Pedaling for Pot |
Posted by CN Staff on May 21, 2006 at 21:37:49 PT By Grigs Crawford, Colorado Daily Staff Source: Colorado Daily Colorado -- Bicycling members of Americans for Safe Access (ASA) will be blazing through the Boulder area today in part of their Journey for Justice, advocating the right of patients and doctors to use medical marijuana. The group left Folly Beach, South Carolina on April 7, hoping to smoke across the country and reach San Francisco on June 1. “We want to see legislation pass where medical marijuana is no longer illegal,” said Mark Pedersen, ASA's traveling coordinator. Over the phone while heading west on Highway 24 through Kansas last Friday, Pedersen added, “We're proving we're not going to quit until this becomes a blatant public issue.” The goal after reaching California is to have enough finances to go back to Washington and lobby for pro-medical marijuana legislation. “We've gotten a number of endorsements from lawmakers,” said Pedersen, not discussing specific names. “Some have done so much as to invite us into their homes.” On their ride, ASA is following with a petition truck, collecting thousands of signatures of support. At points along the way, the travelers have stayed at camp sites, met with local chapters of supportive groups, video-interviewed different patients and gained endorsements from lawmakers. “Through five and a half states, law enforcement people have been in full support and signed our vehicle,” said Pedersen. Pedersen is driving the truck with food and supplies. Riding alongside is Ken Locke, a fellow medical patient who began using marijuana to prevent seizures caused by a head injury. Pedersen uses marijuana to ease migraines. “We know we're putting our health in jeopardy by making this trip,” said Pedersen. Since it would be illegal to take their medical supplies with them, the riders have other people bringing them marijuana. The group has already been raided once unsuccessfully by police and drug-sniffing dogs in Kansas. The toughest stretch so far on the journey was running out of money in Topeka. With the help of individuals pulling money together, they were able to continue down the road and spread their message. “We want our chronically ill not to be persecuted. They are being stripped of the only medication that helps,” said Pedersen. “People are saying ‘Hell yes, this legislation should have passed a long time ago.'” Bo Shaffer, treasurer of the Boulder chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), will be hosting the riders at his Boulder County home for part of their eight-day stay in Colorado. “We're sending a message to lawmakers,” said Shaffer, who is also a Libertarian candidate for sheriff. “Let's get away from calling this an illegal drug. Let's call it what it really is-a medicine.” Amendment 20-which passed on the ballot in November of 2000-legalized medical marijuana in Colorado. But Shaffer still sees the current process as inefficient. “It's in limbo in a way. On the advice of a doctor you can go to the state and they will issue a certificate; but what is someone supposed to do past that?” said Shaffer. “To a certain extent, it's quasi-illegal.” As for legalizing marijuana for recreational use, Shaffer said we need to legalize drugs and let people take responsibility, like with alcohol. “It's not the government's job to determine what you put in your body,” said Shaffer. Boulder Sheriff Joe Pelle said he is personally opposed to medical marijuana, but was unaware of ASA's travel through Boulder and had no comment on the bicycle ride itself. “I know that medical marijuana is allowed in the state of Colorado,” said Steve Prentup, director of the Boulder County Drug Task Force. “So be it. I don't know what their purpose is.” Contact Grigs Crawford in regard to this story at (303) 443-6272, ext. 113, or at: editor@coloradodaily.com Source: Colorado Daily (UC Edu, CO) Americans For Safe Access Boulder NORML CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archives Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
Comment #2 posted by FoM on May 22, 2006 at 08:01:24 PT |
I have to remove your post because I checked and this is one of the papers that I must snip. I'm sorry. It's best just to post a lead in and link and that is always ok. [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #1 posted by Rainbow on May 22, 2006 at 06:52:51 PT |
from the Pensacola news Journal Published - May, 22, 2006 Task force arrests reflect unrelenting war on drugs Two major drug busts within the past two months in the area reflect two certainties: cocaine trafficking and consumption still abound, and law enforcement officers working hard to rein in on the activity continue to need the public's support. Both police operations -- one that went down in early April in Pensacola, and the other that took place last week in Milton -- involved task forces composed of multiple local, county and state law enforcement agencies. And each resulted in the impoundment at least $100,000 in drugs, guns and cash. The two law enforcement actions, coupled with local and state drug-education programs aimed at school-age youngsters, provide exactly the kind of two-pronged approach the Pensacola Bay Area needs to show that officials and the law-abiding public mean business when it comes to no tolerance for drug abusers. Unfortunately, the downside of enforcing drug laws is the immense cost. To be successful, anti-drug task force operations consume many man hours and much expense -- diverting tax dollars away from other needs in the community, such as health care for the indigent, housing assistance, job-training programs and rehabilitation efforts for those who get hooked on illegal drugs in the first place. Moreover, the investigation and resulting arrests constitute only part of the expense of carrying out this war. The costs of adjudication, sentencing and imprisonment follow. The upside of policing drug activities is that the arrests of the suspects involved often cut down on other criminal activities such as assault, burglary, transportation of stolen property, gang activity, even rape and -- as suspected in the Santa Rosa bust -- drive-by shootings. The continuing war against drug abuse is formidable. Studies by the National Institute on Drug Abuse indicate that in 2004, the most recent year for which statistics have been compiled, more than 34 million Americans age 12 or older had used cocaine alone. Results of a 2005 study by the institute showed that cocaine use among youngsters appears to have leveled off. But still, an estimated 8 percent of all U.S. high school seniors had experienced cocaine, while 4 percent had used crack cocaine (named for the sound its crystals make when heated). Progress in the war could come faster if more people stepped forward to steer police toward criminal drug activity. However, most people don't want to "get involved" because snitches could face repercussions from the drug abusers and the abusers' friends -- or because the abusers are family members, and family "loyalty" trumps everything else. Those contribute to the reasons it costs so much to pursue and prosecute those in the drug trade. The men and women who put on badges and bring drug suspects to justice have earned public commendation. And today's reality is: The battle against illicit drugs likely will never end, as long as there is a criminal element among us. But the vast population of law-abiding citizens is grateful to those who take an oath and risk life and limb to keep society honest. [ Post Comment ] |
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