Press Releases

Viewing by tag: research

  • Medical Cannabis “review” has failed to protect patients says NORML

    posted on the May 20th, 2016 by norml

    The government’s so-called review of the medicinal cannabis access guidelines has failed to protect patients. “These very minor changes will only help a few people, and even these seriously ill people will need to jump through quite a few hoops to have any chance of approval,” said Chris Fowlie, spokesperson for the National Organisation for […]

  • Chris Fowlie on The Daily Blog – Even one cannabis arrest is one too many

    posted on the July 23rd, 2015 by Chris

    Originally published on The Daily Blog, 23 July 2015 I’m either stupid or in denial, because apparently the police have already decriminalised weed.  That’s according to an article in the latest issue of Salient, which says “Fowlie focusses on the noise and misses the signal” in a recent post I made here on The Daily Blog. Maybe […]

  • Chris Fowlie on The Daily Blog: Healthy hemp foods kept off shelf by Oz cop roadblock

    posted on the July 8th, 2015 by Chris

    Originally published on The Daily Blog 8 July 2015 Australian police have convinced politicians to extend the ban on one of most nutritious food sources known, because of concerns about the validity of their roadside drug tests, which they are pushing for New Zealand to adopt.  Hemp seed is one of the best protein sources […]

  • Chris Fowlie on The Daily Blog: One of many punished and not supported

    posted on the June 25th, 2015 by Chris

    Originally published on The Daily Blog, 25 June 2015 This Friday 26 June is global “Support, don’t punish” day, which aims to focus attention on the harmful aspects of criminal drug laws while calling for more support for those drug users who need it.  In the Auckland District Court this week I saw a cannabis activist persecuted by […]

  • NORML, Peter Dunne and Family First all agree patients should have more access to effective medicinal cannabis. The question is How?

    posted on the May 13th, 2015 by Chris

    Instead of wasting time and money on years of pharmaceutical-level testing, NORML says we should follow the Australian approach, treat it as a herbal remedy, and immediately allow compassionate access. A TVNZ poll last weekend showed an increase in support for medicinal cannabis, and Associate Minister of Health Peter Dunne said if medicinal cannabis is effective, he will […]

  • NORML and Family First agree NZ’s medicinal cannabis policies need to change

    posted on the May 12th, 2015 by Chris

    NORML is pleased to note that the conservative group Family First is calling for reforms to our outdated policies around medicinal cannabis. In their recent press release, Family First says they are now calling for: the expansion of research into the components of the marijuana plant for delivery via non-smoked forms. (Supported by NZMA) the establishment […]

  • Chris Fowlie on The Daily Blog: Let’s have an honest discussion on medicinal cannabis

    posted on the April 16th, 2015 by Chris

    Originally published on The Daily Blog, 16 April 2015 Safer than aspirin[1], or a sneaky ruse to legalise the devil’s weed? Patients and health professionals say cannabis may be a “wonder drug[2]” that relieves conditions from back pain and nausea to fibromyalgia, cancer[3] and epilepsy. But not according to our Ministry of Health. The only […]

  • The Media Should Stop Pretending Marijuana’s Risks Are a Mystery — The Science Is Clear

    posted on the December 20th, 2013 by Chris

    We now know as much about cannabis as we know about alcohol, tobacco and many prescription drugs. Speaking recently with the Los Angeles Times, UCLA professor and former Washington state “pot czar” Mark Kleiman implied that we as a society are largely ignorant when it comes to the subject of weed. Speaking with Times columnist Patt […]

  • Study: Marijuana smoking not associated with airway cancers, COPD, emphysema, or other tobacco-related pulmonary complications

    posted on the July 10th, 2013 by norml

    Last week we reported a new study that found cannabis reduces cravings for tobacco. It turns out pulmonary complications associated with the regular smoking of cannabis are “relatively small” and far lower than those associated with tobacco smoking, according to a recent review published in the June edition of the scientific journal Annals of the […]

  • Second NZ study fails to find downside to cannabis use

    posted on the June 5th, 2013 by norml

    Two studies from New Zealand have failed to find the downside to cannabis use they were looking for – but don’t expect to see any coverage in our local media. Last month we revealed a new re-analysis of NZ data that, when it was first published, was widely reported as showing a lung cancer link […]

  • Study: Regular Cannabis Use Associated With Reduced Risk Factors For Type 2 Diabetes

    posted on the May 15th, 2013 by norml

    Smoking cannabis could reduce the risk of diabetes by controlling blood sugar Marijuana users had 16% lower fasting insulin levels than non-users They were also less likely to be insulin resistant and had smaller waists Previous research has found cannabis smokers are less likely to be obese   Study: Regular Cannabis Use Associated With Reduced […]

  • NORML’s Chris Fowlie talks legalisation in Colorado and how it might apply to NZ, with Newstalk’s Jack Tame

    posted on the April 20th, 2013 by Chris

    http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/player/ondemand/948590092-world-cannabis-week-to-take-over-colorado World Cannabis Week to take over Colorado New Zealander Chris Fowlie researches cannabis use and cultivation, and he talks to Jack Tame in Colorado, where the drug is legal and celebrating that this weekend. Click to listen in external player or download the mp3 here

  • Study: Smoking Cannabis Associated With “Significantly Better” Health Outcomes Than Tobacco

    posted on the March 28th, 2013 by Chris

    Australian research has found cannabis users are just as healthy as non-users, but you probably didn’t see any coverage of this in the mainstream media. The key points are: Cannabis-only subjects reported “significantly better” general health and fewer smoking-related health concerns compared to the tobacco-only group. Cannabis-only subjects were less likely to report diagnoses of […]

  • New Zealand still the world’s top consumer of cannabis

    posted on the March 22nd, 2013 by Chris

    New Zealand and Australia have the highest rates of using cannabis in the world, according to the United Nation’s 2012 World Drug Report. In 2010 (the most recent year for which international data was available), marijuana consumption was most prevalent in Australia and New Zealand, with the United States and Canada tied for second, followed […]

  • Regulation will reduce teen cannabis use, says NORML

    posted on the September 3rd, 2012 by norml

    Current drug policy is resulting in widespread teenage cannabis use while a regulated market would make cannabis use adults-only in licensed premises. Despite strict cannabis laws, New Zealand has the highest rate of teen cannabis use in the world. Meanwhile, the Netherlands have the most relaxed cannabis laws for adults in the world but has […]

  • Scientific Review: “There Is Now Clear Evidence That Cannabinoids Are Useful For The Treatment Of Various Medical Conditions”

    posted on the August 9th, 2012 by norml

    by Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director (USA) August 9, 2012 For the second time in recent months, a scientific paper published in a peer-reviewed journal has thoroughly rebutted the present Schedule Istatus of cannabis under US federal law, which states that the plant and its organic constituents possess a “high potential for abuse,” and that […]

  • Five Scientific Conclusions About Cannabis That The Mainstream Media Doesn’t Want You To Know

    posted on the July 27th, 2012 by norml

    The government and mainstream media like to push studies touting the purported dangers of marijuana, while ignoring scientific evidence that demonstrates the opposite, writes Paul Armentano. While studies touting the purported dangers of cannabis are frequently pushed by the federal government and, therefore, all but assured mainstream media coverage, scientific conclusions rebutting pot propaganda or demonstrating […]

  • Medical cannabis laws associated with fewer suicides

    posted on the February 25th, 2012 by Chris

    “Policymakers weighing the pros and cons of legalization should consider… that (these) laws may lead to fewer suicides among young adult males” New Zealand has one of the highest rates of suicide in the world – especially for young males. We also have the highest rate of cannabis arrests in the world, with police spending […]

  • Medical Cannabis Laws Have No Discernable Adverse Impact On Adolescents’ Pot Use

    posted on the February 14th, 2012 by norml

    by Paul Armentano, US NORML Deputy Director The enactment of state laws allowing for the limited legal use of cannabis by qualified patients has little to no causal effect on broader marijuana use, according to data published online in the journal Annals of Epidemiology. Investigators at McGill University in Montreal obtained state-level estimates of marijuana […]

  • NZ’s 540,000 marijuana users “too many to arrest”

    posted on the January 18th, 2012 by norml

    A new Horizon Poll has found New Zealand has 540,000 marijuana users including over 70,000 who use it every day. NORML says this is more evidence in support of it’s campaign theme of “too many smokers to arrest”. “New Zealand has one of the highest rates of cannabis use in the world, and despite decades […]