From Oliver Hockenhull:

A Perfect Pill: From Neurons to Nirvana is a smart-looking, in-depth analysis and commentary on psychedelic drugs in light of current scientific, medical and cultural knowledge. The film is far from completed.

In partnership with the executive producer Mark Achbar, (The Corporation) and Betsy Carson, and with the addition of our European co-producer, Oval Filmemacher, Berlin, I have been developing and shooting this film over the last two years. We have shot extensively in Canada, the USA and Europe.

We want to get the message out into the mainstream — the validity of psychedelics and MDMA as adjuncts to therapy, as crucial but neglected and taboo medicines, as technologies of consciousness, and as consciousness sacraments.

They're getting that old time religion in northern India, as the annual Holi festival, an extravagant Hindu spring celebration of colors, is observed with potent marijuana milk shakes.

The festival, celebrated in March each year (the exact date depends on the lunar calendar), is an occasion during which men, women and children play wildly with water guns and colored powder, according to The Observers. And the fact that "bhang thandai," an almond-flavored milk shake blended with cannabis, is a prominent part of the celebration doesn't hurt the festive atmosphere one bit.

The marijuana milk shakes are widely served, from exclusive private gatherings to street parties. On this particular day, using bhang is considered completely acceptable for all adults, youths to grandparents.

Cannabis is technically illegal in India, since the nation is a signatory to Harry Anslinger's 1961 Single Convention narcotics treaty. But the substance has been a part of the country's cultural heritage for thousands of years, and a law that's been around less than half a century hasn't made much of an impact. Bhang is sold for consumption through government licensed outlets.

[Thanks Mason!]

This has been circulating around the lists today:

I got a call from Alex today. Most unfortunately, they Grey's were, essentially pushed off the highway by an SUV changing lanes (and not looking.) Their car spun across the highway and over the median. It flipped upside down (as Alex said, "facing heaven") and caught on fire.

Both Alex and Allyson had seat belts on and were retrieved from the car and airlifted to Dartmouth Hospital where they are receiving emergency care. Alex's (#3) vertebrae was crushed and there is other damage. Allyson also incurred damage to her vertebrae, and has a broken ankle.

Thank GOD Alex is able to talk- he said if it had been any higher, he would be a paraplegic. He will be in an upper body cast (Frida Khalo eat your heart out,) and I'm not sure what the consequences will be for Allyson yet. They asked NOT to have calls - as you can imagine, but I am asking for those of us who love them to send them prayers of recovery.

They will be at the hospital for at least a few days and then return to the CoSM sanctuary in Wappingger Falls. Their full schedule of travel has obviously been canceled for who knows how long. They will need support of love, hands on help, and any resources.

Ah, MK-ULTRA, the gift that keeps on giving. This week the story of what was thought an ergot poisoning epidemic in rural France took a queer turn with evidence surfacing that the CIA could have been involved...

The scientists who produced both the theories of accidental poisoning, he writes, worked for the Swiss-based Sandoz Pharmaceutical Company, which was then secretly supplying the US army and CIA with LSD.

Mr Albarelli came across CIA documents while investigating the suicide of Frank Olson, a biochemist working for the Special Operations Division who fell from a 13th floor window two years after the cursed bread incident. One note transcribes a conversation between a CIA agent and a Sandoz official who mentions the ''secret of Pont-Saint-Esprit'' and explains that it was not ''at all'' caused by mould but by diethylamide, the D in LSD.

And since LSD is derived from ergot, who'd be the wiser?

In Washington State the governor has signed into law a bill that provides some immunity for people who request help during a drug related medical emergency.

Under the measure, people who seek help for someone suffering a drug overdose would not face prosecution for possession of drugs, but the person could still be charged with the manufacturing or sale of drugs. The measure also exempts the person suffering the overdose from prosecution, and anyone for whom the evidence is gained only because medical assistance was called.

Hardcore EEG toy hack.

A toy that reads your brain waves to manipulate a foam ball sounds fun -- until said toy begins manipulating other things, too. Like your body’s pain receptors. Doesn’t sound too thrilling to us, but a few geeks apparently thought it’d be a great idea.

According to GeekoSystem, some folks at Harcos Laboratories took Mattel’s Mindflex and hacked it to deliver a painful electric shock to the user. Strap the device on your head, and challenge yourself not to think -- not even a little bit. If your brain is a little active, you’ll get a little shock. The more activity inside your head, the more intense of a shock you’ll feel. If you’re into this kind of thing, there’s a step-by-step how-to on the Harcos blog. Attempt at your own risk.

Rachael Greer said it happened on Feb. 23 during fifth period gym class at River Valley Middle School when a girl walked into the locker room with a bag of pills.

"She was talking to another girl and me about them and she put one in my hand and I was like, 'I don't want this,' so I put it back in the bag and I went to gym class," said Rachael.

The pills were the prescription ADHD drug, Adderall...

But just saying no didn't end the trouble for Rachael. During the next period, an assistant principal came and took Rachael out of class. It turned out the girl who originally had the pills and a few other students got caught. That's when the assistant principal gave Rachael a decision.

"We're suspending you for five days because it was in your hand," said Rachael...

According to Greater Clark County Schools district policy, even a touch equals drug possession and a one week suspension.

[Thanks DJ Velveteen!]

Former teen heartthrob Corey Haim died early Wednesday morning in Los Angeles.

The actor was 38.

The Los Angeles coroner's office said Haim died at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank. The actor was taken by ambulance to the hospital from an apartment in Los Angeles.

The LAPD said his death appeared to be an accidental drug overdose, and an investigation is underway. The coroner's office said an autopsy will determine the cause of death.

"An innocent girl, a harmless drive. What could possibly go wrong?"

RIP Corey.

San Francisco officials Tuesday ordered the shutdown of all drug testing at the police crime lab amid allegations that a former technician stole and used some of the cocaine she was supposed to analyze.

Deborah J. Madden, 60, of San Mateo officially retired this month. An investigation linked her to missing drugs in at least six cases in the latter part of 2009, police said.

She left her job as of Dec. 8 and has recently been in treatment for drugs and alcohol and other unspecified health issues, police said.

Officials discovered that the evidence was missing during a crime lab audit conducted in December, police said. That review was triggered when other technicians suspected someone had been stealing evidence and a supervisor noticed apparent tampering with the packaging of drug evidence, San Francisco Police Chief George Gascon said at a news conference Tuesday evening.

Stories like this shouldn't crack me up any more, but I can't help it - the matter-of-fact nature of the reporting is delightful:

Police in southern Sweden received a visit from an unhappy member of the public who asked authorities to test the hashish be had purchased for traces of LSD, complaining that the smoke had been way too strong.

The Local reports that the 26-year-old man asked officers to register a formal complaint over the quality of his gear, stating that his session had left him feeling distinctly paranoid and his girlfriend seemingly morphing into a sea creature.