Did You Know?

I recently wrote a research paper for my Politics and Culture class on the influence that Marijuana has on current California politics and I came across this interesting time-line. Thought I'd share:

Cannabis Chronology [Edited]

• 2737 BC: Cannabis referred to as a "superior" herb in the world's first medical text, or pharmacopoeia, Shen Nung's Pen Ts'ao, in China
• 1400 BC : Cultural and religious use of ganga or cannabis, and charas or hashish (resin) recorded used by Hindus in India.
• 300 BC : Carthage and Rome struggle for political and commercial power over hemp and spice trade routes in the Mediterranean.
• 70 BC : Roman Emperor Nero's surgeon, Dioscorides, praises cannabis for making the stoutest cords and for its medicinal properties.
• 100 AD : Roman surgeon Dioscorides names the plant cannabis sativa and describes various medicinal uses. Pliny reported of industrial uses and wrote a manual on farming hemp.
• 400 AD : Cannabis cultivated for the first time in the UK at Old Buckenham Mere
• 800 AD : Mohammed allows cannabis but forbids the use of alcohol.
• 1000 AD : The English word "hempe" first listed in a dictionary. Moslems produce hashish medicine and social use.
• 1150 AD : Moslems use hemp to start Europe's first paper mill. Most of the paper is made from hemp for the next 750 years, including Bibles.
• 1563 AD : English Queen Elizabeth I decrees that land owners with more than 60 acres must grow hemp or be fined 5 pounds.
• 1611 AD : The British start growing cannabis in Virginia.
• 1621 AD : Burton's The Anatomy of Melancholy claims cannabis is a treatment for depression.
• 1631 AD : Hemp used as money throughout American colonies.
• 1632 AD : The Pilgrims take cannabis to New England.
• 1763 AD : New English Dictionary says cannabis root applied to skin eases inflammation.
• 1776 AD : Declaration of Independence drafted on hemp paper.
• 1839 AD : Homeopathy journal 'American Provers' Union' publishes first report on effects of cannabis.
• 1845 AD : Psychologist and inventor of modern psychopharmacology and psychotomimetric drug treatment, Jacques-Joseph Moreau de Tours documents physical and mental benefits of cannabis.
• 1860 AD : First governmental commission study of cannabis and hashish conducted by Ohio State Medical Society. It catalogues the conditions for which cannabis is beneficial: neuralgia, nervous rheumatism, mania, whooping cough, asthma, chronic bronchitis, muscular spasms, epilepsy, infantile convulsions, palsy, uterine haemorrhage, dysmenorrhea, hysteria, alcohol withdrawal and loss of appetite.
• 1870 AD : Cannabis listed in US Pharmacopoeia as a medicine.
• 1894 AD : British Indian Hemp Drugs Commission studies social use of cannabis and comes out firmly against its prohibition.
• 1910 AD : African-American "reefer" use reported in Jazz Clubs in New Orleans, said to be influencing white people. Mexicans smoking marijuana in Texas. South Africa prohibits cannabis.
• 1912 AD : "Essay on Hasheesh" by Victor Rolson. Possibilities of putting controls on cannabis use is first raised.
• 1912 AD : Hague Conference; second international meeting on drugs. 46 nations discuss opium, morphine, cocaine, heroin and cannabis. The Hague Convention for the Suppression of Opium and Other Drugs, was drawn up, requiring parties to confine to medical and legitimate purposes the manufacture, sale and use of opium, heroin, morphine and cocaine; Cannabis was not included. (From Mandeson, D. From Mr Sin to Mr Big, A history of Australian Drug Laws, Oxford University Press Melbourne 1995)
• 1919 AD : Texas outlaws cannabis. Alcohol is prohibited throughout the USA. Cannabis is still legal in most States.
• 1928 AD : UK Dangerous Drugs Act (September 28th) 1925 becomes law and makes cannabis illegal.
• 1929 AD : The Panama Canal Zone Report concludes that there is no evidence that cannabis use is habit-forming or deleterious, recommending no action be taken against cannabis use or sale.
• 1930 AD : Henry Ford makes his motor cars out of hemp with hemp paint and hemp fuel. New machines invented to break hemp, process the fibre and convert the pulp or hurds into paper, plastics etc. 1200 hash bars in New York City. Racist fears of Mexicans, Asians and African-Americans lead the cry for cannabis to be outlawed.
• 1937 AD : Marijuana Tax Act forbids hemp farming. The Act was based on the Machine Gun Transfer Act which made it illegal to pass on machine guns without a government stamp - there being no such stamps available. By applying this strategy to marijuana, Anslinger was able to effectively ban hemp without contravening constitutional rights.
• 1937 AD : DuPont files patents for nylon, plastics and a new bleaching process for paper. Anslinger testifies to congress that Marijuana is the most violence-causing drug known to man. The objections of the American Medical Association are ignored. The Marijuana Transfer Tax Bill (14th April) introduced to US House, Ways and Means Committee, passed December, prohibits industrial and medical uses and calls flowering tops a narcotic. Violations attract 200 dollar fines. Birdseed, rope and cordage are exempted from tax.
• 1937 AD : DuPont patents plastics, seizing the opportunity created by cannabis hemp prohibition
• 1941 AD : Cannabis dropped from USA Pharmacopoeia
• 1943 AD : Hemp for Victory program urges farmers to grow hemp to help war effort.
• 1943 AD : US Military Surgeon magazine declares that smoking cannabis is no more harmful than smoking tobacco.
• 1944 AD : Anslinger threatens doctors who carry out cannabis research with imprisonment.
• 1945 AD : USA 'Newsweek' reports over 100,000 Americans use cannabis.
• 1955 AD : Hemp farming outlawed again.
• 1970 AD : Social use of cannabis receives widespread acceptance despite illegality; policy of decriminalisation sweeps across USA and Britain.
• 1970 AD : LeDain Report (Canada) recommended that serious consideration be given to the legalisation of personal possession of marijuana. It finds that cannabis use increases self-confidence, feelings of creativity and sensual awareness, facilitates concentration and self-acceptance, reduces tension, hostility and aggression and may produce psychological but not physical dependence. The report recommends that possession laws be repealed
• 1970 AD : R. Keith Stroup founds NORML 'National Organisation for Reform of Marijuana Laws', in UDSA.
•1992 AD : USA Jim Montgomery, a paraplegic who smoked cannabis to relieve muscle spasm, busted for two ounces of marijuana in Oklahoma, arrested and sentenced to life plus 16 years.
•1993 AD : German High Court in Kruhe rules that cannabis prohibition is unconstitutional.
•1995 AD : November 11 : British journal of the medical profession, The Lancet, states that "The smoking of cannabis, even long term, is not harmful to health".
• 1995 AD : Henrion Commission Report, the official French State Commission in charge of drug policy supports decriminalisation of cannabis and calls for a two-year trial period of regulated retail trade in cannabis. The French Government reject these proposals.
•1996 AD : Ireland announces their plans to use cannabis as fuel to replace the use of the dwindling supplies of peat
•1996 AD : California and Arizona pass Propositions allowing the use of cannabis in the treatment of certain illnesses, Clinton is re-elected and the FBI threaten Doctors with prosecution.
•1996 AD : A Swiss man, Zimmermann, is given a life sentence in the Maldives, for importing three cannabis seeds, found in his luggage as he flew in from India.
•1997 AD : An 8-year study at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Medicine, concluded that long-term smokers of cannabis do not experience a greater annual decline in lung functions than non-smokers. Researchers said: "Findings from the present long-term follow-up study of heavy, habitual marijuana smokers argue against the concept that the continuing heavy use of marijuana is a significant factor for the development of [chronic lung disease]"."No difference were noted between even quite heavy marijuana smoking and non-smoking of marijuana." Volume 155 of the American Journal of Respiratory and Clinical Care Medicine 1997
•1997 AD : January16 : A court in Texas, USA, sentences medical marijuana user, William J. Foster to 93 years imprisonment for cultivation of one plant.
•1997 AD : After appeals for clemency from the Swiss Government and letters from CLCIA supporters, the Maldives releases Zimmermann, the man given life for three seeds.
•1997 AD : The Kaiser Permanente Study (USA) - "Marijuana Use and Mortality" April 1997 American Journal of Public Health concludes "Relatively few adverse clinical effects from the chronic use of marijuana have been documented in humans. However, the criminalization of marijuana use may itself be a health hazard, since it may expose the users to violence and criminal activity."
•1999 AD : February 23: UK: 55-year-old arthritis sufferer jailed for one year for using cannabis to relieve his pain
•1999 AD : March 4 : ALASKA: Medical Marijuana Law Starts
•2000 AD: December 22: CANADA: Legal Marijuana Operation Opens
•2002 AD: December: US Study Defies Gateway Theory That Cannabis Use Leads To Use Of Hard Drugs.
•2007 AD: April: Harvard university study shows that Delta-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active ingredient in marijuana, cuts tumour growth in common lung cancer in half and significantly reduces the ability of the cancer to spread
•2008 AD: Medical marijuana vending machines take root in Los Angeles. The DEA is not amused.
•2008 AD: May : UK government announces cannabis will be upgraded from class C to Class B. Its scientific experts, the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, recommend cannabis should remain class C.
•2009 AD: May : Marijuana in California is now "available as a medical treatment in California to almost anyone who tells a willing physician he would feel better if he smoked." (Washington Post)

(to be continued.....)



~http://www.cannabis.org.uk/marijuana-timeline.html

While I Was Sleeping

Logic was in a meeting this morning that may have significant impact on our lives. While I laid in bed, sleeping after a grueling night of "My Mommy!, No! My Mommy!" arguing between the cats (my life is so tough), Logic was summoned into the conference room to learn that his boss was being transferred to another location, his team was merging with another, and a position that he is very interested in will be re-located to the Olympia branch.
His call, which woke me up, was full of anticipation and excitement. He is still interested in the position and wants to talk to me about how we can make it work while I finish school. It hadn't occurred to me that losing my job might set us up to make some drastic changes. But it seems to be one less thing tying us to Seattle. Part of me is sad.
I've grown to really care about Seattle. Once I got past the gloom, I saw the true beauty of the city which comes from its people. There are so many personalities roaming the 7 hills of Seattle and I don't know if I am ready to leave.
But, as I write this, I know I am getting ahead of myself. Logic works for the government which means nothing is going to happen overnight. And when it does happen, I know we will make the best decision for us.
It really is funny how one change can cause a domino effect in life. Already I am staring down a full-load at school and the possibility of supplementing my income by waiting tables - something I never thought I'd do again. But it just feels right.
I could have never imagined quitting my corporate job - with its 401(k), stock options, and paid vacation - to focus primarily on school and wait tables on the side. But since the situation was given to me, it seems like the best thing to do.
So I'm sure when it comes time to figure out Logic's next professional move, the situation will present itself with some great options for us. They may not be the ones I would choose for us now, but down the road they might just be perfect.

Back in Session

So last night was the beginning of Autumn quarter and classes were good. I knew a few people in my first class but my friend from last year's English class will most likely be dropping the class since she doesn't care for the professor. My second class had a few people in it from the first class but no one I know.. yet. I'm sure it'll be fine. My only concern is walking between and after classes now that it's dark at 7:00. Last night there were a few people walking in the same direction as me so I felt safe but the pathways aren't well lit so I need to find a walking buddy.

Both professors/classes are intriguing. My first class "The Contemporary Novel" is a Literary Critiquing class with a focus on the psychology of the author. VERY interesting. Then the second class "Early American Literature" will have me reading a lot of prose and writing about my interpretations in a daily journal. Also interesting. That class is going to be kind of intense and he warned us in advance that the reading will be difficult - but I can handle it! The professor in that class is very eccentric and has the weirdest whirly, fuzzy combover I've ever seen. It's like an afro-over. That alone should keep my interest. He also has a unique sense of humor that I enjoyed last night.

Over all, I give the classes a strong A so far.

Dear Valued Reader (Singular),

Work has me exhausted. I am growing to loathe it with every inch of my being. It has started creeping up into my shoulders, for which I am now getting regular massages. Seriously.
School starts on Wednesday and I can't wait to have something to look forward to again. I'll be reading Thoreau, Emerson, Melville and more contemporary authors such as McCarthy and Satrapi. I will learn to see things in a new light; to experience reading as more than just a casual past-time. I will have a chance to dig deep into my psyche and see what I can pull out. (I just cleaned out my garage over the weekend, so it's only fitting that I clean out what's in my head too.)
This blog is probably not going to be interesting enough for anyone to follow so you may as well remove me from your bloglines list. Sporadic at best, my future posts will probably be about how fictional characters are changing my life.
Sorry in advance,
Amaya

Astrology - Rubbing It In

Last night in my Sociology of Religion class, we discussed different religions and why they were categorized as religions.
The topic of astrology came up. I remembered hearing that some form of Judaism incorporated astrology but when I mentioned that to my professor, she brushed it off.
So I had to do some research when I got into work today. Alas, this is what I found:

"The Kabbalah Centre has a strong belief in astrology, and asserts that astrology, including the Zodiac, has been part of Judaism since its inception. The Centre claims astrology was lost in Jewish tradition as part of the suppression of Kabbalah by Jewish rabbis nearly 2000 years ago (evidence of this includes ancient synagogues with zodiac rings). This claim is historically inaccurate, as astrology was studied by Jewish scholars throughout the Middle Ages, though it was opposed by more philosophically inclined thinkers such as Maimonides. As such, there is a strong belief in the Kabbalah tradition that cosmic forces affect everything, and knowing how to understand them can prove to be valuable to the aspiring Kabbalist. Philip Berg, the founder of the Kabbalah Center, is himself an astrologer and has written numerous books on astrology during his career."

Hmm. Looks like I was right.

School Schmool

It's the end of the quarter and I'm sure feeling it. Pressure from every angle is squeezing all the energy out of me.
40 hours of work
8 hours of school
8 hours of home work
2 hours of yoga
miscellaneous time spent with Logic or taking pictures or.. you know.. sleeping
equals
not much else

I'm hoping my momentum picks back up during Spring Break because I'm going to need it next quarter. But if it doesn't, I'll just take a look around and remind myself that my life has so much potential. I am not going to settle. I will work hard and make a few sacrifices and hey, maybe even get out of this one-bedroom condo someday. Who knows?

Knock, Knock

Who's there?
It's me! Can you believe it!?!
I realize I've been phoning it in lately but I'm going to use the old tried-and-true school excuse.
Right now all my creative juices are being used to sound smart and witty in the classroom and there hasn't been any left over for this blog. So in honor of those juices that need to be reserved for academic purposes I am going to randomly write out the ideas swirling around in my noggin.
-Cable is the devil. Logic and I upgraded to the premium package and now have too much t.v. Between Orangutan Island, DIY, Sex in Independent Film (which was a little too graphic for my taste, actually), karaoke and even a yoga channel, I feel my soul depleting every time I hit the 'on' button.
-Vegas can't come soon enough; I haven't seen the sun in about 4 days now. February in the NW is a dirty bitch and I will be so glad to have a respite from it.
-It's amazing what a difference music makes during my work-outs. This morning I was struggling on the elliptical. I just wasn't feelin' it. But then (yeah, I'll admit it) Britney's "Break the Ice" came on and I was off and running. I get mesmerized by the beats and find my feet trying to stay in time.
-Every time I use a semi-colon ^(ex: "enough; I haven't") I hear Kurt Vonnegut in my head: "If you really want to hurt your parents, and you don’t have the nerve to be a homosexual, the least you can do is go into the arts. But do not use semicolons. They are transvestite hermaphrodites, standing for absolutely nothing. All they do is show you’ve been to college."
-My mom buys me a calendar every year for my cube. This year's is Live With Intention and the quote for the month is: "At first glance I loved you with a thousand hearts". It makes me smile and miss her every time I see it.

Just Like The Gym

In the same way that I sometimes struggle with going to the gym, I was having a hard time motivating myself to go to class last night. As soon as I made the connection between the two, I realized I had to go. Never do I regret going to the gym. It's only when I'm having a rough day and I decide to skip it that I regret my decision. And as I drove home last night, I knew I made the right decision.

John Cage/Marcel Duchamp/Yoko Ono

My Art History class is proving to be challenging and really interesting.
We're learning so many compelling things about Art after the 1960s and also about the type of art that influenced it.
On Tuesday we talked about John Cage. Have you heard of him? In case you haven’t – he was a famous composer who studied Zen and Karl Jung psychology. He incorporated that into his performances, and he later inspired the US movement "The Happenings" organized by Kaprow. We reenacted one of his pieces called 4’33”. He had a famous pianist perform at Woodstock by going onto the stage, opening the piano tray and then sitting there for four minutes and thirty three seconds. Occasionally he would close the key tray and then open it again.. but that was it. It symbolized how music is everywhere and in everything. It doesn’t have to be composed. It can be someone’s breathing or shuffling around in their chair, etc.We did a shortened version of that and it was really cool. All the noises felt heightened.
We also talked about Duchamp and how he changed people’s ways of viewing art too. He took a urinal and turned it 90 degrees and called that art. Very interesting way of thinking. He tried entering the piece in an Art show under a pseudonym and it went missing before the exhibit. He was furious and took his story to the paper. He explained that Art is whatever the Artist chooses it to be and that his piece had every right to be in the exhibit. It was never recovered but still managed to be effective in altering the modern definition of Art.
Also I learned that Yoko Ono is a Fluxus artist (I thought she was just married to a Beatle). Anyway, she did a lot of really interesting performance pieces. One is called Cut Piece and she invites people in the audience to come up and cut pieces of her clothing off. When I first heard about it I thought it was really provocative and it made me uncomfortable. Very sexual. But we talked about it and watched a video clip of one of them and it was REALLY interesting. The performance is symbolic of how women have been treated throughout history. The women in the audience came up and cut little pieces off her sleeve or collar and then this one guy came up and cut her shirt off and the straps of her bra (all of this was spontaneous). It was really interesting to see the classes reaction. Plus, Yoko tried to stay as still as possible but you could tell by her eyes that she was really traumatized by his actions.
I feel like I'm already seeing Art from a different perspective and I can't wait to learn more! I'm going to the Seattle Art Museum this weekend with Logic and his sister and I look forward to seeing if I'm able to apply any of my new-found knowledge.

Sad Statistics

Little more than one-third of high school seniors now read proficiently.

American adults of virtually all education levels are reading less
well than in the previous decade.

Employers now rank reading and writing as top deficiencies in new hires.

And this is just the tip of the iceberg....
To find out more, you can go to "To Read or Not to Read" here.