FR E E
Jun/Jul 2015 Vol. 6 Issue 3
A beautiful outdoor cannabis garden in Applegate Valley, Oregon. Hopefully this will become a regular sight as Oregon's legal marijuana eras begins. Image: Keith, Oregon Cannabis Connection
C h u rc h & S t a t e : U p d a t e s Fr o m T h e C a p i t o l O r e go n R a d i c a l , o u r c o l u m n from "Rad i cal " Ru ss Bel vi l l e Th e Wal k - wi th El vy M u si kka, a speci al from Lori Du ckworth Fart LTE goes vi ral ! I m ped i m en ts to effecti ve testi n g S p e c i a l fr o m A 2 L A Lloyds of London exits cannabis insurance market R e ci p e s : Ho Yeah! Hummus Grrek Cheez Puffs More!
Also In This Issue:
Connecting the Cannabis Community Across Oregon
In This Issue
Page 2
Oregon News
Cannabis Connection
Medical News Cheryl's Clinical Corner - Cannabis & Intracranial
Page 17
Cannabis Is Legal In Oregon July 1st!
Page 5
Dr. Phil Leveque, WWII Hero and Pot Doc Has Died
Page 5
Feds Admit Medical MJ Works On Brain Tumors
Page 6
Botanicals and Cannabis
Page 18
At Church & State: Updates From The Capitol
Myth: Marijuana is a Dangerous Drug
Page 18
Fart LTE Goes Viral
Page 6
Oregon Radical - Our Column from "Radical"
Hypertension
Russ Belville
The Walk - Part II - By Lori Duckworth Meet The People That Will Be Helping Shape Oregon’s Recreational Marijuana Industry Rules Impediments to Efficient Operations of Cannabis Testing Laboratories: An Accreditation Body’s Perspective
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Recipes
Brenda's Jolly Candies Page 7 Ho Yeah! Hummus Chocolate Chip Almond Shortbread Greek Cheez Puffs Page 8
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Cultivation Page 9 Growing With Good Earth: - Microbes Top Ten Rookie Mistakes - By Robert Bergman
Oregon News Nugs - News From Around The Beaver State
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Oregon Court: Cops Pulling U.S. Mail For Dog ‘Sniff Test’ Unlawful
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Page 20 Page 21
Business Classifieds A Listing of Oregon Dispensaries, Clinics & Organizations, and Canna-Friendly Businesses
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OREGON CANNABIS CONNECTION
National News More Drug War History in the Making: The U.S. House
Page 17
Page 12
Votes to Weaken the DEA and Support Medical Pot
Reefer Madness Radical Chris Christie Doubles Down on Big Government Marijuana Mayhem
Page 12
Lloyds of London Exits The Marijuana Market
Page 13
MBank to Close Marijuana Business Accounts
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Recommendations On Marijuana Stocks: Warning, Buyer Beware!
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National News Nugs - News From Around The Nation
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Latin America Backing Away From Drug War
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In Historic Vote, Senate Appropriations Committee Approves Veterans Medical Marijuana Amendment
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Visit our NEW WEBSITE at OCCNewspaper.com!
is a bi-monthly publication for the medical cannabis community in Oregon. Published by K2 Publishing Co. in Southern Oregon, we strive to inform the public on the value of medical marijuana, as well as provide news, information, and opinions concerning marijuana laws, legalization, and medicine. All information in our publication is intended for legal use by adults only. Our publication is advertiser supported and over 21,000 copies are available FREE at over 280 locations throughout Oregon. Subscriptions are available within the U.S.A for 24.00 per year. Please visit www. OCCN ewspaper. com to subscribe. Correspondences to: K2 Publishing P.O. Box 5552, Gants Pass, OR 97527 To advertise or distribute Email: OCCNewspaper420@gmail.com or contact Kei th at 541 -621 -1 723.
Next issue is Aug/Sep, advertising deadl i ne i s J u l y 24th, 201 5!
Cannabis Connection
By Keith Mansur Oregon Cannabis Connection Thanks to the wisdom of over 54% of Oregonians, on July 1st we will be able to use marijuana if over 21. You will also be able to grow it and give it away. Measure 91, which passed last November and will effectively begin at the years mid-point, is the nations most progressive marijuana legalization law. We know there are a lot of questions out there for those just considering this new found right, and may want to take advantage of these freedoms. But, as with all things fun, there are limitations. We thought the Oregon's own Q & A answers were pretty good, with a few notations added.
Personal Use Q and A
(From www.oregon.gov/olcc/marijuana/Pages/ Frequently-Asked-Questions.aspx) (* parenthetical points from OCC) Q: When can I smoke/use recreational marijuana? A: Starting July 1, 2015, Measure 91 allows Oregonians to grow up to four plants on their property, possess up to eight ounces of usable marijuana in their homes and up to one ounce on their person. Recreational marijuana cannot be sold or smoked in public. Q: Where and when can I buy marijuana? A: Marijuana will be available for purchase through retail stores licensed by the OLCC sometime in the third quarter of 2016. (*Maybe sooner, see At Church & State update from Anthony Taylor) Q: Where and when can I buy edibles and extracts? A: The OLCC has made the decision to take extra time to make sure that it gets the availability of edibles and extracts right. They will eventually be available at retail outlets licensed by the OLCC, but probably not at the same time that the stores are expected to open in the third quarter of 2016.(*Maybe no delay, see Church & State update from Anthony Taylor) Q: How much marijuana can I have? A: Beginning July 1, 2015, recreational marijuana users can possess up to eight ounces of useable marijuana and four plants per residence in Oregon. An individual can carry up to one ounce in public, but smoking using marijuana in public is prohibited.
Oregon News agencies. The OLCC is Image Orergon Cannabis Connection Q: What is meant by responsible for enforcement “useable” marijuana? actions against businesses that A: Useable marijuana the OLCC licenses to grow, refers to dried marijuana process, wholesale and sell flowers or leaves. In other recreational marijuana and words, marijuana that is related products. ready to smoke. Q: How much will recreational Q: Can I grow marijuana at marijuana cost? home and when? A: The retail price of recreational A: Yes, with limits. The act marijuana will be determined allows home grow of up to through a competitive four plants per residence marketplace. (There will be a tax beginning July 1, 2015, imposed, likely at the retail regardless of how many counter, see At Church & State people live in the residence. update by Anthony Taylor) Four adults in one residence does not mean 16 Q: Can Oregon recreational plants. The limit is four per marijuana be taken to the state residence. of Washington where it is also legal? Q: Where can I obtain A: No. Taking marijuana across marijuana seeds or starts state lines is a federal offense. after July 1, 2015? A Southern Oregon outdoor marijuana garden. A: The OLCC can provide Likely a more common sight in coming years as Q: How will children be protected no guidance on that issue. more people start to grow their own. from recreational marijuana and Still to be determined. marijuana products? A: Measure 91 prohibits the sale of recreational Q. Can a landlord tell tenants not to grow marijuana to anyone under the age of 21. The act recreational marijuana or smoke it rental units? also gives OLCC authority to regulate or prohibit A. Measure 91 does not affect existing advertising. In writing the rules necessary to landlord/tenant laws. implement the new law, the OLCC may also regulate packages and labels to ensure public Q: What if an employer requires drug testing? safety and prevent appeal to minors. A: Measure 91 does not affect existing employment law. Employers who require drug Q: Can I get a DUII while under the influence of testing can continue to do so. marijuana? A: Yes. Current laws for DUII have not changed. Q: Can I smoke marijuana in a bar/restaurant? Driving under the influence of intoxicants (DUII) A: No. Marijuana cannot be smoked or used in a refers to operating a motor vehicle while public place. intoxicated or drugged, including impairment from the use of marijuana. In addition, Measure Q: What is the definition of a public place? 91 requires OLCC to examine, research and A: Measure 91 defines a public place as “a place present a report to the Legislature on driving to which the general public has access and under the influence of marijuana. The OLCC will includes, but is not limited to, hallways, lobbies, do this in conjunction with the Department of and other parts of apartment houses and hotels Justice Criminal Investigation Division and not constituting rooms or apartments designed Oregon State Police. for actual residence, and highways, streets, schools, places of amusement, parks, Q: Can I lose my job for using marijuana? playgrounds and premises used in connection A: Passage of measure 91 does not change with public passenger transportation.” existing employment law in Oregon. (*If your Q: Who can smoke recreational marijuana? What employer wishes to, he likely can if they have a no marijuana policy.) is the minimum age? A: As of July 1, 2015, anyone 21 years of age and Q: Where will marijuana stores be located? old and consume recreational marijuana in A: Measure 91 does not address siting Oregon. Marijuana use or possession of requirements. Where to locateLocation of recreational marijuana by anyone under 21 commercial recreational marijuana businesses years of age is illegal. That includes home will be determined by legislative action, location consumption. local action or through the OLCC rule-making process. Q: Who will enforce recreational marijuana laws? To keep up to date, visit A: Enforcement of the home grow/personal http://www.oregon.gov/OLCC/pages/ possession provisions of Measure 91 will be at about_esubscribe.aspx the discretion of local jurisdictions, the state police and possibly other law enforcement
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By Bonnie King Salem-News.com It is with great sadness that I share this news. Our doctor, friend, teacher, and mentor 92-year old Phil Leveque passed away Saturday afternoon, peacefully with his family aside him. His great niece described him as “The Most Awesome, Intelligent, Funny, Open-minded, Game Changing, Great Uncle, Dr. Phil Leveque”, and that about covers it. He did change the game. Many of you will know that he had been suffering from the effects of cancer, and ongoing pain from a broken hip and leg that were repaired well over a year ago. His passing was not unexpected as he has been unwell for a number of months, and the effects of cancer took its final toll. Though difficult, it is a great relief to all that love him that he is finally free of pain. He was preceded in death by his wife Eve in 2004 and daughter Rochelle in 2007. Phil Leveque was a soldier to the end. As a young man, he served as a combat infantryman in World War Two, a forward scout.
Image; SalemNews.com
"I walked most of the way under fire from Luxembourg almost to Dresden. Under fire on a daily basis. I spent more time on the point than anybody else in my battalion and more time on the observation post than anybody except my own six guys. I don’t have any idea how I got out of that alive,” he said. After insistence from his wife, Eve, Dr. Leveque began writing about his experiences of war about 20 years after the fact, Cont. on Page 8
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Oregon News processing sites which held up the major bills before the committee for weeks. These organizations have decided not to pursue such language in favor of litigating their position before the courts. This should provide an opportunity to move the OMMA reform bill and reduce the chance that implementing Measure 91 will face the same opposition. It will also offer an opportunity for advocates at the local level to push for reasonable time place and manner ordinances for dispensaries and processing sites rather than an outright ban.
Anthony Taylor is the Executive Director of Compassionate Oregon and has unique access and insights into Oregon's lawmaking process, much of which takes place in the Capitol building, near the corners of Church and State streets in Salem.
As the 2015 Legislative Session begins to wind down and with less than a month before Oregonians can legally possess and grow marijuana for their personal use, the Committee on the Implementation of Measure 91 has yet to pass a single bill. That will change in the next week or so as the Committee has begun to reach consensus on a number of issues. But it has been a struggle for everyone from the members of the Committee, to competing industry leaders, other state agencies and finally patient advocates as language has continued to be a moving target. With bills nearly 100 pages long and amendments nearly twice that, it has been a monumental task just to keep up. Language changes have occurred almost daily with amendments to amendments and draft copies of amendments being released to the public, both rather unprecedented moves by Legislative Counsel. From SB 844 ending up with over thirty amendments, to SB 964, an end run around the 91 Committee by the Senate, to HB 3400, which has now become somewhat of an omnibus bill containing everything from plant and canopy limits to environmental impact statements for commercial producers aimed at addressing energy and water resource management, there is no shortage of reading material. The 91 Committee started its work this session by trying to reign in the overproduction of marijuana by the medical growers with little success and did not get down to the task of implementing Measure 91 until early May. With input from the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLC), the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), the Departments of Agriculture and Revenue and the Governor’s office, it has been a race for these agencies to add language to these bills to put some sideboards around how their agencies will deal with legalized marijuana and hemp. The Association of Oregon Counties and the League or Oregon Cities continued to push for language allowing local jurisdictions to ban dispensaries and
The OLCC, frustrated by the Committee’s lack of movement, recently convened an ad hoc group of industry leaders, patient advocates, and legislative staff members to sort through some of the issues confronting the OLCC and to reach a consensus that could then be presented to the Committee for their review. This effort was applauded by many members of the Committee but in the words of Senator Ted Ferrioli (R), “it’s just another proposal.” An effort by Sen. Ferrioli’s (R) office, first mentioned in committee in April, would set a mechanism in place to provide legal access for those Oregonians wishing to purchase marijuana for personal use, or to buy starts to begin growing the four plants each household is legally allowed to grow after July 1. This proposal is still being actively discussed. With support from other members of the Committee including Sen. Prozanski (D), there is a chance Oregonians will see some legal access before the OLCC finalizes the agencies licensing requirements scheduled for late 2016. Infused product availability, while originally expected to roll out some time after adult use stores were opened, will likely be ready with everything else. This on the heels of industry assurances that manufacturers will be ready to go with proper packaging and labeling including meeting current state regulation over the manufacturing of products intended for consumption by the general public. There is beginning to be seen some consensus but all these things remain to be seen in their final form and anything could happen between now and July 11th when the session is over and rules will begin to be drafted. But for now, those working in Salem this session are still not sure what that picture will look like. All in all there will be some good things coming out of the work being done by so many, such as no more 12” rule and no more limits on immature plants. Also included are increased possession limits for medical growers (up to 12 pounds per plant for outdoor and six pounds for indoor) and protection for those transporting marijuana to and among processors, wholesalers and retailers. Not so much appreciated will be the reporting requirements expected by all growers and anyone else involved with the marijuana industry in general. As with all industry Cont. on Page 10
Cannabis Connection chance to rein in lingering bodily odors as well.”
Fart LTE Goes Viral By Keith Mansur Oregon Cannabis Connection there will be inspections and enforcement that will be outlined by A particularly well thought out satirical letter published by the Eastern Oregonian on May addressed the local ban issues surrounding marijuana, using the recently enacted marijuana “smell ordinance” enacted by the Pendleton, Oregon city council. It was so well written and creative that it went viral throughout internet news sites, including the most prominent ones on the internet. What would make this otherwise simple public complaint from a citizen in a small regional news site get such huge coverage?
RedAlertPolitics.com, May 26th - “Sometimes, in the face of illogical bureaucracy, your only resource is humor.” The Weed Blog, May 27th - “That ordinance led a man to write his local newspaper and demand that the city also regulate the smell of farts, because after all, he finds the smell offensive.” On May 26th, the Eastern Oregonian remarked on the story in the Our View editorial section, noting it was covered more than any of their “other hard work combined”... “The toot heard round the world” – from The Eastern Oregonian, May 26, 2015: “In the past month we’ve reported on a wide swath of local issues, from drug courts to droughts, body cameras to budgets. And yet one letter to the editor we published Saturday, a satirical send-up to the Pendleton city council’s decision to add marijuana odor to the nuisance ordinance, has generated more online views than all the other hard work combined.
The unregulated smell of a fart. From Mr. Walters' Letter to the Eastern Oregonian, published May 22, 2015: “It was with great relief Thursday when I read in the East Oregonian that Pendleton’s city council took the time to pass an amendment to the city’s nuisance ordinance banning marijuana odor. Clearly, there has been no issue of greater importance facing the city. Now that this important work has been completed I hope that the council will move on to restricting the other offensive smell that plagues our community: farts... 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...”
First off, kudos to Peter Walters. Secondly, kudos to the word fart. It’s a funny word, and funnier still in print. Walters and the word combined to form an incisive and hilarious letter that clearly hit the right notes. We even had to update the old newsroom axiom: if it bleeds it leads, but if it stinks it gets links...” We here at the Oregon Cannabis Connection give Peter a lot of credit for a very creative letter. This kind of sarcasm is effective to shed light on what is a ridiculous regulation. Way to go Peter!
The story got coverage nationwide, including: Huffington Post, May 25th - “A resident of Pendleton, Oregon, has written a letter requesting the city council ban the smell of farts in the community, but he has a good reason to be raising a stink.” New York Daily News, May 26th - “The smell of marijuana has been banned in one Oregon community — prompting one resident to demand that the stink of farts be prohibited, too.” Oregon Public Broadcasting, May 26th - “With the passage of an amendment to Pendleton city code to contain the smell of marijuana, one man saw a
Great new recipes on Page 19! Brenda's Jolly Candies Ho Yeah! Hummus, & more!
Cannabis Connection
Oregon Radical By "Radical" Russ Belville 420Radio.org
If you’re just joining us, Oregon’s joint legislative committee that was assigned the task of implementing our recreational marijuana legalization got bogged down trying to restrict the medical marijuana program. Never mind that the Measure 91 recreational marijuana legalization initiative said, three times, that the existing medical marijuana program was not to be affected, and 56 percent of the voters agreed with that. It appears as though some of our elected officials think our petitions and votes aren’t what we want to see written into law. They think our initiatives are merely advice. And like thenWashington Gov. Christine Gregoire in 2011, they are so easily frightened by vague, unrealized federal threats they’re willing to lineitem veto the key provisions of sensible marijuana regulation. And should these politicians succeed, they’ll wreak the same sort of havoc on Oregon’s successful medical marijuana program as we are now seeing wrought upon Washington’s. That joint committee of five senators and five representatives was well on its way to accomplishing most of the drastic changes to Oregon’s medical marijuana program they sought, including the reduction in medical marijuana gardens from 6 mature plants per patient to a limit of just 12 plants total, regardless of how many patients a grower serves, in urban areas, as well as new recordkeeping and inspection requirements for medical marijuana growers. (Again, despite Measure 91 saying, in effect, “don’t tinker with medical marijuana!”) But they deadlocked on local medical marijuana bans. When our medical marijuana dispensaries were created by the legislature in 2013, they allowed city councils and county commissions to institute bans until May 1, 2015. Then 146 of 242 cities and 26 of 36 Oregon counties instituted bans. Now that the ban deadline is up, the question became how can cities and counties maintain those bans? House members wanted such bans to automatically go to the ballot for the voters to decide. Senate members instead wanted bans to remain until the people collected enough signatures to put it to a vote of the people.
Oregon News Never mind the fact that the recreational marijuana legalization we just passed by a 56 percent vote says that in order to ban a recreational marijuana dispensary it requires a vote of the people, not just the votes of city councils or county commissions. As committee member Rep. Ann Lininger adroitly noted, it shouldn't be any easier to ban medical marijuana sales.
By Lori Duckworth Special to Oregon Cannabis Connection “It’s too early in the morning to be heading out to 'Idahell' ” …...Elvy Musikka says, as we take off from Eugene in early April on our way to the Moscow Hemp Festival. Held annually in Moscow, Idaho, it is once again being sponsored by Bill Esbensen, former owner of Ontario's now shuttered 45th Parallel marijuana dispensary, but now under his new Directorship of New Approach Idaho. Ms. Elvy got up on stage and, as she does so well, once again spoke to the crowd about the many years of her being a Federal medical marijuana patient. It always blows my mind too hear how many people don’t even know about the BIG LIE! The tough old state will be next to overcome the Reefer Madness, as part of our Swing East Campaign!
Since the joint committee has deadlocked, Senate President Peter Courtney has empaneled a Senate committee to push the local medical marijuana dispensary ban language the Senate members wanted. Leading that committee is the same cochair of the joint committee, Democratic Senate President ProTem Ginny Burdick, joined by Republican Senator Jeff Kruse. The political calculus here is that she thinks she can get a bipartisan Senate majority to support it. Then when it goes to the House, it’s not just Rep. Lininger and four other joint committee members stonewalling it. The full House, she believes, will be swayed by the Senate into supporting the local ban language she favors. Of course, it strains credulity to think that if the handful of officials running a city or county can vote to ban medical marijuana dispensaries, they won’t demand that power to ban recreational marijuana shops, in contradiction of the clear language of Measure 91 that says only the public vote can institute a ban. Then we’ll find ourselves in the same morass as Washington State, where medical and recreational marijuana are only available in the urban centers. The price of marijuana will be artificially inflated, especially if the precedent for ignoring Measure 91’s “only the people can ban” language is later applied by the legislature to the “only the state can tax” language, allowing local pot sales taxes. And the reduction in the black market that legalization promised vanishes as it fills the need for patients and consumers in 146 cities and 26 counties, or more! If Senator Ginny Burdick accomplishes these line-item vetoes regarding local bans and local taxes, she’ll have then defied the intent of fully two-thirds of her district who supported Measure 91. This isn’t about marijuana. This is about Democracy. Again, I ask, what good is citizen initiative power if the politicians feel they have the right to line-item veto it? What good is voting when a key senator is willing to ignore a
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It was incredible to see the families that came to such a ‘in the closet’ event. You can sure bet after we ended the weekend there & after all the wonderful guest speakers that traveled in, there were a few re-educated folks in the crowd. We spent time with Serra Frank, William Fischer, Arlen Falcon, Steve Hadley, Dana Wilson and so many others. Many were provided the information needed to contact the right people and get involved to make a change in their own communities.
I m ag e: M ari j u an aP ol i ti cs . com
supermajority of her own constituents? Please, contact Senator Ginny Burdick and let her know she needs to respect the will of the people. -"Radical" Russ BelvilleHost of The Russ Belville Show at http://RadicalRuss.comLIVE at 3pm Pacific on http://420RADIO.org
Next stop, Portland! To celebrate 4/20 and our friends birthday. Happy Birthday Stoney Girl Jen! We arrive just in time to say so, and enjoy her lovely company before retiring for the evening. There’s much to do in Salem with this being the busiest for marijuana bills since... well, ever! My travels over the last 11 months, while serving my bench probation, have taken me away from the radio show. The show had become one of the few places Cont. on Page 11
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Oregon News
Meet The People That Will Be Helping Shape Oregon’s Recreational Marijuana Industry Rules
Cont from Pg 5 when PTSD was apparent as a factor in his life. They had a family of five children, and the kids had questions of their own.
By Johnny Green The Weed Blog The state in which I was born, raised, and have lived all of my life in, Oregon, legalized recreational marijuana during the 2014 Election. It’s still surreal for me to type that. Every time I do, I get chills up and down my spine. In less than two months I will no longer have to live in fear, because on July 1 the personal possession and cultivation provisions of Oregon Measure 91 will begin. I will no longer have to worry about a random knock on my door, or worry about a neighbor narcing on me because my preferred substance of choice is different than theirs (and is better for my body too!). Oregon residents will be able to possess and cultivate marijuana starting this summer, but it will still be awhile before people are able to go to stores to buy marijuana over the counter. There are still a lot of rules that have to be hashed out (pun not intended) before consumers can visit storefronts. The Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) announced who will make up the advisory committee that will help shape the rules for those storefronts. Those members are listed below, via OregonLive.Com: Cedar Grey, a medical marijuana grower in Williams. He owns Siskiyou Sungrown. Brent Kenyon, owner of Southern Oregon Alternative Medicine in Ashland William Simpson, a medical marijuana grower in West Linn whose company is called Chalice Farms Mowgli Holmes, of Portland, owner of Phylos Bioscience
Jeff Kuhns, deputy chief, Keizer Police Department Craig Roberts, Clackamas County sheriff
Paul Frasier, Coos County district attorney Paul Lewis, Multnomah County health officer Nicole Rowe, of Portland, independent consultant Ryan Christensen, of Portland, entrepreneur I think that’s a pretty balanced group. I’m really glad to see Anthony Johnson’s name on that list. If the other members are smart, they will listen to the seemingly endless supply of wisdom that Anthony Johnson possesses. I have seen him be the voice of reason and fairness on many, many occasions, and the State of Oregon is lucky to have him on this committee.
Hunter Neubauer, of Bend, owner of OreGrown Anthony Johnson, of Portland, chief petitioner Measure 91 Theresa Marchetti, of Tualatin, who works for Portland’s Office of Neighborhood Involvement Doug Breidenthal, Jackson County commissioner
"It is difficult to free fools from the chains they revere." -Voltaire
In his memoir1 "Gen. Patton’s Dogface Soldier" he expresses what couldn’t be spoken about. It helped him move through the nightmares, and he began speaking to groups and helping others. He dealt with PTSD for almost 70 years, so he could relate. He told the story many times about a call he got from highranking Catholic priest. The priest told him, "Somebody just gave me your book. I’m a combat infantryman myself. And you got it right." He was a Doctor of Osteopathy with a PhD in Pharmacology and Toxicology, and spent a great amount of his career as a professor at the medical-school level, moving the entire Leveque clan to “the far reaches of the earth”. One adventure after another. Phil Leveque did not ever let any grass grow under his feet. If he wasn’t working on something, he wasn’t awake. He was the quintessential “good doctor”, helping, healing and saving innumerable fellow human beings as a rule. He had a great sense of humor and he loved to dance wherever music was playing, but he had his serious side. Dr. Leveque was a private individual. The brilliant doctor was a consummate scientist. He researched and studied with intensity every subject that he took on, and he studied Cannabis/Marijuana for over 50 years.
Cannabis Connection He was brave. He never minded being the spokesman for the causes he believed in. Cannabis/Marijuana became one of those causes. He became a prominent supporter of Oregon’s 1998 medical marijuana initiative, helping legalize the use of marijuana as medicine. He fought for patients’ rights his entire career, and it was that very battle that stole his career from him. He never gave up though, and he “never let the bastards get him down.” I was blessed to have him come into my life in 2003, first as a doctor and then as a business associate, and friend. He began writing for SalemNews.com in 2007, and he soon became an integral part of our family.
I m ag e: S al em -N ews . com
We enjoyed many memorable days with Doc; reading aloud at his direction, singing along to his favorite French songs, and succumbing to his infectious passion for life with his boisterous laugh as the soundtrack. We traveled up the Snake River on a jet boat with him, walked through WWII Battery Russel at Fort Stevens, and appeared at many a court hearing on behalf of citizens he
believed in. He is still the “Pot Doc” to thousands of patients who know and love him, including over a thousand Veterans. Always, he would lay down his life for any of them, and any of us. He gave his all. Dr. Phillip E. Leveque, the war is over. You have won. Rest in Peace, dear friend. You will be greatly missed.
Cannabis Connection
Impediments to Efficient Operations of Cannabis Testing Laboratories: An Accreditation Body’s Perspective Roger Brauninger, A2LA For an organization that accredits quality control testing laboratories, viewing the various roadblocks faced by the community of cannabis testing laboratories is somewhat disconcerting. Being both technical and legal in nature, these roadblocks present some unique sets of challenges that, unlike most other products in commerce, at present cannot be easily addressed or taken for granted. For most products in commerce, laboratory quality control and safety testing follows a fairly straight-forward approach: The laboratory must first confirm that they have the appropriate facilities, the necessary testing and measurement equipment and competent staff to perform the appropriate type of analysis. It is up to this point that the cannabis testing laboratory community is generally indistinguishable from any other competent laboratory organizations. However, the available path soon diverges. To analyze the product, laboratories need to ensure that the appropriate method of analysis has been validated as being capable of detecting and quantifying the likely level of analyses of interest and in the expected matrices. In reaching this point, however, the laboratory will have to make decisions on how they will ensure that the results of the analysis will be valid. Thus they need to consider how they will achieve the necessary traceability of the intended measurement. This is typically obtained through the use of external reference source(s) (i.e., traceable reference materials or reference standards for calibrating the analytical equipment). Also, the laboratory generally would seek to participate in some form of proficiency testing, ideally using blind samples in the expected matrix and containing relevant levels of the analyte(s) of interest to be able to confirm (and demonstrate to their
Oregon News customers) an ability to produce unbiased demonstrations of analyst and laboratory competence. Next, in order to be able to produce a meaningful result the laboratory needs to be provided with a sample that is representative of the whole. Finally the management of the overall testing process (the quality and test procedures, means of analyzing and reporting of results, etc.) should be governed by a quality management system suitable for the activities being undertaken. While these means of assurance are generally readily available for most activities associated with typical analytical testing regimens and they are fairly straightforward and “normal” for most categories of products being tested by a laboratory, cannabis, as we know, is not a “normal” product. The following are several areas in which the cannabis testing laboratory community faces challenges in moving forward into a more (and necessarily) regulatory environment. Reference Materials: While the availability of appropriate reference chemicals appears to be catching up with the needs of the industry, not all cannabinoids of interest are commercially available and those that are, in some cases, may be of variable purity. Also, since cannabinoids are Schedule I controlled substances; shipments are limited by the DEA to concentrations below 1000 PPM. This may, in some cases, limit their usefulness as reference standards and laboratory controls. In contrast, microbial reference materials representative of the sort encountered in these product types are available, for the most part. Methods: The Cannabis laboratory testing community, in analyzing cannabis and cannabis-infused products for potency, cannabinoid profile and for possible contaminants (pesticides, heavy metals, residual solvents, molds, mildews and bacterial load) generally has access to fairly well-established analytical methods. However, these were not developed specifically for cannabis plant materials and certainly not for the multitude of many, relatively lesser-researched matrices seen in the somewhat exotic area of cannabis-infused foods, creams, ointments and oils. However, and due to the Federal strictures in the shipment of cannabinoid materials, many of these method modifications have not undergone the rigorous multi-site validation process typically seen for other substances. As a result, each laboratory must essentially undertake the validation process themselves. As a result of that, due to commercial pressures, sharing of methods between
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laboratories is often limited in this industry. Proficiency Testing Programs: As a means of demonstrating accuracy and comparability among analytical laboratories, the use of matrix-matched, blind samples of materials likely to be encountered as test samples help to provide confidence in the laboratory’s competence. However, as noted previously, federal cannabis DEA classification proscribes most commercial shipping. This severely limits the types of sample-sharing seen even in self-organized, inter-laboratory comparison round robin programs, so it is unsurprising that, to date, there have been no commercial proficiency testing provider organizations (accredited or unaccredited) that have developed or operated a realistic cannabis sample analysis comparison program. Sampling and Sample Sizes: Unlike the quantity which is typically made available to a laboratory that performs safety testing on foods/feeds/nutritional supplements, a cannabis testing laboratory does not typically receive commensurately-sized quantities of test materials and each state has their own sampling plan requirements. Because of the heterogeneity of the plant itself, an inappropriately small sample can be problematic if it is not statistically representative of the batch, particularly if the sampling is not done correctly. The sampling plan must take into account the desired level of confidence that a given sample size and collection approach will be representative and statistically adequate for the purposes of identifying the analyte of interest. Quality Management System: (GLP, GMP, Certification, ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation, TNI) There is, at present, no consistent approach among states for the recognition of laboratory competence. In some states there are no requirements. Some completely control the certification process while others use a combination of ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation and state certification; still others use NELAP environmental laboratory accreditation programs to meet their certification needs. Some groups advocate use of federal Good Laboratory or Manufacturing Practices (GLPs and GMPs) in their recognition schemes. GLPs are designed to provide the FDA/EPA with auditable data from open-ended research studies and often deal with safety testing. GMPs provide the FDA with predefined lot criteria conformity data. Related to this is the question of who should be doing the testing (i.e., whether this
Image Green Leaf Labs
activity should be performed by first-, second, or third-party, private or public sector laboratories). Currently there is no consistency in assigning this responsibility. In regulatory third-party programs, it is the third parties (cannabis testing laboratories) that determine whether the products or production processes of the regulated entities (cannabis growers and dispensaries) conform to certain standards and characteristics of quality. Most often these standards and characteristics are established by the responsible governmental agencies (in this case it is the various states in which use of medical and recreational cannabis is legal). In other regulatory programs, agencies have required compliance with privatelyestablished “voluntary consensus standards”. In Oregon, the ORELAP medical marijuana testing program mixes both of these approaches in its requirements derived from The NELAC Institute (TNI), and it promises to develop a set of criteria that is friendly to the cannabis industry. All in all, these varied approaches and challenges are likely more a reflection of the newness of state regulation of cannabis. As time goes on and federal agencies become involved in state legalization efforts for not only medical but also recreational use of cannabis, the laboratory testing infrastructure will likely come increasingly closer to the norm of what is seen in other, more-established industries that are less constrained by the legal status of the materials under analysis. © 2015 A2LA. All Rights Reserved. Roger Brauninger is the A2LA Biosafety Program Manager, reach him at rbrauninger@A2LA.org, 301-644-3233. A2LA offers internationallyrecognized accreditation to cannabis testing and inspection organizations, using ISO/IEC 17025 and ISO/IEC 17020 standards. Visit them online at www.A2LA.org.
Oregon News
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Oregon News Nugs Popular OMMBC Returns To Portland in September By Alex Rogers The Oregon Medical Marijuana Business Conference (OMMBC) is coming back for a twoday conference on September 12 and 13th at the downtown Portland Hilton. Following sold out OMMBCs in Ashland and Eugene, the conference will be better than ever after building upon past successes and feedback from attendees. The Oregon medical marijuana industry is in a transition phase as we await for potential changes to the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program (OMMP). Despite any setbacks the Oregon Legislature may put in place, opportunities are abundant for the cannabis industry and the OMMBC will have the latest news and provide tips on how to navigate the changing landscape. We will have more announcements as more confirm, but Anthony Johnson, co-author and chief petitioner for the Measure 91 legalization measure, will have the latest from the state Measure 91 rules advisory committee. Cannabis law attorney Leland Berger will have advice for the industry, Image OMMBC particularly the latest on complying with local regulations imposed by cities and counties. Renowned tax attorney Henry Wykowski will be presenting about tax law as the federal 280e tax code still plagues the marijuana industry. Wykowski devised the most progressive tax protection plan for marijuana businesses with the landmark C.H.A.M.P. case that resulted in permitting California dispensaries to deduct expenses that could be separated from marijuana sales. In addition to lawyers and regulatory experts, we will have entrepreneurs on hand with realworld experience, providing great information and networking opportunities. And as usual
with the OMMBC, we will provide unique entertainment events that will be great fun while also allowing the networking to continue. Tickets are on sale now for $299 for a limited time. Secure your tickets now before prices go up and they sale out. Check out www.ommbc.com for more information. Alex Rogers is CEO of medical marijuana clinics Ashland Alternative Health and Northwest Alternative Health as well as the lead producer of both the OMMBC and the International Cannabis Business Conference.
Oregon Has The Cheapest Weed! Keith Mansur - OCC Forbes did a short entitled, “All 50 States Ranked By The Cost Of Weed (Hint: Oregon Wins)”. Their article retrieved prices from the website www.priceofweed.com to do their analysis. What did they find, to no Oregonian's surprise, we have the cheapest weed. And, if you ask us, of course, we have the best, especially outdoor sustainably grown cannabis! The article determined, “legalize it, and the price falls”. That is not a surprise. And, once people in Oregon grow their own personal grass, the price will drop further. This from Forbes:
“seeding” an otherwise seed free marijuana crop would spell disaster. Luckily, Rep. Peter Buckley (D – Ashland) introduced a bill (HB 2668) to straighten out the problem. It specifically exempted Southern Oregon from Hemp growing, and set forth guidelines to grow hemp carefully in the state, without threatening the already proven marijuana crop. Exerpt from the Mail Tribune Editorial, “Range war erupts between hemp and marijuana”: “Lawmakers, led by Rep. Peter Buckley, DAshland, have responded with amendments that would revoke all 13 licenses issued so far and replace them with six test plots around the state to test for cross-pollination risk before new hemp licenses could be issued. Hemp growers are crying foul, saying their fledgling industry will be destroyed before it gets started. That would be unfortunate. But so would causing damage to an established medical marijuana industry that could expand into recreational production, a potential economic boost for this region. It could well be that hemp, which reportedly can be grown just about anywhere, might be a better fit outside Southern Oregon, which is already recognized as ideal for producing marijuana...” It's simple. We need to #GrowHempSmart!
“Even among states where pot is still illegal for all uses, the price of an ounce ranges so widely from that someone who smokes an ounce a month can move from Pittsburgh to Portland, Ore., and save enough money for a year’s worth of premium cable to enhance the experience....
Oregon Legislators Propose A Marijuana Sales Tax
Despite a strong marijuana culture, Colorado is surprisingly not the state with the lowest marijuana prices. At $204 for an ounce of high quality cannabis, Oregon is the state with the cheapest weed – almost half the cost of an ounce of marijuana in North Dakota, where prices are the highest in the country at $387 an ounce.”
The term ‘sales tax’ is largely considered to be taboo in Oregon politics. Oregon is rare in that it doesn’t have a sales tax, and any time any politician talks about creating a sales tax in Oregon, they are usually committing political suicide. Oregon hasn’t had a sales tax in a very long time, and lots and lots of polling has shown that citizens don’t want it. Oregon politicians have realized that people don’t want a sales tax, and have largely left the issue alone. That is, unless it involves marijuana.
Medford Mail Tribune Sides With Marijuana Industry Over Hemp By Keith Mansur - OCC I am not a huge fan of the Medford newspaper, the Mail Tribune, but they seem to get the threat from Industrial Hemp, or sometimes cutely called ihemp, to the Southern Oregon marijuana industry. Considering marijuana is the number one crop in the state, and our region is the only area where outdoor cultivation is easily achieved, hemp pollen
Johnny Green - The Weed Blog
The Oregon Legislature wants to create a sales tax specially for recreational marijuana. These politicians have tried very hard to pretty up their proposal by calling it a ‘point of sale’ tax, but it’s obviously a sales tax. Oregon voters approved Measure 91, which specifically stated that taxing would be left to the state, not to municipalities, and that the tax rate would be a flat $35 per ounce tax. For some reason Oregon politicians don’t want to respect the will of the voters, and instead are wanting to allow up to a 3% local sales tax on marijuana, and a 17% state sales tax. Per Oregon Live: Legislative negotiators have tentatively agreed on a sweeping marijuana deal that could produce a 20 percent sales tax on recreational sales of pot.
Cannabis Connection Oregon voters don’t want a sales tax, on marijuana or anything else. Oregon voters passed Measure 91 which specifically gave taxing powers to the state alone, had a clear tax rate of $35 per ounce of flower, stated no less than three times that the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program should remain in tact as it was before the 2014 Election, and only allowed bans on recreational marijuana sales if it was approved by voters. What happened? Why is the Oregon Legislature pushing their own version of recreational marijuana legalization, especially considering the fact that they had the chance to pass their own version before the 2014 Election and refused to do so? © 2015 The Weed Blog. Reprinted by permission.
Church & State Cont. from Pg. 6
there will be inspections and enforcement that will be outlined by legislation and implemented by rule. There will be more rules and regulations for infused product manufacturers and concentrate producers aimed at public safety concerns around dosage and packaging as they become more a part of Oregon’s economy. It is, in the final analysis, a missed opportunity. Advocates came into this session with the hopes of a vision we could hold up as an example of how to do things right in this grand experiment. What we will probably end up with is a cheap version of what the Image OCC Committee thinks is best for everyone. In the end, this will be a long process lasting many session perhaps with some litigation and perhaps with some glimmer of hope for the future. Anthony Taylor is the Executive Director of Compassionate Oregon and a longtime cannabis activist. He has been instrumental in legislative gains for the OMMP in recent years. Visit ww.occnewspaper.com for updated information on their Bill Tracker page. We also provide links to the The Oregon Legislative Information System (or OLIS),© 2015 Oregon Connection. All Rights Reserved.
Under the deal — which is still subject to change — the state could collect a 17 percent tax while localities could collect up to 3 percent. The deal to allow local taxes is aimed at ending a standoff with cities and counties over just how much power they have to prohibit retail sales of both recreational and medical marijuana.
New Cannabis Grower? Check out our Cultivation Section on Page 20!
Cannabis Connection
Oregon Court: Cops Pulling U.S. Mail For Dog ‘Sniff Test’ Unlawful
By Johnny Green The Weed Blog
I read all the time about people mailing marijuana. I personally think it’s a bit crazy (and obviously risky) to do something like that and expect to get away with it. But a lot of people do it, and successfully I might add. But for all the people doing it without any issues, there are a lot of other people that get the dreaded knock on their door by police. That was the case for one man in Portland, Oregon. But the man wasn’t actually mailing something – he was receiving mail. Apparently the Portland, Oregon police had a standard practice in place where they would pull suspicious looking packages from the mail at the USPS mail center and have a drug dog sniff the package to try to determine if there was anything illegal inside. This would happen up to 40 times a day apparently. According to Portland Police, the dog was accurate about 90% of the time. Once a dog alerted that there was something illegal in the package, the cops would deliver it to the destination and put pressure on the recipient of the package to let them look inside. That’s what happened to Max Barnthouse. In his package was a big stack of cash, which led the police to search his house, where they found marijuana and packaging supplies. The cops arrested Max, and charged him with the usual list of charges that go with such activity. Max fought it, and at the circuit and appellate level, Max won. Per Oregon Live: On the eve of trial in December 2012, Houze argued that the evidence should be suppressed because police violated Barnthouse’s constitutional right to be free from unlawful search and seizure. Multnomah County Circuit Judge Christopher Marshall agreed, finding that the first misstep by police was physically
Oregon News
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removing the package from the mail stream when they had no reasonable suspicion or probable cause. Prosecutors brought the case to the Court of Appeals — arguing that police hadn’t actually “seized” the package — that Barnthouse had no “possessory interests” in the package — because officers brought the package to his home hours before its guaranteed delivery time of noon. The appeals court disagreed Wednesday by upholding the lower court’s decision. . “We conclude that, for an in-transit USPS express mail package, the police may not detain such a package without probable cause and a warrant or without the existence of one of the carefully delineated exceptions to the warrant requirement,” the appeals court wrote. I don’t recommend that anyone mail marijuana, or cash for that matter. But if you do in Oregon, know that the police in Oregon cannot randomly have a dog sniff your package, pull it, and then put the pressure on you to comply. I can’t help but wonder though how this case would have been different had the package just been monitored, yet delivered normally. I think even then, the cops would need a warrant to do an actual search. Something to point out about this case is that the suspect should have never given consent to the officers. If they threaten to get a warrant, make them do so. Giving them permission to search without a warrant is the same thing as if they had a warrant. Never give up your rights if you don’t have to. © 2015 The Weed Blog. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission.
Cont. from Pg. 7 I could retreat to for nearly 2 years while awaiting trial. I love co-hosting with my Earthly brother Keith & bestie Kristi, but my heart's work is among the people and moving about the land. So, Rogue Cannabis Radio welcomed our 3rd fill in co-host, Wendy King. A well known publisher of an entertainment paper in Southern Oregon, Jefferson State Vibes. She’s sat with both Keith and I, trading off as needed, as she lives right there in Ashland. Wendy has prior radio experience and is just a delight to have on our team. The big day arrived. Elvy and I are off to Florida! We went to attend The Patients Out of Time 9th Clinical Conference On Cannabis Therapeutics in West Palm Beach, Florida. A full 3 day event filled with Professionals from all over the world and every walk of life. From the top currently practicing Ph. D’s, to scientist, veterans, athletes, law enforcement, DA’s, and Activists all together to be educated. This in a state where Elvy once lived, and was the first woman to establish herself as a federal medical marijuana patient. Where currently today, people still go to prison, for cannabis. The American Cannabis Nurses Association was present there and held their annual board meeting, too. Such wonderful men and women who are willing to put jobs on the line for what they know is right! Not death.
Image Pot.tv
So, off to our 2nd week, Orlando we go and let the movie production begin! The Elvy Project. It’s just the first of what’s to come in a series planned about the history of the cannabis movement and the many activist that have helped to re educate the world. Many hours were spent during this week with Elvy, chatting away to Andrew, the writer, about her life - a time line of the years of her struggles and triumphs. She insists this story, hers story, be one filled with laughter and love. To be as she is, and wants to always be remembered. What an unforgettable trip we shared to Florida! And summer has just begun. I arrive home to Oregon, no longer serving on bench probation. The ordeal is over. I made it to continue to ... #WALKtheTALKofLOVE.
Here’s just a few of that attended: Mary Lynn Mathre, Honorable David Kerner, Florida House of Representatives, Lester Grinspoon, MD., via Skyp. Ethan Rosso, book singing. Al Byrne & Dr. Donald Abrams (UCSF) @WPCCC, Alice O'leary Randall, Michael Krawitz, Jeffery Block, MD., Justin Kander, Melanie Dreher, RN, Ph.D., Sue Sisley, MD, and Uma Dhanbalan, MD.
"That's a funny thing, every one of the bastards that are out for legalizing marijuana is Jewish. What the Christ is the matter with the Jews, Bob, what is the matter with them? I suppose it's because most of them are psychiatrists..."
There was also a “Wide World of Sports” session, which was super fun as Elvy & I got to hang out on the golf course during the Million dollar tournament with them! Sponsored by Robert Kane Holdings, guests included Greta Gaines, Champion Snowboarder, Riley Cote of the NHL, and Reggie Jones from the NFL. We were joined by other Oregonians, as well, Our great pal, Doug McVay, and 2 nice young men from Clinic Services as well. Good to meet ya Ben & Chris!
37th President of the United States, Signer of the Controlled Substances Act making Marijuana a Schedule I substance. From The White House Tapes
Eugene's Oldest Dispensary
Richard M. Nixon,
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More Drug War History in the Making: The U.S. House Votes to Weaken the DEA and Support Medical Pot
By Phillip Smith StopTheDrugWar.org In a series of votes June 2nd, the House voted to end the DEA's controversial bulk data collection program and also passed three amendments cutting funding from the DEA and shifting it to other federal law enforcement priorities. In more votes June 4th, it approved three amendments aimed at blocking DEA and Justice Department interference with industrial hemp, CBD cannabis oil, and medical marijuana in states where they are legal. A fourth amendment that would have barred interference in legal marijuana states was narrowly defeated. The votes came as the House considers the FY 2016 Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations bill. Reps. Jared Polis (D-CO), Morgan Griffith (R-VA), David Schweikert (R-AZ), and Jerrold Nadler (DNY) offered the amendment barring the DEA and the Justice Department from using taxpayer funds to do bulk collection of Americans' communications records. It passed on a voice vote yesterday. "Congress dealt a major blow to the DEA by ending their invasive and offensive bulk data collection programs and by cutting their budget, said Bill Piper, director of national affairs for the Drug Policy Alliance [17]. "The more the DEA ignores commonsense drug policy, the more they will see their agency's power and budget come under deeper scrutiny." June 3rd, members voted to slash $23 million from the DEA's budget and reallocate the money for more cost-effective programs. One amendment, from Rep. Ted Liew (D-CA) shifted $9 million from the agency's marijuana eradication program to youth programs; another, from Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) shifted $4 million from the DEA budget to rape test kits; while the third, from Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX) shifted $9 million from the DEA to a program to try to reduce police abuse by procuring body cameras for police officers. In June 4's vote, an amendment offered by Reps. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Sam Farr (D-CA), Reid Ribble (R-WI), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Thomas Massie (R-KY), Joe Heck (R-NV), Steve Cohen (DTN), Don Young (R-CA), Jared Polis (D-CO), Tom
National News McClintock (R-CA), and Dina Titus (D-NV) would bar the DEA and Justice from interfering in medical marijuana states. It passed 242-186. Similar legislation passed Congress last year, but was set to expire. The House also passed an amendment from Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA) to protect state laws allowing for the use of CBD cannabis oil. It passed 297-130. A third amendment, from Reps. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) and Thomas Massie (R-KY), to protect state laws allowing industrial hemp also passed on a vote of 282-146. But the most far-reaching amendment, which would have barred federal interference in states where marijuana is legal for either medical or general purposes, failed on a vote of 206-222. It was sponsored by Reps. Tom McClintock (R-CA), Jared Polis (D-CO), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Don Young (R-AK), Barbara Lee (D-CA), and Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA). "Votes in support of rolling back the federal government's war on medical marijuana are beginning to become routine. Last year, passing this amendment was unprecedented. This year, it was predictable. Medical marijuana has gone from 'controversial' to 'conventional' on Capitol Hill," said Dan Riffle, director of federal policy for the Marijuana Policy Project [18]. But this is just the start, Riffle said. "This is an important amendment because it addresses the tension between state and federal marijuana law," he noted. "We welcome it as a temporary fix, but what we really need is a comprehensive and more permanent solution. It's time for Congress to pass legislation that ends prohibition at the federal level and allows states to determine their own marijuana policies." Tom Angell of Marijuana Majority [19] was singing the same tune. "Now that the House has gone on record with strong bipartisan votes for two years in a row to oppose using federal funds to interfere with state medical marijuana laws, it's time for Congress to take up comprehensive legislation to actually change federal law," he said. "That's what a growing majority of Americans wants, and these votes show that lawmakers are on board as well. Congress clearly wants to stop the Justice Department from spending money to impose failed marijuana prohibition policies onto states, so there's absolutely no reason those policies themselves should remain on the law books any longer." "There's unprecedented support on both sides of the aisle for ending the federal war on marijuana and letting states set their own drug policies based on science, compassion, health, and human rights," said DPA's Piper © 2015 StopTheDrugWar.org. Reprinted by permission.
Cannabis Connection
Reefer Madness Radical Chris Christie Doubles Down on Big Government Marijuana Mayhem By Anthony Johnson Marijuanapolitics.com New Jersey’s lame duck governor and likely longshot Republican Party presidential candidate just can’t help himself. The Reefer Madness radical Chris Christie doubles down on big government marijuana mayhem by declaring that he would use federal resources to trample the will of voters in Colorado and other states that have legalized marijuana. Christie declared his Big Brother intentions, if elected president, on CBS’ Face the Nation. It is odd that Christie would stick with such an unpopular position that goes against the conservative principles of small government and states’ rights. While GOP voters lag behind Democrats and independents in their support of cannabis legalization, a strong majority agree that the issue should be left to the states. The Guardian reports on Christie’s latests radical rhetoric: Chris Christie says he’d revive enforcement of federal marijuana law in states that have legalized recreational use of the drug if he were president. The New Jersey governor says if that position causes him political trouble in battleground of Colorado, so be it. He says he won’t pander to voters or hide his positions for political expediency. Federal and some state laws on marijuana are in conflict. But the federal government has adopted a hands-off approach to states with lenient marijuana laws. The Justice Department has told such states that it won’t challenge their laws so long as marijuana is tightly regulated. Colorado is one of them.
It is amazing that Governor Christie has the gall to state that he won’t pander to the will of voters, yet he has clearly pandered to Iowa farmers by vetoing a pig crate bill “which would prohibit pregnant pigs from being held in cages called gestation stalls that limit their ability to turn around, lie down, or extend their limbs”. I wonder if Governor Christie would support President Obama using
federal resources to shut down New Jersey’s medical marijuana or internet gambling law. I’m guessing that he would be okay with the marijuana, but not the gambling, but it would be good to get him on record to further demonstrate his true hypocrisy. It seems to me that Christie’s big government plans won’t play well in GOP primaries, but the cannabis community must remain vigilant and ensure that the next president has a sensible stance on cannabis, unlike the radical madness spouted by Mr. Christie. © 2015 MarijuanaPolitics.com. Reprinted by permission.
Legal Marijuana States (May 2015)
Cannabis Connection
Lloyds of London Exits The Marijuana Market Insurance giant's departure may leave big hole in marijuana business insurance sector By Keith Mansur Oregon Cannabis Connection Marijuana Business Daily reported on May 29th that Lloyd's of London, the UK based Insurance marketplace, the oldest in the world, has pulled out of the U.S. Cannabis industry. The departure has left many new businesses wondering what they will do for cannabis insurance, especially in states where insurance is required by statute for marijuana businesses. Marijuana Business Daily reported that underwriters were instructed not to issue or renew any marijuana policies. In a memo released by Lloyd's to its company partners, Tom Bolt explained, “Any policies of this type that are currently in force should not be renewed and no new business should be written,” Bolt is the director of performance management at Lloyd’s. The memo went on to say, “Lloyd’s will continue to monitor developments under U.S. law and will reconsider this position if and when the conflict of laws is resolved.” There are alternatives, however. Hannover Re, a German insurance giant, has entered the cannabis industry. They can provide the needed insurance, along with a few other companies, so there are still options with the exit of Lloyd's. “One of the ways we separate ourselves within the industry is by not having our eggs in one basket. said Eli Clark, owner of Orergon Cannabis Insurance, an Oregon agent providing insurance coverage to marijuana industry businesses. “We work closely with Hanover and a number of domestic carriers who are ready to step up and insure the market place has a place to help transfer risk just like any other legitimate business.”
National News "We ask that you take this information and get it into the hands of your representatives. Please get emails to your elected officials, they are a written record and from speaking to them they like to print it off and take them showing physical evidence when they go to the state houses and halls of government”, he added. “Basically Lloyds has retracted because Cannabis is still on the Schedule 1 controlled substance list, which makes banks subject to harsh penalties if they knowingly engage a business that deals in Schedule 1 monies, it is perceived as laundering.” “I think we all know it is not a plant with zero medical value, even the federal government themselves carry a patent on cannabis.” Clark said. “Faced with this information why is it taking so long to reclassify this off of the schedule 1 list.?” “We need our statesman to fight for this in Washington and get it done now, and the quicker Oregon moves into a net export Image Lloyds.com position, the quicker Cannabis can replace the timber industry revenue,” Clark explained to OCC. “According to an OSU professor, Cannabis is larger than the top 5 Oregon agricultural products... combined.” The U.S. Patent on cannabis in patent # US 6630507 B.
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MBank to Close Marijuana Business Accounts By Anthony Johnson MarijuanaPolitics.com In a big blow against Oregon cannabis businesses, Gresham-based MBank, one of the few banks openly doing business with the marijuana industry, announced that they will be closing all marijuana-related business accounts within the next few months. MBank made waves in Oregon and across the country when they announced that they would open accounts for the marijuana industry, then again when the bank ventured across state lines into Colorado and then once again when they abruptly shut down the Colorado experiment (raising the ire of Oregon Congressman Earl Blumenauer who suspected improper federal meddling). Portland Business Journal reports: “MBank entered the business to provide quality banking services to a growing but underserved industry. However, through our experience the past nine months as a pioneer in this new business sector, we determined the bank is not big enough to provide and support all of the compliance components required,” said MBank President and CEO Jef Baker in a prepared statement Denied checking and credit services, pot entrepreneurs are forced to handle large sums of cash, which is cumbersome to account for and alluring to thieves*** “We regret our exit from this business channel leaves them once again without banking services. This is not their failure or ours. It is yet another learning step as the banking and marijuana industry try to find solutions that work for all.”
It often seems that the cannabis law reform movement takes a step back every time we take a few steps forward. The momentum is clearly in our favor as polling and electoral victories across the nation demonstrate. However, it is a downer (man) that MBank is closing its cannabis accounts the day after United States Senator Ron Wyden announced that he was going to work with fellow Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley on banking reform at an historic press conference announcing that 280e tax reform bills would be filed in both the United States House and Senate. I really feel for the stateregulated cannabis businesses that thought they had found a good home with MBank, probably after suffering through several other bank account closures. The marijuana industry wants to do the right thing and come above board and pay taxes just like any other business, but that damn pesky federal law always has to interfere, hurting not only the cannabis industry, but the general public as well. Forcing marijuana businesses to carry large amounts of cash creates unnecessary danger and pushes good people underground. While this is just the latest step back, the cannabis law reform movement will soon take a few more steps forward and setbacks like this only motivate advocates to work even harder to fight for true equality for our industry and community.
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Recommendations On Marijuana Stocks: Warning, Buyer Beware! By Keith Mansur Oregon Cannabis Connection There is a new mantra going around the investment world, and its directly related to the blooming marijuana industry...Marijuana Stocks Are Risky Investments! This is based in sound and logical reasoning. Many, if not all, the marijuana stocks are microcap stocks, or penny stocks, and are cheap to buy. Shares are in the cents, not dollars, with some stocks trading for less than a penny. They are traded on the OTC market, or Over-The-Counter market, not on NYSE or NASDAQ as people are familiar with.
National News “I wouldn't touch any of the marijuana stocks in the market today.” Dan Dzombak, Motley Fool Contributor “If you really think marijuana will become legal, don't waste your time with pipsqueak penny stocks with no track record of success. Instead, think about the companies that will run away with the big prize.” Dan Caplinger, Motley Fool Contributor "I think the current population of so-called "marijuana stocks" are far too risky to warrant serious consideration.” George Budwell, Motley Fool Contributor
One investment blogger went so far as to say, “I told you so” in an article: “If you'd bought and held the [marijuana] pot penny stocks I was bashing this time last year instead of having bought the stocks I was recommending, you'd be down an average of 80%."
Now, don't get me wrong, there are legitimate businesses in these markets, most trying to get their value high enough to make the jump to the big boys marketplace, that marketplace everyone is familiar with that we just mentioned. But there are a lot of scams in these markets, as well. Probably more than a fair share. Since the market is volatile, bigger money investors can make a lot of money when stocks swing just a few cents. And, since marijuana is a volatile market already, it makes the marriage of the two a recipe for fraud and manipulation. “Pump and Dump” schemes abound, and numerous companies with no assets or revenue to speak of, but many “press releases” indicating upcoming investments or contracts in the works or “nearly finalized”. Recent commentary on the subject from trusted sources: “Only two Bloomberg pot stocks are rated by TheStreet Ratings and, unfortunately, neither is probably worth buying. In fact, they are so poorly rated, that even at the low prices at which they are available, if you own them, you should sell them.” TheStreet.com “The con artists behind marijuana stock scams may try to entice investors with optimistic and potentially false and misleading information that in turn creates unwarranted demand for shares of small, thinly traded companies that often have little or no history of financial success.” Investors Place “But just because marijuana stocks and the business of getting high are moving into the mainstream, that doesn’t mean that these businesses are good investments.” The Slant
Cannabis Connection
Smart Tips- To avoid potential marijuana-related stock scams: FINRA Warning about Marijuana Stock Scams (on www.finra.org/investors/alerts/marijuanastockscams) Risk of Prosecution for MarijuanaRelated Companies. If you are considering investing in a company that is connected to the marijuana industry, be aware that marijuanarelated companies may be at risk of federal, and perhaps state, criminal prosecution.
Ask: "Why me?" Why would a total stranger tell you about a really great investment opportunity? The answer is there likely is no true opportunity. In many scams, those who promote the stock are corporate insiders, paid promoters or substantial shareholders who profit handsomely if the company's stock price goes up. Consider the source. It's easy for companies or their promoters to make exaggerated claims about lucrative
contracts, the company's revenue, profits or future stock price. Be skeptical about companies that issue a barrage of press releases and promotions in a short period of time. The objective may be to pump up the stock price. Likewise, be wary of information that only focuses on a stock's upside with no mention of risk.
Do your research. Search the names of key corporate officials and major stakeholders, as well as the company itself. Proceed with caution if you turn up recent indictments or convictions, investigative articles, corporate name changes or any other information that raises red flags. For example, the CEO of one thinly traded, yet heavily touted, company that purports to be in the medical marijuana business spent nine years in prison for operating one of the largest drug smuggling operations in U.S. history. The former CEO of a similar company was recently indicted for his role in a multi-million dollar mortgage-based Ponzi scheme. Check the Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator to determine if a solicitation is coming from someone who has served time in a federal prison. Many states also have similar prisoner locator systems. Know where the stock trades. Most unsolicited spam recommendations involve stocks that do not trade
on The NASDAQ Stock Market (NASDAQ OMX), the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE Euronext) or other registered national securities exchanges. Instead, these stocks may be quoted on an over-the-counter (OTC) quotation platform like the FINRA-operated Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board (OTCBB) and the platform operated by OTC Markets Group, Inc. Generally, there are no minimum quantitative standards that a company must meet to have its securities quoted in the OTC market. Many of the securities quoted in the OTC market don't have a liquid market. They're infrequently traded and can move up or down in price substantially from one trade to the next. This may make it difficult to sell your security at a later date.
Read a company's SEC filings, if available. Most public companies file reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Check the SEC's EDGAR database to find out whether the company files with the SEC. Read the reports and verify any information you have heard about the company. How do you make sure a investment opportunity is a good one? Do your research. There are no guarantees, for sure. The risk level is high and suspicion should be your first reaction. Another consideration, in the end, might be the federal governments attitude toward marijuana businesses. After all, they still have it listed ion the Controlled Substances Act, and marijuana businesses are in possible danger of prosecution. Also, the IRS is still making it very difficult for marijuana businesses to operate. In insert on right are some pointers from FINRA – Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (on www.finra.org/investors/alerts/marijuana-stockscams):
Remember that just because a company has registered its securities or has filed reports with the SEC does not mean it will be a good investment—or the right fit for you. Also, be aware that not all financial information filed with the SEC, or published elsewhere, is independently audited. Unaudited financials are just that—not reviewed by an independent third party. Be wary of frequent changes to a company's name or business focus. Name changes and the potential for manipulation often go hand in hand. One low-priced stock now claiming to be in the medical marijuana business has had four name changes in the past 1 0 years. Another company switched from the coffee business to focus "on the rapidly emerging medical marijuana industries." Name changes can turn up in company press releases, internet searches and, if the company files periodic reports, in the SEC's EDGAR database. Check out the person selling the stock or investment. A legitimate investment salesperson must be properly licensed, and his or her firm must be registered with FINRA, the SEC and a state securities regulator—depending on the type of business the firm conducts. To check the background of a broker or investment adviser, use FINRA's BrokerCheck. You can also call your state securities regulator. When using BrokerCheck, research the name of the person who contacted you, as well as the name of the firm they claim to work for. Verify the caller's identity using the phone number on the firm's website or in a publicly available telephone directory.
Cannabis Connection
National News Nugs Arizona Felons on Parole Can Use Medical Marijuana Johnny Green – The Weed Blog People that are on probation or parole should still be allowed to use legal medicine. Just because someone is in the criminal justice system doesn’t mean that they don’t suffer from various
National News The law allows those with glaucoma, cancer and spastic quadriplegia who receive a recommendation from a physician to possess and use medical cannabis, but they will not be allowed to smoke their medication. They will be limited to non-combustion methods, including vaporizers, tinctures and edibles. The law allows for ten distribution locations across the state, providing limited but safe access for patients. The law leaves a lot to be desired, but it may help many that can get relief. Hopefully it's the start of a better system for Louisiana residents.
Puerto Rico's Governor Legalizes Medical Marijuana By Keith Mansur – OCC Puerto Rico Governor Alejandro García Padilla signed an executive order on Sunday, May 3, which legalized medical marijuana use. The order will put an end to the prosecution of medical use of marijuana on the island. Their press release cited many U.S. States that have legalized the medicine.
conditions or ailments. Marijuana is a proven form of medicine, and if someone qualifies for a medical marijuana program to use it, they should be allowed to do so. To prevent someone from using medical marijuana, while on probation or parole or otherwise, is non-compassionate. Colorado’s Legislature and Governor agree, which is why they recently passed House Bill 1267.
Effective immediately, the order authorizes the Commonwealth’s Health Department Secretary to allow the medical use of “some or all controlled substances or components of the cannabis plant.” As a result of this move, marijuana will change in it's regulatory status from a prohibited controlled substance to medicine, and will be subject to taxation.
Per The Joint Blog: Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper has signed House Bill 1267 into law, allowing those on probation or parole to use medical cannabis.
“At some point in time, a court may decide this status to be unconstitutional,” Judge Mueller said from the bench. “But this is not the court and not the time.” Defense counsel intends to appeal the ruling. In October, defense counsel and experts presented evidence over a five-day period arguing that the scientific literature is not supportive of the plant’s present categorization. Lawyers for the federal government countered that it is rational for the government to maintain the plant’s prohibitive status as long as there remains any dispute among experts in regard to its safety and efficacy. Defense counsel — attorneys Zenia Gilg and Heather Burke of the NORML Legal Committee — further contended that the federal law prohibiting Justice Department officials from interfering with the facilitation of the regulated distribution of cannabis in over 20 US states can not be reconciled with the government’s continued insistence that the plant is deserving of its Schedule I status under federal law. “The continued Schedule I classification of cannabis, in 2015, in self-evidently ridiculous. But unfortunately, the law may be ridiculous and still pass constitutional muster,” Said Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director. “The judge in this case missed a golden opportunity to demand that federal law comport with available science, public opinion, and common sense.” Her written opinion, and other documents from the case, are all available at
Although medical cannabis has been legal in Colorado since voters approved Amendment 20 in 2000, the use of the medicine while on probation or parole has remained prohibited. House Bill 1267, which takes effect immediately, changes that.
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCOURTScaed-2_11-cr-00449/content-detail.
This is a common sense move by the State of Colorado. Colorado joins Arizona and Rhode Island in allowing those that are on probation or parole to use medical marijuana. This will help countless numbers of people in Colorado, who might otherwise turn to much more harmful substances in an attempt to mask their conditions. I really hope more states follow suit, including my home state, Oregon.
Washington Group Is Challenging New Medical Marijuana Law
© 2015 The Weed Blog. Reprinted by permission
Louisiana Will Likely Get Medical Marijuana, But No Smoking Allowed By Keith Mansur - OCC The Louisiana House of Representatives passed the final version of a medical marijuana bill which had already made it through both the state's legislative houses with amendments. The bill will be sent to Governor Bobby Jindal's desk for his signature. He is expected to sign the bill into law.
© 2015 NORML. Reprinted by permission
“These studies support the use of cannabis to ease the pain of multiple sclerosis, HIV, glaucoma, Alzheimer, migraines, Parkinson’s disease, and other illnesses that often don’t respond to traditional treatment,” said Padilla
Federal Judge Upholds Schedule I Classification Of Cannabis by Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director On April 15th, a federal judge denied a motion challenging the constitutionality of cannabis’ classification as a Schedule I prohibited substance without any accepted medical utility. Judge Kimberly J. Mueller of the Federal District Court in Sacramento, California issued her oral ruling during a 15-minute court hearing April 15th. Judge Mueller heard closing arguments in the case in early February but had postponed her decision on several occasions.
By Johnny Green - The Weed Blog. Last month Washington’s Governor Jay Inslee signed Senate Bill 5052 into law. SB 5052 made a lot of changes to Washington’s long established medical marijuana program. Some of those changes included:
Page 15 Requires every medical cannabis dispensary in the state to close by July 1st, 2016 forcing patients to purchase from recreational cannabis outlets. Reducing patient possession limits from twenty ounces, to three, and their cultivation limits from fifteen plants, to six. Patients caught possessing between three and twenty four ounces, or caught growing between seven and fifteen plants will be committing class C felonies and could be imprisoned for up to 5 years. Patients will be required to join a patient database, or only be allowed to possess an ounce, and cultivate four plants.
A group in Washington is hoping to challenge the new law in the form of a citizen’s referendum. Per Marijuana Business Daily: A Washington State group is looking to challenge newly minted regulations that roll the state’s medical marijuana market into its heavily regulated recreational cannabis program. The group hopes to gather enough signatures to get a referendum in front of voters that would unravel the new law. A spokesman for the proposal – dubbed Referendum 76 – said the regulations limit access for patients who use MMJ to treat various ailments. The new law – which the governor signed April 27 – will essentially eliminate the state’s mostly unregulated medical marijuana industry and force existing MMJ businesses to get licenses under the recreational cannabis program or close down.
Senate Bill 5052 is rough for Washington medical marijuana patients, and medical marijuana industry members to say the least. I’m curious to see how many medical marijuana dispensaries stay open anyways. That’s what is happening in California, and for a long time happened in Oregon before Oregon passed a comprehensive medical marijuana dispensary bill. With prices still very high at recreational stores, I’d imagine more patients will go to the black market than convert to purchasing recreational marijuana in the event that there is a massive wave of dispensary closures across the state. © 2015 The Weed Blog. Reprinted by permission
National News
Page 16
Latin America Backing Away From Drug War
In Historic Vote, Senate Appropriations Committee Approves Veterans Medical Marijuana Amendment
By Keith Mansur Oregon Cannabis Connection In a recent NY Times article, Latin American Allies Resist U.S. Strategy in Drug Fight, William Neuman and Simon Romero pointed out the widening gap between U.S. Drug policy and the policies of many Latin American countries. After years of fighting the drug war along side the United States, many of these countries have grown weary and have begun looking for other solutions. Two years ago Bolivia kicked the United States Drug Enforcement Administration out of their country and then Uruguay, under the leadership of their dynamic President Jose Mujica, decided to legalize marijuana. Most recently, Columbia has halted aerial spraying of coca, the plant used to make cocaine, much to the dismay of American drug enforcement officials.
From DrugPolicy.org
Image: wikimedia commons
With South America being a major producer of numerous drugs, the war has taken its toll, as the NY Times reported further: “The cost in blood and treasure from the drug war has been overwhelming,” said Bruce M. Bagley, a specialist on the Latin American drug trade at the University of Miami. “Leaders are looking at the militarized approach and saying they don’t want 40 more years of Colombian-like policies.”
Of course, the American response was barely noteworthy, glossing over the end of a long time strategy in the drug war. As the NY Times reported further:
Image: Sensiseeds.com
“I believe we’re at a transition point right now,” said William R. Brownfield, the American assistant secretary of state for international narcotics and law enforcement affairs.
“For the first time in 40 years, there is significant pushback from Latin American countries, which endured much of the drug war’s suffering,” Paul Gootenberg explained in the NY Times article.
As former American ambassador to Colombia, he spoke in favor of the coca spraying program before the Colombian government’s decision to end it. But he also said that the dialogue on drug policy in Latin America was a positive development.
The long accepted layman's definition of “crazy” was one of the reasons these nations have lost interest in the American approach to the drug war. Yesid Reyes, the justice minister in Colombia, explained in the article, “If you use the same tools for 50 years and the problem isn’t solved, something is not working right.”
“We are effectively in the middle of this discussion,” Mr. Brownfield said. “We should be talking about considering and where appropriate adopting moderate and reasonable reforms to international drug control policy.”
In April, Mr. Reyes gave a speech at the United Nations in New York where he urged a new approach on the drug war be adopted, including decriminalization. But, Columbia has made no legislative more to do so, yet. In the end, the reasons given for stopping the spraying were over health concerns. The government explained that there are indications that the chemicals used could cause cancer in humans. One of the most convincing factors is the death toll.
Cannabis Connection
The Senate Appropriations Committee passed a bipartisan amendment today, 18 to 12, allowing Veterans Administration (VA) doctors to recommend medical marijuana to their patients in states where medical marijuana is legal. The vote is the first time the U.S. Senate has ever moved marijuana law reform legislation forward. “Veterans in medical marijuana states should be treated the same as any other resident, and should be able to discuss marijuana with their doctor and use it if it’s medically necessary,” said Michael Collins, policy manager for the Drug Policy Alliance. “They have served this country valiantly, so the least we can do is allow them to have full and open discussions with their doctors.” The Veterans Equal Access Amendment was sponsored by Republican Senator Steve Daines of Montana and Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon. It was added in committee to a must-pass military construction and veterans affairs spending bill. The bill is certain to pass on the Senate floor. “Veterans see this victory as a major step forward in restoring our first amendment rights within the VA,” said TJ Thompson, a disabled Navy veteran. “This will allow for a safe, open dialogue between providers and patients, and allows veterans to be treated the same as any other patient.” Currently, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) specifically prohibits its medical providers from completing forms brought by their patients seeking recommendations or opinions regarding participation in a state medical marijuana program. The Daines / Merkley amendment authorizes VA physicians and other health care providers to provide recommendations and opinions regarding the use of medical marijuana to veterans who live in medical marijuana states. In 2002, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed in Conant v. Walters the right of physicians to recommend medical marijuana, regardless of its illegality under federal law, as well as the right of patients to receive accurate information. The Daines / Merkley amendment supports that first amendment right and restores a healthy doctor-patient relationship. There are numerous federal healthcare programs besides the VA such as Medicaid, Medicare, and CHIP – but only the VA prohibits physicians from discussing and recommending medical marijuana to their patients. A Medicare patient may freely discuss medical marijuana use with her doctor,
Image: senate.gov
while a returning veteran is denied the same right. Studies have shown that medical marijuana can help treat post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury, illnesses typically suffered by veterans. A 2014 study of people with PTSD showed a greater than 75% reduction in severity of symptoms when patients were using marijuana to treat their illness, compared to when they were not. Last year the U.S. House voted five times in favor of letting states set their own marijuana policies. One of the amendments, prohibiting the Justice Department from spending any money in Fiscal Year 2015 undermining state medical marijuana laws, made it into the final spending bill signed into law by President Obama. Advocates of the veterans amendment believe it has a very good chance of making it into the final military construction spending bill that President Obama signs. A legislative version of the Daines / Merkley amendment was included in groundbreaking Senate medical marijuana legislation introduced in March. The Compassionate Access, Research Expansion and Respect States (CARERS) Act is the first-ever bill in the U.S. Senate to legalize marijuana for medical use and the most comprehensive medical marijuana bill ever introduced in Congress. The bill was introduced by Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Rand Paul (R-KY), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and generated enormous interest. With the Appropriations Committee approving one element in the bill, supporters say it is time for the Senate Judiciary Committee to hold hearings on the full bill. “The politics around marijuana have shifted in recent years, yet Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley hasn’t held a hearing on the issue,” said Bill Piper, director of national affairs for the Drug Policy Alliance. “We will move the CARERS Act piece by piece if we have to but now is the time for the Senate to hold a hearing on the bill as a whole.”
Cannabis Connection
Medical News
Page 17
Feds Admit Medical MJ Works On Brain Tumors
But, they’re going after users anyway
Our recurring column from Cheryl Smith, Former Executive Director of Compassion Center in Eugene, Oregon. Cheryl is also Chair of the State Advisory Committee on Medical Marijuana.
Cannabis & Intracranial Hypertension Intracranial hypertension (ICH), previously known as pseudotumor cerebri, is a neurological condition in which the pressure of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) within the skull is too high. The cause or causes are unknown, but it is most frequently found in women who are overweight or obese. Symptoms include headache, tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and visual problems. Pressure on the optic nerve can ultimately lead to vision loss. The condition is diagnosed through review of symptoms, MRI or CAT scan, and lumbar puncture. Some patients have found that lumbar puncture, which removes spinal fluid for analysis, causes their symptoms to decrease or temporarily go away because the loss of CSF lowers the pressure. Current treatments include oral diuretics, drugs to decrease production of CSF, certain antidepressants, opiates for pain, and, in some cases, placement of a shunt to remove the excess CSF. Changes in diet—to include anti-diuretic foods, avoid processed foods and lower salt intake—and weight loss can also lead to remission. Patients have also had some success with increased exercise, and one patient reported that wrapping a scarf firmly around the temples for 15 minutes provides some relief. As far back as 1895, cannabis indica was mentioned as treatment for ICH.
By Tom Boggioni
Guy’s Hospital Gazette, Vol. 6, noted this use, although its effectiveness was not mentioned. In Practice of Medicine, Vol 2 (1901), by George Alexander Gibson, cannabis was discussed as a pain reliever in cases of ICH. In a related area, a retrospective study published in 2014 found that patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) who had marijuana in their system had a better chance of survival. Researchers hypothesized that because THC decreases inflammation and swelling, it may help control intracranial pressure. In addition, the pain control it provides may also help. Cheryl K. Smith is a medical marijuana advocate and freelance writer. She is a director of Compassionate Oregon, chair of the Advisory Committee on Medical Marijuana (ACMM) and a recovering attorney.
In a report issued by a U.S. governmentfunded research group tasked with studying drug abuse and addiction, researchers are admitting that marijuana is useful in killing off specific types of brain tumors. The report — coming from a governmentbacked group with annual budget of over $1 billion — arrives at an awkward time for the administration following an announcement by the Department of Justice this week that it will continue to prosecute medical marijuana cases against individuals in defiance of Congress. According to the Daily Caller, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) issued a revised report for the month of April, stating, “recent animal studies have shown that marijuana can kill certain cancer cells and reduce the size of others. Evidence from one animal study suggests that extracts from whole-plant marijuana can shrink one of the most serious types of brain tumors. Research in mice showed that these extracts, when used with radiation, increased the cancer-killing effects of the radiation.” The NIDA report reflects research reported in November last year in the Molecular Cancer Therapies journal. While one government agency is admitting the benefits of marijuana in medical treatments, the Justice Department is pushing forward with prosecuting medical marijuana users. In December, Congress added an amendment
to a spending bill ordering the Justice Department to not inhibit states where medical marijuana is legal from implementing their laws. In a statement on Wednesday, spokesman Patrick Rodenbush said the Justice Department does not believe the amendment applies to cases against individuals or organizations. Justice Department officials believe the amendment only stops the department from “impeding the ability of states to carry out their medical marijuana laws,” and can still go after users. Writing at the Huffington Post , Drug Policy Alliance Director of National Affairs, Bill Piper, chastised the Justice Department, saying they are defying the will of the voters. “Currently, 23 states and the District of Columbia have laws that legalize and regulate marijuana for medicinal purposes. And 12 states have laws on the books regulating cannabidiol (CBD) oils, a non-psychotropic component of medical marijuana which some parents are utilizing to treat their children’s seizures, ” he wrote, adding “Four states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana for non-medical use.” “The Justice Department is ignoring the will of the voters, defying Congress, and breaking the law. President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder need to rein in this out-of-control agency,” he said, calling on Congress to change federal drugs law allowing states to be free to set their own marijuana policies without federal interference.
Medical News
Page 18
Botanicals and Cannabis By Brie Malarkey, Breeze Botanicals Knowledge is key. As an herbalist and lover of natural foods I’ve embraced modern research and testing in an effort to learn more about both medicinal and nutritive plants that folklore has guided us towards for generations. Having a modern day understanding for the plants that surround us while remembering popular myths brings balance in the modern era of “Trust your doctor! Swallow this pill and these five other pills for all your side effects.” Too often we are encouraged to believe in the products bigpharma produces and ignore traditional healers...not to mention our instincts. I believe knowing where your foods and medicines come from, while at the same time understanding their constituents, will lead to a healthier and more empowered society. Take garlic for example. We’ve all heard wives’ tales about the pungent bulb, but we’re also used to seeing this disclaimer, “Medicinal use of this product has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)." However, this old Welsh saying may indeed have merit as a health remedy: “Eat leeks in March and garlic in May, Then the rest of the year, your doctor can play.” Further south, Italians during the early 20th century sent their children to school wearing necklaces made of garlic cloves to prevent them from catching colds. Though this practice made them rather unpopular, it did keep them healthy. In 2009 researchers found that the organic compound, allicin - which gives garlic its aroma and flavor - acts as a powerful antioxidant. Over this past spring break researchers in London confirmed that a thousand-year-old Anglo-Saxon potion for eye infections, that includes garlic, may hold the key to wiping out the modern-day superbug MRSA, a type of staph bacterium that does not respond to commonly used antibiotic treatments. Looks like some really old wives’ tales work after all, but the FDA has not changed their stance on the health benefits of garlic. The same story is true of many other healing herbs that grow in Oregon, including cannabis. Often demonized this plant has amazing healing properties. In fact, the use of cannabis for purposes of healing predates recorded history. However, we can now crossreference historical uses of the plant with modern research and specific batch tests to help guide patients in making medical cannabis choices. Despite the FDA not approving, Breeze Botanicals is on a quest in our dispensaries to find the right strains of medical marijuana to help people address specific symptoms. This drive is behind our rigid testing requirements at both our locations in Gold Hill and Ashland, Oregon. It’s important to work hard, on our customers behalf, to find the strains that contain the cannabinoids and terpinoids that modern studies are pinpointing as effective at helping some people address muscle tension vs. another person’s desire to treat chronic pain vs. yet another person’s need for help with glaucoma.
Most medical marijuana patients know that cannabis can contain any of some 85 classes of cannabinoids, but having access to in-depth testing is hard to come by. The two most studied and well known of these are THC and CBD. These two are the only ones the State of Oregon currently requires a dispensary to test for, yet others like the non-psychoactive cannabinoid cannabigerol (CBG) have shown great promise for medical applications. CBG is known to reduce ocular pressure and increase the fluid drainage from the eye, making it ideal for helping those who suffer from glaucoma. CBG also inhibits the uptake of a chemical in our brain called GABA, causing relaxation of the muscles and a reduction in anxiety. Studies have shown it acts as an antidepressant, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and as an anti-fungal. We take these studies, along with the anecdotal reports, and help guide patients in exploring very specific batches of cannabis. One way we do this is by requiring extra cannabinoid and terpene testing on all flowers. Although expensive, we have found
Cannabis Connection
Myth: Marijuana is a Dangerous Drug By Dale Gieringer, Ph.D., Director, California NORML Any discussion of marijuana should begin with the fact that there have been numerous official reports and studies, every one of which has concluded that marijuana poses no great risk to society and should not be criminalized. These include: the National Academy of Sciences' "Analysis of Marijuana Policy"(1982); the National Commission on Marihuana and Drug Abuse (the Shafer Report) (1973); the Canadian Government's Commission of Inquiry (Le Dain Report) (1970); the British Advisory Committee on Drug Dependency (Wooton Report) (1968); the La Guardia Report (1944); the Panama Canal Zone Military Investigations (1916-29); and Britain's monumental Indian Hemp Drugs Commission (1893-4). It used to be claimed that there is "new evidence" showing marijuana is more harmful than was thought in the sixties. More recent studies have confirmed marijuana's safety, refuting claims that it causes birth defects, brain damage, reduced testosterone, or increased drug abuse problems. Some studies even suggest that the active ingredients in the plant, know as cannabinoids, have anticarcinogenic, anti-oxidant, and neuroprotective properties (see "Emerging Clincial Applications for Cannabis and Cannabinoids" by NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano).
that one growers strain is not the same as another growers strain of the same name. We have found that various clones, cuttings from the same mother plant, will have a propensity to produce a certain terpene profile, but ultimately vary widely based on growing conditions. Therefore we look at total test results for each individual batch to help determine potential medicinal benefits. Patients, herbalists, and scientists now have an opportunity to look at the myths around cannabis and evaluate that against modern findings just like we have done more recently with garlic. Lore might tell us that an indica cannabis strain may be more sedating and provide for a body high where as sativa tends to be more uplifting, but when we go beyond those names and evaluate the specific batches constituents we have a better guess as to how a patient may be effected. It’s all about the healing properties of the plants around us - remembering the old-wives’ tales and myths along side modern science and studies to help us understand the plants that we can embrace to help us through life. It’s about taking our own healing into our own hands and learning more about ourselves in relation to the natural world. Brie Malarkey, owner of Breeze Botanicals, has been working with botanical remedies for many years, and her combinations with cannabis are breaking new ground. Breeze Botanicals is an Oregon state licensed Medical Marijuana Dispensary embracing herbal supplements and medicines cultivated and wildcrafted in Southern Oregon. For more information on their products and processes, contact them at one of their two locations, 315 Second Ave Gold Hill OR. 97525 Ph: 541-855-8797 & 1526 Siskiyou Blvd, Ashland OR. 97520 Ph: 541-708-6446. email them at info@breezebotanicals.com or visit them online at www.breezebotanicals.com. © 2015 Breeze Botanicals. Used by permission.
The current consensus is well stated in the 20th annual report of the California Research Advisory Panel (1990), which recommended that personal use and cultivation of marijuana be legalized: "An objective consideration of marijuana shows that it is responsible for less damage to society and the individual than are alcohol and cigarettes." References: For an excellent summary of the true health facts about marijuana, see Lynn Zimmer and Dr. John Morgan, Marijuana Myths, Marijuana Facts: A Review of the Scientific Evidence (Lindesmith Center, NY, 1997). The National Academy of Sciences report, Marijuana and Health (National Academy Press, 1982) remains a good overview, its major conclusions remaining largely unaffected by two decades of research. Lovinger and Jones, The Marihuana Question (Dodd, Mead & Co., NY 1985) is the most exhaustive and fair-handed summary of the evidence against marijuana. Good, positive perspectives may be found in Lester Grinspoon's Marihuana, the Forbidden Medicine (Yale Press, 1993) and Marihuana Reconsidered (Harvard U. Press 1971), which debunks many of the older anti-pot myths. Myth: Marijuana is Harmless Just as most experts agree that occasional or moderate use of marijuana is innocuous, they also agree that excessive use can be harmful. Research shows that the two major risks of excessive marijuana use are: (1) respiratory disease due to smoking and (2) accidental injuries due to impairment. In addition, marijuana speeds the heartbeat, which can be dangerous for patients with serious heart disease. Recent studies have also shown that marijuana can aggravate symptoms of mental illness in persons with schizophrenic tendencies. At least four studies - in Australia, Sweden, New Zealand and the Netherlands have found that early, repeated use of cannabis is associated with exacerbation of schizophrenia in young patients so inclined (Source: British Medical Journal "Cannabis and Mental Health." 23 Nov 2002). The risks appear greatest for those who start smoking in early youth. Marijuana is therefore generally disrecommended for young persons with a tendency to mental disorder, though it may also occasionally be medically useful for treatment of certain schizophrenic symptoms. Marijuana and Smoking: A survey by the Kaiser Permanente Center found that daily marijuana-only smokers have a 19% higher rate of respiratory complaints than non-smokers[01] These findings were not unexpected, since it has long been known that, aside from its psychoactive ingredients, marijuana smoke contains virtually the same
toxic gases and carcinogenic tars as tobacco. Human studies have found that pot smokers suffer similar kinds of respiratory damage as tobacco smokers, putting them at greater risk of bronchitis, sore throat, respiratory inflammation and infections[02] For many years, it was assumed that marijuana, like tobacco, could also cause lung cancer. Some researchers had reported apparently pre-cancerous cell changes in pot smokers[03] Others reported a higher-thanexpected incidence of throat, neck and tongue cancer in younger, marijuana-only smokers [04]. although subsequent studies failed to confirm these results [04a]. Such concerns were dispelled by the first large-scale epidemiological study of marijuana smoking and lung cancer, conducted by a team of researchers led by Dr Donald Tashkin and Dr. Mia Hashibe at UCLA. After suveying 1,209 patients with lung, oral, and respiratory tract cancers, the team found no relation between marijuana smoking and cancer [05]. In one category - lung cancer among shortterm users - the study even found reduced cancer risk. The results were a surprise to Dr. Tashkin, a leading expert on smoking-related disease, who had previously warned that marijuana smoking would likely cause lung cancer. Dr. Tashkin now believes that marijuana smoking does not cause lung cancer. In another study, Harvard researchers found that THC inhibited the growth of lung cancer tumors in laboratory animals, evidently by blocking a growth factor that is known to promote small-cell lung cancers [05a]. These results have not entirely dispelled concerns about respiratory toxins in marijuana smoke. Fortunately, these hazards can be reduced by various strategies: (1) use of higher-potency cannabis, which can be smoked in smaller quantities, (2) use of vaporizers and other smoke reduction technologies[06] and (3) ingesting pot orally instead of smoking it. Myth: One Joint Equals One Pack (or 16, or maybe just 4) Cigarettes Some critics exaggerate the dangers of marijuana smoking by fallaciously citing a study by Dr. Tashkin which found that daily pot smokers experienced a "mild but significant" increase in airflow resistance in the large airways greater than that seen in persons smoking 16 cigarettes per day[07] What they ignore is that the same study examined other, more important aspects of lung health, in which marijuana smokers did much better than tobacco smokers. Dr. Tashkin himself disavows the notion that one joint equals 16 cigarettes. A more widely accepted estimate is that marijuana smokers consume four times as much carcinogenic tar as cigarettes smokers per weight smoked[08] This does not necessarily mean that one joint equals four cigarettes, since joints usually weigh less. In fact, the average joint has been estimated to contain 0.4 grams of pot, a bit less than onehalf the weight of a cigarette, making one joint equal to two cigarettes (actually, joint sizes range from cigar-sized spliffs smoked by Rastas, to very fine sinsemilla joints weighing as little as 0.2 grams). It should be noted that there is no exact equivalency between tobacco and marijuana smoking, because they affect different parts of the respiratory tract differently: whereas tobacco tends to penetrate to the smaller, peripheral passageways of the lungs, pot tends to concentrate on the larger, central passageways[09] One consequence of this is that pot, unlike tobacco, does not appear to cause emphysema. Myth: Prohibition Reduces the Harmfulness of Pot Smoking Whatever the risks of pot smoking, the current laws make matters worse in many respects. Paraphernalia laws have impeded the development and marketing of vaporizers and other devices that could significantly reduce the harmfulness of marijuana smoke. Prohibition encourages the sale of pot that has been contaminated or adulterated by insecticides, Paraquat, etc., or mixed with other drugs such as PCP, crack and heroin. Finally, of course, criminal punishment is itself more harmful to personal welfare than smoking marijuana.
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Medical cannabis consumption can be unpredictable, always start with a quarter serving and give it time. Effects can take up to an hour and sometimes longer. If you have doubts, you should contact a cannabis clinician about dosage.
Brenda's Jolly Candies By Brenda
Recipes
Ho Yeah Hummus! By "Mad Dog" Mansur Ingredients: 1 1 5oz. can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed 3 cloves garlic 1 /4 cup cannabis infused olive, may need more depending on consistency 1 large lemon, juiced 1 /2 teaspoon salt 1 /2 teaspoon pepper 1 /8 to 1 /4 teaspoon cumin
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Chocolate Chip Almond Shortbread
Greek Cheez Puffs By Dani B.
By R.A.
Ingredients:
Ingredients:
1 3oz. package cream cheese 1 /3 pound feta cheese 3 ounces gruyere cheese, grated 1 egg 2 tablespoons chopped parsley 5 sheets phyllo dough ( 1 4” x 20” ) ½ cup canna butter, melted
1 cup canna butter, softened 1 /2 cup sugar 2 1 /2 cup all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon almond extract 1 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
Ingredients:
Directions:
2 big boxes or 4 small boxes of Jello® gelatine, any flavor Exact amount of sugar as Jello® 1 cup light corn syrup 8 tablespoons canna butter or 8 tablespoons butter plus 1 /4 cup keif Powdered sugar You will need a candy thermometer
Beat cream cheese and feta cheese together in mixing bowl. Mix in the gruyere. Add the egg and beat until blended. Mix in parsley. Lay out 1 sheet of phyllo dough and brush with canna butter; cut into approximately 3 inch strips at 1 4” long. Directions: Directions: Drain and rinse the garbanzo beans and put in a food processor. Add garlic, lemon juice, salt, pepper and cumin. Process while drizzling canna-infused olive oil into the processor until you reach your desired consistency. You want a smooth texture but not too loose. You don't want it soupy.
Directions: Spray large cookie sheet with a cooking spray. Mix all ingredients in a large saucepan. Cook On high until candy thermometer reaches 305ºF (hard crack stage). Remove from heat and carefully pour into cookie sheet. Let cool at room temperature. Crack into pieces and dip into powdered sugar to keep from sticking together. Enjoy!
Spoon into dish and drizzle with a bit more olive oil. Serve with fresh veggies or crackers.
Heat oven to 350° F. Grease 1 3x9x2-inch baking pan. In large mixer bowl, beat canna butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add flour and almond extract; blend well. Stir in mini chocolate chips; pat into prepared pan. Bake 30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 1 0 minutes. Cut into bars and then continue to cool completely in the pan. Store in airtight container.
Put one heaping teaspoon of cheese filling onto the corner of one end of the phyllo srip. Fold over to make a triangle and continue folding like a flag, to the end of the strip. Continue to do this to all the strips and repeat the process for the other 4 sheets of phyllo dough. Place on ungreased baking sheet and bake at 375° F for about 1 0 minutes or until puffed and golden. Let cool before eating. You can also freeze for an anytime snack. Just reheat frozen puffs in 375° oven for about 1 0 minutes. Makes about 30 puffs.
Variations: Try some roasted garlic and herbs
(i.e., oregano, thyme, or basil) or perhaps sundried tomatoes. Note: Start with about a quarter cup per serving and allow some time to feel the effects of the cannabis. Warning, this hummus is so good, you'll want to keep eating it, but don't! A good idea is to make two batches. One medicated, one nonmedicated so you can keep on dipping.
Where Will You Find: Local Oregon News, National News, Medical Information, Recipes, Cultivation Tips, Local 420 Friendly Businesses ?
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Page 20
Growing with Good Earth
Microbes
By Roach The Good Earth Organics Are synthetic products a better performing substitute for organic products? In the case of sheer nutrient availability synthetics have a clear edge. Synthetic nutrients are faster release and more available than their organic counterparts. Certainly if you need immediate nutrient right now synthetics should be your choice, but there are many benefits of organic products that synthetics simply cannot substitute. This is especially true with microbial products, a class of organic products I preach even if someone is a die hard synthetic feeder. Synthetic nutrients and such can do SOME of the jobs microbes perform in a natural environment, but scientists are still learning about all the critical rolls micro flora and fauna play in a plants life cycle. Did you know the fungal and bacterial organisms that live symbiotically with plants have evolved with them from the time plants moved from water to land? There are even records of mycorrhizae fossils on plants roots 400 million years ago! Due to the side-by-side evolution of plants and microbes together there are a myriad of benefits microbes can provide our plants that cannot be supplied through any synthetic system. These benefits range from nutrient and water fixation, to phytohormonal production and even plant protection from pests and diseases. Although it's hard to imagine a product that could continuously work in the soil controlling multiple systems on your plants behalf, this is precisely what microbial products do. In this two-part Growing With Good Earth we're going to talk about a few products I'll be using this year that have good value in relation to its benefit. We'll also talk about some of the super star microbes in each product and why they're so important. Just for fun lets tackle each product in the chronological order in which they would be used. The first is Azos, an Xtreme Gardening速 product. Azos is the concentrated bacteria Azospirillum brasilense. Although there are
Cultivation
mixed with other beneficial organisms but because those products are almost always in a powder or micronized form I prefer to just use the granular products without other microbes. Micronized microbial blending isn't so much of an issue with bacterial organisms but when it comes to fungal organisms stay away from the powders if you can.
portions of A. brasilense contained in many other products, Azos has a crazy concentration of only A. brasilense and I think it's an important enough role player in plant development that the stand alone Azos product makes sense. A. brasilense is a very well studied bacteria used all over the world as a cloning and planting inoculant for many types of crops, and we have seen first hand its efficacy in relation to Cannabis. Cloning success rates increase and time to popping roots decrease when root cubes are saturated with Azos prior to inserting fresh cuts. We've also observed increased growth rate, better color and resistance to transplant stress when spoonfuls of Azos are sprinkled in transplant holes. Cannabis benefits from being watered with Azos at anytime throughout the vegetative process, as well, because A. brasilense is a master at fixing nitrogen from the atmosphere and making it available to roots. As if all this benefit wasn't enough A. brasilense also produces a hormonal like substance that greatly increases root growth which is why it works so well as a rooting additive. I would discontinue use of Azos 2 weeks to 1 month before flower because we don't really want it fixing nitrogen or encouraging our plants to develop roots during transition and bloom. Avoid doing large vegetative feedings heavy in Nitrogen soon after inoculating with a product like Azos because when in the presence of water soluble nitrogen A. brasilense and other N fixing bacteria populations decrease. This isn't because nitrogen hurts them, but rather that A. brasilense, and other N fixers, feed on the plant exudates that are intended to mobilize nitrogen. Roots exude much less of those carbohydrate and acid complexes that serve as bacteria food when in the presence of water soluble N, since the plant is getting the nutrient it needs from its normal water uptake and not seeking more. Mycorrhizal fungi is another no-brainer at the time of transplant. It's so critical to some plants life cycle that rooting without mycorrhizae is impossible for them. Mycorrhizal fungi encases or penetrates plants roots, basically, parasitizing them for their secretions. In return, mycorrhizae helps to protect plants and assist them in mobilizing water, phosphorus and other non soluble nutrients. There are many strains of mycorrhizal fungi sold under many different trade names and product lines all falling under two main types: endomycorrhizae and ectomycorrhizae.
Cannabis Connection
Technically the differences between the two are that ectomycorrhizae does not actually penetrate the individual cells of the root and associates better with conifer trees whereas endomycorrhizae does penetrate the root and associates better with leafy green annuals like Cannabis. Glomus Intradices and Glomus Mossae are the two endomycorrhizae strains most beneficial to Cannabis, however there isn't currently a product on the market with only these two strains that I'm aware of. The manufacturers of mycorrhizal fungi say that the active population in granular products is more viable because fungal organisms are large and can actually be destroyed by the process of micronizing. There are products that have mycorrhizal fungi
Similar to the way A. brasilense behaves in the presence of water soluble nitrogen, mycorrhizae populations will decrease in the presence of as little as 30-50ppm of water soluble phosphorus so avoid big feedings after inoculation. If you can get your hands on the Mycorrhizal Applications Myco Apply or the Mykos granular products you'll be getting a good product at a good value. My friends at MycoFusion would be very upset if I didn't also mention their very effective, albeit spendy, product line if you have the dough. Tactics on applying mycorrhizal fungi vary but most of my customers apply up to 1/4lb of the granular at the time of transplant and then use the wettable powder in late July to early August to prepare the plants for the task of mobilizing phosphorus before bloom. To be continued next issue...
Cannabis Connection
Top Ten Rookie Mistakes To Avoid When Growing Marijuana From Robert Bergman ILoveGrowingMarijuana.com Beginners have a long history of messing things up. There’s a learning curve to just about every activity, and growing marijuana is no different. People who have been growing weed for 20 years are naturally going to be a lot better at it than those who have just decided to start. But, most newbies might be dissuaded from trying it because they fear humiliation or failure. Just remember the wise words of Wayne Gretzky: “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” Gretzky, however, had very little to say about growing marijuana, so we’ve compiled this list of common mistakes that novice growers should avoid.
1. Don’t talk to anyone about it. We’ve said it
before and we’ll say it again: talking about growing marijuana is a no go. Anyone, even a good friend, could be a potential snitch. Keep it to yourself, even now that it is legal.
2. Window growing won’t cut it most of the
time. Despite the fact that the best source of light for any plant is the sun, growing them indoors and using the window as your only light source is a bad way to go. Marijuana plants need as much light as you can give them. While it might be cheaper to just try to use the sun, it won’t be effective. Buy lights if you’re growing indoors.
3. Be prepared. Growing marijuana comes with a lot of vagaries that can leave you feeling overwhelmed. There are also plenty of things that you should just be prepared for. The plants need water, nutrients, light, and CO2 (not exactly in that order). But, plants can also be hit with a bug infestation, lack of nutrient quality, and inadequate amounts of CO2. Make sure you have a contingency plan ready in the event that the plants start to exhibit negative signs.
4. Use the right fertilizer. Many beginners might just grab any old fertilizer at the garden store. While the plants will grow, they won’t thrive like you want them to. Most fertilizers have an NPK ratio conveniently displayed on the bag or other packaging. This isn’t just another irrelevant mathematical term, though. It describes the concentration of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) in relation to one another. For every growth period (excluding flowering), you’ll want to use a fertilizer that is higher in nitrogen than anything else. During flowering, the fertilizer should have more phosphorous. 5. Just because the soil is natural doesn’t mean it will work. Many new marijuana growers
Cultivation automatically think that any outdoor soil will provide ample nutrients for their plants. In reality, that soil could be nothing more than glorified dirt. It could also be too acidic or too alkaline and won’t even help germinate the seeds properly. When growing outdoors, always infuse the soil with some fertilizer or other potting mix. Also, make sure to test the pH balance to ensure that it’s as close to the middle (7.0) as possible.
6. Be active. As you might have already
guessed, growing marijuana is not a passive expenditure of your time. These plants need to be cared for almost like they are your children (however ridiculous that might sound). They have remarkably short lifespans from germination to harvest, but you can’t just plant them and hope for the best. Trim them, prune them, feed them, water them, pamper them, and make sure they’re getting enough light, CO2, and ventilation.
7. Don’t let the plants get rootbound. One thing
that many beginners might not know is that marijuana roots grow incredibly fast. When they are in a container, the roots generally line the walls of that container and reach to the bottom. If the container is too small, they can get rootbound. They will also die. Make sure you (carefully) transplant the plants from smaller containers into larger ones after they’ve exhibited some accelerated growth (from seedling to vegetative state).
8. Don’t get crazy with pruning. You may have heard that pruning a plant increases growth. You may have also heard that more pruning correlated to further growth. While that can be true, there’s no need to prune down an entire marijuana plant. You’ll just end up weakening it and potentially killing it if you go too far.
9. Don’t panic. Most of the problems that occur
with plants are the result of easily reversible mistakes. For instance, if some of the leaves start to turn yellow and the plant starts to wilt, it could just be lacking in one particular nutrient. Some leaves on the plant will also just die either because of a lack of light or because of natural processes. In general, it’s not indicative of a greater problem throughout the plant.
10. Read, read and read. The more knowledge you have, the less mistakes you will make. And most of the mistakes are made by somebody else before, so learn from them. Our free marijuana grow bible is a good way to start, with over 50 pages illustrated with 100 pictures. Want to know more about growing marijuana? Check out the FREE book Marijuana Plant Care for more information! www.ilovegrowingmarijuana.com/download -free-e-book-marijuana-plant-care/
Page 21
Page 22
Myths
Cont. from Pg. 18 patients in Baltimore found that fully 34.7% were under the influence of marijuana, more even than alcohol (33.5%); half of these (16.5% used both pot and alcohol in combination[11] This is perhaps the most troublesome research ever reported about marijuana; as we shall see, the overwhelming majority of accident studies have found pot to be less dangerous than alcohol. Nonetheless, it is important to be informed on all sides of the issue. Pot smokers should be aware that accidents are the number one hazard of moderate pot use. In addition, of course, the psychoactive effects of cannabis can have many other adverse effects on performance, school work, and productivity.
Medical News reversible, suppressive effect on male testicular function[37] A recent study by Dr. Robert Block has refuted earlier research suggesting that pot lowers testosterone or other sex hormones in men or women[38] In contrast, heavy alcohol drinking is known to lower testosterone levels and cause impotence. A couple of lab studies indicated that very heavy marijuana smoking might lower sperm counts. However, surveys of chronic smokers have turned up no indication of infertility or other abnormalities. Less is known about the effects of cannabis on human females. Some animal studies suggest that pot might temporarily lower fertility or increase the risk of fetal loss, but this evidence is of dubious relevance to humans[39] One human study suggested that pot may mildly disrupt ovulation. It is possible that adolescents are peculiarly vulnerable to hormonal disruptions from pot. However, not a single case of impaired fertility has ever been observed in humans of either sex.
Myth: Pot Kills Brain Cells Government experts now admit that pot doesn't kill brain cells[29] This myth came from a handful of animal experiments in which structural changes (not actual cell death, as is often alleged) were observed in brain cells of animals exposed to high doses of pot. Many critics still cite the notorious monkey studies of Dr. Robert G. Heath, which purported to find brain damage in three monkeys that had been heavily dosed with cannabis[30] This work was never replicated and has since been discredited by a pair of better controlled, much larger monkey studies, one by Dr. William Slikker of the National Center for Toxicological Researc[31] and the other by Charles Rebert and Gordon Pryor of SRI International[32] Neither found any evidence of physical alteration in the brains of monkeys exposed to daily doses of pot for up to a year. Human studies of heavy users in Jamaica and Costa Rica found no evidence of abnormalities in brain physiology[33] A 15-year study of 1,318 chronic marijuana users by Johns Hopkins University found no evidence of longterm decline in mental function[34] Even though pot does not appear to cause permanent brain damage, users should be aware that persistent deficits in short-term memory have been noted in chronic, heavy marijuana smokers after 6 to 12 weeks of abstinence[35] It is worth noting that other drugs, including alcohol, are known to cause brain damage. Myth: Marijuana Causes Sterility and Lowers Testosterone Government experts also concede that pot has no permanent effect on the male or female reproductive systems[36] A few studies have suggested that heavy marijuana use may have a
Myth: Marijuana Causes Birth Defects While experts generally recommend against any drug use during pregnancy, marijuana has little evidence implicating it in fetal harm, unlike alcohol, cocaine or tobacco. Epidemiological studies have found no evident link between prenatal use of marijuana and birth defects in humans[40] A recent study by Dr. Susan Astley at the University of Washington refuted an earlier work suggesting that cannabis might cause fetal alcohol syndrome[41] Although some research has found that prenatal cannabis use is associated with slightly reduced average birth weight and length[42] these studies have been open to methodological criticism. More recently, a well-controlled study found that cannabis use had a positive impact on birthweight during the third trimester of pregnancy with no adverse behavioral consequences[43] The same study found a slight reduction in birth length with pot use in the first two months of pregnancy. Another study of Jamaican women who had smoked pot throughout pregnancy found that their babies registered higher on developmental scores at the age of 30 days, while experiencing no significant effects on birthweight or length[44] While cannabis use is not recommended in pregnancy, it may be of medical value to some women in treating morning sickness or easing childbirth. Myth: Pot Causes High Blood Pressure According to the NAS, the effects of marijuana on blood pressure are complex, depending on dose, administration, and posture[45] Marijuana
often produces a temporary, "moderate" increase in blood pressure immediately after ingestion; however, heavy chronic doses may depress blood pressure instead. Many medical users report that marijuana helps lower their blood pressure. One common reaction is to cause decreased blood pressure while standing and increased blood pressure while lying down, causing people to faint if they stand up too quickly. There is no evidence that pot use causes persisting hypertension or heart disease; some users even claim that it helps them control hypertension by reducing stress. One thing THC does do is to increase pulse rates for about an hour, a condition known as tachycardia. This is not generally harmful and may even be beneficial since exercise does the same thing. However, just like hard exercise, pot use may precipitate heart attacks in patients with pre-existing heart disease. A study by Dr. Murray Mittleman found that users face an elevated risk of heart attack within an hour of pot smoking, similar to the risk from physical exercise or having sex [46]. Chronic users may develop a tolerance to tachycardia and other cardiovascular reactions. Myth: Marijuana Damages the Immune System A variety of studies indicate that THC and other cannabinoids exercise mild, reversible immunosuppressive effects by inhibiting the activity of immune system cells know as lymphocytes (Tand B-cells) and macrophages. Immune suppression was first raised as an issue by the stridently anti-pot researcher Dr. Gabriel Nahas in the 1970s, but a flurry of subsequent research failed to find anything alarming. Not a single case of marijuana-induced immune deficiency has been clinically detected in humans. More recent research indicates that cannabis acts as an "immunomodulator," meaning that it tends to restore balance to the immune system [47]. This can have beneficial effects for patients suffering auto-immune diseases such as MS or rheumatoid arthritis, in which the immune system is overactive. Marijuana is not dangerous to HIV patients despite their compromised immune systems. On the contrary, research by Dr. Donald Abrams has shown that marijuana may actually boost subjects' immune system T-cell counts, as well as reduce appetite loss and nausea due to HIV [49]. Other studies by the California Center for Medicinal Cannabis have found that marijuana may be helpful in treating HIV-related neuropathic pain [50]. Studies have failed to find any evidence that marijuana increases the risk of AIDS or the intensity of HIV infections [51].
Cannabis Connection Myth: Marijuana Causes Chromosome and Cell Damage According to the NAS[52] "Studies suggesting that marijuana probably does not break chromosomes are fairly conclusive." Cannabinoids in themselves are neither mutagenic nor carcinogenic, though the tars produced by marijuana combustion are. Some laboratory studies have suggested that high dosages of THC might interfere with cell replication and produce abnormal numbers of chromosomes; however, there is no evidence of such damage in realistic situations. Myth: Marijuana Leads to Harder Drugs There is no scientific evidence for the theory that marijuana is a "gateway" drug. The cannabisusing cultures in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America show no propensity for other drugs. The gateway theory took hold in the sixties, when marijuana became the leading new recreational drug. It was refuted by events in the eighties, when cocaine abuse exploded at the same time marijuana use declined. MYTH: Marijuana Is a Major Cause of Schizophrenia & Psychosis Some studies have indicated that marijuana may be a risk factor in schizophrenia, psychosis, or other mental illnesses. For example, a study of Swedish military personnel found that chronic marijuana users were twice as likely to be schizophrenic [55]. However, no increase in the rate of schizophrenia or psychosis has been detected in those parts of the world where cannabis use has increased greatly in recent decades. It therefore appears that cannabis does not increase the incidence of such problems in the general population, as concluded by the New Zealand Parliamentary Committee [56]. On the other hand, several studies have found that marijuana use may precipitate earlier onset of schizophrenia or aggravate its symptoms in those already so predisposed. [57] However, the effects of cannabis on schizophrenics are not necessarily detrimental. Cannabis has also been observed to mitigate symptoms in many patients. [58] It may therefore be that the purported link between marijuana use and schizophrenia is due to self-medication. In general, the evidence regarding cannabis and schizophrenia / psychosis is conflicting, so caution is advisable. Persons with psychotic tendencies should consult their physicians before using cannabis. Š 2011 CANORML. Reprinted by Permission
Cannabis Connection
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GREEN LEAF LAB The Northwest's Premier Cannalysis™ Laboratory OR (503) 250-291 2 & WA (253) 772-8771 www.greenleaflab.org
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SACRED FLOWER MEDICINALS™ LLC. 1 8248 Redwood Hwy. Selma, OR 97538 (541 ) 291 -2639 www.sacredflowermedicinals.com
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