Passage of AB 2312 due in large part to new reform coalition, concerted effort by citizen lobbyists Sacramento, CA–(ENEWSPF)–June 12, 2012.  In a 41-28 vote, the California State Assembly passed a bill yesterday that would regulate the production and distribution of medical marijuana for qualified patients. Responding to calls from[Read More…]

Action represents another significant food safety measure under the Obama Administration   WASHINGTON–(ENEWSPF)–May 31, 2012 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) next week will begin instituting a zero-tolerance policy for six additional strains of E. coli that are responsible for human illness. Beginning[Read More…]

Asthma disproportionally affects minority children and children living below poverty level Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–May 31, 2012.  Today, U.S. federal agencies unveiled the Coordinated Federal Action Plan to Reduce Racial and Ethnic Asthma Disparities. White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Chair Nancy Sutley, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa P. Jackson,[Read More…]

NIH-funded research shows genetics can predict success of smoking cessation and need for medications Bethesda, Maryland–(ENEWSPF)–May 31, 2012.  Genetics can help determine whether a person is likely to quit smoking on his or her own or need medication to improve the chances of success, according to research published in today’s[Read More…]

Baltimore, MD–(ENEWSPF)–May 31, 2012.  The use of cannabis is associated with lower mortality risk in patients with schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders, according to a forthcoming study to be published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research. An international team of investigators from the University of Maryland School of Medicine and[Read More…]

New York-(ENEWSPF)- From the New York Times: The sale of any cup or bottle of sweetened drink larger than 16 fluid ounces — about the size of a medium coffee, and smaller than a common soda bottle — would be prohibited under the first-in-the-nation plan, which could take effect as[Read More…]

VIRGINIA—(ENEWSPF)—May 29, 2012.   White House replies to Veterans petition: http://wh.gov/4xd Thousands of Veterans requested the Obama Administration to look into the reliable science now available showing exactly how cannabis works to alleviate suffering of Veterans pain and save the lives of Veterans with brain injuries such as PTSD and therefore make[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–May 29, 2012. Over the weekend, multiple media outlets reported that trace levels of radioactive Cesium had been found in Blue Fin Tuna caught off the coast of California. The radioactive particles had been picked up from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant (click here for the report), according[Read More…]

KABULl/KHOST–(ENEWSPF)–May 29, 2012—Doctors without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has postponed a decision to resume work in its maternity hospital in Khost province in eastern Afghanistan. Five weeks after an explosion in the hospital injured seven people, MSF still does not feel that the environment is secure for its patients and[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–26 May 2012 Dear NORML supporters, Over the last five years there have been numerous media reports about the anecdotal use of cannabis to help autistic children. Two brave women, one on the east coast the other the west, have been at the forefront of this effort to help[Read More…]