cannabisnews.com: Drug Experts Weed Out Myths of Marijuana 










  Drug Experts Weed Out Myths of Marijuana 

Posted by CN Staff on February 11, 2005 at 08:12:08 PT
By Christina Williams, Special To The Beacon News  
Source: Beacon News  

Geneva -- Weed, dope, pot, cannabis. Call it what you may, but the fact is marijuana is currently the most widely used illicit drug in the United States today. According to Dr. Andrea Barthwell, advisor to Drug Czar John P. Walters, of the 5.6 million drug users in the United States, 62 percent use marijuana; and of that group, 23 percent are under age 17. Statistically, there are more teens in drug rehab for treatment of marijuana abuse today, she said, than for alcohol abuse.
Sponsored by the Geneva Coalition for Youth, a recent program at Geneva High School was one stop on Barthwell's 18-city tour across the state to give communities a heads-up on the dangers of marijuana.She appeared on a panel that also included Mark Warpness, federal agent with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency; Ryan Beebe, recovering addict and former Geneva High School student; and Cheryl Rosentretter, parent of a teenage recovering addict.For about two hours Barthwell used scientific evidence that showed both the physical and psychological harms of marijuana abuse. "As a daily user myself for 15 years," Barthwell said, "I can personally tell you all the facts you need in order to prevent our children from becoming users of marijuana." Started in College Barthwell's personal journey began in college, where she went from a social user to a daily abuser before eventually committing to a recovery process.In December of 2001, she was nominated by President George W. Bush to be the next deputy drug czar; and, after confirmation by the Senate, she established herself as principle advisor to Drug Czar John P. Walters. In 2003, Barthwell was honored for her work in the medical field of addictions with the Betty Ford Clinic Award, and currently devotes herself to educating the public in what needs to be done both as a community and as parents to keep children drug free.In debunking myth No. 1 — that marijuana is a "harmless" drug — Barthwell showed that between 1990 and 1993, there were 70,000 drug-related emergency room cases; 30,000 with marijuana. From 1994-2001 however, there were 100,000 cases of heroin treatment, and 120,000 cases of marijuana-related treatments. Because of the increased potency of marijuana by today's standard, with the use of genetic engineering to produce high-grade marijuana, the number of emergency room visits that are directly related to the use of pot has grown by leaps and bounds over the past decade, she said. Multiple Effects "This, I believe, is connected to the way THC, which is the chemical in marijuana that gets you high, effects the central nervous system," Barthwell continued. "THC can produce both anticipated and unanticipated effects, and impacts things such as coordination. It creates a loss of memory, as well as effecting our center of judgment." Frequent marijuana can also produce symptoms similar to those with Alzheimer's disease. In addition to loss of memory, coordination and judgment, chronic use will also impact the immune system, harm the linings of the lungs and heart, and aggravate existing heart conditions. It has also been shown to lower sperm count. And although it does not seem to impair vision, motor performances are decreased through slower reaction times, divided attention spans, and less ability to make quick decisions, she said. Addiction, ExperimentationThat marijuana is not addictive is the second most popular myth, said Barthwell, but "in fact, this is proven quite the opposite." Studies have shown that withdrawal begins in about 10 hours from inhalation. The most severe symptoms occur within 48 hours, and generally after five days, the worst of the withdrawal is over. These symptoms may include changes in behavior, a rise in irritability and anxiety, or a feeling of sadness and melancholy. Barthwell also debunks myth No. 3, that experimentation is inevitable. Most kids begin using through "peer to peer salesmanship," she said. "It's not a street corner drug where junkies hang on the streets waiting for their sales."That's why it is so important to know who your kids are with, where they are going, and what they are doing, she told the audience. "Be a nosy parent. This is one way we keep our kids from experimentation."In sharing her experience with a son who had abused and is now recovering, Cheryl Rosentretter said she believes youth involvement is necessary in keeping children drug free."Whether it is a church youth group, a sport or an interest in drama, the purpose is to keep your kid off the street ... and follow your instinct," she said. "If grades are slipping and phone calls from the teachers begin, accept that there may be a problem. Even if your kid is one of the 'good kids', acknowledge that there is the possibility they are using." Personal Experience Ryan Beebe, now 19, started using marijuana at age 12; by the time he was 17 he was a full-blown heroin addict, doing whatever it took — including breaking and entering — to score a fix. As the former Geneva High School student sat in a jail cell one night, he realized being an addict was not how he wanted to live his life. And with the support of his family, school and Charles "Chick" Williams, of the Geneva Community Intervention Team, Ryan started a rehab program, failed once, committed to recovery again, and has been clean for more than 18 months.He is currently enrolled at Waubonsee Community College and talks to teens on the dangers of drug experimentation.Also participating in the lecture was Hearts of Hope — known as "The Mom Squad" — a not-for-profit group dedicated to educating the public on the impact substance abuse can have on the family and community. For more information on this group call (630) 232-9210, or visit their Web site at: http://www.themomsquad.org/Source: Beacon News (IL)Author: Christina Williams, Special To The Beacon News Published: February 11, 2005Copyright: 2005 Digital Chicago & Hollinger International Inc. Contact: beaconviewpoint suburbanchicagonews.com Website: http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/Related Articles:Former Drug Policy Official Warns of Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20221.shtmlExpert Rails Against Medical Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20220.shtmlMedical Marijuana Issue Heats Up http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20216.shtml

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Comment #89 posted by FoM on February 13, 2005 at 14:03:53 PT
Here's Some More
http://www.cannabisnews.com/thcgi/search.pl?K=barthwell
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Comment #88 posted by FoM on February 13, 2005 at 14:01:43 PT
Telarus 
On my FTE page is a link named Cannabis News Discussion Board. I don't really use it but made it incase we ever go down here and need to talk. I could make a private room so only registered members could see what is posted. I'm sure it isn't real secure but nothing is online. Just a thought. http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/
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Comment #87 posted by Telarus on February 13, 2005 at 13:57:18 PT:
"Dr." Andrea Barthwell
http://www.mapinc.org/people/Andrea+BarthwellWow, I just keep finding these thing. =P
http://www.mapinc.org/people/Andrea+Barthwell
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Comment #86 posted by Telarus on February 13, 2005 at 13:54:02 PT:
FoM
Absolutely, and if anyone wants to setup a mailing-list or site to keep track of this stuff, I could help with that as well. I figure whenever one of us read something in one of these "news" stories, and we say to ourselves, "Self, I feel pretty sure that sentance could not have come out of anything but a political propoganda machine>"....well, copy/paste into Google. If you find the same story (or "bit" as in comedy bit) word for word attributed to some-one else or some-other "news" outlet, then we simply follow the sources and "follow the money" as we all keep saying. If we find that 5 different outlets quote the same Gov. Official, and then have the same 3 spin paragraphs at some point in their story...well....As a resource, I use http://www.gigablast.com as a search engine in conjunction with Google. For example, I typed in:
Andrea Barthwell "Geneva Coalition for Youth" -two fairly unrelated terms considering ammount of information about their connection in the article. My results where:
040% Andrea Grubb Barthwell made
037% Deputy Director
021% Director for Demand Reduction
018% drug czar's office
016% National Drug Control Policy
016% Unshackle Medical Marijuana Research
012% thrown into the Senate
010% Prior to her current
010% Barthwell has resigned
009% Deputy Drug Czar
009% Marijuana Policy ProjectHmmmmm........
http://www.gigablast.com/
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Comment #85 posted by FoM on February 13, 2005 at 13:21:34 PT
 Telarus
Very good idea!
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Comment #84 posted by Telarus on February 13, 2005 at 13:17:51 PT:
Fnord
 JR Bob Dobbs wrote:
 Anyone else wondering, in the face of recent revelations, if this "Special" reporter might just be another bought-and-paid-for-with-your-tax-dollars government shill? The article reads like an ONDCP propaganda piece, and the "Special To The Beacon News" sounds like she's not a regular reporter there... I was thinking the exact same thing. It helps when you can see the Fnords. If we can actually catch the ONDCP spreading pre-written press releases without identifying their source, I beleive 2 senators would be interested in hearing about that? A little research project for the site?
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Comment #83 posted by FoM on February 13, 2005 at 07:13:04 PT
Jose
What a great article to wake up and see! Thank you!http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread20230.shtml
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Comment #82 posted by jose melendez on February 13, 2005 at 04:40:16 PT
Lies cloud medical marijuana debate
from: http://www.suntimes.com/output/otherviews/cst-edt-ref13.html (Barthwell) has a long history of saying things about medical marijuana that simply are not true. Interviewed on PBS' ''News Hour With Jim Lehrer'' in October 2003, she claimed that "no credible medical organizations" support medical marijuana. In a Feb. 17, 2004, Chicago Tribune column, she insisted that "marijuana is so complex, unstable and harmful that sensible physicians and researchers consider it unethical to expose individuals to the risks associated with smoking it."In fact, what the medical community actually says is precisely the opposite of what Barthwell claims. In its official policy statement on medical marijuana, the American Public Health Association stated, "Marijuana has an extremely wide acute margin of safety for use under medical supervision . . . greater harm is caused by the legal consequences of its prohibition than possible risks of medicinal use."In a 1997 editorial, the New England Journal of Medicine -- widely regarded as the most prestigious medical journal in the world -- called the ban on medical use of marijuana "misguided, heavy-handed and inhumane."In a November 2003 letter to New York legislators, the American Academy of HIV Medicine put it this way: "When appropriately prescribed and monitored, marijuana/cannabis can provide immeasurable benefits for the health and well-being of our patients."And the Illinois Nurses Association, in a position paper issued last December, said, "Cannabis [marijuana] is considered by the scientists directly involved with cannabinoid research to be one of the least toxic substances known that delivers a therapeutic response. . . . There is almost a half-century of research that supports the safety and efficacy of cannabis for conditions such as reducing nausea and vomiting, stimulating appetite, controlling spasticity, decreasing the suffering from the experience of chronic pain, and controlling seizures."
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Comment #81 posted by tokenitallup4162 on February 12, 2005 at 19:07:41 PT:
I'll tell you no lies???
E X A C T L Y, MAX...as for this dude that went to heroin, he wanted more, so he got more. no more , no less!!! I guess you could say I make an excellent alcoholic counsler, due to me being there for 20 yrs myself. I hate alcohol with a passion, as for me, but don't mind others doing their own way of relaxing or medicating themselves. I , myself could not,nor can not, handle alcohol. so I quit drinking. I didnt go out and tell others that it will ruin your lives becaues it ruined mine. I do keep friends from driving if we are at a cook out or gathering, though, only natural there.point being, because a person couldn't handle their situation, they shouldn't interfere with others, especially for medication, hell, even alcohol helps as far as a moderate self medications go, if that someone indulges in a drink or hot tottie before rest. I got a letter from my senator the other day concerning the issues of marijuana as medications here in kentucky. He isn't too crazy about having pot for self medicating. hope we get his mind changed on this, quickly. oh, by the way, last year, my wife got a call from moms against drunk drivers for us to pledge, wife asked the lady on the phone, didn't you people have a party last year where after the party, a person was pulled over just after attending this very party for DRUNK DRIVING, lady on phone; well, we will not be having any alcohol at our future party's..... ooooooook. wife did tell them, NO THANKS, WE PLEDGE TO NORML!!! I would like to personally thank this ms.barfwell for her ignorance and let her know strait out where she could better utilize her time more respectfully. LOOK INTO THE MIRROR, MS BART.... I hate this dang flu bug,,,, think I'll go out and crusade against mother nature for letting me get so miserable, lols. Toker...PEACE TO YA'LL OUT THERE!!!, EVEN IF IT IS ONLY FOR A MINUTE...OUR SOLDIERS, GODBLESS THEM...
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Comment #80 posted by FoM on February 12, 2005 at 11:44:41 PT
observer a favor
Would you look inside the sec-bin of CNews and tell me if you see something strange too. Thanks!
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Comment #79 posted by JoeCitizen on February 12, 2005 at 09:29:08 PT
Thanks Observer!
That's a very helpful tip (or should I say, observation.) Those RSS feeds are very useful.JC
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Comment #78 posted by FoM on February 12, 2005 at 09:17:53 PT
observer
Thank you. I put it on my yahoo news.
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Comment #77 posted by observer on February 12, 2005 at 09:02:29 PT
re: cnews blog
Dont't forget that cannabisnews has RSS feeds, here:http://drugpolicycentral.com/dpcgi/cnews2rss.pl (explanation, html)http://drugpolicycentral.com/dpcgi/cnews2rss.pl?xml=1 (RSS of cnews home page, XML)http://drugpolicycentral.com/dpcgi/cnews2rss.pl?latest=1 (cnews comments, blog-style, XML)
explanation of cnews RSS feeds
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Comment #76 posted by FoM on February 12, 2005 at 08:27:21 PT
JoeCitizen 
I never met Don but my husband and I drove down to the Ohio Hempery years ago. He wasn't there but his staff was very nice. I believe he moved to Canada. 
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Comment #75 posted by siege on February 12, 2005 at 07:30:47 PT
Comment #68
It appears NAIHCI that your writer of Literature doze not have The ability to think abstractly or profoundly on what they write about, in the other countrys of the world they (eat hemp food) or it's relating to the diet; they do not have the sickness that the USA citizens has, and they have the THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana) level of 11/2% or less--for food, hemp that takes care of a lot the sickness. allso, Your forefathers grow INDIA HEMP and smoked hemp just go do the research, and you say that you are a different thing then ""cannabis sativa"" Industrial Hemp (oil, fiber, seed, etc. for food and products);
HENRY FORD used it in his cars at the time, made ice cream from hemp.So do the research,American Historical NotesIn 1619, America's first marijuana law was enacted at Jamestown Colony, Virginia, "ordering" all farmers to "make tryal of" (grow) Indian hempseed. More mandatory (must-grow) hemp cultivation laws were enacted in Massachusetts in 1631, in Connecticut in 1632 and in the Chesapeake Colonies into the mid-1700s.  
George Washington and Thomas Jefferson grew cannabis on their plantations. Jefferson,3 while envoy to France, went to great expense - and even considerable risk to himself and his secret agents - to procure particularly good hempseeds smuggled illegally into Turkey from China. The Chinese Mandarins (political rulers) so valued their hempseed that they made its exportation a capital offense.NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRIAL HEMP COUNCIL, INC.
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Comment #74 posted by charmed quark on February 12, 2005 at 04:34:52 PT
Be afraid, cannabis users
Look what 15 years of cannabis use did to Barthwell - it turned her into a government lacky who is unable to say anything but half-truths, distortions, and made-up facts. She is the best advertisement against drug use I have ever seen. If I were a cannabis user, I would quit immediately after the revelation that she used it for so long.:-)-CQ
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Comment #73 posted by Industrial Strength on February 12, 2005 at 00:46:38 PT
Well, she was right about one thing...
"...and less ability to make quick decisions, she said."Hmm...Vanilla or Chocolate, vanilla or chocolate, vanilla or chocolate! Oh, I can't decide! Irrelevant, certainly, but I would agree I'm more equivocal when I've been smoking. Sometimes that can be a good thing. On an unrelated note, somwhere in this thread people were discussing the "Main Stream Media". A fantastic book EVERYONE should read is "Censored 2005". Visit the website at www.projectcensored.org.
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Comment #72 posted by JoeCitizen on February 12, 2005 at 00:06:37 PT
I'm almost done, too!
Gotta go to sleep. I did look at the hemp car, it's pretty cool, and obviously well sponsored.One of those sponsors was (past tense) the Ohio Hempery. Run by Don Wirtshafter (misspelled his name before), whom I mentioned in my first post about hemp. Don's a good guy. I've met him at NORML conferences. He doesn't try to put up all these artificial barriers between high and low THC cannabis.  He doesn't say, "Hemp good, Marijuana bad!" like some of the other groups.Unfortunately, the Hempery closed in 2002. I don't know what Don is up to these days, it's been a few years since I've crossed paths with him. We need more guys like him, who don't play word games to try to make a buck.JC
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Comment #71 posted by JoeCitizen on February 11, 2005 at 23:54:19 PT
I'm glad you understand
I don't really think that cannabis for sick people and hemp for the sick earth are two different issues, but I did want to demonstrate my priorities. Hemp clothes, foods, and fuels are wonderful, but if you are screaming in pain, shaking uncontrollably, or vomiting your life away, you need something else.As for unity, I will make common cause with anyone who supports our position. I would even reach out to those who don't but at least actively oppose our enemies. These NAIHC people do neither.  To think otherwise is to wear rose-colored blinders.I went to their webpage hoping they had changed.  They had not. Therefore, neither has my attitude about them. I'm not actively stewing about it, I just try to be realistic. The medical cannabis and personal cannabis crowd get along very well. These sorts of Big Hemp orgs don't seem to like either group.JC
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Comment #70 posted by FoM on February 11, 2005 at 23:53:25 PT
JoeCitizen
I'm done for the day but I want you to look at this picture. I did not pay to have CannabisNews.com advertized on the Hemp Car. They put it on for free because they said they appreciate what we are doing on CNews. That was kind. http://hempcar.org/
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Comment #69 posted by FoM on February 11, 2005 at 23:36:40 PT
JoeCitizen 
I don't know what to say. We don't live in those times now. You said we need unity. We do but we need to look forward and not look back or hard feelings will linger and cause disunity. See what I mean? I believe sick people need cannabis available but I don't feel I have to sacrifice concerns for the earth. They go together in my book. I do understand but my way of thinking keeps me looking forward. If I look back it just gets me down and that isn't going to help change anything and hurts our health at the same time.
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Comment #68 posted by JoeCitizen on February 11, 2005 at 23:23:52 PT
FOM - Different for some, same for others
FOM,You are correct, that I do have some hard feelings about how it was. As the guy in charge at my level of NORML, I had a lot of sick people looking hopefully at me, practically begging me to help them in some way. Chemo patients, folks with terrible intractable nerve pain, MS sufferers, epileptics, even a woman with Ehler-Danlos syndrome, which is a really horrible condition (look it up, and then thank God/fate/your lucky stars that it's not you). And then there were the people in legal trouble, facing the loss of their job, their home, their children, and maybe their own freedom.I know my priorities. If I had to burn dirty diesel oil in my car, eat only processed foods, and wear nothing but plastic, but could somehow thereby provide cannabis to the sick and keep all cannabis users out of jail, I'd do it in a heartbeat. The despoiling of our planet is a real, but long-term threat. The pain and suffering of human beings is intolerable, and most be dealt with immediately.But that's not how some of the hempers saw things, and some of them *still* feel the same.From the current webpage of the North American Industrial Hemp Council:NAIHC ADVISESIndustrial hemp advocates: 
* Limit your arguments to industrial hemp.* Whether you are for or against, keep your views on marijuana to yourself.* Since industrial hemp is not a drug, don't allow the debate on industrial hemp to devolve to drugs. Manufacturers, marketers and sellers of industrial hemp products: 
* Don't market industrial hemp products by associating them with marijuana by the use of graphics, slang, turns of phrases, etc. (it has been overdone anyway and is too cute by half). 
* Realize that industrial hemp will truly compete in the market because of quality and/or price, not the transient cachet of a product made from taxonomically related (but not intoxicating) varieties of cannabis.Pro-marijuana (recreational and/or medical) advocates:* Limit your arguments to marijuana and the benefits you see from its use. * Don't conflate marijuana with industrial hemp or use "hemp" when you mean "marijuana." * Conflating the drug and non-drug varieties together in policy debate hinders the effort to recommercialize industrial hemp in the United States. * If you also favor the use of industrial hemp, don't advocate it in forums where you are advocating marijuana. * Resist temptation to score debating points by discrediting anti-marijuana advocates for their failure to distinguish industrial hemp and marijuana. * Not distinguishing between the drug and non-drug varieties leads to the same credibility problems that anti-marijuana advocates have who do the same thing (and you play into the hands of anti-marijuana advocates). * Don't bank on the domino theory that if industrial hemp is (re)legalized, then marijuana will follow (several other nations have allowed for hemp production without changing their stance on marijuana). Anti-marijuana advocates: * Limit your arguments to marijuana and the dangers you see from its abuse. * Acknowledge industrial hemp is, in fact, not a drug (you lose credibility saying that it is-and you play into the hands of pro-marijuana advocates). * If you continue to insist that industrial hemp is no different than marijuana, you'll be increasingly fighting two opponents (NAIHC won't ally with pro-marijuana advocates, but will oppose anti-marijuana advocates who fail to distinguish industrial hemp from marijuana). * Don't fear the domino theory that if industrial hemp is legalized, then marijuana will follow (several other nations have allowed for hemp production without changing their stance on marijuana).*********************************************Do you see what I mean? Can you understand why I don't like these people? And this is the biggest hemp group in America.Hemp is good. But some of the hemp-supporting crowd..aren't.Below is the link to NAIHC page I cited. See for yourself.JC
NAIHC position paper on Hemp vs. Marijuana
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Comment #67 posted by FoM on February 11, 2005 at 22:45:48 PT
Aragorn 
You're so right. Barthwell really isn't impressive. 
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Comment #66 posted by Aragorn on February 11, 2005 at 22:41:08 PT
Just remember....
....this woman lost out to Alan Keyes as the Illinois Republican Party's chosen black stooge to mock and parody the candidacy of Barack Obama.
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Comment #65 posted by FoM on February 11, 2005 at 22:37:05 PT
Supersize Me
I haven't seen the movie but it sounds right on. My husband and I were raised on dinners made by our mothers. We didn't eat out. I'm glad fast food didn't get going big time until we were adults. Children now a days are so heavy compared to when I was a child. I feel sorry for this up and coming generation.
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Comment #64 posted by BGreen on February 11, 2005 at 22:26:59 PT
Superize Me
The director ate a diet of exclusively McDonald's three meals a day for a month and nearly killed himself. By week three his cholesterol level had skyrocketed and his liver had become fatty and diseased, all to the amazement of his doctors. These are the people being given the cholesterol-lowering drugs. The TV commercials warn that these drugs shouldn't be used by people with liver damage and can cause serious complications.This doesn't even take into account the fact that McDonald's food is so over processed that it is devoid of nutrition.The thing that I put together that the director didn't was that McDonald's is marketing crap and crappy eating habits to our kids which in turn is leading to serious disease in our children, so where do they turn????The Ronald McDonald House.That is just SICK!The Reverend Bud Green
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Comment #63 posted by FoM on February 11, 2005 at 22:07:32 PT
BGreen
I am against drugs. I have been hurt by drugs. I know that our modern society pops pills for more reasons then I can type. I know that some people need medicine if they have a specific disease that requires special medicine but pills and drugs are not the answer for everything. Right now because I've been really stressed I started back on Saint John's Wort and am using Lavendar Essential oil to help me calm down. I have been weight conscience my whole life and most fast foods make it hard to maintain a healthy weight. What we consume we become to a degree if that makes sense. I'm always hungry but I live with the feeling rather then give in and eat too much ( most times LOL ). I am not a health nut but I do want to live without alot of problems that eating badly cause. You're doing a good thing by caring like you do.
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Comment #62 posted by BGreen on February 11, 2005 at 21:53:50 PT
Yeah, It Tastes Even Better Than It Sounds
This is our tasty version of health care. People have such unhealthy habits and yet there seems to be a pill or 12 (LOL) that allow people to continue their unhealthy lifestyle.That's not the way I want to live.Hemp is cannabis sativa and medical cannabis is cannabis sativa. Both are one and yet they are different. It's kind of like a married couple. Both are miraculous gifts of health and healing to mankind.The Reverend Bud Green
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Comment #61 posted by FoM on February 11, 2005 at 21:43:26 PT
BGreen
All you said sounds so good.
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Comment #60 posted by BGreen on February 11, 2005 at 21:38:30 PT

Hemp
I wear hemp shirts, have a hemp wallet, use hemp shampoo, conditioner and liquid hemp soap.Tonight for dinner I had a jerk chicken salad with sunflower seeds, carrots and a hemp oil and fresh squeezed lemon dressing.For dessert I had an organic smoothie made with cherry juice, raspberries, mangos, yoghurt, therapeutic extra virgin coconut oil and a couple of tablespoonsful of shelled hemp nuts.On a related note, everybody should see the movie "Supersize Me." The movie is very entertaining but the subject matter is disturbing. I expected a stale documentary but we laughed and laughed, and ultimately felt really good about our own diet.The Reverend Bud Green
Supersize Me
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Comment #59 posted by FoM on February 11, 2005 at 20:46:35 PT

JoeCitizen
I know there was division between hemp and cannabis issues but I stayed out of it. Today we are different. Now we know the medical benefits of Cannabis and the uses for Hemp better then ever. They aren't alien to one another but the same plant. You sound like you have hard feelings about how it was. That was then and now it can be different. We are at war and oil is the reason. We need good medicine which cannabis is with all the drugs killing people in the news nowadays. Maybe the time for change is getting close. The organizations will probably work independently of each other because the issues aren't the same. Cannabis and Hemp are so versatile there will be many areas that people will think differently I believe.
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Comment #58 posted by FoM on February 11, 2005 at 20:16:42 PT

knowhemp
Thank You. When I was young we wore wool sweaters and our horse feed bags were made of Hemp or at least that's what I remember my mother telling me. Clothes that weren't natural were called cheap imitations and were not what was popular to wear. We know the rest of the story. Plastic shoes were out too. We need to use what the earth gives us not what man makes us. This is the first time in history that nature can't clean itself of a product that is almost indestructible and we know that's plastic.
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Comment #57 posted by JoeCitizen on February 11, 2005 at 20:15:18 PT

knowhemp
I agree that hemp is a vital asset, and would very much like it to prevail over all the synthetics and oil based crap. But I'm not sure that I agree that if hemp were legal, so too would medical or personal cannabis follow.When I was involved with NORML a few years back, at first I tried to push equally for medical cannabis, personal cannabis, and hemp. But the sad thing was, the hemp groups, such as North Amrerican Industrial Hemp Council, didn't want *anything* to do with "pot groups."  They just gave us the cold shoulder, even made common cause with the narcs. After a while it got though to me that they just didn't want our help, didn't think they needed it, and certainly wouldn't help us.Now there were some, such as Don Wirschafter, who tried to bridge the gap. But as the DEA applied more and more pressure to restrict their products, almost all the big hemp players moved away from us general legalizers.It doesn't have to be this way, and in fact it shouldn't be.  It falls into that "divide-and-conquer" trap that I mentioned in my last post. The prohibitionists try to split us into easily manageable factions, and then crush us one by one. But I am not speaking from very current knowledge, so maybe some of the hemp players have wised up, realized who their real enemy is, and who should be their friends.I don't know. But I know that at least some of them would be quite happy to have their product legal, and couldn't care less if Angela on chemo or Peter with AIDS choke to death on their own vomit. The only kind of green that turns them on has pictures of dead presidents on it.JC
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Comment #56 posted by FoM on February 11, 2005 at 20:07:53 PT

gloovins
I read that article and shook my head. All I could think is there won't be anymore happy cows. 
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Comment #55 posted by knowhemp on February 11, 2005 at 19:59:35 PT

Well...
Maybe hemp won't be a good solution for fuel, we like to use more than what we could probably grow enough for. Anyone ever get on the forums at http://www.peakoil.com/index.html ? They could use a good hemp debate i'm sure.peace
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Comment #54 posted by knowhemp on February 11, 2005 at 19:50:23 PT

Bedding for horses...
materials for homes, clothes, excellent paper, plastic..PLASTIC! most people think plastic is just plastic, but it can be made from plant cellulose too! I wish you empowerment and success in your endeavors FoM. Because the bottom line is that cannabis puts the money back into the communities it came from, and allows us to take care of ourselves for a change. The old way is tough. We need to relearn some stuff that they didn't teach us in school or Wal-Mart. However, this time around we have the technology. I think we are witnessing earth's 'coming out of the darkness'. In early history cannabis was simply a part of life. But it was difficult to harvest, and easily forgotten by most after the 1930's when they developed petro fiber crap that was cheap and felt cool. As synthetic as it is, it seems only to be a natural progression, considering the human condition and our weakness in the face of money and power for the here and now. Now we have been re-introduced to cannabis thanks to people like Jack Herer, Marc Emery, Europe, and YOU! And it's turning out to be a miracle solution to the problems we really don't seem to have any other answers for. Soon, we may still live out the dreams of people like Ben Franklin when we make paper from hemp, or Henry Ford when we make fuel AND cars from hemp, and praise her courage, Angel Raich when we let her vaporize her medicine without vaporizing her life.wake up the power of the people
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Comment #53 posted by gloovins on February 11, 2005 at 19:47:55 PT

FoM
I just saw this:Crackdown on cannabis cow fodder
Hemp crop
The hemp tree is part of the cannabis species
Farmers in Liechtenstein can no longer feed cannabis to their herds under new rules in the small Alpine state.Traces of the drug found in hashish have been filtering through to the milk of dairy cows fed with the hemp plant.The levels breach the maximum limit set by the new rules - which say animal feed must be free of any element that could have an ill effect on humans.The rules to be introduced in March are to bring Liechtenstein in line with standards in neighbouring Switzerland.Hemp will also be banned from the diets of meat herds, although reports say there is no clear evidence that THC - the active substance found in hashish - can filter through into meat.The hemp tree is part of the cannabis species, which includes marijuana plants. at BBC heres the link...http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4257255.stmThought industrial hemp would not cause this. Strange,..no?As for the "ill" effects on humans in the meat, well you'll know when you cook meat, you lose something like 90% of the nutrients gained from animal flesh if you are a carnivore you should know this I suppose...
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Comment #52 posted by FoM on February 11, 2005 at 19:22:49 PT

Hemp For Horses
http://www.hemcore.co.uk/
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Comment #51 posted by FoM on February 11, 2005 at 19:07:03 PT

knowhemp 
I agree with you. Hemp is very important. My dream is to be able to grow hemp and make bedding for horses. The Queen of England uses Hemp bedding for her fine horses. Hemp has unlimited potential. 
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Comment #50 posted by knowhemp on February 11, 2005 at 18:59:39 PT

larger issue
I believe that medical marijuana is only half the issue. We need to bring up hemp when we talk about medicinal cannabis from time to time, because if it weren't for all the uses of hemp...pot would most likely never have been prohibited. It becomes more apparent how foolish the war on cannabis is when you consider a few things. A:it's a really safe drug overall - seek out the facts. B:it's usefull not only for recreational and social reasons but for medical reasons as well. C:hemp prohibition is hinged on marijuana prohibition, and is the reason farmers in the states are unable to grow it in order to replace harmful non-renewable resources. It can save our world - and individual lives as well.
I don't post very often, since everyone does such a good job of nailing the issues without me;) but i rarely see these two issues tied together. I've found that when you round all the bases and come full circle, people are very receptive to our visions for the future. Honestly; do you believe that if we legalized hemp there would still be resistance to marijuana? Probably not, since the government is really not concerned with anyone's health at all. If hemp were legal in the U.S. it wouldn't take long before we have a largely non-oil based infra-structure. and therefore, no reason to keep marijuana illegal. especially when people see how nice hemp can be, and how it's been covered up. The facts are all there! They just need to be presented in a palletable fashion. Our issue affects so many issues that it's hard to keep somones attention long enough to explain it! Who else has had a hard time explaining how cannabis could quell racism, or balance the budget, or clean the water, food and air, or improve education, or health care, or clear our prisons and make way for a rehabilitation based system thats more concerned with saftey than punishment?In a debate on mmj, what opponent would be equipped to deal with facts on hemp AND mmj?people get ready
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Comment #49 posted by FoM on February 11, 2005 at 18:44:20 PT

Nuevo Mexican 
You made me very happy. It is hard for me to try to keep my eye on the mark as it is for everyone but we are so darn close with Angel's case and the Bills being introduced. I don't want anything to stop us. We all need to win. We all have lost so much under Bush. We need to see a good victory! 
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Comment #48 posted by BGreen on February 11, 2005 at 18:41:10 PT

Whew!
I don't like to see people get their feelings hurt. I'm glad it wasn't "Bye!" for good.The Reverend Bud Green
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Comment #47 posted by nuevo mexican on February 11, 2005 at 18:35:42 PT

I like you too!
And just didn't want you to think I would persist, as I do occasionally, so no, I knew you weren't mad at me. We all like you for drawing the lines, as I get excited and carried away sometimes. A Cannabis Blog sounded good to me FOM, as I prefer to hang out at Cnews more than anywhere, reading the articles, and the posts. Consider not writing the idea off entirely, it's just one of those inevitable things the Internet is known for doing, pushing the pioneers to greater heights in communication. Like this site does!
For now, PoCom (post comment) works just fine! P.S The posters here are as good as any writers anywhere on the web in case no one has pointed this out lately, that's why I just sit back and read usually. Wonder if it has anything to do with the nature of the site! 
Peace! NM

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Comment #46 posted by mayan on February 11, 2005 at 18:21:31 PT

On The Take
It's my guess that Barthwell is taking money from the re-hab industry,pharmaceutical industry and of course the federal government...to keep their drug war gravy train rolling. If medical cannabis prevails then recreational cannabis and industrial hemp will be next(petrochemical $$$?). This is a critical juncture in human history. It's no wonder they are so desperate!THE WAY OUT IS THE WAY IN...September 11th Advocates Statement on the 9/11 Commission's Declassified Monograph on FAA Failures:
http://www.911truth.org/article.php?story=20050211134121767Rice Received “Urgent” Al-Qaeda Warning—Pre-9/11:
http://911citizenswatch.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=462&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0Bush Team Tried to Suppress Pre-9/11 Report Into al-Qa'ida:
http://www.911truth.org/article.php?story=20050211094352598Popular Mechanics' Deceptive Hit Piece Against 9/11 Truth:
http://911review.com/pm/markup/index.html'Popular Mechanics' & Other CIA Front Organizations:
http://rense.com/general62/ppop.htm
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Comment #45 posted by ekim on February 11, 2005 at 18:17:22 PT

thanks dididadadidit
From the drugstore.com website is a handle on the cost of marinol. If one is taking two 10 mg caps a day, they are looking at a kilobuck a month. If one can get 10% THC medicinal marijuana, two tenths of a gram a day would contain the same quantity, 20mg of active ingredient, be it natural or synthetic.Marinol capsules: 2.5MG 30 at $141.68 or 60 for $261.595MG 30 at $261.28 or 60 for $501.0610MG 30 at $512.30 or 60 for $1,002.81Cheers

http://www.leap.cc/events.
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Comment #44 posted by FoM on February 11, 2005 at 18:09:07 PT

BGreen
I hope Nuevo Mexican didn't take it the wrong way. I really like him.
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Comment #43 posted by JR Bob Dobbs on February 11, 2005 at 18:04:08 PT

"Special"?
Anyone else wondering, in the face of recent revelations, if this "Special" reporter might just be another bought-and-paid-for-with-your-tax-dollars government shill? The article reads like an ONDCP propaganda piece, and the "Special To The Beacon News" sounds like she's not a regular reporter there...
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Comment #42 posted by BGreen on February 11, 2005 at 17:58:29 PT

Nuevo Mexican
Please don't get mad and leave. I enjoy your comments and I know FoM didn't mean for you to go away.The Reverend Bud Green
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Comment #41 posted by global_warming on February 11, 2005 at 17:34:54 PT

JC you have my vote
re:comment #39Most of the people who have commented favorably on this cannabis issue, are american citizens, and the comments have been largely in favor of medical marijuana (cannabis), despite the large body of opposition, who have become known as the "prohibitionists" and the endless debates that offer their different positions.In the end, I believe, that "getting high" is a God given human right, and those that gather to curtail or abridge human rights whether it be to eat that certain sandwich, or that beverage, whether it be poison, like those Japanese with those poison blow fishes, it all comes down to "freedom" for human beings to "choose".This top heavy institution of experts and scientists, have also to bare the final question, for which they have no answer.To Joe Citizen, good work and nice writing, I, GW, agree with you and support you..It is time "we the people" take responsibility of our lives and our dreaded "political" systems.gw
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Comment #40 posted by FoM on February 11, 2005 at 17:04:26 PT

JoeCitizen
Thanks for respecting how I see it. I never got involved in Cannabis issues with any interest in politics or any other topic. I've always been straight forward about that. I believe that society understands the medical marijuana issue and that is my goal. Short term goals are achievable and I want to see some success. 
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Comment #39 posted by JoeCitizen on February 11, 2005 at 16:47:51 PT

It's your party, FOM
You made this place, you set the rules, and I respect that.  I try to make most of my posts at least tangentially related to cannabis or cannabis prohibition.But I do think there is a danger in being too insular. You can put blinders on yourself trying to look at cannabis as a solo issue. Because it's not. Cannabis prohibition is the entire basis of the whole rotten Drug War. The whole structure of it depends on a popular and well known drug like cannabis being demonized and stigmatized.As cannabis prohibition is the basis of the drug war, so in turn is bad journalism the basis of cannabis prohibition (to slightly paraphrase Richard Cowan). We've all seen the bad articles "fly like a lie, they can't be outdone." And the good articles are few and far between, and even then rarely tell the whole story.If we are going to beat this monster-with-a-thousand-heads called prohibition, then we are going to need to work cooperatively, not only within the cannabis community, but also with like minded people from similar communities.  We cannot fall into the trap that the counterculture did in the early seventies. They allowed themselves to split into rival factions, each only concerned with their own particular problem. Hippies, diggers, feminists, black power, latino power, gay power all became separate and disconnected movements, not one collective counterculture to oppose the American fascists. And then the fascists pretty much won. Nixon took office, the counterculture got swallowed up by mainstream culture, which took tie-dyes, pot, acid tests and be-ins, and vomited back on us leisure suits, cocaine and discotechs. Yuck! Things might be uglier yet if Nixon hadn't eviscerated himself with Watergate. A brief reprieve in late seventies, and then on again with the fascist parade - Reagan, Bush I, Klinton (fascism lite) and now Bush II (Extra strength fascism!)We (the cannabists) need to form alliances with not only other drug-specific groups, but with all peoples fighting for democracy and personal rights. We need to learn from anyone and everyone who has any success in pushing back against the rushing wave of oppression that has begun in this country, but is now spreading all over the world. The governments of England, Canada, Austaralia are all adopting more and more of the apparatus of the Drug War, and feeding their various Charters and protections for human rights into the shredder of prohibition.We certainly don't want to abandon or minimize our *main* mission - to make cannabis freely available first to the sick, whose needs are so acute, and then to all of us, so that we need not live in fear. But we need to be aware of our allies in this fight, and make use of their methods and weapons when it suits our cause.To this end, I think Mayan's blog idea is a good one. The main thread of many blogs is straight news reporting, such as you do (although usually with more individual commentary, the way you sometimes do when you are only posting a story to the comments section.) But some of the better blogs have individualized commentary or diary type sections, where any person can ramble or go to the extreme edge of an issue. If what they write is good, the main author of the blog can put it up on the home page like a regular article. If it's mediocre or way off topic, it stays as that persons statement. If it's truly awful or illegal in some way, it can simply be erased. Unlike the chat room you have here, it is a permanent comment, readable for as many hours, days or weeks afterward as you feel is appropriate for your webpage and storage abilities.Anyway, just some thoughts. A long way of saying what Benjamin Franklin said so pithily: "We must all hang together, or we shall assuredly hang separately."Thank you again for making this place possible, and for all you do.JC
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Comment #38 posted by FoM on February 11, 2005 at 15:36:58 PT

Dongenero
If CNews wasn't as big as it has become I wouldn't be as concerned about going way off topic. This is how I see it. We can talk about culture issues or music and they are fine. We should be able to laugh too. This is the serious part. This article is about a woman that is talking about truths that aren't true. People that support her opinion will more then likely read comments and decide if we are right or wrong. What we say and do can be used against us. So by measuring what we say it helps us get further on down the road or they will just laugh at us. 
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Comment #37 posted by dongenero on February 11, 2005 at 15:19:37 PT

blog description
Thanks nueveo mexican. I was trying to figure how a blog differs from this forum. I guess it has different organization and ability to search?
Though the links you posted were off topic, thanks anyway, it's fascinating. Printing out the Valerie Plame CIA/Gannon/Novak timeline now. Wow!!!!I'll get back on topic now FoM. Sorry if I promoted that departure.
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Comment #36 posted by ron on February 11, 2005 at 15:18:43 PT

Never thought of race Max. (Comment 13)
A smart black woman facing a criminal record might be just the type to attract the Drugthug Branch of Law Enforcement.
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Comment #35 posted by FoM on February 11, 2005 at 15:15:34 PT

Nuevo Mexican 
I don't have anything against blogs I just don't read them. Like I said doing CNews is enough for me. 
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Comment #34 posted by nuevo mexican on February 11, 2005 at 15:09:40 PT

Sorry!
Bye!
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Comment #33 posted by nuevo mexican on February 11, 2005 at 15:08:01 PT

The comments here are a blog FOM....
just a different format. Just wanted you to know!Don't fall for the new media-inspired blogaphobia, as newspapers require registration online to DISCOURAGE readership. Blogs will be the death of old school status quo journalism. We are all investigative reporters, 
when we support other whistle-blowers and distribute the writers articles. Partners in publishing.The big media monopolies want you to buy the paper version, and discourage participation by the readers, as is encouraged by being online. The don't want readers, they want subscribers, but more than that, they really just want advertisers, with bloated subscriberships the tool used to sell it. I see the blog as a way to get us further into the Mainstream Internet, the way Dailykos, Atrios, and bloglinking Buzzflash and have become. Talk to Richard, it's as simple as what you are doing by responding to these posts! Just put a link to the CNews blog, call it an open thread, and it may siphon off posts' like these where they can be easier to access, by subject, or lack of subject, by newbies to C-News, or us ole-timers. Just a thought!Any computer geniuses out there care to contribute? Am I off-base? Love to generate some discussion!
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Comment #32 posted by Taylor121 on February 11, 2005 at 15:03:44 PT

Perry Comments on Texas Prisons
Gov. Rick Perry joined the debate, labeling new prisons as last on his list of justice priorities."There are better, more efficient ways to deal with this prison population than going and building more prisons," he said. Follow up on Perry's comment. Let our elected officials know that Texans support H.B. 254 as an option to reduce jail overcrowding!http://mpp.org/TX/action.html
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Comment #31 posted by FoM on February 11, 2005 at 14:45:35 PT

Nuevo Mexican 
Let's try to keep CNews on our topic. I really mind when I have to skip thru comments to find something about our issue. Thanks everyone. I feel there are plenty of places to talk about other news. 
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Comment #30 posted by nuevo mexican on February 11, 2005 at 14:38:34 PT

dongero: schmedia trying to keep a lid on it:
This is how Cannabis legalization is kept out of the mainstream media, while friendly, pro bush planted non-jounalists' lob softballs to divert from heated questions by real journos' in the WH press room. We can learn from Dailykos and take Cannabis rights into the consciousness of pharma-doped up Ameri-can'ts who have been driven to the Internet from relief from ALL bush, All the time pundits. This has been a huge internet story for two days, and on the second day, it hit CNN and MSNBC. TV News is schnews, unworthy of our time, let the boobtuber come to us for the news, as it looks like this is what is happening as 'info-tainment junkies have o'ded!This has hit the MSM, but they are doing their best to trivialize it, and blame the 'bloggers', (for doing what journalists' who get paid lots of money aren't doing), reporting the news!Watch this video:AmericaBlog's John Aravosis on Aaron Brown's News NightJohn was featured on a segment entitled:"Credential Questions" about the Jeff Gannon saga, and talks about the things that Wolf Blitzer wouldn'thttp://www.crooksandliars.com/2005/02/10.html#a1562Brock talks about Gannon on Court TV (video link)
http://mediamatters.org/items/200502110001Gannons' links to outing CIA agents' wife, Valerie Plame!
This diary deals with the timeline surrounding the leak to Novak and the subsequent leak to Gannon.There is more here that needs to be investigated, specifically a question raised by Kiw in IV that deals with trying to provide cover to Novak by claiming Plame's identity was 'common knowledge'. I will keep working on that one and update the diary as I dig.Kiw and others, please post here any new info you find to support this as well.There is also the interesting fact that Ashcroft recused himself from the investigation on Dec. 30, 2003... why? http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/1/31/122222/689The un-sexy side of the coin, the side the media says is his 'personal' life and should be left alone:Bush press pal quits
over gay prostie link 
 
BY HELEN KENNEDY
DAILY NEWS WASHINGTON BUREAU 
 
 
Jim Guckert, aka Jeff Gannon, on the web 
 
WASHINGTON - A conservative ringer who was given a press pass to the White House and lobbed softball questions at President Bush quit yesterday after left-leaning Internet bloggers discovered possible ties to gay prostitution. http://www.nydailynews.com/02-10-2005/news/gossip/story/279466p-239417c.htmlWhat's this got to do with Cannabis? Everything!
What we've been saying for years about the likes of Andrea
Barfwell, has been revealed at the top, by someone who could probably blackmail the whole bush administration with his Hiedi Fleiss black book of top Repug Congresscritters and Sinators! Hold on to your hats' folks! GannonGate will make Watergate look like a flood to this Tsunami! 
Don't let this one die on the Internet, as it has legs, and that is what it takes to keep the attention of over-paid wannabe urinalists.Like you lurking journos' here looking for your next story!
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Comment #29 posted by JoeCitizen on February 11, 2005 at 14:25:08 PT

Propagannon - The J.D. Guckert story
dongenero,Not surprised that you didn't see it in the MSM (main stream media). The networks gave it only cursory coverage yesterday, and managed to "bury the lead" by focusing mostly on the seamy details that came out about Guckert.He had registered in his name a number or websites that seemed to be for gay pornography and/or gay escorts including HotMilitaryStud.com, MilitaryEscorts.com and MilitaryEscortsM4M.com. The MSM (with a few exceptions) obsessed on this angle, and then made a "straw-man" controversy about whether a reporter's personal life is fair game.I don't care at all whether this guy is gay/bi and possibly acting as a pimp for gay hookers.  But it's damn hypocritical of him to keep espousing his strong belief in a Republican party that is crusading against gays and gay rights.As I mentioned, there were a few players in the MSM who got it right: this a political scandal, not a sex scandal. Keith Olbermann (bless his heart!) gave it good coverage the last two days.  NYT did a fair job today, as well.Here are some links to get you (and anyone else interested) up to speed:http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/2/10/224122/709 (press summary)http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/11/politics/11gannon.html? (NYT story, reg required)http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6947877/  (Transcript of Olbermann's Countdown show)http://www.americablog.org/ (Just scroll down, tons of stuff. Page loads slow)I know this whole subject is a little off the cannabis topic, but I do think it shows how effective "people power" can be to fight this awful administration.JC
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Comment #28 posted by dongenero on February 11, 2005 at 14:22:39 PT

right on Dankhank
That's great that you were able to pull those key people in to listen to your argument. That kind of thing could make a difference. Think of the number of people those individuals can reach. Thanks.

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Comment #27 posted by FoM on February 11, 2005 at 14:09:06 PT

Dankhank
It sounds like it went very well! Good job!
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Comment #26 posted by Dankhank on February 11, 2005 at 14:04:22 PT

Dig the Dirt ...
Yes, did the dirt, the best way to nail the busturds ...On another note ... I finally had my 30 minutes at the newspaper...It was a good talk we had, I alternatly instructed, informed, cajoled, admonished and thanked the Managing Editor, Asst. Managing editor and the Medical Beat for allowing me to present information on Harm Reduction, Medical Cannabis, Cannabis and Law, Cannabis and Politics, and some personal testimony.It was a multimedia show, as I played on my laptop the 30-second Willie Nelson NORML promo, Gilligan's Isle, Mr Mackie's "Drugs are Bad" soliloquy, "Elvis was a Narc" and the opening 30 seconds of the movie "Grass" which I left with them.As we wound down the ME asked if I was in favor of legalization totally, people driving and all and I went back to my briefcase and pulled the six DOT Drugged Driving studies that I have and have reported on in here. I told them that I had been talking to the NHTSA and the most intersting things I found in these studies were: "It is possible to study Marijuana's effects on driving on city streets in traffic." and that all studies agreed that "Cannabis-only and Cocaine-only users were better drivers than even drug-free drivers."It was a massacre, albiet a subdued, courteous one.I celebrated with a little smoke and lunch with spouse.As James Brown said once ... I feel good.
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Comment #25 posted by FoM on February 11, 2005 at 13:58:17 PT

Nuevo Mexican 
You asked me about a CNews blog. I don't read blogs and I don't know why we would need one. I think that plenty of people read this web site so it seems not necessary. I get news from google and the tv but mostly from Google. I'm not too busy but when there isn't cannabis news articles to post I do other things. I've always separated what I do as a cause from relaxation. I think that's healthy.
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Comment #24 posted by nuevo mexican on February 11, 2005 at 13:48:51 PT

Joe Citizen has got it right! Bushes Cabal exposed
by people like the posters' at CNews!You know Andrea Barthwell has the same agenda as Gannon/Guckert, and should be exposed further, as has been done here at CNEWs for years, but without the success of the DailyKossacks. Googling now.So it's up to us Cannabisnewsers to pick up the blog! Which 
is what the posts' at CNEws are anyway, the first version of the blog!Which begs the question: whose is going to start a CNews blog? FOM? Too busy? I'm sure there are plenty of volunteers here, as the BLOGs' time has come, and a link to a Cnews blog will compete with the Dailykossacks, Buzzflash.www.dailykos.comNY Times gets in on the act (first time reporting by the NYTs' on this HUGE indictment of bushes planting of journalists' and the medias' complicity, no wonder they can only demonize the real journalists': Bloggers, move over New York Times, (part of the CIAs' 'Mighty Wurlizter)!Two Democrats in Congress are pressing for investigations into how a Washington reporter who used a pseudonym managed to gain access to the White House and had access to classified documents that named Valerie Plame as a C.I.A. operative.
The Democrats, Representatives John Conyers Jr. of Michigan and Louise M. Slaughter from Rochester, wrote yesterday to Patrick Fitzgerald, the independent prosecutor appointed in the Plame case, seeking an investigation into how the reporter, James D. Guckert, who used the name Jeff Gannon, had access to classified documents that revealed the identity of Ms. Plame.http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/2/11/228/26564

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Comment #23 posted by dongenero on February 11, 2005 at 13:32:30 PT

thx Joe
I was glad to see you had written also...and did an excellent job. Your comment Silence gives consent is profound.Speaking of silence, I had not heard about this Jeff Gannon scandal. Not that it was the least bit surprising.
Where the heck are the mainstream journalists on this thing???!! I've heard nothing about it from any of the major wires. Has mainstream news become obsolete?
Thanks for posting that. I think it's up to The People now.
Sheeesh!
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Comment #22 posted by JoeCitizen on February 11, 2005 at 13:07:53 PT

Good Job, dongenero!
You actually DID refute a lot of her lies, and in not much more space than I used. Nicely done, very succinct.Qui Tacet Consentit - Silence gives consent. We have not consented to these lies. We will not be silent in the face of evil.Has anyone here seen news of the Jeff Gannon/James D. Guckert scandal that has erupted over the last few days? This guy was a shill for the White House, let into the Press corps every day under the phony name Jeff Gannon. His job was to lob softball questions (full of RNC talking points and even Rush Limbaugh's blather) to White House spokesman Scott McClellan. Particularly when McClellan was facing tough questions from the other "real" reporters there, he'd go to Gannon/Guckert and this guy would toss him an easy one, usually including a back-handed swipe at Democrats or liberals along the way.Well, he was a fake reporter (with a seamy personal life), from a fake news organization (run by a Republican operative), let in on a hinky press pass, and shown at least one CIA document that few other reporters ever had access to (the Valerie Plame memo, for those following the story.)Here's the reason I bring this up: This guy was brought down by a webpage. Specifically, the Daily Kos, a lefty blog that I read every day. The community of people there took it upon themselves to start digging into this guy's credentials and history, and rapidly found a ton of dirt on him. Within days he was out of a job, and sobbing to interviewers about how his life is ruined and how unfair the liberals all are. And it has embarrassed the powers be quite a bit.Well, that's a good lesson for us all, here. If enough people, with enough time and computers start looking hard at someone's record (just the public stuff, no need to go dumpster diving), awfully surprising things turn up. We should put Barthwell, Walters, Souder, and all the other Drug War Trolls under this kind of scrutiny.  Ya just never know what might come to light!PeaceJC
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Comment #21 posted by afterburner on February 11, 2005 at 12:12:20 PT

Follow the Money
"Dr. Andrea Barthwell, advisor to Drug Czar John P. Walters"Advisor, as in consultant? If this quote is true, it answers the question of who is funding her now!
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Comment #20 posted by dongenero on February 11, 2005 at 11:56:58 PT

the expanding head of dongenero
Thank you very much schmeff. I was just thinking, 'that's not very good, I should have said....blah blah this or that" I appreciate your support.
I do try to be reasonable, calm, sensible, realistic and hopefully succinct. It's hard to remain calm though when you read some of these ridiculous articles that get published. You're right about these small town, suburban papers. The writer very well could be a student or someone related to the Barthwell event. I finally decided that's no excuse. People will read this and be misled. There is an implied credibility when a newspaper prints an article. I almost didn't write. Then I thought, screw it, they should be held to a higher standard, regardless of their size. 
Thanks again schmeff for bolstering my resolve.
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Comment #19 posted by schmeff on February 11, 2005 at 10:55:09 PT

dongenero
What an incredibly clear and thoughtful LTE! A masterful piece of reason and common sense...no threats, no bad vibes, no antagonism. Well done.Even if it never sees publication, it will make a difference. Your clear-headed criticism makes Barthwell look like a shill.However, as a reality check, I work for one of these small-town local newspapers. Finding an actual journalist in this setting is a hit-or-miss propostition. Christina Williams, Special To The Beacon News may well be a high-school student, or more likely, one of these crusading Moms who arranged for Dr. Blatherwell to speak to her tea-party gathering of do-gooders in the first place.
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Comment #18 posted by dongenero on February 11, 2005 at 10:20:20 PT

I couldn't take it...I wrote too
Dear Editor,
I am writing in regard to the info-mercial pubished in your February 11 edition titled, Drug Experts Weed Out Myths of Marijuana. This may come as a surprise to you but, this article is a grossly one sided view of a very controversial issue. Ms. Barthwell has been pushing a great deal of misinformation and propoganda on the issue of cannabis. She cites, a number of "facts" and "statistics", many of which are at best misleading and at worst flat out lies.The reason for a majority of individuals in rehab for cannabis is, diversion from the drug courts in order to avoid incarceration.The correlation she cites between ER visits and cannabis is due to the fact that people are asked if they use any drugs. Whatever they answer is logged into the statistics of their ER visit. It does not imply cause of the visit, directly or indirectly.No reasonable person believes that minors should have access to cannabis or hard drugs or for that matter the hundreds of dangerous prescription drugs or alcohol and cigarettes. I argue that prohibition of cannabis for 'free' adults actually makes the substance more available to children and through those same channels of government supported organized crime, exposes them to truly deadly hard drugs.
Numerous studies have shown cannabis to be one of the least toxic theraputic substances known to man and there is no known lethal dosge.There is also the issue of medical use of cannabis, with legislation currently sponsored in the Illinois House of Representatives. Much of the reason for Ms. Bartwells focus on Illinois recently is in an effort to subvert this legislation. She has refused offers to engage in an honest debate on this issue with the bill's sponsor Larry McKeon (D-IL). The likely reason she will not debate is that many of these misleading statements and statistics she touts would be exposed for what they are, prohibition propoganda. That is what happened to her on an edition Montel Williams show which focused on medical cannabis and multiple sclerosis. She will no longer engage in a debate format on the issue. Her postions cannot stand up to an honest, factual debate.I offer a link to another newspaper's coverage of this same lecture series from Barthwell's stop in Belleville, Illinois. This article from the Belleville News-Democrat represents what I feel is actual journalism. Rather than just reiterate Ms. Barthwell's talking points, the journalist has actaully done additional research to explore the counterpoint of the issue. This makes the work from the Beacon News look lazy.http://www.belleville.com/mld/belleville/news/10852926.htm
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Comment #17 posted by JoeCitizen on February 11, 2005 at 10:08:50 PT

Wrote the Beacon News this letter
[Won't do any good, I'm sure. But at least it made me feel a little better. JC]To the Staff at the Beacon News, and related newspapers:Christine Williams' article on 2/11/05 entitled "Drug Experts Weed Out Myths of Marijuana" was one of the sorriest excuses for real journalism I have ever read. First off, the title is rather misleading, since only one "expert" is interviewed at all, that being Dr. Andrea Barthwell. Why the use of the plural?Secondly, Dr. Barthwell expertise is mostly at at presenting half-truths and manipulated facts to build a very slanted and biased argument. There are so many inaccuracies in her statements that it would take me several pages to refute them all. But why should I have to do that? It should be the job of Christine Wiliams, or the editors of the Beacon News, to present a balanced picture, a complete set of facts. There are many, MANY, people who dispute Dr. Barthwell's misstatements. Did Ms. Williams attempt to contact NORML, MPP, the Drug Policy Foundation, or any of the other high profile groups who regularly refute Barthwell's lies? I did not see a single counter-argument to any of Barthwell's statements.Furthermore, the only websites you give for further info are Dr. Barthwell's, the DEA, and TheMomSquad, a women's group with apparently anti-drug beliefs. These ALL support one viewpoint, exactly the same one espoused by Barthwell. Is this what you call a balanced presentation?If you are going to editorialize, at least put it in the Opinions section. This article was so one-sided as to be propaganda, not news.  Your readers deserve better.
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Comment #16 posted by cannaman on February 11, 2005 at 09:47:16 PT:

sure she smoked before!
She never smoked a bowl in her life what a liar!!!
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Comment #15 posted by cannaman on February 11, 2005 at 09:42:09 PT:

hard to take seriously
I personally find it very hard to take Dr. Andrea Barthwell or Walters seriously, neither is willing to defend their position in a debate but they will perpetrate like they know something about our lifestyles. Who pays this lady for going around the USA spreading this pathetic form of reefer madness!!! Someone needs to introduce that woman to a big fat bong hit!!!
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Comment #14 posted by dididadadidit on February 11, 2005 at 09:39:26 PT

The Cost of Marinol and the Propaganda of Barfwell
Two articles back (9:29 Feb 10) was another article on this dirtbag Barfwell. As a posting (#36) there seems appropo as well to here, please bear with the repost following:Posting in response to questions and partial answers, please see the following:#2, ekim: anyone have a handle on how much marinol cost these days.#16, John Tyler: I wonder where she gets her money? Is she a propaganda spokesperson?#19 siege: She works for a large Pharmaceuticals firm.Siege answered half of Tyler's questions. She is most definitely a propaganda spokesperson, both when working for the ONDCP, and in her now "civilian" life, undoubtably at higher pay. Nothing but another Bu$schco propaganda shill in the image of Armstrong Williams, FOX (faux) news, Gannon (the self loathing gay white house press toady with his gay military catering web sites), veterans for truth (lies) and on and on and on.From the drugstore.com website is a handle on the cost of marinol. If one is taking two 10 mg caps a day, they are looking at a kilobuck a month. If one can get 10% THC medicinal marijuana, two tenths of a gram a day would contain the same quantity, 20mg of active ingredient, be it natural or synthetic.Marinol capsules: 2.5MG 30 at $141.68 or 60 for $261.595MG 30 at $261.28 or 60 for $501.0610MG 30 at $512.30 or 60 for $1,002.81Cheers? 
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Comment #13 posted by Max Flowers on February 11, 2005 at 09:38:33 PT

ron
Well I was thinking more along racial lines (look at my subject for that post again). But I think maybe that's not it either... maybe they just needed someone to shill for them and she was willing to do it and the history of past use made her a more attractive candidate to them, not less. 
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Comment #12 posted by ron on February 11, 2005 at 09:05:45 PT

Gimme a hint, Max
The only answer I can think of is a devil deal with Authority.SOP for recruiting informants.
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Comment #11 posted by dongenero on February 11, 2005 at 09:02:11 PT

journalism?
Does somebody consider this 'piece of work' journalism? 
Let's see, recieve Barthwell's talking points, turn around and print the lies verbatim and think.....my job as a journalist is done. The writer should be ashamed.
Furtermore, if you follow the link to the online article at the Beacon News, they supply links to more marijuna info.
Hmmm guess who the link to?illinoismarijuanalectures.org- Gee...Andrea's site?dea.gov- nuff saidthemomsquad.org - Moms rattling the sabre for the Drug War. I can appreciate keeping kids away from drugs but, they also want to keep a free adult from smoking cannabis. Well, mind your own business and I'll mind mine.This is so obviously a biased propoganda sales job it's disgusting. I though about writing a rebuttal and then thought, it's probably not worth the effort. The turn out was probably another dozen as in southern Illinois.I do hate these poor excuses for a bonafide newspaper though.
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Comment #10 posted by Sam Adams on February 11, 2005 at 08:59:55 PT

one more note
I just got done looking at the "Mom Squad" website.It's so funny. Even with our Moms running around on a rampage, Moms against drunk driving, "Doctor" Barthwell, 750,000 arrests per year, etc., our kids STILL smoke marijuana twice as much as the ones in Holland, where I assume there is no non-stop charade running. The Dutch just go about their lives, earning money, going to school, enjoying family life.Americans just love this crap, don't they? They love to crusade. It feeds the arrogant ego. Let's face it, most of these types like Dr. Barthwell KNOW that their policies will encourage youthful pot smoking, and they love it. That's what makes it extra sweet for them, the smug bastards. Their efforts will only yield more fruit for them in the way of federal tax dollars.

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Comment #9 posted by Deboche on February 11, 2005 at 08:56:05 PT

The law has no flaws
Ryan Beebe, now 19, started using marijuana at age 12; by the time he was 17 he was a full-blown heroin addict, doing whatever it took — including breaking and entering — to score a fix.if by age 17 she was a full-blown food addict or nicotine addict, it'd be okay. I guess legalizing and taxing marijuana, as well as teaching about it's responsable use in schools would make everyone heroin addicts.........
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Comment #8 posted by Max Flowers on February 11, 2005 at 08:54:46 PT

Reverse discrimination
Anyone else would have been flushed from the running for the fed position upon the investigators learning that she had been a cannabis user. WHY NOT HER? (I think the answer is obvious, but unfortunately it's also inflammatory, so I won't say it here)Or even juicier---maybe she didn't admit it and the FBI investigators didn't catch it, and it's only coming out just now? Nah...
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Comment #7 posted by goneposthole on February 11, 2005 at 08:44:11 PT

make that
'edumacation'
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Comment #6 posted by goneposthole on February 11, 2005 at 08:42:44 PT

one more award for Andrea
Wait a minute here, she says she's a doctor. What is her age? She must have received her doctorate while she was a user of cannabis. Cannabis aided her edumaction, not hindered it.Darwin award for Andrea, too.
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Comment #5 posted by Sam Adams on February 11, 2005 at 08:37:30 PT

WHAT?
Barthwell smoked herb for 15 years? Are you f***'in kidding me?  I am speechless, I don't even know what to say. The pure hypocrisy of it has shocked me into silence.OK, I have 2 thoughts I can write down. She freely smoked cannabis for 15 years just to have fun. Now her life's work is dedicated to preventing people like me, with constant, debilitating chronic pain, from using the herb for pain relief, mainly because it's less toxic than prescription alternatives. That's not only disgraceful, it's criminal.  No society should tolerate hateful people like her. It can only hasten the end of civilization. Think about it.My other thought is that she should immediately turn herself in. She travels around advocating jail for sick people who use cannabis, as well as young people who use it for fun. She was GUILTY for 15 years, if jail is the best answer, than surely she wants to partake of it herself, right?What a pitiful, sickening, bloated glutton of person she is. 
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Comment #4 posted by Max Flowers on February 11, 2005 at 08:31:47 PT

amazing
Only in America can an admitted "ex-drug user" get a federal government job telling others not to do drugs. I would have thought that the admission would have blown her background check and disqualified her.
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Comment #3 posted by Max Flowers on February 11, 2005 at 08:29:30 PT

a-HA! It all makes sense now
The lack of reasoned thinking and objectivity, the seeming obsession with single-handedly wiping out pot use, the pathetic attention-seeking... it's all clear now. Barthwell wants to save us all from ourselves, because she has been down that road and knows better than we do (what a joke).She couldn't control herself, so she wants to tell us how it's done. Also, I spotted a glaring inconsistency. Read this part again: "As a daily user myself for 15 years," Barthwell said, "I can personally tell you all the facts you need in order to prevent our children from becoming users of marijuana."Started in CollegeBarthwell's personal journey began in college, where she went from a social user to a daily abuser before eventually committing to a recovery process.
==============================Anyone else see a problem with that chronology? She can't even get the facts of her own life straight. Unless she was in college for 15 years...
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on February 11, 2005 at 08:18:18 PT

More Information From Article
http://www.illinoismarijuanalectures.org/ 
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on February 11, 2005 at 08:14:16 PT

A Former Cannabis Smoker! 
Barthwell's personal journey began in college, where she went from a social user to a daily abuser before eventually committing to a recovery process.
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