Alaska Group Takes Steps To Legalize Marijuana

Anchorage, Alaska -- A citizens' group hoping to make Alaska the third state in the nation to legalize recreational use of marijuana took a step closer Wednesday, submitting more than 46,000 signatures to the state election office.If enough signatures are verified -- they need about 30,000 qualified signatures -- the question of whether to make pot legal in the nation's northernmost state will go before voters in the Aug. 19 primary. Signatures must come from at least 7 percent of voters in at least 30 House districts.

Why Legal Marijuana is Popular

USA -- Marijuana is on fire -- this much we know. A CNN/Opinion Research poll earlier this week was the latest to show a spike in support for legal weed. CNN, Gallup and the Pew Research Center all now show a clear-to-sizeable majority of Americans support Americans' right to toke as they please -- as high as 58 percent in Gallup's polling.Despite the surge in popularity, though, we have yet to see basically any major politicians jumping on board. Indeed, it's tough to name any big-name elected officials who support it -- let alone someone who might run for president in 2016.

Colorado Embarks on an Unprecedented Experiment

Denver -- For reasons as hazy as a cloud of Sour Diesel smoke, the number 420 is cherished by America’s stoners. So it was fitting that on January 1st, 420 days after Coloradans awoke to discover that, along with Washington state, theirs had become the first jurisdiction in the world to vote to remove the criminal prohibition on recreational marijuana, around 40 state-licensed pot shops flung open their doors to all-comers. Four-hour queues snaked along the streets of Denver and other cities. Swamped by newbies, many from out of state, shop staff toiled to explain the difference between sativa (which delivers a “cerebral”, energetic high suited to daytime use) and indica (a depressive effect; better consumed late).

Legal Weed's Strange Economics in Colorado

USA -- This is a blazing moment for American stoners. Colorado has just legalized the commercial production, sale, and recreational use of marijuana, while Washington State will begin its own pot liberalization initiative at the end of February. On Jan. 8, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said his state would join 20 others and the District of Columbia in allowing the drug for medical purposes. Libertarians and progressives are thrilled. Addiction specialists are anxious. And economists, well, they’re a little like undergrads lost in a bong-induced thought experiment: One moment the economics of pot seem beautifully elegant, then the real-world implications suddenly become bewilderingly complex.

Lawmakers To Feds: Let MJ Businesses Bank

Colorado -- Advocates for the legalization of marijuana celebrated a hard-won fight Jan. 1, when sales for recreational use began in Colorado, but one question remained: What will those who make and sell pot do with all their money? Now, some of Colorado’s congressional delegation want the Treasury and Justice departments to accelerate their review of the issue.In a Friday letter to top officials at both departments, both the state’s senators and four of its seven representatives asked the federal government to give advice to Colorado’s marijuana businesses on how to access the banking system

MJ Legalization May Win the West and D.C. in 2014

USA -- One week after the nation's first recreational marijuana stores opened in Colorado, Alaska activists submitted what appear to be enough signatures to put marijuana legalization before voters. The measure – which would go up for a vote Aug. 19 – is one of several 2014 efforts that could yield a good year for pot supporters, particularly in the West.So far, voters have been at the vanguard of legalization, blowing past state legislatures. In November 2012, more than 55 percent of Colorado and Washington voters approved initiatives to legalize the drug and open state-licensed stores – and polls suggest those successes may be replicated elsewhere.

Cannabinoids Can Treat Neuroinflammation

Courtesy of The Joint Blog
A new study published in the journal Cell Immunology has found that activation of the body’s cannabinoid receptors - something done naturally by cannabis and cannabinoids – has neuroinflammatory capabilities.
According to the study; “Here we showed that Gp1a, a highly selective CB2 [cannabinoid receptor 2] agonist, with a four log higher affinity for CB2 than CB1, reduced clinical scores and facilitated recovery in EAE [experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, a disease of the central nervous system] in conjunction with long term reduction in demyelination and axonal loss.”
The study continues; “This is the first report on the in vivo CB2-mediated Gp1a inhibition of Th17/Th1 differentiation. We also confirmed the Gp1a-induced inhibition of Th17/Th1 differentiation in vitro, both in non-polarizing and polarizing conditions. The CB2-induced inhibition of Th17 differentiation is highly relevant in view of recent studies emphasizing the importance of pathogenic self-reactive Th17 cells in EAE/MS.
Researchers conclude that “the combined effect on Th17 differentiation and immune cell accumulation into the CNS, emphasize the relevance of CB2 selective ligands as potential therapeutic agents in neuroinflammation.”
The study was conducted by researchers at the Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia.
Source: TheJointBlog.Com