N NA AT TIIO ON NA ALL O OR RG GA AN NIIZZA AT TIIO ON NT TO OR REEFFO OR RM MM MA AR RIIJJU UA AN NA A LLA AW WSS AUS RRP $ 7.00 ISSUE # 1 SUMMER 2011
NORML AUSTRALIA NEWS
MAGAZINE
CANNABIS KILLS CANCER ? CANNABIS AND THE LAW ! TRACEY SPICER www.norml.org.au
Letter from the President, st
Welcome to the 1 edition of Norml Australia News Magazine. Let me thank all the contributors, being it from advertising, interviews, association, editorials and knowledge. Norml Australia has chapters all over the country. We are a National non - profit organization and survive purely on donations, memberships and merchandize. Our goal is to have all of Australia atleast educated on Hemp and Cannabis, if not fully supportive. Also help educate and have a say in ENDING the prohibition of Medical Cannabis and social toking in Australia and to put forward a Compassionate Care Act to the health authority and government and fight them on their backward policies. We also want to be the Medical Marijuana Authority in Australia. Legalization is the removing of prohibitions or laws against something that is currently illegal. Victimless crimes, such as the use of illegal drugs, are often the subject of legalization. The government's major argument against the legalization of marijuana is that alcohol and tobacco have significant risks associated with them, so why legalize cannabis/marijuana and add a third drug to the current list of legal threats? But Marijuana has been proven to be less harmful than tobacco or alcohol, so if anything, they should outlaw one of them and legalize marijuana. The National Organization to Reform Marijuana Laws (NORML) supports the development of a legally controlled market for the sale of cannabis/marijuana where users could purchase it from a safe, legal and regulated source. We need members and sponsors, if you are interested in being part of the END of prohibition please contact us. Peace & Stay High, Sean Sylvester Pres. Norml Australia
Editors: Vickie Blay, Sean Sylvester Art Director: Sean Sylvester Publisher: Sean Sylvester Contributors: Sean Sylvester, Vickie Blay, Jenna Maree, Paul O’Brien, Mark Heinrich, Anne Marie, NORML, Cyclone, Ruth Wallace, Tracey Spicer, Fiona Patten. Visit: www.norml.org.au Email: norml@norml.org.au Facebook: Norml Australia – Legalize it Mail: P.O. Box 352, Kotara, NSW, 2289, Australia To advertise in Norml Australia News Magazine – Phone Sean on 0415 435324 or email us at norml@norml.org.au. Photography: Front cover – Big Bud by Sean Sylvester Top/bottom left – Belladonna by Sean Sylvester
Welcome to NORML Australia! My name is Mark Heinrich, and I am a cannabis activist living in Canberra, Australia. I am but one of many good folk in my homeland who have taken up the struggle to bring cannabis and hemp awareness to the World, and put an end to prohibition. Being a cannabis activist in Australia is an onerous task. It requires Dr Bob Melamede and Mark Heinrich dedication, commitment and courage. The laws in Australia are still somewhat draconian, and the Federal Government still maintains a zero tolerance towards cannabis, be it recreational use or medicinal application in clinical situations. It can be a risky business, but success is often measured by what you have to give up in achieving it. This can sometimes mean the loss of personal freedoms. “We are granted the benefit of overseas experience. Australians are provided the possibility of doing things differently. We can act to proactively manage a transition to using medical cannabis as a mainstream product in an orderly and rational manner. We can learn from the mistakes of others.” Dr Bob Melamede We usually think of activism as being against something, whether it be war, torture, or dictatorial government, whereas contemplative activism is being for something, such as fairness, freedom, and peace. Being for something shifts us from maintaining the negative to supporting the positive. Despite what big media and conservatives want you to think, marijuana activists are not all the same. We do not fit into a perfect stereotype, despite attempts by our opposition to label us all as ‗mindless, lazy stoners.‘ I‘m proud to call myself a stoner, but I respect the fact that not all marijuana consumers feel the same as me. Even if you feel uncomfortable with "coming out" as a pot smoker, or are a bit intimidated by the term "activist", there are still a variety of ways a person can help advance the movement toward rational cannabis policy. (Being an "activist‖ simply means you've taken some action to be part of the solution.) Being a part of NORML Australia will allow you to have a voice. Get involved. Be committed. Have a voice. Become a member and keep up to date with current laws, activities, functions, news, products, merchandize, strains, grow tips, discounts and much, much more............ www.norml.org.au
GOOD OLD HEADLINES! Tracey Spicer argues for use of medical marijuana By Tracey Spicer POLITICIANS their
chests
enjoy about
beating "zero
tolerance". On drugs. Binge drinking. Bullying. Sexual harassment. But what about zero tolerance for suffering? As a society we allow our weakest - those with cancer, AIDS, chronic arthritis, fibromyalgia and multiple sclerosis - to writhe in pain because they can't get the right drugs. Many are helpless, innocent children. An AMA study out today reveals 84 per cent of cancer kids suffer "a lot" or "a great deal" of pain in the last month of their life. Just stop for a minute to imagine what that's like. You know your beloved son or daughter is dying. You sit by their bedside and watch as the life ebbs from their body: the circles darken under their eyes; their bones protrude from their limbs; the colour saps from their skin. The nurse injects morphine but it doesn't cap the breakthrough pain. Morphine is a terrible drug with nasty side effects. Many people are allergic to it. For some, it doesn't work at all. When my mum was dying of pancreatic cancer, she begged me to buy marijuana. The shooting pain that frayed every nerve ending was too much to bear. Ultimately, I was too much of a coward. It's a decision I regret to this day. There's a growing body of research proving cannabis - either smoked or in a liquid - eases the excruciating pain of cancer patients, the spasms of MS sufferers and the crippling effects of arthritis. The active ingredient, THC, slows the progress of Alzheimer's, reduces tumour growth in lung cancers and inhibits the spread of breast cancer. While proof of its efficacy is new, the use of medical marijuana is not. Since the 3rd Century AD, the Chinese have considered cannabis one of the 50 fundamental herbs in traditional medicine. It took 16 centuries for western medicine to catch on, using it as a pain reliever until aspirin came along. Now, in 14 states in the US, Canada, Spain and the Netherlands, you can get a doctor's certificate to grow your own or buy a liquid version from a pharmacist. So where does that leave us? Back in the dark ages.
You wouldn't treat a dog the way we treat our terminally ill. Despite support from the Country Women's Association, Law Society, Cancer Council and medical community, our PM is out to prove he's tough on drugs. "I've always had a very tough line on this stuff - really, really hard line," Mr Rudd once told Channel 9. "I'm in John Howard's camp on this one. We have a unity ticket." The dangers of smoking marijuana are well documented: mental illness, cancer, heart attack and immune disorders. Clearly, it shouldn't be legalised. But it should be available to alleviate suffering. Victorian doctors want to trial a cannabinoid mouth spray, Sativex, for patients with MS. They'll need the dexterity of Circus Oz to jump through all the hoops - all for a drug that's legal in the UK, Europe and US. Back home, NSW's last attempt went up in smoke.
In
2003
then-Premier
Bob
Carr
announced a trial of medical cannabis after being moved by the suffering of Upper House MP Paul O'Grady. It didn't go ahead because of issues with
drug
importation.
In
the
meantime,
thousands of ordinary Australians risk fines or jail trying to ease the suffering of their loved ones.
When Jesus said, "suffer the little children", I don't think this is what he had in mind.
Cannabis and the Law * Please note that the information on cannabis and the law given on this factsheet does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon in this way. The information is correct at the time of publication. People wanting legal advice should consult a lawyer.
Is cannabis illegal in Australia? It is illegal to use, possess, grow or sell cannabis in Australia, but the penalties for cannabis offences are different in each state and territory. In some states, if someone is caught with a 'small amount' of cannabis they may be given a $50 fine, while in other states they may be charged with a criminal offence and receive a much larger fine, or even be sentenced to jail. The definition of a 'small amount' of cannabis also differs between states and territories. In response to increases in hydroponic cannabis cultivation (cannabis grown indoors in an artificial environment), the Australian Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act (1985) was amended in 2006. The amendment reduced the amount of indoor cultivated cannabis needed to qualify for a 'commercial quantity' and 'large commercial quantity'.
What is the difference between decriminalisation and legalisation? Some jurisdictions have decriminalised minor cannabis offences, such as the possession of a small amount of the drug for personal use. This means that the offence can be dealt with by a civil penalty, such as a fine, rather than by receiving a criminal charge. Speeding is a good example of an offence that is commonly dealt with by a civil penalty. If an offence is decriminalised, it does not mean that it is legal. Legalisation of cannabis would mean that cannabis would no longer be an illicit drug, but would be a legal drug like alcohol and tobacco.
Which states and territories have decriminalised cannabis?
with 60 days to expiate instead of a criminal charge. Instead of paying the fine, the person may choose to attend a drug assessment and treatment program.
South Australia In 1987, South Australia was the first state to decriminalise minor cannabis offences. The possession of up to 100 grams of marijuana, 20 grams of hash (the resin from the cannabis plant), one non-hydroponic plant or cannabis smoking equipment leads to a fine from $50 to $150 with 60 days to expiate.
Western Australia Western Australia is the most recent area to introduce a civil penalty scheme for cannabis possession. Since 2004, a fine from $100 to $200 with 28 days to expiate is served if a person is found in possession of smoking equipment, up to 30 grams of marijuana, or two non-hydroponic cannabis plants. An alternative to paying the fine or appearing in court is to attend a cannabis education session. The new Western Australian government plans to repeal these laws to return to a criminal penalty scheme for cannabis possession and cultivation offences with cautions for first offenders posessing 15 grams or less.
Northern Territory Since 1996, adults found in possession of up to 50 grams of marijuana, one gram of hash oil, 10 grams of hash or cannabis seed, or two non-hydroponic plants can be fined $200 with 28 days to expiate rather than face criminal charge.
The following states and territories have decriminalised minor cannabis offences. Any cannabis offence is still illegal in these areas.
Australian Capital Territory The ACT introduced a civil penalty system for the possession of small amounts of cannabis in 1993. If someone is caught with up to two non-hydroponic cannabis plants, or up to 25 grams of marijuana (cannabis plant material), they receive a $100 fine
Table 1 Minor cannabis offences decriminalised cannabis
in
jurisdictions
that
have
What happens in other states? In the rest of Australia, any cannabis offence is a criminal offence. If someone is charged with possession of cannabis in these areas and found guilty, they could receive a large fine or jail time and will have a criminal record.
cannabis use and a number to call for drug-related information or referral. Only two cautions are allowed to be given to the same person.
Victoria A police officer may give someone a caution and offer them the opportunity to attend a cannabis education program if they are caught with no more than 50 grams of cannabis. Like NSW, only two cautions are allowed to be given to the one person.
It is unlikely, however that someone caught with a small amount of cannabis for the first time would receive a criminal conviction, because of the diversion programs that run in these states. Diversion programs aim to divert non-violent drug offenders away from the criminal justice system and into appropriate assessment, It is unlikely, however that education and treatment services. These programs aim to break the someone caught with a criminal cycle associated with illicit small amount of cannabis drug use by reducing the motivation behind much criminal activity and by for the first time would encouraging offenders to tackle their drug problems early. receive a criminal
“
It should be noted that it is usually up to the police officer whether or not to 'divert' the offender or charge them. Also, juveniles or people who have a history of drug offences, or violence are ineligible for diversion.
conviction, because of the diversion programs that run in these states.”
NSW If someone is caught with up to 15 grams of cannabis in NSW, they may receive a 'caution' from the police officer, which includes information about the harms association with
Tasmania Someone found in the possession of up to 50 grams of cannabis can be given a caution up to three times in ten years. For the first caution, information and referral is provided. A brief intervention is given with the second caution. On the third and final caution, the offender must be assessed for drug dependence and attend either a brief intervention or treatment program.
Queensland
Police officers in Queensland offer someone the option of diversion if they are found in possession of up to 50 grams of cannabis. This is the only state in which diversion must be offered to a minor cannabis offender - elsewhere, it is up to the police officers whether or not they offer diversion or charge the offender. The diversion includes a mandatory assessment and brief intervention program. Only one offer of diversion is allowed per person.
Table 2 Diversion programs for minor cannabis offences
* This factsheet updated June 2009.
“Unfortunately this is the latest and most up – to – date information available on the current Cannabis Laws in Australia. As you can see the laws vary from state to state and the mention of caution is a joke. I have not heard of one report where anyone cultivating or in possession of Cannabis has received a caution.” Sean Sylvester Pres. Norml Australia
Photography – White Widow by Sean Sylvester
Equipment: 1x400w MH Bulb for veg 1x600w HPS Bulb for flower Medium Shade Rockwool cubes Silver reflective lining 9 Hydra pots Black hose 3mm & 6mm feed Black hose 10mm drain 2x1m pumps 1mx1m hydro tray Canna part A&B for veg Canna part A&B for flower Calmag whole growth cycle Superthrive veg only Big Bud flower only PH & EC pens PH up and down Maintained ph of 5.8 and ec of 1.5 40L reservoir
2 weeks old water only
3 weeks old, water and half strength solution
Make sure hoses go directly into cubes, timers on 15min every hour for 18 hours with MH light
6 weeks old, water and full strength solution, ph 5.8, ec 1.5
10 weeks, 2nd week flowering, 12 hours HPS light, feeding 15mins every hour
Norml Australia’s State reps and officers are: Tas: Matt Owen VIC: Matt Riley NSW: Sean Sylvester Northern Rivers: Peace Freeborn South Coast: Paul O’Brien Hunter: Jorj Ammo QLD: Robert & Michael Nixon WA: Rowan Dowie Officers: Macciza Macpherson, Daniel Harrison, Jenna Maree, Vickie Blay, Mark Heinrich, David Perkins
14 weeks, really starting to bud up
16 weeks
18 weeks, time to flush with water only at a ph of 6 for a week or 2. Look at the resin build up. It is recommended that 2 days before cutting to start the drying process to let them sit in darkness. 8 weeks old, last week of veg
Cannabinoids Kill Cancer and Our Government Has Known for 36 Years
as well as by inhibiting the growth of blood vessels that supply the tumor. The Guzman study is very important according to Dr. Ethan Russo , a neurologist and world authority on medical cannabis: ―Cancer occurs because cells become immortalized; they fail to heed normal signals to turn off growth. A normal function of remodelling in the body requires that cells die on cue. This is called apoptosis, or programmed cell death. That process fails to work in tumors. THC promotes its reappearance so that gliomas, leukemias, melanomas and other cell types will in fact heed the signals, stop dividing, and die.‖ ―But, that is not all,‖ explains Dr. Russo: ―The other way that tumors grow is by ensuring that they are nourished: they send out signals to promote angiogenesis, the growth of new blood vessels. Cannabinoids turn off these signals as well. It is truly incredible, and elegant.‖ In other words, this article explains several ways in which cannabinoids might be used to fight cancer, and, as the article says, ―Cannabinoids are usually well tolerated, and do not produce the generalized toxic effects of conventional chemotherapies.
Below is a repost of an article published on Americans for Safe Access website: www.safeaccessnow.org in November of 2003. The article describes how cannabinoids, the active components of marijuana, inhibit tumor growth in laboratory animals and also kill cancer cells. Then it finishes off by saying that the US government has known for more than 35 years and that the media which would normally go crazy about a cancer cure story like this, doesn‘t at all and in fact seem to be burying the story rather than promote it in any way. I for one am amazed at the government‘s stance on marijuana and their failed war on drugs, which is more like a war on it‘s own country. I guess too many people get rich off of the war on drugs. Read the full story after the break. by Steve Kubby, Sierra Times November 10th, 2003 A new study published in Nature ReviewsCancer provides an historic and detailed explanation about how THC and natural cannabinoids counteract cancer, but preserve normal cells. The study by Manuel Guzmán of Madrid Spain found that cannabinoids, the active components of marijuana, inhibit tumor growth in laboratory animals. They do so by modulating key cell-signalling pathways, thereby inducing direct growth arrest and death of tumor cells,
Usually, any story that even suggests the possibility of a new treatment for cancer is greeted with headlines about a ―cancer cure‖ – however remote in the future and improbable in fact it might be. But if marijuana is involved, don‘t expect any coverage from mainstream media, especially since mainstream editors have been quietly killing this story for the past thirty years… That‘s right, news about the abilility of pot to shrink tumors first surfaced, way back in 1974. Researchers at the Medical College of Virginia, who had been funded by the National Institutes of Health to find evidence that marijuana damages the immune system, found instead that THC slowed the growth of three kinds of cancer in mice — lung and breast cancer, and a virusinduced leukemia. The Washington Post reported on the 1974 study — in the ―Local‖ section — on Aug. 18, 1974. Under the headline, ―Cancer Curb Is Studied,‖ it read in part: ―The active chemical agent in marijuana curbs the growth of three kinds of cancer in mice and may also suppress the immunity reaction that causes rejection of organ transplants, a Medical College of Virginia team has discovered.‖ The researchers ―found that THC slowed the growth of lung cancers, breast cancers, and a virus-induced leukemia in laboratory mice, and prolonged their lives by as much as 36 percent.‖
―News coverage of the Madrid discovery has been virtually nonexistent in this country. The news broke quietly on Feb. 29, 2000 with a story that ran once on the UPI wire about the Nature Medicine article,‖ complained MarijuanaNews.com editor Richard Cowan , who said he was only able to find the article through a link that appeared briefly on the Drudge Report Web page. ―The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Los Angeles Times all ignored the story, even though its newsworthiness is indisputable: a benign substance occurring in nature destroys deadly brain tumors,‖ added Cowan. On March 29, 2001, the San Antonio Current printed a carefully researched, bombshell of a story by Raymond Cushing titled, ―POT SHRINKS TUMORS; GOVERNMENT KNEW IN ‗74.‖ Media coverage since then has been nonexistant, except for a copy of the story on Alternet. It is hard to believe that the knowledge that cannabis can be used to fight cancer has
been suppressed for almost thirty years , yet it seems likely that it will continue to be suppressed. Why? According to Cowan, the answer is because it is a threat to cannabis prohibition . ―If this article and its predecessors from 2000 and 1974 were the only evidence of the suppression of medical cannabis, then one might perhaps be able to rationalize it in some herniated way. However, there really is massive proof that the suppression of medical cannabis represents the greatest failure of the institutions of a free society, medicine, journalism, science, and our fundamental values,‖ Cowan notes. Millions of people have died horrible deaths and in many cases, familes exhausted their savings on dangerous, toxic and expensive drugs. Now we are just beginning to realize that while marijuana has never killed anyone, marijuana prohibition has killed millions.
www.norml.org.au
EMERGING CLINICAL APPLICATIONS FOR CANNABIS & CANNABINOIDS A REVIEW OF THE RECENT SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE, 2000 — 2011 Despite the ongoing political debate regarding the legality of medical marijuana, clinical investigations of the therapeutic use of cannabinoids are now more prevalent than at any time in history. For example, in February 2010 investigators at the University of California Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research publicly announced the findings of a series of randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials on the medical utility of inhaled cannabis. The studies, which utilized the so-called ‗gold standard' FDA clinical trail design, concluded that marijuana ought to be a "first line treatment" for patients with neuropathy and other serious illnesses. Among the studies conducted by the Center, four assessed smoked marijuana's ability to alleviate neuropathic pain, a notoriously difficult to treat type of nerve pain associated with cancer, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, spinal cord injury and many other debilitating conditions. Each of the trials found that cannabis consistently reduced patients' pain levels to a degree that was as good or better than currently available medications. Another study conducted by the Center's investigators assessed the use of marijuana as a treatment for patients suffering from multiple sclerosis. That study determined that "smoked cannabis was superior to placebo in reducing spasticity and pain in patients with MS, and provided some benefit beyond currently prescribed treatments." Around the globe, similarly controlled trials are also taking place. A 2010 review by researchers in Germany reports that since 2005 there have been 37 controlled studies assessing the safety and efficacy of marijuana and its naturally occurring compounds in a total of 2,563 subjects. By contrast, most FDA-approved drugs go involving far fewer subjects. through far fewer trials While much of the renewed interest in cannabinoid therapeutics is a result of the discovery of the endocannabinoid regulatory system (which we describe in detail later in this booklet), some of this increased attention is also due to the growing body of testimonials from medical cannabis patients and their physicians. Nevertheless, despite this influx of anecdotal reports, much of the modern investigation of medical cannabis remains limited to preclinical (animal) studies of individual cannabinoids (e.g. THC orcannabidiol) and/or synthetic cannabinoid agonists (e.g., dronabinol or WIN 55,212-2) rather than clinical trial investigations involving whole plant material. Because of the US government's strong public policy stance against any use of cannabis, the bulk of this modern cannabinoid research is predictably taking place outside the United States. As clinical research into the therapeutic value of cannabinoids has proliferated – there are now an estimated 20,000 published papers in the scientific literature analyzing marijuana and its constituents — so too has investigators' understanding of cannabis' remarkable capability to combat disease. Whereas researchers in the 1970s, 80s, and 90s primarily assessed cannabis' ability to temporarily alleviate various disease symptoms — such as the nausea associated with cancer chemotherapy — scientists today are exploring the potential role of cannabinoids to modify disease. Of particular interest, scientists are investigating cannabinoids' capacity to moderate autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease, as well as their role in the treatment of neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (a.k.a. Lou Gehrig's disease.) In fact, in 2009, the American Medical Association (AMA) resolved for the first time in the organization's history "that marijuana's status as a federal Schedule I controlled substance be reviewed with the goal of facilitating the conduct of clinical research and development of cannabinoid-based medicines." Investigators are also studying the anti-cancer activities of cannabis, as a growing body of preclinical and clinical data concludes that cannabinoids can reduce the spread of specific cancer cells via apoptosis (programmed cell death) and by the inhibition of angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels). Arguably, these latter findings represent far broader
and more significant applications for cannabinoid therapeutics than researchers could have imagined some thirty or even twenty years ago. THE SAFETY PROFILE OF MEDICAL CANNABIS Cannabinoids have a remarkable safety record, particularly when compared to other therapeutically active substances. Most significantly, the consumption of marijuana – regardless of quantity or potency -- cannot induce a fatal overdose. According to a 1995 review prepared for the World Health Organization, ―There are no recorded cases of overdose fatalities attributed to cannabis, and the estimated lethal dose for humans extrapolated from animal studies is so high that it cannot be achieved by … users.‖
―there are now an estimated 20,000 published papers in the scientific literature analyzing marijuana and its constituents‖
In 2008, investigators at McGill University Health Centre and McGill University in Montreal and the University of British Columbia in Vancouver reviewed 23 clinical investigations of medical cannabinoid drugs (typically oral THC or liquid cannabis extracts) and eight observational studies conducted between 1966 and 2007. Investigators "did not find a higher incidence rate of serious adverse events associated with medical cannabinoid use" compared to nonusing controls over these four decades. That said, cannabis should not necessarily be viewed as a ‗harmless‘ substance. Its active constituents may produce a variety of physiological and euphoric effects. As a result, there may be some populations that are susceptible to increased risks from the use of cannabis, such as adolescents, pregnant or nursing mothers, and patients who have a family history of mental illness. Patients with hepatitis C, decreased lung function (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), or who have a history of heart disease or stroke may also be at a greater risk of experiencing adverse side effects from marijuana. As with any medication, patients should consult thoroughly with their physician before deciding whether the medical use of cannabis is safe and appropriate. HOW TO USE THIS REPORT As states continue to approve legislation enabling the physiciansupervised use of medical marijuana, more patients with varying disease types are exploring the use of therapeutic cannabis. Many of these patients and their physicians are now discussing this issue for the first time and are seeking guidance on whether the therapeutic use of cannabis may or may not be advisable. This report seeks to provide this guidance by summarizing the most recently published scientific research (2000-2010) on the therapeutic use of cannabis and cannabinoids for 19 clinical indications: Alzheimer's disease, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Chronic pain, Diabetes mellitus, Dystonia, Fibromyalgia, Gastrointestinal disorders, Gliomas/other cancers, Hepatitis C,* Human Immunodeficiency Virus,
Hypertension, Incontinence, Methicillin-resistant, Staphyloccus aureus (MRSA), Multiple Pruritus, Rheumatoid arthritis, Sleep apnea, Tourette's syndrome. Just to name a few.
sclerosis, Osteoporosis,
In some of these cases, modern science is now affirming longtime anecdotal reports of medical cannabis users (e.g., the use of cannabis to alleviate GI disorders). In other cases, this research is highlighting entirely new potential clinical utilities for cannabinoids (e.g., the use of cannabinoids to modify the progression of diabetes.) The conditions profiled in this report were chosen because patients frequently inquire about the therapeutic use of cannabis to treat these disorders. In addition, many of the indications included in this report may be moderated by cannabis therapy. In several cases, preclinical data and clinical data indicate that cannabinoids may halt the progression of these diseases in a more efficacious manner than available pharmaceuticals. For patients and their physicians, this report can serve as a primer for those who are considering using or recommending medical cannabis. For others, this report can serve as an introduction to the broad range of emerging clinical applications for cannabis and its various compounds. * The author would like to acknowledge Drs. Dale Gieringer, Dustin Sulak, Gregory Carter, Steven Karch, and Mitch Earleywine, as well as Bernard Ellis, MPH, former NORML interns John Lucy, Christopher Rasmussen, and Rita Bowles, for providing research assistance for this report. The NORML Foundation would also like to acknowledge Dale Gieringer, Paul Kuhn, and Richard Wolfe for their financial contributions toward the publication of this report.
Public should decide drugs law, says, Deputy Commissioner Sir Ken Jones  Chief calls for public debate on drugs  Believes current approach isn't working  Does not advocate softer stance on drugs
ONE of Australia's highest ranking police officers believes the public should decide if some illicit drugs should be legalised. Victoria's Deputy Commissioner Sir Ken Jones said there needed to be a public discussion on drug policy. "I'd love to have a debate at some point about legalisation," Sir Ken told a major conference on organised crime. He said the public should be educated about the flow-on costs, from higher insurance premiums to delays in elective surgery as hospitals treated the fallout from drugs and crime. Outside the conference, Sir Ken said he was not advocating a softer stance on drugs. He said his invitation to a debate was in response to a call by some academics and international police experts for harm minimisation or decriminalisation policies. "There are people in academia, in public policy and law enforcement who are challenging us and saying the current approach is not working." he told the Herald Sun. "I'm hearing it come up a lot." Sir Ken refused to nominate which drugs should be part of any legalisation debate. As a parent, he did not want to see current and future generations exposed to a wider range of legal drugs. "I don't want my daughter exposed to more," Sir Ken said. "If we had our time again, we wouldn't have allowed tobacco ... or alcohol. Are we going to add another 20 to the list? I don't think so." Drug and Alcohol Research and Training Australia expert Paul Dillon said Sir Ken's call deserved respect. "When you see police officers in positions of power making these comments, I don't think they are off-hand," he said. Mr Dillon said marijuana was recently decriminalised in Spain and Portugal while other countries, such as England and the Netherlands, were hardening their stance. "There are those in law enforcement and senior police who are saying what we are doing doesn't seem to be working so well," he said. "We've got to think outside the square and maybe look for things that don't appear to be politically palatable. It's clear just getting tougher does not result in behaviour changes." Victorian police have the power to issue two cautions to anyone possessing or using less than 50g of cannabis for personal use. Mr Dillon said the difference between decriminalisation and legalisation for personal use was an important distinction. Former premier Jeff Kennett canned the call for a debate on marijuana. "I would be absolutely opposed to any legalisation of marijuana," he said.
Medicinal uses for the Cannabis Plant Down 1.
Can be contracted via sex and dirty needles. (abrve)
2.
Psychological condition that makes you sad.
3.
A tumour in the head. 2 words.
4.
Most common in older people, symptoms include memory loss and shaking. 2 words.
6.
Uncontrollable swearing.
7.
A type of cancer most common in children.
9.
A symptom that is caused by chemotherapy.
10.
Can be triggered by flashing lights.
11.
A type of cancer most common in women. 2 words.
13.
This causes pain to the joints, most common in older people.
15.
Type of sleep disorder.
5.
Severe head ache.
8.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder abbreviated.
12.
Pregnant women often suffer from this. 2 words.
14.
Most common cause is exposure to the sun. 2 words.
16.
Ritalin was the most common treatment until now. (abrve)
17.
A lung condition that causes shortness of breath.
18.
Uncontrollable muscle spasms. (abrve)
19.
Serious mental disorder
20.
A type of eating disorder
Across
By - Jenna Maree
In this crossword you will find all different ways Cannabis is helping modern medicine!
NORML AUSTRALIA PRESENTS RECIPES BY GANGA KITCHEN CHEF - CYCLONE PPEECCAANN PPIIEE SShhoorrtt ccrruusstt ppaassttrryy 11..55 ccuuppss ppllaaiinn fflloouurr 112255gg cchhooppppeedd cchhiillleedd bbuutttteerr 22 –– 33 ttaabbllee ssppoooonnss cchhiillleedd w waatteerr M Meetthhoodd AAdddd fflloouurr aanndd bbuutttteerr rruubb ttooggeetthheerr w wiitthh ffiinnggeerrss uunnttiill bbrreeaaddccrruum b t e x t u r e mb texture AAdddd w waatteerr aanndd m miixx RReeffrriiggeerraattee 2200m miinnss RRoolll oouutt iinnttoo aa2233ccm m ttiinn PPrreehheeaatt oovveenn 118800 bbaakkee ffoorr 1155m miinnuutteess FFIILLLLIINNGG 220000gg ppeeccaannss 33 eeggggss,, lliigghhttllyy bbeeaatteenn 5500gg m meelltteedd ggrreeeenn bbuutttteerr TThhrreeee qquuaarrtteerr ccuupp ssoofftt bbrroow wnn ssuuggaarr 11 tteeaassppoooonn vvaanniilllaa eesssseennccee TTw woo tthhiirrddss ccuupp ooff lliigghhtt ccoorrnn ssyyrruupp M Meetthhoodd SSpprreeaadd ppeeccaannss iinn ppiiee sshheelll IInn aa bboow wll m miixx eeggggss,, bbuutttteerr,, ssuuggaarr,, ccoorrnn ssyyrruupp aanndd vvaanniilllaa eesssseennccee PPoouurr oovveerr ppeeccaannss aanndd bbaakkee aa ffuurrtthheerr 4455 m miinnuutteess uunnttiill ffiirrm m
AAPPPPLLEE BBAARRSS 11 ccuupp bbrroow wnn ssuuggaarr 6600gg ggrreeeenn bbuutttteerr 11 eegggg 22 ccuuppss cchhooppppeedd aapppplleess 22 ccuuppss sseellff rraaiissiinngg fflloouurr 11 tteeaassppoooonn cciinnnnaam moonn HHaallff tteeaassppoooonn nnuuttm meegg HHaallff ccuupp cchhooppppeedd nnuuttss M Meetthhoodd BBeeaatt ssuuggaarr,, bbuutttteerr aanndd eegggg ttooggeetthheerr uunnttiill lliigghhtt aanndd fflluuffffyy AAdddd ssiifftteedd fflloouurr,, cciinnnnaam moonn aanndd nnuuttm meegg M Miixxw weelll w wiitthh aapppplleess aanndd nnuuttss PPoouurr iinnttoo 2233ccm m ssqquuaarree ttiinn aanndd ccooookk aatt 118800 ffoorr 4400 m miinnuutteess LLeett ccooooll tthheenn aadddd iicciinngg aanndd ccuutt iinnttoo ssqquuaarreess LLEEM MOONN FFRROOSSTTIINNGG 33 tteeaassppoooonnss lleem moonn jjuuiiccee 11 tteeaassppoooonn lleem moonn rriinndd 22 tthhiirrddss ccuupp iicciinngg ssuuggaarr M Miixxttooggeetthheerr aanndd sspprreeaadd oovveerr bbaarrss
Photography – by Sean Sylvester
CCHHO OCCO OLLAATTEE M MUUDD CCAAKKEE 112255gg ggrreeeenn bbuutttteerr pplluuss 112255gg uunnssaalltteedd bbuutttteerr 225500gg ddaarrkk cchhooccoollaattee 22 ttaabblleessppoooonnss iinnssttaanntt ccooffffeeee ppoow wddeerr 115500gg sseellff rraaiissiinngg fflloouurr 115500gg ppllaaiinn fflloouurr HHaallff ccuupp ccooccooaa ppoow wddeerr HHaallff tteeaassppoooonn bbii ccaarrddppoow wddeerr 550000gg ssuuggaarr 44 eeggggss 22 ttaabbllee ssppoooonnss ooiill HHaallff ccuupp m miillkk M Meetthhoodd PPrreehheeaatt oovveenn 116600,, lliinnee aa 2222ccm m ccaakkee ttiinn M Meelltt bbuutttteerr,, cchhooccoollaattee aanndd ccooffffeeee oovveerr aa lloow w hheeaatt uunnttiill m miixx iiss ssm mooootthh,, rreem moovvee ffrroom m hheeaatt IInn aa llaarrggee bboow wll ssiifftt fflloouurr,, ccooccooaa aanndd bbii ccaarrbb aadddd ssuuggaarr AAdddd eeggggss,, ooiill aanndd m miillkk ccoom mbbiinnee w wiitthh fflloouurr m miixx,, tthheenn aaddddm meelltteedd cchhooccoollaattee uunnttiill ccoom mbbiinneedd PPoouurr iinnttoo ttiinn aannddbbaakkee ffoorr 11hhrr 4400 m miinnss GGLLAAZZEE 225500gg ddaarrkk ccooookkiinngg cchhooccoollaattee HHaallff ccuupp ccrreeaam m TTw woo tthhiirrddss ccuupp ccaasstteerr ssuuggaarr M Meetthhoodd SSttiirr aalll iinnggrreeddiieennttss iinn aa ppaann oovveerr lloow w hheeaatt BBrriinngg ttoo tthhee bbooiill,, rreedduuccee hheeaattaanndd ssiim mm meerr ffoorr 55 m miinnuutteess RReem moovvee ffrroom m hheeaatt aanndd ccooooll PPoouurr ggllaazzee oovveerr ccaakkee