Hemp Embassy :: Forum

Beckley Foundation in the Guardian: [by webhead]

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:04:13 -0100

Circus Psychedelica:: Magic mushrooms, international law and the failed 'war on drugs'

I think the background briefing on that article above is just as significant as the article, and deserves a little emphasis. It was published in a major British daily.

Beckley Foundation in the Guardian:

We are delighted with the worldwide media coverage that has followed the publication of our two ground-breaking psilocybin studies, which are part of the Beckley Foundation/Imperial College Psychedelic Research Programme. We were subsequently asked to submit an article for the Guardian’s Science section, which is attached below.

With best wishes,

Amanda Feilding

The health impacts of khat: a qualitative study among Somali-Australians [by Moose]

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:50:31 -0100

Circus Psychedelica:: The health impacts of khat: a qualitative study among Somali-Australians
The health impacts of khat: a qualitative study among Somali-Australians

300) this.width=300" />Abstract

Objectives:

To identify patterns of khat use among Somali-Australians in Australia and to explore their views about the links between khat use and personal health.

Design, setting and participants:

Qualitative study using semistructured focus groups among adult members of Somali communities in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth who volunteered to attend focus groups in January and December 2010.

Main outcome measures:

Emergent themes related to Somali-Australians’ understanding of the links between khat use and personal health.

Results:

Nineteen focus groups included 114 participants. Khat use was reported to be common among the Somali community, and more common among men than women. Khat was usually chewed in prolonged sessions, producing mild psychostimulant effects such as increased energy, enhanced mood, reduced appetite and reduced sleep. Khat was widely perceived to be a food, not a drug, and as harmless, or even beneficial, to the user’s health. Many users reported discontinuation effects such as lethargy, sleep disturbances and mood problems after sessions of heavy khat use, and some reported self-medicating with alcohol to cope with such problems. Problems of addiction to khat were identified by some participants, but not all believed it is addictive. Many khat users reported visiting their health professionals for treatment of adverse effects and failing to disclose their khat use.

Conclusions:

Health professionals require greater awareness of khat use and related health problems. Health promotion activities targeting communities with high levels of khat use are required to increase understanding of the potential risks of regular khat use, to promote harm-reduction strategies, and to increase awareness of services available for those experiencing harm. Health professionals should consider targeted screening for khat use among individuals from Horn of Africa communities who present to health services.

Source: http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/195_11_121211/dou10166_fm.html

Drug War Profiteering 101 [by Moose]

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 04:10:09 -0100

Cannabis and the Law:: Drug War Profiteering 101

Re: High on Life? Medical Marijuana Laws and Suicide [by webhead]

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:04:41 -0100

Medical Cannabis:: High on Life? Medical Marijuana Laws and Suicide
Ha! Beat me Crab. Interesting eh?

Mexican Drug War [by Moose]

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:24:44 -0100

Cannabis and the Law:: Mexican Drug War
50,000 deaths in the Drug War in Mexico and students know nothing. WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why Obama Refuses To Answer Marijuana Questions [by Moose]

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:04:42 -0100

Cannabis and the Law:: Why Obama Refuses To Answer Marijuana Questions
Why Obama Refuses To Answer Marijuana Questions

By Jack Rikess
Toke of the Town
Northern California Correspondent

600) this.width=600" />These are strange and actually wonderful times. For many the pipe is still half full and for others, the pipe is losing its fire. While everyone may be talking about medical marijuana, the few that count refuse to acknowledge the subject and do something about it.

In California, this past week, two bills that would have lessened the heat and made the competition for Medical Marijuana Bowl favor our side a little, came up short. Even with that defeat, activists still have hope and are searching for dollars and signatures.

What I find most hopeful, leading me to believe that the pipe is going to smoke no matter what, is that the straights are coming out for medical marijuana.

When medicine, science or law enforcement step up and state their rational, qualified opinion, usually drawn from years of experience, on why either the 'War on Drugs' is a waste or the medicinal benefits of the plant is for real, it has more resonance with a skeptical public.

When the person who looks like none of the others stands up for the cause, that's when the cause is take more seriously.

In case you weren't aware, you can ask a direct question of our president via YouTube. As stated in the rules, the question with the most American interest will be answered.

That's why it was so disheartening that President Obama refused to respond to the recently-asked, most popular, question put forth by retired Los Angeles Police Department Deputy Chief of Police, Stephen Downing, concerning medical marijuana and the futility of continuing the War on Drugs.

I rested my hope and idealistic vision on Deputy Chief Downing with his years of experience and the fact that's he's not a stoner. Far from it. He's a man who has been on the front lines of a war that he finds impossible to win.

His background is a testament to the history, mostly the failings and short-comings, of fighting a war that frequently hurts individuals who otherwise have never broken a law. I thought that if such a high-ranking officer with forty years of experience spoke, it might be one of those tipping points we're waiting for and the rest of America might actually follow.

But President Obama refused to take the officer's question.

Just like he did in March of 2009 when the president smirked and refused to take the number one vote getter, a question asked about cannabis. At that time he laughed and said, "I don't know about this on-line audience." Like anyone who would put forth that question would be a stoner.

But not this time. This wasn't a stoner asking a question. It was a man of knowledge and experience. Why is our President avoiding, ducking, trying his best to avert the marijuana legalization question?

This is what I think: It gets back to Big Tobacco.

There is a demon that lurks inside the White House. I've heard stories about late night walks and around the corner stealy-butts; it seems that our president can't shake Lady T like he could that wacky tobacco.

It is on public record that President Obama inhaled and liked his weed like any other college kid. Then he quit.

Not so with tobacco. He can't quit that.

What if he was asked in a national forum, "How is it that you were able to stop smoking marijuana but cigarettes, you can't: Which would you say is the more addictive?"

And that's it.

Cigarettes are worse than cannabis, second-hand smoke is killing our children, our President is still smoking the legal weed and yet refuses to discuss the irrational illegalization of a relatively harmless, natural plant.

I'm confused.

Jack Rikess, a former stand-up comic, writes a regular column most directly found at jackrikess.com.

Jack delivers real-time coverage following the cannabis community, focusing on politics and culture.

His beat includes San Francisco, the Bay Area and Mendocino-Humboldt counties.

He has been quoted by the national media and is known for his unique view with thoughtful, insightful perspective.

Source: http://www.tokeofthetown.com/2012/02/ ... edical_marijuana_ques.php

Drugs Inc S02E04 Hallucinogens [by Moose]

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:37:03 -0100

Circus Psychedelica:: Drugs Inc S02E04 Hallucinogens

Copenhagen wants controlled cannabis shops [by webhead]

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 04:06:48 -0100

Vox Pop - The Man in the Street:: Copenhagen wants controlled cannabis shops

Copenhagen wants controlled cannabis shops

Regulating the cannabis market after a failed attempt to re-criminalise

Tom Blickman

Monday, January 9, 2011

The Copenhagen City Council is pushing ahead with a proposal to decriminalise cannabis, and has set up a committee to investigate the best way to regulate the supply and distribution. The favoured option is for 30 or 40 cannabis shops controlled by the city in which adults may legally buy cannabis. By a margin of 39 votes to nine, the City Council decided to draw up a detailed outline of how the plan would work. Subsequently, the resulting proposal still has to be ratified by the Danish parliament, which has blocked similar movements in the past. But after the national elections in September 2011 the current parliament could support decriminalisation this time around.

Cannabinoids, Oleoyl serine & Osteoporosis - Raphael Mechoulam, PhD [by Moose]

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 21:54:38 -0100

Medical Cannabis:: Cannabinoids, Oleoyl serine & Osteoporosis - Raphael Mechoulam, PhD

Re: Medical Marijuana: What is the Dose? [by webhead]

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 17:11:55 -0100

Medical Cannabis:: Medical Marijuana: What is the Dose?

Tetrahydrocannabinol (play /ˌtɛtrəˌhaɪdrɵkəˈnæbɨnɒl/ tet-rə-hy-drə-kə-nab-i-nol; THC), also known as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), or dronabinol, is the principal psychoactive constituent of the cannabis plant. First isolated in 1964

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetrahydrocannabinol">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetrahydrocannabinol

Cannabidiol (CBD) is the major neutral nonpsychoactive
cannabinoid in most cannabis preparations. It was first isolated by Adams
et al, in 1940 but its structure was elucidated only 23 years later
(Mechoulam and Shvo, 1963). The main active component of cannabis is
delta-1-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-1-THC) which was isolated in pure
form and its structure was determined by Gaoni and Mechoulam in 1964. It
is also named delta-9-THC. Numerous other natural cannabinoids are known
today (Mechoulam, 1973; Mechoulam et al, 1976).

http://web.acsalaska.net/~warmgun/es201.html

The way cannabis works has always been a puzzle. It took an awful long time to isolate active ingredients, but it is still difficult to say how they work. All they know for sure is that they occupy receptor sites, and our bodies have their own....some of us just like to add more