DRUG USE SHOULD BE BEYOND POLITICAL POINT SCORING

“This weeks Australian Crime Commission’s Illicit Drug Data Report is full of statistics to back up everything the Australia21 Futures committee said last month’, ”says the Australian HEMP Party President Michael Balderstone.

“The war on drugs is lost, our leaders just wont admit it. They need to address the issue and get over their fear of losing votes if the subject is put on the table.”

“As former High Court Judge Michael Kirby said this week, illegal drug use should be above political point scoring and all sides of politics needs to be game to discuss this burning issue. Locally we will not give up following our request for our local politicians to have a Public Forum for “the conversation” the Aust21 report asked us to have.”

The Crime Commission says there has been a record number of illicit drug seizures in the 2010/11 financial year with more than $1 billion worth of illegal drugs seized. There were almost 70,000 seizures in the 2010-11 financial year, the biggest number in a decade. Seventy-two per cent of seizures by number were of cannabis, while the drug accounted for 69.3 per cent of arrests. “What an incredible waste of police resources. 70% of police drug work is chasing a herb which has been used for as long as human records exist and still never managed to kill anyone. Unlike the war declared on it.”

“It’s hard to believe, with all the statistics we now have, that we just keep on the same ridiculous, dismal wheel of prohibition. Plus, whatever they are seizing amounts to around 10% of actual consumption the police themselves say, though how would they know? Its like a bad dream we refuse to wake up from.”

“Cannabis is the easy and safe bust for police. It’s smelly and bulky and virtually everyone ingests it by smoking which is a total giveaway compared to slipping a pill down. And it’s so easy for police to bust dreamy potheads rather than irascible drunks or raging ice-heads.”

“So why do we keep plodding along this wheel of failure? Who’s driving it? The old reefer madness was re-lit by Howard and Co but who fed them the lies?

Pharmaceutical companies stand to lose the most if we set free the weed anyone can grow in their backyard, but the alcohol industry too. Early statistics from America indicate medical cannabis dispensaries in your suburb results in a drop in alcohol use and car accidents. Or is the fear of decriminalising us hippies a bigger admittance that they got it wrong? Not just on the drug war, but solar power, permaculture, health food and all the other new age wisdom that arrived, coincidentally, with the use of cannabis.”

For further info phone the HEMP Embassy 02 66890326 or 66891842

www.hempembassy.net

“This is a significant milestone”, said Graeme Askey, Secretary of the Party. “We have now come of age as a movement. We are now a mainstream Political Party.”

“When even right wing commentator’s like Allan Jones have been won over it is difficult to argue that the Party is no longer just a party. We’re looking forward to the next Federal Election and hope to run Senate candidates in each State.”

This twentieth MardiGrass on this weekend is riding a wave of public attention generated by the recent release of the Australia21 Illicit Drug Report. Throughout the event there will be particular attention paid to the recommendations they made. One of the Directors of the Report, Dr Alex Wodak, will be attending along with cannabis activists from Europe, the United States and Canada.

“They can make us green with envy telling stories of how they have legal access to their favourite herb,” says Michael Balderstone, speaking on behalf of the MOB (MardiGrass Organising Body).

“There are about 100 backpacker volunteers here now helping with fences and cooking and rolling thousands of legal joints for the world record attempt at the number to be lit at once in the Mass Enlightenment after the Kombi Konvoy arrives at 4.20 Saturday afternoon.” “And the weather looks terrific for the HEMP Olympix which opens at midday Saturday with the “Tug o’ Drug War” on the big hemp rope between the Polite Service and the Police Force, before the Growers Iron Person Event and the Bong Throw get under way.”

The Big Sunday Rally and March for sanity on drug use will be led by Aboriginal Elders as usual and for the first time we are having a forum at MardiGrass titled “Yarndi in Goori Communities”, to discuss the impact prohibition has had on their culture. Remembering over 50% of juveniles locked up in Australia are aboriginal while they are only make up 2% of the population now, is a very shocking and shameful fact,” said Michael.

The very full MardiGrass program can be seen on www.nimbinmardigrass.com or phone 0266890326

Drug War? What Drug War?

We have reached a tipping point. The majority of Australians now agree that the cannabis laws in Australia are counterproductive and that the war on drugs has been a failure. Now we have to convince our elected representatives of this fact. And this is a fact. No rational human can look at the history of our war on drugs and deem it as being anything other than a colossal mistake.

For seventy-five years America has engaged this senseless war and for fifty years the rest of the world has joined them: and to what end and for what purpose? Who has this war assisted? What is this a ‘war’ against?

The phrase ‘Drug War’ is utterly misleading. The ‘Drug War’ has never been a war against all drugs. Or against drug use by all people. The ‘Drug War’ is, in reality, a war against certain drugs used recreationally. Drugs that are not corporately controlled. The drugs that are actually killing people in our society are perfectly legal. If anyone ever attempts to tell you that the death toll from illicit drug use in Australia is a ‘problem’; then ask them why we seem to be so complacent about the legal drugs which are killing forty-nine times as many Australians every year?

MardiGrass May Day Cannabis Law Reform Rally – Midday 1st May 2012.

This May-Day in Lismore ( 1st of May 2012) the HEMP Party of Australia will lead a march of concerned cannabis users and their friends from the Court House in Lismore to the Police Station – and then on to the offices of our public representatives in Lismore, Janelle Saffin and Thomas George.

The recent Australia21 Report has called for a re-examination of our attitudes and laws regarding drug use. This significant report, by a panel of esteemed professionals, was unequivocal in its verdict: in the war on drugs – everyone loses! It calls for widespread consultation towards fashioning a rational response to drug taking in our community. However our politicians are refusing to listen to the voice of the majority of Australians. This protest march has been fashioned to highlight this refusal by our politicians to engage in the drug law reform debate.

In a recent poll more than 70% of Australians agreed that our drug laws must change – yet our politicians remain silent. We must wake them up!

Some of the most respected voices in this debate have proposed that we must reformulate our drug policies, or young and vulnerable Australians will continue to suffer and die -yet our Prime Minister simply refuses to even talk about the issue? This is unacceptable.

This protest will be asking our representatives to engage with the recommendations of the Australia21 Report. The local Lismore politicians will be asked to participate in a night of dialogue with their constituents’ in the Lismore Town Hall at the earliest opportunity. They represent a lot of illicit drug users between them and both of their families have been personally touched by the drug war and should understand the importance of changing from a war on drugs to a plan on drugs.

It’s time our elected representatives faithfully represented the views of their constituents and stopped pandering to the drug lobby and other vested interests.

Other western world countries have tackled this issue. More than 70% of Americans currently have access to legally available medical cannabis and many countries around the world are abandoning prohibition. It’s time that Australia caught up with the rest of the world.

The HEMP Party President, Michael Balderstone, was enthusiastic about getting these politicians to engage in a public debate. “The Australia21 report really is a game-changer. Politicians simply have to sit up and take notice.”

May 1st will kick off our annual MardiGrass protestival weekend, May 5th and 6th , where we will be hosting a round table discussion ourselves which includes Dr Alex Wodak , one of the directors of the commissioned Report our PM dismissed before lunch on the day it was released.

The 20th MardiGrass cannabis law reform annual gathering the following weekend finally got consent yesterday for its development application. “Its all go from here on in,” said a MardiGrass Organising Body (MOB)spokesperson. “ The Australia21 Report has given a new optimism to the annual protest weekend.”

“ We managed to get our permits after changing the program. The threat of an injunction in the Land and Environment Court followed up with litigation for the costs in making sure nothing went ahead made us rethink and we are now having a wreath laying memorial service for the victims of prohibition instead of a mass surrender!” “It’s no big deal and and we are now looking forward to a big weekend no matter the weather.”

There are 2 new Hemp Olympix Events for this year. The Rubbish Bong Race where contestants have to improvise and make a bong from whatever they can find and prove it works. And the “Inaugural Special Distance and Accuracy Alan Jones About Face Bong Throw.” Nimbin is looking more chaotic than ever with practise sessions littering the street daily now.

The full MardiGrass program and tickets are on www.nimbinmardigrass.com

FURTHER INFO HEMP Embassy 02 66890326

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY:

Quotes from the Australia21 Report

Hon Professor Peter Baume AC – Former Chancellor of the ANU and Minister for Health in the Fraser Government

“Many people who think of themselves as the beneficiaries of prohibition are really net losers. Parents are much more at risk of losing their children under prohibition than they would be if there was some kind of system where we had some measure of control over illicit drugs.”

Hon Professor Geoff Gallop AC – Former Premier Western Australia

“I think the idea that prohibition kills is an important one. So my plea is how can we get governments to buy into this issue? I think they need to see that what they are doing and not doing, is causing a lot of the harms. At some stage they have to be held accountable for allowing this to happen.”

Hon Kate Carnell AO – Former Chief Minister in the ACT

“There seems to be a pretty good consensus among us about medical cannabis. I have heard no one to talk against it. I think I also heard a fair bit of support for medical heroin. So at the very least, the reinstatement of substances in the pharmacopeia that were useful and continue to be useful drugs that were removed for non-medical reasons needs to be rectified.”

Dr Alex Wodak AM – President Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation and Former President International Harm Reduction Association

“The best evidence that the management of heroin dependence with controlled and prescribed heroin availability made a difference, is a study published in the Lancet in 2006. This study was based on the city of Zurich. This showed that between 1992 and 2002 the number of new heroin users in Zurich was reduced from 850 in 1990 to 150 in 2002. Corresponding with that was a decrease in drug overdose deaths, a decrease in HIV infections among injecting drug users, a decrease in crime and a decrease in the quantities of heroin seized. Clearly, what was happening was that people were moving from black market heroin to white market methadone and white market heroin. This showed that treatment does work at a population level.”

Nicholas Cowdery AM QC – Director of Public Prosecutions for NSW from 1994 to 2011

“I am strongly in favour of legalising, regulating, controlling and taxing all drugs. A first step towards such a regime could be decriminalisation, similar to the approach adopted 10 years ago in Portugal or an adaptation of that approach. I do not say that such a change could occur quickly, efficiently or even at the same time or in the same way for all drugs. Nor do I advocate that any or all drugs should be generally available to anybody wanting them.”

http://www.australia21.org.au/our_research/illicit_drugs.html

Congratulations on your appointment to the important Health portfolio. I write to request information concerning your Department’s policy regarding FSANZ application A1039 to have hemp seed and hemp seed products normalized as a human food in Australia. I am the author of that application. This application was made hoping to provide a very palatable and rich source of omega 3 and other important nutrients for Australian’s young and old and to add a valuable new crop to Australian agriculture. The executive summary produced by FSANZ has substantiated our assertions that hemp seed is a safe and nutritious food.

Government data indicate up to 90% of Australian school children are currently receiving less than an ideal quantity of omega 3. Deficiency of this essential nutrient will compromise the development of the young brain and mind, as well as setting the stage for a raft of serious inflammatory and degenerative conditions in later life. The future health costs of this hidden epidemic could be too large to be calculated.

At last aware that our plundering of the oceans has left marine omega 3 unable to fill the future needs of the population, the federal government recently allocated many millions of dollars to the CSIRO and a private gentec company, in an attempt to genetically modify canola, to express additional omega 3. Genetic modification of food crops is not widely accepted by the Australian public and we deplore this misguided and profligate waste of public money, especially when an ecologically sustainable, completely natural source of omega 3 is ready and waiting.

The benefits of using hemp seed as a food source are apparent in many aspects of an industrial hemp crop. Industrial hemp is a self mulching weed smother crop. Its long tap root aerates the soil while repelling nematodes. Crops following hemp have demonstrated greater than 20% increased yield in Australian field tests. Hemp crops are generally grown without herbicides or pesticides and the crop therefore pays the farmer well, compared to high input crops. After seed harvest there remains a variable quantity of stalk, comprising over 70% cellulose. With appropriate milling these hemp chips, or hurd, can be made into hempcrete, a novel building material which is non-toxic, fireproof and termite proof. Hempcrete houses are totally free of volatile organic compounds. In England hempcrete houses are being used by councils to create affordable, quality public housing. Each ton of hemp cellulose removes over one and half tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. So hemp seed is not only a nutritional powerhouse, but also the only demonstrably carbon neutral food available. We believe that hemp seed can and should provide a uniquely valuable component in the human diet, from infants to geriatrics and that the population would benefit from such a strategy.

You will be aware that Australia is the only country on Earth to restrict the food uses of hemp seed. A lawyer from the Department of Health, Chris Reid, authored a submission to FSANZ, claiming that to alter the code would put us in conflict with our international treaty obligations. He was unable to grasp the inherent contradiction of his opinion, even when reminded repeatedly that we are the ONLY country on Earth yet to change the code.
He was unable to suggest what action should be taken against the rest of the world for breaching their treaty obligations! Based on this submission the Department expressed its opposition to changing code 1.4.4

With a new Minister, we can only hope that better minds than this can be called on for rational policy advice on important public health issues and we question whether public money should be squandered paying salaries for such opinion. For your interest application A360, the first attempt to change the code in 2002, was approved by FSANZ, but subsequently rejected by the then ministerial council, particularly the then Health Minister Abbott, using uninformed slogans in the place of clearly articulated scientific evidence. We are grateful that parliament has seen fit to improve the system of accountability in decision making by such bodies as FOFR, so that we may operate with a system more based on rational inquiry and scholarship, when it comes to important decisions regarding the nation’s food.

Changes to the code require the agreement of FOFR and state and federal health ministers comprise many of the positions on that forum. I would like to know whether, after further consideration, your department would care to modify its opinion and use the second round of FSANZ submissions, closing on the 15th February, to express a revised opinion. For your interest I have enclosed a small sample of hulled hemp seed.

Thank you for your consideration of this important issue.

Sincerely,

Dr Andrew Katelaris MD
6th February, 2012

Prospective Grant of Exclusive License: Development of Cannabinoid(s) and Cannabidiol(s) Based Therapeutics To Treat Hepatic Encephalopathy in Humans.

A Notice by the National Institutes of Health on 11/17/2011

SUMMARY

This is notice, in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 209(c)(1) and 37 CFR part 404.7(a)(1)(i), that the National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, is contemplating the grant of an exclusive patent license to practice the invention embodied in U.S. Patent 6,630,507, entitled “Cannabinoids as antioxidants and neuroprotectants” and PCT Application Serial No. PCT/US99/08769 and foreign equivalents thereof, entitled “Cannabinoids as antioxidants and neuroprotectants” [HHS Ref. No. E-287-1997/2] to KannaLife Sciences Inc., which has offices in New York, U.S.

This patent and its foreign counterparts have been assigned to the Government of the United States of America.

The prospective exclusive license territory may be worldwide, and the field of use may be limited to:

The development and sale of cannabinoid(s) and cannabidiol(s) based therapeutics as antioxidants and neuroprotectants for use and delivery in humans, for the treatment of hepatic encephalopathy, as claimed in the Licensed Patent Rights.

Full text:
http://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2011/11/17/2011-29726/prospective-grant-of-exclusive-license-development-of-cannabinoids-and-cannabidiols-based

Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hepatic_encephalopathy

KannaLife Sciences Inc.

KannaLife Sciences, Inc. is a socially responsible, developmental stage phyto-medical/bio-pharmaceutical company that specializes in the research, development, and packaging of pharmacological products derived from botanical sources, including the cannabis taxa. KannaLife’s plan for generating revenue and growth is intended to come from (i.) KannaLife’s proprietary branding POS and hermetic packaging systems for the medical marijuana industry; (ii.) KannaLife’s branded anti-oxidant and recovery skin care ointments and creams; and (iii.) the development, marketing and sale of KannaLife biopharmaceutical and phyto-pharmaceutical products derived from cannabis for the treatment of patients suffering with neuro-degenerative, neuro-toxic and oxidative stress related diseases and disorders.

The Company’s focus on product development was born from the burgeoning market in the United States in the use of traditional healthcare models of treatment, utilizing medicinal marijuana and other APIs found in the genus of the cannabis taxa.

KannaLife intends to profit from the acquisition, development, marketing and sale of phyto-medical drugs and products derived from cannabinol (“CBN”) and cannabidiol (“CBD”) compounds as art and parcel to the Company’s drug development plan. The disease indications to which the Company intends to target for the development of its products are centered on patients suffering from diseases with neuro-degenerative and/or neuro-toxic profiles.

In addition the Company has developed a unique “blue ocean” approach to participating in the fast growing multi-billion dollar medical marijuana industry in establishing a “Gold Standard” in QA for delivering a consistent and reliable product to the consumer for dispensing medicinal marijuana in hermetically sealed packaging.

http://www.kannalife.com/

The US Patent
Cannabinoids as antioxidants and neuroprotectants.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns pharmaceutical compounds and compositions that are useful as tissue protectants, such as neuroprotectants and cardioprotectants. The compounds and compositions may be used, for example, in the treatment of acute ischemic neurological insults or chronic neurodegenerative diseases.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Permanent injury to the central nervous system (CNS) occurs in a variety of medical conditions, and has been the subject of intense scientific scrutiny in recent years. It is known that the brain has high metabolic requirements, and that it can suffer permanent neurologic damage if deprived of sufficient oxygen (hypoxia) for even a few minutes. In the absence of oxygen (anoxia), mitochondrial production of ATP cannot meet the metabolic requirements of the brain, and tissue damage occurs. This process is exacerbated by neuronal release of the neurotransmitter glutamate, which stimulates NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate), AMPA (α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionate) and kainate receptors. Activation of these receptors initiates calcium influx into the neurons, and production of reactive oxygen species, which are potent toxins that damage important cellular structures such as membranes, DNA and enzymes.

The brain has many redundant blood supplies, which means that its tissue is seldom completely deprived of oxygen, even during acute ischemic events caused by thromboembolic events or trauma. A combination of the injury of hypoxia with the added insult of glutamate toxicity is therefore believed to be ultimately responsible for cellular death. Hence if the additive insult of glutamate toxicity can be alleviated, neurological damage could also be lessened. Anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory agents have been proposed to reduce damage, but they often have poor access to structures such as the brain (which are protected by the blood brain barrier).

Full text:
http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/6630507/description.html 

Further information on this issue and many more links visit;

Patented Pot vs. the Herbal Gold Standard: http://www.cannabisculture.com/v2/node/19879

Julia knows the difference between Industrial Hemp and Medicinal Cannabis.

To the Prime Minister Julia Gillard and the Health Minister Nicola Roxon,

The Nimbin HEMP Embassy has written to President Obama and asked him to talk to you about Medical Cannabis and the difference it has made in America where States have opened legal medical cannabis dispensaries. What a positive difference it has made in arrest rates, police and court costs, employment and in tax revenue. Its a win win win win situation!

The Hemp Party is visiting Canberra on November 16,17 and 18, to lobby for medical cannabis to be reconsidered by the Federal Government. This coincides with President Obamas visit. We would like some time with your people please to discuss…..

Medicinal Cannabis – why has there been stony silence regarding this matter while people suffer needlessly?

Industrial Cannabis – why does Australia continue to allow other countries to utilise this valuable food and fibre crop whilst denying the same to local farmers, industry, and society?

Really it boils down to freedom of choice about one’s own particular medicine and cannabis was an extremely popular medicine before it was outlawed. As if God made a mistake! It seems to us the pharmaceutical companies have grabbed a monopoly on the most profitable of all businesses, pain management. The war on cannabis is long lost as you know.

In our tiny village of Nimbin many people use cannabis regularly, often in preference to alcohol. We have nine permanent police who have little choice but to bust the young dealers. They sadly then get a criminal record for life and there is always an endless supply of willing ‘risk-takers’ to replace them if they are sent to jail.

Further, we have many aboriginal people living in our village because cannabis keeps them off alcohol. They deal because few can grow, or afford it at exorbitant black-market prices. 56% of juveniles in jail in Australia are Aboriginal which is appalling and embarrassing.

To control cannabis use in Australia it needs to be regulated with quality control measures, and of course it can be taxed.

Please speak with President Obama whilst you have time with him. We will be travelling down to Canberra in the hope it will encourage the conversation.

We look forward to your reply and hope you have time to meet with us.

Yours sincerely,
Michael Balderstone.
HEMP Party President
head@hempembassy.net

Download (PDF, 59.31KB)

A response to your email to the Australian Prime Minister, the Hon Julia Gillard MP, and the Minister for Health and Ageing, the Hon Nicola Roxon MP.

Regards,
Manager
Ministerial Liaison and Support Section, Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.

BIG JOINT ROLLED AND READY FOR OBAMAS VISIT

Realising the invitation for US President Obama to visit Nimbin and see for himself the refugee camp his war on drugs has caused will most likely fall on deaf ears, the Nimbin HEMP Embassy will send a delegation to the President when he visits Canberra on November 16 and 17.

“During his quest to become President, Obama gave hope for change to many medical marijuana patients and indeed there are now 15 American states where medical cannabis is legal with doctors authorising cards which allow users to grow their own or buy from a dispensary.”

“All we ask is that our PM spends ten minutes hearing from Obama his views on cannabis as a medicine and how the Americans are dealing with the issue”, said Michael Balderstone, HEMP Party President.

“It’s time our Government pulled its head out of the propaganda and recognised the medical values of cannabis at a Federal level. We have shocking problems with alcohol abuse in Australia and we need to rethink the failed drug policies and ideas, including John Howards legacy of psychosis hysteria.”

“Please Julia, ask the President why Americans aren’t getting psychosis from cannabis like we are supposed to be in Australia! The facts are there is no increase in Aussie mental health problem numbers in the last fifty years despite cannabis use going from under 1% to over 50% of young males, the most vulnerable group.”

“We plan on taking the Big Joint and a Polite Service crew to Obama, and a bunch of flowers for Michelle. And we urge others from Australias 2 million regular cannabis users to come out of the closet and join us.”

Quotes from Obama: “Medical marijuana is entirely appropriate.” “I inhaled frequently, that was the point.”

More info?

Facebook Event | www.facebook.com/groups/POLITE.NSW | www.BIGJOINT.org

Nimbin HEMP Embassy 02 66891842 or 66890326 a/h 66897525

http://hempembassy.net/forums/

UPDATE: Wednesday 9th of November

DISJOINTED HEMP PARTY ROLLS ON REGARDLESS

The Federally Registered once again Help End Marijuana Prohibition (HEMP) Party’s plan to offer President Obama a ten metre giant joint when he visits Canberra next week has been thwarted. The Australian Federal Police today approved the use of the Authorised Assembly Area for the HEMP Party protest next Wednesday and Thursday, however, the “10 metre long inflatable structure” was not approved.

“We’ll find somewhere for Big Joint to inflate, even if it’s not in the central protest area”, said Michael Balderstone, HEMP Party President. “In the AAA our Polite Service will be joining other anti-war protestors and we still have our big Obama banner saying, ‘Yes We Cannabis’.”

“President Obama has said ‘the use of medical marijuana is entirely appropriate’ and he is credited with being a big part of why 15 American States have now legalised medical cannabis use. In turn the latest Gallop poll in America has for the first time more than 50% of the population wanting legalisation and regulation of cannabis in a similar way to alcohol. Over 80% of the population approve of Doctor authorised medical cannabis.”

“In Australia, our attitude to drug use remains corrupt and primitive while other more compassionate countries introduce new laws treating drug use as a health issue. We want President Obama to spend 10 minutes talking to our Prime Minister about the forgotten war, the “war on drugs’’. There’s plenty of focus on the other wars but this futile global war over the profits to be made from peoples pain relief is appalling and shameful and needs to be taken out of the too hard basket.”

“I bet Ms Gillard wont be bragging about over 50% of juveniles in jail in Australia are aboriginal”, said Mr Balderstone. “There are 2 million regular cannabis users (criminals) in Australia, more than any other country we are told, and the current laws are doing a lot of damage, and long term damage.

We don’t all want to drink alcohol, thankyou.”

MEDIA RELEASE SAT NITE 12 NOV 2011

BIG JOINT ROLLING FOR OBAMA IN CANBERRA

The HEMP (Help End Marijuana Prohibition) Party is happy to announce the National Capital Authority has provided permission for their Big Joint to be inflated for President Obama in Canberra this week. Previously the groups signature 10 metre inflatable scoobie was formally knocked back by the AFP for the AAA (Authorised Assembly Area).

“The AFP actually suggested we apply to the NCA who were totally appreciative of our mission. They’ve asked us to move up the back a bit. No big deal,”said Michael Balderstone, HEMP Party President.

“The real issue is trying to get the drug war on the agenda while Obama is here. He has helped law reform and Medical Cannabis Dispensaries spread across America rapidly with no discernable negative social consequences. Yet our government continues to turn its back on the 2 million regular Aussie tokers. The issue needs to be urgently taken out of the too hard basket, which Labor has promised us for years it would do.”

“Perhaps we need a Bob Carr style Drug Summit in Canberra. A few days listening to the experts on how the drug war is going, and how much it is costing. Not the money so much as the drastic social damage.”

“The President smoked a lot of weed and he knows cannabis is good medicine. We want him to talk to Julia about how to change our attitude of criminalising people for self medicating with a herb that has proven medical benefits.”

“The Government could save a fortune in so many ways. Enforcement and incarceration costs, plus the consequent social disasters. Thousands of jobs can be created with the stroke of a pen simply by regulating this industry. We also believe it is a priority to normalise the lives of those involved in the current multi-billion dollar cannabis industry.”

“Plus the health cost savings. Currently we are spending squillions on pharmaceuticals where a herb you can grow in your back garden could do a better job in many cases.“

“Not to mention it appears that hemp is the number one carbon fixing plant on the planet!”

The HEMP Party delegation, now seeking candidates for the next Federal election, will leave Nimbin Tuesday morning and includes representatives from the Mullers and Packers Union. After Canberra it will drive on to Melbourne for the cannabis law reform rally in the Flagstaff Gardens on the following Sunday 20th.

“Finally pressure is mounting around Australia for true reform. It’s an issue whose time has come we believe.”

Donations for the Polite Service HEMP mission are much appreciated and can be deposited in the Nimbin HEMP Inc account at any Summerland Credit Union, or at the bottom of the page on http://www.nimbinmardigrass.com/hempshop/

More info Nimbin HEMP Embassy on 02 66890326/66891842

Michael Balderstone – HEMP Party President a/h 02 66897525

James Moylan – Secretary Mullers & Packers 02 66218419

www.hempembassy.net www.bigjoint.org Convoy mobile 0413701823

Big Joint to join other anti-war protests for Obama

TUESDAY NOV 14

In this myth shattering, information packed documentary, learn from physicians and leading researchers about medicinal Cannabis and its’ demonstrated effects on human health.

Topics include:

* What the consensus is from over 15,000 scientific and medical trials

* What conditions have been proven to benefit from medical marijuana

* Its historical use as medicine dating back over 5,300 years

* Methods of delivery and their different advantages

* Government sponsored studies intended to show Marijuana having negative effects that yielded the exact opposite results

* Common myths about negative effects of Marijuana and what the research really says about these topics.

This game-changing movie presents the most comprehensive synopsis to date of the real science surrounding the world’s most controversial plant.

YouTube Link

Doctors:

Dr. David Bearman: Expert Witness, Former Director of Haight Ashbury Drug Treatment Program, Founder of Isla Vista Medical Clinic, Member of Governor Reagan’s Inter-Agency Task Force on Drug Abuse.

Dr. Donald Tashkin: Emeritus Professor of Medicine UCLA., Medical Director of UCLA Pulmonary Function Laboratory.

Dr. Donald Abrams: Director, Integrative Oncology Research Program Integrative Medicine Physician., Professor of Clinical Medicine at UCSF and Chief of Hematology/Oncology at San Francisco General Hospital.

Dr. Robert Sterner: UCSD General Surgeon, Graduate of Harvard & UCLA., Certified in Oriental and Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Credits: * James Schmachtenberger (Executive Producer) * Lindsey Ward (Director/Producer) * Troy Brajkovich (Director of Photography)

Visit: http://www.MarijuanaMovie.Org

Donald Tashkin. http://www.lung.med.ucla.edu/faculty/tashkin.htm

More videos and related content; Dr. Donald Tashkin Marijuana Lung Cancer Study

There are many members outside the country and not yet registered members of HEMP. The groups are less formal and make an opportunity to canvass new members, especially for the State Branch groups.

Canberra ACT: www.facebook.com/groups/HEMP.ACT/

New South Wales: www.facebook.com/groups/HEMP.NSW/

Queensland: www.facebook.com/groups/HEMP.QLD/

South Australia: www.facebook.com/groups/HEMP.SA/

Tasmania: www.facebook.com/groups/HEMP.TAS/

Victoria: www.facebook.com/groups/HEMP.VIC/

Western Australia: www.facebook.com/groups/HEMP.WA/

Northern Territory to be listed.

Federal Group: Help End Marijuana Prohibition (HEMP) Party of Australia

www.facebook.com/groups/australianhempparty/

Facebook fan page
www.facebook.com/AustralianHempParty

Help End Marijuana Prohibition (HEMP) Party of Australia.
Membership forms are available online.
australianhempparty.com/members

“The illegal drug issue must be removed from the too hard basket.,” says Michael Balderstone, HEMP (Help End Marijuana Prohibition) Party President, as he prepares to join Tony Bower and Mullaways Medical Cannabis Treaty convoy leaving Nimbin’s HEMP Embassy for Sydney next Sunday bound for Macquarie Street to deliver the treaty on Tuesday.

“It feels reminiscent of the Cannabus trip to Sydney for Bob Carr’s 1999 Drug Summit and that’s just what’s needed again,’ he said.“Lets hear from the experts, if you don’t believe the users.”

Mr Bower will be giving away his medical cannabis next Tuesday 23rd August from 11 am outside Parliament House in Sydney and already has many supporters and patients promising to be there. We have watched Tony help and heal people for years and we feel he’s a man of great integrity and deserves support.

We will ask the Premier to review the ‘drug war’ and place it on the political agenda again. It’s in the news every day but rarely questioned for effectiveness. Mark Standen and the London gang riots are both consequences of the dismally failing drug war.

Over two million Australians use cannabis regularly the statistics say. Over two million people criminalised for self medicating with a plant that humans have used for as long as history is recorded and with no deaths from its use.

People take drugs for basically one reason from what I can see, here on Nimbin’s main street most days. To alter their mind and change how they feel. To feel good, or at least feel better. For some, it is to feel less pain.

Up until the late 1900s there was little regulation of drug production and while there were effective medicines there were also dubious preparations, often containing narcotics, which could have unwanted consequences. It was decided to regulate drug production, and test medicines before they were released to the public.

There are still medicines with unwanted side effects that do not necessarily provide the designed treatment. Things did not change quite as much as expected. Along with that, we threw out a few babies with the bathwater, so to speak. Cannabis has useful properties, and can be an effective medicine for some conditions.

If we have to have a regulated pharmaceutical situation, let’s see some evidence based regulation that allows medical cannabis use, because there is nothing noble or ethically superior in causing unnecessary suffering. Rather than the current fobbing off any considerations on the matter, let’s look at this and find a sensible life enhancing solution.

For more info phone 02 66891842 or 66890326 www.hempembassy.net

HEMP PARTY SEEKING CANDIDATES FOR NEXT FEDERAL ELECTION

After being suspended for two elections by the obdurate Electoral Commission the HEMP Party is back in business.

At our AGM, which will be held at Party Headquarters* 51 Cullen Street Nimbin on Friday 26 August 2011 at 6pm, we are aiming to preselect our NSW Senate candidates for the 2013 (?) Federal elections. Any members from other states who might be willing to stand up and run in their their State are invited to attend or to notify us for consideration.

The sooner we can get started the better.

We are also calling for activists outside of Nimbin to re-establish their own local or state branches of the HEMP Party. If we want justice for the 80,000 Australians arrested every year in the futile ‘Drug Wars’ then we can’t just sit around and expect some other party to do it for us. There is just us!

If you can’t devote any time to help out then maybe you could send the Party a handout. Life Memberships of HEMP can be gained for a one off donation of $100.

Please address any offers, ideas, or donations to;

The President
Michael Balderstone
51 Cullen Street
Nimbin 2480
head@hempembassy.net

or

The Secretary
Graham Askey
9 Frank Street
Lismore 2480
graham.askey@gmail.com

* Nimbin HEMP Embassy

Party AGM – Friday 26 August 2011 at 6pm