cannabisnews.com: Medical Marijuana: It's Time To Sanction It










  Medical Marijuana: It's Time To Sanction It

Posted by CN Staff on February 07, 2006 at 11:31:32 PT
Editorial 
Source: Albuquerque Tribune 

Santa Fe, N.M. -- It wasn't billed as the session on drugs, but the New Mexico Legislature definitely has a full plate of proposed drug laws, several of which merit passage. At the top of the list is the perennial effort to give state approval to the use of medical marijuana. Pass it, already. Sanctioning the limited use of prescribed marijuana for the relief of pain or nausea - particularly in cancer patients, including those taking radiation or chemical therapy - is the right and humane thing to do, despite continuing federal efforts to keep it a crime. Eleven other states allow for medical marijuana.
If it provides relief - and the evidence is overwhelming that it does - and it can be medically prescribed, regulated and used in a safe manner, medical marijuana should be allowed in New Mexico. In fact, there really is no compelling state or federal reason to block its use. On the other side of the drug fence, the Legislature is considering a broad measure that would crack down on the manufacture, use and abuse of methamphetamine. It, too, is overdue, for several good reasons. Meth abuse is clearly on the rise and, like other drug abuse, is a threat to far more than the abusers and traffickers. Dangerous meth labs, all too frequently set up in neighborhood houses where young children reside, represent a special threat to children and neighborhoods. The problem is worthy of new state legislation that would impose more severe penalties for trafficking in meth, as well as a separate measure to restrict the sale of pseudoephedrine. This is a prime ingredient used by the makeshift labs to churn out the highly addictive meth. The Legislature would be wise to approve both measures, which aim to attack the supply of meth, making it more difficult and risky for meth producers. Finally and unfortunately, legislative efforts to provide more money for drug abuse treatment was derailed last week, when about $2 million to fund it was stripped from the House version of the main budget bill. The Senate and Gov. Bill Richardson should restore the money to the state budget, because in addition to increasing penalties and attacking the street supply, the state should be doing more to help addicts kick the habit. To realize how fruitful this path can be, state legislators need only read Tribune reporter Kate Nash's Saturday report, "Target: Meth." It details worthy efforts by former drug abuser Tani Gallup to set up a drug recovery house, Casa de Amigas, for women in Albuquerque. "We really need the help in Albuquerque," says Gallup, noting that "there's a lot of people who want to get clean." Meth is more than just a drug problem, and New Mexico officials will fight it best with a broad arsenal of laws and funding, including providing more deterrents and ways for those addicted to get the meth monkey off their backs.Source: Albuquerque Tribune (NM)Published: February 7, 2006Copyright: 2006 The Albuquerque TribuneContact: letters abqtrib.comWebsite: http://www.abqtrib.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Drug Policy Alliancehttp://www.drugpolicy.org/Medical Marijuana Clears Senate http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21550.shtml Senate Approves Medical Marijuana http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21548.shtmlSenate Approves Bill To Legalize Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21544.shtml 

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Comment #56 posted by FoM on February 11, 2006 at 12:13:48 PT
cloud7
I sure will if I remember. I only had to talk to Matt once in at least a year so I could easily forget. I hate to ask for anything though. I feel bad even when I need something fixed.
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Comment #55 posted by cloud7 on February 11, 2006 at 11:47:34 PT
FoM
I knew that you didn't do the changes like that for this site, but maybe you could ask whoever does the background work for the cnews site next time you get in touch with them. Well, at least for now there is a link on your site. Thanks!
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Comment #54 posted by FoM on February 11, 2006 at 07:00:27 PT
cloud7
I just saw your comment or I would have answered you earlier. My problem with changing anything on CNews front page is I can't do it myself. That's why I added the link to my http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/ because I made these pages and I know how to do it. It's a good idea though.
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Comment #53 posted by cloud7 on February 08, 2006 at 18:04:46 PT
FoM
Speaking of archives, I was wondering if you might consider getting a link to the archives put on the front page. I understand that the main page of the site is where the most important articles should go, but I'm sure there are regulars here who miss articles they would like because they don't know they are posted. I've been using using a link to the archives as my bookmark for a while now. Well, just a suggestion.To anyone else reading this, this is the link I use, but I don't know if there is a better one:http://www.cannabisnews.com/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/cnews/newsread.pl?25000
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Comment #52 posted by FoM on February 08, 2006 at 16:42:40 PT
Runruffswife 
Yes this article is the 21,574 article I've posted and they are all archived. There might be a few that have been removed for various reasons but all in all they are permanent.
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Comment #51 posted by runruffswife on February 08, 2006 at 16:15:37 PT:
worst case scenario
Hi Hope, Thank you. You are right. I thought about that after I posted the request and think we should be careful. I read the regulations on the bureau of prisons website and they do read mail and withhold controversial information, it said. 
Are posts archived?
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Comment #50 posted by runruffswife on February 08, 2006 at 15:57:24 PT:
fom - favorites
oKAY, now I get it. So I can save a whole thread, it appears. That's great. Then I can save these for Jer for when he returns. Great. Thanks FOM.
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Comment #49 posted by FoM on February 08, 2006 at 14:03:37 PT

runruffswife 
I don't know. Right below Favorites on my browser there is an Add To Favorites.I'll removed the hiccup. That happens frequently.
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Comment #48 posted by runruffswife on February 08, 2006 at 13:59:34 PT:

I don't get it
On my Favorites it doesn't give me the option to open a new folder. ?. 
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Comment #45 posted by Hope on February 08, 2006 at 12:39:38 PT

Sending threads to Runruff.
There is one "worst scenario" possibility that we should take into some sort of account. I have known jailed activists to be denied early release because their mail and associations with other activists and activist groups indicated that they were not "rehabilitated" yet.How can we avoid that possibility?
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Comment #44 posted by FoM on February 08, 2006 at 12:11:58 PT

Runruffswife 
If you are using Internet Explorer this is how you do it.Go to the top of the browser and press FAVORITESthen ADD TO FAVORITESthen press NEW FOLDERthen name it Runruffs Bookmarks or something close to that
then press ok and it will add that bookmark to you main favorite column. Let me know if this helps or you don't get it.
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Comment #43 posted by runruffswife on February 08, 2006 at 12:05:37 PT:

fom
I agree. 
How do I do a bookmark?
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Comment #42 posted by FoM on February 08, 2006 at 12:03:28 PT

runruffswife 
I think it's a good idea. I believe though that to strong of posts should be removed because it could make them censor the whole thread. Talking, laughing, debating etc. would be ok but nothing to extreme is my suggestion. The one thing we don't want is for him to get nothing at all. You can save the threads by bookmarking them for him when he gets home. Just make a Runruff bookmark. That's just a suggestion.
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Comment #41 posted by FoM on February 08, 2006 at 11:52:49 PT

Press Release from The Drug Policy Alliance
Medical Marijuana Faces Challenge in New Mexico***Wednesday, February 8, 2006New Mexico's medical marijuana bill is slated for its toughest fight in the state legislature on Saturday, with a hearing scheduled in the House Agriculture and Water Resources Committee. This is the first time this committee has heard this bill, and we are ready. 
Thanks to all the quick-acting supporters who made donations last week, we have been able to connect hundreds of medical marijuana supporters by phone to their representatives who are members of the committee. Though this was a highly unusual committee assignment and the members may not have been familiar with this bill, they are now well aware that access to medicine for sick and dying patients is important to New Mexicans. Legislative staff members have been commenting on the number of calls they are receiving, so we know they are getting the message and are aware that their constituents are paying close attention to how they handle the issue.Drug Policy Alliance has been talking to as many people as possible in preparation for this hearing, including personally reaching each member of the House. Many legislators in both houses have made this bill a priority as well and are talking to other lawmakers about it themselves.
 The bill, the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act, has already cleared the Senate, and Saturday's hearing will be its first step in moving through the House. If it passes the Agriculture and Water Resources committee, the bill will go to one other committee and then to a full House vote. Governor Bill Richardson has stated that if this important bill is passed by the legislature, he will sign it.
 Medical marijuana legislation came close to passing in New Mexico in 2005, but was never called for a full House vote because of a political conflict unrelated to the bill. With a little more than a week left in the 2006 legislative session, advocates and patients are hoping for a swift and positive outcome. 
http://www.drugpolicy.org/news/020806nm.cfm
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Comment #40 posted by runruffswife on February 08, 2006 at 11:52:04 PT:

runruff
A couple of folks have commented that we should print out these threads and mail them to runruff. That's an awesome idea. Runruff wants to keep in touch with you all and would love to read what is going on in the real world. Please print, write, and send. I don't know if the "facility" will edit any content, I just don't know how that works. But it's worth a try. He will be writing more on the subject of prohibition while in there so your comments are GREAT!Please send to:
Jerry Sisson #66424-065
FMC Devens
Federal Medical Center
P.O. Box 879
Devens, MA 01434Love and Blessings.
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Comment #39 posted by FoM on February 08, 2006 at 09:25:23 PT

museman
Welcome back!
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Comment #38 posted by museman on February 08, 2006 at 09:14:20 PT:

Testing

123
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Comment #37 posted by whig on February 08, 2006 at 08:35:32 PT

Graehstone
You're awesome, by the way. Thanks. I don't think that site had the actual Eulogy by Bernice King but there's a lot of good clips there.
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Comment #36 posted by dongenero on February 08, 2006 at 07:30:17 PT

Soros article below...
This part in the article where they are taking shots at Soros, almost had me rolling on the floor laughing!!!........."In the Soros view, of course, an “open society” means encouraging behavior that undermines the traditional values and culture of America. This is hardly “conservative.”In addition to promoting drug legalization, his causes include open borders, gay rights, abortion rights, opposition to the death penalty, lighter sentences for criminals, and assisted suicide."Heh heh...there you have it folks...that son of a bitch is for peoples individual rights!!!!!Grrrrrrrr!!!! I'm conservative!!! Hate hate hate....intolerance.
Yes, that kind of sums it up. Now, who's patriotic?
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Comment #35 posted by Graehstone on February 08, 2006 at 06:44:15 PT

Whig
Here is the video clip you were looking for (I think) ;)
Just scroll down a bit here: http://www.crooksandliars.com/

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Comment #34 posted by whig on February 07, 2006 at 21:43:03 PT

More excerpt
"Are you going to live according to the world's system and the traditions and the conventional methods, or are you going to live according to radical and the revolutionary, transforming way of God, through nonviolence, which is the kingdom of God?"Now is the time for the saints of the most high God to rise up and possess the kingdom and move in everything that God has ordained for us to move in."
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Comment #33 posted by whig on February 07, 2006 at 21:41:33 PT

Excerpt
Until I can find a good video or audio source, here's a *short* excerpt of Bernice King's Eulogy:"The reason why we make decisions in the natural that sometimes appear to be wrong decisions, until you step back and realize, first, the natural, then the spiritual, you begin to understand that this was a really a spiritual move, because, in many ways, God was trying to say that the conventional way that you have been doing things in this world, especially through militarism and -- and war and things of that nature, are not working. They are not representative of my heart and my nature and my character and my essence. And, so, I had to take her to something that looked like an alternative thing, because, when Martin came along, he introduced an alternative. And that was called nonviolence."NO MORE WAR. NO VIOLENCE. PEACE. ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE. CANNABIS. FREEDOM.
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Comment #32 posted by Hope on February 07, 2006 at 19:37:24 PT

Graehstone
Welcome, new kid! Glad to have you here.Runruffswife. They may have some sort of intake rule where he can't make phone calls the first week or two...but it looks like they would have told you that. This is so weird. Not knowing whether he's doing ok or anything. It's frighteningly frustrating.
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Comment #31 posted by Hope on February 07, 2006 at 19:26:44 PT

Cliff Kincaid 
IS Accuracy in Media. It's his site. He is a man roiling with hatred... and most of that hatred seems directed at us. He seems scared to death of losing his source and well-spring of schadenfruede...the WoD.
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Comment #30 posted by Graehstone on February 07, 2006 at 19:08:12 PT

runruffswife
Needless to say, even though I am the "new kid," I shall be keeping you and yours in my prayers.
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Comment #29 posted by FoM on February 07, 2006 at 18:56:02 PT

runruffswife 
I hope you will hear from him soon. 
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Comment #28 posted by runruffswife on February 07, 2006 at 18:54:32 PT:

still no word
from runruff but I know he is there. on the bureau of prisons website www.bop.gov you can do an inmate search and it showed that he was there at Devens, Mass FMC. http://terryhubbard.com/J/http://terryhubbard.com/Let/LetMyPeopleGrow.html

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Comment #27 posted by whig on February 07, 2006 at 18:54:01 PT

Graehstone
Thanks, that's the transcript but it loses a lot without hearing and seeing for yourself what she was saying. I could take excerpts from it but I'm going to see if I can find a video or audio recording somewhere.It really was something.
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Comment #26 posted by runderwo on February 07, 2006 at 18:28:06 PT

i see now
They are complaining that the MPP director was to be the moderator. Boo frickin' hoo. See ya, Calvina!
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Comment #25 posted by mayan on February 07, 2006 at 18:26:15 PT

Cowardly Calvina
From the article FoM posted in comment #2...This is troubling because DPA and MPP are part of a major deception campaign to convince people that marijuana is harmless or even has medical benefits. Accuracy in Media last year disclosed the existence of documentary evidence that the “medical marijuana” movement is a fraud that exploits sick people.Cannabis doesn't have medical benefits? That's all I need to read to know that the entire piece by Cliff Kincaid is crap! And "Accuracy in Media" has already been exposed as being a right wing organization. Calvina Faye is simply a coward with no regard for the truth. She is saving herself much embarrassment by backing out of that debate! Besides, it is well known that she is a big-wig in the drug-testing industry. Ethan could expose her true motives right off the bat and her credibility would be toast!Here are some unrelated but enlightening pieces regarding the provacative Danish cartoons...Cartoon editor Fleming Rose and the tentacles of PNAC:
http://www.total411.info/2006/02/cartoon-editor-fleming-rose-and.htmlRussian MP Says US To Attack Iran Late March: Muslim riots a US psyop aimed at getting EU support for war:
http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/february2006/070206attackiran.htmTHE WAY OUT IS THE WAY IN...Upcoming Loose Change Screening in Winnipeg (scroll down):
http://www.911blogger.com/2006/02/upcoming-loose-change-screening-in.html9/11 Research: An Attempt to Uncover the Truth About September 11th, 2001: 
http://911research.wtc7.netExperts Claim Official 9/11 Story is a Hoax: 
http://news.yahoo.com/s/prweb/20060130/bs_prweb/prweb339303_5
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Comment #24 posted by runderwo on February 07, 2006 at 18:20:45 PT

heh heh
Or maybe he means that Calvina Fay's debating capacity just isn't up to the opposition? I'd buy that for a dollar...
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Comment #23 posted by runderwo on February 07, 2006 at 18:19:52 PT

Cliff Kincaid is a moron
How exactly can you claim that a debate was "stacked against" someone? Isn't the point of a debate for opposing viewpoints to duke it out? How on earth could debating legalization advocates be considered "stacking" the debate against a prohibitionist?Maybe this fellow, in some sort of strange doublethink, only considers a drug policy debate "fair" if it consists of prohibitionists debating each other on how severe and costly the prohibition should be, and not questioning the effectiveness of the prohibition itself in reducing drug-related harm.
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Comment #22 posted by museman on February 07, 2006 at 17:48:17 PT

test
This is FoM
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Comment #21 posted by FoM on February 07, 2006 at 16:21:24 PT

Graehstone
Hopefully whig will find it from the link you posted and post what she said. Thank you.
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Comment #20 posted by Graehstone on February 07, 2006 at 16:13:02 PT

Transcripts
Is this what you are looking for? 
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0602/07/sitroom.02.html
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Comment #19 posted by FoM on February 07, 2006 at 16:11:41 PT

runruffswife
I sent you an e-mail. Something isn't working right. If he can't get in after getting rid of cookies and re-booting please let me know if he doesn't get in touch with me first and I will contact the webmaster Matt Elrod. Also using IE might help but mine wouldn't work with IE today for a while either. Sorry for the problem.
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Comment #18 posted by FoM on February 07, 2006 at 15:48:11 PT

runruffswife
I couldn't post today for a while either. There must be a glitch in the program. I don't know what might be wrong. I don't want to post my e-mail but I'll e-mail you and you can give him my address. 
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Comment #17 posted by runruffswife on February 07, 2006 at 15:38:57 PT:

FOM 
Hi FOM,
Museman called me thing morning to check on me, sweeet, and to ask for your email address. He said he was unable to get through to post. 
Still no word from runruff. 
Love to us all. Mrs.Runruff.
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Comment #16 posted by global_warming on February 07, 2006 at 15:24:33 PT

wish i could have seen bernice
maybe at some later and ot place/time, someone might post the scribe of her statement.cancerous just does not describe such ignorant behavior.
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Comment #15 posted by FoM on February 07, 2006 at 15:22:52 PT

Whig
Good time to use the word Heavy. That's Heavy man.
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Comment #14 posted by whig on February 07, 2006 at 15:16:51 PT

FoM
Poor President Bush II. He ran away and flew back to DC before Bernice started her Eulogy and called out God against him.
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Comment #13 posted by FoM on February 07, 2006 at 15:14:08 PT

Whig
Please post a transcript if you find one. What I loved today was the spirit that was in the Church. Poor President Bush (The first one) He said he was an Episcopalian (sp) and he never had Church like this. What was there was the presence of God and he didn't know how to handle it.
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Comment #12 posted by whig on February 07, 2006 at 15:09:26 PT

FoM
I just had CNN on in the background, and she was talking, and I perked up and went oh my God what is she saying? I keep trying to find a transcript or a recording. I'm sure one will turn up shortly.
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Comment #11 posted by FoM on February 07, 2006 at 15:00:56 PT

Whig
That will teach me not to leave the tv. 
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Comment #10 posted by whig on February 07, 2006 at 14:59:47 PT

FoM
Bernice King called out the whole cancerous system.
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Comment #9 posted by FoM on February 07, 2006 at 14:58:35 PT

Whig
No I missed it but it was a great service. Senator Kennedy brought the house down and Jimmy Carter did too. Another man that I don't know who he was did the same. Mrs. King would have been proud.As far as the article about Soros. Why do we waste our time even trying to convince the Republicans of reforming cannabis laws? They are so self righteous and full of hate that it seems impossible to me.
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Comment #8 posted by whig on February 07, 2006 at 14:54:36 PT

OT: Bernice King
Did you hear her Eulogy for Coretta Scott King?

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Comment #7 posted by OverwhelmSam on February 07, 2006 at 14:51:37 PT

That's Right Faye, Get It All Out
Attempt to sow your seeds of hate, never realizing you are in fact promoting the marijuana legalization movement. These days people read your articles and applaud these pioneers of marijuana law reform.As far as your outmoded yesteryear values are concerned, Society has changed and continues to change. No one values the hateful treatment of locking up people for marijuana consumption. You're the one who is out of touch with todays values. Thanks for the article though, it was great! I think you're actually helping people get use to the idea of legalized marijuana. I mean, no one wants to be a hateful old bag like you.
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Comment #6 posted by Toker00 on February 07, 2006 at 14:49:11 PT

I'm sorry.
I meant the Soros article.Wage peace on war. END CANNABIS PROHIBITION NOW!
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Comment #5 posted by Toker00 on February 07, 2006 at 14:47:38 PT

Reefer Madhatter
Pure, complete, unadulterated Reefer Madness. I guess when you eat the words from NIDA, DEA, ONDCP, and DAMMADD, you have to eventually regurgitate from the mental poisoning. Careful not to step in this article.Good day, Sisson Family. How are those hounddogs? They are not hounds, but they are beautiful dogs. Brother Jerry, keep the faith. Wage peace on war. END CANNABIS PROHIBITION NOW! 
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on February 07, 2006 at 14:30:27 PT

Pictures of Signs
I would really like to buy one of these signs too. http://news.search.yahoo.com/news/search?p=marijuana&ei=UTF-8&fl=0&c=news_photos
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Comment #3 posted by Toker00 on February 07, 2006 at 14:27:18 PT

Signs
I would love to have one. I would immediately paint the circle around it GREEN! Then it would mean pot smoking allowed. It would look great on a patio/deck.Wage peace on war. END CANNABIS PROHIBITION NOW!
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on February 07, 2006 at 14:25:49 PT

News Article from American Daily
SOROS INFILTRATES CONSERVATIVE MOVEMENT By Cliff Kincaid February 7, 2006Calvina Fay of the Drug Free America Foundation has pulled out as a speaker at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), which begins in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, because a “mini-debate” she was scheduled to appear in had been stacked against her. As it now stands, the event will feature two advocates of drug legalization, both of them funded by leftist billionaire and anti-Bush activist George Soros. Having put most of the left-wing political movement and many liberal Democrats on his payroll, it is apparent that Soros is now working to manipulate the conservative movement. It is surprising that CPAC is facilitating his scheme.A convicted inside trader who specializes in manipulating the currencies of the nations of the world, Soros is usually depicted as a “philanthropist” who believes in an “Open Society.” Hence, the name of his major funding mechanism, the Open Society Institute. In the Soros view, of course, an “open society” means encouraging behavior that undermines the traditional values and culture of America. This is hardly “conservative.”In addition to promoting drug legalization, his causes include open borders, gay rights, abortion rights, opposition to the death penalty, lighter sentences for criminals, and assisted suicide. He tried almost single-handedly to buy the White House for Democrat John Kerry in the 2004 presidential election by spending over $20 million on controversial “527” organizations promoting his candidacy. On foreign policy issues, Soros is a big backer of the U.N. and opposes the Bush Administration’s war in Iraq and handling of the war on terrorism. The scheduled Friday CPAC event on “A Conservative Drug Policy” was to feature a mini-debate between Ethan Nadelmann of the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) and Calvina Fay. The “moderator,” hardly unbiased, was scheduled to be Rob Kampia of the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP). The Soros Open Society Institute has given the DPA millions of dollars, including $2.5 million in 2004 alone. MPP has been funded by Soros as well as Peter Lewis, chairman of the Progressive Corporation, who was arrested in New Zealand several years ago after customs officers found marijuana in his luggage. Lewis, who gave $340,000 to MPP in 2004, is also a major funder of the ACLU.Court documents show that Kampia himself was convicted in 1989 and sentenced to prison for possessing and intending to distribute marijuana.While paying thousands of dollars to appear at a conservative conference, MPP is selling $500 tickets to a March 30 fundraising “party” at the Playboy Mansion. Playboy founder Hugh Hefner provided the seed money for the drug legalization movement, which is now underwritten mostly by Soros and Lewis.“Playmates will be available to give tours of the mansion grounds as you enjoy great music and comedy in one of America’s most renowned settings,” says MPP’s website. A member of the “host committee” for the Playboy event is Tommy Chong, who participated in pro-marijuana movies as part of the “Cheech and Chong” team and served nine months in prison for selling drug paraphernalia. You won’t need an NSA surveillance program to know what’s going on in the Playboy Mansion on March 30.When Calvina Fay saw that the CPAC “debate” had been stacked against her, she pulled out. However, her group will still have a booth at CPAC. So will the Drug Policy Alliance. Later in the day, after the “debate,” Kampia’s MPP will host an event for all CPAC attendees and guests on why the war on drugs should not target marijuana users. It is not known if Playmates will appear. The Drug Policy Alliance also participated in CPAC last year, boasting that Executive Director Nadelmann was “well-received” and “appeared on several conservative radio shows coinciding with the conference.” This is troubling because DPA and MPP are part of a major deception campaign to convince people that marijuana is harmless or even has medical benefits. Accuracy in Media last year disclosed the existence of documentary evidence that the “medical marijuana” movement is a fraud that exploits sick people. Video footage of a pro-marijuana event showed Ed Rosenthal, formerly of High Times magazine, speaking to dozens of marijuana activists. “With all the talk about medical marijuana, I have to tell you that I also use marijuana medically (laughter),” he says. “I have a latent glaucoma, which has never been diagnosed (more laughter). And the reason why it has never been diagnosed is because I’ve been treating it (laughter)…But there is a reason why I do use it. And that is because I like to get high. (cheers, applause). Marijuana is fun.”Another video excerpt showed Richard Cowan, former director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, saying that “The key to it [legalization] is medical access because once you have hundreds of thousands of people using marijuana medically under medical supervision the whole scam is going to be blown…Once there’s medical access and if we continue to do what we have to do¯and we will¯then we’ll get full legalization.” Not surprisingly, a federal investigation of “medical marijuana” clubs and dispensaries in California has found they had been used as a cover for drug dealing and money laundering. At the same time, evidence of a connection between marijuana and mental illness continues to mount. The influence of marijuana figures in the sensational murder case of Colin Roger Cotting, a 16-year-old in Alaska who allegedly raped his stepmother, beat her to death with a baseball bat, and stuffed her in a freezer. The murder resulted from a dispute when Cotting was confronted by his stepmother about his marijuana use. Cotting told police that he was too stoned on marijuana to remember what had happened.In a case that received national attention, Joseph Smith, the convicted killer of 11-year-old Carlie Brucia, tried to blame his criminal behavior on using drugs, including cocaine and marijuana.British newspapers are now covering a sensational case of “cannabis psychosis,” involving a music producer, Lisa Voice, who “was viciously assaulted in her home by a family friend who had been made psychotic by the drug,” as the London Sunday Times noted. She suffered a broken jaw, broken nose, collapsed lung, and eye injuries, and has already had 11 medical operations to rebuild her face and head. The attacker had been smoking marijuana since the age of 15 and believed he was getting subliminal messages from television. In Britain, penalties for the use and possession of marijuana had been lowered after the drug had been reclassified. But Dr. Shahrokh Mireskandari, lawyer for Lisa Voice, was quoted in the Sunday Times as saying, “Let government ministers who say cannabis is a harmless drug come and explain that decision to Mrs. Voice and her many doctors. Cannabis should never have been reclassified and people such as Mrs. Voice now face a lifetime of pain because of the dangers of this drug.”So why is CPAC giving Nadelmann, Kampia and their ilk a platform? *Ed: Views are those of individual authors and not necessarily those of American Daily. Copyright: 2006 American Dailyhttp://www.americandaily.com/article/11746
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Comment #1 posted by dongenero on February 07, 2006 at 12:22:20 PT

reuters article
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Amsterdam's new street signs banning cannabis smoking in parts of the city have sparked global interest.The sign shows a red circle around a fat cannabis joint in a cloud of smoke sparked by white marijuana leaves. It has been installed at one square and surrounding streets in Amsterdam where young cannabis smokers are a nuisance (www.baarsjes.amsterdam.nl).Soon after the installation on February 1, the first signs were stolen after which the Amsterdam council of De Baarsjes decided it would start selling what it believes is the world's first anti-cannabis road sign.Over 400 consumers have approached the council to buy one of the "no joints" signs for 90 euros ($108), excluding shipping, a spokesman said."About 75 percent of the requests come from the United States," he said, adding interest is also coming from Singapore, Australia, Scandinavian countries and Germany.The profits will be donated to a charitable cause that has yet to be chosen.It is legal to own and use small quantities of soft drugs in the Netherlands whose relaxed position on the issue has brought it into conflict with other European countries like France which claims the Dutch undermine the global fight against drugs. 
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