cannabisnews.com: Federal Government Still Looks at MJ as Illegal





Federal Government Still Looks at MJ as Illegal
Posted by CN Staff on January 07, 2007 at 18:41:21 PT
By Josh Premako, Senior Staff Writer 
Source: Signal
California -- The federal government still essentially looks at marijuana use in America the same way it has for some time - it's illegal. But illegal doesn't necessarily mean illegal.For the last 10 years, the drug has been legal for medical use in California, creating a quandary for communities when it comes to the issue of medical marijuana dispensaries.
Marijuana was legalized for therapeutic use in California in 1996 when voters passed Proposition 215. In 2003, state legislation was approved allowing counties to issue identification cards to medical users to protect them from prosecution by local law enforcement.Essentially, it takes a doctor's written recommendation to get a card.To which law does a city hold? State or federal?"I feel for public officials who feel caught by that, (but) the obligation is first and foremost to state law," said William Dolphin, spokesman for Americans for Safe Access.Based in Oakland, ASA is a self-described organization of "patients, medical professionals, scientists and concerned citizens promoting safe and legal access to cannabis for therapeutic uses and research," with more than 30,000 active members.Public concern over medical marijuana is fueled by myths and misleading information, Dolphin said, and added that those who are "courageous" enough to open a dispensary often get categorized as drug dealers when they are actually helping those who most need help."What we're dealing with is a problem that is the creation of the federal government," he said.Though medical cannabis dispensaries have not been a contributing factor in the revitalization of West Hollywood, former city manager Paul Brotzman said their presence hasn't necessarily been damaging either.Santa Clarita's community development director, Brotzman was city manager of West Hollywood from 1985 to 1996.There are "six or seven" dispensaries operating in West Hollywood, said city attorney Mike Jenkins of the firm Jenkins and Hogin."I think some people perceive that the dispensaries could have a negative effect ... (and) that's a concern," he said, and added that despite occasional "anecdotal evidence" that some might be abusing the system, he is not aware of any arrests or solid evidence of abuse.While West Hollywood has an ordinance regulating the opening of dispensaries, and is set to adopt an ordinance with increased guidelines for where a dispensary can operate, Jenkins said "we don't play much of a role" in regulating how the shops are operating."We do not police who goes in and acquires the marijuana," he said. "We are assuming like any other merchant ... that they are complying with the law."Where dispensaries get their marijuana supplies can vary, Dolphin said.Though in the past dispensaries tended to grow their own supplies, "federal prosecutors have made that a dangerous business," he said, and added that now the shops tend to rely on "outside growers."In addition, he said patients will often do cooperative plant growing, supplying those who use dispensaries.Those "outside growers" can include "anyone and anybody," said Special Agent Sarah Pullen, spokeswoman for the Drug Enforcement Administration's Los Angeles office."They get it from where they can," she said.An abused system, she said the dispensaries have become less about providing the drug to the very ill, and "more of a marijuana legalization."While marijuana dispensaries are a complicated issue within the state, she said it is fairly black and white, federally speaking."They're illegal under federal law," Pullen said. "They're operating under a cloak of (state) legality."As a result, she said the DEA's responsibility is to investigate dispensaries as they would any other individual or group dealing in illegal drugs."We're targeting and identifying individuals we feel are the greatest threat," she said.With a rift between state and federal laws, she said there are certainly issues that need to be addressed and "it's going to have to be handled by the legislature and Congress."While the city of Santa Clarita has a two-year moratorium on dispensaries within city limits, there's nothing hindering someone from setting up shop in the unincorporated areas of the Santa Clarita Valley.Sgt. Phil Morris of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station's Narcotics Bureau said Thursday that he has been contacted by an individual who told Morris he has received county approval and is opening a dispensary in Castaic.The problem is not inherently with dispensaries, Morris said, but with those who are abusing the system to get high."I'll be the first person to say 'yeah, give it to that person (suffering a serious illness),'" he said.At present there is one dispensary operating in the unincorporated county area near the San Gabriel Valley, said Ron Hoffman, administrator of the advanced planning division of the county Department of Regional Planning.Approval of any dispensary set up in one of the 88 cities in Los Angeles County is the responsibility of those individual municipalities, he said.However, until municipal language is written and the state and federal governments reach some sort of agreement, Santa Clarita will continue to just say no, Brotzman said."We have the position that we're not approving (dispensaries)," he said.Source: Signal, The (CA)Author: Josh Premako, Senior Staff Writer Published: Sunday, January 7, 2007Copyright: 2007 The SignalContact: bfranks the-signal.comWebsite: http://www.the-signal.com/Americans For Safe Accesshttp://www.safeaccessnow.org/CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml 
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Comment #47 posted by Hope on January 09, 2007 at 09:22:40 PT
And
Prohibitionists....if you don't like it...don't use it....but leave the people alone who do choose to use it. It's simple. Leave them alone and let them live their lives and you live yours...by not butting into everyone else's personal business all the time.
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Comment #46 posted by Hope on January 09, 2007 at 09:19:19 PT
Amen, Afterburner!
"Slavery was abolished. The Berlin Wall was torn down. Prohibition I was repealed. And we will end this cruel travesty against cannabis, the blessed herb, the enlightener, the healer."
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Comment #45 posted by afterburner on January 08, 2007 at 21:57:53 PT
LTEs, Herbs, Alcohol, and Slavery
CN AB: PUB LTE: Reader Glad To See Giuliano Zaccardelli Gone, Red Deer Express, (03 Jan 2007) 
http://www.mapinc.org/newstcl/v07/n021/a05.html?176CN BC: Cannabis Activist Speaks Out on Raid and Booze, Alberni Valley Times, (05 Jan 2007) 
http://www.mapinc.org/newstcl/v07/n021/a06.html?176CN BC: PUB LTE: Don't Sacrifice Rights In War On Drugs, Victoria Times-Colonist, (06 Jan 2007) 
http://www.mapinc.org/newstcl/v07/n020/a06.html?176OT - Another Herb Yields Its Secrets to Medical Science:Psychology Today: Spicing Up Your Memory 
Sage may help you grow wiser. The spice has been shown to improve short-term memory. ... The spice allows the neurotransmitter acetylcholine to increase. ...
http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/pto-20031111-000003.html#32"Nancy Pelosi's city San Francisco is listed as the number one city in the usa for drug use as listed as regular drug users such as marijuana.cocaine or heroin in the previous month at 13% of its residents."Yeah, and what percentage of the population anywhere used alcohol in the previous month?Dankhank #12And sports because of the "doping" tests is one of the major supporters of Prohibition, except for alcohol, of course. Alcohol is the elephant in the room that the prohibitionists do not want to talk about.Slavery was abolished. The Berlin Wall was torn down. Prohibition I was repealed. And we will end this cruel travesty against cannabis, the blessed herb, the enlightener, the healer.
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Comment #44 posted by FoM on January 08, 2007 at 21:32:50 PT
Dankhank
Cannabis is so universal and such a peaceful herb that it's really way past time to change the law. 
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Comment #43 posted by Dankhank on January 08, 2007 at 21:30:13 PT
agreed
let's start with the noble Cannabis plant in all it's glorious permutations.
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Comment #42 posted by FoM on January 08, 2007 at 21:24:31 PT
Dankhank 
He did get a lot out. He said we need to start with Marijuana. I agree.
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Comment #41 posted by Dankhank on January 08, 2007 at 21:20:39 PT
short time ..
to put a lot of information out and he did a pretty good job.sounds like he had a supportive audience.getting the message out ...likely to the choir ...but maybe a new talking point ... or two ...Peace to all who teach ...
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Comment #40 posted by FoM on January 08, 2007 at 20:56:06 PT
Wow What Was That?
I never heard Ethan Nadelmann talk that fast or be that up. I thought it was funny at the end when Colbert said come back when you aren't high.
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Comment #39 posted by FoM on January 08, 2007 at 19:58:08 PT
Dankhank 
My husband and I both don't think the show is really that funny so we usually change the channel after the Daily Show is over but I must admit he did a really good job when Neil was on. I just know how drugs are giggled about, demonized and people get hurt and put in jail. I am very serious these days and worry. Mr. Nadelmann will do his best and he always comes across as a nice person so maybe he will be kind to him.
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Comment #38 posted by Dankhank on January 08, 2007 at 19:31:59 PT
It'll be OK ...
I think ...Colbert will ape the prohib line line to great amuzementshould be good ...
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Comment #37 posted by FoM on January 08, 2007 at 18:29:13 PT
Dankhank
We have local Network Channels but they are for Columbus and that's not local for us. We watch almost all the channels you mentioned. I am nervous tonight about Ethan Nadelmann going on the Colbert Report. I don't normally watch the show but I do watch The Daily Show and really like it. 
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Comment #36 posted by Dankhank on January 08, 2007 at 18:20:14 PT
TV.......
We've had Dish for a year or so after 9 years of DirecTV.We still don't watch the networks much, though I am glad we found "Heroes" on NBC.I like the History, A&E, Discovery, Documentary, Adult Swim, Comedy Central, SciFi, and any half decent movie or SHO/HBO show.
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Comment #35 posted by FoM on January 08, 2007 at 16:38:03 PT
dongenero
That's so true.
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Comment #34 posted by FoM on January 08, 2007 at 16:37:18 PT
Dankhank
We don't subscribe to Showtime anymore but I saw the preview when we got it. When Weeds starts it's next season we'll get it again. I really find movies or even series hard to watch. I like programs on HGTV and just about everything on the Discovery Channels. The History Channel is really good too. I won't watch The Military Channel though.
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Comment #33 posted by Dankhank on January 08, 2007 at 15:40:34 PT
Sleeper Cell ...
A fine show, see it from the beginning if you can.In one show they did a test to see the area of dispersion of a powder similar to Anthrax throughout a mall.This could have been a test of outdoor dispersion by wind and currents formed by the bulidings ...The news reported about the area covered by the smell ...Data for some one?
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Comment #32 posted by ekim on January 08, 2007 at 14:06:42 PT
study says nothing about Med use of cannabis
Nancy Pelosi's city San Francisco
is listed as the number one city in the usa for drug use 
as listed as regular drug users such as marijuana.cocaine or heroin in the previous month
at 13% of its residents. then the story goes on to point out that Seattle has 9.6% and Detroit has 9.5% and Philadelphia 9.1% and boston 8.5% citieswith the lowest drug use --
Huston 6.2% and Washington 6.5% and riverside / san bernardino6.5and dallas 6.5% so says a study from the substance abuse and mental health services administration the national average is 8.1%
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Comment #31 posted by dongenero on January 08, 2007 at 13:16:45 PT
comment #30
"He maintained that the federal government sees any use or sale of medical marijuana as a crime and that federal law authorities would see people involved in that crime – including cities that allow it – as potentially aiding and abetting in the crime."Wrong Mr. US Attorney, the Federal Gov't has supplied and continues to supply medical marijuana, grown at the University of Mississippi, to a number of patients in the federal IND program.http://www.medicalmarijuanaprocon.org/bin/procon/procon.cgi?database=5-F-Subs-3.db&command=viewone&op=t&id=1&rnd=676.4102069515818
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Comment #30 posted by FoM on January 08, 2007 at 13:01:51 PT
MMJ Breaking News from The Desert Sun
Medical Marijuana Meeting Turns into Shouting MatchBy Erica Solvig, The Desert SunJanuary 8, 2007 What was supposed to be a routine update on medical marijuana to the Coachella Valley Association of Governments’ Public Safety Committee turned out to be an explosive confrontation between medical marijuana supporters and the U.S. Attorney’s office.The discussion, which became a shouting match, left local supporters and city officials with many major questions unanswered.Tom O’Brien, chief of the criminal division out of the Los Angeles office of the U.S. Attorney, would not speculate on many of the hypothetical and real-life scenarios brought up in the meeting today.He maintained that the federal government sees any use or sale of medical marijuana as a crime and that federal law authorities would see people involved in that crime – including cities that allow it – as potentially aiding and abetting in the crime.He would not go so far as to say whether any city would be prosecuted.Read more in The Desert Sun on Tuesday.Copyright: 2006 The Desert Sunhttp://www.thedesertsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070108/UPDATE/70108022
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Comment #29 posted by FoM on January 08, 2007 at 12:16:45 PT
Overweight? It May Be Just Body Chemistry
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/526380/
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Comment #28 posted by ekim on January 08, 2007 at 11:37:44 PT
city that never learned the lesson of Al Capone
US IL: Pot Busts Net 2,800 PoundsURL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v07.n023.a01.html
Newshawk: DrugSense Weekly www.drugsense.org/current.htm
 Votes: 0
Pubdate: Mon, 08 Jan 2007
Source: Chicago Tribune (IL)
Copyright: 2007 Chicago Tribune Company
Contact: ctc-TribLetter Tribune.com
Website: http://www.chicagotribune.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/82
Author: Tonya Maxwell, Tribune staff reporter
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Marijuana)POT BUSTS NET 2,800 POUNDS Valued at $7.5 Million, Seizures Are Largest in Recent Years, Cops Say Chicago police have seized about 2,800 pounds of marijuana in a four-day series of drug busts, representing the largest cannabis confiscation in recent years, officers said Sunday evening. Standing in front of dozens of bales, the deputy chief of the narcotics and gangs section reiterated what Chicago police often cite as problems in the city: gangs, guns and drugs. "Street gangs use these narcotics to fund their enterprises and buy guns and put the community and everyone at risk in terms of the violence associated with it," Steve Caluris said at an evidence storage warehouse on the West Side. He estimated the value of the marijuana in the four seizures at $7.5 million. Three occurred on the Southwest Side, and the last was on the Northwest Side. Six people have been arrested, Caluris said. Police declined to identify the people in custody. Tips from the community and informants led officers to the drug stashes, Caluris said. In the first bust on Thursday, police found 465 pounds of marijuana and $53,000 in cash at an address in the 3400 block of West 72nd Street, he said. The next day, Officers Raphael Mitchem and Mark Eldridge were staking out a home in the 4400 block of South Homan Avenue after being tipped off that drugs were stored inside. "We saw two males leave carrying a television box. We approached and asked what they were carrying, and they said, 'Nothing,'" Mitchem said. "We could smell the drug. They had 31 pounds in that box." Inside the home, they found about an additional 1,070 pounds of marijuana, stacked in cellophane bundles in the basement, he said. Officers also found $1,000 in the house, which Mitchem described as vacant except for a TV and the drugs. On Saturday, police confiscated about 42 pounds of marijuana as well as $700 and a shotgun at a home in the 6100 block of South Kildare Avenue, Caluris said. The weapon was within reach of four children, he added. Sunday evening brought the biggest seizure, with officers collecting 1,200 pounds and a gun on the Northwest Side, Caluris said. Caluris added that police were working with federal drug enforcement agents to determine if the marijuana seizures represent a spike in shipments or some other factor.  
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Comment #27 posted by FoM on January 08, 2007 at 10:24:37 PT
nuevo mexican
I love the pictures. I think we must hold Nancy Pelosi and all newly elected Democrats feet to the fire. Republicans don't listen but most times Democrats will listen if you make sure they know you are serious.
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Comment #26 posted by FoM on January 08, 2007 at 10:19:15 PT
mai_bong_city 
I think similarly to you about why things are the way they are. I didn't watch cartoons very often so I don't know who Pinky is though. We really believe that we should control the whole world. Scary thoughts to me.
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Comment #25 posted by nuevo mexican on January 08, 2007 at 09:51:50 PT
On New York and the gas that was passed.....
Remember this from last year?I suspect bush is passing gas, since that is his favorite thing to do in front of strangers, (and the media overlooks this frat boy obsession, but Clinton likes blow jobs, which is worse, the former in my opinion)?From the article:
Something strange is going on-- last night the whole city smelled like maple syrup! Gothamist has gotten reports from all over Manhattan-- and we smelled the strange, sweet odor as far south as Chambers Street. Gothamist Contribute also has some reports:The whole city smells like maple syrup and everyone knows it! 
Tell us why.
From the comments section, this sheds some light on what this Gas Smell in New York could be, any chemists' here that can determine if this was a corporate crime, if so, it should be revealed!I don't know why this is being taken lightly, either. For example, Pat Kiernan and Molly Kroon were laughing about it this morning on NY1.However, is there anyone who thinks that this could have been caused by anything other than a major chemical release? A Google search for "maple syrup like odor" produces 'Benzoic Acid', C6H5COOH for those who might care.Also:BENZOIC ACID information from Flinn Scientific, Inc. P.O. Box 219 Batavia, ILWhite crystalline powder with a maple syrup-like odor.Slightly toxic by ingestion. Severe irritant. Avoid contact with skin, eyes and respiratory tract. Combustible solid.Flinn at a Glance:
Health-1
Flammability-1
Reactivity-1
Exposure-1
Storage-00 is low hazard; 3 is high hazardSo it doesn't seem to be particularly hazardous (IF this is even what is causing the smell).Also, the industrial uses are:
The industrial applications are as a corrosion inhibitor, as an additive to automotive engine antifreeze coolants and in other waterborne systems, as a nucleating agents for polyolefin, as a dye intermediate, as a stabilizer in photographic processing and as a catalyst. Wide range of benzoic esters are used as solvents, dying carrier, disinfectant additive, penetrating agent and pesticides and manufacturing other compounds.So maybe (very wild guess) someone was using it as an antifreeze in something, but it boiled off into the atmosphere? Do we have any industrial chemists in here?[29] Posted by: Sanjay Shirke | October 28, 2005 10:06 AMhttp://www.gothamist.com/archives/2005/10/28/maple_sugar_smell_mystery.phpSaddam Hussein
Submitted by Dennis Kucinich on December 30, 2006 - 04:51. IraqThe punishment of Saddam Hussein for the deaths of 148 persons, albeit in a manner that civil society ought to find repugnant, raises compelling questions:
Who will be held accountable for sending 3,000 US troops to their deaths in Iraq, for a war based on lies?
Who will be held accountable for the deaths of over 655,000 innocent Iraqi civilians during the course of this illegal war?
Where is the two trillion dollars that this war is going to cost coming from?
When will Congress be held accountable for having voted to go to war?
When will Congress be held accountable for continuing to fund a war, and for abandoning our troops to a conflict that cannot be won militarily?
http://kucinich.us/node/1515#comment
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Comment #24 posted by mai_bong_city on January 08, 2007 at 09:45:06 PT
pinky and the brain
it occurred to me just now, in thinking about this 'world domination' stuff - i mean, i never thought it was more than a cartoon, did anyone ever see pinky and the brain? it seemed nothing but foolishness ever, since i was a child, there'd always be some mad scientist plotting but the superhero would thwart and prevail in the end.....when i think of this current administration (if you can call it that) i think of pinky and the brain - bush being pinky, rove being the brain of course....but i mean - it's like with these violent video games - you think it is all just playtime and fantasy, but apparently a lot do think that the world is this way - that they can plot a superfuture without 'us' in it.....a technologically superior world full of - what?? exactly? what will be left? only the superclass, the filthy wealthy and some that are rather .....insane.
it's ethnic and bio cleansing at the ultimate - and it is nothing but a course of destruction, for anyone with a rational mind.
a good friend recently told me i had to stop thinking logically, because logic didn't apply in this world. it's a selfish move, to save me the heartache and frustration of these evils perpetrated upon this planet and us....but i have a hard time living in obliviousness. a stupid stupor just doesn't cut it for me. i keep banging my head against this brick wall, as we all do.....but make no mistake - those bricks are coming down, one at a time, until the whole wall falls.
helmets, troops.
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Comment #23 posted by nuevo mexican on January 08, 2007 at 09:31:42 PT
The Counter-Culture takes control now.....
This is for you FOM, and everyone here who is opposed to the occupation of Iraq, and the death of over 650,000 Iraqis', the death of the U.S. Constitution (and the re-birth)!
This action is very similar to levitating the Pentagon!Send this far and wide C-News commenter's/blogger's, we could see this gatherings pop up everywhere, with your help that is!http://beachimpeach.com/PHOTOS: http://beachimpeach.com/photos.shtmlJanuary 6, 2007 -- Over 1000 people gathered in Nancy Pelosi's district, on Ocean Beach in San Francisco, to spell out the message "IMPEACH!" "America is a great country," said event organizer Brad Newsham, a local cab driver and author. "But President Bush has betrayed our faith. He mislead us into a disastrous war, and is trampling on our Constitution. He has to go. Now. I hope Nancy Pelosi is listening today." More links to save and send:'Bush in the bunker'
A BUZZFLASH EDITORIALIn reading a BBC News Profile of Saddam Hussein from 2001, we couldn’t help but be struck by some eerie points of nexuses with George W. Bush:"A former Iraqi diplomat living in exile summed up Saddam's rule in one sentence: ‘Saddam is a dictator who is ready to sacrifice his country, just so long as he can remain on his throne in Baghdad.’""The Iraqi people are forced to consume a daily diet of triumphalist slogans, fattened by fawning praise of the president.""He is portrayed as a valiant knight leading the Arabs into battle against the infidel, or as an eighth-century caliph who founded the city of Baghdad. Evoking the glory of Arab history, Saddam claims to be leading his people to new glory.The reality looks very different. Iraq is bankrupt.""Saddam Hussein remains largely isolated from his people, keeping the company of a diminishing circle of trusted advisers."Okay, Bush hasn’t been as tyrannical and murderous to Americans as Saddam Hussein was (with the complicity of the Reagan/Bush administrations in the ‘80s), but consider just a slight rewording of the above excerpted description of Hussein:
http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/editorials/115
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Comment #22 posted by mai_bong_city on January 08, 2007 at 09:26:19 PT
most peculiar, mama.
yup FoM. i know what you mean. it seems to come down to this - 'they' are intent on killing us, and 'we' are intent on life. how 'DARE' 'we', eh?
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Comment #21 posted by FoM on January 08, 2007 at 09:17:32 PT
mai_bong_city 
Sometimes I think the world is so different anymore that I don't barely recognize it. No problem with health issues in NYC with the odor in the city and no worry about the dead birds they found in Austin, Texas. They say Cannabis is toxic but what about just what's in the air in someplaces being hazardous? Strange days indeed.
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Comment #20 posted by mai_bong_city on January 08, 2007 at 09:06:57 PT
biopiracy
i thought this might be of interest. though i'm sure, not in the least surprising to anyone around these parts.http://www.twnside.org.sg/title/pat-ch.htm
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Comment #19 posted by ekim on January 08, 2007 at 09:00:07 PT
 it's illegal--cause they are making taxfree money
Monday, January 8, 2007 Supplemental DEA income is just one of the reasons to continue the drug warVia TalkLeft -- Drug agents mishandled seized cash, audit finds 
WASHINGTON - Drug Enforcement Administration agents routinely disregarded agency rules on the handling of seized cash, jeopardizing hundreds of millions of dollars taken in drug raids, a Justice Department review found.
In an audit published Friday, Justice Department Inspector General Glenn A. Fine examined thousands of seizures between October 2003 and November 2005.Fine's report states that drug agents rarely counted the cash they took, often didn't provide receipts for seized money, rarely recorded the seizures in agency ledgers and often didn't ask their colleagues to witness their counting and handling of the money.Unintentionally humorous line in the piece: The lack of internal controls over the seized cash leads to accusations of theft by the agents, the report states.
Leads to accusations of theft? Yes, the most important thing is that the public not suspect that you're stealing the money. 
http://www.drugwarrant.com
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Comment #18 posted by FoM on January 08, 2007 at 08:51:09 PT
Potpal and Dankhank
What would the world be like today if the counter culture managed to take the reigns of power in 1968, if they actually managed to lift the Pentagon from its foundation? What a question and it made me think of how things would be so different. We probably wouldn't have as much stuff as we do now but we might have a more peaceful world.Dankhank, Cat Stevens doesn't want to be cornered by that type of a question and I do understand that. He is a Muslim and he loves his religion. He will not speak badly about it I don't think. It would be like asking a fundamentalist christian a question along those lines. Religion is such a personal thing it's hard to put in words.
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Comment #17 posted by ekim on January 08, 2007 at 08:45:33 PT
Ethan Nadelmann will debate former Congressman,
 Debate: Medical Marijuana - Should The Sick Be Able To Smoke? DPA's executive director Ethan Nadelmann will debate former Congressman, and drug policy reform opponent, Bob Barr about whether marijuana should be allowed as a medicine. If you're going to be in the New York City area on January 18th you won't want to miss this.January 18, 2007
New York, NY
http://www.drugpolicy.org/homepage.cfm
http://www.blog.leap.cc/
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Comment #16 posted by FoM on January 08, 2007 at 08:41:45 PT
potpal 
Wow, what a cool report on the parade. We were busy and we didn't get to see the parade. Maybe some pictures will be on line. I would love to see the ones you mentioned. 
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Comment #15 posted by Dankhank on January 08, 2007 at 08:26:28 PT
OT Yusuf Islam ...
another chance to speak and demurred ...http://powerlineblog.com/archives/016428.php
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Comment #14 posted by potpal on January 08, 2007 at 08:25:57 PT
fom-ummers
The first string band to strut up Broad Street had a 'San Francisco, 1960s' theme. They didn't do too good in the competition but I liked it! There was one part where, several flower children, each carrying a protest sign, all come together, then they flip the signs around and all together they formed a VW Beetle. What a parade day, 70 degrees. I'm use to 28! Made for a great visit.What would the world be like today if the counter culture managed to take the reigns of power in 1968, if they actually managed to lift the Pentagon from its foundation? Give pot a chance. 
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Comment #13 posted by FoM on January 08, 2007 at 08:23:17 PT
Dankhank
It really is overwhelming the interest in sports like football. 
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Comment #12 posted by Dankhank on January 08, 2007 at 08:20:02 PT
Football?
We don't need no stinking football ...Football, what is it good for? Absolutely nothin'During the run up to the last election I attended a Dem meeting and was astounded they decided to skip a "meet the candidates" day on a Saturday due to the Oklahoma/Texas game.I let them know what I thought of that in no uncertain terms.
I'm sure I made a few enemies that day, but, I must speak.Take away sports talk and many would have nothing to talk about ...Football, Baseball, Basketball, Golf, Nascar, Tennis, Hockey ... many diversions.No talk of oppression and pain ...Bread and Circuses ...
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Comment #11 posted by FoM on January 08, 2007 at 08:19:52 PT
Tonight on the Colbert Report
Mon - Thurs 11:30p / 10:30cAll Air Times TONIGHT: Ethan Nadelmann, drug legalization proponent http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/the_colbert_report/index.jhtml
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Comment #10 posted by FoM on January 08, 2007 at 06:51:02 PT
Gentle People With Flowers in Their Hair
January 8, 2007http://www.ncpa.org/sub/dpd/index.php?page=article&Article_ID=14044
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Comment #9 posted by FoM on January 08, 2007 at 06:44:27 PT
Had Enough 
Football game? The only football I would ever watch is the half time performance if it's good at the big game they have once a year. Football reminds me of gladiators like back in Rome. I know I'm weird. Thanks for the information.Mayan, I have been reading about the Washington Times article. If they do that they are on their own I hope. Taking sides in a religious war wouldn't be fair for Americans who don't care about different religions and their personal views.
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Comment #8 posted by Had Enough on January 08, 2007 at 06:34:53 PT
Priorities
Business as usual…The House is taking Monday 'off' this week, because of the championship football game between Ohio State and the University of Florida.http://www.majorityleader.gov/docUploads/002Weekly010507.pdfHow many people will be arrested today for cannabis crimes while these people take the day off? And I wonder just how many are actually going to watch the game?I don’t have anything against football, I enjoy a good match up, even attended some games, but to have our lawmakers shut down because of a sporting event is ridiculous, at best.Game starts at 8 pm tonight… Day off???This is just another rub it in your face from the ruling elites. I’ll bet they don’t get their paycheck docked because they didn’t show up for work, like most others would.Go Gators… Chop-Chop… arms extended...http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/bowls06/bowls?game=bcs
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Comment #7 posted by mayan on January 08, 2007 at 05:38:31 PT
Feds Are Illegal
The feds have no moral leg to stand on. Those at the helm are criminals and must be treated as such.In unrelated news...Newspaper Cites Plans For Iran Nuke Attack:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/world/20070107-112849-3144r.htmTHE WAY OUT IS THE WAY IN...New Issue of Hustler Magazine Featuring 9-11 Skepticism Article on Shelves Now: 
http://prisonplanet.com/articles/january2007/060107Hustler.htmScans from Hustler 9/11 Coverage:
http://911blogger.com/node/5437A Year in Review - 9/11 Media Coverage in 2006:
http://911blogger.com/node/5449Announcing an afternoon of TRUTH and Activism with Webster Tarpley:
http://boston911truth.org/9/11 Accountability: Strategies and Solutions Conference - Chandler, Arizona - February 23-25:
http://911accountability.org/accountability/9/11 WAS AN INSIDE JOB - OUR NATION IS IN PERIL:
http://www.911sharethetruth.com/
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Comment #6 posted by Toker00 on January 08, 2007 at 03:53:08 PT
OT. Cannabis poem (sonnet)
(By Dr. Victor Robinson, a physician with an interest in medical history.) Near Punjab and Pab, in Sutlej and Sind,Where the cobras-di-capello abound,Where the poppy, palm and the tamarind,With cummin and ginger festoon the ground__And the capsicum fields are all abloom,From the hills above to the vales below,Entrancing the air with a rich perfume,There too does the greenish Cannabis grow:Inflaming the blood with the living fire,Till the burning joys like the eagles rise,And the pulses throb with a strange desire,While passion awakes with a wild surprise:__O to eat that drug, and to dream all day,Of the maids that live by Bengal Bay!Toke.
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Comment #5 posted by mai_bong_city on January 07, 2007 at 22:17:12 PT
a little OT: A Bedtime Story by mbc~*
thought i'd share my latest bloggle with you all, enjoy, peace n' nitenite, m.This One's Just Right cannabislocks sat down at the table in front of three ziploc baggies and a bong. the first medicine was not powerful enough. the second medicine made cannabislocks cough. but the third medicine slapped the bitch silly at six in the morning. the name of the strain was 'couchlock'. and well, for cannabislocks, this medicine was just right. only cannabislocks didn't have a couch. it made her feel a little numb, which was better than hurting, and cannabislocks felt so wonderful she wanted to go skipping through the woods to tell grandma. don't push it, c. besides, grandma's dead.
but cannabislocks is happy or as happy as cannabislocks can be, you see. and next time will try a little nirvana, too.
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on January 07, 2007 at 20:52:15 PT
afterburner
Great idea!
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on January 07, 2007 at 20:48:33 PT
dirtmover
I really believe if the laws were changed on marijuana the drug war would end. I don't believe there are many hard drug users compared to probably millions of marijuana users all around the world. Maybe the drug war wouldn't end but it would slow down and they wouldn't get all the money and money is what fuels them.
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Comment #2 posted by afterburner on January 07, 2007 at 20:46:27 PT
dirtmover 
The Dems need to realize that *bad law* is not "law and order." Supporting "bad law" is not being soft on crime. Supporting "bad law" is being soft in the head.BTW, the Dems are committed to PAYGO, which means any new programs, including expiring programs that need to be relegislated, must be countered with tax increases or program cuts.Let's see, program cuts. Ooh, ooh, I know! Cut the war on marijuana/cannabis. Save billions. It's so simple.
Democrats may bend budget rule for tax fix 
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Comment #1 posted by dirtmover on January 07, 2007 at 19:17:24 PT
The federal government....
by supporting bad law, is marginalizing itself. They undermine the concept of law and order by criminalizing Americans whose only crimes involve using one of the least harmful, and potentially lifesaving substances known to man.I think it is time for the DEA to focus on dangerous drugs.They don't like the idea because cranksters shoot back.Potheads hire lawyers.
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