Marijuana
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Maryland Marijuana Gumballs
Marijuana-filled gumballs, apparently known as "greenades," drew the attention of the DEA after they became available at Ellicott City's Howard High school in Howard, County, Maryland, not far outside Washington, according to DC-area paper The Examiner.
“It’s a new idea and it’s new to the DEA,” said Gregory Lee, a retired supervisory special agent of the Drug Enforcement Agency, who had never heard of anyone packaging marijuana in such a way before. “When it comes to drug-dealing, you’re only limited by your imagination.”I agree with that last statement -- but what does that say about either the efficacy of drug enforcement efforts or the impact of drug prohibition laws? Because the drugs are illegal, there is no possibility for regulation to control the form in which they are made available -- "hence Greenades" -- and because the drugs are illegal, there is no possibility for regulation to control where and when and by whom the drugs get sold -- hence high school students selling drugs in the schools to other kids. And the endless possibilities for innovation in packaging drugs mean there also must be endless possibilities for hiding drugs too. Or we could legalize the drugs and mostly end this craziness... The Examiner accepts letters at:
Main Office/Letters to the Editor 1015 15th St. NW Suite 500 Washington, DC 20005 (202) 903-2000 [email protected]
Localização:
Ellicott City, MD
United States
See map: Google Maps
Belgian Cannabis Activists to Plant Seeds to Protest Seed Ban
Here is the text of a press release from ENCOD and "Draw Up Your Plant," a Belgian pot users' organization:
Belgian cannabis consumers united in "Draw Up Your Plant" will put the seed
for the first mother plant, in spite of controversy on the possession of seeds
Thursday 27 July, 12 hs. in the Botanic Garden of Antwerp (in front of the
glasshouses)
On Thursday 27 July, a seed of cannabis will be put in a flowerpot. The
scene of this event will be the Botanic Garden at the Leopoldstraat in
Antwerpen, Belgium, at 12.00 hs. From this seed the first motherplant of
our association 'Draw Up Your Plant' will grow, that later this year will
be used to provide our collective cannabis plantation with clones.
Possession of cannabis seeds in Belgium is prohibited by law. Possession of
3 grams of cannabis by adults is tolerated by a ministerial decree of 2005.
Sometimes you find seeds in a bag of cannabis. So this is another example
of the contradictions within the law. The Belgian drug policy also in this
case does not guarantee legal security to the citizens of our country.
If I get stopped by the police who finds 3 grammes of cannabis with one
seed in my possession, am I committing a criminal offence? Do I loose the
right on the possession of these 3 grams of cannabis? Or does the police
confiscate the seed and am I allowed to keep my cannabis?
How can I escape persecution in this case? Should I sort the seed off my
cannabis first? And what do I do with the seeds? Is there a place where I
can bring them?
In short, enough questions to answer.
Maybe we will get to know the solution for this dilemma on Thursday 27 July
in the Botanic Garden of Antwerp. There a cannabis seed will be used that
has been taken from the dosage of personal use (of less than 3 grammes) of
one of the members of "Draw Up Your Plant". .
What will be the reaction of the authorities?
Best wishes,
Stijn Goossens
Philippe De Craene
Joep Oomen
TREKT UW PLANT (vzw i.o)
STAD/ENCOD/VOLVOX
Lange Lozanastraat 14
2018 Antwerpen
Tel. 03 237 7436
GSM: 0479 982271 / 0486 499 453
E-mail:[email protected] / [email protected]
Website: www.encod.org / www.hardcoreharmreducer.be / www.cannaclopedia.be
Localização:
Antwerp
Belgium
Marijuana Grow Outside Santa Cruz -- Could Have Been Dangerous, But Why?
NBC11 in the Bay Area reported that thousands of marijuana plants, valued at $40 million according to authorities had been spotted near Mount Umunhum, in a remote part of the Santa Cruz mountains in south Santa Clara County. They needed helicopters to remove the 10,000-15,000 plants estimated to be there. There's a cool slideshow on the site.
My first reaction was, is it just ditchweed? An old report by the Vermont State Auditor found that almost all the "marijuana" destroyed by the government is mere ditchweed -- wild hemp, grows in lots of places, the government subsidized it during WWII. Then I thought, well, Santa Cruz? I'll give the government the benefit of the doubt that this time it's really marijuana. :)
Further down in the story police explained that these plants -- which by themselves are unable to move from place to place, being plants -- bring danger with them:
"These operations can be dangerous," Palanov said. "Last year down this canyon a couple miles away from here, a fish and game warden was shot during a marijuana raid." The officer survived. Agents shot and killed the gunman, while another suspect escaped, Garza reported. "Our deputies, and fish and game and everybody else that's involved are hiking into area where the growers have orders to protect their groves at all costs. They have weapons," Palanov said. "You have a lot of environmental damage -- the marijuana goes out on the street, which fuels other criminal activity."But why is it dangerous? Is the danger intrinsic to the marijuana? No, it is because marijuana is illegal. With marijuana legalization, no one would want to shoot people over the legally grown crop -- even bad people wouldn't shoot people over it, because it would in no way be worth the risk of going to prison for homicide -- because the value just wouldn't be what it is now and one could go to the police for help if one's crop were threatened. The environmental damage -- assuming that's for real, which certainly seems possible -- could also be reduced if not eliminated through agricultural regulation and inspection. Save Mount Umunhum -- end prohibition! Click here to write to NBC11.
Localização:
Santa Cruz, CA
United States
See map: Google Maps
Joint-Rolling Record Attempt Thwarted (France)
That's the headline of a story that appeared in Australia's Daily Telegraph. This is the sort of story that would never make the Chronicle, but is too good to pass up: Four French pot smokers get the bright idea of breaking the world's record for the longest joint . They were working on a four-foot, 70-gram doobie when they were caught short by a lack of tobacco.
Localização:
United States
See map: Google Maps
Kootenay Cannabis Community Mobilizing Over Holy Smoke Bust
The powerful cannabis community in BC's Kootenay region is not taking the Holy Smoke bust lying down. Holy Smoke will undertake a strong legal defense, and supporters will hold what they promise to be the largest pot rally in the area's history on August 5.
Here is an update from Holy Smoke co-owner Alan Middlemiss from the Cannabis Culture forums:
http://www.cannabisculture.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=current&Nu...
This is an update about the situation here in Nelson...
The "Imminent arrest" threats seem to have subsided to threats of "Imminent
vacations", with the crown attorney and the lead officer on summer holidays
for the next 2 weeks or more. Apparently they cannot get any warrents to
search or arrest anyone caught up in "operation vista" until the crown gets
back. So we wait, and work.
We are moving the date of our community rally to Saturday August 5th. There
are several reasons for this not the least of which is the forecast for
heavy rains this saturday. We plan to go to the Spearhead outdoor concert in
Kaslo the night before and spread the word to the masses. There is quite a
lot of interest from a broad range of people in Nelson, so it promises to be
the biggest pot rally ever held in the Kootenays.
I will fill in the blanks shortly. Sorry about the changed date, but its all
for the best.
Localização:
Nelson, BC
Canada
See map: Google Maps
ASA Press Release on Americans with Disabilities Act Medical Marijuana Case
For Immediate Release: July 25, 2006
Americans for Safe Access
State, National Groups Add Support to Medical Marijuana Employment Case
Legislators, Medical Organizations, Disability Advocates File in Supreme Court
San Francisco -- Medical organizations, California state legislators and disability rights organizations have all filed supporting briefs with the California Supreme Court in a landmark employment rights case involving medical marijuana. The amici curiae or ‘friend of the court’ briefs all argue that medical marijuana patients deserve civil employment protections provided by California state law.
The case is being litigated by the medical marijuana advocacy group Americans for Safe Access (ASA), on behalf of Gary Ross, a systems engineer fired in September 2001 for failing an employer-mandated drug test because he uses medical marijuana on his doctor’s advice.
“This case is an opportunity for the California Supreme Court to make clear that medical marijuana patients enjoy the same civil rights as everyone else,” said Steph Sherer, executive director of ASA. “Like all disabled persons, Mr. Ross deserves equal protection under the law.”
Ross’s physician had recommended he use cannabis for chronic back pain resulting from injuries sustained during his military service. But his employer, RagingWire Telecommunications, refused to make an exception to their policy that anyone testing positive for marijuana use be terminated.
Mr. Ross went to court, arguing that RagingWire illegally discriminated against him because of his condition, but a state superior court and then an appellate court rejected his argument. ASA appealed to the California Supreme Court, which decided to review the case in November 2006.
The amicus brief filed by ten national and state medical organizations, with the help of the Drug Policy Alliance, makes the case that medical marijuana patients should be considered no different than other patients who require medication to live and work effectively. The medical organizations argue that allowing the firing of medical marijuana patients "erects an unnecessary and unfortunate barrier to effective relief for potentially thousands of members of California’s workforce who suffer from acute or chronic pain, or other debilitating medical conditions."
The organizations signing the medical amicus brief in support of ASA’s case are the American Nurses Association, American Pain Foundation, American Medical Women's Association, Lymphoma Foundation of America, American Nurses Association, California Nurses Association, AIDS Action Council, Gay Men's Health Crisis, National Women's Health Network and Doctors of the World-USA.
(www.safeaccessnow.org/downloads/ross_medical.pdf)
The legislative amicus brief is being filed by all five of the sponsors of Senate Bill 420, the 2003 legislation that expanded and clarified California’s medical marijuana law. In it, the current and former lawmakers make clear their intent to extend the state’s normal civil protections and guarantees to medical marijuana patients, including the medical disability protections afforded Californians by the Fair Employment and Housing Act.
“[T]he FEHA, together with the Compassionate Use Act, authorize and protect the use of medical cannabis by employees away from the workplace and during non-business hours,” according to the brief signed by former Senator John Vasconcellos, the bill’s author, and Assembly members Mark Leno, Jackie Goldberg, Paul Koretz and Loni Hancock, who were all co-authors of the bill.
(http://www.safeaccessnow.org/downloads/ross_legislative.pdf)
In addition to those briefs, two disability rights organizations are also weighing in on the issue: Equal Rights Advocates and Protection and Advocacy. In their brief, the disability rights advocates note that the lower courts’ decisions, upholding the firing of Mr. Ross, “plac[es] individuals for whom marijuana is safe, effective and needed treatment in legal limbo, with their ability to earn a living dependent on the continued indulgence of their employers.” (http://www.safeaccessnow.org/downloads/ross_disability.pdf)
Americans for Safe Access is the nation’s largest organization of patients, medical professionals, scientists and concerned citizens promoting safe and legal access to cannabis for therapeutic use and research. Information about ASA is available at http://www.SafeAccessNow.org.
# # #
Localização:
CA
United States
See map: Google Maps
What is going on with the DEA and the San Diego medical marijuana dispensaries?
On Friday, the DEA returned to the more than a dozen dispensaries in San Diego raided a couple of weeks ago and warned them to shut their doors. For the Drug War Chronicle this week, I'll be looking into that and what it might mean across the state.
I'm also waiting for the Portland "lowest law enforcement priority" initiative's signatures to be verified. I'll write about that this week if we get an official announcement.
And I'm sure there will be more. There always is.
Localização:
San Diego, CA
United States
See map: Google Maps
Canada's Prince of Pot Ties the Knot in Sunny, Smoky Vancouver
Localização:
United States
See map: Google Maps
Publication/Source:
Canadian Press
URL:
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=bcd840e1-6f61-4766-b1cf-ed7822ca76ba&k=6641
Medical Marijuana in South Dakota
South Dakota will vote on a medical marijuana initiative in November, and it looks like it will be an uphill battle. According to my sources within the campaign, the measure is not doing well in internal polling, but it is early. The campaign is laying low for now, but has already found a patient spokesperson and a former policeman as a spokesman. Bob Newland, South Dakota's "Mr. Marijuana," the hemp/pot/medical marijuan activist responsible for the initiative has agreed to keep a low profile, while MPP's experienced cadres run the show. Articles on the South Dakota campaign will show up periodically in the Chronicle. This is my state, and I'm actually here, and I intend to get involved as well as write about it.
Localização:
SD
United States
See map: Google Maps
Interpol Medical Marijuana Letter, Michael Krawitz
A nice letter from Michael Krawitz. I can't speak to the meaning of the treaties insofar as they could be said to support medical marijuana, but at a bare minimum the DEA's claim that international treaties preclude medical marijuana is amazingly bogus -- even by DEA standards! And Michael is right -- in moral terms, at least, what's going on now is a crime against humanity.
Dear Interpol,
My name is Michael Krawitz. I am a patient advocate in the United States of America. My organization [NGO] is Patients Out of Time, an organization on the roster of the International Narcotics Control Board.
I have come to you today in a desperate attempt to seek justice in a matter of grave importance to thousands of seriously ill individuals of the state of California in the United States of America and by extension tens of thousands of similarly situated individuals across America.
The crimes I am about disclose are crimes against humanity involving violation of the Single Convention Treaty on Narcotic Drugs, the international Declaration of Human Rights and involves either corruption or gross incompetence at the highest levels of police agencies of the United States.
Background:
As I am sure you know Cannabis [aka marihuana or marijuana] is both a schedule 1 and schedule 4 drug in the Single Convention On Narcotic Drugs simultaneously calling for the prohibition of non medical use and providing for it's medical use. I also feel confident that you know that the Netherlands is currently distributing Cannabis to patients via prescription [and has done so for 5 years] under the control of the appropriate United Nations bodies attesting to it's international legality as a medicine.
I am not sure that you realize that the United States government drug police, the United States federal Drug Enforcement Administration, DEA, has been misstating the international law for years to justify an overall prohibition of this important medicine even from those who most need it medically for the relief of suffering. Please accept as evidence of this the following link to DEA United States Congressional testimony from 2001.
http://www.dea.gov/pubs/cngrtest/ct032701.htm
This misstatement of the international law has been propagated down the food chain to lower government bodies and is most recently evidenced in the text of a lawsuit brought to California state court by the council for the County of San Diego, California USA.
Please see the text of the lawsuit at the following link:
http://aclu.org/images/asset_upload_file802_23911.pdf
The Crime:
Evidently emboldened by the misguided lawsuit from San Diego the United States federal Drug Enforcement Administration has taken the unprecedented step of seizing medicine from every not for profit distribution center in the area. They have done so without making arrests and have made it clear they do not intend to return the medicine and further have threatened these same facilities with further raids should they restock with medicine.
Please note that these distribution centers and indeed the California medical Cannabis law itself was set up as a humanitarian and stop gap measure to deal with the fallout from the United States intransigence with regard to the medical access to this important medicine. In 1988 a federal judge working for DEA ruled the medical prohibition improper even by DEA's own rules and the DEA instead of following the judges order to reschedule the medicine to allow patient access appealed the ruling and was allowed to disobey the judges ruling for administrative reasons.
Before 1970 and since 1937, in the United States, prescription access to Cannabis was expressly allowed and taxed for control. Since 1970 prescription access to Cannabis has been arbitrarily prohibited by the United States Government in violation of both the Single Convention Treaty and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights but to my knowledge the DEA has never undertaken to actually take away this medicine directly from those who need until recently. Most recently, this last Friday to be exact, I began receiving panicked emails stating "the DEA is here taking away our medicine" from patients and care givers across San Diego.
Patient access to Cannabis under California law is only allowed via doctors orders as part of medical care, access to wit is specifically protected under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
I am being very kind when I say this may just be caused by gross incompetence since surely the DEA must be considered the United States leading experts on the international drug control convention and surely they know that patient access is not prohibited. To be honest I am personally afraid of reprisals from the DEA just for coming forward to bring you this information.
Please, in honor of those who have given their lives to ensure member nations worldwide the protection of these treaties, act on these charges and bring justice back where it has been pushed aside. I say this as a disabled veteran of the United States Air Force, a citizen of the United States of America and a representative and volunteer of a non governmental organization working to defend the truth about this important medicine and those who require it to relieve their suffering.
Sincerely yours,
Michael Krawitz
Patients Out of Time
www.medicalcannabis.com
###
Localização:
United States
See map: Google Maps
