cannabisnews.com: With Montana Vote, Most of West Covered by MMJ With Montana Vote, Most of West Covered by MMJ Posted by CN Staff on November 03, 2004 at 19:10:41 PT By Angie Wagner, Associated Press Source: Associated Press When Montana voters approved a medical marijuana initiative Tuesday, they followed what has become a Western trend. Nearly three-fourths of Western states now have such laws, while only two of the remaining 37 states have adopted them. Why the West? Part of it is procedural, but activists and political scientists also say the West is just different. Westerners are less willing than other Americans to tell their neighbors what they can and can't do. And historically, Western states tend to be in front on social trends. Marijuana reform groups say that, from a procedural standpoint, it's just easier to get pot issues on Western ballots because most states in the region allow initiatives. Across the country, just 24 states allow citizens to put issues on the ballot by petition, bypassing the Legislature. Eleven of those 24 states are in the West. In the other 26 states, the Legislature must take the lead. Westerners are also a libertarian bunch. Many subscribe to the old live-and-let-live adage and despite their party affiliation, they don't want government telling them what to do. "I would guess many of the people that voted for it probably don't use marijuana, but they don't want to say their neighbors can't," said Steven Stehr, political science professor at Washington State University. "Westerners have a stronger belief in kind of individualism in the old-fashioned frontier sense," said Sven Steinmo, a University of Colorado political scientist and board member for the Center of the American West. The population also is newer than the rest of the country and states don't have deeply ingrained traditions, said David Olson, political scientist at the University of Washington. "Our politics in the West are much less constrained ... and it gives opportunities for initiatives like the death with dignity issue in Oregon or medicinal marijuana. You name it," Olson said. Montana now has become the 11th state in the country – and the ninth Western state – to allow medical marijuana. The approval came even as Montana voted by wide margins to ban gay marriage and to re-elect President Bush. "We always say in Montana we're extraordinarily independent, so we'll vote for contradictory things," said Jerry Calvert, political science professor at Montana State University in Bozeman. The Montana initiative passed 62 percent to 38 percent, support that marijuana reform groups say was the highest ever for a medical marijuana ballot initiative. Oregon voters rejected a measure that would have dramatically expanded its existing medical marijuana program. That may have been too ambitious even for the West, said Bruce Mirken, spokesman for the Marijuana Policy Project. Alaska, which also has an existing medical marijuana law, rejected a measure to decriminalize the drug, though marijuana groups were impressed that 43 percent of voters there supported it. Outside the region, voters in Ann Arbor, Mich., and Columbia, Mo., approved local medical marijuana measures. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco has ruled that states are free to adopt medical marijuana laws so long as the marijuana is not sold, transported across state lines or used for nonmedicinal purposes. The ruling covers only those Western states in the circuit. The Bush administration has appealed the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court. Besides the favorable initiative process in the West, the region is also usually the start of progressive political movements that work their way East, said Keith Stroup, executive director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. In addition to Montana, Western states that allow medical marijuana are Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon and Washington state. Arizona has a law permitting marijuana prescriptions, but no active program. Maine and Vermont are the only states outside the West with existing medical marijuana laws. "We have long enjoyed stronger support on the left coast than in the rest of the country," Stroup said. Charissa Fiddler, a 25-year-old night manager of the Uptown Cafe in Butte, Mont., doesn't see what the big deal is over medical marijuana. "I think marijuana should be legal," said Fiddler, a Democrat who voted for the initiative. "I don't think it's as harmful as everyone says it is. Not that I smoke marijuana." For now, medical marijuana has not only found acceptance in the West, but the region may set the tone for proposals across the country. "As medical marijuana becomes more regulated and institutionalized in the West, that may provide a model for how we ultimately make marijuana legal for all adults," said Ethan Nadelmann, executive director for the Drug Policy Alliance. Angie Wagner is the AP's Western regional writer, based in Las Vegas. Complete Title: With Montana Vote, Most of West Covered by Medical Marijuana Laws On the Net: http://www.mpp.org/ http://www.norml.org/ http://www.drugpolicy.org/ Source: Associated Press (Wire)Author: Angie Wagner, Associated PressPublished: November 3, 2004Copyright: 2004 The Associated Press CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #26 posted by mayan on November 05, 2004 at 04:12:06 PT Be Prepared! The Euro is backed by gold. The dollar is not. When the Euro goes up, the dollar goes down. We have achieved "peak oil" and the price of everything will be going up, especially, as kap'n said...if the fed begins raising interest rates. The bottom may soon drop out and the government may just blame it on another staged terror attack. They have to blame it on something other than their own incompetence and greed just to maintain power. They could make 9/11 look like bumper cars.We could very well see martial law very soon now that Goss is in at the CIA and the shrub is in for another four years. All of the pieces are in place. The Constitution is on it's last leg. Be prepared. [ Post Comment ] Comment #24 posted by FoM on November 04, 2004 at 18:59:16 PT kapt Thank you for that idea too. We aren't getting ready to run out and get one but if things start looking bad in the world it could be a smart thing to have. We don't need anything but wood to heat the house and we have plenty so a generator would just be needed to get water out of the well. I hope it doesn't come to that but it does pay to think about the possibility. [ Post Comment ] Comment #23 posted by kaptinemo on November 04, 2004 at 18:49:15 PT: FoM, you might want to get a diesel generator Because, in a pinch, you can run it off of very well filtered vegetable oil. (As you can any diesel engine, but it's certainly not recommended. The glow plugs will get gunked up, but that happens anyway.) [ Post Comment ] Comment #22 posted by FoM on November 04, 2004 at 17:30:09 PT kaptinemo Thank you I'll keep my eye on it. I have always believe that the best thing a person can put their money in is a home. The stock market is way out of my league. I watch it go up and down and see how it effects real estate. I know land with good water and timber is good to have. I look so narrowly at money issues but I'm a country person. We have really been talking about the need to get a generator. Now more then ever. [ Post Comment ] Comment #21 posted by kaptinemo on November 04, 2004 at 17:04:34 PT: Four words: oil and precious metals Watch these. Any sharp spike means that those who have prepared for bad times will liquidate their assets and convert them to precious metals like gold and platinum.Meaning, those who have inside information on the true state of the economy...because they RUN the economy. The ones the RR's are once again being used by.Think of it this way: as the price of oil rises, so does gold...while the value of the dollar falls. Any sharp increase of gold purchases will result in an upswing of the price. This means the dollar may slide into Weimar Republic Germany inflation, with wheelbarrows needed to carry printed money gone worthless.The international financial markets know the situation in the US is resting just this side of calamity, thanks to the deficit. They won't loan any more money to the US government via the Federal Reserve. Pretty soon, the Fed will have to raise interest rates...and that means inflation. And that means dollars won't buy as much as they used to. Which means foreigners holding dollars will try to get rid of them for something that has more value...like Euros. Currency trading happens all the time; it's how George Soros made a billion off of betting the British Pound would slide down in value.Sorry, didn't mean to get long winded. Just watch for gold. If the price goes up real fast and doesn't come back down, we're in big trouble. And it might be a good idea to lay in some canned goods; you might need them. [ Post Comment ] Comment #20 posted by FoM on November 04, 2004 at 16:49:35 PT kaptinemo Why should we care about the stock market? The stock market is just a big pyramid scheme in my mind. The ones at the top make money while they encourage others to invest and when it goes down the people at the bottom are the ones who lose. That's the only way I've ever thought of the stock market. [ Post Comment ] Comment #19 posted by kaptinemo on November 04, 2004 at 16:41:30 PT: "Let the brave soldiers depart." That phrase used to mean that the sooner the soldiers in any war who would become disillusioned and bitter at having been used, were disarmed and dismissed, the better. The better for their betrayers and abusers, that is.The Religious Right in this country formed a marriage of convenience with the money men of the Rockefeller Wing of the Republicans, in hopes of getting some of theirs into positions of power to work their wrath on their perceived enemies on the Left. Think of this friends: could you have conceived of anything so outlandish sounding as a "Department of Homeland Security"? 5 years ago? Just too extraordinary an idea, more suitable for science fiction and bad B-grade "Post-Apocalypse" movies.Extraordinary times require extraordinary tools, and thst's just what Ashcroft was, in every sense. The real powers behind the throne have used ol' Crisco Johnny to ram through legislation that would have gotten him hung as a Royalist usurper in Washington, Jefferson and Adams's days. When his and his minion's usefulness was over, it was 'let the brave soldiers...' time again. Many people in progressive messageboards are gnashing their teeth in fear of what the Religious Right might do next. I'd be more concerned with events on the stock market right now than I would some fulminating (and in some cases, philandering) preacher is up to. The RR's are once again being shown the door, despite their tremendous efforts in working against their best interests by helping to elect those who privately, sniggeringly laugh at them when out of earshot for being such jejune political rubes, suckered year after year into being shock-troops before the election...and toilet paper afterwards.FWOOOOSH! Bye, bye, Johnny. And jiggle the handle on your way down, willya? It gets stuck sometimes... [ Post Comment ] Comment #18 posted by FoM on November 04, 2004 at 09:12:07 PT Hope Ashcroft is going to resign only because he has been sick it says.Ashcroft may resign soon11/4/04The attorney general could be concerned about his health. U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft probably won’t continue in that position in President Bush’s second term. CNN reports that sources close to the attorney general say Ashcroft will most likely submit his resignation soon, possibly within the next two weeks. Some sources say his health is a factor in the decision for the native of Springfield who now has a farm near Willard. Ashcroft suffered from pancreatitis earlier this year. Ashcroft is a former Missouri state auditor, attorney general, governor and U.S. senator. http://www.ky3.com/newsdetailed.asp?id=6975 [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by Hope on November 04, 2004 at 08:57:37 PT Odd There's nothing at Drudge today about Ashcroft. Odd after they posted that bit last evening. [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by The GCW on November 04, 2004 at 04:29:41 PT Cannabis is good. The government would like citizens to think cannabis is a chemical weapon of mass destruction. In reality, it is one of those seed-bearing plants that God created and said is good on literally the very first page of the Bible. Kaneh bosm is good. [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by FoM on November 03, 2004 at 22:24:50 PT Hope No I don't ghost write for anyone. Heck I have enough trouble saying what I mean so people understand me. I confuse myself to ya know! LOL!Good night to you too and I'm glad Ashcroft is going. I just still am angry about not getting Kerry. It will take me a few days and I'll get over it and life will go on. But for now I'm still upset. All things come to pass. [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by Hope on November 03, 2004 at 22:19:37 PT a quick glance at the blog shows that Mr. Soros is actually answering some of the comments posted there.Goodnight, FoM and Sam.Knowing that Ashcroft is resigning and Mr. Soros isn't going to a monastary is a good note to end my day on. Perhaps, there is a bit of a silver lining to the big black cloud that we found looming this morning. [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by Hope on November 03, 2004 at 22:09:02 PT Sam lol!No...he sounds exactly like us...especially FoM in the first paragraph.FoM, are you ghost writing for Mr. Soros? [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by Hope on November 03, 2004 at 22:07:11 PT "I'll be back" Soros comment included, "In the meantime, I am traveling to Europe to attend to the business of my foundation - but I'll be back.""I'll be back."I like that.He's keeping his weblog up so that people can message him.Cool enough! [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by Sam Adams on November 03, 2004 at 22:03:29 PT Hope "I want my money back!" perhaps? [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by FoM on November 03, 2004 at 22:01:46 PT Portion of Article on Possible Replacements Moving on and moving up Colin Powell, secretary of state Thought Cabinet member most likely to leavePossible successors: John Danforth (ambassador to UN)Condoleezza Rice · Paul WolfowitzCondoleezza Rice, national security adviser Keen to move onPossible successors: Stephen Hadley (deputy national security adviser)Robert Blackwill (national security council strategic planner)Paul Wolfowitz (deputy defence secretary)Donald Rumsfeld (defence secretary) The president likes him but he is getting oldPossible successors: Condoleezza RicePaul WolfowitzJohn Ashcroft (attorney general) Satisfies the party base but unpopular with his departmentPossible successors: Larry Thompson (former deputy attorney general)Mark Racicot (former Montana governor)Rudy Giuliani (former New York mayor)Alberto Gonzales (White House counsel)Bill Pryor (former Alabama attorney general)Spencer Abraham (energy secretary) Unpopular with the industryPossible successors: Tom Kuhn (energy lobbyist)Heather Wilson (New Mexico congresswoman) http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?cg=BreakingNews-InternationalNews&ao=124937 [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by Hope on November 03, 2004 at 21:58:33 PT also I've heard he's afraid of calico cats. That's probably not true..but dang.Also...Soros is saying something...I haven't read it yet.http://www.georgesoros.com/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by FoM on November 03, 2004 at 21:52:31 PT Sam and Hope Maybe not but maybe. I don't trust this administration. I wouldn't be surprised if they tried to overturn some important liberties. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by Sam Adams on November 03, 2004 at 21:48:00 PT New AG? C'mon now, I know it looks bad right now, but.....worse than Ashcroft? He covered up the breast of a STATUE! He sings hymms at his press conference. He's a "holy roller" who won't even eat candy, consume caffiene, or dance. They're going to have to stretch to top that one. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by FoM on November 03, 2004 at 21:22:44 PT Hope Yes someone can be worse then Ashcroft. The right wing wants this power and won't let anyone get in their way. We are in for the ride of our life. I know it will be really bad. It's just so clear the way we will be lead and it isn't in a good direction. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Hope on November 03, 2004 at 21:18:49 PT well...anyway I'm thankful he's leaving. Very thankful. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Hope on November 03, 2004 at 21:15:30 PT worse than Ashcroft? Do you suppose there is anybody worse?I guess there could be. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on November 03, 2004 at 21:13:03 PT Hope I saw a couple of days ago about Bush getting some new people. They were projecting who would be replaced on the news and talking about new replacements if Bush won. I think the same with Colin Powell ( he's really a good guy inside I think ) and someone else is being replaced. I think it could be Rumsfeld. I'm sure they will be even worse then Ashcroft etc. They have fumbled too much for this administration. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Hope on November 03, 2004 at 21:05:03 PT Look at this guys! Over at the Drudge Report: Attorney General John Ashcroft 'plans to submit his resignation to Bush in the next several days'... [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Sam Adams on November 03, 2004 at 20:18:29 PT Pundit overkill again It's very simple: the West has med MJ laws because that's where the drug policy reform movement has chosen to spend the $$ to put the referendums. It's only passed where the drug policy reform movement has spent millions to ram it down the politicians throats.Every state in the US approves it by the roughly the same margin. The real point here should be how shameful it is that all these states have passed referendums and the others aren't rushing to pass legislation. Ditto for the feds. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment