Hemp Embassy president cautious about drug testing

NIMBIN Hemp Embassy president Michael Balderstone has cautiously welcomed news that a cannabis breathalyser could be released commercially next year.

Researchers from America's Washington State University are working on their second prototype of a marijuana breathalyser.

Developed by Professor Herbert Hill and a team of researchers, the breathalyser had about a 60% success rate in detecting THC in its most recent trial.

The push for an accurate marijuana breathalyser comes after the legalisation of cannabis for recreational use in Colorado and Washington.

Mr Balderstone said he supported developing a device that could identify drivers whose ability was impaired after smoking cannabis.

"I'm all for us finding something that can measure impairment or reasonable levels of recently used THC," he said.

But he remained cautious as the device being developed in the United States measured levels as low as five nanograms per millilitre.

That's not much at all; I think five nanograms per mil is a tiny amount," Mr Balderstone said.

Mr Balderstone said he didn't believe daily users of cannabis were impaired in their driving ability.

"I think that they are probably more impaired if they are not taking their regular 'daily medicine', like anybody who is if they are not taking their daily medication," he said.

"If you are a regular daily user, you are safer using your daily medication.

"If it's the first time you have ever smoked cannabis and you've had a beer, you shouldn't go near your car.

"And we've got medical cannabis in the pipeline, so there are going to have to be exemptions for that.

"There is a big, wide area to cover here and I don't think 'one size fits all' covers it."

reference:http://www.northernstar.com.au/news/balderstone-cautious-about-drug-testing/2819254/

The Northern Star

Legalised medical marijuana opposed by only 7% of Australians, poll shows

While an overwhelming majority of Australians support legalisation of medical marijuana, only one third believe it should be legalised for general use. Photograph: Anthony Bolante/Reuters

The Roy Morgan poll found 91% of those surveyed said marijuana for medical purposes should be made legal, with strongest support in the 50-plus age group
Only 7% of Australians surveyed for their views on medical marijuana said they were opposed to the drug being made legal for medicinal purposes, a new survey shows.

In a poll released by Roy Morgan Research on Monday, 644 Australians aged 14 and above were asked: “In your opinion should the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes be made legal or remain illegal?”

Most – 91% – said it should be made legal, while 2% were unsure. The strongest support for legalisation came from the 50-plus age group, with 94% of respondents in favour. The age group least likely to support it were 14-to-24 year-olds, but even so, 85% of that group said it should be legalised for medicinal use.
Michele Levine, the CEO of Roy Morgan Research, said it was not surprising that Australians aged 50-plus were the strongest supporters.

“This group is most susceptible to several of the conditions that medicinal marijuana can provide relief from: Parkinson’s disease, cancer, glaucoma and more,” she said.

“It should also be noted that the special telephone survey found that only one third of the population believes that the smoking of marijuana should be made legal. This demonstrates that Australians understand that smoking and consuming marijuana for medicinal purposes are two very separate issues.”

Sussan Ley, the federal health minister, announced earlier this month that she would seek parliamentary support to change the Narcotics Drugs Act of 1967 to create a regulatory body to oversee the cultivation and importation of medical marijuana for state trials.

This would make it easier for researchers in Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales – where clinical trials for the use of medicinal marijuana have been announced – to obtain the plant locally.

reference:The guardian
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/oct/26/legalised-medical-marijuana-opposed-by-only-7-of-australians-poll-shows

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