cannabisnews.com: NORML's Weekly News Bulletin - September 13, 2007 NORML's Weekly News Bulletin - September 13, 2007 Posted by CN Staff on September 13, 2007 at 13:41:52 PT Weekly Press Release Source: NORML California: Hemp Cultivation Bill Sent To GovernorSeptember 13, 2007 - Sacramento, CA, USASacramento, CA: California legislators approved bi-partisan legislation this week defining industrial hemp as an "agricultural field crop" and establishing regulations governing its cultivation by state-authorized farmers. Assembly Bill 684 – known as the California Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2007 – now awaits action from Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R). Under the measure, the legislature would institute a pilot program permitting farmers to cultivate hemp in four California counties: Imperial, Kings, Mendocino, and Yolo. The proposal defines hemp as varieties of cannabis containing less than 0.3 percent THC (the primary psychoactive compound in marijuana). Farmers would be required by law to submit random samples of their plants to an authorized laboratory to assure that their crop does not contain greater THC potencies. Industrial hemp is currently grown commercially in Canada and in the European Union for its fiber content. According to a 2005 Congressional Research Service (CRS) report, the United States is the only developed nation that fails to cultivate the plant as an economic crop.Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed a similar bill last year, citing concerns that the measure could negatively impact law enforcement efforts prohibiting the recreational use of marijuana.A statewide telephone poll performed earlier this year by Zogby International found that 71 percent of Californians supported allowing authorized farmers legal access to cultivate the crop. For more information, please contact Dale Gieringer, California NORML Coordinator, at (415) 563-5858 or visit NORML’s ‘Take Action Center’ at: http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=10301731DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=7363Tens Of Thousands Expected To Attend Boston ‘Freedom Rally’ This SaturdaySeptember 13, 2007 - Boston, MA, USABoston, MA: Event organizers expect nearly 50,000 attendees for Saturday’s 18th annual ‘Boston Freedom Rally,’ taking place at the Parkman Bandstand on the Boston Common at ‘high noon.’ Sponsored by the Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition/NORML (MassCann/NORML), the event is the largest marijuana law reform gathering on the east coast.NORML Executive Director Allen St. Pierre and NORML founder Keith Stroup will speak at the event. Representatives from High Times Magazine, Common Sense for Drug Policy, Students for Sensible Drug Policy, and the Drug Policy Alliance will also appear. Musical artists Darkbuster, Three Day Threshold, and several others will be performing. A complete list of featured speakers and entertainers is available online at: http://www.masscann.org/rally08details01.shtml MassCann/NORML will also be hosting a pre-party fundraiser on Friday evening at Boston’s Bullfinch Yacht Club (on Friend Street next to North Station).Since 2000, the organization has successfully sponsored non-binding voter initiatives in support of scaling back marijuana law enforcement in 127 Massachusetts communities. For more information, please contact Steve Epstein, Mass/Cann NORML Treasurer at (978) 352-3300 or visit: http://www.masscann.org DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=7364Pot Compound Protective Against ‘Mad Cow’ Disease, Other Fatal Brain Disorders, Study SaysSeptember 13, 2007 - Valbonne, FranceValbonne, France: The administration of the nonpsychoactive cannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD) inhibits prion accumulation in the brain and protects neurons against prion toxicity, according to preclinical data published in the September 5th edition of the Journal of Neuroscience. Prion accumulation (the accumulation of abnormal, protein-based infectious particles in the brain) is the cause of various transmissible, fatal neurodegenerative diseases in both humans and animals – including bovine spongiform encephalopathy (commonly known as ‘Mad Cow’ disease) and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. No therapeutic treatments for prion-diseases are currently available.Investigators at the National Center for Scientific Research in France reported that the administration of CBD "limited the cerebral accumulation of protease-resistant prion protein and significantly increased the survival time" in a dose-dependent manner in animals infected with a strain of prion disease. "Our results suggest that CBD may protect neurons against the multiple molecular and cellular factors involved in the different steps of the neurodegenerative process, which takes place during prion infection," authors concluded. "When combined with its ability to target the brain and its lack of toxic side effects, CBD may represent a promising new anti-prion drug."Previous preclinical studies of CBD have shown the compound to inhibit malignant cancer cell growth and protect neurons against alcohol-induced brain damage.Other studies have demonstrated that cannabinoids can delay disease progression in animal models of several neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease). For more information, please contact Paul Armentano, NORML Senior Policy Analyst, at: paul norml.orgFull text of the study, "Nonpsychoactive Cannabidiol Prevents Prion Accumulation and Protects Neurons Against Prion Toxicity," appears in the Journal of Neuroscience. Abstracts of the study are available online at: http://www.jneurosci.org/cgi/content/abstract/27/36/9537 Additional information on CBD is available in the NORML report, "Emerging Clinical Applications for Cannabis and Cannabinoids," available online at: http://www.jneurosci.org/cgi/content/abstract/27/36/9537DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=7362Source: NORML Foundation (DC)Published: September 13, 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 #85 posted by whig on September 18, 2007 at 12:08:19 PT HU-308 Did we miss this one?http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?tmpl=NoSidebarfile&db=PubMed&cmd=Retrieve&list_uids=17652447&dopt=AbstractPlusIn this study, we have investigated the role of the cannabinoid CB2 (CB2) receptor in an in vivo mouse model of hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. In addition, we have assessed the role of the CB2 receptor in TNF-alpha-induced ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression in human liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (HLSECs) and in the adhesion of human neutrophils to HLSECs in vitro. The potent CB2 receptor agonist HU-308, given prior to the induction of I/R, significantly attenuated the extent of liver damage (measured by serum alanine aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase) and decreased serum and tissue TNF-alpha, MIP-1alpha, and MIP-2 levels, tissue lipid peroxidation, neutrophil infiltration, DNA fragmentation, and caspase 3 activity. The protective effect of HU-308 against liver damage was also preserved when given right after the ischemic episode. HU-308 also attenuated the TNF-alpha-induced ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression in HLSECs, which expressed CB2 receptors, and the adhesion of human neutrophils to HLSECs in vitro. These findings suggest that selective CB2 receptor agonists may represent a novel, protective strategy against I/R injury by attenuating oxidative stress, inflammatory response, and apoptosis. [ Post Comment ] Comment #84 posted by whig on September 18, 2007 at 11:46:25 PT FoM I really like the opinion and this is probably an exception that I should take criticism for if I deserve it. I excised his name and anything to identify him and also the origin. Treat this as a completely anonymous report.I can't really respond in depth with him directly but I pointed him in the direction of the research that is being done with HU-308. [ Post Comment ] Comment #83 posted by FoM on September 18, 2007 at 07:01:11 PT whig I don't need to remove a post unless you want it removed. [ Post Comment ] Comment #82 posted by whig on September 18, 2007 at 00:07:13 PT FoM I'd really like to be able to pass along things that are interesting but that was from a source that might not want to be quoted here. [ Post Comment ] Comment #81 posted by whig on September 18, 2007 at 00:03:07 PT FoM Could you delete that one? I think I shouldn't have copied it here. [ Post Comment ] Comment #80 posted by whig on September 17, 2007 at 22:58:21 PT Opinion on Bisphosphonates From another Gaucher's patient (I'm seeking input, but asked specifically while I was still diagnosed with osteoporosis):The simple answer is that its action is to inhibit bone resorption more than it inhibits bone formation, resulting in a net gain of bone mass, but bone resorption is an essential process to insuring bone health, esp. via the resorption of damaged/diseased bone. Personally, I doubt, and this is my opinion, that the pathology that causes osteoporosis as we age is due to increased bone resorption, but more likely decreased remodeling due to decreased metabolic activity in general. So, bisphosphonates action, while generally effective in treating osteoporosis, should logically increase the risk of bone disease (and ONJ is a little bit of evidence in support of that). I would feel more comfortable with a treatment that increased remodeling more than decreasing it while still resulting in a net gain in bone mass. [ Post Comment ] Comment #79 posted by whig on September 17, 2007 at 22:08:24 PT Coral calcium Just for another perspective...http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/DSH/coral.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #78 posted by afterburner on September 17, 2007 at 12:53:34 PT Hope The Calcium Factor: The Scientific Secret of Health and Youth (Paperback) by Robert R. Barefoot (Author), Carl J., M.D. Reich (Author) http://tinyurl.com/2ajfc4Some call him a genius and some a conman.CN AB: B.C. Pot Crusader White-Hatted, Calgary Herald, (16 Sep 2007) http://www.mapinc.org/newstcl/v07/n1065/a03.html?176 [ Post Comment ] Comment #77 posted by ekim on September 17, 2007 at 09:45:34 PT thanks for ONDC info Afterburner Sep 28 07 Tee'd Off in Taos- Golf Tournament J. Michael Jones Taos New Mexico You can become a "hole" sponsor for our first golf Tournament. Contact the pro-shop at 505-758-7300 or organizer Mike Jones 505-770-7372 for details. Greens fees are $100.00 for this high profile tournament. Taos Country Club, 54 Golf Course, Ranchos De Taos, 87557 http://www.leap.cc/events [ Post Comment ] Comment #76 posted by Hope on September 17, 2007 at 06:29:23 PT Thank you, Afterburner Thank you, too, Whig.At the most, I was taking 1600 IU. I cut back yesterday to 1200. [ Post Comment ] Comment #75 posted by whig on September 17, 2007 at 02:32:48 PT Vitamin D is *important* If you aren't getting enough, you get sick, if you get too much, it's bad too. So it's all about balance. [ Post Comment ] Comment #74 posted by whig on September 17, 2007 at 02:28:29 PT afterburner Yes, but it can cause kidney stones. That's the problem. [ Post Comment ] Comment #73 posted by afterburner on September 16, 2007 at 23:40:30 PT Hope - More on Vitamin D BBC NEWS | Health | Vitamin D 'can lower cancer risk' Last Updated: Wednesday, 28 December 2005, 07:39 GMT http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4563336.stmglobeandmail.com: Sweeping cancer edict: take vitamin D daily June 8, 2007 at 12:00 AM EDT http://tinyurl.com/37rthv [ Post Comment ] Comment #72 posted by Hope on September 16, 2007 at 12:37:52 PT FoM. Good! "I won't go away because I've never been able to turn away from what I believe is right. I think it's kind of a curse! LOL!" [ Post Comment ] Comment #71 posted by Hope on September 16, 2007 at 12:36:42 PT Whig... I downloaded and watched it.Aargh.Nope. Didn't like it. But then again, I wasn't supposed to. [ Post Comment ] Comment #70 posted by whig on September 16, 2007 at 11:19:23 PT Hope This looks like an interesting movie too. I don't know if you can watch short YouTube videos but this is just a preview. I haven't seen the actual film yet either.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kieyjfZDUIcThe Shock Doctrine [ Post Comment ] Comment #69 posted by FoM on September 16, 2007 at 09:48:20 PT Hope I unfortunately don't get Free Speech TV on DirecTV. I think I've seen some of the movie or some close type movie. I believe a one world order is trying very hard to be born and that concerns me. The elusive super rich want to rule the world. PS: I won't go away because I've never been able to turn away from what I believe is right. I think it's kind of a curse! LOL! [ Post Comment ] Comment #68 posted by Hope on September 16, 2007 at 09:37:03 PT FoM If you have Free Speech TV... you might...I do on Dish Network, watch for the movie "America: Freedom to Fascism" and watch it. Watch it closely... lots of writing to read... but watch it until you get it. It's important. [ Post Comment ] Comment #67 posted by Hope on September 16, 2007 at 09:34:38 PT FoM "I will go away into my own world of not caring..."Uh... FoM, I suspect you might have a little trouble with doing that... for very long anyway. What with this bunch, and Stick, intent on dragging you out of there.:0) [ Post Comment ] Comment #66 posted by FoM on September 16, 2007 at 09:33:11 PT Hope I think it does go way back to then probably. I believe it has been around, almost like a spirit, since recorded time began. [ Post Comment ] Comment #65 posted by Hope on September 16, 2007 at 09:30:54 PT Afterburner, Whig, and Aolbites. Thank you very much for your concern and information. I do appreciate it.The dosage I've been taking is within the recommendations listed on the bottle of Calcium with Vitamin D. The pills, Citracal, are horse pills in size... which is somewhat discouraging of taking too many.There's no magnesium in them, though.You guys are great. You act like you care about me. Thank you. [ Post Comment ] Comment #64 posted by Hope on September 16, 2007 at 09:19:20 PT Comment 63 Corporations overthrew the United States in 1913, FoM. The year the Federal Exchange was created. [ Post Comment ] Comment #63 posted by FoM on September 16, 2007 at 06:42:02 PT Hope They were special. What a terrible time for young people back then and look at where we are now. When did corporations become our political leaders? [ Post Comment ] Comment #62 posted by FoM on September 16, 2007 at 06:36:28 PT Afterburner That movie took me back to a time that I wish hadn't happened. When Bobby was murdered I totally gave up on caring for our government and went on and did my own thing with my life and never looked back. I don't trust the system and still don't. Clinton will probably be our next president and if that happens I will go away into my own world of not caring because I will lose faith in the system again. I have a little bit of hope that Obama might win but I think they ( the media) really want Clinton so that might be who we get. [ Post Comment ] Comment #61 posted by aolbites on September 16, 2007 at 01:20:58 PT from medline .. apparently the source of that wikipedia quote..http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-vitamind.htmlin case you wanted a bit more info... Vitamin D [ Post Comment ] Comment #60 posted by whig on September 16, 2007 at 00:19:12 PT Vitamin D From Wikipedia.The U.S. Dietary Reference Intake for Adequate Intake (AI) of vitamin D for infants, children and men and women aged 19–50 is 5 micrograms/day (200 IU/day).[11] Adequate intake increases to 10 micrograms/day (400 IU/day) for men and women aged 51–70 and to 15 micrograms/day (600 IU/day) past the age of 70. [ Post Comment ] Comment #59 posted by whig on September 16, 2007 at 00:15:46 PT Hope Check in with your doctor but I'd definitely worry about your Vitamin D intake there. That's a dangerous thing to take in excess. Excess calcium is less of a concern because it just gets excreted, I think. [ Post Comment ] Comment #58 posted by afterburner on September 15, 2007 at 23:28:49 PT Hope -- Organic Sources: Food-based Minerals Organic calcium and magnesium: Jethro Kloss, Back to Eden lists foods that contain these minerals. [ Post Comment ] Comment #57 posted by afterburner on September 15, 2007 at 23:20:31 PT FoM #44 I'm glad that you finally got to see Bobby. It was a very moving movie, and disturbing. [ Post Comment ] Comment #56 posted by afterburner on September 15, 2007 at 23:12:32 PT Hope #48 & whig #50 I concur about the danger of kidney stones. Two suggestions: 1. Be sure to take magnesium with your calcium.New Choices in Natural Healing Kidney Stones http://www.mothernature.com/Library/Bookshelf/Books/21/148.cfm2. Jethro Kloss, Back to Eden recommends organic minerals as superior to inorganic minerals. [ Post Comment ] Comment #55 posted by Hope on September 15, 2007 at 23:00:54 PT Ok, Whig, Thanks. Too much calcium can cause a strange depression... which I experienced when I was taking a lot with the broken arm.It would be simple to cut back to 1500 a day. I think I will starting tomorrow. That would be closer to the 1250 in the study.One bone scan is all I've ever had, too. I'm fairly tall, but I don't have big bones. It seems that it would be more sensible, considering how bad the bone hardening drugs can be to take, that that first scan should just be a baseline... not something to start a drug regime on... right off the bat, unless of course, there was obvious and great bone loss, but I don't think mine was. But comparing someone to an "average", under the circumstances of how harsh the drug is, doesn't seem too wise.It's not about wisdom and being cautious, though, as much as it is about pushing big pharmaceuticals pills, I suspect.It sounds like maybe you have some good doctors. I hope so. [ Post Comment ] Comment #54 posted by whig on September 15, 2007 at 22:41:20 PT Hope I think the endocrinologist is sending a strong message to the orthopedist by taking me off calcium too. So don't take it as medical advice for you. Seriously. [ Post Comment ] Comment #53 posted by whig on September 15, 2007 at 22:38:51 PT Hope I'm not a medical doctor and certainly not yours so I don't like to make specific recommendations about calcium but I was told to stop taking it, because my blood calcium was on the higher end of normal. So without knowing the patient's chemistry or actual bone condition, and on the basis of a single scan on a machine that does not make volumetric distinctions between a person of light build (as I am) and a 250 lb athlete (who would likely be the only male comparison baseline to make with the test they used), I was told I had osteoporosis.I wonder how many people are diagnosed with osteoporosis and even given drugs for osteopenia without sufficient tests. [ Post Comment ] Comment #52 posted by Hope on September 15, 2007 at 22:33:57 PT Whig You are an amazing man. That you hold up so well and keep your chin up in spite of all you have to go through is encouragement to us all. No, I haven't hadn't any blood tests for calcium that I know of. In the morning I take 800 IU of D and 1000 mg. of calcium. The same in the evening. So that's 1600 IU of D a day and 2000 mg. of calcium for the entire day.That figure was arrived at by reading about tests done in Australia that helped people fight osteoporosis and seemed to prevent, if not bone loss... at least, fractures.I think they were taking, in that research, 1250 mg. of Calcium a day. But my supplements are 500 mg. each and I decided to go with a bit more instead of a bit less.Of course, I'll talk to the doctor and see if she makes a recommendation. Do you think that's too much to take? [ Post Comment ] Comment #51 posted by Hope on September 15, 2007 at 22:23:25 PT FoM Comment 44 Bobby and John Kennedy were a terrible loss. Terrible. We'll, likely, never know the real story about what happened to them. It's hard to believe that the people accused of murdering them where really all that was behind what was done to them. Maybe that was it. Maybe it really was just those two men and they acted alone and for unknown reasons. It's just hard to believe.I liked them both. Very much. Both were horrible tragedies for everyone. That any Kennedy could still want to be a public person or hold office, after what happened to them, is astounding.The history of humanity isn't very good. It's so sad. [ Post Comment ] Comment #50 posted by whig on September 15, 2007 at 22:13:13 PT Hope Be careful with the calcium and vitamin D because you can get kidney stones if you overdo it. Did you have your blood calcium checked? [ Post Comment ] Comment #49 posted by whig on September 15, 2007 at 22:09:30 PT Hope Well, my problem with cannabis is that while it helps me with pain management it does not actually cause pain to reduce, if anything I have more pain. I am far more functional in spite of the pain, and far more able to lie still long enough to sleep.I've been told (by one of my doctors) maybe I should try eating more cannabis but I haven't been able to afford enough to do more than experiment with that. The results are interesting and good, and I don't know how much that ingestion method might be different for getting the cannabinoids to the places they need to go for bone building. [ Post Comment ] Comment #48 posted by Hope on September 15, 2007 at 21:17:53 PT Whig It's amazing that you got them to change their diagnosis. That's so good. Apparently, I don't have it either. Just, supposedly, early bone loss that could supposedly lead to full blown osteoporosis. Thus, the mega whammy they laid on me with the pharmaceutical. As it is, I'm taking extra calcium and vitamin D, religiously, and I'm probably going to start pumping iron again.I haven't talked with my doctor yet, about the fact that I'm not going to take the pharmaceutical. I've only told her nurse. I'll be talking to her next week. She's probably going to discount what happened to me and get mad at me... again. My old doctor was wonderful. He was my doctor for over twenty years. But his office is over a hundred miles from here. It's too far to drive, anymore, every time I need to see a doctor. I don't want to give up on the doctor I'm seeing now, as my primary care physician, but depending on how she treats me about this, I may have to.That medicine hurt me so badly. It hurt considerably more than the one broken bone I've had. I don't want to prohibit anyone from using it, although I have no doubt, that it has and will harm many. Now, I learn, that cannabis might help in this matter, too. Why are people prohibited from using it? It's not poison. It's impossible to take enough of it to kill yourself.Cannabis is a truly amazing plant. The prohibition of cannabis is a crime against humanity.Sure, it's just one of the many crimes against humanity that goes on daily in the world... but it's still... most certainly and truly, a crime against humanity to prohibit it's use. [ Post Comment ] Comment #47 posted by whig on September 15, 2007 at 20:33:42 PT HempWorld Thank you for the reference as well. I'm collecting data. :) [ Post Comment ] Comment #46 posted by Hope on September 15, 2007 at 20:18:38 PT America: Freedom to Fascism I just got through watching it again... or part of it.Thank you to the people who have recommended that I see it. And, please, everyone that hasn't seen it...you will be better off if you do. It's a clue. A big Clue.Thanks, Toker00 for the kind words. That's far more than I am. I couldn't possibly be all that... but I'm grateful to be a part of all that we all are. None of us, probably, can be all that...but together we can be something that perhaps can get something done.After watching Aaron Russo's movie, America: Freedom to Fascism I've got a really good idea now about who that is that is really controlling and causing the insanity of the world that we live in. Why hasn't the media revealed the full horror and disaster of the War on Drugs? Why doesn't the government listen to the people? Why do the wealthy have so much power? Who leads Mark Souder? Hint: It certainly isn't Jesus.Why do the pharmaceutical companies and huge corporations, which also, handily, happen to own and control the media, also control our lives and our government? Why and how? The movie reveals the why and how and points out who.It is, of course, about money and power. America: Freedom to Fascism explains the who and what of a lot of bad stuff that has been happening to all of us. And in the movie, Aaron Russo is able to point us in directions that, if we insist upon it, we can free ourselves, our country, from the power they have over us. Or we can just lay down and take it. [ Post Comment ] Comment #45 posted by whig on September 15, 2007 at 19:56:28 PT Storm Crow Thank you for the links, I have some others that Paul Armentano sent me as well and I am prepared to make my case in as much detail as needed to the endocrinologist, who will be following up with me next month after some more tests are done. Since he's also the osteoporosis expert, I imagine whatever he learns can also help him treat many other patients. [ Post Comment ] Comment #44 posted by FoM on September 15, 2007 at 19:35:19 PT Just a Comment A friend bought me a copy of Bobby and we just watched it. I don't cry very easily anymore but I cried when I saw this movie because when they killed Bobby Kennedy I thought our government was over for me and I was only 20. Only recently have I gotten a little hope that good might happen again and I hope and pray it does. [ Post Comment ] Comment #43 posted by Toker00 on September 15, 2007 at 19:12:58 PT Hope You have reminded me once again of those who benefit now and will benefit in the future, come hell or high water, because of people like you who don't accept what is unacceptable just because it is forced upon you by your "Government". You take the steps necessary to achieve results. You write your representatives, you present your case here and thankfully, other Forums for Truth. They say that We Are Change, and you know it. You know how to change things. With just a few hundred others like you and FoM, you have turned this issue into one of the most worthy causes to fight for over the last decade in our History.Defeating Cannabis Prohibition, defeating All the Wars of the World, issuing in a new age of Peace and Love and co-operation of the Citizens of Earth that casts off the Ruins of the Past and the rule the self appointed Elite of the Old World Order. We can have a New World. In fact, we have no choice but to accept the chore of building it or be chained to those who rule by the philosophy of Order out of Chaos.I hope you do what you need to do to remedy your medical condition. It's called taking your Freedom. You know how to do that.Toke. [ Post Comment ] Comment #42 posted by whig on September 15, 2007 at 19:01:45 PT Hope It's a hard thing to get a diagnosis reversed and I had to have that fixed to prevent them from making me seem irresponsible not to take their drug. Once I got the diagnosis reversed, I also got explicit agreement from the orthopedist with how I am treating myself. He doesn't want to see me again for awhile though. :) [ Post Comment ] Comment #41 posted by Hope on September 15, 2007 at 18:56:16 PT In humility, sincere humility, I'd like to add that I certainly don't KNOW that this country is headed for a terrible and disastrous fall. I fear that it is.In sincere humility, I pray that it isn't. I pray that we can change the general attitude and ways of government as we know it today, and we can start, again, trying to be great through genuine goodness and respect of our fellow man and rights and freedom. My sincere prayer is also that our government will turn around and rebuke the corporate world that it now calls, "Master". It doesn't look good, that's true. But I have to believe that nothing is impossible with God. [ Post Comment ] Comment #40 posted by Hope on September 15, 2007 at 18:01:10 PT Tintala "We should be ashamed that hemp is illegal."I am. I, most assuredly, am. I'm ashamed of our government, mostly all of our leaders, and many of my fellow citizens. Very ashamed. Sadly, I've really begun to suspect lately, that we, as a nation, as a people, may not actually have enough sense, humility, and integrity to qualify as salvageable. I fear the senseless and those lacking true integrity have outnumbered us by too many for far too long.Without humility, there can be no sense and integrity. American leadership and humility are like oil and water. So we aren't likely to see any sense or integrity any time soon.Lack of humility creates pride and arrogance. Pride and arrogance foreshadow the fall. [ Post Comment ] Comment #39 posted by Hope on September 15, 2007 at 17:41:38 PT Toker00 What Storm Crow and Hemp World posted about cannabinoids and osteoporosis. I've just recently been through a very, very, very rough time with a big pharm drug that's supposed to prevent bone loss. But the cost was more than I could pay...and I don't mean just money, far from it ... although it was expensive. It's a horrible drug and so many people are being prescribed it. It's causing great pain and destruction of people's bodies and the pharms are raking in the cash. Cannabis could help me, it could really help prevent bone loss and without hurting me...and I'm forbidden it's use by our lovely leaders and those of my fellow humans who think it their duty to prohibit me and everyone else having cannabis.I'm so sad and so damned mad.Hebrew U. Researchers Find Cannabis Can Strengthen Bones http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/96146Peripheral cannabinoid receptor, CB2, regulates bone mass http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/abstract/103/3/696New Weapon In Battle Against Osteoporosis http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/35621.phpActivation of CB2 receptor attenuates bone loss in osteoporosis http://www.cannabis-med.org/english/bulletin/ww_en_db_cannabis_artikel.php?id=210#2Cannabis-like compound prevents bone loss http://www.thehempire.com/index.php/cannabis/news/cannabis_like_compound_prevents_bone_loss [ Post Comment ] Comment #38 posted by tintala on September 15, 2007 at 17:13:54 PT: HEMP FARMING over WHEAT FARMING I am a farmer , I have 350 acres of pristine farm land. Unfortunately wheat is the only crop viable in this part, and if there is not a good winter, you can forget the harvest.Usually, we can get about 30-40- bushels of wheat in a good year, but add the expenses and the gamble , of course the fertilizer and h20, it's not much of a payoff! With HEMP I would stand to make on the avg 300$ an acre less my expenses.. USA government is FUCKED! ALLOW FARMER TO GROW HEMP! We have poppies, we have barley and hops we have grape vines? These are all farmed openly and soo many varieties of wine to taste and microbeers to taste, endless,and it's all easily regulated, soo much in fact that it's rediculous to me that the DEA still CANNOT AND WILL NOT distinguish marijuana from HEMP> THIS MEANS that the other countries that have leglaized it..............are smarter. We should be ashamed that hemp is illegal. FUCK BUSH . [ Post Comment ] Comment #37 posted by Toker00 on September 15, 2007 at 15:11:29 PT Hope, hope. Wait. What do you mean? You are a cannabis patient now? What have you discovered? Toke. [ Post Comment ] Comment #36 posted by Hope on September 15, 2007 at 09:05:58 PT Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!I was always in deep sympathy with the people who needed cannabis medicinally. Always. Now I am one.The sheer cruelty and inhumanity of one group of so called "Humans", denying a natural plant to other humans, that would enhance and strengthen their health and quality of life, is unbelievable, but it's true. It's unbelievable that they are doing it.... and even more unbelievable that they are getting away with it... and some of them even receiving money to do it. How much longer can we endure this? How much longer do we have to endure this? [ Post Comment ] Comment #35 posted by Hope on September 15, 2007 at 08:46:33 PT Whig "I do not have osteoporosis."That's wonderful! I'm so glad.You said, "Bisphosphonates may not be a good thing."For me, they were another page of horror in the horror story that medicine can turn into these days.I was fine when I started taking them. Pain in my bones and joints started the first day. It didn't get better. It got worse.In four weeks I was a wreck of pain. Crippled and unable to sleep at night because of it. Somehow, it was even worse resting... and it was bad not resting. My teeth got loose, one very alarmingly wobbly, like a child about to lose a tooth. My jaws ached like tooth aches and TMJ combined. At my last dental check up they were fine, and the dentist has told me that I have cavity resistant teeth. I couldn't understand what had suddenly gone wrong with them. An extraction of a wisdom tooth pulled over a year ago started hurting again like it had been pulled last week. I didn't connect it with the medicine at first and was just about to make another appointment to see the dentist. A few weeks after quitting the pills, my teeth tightened back up again and have stopped aching.I've never experienced anything like the constant bone pain and aching... including sudden vicious sharp pain. I have a bit of arthritis. It flared up and became inflamed...like it never has before. The swollen and inflamed joints returned to normal.Some people said to me, "Would you rather have the pain of broken bones?" as though I should try harder to endure it. I have broken one bone in my life. I broke that big ball shaped joint at the top of my shoulder completely in two a couple of years ago...an accident that would have broken any bone. It wasn't a weak bone situation. It hurt. But the osteoporosis medicine hurt worse and throughout my body. Much worse, and it wasn't going to get well and stop hurting. I'm so glad they aren't going to give it to you.When the effects started wearing off a few weeks after I took the last one, it can only be described as feeling like I was "born again". I was old and I became young again as the stuff started wearing off. For me, it was hideous stuff. Torture in a pill.At this point, I'm taking more calcium and Vitamin D. It's terrifying that cannabis could be helping me, without hurting me, and my government won't let me use it.The idiocy of our government and prohibitionists in this matter is criminal. I could wish that all the pain and misery they have brought on people would come back on them... and overwhelm them. But I have been able to resist the wish. I don't want to do that. [ Post Comment ] Comment #34 posted by HempWorld on September 15, 2007 at 08:30:43 PT Now Back to Hemp ... Dear FoM and all CannabisNews.com readers and contributors:I really want hemp to be grown in CA or anywhere else in the US for that matter, believe me I do... Let me make a few observations; I am born and raised in the Netherlands (oh my!) but now I've lived in the US for over 20 years! In between I lived 1 year in Belgium, 2 years in France and 2 years in Spain. Now you can figure out how old I am, more or less but I don't want to give you that information. Ok, so now 20 years in the US and counting although I am considering moving back to 'old' Europe (where you have way more freedom by the way) My observations about the US in this broad international context: This country is the only country in the world that is so rabidly obsessed with cannabis/hemp. And worse, it make the rest of the world follow its example through economic pressure which you can call blackmail and through many other networks and organizations I will spare you the mention of them.Back to hemp: In the above context Mein Freund (with irony and as opposed to Mein K....) Arnold will not ever approve or cooperate for this plant (and this includes medicinal marijuana) because this man/movie star wants to be President of the USA! Wouldn't that be a pretty movie?So there you have it in a nutshell! It's a no go, sorry. Nobody can stop this! [ Post Comment ] Comment #33 posted by HempWorld on September 15, 2007 at 08:16:36 PT Cannabis Increases Bone Density: Cannabis To Increase Bone Density Mon, 23 May 2005 © HempPharm.com by Dr. Robert Melamede PhD. Osteoporosis By Dr. Robert Melamede The work of R. Mechoulam et al. on the role of the cannabinoid system in bone formation started from two striking features among the multitude of clinical characteristics of osteoporosis; gonadal failure causes bone loss and obesity protects from bone loss [8]. The peptide, leptin, is known to negatively regulate both osteoblastic and cannabinoid activity. In initial observations, it has been noted that reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of differentiating osteoblastic precursor cells demonstrates progressive increase in mRNA levels of CB2 but not of CB1. In addition, normal mice systematically treated with 2-AG or with a specific CB2- receptor agonist showed a dose-dependent increase in trabecular bone formation. On the basis of these initial data, it was assumed that endocannabinoids stimulate bone formation. Dr. Robert Melamede Associate Professor and Biology Chairman Biology Department University of Colorado 1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway Colorado Springs, CO 80918 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------HempPharm Ed: I would love to have Irvin Rosenfeld's opinion here (US Fed. MM patient who gets medical marijuana legally from the Fed. Govt. now for about 20+ years to combat bone cancer) but for now I can attest that in my use of Cannabis over about 30 years, I have gained a yet un-explicable 5-7 Lbs of bone mass gain. on my 6'1" frame. Nobody can stop this! [ Post Comment ] Comment #32 posted by Storm Crow on September 15, 2007 at 07:48:09 PT Whig I agree with your theory! My bone mass density actually went up a bit during the last few years and the tech said "Whatever you are doing, keep doing it!" I went in in the late afternoon, and she said I had the best bones she'd seen all day! There have been a few studies on osteoporosis and cannabis. Hit your docs with these! They might help convince them!Prototype drug to prevent osteoporosis based on cannabinoids http://www.news-medical.net/?id=15220 Hebrew U. Researchers Find Cannabis Can Strengthen Bones http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/96146 Peripheral cannabinoid receptor, CB2, regulates bone mass http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/abstract/103/3/696 New Weapon In Battle Against Osteoporosis http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/35621.php Activation of CB2 receptor attenuates bone loss in osteoporosis http://www.cannabis-med.org/english/bulletin/ww_en_db_cannabis_artikel.php?id=210#2 Cannabis-like compound prevents bone loss http://www.thehempire.com/index.php/cannabis/news/cannabis_like_compound_prevents_bone_lossHave a good day! - Granny [ Post Comment ] Comment #31 posted by afterburner on September 15, 2007 at 03:15:33 PT More on #17 & #18 CN NS: Marijuana Court Case Turns Into Constitutional Concern, Chronicle Herald, (14 Sep 2007) http://www.mapinc.org/newstcl/v07/n1061/a10.html?176Excerpt: "A Maccan-area man who says marijuana cures cancer admitted Thursday he grew marijuana on his property, turned it into an oil and distributed the oil free of charge to people fighting a variety of diseases. "However, Ricky Logan Simpson, 57, told the jury hearing his Nova Scotia Supreme Court trial on three drug charges that he should not be considered a criminal because the laws forbidding the possession, growing and distribution of marijuana are unconstitutional." [ Post Comment ] Comment #30 posted by whig on September 15, 2007 at 02:54:19 PT OT Bridge collapse pictures http://comesatime.wordpress.com/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #29 posted by whig on September 14, 2007 at 14:24:50 PT Osteoclast regulation It is my further hypothesis that cannabis will help to regulate osteoclasts which are involved in bone destruction and growth. I don't think the doctors are ready to buy in on that yet but they listen respectfully and don't object. [ Post Comment ] Comment #28 posted by whig on September 14, 2007 at 14:20:53 PT Neuronopathy The question which I have placed into the discussion with the medical doctors is to what degree if at all my condition is neuronopathic. This question is nearly unanswerable, but cannabis may have a protective role if so, and no harmful effect if not. [ Post Comment ] Comment #27 posted by whig on September 14, 2007 at 13:48:59 PT My head's not too big So I guess I'm kind of an idjit sometimes, eh?Anyhow, in personal health news, I do not have osteoporosis. The endocrinologist reversed the diagnosis, and the orthopedist has now accepted that my condition is unique and impossible to diagnose as osteoporosis. He also explicitly encouraged me to continue taking the enzyme and cannabis.Bisphosphonates may not be a good thing. They might reduce my bone pain substantially, this seems to be true. They might also cause long term side effects including necrosis of the jaw, which sounds unpleasant, and is also uncorrectable. The orthopedist further advised that long term use of bisphosphonates could even make bone fractures more likely by causing brittleness.Because cannabis allows me to control my pain, medically speaking there is no necessity to take anything that might be dangerous to as many as 10% of people according to the statistics that exist, and nobody knows the effects twenty or thirty years down the line.Nonetheless we are doing bone studies now. And I am making them document cannabis at every stage. [ Post Comment ] Comment #26 posted by nuevo mexican on September 14, 2007 at 13:34:27 PT Pinhead checking in......Sept. 15th Protests..... Paul Revere here, spreading the word to the C-News Family!(Is anyone surprised with the Prion/Cannabis news, just assume Cannabis users will be the only survivors after bush gets his apocolyptic dream/nightmare on with Iran, go figure....)Cannabis works, and that is not good for the war corporation.....If anyone needs more motivation to take part, by showing up, or spreading the word, here it is folks, and we Americans, Red, White or Blue are the ones responsible, are we not?Cannabis works for PTSD victims too, ask any Veteran with access to quality medicine. We're gonna need alot of it to medicate the worlds' war victims, and turn the tide on global warming, or we can continue to suffer, we make the choice, as anyone who posts' here already knows!Poll: Civilian death toll in Iraq may top 1 millionA British survey offers the highest estimate to date. At least 4 die in a Sadr City car bombing.http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-fg-iraq14sep14,1,1207545.story ?coll=la-news-a_section&ctrack=1&cset=trueSEPTEMBER 15 Mass March in Washington DC! Gather at 12 noon at the White House100 transportation centers! Find the closest to you http://answer.pephost.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ANS_homepageProtesting DOES work, as look where we are after years of activism regarding Cannabis for most of us here.So if anyone can make it, there is lots of transportation, and our voices make a bigger difference than anyone knows, witness the blackout on our huge protests of the past, no coverage, means, it didn't happen.Though it is now certainly over, soon, for the bush/cheney cabal,with the help of certain Dems, they still rule.Whether it is due to our actions, or inactions, we have a Rabid dog chaffing at the bit for endless occupation, and wars for profitting cronies, with the media and pundits well-rehearsed from the last build-up/pitch for occupying Iraq, and now Iran. We must counter the myths, Cannabis should widely available, war is for profit only, and global warming is taking place NOW, our lives are in peril, and we dawdle, twiddle our thumbs, and punch our keyboards! Am I wrong on this, or just guilty of monitoring cable news.Take heart FOM, the whole world gets it, just a few 'muricans left to edu-macate, anyone want a pretzel? [ Post Comment ] Comment #25 posted by FoM on September 14, 2007 at 08:45:51 PT Dongenero Too funny. Pin head! [ Post Comment ] Comment #24 posted by dongenero on September 14, 2007 at 08:43:52 PT Plus.... A few puffs of cannabis each night keeps those neurons shiny and pristine. [ Post Comment ] Comment #23 posted by Hope on September 14, 2007 at 08:39:13 PT Dongenero. Lol! "I believe my neurons are just tightly packaged."That's good. [ Post Comment ] Comment #22 posted by dongenero on September 14, 2007 at 08:30:47 PT Merv Griffin- big head = success Merv Griffin felt that a large head was helpful for tv and film success. And as for why he hired Vanna White, he offered two surprising answers."Because she knew the alphabet," he first said, before saying that he was struck by the size of her head when he compared glossy photos of prospective Wheel of Fortune hostesses."She has a big head," Griffin said. "But then all of the big stars have big heads: Joan Crawford, Marilyn Monroe. Even my head is big. It's a size 7 7/8."Alas, dongenero has a little pin head. It seems to work pretty well but, I will likely never have a television or film career. And I always have to find small hats, helmets, headbands. I think I'm about 7 1/8. I believe my neurons are just tightly packaged. [ Post Comment ] Comment #21 posted by Hope on September 14, 2007 at 07:44:27 PT Big Heads Being one of the Big Head people, I'd have to assert that the bigger the head, the bigger the brain. Therefore, people with big heads have more neurons than people with smaller heads. :0) [ Post Comment ] Comment #20 posted by whig on September 13, 2007 at 23:11:00 PT Hemp I'm seeing people referring to Hemp as High-CBD strains, is it the case that when THC levels are bred low, CBD levels rise? [ Post Comment ] Comment #19 posted by whig on September 13, 2007 at 23:08:13 PT The GCW I don't know where you get that men have more neurons than women.And EJ, some men use them more than others. Some women, too.Not trying to be too serious here, but there's too much misogyny around in general. [ Post Comment ] Comment #18 posted by whig on September 13, 2007 at 23:06:46 PT afterburner If we exercise our first amendment right to use cannabis, prohibition is equally unconstitutional here. [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by afterburner on September 13, 2007 at 22:11:06 PT Canada, 1st Country to Legalize Medical Cannabis CN ON: Growing Pains: Marijuana Cultivation In Huron County, Goderich Signal-Star, (12 Sep 2007) http://www.mapinc.org/newstcl/v07/n1055/a07.html?176 Excerpt: "The constant legal debate regarding marijuana possession took an unexpected turn last month, when a Toronto judged [sic - judge] deemed Canadian possession laws unconstitutional. The reason was they only stipulate policy regarding medicinal marijuana without actually making changes to the laws. "The argument was made then, that all Canadian possession laws were unconstitutional. The decision was upheld and was expected to be appealed."If that appeal fails, all cannabis (marihuana) law fails since the CDSA simply lists cannabis (marihuana) in the Schedule II list. Production, trafficking, import, export and possession all fall together because they are all lumped together in the CDSA law. That is, production of Schedule II substances is illegal; trafficking of Schedule II substances is illegal; import of Schedule II substances is illegal; export of Schedule II substances is illegal; possession of Schedule II substances is illegal. However, the only way cannabis possession law can be unconstitutional is by removing cannabis from Schedule II. Cannabis possession was declared unconstitutional in 2000 (which the Canadian federal government failed to appeal within the time period mandated by the court) and again this year, 2007. Therefore, cannabis is no longer in Schedule II. The law has not been changed by Parliament since 1996: the law has been altered only by the courts. Because cannabis is no longer in Schedule II, production of cannabis is legal; trafficking of cannabis is legal; import of cannabis is legal; export of cannabis is legal; possession of cannabis is legal. Furthermore, if export of cannabis is legal in Canada, then Marc Emery, Greg Williams and Michelle Rainey cannot be extradited under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty. The Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty applies only to mutual crimes, that is, crimes which are illegal in *both* countries! Controlled Drugs and Substances Act ( 1996, c. 19 ) http://tinyurl.com/27zwelR. v. Parker (July 31, 2000) http://www.ontariocourts.on.ca/decisions/2000/july/parker.htm [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by E_Johnson on September 13, 2007 at 21:29:47 PT GCW "Men have more neurons than women."But then on the other hand, they rarely use them! [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by The GCW on September 13, 2007 at 21:01:45 PT Neurons Neurons are an incredible thing. They allow Us to feel beyond what We can touch or what touches them. Perception.Men have more neurons than women.It seems as if every week medical researchers, universities and journals report more benefits and therapies available from cannabis/marijuana ["Marijuana Aids Therapy," Vital Evidence, Sept. 13] with fewer side effects. How much longer can the Drug Enforcement Administration's reefer madness keep cannabis away from American citizens? ( http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06/n1254/a02.html?81668 )Enhancing or strengthening neurons / keeping them healthy may help Us sense truth.It could be said then that cannabis may help protect Us from politicians.I wonder if that's what they are afraid of? Cannabis prohibition comes from the top (or shall I say the bottom) down; It pretty much starts with Bush these days and He has a lot to fear if there were something that would help the world see the truth better.I've said in the past; there's a connection to what Bush knows that He doesn't want Us to know that He learned from Skul N Bones.Perhaps many things; is this part of it?And how does the spirit of truth relate to the truth?Does Bush's family still hold interest in Lily Ely?-0-Is there anybody that doesn't think new studies will come out showing more and more ailments may be helped, cured or kept from occuring because of cannabis / THC - THIS MONTH?Does it mean that if cannabis is shown to help illness more and more that the pharm companies will fight it more and more?As more and more citizens are coming to realize cannabis helps health / reduce pharm meds and work better etc... Perhaps if We can show the public specific lobby actions by pharm companies to stop cannabis, it will help the cause.It would be nice to help prohibitionist politicians bury themselves. [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by FoM on September 13, 2007 at 20:58:07 PT Hope I found this very interesting after reading your comments. Maybe it will help show why some people are the way they are.http://www.nonesoblind.org/blog/?p=43 [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by Hope on September 13, 2007 at 20:15:34 PT Maybe they "can".... but my intention was to point out that apparently, they "can't"."Yet... they still can bring themselves to say, "Forgive me. I was wrong." They are so proud. So arrogant. So filled with hate. They are the "Whitewashed sepulchers"... they imagine themselves to look so good on the outside... yet inside, they are filled with filth."If written as I intended to write it, would say, "Yet... they still can't bring themselves to say, "Forgive me. I was wrong." They are so proud. So arrogant. So filled with hate. They are the "Whitewashed sepulchers"... they imagine themselves to look so good on the outside... yet inside, they are filled with filth."Or, if not pure filth... at least... stupidity and ignorance. At least. [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by Hope on September 13, 2007 at 20:11:15 PT The foolishness and wrongness of prohibition of this amazing plant is more astounding all the time.It's wrong. It's criminal, indeed, to prohibit cannabis.It's criminal... really...really... CRIMINAL to prohibit cannabis. Prohibitionists are truly criminal, in the truest sense of the word, because of their persecution, prosecution, and demonization of others over this blessing of a plant.Prohibitionists keep perpetrating their crimes against mankind as a whole and purposely persecuting, hunting, terrorizing, and torturing individuals in the name of their cruel prohibition.If it seems cruel and unjust.... it might be.The prohibitionist's crime is against God and mankind. The extent of the grief and sorrow they are responsible for becomes more obvious every day.Those ex and retired law enforcement who have joined LEAP must really be grateful, and feel good, now that they have stepped out and up to try to make right the wrong they have been involved in. Truly, they are blessed. They ceased committing crimes against mankind before they were forced to. That has to feel better than those who cling to this prohibition until their dying day.I saw the light of this matter. I wasn't always anti-prohibition. Yet there are among those who call themselves Christian and are high and mighty and arrogant who would dare to imply or even say that He who guided me, FoM, and other believers here, to this realization was and is not God. They condemn themselves. I'm horrified for them, really. It's so unbelievably sad. I feel sorry for them... but it still doesn't make it right for them to continue on and on with their cruelty and injustice.What does it take to make some people wake up and see the truth... the light?It's my sincere belief that God led me to realize the truth about this. Yet, those in high places in some, even Christian churches, place themselves above God and His understanding, Grace, and guidance. It's not that they haven't been led. They just refuse to listen out of arrogance, self rightness, and intolerance.God has tried to lead them starting with the Bible itself. Where in the Bible is this plant forbidden to mankind? Where? It's not. It's a gift.They followed self-righteous and arrogant men, who claimed to be wise...but were and are so very foolish. They put the word of those filled with iniquity over the very Word of the very One they claim to believe in. He's guided them. Some just refused it and didn't know it when they saw it.They believe only in themselves and other men, certain men ... foolish men, who lead them astray. Yet they can't see. They are blinded by worship of some man... some leader... and continue to follow doggedly in the path of perdition they are being led along. They saw women and children of their own, brothers and sisters in the Lord, as well as fellow humans, shot out of the sky in the name of the Drug War. They've seen the deaths and persecution and destruction of innocents. They see all this scientific proof of the wonder of the plant. Yet they ignore it... to their own destruction. They've seen the evil of their enforcers, the so called "Good" guys... screaming obscenities at men and women and pointing guns at children, "accidentally" murdering some... not so accidentally, others... yet they still don't see.What does God have to do to make them see?They say, "Lead me. Lead me, Lord" then forget all about that and lean heavily, very, very heavily, to their "Own understanding" or the "Understanding" of some intolerant group of despots.Yet... they still can bring themselves to say, "Forgive me. I was wrong." They are so proud. So arrogant. So filled with hate. They are the "Whitewashed sepulchers"... they imagine themselves to look so good on the outside... yet inside, they are filled with filth.So many still, to this day, sorrowfully, have to suffer at their hands and wishes. When will they see? [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by Toker00 on September 13, 2007 at 19:42:25 PT This is close to home. This young man went to our community college. Someone told me today about this happening but I hadn't read it. They said something wasn't right about his death. What do you think?http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/september2007/130907_b_explanation.htmToke. [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by E_Johnson on September 13, 2007 at 19:00:10 PT Woooohoooo not a good day for the prohibs Mad cow disease? I almost thought it was April Fools.Seriously, prions are bad news. If pot can fight prions in the brain, then not only do all the marijuana prisoners deserve amnesty but they also deserve financial compensation and perhaps even medals. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by fight_4_freedom on September 13, 2007 at 18:36:31 PT: Medical Marijuana Discussion Featuring one of MINORML's very own, Mike Whitty. Also touches on our ballot initiative which we are gathering signatures for.Discussion focuses on California's 'Compassionate Use Act', passed overwhelmingly by voters more than 10 years ago, and a Michigan ballot initiative for Nov 2008, launched with the goal of making Michigan the 12th State and the first in the Mid-West to legalize marijuana use for medicinal purposes when recommended by a physician.A one hour special concerning the continuing national debate over medical marijuana. Guests include journalist Sarah Phelan of the San Francisco Bay Guardian, Berkeley family practitioner Frank Lucido, M.D., and educator Michael Whitty PhD who teaches in the School of Business at the University of Detroit and the University of San Francisco. Whitty also serves on the Michigan advisory board of NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws).Discussion focuses on California's 'Compassionate Use Act', passed overwhelmingly by voters more than 10 years ago, and a Michigan ballot initiative for Nov 2008, launched with the goal of making Michigan the 12th State and the first in the Mid-West to legalize marijuana use for medicinal purposes when recommended by a physician.From the studios of AccesSF.org in San Francisco. http://www.baymedialab.org Medical Marijuana: Should Middle America Care? [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by mayan on September 13, 2007 at 17:47:10 PT Mad Cow! The cannabis plant is the mother of all medicines. No wonder greedy a**holes had it banned. They knew it all along!!!SHADOW OF THE SWASTIKA: The Real Reason the Government Won't Debate Medical Cannabis and Industrial Hemp Re-legalization: http://www.hempfarm.org/Papers/Shadow_of_the_Swastika.htmlTHE WAY OUT IS THE WAY IN...Smoking Gun Evidence WTC7 Was A Controlled Demolition: http://youtube.com/watch?v=PgAJ4sKUp8g9/11 First Responder Heard WTC 7 Demolition Countdown: http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/september2007/130907_demolition_countdown.htmLondon Guardian's Pro-Truth Piece: 9/11- The Big Cover-up? http://www.jonesreport.com/articles/120907_guardian_911.htmlResearcher: Bin Laden's beard is real, video is not: http://911blogger.com/node/113179-11-2007- WHAT'S GOING ON? http://tinyurl.com/2tu7o29/11 WAS AN INSIDE JOB - OUR NATION IS IN PERIL: http://www.911sharethetruth.com/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by Storm Crow on September 13, 2007 at 17:14:39 PT Does it ever end??? Chalk another wonder up to cannabis! Cannabis MUST be a gift from heaven! It heals or lessens the problems of SO MANY diseases and conditions! I have, on my "Birthday Gift post", the following diseases and conditions: ADD/ ADHD, Alcoholism, ALS, Alzheimer's, Arthritis, Asthma, Atherosclerosis, Atrophie Blanche, Autism. And that's just the "A" diseases and conditions! The "Cancer" section is 4 pages long! You want more studies? Click the link! (TY is a friendly little medical cannabis site based in Canada. If you are using cannabis medically, you might want to check it out.)http://www.treatingyourself.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=23136How can such a boon to humankind be illegal????? [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by Yanxor on September 13, 2007 at 15:38:22 PT Wonderplant? Cancer, AIDS, Clinical Depression, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, MS, Nuerological Chronic Pain, Cuts and now Mad Cow?Not too many other chemicals or plants are indicated for so many horrible diseases. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by aolbites on September 13, 2007 at 15:21:18 PT another ..bit older.. Enhancing Activity Of Marijuana-like Chemicals In Brain Helps Treat Parkinson's Symptoms In MiceScience Daily — Marijuana-like chemicals in the brain may point to a treatment for the debilitating condition of Parkinson's disease. In a study to be published in the Feb. 8 issue of Nature, researchers from the Stanford University School of Medicine report that endocannabinoids, naturally occurring chemicals found in the brain that are similar to the active compounds in marijuana and hashish, helped trigger a dramatic improvement in mice with a condition similar to Parkinson's.-=snip=-Malenka and postdoctoral scholar Anatol Kreitzer, PhD, the study's lead author, combined a drug already used to treat Parkinson's disease with an experimental compound that can boost the level of endocannabinoids in the brain. When they used the combination in mice with a condition like Parkinson's, the mice went from being frozen in place to moving around freely in 15 minutes. "They were basically normal," Kreitzer said.-=snip=-thought this one was interesting too... dunno how i missed it.. Enhancing Activity Of Marijuana-like Chemicals In Brain Helps Treat Parkinson's [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by aolbites on September 13, 2007 at 15:08:27 PT also... Source: Scripps Research Institute Date: September 10, 2007Small Clumps Of Prion Proteins May Be Primary Cause Of Neurodegenerative DiseasesScience Daily — Working in close collaboration with an international group of researchers, scientists at The Scripps Research Institute have shown for the first time that small clumps of abnormal prion proteins called oligomers cause the widespread death of neurons. In contrast, much larger prion aggregates known as fibrils proved to be far less toxic.The findings suggest that small protein aggregates play a central role in prion diseases; similar mechanisms have been proposed for the so-called "amyloid" neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's. The work may provide novel therapeutic approaches for treating people with these conditions. "Our new study clearly establishes these misfolded prion protein oligomers as the major neurotoxic agent in both in vitro and in vivo experiments," said Professor Corinne Lasm⁄zas, a Scripps Research scientist in the Florida campus's Department of Infectology who led the study. "This new discovery reveals the most likely culprit responsible for the death of neurons associated with spongiform encephalopathies and probably other neurodegenerative diseases."The researchers posit that prion oligomers damage neurons by disturbing neuronal membranes and hence cell signaling, as well as by building up excessively within cells, eventually triggering apoptotic or programmed cell death.-=snip=-Scripps Research Institute is in on both of these .. Prion Proteins May Be Primary Cause Of Neurodegenerative Diseases [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by dongenero on September 13, 2007 at 14:57:55 PT OT-here is a dangerous drug Perhaps cannabis could help instead, even if it only helps lower dosages of the dangerous drugs to be effective.By The Associated Press 1 hour, 14 minutes agoDEATHS: Four fatalities have been linked to the powerful painkiller Fentora, manufacturer Cephalon Inc. announced Thursday. ADVERTISEMENT IMPROPER USE: The drug was approved in September for use by specific cancer patients, but all four deaths involved patients using the drug improperly.PROMOTION: A company representative said the deaths were not linked to allegations that Cephalon improperly promoted the drug for off-label use. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by dongenero on September 13, 2007 at 13:53:08 PT Mad Cow! Cannabidiol inhibits mad cow disease.I don't know if there are any fans of Boston Legal here but, I think it's time they show Willam Shatner and James Spader smoking cannabis on the balcony to ward off Denny Crane's mad cow disease.They could roll this into a message about State's rights and medical cannabis! [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by paul armentano on September 13, 2007 at 13:52:41 PT Cannabis, 'Mad Cow,' and Halting Brain Disease A few additional notes on this study, which investigators performed both in vitro and in vivo.Researchers reported that prion proteins were "barely detectable" in CBD-treated mice, whereas "substantial amounts of protease-resistant prion protein were present in the brains" of untreated mice. In addition, the administration of a synthetic agonist (agent that also binds to the cannabinoid receptors) did not work as effectively as CBD. This latter finding is typical of synthetic cannabinoid agonists.Separate studies have demonstrated that cannabinoids -- including THC -- can delay disease progression in animal models of several, more common neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, and Lou Gehrig's disease. (See my "Emerging Clinical Applications" booklet for more details.) It's unclear whether a similar mechanism of action may be taking place in all of these instances, but it's clear that this is an area of research for cannabinoids that holds great potential. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment