cannabisnews.com: DEA's Scarlet Letter





DEA's Scarlet Letter
Posted by CN Staff on August 03, 2007 at 17:05:51 PT
By Celeste Fremon
Source: LA Weekly 
Los Angeles, CA -- The DEA and the city of Los Angeles are at war over medical marijuana. On one side of the fight is the Drug Enforcement Administration, which seems to be doing all within its power to shut down the 180 or so medical-marijuana collectives (as dispensaries are called) in Los Angeles County.On the other side is the Los Angeles City Council — which voted on Wednesday, August 1, in a 10–2 vote, to officially regulate the medical-marijuana business, so that scam artists can be rooted out and those who depend on cannabis for health reasons can get the stuff safely from licensed purveyors without threat of arrest and criminal prosecution.
Within the next 10 days, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is expected to sign what is officially known as the Medical Marijuana Dispensary Interim Control Ordinance.So far, neither side shows signs of bending, and July has been a month full of skirmishes. On July 6, the Los Angeles branch of the DEA sent letters to nearly 150 of the landlords in Los Angeles County who rent sites to marijuana collectives, pleasantly reminding property owners that selling cannabis is a federal crime punishable by up to 20 years in the federal pen, and that even peripheral involvement could trigger the Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act of 2000 — meaning that the property owners’ land could be confiscated by the U.S. government.“This letter shall serve notice that, after a thorough investigation, the DEA has determined that a marijuana dispensary is operating on the above described property,” concluded the feds’ cheery missive.The letter triggered a rash of freak-outs among targeted landlords, causing scores of them to phone the DEA office — and their personal attorneys. “I’d say about 80 percent of the people we sent letters to called us,” says DEA spokesperson Sarah Pullen. She says many believed that California state law trumps the federal statute, when, in fact, the opposite is true.Attorney William Kroeger, who represents some collectives who rent space in L.A., says that if he represented targeted landlords, “I’d tell them, ‘You should be in court five minutes from now filing eviction papers.’ ”For its part, the DEA claims it simply sent the letters out as a courtesy, “to inform property owners about the law.” Nobody in city government, or among the medical-marijuana activists, really bought it. “That’s like me saying, ‘I’m just informing you, I’m going to punch you in the face,’ ” says one unhappy collective owner.Whatever its purpose, the tactic had a chilling effect. Although some property owners vowed to stand their ground, others told their tenants to move out, says Chris Fusco, the Los Angeles County field coordinator for Americans for Safe Access, one of the main medical-cannabis lobbies.By mid-July, several collectives had closed up shop, including the Earth Collective on Sunset Boulevard just east of Normandie Avenue, which posted a note on WeedTracker, the best known of the medical-marijuana forums, that read in part: “Today, July 15, 2007, will be our last day dispensing medicine... We would like to thank the entire medical marijuana community . . . for their support throughout our entire campaign.”Then, on July 25, Los Angeles City Councilman (and former LAPD officer) Dennis Zine held a press conference before the Wednesday City Council meeting, calling for DEA Administrator Karen Tandy to stop threatening property owners and to allow L.A. to proceed with regulating medical-weed distribution without federal interference.At the council meeting itself, Zine pushed through an “interim control ordinance” that put a temporary moratorium on new outlets in Los Angeles until more detailed municipal regulations are worked out.“I understand there is a difference between federal law and California law in regards to medical cannabis,” Zine wrote in his letter to Tandy. “Despite the difference, cities and counties must continue to uphold the will of our voters and adopt sensible guidelines to regulate the provision of medical cannabis in our communities.”But within an hour of Zine’s press conference, about 100 Kevlar-clad DEA agents broke down doors of 10 medical-marijuana collectives, including the already shuttered Earth Collective. At some locations, says Kroeger, the agents even smashed vending machines, ostensibly to make sure none of the snacks contained contraband.Zine and other council members were furious. “What the feds are trying to do is flex their muscles,” Zine said when told of the raids. “They want to show us who’s boss. We’re not trying to legalize marijuana,” he said. “We’re just trying to regulate it for compassionate use for those who need it.”Zine blasted the DEA for “wasting federal tax dollars going after people that we’re trying to regulate. These places are well-known. They advertise — you don’t have to go looking for them. Why doesn’t the DEA use those same resources to go after the drug dealers who’re ruining lives in our communities with crystal meth, heroin and cocaine?“People don’t like it when the government becomes oppressive,” he said. “At heart, I’m a hard-ass cop. And I don’t like it.”Indeed, it is unclear what was accomplished in the 10 raids. Although 200 kilos of “product” was seized — not surprisingly — and five arrests were made, no charges had been filed as of press time.Of the five arrests, two were for non-drug-related outstanding warrants, admits the DEA’s Pullen. “We aren’t even 100 percent sure yet if the warrants are still active,” she sighs.Most of the raided collectives claimed they would reopen. As soon as the feds left, the California Patients Group, which operates out of a storefront on Santa Monica Boulevard near Vine Street, tacked up a handwritten sign in its window that read, “Closed Today. Will Be Open Tomorrow.” Several others announced they will reopen “soon.”“It’s so maddening,” says attorney Kroeger, who — along with Zine and representatives of city agencies including the LAPD and the Department of Building and Safety — is part of a working group hammering out the city ordinance still to come. “Here we are doing everything to regulate this, and the DEA goes knocking down the doors of a lot of people who may get evicted anyway.”To better understand this summer’s battle, it helps to go back to 1996, when Proposition 215, the Compassionate Use Act, was approved by a healthy 56 percent of California voters. It was the first such law in the nation. Since then, 11 more states have passed their own medical-marijuana laws, New Mexico being the most recent.These state laws are in conflict with the federal Controlled Substances Act, but from 1996 to 2001, with a few exceptions, the feds pretty much stayed out of it.But in 2001, under George W. Bush, the DEA began raiding clinics in California. Since then, the feds have waged an ever more aggressive campaign in California to shut down collectives that dispense weed to those holding prescriptions.The DEA ramped up the Los Angeles crackdown on January 17, when the feds raided 11 collectives in one day — five in West Hollywood, the other six in Venice, Hollywood, Sherman Oaks and Woodland Hills. Like last week’s, these raids appeared unsuccessful. As yet, no charges have resulted and, although three of the collectives closed for good, eight reopened in less than a week. Within a month, several new collectives had sprung up, mushroomlike, to replace the three that closed.The July raids coincided with a vote in Congress on the Hinchey-Rohrabacher Amendment, which proposed to kill funding now used for similar DEA enforcement actions in the 12 states where medicinal marijuana is legal. The House bill was defeated, but its strange-bedfellow authors — New York liberal Democrat Maurice Hinchey and ultraconservative Huntington Beach Republican Dana Rohrabacher — illustrate the party-crossing sentiment against the DEA’s tactics.More anti-enforcement attitude was seen earlier this month in Orange County, where the all-Republican county Board of Supervisors voted to regulate the sale of medical marijuana. Advocates pitched the fiscally conservative idea that issuing identification to legitimate purveyors would reduce pointless and costly prosecutions.Meanwhile, in L.A. the war goes on. “Look, we’re here to uphold the law,” says the DEA’s Pullen. “And we can’t really pick and choose which laws.”At the collectives, the jitters continue. “We’re hanging in,” says one L.A.-based collective owner who declined to be named. “But we’re getting tired. That’s how it is for a lot of people I know, they’re scared and tired.” And on Monday, the California Patients Group, which had vowed to stay open, announced that it too was closing “as a result of the economic and legal hardship resulting from this week’s DEA raid and threats made against our landlord.”Note: Nervous L.A. landlords and dispensaries get caught in the medical-pot wars.Source: LA Weekly (CA)Author: Celeste FremonPublished: Friday, August 3, 2007Copyright: 2007 Los Angeles Weekly, Inc.Contact: letters laweekly.comWebsite: http://www.laweekly.com/URL: http://tinyurl.com/3amg3gRelated Articles:Hands Up, And Back Away From The Brownieshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23231.shtml DEA Targets Landlords in Pot Battle http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23203.shtml
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Comment #43 posted by whig on August 06, 2007 at 17:03:50 PT
Max Flowers
Interesting letter. I have a lot to say but not here.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #42 posted by Max Flowers on August 06, 2007 at 00:43:50 PT
whig
There are no guarantees in life, period. If after diligent research you come to believe something that you honestly believe is real truth, that's all you can do. I've done my research (and continue to do it), and I know what I believe.See how you feel about this:http://sedm.org/Exhibits/EX1046.pdfI know what I get out of that, a devastating admission in writing on IRS letterhead...
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #41 posted by whig on August 05, 2007 at 20:08:07 PT
Max Flowers
There is no guarantee the federal zone argument will hold up in court. No precedent binds a judge or jury to accept it.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #40 posted by Max Flowers on August 05, 2007 at 18:57:39 PT
I got it
I saved the .pdf as text and then cut out the part. Here it is, and it is so simple it's mind-boggling and eye-opening. Everybody needs to know this stuff:IRS DISTRICTS The IRS is authorized by 26 USC 7601 to canvass IRS Districts in search of taxable persons and taxable objects. This is where the IRS is only authorized to collect import taxes and via Executive Order 10289 and Treasury Order 150.01, the IRS Districts were created but they are only Port Districts. The jurisdiction of these IRS Districts or Port Districts must have secured their jurisdiction to the United States and outside the jurisdiction of the 50 States of the Union.
 
These IRS Districts are ordinarily ceded to the United States, in order to clearly establish where federal jurisdiction lies. Thus, all IRS Districts lie outside any 
State of the Union jurisdiction. There is no nexus between American Citizens/American Nationals and the federal government unless it involves interstate or 
international affairs or the regulation of the value of money. Laws made by Congress in the Federal Zone are constitutionally correct and are not limited by the Constitution if applied within the Federal Zone itself. Thus when you consider conventions and agreements there is only one jurisdiction to which they are applicable and that is the Federal Zone due to constitutional limitations against the federal government. Non-federal private sector Employers are not 
constitutionally authorized to collect taxes from American Citizens/American Nationals. The federal government can only correctly and properly collect taxes from its citizens called US Citizens directly from the ‘employer’ by the IRS. All the laws that the IRS states to non-federal private sector employers within the 50 states of the union have no jurisdictional authority or validity per the 
Constitution. The laws found in the Internal Revenue Code [Title 26] are special laws that only apply within the Federal Zone and can be collected by the federal 
tax collectors directly in that exclusive jurisdiction. The IRS has no such authority within the 50 states of the union to do as they have been permitted to do since the time of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #39 posted by Max Flowers on August 05, 2007 at 18:25:00 PT
Thanks
...for being understanding. It's a passionate subject for me as you can tell, and also I don't ever want to see someone get in trouble because they followed inaccurate information. We need to spread legally accurate info!On that note, I just found an excellent document that zeros in on vital points on this subject that I'd like to share here, but it's a .pdf and I can't seem to find how to select part of the pdf's text and convert it into text post-able as html. Know how...?
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #38 posted by The GCW on August 05, 2007 at 18:18:48 PT
dongenero and C-Newser's / BPG - Montano Velo 
dongenero -and other C-Newser's that may be interested,You requested to know when more info is available about the Berkeley Patient Group / Montano Velo cycle racing kits becoming available.-0-The time has finally arrived! Thank you for your patience. The clothing is here and we are ready to send it out to our supporters, pronto.We have a limited supply of clothing so it is first come, first serve. At this time we are selling Cycling Jerseys http://www.rhvilla.com:80/MONTANOVELO/jersey.htm , Bib Shorts http://www.rhvilla.com/MONTANOVELO/shorts.htm , and Team Issued Cycling Caps http://www.rhvilla.com/montanovelo/images/riders/Ray.jpg .There is a cannabis leaf in the middle of the red crosses.The Jerseys and Bib Shorts are made by Champion Systems. PricingJerseys: $90 (available in S, M, L, and XL) 
Bib Shorts: $100 (available in S, M, and L)
Caps: $15 (one size)Now before you say, "wow, that's kinda pricey", remember, this is a small number of custom made cloth by Champion Systems with 5% of the proceeds going to Americans for Safe Access and the rest of the proceeds going solely to the cost of supporting an elite cycling team. Plus, you'll be slickest looking rider out there on the road in your new kit. Ordering
Simply "reply" to this email and request the clothing you desire.Example:
1 Small Shorts 
2 Large Jerseys
3 CapsWe will then email you a PayPal request with the detailed quantity invoiced, including shipping and handling, and tax (8% in California). All items will be set USPS Priority Mail. NOTE: Shipping costs are generally $4.60 for 1-3 items [ 1 envelope], $9.20 (4-6) [2 envelopes], etc. We prefer you order through your PayPal account if you have one, or feel free to use a credit card (does not require a PayPal account). I have also included below a recent news article regarding Berkeley Patients Group and the LAPD/DEA Medical Marijuana Raids.Thank you dearly for your support! Sincerely,Christian Kearney
BPG/Montano Velo Cycling Team MemberBPG - Montano Velo (c_kearney yahoo.com) ********************************************************************
FEDS, LAPD FREEZE BERKELEY POT CLUB'S ASSETSCouncil Members Call for New Laws to Protect Marijuana BusinessesBERKELEY -- A city-sanctioned medical marijuana dispensary had its
assets frozen this week, prompting some city council members to call
for new city laws protecting such businesses.The Berkeley Patient Group was notified Monday that its bank account
was frozen by the Los Angeles Police Department during a joint
operation with the Drug Enforcement Agency. The operation targeted
about 10 dispensaries in Los Angeles, including the California
Patients Group, a sister organization to the Berkeley-based business.The frozen accounts prevent the group from accessing cash it had
saved to pay state sales taxes."We are a legally licensed dispensary, to be targeted like this is
absurd," said Debby Goldsberry, spokesperson for the group. "They
snuck in quietly and took all of our assets. We want them back."The asset freeze appears to be connected to a raid of Los
Angeles-based dispensaries conducted by the DEA last week, said Sarah
Pullin, a spokesperson for the DEA-Los Angeles."They are associated with one of the ones we served last week,"
Pullin said. "I know they are in the process of freezing assets to
eventually seize assets."A spokesperson at the Los Angeles Police Department said no one was
available to comment.Pullin said she could not comment on how much money was seized or
what was found during the raids in Los Angeles because the warrants
remain under court seal.Goldsberry said the group wants its money back because it serves a
public health need and is legal under state and city laws.The Berkeley Patients Group serves more than 5,000 medical marijuana
clients in Berkeley and Oakland. It is one of three legalized
dispensaries in the city and also provides community services such as
a hospice and free delivery of organic fruit and vegetables to hospice
clients.City Council member Kriss Worthington said the city should do all it
can to protect the group and the two other dispensaries now operating
in the city.Although no city has ever devised a legal strategy to combat federal
laws against the use of marijuana for medical purposes, Worthington
said Berkeley should work to do all it can."We're not sure what we can do that will give us meaningful
protection, but we want to make sure it has some chance of protecting
the club," he said. "There is a whole lot of other, better things the
DEA can be doing with taxpayer money."Worthington was joined by council members Darryl Moore and Max
Anderson in calling for a new city ordinance.Meanwhile, Goldsberry said the group will try to appeal to the DEA's
"human side" to get its money back."We are doing the best we can to serve the patient community that
depends on us," she said. "We need to send a strong message from our
community that the DEA is not welcomed here."Berkeley medical pot club raidedCarolyn JonesTuesday, July 31, 2007(07-31) 20:27 PDT -- The Los Angeles Police
Department and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency seized
the assets of a Berkeley marijuana club Tuesday,
following a raid of its sister club in Los Angeles.The Berkeley Patients Group, one of three medical
marijuana clubs in Berkeley, serves about 3,000 people
in the East Bay. Medical marijuana is against federal
law but California, under Proposition 215, allows
dispensaries to operate."It's completely scandalous," said Becky DeKeuster,
Berkeley Patients Group community liaison. "But we're
determined to stay open and assist our patients in any
way we can."The Berkeley club had about $10,000 to $15,000 in its
bank account, DeKeuster said. Employees offered to
work without pay until the matter is resolved.The Berkeley club's sister organization, California
Patients Group, was raided last week in Los Angeles.
Agents seized plants and handcuffed employees and
patients but no one was arrested, DeKeuster said.About 75 backers of the Berkeley club rallied at
Tuesday's Berkeley City Council meeting, asking that
the council declare Berkeley a sanctuary for medical
marijuana dispensaries. The council agreed to hold a
hearing on the issue."This is really affecting individuals and families who
rely on marijuana to treat diseases and side effects,"
said Berkeley spokeswoman Mary Kay Clunies-Ross.
"We're definitely going to take a look at it."http://sfgate. com/cgi-bin/ article.cgi? f=/c/a/2007/ 07/31/BAGE1RAJR5 9.DTLBookmark: http://www.mapinc. org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)AUTHORITIES SEIZE ASSETS OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA CLUBThe Los Angeles Police Department and the U.S. Drug Enforcement
Agency seized the assets of a Berkeley marijuana club Tuesday,
following a raid of its sister club in Los Angeles.The Berkeley Patients Group, one of three medical marijuana clubs in
Berkeley, serves about 3,000 people in the East Bay. Medical
marijuana is against federal law but California, under Proposition
215, allows dispensaries to operate."It's completely scandalous," said Becky DeKeuster, Berkeley Patients
Group community liaison. "But we're determined to stay open and
assist our patients in any way we can."The Berkeley club had about $10,000 to $15,000 in its bank account,
DeKeuster said. Employees offered to work without pay until the
matter is resolved.The Berkeley club's sister organization, California Patients Group,
was raided last week in Los Angeles. Agents seized plants and
handcuffed employees and patients, but no one was arrested, DeKeuster
said.About 75 backers of the Berkeley club rallied at Tuesday's Berkeley
City Council meeting, asking that the council declare Berkeley a
sanctuary for medical marijuana dispensaries. The council agreed to
hold a hearing on the issue."This is really affecting individuals and families who rely on
marijuana to treat diseases and side effects," said Berkeley
spokeswoman Mary Kay Clunies-Ross. "We're definitely going to take a
look at it."
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #37 posted by Toker00 on August 05, 2007 at 18:08:38 PT
Yes, Max.
I should have been more specific. MOST of us don't have to pay income taxes but are intimidated into doing so. I guess I have been reading too many aricles like this:http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=56855I wouldn't call what I posted MISinformation, just incomplete. But I don't mind being cautioned.Toke.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #36 posted by Max Flowers on August 05, 2007 at 17:29:45 PT
Toker00 (regarding #27)
You posted this:Don't forget. There is no Law requiring anyone to pay an Income tax. None.I appreciate what you're trying to do, but you're posting a dangerous piece of misinformation. I'm with you in working to help stop the defrauding of America by the IRS and DOJ and others involved, so don't get me wrong, but when you say "there is no law requiring anyone to pay an income tax", you are posting inaccurate "tax-protester" stuff that hurts the cause rather than helps it. The fact is that there is most certainly law that requires certain classes of people to pay income tax. Those people are government employees, public officers, those born and working in the federal zone (Congressional legislative jurisdiction, aka Washington D.C.), and certain other specific types of people. They are under congressional jurisdiction and absolutely have to pay federal income tax. It's totally 100% legal tax for them, and 100% illegal for them not to pay it. The problem comes in when people who by actual law are *not* liable for the federal income tax, pay it out of fear and conditioning after decades of being socially engineered and just doing whatever their parents did (with the parents themselves erroneously classifying themselves as liable, out of ignorance, etc.). That's hundreds of millions of people. Most people cannot understand law even when they read it, and indeed the Internal Revenue Code and Title 26 of the United States Code are deliberately written to be very hard to comprehend for anyone not clued in. Nevertheless, the journey to enlightenment in IRS/IRC matters requires becoming educated in them, including becoming familiar with some of the actual statutes, code language and implementing regulations. There is no fast, easy "catch phrase" that one can repeat as a mantra to make one safe. One has to study the subject very seriously. I've been doing so for over three years now, and am only just now starting to get it. It's a very complex subject.The people who are not liable, do NOT have to pay, and are being conned and intimidated into paying, is everyone else who was not born in D.C., and everyone whose income (wages, fees, etc.) are NOT connected with a US trade or business. Nearly everyone born in one of the 50 states. Basically, 99% of the population. But when you spread the fallacy that "there is no law making *anyone* liable for income tax", you only help the enemy and lead people down a dangerous path. It's a failed "tax protester" argument.One should read these sites (among any others) to improve one's understanding of federal income tax liability and the municipal nature of the IRC:originalintent.orgsuijuris.nettax-freedom.com 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #35 posted by Richard Zuckerman on August 05, 2007 at 08:00:04 PT:
BUDGET APPROVED FOR PENTAGON, TERRORISTS, AND DEA?
What a waste of money!! Congress and the U.S. Senate are providing HUGE budget money to the Pentagon, to look out for terrorists, probably from the government's own idiopathic causation. On top of that, they waste millions of dollars for DEA to arrest medical "Marijuana" clubs whom have legitimate doctor's prescriptions. NOW YOU KNOW WHY I REPEAT MYSELF: WWW.RONPAUL2008.COM!!!What about thos Black Panters from Oakland, California, having assisted Palestinian terrorist???!!!
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #34 posted by RevRayGreen on August 05, 2007 at 05:54:14 PT
Comment #32 answer
 
"Why doesn't the DEA raid the Federal Agency 
that sends out cannisters of marijuana cigarettes every month to the people in the Federal Compassionate Use Program?"The Triangle Research Institute(schill)in Mississippi is
designated by Federal Law to grow marijuana for the Govt.IND Patients and research. Problem is all the money funding this project, you would think they would provide a better product. Anyone who knows anything about medical marijuana knows that actual Government IND cannabis is bunk.What's frustrating is when someone swears up and down about a friend's Uncle who gets Government weed and it's "killer". I've seen it up close, know one of the members, and let me tell you, it's crap.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #33 posted by The GCW on August 04, 2007 at 20:32:39 PT
Nuclear Weapons Stealth Takeover / The Media
Eye opener:Nuclear Weapons Stealth Takeoverhttp://www.mindfully.org/Nucs/2004/Moret-Nuclear-Carlyle16sep04.htm
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #32 posted by HempWorld on August 04, 2007 at 20:13:11 PT
Why doesn't the DEA raid the Federal Agency
that sends out cannisters of marijuana cigarettes every month to the people in the Federal Compassionate Use Program? Do different rules apply or is this hypocracy? (or business as ususal... )
Nobody can stop this!
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #31 posted by whig on August 04, 2007 at 19:55:02 PT
FoM
It's a really good movie but I think some of the parts about Cuba are what he's been subpoenaed by the administration for.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #30 posted by FoM on August 04, 2007 at 18:26:14 PT
whig
I haven't seen Sicko yet. We will watch it when it comes on PPV.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #29 posted by FoM on August 04, 2007 at 18:25:09 PT
Comment #21
I understand what you are saying. I think many people bought into the housing boom but it never made any sense to me. Real Estate only costs so much to build and the prices were so high I have no idea how anyone could afford them. I think this all started in the Reagan term. More, more, more but ultimately no more. Gambling on anything is a risk and many people will lose their dream home and have trouble for a long time. It isn't going to be nice. I think that having a person help a couple that must work to meet their debt is fine. Not every person has the ability to do every job well so we should work together and make it happen. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #28 posted by mayan on August 04, 2007 at 15:59:17 PT
DNC & RNC
Imho, they have joined forces and are poised to attack the American people once again...Exclusive: Bush Again Expands Dictatorial Power 
http://www.realinsidenews.com/governmentnews023.htmlBush Hiding Secrets of "Dictator Act" from HomeSecCom: 
http://freedomisforeverybody.blogspot.com/2007/08/8207-bush-hiding-secrets-of-dictator.htmlWill NYC get it again? Maybe the fascists don't want to gete caught in the act...Bloomberg Confronted as Camera Ban Set for Enforcement: 
http://www.jonesreport.com/articles/020807_bloomberg_confronted.htmlTHE WAY OUT IS THE WAY IN...History Channel Back-Pedals On 9/11 Hit Piece:
http://tinyurl.com/2hljbwFinal Piece Of 9/11 - Tying It Together:
http://rense.com/general77/sds.htmExpert Suspiciously Reverses Stance On Doctored Al-Qaeda Tapes:
http://tinyurl.com/2hljbwReporters Booted Out of Michelle Obama Event (w/video):
http://www.jonesreport.com/articles/030807_michelle_obama.htmlA general strike has been proposed for 9/11/07. No work, school or shopping:
http://tinyurl.com/26tdyj
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #27 posted by Toker00 on August 04, 2007 at 14:41:20 PT
Graehstone
Be brave, be very brave. Resist. Preserve the Constitution by defending it. Concerned citizens need to demand meetings with local LEOs and express their outrage at the new police powers under Homeland Security. Let them know that the people will not accept this in any form. Remind them they are our SERVANTS and their ultimate responsibility is to defend our Constitution and us under it. I'm so glad those folks fought for their right to fly the American flag upside down. They won. That's what I call American Patriots.Don't forget. There is no Law requiring anyone to pay an Income tax. None.It's time to break out the slingshot.Toke. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #26 posted by Graehstone on August 04, 2007 at 11:38:10 PT
Can we prevent this
Be afraid, be very afraid ...
http://www.freedomtofascism.com/... unless?
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #25 posted by whig on August 04, 2007 at 11:00:54 PT
Middle-class
What's going to happen when the housing bubble bursts?
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #24 posted by whig on August 04, 2007 at 10:56:20 PT
Middle-class
This isn't really the rich.It's just the middle-class is so vanishing it is becoming the rich and the poor and nothing between.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #23 posted by whig on August 04, 2007 at 10:53:23 PT
Morning ramble cont'd
So what I'm saying is, if rich people have all this, why not everyone? We don't have to be rich to have a system that helps people.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #22 posted by whig on August 04, 2007 at 10:50:22 PT
Rich people
That's really what I'm talking about. I want to help them not destroy themselves and their children.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #21 posted by whig on August 04, 2007 at 10:46:16 PT
FoM #14
What do you say though if people have servants, a father and mother who both work and have children might, if they could possibly afford it, have someone help in their home with the housekeeping and watching the children.I think there are a lot of households like this now and to say that the mother or father must stay home with the children would lose so much income they could not afford their debt.To say they shouldn't have acquired all that debt would be fair but when real-estate was going up it was a good investment to buy a house at exorbitant prices because they would always go higher.And now these are a lot of them maybe Republican families. They might be deadheads, too. Their parents might be real hippies. But it's terrifying, maybe they were starting out in their twenties and going to college and the lenders targeted them for debt, and kept giving them more.How do we help them?Did you see Michael Moore's new movie yet? What they do in France is there are people who will come to your home and help out and it's all provided by their government. The end of the movie is about this, even.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #20 posted by MikeC on August 04, 2007 at 10:46:05 PT
Toker00...
Not a problem. Thank you my friend.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #19 posted by Toker00 on August 04, 2007 at 10:32:27 PT
Towards the bottom...sorry
http://www.abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=3433693&page=1Toke.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #18 posted by mykeyb420 on August 04, 2007 at 10:20:35 PT:
LAPD
Why is the LAPD going after a club in Berkely?? Why are we not asking Arnold S,,the govatator,,why is he allowing this in his state?? Why is the senate and congress still employed by us? I thought that the elections of 2006 would change things,,,Its STILL the same old BS. WAKE UP AMERICA,,we are losing everything sacred.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #17 posted by MikeC on August 04, 2007 at 10:06:34 PT
Toker00...
Do you have a link for the poll? I searched the ABC News website and could not find it. I would like to vote as well. Thank you.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #16 posted by afterburner on August 04, 2007 at 09:27:40 PT
OT: Greed
4 Mountain Gorillas Killed in Congo Park
Forbes, NY - Jul 26, 2007
By ERICA BULMAN 07.26.07, 3:25 PM ET Four rare mountain gorillas, including an alpha-male silverback, were shot dead at Congo's Virunga National Park, ...
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/07/26/ap3957413.htmlThe Power of Storytelling with Terry Tempest WilliamsNature writer Terry Tempest Williams challenges us to take part in spirited conversation and honest storytelling.
http://www.motherearthnews.com/article.aspx?id=114650Mother Earth News is now online and back issues on searchable CDs.Two links that show the necessity of a new vision of sustainable living on the Earth, our home, sharing it with the animals and plants. The all-pervading quest for money through war and exploitation of natural resources is killing our home. We must develop a new vision of work and become good stewards of the environment before we no longer have a planet left to save!
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #15 posted by Toker00 on August 04, 2007 at 06:59:03 PT
ABC poll / FoM, have a great day!
Do you think marijuana is a dangerous drug?No: 1305Yes: 42Dont' know: 35
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #14 posted by FoM on August 04, 2007 at 05:36:46 PT
Whig and Everyone
I am sure there are Republicans that smoke marijuana and would like the laws changed. Tucker claims he is a Deadhead. My problem has always been with the ones we know. My husband's old boss loves being a Republican because he gets lots of tax cuts. Money is his motivation and he doesn't like Democrats because he might have to pay more in taxes. When a person has way more then most people it seems greedy to vote for more money and not bat an eye about what Republicans have done to our country. I love the people of America. I want a more balanced country where the concerns of those who have had hard knocks in life are issues. Survival of the fittest is how animals get by. We are suppose to be better then animals because of our reasoning ability.PS: We are leaving soon for the whole day. We are spending the day on the lake and hopefully everything will go well this time. Have a great day!
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #13 posted by whig on August 04, 2007 at 01:36:22 PT
FoM #3
Thanks for posting the transcript. I agree he did a very good job and I don't watch Beck because I generally find him to be unpleasant. There's plenty of good reasons for Republicans to oppose cannabis prohibition, too.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #12 posted by Christen-Mitchell on August 03, 2007 at 22:44:29 PT
Two Points
Watching the first part of Glenn Beck's show brought to mind two major points that could have furthered the discussion.
1. That all of major religions have begun with cannabis burning in the censors for inspiration. and 2. That half of all drug arrests are for cannabis, more that for all violent crimes. With no payoff. So that cannabis is perhaps the New Wine and true sacrament and that the attention to it wastes valuable police resources to the detriment of American society.
Hemptopia - Our Greener Future
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #11 posted by MikeC on August 03, 2007 at 19:44:28 PT
Storm Crow...
I'd never heard of him until today. I will take your word for it then that he was being a "nice" guy today. Peace
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #10 posted by FoM on August 03, 2007 at 19:31:30 PT
About Beck
I know what it is I don't like about him. He is sarcastic. People that are sarcastic act like they live above other people. Sarcasm is condescending. It seems to be in a lot of conservatives. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #9 posted by Storm Crow on August 03, 2007 at 19:20:21 PT
Actually....
Considering what an arse he usually is, I think he was about as fair as he gets! I was QUITE pleasantly surprised!
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #8 posted by MikeC on August 03, 2007 at 18:55:31 PT
FoM
I was happy that he slammed the DEA (somewhat) but he irritated me in the way that he ridiculed his pro-marijuana guests.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #7 posted by Toker00 on August 03, 2007 at 18:50:27 PT
ABC news
Check out the disparity in this Vote:Do you think marijuana is a dangerous drug?No: 1,275Yes: 42Don't know: 34Wow.Toke. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #6 posted by FoM on August 03, 2007 at 18:48:08 PT
MikeC
I only have seen him for a few seconds in the past and he said something that really irritated me so until seeing this piece tonight I have never watched him. It was very good tonight.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #5 posted by MikeC on August 03, 2007 at 18:28:51 PT
FoM
Sorry...we posted at nearly the same time.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #4 posted by MikeC on August 03, 2007 at 18:27:31 PT
Glenn Beck show...
11:00 p.m. central time tonight CNN Headline news channel "Reefer Madness".Top story: Glenn Beck discusses medical marijuana and hemp. I saw the 8:00 show. On one hand he slams the DEA for raiding Medical Marijuana Clinics and on the other hand he pretty much ridicules two guests that support Marijuana. Although I appreciate his condemning the raids he appears to me as a pompous ass! I just wanted to pass this along in case anybody wanted to see it. Not CNN but HLN (CNN's headline news channel)
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #3 posted by FoM on August 03, 2007 at 18:22:40 PT
Glenn Beck: Transcript: Should MJ Be Legalized? 
Should Marijuana be Legalized?August 3, 2007http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0708/03/gb.01.html
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #2 posted by mayan on August 03, 2007 at 17:49:57 PT
Just Wait
“People don’t like it when the government becomes oppressive,” he said. “At heart, I’m a hard-ass cop. And I don’t like it.”When the sh*t hits the fan he really won't like it. We'll see where the loyalty of cops and soldiers lie - with The Constitution or with the fascist elite.ACTION ALERT! Ron Paul Supporters Denounce Iowa Diebold Use:
http://www.freemarketnews.com/WorldNews.asp?nid=46721THE WAY OUT...9/11 WAS AN INSIDE JOB - OUR NATION IS IN PERIL:
http://www.911sharethetruth.com/
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #1 posted by FoM on August 03, 2007 at 17:36:44 PT
Related Article from The San Jose Mercury News 
L.A. Wants Local Control of Pot Clinics, End To DEA Raids***By Rick Orlov, Medianews StaffAugust 3, 2007LOS ANGELES -- Pitting itself against the U.S. government, the Los Angeles City Council approved plans Wednesday to limit new medical-marijuana dispensaries, regulate existing ones and urge a moratorium on recent clinic raids by federal agents.
Despite warnings that it is treading on legally treacherous ground, the council voted 10-2 to adopt the plan amid concerns that hundreds of illegal clinics have sprouted up since 1996, when California voters approved Proposition 215 allowing the use of medicinal marijuana."When (the) law was first passed, we had two clinics operating in the city," said Councilman Dennis Zine, who proposed the plan to regulate operators. "Now we have more than 400."If we fail to act, we will have 800 or more in a few years. We need to take action to control the ones that are operating illegally and make sure that those people who need help get it."Councilmen Bernard Parks and Greig Smith opposed the measure, saying it puts Los Angeles at odds with the Food and Drug Administration, which has not approved marijuana for medicinal use, and other federal agencies that continue to list marijuana as a controlled substance."That is the law of the land," Parks said after being told that the U.S. Supreme Court has rejected the medical-marijuana argument. "People say there is a disagreement, but it appears to be on only one side. The federal law takes precedence over local laws."Smith concurred with Parks."It is problematic that we are going against federal laws," Smith said. "We may not like the federal law, but it is the law. We all took an oath where we were sworn to uphold and defend the Constitution. The fact California law is in conflict is unfortunate, but we should not have our own laws."Councilman Richard Alarcon dismissed Smith's argument as being a "God Bless America" speech."American history shows us that this is a classic challenge over states' rights and federal rights," Alarcon said. "This is part of the process of change as we go through a transition from a society that believed all marijuana use was wrong to one that is saying there are possibly good uses for medicinal marijuana."The federal government just hasn't caught up with the future of America."Under the proposal approved Tuesday, Los Angeles police and city departments would draft clinic regulations on hours of operation, where such businesses could be located and security.Existing dispensaries would have to register with city government, get a state seller's permit and show proof of insurance.Zine said he has written to Drug Enforcement Administration officials asking them to stop raiding marijuana dispensaries until the city has completed its review.Local DEA officials said Wednesday that they would continue to enforce federal laws."Possession and distribution of marijuana, in any form, is a violation of federal laws," said Special Agent Sarah Pullen, an agency spokeswoman. "There are no plans to stop enforcement."Councilwoman Janice Hahn asked that representatives of the Los Angeles Police Department report to the council on the issue."I also don't understand why we can't come to an agreement with the DEA on this," Hahn said. "On Tuesday, we all stood side by side talking about working together when it came to gangs."Why can't they agree with us to have a moratorium on raids until we develop a policy and try to resolve these differences?"But even as Los Angeles moved to tighten restrictions on medical-marijuana facilities, some Berkeley City Council members were calling for new laws to protect the businesses.The calls came after a city-sanctioned medical-marijuana dispensary had its assets frozen earlier this week by the LAPD.The Berkeley Patient Group, which serves about 5,000 patients in the Berkeley and Oakland areas, was notified Monday that its bank account was frozen by the LAPD during a joint operation with the DEA.The operation targeted about 10 dispensaries in Los Angeles, including the California Patients Group, a sister organization to the Berkeley-based business.The freeze on accounts prevents the group from accessing cash it had saved to pay state sales taxes."We are a legally licensed dispensary. To be targeted like this is absurd," said Debby Goldsberry, speaking for the group. "They snuck in quietly and took all of our assets. We want them back."Pullen, the DEA spokeswoman, said she could not discuss how much money was involved.MediaNews staff writer Paul Rosynsky contributed to this story. Copyright: 2007 San Jose Mercury News http://www.mercurynews.com/crime/ci_6534531
[ Post Comment ]


Post Comment