Weekly Press Release Source: NORML Domestic Pot Production Up, Cannabis Not Linked To Violence, Federal Report Says July 14, 2005 - Washington, DC, USA Washington, DC: Domestic cultivation of cannabis is rising and is responsible for the majority of marijuana available in the United States, according to the National Drug Intelligence Center's (NDIC) latest "National Drug Threat Assessment" report. The report states that domestic pot production levels are increasing and now range from 6,000 to 19,000 metric tons annually. Accordingly, the report notes that 98 percent of state and local law enforcement agencies describe the availability of marijuana in their area as "high or moderate." Overall, the report estimates that anywhere from 12,000 to 25,000 metric tons of marijuana is available in the United States, up from previous estimates of 10,000 to 24,000 metric tons. Mexico remains the largest producer of cannabis imported into the US, followed by Canada, Colombia, and Jamaica, authors note. The NDIC report also finds that few state and local law enforcement agencies identify marijuana as a serious threat to public safety. Less than five percent of US law enforcement agencies surveyed identified marijuana as a significant contributor to violent crime in their area, and most ranked methamphetamine and/or cocaine as far greater threats to public health and safety. "[D]espite the volume of marijuana trafficked and used in [the United States,] ... the threat associated with [it] ... lags behind that associated with methamphetamine and cocaine, including crack," the report concludes. Authors add that an estimated 94 million Americans aged 12 or older have reported using cannabis, and "many of these users likely suffered no severe ill effects." For more information, please contact either Allen St. Pierre or Paul Armentano of NORML at (202) 483-5500. Full text of the NDIC report, "National Drug Threat Assessment 2005," is available online at: http://www.usdoj.gov/ndic/pubs11/12620/ DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6602 Cannabis No Stronger, British Medical Journal Says July 14, 2005 - Lisbon, Portugal Lisbon, Portugal: The average strength of European cannabis has not increased dramatically despite recent legal changes in several European nations liberalizing its use, according to an editorial in the July issue of the journal Addiction. "[T]he evidence available suggest that the potencies of resin and herbal cannabis that have been imported into Europe have shown little or no change, at least over the past ten years," authors determined. The editorial further noted that cannabis potency was not linked to increased drug treatment demands, and questioned the claim that stronger cannabis necessarily poses a greater health risk to users. Overall, European cannabis potency averaged between 2 percent and 8 percent THC, authors wrote. By contrast, the average potency of cannabis available in the US is between 4 and 5 percent THC. Since 2000, several European nations - including Belgium, Great Britain, and Portugal - have downgraded penalties for the possession and use of cannabis. For more information, please contact either Allen St. Pierre or Paul Armentano of NORML at (202) 483-5500. Full text of the editorial, "Cannabis potency in Europe," appears in the July issue of Addiction. DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6603 NORML Mourns Passing Of Steve McWilliams July 14, 2005 - San Diego, CA, USA San Diego, CA: The NORML staff mourns the passing of longtime medical marijuana activist and patient Steve McWilliams, who took his own life earlier this week after suffering from years of ill health and federal persecution. Friends of McWilliams, who was co-director of San Diego's Shelter from the Storm cannabis dispensary and an original member of the city's Medicinal Cannabis Task Force, report that he had grown increasingly depressed in recent weeks. In 2003, McWilliams was sentenced to six months in federal prison for maintaining a modest 20-plant garden in his home in compliance with California law. McWilliams had been free on bond, pending appeal, but was forbidden by the terms of his probation from using medicinal cannabis, which he used under a doctor's supervision to treat chronic pain. Following last month's Supreme Court decision affirming the federal government's authority to prosecute state-authorized medical cannabis patients for violating the federal Controlled Substances Act, McWilliams had become increasingly worried that he would be ordered to serve out his federal prison sentence. He had been experiencing a great deal of pain and had expressed concern to friends that he would not be able to survive his sentence because of his deteriorating health. Responding to McWilliams' passing, NORML Executive Director Allen St. Pierre said: "While cannabis use can't cause death, cannabis prohibition can and does. The federal government's persecution of Steve McWilliams for using medicinal cannabis was needless, cruel, and clearly played a role in his untimely death. A government for and by the people should never force sick and dying patients like Steve into confronting such a disturbing Hobson's choice." Added California NORML Coordinator Dale Gieringer, "Steve was a courageous fighter for the cause and he will be sorely missed." Evening vigils are scheduled to be held nationwide in honor of Steve McWilliams on Tuesday, July 19, 2005. McWilliams is survived by his longtime partner Barbara MacKenzie. DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6604 Source: NORML Foundation (DC) Published: July 14, 2005 Copyright: 2005 NORML Contact: norml@norml.org Website: http://www.norml.org/ Link to article: http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread20952.shtml
in support of the first story, i can feel change coming on. and it excites me to see our government finally realizing that they're wrong.