cannabisnews.com: NORML's Weekly News Bulletin - July 11, 2008 NORML's Weekly News Bulletin - July 11, 2008 Posted by CN Staff on July 11, 2008 at 05:43:52 PT Weekly Press Release Source: NORML Massachusetts: Pot Decrim Initiative Qualifies For November Ballot Measure Would Replace Criminal Penalties With A $100 Fine July 11, 2008 - Boston, MA, USBoston, MA: State election officials have approved a measure for the November 2008 ballot that seeks to decriminalize the possession and use of small amounts of cannabis by persons age 18 or older. Sponsored by the Committee for Sensible Marijuana Policy, the measure would replace criminal penalties for the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana with a civil fine of no more than $100. Defendants who pay the fine would not have to appear in court, nor would they be subjected to a criminal record Under current Massachusett law, citizens arrested for minor marijuana offenses face up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $500. According to a spring 2008 poll, state voters favor the proposal by a margin of 2 to 1.Since 2002, more than 480,000 voters in 127 Massachusetts communities have endorsed non-binding resolutions to liberalize local pot policies.If voters approve the measure this fall, Massachusetts would be the first state to enact the decriminalization of marijuana since Nevada's legislature did so in 2001.Currently, twelve states have enacted versions of marijuana decriminalization - replacing criminal sanctions with fine-only penalties for minor pot violators.Michigan voters will also decide on a separate statewide initiative this November that seeks to legalize the medical use of cannabis for qualified patients. If enacted, Michigan will become the thirteenth state since 1996 to authorize the legal use of medical cannabis, and the ninth state to do so by voter initiative.For more information, please contact NORML Executive Director Allen St. Pierre at (202) 483-5500, or visit the Committee for Sensible Marijuana Policy online at: http://sensiblemarijuanapolicy.org/DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=7645 Rhode Island: Governor Vetoes Bill To Study Feasibility Of State-Licensed 'Compassion Centers'July 11, 2008 - Providence, RI, USProvidence, RI: Republican Governor Donald Carcieri vetoed legislation last week that sought to establish a legislative task force to study ways to provide medical cannabis to state-qualified patients. The resolution, H7888, was approved overwhelmingly by the legislature (29-0 in the Senate, 54-2 in the House) after lawmakers failed to approve a previous bill that sought to regulate the distribution of medical marijuana by non-profit state-licensed facilities. (That proposal, S2693, gained approval from the Senate but failed to move forward in the House.) Proponents of the measure expect the legislature will override the Governor's veto."While Governor Carcieri is within his rights to veto this legislation based on his opposition to the medical marijuana program, it is shortsighted to quash the mere study of an issue that garners support from nearly 70 percent of Rhode Islanders," said Jesse Stout, executive director of Rhode Island Patient Advocacy Coalition (RIPAC). In 2005 and 2007, Gov. Carcieri vetoed legislation to legalize the medical use of cannabis by state-authorized patients. Both vetoes were overridden by the legislature. For more information, please visit The Rhode Island Patient Advocacy Coalition. DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=7647 Congress Moves Forward On Cannabis 'Candy' Crackdown July 11, 2008 - Washington, DC, USWashington, DC: The Senate Judiciary Committee has approved legislation introduced by Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-CA) that seeks to enact mandatory minimum penalties for persons found to have manufactured or dispensed edible cannabis products that have been "marketed to appear similar to a candy product." Cannabis-based food products were the targets of a federal DEA investigation in California last year. The edibles, which are preferred by some patients who wish to avoid smoking, had been popular items among some of California's medical cannabis dispensaries prior to the DEA's crackdown.As passed by the Judiciary, Feinstein's proposal - Senate Bill 1211 - would double penalties for anyone who "manufactures, creates, distributes, or possesses with intent to distribute a controlled substance that is flavored, colored, packaged, or otherwise altered in a way that is designed to make that controlled substance more appealing" to children.The Senate is not expected to take any imminent action on the bill.For more information, please contact Keith Stroup, NORML Legal Counsel, at (202) 483-5500.DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=7646 Hawaii: Governor Vetoes Medical Marijuana Task Force Measure July 11, 2008 - Honolulu, HI, USHonolulu, HI: Democrat Governor Linda Lingle (D) vetoed legislation this week that sought to establish a study committee to explore options for providing legal cannabis for state-qualified medical cannabis patients.As approved by the legislature, House Bill 2675 called on the committee to make recommendations regarding "the feasibility of developing safe growing facilities … for qualified patients with written certification to grow medical marijuana for their medical use." The task force was also mandated to review statewide guidelines authorizing the amount of medical cannabis patients may legally use and possess under state law. In her veto message, Gov. Lingle said she opposed the bill because "the use of marijuana, even medical marijuana, is illegal under federal law," and because she believes that there are alternative prescription drugs available besides cannabis. "This bill is objectionable because it is an exercise aimed at finding ways to circumvent federal law," she concluded.The legislature did not elect to override the Governor's veto. Currently, an estimated 3,000 Hawaiians are registered to use medical cannabis under Hawaii law. For more information, please contact Keith Stroup, NORML Legal Counsel, at (202) 483-5500.DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=7648Source: NORML Foundation (DC)Published: July 11, 2008Copyright: 2008 NORML Contact: norml norml.org Website: http://www.norml.org/CannabisNews NORML Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/NORML.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #29 posted by FoM on July 13, 2008 at 05:59:17 PT Something I Found Interesting We watched most of the program last night but it was so darn depressing that we changed the channel. I don't know if others have checked out the series with Ted Koppel but it is worth at least a look since they are mostly our bankers now. The People's Republic of Capitalismhttp://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/koppel/highlights/highlights.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #28 posted by museman on July 12, 2008 at 14:05:17 PT an addendum By the way, I thought to add that while we were having these wonderful UFO experiences, I was a pre-pubescent teenager, and my friends as well. We had never heard of cannabis, LSD, psychedelic mushrooms, or anything else. It was totally pure exerience. I am so glad I had that as a basis in comparison in later life when I began to 'get experienced' in the more psychedelic understanding of the phrase. [ Post Comment ] Comment #27 posted by museman on July 12, 2008 at 13:58:33 PT Dankhank Let me say this;In 1965 I lived in Flagstaff Az. There was an incredible amount of UFO activity going on during that year.I and some friends started a 'UFO club' We took excursions into the woods, camped out at night. 'fishing' for UFOs. We had some amazing experiences, including one that would be labeled a 'close encounter of the second kind' - meaning that the UFO was in a state where it appeared to possibly be about to land (though it just hovered there for a while.)That experience showed us that there was literally a 'lot more there than met the eye' because we had cameras, and the photos showed something completely different than what we saw with our eyes. ( I only wish I had made a better effort to get copies)Over the years I have had many sightings. I've showed numerous individuals who 'did not believe' just how, and where to look to see the phenomenon -that is everywhere. I've seen all the movies and 'documentaries' and heard the many rumors and speculations concerning what they actually are. Most of what is claimed about them, concerning such things as 'gray aliens' and 'abductions' etc. I have great doubts about, not because I scoff at the idea, but because my experience tells ME something different.That there is 'something out there' is a fact no amount of disbelief on the part of those who have not seen can change. Just exactly what that something is, is kind of like trying to describe God, and in fact it/they are definitely spritual in many aspects of 'their' nature.There is more than a distinct possibility of some kind of 'conspiracy' or collusion with certain government and covert organizations and 'aliens.' But most of the tales are so off base that they actually do more to discredit the idea than reveal it.Before we came back to Oregon, we lived in the San Louis Valley in Colorado. That particular place has more UFO activity than any place I've ever been. The activity was so much and so often that after a few years of witnessing so much of it, I got bored with it. My kids would come running in saying, "Dad! Dad! There's a UFO!" I would calmly reply;"If it starts to land, come and get me , otherwise I could care less."At this admission, some of you might begin to realize how weird I really am, and it started pretty much in 1965 with those UFO experiences. A thing like that can change your perspective. [ Post Comment ] Comment #26 posted by Dankhank on July 12, 2008 at 10:41:55 PT out there I make few judgements these days about things that don't actually Hurt someone.Icke can believe his aliens, I can believe there probably are aliens out there, imagine how afraid of us they must be.That's why they don't want to appear to us ... :-)=================Isn't is great how we can share life's adventures so as to edify all about this journey we call life?thanks for that ... [ Post Comment ] Comment #25 posted by FoM on July 12, 2008 at 08:37:43 PT One More Comment My niece when she went back to my very young childhood home she found out that the next door neighbor we knew from the 60s still lived with her husband next door. What is funny about this is she was a nurse and we would go to her house and she had a cardboard file type cabinet with drawers in it. We would ask her for some more of the amphetamines she stocked in that cabinet and she always gave them to us. We had enough of them to share with friends in school. They weren't illegal back then and everyone just loved them. LOL! I just wanted to share that. [ Post Comment ] Comment #24 posted by FoM on July 12, 2008 at 05:32:51 PT Dankhank What you and museman mentioned is what came up in a search for me last night. That is way out there. Thank you for our interesting talk last night. MD is a terrible disease. My nephew was also born with Cerebral Palsy. He had a rough beginning and will have a rough ending now too. 4 of my sister's eight children have been diagnosed with MD. Their father died of it and it is hereditary. He is almost 100% wheel chair bound now. He takes it in stride. He's a good and loving man. He's in his mid 40s. [ Post Comment ] Comment #23 posted by FoM on July 12, 2008 at 05:25:30 PT Paint with Light I would be happy if Obama picked Senator Dodd. I like him and he was very vocal about marijuana during the one debate. I also like Governor Richardson. I like Dennis but he is really extreme and I don't think he would be under consideration. The Republican attack machine would cause Obama grief over Dennis I think. I don't want Clinton because I fear her and I always have. She is a scary lady to me. [ Post Comment ] Comment #22 posted by Dankhank on July 12, 2008 at 00:23:24 PT FoM It's good to go back and see the old homestead and to see family.I'm glad to hear you had such a good day.MD is so harsh ... took my Dad 25 years ago.I'm going to sleep ...rest easy ... we and many others know of the herculean task you perform daily and you are lauded daily somewhere for your work. I talk about this site constantly and the work you do.Peace to all who would heal. [ Post Comment ] Comment #21 posted by Dankhank on July 12, 2008 at 00:13:56 PT Icke I don't know, but guess I can find out when Icke did his stuff on the lizard aliens and I guess that it will be held against him forever.there was nothing in the link I posted about his 3-hour speech regarding lizards ... guess I'll look ... so 1999 was when he wrote about them ...I wonder what he thought about the reaction to his lizard theory ... guess he got over the sniggers and laughs eventually accordingly to the Wikipedia page.Don't know what to think about the lizards, but Larry King this evening had another UFO show. There's some strange shit going on in the sky, fairly regularly, for a long time. So I don't condemn him for that as we all know the problems cops and pilots get when they report a UFO, and perhaps he should get a kudo for sticking his neck out.I take ALL I read with a grain of salt, but don't read everything ... c*nter, Ingraham, and the rest ... ya'll know who you are.Let's all hope things turn out OK this Nov. [ Post Comment ] Comment #20 posted by Paint with light on July 11, 2008 at 22:41:19 PT Obama VP I read last night that Obama has sent for the info on Chris Dodd that they gather when considering a vice-presidential choice. From what I remember Dodd, along with Kucinich and Richardson were the only ones that endorsed our cause during the Democratic debates.As for the consideration of Hillary, only if he believes it is best to keep your friends close and your enemies closer.Equal with alcohol is all I ask, for now. [ Post Comment ] Comment #19 posted by FoM on July 11, 2008 at 21:28:22 PT museman Thank you. I guess I do love the man! LOL! Not really though. I think he will be good for us but he might not be. I am hopeful but I always am realistic. Things can change in a heartbeat. He is a politician so I take it all with a grain of salt. It has been very interesting when it was Clinton and Obama and will get interesting again when we get to the DNC. Now I am not paying much attention. Summer time is busy with keeping up with all the mowing. [ Post Comment ] Comment #18 posted by FoM on July 11, 2008 at 21:21:22 PT Dankhank On a Different Note Changing the subject I had a wonderfully interesting day. My niece who is a nurse took my nephew who has Muscular Dystrophy back to where I grew up (over 400 miles from here) for a symposium on Muscular Dystrophy. I got a call from her and she has a GPS but wasn't sure of how to get to the farm and house that she remembers visiting when she was young. She would call and I would give her the address and she found the house and farm. The house was new when we bought it and we moved into it in 52. The people who owned the house welcomed them in and and told them to go thru the house and she said it was just like she remembered it. She wanted to go to my father and grandmother's grave and I told them the name and how I remember driving in the cemetery. They found my father and grandmother's grave. It was just amazing this day to me. I said the graves were on a hill and turn to the right and about 6 rows stop the car and walk in and they found it. This is a very large cemetery near Reading Pa. I haven't been back there for 35 years so it was really cool to recall all the things I did today. [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by museman on July 11, 2008 at 21:09:24 PT Ickes and Obama I've checked out some of Ickes stuff. My experience with David precedes my more recent experience with Zeitgeist, Ian Lundegold -The Secrets of the Mayan Calendar Revealed, The Ring Of Power, and the Handbook for a New Paradigm.My take on David Icke is that he got some things close, a couple of things right on, but he rubbed me the wrong way. I have my own first hand revelatory experience that makes the entire 'reptilian-race' scenario -in Ickes description, perception, and identification a laughable tale. Even though symbolicly there is substantial truth there, his 'translation' of it leaves a lot to be desired -in my opinion. He defeats the truth in what he is trying to say by going so far off the track. Obama.Our host loves the man. I respect that. Even though I am pretty much of the same mind as Dankhank - I voted for him in the primaries, and I will vote for him in november, but as you see by the question mark over his portrait at the end of my recent video, it remains to be seen whether he is actually worthy of our vote or not. [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by FoM on July 11, 2008 at 20:51:41 PT Dankhank When I did the google search as I said I found things that I definitely found off the wall. We don't need that on CNews. We are watched by who knows who and we need to remember we reflect our cause and we shouldn't give ammunition to those who oppose us. This isn't fun for me to do but I feel for now it is what I am suppose to do. I guess it's called being discreet about what we post on CNews. I have given the last ten years of my life to this cause and I want it to be productive. When it ends I want to be proud of the work I have done. That's why it matters. I have always been this way with whatever I have been involved in. [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by Dankhank on July 11, 2008 at 20:39:27 PT belief .... I used the quote of Jefferson's, alleged, since I haven't researched personally to verify it, not to introduce belief in God, but to point out that Jefferson said to question everything and the best the "disliker of Ickes" could do was to impugn Icke's sexuality and mental state. Curious response coming from a critique of Ickes, typical when the criticizer lacks anything important to say to support his point.Icke makes some good points ... I'm not saying he got it all right, but it was interesting. [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by FoM on July 11, 2008 at 20:12:20 PT Dankhank I believe in God but I never try to make someone else believe like I do. My faith is my faith. I've sorted it out in my mind years ago. Faith is personal and I respect that. [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by Dankhank on July 11, 2008 at 19:57:02 PT found this "Question with boldness even the existence of God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason than that of blindfolded fear." Thomas JeffersonIt was in the "words of wisdom" column on the right side of the page you linked, one of several that put the onus on the individual that started that thread to heed his choices for words of wisdomI won't smear McCain because there is too much truth to what we can say about him ... Truth is not a smear.Most of the crap about the Clinton's couldn't be proved so I never "smeared" them, either [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by FoM on July 11, 2008 at 19:51:42 PT Dankhank When I did a search on that person I found way more then I wanted. We want to change the laws and heaven knows I wouldn't still be doing this if it didn't matter. Some things sure make us look like a bunch of loons. As far as Obama goes if he doesn't change his mind as time goes by that would surprise me because we all change our minds as we go thru life about different issues. You can believe something with your whole heart and then realize that might not work very well. We are imperfect people and we change as we grow. I want Obama to be a President for Republicans and Democrats and that means lots of effort. It can be done but diplomacy will always be needed. I won't slam McCain and I didn't like Clinton but I won't go after either of them with smears. This election is very important and it really does matter. When I see what I saw when I did a google search it was a mind blower for lack of any other way to say it. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by Dankhank on July 11, 2008 at 19:06:34 PT belief? Never said that I believed, merely that it was interesting.For the record ...I voted for Obama in the primary here in OK.I will vote for Obama in the election.I'm in OK, so, it probably won't do any good, but I will.From all we know ALL politicians have feet of clay. We've seen some interesting things Obama has done recently that suggest he is not that much different anymore. His FISA vote is troubling.You found four people that don't like Ickes .... how many folks don't like Obama?I want to believe Obama is different. Mayhap he is ...But should we just be kneejerk apologists for him ... or must we be as watchful of him as with any.I like that Obama is talking reasonable about Iraq these days. Shows that he thinks about what he believes and will not fix his positions in stone.If all the people that support Obama will e-mail him regularly when he's elected, and after he will know we are watching. Can't be anything but good to do that. [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by FoM on July 11, 2008 at 17:11:23 PT Dankhank What might be what you believe isn't what I believe and even mentioning negative things of the nature I read about Senator Obama are way out of bounds. They said that about Clinton and Reagan and I wondered how long it would take until someone tried it with Obama. Insulting the next President of the USA hopefully is way out of line. We will have time to judge him on what he does as President and that will be more then enough I'm sure. Here's a link I found.http://honestpoet.wordpress.com/2008/01/13/i-dont-like-david-icke/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by Dankhank on July 11, 2008 at 16:47:31 PT Obama was mentioned for a couple of minutes in the three hours ... shame to miss everything else for that.People that bitch and moan and groan drive me crazyBitching, moaning and groaning is what changes the world.Laudable as Jesus is, he bitched, moaned and groaned, too.sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do.There is beauty in life, but how can we divorce our minds from the things that are wrong. We certainly don't do that in here ...nuff said ... [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by FoM on July 11, 2008 at 13:30:32 PT Dankhank I did a little more searching and I don't like him putting down Obama so that is that for me. People that bitch and moan and groan drive me crazy. I think we should enjoy life and have hope. I really believe that some people just want to have people upset and it draws certain types of people but I am not one of them. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by Dankhank on July 11, 2008 at 13:19:59 PT searching I put the title in the search box at Google Videoworked for me ... try this ...http://tinyurl.com/6ddkhd [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by FoM on July 11, 2008 at 11:51:10 PT Dankhank I did a search because I've heard the name but it didn't register. I believe we are headed towards a one world government. I have believed that for many years. It's gonna happen and there is nothing I don't think that will stop it. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by paul armentano on July 11, 2008 at 11:31:41 PT Typo, HI Gov. is a Republican You can hear a discussion about both the Hawaii and Rhode Island vetoes on the Audio Stash at the link below. http://audio.norml.org/audio_stash/NORML_Daily_AudioStash_2008-07-10.mp3 [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Dankhank on July 11, 2008 at 11:24:44 PT OT ... this is interesting and thought-provoking David Icke - Big Brother, the Big Picture (Hull, July 6th 2008)on Google video ... search for that title ...almost 3 hours, but, the longer you listen, the longer you listen ...you've been warned ... :-) [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by paul armentano on July 11, 2008 at 10:22:53 PT State Governors Governors Donald Carcieri (R-RI), Linda Lingle (D-HI), Tim Pawlenty (R-MN), John Lynch (D-NH), Jodi Rell (R-CT) and Jim Douglas (R-VT) each virtually single-handedly killed marijuana law reform in their given states over the past 12 months via vetoes (Carcieri, Lingle, Rell) or threats of vetoes.Who's responsible for maintaining prohibition? Start with the folks named above. http://buzz.yahoo.com/article/1:huffington_post:4a8cc6802502269eac265cbf55cf02e8 [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on July 11, 2008 at 08:35:28 PT Off Topic: Stock Market I like to watch the Stock Market and it just went under 11,000. I am really glad I never invested in the Stock Market. Current: Dow - 10,993.88 [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Dankhank on July 11, 2008 at 07:11:52 PT a good read ... http://www.alternet.org/healthwellness/90958/?page=entiretruth ... [ Post Comment ] Post Comment