You're in some strange company if you use meth When drug use began to go rampant in the United States, former Harvard psychiatrist Baba Ram Dass countered that former colleague Tim Leary's "Tune In, Turn On, Drop Out" with the idea that mankind has an innate drive to "get high" or experience altered states of consciousness. He noted there is some psychoactive product in virtually every culture on the planet except the Inuit, be it alcohol, peyote or others. He went on to state that while drugs can indeed give us a taste of a spiritual experience, they don't provide a map to get there. His answer was to find it through spiritual means. [continues 532 words]
Fungi Chemical Psilocybin Can Help Elderly With Anxiety Drug advocates and medical experts will be gathering in Toronto to discuss the potential health benefits of magic mushrooms. The event, slated for Sunday at the Centre for Social Innovation, is part of a worldwide day of action organized by the 920 Coalition. The Toronto event is being organized by Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy. CSSDP co-chair Gonzo Nieto said the event is meant to bring attention to the medicinal and spiritual effects of psilocybin mushrooms and counteract stigma around their use. [continues 232 words]
Activists Plan 'Mushroom Day' In Support of Psychedelic Drugs The first and, thus far, only time I did magic mushrooms, I did not have any epiphanies about my life, my spiritual existence or the universe as a whole. I did, however, develop a fascination with the carpet and wallpaper of the Amsterdam cafe where I was sitting. And eight years later, I can vividly recall the feeling of pure joy that lasted throughout the night, with its soundtrack of early Jimi Hendrix. [continues 1058 words]
Health Care: Researchers Say Substances May Help Treat Addiction, Depression, Anxiety A trip to the doctor's office could someday mean a trip inside the doctor's office, if researchers calling for further study into the use of psychedelics for treating illness get their way. Dr. Evan Wood, co-director of the Urban Health Research Initiative at the B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/ AIDS, is one of four medical researchers behind an analysis published Tuesday focusing on the resurgence of research into psychedelic substances for treating illnesses, including addiction, depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. [continues 575 words]
TRENTON - Does marijuana have any connection to religious scriptures and priesthood? Anne Armstrong, a self-described Originalist Judeo-Christian who hopes to influence Pope Francis and President Barack Obama, says the cannabis flowering plant is indeed mentioned in the original Hebrew language editions of the Bible as a key ingredient in an oil mixture for priests. In Exodus 30:23, many English-language interpretations of the Bible refer to the herb in question as "sweet-smelling cane," but Armstrong, 55, of Providence, Rhode Island, said the correct Hebrew-to-English translation would be "cannabis" as she chilled Saturday afternoon in the rear courtyard behind NJ Weedman's Joint restaurant off East State Street. [continues 341 words]
Last Thursday I put out my joint, stepped out the door of my Joint, and crossed the street to pay a formal visit to City Hall. After meeting the City Council members I realized I shouldn't have put that joint out - I should've brought it with me and passed it to them. First impressions are lasting, and mine will always be how tense the Council members were. I remember thinking, they should keep calm and smoke weed. The City Council meets every other Thursday, so I took a petition full of citizen signatures and a group of medical marijuana patients and Joint staff with me to 1. introduce myself; and 2. ask the Council to consider an "initiative" that would put Trenton at the forefront of NJ marijuana law reform, alongside Asbury Park, which recently came out of the cannabis closet as a town thanks to the efforts of marijuana activists within the Libertarian Party. The AP City Council even passed a resolution calling on Governor Christie and the State Legislature to tax and regulate! [continues 1055 words]
A US Ultimatum Demanding That Mexico Ban Previously Legal Narcotics 'Forced Addicts and Producers to Take Up Arms' Mexico's drug trade is synonymous with violence, corruption and cartel bosses battling for territory. But it could have been so different, it's claimed in a new book, had the US not issued an ultimatum 75years ago which ignited the war on drugs - leading to death and destruction on both sides of the border. Documents in the book reveal that Mexico legalised drugs in 1940, after doctors convinced the then president, Lazaro Cardenas, that prohibition was damaging public health. Doctors believed that the best way to tackle drug-related ills was to treat addicts rather than lock-up smugglers and producers. [continues 620 words]
Editor: Re: Pro-pot pastor shifts services to porch, Aug. 7. The so-called "Pastor" Robin Douglas of the "Holy Smoke Church" is making the front page again. He is doing the same thing as Walter Tucker did in Ontario around 1970-1980. Tucker called his church "The Church of the Universe," and he and his followers used marijuana as a sacrament and used the argument that he could do so because of freedom of religion. Tucker clogged up the courts for years, costing the justice system tens of thousands of dollars. [continues 181 words]
A cannabis evangelist is vowing to refuse an order from the City of White Rock to tear down the marijuana-focused "church" in his beachfront home by the end of the week. Several months ago, Robin Douglas erected a large tent for Church of the Holy Smoke patrons to gather in the backyard of the home he rents across the road from the tourist promenade along White Rock's beach. Mr. Douglas said up to 50 people a day drop by the makeshift lounge to hang out, smoke cannabis and ponder questions "regarding their spirituality." He said he guarantees patrons protection from police if they are inside his yard, but makes sure they know they could be arrested if they leave the sanctuary. [continues 643 words]
Important stoner alert: huge marijuana protest at LOVE PARK, Philadelphia 7/10, @ 4 p.m. SMOKE DOWN PROHIBITION https:// www.facebook.com/ events/469747533199955 . I usually say joint, but lately I haven't been Passing the Joint much because I've been taking bong rips - oops, Chalice inspirations. I have several Chalices, which are my sacramental bongs. Don't laugh; some use cannabis religiously, so if you're using a bong - oops, Chalice for religious purposes, shouldn't it be protected by the First Amendment? I think so. [continues 1063 words]
INDIANAPOLIS - On the altar, behind a row of flickering candles, the silhouette outline of a marijuana leaf shined in lights. Colored balloons occasionally bounced through the air as the minister of music led a band in a pew-shaking rendition of "Mary Jane," the funk tribute to the drug. And Bill Levin, who was introduced as "the Grand Poobah" of this new church, finished the gathering with a simple message: "Light up, folks!" As legislation that proponents call a religious freedom law took effect in Indiana on Wednesday, Mr. Levin's First Church of Cannabis held its first service in a quiet neighborhood on this city's Eastside. Mr. Levin, who is 59 and known around here for his wild puff of white hair, dreamed up the church as a way to test the state's new, much-debated law: If the law protects religious practices, he figured, how could it not also permit marijuana use - which remains illegal here - as part of a broader spiritual philosophy? [continues 709 words]
Proponents behind White Rock's marijuana-focused religious organization are calling for a worldwide boycott of the city, following an order issued Friday to dismantle the gathering place or face fines. Robin Douglas - who calls himself Pastor Robin, a title he says will soon be official - told Peace Arch News Monday the boycott led by the Church of the Holy Smoke is in protest of "their violation of human rights and freedom of religion." "They gave us a notice that we have to have our tent down by Friday (June 26) or else they're going to start to issue us a $150 fine," Douglas said. "If they're going to give us a ticket... the City of White Rock has to, by law, ticket everybody that has a tent on the property, otherwise it becomes selective prosecution. [continues 526 words]
I'm going to cause a rip in Trenton. No not a bong rip, I take those all the time I'm talking about a rip (Religious Interruption in Procedures). We live in America and despite the claim that we have religious freedom in America we don't. The very prohibition issued by the founding fathers in the Bill of Rights was: "the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion" We commonly call this our Right to Religious Freedom, the first amendment. [continues 1043 words]
A makeshift church erected on White Rock's Marine Drive is the subject of a city bylaws investigation following concerns it appears to encourage drug use. The complaint regarding the tent structure was received June 4, officials confirmed. But the man behind the tan-coloured lounge - which is adorned on the outside with signs stating 'Best Buds' and 'Open to all 18+' - said that aside from one neighbour, negative reaction to the 'Church of the Holy Smoke' only started Wednesday, as word of its presence started to draw attention. [continues 708 words]
Imaginative Approaches to Pot Laws. It's no surprise that some of the people working to reform marijuana laws are a little out of the norm, shall we say. And with the era of Reefer Madness waning, it also makes sense that weed advocates and drug-policy reformers would begin to try new-some might even say wacky-approaches. Here are some personal favorites. Hundreds of cities and municipalities in legal states have attempted to ban marijuana with various ordinances, but now there's one related to the smell itself. The city of Pendleton, Ore., recently banned the odor of weed within the city limits. To counter this ridiculous regulation, a man wrote the local paper, the East Oregonian, suggesting that if they are opposed to the aroma of ganja, they should also ban farts-as that dank cloud truly is offensive. "While farting may be legal in Oregon, many (including myself) are offended by the flatulent stench," wrote Peter Walters. "Too often, homeowners and businesses fail to contain farts to their property, forcing the rest of us to put up with the smell. Some habitual farters argue that they need to fart for medical reasons, but that doesn't mean my kids should have to smell their farts. The city council should stop looking the other way and pretending not to notice . . . I call on our city council to set aside all other work and address this problem." [continues 623 words]
TRENTON - Marijuana activist and Trentonian columnist Ed Forchion has leased two adjoining East State Street properties and will soon open a restaurant and spiritual sanctuary. "I'm obviously catering to the cannabis consuming community in the area, but I also I want to tap into the artsy crowd here in Trenton," Forchion said. The properties, located directly across the street from City Hall, will be named NJ Weedman's Joint and Liberty Bell Temple III. The business is scheduled to open June 15, but on Monday afternoon about a dozen people were gathered at the restaurant as a chef cooked turkey burgers and Forchion explained his vision. The restaurant portion of the business will open at 6 a.m. on weekdays and serve affordable, healthy food, Forchion said. The menu will not offer any pork or beef, and will feature items such as sushi, pasta, fish, chicken, roasted vegetable platters, healthy soups, fruit platters, fresh sandwich wraps and more. There will also be a vegetarian menu, Forchion said, and the restaurant will offer natural energy drinks such as fruit smoothies, breakfast shakes and blended juices. [continues 540 words]
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Members of a local church who use marijuana in various forms for what they claim is a religious ritual gathered at Roger Williams National Memorial on Saturday, while several U.S. Park Service police officers watched to make sure no one in the group smoked on federal property. Instead, four members of the West Greenwich-based Healing Church anointed each other with cannabis-infused oil at the well at the park. They also drank a jar full of a white liquid, called bhang, made from fermented kefir grains, honey and marijuana. But they didn't smoke because authorities made it clear that smoking marijuana on federal grounds would not be tolerated. [continues 470 words]
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - A church that meets in a West Greenwich home and uses cannabis in its services has obtained a permit from the National Park Service to conduct a religious service at the Roger Williams National Memorial, a site chosen for its significance to the idea of religious freedom. Cannabis activists Anne Armstrong and Alan Gordon, representatives of The Healing Church, applied for a permit for a 45-minute Celebration of Holy Fire at 8 p.m. on May 23 for about 100 people on the small federal property at 282 North Main St. [continues 774 words]
OSLO - In a country so wary of drug abuse that it limits the sale of aspirin, Pal-Orjan Johansen, a Norwegian researcher, is pushing what would seem a doomed cause: the rehabilitation of LSD. It matters little to him that the psychedelic drug has been banned here and around the world for more than 40 years. Mr. Johansen pitches his effort not as a throwback to the hippie hedonism of the 1960s, but as a battle for human rights and good health. [continues 1229 words]
Kudos to reporter Jean Marbella for excellent writing that gave a human face to the scourge of heroin addiction in Baltimore ("Baltimore County family struggles with impact of heroin's grip," March 21). I applaud The Sun for giving prime space to a timely feature story that could influence Marylanders to become more conscious of the depth of this problem and more resolved to mitigate it. For several weeks, we have read current facts and statistics about heroin abuse. Your feature story has the potential to inspire concerted action from state and city leaders, corrections officials, business executives and the leaders of religious, educational, social welfare and neighborhood leaders across the region. We need a "full-court press" on this problem. [continues 105 words]
