the dope report

San Francisco medicinal dispensary the Green Cross took home this year’s SF Cannabis Cup on Tuesday. With over 15 of their strains registered in the stacked contest, it was an indoor, organic hydroponic sativa by the name of Dragon’s Breath that took first place overall. We would’ve gone to judge for ourselves, but then we got really high and just played Modern Warfare 2 all night. Click here for a list of this year’s finalists.

[San Francisco Cannabis Cup]

[The Green Cross]

From ScienceDaily reporting on work in the Journal of Neuroscience today:

Use of cannabinoids (marijuana) could assist in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder patients. ... The researchers used a synthetic form of marijuana, which has similar properties to the natural plant, and they chose to use a rat model, which presents similar physiological responses to stress to that of humans.

[After freaking out the rats with electric shocks and stress] the experimental rats received an injection of synthetic marijuana in the amygdala area of the brain—a specific area known to be connected to emotive memory. ... The synthetic marijuana canceled out the symptoms of stress. Dr. Akirav and Ganon-Elazar also examined hormonal changes in the course of the experiment and found that synthetic marijuana prevents increased release of the stress hormone that the body produces in response to stress.

[ScienceDaily]

Reuters, The SF Chronicle, CBS, ABC and other major media outlets descended on the 38th Annual NORML Convention this afternoon for a press conference by leading Oakland drug law reformer Richard Lee (pictured above).

The historic movement to roll back cannabis prohibition in the U.S. marshaled its forces today at the 38th annual NORML Conference dubbed “Yes We Cannabis!”

With four efforts to legalize the plant in California under way, State Assemblyman Tom Ammiano spoke Friday morning at the conference in downtown San Francisco on his decriminalization bill AB 390, which is pending discussion in committee at Sacramento next year.

The 38th annual National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) Conference inundated San Francisco with hundreds of activists and industry representatives today.

Weed nowadays is already so strong, and now they are going to be able to make it stronger? Damn.

Scientists at the University of Minnesota have identified the genes in cannabis that allow the plant to produce THC. Finding the genes opens the path to either create drug-free hemp plants for industrial purposes, or to develop plants with much higher concentrations of the psychotropic chemical. ...

Publishing in the Journal of Experimental Botany, the researchers note that they specifically targeted the genes responsible for generating the drug-filled hairs highlighted in many a High Times photo spread. By impairing or encouraging the growth of those hairs, scientists could gain precise control over the level of THC in the crop.

[Popular Science]

California cannabis law reformers CalCann2010 hit the country club farmer’s market crowd this weekend, scufflin’ with cops and gathering signatures for their long-shot ballot initiative. It’s less efficient than paying $3 million to pro petitioners, but more colorful. From the CalCann2010 email blast:

... When three armed Sheriff’s officers showed up I again stood my ground and after a bit they agreed I was right except that the ironing board had to go. ...

Full diary after the jump.

There are now four pushes to legalize possession and growth of non-medicinal cannabis in California. Three at the ballot box and one in the legislature. The first and most idealistic initiative out of the gate, the California Cannabis Initiative, spearheaded by three defense attorneys in NorCal, has just got its Official Title and Summary from the State Attorney General, and it reads as follows:

1374. (09-0022) Changes California Law to Legalize, Regulate, and Tax Marijuana. Initiative Statute.

Repeals state laws that make it a crime for people 21 years old or older to use, possess, sell, cultivate, or transport marijuana or industrial hemp, except laws that make it a crime to drive while impaired or to contribute to the delinquency of a minor.

Expunges state convictions based on the repealed marijuana-related laws.

Requires state and local governments to regulate and tax commercial production and sale of marijuana.

Requires taxes to be spent on education, healthcare, environmental programs, public works, and state parks.

Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: Savings in the several tens of millions of dollars annually to state and local governments on the costs of incarcerating and supervising certain marijuana offenders. Unknown but potentially major new excise, income, and sales tax revenues related to the production and sale of marijuana products. (09-0022.)

Now, CalCann2010 has to get upwards of 450,000 signatures in 150 days with an all-volunteer effort. And keep in mind, historically, fewer than 10 percent of all initiatives gather enough signatures to reach the ballot. And only eight percent of those on the ballot pass.

This week, the East Bay Express should run an analysis of the three competing ballot measures and state bill. So keep us bookmarked, eh?