Monthly Archives: September 2014

Public Protector Declines Investigation Into R1 Billion Cannabis Research Maladministration

GIF Animiation

GIF Animiation

Please quote this reference in your correspondence: 7/2 -004187/13

Enquiries: Adv. L Yousuf
Tel: 012 366 7160 I Fax: 086 625 8233
E-mail: lailay@pproteclorg
Mr AH Du Plessis
PER EMAIL: Intemafrica@gmail.com

Dear Mr Du Plessis

RE: YOUR REQUEST FOR REVIEW

The above subject matter refers.

Kindly be informed that we have considered your request to review the decision
taken in respect of your complaint against the Department of Health.
In terms of the Public Protector’s policy on review, the decision to undertake a review
is not automatic. If one is dissatisfied or does not agree with a decision or the
outcome of an investigation, the duty is on him/her to supply sufficient evidence to
persuade the Public Protector that a review is justified. The purpose of a review is to
confirm whether the process undertaken to handle your matter was fair and
reasonable. It is not to conduct a separate or new investigation.

A review will only be considered on the basis of the following grounds:

1. If the complainant believes that a decision is wrong because it was made
based on incomplete or inaccurate evidence or information that contained
inaccurate facts, and he/she can show this using readily available information;
and/ or

2. If there is new and relevant information that was not previously available and
has a material effect on the decision made.

After considering all factors submitted in support of your request for a review, we
have come to a conclusion that the reasons you have provided are not adequate to
justify looking in to the matter again . We regret to inform you that that there is
nothing further that our office can assist you with.

Therefore our file remains closed.

Kind Regards
MS.LESEDISEKELE
SENIOR MANAGER: lACS
DATE: 1 SEPTEMBER 2014

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Why government wants to legalise dagga

It seems that the South African government is on the verge of legalising dagga. Head of the Healthcare and Life Sciences Practice at Werksmans Attorneys Neil Kirby discusses the reasons why…

legalize-mj-says-chief
Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) Member of Parliament (MP) Mario Oriani-Ambrosini opened a can of worms with his passionate appeal in Parliament for the legalisation of dagga as medical treatment.

Head of the Healthcare and Life Sciences Practice at Werksmans Attorneys Neil Kirby says that it’s widely believed that dagga holds numerous potential cures for diseases and ailments.

Scientific evidence supporting the hypothesis

There is no doubt that the illegality of dagga ultimately creates a black market for criminals. “The evidence shows that there are more people for the legalisation of dagga than there are people against it. We’re not the first country to have this debate.”

Kirby highlights a number of cities and countries that legalised marijuana for medicinal purposes.

“California, Colorado and Washington had it legalised across the border while New York is about to elect the same legislation.

“Uruguay is also legalising it where you can do anything you want with dagga. Other countries like Iran and Switzerland has laws that make it completely legal to grow it,” says Kirby.

Drug decriminalisation – I’m a patient not a dealer!

“Bear in mind that we have very strict smoking laws. Are we required to integrate anti-tobacco with anti-cannabis or is cannabis considered a tobacco product for purposes of smoking. How do we advertise it?

“Under the proposed legislation we’ve got something called a Pilot Program with private or public hospitals that will be designated by the minister in regulations to give you places where you can access your cannabis [dagga],” explains Kirby.

The Medical Innovation Bill of 2014 – more than meets eye

“Tuberculosis and HIV/Aids is still trying to be cured and the simplest medication is still an effort for a lot of South Africans to receive. Pharmacies aren’t available, medicines are sometimes scarce and treatment is too expensive.

“We’re talking about an innovation in the absence of evidence based treatment. It suggests that doctors in these Pilot Sites are going to be encouraged to adopt treatment regiments or protocols that aren’t necessary widely accepted,” explains Kirby.

There are great concerns regarding the lunacy of other potential innovations such the African potato and garlic beetroot.

“If you think that rubbing the skin infection with the back of a potato will solve the problem then do it. However, there’s a self-admission here. The bill says that if the treatment goes horribly wrong, you can’t sue the doctor.”

He further added that South Africa must be careful with what it is they promote as “viable healthcare solutions”.

The Medical Innovation Bill of 2014 – A badly drafted piece of legislation?

Kirby reckons that it could be too soon to tell because the bill must still undergo the various stages of the legislative process.

“Let’s give it the benefit of the doubt at the moment since it can change in the process. I’m not too convinced that this is restricted to the medical use of dagga only as commercial and industrial uses of cannabis is to be identified by the Minister of Trade and Industry in regulation,” Kirby explains.

Furthermore, Kirby battles to understand how dagga could reduce the cost of private and public healthcare.

“I don’t see the two sitting together at all and I might have to see a report or two that indicate how the two concepts are connected.

“If you make it available for medical purposes, somebody has to grow it somewhere and it has to be harvested, possessed, processed, manufactured and packaged. All of those people (manufacturers) would have to be part of a chain that would be immune from prosecution,” Kirby explains.

He added that legalising dagga for medicinal purposes suggests that the legislation would have to expand beyond the person smoking it in hospital.

Source: http://mattr.biz/articles/885/why-government-wants-to-legalise-dagga
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:1EBgJRtni-0J:mattr.biz/articles/885/why-government-wants-to-legalise-dagga+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=za

Recognising the dagga vendor {Institute for Security Studies SA}

All sorts of people sell dagga. Because dagga is often used in combination with other drugs, vendors of other drugs may also sell dagga. Known users may also sell the drug. Sales of matchboxes or paper wraps of dagga often take place on street corners. People loitering on corners and approaching passing cars should be questioned.

marijuana_mag_cover

 

As with all drugs, the package of dagga is often hidden in nearby debris, rather than on the person of the vendor. Suspects should be watched prior to approaching to determine the location of their stash. Dagga is often sold out of private residences. Households with a lot of short-term visitors should be monitored. Many of these residences will sell to anyone, so buy and bust operations can be executed easily. Strictly follow protocol in attempting any such operation. These buildings are also subject to asset forfeiture. Coordinate these operations with the Asset Forfeiture Unit of the National Prosecuting Authority.

Dagga is also often sold out of petrol stations, where it is less easy to spot unusual behaviour. These stations are also subject to forfeiture, although the interests of justice may preclude seizure where the ownership has not been given notice.

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Source: http://www.issafrica.org/pubs/Other/SADrugHBSep04/IIIC.pdf

Recognising The Dagga User {by Institute for Security Studies SA}

Dagga is typically smoked, and the onset of effects occurs within a few seconds of inhaling, lasting for two to four hours.

Some dagga users are very easy to identify:

stoner_791927_answer_8_xlarge

• The drug has a strong odour that lingers in the hair and clothing. An experienced police member should be able to identify this distinctive smell.

• Devoted users may sport dagga leaf insignia on their clothing, jewellery, bumper stickers, or other items. Their clothing may also make more subtle
reference to the drug, through slogans such as ‘blunt’ (a reference to a hollowed out cigar packed with dagga).

• The Rastafarian religion views dagga as a sacrament, and its members are easy to identify due to their long dreadlocks and typical dress (including the
large knit cap or ‘tam’ and use of the colours of Ethiopian flag: gold, green, and red.)

• Recent users will often have bloodshot, watery eyes; drooping eyelids; slow reaction times, and possibly body tremors.

• The user’s pulse and blood pressure will be elevated while under the influence of dagga.

• The inner edge of index finger and the tip of the thumb, as well as the lips, may show burns from smoking short ‘stompies’.

• Dagga users suffer from ‘non-convergence’ of the eyes, or the inability to keep the eyes ‘crossed’ (‘go squint’).

This final indicator can be tested in the following manner. A pen is held vertically at the suspect’s eye-level, approximately 35 cm from the face.
Suspects should be told to hold their heads straight, and follow the tip of the pen with their eyes only. The pen should be moved slowly from side to side
along an arc of about 30 cm. The pen should then stop at the centre of the suspect’s face, in line with his nose, and should be moved towards the nose at
eye level. If sober, the suspect’s eyes should both track the pen smoothly to the tip of the nose – the eyes will cross. Dagga use will cause one eye to
‘release’ and track out, with only one eye remaining focused on the tip of the nose.

Of course, people may display any of these indicators and NOT be users of dagga – none of these indicators can stand alone as a basis for reasonable
suspicion of possession, but they can provide a basis cumulatively. Note should be taken of symptoms present for use in court.

All sorts of people use dagga, and some use well known techniques to avoid detection:

• Use of breath fresheners, body sprays, and incense to cover the odour.

• Use of eye drops or dark glasses to hide bloodshot eyes.

HINT: Always require suspects to remove dark
eyeglasses. Not only are the eyes the most
important feature to observe in order to detect
drug use, but they are also helpful in determining
whether the suspect is

Dagga generally produces a state of sedation, so intoxicated subjects are usually compliant. Excessive consumption can produce paranoia and panic attacks,

however. As is the case with all intoxicants, dagga users may behave in ways they would not when sober.

Dagga is fat soluble, and its metabolites are detectable in the urine for periods of a month or more after last use for heavy users. According to the 3
Metros study, urban dagga users are more likely to be:

• male;

• Indian or coloured;

• under the age of 20;

• arrested for thefts or drug related crimes.

This profile is consistent with that of the population presenting for treatment at the country’s rehabilitation centres, as monitored by the South African
Community Epidemiological Network on Drug Use (SACENDU).

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http://www.issafrica.org/pubs/Other/SADrugHBSep04/IIIB.pdf
http://www.issafrica.org

Cops or robbers {Jan 2013 – In Memory of Areff Haffejee}

It’s been over a year and the mystery surrounding the death of Areff Haffejee and a police officer is still a conspiracy theory.

Areff Haffejee

Areff Haffejee


Considering I like to read between the lines of all things posted. Who is to say the cop wasn’t driving the Audi.

If you missed it here is the article I am referring to.

I think the cop told the man that we can arrest you for the joint but let me take your car for a spin and we can be friends about this situation.

The owner said shot hey but you drive nice nice. After much debate on how cannabis should be legal they laughed about it.

The policeman got in the driver seat after he told his partner that he is just going for a joyride in this mans car follow me maybe we stop at the bank if not we can arrest the man where I stop. Just follow me.

So in the car they listen to music. Very relaxed. Until the policeman talks about some loose change.

Travelling at some speed. The owner realizes he is being robbed by our protectors. They start arguing maybe the owner tried to go for his gun.

The driver’s foot pressed down fully on the accelerator in the struggle.

He loses control of the Audi and hits the light pole without braking..

The follower sees the car is in a million pieces and he covers up for his friend/partner.

The purpose of this “fictional” story is to get you thinking and asking questions.

Condolences to families of the two deceased.

Sources: http://www.fightagainstcrime.co.za/supercar-crash-cop-drug-bribe-theory/
http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/supercar-crash-cop-a-sandton-celebrity-1.1454330
http://www.news24.com/MyNews24/Cops-or-robbers-20130112
http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/2013/01/17/ipid-gets-audi-r8-rosebank-crash-docket

 

PC Health: Medical Innovation Bill {INAUDIBLE PODCAST}

Discussion of the Medical Innovation Bill in parliament without public participation. The audio recording is basically inaudible.

PC Health: Medical Innovation Bill : briefing by Mr N Singh MP; Department of Health 1st Quarter Performance 1

Date of Recording:  17 Sep 2014
Length: 177:23 minutes (20.3 MB)
Format: MP3 Stereo 8kHz 16Kbps (CBR)
Transcription & commentary

Summary, mention of letters received, letter read from cannabis user with spinal compression injury. James: Rational, evidence based thinking required put aside emotions of Marios death. Bill does two things: provision for innovation, commercialisation of cannabis. James has difficulty with supporting commercialisation. Mutters on about prevention of the various types of cancer. Reads a document describing cancer methodology, how it grows. Science has not provided an answer to the problem, further research required and this is what scientific innovation is. Cannabis is still harmful despite the claims (can’t od, doesn’t lead to cancer..) : current strain potency (WTF? Regulate, clearly publish THC % content like we do with alcohol), dependency (WTF? where is the context relative to alcohol, cigarettes and pharmaceutical drugs?), constant use interfering with job (WTF? generalised, unsubstantiated statement), exposure to minors (WTF? We don’t want this either. Regulate removes it from the streets and puts it behind the counter. Put edibles in clearly marked, child proof packaging. As if prohibition works?!).Lots of waffling .. ‘ first do no harm’ .. ‘patient needs sufficient info to make informed decisions’ .. mention of quality control seen as a major weakness in the debate. Closure summary: Bill mentions innovation, commercialisation, says nothing about curing cancer, mentions treatment, pain control, safety needs to be established. Check and balances and safe guards important. 53:18 -SG

 

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Who pays SANDF & SAPS for doing gardening, illegally burning waste & harassing otherwise law abiding citizens?

In January 2012 police cut down what was essentially a dagga forest in Soweto worth R4 million. Then illegally disposed of the dagga bio mass by burning it, presumably where it was cut & piled up.

SAPS-Cutting-Down-Dagga-Forest

“Residents watched from a distance as throngs of soldiers and police in more than 30 vehicles descended on Meadowlands hostel at 8.30am while a police helicopter hovered above.

SAPS-Arresting-Dagga-Suspects-R4s

Think about it for a moment. More than 31 government vehicles including a helicopter, a battalion of soldiers and police officers armed with assault rifles and tactical gear. Swooping down on harmless plants then unleashes an onslaught of terror until the last weed has yelp its crackling cry and billowing smoke in reminiscence of the Soweto uprising of 1976, condolences to the lives lost, however this is an equal violent act upon not only the daggafarians of Soweto but also the community’s access to medicine, an industrial sector and a wealth generator.  Consider the quality of service delivery by municipality if they could have the budget that funds an all out war on a harmless weed.

SAPS-Burning-Down-Dagga-Forest

Imagine the waste of burning this bio mass needlessly without a purpose that is beneficial to the community in which it is illegally burned.

Who is paying the South African National Defense Force & South African Police Service for doing gardening, illegally burning bio-waste & harassing otherwise law abiding citizens? Never mind the tax on the carbon emissions of all the dagga that has to be incinerated annually or the otherwise law abiding citizens that needs to be housed and fed daily in a correctional facility?

Victims of rape, murder and victims of other real crimes are the ones who ultimately pay the price.

Source

 

Is dagga gevaarlik? Sorika van Elimkliniek glo so.

RSG Christelle Webb-Joubert gesels met Sorika de Swardt van die Elimkliniek oor dagga en of dit werklik gevaarlik is.

Sorika de Swart

Sorika de Swart

Sorika glo THC is uiters gevaarlik. Sy glo ook dat dagga behandel word met gevaarlike middles. Sy glo ook dat medical marijuana en dagga heeltemal verskillend is van mekaar. Sy glo ook dat rooi oe net met lang termyn dagga gebruik ontwikkel. 

Dit is duideluk dat Sorika nie regtig veel weet van dagga nie.

 

MCC Application Form For Medical Dagga in South Africa

SECTION 21: MOOT! Applications Will Not Be Authorised For Dagga

Download Recording

Dr Shyamli Munbodh Says Section 21 applications will not be authorised for dagga

ATTENTION ALL CANDIDATES THAT WANT TO APPLY FOR USING CANNABIS MEDICALLY FROM THE MEDICINE CONTROL COUNCIL.original-4

Please find a 12 page application form, below, that must be filled in by your doctor, this is only possible through a qualified doctor with a practice number. Detailed explanations to use, dosage, reason must be supplied – TL

Peter Ulkco was right it’s not that easy. – MickeyD

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IAN PRAAT DAGGA OP LOSLIP 21 JANUARIE 2014 {PODCAST}

‘n Paartjie wil tot in die hoogste hof baklei vir die wettige besit van dagga. Hulle sê ongeag die effek daarvan, is dit elke mens se reg om self te besluit wat hy in sy liggaam wil sit. Rook en alkohol veroorsaak duisende steftes, maar is wettig, al het dit nie medisinale gebruike soos dagga nie. In Portugal het dwelmverslawing glo met 40% afgeneem binne 10 jaar nadat alle dwelms gewettig is, bloot omdat dit nie meer verbode vrugte is nie.

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Dagga Couple

DAGGA EN HEMP: HOE VERKLAAR JY DIT? 22 SEPTEMBER 2013 {PODCAST}

Marijuana-vs.-Hemp

Is die dagga wat in sommige lande verbou en in die vervaardiging van vesel, biobrandstof en ook in boumateriaal gebruik word, dieselfde as Suid-Afrikaanse dagga? Kan ‘n spinnekop lang tye onder water deurbring? Hoekom groei onkruid altyd beter as ander plante? En hoekom vreet ‘n slak eerder moeilik bekombare blare van tuinplante, terwyl dit onkruid ignoreer?

 

The history of dagga in the Iron Age

Introduction
I will be examining the history of Cannabis sativa (from here on, it will be referred to as dagga) in the Iron Age of Southern Africa. The main objective of this thesis is to clarify the approximate date that dagga entered into the continent, which group of people introduced it into the continent as well as what the main practices and uses were of dagga at that particular time.

I will mainly draw upon past and current literature regarding dagga. There is, however, a stone mortar and pestle that has been recovered from the Mapungubwe landscape and the aim is to test the stone to determine as to whether there are traces of cannabis on the stone as well as to determine an approximate date for the residue left on the stone.

Jan_van_Riebeeck-BONG

Jan van Riebeeck

Aim
The aim of this honours project is to clarify the history of dagga in the South African archaeological record- with specific reference to the Mapungubwe landscape in Limpopo. Specifically, I will aim to determine whether dagga was introduced by the Bantu speakers who were migrating southwards or by the Indian Ocean Trade.

Rationale
The diffusion of dagga into Africa- particularly southern Africa has long been contested and various researchers have offered different models as to the time of entry, and models of migration using a variety of sources and explanations.

Smoking in Africa has been of particular interest to archaeologists and historians because of the significant number of smoking pipes that have been found at various sites across the continent. Dagga smoking, among other practices is still prevalent in modern South African culture, thus it would be beneficial to explore the customs of the past to better understand the future

Literature Review
One of the first mentions of dagga in Africa was made by Friar João dos Santos in 1609 whereby he mentions that throughout Kaffraria in Ethiopia, the indigenous occupants grow a herb called bangue. He describes the plant as being similar to the ear of coriander in both the grain and ear but states that the leaf differs to that of coriander. He writes that the leaf is comparable to the clove gillyflower. Dos Santos explains how the natives dry the leaf and stalk and then grind them into a fine powder. From there, the powder is eaten and complemented with water. He states that the people who consume the bangue act in a drunk-like manner after eating it. Walton (1953) reiterates that dos Santos mentions the cultivation and use of dagga by the eastern Shona in the 16th century.

Perhaps one of the best ways to obtain dates for dagga use in Africa is by dating the pipes that were used to smoke dagga however, Jeffreys (1965) states that dating the pipes is rather perilous to date. This has now proven to be an overstatement as there are many dating techniques available. Jeffreys (1965) maintains that dagga smoking was a widespread practice in tropical Africa ± 1000 years before tobacco smoking was introduced to Africa. Walton (1953 as cited in Jeffreys 1965) believes that dagga was introduced into southern Africa by the first group of Bantu herders from the north and as a result, significant quantities of dagga pipe bowls have been found to be associated with early Bantu settlements in Zimbabwe, Gauteng, the Orange Free State, Basutoland, the Cape Province and Kwa-Zulu Natal. The pertinent question then becomes, at what time did the first Bantu speakers move into southern Africa. Breutz (1955 as cited in Jeffreys 1965) believes it was as far back as 1300 A.D. This date is clearly incorrect but it was the current thinking at that time.

Philips (1983) and van der Merwe (1975) offer that the first solid evidence for dagga smoking in Africa was unearthed by J.C. Dombrowski in 1971 in Lalibela in central Ethiopia. Dombrowski dated a number of artefacts from the surroundings stratigraphy layers where the smoking pipes were located and he concluded that dagga smoking was practiced in Ethiopia in the thirteenth or fourteenth century.

Two sites have been excavated in the Brandberg, Nambia which are associated with the Bergdama. These sites offer evidence for smoking. The radio carbon dates supplied for this site are 1590 and 170 A.D respectively. Based on ethnohistorical data, it has been suggested that the occupants of the afore mentioned sites were smoking dagga by the sixteenth century (du Toit 1980).

Four fragments of smoking pipes have been excavated at Sebanzi Hill in Zambia. The pipe fragments suggest that smoking in central Africa is of far greater antiquity that had been previously suggested. One of the pipe fragments has been tentatively dated to approximately 1200 A.D. whilst two of the other fragments have been dated to the seventeenth century based on artefacts located within the same stratigraphy- namely charcoal (Phillipson 1965).

Huffman et al. (2002) excavated a stone-lined mortar and a stone-edged circle at site 14C. Huufman (2002) believes that the stone-circle cannot be a fireplace as it is too high and too small. He believes it was probably used as a pot-stand. Through Huffman’s (2002) understanding of the Central Cattle Pattern, the location of the stone circle would lie in the men’s domain. Huffman (2002) suggests that both the location as well as the arrangement of features could indicate that the area was more than likely used to process cannabis into hashish. If this assumption is correct, then mortar was used to grind the cannabis into a pulp that was in turn placed into a calabash which then floated in a pot placed in the stone circle. The embers allowed for the necessary heat required to produce hashish which would, probably, be later smoked.

Du Toit (1980) states that dagga is social plant and is associated with human settlements; thus the spread of dagga was not due to wind, currents or animal movements. There are several current diffusion hypothesis models offered to explain to diffusion of dagga into Africa. Watt (1961 as cited in du Toit 1980) believes that dagga may have been introduced into Africa by early travellers circumnavigating the Cape from the east. The majority of all the historical documentation as well as the linguistic evidence suggests a date before the fifteenth or sixteenth century return of the European travellers.

James (1970 as cited in du Toit 1980) based his argument on single entity of terminological evidence- the relationship between the Hindi and Shangaan (Tsonga) languages. He maintains that the dagga was first introduced to the coast of Mozambique by the Portuguese militant traders who were returning from India. This model then offers a later date. James’s model is lacking as it does not acknowledge documents regarding the early uses of dagga.

Morley and Bensusan (1971 as cited in du Toit 1980) recognise that dagga is not indigenous to southern Africa. The authors believe that dagga was introduced into Africa by the Arab traders to the Mozambique coast from India. From Mozambique, the plant was carried towards the south by the migrating “Hottentots and Bantu” (du Toit 1980:15). This hypothesis is supported by Goodwin (1939 as cited in du Toit 1980). However, du Toit (1980) believes that the hypothesis is lacking in that it does not specify the details of the “Khoikhoi and Bantu” people. This hypothesis does, nonetheless, offer an earlier date for the introduction of cannabis.

Walton (1953 as cited in du Toit 1980) incorporates his own archaeological reports which refer to pipes found in early Bantu settlements as well as to Dos Santos‘ description of the cultivation of dagga by the eastern Shona in the sixteenth century. Walton believes that dagga was introduced into southern Africa by the first Bantu herders from the north. From there, the use of cannabis would have spread from the Bantu to the Khoikhoi and the San. Du Toit (1980) holds this hypothesis in high regard as it represents a large portion of the evidence he has managed to obtain.

Du Toit (1980) offers his own hypothesis that dagga spread from south Arabia through Ethiopia. It is well known that that the Amhara originated from Arabia and an array of commodities proceeded and followed this Semitic incursion- during this process plough agriculture, a zebu strain of cattle and various agriculture products spread to Ethiopia. Du Toit (1980) is unsure as to whether dagga was one of these products. Du Toit (1980) relies on the evidence supplied by Dombrowski (1971) and van der Merwe (1975) with regards to the pipes excavated in Lalibela in Ethiopia (as mentioned above). Du Toit (1980) concludes that these pipes imply that either dagga came into Ethiopia from southern Arabia or alternatively, it spread from the east African coast in a northerly direction from Bantu-speaking people to the Cushitic people. Du Toit (1980) highlights that one of the issues with this hypothesis is the fact that Lake Tana is in the central northern region of Ethiopia and that there is no significant evidence to say that there was a trade route between modern-day Kenya and Ethiopia.

Shaw (1938) states that dagga was introduced to the east coast of Africa by the Arabs and had spread to the Cape Peninsula by the time of van Riebeeck’s arrival.
A significant amount of evidence is based on linguistic evidence. There are two fundamental terms with regards to the history of dagga: bhanga which originates from Sanskrit which in turn resulted in the Hindi word bhang and kinnab which is an Arabic word. It is thought that kinnab may have lead to Linnaeus adopting the word for the suborder of Cannabis (du Toit 1980).

The early Arab traders introduced the term bang to Africa along with its on linguistic varieties. This term is found all over east and southern Africa. The origins of the term are listed as being hindi- bang, Arabic- banj and Persian- bandz (banj). In the east African region, south of Lake Victoria, dagga is known as bhangi (Kollmann 1899 as cited in du Toit 1980); perhaps due to early Swahili contacts. Further south, there are other variations of the term bhangi. The Thonga (Junod 1912 as cited in du Toit 1980) located in the Zambezi Valley refer to dagga as mbange whilst the Zimbabwean Shona community refer to it as mbanji. The Venda community, south of the Limpopo River refer to dagga as mbhanzhe whilst the Sotho speakers refer to dagga as mmoana or matakwane. A slight phonetic variation is noted among the Swazi-Zulu and Xhosa speakers who refer to dagga as ntsangu. The Lamba society in present-day Zambia refers to dagga as uluwangula (du Toit 1980). The above illustrates that dagga had been present in these societies long enough for these people to adapt the Hindi word, bang, to suit their own language.

 

African Language Dagga term Reference
East Africa bhangi Kollman 1899
Thonga mbange Junod 1912
Shona mbanji Hannan 1959
Venda mbhanzhe Warmelo 1989
Sotho mmoana/ matakwane Mabile, and Dieterlen 1950
Swazi-Zulu ntsangu Doke, Malcom, Sikakana and Vilakazi 1990
Lamba Uluwangula Du Toit 1980

 

The first use of the term dagga first appeared Jan van Riebeeck’s journal in 1658 although it was spelt ‘daccha’. However, it is almost certain that the plant is question is not actually dagga but rather Leonotis leonurus which is well known plant among the Khoikhoi. This plant is also referred to as Rooi dagga, Wilde dagga, Klipdagga which was smoked by the Khoikhoi instead of tobacco (du Toit 1980). There appears to be confusion in the early literature (especially within the primary sources) between cannabis and Leonotis leonurus. It appears that ‘daccha’ was the generally adopted term of all narcotics- both smoked and chewed.

Du Toit (1980) states that it is not possible to confuse the adult dagga plant with the adult plant of Leonotis leonurus because of the different flowers they each produce. Whilst the dagga plant produces a dull white flower, Leonotis leonurus produces a bright red flower. It is possible, however that due to the similar use of both plants as well its similar properties, some confusion may have occurred.

Nienaber (1963 as cited in du Toit 1980) has conducted the most complete linguistic study of the term dagga. Nienaber suggests two possible hypotheses by referring to the works of previous researchers. Hahn and Lichtenstein suggest that it possible that the dutch word for tobacco, tabak, which was habitually referred to as twak, was corrupted into twaga and later to toaga and finally resulted in the term dagga, Du Toit (1980) believes that this an implausible explanation.

Du Toit (1980) suggests that a more credible explanation is the KhoiKhoi word daXa-b or baXa-b which commonly refers to tobacco among other things, is the root noun from which the word dagga can be derived. When one specifically refers to the word dagga, one can note that the qualifier !am (green) being added to the root aforementioned, the result would be amaXa-b namely green tobacco or dagga. Branford (1978) has drawn similar conclusions- her study linguistic study revealed that dagga is probably derived from the Khoikhoi word daXa-b

However, many researchers such as Lichtenstein, Meinhof and Nienaber doubt that dagga is an original Khoikhoi term. Meinhof goes so far as to propose that dagga was originally a derivative of an Arabic word, duXan (tobacco). Du Toit (1980) states that no other language group in South Africa has ever used such a term or anything resembling it.

On the other hand, du Toit (1980) states that early European travellers in South Africa had trouble recording the terms they heard phonetically when interacting with the indigenous people. Thus, a variety of spellings is common when dealing with Khoikhoi words such as daccha (1658), dacha (1660), dackae (1708), tagga (1725), dacka (1775) and daga (1779). Since the early white settlers were introduced to dagga by the khoikhoi herders, it was only natural that dagga became the common term for cannabis (du Toit 1980).

Method
I will be examining previous literature as well as site reports. From these I will be able to infer as to when dagga entered into southern Africa and whether or not they were smoking dagga or using it as snuff based on the distribution of smoking pipes.

If smoking pipes are found to be associated with early Iron Age sites, then it can be inferred that dagga was introduced by the Indian Ocean Trade. However, if dagga smoking pipes are found to be associated with Middle Iron Age sites, one can conclude that dagga was introduced by the migrating Bantu speakers.

The stoner mortar and pestle recovered from the Mapungubwe landscape will be sent to be tested to determine if there are any traces of dagga on the surface. If there are any surface traces, one can conclude that the stone mortar and pestle were being used to grind up the dagga to use as snuff or to chew it.

Reference List
Brandford, J. 1978. A Dictionary of South African English. Cape Town: Oxford University Press.
Doke, C.M.; Malcom, D.M.; Sikakana, J.M.A.; and Vilakzi, B.W. 1990. Zulu: insangu luluhungu English- Zulu, Zulu-English. Johannesburg: Wits University Press
Dos Santos, 1609. In Theal, G.1964. Records of South-Eastern Africa, volume vii. Cape Town: C Struik (Pty) ltd.
Du Toit, B. 1980. Cannabis in Africa. Netherlands: AA Balkema
Hannan, M. 1959. Standard Shona Dictionary (2nd ed.). Salisbury: The College Press
Huffman, T; Schoeman, M and Murimbika, M. 2002. Origins of the Mapungubwe Project- Progress Report 2002. Unpublished
Jeffreys, M. 1965. Smoking in Africa. The South African Archaeological Bulletin 20(77): 48
Mabille, A and H Dieterien. 1950. Southern Sotho English Dictionary. Basutoland: Morija Printing Work.
Philips, J. 1983. African Smoking Pipes. The Journal of African History 24(1): 303-319.
Phillipson, D.W. 1965. Early smoking pipes from Sebanzi Hill, Zambia. Arnoldia 40(1): 1-4
Shaw, M. 1938. Native Pipes and Smoking in South Africa. Annals of the South African Museum xxiv: 227- 302
Shaw, T. 1964. Smoking in Africa. The South African Archaeological Bulletin 19(75): 75-77
Van der Merwe, N. 1975. Cannabis smoking in 13th-14th Century Ethiopia: Chemical Evidence. In: Rubin, V (ed.) Cannabis and Culture: 77-80. Netherlands: Mounton & Co.
Van Warmelo, N.J. 1989. Venda Dictionary. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik (Pty) ltd.
Walton, J. 1953. The dagga pipes of southern Africa. Researches of the National Museum 1(4): 85- 113

 

Name Amy Flatau
Student number

0618201H

Supervisor Thomas Huffman
Title The history of dagga in the Iron Age

Source: https://sites.google.com/site/witsgeoghonours/history-of-dagga-in-the-south-african-archaeological-record

Effects of laced dagga

I have many times wondered if the dagga I received was laced or just badly cured. Many sources on the internet say that the chances of someone lacing dagga is slim because adding chemicals will only add to the costs and is not viable for dagga that sells cheaply.

gritweed1Lg

What about the rumors about doom being sprayed on dagga to keep flies away. Do you think it’s possible that they spray it with doom to cure faster?

I have had dagga that feels dry from the outside but once you start crushing and grinding it, it strangely acts like bud that is still wet & sticky but looks dry & burns black.

There is a device that is capable of scanning dagga but it’s very expensive, at over R6000, MyDX will scan your dagga in real-time and tell you the strain and whether it is safe to consume.

This will unfortunately not be an option for many daggafarians, including myself.

The only way to know for sure is to grow it yourself but that is a risky operation to undertake in present time South Africa.

Do you know how to spot laced weed? Do you believe it’s a myth or do you think it’s plausible that our dagga is contaminated by other substances?

Below you will find opinions from two internet users on the effects of laced dagga.


 

There have been many threads asking if their weed was laced. I decided to make a short guide to explain the common question about the effects and side effects of laced weed.

Why would anyone lace Dagga?

These are in order from most plausible to least possible reasons.

-To sell their weed at higher prices, claiming its more potent
-To get you addicted
-To fuck with you
-By accident
-To experiment on you

Other drugs are more expensive then Dagga, why would my deal ever do this?

For example a bag of heroin is .1g in my area and is worth about 10$. A gram of dank is around 15-20$. Lets say the dealer has some low mid grade dagga. 1g of mids go for 5$ or so around here, so if he laced 1g of mids with a bag of heroin and sold it as dank at 20$ he would be making profit.

The dagga with laced with heroin will still give a more intense high then any dank to user with no opiate tolerance. Even .02g of smoked heroin can produce base line or mild effects which can be confused with really strong weed.

What are some common things Dagga is laced with?

-Heroin
-Meth
-PCP

If you purchase blunts or joints they may also contain MDMA or Crack.

What are the effects and side effects of some of these drugs?

Heroin
-Numbness in parts of your body
-Warmth or change in body temperature
-Strong feelings of euphoria
-Loosing feeling in parts of your body
-Decrease in abillity to feel pain

Side Effects
-Organ damage and or failure
-Suppression of the respiratory system
-Brain Damage
-Death

Meth
-Euphoria
-Feelings of hyperactivity
-Restlessness
-Inability to sleep

Side Effects
-Brain Damage
-Seizures
-Heart Failure
-Heart Attack

PCP
-Disorientation
-Confusion
-Inability to gather your thoughts
-Minor hallucinations
-Anger

Side Effects
-Brain Damage
-Suicidal tendencies
-Stroke
-Hypertension

Lacing is the act of adding one or more substances to another. Some street drugs are commonly laced with other chemicals for various reasons, but it is most commonly. Well either that was some strong dagga or yes it has been laced. dagga is known to cause Panic Attacks like your in a state that you are departed. laced dagga effects. I am an occasional dagga smoker and 7 days ago I smoked dagga that i am certain was laced. It was a very intense. dagga cigarettes or sticks are sometimes dipped in embalming fluid and laced with PCP in order to change the effects. Short Term Effects. By itself, dagga. Cocaine laced joints effects are they like smoking crack? Answer Yes, but only slighty because the pot probably has more of an effect than the coke. The dagga is not so bad, But smoking cocaine of any kind can only lead one downhill. I have never heard of this mixture as a product, But then, I dont. How fast you feel the effects of dagga depend on how you use it:. Violence (may be related to dagga that is laced with a drug called PCP). Thee have been many threads asking if their weed was laced. I decided to make a short guide to explain the common question about the effects and side effects of laced. A General Overview of the Physical Effects of dagga Coming from the plant dagga sativa, dagga is the most frequently used illegal drug in the United States. Though reports of laced dagga are infrequent. Long-Term Effects. Long-term dagga abuse has several negative impacts on the user.

A General Overview of the Physical Effects of dagga Coming from the plant dagga sativa, dagga is the most frequently used illegal drug in the United States. laced dagga effects. I am an occasional dagga smoker and 7 days ago I smoked dagga that i am certain was laced. It was a very intense. The dagga is not so bad, But smoking cocaine of any kind can only lead one downhill. I have never heard of this mixture as a product, But then, I dont. Thee have been many threads asking if their weed was laced. I decided to make a short guide to explain the common question about the effects and side effects of laced. Though reports of laced dagga are infrequent. Long-Term Effects. Long-term dagga abuse has several negative impacts on the user. How fast you feel the effects of dagga depend on how you use it:. Violence (may be related to dagga that is laced with a drug called PCP). Cocaine laced joints effects are they like smoking crack? Answer Yes, but only slighty because the pot probably has more of an effect than the coke. dagga cigarettes or sticks are sometimes dipped in embalming fluid and laced with PCP in order to change the effects. Short Term Effects. By itself, dagga. Well either that was some strong dagga or yes it has been laced. dagga is known to cause Panic Attacks like your in a state that you are departed. Lacing is the act of adding one or more substances to another. Some street drugs are commonly laced with other chemicals for various reasons, but it is most commonly.

Though reports of laced dagga are infrequent. Long-Term Effects, Long-term dagga abuse has several negative impacts on the user. Cocaine laced joints effects are they like smoking crack? Answer Yes, but only slighty because the pot probably has more of an effect than the coke. The dagga is not so bad, But smoking cocaine of any kind can only lead one downhill. I have never heard of this mixture as a product, But then, I dont. laced dagga effects. I am an occasional dagga smoker and 7 days ago I smoked dagga that i am certain was laced. It was a very intense. Lacing is the act of adding one or more substances to another. Some street drugs are commonly laced with other chemicals for various reasons, but it is most commonly. A General Overview of the Physical Effects of dagga Coming from the plant dagga sativa, dagga is the most frequently used illegal drug in the United States. dagga cigarettes or sticks are sometimes dipped in embalming fluid and laced with PCP in order to change the effects. Short Term Effects. By itself, dagga. How fast you feel the effects of dagga depend on how you use it:. Violence (may be related to dagga that is laced with a drug called PCP). Well either that was some strong dagga or yes it has been laced. dagga is known to cause Panic Attacks like your in a state that you are departed. Thee have been many threads asking if their weed was laced. I decided to make a short guide to explain the common question about the effects and side effects of laced.

Effects of laced dagga

Dagga cigarettes or sticks are sometimes dipped in embalming fluid and laced with PCP in order to change the effects. Short Term Effects. By itself, dagga. A General Overview of the Physical Effects of dagga Coming from the plant dagga sativa, dagga is the most frequently used illegal drug in the United States. Though reports of laced dagga are infrequent. Long-Term Effects. Long-term dagga abuse has several negative impacts on the user. Thee have been many threads asking if their weed was laced. I decided to make a short guide to explain the common question about the effects and side effects of laced. Lacing is the act of adding one or more substances to another. Some street drugs are commonly laced with other chemicals for various reasons, but it is most commonly. Well either that was some strong dagga or yes it has been laced. dagga is known to cause Panic Attacks like your in a state that you are departed. Cocaine laced joints effects are they like smoking crack? Answer Yes, but only slighty because the pot probably has more of an effect than the coke. How fast you feel the effects of dagga depend on how you use it:. Violence (may be related to dagga that is laced with a drug called PCP). The dagga is not so bad, But smoking cocaine of any kind can only lead one downhill. I have never heard of this mixture as a product, But then, I dont. laced dagga effects. I am an occasional dagga smoker and 7 days ago I smoked dagga that i am certain was laced. It was a very intense.

The REAL Effects of Dagga

Physiological effects of dagga on the human body.

Physiological effects of dagga on the human body.

Introduction

For the last 25000 years man has been cultivating dagga, using it to clothe themselves, heal the sick, feed the hungry and alter the state of their consciousness.

The human body, the endo cannabinoid system & dagga

The human body is designed to include a complete cannabinoid system.
Cannabinoids that naturally occur inside the body are called Endo Cannabinoids.
We have cannabinoid receptors located in our brain, skin and organs. Receptors can almost be found in every part of the body.

How dagga is consumed is irrelevant as the end result is the same. The cannabinoids in dagga makes its way into your blood stream, couples with receptors found around the body and even manages to pass the blood brain barrier and couples to CB1 & CB2 receptors in the brain.

This coupling of receptors in the brain is what causes the euphoria or high experienced when consuming decarboxylated THC.

In order for the THC cannabinoid to couple with the receptors the dagga needs to be heated to convert the THC Acid into THC.

Only when dagga is smoked, baked or vaporized does it become active. It is impossible to get high from raw dagga.

Humans have been designed to consume dagga. Dagga is a vegetable and is the most important dietary essential on the planet.

The consumption of dagga is preventative proven by medical benefits.

Did you know? Durban Poison, the well known South African Sativa strain, is one of the favorite medical grade dagga strains in the United States where medical dagga is legal.

Dagga does not cause psychosis. People suffering from predisposed mental conditions are at risk of psychosis. However no clerical evidence exists to make this link.

My personal opinion is that dagga brings forth underlying mental conditions in people with predisposed mental conditions. Dagga is merely an indicator of an existing mental condition.

Did you know? Dagga counters snake venom! You need to be high at the time of bite for it to work. Proving prevention is better than cure.

 

Prohibition and the freedom of man

Almost all the negative associations of dagga are attributed to prohibition.

Under prohibition dagga is unregulated and open game for crime syndicates, gangs and even otherwise law abiding citizen to exploit for their own benefit.

There is no regulation to ensure quality of the product that makes it to the end-user.

There is no regulation to protect children and persons with predisposed mental conditions in the current illicit dagga industry.

South Africa is poverty stricken but the government corporation keeps throwing millions towards the fight on drug users and peddlers effectively making criminals from otherwise law abiding citizens for profit.

If a harsh jail sentence, admission of guilt fine and a criminal record was not already enough the corporate government also funds a special branch in the South African police Air Wing called DaggaOP that routinely spray dagga crops from helicopter with herbicides like glyphosphate with special tanks and spraying equipment sponsored by the United States’ Drug Enforcement Agency.

These corporate governments who fund these operation do not care that some of these contaminated dagga plants make its way to the dagga users of South Africa pushed on by desperate growers depending on this easy cash crop to support his family.


The law caters the gateway effect

While dagga is unregulated otherwise law abiding citizen using dagga are exposed to other hard drugs some of the syndicates or gangs might be offering thus the gateway effect is created directly by prohibition allowing criminal syndicates to be in control of dagga.

It’s worthy to keep in mind that the majority of dagga dealers are not part of syndicates or gangs. Most dagga dealers are otherwise law abiding citizens whose only means of income is from cultivating or selling dagga.

Industrial dagga freedom from the slave system

Dagga easily grows on its own essentially has zero cost for production value.

Dagga grows from seed to harvest within 8 to 12 weeks* (some strains may take longer to flower) and can be planted in the same soil for up to 20 years.

Dagga provides food, oil, alternative green carbon neutral bio-fuel, textile material, stronger building material, medication and much, much more. This wonder plant has over 50 000 uses!

 

What can South Africa achieve with legal dagga?

We could speculate at how 50 000 uses of a wonder plant could revolutionise South Africa but let’s take a realistic approach by looking at other countries that have a legalised dagga industry.

Denver, Colorado

Seven ways dagga legalisation has already benefited Colorado in only 8 months.

  1. According to Uniform Crime Reporting data for Denver, there has been a 10.1% decrease in overall crime from this time last year and a 5.2% drop in violent crime.

 

  1. The state has garnered over 10 million in taxes from retail sales in the first 4 months. The first 40 million of this tax revenue is earmarked for public schools and infrastructure, as well as for youth educational campaigns about substance use.

 

  1. There are renewed efforts to study the medical efficacy of dagga within the state, making Colorado an epicenter for dagga research.

 

  1. The dagga industry has developed quickly, generating thousands of new jobs. It is estimated there are currently about 10,000 people directly involved with this industry, with 1,000 to 2,000 gaining employment in the past few months alone.

 

  1. Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, who opposed Amendment 64, recently compared Colorado’s economy since legalization to that of other states by noting, “While the rest of the country’s economy is slowly picking back up, we’re thriving here in Colorado.” For example, the demand for commercial real estate has increased drastically, with houses in the state appreciating up to 8.7 percent in the past year alone.

 

  1. The voters of Colorado retain an overall positive view of the regulated dagga market, with 54% of Colorado voters still supporting dagga legalization and regulation, according to a recent Quinnipiac poll.

 

  1. By removing criminal penalties for certain dagga-related offenses, thousands of individuals will avoid the collateral consequences associated with a criminal record. The state is estimated to potentially save $12-40 million over the span of a year simply by ending arrests for dagga possession.

 

Conclusion

Ignorance has no place in law. The science is clear. Dagga is a safer choice to alcohol and tobacco. It is wrong to make criminals of otherwise law abiding citizens and to deny people their medicine.

Dagga.info website insights August to September 18th

Dagga.info received 98,727 visits in August 2013. 15000 visits in one day, 700 visits in one hour.

Visits per hour in August 2014

Visits per hour in August 2014

Visits per day in August 2014

Visits per day in August 2014

Visits to dagga.za.net

August Month of 1/8/2014 to 31/8/2014

Important Totals

Item Accesses Bytes Visits Charts
All Documents 357,080 13,644,230,110 98,727
Home Page 21,600 439,707,434 9,449

Executive Summary

The web site received 98,727 visits. A typical visitor examined 3.41 documents before leaving the site. A typical visit lasted for 1.05 minutes. The longest visit lasted for 792 minutes.

Visitors came from 15,783 distinct Internet addresses.

The web server delivered 32,258 unique documents one or more times each.

41 distinct types of documents were delivered.

There were 1,527 requests for documents which did not exist on the web server. The web server was linked to by 1,205 distinct pages on other web servers.

The web server was linked to by one or more pages found on 453 distinct web sites.

873 distinct search keywords were used to locate documents on the web server via Internet search servers, such as Altavista(tm) and Yahoo(tm).

3 distinct Internet search servers were used to reach the site.

Visitors used 419 distinct web browsers and other web access programs to reach the web server. Visitors used 1,318 distinct operating systems on their computers. Visitors followed a total of 21,841 distinct, non-trivial “trails” among the documents found on the web server.

 

September, Month of 1/9/2014 to 18/9/2014

Important Totals

Item Accesses Bytes Visits Charts
All Documents 309,838 14,066,050,334 58,029
Home Page 10,341 162,683,846 3,549

Executive Summary

The web site received 58,029 visits. A typical visitor examined 5.11 documents before leaving the site. A typical visit lasted for 1.31 minutes. The longest visit lasted for 824 minutes.

Visitors came from 13,563 distinct Internet addresses.

The web server delivered 33,747 unique documents one or more times each.

25 distinct types of documents were delivered.

There were 1,158 requests for documents which did not exist on the web server. The web server was linked to by 744 distinct pages on other web servers.

The web server was linked to by one or more pages found on 403 distinct web sites.

466 distinct search keywords were used to locate documents on the web server via Internet search servers, such as Altavista(tm) and Yahoo(tm).

3 distinct Internet search servers were used to reach the site.

Visitors used 349 distinct web browsers and other web access programs to reach the web server. Visitors used 1,351 distinct operating systems on their computers. Visitors followed a total of 14,481 distinct, non-trivial “trails” among the documents found on the web server.

 

Keywords used to reach Dagga.info

I find it very scary that someone searched how to make nyaope!

No Search Keyword(s) Accesses
3 dagga 49
4 types of dagga 9
5 smoke weed everyday 8
6 matekwane 7
7 dagga effects 6
8 dagga logo 5
9 download pictures of high grade dagga 5
10 six beeg 5
11 impacts of dagga 5
12 pics of dagga joints rolled in r1000 5
13 dabs 4
14 different type of dagga 4
15 dagga.za.net 4
16 supporting data of dagga 4
17 dab mask 4
18 swazi dagga 4
19 jan dagga 4
20 what is dagga 4
21 it is possible to not get children if you smoke dagga? 4
22 dagga party 4
23 pictures of impact of dagga 4
24 dagga movement 3
25 dagga statistics 3
26 dagga tree 3
27 mamazane maphanga 3
28 data of dagga 3
29 effects of dagga 3
30 drugs and weedy,dagga 3
31 dagga in bulks 3
32 smoke the weed 3
33 how to make nyaope 3
34 smoking dabs 3
35 dagga hand folding 3
36 www.you.tube.dagga.debate 2
37 is dagga illegal or legal in south africa ? 2
38 table of dagga 2
39 how does nyaope affect you spiritually and ethically 2
40 availability of dagga in sa 2
41 a piechart containing the amount of people using dagga 2
42 relevant statistics about dagga 2
43 impact of dagga 2
44 biggest dagga tree 2
45 joost van der westhuizen 2
46 dagga drawing 2
47 rasta picture and dagga 2
48 how to say no to dagga 2
49 dagga flag 2
50 zola 7 smoking dagga 2

Problems with the Medical Innovation Bill

Parliament is finally taking a look at the Medical Innovation Bill. It was introduced by Mr Oriani-Ambrosini to serve as a catalyst for more meaningful discussions about cannabis at a national level. It champions the rights of the sick and dying but neglects some glaring issues and inconsistencies. These range from incorrectly defining the term, “cannabinoid”, to probabilities of market monopolisation.

The bill is a tailored copy-paste version of the Medical Innovation Bill introduced by Lord Saatchi to the House of Commons and is not suited for South Africa. It fails to address the larger legal and socio-economic implications of introducing a system that allows medical use of cannabis but not recreational use. The proposed system will not be able to effectively cater for large segments of the population, especially in rural and low-income areas with low access to proper health services.

Issues of affordability are not addressed because it ignores the fact that medical grade cannabis and its derivatives are generally expensive. Many South Africans are not financially able to afford these services and treatments. Couple that with the fact that these treatments are only available at certain hospitals and you are faced with a situation where only wealthy patients receive proper care. Impoverished patients will still need to rely on the blackmarket and criminal elements to acquire cannabis.

The bill is a stepping stone in the process of repairing the damage done by Prohibition. New policies must be grounded in evidence and avoid getting bogged down by clashing beliefs and political chest-thumping. All-in-all the bill is a good start but it still needs a better ending.

By Johnny McIntyre

Source: http://www.news24.com/MyNews24/Problems-with-the-Medical-Innovation-Bill-20140918

Dagga Movement Facebook Page Insights

Get some insight on Dagga Movement’s Facebook Page. See where most of the fans come from, which city is more engaged with the page, as well as find out where our international support comes from in South Africa’s fight for the legalisation of dagga.

Thanks goes out to everyone making up these statistics!

In the following graphs woman are on top and men are shown on the bottom. The colored bars related to the page and the grey bars are external sources.

The Fans

Age Groups

Women

23% – Fans

46% – All Facebook

Men

77% – Fans

54% – All Facebook

Country

No of Fans

City

No of Fans

South Africa

1,799

Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

362

United States of America

127

Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

307

United Kingdom

21

Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa

142

Macedonia

18

Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

108

Zimbabwe

16

Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa

46

Namibia

13

Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa

40

Canada

12

Kimberley, Northern Cape, South Africa

32

Botswana

10

Polokwane, Limpopo, South Africa

32

Lesotho

10

East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa

28

Italy

9

Nelspruit, Mpumalanga, South Africa

22

Netherlands

7

Soweto, Gauteng, South Africa

22

Swaziland

7

Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

21

Australia

7

Centurion, Gauteng, South Africa

18

Spain

6

Vereeniging, Gauteng, South Africa

17

India

5

Mafikeng, North-West, South Africa

17

Brazil

5

Midrand, Gauteng, South Africa

15

Ireland

4

Rustenburg, North-West, South Africa

13

Mexico

4

Klerksdorp, North-West, South Africa

11

France

3

Tembisa, Gauteng, South Africa

11

Croatia

3

Skopje, Karpos, Macedonia

10

New Zealand

3

Phuthaditjhaba, Free State, South Africa

9

Thailand

3

Thohoyandou, Limpopo, South Africa

9

Germany

3

Kempton Park, Gauteng, South Africa

9

Jamaica

3

Benoni, Gauteng, South Africa

9

Romania

2

George, Western Cape, South Africa

9

Tanzania

2

Krugersdorp, Gauteng, South Africa

9

Malawi

2

Welkom, Free State, South Africa

8

Morocco

2

Potchefstroom, North-West, South Africa

8

Belgium

2

Windhoek, Namibia

8

Czech Republic

2

Paarl, Western Cape, South Africa

8

Ecuador

2

Harare, Mashonaland East, Zimbabwe

8

Iran

2

Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng, South Africa

8

Colombia

2

Bethlehem, Free State, South Africa

7

Poland

2

Randburg, Gauteng, South Africa

7

Kenya

2

Gaborone, South-East, Botswana

7

Philippines

2

Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

7

Pakistan

2

Boksburg, Gauteng, South Africa

7

Portugal

2

Sandton, Gauteng, South Africa

6

Bulgaria

2

London, England, United Kingdom

6

Austria

2

Brakpan, Gauteng, South Africa

6

Vietnam

1

Alice, Eastern Cape, South Africa

6

Norway

1

Mdantsane, Eastern Cape, South Africa

6

Serbia

1

Delmas, Mpumalanga, South Africa

5

Russia

1

Sebokeng, Gauteng, South Africa

5

Malaysia

1

Hermanus, Western Cape, South Africa

5

 

People Reached

Age Group of People Reached

Age Group of People Reached

Women

36% – People Reached

23% – Fans

Men

64% People Reached

77% – Fans

Country

People Reached

City

People Reached

South Africa

43,032

Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

9,934

United Kingdom

1,144

Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

8,298

United States of America

1,007

Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa

3,357

Australia

416

Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

2,464

Zimbabwe

280

East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa

1,348

Canada

242

Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa

1,328

Germany

185

Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa

1,086

Namibia

162

Potchefstroom, North-West, South Africa

413

Lesotho

141

London, England, United Kingdom

407

Botswana

123

Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa

392

 

People Engaging With Dagga Movement Facebook Page

Age Group of People Engaged with DM Facebook

Age Group of People Engaging with DM Facebook

Women

23% – People Engaging

23% – Fans

Men

76%- People Engaging

77% – Fans

Country

People Engaged

City

People Engaged

South Africa

1,750

Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

467

United States of America

48

Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

345

United Kingdom

27

Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa

113

Australia

13

Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

94

Netherlands

8

Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa

44

Canada

5

East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa

38

Zimbabwe

5

Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa

35

Thailand

5

Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

21

New Zealand

4

Soweto, Gauteng, South Africa

18

Namibia

4

Centurion, Gauteng, South Africa

17

 

Posts Insights

Most popular posts on Dagga Movement. This can help other activists to be able to hand pick engaging popular articles.

Most popular posts on Dagga Movement. This can help other activists to be able to hand pick engaging & popular articles.

Give children medical dagga {Must Watch Vid: Dr David Allen}

To decarb or not; that is the question and also rule of thumb when deciding to give medical dagga to children.

First of all get to know your Cannabinoids.

THCA is not active THC.

You can think of THCA as the raw plant. It does not give a high, if you eat it as a salad or juice the leaves and bud.

It’s only when THCA is heated or burned that it’s converted to THC and becomes active.

I have made a non decarboxylated tincture before and I can tell you, nobody will be running around goofed off their heads from THCA.

Vegetable glycerin tinctures are great substitute for alcohol based tinctures.

You need to combine at least a trinity of strains for a SUPER medicine, the more the merrier the saying goes.

Brave Mykayla

Brave Mykayla

If one understand the basics of cannabis, which should be mandatory part of education, any person could potentially utilize high THCA content cannabis with high ratio CBDA (Which is the precursor of CBD like wise THCA is the precursor to THC) strains, without the psycho-active effects.

The basic rule of thumb would be to decide if you require psychoactive or non psychoactive cannabinoids and then follow or ignore decarboxylation instructions in any recipe whether it’s tinctures, oil or edibles or alternatively 50/50 active to non active for a much broader spectrum of cannabinoids…

I would also like to point out, although I have not had personal experience, there are children with serious terminal life hindering diseases or conditions where the active cannabinoids make life altering improvements.

Also being high is not about being goofed off. At least it’s not my experience. It frees my mind from mental slavery. It’s a medicine for my mind, for the brain & for the soul.

Feeling high is not a confused state of mind but a period of intense clarity, happiness and bliss.

Also I do not condone dagga use by children but as other activist pointed out. Older kids rebel and they will be enticed by prohibition to try dagga or even drink alcohol and smoke tobacco.

While dagga is illegal children have easier access to dagga.

“Would you rather have you kids buy dagga from a stranger or give adults their right to choose dagga over alcohol and tobacco and buy from a responsible “dispensary” or Smart Shop where regulation controls and restrict the sale of dagga to minors like with alcohol.” – Buzz

Being high is being responsible.

Your highest regards
MickeyD

As seen on MyNews24

Deterioration of Weenen Sports Field 10 years after SAPS DaggaOp

10 years after an SAPS Dagga-spraying chopper crashed onto a sports field, during a routine dagga spraying operation, the effects of the dangerous glyphosate poison & municipal maladministration start to show in Weenen, KwaZulu-Natal.

This is not purely based on speculation but honestly I cannot find the exact co-ordinates of the Sports Field where the chopper went down in 2002, I am in the process of getting more info from SA CAA (South African Civil Aviation Authority) but let it not take your attention off the deterioration of this presumable school sports field effected by Climate Change and probably glyphosate (herbicides) & mismanagement.

Note how the cricket pitch vanishes.

weenen-sports-fields

http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/dagga-spraying-chopper-comes-down-fast-1.81645#.VBc575SSw85

Please note that while the 2002 crash implication is only speculation the maladministration by the sport fields governing body and climate change is blatantly obvious.

Open Letter to Pearl Thusi

Hi Pearl

I am writing you this letter because you recently popped up on my dagga radar for a second time.

First of all I want to say that my interest is not to slander or “skinder”.

I believe most of the South African dagga culture pray on the end of their roach that the rumor is true. We are pretty hard pressed for local dagga heroes. We have Jules, Myrtle and Jeremy whom we cherish and respect greatly, but there is no other South African celebrity that openly admits the use of cannabis.

Pearl Thusi

Pearl Thusi

How sad is the Top 10 list of famous dagga smokers in South Africa

The US has Willie Nelson, Snoop Lion, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Michael Phelps, Robin Williams, Seth Rogan, the list is genuinely endless.

My goal here is to convey a positive message; Nobody should be afraid to speak the truth about cannabis. I would like to encourage you to brush up on your dagga education. There is a lot of information regarding the history of dagga that is not so apparent.

Before I bombard you with a few short links, that you must investigate, let me tell you if that photographer had a photo of you smoking dagga he should have a copy of it on his SD memory card. Merely breaking the camera does not destroy the picture. Therefor I believe you are speaking the truth and that he was ultimately mad at himself for invading your privacy and I am not here to judge your actions, in all honesty, in the original context he deserved it. He was not in his place to invade your private time. What a sour loser he is for making up stories with malicious intent.

Here is a short excerpt on the history of dagga in South Africa. This is the foundation of dagga laws, based on nothing but racist- and malicious intent, a superstition that is kept in-effect today by the ignorant…

Dagga was first outlawed in South Africa in 1870 to control Indian workers in KwaZulu-Natal (Dagga is a traditional herb in the Hindu faith). By 1911 dagga was outlawed for all Africans except mine workers and by 1925 the exception was revoked to control and oppress the members of the newly formed National Union of Mine workers (NUM). Effectively doing so by making Dagga illegal. The oppressive racist State disrupted the economic well being and culture of indigenous people. – True History of Dagga

Please find below a list of informative links

dagga.za.net/dagga {Origin of the word dagga}

dagga.za.net/truth {Dagga The Truth by Dagga Couple}

dagga.za.net/history {Prohibition & Resistance: A Socio-Political Exploration of the Changing Dynamics of the Southern African Cannabis Trade, c. 1850 – the present. By Craig Patterson}

dagga.za.net/health {The most extensive medical dagga reference list.}

dagga.za.net/union {Dagga Union of South Africa}

More…
dagga.za.net/rights {A South African guide to (NOT) being arrested by Dagga Couple}
dagga.za.net/bill {Relinquish Dagga Law Bill}
dagga.za.net/bills {Bills Repository}
dagga.za.net/poll {Latest Poll}
dagga.za.net/poll/main {Should Dagga Be Legalised Poll}
dagga.za.net/poll/dagga {Best South African Dagga Strain Poll}
dagga.za.net/knowledge {Knowledgebase}
dagga.za.net/drive {Cannabis Awareness Drive To Government}

I truly hope that you stand up for daggafarians regardless of whether you yourself is a cannabis user or not. It was wrong to punish people for having a partner of another race then and it’s wrong to punish adults for choosing to use a safer alternative to alcohol and tobacco now.

One <3, Peace Mickey

Important short-links

A list of short-links no stoner should be without…

legalize_cannabis300[1]

dagga.za.net/union {Dagga Union of South Africa}

dagga.za.net/opinions {User submitted articles NEW}

dagga.za.net/rights {A South African guide to (NOT) being arrested by Dagga Couple}

dagga.za.net/health {The most extensive medical dagga reference list.}

dagga.za.net/history {Prohibition & Resistance: A Socio-Political Exploration of the Changing Dynamics of the Southern African Cannabis Trade, c. 1850 – the present. By Craig Patterson}

dagga.za.net/truth {Dagga The Truth by Dagga Couple}

dagga.za.net/dagga {Origin of the word dagga}

dagga.za.net/bill {Relinquish Dagga Law Bill}
dagga.za.net/bills {Bills Repository}
dagga.za.net/poll {Latest Poll}
dagga.za.net/poll/main {Should Dagga Be Legalised Poll}
dagga.za.net/poll/dagga {Best South African Dagga Strain Poll}
dagga.za.net/knowledge {Knowledgebase}
dagga.za.net/drive {Cannabis Awareness Drive To Government}

Dagga prevalent in South African schools. East Rand, Jozi.

20140902%20JL%20Kuilsrivier%20Tegniese%20Hoerskool%2005_316x240_B[1]

The arrests occurred after pupils were caught with dagga estimated to be worth R2 000 000.

The drama unfolded when a vigilant community patroller saw a pupil throw a school bag over the school’s perimeter fence. Another pupil retrieved the bag.

This occurred while other pupils were entering the school though the main gate. All the pupils had their bags with them.

The community patroller smelt a rat and alerted EMPD Crime Prevention Unit members.
It turned out that the patroller’s hunch was right. On searching the school bag, the EMPD officers discovered that the bag was filled with nearly one kilogramme of dagga.

The two 15-year-old pupils, who were identified as the owners of the dagga-laden bag, led the police officers to the dealer who used them to peddle dagga at the school.

The pupils pointed out a house in Phomolong Section and the police officers moved in. Three people, who were in the house, were arrested.

The two pupils were released into the custody of their parents as they are minors.
The three suspects who were arrested were charged with possession of, and dealing in, dagga at the Tembisa SAPS.

The suspects are expected to appear in the Tembisa Magistrate’s Court soon.

Source

THC University: Aspiring Master growers, Apply Now!

thcu-site-logo3[1]

International students Accepted!

Are you looking to not only grow top shelf cannabis, but also want to use your top shelf crop to make hash, oils, or edibles? Or are you wanting to prove you are a cannabis expert with a Masters from THC University? Then this is the program for you. 13+ classes and approximately 28 hours of cannabis education, this is one of the most extensive cannabis training programs available anywhere. APPLY

Our online classes are very interactive, bringing 21st century education to the cannabis industry. Students will not be watching hours of video, or reading 1000 pages of text. Students will learn by interacting throughout the classes. For example, students will learn to build grow systems by dragging and dropping parts in the correct spot, and do investigative research to identify different pests and diseases and how to resolve disorders. THCU’s curriculum is designed for students to easily remember everything they learn, that is why interactive online courses are so important.

The Budtender certification will be an online certification course like the master grower certification program. There will be over 5 classes going over the laws, regulations, science of cannabis and how to best assist patients in selecting the proper form of medicine.

The responsible vendor program is only available for people currently working, or wanting to work in the cannabis industry in Colorado. Students certification will be recognized by the state of Colorado, and desired by medical and recreational businesses. The classes will be live in a classroom setting in various locations across Colorado.

Master Grower Program Classes:

Introduction – Growing 101, an intro to indoor gardening, learn the 8 steps to a successful indoor garden. Mandatory class for all certifications.
Clones – Learn about germination, how to clone, and seed.
Vegetation – Vegetative growth, sexing, cuttings, mother plants, growing more roots, transplanting, and plant stress.
Flowering – Plant flowering, male/female/hermaphrodite, lighting types and times, plant life cycle, creating the perfect bud
Lighting – light, lamp, safety and electricity
Nutrients / Growing Mediums – Soil and containers, pH, Rockwool cuttings, seedlings, soil amendments. Water and nutrients, osmosis, drip system, NPK, Secondary Nutrients and fertilizers, chemical v.s. organic.
Hydroponics – Hydro gardening, hydro systems, growing mediums, meters for testing, hydro nutrients.
Air/Fans/CO2 – Air movement, ventilation, fans, humidity, and CO2
Pests and Disease – Prevention, Control, and identifying pests.
Harvesting and curing – Trimming, curing, timing, techniques
Hash and Oils – Types, and extraction methods
Cooking and Infusion – Butter, oil’s and other goodies
Strains and Flavors – How to identify, pairings, and strain types

APPLY NOW!!!

 

How does THCU work?

Are you wanting a career in the cannabis industry but need to show employers you are qualified? A certificate from the most prestigious online cannabis certification program in the world can help.

THCU strives to be different. Our courses are built to be interactive, using the most modern education software and techniques to increase brain function, engagement and memory. All courses are translated in hundreds of languages and available on tablets & iPads

THCU built a student community that allows students and instructors to ask and answer each-others questions, and message each other. A jobs board is also available for graduates to show off their resumes, and employers can post jobs, and browse certified candidates.

30 students are allowed to register per week, and classes begin immediately you are accepted, and registered. This policy is likely to change as demand and THCU staff increases. We really want to accept everyone right away, however this way ensures we are able to provide students the best support.

APPLY NOW!!!

Mr. X by Carl Sagan

“The illegality of cannabis is outrageous, an impediment to full utilization of a drug which helps produce the serenity and insight, sensitivity and fellowship so desperately needed in this increasingly mad and dangerous world.” - Carl Sagan

“The illegality of cannabis is outrageous, an impediment to full utilization of a drug which helps produce the serenity and insight, sensitivity and fellowship so desperately needed in this increasingly mad and dangerous world.” – Carl Sagan

“The illegality of cannabis is outrageous, an impediment to full utilization of a drug which helps produce the serenity and insight, sensitivity and fellowship so desperately needed in this increasingly mad and dangerous world.” – Carl Sagan

Mr. X by Carl Sagan

This account was written in 1969 for publication in Marihuana Reconsidered (1971). Sagan was in his mid-thirties at that time. He continued to use cannabis for the rest of his life.

It all began about ten years ago. I had reached a considerably more relaxed period in my life – a time when I had come to feel that there was more to living than science, a time of awakening of my social consciousness and amiability, a time when I was open to new experiences. I had become friendly with a group of people who occasionally smoked cannabis, irregularly, but with evident pleasure. Initially I was unwilling to partake, but the apparent euphoria that cannabis produced and the fact that there was no physiological addiction to the plant eventually persuaded me to try. My initial experiences were entirely disappointing; there was no effect at all, and I began to entertain a variety of hypotheses about cannabis being a placebo which worked by expectation and hyperventilation rather than by chemistry. After about five or six unsuccessful attempts, however, it happened. I was lying on my back in a friend’s living room idly examining the pattern of shadows on the ceiling cast by a potted plant (not cannabis!). I suddenly realized that I was examining an intricately detailed miniature Volkswagen, distinctly outlined by the shadows. I was very skeptical at this perception, and tried to find inconsistencies between Volkswagens and what I viewed on the ceiling. But it was all there, down to hubcaps, license plate, chrome, and even the small handle used for opening the trunk. When I closed my eyes, I was stunned to find that there was a movie going on the inside of my eyelids. Flash . . . a simple country scene with red farmhouse, a blue sky, white clouds, yellow path meandering over green hills to the horizon. . . Flash . . . same scene, orange house, brown sky, red clouds, yellow path, violet fields . . . Flash . . . Flash . . . Flash. The flashes came about once a heartbeat. Each flash brought the same simple scene into view, but each time with a different set of colors . . . exquisitely deep hues, and astonishingly harmonious in their juxtaposition. Since then I have smoked occasionally and enjoyed it thoroughly. It amplifies torpid sensibilities and produces what to me are even more interesting effects, as I will explain shortly.

I can remember another early visual experience with cannabis, in which I viewed a candle flame and discovered in the heart of the flame, standing with magnificent indifference, the black-hatted and -cloaked Spanish gentleman who appears on the label of the Sandeman sherry bottle. Looking at fires when high, by the way, especially through one of those prism kaleidoscopes which image their surroundings, is an extraordinarily moving and beautiful experience.

I want to explain that at no time did I think these things ‘really’ were out there. I knew there was no Volkswagen on the ceiling and there was no Sandeman salamander man in the flame. I don’t feel any contradiction in these experiences. There’s a part of me making, creating the perceptions which in everyday life would be bizarre; there’s another part of me which is a kind of observer. About half of the pleasure comes from the observer-part appreciating the work of the creator-part. I smile, or sometimes even laugh out loud at the pictures on the insides of my eyelids. In this sense, I suppose cannabis is psychotomimetic, but I find none of the panic or terror that accompanies some psychoses. Possibly this is because I know it’s my own trip, and that I can come down rapidly any time I want to.

While my early perceptions were all visual, and curiously lacking in images of human beings, both of these items have changed over the intervening years. I find that today a single joint is enough to get me high. I test whether I’m high by closing my eyes and looking for the flashes. They come long before there are any alterations in my visual or other perceptions. I would guess this is a signal-to-noise problem, the visual noise level being very low with my eyes closed. Another interesting information-theoretical aspects is the prevalence – at least in my flashed images – of cartoons: just the outlines of figures, caricatures, not photographs. I think this is simply a matter of information compression; it would be impossible to grasp the total content of an image with the information content of an ordinary photograph, say 108 bits, in the fraction of a second which a flash occupies. And the flash experience is designed, if I may use that word, for instant appreciation. The artist and viewer are one. This is not to say that the images are not marvelously detailed and complex. I recently had an image in which two people were talking, and the words they were saying would form and disappear in yellow above their heads, at about a sentence per heartbeat. In this way it was possible to follow the conversation. At the same time an occasional word would appear in red letters among the yellows above their heads, perfectly in context with the conversation; but if one remembered these red words, they would enunciate a quite different set of statements, penetratingly critical of the conversation. The entire image set which I’ve outlined here, with I would say at least 100 yellow words and something like 10 red words, occurred in something under a minute.

The cannabis experience has greatly improved my appreciation for art, a subject which I had never much appreciated before. The understanding of the intent of the artist which I can achieve when high sometimes carries over to when I’m down. This is one of many human frontiers which cannabis has helped me traverse. There also have been some art-related insights – I don’t know whether they are true or false, but they were fun to formulate. For example, I have spent some time high looking at the work of the Belgian surrealist Yves Tanguey. Some years later, I emerged from a long swim in the Caribbean and sank exhausted onto a beach formed from the erosion of a nearby coral reef. In idly examining the arcuate pastel-colored coral fragments which made up the beach, I saw before me a vast Tanguey painting. Perhaps Tanguey visited such a beach in his childhood.

A very similar improvement in my appreciation of music has occurred with cannabis. For the first time I have been able to hear the separate parts of a three-part harmony and the richness of the counterpoint. I have since discovered that professional musicians can quite easily keep many separate parts going simultaneously in their heads, but this was the first time for me. Again, the learning experience when high has at least to some extent carried over when I’m down. The enjoyment of food is amplified; tastes and aromas emerge that for some reason we ordinarily seem to be too busy to notice. I am able to give my full attention to the sensation. A potato will have a texture, a body, and taste like that of other potatoes, but much more so. Cannabis also enhances the enjoyment of sex – on the one hand it gives an exquisite sensitivity, but on the other hand it postpones orgasm: in part by distracting me with the profusion of image passing before my eyes. The actual duration of orgasm seems to lengthen greatly, but this may be the usual experience of time expansion which comes with cannabis smoking.

I do not consider myself a religious person in the usual sense, but there is a religious aspect to some highs. The heightened sensitivity in all areas gives me a feeling of communion with my surroundings, both animate and inanimate. Sometimes a kind of existential perception of the absurd comes over me and I see with awful certainty the hypocrisies and posturing of myself and my fellow men. And at other times, there is a different sense of the absurd, a playful and whimsical awareness. Both of these senses of the absurd can be communicated, and some of the most rewarding highs I’ve had have been in sharing talk and perceptions and humor. Cannabis brings us an awareness that we spend a lifetime being trained to overlook and forget and put out of our minds. A sense of what the world is really like can be maddening; cannabis has brought me some feelings for what it is like to be crazy, and how we use that word ‘crazy’ to avoid thinking about things that are too painful for us. In the Soviet Union political dissidents are routinely placed in insane asylums. The same kind of thing, a little more subtle perhaps, occurs here: ‘did you hear what Lenny Bruce said yesterday? He must be crazy.’ When high on cannabis I discovered that there’s somebody inside in those people we call mad.

When I’m high I can penetrate into the past, recall childhood memories, friends, relatives, playthings, streets, smells, sounds, and tastes from a vanished era. I can reconstruct the actual occurrences in childhood events only half understood at the time. Many but not all my cannabis trips have somewhere in them a symbolism significant to me which I won’t attempt to describe here, a kind of mandala embossed on the high. Free-associating to this mandala, both visually and as plays on words, has produced a very rich array of insights.

There is a myth about such highs: the user has an illusion of great insight, but it does not survive scrutiny in the morning. I am convinced that this is an error, and that the devastating insights achieved when high are real insights; the main problem is putting these insights in a form acceptable to the quite different self that we are when we’re down the next day. Some of the hardest work I’ve ever done has been to put such insights down on tape or in writing. The problem is that ten even more interesting ideas or images have to be lost in the effort of recording one. It is easy to understand why someone might think it’s a waste of effort going to all that trouble to set the thought down, a kind of intrusion of the Protestant Ethic. But since I live almost all my life down I’ve made the effort – successfully, I think. Incidentally, I find that reasonably good insights can be remembered the next day, but only if some effort has been made to set them down another way. If I write the insight down or tell it to someone, then I can remember it with no assistance the following morning; but if I merely say to myself that I must make an effort to remember, I never do.

I find that most of the insights I achieve when high are into social issues, an area of creative scholarship very different from the one I am generally known for. I can remember one occasion, taking a shower with my wife while high, in which I had an idea on the origins and invalidities of racism in terms of gaussian distribution curves. It was a point obvious in a way, but rarely talked about. I drew the curves in soap on the shower wall, and went to write the idea down. One idea led to another, and at the end of about an hour of extremely hard work I found I had written eleven short essays on a wide range of social, political, philosophical, and human biological topics. Because of problems of space, I can’t go into the details of these essays, but from all external signs, such as public reactions and expert commentary, they seem to contain valid insights. I have used them in university commencement addresses, public lectures, and in my books.

But let me try to at least give the flavor of such an insight and its accompaniments. One night, high on cannabis, I was delving into my childhood, a little self-analysis, and making what seemed to me to be very good progress. I then paused and thought how extraordinary it was that Sigmund Freud, with no assistance from drugs, had been able to achieve his own remarkable self-analysis. But then it hit me like a thunderclap that this was wrong, that Freud had spent the decade before his self-analysis as an experimenter with and a proselytizer for cocaine; and it seemed to me very apparent that the genuine psychological insights that Freud brought to the world were at least in part derived from his drug experience. I have no idea whether this is in fact true, or whether the historians of Freud would agree with this interpretation, or even if such an idea has been published in the past, but it is an interesting hypothesis and one which passes first scrutiny in the world of the downs.

I can remember the night that I suddenly realized what it was like to be crazy, or nights when my feelings and perceptions were of a religious nature. I had a very accurate sense that these feelings and perceptions, written down casually, would not stand the usual critical scrutiny that is my stock in trade as a scientist. If I find in the morning a message from myself the night before informing me that there is a world around us which we barely sense, or that we can become one with the universe, or even that certain politicians are desperately frightened men, I may tend to disbelieve; but when I’m high I know about this disbelief. And so I have a tape in which I exhort myself to take such remarks seriously. I say ‘Listen closely, you sonofabitch of the morning! This stuff is real!’ I try to show that my mind is working clearly; I recall the name of a high school acquaintance I have not thought of in thirty years; I describe the color, typography, and format of a book in another room and these memories do pass critical scrutiny in the morning. I am convinced that there are genuine and valid levels of perception available with cannabis (and probably with other drugs) which are, through the defects of our society and our educational system, unavailable to us without such drugs. Such a remark applies not only to self-awareness and to intellectual pursuits, but also to perceptions of real people, a vastly enhanced sensitivity to facial expression, intonations, and choice of words which sometimes yields a rapport so close it’s as if two people are reading each other’s minds.

Cannabis enables nonmusicians to know a little about what it is like to be a musician, and nonartists to grasp the joys of art. But I am neither an artist nor a musician. What about my own scientific work? While I find a curious disinclination to think of my professional concerns when high – the attractive intellectual adventures always seem to be in every other area – I have made a conscious effort to think of a few particularly difficult current problems in my field when high. It works, at least to a degree. I find I can bring to bear, for example, a range of relevant experimental facts which appear to be mutually inconsistent. So far, so good. At least the recall works. Then in trying to conceive of a way of reconciling the disparate facts, I was able to come up with a very bizarre possibility, one that I’m sure I would never have thought of down. I’ve written a paper which mentions this idea in passing. I think it’s very unlikely to be true, but it has consequences which are experimentally testable, which is the hallmark of an acceptable theory.

I have mentioned that in the cannabis experience there is a part of your mind that remains a dispassionate observer, who is able to take you down in a hurry if need be. I have on a few occasions been forced to drive in heavy traffic when high. I’ve negotiated it with no difficult at all, though I did have some thoughts about the marvelous cherry-red color of traffic lights. I find that after the drive I’m not high at all. There are no flashes on the insides of my eyelids. If you’re high and your child is calling, you can respond about as capably as you usually do. I don’t advocate driving when high on cannabis, but I can tell you from personal experience that it certainly can be done. My high is always reflective, peaceable, intellectually exciting, and sociable, unlike most alcohol highs, and there is never a hangover. Through the years I find that slightly smaller amounts of cannabis suffice to produce the same degree of high, and in one movie theater recently I found I could get high just by inhaling the cannabis smoke which permeated the theater.

There is a very nice self-titering aspect to cannabis. Each puff is a very small dose; the time lag between inhaling a puff and sensing its effect is small; and there is no desire for more after the high is there. I think the ratio, R, of the time to sense the dose taken to the time required to take an excessive dose is an important quantity. R is very large for LSD (which I’ve never taken) and reasonably short for cannabis. Small values of R should be one measure of the safety of psychedelic drugs. When cannabis is legalized, I hope to see this ratio as one of he parameters printed on the pack. I hope that time isn’t too distant; the illegality of cannabis is outrageous, an impediment to full utilization of a drug which helps produce the serenity and insight, sensitivity and fellowship so desperately needed in this increasingly mad and dangerous world.

Relinquish Dagga Law Bill [Rev.1d] – Dagga Regulation Bill [Rev.1b]

Download (PDF, 227KB)

Apartheid-Dagga-Prohibition

Relinquish Dagga Law Bill
20 09 2014
[Rev.1d]


This document expects the reader to be up to date with current, global, scientific-medical dagga research, findings & statistics.

 

SECTION A RELINQUISH DAGGA LAWS

  1. Cannabis, Dagga, Hemp should be removed from all Acts of Law, such as the Drug & Trafficking Act of 1992 and any other Act or Law, with immediate effect.

 

  1. Any past or future act of law or regulation concerning cannabis may not:

 

2.1. Limit the rights of adults to cultivate and use cannabis for industrial, medical or recreational purposes.

 

2.2 Limit the rights of children to access medical cannabis.

 

2.3 Criminalise any person for possession, cultivation and the use of cannabis.

 

SECTION B FREE OTHERWISE LAW ABIDING POT-PRISONERS

  1. All prisoners convicted under the Drug & Trafficking Act of 1992, whom were convicted solely on the possession, dealing and/or trafficking of dagga should be released from prison with presidential pardon.
  2. All persons whom have been convicted under the Drug & Trafficking Act of 1992, whom were convicted solely on the possession, dealing and/or trafficking of dagga should receive presidential pardon and their criminal record cleared of all dagga offenses.

 

SECTION C

  1. This bill shall go into effect immediately after it is passed.

 

Continues to next page…


Dagga Regulation Bill
22 09 2014
[Rev.1b]


This document follows upon the Relinquish Dagga Law Bill Rev 1d, 08 09 2014.

SECTION A ABOLISH OLD DAGGA LAWS

  1. Review, revise and pass the Relinquish Dagga Law Bill.

SECTION B POSSESION

  1. Adults are allowed to possess an unquantified quantity of dagga on them or at their property.

SECTION C CULTIVATION

  1. Adults are allowed to grow an unquantified quantity of dagga.

SECTION D MINORS

  1. Persons under 18 are not allowed to use dagga recreationally however,
  2. Children may be prescribed medical dagga for medical conditions.

SECTION E EDUCATION

  1. Cannabis education must be implemented throughout the education system.
  2. Cannabis education must be based on information that is scientifically accurate, honest & unbias.

SECTION F PUBLIC SAFETY

  1. Smoking in public
    • No distinction will be made between a dagga cigarette, bong (Water-pipe), dabs (Concentrates) and a tobacco cigarette in terms of smoking in public. Cannabis users will follow the same regulation to smoking in public as tobacco smokers.

 

  1. Vaporizing in public
    • The use of a portable vaporizer in public will be permissible for strict medical conditions only where properly ventilated otherwise will be regarded as smoking in public.

 

 

Continues to next page…

 


SECTION G SALE & TAXATION

  1. SALE
    • All dagga sold for recreational and medical application must undergo inspection for quality and impurities before it would be deemed fit for human consumption.

 

  • The sale of recreational dagga to under-18s is prohibited.
  • The sale of dagga by gangs & crime syndicates are prohibited.

 

  1. TAXATION
    • The sale of dagga is exempt of all taxes except where VAT TAX applies.

SECTION H

  1. This bill shall go into effect immediately after it is passed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continues to next page…

 

 

Contributors
In Alphabetical Order

 

  • Michael Hawthorne
    [Relinquish Dagga Law Bil Rev.1a,1b,1c & Dagga Regulation Bill Rev.1a,1b]

 

 

NOTES

  • SECTION G1-1.3 & G1-1.1 needs to be explored for clarity.
  • PUBLIC SAFETY might need to be extended to accommodate safety in the workplace in context of the industrialised use of dagga. Where employees are exposed to flammable chemicals etc.

The Italian govt is making good on it&#039;s promise to release 10,000 cannabis pris…

The Italian govt is making good on it’s promise to release 10,000 cannabis prisoners and softening it’s dagga laws.
Carlo Giovanardi, Senator and one of the original authors of the triple-sentence law said the ruling was “…a devastating choice from a scientific viewpoint and in the message it sends to young people that some drugs are less dangerous than others.”
#didwereadthatright?

Italy Poised to Release 10,000 Cannabis Inmates | Weedist
www.weedist.com
Italy is poised to release about ten thousand inmates due to a shift in sentencing laws that eases punishment for cannabis use, growth and possession…. …read more    

The South African Defence Force reports capturing over 5 tons of benign plant ma…

The South African Defence Force reports capturing over 5 tons of benign plant matter (described as ‘dope in the report) in covert ops on the SA/Lesotho border this season……

Over 5 000kg of dagga confiscated by soldiers on border protection –
www.hundrel.com
That the defence force makes a difference in border protection has again been illustrated with a large dope bust on the Lesotho/South Africa border. …read more    

Our detractors seem to be transfixed on the idea that the be all and end all of…

Our detractors seem to be transfixed on the idea that the be all and end all of cannabis use is rolled up in a joint and smoked. They couldn’t be further from the truth and end up with egg on their faces for not knowing the whole story as usual.
Why should they? they’ve never used the plant before so what do they know about bongs, vapes, pens, oil, shatter, wax, RSO, BHO, medibles, edibles, drinks, juices, suppositories and tinctures…….

…read more    

&#064;DoctorsForLife, 223 likes? You don&#039;t even have public support but speak as if i…

@DoctorsForLife, 223 likes? You don’t even have public support but speak as if it’s in the interests of the people.

Doctors for life does not care about the science of cannabis. They only care to push on propaganda to fit their agenda.

Your agenda is business and profits, not health.

If you really cared about the people you claim to serve you would at least be open to debate the medical marijuana bill tabled by late DOCTOR Mario Ambrosini. You would rather see people jailed for a harmless plant.

There is no faux science when it comes to saying DAGGA IS SAFER THAN ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO.

Sorry if I cannot address ignorance or blantant propaganda respectfully.

Those two paper pushing doctors have been schooled by a pothead with basic tertiary college education.

What does that tell you about Doctors For Life’s competency to represent healthcare or legal proceedings regarding dagga court cases.

You are not expert witnesses if you are biased to prohibition regardless of all scientific merits concerning dagga and human health.

Doctors For Life knowingly supports organised crime by supporting prohibition. …read more    

Stationaries Have Released, as Incoming Golden Light Infuses The Planet

Gaia Portal published on September 1, 2014 Stationaries have released, as incoming Golden Light infuses the planet. Sedentary pathways are no longer traversed, and no longer viable. Flashpoints soon reveal to the hu-manity masses, as night sticks are burned. Coordinations occur at the Highest Levels of Gaia energetics to support the …read more    

Creation in TRUTH

Creation in TRUTH By Karen Dover, published on Truth Codes, on September 1, 2014 As many of you can already FEEL the energies are now increasing dramatically in order to help BIRTH the dreams of those who are now at the required frequency (set by the SOUL) to move through …read more    

DDT is an endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC) which is the simple reason why 12%…

DDT is an endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC) which is the simple reason why 12% of the baVhembe are endocrine disrupted.
DDT so safe you can eat it 1947

This is clipped from the record of the 1946 campaign to check an epidemic of malaria in the Kipsigis tribal reserve in the Kisumu district of north-west Keny… …read more    

&quot;To curb the spread of crime, 15 people were arrested for dagga possession this…

“To curb the spread of crime, 15 people were arrested for dagga possession this past weekend.” Have you ever read a title that said 15 murderers arrested over the past weekend? NEVER!

Url://
15 arrested for possession of Dagga
sowetourban.co.za
To curb the spread of crime, 15 people were arrested for dagga possession this past weekend. …read more    

Propaganja&#039; Aims to Clear Up the Haze About Dagga &#123;2004&#125; Despite the rain, May…

Propaganja’ Aims to Clear Up the Haze About Dagga {2004}

Despite the rain, May Day saw about 120 people make their way to the closed gates of Parliament in Cape Town. This was South Africa’s attempt at joining 160 other cities in the Global Marijuana March.

The numbers were telling of the obscurity of the dagga debate but did not nearly represent South Africa’s estimated 1-million smokers.

The turn-up was nevertheless colourful: barefooted youth with little hope in their eyes rolled joints while soft-skinned beauties with dirty hair brandished “legalise it” posters. Rasta brothers with bling-bling outfits zealously shared their views with a journalist from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Numerous self-styled gurus clutched research documents on dagga as an alternative energy resource, dagga as medicine, and dagga for building houses. Joints, bottled water and ganja muffins were passed around while the police kept their pose.

Rightly so, says organiser of the march, Andre du Plessis, because there is more to dagga than dope.

The emphasis on the narcotic qualities of a herb that for centuries has been a matter-of-fact feature of life in southern Africa, has obscured its economic potential as a source of oil, paper, fabrics, the ingredient for soaps and wax and – mixed with lime – as a cheap, strong brick.

This potential, Du Plessis and others argue, highlights the need to think differently about a substance that is the subject chiefly of criminal investigation, while taking too much blame for social ills. At the end of last year 4,269 people found themselves in South African jails for the use or possession of cannabis, and 1,207 for the trade or cultivation of cannabis.

Yet the focus is on waging what is arguably an apparently wasteful war on an “enemy” that just won’t go away. The sums involved are immense. Just last year, the SA Police Service’s organised crime unit seized about 5,038kg of dagga from individuals, 99 939kg from traders and 754,913kg from plantations. This excluded cannabis confiscated by uniformed police.

Cannabis, for the police, has the lure of a siren: Parliament was told last year how Philippi residents, having failed to get attention from the Nyanga police to report a rape case, fabricated a “tip-off” about a stash of dagga. The police sent five cars. But for all their bravado, police seem to be fighting a losing battle. An estimated 1-million South Africans regularly break the law with impunity. And raids fail to reduce the demand. A decline in supply merely means consumers have to pay a bit more.

And that bit more doesn’t go to the rural growers, whose livelihood often depends on their crop, but to drug lords. Some argue that more vigorous policing of the dagga trade, far from curbing its use, hikes profits and indirectly stimulates syndicate crime.

Prohibition has created a black market. Why, then, was dagga made illegal in the first place?

Was it because it posed a health risk?

Was it because it threatened the textile industry?

Or because international conventions compelled South Africa to outlaw it?

The answer is complex, and in many ways obscure. Assumption-buster Du Plessis, a systems engineer in the IT industry, has been pursuing the answer since 1998. He found that the initial reason for outlawing dagga had nothing to do with the plant’s narcotic qualities, but with the threat it posed to cotton and other industries.

Numerous laws on dagga in the 20th century were possibly racially discriminatory, and thus – or so Du Plessis thinks – unconstitutional. When Minister of Information Connie Mulder introduced the Dagga Act in 1971, he described dagga as a national emergency, arguing that white army conscripts would be demotivated, and social interaction between black and white youth would occur, if dagga was not criminalised.

Du Plessis also found out that, if legalised, cannabis could take its place as a competitive product in the petrochemical, construction, paper, pulp and textile industries. Believing that dagga could significantly contribute to reducing the housing backlog, and generate jobs, he set out to share his findings, to spread, as he puts it, “propaganja”. He was not well received.

In 2001, Du Plessis approached the Innovation Fund with a proposal as thick as a Bible. In light of the housing shortfall, estimated to be 400 000 units per year, he pointed out that houses could be built using bricks made of shredded cannabis stalks – or hurd – and lime. The Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, which then managed the fund, thought he was crazy.

According to Du Plessis, it would be possible to build a hurd-brick house three times the size of a typical RDP house, for the same price. Besides being cheaper, bricks made from cannabis are, he argued, stronger, more sound-proof and a better thermal insulator than clay bricks. Du Plessis says his vision of a socially-uplifting cannabis industry was seen as nothing more than the pipedream of a dopehead. Hoping to inspire dialogue around cannabis, Du Plessis led a similar march last year and handed over a petition of 800 signatures to Western Cape Public Protector Gary Pienaar urging the government to rethink their “fundamentalist” approach to dagga. He has yet not heard from the authorities. This year’s march, he says, was to remind government that the sharing of information with the people was an essential part of democracy.

Ten helium balloons filled with hundreds of dagga seeds were released into the air. They were supposed to pop at altitude. But with the help of the wind, they ended up unspectacularly in Parliament’s gardens. Du Plessis was not concerned. For him it was a sign that, one way or another, dagga would get government’s attention.

Eastern Cape …read more    

If you caught our insert on SABC News Newsdesk with Eben Jansen this morning, yo…

If you caught our insert on SABC News Newsdesk with Eben Jansen this morning, you might want to head over to the You Tube clip to add your comments. Believe us, the debate is as polarised as ever.
Remember, at our level on national TV, the first person to get angry looses the debate – so be calm and stick to the facts. Getting personal gets the debate nowhere. You’ll find the comments here:

…read more    

For all hempathisers near PE: Hemporium now has a range at The POP Shoppe in PE,…

For all hempathisers near PE: Hemporium now has a range at The POP Shoppe in PE, including hemp clothing, cosmetics, accessories and nutritional products.

What’s more, if you spend more than R500 on hemp products during the first week of September, you stand a chance to win 2 tickets to plant some trees at the GreenPop Reforest Fest in gorgeous Hogsback!

https://www.facebook.com/events/786056728105451/

…read more    

&#064;DoctorsForLife; Since 2005, Denver ER saw 1 child per year for accidentally ing…

@DoctorsForLife; Since 2005, Denver ER saw 1 child per year for accidentally ingesting dagga edibles. #Exaggeration #DownplaysProhibition

Children’s Hospital sees surge in kids accidentally eating marijuana
www.denverpost.com
The number of children coming into Colorado’s largest pediatric emergency department after accidentally eating marijuana is on pace to more than double. …read more    

Breast milk is now illegal in South Africa, since 28 March 2014. On 28 March 20…

Breast milk is now illegal in South Africa, since 28 March 2014.

On 28 March 2014, Jeff Radebe signed an amendment to the 1992 Drugs and drug trafficking act making all cannabinoids illegal. – N.M.

2 (c) all homologues of the listed substances (being any chemically related

substances that incorporate a structural fragment into their structures that

is similar to the structure of a listed substance or exhibit

pharmacodynamic properties similar to the listed substances in this Part

of the Schedule), unless listed separately in any Part of Schedule 2.”

Humans are, by nature, now illegal.

Homologues is defined as homologous which is defined as having the same relation, relative position, or structure.

Humans naturally produce endo cannabinoids & endo DMT if you will.

I do not know what implication this will have on the current legal cannabinoid medication such as Marinol.

Run for your life but don’t run from the cure.

Source:
…read more    

Fifty years ago this weekend a young American musician called Bob Dylan introduc…

Fifty years ago this weekend a young American musician called Bob Dylan introduced cannabis to a young British band called The Beatles. The rest, as they say, is history…..

Fifty Years Ago Today: Bob Dylan Turned The Beatles On To Marijuana
marijuana.com
Exactly 50 years ago, on August 28, 1964, folk legend Bob Dylan ascended the elevator of the Delmonico Hotel on Park Avenue in Manhattan for a momentous first meeting with The Beatles, who were touring the United States. …read more