cannabisnews.com: Hands Up, And Back Away From The Brownies





Hands Up, And Back Away From The Brownies
Posted by CN Staff on August 02, 2007 at 18:36:34 PT
By Christopher Palmeri 
Source: Business Week 
California -- Raids and arrests are up, but so are the number of dispensaries—and more states are coming aboard. Activists say regulation could help.When California voters approved the nation's first medical-marijuana law in 1996, the idea was to help people like Jamie Green, a 73-year-old cancer patient who says he can't stand traditional painkillers such as morphine and Vicodin. "One puff and my pain is gone," he says. Alas, medicinal marijuana is producing nothing but pain for California politicians and law enforcement officials.
The Golden State has seen an explosion of dispensaries where people with written recommendations from a doctor can buy all kinds of pot products, from multiple grades of herb sold by "cannabaristas" in black aprons to marijuana-infused candy bars and baked goods with names such as Reefer's Peanut Butter Cups and Munchy Way. An estimated 600 dispensaries have sprouted up statewide in the past three years, a $1 billion-a-year business by one estimate. Many use coupons, newspaper advertising, and the Internet to attract customers with come-ons that include free grams for first-time visitors, discounts for people who have served in the armed forces, and $150 credits towards doctors' visits. The relatively easy access to the drug has been lampooned on popular TV shows such as HBO's Entourage and Showtime's Weeds, the star of which—a pot-dealing suburban mom—has trouble competing with all the new medical-marijuana establishments. It has even inspired related businesses such as Potpartner.com, an online dating site for marijuana smokers that launched in April and has been advertising on Los Angeles radio stations. Richard Kapustin, one of the site's founders, says he has been giving out promotional lighters with his company's logo at the dispensaries. "The response has been very good," he says.  Good Guys vs. Bad Guys There's one big problem with this, of course: Marijuana is still illegal under federal law. In July federal agents raided a dozen dispensaries across the state. Fourteen people were arrested, including several dispensary owners, a doctor who made referrals, and a handful of protestors. The Drug Enforcement Administration also has sent letters to the landlords of 150 dispensaries warning them that their property may be subject to forfeiture. The feds say the dispensaries are just fronts for illegal drug-dealing. In one indictment, Larry R. Kristich was charged with running a chain of seven dispensaries from San Francisco to San Diego that operated under the name Compassionate Caregivers. Although California's law says medicinal ganja cannot be sold for a profit, the indictment says the business generated more than $95 million in sales, allowing Kristich to purchase a $70,000 Mercedes and real estate in Costa Rica. The U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles says Kristich is now a fugitive. Calls to the Compassionate Caregivers branch in Reseda, Calif., were not returned. Don Duncan, whose California Patients Group is a nonprofit, says the feds are tarring all dispensaries with the same brush. Ironically, he was arguing for more regulation of the industry at Los Angeles' City Council when his dispensary was raided on July 25. "The DEA can't tell the difference between the good guys and the bad guys," he says. The city council ended up initiating a moratorium on new dispensaries. Councilman Dennis Zine says complaints about the dispensaries' staying open too late and distributing promotional fliers near schools has the city considering a number of regulations, including making sure they are collecting sales taxes and prohibiting consumption on the grounds, "just like liquor stores."  Never an OverdoseMeanwhile, the federal crackdown is prompting a lot of dispensaries to close up shop. Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood says there were six dispensaries in Bakersfield when he took office in January. But two federal raids, including one that led to arrests on July 17, as well as his own warnings have prompted them all to shut down. "It is a federal crime," he says. "And federal law trumps California law." A dozen states now have medical marijuana laws, the latest being New Mexico, whose law went into effect on July 1. Most of the laws list specific ailments such as cancer, glaucoma, and AIDS, for which doctors may recommend the drug. California left its law open to interpretation by allowing physicians to suggest it for any illness they believe marijuana may help. Dr. Alfonso Jimenez, who owns four clinics in California that give patients recommendations but don't sell pot, says he has treated 5,000 people over the past four years, many for anxiety and depression. "I've got patients who come in and say: "I don't want antidepressants that will cause suicide or hurt my liver,"? he says. "It's a great treatment for chronic insomnia. I've been an ER doctor for 10 years. I've never seen a patient come in with an overdose of marijuana." Los Angeles won't be the first California city to regulate the dispensaries. In San Francisco at one point, the number of people coming to downtown Oakland to buy medical marijuana grew so large that the neighborhood earned the nickname Oak-sterdam. Even the city's mayor at the time, the famously liberal Jerry Brown (he's now California's Attorney General), sought to rein in the dispensaries, closing some down and setting a limit of four in the city, according to Dale Gieringer, a state coordinator for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. Many medical-marijuana proponents lament that aggressive growth and marketing of California's pot dispensaries has set back the medical-marijuana movement. Scott Imler, a Methodist minister who helped write California's medical-marijuana proposition back in 1996, says he would prefer to see the federal government control production and distribution of the drug. Imler says he read that one of the dispensaries in Los Angeles kept a sawed-off shotgun on the premises. "Have a shoot-out over a bag of weed—that's exactly what we were trying to avoid," he says. "We were trying to get patients off of the black market, not institutionalize it." Reefer MadnessOnline Extra: Slide Show: A Peek Inside A Marijuana DispensaryCalifornia voted to legalize medical marijuana, but dispensaries like L.A.'s Green Goddess are still targeted by the DEA. The proprietor of the Green Goddess allowed BusinessWeek a look inside. http://images.businessweek.com/ss/07/08/0803_marijuana/index_01.htmComplete Title: Reefer Madness: "Hands Up, And Back Away From The Brownies" (Extended)Source: Business Week (US)Author: Christopher Palmeri Published: August 2, 2007Copyright: 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.URL: http://tinyurl.com/ywzg8rContact: bwreader businessweek.comWebsite: http://www.businessweek.com/CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml
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Comment #21 posted by E_Johnson on August 06, 2007 at 15:42:21 PT
I'm okay, thanks!
Scott is such a Communist drama queen. You want to hear another story about him?He once raised a huge fuss because a dispensary was selling kif. He thought all kif was produced in Lebanon in the Bekaa Valley. Therefore he was convinced that the dispensary owners were connected with Hezbollah!!Luckily someone told him that you can make kif anywhere just by shaking your weed over a screen.He gets the play the role of the sober, intelligent medical marijuana activist, but to me he's turned out a huge disappointment.He doesn't even stop to think before he takes one of these big Drama Queen positions that makes everyone else in the movement look morally questionable.He didn't stop one minute to think before he accused that dispenary owner of having ties to Hezbollah just for selling kif.
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Comment #20 posted by BGreen on August 05, 2007 at 05:06:02 PT
Good to see you, EJohnson
I had posted that I was worried about you because of all of the LA closings.I hope you're OK and still able to get your medicine.The Reverend Bud Green
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Comment #19 posted by E_Johnson on August 04, 2007 at 23:48:40 PT
I'll tell ya something about Scott
I love the man, but once he slammed the door and ran out of the room because I said something mean about Fidel Castro.I mean, his politics pretty much swing towards the government controlling everything under the sun.
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Comment #18 posted by Hope on August 04, 2007 at 20:32:50 PT
FoM
"....a wonderfully colorful life..."Pretty much.:0)
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Comment #17 posted by Hope on August 04, 2007 at 20:31:15 PT
User123
You're so sharp to have noticed that!If one of us doesn't catch something like that...then another of us will.You need to send that to the paper. It should get ink.
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Comment #16 posted by user123 on August 04, 2007 at 10:45:23 PT:
Sir but Sir
Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood says ....."It is a federal crime," he says. "And federal law trumps California law." Maybe this idiot might want to look into the fact that state law enforcement is not obligated to enforce federal law. But if federal law does trump California law, then I once again ask - "Where's my freakin assault rifle?" Fed law says I can have one, so Donny, start selling 'em in Kern County at least. And on second thought, what kind of grown-a** man goes by the name Donny? What are you 12?
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Comment #15 posted by FoM on August 03, 2007 at 21:06:06 PT
Hope
You're fond of him. That's a good one. I bet the two of you have a wonderfully colorful life together. 
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Comment #14 posted by Hope on August 03, 2007 at 20:28:07 PT
Oh....lol...Beck?
I don't care for his attitude that much, either.And, no...my Republican hasn't switched. He's probably, no...actually... worse than ever. Some days, I think I'll drop the "My" and just start calling him "The Republican".I'm fond of him though, in spite of it all.
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Comment #13 posted by Hope on August 03, 2007 at 20:16:02 PT
Beck
You're welcome, Toker00.Grandchildren are wonderful, Toker. They adore you...usually much more than your children did...and that's fun. "Grandpa Toker00. Hope, am I gonna have any money left for myself? I have already pledged to see that this child never experiences Poverty. Is that how you feel about your grand kids?" More than anything, usually, it's your time they need. I believe that so many of us that consider themselves Christians, fail in the area of "helping the poor". The first duty we have to those more unfortunate than ourselves...is to those that are more unfortunate than ourselves among our own relatives and family. So, no... your grandchild should never have to live in poverty if there is anything at all that you can do about it. Yes... they are wonderful and a true blessing. 
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Comment #12 posted by FoM on August 03, 2007 at 18:12:09 PT
About Beck
I can't believe it. It was wonderful. He did a great job. I'm really impressed.
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Comment #11 posted by FoM on August 03, 2007 at 16:18:15 PT
About Beck
He is actually a creepy person to me and I turned the channel. I sure would mind a world full of people that think like he does the little I've seen him.
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Comment #10 posted by FoM on August 03, 2007 at 16:16:16 PT
Toker00
I turned it on and it must be over. We are getting company and I forgot. 
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Comment #9 posted by Toker00 on August 03, 2007 at 16:13:20 PT
Beck
Just as I said. He bashed the potheads but at least presented hemp and medical cannabis in a positive light. Good job but he is a JERK.Toke.
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Comment #8 posted by Toker00 on August 03, 2007 at 13:41:50 PT
Thank you thank you Lady Hope!
I only saw the title and Beck's face. I watch him sometimes because he is the model R-winger and brain washed citizen and we need to keep our eyes on them. He will rip the pot heads but maybe he can convince the public that much debate is now necessary to begin to end the madness of Cannabis Prohibition/Drug War. Has your Republican switched to Independent yet? :)Grandpa Toker00. Hope, am I gonna have any money left for myself? I have already pledged to see that this child never experiences Poverty. Is that how you feel about your grand kids?Wage Peace on War. END CANNABIS PROHIBITION NOW! 
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Comment #7 posted by FoM on August 03, 2007 at 10:38:54 PT
Hope
I really mind Beck and have never watched him more then a few seconds. Last night Stick kept his eye on the program and I went out to work on the boat but he didn't see anything so it's tonight and I will watch it. Thanks!
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Comment #6 posted by Hope on August 03, 2007 at 10:12:23 PT
Toker00 Comment 3
Yes. It's today's show.http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/glenn.beck/
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Comment #5 posted by kaptinemo on August 03, 2007 at 04:31:46 PT:
This needs to be shouted from the rooftops
Dr. Alfonso Jimenez: "I've got patients who come in and say: "I don't want antidepressants that will cause suicide or hurt my liver,"? he says. "It's a great treatment for chronic insomnia. I've been an ER doctor for 10 years. I've never seen a patient come in with an overdose of marijuana."Which gives the direct lie to all the ONDCP prattling about cannabis being 'dangerous' and the SAMHSA nonsense about counting past cannabis use as being a cause of present ER visits.I wish more doctors would stand up and be counted in this by getting the AMA off its arse and calling Uncle out on his lies about cannabis.
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Comment #4 posted by Toker00 on August 03, 2007 at 03:12:32 PT
Dump Dick
 Dump Dick Day Video Contest: $1,000 Prize 
 August 9th is the 33rd anniversary of the historic day when President Richard Nixon resigned in the face of impeachment. Please plan now to mark the day with ceremonies, solemn or fun. We need to remind America that the proper use of impeachment did not traumatize our nation, but healed it - everyone agreed "the system worked." Bush and Cheney have now surpassed Nixonian levels of disapproval in the polls, and for good reason. They openly committed the same abuses for which the House Judiciary Committee passed articles of impeachment against Nixon (such as refusing to comply with subpoenas). They openly violated laws put into place in response to Nixon's abuses (such as the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act). They seized unconstitutional power in ways Nixon never attempted (such as by rewriting laws with signing statements). And Cheney and Bush committed far more serious crimes, including misleading the nation into war, kidnapping, torture, and murder. When Congress finally stood up to Nixon, he was gone in 3 months. (And that was with evidence of crimes still needing to be discovered, unlike today when it is already known). The Democrats won the biggest victories in recent memory in the elections that followed their decision to uphold the Constitution. In contrast, when they took the impeachment of President Ronald Reagan off the table, in order to win elections, they proceeded to lose. $1,000 Prize for Best Video We’re holding a contest for the best video using the precedent of Nixon to make the case for impeaching Cheney. The winner will be determined by a popular vote and will receive a $1,000 cash prize. To enter, simply join the Dump Dick YouTube group and add your video. Be creative. Be funny. Tell everybody you know to vote for your video. It can be as simple as talking into your webcam for two minutes or it can be a major Hollywood production if you've got the budget. But hurry--the deadline for submissions is high noon on Dump Dick Day (that's 12:00PM ET on August 9th). To vote, watch any or all of the videos posted to the YouTube group and give them a rating of one to five stars. Voting will remain open until noon on August 11. If there’s a tie, we’ll put up a poll online where you can vote for the finalists. __________ Kucinich Accepts Over 100,000 Petitions Urging Cheney Impeachment Congressman Dennis Kucinich on Thursday received petitions from people throughout the country who support impeaching Vice President Dick Cheney. Kucinich introduced H. Res. 333, which proposes articles of impeachment against the Vice President on April 24, 2007. Petition signatures in support of impeaching Vice President Cheney have been collected at http://www.impeachcheney.org by a coalition that includes Brave New Films, A28, AfterDowningStreet, Backbone Campaign, True Majority, Iraq Veterans Against the War, BuzzFlash, Democracy Rising, Democrats.com, Grass Roots America, Hip Hop Caucus, ImpeachBush.tv, Impeach for Peace, Impeach Space, The Nation, National Lawyers Guild, OpEdNews, The People's Email Network, Progressive Democrats of America, Code Pink, United for Peace and Justice, Velvet Revolution, World Can't Wait. The coalition presented Congressman Kucinich with 113,000 signatures, plus additional petition signatures from some individual groups. Working Assets, the only wireless company fighting to impeach Vice President Dick Cheney, has collected over 50,000 of its members' signatures to submit to their Congressional representatives calling for his impeachment. True Majority has collected 49,000 signatures. Democrats.com and AfterDowningStreet have collected an additional 28,000 signatures in support of impeaching the Vice President. And Impeach for Peace has brought together thousands of hand-written memorials, in accordance with the rules of the Jefferson Manual, from individuals around the country urging the impeachment of Dick Cheney. Representatives from several of these organizations took part in Thursday's event. There are currently 16 co-sponsors of H.Res. 333: Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Rep. Robert Brady (D-PA), Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Rep. William Lacy Clay (D-MO), Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), Rep. Sam Farr (D-CA), Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA), Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA), Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA), Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA), Rep. Donald Payne (D-NJ), Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), and Rep. Al Wynn (D-MD). WATCH A VIDEO OF KUCINICH ACCEPTING THE PETITIONS:
http://afterdowningstreet.org/node/25369  KUCINICH WILL ENTER YOUR NAME IN THE CONGRESSIONAL RECORD IF YOU SIGN NOW:
http://democrats.com/impeach-cheney-congressional-record  __________ Does Your Representative Support Impeachment? Just Ask! I ran into Congressman Donald Payne Tuesday evening and asked him if he would sign on to cosponsor H Res 333, articles of impeachment against Vice President Dick Cheney. He said yes immediately and brought his legislative director in on the conversation. They both said yes, as a matter of course, as if all they'd been waiting for was someone to ask them. Now, I know that's not quite the case, and that citizens of New Jersey have been lobbying Payne and other New Jersey Congress Members intensely. Still, it makes me wonder how many Congress Members might back impeachment if people just got to them, face-to-face, and asked. Well, here's your chance to find out. Congress is taking the next month off. Congress Members will be in their districts. They'll be near your house. They have offices near your house. Now is the time to ask them to cosponsor H Res 333 or introduce their own articles of impeachment against Cheney. If they agree to cosponsor H Res 333, you should contact Congressman Dennis Kucinich's office and let him know. If they do not agree, you should make a bunch of big posters that say "Honk to Impeach" and stand on the street corner in front of your Congress Member's office. Or you should sit in their office, read the Constitution out loud, and refuse to leave. August is your time to make your message clear. 54% of Americans want Cheney impeached, and 40% do not. See how many of that 54% you can bring with you to your representative's office. More information: http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/cheney  __________ FAIR Takes on the Media's Coverage of Impeachment Read this analysis from Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting:
http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=3149  Then contact the media:
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/media  ___________ New Justice Through Music Video Shows Torture Footage In Campaign To Oppose Torture And Extreme Rendition Velvet Revolution affiliate Justice Through Music ("JTM") and the band Op-Critical have just released a new music video called “Exile” as part of a campaign in opposition to the use of Torture and Extreme Rendition by the United States government. "This video takes a very hard hitting look at these inhumane and barbaric practices and makes a statement that this type of conduct is wrong," says JTM Director Brett Kimberlin. "We wanted to make an authentic video so we filmed it at an abandoned prison, and took hours of footage of me actually being subjected to real torture, including waterboarding, hanging from my wrists till I bled, and being hooded and handcuffed. I wanted to experience it unsanitized and in real time – it was terrifying, and I still have nightmares about it months later," he added. The video is on YouTube at http://youtube.com/watch?v=p2yOzV0BPMs  This video ties in closely with VR’s new anti-torture ad campaign where they are releasing ads every week opposing these draconian methods. ____________ Honk to Impeach: It Really Works! Cheryl Biren-Wright wrote to share this: Rep. Robert Brady (D., Pa.) just signed onto H Res 333. I'd like to share an interesting tidbit - bob brady's district office is on s. broad street in philadelphia just on the other side of city hall from where we had our "honk for impeach" during rush hour on n. broad street yesterday. i can attest that the honking never ceased - it was one steady stream of noise - the people want it! An idea for others who plan rush hour impeach "honk fests," i had on hand pre-printed impeach postcards for people to sign and send to their reps. Most drivers were very eager to take them.And from Kentucky comes this: Mark Twain is reported to have said that "when the end of the world comes I want to be in Kentucky, because there it will come 20 years later." If that is true George W. Bush should have been impeached several years ago. I have been taking photos and shooting videos of political protest here in Kentucky for several years and have never seen so many people honking for the impeachment of a sitting president. I suggest when Kentucky is ready to impeach George W. Bush and "Shotgun" Dick Cheney, the Bush Administration is in real trouble. WATCH THIS GREAT VIDEO FROM KENTUCKY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaxSbQVQmec  There are ongoing Honk to Impeach events in at least 18 locations around the country. We should have at least one in every state. Find one near you or start your own. We suggest having impeachment petitions on hand for people to sign, wearing orange, and--if you can--handing out free impeachment bumper stickers. ##### Forward this message to everyone you know! Toke. 
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Comment #3 posted by Toker00 on August 03, 2007 at 03:03:32 PT
Huh?
Did I get a glance on a Glenn Beck show ad of a program concerning LEGALIZATION of Cannabis? I believe it was titled "Is it Time To Legalize?" Anyone else see this? That's major MSM.Toke.
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Comment #2 posted by The GCW on August 02, 2007 at 20:57:28 PT
More insight from the Boulder Weekly.
NASA ignores alcohol abuse NASA has ignored flight surgeons and astronauts who questioned others' fitness to fly due to drinking, according to a report last week that alleges "heavy alcohol use" in the immediate hours before flights. A panel that studied astronaut medical issues also found that staff were "demoralized" when their identification of "major crew medical or behavioral problems" were ignored by NASA leadership. The findings suggest that problematic cultural issues remain entrenched at NASA, which has been faulted repeatedly in the past for failing to heed safety warnings through the ranks. The panel interviewed 14 astronauts, eight flight surgeons, five family members and other staff for the 12-page report, which noted that astronauts lack regular mental-health assessments and feel pressure to hide their problems. "Many anecdotes were related that involved risky behaviors by astronauts that were well known to other astronauts and no apparent action was taken," according to the review. "Peers and staff feared ostracism if they identify their own or others' problems." The report was one of two released on Friday by the agency, which requested the evaluations after astronaut Lisa Nowak was arrested for attacking her romantic rival in an Orlando airport parking lot in February. Nowak since has been released from the astronaut corps to the Navy while she awaits a September trial. Yet Nowak got little attention in a packed NASA news conference dominated by the alcohol concerns. The report describes two cases in which astronauts who had been drinking were allowed to fly despite the concerns of flight surgeons or other astronauts. No specific names or missions were released. The chairman of the panel, Air Force Col. Richard E. Bachmann Jr., said that one incident occurred in Kazakhstan for a Soyuz launch to the international space station and the other in Florida during a canceled shuttle launch attempt. CONT. http://www.boulderweekly.com/newsspin2.htmlGee, it's interesting how everything is relative.
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Comment #1 posted by The GCW on August 02, 2007 at 20:35:48 PT
Strengthen the FDA ???
Strengthen the FDA 
By Jim Hightower http://www.boulderweekly.com/newsspin.htmlWow. If George W thought that Scooter Libby got "harsh" punishment for being the Bushites' fall guy, he ought to consider how top Chinese officials treat their scapegoats. Mr. Zheng Xiaoyu, the head of China's food and drug administration, took the fall for the recent scandal of China's exports of shoddy and contaminated products. And, unlike Libby, he didn't just get an 18-month sentence — they executed him! Took him out and shot him in the back of the head. Now that's taking a fall. There's much tongue clucking in our country by pundits and politicos about how the Chinese need to clean up their regulatory act. But, wait a minute — what about our own FDA? While the number of food imports into the U.S. has increased by 1,000 percent in the past 14 years, FDA's port inspections have dropped. Some 80 percent of food imports are not even subject to inspection — they're automatically waved in. Of the remaining imports, less than 1 percent are inspected. Indeed, Bush budget cuts are endangering our food supply — FDA gets only $10.6 million for food safety and is now proposing to eliminate seven of its 13 food safety labs. Why such lax oversight of such an important product as our food? CONT.-0-I'd like to add some reasons to what is included in the continuation.Some of the foods that come into the US now are from countries that have military types spraying some banned plants and that poison is also contaminating food crops. They don't want those food crops checked.The US has made agreements with those countries getting Roundup sprayed on them that in allowing the poison to fall, they will help replace those losses with crops that they can sell to the US to get income lost by things like cannabis or coca or what ever. And they don't want Americans to know what is going on with those spray missions and how it effects Americans.It's ok if round up is in Columbian babies food but not American babies food... The -not in My back yard- scinario doesn't exist because Americans are kept from knowing about it...Another reason that exists is the blackmail angles that may be usefull if a country slacks in their support for the war on drugs. Example: If You don't tow the line We will more closely inspect the crops You send into America.
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