cannabisnews.com: Legislation Important in Fight Against MJ & Meth





Legislation Important in Fight Against MJ & Meth
Posted by CN Staff on July 09, 2006 at 15:34:29 PT
By Bill Tandeske
Source: News-Miner 
Alaska -- With a stroke of his pen, Gov. Frank Murkowski has completed a successful two-year commitment to pass legislation critically important to the safety and well-being of Alaskans.The governor has signed House Bill 149, known as the "methijuana" bill. It puts in place important new tools in the fight against substance abuse and the heartache it causes for Alaska families.
These tools will build upon the drug enforcement initiative that has been a Department of Public Safety priority under Gov. Murkowski. Since 2003, we have put significant funding into doing a better job of meeting our mission to enforce drug and bootlegging laws.We've added additional troopers. We've reinstituted a unit that targets major drug offenders. We've worked hard to provide state funding for local police agencies to offset the virtual elimination of a federal program that previously provided the funding. State troopers and our partners in local police departments have been involved in many significant and successful investigations.Recent actions included seizing more than 45 pounds of marijuana from a Bethel trafficker. Nearly 200 meth labs have been closed in the last five years. An organization has been shut down that was bringing huge quantities of high quality marijuana into Alaska from Canada.Aggressive prevention has prevented hundreds of gallons of illegal alcohol from reaching local option communities. And with the HB 149 restrictions on pseudoephedrine, we expect a lot of meth labs will be shut down so troopers and police can focus on the drug traffickers.Methamphetamine is a frightening and destructive drug. It's a plague from our nation's largest urban areas to Alaska's smallest villages.It was not that long ago that meth was virtually absent from most of Alaska and unheard of in rural areas. But that's no longer the case.HB 149 increases the potential punishment for manufacturing, selling and possessing meth. It especially takes direct aim at those who make and peddle this poison around children.Meth used to be difficult to manufacture. But now it can be made in the trunk of a car from materials that were commonly available to anyone. So it's important that HB 149 makes several of the most critical components of meth more difficult to obtain.Yes, it will require that customers of cold medications take a moment to verify their identity to retailers. But this is a small price to pay for getting rid of poisonous and explosive meth labs.Much of the debate surrounding passage of this bill swirled around marijuana. But make no mistake: The marijuana available today is a powerful and expensive drug that produces a high profit margin for growers and sellers.It's often sold one cigarette at a time, so the price remains within the range of teenagers. Critics continue to claim that marijuana is still a harmless drug, but they overlook its effect on adolescent development.The average age of first marijuana use in Alaska is 13.Studies show that if you give up marijuana, your children are much less likely to start using it themselves. And marijuana is used by domestic violence abusers at a much higher rate than by persons arrested for other crimes. It is present in many motor vehicle crashes. It is used by many alcoholics and the mentally ill, making alcohol and mental health treatment more difficult.Even HB 149 critics admit that marijuana is stronger today. One out of every 10 users becomes psychologically dependent on the drug.In the end, HB 149 sent an important message from the Alaska Legislature: Marijuana is a problem.Seward Police Chief Tom Clemons, president of the Alaska Association of Chiefs of Police, commented, "This is an important piece of legislation for all of Alaska in the fight against these drugs and one we have waited a long time for."HB 149 provides new protection for Alaska families.Bill Tandeske is commissioner of the Alaska Department of Public Safety.Complete Title: Legislation Important in Fight Against Marijuana, MethSource: Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (AK)Author: Bill TandeskePublished: Sunday, July 09, 2006 Copyright: 2006 Fairbanks Publishing Company, Inc.Contact: letters newsminer.comWebsite: http://www.news-miner.com/ Related Articles & Web Site:ACLUhttp://www.aclu.org/Judge To Rule Monday On New Marijuana Law http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21969.shtmlJudge Hears Arguments Over New State MJ Lawhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21967.shtmlACLU Sues Alaska Over State's New MJ Lawhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21889.shtml
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Comment #43 posted by Hope on July 12, 2006 at 21:33:56 PT
It was wonderful...after the fact...Dankhank.
It seemed so strange at first, it took me awhile to realize the import of it. It's had me smiling ever since.I'll ask that you have such a dream, too. Maybe tonight! It may take some thinking about it to realize what you saw, if it was as odd as mine. But, man...when I realized what it meant...I felt so blessed. Still smiling about it.Sweet Dreams, my friend.
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Comment #42 posted by Dankhank on July 12, 2006 at 20:32:46 PT
Hope
I want a dream like that, too .....
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Comment #41 posted by Wayne on July 11, 2006 at 07:37:42 PT
hey Mr. Tandeske...
the judge just smacked you down! How does that make you feel??
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Comment #40 posted by Hope on July 10, 2006 at 22:23:01 PT
A good article...
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06/n915/a07.html?397
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Comment #39 posted by Hope on July 10, 2006 at 22:19:27 PT
Hemp Canadian
Somewhere...in some thread...Hemp Canadian posted some songs he'd done. I don't know where that thread is not...but I wanted to tell him they were wonderful! He is so talented.The songs were Maria and Good Woman. The music and the singing and the songs were just great. I saved the link.http://members.tripod.com/StephenJohn/music.htmlWhat with him, and Museman, and BGreen, and Max and all the other wonderfully talented musicians here...if we ever have that Reunion...we are going to enjoy some very good music!Maybe even Neil will show up. I hope so.
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Comment #38 posted by Hope on July 10, 2006 at 22:11:54 PT
I'm recalling that recently I had one of my
semi-annual fits of pleading with God..."When? When? When? How much longer?" I already know He won't tell me. I think I was asking this time..."A dream?" "A hint?" "Just a fragment of hope?"That's not unlike Him to answer with a dream like that. I'm taking it as it will be a done deal during my lifetime and I'll get to get used to it, too.I'm smiling now everytime I think of that dream and I've been thinking of it alot this evening.There were little details in the dream that have gradually become clear to me. Like some of the odd "star wars" type people and what they meant. It's good. It's all good. It was beautiful, amazingly peaceful, but humble...kind of something Holy and Humble...like getting born in a barn.
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Comment #37 posted by global_warming on July 10, 2006 at 16:41:23 PT
It Is Time
To Make Bed,Choose wisely,
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Comment #36 posted by global_warming on July 10, 2006 at 16:39:02 PT
Fomme
Which House do you choose to Live In Eternity?
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Comment #35 posted by FoM on July 10, 2006 at 16:17:36 PT
Hope
I can't seem to forget this scripture. In my father's house there are many mansions.
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Comment #34 posted by global_warming on July 10, 2006 at 16:05:32 PT
To ALL the Tomorrows
Tomorrow is filled with Hope, Grace and Understanding
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Comment #33 posted by Hope on July 10, 2006 at 15:51:25 PT
The banquet hall
It wasn't fancy. The whole thing had more the feeling of a neighborhood area. It was sort of lodge style, I guess you could say. Wooden paneling and very high ceilings. The buildings all seemed to be wooden frame style. Maybe that means it's something we'd have to take care with...as opposed to stone...to not lose it or let it be destroyed.Too much work going on...not to mention worn rug paintings...for it to seem heavenly. But it was good. And as I'm thinking about it more...I notice the sense of peace and different types of people getting along with each other...easily. That was nice. gw...your mentioning Vahalla sent me on an image search to find something similar to what I saw in the dream.It was so real...it seems it almost had to be a real place.I think I'm going to think about this dream for a long time...trying to understand what it means...if anything.
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Comment #32 posted by global_warming on July 10, 2006 at 15:25:30 PT
that place of the free and the brave
where the childish who prattleon and on about the virtues of prohibitionabsitnence, and the virtues of a good LifeI can see my handCan you see where your righteousnessCan you see your both hands
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Comment #31 posted by FoM on July 10, 2006 at 14:55:16 PT
Hope
It sounds just like Heaven should be.
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Comment #30 posted by global_warming on July 10, 2006 at 14:52:12 PT
re:There was huge, cavernous, homey old building
sounds like Valhalla, the Hall of the Valiant..
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Comment #29 posted by Hope on July 10, 2006 at 14:49:44 PT
Maybe...
It's a good portent dream. I'll live to be quite old and useful and healthy and cannabis will have been acceptable and legal for a very long time.Yippee! It seems more "good" all the time.I didn't intend to share it...but I'm glad I did.
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Comment #28 posted by Hope on July 10, 2006 at 14:44:03 PT
  gw
I've had the problem since childhood...except when I was using cannabis. Most of them I just ignore and forget about them right away. Some, like this one, stand out in my mind forever.
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Comment #27 posted by Hope on July 10, 2006 at 14:42:05 PT
The dream about cannabis being legal
and accepted for a long, long time wasn't really a bad dream...at all. At the time of the dream...it was almost like it had always been. There was obviously no prohibition on.It seemed kind of like a bad dream at first..because it was so real and vivid. It was kind of alarming in that it was so different and strange. The sort of bad part for me was my apparently very advanced agedness...it was kind of alarming. I was very busy and productive, though. I think it was me though because of one of my signature painted rugs...very, very worn (obviously I hadn't been keeping up with keeping it freshly painted)...on the porch of an old house (It was no where near falling down though) Just old, at least it seemed older than where I live now, in the dream. I think it was me in the dream because of that rug and the feeling that I was very familiar with the house and buildings and area...and people.It was a remarkably peaceful and sweet dream...other than the fact that it seemed to be me and I was very, very old and living somewhere besides here. There was amazing peace and tolerance and agape type love among people in the dream. A lot of joy and celebration, too, among all kinds of people...some as strange as star wars characters. There was huge, cavernous, homey old building that was rented out to huge groups...like family groups as a huge party banquet room. Rows and rows of tables ready for banquets and parties. Besides an average bar area, there were a few people preparing buds, in preparation for some sort of party, like it was just an every day thing. I felt that it was an everyday thing. It was remarked in the dream how well behaved and remarkable and good the children of the people having the party were.It was really a very good dream, the more I've thought about it.
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Comment #26 posted by global_warming on July 10, 2006 at 14:38:00 PT
oh I forgot excellent letter
universer, I hope it gets published and gets those folks in Alaska to consider their place in the wilderness..
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Comment #25 posted by global_warming on July 10, 2006 at 14:36:05 PT
any news from Alaska?
Hope, have you ever tried Melatonin 1mg at bedtime?
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Comment #24 posted by ekim on July 10, 2006 at 14:12:17 PT
good work Universer 
Jul 11 06 Criminal Justice Forum Radio Interview 07:00 PM Norm Stamper Bradenton Florida USA 
 Former Seattle, WA, Chief of Police, Norm Stamper's interview on Criminal Justice Forum Radio, WTAN 1340AM, Clearwater, FL, will be broadcast on the WWPR website from Bradenton, FL. Norm will be discussing a host of issues related to the failures of drug prohibition. After today, the recorded show will be posted online at the Criminal Justice Forum archives and available for podcast. Visit http://www.criminaljusticeforum.com Other participating stations are WDCF-Dade City and WZHR-Zephyrhills. 
http://www.leap.cc/events
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Comment #23 posted by FoM on July 10, 2006 at 13:45:12 PT
Universer 
I think it's very good. Thanks for sharing it.
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Comment #22 posted by Universer on July 10, 2006 at 13:33:55 PT:
How's this?
Mr. Tandeske, et al.,It is a truism to suggest that it is futile to attempt
to convince a person not to disseminate a lie when
that lie is the very reason for the person's
livelihood. But, barely daunted and hardly deterred,
I'm going to try anyway.Methamphetamine is a horrible, artificially
manufactured substance which should not be taken
internally for any reason. It holds a powerful
addiction that can ultimately render the frequent
abuser pathetically ill while capturing that person's
mind in a way that is not conducive to maintaining
productivity. How a society decides to treat
methamphetamine ought to soberly take its effects into
account, as well as the effects of whatever actions
that society chooses to take.Cannabis is a benign plant of natural origin with a
veritable history as a medicine and as a relaxation
tool for thousands of cultures through thousands of
years. Though there is much as yet scientifically
unknown about it, there is also much scientifically
known, and of that pool of knowledge, there is nothing
which justifies its prohibition of any and all usage
by mature adults. It is not without merit to suggest
that the punishment for having cannabis is easily in
excess of whatever harm is done in its use, as
President Carter famously pointed out.Placing these two items -- methamphetamine and
cannabis -- into the same legislative bill is socially
inane and politically foolhardy. One might as well
speak of tofu and Twinkies as nutritional equivalents.I used to look upon Alaska as the last wild frontier,
as that bastion for libertarian ideals and a nirvana
in the quest for true freedom. Sadly, it seems that
the governmentalization of Alaska is in full swing, as
made apparent by Governor Murkowski's flagrant
attempts to overturn the popular vote and institute
economically unsound, massive governmental policies
which will ensure that you and your office will have
plenty to do in order to justify your continued
salary.Prohibition of alcohol in the early part of the
twentieth century was a horrendous and violent failure
which gave rise to bathtub gin, forest moonshine and
organized crime. Among other organized groups,
concerned mothers petitioned Congress and President
Roosevelt to overturn that wasteful, overreaching
amendment. Thousands of people held up signs such as
"We Want Beer," and perhaps due to the fact that the
overwhelming majority of these protesters were white
(and here I speculate on subconscious perceptions of
political importance due to race in early 20th
century), the twenty-first constitutional amendment
was introduced which expressly repealed the misguided
eighteenth amendment, after only 13 years.Cannabis, or "marihuana," to use the anglicized
Mexican slang which has found its way into common
parlance, was once primarily found in conjunction with
impoverished Mexicans and African-Americans,
predominantly in the southern and southwestern United
States, and the intellectual beginnings of cannabis'
prohibition are incontrovertibly steeped in racism:"Reefer makes darkies think they're as good as white
men." So sayeth Federal Bureau of Narcotics Chief
Harry J. Anslinger to Congress, circa 1929. Based
upon such hard science, cannabis was made illegal.By any unbiased measure, alcohol presents a far more
serious threat to general public health than cannabis
does. Myriad scientists, both medical and academic,
recognize that the extremely low toxicity of cannabis
(and thus its extremely low physical addictiveness)
make its complete prohibition truly discreditable --
and please bear in mind that genuine science is
deliberately skeptical.There are, without hyperbole, millions of productive
society members who regularly consume cannabis on a
recreational basis, moderately and responsibly. These
persons, of which I count myself as one, and some of
which are older than yourself, Mr. Tandeske, are not
the stereotypical image of the "stupid stoner" as
promulgated by popular media and public safety
departments, but nonetheless they exist, their sole
criminality being that they enjoy the fruits of a
plant whose very existence is absurdly illegal.Operating under the presumption that you do not wish
to appear the hypocrite, I look forward to your
impending actions toward the total illegalization of
alcohol and tobacco -- two highly addictive drugs with
virtually no redeeming value which, by their current
legal status, are thought of as being "cool" by
underage minors. We are sending the wrong message to
our young people by having alcohol and tobacco so
widely advertised and sold to adults, while these two
drugs are responsible for literally hundreds of
thousands of human deaths per annum.Cannabis hasn't killed anyone. I hasten to add that
cannabis prohibition, sadly, has.Thank you.P.S. Please note that a copy of this letter has been
sent to the Fairbanks News-Miner.
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Comment #21 posted by FoM on July 10, 2006 at 13:09:36 PT
Hope
Bad dreams and headaches really are terrible. I hope they go away for you soon. This feeling is basically because I think people are seeing things are really wrong and need to be fixed if it's possible. We can complain about the mess we are in or we can say calmly that we've had enough. I believe that life is one cycle after another and they just keep repeating. We can see how we got here from the 60s. We see the error of today. Now it will start all over again because we have to balance ourselves. I hope this makes sense?
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Comment #20 posted by Hope on July 10, 2006 at 12:58:16 PT
FoM...."A change in the air."
I think I know what you mean. I noticed it a few weeks ago.My affliction to migraines and bad dreams has been rampant during the last week. Five migraines in just a few days and bad dreams...arrrrgh. But my faith and hope is still strong, in spite of the afflictions.One dream...although bothersome in many aspects, (I think I was really, really old in it, although still getting around pretty dang good), I had the feeling that our goal had been reached, was doing well, and had been accepted and acceptable for a very long time.I don't put much stock in my dreams...but it was very interesting.
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Comment #19 posted by FoM on July 10, 2006 at 11:54:18 PT
Mark Fiore
United States of Incarceration: http://www.markfiore.com/animation/shiv.html
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Comment #18 posted by FoM on July 10, 2006 at 11:19:37 PT
Hope
Do you feel the change in the air too? Maybe I am just thinking out loud. We have a beautiful breeze blowing thru the house and I am listening to Bob Dylan's music that Whig sent to me and I am in another frame of mind. It's like the spirit of those times long ago are being born again. It can't just be me because everywhere I turn I keep running into a similar feeling with what articles and people are saying. These are hard but amazing times.
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Comment #17 posted by Hope on July 10, 2006 at 11:05:35 PT
"as far removed from Republican control"
Me, too!
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Comment #16 posted by FoM on July 10, 2006 at 10:59:27 PT
Hope
I understand why people like Kinky Friedman. I think he would be good for Texas. He reminds me of Jesse Ventura. I would have voted for him when he ran for Governor if he was running in my state. Other then these great exceptions I will stick to voting for Democrats. All I want is to get as far removed from Republican control of our country as possible. I want to say to them. Just go away. Go away. Please go away! LOL!
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Comment #15 posted by Hope on July 10, 2006 at 10:54:20 PT
Cool Kinky T-Shirt
http://www.kinkyfriedman.com/xcart/product.php?productid=16194&cat=0&page=1&featured
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Comment #14 posted by Hope on July 10, 2006 at 10:44:12 PT
OT...Texas Politics
I've noticed something lately that you guys might find encouraging.People are talking about voting for Kinky Friedman! Just when I'd decided to vote Democratic wherever possible and not "waste" my vote...as I usually do, whenever possible.People that you'd never dream would vote for Kinky. They seem excited about the possibility. Elderly people, too! I find it nothing short of amazing.Maybe I'll have to backtrack on Dem support to vote for Kinky. I'm seeing signs that it might not be a wasted vote. Texans, of all kinds, shapes, and ages are lining up behind Kinky. That's good news to me.http://www.kinkyfriedman.com/
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Comment #13 posted by Had Enough on July 10, 2006 at 09:37:22 PT
CAGW Names Gov. Murkowski Porker of the Month
CAGW Names Gov. Murkowski Porker of the Month
January 20, 2006
(Washington, D.C.) - Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) today named Alaska Gov. Frank Murkowski (R) Porker of the Month for backing construction of the infamous “Bridges to Nowhere” and proposing a taxpayer-funded public relations campaign to repair the damage that the bridges helped inflict on Alaska’s national reputation…Congress designated $452 million in the six-year Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Act: A Legacy for Users (P.L. 109-59) for the two bridges: $229 million for the Gravina Island Bridge, connecting Gravina Island (pop. 50) to the town of Ketchikan; and $223 million for the Knik Arm Bridge, renamed Don Young’s Way after House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Don Young (R-Alaska). ….Last week, Gov. Murkowski announced a $1.2 billion state budget surplus. He proposed spending part of that windfall to hire a public relations firm to counter the perception that Alaska politicians milk taxpayers. ….More… http://www.cagw.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=9552Just a reminder.
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Comment #12 posted by Truth on July 10, 2006 at 08:35:06 PT
Gov. Frank Murkowski
Gov. Frank Murkowski seems to have forgotten that public servents are voted into office to represent the will of the people. The people have spoken, thier will is that good folks should be able to use cannabis for medical purpose. Franks seems to know better, he thinks that it's better to thwart the will of "the people" and put them in jail instead. Frank Murkowski can burn in hell for all I care.
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Comment #11 posted by FoM on July 10, 2006 at 08:26:21 PT
lombar 
I agree with you. I remember President Carter saying that the penalty for a drugs use shouldn't be worse then the harm the substance might cause. That's not word for word but I believe I am close to what he said.
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Comment #10 posted by lombar on July 10, 2006 at 08:16:04 PT
If we argue..
If we are engaged in arguing relative harms we are deflected from the truth that prison is far more harmful than cannabis. Even if cannabis was harmful/toxic/dangerous how does plying MORE DANGER upon us help? To deter others? If drug abuse is 'genetic' then we have criminalized a HUMAN CONDITION... Hello Gattaca...
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Comment #9 posted by FoM on July 10, 2006 at 07:58:20 PT
Just a Note
I haven't found any news so far but today we should hear more about what is going on in Alaska. Watching the news and seeing that building collapse makes me wonder how people aren't afraid to live in New York. I would be living in a constant state of when will something bad happen again. I hope no one was hurt or worse yet killed. Breathing the air in the city must be really toxic. They banned smoking cigarettes so that should help. Right.
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Comment #8 posted by afterburner on July 10, 2006 at 07:47:54 PT
There Goes another Prohibitionist: Squawk Harmless
"Critics continue to claim that marijuana is still a *harmless* drug"They just love putting words in our mouths. Critics continue to claim that cannabis, (the scientific name; "marijuana" is a racial epithet), is safer. Critics almost never use the word "harmless." Nothing is harmless. "In the long run we're all dead." --Adam Smith, father of modern economics
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Comment #7 posted by rchot on July 10, 2006 at 06:58:32 PT
1in10 psychologically dependent
I just wonder wher they got those stats from???
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Comment #6 posted by mayan on July 09, 2006 at 22:59:21 PT
oops
I see that FoM has already posted the counterpunch link in a previous thread. Sorry about that.
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Comment #5 posted by mayan on July 09, 2006 at 22:16:38 PT
Unconstitutional
What a bogus, one-sided piece. Bill Tandeske should resign immediately since he advocates the dismantling of liberties guaranteed by both the Alaskan State Constitution and the U.S. Constitution.Thank goodness House Bill 149 will be very short lived!Off topic...Big Pharma's Strange Holy Grail: Cannabis Without Euphoria?
http://www.counterpunch.org/gardner07082006.htmlTHE WAY OUT IS THE WAY IN...UW Instructor Believes He'll Keep His Job Despite 9/11 Controversy:
http://www.channel3000.com/news/9480690/detail.html?rss=c3k&psp=newsVanity Fair: Click Here For Conspiracy:
http://prisonplanet.com/articles/july2006/090706Conspiracy.htmNorge 'Le Monde' puts 9/11 on Front Page - Was September 11th an Inside Job?
http://www.911truth.org/article.php?story=200607081745017409/11 Icon Bill Doyle Openly Condemns US Government Complicity and Cover-up:
http://www.911truth.org/article.php?story=20060709040719187
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Comment #4 posted by goneposthole on July 09, 2006 at 19:14:25 PT
still
back in 1921, bootleggers hid stills in haystacks out in the country. booze was readily available for imbibers.prosecuting the drug war costs billions upon billions of dollars with zero results.it does not work.
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Comment #3 posted by WolfgangWylde on July 09, 2006 at 17:14:14 PT
Sigh...
"Recent actions included seizing more than 45 pounds of marijuana from a Bethel trafficker. Nearly 200 meth labs have been closed in the last five years. An organization has been shut down that was bringing huge quantities of high quality marijuana into Alaska from Canada."Great. Go for it. Leave the guy with 4 ounces in his house alone.
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Comment #2 posted by billos on July 09, 2006 at 16:31:53 PT
    YuP
Now they have something to do!!!
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Comment #1 posted by Medical Marijuana Mi on July 09, 2006 at 15:45:23 PT
Bill Tandeske is A TRAITOR
ANYONE HAVE A HEMP ROPE!
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