cannabisnews.com: Protest Demand Increase of Marijuana Plant Limit





Protest Demand Increase of Marijuana Plant Limit
Posted by FoM on May 09, 2001 at 17:06:22 PT
By Eric Ostrem, Contributing Writer
Source: Daily Californian
Berkeley's newly adopted medical marijuana ordinance once again became the center of debate last night, when 180 patients, doctors, and activists protested the amount of legal possession. Protesters argued that the ordinance, passed by the Berkeley City Council in March, is too restrictive. The demonstration took place in front of Old City Hall an hour before the council meeting. The current ordinance, which allows patients to grow up to 10 marijuana plants, makes Berkeley one of the 10 most restrictive cities in the state, protesters said. 
They upheld that the City Council has criminalized the medicinal use of marijuana, despite the implementation of Proposition 215, which legalized its use for medicinal purposes. Cities across the state have struggled to adopt similar ordinances since the proposition passed last fall. Berkeley City Councilmember Kriss Worthington said the plant limit needs to be reviewed. "(Ten) is an artificial number that doesn't seem to be based on any medical research," he said. "The issue will keep resurfacing until the people are satisfied." Last March, patients who regularly use the drug for medicinal purposes strongly resisted the council's decision, arguing that it settled for a "conservative" amount. The sound of honking cars was constant last night, as protesters rallied with shouts of "Drug law kills, marijuana heals." The Alliance of Berkeley Patients, a group of patients, doctors, and other community members, requested in a proposal to the council that the number of legal plants be increased to 48. David Taylor, a spokesperson for the alliance, said the proposal was written by patients and reflects their needs. "The Berkeley City Council is really coming out against medical marijuana patients," he said. "It's like the City Council is reinstituting the drug war in Berkeley." Fred Medrano, director of health and human services for the city, said the ordinance is based on medical research done by the City Health Office, which estimates that 10 plants would be enough to yield the amount of marijuana necessary for three one-gram cigarettes a day. Medrano noted that there is a provision in the ordinance that allows for an increase in the legal amount with a request from a physician. The director of the Cannabis Buyers Co-op, Val Adase, said city health officials have ignored recommendations from the Berkeley Community Health Commission, which advocates a limit of 144 plants. Adase said the increase in number of plants is needed because most growers are ill and unaware of how to properly cultivate the plants, especially during adverse weather conditions. "Even if you had 48 plants, by the end of the growth period, because of bugs, mites, and mildew, you might have 20," she said. Many patients also prefer to vaporize or cook the drug. These methods require much more cannabis than 10 plants, she said. "It's just common sense," Adase said. "Ten plants puts everyone back on the street." Medrano said the ordinance was crafted with public's safety in mind. The collective distribution centers located in residential areas pose threats to safety, he said, suggesting they would attract thieves. Taylor said the restrictions could lead to more crime, because patients who run out of their legal stash would buy marijuana illegally. "The ordinance is forcing patients to become criminals, pushing them back into the illicit market," he said. Medrano cited the need to strike a balance between the possibility of inciting more crime with too much or too little medical marijuana. "Everyone's objective is basically the same—to create reasonable access for people who need medical marijuana," he said. "That's really the primary goal here."Note: City Ordinance Based on Medical Research, Health Officials SayComplete Title: Protesters Demand Increase of Marijuana Plant Limit Source: The Daily Californian (CA)Author: Eric Ostrem, Contributing WriterPublished: Wednesday, May 9, 2001Copyright: 2001 The Daily CalifornianContact: opinion dailycal.orgWebsite: http://www.dailycal.org/Related Articles:Berkeley Marijuana Ordinance Jeered http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9225.shtmlCity Sets Limits for Medical Marijuana http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9213.shtmlBerkeley's Pot Limit Is 2.5 Pounds http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9183.shtml 
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Comment #3 posted by Dan B on May 09, 2001 at 22:23:10 PT:
Great Response, Freedom Fighter!
I am glad to see that he actually responded to your e-mail; he did not respond to mine. But it is good that you have established a line of communication, and I hope he keeps it open. Your words are so obviously sincere and heartfelt that I hope he will, at least for a moment, take off the blinders and begin to understand that what he has been led to believe by the corrupt American government is wrong.You rock, Freedom Fighter. Keep on keepin' on, friend.Dan B
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Comment #2 posted by freedom fighter on May 09, 2001 at 19:33:36 PT
My follow-up to John Douglas
Dear John DouglasThis is a follow-up to your recent mail and thank you for replying.I know you suggested drugs be made legal with conditions attached to itwhich I find it very interesting.We are already paying rehabilitation for those who choose to abuse the high.Personally, I find Life is one big drug pill and I am always high on Life.We all can just legalize the drugs and have the drug users pay for therehabilitation by deducting the cost from the drugs. We cannot do that withprohibition.Our present form of "rehabilitation" is to send some americans who professnot to be high with guns and shotguns breaking another American's door.Pulling guns on america children loudly screaming for the drugs.Terrorizing the women while threatening men a great damage, the so-calledamericans proceed to search the house and found a 30 inch plant sitting in abedroom closet. They promptly killed it!The man stood by the judge and she said,"I hope this is a good opportunityfor you." The man face 2 years of meeting strangers that loudly proclaimedthat he has a problem. "Did you know it is against the LAW?", they asked."Yes.", said the man. Instead of asking the man why he broke the law, thestrangers tell the man that if he does not follow their rules, their way oflife, the man will go to prison for 2 to 6 years plus 3 more years ofprobation. He cannot drive any transporation. Yet, the strangers tell himyou must go to our office every week and we are going to sexually abuse youby making you take a pee test. Oh, by the way it cost the man 12 dollars perpee test. (We are footing the rest of the pee bill). The man is required tohave a job.Just what did the man do? " We send you a confidential informant to yourhouse and the CI brought dope from you. He made tape recording of a sale ofmarijuana from you. Only strange thing about this case is that the man whogot arrested for growing a plant does not hear. How does one tape record aconservation between a deaf man and a hearing CI. ? The detective actuallysaid there would be no charge for the deaf man if his son would snitch forhim.Ask the deaf man, "Why did you break the "Law"?. He will promptly answeredthis question. It is a bad law.I agree with you that many do not even worry about the so-called "Law". Butthere are those who break some laws because they know it is bad. It isamerican's duty to break law because they think it is bad. I think Martin L.King said that.Why is it a bad law then?Do you remember the time when the drugs were totally legal and there werenot very many addicts going about? We had demand and supply back then but wedid not send an airplane outfitted with guns killing people in the air.. Howcan it be? For 5 thousand years human beings are always on drugs. Even thosewho proclaim loudly that they are drug-free. Every time I hear someone likethat, I always think they must be so high from sniffing the hot toxic airand "money".Meanwhile, while we debate about the drug users and the criminals who wouldnot listen!6.5 million americans under prison\probation system sucking money from goodaverage american such as you and me.. How many more can we afford this? Youcan stand by your theory but I ask you as a good american to look yourselfin heart. It is in our consitution that everyone have right to happiness.You have right to abstain from partaking anything you do not wish. Likewise,another may not want to abstain from partaking because they choose to. Andwe all can compromise in cost-wise.Right now, common americans are not getting their monies worth at all. Worseyet, Drug war was never about drugs but taking control of everyone's life.It never did matter that you did not do drugs my friend.Our little war in what we call against drugs actually have undermine theconsitutionally of the consitution. We can not pretend we are truly freewhen we know we got some "americans" willing to peek in anybody's bedroom tosee what plant anyone who might be so incline to take the time to grow.
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Comment #1 posted by freedom fighter on May 09, 2001 at 17:46:50 PT
Got a response from John Douglas
(The author who recently wrote about blaming the drug users for the killings in Peru.)(Just wondering if any got any responses from this author. He has a point about rehabilitation but I also must assume he thinks he is not paying any "rehabiliation" now. What do you think my friends??)ffI believe that I suggested that drugs be made legalbut with the understanding that I don't want to pay for rehabilitation of those who choose getting high as a way of life.I stand by my theory that without drug users (who apparently think nothing of breaking the law) are the demand and the rest is simply supply at any cost.I will admit that my tax money goes to activities that I dislike and I try to dowhat I can to stop it. You must have kicked in a little money for those planes also.John douglas______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________Subject: Nancy Regan said that too 20 yrs ago Author: "freedom fighter" Date:  05/02/01 6:07 AMLet's play the blame game....   You blame the drug usersCould you please look yourself in a mirror?   Drug users are not the one who started the war. It is people like you who started this war.It was your choice that send your tax money to buy an airplane fitted with guns that killed those two people.   In your article, you claimed that Drugs are here to stay. You also acknowledge that there will always be drug users despite our massive effort to punish the users. 6.5 million americans under the prison and probabtion system.. How many moreamericans are you willing to put in prison before you realize something.   THAT YOU ARE NOT A FREE MAN!   I am glad you wrote the article. The Emperor have shown what he is wearing. NOTHING!
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