cannabisnews.com: Token Justice
Token Justice
Posted by CN Staff on July 26, 2004 at 13:06:31 PT
By Steve Kubby, AlterNet
Source: AlterNet
By continuing to target medical pot patients, the federal government turns its back on millions of voters, the wishes of the dying and the authority of the courts. The term medical marijuana took on dramatic new meaning in February, 2000 when researchers in Madrid Spain announced they had destroyed incurable brain tumors in rats by injecting them with THC, the most psychoactive ingredient in cannabis.
Most Americans don't know anything about the Madrid discovery. Virtually no major U.S. newspapers carried the story, which ran only once on the AP and UPI news wires, on Feb. 29, 2000. Why has this vitally important information been suppressed while the media regularly trumpet any possible breakthrough in cancer research?The Madrid study wasn't the first time that THC has been administered to tumor-bearing animals. In 1974 researchers at the Medical College of Virginia, who had been funded by the National Institute of Health in order to find evidence that marijuana damages the immune system, found instead that THC slowed the growth of three kinds of cancer in mice – lung and breast cancer, and a virus-induced leukemia. Since then, dozens of other peer-reviewed scientific studies have confirmed that THC and other canabinoids shrink tumors, cut off their blood supply and may even program cancer cells to die.Because news of such advances in our understanding of medical marijuana has been suppressed, serious opposition still exists within the law enforcement community. They claim that the Compassionate Use Act of 1996 was some sort of hoax, or worse, not a law to be obeyed because federal marijuana laws trump state laws.As a result, seven years after voters approved Prop. 215, sick, disabled and dying people are still being arrested, jailed, humiliated and bankrupted. An ideology of zero tolerance has deprived medical marijuana patients not only of justice but of life itself.Contrary to assertions by police and US officials, federal law ought not to trump state medical marijuana laws, according to the 9th Circuit Court decision on December 16, 2003. In that decision, the Court found that "the appellants have demonstrated a strong likelihood of success on their claim that, as applied to them, the CSA [Controlled Substances Act of 1970] is an unconstitutional exercise of Congress' Commerce Clause authority."On May 14, 2004, District Court Judge Martin J. Jenkins acted upon this decision by the 9th Circuit Court and granted a preliminary injunction against the federal government, thereby protecting the medical marijuana rights of the two patients who are suing the government in this case.Just one month later, in the case of County of Santa Cruz et al. v. Ashcroft, U.S. District Judge Jeremy Fogel issued a temporary injunction barring the federal government from raiding the marijuana gardens of the Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana, or WAMM.The ruling allows the collective to resume cultivation free from the fear of further federal prosecution. This relief comes 18 months after a brutal Drug Enforcement Administration raid on WAMM in Santa Cruz, and a year after the collective's seriously ill members filed suit against the federal government to stop the law enforcement harassment.Law enforcement and prosecutors also claim that patients dragged before the courts possess "too much for personal use." However, Proposition 215 set only one medical-marijuana possession limit, and that limit is "for personal medical use."In 2002, the California Supreme Court affirmed this quantity limit in People v. Mower. There, the court clearly held that the only quantity limit or requirement in Proposition 215 is "for personal medical use."But how much is too much? How much would be too much if your life depended on it?Most narcotics officers claim that more than a few ounces of marijuana per month would be more than is necessary for personal use. In contrast, the US government allows their legally licensed patients to consume a pound per month. In Canada, patients such as myself are licensed to grow and consume up to two pounds per month. Law enforcement refuses to accept these levels of medical usage, but patients can and do consume these amounts of cannabis and still lead productive lives. Indeed, many need it to be able to live at all.If respect for the law is to mean anything in our society, our elected officials must set aside their zero tolerance ideology and uphold California's medical marijuana law – exactly as it was written and passed by the people of California. Elected officials should begin tomorrow to implement the Compassionate Use Act of 1996 by taking the following four specific actions:1. Stop arresting sick people. Don't authorize budgets or federal grants that will be used against sick people. Adopt and implement the Mower Decision to protect sick people from arrest.2. Stop treating sick people like criminals. According to the Mower Decision, bona fide medical marijuana patients are entitled to a special hearing to establish that they have a recommendation or approval to use medical marijuana from a licensed physician. Unless police have clear evidence of actual sales, it is unlawful and immoral to arrest marijuana growers who make claims of medical use.3. Stop forcing sick people into the black market. Demand that the federal government take action on the petition filed by Jon Gettman with the Drug Enforcement Administration on July 27, 1995, and reschedule marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III. That action alone would solve many of the problems and concerns voiced by law enforcement and allow patients to go directly to their pharmacist to obtain their medicine.4. Start prosecuting those who violate the rights of sick people. Elected officials must provide legal protection for sick and dying patients from illegal arrests and prosecutions. To uphold the law, officials must see to it that police and prosecutors are held accountable for violating the medical marijuana rights of patients, caregivers and physicians.Make no mistake; this issue is no more about marijuana than the Boston Tea Party was about tea. This is about sick and dying people who are living in fear that the very people they pay to protect them have turned against them, all because they use a medicine that the Federal government's own IOM study says, "there is no clear alternative for people suffering from chronic conditions that might be relieved by smoking marijuana, such as pain or AIDS wasting."Seven years is long enough. It's time to stop hiding behind federal laws and the failed ideology. The voters have spoken and they have clearly voted to stop treating medical marijuana patients like criminals. Medical marijuana is the law; now is the time for law enforcement and our elected officials to show good faith and stop arresting sick people.It is time for our elected officials and police to uphold their oath of office and uphold the will of the voters who wisely chose to protect sick people and exempt them from the War on Drugs. It wasn't difficult for the voters to understand medical marijuana, they voted by a whopping 56 percent to 44 percent to pass the law. Juries don't seem to have a problem understanding medical marijuana either. Only police and prosecutors seem to have difficulty comprehending that medical marijuana is real and it is the law.Medical marijuana patients need real justice. They need police and prosecutors who will respect their rights, their dignity and protect them from real criminals. Steve Kubby has written two books on drug policy reform and currently serves as the National Director of the American Medical Marijuana Association.Source: AlterNet (US)Author: Steve Kubby, AlterNetPublished: July 26, 2004Copyright: 2004 Independent Media InstituteContact: letters alternet.org Website: http://www.alternet.org/DL: http://alternet.org/drugreporter/19346/Related Articles & Web Site:American Medical Marijuana Associationhttp://www.americanmarijuana.org/New Study Explains How Pot Kills Cancer Cells http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17748.shtmlProponents Say DEA Raid on Pot Farm was Illegalhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16774.shtmlCalifornia High Court Backs Medical Marijuana http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13466.shtmlPot Shrinks Tumors - Government Knew in '74http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9211.shtml
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Comment #41 posted by afterburner on July 30, 2004 at 15:34:46 PT
Not in Their "Right Mind[s]"?
"more than 200 Colorado doctors who prescribe medical marijuana"200+ doctors not in their "right mind[s]" vs. how many politicians? How many law enforcement officers? How many media pundits? How many pharmacists and pharmaceutical companies?
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Comment #40 posted by FoM on July 30, 2004 at 12:19:49 PT
News Article from CBS 4 Denver
Another Round in the Medical Marijuana BattleJuly 30, 2004 DENVER (News 4) "Medical marijuana is nothing more than a smokescreen, an excuse for lifelong pot smokers to get high."Those harsh words from the U.S. attorney in Denver are the latest salvo in the increasingly bitter battle over medical marijuana.U.S. attorney John Suthers told News 4 investigator Brian Maass that no doctor in his right mind would prescribe medical marijuana.In Colorado, hundreds of doctors have prescribed pot, but more and more medical marijuana patients are seeing their weed confiscated by federal agents. Patients like Dana May, who for every step, is a struggle, and every breath a strain. May is one of almost 400 Coloradans legally approved to use medical marijuana. The father of three suffers acute pain in his feet and legs from a debilitating nerve disease."I tell people it's like putting my feet in a deep fryer," May said. "They burn so bad it's incredible, some days are better than others, and some days are not so good."Colorado voters approved medical marijuana 4 years ago. But recently, a federal drug task force raided Dana May's Aurora home, confiscating his pot and growing supplies. Authorities never charged May, but the feds say they're not about to return his pot."I explained that I had a medical marijuana card and the feds said 'We don't care about that,'" May said."The DEA is not in the business of giving back drugs that are illegal under federal law," Suthers said.In recent months, drug task forces have done the same to other medical marijuana users in Colorado -- confiscating pot and refusing to return it.Suthers said federal agents are not targeting medical marijuana users. But he said that once agents find marijuana, they won't give it back. That's because, unlike state law, federal law doesn't recognize marijuana as having medicinal value."Unless the law changes, I think it's unlikely the DEA will give back a substance that's in violation of federal law," Suthers said.Suthers is highly critical of the more than 200 Colorado doctors who prescribe medical marijuana."No doctor in his right mind would prescribe a medicine that is ingested by smoking," Suthers said.That's news to May's doctor Dr. Lynn Parry, who says marijuana is cheaper and more effective than other pain medications."Marijuana is the only thing I have found for him that will control the pain without putting him at risk," Parry said.The U.S. attorney doesn't buy it, and Suthers contends that May and others like him want medical marijuana for one simple reason ... "because they like to smoke marijuana ... they have been long time marijuana users, and they like to smoke marijuana."May said that with his marijuana gone, all he has left is the pain.The U.S. Supreme Court is planning to hear a medical marijuana case during the court's fall term deciding on whether state or federal law takes precedence when it comes to medical marijuana.http://news4colorado.com/investigates/local_story_212145145.html
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Comment #39 posted by FoM on July 28, 2004 at 16:02:45 PT
Hello Love Truth
I wasn't sure if you are aware that we have many people who don't believe in a supreme being here on CNews but we all agree that the laws on Cannabis must be changed. I'd sure appreciate less scriptures because that might offend people and more on how we can find a way to help bring change to our current laws. Thank you in advance.
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Comment #38 posted by Love Truth on July 28, 2004 at 13:27:21 PT
Love - and The Eternal Living Word
Praise Love!!! - and thank you - Hope, for your welcome, your kindness, and above all, for not being ashamed to declare the richness of the Eternal Truth which will forever exist in the Living Word - as the God of all life has so mercifully bestowed it upon us!!!May you, and as many as possible continue to come into **remembrance**, for Love's name sake...John 14:20 At that day you shall know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. John 14:21 Whosoever hath My commandments, and keepeth them, are they that loveth Me: and whoever loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love them, and will manifest Myself to them. John 14:22 Judas saith unto Him, [not Iscariot], Lord, how is it that Thou wilt manifest Thyself unto us, and not unto the world? John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If one will love Me, they will keep My words: and My Father will love them, and We will come unto them, and make Our abode with them. John 14:24 Whosoever loveth Me not keepeth not My sayings: and the Word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father's which sent Me. John 14:25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, It shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your **remembrance**, whatsoever I have said unto you. And speaking of **a pearl, treasure, and things both new and old**... Matthew 13:45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly **pearls**: Matthew 13:46 Who, when he had found **one pearl** of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. Matthew 13:47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: Matthew 13:48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. Matthew 13:49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, Matthew 13:50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 13:51 Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto Him, Yea, Lord. Matthew 13:52 Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto one that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things **new and old.** And concerning **beauty**...Psalm 27:4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in His temple. Psalm 29:2 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto His name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. Psalm 50:2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined. Psalm 90:17 And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish Thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish Thou it. Psalm 96:6 Honour and majesty are before Him: strength and beauty are in His sanctuary. Psalm 96:9 O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before Him, all the earth.May Love always keep you and guide you...Praise the Highest!!!~Love Truth~
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Comment #37 posted by hope on July 28, 2004 at 06:51:33 PT
thy dew is as the dew of herbs
Thank you, Love Truth and welcome. The beauty of our old writings often stuns me. ESPECIALLY the ones I'm so familiar with, yet somehow didn’t notice something of stunning treasure like quality. They probably all have it, it's just when sifting through them again...Wow...a diamond...a pearl...a thing of beauty.
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Comment #36 posted by Love Truth on July 28, 2004 at 00:52:44 PT
First post from your fellowservant in Love
By the grace of God~Love, the Word and Holy Spirit I have been silently reading much Wisdom and Understanding on this site for many years now, and feel in true fellowship with so many of you. And now, by that same grace, I pray that my first writing be acceptable to all...and most of all... ~In **Thy** sight - O Spirit of Love and Truth~
Those who have ears -
Let them hear...Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth...
Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Genesis 1:27 So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.
Genesis 1:28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
Genesis 1:29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.
Genesis 1:30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.
O how we have fallen since that time -
O dearest God of Love and Truth!!!
Have mercy and redeem us for Thy name's sake...We are **all** sinners in need of forgiveness...Matthew 9:10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.
Matthew 9:11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto His disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? Matthew 9:12 But when Jesus heard that, He said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. Matthew 9:13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. There is good news!!!
The Sun of righteousness has been sent...
with healing in His wings!!!As Your Eternal Word has commanded us...Matthew 4:17 Repent - for the kingdom of heaven is at hand...Matthew 22:37-40
Love God with all your heart, soul and mind -
Do unto others as you would them unto you.
It all hangs on these two commandments... Matthew 6:9-13
Our Father, Which art in heaven
Hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come
Thy will be done
In earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom,
And the power,
And the glory
Forever.
Amen. Matthew 6:14 For if ye forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: Matthew 6:15 But if ye forgive not others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 9:6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. Matthew 18:21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Matthew 18:22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. Matthew 18:32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
Matthew 18:33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
Matthew 18:34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. Matthew 18:35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses. Mark 11:25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. Mar 11:26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. Luke 6:37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Psalm 103:1 [[[A Psalm] of David.]] Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name.
Psalm 103:2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Psalm 103:3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; Who healeth all thy diseases; Psalm 103:4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; Who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
Psalm 103:5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Isaiah 26:19 Thy dead shall live, together with My dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.
Isaiah 26:20 Come, My people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.
Isaiah 26:21 For, behold, the LORD cometh out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose Her blood, and shall no more cover Her slain. Isaiah 51:3 For the LORD shall comfort Zion: He will comfort all Her waste places; and He will make Her wilderness like Eden, and Her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody. Isaiah 65:16 That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes.
Isaiah 65:17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. Isaiah 65:18 But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. Isaiah 66:12 For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will extend peace to Her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon Her sides, and be dandled upon Her knees.
Isaiah 66:13 As one whom his Mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.
Isaiah 66:14 And when ye see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb: and the hand of the LORD shall be known toward his servants, and His indignation toward his enemies. Ezekiel 34:25 And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods. Ezekie 34:26 And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing. Ezekiel 34:27 And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land, and shall know that I [am] the LORD, when I have broken the bands of their yoke, and delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them. Ezekiel 34:28 And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen, neither shall the beast of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and none shall make [them] afraid. Ezekiel 34:29 And I will raise up for them [plantations of] **a plant of renown**, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more.
Ezekiel 34:30 Thus shall they know that I the LORD their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are My people, saith the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel 34:31 And ye My flock, the flock of My pasture, are My people, and I am your God, saith the Lord GOD. Ezekiel 36:35 And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited. Revelation 2:7 Whoever hath an ear, let them hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To whosoever overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. Revelation 22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
Revelation 22:2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Luke 17:20 And when He was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, He answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
Luke 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. Matthew 7:21 Not every one that says unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but ~[only]~ whosoever **does** the will of My Father which is in heaven. Isaiah 54:17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt reprove. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of Me, saith the LORD. Luke 21:13 And ~[My Name]~ shall turn to **you** for a testimony.
Luke 21:14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:
Luke 21:15 For I will give you a mouth and Wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. Proverbs 3:11 My child, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of His correction:
Proverbs 3:12 For whom the LORD loveth He correcteth; even as a father the child [in whom] he delighteth.
Proverbs 3:13 Happy is one that findeth Wisdom, and one that getteth Understanding. Proverbs 3:14 For the merchandise of It is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
Proverbs 3:15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto Her.
Proverbs 3:16 Length of days is in Her right hand; and in Her left hand riches and honour. Proverbs 3:17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all Her paths are peace.
Proverbs 3:18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon Her: and happy is every one that retaineth Her.
Proverbs 3:19 The LORD by Wisdom hath founded the earth; by Understanding hath He established the heavens. And concerning the tree of eternal life...when you baptise yourself with fire, anoint yourself, or eat of the body or drink of the blood of the Lord...always do this **first** in remembrance of the Highest...**for the remission of your sins**...**then** (and only then!) shall it be unto you for a unity and an oil of joy and gladness!!!Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Praise Him and His Wisdom! Matthew 11:19...[She] is justified of Her children. ~They~ are One for those who believe and know the Truth!!!
Accept your invitation to the Wedding...all who worship in Spirit and Truth are being called to inherit heaven and earth becoming as One. John 10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know My sheep, and am known of Mine. John 10:15 As the Father knoweth Me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down My life for the sheep. John 10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice; and there shall be one fold, and one Shepherd. John 10:17 Therefore doth My Father love Me, because I lay down My life, that I might take it again. John 10:18 No man taketh it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of My Father...John 10:27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: John 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any one pluck them out of My hand. John 10:29 My Father, which gave them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to pluck them out of My Father's hand. John 10:30 I and My Father are one. God is Love and Truth is God. Repent of sin and...**per-fect** so that you may be as the One who is **Perfect** {Matthew 5:48} Let us remember that All who love Love and do love unto others are on their way to heaven...it all hangs on these two.
{Matthew 22:37-40} O Love, I pray Thee; quicken Your disciples to come into Your likeness - to keep and do Your Word - in Spirit and Truth - fulfilling Your promise to heal and overcome those who speak error and lies. Turn Thy face unto us now...
We pray, in Your Name. Amen.John 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the **true** worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. And most of all, O Thou Most High... May **Thou** be magnified above and within all!The kingdom, the power and the glory is **Thine** forever! **Thy** will be done.
I love you all...may peace be with you always.I am... ~Love Truth~
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Comment #35 posted by FoM on July 27, 2004 at 20:57:04 PT
BGreen
We do go back a long way. Death is one of the hardest issues we face and no one will avoid it. Hopefully your friends families will do ok in time. Time heals all wounds. One day at a time.
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Comment #34 posted by Hope on July 27, 2004 at 20:51:46 PT
Thank you, B Green
For being you and being here.
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Comment #33 posted by BGreen on July 27, 2004 at 20:43:26 PT
re: comments 21 and 22
Thank you for your sympathy, FoM and Hope. The pain I've experienced is nothing compared to what the families are feeling.I feel like you all are my friends and that's why I feel comfortable in sharing my life with the CannabisNews.com posters. I'm a pre-9/11/01 member and poster so we've been through a lot together.The Reverend Bud Green
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Comment #32 posted by Hope on July 27, 2004 at 20:28:11 PT
Well..not exactly a "lesser known" parable
It just sounded that way when I tendered my recalled rendition.:)
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Comment #31 posted by Hope on July 27, 2004 at 20:24:45 PT
The Lord's Prayer and asking for forgiveness
Also in Luke 11...where Jesus instructs to ask for forgiveness..."forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us" was instruction in prayer before the Redemption plan had been carried out. As I read it...up until the death and resurrection sins were just "rolled back" another year until the act of Redemption, Christ's death and resurrection, actually took place...and removed them from us..."as far as the East is from the West."
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Comment #30 posted by Hope on July 27, 2004 at 20:17:10 PT
That parable Luke 11
5 Then he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6 because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.'
7 "Then the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.' 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness[5] he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
9 "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
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Comment #29 posted by Hope on July 27, 2004 at 14:51:20 PT
GCW
I did say, "Is it a sin to ask God for something he has already given us?" I didn't choose my words carefully...but I rarely do...and I was sleepy. I was meaning like something already in our hand, as in "ignoring" it. You answered my question beautifully and passionately. Thank you very much. I appreciate your taking the time.I know our relationship with God is very private, but I really appreciate when a fellow spiritual is willing to let me have a closer look at his relationship with God. Yours looks beautiful from here. About asking over and over until we get what we need, actually, there's a parable that encourages asking over and over again until our need is filled. It’s not among the better-known parables that Jesus used. It was the one about the guy who had unexpected guests arrive in the middle of the night and had no bread for them. He went next door and banged on his neighbor's door. The neighbor looked down from his upper room and told him to go away. He was in bed. But he kept knocking and asking until the neighbor finally got up and came down stairs and gave him the bread.As I was reading your post and realized the question I asked, or how I asked it, it made me think of cannabis as an unusual item. He's already given it to us, but other men have taken it away, prohibited its use, therefore, many people have to ask him for it again and again. Thank you, GCW. I do appreciate your insight and understanding.
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Comment #28 posted by The GCW on July 27, 2004 at 05:30:18 PT
Not just for Hope but everybody wishing for hope.
7:27:4Hope asks, Is it a sin to ask God for something he has already given us?One key is to accept what is available. You must receive it to enjoy it.It is not a sin to ask for something Christ God Our Father has already given.It is not even a sin to redundantly ask.Through prayer, quite often I ask for the same things through out the day. One thing that helps clarify that is because of the dream, even dreams You don’t remember that still occurred. While sleeping, You don’t know where You have been last night and illustrates a time where reconnecting to the Spirit of Truth may be vital. Check in often. Another instance where asking over and over for the same thing is when in prayer You acknowledge that fact while acknowledging You already have the blessing. Another illustration of when it is good to ask over and over is because You can explain to Our Father that to learn and obtain more understanding will help You do His will. Another reason to ask for something redundantly is because the truth contains so much and is related to so much that You continue to learn more and more; sometimes I spend days and days in the same area of the Bible because the Spirit of Truth just keeps on exposing related truths. And another reason to pray for the same thing is because more than what You pray for, it is that You pray; Christ God Our Father just wants to spend a little time with Us, to begin with. When I write or talk about cannabis, I want to get it right so much that I usually pray to remove any question of weather or not the Spirit of Truth is in control. So You can imagine how many times I have asked for Christ God Our Father to show Me the truth about cannabis as He wishes for Me to know it so that I can share it with others so that others would understand it so clearly that they would be able to share it with others still. Through this process, the Spirit of Truth will never run out of things to say about cannabis because the truth about cannabis is eternal. If You asked and received, don’t overlook the fact that You may have only received a small portion of what You asked for; it may take time to receive Biblical levels of something, as different seed start to expose green quickly, it goes on to magnify its beauty. The entity in question compounds. That is why We should all be controlling what is compounding; a bad seed given growth hormones is will haunt Us.Cannabis is family.Another reason to pray and often ask for the same thing as in to ask for The Father to for give Us for Our sins is that evil / sin travels like seed that gets sprinkled in the wind. Evil is physical but it is also a spiritual. You can not see all aspects of evil but they are there. You can imagine How angry I get. That anger comes as seed form very often and the way to take that dead entity and rid of it is through prayer; if I even consider hurting someone I hustle to rid of that whole spirit; I pray for Christ God Our Father to forgive Me for thinking that… and continue… I know exactly how to go to the Father and I run.More from an old man.When You pray to Christ God Our Father, pray through Jesus Christ, but further, pray with Jesus Christ and further still, pray as a Jesus Christ.When You pray move Your lips and let out those whispers. There are different spiritual realities and it seems as though some can read Your mind and have various abilities, there are some spiritual realities that can not read Your mind but can hear what You pray. It is one reason why it is helpful to pray alone… less inhibition.And once We start the process of accepting what has been offered, We realize there is no end to what We can truthfully accept. Now accept what it says when Jesus says that We can do His works and more. John (My Man) 14:12.We can do more than Jesus Christ did. And that is His expectation.Holy Love.I AM ready.It is hard to imagine how We have been told of this creation 2,000 years ago and hardly anyone has a grasp of it.We should all be civilized by now.
A deep thinker with out the Spirit of Truth is harmful and offensive.And We have many deep thinkers.A deep thinker with cannabis / Christ God Our Father is different than a deep thinker with out cannabis / Christ God Our Father; one is progressive the other regressive.This is not just for Hope but for everybody that wishes for hope & wishes HOPE / Christ God Our Father would react.If I have anything it is because I have asked for it in order to share it; the more I share it the more I get it. That is not deep thinking, that is the Spirit of Truth flowing where someone has given Him a spout.The flow of the Spirit of Truth has a pace that We control.Everyone can do the works that I do and more. The Green Collar Worker
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Comment #27 posted by Hope on July 26, 2004 at 22:31:04 PT
GCW
To make myself, perhaps, more clearly understood...I'm talking about our daily every day life with him.I'm not talking about that moment when we come to care whether God has forgiven us or not. I mean in our everyday life with him after that initial acceptance. Is it a sin to ask God for something he has already given us? Aft all, it is something that cost him a lot and that we should have appreciated enough to notice that we already had it and didn't have to ask for more. The gift wasn't a small,weak, or temporary thing. It's able to cover it all...even into the future and the past. Well...if it is a sin...it's covered.:)I hope I'm making, at least, spiritual sense, which of course,makes no sense to anyone but a spiritual person. It's past my bedtime. Check in with you guys tomorrow, God willing.
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Comment #26 posted by FoM on July 26, 2004 at 22:27:55 PT
Hope and EJ
Thank you Hope. That was very kind of you.EJ I worked on a web page when Gore and Clinton spoke. I guess I didn't want to hear them. I like Ronnie Reagan on the Convention after Hours on MSNBC though.
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Comment #25 posted by Hope on July 26, 2004 at 22:05:17 PT
The GCW
You said, "I wish everyone would go to the Father and ask Him for the Truth and everyone then share what they've learned." and in another place, "We simply obey Jesus Christ and love one another and pray; ask for Christ God Our Father to forgive Us for Our sins and thank Him for Our blessings, realizing everything is a blessing."I'd like to share something with you that an old man taught me. It’s the truth, I believe. I checked it all over the place with the Bible. I was floored. I couldn't believe what he was saying to me. He was right. He said asking God for forgiveness is asking for what you already have...like you didn't notice you had it. Christ "died once for all"...that was for all the sins and shortcomings in the past, that present, and the entire future, including now. “Once for all”. Our sins are as "far from us as the East is from the West". You can go around the earth North and South long enough to run into "North" or "South" and actually be going in a different direction.... but no matter how many times you circle it going East or West...you'll always be going one way or another...they never meet. How did they know that in those days?The Grace we get covers it all...even things we haven't actually done yet.We can confess a wrong...so he will see that we see it...we can be sorry for it, but we already have the forgiveness...lock, stock, and barrel. So we only have to thank him and praise him for it...we don't have to ask for what we've already been given. It takes a while to get used to the idea of not asking for “forgiveness”, It seemed blasphemous at first...but if you check with the Spirit of Truth that dwells in you, you will know that it's true. We have the gift...we don't have to ask for it. It took me a long time to get used to the idea. I'd slip back into asking for forgiveness instead of just thanking him for it and admitting when I'm wrong and asking for help in doing the right thing and guidance. It's beautiful.
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Comment #24 posted by Hope on July 26, 2004 at 21:38:41 PT
Deep thinker?
Yes, you are, The GCW. You are a deep thinker. You and Martha still love God after the loss of a child. That says so much to me. It gives me hope. You think about things of the spirit. You seek The Almighty. The Spirit in me identifies with the Spirit in you. They are one and the same and I know that you know God. That's comforting to me.
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Comment #23 posted by E_Johnson on July 26, 2004 at 21:30:12 PT
Reliving the past yuck
Clinton and Gore, everyone at the convention loves them, to me they are a couple of bad memories.
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Comment #22 posted by Hope on July 26, 2004 at 21:26:44 PT
Bud
I read the article. I'm sorry you lost your friends.
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Comment #21 posted by FoM on July 26, 2004 at 21:21:27 PT
BGreen
I'm sorry for your loss but I'm glad you felt comfortable telling us. Everyone of you are so special. We might not be able to fix the world but we help fix each other and that's very important.
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Comment #20 posted by The GCW on July 26, 2004 at 21:20:14 PT
Deep thinker?
It is what comes around in prayer.That Spirit of Truth in example.Just tune in. Tune into that communication system that Jesus Christ exposed about 2,000 years ago.That is part of My point.This Spirit of Truth thing is so real. It teaches Us the Truth. It is alive.We simply obey Jesus Christ and love one another and pray; ask for Christ God Our Fahter to forgive Us for Our sins and thank Him for Our blessings, realizing everything is a blessing. Then ask Him to show You the truth as He wishes for You to know it. I wish everyone would go to the Father and ask Him for the Truth and everyone then share what they've learned.Everyone.And Yes,We are all effected by this war, even the antagonists that don’t know it yet.Biblically, We are not to be making war.The Truth is alive.And I feel as though it is the reason I AM here; to tell You that the Truth is alive.The Truth received CPRIf You love the truth, hold hands with His creator.Let's all prepare to do that together.Christ God Our Father is Our only chance to change things.& I trust Him.He has shown Me so very much, I trust Him 100%.Fwowr20 = 100%The Green Collar Worker
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Comment #19 posted by BGreen on July 26, 2004 at 21:15:29 PT
The Green Collar Worker
Sorry about the mistake. It's hard to type when the tears are flowing.The Reverend Bud Green
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Comment #18 posted by BGreen on July 26, 2004 at 21:06:16 PT
The GWC
I'm so sorry about your son. You and FoM share a horrible loss that I can only imagine.I lost two friends early Friday morning in a house fire. They were two of the most talented musicians around and there is a great deal of grief in a whole lot of people.EVERBODY PLEASE INSTALL A WORKING SMOKE DETECTOR!!!!!!The Reverend Bud Green
Fire kills two icons of local music scene
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Comment #17 posted by Hope on July 26, 2004 at 20:54:08 PT
GCW
I'm so sorry about your son. The wounds of this war are deeper and more varied than any one of us can ever know. I'm sorry. You are an encouragement to me. You are a deep thinker and a valiant fighter. I admire your strength, spirit, character, and faith.
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Comment #16 posted by Hope on July 26, 2004 at 20:40:09 PT
Anything I think you might "call" me
I will consider carefully. I value your opinion. But no, I don't think you called me fatalistic. We are fighting against and resisting unjust laws. Big time unjust laws. We are always up close, each of us pummeling our selected weak spots in the War on Drugs. Every once in a while, I back off and look at the totality of the thing we are up against. It's huge! I do sometimes feel a sense of dismay...possibly, it’s fatalism.It seems impossible to make any progress against such an overwhelming behemoth. After looking at its big ugliness...after that bit of overwhelming surveillance, all people like we can do is move back in close and go to working on it. It's probably best not to ever back up and look at the size and ugliness of the beast we are endeavoring to defeat.Somehow, the very impossibility of what we are doing is the very reason that I know we will prevail. "You may be right, I may be crazy." as the song says. But crazy as it is...I know we will be part of doing the impossible and actually win back some justice and freedom and peace.You’ve given us all, in CannabisNews, a powerful tool to use in the fight. Thank you.
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Comment #15 posted by The GCW on July 26, 2004 at 20:31:18 PT
I believe Kucinich.
In 1974 the government found THC slowed the growth of a virus-induced leukemia and stopped research.If that research did not stop and continued till 1997, I wonder if they would have learned more to help My son survive Leukemia?1980-1997They may have sold out before He even got here.420EEEHere We go, another day, with all We know and the government continues to crap on Us.Something is freaking out of whack here.This is some Biblical scale bull sLet Us watch and keep Our eyes open. I can not imagine Our Father would neglect Us.His will will continue.Maybe when it says all the plants are good, on literally the very 1st page of the Bible, just maybe it is Christ God Our Father implying His will, instead of saying it the way it is; He is saying the direction that We should be sighting the issue for civilization to progress to the next level. It is the direction of view that exposes more.It is His will that We choose to accept that all the plants are good. And He will allow Us to kill each other in order to learn that lesson.Do prohibitionists have the mind of a pig?I love,the Truth.
The Green Collar Worker
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Comment #14 posted by FoM on July 26, 2004 at 19:47:58 PT
fatalistic
Oh Hope I just read my comment and it looks like I was calling you fatalistic. I'm the one who is fatalistic sometimes and I didn't mean you. Acceptance for me in certain situations is a good thing.
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Comment #13 posted by Hope on July 26, 2004 at 19:34:40 PT
fatalistic
Yes...I know it sounds that way. But nothing is "impossible".People sometimes come to their senses in great waves for no obvious understandable reason. Maybe that will save the Republic.
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Comment #12 posted by FoM on July 26, 2004 at 19:26:46 PT
Hope
I know what you mean and you could be right. It could be too late. That's so fatalistic but I'm just saying how I see it sometimes.
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Comment #11 posted by Hope on July 26, 2004 at 19:22:12 PT
FoM
The point I'm trying to make is that government itself is made up of so many people...a huge voting power...that they will never vote themselves out of a job...or into another.We can't stop prohibition and the disaster that is because too many people depend on it as their main source of income. They won't do anything, even if it's right, to rein in the beast...because they ARE the beast.Maybe?
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Comment #10 posted by FoM on July 26, 2004 at 19:11:42 PT
Hope
I wanted to say something. My ability to even think about politics comes from Animal Farm and what I got out of it when I was young and read it. The farmer was bad so the animals got rid of him and started all over again. It was good in the beginning but in the end it failed. Politics seem to be more of different cycles. People are liberal then conservative and back to liberal and on and on. Without this structure we would only be one way or the other. We could destroy ourselves. I look at politics as different cycles and even when I don't agree with a policy I think am I sure beyond a shadow of a doubt that one way is really better then the other. I haven't ever been able to say that so I go with what I feel is best for this time in history. I hope this makes sense. I do care about our country but I believe in all of us and not the politicians.
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Comment #9 posted by Hope on July 26, 2004 at 19:00:44 PT
"even if it is the right thing to do"
So called..."Good people".... sometimes called "the good guys" are nurturing the beast of a cash cow, for many, that huge government is. Lawyers, police, post office, city government, county government, state government are jumping on and pulling as many as possible aboard with them. If they want to make the size of government grow...so their cousin's nephew, or whoever, can get a job with the government, too...they are causing the horror of a huge parasitic government. They want their job security iron clad with laws…and the more, apparently, the better. Their "jobs" are the fat of the government and the size of it alone will destroy any hope of true freedom from governmental intrusion into every aspect of our lives.The more intrusion, the more jobs. The ship get's too heavy on the government side of it and it tips over. Any kind of balance is destroyed. It's a disaster swelling before our eyes. The ship is the United States. In fact...government shouldn't take up half the ship...it should be small and somewhere...maybe the bow...but it shouldn't take up nearly half the ship.
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Comment #8 posted by Hope on July 26, 2004 at 16:58:25 PT
Max, you said
"Fer cripe's sake, all the polls support it, he has nothing to be afraid of."I sometimes fear that the polls don't matter. Why? Our votes really don't matter. Perhaps, what has happened is that the huge government has grown so large that it is a matter of the sheer amount of people (votes) who earn their livelihoods through one aspect of government or another. Sure, it’s corporations and industry, but there is another head on the hydra. The bureaucracy just kept expanding from within and has become a huge, ironclad cash cow, keeping so many people more comfortable than they might have been. The huge beast does not want to get leaner. The number of them has a voting block power that won't be denied. They aren't going to kill their cash cow...even if it is the right thing to do. I think I see the danger of huge government more clearly now than I ever have.
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Comment #7 posted by FoM on July 26, 2004 at 16:17:39 PT
Hope
I understand what you're saying. I don't believe anyone that is in politics. I'm cynical in that area. I believe the courts will be the way we will win.
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Comment #6 posted by Hope on July 26, 2004 at 16:07:38 PT
http://www.mpp.org/candidates/guide/kerry.html
The last politician I ever believed about anything was Bill Clinton. Because I'm a flamin Christian, I wanted to believe in “Brother” George Bush jr....but I didn't...I wanted to...but I couldn't. I don’t believe Kerry either. They are all self-interested and they all secretly, or not so secretly, despise the common man, the masses, the un-elite… the ones of us there are so many of.
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Comment #5 posted by FoM on July 26, 2004 at 15:45:57 PT
Max Flowers
I hope he will say more but I'm willing to wait for a little while. He leans more our way then Bush. I'm glad your new browser is working well. I use IE and most times it's ok. I copy everything incase I lose it and repaste it. I hate losing information too.
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Comment #4 posted by Max Flowers on July 26, 2004 at 15:36:50 PT
FoM
Thanks, I read that and it's mildly encouraging but I want him to take a more firm position on it, not just scramble for a position when asked by a reporter. Fer cripe's sake, all the polls support it, he has nothing to be afraid of.His statement that he'd like to see more science on it is troubling, we have all the research we need to support the position, and more coming all the time... what has to happen is he needs to accept that research, become aware that it exists, and sit down and look at it.If he does this once having won, great, I just think many thousands of people would vote for him who right now may not because he isn't embracing the issue. I know several who will vote Libertarian instead if he doesn't show signs of dealing with the drug war and medical cannabis issues, and soon. Myself, I worry that no matter what he says or doesn't say, if he gets in, he will ignore the issue for his whole term.By the way FoM, I'm observing that with the Mozilla browser, I can forget to enter my password and page forward and back and my comment text will still be there! Yay!
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on July 26, 2004 at 15:21:00 PT
Max Flowers
Here's what I found about how John Kerry feels about medical marijuana. He was given an A- by MPP and a thumbs up from NORML for medical marijuana. Hopefully as we get closer to the election he will say something. I doubt he will now.http://www.mpp.org/candidates/guide/kerry.html
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Comment #2 posted by Max Flowers on July 26, 2004 at 15:08:25 PT
Speaking of November...
How do we see to it that Kerry grasps the importance of the medical cannabis issue before (or after) the election? I guess it would be easier to get his attention after he is elected, but the truth is, if he were to get on our side before the election, that might get him the extra votes he needs to WIN the election.I've been thinking of sending a fax to the Kerry campaign, written with a bold Sharpie pen, saying something like this: - IMPORTANT - PLEASE LET JOHN KERRY KNOW IMMEDIATELY THAT IF HE WOULD JUST DECIDE TO SUPPORT MEDICAL CANNABIS RIGHTS, PUBLICLY EMBRACE THE ISSUE AND POINT OUT IN SPEECHES THE LIES AND ILLEGAL PERSECUTION THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION INFLICTS ON SICK PEOPLE WHO USE MEDICAL CANNABIS; HE WOULD GAIN THE ENTHUSIASTIC VOTING SUPPORT OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE WAITING, FRUSTRATED AT HIS SILENCE ON THIS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT ISSUE.
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Comment #1 posted by billos on July 26, 2004 at 13:29:40 PT
The truth in black and white......................
however the unfortunate reality of it all is Bush, Ashcroft, and Walters couldn't care less about the truth so they will continue to prosecute sick people over their zero tolerance policy.See you in November
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