Cannabis News Briefs
IACM via BBSNews 2006-12-12 -- The pharmacy Hanzeplein in Groningen is the first Dutch cannabis pharmacy. It sells medical cannabis grown by the company Bedrocan at 6 Euros per gramme. Thus, the price is similar to that in coffee-shops and cheaper than usually in pharmacies. This is a pilot project in cooperation with the Stichting Medicinale Cannabis and the Office for Medicinal Cannabis of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports. Patients need a prescription from their doctor.
Source: Dagblad van het Noorden of 7 November 2006
California Upholds Medical Marijuana
A state judge on 6 December upheld California's law permitting the use of cannabis for medical purposes, rejecting a lawsuit by three counties challenging the ten years old law. The counties, led by San Diego, argued that local governments of the counties shouldn't be bound to uphold state laws that are weaker than the federal prohibition of cannabis. State attorneys responded that California was entitled to pass its own laws suspending state prosecution for medical cannabis use.
Source: Associated Press of 6 December 2006
Canada: Poll on medical use
In a nationwide survey, 93 per cent of Canadians indicated they accept the idea of people legally smoking cannabis for health reasons. Nearly three in four (70 per cent) not only accept the practice but also personally approve of the behaviour.
Source: Vancouver Sun of 2 November 2006
Science: Gateway theory
Researchers of the University of Pittsburgh found that nearly a quarter of the young men in their study used cannabis before they began drinking alcohol or smoking cigarettes. It's the reverse of what's known as the "gateway hypothesis," in which drug use is thought to progress from alcohol and tobacco to cannabis to hard drugs. The researchers determined also that the likelihood of developing a substance abuse problem was similar in youngsters who followed the traditional gateway drug use pattern and those who followed the reverse pattern.
Source: Tarter RE, et al. Am J Psychiatry 2006;163(12):2134-2140.
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