norml news winter 2006

WINTER/SPRING 2006 NORML NeWS 1

2 NORML NeWS WINTER/SPRING 2006


NORML NeWS

The National Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML NZ Inc) is a non-profit organisation that campaigns to end marijuana prohibition. We support the right of all adults to possess, use and grow their own marijuana. We recognise that a market for marijuana will always exist, and we call for the establishment of a Commis-sion of Inquiry to look at how best to regu-late and control that market. Our aims are to: reform New Zealand’s marijuana laws; provide information about cannabis; engage in political action appropriate to our aims; inform people of their rights; and give advice and support to victims of prohibition.

LegaL DiscLaimer: The views expressed in NORML News may or may not be the opinion of Norml News, NORML New Zealand Inc, our advertisers or printers. NORML News is provided ‘as is’, for your information only, with no warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied. The publisher assumes no responsibility for and disclaims all liability for any inaccuracies, errors or omissions. Content within NORML NEWS is distributed without profit or payment for “fair use” non-profit research, review, education and information purposes, in accordance with the New Zealand Copyright Act. NORML News and our publisher are not responsible for the content of advertising contained within. Publication of an advertisement does not imply our endorsement of any particular product or claims made by advertisers.

Winter/Spring ’06 Vol 10.3

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MEDICAL MARIJUANA SPECIAL

PUBLISHED BY NORML NZ INC.

PO Box 3307, Auckland,Aotearoa/New ZealandPhone: 09 302-5255Fax: 09 303-1309

Email: [email protected]: www.norml.org.nz

40,000 FREE COPIES PRINTED AUGUST 2006

editor & design: Chris Fowlie

contributors: text by Harry Cording, Chris Fowlie, Jonathan Rennie, Duncan Eddy, Billy McKee, Brandon Hutchison, Matt Bowden, the Bush Doctor photos by Chris, SteveO and assorted anonymous contributors webmaster Dr Stuart Young

Contributions are welcome - send us your letters, photos, articles, ideas, cartoons, comments, grow tips, recipes... Include a SAE if you would like your contribution returned.

Thanks to: our advertisers, cannabis-med.org and drugpolicycentral.org for hosting our website.

Printer: APN on 57 gsm glossart

advertising: Ph 09 833 9993 or email [email protected]

distribution: Mailed free to NORML members (join on p37) and available while stocks last at selected outlets including: WHANGAREI Pied Piper SIL-VERDALE Northern Hydroponics AUCKLAND The Hempstore, Switched On Gardener, Pipe Dreams, Easy Grow, Cosmic Corner, Now & Then, Sharkies, Brazil, Verona, Real Groovy, 4:20 Easy, Professional Hydro PUKEKOHE Stones Bones & Harmony PAPAKURA Re-venge Records HAMILTON Frankton Pipe Shop, Switched On Gardener OTOROHANGA Neveraes THAMES Boot’s N All, This Time Around TAURANGA Curiosity, Switched On Gardener MT MAUNGANUI Antipodes, Nemms ROTORUA Skingraft GISBORNE Cultural Experience NAPIER Earthsong, Movement TE AWAMUTU Groovee Thingz NEW PLYMOUTH Guru Gardener, Mindfuel, Net, Trick or Treat STRATFORD Crossroads Music WANGANUI Discount Smoke Shop , Drugs & Health Development Project PALM-ERSTON NORTH Lotz of Pots, IV Union WELLINGTON Cosmic Corner, San Jewellery, Comrades, Lo Cost Records (Petone) Switched On Gardener (Upper Hutt), House of Hydro (Lower Hutt) NELSON Gizmo’s, Switched On Gardener, Artery, Niche MOTUEKA Community Action TAKAKA Invis-ible BLENHEIM Boots ‘n’ All RANGIORA Rock Shop GREYMOUTH Planet Funk CHRISTCHURCH Cosmic Corner, Hydrostore, Avon Backpackers, Alice in Videoland, C-1 Espresso, Central Surf, Globe Cafe, Java Cof-fee House, Radar Records, Wyrd TIMARU Dizzy Spell QUEENSTOWN Play It Again, 10,000 BC WANAKA Wanaka Web DUNEDIN Arc Cafe, Cheapskates, Community Law Centre, Cosmic Corner, Croque O Dile Cafe, DIVO, Funk That!, Governors, Hemphatic, Mazagran, Modaks, Outre, Tangente, The Percolator, Radio One, Records Records, Sanctu-ary INVERCARGILL Play It Again, Large As Life Tattoos. BIG THANKS TO ALL OUR DISTRIBUTORS!

Please contact us if you can help distribute Norml News

cover shotSatin-AHendersonThis page: AK Cannabis cup entries.

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New Zealand News & editorial 4You can help change the law 5Drug war invades the classroom by Chris Fowlie 6Next step for hemp by Duncan Eddy 8Class D a positive drugs policy by Matt Bowden 10International News by Harry Cording 12Medical Marijuana bill needs your support 14Medical Bill in Parliament by Metiria Turei 16Medical Marijuana news and research 17Cannabis key to cancer cure by Jonathan Rennie 20Prohibitionists target tobacco by Brandon Hutchison 24Auckland Cannabis Cup report and photos 28Bush Doctor Amsterdamaged again! 31Know your rights or you’ve no rights 34Tips for safer cannabis use less is more! 35NORML membership form Join our campaign! 37Show your grow pictures from this year’s harvest 38


It still doesn’t work.

“The current prohibition regime is not effective in limiting cannabis use ... facilitates the black market, and potentially exposes cannabis users to harder drugs.”

- NZ Health Select Committee report into the public health strategies and

legal status of cannabis, 2003.

Medicinal Cannabis Bill in parliament needs your supportGreen Party MP Metiria Turei’s Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Amendment Bill is set to be debated by Parliament for the first time on Wednesday 15 November 2006. It is likely to be a conscience vote for MPs so it is important to lobby them on a personal level. You’ll find more information about the Bill throughout this magazine, as well as some of the arguments you may want to use to persuade MPs to support allowing compassionate access for patients.

nORMLiSE NEW


Our policies for cannabis law reformStop arresting cannabis users: The Government should immedi-ately declare a moratorium on arresting cannabis users. Every day another twenty cannabis users are needlessly criminalised.

Decriminalisation: remove all penalties for the use, possession and cultivation of cannabis by adults for personal use and the non-profit transfer of small amounts. The draconian search provisions of the Misuse of Drugs Act should be removed and criminal records for cannabis offences wiped.

Regulation: A commercial market for marijuana will always exist, and it is better to control that market by law than to leave it to organised crime. We support the introduction of Dutch-style cannabis cafes. Overseas experience shows cannabis law changes have not been associated with an increase in use.

Reasonable restrictions: As with alcohol consumption, cannabis use should be limited to adults. Driving or operating heavy machinery while under the influence should remain prohibited. NORML has attempted to define acceptable conduct with our ‘Principles of Responsible Cannabis Use’.

Harm minimisation: All drugs, including cannabis, can be abused. Cannabis policies should discourage irresponsible use, including use by adolescents. Only in a climate where marijuana is viewed from a public health perspective, instead of a criminal justice perspective, can prevention efforts be effective.

NORML Annual conference/hui Hawke’s Bay 4-5 November 2006Members and budding law reform activists are invited to NORML’s annual hui at Paki Paki, Hawke’s Bay. The attendance fee will be around $20 plus $10 per night if staying in the marae. Meals provided. Bring bedding and ideas. Registration is essential - please contact us for details or keep an eye on our website: www.norml.org.nz

Big thanks to our advertisers Magazines don’t grow on trees and we rely on the support of our advertisers for Norml News to be free. Please use your “green dollar” to support them as they support us!

This issue we’d particularly like to thank the staff and customers at Large As Life Tattoos in Invercargill, who sent us a donation from a jar on their counter. Nice one guys!

We’d also like to apologise to Easy Grow and Solar Max, who it seems had their ads chopped from some copies distributed by a competitor. We hope it won’t happen again. Please support all our advertisers - and let us know if any bits are missing from your copy of Norml News.

Dickel sparks cannabis controversyTall Black Mark Dickel ignited a storm of media-based moral outrage when he tested positive to cannabis and was barred from playing against Qatar. Mark, like over half the adult population and 80% of 21-year-olds, has tried cannabis. But that doesn’t make it performance enhancing or him a cheat. Anti-doping chief Graeme Steel knows this and has asked the world body (WADA) to remove cannabis from the list of banned substances. Mark, you’ve done nothing wrong and your experience shows how the harms from prohibition outweigh any harms from cannabis use itself.


activism

Organise a pro-law reform event in your town. Hook up with local like minded people and norml contacts and help out with J Day or organise your own event... concerts, rallies, demonstrations, movie screenings and public debates are all good ways to help promote can-nabis law reform.

Help get the CannaBus tour! We finally got the COF (pictured) and now we need some help with the signwriting, interior fit out (cabinet making, plumbing & decorating) and organising the summer tour. Let us know if you can host the bus or be a local organiser.

Refuse to be searched. If you are busted, plead Not Guilty. This would place greater strain on an already overstressed ‘justice’ system. The police and courts couldn’t enforce prohibition if cannabis users didn’t keep pleading guilty!

Distribute informationContact us for leaflets or magazines to distribute round your town or networks.

Join NORML and get involved in local and national law reform activities. See page 37 now!

Email your MP 24/7: www.norml.org.nz/emailMP

change the law

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Give us your old 5c coins! We could do with a much-needed boost to our finances. Post them to us, or make a donation into our ASB bank account: “NORML NZ” 12-3057-0594667-00. Maybe you could set up an automatic monthly or weekly donation to help the cause?

Medical users - share your experiences. Contact your local media. Write or email your MP. Letters to any MP c/- Parliament Buildings are freepost. The email format is [email protected] or use the handy tool at www.norml.org.nz/emailMPTalking to MP’s in person is even better. Let NORML know what they say. Be polite even if they are not!

Write to newspapers & call talkback radio. Letters to the editor and talkback radio are a free way of promot-ing cannabis law reform to a diverse audience. Keep it short and simple so everyone can understand your point. Linking cannabis law reform to ‘hot’ local issues in local media helps broaden opposition to the crimi-nalisaton of cannabis users.

Build understanding based on common concerns in your community. Tell parents, friends, workmates, and concerned or influential groups and individuals in your community how prohibition increases, rather than de-creases, harm. Think about where they’re coming from and try to approach the subject in a way they’ll be open to. If you try to understand your audience, it’s more likely they’ll understand you!

Check out www.NORML.org.nz for handy facts and figures related to cannabis and the law. Share ideas and meet new friends in the forums.


nz news

A recent conference held by the School Trustees Associa-tion has raised the ugly spec-tre of drug testing extending even into primary schools.

Trustees and principals claimed that children as young as 5 had been caught taking drugs including cannabis to school, and some - including Otamatea High School principal Haydn Hutching - said testing the entire school population was the answer.

Some principals even said they would not seek the per-mission of - or even inform - parents before testing their children, claiming it was purely an educational or disciplinary matter.

Several schools are even send-ing drug-sniffing dogs on patrol in the classrooms.

Palmerston North Boys’ High School conducts up to seven sniffer-dog searches a year, at a cost of $1500 each time. They receive no additional funding for this, so the money is taken from somewhere else - perhaps education resources or teacher’s wages.

The Ministry of Education doesn’t endorse drug searches in schools, spokesman Vince Cholewa told the Manawatu Evening Standard. He advises schools to seek legal advice if they do decide on searches. Mr Cholewa said only police have a right to search a school if drugs are suspected.

“Teachers aren’t above the law,” he said.

Student drug testing is not without its opponents, who insist research does not show drug testing policies make any

difference to whether young people use drugs.

A 2003 study sponsored by the US National Institute on Drug Abuse that included 94,000 stu-dents in 900 American schools, half with a drug testing policy and half without, found there was no difference in illegal drug use among students.

Drug tests violate students’ privacy, and could wrongly turn students into suspects if they refuse. As the programs expand, children may find their ability to object to the tests eroded.

Tests could open the door to lawsuits. Most tests are imprecise and can show “false positives” as well as “false negatives”. Only the GCMS test is truly accurate, but at a cost of at least $100 per test this is unlikely to be used by many schools, who will likely use

the cheaper and less accurate screening cards (similar to a home pregnancy test).

Advocates of testing do not appear to have considered the consequences of violating the privacy of a child as young as 5 by forcing them to pee into a cup. At the very least, it could raise awareness of drugs in a child who until then had never thought about them.

What happens after a posi-tive result is another concern. Many schools simply expel the student, which creates addi-tional problems with alienation, delinquency and crime.

Then again, these outcomes must by now be familiar to all prohibitionists.

cheap, inaccurate tests like this could decide your child’s future

Drug Warriors invade the classroomAs well as being ineffective, drug testing school children is a draconian invasion of privacy, writes CHRIS FOWLIE


Adults Only. Cannabis consumption is for adults only. It is irresponsible to provide cannabis to people aged under 18.

Safe Driving. The responsible cannabis consumer does not operate a motor vehicle or other heavy machin-ery while impaired by cannabis, nor (like other responsi-ble citizens) impaired by any other substance or condition, including some prescription medicines or fatigue.

Set and Setting. The responsible cannabis user will carefully consider his/her mind-set and physical set-ting, and regulate use accordingly.

Resist Abuse. Use of cannabis, to the extent that it impairs health, personal development or achievement, is abuse, to be resisted by responsible cannabis users.

Respect the Rights of Others. The respon-sible cannabis user does not violate the rights of others, observes accepted standards of courtesy, and respects the preferences of those who wish to avoid cannabis.

NORML’s Principles ofResponsible Marijuana Use

Tasty: 2006 Auckland

Cannabis Cup winner Kakariki,

also known as bud “F”


The next step for hemp

Medsafe, the regulatory arm of the ministry of health, will continue to oversee and imple-ment regulations for industrial hemp, a situation which con-tinues to raise some eyebrows. Some question whether the Ministry of Health should be responsible for the regulation of industrial hemp, or whether this crop should be managed by Ministry of Agriculture or Economic Development.

“The new regulations — the Misuse of Drugs (Industrial Hemp) Regulations 2006 and the Misuse of Drugs Amend-ment Regulations 2006 — take into account the low drug content of hemp, which was previously subjected to the same strict controls as those

Hemp advocates are welcom-ing the moves by the Ministry of Health to allow licensed hemp growers and processors greater opportunity to pursue the myriad possibilities offered by industrial hemp.

Steve Burnett, hemp grower and advocate from the Mo-tueka Valley is happy that the new regulations provide some certainty, which will allow those involved in the fledgling industry to move on to the next level.

“Five years ago we actually managed to start growing can-nabis hemp in New Zealand. That was a milestone. Now we get to the point where we’ve got regulations by which we are assured by Government that we can proceed. The tricky thing is, if we had had these regulations 5 years ago, when the lip of the wave was really rolling on, we would have had great outcomes. Because it’s taken so long, some of the energy has gone out of it. I mean, people have got sick of waiting, people have got sick of trying. The delay hasn’t been very good from that point of view,” Mr Burnett said.

In 2001, then Minister of Health Annette King approved a two-year trial cultivation of industrial hemp to determine its

commercial potential and the levels of control needed. That scheme was extended while the new regulations were being de-veloped. In 2003, Cabinet gave the go ahead for the develop-ment of a regulatory scheme, which has finally been enacted.

The new regulations allow for extended licensing for up to 3 years, and multiple hemp activi-ties on a single site can now be covered by one license.

The allowable THC level of the plants has been increased from 0.35 to 0.5 percent, a move which has pleased and amused Mr Burnett. “I told them if doesn’t matter if it’s point three five or 1 percent THC, you’re not going to want to smoke the stuff.”

placed on illicit cannabis,” said Derek Fitzgerald, Medsafe’s Team Leader for Compliance.

Mr Fitzgerald says that the new regulations offer a satisfactory balance between the interests of hemp growers and the worries of those who are concerned about high THC crops being raised under the auspices of an industrial hemp project.

“They seek to balance grow-ers’ appeal for practical and reasonable requirements against the need to maintain adequate controls on hemp seed and plants,” he said.

Mr Burnett, who has been involved in 17 industrial hemp plantings to date, is clear on what step needs to be taken next: investment in infrastruc-ture.

“The next step is to get some investment into capital infra-structure. We’ve trialed a whole lot of end use, we’ve done hemp and wool batts, we’re process-ing oils now, for the New Zea-land market. Fibre needs to be utilised. There’s not too much spinning infrastructure in New Zealand any longer, that’s kind of dried up and disappeared. If we can get these kinds of facto-ries up and running again, then we can process hemp and we can turn it into a lot of things. But we need the processing infrastructure into place,” said Mr Burnett.

New commercial regulations have taken effect, writes DUNCAN EDDY.

Aotearoa’s hemp industry looks set to enter a new phase, with the long overdue introduction of a firm set of regulations removing some of the onerous restrictions that have held back the industry’s progress since trials began in 2001.

Flying High On HempAir New Zealand have covered the furnishings in their Koru Club lounges with hemp fabrics from Auckland firm Hemptech. They chose “Reefton” twill and “Taupo” canvas in moss, rockpool, peri-winkle and seafog shades because of their natural look and feel and hard-wearing properties. Also on the menu is Hemega3 brand hempseed oil from Ashburton’s Sustainable Seed Oils.

to get these hemp products, see www.hemptech.co.nz www.hemega3.co.nz or www.hempstore.co.nz


Serious about Hemp?Join the New Zealand Hemp Industries Assoc Inc.$100 full membership or $20 supporter. Full membership includes 2 annual copies of the Journal of the Interna-tional Hemp Assoc - a must read for hemp industrialists. Join the NZHIA today, and help us to represent the NZ hemp industry. If you would like to receive a membership application form, please send your contact details to: NZHIA, PO Box 38392 Howick, Auckland. Fax 09 273 7396

For more info about the new regulations for industrial hemp, see www.legislation.govt.nz or www.medsafe.govt.nz/hot.htm or www.nzhia.com

PICTURES FROM TOP LEFT:Seed-bearing hemp flowers;Harvesting by hand;Local ALCP candidate Steve WilkinsonDrying stalks the traditional way

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Call to action to protect positive drug policyBy MATT BOWDEN www.ClubStargate.com 0800 STARGATE

The most sensible drug policy development that I can remember seeing in Aotearoa – the creation of a new ‘Class D’ under the Misuse of Drugs Act – is under threat. And we need to fight to save it.

Save our supplements - Aussie invasion threatens herbs and alternative remediesThe New Zealand and Australian ministries of health are quietly proceeding with their plan to unite the two country’s regulatory regimes for dietary supplements, herbs and therapeutic goods.

If the experience of the Australia-New Zealand food authority is any lesson, it will mean decisions will be dominated by Australia and many items now available to New Zealand consumers will be banned. When the joint authority was created, New Zealand inherited the Australian ban on hempseed foods. Only hempseed oil is now available here.

Salvia and BZP party pills are banned in Australia, as are seratonin supplements (5HTP). Canada has a similar regime and consumers must now get a doctor’s prescription to take multi-vitamins! These and many other items used widely and safely in New Zealand are under threat.

You can take action to stop the proposed agency. Visit the website of the NZ Health Trust and use their easy “make a submission” page to make your views known:

http://nzhealthtrust.co.nz/

eYou probably remember that

Government recently introduced this new category in response to the popularity of party pills. Forced to recognise that the pills weren’t really hurting people, and that they were in fact work-ing as a safer, legal alternative to methamphetamine, Government set out to develop a policy that would put the principle of harm minimisation into action.

This class D is really impor-tant for those of us who believe drug policy should be based on evidence over politics. Class D allows Government to make cer-tain substances legally available, though closely regulated, if it can be shown they are not causing enough harm to warrant prohibi-tion. I know this rings bells with many of you!

Everyone knows prohibi-tion doesn’t work – and that it achieves precisely the opposite of what it intends. Class D is a big step in the right direction away from the failed prohibi-tion policies so many of us have campaigned against.

As you know in relation to marijuana laws, the biggest harm associated with the use of many drugs is getting busted. If the principles associated with the creation of the Class D category were applied to other substances, think what could be changed!

It’s only been a little while since the Class D category came into effect. Party pills can now only be sold to adults and mainstream advertising is restricted. We want Government to set more regulations around retail, dos-age, labelling and warnings to further protect consumers but, in the meantime, the new law is working well.

This Class D approach reflects the commitment of Drug Policy Minister, Jim Anderton, to base policy on evidence. Regardless of what you think of his politics, we should congratulate him for this approach. If all drug policy was based on the evidence, we would live in a safer, fairer world.

But a number of politicians are now trying to ban party pills. A number would probably do it tomorrow - regardless of what the evidence says - in order to win some votes and get re-elected.

Whatever you think about party pills, they led to the creation of the Class D category. I believe they are intertwined and, when one goes, so too could the other.

We need to strengthen the spine of Government to represent us and stick to an evidence-based, harm-minimisation approach. We need to build off the success

of party pills in creating fair and effective policy and push Govern-ment to ensure this approach is more widely applied.

At the moment a great deal of research is going into party pills. A number of politicians want this research to paint the products badly, but the opposite is the case so far. Some key points on the party pill issue are that:> 44 per cent of party pill users who also used illegal drugs stated that they now mainly used party pills, when previously they had been mainly using illegal drugs > The illicit drug monitoring sur-vey showed a decrease in demand for methamphetamine and a glut in the market> The Ministry of Health is right now working on regulations for the Class D category. They want to hear from users because they want to get it right. A consumer

group is organising themselves to coordinate efforts in this area.

What concerns me is that there’s been much more focus on finding cons than pros. Who is going to be presenting the other side - the benefits of safer drugs in the community?

For instance the 200 events where somebody has gone to hos-pital are extremely rare compared to the 20 million pills consumed, but nobody is hearing about the 19,999,800 occasions where people simply had a great night.

These stories need to get through to the Ministry of Health. You can and should write straight to all Government Ministers, and contact the consumer group to ensure your voice is heard. A new website, www.savethepills.com has been set up. It provides a number of ways in which people can have their say.

The Save The Pills group are seeking to represent substance us-ers looking to secure their rights for the future. They need your help and your creativity - they’re running competitions for the best activist publicity campaigns. They need sponsors and prizes and all sorts of help. Please visit www.savethepills.com - send the link to your mates and make sure your opinion is heard.

The Class D category has just been introduced. It works well and is the right model under which a range of low-risk and popular substances can become regulated, controlled and made available under a legal model.

This has to be the name of the game. Get involved and support the most sensible and promising piece of drug policy in recent times.


woRLD NEWSWITH HARRY CORDING

The Alaska Supreme Court has again stuck down prohibitionist laws introduced by the state legislature.

It was legal to possess up to 4 ounces until June of this year, when the state legislature re-criminalised possession of small amounts.

The American Civil Liberties Union sued the state when the law took effect, and Superior Court Judge Patricia Collins struck down part of the law covering possession of less than an ounce, saying it conflicts with past decisions by the Alaska Supreme Court.

The judge based her decision on a 1975 decision by Alaska’s Supreme Court, which ruled that the right to privacy in one’s home included possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal use.

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Canadian Govt keeps med-pot programCanada’s new Conservative government would probably love to ditch their medical marijuana program, but has instead called for tenders from potential new suppliers.

In December 2000 the previous Government gave Prairie Plant Systems a five-year contract to supply cannabis to the health ministry (Health Canada) to be used for pa t ien t s and clinical research. The contract was renewed until the end of September 2006.

Now Health Canada is seeking proposals from other potential

suppliers and invited interested companies and individuals to submit bids for a cannabis-growing contract.

About 280 patients currently receive the government cannabis, which Prairie Plant Systems grows in an unused section of a mine. Most patients buy 30- gram bags of cannabis for 150 Canadian Dollars (about NZ$200).

UK: Making a hash of itBritain’s drug policies have been condemned by experts as based on “ad hockery”, “riddled with anomalies” and “not fit for purpose”. A recent report titled Drug Classification: Making a Hash of it? concludes that Britain’s drug classification system “as a device to reduce harm to individuals and society has failed.”

Medical experts analysed 20 substances for their addictive qualities, social harm and physical damage. Their results differed radically from the Government’s drug classification system.

Heroin and cocaine (both Class A in the UK) were ranked as most harmful. Alcohol was ranked fifth, ahead of tran-quillisers and amphetamines, tobacco was ranked ninth and cannabis (class C) eleventh. LSD was ranked at 14 on the scale and ecstasy at 18.

Currently Britain includes ecstasy and magic mushrooms in Class A along with heroin and cocaine.

The committee which prepared the report included David Nutt, senior member of the government’s Advisory

Council on the Misuse of Drugs, and Colin Blakemore, chief executive of the Medical Research Council.

It noted, “We have more drug addicts today than we’ve ever had and we have more people using class A drugs than ever. The only way to get an accurate and up-to-date classification system is to remove the link with penalties and just focus on harm.”

MPs on Parliament’s science and technology select commit-tee have demanded an overhaul of the system to give the public a better sense of the relative harms involved. They called for a new scale to be introduced, rating substances on the basis of health and social risks and not linked to legality or potential punishments.

Bolivia urges UN to legalise cocaBolivia is leading a Latin

American campaign to legalise coca plants and has called on the United Nations to change coca’s status as a prohibited plant.

Indigenous communities have used coca leaf since around 3000 BC and regard it as a gift from the gods. Coca is an important medicinal plant in South America, used to treat altitude sickness and digestive problems. The leaf contains high levels of calcium, iron, phosphorus, potassium, and vitamins A, B12 and E. But coca has been outlawed by the UN’s Narcotics Control Board since 1961 because it also contains the alkaloid needed to make cocaine.

Companies in Bolivia, Peru and Colombia have launched coca-based drinks, biscuits, breads and yoghurts, and although not officially for export, leaf-shaped coca biscuits are popular at airport souvenir shops.

President Evo Morales, a former coca grower who has campaigned for peasants’ rights to grow coca, has vowed to crack down on cocaine production in Bolivia, the world’s third largest producer after Colombia and Peru. But he insists the country should be allowed to grow more coca for legal consumption.

Meanwhile, Mexican president Vicente Fox caved in to American pressure and vetoed a bill that would have eliminated criminal penalties for possession of small amounts of drugs. Under the proposed law, Mexicans would have been able to possess up to 25 milligrams of heroin, five grams of marijuana or half a gram of cocaine. Possession of marijuana is currently punishable by up to 16 months in prison, unless it is a first offence involving a small amount. However, few people are currently prosecuted under the law.


Germans support medical cannabisA recent survey in Germany has shown widespread support for medical cannabis - and the same number would like to see its costs covered by health insurance.

The survey, commissioned by the German Association for Cannabis as Medicine and conducted in June by the Institute for Opinion Polls Allensbach, found that 77% supported allowing severely ill people to be treated with natural cannabis products if a doctor recommends the treatment.

Before the law took effect, it had been legal in Alaska to possess up to 4 ounces. The new law makes possession of 4 ounces or more a felony. Possession of 1 to 4 ounces is a misdemeanour punishable by up to a year in jail. Less than 1 ounce would have been a misdemeanour punishable by up to 90 days in jail, but the court threw this part out.

Although the court’s ruling is a victory for freedom, the law is still a step backward for Alaska. In formulating the new law, the state tried to justify depriving people of their fundamental right to privacy by claiming that marijuana had increased in potency since the 1975 decision - even though the research evidence says it has stayed about the same.

n legal again

Presbyterian Church backs medical accessOn 21 June the General Assembly of the US Presbyterian

Church voted to support legal access to medical cannabis for seriously ill patients.

By consensus, the denomination passed a resolution “urging Federal legislation that allows for its use and that provides for the production and distribution of the plant for those purposes.”

Source: Religion News Service 22 June 2006

White Rhino from the hills


The medicinal use of cannabis is widespread in New Zealand, with an estimated 11,000 Kiwis already using it or potentially able to benefit from it. Currently, the only way for a patient to get a lawful supply is to convince a doctor to apply to the Minister of Health for special dispensation to import (and pay for) a medicinal cannabis product that has already been approved in another country.

These provisions are burdensome and open to

political interference, and not surprisingly, no applications have ever been approved. In the meantime, patients deserving

our care and compassion continue to suffer and treated as criminals if they are caught. Some are sentenced to prison terms for their choice of

medication, even if they have the support of their doctor.

The bill, if passed, will allow patients who suffer from a condition where cannabis may alleviate the pain and suffering associated with that condition, and who have the

support of their doctor, to apply for a Medicinal Cannabis Identification Card, which will allow them to grow and use their own supply of cannabis.

If they are unable to do so,

they may nominate someone else to grow for them (eg, a family member or caregiver).

The Minister of Health will establish a Medicinal Cannabis Registration Board to keep and

Thousands of Kiwis use cannabis for medical reasons.Now Green MP Metiria Turei’s private member’s bill will amend the Misuse of Drugs Act so that patients will no longer be treated like criminals.

You can help! Use the information in Norml News and on our website to assist you in asking Members of Parliament to support the Bill to allow doctors to prescribe medicinal cannabis to their patients. Email MPs You can email Members of Parliament with your message about why they should support this bill, at least for the first vote so that it goes to Select Committee where we all can debate the issue. It is best if you put your email in your own words, as little notice is often taken of “standard form” emails. NORML’s website has an easy “email your MP” feature.Writing letters to MPs If you have the time, please write letters to at least some (or all!) of the MPs, e.g. the ones in your area, leaders and spokespeople from the various parties, and Government Ministers. You don’t need a stamp to write to MPs - just send it to them c/- Parliament, Wellington. A full list of MPs and their contact details is available at: www.clerk.parliament.govt.nz/YourMP/ListMPs/Personal Visits to MPs Personally visiting an MP is one of the most effective ways of persuading him or her to support the Bill. If you are able to, please give it a go. See the links above or your telephone book. Spread the word! Share this magazine with people you know, especially if they use cannabis medicinally or have someone in their family who could benefit from it. Write letters to your local newspapers. Call talk-back radio. Contact any patient advocacy groups you are involved with, and ask them to support the bill. Do something creative to make a noise and generate public support for this bill.

Most Kiwis support medical cannabis - TV3 pollA TV3/TNS opinion poll in July showed two out of three Kiwis support allowing doctors to prescribe can-nabis for pain relief.

63% of respondents supported allowing a doctor to prescribe cannabis. Support was largely even among Labour and Nation-al voters.

With around 18 per cent of adult Kiwis calling themselves current cannabis users, the poll reveals widespread community support for the bill beyond just those who use cannabis.

That means supporters of law reform have no reason to worry about writing letters or visiting their MP because they could be one of the many “straights” who support compassionate access to medical marijuana.

It is also significant that the question posed was about doc-tors prescribing cannabis, not limiting it to cannabis-derived pharmaceuticals or extracts.

A 2003 survey of 500 New Zealand doctors by the Green Party revealed:

· One in five doctors had patients using cannabis medicinally;· 47 per cent knew of patients who had discussed the option of using cannabis;· 32 per cent would consider pre-scribing legal medicinal cannabis products;· 10 per cent felt they had patients who would benefit from it;· 30 per cent indicated they should be able to prescribe it.

In general, the survey indicated that there is a general lack of knowledge among doctors about medicinal cannabis, but the more knowledge a doctor held, the more likely they were to support the use of medicinal cannabis.

MEDICAL cannabis bill needs


maintain a register of card holders, their designated agents, any person having the care of a card holder and the amount of cannabis a card holder or designated agent may possess. Police will supply seeds to patients from stocks of seized cannabis seeds.

your support

for more information:

see www.norml.org.nz/medical or www.greens.org.nz/search-docs/other6039.htmlor www.greencross.org.nzor www.rxmarijuana.comDiscuss the bill in the NORML Medical Marijuana

Forum: www.norml.org.nz/forum10Tips and advice about letter writing:

www.norml.org.nz/topic8www.norml.org.nz/forum15

Email your MP 24/7: www.norml.org.nz/emailMP

www.cannabis-med.orgfor the latest medical marijuana

research go to

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Hi, I’m Billy Mckee, facilitator for Green Cross, a support group for medicinal users of the healing herb Cannabis.

We’re getting a steady flow of enquiries and new members thanks to this wonderful magazine. I wish to express my deep gratitude to those kind people who have made generous and useful donations to this group. You can be assured they went to worthy people.

The Greens have a Medicinal cannabis users bill before parliament soon. This is not going to just sail through. It is going to take all our efforts to get it passed. Visiting your MP is the best thing to do - make an appointment and go tell them exactly how the prohibition laws are making your lives harder.

We have a right to use cannabis under the International Single Convention on Drugs, which permits making cannabis available for medical use but tries to keep it away from criminals. Well, the opposite has happened under prohibition.

Some of the medical users, due to their particular cir-cumstances, have developed different ways of growing personal amounts in confined places. Here are some:

The “Bonsai” is planted about a third of the way down a large growing pot then back filled as it grows until it is able to be bent over and grown around the top of the pot, held in place with pieces of wire poked through the side of the pot (pre drill the holes). Once the branches start to grow a bit they can be bent down as well. The pot can be moved to a shady spot to hasten maturing as soon as a good size is obtained, small is good. The pot can be dug into the ground to help with camouflage.

The next method is the “wagon wheel”, for out doors growing. Plants are put into a recessed hole on an angle and trained to grow along the ground and in an expanding circle. They need to be stapled down with tent pegs and once the side branches are up the main trunk can be covered with dirt, pull the side branches down to the ground and the buds will poke up. Lovely.

That’s all for now. Take care.

Billy Mckee

GREENCROSS

Medicinal Cannabis Support Group of NZ (Inc)

Phone: 06 368 8181 or email [email protected]

www.greencross.org.nz

DID YOU KNOW?The first recorded use of cannabis is as a medicine in a Chinese pharmacopeia. The first recorded use of cannabis in Aotearoa was in medicines prepared by Sister Mary Aubert on the Whanganui River.

Medpot PetitionChristchurch amputee and medpot user Neville Yates amazingly survived being run over by a sheeptruck over 20 years ago while on his way to school. Now his ‘allow med-pot’ petition now has around 4000 signatures, but he would still like more. If you are prepared to help him by taking a sheet, getting as many names and signatures as possible and then posting it back, please contact Neville at 9 Joy St, Christchurch, tel 03 980 1202.


By Green MP METIRIA TUREI

Nandor and then Jeanette have had this private members bill in the ballot for many years now, and it was finally pulled out under my watch. It provides the law reform movement with their first real opportunity to move the debate on cannabis use forward, since the Misuse of Drugs Act was passed in 1975.

The Health Select Committee report of 2003 recommended that the Government pursue the possibility of supporting the prescription of clinically tested cannabis products for medicinal purposes. And now there is to be a major debate in Parliament about what are the appropriate restrictions on cannabis.

We have a real opportunity to shift the debate on cannabis use. But more importantly, to provide relief to ill people who have, as a result of the law, been deprived of a useful medi-cine because of raw prejudice against cannabis smokers.

The bill will come up for de-bate for its first reading on 15 November this year. We have until then to get a majority to agree to vote for it at its first reading. If it fails to pass this first vote, the issue is effectively dead until after the election. Politically it is very sensitive. We will have to consider seri-ously any changes that might be required to get the bill to select committee. So far, no other political party will sup-port it as it is. Unless we can get party support, it will have to be done as a conscience vote and then we have to convince and support individual MP’s to vote for the bill. We have 6, we need 55 more.

This is where clever lobbying on our behalf begins. The con-cerns of MP’s that I have heard so far include that this is a back door to legalisation; that it will increase the incidence of attacks and robberies of sick people and doctors ; that it ‘sends a mes-sage’ that cannabis is okay for young people. Other questions include: how is the cannabis

tested for contaminants; is it safe if just grown in the back yard; how is dosage managed; and why not just use the phar-maceuticals being developed overseas? These are all argu-ments we have heard before and worked to dispel. But nonethe-less they are often deeply held concerns and so we have to address them seriously.

We have to be clear that this is about sick people accessing medicine. We need to talk about other countries with ef-fective and safe systems for producing and distributing cannabis. We need to tell the stories about ill people we know, the awful side effects of the pharmaceuticals, the fear and frustration when their stash is stolen and they can’t go to the police, the jail time experienced by ill people, the elderly who grow it but live in fear of the police, and the deep relief that the drug can provide for nausea, spasms, and pain.

We have an opportunity to get MP’s to challenge their own prejudices about pot smokers, to look at the serious issues, not long hair. And we can make a real difference to our ill friends and family who deserve the best medicine for them.

Medicinal pot on the political agenda for the first time ever


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WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR?> an effective antispasmodic for sufferers of multiple sclerosis, spinal injuries and spasticity,> effective pain relief, including for chronic pain, migraine, phantom limb pain and arthritis,> relieving nausea associated with chemotherapy or other medica-tions, > relief of glaucoma,> gastro-intestinal disorders,> limiting the effects of stroke,> anti-cancer and anti-tumoural properties> stimulation of appetite for people with HIV or nausea.

Doctors and health organisations support reformCurrently, more than 60 US and interna-tional health organizations - including the American Public Health Associa-tion, Health Canada, the US Institute of Medicine, the US Presbyterian Church and the Federation of American Scien-tists - support granting patients immedi-ate legal access to medicinal marijuana under a physician’s supervision. The New Zealand Medical Association “supports research into the benefits of cannabis for medical use, and into alternative delivery systems.” The New Zealand Pharmaceutical Guild told the 2001-3 cannabis inquiry it could distribute medicinal cannabis if it were permitted.

Other countries allow medical use

www.cannabis-med.orgfor the latest medical marijuana research go to

Internationally, a number of jurisdictions have moved to legalise the medicinal use of cannabis by various means. USA: Eleven states allow patients to grow their own cannabis or nominate someone to do it for them. Most other states allow a medical defence to drugs charges. The federal government also supplies pre-rolled marijuana cigarettes to patients registered under its Investigational New Drug Programme. Canada: The federal government legalised the possession and cultivation of medical marijuana in 2001. Health Canada supplies herbal marijuana to patients or permits them to grow their own, and in 2005 approved the cannabis-derived medicine Sativex, which is now available through Canadian pharmacies. UK: The Home Office has allowed doctors to treat patients with Sativex on a case-by-case basis since 2005. Numerous trials are under way.Spain: Allows Sativex to be prescribed, tolerates home growing.

The Netherlands: The Bureau of Medicinal Cannabis (part of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport) distributes two varieties of standardised medical-grade marijuana through pharmacies.


meDicaL Congressman’s plea: allow medical use

“If I am terminally ill, it is not anybody’s business on this floor how I handle the pain or the illness or the sickness associ-ated with that illness. With all due respect to all of you, butt out. I did not enter this world with the permission of the Justice Department, and I am certainly not going to depart it by seeking their permission or that of any other authority. The Congress has no business telling people that they cannot manage their illness or their pain any way they need to. I would trust any doctor in the country before I trust some of the daffy ducks in this institution to decide what I am supposed to do if I am terminally ill... When is this Congress going to recognize that individuals in their private lives have a right to manage their problems as they see fit without the per-mission of the big guy in the White House or the big guy in the Justice Department or any of the Lilliputians on this Congres-sional floor? Wake up!”

- Congressman David Obey (Dem), speaking to the U.S. House of Represen-tatives 28 June 2006

Dosage guidelines for medical useThe United States Food and Drug Admin-istration (FDA) has issued a dosing guide-line for Dronabinol (synthetic THC, also knows as Marinol) of 30-90mg per day.

Donald Abrams of the Uni-versity of California at San Francisco and colleagues in their paper “Medical Cannabis: Rational Guide-lines for Dosing”, directly applied these guidelines to herbal cannabis and calculated how much would need to be smoked in order to achieve the FDA’s rec-ommended daily dosage.

For average cannabis that is 10 per cent THC, 1.85 grams per day would be required for a dose of 30mg THC, or 5.55 grams for a dose of 90mg THC. For cannabis that is particularly potent, such as 20 per cent THC, 0.93 grams would be required to achieve a dose of 30mg THC, or 2.79 grams for a

Each strain has it’s own medicinal properties, and could be bred for particular ailments. Left to right: Satin-A; Shiva Shanti; Irie, Bubbleberry; Te Tuki, Kakariki, Special K; Soggy

dose of 90mg THC. Abrams said these amounts

are consistent with amounts reported by patients. In surveys from patients in Washington and California, the average reported consumption of cannabis by medicinal users typically ranges between 10 - 20 g per week, or approximately 1.42 to 2.86g per day.

At New Zealand street prices this equates to around $100 to $400 per week. That’s why for many patients growing their own is the best solution to hard-to-find and expensive marijuana supplies.


Questions & AnswersThe Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Can-nabis) Amendment Private Members’ Bill balances the needs of patients with concerns about non-medical cannabis use in a way that deserves to be considered by politicians and the community. Here are some common questions about the bill.

”Surely existing provisions are adequate, why do we need this?”

While the Misuse of Drugs Act and the Medicines Act theoretically allow can-nabis to be approved on a case-by-case basis, these provisions are cumbersome, onerous and open to political interference. To date no applications have ever been approved. These provisions will remain and could be used alongside this Bill, which will provide an alternative mecha-nism intended to speedily satisfy the needs of patients.

”There are marijuana pills, patients don’t need to grow their own ”

While cannabis extracts and synthetic ver-sions of natural cannabinoids have been developed overseas, none are currently available in Aotearoa. Furthermore, many patients and researchers have found herbal cannabis to be a more effective medicine than single chemicals. Cannabis contains a range of active ingredients. Each strain is different and some are more effective for particular conditions than others. In the absence of a safe, affordable supply, allowing patients to grow their own is a sensible solution.

”Smoking a medicine isn’t right!”

This bill does not presume that the medic-inal cannabis must be smoked, and in fact smoke can be avoided entirely through the use of vaporisers, tinctures, and cannabis-based food or drinks. However, inhalation provides instant onset and ease of dose titration. For seriously ill or terminally ill people smoking is the least of their con-cerns. Cannabis is also remarkably safe - no one has ever died from an overdose.

”Allowing medical cannabis sends the wrong message”

Showing compassion for sick people is unlikely to be seen as condoning the recreational use of cannabis. In the US, research shows teen cannabis use in Cali-fornia has dropped since their medical law came into effect.


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Thousands of Kiwis need immediate safe access to medical marijuana!More than 11,000 New Zealanders could already be using marijuana

for medical reasons, or could benefit from doing so. They deserve compassion, not criminalisation.

Estimates of how many New Zealanders suffer from conditions potentially alleviated by cannabis and how many may be already using cannabis illegally can be gauged by extrapolating from Australian figures. Hall et al (2001) estimated NSW has 19,000 medical marijuana users, suggesting New Zealand could have on a population basis 11,400 medical users.

A 2005 British survey of more than 500 HIV/AIDS patients found that one-third of respondents use natural cannabis for symp-tomatic relief, with more than 90 percent of them reporting that it improves their ap-petite, muscle pain and other symptoms.

A previous US survey found one out of four patients with HIV had used natural can-nabis medicinally in the past month.

Cannabis use is also prevalent among pa-tients with neurologic disorders. Nearly four out of ten Dutch patients with prescriptions for “medical grade cannabis” ( provided by Dutch pharmacies with a standardized THC content of 10.2 percent) use it to treat MS or spinal cord injuries, according to survey data published in 2005 in the journal Neu-rology. Perceived efficacy is greater among respondents who inhale cannabis versus those who ingest it orally, the study found.

A 2002 British survey of MS patients found that 43 percent of respondents used natural cannabis therapeutically, with about half admitting they used it regularly. Seventy-six percent said they would do so if cannabis were legal.

A Canadian survey of MS patients found that 96 percent of respondents were “aware cannabis was potentially therapeutically useful for MS and most (72 percent) sup-ported [its] legalization for medicinal purposes.”

A more recent Canadian survey published in Neurology reported that 14 percent of MS patients and 21 percent of respondents with epilepsy had used medical cannabis in the past year. Among epileptics, twenty four percent of respondents said that they believed that cannabis was an effective therapy for the condition.

A 2002 survey of patients with Parkinson’s Disease found that 25 percent of respond-ents had tried cannabis, with nearly half of those saying that it provided them sympto-matic relief.

For sources and more information, see the report “Marinol Versus Natural Cannabis: Pros, Cons and Options for Patients” by Paul Armentano (11 Aug 05) at www.norml.org

w w w . n o r m l . o r g . n z / e m a i l M Pemail your MP

with your views.do it now!


Cannabis may hold key to cancer cureBy JONATHAN RENNIE

SATIN

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ND

Recent research suggests that smoking cannabis does not lead to lung cancer, while there is also substantial evidence showing that cannabis may in fact prove valuable in the fight against cancer. Why isn’t this common knowledge?

The popular belief that cannabis smoke is as carcinogenic as tobacco smoke was refuted by a 2005 study of actual lung cancer patients. Major NZ news media failed to mention this development, even though the research was carried out by a scientist whose work they are usually fond of quoting. Only Norml News reported the story1.

Meanwhile, evidence continues to mount that active cannabinoids such as THC can kill cancer cells - something else the main-stream media doesn’t report. Yet normally if some obscure substance looks to possess counter-cancerous powers, every Woman’s Weekly reader knows about it by lunchtime. And the story of cancer-killing cannabis is a solid, growing body of evidence published in a variety of fancypants science journals from around the world. More on that soon.

But first: lung cancer. UCLA pulmonary researcher Dr Donald Tashkin conducted an experiment in the seventies comparing the lung health of cannabis smokers with that of tobacco smokers after a period of heavy smok-ing. The results showed similar pre-cancerous changes in cannabis smokers’ lungs to that of tobacco smokers, suggesting that marijuana smoking may lead to cancer.

Over the years, the results have been rep-licated in a handful of similar studies. But do these laboratory results translate to actual lung cancer in marijuana users? In the West, at least, it was a difficult question to answer 30

years ago, because there was no widespread population of long-term cannabis smokers to study. Not so, today.

To answer this question, Dr Tashkin con-ducted new research in 2005 surveying over a thousand actual lung and upper airways cancer patients and their smoking history. The study looked at what the subjects had smoked in their lifetime, and how much. The results? Tobacco smokers were rife with cancer, as expected. But marijuana-only smokers actu-ally showed slightly less incidents of cancer than non-smokers! Even heavy cannabis-only smokers had low cancer rates. This is despite the fact that cannabis smoke contains known carcinogens.2

In his report to the 2005 International Canabinnoid Research Society conference, Tashkin cautiously noted that it would be a “not unreasonable hypothesis” to conclude that cannabis may actually be protective against lung cancer.

Mainstream New Zealand media greeted the new research with a belligerent silence.

Tashkin’s findings may be related to the afore-mentioned tendency for cannabinoids to kill cancer cells.

Back in the seventies again, at the Medical College of Virginia, Government funded re-searchers conducted a study aimed at showing that cannabis promotes unusual cell growth. They cultivated breast cancer tumours in mice then injected large amounts of THC into the tumours to see if it would make them grow faster. Unexpectedly, it actually shrunk the tumours in most cases. They tried it again with consistent success and published their findings in 1975. The US government immediately cancelled their funding. 3

But history repeated itself in the early 90s when U.S. Government researchers tried to make stomach tumours in mice grow faster with THC, but instead observed, again, that the tumours all shrunk. Dismayed, their federal masters stopped the research and suppressed the findings. But the story was leaked to AIDS Treatment News and the Bos-ton Globe, who published it, forcing general release in 1997. 4

Intrigued, Dr. Manuel Guzman and his team at Compultense University (Madrid) adminis-tered THC to rats with glioma brain cancer. A third of the rats were cured and another third lived longer than the controlled rats, who all quickly died. The study, “Antitumoural Activities of Cannabinoids” published in Nature Medicine 2000, suggests that cannabis triggers a reaction in cancer cells called apop-tosis, or programmed cell death. Apoptosis is a healthy body’s way of arresting abnormal cell growth: malignant tumours form when apoptosis fails for some reason. When the body’s endocannabinoid (anadamide) system is stimulated, this vital defence mechanism kicks into action.

Since Guzman’s research, numerous similar studies have been conducted using anan-damide, THC and sundry synthetic cannabi-noids to test their counter-cancerous efficacy, all with varying degrees of success. So far, plant-based THC has proven the most potent cancer-killer in the cannabinoid arsenal. Tests on the lab animals have shown no physiologi-cal damage from the drugs.

Unfortunately, the huge doses of can-nabinoids required for triggering apoptosis would render even a human patient catatonic throughout the treatment. On the other hand, the current popular cancer treatments involve administering highly toxic radioactive chemi-cals. NORML News wonders if injecting tu-mours with stupefying quantities of non-toxic THC might not be an improvement.

Wherever the research leads, the mainstream media should do its job and report on it. NZ has a high cancer rate and kiwis need to know the other side of the cannabis and cancer story. It would be a shame if an opportunity for a cancer cure were missed because of political pussy-footing around marijuana. Further re-search may fully prove that cannabis smoking does not cause lung cancer. This would be great news for cannabis smokers - and bad news for opponents of medical marijuana, who often site the dangers of smoking as a reason for their strange position.

NOTES1. Norml News, Winter 2005, p. 122. Study Finds No Link Between Marijuana Use and Lung Cancer - www.sciencedaily.com3. A.E. Munsen et al, Antineoplastic Activity of Cannabinoids, Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Vol 55, No. 3, Sep 19754. Colmon Jones, Reefer-Mad in the Newsroom, NOW Magazine (Canada). 06.04.00


Cannabidiol inhibits tumour growth inleukaemia, breast cancer in animal studies

Cannabinoid reduces high blood pressureDr. Raphael Mechoulam, a professor at Hebrew University who first discovered THC, has created a synthetic version of the phytocannabinoid cannabigerol (CBG), which reduces blood pressure in animal experiments with rats.

CBG causes relaxation of the blood vessels and possesses anti-inflammatory properties. Yehoshua Maor, a student who works under the supervision of Prof. Mechoulam, was one of the winners of this year’s Kaye Innovation Awards, presented on 13 June at the university for his work on the cardiovascular activity of cannabinoids.

Sources: Jerusalem Post 13 June 2006, eMax-Health.com 19 June 2006


THC reduces pain from fibromyalgiaThe effect of oral THC was investigated in nine patients with fibromyalgia in a study at the Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine of the University Hospital in Mannheim, Germany.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain syndrome of unknown origin. In the four participants who completed the three-month study pain was reduced by 67 per cent on average. All four experienced a pain reduction by more than 50 per cent.

Source: Schley M et al. Delta-9-THC based monotherapy in fibromyalgia patients on experimentally induced pain, axon reflex flare, and pain relief. Curr Med Res Opin 2006;22(7):1269-1276


research go to

Reclassification pleaIn an editorial Dr. George Lundberg, Editor of MedGenMed and Adjunct Professor of Health Policy, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, plead for a reclassification of cannabis in the USA, so that its medical use would be allowed.

“In fact, enforcement of unrealistic laws regarding marijuana has probably caused more harm than marijuana itself. Although far from harmless by toxicologic or pathologic criteria, marijuana is much less dangerous than many other substances in less restrictive schedules, like morphine and cocaine, not to mention the unscheduled legal mass killers tobacco and alcohol. Of course, marijuana does have proven medical usefulness for some conditions. People obey laws they believe to be just; they do not obey the marijuana laws because they know they are unjust, even absurd.”

Source: Lundberg GD. MedGenMed 2005;7(3):47

Cannabinoids among most promising treatments for neuropathic pain, say expertsCannabinoids are the most promising approach to treating a common type of pain, according to an elite group of pain specialists convened by MedPanel to discuss the challenges and future of treating neuropathic (nerve injury) pain.

The condition is frequently seen in patients with diabetes, cancer, HIV, diseases of the central nervous system such as multiple sclerosis, and after certain surgeries.

”During the summit we asked the group to respond to data pertaining to several novel drug therapies and classes of agents under study, and at the conclusion of the meeting they told us that cannabinoids’ potential for a strong analgesic effect, broad action on the central nervous system, reduced side effects and use in combination with other therapies is more exciting to them than several other investigational approaches,” said Matt Fearer, Senior Vice President, Content Development for MedPanel.

“It appears, however, that an unfortunate sociopolitical climate could delay or prevent the approval of potentially valuable therapies for millions of people suffering from neuropathic pain,” he added.

Source: PRNewswire of 21 June 2006

RESEARCH

Kakariki

Italian researchers investigated the anti-tumour effects of five natural cannabinoids of the cannabis plant (cannabidiol, cannabigerol, cannabichromene, cannabidiol-acid and THC-acid) in breast cancer.

Cannabidiol (CBD) was the most potent cannabinoid in inhibiting the growth of human breast cancer cells that had been injected under the skin of mice. CBD also reduced lung metastases deriving from human breast cancer cells that had been injected into the paws of the animals.

Researchers found that the anti-tumour effects of CBD were caused by induction of apoptosis (programmed cell death).

They concluded that their data “support the further testing of cannabidiol and cannabidiol-rich extracts for the potential treatment of cancer.”

These observations are supported by investigations of US scientists who found that exposing leukaemia cells to CBD led to a reduction in cell viability and induction of apoptosis. In living animals CBD caused a reduction in the number of leukaemia cells. The scientists noted that CBD “may be a novel and highly selective treatment for leukaemia.”

Sources: Ligresti A, et al. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2006 May 25; McKallip RJ, et al. Mol Pharmacol. 2006 Jun 5.

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In June researchers from Otago Medical School published a paper in the online Lancet concerning the contribution of tobacco smoking and socioeconomic factors to mortality of Maori and Pakeha. Maori mortality rates are twice those for non-Maori.

The study, lead by Assoc.Prof Tony Blakely, found the differences are due mainly to socioeconomic and other factors with the differing smoking rates making a much smaller contribution, contrary to what had been thought at the Ministry of Health.

As a result of Otago University’s practice of announcing important or controversial research via press statements there was a flurry of reports in the media with news headlines of the type “Study says that a ban on tobacco will save numerous Maori lives”

This claim illustrates a major problem that we face in trying to achieve sensible drug policy. A search of the Lancet paper indicates that no where in the article is the word “ban” or “prohibit” used.

What the Lancet a r t ic le actually said was: “Achievement of a largely smoke-free New Zealand would cause substantial reductions in mortality for both Maori and Non-Maori, Non-pacific.”

The fac t tha t ach iev ing a smokefree NZ is instantly equated with banning tobacco, assuming that this will get rid of it, seems to be at the heart of many prohibitionists (and media) thinking.

Previously, in April, Maori Party MP Hone Harawira called for a total ban on tobacco out of concern for Maori health. Even the conservative MP Judith Collins was able to discredit Hone’s suggestion, by giving a textbook argument against prohibition on the “Eye-to-eye”

TV program. Dr Gee of Christchurch

hospital has made similar statements about party pills, claiming that banning them would solve 99% of the problems.

Even a cursory look at other attempts at drug prohibition show that it seldom, if ever, achieves its ostensive aim of elliminating or substantially reducing use. There are as many, if not more, opiate addicts now as there were when morphine and heroin could be purchased legally over the counter. Alcohol consumption under US prohibition, while dropping initially, soon reached pre-prohibition levels once underground production got into full swing. Recreational cannabis use in NZ was rare and unremarkable until the 1960s, when its earlier ban began to be rigorously enforced. Now after 40 years of extreme prohibition its use is widespread ... and unremarkable.

These bans don’t work, and they come with an immense cost, both financial and social.

In a DominionPost Op-ed in June, Phil Saxby of Wellington Norml used NZ’s declining tobacco usage as an example against such bans, where regulation and education have changed a culture of harmful drug use, without the counterproductive and destructive use of prohibition.

The time may come where the use of tobacco, one of our most dangerous drugs, is rare, but this will not happen by banning it.

Prohibitionists target tobacco nextAdvocates of banning tobacco should heed the lessons of other failed attempts at prohibition, writes BRANDON HUTCHISON


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Cannabinoid helps soothe stomach ulcersA synthetic cannabinoid called ACEA that selectively binds to the CB1 receptor inhibited the formation of stomach ulcers in rats.

Acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin) caused lesions in the gastric mucosa within three hours that were dose-dependently decreased by the cannabinoid. This effect is thought to be caused by a reduction of acid secretion.

Cannabis use does not increase risk of injuries - ER studyCannabis use does not increase the risk for injury requiring hospitalisation, according to a recent large case-control study.

Researchers at the University of Missouri in Columbia as-sessed the association between illegal drug use and injury among adults age 18 to 60. They compared 2,161 injured subjects requiring emergency room treatment with 1,856 controls matched for age and gender.

Among patients 27 per cent were injured in a fall, 19 per cent were struck by an object, 18 per cent were in a motor vehicle crash, and the rest were

injured in a variety of ways. Researchers concluded that

marijuana use in the previous seven days was associated with a “substantially decreased risk of injury”. Use of other illicit drugs, or the use of alcohol in the previous six hours, was associated “with a greatly increased risk of injury.”

Source: Vinson D. Marijuana and other illicit drug use and the risk of injury: a case-con-trol study. Missouri Medicine 2006;103(2).

Cannabidiol reduces risk of Diabetes in an animal studyResearchers at the Hadassah University Hospital of Jerusalem investigated the effects of cannabidiol (CBD) on the development of diabetes in mice, and said the observed effects “may lead to the clinical application of this agent in the prevention of type 1 diabetes” and possibly other autoimmune diseases.

So-called NOD mice develop insulitis within 4 to 5 weeks of age followed by diabetes within a median of 14 weeks. Insulitis is an inflammation of the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin, and diabetes is a result of a destruction of these cells.

NOD mice aged 6 to 12 weeks that were treated with 10 to 20 injections of CBD (5 mg per kilogram body weight) had a significantly reduced incidence of diabetes of 30 per cent compared to 86 per cent in untreated control mice.

In addition, disease onset was a significantly delayed in the mice that developed diabetes in

the treated group. Blood levels of two chemicals

that promote inflammation, IFN-gamma and TFN-alpha, are usually increased in NOD mice. A treatment with CBD caused a significant reduction (more than 70 per cent) in levels of both.

In another experiment NOD mice were observed for 26 weeks. While the 5 control mice all developed diabetes, 3 of 5 of the CBD-treated mice remained diabetes-free at 26 weeks.

Source: Weiss L, et al. Cannabidi-ol lowers incidence of diabetes in non-obese diabetic mice. Autoim-munity 2006;39(2):143-51

MRI study finds cannabis not harmful to adolescent brainsResearchers who scanned the brains of 10 people who were frequent cannabis users in adolescence and 10 control subjects with advanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) found no ”evidence of cerebral atrophy or loss of white matter integrity” and concluded that “frequent cannabis use is unlikely to be neurotoxic to the normal developing brain.”

The former cannabis users were now aged 18 to 27 years and had used cannabis between daily to 2-3 times weekly for one or more years during adolescence, but were currently abstinent. They were compared to subjects of similar age and sex who never used cannabis. Measurements were obtained of whole brain and certain brain areas, which are most often related to psychotic experiences and memory.

The scientists, of the Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research and the

New York University School of Medicine, noted that their “data are preliminary and need replication with larger numbers of subjects, although they do have implications for refuting the hypothesis that cannabis alone can cause a psychiatric disturbance such as schizophrenia by directly producing brain pathology.”

Source: Delisi LE, et al A prelim-inary DTI study showing no brain structural change associated with adolescent cannabis use. Harm Reduct J 2006;3(1):17. Down-load at www.harmreductionjour-nal.com/content/3/1/17


research go to

“KC Hemp”


AucklandCannabis Cup ‘06In late May the skies cleared

long enough for one hundred cannabis connoisseurs and enthusiasts to board the Te Aroha for a boat cruise they would not forget - judging the third annual Auckland Cannabis Cup. With thirteen entries

representing the finest indoor and outdoor cannabis in the land, it was always going to be a sought-after event. Those lucky enough to get on board were treated to delicious samples of fine marijuana anonymously named A or B or so on, dispersed in random order and marked with the all-important identifying letter on the filter end.First came the close-up

inspection with points awarded for appearance and smell. More points were awarded for flavour and overall burnability and most importantly, the effect. The Cups themselves were

hand-blown by Josh in California before being smuggled into Aotearoa.Judges who ventured

downstairs to the spotting TOP LEFT: Outdoor winner Purple Plinapple. TOP RIGHT: Kakariki, indoor winner for the second year in a row! ABOVE: Shiva Shanti BELOW, LEFT TO RIGHT: Shiva Shanti, Irie, Bubbleberry, Shiva Shanti, Te Tuki.


lounge usually needed help to get back out again and emerged dazed, confused ... and ready for more.As the day turned to night it

was hard keeping track of what had been smoked and what was still to come. It didn’t help that the boat kept turning in random circles to confuse us!Still, everyone was there on

a quest of discovery and set about their task with inspired dedication. There would be no stopping until every last scrap was tasted, sampled, sniffed, rolled and smoked!Needless to say, there

could have been a mutiny if it were not for the delectable munchies that kept everyone satisfied and civilised. Before the night was

over we were treated to a “choice as” round of canna-comedy and songs from Auckland funny-man Gish, and plenty of dope music from DJs Sensei, Leo and Markee. Returning to the

wharf was like emerging from a strange dream. Did we really just spend 6 hours cruising up and down Waitemata Harbour in a smoke-filled schooner?Yes, it appears we

did. I can’t wait for next

year!

2006 ResultsIndoor1. Te Kakariki (F)2. Shiva Shanti (B)3. Te Tuki (E)4. Bubbleberry (D)5. Soggy 1 (H)6. Irie (C)7. Satin-A (A)8. Special K (G)9. Soggy 2 (I)

Outdoor1. Purple Pineapple (K)2. KC Hemp (L)3. White Rhino (M)4. Oromaeroa (J)


bush doctor

THIS PLACE is such a wonderful stoners’ playground. Not only for the best weed and hash or even the wonderful and diverse munchies. It’s the atmosphere. It’s hard to describe the feelings evoked by the mix of historic 17th century architecture and design, 21st century adult entertainment and worry free drug taking. It is liberating to say the least...

But enough of the euphoric stoned dribble and on to the job of bush doctoring. I’ve spent a fair bit of time over the years in Amsterdam, and I enjoy re-visiting or meeting people who are really knowledgeable and have achieved good things in the world wide cannabis industry.

This year I’ve been talking to people about green house cultivation. The dutch have been growing pot in glasshouses since the late sixties, because

they already had an existing glasshouse industry there. And while everyone switched on high pressure sodium and metal halide lights in the 1980’s and then exponentially so in the 90’s, many dutch commercial growers continued developing and refining greenhouse crops to cater to a rapidly increasing market. These days fresh, well grown, buds are definitely the preferred option over mediocre imported hash throughout Europe.

The market now wants indoor buds, preferably the latest, greatest strains. However, it is difficult and hugely energy expensive to grow large commercial crops under lights. So, shit loads of indoor varieties get grown on a large scale in greenhouses and get passed off as indoor, because, even to an expert the difference is indiscernible.

In recent years dutch greenhouse expertise and genetics have also moved south to warmer climes in places like Spain and Switzerland, where polyhouses and even plastic hoop houses are used very successfully. One of the reasons for moving south - besides increasing liberalisation - is to take advantage of the longer, warmer growing season.

In Aotearoa is already blessed with long, warm summers, especially the north island. We also have loads of old poly and greenhouses around, and hoop tunnel houses are cheap and easy to build. The main concept is of manually controlling the photo period by blacking out the crop to restrict light hours. Keeping plants in a vegetative stage is easy enough under plastic or glass. Even a fluorescent tube burning in the evening a few feet away is

enough to keep them awake, and prevent them from advancing into the flowering cycle.

When they are ready to be flowered, a 12 hour photoperiod is achieved by blacking out or tarping over the plants in the evening. So, if the day dawns at 6am, the tarp goes over the hoop house at 6pm, and stays on until half an hour after sunset. If possible air is vented through the blacked out space to prevent excessive moisture build up, which encourages mould. Beyond photoperiod control, greenhouse cultivation is a cross between outdoor and indoor growing. It is still governed by nature, but growers retain the controls of an enclosed growing space.

Aaaahhh... bliss. It’s 30 degrees in the shade. I’m enjoying a cold one overlooking a scantily clad summer scene. What shall I smoke next? Neville’s Haze, Sour Diesel, G13, L A Confidential or some hash perhaps? Maybe ketama, Malana cream or Nederhash?

No readers, the bush doc isn’t lying around enjoy-ing stoned fantasies, I’m writing from the haven of Amsterdam on my annual pilgrimage to the Mecca of cannabis culture.

> continued over page

Amsterdamaged Again!

BUBBLEBERRY


bush doctor Amsterdamaged Again!

The specifics of what and how it is grown will depend on the greenhouse. Some glasshouses are very sophisticated with automated temperature venting controls, black out screens on timed, electric motors, air filtration, auto watering, etc. But some of the best pot I’ve seen was grown in a 1.2 metre high hoop house. The grower used white rhino which she bent over where ever it got too tall creating bushes three feet tall and round with multiple thick, long colas from the top to the bottom of the plants. The sun shines brighter than H.I.D lights and it moves through a daily cycle, plants respond accordingly.

She had no access to electricity, so fans, pumps and other gadgets weren’t an option. The plants were planted directly into the top soil after it had been dug over with some pumice (as the soil was a bit heavy), lime, and worm castings. There was a gravity fed water supply which was a maintenance issue, but worked nonetheless. Due to high temperatures, the plants transpired heavily which in turn meant lots of hand watering

sessions, up to four times daily. The only temperature control mechanism available was to open up, partially or totally, the ends of the hoop house. Depending on wind strength and direction, a nice through flow of fresh air could be created. On really hot days the plastic cover could be rolled off the entire crop for the day.

The main difficulty with greenhouse growing is the extreme and sometimes sudden temperature changes. A sudden drop in temperature will especially slow down plant’s development. An extractor fan on a thermostat, ducting hot air out, will even out the worst of the temperature peaks and troughs. However, most varieties will take a week or so longer to mature in a greenhouse than under lights.

In more sophisticated greenhouses, there are more tools available for growers’ to manage environmental conditions. Hydroponic grow systems can work really well in greenhouses. Water is always available to plants and is able to be kept at an optimum temperature. Run-to-waste systems have been popular in the past because it’s so easy to flush, but responsible growers shouldn’t use too many salt based fertilizers if possible and instead aim for a superior product using organic foods and additives.

Another option for the more experienced grower is the opportunity to use CO2 for an even bigger, faster crop.

Basically all the lovely, modern tricks and extras that we can use to produce big, resinous flowers under lights can be used to the same effect in a greenhouse environment. And the same rules apply, such as clean, organised gardening practices. It is advisable to grow quite large plants using natural sunlight because, due to the sun’s brightness, buds can still grow solid at the base of a plant even if it is two metres tall.

As long as there is a minimum of 12 hours light in a day, it is perfectly feasible to grow 3 or more crops per year. Long flowering varieties also become a more attractive option for growers as energy input is so radically reduced.

Imagine the luxury of growing your own; really cheaply, 9 months of the year, amongst the other veges, on your quarter acre in an opaque hoop house or mini glass or poly house. The only thing stopping us really is fear of legal repercussions. But come on folks, a couple of well kept plants will yield more than just cheap budz without risking the earth. The satisfaction of smoking and sharing your own grown weed.........

Anyway, I just smoked some haze and my attention has shifted onto a mother duck and her half grown babies negotiating canal boat traffic.

Amsterdamaged Again.

< continued from over page

Inside a Dutch coffeeshop


for civil rights advice & support, call us on

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BUSTLINELAWYERS LIST Whangarei: David Sayes 09 4382154; Nick Leader 09 4384039; Wellsford: Gary Sellars 09 4238022; Auckland: Peter Winter 09 3797658; Graeme Minchin 025 2122704; Johnnie Kovacevich 021 653933 or 09 3093364; Colin Amery 09 2665910; Marie Dyhrberg 09 3604550; Adam Couchman 09 3733592; Charl Hirschfeld 09 3076997; Maria Pecotic 09 5227399; Owen Harold 09 6304969; Gary Gotlieb 09 3766806; Rodney Harrison 09 3034157; Grey Lynn Community Law: 09 3786085; Waikato/Bay of Plenty: Chris Tennet 021 626 878 or 07 5710966; Matt Goodwin 07 5790400 Hamilton: Roger Layborne 07 8396288; Emily Coupland 07 8381069; Rotorua: Simon Lance 07 3460796; Gisborne: Phil Dreyfrus 06 8671379; Hastings: Community Law Centre 06 8797625; Palmerston North: Peter Coles 06 3581075; Wellington: Michael Appleby 0274 403363; Community Law Centre 04 4992928; Christchurch: David Ruth 03 3745486 Community Law Centre 03 3666870; Timaru: Tony Shaw 03 6886056; Dunedin: Community Law Centre 03 4779562; Invercargill: John Pringle 03 2144069; Community Law Centre 03 2143180; YouthLaw: free legal advice for people under 25. 09 3096967 www.youthlaw.co.nz Legal Services Agency: www.lsa.govt.nz

BUSTED?Say nothing until you have spoken to

PETER WINTER BA LLBBarrister

Specialist in Criminal LawHobson St Chambers, Auckland City.

Phone 09 379-7658 Mobile 0274 499-987Also available for trials in Northland & the Waikato

more information:www.norml.org.nz/rights www.norml.org.nz/forum4www.youthlaw.co.nz www.courtsofnz.govt.nz

Police Questioning· You have the right to remain silent – including not making a statement - but you must give your correct name and address and in some cases date of birth. Talk to a lawyer before saying anything else.· If the Police want you to go with them always ask if you’ve been arrested because you only have to go with the police if you’ve been arrested, or if you’re under 17 and drunk, high or at risk of being harmed or harming someone.· You have the right to talk to your own or a free lawyer if you’re being questioning about an offence. Tell the po-lice you want to speak to one on the Bill of Rights list.· If you’re under 17 you also have the right to have a sup-portive adult of your choice

with you at the police station. If you don’t name someone the police must get another adult to be with you (not a police officer).

Searches· Always ask why you are being searched. · The police can only search you, your bag or car if you let them; or they arrest you; or they have a search warrant; or they have reasonable grounds to think you have drugs, or an offensive weapon. · The police can search your home if: you let them; or they have a search warrant; or they have reasonable grounds to think it contains drugs.· If you don’t agree to a search you must say so. Silence is consent!· If you are female usually only a policewoman can search you.

NOT GUILTY!

Arrests, Detainment and Charges· If you are 17 or over the police can arrest you if they have good cause to suspect you have “breached the peace” (caused a disturbance) or committed an offence punishable by imprison-ment.· Don’t run away or resist arrest.· Always ask if you’re being arrested, detained or charged and why.· Ask to make a phone call and phone someone you trust.· You don’t have to answer any questions or make a statement.· You have the right to talk to a free lawyer. Tell the police you want to talk to one on the Bill of Rights list before talking to them. Tell your lawyer if you need medical attention.· You have the right to get bail unless there is a good reason for holding you in custody or you have been charged with a very serious offence or offences.

Going To Court· You can enter “no plea” the first time you’re in court. In the time until your next appear-ance, you can get a copy of your police file from the police and seek legal advice. Check with the court if you can get legal aid or see the duty solicitor at court on the day of your case.

Remember· Stay calm and don’t get smart.· Try to get the police officer’s name, number and police station.· Try to get someone to wit-ness what the police do.· If the police breach your rights tell your lawyer/a duty solicitor or make a police complaint later, rather than argue at the time.

Police Complaints· Freephone the Police Com-plaints Authority 0800 503 728; or· Your local community law centre, YouthLaw, a lawyer or NORML.· Write down everything that happened while you remem-ber. Get photos of any injuries and see a doctor.

“or you’ve no rights!”KNOW youR RIGHTS


While cannabis has been shown to be safe for the vast majority of people who use it, there will be some who experience problems. Ensure that your cannabis use does not impair your health, family, employment and education, and try to have periods of not consuming cannabis.Harm reduction:> Less is More: the less you smoke, the less you will need, and the more high you will get. Heavy long term use may lead to some respiratory damage. > NORML recommends consuming organic cannabis whenever possible.> Mixing cannabis with alcohol can make you more out of it than you intended. The anti-nausea effect of cannabis may also cause people to drink more.> Mixing cannabis with tobacco means more smoke damage to your lungs, and may make you become nicotine dependent. > Try other ways of ingesting cannabis, such as eating or drinking it, or using a vaporiser to heat the herb and release THC without combustion.> When eating cannabis preparations, start with a small piece and wait an hour before increasing the amount, if desired. The effects of edible cannabis products may be more psychoactive than smoked cannabis.> Deep tokes and long breath duration are more harmful to the lungs. Water pipes and bongs can cool the smoke, filter solids, and absorb some of the most harmful tars in the water. Bongs can make the smoke very smooth, so avoid inhaling too deeply. Replace bong water each time and regularly sterilise your pipe or bong (eg using alcohol or denture cleaning tablets)> Meningitis and other diseases can be transmitted through saliva, so don’t share spit on joints or pipes. Try using your hands like a chillum to hold the joint.Contra-indications:> Cannabis is best avoided by pregnant and breast-feeding women, or women who might soon become pregnant.> People with a history of severe mental illness should reduce any cannabis use to a level agreed with their clinician, or avoid cannabis altogether.> Those receiving digitalis or other heart medications should consult their doctors before using cannabis.

tips for safer

cannabis use


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SHOW YOUR GROW! pictures of this year’s harvest

Got some great plants or interesting photos?email digi pix to [email protected] post film or photos to NORML News,PO Box 3307 Auckland.

SuperSkunk by “pod”, seeds sent direct from Amsterdam.

These impressive plants are from the Buller region, grown in a chicken-wire cage to deter pests


norml news winter 2006

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