Palm Springs Buzz

GM Goes Bankrupt

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 10:49:48 -0400

I can't help feeling betrayed. I trusted what once was the world's largest and most profitable corporation. What went wrong? More important, what do we do now? If you want and need, like I do, a simple answer I have to refer to something I wrote a few years ago about our economy that still has not been fully addressed and corrected and that is debt. The problems at GM have become catastrophic only because of the billions of dollars in debt they have amassed. I mean tens of billions of dollars. So why does this make me feel betrayed? The debt issue has been around for a long time and I suspect it will continue to be around for a long time to come. I personally invested some of my hard earned money in GM stock believing that they were too big and too good to fail. I hoped that they were smart enough to stay out of debt, I mean after all they do, or did, own a large finance company that made a tremendous amount from car loans to home mortgages. See the problem now? Bad management didn't plan for a down turn in the sales of houses and cars and took all of the money for themselves instead. I have wondered how many dealerships or jobs could have been saved with the money the top execs got as bonuses? Anyway, I trusted GM and I was wrong. So after considering a method for GM to distribute cars in the U.S., I came up with a simple answer. Get Sam Walton to do it. Give Walmart exclusive rights to distribution and give them the repair and parts business as well. It makes sense to me that I can have my car lubed or get new brakes while shopping at Walmart. It would be almost like a grown-up day care center. I had another thought that made me feel less secure. If an enemy of the U.S. wanted to find a way to harm them and defeat them, destroying the manufacturing base would be a must. You could say that the main reason that the Allies won WWII was because the Allies maintained their manufacturing base throughout the war while Germany and the Axis saw theirs systematically destroyed. The Axis had better weapons but lost because they couldn't produce them in enough quantity. It could also be that as government grows and tries to control and repress the population the worse things become on all levels, including financial. I use Germany as an example because it seems to fit. However, now with information available so easily public opinion has to be considered a weapon along with the bombs and tanks. Perhaps the only way to move on is to think that today is a new beginning. As for me I have lost my entire investment so I have no further to fall. The only way for me at this point is up. A new paradigm is in order and all that has come before must be left behind and forgotten (the lost money).

U.S. Supreme Court Announces Pass on MMJ Ruling

Mon, 18 May 2009 13:24:48 -0400

The Supreme Court announced Monday it will not get involved in a dispute over California's medical marijuana law. The case presented a direct conflict to the justices of California's Compassionate Use Act which its detractors say contravenes federal laws prohibiting drug use. A California appeals court ruled last summer that the state's medical marijuana law does not preempt a federal drug ban. Monday's decision by the high court effectively affirms that ruling. Thirteen states have laws allowing for the limited use of marijuana. California's law allows for individuals and their caregivers to "possess, cultivate and transport" marijuana as long as it used for medical purposes. Local officials in San Diego objected and filed a lawsuit saying the state law violates the federal Controlled Substances Act. In its argument to the Court, the local officials said the California law is contrary to federal efforts to limit drug use. They argued "it is inevitable that marijuana originally grown for medicinal use will fall into the hands of recreational drug users." California joined a handful of pro-Marijuana groups in asking the Court to not take the case. They argued the specifics of this case made it a "poor vehicle" for the high court to use in deciding such a controversial issue. The ruling could open the door to more liberal interpretation of the California MMJ law and spark more states to adopt MMJ laws. San Diego and San Bernardino Counties will now have no excuses to enforce the law that has been on the books in California for over 12 years.

Coast Guard Auxiliary to Present Safe Boating to Boy Scouts

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 00:24:47 -0400

United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, America's Volunteer Life Savers, will present a Safe Boating lecture and demonstration for the Boy Scouts of America on April 23, 2009 7:30 p.m. Methodist Church on corner of Alejo and Sunrise in Palm Springs. Representatives from Coast Guard Academy will be on hand to answer questions about enrolling into the Academy. An ABOUT BOATING SAFETY lecture will be given by members of Flotilla 11-11 Inland Empire. The Inland Empire encompasses the entire Coachella Valley to Riverside and all points in between. The Flotilla performs on the water safety patrols at Lakes Perris and Silverwood. Additionally, the Flotilla can arrange a free vessel safety examination. To contact the flotilla with any questions or to schedule a free vessel safety examination please e-mail Flotilla Commander Dennis Burdo at: divemst@charter.net. Everyone is invited to attend the lecture and demonstration. Flotilla website: http://a1141111.uscgaux.info/index.html

Gulf Onshore Inc (OTCBB: GFON - News) has changed its name to Cannabis Science, Inc.

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:28:42 -0400

ADDISON, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Gulf Onshore Inc (OTCBB: GFON - News) has changed its name to Cannabis Science, Inc., reflecting its new business mission, and has requested a new stock trading symbol, which will be will be assigned by NASDAQ OMX in the near future. Cannabis Science Inc. has also launched its new website www.cannabisscience.com reflecting its new name. The Company�s first pharmaceutical cannabis product for DHHS- and FDA-qualified testing will be a whole-cannabis extract in the form of a lozenge. The Company has applied for its DEA handling license and is interviewing researchers to complete and sponsor its IND (Investigational New Drug) test protocols. The lozenge is a part of the assets and know-how developed by Steven W. Kubby and Dr. Robert J. Melamede and acquired by the Company from Cannex Therapeutics of California. Initial findings from informal human trials using the whole-cannabis extract demonstrate the lozenge has the capacity to enhance rapid onset through oromucosal absorption. Last year, an early version of the lozenge was tested at Vancouver Island Compassion Society (VICS) (www.thevics.com), a non-profit medical cannabis organization located in Victoria, B.C, which is at the forefront of this patient-centered approach to cannabis research. Cannabis Science, Inc. President & CEO Steven W. Kubby, himself a cancer patient, stated, �As our proof of concept, the study saw seven VICS staff members initially receive 15 lozenges each for a 48 hour period during which they did not use or ingest any other cannabis products. Participants then gave detailed feedback on their experiences by answering a ten-item questionnaire in detail. The study conducted by VICS found that cannabis-based medicine would fill the gap in the market that exists between the fast-acting but short-effect methods of ingestion like smoking, and the long-lasting but slow acting methods like oils and edibles. As well, the VICS Study showed that this type of product would be useful for people suffering from chronic pain or other conditions that appear to benefit from orally-ingested cannabinoid medicines, as well as for those who will not or cannot smoke or vaporize cannabis or who wish to use cannabis-based medicines in an easy and discrete manner. Six of the participants (87.5%) reported feelings of relaxation and/or pain relief. One subject reported "pain relief in my knees with no lethargy or cloudy head," while another "felt really relaxed" and noticed "relief to my muscle aches within 15-20 minutes." The lozenge as a method of delivery is simple and elegant, and the time of onset and length of effect suggests at least modest oromucosal absorption. Naive or elderly patients would respond well to the familiar packaging of a lozenge and to the slower method of delivery and onset of effect compared to smoking or vaporization. It is very important to note that we are not re-inventing the wheel, as another company already has an alcohol-based whole-cannabis extract in FDA Phase 3 human trials in the US so there is ample precedent for such a product. However, we believe patients will be more receptive to our products, which contains no alcohol.� Dr. Robert Melamede, Chief Science Officer for Cannabis Science, Inc., added, "We have determined that the lozenge should be the first modality we use to bring to pharmaceutical cannabis products to market because it brings relatively fast relief to patients in a way that allows them to control their own dosage and does not involve inhalation. It also has the ability to rapidly deliver a wide variety of cannabis pharmaceutical formulations for a broad range of medical needs. The advanced stages of development that Cannex Therapeutics of California has achieved on its lozenge, and the positive informal human testing results it has attained, can speed our process and serve as a guide for formal human testing stages, which all FDA approved drugs must secure before they are released to market in the US." The Company looks forward to formal human testing to bring various products to market targeting Cancer, Pain relief, Asthma, and Sleep disorders. About Cannabis Science, Inc. Cannabis Science, Inc. is at the forefront of medical marijuana research and development. The Company works with world authorities on phytocannabinoid science targeting critical illnesses, and adheres to scientific methodologies to develop, produce, and commercialize phytocannabinoid-based pharmaceutical products. In sum, we are dedicated to the creation of cannabis-based medicines, both with and without psychoactive properties, to treat disease and the symptoms of disease, as well as for general health maintenance. Please visit www.cannabisscience.com for more information. Forward Looking Statements This Press Release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Act of 1934. A statement containing works such as �anticipate,� �seek,� intend,� �believe,� �plan,� �estimate,� �expect,� "project," "plan," or similar phrases may be deemed "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Some or all of the events or results anticipated by these forward-looking statements may not occur. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include the future U.S. and global economies, the impact of competition, and the Company�s reliance on existing regulations regarding the use and development of cannabis-based drugs. Cannabis Science, Inc. does not undertake any duty nor does it intend to update the results of these forward-looking statements. Contact: Cannabis Science, Inc. Steven W. Kubby, 888-889-0888 President & CEO info@cannabisscience.com www.cannabisscience.com

New Website

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:09:12 -0500

Press Release thefyc.com Launches Free Website For The Entertainment Community Palm Springs, Calif., February, 2009 (Internet Release) � The owners of thefyc.com have just announced the launch of their website. The site provides free access and storage for those involved in the entertainment industry. From music and TV to film, PA�s to Producers, the site provides a place for the community to interact and contact each other without the fan based interactions of other websites. And, there are no fee�s involved for the membership. Members enjoy the ability to upload their resume, photos, videos, music and film excerpts along with other information needed to promote themselves in the entertainment industry. Members can also locate talent, crew and other production help as never before. As stated by company president Jonny Formby, �Our members will have the ability to self promote in an industry that at times can be detached and difficult to navigate. It�s very exciting for the entertainment industry to finally have their own free site to interact, promote and hire one another. It�s the Blackberry� for the entire community.� Free to members of the entertainment industry, the site offers not only self promotion, but the ability to post job listings, casting calls, equipment and personnel needs, meetings, classes or just about any other need in the industry. Potentially, a member could locate a needed professional or services anywhere in the world. The worldwide entertainment industry is asked to join the community and promote their skills in ways never before available. Our goal is to bring the entire industry to one site for all of their needs. While being free to members, our site is funded by advertising banners available to typical advertisers as well as industry related advertising. However, for those with a bit more aggressive self promotion needs, we proudly present The Screening Room to promote your feature length film, short film, music video, montage, video performance or other form of media. The Screening Room is a pay section of the website that requires pre-approval by the staff at thefyc.com. It will provide a showcase for new talent in various areas of the industry and thefyc.com will soon announce an incentive for great new filmmakers.and maintain your profile for as long as you wish. Very truly yours, Jonny Formby Tony Hill President Marketing Director thefyc.com Tony Hill, 760-322-4560 (Media) tony@thefyc.com M.D.t.v Management Inc 655 North Palm Canyon Drive Suite 214 Palm Springs, CA 92262 Fax: 760-322-0990 Tel: 760 322 4650 SOURCE: thefyc.com

Ming Sun Memorial Services Held at Patriot Park

Mon, 02 Feb 2009 12:43:35 -0500

Cathedral City, California - A Memorial Service for the 2 year remembrance of the death and to honor local fallen hero Pfc. Ming Sun was held on Saturday January 31, 2009 in front of the statue of Hero Ming Sun in Patriot Park in Cathedral City. The Veterans For Peace Chapter 19 and AMVETS Post 19 with the help of Code Pink sponsored an inspiring ceremony for the Sun family, father Hong-Yuan (David) Sun, mother Zhi Feng Liu and little sister Allison. They attended the Memorial Service at the statue of Hero Ming Sun to remember their only son and big brother - 20-year-old fallen U.S. Army soldier. He died Jan. 9, 2007 in Ramadi, Iraq. Ming was the second U.S. serviceman from the valley killed on duty in the war in Iraq. The first soldier was U.S. Marine Jesus Angel Gonzalez, originally from Indio, who died April 12, 2003. He was 22. His mother Silvia Barones Travino also attended the memorial ceremony where she and the Sun family received flowers from Vicki Wilson. They also received a copy of a letter from the First Lady of California Maria Shriver in honor of their lost sons which was presented by Cathedral City Councilperson Chuck Vasquez. Tom Swann, the VFP Chapter 19 head and local AMVETS leader presided over the memorial services while Mark Westwood presented the speech written by Tom for the services. Tom Swann is legally blind but still energetically fights for the rights of vets and is opposed to all war. Allison Sun took the opportunity to speak to everyone and said that she misses her brother really much and wishes he was here now. She was visibly effected by the loss of her beloved brother and it was clear that the family has suffered a tremendous amount because of their sacrifice. Although the Sun family has received a vast amount of support from the community and their friends, they would much rather have their only son. At one point Zhi Feng burst into uncontrollable sobs as she clung to Silvia Travio for support, tears were streaming down her face as she tried to fight back her overwhelming grief. David Vega, a close friend of Ming also spoke to the audience. David was in his full dress Army uniform as he thanked everyone in attendance for their support. He said that the statue of Ming Sun is very important to the community and everything should be done to make sure that the statue always remains in Patriot Park. The Sun family was given a gift of an oil painting portrait of their son by the artist and a special benediction prayer from Bob Calvert, local Buddhist group leader and Viet Nam War Vet. Following the closing prayer 12 white doves were released as a symbol of the spirit of fallen Hero Ming Sun. The Cathedral City High School Honor Guard, which presented the colors at the opening, saluted the Sun family and the young bugler played the final taps for their comrade and friend. There wasn't a dry eye anywhere to be seen. Ming Sun enlisted in the Army at the end of March 2006, and went to Fort Carson, Colorado in mid-August to join the 2nd Brigade Combat Team. Two months later, he was deployed to Iraq. Sun was shot and killed by an insurgent sniper on January 9, 2007 while on combat operations with his unit from A Company 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment in Sufia, east of Ramadi. Sun got a letter of commendation for quick thinking in a Ramadi firefight when the private responded to an ambush by taking cover and blasting enemy positions with withering rifle fire. U.S. forces and insurgents battled daily in the Ramadi area, which has some of the highest American casualty rates of the war. Sun was born in China and moved to the United States with his family in 1996 when he was 8 years old and grew fascinated with the Army that defended his adoptive home. He graduated from Cathedral City High School in 2004 and started college classes, but he wanted something more so he dropped out of college to join the infantry with aspirations of becoming a general. "He really loved the Army, and he really wanted to fight for this country," Hong-Yuan Sun said. Ming Sun was buried at Riverside National Cemetery. ----------- by Al Olthof

4th ANNUAL VFP AWARDS BANQUET

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 19:02:46 -0500

Veterans For Peace 4th Annual Awards Banquet Saturday February 21, 2009 6:00 PM Rick's Restaurant 1973 N. Palm Canyon Drive Palm Springs CA. Reservation Needed $30.00 per person Prior to February 19, $50.00 per person after Feb 19 Includes: Dinner buffet, dessert and beverage Taxes and tip included Honorees: LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR JOHN GARAMENDI - Elected Official of the Year ANN WRIGHT (Retired Army Lt. Colonel) Helped Open Embassy in Afghanistan - AMVETS Silver Helmet Award PAUL RASSO - Member of the Year ART COPLESTON - Friend of the Veteran Award ARTURO & ROSSANA CAMBRON - Arlington West Speakers Project - Special Award SPECIAL PRESENTATION OF ARLINGTON WEST - Featuring Peter and Sally Space is limited! For Reservations Make Check Payable to Veterans for Peace- Chapter 19 Mail to: VFP P.O. Box 499 Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 For more information: Tom Swann (760) 324-5670 ******* SUPPORT THE TROOPS. BRING THEM HOME! Join VFP today. Dues are $25. We accept non-veterans as associate members. Membership application at: http://www.freewebs.com/ievets4peace/contactorjoin.htm Let there be peace on Earth and let it begin with me American veterans deserve the best of whatever we have to give

GARY SILVA�S TRAIL GOES ON AND ON AND ON

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 09:36:45 -0500

In a continued show of callousness and arrogance, the Riverside County DA�s office is continuing their unrelenting siege against mmj patient Gary Silva. Just when everyone thought it was all over, Gary is back in court and practically back to square one. Here is what David Herrick sent out about what is happening. In what appears to be their last act of defiance to the medicinal use issue, Riverside County has abandoned all things "215" and has declared war on the medicinal users of cannabis within their jurisdiction. Choosing to pursue this issue in the case of Gary and Krista Silva, the prosecution was able to convince a stand-in superior court judge, that Gary should begin trial on the cultivation charge, and dismissing the weapons charge based upon the inability on the part of the D.A.�S Office, after three (3) years of "Searching" the records archives, to produce one shred of evidence, or official documentation that proves that Gary was a convicted felon, and therefore not allowed to possess any firearms. (He was housing a gun collection belonging to a family member). The cultivation stems from a small room, indoor grow, which produced a relatively small amount of medicine, and was used by Gary who possessed a valid recommendation from his physician to use. I don't know for certain what the reasoning behind this recent move, really is, but I do know one thing, and that is that Gary and Krista have lost their home and are living in a Fifth Wheel parked on his mothers property, and have been doing so for over a year. That all of "This" has taken a toll on their health, their finances, their relationship, and emotional state is an understatement to say the least, Krista had a job doing what she liked working at a pre-school, until she was spotted by a parent who knew who she was, and knew about Gary's case, and threatened to remove her child. Krista was placed on a "Leave of Absence" without pay since Christmas. January 20, 2009, was supposed to mark a day of "Change!!" The only change to occur in the lives of Gary and Krista Silva is that on the 17th of next month, the prosecution and defense will meet in a "T.R.C." (Trial Readiness Conference), and if the judge fails once again to see through this madness, a trial date will be set, and Gary Silva's fate will once again be in the hands of strangers, or those he has known for a very short time. And the ironic part is that the judge, prosecutor, and court personnel all get paid regardless of how long a case goes on, regardless how many times its postponed, stayed, or continued. That is why after three years, three different defense attorneys, two judges, and numerous deputy D.A.'s, Gary will get his day in court But lacking in his one time adobe house on five acres of fenced desert property, his business which helped in allowing him his home, workshop, entertainment center, and his vintage car, and beloved Harley-Davidson motorcycle, and allowing him and his wife to live comfortably reaping the rewards of their hard work installing tracks, hanging, cutting, customizing, window and separation curtains, from hospitals to "Dressing" single family residences, Gary and Krista worked hard, paid taxes, and raised families, and lived the �American� dream, only to become victim to what has become the "American" reality. To say that what has happened to them is a miscarriage of justice, is an understatement to say the least. This is nothing short of a travesty and a violation of not only the intent of "Proposition 215," but a violation of all things decent and moral. Lanny Swerdlow

Critics hit Army's treatment of drug abuse

Sat, 24 Jan 2009 21:15:39 -0500

By ALAN SCHER ZAGIER Associated Press Writer Published: Friday, January 23, 2009 8:54 AM CST FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (AP) - Spec. Jeremiah Thomson didn't know what was worse: excruciating back pain from a combat explosion in Baghdad or the prescription drug addiction he developed trying to ease the suffering once home. The Army was quick to prescribe Percocet, Vicodin, Oxycontin and similarly powerful painkillers to Thomson and other injured soldiers at Fort Leonard Wood, Thomson testified in a court-martial hearing. He's now serving a three-year sentence for illegally buying prescription drugs - the sellers included a former commanding officer in Iraq - and selling the pills to eight other soldiers. As more troops return home with war injuries, the Army is prescribing more pain medication to treat those wounds. But a military system that relies on discipline as well as treatment is drawing fire from some prominent critics, including those inside the system. �It's a terrible problem,� said Barbara McDonald, a civilian social worker and Army drug abuse counselor, describing a recent surge in prescription drug abuse and the Army's handling of the problem. Legal painkiller use by injured troops has increased nearly 70 percent since the start of the Iraq war six years ago, according to Army records. Surveys show that more soldiers are struggling with prescription drug addiction - and seeking help from Army doctors and counselors. Thomson is among seven soldiers convicted by court martial in 2008 of illegal drug use or distribution who served in the installation's 5th Engineer Battalion. The unit supports combat troops by building and guarding roads and bridges and repairing vehicles. An additional five await trial on similar charges. A dozen have been kicked out of the Army and two others went AWOL after being implicated in the investigation. Dr. Les McFarling, who heads the Army's substance abuse treatment program, acknowledges the increased potential for abuse. �You can put soldiers at risk when you're managing their pain,� he said. But McDonald and other critics call the military's approach a broken system, as likely to punish or denigrate troops as to treat their addictions. The criminal cases in Missouri, coupled with allegations of misconduct and staffing shortages in the Army Substance Abuse Program levied by McDonald and another whistleblower, caught the attention of Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo. She has asked Secretary of the Army Pete Geren to investigate. �Clearly, at Fort Leonard Wood and potentially across the military, they have not prioritized this as a health issue,� McCaskill said. �The culture has traditionally looked at this as a discipline issue.� Under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, such punishments can include reductions in rank and pay, imprisonment and discharges from military service for bad conduct. The Army says those disciplined in the Fort Leonard Wood investigation committed criminal misconduct by selling or illegally possessing drugs, as opposed to those who become dependent on narcotics prescribed for legitimate injuries. �A soldier who steps forward is someone who should be admired, not as someone with a black mark next to their name,� McCaskill said. In a Dec. 22 response to McCaskill's inquiry, Geren indicated the Army will consider abolishing its policy that a commanding officer be notified when a soldier comes forward voluntarily for ASAP counseling. Still, officials at Fort Leonard Wood and the Pentagon defend their approach, even as they acknowledge staffing shortages that have left ASAP nationwide nearly 90 counselors short of required employment levels. Staffing levels at the Missouri post are now above the required minimums, the Army says. McDonald disputes that, saying at least one recently hired counselor for Fort Leonard Wood's ASAP unit lacks required mental health certification. Army officials did not respond to a request for comment on her assertion. Army statistics provided to The Associated Press show that the number of soldiers enrolled in ASAP at Fort Leonard Wood at the end of 2008 was the highest since the start of the Iraq war six years ago. McCaskill's office learned of the problems at Fort Leonard Wood from former ASAP counselor John Speckhals, a Vietnam veteran and former Veterans Administration social worker now stationed in Germany. Speckhals declined an AP request for an interview. An inquiry by the senator's office said as many as 180 cases referred to the base's ASAP unit were misclassified in what McCaskill suggested in a Nov. 12 letter to Geren were �deliberate clinical findings that soldiers who were dependent on alcohol or drugs were not dependent in order to keep the caseload down for an overwhelmed staff.� �There was an effort to give a cosmetic fix to a problem that was systemic,� McCaskill said in an interview. In his letter to McCaskill, Geren said a review of those cases and 17 others showed some record-keeping errors, but no evidence that cases were deliberately mislabeled. �Virtually all soldiers were offered some further assistance or referral,� Geren wrote. McDonald, whose son is a soldier, spent 20 years as a civilian substance abuse counselor before joining the Army's fight against drug and alcohol abuse one year ago. She has filed a workplace complaint against her supervisor and faces disciplinary action she says stems from her criticisms. Army officials have not commented. McDonald claims that some Army doctors and counselors point to drug dependency as a sign of weakness. Since McDonald's complaints surfaced, she is no longer allowed to see patients. Lori Mullins of Idaho Falls, Idaho, said her 18-year-old daughter, Destiny, was told McDonald had quit and that McDonald was told Destiny Mullins no longer wanted treatment. �They told (Destiny) she didn't belong in the military, that she was a shame to the uniform,� the elder Mullins said. �Instead of being protected by the Army, they're blaming her for it.� Destiny Mullins received an honorable discharge in November. Chuck Ashbrook, who oversees ASAP prevention and education efforts at Leonard Wood, maintained that counselors pay close attention to links between substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder and combat injuries. He said that, thanks to medical advances, soldiers who might have returned from previous conflicts as casualties are instead surviving with injuries that may require stronger pain management. However, Ashbrook also noted historical increases in drug dependency among soldiers during wartime. �We've always seen these kind of problems,� he said. �This is not unique.� Thomson, a tank mechanic whose father and both grandfathers were enlisted men, said he was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease after being injured from repeated blasts of improvised explosive devices while deployed in Iraq in 2006. The pain left him bedridden and short of breath, he testified at his trial in April. But nothing prepared him for the withdrawal after his supply of painkillers ran out. �I had sweats, cold sweats, shakes, vomiting, nausea (and) extreme pain where it was even worse than before I had ever taken the medication,� he said. Asked by a military prosecutor if commanding officers had referred him to the ASAP unit, Thomson said no, even after testing positive for cocaine use while in treatment. He wasn't even aware the unit existed until a friend was sent, he said. http://newstribune.com/articles/2009/01/23/news_state/342state31army.txt

Illegal Drugs: Part Two -- Some Marijuana History

Sat, 24 Jan 2009 21:13:01 -0500

Dorsett Bennett for Salem-News.com Evidence of the inhalation of cannabis smoke can be found as far back as the third millennium BC as indicated by charred cannabis seeds found in a ritual Brazier at a ancient burial site in south Asia. Ancient marijuana graffiti Ancient pot graffiti: Korean traders bringing cannabis to Japan. Courtesy: cannabisculture.com (SALEM, Ore.) - The history of cannabis products and their use has been long, colorful and varied. "To the agriculturist, cannabis is a fiber crop; to the physician, it is an enigma; to the user, a euphoriant; to the police, a menace; to the trafficker, a source of profitable danger; to the convict or parolee and his family, a source of sorrow". The fact is that cannabis has been held simultaneously in high and low esteem at various times throughout recorded history, particularly in our own times. Archaeologists discovered an ancient village in China, containing the earliest known record of the use of the cannabisplant. This village dates back over 10 000 years to the Stone Age. Amongst the debris of this village, archaeologists found small pots with patterns of twisted hemp fibre decorating them. This use of the cannabis plant suggests men have been using the marijuana plant in some manner since the dawn of history. Cannabis fibre (hemp) was not only used in China as decoration, but it was also used to make clothes, ropes, fishing nets and paper. It was also important as a food plant and was originally considered one of China’s five cereal grains. The cannabis plant took on such great importance in the Chinese culture that early priest doctors began using the cannabis plant’s stalk as a symbol of power to drive away evil. Evidence of the inhalation of cannabis smoke can be found as far back as the third millennium BC as indicated by charred cannabis seeds found in a ritual Brazier at a ancient burial site in south Asia. In 2003, a leather basket filled with cannabis leaf fragments and seeds were found next to a 2,500- to 2,800-year-old mummy in the northwestern Uygur Autonomous Region of China. The most famous early users of cannabis were the ancient Hindus of India and Nepal. The ancient drug Soma, mentioned in the Hindu religious text Veda as a sacred intoxicating hallucinogen, was sometimes associated with cannabis. Cannabis was also known to the Assyrian people, who discovered its psychoactive properties through the Aryans. Using it in some religious ceremonies, they called it qunubu (meaning "way to produce smoke"), a possible origin of the modern word 'Cannabis'. Cannabis was also introduced by the Aryans to the Scythians and Thracians, whose Shaman's burned cannabis flowers to induce a state of trance. Members of the cult of Dionysus, believed to have originated in Thrace, Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey, are also thought to have inhaled cannabis smoke. The medical use of the cannabis plant goes back at least 5,000 years to ancient China, where the emperor Shen Nung listed it in his classic pharmacopeia, the Pen Ts'ao. It is also listed in the medical works of India including the famous Hindu surgeon Susruta, and the Roman physicians Pliny and Galen. Most of the herbal guides of the Moslem and European cultures also gave frequent reference to its medical value, and cannabis has been one of the world's primary medicines for millenia on end. Cannabis also has an ancient history of ritual use that has been found. Hemp seeds were discovered by archaeologists studying the Pazyryk, an ancient nomadic people who lived in the Altai Mountains lying in Siberian south of the modern city of Novosibirsk. Early ceremonial practices like eating cannabis by the Scythians occurred during the 5th to 2nd century BCE, confirming previous historical reports by Herodotus. Some experts have claimed that cannabis was used as a religious sacrament by ancient Jews and early Christians due to the similarity between the Hebrew word qannabbos (cannabis) and the Hebrew phrase 'kana-besem' (aromatic cane). This is another possible origin of the name. It was used by Muslims in various Sufi orders, especially in South Asia, as early as the Mamluk period by Sufi Mystics called the Qualandar. Part Three will deal with the Medical Uses of marijuana. Illegal Drugs, Part I - Dorsett Bennett for Salem-News.com =========================================================== Dorsett Bennett is a recently retired lawyer who moved to Oregon from the Southwest to be near relatives. It is kind of a homecoming in that he came close to being born an Oregonian, but his family moved from Coos County, Oregon to New Mexico for health reasons while his mother was pregnant with him. In the 12 years before his retirement, Bennett concentrated in Consumer Bankruptcy and Social Security Disability Law, and has filed over 200 Federal Court Appeals of Social Security Administrative Denials in New Mexico and Texas. Politically aware since age 12, he was a registered Republican from 1971 until 2004. He now considers himself an Independent/Libertarian. Bennett is self-aware enough to be admit that he has beliefs and/or positions that can be considered to be liberal or conservative. Bennett's E-mail: dcbennettii@yahoo.com Illegal Drugs: Part Two -- Some Marijuana History Salem-News.com