cannabisnews.com: Medical Marijuana Is Voted In, But Now What? Medical Marijuana Is Voted In, But Now What? Posted by CN Staff on December 11, 2008 at 07:27:31 PT By Tom Carr, Special to the Record-Eagle Source: Record-Eagle Traverse City, MI -- Don't light up yet. Not all area doctors plan to begin writing prescriptions for medical marijuana just because Michigan voters said in November that they can. "I don't see myself prescribing this unless I saw a way that it was better implemented," said Karen Meyer, a pain specialist.Physicians cited dosing and distribution concerns, better familiarity with available pharmaceuticals and a lack of clear guidelines, so far, as reasons they may shy from recommending cannabis to their patients. Still, they acknowledge the popular recreational drug is likely useful for many who are seriously ill.Voters overwhelmingly approved Proposal 1 on Nov. 4.It became law on Dec. 4 and allows doctors to recommend patients to the Michigan Department of Community Health for identification cards allowing them to grow marijuana to treat problems including chronic pain, AIDS, cancer, glaucoma and nail patella.Under the law, a doctor will recommend a patient apply to the state. People may also apply to grow it and dispense it to patients as a legal "caregiver."Patients will be allowed to begin applying to the state on April 4.There's one problem. Getting the starter seeds or plants will likely require an illegal purchase."We can not and will not advise on where to get it," Community Health Department spokesman James McCurtis said."That will be something that they will have to decide, but distributing marijuana is illegal," he added. "We're looking at somewhat of a gray area and it's going to be challenging for law enforcement and for attorneys and courts."That's one thing that bothers retired obstetrician/gynecologist George Wagoner of Manistee.Wagoner has been often quoted in support of the new law after giving it to his late wife Beverly, who died last year of ovarian cancer. He obtained marijuana for her to treat nausea and vomiting that kept her from eating. He said two "breaths" from a homemade pipe or four from a vaporizer eased her symptoms without making her feel high.Still, he didn't like having to buy it illegally."I was forced to break the law," he said. "I didn't like that and my wife didn't like it."Meyer and some other physicians have too many reservations to begin recommending it anytime soon.Ophthalmologist Robert Foote doesn't plan to use the drug in glaucoma treatments.He's read some studies indicating that while pot may relieve some of the pressure of glaucoma, it may also cause changes in blood pressure that could cause long-term damage to the eyes."I'm usually open-minded," Foote said. "I have people using herbs, but when it's proven that the herbs don't work, I recommend otherwise."Other pharmaceutical drugs treat the disease as well or better and they don't impair the patient's ability to work or drive, he added.The new statute does not protect patients from employer discipline or criminal prosecution if they use it while or before working or driving.Meyer had patients start asking her for prescriptions the day after the election."It puts the doctor in a tight situation, having to decide who should get this and who shouldn't," she added.Yet she and proponents of medical marijuana say that's already a problem with prescription painkillers, particularly opiates like Oxycontin and Vicodin."That's a valid concern," said Dan Bernath, a spokesman for the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, D.C."Any painkiller has the potential for abuse," he said. "In any situation like that, it's up to a doctor's medical opinion."As for dosing concerns, he said patients know very quickly if marijuana is working or not.And unlike with opiates, he said marijuana poses "no risk of overdose death.""There's never been an incidence of death from overdose of marijuana in 5,000 years of use," he said. "There's never been a medically documented case."What the law does and doesn't do:-- Allows patients with a doctor's written recommendation to apply to the state Department of Community Health for an identification card. The agency will begin taking applications on April 4.-- Allows possession of up to 2.5 ounces of usable marijuana by a patient or his or her designated "caregiver."-- Permits the possession of up to 12 plants per patient in an enclosed, locked area.The law does not:-- Require an employer to allow the use of marijuana at work.-- Allow people to drive under the influence of marijuana.-- Require government agencies or private insurers to help pay for medical marijuana.-- Allow patients to smoke marijuana in public places.The state has created a Michigan Medical Marijuana Web site with questions, answers, forms, legal updates and more. Go to: http://www.michigan.gov/mdch and click on the medical marijuana link.Sources: Michigan Department of Community Health and Michigan Secretary of StateComplete Title: The Helping Weed? Medical Marijuana Is Voted In, But Now What?Source: Traverse City Record-Eagle (MI)Author: Tom Carr, Special to the Record-EaglePublished: December 11, 2008Copyright: 2008 The Traverse City Record-EagleContact: letters record-eagle.comWebsite: http://www.record-eagle.com/Related Articles:Marijuana Law Under Reviewhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24365.shtmlPatients Seeking MMJ Must Wait Several Monthshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24363.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #51 posted by FoM on December 14, 2008 at 12:14:32 PT Stranger and Stranger News Rolling Paper Co. Sues Over 'Obama' T-Shirtshttp://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28216554/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #50 posted by FoM on December 14, 2008 at 11:20:20 PT I Found The Video Jim Stafford Sings Wildwood Weed - Branson, MOhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyQi-1Z2tN8 [ Post Comment ] Comment #49 posted by FoM on December 14, 2008 at 11:09:27 PT Inexpensive Vacation I always thought this was funny and true. ***Smokin' that wildwood flower got to be a habit,We didn't see no harm.We thought it was kind of handy,Take a trip and never leave the farm!***Wildwood Weed By Jim Staffordhttp://www.geocities.com/bjaes.geo/lyrics/wildweed.htm [ Post Comment ] Comment #48 posted by Hope on December 14, 2008 at 11:01:32 PT I remember that saying. It often brought a smile.A very industrious and hard working friend of mine, that enjoyed a bit of cannabis during is off time, once said, about cannabis and the very poor and out of work, the proverbial "down and out", was that, they should, for sure, if they wanted to, be able to use cannabis, because using it... they might think of something worthwhile to do or realize what direction they should take to get that job and earned income they need.Good ideas that one hadn't thought of before, often seem to spring from the cannabis soothed brain."Balmed... not bombed".:0)Scotch on the Rocks might be some people's choice of brain balm... even vegging in front of the TV, or exercising, but relaxing with a pipe or joint or whatever, might be another person's choice during appropriate relaxation, refreshment and recreation times. And yes... everyone needs relaxation,refreshment, and recr4eation time... even the out of work, the worried, the sick, and the poor. It's required by the body and soul to keep on going. Of course, I know that there are people who would deny anyone but themselves and the few they approve of, that relaxation, refreshment, recreation time that is essential to life. They're wrong to be that way. [ Post Comment ] Comment #47 posted by FoM on December 14, 2008 at 10:49:11 PT runruff Glad you liked it! [ Post Comment ] Comment #46 posted by runruff on December 14, 2008 at 10:34:36 PT The "FABULOUS FURRY FREAK BROTHERS". FoM,That is funny! [ Post Comment ] Comment #45 posted by FoM on December 14, 2008 at 09:24:22 PT Hope That is wonderful news. I think we might see change as far as marijuana laws go in the near future.We watched a documentary on the History Channel about FDR last night. I am not up on things like this but it totally held our attention. It almost seems like we are going thru similar problems as people did back then. He was the President who ended Prohibition of Alcohol. Maybe history will repeat itself.When people don't have much money marijuana might make it a little more bearable. A old 60s expression:"Dope will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no dope." LOL! [ Post Comment ] Comment #44 posted by Hope on December 14, 2008 at 08:56:10 PT Last night I was at a party. Nice party... but I noticed something. As I was circulating I overheard at least two conversations about the legalization of cannabis... or marijuana is actually the word they were using. I couldn't hear every word, and I didn't butt into their conversations (except for eavesdropping) but I know that no one sounded upset about the possibility and apparently they were talking about it like it was going to happen. They didn't seem especially delighted or anything, but not surprised, very accepting, as in "Really, it's about time", and not alarmed or obviously displeased at all. One of the people talking was a Deputy Sheriff from a large county here in Texas. I heard one person say to the deputy that there would probably be a lot more slow drivers on the road. The deputy, I think, allowed how that was better than alcohol drunk drivers. I wish I could have heard every thing they said, but I just caught bits of it. It was nice to overhear and absolutely no one involved in those conversations seemed upset that it was going to happen and they obviously believed it was going to happen and soon. That sounded very good to me. A sort of little gift in my spiritual "stocking".:0)This is Texas, by the way. Texas! [ Post Comment ] Comment #43 posted by FoM on December 13, 2008 at 13:50:39 PT Dankhank It was a rare treat back in the 70s. When I saw Alice in Wonderland as a child I thought this will be cool when I grow up if things like that could happen. I guess Alice in Wonderland was a gateway for many young folks back then. LOL! You're very welcome. [ Post Comment ] Comment #42 posted by Dankhank on December 13, 2008 at 13:26:53 PT afghan ... yes ...black afghan ... so fine ...'I was in Germany 1973-1977 and remember it so well ...and of course, Alice ... such a lucky girl ... :-)thanx for the video ... [ Post Comment ] Comment #41 posted by FoM on December 13, 2008 at 12:57:46 PT Dankhank Afghanistan Hash was what was around back in the 70s.A hookah smoking catepillar.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2g0MDjrl32M [ Post Comment ] Comment #40 posted by dankhank on December 13, 2008 at 12:14:36 PT OT ... sixties music ... interesting ... arab influence ...http://drugsense.org/url/3vycI9ed [ Post Comment ] Comment #39 posted by The GCW on December 12, 2008 at 20:15:00 PT US GA: Police Force Entry Into Wrong House US GA: Police Force Entry Into Wrong HousePubdate: Thu, 11 Dec 2008 - Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution (GA)http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n1114/a12.html?397 [ Post Comment ] Comment #38 posted by FoM on December 12, 2008 at 18:34:32 PT Just a Comment I hope everyone has a nice weekend and I want to thank the Obama campaign for allowing the questions for people to voice their feelings on important issues. I believe 2009 will be an interesting year. I am looking forward to a whole new direction in our government. [ Post Comment ] Comment #37 posted by fight_4_freedom on December 12, 2008 at 13:13:46 PT From the NORML BLOG: President-Elect Obama, The People Have Spoken; Will You “Answer” Their Question?Fri, 12 Dec 2008 20:11:37 By: Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy DirectorMarijuana is #1.To follow up on yesterday’s post, change.gov (the website of President-Elect Obama’s transition team) has now closed the webpage “Open for Questions.”NORML wishes to thank all of you who took the time to visit the website and demanded the incoming administration to reform America’s marijuana laws.Your message got through loud and clear.After receiving nearly 100,000 total votes on more than 10,000 separate public policy issues, the most widely voted on question for Obama is:“Will you consider legalizing marijuana so that the government can regulate it, tax it, put age limits on it, and create millions of new jobs and create a billion dollar industry right here in the U.S.?”(Equally impressive, 16 of the top 50 overall questions posed to the new administration pertained to drug law reform. Now do we have your attention?)According to the latest update on the Change.gov site, “Over the next few days, some of the most popular questions selected by the Change.gov community will be answered by the Transition team, and their responses will be posted here on the site.”So does this mean that the Obama will post a response to the public’s outcry for tangible marijuana law reform? Or will the incoming administration choose to remain silent on the one progressive issue that the American public, but not their elected official, is ‘buzzing’ about?Meanwhile, over at the website Change.org (which is not affiliated with the Obama administration), your votes (Nearly 2,500 of them as of this morning) have made the question, Should we legalize the medicinal and recreational use of marijuana? the top rated idea on the website!According to the site, there will be a second round of voting (this first round ends on December 31, 2008) in January to determine which top 10 ideas are presented to the Obama administration on Inauguration Day.Finally, over at the highly popular website Digg.com, over 2,500 visitors have added their support for making marijuana law reform a key platform of the incoming administration. You can join the discussion here.It was just over a month ago when statewide marijuana law reform initiatives in Massachusetts and Michigan prevailed with more votes than America’s soon-to-be 44th President — once again reaffirming the widespread popular support for changing our nation’s antiquated and punitive pot laws. It wasn’t clear that either the national media or the incoming administration was listening then. Are they listening now?http://www.norml.org/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #36 posted by fight_4_freedom on December 12, 2008 at 12:55:03 PT FoM Same to you! We had snow for 2-3 days straight and it piled right up. We had about 10 inches when it was all said and done.I love the snow around Christmas time. I think it would take some getting used to if I lived in a warm climate where there was no snow in the winter. It wouldn't seem like Christmas without it.And You're right, that is going to be one huuuge party when Obama finally gets sworn in. New Year's Eve all over again :) [ Post Comment ] Comment #35 posted by FoM on December 12, 2008 at 12:25:19 PT fight_4_freedom I hope you have the best New Years Eve ever. It's snowing here right now and it is very peaceful. I think the Inauguration Party in Washington will be the best ever in our country. I haven't been to DC since the mid 60s and I didn't want to ever go back again until Obama entered the picture. Now I would like to see Washington again. I bet there are many people that feel the same way. [ Post Comment ] Comment #34 posted by fight_4_freedom on December 12, 2008 at 12:10:44 PT Here's how New Year's Eve usually looks for me I love to go out and celebrate in this fashion on New Year's Eve. Last year was the first year in a long while that I didn't go to a big dance club or rave for NYE. To me, it's a great way to bring in the new year :)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caLKqQKKD9o"Daft Punk- One More Time"This is also how the Inauguration may look :)We're gonna Celebrate!!! [ Post Comment ] Comment #33 posted by fight_4_freedom on December 12, 2008 at 12:01:28 PT I may have to check that movie out tonight I still haven't watched it yet. But it really looks fascinating.I was supposed to get free tickets to this AC/DC cover band concert tonight in town but my boss still hasn't came through. I figured I would just wait to get the free ones while neglecting to go and buy them. Now they are all sold out and my manager still hasn't received them from the owner of the club. So I'm just waiting to hear from her now.If not, I'll stay home and watch Narnia :)And I know New Year's Eve is going to be crazy. Now we all really have a lot to celebrate!BUSH BE GONE!!!!!!!!!! [ Post Comment ] Comment #32 posted by FoM on December 12, 2008 at 11:40:10 PT fight_4_freedom I never get tired of the Christmas movies either. Tonight The Chronicles of Narnia will be on. I'm looking forward to seeing it. We still haven't gotten HD for our flat screen but the previews look great just as they are. Enjoy the season and know that January will be a special month with Obama finally becoming the President and New Years Eve will be so fine this year. I finally feel we might have a country that I will really be proud of. [ Post Comment ] Comment #31 posted by fight_4_freedom on December 12, 2008 at 11:19:18 PT Christen It's good to hear things are progressing in Colorado. So besides that dispensary you mentioned, are there any others operating in the state?Also, what are the prices like? [ Post Comment ] Comment #30 posted by fight_4_freedom on December 12, 2008 at 11:14:41 PT Runruff I cannot wait to hear those very words echoing throughout the country once we have escaped from the clutches of evil. We'll all be singing in unison with Aretha. "Freedom.....Freedom.....Freeeeeedom" [ Post Comment ] Comment #29 posted by fight_4_freedom on December 12, 2008 at 11:00:26 PT I'm so glad this new administration is allowing the people to get involved like this. I'm sure George Bush didn't have a transition website asking for the people's opinions before he snuck into office. I think the tides are turning at a very fast pace.I'm doing the same thing during this in between time. I'm sort of paying attention to the news but at the same time I'm just anxiously awaiting the new administration to be sworn in. With the Holidays here and so much work to do, I have a feeling this next month and a half will fly right by.By the way I love all the Christmas movies that they play every year. They never get old to me. It makes me feel like I'm young again. [ Post Comment ] Comment #28 posted by FoM on December 12, 2008 at 10:41:56 PT A Link From David Crosby's Web Site http://www.crosbycpr.com./content/TOURS/2004/news_text/austinSermon.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #27 posted by ChristenMitchell on December 12, 2008 at 10:36:59 PT: Legal & Taxed in Boulder I had to scan and post my first receipt for medical cannabis. The dispensary reported paying over $25,000 in state sales tax imposed at 8.16% in their first 6 months of operation. They offer a range for head or body highs including hashish, edibles and extracts. Smoking, aka testing is forbidden in the medical complex, so there is a no question return policy. All in all it is a professionally run, important source of quality meds at not unreasonable prices. --- Hemptopia - An Higher Education [ Post Comment ] Comment #26 posted by HempWorld on December 12, 2008 at 10:30:04 PT About Nixon ... Over the past fifty years, it is now documented, these Americanized fugitive Nazi war criminals have been involved in, and in many cases in charge of, many U.S. government covert operations -- international weapons smuggling, drug cartels, Central American death squads, right wing anti-communist dictatorships, LSD mind control experiments -- the Republican National Committee's Ethnic Heritage Councils, and the Presidential campaigns of Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, and George Bush.RICHARD MILHOUSE NIXON ----------------------In this section we will explore the Nazi connections of Richard Nixon. To do so we must return to the years just after the end of World War II and, of course, a man named Dulles.The irony of Nixon's political career ending with a cover-up can only be appreciated with the knowledge that this turbulent career also began with one. Loftus and Aarons state that:"According to several of our sources among the 'old spies,' Richard Nixon's political career began in 1945, when he was the navy officer temporarily assigned to review . . . captured Nazi documents." The documents in question revealed the wartime record of Karl Blessing, "former Reichsbank officer and then head of the Nazi oil cartel, Kontinentale Ol A.G. 'Konti' was in partnership with Dulles's principal Nazi client, I.G. Farben. Both companies had despicable records regarding their treatment of Jews during the Holocaust. After the war Dulles not only 'lost' Blessings Nazi party records, but he helped peddle a false biography in the ever-gullible 'New York Times.'"The authors' sources reveal that not only did Dulles help cover up his Nazi client's record, he "personally vouched for Blessing as an anti-Nazi in order to protect continued control of German oil interests in the Middle East. Blessing's Konti was the Nazi link to Iben Saud [King of Saudi Arabia] and Aramco [the Arabian-American Oil Company]. If Blessing went down, he could have taken a lot of people with him, including Allen Dulles. The cover-up worked, except that U.S. Naval Intelligence scrutinized a set of the captured Konti records."According to the "old spies," Allen Dulles made a deal with the young navy officer who was reviewing the Konti files - Richard Nixon. Nixon would help Dulles bury the Konti files. In return, Allen Dulles "arranged to finance [Nixon's] first congressional campaign against Jerry Voorhis." (1)Dulles's support for Nixon paid off in 1947 when, as the freshman congressman from California, he "saved John Foster Dulles considerable embarrassment by privately pointing out that confidential government files showed that one of Foster's foundation employees, Alger Hiss, was allegedly a Communist. The Dulles brothers took Nixon under their wing and escorted him on a tour of Fascist 'freedom fighter' operations in Germany, apparently in anticipation that the young congressman would be useful after Dewey became president." [He would be useful anyway, despite the fact that incumbent President Truman won reelection in 1948, defeating Dewey.] (2)After Truman's victory, write the authors, "Nixon became Allen Dulles's mouthpiece in Congress. Both he and Senator Joseph McCarthy received volumes of classified information to support the charge that the Truman administration was filled with 'pinkos.' When McCarthy went too far in his Communist investigations, it was Nixon who worked with his next-door neighbor, CIA director Bedell Smith, to steer the investigations away from the intelligence community."The CIA was grateful for Nixon's assistance, but did not know the reason for it. Dulles had been recruiting Nazis under the cover of the State Department's Office of Policy Coordination, whose chief, Frank Wisner, had systematically recruited the Eastern European emigre networks that had worked first for the SS, then the British, and finally Dulles."The CIA did not know it, but Dulles was bringing them to the United States less for intelligence purposes than for political advantage. The Nazis' job quickly became to get out the vote for the Republicans. One Israeli intelligence officer joked that when Dulles used the phrase 'Never Again,' he was not talking about the Holocaust but about Dewey's narrow loss to Truman. In the eyes of the Israelis, Allen Dulles was the demon who infected Western intelligence with Nazi recruits."In preparation for the 1952 Eisenhower-Nixon campaign, the Republicans formed an Ethnic Division, which, to put it bluntly, recruited the 'displaced Fascists' who arrived in the United States after World War II. Like similar migrant organizations in several Western countries, the Ethnic Division attracted a significant number of Central and Eastern European Nazis, who had been recruited by the SS as political and police leaders during the Holocaust. These Fascist emigres supported the Eisenhower-Nixon 'liberation' policy as the quickest means of getting back into power in their former homelands and made a significant contribution 'in its first operation (1951/1952).'"The authors point out that "over the years the Democrats had acquired one or two Nazis of their own, such as Tscherim Soobzokov, a former member of the Caucasian SS who worked as a party boss in New Jersey. But in 90 percent of the cases, the members of Hitler's political organization went to the Republicans. In fact, from the very beginning, the word had been put around among Eastern European Nazis that Dulles and Nixon were the men to see, especially if you were a rich Fascist . . ." (3)This relationship between Richard Nixon and the Nazis developed because both he and Allen Dulles "blamed Governor Dewey's razor-thin loss to Truman in the 1948 presidential election on the Jewish vote. When [Nixon] became Eisenhower's vice president in 1952, Nixon was determined to build his own ethnic base."Vice President Nixon's secret political war of Nazis against Jews in American politics was never investigated at the time. The foreign language-speaking Croatian and other Fascist emigre groups had a ready-made network for contacting and mobilizing the Eastern European ethnic bloc. There is a very high correlation between CIA domestic subsidies to Fascist 'freedom fighters' during the 1950s and the leadership of the Republican party's ethnic campaign groups. The motive for under-the-table financing was clear: Nixon used Nazis to offset the Jewish vote for the Democrats."In 1952 Nixon had formed an Ethnic Division within the Republican National Committee. 'Displaced Fascists, hoping to be returned to power by an Eisenhower-Nixon "liberation" policy signed on' with the committee. In 1953, when Republicans were in office, the immigration laws were changed to admit Nazis, even members of the SS. They flooded into the country. Nixon himself oversaw the new immigration program. As vice president, he even received Eastern European Fascists in the White House. After a long, long journey, the Croatian Nazis had found a new home in the United States, where they reestablished their networks."In 1968 Nixon promised that if he won the presidential election, he would create a permanent ethnic council within the Republican party. Previously the Ethnic Division was allowed to surface only during presidential campaigns. Nixon's promise was carried out after the 1972 election, during [George] Bush's tenure as chairman of the Republican National Committee. The Croatian Ustashis became an integral part of the campaign structure of Republican politics, along with several other Fascist organizations." (4)The authors describe Nixon's pro-Nazi activities in no uncertain terms: "Nixon himself personally recruited ex-Nazis for his 1968 presidential campaign. Moreover, Vice President Nixon became the point man for the Eisenhower administration on covert operations and personally supervised Allen Dulles's projects while Ike was ill in 1956 and 1957." (5)One of the Nazis recruited by candidate Nixon was Laszlo Pasztor, described by Aarons and Loftus as "the founding chair of Nixon's Republican Heritage Groups council" who, "during World War II . . . was a diplomat in Berlin representing the Arrow Cross government of Nazi Hungary, which supervised the extermination of the Jewish population."[A]fter Nixon won [the 1968 Presidential Election], he approved Pasztor's appointment as chief organizer of the ethnic council. Not surprisingly, Pasztor's 'choices for filling emigre slots as the council was being formed included various Nazi collaborationist organizations.' The former Fascists were coming out of the closet in droves."The policy of the Nixon White House was an 'open door' for emigre Fascists, and through the door came such guests as Ivan Docheff, head of the Bulgarian National Front and chairman of the American Friends of the Anti-Bolshevik Bloc of Nations (ABN). . . . an organization dominated by war criminals and fugitive Fascists. Yet Nixon welcomed them with open arms and even had Docheff to breakfast for a prayer meeting to celebrate Captive Nations Week." (6)"During Nixon's 'Four More Years' campaign in 1971-1972, Laszlo Pasztor again played a key role in marshaling the ethnic vote. No longer a marginal player on the fringes, now he held a key position as the Republican National Committee's nationalities director. . . ."The Republican leadership cannot claim ignorance as a defense. [Syndicated Columnist Jack] Anderson's famous expose of Nixon's Nazis appeared in 'The Washington Post' at the same time as the November 1971 convention. Among those mentioned was Laszlo Pasztor, 'the industrious head of the GOP ethnic groups, [who] was never asked about his wartime activities in Hungary by the four GOP officials who interviewed him for his job.' It was too embarrassing for Nixon to admit that Pasztor had been a ranking member of a Fascist government at war with the United States.". . . . It is one thing to promote obscure Eastern European Fascist movements in the Republican party. It is quite another to let the German Nazis have a major influence. After 1953, the Republican administration changed the rules, and even members of the Waffen SS could immigrate to the United States as long as they claimed only to have fought the Communists on the Eastern Front." (7)The Republican/Nixon attraction to Nazism was also observed by Robert J. Groden and Harrison Edward Livingstone, authors of the book, "High Treason," dealing with the Kennedy Assassination. Groden and Livingstone write: "Nixon surrounded himself with what was known as the Berlin Wall, a long succession of advisors with Germanic names: We recall at the top of his 'German General Staff' as it was also known, Haldeman, Erlichman, Krogh, Kliendienst, Kissinger (the Rockefellers' emissary) and many others."The selection of German names was no accident. Many of the brighter staff people close to Nixon came to him from the University of Southern California, and the University of California at Los Angeles, where there were fraternities that kept alive the vision of a new Reich. America has for a long time harbored this dark side of its character, one of violence and the Valhalla of Wagner and Hitler."But Gordon Liddy was the one in whose mind 'Triumph of the Will' was the most alive. Some of these men would watch the great Nazi propaganda films in the basement of the White House until all hours of the night, and drink, in fact, get drunk with their power, with blind ambition, as one of them wrote." (8)"According to several of our sources in the intelligence community who were in a position to know," continue Loftus and Aarons, "the secret rosters of the Republican party's Nationalities Council read like a Who's Who of Fascist fugitives. The Republican's Nazi connection is the darkest secret of the Republican leadership. The rosters will never be disclosed to the public. As will be seen in Chapter 16 dealing with George Bush, the Fascist connection is too widespread for damage control."According to a 1988 study by Russ Bellant of Political Research Associates, virtually all of the Fascist organizations of World War II opened up a Republican party front group during the Nixon administration. The caliber of the Republican ethnic leaders can be gauged by one New Jersey man, Emanuel Jasiuk, a notorious mass murderer from what is today called the independent nation of Belarus, formerly part of the Soviet Union. But not all American ethnic communities are represented in the GOP's ethnic section; there are no black or Jewish heritage groups. . . ."The truth is that the Nazi immigrants were 'tar babies' that no one knew how to get rid of. Dulles had brought in a handful of the top emigre politicians in the late 1940s. They in turn sponsored their friends in the 1950s. By the 1960s ex-Nazis who had originally fled to Argentina were moving to the United States. . . ." (9)It is clear that, even before the break-in at the Democratic Party Headquarters on June 17, 1972, the Republicans were on the brink of having their pro-Nazi activities over the past four decades become a matter of mass-media attention. After the Watergate Break-in, as the Congressional Hearings began to reveal the slush-funds, money- laundering, illegal corporate campaign contributions, the political sabotage of the 1972 Presidential election process, the involvement of ITT and the Nixon Administration into the assassination of Salvador Allende, the democratically elected president of Chile, and many other aspects of Nixonism, the floodgates of truth were about to open. Only one thing averted this wholesale learning of the truth by the American people: Nixon's resignation and subsequent pardoning by his hand- picked successor, Gerald Ford. About Nixon! [ Post Comment ] Comment #25 posted by HempWorld on December 12, 2008 at 09:32:32 PT runruff: the DEA is a perfect model of the SS You are correct! They even have the same uniforms and other details are copied from this fascist killing machine.Yet, not many people seem to notice all these 'similarities' and to our detriment. On a mission from God! [ Post Comment ] Comment #24 posted by FoM on December 12, 2008 at 08:29:27 PT Runruff Here's a wonderful Christmas song for you and Mrs. Runruff.Willie Nelson on A Colbert Christmashttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8HGswf584E [ Post Comment ] Comment #23 posted by runruff on December 12, 2008 at 08:25:52 PT Say I ain't dreamin'! In 1993-4 when I started making my movie the polls were just about the opposite as they are now. We had a long uphill climb and we knew it yet we decided to look at it like eating an elephant. You know the old metaphor," how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time!It has been a long, painful, expensive road but I'm going shout one day, that old M.L.K. exhalation," free at last, free at last great God all mighty we're free at last!" A word about the DEA. Yes thay think they are privileged. I spent a few days in the company of some of these guys. I wish everyone could. That "DEA" show on Spike would be a laughing stock. The DEA would not last another day if people knew these guys up close and personal. Far from the American comic book hero character they try to portray themselves as they are a bunch of base minded thugs in uniform. They were very candid in their conversation around me. I got the feeling they thought they could say and do anything they wanted to do and no one could do anything about it anyway. The word is "blatant criminality". What they said and did in front of me was of no concern to them. They considered me as nothing but a backwoods pot grower with no power or media connections so I was of no matter.I've studied the Waffen SS under Hitler. This unlawful police orginization [the DEA] is a perfect model of the SS.It stands to reason , Nixon often openly admired the organizational skills of the Nazi Party. Alexander Haig Nixon's chief advisor has confirmed this.It is coming near Christmas. A family Holiday if ever there was one. I hope you all are safe and warmly enscounced in your family filled abodes where you will soon be smelling the aromas of the season wafting about. Ahh, I love Christmas.Merry Christmas everyone. We can soon hold hands and sing Cume By Ya come this spring when our world begins to return to a semblance of sanity.Can you say, "I knew we could!" [ Post Comment ] Comment #22 posted by FoM on December 12, 2008 at 08:05:58 PT OT: A Fun Christmas Song Keep smiling everyone!Snow Miser - Heat Miserhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yon2YuXssvo [ Post Comment ] Comment #21 posted by FoM on December 12, 2008 at 07:56:46 PT fight_4_freedom What this shows me is marijuana issues are very important to people. The transition between the new and the old administration has me twiddling my thumbs and holding my breath. Angry people can have a field day during this time and I have found watching Christmas specials on Hallmark and ABC Family has helped me pass the time a little easier. LOL! [ Post Comment ] Comment #20 posted by fight_4_freedom on December 12, 2008 at 07:39:28 PT WoW!!!! 11 out of the Top 40 questions involve our favorite plant, that's amazing. I can't wait to hear these answers. [ Post Comment ] Comment #19 posted by FoM on December 12, 2008 at 07:19:37 PT Stop The Drug War: We're Number 1! Drug Policy Questions in The Top 401. "Will you consider legalizing marijuana so that the government can regulate it, tax it, put age limits on it, and create millions of new jobs and create a billion dollar industry right here in the U.S.?" 7947 – 634 (93% liked question)7. "13 states have compassionate use programs for medial Marijuana, yet the federal gov't continues to prosecute sick and dying people. Isn't it time for the federal gov't to step out of the way and let doctors and families decide what is appropriate?" 3394 – 272 (93% liked question)11. "The US "War on Drugs" wastes billions every year tracking down and incarcerating non-violent users. What is your position on the legalization of marijuana? How do you feel about treating rather than imprisoning users of harder, addictive drugs?" 2521 – 102 (96% liked question)13. "How will you fix the current war on drugs in America? and will there be any chance of decriminalizing marijuana?" 2538 – 238 (85% liked question)15. "What kind of progress can be expected on the decriminalization and legalization for medicinal purposes of marijuana and will you re-prioritize the "War On Drugs" to reflect the need for drug treatment instead of incarceration?" 2329 – 182 (93% liked question)18. "The U.S. has the world's highest incarceration rate, largely due to the War on Drugs. Our prisons are festering pits of rape, racism, and gang violence, and divert a lot of tax money to the corrupt prison industry. How can we fix this?" 1834 – 142 (93% liked question)22. "Would you consider the legalizing of growing hemp (not marijuana) for food, clothing and bio-fuel use?" 1677 – 225 (88% liked question)23. "Drug control policy in America is a mess, most specifically with regards to marijuana. Federal and state laws are in conflict all over the country. What do you plan to do about this? Will you allow the states to make their own determinations?" 1577 – 143 (92% liked question)28. "What about the use of Hemp and finally legalizing marijuana for personal use?" 1385 – 265 (84% liked question)29. "If we did not have over 2 million people in jail, many of which on marijuana charges, we would save billions a year and keep families together. Will you commit to a comprehensive drug treatment plan that will help keep families together?" 1296 – 132 (91% liked question)33. "What will you do to ensure that the government takes scientific research into account when making laws? Especially when it comes to questions about the legalization of marijuana and the use of medical marijuana." 1198 – 129 (90% liked question)34. "On the campaign trail, you said you would put an end to the federal raids on medical marijuana patients. Will you implement this policy within the first year of your term?" 1153 – 95 (92% liked question)http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle_blog/2008/dec/11/you_can_help_encourage_obama_to_ [ Post Comment ] Comment #18 posted by FoM on December 12, 2008 at 06:30:18 PT ripit You're welcome. I am looking forward to an Obama Administration. My husband went thru more of the questions last night and there are a number of marijuana questions in the top 50 or so. [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by FoM on December 12, 2008 at 06:22:54 PT Marijuana Legalization Tops List of Questions Marijuana Legalization Tops List of Questions for Obama in Online PollTim King Salem-News.com "We're tremendously excited about the promise of tools like this that offer Americans a level of access that has historically been hard to come by."- Obama TeamDecember 11, 2008 (SALEM, Ore.) - I am not surprised that the number one thing Americans are asking President-elect Barack Obama is whether or not he is going to legalize marijuana. Generations are changing and evolving and the taboos around cannabis are slowly falling away. American industries can harness the power of this multi-billion dollar, still mostly black market business. The attitude of people in this country is in a mode of great anticipation and change. Barack Obama is already on the record saying he does not want to use the Justice Department to bust state operated medical marijuana dispensaries. URL: http://salem-news.com/articles/december122008/barack_cannabis_12-12-08.php [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by ripit on December 12, 2008 at 06:20:36 PT: 2 of the top 10 ?s are for cannabis!yeah!! #1 of course and # 7! i don't see how they could possably ignore them.i can't tell ya how much reading this this morning boosted my spirits!thanks guys! [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by fight_4_freedom on December 11, 2008 at 22:27:21 PT Like you said, I'm just glad our question is right there at the top. The DEA finally sent a letter back to Mr. Conyers. Here is a blog post Aaron Smith made about it earlier."Double-parking could land you 100 years behind bars"by F. Aaron SmithU.S. House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers (D-Mich.) penned a letter to the DEA requesting answers about the agency’s raids of and threats to California’s state-legal medical marijuana facilities. The letter, sent in April at the request of several concerned public officials in California, asked the DEA pointed questions regarding the cost of these raids and whether attacking medical marijuana providers was a sensible use of scarce resources.The DEA has finally replied. And, as expected, the 17-page response is so full of outright lies and hyperbole that I could go on forever picking it apart. I don’t have time to criticize all of what deserves criticizing but I thought I’d share one of my favorite highlights.In response to the question of whether or not conducting raids on medical marijuana providers is a good use of a federal agency’s time and money, the DEA argues that all marijuana use is illegal under the federal laws that it is obligated to enforce — as if it has no room for discretion. If this were really the case, the DEA would be working around the clock cracking down on each and every petty drug user in the country.An even more absurd justification for the DEA’s despicable activities is that it’s merely responding to community concerns about these facilities. The top three items on the list of complaints it has allegedly received are “people smoking marijuana outside,” “pedestrian and automobile traffic congesting the streets,” and “illegal parking.”That’s right. The Department of Justice lists illegal parking and traffic among one of its highest public safety priorities! And all this under the direction of an administration that supposedly believes in states’ rights and smaller government.Another irony in all of this is that a recent report from the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure charges DEA agents with brazenly ignoring municipal parking ordinances and failing to pay the associated fines. (Thanks to my colleague and namesake, Aaron Houston, in D.C. for that little tidbit.)-Here is a link to the letter itself. http://judiciary.house.gov/hearings/pdf/Nelson080725.pdf17 pages is too long for me tonight. I'm going to bed!Sweet Dreams C-News! [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by The GCW on December 11, 2008 at 21:15:19 PT California wants to regulate cultivation! US CA: Addressing Environmental Woes Of Pot Growshttp://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n1113/a06.html?397Pubdate: Thu, 11 Dec 2008Source: Times-Standard (Eureka, CA)I don't recall ever reading an aritical where a state wants to make moves to regulate cultivating cannabis for the well being of citizens. This is way good. [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by FoM on December 11, 2008 at 20:58:02 PT fight_4_freedom I think the question is pointed and it will take some doing to answer it but hopefully they will try. At least we are very visible. [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by fight_4_freedom on December 11, 2008 at 20:25:11 PT That is wonderful FoM!!! Looks like we may find out how he is going to deal with our issue sooner than later. That is if they actually answer it. And hopefully if they do answer it, they don't beat around the "bush" with their answer.We will see. And it shall be interesting. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by FoM on December 11, 2008 at 19:18:37 PT Amazing We're Number 1 on Obama's Web Site Out of 9,590 questions currently this question is number 1!"Will you consider legalizing marijuana so that the government can regulate it, tax it, put age limits on it, and create millions of new jobs and create a billion dollar industry right here in the U.S.?" http://change.gov/page/content/openforquestionsThis edition of Open for Questions comes to a close at 12:00 a.m. Thursday, December 11, 2008 05:50pm EST / Posted by Dan McSwain Since its launch yesterday, the Open for Questions tool has processed over 600,000 votes from more than 10,000 people on more than 7,300 questions. Voting will come to a close Friday, December 12th, at 12:00 a.m. EST, so that we can prepare answers to some of the most popular questions. (Note: All of the questions submitted so far will be archived here.)Pilot projects like "Open for Questions" depend on feedback from users to better understand how to make participation intuitive and productive. In case you missed the link at the bottom of the Open for Questions page, we have a feedback form for any ideas or comments you have about the tool.Participation in Open for Questions outpaced our expectations, and we're looking forward to rolling it out again next week. We're tremendously excited about the promise of tools like this that offer Americans a level of access that has historically been hard to come by. By voting questions up, users have been able to convey to our team which major issues -- like the auto industry, health care, ethical standards, and others -- are the most important to this community.Over the next few days, some of the most popular questions selected by the Change.gov community will be answered by the Transition team, and their responses will be posted here on the site. http://change.gov/newsroom/entry/open_for_questions_comes_to_a_close_at_1200_am/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by fight_4_freedom on December 11, 2008 at 18:46:30 PT I know I would be a nervous wreck up there But I just know you'll do a wonderful job representing the medical marijuana community. I have monday off so I will certainly be tuning in! [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by charmed quark on December 11, 2008 at 18:16:37 PT thanks all Yep, fight_4_freedom, that's us. Never been in front of a subcommittee before. Should be interesting. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by fight_4_freedom on December 11, 2008 at 17:05:00 PT E-mail from MPP Medical marijuana hearing in New Jersey Senate on MondayDear Adam:On Monday, December 15, the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee will hold a legislative hearing on Senate Bill 119, the New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act. This compassionate legislation would protect many sick and dying New Jersey residents who use medical marijuana on the advice of their doctors.It is very important that members of the committee hear from you. They need to see the widespread support that exists for this compassionate legislation. Please take a moment now to contact the committee members. Our automated site will allow you to send a message to every member of the committee with just the click of a button.The hearing will take place in Committee Room 11 on the fourth floor of the Statehouse Annex in Trenton. Click here for information regarding parking near the Statehouse. Once at the Statehouse, a security guard or trooper will greet you. Please make sure you have a valid picture ID to enter the building so you can be issued a visitor's pass. If you are unable to make it to Trenton on Monday, you can still listen to the meeting live online the day of the hearing at 9:30 a.m. or a few days later once the hearing recording is archived on the New Jersey Legislature's homepage.The Drug Policy Alliance New Jersey is leading the lobbying effort to pass this important legislation. They have garnered the support of many state health organizations, legislators, and opinion leaders around the state. With this impressive level of support, MPP is hopeful that seriously ill New Jersey residents will soon get the protection they deserve.Please take action now to make sure the Assembly health committee members don't turn their backs on suffering New Jerseyans.Thank you for supporting the Marijuana Policy Project and our allies. Please pass this message along to your friends and family in New Jersey so that others can stand up for the state's most vulnerable residents.Sincerely,Zane Hurst Legislative Analyst Marijuana Policy ProjectC'mon New Jersey!!!! Charmed....I really hope you guys become #14! [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by FoM on December 11, 2008 at 16:31:50 PT charmed quark Good luck to you. I know you will do a fine job. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by FoM on December 11, 2008 at 16:28:12 PT President Elect Barack Obama When I checked Change.gov this question was number 5."Will you consider legalizing marijuana so that the government can regulate it, tax it, put age limits on it, and create millions of new jobs and create a billion dollar industry right here in the U.S.?"http://change.gov/page/content/openforquestions [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by fight_4_freedom on December 11, 2008 at 16:17:45 PT Way to go Charmed!!!! Good Luck to you! What a brave soldier you are.Where are you from? [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by charmed quark on December 11, 2008 at 16:05:44 PT Maybe my state will have all these problems soon I'm going to testify next week at our state's senate for our medical cannabis law. Maybe we can end up having all these grey-area problems soon.Wish me luck [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Sam adams on December 11, 2008 at 15:19:24 PT Doctor Meyer had patients start asking her for prescriptions the day after the election."It puts the doctor in a tight situation, having to decide who should get this and who shouldn't," she added.Don't strain now, you only went to school for 12 years for this! [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by HempWorld on December 11, 2008 at 09:18:37 PT Medical Marijuana Is Voted In, But Now What? Now we wait until pigs have wings and for hell to freeze over. Marijuana is actually very good for you but you can't have it just because for that reason. This is the biggest holocaust in mankind's history it just has not entered into our consciousness as such. Because the forces that have brought us to this point use very clever propaganda.You have to ask yourself, why is marijuana still illegal? What about the children? When cigarettes are completely legal, the most addictive substance known to man. Nicotine is enslaving generation after generation. And ... marijuana kills are 0 to date and cigarettes 450,000 annually in the US alone!You have to ask yourself, why is this so? Why are health care costs in the US the highest in the world and why does the US have the highest incarceration rate in the world? On a mission from God! [ Post Comment ] Post Comment