Metiria Turei's Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Amendment Bill will have its first reading at 3pm on the 1st of July. This is sure to be a historic occasion as it is the first time a major piece of cannabis law reform legislation has entered the house.

Metiria's Bill will make it legal for patients or their care givers to grow cannabis for medical use.

Melissa Etheridge says that medical marijuana worked for her. The Grammy Award-winning singer- songwriter turned to marijuana after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004. In an interview, Etheridge talked to CNN's Anderson Cooper on why she did it and how she believes it helped restore her health. She's now pushing for its legalization.

The following is an edited version of the interview.

Melissa Etheridge: I'm actually grateful for my cancer diagnosis.

Anderson Cooper: Grateful because it changed your life?

Etheridge: It changed my life; woke me up totally.

Cooper: What is the pain [of chemotherapy] like?

Etheridge: It was just a general pain of your body dying, of all your cells dying. Your appetite is gone. And you are nauseous. And your hair is falling out. Your skin -- it's like death. And the only thing I could do is lay there. I can't -- it hurt to -- light hurt, sound hurt. I couldn't read anything. I just laid there.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Rhode Island become the third state in the nation Tuesday and the first on the East Coast to permit marijuana sales to chronically ill patients, a decision made over the objections of Gov. Don Carcieri.

State lawmakers voted overwhelmingly to override a veto last week from the Republican governor, who warned the system could put people at risk of federal prosecution, would encourage illegal drug use and send conflicting messages to children about substance abuse.

"This gives a safe haven for those who have to go into the seedy areas to try and get marijuana," said Rep. Thomas Slater, D-Providence, who suffers from cancer and plans to smoke the drug for pain relief. "I think that this center will definitely help those who most need it."

Slater received a standing ovation on the House floor.

Dakta Green and The Daktory have been bringing it to the politicians to hear what they have to say. Dakta Green turns up to the back benchers live show to cause some shit with some of the movers and shakers in New Zealand politics. To watch the video on youtube go to the link below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ldCNJgO8II

To learn more about the Daktory and their exploits in the greater Auckland area go to:

http://thedaktory.org.nz/

Cannabis has been moved up from a C class to a B class drug in the United Kingdom. The UK government seems to have made a pointless and illogical decision in making cannabis B class.

Cannabinoids in the treatment of cancer.
Alexander A, Smith PF, Rosengren RJ.

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Otago, Dunedin

Cannabinoids, the active components of the hemp plant Cannabis sativa, along with their endogenous counterparts and synthetic derivatives, have elicited anti-cancer effects in many different in vitro and in vivo models of cancer. While the various cannabinoids have been examined in a variety of cancer models, recent studies have focused on the role of cannabinoid receptor agonists (both CB(1) and CB(2)) in the treatment of estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer. This review will summarize the anti-cancer properties of the cannabinoids, discuss their potential mechanisms of action, as well as explore controversies surrounding the results.

PMID: 19442435 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher

10th Annual J Day Takes Place In The Octagon
May 4, 2009 - 7:56pm

http://www.ch9.co.nz/node/11551

Dunedin's 10th annual J Day took place in the Octagon on Saturday.

More than 300 cannabis enthusiasts gathered to protest the prohibition of marijuana.

Even the Robert Burns statue was involved in the event that's celebrated in more than 400 cities worldwide, by having a joint placed in its hand.

Dunedin made international headlines in 2003 when activists marched to the central police station to plant and smoke cannabis in the foyer, and didn't get arrested.

Libertarianz: Free Dakta Green!

Contributor: Voxy News Engine
Monday, 4 May, 2009 - 14:02

http://www.voxy.co.nz/politics/libertarianz-free-dakta-green/5/13287

Cannabis law reform campaigner and Cannabus driver Dakta Green has been arrested and charged twice for minor cannabis offending and breaking bail conditions.

Libertarianz notes with alarm that these arrests coincided with the
Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party's announcement that Dakta Green would be standing as their candidate in the Mt Albert by-election.

Libertarianz supports the ALCP's call for cannabis to be legalised and
believes that peacefully smoking cannabis should not be a crime. Police
should not waste any time or money on the persecution of otherwise
law-abiding cannabis smokers.

While Libertarianz believes that political party candidates should be
subject to the laws of the country like any other citizens, the timing
of the arrests rings alarm bells that the police are politically

Weather turns to pot at J-Day event
By JEFF NEEMS - Waikato Times

The pot was plentiful, but the punters and the sunshine were not.

Organisers of Saturday's J-Day in Hamilton said a cold and cloudy afternoon may have been the reason for a lower than expected turn-out for the cannabis law reform event. It was part of a worldwide "civil disobedience" in support of cannabis law reform.

Max Coyle, managing director of Sedition Promotions and co-organiser of the event at Hamilton lake's main stage, estimated 600-700 people attended throughout the day, with many drifting in and out throughout the afternoon, considerably fewer than the 2000 or more he had anticipated.

However, he felt J-Day was generating momentum as calls for an end to prohibition grew louder. "It's been going for 20 years and we're now seeing a new generation of people."