cannabisnews.com: State Urges Congress To Recognize Pot Law State Urges Congress To Recognize Pot Law Posted by CN Staff on June 23, 2003 at 09:40:31 PT By J.K. Dineen and Ethan Fletcher Source: San Francisco Examiner When a federal judge allowed Ed Rosenthal to walk free earlier this month, the convicted marijuana guru promised to take his case to state capitols and city halls across the country. It appears he hasn't made it very far. Friday, he stood on the 14th floor of the state administration building, across the street from the very courthouse where he almost lost his freedom, celebrating Assemblyman Mark Leno's passage of a resolution urging Congress to recognize California medicinal marijuana laws. Last week the State Senate passed the resolution, AJR-13, in a 21-15 vote. On April 24, the State Assembly passed it by a vote of 42-32. With the small victory in California won, Leno said he will enlist the help of governors and legislators of the eight other marijuana-friendly states in his crusade. "The federal government has no business interfering with how state voters care for their dying and suffering citizens," Leno said. Leno expressed amazement that he had to fight so hard in the California legislature to pass a bill that encouraged the enforcement of a law that was passed by the voters of California. Voters passed Proposition 215 in 1996 to allow the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. Leno said the federal government, led by the Bush administration, has been disregarding the laws of California in its continuing harassment and prosecution of patients, prescribers, and growers of medicinal marijuana. He cited Rosenthal as a prime example of this harassment. Rosenthal was recently convicted in federal court of growing marijuana in a warehouse in Oakland and providing it to pot clubs in the Bay Area, despite the fact that he was operating under state law. During the trial his defense team was not allowed to refer to the medical purpose of Rosenthal's growing operation; each time the word "medical" passed the lips of an attorney or witness, Federal Judge Charles Breyer gave them a strong reprimand. Leno and his supporters Friday stressed that a sick person's right to smoke pot should be decided on a state level. Angel McClary-Raich, who suffers a life-threatening wasting syndrome and an inoperable brain tumor, said her life would be unbearable without marijuana. "I think the federal government is scared of California and its voters," said McClary-Raich.Source: San Francisco Examiner (CA)Author: J.K. Dineen and Ethan Fletcher, Examiner StaffPublished: June 23, 2003Copyright: 2003 San Francisco ExaminerContact: letters sfexaminer.comWebsite: http://www.examiner.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Ed Rosenthal's Pictures & Articles http://freedomtoexhale.com/trialpics.htmGuru of Ganja Sees Cracks Developing in Lawshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16597.shtmlReefer Madness: Our Current Prohibitionhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16587.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #17 posted by FoM on June 23, 2003 at 23:28:24 PT Virgil I'm glad you are OK. That's what was worrying me. Keep fighting the good fight! I'm wondering what the 9th will bring too. [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by Virgil on June 23, 2003 at 23:23:51 PT What else can I say? I have made a few comments at the smokeybackroom of freerepublic where I am not singing for the choir. I still have one forum to advance the truth of the brat that would ruin America, but I will soon abandon that to focus on a book of fiction.It is easy to see that prohibition is a failure and will have to be abandoned. A guy once told me that concrete set for a hundred years and broke down for a hundred years. Maybe I could compare prohibition to concrete but then again what is the big deal.I would like to give Doc Zombie credit for something I used at freerepublic. His words are worthy of quote and resemble what follows. It regards the great question concerning cannabis. The #1, all-time great, most relevant question is "Why isn't cannabis regulated like alcohol and tobacco?" Doc's answer was of course something like "There is no acceptable answer?"Everyone here has explored the question and certainly most would have a similar answer. I will advance the question from time to time and give my reply. I await the debate when the #1 question meets the #1 answer and the microphone is handed over to the prohibitionists. And I still have a song to sing. It is on a CD here somewhere. As soon as I change a few words I hope to put it up on the web. But fighting back the Nazis and everything else kind of gets in the way.I am just waiting to see what July 9th brings to Canada. Until then I hope you remember the great question and its only answer. [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by FoM on June 23, 2003 at 22:49:30 PT afterburner I know what you mean. I'm hoping he is on vacation. If the news gets much slower I think I'll fall asleep just sitting here and waiting. That's not true. I have been so busy with CNews for over 4 years now that I never learned how to collect music to play whenever I wanted. Right now I'm getting songs from Easy Rider. The Internet is the greatest place. I never get bored even when the news is slow.PS: I know you all probably have these songs but in case you don't here they are.http://www.eliminated.org/mp3/High.Times/11-Fraternity.of.Man-Don't.Bogart.Me.mp3http://www.eliminated.org/mp3/High.Times/07-Brewer.and.Shipley-One.Toke.Over.the.Line.mp3 [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by afterburner on June 23, 2003 at 22:34:20 PT: Love to All Cannabis Activists. I too have been concerned about Virgil. I hope he's just on vacation, or very busy.From Richard Cowan:All Power to The Incompetents: UK Cannabis “Reform” Delayed As Police Push for Arbitrary Power. Fail to Protect Royal Family, But Demand Control Over Cannabis. More That We Couldn’t Make Up. Posted by Richard Cowan on 2003-06-23 00:00:00 Source: “Chief constables are refusing to sanction new proposals that reduce police powers of arrest against cannabis smokers in a rebellion against the Government. The hardline approach by members of the Association of Chief Police Officers is expected to lead to huge differences in how cannabis is policed in Britain.” Read Full Story... http://www.marijuananews.com/news.php3?sid=697 More Puff Down Photos: see FrankDiscussion and Sonnenschein -Marc Emery in Toronto Pot & Police Puff Down! Fri Jun 6 10:49:01 2003 http://www.cannabisculture.com/cgi/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=wwwpottv&Number=555150&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=all&vc=1C.A.L.M. Cannabis As Living Medicine [pictures of the Mini-Rally] http://www.qt1.com/buzzz/Marc Emery visits Toronto Police HQ 2003 [pictures of the beginning of the "Summer of Legalization"] http://members.fortunecity.com/johncrowsnest/index0.htmlYou can see the SAFE ACCESS NOW sign in many of the pictures.Thanks for supporting Biz Ivol. Biz Ivol Petition: http://www.lca-uk.org/petition/index.php ego transcendence follows ego destruction, a worldwide wave of sanity is spreading over the planet. [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by goneposthole on June 23, 2003 at 22:31:16 PT A cornucopia of histrionics lift the barge, tote the bail. [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by FoM on June 23, 2003 at 21:46:15 PT freedom fighter Maybe Paul will drop in and we can ask him or maybe someone who emails Virgil might tell him he was being asked about. I just want to know that he is ok. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by freedom fighter on June 23, 2003 at 21:28:47 PT Maybe Paul Peterson can find out??Hope he's allright..pazff [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by FoM on June 23, 2003 at 20:54:22 PT The GCW Do you know if Virgil is OK? I don't like to ask questions when someone is away for a while but I am concerned. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by FoM on June 23, 2003 at 16:26:50 PT Press Release from U.S. Newswire Victim of Medical Marijuana Raids Calls on Sen. Feinstein to Protect Patients6/23/03 To: Assignment Desk, Daybook Editor Contact: Bruce Mirken of the Marijuana Policy Project, 202-462-5747 ext. 113 or 202-215-4205 (cell)News Advisory:-- Press Conference Wednesday as Senate Judiciary Committee Considers Nomination of Karen Tandy as New DEA AdministratorDisabled medical marijuana patient Suzanne Pfeil, who was threatened at gunpoint by Drug Enforcement Administration agents during their raid on the Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana (WAMM) last September, will hold a press conference on June 25, immediately before the Senate Judiciary Committee considers the nomination of Karen Tandy to be the new DEA administrator. Pfeil will demand that members of the committee -- and in particular California Sen. Dianne Feinstein -- question Tandy about the DEA's raids on medical marijuana patients and providers. She will be joined by a variety of supporters, including representatives of the Marijuana Policy Project.Pfeil, who is unable to walk without crutches due to post-polio syndrome, was in bed last September when the DEA raided the hospice-like WAMM collective. Agents pointed automatic rifles at her and demanded that she get out of bed. When she said, "I can't," they handcuffed her and left her there while they destroyed WAMM's medical marijuana garden and took WAMM founders Valerie and Mike Corral into custody.WHAT:-- Medical marijuana patient press conferenceWHO:-- Medical marijuana patient Suzanne Pfeil, MPP-- Director of Government Relations Steve FoxWHEN:-- Wednesday, June 25, 1 p.m. EDTWHERE:-- In front of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, Constitution Avenue side (near the corner of Constitution and First St. NE)At the conclusion of the press conference, Ms. Pfeil will proceed to Sen. Feinstein's office to make her request in person. Members of the press are invited to join her.With 12,000 members nationwide, the Marijuana Policy Project is the largest marijuana policy reform organization in the United States. MPP works to minimize the harm associated with marijuana -- both the consumption of marijuana and the laws that are intended to prohibit such use. MPP believes that the greatest harm associated with marijuana is imprisonment. To this end, MPP focuses on removing criminal penalties for marijuana use, with a particular emphasis on making marijuana medically available to seriously ill people who have the approval of their doctors.Copyright: 2003 U.S. Newswire http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=171-06232003 [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by FoM on June 23, 2003 at 15:48:06 PT drug testing I don't believe in drug testing. There was one way that my parents were able to get me to do what they felt was right and only one way. When they said that they trusted me I tried to be worthy of that trust and didn't do what they didn't want me to do. When we trust and believe in our children they usually won't let us down. When we demand drug testing it would cause them to get a chip on their shoulder. Drug testing will never take the place of parents and children communicating with each other. Schools shouldn't even have a say. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by The GCW on June 23, 2003 at 15:37:02 PT JR Bob Dobbs Thanks for the poll..."...Mark Leno's passage of a resolution urging Congress to recognize California medicinal marijuana laws..." This is a good move. My Governor, however is content and comfy to cage cannabis users. Getting the taste of that blood out of His mouth, aint gonna be easy. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by BigDawg on June 23, 2003 at 14:04:09 PT Don't ya just love that poll? It defaults to "Yes" and the "No" votes are STILL winning :). [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by FoM on June 23, 2003 at 13:40:43 PT Thanks druid! I saw that article and just wished I could snip out what isn't relative but I can't do that. Maybe they will do one on the marijuana issue. That's why I didn't post it. What you posted is just fine! [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by druid on June 23, 2003 at 13:23:57 PT Alaska-- legalized marijuana Initiatives could put legalized marijuana before votersArticle Published: Monday, June 23, 2003 - 3:09:47 AM AKSTInitiatives could put legalized marijuana before voters By TOM MORAN, Staff Writer Alaskans could get to vote on everything from legalizing marijuana to taxing cruise ships if the sponsors of several proposed 2004 ballot initiatives get their way.***snip**** The second initiative would decriminalize and regulate the use of cannabis products, including hemp and marijuana. The bill would make legal the possession, cultivation, distribution and consumption of marijuana and other hemp products for industrial, medicinal, nutritional or private personal use.It would allow for the regulation of hemp products "in a manner similar to alcohol or tobacco."***snip****http://www.news-miner.com/Stories/0,1413,113~7244~1472259,00.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by JR Bob Dobbs on June 23, 2003 at 12:46:49 PT Poll Should schools drug test high school students who participate in extracurricular activities? http://www.thetimeswire.com/index.pl [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on June 23, 2003 at 12:22:20 PT afterburner The news is slow and I'm anxious for June to be over because the news usually picks up then. Meanwhile I'm mowing. I'm a bit fried and for the antis that read this site I don't mean my brain! LOL!Check out this song. I've only heard it a few times but I like it. Everybody Knows [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by afterburner on June 23, 2003 at 10:49:30 PT: Click-Click-Click... The dominoes keep falling. It was nice of the Federal govenment to line them up so strategically with their lies, propaganda, and bully tactics. Anyone with a functioning brain, heart, ears, and eyes can now see the extent of the deception. Click. Click. Click.ego transcedence follows ego destruction, legal in Ontario, legal in California, too unless you don't believe that Amendment X of the US Constitution is the law of the land: for what are the rest of the jurisdictions waiting? Biz Ivol Petition [ Post Comment ] Post Comment