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Support Oregon's Legalization Effort in 2014

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Support Oregon's Legalization Effort in 2014

Anonymous Team Vendetta wasn’t about to let the marijuana arrest of Libertarian radio host and Iraq veteran Adam Kokesh go unremarked. The hacktivist group on Tuesday temporarily took down at least two websites, the Philly Police Blog and rangerfop.com, the United States Park Ranger Lodge, in retaliation for Kokesh’s arrest. When Kokesh was busted [...]

Welcome to Room 420, where your instructor is Mr. Ron Marczyk and your subjects are wellness, disease prevention, self actualization, and chillin’. This one is personal. My wife of 32 years was diagnosed with breast cancer in the past two years and subsequently underwent a double mastectomy. She underwent six breast reconstruction surgeries in 12 [...]

Your grandparents grew their own medicine and food. Why? To save money. Now the government says: “You can’t. Use our ‘approved’ meds and foods or have yourselves and families be socially, financially, and criminally prosecuted.” Excuse me? This is America. This country was founded in the hopes of erasing these kinds of tyrannical behaviors. The [...]

A Florida deputy and his girlfriend were arrested on marijuana charges Friday morning. Piotr Urbanski and Shannon Clancey, 29, of Cape Coral, were busted at 3:30 a.m. on Friday, reports Naples News. Both are charged with “producing marijuana,” possession of more than 30 grams of marijuana, and possession of “drug paraphernalia.” Someone tipped off [...]

New research published in the recent issue of the American Journal of Medicine has found that the body of those who consume marijuana may be better at controlling blood sugar, making it a potential combatant against diabetes.

According to the study, marijuana users had significantly lower levels of the hormone insulin – indicating better blood sugar control.

For the study, researchers analyzed data obtained during the National Health and Nutrition Survey between 2005 and 2010, examining 4,657 patients, 579 who were current marijuana consumers. Researchers found that those who regularly smoked cannabis had a 16 per cent lower fasting insulin levels than people who had never smoked marijuana. Those who used the drug were also likely to have a smaller waist circumference – a large waist circumference is linked to diabetes risk.

“These are remarkable observations that are supported, as the authors note, by basic science experiments that came to similar conclusions”, stated Joseph Alpert, Professor of Medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine and editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Medicine.

He continues, ” I would like to call on the NIH [National Institute of Health] and the DEA to collaborate in developing policies to implement solid scientific investigations that would lead to information assisting physicians in the proper use and prescription of THC in its synthetic or herbal form.”

- TheJointBlog

The post Study: Marijuana Consumption May Combat Diabetes appeared first on The Joint Blog.

By Phillip Smith Thanks to aggressive policing strategies, New York City has for more than a decade been the world’s leader in marijuana possession arrests, but now those numbers are starting to go down. According to the State Division of Criminal Justice Services, some 10,078 people had been arrested on pot possession charges through April 23, [Continue Reading]

Medbox, Inc. (OTC Markets: MDBX) (www.medboxinc.com), a leader in providing industry-specific consulting services and patented systems to medical and retail businesses worldwide, commented on the federal tolerance of state regulated marijuana distribution programs. The company’s business strategy is specifically not to “touch” marijuana, but to provide the essential infrastructure to allow state departments of health [Continue Reading]

A new study by researchers at the New York University School of Medicine, and funded by theNational Institute of Health, has found a connection between the number of cannabinoid receptors in the brain and the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), paving the way towards an effective medication, according to an New York University press release. The study, which was [Continue Reading]

Staring off into Veterans Park, the Libertarian candidate slowly raised the marijuana cigarette to his lips and took a deep breath. As photographers snapped pictures, his wife captured video of Don DeZarn on a cellphone and asked him “who” it was for. “Who is this for?” DeZarn said, exhaling a puff of smoke. “This is [Continue Reading]

Recent nationwide polls have shown that a majority of all Americans support marijuana legalization. Survey data released this week by Behavior Research Center shows even stronger support at the state level in Arizona. Behavior Research Center asked respondents whether or not they favored or opposed legalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal use, 56% responded [Continue Reading]

Last week, legislators in the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services heard compelling testimony on Assembly Bill 351. This modest and sensible bill would exempt Nevada’s medical marijuana patients from the state’s unscientific limit on how much THC they can have in their systems while driving. For medical marijuana patients – who can legally consume [Continue Reading]

A New South Wales parliamentary committee has unanimously recommended the legalization of medical marijuana for those with terminal illnesses such as cancer and AIDS, according to The Australian. If the measure is approved by the state’s government, qualified patients would be authorized to possess and use up to 15 grams of marijuana.

The committee vote, which included members from five different political parties (the Liberal, National, Labor, Greens and Shooter parties), had not a single detracting, despite representatives of the Department of Health, the attorney general and police officers speaking in opposition to the provision.

Luke Foley, a Labor Party member who initiated the vote, stated, “Today’s report is extremely significant – unanimous support from members representing five different political parties for legal reform to allow the medical use of cannabis by patients with terminal illness and AIDS.” He continues, “As members of parliament we need to be guided by facts and evidence rather than slogans and hysteria. We should be guided by the experts – by clinicians on the medical issues and lawyers on the legal issues.”

- TheJointBlog

The post Australian Committee Votes Unanimously to Legalize Medical Marijuana appeared first on The Joint Blog.

Responding to a Maine legislative committee rejecting a proposal today which would of legalized marijuana in the state, activists in Maine are preparing an initiative aiming to bring the issue to a vote of the people in the next presidential election. The announcement came today by David Boyer, Maine Political Director for the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), in response to the committee’s vote. Many advocates had high hopes for the proposal that was rejected today 8 to 3. The committee held a 6-hour public hearing on the issue earlier this month.

MPP is one the largest marijuana reform organizations in the nation with tens of thousands of volunteers and an annual budget in the millions.

Given that the measure would be aiming for the 2016 ballot, a signature drive would be quite a few months away, but building early support for the initiative will help assure its success, and may push lawmakers to approve a proposal in the next legislative session so that they have more say over regulations.

Those interested in getting involved in marijuana law reform in Maine can contact the Marijuana Policy Project by clicking here.

- TheJointBlog

The post Marijuana Legalization Initiative Announced in Maine appeared first on The Joint Blog.

New polling conducted by the respected Behavior Research Center has found that a strong majority of those in Arizona support the legalization of marijuana – 56% are in favor of such a move, with only 37% in opposition. According to the polling, legalization has majority support across all age groups, and in every county in the state. These results show that Arizona residents support legalization at an even higher rate than the national average, which is around 52%, according to the Pew Research Institute.

In their release of the results, the Behavior Research Center stated, “It is perhaps ironic that as support for same-sex marriage and defelonization of marijuana have long been albatrosses which conservative candidates could hang around the necks of some of their moderate or liberal challengers, it now appears that hard opposition to gay marriage and perhaps even to marijuana liberalization could become issues moderates and liberals can use against their conservative opponents.”

Arizona is in the process of implementing its voter-approved medical marijuana law, which passed in 2010.

- TheJointBlog

The post Poll: 56% of Arizonans Support Marijuana Legalization appeared first on The Joint Blog.