A daily series, Connect! Unite! Act! seeks to create face-to-face networks in each congressional district. Groups regularly socialize but also get out the vote, support candidates and engage in other local political actions that help our progressive movement grow and exert influence on the powers-that-be. Visit us at Daily Kos every morning at 7:30 A.M. Pacific Time to see how you can get involved. The comment thread is fun and light-hearted, but we're serious about moving the progressive political agenda forward.
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If you'd like to join a group, click on a point and a box will pop up showing contact links.
If you'd like to start a group, contact navajo for instructions.
View Interactive Map of Daily Kos Regional Communities in a full screen version.
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Have you ever used marijuana for medical reasons?
I've been having some discussions lately with folks about the use of marijuana for
medical reasons. This topic comes up a lot in my practice and has also come up lately with folks in my day to day life as well. We all know pot can get you high so let's get that out of the way first. Pot's been getting a lot more potent too in that regard. Good old "Nebraska No-High" has no THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). Old fashioned pot of days of yore, like when I was young, had about 3%. Tai Sticks, which were the bomb back then, had 8%. Hash oil, known now as honey oil (cannabinoids extracted with solvents, usually butane) and hash had about 20%. Today, most pot has at least 25% while some strains have as much as 38% THC!
When you smoke pot THC combines with essential oils in cannabis called terpenes to create the high you get. Depending upon the variety of pot you smoke, you'll get either a more energetic high (sativa strains) or a stony high (indica strains). It turns out that this combination only occurs if you smoke pot or vaporize it (which is much healthier for your lungs by magnitudes of order).
If you ingest pot, the terpenes are digested causing the stony high or energetic high differences from different strains to be lost. The effects of eating pot then is totally dependent upon the amount of THC consumed and not the strain from which edibles are made. In general consuming pot is twice as strong and lasts twice as long as smoking it. Plus it feels different giving you a body high which is better in treating pain compared to smoking. You need to be careful in dosing. Wait an hour after you consume edibles to see where you're at before eating more!
THC isn't the only cannabinoid in pot but it is the only psychedelic one. Other cannabinoids having medical uses are CBD and CBG which also modify the effects of THC. The most studied medical cannabinoid is CBD (cannabidiol) which is used for seizures in both children and adults with
extremely good results. There are now strains of pot that have been created to really increase the amount of CBD made while lowering the THC content. BTW, there are
also medical uses for THC as well, so don't discount that cannabinoid as only being good for getting stoned.
I grew [I have a license] one of these brand new strains this year as a favor for a friend of mine who's quite interested in the medical properties of pot just to see how it would grow. This plant had the smallest overall yield and yet grew the tallest with lots of spacing between the branches. It was also by far the most susceptible to mold and insect infestation for which I used totally organic methods to control. What that tells me is this new strain must have far fewer terpenes (the essential oils) so the plant was less able to naturally defend itself.
There are strong cancer fighting effects of cannabinoids as well and now there is really good research currently taking place. The most aggressive form of brain cancer responds extremely well to CBD, and it turns out that CBD and THC together work even better.
I know a man who had just this type of brain cancer (he happens to be an MD). He got the usual medical treatment which included surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible, radiation and chemotherapy. Normally new little tumors start to show up and are zapped with more radiation, but eventually nothing more can be done. After initial diagnosis, life expectancy for this type of cancer is typically less than 12 months even with aggressive treatment.
This man was given CBD oil orally. So far all his scans have been clean. He shows no signs of any new baby brain tumors and he's been alive for more than 2 years since diagnosis and has received no more medical treatment. Obviously this one case doesn't prove a thing by itself, but is still very encouraging!
The cancer fighting effects of cannabis have long been known but are finally being researched in earnest. Cannabinoids have been shown to actually kill leukemia cancer cells directly and slow the progression of HIV. Even THC alone shrinks cancer tumors. There's lots of good news about the medical uses for marijuana coming out. I'll end writing this diary now, but will include two links to articles. I hope you'll choose to read them and find this information as exciting as I.
Marijuana Drastically Shrinks Aggressive Form Of Brain Cancer, New Study Finds
They found that the tumors were best treated by low doses of both THC and CBD that, when used in concert, made the tumors more receptive to radiation treatment. "Our data suggests a 'triple threat' approach using all three may be of value," Liu told HuffPost.
The researchers also found that together, the low doses of THC and CBD produced a similar effect to a large dose of either compound, which is noteworthy because it indicates that patients may ultimately experience fewer side effects.
Cannabis salves work on basal cell skin cancer as well because your skin has cannabinoid receptor sites. That just plain amazing to me. Salves made with cannabis, shea butter, coconut butter, bees wax, vitamin E and some lavender oil (I wonder who makes this salve? ;) are also just plain super for your skin anyway on top of the medical niceness.
Transdermal Medical Marijuana – Skin Cancer Treatment
Latest Updates on Regional Meet-Up News Can Be Found Below the Orange Group Hug.
Southwest Ohio Kossacks are organizing now. Please kosmail akadjian to receive an invite to join the group. There's lots to do in Ohio and we need YOU to reach our political goals. Also, please direct any commenters or diarists you encounter from Cincinnati or Dayton at Daily Kos to join this group. Thanks!
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Our team is here to provide support and guidance to new and existing volunteer leaders of each regional and state group, helping them with recruiting, organizing and executing social and action events.
We invite you to join in this effort to build our community. There are many ways to pitch in.
If there isn't a group to join near you, please start one.
Instructions on HOW TO FORM A NEW DAILY KOS GROUP
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THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY
by Thinking Fella ♥ for Four Corners Kossacks
On Saturday, November 8th, 2014, the Four Corners Kossacks met to have a beverage or two, lament our electoral losses, cheer our wins, get updates on races still ongoing, listen to past local election history, learn more about each other, and plot our future strategies.
L-R: Thinking Fella, Matt S., (McLachlan campaign manager) red moon dog, nzanne, Gary Norton, Wally White, (termed-out former La Plata County Commissioner & long-time Dailykos lurker) and Jeff H.
Please visit Thinking Fella's diary for more photos! Enjoy! You can still REC it. You can join Four Corners Kossacks by sending a Kosmail to Thinking Fella.
by John Crapper ♥ for Seattle and Puget Sound Kossacks
Four days after the mid-term elections Seattle & Puget Sound Kossacks had lunch with Representative Joe Fitzgibbon, WA 34th, Chair of the Environment Committee and serving on the Finance, Transportation and Local Government Committees.
Special thanks goes to bleeding blue for making this all possible!
Invited attendees: Marcee Stone-Vegich - Chair of the 34th LD & Ted Barker Vice Chair, Robin Everett - Washington State's Sierra Club Beyond Coal Campaign Coordinator and Mary Manous with Weldon DeBusk both on the development team creating the Cascadia Climate Action Calendar which compiles monthly the events and actions of all major environmental groups in the Puget Sound Area.
My take-away as leader of Seattle & Puget Sound Kossacks from this meeting. Political reality can't be changed. We must deal with it as best we can. We must also support those fighting for climate sanity as best we can. But when it comes to climate change we cannot afford to wait on politics to be "right" to get something done. We can't afford to just chip away at the edges. We need to pursue the most effective path possible to make climate sanity a reality. Under current circumstances politics may not be that path in the next two years in Washington State.
Instead it will be the Climate Action Hub. And in my neck of the woods it will be promoting the Cascadia Climate Calendar and urging people to get involved.
Please visit
John Crapper's diary for more photos! Enjoy! You can still REC it. You can join
Seattle and Puget Sound Kossacks by sending a Kosmail to
John Crapper.
by cooper888 ♥ for Sacramento Kossacks
We heard from navajo and Meteor Blades about the initiative by Daily Kos to have active Kossack groups in each of the state capitals. DK is looking for engaged Kossack's ready to roll up their sleeves and participate in many different types of activism/advocacy. For example, delivering petitions to the state capitol, participating in various protests, marches, rally's at the capitol, etc. As Meteor Blades pointed out this won't happen over night and is a long term strategy but I think if we all take the lead in our respective states we can make this dream happen sooner than DK leadership expects.
L-R: Front row: Sychotic1, tgypsy, tb92, trevizolga, Mrs. side pocket. Second row: Arundsdel (sp?), Laurel in CA, Kestrel, Meteor Blades. Third row: Kestrel's two friends, smileycreek, paradise50, Dave. Back row: Clif, Mr. Arundsdel, Neil, cooper888, side pocket, Left foot forward, got mooned & Nate
Please visit cooper888's diary for many MORE photos! Enjoy! You can still REC it. You can join Sacramento Kossacks by sending a Kosmail to cooper888.
Event Organizers! Please contact wink from Netrootsradio.com by KosMail to schedule airtime with them to live broadcast the date of your Event. Wink & Justice will then promote it on The After Show radio program!
Saturday, November 22nd
LA Kossacks Post-election Meet-up
TIME: 2:00 PM
LOCATION: Luggage Room Pizzeria
260 S. Raymond Ave • Pasadena
ORGANIZER: Send susans a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. susans
2. otoelbc
3. Chiwere
4. Shockwave
5. 714day
6. jeremybloom
7. Zwenkau
8. philipmerrill
9. Flowingone
10. Joshua Bloxom
11. benamery21
12. gmats
13. Joe Bacon
14. SanFernandoValleyMom
15. peace voter
16. jakedog42 |
Maybees: |
Latest diary: Los Angeles November Meetup
Saturday, November 22nd
Baja Arizona Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: 6:00 PM
LOCATION: Kon Tiki Lounge
Broadway, just west of Swan • Tucson
You're not a real Tucsonan until you've puked in the bathroom at Kon Tiki.
ORGANIZER: Send Azazello a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. Azazello
2. rasbobbo
3. ramara
4. DaNang65
5. sneakers563
6. itzadryheat
7. pwoodford
8. dobleremolque
9. Sierrareal1
10. coocooforcocoapuffs
11. ItsaMathJoke
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Maybees:
renbear
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Latest diary: Baja Arizona Open Thread
Sunday, November 23rd
SFKossacks & Silicon Valley Kossacks Support Native American Netroots Protesting the Washington R*dsk*ns Mascot Use
TIME: 10:00 AM
LOCATION: Levi's Stadium
4900 Marie P DeBartolo Way • Santa Clara
ORGANIZER: Send navajo a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. bahesmama
2. navajo
3. Meteor Blades
4.
5.
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Maybees:
Glen The Plumber
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Monday, November 24th
Kansas Kossacks Meet-up Focused on State Issues, What's Next?
Potluck dinner
This meeting will be focused on ISSUES. The meeting will not be focused around campaigning, candidates, etc. (as we are in a non-profit religious meeting hall) but is really focused around the Sedgewick County Community. We'll talk specifically about Social Justice and Minority Outreach and how we get more people to participate in the process.
TIME: 5:30 PM
LOCATION: College Hill United Methodist Church
2930 E 1st St • Wichita
ORGANIZER: Send tmservo433 a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. tmservo433
2.
3.
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: Connect! Unite! Act! Meeting in Wichita, KS November 24
Tuesday, December 2nd
Maryland Kos Post-election Meet-up
TIME: 6:30 PM
LOCATION: Sabatino's
901 Fawn Street • Baltimore
ORGANIZER: Send Navy Vet Terp a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. Navy Vet Terp
2. vschultzvidal
3. mimi
4. rb608
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: Maryland Kos Meetup - Baltimore Subgroup
Saturday, December 6th
Four Corner Kossacks Ride the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
This train is extra special. Not only are the cars over 100 years old, the coal-fired steam locomotive pulling us up the mountain was built in the early 1920's. We'll be riding in the "Cinco Animas" car (built in 1883), which, as would be expected for Kossacks--is a Presidential Class car. See diary for many more details.
TIME: 9:15 AM
LOCATION: Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
479 Main Ave • Durango
ORGANIZER: Send Thinking Fella a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. Thinking Fella
2. HeroMachine
3. LucyTooners
4. Mr. LucyTooners
5. unfangus
6. Mrs. unfangus
7. Darcy
8. Kim
9. Nan
10. Allison M.
11. Tom M.
12. Boiseblue
13. Mrs. Boiseblue
14. ⇐Cinco Animas car filled
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Maybees:
Gary Norton
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Latest diary: EPIC Four Corners Kossacks Meet-up: Gonna Ride the D&SNGR Presidential Car to 9000' Elevation!
Wednesday, December 10th
Colorado COmmunity Meet-up with Drinking Liberally
TIME: TBD
LOCATION: TBD
[address] • [City]
ORGANIZER: Send Leftcandid a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. Leftcandid
2.
3.
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Maybees:
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Latest diary: DENVER: Drinking & Caffeinating Liberally "Well, F**" Editions Next Week
Saturday, December 13th
SF Kossacks Holiday Party at Daily Kos HQ
The usual Pot Luck drill
TIME: 6:00 PM
LOCATION: Daily Kos HQ
Address given privately by kosmail • Berkeley
Near Ashby BART
ORGANIZER: Send navajo a kosmail to attend
- POTLUCK SIGNUP -
HQ will be providing the main course of our buffet:
• White bean sausage cassoulet
• Marinated chicken skewers
Vegetarian options:
• Butternut squash with farro, parmesan, spinach and onion
• Ratatouille with polenta squares
Please volunteer for beverages, side dishes & desserts needed below.
Beverages:
20 bottles of wine [4 complete (navajo)]
16 six-packs of beer [0 complete]
8 six-packs soft drinks [0 complete]
6 six-packs bottles of water [1 complete (sfbob)]
Appetizers:
8 appetizers, anything goes here. Whatcha' got? [1 complete (jforests)]
Side Dishes:
4 green salads needed, each to feed 10 [3 complete (jforests, Lorikeet, ceebee7)]
4 (10-12 pcs) dinner roll sets, plus butter cubes [0 complete]
Desserts:
6 hand-held desserts (dozen each) [2 complete (syd, norm)]
70 Chinet dinner plates [jakedog42 & susans]
70 dessert plates [jakedog42 & susans]
70 appetizer plates [jakedog42 & susans]
140 cocktail napkins [jakedog42 & susans]
70 dinner napkins [jakedog42 & susans]
100 plastic forks [jakedog42 & susans]
70 plastic knives [jakedog42 & susans]
100 clear plastic beverage cups [jakedog42 & susans]
RSVPs:
1. Markos
2. Will Rockafellow
3. Susan Gardner
4. Meteor Blades
5. Faith Gardner & Roxie!
6. navajo - 4 bottles red wine
7. side pocket
8. Mrs. side pocket
9. smileycreek
10. paradise50
11. remembrance
12. Glen The Plumber
13. TLO
14. jakedog42 - plates, cups, napkins & utensils
15. edrie
16. dharmasyd* - brownies
17. catilinus
18. boatsie
19. liberated spaces
20. citisven
21. kimoconnor
22. susans* - plates, cups, napkins & utensils
23. maggiejean
24. 714day
25. Steven Payne
26. scaboni
27. skywriter
28. jpmassar
29. jotter
30. aha aha
31. jeremybloom
32. norm* - sugar-free cake
33. Lorikeet* - vege salad
34. cooper888
35. got mooned
36. Hunter
37. elfling
38. Cassia
39. Friend of elfling
40. Friend of elfling
41. Friend of elfling
42. Friend of elfling
43. tmservo433
44. Simplify
45. jforests* - greek salad, cheese ball appetizer/crackers
46. jforests SO and baby girl
47. Brian82
48. ceebee7* - green salad
49. Elisa +Ari & Eli
50. jglass
51. jglass's wife + 2 sons (6,9)
52. Walter + toddler
53. Denise
54. Denise's teen
55. Michaela
Maybees:
Thinking Fella
LaughingPlanet
sfbob - bottled water
Mark
*address given
Sunday, December 28th
Koscadia Meet-up with navajo & Pipe Ceremony with Ojibwa to Bless Quilts
TIME: 2:00 PM
LOCATION: Private home
[Kosmail Sara R for the address] • Portland
ORGANIZER: Send Sara R to attend
RSVPs:
1. navajo
2. Ojibwa
3. Sara R
4. winglion
5. Angie in WA State
6. loggersbrat
7. llbear
8. Drewid
9. also mom of 5
10. watercarrier4diogenes
11. ozsea1
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Maybees:
exlrrp
quill
pdxteacher
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Latest diary: Koscadia Meet Up 12/28 -- special guests navajo and Ojibwa
Saturday & Sunday, January 17-18, 2015
Dkos Asheville 24-hour Meet-up
This is what community is about; sharing, giving, creating together. And this is what being a progressive is about; working for social, economic, and environmental justice.
Each day we start from where we are now; and we move forward from here. -davehouck
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...we have built ourselves a network of like minded brothers and sisters who are in this fight for life. A place we can come to find inspiration, power, solace and community.
-randallt |
TIME: 1:00 pm Saturday till 1:00 pm Sunday
LOCATION: Crown Plaza Resort Asheville
One Resort Drive • Asheville
ORGANIZER: Send randallt a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. randallt
2. davehouck
3. Joieau
4. Gordon20024
5. SteelerGrrl
6. SteelerGuy
7. LamontCranston
8. Otteray Scribe
9.
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Maybees:
Joy of Fishes
IamGumby
smiley7
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Latest diary: DKos Asheville: Open Thread
navajo maintains the above event list. Kosmail her if you have any diaries
about your event or if you have changes or additions.
EVERYONE is welcome, tell us what you're working on,
share your show and tell, vent, whatever you want.
This is an open thread. Nothing is off topic.