Bro, we are that shining example, and we shine by more than words. That which we exemplify in our lives becomes a light by which others may see. Of course you cannot force the stubborn to look or to see, but their friends and loved ones will look and see, and sooner or later (generations from now maybe) even they will have to admit what they see on that mountain. It's just a few torches now, but a century ago it was only candles. Before that it was just a reflection of potential in a newborns eyes, and a bare handful of True Believers scattered across the face of the planet.

But for the rabbis and the priests even of the Visible Church, who lead men and women in error and do not themselves have sight, who glorify God in order to glorify themselves, who place themselves on a raised platform over you and me, they are the most to be opposed. For even if they are themselves blind, they are vain too, and pretend to see what they do not so that others will follow them into the thicket of darkness.

I started as a 'cold war soldier' with a top-secret clearance for Nuclear Subs, but escaped that fate into the fleet as a boatswains mate (backbone of the navy they say) and finally in the Naval Hospital. While there I had the fortune of meeting/knowing a few Mekong River 'survivors,' what was left of them.

That's right I was a volunteer, I had been a young republican, helped elect Richard Nixon, and man did I have a rude awakening. Between the Russians in the Mediterranean, and those brothers missing body parts, 1970 and 1971 was a very messed up, but illuminating time for me.

I wasn't in Nam, I didn't get shot at by viet cong, just Americans. They call me a 'Viet Nam era veteran.' The specter of war doesn't haunt my dreams, it haunts my world. But I was there with the spirit of my fellow brothers in arms, and I do know, I have that unwanted knowledge. The shock and horror of war never goes away, and though I might have missed that part, I didn't.

We lost so much in that war I cry almost every day. And now it's the same damn spirit again. True Nobility sacrificed on the alter of false propriety and social vanities. Blood for oil. The Honor of the soldiers who fight and die for these false leaders is never in question in my mind.

Our government on the other hand is a murderous beast that lies and cheats it's own as much as it's 'enemies.'

I do find it hard to believe that a lawyer (if shown the real truth about it all, and then still remained a lawyer-and I'll agree that is the loophole) could be equated any differently than the rich man in the parable of the camel and the eye of the needle.

Anyone can turn their eye towards 'God' at any moment in their life, so it matters not from that moment on what they did before.

It is difficult to speak of the error of ways without persons identifying. Yet if those ways still remain error that fact should not be ignored, and those who may find themselves on the 'wrong side of the dream' need only change their mind with conviction.

Those who passed before they could've known that they were servants of error can only be forgiven. My grandfather was a 'good man' too - just a lowly body and fender man who secretly wanted to play hillbilly music, but his racial attitude was in error.

I don't condone his error, but I do forgive him.

We don't disagree. We may have our own ways of expressing things, like the discussion before on our respective approach to music, and as you said then, "It isn't important (except to the person) how you reach the mountaintop, by wing or careful steps, as long as you reach it." We have slightly different climbing methods, that's all.

Because I want to be respected, I try to extend respect to everyone of good will, even when I think they are wrong, and this includes people in the legal profession. My father is a lawyer but he is a good man, even though there is a lot we disagree on. I grew up understanding how society brainwashes us each in different ways, and I've had to overcome some of my own. I don't view ignorance as evil.

With that having been said, I know there are also people out there who understand the truth and who knowingly choose to selfishly serve themselves even at the expense of harming others, and I do not excuse this. These are the people behind the curtains who profit by warfare, by imprisoning harmless people, by selling false images to keep people from questioning the way things are.

"I think we have a bit of a different outlook on this, God knows my mind and my desires and does not ask for my worship, nor would I feel right in doing so,..." only if by that you mean that I imply anything other than what was written or stated. I'll put the power of faith up against the definition of law any day, every day. The law is for fear mongers and their lackies, call it by any name/category/flavor you choose. Power that does not have to be shoved down unwilling throats by gun-toting centurians, does not come from "rule of law" and that power, the power of faith and belief (I didn't say what in) will, and I stand on the truth of it, prevail.

I have said before that I believe for every eye to see "God" there is a way to see. If we would allow each and every one of us to see God the way that each to our own eyes we perceive, what a beginning to global understanding!

And just for the record should it really matter; I have already tested these truths in 2 different courts of "law" in 2 different states. Both for "posession and cultivation of cannabis."

As long as the false language of interpretive law is in the closed controlling hand of the lawyer creed, the thought and action of "common sense" is superceded by the farce known as "The Rule Of Law." Not "The Golden Rule (measuring rod)," or the "Law (Way) of Love," but the RULE of LAW.

Rule meaning domination and control through use of armed military trained enforcement of law.

Shoot me but I am an American. I saw a few sides of the issue during VietNam, and the facts of the matter are solidly reinforced everyday by the actions words and antics of a government and social/economic hierarchy gone insane.

(In my opinion)Law has absolutely nothing to do with life, common sense, or the nature of things. It's a low-level academic game practiced by the keepers of the status quo, and without the armed thugs forcing it on the world it's nothing but the fearful mouthings of spoiled children who never grew up.

Mostly you're talking about the prosecutors here, not the public defenders. As for the prosecution being at the county level under Oregon state law, that's basically where I don't see a legal argument to appeal on, the CSA is not applicable because this wasn't a federal prosecution. I think it might be possible to make a religious use argument under RFRA, though: see the UDV case currently in the supreme court.

"Never never discount the power of prayer. It may well be the only option for ao many, those of us who can should conscienciously pray for the rest of us."

I think we have a bit of a different outlook on this, God knows my mind and my desires and does not ask for my worship, nor would I feel right in doing so, because God is part of myself and I am a part of God, like you and everyone else. I would rather not speak silently to myself, but say what I think with my family. Divine intervention happens every day, it is so common it is hardly ever recognized as anything special, we do most respect by observing and appreciating this.

"Perhaps we have another option; What is stopping the folks in this forum from sending a barage of letters to Runruff judge? How could it hurt, if they are intelligent expressions of concern fopr justice?"

I don't think it will help Runruff because the judgment is already made and sentence has already been passed. If there were an appeal filed I would think we could help establish a basis for a RFRA claim as I think many of us would sincerely express our faith that cannabis is sacramental.

And these are the ones that eventually become our circuit judges, like the county judge Runruff got stuck with. The yokel DAs too

The high-paid-high powered defence attorneys go into politics or corporate law. It's an exclusive club that should have been banned from the first. Now it is so entrenched we practicly neeed an act of God to extricate them. And I do believe it is coming, so watch out all you smiling fat cats, we will get the last laugh, and I for one will laugh loud enough for you to hear!

Never never discount the power of prayer. It may well be the only option for ao many, those of us who can should conscienciously pray for the rest of us.

The mountain cuts off the town from view, Like a cancer growth is removed by skill. Let it be revealed. A waterfall, his madrigal. An inland sea, his symphony.

Undinal songs Urge the sailors on Till lured by the siren's cry.

Now as the river dissolves in sea, So Neptune has claimed another soul. And so with gods and men The sheep remain inside their pen, Until the Shepherd leads his flock away.

They’ve got no horns and they’ve got no tail They don’t even know of our existence. Am I wrong to believe in a city of gold That lies in the deep distance, he cried

And wept as they led him away to a cage Beast that can talk, read the sign. The creatures they pushed and they prodded his frame And questioned his story again. But soon they grew bored of their prey Beast that can talk? More like a freak or publicity stunt. Oh No.

They’ve got no horns and they’ve got no tail They don’t even know of our existence. Am I wrong to believe in a city of gold That lies in the deep distance, he cried

And broke down the door of the cage and marched on out. He grabbed a creature by the scruff of his neck, pointing out: There, beyond the bounds of you weak imagination Lie the noble towers of my city, bright and gold. Let me take you there, show you a living story Let me show you others such as me Why did I ever leave?

They’ve got no horns and they’ve got no tail They don’t even know of our existence Am I wrong to believe in a city of gold That lies in the deep distance, he cried And wept.

And so we set out with the best and his horns And his crazy description of home. After many days journey we came to a peak Where the beast gazed abroad and cried out. We followed his gaze and we thought that maybe we saw A spire of gold - no, a trick of the eye that’s all, But the beast was gone and a voice was heard:

They’ve got no horns and they’ve got no tail They don’t even know of our existence Am I wrong to believe in a city of gold That lies in the deep distance

An added benefit of that situation is that once they have lowered you enough on the humanity scale...they can feel separated enough from you to feel more elite themselves.

This sort of thing probably made Ashcroft a cool million when he first put it into effect in several other states. Beware, these vultures don't give a damn about the American youth that they are pretending to protect, it is just another scheme to make easy money for their vacations and retirements.

Cam: http://www.dickgilbert.com/eisenhowercdotcam.htm

But it seems the republicans are more often implicated.

Cannabis can be smoked out of Bush's hand; prohibit Him.

Would it have been different if Hitler targeted republicans?

THCU

Snow, snow and more snow;

The bird bath is buried.

I'll take the ice;

I'll take the sicle.

THCU

Here in the HIGH Country, in the last month or more, We have not gone more than 2 days with out reporting snow. This is after 9 drought years...

This site, from Loveland Ski area (see way below), which is over The Eisenhower Memorial Tunnel, (which is located approximately sixty miles west of Denver, Colorado on Interstate 70; the HIGHEST vehicular tunnel in the world

http://www.dot.state.co.us/eisenhower/description.asp),

shows, snow accumulations which are not big but consistant...

(see the cams... http://www.dickgilbert.com/eisenhowercdotcam.htm)

People cool down bong product using this snow; shall We prohibit it?

http://skiloveland.com/snowrep/snowreporthistory.asp

It is certainly incongruous that alcohol prohibition required an amendment to ban manufacture and trafficking, yet drug prohibition only requires an act; and furthermore the CSA bans possession and use in addition to manufacture and trafficking, arguably a liberty issue since possession and use have nothing to do with commerce of any sort.

But with alcohol prohibition, the temperance movement was in full swing, and so many states jumped in on it. States that ratified the amendment were also bound by it, saving them from having to implement their own laws and enforcement. With the CSA, states needed local task forces to take care of drug problems that the federal authorities would not address, since at the time it was outside their jurisdiction. Now, nothing is outside the feds' jurisdiction. So SCOTUS has effectively ruled us into a situation through the CSA that is even worse than what a constitutional amendment gave us with alcohol prohibition, since users are now targets as well, and our taxes are paying for nationwide federal jurisdiction as well as funding redundant local task forces that supplement the long reach of Uncle Sam.

To me this a good analogy to use why the gov. don't want to win the drug war. Just make it a cash cow to fund everything else.

Friends:

The ACLU Drug Law Reform Project will soon file a lawsuit challenging the federal law that denies student aid to people with a drug conviction. If you are--or will be next year--ineligible for student aid due to a drug conviction (or know someone who is) will you please contact the ACLU immediately? Their contact info is as follows: hea@aclu.org; 1-866-4-HEA-FIX.

This is a lawsuit that needs to be filed, and they look forward to hearing from you soon.

Thank you for your help on this important issue.

Sincerely,

I have to say that the extreme cases we see in Society like the all-day stoners, and the Cheech and Chong types, cause a negative perception among the people, but most people understand that these are the extreme cases, and not the norm for most marijuana consumers. Cannabis consumers simply prefer a doobie over a martini after work.

Most recreational consumers don't go to work or school high, they don't get high everyday all-day and they don't operate a motor vehicle or heavy machinery while they're under the influence. In the cases where the consumer is using marijuana excessively, sure they need counseling. Unfortunately, the consumer or his/her family will not seek treatment due to Canabis' illegal status. Use of any substance where it impairs your relationships or productivity is abusive and should be avoided, or at least moderated.

Those that imagine that legalization is not coming down the road are just fooling themselves. The American government has perpetrated a fraud about marijuana on the American Citizen's of this country, and Americans are starting to realize it.

Oh, you still here the same old lines, here's one, "It's Dangerous!" Really? More dangerous than what? Prove it! Where are the sick and dying marijuana consumers. With twenty five million marijuana consumers in America alone, why aren't the hospitals beds filled with sick and dying marijuana users? Where are the morgues filled with dead marijuana consumers? The only thing dangerous about marijuana is the possibility of being arrested, and the fact that you have to deal with a blackmarket. If the product were produced to a specific strength, and regulated for adult use, it would be less dangerous than alcohol.

If you ask anyone about the danger of alcohol on the other hand, the addictions, violence, highway fatalaties, overdoses and deaths are noted everywhere. So of course people know they're being lied to. The GAO even basically said in a report that it was okay for the US Office of National Drug Control Policy to lie to Americans because, It's their job! Unbelieveable!

It seems to me that the arguement should be that the prohibition of any substance, especially a natural one that is so benign, is unconstitutional and should be struck down instead of fighting for MMJ and/or the re-legalization of cannabis. The Commerce Clause allows congress to "regulate" and prohibition is not regulation, that would require a constitutional amendment. Correct me if I'm wrong here folks.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4610998.stm

I'm having too much fun. I've said it before, I'll say it again; it is GOOD to find group of folks who take the truth seriously, and can see that that is not a limited subject by any stretch of the imagination.

Got stuff to do so I leave this link;

http://www.terryhubbard.com/FAM/the_weed_song_jesh.mp3

1930'3 film done with 1920's B&W equipment, directed by some obscure drunk found in the barrio who thought he had a flair for filmoire, and faced with the dificult task of creating believable fiction out of shabby material.

George Orwell would feel his efforts were in vain.

Double-think is the perfect deflection.

but they give wings to a hearts intent,

become the ships to bear the weight of our meaning

***

By E. J. Dionne Jr.

Tuesday, January 17, 2006; Page A17

I underestimated the viciousness of the right wing.

Last November, Rep. John Murtha, a Democrat and a decorated Marine combat veteran, came out for a rapid American withdrawal from Iraq. At the time, I wrote: "It will be difficult for Bush's acolytes to cast Murtha, who has regularly stood up for the military policies of Republican presidents during his 31 years in Congress, as some kind of extreme partisan or hippie protester."

No, the conservative hit squad didn't accuse Murtha of being a hippie. But a crowd that regularly defends President Bush for serving in the Texas Air National Guard instead of going to Vietnam has continued its war on actual Vietnam veterans. An outfit called the Cybercast News Service last week questioned the circumstances surrounding the awarding of two Purple Hearts to Murtha because of wounds he suffered in the Vietnam War.

John Kerry, as well as John McCain -- who faced scurrilous attacks on his war record when he was running against Bush in the 2000 South Carolina primary -- could have warned Murtha: If you're a Vietnam veteran, don't you dare get in the way of George W. Bush.

museman, I keep thinking of something and maybe you can do something with it.

It still seems to me that laws against cannabis boil down to a culture war more than anything else. Yes, pharm money does play a huge part, and that aspect should not be overlooked.

I guess I was just trying to make sure that we also don't lose sight of the cultural argument that continually needs to be made. A pep talk, of sorts.

The medical marijuana debate is one way that we are showing the world that cannabis is not used solely for the purpose of getting high. The Showtime show WEEDS is another show across the prohibitionist bow. Dr. Grinspoon has done an excellent job of fighting the good fight with regard to the culture war, too. We need to continue that fight, and C-News is one very important front that is doing just that.

I suspect that many, if not most, of the people who post here are hard-working, productive, upstanding members of their communities. And, many of those people likely partake in cannabis in one way or another for one reason or another. I have known many people who fit that description, and for the most part those who stand against cannabis seem to have no clue that such people exist.

The drug warriors seem to wear cultural blinders that keep them from seeing the truth: cannabis isn't hurting anyone. Cannabis laws are.

Golden Globe winner MARY LOUISE PARKER has urged the US Government to legalise marijuana, after playing a cannabis-selling mother in her hit comedy WEEDS.

The 41-year-old actress, who won her second Golden Globe for her portrayal of drug-dealing NANCY BOTWIN last night (16JAN06), has been surprised by the public and critical response to the show, and admits she expected her character's controversial job to offend a lot of US TV viewers.

She says, "I'm really in favour of legalising marijuana. I don't think it's that controversial.

"I thought people would be more offended by this than they are. I'm surprised they weren't."

Parker adds she was stunned she beat DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES stars MARCIA CROSS, TERI HATCHER, FELICITY HUFFMAN and EVA LONGORIA to win Best Performance By An Actress In A Television Series - Musical Or Comedy last night.

She adds, "I thought Felicity would win. I think we're all desperate housewives. My character is just a little bit more desperate than theirs."

Oh it is sometimes a burden that causes the warrior inside (trained by the US military during the last war) to wan to rise up and fulfil that oath I made so long ago; "to protect and defend the citizens, and the constitution of the united states from enemies both foreign, and domestic." because my friends the greatest threat the United States has ever known sits confidently entrenched behind the status quo, from the executivce branch to your local sheriff.

Alas the truth has been so misdirected, discredited, humorized, ridiculed, turned completely around ass-backwards, that should that long buried warrior (again; trained by the US) actually come forth - even non-violently, what would historicly be seen as 'patriotism' would now be labeled as 'terrorism.'

Tuesday, January 17, 2006

How-to advice with a hookah burned two Hanover Mall workers caught in an undercover narcotics sting.

Police say a teen working at Spencer’s Gifts sold a cop the water pipe along with instructions on how to best put it to use with pot.

Both the employee and his manager were charged the next day, and 28 hookahs were seized.

"The ruling was a reprimand to former Attorney General John Ashcroft, who in 2001 said that doctor-assisted suicide is not a 'legitimate medical purpose' and that Oregon physicians would be punished for helping people die under the law."

My comment: I wonder why this (roughly the same) bunch on the Supreme Court could not understand that the same logic applies to California's Prop. 215 and other laws like it in eleven other states--laws that allow doctors to recommend and allow medical patients to obtain and use medical marijuana. Clearly, the Attorney General is stepping far outside his area of expertise when he claims to know better than doctors what herb or drug is best for those who have serious illnesses.

Arguably, the reason why many politicians favor a federal ban on medical marijuana is that it poses a threat to pharmaceutical companies' bottom lines. However, doctor-assisted suicide poses a similar (if somewhat lesser) threat to big pharm; that is, allowing doctors to assist with suicide can cause pharmaceutical companies to lose money that otherwise would be spent on pumping somewhat large doses of pharm-controlled opiates into medical patients in order to partially alleviate their pain and suffering.

In other words, it seems to me that there is something other than a straightforward monetary argument at work in the contradictory decisions on medical marijuana and physician-assisted suicide. I think those who cite an ongoing cultural (and, by extension, racial) war against cannabis and against those whom the feds assume use it for whatever reason likely plays, in fact, an even larger role than pharm dollars. Those who want to change the cannabis laws, then, do well to frame the debate as cultural first, monetary second. Many here have, over the years, made impressive logical arguments to that effect, and I applaud all of them.

I would like to encourage those who recognize the cultural (read: bigoted) element of the drug war as a major contributor to its longevity to continue to point out that cannabis is used by a wide range of individuals, some professional, some not, and that any effort by those who favor such laws to define cannabis users as just one thing ("damn dirty hippies," for example) is an "in" for us to challenge common stereotypes and, as a result, turn the tide of this culture war in our favor.

http://scotus.ap.org/scotus/04-623p.zd1.pdf

***

Jim Tarbell is the new vice mayor

Excerpt: In his early adult years - after stints in the fishing and medical fields - he ran a neighborhood youth center, where he once brought the Grateful Dead. In the months between the booking and the show date, the Dead gained a huge following, Tarbell said. The center - a converted vacant church that seated a couple of hundred people - was overwhelmed.

"It was one of the most notorious concerts of all time in this city," he said. "We couldn't handle the crowd. It was nuts."

Tarbell's early career as a rock concert promoter echoes today in the form of an affinity for the vice mayor from many baby boomers.

Ray Jackson, who now owns property near Hyde Park's popular square, approached Tarbell outside the Echo. He recalled a wet outdoor concert Tarbell promoted at the Cincinnati Zoo featuring Grand Funk Railroad.

"I call it Mudfest," Jackson said. "I was 17. We were sliding down the hill."

Tarbell smiled and nodded.

"The sound system came directly from Woodstock," he told Jackson. "It was covered in mud."

Those who knew the Tarbell of the '60s and '70s say they would have never predicted a career in politics for the longest-serving member of City Council.

"He had a long, flaming-red beard and red hair and was just out there," said Jeneene Brengelman, a former Charter Committee director and part of an informal group of artistic friends who Tarbell calls the "Court Street Irregulars." The group gathered for potluck dinners in the 1970s at a warehouse on Court Street downtown.

"We were not anything like politically active," Brengelman said. "We were both just hippies."

She remembers the Ludlow Garage, which Tarbell opened in 1969. A former service station in Clifton, the Garage hosted acts that eventually became superstars, such as the Allman Brothers, Neil Young, Santana, the Kinks, B.B. King and Bo Diddley.

When running the Garage, Tarbell lived in a large house on Dana Avenue in Avondale with about a dozen other people.

"It was a commune," Tarbell said. "A lot of bands stayed there."

In those days, Tarbell admits, he used marijuana and experimented with LSD.

"I had two experiences with LSD," he said. "One was really pleasant. One was a disaster. It was with the Grateful Dead in New York. It was, 'Here, try this.' "

Today, Tarbell says he has mixed feelings about drug use. He believes substance use created a certain creative energy, but he also said it "did enormous damage as well."

"It got so random," he said. "It got out of control and did a lot of damage."

Although he doesn't necessarily promote the legalization of marijuana, he said the issue deserves serious discussion. He opposes street corner dealing, pointing out that liquor is legal but can't be dealt just anywhere. But fighting the widespread use of marijuana is a losing battle, he said.

"The cost to society is enormous, and it doesn't seem to be getting us anywhere," he said. "It's treated more as a crime, and I think it needs to be treated more as a health issue."

While some drug-related crimes deserve jail time, Tarbell said, he thinks education, preventive measures and rehabilitation would produce better results.

And if I hear "blah blah.......sends the wrong message" one more time my head is going to pop.

Let's replace it with "blah blah.....personal responsibility". Sheesh! You'd think I was a republican!

A physician may legally assist me to end my life, but the Ferderal Govt. may put me in prison if I use cannabis to ease my pain before I end my life.

Washington -- The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld Oregon's one-of-a-kind physician-assisted suicide law, rejecting a Bush administration attempt to punish doctors who help terminally ill patients die.

Justices, on a 6-3 vote, said the 1997 Oregon law used to end the lives of more than 200 seriously ill people trumped federal authority to regulate doctors.

Copyright: 2006 Associated Press