Conventional wisdom dictates that if the people lead then our political leaders will follow. Of course, when it comes to marijuana law reform, conventional wisdom seldom applies.
In a result that should come as a surprise to nobody — except for perhaps certain members of law enforcement and state lawmakers — Maine voters today overwhelmingly approved Question 5, the Maine Marijuana Medical Act. The measure amends existing state law by: establishing a confidential patient registry, expanding the list of qualifying conditions for which a physician may recommend medicinal cannabis, and by allowing for the creation of non-profit state-licensed nonprofit dispensaries to assist in the distribution of medical cannabis to qualified patients.
Of course for anyone following this issue, the result should not come as a surprise. Voters at the polls overwhelmingly approve marijuana law reform — virtually every time they have the opportunity to do so. Yet, over and over again voters have this opportunity because their cowardly elected officials continue to inexplicably punt on the issue.
In Maine, for instance, lawmakers voted unanimously in April to put this issue before the voters rather than legislating it themselves. They did so even though state voters had previously (and by more than 60 percent) approved patients’ rights to use medical marijuana, and despite the fact that the current proposal had virtually no organized opposition aside from law enforcement.
It was the same story in Colorado, where over 70 percent of Breckenridge voters elected today to amend the town code to remove all criminal and civil penalties, including fines, on the private possession of up to one ounce of marijuana. Should anyone have been surprised? Not really. Over 70 percent of local voters said ‘yes’ to a similar statewide (but unsuccessful) measure in 2005. Nonetheless, this past August the Breckenridge Town Council elected to dodge the issue when it came up for a vote — opting instead to send it before the voters.
Elsewhere in Colorado today, state police and politicians were conspiring to halt the proliferation of medical marijuana dispensaries. Law enforcement and local politicians are engaging in similar efforts in southern California.
Yes, you read that right: cops and politicians are trying to undermine the very same reforms that the public today just embraced.
When will they ever learn?
samson: do you consider sexual orientation a choice? if so, at what age did you make yours?
Ive said it before and ill say it again: LET OUR NUMBERS COMBINE. Let the rainbow flag fly next to the green flag. Let us, the right deprived rise up and march.
Arm in arm with our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters we will march on washington and demand to be reckognized! Apart we are just people with alternative liestyles judged and censored by the scared mainstream populace. But together we could be one huge army! (Dont worry NORML the army is made of gays and stoners so no violence) Lololololo
Im not jokin either im serious.
Tim Lincecum has been cited for possesion in CA. Another example of an otherwise law abiding citizen arrested for marijuana. Now he will have to “apologize” and his name will be trashed in the media.
#81 i kno im thinking about movin to Breckinridge.An THEN MAYBE once evryone does go to a more pot friendly state,the states that r not pot friendly got BROKE an actually its there own fault
meant go Broke
Yes this is something I cant fathom,why vote not to accept gay marriage but vote to acept med cannabis. Both groups are spat upon,ridiculed,osterisized ect. Are they the voters(maine) saying they accept cannabis users over people of a different sexual orientation.Here in Iowa its just the opposite. What the hell is wrong with people? Humanity will never advance if we continue to hold the petty bigotries. If you think gay people or cannabis people are wrong, its not for you to decicde. Leave that to the creator.
Here’s an idea. While your busy writing letters don’t forget to drop a few thank you notes to Jessica Cory and that guy from LEAP Norm Stamper. No one can say they are preachin to the choir. They would both probably have a lot more friends in their own tribe if they didn’t have such courage and conviction. Hell you can do it right here, Let’s see a thousand thank you’s in the commets. THANK YOU JESSICA AND NORM. Keep up the good work.
WHAT IS A GENESIST?
THE GENESISTS FAITH…THE ORIGNINAL FAITH…IS A “FAITH WITHIN A RELIGION…ANY MONOTHEISTIC RELIGION.” THE GENESIST FAITH IS OMNI-DISTINCTIONAL AND UNIVERSAL. GENESISTS HOLD TO ABSOLUTE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE.
GENESISTS BELIEVE IN TWO THINGS. GENESISTS BELIEVE IN GOD…GOD’S SPIRIT…AND A GENESIST’S SPIRIT…
“WITHIN”…AS ONE SOUL…”LOGOS NOUS”…TWO SPIRITS IN ONE SOUL. GENESISTS BELIEVE IN GOD’S GIFT OF MANNA AS HOLY SACRAMENT. MANNA IS A DIVINE BENEVOLENCE. IT’S OUR BELIF AND TRUST THAT GOD CREATED MANNA IN GENESIS I:11,12…GOD GAVE US MANNA IN GENESIS I:29,30,31…
GOD REAFFIRMED HIS GIFT OF MANNA IN GENESIS IX:3.
“GENESISTS BELIEVE IN GOD’S WILL, WORD, AND BLESSING.”
RECEIVED WITH THANKSGIVING, MANNA IS THE HOLY SACRAMENT. A GENESIST’S SPIRIT JOINS GOD’S SPIRIT IN CDXX COMMUNION…THE SPIRIT OF THE ESSENCE, REACHING OUT TO RECEIVE THE SPIRIT OF THE SOURCE…A CEASELESS FLOW OF ENERGY…EQUILIBRIUM OF THE SOUL.
GENESISTS FAITHFULLY PRACTICE CDXX COMMUNION, WHICH IS OUR COMMON FAITH, EXPERIENCES, AND EXPRESSIONS SHARED BY OUR FAMILY OF BELIEVERS, AS WELL AS OUR INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR CREATOR. “GENESISTS CONSUME GOD’S WORD IN CDXX COMMUNION THROUGH MEDITATION.” MEDITATION…IS OUR SPIRITUAL WAY TO GET EVERY BIT OF NOURISHMENT FROM GOD’S SPIRIT AND WORD. FOR EVERY CREATURE OF GOD IS GOOD, AND NOTHING TO BE REFUSED IF IT IS RECEIVED WITH THANKSGIVING…FOR IT IS SANCTIFIED BY THE WORD OF GOD IN CDXX COMMUNION. IN CDX COMMUNION, GENESISTS GO “WITHIN”…TO OBSERVE OUR SELVES. WE DIRECT OUR BODY’S LIFE FORCES, EXAMINE OUR CONSCIENCE, MAKE ATONEMENT WITH GOD, AND MAINTAIN EQUILIBRIUM OF THE SOUL. IN CDXX COMMUNION, WE JUDGE OUR SELF, AND HOLD OUR SELF RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RESULTS OF OUR ACTIONS. THE RESULTS OF OUR ACTIONS…IS NOTHING MORE THAN CAUSE AND EFFECT. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CASE AND EFFECT IS…”THE TRUTH.” WE CAN DO NOTHING AGAINST THE TRUTH…BUT ONLY FOR IT. GENESITS OWE A DUTY TO OUR CREATOR WITH “LIBERTY OF CONSCIENCE.” THIS INVIOLATE RELATIONSHIP…IS SOMETHING ONE DOES IN THE PRIVACY OF THEIR OWN BEING. THE BREATH OF THEIR OWN SPIRIT IS…THEIR FAITHFUL INTAMACY WITH LIFE, TRUTH, LOVE, THEIR SELF, AND THEIR CREATOR. WE MAKE ATONEMENT WITH GOD THROUGH LOVE, TRUTH, AND FAITHFULNESS.
GENESIT’S CREDO
“WORK HARD, PLAY HARD, REST HARD.” REJOICE!…FEAR NOT YOUR “CELEBRATION OF LIFE,” FOR IT HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED THAT WE DO THIS. GENESISTS FORM THE TEXTURE OF THE “CONTINUOUS CELEBRATION OF LIFE.”
“TOIL, EAT, DRINK, BE MERRY”…IS NOT A COMMANDMENT…
“IT’S A GIFT.” AS A GIFT…IT’S YOUR AND YOURS ALONE, TO HAVE AND TO HOLD, FOREVER AND EVER…AMEN. GENESISTS ARE COMPLETELY DEVOTED TO THE PREMISE THAT “LIFE AS MADE FOR THE PURE ENJOYMENT OF LIVING, AND EVERYTHING ELSE IS A SIN.” AS MANNA IS A “GIFT FROM GOD,” SO IS THE CELEBRATION OF LIFE. GOD’S GIFT OF LIFE IS TO BRING “JOY AND FULFILLMENT”…AND…
“EQUILIBRIUM OF THE SOUL.”
GENESISTS ARE ROOTED AND ESTABLISHED IN OUR FAITH.
GENESISTS HAVE AN ETERNAL INVESTMENT IN OUR FAITH. GENESISTS ARE ESTABLISHED IN “THE TRUTH.” WE STAND FAST ONLY THROUGH OUR BELIF AND TRUST IN “OUR FAITH.” WE HAVE A SECURE ANCHOR WITHIN OUR SOUL. THAT ANCHOR IS OUR CREATOR…STARTING WOTH MON AND DAD, AND ENDING WITH GOD. GOD’S WORD ABIDES FOREVER. THE TRUTH IS FOREVER.
GOD KNOWS EVERYTHING Sir Isaac Newton
THANKSGIVING DAY-THE HIGH HOLIDAY
TO GENESISTS, THANKSGIVING IS THE MOST RESPECTED DAY OF THE YEAR. IT IS THE MOST SPECIAL OCCASION FOR FOUR REASONS. FIRST: WE THANK GOD FOR OUR EXISTANCE. THERE BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD GO WE. SECOND: WE THANK GOD FOR THE MANY GIFTS THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED THROUGH GOD’S GENEROSITY. THIRD: WE ARE THANKFUL FOR OUR FREEDOM OF WORSHIP, THOUGHT, AND SPEECH. FINALLY: WE ARE THANKFUL FOR JOY AND FULFILLMENT, THE REWARDS FOR EQUILIBRIUM OF THE SOUL.
A GENESIST’S MEASURMENT OF HAPPINESS IS NOT “HOW MUCH” IT TAKES TO MAKE US HAPPY…BUT…”HOW LITTLE” IT TAKES TO MAKE US HAPPY. THERE IS SO MUCH TO MAKE US HAPPY. WE ARE THANKFUL FOR THE BOND OF FAMILY. THERE IS “NOTHING MORE POWERFUL IN LIFE” THAN HE BOND OF FAMILY. IN WE GENESIST’S CASE, IT IS THE BOND OF OUR FAMILY OF BELIEVERS. OUR STRENGTH IS THAT THE FAMILY OF ACTS AS ONE. I HAVE ALWAYS KNOWN, EVEN MORE SO NOW THAN EVER BEFORE, THE EPIPHANY OF HOW ONE FINDS OUT WHAT IS “MOST IMPORTANT.” WHAT IS “MOST IMPORTANT” TO US IS FAMILY. THE DISTINGUISHING MARK OF GENESISTS IS…”THE WAY WE HONOR LIFE, LOVE, AND TRUTH…OUR TRINITY…AND…HOW WE, IN OUR HEARTS AND SOUL, GIVE THANKSGIVING FOR THESE…OUR TREASURES.
“FOR NOTHING IS TO BE REFUSED, IF IT IS RECEIVED WITH THANKSGIVING.” I WILL NOT REFUSE GOD’S GIFT OF MANNA AS HOLY SACRAMENT. I WILL RECEIVE IT WITH THANKSGIVING. WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN, LET NO MAN PUT US UNDER.
Manford Mantis
general jake… #102…. yes, combine forces for common sense! i cannot see how any logical thinking person would keep marijuana use a crime as well as keep 2 people who love eachother from getting married…. whatever happened to seperation of church and state?
But what we really need is for the hemp community to come together with the marijuana community. together we will be unstoppable. i dont understand why the hemp movement doesnt want to be associated with the marijuana movement. you dont hear anything about hemp on the news or in the legislature…. sure there is one or two things here and there… but not to the level of marijuana… if they could just stop sweating the small stuff then we could help eachother out and finally put an end to cannabis prohibition… put an end to big oil, put an end to global warming, put an end to big pharma, put an end to our massive criminal justice system, put an end to polluting cotton, put an end to wars over oil, put an end to high health care costs, put an end to CANCER, put an end to ….i got nothing else.. ive been drinking alcohol(poison) i only had $10 and i dont know anyone who would sell me a dime bag….
i wish i was using a non toxic substance that makes you happy and hungry instead of a toxic substance that makes you angry and sick
Cannabis is bad, ba ba ba… must keep my.. “job” locking up innocent people. Ba ba ba need more prisoners ba ba ba these inner city kids don’t need an education lets lock up more prisoners. Ba ba ba…. This cannabis makes people think, ba ba ba, we dont want them doing that…. BA ba ba, alcohol is good lets have more beer commercial those are “CUTE” …. ba ba ba…. lets build more prisons. Save the children. ba ba ba… Raaa aaaaa…. Thats my rant good day.
“When will they learn” When more smokers decide to resist arrest and make it hard for law makers to do their jobs.
@#110 Just legalize it. You make a killer point. The hemp growers and and herb smokers combined would be just what the doctor ordered. And im sorry you forced to drink devils piss. I live in a small kansa town (mayberry sized) and we frequently are dry which is bad cuz i suffer from bi-polar disorder and when i dont have herb i cant drink so i jus suffer…deep in my mind. But good news! My mom just became the GM of a hotel in Colorado Springs with the purpose of me and my family movin there too so i can get on medicall marijuana. Wish me luck!
#81 I’d love to move out of NJ, especially now that Christie is governor (I hate everything about him, especially his stance on cannibus reform). However, because of things like work, it makes it impossible to just uproot and go anywhere. I feel like I’m trapped in this shit hole of a state. Now that Christie is voted in, I feel even more trapped than ever. He is apposed to all of the things that I have dedicated myself to fighting for; a woman’s right to choose her own reproductive destiny, gay rights, and cannibus reform. I tell you, I don’t think I’ve ever felt this hopeless or defeated in my whole life. I will continue to fight and speak out, but right now I’m feeling as though all hope is lost for NJ.
to zombozzie
no, if people getting arrested for pot all start resisting arrest, then we will be labelled as violent people. you’d turn on the news and you’d hear “studies show that 70% of those arrested marijuana violently fought the police before being taken in.”
TEST Test test posts not getting posted
….their lies
& deceptive advertising cannot match us with
our nickels and dimes because we tell the
truth . We are winning this war .
While we sucessfully shut down , Gene Burns of KGO Radio of San Francisco Saturday’s show promoting the consumption of Alcoholic beverages he’s back at it
again pushing Alcohol .( He pretends not to hear us ) Now he’s pushing Brandy another drug . Let’s send this DRUG PUSHER a message that this sends the wrong message to kids .Gene Burns calls Marijuana…..a D-R-U-G in a degrogatory
way .Please call KGO Radio at 1 415 8080810 & tell them that they are sending the wrong message to children by promoting Alcohol which combined with prescription drugs & tobacco kills more people than all drugs combined . Write or call , Mr. Burns and KGO Radio . KGO radio also plays the Ad promoting the Drug testing kit ( Obviously sponsored by the Alcohol , Drug & tobacco Companies ) where a Mother asks her son if hes ever tried Pot , then she says cocaine along with other ” hard ” drugs . ( No mention of Alcohol , Prescription or tobacco here in their drug test ). You can get their contact information by going to ; ” KGO Radio ” online . Always be nice & polite . Winning this war should not be through violence or threats .Thankyou for any help & support you can give .
not a post in 5 days? lets get with it norml!
“…because of things like work, it makes it impossible to just uproot and go anywhere. I feel like I’m trapped in this shit hole of a state. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this hopeless or defeated in my whole life. I will continue to fight and speak out, but right now I’m feeling as though all hope is lost for NJ.”
Please don’t feel hopeless! You have more power than you might realize. The only thing making you feel “trapped” are your bills. Stop spending, and start paying off your debts. Have a huge ‘garage sale’ and liquidate all your stuff. Use eBay and flea markets to create a cash flow. You are now self employed. This liquidation period should cover your expenses and leave you with moving money. Meantime, research a new career in a medical marijuana state. You might even want to start your own business. Anyone can start over.
Personally, I would rather live without a fancy car, special TV, a lot of furniture, or any other riches to have the freedom to use legal cannabis medicine and also be able to grow it. I am very passionate about marijuana.
The cops and politicians who are suppose to work for us are on their own agenda and imposing their own personal beliefs on us via terroistic threats of imprisonment which the majority of Americans are opposed… surely we can sue those who are refusing to follow the will of the people… maybe we as a whole should start a nationwide joint action suit against those police/politicians who fail to follow the laws we enacted…
Genesists are one people…united…a body of mass distinction…with different political bands. Genesists say…”Sometimes you have to play the tune the audiance wants to hear”…or…lose the audiance…provided of course, you’re not dodging tomatos.
“The tune” Genesists want to hear from government is…”Keep its word and honor its policy.” To that end…Genesists say…”If you do this…we will support you. If you do not do this…our support for you, regardless of political bands, will immediately lend itself to those who represent, and stand up for the “WILL OF THE PEOPLE’ over political idiology.
The point is this…”NO IF’S, AND’S OR BUT’S…we Genesists will have our natural rights of mankind returned to us. It is our intent, purpose, and objective to right an unjust law. It is the “unjust law itself” that has restored the enthusiasm of Genesists…one people…united…a body of mass distinction…with different political bands…to see justice done…truth be told…freedom prevail…and the natural rights of mankind restored to their rightful owners.
i cant drink never know when i had enough.but i can smoke reefer without getting in trouble.
im 52 and had a brain tumor taken out of my head.i hope i can see legal pot soon.
ted kennedy drank and drove off a bridge but he was agenst smoking reefer.i dont get it.what do these people think.i ran into a bunch of people like that
pres obama said he smoked before but not now. i think he is a hipocret. i like smoking reefer
we only get to live once. it makes me sad to know that i live in a time when people are so ridiculously close-minded that they still believe the prohibitionist propaganda. unfortunately for me, i’ll probably never be able to use marijuana without fear of losing my job which would pretty much destroy everything else in my life. its so sad that it has to be that way. why should my life be ruined for enjoying a little reefer? i don’t drink much alcohol because it’s addictive and it just wrecks your body, but i loooove marijuana. i see my friends smoking it all the time and its just so damn frustrating. yet all of these people at work can drink themselves completely retarded and get in fights or drive drunk and come in to work the next day hungover and not even worry about a thing. they can do it every day and never worry. But i smoke a little bowl and read a dr. seuss book with my kid, or smoke a joint and do some yardwork and my life could be ruined. And then people say “oh my god you would get stoned and read to your child?! what an animal!” seriously folks… the world needs to lighten up a little and let people live. we only get one chance. is there some way, something public, everyday, everywhere, that we could do to show people that it’s not so bad? it isn’t evil and it doesn’t destroy people. these laws destroy people. these close-minded “if i can’t you can’t” type of people destroy people. lets do something big.
#127 was right drugtest is wrong if not testing for alcohal.boozers are loosers but there is hope in dope.whene i was growing up the saying was dont trust anyone over 30.now i just want to get high.
when i started smoking noone had a scale they filled a baggie all the way ond called it a lid.a lid was a baggie so full you could barrly close it a lid of mexican was 10.00 dollars and a lid of columbian was 15.00 dollars boy have times changed.
there need to be laws against growing schwag (im scared that hemp is gonna be ruining sweet crops :P)
I just dont get it, legalize it, tax it, pull us out of this crappy economy, not one single case of murder has ever been recorded because of pot.