cannabisnews.com: Tvert Pushes Pot Smoking at DIA










  Tvert Pushes Pot Smoking at DIA

Posted by CN Staff on June 25, 2008 at 05:30:39 PT
By James B. Meadow, Rocky Mountain News 
Source: Rocky Mountain News 

Colorado -- Attention: You are now free to float about the cabin. Well, not yet, but maybe someday - that is, if Mason Tvert has anything to say about.Tvert, a crusader for legalizing marijuana, has called for pot-smoking lounges in the nation's airports. His reason for doing goes beyond his cannabis liberation mission: He wants to help make flying safer.
"There's been this growing trend of alcohol-related air rage," he said Tuesday, alluding to episodes of drunken passengers creating in-flight disturbances.Just last week, Christina E. Szele, 35, a New York woman, was accused of drunkenly disrupting a JetBlue flight, punching a flight attendant and screaming curses and racial slurs after she was prevented from smoking. A cigarette, that is.Szele's outbursts wouldn't have happened if she'd been inhaling instead of imbibing, said Tvert, whose two pro-pot ballot measures have won voter approval in Denver."The studies I've seen say that alcohol . . . contributes to violent and aggressive behavior," he said. "The simple thing is to let people make the safer choice to use marijuana, which doesn't contribute to violent behavior."Leaving that issue aside for the moment, there is still the sticky problem that marijuana is illegal - federally speaking, anyway. Chances are slim that Denver International Airport passengers will be high on the ground before they're high in the sky."I can safely say we have no plans to open any marijuana lounges at DIA," airport spokesman Jeff Green said. "We're not paying attention to this."While he is aware that many folks are dubious about doobies in the airport, Tvert insisted, "This idea is completely serious.""The people at DIA are laughing now," he said. "Will they be laughing when a fight breaks out on an airplane and leads to a serious incident?As proof he isn't blowing smoke, Tvert points to airport smoking lounges - despite the fact that smoking is banned in most public places."The last time I checked, cigarettes aren't illegal," said Green, equal parts weary and skeptical.Then again, he probably hasn't heard one of the ancillary benefits of Tvert's idea."You've got struggling airlines, right?" he said. "From what I understand, marijuana tends to lead to the munchies."So, "If more passengers smoked marijuana before they flew and had the munchies, airlines could, you know, charge for snacks instead of for baggage."Airline profits and free baggage for passengers? Sounds like an idea with joint benefits.Note: 'Alcohol-related air rage' threatens travelers, he says.Source: Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO)Author: James B. Meadow, Rocky Mountain NewsPublished: Wednesday, June 25, 2008Copyright: 2008 Denver Publishing Co.Contact: letters rockymountainnews.comWebsite: http://www.rockymountainnews.com/Safer Choicehttp://www.saferchoice.org/CannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml

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Comment #30 posted by observer on June 26, 2008 at 22:06:56 PT

fight_4_freedom
Yes sir, c'est moi. I wrote that book. Of course, the movie Reefer Madness was written before 1936; I transcribed it from the movie and added direction for the screenplay. In this book (Reefer Madness: Revisited) adding to, annotating, the screenplay is my commentary in sidebars, also period newspaper article excerpts as commentary/sidebars text also. The comments, illustrations and article excepts relate (for the most part) to the screenplay dialog. I'm hoping also people will want it as a coffee table book (er, although it isn't (yet) a hard-cover book). I wrote it also as a companion guide to the original 1936 "Reefer Madness" movie. As you can see from the sample, illustrations are from the movie itself, but also anti-cannabis cartoons from the 30's and 40's. The movie wasn't an isolated phenomenon; our (great- etc.) grandparents stewed in anti-reefer propaganda and "Reefer Madness" was just an example of that. The movie tried to hit common anti-marijuana themes that Anslinger had been punching: marijuana makes you a psycho killer, it makes you a rapist/a tramp, it makes you run over people with cars, etc. Shameless plug: If everyone would buy a copy that would make me very happy, and I would be eternally grateful! 
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Comment #29 posted by fight_4_freedom on June 26, 2008 at 19:02:43 PT:

Observer
You wrote that book yourself? If so, I may have to order it one of these days here. Looks very interesting.
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Comment #28 posted by FoM on June 26, 2008 at 08:35:19 PT

Two More Names To Add To Comment # 17
I forgot to mention Barney Frank and Robert Wexler as people that would probably be good for marijuana reform. There I feel better. 
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Comment #27 posted by FoM on June 26, 2008 at 06:35:47 PT

ripit 
Thank you for sharing what you overheard with us. I don't think pilots should use any substance while on duty. I didn't think Mason's idea was about pilots but passengers.
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Comment #26 posted by ripit on June 26, 2008 at 05:37:55 PT:

i overheard 
2 ladies talking about smoking in airports last nite at the store.so i have seen first hand how this story has got ppl talking! the younger lady said something about how she heard on the radio that they wanted to smoke weed in airports and the older lady said some crack about thats all we need was to have all the pilots high along as drunk while flying aroud up there.just thought i would share that with ya'll!
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Comment #25 posted by FoM on June 25, 2008 at 18:52:21 PT

BGreen
You are so sweet. Thank you.
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Comment #24 posted by FoM on June 25, 2008 at 18:44:24 PT

observer
Thank you. I will bookmarked it and read it.
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Comment #23 posted by FoM on June 25, 2008 at 18:39:00 PT

Paul
I know why you feel that way. I only voted 2 times in my life and voting in the Primary this year was my first time. My reasoning was because I will not believe a politician because they are slippery and they say what you want to hear but it's all hollow. I voted for Reagan. I didn't like Reagan or dislike him. I had no idea what a Republican or a Democrat stood for. I voted for Reagan because Carter let me down by not decriminalizing marijuana after he said he would. This year just seems so different. Obama is a heck of a good politician. He knows how to play the game. If he becomes our next President he will listen. He might not agree with everything but I do think he'll listen and that's half the battle.
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Comment #22 posted by BGreen on June 25, 2008 at 18:34:44 PT

FoM is our breath of fresh air
That about says it all.The Reverend Bud Green
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Comment #21 posted by paul armentano on June 25, 2008 at 18:08:09 PT

FOM
Thanks for the kind words. I've become so jaded politically that your enthusiasm hits me like a breath of fresh air. I suppose much of my cynicism stems from having both parties taking my tax dollars and then using them to enforce polices that seek to put my friends and colleagues in jail. And then they have the nerve to turn around every couple of years and ask me for my "support" (vote).
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Comment #20 posted by observer on June 25, 2008 at 18:07:09 PT

FoM
Thanks, FoM! I'm hoping people will find this book fun to read, and educational, too. Here's a sample from the book - the first 20 pages.http://www.drugsense.org/ds/reefermadnessrevisited_sample.pdf 

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Comment #19 posted by FoM on June 25, 2008 at 17:53:36 PT

observer
Good luck with your book. I can only imagine what it would be like to be a gifted writer.
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Comment #18 posted by observer on June 25, 2008 at 17:42:50 PT

new book - REEFER MADNESS: REVISITED
Here's my latest book. Enjoy! = = = = REEFER MADNESS: REVISITED
http://www.cafepress.com/reeferrevisitedWhat made people think that using a little marijuana would turn good boys into murderous fiends? Where did folks get the notion that smoking some cannabis would turn nice girls into tramps? REEFER MADNESS: REVISITED is a retrospective look at the propaganda that gave police and politicians excuse to jail people for growing or using the cannabis plant. REEFER MADNESS: REVISITED contains the actual words of the 1936 movie, Reefer Madness, presented as a complete screenplay. With over a hundred illustrations, REEFER MADNESS: REVISITED shows how the barrage of anti-marijuana rhetoric and lore made people believe a little reefer would make people go "hopelessly and incurably insane, a condition caused by the drug marihuana!"122 pages; 112 illustrations. Index.
http://www.cafepress.com/reeferrevisited

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Comment #17 posted by FoM on June 25, 2008 at 17:41:40 PT

Paul
I wanted to mention this. I am really not up on politics like you are but I really hope that somehow you will be able to have input into drug policy issues under an Obama Administration if he wins. I can see that working very well. Senator Dodd, Dennis Kucinich, Senator Webb are the ones that come to my mind as a good group of people who know how to think outside the box. That's all. Just my 2 cents.
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Comment #16 posted by FoM on June 25, 2008 at 17:34:51 PT

Paul
Thank you for all you do.
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Comment #15 posted by paul armentano on June 25, 2008 at 17:07:58 PT

OT -- Huff Post: Pot and Cancer
My recent post regarding cannabinoids and cancer, "What Your Government
Knows About Cannabis And Cancer -- And Isn't Telling You," is now online at
the Huffington Post. This is an update/rewrite of my previous Vallejo Times
Herald commentary. Since the Huffington Post is an online medium, I made it a point to include
nearly a dozen links to pertinent research and clinical/pre-clinical trials
to really get folks in this community talking. I believe that this is the
right audience to really start asking pertinent questions re: the US
government's multi-decade long denial of this potentially groundbreaking
research.You can read the full text here:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-armentano/what-your-government-know_b_108712.htmlPlease feel free to leave a comment and/or circulate this article widely
(Digg, reddit, etc.) My last Huff Post essay (re: potency) received nearly
100 comments, a personal response from the Drug Czar's office, and got me on Dr. Drew Pinsky's live nationally syndicated radio show. But, IMO, this is
a much more important topic than that was; hopefully we can get a similar
'buzz' started.You can Digg it here:http://digg.com/health/Weed_Vs_Cancer_What_the_Government_Doesn_t_Want_You_to_Know
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-armentano/what-your-government-know_b_108712.
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Comment #14 posted by RevrayGreen on June 25, 2008 at 15:05:23 PT

I LOVE IT !!!!!!
Would you support a pot lounge at DIA?
Thanks for your vote.Response Percent Votes 
Yes 52% 468 
No 45% 401 
Maybe 2% 19 
Total  888 

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Comment #13 posted by tintala on June 25, 2008 at 13:46:13 PT:

EVER SEE THE TV SERIES COPS
THey always show it, the guy gettng busted for drunk driving or beligerant drunk dumbasses fighting or fighting with cops resisting arrest. THEN........... theres the guys with weed, compliant, peaceful, wiling to do what the cops say, there is proof right there SIDE BY SIDE which substance is more dangerous and toxic. HOW FREAKING obvious does the world need to have it?
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Comment #12 posted by observer on June 25, 2008 at 13:03:34 PT

Pushes Pot
Tvert Pushes Pot Smoking at DIAOne of my journalistic pet peeves - here we have in yet another headline (purely by accident, of course) - someone who Pushes Pot, again. You know, like a drug pusher. See how that's done? A person who skims the headlines will see someone who pushes pot, and that's all they need to know. 

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Comment #11 posted by FoM on June 25, 2008 at 13:00:29 PT

OverwhelmSam 
That was really good. I don't think I could survive living anywhere but in the country. 
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Comment #10 posted by FoM on June 25, 2008 at 12:36:01 PT

OverwhelmSam
This song always made me smile. Three Dog Night - Mama Told Me http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeFii0frqMY
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Comment #9 posted by OverwhelmSam on June 25, 2008 at 12:33:19 PT

Time To Chill
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4IU4eTmtNs&feature=related
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Comment #8 posted by FoM on June 25, 2008 at 11:27:25 PT

Poll: Would You Support a Pot Lounge at DIA?
Current ResultsResponse -- Percent -- Votes Yes -- 50% -- 238 No -- 47% -- 222 Maybe -- 2% -- 10 Total -- 470 http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jun/25/tvert-pushes-pot-smoking-at-dia/ 

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Comment #7 posted by observer on June 25, 2008 at 11:02:04 PT

Roger that: THC at the DIA
"I can safely say we have no plans to open any marijuana lounges at DIA," airport spokesman Jeff Green said. "We're not paying attention to this."But, didn't he just respond ...?Let's hear it for letting adults take cannabis at the DIA (Denver International Airport) - and at the DIA (Defense Intelligence Agency), too! Lord knows it would do them good.

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Comment #6 posted by FoM on June 25, 2008 at 11:02:02 PT

mykeyb420 
I just thought of something. What Mason is trying to do could become water cooler talk. People like to talk about what many people would think as bizarre. The topic gets talked about, laughed at and then in serious discussion it might be thought of in a sane manner. I think Mason is good at doing that.
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Comment #5 posted by FoM on June 25, 2008 at 10:29:13 PT

mykeyb420
Mason is smart. He made it on TV. Sometimes even bad news is better then no news at all.PS: I think if I turned on Fox News my TV would explode! LOL!
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Comment #4 posted by mykeyb420 on June 25, 2008 at 10:24:15 PT

Faux news
did anyone see sheppard smith on fox noise?? he did this story and he laughed at the idea. Why is it ok to get plastered on booze,,but its not ok to smoke a joint before flying in a plane. 
 the next time someone gets drunk and unrully on a plane at 35,000 feet,,it wont be so funny.
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on June 25, 2008 at 08:49:20 PT

Poll: Would You Support a Pot Lounge at DIA?
Current ResultsResponse - Percent - Votes Yes -- 63% -- 80 No -- 34% -- 44 Maybe -- 1% -- 2 Total -- 126 http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jun/25/tvert-pushes-pot-smoking-at-dia/

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Comment #2 posted by FoM on June 25, 2008 at 06:45:14 PT

NikoKun
I think SAFER makes an excellent point. I hope SAFER has a good plan for the DNC in August. I hope they have thought provoking billboards up that the people going to the convention will see. I know billboards are expensive but this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to drive home the issue of marijuana being safer then alcohol.
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Comment #1 posted by NikoKun on June 25, 2008 at 06:35:35 PT

haha wow...
Can we please just legalize it first... Then worry about such things?
Mason Tvert and SAFER, should start a national legalization campaign, they've always got interesting issues to raise. Especially the "Marijuana is safer than Alcohol one". If that were a national issue, I think legalization is only a matter of time. They cannot disprove that claim, because even after all the health risks and harm studies they try to spill out, Marijuana is STILL the safer drug.I will say though, bringing up such an idea, certainly gets people thinking about Marijuana in a different way. So maybe they've got something.
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