cannabisnews.com: Smoke Screens Smoke Screens Posted by CN Staff on February 24, 2006 at 07:45:44 PT By Daniel Underwood Source: Technician North Carolina -- Marijuana is safer than cigarettes, alcohol and driving without a seat belt but is prosecuted more viciously than all three combined. The only real tragedy of marijuana is its tendency, when used immoderately, to induce a lifestyle of volitional immobility. But simple self-discipline can easily counter this; and since marijuana isn't nearly as physically addictive as many other drugs, like nicotine, alcohol or opiates, this solution is by no means unrealistic. If people willingly allow marijuana to do what television, video games and pornography have done to so many, namely deprive them of ambition and self-control to such an extent they are unable to live productively, then that is their prerogative. Society creates its own filters.The fact most users of hard drugs began with marijuana drives the myth of marijuana being a "gateway drug." But once someone enters the illegal marketplace to obtain marijuana, he usually finds the harder drugs are just a short stroll away. The trend of moving from marijuana to harder drugs says more about the market than marijuana itself.People generally proceed from weed to acid to coke (or some other sequence) in search of an elevated state of mind. But everyone in his or her own way searches for this; the difference is only in technique. The drug user who finds promise in the mystical experience of getting high will surely be enticed to venture farther down the path of psychoactive exploration. The path only ends when the risks in obtaining and using the drugs far outweigh the pleasure or fulfillment brought about by them. By legalizing marijuana, the government would widen the gulf between the risks associated with marijuana and the risks associated with harder drugs. This would radically reduce marijuana users' interest in trying dangerous narcotics and would, in quite philistine terms, help keep our kids off crack.The most hazardous wall our brave user must scale is not the fear of consumption but the fear of breaking the law or, more accurately, of being caught. Once we've pulled marijuana use within legal boundaries, users can lay their climbing gear by the wayside and comfortably light-up to the tune of Phish's "Stash," that greatest of guitar solos in the presence of which all lovers of things psychedelic fall prostrate. The indignant pointing finger of a law, whose time and purpose have long left us and moved into the oblivion of puritanical failures, need not spoil these harmless gatherings.Now, I'm no godless heathen, but I've found the religious arguments against marijuana at best hypocritical and at worst simply vacuous. The commonly crafted religious argument claims either marijuana impairs moral discernment or the Bible denounces marijuana as sorcery (using the Greek transliteration "pharmakeia"). But one could just as easily argue the paranoia and anxiety aroused by marijuana lead to more guarded behavior and a more distinct awareness of one's own moral shortcomings. More than likely any injudicious behavior directly relates to the specific or general lawlessness of marijuana's present consumers, not to marijuana itself.Since marijuana is illegal, common sense dictates the majority of users would be, by definition, "law breakers." Therefore, samples used in studies to prove the morally debilitating effect of marijuana cannot be representative of legally sanctioned marijuana consumption. And the argument against marijuana as sorcery seems merely a hypocritical move of convenience. Because alcohol was used religiously in ancient Greece. The divinity Dionysus ("Bacchus") was referred to as Theoinos, meaning "God-wine;" and the Greek playwright Euripides wrote, "Bacchus is poured out as a libation to the gods, and through him men receive good." So why aren't the same religious attacks launched against alcohol consumption? Is it not possible most marijuana users smoke to reflect on the sum of their own knowledge and experience, not to receive some special new word from another spiritual realm?Morality is as necessary for a society to flourish as the most operative enzymes are necessary for a living organism to sustain itself. Without morality, we lose the ability to process properly the ideas and habits we as a society absorb and, consequently, end up poisoning ourselves. But the only plausible moral objection to marijuana use is it violates the law. Marijuana isn't illegal because it's wrong -- it's wrong because it's illegal. How long will we continue to subject ourselves to this cruel tautology?There may be good arguments against the legalization of marijuana, but a host of fraudulent ones is stifling them.Source: Technician, The (NC State University)Author: Daniel UnderwoodPublished: February 24, 2006Copyright: 2006 The TechnicianContact: viewpoint technicianonline.comWebsite: http://www.technicianonline.com/CannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #54 posted by mayan on February 25, 2006 at 04:09:52 PT Sweden's Leadin' For those who didn't catch this news a couple weeks ago, it looks like Sweden is going to lead the way to an oil-free society. Their leaders are obviously more intelligent than America's so-called leaders because America could easily be the country leading the way. As more and more countries follow Sweden's lead the fossil-people will lose power unless they evolve with the rest of progressive society. This is a great reason to have hope for this troubled world!Sweden aims for oil-free economy: Sweden says it aims to completely wean itself off oil within 15 years - without building new nuclear plants:http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4694152.stm [ Post Comment ] Comment #53 posted by lombar on February 24, 2006 at 23:36:22 PT Survival of the species... Peak oil is one thing.... and releasing million of tons of CO2 annually is another.Since the state is so singleminded in its determination to demonize cannabis it behooves some of us to be single minded in our determination to stop them. Cannabis usage being a crime is a travesty of justice, yet if our civilisation runs out of power and/or runaway global warming really starts to kick in, we will have to cope or become extinct as a species. Nobody left to use cannabis... An ounce of prevention is still worth a pound of cure...I would feel a lot better if I could heat my house without burning fossil fuels... We progressed from burning wood to coal to oil to natural gas and here we are burning stuff even knowing its putting a major spike in the CO2 levels. We are stuck on burning.If we could replace coal generating power plants with non-polluting methods it would be a start. Renewable industries based upon hemp cultivation, perhaps some whiz bang bioengineer can make a plant that sucks up CO2 at a greater rate, fixing it as vegetation or better, oozing some solid unreactive carbon compound that does not decompose as quickly as normal vegetation.If the leaders truly wanted to lead they would be talking about getting the CO2 levels back down as well as reducing out put.The 'first-world' has to use the power we have left to build the next generation of power plants to provide for the huge amounts of energy we use. It is humanities number one problem. Thats why the wave power guys excited me so much. There's lot's of coastlines...I'd figure any indoor gardener may appreciate the notion of cheap electricity without huge environmental impact. The Atlantic ocean has 111,866 km of coastlines... ;) [ Post Comment ] Comment #52 posted by whig on February 24, 2006 at 22:23:51 PT Rev. Shields I'd like to invite you to join the conversation over at Museman's place:http://wholeearthfamily.org/XMB/viewthread.php?tid=1&page=9 [ Post Comment ] Comment #51 posted by FoM on February 24, 2006 at 21:12:26 PT ekim Can you add Tom and Rollie's page I made to that list? I don't know how to do it but I thought maybe it would be good to have up on the web site.http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/rb.htm [ Post Comment ] Comment #50 posted by whig on February 24, 2006 at 21:07:34 PT ekim Like this? Vigil for Lost Promise [ Post Comment ] Comment #49 posted by whig on February 24, 2006 at 20:56:44 PT Hang on Hang on, gw. Just another minute or two. We're already here, everyone's doing their thing, but we haven't gotten all the sorting out done quite yet.Aloha [ Post Comment ] Comment #48 posted by FoM on February 24, 2006 at 20:47:35 PT lombar I know each day that goes by we become more and more vulnerable to oil. We need alternative energy that is also safe now more then ever. I was told by a family member from back in PA that the cost of oil is about breaking them financially. I found a link to a variety of good articles on alternative energy.http://www.topix.net/tech/alt-energy [ Post Comment ] Comment #47 posted by ekim on February 24, 2006 at 20:39:42 PT keep that sparkel lombar hope we do too Vigil for Lost PromiseThe DEA has gotten even more offensive than usual: FEB 15--(Washington, D.C) The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced today the first-ever Candlelight Vigil to be held at DEA Headquarters in Arlington, Virginia on June 8th, 2006 to 2,500 members gathered for the XVIth Forum of the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA). The "Vigil for Lost Promise" will be a first of its kind remembrance, and the first of its kind of hope: hope and confidence that our work is shielding others from the great tragedy of drugs. The DEA along with its partners will bring together those who have lost loved ones --and their promise-- to drug use and abuse.For the DEA to do this... along with such sponsors as Joyce Nalepka and Drug Free Kids: America's Challenge, NIDA, and the Partnership for a Drug Free America... is downright sickening.It is the prohibition promoted by these groups that have contributed to drug deaths.So they have a special website for this vigil at www.vigilforlostpromise.com (I'm not making it a link because I don't want to give them links right now -- you'll see why) Go ahead and type it into your browser and check it out.Now check out a similar-looking site with very different content at http://www.vigilforlostpromise.orgThat page links to both Drug War Victims and a description of my view of the lost promise idea.If you have a web page and would like to help on this, simply place a link to http://www.vigilforlostpromise.org with the words 'Vigil for Lost Promise' as the linked words. With some help, we can make the .org site come up first in Google searches. http://www.drugwarrant.org [ Post Comment ] Comment #46 posted by global_warming on February 24, 2006 at 20:31:05 PT sorry lombar the only 'change 'i want to see,is an end to this brutal war on users of cannabis, [ Post Comment ] Comment #45 posted by lombar on February 24, 2006 at 20:26:08 PT Speaking about oceans and power.... I chanced across a program on discovery about using the ocean swells in coastal waters to generate electricity. Far less evironmental damage than hydro electric, operation creates no CO2, huge potential.+ Cheap power, big time! [ Post Comment ] Comment #44 posted by ekim on February 24, 2006 at 20:15:42 PT thank you to those that hold fast our Rights The most hazardous wall our brave user must scale is not the fear of consumption but the fear of breaking the law or, more accurately, of being caught. ----------------== rchander here are some courageous souls that are standing on the line. starring straight into the fire. http://cannabisnews.com/news/21/thread21611.shtml South Haven, Michigan -- A former Bloomingdale elementary and middle school counselor claims he has been targeted unfairly for prosecution on a marijuana charge because he has been a vocal advocate of legalizing drugs.Francisco said he was forced to resign from his counselor job after the search.Bloomingdale Public Schools Superintendent Dale Schreuder said Francisco resigned last May, but the resignation was voluntary. He said Francisco was with the district for five years.Francisco said if he were convicted he would permanently lose his credentials to work with students.“This will take his livelihood, and all because of a stem the size of a toothpick on the floor of his truck,” said Francisco’s wife, Amy.The case has attracted advocates for drug law reform from across the state. ------------------------------------------------------ DTN ARCHIVES http://www.drugtruth.net/ LISTEN Live Fridays 8:00 PM, ET, 7:00 CT, 6:00 MT & 5:00 PT at www.KPFT.org (29:00) (MP3 Avail. Sat AM) Guest:02/24/06 Steve Fox & Mason Tvert of SAFER for intelligent marijuana laws [ Post Comment ] Comment #43 posted by global_warming on February 24, 2006 at 20:07:35 PT ain't gonna say if you aint gonna say,it is better to meditate, [ Post Comment ] Comment #42 posted by konagold on February 24, 2006 at 19:59:36 PT: ain't gonna say Aloha global_warmingbut some one could figure it outelmer gantry was both fictional and a 'moneychanger' ever see the Steve Martin movie 'Leap of Faith' now there was an exampleAlohaRev. Dennis Shields http://thereligionofjesuschurch.org [ Post Comment ] Comment #41 posted by global_warming on February 24, 2006 at 19:39:03 PT you never said who was a money changer?in this world,who has 'breathed 'that first breath,good rev...for i come beneathyour 'cloth,beneath your mind and soul,i am the lowliest creature,who has 'breathed a 'breath,.. [ Post Comment ] Comment #40 posted by konagold on February 24, 2006 at 19:33:10 PT: new eden Aloha WhigIs there a problem with that?? [Wink]Actually a parallel of ocean motion is OTEC [ocean thermal energy conversion] which not only produces electricity but a host of other beneficial off shoots among them the conversion of thousands of gallons of fresh water via evaporative condensation which would allow for the irrigation of the worlds desertsThus the whole world could be the new EdenAlohaRev. Dennis Shields http://thereligionofjesuschurch.org [ Post Comment ] Comment #39 posted by global_warming on February 24, 2006 at 19:31:46 PT brother whig please rest.. [ Post Comment ] Comment #38 posted by whig on February 24, 2006 at 19:23:12 PT Aloha Rev. Shields and Namaste.Mahalo. [ Post Comment ] Comment #37 posted by whig on February 24, 2006 at 19:19:13 PT Money changer New money for old?We must never do this in the temple. [ Post Comment ] Comment #36 posted by konagold on February 24, 2006 at 19:18:54 PT: divine breath [2] Aloha Whigwell now, isn't that divine [big grin]AlohaRev. Dennis Shields http://thereligionofjesuschurch.org [ Post Comment ] Comment #35 posted by whig on February 24, 2006 at 19:16:28 PT Hawaii hydrogen So the project is to turn Hawai'i into New Eden? [ Post Comment ] Comment #34 posted by whig on February 24, 2006 at 19:07:10 PT Rev. Shields It was Mahalo that I looked up. Because I was in divine breath when I read it, I experienced it.http://www.geocities.com/~olelo/shelties/mahalo-aloha.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #33 posted by konagold on February 24, 2006 at 18:56:22 PT: [2]Aloha global_warming Aloha global_warminggiven your usernamecare to comment on http://hawaiihydrogen.netall ideas are usefulAlohaand the last post should have said let them wear ITsorry bout that many a slip between the cup and the lipRev. Dennis Shields http://thereligionofjesuschurch.org [ Post Comment ] Comment #32 posted by konagold on February 24, 2006 at 18:49:31 PT: Aloha global_warming Aloha global_warmingas i said in the postscript in the previous post below if the shoe fits let THEM wear AlohaRev. Dennis Shields http://thereligionofjesuschurch.org [ Post Comment ] Comment #31 posted by global_warming on February 24, 2006 at 18:41:42 PT who was that money changer? [ Post Comment ] Comment #30 posted by konagold on February 24, 2006 at 18:30:03 PT: divine breath Aloha WhigWow Not many folks find out the meaning of Aloha that quickly I am impressedA Hawaiian sovereignty advocate once told me that aloha means that "I give you the first breath of my spirit"Aloha Rev. Dennis Shields http://thereligionofjesuschurch.org [ Post Comment ] Comment #29 posted by global_warming on February 24, 2006 at 18:28:24 PT brother whig get some rest,lay your head,take some rest, 'we can carry your load,a little further,get some rest,have some good' dreams.. [ Post Comment ] Comment #28 posted by mayan on February 24, 2006 at 18:23:16 PT rchandar Peer pressure is a very powerful force when you are young. I'm sure many of those students thought about what you said when they were alone at the end of the day. Don't give up on them.THE WAY OUT IS THE WAY IN...Getting the 411 on 9/11: Journalist James Ridgeway is looking for answers about that tragic day: http://www.styleweekly.com/article.asp?idarticle=118499/11 Theories & Evidence: Full Show Streams of Thurs. C2C: http://www.coasttocoastam.com/shows/2006/02/23.htmlCommercial Free mp3 of David Ray Griffin on Air America: http://culhavoc.blogsome.com/2006/02/23/david-ray-griffin-on-air-america/Movie Review of Loose Change: 2nd Edition: http://www.dvdfuture.com/review.php?id=805 [ Post Comment ] Comment #27 posted by whig on February 24, 2006 at 18:16:05 PT Rev. Shields Thank you for the divine breath. I had to look that word up. I have learned a lot from you in the last few minutes. [ Post Comment ] Comment #26 posted by whig on February 24, 2006 at 18:10:07 PT Peace Church -> Religion of Jesus Church I think I am persuaded by Rev. Shields.This is something that already exists. People are already doing it this way. We don't need to reinvent our own wheel. I just didn't believe that the RJC was the real thing, Rev. Shields is right. But the thing is, until I was able to talk with him (here) I couldn't know him. Websites don't tell people the truth, but we tell the truth to one another. We have to have that personal contact. Always. [ Post Comment ] Comment #25 posted by whig on February 24, 2006 at 18:04:13 PT Oh! "This is a logical conundrum as not many would join and not agree with its principles most folks do not engage in the sacramental use of cannabis based on fraud"You're precisely right. I wasn't thinking that through.Bom Shankar [ Post Comment ] Comment #24 posted by konagold on February 24, 2006 at 18:01:06 PT: Aloha Whig Aloha Whig]Have you taken a look at what we've been doing lately?"We’ve been doing" we who???]I think a lot of us have deeply held spiritual beliefs ]about the importance of cannabis, but proselytizing for ]Urantia on the basis that you have incorporated the ]sacrament does not seem helpful to me.Wrong Cannabis is a sacrament of the Religion of Jesus ChurchThe only proselytizing that I do with regard to the Urantia Papers is suggest that some one read them as tho they were science fiction, if you believe them then that’s your problem[wink] just to be clear I do believe them]Please don't think I mean to attack you or your message, ]nor do I take offense to your beliefs or the manner in ]which you express and promote them, but no piece of paper ]can substitute for deeply held and honest belief. True, however if one has deep belief one can signify them by printing such a document as evidence of affiliation with the use of Cannabis Sacrament. Surely you are not accusing that all who belong to our church for the last three decades are not of deep belief?? However the more reasonable of the police will leave you alone based on this preexisting evidence of a claim of religious exemption and after we gain an injunction all police will be forced to back offIf one were pressed to defend on a religious basis, then such offers evidence of membership usable in court to advance such a claim [plenty of precedent with the universal life church so I don’t think your objection has merit]]Someone ]who claims "membership" in your church but does not agree ]with its principles is not protected, and you may be ]creating a false sense of security in those who try to use ]this device.This is a logical conundrum as not many would join and not agree with its principles most folks do not engage in the sacramental use of cannabis based on fraud nor is such evident that by joining our church and printing our evidence of membership that this is contrary to the real beliefs of any who would do so Also some one who is a patient and is subject to the church’s mercy ministry does not need to share principles in order to receive ministry and sanctuary, the good Samaritan is a religious principle on point as the victim in that parable was not a Samaritan If a hurricane comes, one would not expect a church to deny shelter based on beliefs; the hurricane of cancer comes to all faiths]To the contrary, a successful prosecution on ]such a trivial "certificate" is liable to discredit your ]church as a legal sham, to the injury of people who do ]honestly and sincerely believe in the sacramental role of]cannabis.On the contrary; our church has been recognized by the state as being sincere and legitimate in a stipulated agreement with the court and signed by a judge.It was interesting to speak with the prosecutor of my case yesterday and he admitted to me that in the wake of this UDV decision that I have greater rights religiously than I do medically in Hawaii and I have a med certificate hereI appreciate your concerns and Mahalo for raising them as I do think they deserve an answerAloha Rev. Dennis Shieldsps as to moneychanger; having learn from past experience I will only say if the shoe fits let them wear it http://thereligionofjesuschurch.org [ Post Comment ] Comment #23 posted by FoM on February 24, 2006 at 17:50:10 PT rchandar Sometimes I think that some young people do care but peer pressure makes them giggle along. They haven't had time to walk in anothers shoes. In time they might understand that compassion for people doesn't mean being weak. Ego plays a lot with the young. Compassion is really a strong characteristic I believe. [ Post Comment ] Comment #22 posted by rchandar on February 24, 2006 at 17:39:13 PT: empathy? oh, I forgot. This is drugs, the scourge of humanity. Innocent little kids bullied into pushing don't deserve any respect or empathy. But I can see his future--juvenile detention, more violence, gangster, robberies, beatings--to "be a man," that's all society will tell him. you can imagine the horror of black citizens when white policemen armed with the writ of the law invade their neighborhoods just to uphold some piece of paper.come tomorrow, as if nothing had happened. and the students? today's student is so sure that nothing he believes means anything that he/she'll proudly boast about it, like they're glad when inside they know it only portends a still greater and more evil fear for all of us.hey guys, thanks, I was feeling a lot more lost. Let's pray together for him....thank you.--rchandar [ Post Comment ] Comment #21 posted by FoM on February 24, 2006 at 16:20:43 PT rchandar I'm so sorry. That's a sad state of affairs. What has happened to empathy? [ Post Comment ] Comment #20 posted by global_warming on February 24, 2006 at 16:18:16 PT re last comment "I could only think about how this boy's life had been ruined, for good."Make that a 'forever, and 'not good, in this 'life,.. [ Post Comment ] Comment #19 posted by rchandar on February 24, 2006 at 16:06:42 PT: something that I saw today... ...that, sorely, I do wish that I didn't. Today I was 10 minutes late to teach class. As I drove down the main drag towards the university, there were two police cars and a white van surrounding a blue car, door open. Underneath the door lay, handcuffed, a 9-year old black boy. They had brought in a few extra police cars. My guess (as it didn't make the news) was that it was drug-related.I could only think about how this boy's life had been ruined, for good. For what? For some petty dealing that he was doing. When I came to class and related the story, the students laughed and made fun of me, called me "ignorant" for having any sympathy.Today is a depressing and sad day. For the youth who will never realize any meaningful dreams--for us, who encourage, support this kind of terrible action, for us for laughing about it, patting ourselves on the back for not being the one whose life has eternally been screwed. I was disgusted; college students are supposed to be educated, but today I saw what a sorry and morally depraved lot the whole of them are.If any of you would like to share sympathy or recall similar experiences, please write back on this page. After all, we're only drug users and criminals; we don't deserve any respect from the world.--rchandar [ Post Comment ] Comment #18 posted by whig on February 24, 2006 at 15:20:20 PT Rev. Shields Have you taken a look at what we've been doing lately?I think a lot of us have deeply held spiritual beliefs about the importance of cannabis, but proselytizing for Urantia on the basis that you have incorporated the sacrament does not seem helpful to me.Please don't think I mean to attack you or your message, nor do I take offense to your beliefs or the manner in which you express and promote them, but no piece of paper can substitute for deeply held and honest belief. Someone who claims "membership" in your church but does not agree with its principles is not protected, and you may be creating a false sense of security in those who try to use this device. To the contrary, a successful prosecution on such a trivial "certificate" is liable to discredit your church as a legal sham, to the injury of people who do honestly and sincerely believe in the sacramental role of cannabis. [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by global_warming on February 24, 2006 at 15:09:05 PT hey..kona who was that money changer? [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by FoM on February 24, 2006 at 13:41:27 PT konagold You're very welcome. [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by FoM on February 24, 2006 at 13:40:31 PT konagold I don't understand what you mean. As far as the movie I think it's a purchase of a DVD and we can view the trailer. [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by konagold on February 24, 2006 at 13:39:03 PT: forgetting and forgiving Aloha FOM"I am a person who forgets things that I would rather not remember. I don't know if it's a gift or my will or old age but everything is ok." Mahalo for your graciousnessAlohaRev. Dennis Shields http://thereligionofjesuschurch.org [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by konagold on February 24, 2006 at 13:36:06 PT: movie Aloha FOMjust to see if I am on the same page; this is a 25 dollar down load??and am I correct in understanding that the tone is somehow too strident??or am I misunderstanding your comments??AlohaRev. Dennis Shields http://thereligionofjesuschurch.org [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by FoM on February 24, 2006 at 13:13:29 PT konagold I am a person who forgets things that I would rather not remember. I don't know if it's a gift or my will or old age but everything is ok. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by FoM on February 24, 2006 at 13:09:14 PT konagold On this article towards the bottom is where I got the one video link from. I haven't found the Ohio one but I got that in an e-mail I received from a newsgroup.http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21621.shtml [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by FoM on February 24, 2006 at 13:01:11 PT konagold I don't understand what you are asking me? [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by konagold on February 24, 2006 at 12:55:33 PT: ?????FOM and apology Aloha FOMI just looked at all the comments back to the 22nd and found a ‘waiting to inhale’ trailer, and a clip of a woman in a wheel chair visiting legislators to try and get legal med pot, but I have seen nothing yet that I would think inspired your comments in the first post of these comments.Can you please be a little more detailed or post a link??Off topicSince I last posted on this forum I have had a chance to review the UDV SCOTUS [Supreme Court allows Hoasca tea] decision and I find it a tremendous victory for the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 [RFRA] and its 'compelling interest' restriction of government.see:http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/21Feb20061230/www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/05pdf/04-1084.pdfIn 1997 I was tried for possession, I claimed protection from religious persecution via RFRA beginning with my arrest in 1994; having the search warrant justified by the head of vice, who, having heard my remarks to Hawaii County Council that Cannabis is a sacrament of my religion, and me publicly claiming the protection of RFRA, this vice officer used my statements, claiming religious freedom, as probable cause to get a warrant.I was convicted of my ‘convictions’ based of the prosecutions contentions, and strategy, that our beliefs were only 'beliefs', as opposed to 'mandates', and thus because we could 'choose' to partake of Sacrament or not our religious rights were not compromised.Shortly after as we were preparing my appeal, and after the Church restated its beliefs as MANDATES ['authoritative instructions' as per the Webster definition] SCOTUS found RFRA unconstitutional with regard to the States, but left it on the books with regard to the Federal Government.The current situation is, as follows, several months ago following a discussion I had with Rev. Tom Brown of 'Our Church' in Ark.[Tom and I are, so to speak, RFRA brothers having both used this defense at about the same time - Tom did federal time tho]; I, and a fellow church member, retained a local attorney to seek federal injunctive relief to prevent the federal government from interfering in The Religion of Jesus Church's mercy ministry of faith healing utilizing Cannabis Sacrament.The most public example of this ministry is Rev. Lynette Shaw of the Marin Alliance for Medical Marijuana, one of the 6 clubs originally sued by the Fed's, and tho that suit closed the Oakland club Lynnette remains open to this day, YEAH!!!.We have been awaiting this decision for months now and as soon as our attorney finishes physically moving his office I intend to proceed.In the intervening years there have been some ministries who have attempted to cash in on our successes. Some, while noting that I ordained them and they reference stipulations with the state gained as a result of my trial, have offered 'sanctuary kits' for as much as $250 dollars. Others have charged $150 to join the church. These activities remind me of the fact that the closest Jesus ever came to violence was when he drove a heard of oxen over the tables of the money changers chasing them out of the Temple exclaiming that they had turned a house of prayer into a den of thieves.I hope that you have forgiven the unpleasant exchanges of several years ago FOM when I used this forum to take to task someone whom I perceived as a modern day money changer, that was improper and I humbly apologize FOM, if you have any bad residual lingering from then.To replace the bad of moneychangers with good; Membership and sanctuary is free in the Religion of Jesus Church just go tohttp://thereligionofjesuschurch.orgClick on the sanctuary page print and sign it to display your membershipThe same protection that is clamed in $250 sanctuary kits is free and always has been.Please pray with me for those who have been ripped of by such opportunistIf we can obtain an injunction then this is a way to neutralize the claim that FED's law trumps the state laws with regard to medical pot as religion would trump the commerce clause, unless the fed’s can demonstrate a compelling interest.Of course that’s like putting a square peg [the side of which is equal to the diameter of the hole] into a round hole [even God can’t do that]The feds cannot claim compelling interest when they give 300 joints a month to seven patients, nor can a state in which med pot laws are passed. The wonderful result of this UDV decision is that it forces the government to justify on a case by case basis its particular compelling interest.even further off topicoil independance via voter inatitive see:http://hawaiihydrogen.netAlohaRev. Dennis Shields http://thereligionofjesuschurch.org [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by FoM on February 24, 2006 at 11:25:39 PT Graehstone I really wanted to post this article on CNews but I was having all kinds of coding errors when I tried to set it up but it worked in the comment here thankfully. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by Graehstone on February 24, 2006 at 11:22:13 PT: Conference That would be a good one to go to for sure!! Just a tad out of my price range even if it's only "just up the road" from me. I was however able to shake Ed Rosenthals hand and have him autograph one of his books for me when he was down here in San Diego last week for the ASA Freedom party. First time I was introduced to a vaporizer as well. Interesting concept but also something way out of my price range. Slowly but surely the walls are starting to come down as not to long ago a conference such as this would have been unthinkable. There is hope ... [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by FoM on February 24, 2006 at 10:46:28 PT Considering The Cannabis Cure By Matt KettmannFebruary 23, 2006 Twenty years ago, the notion that hundreds of doctors, nurses, patients, lawyers, and curious citizens would gather in a drab conference room to see scientists present research papers and hear physicians discuss the therapeutic benefits of marijuana was little more than a stoner’s fantasy. But in 2006, 10 years after Californians started a national trend by voting to allow sick people to smoke, eat, or otherwise imbibe marijuana to ease their pains, this notion is a reality — and it’s happening this April here in Santa Barbara.Starting with a reception on Thursday, April 6 and continuing for two full days, the Fourth National Clinical Conference on Cannabis Therapeutics — a series of lectures, discussions, and social soirées — will be taking over S.B. City College. The conference, staged every other year since 2000, is a chance for doctors, nurses, and everyone else to find out about the latest clinical studies on medicinal cannabis from around the world and listen to experiential reports on marijuana’s triumphs and tribulations as a treatment. All the while, the healthcare professionals who attend will gain official credits for their continuing educations, exactly as they get credits for attending professional conferences on lung cancer or heart disease. The simple fact that an accredited conference exists and is endorsed by UC San Francisco and recognized by the American Medical Association is hard-and-fast evidence that medical marijuana is no longer a med school joke, but a worthy, valuable, scientifically proven treatment. And for some, as conference-goers will learn, marijuana is the only thing that works. Co-organizer Dr. David Bearman, a longtime physician in S.B. County whose background is in drug-abuse treatment and prevention, said that the conference is intended “to put a human face on the fact that this is actually beneficial for people.” He hopes to combat the oft-reported notion, repeated continually by the mass media, that the medical marijuana “is a bunch of old hippies sitting around and saying, ‘Wow dude, this is good stuff.’ The point in fact is that there are a lot of people for whom this issue is very serious.”But strides for medical marijuana aside, the landmark event is even more, according to Bearman. He’s been to plenty of conferences in his three-plus decades of being a doctor, and he explained, “What’s unique about this conference is the combination of researchers, patients, patient advocates, and clinicians. That is a rarity, and it provides for an exciting mix of ideas.”Who’s Behind ItThe conference’s dynamic nature shouldn’t be surprising considering the multi-pronged organization behind it, Patients Out of Time (POT). Run by registered nurse/author Mary Lynn Mathre and Al Byrne — a former Naval officer who’s been an expert on the medicine and politics of cannabis ever since one of his parents smoked the drug for relief in the 1960s — POT primarily advocates for medical marijuana among healthcare professionals. But the group also works to inform the public on the topic, a task fitting for Byrne, who worked in the upper echelon of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML, the primary force for full marijuana legalization in the U.S.) in the ’80s and early ’90s. Thirdly — and perhaps most significantly — Patients Out of Time represent five of the seven patients (two remain anonymous) who currently receive medical marijuana grown and legally provided by the United States government. One such patient, Elvy Mussika, is the organization’s national spokesperson, while the other four — Corrine Millet, Barbara Douglass, George McMahon, and Irv Rosenfeld — serve on POT’s board of directors (all but Millet will attend the conference). One of Patients Out of Time’s advisors is Alice O’Leary, whose late partner Robert Randall unwittingly instigated the modern medical marijuana movement when he successfully persuaded the government to provide for him legal marijuana to battle his glaucoma in 1976. Randall’s success briefly opened the floodgates for more legally marijuana-smoking patients, but more importantly, it put medicinal cannabis — which had been the number-two prescribed drug at the turn of the century before its politically and economically motivated prohibition in 1937 — back on the radar screen. Randall died in 2001, but his memory lives large and will be celebrated on Friday, April 7, at a tribute/benefit dinner — complete with auction and band — for Patients Out of Time.What to Expect?In addition to the tribute, the conference welcomes presenters from Israel, the United Kingdom, Canada, the Netherlands, Spain, and three California medical schools. “That should bring us national attention,” promised Bearman. After Thursday night’s kickoff, Friday begins with opening remarks by Bearman and Mayor Marty Blum, whose local celebrity status will be outshined by guests Montel Williams, the talk-show host who uses marijuana to fight his multiple sclerosis, and Joan Dangerfield, the wife of comedian Rodney, who used marijuana as well. Subsequent talks include Cannabis: Synthetic vs. Natural, Efficacy of Smoked Cannabis on Human Experimental Pain, and Federal Patients: Are They Healthy?, among others. Saturday moves forward at much the same scientific pace and will feature talks on Cannabis Use and Pregnancy, AIDS and Cannabis, and Cannabis and Mental Health. “There will be researchers talking about both animal and clinical research that clearly documents with double-blind studies that this is effective,” explained Bearman. “And there will be patients who have found that nothing else works but cannabis.” As you can tell, the topics range from heavy duty science to more approachable topics that everyday people are curious about, which is the main point. At the end of these three days, Bearman hopes that they will have confronted the “Hitlerian notion that if you tell a big enough lie often enough, people will believe it. Our position is that if you tell the truth in clear, plain English, people will get it. And frankly, they already have.” Surely, this conference will only help more. 4·1·1 To sign up for the conference, call Patients Out of Time at (434) 263-4484 or visit medicalcannabis.com. $155 general; $255 nurses and healthcare professionals; $335 physicians; benefit dinner $80. (UCSF is designating 15.75 AMA PRA category 1 credits, which include 6.5 credits toward pain management.) Copyright: 2006 by The Santa Barbara Independenthttp://www.independent.com/news/2006/02/considering_the_cannabis_cure.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by FoM on February 24, 2006 at 09:36:10 PT VitaminT I don't want to go into any details but maybe if you check CC forums you might be able to find the video to be downloaded. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by VitaminT on February 24, 2006 at 09:31:29 PT Video I have no idea what to look for. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on February 24, 2006 at 09:17:59 PT VitaminT The one I downloaded and watched yesterday. I'm sure someone will put it on google video if you missed the download. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by VitaminT on February 24, 2006 at 09:16:11 PT Video? What video? [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on February 24, 2006 at 08:31:05 PT Just a Comment This is off topic but not really. I assume most people got to see the video that has been circulating the last day. My husband and I watched it and it was very disturbing to both of us. We need to get the laws changed so we can get people involved that aren't in this for the money and that aren't mean spirited like what we saw on the video. As long as there are laws against this plant people like this person will run the whole thing and that isn't a good thing at all. Change the laws and good people will step up and help. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment