cybrguy
Putin is a War Criminal
From his mouth/keyboard to god's ear. May the force be with him...
Cannabis News
- Thread starter vtac
- Start date
Mich. Supreme Court allows GR marijuana law to stand
The Michigan Supreme Court has let stand an amendment to the Grand Rapids city charter that decriminalizes marijuana.
The amendment was approved by Grand Rapids voters in 2012. It makes possession of or sharing marijuana a civil infraction punishable by fines ranging from $25 to $100 with no jail time.
The Michigan Supreme Court has let stand an amendment to the Grand Rapids city charter that decriminalizes marijuana.
The amendment was approved by Grand Rapids voters in 2012. It makes possession of or sharing marijuana a civil infraction punishable by fines ranging from $25 to $100 with no jail time.
CuckFumbustion
Lo and Behold! The transformative power of Vapor.
Interesting! So what are these companies to do, discreet mailing in a paper sleeve like pornography does?
little maggie
Well-Known Member
Is the lawsuit by nearby states against Colorado posted somewhere?
http://www.thecannabist.co/2015/12/...do-marijuana-lawsuit-oklahoma-nebraska/45190/
http://www.thecannabist.co/2015/12/...do-marijuana-lawsuit-oklahoma-nebraska/45190/
Last edited:
CuckFumbustion
Lo and Behold! The transformative power of Vapor.
Maybe because it will be another medicine you can have delivered to your house and buy cheaper from Canada?
If the politicians that want to reschedule it, and were successful, would it be a medicine you can have delivered to your house like through normal channels? Still think they need to focus on real crime and improving their service.Most mail order sellers of accessories will have to remove ads or any language that talks about the effects of said product with the "Schedule 1" plant.
Say, Would I get in trouble if I wrapped an ordinary drinking glass in a local collegetown newspaper from CO, that happened to have a dispensary ad?.
Last edited:
CarolKing
Singer of songs and a vapor connoisseur
WASHINGTON — President Obama's decision to shorten the sentences of 95 federal prisoners Friday continued a continuing trend toward Christmastime clemency that's being criticized as part of "a broken process."
Obama said the clemency grants — the largest single-day use of his pardon power in his presidency to date — were "another step forward in upholding our fundamental ideals of justice and fairness."
He also gave complete pardons to two people involved counterfeiting and bank fraud, the White House announced.
Most of the commutations to shorter sentences dealt with drug offenders given long mandatory minimum sentences, but also included 15 gun crimes — usually while committing a drug offense — and one armed bank robbery.
Tacoma-native Chad Latham will have nearly two years taken off his sentence as a result of the announcement.
Latham was arrested in 2004 for growing more than 2000 marijuana plants in a garage in rural Pierce County.
He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
That's a long time to be in prison for growing cannabis.
CK
Obama said the clemency grants — the largest single-day use of his pardon power in his presidency to date — were "another step forward in upholding our fundamental ideals of justice and fairness."
He also gave complete pardons to two people involved counterfeiting and bank fraud, the White House announced.
Most of the commutations to shorter sentences dealt with drug offenders given long mandatory minimum sentences, but also included 15 gun crimes — usually while committing a drug offense — and one armed bank robbery.
Tacoma-native Chad Latham will have nearly two years taken off his sentence as a result of the announcement.
Latham was arrested in 2004 for growing more than 2000 marijuana plants in a garage in rural Pierce County.
He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
That's a long time to be in prison for growing cannabis.
CK
Last edited:
cybrguy
Putin is a War Criminal
Feds want states’ marijuana lawsuit snuffed out
By NCC Staff December 18, 2015 10:30 AM
The U.S. attorney general wants the Supreme Court to deny a request from Nebraska and Oklahoma to limit Colorado’s legalized commercial marijuana business.
.
In May, the Court asked the Solicitor General’s office for its opinion in a lawsuit called Nebraska and Oklahoma v. Colorado about the commercial sales of marijuana for recreational use in Colorado.
The lawsuit was brought by Nebraska and Oklahoma last December, when their attorneys general asked the Court to rule on the legality of the Colorado’s legalized marijuana law, in an original jurisdiction case.
The two states contend the Supreme Court was the only venue where they could seek relief under the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause, arguing that “the federal government has preeminent authority to regulate interstate and foreign commerce, including commerce involving legal and illegal trafficking in drugs such as marijuana.”
Nebraska and Oklahoma aren’t asking that Colorado’s now-legal personal marijuana use stop or to go back to its previous laws that prosecuted marijuana use as a crime in the state. Instead, the two states wants Colorado’s plan disallowed by the Supreme Court that allows for commercial growing and distribution of marijuana with the state.
This Wednesday, Solicitor General Donald Verrilli filed the Justice Department’s legal opinion, which claims the lawsuit from the two states is problematic on several fronts. For example, Verrilli rejects the two states’ claims that the legalized sale of marijuana in Colorado “increases the likelihood that third parties will commit criminal offenses in Nebraska and Oklahoma” because of increased ability to bring the drug into the two states.
He also believes allowing the lawsuit to proceed would allow states to force other states to conform to federal laws that they interpret them as not being enforced correctly. “Such a broad invitation to invoke this Court’s original jurisdiction to resolve myriad preemption questions would not comport with the Court’s traditional insistence that original jurisdiction be exercised only ‘sparingly,’” Verrilli said.
Four states and the District of Columbia have passed laws to make recreational pot use legal under certain circumstances. And 23 states and the federal district have legalized marijuana for medical use.
Colorado’s law was approved in a voter referendum in November 2012.
However, recreational and medical marijuana use is still illegal nationally under the Controlled Substances Act and it is listed under the Schedule 1 list of drugs, along with heroin and LSD.
The conflict between state laws that allow limited marijuana use and the federal law that bars it, in theory, falls somewhere in the domain of the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause.
The Court typically takes its time with original jurisdiction cases and at least four Justices will need to vote to accept the case for arguments, once the Solicitor General’s opinion is filed.
By NCC Staff December 18, 2015 10:30 AM
The U.S. attorney general wants the Supreme Court to deny a request from Nebraska and Oklahoma to limit Colorado’s legalized commercial marijuana business.
.
In May, the Court asked the Solicitor General’s office for its opinion in a lawsuit called Nebraska and Oklahoma v. Colorado about the commercial sales of marijuana for recreational use in Colorado.
The lawsuit was brought by Nebraska and Oklahoma last December, when their attorneys general asked the Court to rule on the legality of the Colorado’s legalized marijuana law, in an original jurisdiction case.
The two states contend the Supreme Court was the only venue where they could seek relief under the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause, arguing that “the federal government has preeminent authority to regulate interstate and foreign commerce, including commerce involving legal and illegal trafficking in drugs such as marijuana.”
Nebraska and Oklahoma aren’t asking that Colorado’s now-legal personal marijuana use stop or to go back to its previous laws that prosecuted marijuana use as a crime in the state. Instead, the two states wants Colorado’s plan disallowed by the Supreme Court that allows for commercial growing and distribution of marijuana with the state.
This Wednesday, Solicitor General Donald Verrilli filed the Justice Department’s legal opinion, which claims the lawsuit from the two states is problematic on several fronts. For example, Verrilli rejects the two states’ claims that the legalized sale of marijuana in Colorado “increases the likelihood that third parties will commit criminal offenses in Nebraska and Oklahoma” because of increased ability to bring the drug into the two states.
He also believes allowing the lawsuit to proceed would allow states to force other states to conform to federal laws that they interpret them as not being enforced correctly. “Such a broad invitation to invoke this Court’s original jurisdiction to resolve myriad preemption questions would not comport with the Court’s traditional insistence that original jurisdiction be exercised only ‘sparingly,’” Verrilli said.
Four states and the District of Columbia have passed laws to make recreational pot use legal under certain circumstances. And 23 states and the federal district have legalized marijuana for medical use.
Colorado’s law was approved in a voter referendum in November 2012.
However, recreational and medical marijuana use is still illegal nationally under the Controlled Substances Act and it is listed under the Schedule 1 list of drugs, along with heroin and LSD.
The conflict between state laws that allow limited marijuana use and the federal law that bars it, in theory, falls somewhere in the domain of the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause.
The Court typically takes its time with original jurisdiction cases and at least four Justices will need to vote to accept the case for arguments, once the Solicitor General’s opinion is filed.
thisperson
Ruler of all things person
I just wanted to say I really appreciate you guys keeping me up to date on this. I really hope that SCOTUS case goes well. I read on the cannabist article that if the supreme court refuses to hear it they can still take it to a federal district court. WTF??? Isn't the supreme court the highest court in the land. That gave me a queasy feeling. Like going from a lighter to a frying pan.
cybrguy
Putin is a War Criminal
Oh My God. Did any of us know this was in the bill?
Congress quietly ends federal government's ban on medical marijuana
Under a provision in the spending bill passed by Congress over the weekend, states where medical marijuana is legal would no longer need to worry about federal drug agents raiding retail operations. Agents would be prohibited from doing so. (Robert F. Bukaty / Associated Press)
Tucked deep inside the 1,603-page federal spending measure is a provision that effectively ends the federal government's prohibition on medical marijuana and signals a major shift in drug policy.
The bill's passage over the weekend marks the first time Congress has approved nationally significant legislation backed by legalization advocates. It brings almost to a close two decades of tension between the states and Washington over medical use of marijuana.
Under the provision, states where medical pot is legal would no longer need to worry about federal drug agents raiding retail operations. Agents would be prohibited from doing so.
The Obama administration has largely followed that rule since last year as a matter of policy. But the measure approved as part of the spending bill, which President Obama plans to sign this week, will codify it as a matter of law.
Pot advocates had lobbied Congress to embrace the administration's policy, which they warned was vulnerable to revision under a less tolerant future administration.
More important, from the standpoint of activists, Congress' action marked the emergence of a new alliance in marijuana politics: Republicans are taking a prominent role in backing states' right to allow use of a drug the federal government still officially classifies as more dangerous than cocaine.
"This is a victory for so many," said the measure's coauthor, Republican Rep. Dana Rohrabacher of Costa Mesa. The measure's approval, he said, represents "the first time in decades that the federal government has curtailed its oppressive prohibition of marijuana."
By now, 32 states and the District of Columbia have legalized pot or its ingredients to treat ailments, a movement that began in the 1990s. Even back then, some states had been approving broader decriminalization measures for two decades.
The medical marijuana movement has picked up considerable momentum in recent years. The Drug Enforcement Administration, however, continues to place marijuana in the most dangerous category of narcotics, with no accepted medical use.
Congress for years had resisted calls to allow states to chart their own path on pot. The marijuana measure, which forbids the federal government from using any of its resources to impede state medical marijuana laws, was previously rejected half a dozen times. When Washington, D.C., voters approved medical marijuana in 1998, Congress used its authority over the city's affairs to block the law from taking effect for 11 years.
Bloomberg's Olivia Sterns reports on the New York Times' advocacy of the legalization of marijuana.
Even as Congress has shifted ground on medical marijuana, lawmakers remain uneasy about full legalization. A separate amendment to the spending package, tacked on at the behest of anti-marijuana crusader Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.), will jeopardize the legalization of recreational pot in Washington, D.C., which voters approved last month.
Marijuana proponents nonetheless said they felt more confident than ever that Congress was drifting toward their point of view.
"The war on medical marijuana is over," said Bill Piper, a lobbyist with the Drug Policy Alliance, who called the move historic.
"Now the fight moves on to legalization of all marijuana," he said. "This is the strongest signal we have received from Congress [that] the politics have really shifted. ... Congress has been slow to catch up with the states and American people, but it is catching up."
The measure, which Rohrabacher championed with Rep. Sam Farr, a Democrat from Carmel, had the support of large numbers of Democrats for years. Enough Republicans joined them this year to put it over the top. When the House first passed the measure earlier this year, 49 Republicans voted aye.
Some Republicans are pivoting off their traditional anti-drug platform at a time when most voters live in states where medical marijuana is legal, in many cases as a result of ballot measures.
The war on medical marijuana is over. Now the fight moves on to legalization of all marijuana. - Bill Piper, a lobbyist with the Drug Policy Alliance
Polls show that while Republican voters are far less likely than the broader public to support outright legalization, they favor allowing marijuana for medical use by a commanding majority. Legalization also has great appeal to millennials, a demographic group with which Republicans are aggressively trying to make inroads.
Approval of the pot measure comes after the Obama administration directed federal prosecutors last year to stop enforcing drug laws that contradict state marijuana policies. Since then, federal raids of marijuana merchants and growers who are operating legally in their states have been limited to those accused of other violations, such as money laundering.
"The federal government should never get in between patients and their medicine," said Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Oakland).
Congress quietly ends federal government's ban on medical marijuana
Under a provision in the spending bill passed by Congress over the weekend, states where medical marijuana is legal would no longer need to worry about federal drug agents raiding retail operations. Agents would be prohibited from doing so. (Robert F. Bukaty / Associated Press)
Tucked deep inside the 1,603-page federal spending measure is a provision that effectively ends the federal government's prohibition on medical marijuana and signals a major shift in drug policy.
The bill's passage over the weekend marks the first time Congress has approved nationally significant legislation backed by legalization advocates. It brings almost to a close two decades of tension between the states and Washington over medical use of marijuana.
Under the provision, states where medical pot is legal would no longer need to worry about federal drug agents raiding retail operations. Agents would be prohibited from doing so.
The Obama administration has largely followed that rule since last year as a matter of policy. But the measure approved as part of the spending bill, which President Obama plans to sign this week, will codify it as a matter of law.
Pot advocates had lobbied Congress to embrace the administration's policy, which they warned was vulnerable to revision under a less tolerant future administration.
More important, from the standpoint of activists, Congress' action marked the emergence of a new alliance in marijuana politics: Republicans are taking a prominent role in backing states' right to allow use of a drug the federal government still officially classifies as more dangerous than cocaine.
"This is a victory for so many," said the measure's coauthor, Republican Rep. Dana Rohrabacher of Costa Mesa. The measure's approval, he said, represents "the first time in decades that the federal government has curtailed its oppressive prohibition of marijuana."
By now, 32 states and the District of Columbia have legalized pot or its ingredients to treat ailments, a movement that began in the 1990s. Even back then, some states had been approving broader decriminalization measures for two decades.
The medical marijuana movement has picked up considerable momentum in recent years. The Drug Enforcement Administration, however, continues to place marijuana in the most dangerous category of narcotics, with no accepted medical use.
Congress for years had resisted calls to allow states to chart their own path on pot. The marijuana measure, which forbids the federal government from using any of its resources to impede state medical marijuana laws, was previously rejected half a dozen times. When Washington, D.C., voters approved medical marijuana in 1998, Congress used its authority over the city's affairs to block the law from taking effect for 11 years.
Bloomberg's Olivia Sterns reports on the New York Times' advocacy of the legalization of marijuana.
Even as Congress has shifted ground on medical marijuana, lawmakers remain uneasy about full legalization. A separate amendment to the spending package, tacked on at the behest of anti-marijuana crusader Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.), will jeopardize the legalization of recreational pot in Washington, D.C., which voters approved last month.
Marijuana proponents nonetheless said they felt more confident than ever that Congress was drifting toward their point of view.
"The war on medical marijuana is over," said Bill Piper, a lobbyist with the Drug Policy Alliance, who called the move historic.
"Now the fight moves on to legalization of all marijuana," he said. "This is the strongest signal we have received from Congress [that] the politics have really shifted. ... Congress has been slow to catch up with the states and American people, but it is catching up."
The measure, which Rohrabacher championed with Rep. Sam Farr, a Democrat from Carmel, had the support of large numbers of Democrats for years. Enough Republicans joined them this year to put it over the top. When the House first passed the measure earlier this year, 49 Republicans voted aye.
Some Republicans are pivoting off their traditional anti-drug platform at a time when most voters live in states where medical marijuana is legal, in many cases as a result of ballot measures.
The war on medical marijuana is over. Now the fight moves on to legalization of all marijuana. - Bill Piper, a lobbyist with the Drug Policy Alliance
Polls show that while Republican voters are far less likely than the broader public to support outright legalization, they favor allowing marijuana for medical use by a commanding majority. Legalization also has great appeal to millennials, a demographic group with which Republicans are aggressively trying to make inroads.
Approval of the pot measure comes after the Obama administration directed federal prosecutors last year to stop enforcing drug laws that contradict state marijuana policies. Since then, federal raids of marijuana merchants and growers who are operating legally in their states have been limited to those accused of other violations, such as money laundering.
"The federal government should never get in between patients and their medicine," said Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Oakland).
cybrguy
Putin is a War Criminal
Here Are the States That Will Possibly Legalize Marijuana in 2016
By Kathleen Wong 21 hours ago
It was a big year for marijuana, which gained more and more momentum in its movement toward full legalization. Midway through the year, 23 states and Washington D.C. had marijuana legalized in some form. States like Hawaii, Delaware, Michigan and Vermont legalized weed for medicinal purposes. But it’s fully legal in Alaska, Colorado, Oregon and Washington.
With the presidential election nearing, 2016 will most likely be another significant time for marijuana. Below are the states most likely to join in legalizing recreational marijuana, according to Leafly.
View gallery
.
Nevada
As the first state to qualify for the 2016 ballot with almost 60,000 more signatures than needed, Nevada is well on its way to taking its legalization from just medicinal to fully recreational.
California
View gallery
.
California has long legalized medical marijuana. Legislators never set the ground rules for regulation and that’s caused hesitancy for full legalization. But Gov. Jerry Brown recently signed in three new laws to help set up a proper structure that could pave the way for legalization, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Maine
Known for its well-run medical marijuana program, Maine has been slowly preparing itself for full-on legalization. In fact, some parts of Maine have already been legalizing, the Huffington Post reported.
Arizona
View gallery
.
Arizona legalized medical marijuana in 2010 and is aiming for recreational marijuana to be legalized by the summer of 2016, according to Azcentral.
Connecticut
Medical marijuana came to be in 2012 in Connecticut, and it’s been a slow build towards full legalization. Local police see it coming too and are getting ready for the law to pass, saying that medical marijuana has caused no problems so far, the Connecticut Post reported.
Michigan
Medical marijuana was legalized in Michigan in 2008, but the state is still passing laws to build the best running system. Groups are petitioning for the state to fully legalize marijuana next year, the International Business Times reported.
Ohio
Ohio is in a heated debate over the legalization of marijuana due to lack of funding, according to Cleveland.com. Polls show the same tight race, with 53% of voters supporting legalization and 44% opposing, according to an October Quinnipiac University poll, reported by Cleveland.com.
Rhode Island
recreational marijuana bill introduced to Rhode Island lawmakers back in January will be the topic of debate next year. Lawmakers pushing the bill say it will eliminate the underground market and generate tax income. An October poll by the Marijuana Policy Project found 57% of Rhode Island residents would rather have marijuana regulated than banned.
Vermont
Gov. Peter Schulman said he’s been tracking Colorado’s success with legal marijuana, according to Leafly. He’s organized meetings discussing the logistics of legalization, which means it could be in the near future.
By Kathleen Wong 21 hours ago
It was a big year for marijuana, which gained more and more momentum in its movement toward full legalization. Midway through the year, 23 states and Washington D.C. had marijuana legalized in some form. States like Hawaii, Delaware, Michigan and Vermont legalized weed for medicinal purposes. But it’s fully legal in Alaska, Colorado, Oregon and Washington.
With the presidential election nearing, 2016 will most likely be another significant time for marijuana. Below are the states most likely to join in legalizing recreational marijuana, according to Leafly.
View gallery
.
Nevada
As the first state to qualify for the 2016 ballot with almost 60,000 more signatures than needed, Nevada is well on its way to taking its legalization from just medicinal to fully recreational.
California
View gallery
.
California has long legalized medical marijuana. Legislators never set the ground rules for regulation and that’s caused hesitancy for full legalization. But Gov. Jerry Brown recently signed in three new laws to help set up a proper structure that could pave the way for legalization, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Maine
Known for its well-run medical marijuana program, Maine has been slowly preparing itself for full-on legalization. In fact, some parts of Maine have already been legalizing, the Huffington Post reported.
Arizona
View gallery
.
Arizona legalized medical marijuana in 2010 and is aiming for recreational marijuana to be legalized by the summer of 2016, according to Azcentral.
Connecticut
Medical marijuana came to be in 2012 in Connecticut, and it’s been a slow build towards full legalization. Local police see it coming too and are getting ready for the law to pass, saying that medical marijuana has caused no problems so far, the Connecticut Post reported.
Michigan
Medical marijuana was legalized in Michigan in 2008, but the state is still passing laws to build the best running system. Groups are petitioning for the state to fully legalize marijuana next year, the International Business Times reported.
Ohio
Ohio is in a heated debate over the legalization of marijuana due to lack of funding, according to Cleveland.com. Polls show the same tight race, with 53% of voters supporting legalization and 44% opposing, according to an October Quinnipiac University poll, reported by Cleveland.com.
Rhode Island
recreational marijuana bill introduced to Rhode Island lawmakers back in January will be the topic of debate next year. Lawmakers pushing the bill say it will eliminate the underground market and generate tax income. An October poll by the Marijuana Policy Project found 57% of Rhode Island residents would rather have marijuana regulated than banned.
Vermont
Gov. Peter Schulman said he’s been tracking Colorado’s success with legal marijuana, according to Leafly. He’s organized meetings discussing the logistics of legalization, which means it could be in the near future.
fernand
Well-Known Member
OK, let's see what happens. My guess is that the so-called opiate epidemic will be used to try reversing many of the gains we've made with regard to decriminalizing cannabis. Different trends are just running on different cycles and time frames. I'm a tellin' ya: be careful when you demonize ANY drug, it plays into the devil's hand. Look at Gov. Christie.
The problems we have with all drugs are PEOPLE problems, not DRUG problems. A lot of people handle their drugs, of all kinds, prescribed, recommended OR purchased off the street, responsibly. Some don't. The marijuana contingent is convinced THEIR chosen drug is ok, and the others be damned. Same with alcohol, tobacco, etc etc. Let's keep our heads on.
The problems we have with all drugs are PEOPLE problems, not DRUG problems. A lot of people handle their drugs, of all kinds, prescribed, recommended OR purchased off the street, responsibly. Some don't. The marijuana contingent is convinced THEIR chosen drug is ok, and the others be damned. Same with alcohol, tobacco, etc etc. Let's keep our heads on.
Last edited:
CuckFumbustion
Lo and Behold! The transformative power of Vapor.
These things do tend to go in cycles. Remaining optimistic, But I'm bracing for any potential backlash or backward trend in Federal policy. Watching the Nebraska and Oklahoma v. Colorado case a little closer. Hope the legal states police themselves enough from any shenanigans and make the non legal states seem backward and behind the curve. Too many state deals have been squashed by greed and politics. If the money incentive drys up due to Canada and other states already absorbing the first wave of profits, then it is that much harder for other states to be swayed and turn around and tell law enforcement of a change in policy.
Addiction is in essence a People problems, right. But I differ that some drugs are physically addictive and some in that sub category are drugs that tend to dehumanize the human experience even further. If we can help addicts with the tools they need for recovery, instead of filling our prisons, that would have an impact on street crime, etc. Addicts can be a witness and report crimes like other citizens and not be in the shadows.
What to do? Well 'we' have to convince other people who are on the fence with this issue, that addicts who need to seek drug treatment, should be able to do it without going through incarceration and stigmas attached. Opiates are physically addictive and someone not even prone to addiction could easily develop a gradual dependency, like the oddly enough the friend in Gov. Christie's story.
I've gotten even more oversensitive to the MJ stereotypes and over react as if it is a form of hate crime. Even from some MJ smokers! It needs to be treated like the complex physically non-addictive, life affirming plant it really is.
cybrguy
Putin is a War Criminal
I certainly understand the desire, and the reasoning that might lead to saying that it is the prohibition against drugs that is the problem and equate them all as if they are the same.
But they are not the same, and are frankly more different than they are alike and treating them as if they are the same helps no one.
Alcohol use and abuse kills 88,000 people a year in this country, not even including the people killed collaterally from car accidents or other alcohol caused events. That's something like 240 people a day.
http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/alcohol-use.htm
Opioids kill something like 100 a day from overdoses, about 42 a day from the population of folks with legal prescriptions for the drugs.
http://www.asam.org/docs/default-source/advocacy/opioid-addiction-disease-facts-figures.pdf
How many people a day die from Marijuana abuse? Zero. None. Bupkis.
In the course of a year there are probably a few folks who get too high and do something stupid that leads to their death, but it is not the drug that kills them. It is there stupidity or carelessness and can't really be blamed on the drug. If anything blame Darwin.
I have no problem demonizing other drugs without equating it to MJ. The numbers are pretty clear. And I have no fear that trying to reduce opiod and alcohol deaths must necessarily bleed over into the effort to end the Marijuana prohibition. They are apples and oranges, and it is up to us to make that clear.
But promoting the safe use of MJ should in no way require us to back off trying to reduce alcohol and opiod abuse. The differences between them are like night and day.
CarolKing
Singer of songs and a vapor connoisseur
New Era for Marijuana, New York Smokers Get Bolder
By SARAH MASLIN NIRDEC. 14, 2015
Photo
Clockwise from top left, smokers in Williamsburg, Brooklyn; Tompkins Square Park; Williamsburg; and Washington Square Park. CreditHilary Swift for The New York Times
Advertisement
Continue reading the main story
These folks need to be vaporizing.
ck
By SARAH MASLIN NIRDEC. 14, 2015
Photo
Clockwise from top left, smokers in Williamsburg, Brooklyn; Tompkins Square Park; Williamsburg; and Washington Square Park. CreditHilary Swift for The New York Times
Advertisement
Continue reading the main story
These folks need to be vaporizing.
ck
Last edited:
Gunky
Well-Known Member
I disagree with this pretty completely. How is demonizing [insert drug name here] users helping anyone? Turning addicts into demons and criminals, putting them in jail, forcing them to go underground to satisfy their cravings, enabling organized crime to supply this demand... etc etc - how does all that work to help people stop being addicted? Badly. As you mentioned, thousands die. The system we have does not and has never saved those people from death. Our current drug policies do not reduce death from drugs, nor do they reduce the incidence of drug use/abuse. Supplying heroin addicts (for example) with the drug under medical supervision would be better than what we have now and a whole lot cheaper, too. It would be a lot fairer too, since alcohol is every bit as destructive as opiates and opioids and yet alcohol is sold and taxed freely.
On an unrelated note, driving on the freeway in CA today I saw several electronic signs flash the message: "Buzzed driving is drunk driving".
Last edited:
MinnBobber
Well-Known Member
............................................................
You are DEMONIZING THE DRUG, not the drug user !!! That's what @cybrguy posted.
I take demonizing ( opiates) to mean:
Except for a medical need for extreme pain, you broadcast loud and clear that opiates are a demon ---that opiates are extremely addictive , that they should be the medical choice of last resort (not the first choice) and that they are extremely dangerous--even under medical use/supervision, that patients develop resistance/need bigger dose, that they can actually make the pain worse , that they kill, etc.
You give people information / educate on just how bad opiates are--- that opiates are a demon (a deadly one that kills 16,000 people every year).
And you educate on cannabis (the anti-demon) that it can be used to reduce opiate use and states with medical cannabis see prescription pain killer deaths drop by 24.8%.
Users are completely different issue--- like gunky said, treatment, education, cannabis substitution ( the great exit drug), etc
Gunky
Well-Known Member
I am all for education about hard drugs. But our current policies drive hard drug users underground. Young people do not see them as they are and in all their sadness, because they are hidden away, jailed, etc. How can they know how ugly this is? They can't. How can they trust an authority that is lying them about cannabis? Our whole drug policy is built around criminalization and punishment, not education and curing of addiction.
I will repeat something I said up thread. Opium and possibly heroin should be available to people at the end of their lives. For tens of thousands of years poppies have been used by our species. Only recently has this plant been criminalized. Despite all the demonizing and bullshit it is actually a very useful drug, especially in its original form (ie not some johnny come lately synthetic cooked up by the drug companies and sold at crazy prices).
I will repeat something I said up thread. Opium and possibly heroin should be available to people at the end of their lives. For tens of thousands of years poppies have been used by our species. Only recently has this plant been criminalized. Despite all the demonizing and bullshit it is actually a very useful drug, especially in its original form (ie not some johnny come lately synthetic cooked up by the drug companies and sold at crazy prices).
Last edited:
MinnBobber
Well-Known Member
...................................................................
Like I said --demonize the hard drugs, NOT the hard drug users. Totally different and separate issues!!
Gunky
Well-Known Member
This makes little sense to me. If you demonize a drug, what does that make users of that drug? Silky puppies? Current policies actually demonize users but not the drugs! No way they are gonna demonize the drugs. They keep on selling those drugs (and making tons of money on both sides of the law) but they want total control.
Last edited:
MinnBobber
Well-Known Member
.........................................................................
If you demonize the drug, that makes users of that drug merely someone who has fallen under the wily spell of a killer drug----and all the treatment options can be open to them, not punishment and incarceration.
If you don't demonize hard drugs, then what's the message---these drugs are fine, no problem??
Tell it like it is---these drugs are demons, that kill thousands--how can that not be a huge demon??
Gunky
Well-Known Member
So do alcohol and tobacco. Are they demonic too? No, it doesn't work. Demonizing is stupid. Demons are things we have to make war on, as in drug war. That has not worked. Drugs are substances. They are not evil or good in and of themselves. Their use might be evil or good. Demonizing a plant that has existed and been used for millennia is dumb. It is still being put to very good use, too, despite all the bs.
Last edited: