I know Storm Crow won't think I plagerized her idea... should I get ink. But her comment helped me add one last pass of the "Sword" over the "Strop" or "Honing stone" before I went into the fray.

Don't Believe the Hype! Potent Pot, So What?

I'm thankful for the little things... like warrants... that keep these cruel strangers... yes they are strangers... from defiling people's homes more than they do. They really would like to come charging into anyone's homes they wanted to and go through their belongings and mistreat them in the name of the government and it's very unjust law. They need a bigger, stronger leash... but at least there is a fiber of justice here and there to hold them back somewhat. Even though we know, that fiber, that need of a warrant, is compromised often.

It's not a light matter we're fighting against... and a change of wording won't change the truth of what is happening to people in this country.

Thank you Paul Armentano and Dongenero.

http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/585/robert_woods_77_foley_alabama_killed_during_marijuana_raid

The children...who will save the children?!!! More people to emergency rooms, more people into drug treatment, blah blah blah.

Not at all, with higher THC you need less smoke and thus it is less harmful. If you have cancer a higher THC content means it might keep you alive longer.

Be calm, direct and non-threatening. And, absolutely solid and resolute in your position and your argument.

I drove to the Post Office this afternoon, and upon arriving back home, I looked at my beautiful Tulip Poplar trees (recently pruned by our storms) in my front yard and I couldn't help cursing the terrorists who drove their vehicles of terror onto MY driveway to threaten and accuse us of committing a crime without a stitch of evidence or proof.

The fact that the shoe soles of their soulless bodies touched MY land and their hands touched my door still makes me sick, although nearly two years have passed, because I know they had one intention and that was to steal everything I've ever owned and worked for. They wanted to take everything I was looking at away from us.

If the cops had anything at all on me they would have shown up with the SWAT team and a search warrant. This happens hundreds of times a day in this country.

All of this over a plant. Over the possession of a plant and merely the suspicion of possession of a plant.

If Mrs. Green and I still harbor this much fear and anger two years later over just a 15-minute threatening "knock and talk," I can only imagine how destroyed people are after a no-knock search warrant.

All over a plant.

The reason we were so afraid was not because we were intimidated, or because our refusal to let them search our house without a warrant was anything except upholding my Constitutional rights, something I always SAID I would do, but never knew I would do until confronted by these megalomaniacal drug cops.

No, the reason we were afraid and terrorized is the parting threat we were left with. Gone was the phony "we're your friend" act and in it's place was the seething anger which exists in the cruel hearts of these drug warriors.

"We'll be back in an hour with a search warrant," he growled at us.

Considering this was the creature I'd already caught in several lies to that point, the imminent threat of heavily armed and angry animals trashing and destroying our house was real.

This lying SOB first said he saw a gun (it was a CD case, I own no weapons,) he then said he smelled burnt marijuana (he didn't,) and then he said that he had "credible information" that I was growing marijuana (he didn't because I wasn't.)

With a tract record of lying with every word he spoke, I had no doubt whatsoever that he would lie to get the search warrant and they would destroy our house and possibly kill me or my wife.

Even when called on his deception, and fully aware he had harassed an innocent couple, the anger and hatred that consumes all of these drug cops allowed him to leave us with that final terroristic threat. He knew he was lying but he still had to terrorize us with false threats of an imminent attack upon our home.

Hope, your words speak all too clearly of the pain and suffering inflicted upon people over the cannabis plant. The time has finally come for the truth of your words to be heard.

Washington, D.C. -- Gil Kerlikowske, head of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, says the United States should not see itself as fighting a "war on drugs."

The newly confirmed drug control official questioned the use of the popular "war" term, saying such an idea is actually standing in the way of positive movement regarding the country's drug problems, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.

"Regardless of how you try to explain to people it's a 'war on drugs' or a 'war on a product,' people see a war as a war on them," Kerlikowske said Wednesday. "We're not at war with people in this country."

Kerlikowske added the Obama administration will likely approach the country's drug problem not just as a criminal justice issue, but also as a public health concern.

The new U.S. administration has already taken steps to ban raids of medical-marijuana dispensaries in states that have legalized such medical services, the Journal said. Obama's administration is also urging for equalized law enforcement treatment of crimes involving crack cocaine and powder cocaine.

Copyright: 2009 United Press International, Inc.

URL: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/05/14/Kerlikowske-opposes-war-on-drugs-idea/UPI-38331242329051/

LOL

I have to credit the internet for the change in attitude towards marijuana. Remember before we had access to websites like Cannabisnews how we felt so alone in this fight. The internet has opened so many doors of communication and information sharing that this was inevitable.

Thank you all for making this possible. Keep it up!

It's just nice to hear our "brand new" drug czar talking about ending the "war on drugs". You'd have never heard Johnny P. or his predecessors say something like that. It may take time but I really do believe that change is coming our way.

I am on your side my friend.

I am am going to give this administration a little time before I pass judgement. I am a bit more optimistic than I ever have been but will approach with caution. I think that we can all agree however that at least rhetoric is light years better than in the past.

Water no longer flows clean and palatable, you have to buy it in bottles.

The airlines still plow the sky, and dump their fleurocarbons into the high atmosphere.

The scourge of Detroit still smogs the air -even with the rise in gas prices so that only the wealthy can 'See the USA in their Chevrolet.' And instead of just retooling to make Hybrids and other ecofriendly automobiles, its all about saving the SUV.

You can't visit a hotspring at night because terrorists might meet there to discuss their agendas.

You can't gather together on public land without fees and special use permits.

The cops have become Gestapo - I don't think they've been informed yet that their hayday is over, they still think they are the 'kings of the street.'

The status-quo 'professionals' still compromise their integrity for a few dollars more.

Corporate monsters like Monsanto are attempting to patent the rights to all seeds, while their political puppets ae trying to include all organic, and natural herbal substances into their own new form of prohibition.

You can have the greatest ideas in the world, but if you haven't the means to buy an audience with 'those who matter' it doesn't matter who you do manage to get to listen.

If you aren't a licensed, insured, bonded, financially backed card-carrying member of the status-quo...who are you again?

Words flow like cheap, refined sugar from the top down, but like sugar, the first effect is euphoric, but then comes the price of having your vitals eaten out from meth-like caustic, crystaline shards of chemicly created poison.

So willing we are to accept the compromises offered by the status quo, and to accredit these pretenders with some kind of 'authority' because they fulfilled the narrow parameters and criteria of their various institutionalized self-serving systems,...so willing to believe in the Emperors 'new' clothes, the opportunity to actually set things to right, is as much on the verge of being lost, as the polits and pundits are trying to capitalize on the general feeling that change is in the air.

The enemy of freedom is government, and the elite classes that use it to further their own self interests. As long as we continue support failed systems -which includes every single one that is sanctioned by the US Government - because in order to be sanctioned, you have to compromise and serve the interests of the controlling elite,and become willing slaves to the economic, social masters....as long as the people continue to compromise with their 'leaders' and 'betters' and 'bosses' and 'masters' there will be no cessation of war against Nature, Yah, and Humanity, by the ones who errantly claim 'specialness' in this world.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again;

There is no compromising with truth, for any reason, such a thing is merely the disguised creation of a lie.

The truth is that there are certain rights, and liberties that we are inherently born with, such as equal value under our creator, equal access to Creation including everything that grows and can be used as food - for the body, mind and spirit, and most importantly, the totally spoiled right to fresh air, and fresh water.

The truth is that this 'war' goes far beyond cannabis prohibition, and to think that any compromises offered by the government that brought us Wounded Knee, Ruby Ridge, Waco, Oklahoma City Bombing, and 911 -to name a few- is going to get us any closer to the liberty and freedom given to us at birth as human beings, and taken by the few elite, is pure fantasy.

Updated: Friday, 08 May 2009, 7:35 AM EDT

Published : Friday, 08 May 2009, 7:29 AM EDT

TAMPA - There's been a lot of debate over what some people call medical marijuana.

http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/news/local/hillsborough/medical_marijuana_petition_050809

***

People United for Medical Marijuana – Florida

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=127343055695

We are more than just a group. We are registered voters willing to sign a petition to show our support for medical marijuana. We are a political committee registered with the state of Florida to restore patients' rights to receive safe, affordable and effective medication. We are collecting signatures to amend the constitution.

http://www.pufmm.org/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iz4YPMfMbI

***

South Carolina sheriff buys tank to conduct raids

http://boingboing.net/2008/09/02/south-carolina-sheri.html

***

Arpaio, Sheriff Joe

2004 - July 23: In executing a misdemeanor arrest warrant on 26 year old Eric Kush for failure to appear in Tempe Traffic Court, Sheriff Arpaio's SWAT team burned down a $250,000 home and crushed a 2001 Mitsubishi Mirage with their SWAT tank.

The Sheriff's arsenal included a SWAT tank which prior to that occasion had received its heaviest use promoting the department in valley parades. Shortly after noon, the SWAT team entered the home and escorted a young woman and a child from the property, but Kush barricaded himself on the second floor. Deputies launched gas canisters filling the home with a white gas, but Kush remained in hiding. As the white gas turned to black smoke deputies discovered that the second floor was on fire. They warned Kush who then surrendered as the home was engulfed in flames. Fearing that their armed SWAT tank might become a casualty of the fire, deputies moved the vehicle to safety, parking it on an incline. Unfortunately, the tank's electric brakes disengaged when the engine was turned off allowing it to roll into and almost over the much smaller Mitsubishi Mirage. The Mirage was crushed. The $250,000 home was declared a total loss. Kush posted a $1,000 bond and was released from jail the next day.

Former Seattle Police Gil Kerlikowske, the Obama administration's new drug czar, says in today's Wall Street Journal that he wants to banish the idea that the U.S. is fighting a "war on drugs."

Potentially huge news this morning from Drug Czar Gil Kerlikowske’s interview with the Wall Street Journal. He rejects the formulation of the “War on Drugs” and voices an inclination to treat American drug abuse as a national health challenge:

No, it wasn't. It was well researched and thought out, and paid for with taxes taken from all of our labors, to enrage and mobilize one group of people against another group of people. It was meant to be incendiary and terrifying... as wars are.

Now they are saying it was just a case of unfortunate rhetoric?

Hmmm. Jackboots. Helmets. Armor. Battering rams for crashing quickly through the doors of homes. Windows broken. Incendiary flash bombs. Sudden overwhelming assault on people's homes with killing weapons drawn and to the fore to kill any animals or people that might automatically resist the assault... mistakenly or not. Women crying. Children traumatized and screaming in terror. People dead and in cages.

Military surplus diverted to the "Warriors" of the War on Drugs. I'm thinking there are armored military vehicles, with heavy artillery turrets and all, being used by some police departments in the "War". Some have and others desire military battle tanks to use in their war on the "Druggie". They want high powered machine guns... so they can win the "Not War".

There are helicopters and planes swooping low over people's homes so they can make sure the "enemy", though he be a fellow citizen, isn't growing the wrong sort of plants in his garden.

They're drawing blood and cutting chunks of people's hair out to the scalp to make them aware that they and the most private parts of their lives are under serious surveillance by the powers in high places, inside and out.

As it is, it's a war. A war by any other name is still a war.

They are professional liars. We know that. They said it was a "War". We saw they meant it. Now they say, "Awww... Na... it's not really a war. We were just kidding. Yeah. That's the ticket."

They're trained, professional liars. We are supposed to believe everything they say though, if we're "Real" and "Patriotic" Americans. "Follow us! We're going to war! If you're not "with us"... you're the enemy and we're at war!"

I'll believe it's not a war when I see it's not a war.

It was an episode of Cops that was one of the many "Last Straw" situations for me, too.

I know mistreatment, tyranny, abuse, and the use of terror tactics and unjust laws and use of outrageous "law enforcement" against citizens when I see it. And I saw way, way too much of it.

Places in my deepest being were touched, and touched in such a way that a person has to do something. They have to move.

For Heaven's sake, People! There's a damn poisonous snake loose in the "house"... our country... and it is impossible for some people to ignore the thing's presence. It has killed babies and old people and every age in between with it's malicious, poisonous sting. It's crippled and maimed many, for life, that it didn't outright kill.

Thanks for speaking up and standing with us.

Actually, I can't believe it! Over???

PS- I am trying to imagine the agony Johnny Pee, the Son-O-Babs and the Great White Toad are feeling right now![pardon me while I close my eyes and savor the moment]! I do hope ol' Cheney gets his panties in a bunch over this one too. Maybe he will be stupid enough to make some mean spirited, uninformed comments for us?

I know they know they have been lying to us! Now they know the world will soon see how they have lied to us!

In the case of Johnny Pee; I'm not so sure he was knowingly lying. I think he is one of those "ideologes". Like people of old who refused to believe the world is not flat. It is like if you told ol' Johnny Pee , "the world is not flat", he will claim you did with smoke and mirrors.

"We're not at war with people in this country." Until of course, you choose to use a safer drug than alcohol. See, If you pick a different recreational drug than the one they approve of, you're screwed.

This war isn't over until us responsible Marijuana users stop being treated like criminals! There should be no punishment for our choice, as long as we do it responsibly. The same is currently true for Alcohol, so things make no sense until this changes.

They are STILL at war with us... Because we choose differently. -_-

Not until recently did I become an activist in the pursuit of re-legalization of Cannabis products. My personal tipping point was when I was watching an episode of “Cops” on Fox. They were with the Tampa Police Dept and the cops were doing a reverse sting. Unsuspecting Cannabis purchasers were sold product by undercover police officers then busted for possession…then had their vehicles confiscated. This totally pissed me off as I live in the Tampa Bay metropolitan area. I have been monitoring this website for several months now…it is my first stop on the web every day, I read all the comments as well.

I am a working professional as an environmental scientist and I contact my elected officials monthly to encourage their participation in reforming our current predicament regarding the drug war.

This article gives me hope

solid iceballs of nice size.

jawbreaker size, some of them

"We're not at war with people in this country."

I hope this new attitude filters down to every cop in the nation.

#2. I'm not interested in treatment for cannabist's: -Unless it's respect.

#3. A war by any other name...

#4. Yes, "the damn thing is beginning to turn" -But We need to see skid marks on the Replican's faces with screeching sounds and abrupt changes of direction.

-0-

The way tire tread on a dirt bike grabs; We need to use the face of Republicans for traction -turn that puppy and make their heads spin.

"While I don't necessarily disagree with Gil's focus on treatment and demand reduction, I don't want to see it at the expense of law enforcement. People need to understand that when they violate the law there are consequences."

Whoa, we almost got some honesty in this last bit - only the last sentence needs to be "translated".....

"While I don't necessarily disagree with Gil's focus on treatment and demand reduction, I don't want to see it at the expense of law enforcement. Politicians need to understand that when they cut our budget there are consequences."

There! with a little adjustment he's 100% honest

That's all I need to hear, Oklahoma is pissed, I like this guy already!

I like Ethan Nadelmann am cautiously optimistic due to the fact that we have been criminalized for so long. However, we finally have an administration that has the courage to do the right thing and for that I am grateful.