Hundreds of doctors, politicians, researchers and frontline workers met with drug users and ex-users in Austin, Texas, in December to openly talk about drug use. But instead of reaffirming their commitment to the decades-long war on drugs, the eighth National Harm Reduction Conference will feature discussions on opening needle exchanges, legalizing and regulating the drug trade, and overdose prevention methods. "What we do in (the United States) is make drugs as unsafe as they possibly can be, and we do that through laws, which means that, if you get busted with drugs, you go to prison for a long time. And that's designed as a deterrent to make people stop using drugs, which obviously it isn't," said Allan Clear, executive director of the Harm Reduction Coalition, which runs the national conference. "We do things like take syringes out of circulation, which has caused epidemics of hepatitis and HIV. So harm reduction is a way of trying to make drug use safer for people who use drugs, without demanding that they stop using drugs." [continues 2832 words]
Its Time-Worn Tactics Make Little Dent in Trafficking, and U.S. Officials Are Alarmed. Four years and 50,000 troops into President Felipe Calderon's drug war, the fighting has exposed severe limitations in the Mexican army's ability to wage unconventional warfare, tarnished its proud reputation and left the U.S. pointedly criticizing the force as "virtually blind" on the ground. The army's shortcomings have complicated the government's struggle against the narcotics cartels, as the deadliest year of the war by far comes to a close. [continues 1311 words]
Still struggling with how to deal with a medical marijuana law approved by voters two years ago, Brighton Township's Board of Trustees this week extended a moratorium it first enacted in June on medical marijuana businesses. As in June, the township governing board feels the state hasn't properly clarified rules associated with the 2008 Medical Marihuana Act that made it legal for certain patients to use marijuana to relieve their symptoms. "We had a six-month review, and like most communities, we don't know what the (Medical Marihuana Act) means, either," said Township Manager Dan Bishop, noting that its language is "poorly and loosely written. [continues 431 words]
Whatever comes of Kimball Township's zoning dispute with Jim and Debra Amsdill, one thing is clear: Michigan lawmakers have neglected their responsibility to clarify the state's medical marijuana law. The Amsdills own the Blue Water Compassion Center, one of an increasing number of businesses throughout Michigan that accommodate state-licensed medical marijuana patients. The center is in a strip mall on Lapeer Road in Kimball -- nearly across the street from Landmark Academy. Kimball officials say such a facility shouldn't be that close to a school. [continues 345 words]
Township Supervisor Says Goal Is to Keep Compassion Center Open KIMBALL TWP. -- Township officials hope to meet this week with the owners of a business that's billed as a gathering place for state-licensed medical marijuana users and caregivers. Supervisor Rob Usakowski said the meeting originally had been planned for Tuesday, the day a zoning ordinance regulating such businesses -- called compassion centers -- took effect. The meeting was canceled, he said, because owners Debra and Jim Amsdill had a scheduling conflict. [continues 119 words]
PINCONNING - A business some local and federal authorities don't feel should exist is operating in Pinconning. The Bay Area Herbal Clinic supplies marijuana to people with illnesses. Wesley "Wes" Crumby, chief operating officer of the business, said his service is not only needed, but is helping more than 100 people deal with pain and debilitating medical conditions. "We truly believe we are doing the right thing," said Crumby, 51, of AuGres, a certified patient and caregiver under Michigan's medical marijuana law. "I think that everybody in this industry believes that patient-to-patient transfer is the right thing." [continues 885 words]
Longtime pot activist Dana Larsen will announce today that he is running for the leadership of the B.C. New Democrat Party, making him the first former leader of the Marijuana Party to seek that job. The former federal NDP candidate and founding editor of Cannabis Culture Magazine, who was caught up in a pot-smoking controversy two years ago, has a news conference planned for 10:15 a.m. to formally announce his candidacy. Larsen, an NDP member for seven years, told The Vancouver Sun Tuesday that he decided to run after much serious consideration. [continues 239 words]
