cannabisnews.com: Activists Think Time is Right To Legalize Pot





Activists Think Time is Right To Legalize Pot
Posted by CN Staff on December 11, 2007 at 06:58:57 PT
By Glenda Anderson, The Press Democrat
Source: Press Democrat
California -- Lake County marijuana advocates are circulating petitions to create a statewide ballot initiative to legalize marijuana, despite an apparent public backlash against the abuses associated with growing it for medicinal uses. The proposed initiative, which won state approval for circulation late last week, would prohibit marijuana's use for anyone under the age of 21 unless it was for medical reasons.
It also would bar anyone from being subjected to state criminal or civil penalties for the possession, cultivation, transportation, distribution or recreational use of marijuana.Use of marijuana, however, would remain in conflict with federal laws prohibiting its use.While outright legalization of pot has been tried before, proponents of the California Cannabis Hemp and Health Initiative of 2008 are optimistic."We're going to pass it. I guarantee it," said Eddy Lepp, a co-author of the initiative. He is known to pot activists worldwide for his advocacy, which resulted in his arrest for growing 32,500 marijuana plants in plain sight along a Lake County highway in August 2004. The case is pending.The petition needs 433,971 signatures by registered voters -- representing 5 percent of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election -- to make it on the ballot.Clearlake Oaks resident Jack Herer, the initiative's primary author, has been trying unsuccessfully to qualify similar measures for ballots in California, Oregon, Alaska and Washington since the early 1970s.He said people will vote for it if he can convince them of its benefits, which he claims include adding several years to the average life span.Herer and Lepp also worked successfully on California's Proposition 215, the 1996 voter-approved law that legalized marijuana for medicinal use.But even marijuana proponents question whether a measure legalizing marijuana for all uses could pass today."I don't see majority support for legalization of marijuana at this time," said Dale Gieringer, the Northern California coordinator for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, or NORML.NORML is not supporting the initiative, he said.Mendocino County Supervisor Mike Delbar noted the backlash against marijuana cultivation makes support for total legalization unlikely."I seriously doubt whether Proposition 215 could pass today given what voters know versus what they think they voted for originally," he said."A lot of people couldn't argue with making available marijuana as a medicine for those who are gravely ill. What they didn't expect was the rampant exploitation of the law that we're living with now."Proposition 215 has led to a proliferation of backyard marijuana gardens where law enforcement officials say pot is grown not for medical use but commercial sale.They said pot enterprises attract crime, such as last week's Santa Rosa home-invasion robbery that resulted in the shooting death of a 20-year-old man and the arrests of several others for possession of more than 300 pounds of processed marijuana.Pot gardens also attract complaints about pungent, skunklike odors.Cities and counties throughout California are struggling with ordinances aimed at controlling marijuana cultivation and associated problems.Ukiah officials Wednesday made it a misdemeanor to violate its ordinance against growing pot outdoors, and Mendocino County supervisors next week will consider limiting the number of plants grown per parcel.Note: Marijuana advocates circulate petitions despite apparent backlash.Source: Press Democrat, The (Santa Rosa, CA)Author: Glenda Anderson, The Press DemocratPublished: December 8, 2007 Copyright: 2007 The Press DemocratContact: letters pressdemo.comWebsite: http://www.pressdemo.com/Jack Hererhttp://www.jackherer.com/Cannabis Hemp & Health Initiative 2008http://www.jackherer.com/initiative.htmlCannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml
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Comment #33 posted by FoM on December 15, 2007 at 20:22:07 PT
fight_4_freedom
The very fact that you might be able to grow any plants in Michigan is a wonderful thing. I believe with the politics of today that you will win in 08. Things are changing and I can barely contain my excitement. I have been reading so much news that my mind is getting overloaded but I sure don't care. LOL!
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Comment #32 posted by fight_4_freedom on December 15, 2007 at 19:13:35 PT:
Tonka is the cutest little guy
FoM: I patted him on the head for you and wished him a Merry Christmas....I think he understood :)Hope: He either wanted to figure it out or wanted to take a chunk out of it, he's in this chewing stage right now lol. He definitely seemed confused once the flash went off though.Sam Adams: I agree with you. This definitely has a good chance of getting a high percentage of yes votes. I hope we pass it with more yes votes than any other medical initiative has, thus sending a strong message to congress and the rest of this country.Museman: I myself thought that the leaf would not be included in the usable category. But it does contain thc, so I guess it would be considered usable.And you're right about the plants producing a lot more than 2.5 usable ounces. I don't have that much experience, but from my past work, I know you can get a lot more than 2.5 with 12 plants.I guess you would have to have 6 mature plants, then 6 younger plants to keep the cycle going.But then again you might want to first grow 12 at once to make sure you get at least 6 females for your first cycle.Ahh who knows....I have a lot of time to think about it, plus we haven't exactly passed it yet. I'm getting ahead of myself here. But it is really exciting to think about.Go Michigan!
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Comment #31 posted by whig on December 14, 2007 at 14:25:35 PT
Cannabis is in the bible
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Showbread"Frankincense" is described as an anamnesis.The Biblical regulations specify that cups of frankincense were to be placed upon the rows of cakes, and the Septuagint, but not the masoretic text, states that salt was mixed with the frankincense; the frankincense, which the Septuagint refers to as an anamnesis (a hapax legomenon), constituted a memorial (azkarah), having been offered upon the altar to God[5]This is a word which occurs once, i.e., the translation is left unspecified.
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Comment #30 posted by museman on December 13, 2007 at 23:19:43 PT
michigans initiative
2.5 ounces per legal patient. 12 plants."Useable marihuana."Is it just me, or is there a potential catch 22 here?Not that 2.5 ounces isn't enough as personal medicine and stash, but what about the other 4 or 5 ounces per plant that happens when you do it right? And we're just talking trimmmed-to-taste bud here, not the leaf. A plant generally produces about 2 to 3 times it's bud weight in leaf. that means if you grow a decent plant of about a half pound of bud, you get almost 2 pounds of 'useable' leaf.So, what're you supposed to do? Record a message that plays back 24/7 to the poor stunted plants; "You may only produce 2.5 ounces....you may only produce 2.5 ounces" ? Keep 'em in small pots, root bound,.. don't feed 'em, yeah that might work. Bonzai pot plants.This is why we modified Oregons initiative to include more leeway with the 'on hand' "useable" weight thing. We only legally get 6 'mature' plants per patient, and believe me if we were only allowed 2.5 ounces of storage, we'd be back guerilla farming all over again, and just as 'illegal' as if no initiative had ever happened.Go for it, and good luck Michigan, but that 2.5 ounce limitation is gonna bite ya in the end, in my opinion.
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Comment #29 posted by FoM on December 13, 2007 at 18:59:17 PT
Hope
Yes Willie Nelson. What a great idea. 
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Comment #28 posted by Hope on December 13, 2007 at 18:34:08 PT
People with a plan!
Wonderful!
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Comment #27 posted by Hope on December 13, 2007 at 18:26:07 PT
Comment 21, Fight4Freedom, Little Tonka
Awwwww. How sweet.He wants to understand that camera, doesn't he? Or do you have bacon?
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Comment #26 posted by Hope on December 13, 2007 at 18:23:16 PT
Willie Nelson
I heard him say many years ago that he had been the longest lived person in his family because of marijuana. He said that most of his forbears, including his parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, tended to pass over before forty five years of age... and some, no doubt, from smoking tobacco. He said he thought marijuana had given him more years in this life than he might have had without it.He said that marijuana was "Good, country medicine." That was many years ago in an interview on a local show here in Texas. Four Country Reporter or Ford Country Reporter or something. It was all about Texas stuff and it was interesting. The guy that did the show interviewed Willie Nelson on his bus, Honeysuckle Rose. I think that's what they called it... the bus, I mean.That's not exactly "Proof", though. Is it? It seems as though he did interject the term "Cannabis" as being the true name of the herb, into the interview somewhere, too.The guy asked Mr. Nelson if he had some marijuana with him, or something like that and Willie smiled enthusiastically, and said, "Do you? I'll smoke some with you if you do."
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Comment #25 posted by Taylor121 on December 12, 2007 at 21:37:21 PT
Hmmm
"He said people will vote for it if he can convince them of its benefits, which he claims include adding several years to the average life span."There are studies that show marijuana use does not shorten life spans, but there is no evidence that I'm aware of that shows it actually increases it. I wonder where he got that from?This initiative is much too broadly worded. California is not ready for this, but good luck to the activists involved. It's too large of a step to take all at once. You won't get anywhere if you make claims without evidence either.I'm supporting the Massachusetts initiative and the Michigan initiative so far.
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Comment #24 posted by afterburner on December 11, 2007 at 21:31:26 PT
California Cannabis Hemp & Health Initiative 2008
We are building the future.
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Comment #23 posted by FoM on December 11, 2007 at 20:01:19 PT
fight_4_freedom
He's adorable. Tell him Merry Christmas from me. Well at least pat him on the head! LOL!
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Comment #22 posted by Sam Adams on December 11, 2007 at 19:54:56 PT
F4f
thanks for the info. I'm not sure that I would disappointed with the lack of dispensary language. A more simple bill will have a greater chance of passing. As it is, this one sounds like slam dunk to me. 12 plants and 2.5 ounces sounds pretty good to me. I think Michigan will pass this by a good 10% or more.When it does pass, I will take the win as vindication for Tom & Rollie. I hope that every patient in Michigan will know their story and give thanks.
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Comment #21 posted by fight_4_freedom on December 11, 2007 at 19:37:13 PT:
Exactly FoM
That means I can keep my seed and stem collection and it won't matter lol.My friend wants to say Merry Christmas, but he doesn't know how to type.
Little Tonka
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Comment #20 posted by FoM on December 11, 2007 at 18:35:31 PT
fight_4_freedom
I sent it. Thanks!Your Initiative covers usable cannabis and that is really good.
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Comment #19 posted by Dankhank on December 11, 2007 at 18:32:25 PT
sent mine ...
thank you to Congressman Conyers ...
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Comment #18 posted by fight_4_freedom on December 11, 2007 at 18:28:03 PT:
You're right FoM
There's not much to complain about with our initiative. I think they did a great job with it as well.
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Comment #17 posted by fight_4_freedom on December 11, 2007 at 18:26:06 PT:
Send a thank you letter 
to Congressman Conyers for pledging to question the DEA about their war tactics on medical marijuana patients and providers in California.It's a pre-written letter, all you have to do is sign and send. The more thank you's he receives the better.
Thank You Conyers
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Comment #16 posted by FoM on December 11, 2007 at 17:37:45 PT
fight_4_freedom 
That looks fine. I don't see any hidden things in it that could turn around and bite someone. That really is good.
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Comment #15 posted by fight_4_freedom on December 11, 2007 at 17:37:12 PT:
And here's a link
to the main page for the Hemp and Health initiative. When I e-mailed them a couple months ago, they said they didn't have the funds to pay petitioners. But as I look over the page, it says you can become a trained signature gatherer. So maybe they are paying them now. I'm going to find out.
Hemp and Health initiative
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Comment #14 posted by fight_4_freedom on December 11, 2007 at 17:20:19 PT:
Sure is FoM
Enjoy :)
Here ya go
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Comment #13 posted by FoM on December 11, 2007 at 17:10:05 PT
fight_4_freedom 
Is there a link where we can read the Initiative?
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Comment #12 posted by fight_4_freedom on December 11, 2007 at 17:03:10 PT:
Unfortunately
The initiative says nothing at all about dispensaries or co-ops. A primary caregiver (me) is allowed to have no more than 5 patients as well. Which is kind of a downer because a couple close friends and I wanted to start something like that.But one thing I do like is.....(j) A registry identification card, or its equivalent, that is issued under the laws of another state, district, territory, commonwealth, or insular possession of the United States that allows the medical use of marihuana by a visiting qualifying patient, or to allow a person to assist with a visiting qualifying patient's medical use of marihuana, shall have the same force and effect as a registry identification card issued by the department.So any of you with medical ID's out there who plan on visiting Michigan next year, you're more than welcome to make a stop here and visit for a while :)
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Comment #11 posted by Sam Adams on December 11, 2007 at 15:44:39 PT
F4F
quick question for you - does the Michigan referendum include dispensaries, or just individual growing & possession? Good luck with it.
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Comment #10 posted by fight_4_freedom on December 11, 2007 at 15:41:36 PT:
I agree Whig
Dispensaries are a good place to start. I'm sure there aren't many patients that would disagree with legalizing it for all adults. As they already know about the benefits and the fact that it is a very benign yet useful plant.If we can collect 500,000 signatures for our initiative, I'm pretty sure Cali can do the same. Although they'll probably need another 100,000 to 200,000 more on top of that to ensure they have enough valid signatures. I guess it is a lot different than our medical initiative as well. But with the support California seems to have for marijuana altogether, it seems very likely that they can do this.Another thing is that they don't have the financial support like we did. It was easy to get people out and about here, as most of us were getting paid to do it.But then another positive for them is the weather they have there. It will allow people to be out gathering all the time, not having to wait for the weather to change. I hope they can get er' done out in paradise.
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Comment #9 posted by FoM on December 11, 2007 at 15:28:54 PT
whig
Great idea! Can you get in touch with Jack? Maybe you could help him figure out how to do it.
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Comment #8 posted by whig on December 11, 2007 at 15:18:39 PT
Dispensaries too
How many thousand dispensaries are there? And how many people do each of them serve? We can get a half million signatures pretty easily if we organize it well.
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Comment #7 posted by whig on December 11, 2007 at 15:15:39 PT
Signing places
Please put petitions at some central places like OCBC (assuming they will permit this) or wherever people favorably disposed to sign it may be found.
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Comment #6 posted by dongenero on December 11, 2007 at 14:23:18 PT
positive thinking
Let's make it happen!
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Comment #5 posted by FoM on December 11, 2007 at 14:19:37 PT
John Tyler
It would be great.
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Comment #4 posted by John Tyler on December 11, 2007 at 14:04:44 PT
benefit for all
These guys are doing great work. Full legalization with regulation and taxation would be the best thing for all concerned. I think consumers and government tax collectors would all be pleased. Common sense would prevail. There would be commercial development etc., etc. but after the novelty wore off it would be no big deal. Nobody gets concerned about bars, restaurants, nightclubs, grocery and convenience stores, drug stores, and gas stations all selling alcoholic beverages, why shouldn’t it be the same with cannabis products. Everybody would get used to it. It would be normal. 
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on December 11, 2007 at 11:38:58 PT
Jack Herer
He is one of the few heroes that I have. He is an amazing man. I don't know very much about Eddy Lepp but I'm sure he is a dedicated activist too. I think Eddy Lepp just lost his wife. 
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Comment #2 posted by fight_4_freedom on December 11, 2007 at 11:32:08 PT:
I applaud Jack Herer and Eddy Lepp
for their constant efforts, hard work, and dedication to this movement. I wish them and all other activists involved in this much luck. I hope they are successful. It's too bad CA NORML doesn't support this measure. I'm sure they could really use the backing.Anyways, here's a new press release from MPP. Teen Drug Survey Reveals Disturbing TrendsWASHINGTON, D.C. — The latest Monitoring the Future survey of teen drug use, released today, reveals disturbing trends in teen drug use and attitudes, officials of the Marijuana Policy Project said today."This new survey documents the complete, utter failure of current government policies on marijuana," said Aaron Houston, director of government relations for the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, D.C.The new survey shows that rates of teen use of most drugs, including marijuana, remain far higher than 15 years ago. For example, in 1992, 3.7 percent of eighth graders were current marijuana users, compared to 5.7 percent in 2007. For twelfth graders, the figures were 11.9 percent and 18.8 percent, respectively. Use of cocaine and hallucinogens has also risen sharply in the last 15 years. Current cocaine use was up in all age groups, with the rate among tenth graders nearly doubling from 0.7 percent in 1992 to 1.3 percent in 2007.Perhaps most disturbing, Houston noted, are misunderstandings regarding the dangers of drugs shown in this survey, particularly among the youngest teens surveyed. For example, 50.2 percent of eighth graders saw "great risk" in smoking marijuana occasionally -- more than saw great risk in trying crack or powder cocaine, trying LSD, or in drinking nearly every day. Twelfth graders were more likely to disapprove of occasional marijuana use than of binge drinking (having five or more drinks at one sitting) once or twice every weekend."Drug Czar John Walters touts minor, short-term improvements, but deliberately ignores the big picture," Houston said. "Over the long haul, teen drug use is up, not down. As a parent, I don't want any kids smoking marijuana. It's truly scary that the White House has convinced millions of teens that drugs that can literally kill them are safer than marijuana. We're pursuing policies whose costs will be paid in lives."Date: December 11, 2007 
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Comment #1 posted by sam adams on December 11, 2007 at 10:28:31 PT
classic propaganda technique
Blame the failure and results of current policy on those who are trying to change it! Almost every "problem" cited in the article would be eliminated if Prohibition is repealed. No more commercial gardens in residentail areas. No more crime - don't see any armed robberies of breweries, do you? No liquor store owners hiring Mexican gangs to build stills up in the mountains.
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