Cannabis News Students for Sensible Drug Policy
  Medical Marijuana Folks Justifiably Scared
Posted by CN Staff on September 05, 2013 at 11:33:29 PT
By Jake Ellison 
Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer 

medical Seattle WA -- The federal government has said it won’t challenge Washington and Colorado’s legal pot markets and Washington has just released its latest versions of the rules that will govern that market here. Both of those facts has medical marijuana advocates running for cover.

In fact, one thing two icons of Washington’s medical pot scene agree on is that, barring action by the Washington Legislature, medical marijuana – even as a ragtag system – is history.

Steve Sarich, a longtime medical marijuana firebrand, adds that patients in Washington are “justifiably scared” because of threats that state and federal law enforcement will go after any marijuana growing or selling that happens outside of the system created by I-502.

Meanwhile, a more sanguine Muraco Kyashna-tocha, founder of the oldest medical marijuana dispensary in Washington, Green Buddha, thinks the state system will flood the market with cheap pot and run both medical marijuana growers and sellers out of town.

“I expect to shut down next year,” she said. “I expect to be under-sold … I expect to be out-produced by the state.”

Wait, I thought cannabis was OK now

Sarich – who campaigned against I-502 and thinks the system will land more patients in court because of the DUI standards, won’t compete with the black market prices but will cause law enforcement to kick down more doors – believes people in the medical system are “under siege.”

“I don’t know how else to describe it,” said the Access 4 Washington collective owner and executive director of the Cannabis Action Coalition. “We’re under siege. We know they are coming after us, but why they think we’re a risk to them I don’t know … the Liquor Control Board, the Legislature and apparently the feds.”

His cause for alarm stems partly from statements made by local representatives of the Department of Justice and Gov. Jay Inslee last week when the feds said they wouldn’t sue to stop the state’s legal pot system but would pursue all marijuana activity outside of that system.

In written statements, as The Associated Press reported, U.S. Attorney Jenny Durkan in Seattle and U.S. Attorney Michael Ormsby in Spokane stated:

“The continued operation and proliferation of unregulated, for-profit entities outside of the state’s regulatory and licensing scheme is not tenable and violates both state and federal law … While our resources are limited, we will continue to enforce federal law in this arena.”

Snipped

Complete Article: http://drugsense.org/url/Pzfx9y9v

Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer (WA)
Author: Jake Ellison
Published: Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Copyright: 2011 Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Contact: editpage@seattlepi.com
Website: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/

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Comment #21 posted by museman on September 08, 2013 at 16:22:02 PT
FoM
Thank you.

[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #20 posted by FoM on September 08, 2013 at 11:04:04 PT
Museman
That is so nice. I do understand it too.

[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #19 posted by museman on September 08, 2013 at 10:18:45 PT
FoM
True friends are Pearls of Great Price.

We are blessed to have known them.

I have another thing I want to share.

I wrote this song a few weeks ago, just before Rob was diagnosed. I thought it was kind of dark and depressing so I haven't really passed it around, but in retrospect I realize why I wrote it. At some point I'll record.

Final Door

Everything we do, falls slowly to the ground

and the song has been sung before,

So come get me now,

Cause i know the story, I know the score;

There's just one kind of Glory, gets you through that final door.

All the mighty works crumble into dust,

all the days efforts end in ruin.

There is no pot of gold,

just a temporary, glittering distraction.

All the time spent in futility,

wasted to the satisfaction of the few,

and the true wealth of our nature,

gone missing from the Queue.

Is there a valid reason?

That all should come to naught,

and all our youthful dreams

are what the rich man thinks he got.

If there was a way,

I could turn back the tide,

put us out of misery

from the ones who have lied,

There'd be a different reality,

It would be a different place.

Even water flows

where every other water flows.

Even water goes

wherever the water goes.

Even water knows

what all the water knows.

Even the water knows.

That

Everything we do, falls slowly to the ground

and its all been sung before,

So come and get me now,

Cause i know the story, I know the score;

There's just one kind of Glory, gets you through that final door.

So come and get me now.

***

"No greater Love has a man than he who would give his life for a friend."

[ Post Comment ]

 
Comment #18 posted by FoM on September 08, 2013 at 09:52:41 PT
museman
That was very nice to read. Dave was a good friend. After my husband had the heart attack he was right there for him and me. He did work that my husband couldn't do. That is a true friend.

[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #17 posted by museman on September 08, 2013 at 09:46:57 PT
FoM
Yah is good. Yes.

I have been getting some intense lessons since my other good friend passed last September, My stepfather in October, and my sister two months later. Now this young man whom I met as a street teenager seemingly not so long ago.

I have no picture to share, though I will at some point. But One of my sons wrote a short eulogy that I think says a lot.

Eagle Heart

A man of vision a man of dreams

Reminding us all how nothing is as it seems

A true rainbow warrior down to his soul

And though a cynical bastard, fulfilling his role

Questioning reality and doing his part

Flying high above the illusion; he is eagle heart

****

If only there were more like him.

Peace



[ Post Comment ]

 
Comment #16 posted by FoM on September 08, 2013 at 09:37:51 PT
museman
I am so sorry. We have lost or are losing our closest friends too. I am getting ready to try to make a DVD to play at the Memorial Service when we have it. His wife is coming out after seeing Dave with pictures and his favorite music so I can spend a few days making it as good as I can to honor him. My husband is really taking this hard even though he doesn't talk about it. AIDS is such a horrible disease. I never thought I would go through this 2 times but God has given me the strength to handle it all. God is Good.

[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #15 posted by museman on September 08, 2013 at 09:26:12 PT
FoM
Thank you for your concern. My good friend Robert Pollock also known by his Rainbow Warrior name; Eagle Heart passed away yesterday at 3:03 pm surrounded by his family.

I am losing friends faster than I made them.

Love to all.

[ Post Comment ]

 
Comment #14 posted by museman on September 08, 2013 at 09:21:19 PT
as far as I know
"Partial" means incomplete, unfinished, not whole. I think we've all had enough of the kind of 'partial liberty' that the 'elected' bottom feeders allow their peasantry.

I don't compromise with truth. Liberty is unfettered, it is not bound by any restriction, other wise it is not liberty. You have the meaning of the word all wrapped up in the capitalistic perspective of "I ME MINE" And my friend that is a corruption, not an asset.

When I say LEGALIZE FREEDOM, it's a simple, easy to understand sentiment. It is not about freedom and liberty only for those who can afford it. And the list of those who can afford it gets smaller every day.



[ Post Comment ]

 
Comment #13 posted by mexweed on September 07, 2013 at 14:26:12 PT:

Liberty; Cannabinoid harvest
@museman,

Rather than "not liberty" I would say those restrictions you mentioned add up to Partial Liberty, and a positive viewpoint would be, get started with that and find ways to grow it.

Can you agree, that vigorously now promoting 25-mg standard single toke to REPLACE "rolling" a 500-mg giant joint (ugly habit, bad PR)is a worthwhile strategy to disarm the scaremongers who play up the hazards of "smoking" and blame it on cannabis?

And a massive switch of users from 500-mg to 25-mg serving size will squeeze down DEMAND, lowering the herb price for everybody (thus increasing your Liberty to have both herb and money).

@Swazi is right, there are studies showing "smoking cannabis protects lungs against cancer"-- but vaping protects even better, no? Now as to whether numerous users are setting their vaporizers too low, harvesting only the THC and taking a pass on the CBD-- (a) those users are just interested in the THC anyway, that's all; (b) maybe they should save and chew the leftover dried shreds in some butter, and get some CBD, at a different time of day when that's appropriate; (c) let's publish advice for users, maybe to move the dial slowly upward over a 19-second toke to get the full spectrum (may depend on model used).

[ Post Comment ]

 
Comment #12 posted by FoM on September 07, 2013 at 09:33:54 PT
museman
I am sorry to read your friend is near death. Our friend that was diagnosed with AIDS in April is also near death. Hospice said about a week now. His wife is down to 90 lbs but the anti-retrovirals are keeping the virus low luckily. What a summer this has been. We miss him and he isn't even gone yet. He was my husband's best friend.

http://i764.photobucket.com/albums/xx290/MarthaGier/DaveII668x664_zpsfaeffef4.jpg

[ Post Comment ]

 
Comment #11 posted by museman on September 07, 2013 at 09:07:54 PT
cannabis liberty
For over 30 years, until Obama was elected, I grew cannabis illegally. I grew it anywhere I could, mostly in the places now considered major taboo, and actually one of the 'conditions' of the fed 'memo.' - national forest.

I carried water, and soil for miles on my back. Even when I could no longer do that because of health, I always had what I called my 'fuck you' plant growing somewhere, usually in my back yard.

I got busted three times. Once for an ounce in 1977 in California just months after it was first 'decriminalized' and twice for growing in Oregon and Colorado -all states that have since 'legalized' it is some limited fashion. (the records are very interesting, proving that truth is more powerful than false law -or else I would not be 'at liberty' to even tell you)

Incidentally for any who might think otherwise, I did not "trash" the land with huge drip systems, chemical fertilizers and such, and in fact all of the growers I ever knew who were guerrilla farmers also had consciousness in the way they did it.

Then I got my card and had providers grow it for me. Last year was the first time I got to grow my own, legally for the first time. It was a wonderful experience.

If that liberty is left out of the "law" then it is still prohibition.

And here in Oregon, even though with a card, it is 'legal' to grow your own -if you have a place to do it, there are so many restrictions I'd hardly call it liberty.

I have a friend who is days away from his final breath, who, if the medical community did not have its head up the fed butt, and its hands in the fed pocket, any of the various canna-cures now known and available to us could have saved his life. Even the hospice where he fades is afraid of cannabis because they are afraid to lose their funding.

Here is the final truth about liberty;

If I have to get anyone's permission for it, it is not liberty. I have I have to pay for the privilege, it is not liberty. If I have to follow 'guidelines' or rules I do not agree with, it is not liberty. -specially if they are as obviously stupid as the laws and the propagandas now rampant in this corrupt society.

The fact that greedy, selfish people take advantage of other people has got nothing to do with me, other than making me fighting mad.

I am capable of responsible action and thought. And I didn't learn that in college! Punishing me for idiots is not only not liberty, or justice, or fairness, it is also literally the only crime being committed.

I know who the criminals are and no amount of posturing, lying, or clever twists in small, cyclical logic, or media hype is going to mitigate the actual damage and suffering.

"My Mama always said, 'Stupid is as stupid does.'" - Forest Gump. That formula applies for the federal government and all of its state and local clones.

LEGALIZE FREEDOM

[ Post Comment ]

 
Comment #10 posted by Swazi-X on September 06, 2013 at 19:23:27 PT
Not Exactly...
mexweed - What you consider sarcastic in my post was not meant that way. And playing nice just isn't enough when faced with the kind of ignorance and cynicism that has grown like kudzu in our legal system in relation to cannabis. The problem is that they're forcing us to argue the wrong questions to begin with. We need to start with the science of the plant - that it is non-toxic at any dose, that it nourishes our endocannabinoid system that's critical to many vital processes, that it has startling effectiveness at CURING cancer and diabetes, etc. Our masters change the subject or flat out deny the science whenever these facts are brought up, when in fact they should be the primary issues. Instead they force us into the financial/law enforcement/cartel argument - the very problems that their policies have created!

Vaporizers are only one way to use this plant, and not a very good one at that. The cannabinoids in cannabis evaporate (vaporize) at different temperatures, and the lower temps most people use vapes with get mostly THC, not CBD (higher vape point - closer to combustion) so vaporizing does not give you all you can get from the plant. Eating does, and as nasty a habit as smoking anything is - according to the leading pulmonary specialist in the country after a meta-study of thousands of pages, smoking cannabis actually protects the lungs from cancer and doesn't cause or exacerbate pulmonary disease. It's one more fact that the powers who control us will not allow into the argument - because it demolishes the nonsense they're trying to feed us and it outs them for the liars that they are.

[ Post Comment ]

 
Comment #9 posted by mexweed on September 06, 2013 at 12:19:07 PT:

Most important liberty: toke and work
@muse, taking issue with your "most important part of liberty"-- that is rather your now-promised liberty to (a) serve a 25-mg single toke whenever and wherever you want (maybe because you have a smokeless odorless monoxide-free vape device that no one will rat on you for), (b) and yes, the Holder memo condones SMALL use; then (c) actually DO the CANNABIS-INSPIRED original ambitious problem-confronting pioneer work you want to remember (at 80 or whenever) having done at 70 or whenever, never too late, reading glasses or not. (And thanks for having insparked me to spew that.)

[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #8 posted by museman on September 06, 2013 at 09:17:34 PT
typo correction;
Should read;

It is still prohibition. Because the most important part of cannabis liberty is still prohibited!

(my eyes aren't as good as they used to be, and my 'reading' glasses are useless ...sorry)

[ Post Comment ]

 
Comment #7 posted by museman on September 06, 2013 at 09:13:42 PT
Swazi
"Any state cannabis law that does not allow home cultivation is a wolf in sheep's clothing."

Nor is that "legalization."

It is still prohibition. becaue the most important art of cannabis liberty is still prohibited!

There are some of us who have borne the burden of this corrupted mentality, and know exactly, without a doubt where the real criminality lies.

The legislature of Washington State is doing exactly what their federal masters want them to do, and nothing else. Those who feel some kind of satisfaction thinking some major ground has been achieved are in for a rude awakening real soon.

But since the lawyers changed the language to reflect their exclusive power to change it to fit any situation that serves their agenda of control and dominion (the "Rule of :aw"), the patsy citizens who are trying to be 'good' are all too willing to lay down and accept the edicts of a fascist police state.

Fortunately for those who do know what true liberty is, we also know how to take it into our own hands and frack the false leaders and enforcers who do nothing but infringe and negate those liberties.

If I were asked; "If you knew how your government, and the patsy 'citizens' were going to treat you when you started smoking cannabis, would you have thought twice?"

Or; "After the first time you got busted, would the lawyers, judges, cops, and such threatening your family and future make you consider avoiding cannabis?" And the answer to both is; " I would do it again, only this time I would protest much louder, much sooner.

But I live in Amerika now. The country my friends died for in VietNam, and many of my family died for in WW2 has disappeared from the face of the earth and left a host of demons in its place, And if there is one thing I have learned in defining 'what is real' its that denial only serves the masters, not the slaves.

Enjoy your 'liberties' (if you can afford them) while you can, because reality is creeping up fast on us all.

LEGALIZE FREEDOM



[ Post Comment ]

 
Comment #6 posted by mexweed on September 05, 2013 at 17:32:48 PT:

2 plants, one-hitters
(1)@Swazi, despite justified suspicions (not having to lay off their buddies etc.) I suggest applying magnanimous cannabis slow-go slogan, "Forgive---> Convert ---> Redeploy." Offer lots of devotedly considered suggestions how to transition present-day prohib enforcement agents to new, pro-green jobs they will like, avoid grossing them out now with bitter sarcasm etc. because we may be able to work with the same individuals or ministries beneficially later.

(2) I think @FoM has a good point, cash cow days are over, the Holder directive not to waste $$ prosecuting small users should create a reasonable parallel leeway for small growers, a half million families doing just 2 plants, and that will deflate demand for both State and black market, forcing prices down.

(3) Muraco Kyashna-tocha has cannabis expertise and is acquainted with many cannabis users and buyers, therefore should NOT shut down when the herb itself is no longer profitable but rather transition into making and selling 6-mm.-i.d. screened-crater single-toke utensils (long-stemmed one-hitters, Choomette, Kiseru, Midwakh, Sebsi) and also sell pen vapes, plug-in vaporizers and other recently developed Vape technology accessories to replace the OBSOLETE H-ot B-urning O-verdose M-onoxide joint.

Bonus: once the 25-mg single-toke concept spreads over from knowing cannabis users into the tobacco-inhalant population and the genocidal 700-mg $igarette format disappears forever, Muraco might get a share of the Knowitwell Prize awarded to a representative group of Mjbigwigs who engineered the cannabis reforestation revolution 2013-2014.

[ Post Comment ]

 
Comment #5 posted by Swazi-X on September 05, 2013 at 15:08:02 PT
Furthermore...
Any state cannabis law that does not allow home cultivation is a wolf in sheep's clothing.

We need the freedom to grow this ourselves so that we can actually afford to use it, and so we can use fresh and fresh/frozen flowers as well as dried/cured material.

Keeping it in stores supports black-market prices, increases the criminal factor (anywhere there's gobs of money, there are those who will steal it), and prevents the full utilization of this miracle plant by those who need it most.

Our masters are trying to force this plant into the same box as Oxycontin, trying to shove it into a Big Pharma-style situation instead of where it should be - in our gardens alongside our tomato plants - so they can still use their SWAT toys against us, all in the name of "justice". (insert profanity here)

[ Post Comment ]

 
Comment #4 posted by Swazi-X on September 05, 2013 at 14:51:45 PT
And The Deception Continues...
Law enforcement won't let got of the cash-cow of arresting cannabis users willingly. The arbitrary DUI limit for thc was the tell in I-502.

The problem is that these clowns in government and law enforcement are making laws, rules and such as if they understood what they're legislating against - but to them it's still about fighting "pot smokers" and finding ways to keep our kind on top of their all-you-can-arrest buffet.

The way we can tell if a law might really help the situation is when law enforcement comes out bleating like a stuck goat against it, which means they'll lose funding, which means it's likely a good thing. That's all they care about - not having to lay off their buddies.

This is a continuation of the smoke-and-mirrors technique where they seem to accept the will of the people, while at the same time injecting details that will allow them to continue to victimize and arrest anyone related to cannabis at their discretion. The discretion part is key - they want to be able to give their friends and co-workers a pass if they're caught in the same trap.

This has been an effective tactic for them - it works because of the insanity of the current situation and our desperation in seeking to make it right. We're herded into a corner where our only choices are carefully crafted to sound like progress, but that are really false choices designed to sustain the status-quo under different rules.

Didn't the effect on current medical cannabis law come up in the debate around I-502? It seems like it did and we were all assured one wouldn't impact the other.

Bait-and-switch from our lying, dishonest masters once again.

[ Post Comment ]

 
Comment #3 posted by FoM on September 05, 2013 at 14:45:37 PT
Does Everyone Want The Laws Changed?
I think some people have lost sight of the purpose of changing the laws. It is to prevent people from getting arrested and it will also lower the cost so people can afford it. It's like people think they have cornered some imaginary market but in reality that market would never hold up as reform causes change. No one should think marijuana is going to stay a cash cow.

[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #2 posted by Canis420 on September 05, 2013 at 14:06:41 PT:

This article
What a bunch of hooooey. The feds did not say they would go after anything outside of I-502. They said they would not go after cannabis in states where it is legal, including medical marijuana, as long as the 8 priorities are not infringed upon. This is just ppl sayin I got mine I don't care if you get yours!

[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #1 posted by ekim on September 05, 2013 at 12:32:36 PT
upcomming event
http://www.intche.net/

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