cannabisnews.com: Higher Education Has a Different Meaning Higher Education Has a Different Meaning Posted by CN Staff on June 26, 2008 at 07:05:30 PT By Brandon Lowrey, Staff Writer Source: Daily News Los Angeles, CA -- Marijuana plant Like other universities, Oaksterdam offers wide-eyed pupils an enlightening classroom experience to spark their curiosity. But at Oaksterdam, the homework assignments involve baking the perfect pot brownie, the lessons teach students how to greet DEA agents who've just kicked down the front door, and the diploma confers the status: certified budtender. In a squatty building in the shadow of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, marijuana devotees pack classes at the unique trade school that teaches students how to grow and process marijuana, use the drug in baked goods and manage medical-marijuana dispensaries. Ilia Gvozdenovic, chancellor of Oakland-based Oaksterdam University, describes the nonaccredited school as a much-needed source of knowledge about marijuana in an age of misunderstanding. "It's kind of like the Wild West," Gvozdenovic said, alluding to the confusion and conflict surrounding California state law allowing the sale of medical marijuana and the federal government's refusal to acknowledge it. "To me, the issue is we need better training for folks." The trade school, which will be holding classes this weekend in Los Angeles, boasts about 500 graduates since it was founded in Oakland in November. Classes began in Los Angeles earlier this year. Students pay $250 for the weekend course and classes are scheduled through August. The school sits in a part of downtown Oakland nicknamed "Oaksterdam," where pot clubs and cafes line the streets as they do in Amsterdam, Holland, where smoking marijuana and hashish is tolerated. Just teaching people how to grow and use marijuana isn't enough to draw the wrath of the federal government, said Sarah Pullen, a Los Angeles spokeswoman for the Drug Enforcement Administration. "If they're not distributing, selling or cultivating marijuana, I would imagine they're not violating any federal laws," she said. Because of the conflict between California and federal law - and the vague wording in the state's medical-marijuana law - some counties and cities have banned medical-marijuana dispensaries from opening, or have required a strict permit process. Los Angeles has enacted a moratorium on the shops as it searches for a way to regulate them. But with the White House changing hands next year, many medical-marijuana advocates are hopeful. Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, has indicated his government would take a hands-off approach to medical marijuana in states such as California. Arizona Sen. John McCain's would continue to back federal law and forbid it. Federal drug authorities have raided more than 50 California dispensaries in the past two years but have barely nicked the surface. As one is shut down, others spring up, law enforcement officials concede. While Oaksterdam University may be doing nothing technically illegal, federal anti-drug officials are not happy about its instructors training new crops of savvy dispensary owners. "It's too bad they're taking people's money and all they're teaching them is how to violate federal law," said Rafael Lemaitre, a spokesman for the Office of National Drug Control Policy. "Actually, I wonder whether the students will remember to even show up for class at all." There's a lot to memorize in the world of weed. For one, marijuana comes in hundreds of varieties. So would a cancer patient benefit most from some Panama Red or Purple Haze? Would some Bubba Kush smooth away that anxiety problem? And then there's the problem of deciding whether to smoke it, eat it or drink it. A good budtender would know, Gvozdenovic said. "It's very similar to a bartender, but for bud," he said. It's like "a bartender, psychologist and doctor." Some of the specifics are beyond the weekend survey courses held in Los Angeles. They won't be hands-on, either - no cannabis plants or drugs will be allowed in the classroom. But some of the material might include the science of nurturing a cannabis plant from a seedling and the art of preparing it for use as dried buds for smoking, mixing it with butter for cooking, or as a tincture or topical ointment. At the end of the class, graduates receive a degree that proves them competitive candidates for careers at dispensaries, though it isn't required. Alumni, Oaksterdam claims, can make from $50,000 to $100,000 a year as a budtender at a medical-marijuana dispensary. Marijuana activists across the nation see Oaksterdam University as a historic step toward legitimacy for their movement. "We're in the midst of an incredible, evolving epoch," said Allen St. Pierre, executive director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. "The best practices today may put you in jail tomorrow. ... Five years ago, this would not be possible and there would not be a need for it." St. Pierre and others said there's still a long way to go. "We'd like to see this type of commerce contributing to society just like any other commerce," said Mason Tvert, executive director for Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation. The Colorado-based group, which led to voters in Denver making marijuana possession the lowest law enforcement priority, says pot is safer than booze. And Tvert bemoaned what he sees as a double standard between the intoxicants. "If this was a home-brewing class," he said, "no one would really care." Note: Students learn skills to work in medical marijuana dispensaries.Complete Title: These Days, Higher Education Has a Different MeaningSource: Los Angeles Daily News (CA)Author: Brandon Lowrey, Staff WriterPublished: June 26, 2008Copyright: 2008 Los Angeles Newspaper GroupWebsite: http://www.dailynews.comContact: http://www.dailynews.com/writealetterCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #28 posted by FoM on July 02, 2008 at 06:10:42 PT museman That was great! You must have put an unbelievable amount of time into your video. Thank you! [ Post Comment ] Comment #27 posted by museman on July 02, 2008 at 00:07:14 PT some have heard the song see the video; - a lengthy project completed.(some might notice a couple musical changes) To This Moment [ Post Comment ] Comment #26 posted by Dankhank on June 26, 2008 at 20:28:20 PT museman you got serious creds for being there in the beginning ...Our first computer was a commodore 64, at one time had two of them and a commodore 128 ...I always liked to have more than one ...First modem was 300 Baud, second, a whopping 1200 Baud.I wrote a basic program, once, to figure how to report a mutual fund for taxes ... that's about it ...I remember the Amiga ... Commodore's answer to Apple. a pretty good machine in the manner of Apple for media processing. Amigas had a very long run in TV production.TV is different to everyone, I would truly miss History Channel, lately the show "The Universe" has been astounding.also Robot Chicken ... ;_0 [ Post Comment ] Comment #25 posted by museman on June 26, 2008 at 19:10:20 PT technology Although my family didn't have a television until I was 12 years old (a B/W) my Gparents had one of the first color TVs, and I remember watching 'Walt Disneys Wonderful World of Color, and the Mickey Mouse Club.' Most things were in B/W until about '65, including TV shows.I am a tinker. I once stopped traffic on a busy street somewhere in So calif with a jury-rigged strobe light made out of an airplance landing light, some wires, nails, two car batteries, and an old phonograph turntable. All to the beat of Hi-Fi Jimi Hendrix.I was 'trained' some in Polaris Missle technology -before the 'silicon revolution' (which I believe has as much to do with something that happened in roswell in 1947, as any 'discovery' made in that field.)I played one of the first 'computer games' in 1973 at Cal State, a Star Trek game programmed by Roddenberry himself, that involved an incredible readout of paper to play.I watched the development of computers quite closely, while pursuing my other great love in life, music. Which led me into the technologies of recording, including video.In 1981 I had a Timex ZX81, which had a whoppin grand total of 8 kilobytes of memory. I spent many hours intrigued by the simple things I could program into it to do.Then there was Mac. I loved Mac. Still got an old 512, and a Performa... I just can't bear to part with though they belong in a museum. I got a lot of use out of Mac when I was going for my AA in electronics.But Mac wasn't ready to do 16 to 24 bit audio recording when Windows was, and coincidentally, I was, so I went to windows. As a musician, I found alternative ways, like Solar. My first CD was recorded 100% solar powered, in my underground adobe studio -dug and built by myself and sons. We gave several concerts there powered by solar.Got a certicate on my wall saying I completed training for Microsoft A+ (Windows proficiency, and computer hardware technician.)My latest tinkering has to do with music video.I enjoy a great movie, and or a good tv show as anyone else, but quite frankly, since I've gotten DSL, I only watch commercial free stuff.I believe that ultimately we will embrace the relatively untapped resources of the natural technologies that are now steeped in mysticism and medieval perspectives, and indeed in our current course of damage, we will be left with little choice in the long run.We have abilities and possibilities waiting in the imminent future, but if our 'house is filled with junk, where will we put the really good stuff when it finally comes along?'I am into technology. I am into media. But I am not into destructive techonogy and compromised media. I have control not only over the remote control, but the actual means of access that that media is going to be allowed into my space. I have no more need of TV as we know it, so see no need to upgrade. :-)> [ Post Comment ] Comment #24 posted by FoM on June 26, 2008 at 14:23:16 PT Dankhank When we had our video store we bought an expensive video business system. I never wanted to do anything with the computer (it was too scary) except operate it when it was up and running so our manager did all the back ups and whatever else she had to do. We had two monitors and one system. We have really progressed far since the early days of the computer age. [ Post Comment ] Comment #23 posted by Dankhank on June 26, 2008 at 14:13:07 PT aaadddiiicccttteeeddd .... I got into the repair side of the house back when we bought our first 486 machine. Commercial repair was too expensive, so I learned.the first thing I did was a DOS command called "Deltree."http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deltreedidn't kill the machine so I progressed from there.Computers/Software/Internet will evolve, but a "healthy" addiction is a good thing, for precisely the reason you stated. Learning is a lifetime activity. [ Post Comment ] Comment #22 posted by FoM on June 26, 2008 at 13:42:54 PT Dankhank You are a technofreak! LOL! That's a good thing though. I always want to learn more. I think it's good for our minds. [ Post Comment ] Comment #21 posted by Dankhank on June 26, 2008 at 13:34:46 PT dial-up I've been off of dial-up so long it actually hurts to use someone's dial-up.I'm not a snob, just can't stand the wait, and lack of youtube or whatever. [ Post Comment ] Comment #20 posted by Dankhank on June 26, 2008 at 13:30:29 PT wireless sorry, didn't answer your question ... got carried away ...I've had a Memorex router for years, four wire-connects AND wireless, now you can get a combined modem/wired/wireless router from ATT, and have a wireless adapter that DOES plug into USB in one computer and a PCI wireless adapter in the other in house.We have three wired and two wireless computers usually hooked up at all times, two of the wired are: a test machine and usually a machine I am working on.Told you I was a technofreak ... :-) [ Post Comment ] Comment #19 posted by FoM on June 26, 2008 at 13:23:24 PT Dankhank I appreciate your telling me about ATT. I haven't called them to ask if anything is available where we live for a few years but I do check on line. Maybe it's time for me to call them. I want to stay on top of the Alltel - Verizon merger. I guess I'm on a little mission. I never want to go back to dial-up again. I don't think I could stay interested like I am now. Alltel has been good. I have tree obstructions and am only getting about 600 down and 100 up. YouTube doesn't buffer and that is how I judge high speed. I consider Youtube vital to a good Internet experience. You can watch what you want at the moment based on your frame of mind. It's great. I guess I'm adddiiicccttteddd! LOL! [ Post Comment ] Comment #18 posted by FoM on June 26, 2008 at 12:54:38 PT Dankhank So do you have a small gadget that plugs into a usb port? [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by Dankhank on June 26, 2008 at 12:48:54 PT internet We've had a broadband link for eight or more years, starting with SWBELL, then Cingular bought them, then Cingular bought ATT wireless and changed to ATT so, short answer, ATT.Three MBps down and 784KBps up. Nice ... Yesterday I got a hook-up for the first two EPs of Weeds and got each down in about five minutes. Sometimes get movies in about 20 minutes. Sweet.From reading, I believe that in the near future there won't be caps, as such, unless you considered tiered plans a cap. I do.I don't download large files a lot, but do so regularly. Likely I use bandwidth more than most ... don't really know. [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by FoM on June 26, 2008 at 12:36:47 PT Dankhank Do you have DSL or wireless to connect to the Net? If Alltel puts a cap on us, when and if Verizon takes over, I won't want to stay with Alltel. We can opt out of our contract if that happens. I have a habit of going on Youtube binges. Today I haven't watched one but sometimes I just go from one to another. That's what I would miss if capped like HughesNet was. We have ATT for our land line. We don't have DSL available now though. Not yet. [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by Dankhank on June 26, 2008 at 12:28:40 PT techno ... I was an electronic tech in the Army, and have loved audio, then video as it came along. I created "home theatre" in the seventies when I figured out how to use the vcr to put stereo audio in my reciever/amplifier... in 4-channel, no less.we got a nice LCD 32" two Christmas' ago and I agree with all you have said about HD.I'm in the process of hooking a computer full-time to our's with a wireless internet hookup and wireless keyboard/mouse so as to stream internet content to it.I be a technofreak ... and I like it. [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by Dankhank on June 26, 2008 at 12:22:00 PT phones ... My spouse and I have been using cell-phones since the Mororola Bag-phone days, when we decided to have a phone while traveling...Its only been three years or so that we BOTH have had a phone, I say it's so I can find her when we get separated in big stores. :-) It works ...We have Sony/Ericksons, Walkman, FM radio, photo, video, bluetooth, internet ...more crap than we need, but they were free on an upgrade I got for bringing broadband customers to ATT.I could be happy with a Jitterbug ... all I really want is to make a call when desired, and receive calls from my spouse when she wants to talk. No more than five people have my number since I have NO desire to talk on the phone anymore than that.surfing the net on the phone is crazy ... we look for ever larger monitor/screens for home systems ... why would I try to surf on a tiny screen? Not happening.The military base here forbids using a cell-phone in your ear while driving, $80-buck fine, so I use the speakerphone and hold the phone down by my midriff. No bluetooth here, either.My phone is MY tool, I decide what it will do.With ATT no charge to talk to spouse and son. We regularly lose rollover minutes, since you can only keep them for a year, so every month we lose minutes and gain others. [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by FoM on June 26, 2008 at 11:47:26 PT Dankhank Our HDTV is wonderful. They have dropped $100 in price. We haven't upgraded to HDTV though. I check out the DirecTV Forums and there are too many problems that need to be fixed. The quality of the TV is really good without HD. I have my computer over 20 feet from the TV and I can see it really well. I love it. [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by FoM on June 26, 2008 at 11:43:44 PT Dankhank I love MSNBC. It's my favorite news channel. I don't watch Fox. The Hallmark Channel is good. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by Dankhank on June 26, 2008 at 11:38:09 PT DirecTV FoM ... we're long term DirecTV/dish consumers, also, from 1994 or so.Our first DirecTV system retailed for 600 dollars. Switched to Dish a couple of years ago for the pause/record option.We have Dish100+, lowest level with the premium packages we like. This way we sent NO money To Fauxnews, but also don't get MSNBC, alas.Right now we ARE getting MSNBC ... as a teaser, I imagine.If I could get MSNBC only, I would upgrade.Alack, we may upgrade anyway to get Hallmark Channel.Oh, for the days of a-la-cart programming, come soon, please. [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by FoM on June 26, 2008 at 11:30:07 PT Dankhank We just re-did a 2 year contract with Alltel since my husband's cell phone was analog and it wasn't working well anymore. Now I have a cell phone too. It can take pictures, a short video and I can axcess the web I think but it costs more money so I haven't tried it. I really don't need a cell phone but I got one. Two for one promotion. It's a pretty phone. It's a Samsung Hue. I would rather have one with a keyboard but I use my computer and don't travel anymore so it's not necessary. It has bluetooth but neither of us care to use the little gadgets. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by FoM on June 26, 2008 at 11:22:07 PT museman We've had DirecTV since the Fall of 94. Before that we only got one channel. Sometimes we'd get a second one but not often. Back then we almost never watched tv. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by Dankhank on June 26, 2008 at 11:19:24 PT HD ... As we approach the 2009 date, a major decision is coming ...WASHINGTON--Millions of American television sets that receive only analog over-the-air broadcasts could go dark if not upgraded by Jan. 1, 2009.http://news.cnet.com/Digital-TV-changeover-suggested-for-2009/2100-1028_3-5785519.htmlI am an avid consumer of TV, at MY command.There is a lot of Crap on the airwaves\wires, but I will gatekeep and keep the crap out. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by Dankhank on June 26, 2008 at 11:03:44 PT Aye on Cannabis The first time I quit drinking I was sixteen years old. The guys I ran with would get combative and want to fight when two beers deep. I told them to drop me at the Bowling alley so I could play the pinball machines and talk to the girls there.By two years later I had found Cannabis and never again have I kept more than a six-pack in the fridge, usually to share with someone during a barbecue or for help with auto maintenance.No beer in the fridge, right now.And I am halb-Bayer ... read half Bavariana bottle of rum for frozen daiquiri's lasts through the summer 'round here.alcohol is a destroyer, Cannabis is a healer ...'nuff said ... [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by museman on June 26, 2008 at 10:48:57 PT OT: I'd like to start a movement.. of people who free themselves of the TV suck-in by the simple non-act of refusing to update to the new HD system.Now's our chance to break free of the false, poisoned media, and all anyone has to do is NOT pay for the upgrade. Of course everyone with cable and satellite won't need to , but there's a significant number of us that use antennae.Just an idea. I'm going to 'not' do it. I'm 'just saying no' to status quo controlled media. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by museman on June 26, 2008 at 09:23:42 PT alcohol Alcohol is a poison, the 'high' is from the screams of dying brain cells. I for one am tired of the constant comparison (by obvious alcoholics) of alcohol to cannabis. There is no comparison!Cannabis is NOT "EQUAL WITH ALCOHOL" in any shape form, or wishful thinking.The fact that Europeans polluted their water supplies to the point where in the Rheinland for example, drinking beer and ale was the equivalent of water, and children drank it at an early age. No wonder the kings and principalities had it all over the peasants, they were all part brain dead from drinking alcohol instead of water.So that ignorant practice has been carried over, and there are a significant number of brain dead drinkers out there who feel it their obligatory duty to make sure that their children follow suit. The prevalent alcoholism in the police forces is quietly condoned and ignored by the upper echelon, because having a stupid police force is just as important as having a stupid populace.Speaking of stupid populaces, I am astounded at the ignorance shown by people concerning the meth-amphetemine epidemic that has inundated places like our valley. The TV goes on and on with their 'meth-watch' and so on. Yet known users, makers, and distributers are not only allowed to continue un-abated, but the cops flat out ignore any and all calls referring to them. Just make one call about pot and see how quick they show up. I've seen the cops take deliveries from the meth-heads. In the REAL world, meth is equal to alcohol. They both achieve the same results, and the same kind of people are attracted to them, cops and criminals.They want the speed available to the truckdrivers, and the loggers, as well as the cops.When we called the cops and (the only people I have dropped a dime on in my entire life) told them that the neighbor methheads were indoctrinating a whole new generation from the local Hgh School, which they are only 2 blocks away from, they told us they would 'look into it.' When I reported their vandalism in the form of slashing my tires (in retaliation for getting back some property that they stole from my kids) I was informed that the one character had been 'in and out of jail so many times' and that he was convicted, sentenced, and then after a brief jailing of a week or so, released -for armed robbery, assault, and theft. Apparently the 3-times-you're-out rule doesn't apply to these favorite methheads. Oh, they smoke pot too, but they'll never get busted for it. They also drive illegally. I've seen the one guy trying to steal tags from cars. They steal gas. They release toxic chemeicals into the air, which we've had to close our doors and windows tightly to keep out.When times are hard for them, what do you think is their drug of choice? Alcohol, what else?Alcohol is good for cleaning things (besides the brain) and in a real emergency when you might have to sew someone up or something, it works as a temporary pain killer, but IT IS NOT EQUAL TO CANNABIS!!!!!! Can I have an affirmation on that? [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by FoM on June 26, 2008 at 08:38:02 PT dongenero Knowing how bad alcohol is it's hard to comprehend why parents would allow minors to use alcohol. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by dongenero on June 26, 2008 at 08:14:30 PT Adults often supply underage drinkers: study http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080626/hl_nm/drinking_usa_dc_3We always hear, about the message adult cannabis use sends to children. Well, these adult boozers are "pushing" their deadly, dangerous drug on children. Yes, lets talk about sending messages. CHICAGO (Reuters) - More than 40 percent of the nation's 10.8 million underage drinkers got their alcohol free from adults -- and many got it from their own parents, U.S. health officials said on Thursday.Up to 650,000 youths and underage adults were given alcoholic beverages by their parents or guardians in the past month, they said. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by dongenero on June 26, 2008 at 07:58:21 PT this about sums up the ONDCP "It's too bad they're taking people's money and all they're teaching them is how to violate federal law," said Rafael Lemaitre, a spokesman for the Office of National Drug Control Policy."Actually, I wonder whether the students will remember to even show up for class at all." Very professional sound byte there Rafael.....if you're a professional idiot. And this guy is the spokesman for the ONDCP! Imagine the dregs below him! Lemaitre, your passive aggressive contempt and hate for these American citizens is clear, it is highly unprofessional and really has no place in government. I imagine you throw racial slurs around in the same manner. You are likely projecting your own shortcomings onto, and disparaging, these people with stereotypes in order to feel better about yourself. In a way it's reassuring that your level of intelligence is all the better the ONDCP is able to recruit. I think you represent the office perfectly! [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on June 26, 2008 at 07:11:26 PT Report Clears The Air on European Marijuana Use June 26, 2008http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,3441491,00.html [ Post Comment ] Post Comment