Canvassing for Opinion - aka "Blairs Brain on Cannabis"

On Drugs, Medicine and Some Harms

2009-07-07T12:17:00.002+12:00

Part of the problem with Met's Bill (and Nandor's earlier) is that it occurred at all.
(comment as posted to the Daktory Forum)

While med pot is an important issue, the diamonds in the sky is D'classification of cannabis. It would matter diddly what med pot provisions were made (as per Sativex) there would still be injustice. The argument for med pot (even as a wedge issue towards full Class D implementation, the rules are all ready there ) fails to do justice to the issue. AND THAT IS WHY WE HAVE TO RAISE THE ROOF before the Law Commission (LC).

The LC is doing some very creative stuff around 'privacy' and the internet... using the internet to both air the issue contructively and gain insight into public concerns, suggestions and fulfill the responsibility of 'consultation being seen to be done'.

This is the stuff of social capital. The 'drug debate' will be the better for it. One can (will be able to) even send a comment in via ones cellphone. Suddenly the debate (has the POTential to) become relevant to young people.

So donut worry to much about the vote in Parl. There was NO drug debate in the run up to the election, but the day after John Key was elected PrimeMonster we legally regulated psychoactive recreational drugs (it got Royal assent two days before the election, became law on the Sunday). Much more has been accomplished than either media or MP's are prepared to

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concede. We are the first country in the world to take a ground up approach to analyzing drug policy - including adherence to and relevance of the International Covenants and Conventions.

It really doesn't get better than this. Although the anticipated in april/may 'issues paper' is yet to be released (so that the framework for the debate is clear - and thats a head start) it has been delayed somewhat due to [political] prioritisation of the Alcohol issue. The drug we drink, Alcohol (legal) and Drugs (illegal) will according to the Law Commission(er) 'inform each other'. Again, no country has (IMHO) realy taken this holistic evaluation of 'all drug policy'.

Consider fmr PrimeMunster Palmer on Drugs we Drink, "The exclusion of these substances from the terms of reference does not preclude the Commission from taking into account the relative harms of these and other substances." and "Lessons learnt from the regulation of alcohol and tobacco will be taken on board in the course of this review." (media release 2008[url]

We are turning full circle back to where our National Drug Policy (framework) pre 1996 HIGHLY reco

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mmended an 'all drugs' framework rather than a drug by drug approach.
This serves reform VERY WELL.

Like Alcohol and the recent academically critiqued BERL report on Alcohol harms - the area of cost/benefit need to be explored thoroughly. Daktavists MUST ask for this, 'where's the the baseline?' - and the more we do this, the greater weighting will be given to getting the likes of Prof Jeffery Miron (or the like) out here from Harvard to give this international credibility.

Be Empowered, Submit Unconditionaly.
/Blair Anderson,
http://mildgreens.blogspot.com

How Swift Is Too Swift For Justice?.

2009-07-02T11:50:00.004+12:00

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"How swift is too swift for justice?":

The easiest and most expedient way to deal with court workload (and attendent injustice) is to resolve the tensions underpining 'drug law' and the plethora of unintended consequences. In answer to the naysayers to this suggestion, either drugs are a problem or they are not. One cannot back both horses and win.

Posted by Blair Anderson to TUMEKE! at 2/7/09 9:58 AM

note:

COHA Responds to the UN World Drug Report

As pointed out in the report, the right answer is not to regulate and heavily tax drug sales; government profiteering from citizen addiction would be neither ethical nor helpful for eliminating black markets. Allowing marginalized addicts back into society and providing medical treatment to them are large benefits of decriminalization, in addition to reducing unnecessarily costly and high incarceration rates.

Yet, despite unflagging optimism, any strategy short of legalization has proven statistically impotent and historically futile in promoting peace, democratic institutions, freedom from oppression, and strengthening the rule of law. By providing billions of dollars for the purchase of weapons and the corruption of civil institutions, prohibition has infected and destroyed not only whole families and communities but entire countries, including the lives of those who made no conscious decision to participate in drug related activities.

Medicinal Cannabis Bill

2009-06-28T15:02:00.003+12:00

Medicinal Cannabis Bill

The Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party are calling on all MPs to support an extremely important piece of legislation that will be before the house on Wednesday 1st of July. Metiria Turei's Medicinal Cannabis Bill will make it legal for patients with severe or life threatening illnesses and injuries to access the medicine they need. For many patients, the only medicine that works to relieve their suffering is Cannabis.

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Cannabis is already legally available in New Zealand on prescription from a doctor. The pharmaceutical cannabis preparation Sativex has been approved for a number of patients. However many people in need cannot afford Sativex or they prefer to source there essential medicine elsewhere. Metia Turei's Bill will increase access to this important medicine by allowing patients or their caregivers to grow their own cannabis. By allowing those patients most in need to grow their own medicine, they will no longer have to risk buying from the black market and will no longer have to fear arrest and imprisonment.

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Emeritus Professor Lester Grinspoon from Harvard Medical School, believes that Cannabis will be the world's most important medical drug in the 21st century.

The reason cannabis is such an effective medicine, with thousands of years of use, is because it contains over 60 active therapeutic compounds. The cannabis plant can be breed for different levels of these cannabinoids, and specific strains have been developed to treat specific ailments, such as ADHD. Scientists can also isolate specific compounds in cannabis to create unique new medicines.

At present Sativex is the sole cannabis product on the market. While it is effective for many conditions including MS, others conditions such as chronic pain require an Indica rather than Sativa based preparation.

Metiria's Bill will allow for a more diverse range of cannabis products to be made available, to better suit the needs of patients. Concerns about the smoking of cannabis medicine, can be addressed by the use of a number of alternative delivery methods, including vaporisation, oral ingestion, ointment or spray. While cannabis has a bad reputation due to its illegal status, all of the uses of this medicine can be referenced to scientific studies. Cannabis has been scientifically shown to be 100% non toxic, non addictive and has never caused a single death from overdose.

The scientific and lay literature of the medical effectiveness of cannabis is extensive. There are

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numerous conclusive studies which show that cannabis reduces the growth of cancer tumors, including studies conducted at the University of Otago. Some conditions like Glaucoma, can only be effectively treated with cannabis. When made into a skin balm, cannabis is an effective remedy for both Arthritis and Melanoma.

Hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders are in desperate need of this medicine. Only the most heartless and uncaring members of parliament could vote against the compassionate use of cannabis. Already the hard-line USA has approved medical marijuana in many states. Not to follow suit here would cause outrage throughout the New Zealand medical marijuana community, not to mention years of needless suffering for thousands of people.

Below are some of that conditions that cannabis is effective treatment for:

Appetite Loss Arthritis Asthma Addiction Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Anxiety Disorders AIDS Wasting Syndrome Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Autism Aversive Memories Bipolar Affective Disorder Brain Injury/Stroke Cancer (including Breast cancer, Cervical cancer, Lung cancer, Skin cancer) Depression Dystonia Epilepsy Fibromyalgia Glaucoma Migraine Nausea Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Chemo Related Nausea Chronic Pain Diabetes Hepatitis C High Blood Pressure/Hypertension Lymphoma Migraine Mental Illness Multiple Sclerosis Movement Disorders Musculoskeletal Disorders Neuroprotection Nail Patella Syndrome Parkinson's disease Pancreatitis Rheumatoid Arthritis Sickle Cell Disease Schizophrenia Skin allergies Sleep Apnea Tourette-Syndrome Ulcerative Depression, Violent, uncontrollable outbursts in children

ENDS

Support Global Drug Policy Reform: World Drug Day, 26 June

2009-06-26T20:25:00.003+12:00

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Call to Action: Support Global Drug Policy Reform
World Drug Day, 26 June 2009

I. The War on Drugs has become a War on People.

As the United Nations brings worldwide attention to problems related to illicit drugs, we call for a new approach. In too many countries, the “war on drugs” has become a war on people. Millions of non-violent drug users face abuse and imprisonment, while they have no access to proper healthcare or effective treatment. Lowlevel traders and producers receive sentences disproportionate to their crimes and languish in prisons around the globe. Millions more face crop destruction and police harassment as they struggle to make ends meet, with few alternatives as the global economy falters. Meanwhile, the HIV epidemic gains pace.

II. Five Actions Today

After decades of policies that have failed to make our societies safer or healthier, and given overwhelming evidence which shows that criminalizing drugs is both counterproductive and highly destructive, we call on governments to:

Focus on reducing the harms related to drug trade and use, such as making needle and syringe exchange programs widely available (NZ as worldwide AIDS/HEPC initiative).
Decriminalize the possession of drugs for personal use. (NZ as worldwide "D" Classification)
Ensure that evidence-based treatments for pain and addiction are widely available, including methadone and buprenorphine. (& Cannabis)
Treat supporting farmers in moving away from coca or poppy cultivation as a development issue. (remove the subsidy of prohibition!)
Comply fully with human rights obligations in any drug control measure, ensuring proportionality of penalties, abolishing the death penalty, and avoiding non-evidence-based forms of treatment.

III. Driving Away Drug Users Creates Public Health Disasters

Image by John Gevers via Flickr

Nearly three decades into the global HIV epidemic, we reiterate that driving people who use drugs underground only makes the transmission of HIV and hepatitis more likely. The number of HIV infections due to injecting drug use is rising steadily. In parts of Eastern Europe and South-East Asia, this figure reaches 80%. As the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has said, “Forcing drug users to hide and denying them access to life-saving treatment and prevention services is creating a public health disaster. This happens even though the evidence from scientific and medical research on best practices and cost benefit analyses is overwhelmingly in favour of harm reduction programming....

The message is clear. It is time to be guided by light of science, not by the darkness of ignorance and fear.” Indeed, rather than a security-focused approach that costs roughly $100 billion per year worldwide, we need to look at this first and foremost through the lens of public health. In the blind effort to rid the world of drugs, 80% of cancer patients worldwide are denied access to opiate-based pain relief.

IV. Adopt a Humane Approach

A humane, compassionate approach to drug use based on harm reduction principles and respect for human rights is the most effective way to limit the negative impact of drug use, trade, and production. Scientific and medical research on best practices and cost benefit analyses overwhelmingly favors harm reduction programs, including needle exchange, drug substitution therapy, and condom distribution. We applaud countries who have already taken steps in this direction. Recently, both Germany and Switzerland have voted to make medical heroin available for chronically dependent opiate users and the new U.S. administration has come out in support of needle exchange. Ecuador pardoned thousands of drug ‘mules’

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

imprisoned with disproportionate sentences and 80 Argentinean judges made a public call to reform their country’s drug laws. In order to stop the spiral of drug-related violence and disease intensifying across the globe, more countries must follow suit.

[See comments for the list of signatories)

Blair Anderson
http://mildgreens.blogspot.com

Froggie Lie, caused by Drug We Drink.

2009-06-26T17:53:00.003+12:00

Image by Frederic Humbert (www.rugby-pioneers.com) via Flickr

Outrage as French rugby player admits assault lie

WELLINGTON (AFP) — New Zealand officials reacted with outrage and called for an inquiry after French rugby player Mathieu Bastareaud admitted his claim of being attacked by thugs in Wellington was a lie.
The 20-year-old said Thursday in a statement on the website of his French club Stade Francais that a cut and bruising on his face was caused by a fall in his room after drinking with team-mates early on Sunday.

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This is drug policy, and the duress of shaming. Why is it that after I heard the story the first time round, it smacked of exactly the outcome absent 'all the facts'. What is there to figure?

--
Blair Anderson ‹(•¿•)›
Social Ecologist 'at large'
ph (643) 389 4065 cell 027 265 7219

Some Drugs Driving

2009-06-23T15:43:00.002+12:00

It doesnt mean it makes a difference to fatalities or accidents however.
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One of the problems with current drug policy (and is clearly evident in the drugged driving debate) is that drug substitution occurs. This is a two way street. (ask an economist!) Just as one can drive people to more harmful options, so too can we promote less harmful options by simply removing the impediments.

Cannabis is a least harmful option. As much as some folk will gnash their teeth and say, no drugs are good... (and they may even be right) from a social policy perspective, enforcement is a least efficient way to manage the problem and may, as in the case with cannabis, be an impediment to 'credible education messages'.

This is highly evident when one 'models' what would happen if we could eliminate alcohol on the road by substituting with cannabis. Road deaths (and other harms) would plummet. This is not to argue that cannabis should be compulsory, rather it helps us understand that, if a less harmful option is better than a more harmful option, and that leads to less deaths/accidents IT MAY WELL BE that the death that it saved was the very death that some individuals for whom the harm has been acute (and I share their heartache) would not have experienced that grief.

We have an obligation to solve problems with the least amount of invasive procedures as we can. It doesnt stack up, that just because we can (use Police) we must.

Look at how much we have changed societal response to drink driving through social mores around Sober Drivers etc.

Policing/Enforcement doesn't deserve all the credit (as much as they may wish to take that credit to justify continuation of policy enforcement).

Accidents occur without cannabis, there mere presence (in a zero tolerance model) does not make it 'responsible'.

Cannabis consumers (who drive, but not necessarily are stoned) do not make the unwise choices to drive that alcohol drivers make at relative degrees of intoxication. And that is a massive head start in harm limitation.

But that requires a society that has moved beyond intolerance. Regretably our drug laws are structured to enable the very worst in people. Even the ones who make moral (or otherwise) choice not to use cannabis... tiredness, distraction, stress and use of 'legal drugs, prescribed or otherwise' are NO LESS RESPONSIBLE for the outcomes of their behaviors.

It is wrong that we should hide behind our foibles and responsibilities while casting dispersions upon that of which they know little.

A more informed debate, founded in good social science should have been held. It is regrettable that our Expert Advisory Committee (on Drugs) has been expediently weighted by 'enforcement' over health.

No good will come of this.

Blair Anderson ‹(•¿•)›

Social Ecologist 'at large'
http://mildgreens.blogspot.com
http://blairformayor.blogspot.com
http://blair4mayor.com
http://efsdp.org

ph (643) 389 4065 cell 027 265 7219

The Unknowns of Napier Hill

2009-06-22T00:00:00.004+12:00

I agree with Adam that there are ‘factors’ that are unaccounted for in the current societal response to drug(s) that are evident in the Napier incident – if one wants to examine it.

The problem with ‘drug related’ incidences is that Police and Media have no truck with

Alcohol via Wikipedia

‘discovery’ and there are lot of people for whom ‘drugs are evil and a scourge’ that keep them, and us, boxed into the paradigm.

What Adam has described is a function of the ‘deviancy amplification’ that creates a matrix of dysfunctional ’set’ and ’setting’. Prohibition of alcohol trade, [possession and consumption was never illegal] created the dangerous ’set’ of violence, protection and corruption, none of which could be attributable to the pharmacology of ethyl alcohol.
(see Science of Intoxication: "pharmacological hand grenade" )

Napier is an example of such a set.

combusting alcohol ~ Wikipedia

Politicians see no votes in such ‘understandings’ thus rendering us all stupid!

No drug is as dangerous as its ’set’ created by bad policy, bigotry and double standards.

Show me a drug that can kill a Policeman at 100yds!

37. adam June 21, 2009 at 8:24 pm

hey there. i agree that jan was most certainly another victim,but for somewhat different reasons. napier is a prodomonantly mongrel mob town, so likewise with all the local jails. as the newspapers said, jan was a vocal anti P crusader, and shared no love with the local mob. we must ask: was the reason that this man was so heavily armed -for an expected search warrant, or just maybe it was to protect himself and loved ones from the mob??? this theory carries on to his reaction to the search warrant. if he was in fact a mongrel mob target, then the only thing keeping him safe on the outside are his collegues and his awesome arsenal. he must have been somewhat of a stalemate for a target..until the day he goes to jail. where there are no guns, and the odds arent great to say the least. this fear/reaction may have been what it took to send him over the edge. thinking that if he goes inside for the dope stuff he was a dead man. not an excuse, rather a feasable insight into the mind of a ??????? RIP Jan Molenaar

/Blair

Handle on Non-Lethal Force For Change

2009-06-20T13:04:00.006+12:00

Following the recent Queensland multi-tased death arrest I have noticed a consistent representation of views on blogs and media comment pages that validates my concerns that the general populace would go along with this fear of crime thing. (manufactured consent?)

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Much of it is predicated on drug myths. (much the same as crack, crank and meth led to up scaling from .38's to .45 and to automatics).

1:1 meetings this week with local [National] MP's only trot out more tough on behaviour, crime, tough on alcohol.... and meth. Despite all evidence to the contrary.

The BERL report(s) on drug harms released prior to the Law Commission discussion documents is a failure in due process as well as 'failure in reason' misstating the problem by orders of magnitude.

When can we expect someone factor in the benefits of 'common civility'.

No Media in New Zealand has written critically of the implication of applied, and now law, Class D drug policy. No Member of the House has regaled.

Yet, like BERL's reports, it's a MoH issue. Drugs=Minister's Warrant, Alcohol=Ministry's Brief.

Public perception... Taser'd means drugged.
Where is the 'legal' sector on this.?
http://www.wkrg.com/crime/article/lawsuit-filed-by-mother-of-man-who-died-after-being-tasered/113391/http://www.wkrg.com/crime/article/children_zapped_by_stun_gun/25801/

Today's Police arbitrary 'handle on gun' ownership issue even cites Napier's 'Molenaar' incident while pot smoking was likely the very effective, safe and economic anti-anxiolotic scientific research shows it to be and, was by the perpetrators community actions, 'mediating meth in the community' no good story can be told.

More guns will be found to be 'semi-automatic' and the cycle begins again. Any gun elevates drug [prohibition] harm. Feeds fear. Allocates more Money for Failure.

Professor of Law, Jock Young had it right back in the seventies. "deviancy amplifying" all right! BERL's economists wouldn't know a benefit or a behavior if they fell over them and RH. John Key wouldn't know a science adviser if one fell over him.

I recall a certain Minister of Health back in 1975 who, on enactment of the Misuse of Drugs Act, said that it 'would give the Police powers to which they were not entitled', how prophetic.

-- Blair Anderson ‹(•¿•)›

Dew Point and Pot: H1N1 virus spread by respiratory droplets and stopped by cannabis..

2009-06-19T13:48:00.003+12:00

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Dew Point and Pot: H1N1 virus spread by respiratory droplets and stopped by cannabis..

We all know influenza is more common in winter. But researchers have not known why. Virologist doctor Peter Palese has been studying the effects of heat and cold on the flu virus. He found that at higher temperatures, the flu virus didn't spread, but at colder temperature it did.

"The virus is probably more stable in cold temperature, so it hangs in the air much longer," Dr. Palese told Ivanhoe.

Allowing it to spread easier. Here's how -- when we cough or sneeze, microscopic droplets of water and the virus enter the air. Dry, cold conditions dry out the droplets, helping the virus linger in the air. The dry air also dries out nasal passages, which helps the virus stick.

"Cold dry air going over your nasal mucosa gets cracks in our airways and that allows virus to get in more easily," Anice Lowen, researcher at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine told Ivanhoe.

Influenza has long been considered a seasonal virus. Factors including indoor crowding during cold weather, seasonal fluctuations in host immune responses, relative humidity, temperature, and UV radiation have all been suggested to account for this phenomenon, but none of these hypotheses had previously been tested directly.

The researchers tested the effects of temperature and relative humidity on infected and naive guinea pigs. The study found that low relative humidities of 20%-30% induced the rapid spread of the virus, with the opposite effect at 80% or above. Also, results showed that the virus spread more easily at 5 °C than at 20 °C, with no transmission at 30 °C.
The data implicates that low relative humidities produced by indoor heating and winter temperatures favor the spread of influenza. This study should serve as the basis for understanding the seasonality of other viral infections. / Citation: Lowen AC, Mubareka S, Steel J, Palese P (2007) Influenza virus transmission is dependent on relative humidity and temperature. PLoS Pathog 3(10): e151. doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.0030151

Its the Dew Point! (or open a window!)

(either cumulus cloud height, or calculate from coldwater* / temperature relationship [good ed idea] or use 200 dollar weather tool )

Putting this to use, it's easy to figure out the dew point, and thus the expected comfort level, directly from the relative humidity and the temperature: for instance, if it is 30 °C outside, and the relative humidity is 75%, then the dew point temperature will be about 25 °C. It's also easy to see how much could be gained from evaporative cooling - in this case, at most 5 degrees. "Further, by adjusting the relationship a little to account for the effects of temperature, it is also simple to use the relative humidity to compute the altitude of cumulus cloud bases without a calculator to a good approximation, usually within about 10%", says Lawrence

BUT CONSIDER this from my colleague Bob Melamede

Chief Science Officer for CSI Dr. Melamede believes the potential for cannabinoids that naturally prevent excessive inflammatory immune responses is enormous.

He stated, "Based upon recent discoveries regarding the role that endocannabinoid system plays in maintaining human health, we may have a unique solution to the looming threat posed by deadly influenza strains that we believe, if implemented, could save millions of lives."

World Health Organization has just declared a swine flu pandemic - raising its pandemic warning from phase 5 to 6.

This is the first global flu epidemic in 41 years. There have been outbreaks in Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

Dr. Robert J. Melamede, Director and Chief Science Officer for Cannibis Science Inc. reports, "Research into use of whole cannabis extracts and multi-cannabinoid compounds has provided the scientific rationale for medical marijuana's efficacy in treating some of the most troubling diseases mankind now faces, including infectious diseases such as the flu and HIV, autoimmune diseases such as ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease), multiple sclerosis, arthritis, and diabetes, neurological conditions such as Alzheimer's, stroke and brain injury, as well as numerous forms of cancer."
Dr. Melamede went on to say, "The high lethality of some strains of flu can be attributed to the excessive inflammatory response driven by Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF). Endocannabinoids are nature's way of controlling TNF activity. Phytocannabinoids can mimic the natural endocannabinoids to prevent excessive inflammatory immune responses."
Cannabis Science Inc., President & CEO, Steven W. Kubby sent a letter to Homeland Security Administration Secretary Janet Napolitano. "We have the science and preliminary anecdotal results confirming the anti-inflammatory properties of our new lozenges and indicating they may present an effective and non-toxic treatment for minimizing the symptoms and harm from influenza infections. Our lozenges appear to down-regulate the body's excessive inflammatory response to the influenza virus, which could reduce the deadly consequences of an infection into something that is more like a common cold. Because of my cancer and diminished auto-immune functions, even common influenza is a deadly threat, and I've had incredible symptomatic relief with the lozenge."
Chief Science Officer for CSI Dr. Melamede believes the potential for cannabinoids that naturally prevent excessive inflammatory immune responses is enormous. He stated, "Based upon recent discoveries regarding the role that endocannabinoid system plays in maintaining human health, we may have a unique solution to the looming threat posed by deadly influenza strains that we believe, if implemented, could save millions of lives."
Dr. Robert J. Melamede, Director and Chief Science Officer, stated, "The influenza virus has a unique genetic make up that, in combination with its replicative machinery, has an extraordinary capacity to mutate. As a result, the high lethality of some strains can be
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attributed to the resulting adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). ARDS is caused by an excessive immune inflammatory response driven by Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) that leads to the death of respiratory epithelial cells and resulting organ failure. Endocannabinoids are nature's way of controlling TNF activity. Existing peer reviewed publications have shown that phytocannabinoids can prevent this cell death by mimicking the endocannabinoids that nature has selected to prevent excessive inflammatory immune responses."

"This sounds very promising, but, of course the political hurdles are daunting." / Rose Field, Pittsburgh Gardening Scene Examiner

Arising from both of these concepts, Dew Point and Pot, there is the benefit of internalising the commercial potential of fostering the epidemiological research (under NZ's Class D legal regulation, already in place.) at the same time teaching through schools the health promotion / prevention strategy (and optimal home and commercial heating model for swine flu mitigation) around dew point.

Note: Auckland humid, Christchurch dry validated by current infection levels. Worth exploring?

*Max Planc Society 010405

--
Blair Anderson ‹(•¿•)›

Social Ecologist 'at large'
http://mildgreens.blogspot.com/
http://blairformayor.blogspot.com/
http://blair4mayor.com/
http://efsdp.org/

ph (643) 389 4065 cell 027 265 7219

DeClassifying the Popular ALCP Vote.

2009-06-12T01:56:00.002+12:00

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Perhaps Tumeke should consider a more expansive acknowledgement of extra-participatory parliamentary election candidates and parties.
(see Tim Selwyn's Unite's candidate's debate on the Tumeke Blog)

The inclusion of the Libertarians as 'extra-parliamentary' discounts the fact that Aotearoa Legalise (ALCP) has consistently and influentially polled since 1996 MMP and it has two of those candidates complete some thirteen years of participatory democracy.

Should we be surprised then that New Zealand is the first country in the world to go beyond the primary UN obligations to the founding covenants and override its obligations to the Single Conventions on Narcotics by legally regulating (R18) recreational (use, sale, storage, exchange, labeling, etc.) soft drugs under the aegis and management of the Ministry of Health.

If nothing else, those candidates at the Mt Albert by-election tables 'because they are more serious' and thus deserving of media space thus mind share should be asked to explain and be tested against this crucial law and order issue. An issue that has seen honourable men killed on service to a mission impossible and civilians as collateral damage in our driveways, streets and motorways.

Yet "Class D" has escaped media or political attention, despite the first job of the PM's science adviser to take the P out of cough mixture (loud applause in CHCH town hall when RH J Key mentioned it...) and alcohol, and hoons, get the money - libraries, pools and culture are someone else responsibility. [What ever happened to 'for the people'.]

600 Cops is a sign of failure, whereas 600 less would be 'best practice' measure of social policy success. Purposeful implementation of Class D is the ticket to that success. Mt Albert voters have been deprived of an opportunity to send an important 'law and order' signal to RH Key and Co. One that would better inform the alcohol debate.
--
Blair Anderson ‹(•¿•)›

Social Ecologist 'at large'
http://mildgreens.blogspot.com/
http://blairformayor.blogspot.com/
http://blair4mayor.com/
http://efsdp.org/

ph (643) 389 4065 cell 027 265 7219

On Stupidity, Ignorance, Greed and Love of Power.

2009-06-11T18:23:00.005+12:00

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I thoroughly enjoyed the April Centre for Independent Studies 2009 John Bonython lecture by PJ O'Rourke (video online. http://vimeo.com/channels/cis#4435734 )

O'Rourke is well known for his combination of conservative economic views and libertarian views on vice such as sex and drugs.^[3]

O'Rourke's views on Individual Rights is a clue to lifting the dialog on drug policy.

I am keen to see Maxim Institute advance its position and acknowledge 'free will' market based policy for its 'Adam Smith' efficiency, efficacy and equitably. (law=fist, reason=hand)

Anyway, no drug, not even alcohol, causes the fundamental ills of society. If we're looking for the source of our troubles, we shouldn't test people for drugs, we should test them for stupidity, ignorance, greed and love of power. P. J. O'Rourke

Drugs have taught an entire generation of American kids the metric system. -- P.J. O'Rourke

Blair Anderson ‹(•¿•)›

Social Ecologist 'at large'
http://mildgreens.blogspot.com/
http://blairformayor.blogspot.com/
http://blair4mayor.com/
http://efsdp.org/

ph (643) 389 4065 cell 027 265 7219

Outrageous Suggestion

2009-06-10T13:23:00.008+12:00

New Zealand's favourite family entertainment and cultural advisors....

And if you happen to point out that there must be something good about drugs otherwise people wouldn’t keep doing them, everyone jumps up and down and has a fit about it, because you can’t point out the obvious when it comes to drugs because that might make people do them more. More hypocrisy!

(snip)

My family are total drug hypocrites. For years various members of my family have smoked and drunk themselves senseless, while all the time Mum and Dad were mouthing off about how we’d never sell drugs because that is bad. As opposed to steal shit which is somehow good? How does that work? / Loretta West - "Outrageous Fortune"

Blair Anderson
http://mildgreens.blogspot.com

Prison Staff, Prison Inmates, Prison Gardens

2009-06-09T00:26:00.004+12:00

If evidence informed social policy, pot would be compulsory in prisons.

They should grow their own and enough for everybody else who needs it.

NZ Prison Service shouldnt have much difficulty in finding the expertise. Such policy;

(a) will reduce prison muster.
(b) displace P.
(c) meet demand for medpot.
(d) keep it away from kids.
(e) ameliorate inmate violence.
(f) make National Drug Intelligence redundant.
(g) make Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party redundant.
(h) and give 600 Police nothing to do.

While these corrections folk were ostensibly getting away with 'drug dealing' under the most enforced prohibition environment in NZ (and thus deserve a freaken medal) no one notices that the same draconian policy targeting consenting adults is somehow expected to bear fruit in civvy street.

The alcoholic finds a sanction from a total change of mind, so too for the drug dependant,
Open your eyes, the Saviour you can find, and the peace of mind you'll be given,
And discover the you, let your soul shine through, and get high on the love you can inspire,
'Cause you're a lamb worth saving, from immoral recruitment,
Break the link to the chain.

:from Rumataka Prison Blues, Set the Captives Free

Blair Anderson
http://mildgreens.blogspot.com/

Cancer Cannabis Connection

2009-06-08T14:57:00.005+12:00

Image by hoodiefanatic via Flickr

Cannabinoids inhibit cancer cell survival and "could be useful in the treatment of cancer," according to a forthcoming review to be published in the journal Cancer Letters. June 3, 2009 - Dunedin, New Zealand:

Investigators at the University of Otago (New Zealand), Department of Pharmacology, reported, "[C]annabinoids have been shown to have anti-proliferative, anti-mestatic, anti-angiogenic and pro-apoptotic effects in various cancer types (lung, glioma, thyroid, lymphoma, skin, pancreas, uterus, breast, and prostate carcinoma) using both in vitroand in vivo models.

Previous trials have reported that cannabinoids can selectively target and kill malignant cancer cells while ignoring healthy cells, as well as reduce the growth of new blood vessels to cancerous tumors.

Alexander A, Smith PF, Rosengren RJ.
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Otago, Dunedin 9001, New Zealand.

Cannabinoids, the active components of the hemp plant Cannabis sativa, along with their endogenous counterparts and synthetic derivatives, have
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elicited anti-cancer effects in many different in vitro and in vivo models of cancer. While the various cannabinoids have been examined in a variety of cancer models, recent studies have focused on the role of cannabinoid receptor agonists (both CB(1) and CB(2)) in the treatment of estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer. This review will summarize the anti-cancer properties of the cannabinoids, discuss their potential mechanisms of action, as well as explore controversies surrounding the results. [Cancer Letters]

A 2008 review by investigators at the University of Wisconsin concluded, "[T]here is overwhelming evidence to suggest that cannabinoids can be explored as chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of cancer."

Commenting on the forthcoming review, NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano said: "Cannabinoids may one day represent a new class of non-toxic anti-cancer drugs that can halt the spread of the disease without inducing the painful and life-threatening side effects of chemotherapy. It is shameful that politics and US government propaganda have halted the research and exploration of these compounds as anti-cancer agents."

Call 0800-Poison?

2009-06-06T18:46:00.003+12:00

That is a cannabis Plant and Bong, ya fools!

"Hazmat confiscated a marijuana plant, a melted plastic bottle and what appears to be gas lamp fluid. Authorities say they are all items for making meth and they leave a strange smell in the air. "

So who are you supposed to be scaring in silly ouftits like this?
Both are safer than Speights.

Blair Anderson
http://mildgreens.blogspot.com

Budget: Prohibition or Pragma

2009-05-30T01:29:00.006+12:00

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Law and order is also a priority for this Government. In a number of areas, the need for extra resourcing was becoming urgent.

The Budget provides more than $900 million in operating and capital funding over the next four years for initiatives across the justice sector.

Police will receive $183 million to provide 600 more Police by 2011. Half of them will be in Counties-Manukau, with the others spread across the rest of New Zealand.
The Budget also funds tougher anti-money laundering measures, so that New Zealand will meet its international commitments.
Some funding will address more local problems, notably profits from cannabis and methamphetamine sales.

We need to address many downstream pressures within the Justice and Corrections systems. Community Probation and Psychological services will receive an additional $256 million to manage the increased number of offenders serving community sentences and improve the quality of parole and home detention management.

We also know that our prisons are under pressure.
The Budget provides $3 million in 2008/09 and $385 million over the next four years for increased prison capacity and planning for further potential expansion.

Meanwhile, Netherlands closes 5 prisons... Doh!

/Blair Anderson
http://mildgreens.blogspot.com

New Scientist: Cannabis Kamatua Needed.

2009-05-21T10:31:00.004+12:00

Cannabis Kamatua Needed

Wed May 20 23:22:10 BST 2009 by Blair Anderson

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The endless charade maintaining cannabis prohibition on a global scale is being challenged in New Zealand as it reviews its 'all drug policy' through the statutory empowered Law Commission. New Zealand has already given royal assent and passed into law the regulatory model for legal sale, storage, cultivation and manufacture, labeling, place of sale, age of consent and research oversight (Oct 6th, 2008). The UN consultation phase pre-Vienna avoided any recognition either in local or international media of this world first initiative yet cannabis is used in NZ at a rate higher than Jamaica, with clear evidence of extremely damaging consequences to some individuals, the deviancy amplification principally caused by covert Policing. There is scope for New Zealand to lead the world in reform options if it takes the policy analytic approach. The world needs a new Holland!

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20227096.300-comment-get-real-drug-czars.html
- /Blair

The Big Meth Con - Menace or Moral Panic?

2009-05-16T16:58:00.006+12:00

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This writer has consistently argued that the prevalence of "P" in NZ is a product of a policy that delivers many unintended consequences one of which is more "P".

It is almost a given that Carla-Louise Wallace's seminal thesis on methamphetamine and NZ media "Menace or Moral Panic?" will not feature at tonight's "Holmes" celebrity roast fundraiser before 300+ rich folk ($325 seat) including the Minister of Social Development, Paula Bennet and Minister of Justice, Simon Power.

AUT Communications graduate Carla-Louise draws on extensive work by Prof Jock Young et al supporting the contention that the policy and its policing is creating the problem (deviancy amplification). http://aut.researchgateway.ac.nz/handle/10292/215

Abstract: [excerpt] This thesis, presented as a collection of articles, journalistic in its tone, is titled "Menace or Moral Panic? Methamphetamine and the New Zealand Press". Within the collection, evidence and background information is presented that supports a claim that a moral panic fitting Stanley Cohen's classic model occurred between 1999 and 2004.This moral panic was also identified using Stuart Hall's definition of a moral panic outlined in his mugging study published in 1978 as well as the more contemporary model of Goode and Ben-Yehuda (1994). Jock Young's theory of The Deviance Amplification Spiral is also addressed and can be applied to this collection when considering the close 'symbiotic' relationship that our press here in New Zealand have with our police force. In looking at this particular subject it is vital that we look at how drugs and drug use play a role in the media. Also as part of the back grounding for this collection it was of critical importance to find whether a moral panic happened anywhere else in the world in relation to methamphetamine. Two previous moral panics about methamphetamine are featured in this collection as part of a case study presented in "Ancient Anecdotes meet Modernity: Drugs and the Rise of Methamphetamine" in which between the years of 1989 and 1996 America passed through two moral panics brought on to a considerable extent by a mixture of media hype and political opportunism. (snip)

The last article in this collection investigates, using expert interviews, if there is enough evidence to support the claim that methamphetamine may be a menace to New Zealand society, but that the extent of that menace may be exaggerated by a moral panic brought on by our media and fuelled by our police force. (snip)

The police as amplifiers of deviancy [J Young - Drugs and Politics, 1977 - books.google.com ] examines the reasons for police action against the drugtaker and issues of moral disturbance, disproportionality, displacement and volatility.

A recent paper by MIT's Urban Studies and Planning, Gary T Marx citing Young on the same subject reads like an instruction manual for how to work out what went wrong in Napier placing as it does responsibility for unintended consequences, contrary to the ruling paradigm, on Policing, not just Policy.

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This evenings Sky City Stellar Trust Dinner "Roast" is just another such moral panic conveniently funding everything that has failed (Methcon, FADE, LIFE are the prime beneficiaries) and further entrenching everything that is broken. Paul Holme's false assertion of <5% treatment success for "P" may be way off mark, but 'the roast and its purpose' speaks volumes. No good comes from putting labels on anyone. Least of all those on those who need help. (http://www.grownups.co.nz/read/directories/community_services_charities/stellar-trust )

The more dangerous a drug is, the more culpable a government for abrogating control to criminal networks, maximising social harm, misplacing resources and deluding themselves and everyone else. However, as this point is likely to fly over the heads of dead tree media it will be interesting to see what the Celebrity Roast's Cellars and Bar-take is and how that might inform the real drug debate.

The MildGreens say the intersectoral social capital is in the 'all drug' approach as originally

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mooted in the National Drug Policy consulative phase and accepted in principle in the final drafts. The first step, the homogulation of any and all psychoactive recreational drugs safer than alcohol and tobacco (nicotine) to be placed in the October 6th 2008 regulations for sale, storage, manufacture, labeling, advertising, premises, and age of consent for ["Soft" drugs needing] effective control and emperical research. Cannabis, LSD, MDMA, Ibogaine...all administered by the Ministry of Health.

The rules are already there, so with that legislative progress one could wonder why (Health Minister) Hon Tony Ryall is avoiding a "roasting" seat tonight?

Blair Anderson ‹(•¿•)›
ph (643) 389 4065 cell 027 265 7219

Drug Harm Index Under Scrutiny

2009-05-15T13:28:00.002+12:00

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A focus on harm
Mark Easton, BBC News - UK

(snip)

The index has its critics who argue that it conflates two different types of harm: the harms from using drugs and the harms from a policy of prohibition. The campaigning Transform Drug Policy Foundation puts it this way (A Comparison of the Cost-effectiveness of the Prohibition and Regulation of Drugs 2005 [444 KB PDF]):

"The failure to disaggregate drug use harms from drug policy harms or, specifically, prohibition harms, is a major obstacle to meaningful evaluation of existing policy and consequently, to the rational development of potentially more effective policy responses."

Nevertheless, the idea that we should focus on reducing "harm" rather than simply "crime" is increasingly embedded in Whitehall thinking - and the implications could be far-reaching.

(snip)

Soca's definition of "harm" goes beyond illegal drug running and the economic costs of crime - this is a complex measure by which the agency pursues all its activities. Physical, social, environmental, economic and structural harms are considered at every level - from the personal to the international:

"SOCA's focus is not solely on the criminals and the offences they are committing" the agency explains, adding that their "operational business now focuses more sharply on the question of what will make a tangible and lasting difference for those who are being adversely affected".

Looking at crime through the harm prism may make us reconsider priorities.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markeaston/2009/05/a_focus_on_harm.html

A warning against cannabis

If there's a good side to the incident at Hospital Hill, it's that there are decent people in cynical times.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/opinion/columnists/rosemary-mcleod/2410739/A-warning-against-cannabis

UK may need Class D, but nothing will save Rosemary McLoud?

Blair Anderson ‹(•¿•)›

Poll: America favours pot legalisation

2009-05-12T16:23:00.001+12:00

A slim majority of Americans favour the legalisation, taxing, and regulation of marijuana, according to a new poll released yesterday.

The poll is the first time more than 50% of Americans have favoured legalisation, said Bruce Mirken, communications director of the Marijuana Policy Project, a thinktank that supports decriminalising the drug.

The survey was conducted by Zogby and the O'Leary Report, a conservative publication.

Of the 3,919 American surveyed, 52% favour legalising the drug, while 37% oppose it. The poll advances slightly from one taken last week by ABC News and the Washington Post, in which 46% favour legalisation compared to 52% who oppose.

"This new survey continues the recent trend of strong and growing support for taxing and regulating marijuana and ending the disastrously failed policy of prohibition," Rob Kampia, Marijuana Policy Project executive director, said in a statement.

Cops mission; die honorably for hopeless causes.

2009-05-07T16:31:00.002+12:00

"What are they [Jan] trying to protect? That is what I want to know. A silly marijuana plant? What a thing to protect ... [and] take someone's life." - Mrs Molenaar despaired that Mr Snee's life had been lost over a small amount of drugs.

Cop shot Dead, two more Police plus a member of the public in serious
condition, and we pretend drug policy is working! Like the case of Officer Don
Wilkinson, another severe case of deviancy amplification created under Warrant
of the Minister of Health, Tony Ryall! /Blair.

read more digg story

The Matrix of Dysfunction, the Police/Drug Nexus.

2009-05-07T14:10:00.006+12:00

Free health advice when you need it... Yeah Right!

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Cop shot Dead, two more Police plus a member of the public in serious condition, and we pretend drug policy is working!

It has been reported that the incident started during a police drug operation at the two-storey house. One officer was shot in the back and managed to radio that officers were down, he said. (see http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/2391507/Police-officer-shot-dead-in-Napier

(shall we all pretend this is not a severe case of deviancy amplification, created under warrant of the Minister of Health, Tony Ryall! /Blair)

Is this an ideological crime/gang patch we should ban?
Image via Wikipedia

A large part of Napier Hill and surrounding areas have been cordoned off by police, bringing parts of the city to a standstill.

With the Hawke's Bay AOS stretched, back-up was called for, with Gisborne AOS members and a dog unit flown in by the Lion Foundation rescue helicopter around 10.30am.

It is understood the elite Special Tactics Group is en route from Wellington.

Re: [cclr-public] Dakta Green arrested

2009-05-03T23:40:00.004+12:00

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This has to be incredibly stupid thing for the Police to be doing on J-Day, when political parties are nominating candidates for the by-election to replace, now UN Social and Economic Development head, Rt Hon Helen Clark's seat of Mt Albert. (See MAYDAY Press Release by the ALCP, a crucial, if preemptive strike, Dakta Greens nomination announcement)

... it must have been NDIB's Mills exacting the new police drug strategy with its focus on protecting society the from billion dollar harms of cannabis. (Police Drug Strategy to 2012: released at the 'healthy drug law reform' symposium )

By 'drug intel' reasoning the more money they spend on the ALCP candidate, the 'safer the community'.

"I favour partial prohibition" - Rt. Hon Helen Clark

Clearly the Mt Albert DAKTAVISTS are ahead on both intelligence and strategy.

The ALCP might be getting political advertising money couldn't buy, but Dakta's incarceration is still an injustice under existing law.

Where's Habeas corpus when ya need it!?

On Sun, May 3, 2009 The Cordings <cordings@ihug.co.nz> wrote:

On Friday the Cannabus was in Albert Park for a hotbox, parked just up the street from the Hemp Store in the old 4.20 spot. Hotbox xompleted, smiles all round, when 9 police show up to arrest Dakta Green for "permitting a vehicle to be used for the commission of a crime under the Misuse of Drugs Act." No one else was searched or otherwise bothered. A tow truck was sent for the bus, but was too small to tow it and a driver was eventually found to take Mary Jane to safety.

Dakta Green was released that evening on bail with conditions including not to enter the CBD except to go to court. But he was committed to being at J Day with the bus. The area comprising the CBD was not specified in the bail conditions.

J Day went off despite the rain, and as 4.20 approached Dakta Green took the stage to announce himself as the ALCP candidate for Helen Clark's seat. He gave an excellent speech, joints were sparked up for 4.20 and J Day wound down from there.

Nearly everyone had left when the cops struck again. Dakta Green was just about to drive the bus away when he was arrested for breach of bail - from the charge the night before.

He is now locked up at Auckland Central police station in a 2 x 2 metre cell where he has been stuck from the time of his arrest until court tomorrow morning.

Because of breach of bail, he could be remanded in custody, possibly until after the byelection - killing his campaign before it has started. For this reason, I believe it is not coincidence that the police have taken such an interest after largely ignoring the Cannabus tour and 420s.

Democracy in action, folks,,, what do the NORML board and ALCP intend to do about it?

Anyone who can provide court support, 10 am Monday May 4, Auckland District Court, 69 Albert St.

Harry

__,_._,___

Treatments for Swine and Bird Flu - Cannabis Science Inc.

2009-05-02T23:27:00.003+12:00

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Cannabis Science Inc. Reports on Prospective Life Saving Treatments for H1N1 Swine Flu and H5N1 Bird Flu

Cannabis Science Inc. [GFON] an emerging pharmaceutical cannabis company, reported today on the current state of development of its whole-cannabis lozenge in response to Homeland Security Administration Secretary Janet Napolitano's declaration of a public health emergency to deal with the emerging Swine Flu pandemic.

The Company's non-toxic lozenge has properties that could alleviate many of the symptoms and harmful effects of the H5N1 bird flu and H1N1swine flu viruses, and has offered its assistance to HSA today in a letter to Secretary Napolitano.

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The Company has offered to produce up to 1 million doses of its whole-cannabis lozenge, and provide them to HSA for distribution at cost.

Cannabis Science Inc., President & CEO, Steven W. Kubby said, "We have the science and preliminary anecdotal results confirming the anti-inflammatory properties of our new lozenges and indicating they may present an effective and non-toxic treatment for minimizing the symptoms and harm from influenza infections. Our lozenges appear to down-regulate the body's excessive inflammatory response to the influenza virus, which could reduce the deadly consequences of an infection into something that is more like a common cold. Because of my cancer and diminished auto-immune functions, even common influenza is a deadly threat, and I've had incredible symptomatic relief with the lozenge."

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Dr. Robert J. Melamede, Director and Chief Science Officer, stated, "The influenza virus has a unique genetic make up that, in combination with its replicative machinery, has an extraordinarycapacity to mutate. As a result, the high lethality of some strains can be attributed to the resulting adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). ARDS is caused by an excessive immune inflammatory response driven by Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) that leads to the death of respiratory epithelial cells and resulting organ failure. Endocannabinoids are nature's way of controlling TNF activity. Existing peer reviewed publications have shown that phytocannabinoids can prevent this cell death by mimicking the endocannabinoids that nature has selected to prevent excessive inflammatory immune responses."

Dr. Melamede, who is also a researcher and past Chairman of the Biology Department at the University of Colorado Springs (UCCS), cautioned, "Smoked marijuana will not effectively prevent theexcessive inflammatory response, despite delivering the beneficial pharmacological agents, due to the irritating, pro-inflammatory nature of smoke. In fact, I believe it will make things worse and should be avoided by infected individuals."
Mr. Kubby added, "If a swine or bird flu pandemic emerges -- and everyone seems to think that it is just a matter of when, not if --, there is simply no time for the usual bureaucratic process. With emergency government approval, we can legally access the huge supplyof medical cannabis available in California to produce millions of life saving doses within a relatively short period of time."

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Dr. Melamede furthermore stated, "Based upon recent discoveries regarding the role that endocannabinoid system plays in maintaining human health, we have a unique solution to the looming threat posed by deadly influenza strains that we believe, if implemented, could save millions of lives. We will strive for an emergency review of our cannabis extract-based lozenge because we believe its availability will prevent many of the deaths associated with the hyper-inflammatory
Image by Getty Images via Daylife
response associated with known lethal strains of the influenza virus. Current anti-influenza medications have a demonstrated decreased effectiveness against some of these lethal variants. Mankind cannot wait for the emergency situation to materialize. We must be proactive in gaining the necessary governmental approvals to test, and pending the outcome of our studies, produce our lozenge."

Mr. Richard Cowan, Director and CFO, who recently spoke in Mexico City to a conference sponsored by the Mexican Congress, stated, "I believe the Mexican Congress recognizes that doctors should be

Image by Sarihuella via Flickr

able to prescribe medical cannabis. We are prepared to work with the government of Mexico to produce similar medical cannabis products to help fight the outbreak there. We look forward to working with Government officials, including Homeland Security, to help advance our treatments for these outbreaks in Mexico, Canada, the USA, and around the world."

For the rest of this press release from Cannabis Science Inc., seehttp://drugsense.org/url/gtHZDFxy

AlterNet: Pot vs. Booze: A Former Police Chief's Take

2009-04-23T22:45:00.001+12:00

By Norm Stamper, Huffington Post
Posted on April 22, 2009, Printed on April 23, 2009

As 5:00 p.m. rolls around my interior clock starts chiming. I'll have an ice-cold, bone-dry martini, thank you. Jalapeno olives and a twist. If the occasion calls for it (temperatures in the twenties, a hot political debate on the tube) I may substitute two fingers of Kentucky sour mash. Four-twenty? Doesn't resonate. But with the Waldos of the world just having celebrated up their favorite day of the year, it's not a bad time to consider, yet again, the pluses and minuses of alcohol vs. cannabis.

First, a disclaimer: I am a member of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, but I don't officially represent the organization in this forum. That said, I can't very well check my affiliation, or beliefs, at the keyboard when I sit down to blog.

We at LEAP are current and former cops and other criminal justice practitioners who have witnessed firsthand the futility and manifold injustices of the drug war. Our professional experiences have led us to conclude that the more dangerous an illicit substance -- from crack to krank -- the greater the justification for its legalization, regulation, and control. It is the prohibition of drugs that leads inexorably to high rates of death, disease, crime, and addiction.

Back to booze vs. pot. How do the effects of these two drugs stack up against specific health and public safety factors?

Alcohol-related traffic accidents claim approximately 14,000 lives each year, down significantly from 20 or 30 years ago (attributed to improved education and enforcement). Figures for THC-related traffic fatalities are elusive, especially since alcohol is almost always present in the blood as well, and since the numbers of "marijuana-only" traffic fatalities are so small. But evidence from studies, including laboratory simulations, feeds the stereotype that those under the influence of canniboids tend to (1) be more aware of their impaired psychomotor skills, and (2) drive well below the speed limit. Those under the influence of alcohol are much more likely to be clueless or defiant about their condition, and to speed up and drive recklessly.
Hundreds of alcohol overdose deaths occur annually. There has never been a single recorded marijuana OD fatality.

According to the American Public Health Association, excessive alcohol consumption is the third leading cause of death in this country. APHA pegs the negative economic impact of extreme drinking at $150 billion a year.

There have been no documented cases of lung cancer in a marijuana-only smoker, nor has pot been scientifically linked to any type of cancer. (Don't trust an advocate's take on this? Try the fair and balanced coverage over at Fox.) Alcohol abuse contributes to a multitude of long-term negative health consequences, notably cirrhosis of the liver and a variety of cancers.

While a small quantity, taken daily, is being touted for its salutary health effects, alcohol is one of the worst drugs one can take for pain management, marijuana one of the best.

Alcohol contributes to acts of violence; marijuana reduces aggression. In approximately three million cases of reported violent crimes last year, the offender had been drinking. This is particularly true in cases of domestic violence, sexual assault, and date rape. Marijuana use, in and of itself, is absent from both crime reports and the scientific literature. There is simply no link to be made.

Over the past four years I've asked police officers throughout the U.S. (and in Canada) two questions. When's the last time you had to fight someone under the influence of marijuana? (I'm talking marijuana only, not pot plus a six-pack or a fifth of tequila.) My colleagues pause, they reflect. Their eyes widen as they realize that in their five or fifteen or thirty years on the job they have never had to fight a marijuana user. I then ask: When's the last time you had to fight a drunk? They look at their watches.

All of which begs the question. If one of these two drugs is implicated in dire health effects, high mortality rates, and physical violence -- and the other is not -- what are we to make of our nation's marijuana laws? Or alcohol laws, for that matter.

Anybody out there want to launch a campaign for the re-prohibition of alcohol? Didn't think so. The answer, of course, is responsible drinking. Marijuana smokers, for their part, have already shown (apart from that little matter known as the law) greater responsibility in their choice of drugs than those of us who choose alcohol.

Norm Stamper is former chief of the Seattle Police Department, and an advisory board member of NORML and Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP). He is the author of Breaking Rank: A Top Cop's Exposé of the Dark Side of American Policing (Nation Books, 2005). © 2009 Huffington Post All rights reserved.View this story online at: http://www.alternet.org/story/137752/