Reform Regroups: 2011 International Drug Policy Reform Conference
Mon, Nov 07, 2011 5:59 pm
Drug Policy Alliance Conference in Lost Angeles brings together anti-Drug War activists amid increased hostility to reform from the federal government.
Attracting national figures like former New Mexico Governor (and current Republican presidential candidate) Gary Johnson, California Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom, PBS travel host Rick Steves, and even a Skype appearance by Virgin CEO Richard Branson, the 2011 International Drug Policy Reform Conference in Los Angeles brought together leaders of the global ant-Drug War movement for a bi-annual meeting of the minds held amid an air of uncertainty regarding the federal government’s renewed attempts to “crack down” on medical marijuana.
Sponsored by the Drug Policy Alliance, which advocates for the legalization of all drugs, the Reform Conference featured over 1,000 attendees from more than thirty nations and dozens of activist organizations to discuss their own struggles and achievements in ending the War on Drugs, and to discover new ways to work together and support each other’s efforts. The event kicked off with a public rally and concert in MacArthur Park featuring speakers from across the drug law reform spectrum, plus live music and inspirational spoken word performances.
At the event’s opening session, Lieutenant Governor Newsom expressed his hope that California could lead the way in fighting back against the Federal government’s oppressive tactics. He also attacked the wider War on Drugs as destructive to both society and the government, including the resulting boom in the United States’ prison population. In 1980, according to Newsom, America incarcerated 500,000 prisoners, a population that has since grown to more than 2.3 million.
“At what point is this not code red?” Newsom asked. “What the hell are we doing?”
Other highlights included highly distinguished panels covering topics ranging from the current state of medical cannabis nationwide and a preview of upcoming marijuana legalization ballot initiatives, to in depth looks at the efforts to support Drug War reform in Latin America, the latest in psychedelic research, new approaches to harm reduction, and much more. The conference concluded with an awards banquet honoring top activists from across the Drug Law reform community.
The following Monday, DPA Executive Director Ethan Nadelmann followed up with an Op/Ed column in the New York Times entitled Reefer Madness, outlining the Obama administration’s disappointing willingness to continue Bush-era drug law policy, and calling for a new way forward based on science, reason and compassion.
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scamma
Jan 3 2012, 1:04 pm
http://www.cannabisculture.com/v2/content/2011/11/30/New-Group-Not-High-Drug-Prohibition
KRIS
Nov 30 2011, 2:04 pm
killerbud
Nov 27 2011, 10:58 pm
anonymous
Nov 23 2011, 1:58 pm
CHEAPPRICES
Nov 22 2011, 8:55 am
RICH KID
Nov 18 2011, 1:49 pm
Spice Head
Nov 8 2011, 9:10 pm
During the span of a few weeks last fall, Dr. Colin Kane, a pediatric cardiologist at Children's Medical Center in Dallas, was surprised when the teens, all aged 16, were admitted with chest pain. Chest pain — and heart attacks especially — are very unusual in teens, so doctors at first suspected a virus.
But electrocardiograms, which measure the heart's electrical activity, and blood tests that measure levels of a protein called troponin (high levels are a telltale sign of heart attack), showed that two of the boys had indeed had heart attacks.
The tests for a third boy were inconclusive at first, but while he was in the hospital his chest pain got much worse, and subsequent tests showed he, too, had suffered a heart attack.
All had reported smoking both marijuana and K2 between a day and a few weeks before the attack, said Kane, who is also assistant professor of pediatrics and a cardiologist at UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas. The case reports are published in the December issue of Pediatrics.
Dr. Anthony Scalzo, chief of toxicology at St. Louis University and medical director of the Missouri Poison Center at SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center, said it's difficult to prove that K2 caused the heart attacks.
Only one boy had a urine test for K2 and that came up negative, which isn't surprising since the drug has a short half-life in the body, Scalzo explained. All the boys came up negative for other drugs, such as cocaine and methamphetamine, but it's still possible the boys may have been using other illicit drugs or taking steroids and lied about it.
"This article raises additional concerns about the toxicity of K2 and newer synthetic cannabinoids that are out in the market," Scalzo said. "Youth and parents should be warned about the dangers of these substances and that in any given case it is like a game of Russian roulette. You might be the next case report of a serious seizure, mental health crisis or perhaps a premature heart attack."
K2 and "Spice" are often marketed as incense and sold in packets of herbs that are laced (often sprayed) with synthetic marijuana at "head shops" and online. The drug also goes by other names, including Spice Gold, Spice Diamond, Yucatan Fire, Solar Flare, Genie, PEP Spice and Fire n' Ice, according to the U.S. Drug Intelligence Center.
While people who smoke K2 are seeking a marijuana-like high, there have been many previous reports of young people going to the emergency room because of agitation, anxiety, racing heartbeat and elevated blood pressure, Scalzo said.
The drug itself was developed in the mid 1990s in the lab of John Huffman, a Clemson University chemist, who was conducting U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse-supported research on cannabinoids. The chemical, which he called JWH-018 and JWH-073, was similar to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active ingredient in marijuana, only more potent.
"These compounds were not meant for human consumption," Huffman said. "Their effects in humans have not been studied and they could very well have toxic effects. They absolutely should not be used as recreational drugs."
Since 2009, increasing numbers of reports from poison centers and hospitals of kids becoming ill from smoking K2 prompted at least 16 states and some counties to outlaw K2. In March, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) used its "emergency scheduling authority" to make possessing or selling JWH-018 and four other similar chemicals illegal.
"The temporary scheduling action will remain in effect for at least one year while the DEA and the United States Department of Health and Human Services further study whether these chemicals should be permanently controlled," a DEA statement said.
Kane agreed that he can't say for sure that it was the K2 that caused the heart attacks. He also doesn't know if all the boys smoked the same batch. But he suspects the drug caused the coronary arteries that bring blood to the heart to spasm temporarily, cutting off blood supply.
And because the drugs are unregulated, "who knows what else these drugs could be contaminated with?" he said.
Since their heart attacks, the boys have recovered, although one who played high school football was devastated when Kane told him he'd have to sit out the season.
Texas has since banned K2.
"It still easy to get," Kane said. "I just saw a kid this week . . . who had smoked K2 and was having chest pain, palpitations, headaches and trouble breathing."
CFroh
Nov 8 2011, 1:09 pm
Jane TheSame
Nov 8 2011, 5:58 am
That's what American has become known for. Waging war, killing human-beings. Their policy is, "if we don't understand it, or can't control it, then we kill it!
Didn't WOODSTOCK prove anything, 500k people got together for 3 days, smoked pot, done LSD, etc., and it didn't kill anybody. And that go's to show ya, we can get along without having to kill one-another, or put everyone in jail that doesn't live according to government policy.
And that goes to prove that "PEACE & LOVE" rules!
WoodStock showed everyone in American that we can get along. And shows that our government is nothing more than a government organized killing machine, it's their hobbie.
malcolm kyle
Nov 8 2011, 4:01 am
Most of us are aware by now that individuals who use illegal drugs are going to get high, 'no matter what.' So why do you not prefer they acquire them in stores that check IDs and pay taxes? Gifting the market in narcotics to ruthless criminals, foreign terrorists and corrupt law enforcement officials is seriously compromising our future. If you remotely believe that people will one day quit using any of these 'at present' illegal drugs, then you are exhibiting a degree of naivety parallel only with those poor wretches who voluntarily drank the poisoned Kool-Aid in Jonestown.
Even if you cannot stand the thought of people using drugs, there is absolutely nothing you, or any government, can do to stop them. We have spent 40 years and over a trillion dollars on this dangerous farce. Practically everybody is now aware that Prohibition will not suddenly and miraculously start showing different results. So why do you wish to continue with it? Do you actually think you may have something to lose If we were to start basing drug policy on science & logic instead of ignorance, hate and lies?
Maybe you're a police officer, a prison guard, or a local politician who's scared of losing employment, overtime-pay, kick-backs or those regular fat bribes? But what good will any of that do you once our society has followed Mexico over the dystopian abyss of dismembered bodies and marauding thugs brandishing gold-plated AK-47s?
Kindly allow us to forgo the next level of your ghastly prohibition-engendered mayhem!
Prohibition Prevents Regulation : Legalize, Regulate and Tax!
Research chemicals
Nov 8 2011, 1:22 am
Benzo Fury
gstlab3
Nov 7 2011, 8:37 pm
IT ALSO USES THE SO CALLED WAR DRUGS TO CONFINE ALL SALES OF ALL DRUGS TO THE HEALTH SYSTEM THEY HAVE CREATED FOR US THE FDA USDA ect.., IT'S ALL DONE WITH THEIR MAN MADE CHEMICALS FROM PETROLEUM AND TEST TUBES!!!!
ALL OF THEM HAVE PATENTS THEY CAN CONTROLL AND REGULATE WHO OWNS THEM. T
HEN THEY TAX AND CHARGE AS MUCH AS THEY WANT FOR THEM.
THIS IS THE REAL REASON ASIDE FROM THE FACT WE WOULD ALL BE HEALTHIER AND HEALTHY PEOPLE DO NOT NEED HIGH TECH TEST TUBE DRUGS TO BEGIN WITH!!!
DRINK PURE CLEAN WATER., EXERCISE AND GET SOME SUN BE ACTIVE AND THINK A LOT.
EAT NATURAL AND USE NATURAL PLANTS AND THEIR DRUGS AND CHEMICALS AND YOU WILL LIVE A LONG HEALTHY LIFE.
THAT'S THE DIRTY LITTLE SECRETE THEY DO'NT WANT SPREADING AROUND TO MUCH.
FREEDOM FROM THEM IS OUR GOAL.
ENSLAVEMENT OF US TO THEM IS THEIRS.
GROW YOUR OWN, FREE YOUR MIND, FREE THE PLANET!!!!!!!
DaCoRe
Nov 7 2011, 6:20 pm
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