Pubdate: Wed, 12 Jun 2013
Source: Metro Times (Detroit, MI)
Copyright: 2013 C.E.G.W./Times-Shamrock
Contact:  http://www.metrotimes.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1381
Author: Larry Gabriel

BARRY AND THE WACKY WEEDUS

Obama Escalates the War on Drugs

When Barak Obama became president in 2008, there was hope among
marijuana activists that federal authorities would not concern
themselves with medical marijuana facilities and individuals in states
that legalized the plant for medical use.

After all, this was a president who had admitted to smoking pot and
inhaling (the last three presidents have smoked marijuana, although
Bill Clinton claimed he didn't inhale). Then there was the so-called
Ogden memo that declared medical marijuana a "low priority" in states
that had legalized it. Activists thought they felt a breath of fresh
air out of Washington regarding the War On Drugs.

That doesn't seem to be the case anymore. Actually, the feds later
overruled the Ogden memo, so it should be no surprise that the feds
have been hitting large dispensaries and facilities. In fact, most
marijuana activist organizations report that Obama's administration
has been more aggressive than George W. Bush's against facilities
that, by all accounts, are in compliance with state law.

That kind of stuff has been happening in California and Montana, but
it came home to Michigan recently when several individuals were
sentenced in federal court for their involvement in marijuana growing
operations.

The members of a group known as the Lansing 7 all pleaded guilty to
federal charges for their involvement in a medical marijuana growing
operation and recently were sentenced to prison terms ranging from one
day to four years. The Lansing 7 had a plan they believed was
compliant with state law involving growing some hundreds of plants at
several different properties. They met with law enforcement and
lawyers to make sure it was legal. Unfortunately marijuana of any kind
is illegal under federal law.

Another case involves Monroe farmer Jerry Duval and his son. Duval,
53, is a medical marijuana patient whose juvenile diabetes led to
kidney and pancreas transplants. He also suffers from glaucoma and
neuropathy. He grew marijuana on his farm, partly to supply his own
needs. But in his federal trial he was convicted of distributing
marijuana after being barred from mentioning his medical use.

Duval was scheduled to report to a medical prison facility in
Massachusetts on June 11, to begin serving a 10-year sentence that
will ultimately cost taxpayers an estimated $1.2 million, due to his
special needs. The Michigan Chapter of Americans for Safe Access held
a press conference outside Detroit's federal building to publicize his
case.

"Jerry Duval and his 10-year sentence are emblematic of how the Obama
administration has been undermining state medical marijuana laws,"
said Brandy Zink, chair of the Michigan chapter of Americans for Safe
Access, a national medical marijuana advocacy group.

Duval's son and daughter are both registered medical marijuana
caregivers. His son received a five-year sentence and his daughter was
not charged in the case.

As I have previously observed, it seems like the feds will tolerate
individual use but once someone gets enterprising and there is
significant money changing hands you had better watch out. It will be
intriguing to see what happens in Washington State and Colorado as
state-licensed businesses start to distribute recreational marijuana.
The feds have been publicly mum on their reaction, although I'm sure
things are humming behind the scenes. In the meantime, a word to the
wise is to keep things on the down low. Even people who are certain
that they are legal under state law can never be sure of how safe they
are.

>From Microsoft to Marijuana

IT'S KIND OF STRANGE to see the feds taking down people who, on the
surface, seem to be lawfully going about their business in medical
marijuana states and, at the same time, someone is actively promoting
a nationally-branded chain of marijuana stores.

That's what former Microsoft executive Jamen Shively proposes. Shively
recently held a press conference announcing his intention to create
his Diego Pellicer marijuana brand across the country. Shively claims
that his great, great grandfather, Pellicer, was a governor of Cebu in
the Philippines in the late 1800s and the largest hemp grower in the
world. Former Mexican President Vicente Fox attended the news
conference in support of Shively, whose plan calls for marijuana
supplies to come from regulated commerce with Mexico.

"This historic step today is to be observed and evaluated closely by
all of us, because it is a game changer," Fox said. "I applaud this
group that has the courage to move ahead. They have the vision, they
are clear where they're going, and I'm sure they're going to get there."

One news source reported that the Mexican marijuana would be coming
from a Fox-owned farm. That would explain why Fox, who has come out
against the War On Drugs, would bother showing up in Seattle to
support Shively. However, Fox, a former Coca-Cola executive, claimed
that he had no involvement in the venture that would be bigger than
anything the feds have gone after.

"Yes, we are Big Marijuana," Shively said.

It may be more that he hopes to be Big Marijuana. In a Securities and
Exchange Commission filing in March, the company reported having
raised $125,000, although Shively claims the figure is outdated. He
says that he will invest $100 million in the business over three years
and create 1,000 jobs in Seattle. That seems big enough to warrant
some federal attention if my analysis of federal motivation is
correct. We'll have to wait and see on this one.

Marijuana News Roundup

ANOTHER DECRIMINALIZED STATE: Last week Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin
signed a bill decriminalizing marijuana in that state. As is getting
to be pretty standard in decriminalization - Vermont is the 17th state
to do so - possession of less than 1 oz. will be a civil offense
similar to a traffic ticket.

MORE MARIJUANA SCIENCE: Israel has shown itself to be further along in
taking a scientific look at medical marijuana than the United States.
Most of the information on CBD, a substance in marijuana with
therapeutic potential that does not get you high, seems to be coming
from there. Chalk up two more additions to marijuana science from
there. A professor from Tel Aviv University claims that low doses of
THC, the buzz inducer in marijuana, have neuroprotective qualities.
THC "protects the brain from long-term cognitive damage in the wake of
injury from hypoxia (lack of oxygen), seizures, or toxic drugs." We're
talking way less than the amount you would get in one joint. In
February researchers at Israel's Bar-Ilan University reported that THC
protects heart muscle cells during oxygen deprivation in the blood.

Also, the June issue of the journal Biochemical Pharmacology, reports
that administering THC "is a safe and effective treatment that reduces
myocardial ischemic (heart attack) damage." The May issue of the
journal Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology reports findings in
a preclinical trial that CBD protects against cardiotoxicity in rats.
Let's see here, marijuana good for the heart, tobacco bad for the
heart ... hmm.

SAGE SAGAN: Scientist Carl Sagan died in 1996 so I'm not sure why this
is making the rounds now, but it's interesting. Folks in the
blogosphere are discussing an essay on marijuana that he penned long
ago. Sagan revealed an insight he had while high and taking a shower
with his wife. That insight led to 11 "... short essays on a wide
range of social, political, philosophical, and human biological
topics." Sagan went on to write that "from all external signs, such as
public reactions and expert commentary, they seem to contain valid
insights. I have used them in university commencement addresses,
public lectures, and in my books." Sagan was a pretty heavy guy so
I'll not add any commentary. Fare thee well.
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MAP posted-by: Matt