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  Pot No Longer Focus of Anti-Drug Campaigns

Posted by CN Staff on July 15, 2009 at 08:30:08 PT
By Elizabeth Sprague 
Source: CBS News  

CBS --  Over the last several years, without many people realizing it, the U.S. government has changed the focus of its anti-drug efforts, deemphasizing marijuana in favor of prescription drugs.A CBS News survey of government and nonprofit anti-drug groups has found a retreat from anti-marijuana campaigns over the past several years as prescription and over the counter drug abuse has grown amongst teens.
In fact, the Partnership for a Drug Free America, the nation's largest creator of anti-drug messages, hasn't produced a single anti-marijuana public service advertisement since 2005.The change comes as a result of the decline in marijuana use amongst teens, and growing worry over the abuse of prescription drugs. Marijuana-use has been declining for 10 years and past-month use is down 25 percent since 2001 according to the largest tracking study in the U.S., "Monitoring the Future" by the University of Michigan.Meanwhile prescription drug abuse has held steady over the past five according to the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, with nearly one in five teens (19 percent) abusing prescription medications to get high."There is a new threat in town," Robert Dennisoton of the Office of National Drug Control Policy said.The concern about pills has been highlighted by a string of high profile deaths like that of Heath Ledger, Anna Nicole Smith, and possibly Michael Jackson -- all tied to the abuse of legal prescription drugs.In an effort to spread awareness about the dangers of the misuse of prescription drugs, the Partnership for a Drug-Free America even refers to young people today as "Generation Rx" in TV advertisements that point to the dangers of misuse of those drugs."For this generation, high prevalence of prescription drug abuse was kicking in… there was a dawning, and a number of us began to feel that we need to do something about it," said Sean Clark, executive vice president with the Partnership for a Drug-Free America.The Office of National Drug Control Policy, the government's drug policy wing, now dedicates all of its campaign resources directed at parents - some $14 million dollars since 2008 - to the abuse of prescription and over the counter drugs."The issue of prescription drug abuse, which the Office of National Drug Control Policy has been shouting about from the rooftops, it is a significant problem in this country," National Drug Control Policy Director Gil Kerlikowske said on "The Early Show" last week.Advocates for marijuana legalization argue that the shift from anti-marijuana to anti-pill messages has come at least in large part because prescription and over the counter medicines are far more deadly than marijuana."While it is the most widely used illicit drug, it is much less dangerous than prescription drugs," said Bruce Mirken of the Marijuana Policy Project, a group that supports marijuana legalization."The government is talking about the dangers of acetaminophen - this stuff is given out like candy and can kill," he said. "When you put it in that context, marijuana almost looks benign."The addictiveness of marijuana - or lack thereof - compared to other drugs is also cited by supporters."The bottom line is the Opiates and Stimulates are much more addictive than marijuana, those that try it are likely to return to them after first use." said Mitch Earleywine, associate professor of psychology at the State University of New York. "Maybe 9 percent of marijuana users develop problems but 14-23 percent of prescription drug abusers end up saying can't quit or report withdrawal when they want to stop."Advocates also point to recently-released data obtained by the Web site ProCon.org which indicates that prescription drugs are responsible for far more deaths than marijuana.WATCH: A walk down memory lane with a look at anti-drug PSAs through the years.URL: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=5151388nPHOTOS: Graphs Showing Drug Use Statistics and Trends.URL: http://www.cbsnews.com/elements/2009/07/15/national/photoessay5161215.shtmlThe report compared data on deaths due to marijuana with FDA-approved medications. It found that the approved drugs -- which included anti-psychotics, Attention Deficit Disorder medications, painkillers and other prescription drugs -- were suspected as the primary cause of 10,008 deaths and as a secondary cause in 1,679 more.Marijuana, on the other hand, was the primary suspect in zero deaths and a suspected secondary factor in 279 deaths.Another report recently issued by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement indicated that prescription drugs caused more deaths than illicit drugs - even including alcohol-related automobile accidents. Prescription drugs were the cause of more than 25 percent of drug related deaths in the state. Marijuana was not listed as a cause of death last year in Florida.There are now more new abusers of prescription drugs each year than there are abusers of marijuana, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health from the Department of Health and Human Services. About 2.15 million people started using prescription pain relievers to get high in 2007, while 2.09 million people started using marijuana that year.This story was written by Elizabeth Sprague as part of a new CBSNews.com special report on the evolving debate over marijuana legalization in the U.S. Special Report: Marijuana Nation: The New War Over Weed: http://www.cbsnews.com/2718-504243_162-156.htmlSource: CBS News (US Web)Author: Elizabeth SpraguePublished: July 15, 2009Copyright: 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc.Website: http://www.cbsnews.com/URL: http://drugsense.org/url/NzLvzMn4Related Articles: Inside Holland's 'Half Baked' Pot Policyhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24920.shtml America's Love-Hate History with Pothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24919.shtmlHigh Stakes: A Call To Legalize Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24917.shtml

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Comment #70 posted by Had Enough on July 19, 2009 at 20:08:03 PT
Further…get on the bus!!!...the magic bus...
Re: #58Thanks museman…(keeper of the muse)“”Just before WEGO started their set to kick of the event, an old slightly familiar, very colorful bus drove into the event and parked by the stage.
That bus has a name, and a pertinent history to what I'm talking about. Its called "Further." I'll let someone else fill for those who haven't a clue. And on a table behind Further, being displayed and for trade and sale, was a colorful library of the actual blotter paper used for LSD, with "LSD Art" from the 60s all the way to the 90's. Quite nostalgic. ””OK…I’ll do it…http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=further+bus&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=Ed1jSqL3JpW7lAetvKj9BQ&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Furthur************Magic Bus The Who ( HQ sound )http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bl9bvuAV-Ao
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Comment #69 posted by museman on July 19, 2009 at 18:55:29 PT
Hempfest
Well, its over for me,I have to go home, but the hempfest continues. There wasn't a whole lot more to show in the way of pictures, Further went home too.There are maybe two more pictures of interest, that I'll get up tomorrow after I'm home.I hoped to have some kind of news about the new hemp 'legalization' in Oregon, and though I got the status info cleared up;Its not really 'legal' until the feds recognize Oregons laws as constitutionally allowable. Its pretty much on the books, but no permits or licenses will be issued by the state until the feds give the ok. If it were a year ago, I'd've just tossed it off as token resistance, but now?...probabilities are staggering.....;there really isn't anything else to report.Thanks all for the supportive postsALL THINGS CANNABIS FOR ALL PEOPLE who want, or need its many wonderful uses and properties.
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Comment #68 posted by ekim on July 18, 2009 at 16:51:27 PT
 yes good going museman
thanks from all of us for getting up on the stage
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Comment #67 posted by FoM on July 18, 2009 at 15:37:44 PT
Hope
That picture captured the essence of who Museman is and what he stands for to me. 
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Comment #66 posted by Hope on July 18, 2009 at 15:21:25 PT
Comment 65
Me, too!
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Comment #65 posted by FoM on July 18, 2009 at 15:12:09 PT
I Love This Picture
http://terryhubbard.com/hemp/LegalizeFreedom_.JPG
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Comment #64 posted by duzt on July 18, 2009 at 14:53:13 PT
Great shots
I really enjoyed the pics museman, have a great time, I missed it this year, hopefully next. 
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Comment #63 posted by FoM on July 18, 2009 at 05:19:52 PT
museman
Thank you for your comment and pictures. They're great!
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Comment #61 posted by museman on July 18, 2009 at 00:17:51 PT

continued..
I left one out;Sungods of Cascadia....there was another band that played before we left for the day, but I have no name or pictures.More tomorrow.G'night
Sungods of Cascadia
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Comment #59 posted by museman on July 18, 2009 at 00:11:55 PT

Hempest Oregon
Some pictures;"Further"http://terryhubbard.com/hemp/Further_1_.JPGhttp://terryhubbard.com/hemp/Further_2_.JPGhttp://terryhubbard.com/hemp/Further_3_.JPGme 'n Furtherhttp://terryhubbard.com/hemp/LegalizeFreedom_.JPGSome of the vendors;http://terryhubbard.com/hemp/Some_Vendors_.JPGhttp://terryhubbard.com/hemp/Vendors_2_.JPGThe stage and a couple of bands;http://terryhubbard.com/hemp/Stage_1_.JPGhttp://terryhubbard.com/hemp/wego3_.JPGYoung wise ass demonstrates the 'shrinking bone effect' of too many years of tobacco use.http://terryhubbard.com/hemp/WiseAss_.JPG
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Comment #58 posted by museman on July 17, 2009 at 22:12:06 PT

hempfest Oregon update
Well, the 2009 Oregon Hempfest got off to a mellow start. This was the first day, and as the day wore on it grew slowly to a modest crowd of an amazing variety of people.The local Police, at least today, were conspicuously absent, even though there wasn't any hovering cloud of marijuana smoke like one would find at a 4:20 gathering. There were no huge joints reminiscent of Cheech and Chong, but there was a 'designated smoking area' (unofficial of course).On the first day there were a lot of vendors, with various related objects to Hemp and Cannabis, and as i begin to wander and mingle, I was attracted to a display of buttons with many different images and slogans. Once upon a time i boasted a hat with a collection of buttons from many years of being on the 'hippy trail', so I had some interest and curiosity in what was on display.And as I got close, I saw the button with one of my favorite slogans I use a lot, including here on Cnews; "Legalize Freedom" emblazed on a nice cannabis leaf over the colors of the rastafarian flag. So without hesitation, I reached in my pocket, drew out my wallet and approached the 50 something hippy woman that was the vendor of the buttons, saying something like, "Well, I gotta buy this to match the bumper sticker on my car." I'm not sure that I finished the sentence, because I looked closer, and there was something decidedly familiar about the face. I remembered her name, took off my glasses so she could see my eyes and maybe recognize me, which she did, and her significant other of many years was standing nearby and we recognized each other also.It has been almost 20 years since I'd seen these people, who were friends with a history dating back to the Rainbow Farm. It was for me a happy reunion of old friends, and I spent most of the day sharing the catch-up of almost 20 years of deaths, births, gains and losses, and I enjoyed it very much.I plan on returning tomorow, and hope to find a bit more direct information on the Oregon Hemp Legalization movement.I will Quote one of the vendors of Hemp related products, who when i stated that there were some within the Hemp 'movement' that were trying to establish some legal distinction between medicinal, or 'potent' cannabis, and cannabis hemp;"It'll never happen." Much more was said, including the long list of reference and research publications going back many years that pretty much reveals that the efforts, dedication, and the actual 'meat and substance' of everything cannabis related is embodied in the many 'laborers in the field' that have lived with cannabis in their lives, and many have tasted the very real and manifest threat and fascist presence of opressive 'law enforcement', and 'justice and law' with a lasting bitter impression.The 'johny come lately's' who think to jump on the bandwagon and attempt to circumnavigate the impetus and momentum of many many years of our labor, sufferng, and efforts to regain even this much freedom, in some kind of political direction defined by the shallow codes and parameters of the Status Quo are in for a surprise.There is a true, and very much alive, "Cannabis Culture" out here, and it isn't some overnight wonder suddenly sprung into everyones awareness.We paid for that awareness with our lives, and lifetimes. There is power in this "Cannabis Culture" that represents a global 'voting block' , among other things....and though we have all had to accept whatever concessions we had to make in order to further the goal, never, never, in the heart of true cannabis culture was aver the thought of accepting anything short of total legalization. The weak attempt to seperate some aspects of cannabis from others, demonizing one aspect in favor of another, is not affecting the core that has produced the 'wagon' of anti-prohibition, as it is also not likely to truly affect the outcome.There were a couple of other very cool things that tickled my hippy bone.Just before WEGO started their set to kick of the event, an old slightly familiar, very colorful bus drove into the event and parked by the stage.That bus has a name, and a pertinent history to what I'm talking about. Its called "Further." I'll let someone else fill for those who haven't a clue. And on a table behind Further, being displayed and for trade and sale, was a colorful library of the actual blotter paper used for LSD, with "LSD Art" from the 60s all the way to the 90's. Quite nostalgic.I got some pictures, but not sure where to put them up yet.But I am returning tomorrow, and as I have discovered that it is a week long afair, I may stay longer than originally intended.My old friends gave me the "Legalize Freedom" button, they wouldn't let me buy it.FREE CANNABIS FOREVER
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Comment #57 posted by Hope on July 17, 2009 at 14:52:41 PT

Dongenero
Barr is the face of the thing that happened... no doubt. But as I try to not be so angry at him, personally, still, about it all, and try to believe that he regrets his part in it... at least... I must remind myself that he didn't do it alone.We don't need to tar and feather him. I don't believe in taking revenge like that. Really.There are going to be a lot of people coming to their better senses... I hope ... and I, personally, will do my best to accept that they've changed their mind and, perhaps, regret what they did in the name of the prohibition madness. If they are willing to help pull society out of this particular era of sad and deadly inquisition/prohibition.... I'll be glad of it.
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Comment #56 posted by FoM on July 17, 2009 at 12:25:17 PT

dongenero
I believe people can learn and feel really bad for causing so much pain to so many people but if he is receiving money for his opinion now then I take his about face with a grain of salt.
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Comment #55 posted by dongenero on July 17, 2009 at 12:20:14 PT

Barr
I still think Barr should be tarred and feathered on the National Mall. Since he has supposedly changed his ways, he should submit willingly as penance.A lottery for bags of feathers to 25 lucky DC voters. 
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Comment #54 posted by FoM on July 17, 2009 at 12:14:03 PT

Link For Hempfest in Oregon
http://www.emeraldempirehempfest.com/
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Comment #53 posted by FoM on July 17, 2009 at 12:09:28 PT

Press Release From The Drug Policy Alliance
U.S. House Repeals Provision Prohibiting Washington, D.C. from Enacting Medical Marijuana; Nation’s Capital Could Soon Join 13 States That Have Legalized Marijuana for Medical Use***Washington, D.C. -- July 17 - The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation today removing a federal provision that bars the nation’s capital from legalizing marijuana for medical use. The provision, nicknamed the Barr Amendment after its author, former Republican Congressman Bob Barr, who now supports repealing the amendment, was passed in 1998 in response to a medical marijuana initiative approved by 69% of Washington, D.C. voters. The Barr Amendment overturned the medical marijuana law and prohibited the city from ever reducing penalties for marijuana or other Schedule I drugs - even for medical use. The provision is so broad that legal experts believe it even prohibits the city from passing treatment-instead-of-incarceration legislation diverting people arrested for marijuana, heroin or other Schedule I drugs to drug treatment instead of jail.URL: http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2009/07/17-16
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Comment #52 posted by FoM on July 17, 2009 at 09:47:49 PT

museman
Have a great time. Looking forward to your report. 
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Comment #51 posted by museman on July 17, 2009 at 09:44:51 PT

Hempfest Oregon
Have arrived in Eugene, will be going to hempfest in a few hours. I will be able to get some pictures i think, but I don't know how soon I'll be able to get them online. I will postlinks as soon as I have them.If I can connect with WiFi, i will give a live report, if not, i'll give a run down later this evening.FREE CANNABIS FOR EVERYONE
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Comment #50 posted by FoM on July 17, 2009 at 08:24:46 PT

It's Past Time To Change The Laws on Marijuana
'Harry Potter' Actor Admits Growing MarijuanaURL: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5huk5XWjUb6c639Vj1d1EiVsK53LwD99FIUFG0
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Comment #49 posted by Sam Adams on July 17, 2009 at 08:13:50 PT

Another poll
These articles are so biased it looks like the Herald has been asked to chip away at the decrim law, please vote!http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1185406&format=comments#CommentsArea
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Comment #48 posted by christ on July 17, 2009 at 06:55:32 PT

museman #18
I too hope you can get some.
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Comment #47 posted by observer on July 17, 2009 at 06:44:16 PT

Pot No Longer Focus of Anti-Drug Campaigns
re: "Pot No Longer Focus of Anti-Drug Campaigns"Fantastic, about time. Well, now that we've cleared that up, can we make the laws on the books match the de facto ceasefire, and repeal the myriad cannabis penalties starting with the Federal ones? Oh yes, and while we're at it, can we free the all the non-violent cannabis prisoners convicted for those cannabis "crimes", too? 
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Comment #46 posted by Hope on July 17, 2009 at 06:27:07 PT

DC... It's about time...
Colorado... not so good. It will likely send patients' families and friends, if they are blessed enough to have any to help them, back to the streets. Herbal medicine that takes months to grow won't appear suddenly before someone suddenly has to deal with chemo or a disease that makes them too ill to suddenly hunt someone up that's into horticulture that's not maxed out on those he can already grow for. And not every housekeeper has horticultural skills.Reason and logic hasn't exactly been a big part of the prohibitionist scene, ever, though.
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Comment #45 posted by FoM on July 17, 2009 at 06:04:03 PT

Colorado: Marijuana Battle Brewing
Medical pot advocates vow fight if state implements new rules.Peter Marcus, DDN Staff WriterFriday, July 17, 2009Colorado -- Andy Cookston stands in his south Denver printing shop flanked by two like-minded herbal scientists.On this particular day he is concerned about not being able to serve the needs of all of his patients. That’s right. Patients walk through the doors of Digital Impact Communications — they’re set on finding a cure for whatever ails them most. Behind the scenes of this printing business is a place where Digital Impact Communications becomes Cannabis Medical, 762 Kalamath St. — a sanctuary in the city where Cookston and his colleagues, Juan Diaz and Randy Morrison, provide a healing service filled with ginger snaps and chocolate drops.Oh, and everything’s filled with medical marijuana strains like Purple Avalanche, Sour Diesel and Blueberry. Patients can also just take the stuff home and stuff it in a pipe.The health department on Monday will consider making things a bit more complicated for Cookston’s caregiving operation, which he operates with his wife, Lori. On Monday, the Board of Health will vote on a proposal that would limit caregivers to five patients, as well as require them to provide so-called “significant care,” like cooking, cleaning and scrubbing toilets.A unified clan of opponents — running the gamut from HIV-AIDS patients to bodies fighting cancer — have all been shouting, “No.”URL: http://www.thedenverdailynews.com/article.php?aID=4956
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Comment #44 posted by FoM on July 17, 2009 at 05:53:38 PT

Press Release From MPP
US Congress Ends Decade-Long Obstruction of D.C. Medical Marijuana Law***Medical Marijuana Law Passed in 1998 May Finally Be ImplementedWashington, D.C. -- July 16 - The U.S. House today passed legislation that removes a decade-old provision that has prevented Washington, D.C., from implementing the medical marijuana law passed by 69 percent of capital voters in 1998.Known as the Barr amendment, the provision has forbidden the city from extending legal protection to qualified medical marijuana patients and has been derided by advocates for years as an unconscionable intrusion by the federal government into the District's affairs.URL: http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2009/07/16-23
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Comment #43 posted by John Tyler on July 16, 2009 at 20:43:12 PT

Washington D.C.
Re: DC medical marijuana law
If this goes through in DC could people from Virginia and Maryland go to DC to get treatment? It would be therapeutic to get some treatment and then visit the museums on the Washington Mall.
Re: NAACP It appears that the black leaders and the black media are starting to talk about the Drug War’s impact on their community. I hope they will raise their voices.  

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Comment #42 posted by FoM on July 16, 2009 at 17:43:00 PT

Afterburner
I'm glad you were able to wish Marc Emery well. I feel bad for him and his wife. 
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Comment #41 posted by afterburner on July 16, 2009 at 17:27:14 PT

museman #18
My camera is also out-of-commission. When my insurance company wanted pictures of my house, I purchased an emergency single-use camera to meet their deadline. Total cost was $14.67 Canadian, including camera, film, sales tax, developing, 39 prints, and a CD photodisc with 39 .jpg files which can be emailed.Enjoy your trip. I just recently attended a Marc Emery Farwell Tour visit and wished him well on his difficult journey to the U.S. prison system.
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Comment #40 posted by FoM on July 16, 2009 at 16:28:28 PT

I Just Found These Links in My E-Mail News
NAACP Conference: Should Marijuana Be Legalized? What Would It Mean for
African Americans?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTtZj4ni4JcEthan Nadelmann Speaks at the NAACP Conference: Human Rights, Racial
Justice and the Drug Warhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iB1cPMLfOeo

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Comment #39 posted by FoM on July 16, 2009 at 16:14:09 PT

Sam
From what the article said it appears it will be allowed and that will be that! I sometimes find it hard to believe how change is happening. In 6 months we have seen one positive move after another. This article made me think of runruff and museman. I know how runruff was so sad about the logging and now that will change too!Limits on Logging in Old-Growth Forest ReinstatedIn a move to protect endangered species, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced Thursday that his department had reversed a Bush administration decision to double the amount of logging allowed in and around old-growth forests in western Oregon.URL: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/17/science/earth/17forest.html
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Comment #38 posted by Sam Adams on July 16, 2009 at 16:13:45 PT

it does!
whoops, I just read the article, EXCELLENT! DC has been like the last plantation in the USA, I think it's 80% african-american. To this day they are the only people without a voting Congressmen in the USA.This is fantastic, DC will also have to recognize gay marriages! I tend to think the Repubs whining is all for show - do you really think they wanted to "debate" medical MJ? I highly doubt it, I think they're running away with their tails between their legs, they know they'd take a drubbing on medical MJ, they don't want to debate it.They probably allowed the Dems to ram this through without debate on purpse.
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Comment #37 posted by Sam Adams on July 16, 2009 at 16:09:08 PT

Washington
FOM - do you know if they have to run another referendum, or will it automatically become law?  Would be great for patients if it just became law.If I had the money I'd immediately run a new referendum that includes dispensaries. DC is extremely progressive and it would pass easily, would be great to have them in DC, it would hasten the end of prohibition I think.
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Comment #36 posted by FoM on July 16, 2009 at 15:55:32 PT

More From The Huffington Post Article
This is really good news to me.Medical marijuana advocates have a gift in the bill, too. In 1998, the District held a referendum on legalizing medical marijuana but Congress blocked the city from even counting the votes. A court ultimately ruled the votes could be counted regardless and it showed the initiative carried with 69 percent of the vote. Congress still banned the city from implementing it.If the House bill becomes law, the referendum will be implemented and medical marijuana will become legal in the nation's capital.

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Comment #35 posted by afterburner on July 16, 2009 at 15:41:20 PT

OT: SAFER
Fewer drunks, more stoners on road.
Studies find some good news, with both the number of drunken drivers and traffic deaths falling markedly in the U.S., and some bad, with more than 16% of drivers testing positive for drugs.
By staff and wire reports.
July 16, 2009.
http://finance.sympatico.msn.ca/investing/insight/article.aspx?cp-documentid=20770662
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Comment #34 posted by FoM on July 16, 2009 at 15:12:20 PT

josephlacerenza
I saw this in the article. It sounds good to me.The bill also wipes out funding for the national anti-drug media campaign. Gone will be the ads showing potheads accidentally running over a little girl at a drive-thru or otherwise warning kids away from drugs. Studies showed that after hundreds of millions of dollars, the ads couldn't show that they led to a decrease in drug use and may have slightly encouraged kids to get high."If the best that can be said about the youth media campaign is that there is evidence that it has a `weak' association with anti-drug attitudes, while a comprehensive multi-year evaluation with more extensive data found no evidence of any positive effect at all, consideration must be given to shifting the substantial resources used for the advertising campaign to other uses," reads the majority report. "That is what the Committee recommendation seeks to do."Bashing the media campaign was one of the few areas of bipartisan agreement. The GOP reported that it supported "reducing funding for the media campaign which has produced limited results at best."The Committee still provides the drug czar's office with $20 million for media efforts -- $50 million less than last year -- but wants only limited advertising directed at parents, not at teens.

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Comment #33 posted by josephlacerenza on July 16, 2009 at 14:54:06 PT

News from the Huff Po
Good news is, well, good news!!!
Single House Bill Touches Abortion, Pot, Gay Marriage, Needle Exchange, Vouchers
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Comment #32 posted by FoM on July 16, 2009 at 13:42:59 PT

josephlacerenza
I guess I assume they do background checks and such. 
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Comment #31 posted by FoM on July 16, 2009 at 13:41:09 PT

dongenero
I totally agree with you. Their logic never makes sense to me. Their anger and acting superior makes me retreat into my own world and tune them out.
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Comment #30 posted by josephlacerenza on July 16, 2009 at 13:39:00 PT

FoM
I too believe in a persons right to own a gun, but I do not believe ANYONE is entitled to own one!!!There are rules in place to protect me from someone who thinks they HEAR GOD, or are doing GOD'S will!!!! AHHHHH!!!!Not to mention that a person has no RIGHT to a weapon in the presence of alcohol, or god forbid prescription drugs.
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Comment #29 posted by dongenero on July 16, 2009 at 13:03:05 PT

Issues
They always want to hang their hats on all the moral and virtues issues, because we all know what superior beacons of morality and values the Republicans are. (insert sarcastic tone)It's really more about what they want to hypocritically impose on others in the name of morality and virtue, to appease their fundamentalist base. As Barney Frank quoted,"morality is more about how you treat others rather than how you treat yourself", and I might add, -or impose on others.What is amazing, is that there are still people that buy the sales pitch from the Repugs.

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Comment #28 posted by FoM on July 16, 2009 at 12:31:24 PT

One More Thing
I forgot guns are important to them too. I don't care for guns and don't think about them at all but that's just me. I respect people's rights to own a gun. 
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Comment #27 posted by FoM on July 16, 2009 at 12:27:22 PT

dongenero
I really don't know what is important to them besides gay marriage, abortion and medical marijuana. 
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Comment #26 posted by dongenero on July 16, 2009 at 12:10:57 PT

post #25
To the House Republicans:Like Jon Stewart said, "You lost. It's supposed to taste like a sh!t taco."We listened to them whine and crow for 8 years now we have to listen to them whine and moan for another 8. Win or lose, they are a whiny bunch.
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Comment #25 posted by FoM on July 16, 2009 at 11:46:41 PT

House Democrats Muzzle GOP on Sensitive Issues
July 16, 2009In their zeal to protect their members from politically hazardous votes on issues such as gay marriage and gun control, Democrats running the House of Representatives are taking extraordinary steps to muzzle Republicans in this summer's debates on spending bills.On Thursday, for example, Republicans had hoped to force debates on abortion, school vouchers and medical marijuana, as well as gay marriage and gun control, as part of House consideration of the federal government's contribution to the District of Columbia's city budget.No way, Democrats said. URL: http://www.bradenton.com/politics/story/1580018.html
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Comment #24 posted by BGreen on July 16, 2009 at 11:35:24 PT

From the Boston Herald article w/ poll
Meanwhile, in Braintree on Monday night, police spotted a suspected perv smoking pot in a car filled with coils of rope, a pair of handcuffs and bottles of NyQuil. But they had to let the man go, even though he was awaiting trial on child sexual assault charges.Said Deputy Chief Russell Jenkins, “Had the law not been changed, he absolutely would have been placed under arrest.”Um, NyQuil has pseudoephedrine in it, so if this suspected "perv" had "bottles" of it he could have been arrested for possessing precursor chemicals used to manufacture meth.Numb nuts.The Reverend Bud Green
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Comment #23 posted by Had Enough on July 16, 2009 at 10:02:24 PT

Poll in comment #21
Herald PulseIs the $100 fine for smoking pot a good idea?8% - Yes, give it a chance to work 4% - No, double the fine 25% - No, go back to it being an arrestable offense 64% - Just legalize pot and save us all the trouble Total Votes: 995 http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?&articleid=1185193&format=&page=1&listingType=Loc#articleFull

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Comment #22 posted by Had Enough on July 16, 2009 at 09:55:39 PT

PUFMM - Florida
Hey everyone Snoop Dogg is having a tour in Florida and we've been asked to come outside the venue and collect petitions and sign people up with NORML The dates and time are as followsTampa July 31st 4pm USF Sun CenterOrlando August 1st 6pm Hard Rock Live St. Augustine August 2nd 4 pm St. Augustine AmphitheaterWe need as many people to come and support PUFMM and NORML. If you'd like to get together and buy tickets to the show and actually go in. They are $35.50 for Tampa and St. Augustine and 28.50 for the Orlando show. http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=127343055695&topic=8916************http://www.pufmm.org/http://www.meetup.com/People-United-For-Medical-Marijuana-Orlando/http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=127343055695

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Comment #21 posted by Sam Adams on July 16, 2009 at 09:47:42 PT

Poll!
wow, that is great news about Hawaii over-riding the Governor Evil! Museman I wish I was joining you in Oregon, sounds awesome, where can we see your pictures & stuff??Here is the poll from the Boston Herald, the Republican troglodyte-type paper that is forging ahead with trying to un-do our new MJ law, so far they are pretty much alone and just making themselves look bad:http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?&articleid=1185193&format=&page=1&listingType=Loc#articleFull
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Comment #20 posted by FoM on July 16, 2009 at 08:52:00 PT

Hawaii Democrats Set Record Overriding 38 Measures
Excerpt:Other veto overrides included:The creation of a task force to evaluate medical marijuana laws.http://www.cnbc.com/id/31944547
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Comment #19 posted by FoM on July 16, 2009 at 08:18:13 PT

museman
Have a wonderful time. 
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Comment #18 posted by museman on July 16, 2009 at 08:15:59 PT

OT: Hempfest
Well, I'm off to my first Hempfest in Eugene Oregon. I hear lots of good things about it, its going to be a bit exciting owing to recent political events here in Orgon concerning it.I'll be taking the discussion live.I can't take pictures cause i broke my camera, but I might be able to get some,Taking my laptop with wireless, may be able to report from there.ABANDON THE STATUS QUO FREE CANNABIS FOR EVERYONE
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Comment #17 posted by FoM on July 16, 2009 at 08:12:38 PT

Get Back - Paul McCartney

Jojo was a man who thought he was a lonerBut he knew it wouldn't lastJojo left his home in Tucson, ArizonaFor some California Grasshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNjivRQFY5w
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Comment #16 posted by FoM on July 16, 2009 at 08:06:28 PT

OT: Paul McCartney and David Letterman Interview
Letterman - Paul McCartney - Part Ihttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTNHD7lDX2UPaul McCartney Interview on David Letterman - Part 2http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQaIVGrMZxQ
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Comment #15 posted by FoM on July 16, 2009 at 05:15:54 PT

CBS: Legal Pot Would Bring in $1.4B for Calif.
July 16, 2009URL: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/07/15/national/main5163119.shtml
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Comment #14 posted by FoM on July 15, 2009 at 19:19:57 PT

mykeyb420 
That was cute.
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Comment #13 posted by mykeyb420 on July 15, 2009 at 19:14:38 PT

way off topic
check this out
cute babies
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Comment #12 posted by FoM on July 15, 2009 at 17:54:23 PT

OT: This Is Just Unbelievable To Me
DEA Weighs New Limits on Drug Eyed in Jackson CaseJuly 15, 2009WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal authorities are considering making the potent anesthetic propofol — one of the drugs found in Michael Jackson's home — a controlled substance, which would put new limits on its distribution.URL: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hP9EB80eXku-CUsNpeWNbY4hFC1QD99F4N9O4
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Comment #11 posted by FoM on July 15, 2009 at 15:52:59 PT

TroutMask
It's good to see you.
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Comment #10 posted by TroutMask on July 15, 2009 at 15:45:26 PT

Answer: 
"Si, Senor... oops, I mean.. no."
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Comment #9 posted by Sinsemilla Jones on July 15, 2009 at 14:07:32 PT

Uh oh, I smell another Jeff Sessions question -
"Justice Sotomayor, you claim not to be an expert about growing marijuana, but then you admit you know it requires a lot of heat, and isn't it interesting that you are a Hispanic and marijuana is a Hispanic word?"
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Comment #8 posted by FoM on July 15, 2009 at 13:29:33 PT

Sotomayor and Marijuana Case
July 15, 2009Excerpt: In -- not so long ago, the Supreme Court dealt with a technologically new situation, which was whether an individual had a right to expect the warrant to be gotten before law enforcement flew over his or -- I think it was a "his" in that case -- his home and took readings of the thermal energy emanating from his home, and then going in to see if the person was growing marijuana.WHITEHOUSE: The (inaudible) case.SOTOMAYOR: Exactly. And in that case, the reason for that case is that, apparently -- I'm not an expert in marijuana growing -- but apparently, when you're growing marijuana, there's a -- certain heating lights that you need, at least that's what the case was describing, and it generates this enormous amount of heat that wouldn't generally come from a home unless you were doing something like this.And what the court did there, in an opinion by Justice Scalia, I believe it was, is it looked at the embedded questions of privacy in the home that underlied the unreasonable search and seizure. And the court there, as I mentioned, determined that acts taken in the privacy of one's home would commonly not be expected to be intruded upon unless the police secured a warrant.And to the extent that the law had generally recognized that, if you worked actively to keep people out of your home -- you locked your windows, you locked your doors, you didn't let people walk by and peek through, you didn't stand at your front door and show people what you were doing, that you were exhibiting your expectation of privacy. And to the extent that new technology had developed that you wouldn't expect to intrude on that privacy, then you were protected by the warrant clause. And the police had an obligation to go talk to a magistrate and explain to them what their evidence was and let the magistrate -- I use the magistrate in that more global sense. It would be a judge, but in the -- you would let a judge decide whether there was probable cause to issue the warrant, reasonable suspicion, probable cause -- probable cause to issue the warrant.That's how the courts address the unreasonable -- or have addressed, the Supreme Court has, the unreasonable search and seizure and balance the new technology with the expectations of privacy that are recognized in the Fourth Amendment.http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/15/AR2009071501619.html
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Comment #7 posted by FoM on July 15, 2009 at 12:50:42 PT

Sotomayor and Marijuana Case
Excerpt: When the next questioner, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) asked her for her views on privacy, the nominee chose to discuss a case involving pot. "I'm not an expert in marijuana growing," she said, "but apparently, when you're growing marijuana, there's certain heating lights that you need." Apparently.http://voices.washingtonpost.com/roughsketch/2009/07/dont_mess_with_sotomayor.html?hpid=topnews
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Comment #6 posted by FoM on July 15, 2009 at 12:15:27 PT

Ask Dr. Weil 
Ask Dr. Weil : Study of Anti-Cancer Marijuana Substance in Early StageJuly 15, 2009URL: http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/300853
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Comment #5 posted by TroutMask on July 15, 2009 at 09:28:55 PT:

Retreat!
"A CBS News survey of government and nonprofit anti-drug groups has found a retreat from anti-marijuana campaigns"hahaha. "Retreat" is a very appropriate word.-TM
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on July 15, 2009 at 09:06:28 PT

museman
I think when they demonized marijuana teens gravitated towards prescription drugs thinking they were OK. If they weren't OK why didn't they do a PSA about them they would think. We now have a big prescription drug problem in young people. Young people are just seeking to experience life in a slightly altered consciousness like most teens do. Since marijuana tests hot for such a longtime teens would think it's safer  to do a potentially dangerous prescription drug because it is out of their system very quickly. Fear of drug testing has made this whole thing worse.
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Comment #3 posted by tintala on July 15, 2009 at 09:01:50 PT:

Prohibition and pills
Prohibition and pills seem to have a equal effect on society. Although some of us that are disabled with debilitating pain need to use meds, it would appear the war on drugs is just as every bit as harmful as people od'ing on narcotics. both are quite volatile when put in the wrong hands. Like putting a gun in a mentally insane person's hands. Prohibition in the wrong hands kills too. let's just outlaw hammers, knives , fork, bridges. anything in the wrong hands can be bad.
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Comment #2 posted by museman on July 15, 2009 at 08:50:46 PT

drugs made by man
have about a 60% chance of making you worse than whatever you took the drug for, whereas the herbs and plant medicines made by our Creator have about a 5 -10% chance of being abused to the point of damage or illness.
 
Kids have been made to believe that all drugs are relatively harmless thanks largely to the BS propoganda of the WOD that may have stopped producing TV ads as of 2005 (budgets for other wars), but the BS still continues.However, I do agree that the 'headline' reflects relatively good news in mainstream attitude.FREE CANNABIS FOREVER
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on July 15, 2009 at 08:34:02 PT

Pot No Longer Focus of Anti-Drug Campaigns
What a nice title to read. We are making progress.
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