Esteemed criminal defense and civil rights lawyer Bill Buckman offers up another reasons to be wary of speaking to the police, particularly if suspected of growing marijuana:

Here in NJ, police euphemistically call one of their marijuana related operations a “knock and talk”, though it can often be anything but. When police suspect that marijuana may be grown in a household, they organize multiple agencies to “respond” on a predetermined date and time to the location – a show of force. (Indeed during cross examination police have conceded that a “ knock and talk” is organized just as a forcible search warrant raid would be.)

It usually goes down like this: Police have only a mere suspicion that folks are growing marijuana in their homes. Maybe they have been tipped off by informants at a growing supply store (which, of course, sell an entire range of legal articles) or maybe the police have done an illegal drive-by thermal imaging of a house to see if heat from some kind of grow situation exists.

(As an aside, its illegal for police to do a thermal imaging scan of a home without a warrant. But if they do perform one and then intimidate the owners to “consent to a search,” the illegality often goes by the wayside, as the law will see the consent as “ curing” the illegality.)

In any event, for the “ knock and talk,” police show up in force. Some go to each entry or exit of the residence. (Query if its just a knock and talk, by virtue of what right would cops have to stop anyone from leaving the house and refusing to talk. None, really). Yet too often faced with intentional, intimidating show of force, people often “consent” to let police in their homes. At that point, cops usually talk the occupants into signing a “consent to search form” by misleading them. Once signed, the form will allow police to search all areas of the residence and every nook and cranny, totally tossing the contents about if the police wish.

The best advice to deal with a “knock and talk” is to simply not open the door and certainly not to allow police the consent to search the home. When speaking with police, one should be extremely hesitant to sign anything, like a consent from, without a lawyer present. Since police have no search warrant when conducting a knock and talk, it is not necessary to open the door. One could speak through the door if he or she wishes. Stories are legion about how, once inside the house, police allege that they smell marijuana and can then get an actual warrant.

The “knock and talk” is a bit of NJ legal schizophrenia. Because of proven abuses with racial profiling, police need a reasonable basis to even ask to search a car. But, our Supreme Court has reasoned, the home was not the site of such abuses – despite the inherently intimidating and abusive nature of the “knock and talk.”

Lastly, it bears repeating that purchasers of growing equipment, even online, have been regularly subjected to “knock and talks.” In fact, to help shed light on the issue, it would be helpful to start gathering details of “knock and talks” that netted nothing other than legal indoor growing materials.

Bill Buckman is hailed as one of the most skillful, tenacious and dedicated criminal-defense attorneys in New Jersey. He is also a seasoned civil rights lawyer with a comprehensive list of successful cases that have received nationwide attention. Mr. Buckman has kept a constant focus on the relationship between the individual and large organizations, particularly government. To find out more about Mr. Buckman or his services in and around Moorestown, New Jersey, please visit his website.

Mommy, I want a Bob Marley poster!

What do you do? Your baby has just tested positive for marijuana. First you have to deal with the social embarrassment of it all. What will the neighbors say? But more importantly, your baby is now unemployable. That extra income your family so desperately need is tossed away like used Pampers.

But seriously folks, babies are testing positive for marijuana. And not because they found your stash and rolled a fatty. Apparently some of the compounds found in baby soap have a structure partly similar to THC or the chemicals in the soap change the way the test works.

Here’s a look at the brands they say produced a positive marijuana test:

• Johnson & Johnson’s Head-to-Toe Baby Wash
• J&J Bedtime Bath
• CVS Night-Time Baby Bath
• Aveeno Soothing Relief Creamy Wash
• Aveeno Wash Shampoo

Unfortunately this information could be used as a way for social services to become very involved in your life, though this article claims otherwise. (Figure it this way: in this day and age, if the “authorities” need an invitation into your life, they’ll find it.)

Another aspect you won’t see addressed in this article? The chemicals that are found in baby soap could practically degrease your car engine. Sodium laureth sulfate and sodium lauryl sulfate are cheap chemicals commonly found in about 90% of your toiletries that can cause a host of health problems. You won’t read as many articles about this because big companies hardly want to replace this cheap detergent with something less harmful. You don’t need suds to feel clean, whether its in your toothpaste, shampoo or soap.

Remember: If it bubbles, it’s trouble.

Certain soaps used to wash babies shortly after birth may cause the baby to test positive for marijuana on some newborn screening tests, a new study suggests.

In the study, urine samples that contained minute amounts of any of five baby soaps — Johnson & Johnson’s Head-to-Toe Baby Wash, J&J Bedtime Bath, CVS Night-Time Baby Bath, Aveeno Soothing Relief Creamy Wash and Aveeno Wash Shampoo — gave a positive result on a drug screening test for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active ingredient in marijuana.The researchers began their investigation after nurses at a North Carolina hospital reported an increase in the number of newborns testing positive for marijuana.

The amount of soap in the urine needed to produce a positive test result was tiny, less than 0.1 milliliters, the researchers said.

It’s important to note the soaps do not produce a “high,” or any other effects of marijuana, in infants. “It’s not marijuana a in any way, shape or form,”  said study researcher Catherine Hammett-Stabler, a professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

A screening test that indicates a baby has been exposed to marijuana can lead to the involvement of social services, and accusations of child abuse, the researchers said.

Given these consequences, it’s important for health-care providers and laboratory staffs to be aware that these soaps may lead to a positive test for marijuana, and to consider confirming positive tests with a more sensitive method, the researchers said.

“We really did this to help protect families from being falsely accused” of drug use, and to help ensure that intervention efforts are directed to babies who are truly at risk of drug exposure, said study researcher Dr. Carl Seashore, a pediatrician in the newborn nursery at UNC Chapel Hill.

Drug screening tests in hospitals that come back positive are not usually sent out to laboratories for additional conformation, because of the time and cost involved, said study researcher Catherine Hammett-Stabler, also of UNC Chapel Hill.

Newborn screening for exposure to marijuana is common, and is especially recommended for babies born to women considered to be “high risk” for drug use, such as those who do not come in for prenatal care visits, Hammett-Stabler said. At UNC Chapel Hill, 10 to 40 percent of babies born in the hospital receive the test each month, Seashore said.

Read more at MSNBC.

Ready to read the REAL Ingredients in Johnson’s Head-to-Toe Baby Wash which is “as gentle to the eyes as pure water”? (Better put your Hazmat suit on first.)

(Thanks to the SmartMama.com for this analysis.)

Ingredients of Johnson’s Head-to-Toe Baby Wash include:

Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, PEG-150 Distearate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Chloride, Polyquaternium-10, Fragrance, Quaternium-15, Citric Acid.PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate and PEG-150 Distearate are all ethoxylated compounds.

Ethoxylated compounds, unless vacuum stripped, are contaminated with 1,4-dioxane. 1,4-dioxane has been identified as a probable human carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 1,4-dioxane is not listed on the ingredient list because it is a contaminant from the manufacturing process, not an ingredient.  The FDA encourages manufacturers to remove 1,4-dioxane from products, but there is no requirement that it be done.

And, testing reported by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics did find 1,4-dioxane in Johnson’s Head-to-Toe baby wash at 5.3 to 6.1 parts per million (ppm). In fact, in its FAQ section of its website, Johnson & Johnson admits that “[s]ome of the ingredients in our products may contain 1,4-dioxane as an incidental ingredient at extremely low levels.”

Further, sodium laureth sulfate can cause eye and skin irritation. Do you think that is consistent with the claim that the product is “hypoallergenic”? Wouldn’t you expect it to be free of any ingredient known to cause irritant responses? As a note, sodium laureth sulfate was widely reported on the web as being a carcinogen, but at least to date, research by the EPA, OSHA, NTP and IARC has not suggested that sodium laureth sulfate is a carcinogen.

Cocamidopropyl betaine, PEG-80 sorbitan laurate and PEG-150 disterate can all cause allergic reactions.  Again, these ingredients aren’t what you would expect in a product advertising itself as hypoallergenic.  Cocamidopropyl betaine may also be contaminated with nitrosamines.

Quaternium-15 may release formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen. But, I actually think that Quat-15, as it is called, is more of a problem because it is the number one cause of contact dermatitis from preservatives, according to the American Acadmey of Dermatology’s Testing Tray results. Also, it is identified by the cosmetic industry’s Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel as a sensitizer, but is still considered safe by the CIR as a cosmetic ingredient. (If you want to learn about the function of the CIR, I encourage you to read Stacy Malkan’s Not Just A Pretty Face). It has also been linked to birth defects in laboratory animals when administered orally.

Finally, the product contains “fragrance” – which means synthetic fragrance and, of course, phthalates. Phthalates are used in fragrance to sustain the fragrance and make it adsorb better to the skin.  Johnson & Johnson admits that it uses diethyl phthalate (DEP) in its baby products.  And, as reported in a recent study, exposure to DEP in baby care products results in the presence of a DEP metabolite in baby urine.  Phthalates are endocrine disruptors, which means that they can mimic hormones and disrupt’s the body’s normal function. Phthalates have been linked to premature breast development in girls, deteriorated sperm quality, low sperm counts and poor sperm morphology in men, and a host of other adverse health effects.

Beth Mann is a popular blogger and writer for Open Salon and Salon. She is also an accomplished artist with over 15 years of experience, as well as the president of Hot Buttered Media. She currently resides at the Jersey shore where she can be found surfing or singing karaoke at a local dive bar.

Contact: maryjane {at } freedomisgreen.com

Black Tuna Diaries: The True Story of America’s Most Notorious Marijuana Smuggler – author Robert Platshorn (Bobby Tuna) is a native of Philadelphia, PA now based in Florida. http://www.blacktunadiaries.com/

Reefer Movie Madness: The Ultimate Stoner Film Guide – Author Steve Bloom is the editor of Celebstoner.com based in New York City http://reefermoviemadness.com/

The Official High Times Field Guide to Marijuana Strains – Author Danny Danko is the cultivation editor at High Times Magazine and a native of Boston, MA. http://hightimes.com/grow/dan/6846

When I decided to be a singer, my mother warned me I’d be alone a lot. Basically we all are. Loneliness comes with life. ~ Whitney Houston

Whitney Houston died today.

It’s interesting how some celebrity deaths impact you. Or at least me, they do. Perhaps the hardest are the ones who helped me get through a difficult time or moved me deeply enough to make a real difference in my life. Whitney would easily fall into that category. She was a true blue diva, fully blossomed and confident in her talent. She possessed that grand sort of assuredness that so many women strive to possess, myself included. And secretly, I admired her “whacked” side. She made choices for herself and did so unapologetically. Unstable, sure. But always proud.

And that voice. Say what you will about her sad personal trajectory, but her voice was like no other. It was a national treasure.

The New York Times wrote that Houston “possesses one of her generation’s most powerful gospel-trained voices, but she eschews many of the churchier mannerisms of her forerunners. She uses ornamental gospel phrasing only sparingly, and instead of projecting an earthy, tearful vulnerability, communicates cool self-assurance and strength, building pop ballads to majestic, sustained peaks of intensity.”

Beth Mann is a popular blogger and writer for Open Salon and Salon. She is a popular writer as well as the president of Hot Buttered Media, a full service media company. She currently resides at the Jersey shore where she can often be seen surfing or singing, thanks to women like Whitney, who gave her the confidence to give it a try.

Contact: maryjane {at } freedomisgreen.com

Writer with partner in crime Vicki, in front of Madison Square Garden before concert.

Back in the day, you smoked pot. Or really crappy homegrown. Or maybe even oregano. You felt high anyway, not knowing any better.

Back in the day, the weed was often dry and crispy, with sticks and seeds and all sort of shit in it. Maybe even an occasional spider’s nest. Not all boutique-y, the way it is now.

Back in the day, when you finally got your hands on good pot, your impressionable young brain got a little too high. Suddenly you were practically tripping – floors melting, spaceships flying, small bald men speaking in a hurried whisper – the works. Friends had to be talked down. Occasionally slapped in the face.

Back in the day, when you kept the joint for too long, it was called “bogarting.” (Was Humphrey Bogart known for hogging a joint? “Pass it again, Sam.”) We also called it “head smoking.” Like “Stop head smoking that, man. Pass it.” This could be applied to drinking the entire 7-Eleven Big Gulp (which was referred to as “head gulping”).

Back in the day, smoking weed the traditional way wasn’t enough; you had to kick it up a notch sometimes by giving your friends a California shotgun. Three people were required: one friend would blow a ton of smoke in your mouth and another would pick you in a Heimlich-type position and hold you there for a good, long while, while you held your breath. Once you were released, you would fall or pass out and we’d laugh. Brain damage may have occurred.

Back in the day, you smoked pot before high school to make it more palatable. But paranoia would creep in and you were sure every teacher was going to bust you. Sometimes they did bust you and you had to leave school, where you’d go to the woods and hang out with the other busted stoned kids.

Back in the day, you were part of the “burn out” crowd and that wasn’t so bad. It was better than being a nerd or a jock. You wore flannel shirts and your hair hung over your eyes. You mumbled a lot.

Back in the day, you heard Pink Floyd for the first time and thought “Finally, someone understands me.” It was also the perfect trippy music to listen to while high.

Back in the day, you were forced to smoke “sick weed” for two years, guaranteed to give you a headache. That’s all the dealer had and it was a small town. (Of course, not smoking it wasn’t an option.)

Back in the day, you wore a roach clip in your hair, with multi-colored feathers hanging from it. Practical and fashionable. (Secretly, you wish they’d come back in style – you’d so wear one.)

Back in the day, a friend’s mom decides she wants to try just a little of your weed. She asks for a “remnant” instead of a “roach” which sends you and your friend into a fit of laughter and will for years to come. A remnant. Ha…

Back in the day, you could get a joint for a dollar. Sure, it was probably a pinner. But a good deal nonetheless.  The pre-rolled aspect was handy as well.

Back in the day, you smoked pot in a circle with your friends where everyone would laugh convulsively over practically nothing. The type of laughter where you struggled to breathe. Good, painful laughter. You miss that most of all.

Vicky and I laughing about nothing in particular, circa a long time ago.

Beth Mann is a popular blogger and writer for Open Salon and Salon. She is also an accomplished artist with over 15 years of experience, as well as the president of Hot Buttered Media. She currently resides at the Jersey shore where she can be found surfing or singing karaoke at a local dive bar.

Contact: maryjane {at } freedomisgreen.com

4/7/2011 – Riding a green wave of unprecedented public support, medical marijuana legislation is gaining significant progress in several East Coast states. Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland and North Carolina all reached important milestones in the last two weeks towards legal access to therapeutic cannabis.

Yesterday Connecticut’s Joint Judiciary Committee voted 34-10 to move forward their compassionate use bill. A previous, hard-fought attempt saw the Legislature pass medical marijuana only to have it vetoed by the then Governor Jody Rell. An attempt to overturn that veto fell achingly short by just two votes. But newly elected Governor Daniel Malloy has been a champion of marijuana issues in Connecticut, including decriminalization. Malloy has stated that he would sign it into law if it passes again.  Take Action in CT

The Delaware Senate passed a bill on March 30th to legalize marijuana for medical use and create a dispensing system. The floor vote on Senate Bill 17 was notable in its strength, passing by 18 to 3. Delaware is unfortunately following in the footsteps of New Jersey and Washington DC by eliminating all provisions for patients to cultivate their cannabis at home. The model bill from the Marijuana Policy Project creates a strict, centralized system but does allow patients to posses six ounces per month.  Take Action in DE

Maryland’s Legislature is taking an interesting approach with a clear focus on protecting patients from arrest. On March 24th the Senate passed a bill to allow some seriously ill residents a medical necessity defense in court. Then on March 28th a Joint Committee moved forward an official study process for a full-fledged medical cannabis system. Fines for minor marijuana possession in Maryland are $100.Take Action in MD

On April 3rd North Carolina joined the growing ranks of active states, legislation was introduced there with language for home cultivation. HB 577 certainly enjoys popular support, although several previous attempts have faced an uphill battle. Still, a Harris Poll released last week may help shore up support in a state that has many traditionally conservative politicians. Although stereotyped as a liberal, west coast issue, the poll showed that more support exists in the “East” for medical marijuana. Vast majorities, 80 percent, of voters favor the issue across the political spectrum. Take Action in NC

On the horizon: Vermont will consider legislation for a medical cannabis system,  New Hampshire’s Senate will hold a hearing on HB 442 and Pennsylvania will re-introduce a compassionate use bill that was active last year.

This month: Regulated medical marijuana programs on the East Coast will see major progress as systems are brought online under existing laws in New Jersey, Maine, Rhode Island and Washington DC.

Stay tuned for further updates on the spring bloom here at Freedomisgreen.com.

Get involved at NORML’s Take Action Center

Read the Weekly Legislative Round Up from NORML’s Deputy Director Paul Armentano

Lean a little left? – Willie Nelson’s Teapot Party

Chris Goldstein is a respected marijuana reform advocate. As a writer and radio broadcaster he has been covering cannabis news for over a decade. He volunteers with local groups to change prohibition laws including PhillyNORML and The Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey. Contact chris {at} freedomisgreen.com

Participants hold signs at the "Smoke Down Prohibition" marijuana protest in Philadelphia (photo via The Panic Hour)

5/22/13- PhillyNORML issued the following press release today.

CONTACT: Kevin Clough [email protected]

Supporters of N.A. Poe and Adam Kokesh will hold a brief press conference on May 23, 2013 at 2:30PM in front of the Byrne Federal Courthouse at 6th and Market Streets in Philadelphia.

Comedian/activist N.A. Poe and libertarian media host Adam Kokesh will appear for a detention hearing in Federal Magistrate Court on Thursday after they were targeted for arrest by National Park Rangers during a protest of America’s unjust marijuana prohibition laws in front of the Liberty Bell on May 18th, 2013.

Members of PhillyNORML, Adam vs The Man and The Panic Hour who witnessed the protest will be on hand at the press conference to discuss the events with the media.

Both Poe and Kokesh have been charged with a felony for resisting and/or impeding. Both were denied release or bail at their initial hearing on May20th.

Supporters are also gathering at the corner of 7th and ArchStreets for a solidarity demonstration at 10AM on May 23rd in front of the Federal Detention Center where the pair are being held.

Poe’s comedy/activism group The Panic Hour, PhillyNORML, PA Veterans for Medical Marijuana have gathered with hundreds of individuals for monthly “Smoke Down Prohibition” demonstrations since December 2012. Although many in the crowd participate in open cannabis smoking as an act of civil disobedience; there were no arrests, citations or encroachments by Park Rangers or Philadelphia Police at any of the four previous events.

The protests take place at Independence Mall National Historic Park on an area known as “The People’s Plaza” that is designated by the Park Service specifically for Free Speech. Poe and Kokesh were arrested next to a granite monument inscribed with the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.

“We’ve engaged in many public events this year and the display of force from Rangers and Police I saw at the rally on May 18th was completely uncalled for,” said PhillyNORML Executive Director Kevin Clough.

The Panic Hour issued this statement: “These arrests only provide more evidence for the existence of a police state, the suppression of free speech, and failed drug policies. We are not deterred. We will continue to fight to get our friends removed from federal custody and continue to organize to legalize cannabis in PA.”

Clough assured that demonstrations to end cannabis prohibition will not stop in Philadelphia, “PhillyNORML has a long history of peaceful events calling for marijuana legalization, and there will be more in the future.”

Video of the May 18, 2013 protest http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=ace_1368971649

Video of the April 20, 2013 protest http://youtu.be/kc3wP_gnBus

Freedomisgreen photo galleries on Facebook

Happier times: The fourth "Smoke Down Prohibition" protest 4/20/13: there were no arrests or citations (photo Rae Bronze

State House in Trenton – photo by C. David Freitag

7/16/2011 – Governor Lincoln Chafee in Rhode Island and Gov. Chris Christie in New Jersey are maintaining their executive hold on opening approved medical marijuana facilities. This shines a spotlight on an important role emerging for Governors in regulating cannabis. Officials in both states told Freedomisgreen that they still have legal questions so the suspensions could remain indefinitely*.

Chafee and Christie say their primary concern is the notion that state employees could be at risk for federal prosecution. Of course, no such legal action that has been seen in America for over 100 years. A new memorandum from the US Department of Justice was issued about medical marijuana on June 30th but seems to have offered little direction.

New Jersey’s compassionate use law forces patients to access all of their cannabis (no home growing) from “Alternative Treatment Centers.” Six have been approved with each planning to serve thousand of patients. But since none are open there is currently no medical marijuana for NJ patients at all. There is currently no protection from arrest for qualifying NJ residents if they posses underground cannabis. Registry ID cards have not been issued and there is no way for physicians to officially recommend the legal therapy. So, it is not just dispensaries that Gov. Christie is suspending, it is the entire law.

Rhode Island has three state approved cannabis facilities on hold, yet the patients already have some options. Mike Trainor, a spokesman for Gov. Chafee, said today, “There are approximately 3,200 patients right now and they can grow plants at home or have a caregiver do it for them. So they do have access.”

Trainor said that the entire legal staff at the governor’s office was considering the situation. “He is looking to proceed very carefully. But the issue may be revisited in the next few weeks.”

That’s good news to the Thomas C. Slater Compassion Center in Providence. They have been alerting the local community to contact Gov. Chafee. A recent post on their Facebook page said,  ”He needs to hear from patients, doctors, and the general public about the importance of these centers. Please take a minute to call the Governor … and respectfully ask that he award the licenses for compassion centers so that patients can have safe access to medicine.”

Back in the No-Garden State a top-level contact reached at NJ Attorney General Paula Dow’s office said that the Cole memo was “under review” but that the specific question about state workers was still considered unclear. Letters sent by Dow to NJ’s US Attorney Paul Fishman in April and again in May have gone without reply. (The letters were also sent directly to US attorney General Eric Holder.)

Instead of addressing Dow’s concerns point-by-point as federal prosecutors have done in other states, Fishman deferred to the head office at DOJ. The Cole memo was first released to the public after Fishman sent it to Dow, although it applies to all states. The contact at the NJ state AG’s office opened up the possibility that new letters could be sent to the feds requesting a direct response.

NJ Assemblyman Reed Gusciora said that time has already run out for seriously ill residents,“cancer patients who are being treated for chemotherapy and experience nausea will continue to suffer.”

The Christie Administration promised that the Alternative Treatment Centers would be licensed by July, in other words; now. Gusciora originally sponsored the compassionate use legislation and started a “Cannabis Countdown” today.  In a press release he noted that it was 15 days so far and called Christie’s demands for federal assurances “impossible to fulfill.”

“While I can understand the Governor’s reservations with the implementation of the program,” concluded Gusciora, “it is his duty to fulfill the legislative intent. I negotiated with him in good faith to get the program up and running. I hope that he lives up to his side of the deal.” Last year Gusciora allowed a 90-day delay for the program as a “compromise” to keep it on track.

Governors around the country are taking on a greater role in medical marijuana policy. Some are moving the issue forward with steady progress. Gov. Pete Shumlin in Vermont and Gov. Jack Markell in Delaware were congratulated this year when they signed medical cannabis legislation into law. In Maine, Governor Paul LePage signed a new law with expanded privacy protections for patients. LePage has not interfered with his state becoming the first on the East Coast to actually open dispensaries.

So there is a profound difference for this policy in just who holds a state’s top executive office. Chafee and Christie are not alone. Jan Brewer in Arizona is only allowing portions of the voter-approved medical marijuana law to go into practice. AZ patients can register and grow, but here again, dispensaries have been suspended. And again we hear the esoteric legal argument of a far-fetched risk to state employees.

Recently, a Doctor came out against using Cannabis for the treatment of HIV/AIDS. Among oncologists, his opinion is probably in the minority. This Doctor claims that no HIV patients he knows, would benefit from Cannabis. Unfortunately, the Doctor only discussed his opinion and did not site any current research from controlled studies to support his stance. Current research  in HIV/AIDS and cannabinoids has been promising– practically every clinical trial that has looked at HIV/AIDS and THC has shown that cannabinoids may help patients.

Some of the first patients that were infected with HIV were treated at San Francisco General Hospital.  It was probably there, that the medical staff first noticed patients who used Cannabis seemed to be doing better. Notably, cannabis became known as an effective treatment for HIV/AIDS wasting syndrome.  Among the medical staff, was Dr. Donald Abrams who recorded his observations and would later go on to conduct some of the most important clinical trials in the history of cannabinoid research. Dr. Abrams demonstrated that smoked Cannabis could effectively alleviate neuropathic pain in HIV/AIDS patients. Videos of Dr.Abrams presenting his results can be viewed here: Cannabis & Neuropathic Pain, Dr. Abrams, pt 1 and Cannabis & Neuropathic Pain, Dr. Abrams, pt 2

Later, other researchers would show, in a similar group of HIV patients, that smoked Cannabis can modulate pain where conventional opiates were ineffective. The beneficial effect of cannabis on HIV/AIDS symptoms in humans has inspired other researches to take a closer look at the mechanisms behind these effects.

A research team from Virginia Commonweatlh University showed that natural Delta9- THC and synthetic CP-55,940 could inhibit the HIV inflammatory response through the Cannabinoid Type II (CB2) Receptor. Once HIV invades a cell, the virus makes the cell secrete many proteins to attract other immune cells and this leads to the ongoing infection of other cells. One such protein called Tat is important for viral replication and gene expression; the effects of this protein on cell migration appear to be inhibited by both synthetic and natural cannabinoids. The main finding of these researchers is that cannabinoids can slow the migration of uninfected cells towards the Tat protein and thus could inhibit the HIV infection process and the associated inflammation.

Another research group also thought that the previous worked on HIV and cannabinoids was unbelievable. So, they sought to see if THC made the disease worse in monkeys. The researchers infected monkeys with SIV and studied them for 1 year. SIV is the equivalent of HIV in humans. Their research was published in September 2010 and the entire article can be found here:Molina Article on THC attenuates SIV.

Note that each monkey costs around $8,000.00 for the research study.

The researcher demonstrated that THC slows the progression of HIV in primates. See  Figure 4 below from the Article by Molina et al.

SIV THC Figure 4

In Figure 4, there are two groups of monkeys. The solid line is the THC group and the dotted line is the control group (no drug). Within 11 months, 80% of the control group died (dotted line). In the group that received the drug THC, no deaths were reported.

The authors conclude :”this study is the first to report in vivo experimental data demonstrating that chronic THC initiated prior to, and continued throughout the asymptomatic phase of SIV infection, does not impair the host’s ability to control viral load, and does not increase morbidity and mortality from the infection… THC treatment clearly did not increase disease progression, and indeed resulted in generalized attenuation of the classic markers of SIV disease (set point viral load/viral level in general)…based on our results and reports in the literature, we speculate that retention of body mass,attenuation of viral replication, and an overall immunosuppressant effect of cannabinoids may contribute to the amelioration of SIV disease progression seen in our study.”

However, THC is only part of the story. There are over 500 compounds on the Cannabis plant and some of these compounds may contain powerful medical properties which could treat a variety of diseases including Cancer and HIV/AIDS. For instance researchers have found that Cannabis extracts which contain Denbinobin can inhibit HIV replication in a petri dish. Denbinobin is found on the Cannabis and other plants as well.

The therapeutic promise of this plant remains high and some states have medical laws allowing the use of Cannabis for HIV. Furthermore, Marinol or synthetic THC in a capsule remains available by prescription in the U.S. GW pharmaceuticals has an extract available for the treatment of HIV symptoms but it is not allowed in the United States. It is available in Canada, UK, Spain, and soon to be available in South America.

Want to learn more about HIV/AIDS and cannabinoids? Here are two new studies on HIV/AIDS and cannabinoids:

The Medical Use of Cannabis for Reducing Morbidity and Mortality in Patients with HIV/AIDS

The CB2 Receptor May Weaken HIV

Jahan Marcu, Ph.D, is currently investigating the pharmacology of cannabinoid receptors. He was working at the California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute when exciting discoveries were made showing enhanced anti-cancer effects with THC and CBD from the Cannabis plant. The findings were published in the Journal of Molecular Cancer Therapeutics. In 2009 he received the Billy Martin Award from the International Cannabinoid Research Society (ICRS) and was named Cannabis Researcher of the year for 2012. Jahan is currently the vice-chair the Medical and Scientific Advisory Board at Americans for Safe Access (ASA). Questions?   Contact :[email protected]

DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent any University, business or affiliates. While the information provided in this blog is from published scientific studies it is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease.

dronabinol delta 9 – THC

6/21/2011 by Jahan Marcu – Since 2001, Dr. Kirsten Muller-Vahl and colleagues have published research articles demonstrating the safety of Delta9-THC in patients with Tourette’s Syndrome. This is a disease characterized by involuntary movement and vocalizations (a.k.a. tics).  In 2003, the authors showed that, “Delta9-THC causes neither acute nor long-term cognitive deficits” in patients suffering from Tourette’s.

Recently this group of clinical researchers published a Letter to the Editor of Psychiatry Research outlining their findings in a Tourette’s patient given 15mg of delta9-THC per day.  The authors measured the patient’s driving ability with a computerized test and compared it to the patients performance with and without delta9-THC. The author’s state, “In comparison with the drug-free phase (of the treatment), there was a clear improvement in concentration and visual perception during THC therapy.”

The patient, a 42 year old truck driver referred to as Mr.H, first displayed symptoms of this disease at age 6. When he appeared at the clinic for this study he was suffering from multiple tics of the head, arm and leg: Not good symptoms to have for a truck driver. Furthermore, Mr.H’s medical history showed that all available drug treatments were ineffective including dopamine blocking agents, alpha-2 drugs, clonazepam, and terabenazine. Within 2 weeks of delta9-THC treatment Mr.H’s symptoms were reduced by 75%.

The authors call for more research on driving ability in patient’s with Tourette’s while they are under the effect of delta9-THC . The authors do not discuss the possibilities of Cannabis or delta9-THC on the driving ability of patients with other neurological diseases, such as multiple sclerosis.

It is safe to assume that if you can stop chronic muscle spasms and involuntary jerking motions in a patient then you have made them a better driver. This new patient data comes after the DMV in California changed its policy on Medical Cannabis patients when it was successfully sued by American’s for Safe Access. CA DMV refused to renew the license of a medical cannabis patient, despite a “sparkling clean driving record.”

The implications for these findings adds to the on going argument regarding THC levels in the blood and driving ability. While there is still a great debate on the effects of Cannabis and driving in healthy subjects, it appears that persons suffering neurological disorders may have an improved ability to drive.

Despite the remarkable effects delta9-THC can have on the driving ability in a patient with Tourette’s, don’t expect law enforcement or the DMV to treat medical cannabis patients any differently from recreational users.

Jahan Marcu is currently investigating the pharmacology of cannabinoid receptors. He was working at the California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute when exciting discoveries were made showing enhanced anti-cancer effects with THC and CBD from the Cannabis plant. The findings were published in the Journal of Molecular Cancer Therapeutics. In 2009 he received the Billy Martin Award from the International Cannabinoid Research Society (ICRS). Jahan is currently the vice-chair the Medical and Scientific Advisory Board at Americans for Safe Access (ASA). Questions?   Contact    [email protected]

DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent any University, business or affiliates. While the information provided in this blog is from published scientific studies it is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease.