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The beautiful city of Oakland, California is special for many reasons;  Harborside Health Center is one of them. In an East Bay Express article published today, writer David Downs, explores this medical cannabis dispensing collective (MCDC).  Downs talks to operator, Steve D’Angeleo about why he is passionate about the Medical Cannabis Movement.

People are dying because of a lack of research. ~ Steve D’Angelo, Harborside Health Center

It’s true.  People are dying and suffering from the choke-hold the federal government has had over cannabis. The preposterous Schedule 1 Narcotic Classification renders scientists, most of whom rely on national funding programs, legally unable to study Cannabis sativa. But here we are now, March 2009; times are changing.

For the first time in the 3,000-year history of human cannabis consumption, consumers will be provided a scientific assessment of the safety and potency of products prior to ingesting them…

Harborside Health Center, one of California’s premier cannabis collectives, is pioneering laboratory analytical testing.  Testing started in December 2008 and feedback is coming in! Samples of Cannabis sativa are analyzed for health safety and for cannabinoid content.

Molds tested for: E. Coli, yeast & molds, aerobic bacteria and Enterobacteria

Cannabinoids tested for: delta-9 Tetrahydrocannabinoid (THC), Cannabidiol (CBD), Cannabinol (CBN)

Tests are done off site and results are reported to Harborside in 24-48 hours.  Molds are compared to World Health Organization standards.  Cannabinoids are rated on a percentage scale. Testing is done with a gas chromatography machine.

Different compounds vaporize at different temperatures, where they can be detected by the flame ionization detector and mass spectrometer. . .

[A spokesperson from Harborside] said patients are using the new information to get less high and more mellow, drawing correlations between the main psychoactive ingredient THC and other non-psychoactive cannabinoids cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabinol (CBN).

What a great finding! Together, we can learn a lot. The East-Bay Express article describes all of this in greater detail. If you have comments or questions, please post!

JGG

Congresswoman Lois Capps, 23rd District (D-CA), has sent an open letter to the Justice Department. Below is an excerpt from “Medical Cannabis: Voices From the Frontlines” the Americans for Safe Access blog.

Congresswoman Lois Capps (D-CA) sent a letter to newly appointed Attorney General Erik Holder today asking the Department of Justice and the Office of the US Attorney to “immediately suspend any and all enforcement actions against said property owners in California who lease property to medical cannabis dispensing collectives in accordance with state laws.” …More

Kudos to Representative Capps!  This is the beginning of the end.  Many people will still suffer as a result of the DEA’s harrassment and intimidation.  Tomorrow, Monday 16th Feb is the beginning of the 7th annual Medical Marijuana Week.  Take part in an event near you, or in the virtual realm!

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From The Desert Sun in Palm Springs:

The city of Palm Springs is poised to become the first and only place in Riverside County to allow medical marijuana collectives and cooperatives.

Palm Springs City Council members voted 3-2 Wednesday to create a draft ordinance allowing medical marijuana collectives and operatives.

Councilwoman Ginny Foat and Councilman Lee Weigel voted no, saying they disagree with some of some ordinance details.

The law would:

• Allow only two collectives in the city’s industrial areas.
• Prohibit the establishments within 1,000 feet of each other and within 500 feet of schools, churches, public playgrounds or parks, youth centers and residential areas.
• Allow collectives and cooperatives to grow medical marijuana on the premises.

The council will consider the new ordinance, and if approved, will take effect 30 after the vote. The city has six dispensaries operating illegally and another was waiting for the council’s vote.

From ABC7 in Los Angeles:

Palm Springs could be the first city in Riverside County to allow medical marijuana dispensaries if approved by city council members Wednesday night.

The meeting will open with a public hearing at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the council chambers at City Hall, according to the agenda. The proposed law limits dispensaries to industrial zones. The city now has at least four dispensaries operating illegally, with at least one more waiting for council approval to open, according to The Desert Sun.

The draft ordinance states that dispensaries would not be allowed within 1,000 feet of each other or within 500 feet of schools, public parks, playgrounds, churches, youth centers or residential areas. Other provisions state that the dispensaries must be set up as nonprofit collectives or cooperatives, as recommended in the guidelines issued by California Attorney General Jerry Brown in August. No one under the age of 18 would be allowed to work in marijuana dispensaries.

From the NORML website:

When cannabis(marijuana) is enjoyed responsibly, subjecting users to harsh criminal and civil penalties provides no public benefit and causes terrible injustices. For reasons of public safety, public health, economics and justice, the prohibition laws should be repealed to the extent that they criminalize responsible cannabis use.

By adoption of this statement, the NORML Board of Directors has attempted to define “responsible cannabis use.”

I. Adults Only
Cannabis consumption is for adults only. It is irresponsible to provide cannabis to children.

Many things and activities are suitable for young people, but others absolutely are not. Children do not drive cars, enter into contracts, or marry, and they must not use drugs. As it is unrealistic to demand lifetime abstinence from cars, contracts and marriage, however, it is unrealistic to expect lifetime abstinence from all intoxicants, including alcohol. Rather, our expectation and hope for young people is that they grow up to be responsible adults. Our obligation to them is to demonstrate what that means.

II. No Driving
The responsible cannabis consumer does not operate a motor vehicle or other dangerous machinery while impaired by cannabis, nor (like other responsible citizens) while impaired by any other substance or condition, including some medicines and fatigue.

Although cannabis is said by most experts to be safer than alcohol and many prescription drugs with motorists, responsible cannabis consumers never operate motor vehicles in an impaired condition. Public safety demands not only that impaired drivers be taken off the road, but that objective measures of impairment be developed and used, rather than chemical testing.

III. Set and Setting
The responsible cannabis user will carefully consider his/her set and setting, regulating use accordingly.

“Set” refers to the consumer’s values, attitudes, experience and personality, and “setting” means the consumer’s physical and social circumstances. The responsible cannabis consumer will be vigilant as to conditions — time, place, mood, etc. — and does not hesitate to say “no” when those conditions are not conducive to a safe, pleasant and/or productive experience.

IV. Resist Abuse
Use of cannabis, to the extent that it impairs health, personal development or achievement, is abuse, to be resisted by responsible cannabis users.

Abuse means harm. Some cannabis use is harmful; most is not. That which is harmful should be discouraged; that which is not need not be.

Wars have been waged in the name of eradicating “drug abuse”, but instead of focusing on abuse, enforcement measures have been diluted by targeting all drug use, whether abusive or not. If cannabis abuse is to be targeted, it is essential that clear standards be developed to identify it.

V. Respect Rights of Others
The responsible cannabis user does not violate the rights of others, observes accepted standards of courtesy and public propriety, and respects the preferences of those who wish to avoid cannabis entirely.

No one may violate the rights of others, and no substance use excuses any such violation. Regardless of the legal status of cannabis, responsible users will adhere to emerging tobacco smoking protocols in public and private places.

Adopted by the NORML Board of Directors
February 3, 1996
Washington, DC