A coalition of public interest advocacy groups filed suit today in the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to compel the Obama administration to respond to a nine-year-old petition to reclassify marijuana under federal law.
The suit was filed by attorneys Joe Elford of Americans for Safe Access (ASA) and Michael Kennedy of the NORML Legal Committee on behalf of the Coalition for Rescheduling Cannabis (CRC). The Coalition, which includes NORML and California NORML, filed a comprehensive rescheduling petition with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on October 9, 2002 challenging marijuana’s Schedule I classification as a controlled substance with “no currently accepted medical use” and a “high potential for abuse.” The agency formally accepted the petition for filing on April 3, 2003, and per the provisions of the United States Controlled Substances Act (CSA) referred the petition to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in July 2004 for a full scientific and medical evaluation.
To date, the federal government has not publicly responded to the petition.
Today’s lawsuit petitions the Court for a writ of mandamus “directing the DEA and the Attorney General to issue a full and final determination on petitioners’ Petition to reschedule marijuana, or, alternatively, state whether it will initiate rulemaking proceedings, within 60 days.”
It states: “The DEA’s delay here of more than eight years since the rescheduling Petition was filed — and more than four years since it received HHS’ binding evaluation and recommendations — is inexcusable. … [T]his agency delay in acting on the rescheduling Petition is unreasonable, requiring this Court to intervene.”
Under the CSA, the Attorney General has the authority to reschedule a drug if he finds that it does not meet the criteria for the schedule to which it has been assigned. The Attorney General has delegated this authority to the Administrator of the DEA, presently Michelle Leonhart.
The 2002 CRC petition seeks to reschedule cannabis from its Schedule I designation to a less restrictive class under the CSA “on the grounds that: (1) marijuana does have accepted medical uses in the United States; (2) it is safe for use under medical supervision and has an abuse potential lower than Schedule I and II drugs; and (3) it has a dependence liability that is also lower than Schedule I or II drugs.”
NORML filed a similar rescheduling petition with the DEA in 1972, but was not granted a federal hearing on the issue until 1986. In 1988, DEA Administrative Law Judge Francis Young ruled that marijuana did not meet the legal criteria of a Schedule I prohibited drug and should be reclassified. Then-DEA Administrator John Lawn rejected Young’s determination, a decision the D.C. Court of Appeals eventually affirmed in 1994.
A subsequent petition was filed by former NORML Director in 1995, but was rejected by the DEA in 2001.
Additional information on this suit will appear in this week’s NORML news update. To receive these e-mail updates free, please sign up here.
Lol the dea is reponsible for drug resheduling! Good luck we all know the dea stance on medical cannibus
So they consider themselves above their so called “laws”? It’s HIGH time for the hypocrisy to end.
A critical thinker should ask the question ‘cui bono’ (who benefits) in cases of gross obstruction such as this.
My answer? Entrenched plutocratic interests, intent on benefiting themselves at the expense of the rest of us.
FIGHT THE PLUTOCRACY!
Hell yeah!
Full scientific and medical “evaluation” is what Genesists have been mandating, with passion, for a very long time now. Just calling for evaluation is not enough – we mandate “Scientific Conclusion.”
Delegating authority, for the mandate to re-schedule, to Michelle Leonhart is like putting the fox in charge of the hen house. Her arrogant disregard for the American people’s will is no less than the prohibs that keep cannabis illegal. At any rate – a 2 year old child can recognize this shell game.
I take issue with the grounds that cannabis has a lower dependency liability than schedule I or II. It has “no dependency liability.” It’s the individual that has the dependency issue. With that in mind – we should take all the glue off the shelves. “People have dependency issues – not the substance” – much the same as “People kill people – not guns.”
Prohibs don’t speak to Genesists. They have nothing to say to us. We’re absolutely indifferent to their ridiculous insistence to remove cannabis, and its users, from this planet.
“Now is the time” – we’ve gotten what we’ve demanded. It’s time for every Genesist to overwhelm government with our mandate for “Scientific Conclusion.” What the hell do we have to do – hit prohibs over the head with a sledge hammer to jog their memory and get them to remember what freedom [was].
Bout time!
if there is no redress to this issue, I am not represented as a taxpayer.
Can i stop paying taxes since the DEA refuses to treat me as a citizen?
too bad i enjoy paying for the services of the agencies that WORK, so Ill keep getting screwed.
DEA GO AWAY
Good luck with any lawsuit with the Federal government regarding MariJuana, MariJuana Prohibition, State’s Rights, or the Rights and Liberties guaranteed under the USA Constitution.
The DEA and the entire Federal government is Above The Law. They will ignore scientific data, medical data, the Will of We the People, and the Constitution itself to do whatever they want.
For them, the ends justify the means, and the End They Seek is the total subjugation of the USA Working Class to the will and whimsey of the Corporatist Kleptocracy. We are, after all, talking about a tyrannical fascistic surveillance police state.
Obama and the Democrats (most of them) are not the Friends of Freedom and Liberty. The Republicans (most of them) are not the Friends of Freedom and Liberty. Doubt my words? Don’t listen to the words of “our” politicians — look at the ever-increasingly repressive legislation that They vote for, and sign into Law. Obama, who as a candidate once railed against the loss of civil liberties due to the Patriot Act, and has fully embraced his “Unitary Executive” powers once in office.
Perhaps as many as 5% of our politicians are not Reich-Wing Authoritarians or outright Fascists — but the rest are, or at least “willing tools” of those that are. If this country was on the brink of civi war, that 95% of our politicians would have a bulls-eye on their back, a bullet with their name on it, an appointment with a length of rope and a lamp-post, or an empty wicker basket at the base of a guillotine waiting for their head. Alas, we are not at that point — we may never be at that point, because our Corporate Kleptocracy already controls the politicians, the economy, and the propagandist message blaring from the Main-Stream Media.
“War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.”
—-
“If you want to imagine the future, imagine a boot stamping
on a human face, forever.”
–George Orwell, from “1984”
“No more ignoring the law when it’s inconvenient. That is not who we are. . . . We will again set an example for the world that the law is not subject to the whims of stubborn rulers”
–candidate Barack Obama, August 1, 2007
“The President does not have power under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the nation” — candidate Barack Obama, December, 2007
“My Administration is committed to creating an unprecedented level of openness in Government. We will work together to ensure the public trust and establish a system of transparency, public participation, and collaboration. Openness will strengthen our democracy and promote efficiency and effectiveness in Government.”
— President Barack Obama
money rules poor pot smokers drool…
The devil is in the details! Why the extreme paranoia over cannabis? In the 1930’s it was barely on the feds radar… then came Mexican immigrants that just happened to use it to unwind after work.
There was the industrial side also, hemp, a textile plant, source of oil, a medicine, used by physicians regularly, and even Henry Ford had plans for a hemp-diesel oil engine.
All that aside as none of it matters. There is a REASON cannabis is a Schedule One drug; and not for what it is, but rather, what they are afraid it might be. And what might that be?
Pot brownie, anyone???
Im sure it will be buisness as usual….you make this go away and ill help you with your little problem type deal….politics
I was excited until I read … “Under the CSA, the Attorney General has the authority to reschedule a drug if he finds that it does not meet the criteria for the schedule to which it has been assigned. The Attorney General has delegated this authority to the Administrator of the DEA, presently Michelle Leonhart.”
We could have research showing that God kills a kitten for every cannabis user arrested and she would probably laugh in glee. She loved the idea of the drug war causing bloodshed on the borders of Mexico as it were. If she had her way no one would even have written this proposal, she thinks it is not responsible to even discuss changing out drug laws. With anyone else it might have had a chance.
In other words, why didn’t the Attorney General just go ahead and say “forget about it” if he was just going to do the equivalent of putting the entire lawsuit into the office paper shredder anyway? He knows there’s no possibility of debate from Leonhart’s side. Sheesh.
if the money spent through DEA when try to hunt down illegal uses of pot channel into medical research dont you thing some good can not come out from the R&D?
As long as Michelle Leonhart has any involvement this will be a losing battle. She apparently has more power than the President…
O how i Wish 60 minutes would be on our side and do a full 60 minutes story on this law suit. Then we can start to get some help.from the media
This might turn out to be a really good thing if this battle is won. It will take away a lot of their extreme power. However, I fully believe that they (the DEA) is already fully aware of the medical benefits of cannabis – they just don’t want to admit it since it weakens their position and power! Michelle Leonhart is one of the so-called “dogs of war” and I have often wondered exactly why it is that President Obama seems to bow to her will on this issue…
the media is owned by the rich corporations ie. big pharma , so we will not get the full or straight story. they give campaign money to politicians and they tell us sorry but its not good for you, im so sick and tired of big money getting what they want. its time we quit locking people up and giving them perminant records for a drug that is so much better for you than alcohol and tobacco. sure wish we had a president in our corner but as long as president obama is needing campaign cash i hold no hope of getting what is right done
Who are we calling on to make this go away – the government that makes it stay? We best band together as Americans if we know what’s good for us. A lot of bullies have tried to take over “our” government – but – to do that – “they need the people.” Government DOES NOT have the people on this one. At any rate – they’re not going to cause my cardiologist to buy a beach house.
This lawsuit is good news. It puts people on record as to why Marijuana is in Schedule one. The DEA should have nothing to do with the sheduling of drugs.
It’s not because marijuana is so dangerous, its because so many people profit from it being illegal. Thats just the way it is. The feds could care less about the lives they ruin as long as they get their pay checks. So sad but so true.
something has to work….. good luck!
It is a very serious issue that challenges the credibility of our federal government.
The threat of mixed messages? It’s judgement day!
Justice delayed is justice denied and boy have we seen a whole lot of delay! World War II was won faster than this case’s timeframe. Your tax dollars at work…LOL!
Obama kept Leonhart around to do the dirty work that a progressive doesn’t have the guts to do… oh, Obama’s not a progressive? Never mind. I guess Obama thinks he’ll end up like Carter (or JFK) if he sticks his neck out. Isn’t there one damn Democrat that will ever roll back Nixon’s dirty work? Barry did mutter the “science” word at one time but that was during an election. So we should all know not to believe his lying ass this time around.
We live by the Golden Rule – he who has the gold rules. In other words plutocracy. The only problem with that is – they take their rule to no end. We just have to remind them – “Without the people they have nothing to rule.” They’re the boss – and – we’re nothing – so! – they’re the boss of nothing – and – 100% of nothing is nothing.
What’s the point? You know they’re just going to lie to you about the results.
I thought the government had already reclassified marijuana to Schedule 2. If you get cancer you can take their pills. If you want to use it to prevent the formation of tumors in the first place, tough luck.
What’s the deal
[Paul Armentano responds: Cannabis is classified under federal law as a schedule I controlled substance — the most restrictive category. Synthetic THC, when formulated in the prescription drug dronabinol is schedule III.]
what happened to our revolution, regardless, change at times comes with a kick in the butt, Only In America, there are men and women ready and armed to bring down the cowards who covet places of power
Prepare your bundle, the time is close, when Jesus was nailed up on that high cross He Witnessed, he looked into the faces of the people
Millions of people now depend on keeping the War on Drugs going. Police, agents, soldiers, guards, lawyers, judges, nurses, doctors, and a vast army of support staff for each sector, not to mention ancillary industries.
And the government has spent untold billions on propaganda over many generations.
How could any politician fight this monster? If they were to do the right thing, they would be attacked by the brainwashed masses and by the Incarceration Industrial Complex.
The US nation will fall before it will end prohibition.
P.S. The last time I used cannabis, Jimmy Carter was President. In the mean time, most of my family have died of cancer, and I now have tumors growing inside me. It is too bad that we live in this era of tyrany and ignorance.
It’s back in the lap of Michelle Leonhart, so nothing is going to change so long as her mission statement hasn’t changed. I didn’t see a synopsis of the HHS report, except that the federal government has not responded. Without a scientific review by HHS of the evidence and their acknowledgement that there are some medical uses of cannabis it’s dead. Can you force HHS to get cannabis off the DEA and UMiss to do their own testing if they won’t rely on outside professional studies and research? They’ll need the funding for that approved every step of the way. Leonhart will drag her feet so long as possible to prevent anything that might reduce the funding of her bureaucratic empire.
The DEA was established in 1973 by President Richard Nixon. My how they have grown! If only we could model and find the same degree of success with our other federal services and “benefits”. Although the “War On Drugs” is a lost cause, they have effectively sown fear, and prejudice, created a huge class of people who either secretly use recreation drugs, or have been arrested and pay the penalty (like Patricia Spottedcrow in OK).
Any attempt to legitimize and remove the stereotype that cannabis has been defined as in our society is nearly impossible to remove. Cannabis/aka marijuana is the stepping stone to HELL. And the feds, whoever is in power, know that, so why do anything? It’s a dead plant… the people who want to use it, dead people.
What amazes me is we’ve “seen” alcohol prohibition come and go, with a lot of deaths and violence; we’ve seen two world wars c&g; we’ve seen, McCarthism c&g; the Cold War, a Civil Rights Revolution; and long past, cannabis is still considered the most beneficial; yet deadliest plant on the planet!
Makes no sense, and if we don’t push to get cannabis rescheduled or descheduled, now, I’m afraid it never will be.
Yes, I believe Obama is afraid he’ll not get his 2nd term, like Carter didn’t. And Carter had the balls to legalize cannabis, along with home brew. What Obama is missing is the greatest opportunity in American History – REAL CHANGE!!! Activate the scientific consciousness. Create real Democracy. Rebirth the US Constitution; do away with the blighted past cursing Washington. Put this country back into the votes and hands of the American people. Tell Obama to honor his pre-election vows or face failure, but not like President Jimmy Carter, he was honorable and did what he knew was right for the People. He failed not from trying, but from trying.
Cannabis is an herb… from God… ask the feds to remove “In God We Trust” from our money.
Legalizing , regulating and taxing marijuana is and means controlling the substance. It still will be a controlled substance,so make it legal already. Control the substance not the people , culture and beleifs. To do otherwise is not wise.
Prepare for disappointment, folks. With Leonhart in charge, this lawsuit’s going nowhere. We’re talking about the woman who’s in favor of reinstating alcohol prohibition, remember?
i hope this atleast makes a 1/4 page Times article…
DEMAND SCIENTIFIC CONCLUSION – DEMAND THE TRUTH.
America is $15,000,000,000,000 in debt. Yet our evil leaders keep borrowing money to other countries. School budgets are being slashed. Welfare is being cut. Yet those damn planes and helicopters keep flying around, fueled by tax dollars, fighting a war against marijuana. Do you think the people in Joplin, Missouri want to keep sending tax dollars to DEA assholes to fight this war on a plant? Or maybe that money could go to help them rebuild. All these disaters could be handled with ease if we weren`t wasting money on war on a plant. As long as Satan`s minion of drunken hypocrites controls are country, there will never be a change.
Oh and about New Yorks smoking ban in “Family Friendly” parks, Do they still allow drunk pediphiles to drink alcohol in some of these places. Can you say hypocrite?
Take me out to the ballgame, take me out to the park. By me some beer, and some wine coolers, getting drunk around children is fun for drunk fools.
Good luck to all of you putting your neck out for legalization.
http://www.avaaz.org/en/end_the_war_on_drugs/?vl
sign the petition
Definition of politics:
Poly = many
Tics = blood sucking insects
P.S. Somebody please call “The Exterminator.”
The DEA is a waste of our money, they do nothing except run our lives. We all had parents and i do not want ypou in my business. Nixon’s parting shot!
http://www.avaaz.org/en/end_the_war_on_drugs/?vl
In days, we could finally see the beginning of the end of the ‘war on drugs’. This expensive war has completely failed to curb the plague of drug addiction, while costing countless lives, devastating communities, and funneling trillions of dollars into violent organized crime networks.
Experts all agree that the most sensible policy is to regulate, but politicians are afraid to touch the issue. In days, a global commission including former heads of state and foreign policy chiefs of the UN, EU, US, Brazil, Mexico and more will break the taboo and publicly call for new approaches including decriminalization and regulation of drugs.
This could be a once-in-a-generation tipping-point moment — if enough of us call for an end to this madness. Politicians say they understand that the war on drugs has failed, but claim the public isn’t ready for an alternative. Let’s show them we not only accept a sane and humane policy — we demand it. Sign the petition and share with everyone –if we reach 1 million voices, it will be personally delivered to world leaders by the global commission.
We should file a lawsuit against the Government for all the freedoms they have taken for the people in the nation who like or would like to try harmless substances that can even help or enchance them.
36. TheOracal
DEMAND/MANDATE SCIENTIFIC CONCLUSION.
Lay every shred of evidence/research – from every scientific source – on the table – and – let the evidence speak for itself. If Michelle Leonhart withholds evidence – which would be a good thing – perhaps withholding evidence would be appropriate action against her. This should be presented to a candid audience – The American People – in its entirety. The absolute truth is in the science.
37 BobKat
1. McCarthy was right! McCarthy T-shirts maybe.
2. Might as well take “In God we trust” off the money – I doubt if God trusts in the money either. It was only put there to “create trust” in the weak money anyway. Now that there’s no more trust in money – God don’t want to get stuck with the crime – and – I don’t want to stick God with it either.
@44 Nic— I Just signed the petition. Good job!!! 🙂 Keep up the good fight brothers and sisters!!! Peace and love to all!!! NORML CREW—THANKS FOR WHAT YOU DO!!!
Good News: A decent size MMJ case in CA was dropped.
Bad News: It was dropped not on merits of the case, but due to a bad warrant. (The fruit from a rotten tree argument)
Full Story from a local source: http://www.turnto23.com/north_river_county/27998824/detail.html
This story points out the obvious that those in power do sometimes abuse it. Take that power away and no abuse would happen.
Prohibiting something always creates more rule breakers than it stops. Why? It has nothing to do with numbers of users. It’s prohibition itself.
Extreme Example:
How many people would be breaking a law against murder if non-existed? None. There wouldn’t be a law to break, but murders would definitely increase in the short term(for lack of repercussions), but also in the long term (due to what would become the standard for justice among heinous crimes, death by vigilante bullet). Over the long term this would balance out, but at what price? Increased fear from those that wouldn’t hurt a fly(Including those that support gun control to the point of making them illegal for a private citizen). Decreased public safety, etc… However, I bet many more people would own a gun for protection and not care about gun laws.
Where cannabis differs is that complete legalization will lead to and initial “boom” in sales, production, use, etc… but after that it will fall to lower levels. Why? Cannabis is a drug. Not all people “like” drugs. If heroin were legal tomorrow would it have a huge increase in usage? Probably not. Why? Being legal it would be discussed more in the home and at school like cigarettes which have had continued decreasing trend in adult use(cited below). Education works, prohibition doesn’t. At $45 Billion a year, you could hire 1 Million more teachers(at $45K a year). How would this change the student teacher ratio? Answer below.
Adult Tobacco Use Trends(PDF Link): http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhis/earlyrelease/earlyrelease201006.pdf#page=52
(As of the 2009 Digest of Education Statistics put out by the D. of Education)
Current K-12 students: 49,293,000
Current K-12 teachers: 3,178,142
Current Ratio: 15.7 (That would say 15.51, but you have to discount administrators that aren’t teachers)
Add a million teachers: 11.79 (based on the calculation that gave 15.51)
So even considering admins you have a new ratio of about 12:1 versus closer to 16:1. 12:1 would put public schools at about the same ratio as private schools then. They ever think teachers might be overloaded?
(Note: this doesn’t include money that could be gained by taxing and regulating which would likely go toward treatment rather than prosecution.)
P.S. Sorry for the long rant, but I hope it was informative.
Nic said (post 48): “In days, a global commission including former heads of state and foreign policy chiefs of the UN, EU, US, Brazil, Mexico and more will break the taboo and publicly call for new approaches including decriminalization and regulation of drugs.”
Being “the End of the World and All”, and not to rain on Nic, or the parade of others here, but as long as cannabis is so lucrative a business and profitable being illegal, at the cost of “dead citizens” (post 37), it’s HIGHLY unlikely that this commission will be any different from the a charade of so many others. I sure hope I’m wrong, but I hadn’t even heard about this commission until now.
Knowing President Obama (whom I did vote for willingly), it’ll be a Guinness moment, not that I have anything against Guinness.
You need only look at CA… 46.5% voted YES to legalize, of those who voted NO, I guarantee, 25% of them have or do use it or grow it. It is NOT possible to judge cannabis based on popular political or public vote… IT IS NOT AN OPINION PIECE! Cannabis is a medicinal plant, from God, scientifically proven safer than legal recreational alternatives, and very beneficial to millions for a wide range of illnesses.
Common sense as well as science make it a slam dunk case that it should not, and never should have been prohibited. The prohibition of cannabis is very much Unconstitutional. And stupid!
This is not an admission of defeat – far, far from it . Personally – I would rather die on my feet [than] live on my knees. Rather – I would prefer to face reality – the truth. The reality of it is – government will “never give up cannabis “ – there’s too much money in its illegality. The only way we’re going to free cannabis from its “false imprisonment” – is by rule of law – or – the rule of fist. Neither is it the “Fiction of Justice.” This is a fact not fiction – [not a call to arms against our American Brethren]. This is however a grievance against the false and misleading agenda of government. The only way to end this fiasco is to declare religious use – and – fight it out in federal court. The Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 is flawed causing it to be voidable. Let government stand in front of it’s citizens – and – deny God and his Sacrament. Let the people see government spit in God’s eye. It doesn’t matter whether you believe in our Sacrament or not. It doesn’t matter what your political party is – or – your gender, your religion, or your sexual preference. It’s a matter of preserving a Constitutional Right – a religious right. You can – turn your head on pot to protect your freedom.
Our elected officials are cowards. Simple as that. My state had an MM initiative and I wrote my reps and told them about a relative with cancer. Those creeps would not even write me a form letter with the usual lies about “gateway drug” and “sends the wrong message to our children”.
Since our elected officials are the enemies of freedom, what can we do?
Move to Oklahoma where you can get life in prison for growing a single plant? Move to Alaska, kinda cold there in the winter.
#48, Sorry, Internet petitions are too easy to spam.
Write thoughtful comments to your local news sites. People love the comment section after news stories. In the old days the letters to the editor were a popular feature.
Maybe it will make someone think, maybe not.
Be honest. Unlike the enemies of freedom.
56. Love America
Ya! keep going – until you either reach revolution or salvation.
“The truth/salvation is in the science/Faith. Faith and science agree here.”
We agree that it would be in no one’s best interest to make false statements during the period of Scientific Conclusion. That we each put aside what we’ve heard – and what we know – and allow scientific research as evidence and come to Scientific Conclusion that all can abide by. “The truth is in the science and the Faith.”
DEMAND SCIENTIFIC CONCLUSION – ASSESS MEDICAL VALUE – DEFINE THE WHOLE PLANT MATERIAL.
@54. BobKat
Public opinion in the bread and butter of getting elected/re-elected. Public opinion does matter. I would argue it matters the most. If %99.9999 didn’t believe murder was wrong. Then there likely wouldn’t be a law against it. I’m not for anarchy as the prior example would mean a kill or be killed world, but rather for minarchy. Government is needed, but they need to focus on protecting people from each other not from themselves. Public Opinion = Votes
@56. LoveAmerica
Not all of them and more and more are standing up, but greater and more public(glad to see it brought up at the first GOP primary debate, we are getting more national attention) open debate on the issue is needed. It the very ground swell of public opinion that has slowly encouraged more politicians to take a fresh look at an existing problem.
2012 will be the year of green in the election seasons! It is an election that will be driven more by people’s wallets and the overall economic picture than issues like foreign policy. I think for the majority of Americans (MJ is high on the priority list as most are non-smokers) it will go: Economy, National Debt/Deficit, then foreign policy(AKA Wars), then other Domestic matters like MJ. For ads in the 2012 season, our best bet to to show the economic impact of legalization and how it can help the current fiscal crisis(both economic and government debt wise.
Johnson/Paul 2012!
Wish, I could edit my posts at least until they get published. Made a grammatical error or two and a mistype… “seasons” should be “season”, “MJ isn’t high on…”, some capitalization inconsistencies, and a missing parenthesis.
Oh well…
Paul/Johnson 2012!
Genesists do not speak in God’s name – No! No! No! God takes care of God’s business – TCB. Genesists speak through our belief system – and – our individual application of the truth found in our belief system. Speak the truth – shame the devil!
61 Charles
We heard your words [intent] – don’t worry about punctuation – and – don’t worry about political correctness. It has come down to “black and white.” Nobody cares about gray anymore. “Yer either fer it – or – agin’ it.” It’s just that simple. If one is against – one needs to convince me “why” they are resistant. Unlike government – my ears are completely receptive. “Just prove their point.” If there is any one out there that wants to state their case and make their point – just do it. I along with my brethren are anxious to listen to any one that can make their case. I personally will change my stance to accept and include logic and reason from another point of view. Just let me have it right between the eyes. I’m wide open to your point of view – you logic and reason – and your conclusion.
The Prohibitionist’s are like the Geocentrist’s/Catholic Church of the 1600’s. Legend has it that Galileo offered for the Pope to look through his telescope to see the true nature of the Universe but the Pope refused because his mind was already made up that the Earth was the center. Galileo was then brought up on Heresy charges and bascially spent the rest of his life under house arrest. The Prohibitionist’s DO NOT WANT TO SEE, but one day they will be proven wrong just like that Stupid Pope and all the other jerks of thier time. Cannabis and Industrial Hemp are Miracle Plants and someday the science will be overwhelming and the truth will be known. I just hope it is in my lifetime.
@Charles
Good call. Paul or Johnson would definitely end this ridiculous nonsense.
The current time and date in (UTC/GMT) is
6:34 PM
Thursday, May 26, 2011
I pray and wonder about my only soul, do you wonder, have you wondered?
Is it time?
+This is a response I recieved
On 5/25/2011 12:28 PM, Nicodemus wrote:
> http://www.avaaz.org/en/end_the_war_on_drugs/?vl
>
> In days, we could finally see the beginning of the end of the ‘
> war on drugs’. This expensive war has completely failed to curb the plague
> of drug addiction, while costing countless lives, devastating communities,
> and funneling trillions of dollars into violent organized crime networks.
>
> Experts all agree that the most sensible policy is to regulate, but
> politicians are afraid to touch the issue. In days, a global commission
> including former heads of state and foreign policy chiefs of the UN, EU,
> US, Brazil, Mexico and more will break the taboo and publicly call for new
> approaches including decriminalization and regulation of drugs.
This same approach has been used with alcohol, tobacco and firearms,
and it DOES NOT WORK! The ONLY solution to these problems is the same
solution that bleeding heart liberals haven’t the intestinal fortitude
to use. Kill the drug lords and dealers, FORCE the supply to DRY UP
and you FORCE the junkies to sober up or DIE. Drug dealers kill people
in more than one way; they SHOULD get what is coming to THEM…NOT
simply a slap on the wrist.
Use the US military, ROUT them out and KILL EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM,
NO MERCY.
——————————
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I pray and wonder about my only soul, do you wonder, have you wondered?
so i feel like if the goverment really wants to do something about our deatt they should listen to the peaple and ligalize pot.just think of all the money you are waisting by not doing it .
I wish it would rain on this fRiday Night
Nic (65), that seems to be extreme advise:!
Nic: “The ONLY solution to these problems is the same
solution that bleeding heart liberals haven’t the intestinal fortitude to use. Kill the drug lords and dealers, FORCE the supply to DRY UP and you FORCE the junkies to sober up or DIE.”
Nic: “Use the US military, ROUT them out and KILL EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM,
NO MERCY.”
Nic is voicing my sarcastic attitude at this insane “War on Drugs”, and if the Feds are serious – do it – kill us all, as according to your opinion, we’re all “dead” anyways. Only one “joint” is enough to kill us, according to a past drug czar… especially if you’re lucky enough to get busted that first time!
The reality is: I heartedly agree all “recreational drugs/plants” should be legalized, however NOT by violent means… “, especially a war on US citizens that creates victims… which our current system of Laws and Justice creates.
LEAP, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition has a link to the petition listed here several times… it appears a major commission on reform of world drug laws is indeed being addressed. It’s not a scam.
Visit LEAP here: http://www.leap.cc – a link to the AVAZZ is there. Please sign the global petition through the LEAP link, Yes, even law enforcement members are aware a war doesn’t work!
The link to the petition is here: http://www.avaaz.org/en/end_the_war_on_drugs/
What I’d really like to know is why we hear about these critical events days before they happen, if not after, the fact.
Stop the hurt – de-schedule cannabis!!!
I’ve been doing something lately and want to suggest that everyone of you reading this consider doing it too. Basically, I look for news blogs and find a way to add to the blog with a marijuana angle. For example, I found a blog about how bad the ragweed is this year. I commented that marijuana should be made legal and that ragweed should be made illegal. Then we should send the DEA out to eliminate the ragweed; thus justifying their continued existence… Anyway, I’m sure you’re all intelligent and get my point! I think this is a good way to get out various points out to people who don’t peruse marijuana related blogs like this one!
May I Testify
My testament
I Vote for Free Cannabis
When one compare how much damage in society alcohol does and how much marijuana does all this laws is a joke !!
..however unlucky people spend years in prison for that joke . Why wee can purchase alcohol legally everywhere while is costing tragedies : car accidents , domestic abuse, violent crimes ,etc,etc. .. Did you hear about those things happening as result of using cannabis alone ??…I’m almost ready to say ; ” never ” because personally i never heard about violence or speeding on freeway under influence of marijuana alone !..
is time to straight some things out regardless of lawmakers and authorities agenda .
72. Nic
“What happened to the revolution?”
It’s still going strong – that’s why the feds are going stronger – but – they have 60 less bullets today – and that’s 60 bullets they are going to have to account for to the American people – 60 counts of murder. Everyone should have a Jose Guerno T-shirt that we can rub their noses in – that they have to look at every day, everywhere they go – that hey have to see in their dreams – and – be their worst nightmare.
The answer to this seems easy to me…If everyone who wants marijuana legalized were to quit paying taxes, the fed would have it’s hand forced on this one. If nation-wide smoke-ins were scheduled and performed as close to every state capital (with all interested parties involved…no chance there…most Americans lack the balls) in protest, we might see some movement on this issue.
These to me are the kinds of organized, strategic moves that I see as being necessary to win this fight. The blacks didn’t get equal representation in the eyes of the law by singing Kumbiyah in the safety of their homes…they got it by taking it to the streets, and being willing to go to jail for their beliefs….right now such beings are simply in too few supply… I guess the DEA and the fed will keep winning as long as this is the case.
-Oz
@Oz – Your words make sense and seem logical. But, I remember a time when people did have balls and did the things you suggest; protesting, smoke-ins, being willing to go to jail for this cause. It happened in the 60s and part of the 70s and as it turns out, the warmongers, led by Nixon, crushed them… The hippies tried to use logic and peace but weapons won out…
Am I wrong?
75. Oz
When you’re playing “kick ass” it’s the guy that kicks the hardest and the longest that wins – and – the loser goes home with their tail between their legs. But – there’s an easier way to “kick ass” here. What were playing here is the “Super Bowl of Kick Ass.” The killer robots just murdered Jose Guerena. Every rack and package in the U.S. should wear a Jose Guerena T-shirt 24/7/365. We must never let the opposition forget this God Almighty disgraceful act against humanity. We must make them puke every time they see one – and – we should make them puke their guts out leaving them as empty as they are.
76. Don
I know you said that you hit the off button on your remote control – but – those hippies you refer to as being crushed, are now running this government. I guess they got even [revenge] with Tricky Dick [our long national nightmare]. How can Americans be proud of any of this – and – if they are – they’re delusional? How about the Jose Guerena T-shirt? Is that too violent? No! his murder was violent – and – violence begets violence.
This is the best country in the entire world, with that said, we the people are the ones who vote our elected politicians into office and we must start voting for those politicians who support what the people want !!!! Marijuan is medicinal and everyone knows that, but our government dont want to legalize a drug that they have classified as dangerous for so many years.. We must send all politicians a big message this November by voting all those who dont support the will of the people out of office.. Legalize Pot now and end this craziness now. Liquor is the worse drug yet its socially acceptable and legal. America wake up before the citizens of this great country begin to protest out of control like in other parts of the world, and we must demand change to these laws immidiately. Legalize Pot now !!!!
79. jumior
“We must start voting for those politicians who support what the people want !!!!”
We do support politicians that claim to adhere to the “will of the people” when on the campaign trail. The problem is – “They end up being forked tongued devils talking out of the sides of their mouths.” We have to determine who is lying and who is telling the truth before we vote for them. Check out their voting record before you vote – after is too late.
i say file a lawsuit on the DEA for wasting everyone’s time, put the Drug Czar in jail, and root out all the corruption in the Gov….wait a sec the corrupt own the system we can’t use their system against them
81. Matt
“Wait a sec the corrupt own the system we can’t use their system against them.”
The hell we can’t! – and – the 2012 elections is the place to do it. Poor politicians – they’re getting it from both ends – from the corruptors that control them – to the people that own them. Ha! ha! what a job!
I keep hearing these debates and honestly its painfully to see these people in pain having to wait for a magical OK.. i smoke.. it helps.. for those who haven’t done it the buzz is between a cigarette and booze..strain depending..that’s another discussion tho..by the way they cant totally prove the effects due to the cannibinoids (sorry for the typo) react differently between different individuals receptors..By the way its possible to smoke yourself sober.. true fact personal experience..n e ways the point i am having a problem with is why were we misguided and lied to as young ones?..Profit? what profit?we are spending billions and in some areas the money they receive from a bust gets locked in a room.. that’s right money that came from people that work and smoke to relax and/or medicate gets locked in a room.. taking money out of the economy?..the thing is our constitution says that we can’t be told what we can or cant ingest.. FDA rolls around with the DEA and we’ve been locked in a losing battle ever since.. now teachers losing jobs and people becoming more ignorant to the truth were kinda stuck in a mess.. the thing is look at history..all superpowers eventually fall when the infrastructure falls.. Americas is rated D all across the board.. hmm.. where can we get the money?! cannabis is the only plant where money really does grow on trees.. take advantage tax it an rebuild America!!im 21 how cant the politicians get it? Or is there more than what we see?money trades hands in politics don’t let people fool you..there’s thousands of uses for cannabis but the problem is there no lobbyist for marijuana giving senators pay offs..think about it they will listen to the guy with the most cash..
The DEA refuses to reclassify Cannabis as a drug with medical properties. While the DEA has licensed over 50 cultivation permits for pharmaceutical companies to develop Cannabis based medications. And the synthetic Cannabis medication Sativex should be approved by the FDA next year in time to show the voters that the administration is pro medical Cannabis. The administration wants Cannabis profits in the hands of corporations not dirty old hippies.
84: C. Lloyd:
No doubt all the big-Pharma drugs based on cannabis are for the terminally ill, with their doctor telling them they have about 6 months to live.
That’s great! That very sick people have good medicine while under hospice care. The problem is cannabis obviously has an extraordinary range of benefits and not just to people with medical necessity, but rather, people of all walks of life, from people who benefit for social issues like ADHD, stress, PTSD (as a therapy for bad dreams), religious and spiritual enlightenment, an alternative to harmful drugs like alcohol and tobacco, the list goes on.
I am still interested in hearing the scientific proof behind the lack of medicinal value of cannabis, and the extreme potential as very addictive drug, as in casual use of the plant. I see, have seen ZERO proof of any evidence of this claim, which is the basis of a Schedule One “Narcotic”, and it isn’t even a narcotic – proof of that would be important to.
Where’s “transparency”? There isn’t any. All of it is anecdotal!!!
Where did all these promising Big Pharma drugs originate from? Tobacco?
Tobacco is the drug that they pretend is cannabis, as it fits exactly within a Schedule One category.
As Rep. Barney Frank said recently, “cannabis is not habit-forming or at least not as much as tobacco is”, and the fact is, there is NO MEDICAL VALUE to tobacco, except to kill people in what I consider a slow, suddenly painful death.
What this tells me our government does not want respect for authority, does not require “trust in government”, faith in it’s decisions, any of that. They want control… total control, and author George Orwell was absolutely correct in his visions, and novel “1984”…
It’s a matter of if you’re wealthy enough you can have your own private growing room and grow whatever. Get caught, you can afford an attorney to get you off with what the average citizen will find is life in prison.
So what can we do??? We’ve got a House packed with evangelical Tea-Party zombies whose goal is to redefine government and in the name of Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness, make it as prejudice as possible, for only those who follow like sheep. The Lord’s Sheep, and if you’re anything other than that, privatized prisons is where one belongs.
How soon before the American Inquisition begins? Or has it already begun… yes, it’s already been going on now for at least 70+ years. From what I understand of the “Tea-Party”, if you belong, you’d say that is not true. You’d say, government isn’t doing enough to tread on those who aren’t mainstream religious, don’t accept government should “educate students with more firm goals, like Creationism instead of science.
But even Creationists can’t say pseudo-scientifically that cannabis is by God, a schedule 1 drug. God gave humans the plants of the earth, the cattle, and all crawling things. He didn’t specify or give those rights to the DEA or Tea-Party members.
I have no respect or confidence in either of them… I’ve seen what the 40 year “War on Drugs” has does to our nation. I’ve seen what lack of transparency has done. And I voted for a seated President that seems to care little, or is powerless to do what he promised he’d do.
Stop the Hurt!!!
The president is powerless to legislate Medical Cannabis or decriminalize it on his own but he has the power to reclassify it. And to stop harassing state governments that have Medical Cannabis programs. And to be open and honest with the American people of the stance of the US government and the research partnerships it has wit pharmaceutical companies. One of the presidents main campaign promises was to be transparent. I am sure with the upcoming elections we will hear an apology on that with promises to be more open.
@86 – Considering how dishonest and non-transparent Obama’s administration has been thus far, I can find no reason to believe he will be any different if we allow him a second term. I hope with all my heart that we are given a better option for President in the next election! Given the chance, I’d vote for Ron Paul or Gary Johnson in a heartbeat but it doesn’t look like the powers that be are going to let that happen…
What are your favorite flowers? With a view warning, I like totally much astromerii.
and today 14 feb 2018 yet another, official attempt at correcting this [now ridiculous]
false incorrect and wrong mis-scheduling
– schedule 1, for heroin, strychnine etc –
of the nontoxic non-addictive non-narcotic
therapeutic god given plant cannabis for which
there has been not a single death caused in thousands of years of recorded history..
so much for american democracy, when the vaste majpority of american citizens approve of, thewrapeutic and recreational cannabis..
when most citizens live in states with medical cannabis laws, and nine states [and counting]
have legal recreational cannabis laws..
seems the law and constitution are meant for protecting the corrupt and god help epileptic children and others in need of this genuine
proven therapeutric medicine..
based on, human brains endo-cannabinoid system,
which actively uses cannabinols of cannabis in various specific therapeutic actions..
yet, an old brain, conditioned to ancient rhetoric long disproved, unelected by anyone,
now stands [again] between the will of the vaste majority at the behest of big pharma, big alcohol, big tobacco and various vested interests such as private prisons overflowing with mainly black cannabis users…
view from outside looking in..