cannabisnews.com: New Direction in War on Drugs is Welcome

cannabisnews.com: New Direction in War on Drugs is Welcome
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New Direction in War on Drugs is Welcome
Posted by CN Staff on May 21, 2009 at 05:07:00 PT
By Erika Stutzman
Source: Daily Camera
Boulder, Colo. -- With all that's going on in the world and with the economy, a big shift in the national dialogue on illegal drugs has gone relatively unnoticed. But at the federal level, the change in our decades-long, totally unwinnable "War on Drugs" is a welcome shift, both in tone and practice.On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected appeals from two California counties that object to that state's medical marijuana law.
The counties had sought to defeat the state's 13-year-old law that allows people suffering from various illnesses a license to possess and use marijuana, saying the authorization is at odds with the federal government's "zero tolerance" drug policy.In a shift from previous top prosecutors, Attorney General Eric H. Holder recently said the federal government will not be devoting a lot of effort prosecuting low-level marijuana cases. And now, the Supreme Court's rejection bolsters the state laws -- although it should be noted that officially, the sale or use of marijuana is still considered illegal by the U.S. government.The attorney general's statement and the Supreme Court's action are good news for patients who live in states with compassionate marijuana laws. Like California, Colorado recognizes the relief that marijuana can bring to some patients with HIV/AIDS, cancer, glaucoma and the severe pain and nausea that comes from those and other ailments.Colorado's medical marijuana law was passed by the voters in 2000. Almost 7,400 people have applied to be registered as medical marijuana patients. Some registrations have expired, some patients have died, 35 applications were rejected and 18 cards have been revoked. Today, there are about 5,920 medical marijuana users here, including 560 in Boulder, 48 in Broomfield and 255 in nearby Weld.Severe pain accounts for about 88 percent of the users -- though some patients register for multiple ailments, such as severe pain and cancer. Whether or not pot should be legalized and regulated full-stop is a question for another time: The high court's rejection of the California case allows states like our own to continue compassionate care.Elsewhere in the war:Gil Kerlikowske, the newly named head of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, said that the country will shift toward an emphasis on treatment over incarceration to try and reduce drug use."Regardless of how you try to explain to people it's a 'war on drugs' or a 'war on a product,' people see a war as a war on them. We're not at war with people in this country," Kerlikowske said in his first interview last week.This is a most welcome shift: We need to start being honest about the costs of this war. Our prisons are filled with people busted for even low-level drug use. "Zero tolerance" policies filter down to even the smallest of municipalities: That where a school district will strip search a very young girl, because she was suspected of having Ibuprofen.Meanwhile, a real, actual, bloody and terroristic war rages right over our own border because of our laws and our seemingly insatiable appetite for illegal drugs.With the words of our new Attorney General, our new drug czar and the actions of our Supreme Court, we are optimistic about this shift in "war" strategy.Source: Daily Camera (Boulder, CO)Author: Erika StutzmanPublished: Wednesday, May 20, 2009Copyright: 2009 The Daily CameraWebsite: http://www.dailycamera.com/Contact: openforum dailycamera.comURL: http://drugsense.org/url/ItDuUg89CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml
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Comment #30 posted by FoM on May 23, 2009 at 10:06:24 PT
Obama and Medical Marijuana
What I see with Obama is it will become easier for states that have a Democratic majority to get medical marijuana laws passed. I think because of California's problems other state will take heed and try to avoid the problems they are dealing with and find a better way. That is what I hoped for when I voted for Obama. McCain would have built more prisons I think.
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Comment #29 posted by FoM on May 23, 2009 at 09:56:34 PT
Lucas
The drug war will go on for a long time. Obama isn't for legalization but will respect those states that follow their medical marijuana laws. Sometimes I don't understand how anyone can expect more from him then he is doing. Raids, arrest and jail will keep happening as long as the federal law isn't changed. I never expected the word (legalization) which freaks out many people would be used so much when he never said he would legalize. Obama is doing what he said while he was on the campaign trail.
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Comment #28 posted by Lucas on May 23, 2009 at 09:44:30 PT
The white house is full of drug warriors
> I would really appreciate it if you would stop trying to find ways to blame Obama. I did not find AdaptBones was blaming. He is mentioning true facts, like our WOD budget increase.Here are a few more, and I DID vote for Obama.
1. There was a dispensary raid in California, AFTER Holder said they would stop.
2. There has been a 10 year sentence upheld for Brian Epis, also in California.
3. The feds continue to claim Charles Lynch should be jailed for operating a dispensary that was legal under California law.Im as hopeful as the next person, but, I saw Obama say (with a chucle and support from his staff), "I wonder what that says about our online audience" in regard to our desire to address prohibition of Marijuana.Obama has also clearly said he is NOT in favor of legalizing Marijuan.imvho, Obama may have talked the talk, but so far, has not walked the walk.I felt the same way after voting for Clinton, the drug War got worse, not better..And, the California Supreme court has invalidated traditional caregiver relationships, California appeals court struck down plant limits and annual doctor renewals, only to have our Attorney General, Governor Moonbeam, create guidelines to maintain those illegal policies, while under appeal to the Cali Supremes..from where I sit, we are backing up, though not as badly as under Bush.. I would LOVE to be wrong..and as far as California AB 390, the tax and regulate bill, it is a SHAM, and ONLY takes effect when and IF the Feds legalize Marijuana.. NOT going to happen..Again, I hope Im wrong, but afaict, the Drug War is still going on
Lucas
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Comment #27 posted by FoM on May 22, 2009 at 17:29:07 PT
Had Enough
I agree with you. When a good idea is thought out and applied it will be good for sometime but it will become corrupt. That is what has happened to our country. Just like in Animal Farm when the animals rebelled against the farmer it started out good and ended badly. If we don't look out somehow for our fellow man we lose our spirit. When money becomes the driving factor or an overpowering ego it hurts others and won't work in a society of different types and ages and races and religions or no religion of people. We crashed and we will rebuild and start all over again.
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Comment #26 posted by FoM on May 22, 2009 at 12:09:46 PT
AdaptBones
I would really appreciate it if you would stop trying to find ways to blame Obama. That only upsets me and others. If you didn't vote for him that's perfectly fine but it would be nice to be considerate of the many people on CNews that did. Keep it to policy issues and hope we can go forward since we now have a smart and progressive President.If you want marijuana legalized it isn't going to happen for many years. The majority of Americans just say no. We share our country with all kinds of people.
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Comment #25 posted by AdaptBones on May 22, 2009 at 11:54:55 PT:
Thank you
Thank you Vincent, much appreciated. Yeah like I keep saying they can say all the pretty words they would like but the reality is that NOTHING has changed yet in any real lasting way. In fact Obama has made it WORSE with his new budget. Not only did he not help end the WOD, but he gave it MORE money to fight us with. So these people are snake oil salesman and anyone who buys their garbage they try and peddle are going to be in for one hell of an awakening when their "remedy" gets you hauled off to prison or worse. Please don't believe these people until they actually have their actions match their words. Until that time we are still in as much of a war as we always have been, if not worse because they sense the end may be coming. Be safe, be smart, and blessed be everyone, enjoy your holiday weekend.
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Comment #24 posted by Had Enough on May 22, 2009 at 10:20:39 PT
Free Enterprise …vs…Monopolists
May 22, 12:33 PM (ET)By CHRIS KAHNFree Enterprise has been replaced by monopolized capitalism…but most here already know it…Notice the use of the word ‘fears’ being used in the article…Gasoline prices swing higher before holidayNEW YORK (AP) - Retail gasoline prices continued to climb Friday ahead of the Memorial Day weekend and the unofficial start of America's summer driving season. The national average pump price increased nearly 3 cents overnight to $2.391 a gallon, according to auto club AAA, Wright Express and Oil Price Information Service. Gasoline prices ticked higher every day this month. Gas prices surged higher though a crude rally appears to have stalled.And…Gas is 32.9 cents a gallon more expensive than last month, but it's still $1.44 a gallon cheaper than a year ago when fears of an oil shortage sent energy prices soaring.http://apnews.myway.com//article/20090522/D98BD7G00.html
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Comment #23 posted by Hope on May 22, 2009 at 10:05:13 PT
About "War"
As a war, the War on Drugs had and has it all.Artillery. Armor. Military invasion type vehicles and tactics. Casualties of humans and animals. Propaganda promoted hatred and demonization. People, law enforcement, dieing by "Friendly fire". ("Friendly" fire?)"Collateral damage". Orphans and virtual orphans. Children of every gender and age killed as well as adults of every gender and age.Prisoners of war. (Lots and lots of them.) Masks have been popular in this war to conceal the identity of some of the warriors. They look like the thieves they have become... and not a little bit like killers and executioners. All and any of the people being at any moment in time in this country, subject to being literally attacked, assaulted, and terrorized by heavily armed, hair triggered and trigger happy, screaming, armored, jack-booted, abusive, and masked people, especially as agents of the government, should never be a part of a decent society. That's what we have now in this country. The not a war Drug War spawned nearly, if not all of this.
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Comment #22 posted by Had Enough on May 22, 2009 at 09:55:23 PT
Elected…
Alice Cooper - Elected 1972http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VI7S1MUtl8Lyrics…http://www.lyrics007.com/Undead%20Lyrics/Elected%20(Alice%20Cooper)%20Lyrics.html
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Comment #21 posted by Had Enough on May 22, 2009 at 09:50:06 PT
It’s still rainin’
It’s still rainin’Other than the natural forces that are in motion...I believe only hippy politicians can stop it…that is...only if they can get elected…Creedence Clearwater Revival: Who'll Stop The Rainhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIPan-rEQJAlyrics… http://www.lyricsfreak.com/c/creedence+clearwater+revival/wholl+stop+the+rain_20034319.html
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Comment #20 posted by Had Enough on May 22, 2009 at 09:37:10 PT
Politicians
Thanks museman…well done…as usual…************I support the left, tho' I'm leanin' to the right But I'm just not there when it's coming to a fight. Hey now baby, get into my big black car Hey now baby, get into my big black car I wanna just show you what my politics are.Politician…Creamhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxcR5W6noR0Lyrics…http://www.lyrics007.com/Cream%20Lyrics/Politician%20Lyrics.html
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Comment #19 posted by museman on May 22, 2009 at 09:04:04 PT
and blah blah
"Regardless of how you try to explain to people it's a 'war on drugs' or a 'war on a product,' people see a war as a war on them. We're not at war with people in this country," Kerlikowske said in his first interview last week.And in a follow up, he was asked what he thought of the emperors new clothes."Ah, the intricate weave, and fine threads of this new garment our government is wearing, just far surpasses anything we have invented, er, I mean, worn before."Believe the status quo ass kissers if you want to, I'll believe it when the cop stops, the lawyers walk instead of ride, and my hippy friend down the block gets elected to a representative political office.Until then my sword is still hangin by my side, because though I didn't declare this war I'm in, I've certainly been in the line of fire, and a POW, so I 'm not pretending its not a war, with real caualties and plenty of collateral damage.Don't be lulled into thinking your 'public servants' are going to suddenly give the power they ripped off back to you. Don't be thinking the thugs that roam the streets in state-of-the-art armor, armamment, and high tech surveilance, data access are going to start acting like human beings unstead of rabid dogs with monotone training.Politicians = Scum that has risen to the top.Lawyers = Scum that is rising to the top.Bankers = Scum that has been festering, molding, and stinking on the top for a long long time.Corporate Entities = Scum promoters and scum accessorie manufacturers.Cops = Bottom feeders who slurp the slime of their Scummy masters.Any people caught in this description, not my fault. I deliberately refused to be a cop, lawyer, politician, usurer, corporate lackie, or feudal economic slave, so I got no sympathy for those who sold out, and I don't care what your excuse for the compromise was/is, I only care about the actual and real effects of your damn slimy compromises and capitulations with error and evil.The WOD is alive and well, though a bit shaken.If local rise in copness is any indication, by the end of the summer the county should have made enough extortion money to buy a couple more local GOBs some seats in local politics.And if the trends in Washington continue back towards the solvency of the Republic, I won't feel so bad about the fact that I really wanted to like mr O but there was just too many red flags in the way.There is just no way for a man to rise that high in the scum, and not be scummified. And how can one be in that position with access to knowledge -like whether or not area 51 is real, - who really did start the Waco fire, and blow up the Ok City building, as well as orchestrated 911- without either having to 'join the club' or join the revolution? I don't think anyone on capital hill is even remotely connected to the revolution. So that just leaves 'the club.'Your cash aint nothin' but trash. Its so toxic, you can't burn it without major pollution, one day we'll have to fire off a space shuttle to the sun, filled with all the filthy paper worthlessness called 'money', and plastic credit cards, and then another one with all the plutonium. Best use of the space program.LEGALIZE LIBERTY - FREE CANNABIS FOR ALL
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Comment #18 posted by FoM on May 22, 2009 at 09:01:50 PT
News Article From Findlaw.com
Recent Cases Highlight the Importance of States' Protections of LibertiesMay 22, 2009URL: http://writ.news.findlaw.com/amar/20090522.html
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Comment #17 posted by FoM on May 22, 2009 at 06:38:54 PT
runruff
I remember when almost everyone had insurance and could also afford the drugs they needed. What has happened to our system over the years is immoral to me. People are not a commodity but that's all they think we are. This is our country and it has been highjacked by capitalism. It's a sad state of affairs.
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Comment #16 posted by runruff on May 22, 2009 at 06:21:21 PT
The Du Pont's make fortunes on human suffering!
Du Pont's= 200 years of profiting on human suffering even causing a great deal of it themselves.By every other name they own controlling interest in the pill trade. They are the "they" we so often speak of."Behind the Nylon Curtain" The history of the DuPont Family complete with family tree. There have been so many inter marriages in this family they began turning out all kind of idiots and stillborns. The Patriarch of the family in the late 1800s "Red DuPont" Declared on punishment of excommunication, there would be no more inter-marriages. That how we got some of the richest most inhumane characters playing with our commerce.
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Comment #15 posted by runruff on May 22, 2009 at 06:07:22 PT
Chris Rock says.........
.....you make your dollar on the come back!Same thing I've always said, the money is in the treatment not the cure.This is the worst form of predatory capitalism [besides war]
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Comment #14 posted by FoM on May 22, 2009 at 04:53:11 PT
MikeC
I believe the pharmaceutical companies aren't interested in curing anything because then they won't make enough money that way. It's always about the money.
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Comment #13 posted by The GCW on May 21, 2009 at 22:36:50 PT
DENVER this Saturday
Sensible Colorado's 5th Anniversary Gala
Help us celebrate our fifth year of advocacy on behalf of sensible marijuana reform. This FREE event is open to the public and will feature speakers, awards, food and drink.
What: Sensible Colorado's 5th Anniversary Gala
Where: Atlantis Community Center (201 S. Cherokee Street, Denver CO 80223)
*When: Saturday, May 23 from 6-9pm.
*This event is non-smoking and fully disabled accessible.
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Comment #12 posted by Hope on May 21, 2009 at 22:30:14 PT
Comment 8
Beautiful song. Wonderful performance of it.
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Comment #11 posted by HempWorld on May 21, 2009 at 21:42:56 PT
MikeC
Cause it's not making any of our rulers and masters money ..
On a mission from God!
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Comment #10 posted by MikeC on May 21, 2009 at 21:04:54 PT
Why isn't this major news?
Pot fights brain cancer:http://www.examiner.com/x-8543-SF-Health-News-Examiner~y2009m5d21-Supreme-Court-upholds-Prop-215-okays-medical-marijuanaHere are the findings printed in the "Journal of Clinical Investigation":http://www.jci.org/articles/view/37948
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Comment #9 posted by Hope on May 21, 2009 at 20:07:49 PT
Thank you, Vincint and the same to you.
and everyone else here at C-News.Marijuana’s tipping point
Is a tidal wave of reason about to change pot laws?http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/content?oid=992503
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Comment #8 posted by FoM on May 21, 2009 at 17:56:54 PT
Vincent
Have a great holiday weekend. We're listening and watching a little of Clapton and Winwood. Many of the people on CNews will remember this song. This song brings back a flood of memories. It's been a gorgeous day here today. Warm and low humidity. Enjoy the weekend!Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood - Can't Find My Way Homehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76DrhumZCqU
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Comment #7 posted by Vincent on May 21, 2009 at 17:36:05 PT:
Good Mood.
Greetings, everyone. I'm in such a nice mood today that I will not complain, yell, accuse or be militant. I just would like to wish Hope, FoM, AdaptBones (I like that name)
and everyone else on this board a happy and healthy Memorial Day weekend. Enjoy!
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Comment #6 posted by FoM on May 21, 2009 at 15:39:23 PT
Just a Note
I think the news will stay slow over the Memorial Day weekend. I hope everyone has a great time.
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Comment #5 posted by josephlacerenza on May 21, 2009 at 12:00:19 PT
Just a little news
Thanks Hope for the name of the rep. I have to admit I did not read the posts before posting LoL! Thought I could add a little bit of good news to the slow month of May.
Court Returns 12 Pounds of Pot to Acquitted Medical Marijuana Patient
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on May 21, 2009 at 11:16:43 PT
Forum To Tackle Issues on Local Marijuana Policy
URL: http://www.vanvoice.com/article/19690-forum-tackle-issues-local-marijuana-policy
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Comment #3 posted by Sam Adams on May 21, 2009 at 09:31:48 PT
Idiotic
HW no kidding, the WOD needs to change direction alright - turn around and go back - go home. Govt, please go crawl back under your rock and give us our tax money back.
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Comment #2 posted by AdaptBones on May 21, 2009 at 09:30:23 PT:
How about
How about actually putting your money where your words are. You have changed the talking points, well that is dandy. But your words do not match your actions good sirs. You feds have STILL not stopped the funding of the WOD and you are still allowing peoples lives to be ruined by the war you started, and are allowing to continue. So until the federal budget FINALLY matches their words, sadly nothing has truly changed yet. Still no money for the needle exchange. But more importantly MORE money allocated to the WOD for this budget. And you really want to tell me you are stopping this war you are waging? I call you all liers and snake oil salesmen because what you are telling us you are selling is NOT what it appears to be. Blessed be.
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Comment #1 posted by HempWorld on May 21, 2009 at 08:57:54 PT
New Direction in War on Drugs is Welcome?
How about cancelling this idiotic 'war on drugs' ?
On a mission from God!
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