BLOG
lifelong addict refused proper pain treatment because he might get addicted
Sounds kinda like a joke but it's all too true.Having a reference from a neurosurgeon counts for nothing in a Province so afraid of the word drug that they will probably try to wiki it out of existenc
The Economist Calls Medical Marijuana Patients âStonersâ
Why canât The Economist acknowledge the political progress of marijuana policy reform without resorting to derogatory stereotypes?Meanwhile stoners continued their slow, shuffling march to social acceptance. Massachusetts voters decided to downgrade possession of less than an ounce of cannabis to an infraction, punishable by a mere $100 fine. Michigan legalised medicinal marijuana.Grow up. This isnât a joke, not anymore. In Massachusetts, voters overwhelming supported reforming harsh marijuana laws that ruin lives. Itâs not about getting stoned. Itâs about getting an education and getting a job. In Michigan, voters overwhelmingly agreed that itâs wrong to arrest seriously ill patients for using medical marijuana on the advice of their doctors. What the hell does that have to do with being a "stoner"? Seriously, Iâd like to know. This isnât journalism, itâs childish name-calling.If anyone remains confused about what marijuana policy reform really is, this ought to answer your questions:
Mexican Drug War Scaring Off Investors
Further evidence that the Mexican drug war is making progressâ¦in the exact wrong direction:MONTERREY, Mexico, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Companies in Mexico are scrapping plans to float shares on the stock exchange for fear of raising their profile amid a brutal drug war and a surge in kidnappings, the bourse president said on Tuesday.Stock exchange President Guillermo Prieto said that aside from market volatility in the past two months due to the global financial crisis, crime was a major issue for firms thinking about initial public offerings (IPOs).â¦Going public to raise funds for expansion requires far greater company disclosure and a higher public profile for company executives who go on roadshows to attract investors.This is a whole new level of economic disruption, as the drug war begins to chip away at financial institutions. If this kind of thing continues, thereâs no limit to how far-reaching the damage could become. Violence and corruption are just the first symptoms of the disease of drug prohibition. If left untreated, the sickness spreads throughout every social institution, weakening anything it touches.
Will Bushâs DEA Launch a Final Assault on Medical Marijuana Before January?
President-elect Obama has pledged to end the federal governmentâs war on medical marijuana, but he doesnât take office for several weeks. Meanwhile, the DEA has spent the last 8 years periodically raiding medical marijuana dispensaries in California based on undisclosed criteria, stealing money, scaring patients, and even convicting good people on harsh charges for activities that are legal under state law. So what happens now? With their livelihood threatened, will the bloodsucking narc-warriors dive in for one last bite? Theyâve got everything mapped out and theyâve spent years investigating this (which is embarrassingly easy since these are legal, storefront co-ops). No one really knows what the marching orders will be after January, so you can bet there are scores of pissed-off drug cops just dying to throw one last flurry before the bell rings. Youâd think the election of a more supportive president would enthrall the medical marijuana community, but Iâm hearing that people on the ground in California are buzzing nervously about the coming weeks with no clear indication of what direction things will go. The potential withdrawal of prosecutorial resources could have a chilling effect, but prosecutions are only one dimension of the problem. Asset forfeiture is another major concern following DEAâs recent threats against landlords, and you can bet thereâs no limit to the greed and spite that has defined the federal war on medical marijuana since its inception. So while Iâll decline to speculate whatâs to come, I keep reminding myself that the federal drug warriorsâ actions always carry political consequences. These raids have long sought to create the perception of impracticality surrounding state medical marijuana laws, and that strategy has failed. Medical marijuana continues to gain momentum as a political issue, as evidenced by the strong showing in Michigan and universal support from candidates in the democratic primaries. The faceless drug war army perched over California must consider the ramifications of any ugliness they unleash in the weeks to come, because any action they take will provoke tremendous rallying cries that will surely reverberate all the way to Washington, DC. A final exhibit in the repugnance of the federal war on medical marijuana might be exactly what it takes to bring about the burial of this bullshit once and for all. If DEA wants to play hardball, it would seem wise to wait until the new referee takes the field.
Bye Bye Bertha
Bertha Madras has apparently left her position as deputy director for demand reduction at ONDCP, as evidenced by a missing staff bio and this article identifying her as a "former" staffer. If drug abuse suddenly skyrockets, it will prove she was really good at her job. But I donât think thatâs gonna happen.Instead, Bertha will be remembered for saying some of the most horrible things you could ever imagine. Here she is opposing overdose prevention and arguing that drug overdoses are good for you:Madras says the rescue programs might take away the drug userâs motivation to get into detoxification and drug treatment. "Sometimes having an overdose, being in an emergency room, having that contact with a health care professional is enough to make a person snap into the reality of the situation and snap into having someone give them services," Madras says. [NPR]She will be difficult to replace, Iâm sure.
Drug Czar Sets New Standard for Stoner Stereotyping
Just when you thought anti-marijuana propaganda couldn't get any more frivolous and shallow, the drug czar arrives with a new slogan: "Hey, not trying to be your mom, but there arenât many jobs out there for potheads."The whole thing is just absurd on its face, released days after a former marijuana user was elected president and weeks after the drug czarâs own blog observed that 75% of illicit drug users have jobs. These new ads read like a mockery of typical drug czar propaganda, devoid of facts and premised on the self-evidently false proposition that marijuana use is some kind of physical handicap. It is just so over-the-top crazy and childish that I must keep reminding myself that it is the nationâs top drug policy official who is responsible for this.
Angry Cop Insults Voters for Supporting Marijuana Reform
Jim Carnell of the Boston Police Patrolmenâs Association has come completely unhinged in the aftermath of the decisive victory for marijuana decrim in Massachusetts. Just listen to him trashing Massachusetts voters in The Boston Herald:Many starry-eyed nitwits wearing rose-colored glasses, who obviously comprise the majority of our electorate, fell hook, line and sinker for this.Sir, you work for these people. If you hate the community, then quit your job as a public servant. Seriously, it is not everyday that one sees police in the newspaper just talking shit about everybody. Itâs ugly and inappropriate, but perfectly illustrative of the enemy mentality our marijuana laws have nurtured between police and almost everyone else.Carnell goes on to claim that the new law effectively legalizes smoking pot in the streets, because the rules of search and seizure will be turned on their head (and everyone knows police would never circumvent those rules). And he concludes by urging the people of Massachusetts to choke on the miserable smoldering hell theyâve built for themselves.The great irony of all this is that, while Jim Carnell insists that itâs now legal to smoke marijuana in the streets of Massachusetts, he sounds more than a little inclined to punch you in the face if he sees you doing it.
The People Have Spoken
The people have spoken in the 2008 election, and they have stated loudly that marijuana use is to be accepted and not to be treated as a crime.
Prescription Drug Overdose
I lost my only son in August of this year, as a result of multi-drug toxicity.
MSNBC Notices Popular Support for Marijuana Reform
MSNBC's Rachel Maddow gave a nod to the smashing success of marijuana reform initiatives in Tuesdayâs election, observing on her show tonight that "smoking weed is getting more respect from our citizens." As images of shiny nugs sprawled across the screen, Maddow acknowledged the passage of 9 out of 10 marijuana reform initiatives this year. So while I didnât particularly care for her delivery, this is really the exact impression we need to make on the mainstream media. The antiquated notion that marijuana reform is politically suicidal cannot possibly be permanently sustained amidst the constant accumulation of evidence to the contrary. Reading me blog about the evolution of drug war politics is one thing, hearing Rachel Maddow snark about it on MSNBC is quite another. Our mission remains the same, but the landscape is changing all the time.
Will Obama End the Medical Marijuana Raids?
When Barack Obama enters the White House in January, will he make good on his promise to end federal interference with state medical marijuana laws? Reformers have not easily forgotten the broken promise of George Bush, who spoke of "state's rights" regarding medical marijuana on the campaign trail only to subsequently declare war on patients and providers in states that protect medical use.While the terms of engagement between DEA and the medical marijuana community under an Obama administration wonât be fleshed out for many months, Iâd like to remind everyone what exactly weâve been told to expect. This is the Obama campaignâs response to emails about medical marijuana:Dear Friend,Thank you for contacting Obama for America to inquire about the Senator's position on allowing severely ill patients to use marijuana for medical purposes.Many states have laws that condone medical marijuana, but the Bush Administration is using federal drug enforcement agents to raid these facilities and arrest seriously ill people. Focusing scarce law enforcement resources on these patients who pose no threat while many violent and highly dangerous drug traffickers are at large makes no sense. Senator Obama will not continue the Bush policy when he is president.Thank you again for contacting us.Sincerely,Obama for AmericaAs I've argued previously, it's really quite silly to argue that arresting patients is a "poor use of resources" as though we'd persecute the sick if only we could afford to. The hysteria about "many violent and highly dangerous drug traffickers" is also utterly irrelevant and distracting, a frivolous pander to law & order types who may or may not require constant reassurance that Obama doesn't plan to end enforcement of all criminal laws on day 1. And yet, despite the almost complete incoherence of Obama's position on medical marijuana, it somehow arrives at the conclusion that we must stop arresting medical marijuana patients and providers. Is there any ambiguity about that? If nothing else, the above statement insists convincingly that Obama has every intention of promptly discontinuing one of the worst excesses of the modern war on drugs. If this happens, it will be the functional equivalent of the chronically doomed Hinchey Amendment, and one could scarcely overstate the significance of such an event.
Drug Czar Appointment Watch: William Bratton Says 'No Thanks'
Iâve noted speculation that LA Police Chief William Bratton could be the next drug czar, but it looks like that isnât exactly set in stone:Los Angeles Police Chief Bill Bratton said that he is not seeking a position in Washington, D.C., and has no intention of leaving the LAPD. "That is not something I am seeking, itâs not something I have been approached about," Bratton said. "No reason to leave Los Angeles â they pay me very well." [LA Times]Of course, Joe Biden said the same thing days before his nomination for VP, so such denials donât mean so much. But Iâd prefer to believe this because Iâm hopeful we can do better than Bratton.Regardless, anyone interested in the appointment process with regards to drug policy should read this helpful post from Eric Sterling, which indirectly highlights the absurdity of expecting the next drug czar to be revealed anytime soon. I agree, but Iâll continue tracking rumors because Iâm obsessive and impatient. And so are you.
A Mandate For Marijuana Reform
Bruce Mirken at MPP points out that marijuana reform initiatives in Massachusetts and Michigan pulled higher percentages than Obama. The numbers really are incredible:Consider this: As I write this, with 67% of precincts reporting, marijuana decriminalization is passing in Massachusetts with 65% of the vote. Obama, who is carrying the state handily, is getting 62%.In Michigan itâs similar. With 40% of the vote in, medical marijuana is passing with 63% while Obama is carrying the state with 55%.These victories were expected, but the margins are just staggering. This is testament to the apparent impotence of the typical scare tactics brought to bare by our opposition. On many levels, this election left "tough on crime" politics in the dust, as a host of new issues, ideas and concerns took their place. But the significance of that would be much harder to articulate without scoring towering victories for marijuana reform. The results in Massachusetts and Michigan are the exclamation point on an electoral season that ought to entirely reshape the way crime politics are perceived by public officials.As Iâve argued at length, the future of reform relies heavily on our ability to depict a popular mandate for changes in our drug policy. Indeed, it seems we are increasingly able to meet that challenge. A new administration brings new obstacles and new opportunities, but enter into the next stage with considerable momentum.
Good Try on Prop 5
Sadly, California's Prop 5, the Nonviolent Offender Rehabilitation Act, lost yesterday, felled by a massive last-minute infusion of cash by California's prison guard union in opposition. Also by the scandalous opposition by several former governors and other unenlightened pols. Good try by our friends the organizers, though, they were fighting to the end. Maybe next time. On the bright side, Sensible Fayetteville passed a lowest priority marijuana enforcement initiative in Arkansas, one more victory to add to those already mentioned here last night. I'm sure Scott will be writing more later, and of course look for Friday's Chronicle to read Phil's comprehensive post-election drug policy reporting.
Medical Marijuana Wins in Michigan
Michigan voters have approved Prop. 1 to protect medical marijuana patients from arrest. We now have 13 medical marijuana states. For any politicians still struggling with these concepts, Iâll be providing free tutoring sessions on remedial contemporary drug war politics.
Mark Souder Re-elected in Indiana
Drug war hall-of-famer Mark Souder (R-IN) will be with us for another two years at least.
Early Results Have Medical Marijuana Well Ahead in Michigan
Michigan's medical marijuana initiative, Proposal 1, is ahead 60-40%, with 10% of the vote counted. Click here to see the latest update at Michigan Live. We await word on California's Prop. 5...
Huge Win for Marijuana Decriminalization in Massachusetts
Question 2 has passed, currently polling at 65% to 35%. This is a resounding victory and a colossal rebuke of the tired, desperate propaganda spewed forth by the drug war establishment.
Denver's First Ever Marijuana Activist and Reform Training Boot Camp
Visit WWW.MARIJUANABOOTCAMP.COM for more information!!. Save the Date! Marijuana Reform Seminar & Activist Boot Camp Presented by Sensible Colorado & SAFER November 15, 2008
Drug Czar Mixes Cannabis, Caffeine, and Cartography With Catastrophic Results
The Drug Czar claimed today that San Francisco has more medical marijuana dispensaries than Starbucks coffee shops.As we've noted previously, state "medical" marijuana laws breed confusion, abuse, and violence in neighborhoods and communities.Here's our latest analysis of this phenomenon. In downtown San Francisco alone, there are 98 marijuana dispensaries, compared to 71 Starbucks Coffee shopsAs is typical considering the source, this is just totally wrong. There are 25 medical marijuana dispensaries in San Francisco, not 98. I contacted Americans for Safe Access today and they had no idea whatâs up with this crazy map. Most of the "dispensaries" on the map simply donât exist. Itâs incomprehensible. My best guess is that theyâre including doctors' offices, which might write prescriptions, but certainly donât provide medicine. It might be something even crazier and more dishonest than that.The thing is, everyone in San Francisco knows where the dispensaries are. Theyâre only allowed in certain areas. Itâs not a secret. This page includes a list of addresses for all of them and, believe me, a lot of people wish it were longer. So if "marijuana laws breed confusion" as the drug czar claims, it would appear that the confusion remains confined to his office. Regardless of how many Starbucks and medical marijuana dispensaries there are, there is only one place to go if youâre looking for worldclass bullshit drug war propaganda maps. ONDCP's fake marijuana dispensary map