If you or someone you care about is dealing with MRSA infection, you should know that medical marijuana can help heal MRSA.
1. Web MD says "Chemicals in Marijuana May Fight MRSA
Study Shows Cannabinoids May Be Useful Against Drug-Resistant Staph Infections"
"By Caroline Wilbert
WebMD Health News Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD
Sept. 4, 2008 -- Chemicals in marijuana may be useful in fighting MRSA, a kind of staph bacterium that is resistant to certain antibiotics.
Researchers in Italy and the U.K. tested five major marijuana chemicals called cannabinoids on different strains of MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). All five showed germ-killing activity against the MRSA strains in lab tests. Some synthetic cannabinoids also showed germ-killing capability. The scientists note the cannabinoids kill bacteria in a different way than traditional antibiotics, meaning they might be able to bypass bacterial resistance."
"According to a new study, published August 6, 2008 in the Journal of Natural Products, cannabis has powerful antibiotic properties against several forms of MRSA strains, “of clinical relevance.”
"Substances harvested from cannabis plants could soon outshine conventional antibiotics in the escalating battle against drug-resistant bacteria. The compounds, called cannabinoids, appear to be unaffected by the mechanism that superbugs like MRSA use to evade existing antibiotics. Scientists from Italy and the United Kingdom, who published their research in the Journal of Natural Products last month, say that cannabis-based creams could also be developed to treat persistent skin infections."
“Chemicals found in marijuana called Cannabinoids may prove useful in the fight against the antibiotic-resistant superbug MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), new research suggests.
Results of a study by researchers in Italy and the UK has revealed that the five major cannabinoids in the Cannabis sativa plant are effective against different strains of MRSA. Two of the cannabinoids tested are nonpsychotropic, which means that they do not possess the mood-altering properties associated with marijuana. Furthermore, the researchers found that the cannabinoids kill bacteria in a different way to traditional antibacterial drugs, thus meaning that MRSA may not be able to develop resistance against them.”
So what can we learn from this? Wisdom dictates that we use medical marijuana to address this and other health issues that medical grade and higher of hemp heal. The government needs to stop the drug war so people can be free to use marijuana to solve our problems, beginning with our health and expanding to include our world’s problems with the economy, environment, food, water, energy, textile and building materials… just to name a few.
An example of how hemp prohibition is wrong is found in the book HEMP FOR VICTORY: THE WONDER HERB by Richard M. Davis. Peter McWilliams was murdered by the government denying him medical marijuana which he was using to help him manage his vomiting from chemo treatments.
"The prosecutors made it clear there was no room for compassion in federal drug law and denied the Judge's request. Five days later Peter died because, by court order, he did not have the hemp medicine he needed to manage his nausea. Murder by government."
"WASHINGTON — People who use marijuana for medical purposes and those who distribute it to them should not face federal prosecution, provided they act according to state law, the Justice Department said Monday in a directive with far-reaching political and legal implications......In 1996, California became the first state to make it legal to sell marijuana to people with doctors’ prescriptions. The other states that allow some use of marijuana for medical purposes are Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington."
"A federal judge in Los Angeles this morning postponed the sentencing of a man who emerged as a key figure in the national debate over medical marijuana, saying he wanted additional information about a reported change in the Justice Department’s policy regarding such prosecutions.
U.S. District Court Judge George H. Wu asked prosecutors for a written response from the Justice Department about its position on medical marijuana prosecutions in light of recent comments from Atty. Gen. Eric H. Holder Jr.
Holder said last week that the Justice Department under President Obama had no plans to prosecute dispensary owners who operated within their state's law.
Wu said he did not believe that any change in policy would affect the conviction of Charles Lynch, 47. But the judge said he wanted to consider any new information about the policy before imposing sentence.
Lynch’s trial this summer showcased the issue of conflicting state and federal marijuana laws. "
FREE ALL NON VIOLENT DRUG WAR POLITICAL PRISONERS NOW!!!
Attorney General Eric Holder : Are we free to smoke hemp in America? Can we grow hemp? Can we legally buy the nation's #1 cash crop?
Here's where those questions are today.
Currently we can buy industrial hemp, we just can't grow it. Attorney General Eric Holder said they would not go after the medical marijuana clubs.
A Google news search for "attorney general" "marijuana" included the 3 summaries and links below:
A. Raids on Medical Marijuana Will End NBC Los Angeles - Feb 26, 2009 No, "hemp" was not the main crop in George Washington's era. Just say it...you want a joint! Greenthumb215 Today at 8:28 AM FLAG COMMENT For almost thirteen ...
Must we continue to pretend not to know hemp can help us solve our problems?
If it is at least possible for us to use hemp can we begin now?
President Obama said at his health care conference at the White House this week that "...data and evidence have to drive the practice." Data and evidence indicate the need for the immediate end of hemp prohibition and the institution of a hemp empowerment strategy.
Though the federal government has indicated an inclination to remove hemp restrictions, we are in need of clear policy on the issue. A simple memo from Attorney General Eric Holder ending the war on drugs would begin the process.
"During his campaign, President Obama said he would stop the raids on legal medical marijuana dispensaries. Yesterday, the attorney general hinted that Obama's stance on the issue is now American policy. Some say it is a step in the right direction for people who depend on medical marijuana, but the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Department said the statement doesn't mean anything. They say growing and selling marijuana is illegal and it's going to stay that way. "Do you expect those sorts of raids to continue?" a reporter asked the attorney general in a press conference. "No," Holder stated. That simple response ignited the medical marijuana issue once again. "
Asked at a Washington news conference Wednesday about Drug Enforcement Administration raids in California since Obama took office last month, Holder said the administration has changed its policy. "What the president said during the campaign, you'll be surprised to know, will be consistent with what we'll be doing here in law enforcement," he said. "What he said during the campaign is now American policy." Bill Piper, national affairs director of the Drug Policy Alliance, a marijuana advocacy group, said the statement is encouraging. "I think it definitely signals that Obama is moving in a new direction, that it means what he said on the campaign trail that marijuana should be treated as a health issue rather than a criminal justice issue," he said."
Arizona AG: Marijuana legalization could curb Mexican drug cartel warfare David Edwards and Stephen C. Webster Published: Friday February 27, 2009
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Arizona_AG_Marijuana_legalization_possible_way_0227.html "The entire trade, of course, is fueled by the selling and buying of drugs," said Chetry. "There are some who make the case, including a former deputy foreign minister of Mexico who now works for the Brookings Institution -- somebody by the name of Andres Rosenthal -- who says maybe we need to rethink our drug laws."Rosenthal is one of a growing chorus of former Latin American leaders who have voiced support for the legalization of marijuana. "He says, 'As with the repeal of prohibition, the US must follow a common-sense approach by thinking the unthinkable: The gradual legalization of some drugs. The US must realize that all drugs are not created equal,'" said Chetry. "They go on to say that marijuana, maybe some methamphetamines, do not have the same harmful effects and legalization might make a difference. Do you agree?"
The USA Hemp Museum works to free hemp political prisoners, of which its founder, Richard M. Davis, has been one of them. It is with sadness that we are still dealing with people going to jail for interacting with nature.
If the medical marijuana providers were selling medicines that kill people, like Medicine, Inc. does every day, they would not be in jail.
We've reported on Luke Scarmazzo . He and his partner Ricardo Montes are looking at up to 30 years for have medical marijuana clinics in California, where folks have voted in Prop 215 a dozen years ago.
August 11, 2008 -- Luke Scarmazzo & Ricardo Montes (California Healthcare Collective)
Motion for a New Trial & Sentencing Hearing at 1:30pm before Judge Oliver Wanger in U.S. District Court (E.D., CA), 2500 Tulare Street, Fresno, CA.
After the City of Modesto failed to shut down the California Healthcare Collective by banning dispensaries, it called in the DEA. On September 27, 2006, the DEA raided the collective and arrested four people (owner-operators Luke Scarmazzo and Ricardo Montes and two staff members) on charges of distribution of marijuana and conspiracy to distribute. Scarmazzo and Montes were also charged with possession of firearms and money laundering. Later, an additional five people were indicted, totalling nine who were being prosecuted by the federal government.
In the raid, the DEA allegedly seized more than 100 pounds of marijuana, one thousand plants, multiple firearms, and more than $200,000 in cash.
The raids were the result of a 15-month investigation between the DEA and the Modesto Police Department. In 2007 and early 2008, Stephen DeMattos's case was dismissed in the interest of justice, Bradley Heinmiller and Bradley Wickliffe pled guilty, while the other six defendants (Scarmazzo, Montes, Monica Valencia, Lucky Boissiere, Jose Malagon, and Antonio Malagon) remained to stand trial. After a special hearing, Judge Wanger decided to allow the prosecution to play the "Businessman" music video in front of the jury during the trial.
On April 27, 2008, the day before the trial was scheduled to commence, Boissiere, Valencia, and the Malagon brothers accepted plea bargains. Boissiere & Valencia pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute marijuana and the Malagon brothers pled guilty to conspiring to manufacture and distribute marijuana. Boissiere and the Malagon brothers agreed to testify against Scarmazzo & Montes, joining Heinmiller & DeMattos. Valencia refused to testify for the government, turning down the reduced plea bargain deal she was offered as an incentive.
At the trial, Scarmazzo took the stand, and was able to present evidence of medical marijuana but it was to no avail, and on May 15, 2008, the jury returned its verdicts. While the jurors had deadlocked on the conspiracy counts and acquitted on the firearms counts, they delivered a grand total of eight guilty verdicts against the defendants, including a conviction for continuing criminal enterprise, which puts Scarmazzo and Montes at risk of life imprisonment.
At the end the trial, both defendants were literally wrested out of the arms of their families and taken into the custody of U.S. Marshals because of the severity of the penalties. Several jurors, upon learning the severity of the possible penalties, expressed reservations about their votes to convict and the legitimacy of medical marijuana prosecutions. Prosecutors have already successfully seized $200,000 and are seeking $9.2 million in forfeiture. For more information, please see the consistently excellent Vanessa Nelson.
60 MINUTES ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA PT. 1
60 MINUTES ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA PT. 2
From 420 Magazine a letter from Luke Scarmazzo's courageous wife DeVina.
Federal Sentence Reduction For Luke Scarmazzo & Richardo Montes Medical Marijuana...
Hello fellow supporters, my name is DeVina Scarmazzo. On May 15th 2008, the Federal Government sentenced My husband Luke Scarmazzo and our dear friend Richardo Montes to 30 years in a federal prison for operating a Continuing Criminal Enterprise and Manufacturing, Distribution and Cultivation of Marijuana.
From 2004-2006 in Modesto California they opened and managed a medical marijuana dispensary by the name of California Healthcare Collective. Mr. Scarmazzo and Mr. Montes consulted and retained the services of Corporate Attorney for the sole purpose of opening and operating the business legally and professionally. Per California State Law, a Medical Marijuana Dispensary is legal under Proposition 215.
The City of Modesto approved a business license for the Dispensary. In addition, Mr. Montes and Mr. Scarmazzo opened business bank accounts with Wells Fargo, hired Certified Public Accountants for bookkeeping, and paid their employees through a payroll service. They were responsible and kept thorough records and receipts for everything pertaining to the business.
They were upstanding and paid the City of Modesto, State of California as well as our Federal Government taxes, in the neighborhood of 2 million dollars annually. Under California State Law, these men and the Dispensary was an above-board business.
On September 27 2006, after a 16 month sting operation, DEA Agents raided the Dispensary, and all homes in connection to CHC. Mr. Scarmazzo and Mr. Montes were arrested, as were many employees of the Dispensary. Many of whom accepted pleas deals, in return for testimony against these men. They were accused of seven charges, each carrying a 20 year sentence, with a possible total of 140 potential years in prison. The reason for the abrupt closing of the business is because, unlike California State Law, the Federal Law says Medical Marijuana Dispensary's are illegal.
The reason that Mr. Scarmazzo and Mr. Montes faced such a large amount of time is because Marijuana is considered a Class One Drug by the Federal Government.
Marijuana is grouped into the same category as Crack, Heroin, PCP and Methamphetamine by the Federal Government, because they claim that Marijuana has the same effects as the above listed drugs, and no medical value. Federal prison time requires the sentenced to serve every day of their time, with no options for early release or time off for good behavior.
The arrest and trial of Mr. Scarmazzo and Mr. Montes has been controversial due to California State Law legally allowing a Medical Marijuana Dispensary, while being illegal per the Federal Law. US Federal Law trumps any State Laws when a trial is held. While that is a fact, there are many other facts that have been intentionally withheld by the Federal Government. While the Government does not want these facts publicized, it is crucial that all the citizens of California know their rights have been severely violated. Listed below are some interesting and relevant facts that were not discussed or acknowledged in regards to the trial.
1. THE PROSECUTION WAS EXPLICIT IN THEIR ARGUMENT THAT CALIFORNIA'S STATE LAWS ARE IRRELEVANT IN THIS CASE. ESSENTIALLY, THERE WAS NO OPPORTUNITY OR PERMISSION FOR THE DEFENSE TO INTRODUCE ALL THE LEGITIMATE BUSINESS DONE UNDER CALIFORNIA STATE LAW.
2. THERE WAS NO MENTION OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA ALLOWED DURING TRIAL.
3. THE DEFENSE ATTORNEY'S WERE NOT PERMITTED TO REVEAL TO THE JURY THE AMOUNT OF YEARS PER CHARGE. THAT KEY PIECE OF INFORMATION WAS WITHHELD, SO THE JURY WOULD MAKE THEIR GUILTY VERDICT WITHOUT FEELING REMORSE FOR POTENTIALLY SENTENCING THESE MEN TO LIFE IN PRISON.
4. ON DAY 2 OF DELIBERATIONS, A JUROR WAS REPLACED WITH AN ALTERNATE FOR ADMITTING HE WAS PRO MEDICAL MARIJUANA AND COULD NEVER FIND THESE MEN GUILTY.
5. THE JURY WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THESE MEN WOULD SERVE APPROXIMATELY 1 YEAR IN PRISON, WITH PROBATION FOLLOWING.
6. SEVERAL OF THE JURORS "FELT PRESSURED BY THE PROSECUTION AND COURT TO RETURN A GUILTY VERDICT"
7. UNDERCOVER DEA AGENTS OBTAINED MEDICAL MARIJUANA PRESCRIPTIONS FROM VERIFIED PHYSICIANS, ALLOWING THEM TO POSE AS CUSTOMERS OF THE COLLECTIVE.
8. THERE ARE CURRENTLY SEVERAL HUNDRED STATEWIDE MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES OPEN AND OPERATING THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA, MANY OF WHICH HAVE BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR UPWARDS OF 9 YEARS.
9. IN 2002, THE 9TH CIRCUIT COURT APPEALS DECIDED TO UPHOLD THE RIGHT OF DOCTORS TO RECOMMEND MARIJUANA TO THEIR PATIENTS, AND OF THE PATIENTS TO RECEIVE THAT RECOMMENDATION.
10. IN 1978 THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PROVIDED 9 PEOPLE (ONLY 4 ARE ALIVE TODAY) WITH MEDICAL MARIJUANA AFTER A MEDICAL NECESSITY DEFENSE WAS RECOGNIZED IN COURT. THIS RECOGNITION CREATED THE INVESTIGATIONAL NEW DRUG COMPASSIONATE ACCESS PROGRAM (IND PROGRAM). THIS PROGRAM WAS CLOSED TO NEW PATIENTS IN 1992 DUE TO A FLOOD OF AIDS PATIENTS WHO WERE INTERESTED IN BEING A PART OF IND.
THE PEOPLE WHO STILL RECEIVE MEDICAL MARIJUANA FROM OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ARE:
IRVIN ROSENFELD RECEIVING 600 PRE ROLLED MARIJUANA JOINTS MONTHLY SINCE 1982
GEORGE MCMAHON RECEIVING 320 PRE ROLLED MARIJUANA JOINTS MONTHLY SINCE 1990
ELVY MUSIKKA RECEIVING 320 PER ROLLED MARIJUANA JOINTS MONTHLY SINCE 1988
BARBARA DOUGLAS RECEIVING 360 PRE ROLLED MARIJUANA JOINTS MONTHLY SINCE 1991
THE FEDERAL MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM MARKED ITS 30TH ANNIVERSARY MAY 10TH, 5 DAYS BEFORE LUKE AND RICHARDO WERE SENTENCED. THE SAME GOVERNMENT THAT STARTED THIS PROGRAM AND HAS RECOGNIZED MARIJUANA'S MEDICAL AFFECTS, IS THE SAME AUTHORITY WHO SENTENCED Mr. SCARMAZZO AND MR. MONTES TO 30 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON.
THE PURPOSE OF THESE ABOVE FACTS IS TO INFORM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA OF THE TRUTHS FROM AN UNBIASED STAND. ALL OF THESE FACTS HAVE BEEN WITHHELD FROM THE PUBLIC FOR A REASON. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WAS ADAMANT IN THEIR PURSUIT TO MAKE AN EXAMPLE OF THESE MEN, AT ANY COST. THEY WERE DISHONEST, EVASIVE AND CAREFUL IN CONDUCTING THEIR STING AND TRIAL. THE TRIAL WAS COMPLETELY IN FAVOR OF THE PROSECUTION, BEFORE IT EVER GOT UNDERWAY. A FAIR TRIAL WAS NOT GIVEN TO THESE MEN. THIS IS A MULTI-FACETED ISSUE AND IT IS DISARMING ON MANY LEVELS."
The USA Hemp Museum, Richard M. Davis, founder, curator, hempologist, is pleased to introduce you to a hemp hero, Luke Scarmazzo.
This courageous young hemp warrior has a few medical marijuana buyers clubs in California that provide safe medicine to people with doctor's notes in a state where the people already voted hemp legal.
"....Section 846-Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana and Section 841(a)(1)-Distribution of Marijuana. The maximum statutory penalty for Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana is a minimum mandatory term of imprisonment of ten years, and a maximum term of imprisonment of life; a $4 million dollar fine. The maximum statutory penalty for Distribution of Marijuana is a minimum mandatory term of imprisonment of ten years, and a maximum term of imprisonment of life; a $4 million dollar fine.
This case is the product of an extensive joint investigation conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Modesto Police Department, Modesto Narcotics Enforcement Team (“MNET”), Stanislaus Drug Enforcement Agency (“SDEA”), and the Internal Revenue Service.
This case is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of California, in Fresno. The charges are only allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt."
We are legislated to death. How does one prove themselves innocent when no real crime has been committed? How is it a crime to supply effective medicine to sick people for substantially less than prescription drugs?
If Luke owned or worked in a pharmacy, he could sell folks medicine that kills people. Instead, he chose to supply hemp medicine from which there is not one known case of death other than murder by government.
More on Luke in future posts, but by way of introduction, here are the webeos about Medical Marijuana on 60 Minutes that includes a discussion of his case and a webeo of his tune about being a hemp business man.
60 Minutes on Medical Marijuana Pt 1
60 Minutes On Medical Marijuana Pt 2
California Hemp Activist Music Video Kraz-Business Man By Luke Scarmazzo
If you are in a position to support this hemp hero/warrior and other victims of government policy, please do so. They are on the front lines of this battle to save ourselves, and we hempsters must support our troops.
