TresSugar

Front Page: US Won't Prosecute Medical Marijuana Users

TresSugar — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 08:00:29 -0700

The Justice Department is set to tell prosecutors that it is a waste of resources to arrest people who sell or use medical marijuana. - AP
Criminal charges will be filed against balloon boy's father Richard Heene after police determined that the incident was a hoax. - CNN
Sarah Palin has posted her resume on LinkedIn. - Huffington Post
Home foreclosures are forcing former homeowners into homeless shelters. -New York Times
Where the Wild Things Are lived up to big expectations, coming in at number one at the box office this weekend. - BuzzSugar

Marijuana Supporters Think Legalization Is Coming- Do You?

TresSugar — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 11:00:00 -0700

April 20 has long been considered marijuana's unofficial holiday. Fans of the drug-in-exile gather for weed-fueled concerts, festivals, or college smokeouts. But today's widespread use won't change the fact that marijuana is illegal. High on hope, advocates think the legalization debate is moving from the fringe (and Sean Paul songs) to the mainstream.

There have been some signs of modest movement toward legalization. Obama's Justice Department declared that it will no longer prosecute those who get high for medical purposes. In California, state lawmakers have also introduced legislation that would legalize recreational pot. The reason? It's not compassion for those undergoing physical pain, but rather because of cold hard cash - if taxed, the green cash crop could bring in billions for the state.

But if you ask Obama, like many people did during his online townhall, he has no plans to legalize pot. He doesn't think it's a good strategy to grow our economy. I guess Obama assumes Americans would be too stoned to get to work.

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DEA Won't Raid Medical Marijuana Facilities Under Obama

CitizenSugar — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 08:00:56 -0800

In a stunning move, Attorney General Eric Holder announced that federal drug enforcement officials will no longer raid medical marijuana facilities. This may come as a surprise, since the feds have been cracking down on medical pot since California voted to legalize it in 1996. But Holder says we shouldn't be so shocked; after all, Barack Obama did promise to stop prosecuting medical usage during the campaign.

In fact, Obama used his mother's own experience with breast cancer to inform his opinion. On the trail, Obama said he didn't see any difference between the morphine his mom took and marijuana.

Last week, Holder explained the policy motives behind the move. He said: "The president believes that federal resources should not be used to circumvent state laws." And there you have it. If a state wants to legalize medical marijuana, the federal government will stay out of it!

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Medical Marijuana Law Limited in California

LibertySugar — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 03:00:02 -0800

The California Supreme Court clarified the state's medical marijuana law yesterday, deciding unanimously that individual suppliers can be prosecuted even when dealing to patients with doctor approval. Sellers, who are not caretakers, or fellow medical marijuana cooperative members, will not be protected from the law.

Patients will most likely turn exclusively to marijuana collectives and cooperatives to get their fill. Opponents of the decision say that centralizing the source of the drug makes it much easier for federal agents to raid such dispensaries.

In 1996 California voters passed Proposition 215, which approved marijuana cultivation and use by those with doctor approval. But earlier this year, the state's high court ruled that companies could fire employees who test positive for marijuana, even if they had a doctor's recommendation.

Do you think the trend toward narrowing the legal use of medical marijuana puts the intentions of California voters up in smoke?

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Front Page: Mormons Help Bring Gay Rights to Salt Lake City

TresSugar — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:00:10 -0800

After the Mormon Church backed Salt Lake City ordinances that would bar housing and employment discrimination against gays, the laws passed unanimously last night. - AP
The American Medical Association is urging the federal government to loosen the classification of marijuana so the drug can be used for clinical research. - LA Times
Some victims said they still didn't feel closure after watching DC sniper John Allen Muhammad die last night of lethal injection. - CNN
Germany is in shock after a star soccer player committed suicide.- AP
Baseball great Sammy Sosa says a skin cream made his skin appear white in recent photos. - New York Daily News

Which Will Be Legalized First: Pot or Gay Marriage?

TresSugar — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 07:00:46 -0800

Can you believe it used to be against the law in America to have a nice cold beer or a refreshing glass of wine? I can't! Perhaps that's what future generations will say when they look back at some of our more moralistic laws, specifically those banning marijuana and gay marriage.

Slate ran a piece yesterday arguing that America will soon get rid of these modern prohibitions. In fact, Maine is voting today on a referendum that would legalize gay marriage and another that would legalize medical marijuana, so I guess we'll get to test that thesis soon.

Now that we have a justice department that will not prosecute medical marijuana possession - not to mention a president who once said: "I inhaled. . . frequently. That was the point." - it's not such a stretch to think Americans might soon be able to get high without fear of the jail time. And while many states still have all-out bans on same-sex marriage, the public seems increasingly supportive of marriage equality. Which do you think has a better chance of becoming fully legalized first?

Hump Day: Why Do I Get Dry Sometimes?

TresSugar — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 04:00:00 -0700

Welcome to Hump Day, TrèsSugar's sex advice column. Are you confused about sex? Do you have trouble having an orgasm? Is there something you'd like to try but you're worried it's too weird? Send your questions to TrèsSugar, and our friend Dr. Charlie Glickman from Good Vibrations will offer his sound advice!

Today's Question:

"I get really dry sometimes when my boyfriend and I are having sex. I know all about lubricants, but I'm having trouble guessing when I might need help." To read Dr. Glickman's response, read more

There are a lot of reasons why women experience fluctuations in how much they lubricate. For some, it’s just part of the menstrual cycle. Some women lubricate more at ovulation, while others say that’s when they’re driest. Lots of women also report that their vaginal lubrication changed when they got pregnant and again, some say that they became much wetter and others say that they got drier. So while we know that changes in hormones can influence it, there’s a lot of variation in how much and in what direction. It’s also worth mentioning that menopause generally reduces how much lubrication your body will produce.

Lots of medications and drugs also affect vaginal lubrication, even if it’s rarely listed on the bottle or box. For example, allergy medications are formulated to dry the mucous membranes in your sinuses, but they can do the same to the vagina. Anti-depressants, antihistamines, anxiety medications, smoking cigarettes or marijuana, and drinking alcohol can do the same. In general, if a medication or drug makes your mouth or sinuses dry, it could also reduce vaginal lubrication. Unfortunately, most doctors are unaware of these effects or they don’t feel comfortable talking to their patients about it.

I think it’s really unfortunate that we have this cultural myth that vaginal lubrication is proportional to arousal. Many women find that they can be totally turned on while being pretty dry and others might be quite wet while barely aroused. The best thing we can do is learn to separate the two things in our minds.

You say that you know about lubricants, but for the folks who don’t, here’s a little info.

There are pros and cons to the lubricants on the market, and it can take a little experimenting to find one that will work for you. You might also find that a lube that worked great for a long time isn’t working so well anymore. It’s kind of like shampoo or skin lotion - after a while, you might need to change brands as your individual chemistry changes.

Water-based lubricants can be thin and slippery, or they can be thicker gels. They rinse away really easily, making cleanup a snap, but they do dry out after a while. The glycerin-based lubes last a bit longer, but they tend to get sticky when they dry out. You can add a little water or saliva to freshen them up. While glycerin doesn’t cause yeast infections, it can make one worse if you get one for some other reason, so if you’re prone to yeast infections, avoid these lubes. The glycerin-free lubricants don’t get sticky, but they usually don’t quite last as long. They soak in like hand lotion, so adding water doesn’t work; you need to add some more.

Silicone lubricants don’t dry out (so if you spill some on the kitchen floor, be sure to wipe it up) and are hypoallergenic. They’re also waterproof, which is a plus if you want to have sex in the shower but it can make them a bit trickier to clean up and they sometimes stain sheets. They’re also hypoallergenic and have no taste or scent.

Some people like to use oils as sexual lubricants. If you want to give them a try, use something organic and vegetable-based, such as coconut or almond oils. Mineral oils like baby oil or Vaseline actually dry the skin since the body can’t absorb them or break them down. Coconut oil is solid at room temperature, so it doesn’t go rancid. Keep almond oil in the fridge. And never use oils with latex condoms, diaphragms or cervical caps. Oils will make them dissolve: a condom will break in about 30 seconds if it comes into contact with oil.

A few tips for using lubricants. First, keep the bottle near the bed. You’ll want to be able to grab it when you need it. Second, pump bottles make it a lot easier to add more without fumbling to get the bottle open. Third, if you accidentally get too much lube out of the bottle, don’t put the extra back in. You don’t want to contaminate the bottle with anything that might be on your hand. And lastly, many lube makers offer single-use packets or small bottles. While they cost more per ounce than larger bottles, you can stick them in a pocket or purse pretty easily, not to mention your carry-on bag.

So I think that the best thing for you to do is to keep lube handy and use it when you need it. It takes about 5 seconds to apply and it’ll make sex a lot more fun. And don’t stress about whether it means anything that you sometimes need a little extra slipperiness.

Don't forget to send your questions to TrèsSugar, and our friend Dr. Charlie Glickman will offer his sound advice!

Front Page: Solar Eclipse Brings Darkness at Dawn

TresSugar — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 08:00:24 -0700

Dawn turned to darkness in Asia today, thanks to the longest total solar eclipse of the century. - AP
Oakland, CA, has become the first US city to pass a tax on medical marijuana. - CNN
Michelle Obama has chopped her hair. The first lady is rocking a new bob. - The Daily Mail
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has been accused in a civil suit of raping a hotel concierge worker. - Washington Post
Tyler Perry announced yesterday that he will treat 65 kids to a trip to Disney World, after they alleged that a suburban swim club shunned them because of their race. - Huffington Post

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Marijuana Majority? State and Local Laws Ease Access

CitizenSugar — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 15:30:00 -0800

The number of annual marijuana arrests have been setting all-time records lately. Sales and trafficking aside, there are more possession charges nationally than violent crimes combined. Maybe there are a lot more smokers than violent people, or it could be prosecuted disproportionately.

The latter explanation is the logic behind several state and local decisions to ease restrictions. On Tuesday, Michigan joined 12 other states that have legalized medical marijuana. Licensed dispensaries are not part of the law, so Michiganders will have to get themselves a good dealer.

Over in Massachusetts, marijuana is still illegal. But thanks to voters, possession of up to one ounce is no longer punishable by jail time. Instead, marijuana possession will be punishable with a citation, $100 fine, and confiscation of the drug - almost like getting a speeding ticket minus the license points! In both Massachusetts and Michigan, voters rejected widespread campaigns that argued easing marijuana laws would increase adolescent drug abuse, permit large-scale trafficking, endanger workplace safety, and sharply increase traffic fatalities.

To find out what local laws passed, read more.

Three promarijuana laws at local levels prevailed. Fayetteville, AR, voted to make minor offenses a low priority and Hawaii County decided to make marijuana its lowest priority. Berkeley, CA, where medical marijuana is already legal, put no limit on the amount a patient or dispensary can possess.

So that’s today in soft-core drugs! Do you think increasing access to marijuana for people who need it outweighs potential abuse of the laws? Are voters right to demand that marijuana possession go to the bottom of law enforcement priorities?

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California Cracking Down on Pot Clubs High on Profits

LibertySugar — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 10:03:54 -0700

He may have been Governor Moonbeam in the '70s, but today California Attorney General Jerry Brown has cracked down on the state's pot clubs. When California legalized medical marijuana 10 years ago, medical dispensaries started popping up, only to see profits as high as a kite.

AG Brown said, "The voters wanted medical marijuana dispensaries to be used for seriously ill patients and their caregivers - not as million-dollar businesses."

Brown may be correct, but couldn't he apply his logic to other pharmaceutical companies? Pot wouldn't be the first drug to help businesspeople get rich. Even so, Brown has a new set of rules for these medical dispensaries. To see what they are, read more.

According to the SF Chronicle they include: Sell only to legitimate patients; operate as nonprofits; and only buy pot from fellow cooperative members at prices that cover cost, as opposed to professional growers who are out for big bucks. Though, of course, these medical providers can always get caught by the federal government, which doesn't recognize California's legalization. Is Brown right? Is pot as medicine OK as long as it's not an issue of profit?

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