The Medical Marijuana Bootcamp provides medical marijuana training, medical marijuana education and mmj  tutorials free to public, released on YouTube HD. It launched 1/1/2010.

Reposted from ReeferSmoke.com:

As if Weedmaps and Nugporn wasn’t enough, on the first day of this new year those clever (and crazy) folks from the Marijuana News Network launched another new website: Medical Marijuana Bootcamp.

Tang the creator of WeedMaps.com (medical marijuana dispensary finder website) is the brainchild of this new killer project. As (one) of the owners of WeedMaps, he’s in a unique position to speak about the medical marijuana business in general, especially in California, because the site is a meeting place for both patients and collectives and Tang is on first-name basis with many of them, plus has an understanding of the cannabis strains that they purvey, which goes way beyond expert.

To not be outdone on the intake and creative output of Tang, a seasoned nug expert was needed, so the dev team recruited the expertise of Chubbs, the founder and connoisseur/weed critic extraordinaire of MarijuanaReviews.com as well asNUGGETRY SD, the premier cannabis collective located in east San Diego. Chubbs has been actively involved in the marijuana movement since 1989, when he started to;experiment with hydroponics. He started the NUGGETRY delivery service based out of Orange County, CA in June of 2009 and became an overnight success.

What’s cool about Medical Marijuana Bootcamp is that unlike their earlier projects the primary form of media is video via YouTube and it’s light-hearted but serious content about the medicinal cannabis strains and the cannabis collectives of California. These videos are not just a couple of stoners quaffing back huge bong hits, although they do, and then mumbling the first random thoughts to the top of their minds, this content is coherent and interesting. The episodes are fairly improv, so their not scripted, they do have meaning and you will gain value in watching. I’m very impressed with this effort and give the Tang and Chubbs to enthusiastic bongs up!

Post from the original Marijuana blog: MarijuanaNews.com | Cannabis & Marijuana News

Free Medical Marijuana Training Videos — Bootcamp

If you live in Los Angeles and are looking to obtain a medical marijuana card, you’re in luck. There are many establishments you can go to that will give you one of these, and chances are there is one in your area. Ever since the state of California legalized medical marijuana, more and more people are creating clinics.

In order to get a medical marijuana recommendation, you have to know the process. As the law stands now, this medicine is only prescribed to patients who have particular illnesses that a state has decided can be helped by marijuana. This drug is still illegal by Federal law, no matter what.

Luckily, the California laws have directly specified particular illnesses one can get a card for, and they’ve also left it open to "any other chronic or persistent medical symptom" that limits a person’s life activities or can cause serious harm to a person’s physical or mental health (as stated in California SB 420).

Some of the serious medical conditions you can get a marijuana recommendation for are: AIDS, cancer, chronic pain, anorexia, cachexia, seizures, persistent muscle spasms, migraines, glaucoma, arthritis and severe nausea. This medicine has also been shown to help anxiety and several other mood disorders.

Once you’ve done research and know that the ailment you have has proven to be helped by medical marijuana, you’re ready to go to the doctor. You can either ask your primary care physician to recommend medical marijuana to you, or you can go to a medical marijuana clinic doctor who specializes in recommending this particular drug.

To find a clinic where you can get a medical marijuana card in Los Angeles, it’s best to search the internet. Websites like NORML have lists of medical marijuana friendly doctors, and you can also search for a holistic medicine or alternative medicine clinic near you. Call them and ask if they have a doctor who specializes in medical marijuana. Because Los Angeles has a big market for this medicine, it should be easy to find a clinic in your area.

If you don’t go to your normal doctor, bring your medical history with you when you see the doctor at the clinic. Tell the doctor what ailment you have and ask if he thinks medical marijuana would help you. If the doctor does, he will write you a marijuana recommendation. This is basically a piece of paper that says you’re a medical marijuana patient and you’re allowed to enter dispensaries and obtain the medicine or grow your own.

How you decide to get your marijuana is up to you. Lots of people like going to dispensaries because it saves you the trouble of growing the plants yourself, and usually dispensaries have a great variety of strands to choose from. A lot of these places also have edible goodies you can buy too, if you prefer to ingest the medicine instead of smoke it. There are lots of options at dispensaries, and there are lots of dispensaries to choose from in Los Angeles especially.

If you decide to grow your own plants, you’ll need to know how many plants your specific county allows you to have legally. In California, this is not specified by the state law. You can find this out online or you can ask someone from your county office when you go get your medical marijuana card. There are lots of good articles online about how to grow marijuana plants, what type of lights to use and how to take care of them.

A marijuana recommendation is all you need to be able to have medical marijuana legally, but California has taken it one step further and made cards as well. They’re statewide and provide an extra layer of protection from cops. These can be obtained through your county and are good for one year, just like your recommendation. You pay a fee and fill out an application to get a card.

This medicine has helped many people with serious ailments in California, and it can help you too. If you start the process now, you’ll be on your way to getting a medical marijuana card and be able to reap the benefits of this drug.

Post from the original Marijuana blog: MarijuanaNews.com | Cannabis & Marijuana News

Get a Medical Marijuana Card in Los Angeles

Commenting on why Cannabis Science was mentioned in the article, Richard Cowan, chief financial officer of Cannabis Science Inc., said, “Although the company is beginning the FDA approval process for its products, we believe that the inclusion of Cannabis Science Inc. in an article about the struggle to get medical cannabis to patients is further evidence that we are a patient oriented company, whose business strategy does not depend on a continuation of marijuana prohibition.”

Although the company is not involved in the state’s gray market, the article notes, “A pot activist named Richard Cowan has opened what he envisions as an investment bank for pot-related businesses, called General Marijuana (General Marijuana.com). Mr. Cowan is also chief financial officer of Cannabis Science Inc., which is trying to market a pot lozenge for nonsmokers.” Please click http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124829403893673335.html to read the article in full.

Cannabis Science CEO, Dr. Robert J. Melamede, observed, “This article is further demonstration of the huge need for FDA approved medical cannabis products.”

Earlier this week, Cannabis Science reported that Dr. Melamede had spoken at a hearing in Denver in opposition to an attempt to undermine a voter-approved constitutional amendment that would have made it much more difficult for patients to get affordable medical marijuana.

Cannabis Science Inc. is at the forefront of medical marijuana research and development. The company works with world authorities on phytocannabinoid science targeting critical illnesses, and adheres to scientific methodologies to develop, produce, and commercialize phytocannabinoid-based pharmaceutical products. It is dedicated to the creation of cannabis-based medicines, both with and without psychoactive properties, to treat disease and the symptoms of disease, as well as for general health maintenance.

This Press Release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Act of 1934. A statement containing works such as “anticipate,” “seek,” intend,” “believe,” “plan,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “plan,” or similar phrases may be deemed “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Some or all of the events or results anticipated by these forward-looking statements may not occur. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include the future U.S. and global economies, the impact of competition, and the Company’s reliance on existing regulations regarding the use and development of cannabis-based drugs. Cannabis Science, Inc. does not undertake any duty nor does it intend to update the results of these forward-looking statements.

Cannabis Science Inc.
Dr. Robert J. Melamede
President & CEO
Email Contact
www.cannabisscience.com
1-888-889-0888

Catalyst Xchange Corp.
Corporate Communications
Donald Shaxon
1-416-368-3116

or

Brokers and Analysts:
Wall Street International
John Campo
1-410-236-8200

Source: Marketwire (July 23, 2009 - 9:54 AM EDT)

Post from the original Marijuana blog: MarijuanaNews.com | Cannabis & Marijuana News

Today’s Wall Street Journal Reports on Cannabis Science Inc. in Article on Booming Medical Cannabis Industry; Indicates Great Demand for Products From a Patient Oriented Company

The Kubby/CSI dispute involves some very complicated issues, but my decision to vote to remove him as CEO was based on a few very simple points:

First, when someone tells me that if I disagree with him I am therefore a thief, then I really must disagree with him.
Second, when agreeing with him would require me to falsely accuse two people of theft, and I do not believe the accusations be true, I would have no choice. It is a question of morality, and simple decency.
Besides, I have been slimed before, and there is too much “collateral damage” to the stakeholders, including those who need cannabinoid medicine.
Third, when one of the persons being targeted is a leading figure in cannabinoid science, and therefore the company’s most valuable employee, and if he were driven from the company under circumstances that would make it almost impossible to replace him with anyone who was not desperate, it is a question of good business.
The point is that Cannabis Science Inc. can be rebuilt by Dr. Melamede, but it cannot be rebuilt by Kubby.
Fourth, when I become the target of absurd extortionate threats, I have to conclude that the person making those threats and accusations really should not be running a public company.
Finally, when the person accusing others of theft is using company funds for his own purposes and is ignoring the basic practices of corporate governance and doing actual harm to the company, we really must act.
Below you will find a very abbreviated history, and some of the recent emails between Kubby and me.
After you read them, I think you will understand why I acted as I did, but if you still think that I have looted Kubby’s billions, please tell everyone that I spent it all on sex. That would do wonders for my reputation.
RC
History:
In the Spring of last year, Steve Kubby called me and said that some wealthy friends of his had expressed interest in the pharmaceutical cannabis business, and he was sure he could raise a significant amount of money for such a venture in a short time.
I had been acting as Kubby’s “campaign manager” in his unsuccessful bid for the Libertarian Party presidential nomination, so he asked me if I would serve as the Chief Financial Officer, because – many years ago – I had had experience in corporate finance, and he wanted someone he could “trust” in that position. (You will soon see the irony in that, but it seemed logical because I had been defending him through all of his legal difficulties, since his arrest in 1999, and had nominated him for the LP Vice Presidential candidacy in 2000.)
I agreed, but Kubby was only able to raise $50,000 from a wealthy neighbor, and that was all that he was ever able to raise, with some dubious exceptions, which we will hear about soon.
Kubby was, nonetheless, able to recruit Dr. Robert J. Melamede as the company’s “Chief Science Officer”. Dr Melamede is one of the world’s most respected authorities on cannabinoid medicine, so that was something of a coup. A friend of Dr. Melamede also introduced us – by telephone – to a fellow in Vancouver, Raymond Dabney, who could arrange a “merger” with a public company, which might make it easier for us to raise money. We knew that Dabney had had some problems with the SEC, but we did not consider them serious enough to prevent us from doing business with him. He was the victim of some bad legal advice, but it makes him an easy target.
I went to Vancouver and negotiated a deal, but the stock market crash killed it before we could raise any financing. We put together another deal, but everything that could go wrong did, and no one was able to raise any money.
Needless to say, I was not getting paid, and I was also feeling my age (I am now 69), and I kept telling Kubby that I did not want to continue as CFO. He asked me to stay on in just a nominal capacity, because he wanted to have someone he could “trust.” During all this time, my stress was greatly aggravated by the problem that Kubby simply could not grasp the nature of public companies, and he said that he did not want to deal with corporate finance. In other words, I realized that I had made a serious error.
Inasmuch as we had been unable to raise cash to pay for essential corporate services, Dabney proposed that we use a provision in the SEC rules that would allow us to issue shares for them. The Board – including Kubby – approved the proposal unanimously. I am not an expert on securities laws and/or SEC regs, but the deal was vetted by the company’s lawyer and the shares were issued.
I have found Dabney to be both competent and honest, and he has always insisted that everything be done in a legal and honorable way. However, he and Kubby have never gotten along well.
In the meantime, Kubby had moved into a large house in the Oakland hills, and was having trouble paying the rent ($3,000 per month). The company’s bills were also mounting, and Kubby was complaining about stress and urging Dabney to sell stock at any price, so he would not be evicted. (Kubby sent that email to all of the company’s employees, and that began a series of increasingly bizarre messages.)
Finally, on June 25th, I insisted that my resignation as CFO finally be accepted.
Excerpt:
“I have been saying for some time that I do not feel qualified to serve in this capacity, and my inability to produce results speaks for itself. Although my health problems are not “life-threatening”, it is clear to me that I do not have the stamina to do the job properly.”
Here is Kubby’s response on the same day:
“Richard,
I regretfully accept your resignation, but only because this appears to be affecting your health.  The last thing we want is for your health to suffer.
As for your, “inability to produce results,” I must remind you that the ultimate responsibility for these decisions rests with me.  You advised me, but I was the one who committed us to a program that has not produced the results we all anticipated.
I do think you should continue as a Director of CSI.
On behalf of the entire Team, please accept our profound appreciation for the work that you’ve done on our behalf.
Best wishes,”
Steve
Then just a week later, on July 2, I received the following email:
from Steve Kubby <steve@kubby.com>
to Richard Cowan <richardccowan@gmail.com>
date Thu, Jul 2, 2009 at 6:38 PM
subject Confidential
Full text:
“Richard,
You know me well enough to know that I never bluff and I never back down.
I want you to send me ALL the stock certificates and CFO files you are holding by Monday, July 6th, or I will file charges against you for stock fraud, embezzlement, and bank fraud.”
Steve

Here is part of my response:
July 3, 2009
“Dear Steve,
Let peace begin with me.
First, you say that I know you “well enough to know”.
No, I do not know you at all, because this threat does not come from the Steve Kubby that I have been defending and/or promoting for the last ten years. What a fool I have been!
May I remind you that I had been trying to resign as CFO for many months, and you kept begging me to stay because you wanted someone there whom you trusted. Ironic, eh?
In fact, nothing would make me happier than to be able to walk away from this deal, but – speaking of ironic – you have made it almost impossible for me to do so, because I have a fiduciary responsibility as a result of the position you wanted me to take and your actions that threaten the shareholders.
Second, you say you want me to send you “ALL the stock certificates.”

I will be happy to send you the CSI certificate for CANNEX. I do not have a cert in your name, and you have absolutely no right to demand any other certs, but I will also send Bob and Raymond theirs. Heretofore, no one has requested them, but I am happy to get rid of them.
Third, regarding the “CFO files”, may I remind you that we have done all of our transactions electronically, and you should have virtually all of these “files”.
They all exist in “Googleland”, and you can find them on your own .There really are no physical “CFO files”.
Fourth, you threaten that you will “file charges: against me for stock fraud, embezzlement, and bank fraud.”
Well, if I had committed those felonies, how would that be cured by my sending you certificates that are not yours and electronic copies of files that you should already have? Actually, you are threatening me with arrest for not making you an accessory-after-the-fact in crimes that – fortunately – I have not committed.
Stock fraud? I have done nothing that has not been vetted by the lawyers and approved by the Board, and nothing that I have done is dishonest.
Embezzlement? I have taken NO money from any source, directly or indirectly related to CSI, or on its behalf, and I have not been paid anything in such a long time that I have forgotten when the last time was.
Bank fraud?  What bank did I defraud? I have had no transactions with any bank on behalf of CSI other than helping you open the WF account.
My purpose in going through all the above is NOT to defend myself, but rather in hopes that you will reflect on the absurdity of it all.
Unfortunately, your actions over the last few days have given us such grave concerns about your health.
Do you really think that Bob, Raymond and I are involved in some sort of vast criminal conspiracy, and plotting against you at the same time? Can’t you see how irrational that is?
When you first started this deal you asked me to help you and you said that you would have money in a “week” – or something like that. Now you are saying that Raymond’s plans have failed, but the only deal that you have come close to doing (since Gordon’s $50K) is the now uncertain “C” deal, which would be possible only with the public company that Raymond provided.
The serious flaws with the “C” contract you signed without Board approval were confirmed by “C”, but your only response was to announce that you were consulting an attorney about voiding the… deal with the very people who had pointed out those problems. Everyone on that call was astonished by that statement in that context.
Also, I assume that you are prepared to proceed without Dr. Melamede, since you say you do not trust him. And after all this, why should he trust you?
If you prevail, you will have to have a new Board. Who would want to sit on your Board after what has happened? How are you going to raise money after wrecking the company?
What is your plan for going forward with the company?
R”
As you can see, I raised a number of substantive points asking his plans for how he would go forward, but his response, “No middle ground”, demanded that I again explain a deal approved by him and the lawyers, and ended with this:
Excerpt:
Dick,
“There is no middle ground, now that the fraud is so obvious.  Either you wake up and recognize the fraud and join the effort to expose it, or I can only conclude that you are a willing co-conspirator with Bob and Raymond.”
In other words, if I did not agree with him that Dr. Melamede is a thief, then I must also be a thief. Except of course, he had already accused me of being a thief the day before, so I did not feel that there was any point in trying again.
That is the sum total of the basis of his accusations against me. As it happens, I have the greatest confidence in Dr. Melamede’s integrity, while I have learned the hard way about Kubby.
Don’t Point Your Finger When Your Hand Is In the Cookie Jar:
We had also learned that he had proceeded with the “C” deal mentioned above, without Board approval, and he had blocked my access to the Company’s bank account without Board approval, so he could take in $20,000 without Board knowledge or approval, and had paid himself $3,000, without Board approval, while leaving vitally important company obligations unpaid.
We have also learned that Kubby used promises of Company shares to borrow money from Company employees and at least one other person without Board approval.
The total amount of money involved was not great, but the way he was doing it endangered the company and put the Directors in an impossible position.
Consequently, because his behavior had became so irresponsible that the Board had to remove him as CEO, he resigned as a Director and then sent his libelous accusations to the media, claiming to be acting from noble motives.
There is one more illustrative point. A month or so ago, Dr. Melamede, who is not a wealthy man, loaned Kubby $2,000 to pay his rent, and Kubby has repaid him only with venom.
That reminds me of Mark Twain’s famous line: “A dog won’t bite the hand that feeds him, and that is the principle difference between a man and a dog.” .
Now I hope that you will understand why I voted as I did.
RC

Post from the original Marijuana blog: MarijuanaNews.com | Cannabis & Marijuana News

Someone Is Lying: Kubby Fired By Cannabis Science; Accuses Melamede and Cowan of Theft, Etc. Are You A Thief If You Don’t agree With Me?

Analysis by Richard Cowan

Even though California’s Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has joined the calls for a debate on marijuana prohibition itself, there is still a lot of confusion about the legal status of the supposedly less controversial topic of “medical marijuana”.

On April 2nd the Associated Press reported that Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton “called on the City Council to speed up the drafting of stricter regulations on medical marijuana clinics, calling current state law ‘Looney Tunes’.” (Oddly, the story was reported on the San Jose Mercury-News website, but the LA Times only covered it in a blog.)

Bratton was right, but for the wrong reasons. He claimed, “They pass a law, then they have no regulations as to how to enforce the darn thing and, as a result, we have hundreds of these locations selling drugs to every Tom, Dick and Harry.”

First, if the dispensaries are selling any “drug” other than cannabis, the police do not need any action by the LA City Counsel to raid them. Find any of them selling hard drugs, and the medical cannabis community will support closing down the offenders.

That is not a rhetorical point. It is important to note that one justification for the dispensary system is that it keeps medical cannabis users from having to go to “street dealers” in order to get their medicine. However, in the broader context of cannabis prohibition in general, the California medical marijuana dispensary system does the same thing that the Dutch cannabis “coffee shop” system has been doing for decades. The Dutch call it the “separation of the markets for soft and hard drugs.” One consequence of this “separation of the markets” is that the Dutch have a much lower use of hard drugs, especially heroin, among young people than does the US.

Inasmuch as marijuana has always been much more readily available to young people than to sick and dying older people, would Chief Bratton really prefer that young people get their marijuana from “street dealers” – who may also sell hard drugs? See T’was Another Great Victory. Teen Marijuana Use Down; Oxy Use Up. Teen Cigarette Use Went Down More Than Teen Marijuana Use.

Second, the dispensaries are not selling to just anyone. They require a special form of identification that establishes the fact that a doctor has approved of the patient’s use of cannabis. (That is all that is required by state law, and – critically – all that is allowed by Federal law.)

“Street dealers” do not require any identification, and most teens say it is easier to get marijuana (on the street) than it is to get alcohol from licensed stores.

The AP went on to do its duty to the Fatherland to support marijuana prohibition by saying, “In 2003, the state set up a system for issuing ID cards to those with ‘prescriptions’ for medicinal marijuana, but many claim the system has been abused and is out of control.” (emphasis added)

“Out of control” is bad, and so there have been a number of stories that have “exposed” how easy it is to get a card.

A few points about that:

First, any “control” system devised by humans will almost certainly be either “too tight” or “too loose.” If it is too tight, then some sick and dying people will not be able to get the medical marijuana that they need. That is actually the problem in most of the state where law enforcement simply refuses to obey state law, and/or lobbies officials to ban dispensaries. That problem is even worse in other “medical marijuana” states, like Washington.

See Prohibitionists to Patients: “Drop Dead!” Police, Politicians, and Quacks Put Cannabis Prohibition Ahead of the Sick, Dying and Disabled. “To Jail In An Ambulance.”

Second, healthy young people can always find “weed” on the “streets.”

Third, over-the-counter drugs, including aspirin and acetaminophen (Tylenol), kill thousands of people every year. (There is no lethal dose of marijuana.) Consequently, there is ample precedent for having truly “dangerous drugs” easily available.

Finally, the “prescription” drug control system is proving to be very leaky. Does L. A. need tighter controls on pharmacies?

On June 14 , 2008, The New York Times reported that the “Florida Medical Examiners Commission found that the rate of deaths caused by prescription drugs was three times the rate of deaths caused by all illicit drugs combined.”

See Florida Governor Demonstrates Absurdity of War on Cannabis. Prescription Drugs Kill; Cannabis Does Not – So The Killers Are “Just As Detrimental” As Cannabis.

It also said that the Drug Enforcement Administration found that “roughly seven million Americans are abusing prescription drugs.  If accurate, that would be an increase of 80 percent in six years and more than the total abusing cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens, Ecstasy and inhalants.”

But here are the hard facts:

“The Florida report analyzed 168,900 deaths statewide.  Cocaine, heroin and all methamphetamines caused 989 deaths, it found, while legal opioids — strong painkillers in brand-name drugs like Vicodin and OxyContin — caused 2,328.

Drugs with benzodiazepine, mainly depressants (sic) like Valium and Xanax, led to 743 deaths.  Alcohol was the most commonly occurring drug, appearing in the bodies of 4,179 of the dead and judged the cause of death of 466 — fewer than cocaine ( 843 ) but more than methamphetamine ( 25 ) and marijuana ( 0 ).” (emphasis added)
See Guess Who Said , “The decrease in the abuse of cannabis among youth in the United States may be offset by an increase in the abuse of prescription drugs.” Iron Law Of Prohibition” &. Czar’s Strategy 3.”

In fairness to Chief Bratton, he went on to say, “I fully support its (marijuana’s) use for medicinal purposes.” That sets him apart from many police chiefs who follow the prohibitionist party line that medical marijuana is either a “scam” or unnecessary, and I salute him for having the courage to say that.

However, he also asked, “(W)hy don’t we regulate it like we do Lipitor or Viagra. You can’t buy those two without getting it through a legitimate pharmacy. If this drug is so important and so helpful, why is it not regulated like every other drug?” (emphasis added)

Well, never mind the fact that there are lots of websites offering to sell Lipitor and Viagra, it is disturbing that Bratton does not know the answer to that question.

There are two basic reasons why marijuana is not available “through a legitimate pharmacy” and is not “regulated like every other drug.”

First, the federal government has blocked research on the medical use of cannabis for decades, while NORML sued unsuccessfully to get it rescheduled, so it might be prescribed. It is not the supporters of medical marijuana who are responsible for keeping cannabis out of the FDA “system”

Second, it can cost huge sums to try to get any “drug” through the FDA process which was not set up to analyze a complex plant. In 1993, when I was National Director of NORML, we were told by the Clinton Administration that it would cost $1.5 million to get the FDA to review marijuana and move it from Schedule I to Schedule II. We did not have the $1.5 million, and the Clinton Administration did not have the courage to do even what it had promised patients that it would do, and reopen the so-called “Compassionate IND” program, so it came to nothing.

(However, in 1998, after a number of states passed medical marijuana laws, Marinol, synthetic THC, was quickly moved from Schedule II to Schedule III  with the full support of the DEA, while marijuana remains absurdly in Schedule I.)

It is also worth noting that 1996 Proposition 215 that began California’s move to allow medical marijuana, said in Section (A) “To ensure that seriously ill Californians have the right to obtain and use marijuana for medical purposes where that medical use is deemed appropriate and has been recommended by a physician who has determined that the person’s health would benefit from the use of marijuana in the treatment of cancer, anorexia, AIDS, chronic pain, spasticity, glaucoma, arthritis, migraine, or any other illness for which marijuana provides relief.” (emphasis added)

Moreover, under FDA rules, any pharmaceutical which has been approved for use for one disease can be prescribed (“off-label”) by doctors for “any other illness for which” the doctor thinks it “provides relief.” In that key regard California does treat medical marijuana “like every other drug.”

However, Bratton’s question raises another important point. If it were sold in pharmacies, would they be allowed to make a profit on it the way they make profits on Lipitor and Viagra? And would their suppliers be allowed to make a profit on it the way American business does on everything else?

If so, and if Bratton wants medical marijuana to be treated like “every other drug”, then why are medical marijuana growers and dispensaries supposed to be non-profit?

Of course, “socialized medical cannabis” will work as badly as socialized anything else. But that really is the idea. Protecting marijuana prohibition takes precedent over everything else, the needs of patients, economic common sense, and logical consistency.

So, yes, Chief Bratton, the California medical marijuana situation is “Looney Tunes”, but it is not because of those of us who believe in freedom and oppose state  violence against marijuana users, growers and sellers, medical or otherwise.

Richard Cowan is a former National Director of NORML, a member of the NORML Advisory Board, publisher of MarijuanaNews.com and Senior Advisor to Weedmaps.com

Post from the original Marijuana blog: MarijuanaNews.com | Cannabis & Marijuana News

California’s Medical Marijuana Dispensary System – A Question for Chief Bratton: What Is More Important? The Patients Or Marijuana Prohibition? What Is Really ‘Looney Tunes’?

Even though California’s Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has joined the calls for a debate on marijuana prohibition itself, there is still a lot of confusion about the legal status of the supposedly less controversial topic of “medical marijuana”. 

On April 2nd the Associated Press reported that Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton “called on the City Council to speed up the drafting of stricter regulations on medical marijuana clinics, calling current state law ‘Looney Tunes’.” (Oddly, the story was reported on the San Jose Mercury-News website, but the LA Times only covered it in a blog.)

Bratton was right, but for the wrong reasons. He claimed, “They pass a law, then they have no regulations as to how to enforce the darn thing and, as a result, we have hundreds of these locations selling drugs to every Tom, Dick and Harry.”

First, if the dispensaries are selling any “drug” other than cannabis, the police do not need any action by the LA City Counsel to raid them. Find any of them selling hard drugs, and the medical cannabis community will support closing down the offenders.

That is not a rhetorical point. It is important to note that one justification for the dispensary system is that it keeps medical cannabis users from having to go to “street dealers” in order to get their medicine. However, in the broader context of cannabis prohibition in general, the California medical marijuana dispensary system does the same thing that the Dutch cannabis “coffee shop” system has been doing for decades. The Dutch call it the “separation of the markets for soft and hard drugs.” One consequence of this “separation of the markets” is that the Dutch have a much lower use of hard drugs, especially heroin, among young people than does the US.

Inasmuch as marijuana has always been much more readily available to young people than to sick and dying older people, would Chief Bratton really prefer that young people get their marijuana from “street dealers” – who may also sell hard drugs? See T’was Another Great Victory. Teen Marijuana Use Down; Oxy Use Up. Teen Cigarette Use Went Down More Than Teen Marijuana Use.

Second, the dispensaries are not selling to just anyone. They require a special form of identification that establishes the fact that a doctor has approved of the patient’s use of cannabis. (That is all that is required by state law, and – critically – all that is allowed by Federal law.)

“Street dealers” do not require any identification, and most teens say it is easier to get marijuana (on the street) than it is to get alcohol from licensed stores.

The AP went on to do its duty to the Fatherland to support marijuana prohibition by saying, “In 2003, the state set up a system for issuing ID cards to those with ‘prescriptions’ for medicinal marijuana, but many claim the system has been abused and is out of control.” (emphasis added)

“Out of control” is bad, and so there have been a number of stories that have “exposed” how easy it is to get a card.

A few points about that:

First, any “control” system devised by humans will almost certainly be either “too tight” or “too loose.” If it is too tight, then some sick and dying people will not be able to get the medical marijuana that they need. That is actually the problem in most of the state where law enforcement simply refuses to obey state law, and/or lobbies officials to ban dispensaries. That problem is even worse in other “medical marijuana” states, like Washington.

See Prohibitionists to Patients: “Drop Dead!” Police, Politicians, and Quacks Put Cannabis Prohibition Ahead of the Sick, Dying and Disabled. “To Jail In An Ambulance.”

Second, healthy young people can always find “weed” on the “streets.”

Third, over-the-counter drugs, including aspirin and acetaminophen (Tylenol), kill thousands of people every year. (There is no lethal dose of marijuana.) Consequently, there is ample precedent for having truly “dangerous drugs” easily available.

Finally, the “prescription” drug control system is proving to be very leaky. Does L. A. need tighter controls on pharmacies?

On June 14 , 2008, The New York Times reported that the “Florida Medical Examiners Commission found that the rate of deaths caused by prescription drugs was three times the rate of deaths caused by all illicit drugs combined.”

See Florida Governor Demonstrates Absurdity of War on Cannabis. Prescription Drugs Kill; Cannabis Does Not – So The Killers Are “Just As Detrimental” As Cannabis.

It also said that the Drug Enforcement Administration found that “roughly seven million Americans are abusing prescription drugs.  If accurate, that would be an increase of 80 percent in six years and more than the total abusing cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens, Ecstasy and inhalants.”

But here are the hard facts:

“The Florida report analyzed 168,900 deaths statewide.  Cocaine, heroin and all methamphetamines caused 989 deaths, it found, while legal opioids — strong painkillers in brand-name drugs like Vicodin and OxyContin — caused 2,328.

Drugs with benzodiazepine, mainly depressants (sic) like Valium and Xanax, led to 743 deaths.  Alcohol was the most commonly occurring drug, appearing in the bodies of 4,179 of the dead and judged the cause of death of 466 — fewer than cocaine ( 843 ) but more than methamphetamine ( 25 ) and marijuana ( 0 ).” (emphasis added)
See Guess Who Said , “The decrease in the abuse of cannabis among youth in the United States may be offset by an increase in the abuse of prescription drugs.” Iron Law Of Prohibition” &. Czar’s Strategy 3.”

In fairness to Chief Bratton, he went on to say, “I fully support its (marijuana’s) use for medicinal purposes.” That sets him apart from many police chiefs who follow the prohibitionist party line that medical marijuana is either a “scam” or unnecessary, and I salute him for having the courage to say that.

However, he also asked, “(W)hy don’t we regulate it like we do Lipitor or Viagra. You can’t buy those two without getting it through a legitimate pharmacy. If this drug is so important and so helpful, why is it not regulated like every other drug?” (emphasis added)

Well, never mind the fact that there are lots of websites offering to sell Lipitor and Viagra, it is disturbing that Bratton does not know the answer to that question.

There are two basic reasons why marijuana is not available “through a legitimate pharmacy” and is not “regulated like every other drug.”

First, the federal government has blocked research on the medical use of cannabis for decades, while NORML sued unsuccessfully to get it rescheduled, so it might be prescribed. It is not the supporters of medical marijuana who are responsible for keeping cannabis out of the FDA “system”

Second, it can cost huge sums to try to get any “drug” through the FDA process which was not set up to analyze a complex plant. In 1993, when I was National Director of NORML, we were told by the Clinton Administration that it would cost $1.5 million to get the FDA to review marijuana and move it from Schedule I to Schedule II. We did not have the $1.5 million, and the Clinton Administration did not have the courage to do even what it had promised patients that it would do, and reopen the so-called “Compassionate IND” program, so it came to nothing.

(However, in 1998, after a number of states passed medical marijuana laws, Marinol, synthetic THC, was quickly moved from Schedule II to Schedule III  with the full support of the DEA, while marijuana remains absurdly in Schedule I.)

It is also worth noting that 1996 Proposition 215 that began California’s move to allow medical marijuana, said in Section (A) “To ensure that seriously ill Californians have the right to obtain and use marijuana for medical purposes where that medical use is deemed appropriate and has been recommended by a physician who has determined that the person’s health would benefit from the use of marijuana in the treatment of cancer, anorexia, AIDS, chronic pain, spasticity, glaucoma, arthritis, migraine, or any other illness for which marijuana provides relief.” (emphasis added)

Moreover, under FDA rules, any pharmaceutical which has been approved for use for one disease can be prescribed (“off-label”) by doctors for “any other illness for which” the doctor thinks it “provides relief.” In that key regard California does treat medical marijuana “like every other drug.”

However, Bratton’s question raises another important point. If it were sold in pharmacies, would they be allowed to make a profit on it the way they make profits on Lipitor and Viagra? And would their suppliers be allowed to make a profit on it the way American business does on everything else?

If so, and if Bratton wants medical marijuana to be treated like “every other drug”, then why are medical marijuana growers and dispensaries supposed to be non-profit?

Of course, “socialized medical cannabis” will work as badly as socialized anything else. But that really is the idea. Protecting marijuana prohibition takes precedent over everything else, the needs of patients, economic common sense, and logical consistency.

So, yes, Chief Bratton, the California medical marijuana situation is “Looney Tunes”, but it is not because of those of us who believe in freedom and oppose state  violence against marijuana users, growers and sellers, medical or otherwise.

Richard Cowan is a former National Director of NORML, a member of the NORML Advisory Board, publisher of MarijuanaNews.com and Senior Advisor to Weedmaps.com

Post from the original Marijuana blog: MarijuanaNews.com | Cannabis & Marijuana News

California’s Medical Marijuana Dispensary System – A Question for Chief Bratton: What Is More Important? The Patients Or Marijuana Prohibition? What Is Really ‘Looney Tunes’?

1.      If you can possibly make it out to Pomona this Friday morning - then please do it. The protest starts at 8:30 a.m. in front of the Pomona Police Dept. and will continue all morning until 12 noon - if you can get there anytime during the morning, please come. The Pomona Police Dept. is located at 490 W. Mission Blvd. Pomona, Ca. 91766. For more information on the protest, contact Kara by phone at 562-810-4867 or by email kreyes_hill@yahoo.com

2. Send an email and make phone calls to Pomona City Officials. Contact Pomona Mayor Elliot Rothman at Elliott_Rothman@ci.pomona.ca.us and by calling (909) 620-2042. Emails can be sent to the following Pomona City Council members - yes there are seven of them Danielle_Soto@ci.pomona.ca.us, freddie_rodriguez@ci.pomona.ca.us, Cristina_Carrizosa@ci.pomona.ca.us, paula_lantz@ci.pomona.ca.us, Tim_Saunders@ci.pomona.ca.us, Stephen_Atchley@ci.pomona.ca.us, Erica_Ambriz@ci.pomona.ca.us  Contact the following Pomona City officials: City Manager: Linda Lowry (909) 620-2051 City Attorney (909) 620-2311

Thanks for taking the time to do this - they need to be told that this is just totally over the top.

Post from the original Marijuana blog: MarijuanaNews.com | Cannabis & Marijuana News

Grotesque Pomona collective raid ends in million dollar bail

SAN FRANCISCO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Cannabis Science Inc. (OTCBB: GFON - News), an emerging pharmaceutical cannabis company, reported today on the current state of development of its whole-cannabis lozenge in response to Homeland Security Administration Secretary Janet Napolitano’s declaration of a public health emergency to deal with the emerging Swine Flu pandemic. The Company’s non-toxic lozenge has properties that could alleviate many of the symptoms and harmful effects of the H5N1 bird flu and H1N1 swine flu viruses, and has offered its assistance to HSA today in a letter to Secretary Napolitano. The Company has offered to produce up to 1 million doses of its whole-cannabis lozenge, and provide them to HSA for distribution at cost.

Cannabis Science Inc., President & CEO, Steven W. Kubby said, “We have the science and preliminary anecdotal results confirming the anti-inflammatory properties of our new lozenges and indicating they may present an effective and non-toxic treatment for minimizing the symptoms and harm from influenza infections. Our lozenges appear to down-regulate the body’s excessive inflammatory response to the influenza virus, which could reduce the deadly consequences of an infection into something that is more like a common cold. Because of my cancer and diminished auto-immune functions, even common influenza is a deadly threat, and I’ve had incredible symptomatic relief with the lozenge.”

Dr. Robert J. Melamede, Director and Chief Science Officer, stated, “The influenza virus has a unique genetic make up that, in combination with its replicative machinery, has an extraordinary capacity to mutate. As a result, the high lethality of some strains can be attributed to the resulting adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). ARDS is caused by an excessive immune inflammatory response driven by Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) that leads to the death of respiratory epithelial cells and resulting organ failure. Endocannabinoids are nature’s way of controlling TNF activity. Existing peer reviewed publications have shown that phytocannabinoids can prevent this cell death by mimicking the endocannabinoids that nature has selected to prevent excessive inflammatory immune responses.”

Dr. Melamede, who is also a researcher and past Chairman of the Biology Department at the University of Colorado Springs (UCCS), cautioned, “Smoked marijuana will not effectively prevent the excessive inflammatory response, despite delivering the beneficial pharmacological agents, due to the irritating, pro-inflammatory nature of smoke. In fact, I believe it will make things worse and should be avoided by infected individuals.”

Mr. Kubby added, “If a swine or bird flu pandemic emerges — and everyone seems to think that it is just a matter of when, not if –, there is simply no time for the usual bureaucratic process. With emergency government approval, we can legally access the huge supply of medical cannabis available in California to produce millions of life saving doses within a relatively short period of time.”

Dr. Melamede furthermore stated, “Based upon recent discoveries regarding the role that endocannabinoid system plays in maintaining human health, we have a unique solution to the looming threat posed by deadly influenza strains that we believe, if implemented, could save millions of lives. We will strive for an emergency review of our cannabis extract-based lozenge because we believe its availability will prevent many of the deaths associated with the hyper-inflammatory response associated with known lethal strains of the influenza virus. Current anti-influenza medications have a demonstrated decreased effectiveness against some of these lethal variants. Mankind cannot wait for the emergency situation to materialize. We must be proactive in gaining the necessary governmental approvals to test, and pending the outcome of our studies, produce our lozenge.”

Mr. Richard Cowan, Director and CFO, who recently spoke in Mexico City to a conference sponsored by the Mexican Congress, stated, “I believe the Mexican Congress recognizes that doctors should be able to prescribe medical cannabis. We are prepared to work with the government of Mexico to produce similar medical cannabis products to help fight the outbreak there. We look forward to working with Government officials, including Homeland Security, to help advance our treatments for these outbreaks in Mexico, Canada, the USA, and around the world.”

About the H5N1 Bird Flu and H1N1 Swine Flu Strains

The H5N1 bird flu currently has 63% lethality. A swine-derived H1N1 strain was responsible for 20,000,000 influenza associated deaths in 1918 (more than killed by World War I). The current lethal outbreak of swine flu (H1N1) in Mexico has killed over 80 people and infected more than 1,400 others. There are 20 confirmed cases in the United States, with reports of infections in Texas, New York, Ohio, California and Kansas. Additional reports identify possible cases in New Zealand, Canada, Spain, France and Israel. The H1N1 Swine flu is a porcine respiratory disease caused by type A flu viruses. Human cases occur in people who are around pigs, but an infected person can transmit the disease to another person. Symptoms include a high fever, body aches, coughing, sore throat and respiratory congestion.

About Cannabis Science, Inc.

Cannabis Science, Inc. is at the forefront of medical marijuana research and development. The Company works with world authorities on phytocannabinoid science targeting critical illnesses, and adheres to scientific methodologies to develop, produce, and commercialize phytocannabinoid-based pharmaceutical products. In sum, we are dedicated to the creation of cannabis-based medicines, both with and without psychoactive properties, to treat disease and the symptoms of disease, as well as for general health maintenance.

Forward-Looking Statements

This Press Release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Act of 1934. A statement containing works such as “anticipate,” “seek,” intend,” “believe,” “plan,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “plan,” or similar phrases may be deemed “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Some or all of the events or results anticipated by these forward-looking statements may not occur. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include the future U.S. and global economies, the impact of competition, and the Company’s reliance on existing regulations regarding the use and development of cannabis-based drugs. Cannabis Science, Inc. does not undertake any duty nor does it intend to update the results of these forward-looking statements.

Contact:

Cannabis Science Inc.
Steven W. Kubby, President & CEO, 888-889-0888
info@cannabisscience.com
www.cannabisscience.com

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Cannabis Science Inc. Reports on Prospective Life Saving Treatments for H1N1 Swine Flu and H5N1 Bird Flu in View of the Current Global Threat

Post from the original Marijuana blog: MarijuanaNews.com | Cannabis & Marijuana News

How to Get Your Medical Marijuana Prescription