cannabisnews.com: Marijuana Rights Group Uniting Behind Kerry Marijuana Rights Group Uniting Behind Kerry Posted by CN Staff on August 20, 2004 at 08:26:45 PT By Sandeep Kaushik, Globe Correspondent Source: Boston Globe Seattle -- More than 150,000 denizens of the Northwest will gather this weekend in a waterfront park for Hempfest, billed as the largest promarijuana gathering in the country, to listen to speeches from the biggest names in the national drug-law reform movement between band sets and bong hits.But this year, attendees will hear an explicitly partisan message, too: Organizers are pushing pot smokers to help elect Senator John F. Kerry president. The size of Hempfest indicates the potential power of the pro-pot vote, particularly in the Northwest, reformers said. Organizers think that registering even a few thousand Hempfest attendees could make the difference in a close election. ''It is essential for our crowd to understand that there is nothing more important they can do for drug policy reform than to go out and cast their ballots in the Democratic box in November," said Dominic Holden, 27, a spokesman for the festival.The decision to break with the tradition of nonpartisanship that has guided the festival in its 12 previous incarnations was born out of the Bush administration's aggressive policies against marijuana, Hempfest organizers said. While many of the 1,200 volunteers working on the festival personally adhere to political views more in line with the Green Party or of independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader, this year they think the stakes are too high for their constituency to vote for third-party candidates and risk throwing the election to President Bush.''When you look at what's happening on the front lines of the drug war under the Bush administration, the federal government has waged war against sick and dying people who use medical marijuana and those compassionate enough to help them," Holden said. ''We need to unite and get George Bush out of office. We need to vote for John Kerry."Holden cited federal drug raids in recent years against medical marijuana collectives in California that operated in accordance with state law and the support of local officials as a motivating factor in the festival's decision to push an anti-Bush message, as well as White House drug czar John Walters's personal lobbying efforts last year against I-75, a Seattle voter initiative that called for authorities to make enforcement of marijuana laws their lowest priority. Despite Walters's opposition, I-75 passed last September with 58 percent support.More than 20 outside groups have signed up to do voter outreach at the event, either staffing international booths or sending more than 100 canvassers through the crowd to promote voter registration. These include environmental, antiwar, and other activist groups, ranging from small groups to better-known entities such as the League of Women Voters.The Kerry campaign also will have a presence at the event, with campaign volunteers staffing a booth and circulating among the crowd, organizers said. Sam Rodriguez, director of Kerry's Washington state campaign, said there is nothing surprising about the fact that the Democratic coalition includes a broad range of ideological viewpoints, from very liberal to conservative. ''Members of one-issue organizations -- that's part of our democracy. We look at all Americans as potential John Kerry-John Edwards voters," he said. ''We are all united to defeat George W. Bush."The festival has always had a political, conscious-raising component complementing the entertainment that helps draw crowds to the event. In between pot-friendly musical acts performing on multiple stages -- the headliners are the Kottonmouth Kings, Los Marijuanos, and Sir Mix-A-Lot -- every year Hempfest speakers urge attendees to register to vote to have more influence on efforts to liberalize drug laws. Tying that effort to the fortunes of a particular presidential candidate, however, is new.Some national advocates of liberalizing drug laws slated to speak at Hempfest said they were supportive of Kerry over Bush but were wary of explicitly supporting the Democratic Party. While they agreed with organizers that the Bush administration has to be ousted, they also cited the support they have received from prominent libertarian-leaning Republicans.''When it comes to the drug war, the Bush administration is a disaster," said Ethan Nadelmann, executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance, which promotes harm reduction and treatment as alternatives to the current punitive approach to drug use. While Kerry seems more sympathetic on topics like medical marijuana, needle exchange, and reforming mandatory minimum sentencing statutes, ''we know going in he will disappoint us," Nadelmann said.Keith Stroup, executive director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, said that, ''all of us recognize that there is no question that marijuana reform policies would be better served with someone else in office other than George Bush."But he added that the movement is committed to reaching out to all political parties. ''It would be a terrible mistake to let the [marijuana reform] issue be perceived as a Democratic issue," he said.The Kerry campaign and the festival organizers seemed wary of possibly tainting the campaign with countercultural associations that could turn off mainstream voters. The presence of Kerry volunteers at Hempfest, or the push by organizers to get smokers to the polls in November, should not be seen as an implicit endorsement of the Hempfest agenda by the Kerry campaign, Holden said.''I wouldn't want to say that their agenda is our agenda," he said. ''With 150,000 politically aware people here, they would be fools not to come out and do voter registration." Note: Bush administration's drug policies fuel Hempfest stance.Source: Boston Globe (MA)Author: Sandeep Kaushik, Globe Correspondent Published: August 20, 2004Copyright: 2004 Globe Newspaper CompanyContact: letter globe.comWebsite: http://www.boston.com/globe/Related Articles & Web Sites:NORMLhttp://www.norml.org/Drug Policy Alliancehttp://www.drugpolicy.org/Seattle Hempfesthttp://www.seattlehempfest.com/Kerry: Get an Herbal, not a Fetal Positionhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19302.shtmlWhy The Drug War Isn't An Issue - But Should Behttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19236.shtmlThis Is The Time To Hold Nothing Backhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19232.shtmlKerry: End Medical Marijuana Prosecutionhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18114.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #69 posted by FoM on August 25, 2004 at 10:28:25 PT Thanks Virgil It did say satire but I thought it was funny. If he really was a marijuana farmer in a commune just outside Toronto he'd probably get a lot more support! LOL! [ Post Comment ] Comment #68 posted by Virgil on August 25, 2004 at 02:09:49 PT Watleyreview is a spoof site The website FoM mentioned below is about humor and not news. It is more like whitehouse.org and ironictimes than a news source. [ Post Comment ] Comment #67 posted by FoM on August 24, 2004 at 19:24:37 PT This is Funny! Here's a portion of this article which has to be in fun. It sure is crazy out there in the world of politics these days! LOL!****The group is now alleging in a new series of television ads that Kerry was in fact never in Vietnam, but instead had secretly paid a lookalike stuntman to serve his tour in Vietnam."Now that we think about it, we're all positive that Kerry wasn't even there," said Roy F. Hoffmann, a retired rear admiral and a leader of the group. "That lookalike was a little bit taller, and his hair was a different color. Kerry, our investigations indicate, actually spent the war hiding as a marijuana farmer in a commune just outside Toronto."http://www.watleyreview.com/2004/082404-1.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #66 posted by ekim on August 24, 2004 at 13:57:44 PT Paul is Leap event at your Store September 2004 http://www.leap.cc/events/events.php Sep 3 04 North Shore Harm Reduction 07:00 PM Jim Gierach Wilmette Illinois USA Speaker Jim Gierach will speak at the North Shore Harm Reduction event. Topic: the failure of drug prohibition. Comment #31 posted by paulpeterson on August 20, 2004 at 15:12:14 PT LEAP.cc I am reporting in from the State of Illinois. I now know of 5 villages that have adopted decriminalization (they issue actual PARKING TICKETS here for $40-$50 now!) in the North Shore of Chicago. I have purchased a small store here, Vitality Natural Foods & Yoga (1100 Central Ave./Wilmette, Il. 60091-phone 847-853-4200). http://www.leap.cc [ Post Comment ] Comment #65 posted by CorvallisEric on August 24, 2004 at 13:11:42 PT OutFoxed reviews Same experiment as comment #61. Same highly-predictable results:1star(44) . . . . 2stars(5) . . . . 3stars(15) . . . . 4stars(37) . . . . 5stars(123)This is also an experiment in OutFoxing the limitations in presenting table-type data. [ Post Comment ] Comment #64 posted by FoM on August 24, 2004 at 08:03:26 PT Virgil Check This Out Today Outfoxed is Number one on the DVD sales chart at Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/gp/earlyadopter/browse.html/ref=cm_ea_pdp/103-9184508-7465469?categoryID=10&filterID=-1 [ Post Comment ] Comment #63 posted by Virgil on August 24, 2004 at 02:20:02 PT Fahrenheit 9/11 The DVD was #1 at Amazon.com a few days ago. Now it is #3. It will be released October 5- http://tinyurl.com/5gkno [ Post Comment ] Comment #62 posted by FoM on August 23, 2004 at 22:15:59 PT CorvallisEric Fascinating isn't it? We just ordered OutFoxed. That should be good too. [ Post Comment ] Comment #61 posted by CorvallisEric on August 23, 2004 at 22:03:56 PT Fahrenheit 9/11 (comment #58) When you said there were 768 reviews already, I looked to test my theory that the overwhelming majority would be either 1 star or 5 stars. Not too tedious if you select to show "Lowest rated first."Results: 1-120 --- 2-16 --- 3-25 --- 4-89 --- 5-518There was at least 1 honest Republican who gave it "4 stars for audacity." The point to this little exercise was to once again demonstrate the extreme degree of political polarization we seem to be in now. [ Post Comment ] Comment #60 posted by FoM on August 23, 2004 at 19:10:31 PT cloud7 I am totally frazzled and am anxious for the November election. The closer we get the nastier it is getting. I am happy that we can disagree in America. It isn't as free as it should be but it is better then many countries. Recently I have thought how I remember some of what John Kerry said back in the 70s. I remember thinking that someday he will be the President of the US. He was a young man but I still saw something in him that made me think that way. Saying what he did about torture was true. That part of Kerry's past will be pushed hard as an issue to make people feel he was a traitor and all he was doing was just trying to stop the war. I am glad people rose up and protested or more men would be dead. [ Post Comment ] Comment #59 posted by cloud7 on August 23, 2004 at 18:53:26 PT FoM You're welcome, I just saw your comment. [ Post Comment ] Comment #58 posted by FoM on August 23, 2004 at 18:51:14 PT Fahrenheit 9/11 To Be Released October 5, 2004 When I found this I started reading the reviews. It says there are already 768 reviews! I can't wait to get the movie on DVD.http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00005JNEI/qid=1093312297/sr=8-2/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i2_xgl74/104-0127157-8111125?v=glance&s=dvd&n=507846 [ Post Comment ] Comment #57 posted by gloovins on August 23, 2004 at 16:39:00 PT off topic, but.... could one imagine if this parent was under the influence of cannabis as opposed to DRUNK!? Our society seriously needs to re-look at the way we coddle alcoholics and their atrocities. You just don't act like this when using cannabis vs. booze. Booze kills, read on for proof.2-year-old boy dies in locked van; mother arrested Bay City News Friday, August 20, 2004 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A 2-year-old boy died of heat exhaustion in Healdsburg on Thursday after his allegedly intoxicated mother left him and his 4-year-old brother in a locked van in 90-degree heat for about eight hours, police said. The mother of Liam Paulsen, 35-year-old Rena Corban, apparently began drinking in the morning and passed out on a couch when she returned home around 10 a.m. after running errands with the children, according to Healdsburg police Sgt. Toni Pinochi. Corban, who was reprimanded by authorities for leaving her child alone in a car before, is currently being held without bond on suspicion of murder in Sonoma County jail. Pinochi said a child endangerment charge is also pending. The father, 39-year-old Justin Paulsen, found the children in the van when he returned around 6 p.m. from his job at a local winery to the family's home at 209 Hummingbird Court, police said. Police said the father was hysterical when he was questioned at Healdsburg General Hospital. Liam was found in a car seat in the back of the four-door Toyota van and 4-year-old Jaden Paulsen was found lying naked on the floorboards near the front seat, Pinochi said. Jaden was treated at the scene and released to a grandmother. He remains with his father at a neighbor's house and both will be interviewed after an autopsy on Liam is completed today, authorities said. Pinochi said arriving officers found Justin Paulsen administering CPR on his younger son. Liam was pronounced dead while en route to Healdsburg Hospital. Pinochi said the high temperature in Healdsburg on Thursday was 92 degrees. A bush near the driveway where the van was parked provided little or no shade but police will conduct tests for "a shade factor,'' Pinochi said. The van had child safety locks on the sliding side doors and the handles on the two front doors were difficult to find. None of the windows in the van had been cracked open, Pinochi said, and the van's hatchback was locked. Corban told investigators she "partially" remembers going around town with the children but said that she "blacked out" on the living room couch when she returned home, Pinochi said. There were small amounts of alcohol in the home, Pinochi said. "There's no indication she was drinking when she returned home," Pinochi said. Corban began drinking at home at 8 a.m. and continued drinking in the car, Pinochi said. Police found wine bottles in the van, he said. The results of toxicology tests are pending. Corban allegedly left Liam alone in her vehicle at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds for 20 minutes when the boy was 18 months old. A passerby called police and Corban was reprimanded, Pinochi said. An information report was filed with Child Protective Services, Pinochi said, but Corban was not cited by police. Corban's arraignment is scheduled for Monday. R.I.P. Liam -- you were too young to die & I will say a prayer for you tonite... [ Post Comment ] Comment #56 posted by FoM on August 23, 2004 at 16:11:17 PT cloud7 Thank you for the link! This whole dog and pony show gets me upset. We had bad things happen in Vietnam and Iraq. Why don't they compare Vietnam and The Iraq Prison issue? War is not nice. [ Post Comment ] Comment #55 posted by FoM on August 23, 2004 at 16:07:39 PT Crosby, Stills and Nash Support John Kerry Now all I need to see is Neil Young and I will be happy but he is a Canadian and he might just stay neutral. Crosby, Stills and Nash just signed on to the Vote for Change Tour.http://crosbystillsnash.com/content/TOURS/CSN2K4/news_images/KERRY-EDWARDS-CN.gifhttp://crosbystillsnash.com/http://www.crosbystillsnash.com/indexUPCOMING.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #54 posted by cloud7 on August 22, 2004 at 06:48:41 PT FoM Slow Boat Veterans for Lies http://www.lewrockwell.com/roberts/roberts64.html"One thing is certain: Kerry was there on that boat in Viet Nam. Where was George W. Bush?"Thought you might be interested in this. [ Post Comment ] Comment #53 posted by FoM on August 21, 2004 at 22:35:44 PT Since This is an Article About John Kerry I thought I'd add this link. The new swift boat ad I believe will mentioned how Kerry said that some deeds were done that were bad by some veterans and some veterans are upset but it unfortunately was true. Bad things happened in VietNam sometimes.http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/vietnam/trenches/mylai.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #52 posted by FoM on August 21, 2004 at 21:04:43 PT One More Thing The swift boat veterans said they weren't being fired on. They said they were firing. Now how in the world in a situation like that does anyone know who is firing? The bullets don't have american or viet cong flags on them! It shows me how desperate it has become. [ Post Comment ] Comment #51 posted by FoM on August 21, 2004 at 20:54:23 PT ekim Thank you. I don't have any questions about his Vietnam service. He saved one mans life and I can't say I've ever saved anyones life. The rest of what is said by the swift boat veterans means nothing to me. People won't remember every detail when in a war. Just trying to survive is hard enough to do. [ Post Comment ] Comment #50 posted by ekim on August 21, 2004 at 20:46:24 PT Ohio factory worker Sailor Who Served With Kerry: 'He Deserved the Medal' By BILL SLOAT Cleveland Plain Dealer Aug 21, 2004, 11:38An Ohio factory worker who was with John Kerry on a dangerous night mission 36 years ago in Vietnam said he has no doubt Kerry was grazed in a firefight and deserves his first Purple Heart for a combat injury."We were on about a 14-foot boat with an outboard motor. We started out, taking a guess, around 10 p.m. We were sup posed to sneak up and check sampans," said Pat Runyon, a 58-year-old grandfather from Eaton, a small southwestern Ohio town near the Indiana border.Runyon, an enlisted man who served on Swift boats in Vietnam, was not a regular member of Kerry's crew.He said in an interview Sunday he somehow was chosen - "Let me tell you, I didn't volunteer" - to go out on the Dec. 2, 1968, mission, called a "skim op" in Navy slang.The small, flat-bottomed boat - Runyon called it a "skimmer" - carried three men - Kerry in command, Bill Zaledonis on a machine gun and Runyon operating the outboard motor.Once in place on the river, the three U.S. sailors paddled and drifted. Covered by the darkness, they hid to stop sampans, small vessels common in Southeast Asia. Guerillas used the sampans to smuggle weapons in the Mekong River Delta.Runyon said Kerry was wounded after one vessel tried to avoid an inspection."Lt. Kerry said, 'I'm going to pop a flare, and when I do, I want that engine started,' " Runyon said. But the outboard would not crank. Meanwhile, the sampan's crew steered it to the riverbank, and people started running on the shore. Runyon said shooting broke out.Somehow, Kerry's weapon stopped firing. Runyon thinks he ran out of ammunition. He said Kerry bent down to pick up another gun and got hit in the arm."It wasn't a serious wound," Runyon said, and Kerry was able to start shooting again. When the firefight was over, Runyon said Kerry told him all he felt was a "burning sensation."Runyon said he remembers the incident clearly because it was the first time he had been in combat. "I hadn't seen any kind of action or anything," he said.He said Kerry, Zaledonis and himself were the only men aboard. When he got the motor started, they took off. He said the outboard was in bad condition and did not have a handle to steer with. "I had to wrap my arms around it, like hugging it, to turn it," he recalled.Runyon now works the second shift at a plant that makes auto parts in Eaton. He works in the shipping department.He is supporting Democratic nominee Kerry for president, but said he is not a Democrat and has never been active in politics. He said he and Kerry met for the first time since that night in 1968 at a rally in Dayton this year.Runyon said he introduced himself to the Massachusetts senator and Kerry did not remember him. "When I talked to him about that night, he remembered the incident but not my name. He just eased up once he knew I was who I said I was."Runyon was at a Democratic picnic Sunday in Trotwood, a Dayton suburb, where he told the small gathering of party activists that an anti-Kerry veterans group was smearing the senator with false charges. "It's very poor to try and discredit him after [36] years," Runyon said. "That's very poor."Runyon said that firefight with Kerry is his brush with fame."I saw a nice, quiet guy who knew he was in command and didn't flaunt it. He could make a decision, and he made the right one because we got out of there alive. That's all I can tell you." http://www.mmdetroit.org [ Post Comment ] Comment #49 posted by FoM on August 21, 2004 at 20:28:31 PT A Comment About The Article Did anyone notice how this article was published in the Boston Globe even though the Hemp Fest is in Washington State? Senator Kerry is from Massachusetts and would read the Boston Globe I'm sure. I wonder if it was planned that way. If it was it was a good call. [ Post Comment ] Comment #48 posted by ekim on August 21, 2004 at 20:10:35 PT 11th ANNUAL HIA CONVENTION 11th ANNUAL HIA CONVENTION WE MEAN BUSINESS!San Francisco, CA Wed. November 3rd - Fri. November 5th, 2004SCHEDULEWed. November 3rd - Hemp entrepreneurs and researchers will gather in San Francisco at the Holiday Inn Civic Center for Registration/Reception and an Awards Dinner at a local restaurant. Thur. November 4th - The HIA Annual General Meeting will be held all day featuring Hemp Product Displays, Expert Speakers, and a Silent Auction. Fri. November 5th - Reserved for networking, committee meetings, and set up for the Green Festival, a must see event!Immediately following the HIA Convention will be the Green Festival, where the HIA, VoteHemp and many hemp companies will be exhibiting. Saturday and Sunday, November 6th & 7th Produced by Coop America and Global Exchange. Mark your calendar! Book your flights and rooms! Holiday Inn Civic Center 50 8th St. (and Market) San Francisco, CA 94103 Room Reservations: 800-243-1135 Be sure to tell them you are with the "Hemp Industries Association." Special rate for HIA attendees: $89 per night. Single or double. (Add. $20 for triple or quad. Rollaway beds available for add. $20)The HIA Reception Suite is on the 4th floor where there is a wrap-around roof patio (and pool). You can request a room on this floor for easy networking access. You can get a non-smoking, or smoking room and have outdoor access. Every room has a small balcony on all other floors, too.HIA Discounted Parking - $15 per day, with in and out privileges.More details on Registration, Agenda, Speakers, Silent Auction, Display Space, Donations, Sponsors, etc. to be announced. If you would like to assist or have suggestions, please let us know.HIA Convention Chairman: Steve Levine Steve santabarbarahemp.com & 805-969-4300 http://www.thehia.org [ Post Comment ] Comment #47 posted by ekim on August 21, 2004 at 19:49:50 PT get farmers and University students 2 buyhempgoods gee Paul use to bee 37 to 38 bucks a barrow was thought of as trigger for Alternative energy being able to compete. what has changed, if anything the magic number is going lower as tech is increasing. every thing we consume is affected at 50 dollars a barrow. please try to get a hold of the Professors that are screaming at the top of there lungs=== we are all farmers on this spinning ball. http://www.leap.cc/events/events.php Aug 23 04 Windward Rotary (Atlanta) 12:00 PM Howard Wooldridge Atlanta Georgia USA Sailing into town is Board Member Howard Wooldridge as he meets with members of the Windward Rotary of Atlanta to discuss viable alternatives to the failed war on drugs. Aug 24 04 Tallahassee Kiwanis 12:00 PM Howard Wooldridge Tallahassee Florida USA The Tallahassee Kiwanis welcomes Board Member Howard Wooldridge for lunch and discussion of alternatives to the failed war on drugs. Aug 24 04 Tallahassee Sunset Rotary 06:30 PM Howard Wooldridge Tallahassee Florida USA The sun will not set until Board Member Howard Wooldridge meets with the Tallahassee Sunset Rotary to discuss the failed war on drugs and viable alternatives. Aug 24 04 Women’s Organization for National Prohibition Reform 07:00 PM Jim Doherty Seattle Washington USA The Women’s Organization for National Prohibition Reform welcomes Speaker Jim Doherty for discussion of the failures of drug prohibition. Aug 25 04 University of Central Florida NORML Chapter: Smoke the Vote 10:00 AM Howard Wooldridge Orlando Florida USA Board Member Howard Wooldridge returns to school to particpate in the University of Central Florida's NORML Chapter's Smoke the Vote event. Location: Outside of Student Union at UCF. Aug 28 04 Miner's Memorial Fair 10:00 AM Michelle Holton Frederick Colorado USA Putting on her hard hat and digging for the truth, Speaker Michelle Holton vistis the Miner's Memorial Fiar to discuss issues related to America's failed war on drugs. http://www.thehia.org [ Post Comment ] Comment #46 posted by Hope on August 21, 2004 at 17:55:29 PT paulpeterson Store food and supplies. Keep your home. Declare bankruptcy.It sucks...to say the least...but allot of people have had to go through it. I personally haven't, but I've known of a few people who have. I even had a son-in-law that said you couldn't get rich unless you had declared bankruptcy at least six times.It sounds like you might be worth investing in as a business venture. I would think. I'm not into that at this point in my life. I'm still surviving.I personally feel I personally can't save your situation for you. I feel so bad for you...yet most of us here are not wealthy. I'm certainly not. My efforts at philanthropy or investments are small, few, and far between at this particular point in my life.Hang in there. Choose wisely. [ Post Comment ] Comment #45 posted by Hope on August 21, 2004 at 17:41:51 PT GCW *smile* [ Post Comment ] Comment #44 posted by The GCW on August 21, 2004 at 16:08:30 PT Wow, 4+20 & unbelievable spiritual Deja Vu. Some of what the Spirit of Truth observes at every blink of the eye.When I posted the vote for Crosby & Nash stuff last night, I had no idea of this revelation that has been right in front of Us all.(has anyone else noticed this???)One of the songs on Deja Vu is 4+20.It's 1970 AND it's 420 –before 420.(May the circle be completed.) [ Post Comment ] Comment #43 posted by paulpeterson on August 21, 2004 at 06:00:39 PT ekim Thanks for noticing. Yes, I sell hemp products, the hemp seeds sell quite well. No, I haven't had contact with those two universities or the farmer groups. You see, I have a very specialized presentation, for medicinal rights and for harm reduction.I work totally alone. Some local opponents to the drug war have even railed against me for my "reciprocity" agreement whereby I seek to have villages band together which might seem "exclusionary" and encourage discrimination, etc. However, the apparent trust that I can engender from my rather nuanced approach somehow allows police to trust me more than if I just rant about all rights, including recreationa (and please, my area is so far from RURAL that the people here don't care about farmers at all). My own cause is specifically bouyed by my belief in sacramental rights and more so by my religious mandate to heal the sick.Of course, in 2001 I direcly lobbied the Republican governor (now indicted for fraud, etc., thank you) to support the last hemp bill. The really weird thing is that now we have this demo gov. that wouldn't respond at all to my attempts at contact.Remember that Illinois has a world class MM law, but in 1982 they promulgated "regulations" that made DEA approval a condition for state approval. I will try to get the gov. to support new regulations without this cow-tow to the feds provision. Then when the Supremes finally let our states go (1/05) perhaps Illinois will be ready to start a program-without any legislation needed!Of course, working alone has its drawbacks, like when, as now, I am seriously short on operating funds, I have no-one that will help to fund the rent, etc., so I am about a month away from losing the store, unless business improves substantially. Anyone out there that wants to put a plug in for me with those major, well-funded advocacy groups, for some emergency help would be welcomed (I will also accept donations from individuals, of course 847-853-4200).It's like I have this bridge pinned down, with enemy troops surrounding me, and I have just a few shells left, and I've gotta keep control of this bridge until reinforcements arrive, or else they'll blow it up and we may never get it rebuilt! If anybody wants to help buy a few more shells so I can at least keep those guys from advancing onto the bridge to plant their explosives, let me know. If I do start getting more villages to adopt our "decriminalization", I think the governor might start to get curious. Who knows, maybe I could get some "press" in this blackout burg. When I get the whole "north shore" I will lobby the gov. for some sort of "enterprise zone" for an experimental MM program to test the waters for a statewide program.I know it's a long-shot, but of course, three years ago I would not have believed that the "parking ticket" idea I proposed to my own chief of police would actually become reality, and followed by four other, well-healed suburbs. I wouldn't have believed that after Wilmette started their ticket at $100 (for 10 grams or less), a year or so later they would actually drop the ticket price to $50 to keep consistent with the other villages that undercut them (some as low as $40!).I just hope and pray that I am allowed, somehow, to remain in business long enough to have some prospect at long-term survival in this endeavor. Please, are there any North Shore potential customers out there? I'm open for business and I make good smoothies, eh? END OF TRANSMISSION, PAUL [ Post Comment ] Comment #42 posted by The GCW on August 21, 2004 at 03:23:18 PT CROSBY AND NASH 4(20) President. http://www.crosbynash2004.com/blog/index.php?p=6#more-6DAVID CROSBY AND GRAHAM NASH ANNOUNCE THEIR CANDIDACY FOR JOINT PRESIDENCY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Shelburne, VT, July 21, 2004: David Crosby and Graham Nash have thrown their respective hats into the ring for the Presidency of the United States, entering an already crowded and diverse field with their bid on the Party Party ticket. What distinguishes the Crosby/Nash candidacy is that theirs is a campaign for a “Joint Presidency,” where the two will share responsibilities on an alternate day basis. When asked who would be named their Vice President, Graham Nash replied there was no need for one—“We’ll have two presidents, and between us we have vice covered.”Crosby and Nash caught members of the media off guard at a press event earlier this month that was expected to be an official announcement of the release of their first album together as a duo in almost three decades. Instead, the spotlight turned to their run for Joint Presidency 2004. Among other things, the co-candidates discussed the imminent launch of their barn-storming tour across America in the official Crosby-Nash campaign airstream trailer, and their national television advertising campaign scheduled to begin airing July 26.Recently, David Crosby told an assembled crowd that, if elected, one of their first acts would be the cleaning out of Area 51 to address the illegal alien issue.” Other campaign promises include free money, and a night in the Lincoln Bedroom to anyone who antes up $200,000. The renamed “Social Insecurity” and “Medicareless” agencies will be overhauled, and the candidates are researching fixing the electronic voting machine situation. “Remember,” they say, “it’s not the people who vote that change things, it’s the people that count the votes that change things.”Though new as co-Presidential contenders, Rock and Roll Hall of Famers David Crosby and Graham Nash are a longtime team whose official collaboration began with 1969’s self-titled Crosby, Stills & Nash album debut. Since that landmark work, they have continued to record and tour in various configurations together—in tandem, and with CSN and CSNY—in addition to their solo projects. Crosby and Nash are taking time out of a packed summer schedule to pursue their Joint Presidency, but they feel their country needs them. Currently, they’re touring coast-to-coast with Crosby, Stills & Nash (through September 22), and no doubt the Party Party platform will be integrated into their on-the-road message. And, on August 10, Sanctuary Records will release their fourth studio album as a duo—and their first-ever double album together–Crosby-Nash, recorded in L.A. in early 2004. All things considered, the move to the political forefront makes perfect sense. When asked how rock ‘n’ roll and campaigning measured up against each other, Crosby commented, “Well, ‘I rock’ is much better than Iraq.” That notwithstanding, citing their opponents as bush-league, both David Crosby and Graham Nash personally and heartily approved their Party Party Joint Candidacy, and the race is on!http://www.crosbynash2004.com/blog/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #41 posted by FoM on August 20, 2004 at 22:16:26 PT This Was Interesting Since He is a Buddhist Buddhists (Tibet, China and India) Since the 5th century BC, Cannabis has formed an integral part within many ceremonies and is considered by many to be a most holy plant. Within many Buddhist scriptures are claims that the Buddha himself used and ate nothing other than Cannabis and it's seeds for six years before discovering his truths and becoming the Buddha.http://www.theflow.nl/canacook.htm [ Post Comment ] Comment #40 posted by FoM on August 20, 2004 at 22:09:38 PT John Tyler I just searched the Washington Post and only found that John and Teresa Heinz's oldest son is a Buddhist and a Blacksmith. He is involved in a school for troubled children in Pennsylvania. http://www.tinicumartandscience.org/ That was interesting. I might not have all the details right. He has a web site but it isn't working but here's the link.http://www.herugrim.com/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A3738-2004Aug15.htmlHere's an article that might help.The Heinz-Kerry Pot Connection : http://www.aim.org/media_monitor/1822_0_2_0_C/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #39 posted by john wayne on August 20, 2004 at 21:59:17 PT Kerry WILL increase the drug war And WILL continue persecution of medical cannabis patients.Make no mistake.Fools believe otherwise. [ Post Comment ] Comment #38 posted by John Tyler on August 20, 2004 at 21:39:11 PT Heinz Foundation I saw a brief article in the Washington Post, I think it was, that Republican researchers had found that The Heinz Foundation (John Kerry's wife's organization) had made contributions to some pro cannabis organizations. There were no details and to when or how much. [ Post Comment ] Comment #37 posted by ekim on August 20, 2004 at 20:10:00 PT fiber board to rebuild FL. Paul you are doing great man. Have you had any contact with the two Universities that pushed for the hemp bills, or the Farmer groups. Are you selling Hemp products. Good luck with the Leap event. http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread11342.shtmlhttp://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread11616.shtmlhttp://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread8929.shtmlhttp://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread8817.shtmlHemp Bill Awaiting Ill. Governor's Approval http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread8371.shtmlRyan Has Doubts About Bill For Economic Hemp Study http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread8292.shtmlIll. Bill Would Study Hemp as Alternative Crop http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread8266.shtml http://www.leap.cc [ Post Comment ] Comment #36 posted by FoM on August 20, 2004 at 18:05:42 PT This Sounds Good and Thought I'd Share It Here New Release! The ultimate Seattle Hempfest "movement DVD"!: http://www.hempfest.org/noprisonforpot.php [ Post Comment ] Comment #35 posted by FoM on August 20, 2004 at 18:00:25 PT Seattle Hempfest Information Hempfest and a Whole Lot More is in The AirFriday, August 20, 2004Looking down the barrel of what this weekend has to offer, we must say, we're impressed. There's not an obvious blockbuster, but the confluence of kitsch, hip-hop, alterna-culture and mainstream classic rock is a tasty one.One of the best events of the summer has been called off -- that's right, the Curiosa Tour, with the killer lineup of the Cure, Interpol, Rapture and Mogwai (among others), won't be happening at The Gorge. Instead, the Cure will be playing at the Everett Events Center on Aug. 31 and Mogwai will be at Neumo's tomorrow night.If you were going to spend the weekend moping (as you probably would have had you gone to see the Cure ... isn't that the whole point?), you can just cut that out. Pick yourself up by the bootstraps and go check out one of many, many disparate and entertaining events in town. Toss them all together and who needs Lollapalooza?The biggest event this weekend is Hempfest -- http://www.hempfest.org/ Get in touch with the earthy activist within and join thousands tomorrow and Sunday for music, speakers (on the topic of -- what else? -- hemp) and the usual festival vendor atmosphere of the shindig on the Elliott Bay waterfront. This thing can be as festive or as serious as you want it to be. Seriously. You can spend hours trapped in a corner discussing the pros and cons of decriminalizing marijuana for recreational or medicinal purposes. Or you can buy a jester's hat and dance like a freak to Sir-Mix-A-Lot, who winds things up Sunday at 7 p.m. on the Main Stage. He's among the entertainers performing on four stages in Myrtle Edwards Park. Organizers say it's one of the largest marijuana reform rallies in the country -- if the weather holds up, they're expecting about 150,000 people.WHERE: Myrtle Edwards ParkWHEN: Tomorrow and Sunday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/lifestyle/187053_weekend20.html?searchpagefrom=1&searchdiff=0 [ Post Comment ] Comment #34 posted by dididadadidit on August 20, 2004 at 16:43:31 PT Remember Rohrbacher/Hinchey Remember Rohrbacher/H Remember Rohrbacher/Hinchey Remember Rohrbacher/Hinchey Remember Rohrbacher/Hinchey Remember Rohrbacher/Hinchey The Republicans and Democrats for decades have danced around the drug issue looking to outstupid each other as their only approach to the issue. They have been altogether to successful: Nixon ignoring his own commission and launching the WOD; Reagan, "just say no" backed up by mandatory minimums if ya didn't; Bush I, more and more pot arrests while looking the other way on arms for drugs for Contras; Clinton, more pot arrests than Reagun/Bush I combined, signed legislation blocking college loans to the marijuana tainted, threatening California doctors with loss of prescriptions writing license in they even discussed medical with their patients; Bush II, worst of the lot, continuing escalation on arrests, forced treatment for marijuana (how 'bout coffee, for God's sake?), crackdown on med patients, docs and providers, show trials where med can't even be mentioned by the defense as a mitigating circumstance, ignoring court orders and continuing attacks on med operations legal by their state laws.OK. So they have both been very very bad.Something changed over the past 2 years. Rohrbacher/Hinchey. Two years running the house Democrats have voted two to one in favor of an amendement (Rohrbacher/Hinchey) to a funding bill for the DOJ, including the DEA, that would have denied funds to the DEA jackbooted thugs to mess with medical marijuana patients, their doctors and providers in those states that have so allowed by state law. The Rethugnicans, on the other hand, in spite of their claim to "compassionate" conservatism, have managed only single digit percentage support, being over nine to one against compassion for medical marijuana.Rohrbacher/Hinchey is a sea change shift in the old policy of, "Let's see what we can do to outstupid the opposition on drugs this election cycle." by the Democrats. They are (thank god somebody finally is) reading the polls and starting to align with the consistent 70 to 80% support shown for medical. The Rethugs don't get it and are running the "outstupid" proposition as usual.Well, make 'em pay for it. Get 20 million dopers registered and vote this whole damn Repugnican cabal out of office, pesnit, house and senate. This kind of support for the Democrats will see their lead on medical rewarded and be followed by more progress out of them. Get 20 million dopers to send a check to the DNC for $4.20. Another 84 million dollars of campaign money will help buy the votes (respect) we need.Multi decade libertarian going Democrat for the first time ever.The Democrats are changing towards our issues.Rohrbacher/Hinchey Rohrbacher/Hinchey Rohrbacher/HincheyCheers? [ Post Comment ] Comment #33 posted by FoM on August 20, 2004 at 16:09:38 PT Press Release from The Drug Policy Alliance Prominent Republicans Offer the RIGHT Response to the War on Drugs: Full Page Ad to run in NY Sun During Convention FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEAUGUST 20, 2004 CONTACT: Drug Policy AllianceTony Newman (212) 613-8026 WASHINGTON - August 20 - Prominent Republicans are featured in a full-page ad under the headline “the Right response to the War on Drugs”. The ad will run in the New York Sun each day of the Republican National Convention, August 30th – September 2nd. “Most Republicans simply don’t know that many of their most prominent leaders think the drug war is a disaster,” said Ethan Nadelmann, Executive Director of the Drug Policy Alliance. “This ad seemed a good way to let them know, and to plant the seeds for a more vigorous Republican drug policy debate in years to come.”The publishers of the New York Sun plan a special distribution to make the paper available to every RNC delegate in town as well as thousands of others attending the convention.Statements from Milton Friedman, William Buckley Jr., Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Grover Norquist, Gary Johnson and George Shultz are featured in the Drug Policy Alliance ad. Text from the ad includes:"Eighty-five million Americans have experimented with illegal drugs. Since the object of criminal law is to detect and punish the wrongdoer, should we reason that 85 million of us should have spent time in jail?" - William F. Buckley Jr., Syndicated Column, 8/10/96 "...I wouldn't be surprised if in 10 years or so you saw the conservative coalition come out for an end to drug prohibition." - Grover Norquist, Poz website, 6/01 "Can any policy, however high-minded, be moral if it leads to widespread corruption, imprisons so many, has so racist an effect, destroys our inner cities, wreaks havoc on misguided and vulnerable individuals and brings death and destruction to foreign countries?" - Milton Friedman, New York Times 1/11/98 "...if your doctor prescribes marijuana, then I think that people should smoke it if they need it for medical care." - Arnold Schwarzenegger, MSNBC Hardball, 8/28/03 "...We need at least to consider and examine forms of controlled legalization of drugs." - George P. Shultz, Wall Street Journal, 10/27/89 · "Take it from a businessman: The War on Drugs is just money down the drain." - Gary E. Johnson, Intervention Magazine interview, 2004 The Drug Policy Alliance welcomes the delegates to New York City, and hopes this ad will inspire dialogue and action within the Republican party.For more information on what these distinguished Republicans have to say about the failed war on drugs, as well as the recent cover story in National Review by our Executive Director, Ethan Nadelmann, visit: http://www.drugpolicy.org/gopView the Drug Policy Alliance Ad at http://www.drugpolicy.org/docUploads/Right_Response_Ad6.pdf http://www.commondreams.org/news2004/0820-01.htm [ Post Comment ] Comment #32 posted by VitaminT on August 20, 2004 at 15:40:30 PT The GCW here's Kerry's stated position on the second ammendment:Protect Gun Rights And Stop Gun Violence. John Kerry is a gun owner and hunter, and both he and John Edwards support the Second Amendment right of law-abiding American adults to own guns. But like all of our rights, gun rights come with responsibilities, and those rights allow for reasonable measures to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and terrorists. John Kerry's mainstream agenda means enforcing the gun laws on the books, closing the gun show loophole, and extending the assault weapons ban. These are all measures that George Bush endorsed but has failed to accomplish.You may wish to pass it along to your friend.Sorry for the O.T. postFree the Herb! [ Post Comment ] Comment #31 posted by paulpeterson on August 20, 2004 at 15:12:14 PT LEAP.cc I am reporting in from the State of Illinois. I now know of 5 villages that have adopted decriminalization (they issue actual PARKING TICKETS here for $40-$50 now!) in the North Shore of Chicago. I have purchased a small store here, Vitality Natural Foods & Yoga (1100 Central Ave./Wilmette, Il. 60091-phone 847-853-4200).I have begun a "shadow organization" called "NORTH SHORE HARM REDUCTION" and have set up an event with a LEAP.cc speaker (Attorney Jim Gierach) for 9/3/04. I have sent invitation letters to the other 16 villages in the North Shore to come and join our decriminalization "zone".Just yesterday I spoke with the lead narcotics prosecutor for Cook County and sent out a letter to him lauding his own "drug school diversion program" as a fine example of "Harm Reduction" in operation. I am planning to meet with him to write an article publicizing the good such a diversion does to reduce harm. I have asked him to do a program at my store for one of the upcoming "First Friday" meetings where we will highlight positive developments in the drug war.I have even started to discuss some sort of "Compassionate Diversion" program for confiscated marijuana-like for Alzheimer's and end-stage cancer pain treatment. Once I confirm that Skokie, Illinois, has or will join our reciprocity protocol, I can start to air a "Cannabis Radio Hour" (on cable TV local access, that is), ie: I want to be able to announce that I am broadcasting from Rebel Held Territory (RHT).The strong chinks that have been taken out of the feds' armour are sizeable. Doctors are now free to "certify", which just happens to be the magic word in Illinois' fine MM law dating from 1978 or so! The DEA is enjoined from rapping hemp now. The CSA is unconstitutional, thanks for the strong-willed 9th Circuit Court of Appeals (actually, that is the same unconstitutionality argument I made in Chicago Federal Court on 9/5/02, the same day and time as the WAMM bust out west!)Once the Supreme Court, god willing, affirms that "states rights" argument, Illinois will no longer be forced, as a state, to cow-tow to federal control of our fine MM law here! I will continue to publicize the Alzheimer's study findings locally and will continue to work to enlarge my local zone of rationality about drugs.If there are any local drug war warrior that wish to attend my event, please come and support my effort. I am woefully short on September rent, so I could use some help from you folks out there to keep my lonely outpost manned and operational. MPP refused to help me during my worst times at the hands of the Illinois Lawyer police. I need funds to keep running. Can you help somehow?At any rate, keep up the hope. More fires of advocacy keep starting all over the nation. Keep fanning those flames of hope (not real flames, of course, that wouldn't be fair, would it?).Over and out, still stoking those flames of freedom. PAUL PETERSON [ Post Comment ] Comment #30 posted by FoM on August 20, 2004 at 14:42:13 PT darwin I saw on the tv news that Soros gives Nader money too. I'm not sure if you knew that. [ Post Comment ] Comment #29 posted by darwin on August 20, 2004 at 14:27:47 PT Soros Yes they are, but not as a means to change prohibition. If that was the case, they'd back Nader. As I said, our issue is at the bottom of the heap. I may be one of those nose holding Kerry voters, but not because of a false hope of a change in prohibition. Every presidential election I have voted in, I voted third party. I don't feel I have that option now, and I hate it. The democrats take their liberal base for granted, and then guilt them back in this year to save us from "4 more years". Like it's our fault they slid to the right to accomodate corporate media. As a liberel who has voted third party for years, I am still waiting for the Democrats to come back and pick me up again. Sorry for the rambling... [ Post Comment ] Comment #28 posted by The GCW on August 20, 2004 at 14:16:41 PT Where does Bush stand? The very 1st page of the Bible says all the seed bearing plants are good.Bush disagrees.420I just got home and before I left where I was before... a friend etc. said He may not vote for Kerry because He was for making all guns illegal.No subautomatic shotguns etc.That is a problem if it is true.Got to go... [ Post Comment ] Comment #27 posted by darwin on August 20, 2004 at 14:16:17 PT Our issue As important an issue as prohibition is to us, We will probably have to make choices based on other issues this year. This just confirms to me that change on our issue is not going to come from the top down, but from the bottom up. [ Post Comment ] Comment #26 posted by FoM on August 20, 2004 at 14:13:33 PT darwin Isn't The Soros Foundation a Kerry backer? [ Post Comment ] Comment #25 posted by darwin on August 20, 2004 at 14:12:02 PT I blame the media Neither party will ever adopt a rational cannabis policy until the public demands truthful reporting from the media. After all, the same big money interests that lurk in the shadows of the two party duopoly, also control the major media outlets with their money. Either the public has to find a way to change the way the media works or we'll end up waiting for another great depression to drain the big money interests of their wealth, thereby removing there power. All politicians parrot what they think their voter base wants to hear, but when they get in office, its business as usual as they follow the will of their sponsers, not the constituents. When the media shows more accuratley what the public feels about pot, and more importantly, what the facts are, then the politians will fall in line.Unfortunatley, our issue will not see the light of day in this election. Kerry will probably win because Bush has made us hated around the world and has shunned the environment. But nothing much on our issue is going to change this cycle. At best, Kerry might call off the DEA dogs from the California crackdowns, if his $$$ backers let him. [ Post Comment ] Comment #24 posted by FoM on August 20, 2004 at 14:11:45 PT We Are Back To The Lesser of Two Evils Because we must think about our values and know what is important to each one of us we need to separate all the issues and make a decision that settles well with us as individuals. [ Post Comment ] Comment #23 posted by darwin on August 20, 2004 at 13:39:02 PT Bush Bush, an alleged coke user, called the DEA "Poor performers" and cut their budget. I don't think he cares about much other than business interests and power. I still see Kerry as the lesser of 2 evils due to environmental and social stances, but I worry about his past as a prosecuting attorney. The powerful lawyers lobbying behind him stand to lose a lot of business if they can't prosecute or defend peaceful cannabis smokers. Makes it a tough decision for progressives. [ Post Comment ] Comment #22 posted by Nick Thimmesch on August 20, 2004 at 13:35:03 PT: Doobya says.... George says(as the overwhelming majority of both Democrats and Republicans say): "Just say no". Even Congresspersons Barney Frank and Ron Paul do not advocate the total decriminalization of marijuana. I think Bush's "states' rights" comment was overblown: he does believe in the notion of federal rights over states' rights (witness the DEA's continuing FEDERAL effort in California) when it suits his purposes. And look at Obama (the recently sainted Democratic U.S. Senate candidate) in Illinois: he admits to using pot & coke as a youth/college student, but now, as a responsible politician, opposes decriminalization. There are no major politicians of EITHER party who have adequately addressed this issue, and as long as public sentiments & polling indicates that it is not an issue they should delve further into, they won't.This is and will continue to be a problem of the public's perception of what marijuana use is: they lump marijuana in with all other so-called illegal drugs (coke, heroin, meth, etc.) and cannot fathom the notion that marijuana is basically benign. Change the public's perception and you might just change the laws. [ Post Comment ] Comment #21 posted by FoM on August 20, 2004 at 13:17:48 PT Nicholas We have an idea where Kerry stands but please tell me where George Bush stands on marijuana now so we know. [ Post Comment ] Comment #20 posted by Nick Thimmesch on August 20, 2004 at 13:13:46 PT: Yes, yes... ...I'm aware of the RS interview (NORML's ace writer & analyst Paul Armentano used portions of the interview for NORML's analysis and other outlets).So Kerry says:We have never had a legitimate War on Drugs in the United States, ever, and we won't until we have treatment on demand for addiction and until you have full drug education in our schools. The mandatory-minimum-sentencing structure of our country is funneling people into jail who have no business being there.Thimmesch says:No nannystate: the vast majority of marijuana consumers need neither "treatment" nor "legalization". If people have a problem with their marijuana use, then by all means, they should be able to seek treatment through non-governmental means (i.e. forced treatment or government run/sponsored centers) as with any other substance abuse. And I don't want any government "legalization" of a substance that does not need legalization, targeted taxation (like cigarettes, alcohol), or manipulation of quality control. Marijuana should be available like herbal tea, coffee or any other benign substance that people can already purchase unhindered. We don't need government run/controlled "marijuana stores" with special or inflated taxation (which, if legalized, would be the case). We just need to be free to grow it, smoke it and be left alone.Kerry says: RS: Would you favor decriminalization?JK: No, not quite. What we did in the prosecutor's office was have a sort of unspoken approach to marijuana that was almost effectively decriminalization. We just didn't bother with small-time use. It doesn't rise to the level of nuisance, even. And what we were after was people dealing with heroin and destroying lives, and people who were killing people. That's where you need to focus.Thimmesch says:Kerry clearly states "no", even if he qualifies it with "not quite" (as he does so many things, including abortion). As for his approach as a prosector: we don't need our laws subject to judicial or prosecutorial fiat. Laws should be laws: just that. While I can understand jury nulification from time to time, laws should be meant to protect people & property, not reflect the whims of officers of the court. There is real danger in that thinking: what if Kerry had decided not to fully prosectute minor theft of property, and let petty theives go. What would that do for the victims of those crimes?No, Kerry has not demonstated that he is, like you, a Friend of Marijuana. He has demonsrtated that is a pragmatic politician, willing to adhere to the silly notion of treatment over prosecution, while keeping the anti-marijuana laws on the books just to have the power to control people. He will say one thing to Rollng Stone and another to a group of school kids.Okie Dokie? [ Post Comment ] Comment #19 posted by ekim on August 20, 2004 at 13:02:31 PT Alternative Energy is National Security Yes thank you again FoM, a very important subject as Intel is merging and fbi is going back to old tricks we must have respect for our freedom to change bad laws. http://www.leap.cc [ Post Comment ] Comment #18 posted by FoM on August 20, 2004 at 13:02:21 PT CNN: Inside Politics with Wolf Blitzer They just mentioned the Boston Globe article and showed a picture of the Hempfest and said that Kerry people will be there on site! Cool!!!! [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by FoM on August 20, 2004 at 12:41:04 PT Nicholas a Portion from The Link I Posted Here Norml is referring to a recent Rolling Stone interview with Kerry. Here's the full relevant passage, here….RS: You have talked in the past of smoking pot when you returned from Vietnam. What do you think of the way the pot laws are prosecuted today?JK: We have never had a legitimate War on Drugs in the United States, ever, and we won't until we have treatment on demand for addiction and until you have full drug education in our schools. The mandatory-minimum-sentencing structure of our country is funneling people into jail who have no business being there.RS: And every year, the number of people arrested for marijuana offenses goes up.JK: I've met plenty of people in my lifetime who've used marijuana and who I would not qualify as serious addicts -- who use about the same amount as some people drink beer or wine or have a cocktail. I don't get too excited by any of that.RS: Would you favor decriminalization?JK: No, not quite. What we did in the prosecutor's office was have a sort of unspoken approach to marijuana that was almost effectively decriminalization. We just didn't bother with small-time use. It doesn't rise to the level of nuisance, even. And what we were after was people dealing with heroin and destroying lives, and people who were killing people. That's where you need to focus.http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread18418.shtml [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by FoM on August 20, 2004 at 12:31:26 PT ekim Is this what you want to know? The thunder is still rolling but the sun is shining so I'm back on line.***John Kerry, the Man Who Uncovered Iran-ContraJuly 22, 2004The Democratic nominee has a long record of fearlessly exposing abuses of power -- including launching the investigation that unraveled the worst scandal since Watergate.http://www.salon.com/opinion/blumenthal/2004/07/22/kerry/index_np.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by FoM on August 20, 2004 at 12:06:41 PT Nicholas You're daugher Sophia is soon to be 2 years old. Time goes by so fast. I am having storms roll in or I would look for information. After the storm is over I will. ekim, I will look! Thank You! [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by ekim on August 20, 2004 at 12:01:16 PT does anyone remember FoM I seem to remember something about Mr. Kerry chairing hearings on drug trafficking and gov't involvement. Do you have any info on this subject. Thank you for all you are doing. http://www.leap.cc [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by Nick Thimmesch on August 20, 2004 at 11:56:20 PT: Thanks FoM... ...I've stayed away from posting polically oriented comments for some time now (don't want to piss people off nor be pissed off), but still send ya some stories from time-to-time, mostly politically related ones (which is about all I really know -- politics). I'm happy for you & anyone who feels good about a candidate for any office: we need to be pleased about political candidates and not just "hold our nose" and vote for, as I said, the lesser of two evils. I am serious in my offer to anyone out there who can provide exacting quotes, legislation, or genuine efforts made by Kerry on behalf of serious marijuana reform. Although Bush, as governor and president, has overseen the prosecution of marijuana laws as an executive, Kerry, as a former prosecutor, has actually prosecuted people for marijuana possession and trafficking. These days, my darling Sophia (aka, "The Boo") takes up most of my time -- she turns two on August 28th!!! Hope all is well! Best: THIMMESCH [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by FoM on August 20, 2004 at 11:45:53 PT Nicholas His one long time friend is Peter Yarrow! We are influenced by the friends we have I believe.http://www.peterpaulmary.net/people/f-py.htmhttp://www.freedomtoexhale.com/jkpuff.jpg [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by FoM on August 20, 2004 at 11:38:48 PT Oh Nicholas I really, really like Ron Reagan! He is one cool dude in my book. I hope you like that! [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by FoM on August 20, 2004 at 11:37:21 PT Hi Nicholas! It is great to see you. I maybe could find an article but I'll tell you what I feel. I like John Kerry. It isn't even because of our issue but I like the way he thinks. They call him a flip flopper and I laugh because I guess I'm a flip flopper type too because I look at issues in as many different ways as I can before I make up my mind. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by Nick Thimmesch on August 20, 2004 at 11:31:03 PT: Lesser of two evils? Keith Stroup, executive director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, said that, ''all of us recognize that there is no question that marijuana reform policies would be better served with someone else in office other than George Bush."...my only question is, "What makes anyone believe that John Kerry would be any better?"Keith is my friend and former boss (a great one at that!), so let me be clear: I am not disagreeing with what he is saying. My question -- above -- has more to do with what evidence can anyone offer that John Kerry has ever said, done, or even implied that leads one to believe he advocates serious reform (i.e. decriminalization and the removal of marijuana from its current Schedule One rating) of marijuana laws? I would welcome such information and do my best to bring it to the media's attention. Hope this message is understond and not maligned because I have been known as a conservative Republican in my previous life: I have no dog in this fight. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by Dankhank on August 20, 2004 at 10:57:47 PT: Act Up ... Act Up is an organization I agreed with when they were screaming at politicians trying to have a meeting.We need groups of people to attend every politician's meetings and to ask the questions.Groups can be big or small depending where in America ... I'm here to say that groups are pretty small in Oklahoma, but we try.Can't stop .. Truth [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by Max Flowers on August 20, 2004 at 10:46:25 PT How is it done schmeff? - I just have to hope that Kerry's wisdom can triumph over politics. Hope alone is not sufficient, however. We will have to hold his feet to the fire and demand that Kerry keep his promises to let science drive his policies. -I agree with this, but tell me, HOW do you hold a president's feet to the fire? How exactly can we really make a president pay attention and do something on a given issue, especially one that is loaded to the hilt with negative "drugz" stigma for a large part of the population? I've been thinking about this question for a year or so now, and after Bush's blatant campaign lie and subsequent backstab to the medical cannabis community, I am very wary about this.I would like to believe but at this point I am like a political rape victim so to speak... I feel like I've been had so many times and in so many ways for four years now that I don't trust any of them... [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by FoM on August 20, 2004 at 09:55:26 PT Dankhank Thank you. I try really hard to stay out of issues involving politics but this article made me feel I could speak at least a little. I like John Kerry. I like his wife Teresa. I like their children. I just want him as our next president. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Dankhank on August 20, 2004 at 09:44:32 PT: Whooo? FOM, some things can be left unsaid ...We here know from your own "fingers" who you will likely support.Medical Cannabis is an issue that crosses party lines, but I still haven't met one of those libertarian-republicans, yet.Noone in their right mind wants four more years of Bush. No apologies to anyone for that ... Vote ... [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by VitaminT on August 20, 2004 at 09:34:32 PT Well . . . . OK but I'd hate to see our movement too narrowed in it's political outlook - this would invite absurd labels that don't accurately reflect the true breadth of political opinion among our ranks.I'm sure many of us are Republicans and/or conservatives who will hold their noses and vote for Kerry - I respect that and they shouldn't have to wear the liberal tag just because they don't support the disasterous divisiveness and incompetence of the Bush/Ashcroft faction of the Republican Party.As a true square peg - I've found no comfortable round holes on the traditional Liberal - Conservative political continuum. IMO electing Kerry might advance our cause in the near term but ultimately we'll rely on our broad appeal that invites people along the continuum to join us off-grid types in a rational discussion of our common interests.for what it's worth [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on August 20, 2004 at 09:21:34 PT schmeff You're right that Bush said that he believed in state's rights and maybe a little more but I can't remember. John Kerry has gone further then that by signing on with Senator Edward Kennedy about having a research center in Mass. so it isn't a monopoly. I know we have people here who were for Dennis Kucinich and now Dennis has a chance of doing something for the Democratic Party and all of us if Kerry is elected. I've been so afraid to mention that I like John Kerry because it seems to upset people but I am for John Kerry. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by schmeff on August 20, 2004 at 09:10:39 PT Talk is Cheap And BEFORE being elected, Bush said all sorts of things that evaporated like the morning dew (doo?) once he was firmly ensconced on his throne. Remember, "I think the issue of medical marijuana is one best left to the individual states."?Even so, Kerry has made a pledge to honor science when making policy, and until he proves that he has as little integrity as Bush, I, for one, will give him the benefit of the doubtAll science-based examinations of the issue have been in favor of ending cannabis prohibition. The Scheaffer Commission, The DeLain Commission, the Canadian Senate report, the Institute of Medicine report...Stripped of politics, ideology and dogma, there is no science to prop up the failure and TREASON that is CP. Virgil knows it, you know it, and I know it. I think Kerry knows it too. Kerry is a smart man; exponentially smarter than Dumbya. As the old saying goes - if brains were dynamite, Bush couldn't blow his nose.I just have to hope that Kerry's wisdom can triumph over politics. Hope alone is not sufficient, however. We will have to hold his feet to the fire and demand that Kerry keep his promises to let science drive his policies. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on August 20, 2004 at 08:28:35 PT This Makes Me Hopeful John Kerry will have to pay attention to us now I believe! [ Post Comment ] Post Comment