By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ in Global, Medical, News Monday, January 30, 2012 at 8:20am

​More than two-thirds of cancer patients who were prescribed medical marijuana to combat pain are satisfied with the treatment, according to a comprehensive new study from Israel.

The study involved 264 cancer patients who were treated with medical marijuana for a full year, reports Dan Even at Haaretz. The research was conducted at Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, in conjunction with the Israeli Cancer Association.

About 61 percent of the patients reported a significant improvement in their quality of life as a result of the medical marijuana, while 56 percent noting an improvement in their ability to manage pain. Two-third -- 67 percent -- were in favor of the treatment, and 65 percent said they would recommend it to other patients.

Strain Hunters are people that can’t sit still for too long. After completing the Malawi expedition in 2008, Arjan and myself began to think about the next mission. We had many destinations in mind, because the list of places where amazing landraces are awaiting is a long one. After much thinking and talking we selected a few “top-spots” on our list, and started gathering information and ideas. It became very clear that there was one place that could not be overlooked: the region of the Himalayas, particularly the Indian side, where the best charras and creams are from.

Ever since 1993, when the Green House won the Cannabis Cup with a cream from Malana, Arjan wanted to explore the origins and the history of this wonderful hashish. His last trip to India was in the 1980s, when he acquired the genetics that gave birth to the Himalaya Gold, one of the most acclaimed outdoor strains ever produced. So we decided time had come to go strain hunting in India. Now we needed a good guide, someone that could show us the right path to the highest fields, the tastiest creams, and the holiest of mountains. A few years back, during one of the Cannabis Expos we attended in Europe, we met Italian book writer and connoisseur Franco Casalone, author of the most famous books on cannabis written in Italy. He lived in the Indian Himalayas for several years, living the life of a true charsí (master of charras-making). We suddenly had the feeling that he was the right man for our mission, so we contacted him.

Joe | Jan 26, 2012

A medical marijuana symposium is being held in Washington D.C. for the first time, signaling that our nation’s capital is entering the realm of medical cannabis, one abundant with legal hurdles.

Organized by a local law firm, the event will be a good place to get acquainted with the laws of the District in regards to medical marijuana. A press release on the event can be found below.

Washington D.C. – Today, in anticipation of providing sick residents of Washington D.C. with medical marijuana by summer 2012, a local law firm announced an unprecedented organizing opportunity for medical marijuana advocates seeking to offer safe access to the cannabis to qualifying patients.

The Washington DC Medical Marijuana Symposium will be the first time applicants for medical marijuana dispensary and cultivation center permits in the District gather in person to discuss best practices and challenges that come with providing cannabis under the new program. Most of the businesses and individuals who submitted the 45 applications are expected to be in attendance.

By End Prohibition, Cannabis Culture - Thursday, January 26 2012

CANNABIS CULTURE - Candidates for Leadership of the NDP were unanimous this week in their support for ending the drug war, according to a survey released by Vancouver based End Prohibition: NDP Against the Drug War.

The survey, released on the heals of a new Federal Liberal Party policy calling for legalization, and new polling showing two-thirds of Canadians support legalization/decriminalization, demonstrates the new political consensus in Canada: the drug war has failed, it's time to regulate marijuana.

“What we see here is a major shift in Canadian politics, where there is wide acknowledgement that the drug war has failed, and that a non-criminal, regulatory approach has unanimous support among the opposition parties,” said Dana Larsen, executive director of the organization. “The question is not should we end the war on marijuana, but rather when we do, what should the regulation look like? Meanwhile Stephen Harper is waging a war on marijuana that 88% of his own base doesn't support. It's well past time for an adult discussion on how we can better deal with this substance. ”

Delicious medicinal cannabis brownie recipe, demonstrated & explained by baking queen Watermelon!

Ingredients:

10 grams *shake flour
7 ounces dark chocolate
8 ounces butter (chopped/cubed)
1.75 cups brown sugar
4 eggs
1/3 cup cocoa
1 cup flour (sifted)
1/4 tsp b. powder
1/4 cup dark coffee (finely ground)

Directions:

1. Pre-heat oven to 320 F
2. In sauce pan slowly melt shake flour and butter on low heat for 10 minutes
3. Put the chocolate in the sauce pan and turn off heat stirring constantly till melted
4. In a separate bowl combine sugar, eggs, cocoa, flour, b. powder, and coffee
5. Add slightly cooled chocolate mixture and mix all ingredients together thoroughly
6. Lightly flour base of 9 inch pan and line with parchment paper
7. Pour dough into pan and bake for 30 minutes
8. Let cool completely before serving

- Baking a Fool of Myself