We are talking about this Cannabis group we've created on Facebook (link here): Post any news articles in any language about Marijuana, Cannabis, Pot and Weed... Only the Truth! N.B.: Cannabis Cures Cancer, google it! (search link here)

Days ago our FB account as TurismoAssociati was cancelled by the "social network" (more a fascist tracking device) because we were a website and not an individual person (read more here). So we created another account as Ford Turani making a Facebook Page for Turismo Associati (this one). But strange, all our posts, pictures, comments and files uploaded before were cancelled. The group CANNABIS was still left because we had other Admins, good activists ready to spread the word of peace, love, health and evolutive information.

So we asked to Join again our group with almost 800 members. We were added by our good friend Fenwick Hunter, but, strangely, we were not able to post or comment on the Group.

Worse than that, although we were put as Admins in the group, we were still able to Join the Group...! See the image above:

Cool (Kafka's K knows what we're talking about...), we are a member of a FaceBook group, made Admins, who can not post on it's own group. We tried to make somebody else Admin, but got this messagge at the end: "No Permission to Post. You do not have permission to post in this group." OKAY?! they ask...

It sure looks like the user we've chosen to be between the Admins, CanAbizz Swiss Psy, was not made as admin, because we had no permission. But please look at the next screen shot... we can Remove him from administering the group... so it was all just smoke in our eyes:

We searched the web for analogue cases, and found this answer:

You should check and see if anyone has blocked you! If you go to your members list, look at all the members. If any of the names appear in black, they have blocked you.

Delete and ban them.

It's a tedious process, especially if you have a bunch of members, but it just might help. Member's names should always be in blue.

So we looked among the members, and found this Fucking Troll, Termerthy Gordon, the party pooper! Let's get him and see if we solve the censuring problem!

Ford Turani for www.TurismoAssociati.it/dBlog

35 years after Nixon started the war on drugs, we have over one million non-violent drug offenders living behind bars.

The War on Drugs has become the longest and most costly war in American history, the question has become, how much more can the country endure? Inspired by the death of four family members from "legal drugs" Texas filmmaker Kevin Booth sets out to discover why the Drug War has become such a big failure. Three and a half years in the making, the film follows gang members, former DEA agents, CIA officers, narcotics officers, judges, politicians, prisoners and celebrities. Most notably the film befriends Freeway Ricky Ross; the man many accuse for starting the Crack epidemic, who after being arrested discovered that his cocaine source had been working for the CIA.

AMERICAN DRUG WAR shows how money, power and greed have corrupted not just drug pushers and dope fiends, but an entire government. More importantly, it shows what can be done about it. This is not some 'pro-drug' stoner film, but a collection of expert testimonials from the ground troops on the front lines of the drug war, the ones who are fighting it and the ones who are living it.

After 4 years of production including several sold out test screenings in New York, Austin & Los Angeles, the final version of American Drug War "the last white hope" is locked and loaded.

The Canadian Awareness Network
Presents
RUN FROM THE CURE
THE RICK SIMPSON STORY
SECOND EDITION

A Conversation With Rick Simpson In Ontario August 14 2012.

We catch up with Rick Simpson in Brantford Ontario and speak with him about Hemp oil and his new book.

Researchers from Canada, U.S., Germany and The Netherlands surveyed 953 patients from 31 countries on their experiences with different forms of medical marijuana.

Published in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, the results show that patients are more satisfied overall with natural cannabis. Pharmaceutical preparations only scored higher in 1 of 9 categories measured, which was “ease of preparation and intake.”

“In general, herbal non-pharmaceutical CBMs (cannabinoid-based medicines) received higher appreciation scores by participants than pharmaceutical products containing cannabinoids.”

The study may be unwelcome news for companies that manufacture cannabis-based pharmaceuticals, such as Marinol and Sativex.

Despite being more accepted by health professionals, patients seem to find natural cannabis superior when it comes to dose needed, onset and duration of effects and, perhaps most important, side effect profile.

“Besides the need for such products to be standardized and quality controlled, our data suggest that overall there is good satisfaction with whole plant preparations that are affordable and administered in an inhaled manner, or in the form of a tincture.”

Out of the different methods of taking cannabis, vaporizing was reported to have the least side effects, followed by tea and smoking. Patients also report paying more to obtain cannabis pharmaceuticals rather than cannabis itself.

Pharmaceutical preparations often cost more than herbal cannabis

While the researchers only included responses from patients who had tried at least two different forms of medical marijuana, they caution that the results have limitations.

For example, homemade cannabis preparations allow for more customization than standardized pharmaceuticals, which may improve the patient experience.

Still, the authors believe that the latest findings present “a broad picture” of the current patient experience with cannabis medicine, and may be useful for “further development of safe and effective medications based on cannabis and single cannabinoids.”

The study received funding from the International Assocation for Cannabinoid Medicine (IACM) and Bedrocan BV

Source: LeafScience.com

Who is Rev. Gypsy Queen, Jesus' Bitch?

A woman of strong faith, a powerful empath called to utilize this gift in vulnerability, compassion, and active (agape) Love. However, do not mistake my vulnerability for gullibility, my compassion for stupidity, or my love for weakness. I am one of the strongest people I know! 

Once a tough street kid, I don't fit societal images of success & beauty, with the exceptions of my hard earned education, & I am beautiful. I was raised in violence & poverty - I remember history - I don't live in it.  I don’t do pity or guilt – all suffer at one time or other – God holds us through each other – guilt pisses me off and I find it rather useless at best – destructive at worst.  No one is innocent but the child, in God’s love we are made innocent, we are all children.  In love - justice & mercy cannot be separated.  Now an ordained Pastor, I don't fit typical images of what it is to be a Pastor - Being Christian means to me be free to be the human beings we were created to be - in our strengths and weaknesses, in our joys and sorrows - in our ignorance/stupidity and intelligence - in the paradoxes of life. As a Christian I live as both at once "sinner" and "saint."  

The street kid was not eliminated or replaced she has been loved, transformed, empowered and driven.  I don't always get it - but trust God holds it.  I have no need to control, direct or over-come.  I live openly as I am - I have the vocabulary that ranges from "you can kiss my fucking fat ass" to the "I do believe you can place your offensive lips upon my well endowed posterior glutinous maxi mus" -  I swim in the deep waters of emotions and mysteries we attribute to the spirit - I speak things as I see them (for my astrological madgi - yes I am a Pisces on the cusp) - unlike western culture dictates, my faith is not a private affair – God/Allah/Goddess/Great Spirit - knows/sees/is all - so why try to hide/pretend/deny? I know my scripture - but do not quote memorized verses to use as a weapon of accusation/judgment.  

Everything has context – including what we consider our holy writings.  Love levels the playing field – I am no less and no greater than you.  I live by the ethic of love – an active love - not a love of sentiment, love is not always so sweet, nice or romantic in appearance - what is loving for one is destructive to another.  I attempt to love - self, others, community, society, environment, world – as love has revealed and continues to reveal itself in my life.  It is not my job to convert, convince, persuade, motivate, inspire - that may or may not happen through me - not by me - I am simply called to speak & live - my experience, testimony, faith, education and opinions (which are just that).  I let God do God’s job.

I believe we are all children of the same source – I call that source Abba/Daddy/Creator - Brother/Christ Jesus/Hommie/Source of Love - Holy Spirit/Sister/Councilor/Breath of Life.

I Love fully, live freely, and proclaim Gospel boldly! 

WHY?

I have had many folks, from fb, the streets, the churches ask me “Pastor, why are you so radical about being a stoner?”  “Why are you so political?”  “Leave God at church, leave politics to the politicians – don’t bring it to the pulpit, and keep your weed behind closed doors.”

WHERE the shit gets real.  Life tore the shit out of my body.  It has been under attack from physical and sexual violence since I was 3yrs old.  The psychological shit internalized the violence, and I abused myself.  The damage has been extensive.   Western medicine, reinforced, ignored, and dismissed the damage.  Society played its role in reinforcing the damage and the injustices we perpetuate make recovery more than difficult.  Whether you or I, like it or not we are connected - your shit effects me – my shit effects you.  I can’t do anything about your shit – I can do something about mine.

Last Spring I got news on changes in my healthcare providers approach to “care.”  I got pissed off, I am not an addict and refuse to be treated like one.  Choice – I could roll over and take it up the ass again – or find another option.  I lamented/vented/prayed – I got on-line and started educating myself.  DO NOT DO IT THIS WAY ITS DANGEROUS TO YOUR LIFE – I had no help from my DR. I tried to set up getting my card & access so it would be available just as I took my last declining doses of 9 scripts.  Didn’t quite get the timing right.  I went into a period of massive withdrawal.  I couldn’t get out of bed.  I was in more pain that I had ever experience – and I know pain all to well – including that of giving birth.  I couldn’t eat ANYTHING.  I could not sleep, but was not exactly conscious either.  Mother begged me to go to the hospital, I refused.  I was going to live free or go home.  All she could do was take my pulse often, and bring me water to sip.  After two weeks - I finally got my apt. and my script for cannabis, I took several hits, found instant pain relief and ate my first meal in that time – potatoes & eggs – best meal I ever had.  Took another couple of hits and slept for four hrs straight, for the first time sence I was a very young kid.  Sleeping is dangerous to ones survival, yet rest is required to live.

Since April of 2013 I have treated my PTSD, Fibromyalgia, Arthritis, Chronic Fatigue & insomnia, Acid Reflux, Morbid Obesity, and Diabetes II with one very beautifully created plant!  I have never been able to think more clearly.  I have no symptoms of PTSD.  I haven’t had a flashback since I began, and only one night terror.  My pain levels are managed at an ave of 3 on a 10 point scale down from an average range of 6.5 – 9 daily.  I have lost more than ½ of my body weight & going.  I can walk again – lost my wheelchair last Sept., and my cane in Dec.  My Diabetes is being well managed without the intervention and consequences of drugs. 

Beyond the personal recovery I have family, and many dear friends who still suffer, or at risk of jail, or in prison – ALL cause back in the day we were ignorant and bought the propaganda that lead to the criminalization of this God given gift.

WHY - In a nut shell – Love!  I was not loved as a kid.  I was found by love, transformed by love, taught to love, called to love.  Not the sentimental BS we tend to throw around on the surface, the nice, sweet, romantic, notions.  I’m talkin hard core unconditional acceptance that allows one to be who they are as they are.  It doesn’t require change – it does compel it.  The change is not always readily recognized cause behavior doesn’t always change – the heart changes the way we relate to others.  Faith is in relationship – with self, with the sacred, with each other - religion/morality – is all the crap we have attached to faith.  I have choices, I can be a product of my history, or I can learn, grow and utilize its lessons to live in harmony with the world around me – Joy is possible even and often in the midst of suffering.  I choose joy! I choose Life!  I don’t have to like you or agree with you in order to love you.  I fight the fight for me and for you.

Below is a link to my campaign to raise a bit of start up money so I can build on the work I've been doing at my own expense because I am not currently sanctioned or supported by my church body.

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/gospel-in-context

Pastor Ginamarie L. Pezzi for TurismoAssociati.it

Researchers from the University of British Columbia's School of Social Work have found that children living in homes where marijuana is grown show no noticeable health differences than those living in the average home.

The study, published in September 2013 in the International Journal of Drug Policy, was led by Janet Douglas, Ph.D, who has spent over 20 years as a child protection social worker in B.C. About a dozen of those years involved responding to cases of children living in marijuana grow-ops.

She believes the findings should serve as guidelines for social workers responding to similar cases.

"If we're going to say that children are at risk living in marijuana grow operations, then we need to be clear what those risks are. If there are no apparent health risks, then we need to scratch that off our list and not say that that's our concern if in fact we have no evidence to show that living in a grow-op impacts a child's health."

Dr. Douglas says the findings came as a surprise, since her experience led her to believe that grow-ops pose a number of health risks to children. Unsafe equipment involved with marijuana cultivation as well as molds and other air contaminants were some of her major concerns.

However, when Dr. Douglas and her colleague compared the relative health of children living in grow-ops, they found no significant differences in the amount of drugs prescribed for these children compared to their peers. Prescription data was gathered on 181 children living in grow-ops and 500 children in the comparison group.

"As far as a child welfare perspective, we just need to understand what our grounds for intervention are," says Dr. Douglas. "If these children are not at risk for health matters, then we need to not say that that's our grounds."

The study received funding from MITACS, BC Mental Health and Addictions Research Network, the BC Child and Youth Health Research Network and BC Ministry for Children and Family Development

Source: LeafScience.com

While anecdotal reports support the benefits of medical marijuana in treating the disorder, evidence from clinical research has been lacking.

But now, scientists from the University of Michigan, Harvard Medical School and the University of Illinois at Chicago have confirmed that THC affects the storage and extinction of fearful memories in human subjects.

Published in October 2013 in the journal Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, the team suggests that marijuana pathways in the brain, which make up the cannabinoid system, could be a target for future PTSD treatments.

"Ultimately, the cannabinoid system may serve as a promising target for innovative intervention strategies in PTSD and other fear learning-related disorders."

In the study, researchers performed brain scans on 14 healthy individuals, who were given THC pills (Marinol) or a placebo before being exposed to a fearful stimulus. After 24 hours, individuals who received THC showed increased activity in areas of the brain involved with overcoming past negative memories.

While animal studies also support a role of cannabinoids in overcoming bad memories, the authors note the study was the first to show this effect in humans.

"Together, these findings provide the first evidence that pre-extinction administration of THC modulates the underlying neural circuits involved in fear extinction in humans."

The authors conclude: "these results prompt future investigation to test if cannabinoid agonists can rescue or correct the impaired behavioral and neural function during extinction recall in patients with PTSD."

The study received funding from the National Center for Research Resources and the National Institute of Mental Health

Source: LeafScience.com

When it comes to consuming marijuana, the options are vast. Besides rolling a joint, there are a range of pipes and water bongs available on the market. Of course, cannabis can also be used to make various foods and drinks. Topicals and tinctures are popular among medical users as well.

Yet many doctors stand by vaporizers as the ideal method of consuming marijuana. In fact, in Israel, where medical marijuana is legal, vaporizers can be found in hospitals and senior homes. The popular Volcano Medic Vaporizer is also an approved medical device in Canada and the EU.

Here are some major reasons why vaporizers have become so popular among doctors and patients.

1. Lung Health

The effect of vaporizing on the lungs is perhaps the strongest argument for using a vaporizer.

Doctors have long been wary about the use of marijuana as a medicine because of the potential risks of smoking anything. While it's true that smoking marijuana has not been proven to cause lung cancer, the combustion of marijuana still produces several known carcinogens and tar, which can irritate the lungs and lead to chronic bronchitis.

Vaporizers were mainly designed to overcome this issue. By heating marijuana at a lower temperature than combustion, the devices produce an inhalable vapor that still contains the active medical ingredients in marijuana (cannabinoids), but without the harmful by-products.

Vaporizing cannabis is said to remove approximately 95% of the smoke that is inhaled. What's more, vaporizing has been suggested to increase the yield of anti-inflammatory terpenoids that protect the lungs from irritation.

Research also suggests that switching to a vaporizer can reverse respiratory symptoms caused by traditional methods of cannabis intake.

2. Dosing Requirements

Another advantage of vaporizers is the efficiency of converting plant matter into active cannabinoids.

A collaborative study conducted by California NORML and MAPS found that vaporizers could convert 46% of available THC into vapor, whereas the average marijuana joint converted less than 25% of THC.

Likewise, patients ranked vaporizers as the most efficient method of marijuana intake – requiring a lower dose than smoking, edibles and tea – in a recent study published in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs.

So while vaporizers may be seen as a luxury to some, even the most thrifty marijuana users have realized that the higher efficiency of these devices can eventually offset their initial cost.

3. Side Effects

In the same patient study, vaporizers ranked highest in side effect satisfaction, meaning that patients felt most functional after vaporizing cannabis.

While the study did not investigate specific side effects, some say that vaporizers produce a more clear-headed 'high' due to the lack of smoke inhaled. Cannabis vapor can also be inhaled in short and shallow puffs, whereas other smoking devices may require taking deeper and larger breaths, which can be uncomfortable for novice marijuana users.

Of course, how one reacts to marijuana differs widely from person to person, so vaporizers may not be ideal for everyone. Ultimately, consulting with a healthcare professional and careful experimentation is the best way to figure out what method of marijuana intake is best for you.

Source: LeafScience.com

As marijuana has become more popular as both a medicine and recreational drug, it continues to receive protest from those concerned about its alleged dangers.

These people tend to leave out an important fact: Marijuana has yet to be recorded as a direct cause of death. Not one, as the FDA has confirmed.

On the other hand, this visual from Take Part shows just how dangerous legal drugs can be.

Indeed, it becomes hard for anyone to defend keeping marijuana illegal, once you realize that society’s most popular prescription drugs and recreational substances are actually far deadlier.

Source: LeafScience.com - Infographic by Take Part

Subject matter:
A European solution to a European issue: legalizing cannabis. The ECI Weed like to talk aims at making the EU adopt a common policy on the control and regulation of cannabis production, use and sale.

Main objectives:
There is currently a heterogeneous legal map as regards cannabis policies in the EU. The question of coherence and discrimination is worth asking. A common policy on the control and regulation of cannabis production, use and sale would: (a) ensure equality before the law and non-discrimination of all EU citizens; (b) protect consumers and monitor health security; (c) end cannabis trafficking. Let's leap toward the legalization of cannabis and the harmonization of national legislations accross the EU.

Information on this proposed initiative is available in the following languages:
English 

European Commission registration number:
ECI(2013)000008

Date of registration:
20/11/2013

Click here to support this initiative

Web address of this proposed citizens' initiative in the European Commission's register:
http://ec.europa.eu/citizens-initiative/public/initiatives/ongoing/details/2013/000008/en

Names of registered contact persons:
FESEFELDT Bendix, BALAS Pierre

E-mail addresses of registered contact persons:
bendix.fesefeldt@sciencespo.fr, pierre.balas@sciencespo.fr

Names of the other registered organisers:
TOJA DE LA MUELA Delia, VERDAM Pieter David, VAN BERWAER Gaelle, TARDELL Miriam, LORIMER Marta

Website of this proposed citizens' initiative (if any):
http://weedliketotalk.wix.com/wltt

To support a European Citizens' Initiative, you must be an EU citizen (national of an EU member state) and be old enough to vote in European Parliament elections (18 except Austria where the voting age is 16).
For more information on the rules and conditions for the European Citizens' Initiative: http://ec.europa.eu/citizens-initiative

Click here to support this initiative