Legalizing Medical Marijuana in San Diego Helps Tax Revenue

A projection of sales tax revenue from legalizing marijuana in California is over half a billion annually. San Diego County did not have a legally licensed way to purchase medical marijuana until July 1^st, 2014 when Outliers Collective (OUTCO) opened for business in El Cajon. Legal licensing allows patients to receive safe and tested medicine adhering to zoning laws and permits with tax collection to give back to the community.

Californians benefit from state and local funds for the success of their community. Seventy percent of tax revenue goes back to local use. 50% goes to education, 30% going to health and human services and 10% going to law enforcement and corrections.

Since 1980 has increased 1400% or four times the increased rate of other spending by the state government.(Source) One important addition to legalization of marijuana would include a savings in millions of dollars by a reduction in law enforcement for possession crimes. (Source) California stands to also save millions on reduced drug enforcement for small drug possession crimes with a yes vote on Proposition 47 that will be voted on November 4, 2014.(Source) Crime rates of theft have reduced by 5% in Colorado since the inception of legalization of recreational marijuana.(Source) Legally licensed dispensaries increase visibility of the establishment and reduces hidden shops that can lead to crime and unsafe conditions.

Legalizing marijuana sales offers numerous jobs to the community. Since Colorado's recreational marijuana legalization, 10,000 jobs were added and they enjoy the lowest unemployment rate since the beginning of the recession, 6%.(Source) Marijuana employees payroll tax deductions will bring in an additional revenue to the state. Additional contracted people will be hired like architects, construction and many other industries will benefit from the added growth and building needed for this growing industry.

Source:

http://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/cities/economics/how-much-money-states-make-marijuana-legalization/

http://ballotpedia.org/California_Proposition_47,_Reduced_Penalties_for_Some_Crimes_Initiative_%282014%29

http://www.cbp.org/pdfs/2011/110728_Where_Do_State_Tax_Dollars_Go_pb.pdf

http://www.businessinsider.com/r-pot-shops-buzz-crime-eases-as-colorado-law-marks-6-months-2014-03

http://www.hightimes.com/read/colorado-legal-pot-sales-creates-thousands-new-jobs

Steve McWilliams and the Access to Medical Marijuana in San Diego

On November 5^th, 1996 Proposition 215 was passed that made it legal to use marijuana for medical use. San Diego and San Bernardino Counties refused to uphold this law until they were forced to in 2009. The Supreme Court of California on May 19^th in 2009 refused to prosecute medical marijuana users in San Diego and San Bernardino Counties. It took 7 years after Prop 215 to establish rules and regulations for medical marijuana use with California Senate Bill 420.(Source)

In 1997 Steve McWilliams who himself suffered with pain from multiple car crashes helped establish San Diego Cannabis Caregivers Club (SDCCC) in Ocean Beach, part of greater San Diego. They grew marijuana on the premisis as well as Valley Center giving access to marijuana to patients. In January 1998 Steve McWilliams was arrested for possesion but was released because of lack of information. Steve was transporting a plant to another patient when he got stopped at the border checkpoint, searched and was arrested.(Source) Steve McWilliams stated to the police that Proposition 215 was unclear to how to possess it for medicinal use. (Source) (Source)

On October 11, 2002 was arrested by the DEA for growing 6 marijuana plants, and he pled guilty to growing 25 plants. Charges were combined with a federal raid in 1999 on Shelter from the Storm Cannabis Collective that he helped organize where he was facing a minimum of a 5 year minimum prison sentence.(Source) This led to a plea deal and prison sentence for 6 months on April 28, 2003, which he was released on bail and ordered to not use marijuana. (Source) On July 11, 2005 Steve McWilliams committed Suicide on his 51^st birthday. His suicide note stated:

"This was my last chance to help the medical marijuana movement and others that I care about," he further wrote "That's what so much of this has been about -- my right to use a medicine that worked for me." Steve McWilliams also mentioned displeasure with the opioid medication he was forced to use after the judge made the ruling that he could not use marijuana.

McWilliams was an advocate for medical marijuana and was a constantly attending the San Diego City Council Meetings. Council Member Toni Atkins said after McWilliams suicide, “a tenacious and relentless force to be reckoned with” and “public comment at out City Council meetings will never be the same without his smiling face and cannabis leis.”(Source)

Outliers Collective (OUTCO.COM), the only legally licensed medical marijuana dispensary in San Diego, is one more step in the access to medical marijuana that Steve McWilliams desired for him and his community.

Source:

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/marijuana-pot-legal-timeline-san-diego-california-medical-prop-215-206301351.html

http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle-old/395/mcwilliams.shtml

http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle-old/396/steveremembered.shtml

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Proposition_215_%281996%29

http://ogdeliveries.org/marijuana-defendant-not-guilty-building-a-bridge-for-cannabis-rights/

http://www.marijuanalibrary.org/981008.html

http://www.unitedstatesvmarijuana.com/court-cases/unitedstatesvstevemcwilliams

http://cannabisnews.com/news/14/thread14553.shtml

Cannabis Effecting Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes

The case of the “Munchies” would lead one to think that it leads to obesity, but in fact on average it reduces obesity by one third.(Source) Though the caloric intake may be more caused with the munchies, cannabis reacts with the metabolization of carbohydrates and regulation of insulin to reduce obesity and type 2 diabetes.

"The most important finding is that current users of marijuana appeared to have better carbohydrate metabolism than nonusers," says Murray Mittleman, associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. "Their fasting insulin levels were lower, and they appeared to be less resistant to the insulin produced by their body to maintain a normal blood-sugar level."

Fasting insulin levels from the study were sixteen percent lower and 17% lower in insulin resistance. These two factors are increased with type II diabetes. (Source)

Research has yet to understand why this is occurring and some theories that haven't been proven have been offered:

• Marijuana is a replacement for food for some users
• Other active parts of the cannabis plant like cannabidiol may interact with the brain receptors to help manage the metabolism and regulate eating.
• Regular use of cannabis may dull the receptors and have them not react too strong to wanting to increase appetite over time.

One drug that has been taken off the market because of the side effects of causing increased suicide may offer an answer to the reason why the appetite is controlled through cannabis. The drug Rimonabant used as a weight loss drug targeted the same brain receptor (CB1) that cannabis does. It's effect made a lower drop in fasting insulin levels by lowering the receptors signaling. (Source)

Source:

http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2011/08/24/aje.kwr200.abstract?__hstc=9292970.2e518383c30fe9090ca33584378a6435.1409929942141.1411273921013.1411401471685.9&__hssc=9292970.1.1411401471685&__hsfp=210472818

http://www.amjmed.com/article/S0002-9343%2813%2900200-3/abstract

http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/23/health/time-marijuana-diabetes/index.html?__hstc=9292970.2e518383c30fe9090ca33584378a6435.1409929942141.1411273921013.1411401471685.9&__hssc=9292970.1.1411401471685&__hsfp=210472818

The Reason Behind Cannabis and the Munchies

For chemotherapy patients struggling to increase their appetite, marijuana can increase their desire to eat being beneficial. Tetrahydrocannabinol or THC which is the psychoactive part of cannabis has been found to be the factor to increasing appetite. There are a couple studies that show different reasons on why marijuana increases the “munchies”, and it may be a combination of the various factors.

Two studies showed that an increase in hedonic, or pleasurable taste, rather than a motivation to eat was increased with the use of cannabis. With exposure to taste and scent, dopamine is released with encourages the appetite for the food. Once THC is in the blood stream, it has been found to increase dopamine levels.(Source) and (Source)

In a study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences a research group led by Daniele Piomelli found that marijuana triggers the CB1 receptors in the gut, not the brain, to signal that a fatty food has been ingested. The saying of “You just can't eat one Lay Potato Chip” is correct in that when a fatty food is eaten, intestinal CB1 receptors send a message to the brain to stimulate the creation of endocannabinoids creating a chemical response of hunger increasing your appetite for fatty foods. (Source)

Another study shows how endocannabinoids are responsible for pre and post natal survival. Endocannabinoids are present in cow's milk, soft cheese and breast milk. The research showed that the cannabinoid receptors are stimulated by the cannabinoids in milk to encourage suckling leading to newborn survival. This response may hold a connection in later life to the encouragement of eating.(Source)

Another study showed the THC released the hormone ghrelin, which increases appetite. Both endocabbinoids and ghrelin effect the hypothalamus part of the brain. AMP-activated protein kinase, or AMPK helps regulate cell energy metabolism. THC and ghrelin increase appetite by stimulating the AMPK to allow the hypothalamus sense of food deprivation thereby increasing hunger.(Source)

Recently in February 2014 a study was published in Nature Neuroscience studied the increase in smell with cannabis. The study used the underlying basis that hunger leads to an increase in sensory perception which leads to an increase in food intake. The results in the study with mice showed that odor detection was increased with cannabis due to CB1 receptors affecting the olfactory bulb enhancing the sense of smell. This increased awareness to smell gives in turn the increase to hunger. The mice stayed longer smelling the food and ate more.(Source)

Cannabis and Obesity

Though the study finding show that caloric intake from marijuana goes up with the urge to eat, another study two studies show that marijuana users are one third less likely to be obese and have a lower rate of Type 2 Diabetes.(Source) Read more on this by clicking this link.

Source:

http://www.nature.com/neuro/journal/v17/n3/full/nn.3647.html

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3705914/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16185725

http://www.jbc.org/content/280/26/25196.full

http://www.pnas.org/content/108/31/12904

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0014299904007423

http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2011/08/24/aje.kwr200.abstract?__hstc=9292970.2e518383c30fe9090ca33584378a6435.1409929942141.1411273921013.1411401471685.9&__hssc=9292970.1.1411401471685&__hsfp=210472818

Who is Jack Herer

Many patients know of the popular sativa dominant strain Jack Herer, which namesake comes from the legendary activist Jack Herer. Known as the “Emperor of Hemp” he was a well known activist in the efforts to decriminalize cannabis. He is well known as the author of The Emporer Wears No Clothes, and was founder and served as director of Help End Marijuana Prohibition (HEMP). Jack Herer made his presence at numerous Cannabis conventions, rallies and festivals, speaking to crowds and manning booths.(Source) He ran for the United States Presidency in 1988 and 1992 representing the Grassroots Party. (Source)

The Emperor Wears No Clothes

Supported by H.E.M.P America, Hanf Haus, the Texas Hemp Campaign, and Sensei Seeds offers $100,000 to anyone who can disprove the conclusions that the book The Emperor Wears No Clothes claims first published in 1985. Author Jack Herer claims that:

“If all fossil fuels and their derivatives, as well as trees for paper and construction were banned in order to save the planet, reverse the Greenhouse Effect and stop deforestation is only one known annually renewable natural resource that is capable of providing the overall majority of the world's paper and textiles; meet all of the world's transportation, industrial and home energy needs, while simultaneously reducing pollution, rebuilding the soil, and cleaning the atmosphere all at the same time... and that substance is -- the same one that did it all before -- Cannabis Hemp... Marijuana!”(Source)

Dr. Hayo M.G. Van der Werf criticizes the book in that hemp is not as exceptional as a high yield as other plants like corn, the production amounts can't be as large as explained in the book because it is not cost effective to transport it a long way and cellulose content of hemp % is wrong in the book.(Source)

The title of the book is an allegory of cannabis prohibition to The Emperor's New Clothes by Hans Christian Andersen.(Source)

Famous Quotes From Jack Herer

Jack Herer as an activist for cannabis has a lot of poignant quotes to offer for the acceptance of cannabis in our society:

“If you substitute marijuana for tobacco and alcohol, you'l add eight to 24 years to your life.”

“Growing hemp as nature designed it is vital to our urgent need to reduce greenhouse gases and ensure the survival of our planet.”

“But you can count the dead bodies from alcohol, tobacco, and legal pharmaceuticals by the millions.”

“I don't want to wait 20 or 50 years for something to be done about petrochemical pollution.”

“The only dead bodies from marijuana are in the prisons and at the hands of the police. This is ridiculous.”

“Well, as I understand it, the main supporters are beer companies and the pharmaceutical companies. I'd like them to show me the dead bodies from marijuana. But they can't because there aren't any.”

“You see, the Greenhouse Effect is a direct result of burning fossil or old carbon fuels.”

“Rag paper, containing hemp fiber, is the highest quality and the longest lasting paper ever made. It can be torn when wet, but returns to full strength when dry.”

“Many artists and writers have used cannabis for creative stimulation – from the writers of the world's religious masterpieces to our most irreverent satirists.”

(Source)

“I don't know if hemp's gonna save the world, but I'll tell you this... it's the only thing that can.”(Hemp Industries Association HIA)

“Hemp will be the future of all mankind, or there won't be a future.”

(Source)

“Be a Warrior For Your Freedom.”(http://marijuanamemes.com/923/jack-herer-warrior-quote)

Jack Herer in His Later Years

Jack Herer in 2000 suffered a heart attack that led to speaking and movement problems on the right side of his body. In 2009 suffered another heart attack that he was unable to recover fully from leading to his death leading to his death 7 months later on April 15, 2010, he was 70.(Source)

Source

http://www.hightimes.com/read/jack-herer-legend-photos

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Herer

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Emperor_Wears_No_Clothes

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/j/jack_herer.html

http://hemp.org/news/content/cannabis-quotes

http://marijuanamemes.com/923/jack-herer-warrior-quote

Cannabis and PTSD

OUTCO offers medical cannabis to PTSD sufferers in San Diego.  Research studies has shown that it is an effective treatment because of the way marijuana relates to the brain activity.

What Is PTSD

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD can develop after a trauma that can cause flashbacks, memory loss of the event, anxiety or hyper-arousal for over a month. Common traumatic events could be war, injury, sexual assault, threats or witness to a traumatic event. Women are more likely to get PTSD and children under the age of 10 rarely experience it. (Source)

Correlation of PTSD and Marijuana Use

An increased tendency to use in marijuana occurs with PTSD sufferers than the general public. A study showed that with teen and young adults, PTSD contributed to the use of cannabis more than peer pressure or other factors.(Source) Another study with 5,672 adults showed that the relation to PTSD symptoms and the use of cannabis were directly correlated. (Source)

PTSD, Cannabis and the CB1 Brain Receptor

Defective CB1 receptor signaling in the brain appear to be the cause of memories to not diminish in impact over time. Studies with animals have shown that this malfunction in the receptor due to trauma can cause anxiety, fear and depression symptoms leading to insomnia, isolation and other effects.(Source) Research has shown that enhancing cannabinoids receptors in the brain reduce the anxiety and fear symptoms in animals.(Source)

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) in cannabis show a relation in allowing the CB1 and CB2 receptors to work by inhibiting the enzyme fatty acid amide hydroxylase (“FAAH”) from destroying the endogenous cannabinoid neurotransmitter, Anandamide. Anandamide is based off of a sanskrit word meaning joy, bliss and delight and has been known at low levels to decrease pleasure and motivation. (Source)

OUTCO is the only licensed marijuana dispensary in San Diego to aid PTSD sufferers with Cannabis treatment. Cannabidiol CBD offers treatment without the psychoactive effects of THC. We offer free delivery and medicine at affordable prices for patients. Look for our future blog on how the Veteran community is helped by OUTCO in San Diego.

Source

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posttraumatic_stress_disorder

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306460309002366

http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/adb/25/3/554/

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/da.22031/abstract

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15637635

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anandamide

The Different Types of Concentrates

The concentrates for cannabis are growing in popularity with it outselling the traditional buds in retail lately. Much of this change is in the popularity of Vape Pens and different forms of using marijuana such as edibles. Concentrates are just like the name refers to, a concentrated form of the cannabinoids in the buds to give a higher concentration of THC and or CBD. Here are some different forms of concentrates.

Hash

The oldest form of concentrate, and probably the least potent. Hash is made by collecting the plants resin, or kief and pressing it together. Ice water or ethanol sometimes is used to effectively collect the crystals better to make a higher concentration of the cannabinoids, stripping away the non-desirable materials of the plant.(Source)

Butane Hash Oil (BHO)

Very dangerous way of making concentrate in the fact that butane is highly flammable. (Source) BHO creates a very potent form used for vaporizors or dabbing. The result of heating to extract the cannabinoids leaves a sticky “wax” wax or a solid “shatter” with a high concentration of THC. BHO when tested shows traces of butane and therefore is not the healthiest way to ingest cannabis. (Source)

CO2 Oil

CO2 Vape Juice

The newer, less dangerous, less toxic and best way of preserving terpenes and other healthy flavors and cannabinoids is CO2 extraction. The process is more expensive to get a botanical extractor that uses pressure and carbon dioxide to extract the benefits of the plant into a concentrate. This method is used for vapor pens. (Source)

Rick Simpson Oil (RSO)

A cancer patient in 2003 named Rick Simpson made a concentrate from hemp by soaking the cannabis in naphtha or isopropyl alcohol. The THC and CBD are extracted to make a tar like liquid when the solvent evaporated. RSO, or also known as Phoenix Tears can be applied directly to the skin like a salve. Some companies now produce this concentrate and to have more THC or more CBD.(Source)

Tinctures

Cannabidiol CBD Tincture

Tinctures, were popular before the prohibition of 1937. This method is done soaking the buds, leaves and stems in ethyl alcohol extraction to get the beneficial cannabinoids extracted out. The usual way of administering this is a couple of drops under the tongue.(Source)

Source:

http://www.leafly.com/knowledge-center/cannabis-101/the-great-wide-world-of-cannabis-concentrates

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Undercover-Operation-Shattered-Dreams-Busts-Hash-Oil-Labs--275552071.html

http://phoenixtears.ca/articles/solvent-residue-in-the-oil/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tincture_of_Cannabis