cannabisnews.com: It's Unanimous – ‘Pipe Dreams’ a Bozo Maneuver It's Unanimous – ‘Pipe Dreams’ a Bozo Maneuver Posted by CN Staff on March 12, 2003 at 08:13:24 PT The Arcata Eye Issue Scrutinizers Source: Arcata Eye Too weeks ago, as part of “Operation Pipe Dreams,” Drug Enforcement Administration agents arrested three glassblowers operating a business on South G Street, freezing their assets, putting them out of business and throwing many others out of work. Questions: Is Operation Pipe Dreams a worthy use of federal law enforcement assets? Will it be effective in reducing drug use? Paul Cienfuegos Ever since the American Revolution, there has been a struggle going on between the state and federal governments over where power should reside. The “Federalists” won at the founding of our country and destroyed a fledgling local democracy mass movement (the “Anti-Federalists”), which had been at the core of the revolutionary energy that existed. Democracy has suffered immensely ever since, with the Feds throwing their weight around. This is just the latest outrageous abuse of federal authority over we the citizens of the U.S. Prop 215, which legalized medicinal marijuana, was such a significant moment in this struggle because it demonstrated that states, through the ballot box, can successfully wrest power away from the Feds. 215 created what is frequently called “a crisis of jurisdiction.” Its organizers successfully shifted the point of battle from pot smokers vs. police to state and local government vs. federal government. In other words, the battle was transformed from a battle about pot smoking to a battle about real democracy. ALL of our struggles for justice in this country could and should be utilizing such a tactic, as it forces the key question: Who’s in charge here? The people via the ballot box or some distant governmental agency or corporation? No matter the issue: clearcutting, cell towers, water export, you name it: all of these are issues of power: who’s in charge over these decisions? People or our governmental (or corporate) servants? Operation Pipe Dreams is disgusting. It’s a waste of public money. It’s opposed by most Californians. It has thrown dozens of people out of work in a struggling local economy. It will have no impact on drug use. And we at the local and state level need to continue to craft strategies that return governing authority to the people so that this kind of federal abuse of power is no longer possible. Forbes E. Forbes I agree with Bruce Hamilton and your editorial (Eye, March 4, 2003) that the raid by the DEA on 101 North was misguided, wasteful and an example of bureaucracy run amuck. This is another example of a current trend in America to find a culprit for every misfortune. Cigarette manufacturers are still found guilty of causing cancer, even though smokers are fully aware that smoking is dangerous. Companies which had only the slightest use of asbestos must pay huge damages to people who, though healthy, have some slight risk of someday having mesothelioma. A woman won a million-dollar judgement against McDonald’s because she suffered burns from the coffee when she held the cup between her legs. Cause and effect can often be very farfetched.I am sure that the people at 101 North were well aware of the fact that their products were sometimes used as drug paraphernalia, but they did not sell them as such and did not facilitate such activities. In a similar vein, the firearm companies do not sell their weapons to criminals (gun registration takes care of that) or encourage their customers to commit murder. However, I do not foresee the current administration going after the firearm companies anytime soon. Becky Luening Operation Pipe Dreams is a huge waste of taxpayers’ money and a real blow to the local economies of every city where businesses like these were targeted. (A friend of mine who lives in Eugene said their local glassblowers were employing 100 people – all instantly jobless thanks to the DEA.) Since this operation does nothing to reduce the drug supply, there will be absolutely no effect on drug use. Judith Maxey This is just an example, reminder, and warning of what an out-of-control government agency can do. This is exactly why it is important and appropriate for our City to make a stand for the Constitution, and against those who would desire to set us up with an “American Taliban” style of behavior monitoring. I refer to the 10th Amendment which states that any powers not expressly given to the feds are reserved for the states. Nowhere in the Constitution is there any reference to the making of glassware.I heard the federal spokeswoman on the subject on a local radio station where she stated frighteningly that “everyone knows” what glass pipes are really used for. Well, everyone also knows that in an emergency, one uses cheap commercial corncob pipes for the same purpose as the glass ones, so why aren’t the feds hauling away the top management of Long’s Drugs in handcuffs?And no, this won’t be effective in reducing drug use, nor will it, as Director of National Drug Control Policy John P. Walters desires, “...protect our young people from the harms of illegal drugs.” I feel quite adequate as a parent, to protect my children against the “harm” of glass pipes. I just wish the government had equally zealous energies to protect my children against the real and present harm of local school administrators. Marcia Tauber The whole notion that putting a purveyor of glass pipes out of business will prevent even a single person from using drugs is simply ludicrous. In the era where schools, lunch programs for seniors, day programs for people with disabilities, homeless shelters and a slew of other worthwhile endeavors are going unfunded, this was one of the most ridiculous wastes of federal money I can think of. I would say it’s unbelievable, but with our current administration, it is all too believable. Disgusting, but believable.Source: Arcata Eye (US CA)Published: March 10, 2003 Copyright: 2003 Arcata EyeContact: info arcataeye.comWebsite: http://www.arcataeye.com/CannabisNews Paraphernalia Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/paraphernalia.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #13 posted by FoM on March 12, 2003 at 19:24:22 PT mayan I'm a very shy person by nature. I've always felt I didn't have anything important to say many times about different issues. I know I'm not alone in feeling that way. We need people to come forward and speak if they really care but I know many aren't happy about the laws changing. That's reality and I don't mean prohibitionists. It is time for people to decide how they feel. There are people who do care and know that changes in the laws concerning Cannabis are necessary. [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by afterburner on March 12, 2003 at 18:52:05 PT: Get Up, Stand Up. Stand Up for your Right. Latest poll results:Should people in jail be allowed to smoke marijuana for medicinal reasons?Yes 290 44% No 370 56% Total 660 http://www.herald.ns.ca/ ego destruction or ego transcendence, that is the question. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by mayan on March 12, 2003 at 18:25:34 PT FoM... You said..."I think people are afraid to comment these days and I sure do understand."I sure don't understand. If people fail to speak up they have nobody else to blame when their freedoms are gone! We can either stand up now or lay down later. I choose to stand. Freedom - Use it or lose it! [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by FoM on March 12, 2003 at 14:28:11 PT Way Off Topic They found Elizabeth Smart alive in Utah. She is in custody and with her parents. It's just good news for one family and I wanted to post it. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by afterburner on March 12, 2003 at 14:06:35 PT: from Virgil's Link: oSama Wants You Poster (Dial-Up) http://www.nosweatapparel.com/miva/oSama-Poster.htmlego destruction or ego transcendence, that is the question. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by Virgil on March 12, 2003 at 12:37:07 PT It is class warfare Sure, there is a culture war alright. But it goes beyond that to include controlling the courts and Congress, and the White House. It includes building institutions that undermine national soveriegnty and interest with new institutions like the International Monetary Fund and the WTO.I wonder what the details of the recent proposition to Turkey was. Here is 6 billion in cash and we will loan you money at an interest rate you can afford if you accept these guidelines from the IMF. I wonder what those conditions were. There is a warfare of the have most of it against the people that don't have. They pass one tax cut bill that gives half of it to the upper 1% and now they want to accelerate it and make it permanent and when someone says its class welfare, they start saying what do you mean class welfare. We are trying to make things better for all Americans.The drug laws just ushered in a police state to control the masses and have a weapon for anyone that becomes a political enemy. It is about creating a climate of fear to dimenish dissent to corruption and unjust and laws with inequitable enforcement.It is a situation where no one will say the Emperor Has No Clothes. The media will not say Busch could play most every part in the Wizard of Oz because he has no heart, no brain, no courage, and is big phony hidden behind powerful machinations with the W standing for Wicked as in Witch of the West and resurected in the East.I don't sell any paraphanalia or need any and I really do not feel like spending $40 a week for a quarter ounce of cannabis even if it were legal. The prohibitionist don't won't to stop cannabis use. They want to keep the price up one the ideal recreational herbal remedy to whatever ails you. Canada is said to import 1% of the US cannabis. They do not want competition to the funnel that is allowed in Mexico. They do not want people in the US to grow one plant because it might affect price and cut out some CIA Unbrand cannabis.I think the cannabis saga is one great story though as I have seen things in a new light once I developed a cannabis perspective. I see everything now as a Battle of the Buldge. Some people in the cannabis community will become cannon fodder but the ammunition and gas of the project is about to run out. Countries from all over the world that once supported the insanity of prohibition have raised their hands in surrender to the armies of reason.It is the last gasp of cannabis prohibition. It is the class warfare that will linger. I think the Vienna Conference is going to be one great showdown.In the doublespeak category all you have to do is read the first article at CounterPunch where the author uses the term, standing something on its head, instead of doublespeak- http://www.counterpunch.org/mahajan03122003.htmlIt's also an entirely unobjectionable argument in a negative sense - without a Security Council resolution, the war is clearly a violation of international law, as U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has recently pointed out. It is, however, possible for a war fought with U.N. approval still to be a violation of international law.That is the fundamental question -- not whether our "allies" support us, not whether we can strong-arm and browbeat enough members of the Security Council to acquiesce, but whether or not the war is illegal.Interestingly, in this, as in so many other things, the Bush administration turns this question on its head and claims that the war is necessary in order to uphold international law. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by FoM on March 12, 2003 at 11:05:21 PT drfistusa Very well said. It is a culture war. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by drfistusa on March 12, 2003 at 10:56:07 PT: it's about symbols/religion glass pipes and bongs are a symbol of another belief system/religion, corn cob pipes are not! We must clearly understand this is a religious /cultural war or counterrevolution of the 60's. If we think otherwise we are making a mistake. The Taliban destroyed the Buddah statues in afganistan, why!! the same reason Asscroft destroys pipes and peoples lives,you always destroy the other religions symbols, plus protecting the children to be mindless clones of a dominator religion, Pot was called the "devils Sacrement" and demonized by the "christians" long ago and they destroyed our orginal nature religions that used HANF for it's sacrement, the Scythiens, ancestors of N.Europeans. WE just want our religious freedom as NEO-Scythiens, They want to keep us out,it's be going on for over 1800 yrs. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by FoM on March 12, 2003 at 10:32:17 PT Virgil I always try to answer you. I'm not angry. It makes my blood pressure go thru the roof. Anger doesn't help me think clearly it only makes me have a hissy fit! LOL!I think people are afraid to comment these days and I sure do understand. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Virgil on March 12, 2003 at 10:28:29 PT If I were Canadian I would be laughing Can you say Canadian tourist? Can you say American insanity run a muck? A million people are in jail for a crime related to drugs and the man that espouses the virtues of freedom and democracy for propaganda and marketing purposes will not even speak on the issue. Isn't it funny that the best solution to the substance abuse issue is legalized cannabis and the prohibitionists demonize the solution? Legalized cannabis would solve a lot of problems including establishing the pathto get rid of politicians that cannot solve real problems and instead make bigger problems. It's like helping a man that stubbed his toe and hitting him in the head with a hammer and asking if his toe hurts now.The first step needs to be the impeachment of our inept and misguided appointed president and to get rid of the jack asses he rode up on.Don't they have stiffer penalties for possessing paraphanalia within 100 miles of a school? What's wrong with the prohibitionists? Are they tired of the suffer until I'm happy philosophy?Instead of blank paper, Congressmen should go ahead and shit the money to print the Constitution on all the for all the photo copiers and computer printers. That way when they shread the publics information they can have the joy of shredding the Constitution over and over and over.It is a good thing the Enron thiefs didn't get caught by the DEA with any glass pipes? They might have actually been convicted of something.I hate to ask this because I never get an answer, but how can you not be pissed off at a fantacy theory when there is truly a serious problem that needs to be addressed openly and honestly? Even if you have an herbal remedy for anger and anxiety, aren't you pissed off just a little?If you have never commented before at Cnews before, give it a try. This isn't some exclusive group that comments and their is no committee to approve an entry. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on March 12, 2003 at 09:45:41 PT Thank You Dr. Russo I appreciate your knowledge. I sure don't understand these studies. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Ethan Russo MD on March 12, 2003 at 09:31:57 PT: Report is Journalistic Fluff The report in the prior post concerns nabilone, a synthetic cannabinoid, and really says nothing about pain-relieving properties of cannabis. This was a presentation at a conference, and is not a published journal article. It means very little, and does not merit any significant attention. Nabilone is poorly tolerated and rarely used where available. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by puff_tuff on March 12, 2003 at 09:28:31 PT Off Topic Cannabis fails in chronic pain test Claims that cannabis relieves pain have been contradicted by new research released in Christchurch. http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/thepress/0,2106,2326331a6530,00.html [ Post Comment ] Post Comment