Open Thread

Having a tough time finding time to post right now, operating on a severe lack of sleep.

Having a good time, though. I’m faculty advisor for a college student group called Theatre of Ted. They do underground open-mic-style theatre every Saturday night at midnight along with other events. One annual thing they do is sponsor a Four-Square Marathon for Student Scholarships. Four-square? The grade school playground game? Yes, but the students here have their own style and rules.

The way the marathon works is that they keep at least one court going night and day, while getting people to pledge $1 or $.50 per hour based on how long it’ll go, as well as getting direct donations. They started Wednesday at 5 pm and have gone 38 hours so far at the time of this posting. They’re hoping to break last year’s record of 64 hours, which would mean continuing until sometime Saturday morning.

I’m there through all the nighttime hours to keep an eye on things, as well as cooking grilled cheese sandwiches and breakfast sandwiches for them on the griddle.

I’m also a member of one of the fundraising teams (team #8) and if you think it would be a fun thing to help out some outstanding students raise money to create their own scholarship fund, here’s your chance. You can donate directly online with credit card (add 8 cents to the donation so my team gets credit).

Discuss what you like.

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51 Responses to Open Thread

  1. Jake says:

    Interesting RAND assessment of the scientific support of ONDCP policy/budget http://www.rand.org/pubs/testimonies/CT344.html. Some interesting bits:

    “The message I take from these studies is that enforcement can clearly be effective at disrupting markets in the short run, but suppliers are adaptive and respond to these disruptions in innovative ways.”

    “It is equally vital that to remove the many limitations on access to these data that have prevented researchers and analysts from making full use of them to improve drug policy development.”

    “Alternatively, the continued omission of criminal justice spending associated with the arrest, prosecution and incarceration of drug offenders from ONDCP’s national drug policy budget is also misleading as it ignores a significant burden our nation’s policy of criminalization imposes and ignores an area of policy that ONDCP can directly influence.”

    “While major changes related to supply reductions strategies are less apparent, there is also far less of a scientific basis to guide how big those changes should be. More attention needs to be given to understanding the relative effectiveness of our current supply strategies in light of the drug situation we are facing today.”

  2. This is not my America says:

    So, hows those spending cuts our lawmakers gave us? Not so good? Did ya expect any less from the largest group of theives America can pay protection too?

  3. Servetus says:

    More on the ATF’s guns-R-us, aka ‘Gunrunner Operation’ in Mexico.

    Seems the ATF fronted off some innocent gun dealer as the go-to-guy for its high-power arms conduit scheme designed to bulk-up the cartel armories. Emails detail a nervous accomplice who feared being left alone holding the bag:

    http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/04/dealer_worried_that_atf_would_let_guns_go_to_bad_guys.php?ref=fpi

  4. vicky vampire says:

    Hey I just read this story it made LMAO to no end parents scrambling to find find AdHD, drugs shortage at Pharmacys whats up with this I keep hearing in last couple of months about shortages on all sorts of meds,is this our new health care under Pres. Obama care I hope not, anyway the story is like it not very could to miss a dose on this drugs and wait for days to get there young kids and young adults back on these dare I say legal Meth.Someone was commenting that when they drop patents on drug its takes months to bring out generic version,but who knows why the shortage now you guys are smart here I’m sure you have some concrete ideas has to why this is happening.
    Anyway my suggestion smoke a little cannabis in the meanwhile to hold you over people it works wonders it will calm you down and help you focus and you might not need your Ritalin or ADDRALL AND SUCH SO MUCH haha.!!!!

    /today.newsvine.com/_news/2011/04/14/6470106-shortage-of-adhd-drugs-sends-parents-scrambling#comments

  5. J says:

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/14/marijuana-production-carbon-footprint-environment_n_848865.html

    GOOD reports that Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory researcher Evan Mills, Ph.D., has released a surprising new independent report, “Energy up in Smoke: The Carbon Footprint of Indoor Cannabis Production.” Mills reports that indoor Cannabis production uses 1% of the nation’s entire electricity consumption. This comes to energy expenditures of $5 billion per year.

    While 1% may not seem like a lot, the report claims that smoking one single Cannabis joint is equivalent to running a 100-watt light bulb for 17 hours. That Cannabis cigarette carries two pounds of CO2 emissions.

    more at link

    • Chris says:

      And yet, vaporizing or eating it creates no carbon emissions, so the point is worthless. The fact that growing indoors uses so much electricity is irrelevant because if it were legal it would be grown outdoors for almost nothing. It’s just there to add onto the growing pile of costs entirely due to prohibition.

      • darkcycle says:

        He means GROWING cannabis indoors, under HID lamps and using Co2 enrichment. Smoking a joint could NEVER produce ten pounds of anything. Except maybe ten pounds of junk food wrappers.

    • Windy says:

      1kg beef: 48.6 lb CO2
      1kb vegs/fruit : 3.5 lb CO2
      1kg dairy: 9.1 lb CO2

  6. Tim says:

    Apparently Marc Emery is going to be a guest of the BOP for a while longer than expected.

    http://twitter.com/JodieEmery/status/58978581224767488

    BREAKING NEWS: MARC EMERY has been REFUSED transfer to CANADA by the US GOVERNMENT – HE WILL SERVE HIS FULL SENTENCE IN THE USA. #cdnpoli

    Funny, it was the Canadian Conservative government that had been refusing to take him back. Wonder why Obama wants to keep him here? Possibly related to the major court ruling in Ontario a few days ago?

  7. darkcycle says:

    He won’t suffer there enough. Canadian prisons still maintain some level of humane treatment. Boy, I’m negative today. Wait, no I’m not!

  8. Duncan20903 says:

    On the subject of the proffer that the war on (some) drugs is just killing the time honored arts of parody and sarcasm, I submit a comment from the Seattle Times from the article “Feds question drive to revise state medical pot law”. Now seriously, don’t you think that to come up with this comment for purposes of parody would indicate a borderline personality disorder and perhaps organic brain damage. But for the love of all that’s holy I think this guy is being serious:

    If MJ is legalized, illegal growers will just genetically modify their production to produce an ever better (and illegal) high.

    Since legalizing pot will increase the pool of users, there will be an ever expanding subgroup seeking the much better illegal high. So there’ll be a continual push to legalize every slightly better (and slightly illegal) genetic modification until all current illegal drugs are genetically attached and legalized.

    This, however, will merely create a never-ending cycle of discovery of new, more intense, illegal and addictive drugs.

    Now, in olden times, the town drunk could be pointed and laughed at as an example of what not to do. In our brave new world, however, the unemployed and unemployable ocean of addicts created by widespread legalization will be supported by the rest of us.

    What we have now isn’t pretty, but a world created by and for dopers is unimaginably worse.

    • darkcycle says:

      That guy is a brain injury victim, Duncan. I would suggest he was dropped as an infant, but I rather suspect he was thrown…
      It really amazes me that in our modern world, people like that grow up and reproduce. In any natural order worth a shit, that guy would be eaten by some slow, stupid carnivore, while the rest of the tribe looked on with puzzled expressions.

      • Duncan20903 says:

        .
        .
        From time to time I mourn the day that Mr. Darwin retired. You would think he’d have had children that could take care of the family business, and make it work just slightly better than old man Darwin.

    • Cliff says:

      Yeah, just like those single malt scotch drinkers really go for that moonshine, because it is more potent and tastes way better than crappy single malt scotch.

  9. vicky vampire says:

    Love the comments above Duncan yeah and what is wrong with tweaking your product whether it be coffee or Cannabis to get a better taste or high its called great quality product and hell that guy it seems needs to get a little high sounds like a total tight ass. might do him some good. relax buddy.

    I’ll never understand why it’s a crime to feel good hell an orgasm that’s momentary high too.

  10. vicky vampire says:

    Funny Allan you know Intensity for most women short lived maybe your referring to afterglow feeling now that’s a whole other story. HA HA.

    Hey what’s up with Governor Gregoire in Washington State is she not a democrat I expect Republicans to be anti-pot but certain Dems and women to boot are quite anti-pot where is there compassion yeah Senator D.Feinstein from CA seems to be attacking Drugs at every damn turn how disappointing, I thought it was progressive women that were going to change inequalities in many areas if only given chance and instead they are just has restrictive and punitive how crappy of them.

    http://www.tokeofthetown.com/2011/04/group_washington_gov_gregoire_a_liar_about_dispens.php

    • Windy says:

      Gregoire has her eyes on a more important place in Obama’s administration, than the one she holds now (regional governor, check out the 7 regions and the people Obama appointed as governors of those regions) and WA governor. Therefore, she has her head up Obama’s ass so far she’s looking thru his eyes; and Obama is NOT supportive of legalizing cannabis, not even for medical purposes, despite what he says — look at his admin’s actual policies to see the real Obama — so neither is she.

      The reasons she gave for this denial are out and out lies, as former AG for WA State she knows that what she said (and what the feds have said) are blatant lies. Just too bad the majority of people who vote are seriously lacking in knowledge about the Constitution, the authorized actions and powers of government and that this government is seriously violating both the intent and the letter of Constitutional Law with this war on drugs (among other things). I blame the schools and think it is time to abolish the idea of schools as per John Caldwell Holt (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Caldwell_Holt).

  11. Malcolm Kyle says:

    If you think the article is good, just wait till you read the comments.

    • darkcycle says:

      Wow. Salon.com finally got it. They have never treated drug policy reform seriously there before. They have traditionally used the topic as an excuse to trot out every stoner stereotype they could think of on short notice.

      • Pete says:

        Actually, Salon.com in its early days did a great job on the drug war. They had a series of investigative reports by Daniel Forbes, including this major item, where he broke the news that the drug czar was surreptitiously spending taxpayer money to bribe TV producers to include anti-drug (read pro-drug-war) messages into the plots of shows. He and Salon also broke the similar story on magazines.

        It was because of those early days of drug war investigative reporting, that I originally chose to have my blog hosted on Salon.com, but the online mag went through management changes and both the drug policy interest and support for the blogging platform disappeared.

      • darkcycle says:

        The same has happened at huffington post. Seems objectivity is the first item lost when these outlets go mainstream. I only know Huffpost from the last couple of years. I used to live happily under my rock, why oh why did I have to go and peek out?

  12. DdC says:

    Who died and made the Fed Shysters emperors?

    DOJ Warns of Crackdown if Wash. Changes Pot Law By Gene Johnson
    CN Source: Seattle Times April 15, 2011 WA

    A veto threat by Gov. Chris Gregoire left lawmakers and activists scrambling Friday to figure out how to save a major overhaul of Washington’s medical marijuana law. Bills passed by the House and Senate would provide some arrest protection for medical marijuana patients and provide a system for licensing marijuana growing and dispensaries. Read More…

    Feds Threaten Crackdown if Makeover Becomes Law By Jonathan Martin
    CN Source: Seattle Times April 15, 2011 WA

    Washington’s top federal prosecutors have threatened to crack down if the state goes forward with a proposal to legalize medical-marijuana dispensaries and growers, putting in jeopardy a bill that has already passed both chambers of the Legislature. In a letter to Gov. Chris Gregoire on Thursday, U.S. Attorneys Jenny Durkan of Seattle and Michael Ormsby of Spokane wrote that the bill would undermine drug enforcement and could result in an array of prosecutions or civil penalties against dispensary owners and growers, as well as against state regulators enforcing the proposed law. Read More…

    • DdC says:

      DEA Release Admits
      Marc Emery Extradition Politically Motivated

      March 4 2006 The US Drug Enforcement Administration admitted on the day of Marc Emery’s arrest that his investigation and extradition were politically motivated, designed to target the Marijuana Legalization organization that Emery spearheaded and ran for over a decade in Canada.

      “Today’s DEA arrest of Marc Scott Emery, publisher of Cannabis Culture Magazine, and the founder of a marijuana legalization group, is a significant blow not only to the marijuana trafficking trade in the U.S. and Canada, but also to the marijuana legalization movement. … Hundreds of thousands of dollars of Emery’s illicit profits are known to have been channeled to marijuana legalization groups active in the United States and Canada.”
      ~ Karen Tandy,
      head of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration
      Tandy’s office has declined to comment about the statement, but locally, federal prosecutors have distanced themselves from her remarks.

      Cannabis Culture News LIVE:
      US Government Refuses Marc Emery’s Transfer to Canada

      Watch Cannabis Culture News LIVE for the latest news and views on pot politics and the marijuana community. Today on the show: The United States Government has denied political prisoner Marc Emery’s transfer home to Canada. This means Marc may be forced to serve most or all of his five-year sentence in a US federal prison. full story

      Political Prisoner Marc Emery Denied Transfer Home by US Government
      The United States Department of Justice has refused imprisoned political activist Marc Emery’s transfer back to Canada, meaning he will likely spend the majority of his five-year sentence in a US federal prison. full story

      A Visit by the Grand Inquisitor Himself
      on The Eve of An Election Call by Marc Emery

      My prison conditions are a good measuring stick of Canada’s descent into this new Conservatism. Political leaders always tell us we should judge them by their actions. This is because what a political leader does, what a government does, is a reflection of the leader’s principles, character and beliefs. full story

      Jamaica Panel to Review Pot Decriminalization
      Top government officials will review recommendations to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal and religious use in Jamaica, which is the Caribbean’s largest pot exporter to the U.S. full story

    • DdC says:

      Obsolete View on MMJ Holding Back State Efforts
      CN Source: Spokesman-Review April 16, 2011 Washington State

      As the Washington Legislature heads toward adoption of a bill that permits marijuana growing and distribution systems for medicinal use, federal prosecutors are loudly clearing their throats and reiterating that such a law would not prevent them from prosecuting activity it deems illegal. As a result, Gov. Chris Gregoire says she won’t sign the bill. Gregoire sent a query to the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Wednesday and got a tandem reply the next day from U.S. Attorneys Mike Ormsby of Spokane and Jenny Durkan of Seattle. They warned that anyone along the supply chain could be prosecuted and that dispensary property could be seized. Read More…

      “The free man owns himself. He can damage himself with either eating or drinking; he can ruin himself with gambling. If he does he is certainly a damn fool, and he might possibly be a damned soul; but if he may not, he is not a free man any more than a dog.”
      – G.K. Chesterton

      Federal Intimidation Works On Washington Governor

      Blatant Intimidation mpp email alert

      The deceitful actions of two U.S. Attorneys could result in the death of a medical marijuana bill in Washington state. If you email President Obama, we may be able to rectify the situation and ensure that the bill survives.

      Since October 2009, the Obama administration has had a straightforward policy with regard to medical marijuana: Do not prosecute individuals who are in “clear and unambiguous compliance with existing state laws.” In a memo from the Deputy Attorney General, U.S. Attorneys were told, “As a general matter, pursuit of [drug trafficking] priorities should not focus federal resources” on these individuals.

      Sounds pretty simple.

      Well, a couple of federal prosecutors apparently didn’t get — or have decided to defy — the memo. U.S. Attorneys for Eastern and Western Washington, Michael Ormsby and Jenny Durkan, are steering Governor Chris Gregoire toward vetoing a bill to regulate the sale of medical marijuana in the state by providing her with deceptive and misleading information about the Obama administration’s position. They have reinterpreted the policy so that it seems as if they would go after individuals acting in compliance with state law.

      They are engaged in blatant intimidation.

      The irony is that the memo cited above actually stressed that U.S. Attorneys are “invested…with the broadest discretion” with respect to pursuing federal prosecutions. So it is one hundred percent within their power to respect state medical marijuana laws to the full extent. Yet, they are acting as if they must act contrary to the guidance they have been given. Even worse, they are infecting the state’s legislative process with their own willful ignorance.

      We have no idea why these two individuals prefer underground criminal markets over regulated, state-licensed sales of medical marijuana. Perhaps they are too lazy to go after real criminals. But they need to be set straight — again. And we need President Obama to know that we are watching him closely on this. So please send an email to Obama, urging him to inform these misguided U.S. Attorneys that the position of his administration on medical marijuana is to not prosecute people who are in compliance with state law.

      Thank you,

      Steve Fox
      federal@mpp.org
      Director of Government Affairs
      Marijuana Policy Project

      Party for Freedom: A Benefit To Make Marijuana Legal – 2011
      The party at the Playboy Mansion is the premier fundraising event for the Marijuana Policy Project. The event will be an exclusive gathering of activist luminaries, marijuana-industry players, celebrity supporters, and major donors.

      • DdC says:

        10 plants that are poisonous to dogs
        By Stephanie Rogers, April 2, 2011
        Mother Nature Network MNN.com

        3. Marijuana — For most people, the likelihood of your pet gaining access to marijuana — whether on a live plant or not — is relatively low. But regardless of your view of marijuana’s safety for human use, it has absolutely no benefits for your pet.

        After ingesting marijuana, a dog can experience symptoms like slow heart rate, lack of coordination, disorientation, drooling and tremors that can persist for up to three days.

        ASPCA: Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants
        This list contains plants that have been reported as having systemic effects on animals and/or intense effects on the gastrointestinal tract. Please note that the information contained in our plant lists is not meant to be all-inclusive, but rather a compilation of the most frequently encountered plants.

        Toxicity: Toxic to Horses, Toxic to Cats, Toxic to Dogs
        Clinical Signs: Prolonged depression, vomiting, incoordination, sleepiness or excitation, hypersalivaton, dilated pupils, low blood pressure, low body temperature, seizure, coma, death (rare)

        Have they no shame?
        Now the ugly reach of the DEAth Minions has corrupted the ASPCA. No one advocates getting animals stoned. But there is no reason to lie either. The only dogs ever dying from cannabis were in experiments conducted for the Narcotics Bureau and Drug Companies for research.

        Spay and Neuter Drug Worriers!

        When I read about that farmer feeding his ducks cannabis to deworm them I found some historical references to it being effectively used as a deworming agent as well. Surprisingly a little research suggested it had been used for this in China historically too. I wonder if it would make for happy mellow horses?

        Huo ma ren – Chinese Hemp for Horses
        Huo ma ren (Fructus cannabis) is Chinese hemp seed. Hemp seed has a centuries-long history of use as a food and medicine in many countries, and it is easy to understand why. It is extremely rich in nutrition.

        EFA’s benefit our horses by enhancing cells’ receptivity to insulin, making it useful for insulin resistant (IR) animals. The anti-inflammatory effects of EFA’s also enhance joint flexibility. Because of their anti-inflammatory qualities, EFA’s and magnesium pair up beautifully to help horses prone to laminitis. They enhance hoof quality, skin, coat, mane and tail condition, making hair shine. It is excellent for horses bothered by itchy, skin allergies. Many horse owners report more clarity and focus in horses feed hemp seeds.

        Hemp is an ideal addition to the feed buckets of all horses, but it is especially useful for horses prone to colic, hard keepers and horses that have been nutritionally deprived.

        OLD DR SLOAN’S Veterinary Colic Kit:
        THE ANTIQUE CANNABIS BOOK
        Chapter 14 – (2nd Edition)
        VETERINARY REMEDIES
        The kit contains two embossed brim bottles, booklets, testimonials, and even a glass syringe. The bottles are both embossed (Sloan’s Colic Mixture), and have different labels. One reads: Alcohol 20%, Chloral Hydrate 18 1/3 grs., Cannabis Indica 36 2/3grs. The Sloan’s anti-colic was formerly called Sloan’s sure colic cure for horses and cattle #173303. The new name and carton were adopted 1914.

    • DdC says:

      Gov. Gregoire said Friday that due to the department’s response, she would not sign the medical marijuana bill. Click for Full Text!

      Obama Admin. Threatens To Prosecute State Employees
      Who License Medical Marijuana Dispensaries 2011-04-18

      A letter from the Department of Justice, sent yesterday to Washington state Gov. Chris Gregoire (D), warned of the potential for criminal prosecutions of state employees who engage in the production of medical marijuana, which is now legally sanctioned in the state.

      The message would seem to stand in stark contrast to the Obama administration’s claim that they would not prosecute medical marijuana dispensaries that were operating within a state that had legalized it.

      Washington state’s legislature did just that last week, approving a bill that would allow state employees to license growers and sellers of the product, as well as retail locations.

      Reacting to the bill, Gov. Chris Gregoire wrote to Attorney General Eric Holder, requesting more information on how the federal government views the matter.

      The DoJ’s letter in response, written by Attorneys Jenny Durkan and Michael Ormsby, was nothing short of unambiguous.

      “The prosecution of individuals and organizations involved in the trade of any illegal drugs and the disruption of drug trafficking organizations is a core priority of the Department,” they replied. “This core priority includes prosecution of business enterprises that unlawfully market and sell marijuana.”

      The letter continued: “This [bill] would authorize conduct contrary to federal law and thus, would undermine the federal government’s efforts to regulate the possession, manufacturing, and trafficking of controlled substances. Accordingly, the Department could consider civil and criminal legal remedies regarding those who set up marijuana growing facilities and dispensaries as they will be doing so in violation of federal law. Others who knowingly facilitate the actions of the licensees, including property owners, landlords, and financiers should also know that their conduct violates federal law. In addition, state employees who conducted activities mandated by the Washington legislative proposals would not be immune from liability under the CSA.”

      Apr 4, 2011
      A 28-Year Old Venture Capitalist And Diplomat’s Son
      Is Caught Running A Weed Empire

      The wrong way to decriminalize marijuana
      Last Monday, for at least the third time in a dozen years, an Ontario court struck down provisions of Canada’s marijuana laws. While we support the decriminalization of simple possession of marijuana for personal use, we would prefer to see such contentious social changes made by Parliament rather than by the courts. As was the case with same-sex marriage, such seismic shifts in Canada’s traditional moral code garner more public support, more quickly, when made by Canadians’ elected representatives rather than by appointed judges.

  13. ezrydn says:

    First off, I’d like for the “writer” to explain how a legal substance creates an “illegal” high. That statement makes one into a out-n-out fool for not thinking about what they’re saying.

    • maybe not ez — such “thinking” basically illustrates that the drug war is not about the dangers of any given drug — instead it’s all directed against intent.

      it is the act of altering one’s consciousness for pleasure that the prohibs find so disturbing. thus, using prescription pills for treating pain is allowed, while using them for having fun is deemed appropriate grounds for destroying someone’s life.

  14. Servetus says:

    Good news in Columbia, Missouri. Police Chief Ken Burton’s changes to SWAT team ‘dynamic’ entries has eliminated their use so far in 2011 drug raids.

    Mistakes in the Feb. 11, 2010, raid on Jonathan Whitworth’s home, in which the family dog was shot to death in front of an onlooking child, prompted the changes. So far, there’s been no increase in police fatalities pertaining to drug enforcement.

    http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2011/apr/14/drug-related-swat-raid-numbers-drop-off/

    Chief Burton deserves congratulations for acknowledging that changes were needed and for implementing those changes in ways that made it look as easy as it is. Columbia, Missouri is now the role model for the nation in terms of employing SWAT teams only as a last resort.

  15. ezrydn says:

    Then, I can only ask “Why does one drink alcohol?” if not for the “intent” of changing one’s natural state? That’s the Prohib’s biggest stumbling block! They KNOW one is more deadly than the other but they hang onto it due to their “brain-washed” motives.

    We all (here at least) KNOW where their heads are and there’s not much for them to look at. When all you can stare at is shit, everything else becomes shit to them, also. The only “intent” I see is putting someone under one’s thumb which I refused!

    • DdC says:

      Drug worriers must come from the alternate earth directly on the opposite side of the sun that we never see. Everything they do is illogical in the logical sense. So you have to take them in the opposite. What ever you believe is good, they see it as bad. Peace, Health, Education all take profits and cheap labor. What ever we see as waste, to them its profit. A trillion dollars spent on the Ganjawar is a trillion dollars in the pockets of drug thugs plus it keeps alternatives off the market shelves. What we see as healthy, they see as stealing treatment funds and threatening the fossil fools, chemical infrastructure. If pills cost 20 bucks and a weed growing free does the same thing or better, then it must be destroyed. Its all about sales. Nothing personal…

      stop feeding the beast

    • daniel says:

      According to my father when I was a child he didn’t drink to get drunk it was for the “taste”. As a result I vaporize because I like the TASTE.

    • yes, that’s why they made alcohol illegal too — people intending to alter their consciousness disturbs the prohibitionist way of “thinking.”

      one of the repeated memes they spew is: “well, people can drink alcohol without getting drunk” — yes, they can, but most want the buzz.

  16. denmark says:

    You did the four square last year too. It doesn’t seem like a year or more since I’ve been checking in here. Nifty actually, this is a good place to be.

    Time goes by fast with some things and then too damn slow with any noticeable progress in ending the drug war.
    There is NEVER enough serious discussion about the war on drugs on television.

    ……….
    The medical cannabis cooperative in Spokane that I go to was still open and doing business earlier this week. And yes, they’re super busy now as many dispensaries have been shut down or told to shut down in Eastern Washington state.

    • Pete says:

      Well, the marathon went for 66 hours, breaking a new record, and I’ve spent most of today sleeping. Good times, though, and a good cause.

      And, during the nighttime hours of the marathon, I managed to get involved in some excellent drug policy reform discussions with groups of students.

  17. Duncan20903 says:

    ezrydn: “First off, I’d like for the “writer” to explain how a legal substance creates an “illegal” high. That statement makes one into a out-n-out fool for not thinking about what they’re saying.The war on (some) drugs even perverts the reality of those exempted substances.

    I’d speculate that you’ve never heard of the AWOL process:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcohol_without_liquid

    It’s been criminalized in a number of States. When scofflaws older than age 21 take perfectly legal drinking alcohol and get drunk from the AWOL in those States, have produced an illegal high. It’s a shame; it seems as if the Drunks Against Mad Mothers (DAMM) aren’t very effective lobbyists.
    …………………………………………………..
    Why does one drink alcohol?” if not for the “intent” of changing one’s natural state?

    I think you shouldn’t discount Montazuma’s Revenge as motivation for using drinking alcohol. For most of recorded history people avoided drinking water as a rule of thumb. In The Big Fairy Tale, the nice people at the wedding were much more likely concerned with the potential hazard of bacterial contamination than wanting to get drunk when they asked The Good Fairy Jesus to turn their water into wine.

  18. Chris says:

    Evan Pierce defends his natural rights in court
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJkJ3V7JC3s

    • Jake says:

      How does that defence/appeal usually play out for people who have tried it before?

    • Chris says:

      It probably doesn’t work, because as he stated, this isn’t a fair trial. The prosecution and Judge are on the same side and don’t want to hear arguments that the laws they are enforcing are invalid.

      Every word that he says in his defense is completely sensible, truthful and logical, and I agree with him 100% on his defense. Yet it’s also completely unthinkable for anyone to attempt such a thing. “Haha, this stoner wants his weed back and doesn’t believe he broke the law”. Well yes, you kidnapped him, stole his property and have threatened to destroy it in an attempt to ruin his life for reasons that the judge apparently can’t even explain. This all just looks like a formal extortion procedure to socially ostracize a person whose behavior was deemed undesirable by the usual idiots 40-70 years ago.

      • Jake says:

        Yeh I very much got that feeling too – ‘Its wrong and your not allowed to do it so just do what we say’ attitude. I liked it when he asked for the court to point to the victim… Still, do you know how other cases such as this have turned out (obviously they didn’t succeed or we wouldn’t be where we are today), but just interested in where it fails along the appeal process and the reasons ‘they’ give?

  19. Malcolm Kyle says:

    U.S. sees Mexican Drug War progress

    What took them so long?

  20. Malcolm Kyle says:

    “I’m a federally approved Canadian medical marijuana user, interpreted by the US as an admitted drug user and now in their all-seeing database. The points to this experience are numerous and repercussions extensive.
    For your consideration: How can I be deemed a drug user in the US when I didn’t commit an offense on US soil? Why am I banned for having genuine, federal cards identifying myself as a medical marijuana candidate? How is it that medical marijuana is legal in California for US citizens who qualify and they still did this?

    My answers to these questions are this: The US is accumulating data on every single person in every possible way and follows their own rules, ignoring any rights we think we might have. That medical marijuana is legal in California has no relevance to them. There is no distinction between marijuana use and heroin addiction to them. Nor is there any distinction between a medical user and a street drug dealer. I was now declared criminally ill despite being legal in every inch of Canada and did not commit any offence on US soil. It has been three months since this has happened, and I am still traumatized by the entire experience but at least able to talk about it.

    For you and anyone you know planning on going to the US, I have learned through other media releases and testimonials that people are even being banned for having admitted to trying marijuana (or any drugs) in their past. This is known as “retroactive punishment” and about as unconstitutional as you can get. Since my experience, I’ve discovered other examples that include the US border confiscating business people’s laptops and copying their hard drives upon entering the US, and that some companies are now sending their employees without computers for that reason. So if you are ill and on medically prescribed drugs, don’t mention it. If you are asked if you have ever done any drugs in your life, say no. If you have anything personal on a laptop, be prepared to have it taken. Otherwise, enjoy your trip while you can…”

    http://www.pacificfreepress.com/news/1-/8544-medical-marijuana-users-banned-from-the-us.html

  21. Windy says:

    This article could use some intelligent input from our knowledgeable commenters:
    http://www.newsregister.com/article?articleTitle=drug+law+flaws+show+need+for+honest+debate–1302909937–563–

  22. DdC says:

    420 Cannabis Celebration at UC Santa Cruz

    START DATE: Wednesday April 20
    TIME: 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM

    Porter Meadow at UC Santa Cruz (map)

    As in past years, UCSC police and administration are restricting access to campus by only allowing people with UCSC identification to drive onto campus. The best ways for getting onto campus and over to Porter Meadow are to take the bus or walk. Do not park on Empire Grade. Give yourselves plenty of time to get to Porter Meadow, it’s worth it!!

    You are all invited.

    Party/Street Party
    After a long, cold and rainy winter, spring is finally here! It’s time for the annual 420 celebration at Porter Meadow, UC Santa Cruz!

    April 20, aka 4/20, is the international day to gather and celebrate cannabis (marijuana)! The year is 2011 and more people than ever are stepping out of the “Cannabis Closet” to reduce cultural stigmas around the use of cannabis, and to promote all of its many positive uses for food, fuel, fiber and medicine.

    Hang out, meet lots of people who love cannabis, and enjoy a nice day in a gorgeous meadow at a public university.

    Please help to ensure that Porter Meadow is free of trash.
    Anything that you pack-in must be packed out!

    Pack Your Trash. Leave No Trace.

    Subject: Message to faculty and staff regarding “4-20”
    Date: Thu, 14 Apr 2011 13:38:04 -0700
    From: Public Affairs
    To: undisclosed-recipients:;

    April 14, 2011

    To: UCSC Faculty and Staff

    Fr: UCSC Public Affairs

    UCSC anticipates that next week, as in recent years, there will be an unsanctioned “4-20” gathering on campus. It is likely to be disruptive for many on campus and in the surrounding community. This message is sent to help members of the campus community, others with valid reasons for visiting UCSC on the afternoon of April 20, and campus neighbors plan accordingly.

    To minimize this anticipated disruption, the following measures will be in place next Wednesday, April 20:

    . All inbound traffic at the campus’s West entrance will be diverted beginning at 2:15 pm.

    . Metro buses will enter campus through the Main Entrance only, travel up Coolidge, and loop back to the Main Entrance via Hagar. Metro buses during this period of time will only make one stop in the campus core, on Hagar between Quarry Plaza and OPERS.

    . A reduced number of campus shuttles will be in operation connecting the east and west sides of campus, following the normal “core” route west before turning uphill on Heller, and returning along McLaughlin to the east side of campus. (Disability van service, with the possible exception of delays caused by traffic congestion, will be unaffected by these changes.)

    . Campus parking regulations will be strictly enforced.

    . Sections of Empire Grade, uphill from the Arboretum, will be designated as a tow-away zone. Extra patrols will be on duty to enforce this restriction, and vehicles will be ticketed and towed at owners’ expense.

    Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

    sammy-slug-ucsc-420.jpg

    Past 4/20 @ 4:20

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