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Press Release: CMMNJ meeting will feature cannabis scientist and discussion of law

MEDIA ADVISORY - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 7/13/2010 The Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey - CMMNJ www.cmmnj.org Contact: Ken Wolski [email protected] 609 394 2137 or Chris Goldstein [email protected] CMMNJ meeting will feature cannabis scientist and discussion of law On Tuesday July 13th The Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey (CMMNJ) holds our monthly public meeting. The group will discuss the recent amendment to the medical marijuana law and the future of the state's program. Jahan Marcu is performing cutting edge research at Temple University into the unique chemical components of the marijuana plant called cannabinoids. Marcu will be a featured speaker. Researchers know that many of the cannabinoids in marijuana have powerful medical properties. Because of federal prohibition, intensive research into the clinical uses of these substances is difficult. Marcu is one of the few cannabinoid scientists in the country. This year he published a landmark paper on how cannabis can inhibit brain cancers. LINK http://cannabination.com/2010/01/12/published-study-shows-how-cannabis-inhibits-brain-cancer-asa-blog/ Previously, Jahan investigated cannabinoid synergy at the California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute. He also lectured on the subject of cannabinoids at Cannabis Cooperatives and at New College of California. At San Francisco State University, he investigated the therapeutic applicability of whole plant cannabinoid ratios, correlating these ratios to effects reported by medical cannabis patients and in clinical trials. Marcu’s information and experience are a wealth of knowledge for New Jersey residents who are potential patients or medical professionals. His blog can be found at www.cannabination.com CMMNJ hosts information seminars, monthly meetings and other events to educate the public about medical marijuana. The 7/13 meeting takes place at the Lawrence Township Public Library starting at 7:00PM. More about medical marijuana in New Jersey at www.cmmnj.org NJ residents are contacting their legislators about medical cannabis - http://cmmnj.blogspot.com/2010/06/supporters-contact-your-legislators.html Read the full text of NJ's medical marijuana law http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2008/Bills/PL09/307_.HTM For comment or more information contact: Ken Wolski [email protected] 609 394 2137 or Chris Goldstein [email protected]

Press Release: 3 former Latin American presidents sign Vienna Declaration, join global call to action for science-based drug policy reform

Contact: Michael Kessler [email protected] 34-655-792-699 International AIDS Society 3 former Latin American presidents sign Vienna Declaration, join global call to action for science-based drug policy reform Former leaders urge alternatives to 'war on drugs' in lead up to XVIII International AIDS Conference 13 July 2010 [Vienna, Austria] – Former presidents Fernando Henrique Cardoso (Brazil), Ernesto Zedillo (México) and César Gaviria (Colombia) today announced their endorsement of the Vienna Declaration, the official declaration of the XVIII International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2010, www.aids2010.org) taking place from 18 to 23 July 2010. The Vienna Declaration (www.viennadeclaration.com) seeks to improve community health and safety by calling for the incorporation of scientific evidence into illicit drug policies. The declaration was opened for endorsement by academics and members of the public on 28 June 2010. "The war on drugs has failed," said Fernando Henrique Cardoso. "In Latin America, the only outcome of prohibition is to shift areas of cultivation and drug cartels from one country to another, with no reduction in the violence and corruption generated by the drug trade." Authored by an international group of distinguished scientists and experts, the Vienna Declaration highlights the ways that over reliance on drug law enforcement results in a range of health and social harms including growing HIV rates among people who use drugs. The three former heads of state are the co-presidents of the influential Latin American Commission on Drugs and Democracy, which strives to inform drug policy in the region and to contribute towards more effective, safe and humane drug policies. Joining them in supporting the Vienna Declaration are three other influential Latin American figures – Peruvian writer, journalist and essayist Mario Vargas Llosa, Brazilian writer Paulo Coelho and Sergio Ramírez Mercado, writer and former vice-president of Nicaragua. "The war on drugs has had such an incredibly negative impact on Latin America, and the fact that the Vienna Declaration is receiving this level of endorsement from former heads of state should serve as an example to those currently in power," said AIDS 2010 Chair Dr. Julio Montaner, President of the International AIDS Society (IAS) and Director of the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CfE). "I hope that the Vienna Declaration will inspire many more political leaders to cast aside the drug war rhetoric and embrace evidence-based policies that can meaningfully improve community health and safety." The Vienna Declaration calls on governments and international organizations, including the United Nations, to take a number of steps, including: * undertaking a transparent review of the effectiveness of current drug policies * implementing and evaluating a science-based public health approach to address the harms stemming from illicit drug use * scaling up evidence-based drug dependence treatment options * abolishing ineffective compulsory drug treatment centres that violate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights * endorsing and scaling up funding for the drug treatment and harm reduction measures endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations The Vienna Declaration lists a range of harms stemming from the war on drugs, and notes that the criminalization of people who use drugs has resulted in record high incarceration rates, thereby placing a massive burden on taxpayers. "Instead of sticking to failed policies with disastrous consequences, we must direct our efforts to the reduction of consumption and the reduction of the harm caused by drugs to people and society," said Cardoso. "Repressive policies are firmly rooted in prejudices, fears and ideological visions. The way forward to safeguard human rights, security and health is a strategy of peace not war." Outside of sub-Saharan Africa, injecting drug use accounts for approximately one in three new cases of HIV. In some areas of rapid HIV spread, such as in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, injecting drug use is the primary cause of new HIV infections. Legal barriers to scientifically proven prevention services such as needle and syringe programs and opioid substitution therapy (OST) mean hundreds of thousands of people become infected with HIV and Hepatitis C every year. The effectiveness of these programs is well-documented, though access to such interventions is often limited in those locations where HIV is spreading most rapidly. According to various scientific reviews conducted by the World Health Organization, the Institute of Medicine (U.S.) and others, these programs reduce HIV rates without increasing drug use. "We welcome the support of Presidents Cardoso, Zedillo and Gaviria, as well as the many doctors, scientists, researchers and public figures who have already put their support and endorsement behind the Vienna Declaration," said Dr. Evan Wood, founder of the International Centre for Science in Drug Policy (ICSDP) and the Chair of the Vienna Declaration Writing Committee. "This level of support, especially before the conference has started, demonstrates the urgency that global leaders in many disciplines believe we must move towards reforming drug policies." As an estimated 20,000 conference participants travel to Vienna this week, conference organizers are encouraging them to join the growing call for evidence-based drug policies. "The approach to drug policy proposed in the Vienna Declaration will prevent new HIV infections and ensure that people who struggle with addiction have access to the medical and support services they need," said Dr. Brigitte Schmied, AIDS 2010 Local Co-Chair and President of the Austrian AIDS Society. "Access to proven interventions and to the highest standard of health are rights that each of us values, including those living with addiction." The Vienna Declaration was initiated by the IAS, the International Centre for Science in Drug Policy, and the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. ### Those wishing to sign on may visit www.viennadeclaration.com, where the full text of the declaration, along with the list of authors, is available. The two-page declaration references 28 reports, describing the scientific evidence documenting the effectiveness of public health approaches to drug policy and the negative consequences of approaches that criminalize drug users.

Pain Relief Network Challenges Washington State's Opioid Guidelines

The issue of not properly treating chronic pain with opioids due to drug prohibition's chilling effect on the medical community has been coming to a head slowly over the years. Now, advocates of pain management are turning to the protection of the courts in an effort to have the "deadly disease of chronic pain" declared a disability under the Americans With Disabilities Act.

Budget Analysts Predict 66,000 People Would Sign Up for Medical Weed if Legalized in Arizona

Voters in Arizona will again have a chance to legalize a medical marijuana program when it appears on the ballot in November. Polls indicate that about 65 percent of voters will support it. If passed, analysts predict that 39,600 people will register and that another 26,400 designated caregivers will bring the number of people able to possess medical marijuana to 66,000 by the time the program is fully implemented in the 2012-2013 fiscal year.

7 circles of Juarez: teenage assassins

120,000 Juarez youngsters aged 13 to 24 — or 45 percent of the total — are not enrolled in any education or do not have any formal employment. Because drug prohibition forces the trade underground, drug trafficking organizations step in to provide jobs, using their operatives in the slums to look out for talented young gunslingers. Youth are hired to kill for as little as $100.
San Diego medical marijuana demonstration
San Diego medical marijuana demonstration

Medical Marijuana Raids Continue Despite Obama's Pledge

Recent DEA raids in California are once again raising questions about the Obama Administration's commitment to respecting state laws:


San Diego, CA -- Federal agents raided at least three San Diego-area medical marijuana dispensaries [Friday] in the early morning hours. Sources say that Green Kross, Unified Collective and Kush Lounge were all served federal search warrants and were subjected to aggressive SWAT-style raids which resulted in the arrest of as many as 12 people and the seizure of money, medical marijuana and patient records. These raids come as the City of San Diego is deliberating an ordinance to regulate the local distribution of medical marijuana. [Americans for Safe Access]

It's possible, of course, that there were violations of state law taking place here, in which case the DEA's involvement would be consistent with Obama's policy. But it remains unclear why California police would need federal assistance enforcing their own laws. The cynical interpretation would be that the tendency of local juries to acquit medical marijuana defendants has led San Diego District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis to have the feds do her dirty work.
 
Meanwhile in Mendocino:


A marijuana activist group on Friday protested a federal law enforcement raid on a Mendocino County pot farm, saying it was protected by the county’s new medical marijuana cultivation ordinance.
…
The Covelo farm owned by Joy Greenfield, 68, was registered with Mendocino County authorities under an ordinance that allows medical marijuana collectives to grow up to 99 plants.
…
Federal agents removed 99 plants and took a computer and cash, the group said. Greenfield wasn’t there at the time.

Mendocino County Sheriff Tom Allman confirmed Friday that the property owner had the proper paperwork and the marijuana was legal in the eyes of the county. [Press Democrat]

Once again, there could be more to the story, but it sure sounds like classic DEA craziness. The grower's relationship with local law-enforcement casts doubt on the possibility of impropriety, so we're left wondering what the hell is going on here.

Events like these are inevitable under a vague federal policy left to the whims of the DEA's bullying cowboy mentality. Only a change in federal law will bring an end to this, but for the time being, the Obama Administration would do well to eliminate all apparent departures from the well-received hands-off approach they've promised the American people. I don't see what's so hard about that. If circumstances emerge that absolutely necessitate DEA activity involving medical marijuana, then it shouldn’t be too hard to provide an explanation for why federal resources were needed. That's the very least you can do.

Obama's pledge to respect medical marijuana laws enjoys broader public support than almost anything else he's done since taking office. Screwing that up would be stupid, cruel and pointless.

Drug Truth 07/12/10 + 17 New Affiliates!

Cultural Baggage * Century of Lies * 4:20 Drug War NEWS DTN adds 17 New Stations! Through arrangements with "Time 4 Hemp"s host Casper Leitch, American Freedom Radio Network will now feature a weekly DTN segment each Friday evening. The segment will focus on DTN's recent and upcoming guests and on hard drug news of the week. Through this arrangement, DTN's focus on ending the drug war will be broadcast from 91 stations around N. America each week. Cultural Baggage for 07/11/10 29:00 DTN host Dean Becker is joined by 2 other drug war radio hosts: Adam Assenberg - Marijuana Fact or Fiction and Casper Leich - Time 4 Hemp LINK: http://www.drugtruth.net/cms/node/2977 TRANSCRIPT: Tue Century of Lies for 07/11/10 29:00 Tom Feiling, author of "Cocaine Nation - How the White Trade Took Over the World" + Appeal to deny new Russian/UN Drug Czar LINK: http://www.drugtruth.net/cms/node/2976 TRANSCRIPT: http://www.drugtruth.net/cms/node/2976#comments 4:20 Drug War NEWS, 07/12 to 07/18/10 Link at www.drugtruth.net on the right margin - Sun - Paul Armentano of NORML on Calif tax & control or no tax, no control Sat - Mary Jane Borden with Drug War Facts on history of hemp Fri - Tom Feiling, author of "Cocaine Nation - How the White Trade Took Over the World" Thu - Neal Peirce writes for Wash Post: California Might Overturn Odious History of Marijuana Laws Wed - New UN drug czar to come from Russia? Tue - Atty Leland Berger: Oregon to recognize medical marijuana patients from other states Mon - "What if Cannabis Cured Cancer" - Movie Trailer, Len Richmond - Writer/director Programs produced at Pacifica Radio Station KPFT in Houston, 90.1 FM. You can Listen Live Online at www.kpft.org - Cultural Baggage Sun, 7:30 PM ET, 6:30 PM CT, 5:30 PM MT, 4:30 PM PT - Century of Lies, SUN, 8 PM ET, 7 PM CT, 6 PM MT & 5 PM PT Who's Next?": Jeff Blackburn & Dante Picazo of MedCan University in Texas + Atty Baldemar Zuniga from 713DrugLaw.com Please note, I will guest host Time 4 Hemp on Wednesday July 14th and the weekly segments there will begin on Friday July 23rd. New Affiliates: a.. Monticello, Maine - 780 AM a.. Wichita, Kansas - 1480 KQAM a.. Sioux Falls, S.D. - 1640 AM a.. Elgin, Texas - 1330 AM a.. Keene, New Hampshire - LRN.FM a.. Sioux Falls, S.D. - 1710 AM a.. Elgin, Texas - 94.3 FM a.. Minneapolis, Minn. - 1710 AM a.. Idaho Falls, Idaho - 1610 AM a.. South Bend, Indiana - 1700 AM a.. Shirley, Mass. - 1640 AM a.. Omaha, Neb. - 1640 AM a.. Corvallis, Ore. - 1610 AM a.. Aberdeen, S.D. - 1680 AM a.. Rowlett-Rockwall, Texas - 1650 AM a.. Grand Junction, Colo. - 1610 AM a.. Fredericksburg, Texas. - 91.9 FM Hundreds of our programs are available online at www.drugtruth.net, www.audioport.org and now at James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy at Rice University. http://www.bakerinstitute.org We have potcasts, searchability, CMS, XML, sorts by guest name and by organization. We provide the "unvarnished truth about the drug war" to scores of broadcast affiliates. You can tune into both our 1/2 hour programs, live, at 6:30 central time on Pacifica's KPFT at http://www.kpft.org and call in your questions and concerns toll free at 1-877-9-420 420. The two, 29:00 shows appear along with the seven, daily, 3:00 "4:20 Drug War NEWS" reports each Monday morning at http://www.drugtruth.net . We currently have 74 affiliated, yet independent broadcast stations. With a simple email request to [email protected] , your station can join the Drug Truth Network, free of charge. Check out our latest videos via www.youtube.com/fdbecker Please become part of the solution, visit our website: www.endprohibition.org for links to the best of reform. "Prohibition is evil." - Reverend Dean Becker, DTN Producer, 713-462-7981, www.drugtruth.net

Italian Military Police Chief Convicted On Drugs Smuggling Charges

It seems the lure of quick, almost unimaginable profits made available due to drug prohibition is too much to resist for even those charged with policing the drug trade. An Italian military police general has been sentenced to 14 years in jail for drug smuggling, drug selling, and organizing fake anti-drug raids.
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