Thursday, January 15, 2004

1/4 of AIDS patients use medical marijuana Via NORML: San Mateo, CA: Approximately one out of four patients suffering from HIV has smoked marijuana within the past month to relieve symptoms of the disease, according to clinical findings published in this month's issue of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes. Twenty-three percent of the 252 participants in the study responded that they had smoked medicinal marijuana within the previous month. "Reported benefits included relief from anxiety and/or depression (57%), improved appetite (53%), increased pleasure (33%), and relief of pain (28%)," authors stated. A similar survey conducted in Canada and presented last November at the Ontario HIV Treatment Network research conference concluded that 29 percent of HIV-positive Ontarians used marijuana therapeutically. Presently, clinical trials examining the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids in HIV patient populations are ongoing at the University of California Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research. According to a recently published study in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, use of inhaled marijuana demonstrates "no major, short-term harmful effects and possibly some beneficial effects ... in HIV-infected patients taking protease inhibitors." Yep, this is the stuff that our drug czar calls a "fraud." 6:55:52 PM |  drug policy | Links | permalink | comment []

Update on Feds stepping on California's laws More details on the story I mentioned yesterday are available from Americans for Safe Access. In a stunning display of duplicitous double dealing, federal agents yesterday seized two medical marijuana patients from a California state courtroom after the local prosecutor lured the couple's defense counsel into the judge's chambers to dismiss the state charges filed against them. 6:42:13 PM |  drug policy | Links | permalink | comment []

New Drug Tests, Same Old Stupidity Via TalkLeft: Here we go....the federal government is overhauling the way it drug tests employees. It is moving from urine tests to saliva, hair testing and sweat tests. Major corporations are expected to follow suit. Here's what's planned: Saliva testing, done using a swab that looks much like a toothbrush but with a pad instead of bristles, is best at detecting drug use within the past one or two days. Hair testing, in which a sample about the thickness of a shoelace is clipped at the root from the back of the head, allows detection of many drugs used as far back as 3 months. Sweat testing, in which workers are fitted with a patch that is worn for two weeks, is used to screen people who have returned to work after drug treatment. Note that none of these intrusions test for the most important thing: impairment at the time of testing. Now I've worked in quite a few jobs, and I've almost always been a supervisor -- of everyone from casual day laborers to factory workers to student interns to professional government employees. I've never used or needed urine, saliva, hair, or sweat drug tests for my employees. I had a very simple method that worked every time. If an employee didn't do their job, I fired them. The amazing thing is -- I apparently have some kind of magical ability that allows me to determine if someone is doing their job without making them pee in a cup. And my method worked for a whole range of problems, including drugs, alcohol, lack of sleep, apathy, and incompetence. If only I could teach the government how to do that. Have you peed in a cup for your government today? 5:59:05 PM |  drug policy | Links | permalink | comment []

Venezuela Decriminalizes Drug Possession Via Al Giordano's BigLeftOutside: The latest: a reform of the penal code that, while increasing penalties for drug traffickers like every other country, has just decriminalized possession. According to the oligarch's daily El Universal, which leads its report in a panic over the reform's simultaneous legalization of abortion and euthanasia, here's what the new law does for drug users: "As personal dose for consumption, the (allowable) quantity of the drug substance is extended to that which is necessary for average individual consumption for no more than five days; and as a provisional dose, the quantity of the substance that is employed for average individual consumption (according to forensics experts) for no more than ten days." In sum, the drug addict or user no longer faces prison or penalty in Venezuela if he possesses small amounts of his drug of choice (specifically mentioned by the law are marijuana, hashish, cocaine and its derivatives, opium and its derivatives, and synthetic drugs). Giordano also notes: Venezuela's action, because of the size and influence of the country and its economy, and the context of its role in the current American drama, now provides cover for Brazil, Argentina, and the rest of the continent to do the same. Be sure to watch for the re-birth of the fabulous Narco News, which will resume publishing shortly. Note that Venezuela has not been particularly thrilled with the U.S. drug war or our Czar. Also be sure to check out Last One Speaks for excellent coverage on this and other drug war issues (and a belated birthday wish to Libby, one week late). Update:According to Drug War Chronicle, this reform is not yet finalized. 5:04:16 PM |  drug policy | Links | permalink | comment []