cannabisnews.com: A Misguided Joint Initiative










  A Misguided Joint Initiative

Posted by CN Staff on November 07, 2008 at 06:26:54 PT
Editorial 
Source: Boston Globe 

Boston, MA -- The Question 2 initiative to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana should be Exhibit 1 in the case against using ballot questions to make public policy.What seemed so simple to 65 percent of the state's voters on Tuesday - replacing the criminal penalties for possession of 1 ounce or less of marijuana with a civil penalty of $100 - is already fogging the legal landscape.
Supporters of Question 2 sold the public on the idea that the penalty for pot possession should be on a par with traffic violations. But traffic violators, at least, are required to show their driver's licenses to police officers. Law enforcement officials are unsure about what, if any, identification can be demanded from violators of the new pot law. Currently, Massachusetts residents are not required to carry identification unless engaged in specific acts, such as driving. Suffolk District Attorney Daniel Conley predicts that police will be handing out quite a few citations "to Mickey Mouse" unless the Legislature amends the new law.The high-spending backers of Question 2 put one over on the public in other ways, as well. They emphasized the need to prevent someone who makes one mistake from running up criminal records. But first-time offenders receive unsupervised probation under current law and their records are sealed. Now there is no teeth in the law at all. The possession of dozens or even scores of joints, depending on strength, has become akin to a leash-law violation.It would be ironic if the Legislature winds up expanding police powers to accommodate Question 2. The state of Maine, for example, has a similar law decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana. But it also criminalizes the act of refusing to provide police with a credible form of identification, even when the violation that prompts the request for ID is only a civil offense.In the best-case scenario, adults cited for possession of small amounts of marijuana will take their citations along with their recreational drugs. But the incentive for underage pot smokers to lie to police is much greater. Question 2 specifies that the parents of offenders under age 18 will be notified in addition to a $100 fine and mandatory attendance at a drug awareness program. It won't take long for the schoolhouse lawyers to advise their peers how best to evade justice, regardless of whether it takes the form of a citation or a parent's wrath.Perhaps backers of Question 2 just wanted people to be able to smoke marijuana with impunity. But rather than arguing openly for that goal, they chose to make a mess of the legal system instead.Source: Boston Globe (MA)Published: November 7, 2008 Copyright: 2008 Globe Newspaper CompanyContact: letter globe.comWebsite: http://www.boston.com/globe/Related Articles & Web Site:Committee for Sensible Marijuana Policyhttp://www.sensiblemarijuanapolicy.org/ MA Scrambles To Adapt To Marijuana Initiativehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24291.shtmlHampden County D.A. To Drop Marijuana Chargeshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24290.shtml

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Comment #51 posted by Hope on November 11, 2008 at 13:02:34 PT
I don't know.
You are right, no doubt, for you, but maybe not so much for me, in this case.But I've also learned there's value in the old saying of not saying anything if you don't have something good to say about someone. With these guys it's hard. I think they're bullies and hurting people without reason.It just calls for so much silence, often in a sort of agitated state, and long periods of trying to remember good things about them. They're humanity, if nothing else. They are human. They just have a harsher, crueler, bullying, self serving, overly authoritarian way of dealing with things. I care very much about what happens to people... even other than myself, and it disturbs me to see people mistreated... for any reason and especially without logical reason.
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Comment #50 posted by museman on November 11, 2008 at 10:18:10 PT
Hope
Double entendre.Referring both to the subject of our recent emails, and the thread-In the Scriptures it is written; "Call no man 'fool.'" however, if you witness foolishness, and state the fact, it is not 'calling' or 'labelling' but merely observing.When a monkey acts like a man, we will see and say that that is a man. Hasn't happened yet. (though many men/women act like monkeys)The fact that many people haven't any idea what true 'authority' really is prevents them from making informed and intelligent observations, so they suspect and resist any idea that is not part of the comfort zone of social ignorance. Accusation is not observation. Judgement and condemnation is not 'authorized' for any but God, but to say that one is a fool after witnessing their foolishness is none of those, but a mere fact being marked and observed.The fact is that cops are cretinous in their behavior. They act like demons, and have less respect than most 'criminals' they persecute and prosecute. They have no 'dignity', and until they surrender their gun-totin' penis envy, and false authority, they will have none in the very real observation of reality and their part in it.Scum, pure and simple. If they don't like BEING SCUM they should stop. But I suspect that most of them enjoy their cretinhood, and we the people are going to have to take our country back from them and their elitist (another observation -not specificly a 'label') masters.(p.s.-working on those pictures -have had a cascade of mechanincal failures and digital crashes the past week- has kept me busy)LIBERATE KANEH BOSM FOR EVERYONE
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Comment #49 posted by FoM on November 11, 2008 at 07:35:59 PT
Hope
There's an expression I like. It's better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.Silence is golden sometimes. 
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Comment #48 posted by Hope on November 11, 2008 at 07:33:21 PT
Whatever!
It was something about someone that struck me as a "Cretin" in another post.Sorry about mucking this thread up.
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Comment #47 posted by Hope on November 11, 2008 at 07:30:55 PT
Indignant at myself...
Just forget it!
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Comment #46 posted by Hope on November 11, 2008 at 07:29:10 PT
Dang!
Indignantly!Too many windows open!I meant to post that to Museman on another thread.Dang!
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Comment #45 posted by Hope on November 11, 2008 at 07:27:43 PT
Life requires so much "debate", it seems.
I appreciate a certain amount of dignity in myself and in others. When we lose our dignity, or too much of it, perhaps, whatever progress we might have made in the "debate" is diminished by the spectacle of the indignation. Then, indignation invites more indignation to the scene of the debate. Usually the debate ends there and nobody has been convinced or enlightened about anything because there's a fight.I probably wouldn't have thought about name calling much if it hadn't been for my mom, and the teachings of the man I consider to be the Christ of God. But I do think about it. And that dignity business is part of what I think about it.Ka-Ching! Two cents worth!:0)
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Comment #44 posted by museman on November 09, 2008 at 09:23:43 PT
afterburner
Yes the article was interesting. It is an awareness that should be arriving in the consciousness of many intelligent people soon. I did find one troubling statement from the author, that I partially agree with..."We do not need senators and congress people. We can vote directly now. This is not 1865. We can vote directly. We have the Internet. We do not need all those people in Washington"I agree that now 'we can vote directly' but thats where my agreement ends.I do not like politics -as it stands, and has been for all of my lifetime of obervation, yet I do appreciate the concept of constitutional democracy (not 'republic') and part of the problem I see with the current format, is a total lack of representation. The polits only know who they hang out with, and that is who they represent. Currently they 'hang out' with celebrities, rich people, and corporate CEOs.What is needed is more representation, not less. If we actually had people representing us in the government, things like the WOD, Patriot Act, National Security Act, War Powers Act, legislation for corporate entities such as Monsanto to patent creation, etc., etc., would have never happened, because the people would have had the chance to vote.Going with the 'vote directly' concept;A few years back I advanced the idea of an online 'peoples constitutional convention'- where 'we the people' could discuss, review, and upgrade and/or replace current constitutional format and its obsolete language of 'legaleze.'If this is truly going to be a 'government of the people, by the people,' ever, then the making, writing, and interpretation of peoples laws should be able to be done by the people themselves, and not exclusive, elitist orders such as lawyers to do it.The root of prohibition is in the fact that the people have had no control over their government, and in fact, until after the 'revolution' sparked by VietNam and the draft, such a thing as a 'peoples' initiative' was pretty much unheard of -even though we had a constitutional right to do it since the beginning.Prohibition is a perfect example of the 'Big Brother' government we've been dealing with for far too long. Our non-representative government deciding -in their own interests- what is good for the people. The only way to end the many governmental apartheids held against the people, is to change the government. We have the provided means to do so, and it's called a 'constitutional convention.' Only done once, even though some of our more freedom-oriented forefathers, like Thomas Jefferson suggested we have a 'revolution every fifty years' to keep it fresh.'We don't need to revolt, we just need to organize. The impetus, and desire for change is currently ripe. Now is the time to promote such a thing. FREE PLANT OF RENOWN FOR EVERYONE
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Comment #43 posted by Hope on November 09, 2008 at 06:22:09 PT
Fight_4_Freedom comment 25
Keep up? There's so much going on and so much news and and so much relevant commenting going on that it just doesn't seem possible for me to take it all in. It's good though. Really good. Just a few years ago you could get all your drug war and cannabis prohibition news read in sometimes just a few minutes a day. Thinking about the "choir" this morning. Finally, the "choir" has become so huge that we're being heard... at last.Paul Armentano, Bruce Mirken, and so many others, your coordination and "specials" are wonderful. The "choir" is being heard and the "congregation" is being inspired. The oppressors have been holding their hands over their ears and ignoring us and trying to drown us out with their caterwauling, threats, booing, nay saying, and insult flinging. Our true "message", our true "song" is being heard in spite of their efforts to silence and ignore us.Sing on, brothers and sisters of the "choir"! Clap your hands! Jump! Shout! Shake this place up and down, to it's very foundations, to the heavens above! Sing loud and sing it right! Sing it clear, and sing it true!
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Comment #42 posted by FoM on November 09, 2008 at 05:33:54 PT
aolbites
This isn't an issue that needs to be discussed here. My father was right but I was young and he meant a normal mortgage from back then not now. We watch the news and know what is going on. Thanks for respecting CNews in advance.
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Comment #41 posted by afterburner on November 09, 2008 at 01:53:54 PT
museman #31
The Supreme Court Betrays the Public on Medtronic Preemption Case (transcript). 
Thursday, November 06, 2008 by: Mike Adams (see all articles by this author).
Key concepts: Corporations, The FDA and Supreme Court
http://www.naturalnews.com/024727.html This Supreme Court decision sets a bad precedent, but even more important is Mike Adams going "off-topic" in order to discuss the broad context. (See especially the sections: "The coming collapse and rebirth of a new America" and "Corporate bondage, medical slavery" calling for personal responsibility and action.) You may find it interesting.
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Comment #40 posted by aolbites on November 09, 2008 at 01:48:22 PT
foreclosure map
oh and this goes with that chart ...check out wherever you live or know people .. http://tinyurl.com/5b6n8eand then think about all the people who WERE in those houses...
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Comment #39 posted by aolbites on November 09, 2008 at 01:31:29 PT
museman
museman - you Nailed it!"In the current 'economic situation' those who invest their faith and belief in the illusory, transitional, unstable 'dollar' are bound to suffer. However, contrary to 'modern' thinking, mankind can survive, and even live decent, comfortable lives without having to have all those middle men (banks, financial institutions, brokers, -people who actually don't DO anything except act as conduits for the 'cash flow', etc.)-in fact i would dare say that if we got rid of a few of those do-nothing enterprises, the amount of waste, and its attending pollution, being generated would diminish significantly."---------------------------------------------------------unf. obama has been working with a lot of those big bankers and hedge fund guys etc... there is a world of hurt coming and people like you are going to be in tremendous demand to help teach people how to be self-sufficient again .. you are most likely in a better position than the majority of this country if I've read your posts right over the last few years .. -----------------------------------------I do have hope that obama will do as good as will be possible, but they sure set him up for some serious pain!its a Great sign that he's willing to talk to us and listen to us, so *maybe* he will throw his handlers under the bus instead of us ... I can hope, but... I need to see some real distance from those that helped cause all these problems .. and I am not seeing that ATM.
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Comment #38 posted by aolbites on November 09, 2008 at 01:13:09 PT
The great depression 2.0
"He told me to only invest in a home and land"----------------------------------and this attitude is EXACTLY what started this whole mess going in the first place. [it USED TO be a good idea, but once things changed ... well, renting is the best idea for at least the next 2-4 years, unless you are fully paid off and own free and clear]its this silly idea that home prices can only go up ... this led many ignorant consumers and bankers to buy property that there is no way they could afford once home prices passed the historically safe price to income levels that had been in place for decades - and once bankers decided that prices could only go up, combined with securitization of mortgages ... well, its been a huge and GLOBAL #^ck-up.option-ARMs neg-am loans, 110%LTV .. and of course sub prime .. [sub prime was just a small part of the coming problem - the trigger perhaps, but a small [tiny] portion of the problem - don't beleive the reThuglicans!]all these exotic and stupid loans .. WTF were they thinking?! and then bundling and securitizing these exotic loans?! and selling them with AAA ratings?! OMG It would take me another month to describe all the things wrong with our housing/banking system.if you want to really know the stupidity set aside a few hours and watch this guys vids, fully documented 100% truth:http://www.youtube.com/user/markmtialso:http://calculatedrisk.blogspot.com/for great graphs and info .. but it may require more digging 'round in old posts than you guys want to bother with .. here is a hint of whats to come still:http://bp3.blogger.com/_pMscxxELHEg/RxzD0s_7EYI/AAAAAAAABB4/ljDSXZhMG3o/s1600-h/IMFresets.jpg*sigh*can you imagine paying $500,000+ for a tiny Tiny house on a Tiny postage stamp of land in COMPTON, CA?!!? friggin' gangland! values were NUTS!
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Comment #37 posted by FoM on November 08, 2008 at 21:02:33 PT

OT: A Nice Song
We are relaxing after this long election season and we watched CSNY Deja Vu again today. I thought of Prairie Town yesterday and my husband asked me if I could find it again tonight on Youtube. Here it is if anyone wants a nice mellow song. Winter is really getting close. It sure is nice to be calm again. Prairie Townhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7ewuZS49aE
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Comment #36 posted by John Tyler on November 08, 2008 at 20:32:40 PT

Boston Globe
The Boston Globe editorial is sour grapes from the Boston Brahmin elitists. An overwhelming 65% of Mass. voted for this change. This is something the public wants and they used a legitimate route to achieve that change when the so-called “leaders” would not listen to them. (Which is the whole purpose of the initiative process.) The wise politicians and business people will get behind this, make it a success, and stop fussing about it. 
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Comment #35 posted by The GCW on November 08, 2008 at 20:22:58 PT

SEEEEE
If 800,000 citizens are arrested in the U.S. every year and there are not 50 but only 38 or so states doing the arresting because cannabis is decriminalized, then MASS is profitting more than what You would first think...So if no states had decriminalization, that would be 800,000 devided by 50 (if We consider all states even for illustration) = 16,000 arrests per state.BUT If We divide those 800,000 by only 38 states (IF 12 states decriminalized) the arrests add up to 21,052 people.But wait a minute, MASS cops claim that seldom do they arrest...Does MASS arrest nobody...... and then the other 37 states arrest 21,621 people?  Maybe MASS cops are saying they are more like the 12 that don't arrest. (I'm not confused)Uh, Mr. MASS cop sir, when You say You seldom arrest humans for using cannabis, exactly how many people did MASS arrest last year out of those 800,000???What was Massachusetts share?And then if MASS seldom arrests, do they consider that share of the pie, their fair share?-0-And then if next year after MASS's decrim, the #s remaine 800,000 arrested; are the other 37 states covering for the 13?Do the other states want to come around and say, decrim doesn't lower arrests???  SEEEEEE
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Comment #34 posted by FoM on November 08, 2008 at 11:27:21 PT

Sinsemilla Jones
I'll give him a break since I made my comment because of his frowning and looking mean to me.
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Comment #33 posted by FoM on November 08, 2008 at 11:23:08 PT

museman
Voting for Obama to me was like voting for a new mindset about life and our country and how to make it a better place for everyone. The earth is a gift and the USA is a beautiful country filled with different people who make it shine. That is what I want. I have a friend that didn't know anything about anything political. Much like me until the last few years. I went with her when she voted for the very first time and I felt good inside. We went for a drive deep in the country afterwards and talked about what Obama might bring to our country and world and we were both excited about the potential. Chicago is all smiles and Jon Stewart said that New York was different because people made eye contact and were smiling. Caring is contagious.
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Comment #32 posted by Sinsemilla Jones on November 08, 2008 at 11:22:13 PT

Give the brothers a break!
Clarence Thomas is the only one left on the Supreme Court to vote for our side on Gonzales v. Raich., and that includes both the Democrats!Clarence Thomas on Gonzales v. Raich -"Respondent's local cultivation and consumption of marijuana is not 'Commerce ... among the several States.'Certainly no evidence from the founding suggests that 'commerce' included the mere possession of a good or some personal activity that did not involve trade or exchange for value. In the early days of the Republic, it would have been unthinkable that Congress could prohibit the local cultivation, possession, and consumption of marijuana."http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gonzales_v._RaichAs for Obama, maybe we should wait until he is actually in office and doing stuff before judging what he's done.Damn honkies! LOL!
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Comment #31 posted by museman on November 08, 2008 at 10:16:06 PT

One of the things I like
about Obama, is his forthrightness in telling us that it is US who have the biggest burden to turn this country around.The government of the people can only exist when the people take on the responsibility to govern themselves.Adversity traditionally brings out the best in americans. In the current 'economic situation' those who invest their faith and belief in the illusory, transitional, unstable 'dollar' are bound to suffer. However, contrary to 'modern' thinking, mankind can survive, and even live decent, comfortable lives without having to have all those middle men (banks, financial institutions, brokers, -people who actually don't DO anything except act as conduits for the 'cash flow', etc.)-in fact i would dare say that if we got rid of a few of those do-nothing enterprises, the amount of waste, and its attending pollution, being generated would diminish significantly.If people get into their own communities, take responsibility for what is right in front of them -not delegate and abdicate their actual authority for the virtual one that sits in elected office, then actual, real things will get accomplished.This is definitely not the time to moan about bank accounts, but the time to roll up the sleeves, and get in there and do the work.If people as a majority are going to look to Obama and his administration to really CHANGE things, they are going to have to change the way they do things themselves.This is perhaps the greatest opportunity the people have ever had since they let the rich merchants and bankers establish a constitution that was more about the rights of the endowed, than the rights of the people -to have a real hand in the shaping of the future. The Authority and Mandate of the People has been talked about by every administration, but this may very well be the first time in history that it has actually had a potential to actually exist. But it is still only embryonic, a 'newborn' that needs to be nurtured and protected. But most of all it is a metaphorical (and spiritual) 'body' that must be filled out by its potential members -us.The false values of the materialism of the past 2 centuries in america is now meeting the stark reality of -IT DOESN'T WORK!- but its up to the people to make it real.When JFK gave his acceptance speech (I believe it was when he took office) he said; "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." I always had trouble wrapping my agreement around that quote, because it was just too generic, like "My country right or wrong!" - a favorite right-wing slogan of the '60s- but when I give the concept to Obama, and I hear him talk about our responsibilities to help make the 'change' everyone is echoing, but few (I think) understand, I get what JFK was trying to say.I am so glad I have the experiential contrast of JFK, LBJ, Nixon, Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, and Bush to compare Obama to, because when I do the man shines in comparison.Anyone who expects Obama to wave some kind of magic wand to fix the centuries of corruption present and powerful in our culture, is harboring unreasonable expectations.Over and over he is telling us that he needs not just our 'support', but action, in order to do the things that need to be done to save america from becoming a 3rd-rate nation. Those actions will hopefully be highlighted in the near future, and Obama himself would be wise to implement programs that help people get involved, that give them purpose instead of no real choice at all -which is the current state of affairs for most americans -particiularly those who do not belong to the club-of-the-elite that now holds front stage center.Its kind of funny, how the bitching and moaning has switched sides. There are rumors going around my daughters' school (red-neck as all hell) that Obama is going to sell us out to the Arabs! That he is an Islamic traitor, setup as an infiltrator to overthrow america. Apparently there are some disgruntled born-again-assholes/republicans who believe more in their 'way' than they believe in their country. It is nice to see them on the diminished side for once.It has been a celebratory week. But the party is over folks, time to seriously get to work, and not 'business as usual.'FREE POCKET-ROCKETS FOR EVERYONE
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Comment #30 posted by FoM on November 08, 2008 at 05:59:32 PT

aolbites
I trust that Obama will do the best he can. He's an intelligent person but he won't be able to please everyone. We have a lot of people in the USA.I've mentioned it before that my Father was an accountant for Western Electric for 30 years. He told me to only invest in a home and land and not the Stock Market. He said rich people win and small investors lose and it isn't worth the gamble. It's like a pyramid scheme. He didn't say that I did.
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Comment #29 posted by aolbites on November 07, 2008 at 22:05:34 PT

I Voted for him ... but
I don't trust him.as soon as I saw the first speech ..was it 2004? .. I said to the others in the room- Thats our next President.he was groomed, he was primped and coddled, and I just don't trust any politician farther than I can throw 'em ... it just looks too good to be true on the surface ... his selections so far are inline with my thoughts ...I don't want to/Won't get into a fight on this, but I think in the long run he will throw us all under the bus. and I am really pissed to be thinking that.I sure as hell hope that the reTHUGlicans get totally booted in 2 years, but the REAL Money Thugs have raped the hell out of our treasury in these last few months, and I just know they [ReThuglicans] will post the blame on anyone and everyone they can . . . x-cept themselves.----------------------------------------------------oh and for maybe the 3rd time this year - [sorry I didn't warn you guys more - but its not the point of this board ...]If you own stocks - sell 'em all - I recommend TIPS for at least the next 2-3 years [ http://www.treasurydirect.gov/indiv/products/prod_tips_glance.htm ] get back in the market when : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bN9WUIXaRr4there May be a retrace over the next few weeks - for a better exit, but BUT - there has been some crazy s$!^ going on to hold this crap up Far Far longer than it should have been held up ... so that may accelerate the crashing over the next weeks - as reality catches up. things are STILL -even at these levels- artificially inflated by the feds actionsoh and I really Really wish I had some land in the middle of nowhere to live and grow food on ... the next 2 years are gonna be ugly.sorry to be such a downer. but Everything is going to hell in the next 6 months+ or sooner *shudder*.Its prob to late now, but if you are somehow still with long term gains get the f out NOW/next week (s&p 1005-1050 -sell sell sell.!) - buy back in with the rule stated in that youtube vid.good night and good luck.
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Comment #28 posted by FoM on November 07, 2008 at 21:07:21 PT

fight_4_freedom 
I am still floating around and enjoying the moment. Life is too short not to take advantage of feeling good when we can about anything important. I am relaxed and not worried for now. The times really are changing and I love watching it all happen.
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Comment #27 posted by fight_4_freedom on November 07, 2008 at 20:57:55 PT

I like what I see from that civil rights section
Very thought-provoking. It shall be interesting to see what transpires in the coming months.As for now, I'm just trying to enjoy the moment. It was quite an amazing election. I'm still floating around on cloud nine.And I just don't want to come back down :)
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Comment #26 posted by FoM on November 07, 2008 at 20:45:18 PT

fight_4_freedom
Please don't apologize. I do CNews. I know where the stuff is most times! LOL!
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Comment #25 posted by fight_4_freedom on November 07, 2008 at 20:43:43 PT

I need to do some catching up
Sorry. 

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Comment #24 posted by FoM on November 07, 2008 at 20:43:04 PT

fight_4_freedom 
This link opens up the discussion of drug policy in the future I think.http://change.gov/agenda/civilrights/
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Comment #23 posted by FoM on November 07, 2008 at 20:37:36 PT

fight_4_freedom 
Yes, it is mentioned in this article.http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24295.shtml
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Comment #22 posted by fight_4_freedom on November 07, 2008 at 20:27:44 PT

Have any of you came across this site yet?
http://change.gov/
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Comment #21 posted by FoM on November 07, 2008 at 19:42:08 PT

Sam
I didn't know if he did use marijuana. I never liked Clarence Thomas. He looks mean. Isn't he a Republican too? 
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Comment #20 posted by Sam Adams on November 07, 2008 at 19:39:48 PT

FOM, clarence thomas
Clarence Thomas is on record as saying he used marijuana "in grad school". Maybe not as frequently as Obama! But he definitely hung around and smoked and then turned into a jerk later.Believe me, I don't know much about Obama yet but I would never impugn him by equating him with Clarence Thomas! "Clarence Thomas" is now equivalent to "Uncle Tom".
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Comment #19 posted by The GCW on November 07, 2008 at 17:52:56 PT

Prohibition=good busniness, decrinimalization=not 
said Barnstable County Sheriff James Cummings, an opponent of the measure. !!!"I don't know if the $100 fines are going to add up to whatever it's going to cost to implement it." -0-Awe! $100 fines might not be profitable.US MA: Marijuana Not (Quite) Legal
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n1008/a06.html?397
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Comment #18 posted by FoM on November 07, 2008 at 17:17:34 PT

fight_4_freedom
Thank you. I believe we will make much faster progress under an Obama administration. I am anxious but I am enjoying the victory and relaxing and even watching a movie instead of the news channels all the time. I even listened to music today too. Obama has a big transition and when he is sworn in and the issue of marijuana and drugs and how to deal with them comes up it will be a energizing time. 
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Comment #17 posted by fight_4_freedom on November 07, 2008 at 15:47:21 PT

Obama's stance on MM
Here's an e-mail from MPP today regarding this election and Obama's recent response on DEA Raids.Dear "Fight_4_Freedom",Not only did Tuesday's election produce two major marijuana policy victories — MPP's sweeping wins in Michigan and Massachusetts — but we also saw signs of progress in Congress and the White House.President-elect Barack Obama has said — often in response to questioning from MPP — that he does not support the federal government arresting medical marijuana patients in states where medical marijuana is legal.As recently as Monday of this week, his campaign said: "Many states have laws that condone medical marijuana, but the Bush Administration is using federal drug enforcement agents to raid these facilities and arrest seriously ill people. Focusing scarce law enforcement resources on these patients who pose no threat while many violent and highly dangerous drug traffickers are at large makes no sense. Senator Obama will not continue the Bush policy when he is president."The congressional landscape also changed for the better. With several contests still undecided, the Democrats are likely to pick up at least 23 new seats in the House of Representatives — 21 of which belonged to medical marijuana opponents in the last Congress. And three senators who opposed medical marijuana were replaced with newcomers who have already voted or spoken out in favor of protecting medical marijuana patients. Some of Congress' most outspoken medical marijuana opponents lost their seats, like Congressman Tom Feeney (R-Fla.), Congressman Ric Keller (R-Fla.), and Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave (R-Colo.). In fact, on the Democratic side, every single incumbent who lost Tuesday consistently opposed protecting medical marijuana patients from arrest and jail.And candidates who are close allies of MPP won spots in the House of Representatives, like Nevada state Sen. Dina Titus (D), a strong supporter of medical marijuana access.There is still more work to do in coming election cycles, of course. MPP's team on Capitol Hill will be working to ensure that presidential appointees (like the head of the DEA and the drug czar) are aligned with the commitment to marijuana policy reform that President-elect Obama expressed on the campaign trail. And we expect that medical marijuana legislation will be introduced in 2009, presenting an enormous opportunity to protect medical marijuana patients at the federal level.You can help make the most of this changing dynamic in Congress and the White House. Any donation you can make today will help MPP push for the change that conditions are so ripe for.Sincerely,Rob Kampia
Executive Director
Marijuana Policy Project
Washington, D.C.P.S. As I've mentioned in previous alerts, a major philanthropist has committed to match the first $3.0 million that MPP can raise from the rest of the planet in 2008. This means that your donation today will be doubled.
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Comment #16 posted by The GCW on November 07, 2008 at 14:46:54 PT

Additional contacts
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Comment #15 posted by FoM on November 07, 2008 at 13:48:34 PT

Mike
When I have to snip an article I put in a url and I also do that for AlterNet. Now since comments matter on articles it seems like a really good suggestion. I won't put one in if they don't have a comment section though. I will use DrugSense's url shortener. It sounds so basic I don't know why I didn't think of it. Thank you for bringing it to my attention. I can't add a url until I post a new article though.
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Comment #14 posted by Mike on November 07, 2008 at 13:22:51 PT

FoM
Thank you. :)I seem to recall long ago you used to do that. I may be mistaken. It's been so long. Maybe 10 or more years. But you are right. Most articles do have a comments section now, while it was unheard of before. In this case, the reader comments are sure ripping the Globe a new one! The reactions from the general public are quite encouraging. They are intelligent and well thought-out. The tide is turning. The momentum is shifting. We are winning.
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Comment #13 posted by dongenero on November 07, 2008 at 12:57:41 PT

Sam - comment 11
Sam, that article is from March and the Obama campaign comments from February. Actually, I thought he had made a recent affirmative statement regarding stopping of DEA, medical marijuana raids in California.Republicans would have beat him over the head with it, had he hinted at marijuana law reform as a campaign position. Can you imagine Fox News, O'Reilly, Hannity and Limbaugh latching on to that one? I think this is more the kind of thing that will be fixed in the course of an administration. Looks like he is going to have some extremely pressing issues in the immediate future. I think we have to be persistent but patient. As much as this cause means to all of us and as important as it is to MM patients, I don't think cannabis law reform will be on the "first hundred days" agenda. I do believe he will smack down the DEA raids immediately though. That should be an easy edict.
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Comment #12 posted by FoM on November 07, 2008 at 12:32:26 PT

Sam
Was Clarence Thomas ever part of the drug culture? Remember Obama said he inhaled because that was the point.
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Comment #11 posted by OverwhelmSam on November 07, 2008 at 12:32:24 PT

In Case You Missed It
Fooled Again!Obama Firm Against Decriminalization of Marijuana.http://www.talkleft.com/story/2008/3/17/225516/066Read the comments on this article, they're actually pretty funny.

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Comment #10 posted by Sam Adams on November 07, 2008 at 12:28:39 PT

hempw
Sadly, black Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas is doing quite well at advancing the WOD.Not saying Obama is like him! Just saying that it doesn't guarantee anything.
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Comment #9 posted by HempWorld on November 07, 2008 at 12:20:57 PT

OT Given that our new President: Barack Hussein
Obama, is an african American or in other words a person of color (he is very colorful, but I'm referring to his skin color here) and given that the 'drug laws' and the 'war on drugs' coined and put in place by Harry Anslinger who was a rabid racist, why wouldn't Obama just get rid of it all?!I can't see a 'black' president uphold any racist laws any longer, do you?
On a mission from God!
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Comment #8 posted by E_Johnson on November 07, 2008 at 12:17:10 PT

About Boston paternalism
During the movement for Women's Suffrage, the elite paternalists of Boston defeated a state measure granting voting rights for women by forbidding their servants and employees from voting for it.That strategy doesn't work any more, as the Boston Globe bitterly laments in this editorial.
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Comment #7 posted by FoM on November 07, 2008 at 12:17:03 PT

Mike
I can do that. It makes sense since most articles have a comment section now.
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Comment #6 posted by greenmed on November 07, 2008 at 12:14:48 PT

ballot measures...
... approved by the voters are not subject to rewriting by the legislature, I believed.Questions for the Boston Globe editor:As far as traffic citation equivalency is concerned, jaywalking is such an offense, but must the People of Massachusetts carry their papers for that infraction?What is the police procedure for investigating carrying a bottle of controlled Rx meds, possession of which is illegal by anybody else except the person named on the bottle... is carrying those meds without ID papers inviting a ride to the jailhouse?Just wondering.
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Comment #5 posted by Mike on November 07, 2008 at 11:49:28 PT

Source page
The articles on Cannabis News really need to be linked to their proper source pages, rather than just to the general websites. Sam Adams is right. The comments are well worth a read.http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2008/11/07/a_misguided_joint_initiative/
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Comment #4 posted by Sam Adams on November 07, 2008 at 10:27:09 PT

Read the comments 
I urge everyone to click through and read all the comments to this - truly inspiring, here are a few - I hope all these were forwarded to letter globe.com - "The people made their choice; the elites didn't; that's what democracy looks like. Impose your drug war on somebody else, not the sovereign people of Massachusetts who won't consent in the invasion of their own and their neighbors' liberty, privacy, and dignity. You lost. Get over it.""What a wonderful expression for your disgust of the voting public. You've clearly stated that you don't think citizens should be allowed to vote on public policy, and subtly championed the police-state tactics of controlling the public by forcing people to carry and show identification whenever confronted by law enforcement.While this editorial lacks any intellectually merit by failing to provide a case against marijuana decriminalization, it does do wonders for exposing your low opinion of the citizens of Massachusetts. If you can ever scrape up the free time to get down off your high pedestal in the news room you should come down here and see how the "common folk" live. "
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Comment #3 posted by E_Johnson on November 07, 2008 at 08:18:16 PT

At least they're not as bad as Salon though
I searched for medical marijuana at Salon. The last result for for 2001. That show pretty plainly where they stand.
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Comment #2 posted by E_Johnson on November 07, 2008 at 08:06:44 PT

So they hate 65% of their readers? Good luck!
Then they should act on principle, and refuse to sell newspapers to anyone who voted for 2.See how long they stay in business hating on 65% of their audience.
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Comment #1 posted by HempWorld on November 07, 2008 at 07:33:29 PT

"case against using ballot questions to make
public policy." The Boston Globe is even more moronic than I thought. They are basically saying: We can't use the public to make public policy. Then public policy should be made by whom? If you do not want to live under a democracy then please take your toiletpaper and move to Russia or China or any other country under authoritarian rule But don't mess up our democracy with your rag!
On a mission from God!
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