cannabisnews.com: Support Legalization of Marijuana
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Support Legalization of Marijuana
Posted by CN Staff on December 22, 2009 at 04:44:21 PT
By Adam Trovao 
Source: Visalia Times-Delta
California -- I am a daily recreational user of marijuana, along with a lot of other people in Tulare County and California. I have been hearing of the people that have problems with their neighbors growing or smoking at their own houses. Now, I want to ask: Why is that a problem? I thought this was America.Now, I understand if you have gang members or something selling it and a bunch of bad people in and out of your neighborhood, but with marijuana users, that is usually not the case. If you have something like that going on, I can almost guarantee they aren't just smoking pot.
Typical marijuana growers/patients keep to themselves. They don't want people knowing about their stuff, and they do their best to respect their neighbors. I understand where nonsmokers are coming from, but I also know that they typically don't know anything about the herb themselves, which is why it seems so bad. So I just want to put a few things in perspective for people.First off, I think everyone needs to know that marijuana has no long-term effects. There are no studies linking marijuana to any sort of lung cancer or brain problems. In fact, it has been shown that cannabis use actually slows, and sometimes prevents, cancers from forming, is shown to be effective against Alzheimer's disease, and is helpful to people with eating disorders and nausea from chemotherapy. Not only that, but you can't overdose on marijuana. So, how are the three different bottles of manmade drugs the doctor gave your grandma better than God's given plant that people have been using for thousands of years? I'm pretty sure Grandma is getting sick and losing her appetite from those pills, don't you think?Second, there is not one recorded death related to marijuana. No ODs, no car accidents, nothing. Yet there continue to be thousands a year from tobacco and alcohol, whether from drunken driving and taking innocent lives, alcohol poisoning or the many harmful chemicals in cigarettes to make you addicted. Marijuana is not addicting and doesn't impair your driving or daily tasks like alcohol, and you cannot overdose.Third is California's huge debt. Last year the state of California brought in $1.7 million in tax money off the already legal dispensaries up and down the state. So, since we can probably pay off the debt in five to 10 years with legal marijuana, how is that a bad thing? Not only the money but the legalization of hemp can help in numerous ways. (Hemp is not marijuana. It has less then 1 percent of THC in it, the stuff that gets you high.) Hemp can be used for paper, building, clothes and fuel, and fields of hemp double the amount of oxygen trees produce, helping our ozone.Aside from these, marijuana has helped not only medical patients, but everyday people. It's used to relieve stress at the end of a hard day. It's used to get through depression. It's used for skinny people that don't have appetites and want to gain weight, like myself. It's used to help with concentration in people with ADD and ADHD. It's used socially and has saved people, like myself, from fights and bullies by way of the "peace pipe."So, before you throw a bunch of bad assumptions our way, I ask one thing: Use your Internet. Look up the good stuff marijuana can do. The government made such a bad image for it because of their control over everything. They tried prohibition of alcohol. That didn't last long.So, why has prohibition of marijuana gone on so long when it has so many good things that can come out of it? It has been wasting taxpayers' money for years, taking time from the police when they could be catching the guy that just stole your car rather than the kids smokin' some pot and hangin' out. There are too many innocent, peaceful people going to jail for nothing.Our prisons are already crowded. Keep the peaceful stoners out of it and catch the people that deserve it — the ones harming everyone else. There has been so much more discussion about the topic this year. There's gotta be a reason for it; I keep on hearing people complain about it but never ever hear a reason why they are against it.More than 65 percent of Americans support the legalization of marijuana now. There's got to be a reason for it, right?I just think everyone needs to stop being so judgmental and open their eyes and minds to new things and the changing of the times. If you're going to contact your council member, I hope it's for support.The silent majority is definitely stirring from their "sleep," but the majority is no longer against it. Support legalization.Adam Trovao lives in Tulare County and is a medical marijuana user.Source: Visalia Times-Delta, The (CA)Author: Adam Trovao Published: December 22, 2009Copyright: 2009 The Visalia Times-DeltaURL: http://drugsense.org/url/gtHtjZBbContact: editorial visaliatimesdelta.comWebsite: http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/CannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml 
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Comment #14 posted by Storm Crow on December 23, 2009 at 01:42:02 PT
Another bit of good news-
http://www.mercedsunstar.com/167/story/1243826.htmlWoman's license revoked for medical marijuana use; DMV ordered to pay $69,400 By VICTOR A. PATTON
vpatton mercedsun-star.comA Merced County Superior Court judge has ordered the California Department of Motor Vehicles to pay $69,400 in attorney fees in the case of an Atwater woman who had her license revoked for being a medical marijuana user.Judge Brian McCabe ordered the DMV on Thursday to pay attorney fees to Americans for Safe Access, a national medical marijuana advocacy organization. The group filed a lawsuit on behalf of Rose Johnson, a 54-year-old medical marijuana user who had her licence revoked in June 2008.Johnson's problems with the DMV began in April last year, when she went to renew her license.Johnson uses marijuana at night to help her sleep because she has back and neck injuries that began after she was rear-ended in 1990, according to the civil complaint.She moved slowly because of her injuries, which caused a DMV clerk to have the department re-examine her eligibility for a license, according to court documents. As requested, she gave the department a list of medications she was regularly using.The department held a hearing on June 2 last year and revoked Johnson's license after determining her nighttime use of pot meant that she couldn't safely drive a car.Still, after the lawsuit was filed and Johnson took a driving test, the DMV reinstated her license in January.In making his decision, McCabe determined that two administrative officers with the DMV revoked Johnson's license, even though an internal 2001 policy stated that medical marijuana is "to be treated by the DMV like any other prescription drug," according to court documents.In February, the DMV also made a formal policy, notifying the public that the agency will treat medical marijuana like any other prescription drug. (snipped)And the good news keeps on coming! Happy Holidays! 
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Comment #13 posted by FoM on December 22, 2009 at 19:55:54 PT
Sam
They will become obsolete like most business do in time. You are right saturation will cause their demise. That's business and the way it goes.
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Comment #12 posted by Sam Adams on December 22, 2009 at 19:13:15 PT
business
FOM, I think eventually we'll see people going broke with these dispensaries - someday there will be saturation! Can't wait to see that happen.Here is another compelling article on Giuliani's gift to us all, millions of MJ arrests in NYC, blacks are SEVEN TIMES more likely to be arrested than whites. Amazing to me how we can simultaneously be in an age of political correctness and still this open war against brown people rages on! 1984ishhttp://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/23/nyregion/23about.html?_r=1New York City is now entering its 10th year of pouring tens of millions of dollars into arresting people for the lowest-level misdemeanor marijuana cases.
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Comment #11 posted by FoM on December 22, 2009 at 19:02:15 PT
Sam
It is all evolving. Where it ends up no one really knows. When we started a video store back before almost anyone did it took a lot of money and determination on our part to make it the success it became. People are investing their own money into shops and they will probably succeed. So far it seems to be moving along smoothly in some states. Maybe someday it will be in all states. It will grow and spread into liberal states first and then maybe into conservative states in time.
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Comment #10 posted by Sam Adams on December 22, 2009 at 18:50:34 PT
colorado news
thought this was interesting:Medical pot dispensaries growing at a fast cliphttp://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_14035186I thought it was fascinating that this entire industry is blocked at every level of our corrupt system - the banking cartel rejects all financing of medical MJ dispensaries - of course! As I've asked before, what else is being suppressed? The government is responsible for the recession and decline of our economy, not you and me
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Comment #9 posted by FoM on December 22, 2009 at 16:38:54 PT
Cancer Victim Who Smokes Pot Can Stay -- for Now 
December 22, 2009Elk Rapids, MI -- A northern Michigan woman at risk of losing her apartment because of medical marijuana has been given a holiday reprieve from the owner -- the federal government.URL: http://www.wndu.com/michigan/headlines/79942692.html
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Comment #8 posted by FoM on December 22, 2009 at 16:23:05 PT
Ministry Okays Marijuana for Teenager with Cancer 
December 23, 2009 Israel -- A 14-year-old girl with hematological cancer may receive marijuana, the Health Ministry decided. The girl has been receiving treatment at a pediatric oncology clinic at Rambam Medical Center in Haifa for several months, and is suffering from the side effects of intensive chemotherapy, including pain and loss of appetite. 
 Her doctors recommended marijuana to treat these problems. The Health Ministry approved the request last week, and she began receiving marijuana joints on Friday. The hospital said that although smoking by children is problematic, the joints have improved her condition. Ayelet Ben Barak, a senior physician in the department treating the teen, said, "Because of the problematic nature of smoking at these ages, we are looking into administrating the marijuana by other means." An 88-year-old woman with chronic pain has asked to receive marijuana cookies. About 800 patients in Israel currently receive medicinal marijuana. Fewer than 10 are under age 18. Copyright: 2009 HaaretzURL: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1137032.html
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Comment #7 posted by FoM on December 22, 2009 at 15:15:06 PT
ekim
Meryy Christmas to you too. You are a great guy.
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Comment #6 posted by FoM on December 22, 2009 at 15:13:49 PT
Storm Crow
That sounds good. Happy Holidays to you.
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Comment #5 posted by ekim on December 22, 2009 at 12:31:03 PT
Happy Holidays to everyone
http://www.michiganmedicalmarijuana.org/node/13750"Michigan Leading the Way for Veterans and Medical Cannabis"
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Comment #4 posted by Storm Crow on December 22, 2009 at 10:33:18 PT
A bit of happy news......
http://www.examiner.com/x-19678-Cannabis-Revolution-Examiner~y2009m12d21-Mass-Bar-Association-and-Local-Sheriffs-Support-Proposed-Medical-Marijuana-BillMass. Bar Association and local sheriffs support proposed medical marijuana bill
December 21, 1:29 PMCannabis Revolution ExaminerDev MeyersDecember 21, 2009. The Massachusetts Patient Advocacy Alliance has just announced that four sheriffs have come out in support of House No. 2160. Examiner.com is trying to confirm a report that Carmen Massimiano of Berkshire County, Robert Garvey of Hampshire County, Richard Bretschneider of Nantucket County, and Andrea Cabral of Suffolk County signed a letter late last week announcing their support of the bill.Matt Allen of the Massachusetts Patient Advocacy Alliance said "This is the first time that we've had a robust coalition since the inception of the bill."The Massachusetts Bar Association’s House of Delegates voted overwhelmingly last month to support House No. 2160, a bipartisan medical marijuana bill that was introduced in the State House earlier this year. (snipped)
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on December 22, 2009 at 08:24:49 PT
Vincent
Good morning to you. We are moving right along these days. Common sense is finally happening. I hope everyone is having a nice holiday season. 
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
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Comment #2 posted by Vincent on December 22, 2009 at 07:32:01 PT:
This article
Good morning, everyone. I just turned on the computer, clicked on CN, and I saw this intelligent article. What a lovely, upbeat way to start the day!
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Comment #1 posted by runruff on December 22, 2009 at 07:26:56 PT
Cops and lawyers hate legalization.....
...like buggy whip makers hate the car!
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