THE United Nations is ho sting a special three day session on the global drug problem that ends tomorrow, and cannabis users around the world are hoping their favourite plant will finally be rescheduled as a controlled substance. Are scheduling would make it easier for researchers to study the plant and for doctors to prescribe it as a medicine. This includes KwaZulu Natal, where the excellent quality of cannabis cultivated in the ideal climate of places such as the Midlands and Zulu land can be given to people who suffer from painful diseases, such as cancer and lupus, or to help the many police officers suffering from post traumatic stress disorder. [continues 748 words]
Love Is In The Air Remember that time in 2014 when medical marijuana got a half-million more votes than Gov. Rick Scott but was still defeated? No? Let's recap. Two years ago, Florida's biggest political issue, aside from Scott beating Charlie Crist and his loyal Vornado Air Circulator fan for a second term, was Amendment 2, a measure that would have legalized medical marijuana for people with debilitating medical conditions. United for Care and its chairman, Orlando attorney John Morgan, pulled in millions of dollars to fight for the initiative. Drug Free Florida, which counted on supporters like the Florida Sheriffs Association, the Florida Medical Association and the Florida Chamber of Commerce, hauled in its own share of cash, including a $5 million contribution from casino billionaire Sheldon Adelson, to oppose medical marijuana. [continues 1564 words]
The House Voted 149-46 in Favor; Gov. Wolf Will Sign Bill HARRISBURG (AP) - Pennsylvania is set to become the latest state to legalize medical marijuana as the Legislature sent a bill to the governor on Wednesday, after parents of children suffering from debilitating seizures circulated the Capitol urging lawmakers to act. The House voted, 149-46, capping several years of door-to-door lobbying by parents and more than a year-and-a-half since the state Senate first approved a medical marijuana bill in 2014. Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, has indicated he will sign it. [continues 644 words]
HARRISBURG (AP) - Pennsylvania is set to become the latest state to legalizemedical marijuana as the Legislature sent a bill to the governor on Wednesday, after parents of children suffering from debilitating seizures circulated the Capitol urging lawmakers to act. The House voted, 14946, capping several years of door-to-door lobbying by parents and more than a year-and-a-half since the state Senate first approved a medical marijuana bill in 2014. Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, has indicated he will sign it. [continues 660 words]
HARRISBURG (AP) - The state Senate passed medical marijuana legislation for the second time in less than a year on Tuesday, and backers said they hope the House will accept the changes and send it to Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf 's desk later this week. The issue has won overwhelming bipartisan support in both chambers after years of advocates, primarily the parents of children who suffer daily seizures and have lost their ability to function intellectually at their age levels, going door to door in the Capitol. [continues 413 words]
HARRISBURG (AP) - Senate backers said Monday that they hope medical marijuana legislation will get to Gov. Tom Wolf 's desk this week and start what could be a two-year process of setting up regulations for growers, dispensaries and physicians. A Senate committee approved changes to a bill that passed the House last month. Backers said they expect a final Senate vote today, followed by a final House vote on Wednesday. The Democratic governor supports the bill. The changes were designed to eliminate potential glitches in how the set up and regulation of the industry is supposed to work, Senate officials said. [continues 389 words]
HARRISBURG (AP) - Senate backers said Monday that they hope medical marijuana legislation will get to Gov. Tom Wolf 's desk this week and start what could be a two-year process of setting up regulations for growers, dispensaries and physicians. A Senate committee approved changes to a bill that passed the House last month. Backers said they expect a final Senate vote today, followed by a final House vote on Wednesday. The Democratic governor supports the bill. The changes were designed to eliminate potential glitches in how the set up and regulation of the industry is supposed to work, Senate officials said. [continues 388 words]
Police raided a cannabis dispensary on Wednesday, one of two that opened in Campbell River only last week. Trees Dispensary on 14th Avenue was raided at 2 p.m. April 6 and Mounties seized all money, cannabis flower and cannabis extracts on site. Campbell River Trees branch manager Ben Hinton was detained and released without charge later in the afternoon. "We were a bit surprised with the rapidity with which the RCMP obtained a search warrant," said Trees Dispensary spokesperson Alex Robb. "It was a bit fast." [continues 548 words]
African regulatory authorities such as the South African Medicines Control Council should consider applications to approve medicinal cannabis for the treatment of chronic pain. This is especially needed in the case of patients who are not responding well to conventional medication and where the use of medicinal cannabis may have a positive effect on its own or as an adjunct to existing medications. But regulatory bodies must be guided by good evidence rather than by anecdotal reports or pressure from recreational users promoting a legalisation agenda. [continues 634 words]
A Toronto mother of three has opened up a medical marijuana shop on Parkdale's main strip on Queen Street West and a passer-by wouldn't even know it. Nestled between a flower shop and a bar, The Caylx Wellness Centre has no enlarged marijuana leaf emblazoned on the store front, its name isn't a play on words associated with weed and there's no neon lights; the go-to marketing designs for dispensaries. Instead store owner Danielle, who requested to not have her last name published, went a different route and focused on the importance of discretion. [continues 1070 words]
In the mountains of Pondoland in the Eastern Cape, 'intsangu' is green gold: the key to the rural poor's economic survival. Why then, despite global progress towards decriminalising cannabis, are police spraying crops with poison from helicopters? Niren Tolsi investigates. THE mountains meet the Indian Ocean on the Wild Coast. At Ebulawu, south of Port St Johns, green-topped peaks undulate up towards sheer drops into the blue maelstrom below, where waves crash against cliffs of white, grey and red. [continues 2891 words]
HARRISBURG (AP) - Some key Senate backers of medical marijuana legalization are expressing concern about a marijuana bill passed by the House last week, raising the possibility of a delay in getting the drug into the hands of Pennsylvania patients suffering from conditions like cancer and epilepsy. Senate staff and lawyers found what they say are numerous flaws in the legislation passed by the House last week. Sen. Mike Folmer, R-Lebanon, who sponsored the initial bill that overwhelmingly passed the Senate last year, might press for changes and another vote by both chambers instead of agreeing to the House version and sending it to Gov. Tom Wolf for his signature. [continues 341 words]
Sponsor Says Governor Has 'Heart & Compassion' TALLAHASSEE With Floridians poised to vote this fall on broad legalization of medical marijuana, Gov. Rick Scott on Friday signed a bill that will allow terminally ill patients to have access to marijuana as they try to ease suffering. The bill, which lawmakers approved this month, was one of 68 measures that Scott signed into law Friday. He also vetoed one bill dealing with a utility in Alachua County. Scott did not issue a comment on the medical-marijuana bill (HB 307), but House sponsor Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, went on Twitter to say the governor showed "heart & compassion" by signing the measure. [continues 472 words]
Two years ago, the medical marijuana constitutional amendment was on the ballot in Florida. Even though a majority of voters supported it - - 58 percent - it failed to meet the 60 percent threshold needed for passage. There was a strong and well-financed opposition that relied on doomsday scenarios and scare tactics. Others who opposed the measure did so by saying the change should be done by the Legislature in statute, not by citizens in the Florida Constitution. During that time the Legislature - opposed to full-fledged decriminalization of marijuana for medical purposes - passed a very limited form of non-euphoric marijuana for children with epilepsy or chronic seizures. [continues 698 words]
Two years ago, the medical marijuana constitutional amendment was on the ballot. Even though a majority of Florida voters supported it - 58 percent - it failed to meet the 60 percent threshold needed for passage. There was a strong and well-financed opposition that relied on doomsday scenarios and scare tactics. Others who opposed the measure did so by saying the change should be done by the Legislature in statute, not by the Florida Constitution. During that time the Legislature - opposed to full-fledged decriminalization of marijuana for medical purposes - passed a very limited form of non-euphoric marijuana use for children with epilepsy or chronic seizures. [continues 568 words]
Advocates are happy it was named, but not about the delay in naming it or the people on it. New Jersey's health commissioner recently appointed a panel that will decide whether chronic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other conditions should be added to the list of a dozen ailments that qualify a patient to buy medical marijuana in the state. Patient advocates have been pressing for nearly four years to have the list expanded, saying it is too restrictive and prevents many severely ill patients from obtaining cannabis. [continues 825 words]
Google Considers Cannabis Dangerous, Unacceptable. A Minnesota-based medical marijuana company says Google is blocking its attempts to advertise online. Vireo, the parent company of Minnesota Medical Solutions, tried to take out a series of online ads in New York, where it operates four clinics and is one of several companies chosen by that state to grow and manufacture medical cannabis. Each time, Google rejected the ads, citing its policy against promoting "dangerous products or services." On Monday, the company expanded its online advertising efforts to include the two Minnesota clinics operated by Minnesota Medical Solutions. Enrollment in Minnesota's medical cannabis program remains relatively low - 1,133 patients since legalization last July. But Vireo announced that it would also attempt to place "Minnesota-targeted Google ads to make it easier for Minnesota patients to learn about using our medicines." [continues 463 words]
While Pennsylvania is closer than ever to making medical marijuana available for patients who need it, some hurdles remain along with important answers to significant questions. It's been two decades since California became the first state to allow for medicinal use of marijuana and cannabis. Since then, 23 states - along with Guam and Washington, D.C., have enacted similar legislation. Pennsylvania seems poised to join that list. In one context, it is about time. Enough studies have been done across the nation to justify appropriately managed and maintained medical uses for the drug in various forms. In another vein, opponents argue the state is bypassing the Food and Drug Administration. [continues 236 words]
With the recent news coverage regarding the Montana State Supreme Court's ruling on marijuana laws and the Montana Standard's editorial staff's response, it seems like the perfect opportunity to provide some clarifying facts about marijuana. Marijuana is not a harmless natural compound. The "medical marijuana" movement is a well-developed strategic plan to dupe the common man into believing that an illicit, illegal drug, with no proven medical benefit, should be used as medicine. The marijuana industry used the "medical" marijuana platform as part of a strategic plan to desensitize the perception of harm and normalize marijuana use. The result of this industry is to accomplish what has happened in Colorado, Washington state and Washington D.C., specifically legalized "recreational" use of marijuana. [continues 524 words]
WORCESTER - The passage of a medical marijuana bill this week by the state House has given hope to a Worcester mother who treats her 12-year-old son for daily seizures. "Ryan was nine months old when he was diagnosed with infantile spasms. The doctors call it intractable epilepsy now that he is older," said Erin McCann. "He has seizures that include head drops of 20 to 40 times over 15 minutes. He has two (seizure) clusters a day from this condition." [continues 575 words]
