cannabisnews.com: Pot Law Stirring Up Trouble Pot Law Stirring Up Trouble Posted by CN Staff on November 12, 2007 at 07:03:44 PT By David Harsanyi, The Denver Post Source: Denver Post Denver, CO -- Hayley Jaqua has a big problem. Jaqua is a 25-year-old full-time student at Metropolitan State College of Denver and an anthropology major who also works part time at a trendy restaurant on the 16th Street Mall. In September, Jaqua was ticketed for possessing a small amount of marijuana. I've spoken to Jaqua only once, so I dare not vouch for the incorruptibility of her soul. But from what I can tell, we have a pleasant and bright person here - a woman whose only brush with the law before this incident was an improperly licensed dog in 2003. Jaqua's petty offense carries with it a maximum fine of $100. Not a huge deal, to be sure. But the long-term consequences of this transgression could be life-changing. According to the Higher Education Act's aid elimination penalty provision - passed through Congress without any debate in 1998 - a student must check off a box on financial aid applications, revealing any drug offenses. A check could mean no college aid. There is no box for "child molestation" or "arson" or "racketeering" or ... well, you get the point. As Jaqua's education relies on financial aid, pleading guilty and paying a trivial marijuana-possession citation is not an uncomplicated matter. Marijuana-legalization advocates claim that more than 200,000 students have lost out on financial aid for this reason since 1998. Since I'm reflexively skeptical of any advocate's claims, let's cut the number by a customary 50 percent. Which still leaves us with 100,000 too many. "It's a lot to take on the government," Jaqua tells me. "If you're in class, it's tough to go to court hearings and conferences. It's taking time away from concentrating on graduating. But I guess I am happy to do it. Because it's a good cause. Though I definitely wish it never happened to me to begin with." Typically, I'd say stop being a crybaby; the law is the law. But in the case of Denver, the law isn't exactly the law. Snipped:Complete Article: http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_7437397Source: Denver Post (CO)Author: David Harsanyi, The Denver PostPublished: November 12, 2007 Copyright: 2007 The Denver Post CorpWebsite: http://www.denverpost.com/Contact: openforum denverpost.com Related Articles & Web Site:Safer Denverhttp://www.saferdenver.com/ Denver Must Set Up Pot Panelhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23468.shtmlMellowing Out on Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23465.shtml Denver Decides Second Pot Issuehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23454.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #26 posted by Hope on November 13, 2007 at 19:02:58 PT Guiliani calling his wife, "The Pot Expert". It made me think... Dang... another divorce? He's calling his wife a pothead? [ Post Comment ] Comment #25 posted by John Tyler on November 13, 2007 at 18:31:16 PT Rudy's wife, "pot expert" I wonder how Rudy’s wife got to be a “pot” expert? What does she know about cultivation, different strains, after harvest processing and drying, packing and distribution? Not to mention all of the other related issues. Is this first hand knowledge, did she get a degree in it somewhere, or did she just read a few DEA pamphlets, get a cockeyed perspective and spout some prohibitionists propaganda? How could Rudy tell when she had reached the expert level anyway? Did she take some kind of a test to get certified? [ Post Comment ] Comment #24 posted by FoM on November 13, 2007 at 07:51:30 PT DankHank I wonder why they didn't want to fly the flag at half-staff.That was such a horrible event and it showed that young people trying to make a difference didn't matter. Those young people were our future and they were gunned down and they didn't even have a gun on them. [ Post Comment ] Comment #23 posted by afterburner on November 13, 2007 at 07:35:35 PT For the Children CN BC: Editorial: Why Is Sex And Swearing Verboten, Yet We're, Kamloops This Week, (11 Nov 2007) http://www.mapinc.org/newstcl/v07/n1308/a08.html?176 CN BC: Column: Legalize Pot, a Key Drug Fuelling Gang Wars, Vancouver Sun, (12 Nov 2007) http://www.mapinc.org/newstcl/v07/n1307/a05.html?176CN BC: PUB LTE: Kids Should Learn The Truth About Marijuana, Surrey Leader, (07 Nov 2007) http://www.mapinc.org/newstcl/v07/n1306/a05.html?176CN BC: PUB LTE: Pick Pot Over Alcohol, Surrey Leader, (07 Nov 2007) http://www.mapinc.org/newstcl/v07/n1306/a06.html?176 [ Post Comment ] Comment #22 posted by Dankhank on November 12, 2007 at 21:33:43 PT videos two really great videos ...CSNY finally learned to sing in harmony ... of sorts :-)I kid CSNY ... Neil was great, too ... [ Post Comment ] Comment #21 posted by dankhank on November 12, 2007 at 21:27:19 PT Ohio is what got me active ...In the southern wilderness in 1968 at a junior college when we heard about Ohio.A delegation of kids went to the Dean and asked to have the flag out front lowered to half-staff.he refused.we lowered it anyway.FTDean [ Post Comment ] Comment #20 posted by Mike on November 12, 2007 at 20:58:29 PT Just ran across this one.. http://digg.com/2008_us_elections/Rudy_Defends_Oxycontin_Work_Cites_Wife_As_Pot_Expert [ Post Comment ] Comment #19 posted by FoM on November 12, 2007 at 17:17:14 PT Dankhank That Newsweek article made me go look for these songs from last summer's CSNY Tour. This is it for me.CSNY - Chicago - CSNY 2006 Tourhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8ch48Wefb8***CSNY - Ohio 2006 - CSNY Tourhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iPBm_cES94 [ Post Comment ] Comment #18 posted by mamawillie on November 12, 2007 at 15:23:22 PT Impressive online fundraising Paul is getting ready to cross 8.1 million dollars raised online since October 1. And I dont' think that includes the Hollywood Hills fundraiser he had the evening he was on The Tonight Show.... (though it could...but I think that is only online donations represented on the website)... I think it will translate into votes in New Hampshire, especially since Independents can vote in the repug primary... [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by dankhank on November 12, 2007 at 15:12:40 PT Ron Paul has some strong backers here in town ...On a main street here in town is a big Ron Paul for president sign that's been there for three weeks or more. I haven't seen ANY other candidate of either party on a sign, yet. [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by Dankhank on November 12, 2007 at 15:09:35 PT don't forget ... the 800 pound gorilla in the room ...http://www.newsweek.com/id/696371968 the year that changed everything ... [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by FoM on November 12, 2007 at 15:09:15 PT Press Release from MPP House Committee to Consider Medical MarijuanaNovember 12, 2007Health and Human Resources Committee to Hear Testimony from Patients, Experts TuesdayNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE — A bill that would protect seriously ill Tennessee patients from arrest for using doctor-recommended medical marijuana will be discussed in a House Health and Human Services Committee meeting Tuesday.HB 486, sponsored by Rep. Sherry Jones (D-Nashville) was assigned to the committee for summer study last session after being recommended for passage by the Subcommittee on Public Health and Family Assistance.URL: http://www.mpp.org/site/apps/nl/content2.asp?c=glKZLeMQIsG&b=1157875&ct=4632017 [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by mamawillie on November 12, 2007 at 14:42:24 PT dankhank I am so tickeled that we have one person from each party talking about it. What a change-- a refreshing change. And I think that since Ron Paul is a doctor, a M.D., he has experience and knowledge to refute the asinine claims about it. I don't think he's ever tried it, but still.. with a scientific mind... he can call bullshit when it is bullshit (except he;d never use those words.. he'd say the laws are "flaky".)I've giving as much money as I can to Ron Paul... I'm helping BUY him media attention... if that's what we have to do... that's what we have to do... [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by Dankhank on November 12, 2007 at 14:36:41 PT Ron Paul I like a lot of what he says and this is a pretty good one.Ron Paul gaining the Repug nod might make my pledge to not vote for repugs hard to keep, but I'd probably get over breaking it if I did.Ron Paul vs Dennis Kucinich wouldn't that be a hoot ... [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by FoM on November 12, 2007 at 13:52:08 PT runruff Don't get in trouble but if you find out something please let us know. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by mamawillie on November 12, 2007 at 13:46:56 PT Ron Paul will use executive order to legalize it http://www.usnews.com/blogs/news-desk/2007/11/12/ron-paul-finds-fans-in-cradle-of-liberty.htmlRon Paul told a crowd of 5,000 people in Philadelphia on Saturday that he would use executive order to legalize marijuana. I don't want to get into a debate. I support Ron Paul for umteen other reasons... that is just icing on the cake.I know many people here dont' agree with his entire voting record, but a check of www.ontheissues.org shows a 20 year consistent voting history. He's honest and he's sincere.The next big money bomb is December 16th... The anniversary of the Boston Tea Party.Feel free to disagree. :) [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by runruff on November 12, 2007 at 12:58:21 PT: FoM We are not allowed to corrospond with our ex-inmates. I Have a friend in there [ a fellow cannabis farmer] from Maine. He gave me his wife's phone number. I can send a letter to her and she can forward it to him. I plan to write and ask about Kieth real soon. I'll keep you informed. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by The GCW on November 12, 2007 at 11:40:54 PT I do believe He's correct. Larry Campbell has seen the effects of Canada's marijuana prohibition laws first-hand, as an RCMP drug officer for eight years and as chief coroner of B.C.... ..."It's all ideology -- if they're wrong on this, then what else are they wrong on? They won't even allow hemp. That's how stupid these people are -- and they are stupid. I describe [White House drug czar John] Walters as a moron, and he is truly a moron. Cont.http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v07/n1305/a02.html?397Pubdate: Sun, 11 Nov 2007Source: Province, The (CN BC)It's official: Walters is a MORON. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by FoM on November 12, 2007 at 11:34:40 PT runruff That's terrible. Isn't there anyway to find out if he is recovering? [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by runruff on November 12, 2007 at 11:28:34 PT: A prison tale. This is a true story which I witnessed. I became aquainted with a young man ffrom Maine who had a young pregnant wife and a a small organic farm. He said he was growing pot on the side supplying medical marijuana patients through a co-op for extra money to get his farm solvent. You would love this kid. He was only 26 years old. He was a person who had what you would call a sweet personality. Religious, sincere. He was doing 6 months for violating his probation by peeing positive. He was on some kink of medication that gave him gas. We were locked in our cells from 5:30am till 11:30pm every day. They put Keith in with a lifer who was doing life for chopping up his parents, his younger sister and two prostitutes with a machette. This guy was a classic convict with all the tattoos and pumped up body. One night Kieth had terrible gas and kept letting it out while he was sleeping. His cellie got so mad at him that he wrapped him up in his blanket and beat him into a comma. When I left he was still in a comma and I don't know of his fate. Burnie[his cellie]will likely do 3 to 6 months in solitare, [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by FoM on November 12, 2007 at 11:20:38 PT nuevo mexican I honestly don't know what more I can do but what I do here. I ain't as young as I used to be you know! LOL!Today we turned on Amy Goodman and I noticed that it looked like she had a stroke so I did a search and see she was stricken with Bell's Palsy. She is only 50 years old. That is such a shame and I admire her for continuing her work on Democracy Now. I always forget to turn it on because I have CNN or MSNBC on that time of day. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by nuevo mexican on November 12, 2007 at 10:39:43 PT OT: Kucinich supports Medical Cannabis..... so please consider donating to his campaign, if Ron Paul (who ISN'T leading an impeachment effort) can raise 4 Million in one day, Dennis can double that!http://www.dennis4president.com/Let's prove it!Dennis on Impeachment with DemocracyNow: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_ all&address=385x69185And if you want to guarantee Impeachment, give these folks an email, thanks in advance!Email addresses of Congress To: House Judiciary Committee DemocratsI urge you to begin impeachment hearings for Vice President Cheney in the House Judiciary Committee immediately.Congressman Kucinich's H.Res. 333, Articles of Impeachment for Vice President Dick Cheney, has 22 co-sponsors. On 11/6/07, 86 Democrats and 165 Republicans voted for a floor debate.Judiciary Committee chair John Conyers wants his committee staff to "continue to consider, as a preliminary matter, the many abuses of this Administration, including the Vice President."But the time for "preliminary consideration" by staffers is long past because the public evidence in support of H.Res. 333 is overwhelming.There is no time to waste in holding Vice President Cheney accountable for his deliberate pre-war lies about Iraq and his threats of an unprovoked and illegal attack on Iran.http://www.democrats.com/topelosiandjudiciary29059 of 50000 people have signed this petition.It is time for Speaker Pelosi and the members of the Judiciary Committee to hold hearings on the impeachment of Vice President Cheney.Congressman Kucinich's H.Res. 333, Articles of Impeachment for Vice President Dick Cheney, has 22 co-sponsors. On 11/6/07, 86 Democrats and 165 Republicans voted for a floor debate.The Vermont State Senate has passed a resolution demanding impeachment. Dozens of cities and states and 16 state Democratic parties have done the same. Polls show 54% of Americans support Cheney's impeachment.Ask Pelosi, Conyers, and members of the Judiciary Committee to heed the public's demand.C-News is the Greatest! We can save the world, with Cannabis, Hemp, Veganism (not there yet) and Peaceful Solutions that don't involve Killing, maiming, traumatizing,and torturing, don't ya think! I would think C-News would rank up there with Buzzflash, DailyKos and CrooksandLiars by now, if not, soon!If you started a blog FOM, the way you moderate the comments here, it would be the same thing really, C-News would go right to the 'top o' the blogs', though flying just below the radar, if that is the case, may be your thing, yet with the mainstreaming of Cannabis in Colorado, I think it is the issue of our time now, with conservative Colorado on board!!Please consider, talk to Richard, and let us know! You are as much or more fun to read than the Huffingtonpost, no offense Arianna, Democracy now, (and I love Amy Goodman), or any writer today. bet you didn't know that!C-News is almost like Crooks and Liars.com with all of the music links and posts, which I and many here love!C-News first, then buzzflash, crooksandliars, democraticunderground, thinkprogress, Michaelmoore, rawstory, 911truth.org, all great and must reads daily!Just thought I'd share my perspective on where C-News fits in the larger reality!Over 10 years old too! Wow! Imagine 10 years from now!C-News is undoubtably the Buzzflash of Cannabis articles, and should be recognized as such, and so, I am recognizing C-News for what it is, the Best Source of daily Cannabis-related articles on the Web, and that is really huge!Accolades to you FOM, you're the quiet Kucinich of Cannabis! In my book anyway! Marc Emery is a Canadian, so he's the Canadian Kucinich of Cannabis!A little planetary info: We are in the 'moment of truth' moment as Pluto is at the 27 degree of Sag, the Galactic Center of the Universe, (thus, the Moment of Truth degree) until December 7th, and the New Moon in Sagittarius on Dec. 9th, with FIVE planets in the Sign of Truth, Sag, with Jupiter, the Ruler of Sag, the Planet of Truth, aligned with the Sun, Moon, Mercury, and Pluto, ALL in Sag, remember, so what does this mean?You will be hearing the word 'truth' alot now. Earthquakes, fires, and lots of people in the streets too, (Sag rules travel, freedom, philosophy, independence, roads and streets, the great outdoors, strong points of view, protests) as the big Seattle gathering against in 1999 had a similar line-up.New Moons bring New energies, and in the sign of Sag, optimism, truth, honesty, expansion, all get a huge 'boost' on that day! Many good things will come from this!Looks alot like mass migration too, so global warming may be waiting for this aspect to be the catalyst for all of the Positive changes we will be forced to embrace out of necessity, so we can get rid of nukes, impeach bush and outlaw war-mongering corporations profiting from death!Though, as with all things, the negative expression of this energy, is warlike and militaristic, very Pakistan/musharef-like, (he's a Leo, in a Leo country, Pakistan and India have the exact same horoscope, and two Leo's vying for domination, with a dominating Leo bossing the world around, with nuclear threats, so a Peace Loving Libra, Dennis, like Libra Jimmy Carter, is just what the world is manifesting.Someone may try and pull off Martial Law at this time, which would be great, as it would backfire greatly!Pray for Peace, and toke for Health, and you won't have time for war.Just think of all those lazy potheads out there, NOT doing harm to the world, for shame, for shame!Get out there and do something, like join blackwater Inc, and take over America from within! Oh, that's already happened! Snark!More Cannabis, less War!Seems that way to me!Enjoy todays' Sag Moon! Get outside for a beautiful day! Perfect for horseback riding! [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by fight_4_freedom on November 12, 2007 at 09:04:29 PT: Prison Overcrowding Newshawk: JimmyG Pubdate: Sun, 11 Nov 2007 Source: Michigan Citizen (Detroit, MI) Copyright: 2007 Michigan Citizen Contact: editor michigancitizen.com Website: http://www.michigancitizen.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3124 Author: David Salisbury, Capital News ServiceARE STRICT DRUG LAWS OVERFILLING PRISONS?LANSING - Drug abuse can lead to criminal activity, but are the state's current drug laws too uncompromising?Many convicted drug violators are non-violent, but they are lumped in with other criminals who harm people, critics of the present sentencing rules say.But Rep. Paul Condino, D-Southfield, chair of the House Judiciary Committee, wants to revamp the punishment for possessing small amounts of marijuana.Condino is working on legislation to divert marijuana offenders from prison into drug courts and programs where rehabilitation and court-mandated screenings attempt to treat drug users."These aren't people who are murderers or rapists," he said. "These are non-violent people who need treatment."Patricia Caruso, director of the Department of Corrections, said that prison sentences for drug violations are "extremely lengthy" in Michigan compared to other states.For example, a person convicted of dealing or possessing more than 1.75 ounces of cocaine faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison.Michigan houses 50,000 convicts, among whom many were found guilty of drug-related charges.Caruso told of one woman given a long sentence for possessing a relatively small amount of cocaine."It will be 25 years before she's eligible for parole," Caruso said.That's longer than second-degree criminal sexual conduct, which has a 15-year maximum, or negligent homicide, with a two-year maximum.Caruso said about 75 percent of inmates have had a substance abuse problem like the woman who received the lengthy prison term."It's people in cases such as these that need to be given rehabilitation rather than taking up valuable space in our overcrowded jails," she said.Michigan has the sixth-largest prison population in the U.S. The corrections department receives 25 percent of the state's annual budget-approximately $2 billion a year.Although Michigan ranks 30 among states in crime rates, it has the ninth-highest incarceration rate. Drug sentences are a significant part of the reason, Caruso said.Victor Fitz, prosecuting attorney for Cass County, estimates that 80 percent of the cases he sees a year have some drug aspect."Often it's some guy on drugs or trying to get drugs that commits a crime under the influence," said the 25-year prosecuting veteran. The main substance abuse problems in his county include meth amphetamine, cocaine, marijuana and alcohol.Rarely do people charged with drug possession go to jail, he said. "We go after the dealers."Delivery of marijuana carries a four-year maximum. Delivery of hallucinogenics and other controlled substances carries a seven-year maximum.Fitz said that unless a person convicted of drug possession has a lengthy criminal record, he or she is usually doesn't receive prison time."We save prison for the most violent offenders."But "delivery" charges can include providing marijuana to a friend at a party, or a person caught driving with drugs.Caruso said that although some lawmakers favor less severe drug laws geared more toward rehabilitation, few do so publicly because they don't want to appear "soft on crime.""Often a law is enacted in a knee-jerk reaction to one, extraordinary thing," she said. "And once a standard is established, it's hard to change it to anything else."Caruso said a cocaine epidemic in the 1980s led to stricter drug laws. Most of the laws have remained in effect. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by The GCW on November 12, 2007 at 08:13:57 PT Further, Cannabis (kaneh bosm) prohibition, persecution and extermination isn't just bad law;it's luciferous law. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by OverwhelmSam on November 12, 2007 at 07:31:05 PT HEA Provision Passed Without Debate in 1998 It's clear that we need a Congressional cleansing. Every emcumbent should be voted out of office so we the People can have a fresh start. Hopefully one based on our Constitution. Vote No on re-elections. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by potpal on November 12, 2007 at 07:28:22 PT And furthermore A bad law is a bad law. A good law is a good law.Cannabis prohibition is a bad law. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment