Cannabis Study House - NORML Weekly News in Audio 2008.1.31

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Weekly News in Audio

January 31, 2008

Presidential Candidate Barack Obama Backs Federal Decriminalization -- “I think the war on drugs has been a failure, and I think we need to rethink and decriminalize our marijuana laws.”

US Investigators Praise Cannabinoids As Chemo Treatment

Nebraska: Legislature Considers ‘Recriminalizing’ Pot Possession Offenses

Washington, DC:
Presidential Candidate Barack Obama Backs Federal Decriminalization -- “I think the war on drugs has been a failure, and I think we need to rethink and decriminalize our marijuana laws.”

A newly discovered video of a 2004 appearance at Northwestern University by Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama, in which he calls for the federal decriminalization of marijuana, was posted online today by The Washington Times. In that appearance, Obama states, "I think the war on drugs has been a failure, and I think we need to rethink and decriminalize our marijuana laws." Obama continued, saying that while he supported decriminalization, he did not support the full legalization of marijuana.

In contrast, Senator Obama appeared to oppose decriminalization in a 2007 Democratic primary debate when MSNBC moderator Tim Russert asked candidates who opposed then-candidate Senator Chris Dodd’s support of decriminalization to raise their hands. In the video, Senator Obama is seen hesitantly raising his hand halfway before quickly lowering it again.

When asked about the two different answers, Senator Obama’s campaign stated that he has "always" supported decriminalization, and that Obama misunderstood the question when he raised his hand in the debate. In that same statement, Obama’s campaign reiterated the Senator’s opposition to full legalization, but said that an Obama administration "will review drug sentences to see where we can be smarter on crime and reduce the blind and counterproductive sentencing of non-violent offenders."

"It appears Senator Obama, alone among the major candidates for the presidency, has the courage to state the obvious: it is time that we stopped treating responsible marijuana smokers like criminals," said NORML Executive Director Allen St. Pierre. "According to a recent CNN/Time Warner poll, 76% of the American people agree with Senator Obama, as well as the 48 million Americans who smoked marijuana last year."

Democratic rival Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton’s campaign stated that she opposes decriminalization. On the Republican side, Senator John McCain opposes decriminalization, while former Utah Governor Mitt Romney opposes both decriminalization and physician-recommended access to medical cannabis.

Madison, WI:
US Investigators Praise Cannabinoids As Chemo Treatment

Cannabinoids inhibit cancer cell proliferation and should be clinically tested as chemotherapeutic agents, according to a review published in the January issue of the journal Cancer Research.

Investigators at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health reported that the administration of cannabinoids halts the spread of a wide range of cancers, including brain cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, skin cancer, pancreatic cancer, and lymphoma. Researchers suggested that cannabinoids may offer significant advantages over standard chemotherapy treatments because the compounds are both non-toxic and can uniquely target malignant cells while ignoring healthy ones.

"Cannabinoids … offer potential applications as anti-tumor drugs, based on the ability of some members of this class to limit inflammation, cell proliferation, and cell survival," authors concluded. "[T]here is overwhelming evidence to suggest that cannabinoids can be explored as chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of cancer."

In November, researchers at the California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute reported that the administration of the non-psychoactive cannabinoid cannabidiol limits the activity of the breast cancer metastasis gene Id-1, stating, "[Cannabidiol] offers hope of a non-toxic therapy that could [treat aggressive forms of cancer] without any of the painful side effects [of chemotherapy.]"

In 2006, investigators at Madrid's Complutense University, School of Biology, reported in the British Journal of Cancer that THC administration decreases recurrent glioblastoma multiforme (brain) tumor growth in patients diagnosed with the disease.

NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano praised the University of Wisconsin study. "Far from being cancer causing agents, 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," he said.

Lincoln, NE:
Nebraska: Legislature Considers ‘Recriminalizing’ Pot Possession Offenses

Nebraska lawmakers are considering legislation that would overturn the state’s long-standing marijuana decriminalization law and replace it with strict criminal punishments.

As introduced, Legislative Bill 844 would raise penalties for minor marijuana possession from a civil citation (punishable by a $100 fine) to a class III misdemeanor 窶� punishable by up to 90 days in jail, a $500 fine, and attendance in a drug rehabilitation/educational program.

The bill is currently before the Judiciary Committee.

NORML Executive Director Allen St. Pierre criticized the measure, stating: "Passage of LB 844 could potentially expose thousands of minor marijuana offenders to a variety of serious penalties 窶� including probation and mandatory drug testing, loss of employment, loss of child custody, removal from subsidized housing, asset forfeiture, loss of federal student aid, and the loss of certain federal welfare benefits such as food stamps."

A similar ‘recriminalization’ measure was rejected by the legislature in 2003.

Nebraska is one of twelve states that have enacted marijuana decriminalization 窶� replacing criminal sanctions with the imposition of fine-only penalties for minor pot violators. Four additional states 窶� Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont 窶� are considering enacting marijuana decriminalization measures this year.

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