Pubdate: Thu, 02 Aug 2012
Source: Villager, The (New York, NY)
Copyright: 2012sCommunity Media LLC
Contact:  http://www.thevillager.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4190
Author: Paul DeRienzo

POT EDUCATION GROUP ON A IS WAGING A WAR ON FUNGUS

Kenny Toglia is on a mission to legalize medical marijuana in New 
York State and save marijuana users from the devastating affects of 
what Toglia calls "one of the few things not good about marijuana."

The blue-eyed, 46-year-old with a ponytail and soul patch claims the 
threat doesn't come directly from the intoxicating THC or even the 
smoke from a joint. The problem with New York City street pot, says 
Toglia, comes from a cancer-causing fungus with the tongue-twisting 
name Aspergillus fumigatus, found commonly in soil and rotting 
vegetable matter and alarmingly in pot that's been stored a long time 
before smoking.

To combat the threat, which Toglia claims affects one-third of 
relatively low-cost city pot, he has formed a nonprofit with the 
major purpose of educating marijuana smokers, especially those with 
compromised immune systems. Each Thursday at 6 p.m. Toglia and his 
crew will inspect your pot for the dangerous fungus for no cost at 
130 E. Seventh St., at Avenue A. The location is known as the 
Muhammad Salahuddeen Memorial Jazz Theatre, named after a late East 
Village legend who combined squatting, jazz and community service in 
his University of the Streets near Tompkins Square Park.

According to Toglia, the Medical Marijuana Association of New York 
will act in the spirit of Salahuddeen, both organizing to combine a 
sense of community with a sense of larger political purpose.

On a recent warm afternoon a green-and-brown marijuana bud was 
presented to Toglia for inspection. He subjects the cannabis sample 
to what he calls a "three-way scientific test."

The first way, according to Toglia, is to smell the marijuana, 
looking for "a wholesome marijuana-like odor with nothing bitter or 
vinegary" -- sure signs that the pot is going bad.

Then Toglia pulls out a small backlight purchased from a Halloween 
supply store for $10. He says the light will "reveal thefungus as 
small white spots," adding that, "you don't want to see white spots."

Finally, Toglia uses a 40X microscope he bought from Radio Shack for 
$20. With this instrument he searches the pot sample for telltale 
gray hairs associated with Aspergillus.

Toglia insists he's not setting up another marijuana club like the 
one in 1999 -- in the same location -- that had 600 members and was 
raided by police. Toglia was arrested that time despite what he says 
was an "agreement" with then Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau.

Two pounds of cannabis were confiscated, according to Toglia, as well 
as several dozen oatmeal and cannabis-oil cookies for patients with 
lung problems. The cookies, he added, disappeared in police custody 
prompting him to file an official complaint. The cookies never turned 
up and charges against Toglia were dropped.

Toglia said his primary goal is a patient-membership drive, providing 
medical marijuana-eligible patients with special ID cards and 
lobbying for passage of a medical marijuana law in New York State.

He does say that legitimate pot patients, those suffering from 
cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis and depression, will be referred to 
a "self-help line where patients can get help to find their medicine."

Asked if he fears intervention by the police, Toglia a former social 
worker with Catholic Charities, said the cops "will understand we are 
performing an important public health service."

According to Toglia "pot is the new gay," because he added, "If 
you're gay and someone calls you a homophobic name, the police will 
arrest them for a hate crime. But if you get beat up for pot it will 
probably be by a cop."

Whether or not Toglia's words are rhetoric or a prophesy remains to be seen.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom