Read the latest issue after the jump.

Read the latest issue after the jump.

In fact, most of his disparagement came at the expense of California, which is little surprise. The sting of Prop 19′s defeat, a measure to legalize cannabis in the Golden State, must still be fresh for Mr. St. Pierre. While there were many opposition groups, it’s clear that his issue is with those in the “Emerald Triangle”, an area that produces large volumes of cannabis and didn’t support NORML’s effort. “The med-pot industry, of course, opposes actual legalization, such as last year’s Prop 19, which was also opposed by the profiteering communities in the state’s northern “grow” counties,” he writes, willfully ignoring the broad base of support he has from “med-pot” businesses. The problem with the industry, or a small faction residing in one medical state, is that they occasionally don’t agree with his goals.

His solution? Trash the people they’re supported by.

“The very point I was making in that memo was simply this: California has, for all intents purposes[sic], no regulatory concerns, controls or taxations at the state level for medical cannabis,” notes St. Pierre on The NORML Network . “This is why the federal government is engaged in such mishegoss there. They are not engaged in the same type of harassment in Colorado.”

If you’re confused, you aren’t alone. Is it St. Pierre’s point that the medical cannabis industry in California is a sham because they haven’t been regulated enough, something entirely outside of their control? Or is he simply trying to scare growers into supporting NORML’s legalization efforts? “In California, they can pick off the low hanging fruit, what we call the ‘ganjapreneurs’, because they have no state law protection,” he continues.

Silly growers! You don’t know how bad you have it. NORML’s paternalistic hubris is all over the interview. When asked by The NORML Network host “Radical” Russ Belville for his response to many (such as Steve Elliott of TokeOfTheTown) that claim this statement gives foes of cannabis ammunition to shoot down MMJ laws in other states, St. Pierre’s response was particularly self-serving:

“If there’s any entity who can logically and truthfully call out where there are problems with medical marijuana it has got to be the organization and individuals like myself who can speak to the fact,” he states. “If NORML, who started this in entire argument in the 1970′s and championed all of this to this point, cannot say ‘Wait a minute, there’s some obvious excesses here. There’s some serious pot profiteering here.’ Who can? Who will?”

Who will? Clearly someone with an ax to grind. So what are the problems, other than the lack of regulation, according to St. Pierre? Apparently, not enough people have access to the “sham”.

“Even in California, the land of milk and honey regarding medical marijuana, 50% of the population doesn’t have access to it,” he says. He doesn’t stop there, though.

“If you go to a medical dispensary you’ve got all these bodacious women and things going on and medical marijuana strains that don’t sound like medicine, it doesn’t really help our cause either.”

Surely legalization advocates would never stand for “bodacious women” being used to advertise their products. Just check out the screenshot of NORML’s section on the High Times website, a regular partner of theirs. St. Pierre sounds brutally out of touch with the state of medical cannabis, opting to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

Perhaps the most befuddling part of the entire discussion comes with this statement from the original memo:

“Cannabis consumers, who NORML represents, want good, affordable cannabis products without having to go through the insult and expense of ‘qualifying’ as a ‘medical’ patient by paying physicians and/or the state for some kind of get-out-of-jail-free card. How intellectually honest is all of this?”

Wait, what? Your constituents lie to get recreational cannabis, putting the system at risk for the legitimate medical patients who need cannabis (and who you admit need access), and they’re the ones who should be insulted? Your outrage at a few growers and dispensary owners in California entitle you to make sweeping generalizations about medical marijuana in the United States? NORML sure is getting weird.

Dairy Queen

With a wild 2011 in the books, we had a chance to reflect on our most popular strains. While seven of our ten top strains were sativa, it might have been the year of the indica. Results after the jump.

#10: Dairy Queen
Shelf: Premium
Type: Sativa
Description: Smooth, sweet and creamy flavor and aroma. Alert and tranquil this is a well rounded and useful strain, as it can be stimulating for some, while more relaxing for others. A unique Hybrid. TGA Seeds: Exodus Cheese X Romulan X Cindy 99.

#9: Head Band
Shelf: Premium
Type: Sativa
Description: Potent strain with classic sweet deisel terpenes, a rejuvenating euphoric effect and powerful medicinal results. One notable effect is the sensation of a soothing head band, specifically helpful for easing conditions in the upper body. OG Kush and Sour Diesel lineage.

#8: Jillybean
Shelf: Top
Type: Sativa
Description: Happy fruity candy aroma and flavor, paired with positive and upbeat effects, a reliable remedy for body and mind. TGA seeds: Orange Velvet X Romulan X Cindy99.

Purple Alien

#7: Purple Alien
Shelf: Top
Type: Indica
Description: Alien OG phenotype. This variation of the strain has a more relaxing and sedative quality.

#6: Tahoe Raskal’s
Shelf: Premium
Type: Sativa
Description: Great combination of two OG strains for energized pain relief. Sweet sage flavor with dense pale green and frosty appearance. This is a “heavy hitter” from Cali Connection Seeds: Raskals OG (Fire OG cut) X Tahoe OG.

Medical 1024

#5: Medical 1024
Shelf: Elite
Type: Sativa
Description: Alert and stabilizing Sativa with significant CBD count, and a balancing sage, cedar, earthy, aroma. This strain provides potent relief and immediate physical comfort, paired with a steady energized quality. Medical Seeds Co.: Genetics are kept secret.

#4: Sour Diesel
Shelf: Elite
Type: Sativa
Description: Energy and elevation define this classic strain. Positive and stimulating to the mind, with an aromatic and clearing smooth diesel flavor. Potent and long lasting head to toe results.

Triple Diesel

#3: OGiesel
Shelf: Top
Type: Sativa
Description:An elevating Hybrid with potent medicinal qualities. Providing uplifting energy paired with immediate comfort and physical relief. Cali Connection Seeds: OG Kush X Sour Diesel from the San Fernando Valley.

#2: Triple Diesel
Shelf: Premium
Type: Indica
Description: Earthy, balancing and powerful Indica. This beautiful and potent strain provides grounded and relaxed energy, with ease throughout the body. Reliable and effective medicine providing relief and calm through the day, or promoting restful sleep at night. An original Colorado strain: Sour Diesel X [Chem Dawg X OG Kush] X NYCD.

Hubba Bubba Berry

#1: Hubba Bubba Berry
Shelf: Top
Type: Indica
Description: Beautiful dense colorful buds, with a sweet berry taste, and just a slight hint of mint. Provides immediate calming and balancing qualities and potent relief for physical discomfort, pain and stress. Blackberry lineage.

What were your favorite strains of 2011? What would you like to see more or less of in 2012?

According to a message on their main contact number, MMJ patients who received a letter of rejection can be seen for a new referral free of charge. They must visit the WellDocs clinic at 2949 W. Alameda Ave, second floor on Monday from 10:30AM to 1:30PM, Tuesday from 3:00PM to 6:00PM, Wednesday from 4:00PM to 6:00PM, or Friday from 2:30PM to 6:00PM. They will also be seeing patients at 2960 S Federal Blvd Unit, #3 from 1:30-4:00 on Thursday. They recommend you bring a copy of your rejected paperwork along with. This offer only applies to those who were seen by WellDocs initially.

We understand that due to the close proximity of CDS Boulder to a former WellDocs office, some of our patients may have been unfortunately impacted by this CDPHE ruling. CDS has no financial relationship with WellDocs and this information is solely to help patients.

Click here for the WellDocs recording as of 12/30/11.

On January 1, 2012, the registry fee will be decreasing to $35. Rather than reduce your renewal benefit to $35 to match the registry fee. Instead, we are adding a new credit to the member benefits: a $50 Anniversary Credit!

Each year that you remain a member with us, we’ll send you a $50 Anniversary Credit during the month you initially joined CDS Centers as a member. We appreciate that you choose us to cultivate your medical marijuana, so we’re thanking you for sticking with us by changing this particular member benefit and increasing the value of your membership.

If you have any questions, please email us or call 303-495-2195.

So we advocate for patient access at the local, state, and national level; we volunteer with organizations helping patients; and we give back to organizations doing great work in a variety of service areas. In 2008, 2009, and 2010, CDS gave more than $8,700 to worthy organizations like Americans for Safe Access, Marijuana Policy Project, Boulder County AIDS Project, Network for Good, and many of the organizations listed below.

In 2011, though, CDS Centers and CDS Centers staff and patients blew every other year out of the water! In 2011, we gave back to the community in record numbers:

• More than 120 volunteer hours,
• $2,800 in in-kind contributions,
• $1,700 in memberships with nonprofit organizations,
• $10,479 in direct donations to nonprofit organizations,
• $852 collected in patient donations jars, plus
• countless dollars given to fellow patients in the “Patients Helping Patients” jars.

2011 CDS Community Program Recipients

The following list includes direct contributions, patient donations, and in-kind donations.

The cannabis plant produces resin that protects it in nature from hungry animals and pests in the form of trichomes. These stalk-like appendages are what makes the plant appear “frosted” and have a similar consistency as wax. Like a candle, trichomes melt as they’re exposed to heat. When making hash, the goal is to extract as many trichomes as possible from the plant matter.

There are many ways to achieve that separation. Kief is created by moving buds across a screen or through a tumbler, letting the trichomes fall through and trapping plant matter above the screens. Bubble Hash is made by placing buds in bags that are added to an ice water bath and agitated, then filtered through “bubble bags” that contain different sized screens to remove plant material and trap trichomes. Wax and hash oil are generated by using a solvent (Co2, butane) to extract the trichomes in a tube or container, then using heat or water to purge any remaining chemicals.

The more plant material that is captured in the process, the less pure your hash will be. If you light this type of hash, it may appear to bubble. When these methods are executed effectively, you’ll get either a liquid or stable concentrate. In the latter, applying any heat should cause the hash to liquefy, which we refer to as “full melt” hash. Traditionally, you’ll only find this level of quality in solvent based extractions, like wax or oil.

CDS currently has some of the highest quality bubble hash available, made from our P-Phunk strain. Without any use of solvents, which can be potentially dangerous, the P-Phunk hash melts fully and has an amazing taste and smell. It’s currently being offered for $30 a gram, so stop in while it lasts!

Clark Griswold vs Spider Mites

Decorating for the holidays can be an arduous task that can lead to Griswoldian levels of frustration. Imagine the holiday blues you’ll have, though, when you find spider mites all over your crop that’s just about to finish. While all of your holiday plants may look great, they might be harboring unwanted guests in the form of spider mites, root aphids and white flies.

The centerpiece of most Christmas celebrations is a fresh cut evergreen, a possible carrier of spider mites, Cinara aphids and the occasional praying mantis. Though not a common occurrence, you’ll want to inspect the tree for tiny brown or red spots, and indicator that mites are present. Since you’re not planning to smoke or otherwise ingest the tree, you can use a chemical like Avid or a more natural application of a neem oil solution to treat for pests. Spider mites travel on the ground, so sticky strips near the entry of your growing area can tip you off that they’re on the move. The Christmas tree, however, is only one cause for concern.

According to Kerrie Badertscher, founder of Otoke Horticulture, your biggest threat may be one of the smallest plants you buy this year: poinsettias.  ”They’re known to have white flies, and because they spray them so often, they get quite resistant to treatments,” says Badertscher. So what should you look for in a poinsettia? “Find one that isn’t wilted or with signs of flecking on the leaves,” she notes. “You want uniform look and color.”

Otoke's Kerrie Badertscher

If you find yourself with white flies, shaking the plant and then sucking the flies up with a dust buster is one solution, but Badertscher recommends tossing the plant for any serious gardener.

Keep in mind these helpful tips and you should make it to the new year and your new crop just fine:

• Inspect any plant before it comes in your home. Know what to look for (leaf stippling, yellowing) before you buy.
• Beware of any nursery plants and holiday bouquets, as both come from areas with insects that are highly resistant to pesticides.
• Keep plants and trees far from your growing area. Distance is tough for some pests to overcome.
• Treat, treat and treat again! It’s better to bomb something other than your own crop.
• When in doubt, toss it out.

The authors of the study are two economics professors: Daniel Rees from University of Colorado Denver and D. Mark Anderson from Montana State University. Both specialize in risk behavior and health. Daniel Rees is also a research fellow with IZA, the independent international non-profit research institute that published the study.

“We were astounded by how little is known about the effects of legalizing medical marijuana,” said lead author, Daniel Rees. “We looked into traffic fatalities because there is good data, and the data allow us to test whether alcohol was a factor.”

“Traffic fatalities are an important outcome from a policy perspective because they represent the leading cause of death among Americans ages 5 to 34,” said Anderson.

“I think this is a very timely study given all the medical marijuana laws being passed or under consideration,” he said. “These policies have not been research-based thus far and our research shows some of the social effects of these laws. Our results suggest a direct link between marijuana and alcohol consumption.”

The researchers found that cannabis use by adults increased after medical marijuana laws were enacted in Montana and Rhode Island, but not in Vermont. They found no evidence that marijuana use by minors increased.

Alleged increased use by minors when medical marijuana laws are enacted is one point of contention between advocates and opponents. CDS is pleased to see our post reviewing MPPs findings cited in the discussion. Research recently conducted in Rhode Island resulted in the same conclusion.

Rees and Anderson used data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) to examine rates of marijuana use after passing medical marijuana laws. Because there is no data available after 2009, researchers were denied individual level data and the NSDUH design changed in 1999, they focused on states that passed laws in the mid-2000s: Rhode Island, Montana and Vermont.

While research on the effects of THC on driving impairment is inconsistent and inconclusive, it is clear that alcohol impairs driving ability.

The researchers reviewed relevant research, noting that drivers under the influence of alcohol tend to underestimate their impairment; driving faster and more recklessly. Drivers under the influence of THC tend to drive more slowly and cautiously, avoiding risk. They also are also more likely to forgo driving entirely.

The researchers also note that cannabis tends to be used in private as opposed to public places such as restaurants and bars.

Comparing 13 states which enacted medical marijuana laws between 1990 and 2009 with those without medical marijuana laws, researchers found a 9% overall decrease in fatal car accidents, attributing the reduction to a reduction in drunk driving. The number of traffic fatalities involving alcohol dropped by 12% and those involving high levels of alcohol, 14%.

The reduction in traffic fatalities was most pronounced on nights and weekends, when alcohol is typically consumed. Researchers also found a 5% decline in beer sales in states with medical marijuana laws. They also found a reduction in alcohol consumption, particularly among the 20 to 29 age group.

The reduction in fatal crashes was greater for men than women, 13% compared to 9%. Authors note that according to registry data, 75 percent of patients in Arizona, and 68 percent of patients in Colorado, are male.

The researchers controlled for factors such as changes in traffic laws and miles driven that might affect results.

Sources for data collection also included the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, and the Fatality Analysis Reporting System.

Rees and Anderson believe the reduction in driving fatalities may be due to people substituting cannabis for alcohol. “Using this information, we contribute to the long-standing debate on whether marijuana and alcohol are substitutes or complements.”

“Although we make no policy recommendations, it certainly appears as though medical marijuana laws are making our highways safer,” Rees concluded.

Medical Marijuana Laws, Traffic Fatalities, and Alcohol Consumption