Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at 12:42 pm | By: Radical Russ
Thanks to a tip from our friends at LEAP, I reported on Tuesday about Iowa Senator Charles Grassley offering an amendment to Senator Jim Webb’s prison reform bill that forbids the commission from recommending the legalization of marijuana or even studying what effect legalization might have on society. Well, thanks once again to the Tom Angell, blogging for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, we now have audio of Senator Grassley defending this censorship of science, even as he talks about putting “all options on the table.” (Catch the audio on tonight’s Stash.)
QUESTION: I hear there was an amendment to a bill tomorrow that would legally prevent some of the government’s top advisers from — according to some of the memos we’ve seen — even discussing the idea of legalizing or decriminalizing drugs.
Can you talk a little bit about that? I understand that you pulled that amendment, but, nonetheless, I wanted to ask you what your intent is with that.
GRASSLEY: Well, my intent on that amendment isn’t any different than any other amendments that are coming up. The Congress is setting up a commission to study certain things. And the commission is a — is an arm of Congress, because Congress doesn’t have time to review some of these laws.
And — and — and the point is, for them to do what we tell them to do. And one of the things that I was anticipating telling them not to do is to — to recommend or study the legalization of drugs.
Their — their program would be what we tell it it is. …
Senator Webb wants to understand why we have 5% of the world’s population but 25% of the world’s imprisoned. Sen. Webb understands that the War on (Certain American Citizens Using Non-Pharmaceutical, Non-Alcoholic, Tobacco-Free) Drugs™ has a lot to do with it. Sen. Webb understands that discussion of marijuana legalization must be on the table. I’m not sure which concept is more misunderstood by Senator Grassley: science, democracy, free speech, or justice. Wait, maybe it’s compassion:
QUESTION: Would your amendment have even stopped the discussion of legalized marijuana for medical purposes?
GRASSLEY: I think that would not — let’s see. Yes, the extent to which it would be decriminalization, the answer is yes.
Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 4:27 pm | By: Radical Russ
Check out the thirty-minute interview with our Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, Gil Kerlikowske, on National Public Radio. What’s telling to me isn’t the Drug Czar’s typical lies and spin, but that every single caller to the program but one was so intelligently disagreeing with him. Here’s a sample:
MARY (Caller): Good afternoon. I wanted to just pass on, as someone who is a social worker, who’s in the field, I work with both the homeless population, as well as people in both active addiction and in recovery and have seen what hard drugs have done and the damage that they have done to the lives of any number of my clients. Having said that, and having seen that, I think we really must look at the way we’re handling marijuana in this country. A lot of the clients that I have dealt with, the repercussions from them have not been from the use of the drug. It has been from the illegality of the drug. It exposes them to criminal elements they wouldn’t otherwise have been around. It exposes them to harder drugs they wouldn’t ordinarily have been around. And I think if we continue to handle it the way we handle it, we’re just – we’re not going to make any progress on any of it unless we really sit back and, as a country, go, okay, what’s the primary concern here?
Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 11:35 am | By: Radical Russ
(New Scientist) IF THERE is one thing that politicians can and should do to limit the damage caused by illegal drugs, it is to take careful note of the evidence and develop a rational drug policy. Some politicians find it easier to ignore the evidence, and pander to public prejudice instead.
I can trace the beginning of the end of my role as chairman of the UK’s official advisory body on drugs to the moment I quoted a New Scientist editorial (14 February, p 5). Entitled, fittingly enough, “Drugs drive politicians out of their minds”, the editorial asked the reader to imagine being seated at a table with two bowls, one containing peanuts, the other the illegal drug MDMA (ecstasy). Which is safer to give to a stranger? Why, the ecstasy of course.
I quoted these words in the Eve Saville lecture at King’s College London in July. This example plus other comments I have made – such as horse riding is more harmful than ecstasy – prompted Alan Johnson, the home secretary, to say that I had crossed the line from science to policy. This, he said, is why I had to go.
But simple, accurate and understandable statements of scientific fact are precisely what the advisory council is supposed to provide. Why would any scientist take up some future offer of a government advisory post when their advice can be treated with such disdain?
The results of a government inventing its own reality and acting on it can be seen in the appalling consequences the George W. Bush presidency had for world peace, the environment and human rights. The message for the British government is a simple one: don’t exclude rational argument in order to exploit a visceral public response. Politicians have to win the hearts and minds of their electorate. If your policy is informed by an underlying moral imperative, be open about what that is, and don’t try to disguise it with a veneer of pseudo-science. We ignore scientific evidence at our peril.
David Nutt, professor of neuropsychopharmacology at Imperial College London, was chairman of the UK government’s Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs until he was dismissed last week by the UK home secretary
It’s a message President Obama needs to hear as well. He promised to return us from the George W. Bush presidency’s disdain for rational thought and scientific evidence. Obama promised to base our policies on sound science with respect to global climate change and other issues. But stubbornly, this administration’s drug czar is still out parroting the completely unscientific falsehood that “the raw cannabis plant is certainly not medicine”. Obama himself is laughing off the notion of marijuana legalization as having any economic benefit to cash-strapped states, despite the rational analysis by many prominent economists. And despite the evidence of reduced social farms in the Netherlands, Portugal, and other countries that have experimented with drug decriminalization and tolerance, Obama continues to push a federal policy that relies heavily on interdiction and incarceration.
For over a century now, every time hard scientists, social scientists, economists, and policy experts gather to take a rational and scientific look at marijuana policy, they recommend decriminalization and tolerance or they recognize medical usage of cannabis, from the 1894 British East India survey to the 1942 Laguardia Commission to the 1972 Shaffer Commission to the 1999 Institute of Medicine study. Cannabis can no longer be the exception to the “we believe in science” rule!
Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 8:24 pm | By: Radical Russ
(Westword) To make a long story short, the board voted 9-0 this morning to strike language stating that a marijuana caregiver has to have “significant responsibility for managing the well-being of a patient.”
The board didn’t come up with a new definition, though — suggesting that it will wait for its regularly scheduled December 16 meeting to tackle the challenge. As of now, in other words, there’s no definition anywhere in state regulations stating what, exactly, it means to be a marijuana caregiver.
Gee, I wonder how many new dispensaries can set up shop in Colorado between now and December 16? Haven’t they learned anything from Los Angeles? State and local governments can’t just abdicate their responsibility to come up with clear regulations regarding medical marijuana. In the absence of guidelines, people will assume the best-case scenario that allows their businesses to flourish, and then when the government does come up with regulations, they end up destroying the businesses of many people who had the best of intentions along with the carpetbaggers who were just looking to make a buck of medical marijuana.
Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 7:20 pm | By: Radical Russ
With 18% of the returns in, the election in Maine is being watched nationwide for its contentious “Question 1″, a vote on whether to reject the state’s recognition of same-sex marriage. It’s too close to call in that race, but most of the other statewide questions seem to be being decided rather strongly.
Currently, “Question 5″, the proposal to create a statewide registry ID card system for medical marijuana patients (a la Oregon) and medical marijuana dispensaries (a la Rhode Island and New Mexico), is winning by a 63% – 37% vote.
Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 7:09 pm | By: Radical Russ
(Summit Daily) BRECKENRIDGE — Breckenridge residents voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana and paraphernalia Tuesday under town law. In early returns, some 72 percent of voters approved the measure.
The vote means that, effective Jan. 1, people 21 and up in Breckenridge will be able to legally possess one ounce or less of the drug.
Possession remains illegal under state law, but Breckenridge Police Chief Rick Holman said his department will “still have the ability to exercise discretion.”
The decriminalization won’t change laws prohibiting smoking in public, use by minors or driving under the influence.
Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 10:50 am | By: Radical Russ
(Mission Local) The federal government will continue raids on medical marijuana operations in California despite guidelines issued by the Justice Department two weeks ago indicating the contrary.
“I think it’s unfortunate that people have for some reason picked up on this as a change in policy, because it’s really not a change at all,” said Joseph Russoniello, federal prosecutor for the northern district of California, who was appointed in 2007 by then-President George W. Bush.
Asked if federal officials will halt investigation and prosecution of medical marijuana operations in the state, Russoniello said simply, “The short answer is no.”
Russoniello said many dispensaries in San Francisco and around California aren’t really not-for-profit, and he will prosecute any distributor fraudulently operating as a commercial enterprise in violation of state laws.
“By that I mean people who are in it as if they were running a neighborhood candy store instead of running a commune, a collective or a group club that caters only to specific identified persons,” he said.
Asked if federal agents are currently preparing to raid dispensaries suspected of illegal activities, Russoniello declined to comment.
“I cannot affirm or deny the existence of ongoing criminal investigations,” he said.
You know, I was just thinking that President Obama’s approval ratings are still way too high. What he needs to do is have his administration issue a memo that seems to remove the threat of federal raids from lawful dispensaries, and then when people are comfortable about visiting those dispensaries, send in a few DEA agents in body armor to point assault weapons at people in wheelchairs. Think of it as Obama’s “Read my lips; no new taxes” moment a la George Bush Sr. in 1988. A few stunning visuals of jack-booted thugs taking down the neighborhood dispensary in a state where 56% of the voters want not just medical marijuana but outright legalization ought to drop that approval rating a few points, huh?
Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 10:34 am | By: Radical Russ
(Globe Gazette) DES MOINES — The White House’s drug czar said Monday that Iowa officials should look at the problems California has seen after allowing the use of marijuana for medical purposes as they consider the idea here.
Gil Kerlikowske, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, specifically cited problems regulating the clinics in the Los Angeles area that dispense medical marijuana.
Kerlikowske recounted going to Venice Beach and seeing people holding signs advertising marijuana and ads in newspapers.
He also pointed to reports of robberies and assaults that have occurred in and around medical marijuana dispensaries in the Los Angeles area.
“I would say that the recommendation for any state that’s considering moving to medical marijuana is to look very closely at what’s been occurring in California,” Kerlikowske said.
Kerlikowske, the former police chief in Seattle, reported better results for the medical marijuana law in Washington State.
“It was not as significant a problem for law enforcement as it was in, as it is in, Los Angeles,” Kerlikowske said.
We often hear the prohibitionists play the “Look at California” card when it comes to medical marijuana, ignoring the fact that the other twelve states with protection for medical users did look at California and crafted tighter regulations than the Golden State. Rarely do we hear one bring up another medical marijuana state in comparison. I’m sure Iowans looking to pass medical marijuana wouldn’t mind at all the protections of the Washington State law, which allows a patient to grow up to fifteen plants and store a pound and a half of marijuana. Though they might want to look at the Oregon law, which allows close to the same limits and establishes a patient card registry that helps the patient identify his grow to law enforcement and avoid the arrest and investigation required in Washington to verify a patient’s status.
Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 10:16 am | By: Radical Russ
(The Northern Iowan) According to Jimmy Morrison, who received a grant from the Marijuana Policy Project to organize patients and advocates, “only 1.5” out of roughly 30 speakers testified against medical marijuana at the hearing, with the half going to Ron Herman, a clinical associate professor at the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy.
[Morrison] testified to being beaten in a back alley, robbed of his wallet and left without clothes in near freezing temperatures while trying to obtain marijuana in an unfamiliar town.
He also described having to watch a policeman hold a gun to his brother’s head while a canine officer sniffed him for marijuana.
Ray Lakers, who suffers from multiple sclerosis and admits to using marijuana, claims that marijuana helps him function normally.
“Now, we are here, and I am here, to bring tear after tear. All of us living in fear,” he said, fighting back his own tears, “because patients are being denied a choice.”
The choice Lakers said he is denied is the ability to choose medical marijuana over other doctor prescribed medications.
“I don’t want to be associated with cocaine and meth or whatever,” [said Lisa Jackson, a Crawfordsville resident and sufferer of fibromyalgia]. “I just want some pain relief. I want some relief. I want to live. I want to be allowed to live. I want to be allowed to be a mother. I want to be allowed to be a wife. And I want to be allowed to be a good person and smoking marijuana allows me to do that. Is it worth going to jail? For me, it is … I don’t have any other options.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, smoking pot helps with your MS and your fibromyalgia. But the FDA has never approved smoking pot and the AMA says smoked marijuana isn’t medicine, so you people must be just fooling yourselves. Ignore all your personal experience with marijuana, how it relieves your pain or spasms, how it allows you to sleep, how it helps you be a productive citizen, because your experiences are just anecdotal. We can’t have you sick and disabled people smoking pot without repercussions, because then some teenager might get the message that it is OK to get high. I’m sure you can understand; take these other prescription medications that don’t help your conditions and have worse side effects that require even more prescriptions… you’ve got to do it, for the children’s sake, or else we will lock you up in a cage at gunpoint.
Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 9:30 am | By: Radical Russ
Courtesy of our friends at LEAP:
As soon as this Thursday, November 5, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee could vote on an amendment that will legally prevent some of the government’s top advisers from even discussing the idea of legalizing or decriminalizing drugs as a solution to the failed “war on drugs.”
Yes, you read that right. The Senate just might censor its own policy advisers from giving science-based advice.
The censorship amendment’s author, Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA), is trying to attach the speech prohibition onto an otherwise positive bill that will create a blue ribbon commission to study our nation’s failed criminal justice and drug policies. The commission is supposed to make recommendations for ways to improve the system, but how can they do that with the blindfold that Sen. Grassley wants to put on them? Please take action below and tell your senators to oppose the censorship amendment!
Visit the LEAP site today to send your letter of protest against this amendment to your own Senator. Read past collections of Sen. Grassley’s dementia sativahere and here.
RevRayGreen: Barney Frank Present When Partner Arrested for pot-- http://bit.ly/1XpM2R
RevRayGreen: KMK 11/17/09 VAL AIR ballroom DSM
bullbog: that's crazy. I had a NORML black t-shirt on. It was hell of a show
RevRayGreen: dude I was probably 4-5 seats from you then
bullbog: 4th row center. I wish I was closer.
RevRayGreen: were in in the orchestra pit 4th row? or 4th row center, that's where I was bu slightly to the right
RevRayGreen: our show ______v'''''''
RevRayGreen: catch our chow tomorrow online Carl'sCannabis Corner
www.macswordlive.com 12-2 PM you can go there now and find archived shows
bullbog: revraygreen after looking at your pic from last nite. I'm pretty sure I seen you. I regonize you from the march in May
Just Legalize It: nothing really cool dealing with marijuana happens in massachusetts.... it sucks.... other than the boston freedom rally... but one thing a year isnt enough! i want to move to [...]
bullbog: went and seen cheech and chong last nite.My sides were hurting within the first 10 mins. Can't wait to see them in there Legalize it tour.
WakeUpDead: Just got done with an all day Bubble bag session. Stocking up for the winter dry spell. MMMM Hash!
Just Legalize It: i hear ya russ.... it sucks because the marijuana community is gaining much more ground than the hemp community.... if we combined then it would be an unstoppable force.... i [...]
Radical Russ: Wish we could, but every time we try to combine with hemp activists, they say, "stay away, you legalizers!" They don't want to be associated with psychoactive cannabis in [...]
mr reuben: hopefully everything goes well Krispy. It would be nice to see a norml chapter at my old school.
Maine: Voters To Decide Next Week On Medical Marijuana Expansion Measure; Colorado: Breckenridge Voters To Decide Next Week On Eliminating Pot Penalties; California: Lawmakers Hold Historic Hearing On Marijuana Legalization; New Hampshire: Senate Fails To Override Medical Marijuana Veto. […]
Gallup: Majority Of West Coast Voters Back Marijuana Legalization; Pot Arrests Responsible For Majority Of Marijuana Treatment Referrals; DOJ To Federal Prosecutors: Do Not Focus Resources On Medical Marijuana. […]
California: L.A. District Attorney Intends To Prosecute "100 Percent" Of County's Medical Marijuana Dispensaries; Maternal Tobacco and Alcohol Use, But Not Marijuana, Associated With Psychotic Symptoms In Offspring, Study Says; 'Hemperor' Jack Herer Released From Hospital. […]
Some of the nation’s top athletes discuss why today's pros are turning to cannabis — and away from alcohol and painkillers — off the field, and question why pro sports leagues are continuing to sanction those who do. Moderator: Steve Bloom, Author, Pot Culture; editor, celebstoner.com * Toby Grear, MMA fighter * Sean Neumann, Documentary Filmm […]
Cannabis Law Reform's Missing Link: Law Enforcement Former Seattle Police Chief Norm Stamper; LEAP and NORML Advisory Board; Author of Breaking Rank Putting the Mexican Cartels Out of Business Mexican drug cartels now employ over 100,000 soldiers and are responsible for nearly ten thousand deaths per year. Their largest source of income is marijuana. […]
Iowa Sen. Grassley: Webb Commission will “do what we tell them to do” and not “recommend or study the legalization of drugs.”
Russ Is Tha BEst! 
:smokin: 
Fresh Stash V RSS Feed
Loading ...
