Medicinal Cannabis as Treatment for Bipolar

Many patients who have have attended Hope Unlimited meetings in 2008 discuss their use of cannabis as a mood stabilizer in bipolar disorder. Some use it to treat mania, depression, or both. Some use it as a substitute to lithium others combine the two. Their have been at least 6 bipolar patients with San Diego medical cannabis ID cards at this year's hope gatherings.



Want to read more about using cannabis as a treatment for bipolar disorder:

Treatment of Bipolar Disorder - Medical Marijuana - Wikipedia

Peer-Reviewed Medical Cannabis Studies

The use of cannabis as a mood stabilizer in bipolar disorder: anecdotal evidence and the need for clinical research. - L Grinspoon

Steve Francis attends Hope Unlimited meeting

Candidate for mayor Steve Francis was in attendance at last night's Hope Unlimited meeting. He pledged to re-establish the dialog between police and medical marijuana patients if elected. The previous council under mayor Murphy voted to accept guidelines established by the city's medical marijuana task force. This work has stalled under mayor Sanders.

Full story coming soon.

Medical Marijuana Voting Guide for City Attorney

The June 3rd election for San Diego City Attorney is the one of the most contentious in years. Five candidates, Mike Aguirre, Amy Lepine, Jan Goldsmith, Brian Maienschein, and Scott Peters are vying for the seat. If no one candidate wins 50% of the vote, the top two vote getters will run against each other in a November run-off election. Hope Unlimited has been seeking to gather public opinions from the candidates on medical marijuana. The following voter guide has been prepared based on the response to our inquires and research of past medical marijuana legislation.

We will update as we hear new information from the candidates.

Grading the City Attorney candidates on medicinal marijuana

Jan Goldsmith B+

-Superior Court Judge, endorsed by Republican party, former State Assemblyman for North County

Goldsmith was a State Assemblyman when Proposition 215 came before California voters in 1995. Prop 215 became Bill 1529 when it reached Assembly. It passed committee by a vote of 5 to 2. The bill then went before the full assembly where it narrowly passed 41 to 30. Goldsmith was one of the 41 who voted in favor of implementing prop 215 guidelines. However, he has been labeled an anti-drug Republican, and when bill 1529 came back to the Assembly for a second vote Goldsmith was absent or abstained.

Scott Peters B-

- Represents District 1 and is currently president on City Council, Democrat, attorney

Peters sat on the San Diego City Council in 2003 when recommendations from San Diego's Medical Cannabis Task Force came up for vote. The measure authorizing medical patients to possess a pound of tried cannabis or 24 plants was a milestone in San Diego. It passed 6 to 3, Peters was one of the 6 voting in favor of adopting local medical marijuana guidelines. More recently in 2006 he was criticized by San Diego Americans for Safe Access (ASA) for obstructing them in getting a resolution docketed for City Council.


Mike Aguirre F

- Current city attorney, claims office should be used to "serve the public interest", Democrat

Aguirre has never been in a position to put himself on the record with a yes or no vote on a medical marijuana initiative. Hope Unlimited has contacted him repeatedly to give him a chance to state his views on medical marijuana but neither his campaign or his city office have responded. Judging from his recent attempt to shutdown "smoke shops" shows his motivations. Publicly he told City Beat he was going after crack and meth pipes. The actual letter sent out to smoke shops had the following passages underlined and asterisked: "bongs", "otherwise introducing into the body a controlled substance", & "marijuana, ... hashhish, & hashhish oil". Aguirre seems to have been caught in a lie on this one.



Brian Maienschein F

- Represents District 5 on City Council, Republican, attorney


Maienschein also sat on San Diego City Council for the 2003 vote. He was one of 3 who voted against implementing medical marijuana guidelines. When this item was voted on it took about 7 hours to hear everyone who wanted to speak on the issue. Many passionate cases were made for individual's medical need of marijuana. Maienschein made a point at the time to speak out against the guidelines.


Amy Lepine ?

- Former Deputy City Attorney under Aguirre, quit and filed suit claiming sexism



Has no taken no public stance on the issue to the best of our knowledge.

Marc Emery Extradition Trial Update

The BC3 still needs your help. The next hearing in the extradition trial is scheduled for April 9th 2008. The latest reports are that a tentative plea bargain has been reached. The deal would see Michelle Rainey and Greg Williams go free, while Marc Emery serves a 5-10 year sentence. However, one of Emery's stipulations, that he be allowed to spend more than half his sentence in a Canadian prison, has caused the deal to hit a snag. A 5 year sentence for selling marijuana seeds does not fit within Canada's sentencing guidelines. Essentially the Canadian government is saying they cannot agree to the plea because the sentence is illegal under Canadian law.

The BC3 need your help more than ever in their battle with the DEA.

Please call the Canadian Minster of Justice at (613) 957-4222 to tell them it would be "cruel and unjust", and an insult to Canada's sovereignty, to extradite Canadians Marc Emery, Michelle Rainey and Greg Williams to the United States to face life in US prison.

If you can help with money please donate to the BC3 Legal Defense Fund .

Ocean Beach Hope Unlimited Picnic Fireside Support Group Meeting

Hope Unlimited
HOPE UNLIMITED'S primary purpose: To improve the lives of people living with illness on a local level. Four Major Functions of the group: advocacy, outreach, education, support/friendship
The Creation of Community
The creation of community is an aspect of paramount concern to those disenfranchised by illness. We enlist a collective council responsible for initiating ideas and responding to internal problems. During our weekly support meetings participants join together to find much needed emotional and social support. Sick and dying people often face discrimination, intolerance and arrest. Problem solving, attention to the personal, empowerment, consciousness and awareness are among the gifts that we are called upon to share.
Ocean Beach Hope Unlimited Picnic Fireside Support Group Meeting
Theme: Help Save Marc Emery and the BC3 From Extradition--"Becoming involved and healing by helping others"Meet by the Lifeguard StationTuesday October 2nd @6:30Cookout (Burgers and Brats-and Vegetarian Friendly Burgers and Brats)www.hopeforfree.blogspot.com

The Creation of Community

The creation of community is an aspect of paramount concern to those disenfranchised by illness. We enlist a collective council responsible for initiating ideas and responding to internal problems. During our weekly support meetings participants join together to find much needed emotional and social support. Sick and dying people often face discrimination, intolerance and arrest. Problem solving, attention to the personal, empowerment, consciousness and awareness are among the gifts that we are called upon to share.

welcome fellow hopeheads

welcome my fellow hope members to our very own blog/site
feel free to post away until your hearts content
this web site is for Hope Unlimited Members to express their feelings, issues, etc. in between meetings-use this as scratch paper for your ideas-your goals-your hopes and dreams