Cannabis known to man for 2700 years

Researchers say they have located the world's oldest stash of marijuana, in a tomb in a remote part of China. (from the Toronto Sun)

The cache of cannabis is about 2,700 years old and was clearly "cultivated for psychoactive purposes," rather than as fibre for clothing or as food, says a research paper in the Journal of Experimental Botany.

The 789 grams of dried cannabis was buried alongside a light-haired, blue-eyed Caucasian man, likely a shaman of the Gushi culture, near Turpan in northwestern China.

The extremely dry conditions and alkaline soil acted as preservatives, allowing a team of scientists to carefully analyze the stash, which still looked green though it had lost its distinctive odour.

"To our knowledge, these investigations provide the oldest documentation of cannabis as a pharmacologically active agent," says the newly published paper, whose lead author was American neurologist Dr. Ethan B. Russo.

Remnants of cannabis have been found in ancient Egypt and other sites, and the substance has been referred to by authors such as the Greek historian Herodotus. But the tomb stash is the oldest so far that could be thoroughly tested for its properties.

The 18 researchers, most of them based in China, subjected the cannabis to a battery of tests, including carbon dating and genetic analysis. Scientists also tried to germinate 100 of the seeds found in the cache, without success.

The marijuana was found to have a relatively high content of THC, the main active ingredient in cannabis, but the sample was too old to determine a precise percentage.

Researchers also could not determine whether the cannabis was smoked or ingested, as there were no pipes or other clues in the tomb of the shaman, who was about 45 years old.

The large cache was contained in a leather basket and in a wooden bowl, and was likely meant to be used by the shaman in the afterlife.

"This materially is unequivocally cannabis, and no material has previously had this degree of analysis possible," Russo said in an interview from Missoula, Mont.

"It was common practice in burials to provide materials needed for the afterlife. No hemp or seeds were provided for fabric or food. Rather, cannabis as medicine or for visionary purposes was supplied."

"It certainly does indicate that cannabis has been used by man for a variety of purposes for thousands of years.

Grandma Ganja - killed by cannabis aged 120

A 120-year-old woman, said to be one of the oldest women in India, died at her home in Orissa, her family said on Saturday 18th November 2006.

Fulla Nayak, a resident of Kanarpur village in the coastal district of Kendrapada, died of old age complications on Saturday.

Fulla's voter photo identity card issued by the government in 1995 shows she was 120 years old.

Fulla was known for her love of smoking ganja and cigars and palm juice. She also loved steaming hot tea.

She had never suffered any debilitating ailment throughout her life. Except for her weak eyesight, Fulla maintained good health and used to walk without support. (From DNA India)

Fulla Nayak - (Ganja Granny from the Sun)

The DrugAlyzer has landed....

The DrugAlyzer has landed.... with a bang

About 30 percent of motorists tested in Mitchells Plain, Hout Bay and Sea Point tested positive for drugs in the field study using the drugalyser, launched officially on Tuesday. (from IOL)

In Sea Point, 59 percent of drivers stopped tested positive for alcohol, 35 percent for drugs, and 33 percent for both. In Hout Bay, 83 percent tested positive for alcohol, 33 percent for drugs, and 33 percent for both.

In Brackenfell, 70 percent tested positive for alcohol and 15 percent for drugs, and in Mitchell's Plain, 14 percent for liquor, 33 percent for tik, and 7 percent for both.

"The highest percentages of positive cases for the drug screens were (50 percent), recorded in central Cape Town."

These numbers cannot be believed.

The study with the DrugAlyzer was supposed to be random. This means that the high numbers are a function of police profiling. The Metropolitan Police put up a roadblock, walk down the row and pick out who they think "should be tested". This would include anyone 18-25 coloured, anyone looking inebriated, looking nervous? What do the numbers mean if the test was not random? What kind of study was this? What did it set out to prove? Whatever the aim might have been it wasn't to find out what "percentage" of people are driving under the influence...

What is the chain of evidence for the Drugwipe once the test has been started? Who looks after the Drugwipe once it is put in the horizontal position? A Metropolitan Policeman? I wouldn't trust a Metro Cop to do the security at a 5 year old's birthday party!

What steps are the operator expected to take to ensure that there is no cross contamination in subsequent tests?

Is this test not an invasion of one's right to privacy? Why have the police chosen to NOT inform the public that they have the right to not participate.

What compounds is the DrugAlyzer looking for as an indication that a person has consumed a drug?

What independent tests have been performed on DrugAlyzer to ensure that it will not identify an across the counter medication or prescription medication as one of the illicit drugs it is testing for?

How to say no....

Metropolitan Police officer: "Please swab this in your mouth"

You: "I decline to participate in your experiment. You do not have my consent to take a sample. Give me the number of the regulation, together with the number and date of the Government Gazette in terms of which are operating this machine. No law - No sample"

How dangerous is Cannabis? NOT VERY

Doctors pronounce that Cannabis is NOT a major killer. (from News24)

"I don't think it (cannabis) contributes very much to people dying. It's not in the league of alcohol or tobacco", says Dr Stephen Sidney, an associate director of clinical research with the Kaiser Permanente health plan who has studied the effects of cannabis use on life span.

A study of 65 171 men and women enrolled in the Kaiser Permanente health plan found that, with the exception of Aids patients, cannabis users were not more likely than others to die over a 10-year period.

In a Swedish study, researchers found no link between cannabis use among more than 45 000 male military conscripts, aged 18 to 20, and their death rates over the next 15 years.

What to do? There are common-sense measures about using cannabis, Sidney suggests. It should be discouraged in teenagers. Young teenagers getting involved in drugs are going to have more of a problem with it. And people ought not to be driving around in cars and operating dangerous machinery when they're intoxicated. (Doing a backflip off the top rope while blazed and wrestling in the WWE is ok though..!)

Anyone wishing to dispute the safety of cannabis should please bring bodies and names. Evidence, not say so.

Here is some EVIDENCE - Real evidence... can you find any deaths from cannabis here?
Or of all the important people who have died... Can you find any deaths among them...?

Drugging and driving... the new evil?

The Cape Town Metro police are planning on testing drivers suspected of being under the influence of drugs at roadblocks.

Yet questions have been raised as to whether this is a feasible, or realistic, task. While crime statistics indicate that illegal drug use in the country is on the increase – the most common are dagga and cocaine/crack - will this be enough to convince the authorities of the necessity to do this testing? And how will it be carried out? (from News24)

Many experts believe that the biggest problem with this type of testing is that although it is a good idea, there are too many obstacles which need to be overcome first.

“There are certain ways to test for drugs, such as through urine or hair, but it is not feasible to carry such tests out on the side of the road for many reasons, says Sarah Fischer, Executive Director of the Substance Misuse Advocacy, Research and Training (Smart) group. “These problems include how one would actually go about testing, the chance of contamination, expense and of course the fact that if a person had taken legal medication, this could show up as a positive in a drug test.”

“Unless there is a protocol set up, this kind of system will not work. It is very different from testing for alcohol – as alcohol is a legal substance and the test is non-invasive.”

Trimega Diagnostics (PTY) Limited is the company chosen to deliver South Africa’s first ever roadside drug testing pilot programme. The company is a joint venture between UK-based Trimega Laboratories and Real World Diagnostics. The DrugAlyzer alcohol key ring range is available at selected Alpha Pharmacy outlets to include Alpha Pharmacies branded version of the drug test.

How it works
To use the DrugAlyzer test, one takes a sample of an individual’s saliva or sweat to determine if they are driving under the influence of a drug (illegal under Section 65 of the Road Traffic Act).

According to Uys and Lasarow, the strength of the test is that it's so non-invasive. At the roadblocks, they said, most people were willing to co-operate. (also from News24)

No mention of how reliable the Drugalyzer is... Would anyone wanting to rely on this technology base their reputation that will not produce any false positives? Judges? OK test all judges before work. Metropolitan Police Officers? No reason to not have a weekly test. Politicians? These folks have the most responsible jobs in the country. Surely they would have absolutely NO PROBLEM in submitting to a test once a week? Driving the country under the influence? I am not saying that is what is happening, but it could explain a thing or two?

Cape Town No1 in Drugged Driving

15% of Cape Town drivers screened for drugs have been found to be driving drunk, high, stoned and tripping!!! On average every eighth car you pass on the is driven by an OFFENDER!!! Every EIGHTH CAR....

Shocking details about South African motorists’ use of illegal drugs have emerged for the first time.

A pilot roadside drug testing study of drivers at 22 roadblocks over eight months in Gauteng and the Western Cape found 14% of them to be under the influence.

The technology detects cocaine, dagga, ecstasy, opiates (heroin), methamphetamines (tik) and amphetamine (speed) within minutes of swiping a strip across the driver’s tongue. (from the Times)

The intention of the pilot was only to screen for drugs and not to prosecute, as test results from the equipment are not yet admissible in court.

53 people were arrested in Mitchellsplain for drinking and driving.... I wonder if this is now old technology or new technology?

Drug mules intercepted at Cape Town International

A woman was arrested at Cape Town International Airport on Thursday after cocaine was found in her possession (from IOL...)

"She had approximately half a kilogram hidden in her private parts and 52 bullets which she had swallowed, [also] presumed to contain cocaine. Further test are still being conducted, "said Captain Dennis Adriao.

Three hours later, a 33-year-old Zambian woman was arrested after she was found with 3,5 kilograms of tik to the street value of over a million rand.

An hour and a half later, a 28-year-old Somalian man was arrested when found with 28 kilograms of Cat.

"Its street value is R33 000. We picked him up through profiling," said Adriao. (Profiling.... relying on stereotypes to investigate and catch people which in turn reinforces those stereotypes)

World Mayors called to think rationally

Ik vraag me af of de World Mayor zal instemmen met de andere wereld burgemeesters ...?:

"De markt voor drugs is een mondiale markt,"
"Dus we kunnen niet onze liberale beleid in isolement."

Zero Tolerance for Smugglers

Zero tolarance will be shown to smugglers. This was the message from Inspector Nkonikho Mzuku, police spokesman in the Ocean View area. (From the Cape Son)
Mzuku said that they would do their best to get rid of all the shebeens in Ocean View and Masipumelele.
Mzuku warned that the cops wold raid the shebeens at any given time. (Given in advance to the shebeens?) He promised that the police would have no mercy of these people.
The past weekend the cops from Ocean View arrested 33 suspects on several charges.
Riotous behaviour 19
Cannabis possession 15
House Breaking 3
Possession of tik 2
(other suspects were arrested for assault, drugs and domestic violence BUT no arrests for illegal sale of alcohol!!!!) The new draft legislation concerning the liquor act makes it possible for all the cops in and around the Peninsula to follow a policy of zero tolerance when it comes to illegal shebeens. Last week Cape Son reported on an illegal shebeen in Hanover Park that was raided for the umpteenth time. (Zero tolerance - umpteen raids - no meaningful effect?)

Crackdown in M'Plain - THUNDERSTRUCK!

Traffic cops were out in full force at the weekend to tackle drunk drivers in Mitchells Plain.
Merle Lourense, the traffic department's spokeswoman, said 53 motorists were arrested for drunken driving in the area.
"We also made 211 drunk driving arrests throughout the peninsula over the past weekend."
Michael Jacobs of the Mitchells Plain Community Police Forum told Cape Son:"Mitchells Plain roads are unsafe and no traffic cops man the area. We are pleased the traffic department is now coming into Mitchells Plain, which will definitely see a drop in road accidents here."

Metro Police Superintendent GA Africa told Cape Son:"We will now come into Mitchells Plain regularly because of the high accident rate there."

Lourens said they were concerned about the festive season, when road accident rates rise.
She said:"More than 4000 fines were issued buy officers in all operational unit. Highest speeds were 171km/h in a 60km/h."
"We are getting strict regarding drunken driving"
"The Western Cape has a 34% average of youth binge drinking."

Eddie Meyer, a traffic consultant contracted by the Cape Town traffic department, told Cape Son: "I invented an instrument which can detect alcohol intake as well as drug consumption.

"I call this invention the Thunder Stick."

(from the Cape Son - by Fu'ad Rahman)

Snuffed out by his Mommy

A drunken snooze claimed baby's life (from the Cape Son - by Basil Davids)
Worcester - She had a lekker party. Got drunk with friends, then went and passed out - on her baby. The mother Jonise Smith, would get up again. But it was the last sleep for little Alexander, her baby of 10 months. His mother lay on his and squashed him.

A friend of the drunken mother pulled Alexander from under Smith who was deeply asleep. Paulse said Alexander's arms were hanging limply at his sides. Paulse said she screamed and knew the child was dead.

Smith lives alone with her children Denolson and Wilmarie and formerly little Alexander.

She was in a happy mood at the weekend and just enjoyed herself. (By getting blind drunk?)

"I know it was wrong to drink and not to look after my child properly"

An inquest into the death of the child is in progress.

The Epicentre.... Cape Town

"Cape Town is the epicentre of two significant public health epidemics - methamphetamine abuse and increasing HIV incidence," Charles Parry, director of the MRC's alcohol and drug abuse research unit, said on Monday. (Amazing that neither FAS nor XDR-TB get a mention!)"There is a greater risk of methamphetamine users contracting and spreading HIV than other drug users." (From IOL)

Methamphetamine, more commonly known as tik, is a cheap, highly addictive, and long-acting stimulant widely known to heighten libido. It has been linked to an increase in risky sexual behaviour.

There were more than 120 000 methamphetamine users in Cape Town, Parry said. He estimated that for every one tik user receiving treatment in Cape Town, there were 100 who were not.

"It is outrageous that the health sector has not become more involved in addressing drug issues and that the Department of Health plays second fiddle to the Department of Social Development in the treatment of substance abuse."(Is it more outrageous that the Department of Health is responsible for all drugs EXCEPT alcohol which is the responsibility of the Department of Trade and Industry?)

"The issue should be combined between the two departments to prevent people falling through the cracks. It is a health problem with social consequences and causes." (Best to create a massive crack between two departments for the issue to fall into with no one taking responsibility)

Tik users are more likely to have sex while under the influence of alcohol and other drugs and also more likely to have sex at a younger age. Tik users are more likely to have multiple sexual partners and to trade sex for drugs.

Where do tik addicts come from?

This excellent question is posed on IOL...

According to the Medical Research Council, Cape Town is the tik (methamphetamine) capital of South Africa, with 98 percent of methamphetamine patients seen in all the provinces coming from Cape Town. (The answer is that Tik addicts come from Cape Town!!)

Methamphetamine, also known as speed, ice, crank, crystal straws and tjoef, is highly addictive and especially popular with children. The highest user levels are among those under 19.

Professor Solomon Rataemane plans to use the four-day conference to launch the South African Society for Addicted Medicine. He said the society would provide training to medical practitioners and social workers to help control substance abuse.

Five People bust for SUPER DAGGA!!

Five people were arrested in Milnerton, Cape Town on Thursday for growing potent dagga to export to the United Kingdom and Europe, the SAPS Crime Intelligence and Interpol division said. (from News24)

Superintendent Tummi Golding said three men and two women were arrested in two separate laboratories in Milnerton around 15:15 on Thursday and approximately R60 000 worth of dagga was confiscated.

The laboratories were used to cultivate dagga which would then be harvested, compressed and exported to the UK and Europe.

The seeds to grow the dagga were imported from the UK.

No respite for the unborn - Momma needs a drink

The Western Cape Liquor Bill makes no provision for the restriction of consumption of alcohol by pregnant women - even if MEC Garth Strachan says it does - or wishes it did. (from IOL)

UCT Public Health consultant Joanne Corrigall said there was nothing in the bill to stop liquor outlets from selling alcohol to pregnant women. "It would not be practical to implement because one can't always tell when a women is pregnant and can't hold tavern owners liable," (Well thanks for engaging your brain woman!! The clause could read "Anyone who KNOWLINGLY supplies a woman who is pregnant is guilty of an offence punishable. by...")

Including it in the bill had been considered but rejected.

Corrigall said the provincial standing committee had decided that tavern owners be asked to voluntarily abide by a code of ethics that discouraged alcohol sales to pregnant women.

"I fully agree that pregnant women should not drink, but I don't think the government has the constitutional right to do so (prevent it)...the bill does not deal with it, but we all know what serious damage alcohol does to the unborn child." Democratic Alliance spokesperson on the Western Cape Liquor Bill, Alan Winde (Fucking hot air more like it!!!! Eh - so the unborn child has no rights? Not true! Hence RESTRICTIONS on abortions... I don't think... who needs a spokesperson to THINK for them?)