Monday, October 5th, 2009 at 2:17 pm | By: Radical Russ
I hope you don’t mind if your Stash is a little early. My beloved Twelve Time World Champion Mighty Green Bay Packers are playing the Vikings on Monday Night Football, and I’m right across the street from a fantastic sports bar where I will enjoy watching my defense go after their quarterback. In case you’re wondering, here’s what the people of Wisconsin think of #4 these days…
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Saturday, October 3rd, 2009 at 4:39 pm | By: Radical Russ
Show 005: Gary Storck, Jim Miller, & Jackie Rickert from Madison, WI; Paul Stanford in Oregon with Jack Herer update.
I hope you’ll join me tonight in the chat room and on the air for NORML SHOW LIVE, coming up at 6pm PT / 9pm ET. I’m streaming from the University Inn on the campus of the University of Wisconsin in room 207. There are young men staying in every room on the floor but me, and if tonight is like last night, they will be yelling and drinking and partying. Should make for an interesting show.
My guests tonight will include Paul Stanford from The Hemp & Cannabis Foundation to give us an update on the health of the Emperor of Hemp, Jack Herer. Paul has been at his bedside at Portland Emanuel Hospital and will squash all the internet rumors about Jack’s condition. You can help by donating to The Jack Herer Fund at ANY US Bank location.
My very special guests on this 39th Annual Great Midwest Harvest Fest edition are Wisconsin activist Gary Storck (http://immly.org), New Jersey activist Jim Miller (http://cmmnj.org), and medical marijuana patient and activist Jackie Rickert, for whom Wisconsin’s medical marijuana bill is named.
Cannabis Karri will bring us the latest news stories and we’ll be taking your calls live at 347-994-1810.
Monday, August 31st, 2009 at 4:08 pm | By: Radical Russ
(Durango Herald News) DENVER – Two doctors are responsible for referring more than a third of the patients on Colorado’s medical-marijuana registry, according to statistics from the state health department.
Of the approximately 10,000 medical-marijuana patients on the state’s registry, 75 percent received their recommendations from one of 15 doctors, whose names weren’t released because of state confidentiality laws, The Denver Post reported in Sunday editions.
“It’s a cause for concern,” said Jim Martin, executive director of the state Department of Public Health and Environment. “At least in any other area like this, we would want to be sure that the physicians are meeting the standards of care.”
Colorado Attorney General John Suthers suggested the state Board of Medical Examiners investigate the doctors recommending medical marijuana the most often.
“The health department can question whether it’s proper medicine to issue hundreds of certifications in one day and perhaps make some referrals to the medical board,” Suthers said, referencing a statement by the state’s chief medical officer during a recent hearing that one doctor signed for 200 patients in a single day.
This is a refrain we hear a lot in Oregon, where we have a similar stat (I think the law enforcement presentation said “ten doctors have made 75% of referrals” here.) The idea here is to scare the public into buying the framing of “medical marijuana is out of control”, “the voters meant medical marijuana for the dying, not ‘healthy people’”, and “medical marijuana is a sham because ‘pot docs’ are giving cards to everyone”.
Most people don’t understand the supply and demand for medical marijuana and doctors. Many well-intentioned physicians still buy into the reefer madness as much as the general public. A doctor who doesn’t think twice about handing out refillable Vicodin prescriptions will often still counsel patients against medical marijuana use. Some doctors know the truth about medical marijuana, but for contractual reasons with their building lease, their practice, their HMO, or their hospital, they are forbidden from recommending “illegal drugs”. So you end up with 10,000 people who can benefit from medical marijuana, but most of their personal physicians won’t recommend, so they go to the THC Foundation* clinic or another medical marijuana specialist. (But 70% of the time that doctor will give you whatever pharmaceutical you ask for that you saw on a TV ad.)
They also don’t understand that in order to get the recommendation, most often two doctors have verified the qualifying condition. First the patient has been visiting his primary care doctor who has made many examinations and written up the condition in chart notes. Then the primary care doctor when asked says, “Oh, no, I won’t recommend marijuana for you – here, use this expensive side-effect-laden hepatoxic pharmaceutical instead!” So the patient gathers up his medical records from his primary doctor and takes them to a clinic like THCF, where a second doctor reviews the chart, performs an exam, and recommends the medicinal use of marijuana.
Medical marijuana is a specialty, like a podiatrist or neurosurgeon, in that most general doctors aren’t educated or qualified in those niche medical sciences. It is not surprising that there would be far fewer doctors in this new specialty than can handle the demand. This is where medical marijuana referral clinics come in to satisfy the demand. Think of it a bit like women’s reproductive health and Planned Parenthood – clinics that perform specialty services that are controversial to the public. Colorado has only eleven clinics where a woman in the second trimester of pregnancy (past 14 weeks) can get an abortion, but we don’t get headlines like “85% of second-trimester abortions are performed by only 11 doctors statewide!” (imaginary stat for illustrative purposes; I don’t know what the real numbers are.)
Finally, in what other situation would 10,000 people getting safe, effective, affordable health care treatment be considered a bad thing? Imagine Paul Stanford had opened a clinic providing health care that provided 10,000 people with flu shots or 10,000 kids with immunizations… I think the headlines would be quite different.
*Full disclosure: THCF is a prime sponsor of this blog and podcast.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Friday, August 14th, 2009 at 8:15 am | By: Radical Russ
The Hemp & Cannabis Foundation
Three events are taking place this weekend that give a glimpse into how far we have come in the fight for the freedom of Hemp and Cannabis. First, this Friday, August 14th marks the 500th episode of the show Cannabis Common Sense (CCS), the show that tells the truth about marijuana and the politics behind its prohibition. Over the years, CCS has featured such guests as Josh Tickell, Filmmaker; Keith Stroup, Founder of NORML; Allen St. Pierre, Executive Director of NORML; Madeline Martinez, Director of Oregon NORML; Russ Belville, NORML Outreach Coordinator; Elvy Musikka, Medical Marijuana Activist; John Trudell, Musician/Activist; Jack Herer, Hemp Activist; Dr. Tod Mikuriya; Dr. Phillip Leveque; Dennis Kucinich, US House of Representatives; Tim Pate, Musician/Activist; and more.
CCS airs Friday nights at 8pm PST live from Portland Community Media in Portland, Oregon (channel 11), also rebroadcast across Oregon, Washington, and Colorado, and brought to you by The Hemp and Cannabis Foundation (also the main sponsor of this weekend’s Seattle Hempfest—hempfest.org) and our political committee Campaign for the Restoration and Regulation of Hemp (CRRH), advocating decriminalization of marijuana for medicinal, industrial, and recreational use. CRRH has developed a legislative model to legally regulate marijuana production and sales to adults called the Cannabis Tax Act.
Second, this weekend marks the 10th Anniversary of The Hemp and Cannabis Foundation (THCF). THCF was founded by Douglas Paul Stanford in August 1999 as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, and is working to teach the truth concerning Hemp and Cannabis as well as helping medical marijuana patients. THCF has several clinics where doctors help patients obtain a permit for medical marijuana. Our goal is to educate people about the medicinal, social and industrial uses for Cannabis in order to restore Hemp cultivation, ease pain for medical marijuana patients and end adult cannabis prohibition.
Tuesday, July 28th, 2009 at 3:07 pm | By: Radical Russ
Oakland-based activists have filed a ballot initiative with the Attorney General that would legalize marijuana in California and allow counties to establish local systems to tax and regulate the plant and its products. Activists have 150 days from filing to gather 434,000 signatures to qualify for the statewide ballot in November 2010. The initiative is being spearheaded by medical marijuana entrepreneur Richard Lee, founder of Oaksterdam University.
Within the last several months, California Assembly Member Tom Ammiano introduced a bill to tax and regulate marijuana like alcohol, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said marijuana legalization should be considered and debated, Oakland voters overwhelmingly adopted an initiative to tax medical marijuana, and for the first time ever in a statewide Field Poll, a majority of California voters – 56 percent – expressed support for legalizing and taxing marijuana. Outside the state, New York Gov. David Paterson joined Schwarzenegger’s call, Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard suggested national policymakers debate marijuana legalization as a way to cripple both Mexican and U.S. gangs, and an ABC News/Washington Post poll found 46 percent of Americans nationwide now favor legalizing small amounts of marijuana for personal use, more than double its level 12 years ago.
The state Board of Equalization concluded that California would generate $1.4 billion dollars in new annual revenue if Assembly Member Ammiano’s bill to tax and regulate marijuana like alcohol (AB 390) were adopted. According to the Attorney General, 74,119 Californians were arrested for marijuana offenses in 2007 (nearly 17,000 under the age of 18). 78 percent of all arrests were misdemeanors. Marijuana arrests in California increased nearly 25 percent since 2005 while arrests for all other controlled substances, and most violent crimes, fell. The Drug Policy Alliance estimates the costs incurred by California’s criminal justice system as a result of current marijuana prohibition laws to be nearly $260 million a year.
Richard Lee’s “Tax Cannabis 2010″ proposal is available online at http://taxcannabis2010.org. There’s another California initiative called “California Cannabis Initiative 2010″, spearheaded by lifetime NORML Legal Committee member Omar Figueroa and Joe Rogoway, available at http://californiacannabisinitiative.org.
Meanwhile, farther north in Oregon, NORML Board Member and Oregon NORML Executive Director Madeline Martinez has filed the Oregon Cannabis Tolerance Act of 2010, a measure to legalize marijuana and distribute it through a state cannabis-store system, not unlike (but separate from) liquor stores, while the THC Foundation’s Paul Stanford has filed the revised Oregon Cannabis Tax Act of 2010 (http://cannabistaxact.org or http://octa2010.org) that seeks a similar solution but also adds specific definitions of hemp industry. Both OCTAs leave the Oregon Medical Marijuana Act intact and preserve the right of citizens to maintain personal non-commercial grows without taxation.
[UPDATE: Madeline's Tolerance Act is actually going to be presented to the Oregon Legislature to be filed as a citizen referendum. Paul's OCTA is going to be presented to the citizens as an initiative. Both are currently gathering the 1,000 signatures necessary to file the measures. I regret the errors. -- "R"R]
Drug Policy Alliance and others admit they’d rather see this sort of push in 2012 when there would be more support. Some feel to push in 2010 is too soon and a loss at the polls will set the movement back. I disagree. I always say, when we’re talking about it, we’re winning. Well, when we’re voting on it, we’re getting exactly what we want – a chance to have our voices heard! I don’t think it is ever too soon or inadvisable to vote for our freedom. The last legalization proposals in Nevada got 39% and 44% of the vote, so I would see any legalization proposal that clears 40% in California and Oregon as a success.
Sunday, June 21st, 2009 at 8:20 am | By: Radical Russ
Hey gang, since the live stream wasn’t up for the last two weeks, I’ve found the last two episodes from the CCS YouTube channel to give you on this Father’s Day. Enjoy!
Friday, June 19th, 2009 at 2:20 pm | By: Radical Russ
Tonight on CCS, you can bet Paul Stanford’s going to talk a bit about being called “King Bong” and a “Legal Pot Pusher” by CNN. You can bet Madeline Martinez will be talking about being interviewed by CNN and opening up the Oregon NORML Cardholders Meeting to CNN, yet not appearing on camera but for one brief flash of the meeting with the implication that it was run by Paul. And I’ll be there playing bass and adding my two cents when necessary.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
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. […]
Stash for Mon, Oct 5, 2009
sounds like time for some 
mountain time wake n bake 
don't forget to watch CCS live on u-stream 8 pm west 
Fresh Stash V RSS Feed
Loading ...
, or can...
