cannabisnews.com: Marijuana Reform Scores Big Gains Marijuana Reform Scores Big Gains Posted by CN Staff on November 10, 2004 at 07:29:48 PT By Robert Kampia Source: Oregonian However anyone feels about the results of the presidential race, Nov. 2 was a banner day for marijuana policy reform. Nationwide, 17 of 20 initiatives won, including a massive victory for medical marijuana in Montana. Montanans, by a whopping 62 percent to 38 percent, made their state the 10th to pass a medical marijuana law. Not only did this continue the unbroken winning streak for initiatives allowing medical use of marijuana, it also was the biggest margin of victory in any first-time vote on a statewide medical marijuana measure anywhere. Indeed, many voters who supported Montana's ban on same-sex marriage (which passed with 67 percent of the vote) also supported protecting medical marijuana patients. Clearly, a lot of conservative voters think it is wrong to send patients to jail for using medical marijuana. In Alaska, although an initiative to replace marijuana prohibition with a system of regulation failed, the 43 percent support that measure received was the all-time highest vote percentage ever recorded for a statewide marijuana regulation or "legalization" initiative. There have been only four other such initiatives in the history of the country -- in Alaska, California, Nevada and Oregon -- and the previous record-holder was Alaska's 59 percent to 41 percent loss in 2000. None of the others even broke 40 percent. In Oakland, Calif., voters put the city on record in support of taxation and regulation of marijuana and made enforcement of personal marijuana offenses the lowest priority for local police, by an overwhelming 65 percent to 35 percent. Around the country, 17 local marijuana reform initiatives appeared on city or legislative district ballots, and 16 passed. These included a medical marijuana proposal in Ann Arbor, Mich., and two measures in Columbia, Mo. -- one to permit medical use and another to end the threat of arrest and jail for any misdemeanor marijuana possession charge. Snipped: Complete Article: http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/gains.htmSource: Oregonian, The (Portland, OR)Author: Robert Kampia Published: Wednesday, November 10, 2004Copyright: 2004 The OregonianContact: letters news.oregonian.comWebsite: http://www.oregonlive.com/oregonian/Related Articles & Web Site:Marijuana Policy Projecthttp://www.mpp.org/Drugs and The Nationhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19772.shtmlA Good Day for Intolerancehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19769.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #1 posted by Craiig on November 10, 2004 at 07:36:19 PT Duchess grows opium and cannabis The Duchess of Northumberland will be allowed to grow drugs, including cannabis and opium, at Alnwick Gardens. The Home Office has approved a licence for the Alnwick Garden charity to grow the plants for educational purposes. Poisonous foxglove, tobacco and wild lettuce, which can be used as a tranquilliser, will also be grown. Visitors to the walled garden, which is designed to provoke open and relaxed discussion about drugs issues, will be escorted by marshals. The special Poison Garden has been designed by Belgian Peter Virtz and will open within weeks, although many of the plants will not be growing until the spring. 'Innovative opportunity' Magic mushrooms and more than 50 dangerous plants will also be included in the collection. Alison Hamer, Alnwick Garden's learning development manager, said: "The subjects of drugs, alcohol, tobacco and medicines, and their use are very emotive ones. "For many people, the thought of talking about drugs to younger family members or friends is quite scary. "However, the Poison Garden provides an innovative opportunity for us to deliver, in a relaxed atmosphere, simple information on drugs and drugs issues to a section of the general public that can be hard to reach." http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/3997629.stm [ Post Comment ] Post Comment