A federal judge in Sacramento this week dismissed a federal lawsuit filed in November by members of the NORML Legal Committee against the US Department of Justice, US Attorney General Eric Holder, and DEA Director Michele Leonhart. The lawsuit (read it here), one of four filed simultaneously in the state’s four federal districts, argues that the Justice Department’s ongoing crackdown against medical marijuana providers and distributors in California is in violation of the Ninth, Tenth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the US Constitution because the use of cannabis therapeutically is a fundamental right. Petitioners also argue, using the theory of judicial estoppel, that the Justice Department had previously affirmed in public memos and in statements made in federal court that it would no longer use federal resources to prosecute cannabis patients or providers who are compliant with state law.
On Wednesday, US District Judge Garland Burrell, Jr., rejected those arguments and and granted the respondent’s dismissal motion. He denied petitioners request for public hearings prior to making his ruling.
Judge Burrell rejected plaintiffs’ Ninth and Tenth Amendment challenges, finding: “Since the Supreme Court has held the that CSA’s (federal Controlled Substances Act) categorical prohibition of the possession, manufacturing, and distribution of marijuana does not exceed Congress’ authority under the Commerce Clause (Article I Section 8, Clause 3 of the US Constitution), plaintiffs do not have a viable …. claim.”
He also rejected plaintiffs’ equal protection arguments, finding that the Justice Department’s actions in California mimic efforts the federal government has taken against “similarly situated individuals” elsewhere. Judge Burrell also cited court rulings finding that defendants in previous challenges have failed to meet the “heavy burden of proving the irrationality of the schedule I classification of marijuana.”
Finally, Judge Burrell dismissed plaintiff’s judicial estoppel clam, which argues that defendants’ “recent crackdown … against medical cannabis patients flouts the representations made on the record by the Department of Justice” in public memos and statements in court. Responding to this challenge, Judge Burrell determined, “Since judicial estoppel does not apply unless ‘a party’s later position [is] ‘clearly inconsistent with its earlier position,’ and the Ogden memo does not contain a promise not to enforce the CSA, defendants’ enforcement of the CSA is not inconsistent.”
Commenting on the ruling, Attorney David Michael of San Francisco, who along with Matt Kumin and Alan Silber were the lead attorneys in these four challenges, said “We are disappointed, but not discouraged, that the District Courts have thus far denied us the relief we had sought. They are constrained by existing precedent, and the result was not unexpected. It is the Ninth Circuit where we hope to find a receptive audience, and, with the Lawrence v. Texas decision, we may also have a more receptive audience in the Supreme Court, should the issue go there.”
Judges for the Ninth Circuit had previously determined in Raich v Gonzalez: “For now, federal law is blind to the wisdom of a future day when the right to use medical marijuana to alleviate excruciating pain may be deemed fundamental. Although that day has not yet dawned, … (it) may be upon us sooner than expected.”
“We continue to address the problems of synthetic drug manufacturing, trafficking, and abuse. Our efforts have clearly shown that these chemicals present an imminent threat to public safety … This six month extension is critical and gives us the time necessary to conduct the administrative scheduling process for permanent control.”
—-
Thank the DEA for protecting us from these imminent public threats, one decades old and one thousands of years old.
Any day now, the sky is falling. Just don’t ask US Patent 6630507, proving Cannabis does not meet the criteria for CSA Schedule I listing.
Truth is treason in the empire of lies. Freaky that the DEA lies with a straight face. Fuck em, they lose all legitimacy by lying.
What Democracy.
Note to Judges: the US Supreme Court isn’t always right. Take it in for a minute, Judge Burrell and others. In fact, even the US Supreme Court doesn’t think the US Supreme Court isn’t always right. The argument that the Interstate Commerce clause of the Constitutional can govern medical marijuana produced for and residents in the same state is a specious argument at best, and very indicative of the racially and politically questionable judgements rendered by this body in the not-so-distant past.
New day, new great fact based, educational articles by NORML, no change…………
Why are we voting for Obama again?
Where is the protest vote?
I am not rallying and voting and getting all fuzzy for Obama and car pooling and “Getting out the vote”. I am 100% voting for any one that can win. Well try again with republicans. Sad I know.
Its a very delicate 4% and they stand a chance to loose the Medical vote altogether.
And I can assure you right now if you check all the medical forums no one is voting for for “Change” this time around because it was not only business as usual but Big business as usual.
Delicate it is, 4% could do the trick and topple this regime.
If he can loose the 4% as most elections are always 51% to 49% +/- then why don’t we “Toke the vote” away from Obama?
I use medical marijunana in a state where it is not legal and my Doctor will tell me when my eye pressure is so high that his drugs will not lower it to go out and do what I do in order not to lose my eye sight. Its makes me sick to think that the justice department is so blind that they can make a choice for me its not their sight its mine and I valve my eyes almost as much as my life. Who has the right to take my sight from me the doctors are amazed I still see and know its the marijuana that is doing it. I am one of many that went against the law to save my sight by smoking marijuana how can people not see the benefits of this all natural relief? wake up justice dept. look at the real world not your small circle of people who have never been faced with losing something that means so much to each and everyone who is a glaucoma patient.
SSDD… 100 years from now we will hopefully realize how ridiculously stupid this epoch in America really is in so many aspects.
Oh what a crook judge who sided with DEAs like Homeland Security, Napitola who said, that Mexico Drug War is working? But it doesn’t back up with fact of reality! They need to wake up to blind view of the world. The violence is still going on endlessly.
What a joke. The Constitution is what binds our government and it was all about limited powers. What someone does with their own body is none of the government’s business! It’s sad when federal courts don’t uphold our freedoms. Revolution is long overdue.
Ron Paul has announced Judge Andrew Napolitano as a possible VP! That would be great if it happened.
sounds like someone bribed the judge
Let me get this straight. The government first says “Don’t worry, we won’t mess with you for medical marijuana.” and then turns around and messes with them for medical marijuana, and now those two stances are not “clearly inconsistent”?
So not only do they refuse to shape their policies in any way, shape or form around the will of the people but also somehow manage to shape the laws so they don’t have to follow any degree of logic or common sense?
Is there anyone on this Earth who would see something like this, regarding marijuana or otherwise, and not immediately think “Well hang on now, that doesn’t make any sense at all.”
Apparently the answer to that question is: The Federal Government.
By Executive Order in New Jersey:
The Order announced today bans ten entire classes of synthetic compounds that imitate the effects of marijuana, and all known or unknown variants of the drug that would fall within each class. The Order also expressly includes “any other synthetic chemical compound that is a cannabinoid receptor agonist and mimics the pharmacological effect of naturally occurring cannabinoids” – in other words, any synthetic chemical that mimics the effects on the brain of marijuana’s active ingredient
—–
So the truth comes out:
Citizens SHALL NOT stimulate their Cannibinoid Receptors with ANY SUBSTANCE not approved by non-scientists.
4 vs 1. I’m wondering if you guys, if could, should have hired 8 attorneys.
4 attorneys one for each dif. district *facepalm*. If I were a cazillbillionare “figure of speech”, I’d hire 50 attorneys for you guys. That being said.
I hope this move is just a Knight being moved on the board.
Going after landlords is ridiculous. I see the fed govt are Indian givers “not being racist at all, it is a well known term to give and take back”. Which is what it looks like on paper.
I just love this part here, they do not officially recognize medical use of cannabis, I think we all know this and is just disgusting to my stomach.
All that being said, when are we gonna move our rook, bishop and queen to check mate these fuckers?
BTW, did any of you commentators and NORML staff know that the lawmakers are gonna get a pay raise? And I am not talking about the normal nickle, dime, quarter or even a few bucks but upto Six Hundred Dollars?
Yea that’s right, even though we are in the hole, they passed it! Un fucking believable.
Not just one state, but from the looks of it, all of them.
https://encrypted.google.com/search?q=lawmakers+get+raise+&btnG=Search&hl=en
I am completely flabbergasted. I’ve grown half head of grey hair over all this fed govt Crap.
Well, like I said prior, they are Leeches that don’t have callus’s to prove they are a true hard working American that the true hard working American’s are paying their pay raises, put food on their table and a roof over their head. If someone could find the strongest term of being angry, that’s the term I would like to use atm.
Hmm, yes, because the logic of “that’s how it’s been, so that’s how it should stay” is certainly a healthy and reasonable one.
Unless I’m misunderstanding that’s what’s going on here, that’s what’s happening.
I’m not going to lie, this whole war on drugs thing has really shaken my faith in our system of government, and has especially made me question the role of supreme court judges. These people are supposed to simply interpret the constitution, and they’re doing far from that.
They’re placed on this pedestal where they become these infallible law-deciding gods who are the last word on what is and isn’t constitutional, and our system seems to just ignore the fact that these are just people too. They aren’t infallible gods. And yet despite the fact that they seem to not-all-that-irregularly make decisions that are obviously colored by bias they’re immune from being removed like a normal politician.
Unfortunately, that makes these people like a time capsules of non-progression. They’re fools sitting high up there on their before mentioned pedestal, given power that no group that small should have, and it results in bullshit decisions, which other judges then use as rationalization for dismissing cases such as this.
This has nothing to do with what’s really constitutionally right.
This has to do with a bunch of old, clueless, power-tripping fossils who are scared of change hanging on to all they know, and they’ll be damned if they won’t twist the constitution/law into knots if they have to to keep it that way.
Ah, that perversion of the Commerce Clause seems to be the piece of shit that just keeps on giving.
Before long the government is going to invoke the Commerce Clause to explain why they have to give me permission before I can wipe my ass.
There are some torts in this document that are worth arguing, particularly judiciary estoppel. However, after you add in the amendments to the mix, it starts to sound like “the spirit of the law” in argumentation. It would be much better to go after this case with a more definite fact pattern of torts and the rule of law. Although I side with the cause, and believe everyone should have safe access to good cannabis, the complaint needs refinement for a judge to look at it and be like, “Even though the Federal Law overrules state law, the actions of the government have actually breached a contract and this should be examined further”. Interpretation leaves room for the government to say “We like it the way it is”, documentation leaves room for the people to say “You’ve overstepped your own lines”
that judge was paid off again he did even care and his argument of burden of proof of cannabis being removed for schedule 1 is total BS in that the DEA own judge said it should be removed from schedule 1 and I still don’t understand how the DEA can override a judges ruling again and again anyone else who does that for that long would be held in contempt of court
The govt’s position on this matter is extremely bothersome to anyone who knows the difference between right and wrong! I don’t totally understand all the legal mumbo-jumbo, but to me that’s all it is if all that mumbo-jumbo ultimately means that good people are going to get hurt by a bad law and that the govt will continue to have way too much power over how individuals choose to live their lives here in America.
oh , by the way, fuck off….i still love love you?
It is very sad…Condolesa Rice
The George Bush reaction was the target
Yes upon the reaction . tell me …Yes or Know?
But do… you Love me?….
Judge Burrell also cited court rulings finding that defendants in previous challenges have failed to meet the “heavy burden of proving the irrationality of the schedule I classification of marijuana.””Placement on schedules; findings required
Except … The findings required for each of the schedules are as follows:
(1) Schedule I.—
(A) The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse.
(B) The drug or other substance has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.
(C) There is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision.”
Under these guidlines, tobacco and alcohol should be schedule 1 drugs.
Legalization for medical use in 16 states with proven benificial results disproves (C)and (B), (A) just disproves itself with the use of opioids, anti-depressants, and many other addictive and harmful, if not deadly drugs that are FDA approved.
This Judge must be blind to not see the irrationality of Cannabis,(Marijuana), being listed as a schedule 1 drug.
So the legal challenge failed to yield results. I wonder if we could appeal to simple human decency?
Democracy is dead in America, we are ruled by a Fascist Corporatism and there is only one rule in this form of government. CORPORATE PROFIT.
The federal govt. has proven to be completely disfunctional where compassion must be applied. They would rather pain and disease cover the earth than do what is needed to control this. The problem with this is they will dying along with us at a time it could have been avoided. Their actions tell off on them even they say differently. Complete ignorance of our Constitution is intolerable for our country and we will never move forward as such.
So, what, you expected the DOJ/DEA to ADMIT they are all insane and have been lying to Americans for Seventy Five years-thusfar?
No. That will not happen.
Our government PATENTED CANNABIS compounds (US Patent 6,630,507) which is the SAME as acknowledging medicval use-thereby removing it from schedule I..Although any first yeasr law student knows this the “most learned minds” are full of nothing but lies an innuendo.
J. Edgar is praising you, Supreme Court-from his grave…
Long Live Tyranny!~
Challenging this decision is a futile gesture as it is evident that “They” will retain Cannabis in the Schedule I of the CSA. An entirely unfounded system of regulation of harm.
They only way they will legalize (let up on) cannabis is when they have no other choice.
Keep running the economy until cannabis is legalized.
The link for this post goes to an article about Rhode Island opening cannabis dispensaries. Individually, the feds will swoop in and crush the east coast movement. However, if the eastern states synchronize their up and running dispensary grand openings, there will be strength in numbers that will stretch the feds’ budgets even thinner. It’s more to do on the same budget.
Keep running the economy into the ground so their cannabis prohibition budgets are quickly exhausted, and slash and cut their budgets drastically at the same time.
Keep running the economy into the ground until cannabis is legal.
Thank you NORML for stepping up to the plate and swinging the bat. Yes, you struck out this time but you tried. Better luck in future cases and don’t quit trying!
The classification in schedule 1
is unreasonable
like putting spinach or brussel sprouts in that category
is arbitrary
It is indisputable that Cannabis when eaten is superior to any available medicine approved by the FDA to alleviate intraocular pressure (IOP).
Large amounts of THC cause people to sleep, which is a chief complaint of people who take laboratory synthesized dronabinol or marinol. This is actually a remedy for insomnia.
The “munchies” is a phrase which briefly describes the stimulation of appetite produced by use of some Cannabis. This is useful for patients suffering from wasting illnesses seen in, for example, cancer patients.
Cannabis has been demonstrated to stimulate growth of new brain cells and also inhibit further growth of tumor cells which are basically cells that have lost control of appropriate reproduction (by cell division) and have become cancerous.
For over 40 years it has been fact http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/4189491.html
that Cannabis lowers IOP in patients with glaucoma and patients without glaucoma.
As early as 1971, it was noted that smoking marijuana lowered intraocular pressure. In this study one of the active components of marijuana, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, was given intravenously to ten subjects with normal intraocular pressures. Two strengths were used–0.022 mg/kg of body weight and 0.044 mg/kg of body weight. Intraocular pressure was found to decrease as much as 51% of baseline normal with an average decrease of 37%. Heart rate increased in a range of 22% and 65% of the resting pulse. Respiratory rate was not affected. No analgesic properties were demonstrated by either cutaneous or periosteal stimulation. Anxiety levels were increased by delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol over placebo and diazepam (Valium). The mechanism of action is still uncertain but it is believed by some workers to be similar to that of a beta-adrenergic stimulator.
Cannabis is medicine. There is no doubt about that.
Schedule I classification, all scheduling of any drugs, are therefore arbitrary, and a stupid, silly joke, pulled on the entire citizenry of America. Those in charge of scheduling are clowns and incompetents; intellectually dishonest and easily bought or persuaded by special interest.
I voted for Obama once. “Fool me once shame on me.”
This is not a federal issue. This is not even a state issue. It is a private issue as much as the right to eat oatmeal to lower blood cholesterol. Cannabis should be “regulated and taxed” as much as home-grown tomatoes.
Only in a corrupt system can this crap still be an issue and a human rights violation in the year 2012.
Go fuck yourself! We the people will not give in. End Prohibition & Reschedule Marijuana. You have violated the constitutional rights of the America people and that’s the facts.
Efforts were made by the U.S. Department of Justice and the head DEA administrator to make it futile for those who opposes their actions against the states on cannabis issues.
It was all planned.
What a huge surprise … that a Federal judge permits no challenge to their Police State. Cui bono? It is the crony corporations that benefit most from Prohibition 2.0. Behind them in $$$ benefit is the Police State itself, who have used Prohibition 2.0 to establish themselves. What bureaucracy would voluntarily aid in it’s own demise?
But follow the money. Prohibition 1.0 lasted for only 10 years before it began crumbling, but in that time official corruption spread from top to bottom, local political machines to the States and the Feds. Prohibition 2.0 has lasted 70+ years, worth 1000x more than Prohibition 1.0. The Wall Street banksters have been laundering drug money for decades, with Wells Fargo / Wachovia recently prosecuted for laundering $372.4 Billion USD over a 5 year period. No one in banking has gone to prison, instead subjected to a $160 Million USD fine — merely a cost of doing business. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, when asked about re-legalizing cannabis, stated that “there is too much money (in illicit drugs) for it to ever be made legal”.
Today, the USA is on the hairy edge of full scale martial law, with the Constitution & Bill of Rights totally shredded — a Police State. Is anyone surprised that US Marines guard Afghani poppy fields, or that the CIA has been intimately involved in drug trafficking, for decades?
Only a radical shift in the political status quo will permit the end of this Police State, as well as the end of Prohibition 2.0. Congress has a 10% approval rating. The Obama regime asked for and got (from Congress) the end of the last guarantees of the Constitution & Bill of Rights with the passage of NDAA FY2012, with the power of a tyrannical dictator of life-and-death over citizens that exceeds any British monarch. When the Constitution & Bill of Rights is dead, so too is the Rule of Law upon which it is based. Our government no longer has any legitimate claim to the right to rule over us.
Revolution must come, either at the ballot box or with violence, if we are to return to our Constitutional republic. I would recommend that everyone reading here reject the mainstream media’s “reality distortion field”. Question authority. Challenge The Powers That Be. Re-elect nobody — “our” politicians are all either guilty or complicit. Vote Green Party locally, and write-in Ron Paul for President.
I sued a fairly large City here in California . In my defense presented to the Judge was a mountain of evidence with over 30 witnesses .This particular case was lopsided in my favor .The judge ruled in the City’s favor . Corruption is rampant within the Judicial system out here and it will spread within this Nation .I looked up the Judge online after her ruling . She in fact had major ties to City projects . Corruption is rapidly growing in California and it’s spreading throughout this Nation .
This is an act of war silently declared by the federal government on the citizens of this Nation, we must fight violence may be the only way to fix these prohibitionist permanently. They want to break into our homes and arrest us for using drugs than we must start doing the same
The CSA is not the Constitution, and should not be given greater weight. Freedom should always trump restriction, especially when the science backs it up.
It looks like it is time to “break the system”. This can be initiated immediately — if you serve on an impaneled grand jury or are scheduled to do so, explore the avenues to widen or branch your investigation to include corruption of local politicians & judges. If you serve on a jury trial or are scheduled to do so, consider adamantly voting “Not Guilty” for all non-violent drug related crimes. If you have been arrested and charged with any non-violent drug crimes, consider pleading “Not Guilty” and requesting a jury of your peers, regardless of the draconian “down side” to a “Guilty” verdict. Google / Bing for “jury nullification” — it IS legal, and a basic right of citizens.
In the longer term, we need to abandon the false dichotomy of “liberal vs conservative”, of “Democrat or Republican”, of any “Us vs Them” except “For the Constitution, Bill of Rights, & Rule of Law vs the kleptocratic globalists”. Re-elect No Incumbent Politician that has worked to undermine our rights, whether they are Democrat or Republican. Vote for or against individual politicians dependent upon that criteria. Investigate and expose these authoritarians, and organize to depose them. It may take another 10 – 12 years to see positive results, but with dedicated resolve We the People can reclaim our rights & freedoms.
IF the recession gets worse soon, and it seems likely it will, then it will be a crucial part of changing cannabis laws. Expect a super majority support (55%-60%+) within the decade. This will most certainly be a critical time to influence political change regarding the decriminalization and regulation of cannabis. Stay tuned.
“Revolution must come, either at the ballot box or with violence, if we are to return to our Constitutional republic. I would recommend that everyone reading here reject the mainstream media’s “reality distortion field”. Question authority. Challenge The Powers That Be. Re-elect nobody — “our” politicians are all either guilty or complicit. Vote Green Party locally, and write-in Ron Paul for President.”
America needs a peaceful Renaissance! It can happen by giving the people something for once; like the Fed government allowing states to engage in medical marijuana commerce, to build a legal marijuana economy. Legal medical marijuana doesn’t just fill the coffers of marijuana dispensaries! It fills space for landlords in a soft real estate market. Legal marijuana gives advertisers a new customer base, that makes business better for magazines, newspapers, and other local media. Legal medical marijuana allows for off shoot business, like garden shops, hardware stores, to gain some new customers; as well as rent space from landlords. Legal marijuana created an immigration factor to free states, that brought an overall benefit to the general economy. In other words, an above ground, highly regulated, marijuana product is good business for everybody! And it is irresponsible and illogical to allow this legal industry to crumple back to an underground economy run and benefiting criminals!
So why is the Fed trying to stomp out this brand new legal industry that could have been an economic boon for these local economies (and eventually the entire country), as well as gesture by the government to show that it is also working for the people, not just corporate/banking interests? Why are these people so cold and unreasonable?
NORML has to change its strategy. It is obvious that we are not going to get anywhere challenging the law or by voting for a candidate. The game is rigged and these systems are an unreasonable stone wall.
The best thing NORML could do right now is ditch politics and pour all their resources and energy into a mass media project to educate the public on marijuana truth. TV commercials, radio commercials, billboards, magazine ads, magazine articles, newspapers, internet to try and saturate the “information war” with truthful & opportunistic medical marijuana information. A ruthless media campaign could get a lot of Americans on the fence about legal marijuana and peck at the non-believers. NORML could get 75% of the country behind legal marijuana! And this could create real change.
[Editor’s note: Advertisement campaigns across all media has never been, is not and likely never will be for 99.9% of the over 250,000 non-profit organizations in America, notably the two dozen or so drug policy reform groups.
It is not like over 42 years groups like NORML have not run ad campaigns.
See NORML Ad Gallery and a national ad campaign NORML ran in 2009.
No sufficient financial resources, no media sympathy, no ownership sympathy for gratis ads (save for High Times!) equates to no TV, radio, newspaper, magazine, billboards or Internet ads for a group like NORML…unless disproportionately large donations are received for such.]
“Litigating the U.S. Federal Government is analogous to grounding your parents, it just doesn’t work.” We the people need to continue demand for legislative reform on cannabis (worldwide). The Controlled Substance Act is the root of evil in this (worldwide) legislative war. We the people need only to elect Federal officials into office who can bring about true positive reform on the CSA. We the people can start today by altering our spending habits and voting with our dollars.
The feds have dishonored the fallen in our military as well. For honor they have none. They have elected to be as beast of the field. Open Season on the beast.
Sounds like someones been bribed to me……
VP Biden’s going to Central America for leaders to discuss to reform drug law like legalization, but he claims that US has no interest to do so? Whose interest is that, self interest that don’t represent the majority of us. Internationnal Drug Treaty should be terminated as outdated policy!
These Judges should be thourghly monitored and background check like individuals in this country for corruption and briber by people such as big pharma, oil, amongst other big business that would lose profit by legalization. I thought states shall govern themselves federal government are just using the commerce trading to control cannabis what a joke, as citizens this should be a big concern are government are not hearing the will of the people and getting told what we need. As a disabled veteran I am deeply sadden by the lack of compassion to the sick and injured not just the military but also are sick and I’ll citizens. The United States government should be ashamed but if they honor are fallen military heros by throwing the dead in a ditch in Maryland I guess the people that make desisions have no honor with no honor they will get no respect. Till then I say replace the whole legislative branch executive and judicial branch till the will of the people are heard. Zorro
There is an anti-science element alive and well in our country. Rarely, is it so blatant!
These comments & would be petitions will represent .99% vs their .01% to Supreme Court to address our grievances against unjust DEA scheduling & Feds anti-pot stance, marijuana needs to be descheduled, legalized medical marijuana & health/industrial hemp & decriminalized adults use that’ll represent our interest to reform its outdated law to update to current reality that’ll be safer choice in harm reduction for compassion culture & saner society, it’ll raise revenues & reduce deficits, so will have more funds for natural disaster & schools by reduce prison budget that’ll be common sense for crisis!
Sounds like ” more facts ” above is talking about, Colleen Stern of, Santa Barbara, Ca.
She is the most corrupt Judge in the Nation dishing out unjust rulings in favor of the City of, Santa Barbara .
“America needs a peaceful Renaissance! It can happen by giving the people something for once; like the Fed government allowing states to engage in medical marijuana commerce, to build a legal marijuana economy. Legal medical marijuana doesn’t just fill the coffers of marijuana dispensaries!”
Such a “Renaissance” has already been tried, in the 1960’s and early 1970’s (if you are old enough to remember this). It didn’t work. The power of the Police State has tightened it’s grip on the collective throat of We the People since that time.
And if you have been “awakened” and have been following current events for the past 20+ years, you should already be aware that placid status quo resistance has proved to be ineffective in spawning change beneficial to individual rights & freedoms. New and more effective strategies must be developed and widely implemented. “Jury nullification” has already been proven to work to thwart tyrannical cannabis laws, in such bastions of freedom as Montana. Discarding the “Left vs Right” and “Democrat vs Republican” paradigms in favor of holding each and every incumbent politician and prospective politician responsible for the authoritarian positions they espouse must be part of any new offensive against The Powers That Be. Our politicians must be made to fear the voters more than those, TPTB, who would enslave us all. Crony corporate “personhood” only stands as a viable “truth” when Texas imprisons and / or executes some of these for criminal activity.
I used to think only the mafia could get away with buying federal judges…….
When you have a FEDERAL JUDGES involved, they already have the advantage of FEDERALISM and the NEW WORLD ORDER behind them. They could’nt care about our CONSTITUTIONAL rights when it comes to us, but when it comes to them, they are just some puppets having their strings pulled by the elite to satisfy themselves and their cronies to protect FEDERALISM and their UTOPIAN control over the citizens of our country. MARIJUANA PROHIBITION the CONSTITUTIONAL KILLER of our rights and beyond, their TROJAN HORSE. The BARBARIANS are at the gate, it is time for the WALL come down. The MONARCHY of our government have superceded the rights of the people. THE NEW GREEN INDUSTRY SHALL PREVAIL OVER TIME when the FEDS get their heads out of their asses and face reality.
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again– a win is needed this year in November. ONE STATE must legalize to move us forward… otherwise we’re just treading water and pounding our dicks.
Sounds like there goes our rights!!! Pure Communism; They are so scarred of FULL LEGALIZATION that is why they are doing this, More scare tactics. We need to keep moving full steam ahead until we RUN over the Feds. The commerce clause is political BS, it is only to pertain to goods leaving or entering a state! Once states start to legalize in 2012 the’ll be no stopping it MICHAEL, you are just a puppet of BIG INDUSTRY!!!
It is unfortunate that Federal Judges are what has to be dealt with as the 3 letter agencies are the whole reason we are right in this mess in the first place.
Even if a state were to vote in majority to regulate cannabis, we will have enormous problems getting around the international treaties set forth by the United Nations. We must ATTACK these efforts to keep cannabis as a prohibited item by the United Nations…
Hello my name roberto and I am deaf person so I live in Texas and I have seizure when I take pills for seizure medical sometime not work for me it still to be seizure so I use smoke pot.it help me a lot but I want medical marijuana so I can use smoke pot no more take pills but I know Texas can’t let medical marijuana so please help me make Texas government let to me use medical marijuana
A federal judge. Ruling in favor of the federal branch.
Shocking!
Judge Burrell also cited court rulings finding that defendants in previous challenges have failed to meet the “heavy burden of proving the irrationality of the schedule I classification of marijuana.”
The misdirection is so subtle.
It occurs to me that the easier irrationality to prove is the current federal definition of marijuana itself. It is a racist tautology which is 104 words long and doesn’t define a single thing. Rather, it defines a combination of
things which are manifested in multiple ways. There may have been a
rational purpose, but the definition is irrational.
Contrast it with this simple definition of marijuana which does define a single thing, is rational, and actually shows respect for our Constitution.
16. The term ‘marijuana’ means all parts
of the smoke produced by the combustion
of the plant Cannabis sativa L.
For more information, google Talking Points for the Peloton.
“It’s not about losing control , it’s about taking it.“
Cannabis will be decriminalized, in most places and cases, within about 15 years. After that, about 30 years from now we can count some form of legal cannabis.
Are you guys seriously surprised? The strategy of playing meek and mild is a failure.
@txpeloton – I wonder… Since the definition of marijuana has to do with smoke, if I make my own canna-butter using the plant, instead of smoking it, does that mean that the butter does not fall under the legal definition of what our law system considers illegal? If I was to get busted, say for having a brownie made using that canna-butter, could I use this definition as a legal defense? Surely it can’t be that easy, but our law system is so full of loopholes it’s rediculous; although I fully realize that most of those loopholes tend to favor the rich and powerful…
If you research and study every website that has anything to do with the history, chemistry and use of Cannabis you can easily conclude that it never belonged as a partner with heroin and cocaine.
The Police State is more important than rational discussion over a sui generis plant formed by Nature’s God.
Unbelieveable this is what America has come to.
this is a joke. The federal goverment has absolutely no right, and if there going to use force like this then others need to do so as well. Our constitution was fought for, and we need to do the same. This is only a money scheme for them. The federal government and the obama administration is the face of communism in america.
This is exactly why we need to keep pushing for Legalization of Marijuana in general on a federal level. That’s the only way we will solve all these problems. As support grows and grows and opponents decrease, it all narrows down to a matter of time and a little bit of effort. The government needs to get out of regulating the individual’s freedom to do whatever they want to themselves. It’s only when that individual does something to someone else is when he should be arrested.
Wow these guys who say it will get better in 30 years…. I said the same thing 30 years ago and look where we are now.
@ somedood yes you are right! The people that say wait till the older generation dies off, wake up people those closed minded people are still breeding. So in all actuality the time is Now! Legalize, reschedule class v. F*cking something!
…oooh the power of money on the federal level…….
If you need real proof that our justice system is broken you don’t have to look at this page. Just look at our president that is a murderer by definition and has no regard for the supreme laws he swore to uphold.
Hi Don,
Good question.
The federal definition currently has no mention of smoke, so I think it would be better to ask, “When the definition of marijuana…”, to make your proposal correct.
This is such total crap. I am all for violent revolution at this point but unfortunately one thing I know about Sacramento is that people are terrified here of those in charge.
[Editor’s note: It is a good thing that people in Sacramento, and every where else, are afraid of violent revolution as violence is a bad thing to do to achieve policy reforms, most especially for ending a government prohibition against a plant.
Inciting violence to reform cannabis laws is an absolute non-starter.]
Looking at the Super Tuesday results… do you really think there is any chance in hell to get Romney or Santorum on board for any type of legalization? We are pretty well screwed unless we get some good Congressional movement going.
To that editor’s note…
Revolution may be the only way to stop the tyranny in government. It may not have to get violent, but it may come to that even. Prohibition tramples our freedoms. It’s the duty of the people to use the second amendment for what it was intended for.
“The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.”
-Thomas Jefferson
[Editor’s note: You can quote America’s revolutionary heroes till you turn blue in the face, but the concept of killing another person over a public policy you disagree with (notably here changing cannabis laws) is both ultimately unproductive and self-destructive.
‘Just say no’ to advocating violence or armed revolution to end the war on cannabis consumers, when the real problem is that far too few cannabis consumers are part of the ongoing public efforts to reform Prohibition laws.]
Sorry, I don’t want to turn this into a forum so this will be my last post on this article, I promise. I never condoned or implied that I would kill anyone through revolution, I advocate a peaceful one. It would only become violent if there was resistance, and that’s just a necessary consequence. The Revolutionary war was fought with blood against people disagreeing on policies, so don’t assume it can’t happen again.
” the real problem is that far too few cannabis consumers are part of the ongoing public efforts to reform Prohibition laws.”
This is false. I agree people should be more involved, but it is NOT their fault. The fault is a tyrannical government that doesn’t stay within the supreme law they swore to uphold and trample on our freedoms as living beings. The only thing illegal here is the phony war on drugs.
Thanks for the discussion and your efforts to end the war on cannabis. Freedoms should always be fought for and protected, even until death, at any cost.
[Editor’s note: Your comparison of the want of a modern day cannabis consumer to access the herb under Prohibition possibly having to become violent in ‘defense’ of ‘freedom’ is both inaccurate and contradictory. The American Revolutionaries did not take up arms against Great Britain for such a narrow purpose so as to be able to use a psychotropic herb, they fought for individual rights; property rights; autonomy from a foreign government who taxed them, but provided no political representation, etc…
While Cannabis Prohibition is a terrible blight on Americans’ freedom, the day cannabis consumers choose to become violent against their own government is the day that the steady and moral-based progress to reform the laws will have ended.
Alcohol Prohibition ended at the end of a pen, not a pointed gun. The same is true for ending Cannabis Prohibition too.
Think about it.]
It is because Marijuana is classified as a Schedule I drug that I live in a constant state of depression. No legal drugs can relieve this depression as long as these immoral, illogical, and irrational laws remain in effect. I am doomed to live a life of persecution and oppression until awareness blooms in the White House once again.
These laws distort rational thought to such a degree that my mind totally shuts down, or, as in this case, explodes.
“heavy burden of proving the irrationality of the schedule I classification of marijuana.”? What part of “Unconstitutional” didn’t you understand? Tell me what is rational about a law that puts people in prison for trying to cure an illness when all other treatments have failed? Tell me that stomping all over the words of our founding fathers is rational. “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.” What do we have to be proud of if the Federal Government defaces these words? How can you rationally expect to hold a country together when you ignore its most important precepts?
Schedule I classification:
(A) The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse.
Well, of course it has a high potential for abuse. That’s been obvious as the Federal Government has been successfully abusing Marijuana users for 74 years. Please stop the abuse and get this plant out of the schedule. Disband the DEA. They are terrorists. Stop this stupid war on drugs and heal the nation with the freedom to be proud once again.
Define “Abuse”… Is smoking or otherwise ingesting Marijuana in any way actually “Abuse”? This is not a poisonous plant. It is a good food and relaxes the human body. Relaxing is good for the body. It’s these irrational laws that stress me out. Why is it a law that I must be abused for relaxing?
(B) The drug or other substance has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.
Then why do so many doctors want to prescribe it and so many patients sware by it? Laboratories have proven medical benefits. Get rational! Accept its medical importance. Stop lying and twisting my brain to fit into irrationality.
(C) There is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision.
A super huge number of medical professionals think it is perfectly safe. What more do you need?
Who defines the boundries of “accepted safety”?
Um, over 12,000 years of use with no recorded deaths and these idiots can’t figure out that it is safe? Do they even know what the word “irrational” means?
Alcohol and Tobacco are heavily abused and result in thousands of deaths every year. They are not listed in ANY of the five schedules. I’m not disappointed about that because I believe in freedom. I’m just totally confused.
I have met many alcoholics and nicotine addicts. They tend to be annoying. I have met many marijuana users. They tend to be far less annoying. The word “Abuse” is a relative term.
Somebody please tell me why we cannot prove the schedule classification for all cannabis products is illogical, irrational, and immoral. It’s so obvious these laws are totally wrong. They are designed to hurt people for no valid reason. Why?
@editor. I understand that we need to be peaceful and tolerant. But, how long do you think the straw is before it breaks the camels back?
[Editor’s note: Ask Buddha, Jesus of Nazareth, Mohammed, Martin Luther, Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. about violence and the camel’s back.
Would they commit acts of violence against others to make a plant material legal (that is already largely decriminalized…and sold ‘legally’ to some…)?]
I don’t see how violent revolution can help this matter in any way. I think it would be a step backward.
I believe that we must take advantage of the scientific and social evidence available from the areas of society that have been enlightened enough to permit the legal use of this wonderful plant. Therein lies the proof that this plant is not a threat.
Proper votes need to be cast this year. We need to get the creeps out of office. We need to stop the violence against this plant. Hold more rallys. Display more truth. Don’t just write letters to your congress people. Write letters to your local churches and hospitals as well. We need these votes to kill the laws – not explosives.
If you think religion has nothing to do with this then you are thinking incorrectly. Lots of powerful votes sit in those pews. I think they can be educated to understand the benefits of cannabis legalization.
A very large body of voters work in hospitals. I think some of the evidence can convince many of them that cannabis is a good medicine.
Every vote helps. We have to get rid of these laws without violence.
Reply to Bbbababart says: I read book of Pot Politics by Mitch Earlywine that Universalist Church fully support your stance, so how about your help in contact this to help to get message across the country that may be worth the try!
So…who got to the judge and how much did it cost????
VOTE FOR RON PAUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A friend who I havent seen in a Year or so so says to me today “Hey you look great your not walking with a cane and you look like your old self ” A year ago they recalled the med I was taking cause it was Killing People and was Killing me. But I still needed something To Kill the Pain.Nowere to Turn but Oral Morphine .I looked long and Deeply To Med Cannabis .On 4 19 2011 I got a Ca Cannabis Med Card.For me Canna Butter on Toast or in Food does Miracles for my Pain.Today I went to the Co Op and it was Shut Down. Fresno County has Shut Down all Dispenseies. I guess when My Friend See me again ” He will say Man you Terrible what happened to you your walking with a cane again and you look like your in a lot of pain ” Thanks Fresno County God forbid you should have Chronic Pain and have someone take your Meds From you. No Love For the Disabled in Fresno.
After I wrote my last blog here, I thought I should move forward with my own efforts. The words here are doing little more than teasing willing participants.
If I want action to be taken, then I must take action myself.
I have begun composing a letter. First to Catholic churches. It is difficult because I have a history with Catholicism and my desire to rip this theology to shreds is strong. But I cannot allow those emotions into the letter. I need to show respect. So, this is going to take some time…
Slavery vs a Plant. Won’t be screwed with by a 2-Party system in an ection year actiing like they want to be seen closing whore houses for Power. Go about your business and do what’s relevant People. Don’t play stupid – the Smoking Lamp is Lit.
Who is this “Editor’s Note” person?
This is not simply a matter of trying to legalize a psychotropic herb. It is about our Constitution. It is about quality of life. It is about life itself. It is about truth. It is about dignity. It actually does match very closely with the reasons for violent revolt in the 1700’s. We cannot vote the DEA out of office. We cannot grow a cash crop that would surely help our economy in a very big way. We cannot have access to an incredibly beneficial source of life saving molecules. …and our judges don’t seem to grasp the truth…
US District Judge Garland Burrell, Jr has just proven that the system doesn’t work. What more needs to be added to the stew before it’s a meal?
I would in no way suggest that we take it to any level of violence, but I can envision scenarios that could drive people to violence.
I don’t recall reading anything that described Siddartha (Buddah is a title – not a name), Jesus, Mohammed, Martin Luther, Gandhi, or Martin Luther King Jr. sitting in a hospital room watching their child wasting away before their eyes – all the while knowing that a sure cure was a simple plant that was so totally illegal that their child must, by law, die – instead of being cured.
Anybody wanna challenge me on that?
This is really serious stuff. It’s not just about catching a buzz. Violence could very easily begin to happen out of desperation to catch the attention of the American people and its rabid government.
If this were a ship at sea, mutiny would be justified because this command can be proven to be irrational to the point of insanity. The topic of this blog is that proof.
I make my plea to the soldiers of this unjust war on cannabis to stand down. Please stop hurting good people. Stop enforcing insane laws. Know thine enemy – it is not the American people – it is not this simple plant – it is your boss and his playmates. Can’t you see you are simply “paid bullies”? Don’t you understand that a bully is mentally disturbed? Well, how could I expect you to understand that… I don’t give a damn what rank you have reached. If you don’t stand down I can only view you as a traitor to this nation. If you hurt anybody else because of these defective laws, you are a terrorist. Don’t you have orders to disarm and detain terrorists? A paradox like this can only prove the source is insane.
You know, “Editor’s Note”, Martin Luther King Jr. supported a movement that helped to free a group of people. It quickly became violent, but there was a positive result – even though he gave his life for it. That same form of oppression, persecution, and bigotry exists in the laws opposing cannabis today. The pot is boiling. What could possibly make you think that it won’t bubble over?
Many people are honestly suffering because of these laws. Hell, the entire country is suffering because of these laws. Every single person in this country is negatively affected in some way by these laws.
We need to get rid of these laws. As you said, all it takes is a stroke of the pen. Is blood to be the ink? I hope not.
We need to take a stand. I can only hope and pray we take a step forward in 2012 and manage to stay green. Vote for freedom. Vote us out of this stupid, useless, insane war on cannabis so we can focus on the rest of the world. Vote to help us regain pride in our constitution. Vote like a sane patriot. Dump the junk!
[Editor’s note:
I don’t recall reading anything that described Siddartha (Buddah is a title – not a name), Jesus, Mohammed, Martin Luther, Gandhi, or Martin Luther King Jr. sitting in a hospital room watching their child wasting away before their eyes – all the while knowing that a sure cure was a simple plant that was so totally illegal that their child must, by law, die – instead of being cured.
Anybody wanna challenge me on that?
You’re a fool and no student of religion (or civil rights) if you think any of these people would justify being violent towards their oppressors. They rightly knew that the high ground is held by the non-violent.
Please stop trying to sow the seeds of violence on NORML’s webpage when it is neither warranted or moral.
Just say no to becoming violent to bring about peace.
Think about it.]
@ Bbbababart – If those of us that advocate for ending marijuana prohibition become violent, it would hurt our cause in a huge way. I understand fully, all of your points, but those who your current describe as bullies (and I’m not disputing that) would use it against us with very dangerous expensive weapons purchased using our tax dollars and as a means to further attack us.
As much as it sucks, we should all try to play the political game and just get rid of (by voting out) all those who oppose freedom in the name of their personal greed and ignorance.
All of you reading this should be participating in every friggin’ blog out there advocating for ending prohibition and spouting truth and reason instead of the lies and propaganda our opponents regularly use. Surely, common sense and just will ultimately prevail. In the meantime, it is awful that the bullies have been winning so many battles and that so many have, and continue to, suffer because of them.
Seriously, I wish that NORML would create a page that would list every person we should vote for and against. I know it’s against the rules for NORML to do so. I think that is because of the non-profit aspect. If that is the case, I suggest changing to a for profit organization. If you did so, and actively helped to get the bums out, I have to wonder if your membership and donations would drastically increase. I continue to look to NORML and like organizations for guidance and help to end the incredible stupidity of our highest elected officials and their cancerous policies.
Editor: Please insert the comment below in place of the one I submitted earlier since I’ve changed a few things and your blog doesn’t allow for any editing once submitted. Thanks!
@ Bbbababart – If those of us that advocate for ending marijuana prohibition become violent, it would hurt our cause in a huge way. I understand fully, all of your points, but those who you describe as bullies (and I’m not disputing that) would use it against us with very dangerous expensive weapons purchased using our tax dollars and as a means to further attack us on the political front.
As much as it sucks, we should all try to play the political game and just get rid of (by voting out) all those who oppose freedom in the name of their personal greed and ignorance and with lots and lots of letters, emails, personal appearances, and exposing them for the low-lifes that they are.
All of you reading this should be participating in every friggin’ blog out there (even the ones that have nothing to do with marijuana) advocating for ending prohibition and spouting truth and reason instead of the lies and propaganda our opponents regularly use. Many people will surely tire of all the marijuana related comments but ultimately the message will get out to everyone including those who typically don’t bother to think about the subject.
If we all stick together, peacefully, then I believe that common sense and justice will ultimately prevail. In the meantime, it is awful that the bullies have been winning so many battles and that so many continue to suffer because of them.
Seriously, I wish that NORML would create a page that would list every person we should vote for, against, and why. I know it’s against the rules for NORML to do so… I think that is because of the non-profit aspect. If that is the case, I suggest changing to a for profit organization. If you did so, and actively helped to get the bums out by pointing them out, I have to wonder if your membership and donations would drastically increase.
I continue to look to NORML and like organizations for guidance and help to end the incredible stupidity of our highest elected officials and their cancerous policies.
We here at willburnhash.com support The Ohio Medical Cannabis Act Of 2012 and NORML. We will continue to do our part through Andy Griff’s music. Please check out his song OhighO we hope it becomes Ohio’s cannabis anthem. Available at willburnhash.com You Tube I Tunes. Thank you, Will Burnhash burnhash
Why do I get the feeling that the editor ignored my last couple of posts? Oh well, I still love you folks at NORML and hope, with all my heart, that your efforts to end prohibition find success real soon – preferably, before I die! I’m approaching 60 years old and have been suffering the govts idiotic policies since the 60s…
Hi Don and Editor,
Wow… This is a perfect example of how words can be twisted.
I think you folks have read some things into my posts that are simply not there. I do not support a violent movement as a solution. As Don said, it would be ridiculous and fruitless to do so. We ain’t talkin’ black powder muskets and cast iron cannons no more. My little .38 won’t do squat against a smart bomb. I simply disagreed that your comments made it sound like you felt nobody would think that way. The DEA certainly feels that violence and threats of violence are the way to go. Alex commented about the straw that breaks the camel’s back and it appeared to me that you put him down for that comment by belittling our grievance as being a simple desire to get high. I could very easily see that Alex was not suggesting violece – he was only commenting on some profound observations. As was I. You seem to be just a little out of sync.
I do not want civil war. I simply bring it forward that the very same reasons for past revolutions and civil war are quite apparent at the moment. These are stressful times. Not only are we dealing with a bad economy, and bogus healthcare – some of us have lost children to a war that will probably not end until all the oil is gone. With all this, our president flat out lies to us, the federal power keeps hurting us over domestic issues, and we have judges like Burrel failing to see the irrationality of it all. We have state laws that we have voted in. We have elected people to help us. But the Federal Government has decided that state laws do not count. How can you expect me to NOT be nervous about these things and why aren’t you?
What are you suggesting, that I cover my eyes, plug my ears, clamp my mouth shut? This is real stuff – I’m not making it up.
My words are not dangerous. It is the government itself that is showing some serious instability.
Now THAT worries me.
As for the comments about me not knowing anything about religion or civil rights… With the possible exception of Siddhartha Gautama, all the people you mentioned were surrounded by violence and supported civil disobedience. Three of them were murdered. Martin Luther did, indeed, preach violence against the Jews. Muhhamad even started and participated in wars. I know what is in the history books – that would be many stories of “violence”. While I might accept the title of “fool” – I sincerely doubt anyone could be justified in calling me ignorant.
Once again, I do not want violence – I want the government to get a grip on reality and stop the civil war that, in many respects, has already begun via the violent and unconstitutional acts of many federal agencies. It needs to be stopped now while it is still relatively easy. The Federal Government must surrender the war and adhere to the state laws that have legalized medicinal cannabis. This must happen with votes in 2012. This country can no longer bear the stress of a prohibition enforced by a corrupt judicial system.
If this reads like a call to arms, then read it again until you understand that I am only making observations and attempting to motivate people to vote in a way that will avoid such a thing. Nobama. Ron Paul for all.
Perpetuating the inequality is why our legislators pass these rules that only apply where a person with authority decides it needs to be applied. We have to keep our prisons and jails occupied to pay for their use and their emotional control of past and future victims.
@Bbbababart – I did not intend that my words go only to you. I referenced your post only because there is a relationship but I never thought you were trying to incite violence. You were expressing anger and frustration – the same kind so very many of us feel. I responded because I believe it is terribly important to remain peaceful and continue to insist on Justice and Freedom!
ron paul,ron paul, ron paul. he sides with the constitution. if we are a peaceful bunch of people, we have to find out who and who doesnt defend the rights of the people. how can you side with hipocrites ?
I hate to say it like this, but why does everyone think that we are going to get any change under the current system structure? I ask this ever so often, and I never get responses! Its like everyone is so in the box they cant think of anything outside the artificial world – they just keep proposing the same ole crap – vote for this person, we need this tax or some other type of BS legislation, donate to that… As long as society operates on contrived ideas like monetary systems and political parties, then we cannot expect rationality in anything that happens. Established societies are always based around supporting elite interest FIRST. And Im really not interested in the “lesser of two evils” or any other bandaid patchwork like we’ve been doing for many years. Its obviously getting worse! Has anyone noticed 1% of the population basically owns the other 99%? Thats part of your problem, yet many of you keep appeasing to the ones who have things exactly the way they want them! No amount of money or votes is going to change whats happening with cannabis (like many of the worlds other problems). When everyone can grow up beyond these outdated, fossilized ideas to operate society, we will then probably start to progress until we can be truly called a civilization. 2012 isnt the end of the world, its the end of an era – we need to end the current paradigm and move onto the new – beyond politics, poverty, and war!
By the way, Im was’nt trying to belittle anyone with my post, I think everyones heart is in the right place – we just need to redirect our efforts so that rational ideas like legal cannabis are not stuck in old fashioned methods of activism
Well. NJ, that is pretty much what the original constitution was designed to do.
Interestingly, the original supporters of that wonderful document known as “The Constitution” were free to consume cannabis at the time it was written. Not surprisingly, the novel idea of freedom from tyrany came to pass. This happened, of course, without a lot of voting – but with a great loss of blood.
Unfortunately, the concept and reality of this freedom caused the country to advance so rapidly that the bulk of the nation could not keep up. Science and industry quickly overcame agriculture’s dominance. Tyrany again snuck up on us and took over. Cannabis, which was a catalyst for “out-of-the-box” thought, became conveniently illegal before we even saw the danger of this law coming.
…and here we are… Trying to scratch our way out of the box again – only, this time, we are at a severe disadvantage. Blood appears to have lost its value. Our only sane option is to vote properly while we still have the freedom to do so.
All through my life I never thought I would get into politics. Now I feel it is my duty to get involved.
I’m pushing for Ron Paul because he has a track record of supporting the constitution.
It might not be a bad idea to put a website together that lists all candidates for all offices in all states – and their agenda. In that way a nationwide effort could be made to block the wrong powers from getting into office.
The biggest problem is that so few people running for office are actually interested in helping this country. Perhaps we could put a little more emphasis on history in our school system as well. As a youth I found it quite boring. I’m sure there are methods to boost its appeal a bit.
We could also just throw seeds everywhere and basically overwhelm law enforcement across the country with the job of destroying the plants… Imagine, every single vacant lot filled with cannabis plants – happily cleaning the air for us 🙂 There is some out-of-the-box thinking, NJ.
Government’s crackdown must not correspond with costly failed prolonged marijuana war, so they better read great book of World War-D The case against prohibitionism, A roadmap to controlled re-legalization by Jeffrey Dhywood at http://www.worldwar-d.com US can be victory only with legal hemp!
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/08/us/pat-robertson-backs-legalizing-marijuana.html
Well, then, If Pat Robertson is for legalizing marijuana, who could possibly argue with the voice of God?
Congress, get your act together. “One nation under God, with liberty and justice for all” – remember that stuff? Those words use to be kinda popular…
I just found out – consuming cannabis is a better fire retardant than duct tape and I decided to share:
“It has been scientifically proven that the common use of duct tape to maintain human skull integrity while facing the irrationality of judiciary rulings is largely inefficient. Regardless of the pressure maintained by the outside confines – the brain will still splash against the inner walls of the cranium and the resulting flames can easily blind someone for life.
On the other hand, the act of consuming cannabis shows great promise in the treatment of this spreading political malignancy. As studies reveal, internal pressures on the cerebellum are evenly distributed among a wide variety of available concepts and possibilities. This balance ensures a nonvolatile condition when subjected to the dangerous effects of high energy lies, unbelievable particles flying everywhere, and the deluge of unconstitutional waves – all of which cause prison cancer. The conclusions are obvious – fewer heads explode when exposed to cannabis radiation.
Besides – it really hurts when you try to get duct tape off your head. Duct tape should be a schedule I substance because it has a high potential for abuse – it has no medical value – it is not safe.”
Um, yes… you really did just read this… What’s even more remarkable is that I actually allowed myself to post it.
I guess my question is – who will stop this “crackdown”, an intrusion into personal and States rights?
It sure seems wrong to me, and if it isn’t unconstitutional, it should be.
What was the Supreme Court thinking when it gave those God powers to the Feds? Now what?
I am of the opinion our Constitution never intended for our Government to have this kind of unbridled authority.
Who has the brake?
What do you expect from a crooked goverment. It’s there way or the highway. Like Johnney C. saiad the color of justice is green $. It’s time for the people to take back the goverment, the rich have had control too long and it’s time the people of the U.S.A. to fight back againest the machine.
Were these dispensaries in ANY WAY breaking the state laws? I mean, were they operating too close to schools or something? What happened to the orders given by the Attorney General to not focus resources on these places? Shouldn’t somebody be getting fired?
If all fossil fuels and their derivatives, as well as trees for paper and construction were banned in order to save the planet, reverse the Greenhouse Effect and stop deforestation, then there is only one known annually renewable natural resource that is capable of providing the overall majority of the world’s paper and textiles; meeting all of the world’s transportation, industrial and home energy needs; simultaneously reducing pollution, rebuilding the soil, and cleaning the atmosphere all at the same time. That substance is the same one that did it all before, Cannabis Hemp … Marijuana!
Well, Denver, you are absolutely right.
I had a little problem with you calling a “plant” a “substance”. But I guess I’ll get over that…
I want to add…
“But we need to protect our children!”
That’s bullshit. The pollution from industry and genetically altered food has been killing our children for decades. This prohibition has got to stop – to save our children and their future.
I never want to hear another person suggest that prohibition does anything to protect our children. It does nothing of the sort. Prohibition of this plant is very bad for society and the planet as a whole.
By now it must be common knowledge that cannabis, with all its varieties, is the most versatile of any other known plant.
Why do we have to keep talking about this?
It’s a no-brainer… Legalize it and let’s get on with this journey. Life is too short for this kind of crap.
I think if MOTHER NATURE made it then its fine by me… DOWN WITH THE OLD HIPOCRITS!!!!
@ Bbbababart thank you, but I can take no credit from that posting, that’s from the great, late Mr. Jack Herer and his wonderful book The Emperor wears no clothes :)-
I’ve never read that book, but I’ve seen a lot of good quotes from it. Other great works would include Woody Harrelson’s “Hempsters: Plant the Seed”.
This decision is invalid based on the following:
The commerce clause only applies to commerce that occurs between states (interstate commerce) and not commerce that only occurs within the state. That is how Montana got around federal gun laws. Someone needs to take up the lawsuit again and use this fact…