cannabisnews.com: Medical Marijuana - No Medicine for Parolees





Medical Marijuana - No Medicine for Parolees
Posted by CN Staff on January 03, 2008 at 06:31:59 PT
By Patrick Duganz 
Source: Missoula Independent 
Montana -- Convicts on parole or probation in Montana currently have the same rights as anybody else to use medical marijuana as prescribed by a physician, but the Montana Department of Corrections (DOC) wants to alter this policy because of a perception that parolees are “doctor shopping” for the legal medication.In the Dec. 6 issue of the Montana Administrative Register, a bi-monthly publication of the state government used to announce proposed policy changes, the DOC signaled its intention to curtail marijuana use among its wards, arguing, “It is poor public policy to permit offenders to use illegal drugs.”
DOC Probation Bureau Chief Ron Alsbury says the rule needs changing because Montana’s medical marijuana law conflicts directly with federal laws banning the substance outright.“Having that conflict between the two laws makes it very difficult because we have an offender who is on parole or probation, and is breaking the law,” he says.Patients and Families United, a statewide support and watchdog group for medical marijuana patient rights says the DOC’s argument misinterprets the law.“[Medical marijuana] is not an illegal drug,” says Tom Daubert, communications director for the advocacy group. “Sixty-two percent of people voted to allow medical marijuana for patients and now the DOC wants to take that right away for some.” Calls to the DOC were not returned in time for this story.Montana Initiative 148 legalized medical marijuana for people with cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, severe nausea and chronic pain, but prohibits even prescribed usage in schools and corrections facilities and while using public transportation. The 2004 initiative makes no prohibitions specific to parolees as long as they can provide documentation from a physician explaining the need for the otherwise illegal substance.Daubert says that the DOC wants to chip away at the law piece by piece. “[The DOC] never liked this law. It’s always been something they’ve wanted to get rid of but couldn’t,” he says.As for the theory that parolees, particularly those with past drug problems, actively “doctor shop” for medical marijuana, Daubert says that’s absurd. He likens medical marijuana to insulin or blood pressure medication, and says outlawing it would be cruel.“For a lot of these patients, banning medical marijuana is condemning them to a life of pain,” he says. “It would affect only a small amount of patients, but it would be a large effect.”Citizens can comment on the proposed rule change by contacting the DOC before Jan. 10. Source: Missoula Independent (MT)Author: Patrick Duganz Published: January 3, 2008Copyright: 2008 Missoula IndependentContact: http://tinyurl.com/2jxc8kWebsite: http://www.missoulanews.comCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml
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Comment #43 posted by FoM on January 06, 2008 at 07:11:17 PT
OT: Interesting Article
January 4, 2008Hillary Hits Obama For Opposing Harsher Prison Sentenceshttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/01/04/hillary-hits-obama-for-op_n_79918.html
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Comment #42 posted by afterburner on January 05, 2008 at 09:20:46 PT
Iowa picks leaders instead of politicians
"When people go to vote, they want to vote for someone who looks more like the guy they work with than the guy who just fired them," he says. 
Saturday, January 5, 2008. 
Laura Berman.
Iowa picks leaders instead of politicians 
Excerpt:
{
Jeffrey Quesnelle, the 20-year-old Michigan volunteer coordinator for Mike Huckabee, insists that Michigan's collapsing economy will help his chosen candidate triumph over Mitt Romney or John McCain -- both Republican candidates with stronger footholds in this state. "When people go to vote, they want to vote for someone who looks more like the guy they work with than the guy who just fired them," he says. That's one succinct way to characterize the qualities that enabled both Huckabee and Sen. Barack Obama to win the Iowa caucuses -- and to do so with more authority than anyone expected. 
} more ...
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080105/OPINION03/801050341
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Comment #41 posted by E_Johnson on January 04, 2008 at 23:03:09 PT
RevRayGreen, I caught that remark too
Sheesh, doesn't Hillary's campaign staff realize that they've just placed her to the right of Clarence Thomas?Does she follow the Supreme Court at all?
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Comment #40 posted by FoM on January 04, 2008 at 20:04:36 PT
Hope
Thank you. I thought it was good. 
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Comment #39 posted by Hope on January 04, 2008 at 19:01:29 PT
Fixing to watch Bill Moyers
Kucinich and Paul.
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Comment #38 posted by RevRayGreen on January 04, 2008 at 17:01:12 PT
Clinton needs to buy a clue
latest campaign statement after her big rump was kicked..... Gee, most of those federal crimes need to be abolished they are refering to."While the senator was vague, her campaign pointed out to ABC News examples of Obama's liberal positions, including his 2004 statement to abolish mandatory minimum sentences for federal crimes. "
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Comment #37 posted by Hope on January 04, 2008 at 16:50:47 PT
Fight 4 Freedom
It's sad to hear that so many of your friends are not willing to join the struggle.It's sad, and it's all too common. They're scared, I think, and I don't blame them. The courage of C-Newsers and the DrugSense people let some of their courage rub off on me. I certainly appreciate that. I'm a huge fan of Kevin Zeese. I admire and appreciate him so much. Meeting him raised my courage quotient considerably.Like you, most of my friends appreciate that I'm speaking up for more freedom and less persecution... but they still fear a swat team could show up one night and drag me off as a subversive of some sort and cage and harass me. People have been so cowed by the viciousness of this prohibition that they are scared to speak against it, and I understand that.If my children weren't grown and on their own, I'd probably still be afraid to say how I feel about what's happening to people in the name of this prohibition, publicly. Our government is cruel, punitive, draconian, and just scary. Our government bureaucrats and the bulk of our law enforcement aren't friendly. They hardly seem to be human in their viciousness. They aren't nice. They are truly bad and dangerous dudes, as far as I'm concerned. Of course, as with all bullies, they really enjoy being thought of as bad, dangerous dudes. They're the bullies and apparently, I have to be one of the skinny little nerds that have just seen all they can endure and that feel that we have to stand up against them and end their cruel bullying... if we can... or go down trying, at least. Our "representatives of the people" won't protect us.
Obviously. They should be the ones that kept this all from happening. They're the big guys and they didn't stop this. They spawned this mess and they are feeding and nourishing it... while it consumes people, individuals, and families, all over the place. There's only the few "little" people like us, at the moment... and while they may trample us and bloody our noses every chance they get... we're still the ones, obviously, that have to stand up and tell them they're wrong, and keep telling them so until they stop being cruel bullies.People are afraid of a lot of things that our government bureaucrats and enforcers can and will do to people that are trying to interfere with their whip bearing hand and this prohibition they love so much. Government and law enforcement creating and enforcing these prohibition laws and acting like a bunch of cruel slave overseers for the man, threatening us and waving a whip over our heads all the time because of this sick prohibition. I want, very, very much, to knock that damn whip out of their hands and out of their reach. They are hurting so many people. 
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Comment #36 posted by E_Johnson on January 04, 2008 at 15:40:15 PT
RevRay
Thank you. That's good to know. It allays some of my fears.I don't go for inspiring rhetoric. I'm the kind of person who needs to hear some actual details.
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Comment #35 posted by FoM on January 04, 2008 at 15:14:21 PT
RevRayGreen 
Thank you.
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Comment #34 posted by RevRayGreen on January 04, 2008 at 15:07:13 PT
Nov 26, 2007 9:25 AM (REPOST)
Hi Ray,Thanks for getting in touch about the
Senator's position on allowing severely ill patients to use marijuana
for medical purposes.Many states have laws that condone medical marijuana, but the Bush
Administration is using federal drug enforcement agents to raid these
facilities and arrest seriously ill people. Focusing scarce law
enforcement resources on these patients who pose no threat while many
violent and highly dangerous drug traffickers are at large makes no
sense. Senator Obama will not continue the Bush policy when he is
president.Thanks, Francesca   Obama HQThe last sentence sticks with me.
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Comment #33 posted by FoM on January 04, 2008 at 14:31:46 PT
dongenero and fight_4_freedom 
I thought I was the only person who appreciated Senator Obama on CNews. You both made my day.
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Comment #32 posted by dongenero on January 04, 2008 at 13:08:04 PT
Obama
Since his scintillating speech at the Democratic convention, I see Obama as history in the making.He's human, like all of us but, I feel he is destined for greatness.This potential for such future change is really exciting and uplifting. At the same time it is worrisome as many of histories greatest intellects and humanitarians are not welcomed by some. 
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Comment #31 posted by fight_4_freedom on January 04, 2008 at 12:25:00 PT:
I'm glad Obama won last night as well
I know he's not perfect and has flaws, but there is something I really like about him. I still don't know who I'm voting for, as I haven't looked into enough. But I would rather have him in there over Hilary. An Obama, Kucinich ticket would be nice Hope.Anyways, I'm happy to see you're man won round one FoM.
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Comment #30 posted by fight_4_freedom on January 04, 2008 at 11:47:29 PT:
You're right Hope
Unfortunately this is how most of my friends feel as well. They respect and appreciate me for trying to change things, but they just don't feel like we can make a change. They just accept this nonsense.I know a lot of people around here that smoke, but none of them are active in trying to change the laws. The only young people I know that are really active I had met from NORML. I petitioned all summer long and a good portion of the fall and only maybe 5 times did anyone actually go out to help me. Not one of my friends or anyone I know besides norml members petitioned for that initiative. They even had a chance to get paid pretty good for doing it and they still didn't help. I begged and begged but you can only beg so much.It was very disappointing to me. Luckily we had enough freedom fighters in our state that we didn't need my friends help. But it's just the fact that they were given a golden opportunity to make history, help people in need, get paid for it, and they still didn't do it. And I had to register most of them to vote before they could even sign the thing lol.Hopefully 2008 will bring more young activists to the war zone.Educate, Regulate, then Medicate in 08'!!!
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Comment #29 posted by FoM on January 04, 2008 at 11:07:03 PT
Hope
Thank you. Hope is such a wonderful emotion.
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Comment #28 posted by Hope on January 04, 2008 at 11:06:39 PT
Since Dennis Kucinich is my favorite so far...
and I haven't done a whole lot of research on Obama yet... and I will...I find myself thinking of an Obama/Kucinich ticket. That would be nice, probably.
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Comment #27 posted by Hope on January 04, 2008 at 10:46:08 PT
FoM Comment 24
Excellent answer.And yes... you certainly can have that hope in Obama. This is going to be a very interesting year. I so hope it goes well for rights and freedom. 
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Comment #26 posted by Hope on January 04, 2008 at 10:42:57 PT
Tears me up, as in rips and cuts...
is what I mean."Tearing up" as in tears falling from my eyes is part of it. But I meant... tears... like in ripping apart. And it does. Too many of our young people are way too easily believing that this is just the way it is and they have no power to make things better. For the most part, it seems they are herded all the time, and don't have any idea how to stand up against an overreaching government. It makes me sad to see them treated that way and even sadder to see that they are beginning to think it's normal for them to be herded, suspected, and persecuted by the government.I'm very thankful for Students for Sensible Drug Policy and others, like Fight 4 Freedom, who believe that their freedom to choose should be theirs, and not the governments or a bunch of wild eyed crazy prohibitionists.An over structured society is a bad society. Especially when it starts "punishing" people so harshly, for anything other than theft, assault, rape, kidnapping, and murder.
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Comment #25 posted by afterburner on January 04, 2008 at 10:26:50 PT
Hope #23
"I've noticed something about young people today that just tears me up. They consider, it seems to me, that it's just normal for someone to be arrested and locked up these days."Is that Teeres or Tares me up?
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Comment #24 posted by FoM on January 04, 2008 at 10:16:37 PT
About Trust
I can say that trust is something that is hard to believe in when it comes to people. Hope I can have. Trust will or won't come over time. 
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Comment #23 posted by Hope on January 04, 2008 at 10:01:04 PT
E_Johnson
I don't "trust" him. I'm just happy that FoM feels good about it. Trust? They're politicians. No way do I trust any politician. As far as our goals are concerned, I "trust" Kucinich and Paul more...but I'm just waiting and watching.I do like the idea of a black president. I don't like the idea that Obama seems to me like he would just settle himself into the same old presidential groove and not do a thing to help us out of this misery. Maybe he would. If he wins, I certainly hope so. But, like you, I haven't seen or heard anything that makes me think he understands where we are coming from. And that scares me.I like that Kuchinich and Paul come out and clearly say what they are thinking and not leaving things to interpretation.I misunderstood Clinton and thought he would do something. I was wrong and I can't forget that. He threw out things that made me think he was going to be a whole lot cooler than he was. I don't want to be fooled again. I think the Clinton's did fool us... on purpose.Sometimes, I think it would be better if I actually felt old... and didn't care and bother.But I don't. I feel young. I feel like there is a future and it better be better than it is now... not just for me, but for everyone... including our young people.I've noticed something about young people today that just tears me up. They consider, it seems to me, that it's just normal for someone to be arrested and locked up these days. They seem to just accept it as part of their lives. That's not right. That's not the way it's supposed to be. But when you can be arrested for the cigarette you smoke... and it's been that way all their lives... it's easy to understand why they have just accepted, for the most part, that it's just no big deal.It is! It should be! It's a very big deal and it's wrong.
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Comment #22 posted by The GCW on January 04, 2008 at 10:00:03 PT
E_Johnson,
Hi E_Johnson,I feel there is a chance any of the candidates will say one thing and do something else too. I don't know much about any of them but think Kucinich is the best chance for doing what He says... but He's not a realistic winner...I believe Obama will stop the Feds from attacking those states that have re-legalized cannabis for sick citizens.One reason to support Obama is because otherwise Clinton could win.I don't want another republican and I don't want the Misses. (I'm through with the Bush / Clinton times.)I'm guessing You don't either.
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Comment #21 posted by FoM on January 04, 2008 at 09:46:44 PT
EJ I Don't Know
I don't live in a state that has gone as far as your state has so I can't figure it out. We are 10 years behind your state I think.
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Comment #20 posted by E_Johnson on January 04, 2008 at 09:40:11 PT
What's important to me, FoM
What's important to me is that I stay alive. So I don't want to vote for anyone who is going to end up killing me.
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Comment #19 posted by E_Johnson on January 04, 2008 at 09:38:29 PT
What has he said, exactly, to give any of us hope?
As far as I know, Obama has only promised not to have the DEA raid patients. But the DEA doesn't raid patients already. They raid dispensaries, not patients. The federal courts don't have time to handle cases with fewer than 25 plants, so most patients are already safe from federal prosecution.I have not heard that Obama has promised to end raids on dispensaries. Has he ever made this promise in those exact words?The only promise I have heard him make is consistent with maintaining the current status quo, where patients are basically safe but the dispensaries are doomed.If he's made some bigger, more concrete promise to protect the dispensaries, then I'd like to hear about that.He talks too much about uniting the country.That's a scary promise to me, because we're in the minority, and he could be talking about uniting the majority against US!!!Does anyone know for a fact that this isn't what he means?
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Comment #18 posted by FoM on January 04, 2008 at 09:32:38 PT
EJ, I Understand
I think we need to decide what is important to us and follow our heart and no matter if we are right or wrong we are being true to ourselves and that is very important.
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Comment #17 posted by E_Johnson on January 04, 2008 at 09:29:20 PT
You people seriously trust Obama? Why?
Obama did not support medical marijuana until he was set to attend a huge fundraising party in West Hollywood and he was informed that all his potential donors in West Hollywood support medical marijuana.He only said he supported medical marijuana to get money out of rich people in West Hollywood.I think we could end up being very sorry if he gets elected.Once he no longer needs that West Hollywood money, he's going to pander to all those middle states where there is no medical marijuana, and we'll be back where we were under Bill Clinton.Bill Clinton built bipartisanship on our backs, remember that. Bill Clinton united the country against marijuana.So when Obama talks about "bringing America together" and "uniting the country" -- I fear there is another anti-marijuana pogrom coming.He never says anything concrete. He leaves everything open to interpretation.You guys can trust him if you want, but I have a bad feeling about him, seriously.
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Comment #16 posted by FoM on January 04, 2008 at 09:28:11 PT
Hope
Thank you. I feel so much better today. It's like a heavy load has lifted off my chest. I was afraid to hang my calendar of Obama I got for Christmas incase he didn't win Iowa but now I can hang it and not worry as much I think.
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Comment #15 posted by Hope on January 04, 2008 at 09:22:22 PT
FoM
I'm happy for you, too. Congratulations. Obama is looking good. Real good. May your joy strengthen you.
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Comment #14 posted by FoM on January 04, 2008 at 09:13:37 PT
dongenero
I guess when I signed it I didn't press down hard enough they said when I called them about it. The paper trail really makes me feel so much better.
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Comment #13 posted by dongenero on January 04, 2008 at 09:11:33 PT
FoM
That sounds strange. Why did they need to "read" your signature? How many people actually have legible signatures?I have a lot of distrust of the election process in Ohio.
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Comment #12 posted by FoM on January 04, 2008 at 09:06:02 PT
Something That Makes Me Happy
I saw this article yesterday and bookmarked it to show my husband today. I don't believe my vote counted in 04 because Blackwell sent me a letter that said they couldn't read my signature and I needed to come in and resign it. Hope is such a good emotion.Ohio To Offer Paper Ballots in March http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/04/us/04ohio.html
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Comment #11 posted by FoM on January 04, 2008 at 06:53:30 PT
Related Article from The Billings Gazette
Medical-Marijuana Proposal Draws FireJanuary 4, 2008http://billingsgazette.net/articles/2008/01/04/news/state/40-proposal.txt
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Comment #10 posted by FoM on January 04, 2008 at 05:48:42 PT
Max Flowers and BGreen
I like Huckabee too. He made me laugh when I saw him on Leno. I look into a person's eyes and I like a person or I don't depending on what I see. I am very happy that Obama won. His speech blew me away last night. A black man from a northern state won the first contest and it makes me feel like the past might be over and maybe we can become a truly United States. I think it's time to pass the torch to his generation and maybe things will change for the better. 
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Comment #9 posted by Max Flowers on January 03, 2008 at 23:42:09 PT
Obama v. Huckabee
In an Obama v. Huckabee contest, I think Obama should win handily. There are still a lot of months for people to learn about how unclassy Huckabee really is, and to learn more about how relatively classy (read: presidential) Obama is.There is a huge wave of energy following Obama now... I could feel it even through the TV. The pundits were breathless.Backwards southern localities aside, I think tons of people are ready for someone pretty different. I mean come on, the whole country should be REALLY ready for a highly articulate president after eight long years of one who orates about as well as a 5th-grader with a learning disability (no offense to 5th-graders with learning disabilities). 
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Comment #8 posted by BGreen on January 03, 2008 at 21:35:37 PT
anyone but Clinton
That's who I'm voting for, too. LOLFoM, I'm happy you're happy.The problem with Obama around where I live is best expressed by the three negative comments I keep hearing from people who say one of these idiotic statements:1. I ain't votin' for no black man.2. I ain't votin' for no Muslim.and the most idiotic of them all3. I ain't votin' for nobody whose name sounds like Osama.Don't you all wish you lived where I do?I really find it hard to like most of these people around here and I'm most definitely not like most of these people around here.I hope the rest of the country actually thinks.The Reverend Bud Green
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Comment #7 posted by FoM on January 03, 2008 at 20:47:11 PT
RevRayGreen 
I watched the C-Span coverage of a caucus in Des Moine, Iowa. It was fascinating watching the way they were doing it. I'm glad you made the decision you did. I really like Governor Richardson too.
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Comment #6 posted by RevRayGreen on January 03, 2008 at 20:42:14 PT
I was there to
caucus for Richardson, but when we didn't have enough to be viable in the precinct(15% attendees), I went over to Obama. anyone but Clinton, the Dodd camp broke and split to Obama. Biden was done also, some joined the Clintonista.
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Comment #5 posted by FoM on January 03, 2008 at 18:41:46 PT
Taylor121
It makes me happy.
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Comment #4 posted by Taylor121 on January 03, 2008 at 18:32:18 PT
Obama wins!
Nice.
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Comment #3 posted by John Tyler on January 03, 2008 at 18:26:40 PT
Off Topic
CNN is projecting Huckabee as the winner of the Repug Iowa caucuses. The Dems are too close to call yet.
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Comment #2 posted by Taylor121 on January 03, 2008 at 16:05:27 PT
Alternative Energy
Also, since you were talking about alternative sources of energy, I think you should look into thermal solar. It's extremely promising as you are able to produce in the evening from stored heat.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_thermal_energyAnd let's not confuse primary energy sources (such as coal, nuclear, natural gas, solar, wind, etc.) with forms of energy storage such as gasoline and diesel based on crude oil and other things like electric and hydrogen. If we replace our primary energy with nuclear, solar, and wind, we will still have to replace our automobiles with hydrogen, methanol, electric, ammonia, or some combination of them in order to use the energy in our cars. Ethanol is not and will never be the option (unless perhaps the whole algae thing works out). Often when you use a spot of land for ethanol production, it is that much less land for food. There is an extremely limited amount of farm land left in the world, and the population of the earth is increasing every year. We are low on resources, particularly good farm land. The price of food has already gone up considerably and it's hurting the poor more than anyone else.
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Comment #1 posted by Taylor121 on January 03, 2008 at 16:01:20 PT
Texas Citation law is being used more than thought
From Grits For Breakfast over here in Texas: http://gritsforbreakfast.blogspot.com/2008/01/note-to-msm-please-stop-repeating.html"Offhand, I know Colorado County set up a system for officers to use new discretion, as did Jefferson County. According to media reports, the Hays, Navarro, and Palo Pinto Sheriffs also are letting deputies decide when to arrest."
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