cannabisnews.com: The Record: Time To Exhale
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The Record: Time To Exhale
Posted by CN Staff on June 20, 2011 at 06:52:24 PT
Editorial
Source: Bergen Record
New Jersey -- Former Gov. Jon Corzine signed the medical marijuana law on his last day in office. Governor Christie has fiddled with the legislation for a year-and-a-half, making it the strictest medical marijuana law in the country. Still he hasn't implemented it.Then last week the governor said the law goes nowhere until the federal government assures him it will not prosecute people associated with the state-sanctioned pot program. This looks like a foolproof stalling tactic.
It's a safe bet that the U.S. Attorney's Office will not write a letter saying it will never prosecute anyone associated with growing or selling an illegal substance. That would open the door to all sorts of problems.U.S. attorneys in Washington State and Rhode Island recently wrote letters to those governors saying the U.S. Department of Justice "maintains the authority" to go after those who grow and distribute marijuana even if they are sanctioned by state law. New Jersey has been waiting since April, but has yet to get a response from the feds, according to news reports."Until I get that assurance, I cannot ask people to do things that they might get prosecuted by federal prosecutors," Christie said in an interview.The statement rings false. Those people will be fully aware of the situation, and if they don't want to be involved, they won't be. It should be their choice, not Christie's.And there's the data: No one working in a state program has been prosecuted by the federal government. And the Justice Department has given a pass, in writing, to those who use pot as prescribed: "the Department of Justice does not focus its limited resources on seriously ill individuals who use marijuana as part of a medically recommended treatment regimen."The seriously ill are the very people the legislation is meant to help but they keep getting lost in all the legal gamesmanship. It's cruel. These are men and women in excruciating pain who just want to make the pain stop. These are people suffering from cancer, AIDS and Lou Gehrig's disease. Every time the start date is kicked back several months, every step forward or backward, every minute longer the law is not implemented, their hopes are dashed. Worse, they are given the message their personal agony really is not as important as a promise from the government that will never come.We understand Christie's desire for an ironclad response from the Justice Department, but that is not a realistic wish. Washington cannot guarantee in writing that it will break its own laws by not prosecuting an illegal act. The only alternative would be to overhaul all the federal drug laws, and that's not a realistic plan, either.If Christie's idea is to stall and stall until the problem is no longer his, then he needs to stop and be his usual blunt self. He should admit, "I have no intention of ever setting up the medical marijuana program," and end this terrible game of giving false hope to the very ill.And it would only be right to tell them in person, perhaps at a meeting of cancer survivors or at a hospice.Source: Bergen Record (NJ)Published: June 20, 2011Copyright: 2011 Bergen Record Corp.Website: http://www.bergen.com/Contact: Feedback NorthJersey.comURL: http://drugsense.org/url/gIX6tKj2CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml
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Comment #17 posted by Hope on June 23, 2011 at 14:45:48 PT
"anger towards you"
"You" being anyone that appreciates cannabis or hemp.
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Comment #16 posted by Hope on June 23, 2011 at 11:42:42 PT
Dongenero... I agree. 
"Actually, I think it was an idea closer to political possibility in that short window of opportunity in the 70's. From Schaffer Report on through Carter. But, that's all in the past anyway."In part we can thank our old friend, Joyce Nalepka for that window slamming down and crushing many more lives than it ever would have had it been made legal. The Bowers might not have been shot out of the sky. Alberto Sepulveda would probably be a young teacher about now. Esequial Hernandaz would be expanding and improving his family's livestock business and little farm down on the desert borders of Mexico. She wished to keep cannabis illegal.... beyond reason.Prohibitionists... the die-hard ones, are still "beyond reason". If nothing else they will "Sit in" and refuse to budge... and having to do nothing so trivial as give a real reason for their stance... or plop, on the matter. Obstructionists as well as prohibitionist. They're bowed up. They're cornered. Care must be taken. They are quite dangerous at this point. We know their rage and fear can go beyond reason. You know this about them... tomorrow morning Sensenbrenner or Grassley could have made it an automatic death sentence to enjoy cannabis... to think about it... much less talk about it. They cannot stoop too low in the matter and they are self righteous busybodies and pride themselves in their anger towards you. They have poisonous, deadly fangs.
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Comment #15 posted by afterburner on June 21, 2011 at 08:58:29 PT
Sunrise -- Summer
I went to a Sunrise Ceremony this morning marking the beginning of summer. This is a time of sorrow on mother earth as the air, water and even food are polluted by those who are not thankful for the Creator-given plants and animals. It is an unsettled time of floods, earthquakes and tornadoes. We must work together with our families and our communities to help heal mother earth and father sky.Thanks be for all the seed-bearing herbs, our food and medicine!
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Comment #14 posted by dongenero on June 21, 2011 at 07:28:25 PT
Thank you Captain
There can be no giving up. We have to keep pushing every way possible.Happy summer everyone.
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Comment #13 posted by CaptainAjnag on June 21, 2011 at 05:40:26 PT:
dongenero
Actually, now that I think about it, you might be right. That was very well said. Only time will tell, as our hope for change slowly moves onward.
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Comment #12 posted by dongenero on June 20, 2011 at 21:00:16 PT
ekim - Frank's bill
That sounds be great. Thanks for posting that one! Barney Frank has REALLY been a stalwart for the cause. Could it pass? The voting record will be interesting. If not, I think we still have a chance in the near future if the conservative swing of the midterms does not continue into 2012. My Senator will very likely support Frank's bill. My Representative will very certainly not, heh. I keep voting accordingly. 
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Comment #11 posted by dongenero on June 20, 2011 at 20:47:32 PT
Captain
Yes, I really think if Obama took the lead and called for legalization, Republicans in Congress would ignore his call to action, expressly because it was him proposing, would ignore his call to action, and would then attempt to attack him for his position. It would be red meat for conservatives, whatever they actually believe. It's what they do with everything Obama. It would get him nowhere with the House particularly. But, I do wonder if it would get him public support for re-election. Tough call on that, who would be the loudest? The legalization supporters who are afraid of exposing themselves or the prohibitionists that would pile on?I think the effective approach would be our Representatives taking the lead and representing the public's sentiment, proposing bill after bill, and forcing the dialogue. That's what they are supposed to be there for. 
Then, when bills are in the House and Senate, for Obama to say he would sign such a bill. Just my opinion of what could possibly get through this system designed to do little and do it slowly.Actually, I think it was an idea closer to political possibility in that short window of opportunity in the 70's. From Schaffer Report on through Carter. But, that's all in the past anyway.
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Comment #10 posted by ekim on June 20, 2011 at 19:53:26 PT
seems the bill is near dongenero
http://www.citizensopposingprohibition.org/2011/06/stories-from-the-week-of-june-17-2011/
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Comment #9 posted by FoM on June 20, 2011 at 11:48:51 PT
CaptainAjnag
We don't need to talk about who we want as President. It should be only how we can get the laws changed. 
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Comment #8 posted by CaptainAjnag on June 20, 2011 at 11:21:24 PT:
dongenero #4
Yes its true, legislators make and repeal laws. But when you look at it from an overhead perspective, people follow their elected president. Not legislators. Carter may have been ignored by Congress, but that was a different time period. That was before cannabis was seen as a legitimate topic to debate upon. Before medical marijuana or the idea that recreational smoking could be safer than alcohol. Imagine if Carter were president now...Do you really think Congress could ignore him now that cannabis has become such a hot topic? Or any other president pushing for cannabis reform? It just seems impossible for a president, backed by the people, to be ignored now that pot has finally begun to turn over a new leaf.
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Comment #7 posted by CaptainAjnag on June 20, 2011 at 11:20:25 PT:
FoM #3
I'm assuming your "note" was directed at me. I have no intention of making this a political site. I may be new here but I dont believe mentioning who im going to vote for will change this to a political site. I'm not in a chat room trying to discuss my political views. I'm simply leaving a comment on how I think the problem in this article can be fixed. My comment was intended to be uplifting, not cause debate.
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Comment #6 posted by afterburner on June 20, 2011 at 10:41:29 PT
Yes, Tell Them in Person ... I You Dare
{If Christie's idea is to stall and stall until the problem is no longer his, then he needs to stop and be his usual blunt self. He should admit, "I have no intention of ever setting up the medical marijuana program," and end this terrible game of giving false hope to the very ill.And it would only be right to tell them in person, perhaps at a meeting of cancer survivors or at a hospice.}
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Comment #5 posted by FoM on June 20, 2011 at 10:11:32 PT
dongenero
That's the way to do it.
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Comment #4 posted by dongenero on June 20, 2011 at 09:49:29 PT
Legislators
We have to understand how laws are made (or bad ones fixed) in this country. Legislators make the laws and will be the ones to repeal bad laws.As such, any sitting member of Congress has more opportunity to make such change from that position than they would as President. As has been recently discussed here, Carter made just such proposals from a position of leadership as President, and was ignored by Congress.Urge any Legislators that proclaim to share your opinion, to stand up and actually author and sponsor bills to that end. That is when it will move from rhetoric to actual change.
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on June 20, 2011 at 09:29:47 PT
Just a Note
I don't want to see people trying to make this a political site again. There are political sites that can be discussed on. 
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Comment #2 posted by dongenero on June 20, 2011 at 08:58:26 PT
Pharmacies breed violence?
"Long Island police search for suspect in pharmacy shooting."This is a very sad story but, it brings to mind the calls for closing dispensaries for fear of violent robberies and associated violence. It's not about the substances, it's about the laws surrounding the substances.http://www.cnn.com/2011/CRIME/06/20/new.york.pharmacy.shooting/index.html?hpt=hp_t2
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Comment #1 posted by CaptainAjnag on June 20, 2011 at 08:25:24 PT:
Hold on, we're almost there.
Cannabis reform is finally a legitimate debate. We just need a leader that will help us to see it through. Thats why I'll be voting for Ron Paul this next presidential election. If we can fix the problem at its source, then horrible individuals like Chris Christie won't be able to impose their will on innocents in need. Its time for some REAL change.RON PAUL 2012
LEGALIZE FREEDOM
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