Once again the issue of marijuana reform has dominated President Obama’s attempt to have the public submit questions for an online question and answer event.

This afternoon President Obama will be taking part in a live chat on Google+ called “Your Interview with the President”.  Individuals were encouraged to submit and vote for questions. Not surprisingly, the issues of marijuana legalization and medical marijuana overwhelmed all others.

According to the Whitehouse Youtube page, with voting currently closed, 18 of the top 20 most popular question are about marijuana/drug policy. Seven of the top 20 question are directly related to questions created by NORML and its unusual removal from the page. NORML’s original question was:

“With over 850,000 Americans arrested in 2010, on marijuana charges alone, and tens of billions of tax dollars being spent locking up marijuana users, isn’t it time to regulate and tax marijuana?”

The second most popular question on the page is from LEAP’s Stephen Downing, a former LAPD deputy police chief.

His question is:

Mr. President, my name is Stephen Downing, and I’m a retired deputy chief of police from the Los Angeles Police Department. From my 20 years of experience I have come to see our country’s drug policies as a failure and a complete waste of criminal justice resources. According to the Gallup Poll, the number of Americans who support legalizing and regulating marijuana now outnumbers those who support continuing prohibition. What do you say to this growing voter constituency that wants more changes to drug policy than you have delivered in your first term?

So far every attempt by Obama to directly reach out to young voters through some form of online question and answer system has resulted in young adults overwhelming voting to confront the President with questions about our government’s marijuana policies. It happened with his transitional website Change.gov, his first Youtube townhall and with the White House’s new “we the people” petition site.

Marijuana reform is an issue young voters across the ideological spectrum care deeply about. While marijuana legalization is rarely talked about in our mainstream political discourse, at every opportunity regular Americans use the internet to try to make legalization an issue Obama can’t ignore.

Original source: http://justsaynow.firedoglake.com/2012/01/30/marijuana-again-dominates-president-obamas-online-forum/

OLYMPIA, Wash. (BP) — Washington state could become the first state to legalize the recreational use of marijuana under an initiative that has qualified for the November ballot.

The pro-pot organization New Approach Washington submitted nearly 278,000 valid signatures in order to qualify a proposal that would legalize the usage of marijuana by those ages 21 and over, Reuters reported. Marijuana would be sold at specific stores, and no one under the age of 21 would be allowed to enter the store. Marijuana would be prohibited from being consumed in public and sales would be taxed.

California voters rejected a similar proposal in 2010, 54-46 percent. Although several states allow medicinal marijuana, no state has legalized marijuana’s recreational use.

“This is the grown-up approach to regulating a relatively harmless drug,” Seattle city attorney Peter Holmes told Reuters.

But opponents say legalizing the recreational usage of marijuana would lead to an increase in drugged drivers and road deaths, an uptick in marijuana’s usage among teens and young adults, and an increase in crime statewide. They also say the black market for marijuana would not disappear, as some supporters contend.

“There will always be a black market. That’s been proven with cigarettes with the tobacco industry,” Calvina Fay, head of the Drug Free America Foundation, told Reuters. “Even though tobacco is legal and it’s regulated, there’s still a huge global black market.”

The initiative will be known as I-502. Voters in the state also could have another controversial issue on the ballot — gay “marriage” — if the legislature passes a bill redefining marriage and conservatives gather enough signatures to give voters a say.

Original link: http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=37065

Most cancer patients currently being treated with medical marijuana are advised of the option only in the advanced stages of the illness, according to researchers.

More than two-thirds of cancer patients who were prescribed medical marijuana to combat pain are reportedly satisfied with the treatment, according to a comprehensive study conducted for the first time in Israel.

The study – conducted recently at Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, in conjunction with the Israel Cancer Association – involved 264 cancer patients who were treated with medical marijuana for a full year.

Some 61 percent of the respondents reported a significant improvement in their quality of life as a result of the medical marijuana, while 56 percent noted an improvement in their ability to manage pain. In general, 67 percent were in favor of the treatment, while 65 percent said they would recommend it to other patients.

The findings were presented earlier this month at an Israeli Oncologists Union conference in Eilat. The study was led by Dr. Ido Wolf, the director of oncology at the Sheba Cancer Center, with the assistance of researchers Yasmin Leshem, Damien Urbach, Adato Berliz, Tamar Ben Ephraim and Meital Gerty.

According to the study, the most common types of cancer for which medical marijuana is prescribed are lung cancer (21 percent ), breast cancer (12 percent ) and pancreatic cancer (10 percent ).

Researchers found that an average of 325 days passed between the time that patients were diagnosed with cancer and the time that they submitted permit requests to grow or possess medical marijuana. About 81 percent of those requests cited pain resulting from the illness. Some 8 percent of patients requested medical marijuana to combat nausea, while another 8 percent complained of weakness.

Most cancer patients who are currently being treated with medical marijuana are advised of the option only in the advanced stages of the illness, according to researchers. “The treatment should be offered to the patients in earlier stages of cancer,” the report notes.

The study shows that 39 percent of respondents were initially advised of the treatment by friends, other patients or the media, rather than by their doctors. According to the study, “The treatment should be offered to patients by trained medical teams because we are dealing with an effective treatment.”

Side effects resulting from the regular use of medical marijuana were defined in the study as “moderate.” Dizziness was the main side effect documented by the researchers.

According to Miri Ziv, the director of the Israel Cancer Association, “Medical marijuana has become one of the treatments available to cancer patients in Israel in recent years [and therefore] the association believes that the issue should be regulated by the professionals in the field.”

In recent years, the number of medical marijuana users in Israel has increased by some 66 percent per year, according to the study. To date, medical marijuana has been approved for use by about 6,000 Israelis suffering from various illnesses, the report states.

While many legal issues related to medical marijuana use remain unresolved, Health Ministry officials believe that once the issue is fully regulated, the number of patients treated with medical marijuana will reach 40,000.

Of the 12 farms authorized to cultivate medical marijuana in Israel, at least seven are currently active, according to the report. Under directives from the Health Ministry, the distribution centers currently in operation are entitled to NIS 360 a month, per patient, to supply medical marijuana. They are entitled to another NIS 24 for rolling cigarettes and NIS 100 for delivery.

Patients who hold medical marijuana permits issued before 2009 are entitled to grow up to 10 plants at home, with a maximum height of 1.5 meters. Permits issued during the past two years only allow patients to possess medical marijuana, in keeping with the quantities prescribed.

Original link: http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/israeli-researchers-say-more-doctors-should-recommend-marijuana-to-cancer-patients-1.409918

(Sample Phone Script)

“I am a constituent in your new district who supports medical marijuana patients. I’m calling to say that our state’s medical marijuana system is working and we need to Stop Federal Interference in our state laws. The Colorado state government is doing an excellent job of safely regulating medical marijuana distribution and I ask that the US Attorney cease his actions in shutting down state-legal medical marijuana dispensaries. Please ask the representative to contact Colorado’s US Attorney John Walsh and tell him to cease interfering in Colorado’s tightly-regulated medical marijuana law. Thank you”

(Optional:) “Additionally, I would respectfully ask that Representative _______________ co-sponsor H.R. 1983 – the States Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act – which would protect our state’s medical marijuana patients and providers from federal interference. Thank you!”

U.S. Representatives
District 1 (Denver) – D-Representative Diana DeGette -
202-225-4431

District 2 (Boulder/Longmont/Loveland/Ft. Collins) –
D-Representative Jared Polis – 202-225-2161

District 3 (Western Slope, including Aspen, Grand Junction
and Pueblo) R-Representative Scott Tipton – 202-225-4761

District 4 (Eastern Plains including Greeley and Castle
Rock) R-Representative Cory Gardner – 202-225-4676

District 5 (Colorado Springs/Salida) R-Representative Doug
Lamborn – 202-225-4422

District 6 (Aurora/Douglas/Adams) R-Representative Mike Coffman – 202-225-7882

District 7 (North Metro/Arvada/Golden/Jefferson County) D-Representative Ed Perlmutter – 202-225-
2645

Senators
Entire State – Senator Mark E. Udall – 202-224-5941
Entire State – Senator Michael F. Bennet – 202-224-5852

It is a known fact now that Republican Congressman and presidential frontrunner, Ron Paul, with former chairman of the House Financial Services Committee Barney Frank are looking to legalize medical marijuana and they believe that this decision could come as a boost for people suffering from cancer and the ones undergoing chemotherapy.

Original source:

http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/284299/20120119/ron-paul-supports-medical-marijuana-5-mental.htm

I don’t think it’s any secret that the internet has helped the marijuana movement. Using blogs, social media, news outlets, etc. the marijuana movement has grown significantly over the last decade. Take a minute and think about what the marijuana movement would be like without the use of the internet…Scary right?

Remember those days where we would have to stand long hours outside of malls and other high traffic areas in order to gather signatures. Remember when marijuana events were almost impossible to organize unless you had a long list of phone numbers? If SOPA and PIPA are approved by the United States Congress, the ramifications on the internet will be severe, and online marijuana efforts will be one of the first to get the chop. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a supporter of online piracy. However, I am a fan of common sense, and throwing the baby out with the bathwater is never a good idea, which is what would happen if SOPA and PIPA were passed.

Have you been using Twitter and Facebook to organize your rallies and protests? If SOPA and PIPA are passed, it’s almost guaranteed that you wouldn’t be able to use social media like you have been. Do you own a blog, or follow blogs to get your marijuana news and information? If SOPA and PIPA are passed, you will be forced to go back to newspapers and TV media, which let’s face it, newspapers and TV media are not marijuana friendly, which is why online marijuana efforts started in the first place! Don’t just take it from me, below are some things that I found on the net that others are saying:

Google – Fighting online piracy is important. The most effective way to shut down pirate websites is through targeted legislation that cuts off their funding. There’s no need to make American social networks, blogs and search engines censor the Internet or undermine the existing laws that have enabled the Web to thrive, creating millions of U.S. jobs…Too much is at stake – please vote NO on PIPA and SOPA.

Wikipedia – For over a decade, we have spent millions of hours building the largest encyclopedia in human history. Right now, the U.S. Congress is considering legislation that could fatally damage the free and open Internet. For 24 hours, to raise awareness, we are blacking out Wikipedia. Learn more.

ACLU – We opposed SOPA in its original form mostly because the impact on non-infringing content would violate the First Amendment right to free speech of the owners and authors of that content, as well as the rights of Internet users to access that content. In fact, we were asked to present our views at a hearing of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee scheduled for today and submitted our testimony in preparation for that hearing. But the hearing was postponed after SOPA’s proponents promised to significantly change the bill and after House Majority Leader Eric Cantor proposed not to bring any bill to the floor for a vote unless it represented a true consensus of those who support and those who oppose SOPA.

As you can see, this is as serious as serious gets.  If you like using the internet to gain marijuana information, or to spread awareness, or you just don’t like the federal government overstepping it’s reach, then FIGHT SOPA AND PIPA!  The Senate will begin voting on January 24th. Please let them know how you feel.

Original Source: http://www.theweedblog.com/what-would-the-marijuana-movement-be-without-the-internet/

An overwhelming majority, 77% of committed Liberal delegates voted to legalize marijuana. As well, if you do the math on the demographic delegate breakdown, you’ll find that even if one assumes every young Liberals voted in favour, you are still left with almost 2/3rds of the remaining delegates in favour. In other words, no matter how your dissect this vote, Liberals of all subsets support this policy, creating a firm resolve. In addition, not only did our interim Leader resist shying away from the vote, Rae embraced it and placed legalization at the center of “war on drugs” debate.

Liberals rejected the idea of removing a leader veto over policy, so the future party structure philosophy remains unclear. However, I now view the marijuana issue as the canary in the coal mine so to speak, how this issue is treated heading into the next election will provide the clearest indication if a formerly top down entity has truly “renewed” and “reformed”. The base have made their voices heard, a voice which is not out of step with progressive society as a whole. It is fair for EVERY Liberal to now have an expectation that marijuana legalization will be part of future Liberal policy, should that fail to transpire, people can rightly ask if members are nothing more than robotic bank machines, patted on the head, but nothing of real consequence in the affairs of party direction.

There has been some mention of actively soliciting “supporters”, using this issue as a lure of sorts. I agree with an aggressive strategy, as Rob Silver pointed out this is a classic “wedge” issue, one the Liberals can use effectively to contrast crime strategies, as well as certain libertarian issues. The marijuana issue is larger than just pot itself, the tentacles of that approach resonate elsewhere. I think Liberals may well shock themselves at how many “supporters” can be attracted, simply based on this particular perspective. This is a way for non-partisan Canadians to say “hey Liberal Party, I agree with you, I SUPPORT your idea, I’ll lend my name to the cause”.

Moving forward, it is imperative to hold the Liberal Party to account, to push the envelope, to push our new executive to follow through on their commitments. How the Liberals manage the marijuana issue is now a central indicator that will demonstrate, in concrete form, if this has truly become a member-centric institution or remains a timid, top down affair, wherein the rank and file are dismissed in the ways that truly matter. I’m leaving the banner on the sidebar as symbolic of this potential future tension, the members who have kept this listing tub afloat have spoken, loud and clear.

Original source: http://www.oyetimes.com/views/22-columns/17158-marijuana-liberal-canary-in-coal-mine

The Liberal Party over the weekend voted to “legalize and regulate” the selling of marijuana. This issue has the potential to breathe life back into the Liberals if they approach it the right way. As it stands now the party’s best chance of regaining at least second place is by putting the marijuana issue front and centre.

More than one pundit has scoffed at the decision to include legalization in its policy document. Even interim leader Bob Rae made a joke of it during his keynote speech. But it’s not a joke and the party is missing the boat on what could be a game changer.

For me the issue of marijuana is one of liberty versus state overreach. It is an unjust law that attempts to control the choices and the lives of individuals. Smoking pot does not harm others, only the smoker, and the smoker has the right to decide what sort of harm he or she enjoys.

For Liberals the issue could be about money and the economy.

It would be a huge boon for government revenue, without even needing to add a “sin tax” to the legal sales of marijuana. All the unreported income and potential sales tax from Canada’s most profitable cash crop would suddenly be available. It would represent a new source of revenue without having to raise taxes by even a dime.

On the spending side, billions of dollars would be saved by ending the illicit marijuana trade. Some of the money would likely go to whatever regulatory framework the government created, but it would have to be a monstrous bureaucracy indeed to equal the massive sum that now goes towards investigating, prosecuting, and jailing someone in the marijuana trade. The Liberals could claim credit for closing the deficit faster than the Conservatives, and might even have money left over for one of their foolish pet projects.

With the deficit eliminated with relative ease and debt being paid down, Canada would be in a unique fiscal position for a G8 and G20 country. We can expect that confidence in Canada would soar even higher and investment would flood in as investors flee the crumbling economies of Europe.

The best part is that Canadians by and large already agree that marijuana should be legalized. They also think the economy should be the priority. It would not be difficult to connect the two issues and convince Canadians to vote for a party that has the most painless plan to put Canada’s fiscal house back in order.

The resolution approved at the convention is non-binding. So there is no guarantee the issue will be in the 2015 Liberal election platform. In fact Canadian political parties have a history of  ignoring policy resolutions from conventions, so the chances of this one being taken up are pretty low. Hopefully the party leadership will take a moment to closely examine legalization and realize the potential. It would not only be the best thing for the Liberals but for Canada as well.

National Post

Original source:

http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2012/01/18/hugh-macintyre-the-economic-argument-for-legalized-marijuana/

As of January 21st, 2012, The Releaf Center will be open from 8am to 7pm every day for your conveinence.

By Jonathan Martin

Direct link ——> http://sushibandit.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/vortex9.gif

Cola: the top of a flowering plant, where there will be one large bud.  Colas often ave higher THC content than the rest ofthe flowering plant.

Flowering: cannabis is dioecious; each plant produces either male or female flowers, and is considered either a male or female plant.  Male plants usually start to flower about one month before the female; however, there is sufficient overlap to ensure pollination.

Kief: is not spelled KEIF and that really bothers me… kief is the loose, dried resin glands (trichomes) of cannabis which may accumulate on containers, in grinders, or be removed with a kiefing screen or sieve.  The term originates from the Egyptian dialect of Arabic, where the word can be translated as “being buzzed” or “liking to get high”.  Kief contains a much higher concentration of desired psychoactive ingredients, primarily THC, than ordinary preparations of cannabis bud from which it is derived.

Leaves: there are 3 types of leaves on a cannabis plant.  Large shade, or fan, leaves have low THC and are rarely used in other applications.  Grow tips are small, tender leaves formed during vegetation and are more potent than fan leaves.  Thirdly, trim leaves are generally coated with a layer of trichomes and can be used to make concentrates / hash.

Seeds: an alternative to growing with immature plants.  Seeds can be feminized, which will generally produce the most sought after female cannabis plants.

Trichomes: the resin glands produced by the cannabis plant that contain the majority of THC, CBN & CDB.  They can be clear, cloudy, or amber, depending on the curing and harvest times.  They resemble small stalks with bulbous heads and range from 15 to 500 microns in size.  To the naked eye, trichomes give cannabis the appearance of being covered with a white dust.

Vegetative Growth: the period of maximum growth in a cannabis plant.  The plant can grow no faster than the rate that its leaves can produce energy for new growth.  Each day more leaf tissue is created, increasing the overall capacity for growth.  The vegetative stage is usually completed in the third to fifth month of growth.

Lots more to come…

===================

Marijuana Smoking vs Cannabinoids for Glaucoma Therapy

http://archopht.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/116/11/1433

Glaucoma, hypertension, and marijuana

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2552967/pdf/jnma00062-0013.pdf

The human eye expresses high levels of CB1 cannabinoid receptor mRNA and protein

http://www.fuoriluogo.it/medicalcannabis/documenti/Porcella-cb1%20in%20human%20eye.pdf

Marijuana smoking and reduced pressure in human eyes: drug action or epiphenomenon?

http://www.iovs.org/content/14/1/52.full.pdf

Medical marijuana and the developing role of the pharmacist

http://axon.psyc.memphis.edu/~charlesblaha/7705/Papers_08/samantha_daniel_medical_marijuana.pdf

(THC) in the treatment of endstage open-angle glaucoma

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1358964/pdf/12545695.pdf

Recent developments in the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids

http://prhsj.rcm.upr.edu/index.php/prhsj/article/view/404/280

Cannabinoids in medicine: A review of their therapeutic potential

http://www.omma1998.org/Cannabinoids%20in%20medicine.%20A%20review%20of%20their%20therapeutic%20potential.pdf

Marijuana (Cannabis) as Medicine

http://www.cannabis-med.org/data/pdf/2001-01-1.pdf

When a person becomes a parent, their main goal is to care for and protect their child. When a parent has an autistic child, that goal becomes much more difficult. An estimated one out of 110 children are diagnosed with Autism, making it more common than juvenile diabetes, childhood cancer, and pediatric AIDS combined. Autism affects an estimated 1.5 million people in the United States, and tens of millions worldwide. Statistics suggest that the rate of Autism is growing 10-17% each year. Although there is no established explanation for this increase, improved diagnosis and environmental factors are two reasons often considered.

What is Autism?

Autism is a general term used to describe a group of complex developmental brain disorders known as Pervasive Developmental Disorders, or PDD. These disorders also include Asperger Syndrome, Rett Syndrome, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder and PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified). Autism is a disorder of neural development, characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their synapses connect and organize; how this occurs is not well understood. Parents will usually see signs of Autism within the first two years of their child’s life.

A Mother Struggles To Save Her Son

Mieko Hester Perez is the mother of an autistic child, his name is Joey. Joey was diagnosed with Autism when he was 18 months old. By the time Joey was 9 years old, his battle with Autism was threatening his life. He weighed only 46 lbs. and his bones where showing on his chest. The conventional medicines that the doctors prescribed were not doing much for him, though he took 13 of them each day, up to three times a day. His appetite was poor, he was hurting himself physically, and his doctor ultimately gave him six months to live. Desperate to save her son, Mieko began looking for an alternative.

Mieko began researching Cannabis and Autism on the internet and at the library. It was at the library that she began reading research done by Dr. Bernard Rimland and Dr. Lester Grinspoon. Mieko was raised in a religious environment and worked in the legal profession for 15 years. She had a difficult decision to make: Should she go against her life’s background and try Cannabis as a medicine for Joey or not? She decided Yes, and was rewarded with wonderful results. Today, Joey is flourishing with new communicative expressions and he’s gained over 40 lbs. He’s happier, healthier, better behaved & is more productive than ever. His performance at school is quite literally through the roof. His body is no longer overcome by synthetic drugs, and Joey is only required to take three prescription drugs now.

The Unconventional Foundation For Autism

When Mieko Hester Perez saw the amazing results that medicinal Cannabis produced for Joey, she wanted to share his story, and help other children. In order to do this, she started the Unconventional Foundation for Autism three years ago, when she made an oath to Joey after being interviewed by Diane Sawyer on Good Morning America. Her goal was to help just one other family with an autistic child, that was her reason for going public with Joey’s treatment.

The mission of UF4A is three-fold: (1) to raise awareness and support for families afflicted with this mysterious and misunderstood condition known as Autism; (2) to raise funds for Cannabis-based medical research and clinical trials; and (3) to campaign for a rescheduling of Cannabis from Schedule 1 narcotic (no accepted medical benefits) to a lower schedule so that the appropriate research may be conducted, and so that all patients have access to medication without fear of prosecution.

A listing on Schedule 1 is tantamount to a research blockade and, frankly, is unacceptable where millions continue to needlessly suffer. The Schedule 1 listing fails to reflect the prevailing medical view that Cannabis has accepted medical benefits.

UF4A is quickly becoming a leading advocate in the fight for nationwide investigation, research and analysis of the legalization of Medical Marijuana; contributions will directly help support the advancement of our mission.

A Chat with Mieko Hester Perez

I was given the privilege of speaking with Mieko recently. If there is one thing I learned, it was that helping children with Autism is extremely important to her. She receives many phone calls daily, from parents who want to know what she did and how she did it. She does everything in her power to help, she believes no family should be left behind. She knows first-hand what it’s like to have an autistic child, the pain and the heartache. It has become her passion to help other families.

Mieko Hester Perez has had interviews with all five of the major television networks, in the hope of spreading awareness about Autism and medicinal Cannabis. These interviews have helped a great deal, they are a main reason she receives so many calls from parents.

Joey was first diagnosed with Autism when he was 18 months old. At the age of five, he began taking prescribed medications to treat symptoms associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder. According to Mieko, this was still fairly early on in the diagnosis, and there were no “true” medications to treat his Autism. Through her research, she found psychotropic medications that were commonly used and she started Joey on three medications. Throughout the next five years, Joey was placed on every medication that was available to treat children with Autism. She tried a total of 13 medications. They were not working, however, they were causing Joey to have liver damage, seizures, and facial tics. When asked how much the medications cost, and how much was covered by programs such as Medicaid, Mieko had this to say, “Children on the Autism spectrum are covered through the state if you have a qualifying diagnosis, so you be the judge of who wins in the diagnosis of Autism.”

I was curious as to whether or not Mieko was concerned with only giving Joey Cannabis as medicine, leaving the pharmaceutical medications behind. Her response was that she is not against pharmaceuticals. She is, however, against all those toxic medications for children with warning labels that say: side effects include death and liver failure for children between the ages of 3 to 13.

Joey had eating disorders when he was on the pharmaceutical medications. He lost his appetite, and he would rarely want to eat. When he did, it was mostly peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Mieko made sure to keep plenty of the favorite foods he would eat on hand. She informed me that he had one to three foods that he would eat, and that every three months or so those would change. She had Joey on a gluten free, casein free diet. For those who don’t know, this is a very restrictive diet, and not easy to accomplish. Gluten is found in most foods, and gluten free foods are expensive. Joey was sure to have had a nutrition deficit due to his appetite, and that is plain to see in the photos of him from a few years ago. The GFCF diet did not seem to help him much at the time he was on the pharmaceuticals. I asked Mieko if she had problems getting Joey to eat medical Cannabis, as he was having such difficulty eating. She told me that the first few weeks were trial and error as the entire introduction to using medical Cannabis was overwhelming for her, just too much information at one time. However, within a few weeks of beginning medical Cannabis, Joey acquired a taste for his GFCF brownies, and the rest is history.

When Joey was on the pharmaceutical medicines only, his aggression was amplified. His OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder) and his compulsion to hoard things was also excessive. He had a “behavioral plan” in school, or IEP. He would have glossy eyes and was always edgy. Mieko said Joey had unpredictable behavior and it was a total nightmare. Schools that teach autistic children do not have certain plans for children that are on specific medications; however they do have behavioral plans to help address aggressive behavior. Joey was on such a plan. Today, Joey is doing so well in his education program that he is no longer on a behavioral plan, which is absolutely astounding. His behavior has greatly improved. She related this story to me, “There were nine people sitting in my living room when Joey began to bang on the walls in frustration. I placed a gluten free, casein free brownie in his hand no bigger than a silver dollar, and by the last bite, I had a room full of grown men with tears in their eyes. What they had witnessed was science in the most compelling visual proof of how effective Cannabis is for children on the Autism spectrum. Joey’s eye contact had improved; he began to be social, laughing appropriately. He became more engaged with the people in the room. This is not often heard or seen when you are describing children diagnosed with Autism.”

Finding the right strain of Cannabis for Joey was a wild west venture for Mieko, as she is a non-Cannabis consumer. She was able to find a discreet delivery service, and a year later was confident enough to walk into a garden, then a collective. She has tested so many strains that some days she felt like a “strain-ologist”. The strain Star Dawg has had the most profound effect for Joey. Mieko feels that this strain may very well be the game changer for children diagnosed with Autism. Another strain she feels is appropriate for children on the Autism spectrum is called LA Confidential. The Cannabis she uses as medicine is grown organically, through a technique called Veganics. Veganic agriculture is an approach to growing that encompasses a respect for animals, the environment, and human health. Also known as “stockfree” “vegan organic” and “plant-based,” this is a form of agriculture that goes further than organic standards, by eliminating the use of products that are derived from confined animals and by encouraging the presence of wild native animals on the farmland. Steep Hill Labs provides the testing for the medicinal Cannabis, and DNA Genetics provides seeds for the parents who wish to grow their own medicine. She has seen firsthand some collectives that are in the business for the wrong reason. She has also visited ones that are operating a true compassionate and legal collective that parents such as herself can feel safe going to. At The Unconventional Foundation for Autism, she takes the learning curve out of finding a good collective for parents that is safe and compassionate. She feels it’s her obligation to do so. Mieko stands up for collectives that understand the importance of the connection between Autism and medical Cannabis.

Thankfully, Joey has a spindle of “Angel” growers that never leave him without his medicine. There have been some times when he was late in getting his medication, and at those times aggressive behaviors do surface. Mieko states it is nothing like the behaviors she had endured before treating Joey with medical Cannabis. For almost three years now, Joey has been using Cannabis as medicine. To Mieko, long term use seems to be one of the most powerful scientific break-throughs for treating Autism. Mieko has this to say about medicinal Cannabis:, “Cannabis is not a cure for Autism, but it provides a better quality of life for children on the spectrum. When I look into my son’s eyes I see a little boy in there and as I speak with other parents who have chosen this treatment, they also state similar results. It’s not a miracle, it’s Science.”

I asked Mieko if she had any particular medical reports that stood out to her in regards to Cannabis and Autism. Her response was that there are no medical reports that state Cannabis is a safe and effective medication. However, if you connect the dots to the scientific research and papers written by Dr. Bernard Rimland and Dr. Lester Grinspoon, you may find an educated opinion that should be an option for children on the Autism spectrum.

As far as dosage is concerned, Joey only needs to consume a Cannabis infused brownie once every 3 days or so. As long as he keeps Cannabis in his system, it helps him greatly. According to Mieko, with Autism each child has a different DNA makeup. The amount that works for Joey may not work for the next child or adult, but one thing for sure is “we have the strain” that works across the board. The Unconventional Foundation for Autism is currently compiling dosage information through surveys in an attempt to find a consensus on dosage.

About Mieko Hester Perez and the UF4A, in her own words

I am a single mother of a special needs child…when I’m not being a mom of 3 children.

I’m a Corporate Compliance legal researcher and secretary. I am President of CA Corporate & Attorney Services Inc. They are a public court record retrieval & research firm in Los Angeles. They possess over 15 years of experience in providing nationwide civil, criminal, real estate and family law legal support for law firms & companies.

And now I’m Executive Director of The Unconventional Foundation for Autism. I have over 10 years of experience using my legal expertise to advocate for children with special needs by helping parents understand the special education composite of laws set in place to protect our children.

Celebrity Purpose

UF4A has been reaching out to celebrity figures that have shown support for the medical Cannabis movement. These celebrities are willing to further the awareness of Autism and the use of Cannabis as an alternative safe and effective treatment. This issue is not about getting high but saving lives, particularly young lives of our precious children.

Our groundbreaking research gives artists an opportunity to align their brand with a prevailing issue facing children and parents throughout America. Those parents who cringe at the mention of Cannabis in lyrics will develop a new and positive perception towards the plant and artists.

Mieko and Joey are helping eliminate the stigma associated with this potentially extraordinary totally natural “green” medicine/herb. In the face of humanity and compassion, the influence of celebrity support is tremendous. Celebrities have been seen wearing the UF4A.ORG orange wristband in support of scientific research for children diagnosed with Autism.

Recently a signed guitar from Willie Nelson was donated by Kevin Lyman, the promoter of the County Throw Down Tour. It seems Mieko’s passion is becoming contagious to save a life. Artists are stepping up to help her with the foundation to reach millions of families in one simple act of gratitude.

It is this writer’s hope that the great things that have been happening for Mieko and Joey are spread throughout the U.S.A. and in turn, throughout the world. This has been happening, and I hope it continues to happen. In turning to Cannabis out of a need to save her child, Mieko has demonstrated great courage and ultimately, has proven that Cannabis works in treating children with Autism.

Here are a few videos of Mieko’s previous interviews, as well as some pictures of Joey.

For More information, Please Visit UF4A.ORG

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(source: 420 Magazine)

http://www.420magazine.com/forums/420-magazine-articles/148545-medical-cannabis-autism-story-mieko-joey-perez.html

The last two weeks have been full of announcements from the federal government about marijuana policy. None of them has been positive, and none of them should be surprising.

First, the Department of Justice stated that it retained the ability to prosecute anyone who cultivates, processes, or distributes medical marijuana, regardless of state law. As noted earlier on this blog, this is not really a change in policy, but it is certainly disappointing to see the Department of Justice is unwilling to publicly recognize the legitimacy of state medical marijuana laws and would rather have patients purchasing their medicine from dangerous, illicit dealers.

Then, in a move that shouldn’t have surprised anyone, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the agency tasked with determining the legal status of drugs according to the Controlled Substances Act, decided to keep marijuana as a Schedule I substance. This classification means that the DEA will continue to assert that marijuana has no accepted medical use and should continue to be a high enforcement priority. Never mind the growing mountain of peer-reviewed studies that show the medical efficacy and relative safety of marijuana. The DEA will only pay attention to government studies, which are not approved unless the goal is to find negative effects, not medical benefits. We should not expect them to reschedule marijuana in the foreseeable future, especially since marijuana enforcement is an easy source of cash and prestige. Americans for Safe Access is currently appealing the decision in federal court, however, and hopefully they will gain some traction on this point and force the DEA to recognize the evidence in support of medical marijuana.

All this was followed by the release of the National Drug Control Strategy, which basically states that the Obama administration will continue to use scarce resources to combat the use of marijuana through criminal justice means, as well as a slightly increased program of harm reduction (which the President has said was going to be his primary focus). The strategy admits that marijuana use is at its highest in the last eight years, yet wants to continue the same strategy it has been utilizing during that same period!

The new strategy also mentions medical marijuana and, while admitting that there may be some medical uses for individual components of marijuana, continues to say that it should pass through the FDA approval process. This would be nice, if we could get all the federal agencies whose stamps of approval are needed to actually allow such research. So far the efforts of those trying to go through the official research and approval process have been blocked. In addition, the new strategy claims that medical marijuana “sends the wrong message to children” and increases the likelihood of adolescents using marijuana. This point ignores the fact that in most medical marijuana states, teen use has actuallydecreased since passing medical marijuana laws. Data supporting this can be found in the Marijuana Policy Project’s Teen Use Report.

So what does all this mean?

It means that all we can expect from the federal government is support of the status quo. We might get some minor concessions here and there, and the fact that the Ogden Memo has been (mostly) followed by the DOJ should not be overlooked. However, we should not look to the federal government to change policy in any drastic way simply of its own free will. They must be legally compelled to do so.

This is why we don’t need statements of policy, nice as they may be. We need different laws. We need something much more binding than policy statements, which can be distorted and rescinded at any moment without legal backing. It is imperative that we convince our legislators to support bills that will weaken the federal government’s control over marijuana policy and enforcement.

Please contact your representative in Congress, and tell them to support H.R. 2306. This bill would remove the federal government’s ability to interfere with state marijuana laws and policies. Legal change is what we really need if we want to see positive change in federal behavior.

DENVER — A campaign to legalize small amounts of marijuana for adult recreational use in Colorado is aimed at middle-aged, budget-conscious voters — not the pot smokers typically associated with such efforts.
Two marijuana legalization advocates started a signature drive Thursday to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot that they say would regulate and tax recreational marijuana to raise money for schools without making weed available to all.

The representatives of the “Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol” wore suits and stood on a public lawn before the state Capitol and made their case that marijuana legalization would raise needed tax revenues and save money spent on arresting and prosecuting small-time pot users.

Again and again, they talked about how they would aim to limit the legalization effort — only for adults and only in small quantities.

“It’ll be the strictest control and regulation of marijuana in history,” said Brian Vicente of Sensible Colorado, a pot-legalization group that helped put forward the proposed ballot measure.

Another of the organizers, Mason Tvert, said the campaign wants to appeal to Republicans and older voters, not just young people who typically turn up at smoke-filled pot rallies. A 2006 measure to legalize marijuana in Colorado was soundly defeated, as was a legalization measure last year in California.

“We think this is going to appeal to a lot more people,” Tvert said.

If approved, the measure would make small amounts of pot legal starting in 2013. Marijuana could be sold at newly designated stores and subject to state licensing. Adults would be allowed to have up to six plants. And pot would be subject to sales taxes and an additional state excise tax of 15 percent, with the money designated for public schools. The proposal allows local governments to prohibit commercial pot sales.

“This is shifting from a prohibition paradigm to a regulation paradigm,” Tvert said.

Tvert and Vicente brushed aside concerns that the amendment would set up a federal showdown over marijuana. They point out that medical marijuana is also illegal under federal law, but 16 states allow its use.

“It’s time for states to step up and take the lead on recreational marijuana the way they did on medical marijuana,” Vicente said.

But the suggestion to heavily regulate pot has miffed some marijuana activists, who are working on a rival proposal with fewer restrictions on marijuana. Laura Kriho of the Cannabis Therapy Institute said in a statement to reporters the existing petition shouldn’t be considered full legalization.

“It is merely sentencing reform, nothing more,” the statement to reporters said.

A ballot measure needs about 86,000 valid signatures to make ballots next year.

Now scientists have worked out why it’s so difficult to walk away from tasty but unhealthy food.

The fats in these snacks make trigger a surprising biological mechanism that likely drives our gluttonous behaviour.

The culprit is natural marijuana-like chemicals in the body called endocannabinoids, researchers from University of California, Irvine found.

They discovered that when rats tasted something fatty, cells in their upper gut started producing endocannabinoids. Sugars and proteins, the researchers noted, did not have this effect

The process starts on the tongue, where fats in food generate a signal that travels first to the brain and then through a nerve bundle called the vagus to the intestines.

There, the signal stimulates the production of endocannabinoids, which initiates a surge in cell signalling that prompts the wanton intake of fatty foods, lead researcher Daniele Piomelli said.

This most likely occurs by initiating the release of digestive chemicals linked to hunger and satiety that compel us to eat more.

Professor Piomelli said that from an evolutionary standpoint, there’s a compelling need for animals to consume fats, which are scarce in nature but crucial for proper cell functioning.

In contemporary human society, however, fats are readily available, and the innate drive to eat fatty foods leads to obesity, diabetes and cancer.

The findings suggest it might be possible to curb this tendency by obstructing endocannabinoid activity – for example, by using drugs that ‘clog’ cannabinoid receptors.

Since these drugs wouldn’t need to enter the brain, they shouldn’t cause the central side effects – anxiety and depression – seen when endocannabinoid signalling is blocked in the brain, Professor Piomelli added.

The study is published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Note: this article was found/borrowed from a UK site called The Daily Mail (link: http://bit.ly/qVoFH0)…