This is an interview with San Diego Assistant District Attorney, Steve Walter from the local Public Broadcasting Service's local station.
(A link to the original source, which includes an audio version can be found after the full text.)
MAUREEN CAVANAUGH (Host): Now what constitutes the difference between a drug dealer and a legitimate provider of medical marijuana?
WALTER: It’s a very difficult question. The law itself, when I say the law I’m talking about Prop 215, SB-420, and the AG’s guidelines, as well as the case law. In essence, you have to be either a user or a qualified patient or a caregiver for such a patient.
Wow. So according to the San Diego District Attorney's Office, "a user" is "a legitimate provider of medical marijuana." That's really disturbing as I have obtained/do obtain all of my medical cannabis from Medical Cannabis Caregivers/ Legal Patients. These are the ones that Walter himself oversaw the aggressive arrests of. I guess going on the above quote, he believes that any one ELSE, just so long as they 'use marijuana' is a responsible, law abiding, trustworthy source for the medication I use for my healthcare. Great.
Terrorist Attacks On Medical Cannabis Patients Continueby 921 » Thu Sep 17, 2009 10:34 pm Unfortunately it appears that despite her claim to care about "Medical Marijuana Patients", San Diego District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis and her armed militia continue to wage war on San Diego's most defenseless...I received this report from an anonymous Medical Cannabis Patient/ Co-Op Member just today:A narcotics officer came in last night and demanded the administrators personal information. he would not leave until we gave it to him. he said he was getting all admins personal info for records and that the "task force" was going to be sending letters, that's why he needed it. I know he went to Mother Nurture and a couple others in SD. I feel it is a ploy to get their personal info so they can raid their houses along with their businesses. If you could post this all over for me, it would help others.I fear that those suspicions may be correct. In addition to above report and what I perceive are truly medical cannabis patients asking for help, I have noticed a whole new influx since 9/9/2009's raids. People I have never met or even "chatted with online" are emailing me asking where to get medical cannabis, asking where I live and telling me about buying marijuana off the street. People are posting "reviews" on the BCC section on WeedMaps insinuating that the Collective was anything but a legitimate Medical Collective. I post about BCC possibly opening back up and the suspicious emails increase instantly and the forum is hit with what I assume are links to possibly illegal, pornographic websites. And even though I've done countless hours of volunteer work to support local law enforcement families & officers and even though I may not live to see next year thanks to Cirrhosis (and other currently fatal health issues) - I am afraid that at any moment the door to the apartment I can't afford will be kicked in and I will be put in a jail cell even though I have not knowingly broken any California State Law.If this is how Bonnie Dumanis CARES for me and other Medical Cannabis Patients, I'd rather she ignore us, because she's far worse than any of the diseases that are killing me.~ "921"
Terrorist Attacks On Medical Cannabis Patients Continue
by 921 » Thu Sep 17, 2009 10:34 pm
A narcotics officer came in last night and demanded the administrators personal information. he would not leave until we gave it to him. he said he was getting all admins personal info for records and that the "task force" was going to be sending letters, that's why he needed it. I know he went to Mother Nurture and a couple others in SD. I feel it is a ploy to get their personal info so they can raid their houses along with their businesses. If you could post this all over for me, it would help others.
http://www.sandiegobcc.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=50
I have enthused about the support for Medical Marijuana. However I think you need to put more pressure on the Govenor Pawlenty so he does not veto it, like he has done so in the past.
Mr. President.
You addressed a question during the on-line town hall concerning legalizing marijuana. You chuckled and joked a bit about it, and dismissed it.
Why don't you agree with that? Lets start the debate. I'm sure the 3 million other people who addressed this question on line would like to know your answer to this as well.
Murphy
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dan-sweeney/taking-the-pro-pot-positi_b_179653.html
Fast-forward to today's online town hall, and once again, marijuana legalization proved to be one of the most popular questions, with the most-approved-of pro-pot question being: "Should the U.S. legalize pot as a way to grow jobs and stimulate the economy?"With all of his usual charisma and endearing jocularity, our president laughed off the question, stating "I don't know what this says about the online audience, but, no, I don't think that is a good strategy to grow the economy." The mewling sycophants in the East Room audience laughed and burst into applause.Once again, the Obama administration has greeted this question with an out-and-out rejection, with no reasoning underlying their position. Let's ignore for a moment that Obama's answer, in and of itself, is deeply wrong and ill-informed; moving from zero taxes on weed to any taxes is obviously an increase in revenue, not to mention the shift of growing and supplying jobs from the black market to legitimacy, which means more revenue in income taxes and more jobs.Now, couple this with the millions, if not billions, of dollars that would be saved without the government being responsible for the care and feeding of hundreds of thousands of nonviolent drug offenders. From 1965 through the election of Barack Obama, our government arrested 20 million people for possession of marijuana. That, folks, is a lot of stoners.In 2006 alone -- the last year for which statistics are available -- 829,625 people were arrested on marijuana-related charges, according to the FBI's Uniform Crime Report. Of these, 89 percent were arrested for simple possession.So, couple the tax revenues, both sales and income, with the savings involved in keeping potheads out on the streets instead of in the pen. Now, put that Everest-sized pile of cash aside for a moment and think about this: Who's losing money in the deal?According to Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard, fully 75 percent of Mexican drug cartels' cash comes from the sale of marijuana. Legalizing marijuana would, of course, take away that massive source of income for the cartels, just as ending prohibition cut bootlegging as a source of revenue for La Cosa Nostra.Combining all of the above effects, the legalization of marijuana means billions of dollars saved or made, the creation of jobs and the curbing of violence along the Mexican border, which in turn means saving thousands of lives.Barack Obama can certainly be against legalization, but he owes it to nonviolent drug offenders caught in the horror show that is the U.S. prison system, the families of innocent victims of the Mexican drug wars and economically bloodied U.S. taxpayers to explain why. Ganja may cause the giggles, but legalization shouldn't be a laughing matter. And it certainly shouldn't be treated as cavalierly as it has by the current administration, especially when it has been proven to be a popular issue every time Obama has tried to go straight to the people.
Fast-forward to today's online town hall, and once again, marijuana legalization proved to be one of the most popular questions, with the most-approved-of pro-pot question being: "Should the U.S. legalize pot as a way to grow jobs and stimulate the economy?"
With all of his usual charisma and endearing jocularity, our president laughed off the question, stating "I don't know what this says about the online audience, but, no, I don't think that is a good strategy to grow the economy." The mewling sycophants in the East Room audience laughed and burst into applause.
Once again, the Obama administration has greeted this question with an out-and-out rejection, with no reasoning underlying their position. Let's ignore for a moment that Obama's answer, in and of itself, is deeply wrong and ill-informed; moving from zero taxes on weed to any taxes is obviously an increase in revenue, not to mention the shift of growing and supplying jobs from the black market to legitimacy, which means more revenue in income taxes and more jobs.
Now, couple this with the millions, if not billions, of dollars that would be saved without the government being responsible for the care and feeding of hundreds of thousands of nonviolent drug offenders. From 1965 through the election of Barack Obama, our government arrested 20 million people for possession of marijuana. That, folks, is a lot of stoners.
In 2006 alone -- the last year for which statistics are available -- 829,625 people were arrested on marijuana-related charges, according to the FBI's Uniform Crime Report. Of these, 89 percent were arrested for simple possession.
So, couple the tax revenues, both sales and income, with the savings involved in keeping potheads out on the streets instead of in the pen. Now, put that Everest-sized pile of cash aside for a moment and think about this: Who's losing money in the deal?
According to Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard, fully 75 percent of Mexican drug cartels' cash comes from the sale of marijuana. Legalizing marijuana would, of course, take away that massive source of income for the cartels, just as ending prohibition cut bootlegging as a source of revenue for La Cosa Nostra.
Combining all of the above effects, the legalization of marijuana means billions of dollars saved or made, the creation of jobs and the curbing of violence along the Mexican border, which in turn means saving thousands of lives.
Barack Obama can certainly be against legalization, but he owes it to nonviolent drug offenders caught in the horror show that is the U.S. prison system, the families of innocent victims of the Mexican drug wars and economically bloodied U.S. taxpayers to explain why. Ganja may cause the giggles, but legalization shouldn't be a laughing matter. And it certainly shouldn't be treated as cavalierly as it has by the current administration, especially when it has been proven to be a popular issue every time Obama has tried to go straight to the people.
I believe that as Americans, we should have the right to put in our own bodies what we will. It is clear that the war on drugs has failed us greatly. In this year already, we have spent over 12,000,000,000 dollars on the war against drugs with that number climbing in the tens of thousands with every few letters I type. This nonsense needs to end. By legalizing drugs, we could control them like we do any legal substance (alcohol, tobacco) today. We restrict their sales to people above a certain age, and we tax them. This would not only create money (and possibly jobs depending on how these substances were distributed/cultivated/dispensed), but it would mean that we would stop spending billions of dollars a year to feed a useless, highly destructive war. The current laws that control these substances are responsible for a few highly negative things: not only are we wasting billions of dollars in taxes, police/law enforcement funds, etc, but we are putting our money in the hands of criminals. Criminal organizations feed off of drug money, which the US government is essentially handing them given our current regulations. If substances were regulated y the government, rather than these criminal organizations, those organizations would be much less powerful. In addition to this, our law enforcement officers could spend much, much, much more time dealing with things of more importance.
POTPOLITICS
I recently got the inside word that President Obama will move for Legaliztion of Marijuana in June 2009
this is more an economic reality that can no longer be ignored. Marijuana now benefits street people and drug cartels and the government is left with the unecessary burden of a Police state and Prison cost. There is a strong element of useless people that profit from the current system, Judges countless Probation and Parole Officers none who add any real value to society. All these bureacratic positions need to be eliminated. The country economic and secrurity depend on this very measure.
Don't make the same mistakes over and over and expect different results.
You can follow along on my main blog POTPOLITICS
Thanks
John Sullivan
Marijuana has been shown to be much safer than legal substances such as alcohol and cigarettes. It was originally made illegal decades ago in an effort to discriminate against minorities such as African-Americans and Mexican laborers. President-elect Obama, why continue to enforce a drug law which was originally created solely to target minorities? I advise everyone to do your own research on the subject, one may be surprised that many Americans' beliefs about Marijuana are unfounded and more often than not, outright propagandist lies made popular in the thirties and forties. The only reason this relatively harmless plant is still illegal is because most politicians do not have the guts to stand up for the thousands of Americans incarcerated simply for posessing marijuana.
I also say that we stop calling it a "war" on drugs, because it is not, it is a constant assault on otherwise law abiding American citizens, who choose to use marijuana just like mankind has for thousands of years. In 2004 President-Elect Obama supported decriminalization of marijuana, only to withdraw support later on. On the subject of outright legalization, Mr. Obama has claimed to be against it. If you are familiar with change.gov, you know that it is an official website set up by the transition team which had a section that allowed Americans to ask questions, the number one question was concerning marijuana legalization. What does this tell you? Americans are hungry for the change that Mr. Obama has promised, and want it in the form of marijuana legalization. This is shocking, considering the economic meltdown, the housing crisis, Iraq, and Afghanistan. GIVE THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT!
Dear Congressman:
Recently, I was invited to deliver remarks at a rally for the Bakersfield chapter of NORML in support of the normalization of the medical uses of marijuana.One response was an appeal by Aaron Houston, national field director for the Marijuana Policy Project, to use whatever influence I might have with you to urge you to use whatever influence you might have on Capital Hill to support the Hinchey-Rohrabacher Amendment to the FY 2006 Science-State-Justice-Commerce Appropriations Bill.Mr. Houston tells me you supported this amendment in 2003. I commend you. I urge you to stand your ground when the matter comes up again, probably this summer.Mr. Houston tells me up to 80 percent of Americans recently polled by TIME/CNN support the medical use of marijuana for seriously ill people who have their doctor's approval. Ten states, including our own, now have medical marijuana laws.The amendment, as you know, bars the Justice Department from using federal funds to raid, arrest, or imprison marijuana patients in states with medical marijuana laws.This issue, in my opinion, is only part of a monstrously misguided drug policy by the federal government and a horribly misinformed approach to drugs by the American public. Cynically, one might even believe, as I do, that given the astronomical profits in illegal drugs, the self-defeating, self-perpetuating drug-prohibition strategy used by our government is exactly what powerful hidden interests want in terms of U.S. drug policy. I say, even if only one percent of the public were to favor medical marijuana, it is time for the best of America's leaders to truly lead us in an entirely new direction on this whole disastrous matter. I count you among those rare leaders.
Times are getting sketchy, and CEOs of big corporations are asking the government for bailouts.
In my mind, I strongly believe that the economy needs to be introduced to a new industry.
If marijuana is legalized on a national level it can be widely distributed, ending underground operation, lowering crime rates, and the public does need something to chill them out once in a while.
Not only that, it can stimulate the economy by giving more jobs and circulate more money.
An industry that is based on a consumable plant means more growth and diversity in the economy.
The strongest economy is a diverse economy.It can also alleviate the dot com influence if the United States were to become a large export of a consumable plant. The economy will constantly have a demand for consumables.
It's time to end the generations of marijuana prohibition.
What is Extensive Vetting for Potential Obama Appointees?
Michigan has approved the smoking of marijuana for medical reasons. Can smoking marijuana threatened your hopes of landing a top presidential appointment? An army of lawyers from Michigan is faithfully volunteering on President-Elect Barack Obama’s Transition Team to vet his potential picks.
The assembly of President Elect Barack Obama’s administration is an explicit, exemplary and prodigious investigation. This process is beyond previous prerequisites of a government job. It’s above the acquisition of obtaining your actual precise hair count, yes, numbers of hair strands you may have. Tidous process?
These lawyers are utilizing a new level of scrutiny of any task on his transition team. They are vetting his potential picks with unprecedented scrutiny of their personal, financial and professional backgrounds.
Embarrassing e-mails, text messages, diary entries, my space web pages and Facebook profiles? Gifts worth more than $50, other than those from relatives and long-standing friends? Family members though third generations. Validate it. What did your great grand parents do for a living? Do you have any second cousins with connections to Fannie Mae, Freddie Mack, AIG or any other company receiving a federal bailout?
Obama is conducting the vetting process much the way he managed his campaign: methodically, thoroughly and on a prodigious scale. He did not wait until he won the election to vet his favored picks. Soon after he clinched the Democratic nomination, lawyers quietly prepared dossiers of about 150 contenders for senior positions -- often without the candidates themselves knowing. Obama is discipline to reading and studying with a semblance more towards Lincoln’s political strategies and thought processes and other a select few others.A Senior Obama Transition Adviser stated, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
By Nina Calahan-James Email: Nina@BarackObama4change.us
The drug war has failed. It’s Victims come from all walks of life with one thing in common: the drugs they chose to use are illegal. We need to shift our "attack" from Persecution to Education & Treatment.
There has been NO Significant Decrease in drug use since this miserable program was enacted in 1971. And the cost… $50 billion a year (Prevention + Enforcement + Legal Adjudication + Correctional Facilities) For 36 year we have been punishing our citizens, sending them away from their loved ones; their families, their support groups. I ask to what end?
Law Enforcement’s View = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LayaGk0TMDc
We need to start an honest discussion with ourselves and most importantly the young people in this country. “If you do this drug, this will happen” “If you get behind the wheel when drunk/high, this will happen” “If you take too many prescription pills, this will happen” “If you drink too much, this will happen” and most importantly “Yes, marijuana is a drug, but it’s effect is much less that other
Is full decriminalization the answer? I’m not sure, but lumping marijuana in with Heroin and other harder drugs doesn’t make sense to me. Also, Mandatory Minimum sentencing has proved to be a bad policy… go ask any Judge.
Here is one idea of mine: Take the Hard drugs off the street and make them available at drug stores. In order to purchase you will have to take a course to educate yourself on the dangers of drug use. Once you have completed the course you will get a stamp on your driver license’s permitting you to purchase drugs. The license will only be valid for a set number of years at which time you must take a refresher course…. (Politicians; think of the Tax money you can make)
I ask you to please give this issue a new Fresh, Honest, Look.
Obfuscation of the facts for Political Gain is not what the Free Press is suppose to represent yet, for the most part during this election cycle that is precisely what is occurring. We all know the outrageous lies being perpetrated by the Republicans, they throw out so many falsehoods with abandon with the hope that the news media will not do their job in researching the facts. They rely upon the news media to simply print quotes, believing that as long as it gets printed, some of it may stick in the minds of the voters when they go to cast their ballot.
Here in Michigan we have a Ballot Proposal (1) which has been well crafted and has many safeguards put into effect to regulate the medicinal use of marijuana by verified patients in conjunction with their doctors assessment.
The opposition has been holding Press conferences alongside many prominent Law Enforcement personnel and local prosecutors. The problem is, they are not telling the voters the truth about the Proposal but, rather they are spreading false and unsubstantiated claims.
Here is one recent example.
~@~
The proposed Michigan law does not allow dispensaries.
This is a link to the full text of the initiative.
This morning I awoke to find an article in my local newspaper with the headline:
By Gordon Wilczynski, Macomb Daily Staff Writer
The use of marijuana for medical purposes is a bad idea in Macomb County, according to top law enforcement officials who joined Wednesday to denounce Proposition 1.
continued, . . .
In the article, Eastpointe Police Chief Michael Lauretti, Macomb County Sheriff Mark Hackel, Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith and Kathy Rager, executive director of the Macomb Community Assessment Referral & Education Center, joined with Court of Appeals Judge Bill Schuette to urge people to vote against it, saying Proposition 1 is unregulated and dangerous.
"Schuette said he is barnstorming across Michigan urging people to vote "no" on Proposition 1 because too many "yes" votes would lead to the opening of pot shops and smoking clubs."
Why is this falsehood being allowed to go unchallenged? Because I have found that the reporters who have covered this subject haven't read the Proposal for themselves but, rely on these individuals of authority to tell them the truth.
I went to the Macomb Daily Headquarters this morning and sat down with Gordon Wilczynski, Macomb Daily Staff Writer. He related to me that he was just doing his job in reporting what these individuals said at the Press Conference. He did tell me that he had not read the Proposal and would do so today. I am hopeful that after he reads the entire proposal, he will see that these highly regarded government officials are not arguing their opposition from truthful reflection of the actual proposed language but, are fostering a scare tactic by evoking concerns of rampant, wide spread abuse being allowed on our streets if this proposal is passed by the voters.
"There are more pot shops in California than Starbucks coffee shops," Schuette said. "Do we want that here in Michigan?" Sheriff Hackel said there is nothing in the proposal to monitor the use of marijuana. He added the proposal could make marijuana use out of control if approved. "It has no place in Michigan," Hackel said. "I can't believe any parent would vote for it." "I'm amazed at how poorly the proposal is written," Lauretti said. "There is not one good element in this law."
"There are more pot shops in California than Starbucks coffee shops," Schuette said. "Do we want that here in Michigan?"
Sheriff Hackel said there is nothing in the proposal to monitor the use of marijuana. He added the proposal could make marijuana use out of control if approved. "It has no place in Michigan,"
Hackel said. "I can't believe any parent would vote for it."
"I'm amazed at how poorly the proposal is written," Lauretti said.
"There is not one good element in this law."
This is a link to the full text of the initiative. The proposed Michigan law does not allow dispensaries.
Please assist me in exposing these lies being spread by those opposed to this Proposal. I do not mind if someone has a legitimate reason for being opposed to this legislation, as long as it has to do with the actual Proposal and not simply hyperbole and Obfuscation of the facts for Political Gain.
100 Macomb Daily DriveMount Clemens, MI 48043
Main Office:(586) 469-4510
Editorial page, Bill Ewald (e-mail)Online Editor, Bill Fleming (e-mail)
Publisher, Jeffrey Parra (e-mail)Executive Editor, Richard Kelley (e-mail)
Managing Editor, Ken Kish (e-mail)
Let the Macomb Daily know how you feel about this style of reporting which gives credence to authoritative figures who are not telling the voters the truth about Proposal 1 in their opposition to it's passage.
Hello Folks, this morning I was listening to a local radio show, the Frank Beckmann on WJR NEWS AM 760
Two individuals were on air discussing the Michigan Proposal 1 which is about legalizing Medical Marijuana in our state.
Dianne Byrum is an advocate for the passage of Proposal 1 and Bill Schuette is opposed to passage of Proposal 1
The Michigan Coalition for Compassionate Care (MCCC) is a grassroots organization devoted to passing Proposal 1, the medical marijuana initiative on the November 2008 ballot. Proposal 1 will protect seriously ill Michiganders suffering from illnesses like cancer, HIV/AIDS, and multiple sclerosis from the threat of arrest and jail for simply trying to alleviate their pain.
During the conversation, Bill Schuette made the age old claim that Marijuana use is a Gateway drug which leads to use of much harder drug use. Dianne Byrum, who has never smoked Marijuana asked Bill Schuette if he had ever smoked Marijuana. He responded YES, when he was in High School. He graduated in 1972 which places him in High School during 1968-1972, the height of the Youth movement in America.
She then commented that his previous use didn't appear to lead him to using hard drugs as he suggests with his argument that marijuana is a Gateway drug.
Bill Schuette became furious at the revealing of his obvious hypocrisy and said the conversation shouldn't be about him but, about what danger this Proposal 1 presents to the youth of Michigan.
We know that ridiculous claims have always been made by opponents of legalization of Marijuana. What bothers me is not that some people are opposed to this well-written Proposal but, that they can not conduct a discussion on the merits of their opposition. They feel they must spread falsehood and rumors in an effort to defeat this Proposal.
Before I continue, I would like to present the actual language which Michagan voters will be presented with. Please refer back to this as this conversation progresses.
STATE PROPOSAL - 08-1
A LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVE TO PERMIT THE USE AND CULTIVATION OF MARIJUANA FOR SPECIFIED MEDICAL CONDITIONS:
The proposed law would:
Permit physician approved use of marijuana by registered patients with debilitating medical conditions including cancer, glaucoma, HIV, AIDS, hepatitis C, MS and other conditions as may be approved by the Department of Community Health.
Permit registered individuals to grow limited amounts of marijuana for qualifying patients in an enclosed, locked facility.
Require Department of Community Health to establish an identification card system for patients qualified to use marijuana and individuals qualified to grow marijuana.
Permit registered and unregistered patients and primary caregivers to assert medical reasons for using marijuana as a defense to any prosecution involving marijuana.
Should this proposal be adopted? YES □ NO □
Medical Marijuana In The News
When Dr. George Wagoner, a retired obstetrician/gynecologist from Manistee, saw the suffering his wife of 51 years was enduring from her battle with ovarian cancer last year, he turned to marijuana to ease her pain. "During her chemotherapy she experienced intense nausea, and conventional anti-nausea drugs didn't help much. One drug cost $46.20 a pill and didn't help," said Dr. Wagoner. "Another made her hallucinate, so she refused to take it. Basically, pharmaceutical drugs were ineffective and the marijuana -- just a very small dose -- was most effective."Dr. Wagoner and his wife are among many who have taken the path of using marijuana for medical purposes. However, in Michigan, they are breaking the law. On November 4, Ballot Proposal 1 will give Michigan voters the opportunity to legalize the use of marijuana for medical purposes. Currently, 12 other states have laws allowing the use of medical marijuana.
The above article goes on to describe the issues being brought up by the opposition.
One of the criticisms launched by those that oppose the legalization of medical marijuana is that it is simply just a step in the process for the outright legalization of marijuana.Those in opposition also point to a pharmaceutical drug, Marinol, that accomplishes the same result. They point to the fact that Marinol is prescribed in doses, whereas smoking marijuana is not a controlled dose.
One of the criticisms launched by those that oppose the legalization of medical marijuana is that it is simply just a step in the process for the outright legalization of marijuana.
Those in opposition also point to a pharmaceutical drug, Marinol, that accomplishes the same result. They point to the fact that Marinol is prescribed in doses, whereas smoking marijuana is not a controlled dose.
The Citizens Protecting Michigan's Kids point to their concerns if the proposal passes:
Allow use of marijuana without a doctor's prescription.Allow a person arrested on any marijuana offense to use a "medical marijuana" defense in court.Allow a flood of lawsuits over things such as whether doctors and hospitals must allow patients to smoke marijuana in a doctor's office or hospital room, despite every other law banning smoking.Allow the opening of pot shops and smoking clubs in neighborhood strip malls, like has happened in California under a similar proposal.
Allow use of marijuana without a doctor's prescription.
Allow a person arrested on any marijuana offense to use a "medical marijuana" defense in court.
Allow a flood of lawsuits over things such as whether doctors and hospitals must allow patients to smoke marijuana in a doctor's office or hospital room, despite every other law banning smoking.
Allow the opening of pot shops and smoking clubs in neighborhood strip malls, like has happened in California under a similar proposal.
Again, I ask you to refer to the Legislation above and compare it's language to the outragious claims being promoted by the opposition.
"I am not sure they have read the legislation, but everything they are suggesting has been addressed and they are taking half truths to scare the public,"
The use of medical marijuana under the proposed legislation would be only allowed for certain medical conditions and patients would have to receive authorization from their doctor to grow and smoke marijuana for their condition. The conditions covered, as well as some of the concerns from the opposition, are detailed in the legislation including the stiff penalties for violating marijuana laws.
Will pot be OK in workplace? ~ Foes say Prop 1 may allow use
LANSING - Newly organized opponents to Michigan's medical marijuana ballot proposal are raising red flags about the proposal, citing negative workplace implications if the measure passes.A memo issued last week says the proposed law permits marijuana use in the workplace and warns of potential consequences such as increased employer liability and the inability to discipline employees who use marijuana in accordance with the act's medical treatment purposes.But backers of Proposal 1 say the law clearly states that it does not require an employer to accommodate the ingestion of marijuana in the workplace or to accommodate any employee who is working under the influence of the drug."We don't believe it has any workplace impact," said Dianne Byrum, spokeswoman for the Michigan Coalition for Compassionate Care and partner at Byrum & Fisk Advocacy Communications in East Lansing.
PAID FOR WITH REGULATED FUNDS BY CITIZENS PROTECTING MICHIGAN'S KIDS
Police chief critical of marijuana measure
Howell Police Chief George Basar, president of the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police, said Proposal 1 would make it easy for people to grow and use marijuana, and the lack of regulations would lead to more people, including children, using the drug.He said the message is, "If you feel bad, let's sit around and smoke marijuana and get high."Basar said there are associations of doctors, law enforcement and prosecuting attorneys opposed to this ballot issue.He also said this measure is really aimed at a more sweeping change."This is the nose under the tent to the general legalization of marijuana," Basar said.Supporters of the measure said that's not true.Former state lawmaker Dianne Byrum, spokeswoman for the Michigan Coalition for Compassionate Care, said a community-based effort pushed for the statewide referendum to provide an option for patients who are experiencing pain due to disease or illness.She said legalization is not the goal. She said other states have approved similar measures allowing for medical use of marijuana, and those states have not legalized marijuana.Byrum said she met with numerous law enforcement officials this year to explain the ballot question, and she said many called the proposal "well-written." She said these officials knew about the issue for seven months and questioned why they would suddenly organize a "campaign of misinformation and rhetoric" to oppose the proposal.
Howell Police Chief George Basar, president of the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police, said Proposal 1 would make it easy for people to grow and use marijuana, and the lack of regulations would lead to more people, including children, using the drug.
He said the message is, "If you feel bad, let's sit around and smoke marijuana and get high."
Basar said there are associations of doctors, law enforcement and prosecuting attorneys opposed to this ballot issue.
He also said this measure is really aimed at a more sweeping change.
"This is the nose under the tent to the general legalization of marijuana," Basar said.
Supporters of the measure said that's not true.
Former state lawmaker Dianne Byrum, spokeswoman for the Michigan Coalition for Compassionate Care, said a community-based effort pushed for the statewide referendum to provide an option for patients who are experiencing pain due to disease or illness.
She said legalization is not the goal. She said other states have approved similar measures allowing for medical use of marijuana, and those states have not legalized marijuana.
Byrum said she met with numerous law enforcement officials this year to explain the ballot question, and she said many called the proposal "well-written." She said these officials knew about the issue for seven months and questioned why they would suddenly organize a "campaign of misinformation and rhetoric" to oppose the proposal.
Pot bill would bring chaos to MichiganCalifornia shows why medical marijuana is dangerousBy Bill Schuette and Daniel Michael • October 10, 2008
A decade ago, voters in California approved a proposal to legalize marijuana smoking for so-called "medical" purposes. Today, even the proposal's most vocal supporters admit the California law has resulted in "chaos," "pot dealers in storefronts" and millions of dollars being dumped "into the criminal black market."Proposal 1 on the Nov. 4 ballot in Michigan is just like the California law. While its stated intent, to help people in serious pain, is well meaning, Proposal 1's vague language, careless loopholes and dangerous consequences place Michigan communities and kids at risk. Michigan voters should reject it.For doctors and hospitals, those on the front lines of medical care, Proposal 1 is "bad medicine." For one thing, Proposal 1 doesn't require a prescription.Judge Bill Schuette is a member of the Michigan Court of Appeals. Dr. Daniel Michael is a Detroit neurosurgeon and speaker of the Michigan State Medical Society's House of Delegates.
A decade ago, voters in California approved a proposal to legalize marijuana smoking for so-called "medical" purposes. Today, even the proposal's most vocal supporters admit the California law has resulted in "chaos," "pot dealers in storefronts" and millions of dollars being dumped "into the criminal black market."
Proposal 1 on the Nov. 4 ballot in Michigan is just like the California law. While its stated intent, to help people in serious pain, is well meaning, Proposal 1's vague language, careless loopholes and dangerous consequences place Michigan communities and kids at risk. Michigan voters should reject it.
For doctors and hospitals, those on the front lines of medical care, Proposal 1 is "bad medicine." For one thing, Proposal 1 doesn't require a prescription.
Judge Bill Schuette is a member of the Michigan Court of Appeals. Dr. Daniel Michael is a Detroit neurosurgeon and speaker of the Michigan State Medical Society's House of Delegates.
OK, I realize it's a lot of reading but, I hope you have taken the time to review all the misinformation and rhetoric, deception and hypocrisy being perpetrated by those opposed to passage of Proposal 1.
Now, my simply presenting this information might be useful to a few readers of this article but, my hope is that you will take the information presented here and spread it around to others who care about this issue. We must combat this effort, each one of us so that their lies do not take root and serve to defeat this noble and compassionate legislation. Please send this article to anyone and everyone you know who can have an impact upon getting the word out on these tactics.
If you need truthful and honest information regarding this Proposal, please visit http://www.stoparrestingpatients.org/
Detroit Free Press, Detroit News, Lansing State Journal, Battle Creek Enquirer, Jackson City Patriot, and Detroit Metro Times Endorse Proposal 1
This is an issue of simple compassion and common sense, and is overwhelmingly supported by residents across the state - 67%, according to a September 2008 poll. And in each of five citywide medical marijuana votes - in Flint in 2007, Traverse City and Ferndale in 2005, and Ann Arbor and Detroit in 2004 - medical marijuana won in a landslide. To get involved today, please visit our Take Action page
Most importantly, please vote Yes on Proposal 1 on November 4, and encourage everyone you know to do the same!
In the spirit of full disclosure, I am a patient who will benefit from passage of Proposal 1. Yesterday I had to go to the Social Security office and take a number. I spent over 5 hours at the office and I had to make the decision not to take the synthetic morphine because I had to drive myself. That meant I spent over 8 hours in pain because I have no alternative. See I can't handle doing much of anything when I'm drugged up on the pain medication I'm given. When I do take the pain medication I'm given, the most I can do is sit in a chair and nod out off and on throughout the day. If I want to go grocery shopping, I have to skip taking my medication because I wouldn't be able to walk around the store.
Medical marijuana is not a miracle drug that is going to solve all our problems and, of course there are other drugs which patients will need to take but, mandating patients to taking only those drugs that are profitable to the Pharmacuticle Industry and the stock portfolio the doctors profit from isn't the answer.
This legislation is well-written and would allow me or, if needed, a caregiver I legally designate to grow my own Marijuana for my personal use. That means I won't be giving criminal enterprises money.
Please read the Legislation and do all you can to get the word out to vote YES on Proposal 1.
http://www.stoparrestingpatients.org/files/sap/L300-MILit-FINAL.pdf
http://www.stoparrestingpatients.org/videos
I have been doing much thinking about the many problems which are being generated by Rhode Island's economic disaster. We now have so many bridges that have reduced weight limits; RIPTA has had to drastically change routes to accommodate these new weight restrictions. In fact, the Rhode Island Transit Authority with its already inadequate service will soon be making more cuts in routes and service because of funding. As a nation, we can bail out corporate entities, (private businesses) and yet not be able to save R.I.'s ONLY public transportation system? If my figures are correct (or if my memory serves me correctly) Rhode Island's debt is something like 450 Million Dollars.
(note) If I was a multi-millionaire or billionaire, it would be a far better thing I do, to invest in the economy of the smallest state in the U.S. than to continue to invest and reinvest in such failed banking and financial institutions.
As our two voices in the senate for our fine state, I am urging Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, Jack Reed and all your fellow law makers to PLEASE help design a bill to help R.I. climb out of the deep debt we are facing.
Please consider what will happen if RIPTA cannot provide service to the growing numbers of public transportation users. With the gas prices soaring ever higher, Rhode Islanders are going to soon be depending more and more on public transportation. As their ability to get to and from work becomes too financially burdensome, they will not be able to use the states only public transportation as an alternative, if RIPTA continues on the "road" it is taking, with routes and times being cut. This is a time when we should be talking about expanding service, not cutting it. Disabled, handicapped and elderly riders who depend greatly on affordable passes are in jeopardy of losing their ability to access bus service on a daily basis as well. Even if they are only required to pay 25-50 cents per ride, it would cripple and stagnate them into staying home more often and/or not experiencing opportunities to expand their horizons by participating in self help and other programs, as well as health maintenance appointments.
We need to start caring about main street, side street, and ALL of us living here. (ALL Rhode Islanders)
WHERE'S THE PORK? Was there any "earmarks" dedicated to Rhode Islands failing economy within the financial bailout bill recently passed by congress?
What are some ways to generate revenue or to save taxpayer's money from government waste?
How will we be able to pay for programs to help the low income families, poor, elderly & disabled?
A THOUGHT WORTH CONSIDERING;
Medical marijuana is a useful tool in fighting many illnesses. Why not outright "LEGALIZE" marijuana for recreational use? This would help eliminate the overcrowding of our courts, and alleviate prison overcrowding. Keeping marijuana illegal only hurts more people than it helps. Our economy needs a NEW REVENUE SOURCE. If we allow marijuana use (for adults only) even if we couldn't find a way to tax it, the money saved by not fighting it's use, would surely pay for much needed programs, which makes much more sense than this military style approach now used to eliminate this natural herbal remedy.
I think we should (as a state and as a country) finally end this outrageous "war on drugs," or at least decriminalize the use of marijuana. With legal marijuana, these users would no longer be such a high cost to the state. LEGALIZED MARIJUANA would eliminate the cost to taxpayers by eliminating the state's huge amount of money it takes to combat its distribution, sales and use. Our courts and jails need to be used for serious criminal offenses which truly merit prosecution. This money could better serve our state if used more appropriately.
We face much greater adverse affects from obesity, alcohol use, tobacco use, speeding motorists, accidental prescription drug overdoses, FINANCIAL RUIN due to failed economic policies of an out of touch and OUT OF CONTROL CONGRESS.
To criminalize the use of ANY particular recreational activity solely because of a biased non proven theory or fact is against our constitutional right to the pursuit of happiness.
Thank you for your time, With True Sincerity, Herb Anthony
Medical Marijuana
I live in Colorado and am licensed to carry and grow my own medical marijuana. Although the state has made it legal for me to use this life changing medication, the federal law still allows for my incarceration. I have seen on YouTube comments made by Barack saying that he would help people like me from being put in jail for providing myself medication.
I am curious to anyone’s thoughts on this. Would you rather continue paying for the 'war' on marijuana or let me go through life without being in pain? Would your thoughts on medical marijuana change if it were legal? What is your issue with marijuana?
