them that actually think like that...but most people wonder why he's creating an asinine diversion from what is really being said. [ Post Comment ] Comment #20 posted by afterburner on August 31, 2007 at 19:46:49 PT More Prohibition Press with Snarky Press Comments CN ON: Column: Drug Prohibition Doesn't Work, Ottawa Sun, (28 Aug 2007) http://www.mapinc.org/newstcl/v07/n1013/a01.html?176CN ON: Column: Drug Prohibition Doesn't Work, Toronto Sun, (28 Aug 2007) http://www.mapinc.org/newstcl/v07/n1013/a03.html?176CN BC: PUB LTE: Legal Pot Industry A Better Solution, Victoria Times-Colonist, (31 Aug 2007) http://www.mapinc.org/newstcl/v07/n1012/a03.html?176CN ON: PUB LTE: Subsidizing Criminals, Toronto Sun, (29 Aug 2007) http://www.mapinc.org/newstcl/v07/n1011/a05.html?176CN AB: PUB LTE: Pity The Prohibitionists, The Calgary Sun, (29 Aug 2007) http://www.mapinc.org/newstcl/v07/n1010/a04.html?176 [ Post Comment ] Comment #19 posted by whig on August 31, 2007 at 08:27:09 PT I should say, small minority I think Republicans are a minority in most cities now, and becoming a minority in most of the country. [ Post Comment ] Comment #18 posted by Hope on August 31, 2007 at 08:26:32 PT GCW Thank you. I wish the Denver Post would pick up that article.Actually, I'm really impressed with the job the TV Station, CBS Channel 4 has been doing on the city council episode. TV is the place where the majority get their news...I'd guess. [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by whig on August 31, 2007 at 08:25:45 PT The GCW Boulder sounds nice. Berkeley has a lot of Republicans too believe it or not. They just keep quiet in public because they are a minority here. If someone was openly pro-Bush in public here I don't know what people would say but they wouldn't like it. [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by Hope on August 31, 2007 at 08:20:20 PT Afterburner. Yes he did! I was so happy when I first saw it actually happening. [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by afterburner on August 31, 2007 at 07:48:20 PT As Kap Predicted (When the Press Says Prohibition: CN AB: Column: Drug Prohibition Doesn't Work, Edmonton Sun, (28 Aug 2007) http://www.mapinc.org/newstcl/v07/n1008/a05.html?176 CN ON: Column: Prohibition of Drugs Fails, London Free Press, (28 Aug 2007) http://www.mapinc.org/newstcl/v07/n1008/a06.html?176CN MB: Column: Drug Prohibition Doesn't Work, Winnipeg Sun, (28 Aug 2007) http://www.mapinc.org/newstcl/v07/n1008/a07.html?176CN AB: Column: Drug Prohibition Doesn't Work, The Calgary Sun, (28 Aug 2007) http://www.mapinc.org/newstcl/v07/n1008/a08.html?176 [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by The GCW on August 31, 2007 at 05:27:51 PT Hope Hope,The Boulder Weekly is an alternative weekly newspaper that is free in the Boulder, Colorado area.They have been printing stories, articles and editorials against the war on drugs and cannabis for a long time.Boulder, Colorado is the home of CU, the University of Colorado at Boulder. Elevation 5,430 feet above sea level.Boulder population, app. 10,000.Boulder County population, app. 28,000.CU enrollment, app. 32,000.Boulder Weekly circulation, 25,000.http://www.nationwideadvertising.com/adinboulcolb.htmlThis website says:-- home to more than 250,000 people-0-As far as Boulder goes, I like Boulder. It is near Denver. Much smaller town, next to the Flatirons, which are some rock / mountian thingy's that jet up out of the ground. Enter Boulder Flatirons and click images.http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&rls=GGLJ,GGLJ:2006-45,GGLJ:en&q=Boulder+flatirons&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&um=1&sa=N&tab=wi&oi=property_suggestions&resnum=0&ct=property-revision&cd=3Boulder is right next to the mountains. I remember when I first drove out to the Boulder / Denver area. I wanted to see mountains and as You drive west from Missouri it is pretty much flat till You go west of Boulder / Denver. But once You leave Boulder / Denver suddely it goes up and up. You can see the mountains 50 or 75 miles before You get to them but don't get to feel them and I was dissapointed in that at first. It is wierd, You can be in the mountains and look out at certain vantage points and see the mountains end the way a child would make them. Draw a line and on one side have farm land flat and on the other side make the mountains go up.Boulder's weather is nice, usually a few degrees warmer in the winter than Denver with some sunshine most every day. They say it gets more sunny days than Fort Loterdale (sp) in Florida.Boulder is a safe town. I remember a few years ago they didn't have a single murder...As a cyclist, Boulder is cycle friendly. Many top U.S. cycle racers live and train in and around Boulder. Road, Mounain, and other disciplines.Colorado has the highest low elevation of any other state. When You enter a town in Coloraod the sign doesn't tell You population, it tells You its elevation.I'm surprised they let republicans in. If I was a multigodzillionaire, You'd have to know Me to come / live here. [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by Hope on August 30, 2007 at 20:44:05 PT GCW http://www.boulderweekly.com/thedanishplan.htmlIs that a very well read paper. Is it a give away? An alternative paper? Do many people read it? I know it's been publishing stuff on the drug war for ages...but I was wondering if you could describe the Boulder Weekly, for me. [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by FoM on August 30, 2007 at 20:12:17 PT The GCW I don't know how to make anyone feel shame because I don't do things that way but I understand. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by The GCW on August 30, 2007 at 20:04:18 PT FoM, And the ones that are not listening are being put to shame.The ones that are not listening are being made out to be fools, idiots and ignoids. [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by FoM on August 30, 2007 at 19:24:23 PT Thanks The GCW All in all they are listening and that's a good beginning.http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23297.shtml [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by The GCW on August 30, 2007 at 18:53:45 PT Boulder Weekly Show-boating on potby Paul Danishhttp://www.boulderweekly.com/thedanishplan.htmlEver wonder why marijuana is still illegal? It has nothing to do with the inherent safety or danger of the drug. CONT. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by FoM on August 30, 2007 at 17:19:00 PT ekim Thank you. I'll try to not miss it. We'll get good broadband in a couple years. Our Governor has made this one of his priorities. I have something to look forward to. I miss Youtube. That's really all I miss by the FAP policy. Youtube is great. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by FoM on August 30, 2007 at 17:06:58 PT charmed quark You reminded of a comparison. WAMM was raided under this administration. Actually all the big raids happened in this administration. I did a search to go back as far as I could and I didn't see any article where Clinton was pushing like this administration. Also they weren't the majority and now they are. All they need is a few more seats and they will be filibuster proof. The last time that happened was with Jimmy Carter 30 years ago. I remember seeing Jimmy Carter say that he would decriminalize marijuana. He didn't but we know why and now maybe it will work this time. This congress appreciates Governor Richardson and they won't let his state get raked over the coals. That's my hope.***Jimmy Carter Drug Abuse Message to the Congress. August 2nd, 1977 MARIJUANA Marijuana continues to be an emotional and controversial issue. After four decades, efforts to discourage its use with stringent laws have still not been successful. More than 45 million Americans have tried marijuana and an estimated 11 million are regular users. Penalties against possession of a drug should not be more damaging to an individual than the use of the drug itself; and where they are, they should be changed. Nowhere is this more clear than in the laws against possession of marijuana in private for personal use. We can, and should, continue to discourage the use of marijuana, but this can be done without defining the smoker as a criminal. States which have already removed criminal penalties for marijuana use, like Oregon and California, have not noted any significant increase in marijuana smoking. The National Commission on Marijuana and Drug Abuse concluded five years ago that marijuana use should be decriminalized, and I believe it is time to implement those basic recommendations. Therefore, I support legislation amending Federal law to eliminate all Federal criminal penalties for the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana. This decriminalization is not legalization. It means only that the Federal penalty for possession would be reduced and a person would received a fine rather than a criminal penalty. Federal penalties for trafficking would remain in force and the states would remain free to adopt whatever laws they wish concerning the marijuana smoker. I am especially concerned about the increasing levels of marijuana use, which may be particularly destructive to our youth. While there is certain evidence to date showing that the medical damage from marijuana use may be limited, we should be concerned that chronic intoxication with marijuana or any other drug may deplete productivity, causing people to lose interest in their social environment, their future, and other more constructive ways of filling their free time. In addition, driving while under the influence of marijuana can be very hazardous. I am, therefore, directing the Department of Transportation to expedite its study of the effects of marijuana use on the coordination and reflexes needed for safe driving. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/print.php?pid=7908 [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by ekim on August 30, 2007 at 16:58:39 PT FoM this might interest you ON THE COMMUNICATORS Brian Mefford, Connected Nation Inc. This week's guest on The Communicators is Brian Mefford, Connected Nation Inc., President & CEO. Mr. Mefford will discuss the work of Connected Nation, a non-profit organization that works with states and broadband providers to improve and increase statewide broadband access, particularly in states with large rural populations. FROM SATURDAY, AUG. 25 http://www.c-span.org [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by charmed quark on August 30, 2007 at 16:48:08 PT DEA Med Pot Raids FoM, I hope that this behavior stops when we get a new administration. A new AG could deemphasize med pot raids. But the DEA is a self-perpetuating agency. They want to grow as large as possible. Without cannabis prohibition they would be a minor agency. So they are taking action to prevent anything that might lead to legalization. Apparently they think medical marijuana might lead to legislation, so it must be stopped at all cost.I think there is very little connection between med pot and the legalization of recreation use. But by linking them together, the DEA might end up justifying their fears.I do wish Congress would put a stop to this. Stuff like the French arrest in NM is pretty shocking, especially if they end up charging him. Maybe that will motivate Congress to do something. But if the WO/MAN Coop raid wasn't enough for Congress, I doubt this will do it. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by FoM on August 30, 2007 at 16:40:24 PT Next Attorney General I can't imagine how they could get a good one at this point so I will wait until we get a new administration to get my hopes up again. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by mayan on August 30, 2007 at 16:36:55 PT Practice "NORML Calls On Next Attorney General To End Medi-Pot Raids"NORML is wasting it's time. The next AG will likely oversee the imprisonment of dissidents after the next inside job. Harrassing cannabis users is merely practice for the big round-up.THE WAY OUT IS THE WAY IN...THE KENNEBUNKPORT WARNING - To the American people, and to peace loving individuals everywhere: http://mujca.com/kennebunkport.htmAnnouncement Of 9/11 War Crimes Tribunal: http://peaceinspace.blogs.com/911/2007/08/announcement-of.htmlThe Puzzling Suspension of Incredulity to the “Official” 9/11 Theory: http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/08/the-puzzling-suspension-of-incredulity-to-the-official-9-11-theory/Giuliani Dodges the Shadow of His Own 9/11 Inconsistencies: http://www.jonesreport.com/articles/290807_giuliani_dodge_911.htmlHistory Channel - 9/11 Conspiracies, Fact or Fiction? A Review: http://arabesque911.blogspot.com/2007/08/history-channel-911-conspiracies-fact.htmlGoogle Censors Another 9/11 Documentary: http://infowars.com/articles/sept11/google_censors_another_911_doc.htmSpeakers, Activists to Rally at White House on 9/11 Anniversary: http://www.911truth.org/article.php?story=20070830732594299/11 General Strike Gains Momentum: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0708/S00383.htm9/11 Truth Events in New York to Be Biggest in History: http://www.jonesreport.com/articles/290807_91107.html9/11/07 - GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION: http://www.911truth.org/pages/91107Events.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Sam Adams on August 30, 2007 at 15:36:01 PT 80% He added: "Eighty percent of the American public now support the rights of patients to use marijuana as a medicine when a physician recommends it, Too bad 100% of Big Pharm is against it! Sleeping pills have been one of Big Pharm's mainstays for decades.Don't mess with the green butterfly! He'll bribe the government to send a squad of goons to YOUR house. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by PatrioticDissension on August 30, 2007 at 14:25:29 PT sleep cannabis is the ONLY thing that helps me sleep. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment