The Straight Toke - THE Marijuana Blog

Some of you may have heard of CannabisNews.com, or The Media Awareness Project. These news aggregation sites offer a frequently-updated collection of marijuana-related news articles.

Recently, I've started to use another site for my pot-related news: CannabisNews.org. This ad-free, non-commercial site offers a rather nice categorization of marijuana news by country: so if you're looking for pot news in the US, Canada, or the United Kingdom, it might be a good idea to check them out.

Your Brother in Peace,
Julius

Here are Julius' picks for February 28th through March 1st:

• Bill to legalize hemp production introduced - Looks like Minnesota is trying to legalize hemp. This is good news, as current DEA rules outlaw this fantastically useful plant. It's not the same as legalizing weed, but it's a start...
• William F. Buckley Jr. on Marijuana - It's a rather old article -- but nevertheless a very sane, reasonable take on the case for legal weed.

Here are Julius' picks for February 25th through February 27th:

• Green thumb prunes cannabis into hedge - I can't really write a better title than this... a grow operation was busted when people noticed that the shrubbery was actually cannabis.
• Shrooms Make Time Feel Slower - They had to do a study to discover that?!?

Here are Julius' picks for February 20th through February 21st:

• Letter to the Editor: War on drugs - A well-reasoned letter-to-the-editor poses an interesting theory that opposes the United States government's "gateway drug" theory. Thing is, the letter cites a pretty compelling example: the Czech Republic.
• Sure, the University greenhouse is a great place to grow your marijuana - Growing your pot in a university greenhouse isn't the best plan -- but at least it makes for a few laughs when the young cannabis plants are discovered.

Here are Julius' picks for February 15th through February 18th:

• Law Enforcement Against Prohibition - This is exactly what is sounds like. It's good to see that some members of the law enforcement community are taking the citizens' side.
• American Civil Liberties Union : Drug Policy - The ACLU has a very good section of their site devoted to the reduction of liberties that American citizens have undergone due to "the war on drugs."
• Hell-bent on shutting medical marijuana dispensaries - An excellent article on the threat currently facing medical marijuana dispensaries in the US state of California. The DEA does <b>not</b> come across as the good guys here.

Here are Julius' picks for February 14th:

• Latest Anti-Pot Quack Science: 'Marijuana Makes Your Teeth Fall Out' - AlterNet, although usually not an unbiased source, has some solid debunking of this and other anti-cannabis propaganda masquerading as "scientific studies."
• Canada's Tolerance for Marijuana Eroding - Looks like the legal status of marijuana might be in for (yet another) change in Canada. Here's hoping that their government makes the best decision for Canadian citizens.
• Medical Marijuana Legally Available in Israel - I never would have guessed I'd see this headline -- but it appears that Israeli citizens might soon be able to get access to medical pot.

Here are Julius' picks for February 1st:

• A "Drug Bust" Gone Wrong: One Dead, One In Jail, No Criminal Possession - One of the saddest stories I've read in a while. Police received an anonymous tip that a man was growing marijuana. Police performed a no-knock raid. As anyone might do when armed men burst through your door, the man attempted to defend himself. Firing in self defense, he shot and killed an officer. As it turns out, the plants in the back yard that sparked the tip were not marijuana plants -- the only cannabis the man had was in his personal stash; barely enough for a misdemeanor.

Here are Julius' picks for January 21st:

• Vermont to Hold Decriminalization Hearings - Looks like there's an effort underway to make Vermont join the states where marijuana's decriminalized. Here's hoping the hearings go well!
• Marijuana Cuts Lung Cancer Tumor Growth In Half, Study Shows - Yep. The title says it all. THC (one of the active cannaboids in marijuana) has been found to reduce cancer growth and limit the spread of lung cancer in mice. Obviously more research is needed, but it's good news nonetheless. If anything, we now know

Here are Julius' picks for January 20th:

• NORML OPED: Marijuana Prohibition Failing; Legalizing Could Be Tax Boon - There's a valid case for legalizing, if only for the increased taxes it could bring.
• Californians Get $150 Marijuana Goodies Card - Yes, it's just what it sounds like: a medical marijuana gift card.
• Why is Marijuana Illegal? - A great write up on the history behind marijuana prohibition.
• Colorado Police Fumble Marijuana Confiscation - Police face major lawsuit after a raid damages a medical marijuana supply.

I've created a new "links" category in which I'll post all the worthwhile marijuana-related links that I find over the course of my browsing. Sometimes it's a whole site, sometimes it's an interesting article or useful tidbit. Whatever I bookmark I'll post there, so if you're looking for something to read or something to keep your mind busy after a smoke, feel free to take a look.

Love,
Julius