cannabisnews.com: Conyers Asks DEA Why It's Going After MMJ Conyers Asks DEA Why It's Going After MMJ Posted by CN Staff on May 07, 2008 at 18:52:49 PT By Bob Egelko, Chronicle Staff Writer Source: San Francisco Chronicle Washington, D.C. -- A congressional leader, citing complaints from Bay Area mayors and lawmakers, wants the Drug Enforcement Administration to explain its increased use of "paramilitary-style enforcements raid" and property forfeiture orders against medical marijuana patients and suppliers in California.With drug trafficking and violence from international cartels on the rise, "do you think the DEA's limited resources are best utilized conducting enforcement raids on individuals and their caregivers who are conducting themselves legally under California law?" House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, D-Mich., said in a letter to the agency. He also noted the DEA's recent tactic of sending letters to hundreds of property owners who rent to medical marijuana dispensaries, advising them that they could be prosecuted and lose their property under federal law. Property forfeitures, Conyers said, have typically been reserved for "the worst drug traffickers and kingpins" and might have the unintended effect of driving medical marijuana distribution underground. Medical marijuana advocacy groups say the letters have led to evictions and closures of dozens of supply shops that had been operating with state and local approval.The congressman also asked how much the DEA was spending on the raids. Snipped Complete Article: http://tinyurl.com/4kpza3Source: San Francisco Chronicle (CA)Author: Bob Egelko, Chronicle Staff WriterPublished: Wednesday, May 7, 2008Copyright: 2008 San Francisco Chronicle Contact: letters sfchronicle.comWebsite: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/ CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #9 posted by Had Enough on May 08, 2008 at 20:39:26 PT Dogs The dog is not a prohibitionist; they are trained by prohibitionists as a ‘tool/toy’ to do what prohibitionists want them to do…and we all know what prohibishinist’s have contributed to mankind.But now the cost for these dogs…Good point…That’s where it’s at... That will help to end the abuse of some of these ‘prohibitionist dogs’. The dogs that end up certified cost a little more than the average bear…the prohibitionists are running out of taxpayer money, slowly but surely. And now the prohibitionists are trying to justify their position to get more funds. So the try to kill two birds with one stone. Use the expensive ‘tools’ at ‘show and tell’ to get more tax money, at the same time collect funds from forfeit/seizures. And the crowd goes wild…but the crowd is running out of money…at the same time…In 2007, Tommy-the dog, was dispatched 64 times, found 1272 grams of weed, and 22 grams of cocaine. Now there is a return on investment that they have to convince/connive taxpayers to give more money while the taxpayer pays 400 penneys/$4.00 per gallon to get to the grind… to pay for it all…with Big Oil $12,000 penneys/120 bucks per barrel.These are remarkable dogs, very well suited for multiple tasking. It’s a crying shame how the dogs are used at times (Selma and others come to mind)…but life saving at other times…Talk to a Vietnam Vet who went out on patrol with one of these dogs ‘hangin’ out in the ‘pack’, they can tell you all about these dogs. Some will say that if it wasn’t for that dog, they might not be here to tell you about it…Now if I somehow found myself in the middle of a hostile jungle/desert/anywhere…I would welcome the company of one of these fine dogs…Dogs are truly mans best friend. I was one of the fortunate ones who really got to share each ones appreciation with the same breed of dog that most 15K/K9’s are from. And man what a connection…12+ yrs… cool. But she is gone to the Rainbow Bridge…and I truly miss her. In the process she taught me a lot…about a lot…wouldn’t trade it for anything is this ‘Restless Consumer’ material world…Yha ouhta see the one that is hangin out with us now. She looks very similar, same color, about the same size, but a little different in the face that’s in the picture that the link in comment #4 goes to. Some of her brothers and sisters are being trained for certifications to be accepted as cop dogs (search & rescue/cadaver), show dogs, and two went out for breeding. She comes from a fine girl who has been doing this since the 60’s. She is very particular to who she lets these dogs go out to… Once again I feel fortunate, I was in the right place at the right time…and “BAM!!!…it happened.Now she is not the incredible girl I miss so much…but she is really incredible in her own way…Yha oughta see the tricks she plays on us…incredible…I agree with Toker00 – Dogs, people should be more like them. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by FoM on May 08, 2008 at 20:05:46 PT aolbites That's different. Neil really inspires all kinds of people for so many different reasons. He's in Europe this summer. If his health holds up maybe he will tour in a year or so again in the states.Here's one of my favorite songs.Neil Young - Harvest Moonhttp://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=XQXnvNwGTAY [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by aolbites on May 08, 2008 at 18:36:01 PT OT: FoM thought you might appreciate this:Biologists Names New Spider After Neil YoungScienceDaily (May 8, 2008) — An East Carolina University biologist has brought his admiration of Neil Young to a whole new class. Or species, to be exact.Jason Bond, an ECU professor of biology, has named a newly discovered trapdoor spider, Myrmekiaphila neilyoungi, after the legendary rock star.“There are rather strict rules about how you name new species,” Bond said. “As long as these rules are followed you can give a new species just about any name you please. With regards to Neil Young, I really enjoy his music and have had a great appreciation of him as an activist for peace and justice.” -=snip=-there's a pic of the little beastie here: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080508181914.htm [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by Dankhank on May 08, 2008 at 11:11:43 PT enemy dogs ... I have noted the unbelievable hatred, demonization and obvious satanic mockery of "drug users" in a society supposed to be Christian and compassionate. HA!A few years ago the city of Cache, Oklahoma bought a new custom truck to use in the "drug war."The story on the local news ran like this:Cache has a new drug task force vehicle that has the front cab for the officer, a special half shelter directly behind it for the drug-dog, and an open bed for the criminal.We can transport the officer and dog in air-conditioned comfort leaving the suspect in the open air.Sherrif "Joe" in AZ says the same thing in the "American Drug War DVD, the drug dogs are in the jail in comfort and the inmates are baking in the tent city.Christians pray to the God of the old testament, which is, quite clearly, a manual for terror on behalf of the Israelites.Christians have learned well ... [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by FoM on May 08, 2008 at 05:53:58 PT ChristenMitchell Thank you for the video and pictures. It looks like everyone had a fun day! [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by The GCW on May 08, 2008 at 05:20:57 PT More, why's. In My local paper there is a story about the police dog and it contains something interesting.The dog cost over $15,000. The war on cannabis and cannabists is so dubious that it requires law enforcemnt types to do everything imaginable to help perpetuate it & here is one example.The +$15K (K9) dog is reported to help acquire (sniff out) 1,272 grams of marijuana. They report it as onethousandtwohundredseventytwo grams instead of using the elementary common denominator term 44 pounds.Why don't the prohibitionist just report the devil weed in terms of pounds instead of grams?Why don't they refer to the pooch as a 15K unit dog instead of a K9?Why do the cildren and now adults have problems converting things into common denominators?http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20080507/NEWS/292097033Why don't they just report the dog as He really is.He's a prohibitionist dog.Rank: right down there with the serpent. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by ChristenMitchell on May 07, 2008 at 22:53:00 PT: Boulder Marijuana March We had our biggest little march yet. Nearly two hundred dedicated Coloradans exuberantly demonstrated in support of Cannabis Re-Legalization. The local MSM rag, the Daily Scamera, sent a photographer and didn't print anything. She was nice, I mugged her with a leaf tat in the pic best seen at www.Hemptopia.org . http://www.hemptopia.org/Boulder_Events___Emperor.php for other pics. Or better still.. http://gallery.marihemp.com/boulder2008mmmSee ya next May 2nd - Jeff Marchin' by the Courthouse Vid [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Sam Adams on May 07, 2008 at 21:33:09 PT Conyers before we get all psyched about Conyer's letter, look at the first paragraph:"I am writing to you because I have received a number of letters from Californians, including mayors and city councils, expressing concerns about DEA enforcement tactics, and urging me to hold oversight hearings in the Judiciary Committee. However, before I consider holding hearings, I want to give you the opportunity to respond to these complaints"oooooh - tough guy! Either you send me a memo - no time limit specified, of course - or you'll FORCE me to CONSIDER holding hearings! THIS means WAR! I'm going to consider your butt!I'm sorry but what a complete wuss. You think these paramilitary thugs are afraid of you Conyers? Are you kidding? This is the best you can do, after 7 years of raids, 13 years after the law was actually changed???How about "cease these attacks on law-abiding citizens immediately or I'll have you fired, pensions cancelled, and prosecuted for aggravated assault, armed robbery, kidnapping, and sedition" [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by paul armentano on May 07, 2008 at 19:11:24 PT Meanwhile... Across the Pond http://blog.norml.org/2008/05/07/its-official-gordon-brown-and-jacqui-smith-have-lost-their-mind/#more-118It’s Official: Gordon Brown and Jacqui Smith Have Lost Their MindsMay 7th, 2008 By: Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy DirectorLest anyone think that science or reason guide modern cannabis policy, I present to you today’s announcement from British Home Secretary (and former pot smoker) Jacqui Smith calling on Parliament to increase pot penalties from a verbal warning — the current policy — to up to five years in jail.Smith’s expected announcement (Watch the video here.) comes just days after British Prime Minister Gordon Brown — who has been afflicted with a severe case of ‘Reefer Madness’ since taking office last June — raved that consuming cannabis can be fatal, and that strict penalties on pot are necessary in order to “send a message” to young people that marijuana smoking is “unacceptable.”Ironically, the Home Secretary’s formal announcement contradicts the official recommendations of Britain’s Advisory Panel on the Misuse of Drugs, which released its own report today finding that pot lacks the potential health risks of most other illicit drugs, and that its use is unlikely to trigger mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia.It is the third time in six years that the Panel has demanded that legislators classify cannabis as a Class C ’soft’ drug, with minor, if any, criminal penalties. Unlike Smith or Brown, the Advisory Panel consists of experts commissioned to evaluate and determine British drug policies — hence it’s hardly surprising that their findings would be totally disregarded by British bureaucrats.For those readers who have not closely followed Britain’s ongoing pot policy debate, here’s a brief history lesson:In January 2004, Parliament downgraded the legal classification of cannabis from a Class B drug (such as amphetamines or barbiturates) to a Class C drug (such as anabolic steroids) — thus allowing police to issue verbal warnings to minor pot offenders in lieu of arresting them. Since then, the following events have occurred:One-third fewer Britons have been arrested for pot offenses;Marijuana use by those age 16 to 20 years of age has fallen by 20 percent;Fewer than ten percent of Britons now report using cannabis — the lowest percentage ever recorded.In fact, the current policy has worked so well that the British Association of Chief Police Officers has announced that they will refuse to waste their time and resources arresting minor pot offenders — regardless of what Parliament decides.So let’s review shall we. Gordon Brown wants to jail pot users to keep them from dying at the hands of weed — a stance so absurd that even the cops won’t go along with it. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith wants to jail pot users to keep them from losing their minds even though she herself smoked pot and is now one of the most powerful women in British politics. (Whether she is of sound mind remains debatable, I suppose.) The British Advisory Panel on the Misuse of Drugs thinks that Brown and Smith’s calls for reclassification are based on tabloid headlines in the Daily Mail rather than actual science, so they are dismissed as ‘know-nothings’ by the very same people who, quite literally, know nothing.And that, my friends, is how we decide cannabis policy in 2008.Any questions? http://blog.norml.org/2008/05/07/its-official-gordon-brown-and-jacqui-smith-have [ Post Comment ] Post Comment