Thursday, December 29, 2011

Can Juries Ignore ‘Immoral’ Laws by Nullifying Them? - The Daily Beast

Can Juries Ignore ‘Immoral’ Laws by Nullifying Them? - The Daily Beast: "What can a jury do to protest an “immoral” law? Return a verdict of “not guilty” to nullify it. Mansfield Frazier on why jury nullification is back in the news—and why the feds are cracking down."

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Russ Belville: Top Ten Cannabis Science Stories of 2011

Russ Belville: Top Ten Cannabis Science Stories of 2011: "Yesterday we revealed The Top Ten "Reefer Madness" Stories of 2011. Today we continue our Year-End Retrospective with a look at the biggest news stories of scientific research into cannabis, public opinion polls on legalization, and statistical research on cannabis consumers. We call it The Top Ten Cannabis Science Stories of 2011. Tomorrow we'll continue with The Top Ten "Stupid Stoner Stories" of 2011 and Friday we conclude with the The Top Ten People in Cannabis of 2011."

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Five Things You May ‘Know’ About Marijuana That Aren’t True | NEWS JUNKIE POST

Five Things You May ‘Know’ About Marijuana That Aren’t True | NEWS JUNKIE POST: "The bulk of my writing is done for a pot-savvy audience, so it usually goes without saying that certain “cultural perceptions” about cannabis are wrong. To correct these marijuana myths to a crowd of potheads would be a classic case of singing to (an albeit higher) choir.
As editor of a pot website, I live and breathe marijuana (see what I did there?) every day, and have a great chance to fully inform myself.
But when speaking to members of the general public, I’m often struck (and stop that! It hurts) with the wide prevalence of beliefs about marijuana that have been scientifically disproven for years."

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Colorado asks DEA to reclassify pot - TODAY News - TODAY.com

Colorado asks DEA to reclassify pot - TODAY News - TODAY.com: "DENVER — Colorado has become the third state to ask the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to reclassify marijuana in a way that allows doctors to prescribe it as a medical treatment.

The state asked the Drug Enforcement Administration to reclassify marijuana from Schedule 1, a category that includes heroin, to Schedule 2. The change would allow doctors to prescribe pot and pharmacies to fill marijuana prescriptions."

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Campaign To Legalize Marijuana Ready In Michigan - Toke of the Town

Campaign To Legalize Marijuana Ready In Michigan - Toke of the Town: "The effort to legalize marijuana in Michigan will be officially underway in two weeks.

The 2012 Michigan Ballot Initiative to End Marijuana Prohibition, sponsored by a grassroots group named Repeal Today For A Safer Michigan 2012, hopes to give the voters a chance to decide for themselves next November, reports Ryan J. Stanton at AnnArbor.com."

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Saturday, December 24, 2011

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Cannabinoid Shown To Be Neuroprotective In Model Of Acute Alcohol Withdrawal

Cannabinoid Shown To Be Neuroprotective In Model Of Acute Alcohol Withdrawal: "Thursday, 08 September 2011

"[T]hese observations show ... that the stimulation of the endocannabinoid system could be protective against the hyper-excitability developed during alcohol withdrawal"

Caen, France: The administration of the synthetic cannabinoid agonist HU-211 decreases nerve cell death in an in vitro model of ethanol withdrawal, according to data published online in the journal of the Public Library of Science (PLoS ONE)."

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Frequency Of Marijuana Use Associated With Lower Prevalence Of Obesity, Study Says

Frequency Of Marijuana Use Associated With Lower Prevalence Of Obesity, Study Says: "Thursday, 01 September 2011

"People using cannabis are less likely to be obese than people who do not use cannabis," authors say

Colombes, France: The prevalence of obesity in the general population is sharply lower among marijuana consumers than it is among nonusers, according to an analysis published online this week in the American Journal of Epidemiology."

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Intravenous Administration Of THC Not Associated With 'Serious Adverse Events' In Human Subjects

Intravenous Administration Of THC Not Associated With 'Serious Adverse Events' In Human Subjects: "Thursday, 25 August 2011

West Haven, CT: The intravenous administration of cannabis' primary psychoactive compound, delta-9-THC, poses a "relatively low" risk to subjects' health, according to a review of clinical trial data to be published in the journal Psychopharmacology.

A team of investigators at the West Haven, Connecticut branch of the US Department of Veteran Affairs conducted a review of all intravenous THC studies conducted at the center over a 13-year period. They assessed 11 studies involving 266 subjects (14 schizophrenia patients and 252 healthy subjects, of whom 76 were frequent cannabis users), 351 active THC infusions, and 226 placebo infusions. Study subjects were monitored for subjective and physical adverse events and followed up to 12months beyond study participation."

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Synthetic THC Reduces Motility In Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Synthetic THC Reduces Motility In Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome: "Thursday, 18 August 2011

Rochester, MN: The administration of synthetic THC (aka dronabinol) decreases colonic motility compared to placebo in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), according to clinical trial data to be published in the journal Gastroenterology.

Investigators at the Clinical Enteric Neuroscience Translational and Epidemiological Research (CENTER) in Rochester, Minnesota assessed the impact of oral THC versus placebo in a randomized trial of 75 patients with IBS."

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Israel: Government Officially Recognizes Therapeutic Value Of Cannabis -- Codifies Regulations For Producing, Providing It To Patients

Israel: Government Officially Recognizes Therapeutic Value Of Cannabis -- Codifies Regulations For Producing, Providing It To Patients: "Thursday, 11 August 2011

Tel Aviv, Israel: The Israeli government on Sunday acknowledged the therapeutic utility of cannabis and announced newly amended guidelines governing the state-sponsored production and distribution of medical cannabis to Israeli patients.

A prepared statement posted Monday on the website of office of the Israeli Prime Minister states: "The Cabinet today approved arrangements and supervision regarding the supply of cannabis for medical and research uses. This is in recognition that the medical use of cannabis is necessary in certain cases. The Health Ministry will -- in coordination with the Israel Police and the Israel Anti-Drug Authority -- oversee the foregoing and will also be responsible for supplies from imports and local cultivation.""

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Congressman's Letter To Drug Czar: "Marijuana Does Not Belong On Schedule I Of The Controlled Substances Act"

Congressman's Letter To Drug Czar: "Marijuana Does Not Belong On Schedule I Of The Controlled Substances Act": "Thursday, 15 September 2011

Washington, DC: Representative Steven Cohen (D-TN) is urging the Obama administration to reclassify cannabis under federal law and to acknowledge its therapeutic utility, according to a September 12 letter sent by the Congressman to the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP).

States Rep. Cohen in his letter to Drug Czar Gil Kerlikowske: "Marijuana does not belong on schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) alongside hard drugs as ... heroin. There is no evidence that marijuana has the same addictive qualities or damaging consequences as these harder drugs and it should not be treated as such. Similarly, the so-called 'gateway drug' theory has been thoroughly discredited with respect to marijuana. Marijuana ought to be placed at the lowest end of the CSA in accordance with its true risks.""

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Study: Crohn's Patients Who Use Cannabis Report Fewer Surgeries, Are Less Likely To Use Prescription Drugs

Study: Crohn's Patients Who Use Cannabis Report Fewer Surgeries, Are Less Likely To Use Prescription Drugs: "Thursday, 22 September 2011

"All patients stated that consuming cannabis had a positive effect on their disease activity"

Tel Aviv, Israel: Cannabis use is associated with a reduction in Crohn's disease (CD) activity and disease-related surgeries, according to the results of a retrospective observational study published in the August issue of the Journal of the Israeli Medical Association.

Investigators at the Meir Medical Center, Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology assessed 'disease activity, use of medication, need for surgery, and hospitalization' before and after cannabis use in 30 patients with CD."

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Netherlands: Cannabis Coffee-Shops Appear To Minimally Impact Dutch Use Patterns

Netherlands: Cannabis Coffee-Shops Appear To Minimally Impact Dutch Use Patterns: "Thursday, 22 September 2011

Berkeley, CA: The proliferation of Dutch 'coffee-shops,' which allow for the sale of limited quantities of marijuana to patrons age 18 or older, appears to have had little impact on Dutch cannabis use patterns, according to an analysis published online in the scientific journal Addiction.

University of California at Berkeley researcher Robert MacCoun compared some 40 years of Dutch data on cannabis "prevalence, ... patterns of use, treatment, sanctioning, process, and purity" with comparable data from Europe and the United States."

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Study: Alcohol Is "More Than Twice As Harmful As Cannabis"

Study: Alcohol Is "More Than Twice As Harmful As Cannabis": "Thursday, 03 November 2011

London, United Kingdom: Alcohol consumption causes far greater harms to the individual user and to society than does the use of cannabis, according to a review published online in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, the journal of the British Association of Psychopharmacology.

Investigators at the Imperial College of London assessed "the relative physical, psychological, and social harms of cannabis and alcohol." Authors reported that cannabis inhalation, particularly long-term, contributes to some potential adverse health effects -- including harms to the lungs, circulatory system, as well as the exacerbation of certain mental health risks. By contrast, authors described alcohol as " a toxic substance" that is responsible for an estimated five percent "of the total global disease burden.""

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Survey: Cannabis Use Associated With Reduced Intake Of Prescription Drugs

Survey: Cannabis Use Associated With Reduced Intake Of Prescription Drugs: "Thursday, 03 November 2011

Berkeley, CA: Survey data collected from the members of a prominent Berkeley, California medical marijuana collective indicates that most patients reduce their intake of conventional medications following their initiation of cannabis therapy.

The results of an anonymous survey found that 66 percent of respondents said that they consumed cannabis as a prescription drug substitute. Many respondents said that they preferred cannabis because it possesses fewer health side effects than conventional medications.

Some 70 percent of respondents said that they used cannabis to treat a chronic condition, such as diabetes or arthritis. Just over half said they used marijuana for pain relief, including arthritis, migraines, and accident-related injuries.

Nearly three-quarters of respondents said that they possessed health insurance coverage.

For more information, please visit: http://www.berkeleypatientsgroup.com/."

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Study: Vaporized Cannabis Augments The Analgesic Effects Of Opiates In Human Subjects

Study: Vaporized Cannabis Augments The Analgesic Effects Of Opiates In Human Subjects: "Thursday, 10 November 2011

San Francisco, CA: Cannabis administration significantly augments the analgesic effects of opiates in patients with chronic pain, according to clinical trial data published online in the journal Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics.

Investigators at the University of California, San Francisco assessed the use of vaporized cannabis over a five-day period in 21 chronic pain subjects who were on a regimen of twice-daily doses morphine or oxycodone. Participants in the trial inhaled cannabis vapor on the evening of day 1 of the study, three times a day on days 2 through 4, and in the morning of day 5. Subjects' extent of chronic pain was assessed daily."

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Cannabinoid Improves Locomotor Function, Reduces Injury In Animal Model Of Spinal Cord Injury

Cannabinoid Improves Locomotor Function, Reduces Injury In Animal Model Of Spinal Cord Injury: "Thursday, 17 November 2011

Sao Paulo, Brazil: The administration of the non-psychotropic cannabis plant constituent cannabidiol (CBD) improves mobility in rats with spinal cord injuries, according to preclinical data published in the journal Neurotoxicity Research.

Investigators at the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil assessed the impact of CBD on motor function in rats with cryogenically induced spinal cord injury. The animals received injections of a placebo or CBD immediately before, three hours after and daily for sixdays after surgery.

Researchers reported that cannabidiol-treated rats exhibited higher locomotor skills at the end of one week."

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California Society Of Addiction Medicine Calls For The 'Constructive Regulation' Of Marijuana

California Society Of Addiction Medicine Calls For The 'Constructive Regulation' Of Marijuana: "Wednesday, 23 November 2011

San Francisco, CA: The California chapter of the American Society of Addiction Medicines (ASAM) has issued a paper calling for the legalization and regulation of the adult use of cannabis.

The preliminary paper, entitled 'Youth First: Reconstructing Drug Policy, Regulating Marijuana, and Increasing Access to Treatment in California,' was initially presented at CSAM's State of the Art Conference in October."

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Hospice Health Professionals Support Legalization Of Cannabis For Therapeutic Use

Hospice Health Professionals Support Legalization Of Cannabis For Therapeutic Use: "Thursday, 01 December 2011

Philadelphia, PA: A majority of hospice health professionals favor allowing the legally regulated use of cannabis for terminally ill patients, according to survey data published online in the Journal of Palliative Medicine.

Investigators at the University of Pennsylvania utilized a 16-item questionnaire to assess the knowledge, experience, and views of hospice professionals regarding the use of marijuana in terminally ill patients.

Authors concluded, "The study results revealed that, like the general public, hospice health care providers are generally in favor of legalization of marijuana and, if legalized, would support its use in symptom management for their terminally ill patients.""

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Cannabis Beneficial To Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Cannabis Beneficial To Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: "Thursday, 01 December 2011

"Inhaled cannabis improves quality of life measurements, disease activity index, and causes weight gain"

Tel Aviv, Israel: The inhalation of cannabis increases quality of life, mitigates disease activity, and promotes weight gain in subjects with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), according to clinical trial data published online in the scientific journal Digestion."

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Study: Inhaled Cannabis Modulates Appetite Hormones In HIV Patients

Study: Inhaled Cannabis Modulates Appetite Hormones In HIV Patients: "Thursday, 15 December 2011

San Diego, CA: Cannabis inhalation is associated with increased levels of appetite hormones in the blood of subjects with HIV infection, according to clinical trial data published online in the scientific journal Brain Research.

Investigators at the University of California, San Diego and the Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research assessed the effects of inhaled cannabis on the appetite hormones ghrelin, leptin and peptide YY (PYY), as well as insulin, in adult subjects with HIV."

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House Lawmakers Vote In Favor Of Federal Legislation Outlawing So-Called 'Synthetic Cannabis'

House Lawmakers Vote In Favor Of Federal Legislation Outlawing So-Called 'Synthetic Cannabis': "Thursday, 15 December 2011

Washington, DC: Members of the US Congress, House of Representatives voted 317 to 98 last week in support of HR 1254, the Synthetic Drug Control Act. The act criminalizes the possession or use of "any substance that is a cannabinoid receptor type 1 agonist" by classifying all such substances as Schedule I prohibited drugs under federal law "unless [the substance is] specifically exempted or ... listed in another schedule."

If passed, the measure would prohibit under federal law the possession and sale of chemical agents contained in so-called 'fake' herbal marijuana products, commonly sold over-the-counter under the brand names 'K2' and 'Spice.'"

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Non-Psychotropic Cannabinoid Is "Safe," "Well Tolerated" In Humans, Study Says

Non-Psychotropic Cannabinoid Is "Safe," "Well Tolerated" In Humans, Study Says: ""CBD is non-toxic ... and does not alter psychomotor or psychological functions"

Sao Paulo, Brazil: The administration of the non-psychotropic cannabis plant constituent cannabidiol (CBD) is "non-toxic" to healthy cells and is "well tolerated" in humans, according to review data published online in the scientific journal Current Drug Safety."

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Thursday, December 15, 2011

Officer charged with CSC, misconduct, delivery of marijuana | mich, charged, misconduct - WWMT NEWSCHANNEL 3

Officer charged with CSC, misconduct, delivery of marijuana | mich, charged, misconduct - WWMT NEWSCHANNEL 3: "BERRIEN COUNTY, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) – The Berrien County Prosecuting Attorney has announced charges against a police officer from Benton Harbor.



Officer Jared Lorenzo Graves is facing two counts of criminal sexual conduct in the third degree, one count of misconduct in office and one count of delivery of marijuana.



Investigators say Graves forced a 24-year-old suspect to perform fellatio on him under the threat of arrest. Officers say it was over a possession of marijuana charge that he was threatening her with."

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Obama's Drug Czar Blames YOU for Increased Teen Marijuana Use | StoptheDrugWar.org

Obama's Drug Czar Blames YOU for Increased Teen Marijuana Use | StoptheDrugWar.org: "Just when you thought the medical marijuana debate couldn’t get any uglier, the Drug Czar shows up at your doorstep demanding to know why you want to drug the children.
One out of every 15 high school students smokes marijuana on a near daily basis, a figure that has reached a 30-year peak even as use of alcohol, cigarettes and cocaine among teenagers continues a slow decline, according to a new government report.



R. Gil Kerlikowske, the federal drug czar, said he believed the increasing prevalence of medicinal marijuana was a factor in the uptick. “These last couple years, the amount of attention that’s been given to medical marijuana has been huge,” he said. [NYT]"

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Teens Giving Up Smoking and Drinking in Exchange for Pot - National - The Atlantic Wire

Teens Giving Up Smoking and Drinking in Exchange for Pot - National - The Atlantic Wire: "A new survey of teenage drug use finds that their consumption of cigarettes and alcohol is the lowest it has been in 30 years, but that regular use of marijuana continues its sharp rise. The study found that 1 out of every 15 students in 10th and 12th grades uses pot on a daily or near-dealy basis.

The data from the annual "Monitoring the Future" report, which surveys around 50,000 eighth, tenth, and twelfth graders every year since 1975. The rates of drinking among teens are the lowest they've been in the history of the study."

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Marijuana Increases Brain Cell Formation In the Hippocampus

Marijuana Increases Brain Cell Formation In the Hippocampus: "Often times, medical marijuana patients are stigmatized as “stupid” and “lazy.” As insulting as these assumptions may
be, marijuana activists have evidence that their medicine actually increases brain activity!

When comparing the positive effects marijuana has on brain activity in comparison to the harmful effects {on brain activity} of both alcohol and tobacco, the legalization of marijuana seems like a NO-BRAINER! "

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Drug Dogs Produce 'False Alerts' Over 80% Of The Time According To New Report | THE Weed Blog

Drug Dogs Produce 'False Alerts' Over 80% Of The Time According To New Report | THE Weed Blog: "Some 80 percent of drug dog ‘alerts’ in New South Wales in 2011 yielded no illicit substances, according to state government statistics published this week by the Sydney Morning Herald.

According to the paper, in the first nine months of 2011, “14,102 searches were conducted after a dog sat next to a person, indicating they might be carrying drugs. But, in 11,248 cases, no drugs were found.”"

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Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Drug Cops Exposed As Violent, Ineffective Thugs - Toke of the Town

Drug Cops Exposed As Violent, Ineffective Thugs - Toke of the Town: "Among defense attorneys, "narcotics officers" have a certain reputation: thuggishly violent goons who enjoy trashing suspects' homes and bullying children. There's no better example of why such perceptions exist than the WestNET task force in Washington state.

Reporter Sean Robinson of the Tacoma News Tribune nailed the federally funded task force to the wall in an exposé this week. The well-done piece revealed that the unit, based in Kitsap County and pulling officers from various departments, uses hyper-aggressive tactics and exaggerated claims of effectiveness, reports Nina Shapiro at Seattle Weekly."

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Officers Punished for Supporting Eased Drug Laws - NYTimes.com

Officers Punished for Supporting Eased Drug Laws - NYTimes.com: "PHOENIX — Border Patrol agents pursue smugglers one moment and sit around in boredom the next. It was during one of the lulls that Bryan Gonzalez, a young agent, made some comments to a colleague that cost him his career."

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Documents: ATF used "Fast and Furious" to make the case for gun regulations - CBS News Investigates - CBS News

Documents: ATF used "Fast and Furious" to make the case for gun regulations - CBS News Investigates - CBS News: "Documents obtained by CBS News show that the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) discussed using their covert operation "Fast and Furious" to argue for controversial new rules about gun sales.

PICTURES: ATF "Gunwalking" scandal timeline"

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Dr. Frank Lucido's Bully Pulpit: Everyone's Entitled to My Opinion: Repeal Cannabis Prohibition Act of 2012 - 9/30/11

Dr. Frank Lucido's Bully Pulpit: Everyone's Entitled to My Opinion: Repeal Cannabis Prohibition Act of 2012 - 9/30/11: "Repeal Cannabis Prohibition Act of 2012 - 9/30/11



Repeal Cannabis Prohibition Act of 2012

This initiative measure is submitted to the People of the State of California in accordance with the provisions of Article II, Section 8 of the Constitution.

This initiative measure adds Chapter 6.7, entitled “Repeal of Cannabis Prohibition,” to Division 10 of the Health and Safety Code.

PROPOSED LAW

SECTION 1. Sections 11420, 11421, 11422, 11423, 11424, 11425, 11426, and 11427 are added to the Health and Safety Code, to read: 
"

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Govt Study Proves THC From Cannabis Destroys Leukemia, Breast And Lung Cancer Cells » Bayareacannabis

Govt Study Proves THC From Cannabis Destroys Leukemia, Breast And Lung Cancer Cells » Bayareacannabis: "Is lipid signaling through cannabinoid 2 receptors part of a protective system?
Pacher P, Mechoulam R.
Source

Laboratory of Physiologic Studies, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-9413, USA. Pacher@mail.nih.gov

Abstract

The mammalian body has a highly developed immune system which guards against continuous invading protein attacks and aims at preventing, attenuating or repairing the inflicted damage. It is conceivable that through evolution analogous biological protective systems have been evolved against non-protein attacks. There is emerging evidence that lipid endocannabinoid signaling through cannabinoid 2 (CB₂) receptors may represent an example/part of such a protective system/armamentarium. "

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Congress Set To Escalate Drug War After Decades Of Failure - Toke of the Town

Congress Set To Escalate Drug War After Decades Of Failure - Toke of the Town: "The U.S. House of Representatives is set to vote on two bills that would escalate the War On Drugs.

One bill scheduled to be voted on Wednesday would criminalize possession and sales of chemical compounds found in products such as "K2," "Spice," and "bath salts." A second bill which is expected to be voted on next week would make it a federal crime to engage in an activity in another country that would violate U.S. drug laws if committed in the United States -- even if the activity is actually legal in the other country.

Both bills are expected to pass and would subject more Americans to lengthy federal prison terms -- while increasing already-skyrocketing prison expenses that taxpayers have to pay. This comes at a time when members of Congress are cutting drug education, treatment and prevention, citing the need to "reduce federal expenses.""

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Medical Marijuana Crackdown By Feds Forces Hundreds Of California Shops To Close

Medical Marijuana Crackdown By Feds Forces Hundreds Of California Shops To Close: "WASHINGTON -- Medical marijuana dispensaries are shutting their doors in California.

Even in the weed haven of San Francisco, three of the best-known dispensaries were forced to close after receiving warning letters from U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag. And the state's oldest medical dispensary, the Marin Alliance for Medical Marijuana in Marin County, is bracing to pull all cannabis products from its shelves after receiving a threatening letter from Haag invoking a federal law.

"We're basically worried about a D.E.A. raid destroying things," said Charles Pappas, chairman of Divinity Tree in San Francisco's Mission District. "We didn't want to put our staff and patients through that. We're very concerned about our patients.""

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