County Joins Pot-Fighting Lawsuit |
Posted by CN Staff on August 26, 2006 at 08:52:50 PT By Chris Collins Source: Merced Sun-Star California -- Merced County is gearing up for a smoking showdown with civil rights groups that could determine the future of state medical marijuana laws. The county is expected to file legal papers on Friday that will join San Diego and San Bernardino counties in arguing that federal laws banning marijuana supersede any state laws allowing the use of the drug. The Merced County Counsel's Office joined the legal battle three months ago in an effort to overturn Proposition 215, the 1996 measure that allows Californians to use marijuana for medicinal purposes. But most members of the county Board of Supervisors say they want the marijuana laws clarified, but don't want to see the drug completely banned. They were hard-pressed to explain why they all voted to join a lawsuit that would prohibit any marijuana use, even for medicinal purposes. "I don't know," said Supervisor Kathleen Crookham. "I would assume we're involved because so many people raised the issue." Supervisor Jerry O'Banion said he didn't think the county was taking a stance on the issue. "I don't look at it as we're siding on someone's side," he said. But Merced County's attorneys argue in a complaint filed in San Diego Superior Court that Proposition 215 "is invalid as a matter of law." Supervisor Mike Nelson, who is the only member of the board who said he is opposed to the use of medical marijuana, said the supervisors voted to join the lawsuit after Merced resident Grant Wilson repeatedly showed up to board meetings earlier this year. At each meeting, Wilson asked supervisors to vote on whether the county should issue identification cards for people who were prescribed medical marijuana, as ordered by the Legislature in 2003. Merced County and most other California counties have not set up an identification system yet, saying it would cause too much confusion for health and law enforcement officials. Nelson, who is the chairman of the board, denied Wilson's requests each time. Instead, Nelson voted to join the lawsuit. "Mr. Wilson has continually come asking for some determination," he said. "So to help him along, we're asking for a determination." The lawsuit would have gone on without Merced County's participation however, and the court would have eventually reached a ruling that would clarify which marijuana laws should prevail. Asked if the county could have waited for the lawsuit to play out instead of devoting staff time to the effort, Nelson replied, "Perhaps." Wilson could not be reached for comment Friday. In a letter he sent to Nelson in July, he said he felt "misled and deceived" by the board's decision to join the lawsuit. Supervisor Deidre Kelsey, who said she supports the right for patients to be prescribed marijuana, said she voted for the county to join the lawsuit that would eliminate that right because the county's participation would give local officials some say in how the legal battle is resolved if the case is settled. "It gives us an opportunity to give our input at the table if there's an opportunity for negotiations," Kelsey said. Supervisor John Pedrozo could not be reached for comment Friday. Deputy Counsel Walter Wall, who is assigned to argue against Proposition 215 for Merced County, provided basic details about the marijuana lawsuit, but declined to comment on why the county decided to join the legal effort. San Diego County supervisors voted 3-2 last November to file suit against the state to overturn Proposition 215. The lawsuit also seeks to eliminate the 2003 law passed by the Legislature that requires identification cards for marijuana users. San Bernardino County joined the legal battle in January and Merced County jumped in five months later. No other counties have joined the lawsuit. The counties' opposition has mounted in recent weeks. A judge ruled Aug. 5 that the American Civil Liberties Union, the Drug Policy Alliance and Americans for Safe Access could join the fight against the three counties. Another group, called Safe Access Now, rallied marijuana-rights supporters in Merced County in May after supervisors voted to join the lawsuit. A half dozen locals and Aaron Smith, a Safe Access Now lobbyist, called on county officials to drop the legal effort because they said other courts have already backed the legality of Proposition 215. "It would be a great misappropriation of Merced County's limited resources to entangle itself in this costly lawsuit," Smith said in a statement released at that time. Note: Taking a stance against medical marijuana. Source: Merced Sun-Star (CA) Related Articles & Web Sites: Drug Policy Alliance Americans For Safe Access Ruling Lets ACLU, Others Join Suit Patients Get OK To Oppose MMJ Challenge Get The Pot To The Patients Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
Comment #22 posted by FoM on August 26, 2006 at 12:53:34 PT |
I take what you're saying is if God be for us who can be against us. That's could really scare them. [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #21 posted by global_warming on August 26, 2006 at 12:50:58 PT |
Is this not the same old prohibitions lead line? Fear and Destruction if you touch this thing, that thing is your soul, if you are having trouble understanding your soul, you are not alone, your soul is a part of the world, the stars and Eternity is your playground, forever. [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #20 posted by museman on August 26, 2006 at 12:48:13 PT |
"If you don't like the laws change them. That's how a democracy works. Everytime we do it the way they said they turn around and fight us. What's that? When can we win in anything we do if it is against the powers that be?" It's 'their' game, and the only way to get on the board is to serve something other than what your natural intuitive being KNOWS IS WRONG! When the 'Archangel Michael was wrestling with Satan, Satan hurled all manner of accusation at him. Michael said "May YHWH rebuke you." for he dared not enter into accusation.' When you 'play their game' you have already lost that which you originally sought in the first place. They do not want us to know the kind of power that we have inherent within us. Why else would so much effort over thousands and thousands of years have been made to 'establish' and perpetuate the power elite, while striving mightily to reinforce the general ignorance? The solution is in us, it lacks only our collective faith and belief to become real. [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #19 posted by FoM on August 26, 2006 at 12:33:56 PT |
I don't mind you posting it. I'm confused about stop the drug war you mentioned. Aren't they on our side? [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #18 posted by global_warming on August 26, 2006 at 12:32:14 PT |
"be bold enough to proclaim it" Proclaim it until the stars stop twinkling [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #17 posted by hempity on August 26, 2006 at 12:29:54 PT |
FoM I really wanted you to see this, it is being removed from sites like stopthedrugwar.com and the washington post as we speak. Guess the DEAd guys don't like having their covers pulled. DEA Exhibit Linking Drugs and Terrorism Criticized August 14, 2006 http://www.jointogether.org/news/headlines/inthenews/2006/dea-exhibit-linking-drugs-and.html or http://tinyurl.com/lusj9 A traveling exhibit from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) juxtaposes War on Drugs images with those of Sept. 11 and Osama bin Laden in making the argument that the drug war and terrorism are intertwined, the Washington Post reported Aug. 12. The exhibit, dubbed, "Target America: Opening Eyes to the Damage Drugs Cause" and currently at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry, has drawn protesters from the group Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP), who say it is the drug war itself that fuels the enormous profits that supports terrorists. "If we taxed and regulated drugs, terrorists wouldn't have drugs as a source of profit," said SSDP president Tom Angell. In Chicago, home of Al Capone, some made the point that the federal government has forgotten the lessons of Prohibition. But DEA spokesman Steve Robertson said, "People say if we didn't have [drug] laws there wouldn't be a problem, but there was a problem before and that's why laws were established." History teacher Jeanne Barr said she plans to bring her high-school class to the exhibit. "We'll look for possible omissions and oversimplifications," she said. "They don't pin any blame on the prohibition of drugs. But from my understanding of history, the major source of the black market is prohibition. I don't think there's any difference between alcohol prohibition and what we're looking at today." Despite the linkages the exhibit makes between drugs and 9/11, there's little evidence that al Qaida was funded with drug money. "I don't think we're saying 9/11 was caused by drug financing," said DEA public-affairs director Garrison Courtney. "But we're saying there is a link between drugs and terror, and September 11 is a poignant example of terrorism. Terrorists don't hold bake sales to raise money." Included in the exhibit is a mockup of a heroin-processing lab from Afghanistan, but the DEA doesn't mention that the former Taliban government ardently opposed heroin production and nearly wiped it out in Afghanistan. "The Taliban said they had a moratorium on the production of opium poppies, but they were taxing the farmers who were doing it anyway," said DEA agent David Lorino. The DEA also claims that the 2004 Madrid train bombings were financed with drug money. The exhibit opened on Sept. 11, 2003, and has been traveling around the country since. [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #16 posted by global_warming on August 26, 2006 at 12:24:25 PT |
It comes from the stars, it is invisible, It can fill our hearts and minds It can transport our souls [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #15 posted by museman on August 26, 2006 at 12:21:29 PT |
"why have you been wasting yourself as a musician, you are a good teacher, Hallelujah, you have found the root, and it is covered with blood." Was it wasted? I think it was the 'blood' that caused me to be somewhat circumspect in my conversations with the world. We live in unique times. The willingness to embrace new idea, and challenging thought is not prominent, or even evident in the general consiousness. Despite fond (but faulty) reminiscence of the so-called 'consiousness revolution of the '60's' there was little reception for the ideas and concerns which seem so obvious to so many more today. I found that most people were afraid of change, even my own generation (which also began in 'unique times'), and not able to handle the stark and naked truth. I couln't just 'not do anything.' I had to find a way. Folks like David Crosby, Neil Young, John Lennon -just to scratch the surface- showed me the way to communicate in a way that (usually) didn't provoke someone into wanting to shoot me on the spot. So I took up music as a means to 'soften the blow'-so to speak. g_w, I have come to recognize that music is the best I have to offer, for the most amount of actual effect (I've been around enough to know it has had effect over the years) over all. I have recently come into a 'more complete' version of myself-whether that is a 'product' of age, or regaining some chemical balance in acouple of important glands, or just because it 'is time,' I Don't know. Lets just say things are getting clearer all the time. As far as a 'teacher' goes, I've often thought about what that meant, and as a father I've learned some of the finer points. I sure know that there is knowledge, and understanding IN THE WORLD -cannabis use, and the actual nature and being of Yashua ben Yoseph-as examples- that are deliberately left out of the general curriculum, and the ignorance of the entire race collectively speaking is painful to contemplate, but I believe in the I Am That Which I Am, therefore I believe also that each and every one of us must come to this understanding on their own. If I can aid in this without some kind of martyrdom, then I am willing to help. FYI, locally there are about a dozen young men (aside from my sons) who frequently discuss these very thoughts as we do here. To them I suppose I am a 'teacher.' But in my mind we are all both teachers and students, young and old. All should embrace truth as they see it, and be bold enough to proclaim it, as well as willing to corrected in their error/s if need be. [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #14 posted by FoM on August 26, 2006 at 12:12:46 PT |
If you don't like the laws change them. That's how a democracy works. Everytime we do it the way they said they turn around and fight us. What's that? When can we win in anything we do if it is against the powers that be? [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #13 posted by global_warming on August 26, 2006 at 12:12:12 PT |
..We have never had a thread that big .. It is so big, it is only the tip, the blessings of our world try to hide but the stars and the universe can see into our souls, we are children moving closer to God and Understanding, closer and closer. Hail Cannabis, if this is not news about Cannabis, I can can pour my vodka down the drain. God Bless You All, it is our time, in this world, we' can change this world, we' can end war. My Amen to you mm, toke deeply, for the tax collector will soon knock on your door, and this world is nothing but a prison, filled with christian lunatooks and self serving ignorant bigots. [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #12 posted by charmed quark on August 26, 2006 at 12:03:15 PT |
I was looking at a map of the county by county votes on Prop. 215 to see if people in Merced were really against it, at least at the time of the referendum. A majority did vote "NO", but it was only 56%, with 44% yes. So not a very strong no. More interesting were some of the other counties. San Diego was a clear "yes". San Bernardino was 50/50. So there was no obvious STRONG disagreement at the time, where people would have felt the state was forcing it down their throats. I guess these county board members believe they know better than the people of the state. [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #11 posted by whig on August 26, 2006 at 11:55:05 PT |
http://cannabisnews.com/news/22/thread22087.shtml#423 Thread's full, couldn't post a response. I wanted to say Amen. [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #10 posted by The GCW on August 26, 2006 at 11:55:02 PT |
Pubdate: Sat, 26 Aug 2006 Source: Ketchikan Daily News (AK) Viewed at: http://www.ketchikandailynews.com/letters.php EDITOR, Daily News: Newspapers don't want to mention it, but one reason Frank Murkowski lost his bid for a second term is because of his personal vendetta against cannabis (marijuana /kaneh bosm) when so many citizens do not think it is appropriate to cage humans for using the God-given plant. Cannabis is a blessing to be accepted; not persecuted, prohibited and exterminated. Murkowski’s out of touch and out of contention. Truthfully, ... [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #9 posted by FoM on August 26, 2006 at 11:54:06 PT |
I wish the thread could continue but there must be a limit on the number of comments. We have never had a thread that big so this is a first and I thank everyone who has contributed to it. It's worth being bookmarked for me. [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #8 posted by global_warming on August 26, 2006 at 11:52:43 PT |
Comment #423 posted by museman on August 26, 2006 at 11:11:19 PT
marshians
The poor man has been inundated with response from you all -he shut down his comments, so I couldn't give my own response. Therefore I am left with no recourse but to state it here, hoping he is looking to see what we are saying (I'm sure he is). Religion: It's definition means to 'constrain, or hold back.' Religion is a human system, an institution invented by the ruling class to keep the peasants in line. It's the way they've always handled the higher aspects of truth about our creator and his emmissaries of love and intelligence. Becoming a 'pastor' or an 'ordained minister' is a lot like becoming a politiican; you have to concede to the rules of the game particular to the sect, and effectively close your mind to all other perspectives. "Religion" and "Church" have never ever had any true relationship to the Most High Creator Spirit called "God" like a disrespectful nickname by those ministers who by virtue of their club-like association consider themselves exclusive in their access to 'the truth.' Y'shua said "When two or more come together in my name, I will be with them." The whole idea of a manmade structure of any kind being the only place where "God hangs out" is not only very naive, but obviously ignorant as well. The idea that any man or group of people posesses all the truth, or all the facts is the most ridiculous thing to ever come down the pipe. Wasn't it Y'shua who said "Who are you calling good? There is none good but the Father in Heaven!" And why exactly did He get so pissed when he came to the temple and saw what was being done by the money mongers? Wasn't it Y'shua who said, "Judge (condemn) not lest you be judged." Do xtians have some kind of exclusive exemption to that? Apparently being a minister gives you mandate to conveniently ignore profound truth while twisting vagueries to suit their purposes -which have always been hand in hand with the conquest and aquisition of power, and property. About 2 thousand years ago the rest of the first (and only) real xtians -who called themselves gnostic- were persecuted to the ends of the earth by the Romans. Right about the time that the last of the gnostics had fled into the desert, buried their sacred writings so that hopefully one day they would be found, and the truth once more would be circulating in the general human forum, right about the time when the Roman decadence (much like modern America) was causing it to collapse inward -the empire was failing- Constantine created the xtian church, integrated with ancient pagan beliefs, and precepts as old as Sumeria, Babylon, and Egypt. The church was founded on the cornerstone of fear-rejecting the stone of faith and belief which Y'shua exemplified. The only reason Y'shua's truth comes down to us 2 millennia later somewhat intact (though definitely incomplete) is because the early founders of the church could not understand His teachings, so they figured the 'ignorant masses' wouldn't either. The church and religion of 'Jesus Christ' (the name and character who is a total invention of the Roman Catholic Church) is corrupt, rotten in it's inception and it's core. Y'shua said, "If the heart of the tree is rotten wherefore is it's fruit?" All xtian religion are branches on the same rotten tree. The accountability will be held. Those who accept the false authority and stature of xtian 'ministry' will be held in greater responsibility than those who have been made ignorant by their false doctrines and teachings. As Y'shua said, "To those who have, much will be given. To those who have not, even what they have will be taken away." Guilt and sin (not error, mistake, or wrongdoing) are power tools of both the church and state. Y'shua said "The Truth shall set you free." He told me when I was eight years old that He wasn't in the 'church.' After nearly thirty years of giving the xtian church all the opportunity to 'come clean' I finally had to accept that they were too firmly entrenched in their error, and that there is nothing about that institution -in any denomination that is worth saving. The same thing goes for our system of government, and the system of weights and measures which rules by the invented-but heavily enforced- system of wealth and propriety. And war. Don't forget war. Who propagates it? Who tells the young men that "God is on our side?" Who sent children, time and time again to their certain death claiming somekind of divine ordination to destroy, murder, maim, rape, and pillage? "In the name of 'jesus christ' our cause is just!" Y'shua said; "What you have done to these, the least of my brethren, you have done to me." I thank the Most High Creator YHWH that, as Y'hua said "...the truth is revealed to babes. And those who think themselves wise will be confounded." And cannabis. It's true that the precepts and doctrines of the church have made numerous claims about cannabis and it's relationship to 'witchcraft.' The 'loving, forgiving, tolerant church would gladly (and fervently) get hysterical and burn you for it. The fact that cannabis was used in the holy annointing oil used by both the Levites, and of course John the Baptist is a secret they thought to have buried along with all the other great truths of Y'shua and the Most High. The fact that it was a major ingredient in the temple incense, and therefore referred to in the Revelation of John when he states that the 'Prayers of the 'saints' (holy men) go up like the smoke of incense to Heaven.' This is the age of Revelation. Some call it 'the last days.' It is truly the last days of such ignorance and error as exalted in the xtian church, and in the society that is rooted in those ancient deliberate misconceptions of reality and the divine called the xtian religion, and the church. No religion is real. Faith and belief of the kind Y'shua asked for when he said, "Love each other as I have loved you." are not contained within them. Never were, and never will be. Y'shua said, "When you pray, pray in secret." Isn't that enough of a clue?" As Y'shua was recorded to have said as he was dying, "Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do." [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #7 posted by global_warming on August 26, 2006 at 11:45:31 PT |
Sorry The web page you requested, /news/22/thread22087, is under construction, no longer exists or never existed. Imagine that, me working for you.. [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #6 posted by global_warming on August 26, 2006 at 11:43:01 PT |
http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/22/thread22087 museman Like that lost pastor, why have you been wasting yourself as a musician, you are a good teacher, Hallelujah, you have found the root, and it is covered with blood. [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #5 posted by global_warming on August 26, 2006 at 11:36:52 PT |
so there is a limit and there is a limit to this injustice and cruelty it is time to receive our place in this world Hail Cannabis [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #4 posted by FoM on August 26, 2006 at 11:33:15 PT |
It's our heart condition that should be what is important. It is very sad for me to see so many following in the wrong footsteps. Mercy, love, compassion, not killing, being long suffering and kind was what would show who His followers really were. I guess I read too much of the Bible and not enough about history. PS: I think the thread can't get any bigger. It said: ERROR!! Sorry, no more space for messages...please post later http://cannabisnews.com/news/22/thread22087.shtml#423 [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #3 posted by global_warming on August 26, 2006 at 11:29:58 PT |
what is going on, cannot post [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #2 posted by museman on August 26, 2006 at 11:23:25 PT |
Republicans, xtians, and rich men, OH my! To the right, to the right...and they all fall down. [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #1 posted by OverwhelmSam on August 26, 2006 at 11:12:15 PT |
Go ahead, strike down medical marijuana laws. Full legalization and regulation is the alternative. [ Post Comment ] |
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