Beverly Hills NORML 90210

CHEECH gives us his Support at HEMPCON!

By frederic2080 on 10-Mar-10 00:44. Comments (0)

Cheryl Shuman interviewed by Univision

By frederic2080 on 09-Mar-10 21:19. Comments (0)

Cheech Marin, Cheryl Shuman, Frederic Rhoades, Dennis Peron

By frederic2080 on 08-Mar-10 22:25. Comments (0)

KTLA5 We are Making History

By frederic2080 on 04-Feb-10 23:38. Comments (0)

Marijuana Scares Sin City

By frederic2080 on 28-Jan-10 19:08. Comments (1)

How does it make you feel knowing that you, as a Marijuana user sends fear into Sin City? Apparently Cannabis users are the scariest group on the planet if we can intimidate Sin City… How is that possible? I thought Las Vegas was known for its Vices..

TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK…

Fred Rhoades

Director of Operations

Beverly Hill NORML90210.org

Vail Valley man claims religious right to pot

By frederic2080 on 28-Jan-10 00:50. Comments (0)

Quote

“The original sacrament of Christianity is cannabis. The court is basically trying me for my religious beliefs.”
— Trevor Douglas

VAIL VALLEY, Colorado — An Vail Valley man is furious over a misdemeanor charge for possession of marijuana because he says it violates his religious rights.

Trevor Douglas, 25, of Avon, was recently pulled over in Georgetown by a Colorado State Trooper for having expired license plate tags. When the trooper smelled marijuana in Douglas' car, Douglas showed him the pipe and less than one ounce of marijuana he had in the car.

Douglas said the court is trying him for his religious beliefs and thinks that laws banning marijuana are off base.

Douglas, who lived in Hawaii before moving to Colorado, said he's a member of the THC Ministry, also known as the Hawaii Cannabis Ministry. The Web site for the ministry shows its motto as “we use cannabis religiously and you can, too.”

“If it's part of your religion, you should get security from this prosecution of possession,” Douglas. “That's how it is in Hawaii.”

Douglas is quickly learning that Colorado isn't Hawaii — while medical marijuana is legal in Colorado, marijuana is still illegal. The THC Ministry also lists that the Hawaii County Police Department is the only jurisdiction in the world with rules for its police officers about the religious use of marijuana.

Douglas thought that he could flash his church identification card to the Colorado trooper and that would clarify Douglas' use of the drug and he'd get out of charges against him.

“I'm not a drug abuser by any means,” Douglas said. “Cannabis is the main sacrament in my religion.”

Douglas said his religion is nearly identical to Christianity, but it's the sacrament — cannabis — that is different. Just like Christians who use wine and bread, Douglas said cannabis is equally sacred for him.

“The tree of life, I personally believe it's the hemp plant, which is cannabis,” Douglas said.

Douglas can't afford an attorney, but said he's been doing research before his March 9 court date. He said that marijuana has been grown in the United States for hundreds of years and has only been illegal for the last 70. He said the U.S. government's recognition of marijuana as a preventative drug contradicts Colorado's laws allowing it for medicinal uses for those with doctor permission to use the drug.

If it's preventative, Douglas said, everyone should be allowed to use it without having to go to a doctor first.

Regardless of medical uses, Douglas said pot is literally part of his religious beliefs and he wants to be excused for that.

“The original sacrament of Christianity is cannabis,” Douglas said. “The court is basically trying me for my religious beliefs.

Gunshot survivor struggles to obtain medical marijuana

By Fred Rhoades on 18-Jan-10 11:37. Comments (0)

By Peter Hirschfeld VERMONT PRESS BUREAU - Published: January 18, 2010

MONTPELIER – Ian Rhein has no problem finding drugs. The problem is getting his hands on the one that actually makes him feel better.

A bullet lodged in the St. Johnsbury man's back – deposited almost 20 years ago from a gun shot by his mother's abusive ex-boyfriend – causes severe and chronic pain. The suffering has earned him a steady supply of doctor-prescribed opiate painkillers. Rhein, though, despite being on the state's medical-marijuana registry, can't access the cannabis that provides true relief.

"The best way to describe it is it was like someone taking a 400-pound weight off my back," Rhein said of the one time he was able to obtain marijuana. "Except I didn't know the weight was there until I lost it. It was like, 'Wow. This is amazing.'"

Rhein seems an unlikely advocate for marijuana-reform legislation. Last week, the 36-year-old father of two arrived at the Statehouse in a dark three-piece suit and wire-rimmed glasses. The Gulf War veteran – whose bullet-related pain was exacerbated by a service-related injury – was among a handful of advocates in Montpelier Friday urging lawmakers to adopt a bill that would create so-called "compassion centers" for the 189 residents enrolled in the state's medical-marijuana registry.

"Having this card does nothing for me," said Ian Rhein, flashing the medical marijuana card issued him by the Vermont Department of Public Safety.

Medical-marijuana legislation approved in 2004 allowed eligible patients to possess small amounts of the drug without fear of criminal sanctions. But the law — expanded in 2007 to include a wider range of pain-causing ailments and illnesses — never provided a legal outlet for those patients to obtain the cannabis they needed to alleviate their symptoms.

While patients or a designated caregiver can grow the plant — registrants may possess two mature plants and seven immature plants — cultivation can be difficult and the crops unreliable. Mark Tucci, who literally wrote the book on medical-marijuana cultivation, "The Patient's Simple Guide to Growing Medical Marijuana," says if he has trouble ensuring a reliable supply of medicine, what hope does a guy like Rhein have?

"Christ almighty, it's ridiculous," Tucci said by phone recently. "We can put methadone clinics in Vermont, but you're telling me we can't have a place where suffering people can get one of most benign drugs on earth?"

Tucci was recently "rationing" his remaining supply of homegrown medical marijuana. His new crop wouldn't be ready for weeks, and the 53-year-old Manchester resident, who suffers from multiple sclerosis, was cutting back on doses.

"I'm growing my own meds and it's getting to be a pain in ass," Tucci said.

Tucci says existing laws essentially force patients either to go without, like Rhein, or venture onto the black market, an undignified and potentially dangerous outlet where cannabis can be either prohibitively expensive or laced with impurities.

Rhein, whose concerns about social stigma and fear of robberies have kept him from growing, says even if he wanted the get the drug through illicit channels, he wouldn't know where to begin.

"Law enforcement has profiles and so do illegal drug dealers," Rhein said. "People assume that because I don't have dreads or meet a stereotype, I must be a cop."

Bills now under consideration in Montpelier aim to establish a system of dispensaries through which medical-marijuana patients could get affordable, high-quality medicine.

Vocal support for the measure from some lawmakers notwithstanding, House leadership seems unlikely to devote much debate the legislation this year. And Senate leaders, who traditionally have taken the lead on marijuana-reform laws, won't spend much time on the bill, according to Sen. Richard Sears, chairman of the judiciary committee, unless the House shows a real interest in getting something passed.

In an attempt to promote research into the benefits of medical cannabis, the American Medical Association late last year urged the federal government to reconsider marijuana's status as a Schedule 1 narcotic. The statement wasn't an endorsement of medical-marijuana laws, however proponents called it an important step toward recasting the drug as a mainstream pharmaceutical product.

Law-enforcement officials, including Commissioner of Public Safety Thomas Tremblay, oppose the proposed dispensary law as another step down the slippery slope toward outright legalization.

"Whoever throws out that slippery slope argument – grow up," Tucci says. "I'm suffering, man, OK? I'm suffering. And so are hundreds of other poor people. This is about medicine."

Marijuana compounds may help fight brain cancer

By Fred Rhoades on 16-Jan-10 11:59. Comments (0)

Washington, Jan 16 (ANI): A combination of compounds in marijuana could help fight off a particularly deadly form of brain cancer, preliminary research suggests.

Researchers at the California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute (CPMCRI) combined the non-psychoactive Cannabis compound, cannabidiol (CBD), with 9-tetrahyrdocannabinol (9-THC), the primary psychoactive active ingredient in Cannabis.

They found the combination boosts the inhibitory effects of 9-THC on glioblastoma, the most common and aggressive form of brain tumor.

“Our study not only suggests that combining these two compounds creates a synergistic effect but it also helps identify molecular mechanisms at work here, and that may lead to more effective treatments for glioblastoma and potentially other aggressive cancers,” said Sean McAllister, a scientist at CPMCRI and the lead author of the study.

Previous studies had shown that 9-THC was effective in inhibiting brain cancer growth in cell cultures and in animal models and prompted a small clinical trial in Spain.

There is also evidence that other compounds in Cannabis might prove effective against tumors, but limited scientific evidence is available.

The CPMCRI researchers screened a number of different cannabis-based compounds before settling on CBD as the most active one.

“Compared to using 9-THC alone against glioblastoma cell lines, the combination therapy of 9-THC and CBD showed a significant improvement in activity, both in slowing down the growth of those cells and also, and perhaps more importantly, in doubling the number of cancer cells which underwent apoptosis or programmed cell death,” McAllister said.

The new study has been published in the latest issue of the journal Molecular Cancer Therapeutics. (ANI)

Drugs In Development

By Fred Rhoades on 15-Jan-10 10:38. Comments (0)

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan 13, 2010 - Cannabis Science Inc. (NASD OTCBB: CBIS), an emerging pharmaceutical cannabis company, is pleased to announce today that it is continuing its efforts to inform the public about the importance of cannabis based medicines with an interview with Dr. Robert Melamede, Cannabis Science President and CEO on StockGoodies.com at 8:30 AM Eastern. Previously, the company has announced that has launched an Educational Series of Television commercials designed to inform its viewers about the importance of groundbreaking cannabis-based medicines. The interview will also be available online, for those who miss the initial program.

Dr. Melamede will discuss the company's plans to bring products to market in 2010, as well as its longer-term plans for FDA approved cannabis-based pharmaceutical products. Dr. Melamede, retired Chairman of the Biology Department at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, will discuss the wide variety of ailments that are currently being treated with cannabis as medical marijuana. He explained, "Cannabis Science Inc, as its name implies, is using the latest scientific techniques to develop standardized cannabis extracts that can be used in a variety of ways to help patients." He emphasized that Cannabis Science is a "patient oriented company" that works closely with the medical marijuana movement, observing what people need and what works best for them.

About Cannabis Science, Inc.

Cannabis Science, Inc. is at the forefront of medical marijuana research and development. The Company works with world authorities on phytocannabinoid science targeting critical illnesses, and adheres to scientific methodologies to develop, produce, and commercialize phytocannabinoid-based pharmaceutical products. In sum, we are dedicated to the creation of cannabis-based medicines, both with and without psychoactive properties, to treat disease and the symptoms of disease, as well as for general health maintenance.

Forward Looking Statements; This Press Release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Act of 1934. A statement containing works such as “anticipate,” “seek,” intend,” “believe,” “plan,” “estimate,” “expect,” "project," "plan," or similar phrases may be deemed "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Some or all of the events or results anticipated by these forward-looking statements may not occur. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include the future U.S. and global economies, the impact of competition, and the Company's reliance on existing regulations regarding the use and development of cannabis-based drugs. Cannabis Science, Inc. does not undertake any duty nor does it intend to update the results of these forward-looking statements.

Contact: Cannabis Science Inc.

Dr. Robert J. Melamede, 1-888-889-0888 1-888-889-0888
President & CEO
info@cannabisscience.com
www.cannabisscience.com

or

Peter Glaser, 1-888-889-0888 1-888-889-0888
Investor Relations
info@cannabisscience.com
www.cannabisscience.com

California AB 390 Wins Historic Vote to Legalize Marijuana

By Cheryl Shuman on 12-Jan-10 23:17. Comments (0)

SACRAMENTO, Jan 12, 2010. In a historic vote, the Assembly Public Safety Committee voted 4-3 to approve Tom Ammmiano's bill to legalize and regulate marijuana, the first time a legislative body has ever voted to repeal MJ prohibition. The bill does not have time to move forward to the next legislative step, which would involve hearings by the Health Committee, and will therefore likely die at the end of the week, but Ammiano said he would re-introduce a similar bill in an upcoming session.

The bill was supported by NORML, DPA, MPP, Taxpayers for Improving Public Safety, the ACLU, the California Attorneys for Criminal Justice, the S.F. Sheriff, and the AFL-CIO. Appearing against the bill were a blue phalanx of cops from around the state*, plus leading drug prohibitionists including ex-ONDCP operative Andrea Barthwell , Inland Valley anti-drug activist and legislative candidate Paul Chabot, Bishop Ron Allen of the International Faith-Based Coalition, Carla Lowe, and CNOA lobbyist John Lovell.

Proponents argued that prohibition has failed, and that regulation is needed to quell the chaos of the illegal, criminal market. Opponents repeated familiar reefer madness themes, bafflingly claiming that the bill would feed into the hands of drug cartels, have a devastating impact on public health and safety, and exacerbate crime and drug abuse.

After a heated discussion that ran well over the allotted time, the bill was moved by Assemblyman Jared Huffman of Marin, a temporary appointee to the committee, who said he didn't support or use marijuana, but that criminalization had failed, and that he viewed it as a "preliminary" bill. Among the other Aye votes, Nancy Skinner of Berkeley worried about teen abuse, but said there was a clear need to regulate marijuana better, and that it was far better for the legislature to propose a bill than to do so via ballot initiative, which she strongly opposed. Jerry Hill of San Mateo warned that he would not support the bill in its present form on a floor vote, but was voting for it to keep the discussion going, in particular so there could be hearings in the Health Committee (it is too late for such hearings on AB 390, but Health Committee hearings can be expected on a future bill).

Warren Furutani of Long Beach voted nay, even though admitting to inhaling in the 60s, saying the bill was premature and he would prefer a bill to establish a study commission.

Republican Danny Gilmore (Hanford), an ex-police officer, voiced an emphatic "NO," complaining that revenue from the bill would go exclusively to treatment and rehab.

Vice-Chair Charles Hagman (R-Diamond Bar), another "NO," said that one day of hearings didn't do the bill justice, and that the issue needed more discussion. He complained that Prop 215 hadn't played out the way Californians intended, and that legalization violated federal law.

Ammiano called the day's proceedings an important step forward in legitimizing the discussion of marijuana legalization. He added that there was a good chance Californians might approve the upcoming ballot initiative, in which case there would be a pressing need for the legislature to step in with statewide regulations. Noting that it had taken six years for other major reforms such as Prop. 63 to be passed, he called the issue "bigger than California."

VIEW THE HEARINGS ONLINE AT: http://www.calchannel.com/channel/viewVideo/929

SEE AMMIANO SPEAK ABOUT THE VOTE AT: http://videos.sacbee.com/vmix_hosted_apps/p/media?id=9223369

* Law enforcement representatives opposed to the bill at the hearings included: the police departments of San Mateo, Red Bluff, Paso Robles, W. Sacramento, Calexico and the Imperial Valley, Huntington Beach, the Los Gatos PD and Santa Clara DA; the Long Beach, Santa Ana and Los Angeles Co police associations, the San Bernardino Sheriff , the Sacramento Sheriff, the Riverside Sheriff, the El Cerrito PD (two representatives), and the Cal DA Association.

http://www.canorml.org/news/AB390passesps.html