cannabisnews.com: Pot Rivals Apples as State's Biggest Cash Crop










  Pot Rivals Apples as State's Biggest Cash Crop

Posted by CN Staff on December 23, 2006 at 15:17:31 PT
By Emily Heffter, Seattle Times Staff Reporter 
Source: Seattle Times 

Seattle -- Washington is among the top five pot-producing states, producing a $1 billion-a-year crop that is second in value only to the state's famed apple harvest, according to an analysis released this week by a public-policy researcher.Jon Gettman, the Virginia-based researcher who wrote the report, used government data to show that marijuana has become the biggest cash crop in the United States, bringing in more annually than corn and wheat combined.
It's among the top three cash crops in 30 states, Gettman said. He said Washington is the nation's fifth-largest producer, behind California, Tennessee, Kentucky and Hawaii.Nationally, domestic marijuana production has increased 10 times over in the past 25 years, from 1,000 metric tons in 1981 to 10,000 metric tons in 2006, according to federal government estimates cited in the report.Gettman's study argues that the U.S. is forfeiting millions in potential tax revenue every year by criminalizing marijuana. He says proliferation of pot across the country shows the drug is a "pervasive and ineradicable part of the national economy."Drug-enforcement officials say they aren't surprised by the estimates since Washington and California have traditionally been hot growth spots for marijuana. But a regional enforcement agent worries that putting a dollar figure on the crop perpetuates a "fallacy" that marijuana represents a harmless tax windfall.Washington's Top Crops (Annually*)$1.15 billion: Apples$1.03 billion: Marijuana$500 million: Wheat*Based on a three-year average"You can look at anything being a cash crop if you don't want to make any conclusions about the damage it does," said Dave Rodriguez, the director of the Northwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program, a Seattle-based division of the Office of National Drug Control Policy.During the past several years, growers based in California and Mexico have taken over Washington's outdoor pot crops, which often are hidden on public forestland in the Yakima and Chelan areas, Rodriguez said. Law enforcement eradicates about 100,000 plants a year.In King County, indoor growing operations are becoming more common. Growers nurture a few hundred plants at a time in a single-family home and advertise the quality as similar to that of Canada's renowned "B.C. Bud" — noted for its purity and potency.It's not surprising that the industry is growing in Washington, Gettman said. Well-known industries in British Columbia and Oregon bring the expertise and culture to town, he said."Washington is in a situation where they get information and interaction from these two areas and so it's not that far afield ... for Washington to have a thriving indoor cultivation market because they have a lot of local knowledge there," he said."It's the old real-estate maxim of location, location, location."Gettman's report started with a widely used federal pot-production estimate that about 10,000 metric tons of marijuana are produced domestically every year. He divided that amount among the 50 states based on how much marijuana was seized in each state.From that result, he estimated that Washington is the second-largest producer of indoor-grown plants, sixth-largest producer of outdoor-grown plants and fifth-largest producer overall.Marijuana is a $1.03 billion-a-year industry in Washington, the report said, sandwiched between the $1.15 billion apple crop and the $500 million-a-year wheat crop.Total Marijuana Cultivation State --  Pounds Produced -- Total ValueCalifornia -- 8.6 million -- $13.8 billion Tennessee -- 3 million -- $4.8 billion Kentucky -- 2.8 million -- $4.5 billion Hawaii -- 2.4 million -- $3.8 million Washington -- 641,354 -- $1 billion Complete Title: Analyst Finds That Pot Rivals Apples as State's Biggest Cash CropSource: "Marijuana Production in the United States (2006)" by Jon Gettman, published in The Bulletin of Cannabis Reform, December 2006 Marijuana Production in the United States (2006) -- http://www.drugscience.org/bcr/index.htmlSource: Seattle Times (WA)Author: Emily Heffter, Seattle Times Staff ReporterPublished: Saturday, December 23, 2006Copyright: 2006 The Seattle Times CompanyContact: opinion seatimes.comWebsite: http://www.seattletimes.com/Related Articles:Transcript: Why Not Cash in on Marijuana Crops? http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22461.shtmlGroup Calls Marijuana State's Top Cash Crophttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22460.shtmlMarijuana Top US Cash Crop, Analyst Sayshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22458.shtml

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Comment #72 posted by global_warming on December 26, 2006 at 16:57:10 PT
I see sky's of blue
clouds of whitethink to my selfcan this new year?
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #71 posted by global_warming on December 26, 2006 at 16:24:47 PT
De Da Day
Who Can say, where the road goes?
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #70 posted by global_warming on December 26, 2006 at 16:07:20 PT
I said
Na, Na Na NannaClap your handsEvery bodyNa, Na Na Na
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #69 posted by global_warming on December 26, 2006 at 14:03:04 PT
in the new year
we' 'all can dance
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #68 posted by global_warming on December 26, 2006 at 13:48:08 PT
can you dance?
dear lady get off your chair
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #67 posted by global_warming on December 26, 2006 at 13:46:13 PT
what are you thinking?
can you hear?
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #66 posted by global_warming on December 26, 2006 at 13:27:10 PT
I Love My Mother
She was my first womenThat gave me grace
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #65 posted by global_warming on December 26, 2006 at 13:16:55 PT
sorry
have to dancehave no timebusy dancing
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #64 posted by global_warming on December 26, 2006 at 13:10:50 PT
pleese xcuse me
for I used' profane words....in this secular world that sits at my front doorstep
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #63 posted by global_warming on December 26, 2006 at 13:01:47 PT
what did I say
did I forget to say Nigger or Spickhope you are clapping
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #62 posted by global_warming on December 26, 2006 at 12:56:22 PT
can you see, yet?
this place, do hope, that rhymes with dope,Have a Good New Year
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #61 posted by global_warming on December 26, 2006 at 12:46:58 PT
Beach Boys
Dance, Dance,Do you have some other buttonPress It
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #60 posted by global_warming on December 26, 2006 at 12:43:27 PT
some say
do the twist and you will never grow old,so I have been toldanother year is comingyou still have timeto learn how to dance
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #59 posted by global_warming on December 26, 2006 at 12:38:16 PT
when you caught a glimpse
on that dance floordid you wonder?
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #58 posted by global_warming on December 26, 2006 at 12:22:36 PT
sometimes I wonder
did any body do the "twist" ?how many of you all can dance?
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #57 posted by global_warming on December 26, 2006 at 11:53:04 PT
re: Mr. Dave Rodriguez
How are you going to stop this madman from smashing all those containers of alcohol, when it his paycheck, and some deranged sense of moralism, that fuels him?It's sad, when some people have swallowed a lie, and cannot admit they were wrong.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #56 posted by E_Johnson on December 26, 2006 at 11:06:32 PT
There's a great new band coming up
Since it's a slow news day:I went to see Ozomatli Friday night at the House of Blues. They were better than ever. Reaching new heights musically. Outstanding performance.But the opening band was a real surprise. Upground. They do Latin ska, technically, but they can also do big band swing, rock, punk, funk, ranchera and cumbia.They're these young guys who were in band together in high school in East LA. They rocked the house so hard, my body was worn out from dancing even before Ozomatli hit the stage.http://www.upgroundmusic.com/They're part of "our culture." Their song "Yes - Ska" is about finding a spliff on the ground and smoking it and turning into a ska musician.They have a video on YouTube that's kind of cute. 
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Comment #55 posted by rchandar on December 26, 2006 at 09:20:26 PT:
Dave Rodriguez
"you can look at anything as a cash crop if you don't draw conclusions about the damage it does."--This is a stupid, BS comment that perpetuates ancient myths about human purpose. The notion that, should my psychology change, my occupation change, my levels of thinking change, is a violation of the "natural order" of mankind's psychology is bogus. We are part of society, and over time we do change noticeably. And "drawing conclusions" sounds stupid, too: does that mean a well-reasoned scientific hypothesis must be taken as truth? There are at least as many research findings which are inconclusive about pot as there are identifying harmful consequences.  Mr. Rodriguez is a backward man, he should know that.--rchandar
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Comment #54 posted by FoM on December 26, 2006 at 07:38:50 PT
Just a Note
I hope everyone is having a good holiday season. I can't find any news to post. Hopefully it will pick back up after the New Year but I doubt we'll see much of anything until then. Enjoy the rest of the holiday everyone.
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Comment #53 posted by rchandar on December 26, 2006 at 02:18:19 PT:
global_warming
the book is titled "The Bush Bible," and came out on the heels of Bush's re-election. It offers a number of possibilities for grieving liberals: escape to other countries, self-help for the disillusioned, and some plainspoken advice.The last words of this book are "to pray." Something I've tried to keep in mind since 2004. I don't pray every day, but the logistics of Bush's regime are always on my mind at that moment.--rchandar
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Comment #52 posted by FoM on December 25, 2006 at 20:17:08 PT
PBS Link on Forfeitures
I really am not sure who started forfeiture laws and how they should be changed but this is an interesting link.   
 
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline//shows/drugs/special/forfeiture.html
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Comment #51 posted by FoM on December 25, 2006 at 19:25:40 PT
Telarus 
I haven't followed how they do things about cash but I thought you are only allowed to have so much cash on you or risk it being taken if stopped. For some reason $9,000 comes to mind. I'm not sure though. If the money is in your checking account or savings account that protects a person at least a little I think. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #50 posted by Telarus on December 25, 2006 at 19:12:44 PT:
re: cash
Don't know if this has posted here yet: Federal Appeals Court: Driving With Money is a Crime Eighth Circuit Appeals Court ruling says police may seize cash from motorists even in the absence of any evidence that a crime has been committed.US Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit-A federal appeals court ruled yesterday that if a motorist is carrying large sums of money, it is automatically subject to confiscation. In the case entitled, " __United States of America__ v. __$124,700 in U.S. Currency,__ [emphasis mine -Tel]" the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit took that amount of cash away from Emiliano Gomez Gonzolez, a man with a "lack of significant criminal history" neither accused nor convicted of any crime.---------------
Notice that the case was US vs. the Property, therefore, Emiliano, as a bloke, has no right to free defense council, speedy trail, etc, etc, etc......... Yet another travesty because no one wants to think about what would happen if Juries were fully informed, educated, and able to wield the veto of nullification. [sarcasm]Why then this, country would be America as framed by the Constitition, and we can't have that!! [/sarcasm] I seriously hope that Emiliano finds the help he needs to prevail in this, and I hope it doesn't take til next Christmas to resolve it. So many court cases I'm interested in, so little time. Some-body should start a wiki. That way, as soon as a judge made a ruling in a case, even a preliminary one, it could be cited as a precedent. Eventually, it would tangle itself up and self-entropy, and humans seem very good at casting side the old and entropic in favor of a higher-order informational paradigm.Merry Christmas everyone!Namaste, -Telarus, SC
Federal Appeals Court: Driving With Money is a Crime
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Comment #49 posted by global_warming on December 25, 2006 at 12:55:12 PT
re: cash
if you 'ain t got no cashyou cannot read thisnext buttonthat you might have pressedMerry Christ'masand a very Happy New Year.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #48 posted by global_warming on December 25, 2006 at 12:46:13 PT
re; Law
did you break the law?do you feel guilty?oh what have you donewe were ready to go to that evening where the stars would be witnessnow I look at some carpenterand received this disease
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #47 posted by global_warming on December 25, 2006 at 12:36:17 PT
what can I say..?
HallelujahHail Mary, did you have a vision?Have you broken the Law?
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #46 posted by FoM on December 25, 2006 at 12:27:02 PT
global_warming
Glad you liked the video. We have the DVD that Christmas Eve in Sarejevo is on. It is a really good Christmas DVD.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #45 posted by global_warming on December 25, 2006 at 12:16:58 PT
re: Bibles
you would expect the very finest truth'justice and understanding in a Biblesome place in word and deedwhere kind and good peoplegather to singto say aloudin a songwhat cannot be said or thought
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #44 posted by FoM on December 25, 2006 at 12:13:36 PT
 rchandar
I know that what is ahead of us is going to be very bad but I am counting on the new power of the Democrats to stand up for those of us who voted them in. If they fail then there just isn't much hope for a better country for years to come. I pray for peace.
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Comment #43 posted by global_warming on December 25, 2006 at 12:08:39 PT
re: It's the long stretch, pray.
so is that Bush Bible..
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #42 posted by rchandar on December 25, 2006 at 11:56:40 PT:
FoM
Yes, I agree. Okay, but hold on, it's going to be a rough ride. These are the last 2 years of Bush's presidency, which means they will be the worst 2 years.It's discernible in politics. The first few years of the Bush administration saw liberties curtailed slowly; the Clinton legacy stalled some of that. But as time went on, Bush became more aggressive and squashed a lot of dissent and human beings. He's never cared that he's super-unpopular; he has the office and does what he wants. Now that the Dems are in control of the Congress, I expect the worst machinations of repressive government. The Dems will be there to fight, but I'm sure now he's concerned about his "legacy" and presidents tend to do that worst sort of damage when they know they won't be there much longer.
It means that liberals and open-minded conservatives will have to bury the quarrels of the past; now is the time to be at our organized and active best, at all levels of community, politics, and thinking. I guarantee there will be some pretty outrageous platforms proposed in 2007; we have to make sure that nothing from this irksome fundamentalist right gets to pass into law, nor that conservative backwaters get the opportunity to popularize new ways of repressive and crude government and thinking.I go by "The Bush Bible," a great book. It's the long stretch, pray.--rchandar
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #41 posted by global_warming on December 25, 2006 at 11:53:39 PT
thanks for the link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iY4Tom6-wM【Trans-Siberian Orchestra】
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #40 posted by FoM on December 25, 2006 at 10:11:19 PT
Hope
Merry Christmas to you and your family!
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Comment #39 posted by Hope on December 25, 2006 at 09:58:44 PT
Next year
I suspect, is going to be a very good one for us and our cause. On to victory!
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #38 posted by Hope on December 25, 2006 at 09:57:36 PT
"Happy holiday, and PLENTY of GREEN!"
One of the cutest, funniest Christmas card I ever got showed Santa and the elves toking...with the caption, "A friend with weed is a friend indeed!":0)Merry Christmas!
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Comment #37 posted by FoM on December 25, 2006 at 09:24:13 PT
Truth
Merry Christmas to you and your family. I look at the upcoming New Year as a call to arms. We must stop the madness before it's too late. If it is allowed to get much worse we might not be able to fix it is my concern. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #36 posted by Truth on December 25, 2006 at 09:04:19 PT
FoM
Post 31....Good one. I think you speak for us all on that one.Merry Christmas to everyone, prohibitionist included.Peace to ALL!
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #35 posted by FoM on December 25, 2006 at 07:11:28 PT
Merry Christmas Everyone
Trans-Siberian Orchestra: Christmas Eve in Sarejevohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iY4Tom6-wM
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Comment #34 posted by mai_bong_city on December 25, 2006 at 07:09:22 PT
merry christmas to all
may you be loved, may you love even more.
may you find peace, and may you make it.
may these moments bring you joy,
may you return it.thank you for being my friends, my family, and my strength.you are all blessings, and blessed.
and i thank the creator for saviours - of which i believe cannabis is one.mbc.
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Comment #33 posted by Toker00 on December 25, 2006 at 07:04:51 PT
PEACE ON THE UNIVERSE
From me and El.We wish you a Merry Christmas, We wish you a Merry Christmas,We wish you a Merry Christmas,And a Happy New Year!FoM, you and Stick have a Good day today. Rest from your toil and enjoy the Joy of Truth and Friendship. Hot cocoa, cookies, the works. Enjoy!I hope all our Brothers and Sisters have a safe, warm, Happy holiday, and PLENTY of GREEN!Let Earth Recieve His Peace.Toke. And El.
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Comment #32 posted by FoM on December 25, 2006 at 06:57:26 PT

The GCW 
Merry Christmas! Enjoy your vacation.
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #31 posted by FoM on December 25, 2006 at 06:55:50 PT

rchandar 
I guess no matter what Bush has done to us I love America because soon he will be out of office and maybe if we work hard we will be able to show the world that we are good people and we don't support bombing and occupying other people's countries. This Land is Our Landhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tysEt8YohoU
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Comment #30 posted by FoM on December 25, 2006 at 06:40:49 PT

nuevo mexican 
Really good videos. Last night on our way to my sister's house we heard Melissa Etheridge sing War is Over on the radio and it surprised me because I haven't heard that song played for a long time. Peace on Earth is my prayer this Holiday Season. Here's my Christmas Wish video. It's Neil Young singing Imagine.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3T8xr274q8
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Comment #29 posted by FoM on December 25, 2006 at 06:34:57 PT

JHarshaw
Thank you so much and a big Merry Christmas to you!
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #28 posted by The GCW on December 25, 2006 at 06:31:14 PT

Eye opener
I'm traveling... Missouri... Family... don't have tv at home...Watching last night, I saw a commercial showing a show on today (Christmas) that celebrates the troops etc. and it is interesting that on the day We celebrate the birth of the PRINCE OF PEACE, they are putting on a show to honor those who kill and murder...Wierd and worse.Merry Christmas. Happy Birthday Jesus Christ.I love You and I Am glad You love Us.Thank You.Forgive Us of Our sins.Thank You for that great blessing.LoveThe Green Collar Worker
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Comment #27 posted by mayan on December 25, 2006 at 06:12:57 PT

Peace 
According to government data, wild hemp plants are counted and considered "manufactured" aren't they? Cage God. And who knows just how much weed is grown indoors? Regardless, cannabis could be a huge boost to many local economies throughout this country. Free the weed. Free the land. Free the people!James Brown, R.I.P.I hope everyone enjoys their celebrations today. May this be a peaceful holiday season for all!I wish I could focus on peace for just this day of all days, but there is no rest for the wicked...Channel tunnel is terror target:
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,1978642,00.html
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Comment #26 posted by rchandar on December 25, 2006 at 01:53:54 PT:

This morning from CNN
James Brown, 1933-2006.
RIP, God rest his soul.
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Comment #25 posted by rchandar on December 24, 2006 at 23:02:59 PT:

FoM
There are many reasons to stay in America, despite all the problems and the things that incense us on a daily basis.But then, FoM, neither one of us could relocate to Europe even if we wanted to. We're Americans, so that means we'd never be able to land a job.--rchandar
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Comment #24 posted by nuevo mexican on December 24, 2006 at 22:11:48 PT

The latest from Sara and Eva......
Women are Awesome!Off/on topic:This video is stunningly haunting, beautiful, disastrous, and too true to really comprehend, so here we are on Christmas Eve, and this song tells the real Christmas story! Blessed are the peacemakers!Maybe someone posted this already?Christmas at War:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ejz0Cak6vbA&eurl=What we can do:March on Washington, Jan. 27th, 2007!!!!THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN, NOW CONGRESS MUST ACT.On Saturday, Jan. 27th, people from every corner of the country will march on Washington, DC. Our message will be clear, our voice will be strong: End the war in Iraq, Bring all the troops home now! We urge you to join us!On Mon., Jan. 29th, we will take our message directly to the new Congress during our lobby day.http://www.unitedforpeace.org/Video of Beatles singing 'You can't do that', live, great song, great band, great memories, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLjIyaOZgQA&feature=PlayList&p=D18C022A4DB0B651&index=23John and Yoko: 
'And so this is Christmas'http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-DEF0F90c8
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Comment #23 posted by Hope on December 24, 2006 at 21:31:17 PT

It's been a blessed Christmas Eve 
here, too. I hope everyone has a wonderful day tomorrow.Merry Christmas!
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Comment #22 posted by JHarshaw on December 24, 2006 at 20:44:19 PT

Off Topic
To all here....and most especially to you FoM I wish a Merry Christmas and the best New Year.I know I don't say much but there are so many eloquent people here that all I need do is read. It is a pleasure to come here and get a chuckle or maybe just a ray of hope.So, may this year coming find us all where we want to be.just a thought, peace and pot
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Comment #21 posted by ekim on December 24, 2006 at 20:08:37 PT

thank you Howard and the best to all-----
Newsletter December 22, 2006Life has settled into a routine for me. I call and book appointments,
scheduling 5-6 or so a day.  The 7:10 train takes me to Union Station and a
brisk 1 mile walk later, I am ‘at work.’  Still, I never fail to take a
good glimpse of the Capitol Dome as I leave the train station and I always
glance over at the massive pillars of the Supreme Court building on my
morning walk. Such things reminds of the seriousness of my mission.A staffer this week agreed that Walter Cronkite’s idea was excellent;
namely, to have a national, blue ribbon commission to study the entire
policy of prohibition. She did challenge me to find a way of naming such a
body so as not to scare all the soccer moms and dads. So, how do we?
Framing an issue (drug prohibition, not war on drugs, etc), creating a
non-threatening name for a commission makes sense and would make it easier
for our leaders to sign on to such a study. If you have a brain burp on
this, please let me know. Challenge your friends. “National Commission on
Drug Policy” or “Drug Policy Study Group” or your idea here___________This week I switched to the Senate, where I will stay until I have met w/
all the staffers whose Senators are on the judiciary and appropriations
committee. Their newest of 3 office buildings, The Hart, is close to
palatial. In the main corridors there is no dry wall (sheetrock) only
marble. Even the handrails of stairwell are marble. Yikes! My tax money.
Now I know why Congressman want to grow up to be a Senator.If you visit DC, I would be happy to accompany you to your federal offices.
Constituents go to the head of any line. You would find it a learning often
positive experience, even when the aide indicates sharp disagreement.  You
will walk away knowing how/what it takes to change a politician’s mind and
vote. No need for your Sunday best, just clean street clothes are fine.Since I started a year ago, I have visited 170 offices out of 540. I
believe I can visit all the rest in 2007.The offices are mostly empty during the week between Christmas and New
Years. So, no newsletter next week. I will spend the week working on a new
section of the LEAP website, translating material into German, French and
Spanish. Wishing you and yours the best in 2007. howardOfficer Howard J. Wooldridge (retired)
Education Specialist, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (www.leap.cc)
Washington, DC
Hablo espanol, je parle francais, Deutsch auchHoward J. Wooldridge
1402 W. 7th Street
Frederick, MD 21702
301-695-1739
817-975-1110 (cell)
wooldridge leap.ccThe mission of LEAP is to reduce the multitude of unintended harmful
consequences resulting from fighting the war on drugs and to lessen the
incidence of death, disease, crime, and addiction by ultimately ending
drug prohibition.
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Comment #20 posted by FoM on December 24, 2006 at 20:05:12 PT

Afterburner, Dankhank and Global Warming
Merry Christmas to you! We had a really nice time with our family and I hope you all are too.Afterburner, I'm glad you liked it and it's really good to see you.
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Comment #19 posted by afterburner on December 24, 2006 at 17:42:56 PT

That's beautiful FoM #12
harmless No not 'harmless'!Safer, benignThat's beautiful FoM #12Free the Miracle Plant from false accusations!
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Comment #18 posted by Dankhank on December 24, 2006 at 16:41:32 PT

Merry Christmas
soon to start our Christmas eve meal ...Schienebraten and Knoerdals ...Super Bavarian Dinner ...Happy Holidays to all ...Peace and good will to all love ...
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Comment #17 posted by global_warming on December 24, 2006 at 12:10:30 PT

hey fomme
have a good tripwhen 2007 comesI hope that good people Find Freedom
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #16 posted by global_warming on December 24, 2006 at 12:02:31 PT

Have You Insurance?
Have you pressed the correct button?
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #15 posted by global_warming on December 24, 2006 at 11:37:05 PT

Let me ask
Have you ever been "arrested"?
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #14 posted by global_warming on December 24, 2006 at 11:32:22 PT

did you get arrested ?
are you a good person?
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #13 posted by global_warming on December 24, 2006 at 11:16:53 PT

has this news made it into
the belly of the main stream media yet?It seems that so many people live in a world with 2 standards, a world that closely hides behind some kind of moralism, yet allows the likes of terrorist bastards to blackmail us into some plea bargained agreement.The platform of existence supports all of us, when you look for courage, look at your capacity for freedom.
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #12 posted by FoM on December 24, 2006 at 08:22:58 PT

Potpal
Cannabis should really be free. It would have value as people figured out ways to market it. So many industries would be born all around the USA. Someone might have a special strain that works good on a particular symptom of a disease. Besides that Cannabis could be used in making some form of alcohol type drink. Beer is made with Hops and Hops is in the Cannabis family I think. If it was free it could be used as a tea not for any high but the benefits of a good green tea with a unique flavor. Bread and clothing and so much more that I can't add them up. It would put oxygen back in the air if it was allowed to grow freely. Many jobs would be created because it will take time and money to maximize all the ways to utilize the Cannabis plant. Taxes would be generated by the new products made from Cannabis. It could be like Senator Obama and become a rock star even if for just a little while. It would be a good thing.Merry Christmas
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Comment #11 posted by potpal on December 24, 2006 at 07:52:08 PT

yeah but
Isn't this calculation based on prohibition prices? And it doesn't factor in what the introduction of hemp into various industries, food, agriculture, textiles, will contribute. I hope the reason cannabis is inevitably legalized is because there is no reason to prohibit it. It is a safer alternative (I prefer reefer) to alcohol or tobacco, it is not a gateway drug, has medicinal benefits, is a green alternation to many polluting industries, healthy food source. In fact, that it is a crime to not allow responsible use of this beneficial plant.
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Comment #10 posted by FoM on December 24, 2006 at 07:41:29 PT

Just a Comment
I hope everyone is having a great holiday. I will keep looking for news until we leave but I doubt any news will surface.As far as the money issue we are talking about I never have wanted to leave America since there is so much to see right here so maybe that is why I don't understand Euros versus dollars. 
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Comment #9 posted by rchandar on December 24, 2006 at 05:43:37 PT:

Dankhank
...it does if you travel to holland, or anywhere in europe. With the Euro at $1.34, purchasing power for Americans has gone down astronomically since the 90s.
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Comment #8 posted by FoM on December 23, 2006 at 19:40:40 PT

Dankhank
I agree that the debt is the bad thing. That I understand.
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Comment #7 posted by Dankhank on December 23, 2006 at 19:31:37 PT

crumbling dollar ...
In 1864 it cost $9.97 to buy one British pound.In 2004 a British Pound cost only $1.83, up from $1.30 in 1985, so there has been a slight weakening of the dollar in recent years, but does it indicate collapse?The debt is the thing ...Economics is tricky ...Sheeeeesh .....
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Comment #6 posted by FoM on December 23, 2006 at 19:00:19 PT

ChristenMitchell 
You made sense to me. I look at America and I don't see us as a powerful country but more like a person who is in heavy credit card debt. Whoever loans us the money really owns what we borrowed the money for because if we default they would own our stuff or something close to that. I think a depression is a strong possibility. We had our power go out yesterday. We heat with wood so it didn't matter. After the 70s fuel shortage we decided not to depend on anything but ourselves for heat. Most people where we live use wood as heat. I think we should look at how we will survive if the bottom falls out of the economy just like we did back when we couldn't get fuel except on certain days. 
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Comment #5 posted by ChristenMitchell on December 23, 2006 at 18:47:26 PT:

FOM
The dollar is the world currency. If it were replaced by the Euro it would weaken. The US does not support the dollar anymore with gold. It by and large simply prints what it needs. All taxes now go to simply service the national debt, nothing goes to services. When the dollar's value is reduced and it loses its popularity, the national debt which is publicized as 9 Trillion dollars (but which may actually be closer to 45 Trillion dollars) will sink the economy. Something like a new and even greater depression. At least that is my, admittedly small, understanding. I'm sure another contributer can say it better. Thanks
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on December 23, 2006 at 18:18:22 PT

Thanks Mayan
I tried to read and understand the article but it went over my head. I don't know what people should prepare to do if the world gets anymore complicated. All I can think is to work down debt and don't buy un-necessary things. Grow a vegetable garden and cut back on waste. I want to see a return to more thoughts like Mother Earth News gave us years ago. Less dependence on any system but on our own ability to make our own way seems smarter.
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Comment #3 posted by mayan on December 23, 2006 at 17:48:36 PT

FoM
Here's one man's take on it from January of this year...The Proposed Iranian Oil Bourse:
http://www.energybulletin.net/12125.html
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on December 23, 2006 at 17:17:25 PT

ChristenMitchell 
I've read about what you are saying but I don't understand why it would matter about Iran using Euros instead of US Currency. How would it hurt us?
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Comment #1 posted by ChristenMitchell on December 23, 2006 at 16:44:23 PT:

The First Blow
Speaking of cash, the beginning of the end is at hand. Iran announced today that it is dumping the dollar in favor of the Euro for its oil transactions. This could very well be the start of the buck's slide from world preeminence. Do recall that Saddam changed to the Euro, and we know what happened.
It is always interesting to see what news the US media congloms choose to report to the public. No sign so far on the big boys' sites.
Hemptopia - Our Greener Future
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