With articles like, Marijuana Damages DNA And May Cause Cancerand another article that stated "New Test Reveals Cannabis Damages Young Brains More Than Originally Thought, Study Finds Hardly anything that the website, Science Daily says is creditable and its usually a bunch of B.S. but every once in a while they'll post a little gold... ScienceDaily (Dec. 21, 2009) — Chemicals found in cannabis could prove an effective treatment for the inflammatory bowel diseases Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease, say scientists.
Laboratory tests have shown that two compounds found in the cannabis plant -- the cannabinoids THC and cannabidiol -- interact with the body's system that controls gut function.
Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis, which affect about one in every 250 people in Northern Europe, are caused by both genetic and environmental factors. The researchers believe that a genetic susceptibility coupled with other triggers, such as diet, stress or bacterial imbalance, leads to a defective immune response.
Dr Karen Wright, Peel Trust Lecturer in Biomedicine at Lancaster University, presented her soon-to-be published work at The British Pharmacological Society's Winter Meeting in London.
She said: "The lining of the intestines provides a barrier against the contents of the gut but in people with Crohn's Disease this barrier leaks and bacteria can escape into the intestinal tissue leading to an inappropriate immune response.
"If we could find a way to restore barrier integrity in patients we may be able to curb the inflammatory immune response that causes these chronic conditions."
Dr Wright, working with colleagues at the School of Graduate Entry Medicine and Health in Derby, has shown that cells that react to cannabinoid compounds play an important role in normal gut function as well as the immune system's inflammatory response.
"The body produces its own cannabinoid molecules, called endocannabinoids, which we have shown increase the permeability of the epithelium during inflammation, implying that overproduction may be detrimental," said Dr Wright.
"However, we were able to reverse this process using plant-derived cannabinoids, which appeared to allow the epithelial cells to form tighter bonds with each other and restore the membrane barrier."
The research was carried out using cell cultures in a dish but, interestingly, when the team attempted to mimic the conditions of the gut by reducing the amount of oxygen in the cells' environment, much lower concentrations of cannabinoid were needed to produce the same effect.
Dr Wright added: "What is also encouraging is that while THC has psychoactive properties and is responsible for the 'high' people experience when using cannabis, cannabidiol, which has also proved effective in restoring membrane integrity, does not possess such properties."
Its starting to look a little like Christmas outside... It really doesnt look like that around here in Denver with temps today topping off at 58 but rest assured there is a cold front moving in just before Christmas Eve. We might just get that "White Christmas" this year. I read the other day that snow has fallen only 11 times the past 110 years, That's a mere 10%. There has been snow on the ground but not falling a whopping 45% of the time...
With all that Christmas hoopla going on and everyone out of work and people are starting to get hungry. And when that happens place start getting robbed. 14 Banks were robbed in Denver over the course of last week. 14 Banks! And lucky nobody has gotten hurt so all the media shows is a little tiny clip in the back of the local section talking about a bank robber that got away, maybe a small pic Denver Post And unfortunately another trend is starting to occur in Denver. Medical Marijuana Dispensary robberies! Granted there were only 2 last week but the local media got there meaty hands on and exploded the situation and spreading fear throughout the community.
Please if you have a dispensary take the extra steps to secure your venue, patients and medicine. Once the robbers realize that robbing a dispensary is no better than robbing a 7-11, the practice will stop.
In other Marijuana news...
Marijuana cultivators surrender...
Fiji: More than 60 marijuana cultivators up in the highlands of Navosa have surrendered themselves to police and are now providing critical information and taking police to locations where drug deals are being made.
Officer-In-Charge Drugs Inspector Rajeshni Mala confirmed that this year they have uprooted more than 66,000 matured marijuana plants with a street value of more than $1 billion.
She said this is the biggest drug bust in the history of the Fiji Police Force.
According to Inspector Mala they have adopted a different approach towards the marijuana farmers and only those farmers who do not corporate and resist arrest are taken into custody. FijiVillage.com
70-yr-old granny arrested with 40kg marijuana
Mumbai: At 70, Gangubai Kshirsagar looks like a granny who would love to divide her time between praying and her grandchildren. But Kshirsagar seems to be far more adventurous than that.
The Bandra unit of the police's anti-narcotics cell (ANC) on Saturday arrested Kshirsagar with 40kg marijuana worth Rs10 lakh. A middle-class Maharashtrian from Solapur, the police say she is one of the biggest drug suppliers in the city and has been involved in the narcotics trade for over a decade.
Kshirsagar had two sons, but one of them died. Her other son and grandchildren live in Dombivli, where they run an indoor games facility.
"She is a record-sheet drug supplier and has been arrested in the past by the ANC and the local police. In 2005, she was held with 50kg marijuana. She served one-and-a-half years in prison for it," said inspector Mrityunjay Hiremath from the ANC.
Yesterday at the Holiday Inn in Denver, over 40 Cannabusiness, 2 lawmakers and thousands of people gathered for the first ever Cannabis Holiday Health Fair brought us by the amazing and hardworking Laura Kriho of Cannabis Therapy Institute or C.T.I.
“It’s really exciting to nurture the little seeds and introduce ourselves to the community and show how professional we are and how important we are to the economy, I think we’ve done that very successfully.” Kriho told the reporter of Denver Daily News. One of the several news agency's in the city to cover the event
And even though they might not like each other personally, The two Colorado lawmakers who have been leading the push to regulate the industry — Denver City Councilman Charlie Brown and Sen. Chris Romer, D-Denver — both made appearances at the fair.
Romer meet one on one with several patients and talked with attendees and defended his bill to an often-disagreeing crowd. Brown also made the rounds talking with businesses and attendees stopping at our table only only for seconds, to get an ear full of complaints regarding his city proposal's.
Thanks to everyone who helped make this an amazing event and one I hope to see every year here on out as we move into 2010 and another step closure to Freedom!
Last week while attending the annual cannabis cup in Amsterdam, Rick Simpson who for the past seven years, has been making oil from cannabis grown on his property and providing it freely to cancer patients, house was raided by the Canadian Police and Rick says that he refuses to return home to face prosecution
Posted on Friday the 4th of December, 2009 On November 25th, one day before I was crowned the Freedom Fighter of the Year 2009 at the Cannabis Cup in Amsterdam, I received a word that I have been raided again by the RCMP (Mounties). I contacted Tim Hunter at the Amherst attachment and asked I was being charged. Of course, he refused to give me straight answer. All he would say was that the RCMP wanted to talk to me.
After openly growing hemp in my backyard this past summer and announcing this fact to the public on tom Young´s open line talk show in June, how could the RCMP not be aware of my activities? The truth is they knew exactly what I was doing. RCMP officers were even sending people that needed help to me. I can only surmise that the purpose of this raid was to keep me from returning to Canada.
If I return home, I will be arrested and put in jail without bail or medicine. I am not afraid of their jails but I cannot go without my medicine, the system has nothing that could help me with my conditions. So for me to return to Canada would be like committing suicide. I would be thrown in jail and denied my medicine and a short time later you would hear in the news that Rick Simpson died of natural causes. I cannot tell the people of Canada who are depending on my presence to help their medical conditions how sorry I am. But it was not me who caused this situation.
It seems the goal is to keep me from returning home and they succeeded. But to what end? All hemp magazines on this planet are now telling their readers how to heal themselves with this wonderful medicine. If governments want to live in denial, it will be short-lived. We are gaining tens of thousands of followers every day. You cannot stop the truth.
For me, going to the Cannabis Cup was a great adventure and I would like to thank Greenhouse Seeds for making this trip possible. To stand before hundreds of people and being crowned as the Freedom Fighter of the Year was a great honour. But it is an honour that comes with a price. Most people who have worn the tricorn hat have gone to jail for spreading the truth.
To have this honour bestowed on me and to join the ranks of people like Jack Herer and Eddy Lepp has given my life even more purpose.
Jack Herer believed as I do that the key to hemp´s complete legalisation is in the magnificent medicine this plant can produce. Once the public becomes aware of the fact that properly made hemp medicine can cure or control practically any medical condition, who is going to stand against the use of hemp?
I must also mention the great work done by Steve Hagar and High Times magazine. Cannabis cures cancer right on their cover. It is so refreshing to know that the system has no control over hemp publications. What a shame are so-called free press and news media refuse to print the truth.
I must also tip my tricorn hat to the Weed World out of the UK. They were the first hemp magazine to cover my work. They even released a special edition in September 2009 featuring a number of articles that I wrote about hemp medicine and other aspects of the hemp movement. I must also acknowledge the great work done by Bayer & Romsy Hemp Cosmetics and Konoptikum hemp magazine of the Czech Republic. This publication has also done much to spread the truth about hemp in Europe.
Presently, I am staying with friends in Europe but it saddens me to be unable to be with my family and loved ones during Christmas. For the time being, it seems I will be seeking asylum in Europe. This may not be a bad thing since seminars about hemp oil are being arranged in many countries. I hate to go begging but if anyone out there has an extra few dollars they can donate to us, it would greatly ease the burden on me. Of course it costs money to live in Europe and we are expending a great deal putting on seminars and spreading the word. So any help you could provide would be greatly appreciated.
They say everything happens for a reason, so I will simply put my head down and continue forward. To anyone in Canada or the US requiring help, simply follow the information we provided at www.phoenixtears.ca. Almost anyone can produce this medicine without difficulty, if they follow the instructions. Again, I apologize to everyone for not returning. But as you can see, my hands are tied.
We are at the dawn of new age in medicine and a new day for mankind. Not only can hemp save the world, it can eliminate a great deal of human suffering and can even put an end to starvation. What are we waiting for? Join with me and let us put an end to this madness. It can only survive if we continue to sit on our backsides and do nothing. Stand up and be counted and let us give ourselves a chance to heal.
Best wishes, Rick Simpson
Hemp Medicine´s Emperor´s Political Exile in Europe – a message from Rick Simpson
A little Reefer Madness this monday morning. It appeared as a opinion piece in last weeks Denver Post!
"The state Board of Health's decision this week to hold off on defining what constitutes a medical marijuana caregiver could end up being a good thing.
The board canceled its Dec. 16 meeting, ostensibly to give officials time to consider legal advice on the issue. But we hope the delay also gives the state legislature a chance to step in.
As we've said before, lawmakers need to shape regulations that hew closely to the intent of Amendment 20, which voters passed in 2000.
We do not believe the escalation in the number of certified medical marijuana users - now more than 14,000 — and the proliferation of dispensaries is what voters had in mind when they supported the measure."
For those of you that don't know I enjoy two things really. Smoking a nice joint and watching baseball mostly the Colorado Rockies. And I wasn't surprised to learn yesterday that the All Star Pitcher with the San Fransisco Giants Tim Lincecum won his second strait Cy Young Award in his young career, just two short weeks after being pulled over in his car, in his home state of Washington and the cops found a small amount of cannabis in the glove box.
So for the record, The Fastest Runner, the most decorated Olympic athlete, three of the past four presidents and now the best pitcher in baseball all use or have used cannabis sometime in there life! Seems to me like cannabis is a gateway drug to Success!
There is more and more cannabis related news breaking daily some good and bad... And also some HUGE steps in the right direction. Sunday the Denver Post reported...
"A commission of Colorado criminal justice leaders voted Friday to recommend reduced penalties for possessing marijuana and other illegal drugs.
If Colorado legislators adopt the recommendations, possessing up to 4 ounces of marijuana would become a petty offense instead of a criminal misdemeanor, and possessing 8 to 16 ounces would become a misdemeanor instead of a felony.
The Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice also favored lower-level felony charges for possessing a few grams of cocaine or methamphetamine and reducing the charge for illegally possessing various prescription drugs from a felony to a misdemeanor. It excepted possession of "date-rape" drugs, which would remain a felony." Denver Post
Now granted this is a great start. Being personally arrested over ten times in several Colorado cities it is good to see that the judges agree that is time to re-think the drug laws not only in this state but thoughout the country. It is allthoughh not good enough. We will not be happy unless any and all laws regaurding cannabis are removed.
BRECKENRIDGE — Breckenridge residents voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana and paraphernalia under town law. Unofficial results show 71 percent of voters approved the initiative.
“We're done with the days people could laugh off marijuana reform,” said Sean McAllister, Breckenridge attorney and chair of reform group Sensible Breckenridge. “I believe the implicit implications are that we should have a dialogue about taxing marijuana.”
Tuesday's vote means that effective Jan. 1, people 21 and up in Breckenridge will be able to legally possess one ounce or less of the drug...
Its a blistering cold October Colorado morning today and I spent a half hour scrapping off the inch of ice with an old cd that i found in the glove box (lord knows where the ice scrapper went)But its shaping up to be one busy week this week, the last week of October which is the best month of the year by far, only because it's my birthday month and Halloween.
On Tuesday the 27th I will be at the Matisyahu show. Matisyahu is an American Hasidic Jewish reggae musician and he is playing at the Fillmore Auditorium in Denver with special guest, P Knuckle a Denver Local Fan Fav!
Thursday Oct 29th is quickly approaching and that means its time for CannaWeen. Marijuana Radios 3rd Annual Halloween Party. And this will be my first year attending and i couldn't be more excited. Actually it will be my first Halloween party that i have gone to in years, I am really not one for dressing up, I find myself being timid and un-creative when it comes to picking out a costume but this year i am determined to find a great costume and party all night long. even though i have to wake up at the butt ass crack of dawn and make it into work the next day on Friday so yea that part sucks but... Have a great week and Be Safe this Halloween!
The tide is changing people. And by the looks of it 2009 is going out with a bang and 2010 is shaping up to be one hell of a good year. I think we will look back onto today and remember Oct 19 2009 as a Great Step Forward!!!
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Obama administration will not seek to arrest medical marijuana users and suppliers as long as they conform to state laws, under new policy guidelines to be sent to federal prosecutors Monday.
Two Justice Department officials described the new policy to The Associated Press, saying prosecutors will be told it is not a good use of their time to arrest people who use or provide medical marijuana in strict compliance with state laws.
The new policy is a significant departure from the Bush administration, which insisted it would continue to enforce federal anti-pot laws regardless of state codes.
Fourteen states allow some use of marijuana for medical purposes: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington...For More Info AP NEWS Break...
When one goes to the beautiful city of San Francisco, one must always remember to stop by the one of the most historic parts of the city with a rich history of counter culture... The Haight-Ashbury District was the center of the 1960 hippie movement, located at the mouth of Golden Gate Park. Haight street stretches several blocks now lined with unique gift and head shops with several bars and pizza parlors scattered every few blocks.
It was a beautiful morning on my last day in California and I was ready to explore the great city of San Francisco, where we spent the last four days attending the 38th annual National NORML Conference at the Grand Hyatt Hotel downtown listening to some of the best and brightest people talk about marijuana reform.There were Seven of us as we started out, I remember it was around 11am when we had breakfast at a tiny breakfast place called Sears Fine Dining, The restaurant had a delightful smell of maple syrup that lingered the whole time. I inhaled there famous Swedish pancake breakfast which was 18 tiny pancakes covered with a delicious strawberry jam and some whip cream. The waitress was a tall, beautiful English woman who had only been in this country less than a month, but her knowledge of the city came in very handy when we were looking for the N train to get across town and to our destination. Every since i was a young snot nosed punk, I have long wanted to go wander the streets of history. The music alone that the area alone has produced some of the best the worlds ever seen.
Every one has heard the stories of the dreaded hills in SF but unless you actual walk up them you will have no since of really how steep they are. My God. My legs burned like never before, almost crawling up a few thinking it would be easier and faster. Along the group we had 1 person, a sweet faced Bakersfield girl named Candice that been there before so she took the role guide as we steeped off the train at the Cole Station. It was starting to heat up and an afternoon nap was sounding great, but we walked four blocks up, down and back up again passing friendly faces and numerous coffee shops. I'm a coffee fiend so after the fourth coffee house we stopped and grabbed a mint and mocha coffee that was as good as it sounds then stumbled to Golden Gate Park just in time for 4:20
Busy Busy Busy, All Work and No Play Make Scott go crazy... so im leaving next week and I am headed to SF for the NORML National Conference!!! Its going to be 3 days of intense talks on marijuana legalization with some of the best minds in the world when it comes to the subject, This is my 2nd NORML Conference and my 1st National Conference, I have a lot to learn in those 3 short days so i will be paying close attention to all the details large and small...
A city panel in charge of overseeing marijuana possession crimes in Denver recommended on Wednesday that the fine for possession be set at $1
If Denver's presiding judge accepts the recommendation from the Denver Marijuana Policy Review Panel, the fine would be the lowest in the entire nation for marijuana possession.
The panel was created by Mayor John Hickenlooper in December 2007 after voters passed an ordinance that made it so adult marijuana possession is the city's "lowest lawn enforcement priority."
In May 2008, the city attorney's office made it so those cited for the crime can mail in their fines instead of having to appear in court. At that time, the city attorney's office assigned the value of the fine at $50.
"By setting the fine at just $1, we are sending a message to Denver officials that the era of citing adults for using a less harmful drug than alcohol is over. It's simply not worth the city's time or resources," said panel member and SAFER Executive Director Mason Tvert, who coordinated the successful Denver marijuana initiatives.
Lt. Ernest Martinez with the Denver Police Department is also part of the panel and voted against lowering the fine.
"There's no indication that there's a problem with the fine schedule," Martinez said. "The panel is going outside the bounds of the language of the ordinance."
Martinez thinks there should be more dialogue about the changes.
Damn I haven't written in a long time! I had to tell my self sorry many times. Its not my fault really. Well some of it is but...
No really helping to start Mile High NORML has really taken up all of my free time between that and my daughter all i have left is work hours. But there all i do is work so that' s not fun! We have had great response and support from the community after the stat. Right away we were baptized by fire so to speak. After only a month of being recognized we were asked to do our first booth at the popular Blazed n Confused Tour as it rolled though Denver and stopped off at Red Rocks for one great night! We have been meeting at the end of every month on the West Steps of the Colorado Capital Protesting the Legalization on Marijuana do if u are ever in the area please feel free and come on by!
Last week while reading though the best free newspaper in Denver I came across a article that i found interesting and thought it was worth sharing to you all.
During the DNC Denver was awarded a large grant of $1 million dollars in which they used for surveillance camera which they stationed around the downtown area. The name for the project was fittingly called HALO. It stands for High Activity Location Observation. Today there over 60 cameras around town that the police monitor during the day and it is left unattended at night. And now the LT. in charge is ready to move its HALO operation into Denver surrounding neighborhoods. Placing them on street signs hoping there very presence will cut back on the crime. "its like putting a cop on every corner of the city.Its a very effective tool that we have been given the opportunity to use." The LT was quoted in saying. But does the cameras really protect us or are they really just another attempt at the police invading our privacy???
A Representative from Massachusetts has introduced two bills in 2 weeks that if passed would change the Marijuana movement. It needs a whole shit load more attention then the press and his fellow colleagues are given it.
The first is for the medical users. I'm not clear on the wording but it says something like the Feds aren't allowed to harass citizens for possessing/consuming/growing if they are obeying the State laws in which most are.
The second is for recreational users. "The Act to Remove Federal Penalties for the Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults" I love the name of it even! It would remove the federal laws but not superseding State laws. It will also allow citizens over the age of 21 to possess up 100g or 3 1/2 ounces. Just under a 'quarter pound'
There has been a lot of goings on around here as of late. First off I lost someone very close to me this week. A good dear friend. My Car. She was old (87) but still new (under 100k miles) She lost her battle on Saturday night and after several days of emergency repair work I threw in the towel and called it at 8:30 yesterday morning. So needless to say that i have been taken the nations #1 transit system in North America the RTD or the Rough Tough and Dangerous. I'm used to riding the bus to and from work, I did so for a year and a half everyday rain, snow or shine. I don't hate to per say but there are some aspects that i enjoy and some that I cant stand, but enough of that.
There have been some big headlines nation wide this past week or so pertaining to the Marijuana Movement here in the U.S.
This week the AP wrote a compelling article about How Momentum is building for the movement seemingly trying to urge the government in the direction of, at lease some dialog on the since Taboo subject. AP NEWS
Yesterday in Rhode Island the Lawmakers in the General Assembly voted to overturn a veto by the Rep. Gov. allowing stores to dist. marijuana to paitents locally. Rhode Island
Local News In my own backyard this week a few interesting things are taking place. For the first time a group called Sensible Breckenridge in the city of Breckenridge are trying to gather enough signatures to have a measure put on the ballot to remove any and all criminal penalties for Adults who use and or possess Marijuana up to and under 1 ounce Breckenridge Ballots
The world got another martyr last week in the form of a 17 year old honor student from Peninsula High School in Washington. Simply put Ian wanted to prove a point with his speech, something he felt that the other students were not doing with there own speeches. His point, that marijuana is not a harmful drug and should be legalized. Way to go man!
Read Ian Barry speech below Legalize Marijuana
Can I see a show of hands how many people here have ever smoked Cannabis sativa, commonly known as marijuana? I see none of you raised your hand. Well obviously no one would want to admit to a criminal activity in front of their teacher. But why is it that smoking pot is so taboo in our society? After all numerous famous intellectuals support marijuana. Al Gore is considered by many to be the leading figure in climate change awareness and environmental preservation. But few people know that Al Gore also supports the legalization of marijuana. The famed German philosopher Freidrich Nietzche once said, “If one seeks relief from unbearable pressure one is to eat hashish”. The founding father of our nation George Washington, said, “Make the most of the Indian hemp seed, and sow it everywhere!” Marijuana is one of the safest medicinal substances on the planet and is supported by many acclaimed celebrity role models. Famous Hollywood actor Johnny Depp says, “I’m not a big pothead or anything like that… but weed is much, much less dangerous than alcohol”. Other well known supporters of marijuana include Snoop Dogg, all of the Marley family, Niel Young, Willie Nelson, Michael Phelps, Chris Farley, Al Gore, Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, Nietzche, Barack Obama, John Adams, James Madison, JFK, and of course myself. A total of 11 United States presidents either grew, smoked, or supported the legalization of Marijuana. With the support of some of the greatest thinkers and world leaders of all time it’s a wonder that marijuana is still illegal. “Government ties is really why the government lies” – Immortal Technique. Common Misconceptions about marijuana are set about by high end government officials who think only of themselves and own their prosperity. For instance few people know the history of weed and the means by which it was criminalized.
Most of you have probably seen “Reefer Madness”, the ridiculous propaganda film set about by the U.S. government to discourage the use of marijuana. The movie debuted in 1936 making arbitrary claims, calling Cannabis “The devils weed”, and stating that weed is more dangerous that cocaine or opium. This was the outlook of the government at the turn of the century, but in fact pot was smoked as early as 2700 BC, in China. In 500 AD marijuana spread to Europe and Africa where it was cultivated and smoked for its medicinal qualities. By 1545 marijuana had been introduced to the New World where it was grown as a cash crop alongside tobacco and cotton. Sold in bars throughout the Americas pot was seen as tobaccos little brother. It is reported that several of our founding fathers including Benjamin Franklin and George Washington smoked ganja out of water hookahs with Turkish emissaries shortly after the revolutionary war. After this experience both Franklin and Washington began to grow weed for themselves. At the turn of the 20th century marijuana began to gain popularity and by the 1920’s was the drug of choice for America’s youth. Historians say this popularity is what led to its prohibition. But history itself tells a different story. Whenever something be-it and idea, substance, or social behavior, becomes popular, American companies brand and market it for all it’s worth. Take for example punk rock which originally was a counterculture but through marketing was assimilated into mainstream society. So why is it that the same fate was not suffered by marijuana, why was it made illegal?
In 1937 the first official action was taken against weed, the Marihuana Tax Act. The act itself did not criminalize the possession of cannabis but levied a tax on anyone dealing the substance. This didn’t just mean the buds anything with hemp or hemp oil in it was essentially taxed out of business. A legitimate dealer was required to have a tax stamp but no stamps were ever printed. These over elaborate regulations prevented marijuana from being a profitable source of income. In reference to the International Opium Convention of 1928 Cannabis sativa was considered a drug and all state governments had some kind of laws against its consumption. Today it is generally accepted that these hearings included incorrect, excessive, and unfounded arguments. The Marijuana Tax Act was introduced to the U.S. congress by “Drug Czar” Harry Anslinger, a man who had no sense of morals and may have had NPD (narcissistic personality disorder), not to mention his pig faced features. Anslinger is where the conspiracy starts. 1937, the year the tax act was passed, was coincidentally the same year that the Decorticater Machine was invented, with this new technology the hemp industry would have been able to take over competing industries virtually overnight. “Popular Mechanics” predicted that hemp would be America’s first billion dollar crop. William Hearst, a corporate business owner, possessed enormous acreage of forest. His land and paper making company would have lost tremendous value and eventually gone bankrupt had the tax act not been passed. Hearst reportedly had strong influence in Congress and his interest in preventing hemp production is easily explained. DuPont, a chemical company that was involved in other industries, also had a hand in the conspiracy. At the time of the Marihuana Tax Act DuPont was patenting a new acid process for producing wood pulp based paper. With the boom of the hemp industry this invention would have been useless. DuPont was also in the railroad car industry. According to their own records wood pulp products accounted for 80% of all DuPont’s railroad car loadings for the 50 years prior to 1937. 80% of all their profits would have been lost with a hemp takeover. Two years earlier, in 1935, DuPont developed nylon, a substitute for hemp rope. Nylon was equal in strength and quality but with the Decorticater Machine would not have been cost effective when sold alongside hemp. Even with hemp eliminated nylon was not extremely profitable.
The year after the tax was passed DuPont came out with rayon, a very cost effective fiber that would not have been able to compete with the strength and durability of hemp. Harry Anslinger, the man who proposed the Marihuana Tax Act, was also a CEO of DuPont, and would have stood to loose millions had marijuana not been driven out of business. Anslinger, who was married to Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon’s niece, was appointed to lead the FBN (Federal Bureau of Narcotics). It’s widely believed that his relationship with Mellon is what earned him the promotion. Harry Anslinger’s first action as commissioner was to pass the Marijuana Tax Act. Reasoning behind Anslinger, Hearst, and DuPont was for no moral or medical issues. They fought to criminalize marijuana to save their business and to save money. It’s simply another example of capitalist pigs taking advantage of their power and manipulating the law for personal gain. Marijuana continued to be present in society throughout the 40’s and 50’s. During this time it came to be associated with the rise of rock n’ roll. The hippi movement of the 1960’s and 70’s was largely involved in experimental drug use. Artists such as The Beatles and Jimi Hendrix experimented with drugs like acid and heroin. Their fans followed suit but Mary Jane remained America’s drug of choice. The increased support of the environmentalist movement also supported the use of weed. Hemp can be made into paper that is equivalent to paper made from trees, without destroying the rainforests. After all the first, third and final drafts of the Declaration of Independence were all written on hemp paper. At anti-Vietnam protests many people could be seen smoking pot. This fueled the idea that marijuana should be legal, and in the late 60’s the first serious calls for legalization were made.
In 1975 weed supporters around the United States celebrated a victory as Alaska decriminalized the use and possession of small amounts of Cannabis. Until, in 1990, residents voted to recriminalize the substance. During those 15 years Alaska prospered and its economy was the highest it had been in years. Calling it a “dangerous experiment” the DEA’s stated reason for the recriminalization was that “teenagers used marijuana at twice the national average”. I think it’s pretty obvious that when a substance is legalized it will be used more than when it was illegal. Had we kept the same policy throughout history alcohol should have been recriminalized shortly after the repealing of the 18th amendment due to an increase in alcohol consumption. Several other countries have attempted various forms of legalizing drugs, in the Netherlands marijuana is illegal but under certain restrictions its consumption is allowed. The coffee shops of Amsterdam are renowned worldwide as a pot-smokers Mecca. Coffee shops are allowed to sell under 5 grams of marijuana as long as it is smoked on the premises. One of the opposition’s most acclaimed arguments is that legalizing marijuana will lead to an increase in crime rates. The only way to prove this theory is through real life experience. The only domestic experience we have with legalized pot was in Alaska in the 70’s and 80’s. Government analysis showed that there was no change in the crime rate for these years. All other claims about the marijuana-crime correlation are mere speculation. The fact is that Amsterdam has a lower crime rate than any major U.S. city. One could argue that the Alaskan experiment actually benefited the crime rate. As a whole, the national crime rate went up from 1975 to 1990, while Alaska’s remained the same.
Other Cannabis antagonists look to Switzerland’s Needle Park experiment to justify marijuana’s legal status. People in Needle Park were allowed to openly purchase and use drugs without police intervention. The idea was to give addicts a “clean and safe” environment to inject heroin. To compare this with legalizing marijuana is absolutely absurd. First, in terms of classification marijuana and heroin are completely different. Heroin is a level five highly addictive drug that causes long term brain damage as well as damage to the central nervous system. A heroin addict will experience collapsed veins, infection of the heart lining, abscesses, and liver disease. Not to mention second hand use of needles often leads to full blown accounts of AIDS. Marijuana on the other hand has its own category and no proven health detriments. The results of Needle Park cannot be compared to those of legalizing marijuana. Your parents have probably told you that smoking pot causes lung cancer and brain damage. Unfortunately they were probably teenagers in the 70’s and smoked pot themselves so their very objection to weed is extremely hypocritical. The U.S. government provides facts and statistics that seem to demonstrate the pernicious nature of marijuana. Let’s take a look at the so called facts that the DEA claims are results of the habitual smoking of Cannabis sativa. First, and I quote, “Marijuana is an addictive drug”. That my friends is an outright lie. All clinical studies including those conducted by the government have concluded that marijuana contains no addictive properties. A person can become chemically dependent on the drug but that is radically different than an addiction. Another study regulated by the government studied 182 “random” fatal truck accidents. It just so happened that in these “random” accidents marijuana was present in as many of the drivers as alcohol. The National Transportation Safety Board then determined that marijuana is just as dangerous as alcohol while driving. The reasoning behind this argument has more than several flaws. First of all marijuana can stay in a persons system for more than 2 weeks, there is no way to tell that the drivers were high at the time of their accidents. Now I’m not an expert but I know that 182 is not a large enough number to be considered reliable research. To study 182 of 5 ¼ million accidents, .0034%, and make apocryphal claims based on that research shows ineptitude beyond that of any man disposed to devout his life to a hierarchy of pious infidels who understand nothing of the nature and complexity of life.
Other major concerns of consuming marijuana are lung and brain damage, as well as memory loss. According to the UCLA School of Medicine “marijuana does not impair long term memory”. Weed can cause short term memory loss but only while under the influence, the same can be said for alcohol and many over the counter sleeping medications. Brain damage that does occur is not because of any chemical property in ganja, but because the brain is deprived of oxygen for so long that brain cells are killed. For any self acclaimed pot smoker that’s an easy fix, just don’t hold your hits in for so long. One of the studies that is referred to the most was performed on monkeys in which they suffered severe brain damage. It was only until recently in careful review of the study that we discovered that the monkeys were breathing pure THC for over a minute, that lack of oxygen is what killed the brain cells, not the marijuana. The other substantial health concern is over lung function. Also according to the UCLA School of Medicine “neither the continuing nor intermittent marijuana smokers exhibited any significantly different rates of lung function as compared to those individuals who never smoked marijuana”. The study was conducted on 243 pot smokers over an 8 year period. Another of the governments’ critical expostulations against legalizing marijuana is that pharmaceutical companies have developed a synthetic THC pill called Marinol. But Marinol is substantially different than marijuana. First, it’s not real THC; there is not one part of the Cannabis sativa plant in Marinol. It’s a bunch of chemicals that some scientist mixes up in a lab. Second Marinol is only available through prescription, so it’s incontrovertibly not the same as legalizing marijuana. Not only is it very hard to obtain a prescription, the requirements exclude nearly everyone. You must either be a cancer patient who underwent chemotherapy or be an AIDS patient who has appetite loss. Both diseases have no cure and are generally fatal. So the government won’t let you take Marinol unless you have a virtual death sentence. If I have a malignant disease I’m not going to take the time to get a government prescription, I’m going to smoke the real thing. So please don’t feed me spurious claims that legal marijuana already exists.
Now that I have addressed the supposed health detriments let’s take a look at the medical benefits of Cannabis. As mentioned above marijuana has been infallibly proven to relieve the vomiting and nausea that come with chemotherapy. Many cancer patients have said that marijuana was the best treatment for their symptoms. I interviewed a cancer patient who has miraculously over come the disease, for privacy reasons I won’t reveal their name but when asked about the effects of marijuana the interviewee said, “I would not have lived if I didn’t smoke lots of marijuana”. Isn’t it interesting that cancer, one of the world’s deadliest, incurable diseases, is treated with marijuana, an illegal drug? Marijuana is also used for treating multiple sclerosis and several mood disorders. After smoking small amounts of marijuana patients are said to be relaxed and stress free. Unlike alcohol which is a depressant, Cannabis can be used to treat low level depression. Most depression is caused by stress; smoking pot relieves stress and thus relieves depression. Glaucoma is yet another disease that smoking weed will treat. Glaucoma is an optical disease that leads to permanent damage of the optic nerve endings and resultant visual fields, which can ultimately progress to blindness. Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness in the world and doctors predict that this number will increase as longevity also increases. Symptoms of glaucoma include intraocular pressure, patches of vision loss, headaches, and pain behind the eyeball. Despite making the eyes red marijuana actually lowers intraocular pressure and can prevent as well as cure Glaucoma all together. As you can see marijuana has copious medical uses and little to no medical handicaps. For it to illegal while tobacco and alcohol are legal is absolute madness.
Like any substance marijuana can be abused, but it is impossible to overdose on. The most common problem associated with marijuana abuse is lethargic behavior, but does not cause serious health or social concerns. Overuse of alcohol will result in an inability to walk, stand, or even death, whereas overuse of weed will simply put a person to sleep. 40% of all fatal car accidents are caused by alcohol while no car accidents ever have been directly caused by marijuana. Alcohol induces violent behavior and is often attributed to wife beating and other violent behaviors. Someone under the influence of alcohol will experience fits if rage which has often led to their own demise or the death of others, while someone who got high from marijuana will stroll around pleasantly with a smile on their face in search of the nearest McDonald’s. It is as the iconoclast Bob Marley once said, “Herb is the healing of the nation, alcohol is the destruction”. Cigarettes are another legal substance that are far more dangerous than some good sensimilla. Smoking cigarettes is the leading cause of lung cancer in America. Tobacco cigarettes are filled with harmful chemicals such as nicotine, rat poison, formaldehyde, ammonia, and arsenic. Both cigarettes and alcohol are immensely addictive phenomenon’s that lead to very serious health problems, predominantly cancer, and ultimately death. Marijuana is considered by many to be a dangerous substance but in reality many of our legal drugs are far more portentous.
Annual American Deaths Caused by Drugs Tobacco…………….. 400,000 Alcohol……………… 100,000 All legal drugs……… 20,000 All illegal drugs…….. 15,000 Caffeine…………….. 2,000 Aspirin……………… 500 Marijuana…………… 0
In all of recorded history going back as far as 2700 BC there has never been one single human death attributed to a health problem caused by marijuana.
Not only is marijuana a safe drug with medical benefits but it could rapidly stimulate our failing economy. At its current rate of production legal marijuana generates 35.8 billion dollars per year. Profits from marijuana exceed that of corn and wheat combined. And that’s just the legal margins. Revenue from illegal domestic marijuana is speculated at around 60 billion dollars a year. That’s a total of 95.8 billion dollars each year excluding imports. Marijuana is considered by profuse amounts of economists to already be our nation’s number one cash crop. It’s already the number 1 cash crop in 12 states including California, Alaska, and Hawaii. In Washington weed is second only to apples. In 30 other states ganja is among the top three on the list of cash crops. As Thomas Jefferson said, “Hemp is of first necessity to the wealth and protection of the country”. George Washington himself predicted that hemp would be our most valuable product. Economists estimate that if marijuana were legalized annual tax returns would be 6.2 billion dollars. That’s over 6 billion dollars in the hands of the federal government rather than in the hands of so called drug criminals. This money could be spent on combating the flow of hard, more serpentine drugs onto our streets.
If the fact that legalizing marijuana will engender enormous sums of money isn’t enough for some skeptics let’s take a look at the money that it will save. Approximately 7.7 billion dollars is spent annually on law enforcement to traverse marijuana consumption. Legalizing marijuana would eliminate 100% of these costs. Another taxpayer expense that would be emphatically reduced is prison disbursements. New FBI statistics show that one marijuana smoker is arrested every 45 seconds, by the end of my speech more than 20 people will have been incarcerated on marijuana related offenses. Since 1990 5.9 million innocent Americans have been arrested on Cannabis charges, a number greater than the population of Alaska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming combined. 88% of all people in jail, a staggering 2 million, are there due to marijuana offenses. In the case that marijuana is legalized that number will be reduced to 440,000 people, a prodigious decline. The deprivation of operating prisons would also deteriorate dramatically. The cost of operating prisons comes directly out of taxpayers pockets. Currently a 40 billion dollar per year expenditure would be cut back to 8.8 billion dollars, still a gargantuan amount but much, much less than what it was. With this amount of savings and profits I find it amazing that our capitalist society hasn’t already demanded the legalization of pot.
Simply selling the buds is not the only way to make money off the Cannabis sativa plant. Hemp fibers from the stalks have countless other uses. An entire hemp based industry will be created. Oil extracted from the seeds was used to lubricate gears and mechanisms in many of the original cars including Henry Ford’s Model T. Hemp fiber, renown for its strength, has long been used to test the durability of other fibers. When George Bush Sr. was forced to eject from his F-50 over Vietnam, the parachute that saved his life was made from 100% hemp fiber. Hemp can be made into rope, clothing, and paper. More important than the products made will be the jobs procreated by this industry. The current unemployment rate is 8.9% as of April 2009. 8.9% sounds like a small number out of 100 but 8.9% translates to over 13.7 million people without a job. I talked about tax deficits earlier but how about the decrease in taxes if all 13.7million people got off welfare and started working in the pot industry. Though legalizing marijuana won’t create all 13.7 million jobs necessary it will create some. That’s a step in the right direction to resurrect our falling economy.
A common misconception is that smoking sensimilla makes a person this lazy, unexcited, useless, crippling abrasion to society. That’s not true at all. Like most Americans, people who smoke pot pay taxes, love and support their families, and work hard to make a better life for their children. Suddenly they are arrested, jailed, and treated like criminals solely because they choose to relax in a way that is safer than tobacco or alcohol. State agencies frequently step in and declare children of marijuana smokers to be “in danger”, and many children are placed into foster homes as a result. This causes enormous pain, suffering, and financial hardship for millions of honest American families. It also engenders distrust and disrespect for the law and criminal justice system overall. If the children of marijuana smokers are in danger than the children of cigarette smokers and alcoholics are in a situation far more perilous. Responsible pot smokers present no threat or danger to America and there is no reason to treat them as criminals.
Many people also believe that marijuana is a gateway drug and will lead to other more dangerous drugs. It’s true that most people who do hard drugs didn’t immediately start out snorting cocaine or shooting heroin, but smoking pot every now and then doesn’t condemn you to be some cracked out heroin feign. As it stands right now only a small portion of sensi smokers go on to harder drugs and I’m sure that number will go down if marijuana is legalized. If kids could run down to the gas station and pick up some weed their interest in other drugs would be diminished. The only way that pot could be considered a gateway drug is if it is sold alongside hard drugs. True some pot dealers sell harder stuff but legalizing marijuana completely negates that arguement. If marijuana were legal there would be no need for side street dealers who might have hard drugs on them, it could be sold in any convenience store across the country. I know for a fact that teenagers would much rather get high legally than break the law to do so. The problem is legal highs aren’t readily available, the closest you can get is with cigarettes which not only taste disgusting but are extremely deleterious to your health and the health of others. Implying that smoking weed always leads to harder drugs is like saying that anyone who has ever stolen something will go on to armed piracy of oil tankers. The Somalians that hijacked those tankers probably did steal in their youth but that doesn’t mean everyone who steals will end up like them. Marijuana as a gateway drug is a false implication and cannot be used in a serious discussion about legalizing marijuana. Many people also insinuate that marijuana leads people to a life of crime. The only way to test this theory is to study the results when pot is legal. Amsterdam, where marijuana is legal, has a lower crime rate than any major U.S. city. I think that soundly disproves that theory and clearly shows that smoking marijuana is not a gateway to anything illegal.
I have provided you with information, facts and statistical evidence that all point towards the legalization of marijuana. But the truth is it doesn’t matter what I say until you, the people, stand up and besiege the government to re-address the litigation of marijuana. But I’m sure there are many of you thinking, “Well that’s a great speech in all but I don’t smoke pot so why should I care if it’s legal or not?” So I have come up with several reasons why everyone should support the legalizing of marijuana. If you’re politically left wing stick it to the corporal business owners who made it illegal in the first place. If your right wing, marijuana is our number 1 cash crop, legalized we can make even more money than we are now. If your Christian or adhere to the Bible, Genesis 1:29 “And God said, behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth”, according to the Bible it’s your god given right to grow and consume any plant on this earth, including marijuana. If you’re an environmentalist or at least care about the fate of our planet, you can save the 4 billion trees that are cut down every year to make paper. I assure you hemp paper is a fine substitute. Everyone should support legalizing marijuana and everyone here now understands why. The biggest problem is that people are more inclined to suffer the sufferable that to rectify changes in their lives. But with growing support the Cannabis sativa predicament will soon be rectified and the world as a whole will be a better place, in the words of Bob Marley, “Legalize it, don’t criticize it”.
Aspen Colorado is located 200 miles west of Denver and the long drive allows you (if your no the one stuck driving) time to fully soak in Gods natural beauty as you climb to over 8000 feet. I have lived in Colorado over 30 years and it is sad to say that i haven't really explored this great state and now that i have been to Aspen I will return.
I have never been to a National NORML conference or event of any sort and I guess i could say that it wasn't at all what I had expected. So many cool people, so much valuable information being thrust upon you and then there was the Ganja! OH MY GOD the Ganja! Blueberry, Sour Diesel, Strawberry Cough, Ice Cream and even some Love Potion Number 9 are only a few i can remember. Everybody was always trying to one up each others strain. Keeping up with the Jones. It was great. I wish that i had a camera with me but i didn't but no sweat there were plenty present and as soon as i find some i will put them on.
Here are a few things that I found interesting and maybe so will you.
High Hopes and Modest Expectations: Drug Law Reform under President Obama and a Democratic Congress by Jeralyn E. Merritt, Esq, Denver, CO
A Few Goals:
* Hold President Obama to his promise to end DEA raids on medical marijuana patients
* Facilitate medical marijuana research
* Introduce legislation removing criminal penalties for minor marijuana offenses
* End Crack-Powder Disparities
* End Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Drug Offenses, particularly those based on quantity
* No new anti-gang legislation
* Stop over- funding the war on drugs
Federal Marijuana Legislation Bills that Died Last Year
* H.R. 5842: Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h110-5842
The bill would have ended marijuana's classification as a Schedule I drug and allowed doctors to prescribe it for medical use. Additionally, this bill would have protected medical marijuana patients who use marijuana legally under state law from arrest and jail. H.R. 5842 was introduced on April 17, 2008 by Congressman Barney Frank (D-Mass.)and co-sponsored by Congressman Ron Paul (R-Texas)along with 22 other representatives.
On April 17, 2008, it was referred to the House Subcommittee on Health, where it died.
Transfers marijuana from schedule I to schedule II of the Controlled Substances Act. Provides that no provision of the Controlled Substances Act or the Federal Food Drug, and Cosmetic Act shall prohibit or otherwise restrict, in a state in which marijuana may, under state law, be prescribed or recommended by a physician for medical use:(1) a physician from prescribing or recommending marijuana for medical use;(2) an individual from obtaining, possessing, transporting, manufacturing, or using marijuana in accordance with such a prescription or recommendation;(3) an individual authorized under state law to do so from obtaining, possessing, transporting, or manufacturing marijuana on an authorized patent's behalf;(4) a pharmacy or other entity authorized to do so from obtaining, possessing, or distributing marijuana to such patients; or (5) an entity established by such a state or local government thereof to do so from producing, possessing, or distributing marijuana for such a prescription or recommendation.
Denver's own Sec. 38-175. Possession or consumption of marijuana.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person under the age of twenty-one (21) to possess one (1) ounce or less of marijuana. If such person is under the age of eighteen (18) years of age at the time of the offense, no jail sentence shall be imposed and any fine imposed may be supplanted by treatment as required by the court.
(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to openly and publicly display or consume one (1) ounce or less of marijuana. If such person is under the age of eighteen (18) years of age at the time of the offense, no jail sentence shall be imposed and the fine may be supplanted by treatment as required by the court.
(c) For the purposes of this section, the term "marijuana" or "marijuana" shall mean and include all parts of the plant CANNABIS SATIVA L., whether growing or not, (AND HERE IS THE LOOP HOLE. The state only says that the Sativa plant is illieagil but the Indica Plant is not! The lawyers are working this angle but not really having any luck it sounds like.) The seeds thereof, the resin extracted from any part of such plant, and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of such plant, its seeds, or its resins. It does not include fiber produced from the stalks, oil or cake made from the seeds of such plant, or the sterilized seed of such plant which is incapable of germination, if these items exist apart from any other item defined as "marijuana" in this section. "Marijuana" does not mean or include marijuana concentrate as defined in this section.
(d) For the purposes of this section, the term "marijuana concentrate" shall mean hashish, tetrahydrocannabinol, or any alkaloid, salt, derivative, preparation, compound, or mixture, whether natural or synthesized, of tetrahydrocannabinol. (Ord. No. 645-97, § 1, 9-29-97; Ord. No. 618-05, § 2, 8-9-05, elec. 11-1-05)
Well I blinked and May is over. I attend a listening party for the new Placebo album Battle For the Sun but failed to hear any of it. They either didn't play it at all or just played 5 minutes of it because we got there shortly after the doors opened. Oh well for what its worth it sounds great. Lollapaloozaline up was released recently and it looks fucking amazing with rumors of more to come. Like maybe a Beatles reunion with Paul and Ringo hooking back up for a few songs. I have never been to Chicago and would love to go. Tickets are cheap and its not to far away for me.
If your wondering what happened in the world of marijuana over the weekend then you have come to the right spot.
Next week Cannabis lovers in California can hang out in the Playboy Mansion for Marijuana Policy Project or MPP's 4th Annual Party at the Playboy Mansion June 4, 2009.
Just two hours to the south of me Thomas Sexton, 55 is awaiting charges for a 2007 raid on his property where over 130 plants were confiscated because on Friday A Pueblo judge denied the request to throw out charges against him based on how the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office searched his property. Good Luck Thomas We will be praying for your victory in your fight.
Last week, Maine's Senate passed LD 1159 on a vote of 25-10. The bill would allow for farming of Industrial Hemp. Amazing! While Oregon is also on the verge of passing industrial hemp legislation.
FREE MARC EMERY!!!!
And finally more sad news out of Montana. David Tunes 49was shot and killed last month defending his home from burglars. On Friday police released that Tunes was a medical marijuana cultivator and user and that was the motive for the robbery.
Hi. Great news today! Just minutes ago Illinois Senate approved Medical Marijuana in a close vote of 30-28 the bill will now go to the house which approved a measure just last year. click here
Last week Gov. Tim Pawlenty vetoed a bill that would have allowed medical use of marijuana for terminally ill patients. He cited law enforcement concerns about expanded drug use.And now proponents want it to go to a vote... click here
Marijuana odor leads to drug arrests...Detectives from the Governors Task Force have concluded an investigation involving Eliezer Ongay and Rene Quiles.This case originated on May 19th when unit members were at an unspecified location in Newark. Detectives observed the strong odor of marijuana coming from this location and subsequently made entry. click here
INTERNATIONAL WEED FEED
British police stumble upon 500 marijuana plants growing after domestic disturbance... click here
Woman tried to smuggle cannabis into New Zealand Prison... click here
17 year old arrested after 300 marijuana plants found inside of home... click here
$3m worth of cannabis seized in Australia click here
Hello there. Well its Tuesday morning, the day after Memorial Day and i am back at work but it feels like a Monday. Oh well what ever day it is here we go with a recap of the weekend and a few other things.
As of late, I have become a huge race fan and no I am not a fan of NASCAR but of the F1 and the IRL racing leagues respectively and On Sunday morning or Saturday morning this side of the International date line English driver Jensen Button won his fifth race making it five out of six wins for Brawn Mercedes team in Monaco. I am not sure how he is doing it. I have only been able to find the replays of the race, never the whole race so I only see what "They" want me to see.
"There is nothing better the Indy 500, Maybe a piece of pussy but besides that" one of the best quotes in a awesome movie "Platoon" Helio Castroneves became only the sixth racer in history to three peat at the brickyard with superstar hottie Danica Patrick actually finishing the race and coming in a close third. P.S if you are a driver watch out for the first turn on the first lap it could be a doosy.
With a heart breaking lose on Saturday the Denver Nuggets redeemed themselves with a blowout win on Monday against the Los Angeles Losers. Sorry about that Miss-type there. The Los Angles Lakers, is that better.
And last but not least I am still waiting patiently to hear back from NORML regarding starting a local chapter in Denver. When they say 4-6 weeks they are serious about that. So i will just have to wait longer.
Well that about raps up this posting. Make it a Great Week!
Hello world. Hows going. For me personally, I have been feeling a little down lately and it just so happens that i haven't written one single word beside meaningless stuff for my day job in a few weeks now. The weekend came and past and nothing came out not one word. I didn't even see the sunlight. I was stuck. What was it that consumed me. I'll tell you, i was playing, VIDEO GAMES. Well actually I was just playing one game,
Its my vote for PC game of the year. FYI I don't have a vote. I wish i had a vote somewhere but i don't but if i did this game would differently get my vote! Lets see what else has been going on.
I'm still waiting for a response back from NORML on starting a local chapter here in Denver. They say 4-6 weeks and it has been only three so i just need to take a step back and be a little more patient. I have heard from "My Sources" that it takes a long time because of the lack of actual paid employees throughout the Organization. I just wanted to have the chapter before before I attend the NORML Aspen Legal Conference which is just two short weeks away.
See I feel better already. So last but not least something else before i go try my hands in frying my own chicken. I'm Excited.
Just eight short blocks from the capital of Colorado. I Love my neighborhood! The architecture in the neighborhood is something you can spend hours walking around and admiring. I have lived in my apartment now going on eight months and i have only meet the people across the hall, that is until recently. With spring time apron us people have been to wonder outside and into the apartment common area. I have since meet the guy who plays his music at a ear blowing level "Cosomo" while i was having a drink with Cosmo, Kate and Ali came outside to grill what Kate called "there dinner for the week." They were afraid to light the grill. "It could blow" they said in a very convincing tone.
The ex-Drug Czar John Walters talks out the side of his neck on national t.v. the other night on AC360. He throws out facts that he can't support. Walters even says that if we legalized marijuana that violence would increase. We are not legalizing PCP here OK John. We are still talking about marijuana.
Good Job Maine voters...
On May 1, Gov. John Baldacci signed LD 250 into law. Under the new law, possession of over 1.25 ounces but less than two and one-half ounces of marijuana will also be defined as a civil offense, punishable by a fine of $700 to $1,000 dollars. (Civil fines for the possession of less than 1.25 ounces of marijuana will remain the same.) The measure also removes the inference that possession of quantities of marijuana above 1.25 ounces but less than 2.5 ounces are presumed to be for sale.
Hello There its Monday and time to get back to work but before i do I wanted to rundown the weekends events at the Colorado State Capital. It was small gathering of intelligent people from across the state who are all concerned about the same thing. Legalizing or Decriminalizing of Marijuana!!! Global Marijuana March..As the 4 o'clock hour rolled around the festivities were getting ready to start with several key note speakers.
Amongst the crowed was Celebrity Stoner Comedian Doug Benson Super High Me who was preforming over the weekend at the Comedy Works Downtown. He said that he found the flier online and just came down to show his support for the cause. Go Doug!!!
Regarding or Norml application we have gathered our original five members, filled out the necessary documentation and have mailed it off to the NORML in D.C. now all we have to do is wait 4-6 weeks AHHHHH its going to feel like forever. I just have to remember that patients is a virtue!
First-Ever Nationwide Pro-Marijuana TV Ad Campaign Is Launched in Conjunction with '4/20'
by Allen St. Pierre, NORML Executive Director
Boulder, Colorado: I have every reason to believe that '4/20' in 2009 will be the biggest and most momentous one to date as NORML launches 7,770 nationwide TV ads that advocate for cannabis law reform; NORML expects record numbers of supporters to join the organization for the celebratory one-day price of $4.20 because, I believe, there is a palpable zeitgeist in America right now favoring reform; the Obama administration appears amenable to some cannabis law reforms in ways that no prior president since Jimmy Carter has embraced; and lastly, with NORML's nearly 600,000 'friends' on Facebook and nearly 67,000 MySpace, more Americans than ever before who are keen on cannabis can create a viral effect that benefits reform.
Here in Boulder between 10,000-15,000 students and activists are expected to celebrate in what has become the biggest 4/20 event in the world.
Heck, the New York Times has already posted a profile of 4/20 for today's paper, where they came yesterday for interview and photos to the University of Colorado at Boulder's National Marijuana Forum. This portends well to what will be an insane day in the media for pro-reform groups like NORML (I've already got 35 interviews scheduled...) as I was also asked to pen an essay for National Public Radio's All Things Considered that I assume will be published today.
I dare say we as a country are finally 'getting it' regarding the clear and obvious need to reform our misguided cannabis laws.
Its been almost a week since I've been back home in Colorado from my Coachella vacation and I think that is just long enough for my brain to re-gather himself after the great mushrooms that a friend found in Northern California brought back and we all ingested and they were spectacular on all levels. I was a bit scared at first since the last time I took them it was ten years ago and i had a bad episode and they killed my belly but this time around it was nothing of the sort. here are a few pictures from my journey.
On a new note... I have been giving it a lot of thought and I think that I am going to stop my bitching because it doesn't do any good and I am going to start getting orgainized. I have found the answer NORML is a non-profit company with the goals of educating the public about marajuana and its policies and they are looking to start a chapter in Denver and what someone to help run it. My good friend Kandice who lives in California runs the OCNORML Chapter in her city and with her help and guidance I think that we here in Denver could have a strong chapter. Denver needs it. Hell I need it.
