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Updated NORML Map – November 2010

Bill Would Legalize, Tax Marijuana In California

Posted by CN Staff on February 23, 2009 at 13:00:07 PT
By Jim Sanders
Source: Sacramento Bee

cannabis Sacramento, CA — California may be going to pot – literally. Marijuana would be grown and sold openly to adults 21 and older under legislation introduced this morning by a San Francisco lawmaker.

Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, D-San Francisco, said the cash-starved state could generate more than a billion dollars by taxing pot growers and sellers. Ammiano predicted that the public would support loosening marijuana laws that require substantial public funds to enforce.

“I think there’s a mentality throughout the state and the country that this isn’t the highest priority,” he said. “And that maybe we should start to reassess.”

Before California could legalize marijuana, however, it also might have to persuade the federal government to alter its prohibition on cannabis.

Ammiano said federal officials may be receptive to such changes under the administration of President Barack Obama.

“We may be on a parallel track here,” said Ammiano, a freshman legislator who was sworn into office less than three months ago.

The Drug Policy Alliance, an advocate of loosening pot laws, applauded Ammiano’s proposal.

“Marijuana already plays a huge role in the California economy,” said Stephen Gutwillig, the group’s California state director. “It’s a revenue opportunity we literally can’t afford to ignore any longer.”

Assemblyman Roger Niello, R-Fair Oaks, said legalizing marijuana would be a bad idea. He said he considers pot a “gateway drug” from which many users graduate to harder and more dangerous substances.

“I don’t think we’re particularly well served in our society to further accommodate or even encourage something that’s going to be unproductive and damaging to the individual — especially not for the reason of generating revenue,” he said.

Ammiano’s bill, Assembly Bill 390, would allow marijuana to be sold openly – like alcohol – in retail outlets statewide.

The state would gain by charging sellers a fee of $50 per ounce. Pot growers also would be charged under the measure.

Snipped

Complete Article: http://www.sacbee.com/breaking/story/1646399.html

Source: Sacramento Bee (CA)
Author: Jim Sanders
Published: February 23, 2009
Copyright: 2009 The Sacramento Bee
Contact: opinion@sacbee.com
Website: http://www.sacbee.com/

Cannabis Found In Greek Nunnery

A GREEK Orthodox nunnery was turned into a marijuana plantation by two men posing as gardeners for elderly nuns, police said overnight.

Acting on a tip-off, officers raided the nunnery in the village of Filiro, near the northern port city of Thessaloniki, and found more than 30 large cannabis plants in the enclosed garden.

“Two unknown men had told the two elderly nuns in the nunnery they would like to help them with the garden and then proceeded to plant the cannabis,” a police official said.

“The nuns did not know what they were and assumed they were large decorative plants,” he said.

Police did not arrest the nuns and have launched a hunt for the culprits.

Source Australian News – http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22873165-23109,00.html

Another point of hypocrisy……..

How Do You Smoke Pot And Stay Out Of Jail?

How Do You Smoke Pot And Stay Out Of Jail? Seattle lawyer Jeff Steinborn tells us how through the miracle of illustration! Please visit his website http://www.potbust.com/

Status Of Laws Regarding Cannabis Usage In Europe

Ranking Of Risks Of 6 Commonly Used Drugs

Strange that alcohol is legal with such numbers. Marijuana seems to be the safe way to relax

Massachusetts Decriminalizes Marijuana

In the recent November election here in Massachusetts was given a choice in the form of question #2. This was one of 3 questions posed. This was an amendment to state laws ending the decades old law of jailing people for possessing marijuana in favor a deliverance of a $100 fine instead and confiscation of the substance under an ounce. In a much surprising fashion the question was passed with a 65% majority. The law will be instated sometime between December 4th-late December. During this time the always vigilant “state” will have the ability to “fine tune” it.

This was a victory for both the people of Massachusetts and the advancement of forward thinking in this state.The state has been largely Democratic since the legacy of the Kennedy’s. An annual festival is held on Boston Common every third week in September termed “The Hempfest” or “Freedom Fest”, a strange mix of horseback police and freely smoking citizens. Its people en-masse at its finest. A true power of the people. More liberal policies are being adapted with Gov. Duval Patrick and my forecast is for it not to be changing anytime soon. Massachusetts is well on the way to cracking down on real drug users and criminal and leave ordinary citizens alone.

There have been many victories recently in line with Massachusetts happening all around the country at this moment. Michigan had a similar law passed as well as other states with laws in legislation. Even our President- Elect Obama has a forward thinking policy on cannabis and i believe will himself change federal laws regarding it. Atleast its the best chance of it there has been in a long time. Hard headed Bush would never see fit to install any of these policies in his “Christian America” The change has been coming for a long time.  Soon everyone in our country wont have to go to jail simply for possesing a plant that god himself made and is far safer than alcohol. As the plant is regaining new found popularity more research is being done everyday. More uses and benefits are discovered and the general stigma of the “harmful reefer” is erased.

I myself have consumed marijuana from time to time in my life and have found it to be a far more useful experience than that of alcohol. I have given up drinking alcohol for about 4 years now and not for any addiction or missuse, just the ill effects it induces. I cannot bear to drink and feel, tired, headache, groggy, disspondent, nauseus..etc… I trully cannot understand people who drink or drink excessively. I enjoy a nice whisky on the rocks just like any guy, my favorite was always Crown Royal. I just weigh the effects and make the obvious choice to cannabis over alcohol. Cannabis gives none of these feelings. In fact the only major side effect is a large appetite.

In my life anyway things have changed and me and my family are homesteading in Maine, another forward thinking state with a similar policy towars marijuana. Actually its neighbor to the north Canada has a very liberal policy ans their goverment for many years have been ending the prohibition of marijuana. As I said before I only hope that the United States can follow suit. The money from a future tax and commercialization of marijuana as cigarettes are now or the Amsterdam Coffee- Shop  model would pay for the real drug war against hardened drug dealers of crack, methamphetimines and opiates. I only hope this country is ready to take this big step in the right direction towards a policy against marijuana that is far outdated.

Aspirin vs. Marijuana

What follows is an article that was re posted on http://www.nunya.com. I found it to be so good I posted it here. Obviously this is the stuff that aspirin-making companies don’t want us to know. Enjoy!

References: http://www.onmarijuana.com/2007/03/24/marijuana-is-safer-than-aspirin/

and http://www.saferchoice.org/content/view/24/32/

This is a repost with a few edits…

When Bayer introduced aspirin in 1899, cannabis was America’s number one painkiller. Until marijuana prohibition began in 1937, the US Pharmacopoeia listed cannabis as the primary medicine for over 100 diseases. Cannabis was such an effective analgesic that the American Medical Association (AMA) argued against prohibition on behalf of medical progress. Since the herb is extremely potent and essentially non-toxic, the AMA considered it a potential wonder drug.

Instead, the invention of aspirin gave birth to the modern pharmaceutical industry and Americans switched away from cannabis in the name of “progress.” But was it really progress? There can be no doubt that aspirin has a long history as the drug of choice for the self-treatment of migraines, arthritis, and other chronic pain. It is cheap and effective. But is it as safe as cannabis?

History:

Marijuana has been used for over 5,000 years.
No one has ever overdosed on marijuana.
Aspirin has been used for 108 years.
Approximately 500 people die every year by taking aspirin
The Law:

Marijuana is a Schedule 1 drug, meaning the US government believes it is extremely dangerous, highly addictive, and of no medical value.
Aspirin is available for pennies and can be purchased by children at any drug, grocery, or convenience store. Often they are just handed out free by people with no medical education.
Marijuana side effects and dangers:

The dangers of marijuana include possible respiratory problems caused by the deposition of burnt plant material on the lungs. This danger can be eliminated with alternate forms of consumption such as eating or vaporizing the medicine.
For two to four hours, marijuana causes short-term memory loss, a slight reduction in reaction time, and a reduction in cognitive ability. (It makes you stupid for a little while.)These conditions DO NOT persist after the herb wears off.

Hunger
Paranoia
Depression
Laughter
Introspection
Creative Impulse
Euphoria
Tiredness
Forgetfulness
Aspirin side effects and dangers:

When taken with alcohol, aspirin can cause stomach bleeding.
Reye Syndrome in children: fat begins to develop around the liver and other organs of the child, eventually putting severe pressure on the brain. Death is common within a few days.
People with hemophilia can die.
People with hyperthyroidism suffer elevated T4 levels.
Stomach problems include dyspepsia, heartburn, upset stomach, stomach ulcers with gross bleeding, and internal bleeding leading to anemia.
Dizziness, ringing in the ears, hearing loss, vertigo, vision disturbances, and headaches.
Heavy sweating
Irreversible liver damage
Inflamation and gradual destruction of the kidneys
Nausea and vomiting
Abdominal pain
Lethargy
Hyperthermia
Dyspepsia: a gnawing or burning stomach pain accompanied by bloating, heartburn, nausea, vomiting and burping.
Tachypnea: Abnormally fast breathing
Respiratory Alkalosis: a condition where the amount of carbon dioxide found in the blood drops to a level below normal range brought on by abnormally fast breathing.
Cerebral Edema: Water accumulates on the brain. Symptoms include headaches, decreased level of consciousness, loss of eyesight, hallucinations, psychotic behavior, memory loss and coma. If left untreated, it can lead to death.
Hallucinations, confusion, and seizure.
Prolonged bleeding after operations or post-trauma for up to 10 days after last aspirin.
Aspirin can interact with some other drugs, such as diabetes medication. Aspirin changes the way the body handles these drugs and can lead to a drug overdose and death.
If you think that cannabis is actually safer than aspirin, you are not alone. In October 2000, Dr. Leslie Iversen of the Oxford University Department of Pharmacology said the same thing.

In her book, ‘The Science of Marijuana,’ Dr. Iversen presents the scientific evidence that cannabis is, by-and-large, a safe drug. Dr. Iversen found cannabis had “an impressive record” when compared to tobacco, alcohol, or even aspirin.

“Tetrahydrocannabinol is a very safe drug,” she said. “Even such apparently innocuous medicines as aspirin and related steroidal anti-inflammatory compunds are not safe.”

So if safety is your concern, cannabis is clearly a much better choice than aspirin. If you eat it or vaporize it, it just might be the safest painkiller the world has ever known.