SPLIFF Magazine | JANUARY 2010

Issue 6 Volume 2 January 2010

M A G A Z I N E

the green alternati

Happy New Year!

www.SpliffNation.com

2 Spliff Magazine ~ January 2010

www.SpliffMagazine.com

Contents

8

10

January 2010

Cultivation in Uruguay

First in South America: Uruguay to Test Cultivation of Industrial Hemp

Vitamin B-12

Cause for chronic caugh?

14

Legalization

In Washington and other States

16

Industrial Hemp

American Farmers and consumers deal with Prohibition

18

Magnet Therapy

20

Caffeine

26

MMJ for cancer patients

30

Honey

34

Rhode Island

40

GREEN Jobs!

44

Health

48

Green or Greener?

54

Entertainment

60

Fashion

65

Did You Know?

Friend or Foe?

The sweet flavor can be used as a medicine

Disensaries

4 Spliff Magazine ~ January 2010

Disclaimer SPLIFF Magazine would like to remind readers to be aware that the sale, possession and transport of viable cannabis seeds are ILLEGAL in many countries, including in the USA. We do not wish to induce anyone to act in conflict or disobedience with the law. We don not promote the germination, cultivation or growth of these seeds where prohibited by law. SPLIFF Magazine and its employees assume no responsibility for any claims or representations contained in this publication or in any advertisement. ALL material is for entertainment and educational purposes only! SPLIFF Magazine does not encourage the illegal use of any of the products or advertisements within. All opinions are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of SPLIFF Magazine. Nothing in this publication may be reproduced in any manner, either in whole or in part without the expressed written consent of the publisher. All rights reserved. All advertised products and offers void where prohibited. Occasionally we may use materials we believed to be placed in the public domain.

Sometimes it is not possible to identify or contact the copyright holder. If you claim ownership of something we have published we will be pleased to make a proper acknowledgement. All letters and pictures sent are assumed to be for publication unless stated otherwise. SPLIFF Magazine cannot be held responsible for unsolicited contributions. No portion of this publication can be reproduced for profit without the written consent of the publisher.

SPLIFF MAGAZINE STAFF EDITORIAL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Malik Akbar SENIOR EDITOR

Melissa Phillips

The Green Alternative! Happy Green

ART & DESIGN ART DIRECTOR

Melissa Phillips PRODUCTON MANAGER

DeAndre Palmer ADVERTISING SALES & MARKETING MANAGER

Charlotte Jones ADVERTISING COORDINATOR

Tona Phillips BUSINESS PUBLISHER

Malik Akbar SPLIFF TV CASTING DIRECTOR

Damien Phillips

SPLIFF Magazine P.O. Box 451986 Los Angeles, CA 90045 310-338-1161 www.SpliffMagazine.com

SPLIFF Magazine is published every month and distributes 20,000 copies throughout the Los Angeles area and has an international readership of over 50,000 in more than 24 countries. No articles, illustrations, photographs, or other matter within may be reproduced without written permission.

SPLIFF Magazine is a registered trademark of The Akbar Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

So it’s the new year and that means it’s time to plant new seeds and reap the harvest of the seeds you grew last year!

Some people have asked “What is a spliff?”. Well according to Wikipedia, the actual definition of spliff is - “a West Indian word of Jamaican English origin, Its precise etymology is unknown, "Spliff" can also refer to various styles of cigarette rolled with a mixture of hashish and tobacco”.

So with that being said, our magazine is like a Spliff because it’s a mixture of informative truth and entertainment all rolled up into something that’s good for you! =)

6 Spliff Magazine ~ January 2010

RECYCLE

January 2010 ~ Spliff Magazine 7

First in South America: Uruguay to Test Cultivation of Industrial Tree Huggers Great news for TreeHuggers in South America: Uruguay could become the first country in the region to authorize the cultivation of industrial hemp, according to El Pais newspaper.

The national Ministry of Cattle, Agriculture and Fishing has authorized an experimental cultivation of hemp to take place in october 2010. If the results are successful, the country could grant permits to producers to start growing.

The pilot cultivation will be carried away by the National Institute for Farming Technology and its place will remain secret.

The goal is to get to know the productive capacities of the country and how the plants varieties respond to Uruguayan soil.

If the cultivation moves forward, however, producers will only be able to grow hemp with special permits so that the Ministry of Agriculture can control the production.

One of the companies behind the project is The Latin American Hemp Trading, which is fighting to make Uruguay the first country in the region to enter the industry of hemp since 2006.

You probably know that hemp is a great crop: fast growing, needs few to no herbicides, and is incredible versatile, among other interesting characteristics. Problem is, its production is still banned in many countries for its association with the psychoactive variety used as drug (the industrial hemp has less than 0.3% THC, while marijuana contains anywhere from 6 or 7% to 20% or even more).

So far countries in South America make no distinction between industrial and psychoactive hemp, and neither does Uruguay. But that could begin to change if the results from this project are positive.

Apart from the amazing materials that can be produced with hemp, it would be interesting to know how the region reacts if Uruguay is successful growing hemp. Right now Argentina and Uruguay are major transgenic-soy producers, with heavy use of harmful herbicides and fertilizers. If the hemp industry takes off and proves lucrative, could it provide some balance to soy production? Hopefully ——————————-

Hemp and the South American soy frenzy

by Paula Alvarado, Buenos Aires

8 Spliff Magazine ~ January 2010

2009 by: D

r. David Jo

ckers, citiz en

journalist

Vitamin B-12 D e f i c i en cy is a Common C ause for

NaturalNews.com 10 Spliff Magazine ~ January 2010

recent study done by the University of Turin and Mauriziano Hospital in Italy showed a significant correlation between vitamin B12 deficiency and unexplained chronic cough. This study, which was presented at the World Allergy Organization XXI World Allergy Congress, discussed the impact of this new finding in the world of allergies and immunology.

A

This study examined 302 patients with chronic cough at the Italian hospital. The most common diagnosed cases of chronic cough included adverse drug events, cough reflex sensitivity, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and allergic rhinitis. 15% (40) of the population had no known origin for their chronic cough.

The research group, led by Dr. Guiseppe Guida, hypothesized the possible connection to sensory neuropathy and B12 deficiency. Out of the 40 individuals with chronic unexplained cough, 25 had a B12 deficiency (serum levels <300 pg/ml), while 15 did not.

Vitamin B12, also called cobalamin, is a water soluble vitamin with a key role in the formation of blood cells and normal functioning of the brain and nervous system. A common side effect of B12 deficiency is a peripheral sensory neuropathy, causing symptoms such as numbness, tingling, burning, and complete lack of sensation.

This study showed that a sensory neuropathy due to a B12 deficiency is a possible factor in unexplained chronic cough and dysfunction of the pharynx and larynx. Biopsies showed elevated levels of nerve growth factor in the oropharyngeal epithelial cells. Increased NGF is thought to increase neurogenic inflammation that would disrupt the airway and cause chronic discomfort and coughing. Through this mechanism, B12 deficiency may cause neurogenic inflammation of the airway, due to elevated levels of nerve growth factor (NGF).

This process also reduces cellular metabolism in the epithelia, disrupting cellular polarity and creating a relatively unstable electrochemical state. Histamine, a biogenic amine and neurotransmitter, is associated with increased inflammatory processes. Individuals with b12 deficiency showed lowered histamine thresholds and cough thresholds that significantly improved with supplementation.

trouble sleeping are commonly deficient in b12, which is needed to produce melatonin, the sleeping hormone.

Increase Your B12 Naturally: 1.Eat Healthy Animal Products: Grass-fed meat, wildcaught fish, & free-range eggs are nature's best sources of highly absorbable B12.

2.Seek Supplementation: Individuals who choose not to eat meat should seek supplementation since vegetation sources such as algae actually contain a B12 analog that is active in the blood and shows up on tests but does not perform the same biological activities within the body. This is especially dangerous for vegans because they may be severely deficient yet have normal values on the standard immunoassay, which has become the normal medical method for testing for B12 deficiency.

The best delivery of B12 supplementation is through sublingual tablets or low dose sprays. Tablets are not as effective. The most bio-available form of cobalamin appears to be methylcobalamin. Cyanocobalamin, the most common form of supplemental b12, is derived through chemical synthesis or through isolation from animal products or waste. Although it is popular, cyanocobalamin does not have effective uptake in the body. Methylcobalamin appears to be taken up by the body and used more efficiently.

3.Use Probiotics: H Pylori infections of the stomach have been shown to cause B12 deficiencies. Probiotic supplementation helps the body fight the infection and reduces chances of recurrence later in life.

Aim for 50-100 billion organisms of diverse cultures.

Research reveals that 39% of the population is B12 deficient. Those most at risk for B12 deficiencies include older populations, individuals with gastric reflux, previous or current H Pylori infections and diets deficient in b12 (vegans), and those who are taking prescription medications. In addition, those who have

January 2010 ~ Spliff Magazine 11

12 Spliff Magazine ~ January 2010

www.savedarfur.org

January 2010 ~ Spliff Magazine 13

MariLegalization in Washing ton and Washington is said to be one of four states where there are measures that have been introduced towards the legalization and regulation of marijuana. There are also around two dozen other states that are looking into marijuana-related legislation, from medical marijuana to not considering the possession of small amounts of marijuana as a crime. marijuanaAccording to Ethan Nadelmann, the Executive Director of the Drug Policy Alliance based in New York, this year is considered as â&#x20AC;&#x153;the most activeâ&#x20AC;? in as far as state legislatures regarding marijuana is concerned. The Drug Policy Alliance supports the reformation of marijuana laws.

Bills towards the legalization of marijuana were introduced early in 2009 in the states of California and Massachusetts. This month, bills were pre-filed in advance of legislative sessions to be held in January in the states of Washington and New Hampshire.

The marijuana legalization bill in Washington State is sponsored by Seattle Democrat Mary Lou Dickerson. Based on the details provided regarding the provisions of the bill, it will seem like marijuana will be treated in the same way as liquor currently is: marijuana may be sold in state-run liquor stores and consumers who will purchase it will pay a tax of 15% per gram, and have to be aged 21 years or older. The money that will be raised from the regulated selling of marijuana will be channeled into programs for substance abuse prevention and treatment. According to Rep. Dickerson, the bill can bring in as much as $300 million a year, roughly the same amount that is brought in by alcohol.

The Executive Director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, Allen St Pierre, mentioned that tough economic times have driven lawmakers to take a closer look at the potential tax value that legalizing marijuana may bring.

14 Spliff Magazine ~ January 2010

http://hometestingblog.testcountry.com/?p=5759

January 2010 ~ Spliff Magazine 15

American Farmers And Consumers Continue

To Suffer Under Industrial Hemp

ProhiND farmers lose appeal to grow hemp; US appeals court affirms dismissal of federal lawsuit

It can now be said that Uruguay is more progressive and possesses a greater sen entrepreneurialism than the United Statesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;at least regarding industrial hemp

After a decade-long political and legal battle with the federal government, th of North Dakota and their farmers are still being denied the ability to cultiv prosper from- industrial hemp (i.e., cannabis that is under 1% THC in content therefore is used for industrial purposes), unlike their brethren farmers in China, Great Britain, Canada and now Uruguay.

By JAMES MacPHERSON The Associated Press

16 Spliff Magazine ~ January 2010

(AP) BISMARCK, N.D. – A federal appeals court on Tuesday affirmed a lower court’s decision to dismiss a lawsuit by two North Dakota farmers who said they should be allowed to grow industrial hemp without fear of federal criminal prosecution.

Wayne Hauge and David Monson received North Dakota’s first state licenses to grow industrial hemp nearly three years ago, but they’ve never received approval from the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The farmers sued the DEA, and their case has been before the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for more than a year after U.S. District Judge Daniel Hovland dismissed it.

northeastern North Dakota, said Congress likely has no time to deal with the hemp issue.

“With all the other things, hemp is not high on their priority list, and I can understand that,” Monson said.

Hemp contains trace amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, a banned substance, and it falls under federal anti-drug rules, the DEA says. Hemp proponents say it is safe because it contains only trace amounts of THC, and not enough to produce a high.

“Somehow, we need to get enough Vote Hemp, the lobbying arm of the hemp industry, has helped fund the farmers’ legal battle. Spokesman Adam Eidinger said the group has spent about $60,000 to date. He said he was disappointed with Tuesday’s ruling.

“The 8th Circuit is kind of conservative, so I can’t say I’m totally surprised,” he said.

Hemp, which is used to make paper, and other products, is related to the illegal drug marijuana. Under federal law, parts of an industrial hemp plant are considered controlled substances.

Hovland told the farmers the best remedy might be to ask Congress to change the law to explicitly distinguish hemp from marijuana.

Eidinger said only a handful of states have passed pro-hemp farming laws.

He said North Dakota is the first state to craft rules to license industrial hemp farmers.

“I guess the next step is we’ll have to take it to Congress,” said Hauge, who grows garbanzo beans and other crops near the northwestern North Dakota town of Ray. “The fastest and easiest way to handle this would be for the president to order the Department of Justice to stand down on all actions against industrial hemp.”

Monson had planned to seed 10 acres of hemp on his farm the northeastern part of the state. He said hemp is grown 25 miles north of his farm in Canada, where production has been legal since 1998, after 60 years of prohibition.

Dawn Dearden, a DEA spokeswoman in Washington, D.C., said the agency could not comment on the case.

The farmers’ attorney, Tim Purdon of Bismarck, would not comment on the appeals court decision.

David Monson, a Republican state legislator and farmer from Osnabrock in

states involved so Congress can take action on it,” Monson said.

Hauge said he hopes someday to seed 100 acres of hemp on his farm.

North Dakota officials issued Monson and Hauge the nation’s first licenses to grow industrial hemp in 2007. But without permission from the DEA, the farmers could be arrested for growing the crop.

“My great-grand dad homesteaded here more than 100 years ago, with a sod house on the wide-open prairie,” Hauge said. “If he could do that, I can stand a small amount of adversity to grow industrial hemp.”

January 2010 ~ Spliff Magazine 17

What is Magnet Therapy L

ooked on by many today as a popular form of alternative medicine, magnetic therapy actually dates back more than four thousand years ago to the pharaohs of ancient Egypt and the oldest medical texts in China, India, Israel and Greece. Well-entrenched currently in China, Japan, India, Austria and Germany as a method for alleviating pain and promoting healing, magnetic therapy has only gained acceptance in the United States within the past few years.

To explain magnetic therapy in layman's terms: think of the body as a dynamic organism that consists of individual "electrical" cells.

Each cell has a positive charge at its nucleus, and a negative charge at its outer membrane. When the polarities are equal, the body is able to function at its optimal level.

However, if exposed continuously to excessive static electricity due to weather fluctuations, household electrical devices and various environmental stimuli, the body becomes inundated with positive ions. This imbalance can result in tiredness and fatigue, headaches and migraines, insomnia, muscle and joint pain, varicose veins and other ailments of the circulatory, lymphatic and nervous systems.

18 Spliff Magazine ~ January 2010

Magnet Strength: Magnets can help the body correct this imbalance, as evinced by ample evidence suggesting that seven out of ten magnet users experience beneficial results. There are two types of fixed magnets: unipolar and bipolar. Unipolar magnets, such as those offered by MagicBelt.com, have a positive charge on one end (biomagnetic south pole) and a negative charge on the other (biomagnetic north pole). This "unidirectional", or concentration on only one direction, assures an optimal depth of penetration. Bipolar magnets, on the other hand, have repeated north and south polarities on the same side of the magnet, which can ultimately cancel out, or at least weaken, each other's magnetic fields.

Placing the magnet against the body is critical, both in terms of promoting healing and minimizing adverse effects. The newly increased blood flow now enables the body to begin the self-healing process which, in turn, can promote relief from chronic pain, discomfort and stress; decreased swelling and inflammation; energy enhancement; accelerated healing of fractures; increased immune function in warding off viruses; and the reduction or reversal of many of the ailments mentioned above. In a nutshell it allows the body to perform at its optimum level.

Note that magnets in and of themselves do not claim to heal the body. Nor should they be used exclusively for any major disease or medical condition. Rather, as an adjunctive therapy, magnets stimulate the body to heal itself by helping increase circulation, improve energy levels, and provide oxygen to body cells - thereby enabling them to exist at their ideal, natural levels. Results vary from person to person, and depend on the magnets used as well as the depth and duration of the individual's specific medical condition.

In general, the effectiveness of magnetic therapy hinges on four factors: magnet strength, thickness, number of magnets used and spacing. Here is how our Neodymium Iron Boron Rare Earth magnets compare to those used by our competitors, as evinced by independent studies recently conducted by Magnetic Instrumentation, Inc., of Indianapolis, Indiana:

The strength of a magnet is measured in units of gauss (a unit of measuring the intensity of magnetic flux). While the strength of a magnet transmitted to the wearer may actually be less at the skin's surface than at its core, one with a gauss reading of more than 500 and a penetration level of 4 inches is considered powerful. The magnets used in our MagicBelt.com belts and hats boast a tremendous 40,000 gauss reading. · Thickness: Basically, the thicker the magnet, the greater the depth of penetration. However, you don't want them to be too thick, or they'll be awkward to wear. Our 1/8" thick magnets comfortably permit a 5" penetration - the highest currently recognized in the industry. · Number of magnets: For optimum results, magnets should be tightly grouped together - while not touching each other - for maximum field strength and penetration.

The more magnets used, the greater their therapeutic potential. We place our magnets approximately ¼" apart, allowing us to use 20 magnets in the same area in which leading competitors can only fit 15. · Spacing: There should also be a relatively thin (1/8" to ¼") pad between the magnets and the skin's surface. This spacing not only makes the magnet more comfortable to wear, it also levels out any bumpiness in the magnetic field. Our magnets have a 1/4 inch spacing.

Research studies within the past two years have supported the use of magnetic therapy. An article in the January 31, 1999 issue of USA Weekend revealed that four major medical institutions had conducted clinical trials in the field of magnetic therapy - with very promising results.

At the Baylor College of Medicine, placing a magnet over a pain trigger point in post-polio patients provided prompt pain relief, while 80 to 90 percent of patients at Vanderbilt University Medical Center found relief from pain due to sports injuries or accidents. Tufts University of Medicine discovered that magnets helped relieve fibromyalgia pain, and diabetics at the New York Medical College at Valhalla experienced a decrease in foot pain.

Since magnetic therapy is still a relatively new and as yet unproven form of alternative healing in the United States, further studies will no doubt be conducted. In the meantime, the general consensus is that magnets, if used properly, certainly can't hurt the body … and in most cases, can help.

January 2010 ~ Spliff Magazine 19

CAFFEINE :

FRIEND OR FOE?

Indeed, Once thought to be a nutritional nono for athletes, caffeine has taken center stage in the past few years as a legitimate aid to performance. This benefit has been recognized by the makers of sports nutrition products like energy gels.

by Dave Milner

20 Spliff Magazine ~ January 2010

But what exactly is caffeine?

Caffeine is a mild stimulant that occurs naturally in at least 63 plant species. It is part of the Methylxanthine family.

Sources of caffeine are, by no means, limited to coffee and tea drinks, of course.

Various concentrations of caffeine are also found in several types of soft drinks (Coke, Mountain Dew, Mello Yello, etc), energy bars (Clif Bar, Power Bar), and the gel packets commonly used by marathoners (Clif Shot, PowerGel, GU, CarbBoom, etc), or may be found in more concentrated pill-forms (e.g. No-Doze).

Acording to Metcalfe (1999), a number of studies conducted by Dr Terry Graham at University of Guelph, Ontario, have proven caffeine’s performance-enhancing power, some yielding 10-15% improvements in endurance, but these studies have been in laboratories, not real-life competitive settings.

Whether, and how, it actually improves performance in the real world is an arguable point. But presumably it does, otherwise it wouldn’t be a substance on the IOC’s banned list, right? Hmmm... well, marijuana is also on the banned list, but we don’t see the fleet-footed East Africans tokin’ on a fatty prior to their 10Ks, do we?

One reason endurance athletes ingest caffeine is because it increases or accelerates the release of fatty acids from storage in adipose tissue into muscle where it can be used as fuel.

According to Noakes (1991), caffeine ingestion causes free-fatty acid concentrations in the blood to rise, reaching peak values after approximately an hour, but remaining 300-400% higher than normal values for up to 4 hours (Bellet et al., 1968; Weir, et al., 1987). This effect is de-

layed for the first 2 hours if sugar is taken with the caffeine (as in caffeinated energy gels), but after 4 hours, sugar intake does not affect blood free-fatty acid concentrations.

As there is a plentiful supply of fat in even the leanest of athletes, and a limited stock of carbohydrate, this would certainly seem to improve the situation for those engaging in prolonged periods (1 hour plus) of exercise and at moderate intensities. It is not going to make any real difference in events of shorter duration and higher intensity (a 5K, for example) as the body can burn fat fast enough to provide the levels of energy required at close to maximal running speed. But in a marathon, a healthy does of caffeine may help, which may serve to explain Frank Shorter’s and Bill Rodgers’ penchant for drinking flat Coke back in the 70’s.

However, there is research to suggest that caffeine offers no such metabolic effect, at least in runners who have carbohydrate loaded and eaten breakfast prior to a race (Weir et al., 1987). So it may be prudent to choose one or the other, rather than carbo-loading and java-loading.

According to Metcalfe (1999), over 100 million American adults drink coffee every day, tossing back an average of 3.1 cups each. And that’s just the tip of the caffeine-consumption iceberg. The average American also drinks more than a gallon of soda. Not to mention the pint a day, on average, consumed by the tea drinkers among our caffeine-guzzling population.

Many sodas and all but decaffeinated coffees and teas contain varying amounts of caffeine.

“Caffeine makes your heart race, your muscles twitch, your head buzz, your hands shake, your pupils dilate and your bladder full. So why would

HOT coff ee!

anyone take it to make them run faster?” asks Weight (2003). And what is all this caffeine doing to our health? Here’s a quick run-down of the pros and cons of caffeine consumption.

Although early studies produced possible links between caffeine consumption and heart disease, as well as certain cancers (especially breast cancer), more recent studies have shown no support for those links. And the American Medical Association now states that there is no relationship whatsoever between caffeine intake and cancer.

Caffeine is well-known as a diuretic, therefore, it’s reasonable athletes would have concerns about its effects on hydration. However, several studies have concluded that no changes occurred in core temperature, sweat loss, plasma volume, urine volume or body hydration status during exercise following caffeine ingestion.

As little as 2 cups of coffee a day can raise your blood pressure. The increase isn’t big enough to induce hypertension, but if you already have high blood pressure, it may be advisable not to exceed 2 cups of coffee (or its equivalent of other caffeinated beverages) per day.

The FDA recommends that women who are pregnant or are hoping to become pregnant avoid or limit caffeine intake.

High caffeine consumption can hinder conception and may lead to miscarriage or low birth weight. Since caffeine will make its way into breast milk, nursing mothers should likewise exercise caution.

If your iron levels are cause for concern, you should know that caffeine can hinder the absorption of iron, particularly if you drink a caffeinated beverage with your meal. Renowned exercise physiologist Dr. Jack Daniels recommends avoiding caffeine for at least 2-3 hours before and after your primary iron intake (whether that is a pill or a steak).

Because caffeine increases blood flow to the kidneys, it acts as a diuretic, making you take more number ones. However, this is more of a problem when one is not exercising. Several studies have indicated that caffeine consumption prior to running does not lead to excessive urination. Scientists are not certain why, but it could be that an increase in adrenaline secretion serves to shut off caffeine’s usual effect on the kidneys.

Of course most runners know that caffeine can help elicit number twos as well. Some runners enjoy a cup of joe before a run to clear out their pipes, so to speak. But other runners may find that caffeine, whether in a cup, a can, or a gel packet, can sabotage a run by forcing urgent pit stops. I found this out the hard way when I lived in Seattle. Managing the New Balance store downtown, I was trying to knock out 90100 mile weeks while working next door to a Starbucks. I spent almost as much time sitting on porcelain as I did running!

Although moderate caffeine consumption can boost perceived energy levels, large levels of consumption - e.g. 10 cups a day for our 150-pound guy or 7 cups a day for a 110pound woman - may lead to headaches, jittery sensations, nervousness, and irritability.

Under IAAF, the global governing body of our sport, rules the legal threshold for caffeine is 12 ug/ml of urine (The NCAA also limits (15 ug/ml) caffeine usage), yet Elana Meyer stated that all she had “was one cup of coffee at my hotel before the start of the race,” which took place in Bali, Indonesia, during early February this year. “To exceed the limit, Elana would need to have consumed a huge amount of coffee in a very short time, or drunk copious quantites of coke for some hours,” said, Athletics South Africa’s doping specialist, Dr Chris Hattingh. A 175-lb. person could drink seven regular size cups of drip-percolated coffee one hour prior to exercise and would only then approach urinary caffeine limits. Indeed, such a threshold would be hard to exceed without taking caffeine by injection or via a suppository. Vanilla Latte enema, anyone? Anyone?

Item

Flavor

Caffeine (mg)*

Coffee

Instant Freshly Brewed Decaffeinated

60-100mg/cup 60-350mg/cup 2-4mg/cup 8-90mg/cup 50mg 40mg

Tea CarbBoom Clif Shot GU Power Gel

Chocolate Cola drinks

Vanilla or Orange Sonic Strawberry Mocha Mocha 40mg all but Banana Blitz Strawberry Banana Chocolate Green Apple Tangerine Milk Chocolate Dark Chocolate Coca Cola Classic Diet Coke

Mello Yello Dr Pepper Mountain Dew Pepsi One Pepsi Diet Pepsi R.C. Cola Barq’s Root Beer

20mg 25mg 25mg 25mg 50mg 20-120mg/200g bar 40-240mg/200g bar 23mg/8 oz can 31mg/8 oz can 35mg/8 oz can 28mg/8 oz can 37mg 37mg 25mg 24mg 28.8mg 15mg

THE BOTTOM LINE Some people have found that caffeine enhances their running performance, but one should use caffeine only in low to moderate doses, especially in the summer (since some water will be lost via elimination). A lot of the improvement associated with caffeine may stem from increased alertness which allows you to focus on a race, rather than through any physiological effect on the muscles propelling you forth at a greater rate. www.tnrunning.com 22 Spliff Magazine ~ January 2010

January 2010 ~ Spliff Magazine 23

24 Spliff Magazine ~ January 2010

Choose the Best Milk for Your

Organic, Hormone free?

What do these choices

Look for the words "no artificial hormones or antibiotics used" on your milk carton the next time you shop.

In 1993, the FDA approved the use of recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH), otherwise known as bovine somatotropin (rbST), in cows. Farmers inject this synthetic hormone into their animals to increase their milk production. This practice has been banned in Europe, Canada, Japan, New Zealand and Australia.

According to the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine, cows injected with rBGH tend to have a higher instance of udder infections called mastitis. As a result they are treated more often with antibiotics. This increase in drug use can contribute to the growth of antibiotic resistance in bacteria, a major public health concern.

Since milk from treated cows is not marked as such, dairy farmers who do not use rBGH voluntarily label their products with such wording as "no artificial hormones or antibiotics used."

If in doubt, buy certified organic milk, which guarantees no hormones or drugs were used. It also contains a higher level of omega-3 fatty acids, among other nutrients, too.

By The Daily Green Staff

The Benefits of

Medical Marijuana fo Cancer Patients

Due to being illegal or quasi-legal in man countries, you might not find as much - info mation on the uses of medical marijuana (o marihuana) as you might expect. However, many studies have been conducted, and are still being conducted, about the medical u of cannabis. Despite a somewhat blind - gov ernmental view in many countries, includin Canada and the United States, these studie have shown repeatedly exactly how medical marijuana can help those suffering from se vere illnesses such as cancer.

By:

Bon

nie

Pra

nge

r

Medical Marijuana for Cancer Patients Traditional Cancer Treatments Lung cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer - in fact, most types of cancer all start the same basic way. Something causes cancer cells to divide and grow without pause, spreading badly damaged DNA. Those cells invade other tissues and, in most cases, form tumors.

f

or s

Cancer studies have taken leaps and bounds as far as finding treatments to slow, and sometimes stop, the spread of cancer.

However, two of the most important treatments, chemotherapy and radiation therapy, also cause damage and, often, severe side effects.

For instance, some of the most powerful, toxic chemicals are used in chemotherapeutic agents. Both treatments kill cancer cells, but healthy cells as well. Chemotherapeutic agents such as Adriamycin (doxorubicin) and Platinol (cisplatin) can, and have, caused immune suppression and multiple organ damage, but they also cause severe nausea and vomiting.

The vomiting can last over a period of days, to the point that some patients have actually torn their esophagus. Due to the vomiting and lack of appetite, severe dehydration and weigh loss is normal. In fact, many cancer patients begin having a reaction before chemotherapy begins, in "anticipation" of theside effects.

Unfortunately, although chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy may be an integral part of their survival, many cancer patients decide not to take the therapies because the side effects are so severe.

Because of this, many are given a mix of anti-nausea drugs.

Often, the anti-nausea drugs work. However, the drugs only give partial symptom control, while for others they give no control at all. In addition, those who take traditional medications may also suffer fever, bone pain, fatigue, anxiety, sleep problems and changes in heart activity, among other issues. This leaves cancer patients to suffer from the effects of the cancer itself, theside effects of the treatments, and the side effects of medications used to alleviate the initial side effects of the treatments.

http://www.dhyansanjivani.org/magnetic_therapy.asp

http://www.morefreeinformation.com/author-rss-feed.php?rss=5020

It has proven in many studies, performed by prestigious scientific and medical organizations and individuals, that medical marijuana can (and does) relieve pain and nausea. In fact, some of these studies go as far back as the 1970s and older.

For instance, in 1975, the New England Journal of Medicine published the results of a "double-blind" study on the effects of oral (ingested rather than smoked) tetrahydrocannabinol on nausea and vomiting. According to the study, "No patient vomited while experiencing a subjective "high". Oral tetrahydrocannabinol has antiemetic properties and is significantly better than a placebo in reducing vomiting caused by chemotherapeutic agents."

A 1999 report by the Institutes of Medicine concluded, "In patients already experiencing severe nausea or vomiting, pills are generally ineffective, because of the difficulty in swallowing or keeping a pill down, and slow onset of the drug effect. Thus an inhalation (but, preferably not smoking) cannabinoid drug delivery system would be advantageous for treating chemotherapy-induced nausea."

Although freedom from nausea and vomiting are two of the most noticed benefits of medical marijuana use, many have reported a reduction in the severity of wasting away. As well, they've notice a lessening in depression and other "side effects" brought on by the disease, including an increase in appetite. All of these things together have helped many cancer patients live a better, happier, more comfortable life. However, studies have also shown a shocking benefit.

Over twenty major studies in the past nine years have shown that cannabinoids (the chemicals in cannabis) actually fight cancer cells. In fact, it's been shown that cannabinoids arrest cancer growths of many different forms of cancer, including brain, melanoma and breast cancer. There's even growing evidence that cannabinoids cause direct anti-tumor activity.

Since the possibility was first realized, many more studies have been conducted, focused on the possibility of cannabinoids have anticarcinogenic effects. A 2007 study by the Institute of Toxicology and Pharmacology in Rostock, Germany focused on human cervical cancer (HeLa) cells. The cells were treated with specific cannabioids and THC. Even at low concentrations, MA and THC "led to a decrease in invasion of 61.5% and 68.1% respectively."

The benefits of medical marijuana for cancer patients are clear when it comes to increased appetite, reduction of pain, wasting, vomiting and nausea, as well as depression. Although its anticarcinogenic effects aren't quite as clear, ongoing research further points to the possibility that medical marijuana may actually be what many claim it is â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a truly miraculous drug.

January 2010 ~ Spliff Magazine 27

28 Spliff Magazine ~ January 2010

Honey

as

Medicine 30 Spliff Magazine ~ January 2010

By: Joe Kissell

H

istorically, honey has been used as a folk remedy in cultures around the world for millennia. It has been prescribed informally as a cure for smallpox, baldness, eye diseases, and indigestion. It’s even been used as a contraceptive. As with most natural “cures” unsupported by scientific studies, I sort of chuckle and sigh when I read about things like this—honey may be a silly substitute for real medicine, but at least it’s not bloodletting. However, in this case, the bees may have the last laugh. It turns out that honey’s properties make it a surprisingly effective cure-all. Or, let’s say, curemuch.

Bee Fruitful and Multiply

Honey’s salutary effects stem primarily from its antimicrobial properties. Most bacteria and other microorganisms cannot grow or reproduce in honey. I found this quite surprising, because all things being equal, bacteria love sugar. Honey contains around 40% fructose and 30% glucose—among other sugars—making it seemingly a great treat for microbes. However, honey is also somewhat acidic, and acids prevent the growth of some bacteria. More importantly, honey does not provide the water and oxygen needed to support bacterial growth. Although honey contains a fair amount of water, it’s supersaturated with sugar—meaning the water is not available to the microorganisms.

But wait, there’s more! Honey is truly a head-to-toe cure.

Honey has been shown to be effective in treating inflammation of the eyelid, some types of conjunctivitis, and keratitis (along with other forms of corneal damage). It can also, believe it or not, be used to treat athlete’s foot and other fungal infections.

The Color of Honey

Now that you’ve worked yourself into a gleeful frenzy over the miraculous properties of honey, I want to temper your enthusiasm a bit. The bad news, if you can call it that, is that not all honey is created equal. The chemical composition of honey depends on a huge number of variables, the most important of which is the type or types of plant that provided the source nectar. Honeys vary not only in color and flavor, but in their medicinal properties, with some varieties being much more potent than others. Because it’s impossible to regulate the comings and goings of millions of bees, there’s also no way to guarantee that honey from any location will be chemically the same from year to year or free of contamination from pollutants the bees may have found their way into. Honey supplies must be tested thoroughly and regularly.

I should mention one other caveat: never feed honey to a child under one year of age. Honey sometimes contains Clostridium botulinum spores. Although they’re inactive in the honey itself, once inside a digestive tract they can multiply and cause a potentially fatal disease of the nervous system called infant botulism. By the time of a child’s first birthday, there are usually enough beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract to make it an inhospitable environment for Clostridium botulinum, meaning that honey can be eaten safely.

So what happens when you dilute honey with water—the bacteria just multiply like crazy, right? Well…yes and no.

Amazingly enough, diluted honey supports the growth of bacteria that are helpful to humans while killing off dangerous strains. Some microorganisms do indeed flourish in a dilute solution of honey—such as the yeast used to ferment it into mead. Also, certain types of beneficial bacteria that live in the human intestines and aid digestion do well in a mixture of honey and water. But honey also contains a substance called glucose oxidase. When combined with water and oxygen, glucose oxidase forms gluconic A Spoonful of Sugar Is the Medicine acid and hydrogen peroxide—the very same Lest you think that honey is only healthy if used on the outside of the stuff you probably have in your medicine cabinet body, it can help with a great many internal problems too. Thanks to right now. This means that diluted honey can its antimicrobial action, it not only soothes sore throats but can also serve as an excellent antiseptic, while being far kill the bacteria that sometimes cause them. Although research is inless likely than ordinary hydrogen peroxide to conclusive so far, there’s also the suggestion it could actually reduce harm already-damaged tissue. tooth decay—all that sticky sugar notwithstanding. Moving down the esophagus and through the digestive tract, honey can help to heal Show Me the Honey ulcers and upset stomachs. It has also been proven to regulate intesWhat does all this mean in practical terms? For tinal function, alleviating both constipation and diarrhea. (In a similarly one thing, it means that honey applied topically syzygial way, honey can be used both as a sleep aid and to increase to a wound can promote healing just as well as, alertness.) Honey also contains a variety of antioxidants, which may or in many cases better than, conventional ointreduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer. ments and dressings. Its antibacterial properties prevent infection. It also functions as an anti-inManuka honey, made from the flowers of the Manuka bush (Lepflammatory agent, reducing both swelling and tospermum scoparium), comes from New Zealand. Some varieties of pain. As if that weren’t enough, it even reduces Manuka honey contain an antibacterial component called UMF scarring. In studies around the world, honey has (Unique Manuka Factor), which has been found to be even more usebeen shown to be extraordinarily effective in the ful than ordinary honey in combating infections. Intriguingly, honey treatment of wounds, burns, and surgical inciwith UMF is even effective against many so-called “superbugs”— sions. Honey also functions as a moisturizer, makstrains of bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus that are resistant ing it a useful treatment for sunburn as well as a to multiple types of antibiotics. An Australian company called Medigeneral-purpose skin softener. honey has obtained the blessing of the Therapeutic Goods Administration (comparable to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration) to sell this type of honey packaged as a dressing for wounds. The company also sells honey and honey-based products designed to treat digestive problems, oral irritations and sore throats, and even skin conditions such as psoriasis. http://itotd.com/articles/218/honey-as-medicine/

January 2010 ~ Spliff Magazine 31

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R.I. releases proposed rules for State health regulators have issued proposed regulations for the operation of compassion centers to dispense medical marijuana, but it could still take up to a year before the first center opens its doors in Rhode Island.

Acting under legislation passed by the General Assembly last spring, the state Department of Health last week issued 22 pages of proposed rules for licensing and operating up to three compassion centers in Rhode Island. The rules, covering everything from the amount of marijuana dispensed to the background of those dispensing it to the security systems in place to guard it, will be the subject of a formal public hearing on Feb. 2.

After that, if state Health Director David R. Gifford determines that no revisions are necessary, it would take about a month and a half for the rules to become formally enacted. Then, the licensing process would allow for a 60-day application period for would-be compassion-center operators — which could be prolonged by further public hearings on the applicants before Gifford makes the final decision.

“What’s a reasonable Timeline? You could be talking about up to a year, or maybe it will take less time,” said Health Department spokesman Robert Vanderslice.

Rhode Island was the third state in the nation, joining California and New Mexico, to approve the sale of marijuana for use by qualified patients with chronic or debilitating illnesses, such as cancer, HIV and multiple sclerosis.

But the 2007 law, passed over Governor Carcieri’s veto, left unclear how patients and caregivers could legally obtain medical marijuana. Then, in the spring of 2009, the General Assembly created compassion centers, inspired by an impassioned floor speech from the bill’s original sponsor, Providence Rep. Thomas C. Slater, who subsequently died from cancer. Once again, the law passed over Carcieri’s veto, drawing concern from law-enforcement officials that medical marijuana usage would open the door to criminals.

Stephen Hogan, executive director of the Rhode Island Patient Advocacy Coalition, says that he has heard from many groups and individuals who would be interested in running compassion centers in Rhode Island — including operators of for-profit medical marijuana dispensaries in other states. But he says there are too many variables to predict when the first might open.

34 Spliff Magazine ~ January 2010

medical marijuana dispensaries

By Mike Stanton

http://www.projo.com/news/content/Medical_Marijuana_Clinic_Rules_12-26-09_COGSQ_v19.37cec80.html

“We

understand why it has taken a bit longer,” he said. “The Health Department was swamped by H1N1 [swine flu] and is understaffed. So we understand why they haven’t been able to move forward as quickly as possible.”

proposed regulations specify that patients, caregivers and compassion-center employees cannot be prosecuted for possession of illegal drugs or sale of a controlled substance provided they adhere to the rules on limits.

Since the original medical marijuana law became permanent in 2007, the state has issued licenses to about 900 medical-marijuana users, as well as 725 caregivers who can legally grow and distribute the drug.

The regulations don’t address how much a compassion center might charge for marijuana, but says that a center would be treated as a licensed caregiver, and licensed caregivers would be allowed to be reimbursed for costs assisted with helping a patient.

But a compassion center would be able to handle a larger amount of marijuana, and take the pressure off licensed caregivers, who are more vulnerable to criminals.

“We don’t control prices,” said Vanderslice. “The caregivers can charge enough to cover expenses, but we don’t get into specific prices.”

Because of the amount of money that would be required Several of the rules address the background of compasto start a compassion center, Hogan says that he doesn’t sion center staffers and security. expect any licensed caregivers to apply to open a center.

Beyond the liPeople with felony censing drug convictions process, cannot serve H o g a n primary “We don’t control prices,” said Vanderslice. “The caregivers can charge as said, cencaregivers, or enough to cover expenses, but we don’t get into specific prices.” ters would work at comhave to passion cenraise the ters, although money, find a the Health Departsuitable building and cultivate marijuana plants before ment has the discretion to waive that. However, if a person going into operation. had been convicted of a drug offense related to the medical use of marijuana, that conviction would not apply.

The law allows for three compassion centers. Ideally, said Hogan, one would be in the greater Providence area, with Also, schools, employers and landlords would not be able the other two in northern and southern Rhode Island. But to penalize someone for being involved in the dispensation the proposed Health Department regulations don’t specify or use of medical marijuana. geographic areas.

The compassion centers could not be within 500 feet of a Also, unlike other states, Hogan noted that Rhode Island’s school, and would have to be equipped with a fully operalaw requires that compassion centers operate as not-for- tional alarm system and good exterior lighting. Any inciprofit businesses. dents, including alarm malfunctions, would have to be reported to local police.

The proposed rules define a compassion center as a notfor-profit entity that “acquires, possesses, cultivates, man- Operators would also be required to limit access to the ufactures, delivers, transfers, transports, supplies or center, to allow only authorized personnel in the room dispenses marijuana ... to registered qualifying patients where marijuana is stored, to submit to announced inspecand their registered primary caregivers.” tions by the Health Department and to conduct monthly inventories of marijuana.

While the law limits qualified patients to possession of up to 12 plants and 2.5 ounces, only compassion centers Each compassion center would also be required to develop would be able to keep greater amounts, based on the num- an operations manual that would, among other things, inber of patients cared for. And the proposed rules state that clude an alcohol- and drug-free workplace policy. The manthe centers cannot dispense more than 2.5 ounces to a ual would also have to include outreach policies, including specific patient over a 15-day period. “ingestion options” for marijuana, “safe smoking techniques” and “potential side effects.”

Addressing a concern of medical marijuana advocates, the

36 Spliff Magazine ~ January 2010

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www.wwf.org January 2010 ~ Spliff Magazine 39

The

5 Best

Cities For

"In a generally bleak employment picture, the green jobs sector is growing faster than any other."

So writes Jim Motavalli in The Daily Green's report about the best U.S. cities to find a green job.

Growth in the sector was a robust 9.1% in the decade ending in 2007 (compared to 3.7% overall), and as many as another 1.9 million jobs are expected by 2020 from the American Clean Energy and Security Act. The stimulus bill is pumping $30 billion into the clean energy sector alone.

Green jobs can mean a lot of things -- conservation and pollution mitigation, clean energy, energy efficiency, environmentally friendly production, along with training and support. But each state isn't sharing equally in this bounty of new jobs.

"With unemployment over 10%, people need to go where the jobs are, and some states -- and some cities -- are making out better than others as the green jobs phenomenon unfolds," Motavalli writes. "While every state and most American cities have a piece of the new economy, here are the five cities that -- through a combination of federal, state and municipal programs -- are faring best."

40 Spliff Magazine ~ January 2010

Boston/Cambridge Starting with the fact that with its concentration of colleges --including MIT, Boston University, Harvard, Northeastern, Emerson and several more, the metro area is a great incubator for green technology. Named the "best walking city" by Prevention magazine last year, Boston has had a major climate protection plan in place since 2002. Its number three fuel source, believe it or not, is wind power. Its new buildings have to be constructed to top LEED standards, and most of its municipal vehicles are either electric or run on B20 biofuel. Boston (including Worcester, Lawrence, Lowell and Brockton) ranks as number four in the Clean Edge survey of 15 top U.S. metro areas for clean-tech job creation. The Boston area is, not surprisingly, home to some cutting-edge green companies.

New York City Under newly reelected Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the city launched PlaNYC with 127 initiatives for greening the city, including an earmark $1 billion for building retrofits to increase energy efficiency and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Clean Edge ranks the New York metropolitan area (including northern New Jersey and Long Island) third among 15 top U.S. metro areas for job creation. New York State was the sixth leading state for clean energy job creation in 2007, adding 3,323 clean businesses and 34,363 new jobs that year.

Some $209 million in venture capital was invested in the state's clean energy economy between 2006 and 2008.

Boston Power, for instance, is helmed by the ambitious Swedish executive Christina Lampe-Onnerud, who pioneered a better lithium-ion battery for HP laptops, and is moving into the electric car market. And a local competitor is the fast-moving A123, which also makes lithium-ion battery packs and has Chrysler among its customers.

San Francisco According to the New York Times, California had the most clean-energy jobs in 2008: 125,000, many of them in progressive San Francisco and nearby Silicon Valley. The Clean Edge report identifies San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose as the number one metro area for clean technology job activity (Los Angeles/Riverside/Orange County is second). SunPower, a solar company based in San Jose with 5,400 employees, is rated #10 in Clean Edge's 2009 survey of top clean-tech employers. Green tech can only get better in San Francisco, where 20 big construction projects have applied for LEED certification and voters recently approved $100 million in revenue bonds to support renewable energy. In California overall, green businesses increased 45% between 1995 and 2008, and employment in the sectors grew 36%, according to the "Many Shades of Green" report from Next 10. The report said the most jobs were added in services (45% of the total), followed by manufacturing (21%). In research positions, the biggest private sector categories are green transportation, energy generation, and air and environment, said the report.

January 2010 ~ Spliff Magazine 41

Detroit The Motor City makes few Top Ten lists. Its vaunted monorail goes practically nowhere, its downtown is still struggling, and political turmoil at City Hall -- added to daunting budgetary constraints -- has kept civic progress at a minimum. Michigan has the nation's highest unemployment rate at 15.3%, and it is also dealing with 3.6% job loss between 1998 and 2007. A Pew Center on the States report says that the state will have lost a million jobs by the end of the decade (a quarter in the auto industry, and more than a third this year). But help is on the way, in the form of federal Department of Energy green-tech grants that are funding factories and creating jobs to tap into the vast pool of skilled auto industry talent in the metropolitan area. The state had created more than 22,000 clean-tech jobs by 2007, but those numbers will jump impressively when recent DOE funding puts spades in the ground.

Michigan did make one Top Ten list: It was number seven on a list of clean energy jobs compiled by Pew Charitable Trusts.

Clean Edge identifies the green transportation sector as one of four growth areas, and that benefits the cluster of companies making hybrid and electric vehicles in the greater Detroit area. Even companies not based in Michigan -- such as California's Fisker Automotive and Ford battery car supplier Magna International -- have opened hubs near Detroit. A mechanical engineer working on plug-in hybrids and EVs can expect to make $63,600 median pay with a bachelor's degree, reports Clean Edge. A great example of what's happening in the Rust Belt is the transformation of the Ford Motor Company plant in Wixom, Michigan from a shuttered eyesore that had lost 1,500 jobs to an incubator for Xtreme Power (which makes power systems for wind and solar) and Clairvoyant Energy (solar).

Portland, Oregon Many rate Portland number one in sustainability. What other city can boast of 200 miles of walking and bicycling trails, a fast transit hub to the airport, fare-free light rail in the city core and free parking for electric cars? The city replaced a six-lane highway with a waterfront park, and it has 50 LEED-certified buildings. Despite strong challenges from Colorado and Tennessee, Oregon was the number one performer in creating clean energy economy jobs, reports the Pew Charitable Trusts. Oregon had almost 20,000 clean jobs in 2007, many of them in the Portland metro area. More than 1 percent of the Beaver State's 1.9 million jobs are related to the clean energy economy -- the highest percentage in the nation. Oregon is also number three in providing environmentally friendly manufacturing jobs. A Clean Edge survey of the Top 15 metro areas for clean-tech job activity puts Portland/Salem at number eight, just below Seattle/Tacoma/Bremerton. Like other cities on this list, Portland struggles with high unemployment, but it's fighting joblessness with its prime weapon -- sustainability.

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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/11/the-5-best-cities-for-gre_n_415133.html

How Regular Exercise can Help with Diabetes 2009 by: Anthony Gucciardi, citizen journalist

44 Spliff Magazine ~ January 2010

R

egular exercise could be a natural and effective way to help treat diabetes. A study conducted with diabetic Hispanic men and women undergoing a strength training routine found that within 16 weeks there was dramatic improvement with their sugar control. With its positive impact on blood sugar, weight, and blood pressure, exercise is an activity that should be included in any routine.

Besides its beneficial properties regarding blood sugar, weight loss, and blood pressure, diabetics who exercise regularly have been found less likely to experience a heart attack or stroke than those who do not. This exercise is not specific to strength training or anaerobic exercise. Aerobic exercise, such as walking or jogging, is similarly effective. Both of these exercises, whether combined or isolated, have been found to aid in the fight against diabetes.

How much exercise is too much? Over-exercising could cause your blood sugar to rise. Obviously, this is not something that is desirable for a diabetic. Be sure to start your exercise program very slowly in order for your body to adapt to the new regiment that it is going through. Start your exercise routine out by going on brisk walks or lifting weights. Always make sure to consult your physician.

ercise is enough. This prevents over-exercising, and therefore prevents the negative effects on your blood sugar levels. While it is recommended that you exercise for no more than 45 minutes, exercising for a shorter period of time is acceptable.

Warming up is very important as well. Always warm up before you start training in order to prevent too much stress on your body. Doing 10-15 very light repetitions of any exercise will increase blood flow, and eventually get your body ready for the exercise that you are about to perform. This is an important step that many often overlook.

When should you not exercise? If your blood sugar is above 250 mg/dL and you are ketones positive then it is considered a bad idea to exercise. Exercise could do more harm to your body than good at these levels. If your blood sugar is above 300 mg/dL but you are not ketones positive, then it would be advisable to exercise carefully. While exercise is certainly a great method of natural improvement, you do not want to do it when your body cannot handle the stress.

Exercising can help those suffering from diabetes improve their health. When following the guidelines and techniques outlined in this article, exercise can be a powerful tool against diabetes.

Always be sure to also monitor your diet, ensuring it is full of living foods and super-foods.

The length of the exercise is also rather important.

Most experts agree that roughly 45 minutes of exwww.NaturalNews.com

January 2010 ~ Spliff Magazine 45

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January 2010 ~ Spliff Magazine 47

Are You Confusing "Greener" with "Green?"

By Collin Dunn

Learn to measure the impact of all green actions in yo

There's certainly no shortage of so-called green information out there these days. Advice for "going green" or "saving the planet" or some combination of the two seem to be around every corner, in every magazine, and all over the internet. While more information is certainly better than less, when it comes to actions we can take to lessen our collective and individual footprints, it can be hard to digest and triage all that info. In short: We're all in danger of confusing "greener" with "green."

This might seem like an inconsequential difference -- a trivial distinction; after all, more information leads to more action, right? Well, maybe, but it's a big world, and we all only have so much bandwidth to not only absorb information, but take that information from just knowing it to doing something about it. Nobody can do everything.

And, given the scale of the problems we face -- a warming globe, vanishing freshwater, a badly damaged food system -- and the ticking clock that we have to keep an 48 Spliff Magazine ~ January 2010

eye on as we fight the problems, it's critical that we, as individuals and as a society, stay focused on the information and actions that really make a game-changing impact. We have to concentrate on the thing that'll help us move the needle: "green."

What does that mean, really? Given the parade of cliches about various ideas to save the planet, and notions of how to go green, that are coming from all angles, it's easy to get confused, or even hoodwinked, by the things that get trumpeted the loudest, and repeated with the highest frequency. Add that to the fact that much of the advice is at least partly true -- many of the things that you hear about "going green" and so forth aren't wrong.

So, in addition to the question you have to ask about whether the information you receive is right or wrong, you have to be able to decide how right it is, and how much actual impact might result. Most greener stuff is good, but it doesn't hold a candle to green. It's a jungle out there.

1 Hybrid cars are greener; bicycling is The hybrid car has become the poster child for the green movement for many people, and for good reason; the more efficient hybrids are more than twice as fuel efficient than the average car. It's a great example of the fusion of ingenuity and technology, and smart design and practicality, but it ain't green. Hybrids still use an internal combustion engine that burns a non-renewable fossil fuel that we know we are going to run out of, spew smog-forming and carbon emissions, and take hundreds of components and thousands of pounds of raw materials to put together and operate. They're a way better option than traditional gas guzzlers, but we can do better.

Bicycles, on the other hand, are the most efficient vehicles known to this world; the reason that the "green" option in this scenario isn't a four-wheeler is that nobody has invented a "green" car (yet). When we're all tooling around in electric cars built with nontoxic batteries and charged up with 100 percent renewable power (not the 50 percent coal power our country currently uses) generated from smart grids and the solar panels, wind turbines, and the like at our own houses, then we'll be getting somewhere; until then, bicycles are the green way to go. That isn't to say that you can't proudly pilot your Prius, but don't kid yourself: You aren't saving the planet; you're just harming it more slowly than most of the rest of us. Sometimes, greener is the best we can do, but that doesn't mean we have to settle for it.

2 Grass-fed beef is greener; not eating meat is If you've read much about the industrial food system that dominates the mainstream grocery stores and restaurants in this country, you know that the average cow's life is disgusting and painful. They're made to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with thousands of other cows, in piles on their own excrement so deep that knee-high boots won't keep it all out, eating a diet that makes them so sick that they have to be pumped full of antibiotics just to survive the weeks they'll live until they're unceremoniously slaughtered. Yuck.

Grass-fed, pasture-raised beef, on the other hand, get to eat something -- grass -- that their ruminating stomachs have evolved to handle. Though it can be hard to tell for sure unless you have visited the farm where they live (something which we should all do at some point) and have a personal relationship with your farmer, they tend to live much healthier, less stressful lives. And while that's healthier for you, too, it just makes that a greener option, not green.

What does all this mean? First of all, green is the goal, the thing that we're working toward each day. This isn't meant to be a diatribe against these "greener" steps, or an indictment of those who are doing them. Greener is good; what isn't so good is when we get lulled into thinking that they're enough. That brings me to the next takeaway: Green is hard, and that's okay. We're facing big problems, and we need big changes to create the fast solutions that we need to solve the climate crisis. Consider this greener vs. green meme an aspiration, not a condemnation. We all want to improve our general well-being, so keep green in mind as something to aim for, rather than settling for green enough for now. It's a moving target, so don't get confused by all the different messages, and use the target to keep you moving toward green.

The truth of it is that meat -- and beef, especially -- is just an inefficient food source. It takes between 2500 gallons and 5000 gallons of water to raise a pound of beef, for example, grass-fed or not. Cows are big animals and it takes a lot of resources to make them that way. And that's just the inputs -- cow farts and manure are a big-time source for methane, which is 1000 times more potent than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas; it's so bad that Denmark is considering a tax on farmers' greenhouse gas emissions from all those cow farts.

The green side of this equation, then, is to cut the cows out of the equation altogether. From the extra water required to the extra methane spewed into the atmosphere, a vegetarian diet will save an entire ton -- that's 2000 pounds -- of carbon emissions per year; it's a big, big difference. And, while eating a vegetarian diet is not impactfree, certainly, it fits much more closely with our natural planetary and biological systems. Michael Pollan is on to something when he says: "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants."

January 2010 ~ Spliff Magazine 49

3 Recycling is greener; cradle-to-cradle, zero-waste design is If you, or your parents, or anybody else you knew was around in the 1970's, you've heard this more times than you can count: Reduce, reuse, recycle. It's a fine mantra, but we tend to focus on the last bit as a concrete activity. When you put something in the recycling bin, you know (in theory, at least) that it's not going the same place your garbage is, and that it'll get re-made into something new. Ahh, feels good, right?

Wrong. Yeah, recycling is generally not bad for the environment -- in fact, but, with few exceptins, it's just a prolonged path to the landfill. Paper, plastic, and other commonly recycled materials (glass is a notable exception) can only be recycled a limited number of times, which is to say, that piece of paper or plastic bag in your recycling bin will only come back a couple of times before it has been rendered useless, and will have to be discarded. Glass, the exception noted above, can be recycled pretty much indefinitely, but it takes an awful lot of energy to melt glass down to the point where any impurities can be removed, and the glass can be re-blown, so it's not an option without drawbacks.

The point is this: Recycling is okay, and you shouldn't stop doing it, but it's not the height of green life. True sustainability -- where our stuff never has to go "away" -- can only be achieved with an altered cycle that does not involve trash or recycling. Think about how much less work you'd personally have to do if you never had to take out the trash, or haul the recycling to the curb; everything would be designed for longevity, and you could either pass it on or turn it in to something more useful when you were done with it. Composting is a great example of this; nature recycles everything, and we should, too.

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http://planetgreen.discovery.com/home-garden/confusing-greener-green.html

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If I were a gambling man I’d wager that fleet-operated, batteryelectric urban delivery vans become a commercial success before battery-electric personal motorcars. The reasons are simple: Company image and solid balance sheet performance.

With company name, logo and clean-drive promotion emblazoned on the side, who wouldn’t notice the truck that was perfectly quiet and emitted no fumes or smoke? For those environmentally concerned, who wouldn’t choose between the company that operated the “green” trucks as opposed to the one that didn’t?

Depending on the nature of fleet operations, the balance sheet may justify the additional outlay for electric drive. On a spread sheet analysis, lower operating costs may prove the electricallydriven vehicle the winner over the diesel version. Companies that operate fleets don’t just drive vehicles, they manage them. Carefully charted daily and long term mileage that analyzes “electric fuel” cost, lower maintenance costs, longevity, and possible tax incentives could prove in favor of electric drive. The ability to own and operate their own electric refueling stations at company facilities may give another spread sheet nudge to electric drive.

Given the above arguments it’s no wonder that Ford in the U.S. has chosen to offer an electrified truck – the battery version of its Transit Connect commercial van – before it attempts to sell an electric car.

Ford has certainly been watching those companies already offering electric trucks such as Smith Electric Vehicles with which Ford already has a relationship. Smith continues to rack up new orders, including recently 51 Smith Edison electric vans to Sainsbury’s, a UK supermarket chain. The vans, built in on an electrified Ford transit chassis, will be used in Sainsbury’s online grocery delivery service. When added to the existing fleet of 20, Sainsbury’s will have the world’s largest electric van fleet. The retailer plans to eventually have 20% of its online delivery fleet operating on electrons.

And there are other seasoned truck builders entering the electric van business.

Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation is teaming with electric-drive builder Enova Systems to offer a 10,000 lb payload van to North American fleets by 2010. Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation is a subsidiary of Daimler Trucks North America .

And, Navistar International Corporation has announced that one of its wholly owned affiliates has signed a joint venture agreement with Modec Limited of the United Kingdom. The new company – the Navistar-Modec EV Alliance – will produce all-electric commercial trucks for sale in North, Central and South America. The distinctive, aerodynamic trucks are purpose-built to be electrically-driven and intended for urban work.

The trucks will have a carrying capacity of better than two tons and be able to travel 100 miles on a charge. Modecs will be produced in the U.S., in Elkhart County, Indiana, where Navistar intends to produce 400 units in 2010, and expects to be producing several thousand annually within two years.

As volumes grow, Navistar anticipates the creation of up to 700 new jobs, including suppliers and employees.

Navistar is a holding company owning brands such as International Truck and IC Bus. Modec, which was founded in 2004, already has dealers in France, The Netherlands, Spain, Germany, and Ireland. The company says its Modec is the first purpose designed and built vehicle of its kind.

Navistar received $39.2 million in government stimulus funding from the Department of Energy to develop and build allelectric trucks on U.S. soil.

Spliff Magazine

www.green-energy-news.com/arch/nrgs2009/20090092.html

January 2010 ~ Spliff Magazine 53

Green Day won two Grammys for its multi-platinum album American Idiot, which sold more than 12 million copies worldwide. Now those searing songs seize the stage with the director behind Spring Awakening, the ground breaking musical that earned eight Tony Awards and enthralled audiences around the world. American Idiot -fol lows working-class characters from the suburbs to the city to the Middle East, as they seek redemption in a world filled with frustration. This high-octane show features every track from the album, plus several new

e h t cal i s mu Green Day—vocalist/guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist Mike Dirnt and drummer Tré Cool—were loud, snotty, scrappy kids from working-class backgrounds who came of age in the underground punk scene in Berkeley. American Idiot debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard chart and raised the bar for modern rock ‘n’ roll.

Michael Mayer earned the Tony Award, Drama Desk Award and Outer Critics Circle Award for Spring Awakening. He has directed 11 shows on Broadway, three on London’s West End, two films and many other projects.

In 2004, The New Yorker proclaimed him “a great director.”

54 Spliff Magazine ~ January 2010

FOR MORE INFO GO TO: /www.americanidiotonbroadway.com

B R It's official. The much-talked-about and bloggedabout Green Day musical "American Idiot" has an opening date on Broadway. Producers of the show announced today that it will open March 24th at the St. James Theatre in New York.

There is no announcement on casting for the Broadway engagement. For the Berkeley Rep production, Tony-winner John Gallagher Jr. played in the lead role alongside Rebecca Naomi Jones and Tony Vincent.

"American Idiot" features music from the Green Day album of the same name, but it does not star members of the popular Bay Area punk band.The musical had its world premiere at Berkeley Repertory Theatre in September. Tonywinner Michael Mayer, who staged the Berkeley Rep production, also will direct the Broadway version of the show.

Steven Hoggett will choreograph the Broadway production and Tony-winning composer Tom Kitt will serve as the music supervisor, orchestrator and music arranger. Kitt also contributed string arrangements to Green Dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s album "21st Century Breakdown."

The plot of the musical, kept under wraps by Berkeley Rep, follows the journey of the protagonist Johnny, a modern-day Christ figure who travels from a suburban nowhere to the big city, where he must choose between love, drugs and other existential dilemmas. The story also follows a character to the Middle East.

Mayer wrote the book for the musical with Billie Joe Armstrong, the lead vocalist-guitarist for Green Day.

In his review of the Berkeley Rep production, Times theater critic Charles McNulty called the musical "kinetically entertaining" but added that the plot remains unsatisfying and that the characters are underdeveloped.

Berkeley Rep said that "American Idiot" was the highest-grossing production in its history. The production was extended twice and concluded its run on Nov. 15.

-- David Ng

latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster

Erykah Badu

t y h r blu New Amerykah 2, which is fifth studio album from Erykah Badu, is tentatively set to be released Feb. 23, 2010. It's the sequel to New Amerykah Part 1: 4th World War, which dropped in early 2008. "We used a lot of analog instruments — harps, strings, drums, piano, and even a Theremin — to give the album that sonic feel," Erykah told Billboard magazine. "There's a strong undercurrent of bottom, a rumbling to these songs that feels good to me. It feels like a hug."

Jamie Foxx Jamie Foxx Didn’t Get Just Any ‘Body’ But Lil Wayne, Gucci Mane On New Album! Jamie Foxx is back with a new song on the heels of a new year entitled ‘Straight To The Dance Floor’ featuring Lil Wayne which follows behind song ‘Winner’ featuring Justin Timberlake. Foxx’s new song ‘Straight To The Dance Floor’ is written by Rico Love and produced by Los Da Mystro and is a club banger.

The club song, which gets it’s touch of hip hop from Lil Wayne’s feature, is off Jamie Foxx’s upcoming album ‘Body’ which also features another single — slow jam song ‘Speak French,’ featuring Atlanta rapper Gucci Mane.

The album Body will be the fourth studio album

by Jamie Foxx real name Eric Marlon Bishop, 42, following albums Peep This (1994), Unpredictable (2005) and Intuition (2008).

Foxx’s new album ‘Body’ is slated for release in March 2010.

56 Spliff Magazine ~ January 2010

ughn a V e D m e e h a R

Love. Hate. Passion. Sex. War. Grammy Nominated Recording Artist and Songwriter, Raheem DeVaughn covers it all on his new album, “The Love and War Masterpiece.” Slated to be released in February 2010, this double-CD is guaranteed to take the masses by storm.

Coming off an ASCAP Award win and stellar performance on the Trumpet Awards, it’s been almost 2 years since DeVaughn’s last release, Love Behind the Melody. But he’s back on the scene with a new song featuring hip hop heavy-weight, Ludacris. Entitled “Bulletproof”, the album’s first single comes with a strong political message, catchy hook and DeVaughn’s raspy vocals, a change from his traditional ballads; garnering him comparison to R&B legends, Curtis Mayfield and Marvin Gaye. Can we say welcome back R&B? You be the judge. DeVaughn leaked the video yesterday via Twitter and we have it here for your viewing pleasure. Check it out!

Toni Braxton R&B singer Toni Braxton is gearing up for the release of her first album since 2005’s Libra this coming February. Her upcoming release will feature work from the likes of Troy Taylor and David Foster. A video for the 1st single featuring Trey Songz “Yesterday” was recently shot and be on the look out for that.

January 2010 ~ Spliff Magazine 57

Bon Jovi Feb 19 22 Feb Feb 24 Feb 26 March 2 March 4 March 6 March 8 March 9 March 11 March 13 March 15 March 17 March 19 March 20 March 23 March 24 March 29

Seattle, WA San Jose, CA Phoenix, AZ Anaheim, CA Sacramento, CA Los Angeles, CA Las Vegas, NV Denver, CO Omaha, NE Wichita, KS Fargo, ND Kansas City, MO Detroit, MI Montreal, QC Montreal, QC Philadelphia, PA Philadelphia, PA Washington, D.C.

58 Spliff Magazine ~ January 2010

Circle the World Tour

135 concerts in 30 countries by 2011. Bon Jovi announced a two year 2010-11 world tour! "The Circle World Tour" will be a globe-circling trek and include the two inaugural events at the soon-too-becompleted stadium that will be home to the Giants

April 7 April 10 April 13 April 15 April 17 April 18 April 21 April 22 May 26 May 27 July 15 July 17 July 20 July 24 July 28 July 30

St. Paul, MN Dallas, TX Tulsa, OK Atlanta, GA Tampa, FL Ft. Lauderdale, FL Nashville, TN Charlotte, NC East Rutherford, NJ East Rutherford, NJ Edmonton, AB Winnipeg, MB Toronto, ON Foxboro, MA Regina, SK Chicago, IL

and Jets football teams.

Bon Jovi's most recent album, "The Circle," was released on Nov. 10th and lived up to its promise to return to the more hard rock sounds which propelled the group to stardom after a turn towards country music on "Lost Highwayâ&#x20AC;?.

By David J. Prince

Battle Studies tour 02/08 - Charleston, SC 02/09 - Birmingham, AL 02/10 - Nashville, TN 02/12 - Auburn Hills, MI 02/13 - Toronto, ON 02/16 - Ottawa, ON 02/17 - Montreal, QC 02/19 - Uncasville, CT 02/20 - Washington, DC 02/21 - Philadelphia, PA 02/24 - Boston, MA TD 02/25 - New York, NY 02/28 - Grand Rapids, MI 03/01 - Milwaukee, WI 03/02 - St. Paul, MN 03/04 - Omaha, NE 03/05 - Oklahoma City, OK 03/06 - Houston, TX

03/08 - Austin, TX 03/09 - Dallas, TX 03/10 - New Orleans, LA 03/12 - Columbus, OH 03/13 - Louisville, KY 03/15 - Greensboro, NC 03/16 - Charlottesville, VA 03/17 - Atlanta, GA 03/19 - Memphis, TN 03/20 - St Louis, MO 03/22 - Kansas City, MO 03/23 - Denver, CO 03/25 - Los Angeles, CA 03/26 - San Jose, CA 03/30 - Portland, OR 03/31 - Seattle, WA 04/01 - Vancouver, BC 04/03 - Calgary, AB 04/04 - Edmonton, AB 04/06 - Saskatoon, SK 04/07 - Winnipeg, MB 04/08 - Fargo, ND 04/10 - Chicago, IL

John Mayer

John Mayer will kick off a North American tour in support of his upcoming release, Battle Studies, beginning February 8th in Charleston, SC and feature special guest, Michael Franti & Spearhead.

Battle Studies is the fourth studio album from the seven-time Grammy Award winning singer/songwriter/guitar player/producer and incorporates the warmth, melodies and simplicity of 70's and 80's California rock and pop. Battle Studies is a confessional, relaxed and liberated album recorded in a private home in California where Mayer lived and worked over the course of six months before wrapping at the famed Capitol Studios in Los Angeles. The album was co-produced by John Mayer and Steve Jordan and was released on November 17th, 2009 on Columbia Records.

http://www.greensboronc.org/press_results.cfm?NewsID=585

Simple Eco-Boots:

Simply Stylish and Totally Sustainable

By Rachel Cernansky

am in love with a pair of shoes. Boots actually, and they're recycled. But they don't look recycled. They just look fabulous.

I

I met my first pair of Simple's Green Toe shoes a few years ago, a pair of slip-ons I'm not sure they carry anymore, but which took me around Rwanda, New York City, and survived in good enough condition that they still serve as my backup shoes here in Colorado. But when the temperature started to drop last month, I began looking for shoes that would get my very cold-prone toes through the winter. I'm pretty skeptical about products that label themselves "green"—it's great that there's a growing demand for ecofriendly goods, but that often encourages greenwashing, giving companies eco-street cred for labeling products with terms like "recyclable" when they haven't done much to actually lighten their load on the earth. (Yes, recyclable is better than nonrecyclable, but as the third R in the chain, Reduce and Reuse should always come first. If Organic, Local, and Compostable all started with Rs, they would also come out ahead of Recycle.) Meaning, recycling is an important, but should be the final, step in the let's-go-green process.

Simple, it seems, knows that.

They make the soles of their shoes out of recycled inner tubes, they use recycled carpet padding, 100% post-consumer recycled paper, and recycled P E T

plastic (which, as Simple will tell you, is "a fancy-pants word for clear plastic that comes from soda and water bottles").

To make the body of the shoes, they use self-renewing materials like hemp, bamboo, cork, and the cotton they use is organic—a pretty important point considering that, grown conventionally, cotton is the most heavily sprayed crop in the world—with some of the most toxic chemicals around.

Did I mention they make buttons out of coconut shells?

Many of their shoes are vegan, though they do use wool, silk, and "eco-certified" leather and suede in some of their products. But everything is clearly marked, so it's easy to know what you're getting.

Happy feet When Simple sent me the TOEst boots, I was overrun with excitement. They looked even better in person than they did on a computer screen, and luckily for my feet, a cold front hit later that week, so I got to give the boots a test run.

My feet were so happy to slip into these incredibly comfortable, incredibly adorable, and incredibly recycled boots.

Granted, the shoes aren't the greatest for snow, but as long as I'm not slushing through the stuff, they're plenty to keep me warm. The weather warmed up again anyway for a bit so it was back to summery shoes, but I think the cold is now here to stay, and my Eco-boots are, too.

If you're going to gift... make it green If you are gifting this season—well, I can't not first recommend considering non-material gifts. Putting a little thought into how you can bring cheer to your loved ones during the holiday season, rather than simply buying more stuff, is always rewarding. Plus, less consumption is better for the earth. (Remember from about four paragraphs ago? Reduce, reduce reduce. Then reuse, then recycle.)

But if you are going to buy stuff, think about Simple's awesome eco-shoes. Or bags! They've got those, too. Just about all of their products seem to avoid two all-toocommon traps: greenwashing "green" fashion on one extreme, and genuinely organic styles that...well, look genuinely organic.

This is the kind of eco-fashion I can get behind. Or, um, already am. Your turn.

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January 2010 ~ Spliff Magazine 61

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January 2010 ~ Spliff Magazine 63

DiD You Know ?

The 2.65 billion Christmas cards sold each year n the U.S. could fill a football field 10 stories high. If we each sent one card less, we'd save 50,000 cubic yards of paper. Consider sending an electronic card. The following are some examples of what is available on the internet: At least 28 billion pounds of edibleare food wasted each year or over 100 pounds per person.

In the U.S., annual trash from gift-wrap and shopping bags totals 4 million tons.

Each year, 50 million Christmas trees are purchased in the U.S. Of those, about 30 million go to the landfill.

In the U.S., annual trash from gift-wrap and shopping bags totals 4 million tons

http://www.recycleworks.org/resident/holiday_facts.html

January 2010 ~ Spliff Magazine 65

on right 66 Spliff Magazine ~ January 2010

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68 Spliff Magazine ~ January 2010