Pubdate: Thu, 27 Sep 2012
Source: Sacramento News & Review (CA)
Copyright: 2012 Chico Community Publishing, Inc.
Contact:  http://newsreview.com/sacto/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/540
Author: Ngaio Bealum

WILL THREE STATES LEGALIZE CANNABIS? AND CAN YOU JUICE MARIJUANA?

Are there three states that have a shot at actually legalizing 
marijuana in November? Is it really possible?

- -High Curious

In the words of Lili Von Shtupp: "It's twue! It's twue!" There is a 
really good chance that Oregon, Washington and Colorado could pass 
laws legalizing marijuana. The polls in Washington and Colorado show 
each measure is supported by more than 50 percent of likely voters. 
Oregon polls show them to be in a dead heat.

I talked to Paul Stanford, chief petitioner, spokesperson and 
treasurer for Oregon's Yes on 80 campaign, and he said things are coming along.

"We just got endorsed by Portland's mayor, Sam Adams. We also just 
picked up an endorsement from the head of Oregon's House Ways and 
Means Committee. But we need money. We spent all of our money getting 
the measure on the ballot, and we haven't gotten any big donations 
like the other measures. Just $5,000 from Dr. Bronner's."

So send them a check, will you: www.octa2012.org.

If these three states do legalize marijuana, it will be a huge step 
toward full nationwide repeal/reform of cannabis laws. Expect the 
feds to try and stop the whole thing, especially if Mitt Romney is president.

Dude, I heard you can make juice out of weed. Really? WTH?

- -Nick in Chico

Dude, it's true. The thing is, it doesn't get you high. The 
tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, or THCA, found in the cannabis plant 
turns into THC when heated, and THC is what gets you stoned. If you 
just eat raw cannabis, you can ingest several hundred milligrams of 
THCA, as opposed to about 10 milligrams you would get by smoking, 
until you can't keep your eyes open. So why would you want to drink 
raw cannabis smoothies?

Dr. William Courtney, vice president of the Association 
Luxembourgeoise des Methodes Preventives and the founder of 
www.cannabisinternational.org, knows why. He says that cannabis 
provides a highly digestible globular protein and has an ideal ratio 
of omega-6 to omega-3 essential fatty acids. Some people, like his 
wife, Kristen Courtney, have found great benefits from taking larger 
doses of THCA. She suffers from lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, 
endometriosis and a bunch of other awful stuff. She almost died, and 
doctors told her she could never have kids. Now, she has two kids and 
is living a healthy life. She credits raw cannabis for her recovery.

Not everyone is convinced. Michael Backes, from Abatin Wellness 
Center in Sacramento, has this to say: "The medical benefits of large 
doses of acidic cannabinoids have not been subjected to controlled 
clinical trials. The evidence at this point is anecdotal."

He added, "If someone is not harvesting the cannabis fresh and 
consuming it immediately, then there is a risk of significant THC 
intoxication." He also warned that "cannabis can harbor a wide range 
of microbes, and some can be pathogenic."

Also, the amount of raw, fresh, undried cannabis needed to create the 
hundreds of milligrams of THCA to ingest could get pretty expensive, 
unless you live on a farm. So, I don't think we'll be seeing any 
Ganja Juice franchises opening soon-but you never know.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom