cannabisnews.com: Gov. Christie's Pot Program Delay is Sabotage
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Gov. Christie's Pot Program Delay is Sabotage
Posted by CN Staff on March 23, 2012 at 05:07:05 PT
By Amy Brittain, The Star-Ledger
Source: Star-Ledger 
New Jersey -- Gov. Chris Christie and the state health department have intentionally delayed New Jersey’s medical marijuana program in an effort to sabotage it, the CEO of one of the state’s six medical marijuana dispensaries claims in a letter sent this week to Christie’s office. And now, he’s ready to quit. "I would like to withdraw from the program," Joe Stevens, the head of Greenleaf Compassion Center in Montclair, said during an interview with The Star-Ledger Thursday.
Health department officials have broken several promises to Greenleaf, Stevens claims, all while his group has incurred $170,000 in costs with no idea of when it can open for business. "I can no longer explain away these broken promises and stay quiet while Greenleaf continues to hemorrhage vital funds on a failed program," he wrote in his letter. Stevens said health department officials told him Greenleaf could start growing marijuana this month, with the issuance of a temporary permit, and that the group was on track to get a final permit in July.Now, he says, those assurances have been taken back. "Again, I was foolish," Stevens said, adding that he doubts the program will ever be running as long as Christie is in office. Greenleaf may consider "resorting to the legal process," according to the letter. SnippedComplete Article: http://drugsense.org/url/a3VAdp2BSource: Star-Ledger (Newark, NJ)Author: Amy Brittain, The Star-Ledger Published: March 23, 2012Copyright: 2012 Newark Morning Ledger Co.Contact: eletters starledger.comWebsite: http://www.nj.com/starledger/CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml 
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Comment #8 posted by FoM on March 24, 2012 at 16:26:37 PT
Afterburner ~ Comment # 2
Thank you very much. I really appreciate it. Believe me sometimes it is very hard but this is very important. Hopefully we will move forward this election year.
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Comment #7 posted by dongenero on March 24, 2012 at 09:30:41 PT
comment #5- Russ Bellville
Wow, the Russ Belleville speech was fantastic. Really like him and how he presents. So reasoned.Thanks for posting that PwL!
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Comment #6 posted by museman on March 24, 2012 at 09:25:52 PT
resorting to the legal process
I ask again;"Hows it going with that?"There's such a record of success in people using their right to redress grievances with their government, that we are all free and equal right? Bull.Lots of 'success' in the lawyers terms, because they always make out, no matter who 'wins or loses.'The 'legal process' is such a huge part of the problem, and yet people keep falling back on it as if it were of any substance other than hot air, and would not be paid attention to by anyone if it were not for the well-armed army of thugs roaming our streets and terrorizing the less endowed citizenry. (and lets not forget the many ass-kissers looking for table scraps from their lords and masters, mucking up the works)And the power of fake wealth is validated and perpetuated by the false beliefs in the fake -but forced- power of the 'state.'If it weren't for all the collateral damage (some recently experienced in my family -on more than one account) it would be laughable. But those damned (and I mean it in more ways than expletive) lawyers have really put one over on us, and by all indications are not going to relinquish their death-grip on our reality until they are actually dead and gone.And THAT is not collateral damage, THAT is justice.When the 'playing field' is cleared of all the dross and muck that is embodied in these well-dressed demons and satan worshippers (by proxy) the weight we feel lifted from our collective shoulders may allow us to literally fly.Now that I am pretty sure that I am on the local LEO watch list for both my opinions and my publicly declared cannabis use. I feel I need to make a statement about my intent so that I don't get disappeared in the middle of the night by an agency of our supposedly 'benevolent' government.Though I believe that the intent and idea of such a thing as 'treason' -at least in the discussion, debate and statements- cannot apply to the written or spoken word, but only in the action of physically, violently 'overthrowing' the government -like a revolution-. I am not ignoring the fact that the 'definition' of words by the establishment, is pretty much a bastardized version of English with a lot of High Latin thrown in for that 'classical' look and feel.
 
Treason is only treason under those conditions. The fact that the lawyers made 'laws' like the patriot act to redefine -in their own elite, exclusive terms known as 'legaleze'- that term along with many others referring to certain inalienable rights, does not change the truth, or the original meaning and common use of the term or language.I do not advocate, nor have I ever advocated the 'violent overthrow' of this corrupt government. I only restate what should be the obvious to thinking people; that it needs to be replaced by something that actually works for everyone and not just the special few.The lawyers do not do anything towards this end, regardless of what they say, they don't DO anything that can be counted as real. The politicians who are all lawyers, don't want to change the status quo for good reason; they would be out of a job that serves no one but their interests and their corporate lords.So its up to the people to change. Not to change them, they will never give up their six-figure incomes, perks, power, and status. If I point out that this government is corrupt, I word it as fact, not opinion, and that little nuance is enough sometimes to cloud the already murky waters of truth and justice, allowing the lawurinators to twist intention and meaning to suit their purposes of power and control. But it is not 'hate' oriented, nor is it an advocation of violent overthrow. If I point out that the 'officers' and minions of this system are corrupt, the fact of it is contained within plenty of history, both recent and older, and could only be construed as 'anti-patriotic' by a facist.So, Yes, I 'advocate' the total and complete replacement of our failed system, hopefully soon, with real people whose interests reflect other real people and not corporations and elite social groups. But I abhor violence and war. Violence against another person IS war. This government has been using and abusing us for long enough. Time to actually establish some of the eternal principles of Love and Liberty -without the perceived (and false) need of 'money' as the 'grease' to move the wheels of society. Money and Love are not comlimentary, even though the status quo has tried to pass off their various schemes of 'employment' for the unskilled rich children as 'charity organizations' (even if a few are legit). One gives nothing when they give money, if they do not give hope, love, and respect along with it.Money can't buy you love, peace, joy, or anything that we come to this world truly seeking, and it is a travesty on our souls.Sure, I live in Caesars world, I know whose image is on that coin, and whose image is on the rest of reality, and if I had it I would use it to feed, clothe, house, and maybe even entertain a little, anyone who needs it -including my own family.But I also live in the Eternal Universe the one that not a single lawyer can believe in because they haven't the room in the bag of bullshit which is their heads, and I value the integrity of my Spirit far more than the carrot offered by the powers that be as some kind of real value, which is all illusion, misdirection, and fear mongering.Having met my eternal self, I am armed with faith and belief beyond the norm, but that is only because the 'norm' has been successfully laden with ignorance and fear, and cannot break free of the bonds on the consciousness that come from such designs and manipulations of people and their values.I know that they can kill this body, but they can't touch the truth, or even reality. They can cast me into prison (again) for my beliefs and words, but they can't effect the sure and certain knowledge that I have won just because they could not get me to bow to their lies.So to all those cops out there prowling around like piranhas and sharks, predators all; Don't Lawurinate on Me. Take off your badges and guns and get down on your knees and ask for forgiveness for your evilness, and maybe then you can re-enter the human family. Otherwise your teeth will gnash, and I and many others will turn our backs on you, because we must. Justice demands it.LEGALIZE FREEDOM
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Comment #5 posted by Paint with light on March 23, 2012 at 17:38:59 PT
Ethan Nadlemann on panel
I just watched almost four hours of videos from the conference recently held at the university of Texas.The title of the conference was,"The drug war has failed. Is it time for legalization?".http://blog.norml.org/page/2/Scroll just past the article on Mitch McConnell claiming cannabis causes deaths.There was over an hour of Russ Bellville debating Kevin Sabet(consultant for the white house under three presidents including Obama).I had never seen Russ and I pictured him as thin, younger, and with a lot of black hair. I have listened to a lot of NORNL audio stashes.There was over an hour of Ethan Nadlemann debating John J Coleman from the DEA. Ethan did his usual great job.There was over an hour of a panel made up of chief Michael Dirten from Houston, Pat Lycos, a DA from Houston(I think), and judge Mike McSpaden. These were all prohibs. Also on the panel was Russell Jones from LEAP. He was the only sane voice on the panel. The others were almost pure evil except for McSpaden who was just a little evil. Even though I know those on the other side are often clueless about the truth about cannabis, it is still eye opening to see them actually express such nonsense.The moderator/host was Bill Martin from the Baker Institute located at Rice University. Even though he was over 70 he was still sharper than all the prohibs combined.If you can spare the time, go and watch the debates.There is also a presentation by Rick Steves.I have one video left to watch and it is by Alex Stephens from England. It is going to be about a lot of other countries approaches to the war on drugs.Legal like alcohol.
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Comment #4 posted by runruff on March 23, 2012 at 13:27:02 PT
Body function jokes...
How juvenile...I have no pride!
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Comment #3 posted by runruff on March 23, 2012 at 12:50:07 PT
Micky Mouse Lionfart.
I was sitting here contemplating the incongruity of this picture. I concluded that if a mouse could fart like a lion they would be mousegrenades.Quick, someone notify the Pentagon, it's the DEA's new stealth weapon of Mass Olfactory Distuction.
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Comment #2 posted by afterburner on March 23, 2012 at 09:05:25 PT
runruff #1
"When I traveled to Guatemala and Mexico a few weeks ago to meet with business leaders and top officials, I was struck by the growing number of prominent individuals who at last are willing to speak out." -Ethan NadelmannMany thanks to FoM for keeping this site running through years of challenges and prohibitionist lies, providing true information to counter them. Thanks to all the posters and friends who have contributed to this site. Thanks, too, to other sites that have kept the truth alive and to the people that support them: Cannabis Culture, Treating Yourself, L.E.A.P., Marijuana Policy Project, Drug Policy Alliance, and many others.
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Comment #1 posted by runruff on March 23, 2012 at 08:40:58 PT
News!
Dear jerry,Tomorrow Central American presidents are convening in Guatemala to discuss alternative strategies to the failed war on drugs. The host of the meeting, President Otto Perez Molina, has said that all options, including decriminalization and legal regulation, will be on the table. Over the past few years, we’ve seen a growing number of former presidents and prime ministers denounce the drug war and call for breaking the taboo on discussing alternatives to failed prohibitionist policies. But now, we’re hearing the same calls from current presidents and prime ministers. Even though the Obama Administration won't budge on drug policy reform, these world leaders need to know they have Americans’ support. Show your support now!When I traveled to Guatemala and Mexico a few weeks ago to meet with business leaders and top officials, I was struck by the growing number of prominent individuals who at last are willing to speak out. They’re fed up with U.S. government demands that they persist with policies that are so obviously ineffective and counter-productive. And they are emboldened by the rapidly growing number of leaders who dare to speak truth to power. When Vice President Biden visited the region a few weeks ago, he acknowledged that legalization was now a legitimate subject of debate -- even as he insisted the Obama administration still firmly opposes legalization. That acknowledgement represented a modest but important new step forward. We know, however, that U.S. officials are doing whatever they can behind the scenes to suppress this discussion.An overwhelming majority of Americans know the war on drugs is a complete failure and half of all Americans want marijuana legalized. We are on the cusp of a tipping point. Latin American leaders need to know that tens of millions of Americans support their efforts to open the debate, and that U.S. diplomats and other officials no longer represent the majority of Americans on this issue. Encourage them to push forward with drug policy reform today!Despite the U.S. government’s steadfast refusal to part ways with the status quo, the momentum among people in the U.S. and Central America to consider drug war alternatives only continues to grow. In advance of the meeting tomorrow, we need to encourage Latin America to continue to push for drug policy reform -- take action now! The meeting of Central American presidents this weekend is extremely promising for the drug policy reform movement around the world. With more countries calling for new approaches to drug policy, it is increasingly difficult for the U.S. to ignore the legitimacy of this burgeoning debate. Tell Latin America that Americans are standing with their efforts to break open the debate on alternatives to the failed war on drugs.Sincerely,Ethan Nadelmann
Executive Director
Drug Policy Alliance 
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