cannabisnews.com: Reefer Madness
Reefer Madness
Posted by CN Staff on January 30, 2004 at 08:14:29 PT
By Todd Babiak, The Edmonton Journal
Source: Edmonton Journal
Pot is a cash crop. So why leave the bounty to thieves and murderers, when the government could get in the grow business? It's poetic that police discovered $30 million worth of marijuana plants in a former Molson brewery complex in Barrie, Ont., this week. In the national imagination, beer and marijuana are linked. Both are recreational drugs. Both are smelly. Both hold the potential for abuse. Neither is the child of Satan.
Toronto lawyer and marijuana advocate Alan Young suggested the bust was part of a plot to convince Paul Martin's government to shy away from Jean Chretien's crusade for decriminalization. Plot isn't the right word, but Young is on to something.This week's arrests and seizures hurt advocates of decriminalization because it exposes the flaws in their reasoning.Under decriminalization, pot will remain illegal; growing and dealing marijuana will remain a serious criminal offense. Possessing up to approximately half an ounce for your own consumption will get you a fine but not a criminal record. Feeling safe from arrest, the university students, doctors, plumbers and grandparents who smoke marijuana may smoke a fraction more after decriminalization, which only means increased profits for the organized crime syndicates who grow and distribute pot.Most Canadians accept that marijuana is different from crack cocaine, crystal meth and heroin. Most Canadians agree that smoking a joint is no more a criminal act than running off the golf course to pee on a birch. The country needs a new marijuana policy, but we shouldn't allow thieves and murderers to get rich off our leaders' political cowardice.Decriminalization is a weak and perilous compromise. The only logical answer to the question of marijuana is legalization and regulation.In newspapers across the country and on CBC Radio this week, police officers praised the grow operation in Barrie for its sophistication. "To use a retail term, this was what you would call a big-box approach," said Wayne Frechette, the chief of police in Barrie. Snipped: Complete Article: http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/cashcrop.htmSource: Edmonton Journal (CN AB)Author: Todd Babiak, The Edmonton Journal Published: Friday, January 30, 2004 Copyright: 2004 The Edmonton JournalContact: letters thejournal.canwest.comWebsite: http://www.edmontonjournal.comRelated Articles & Web Site:Ontario: A Place To Live & Grow Videohttp://cbc.ca/mondayreport/videos/ontario.htmlGrow Your Own? It's a Bummer http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18165.shtmlLighten Up on Pot Growers, Canada's on a Roll http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18161.shtmlA 'Growing Like Weeds', Indeed!http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18152.shtml
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Comment #25 posted by Jose Melendez on May 03, 2004 at 12:51:00 PT
carriage return missing
There should have been an extra carriage return between concerns about cardiovascular side effects. andBlow this whistle, guys.Not critical, except I'm not claiming Monica Roman asked us anyone to blow any whistles. Wage peace, offer amnesty to enemies.
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Comment #24 posted by Jose Melendez on May 03, 2004 at 12:45:09 PT
Existing law: the antitrust.
Heard on National Public Radio:"Later in the program an asian metropolis with both sophistication, and shamanism, on PRI . . . "" . . . theWorld is brought to you by PRI with the support of:Merck, " . . . dedicated to the needs of society through pharmaceutical research, and consumer education to improve the quality of life."Merck, committed to bringing out the best in medicine.- - - "Just" great. They and ONDCP get to advertise daily on NPR. Maybe they should be offering cannabisnews.com a grant, instead.Whatever. KCRW rocks.http://www.kcrw.com/As long as public radio, the BBC and the Voice of America keep playing music inspired by hookahs, bongs, pipes and joints, whether they be reds, whites blues jazz, rock, techno, classical or otherwise, I can't blame them for approaching this crime against humanity (Cannabis prohibition) with a grain of salt, and much care, for employment and other reasons. :)Perhaps:http://www.merck.com/ . . . should help us expose cannabinoid suppression as fraud, especially considering that on: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/01_52/c3763052.htmappears the following:
DECEMBER 24, 2001 In Business This Week
Edited by Monica Roman
. . .
Nasty Side Effects for Merck Merck (MRK ) is ailing. On Dec. 11, the drugmaker dropped a bombshell when it said that its 2002 earnings would be flat instead of the 8% gain Wall Street was expecting (BW--Dec. 17). The news sent Merck stock down 9.4%, to $60.70. The disappointment stems from looming generic competition to key drugs and weaker-than-expected sales for Vioxx, its arthritis drug. Vioxx growth has stalled in the wake of concerns about cardiovascular side effects.
Blow this whistle, guys. Maybe they will write about all this someday at:http://economist.com
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Comment #23 posted by FoM on February 01, 2004 at 16:34:26 PT
Comment On Dr. Russo's Talk
I know that Dr. Russo is smart and his knowledge is so far beyond anything I know and it's amazing. I loved the movie Medicine Man and Dr. Russo seems like a real Medicine Man. If you read this. Thank you Dr. Russo.
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Comment #22 posted by FoM on February 01, 2004 at 11:23:35 PT
Very Good Show
Phil Lucas is talking about medical marijuana! This is great and I hope some of you that are interested will tune in!
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Comment #21 posted by FoM on February 01, 2004 at 11:14:01 PT
Just a Note
I removed my comment because I got the wrong link to the conference. This is the right one. Oops Sorry!Show's Link http://www.pot-tv.net/ram/pottvshowse2453.ram
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Comment #19 posted by FoM on January 31, 2004 at 22:14:33 PT
Comment on The Conference
Besides Dr. Russo's talk I watched Rick Doblin. I know about his web site and have posted articles where he is mentioned but now I have a face and understand what MAPS is about. It is really nice to be able to watch what is the most interesting to each one of us. I'm looking forward to these tomorrow: 11am-11:30am - Phil Lucas Science, Spirituality, and Compassion: the Modern Cultivation and Distribution of an Ancient Healing Plant 3:00pm-4:00pm - Dr. Ethan Russo The Myth of Schedule I: Medical Uses of Forbidden Plants and Compounds
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Comment #18 posted by FoM on January 31, 2004 at 16:21:00 PT
afterburner
I'm getting a little work done and am going to tune in to this show. I don't actually understand some of the topics but I have heard of Rick Doblin and thought it might be interesting.4:30pm-5:30pm - Rick Doblin Psychedelics: Return of The Repressed
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Comment #17 posted by afterburner on January 31, 2004 at 14:37:53 PT:
In Case You Missed Saturday's Show
Sunday, Feb. 1st,
Entheogenesis Conference Times are PT Pacific Time.
3:00pm-4:00pm - Dr. Ethan Russo The Myth of Schedule I: Medical Uses of Forbidden Plants and Compounds whole schedule
http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/18/thread18264.shtml#5Show's Link
http://www.pot-tv.net/ram/pottvshowse2453.ram
Show's Link
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Comment #16 posted by FoM on January 31, 2004 at 13:51:31 PT
BGreen
That was nice of you. The half an hour I saw was very good. Dr. Russo really is a person who sees the whole picture. He understands us here on CNews but he also understands what we don't because of his profession. I don't have faith in doctors but I do in Dr. Russo. FoMstock that sounds like fun!!! LOL!
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Comment #15 posted by BGreen on January 31, 2004 at 13:39:19 PT
I Can't Wait
for Pot-TV to archive all of the great presentations being given. We'll be able to access them anytime 24/7.I'm thrilled that Dr. Russo talks to us respectfully and answers our questions (for FREE!) when he could be doing so many other things.Dr. Russo will definitely have to be part of what I envision as "FoMstock," which will be three days of peace, love and happiness (cannabis included) for all of the CannabisNews.com faithful, on a farm in Ohio after cannabis is finally relegalized.The Reverend Bud Green
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Comment #14 posted by FoM on January 31, 2004 at 12:38:21 PT
Very Good
I only caught the last half an hour or so and Dr. Russo did a great job. We all our lucky to have him working so hard to bring awareness and change to us and the world concerning the medicinal benefits of cannabis. I hope others were able to catch some of the show.
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Comment #13 posted by FoM on January 31, 2004 at 12:12:18 PT
Related Link To What Dr. Russo is Discussing
http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/russo-ob.pdf
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Comment #12 posted by FoM on January 31, 2004 at 12:06:23 PT
Dr. Russo Is On Now! It's Working!
http://www.pot-tv.net/ram/pottvshowse2453.ram
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Comment #11 posted by FoM on January 31, 2004 at 11:25:10 PT
Here's The Show's Link
It's not working for me so far but maybe it hasn't started.http://www.pot-tv.net/ram/pottvshowse2453.ram
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Comment #10 posted by FoM on January 31, 2004 at 11:00:42 PT
Friendly Reminder: Dr. Russo at 2:30 PM ET
I plan on tuning in when Dr. Russo speaks and I thought some others might want to check it out too. Afterburner posted the whole schedule and here is the link to the events.Pot-TV: http://www.pot-tv.net/http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/18/thread18264.shtml#5
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Comment #9 posted by afterburner on January 30, 2004 at 16:39:42 PT:
Si, FoM
You got it!
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Comment #8 posted by FoM on January 30, 2004 at 15:30:59 PT
afterburner
Dr. Russo will be on at 2:30 ET tomorrow right?
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Comment #7 posted by afterburner on January 30, 2004 at 15:22:14 PT:
de Nada, FoM
EVERYbody NOTE: Entheogenesis Conference Times are PT Pacific Time. West Coast times are 3 hours earlier than East Coast times for any worker bees just home to the hive.Medical Freedom Amendment for 2004! The interests of the spiritual community and the medical community come together in the mind and into the law. Are the socialites there too?
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Comment #6 posted by FoM on January 30, 2004 at 14:59:53 PT
Thanks afterburner
I didn't know when this was happening and your post helps. I really want to see what Dr. Russo has to say and now I know the time to watch. That's great! Thanks so much!
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Comment #5 posted by afterburner on January 30, 2004 at 14:54:35 PT:
Meanwhile in the Real Canada...
Entheogenesis Will Be Broadcast Live On Pot TV
4 Days Of Live Pot TV!!!!!!! http://www.pot-tv.net/archive/shows/pottvshowse-2444.html"Pot TV manager Chris Bennett tells how Pot TV will be broadcasting 4 days of Live shows starting Friday Jan. 30, with a very special Psychedelic MARC EMERY LIVE, which will include guests from the ENTHEOGENESIS CONFERENCE, then on Saturday, Jan. 31st and Sunday, Feb 1st the full slate of speakers presenting at ENTHEOGENESIS will be broadcast live, (see schedule on the showpage). Plus there will be a FREE PSYCHEDLIC TRADE SHOW AT THE BC MARIJUANA PARTY BOOKSTORE, 307 WEST HASTINGS and finally on Monday, Pot TV launches it's new live show, HILLARY BLACK LIVE, (the Yin to Marc's Yang!), with guests Todd McCormick and Renee Boje. Check It Out!
"Check out www.entheogenesis.ca http://www.entheogenesis.ca/Sponsored by www.urbanshaman.net http://www.urbanshaman.net/Sat. Jan 31,11am-11:30am - Opening Introduction 11:30am-12:30pm - Dr. Ethan Russo
Bhang, Ganja and Charas. Ancient Cannabis Claims and their Scientific
Rationale 12:30pm-1:30pm - Catered Lunch 1:30pm-2:30pm - Mike Crowley, Secret Drugs of Buddhism 2:30pm-3:30pm Professor Carl Ruck & Professor Blaise Staples
The Entheogenic Eucharist of Mithras 3:30pm-4:15pm - Chris Bennett
Kaneh Bosem: The Hidden Story of Cannabis in the Bible 4:30pm-5:30pm - Rick Doblin
Psychedelics: Return of The Repressed 5:30pm-6:30pm - Prof. Thomas Roberts:
The New Gutenberg Reformation - Entheogenic Experience as the Basis of Religion 6:30pm-8:30pm - Catered Dinner 8:30pm-10:30pm - Movies downstairs, then DJs from 10:30 to 12:30 8:30pm-12:30pm - Tradeshow and Jazz band upstairs Sunday, Feb. 1st, 11am-11:30am - Phil Lucas
Science, Spirituality, and Compassion: the Modern Cultivation and Distribution of an Ancient Healing Plant 11:30am-12:30pm - Prof. Carl Ruck & Prof. Blaise Staples;
Survivals of Pagan Shamanism
a) European Fairy Tales
b) Heretical Visionary Sacraments Lunch 12:30pm to 1:30pm1:30pm-2:15pm - Jon Hanna
Psychedelics, Altered Consciousness, and Visionary Art 2:15pm-2:30pm - Aurora Giraffe
The Concepts of Psychoactivism 2:30pm-3:00pm - Renee Boje
Entheogens adn the Goddess 3:00pm-4:00pm - Dr. Ethan Russo
The Myth of Schedule I: Medical Uses of Forbidden Plants and Compounds 4:00pm-4:30pm - Marc Emery and Sandra Karpetas Iboga Therapy House 4:30pm-5:30pm - Prof. Benny Shanon;
Entheogens in the Hebrew Bible - Some speculations. 5:30pm-6:15pm - Jean Millay
PSI and Psychedelics: stories from the Underground 6:15pm-6:45pm - David Aaron
Liberating the Plants of Consciousness: The Law is on Our Side 6:45pm - Closing comments WWW.POT-TV.NET http://www.pot-tv.net/ "
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on January 30, 2004 at 09:35:03 PT
I Just Love This Video
It says it all!http://cbc.ca/mondayreport/videos/ontario.html
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Comment #3 posted by kaptinemo on January 30, 2004 at 09:25:55 PT:
And the rest is even better
Because it puts the onus on the antis to prove us wrong...and to prove why they should use their bogus rationales to put their own minions, the police, in harm's way. Very good article.
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Comment #2 posted by kaptinemo on January 30, 2004 at 09:07:32 PT:
There it is, in black and white
There. Right there. The words that have always needed to be said in the media. Finally.*The country needs a new marijuana policy, but we shouldn't allow thieves and murderers to get rich off our leaders' political cowardice.*It cannot possibly be plainer than that. Nor more obvious. The balls are in your court - and hopefully, somewhere else, too - Mr. Martin. Are you up to it?
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Comment #1 posted by BigDawg on January 30, 2004 at 08:22:36 PT
Oh Canada
Push it Canada..... PUSH!:D
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