Politics, Theology, Metaphysics & Philosophy

hi   Mum of six dealt drugs to put dinner on the table   Judge Simon Carr said there was no evidence of Victoria Adamson spending the proceeds lavishly   A drug-dealing mum of six has avoided jail after a judge was told how she sold cocaine and cannabis to feed her kids. Victoria Adamson, 39, was caught with nearly £2,000 worth of cocaine and cannabis when police raided her home on the Kinsman Estate in Bodmin in June 2017. Adamson appeared at Truro Crown Court to be sentenced after previously pleading guilty to possession with intent to supply cocaine and possession with intent to supply cannabis. Prosecuting the case, Philip Lee said: “Police executed a search at the defendant’s home on June 2, 2017, and seized cocaine and a number of cannabis plants. “The cannabis had a street value of £1,500 and the cocaine £470. One of the defendant’s phones was examined and found to contain thousands of messages relating to drug supply.”   In her police interview Adamson claimed that all the drugs were for her personal use and she smoked three joints each evening when the children went to bed to relax and took cocaine on nights out when other people were looking after the kids. Mr Lee added: “Texts illustrate frequent sales to 20 different contacts and there were references to laying on drugs for others for onward supply. There was also evidence of the defendant pursuing debts owed to her. “The proceeds were a source of additional income to top up her benefits and a text said she did it to put food on the table for her children.” Defending Adamson, Ed Bailey told the court how she was a woman of effective good character who had been “utterly foolish” by involving herself in the dealing of Class A drugs. Mr Bailey said: “She had been let down by three fathers of her five dependent sons who contributed no maintenance whatsoever. “Ms Adamson was struggling to make ends meet in a council flat on the Kinsman Estate and started to smoke cannabis. She bought it in bulk because it was cheaper and sought a release by occasionally going out and taking cocaine. Again it was cheaper to buy it in bulk and friends asked her to supply them. “She would not deal to strangers and towards the end of her dealing she was trying to remove herself from the mess she got into. “She was under pressure to supply and when she expressed reluctance her car was damaged. “She suffers extreme anxiety but has turned her life around. She has proved to social services that her children are being properly cared for and is training as a carer.”     Sentencing Adamson, Judge Simon Carr spoke of how Adamson developed a drug addiction and began to supply drugs to others. He said: “You’re a mother of six children, including five boys from six to 16. Two have special needs and you receive no financial support from the fathers. “You chose to supply to a relatively small group and there’s no evidence of any extravagant spending. “Unsurprisingly, social services became involved following your arrest and your children were placed on the child protection register. You have since proved that you are able to care from them in a way which resulted in them being removed from that register.   You are the sole carer for a number of children, have pleaded guilty, supplied to a small group and most importantly made efforts to turn your life around in the last two years.” Judge Carr handed Adamson a two-year prison sentence, suspended for two years. She was told she must complete 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 220 hours of unpaid work. Adamson was also curfewed for thre   https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/mum-six-dealt-drugs-put-3434552   Bongme     

hi   Cannabis alert for private rental sector as electricity thefts surge      New analysis by Direct Line for Business reveals a surge in the number of police investigations into the theft of electricity, where people have tampered with a gas or electricity meter. Police investigations into the theft of electricity are projected to be 13 per cent higher this year than in 2018, and the company forecasts that there will be 2,200 cases in 2019 compared to 1,950 in 2018.  In almost a quarter of existing cases, police suspect electricity was being stolen for the cultivation or manufacture of illegal drugs: this is becoming an increasingly common problem involving private rental properties innocently let by landlords and agents.   Since the start of 2017 there have been over 5,200 cases investigating the theft of electricity, an average of seven cases opened every day.  People can receive a significant prison term for electricity theft alone, with a starting point of 12 weeks’ custody for serious offenders.   For those found guilty of running a cannabis operation, capable of producing industrial quantities for commercial use, a criminal can expect to be jailed for between four and eight years. Just three police forces across England and Wales account for nearly a third of all investigations into the theft of electricity.   Greater Manchester Police handled 14 per cent of all investigations into the theft of electricity since 2017, followed by West Yorkshire Police (12 per cent) and Merseyside Police (seven per cent).     Greater Manchester Police also had the highest number of investigations where it was suspected the power stolen was being used for the manufacture of illegal drugs, with 710 cases recorded between 2017 and the end of June 2019.  This was followed by West Yorkshire Police with 602 investigations and Merseyside with 376.     https://www.lettingagenttoday.co.uk/breaking-news/2019/10/cannabis-alert-for-private-rental-sector-as-electricity-thefts-surge   POLL On link   Poll: Are cannabis farms a problem for your landlord clients?
PLACE YOUR VOTE BELOW   Bongme     

hi   A Global Leader in Cannabis Data & Media    NOBL Group launches with a portfolio that includes some of the leading brands in the industry  Underpinned by unrivalled leadership and management LONDON, Oct. 16, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- NOBL Group is bringing together a number of industry leading companies, a highly experienced leadership and an aggressive growth strategy; that will unlock the societal, economic and medical opportunities for cannabis. The new group will help evolve the industry, at pace, through a platform that covers data, media, tech, conferences and consultancy.   NOBL will initially be made up of the following brands:       Prohibition Partners: The world's leading provider of cannabis intelligence with a blue chip, cross industry client base. It is the only company with such widespread global coverage. The consultancy team works with investors, operators and regulators to identify and materialise opportunities across multiple jurisdictions.
    Atalis: A premium market research and intelligence database for the cannabis industry. This SaaS platform will empower better decision making for regulators, operators and investors through global data, insights and analysis. (launching in November)
    Cannabis Europa: A highly regarded series of conferences widely attended by governments, regulators and investors alike. This platform brings together international leaders to discuss, debate and shape the future of medical cannabis. The upcoming conferences are to be held in Toronto and New York in November 2019. (joint venture company)
    European Cannabis Week: A series of events that are held for one week, in a major European capital, every year. European Cannabis Week provides a forum / platform for the industry to develop on the back of political engagement, deal flow, new launches and regulatory debate. (joint venture company) NOBL has assembled a leadership team of industry pioneers, innovators and experts combined with key leaders from the fields of technology, data, media and capital markets. All with a proven track record of successfully delivering growth, shareholder value and commercial success in emerging industries and markets. NOBL growth strategy will see it quickly extend its geographical footprint and service offerings while building a group that will provide access to the most comprehensive and credible information for the cannabis industry.   Stephen Murphy, an industry pioneer and thought leader, will serve as Chief Executive Officer. He is an experienced and acknowledged entrepreneur having co-founded European Cannabis Holdings (ECH), Prohibition Partners and Cannabis Europa. Stephen has previously led businesses crossing technology, innovation, digital media and corporate finance. NOBL is bolstered by a highly experienced leadership team who bring with them a wealth of experience from the world of media, data and technology: Adam Harris F.C.A, joins NOBL as Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining NOBL, Adam held senior positions at The Financial Times and Pearson. Dr. Ethan Alessandro joins as Chief Operating Officer. With over 20 years experience in corporate development, operational structuring and international growth for global corporations including Thomson Reuters and Barclays Capital.   Rachel Jones joins as Managing Director of Cannabis Europa and European Cannabis Week. Rachel is an experienced and capable leader having previously run FT Live, the conference division at Financial Times.   Cameron Hughes, a former campaign strategist for Tony Blair, has joined Prohibition Partners as Managing Director. Recently Cameron worked in Asia as CEO of WhatIf, a leading global innovation consultancy and prior to that as a Brand Director at EDF Energy in the UK. Jeremey Edelman, the investor and advisor who serves as chairman of Reabold Resources plc on the AIM, has been appointed NOBL chairman. The group has also compiled an enviable board to achieve its goal:     Rob Reid, co-founder of NOBL and well known cannabis entrepreneur / investor with over 20 years of previous media and M&A experience across Europe, North America and APAC.
    Kieran Flanagan, VP Marketing at HubSpot and globally renowned thought leader in the SaaS space.
    Sarah Cope, highly successful corporate development, finance and regulation expert who sits on the board of three AIM companies.
    Elad Cohen, serial entrepreneur with significant corporate, technology and cannabis experience. NOBL is headquartered in London with offices in Barcelona, Dublin and Toronto.   Stephen Murphy, Founder & CEO of NOBL, commented: "The launch of NOBL is a major milestone in the cannabis industry. The NOBL portfolio will provide governments, operators and investors the data, knowledge and network that is core to advancing cannabis around the world. Unparalleled leadership and a number of the leading cannabis brands make NOBL a very credible and capable group that will deliver change and unlock the potential of cannabis globally."   Jeremey Edelman, Chairman of NOBL, added: "I'm delighted to continue my work with this group of industry pioneers who have been fundamental in opening up the cannabis industry globally. NOBL brings together the leadership, vision and capabilities to provide a global platform for change." NOBL Group Ltd. was formerly the Media & Data division of European Cannabis Holdings. ECH Ltd recently completed its demerger after successfully incubating what have become some of the world's leading cannabis companies.   Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1011892/NOBL_Logo.jpg Website Links:
https://thenoblgroup.com/
https://prohibitionpartners.com/
https://www.cannabis-europa.com/
https://www.ecwevents.com/
https://atalis.io/ CONTACT INFORMATION
Please email info@thenoblgroup.com for more information.
Images available on request.
thenoblgroup.com
+44 (0)203-928-2812
Related Links https://thenoblgroup.com   https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/a-global-leader-in-cannabis-data-amp-media-852514808.html   Bongme 

hi   Cannabis-based medicines as a treatment for epilepsy in the UK   Sam Mountney, Senior Policy & Campaigns Officer at Epilepsy Action, shares his expertise on cannabis-based medicines as a treatment for epilepsy in the UK   Cannabis has continued to divide opinion since the government rescheduled cannabis-based medicines in November 2018, legally permitting them to be prescribed. Prior to this cannabis and cannabis derivatives were largely classified as schedule 1 controlled substances, with an associated narrative centred on prohibition, addiction and potential adverse health effects. This law change has led to an increasingly informed and nuanced discussion focussed on the scientific facts and clinical evidence around the potential benefits of cannabis-based medicines to treat a number of long-term health conditions, including epilepsy. For context, cannabis-based medicines is a blanket term for products containing cannabis or cannabis derivatives that are produced and regulated as medicinal products for humans.1 As with most medicines, it is two active compounds present in the cannabis plant, specifically cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) that are of clinical significance and the current focus of debate. CBD, a non-psychoactive cannabinoid, seems to be following in the footsteps of turmeric and aloe vera in its portrayal by some as the next holistic super supplement. In comparison THC, a psychoactive cannabinoid associated with the sensation of getting ‘high’ in the recreational context, continues to be viewed with caution. There are a myriad of CBD products available as over the counter ‘supplements’ sold in health food shops across the country. These products are not of a pharmaceutical standard and by law cannot claim any medical benefits. They often contain very low quantities of CBD and have no notable clinical effects.   However, there is good quality clinical evidence for the safety and efficiency of CBD-containing medicine Epidyolex as an add-on treatment for two severe and life-limiting intractable epilepsy syndromes, Lennox-Gastaut and Dravet syndromes. This evidence is in the form of Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs), the ‘gold standard’ of clinical evidence. The existence of positive RCT evidence has paved the way for Epidyolex to move towards UK market authorisation. It has already received market authorisation for these indications in the U.S. The lack of such evidence for other cannabis-based medicines, particularly those containing both THC and CBD, is proving to be a critical stumbling block to access for people with epilepsy. The powerful and compelling stories of Billy Caldwell and Alfie Dingley, two young boys with severe and treatment-resistant epilepsies, became front-page news in the UK last year and played a critical role in the change in the law. Both had been treated with cannabis-based medicines containing THC and CBD abroad and showed notable clinical improvements in seizure control and quality of life. Tireless campaigning by their mothers led to both children being prescribed medicine containing both THC and CBD on the NHS. They remain the only two NHS prescriptions of this type that we are aware of.   It is a bitter irony for many people affected by severe and treatment-resistant epilepsies that the very cannabis-based medicines that led to the change in the law are as inaccessible now as they were before. Despite THC’s incarnation as a chemical bogeyman, many families of children affected by severe epilepsies are convinced that medicines with a 1:20 or 1:1 ratio of THC: CBD are the most effective. This is not without basis. Other G7 countries, most notably Canada and the United States, and European Union Member States such as the Netherlands, allow varying degrees of access to treatments containing both THC and CBD for epilepsy. In the Canadian example, the lack of RCT evidence is weighed against data from observational trials, pre-clinical studies and available evidence on the endocannabinoid system and epilepsy.2   Initial interim clinical guidance for both paediatric and adult epilepsies recommend against prescribing products containing THC and CBD in almost all circumstances. Recent draft guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which will ultimately supersede the interim guidance, indicates this is unlikely to change. A separate NICE technical appraisal process is ongoing in respect of Epidyolex to treat Lennox-Gastaut and Dravet syndrome and a decision is expected later in 2019. Epilepsy Action is in complete agreement with clinicians, regulators, and the government about the need for more high-quality research. A recent NHS report3 indicates the strongest commitment so far to move this research forward at pace. Commitments of political will and, crucially, funds for vital research are welcome, but they must be followed through. Almost a year after the change in the law, patients remain unable to access cannabis-based medicines for epilepsy in all but a minority of cases and the debate continues. In one respect, the need for high-quality clinical evidence is a routine and necessary debate around access to medicines. In another, this debate is unique in trying to unpick decades of prohibition and instigating a battle between avid campaigners calling on compelling anecdotal evidence and international research to push for immediate access, and a UK regulatory system that will seemingly only accept the elusive gold standard RCT evidence.   Epilepsy Action is committed to ensuring people with epilepsy can access the best drugs at the right time. Though by no means a magic bullet, the hopes of many affected by severe and treatment-resistant epilepsies are firmly hung on cannabis-based medicines. Hope is often in short supply for these people and there is a clear need for a short-term solution to allow compassionate access for those who could benefit. The time for waiting is over, the time for action is now.   References
1 https://www.england.nhs.uk/medicines/support-for-prescribers/cannabis-based-products-for-medicinal-use/cannabis-based-products-for-medicinal-use-frequently-asked-questions/what-is-a-cannabis-based-medicinal-product 2 https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-medication/cannabis/information-medical-practitioners/information-health-care-professionals-cannabis-cannabinoids.html#a4.6 3 https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/barriers-accessing-cannabis-based-products-nhs-prescription.pdf   https://www.openaccessgovernment.org/cannabis-based-medicines/75938/   Bongme