A travel day today, coming back from New York. Looking forward to catching up on drug policy news when I return.
- DrugWarRant.com, the longest running single-issue blog devoted to drug policy
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on John Walters and William Barr linked to Nazis: “More that might be useful, Mount Sinai researchers have identified a brain pathway that is affected by addictive drugs: 18-APR-2024–…researchers,…” Apr 18, 23:11
on John Walters and William Barr linked to Nazis: “More on opiate receptors. I had a physician who recommended Salvia Divinorum. He later asked me to keep his recommendation…” Apr 17, 11:40
Just a general article on the progress we are making:
<a href="http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/06/10/efforts-to-relax-pot-rules-gaining-momentum-in-us/LINK
Once consigned to the political fringe, marijuana policy is appearing on legislative agendas around the country thanks to an energized base of supporters and an increasingly open-minded public.
Marijuana, the CIA, & Campaign Finance Reform
http://open.salon.com/blog/old_new_lefty/2012/06/10/marijuana_the_cia_campaign_finance_reform
“”One of the mysteries of the 21st Century is why America continues to do battle on the war on drugs. When the European Union was trying to harmonize its legislation on marijuana for example, there was a debate between the countries that wanted to legalize a pound or kilo as opposed to the countries that only wanted to legalize an ounce. And here in America, President #44 admits that he inhaled.””
I’ve always been a little puzzled about the tobacco companies’ opposition to marijuana legalization. Wouldn’t they be poised to reap huge profits? They already have production, marketing and distribution infrastructure in place.
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About the only two things that somking tobacco and cannabis have in common is that they’re (commonly) smoked and they’re excoriated by do gooders. Regardless, it’s not bloody likely that we’re going to see OTC sales of cannabis in a manner as ubiquitous as smoking tobacco at anytime in the foreseeable future. Save your breath if you’re going to argue that it’s the way it should be, that point is irrelevant to the discussion.
Tobacco is a pain in the ass to grow but some people grow their own to avoid the chemicals added by the tobacco companies,which is one of the concerns people have of big business getting into marijuana production and distribution,,what chemicals will corporate interests add to the marijuana to “enhance” sales,,the drug cartels don’t have nothing on corporations for not caring how they harm their customers,,in fact,,cartels are probably safer than a board of a corporation about how they make their money,,corporations are the ones that created this mess and are keeping it in place.
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Christ, I’m going to have to get some tobacco seeds and make a video of the grow, then post it on Youtube. I’ve no clue where people got the idea that tobacco is a difficult plant to grow. It will probably have to wait until next year but it’s going on my agenda because I’m tired of hearing about how hard it is. Next year because I’m sure not going to set up an indoor grow for a tobacco plant.
Please,,it took me 7 tries just too get off smoking tobacco,,don’t show me how easy it is.
I didn’t quit nicotine,,I dip now but I don’t smoke tobacco,,even a blunt doesn’t interest me. I have always wondered why people would make the safest drug dangerous by wrapping it in one of the deadliest.
I consider drugs to be an evolutionary test,,if your stupid enough to use a drug that can kill you,then perhaps you will do it young enough to take your genes out of the pool. Evolution served.
Duncan said: “…it’s not bloody likely that we’re going to see OTC sales of cannabis in a manner as ubiquitous as smoking tobacco at anytime in the foreseeable future.”
Exactly. Big tobacco finally admitted that it was in the “nicotine delivery business,” and cannabis is just not addictive enough for their business model. Although i would not be surprised to hear that their chemists are working away at making it so.
OK, how did we miss that this event was planned?
This man belongs in the Hall of Fame!
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I was on my way out the door and headed to 16th & Pennsylvania Ave NW. Oh well, I hate riding on the Metro anyway. I think I will give his soap a try though. I do have very sensitive skin. Most soaps leave it irritated and me grumpy as a result.
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Sen. Rand Paul joins Oregon Sen. Wyden’s push for legal hemp
What a coinkydink! OK, maybe not.
The government of Mynamar(sp?)and the drug czar promised a drug free country just a few month’s ago,,,now the UN and nations are removing personnel because a civil war is breaking out,,,,,prohibition in action,,reaping the rewards.
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_state_surveys/colorado/61_in_colorado_favor_legalizing_regulating_marijuana
Now 61% of people in Colorado support legalized regulation of marijuana. That’s huge, of course, because that’s magical number you need to have a reasonably viable chance at winning an election, with people getting scared off in the final month. This past week I donated some money to the Colorado campaign, even though I’m in Florida, and I’ll be donating even more!
I donated to prop 19 and I’m from Texas,,,too bad the growers and medical patients don’t have the confidence in marijuana to “fix” any bad laws in time,,look how far the lady has come already.
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Mother breastfeeding her children while using marijuana to appear in court today
June 11, 2012
A Butte County mother faces a preliminary hearing today to determine whether she should stand trial for what she characterizes as breastfeeding her children while on pot.
Medical marijuana advocates have rallied around the case of Daisy Bram, 30, contending that she faces excessive prosecution on charges of felony child abuse and misdemeanor child endangerment stemming from a raid by Butte County authorities on a pot garden.
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I recently came across an article about Seattle cop with a bit of a record of overly-aggressive behavior. Our good friend Gil was mentioned in the story:
Also, Lowe received an oral reprimand after entering a private home in 2002 to try to recover nude photographs of a female relative from a man who reportedly had been romantically involved with her.
In 2007, a citizen-review-board report cited that case as one of several in which then-Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske reduced disciplinary findings.
The civilian director at that time of the department’s Office of Professional Accountability had recommended findings of misuse of authority and violation of rules, regulations and laws, the board said. Kerlikowske reached a lesser finding, concluding that the officer engaged in conduct unbecoming an officer, the report said.
I seems Mr. Law-and-Order isn’t real keen on discipline within the Law Enforcement ranks.
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Where the heck is “the LAW is the LAW (blah, blah, blah)†crowd when authorities decide to break the law and violate their Oath? Up in the peanut gallery cheering that lawbreaking like the hypocritical partisan hacks that they are is where.
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I’m jealous. I most certainly could use a stiff oral reprimand. Beat me, whip me, make me write bad checks indeed.
Drug Czar Kerlikowske Promotes ‘Paradigm Shift’ on Abuse
http://abcn.ws/LVeKp4 (via @ABC)
What a self serving piece of fecal matter. They took a news dump from ONDCP and cut and pasted it whole. Plus, wile there is a spot to comment, there’s no way to VIEW the comments! ABC. The American Bottomless Crap network.
“We’re serious about providing support to public health solutions like these. That’s why over the past three years, we have spent more than $30 billion to support drug prevention and treatment programs. And I think it’s worth noting that this is more than what we spend on U.S. Federal law enforcement and incarceration.” “we are working to expand The Access to Recovery program, which provides people suffering from substance use disorders with vouchers where they can use to pay for treatment and recovery services” – Drug Czar Kerlikowske
Well, we already filled the prisons. Where are we going now?
“Drug addiction is not a moral failing on the part of the individual, but a chronic disease of the brain that can be treated,â€
“This is not my opinion or a political statement open to debate. It is a clear and unequivocal fact borne out by decades of study and research, and it is a fact that neither government nor the public can ignore.â€
“…programs such as Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment, which helps healthcare professionals recognize the early signs and symptoms of substance use disorders.â€
– Drug Czar Kerlikowske
Pretty neat package here. Drug test everyone, give them a voucher for help when they flunk the test, send them to screening, brief intervention, refer them to treatment, and save them before they become Cheech or Chong.
REMEMBER -They are brain damaged.
“…8 percent of Americans age 12 or older -about 21 million people – needed but did not receive substance abuse treatment at a specialty facility in 2010”
How much money does it take for screening, brief intervention, refer them to treatment, drug tests,and certify they are now recovered American citizens.
21 million x $$$ = lots more than the current budget (or any budget for that matter).
More sound fiscal policies here. Should be plenty of future employment opportunities in the treatment industries.
So…only 8% of marijuana patients need treatment? Or all of them?
In Kerli’s lexicon, use=abuse. If you use illicit drugs you must be sick. If you use illicit drugs, well, those are against the law. Only someone with a sickness would break the law to use an illicit substance, see? Neat and tidy. TC, your treatment cage is almost ready for you. 21 million, huh? Off to the internment…er…treatment camps with you then. We’ll let you know when we are ready to implement the final solution.
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You forgot to put the word “treatment” in quotes.
According to the published results of Nanny’s survey, 21 million is right around the number of people who use substances on the naughty lists for purposes of which Nanny disapproves. The answer is all of them unless Nanny has changed her mind and started including degenerate addicts who prefer drinking alcohol as their primary or exclusive D.O.C.
Another great Alternet piece. I was gonna nutshell it, but the title says it all:
http://www.alternet.org/drugs/155794/24-year-old_gets_3_life_terms_in_prison_for_witnessing_a_drug_deal%3A_the_ugly_truth_of_mandatory_drug_sentencing/
Steve Jobs said:
The police all over the world inflate the value of the cannabis they seize. Sometimes it loses something in the currency conversion:
“Basnet said 1 kilogram of cannabis would earn some Rs5,000 ($58) on the streets of Kathmandu.”
http://bikyamasr.com/69689/nepal-makes-largest-marijuana-bust-ever/
I’m moving to Kathmandu.
*I think I’m going to Kathmandu…*
I’ll go with “Bob Seger” for the Win!
I noticed the end of the article “In 1973 the government, under American pressure, outlawed the drug, effectively signaling the demise of the hippy trail era.
That ban has only recently begun to see crackdowns, with police allowing marijuana to be sold to tourists in the country on a regular basis.”
Convenient… As I wouldn’t want to really live there – I don’t think, I might get in trouble that way 8^)
Here’s one making the outrageous claim that zombies do not rule the Netherlands, actually, a very good Jon Walker Piece: http://justsaynow.firedoglake.com/2012/06/12/reminder-the-netherlands-isnt-a-lawless-hellscape/
“While it makes a big news story that the daughter of a Republican presidential candidate supports ending cannabis prohibition, the stance has its roots in conservative political thought. A basic conservative political position is that we should have as little governmental intrusion in our lives as possible. It is clear that any of the alleged harms caused by cannabis do not support militarizing our police force and waging a war against nonviolent American citizens. Meghan McCain joins other conservatives and Republicans like the late Milton Friedman and William F. Buckley as well as recent presidential candidates Ron Paul and Gary Johnson. We can only hope that more Republicans and conservatives follow Ms. McCain’s lead and support the end to cannabis prohibition as it is a much more conservative policy than waging a futile and expensive war against otherwise law-abiding citizens.”
http://www.theweedblog.com/meghan-mccain-supports-marijuana-reform/
Hi there, just became aware of your board through Google, and found that it is really interesting. I am going to watch for more posts. I’ll be grateful if you continue this in future. A lot of people will enjoy this. Cheers!
A boot, stamping on a human face, forever:
http://singularityhub.com/2012/06/12/london-crackdown-continues-police-using%C2%A0mobile-fingerprint-scanners-to-nab-criminals-on-the-spot/