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| NORML's Weekly News Bulletin -- November 3, 2005 |
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Posted by CN Staff on November 03, 2005 at 16:48:37 PT Weekly Press Release Source: NORML 
Gallup: Public Support Grows For Legalizing PotNovember 3, 2005 - Washington, DC, USA Washington, DC: The percentage of Americans favoring the legalization of cannabis has risen more than 33 percent since 1995 and now stands at its all-time highest level of public support, according to polling data published by Gallup this week. Thirty-six percent of respondents said that they favor making the personal use of marijuana legal, up from 25 percent in 1995. Sixty percent of respondents said that they oppose legalizing pot, down from 73 percent a decade ago. When Gallup initially posed the question in 1969, 84 percent of respondents opposed legalizing cannabis. "This latest Gallup poll, coupled with Denver voters this week electing to eliminate all criminal and civil penalties for possession of an ounce of marijuana, demonstrate that a growing number of Americans see the benefit of legalizing cannabis, regardless of whether it is being used as a medicine or for pleasure," said NORML Legal Counsel Keith Stroup. "As we learned with alcohol prohibition 75 years ago, it is far better to tax and regulate the marijuana market than to rely on the enforcement of criminal prohibition." Gallup reported that younger Americans (aged 18 to 29) express the strongest support for marijuana law reform, with 47 percent endorsing pot's legalization. Support for liberalizing the nation's marijuana laws remains much lower among adults aged 30 to 64 (35 percent) and those aged 65 and older (22 percent). The poll also noted that men (39 percent) are more likely than women (30 percent) to support legalizing cannabis, and that nearly half of citizens residing in Western states back legalization. Support for legalization remains lower than the national average among Republican voters (21%), Gallup found. Among Democrats, 37 percent favor legalization, as do 44 percent of Independents. A previous poll conducted by CNN and Time Magazine in 2002 found that 34 percent of Americans backed legalizing marijuana, up from only 18 percent in 1986. Nearly 75 percent of those age 45 and older support the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes regardless of party affiliation, according to a 2004 national poll of 1,706 Americans conducted for the AARP. For more information, please contact Paul Armentano, NORML Senior Policy Analyst, at (202) 483-5500. Full Results of the Gallup poll are available online at: http://www.csdp.org/research/gallup_marijuana_2005.pdf DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6717 California Policy Opens Door For Taxing Sellers Of Medical Cannabis November 3, 2005 - Sacramento, CA, USA Sacramento, CA: Provisions passed last week by the state Board of Equalization requires medical cannabis dispensaries registered with the agency to pay a sales tax on their merchandise. The measure seeks to regulate the state's dozens of dispensaries in the same manner as other commercial establishments. Under the new policy, businesses may apply with the Board for a sellers permit without indicating whether their merchandise is "unlawful" to sell. NORML Legal Counsel Keith Stroup said that the Board's decision demonstrates that "medical cannabis providers are viewed by lawmakers as an inherent part of the state's economy. These dispensaries ought to be treated under state law like any other business, and medical cannabis ought to be treated in the same manner as any other legal commodity." Currently, only a handful of state dispensaries are registered with the Board, but more are expected to do so in light of the new policy. For more information, please contact Keith Stroup, NORML Legal Counsel, at (202) 483-5500. DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6719 Cannabinoids May Offer Cancer Hope November 3, 2005 - Jerusalem, Israel Jerusalem, Israel: Cannabinoids have antiproliferative effects on cancer cells and may one day represent a new class of anti-cancer drugs, according to a scientific review published in the October issue of the journal Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry. The administration of cannabinoids and endocannabinoids - particularly in larger concentrations - have been shown to inhibit cancer cell growth in rodents and in human cell lines, including the inhibition of lung carcinoma, glioma (brain tumors), lymphoma/leukemia, skin carcinoma, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, and breast cancer, the review found. It noted that cannabinoids, including the non-psychotropic cannabinoid CBD (cannabidiol), appear particularly capable of killing glioma cells by causing apoptosis (programmed cell death). Glioma brain tumors are an aggressive, lethal form of brain cancer that is typically unresponsive to traditional cancer treatments. "Cannabinoids possess some anticancer activity [and may] possibly represent a new class of anti-cancer drugs that retard cancer growth, inhibit angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels), and the metastatic spreading of cancer cells," the review concluded. For more information, please contact Paul Armentano, NORML Senior Policy Analyst, at (202) 483-5500. Full text of the study, "Cannabinoids and cancer," appears in the October issue of Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry. DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6718 Join NORML For The 22nd Annual Key West Legal Seminar November 3, 2005 - Washington, DC, USA Washington, DC: NORML's 22nd annual Key West Legal Seminar is only four weeks away. NORML is still accepting registrations from criminal defense attorneys to attend this year's event, which will be held from Thursday, December 1 through Saturday, December 3 at the Pier House Resort and Caribbean Spa in Key West. Topics to be covered at this year's conference include: the implications of the Raich decision on the medical use of cannabis; automobile stops and racial profiling; how to defend a medical marijuana case; the ins and outs of DUID laws; cross examining police experts in cannabis cultivation cases; and many more. Conference agenda and speaker bios are available online at: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=5679 NORML's annual legal seminar, now in its 22nd year, is fully accredited in every state that requires continuing legal education (CLE) for attorneys. For more details, or to register for the conference online, please visit our website at -- http://www.norml.org/ -- or contact Kris Krane of NORML at (202) 483-5500. DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6720 Denver Votes To Abolish Pot Penalties November 2, 2005 - Denver, CO, USA Denver, CO: Denver voters yesterday approved a city-wide measure to eliminate all civil and criminal penalties for the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana by citizens age 21 and older. Fifty-four percent of voters decided in favor of I-100: the Alcohol-Marijuana Equalization Initiative. Campaign proponents, SAFER (Safer Alternative For Enjoyable Recreation), argued that local laws should treat the private adult use and possession of marijuana in a manner similar to the private adult use and possession of alcohol, and that its use by adults should not be subject to criminal penalties. "While cannabis is not harmless, its potential risks to the user and to society do not warrant the blanket imposition of criminal prohibition any more than alcohol's relative risks justify re-instituting alcohol prohibition," said NORML Executive Director Allen St. Pierre. "Yesterday's vote illustrates that most Americans do not support arresting 750,000 Americans a year for minor marijuana offenses, and that they would prefer that society address cannabis in a manner similar to alcohol." Last fall, voters in Oakland, California approved a similar ballot initiative that sought to "tax and regulate the sale of cannabis for adult use." Next week, voters in Ferndale, Michigan will decide on Proposal D, which seeks to "exempt" patients from local criminal penalties if they use medical cannabis under a physician's supervision. Traverse City, Michigan voters will decide on Proposal 3, which would require police to make the prosecution of medical cannabis patients the town's "lowest law enforcement priority." A Telluride, Colorado municipal proposal (Question 200) that sought to make "the investigation, arrest, and prosecution of marijuana offenses ... the town's lowest law enforcement priority" failed yesterday by 24 votes. For more information, please contact either Allen St. Pierre, NORML Executive Director, or Paul Armentano, NORML Senior Policy Analyst, at (202) 483-5500. Additional information is available online at NORML's Video Blog at: http://www.normltv.blogspot.com/ DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6714 Source: NORML Foundation (DC) CannabisNews NORML Archives Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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| Comment #21 posted by FoM on November 04, 2005 at 08:35:54 PT |
| Thank you. We are going to work on our front porch today. We have little rub spots on the stone work we did and we are going to touch it up on this beautiful fall day. The leaves are brillant colors and the air smells so fresh! [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #20 posted by Max Flowers on November 04, 2005 at 08:25:14 PT |
| Take a break, you more than deserve it! cheers, MF [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #19 posted by FoM on November 04, 2005 at 08:18:59 PT |
| I was so tired that I got up late and saw my husband's comment and it made me blush. I believe that a couple that works together and are best friends like we are makes life so much easier. That is the main reason I can stay in a good mood most of the time. The antis that read CNews probably think I'm just stoned out of my mind! LOL! [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #18 posted by Hope on November 04, 2005 at 07:57:16 PT |
| Thank you for all you do and thank you, Stick, for being so loving and supporting to her. Thank you both. Happy Birthday and many, many more! [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #17 posted by runruff on November 04, 2005 at 07:27:29 PT:
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| Happy birthday, Sticks baby. Hope to have you [both] around for a long time to come. Today is my wifes mothers birthday also. My sister is the 8th. Namaste [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #16 posted by Stick on November 04, 2005 at 06:52:34 PT |
| Some comments. FoM was up late again with Conan, so heres a little suprise for her. So many hits yesterday, new record, you people are just too much. Thanks to all our friends and neighbors at C news. A HATS OFF to Mr.R.B. [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #15 posted by runruff on November 04, 2005 at 06:46:47 PT:
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| I am giddy and all a flutter. Imagine all this and in
my lifetime. Hey Johnny, you got a lot o' splannin' to do! [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #14 posted by mayan on November 04, 2005 at 04:33:56 PT |
| Smoke pot to deal with pregnant nausea: study
http://www.mytelus.com/news/article.do?pageID=bc_home&articleID=2075872 Marc-Boris St-Maurice appeals conviction for simple possession: http://www.ccnmatthews.com/news/releases/show.jsp?action=showRelease&actionFor=565913&searchText=false&showText=all THE WORLD'S WATCHING: http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_4211776,00.html [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #13 posted by Jim Lunsford on November 04, 2005 at 04:23:27 PT |
| The repeal of prohibition is now inevitable. This is not just an optimistic pie-in-the-sky belief; it is the force of democracy in action. The question remains to be answered: How shall our actions help to create a better world? It is not enough to just repeal prohibition. There should be safeguards in our system, which would prevent such an occurrence from taking away from the abilities of our citizens to practice their own "pursuit of happiness.” The GAO results in Ohio prove that technology not only offers us many benefits for the end of censorship, it also demands a responsible citizenry. Otherwise, we will just see the war on us continued in some other format, such as the meth scare. We have an opportunity and a duty as citizens, to find this middle ground of politics. While the tyranny of the few is deplorable, the tyranny of the many is just as deplorable. Our government is in the midst of a whirlwind of change. It is peaceful now, but these allegations of corruption could inflame a population into unprecedented violence. It begs the question, “How would you envision your country?” We have the opportunity to apply the benefits of Cannabis into every aspect of our lives in the near future, but what will we do with this opportunity? I hope that we will change our government into a force, which will be more concerned with the eradication of the root causes of poverty, war, and ignorance. However, this will require a vigilant citizenry. One that is both educated and open to the introduction of complex social ideas. Ideas that are difficult to convey to a public trained to respond only to the briefest of messages. Personally, I find the notion of pure capitalism to be a root cause in itself. It nurtures the selfish nature of humanity, rather than the better angels of ourselves. Maybe, just maybe, these changes will result in a new sense of social success. One that doesn’t require money centered self worth. Perhaps, the idea of serving others (or higher causes) will lay the foundation for our new sense of societal success. Rev Jim Lunsford First Cannabist Church Our Doctrine: To love God through all his creations and to demonstrate this love by helping our neighbors. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #12 posted by billos on November 04, 2005 at 04:10:22 PT |
| Someone should E-mail Jonny Pee this article. It's fantastic! I wonder how the U.S. will try to force Israel to squelch this info. Let's see.... DEA cuts off annual Foreign Aid funds.. Bush censures Israel.. DEA said to have swastikas painted on Israel's foreign ambassador's office.. Cheney diverts foreign funds to Palestine.. Rumsfeld befriends Iranian leader.. Perhaps the gods of Karma will allow all of them to develop cancer ((not that I wish it :>) ))and the last words they ever hear is, "Gee, the only cure for your disease isn't available because of prohibition." [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #11 posted by mayan on November 04, 2005 at 03:42:21 PT |
| FoM, it's now widely accepted that Bush is an illegitimate President. The facts are all in and your state was indeed stolen. Things just keep getting worse for the neo-cons... The Gun is Smoking: Ohio Exit Poll Data Provides Virtually Irrefutable Evidence of Vote Miscount: http://www.opednews.com/articles/genera_the_nati_051102_the_gun_is_smoking__.htm GAO report upholds Ohio vote fraud claims: http://www.rockrivertimes.com/index.pl?cmd=viewstory&cat=2&id=11529 [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #10 posted by mayan on November 04, 2005 at 03:01:34 PT |
| Here's another good one from Jefferson... "Were we directed from Washington when to sow, and when to reap, we should soon want bread." Those words are more relevant than ever. More good news... Silver City, Nevada Although a very small town, Silver City is the latest of the 398 towns,cities,municipalities or states that have passed resolutions critical of the Patriot Act... http://www.bordc.org/detail.php?id=721 http://www.ncdpa.org/press.htm#silver Bill of Rights Defense Committee: http://www.bordc.org/ [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #9 posted by b4daylight on November 03, 2005 at 21:25:20 PT |
| Vancouver Adopts Plan Calling For An End To Prohibition
by CC Staff (03 Nov, 2005) BCMP Urges Immediate Moves Toward Regulated Cannabis Distribution Vancouver City Hall Vancouver City Hall Today the Vancouver City Council unanimously adopted “Preventing Harm From Psychoactive Substance Use,” a plan that, among other things, calls for an end to prohibition and the regulated distribution of cannabis. Kirk Tousaw, general counsel to the British Columbia Marijuana Party, was on hand to speak to Council about the plan and to unveil a proposed bylaw that would establish performance standards for retail cannabis establishments. The Vancouver Plan The prevention plan covers a wide range of substances. It includes recommendations on legal and currently-illegal substances. Importantly, the plan represents a major push forward on one of Vancouver’s “Four Pillars” of drug policy: prevention. Worthy of note is that the plan’s definition of prevention deems it to be preventing harm, not simply preventing use. In fact, the plan recognizes the human reality that: “Substance use occurs along a spectrum from beneficial, to non-problematic or casual use, through to problematic or harmful use.” The concept of a spectrum of use is one key part of the underlying philosophy of the plan. Another is the recognition that regulated markets are an essential part of preventing harm to our society. According to the Vancouver Plan: “The intent of creating regulated markets for currently illegal substances is to better control their public availability. Regulated markets support the idea that ‘No drug is made safer left in the hands of organized criminals and unregulated dealers.’(Transform, 2005).” The Vancouver Plan also recognizes the prohibition has failed: “The results of alcohol prohibition and the current pervasiveness of drug-related harm demonstrate that prohibition has little control over the production, supply and use of illegal substances. There is no indication that prohibition reduces the prevalence or incidence of drug use, decreases drug traffic or stops the production of illegal substances.” Because of this failure, the plan sets out a new category of harm, calling it “policy-related harm.” This is what activists have been calling “prohibition-related harm” for years. The Vancouver Plan breaks policy-related harm into four distinct types: (1) creation of crime; (2) a criminal justice system crisis; (3) wasted resources and lost tax dollars; (4) the undermining of public health and maximization of social harm. This recognition by a major Canadian city represents an important step forward in the path to progressive drug policy reform. Specifically in the area of cannabis policy, the Vancouver Plan endorses major policy change (at the end of the article you can find a link to the plan itself): Vancouver mayor Larry Campbell and former mayor Philip Owen Vancouver mayor Larry Campbell and former mayor Philip Owen Recommendation: That the Federal Government implement further legislative changes to create a legal regulatory framework for cannabis in order to enable municipalities to develop comprehensive cannabis strategies that promote public health objectives, include appropriate regulatory controls for cannabis related products, and support the development of public education approaches to cannabis use and related harm based on best evidence. (emphasis added) In other words, the City of Vancouver believes that cannabis should be grown, sold and consumed in a legal environment. BCMP Responds to the Vancouver Plan The BCMP endorses the Vancouver Plan and its recommendations. For too long we have seen our society suffer at the hands of the drug warriors. We are now at a turning point and Vancouver is leading Canadian cities and towns toward a better future. Kirk Tousaw spoke to the Vancouver City Council about the plan. “I told the Council that the plan represented a transformative vision and applauded the City for moving in the right direction,” said Tousaw. “I had to point out, though, that the tragic irony of cannabis policy is that one of Vancouver’s four pillars – enforcement – has been recognized as the primary contributor to the harm associated with the plant. The Le Dain Commission recognized this in 1972 and the Senate, thirty years later, re-emphasized it. Because of this, I told the City that it should not wait for Ottawa to reform the law but should, instead, begin to take action to bring its transformative vision into the concrete world of the here and now.” Tousaw described a draft bylaw to the Council. Drafted by Tousaw in connection with Don Briere’s bid for city council, the bylaw sets up ten performance standards for cannabis retail establishments. “I told Council that the bylaw had standards that everyone would agree are important: no selling to minors, no sales of “hard” drugs, odor control, security, basically the things that you would in any business. I also included a requirement that cannabis establishments be good neighbors by providing 24 hour contact information to other businesses in the area.” The bylaw would achieve its goals by emulating a Seattle, Washington city ordinance. “City council has no jurisdiction to change the law,” continued Tousaw, “but the City does set the police budget and the Mayor, as chair of the Vancouver Police Board, has the ability to influence police priorities. The proposal, then, would be that the enforcement of cannabis-related offences at an establishment meeting the performance criteria would be the lowest police priority in Vancouver.” Briere, a BCMP candidate in the last provincial election, also spoke to the Council. He told of his time in jail as a victim of prohibition, and the other men he met inside who were also casualties of the drug war. According to Briere, cannabis was available in prison at the rate of $100 per gram. In conclusion, he thanked the City for taking steps in the right direction. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #8 posted by potpal on November 03, 2005 at 21:02:38 PT |
| http://www.cicweb.ca/Israel21century/health/cannabis.cfm [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #7 posted by siege on November 03, 2005 at 19:49:27 PT |
| "Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established, should not be changed for light and transient causes; and, accordingly, all experience [has] shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But, when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce [the people] under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security." "Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God." [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #6 posted by Jim Lunsford on November 03, 2005 at 19:30:51 PT |
| The spirit of Jefferson is irrevocably linked to the Declaration of Independence. Something that many people would rather we not read at all. But, I believe that Denver also proves that we are not alone. We all have different reasons, but it is an amazingly common cause. Thanks to everyone for all. Jim Rev Jim Lunsford First Cannabist Church Chaos: Necessary for growth [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #5 posted by runruff on November 03, 2005 at 19:22:16 PT:
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| If people let government decide what foods they eat and what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in
as sorry a state as the souls of those who live under tyranny. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #4 posted by FoM on November 03, 2005 at 18:47:14 PT |
| Glad you liked it. I thought it was funny too. Jim I don't have any idea but maybe someone knows. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #3 posted by Jim Lunsford on November 03, 2005 at 18:41:03 PT |
| Does anyone remember the quote about Jefferson when he covered something like, any government that controls what you eat, and I don't remember enough of the rest to help. I would like to use it in a letter to the editor concerning the spirit of Jefferson living on in Denver. Thanks, Jim Rev Jim Lunsford First Cannabist Church Prison- an indictment of both citizen and state [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #2 posted by Toker00 on November 03, 2005 at 18:40:41 PT |
| aha, aha, now THAT is funny!!! Thanks FoM!!! Haaaawwwwwhhhaawwwhheeeee!!!!!!!!! Chris Rock Rocks! Wage peace on war. END CANNABIS PROHIBITION NOW! [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #1 posted by FoM on November 03, 2005 at 17:10:39 PT |
| A little comic relief. Avoid Police Beating Video With Chris Rock http://www.medpot.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=28045 [ Post Comment ] |
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