Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 at 8:49 pm | By: Radical Russ
(WHIO) DAYTON, Ohio — A 7-year-old boy led officers to his father’s marijuana grow operation, police said.
The father in question, Oliver McGuire, was arrested and taken into custody.
According to police reports, McGuire’s son told his school counselor about marijuana growing in the basement of his home.
Officers said they went to the Stewart Street home and found four pounds of marijuana, along with two plants and grow equipment.
“Thanks for your honesty, little Joey*. You were right to tell us about those funny plants your daddy was growing. Now we’re going to take your daddy away until you’re a teenager. But it’s all for your own good, you see, because your daddy’s gardening could have seriously hurt you. It’s OK, Joey, don’t cry, you can visit your daddy every week in a big scary building. Your mommy will be fine, though she’ll probably have to take another job to keep you fed, housed, and clothed, so you might not see her as much, either. You’ll be all right, we’ll see to it that we get your mommy some Food Stamps and other public assistance to make up for your daddy’s missing paycheck. Then, in a few years, when your daddy gets out, he can go get another job to help support you and mommy, though he won’t make nearly as much money since he’ll have to put ‘ex-con drug felon’ on all his applications. Yes, Joey, I know it is sad and scary, but remember, you did the right thing, because police officers like me are here to protect you.”
The next time some prohibitionist wants to scream “What About The Children!?!” in response to marijuana legalization, bring up Joey McGuire and ask, “Yes, indeed, what about the children?” Prohibition of marijuana ruined Joey’s family life far more than marijuana ever did.
*I don’t know that the kid is named “Joey”, but it’ll do.
Wednesday, October 14th, 2009 at 8:48 pm | By: Radical Russ
Tonya Davis, President, Miami Valley NORML
I’m so proud to deliver two major announcements for our supporters in the state of Ohio.
First of all, the dedicated activists who have been running North Ohio NORML for years have decided to expand their operations to cover the entire state. They will be transitioning to their new name Ohio NORML over then coming months.
Part of expanding to statewide status is to help foster new chapters across the state. These can be new, independent chapters that go through the process of forming their own non-profit organization, or they can organize as a remote unit of an existing statewide chapter, operating under the state chapter’s non-profit organization. These remote units, or “sub-chapters”, have proven very effective in Michigan and now Oregon in spreading the efforts of a strong chapter across the state.
So I’m happy to announce the formation of Ohio NORML’s first sub-chapter, Miami Valley NORML, serving the area around Dayton. The president of the sub-chapter is Tonya Davis, the 2009 recipient of the Pauline Sabin Award from NORML, recognizing excellence in women’s leadership so crucial for ending adult marijuana prohibition.
Coming soon… announcements for Virgina, University of Virginia, Arizona State University, Lake Tahoe, and Beverly Hills. If you want to get your local area organized to legalize marijuana, send me an email to stash@norml.org, and be sure to include the words “new chapter”, which will trip my email alert to give you top priority.
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Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009 at 10:24 am | By: Radical Russ
(Columbus Dispatch) MEIGS COUNTY, Ohio — State Highway Patrol Sgt. Dick Meadows and Capt. Paul Pride went down a gully, crossed a creek and rode up a steep hill. When their ATVs could no longer navigate the terrain, they pushed their way through briars so thick that thorns snagged even the smallest patches of their uncovered skin.
They yanked out about 20 plants, most about 5 feet tall.
This is how they roll, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification & Investigation’s Marijuana Eradication Unit, a part of the attorney general’s office.
Using $360,000 to $480,000 in earmarked federal funds each year to pay for the helicopter, overtime and related costs, four state drug agents and any local law-enforcement officers they can enlist spend nearly every weekday all summer scouring Ohio’s countryside for marijuana plants.
In other news from the state of Ohio:
(Cleveland.com) While Senate Republican leaders weren’t giving up details, other sources said deep cuts to the Department of Development and an early childhood developmental program, Help Me Grow, were among the trims floated. A health care expansion sought by Strickland, a Democrat, to cover 110,000 Ohioans through various moves including raising the age of dependency to 29 was also being discussed as an area to cut.
(American Libraries) Public libraries throughout Ohio have altered theirlandingpages to alert patrons about Gov. Ted Strickland’s draconian June 19 proposal to slash a total of $227.3 million over the next two years from the state’s Public Library Fund.
(Save Ohio History) [1986 was the] last time the state of Ohio invested less than $8 million in the Ohio Historical Society. Nevertheless, Governor Strickland’s new FY 2010-11 budget framework, unveiled late Friday, June 19, would reduce the state budget for the Society from $13.5 million in 2008 to as little as $7.5 million annually each of the next two years, a reduction of 45 percent.
We know that less than a half million dollars spent on a helicopter for pulling weeds won’t completely save the historical society, libraries, or early childhood developmental program, but it would pay the salaries of about ten teachers. Regardless, at least the money is well-spent locking up criminal weed growers, right?
Few people are prosecuted for what authorities find, said Robert Beegle, the sheriff of Meigs County, which is by far Ohio’s most pot-prolific county. He knows that cannabis blankets his Appalachian hills, and he is grateful for the state’s help in removing it.
But there isn’t enough time, money or manpower to charge those responsible.
“A lot of times, we know who it belongs to,” said Beegle, who oversees a county where the median household income is about $32,000 and last month’s unemployment rate was 16.7 percent. “But knowing it and proving it are two entirely differently things.”
OK, so we can’t lock up the weed growers, but at least these efforts are keeping marijuana away from the kids of Ohio, right?
(Ohio Youth Risk Behavior Survey) The trend of students who used marijuana in the past 30 days shows the overall percentage has not changed significantly over time from 1993 to 2007.
Well, even if we lose the libraries, historical society, and special needs programs and even if the past fourteen years of eradication efforts haven’t kept 1 out of 5 Ohio teenagers from smoking pot, at least these law enforcement officers are making some overtime getting out in the country on a nice sunny weekend. It’s not like they have anything else to attend to in Ohio.
(Dayton Daily News) The city’s fourth homicide in six days prompted police Chief Richard Biehl on Friday, Aug. 21, to ask the community to rally behind his department and find those responsible for the recent killings.
The barrage that includes nine shootings in those six days has irked Biehl, who said he is taking the crime wave “personally.”
The city’s 30 homicides are as many as this time last year, but come nine months into Biehl’s Community Initiative to Reduce Gun Violence program.
(ONNtv) CINCINNATI — According to a Cincinnati Enquirer analysis Hamilton County’s inmate population is growing at a steady pace, and with the county’s Queensgate jail closed some residents worry about a crime wave.
County officials decided to shut down the facility because of budget cuts. That means limited jail space and possibly more criminals out on the streets.
I know the unemployment rate in Ohio is huge, especially for an ex-con, but maybe with some luck they can get a job tending an outdoor marijuana grow in the Appalachian hills.
Tuesday, June 30th, 2009 at 12:20 pm | By: Radical Russ
(Dayton Daily News) “The trend in several of the homicides and even non-fatal shootings is that they’re related to marijuana use and sales,” said Dayton Lt. Patrick Welsh said. “That’s been an unusual uptick.”
In the past few years, Welsh said, many homicides occurred either around or because of the trafficking of heroin and cocaine.
Now, marijuana seems to be the dangerous drug. Police believe, for instance, that the suspect or suspects who shot and killed 22-year-old Richard Pogue Jr. on June 3 were possibly attempting to rob a home on Kingsley Avenue because they thought there was marijuana inside.
Two men were killed in a home at 515 N. Broadway St. that police believe could have been a place to buy marijuana.
But the amounts of marijuana involved in the incidents are relatively small, Welsh said.
No, marijuana is not the dangerous drug; prohibition of marijuana is the dangerous policy. This should show people that the half-steppin’ measure of decriminalization is only a stop-gap measure at best and a long-term policy disaster at worst.
Ohio has the most liberal decriminalization law, one that allows individuals to possess up to 100 grams (about 3.5 ounces) of cannabis. But all decriminalization does is legalize the demand side while still criminalizing the supply side. As this story shows, decriminalized marijuana is still illegal to buy and sell and cultivate and traffic — you’re allowed to have 100 grams of marijuana, should it fall out of the skies and into your hands. Therefore the market in marijuana is as illegal as ever, with the concomitant effects of scarcity and risk driving up the price to the point it is worth robbing and shooting people over.
Then, rather than doing the logical thing and moving toward legalization, the cannabiphobes will point to the current robberies and killings under decriminalization and say, “See, marijuana IS a dangerous drug! We relaxed our laws on pot and look what happened!”
Friday, May 15th, 2009 at 2:20 pm | By: Radical Russ
Current NBA player Darius Miles*:
FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS — NBA player Darius Miles, who grew up in East St. Louis, is free on $100 bond after being arrested Wednesday night on suspicion of possession of a small amount of marijuana and driving on a suspended license.
Miles, 27, who plays for the Memphis Grizzlies, was stopped by a Fairview Heights police officer about 10:20 p.m. Wednesday.
Police reported that his 1996 Chevrolet Impala had turned onto the 5700 block of Old Collinsville Road without its turn signal activated.
The officer then determined that Miles’ license had been suspended, and less than 2.5 grams of marijuana were found in the vehicle after it was towed by police.
Darius was one of the infamous “Jail Blazers” up here in Portland, around the same time Damon Stoudamire was perfecting the genius move of sneaking marijuana wrapped in tinfoil through an airport metal detector and Qyntel Woods was running dog fighting in his home. You know I don’t care that he had less than an eighth in his car, it’s the idea of an NBA player with plenty of money and people that can’t get his driver’s license in order or have someone drive him around that bugs me. (When I was 17 I had my drivers’ license suspended and didn’t get it back until age 19. I didn’t drive one bit in two years, and that was back in Boise, Idaho, which desperately lacks public transportation. If I could tough it out while working minimum wage jobs, going to college, and eating Top Ramen, Darius Miles can find someone to drive his NBA-salaried ass around town.)
If Miles’ car were towed in California, Oregon, Alaska, Nevada, Colorado, Minnesota, Nebraska, Mississippi, North Carolina, New York, Maine, Massachusetts, or Ohio and 2.5g of cannabis were found, he’d only face a ticket. In Missouri, however, he’s facing one year, $1,000 fine, and a criminal record. Whoops! Fairview Heights is just over the border in Illinois, facing 30 days or six months and $1,500 fine and a misdemeanor record.
Former NBA player Corey Blount:
Corie Blount, who played for the Bulls from 1994-95 and again from 2002-04, will spend a year in an Ohio prison after being busted with possession of insane amounts of pot.
Blount was arrested last December after 11 pounds of pot were intercepted being delivered to his grandmother’s house. Another 18 pounds of pot and a stash of cash were found at his home.
So, Corie Blount will essentially be going to prison for possessing 29 pounds of weed. That’s right … 29 pounds … of weed.
“Although Judge Craig Hedric did not sentence Blount to the maximum 10 years in prison, he rejected Blount’s claim that the marijuana was intended for personal use and to share with friends.
“‘Cheech and Chong would have had a hard time smoking that much,’ Hedric told Blount.”
Blount was also fined $10,000, had to surrender two vehicles and more than $30,000 in cash that was seized during the initial bust.
When your name is “Blount”, maybe you ought to be more careful about shipping and storing large quantities of weed.
Now, if you’re thinking “Wow, only 1 year for 29 pounds of weed?!?”, check the Ohio law. Ohio has the greatest amount of personal weed possession decriminalized, up to 100 grams (3.53 ounces) is a minor misdemeanor, no criminal record and a $100 fine. Blount’s possession of 13,154 grams puts him in the 5,000g-20,000g third-degree felony range of 1-5 years and $10,000 fine.
For comparison: if Darius Miles had been pulled over in Ohio, he could’ve had 40 times the marijuana and still paid a $100 ticket. If Corey Blount had been living in Missouri, he’d be facing a possible 7 years in prison instead of one Illinois, he’d be facing 4-15 years, $25,000 fine, if convicted of felony possession, or 12-60 years and $400,000 fine if convicted of felony trafficking across state lines. In Florida, Darius Miles could go to jail for a year and Corey Blount would be considered a felony drug trafficker and get a mandatory minimum of at least three years, plus five years for the possession and $30,000 in fines. Under federal law, should the US attorney wish to prosecute, Miles would face one year and Blount might face five years and a $250,000 fine.
*Interesting trivia (to me): Darius Miles was born in Belleville, Illinois. — “R”R
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Friday, May 8th, 2009 at 12:20 pm | By: Radical Russ
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – The latest Ohio Poll finds that a majority of Ohio voters favor both casino-style gambling and access to medicinal marijuana.
Six in 10 voters surveyed supported legalizing casinos, and 73% agreed that doctors should be able to prescribe marijuana for medical reasons.
The poll also discovered that 61% opposed legalization of marijuana for all adults. Once again, that strange moral dynamic kicks in that says if you’re going to smoke marijuana, you’d better not enjoy it! Somehow, most Ohioans believe that allowing the guy in a wheelchair to smoke a joint is perfectly reasonable, but if he passes that same joint to me, I’m a criminal. I’m far too healthy to be allowed to choose what I put in my own body, I suppose.
I don’t mean to rain on the medical parade. 73% support for medical marijuana is excellent no matter how you slice it. I just find it odd that the same majority that favors my right to blow my money at the craps table opposes my right to blow a reefer in my living room.
Thursday, April 23rd, 2009 at 11:20 am | By: Radical Russ
Thank you for contacting me about your support for H. R. 1009, the Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2007.
As you may know, H.R. 1009 was introduced in the 110th Congress by Representative Ron Paul. The bill would exclude industrial hemp from the definition of marijuana. It was referred to both the House Agriculture Committee and the House Judiciary Committee. H.R. 1009 did not receive a vote in the 110th Congress, however, if this bill is reintroduced in the 111th Congress, I will keep your concerns in mind.
I, like you, share a strong commitment to Ohio family farmers and their ability to produce and thrive. I also agree that we should encourage the production of sustainable and effective materials, provided the product is safe for our communities. It is important to ensure that our farmers are able to produce crops that are good products, good sources of livelihood, and that are safe.
In the meantime, please know that as a former member of the House Agriculture Committee, I fought hard throughout the development of the Farm Bill to make sure that the needs and interests of farmers, ranchers and producers in Ohio were represented. During my Farm Tour last year, I listened to the concerns of our family farmers, and I am confident that the Farm Bill reflected many of their concerns.
Thanks again for taking the time to get involved. Please don’t hesitate to contact me again in the future.
Friday, April 17th, 2009 at 12:20 pm | By: Radical Russ
Mount Vernon, Ohio – A grand jury released an indictment against 45 year old medical marijuana patient Addie J Cyrus. On February 13th, the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, without a warrant, seized marijuana plants weighing 813 grams from Cyrus’ residence in Gambier, Ohio. Cyrus is charged with illegal cultivation of marijuana and possession of marijuana. Her husband, James B. Cyrus, 46, is also charged with possession of marijuana.
Knox county prosecutor, Thatcher, indicated he intends to prosecute Cyrus to the fullest extent of the law. Addie Cyrus is a military veteran and has never even had a traffic ticket. She now suffers some health issues and uses marijuana with her doctors knowledge to help maintain her quality of life.
Her husband, James Cyrus, owns a trucking company and is in danger of losing the family business they have operated for 20 years due to Ohio’s law that takes away your drivers license if convicted of any drug possession.
Last year, the Ohio Patient Network introduced a medical compassion bill that would have protected patients like Addie Cyrus from a prosecutor like Mr. Thatcher, who wants to put non-violent citizens like Cyrus in jail. Addie Cyrus faces at least a year in jail, where the state will have to provide medical care.
Ohio Patient Network is once again working for a Medical Marijuana bill. In the last year’s State Senate hearing on SB343, even Senator Seitz voiced support for the legislation. Senator Seitz from Hamilton County is one of the most conservative and respected State Senators in the Ohio Senate.
Addie Cyrus has retained the legal services of defense attorney Dennis Day. Day is a notable marijuana defense attorney and serves on the NORML Legal Committee.
RevRayGreen: MASS TWEET THIS -@ChuckGrassley Truth is Chuck you follow Nixon's CSA full of reefer sadness. btw Chuck, Marijuana is not a drug.
RevRayGreen: @ChuckGrassley http://bit.ly/55Ejsi Truth is Chuck you follow Nixon's CSA full of reefer madness. btw Chuck, Marijuana is not a drug.
SneakerPimp: one last thing Puff puff pass to any one who wants it
SneakerPimp: i wanna here about the imminent MiniSpof sounds like time for some
SneakerPimp: im estatic and excited for NSL today.
SneakerPimp: mountain time wake n bake
SneakerPimp: oh yea also wake n bake
SneakerPimp: its central im high as a kite everybody
SneakerPimp: ill grab that WUD
WakeUpDead: @Russ, I dont think that wireless is going to work out for the show, it was choppy and studdered just like last week. Hardline may be the only way. Puff [...]
WakeUpDead: A MINI Spof, Lock up your Weed, in 18 years that is. Really Man congrats! Greatest days of my life when my kids were born, hell yeh, great news [...]
BenJaMin: Late night Stash!!!
SneakerPimp: heres a bong rip for spof
RevRayGreen: errr test over....
RevRayGreen: on hold..
RevRayGreen: @RR I'll try and lob a call to you.....
SneakerPimp: where is the first field of cannabis gonna be?
SneakerPimp: !
Radical Russ: Breaking News: MrSpof's wife's water just broke! A MiniSpof is imminent!
SneakerPimp: oh russ its not my fault that i dont understand choppy word:stoned:
SneakerPimp: @Mrspof congratulations tell us all about it tommrow
Radical Russ: OK, test over. Sorry. Only needed a half hour. Be back tomorrow afternoon.
slash5city: don't forget to watch CCS live on u-stream 8 pm west
thaistik: Local Crime Stoppers notice.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Pot shop burglars sought
Crime Stoppers is looking for information on the suspects who police say burglarized a medical marijuana dispensary and stole cash, drugs [...]
Marijuana-Related Health Costs Minimal Compared To Those Of Alcohol, Tobacco; California Medical Association Says Pot Prohibition Is A "Failed Public Health Policy"; Oregon: State NORML Affiliate Opens First 'Cannabis Café'. […]
American Medical Association Calls For Scientific Review Of Marijuana's Prohibitive Status; Dutch Marijuana Use Lower Than European Average, Study Says […]
"Truth In Trials Act" Reintroduced In Congress; Maine: Voters Approve Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Measure; Colorado: Breckenridge Voters Overwhelmingly Decide To End Pot Penalties. […]
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. […]
Seven-year-old’s honesty about basement marijuana means father won’t get to see him grow up
sounds like time for some 
mountain time wake n bake 
don't forget to watch CCS live on u-stream 8 pm west 
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