Showing posts with label NORML. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NORML. Show all posts

Monday, September 14, 2009

Jack Herer Is In The Hospital


It is difficult to find a hempster whose life has not been touched by Jack Herer.  His book, THE EMPEROR WEARS NO CLOTHES is legendary. The USA Hemp Museum's founder and curator Richard M. Davis credits Jack Herer and Willie Nelson as his museum's inspiration, showcasing the work of both men in his HEMP FOR VICTORY book series.

Without a peep in mainstream media, social media like Twitter, Facebook and Youtube this weekend was the best source for news about 'what's up with Jack?'.

420 Magazine reports:

"Emperor of Hemp' Jack Herer Fighting For His Life After Heart Attack At Hempstalk

Noted activist and author Jack Herer, "The Emperor of Hemp," is fighting for his life after giving an impassioned speech at the Portland (OR) HempStalk festival Saturday, Sept 12. Herer left the stage and collapsed with an apparently serious heart attack, according to fellow activist Chris Conrad, who was one the scene."

From salem-news.com.

"Ironically, Jack told our Doctor Phil Leveque, an old friend of his in the fight to legitimize and legalize marijuana, that he was feeling better Saturday than he had, "In...ten years."

Event staff came together quickly and called in the paramedic crew that treated Jack in the area backstage where he fell ill. Madeline Martinez, Executive Director of Oregon NORML, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, says Jack didn't look like he felt well after the well received speech, and she told him he should get some water. Shortly after that he apparently collapsed where he was sitting, and the emergency crews were called in."

The blog Reality Checker reminds us that Jack Herer has come back from another health crisis.

"In July 2000, Herer suffered a minor heart attack and a major stroke, resulting in difficulties speaking and moving the right side of his body. He mostly recovered, and said in May 2004 that treatment with the psychoactive mushroom amanita muscaria was the secret."

Below is a piece from the USA Hemp Museum of Herer after his July, 2000 stroke speaking with passion at the late Sister Somayah's Los Angeles Million Marijuana March.


If anybody can come back from a massive heart attack, it's Jack Herer.  Please, come back Jack.

For more on hemp please visit Jack Herer's site  and the USA Hemp Museum .










Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Hemp Salve - Cannabis: Potential treatment for skin disorders?



From Rev. Tom Brown
Subject: Cannabis: Potential treatment for skin disorders?

"New research by Polish scientists, Piotr Kupczyk, Adam Reich and Jacek Szepietowski has uncovered a potential use for medicinal cannabis. Skin disorders are the focus in the study, Cannabinoid system in the skin – a possible target for future therapies in dermatology which was released in May of this year by the Polish Academy of Sciences and the Wroclaw Medical University.

Other research has uncovered the existence of two types of cannabinoid receptors in the body. They are called CB1 and CB2. It is thought that CB1 receptors reside primarily in the central nervous systm. The CB2 receptors are thought to be located in other parts of the body like the immune system, certain organs, and peripheral nerves.

According to Kupczyk, Reich, and Szepietowski, large nerve fiber bundles in the top and deeper layers of skin have been shown to contain CB2 receptors. CB1 receptors were located on nerve fibers in the epidermis and have been located in the inner hair root and hair follicle.

The researchers expressed excitement that cannabinoids might provide future treatment for inflammatory skin disorders, pruritus, and certain types of skin pain, but warn that more research is necessary to gain further insight into the physiology of cannabinoid receptors in the skin. Kupczyk, Reich, and Szepietowski also acknowledge recent observations showing cannabinoids as a potential anti-tumor drug."

http://www.examiner.com/x-17593-NORML-Examiner~y2009m8d29-Cannabis-Potential-treatment-for-skin-disorders

For more information check out the book HEMP FOR VICTORY - VOL II - THE WONDER HERB, page 121-125 - hemp salve. 

Hemp's Peace Pipe Helps Reduce Crime



For centuries we've known that when the problem is violence the solution is the peace pipe and the unique opportunity it gives us to create balance to differences. The US  government, in an effort to support large corporations including Prison, Inc., made the peace pipe illegal and has thrown millions into jail for interacting with a plant.  The desired violence has generally grown, until now.

Though there are many problems with the states medical marijuana law, primary being one has to be sick and rich enough to afford a doctor to legally consume hemp.  Hemp's healing ability is legally denied to the poor and broke, the slavery system still firmly in place. 

However, enough folks have access to medical grade hemp that we are seeing some astounding trends in crime statistics during these difficult economic times.  

NORML reported:

Crime down in states with Medical Marijuana Dispensaries 


"Since California has had legalized medical marijuana the longest, the data for this state was run through the Angela Macdonald number cruncher. Here are the shifts in some of the larger cities in California from 2007 to 2008:

Anaheim
Violent Crime: (-7.8%) Robbery: (-1.38%) Aggravated Assault: (-11.52%)
Property Crime: (-5.31%) Burglary: (-12.21%) Larceny: (-1.09%) Vehicle Theft: (-14.26%)


Bakersfield
Violent Crime: (5.92%) Robbery: (12.56%) Aggravated Assault: (1.57%)
Property Crime: (.64%) Burglary: (17.84%) Larceny: (-3.83%) Vehicle Theft: (-5.7%)

Chula Vista
Violent Crime: (-9.66%) Robbery: (-18.94%) Aggravated Assault: (-2.17%)
Property Crime: (-10.51%) Burglary: (-7.78%) Larceny: (-11.9%) Vehicle Theft: (-9.56%)


Fremont
Violent Crime: (-5.12%) Robbery: (0%) Aggravated Assault: (-8.98%)
Property Crime: (-5.41%) Burglary: (-15.09%) Larceny: (-0.29%) Vehicle Theft: (-9.83%)


Fresno
Violent Crime: (-8.58%) Robbery: (-10.87%) Aggravated Assault: (-6.15%)
Property Crime: (5.18%) Burglary: (7.08%) Larceny: (8.10%) Vehicle Theft: (-6.11%)


Irvine
Violent Crime: (-9.79%) Robbery: (22.73%) Aggravated Assault: (-26.32%)
Property Crime: (-1.38%) Burglary: (-29.04%) Larceny: (6.32%) Vehicle Theft: (-5.58%)


Long Beach
Violent Crime: (-7.82%) Robbery: (-1.26%) Aggravated Assault: (-13.16%)
Property Crime: (0.09%) Burglary: (6.02%) Larceny: (-2.43%) Vehicle Theft: (0.42%)

Los Angeles
Violent Crime: (-4.51%) Robbery: (-0.44%) Aggravated Assault: (-8.73%)
Property Crime: (-0.63%) Burglary: (0.49%) Larceny: (0.29%) Vehicle Theft: (-3.83%)


Modesto
Violent Crime: (-3.42%) Robbery: (-5.09%) Aggravated Assault: (-3.64%)
Property Crime: (-9.61%) Burglary: (7.99%) Larceny: (-10.65%) Vehicle Theft: (-25.31%)


Oakland
Violent Crime: (3.94%) Robbery: (-4.24%) Aggravated Assault: (11.11%)
Property Crime: (-9.2%) Burglary: (-5.36%) Larceny: (-0.44%) Vehicle Theft: (-18.89%)


Riverside
Violent Crime: (1.53%) Robbery: (5.83%) Aggravated Assault: (-3.26%)
Property Crime: (-0.85%) Burglary: (-0.85%) Larceny: (2.1%) Vehicle Theft: (-12.19%)


Sacramento
Violent Crime: (-9.13%) Robbery: (-12.34%) Aggravated Assault: (-6.91%)
Property Crime: (-7.79%) Burglary: (-3.8%) Larceny: (-4.12%) Vehicle Theft: (-19.15%)


San Bernardino
Violent Crime: (-3.53%) Robbery: (-9.63%) Aggravated Assault: (2.48%)
Property Crime: (-6.46%) Burglary: (4.04%) Larceny: (-5.32%) Vehicle Theft: (-17.4%)


San Diego
Violent Crime: (-4.5%) Robbery: (-3.63%) Aggravated Assault: (-7.34%)
Property Crime: (-8.61%) Burglary: (0.83%) Larceny: (-5.67%) Vehicle Theft: (-19.26%)


San Jose
Violent Crime: (-3.09%) Robbery: (5.24%) Aggravated Assault: (-7.09%)
Property Crime: (-7.33%) Burglary: (-22.30%) Larceny: (3.12%) Vehicle Theft: (-18.46%)


Santa Ana
Violent Crime: (-11.35%) Robbery: (8.09%) Aggravated Assault: (-27.04%)
Property Crime: (-10.48%) Burglary: (8.29%) Larceny: (-7.17%) Vehicle Theft: (-26.9%)


Stockton
Violent Crime: (2.51%) Robbery: (-3.53%) Aggravated Assault: (6.53%)
Property Crime: (-3.87%) Burglary: (7.38%) Larceny: (-5.78%) Vehicle Theft: (-11.97%)

With the exception of the occasional dispensary robbery, there is no evidence to show an increase in crime with direct connection to medical marijuana dispensaries. Even with these robberies in mind, it stands to question why any place is robbed.

After analyzing the numbers, it seems strange that anyone would try to say medical marijuana causes any crime. If anything, the data shows quite the opposite. "

http://www.examiner.com/x-17593-NORML-Examiner~y2009m8d26-Crime-down-in-states-with-medical-marijuana-dispensaries

End hemp prohibition now.

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Americans Reject Bush Drug War Doctrine--Landslide At The Ballot Box

Now that we have President Elect Barack Obama, who inhaled frequently because that was the point, and hemp has won in 9 out of 10 states, demand the freedom to use hemp to solve our problems now. Like FDR before him, ending prohibition against the hemp plant should be job one.

We've made the peace pipe illegal and wonder why we have a problem with violence. We've made part of nature illegal and wonder why we have a problem with the environment. We've made effective medicine illegal and wonder why we have a health care crisis. We make it illegal to grow hemp food and wonder why we have a problem with hunger in America. We use our police force to raid farms and their ancillary businesses and wonder why we have a problem with our economy. Ending hemp prohibition would help fix the economy, heal the environment, take a lot of the demand off of the health care system, and solve many other problems we are dealing with.

Consider New Year's Day, 2009. 1 1 9. On the first day of the new year, Emancipation Proclamation Day, 911 in reverse day, enjoy hemp. Hemp clothes, foods, medicines, etc. anything and everything hemp. Get yourself a copy of a/k/a Tommy Chong, A Film By Josh Gilbert, and throw off the stupidity behind government. Stop using the police to raid fields and their crops. Legalizing nature will help restore balance in the face of global warming. Re-instituting hemp is the courageous thing to do.

For a clue about how much public support there is here's an expert report on 2008 election results from NORML.

"Wednesday, November 05, 2008

Americans Reject Bush Drug War Doctrine--Landslide At The Ballot Box Category: News and Politics

Washington, DC: Millions of Americans nationwide cast votes Tuesday in favor of marijuana law reform, approving nine out of ten ballot measures seeking to liberalize penalties on cannabis use and possession.

In Massachusetts, 65 percent of voters approved Question 2, which replaces criminal penalties for the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana (punishable by up to six-months in jail and a $500 fine) with a civil fine of no more than $100. More than 1.9 million Massachusetts voters (and all but three cities) backed the measure - a greater total than the number of voters who endorsed President Elect Barack Obama (1.88 million). Question 2 is expected to become law within 30 days - making Massachusetts the thirteenth state to decriminalize the personal use and possession of cannabis. However, opponents of the measure - which include the state's governor, attorney general, and all twelve state district attorneys - note that lawmakers still have the legal option to amend or repeal the new law.

In Michigan, 63 percent of voters approved Proposal 1, which legalizes the physician-supervised use and cultivation of medicinal cannabis by state-authorized patients. More than 3 million voters endorsed the measure, which received approximately 150,000 more votes in Michigan than did Obama. Proposal 1 goes into effect on December 4th, at which time nearly one-quarter of the US population will live in a state that authorizes the legal use of medical cannabis.

Thousands of voters in various municipalities also backed local ballot initiatives supportive of marijuana law reform. In Arkansas, 66 percent of Fayetteville (population: 67,000) voters approved Question 16, which directs law enforcement to make activities related to the investigation and prosecution of adults who possess up to one ounce of marijuana their lowest priority. The measure also requires the city clerk to submit letters to state and federal legislators urging them to "take immediate steps to enact similar ['deprioritization'] laws."

In Hawaii, Big Island (population: 172,000) voters approved a similar initiative (Ballot Question 1), which directs law enforcement to make activities related to the investigation and arrest of adults who possess up to 24 ounces of cannabis and/or 24 plants their lowest priority. The measure, which voters backed by nearly a 3 to 2 margin, also forbids the County Council from accepting government funding to promote federal marijuana eradication efforts on the Big Island.

In Massachusetts, voters in four state House districts (encompassing 15 towns) passed nonbinding public policy questions directing each district's state representative to vote in favor of legislation to legalize the medical use of cannabis. More than 70 percent of voters in each district backed the measures.

Finally, voters in Berkeley, California endorsed Measure JJ, which eliminates local limits on the quantity of medicinal cannabis that may be possessed by patients, and liberalizes municipal zoning guidelines for patient dispensaries.

By contrast, California voters rejected a statewide sentencing reform measure (Proposition 5), which sought expand the diversion of non-violent offenders to drug treatment and would have decreased minor marijuana penalties to a non-criminal infraction. Numerous politicians, including Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Democrat US Senator Dianne Feinstein, joined forces with law enforcement and the California Beer and Beverage Distributors to lobby against the measure, which gained just 40 percent of the vote.

"Voters on Election Day demonstrated overwhelmingly that they favor political reform in this country, and that reform includes new directions in marijuana policy," NORML Executive Director Allen St. Pierre said. "These election results emphasize that the voters are well ahead of the politicians when it comes to the decriminalization and legalization of cannabis for adults.

"Let us hope that President Elect Obama and the Democrat majority in Congress recognize that marijuana law reform is a populist issue. Voters should not have to take to the ballot box to enact sensible marijuana law reforms; these reforms should be championed by their elected officials."

For more information, please contact Allen St. Pierre, NORML Executive Director, at (202) 483-5500, or Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director."

At the USA Hemp Museum, Richard M. Davis, founder, curator, we're adding more information and ideas concerning hemp. Come visit and enjoy.