Tag Archives: Matthew Meyer

July 10, 2012 – Digest for s..[email protected] – 16 Messages in 8 Topics

    PeaceLove <s..[email protected]> Jul 10 09:43AM -0700  

    Mickey:
     
    A person's employment status and background don't reveal anyone anything
    about their effectiveness as an advocate for cannabis. Ad hominem attacks
    debase this email list without advancing your argument at all. Please
    address Mr. Colorado's arguments on their merits or restrain yourself from
    posting.
     
    PeaceLove, Jonathan
     
     

     

 

 

    Dave Hodges <s..[email protected]> Jul 10 11:07AM -0700  

    SaveCannabis Members,
     
    I'm back! Sorry I've been MIA for the last month. As soon as I finish
    getting caught up on all the emails over the past month, I will
    address some of this insane bullshit.
     
    A few points worth addressing now:
    1) Yes, another person has been moderating SaveCannabis in my absence
    a. This person is someone I trust.
    b. They have no connection to anyone in the Cannabis industry.
    c. They are a medical cannabis patient who is new to the "movement".
    2) All emails being moderated violate the posting rules for
    SaveCannabis http://savecannabis.org/email/rules/
    3) An update to rules for the SaveCannabis group is in the works & I'm
    open to all suggestions.
    4) An overhaul of the SaveCannabis site is almost ready.
    5) Mickey Martin and Dan Rush/UFCW have no "control" over the
    SaveCannabis group.
    6) The goal of the SaveCannabis forum is to help the cannabis movement
    move forward with open dialog and accountability.
    7.10) Happy 7/10!
     
    What is 7/10?
    Think of 7:10 as you think of 4:20. Not only is it a time, but it is a
    date. This time/date stands for smoking cannabis OIL (aka:BHO, Wax,
    Budder, Honeycombe, “Errl”, etc..) . BHO/Wax has been around for a
    long time, but within the last couple years specific devices have been
    created to improve the way Wax is smoked. Along with these
    improvements came die-hard oil smokers. Some cannabis users completely
    switched over to the use of Wax. Wax is quick and to the point as far
    as medication goes! One or two hits and your as medicated as smoking a
    whole joint to your face! The people who have realized that this is
    “THE NEW WAY TO SMOKE CANNABIS” have formed a movement, The Errl
    Movement or The 7:10 Movement. Join the 7:10 Movement Facebook group
    here: http://www.facebook.com/groups/errl710/
     
    Best Regards,
    Dave Hodges
    Founder
    A2C2 – The All American Cannabis Club – a2c2.us
    SJCBC – The San Jose Cannabis Buyers Collective – sjcbc.org
    SVCC – The Silicon Valley Cannabis Coalition – svcannabis.com
    SaveCannabis – An open forum for the cannabis movement – savecannabis.org

     

    Matthew Meyer <s..[email protected]> Jul 10 12:57PM -0700  

    Hey, 710 spells "OIL" when you invert it! Neat.
     
     
    —
    Matthew Meyer
    PhD Candidate
    Anthropology Department
    University of Virginia

     

    Chris Conrad <s..[email protected]> Jul 10 10:48AM -0700  

    You misunderstood what happened again, Terry.
     
    The problem is that nobody wants to read your crap or to have anything to do
    with you, and between you, Letiticia and Cain you've driven just about
    everyone off of these two lists. Nice work undermining the movement, but
    this time you unified us in agreement that you are a boring bully.
     
    — Chris <s..[email protected]>(phone#-removed)
    _______________
     
     
     
     

     

    Letitia Pepper <s..[email protected]> Jul 10 11:01AM -0700  

            Well, It's been useful and interesting to see posts from the folks who want to push THC-free cannabis as medicinal — that's what I've been expecting would be next in the 1%'s efforts to prevent cannabis from being useful to the 99% as a cancer preventative and cure (not to mention THC's importance as a component in whole herbal cannabis for other ailments, e.g., nausea, pain, etc.)
         If you need to discuss something with me that is important to people who are working on pro-medicinal, pro-patient projects, please send e-mails to me with MY NAME in the subject line, e.g., "LETITIA, here's an e-mail about"
         Thank you.
         FYI, If anyone thinks that I'll be writing an article for Cannabis Culture, or participating in a debate with Mickey Martin and/or David Malmo Levine , don't hoild your brreathes.  I have never heard from David's editor, "Jeremiah" (or else his e-mail got lost in the masses of e-mails reently generated!) or from anyone with details of the when or where of a debate.

     

 

    David Malmo-Levine <s..[email protected]> Jul 09 10:42PM -0700  

    "Cannabis conspiracy theories"?
     
    *Noam Chomsky <http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0159008/>*: There's nothing more
    remote from what we have been discussing than a conspiracy theory. If I
    give an analysis of, say the economic system, and I point out that GM *tries
    to maximize profit and market share* – that's not a conspiracy theory;
    that's an institutional analysis. It has nothing to do with conspiracies.
    That's precisely the sense in which we've been talking about the media. *The
    phrase "conspiracy theory" is one of those that's constantly brought up,
    and I think it's effect simply is to discourage institutional analysis. *
    http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104810/quotes
     
    Throughout human history, political and economic leaders genuinely *have* been
    the cause of enormous amounts of death and misery, and they sometimes have
    engaged in conspiracies while at the same time promoting conspiracy
    theories about their targets. Hitler<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolf_Hitler>
    and Stalin <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Stalin> would be merely
    the 20th century's most prominent examples; there have been numerous others.
    [23] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conspiracy_theory#cite_note-22> In some
    cases there have been claims dismissed as conspiracy theories that later
    proved to be true.[24]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conspiracy_theory#cite_note-Fenster_1999-23>
    [25] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conspiracy_theory#cite_note-24>
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conspiracy_theory
     
    "OK. You can call me a Conspiracy Theorist if you call everyone else a
    Coincidence Theorist."
    *"Conspiracy" Theories vs. "Coincidence" Theories*
    by John Judge
    http://www.steamshovelpress.com/latestword15.html
     
    As for the rest of your comments, you must be in one of those places with
    shitty weed. Up here in Vancouver, I never see anything that's not organic
    and fully flushed … just the kind bud. If your friends are bringing you
    the shwag, get new friends. If nobody around you has the dank, move to some
    place better, or learn to grow it yourself. We must all become the growers
    we wish to see in the world.
     
    If we used the wine industry as a model for cannabis relegalization, nobody
    would have a monopoly and there would be some form of quality control:
     
    http://www.cannabisculture.com/v2/content/2011/07/07/Crystal-Clear-Glasses-and-Unbleached-Rollies
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

     

    David Malmo-Levine <s..[email protected]> Jul 10 12:25AM -0700  

    And further on this same concept:
     
    Corporations own your genes – Human Genome Patents

     
    Those of us who have long been describing the pharmaceutical industry as a
    “criminal racket” over the last few years have been *wholly vindicated* by
    recent news. Drug and vaccine manufacturer Merck was caught red-handed by
    two of its own scientists *faking vaccine efficacy data* by spiking blood
    samples with animal antibodies. GlaxoSmithKline has just been fined a
    whopping *$3 billion* for bribing doctors, lying to the FDA, hiding
    clinical trial data and fraudulent marketing. Pfizer, meanwhile has been
    sued by the nation’s pharmacy retailers for what is alleged as an
    “overarching anticompetitive scheme” to keep generic cholesterol drugs off
    the market and thereby boost its own profits.
     
    The picture that’s emerging is one of *a criminal drug industry that has
    turned to mafia tactics in the absence of any real science* that would
    prove their products to be safe or effective. The emergence of this
    extraordinary evidence of bribery, scientific fraud, lying to regulators
    and monopolistic practices that harm consumers is also making all those
    doctors and “skeptics” who defended Big Pharma and vaccines *eat their words
    *.
    http://worldtruth.tv/big-pharma-criminality-no-longer-a-conspiracy-theory-bribery-fraud-price-fixing-now-a-matter-of-public-record/
     
     
     
     
    On Mon, Jul 9, 2012 at 10:42 PM, David Malmo-Levine

     

 

 

    "andrew garret" <s..[email protected]> Jul 09 08:07PM -0700  

    For those of you interested below is the museum's reply letter to the USP.
    ————-
     
     
    Att Mario Sindaco
     
    First thank you for your reply.
     
    I was advised by our lawyer (who is also helping the museum out with our
    FDA Grandfather clause petition for Medical Cannabis), that we should ask
    for an estimate of cost. I understand that your enclosed letter stated:
     
    “Costs cannot be effectively estimated in advance as they will not be
    known until the actual research and investigation of USP files is
    completed. “
     
    However, as you can tell by our main website: www.AntiqueCannabisBook.com
    – our museum operates on a shoe string and even at the lower rate of $80
    per hour (clerical time) we cannot afford too many such hours. However,
    the information that we have asked for is quite important and of interest
    to many, many individuals.
     
    ———————-
    1 – First (and most important of all), we seek to find out WHY the U.S.
    Pharmacopoeia de-listed Medical Cannabis from it’s official listing of
    approved medicines.
     
    It is generally perceived by members of this museum that it was NOT
    removed for medical or pharmaceutical reasons, BUT instead for POLITICAL
    REASONS. The U.S.P. was simply bullied into compliance by the then Bureau
    of Narcotics under the leadership of Harry Anslinger. This perception
    seems to be UNIVERSAL in nature — to our knowledge no one is saying
    anything other than.
     
    Mr. Sindaco, because old letters, memos, etc., will probably prove this to
    be the case, (at this point), let me be the first to state that there is
    no shame in this. It simply happened, many of us have been bullied into
    taking actions that we would normally not have taken. It simply
    happened, now it’s time to move on etc.
     
    If you cannot provide me with such a cost estimate, can you give me the
    contact information to the U.S.P. librarian’s office. I was told that
    they have the archival records at their disposal and thus I can ask them
    about the amount of time required to pull and look over the correct
    records for the given time period.
     
    ———————-
    2 – With regards to our second request for a copy of an existing Monograph
    – one that we can use as a template for our own filing petition with the
    U.S.P. We are quite taken aback by your response. These Monographs are
    spoken about, just about everywhere on your website, and seem to play an
    important role in any petition/request for re-listing. Yet, try as I may,
    I have not been able to find a single copy of one. Is there no way you
    can just email me a copy of an existing Monograph what we can look over?
    As we plan to just use it as a template, it is unimportant which
    drug/medicine it belongs to.
     
    Hoping to hear back from you soon.
     
    Andrew Garret
    Museum Curator
    www.AntiqueCannabisBook.com
    www.ReeferMadnessMuseum.org
    s..[email protected]
     
     
    PS Your given web address does not seem to be working – were there any
    errors in the address
    http://www.usp.org/aboutUSP/governance/policies/overviewStandardsSetting.html.
     
    Cc: "Theresa R. Laranang-Mutlu"
    Other interested parties
     
     
     
    —————————————–
    Sent via Catholic Online Webmail!
    Use Catholic Online Webmail to proclaim your faith to the world.
    http://webmail.catholic.org/

     

June 20, 2012 – Digest for s..[email protected] – 14 Messages in 13 Topics

    Bud <s..[email protected]> Jun 20 12:34PM -0700  

    Double-checked the agenda yesterday and read the news, so it looks like the
    one-year ban will be agendized at a later meeting with the text of the
    proposed ordinance and required environmental findings. It will be very
    interesting to see if they attempt to invoke Gov. Code 65858 again or
    somehow try to pass it off as something other than an urgency ordinance.
    Pay very close attention to the council "findings" when the draft ordinance
    is posted; another GC 65858 finding and/or findings of no environmental
    impact are red flags.
     

     

    "Axis of Love SF, Shona Gochenaur" <s..[email protected]> Jun 19 10:31PM -0700  

    My response is simple jonathan . We dont employ were volunteer run.
    Were mostly disabled adults, veterans and elders . Many of whom when
    able body and able to make a gainful income? Did join unions . Ive
    spoken with dan about coalition bldg around the union helping more
    disabled patients gain part time employment in an industry built on
    our backs. And the union workers supporting an indepndant patient
    union of sorts. And us supporting you . I support your efforts and
    beleive your union should have a seat at the table . Its getting in
    bed with national policy ? That didnt sit right with us. Prevent the
    monopoly that hasnt supported you but used your lobby for their own
    self interest if I may be blunt and to the point. Share our call for
    accountablity and transperacny and reasonable amends to ab2312, unite
    here ….and now.
     
     
    —
    Shona Gochenaur
    Executive Director
    Axis of Love SF
    http://www.facebook.com/axisoflove
    http://www.twitter.com/axisoflove

     

    "Jonathan Hughes" <s..[email protected]> Jun 20 03:59PM  

    Shona,
     
    Thanks for your input. Jon
     
     
     
    –
    Jonathan Hughes
    UFCW Local 5
    240 South Market St
    San Jose, CA
    Office
    1(phone#-removed) ex.5629
    Direct Line
    (phone#-removed)

     

    Matthew Meyer <s..[email protected]> Jun 20 07:28AM -0700  

    Michael, thank you for sharing what appears to be a close transcription of
    the original hearings. It is very interesting indeed to read Woodward's
    remarks on the use of the term 'marihuana,' and I think that his testimony
    shows that the "mongrel" word served more than one function, and that
    indeed it did help obfuscate the object of the law until those interests
    that might have objected had too little time to mount a stronger defense.
     
    jtechappliances says we should stop worrying about terminology, implying
    once again that words are mere labels. But words are the most magical thing
    we know. A properly accredited minister, in the right situation, uses words
    to marry people. A judge, delivering a verdict in a case, uses words to
    liberate or imprison. All of us, every day, use words to reinforce our view
    of the world, finding confirmation of our views in our own language.
     
    I am generally persuaded of the truth of the late anthropologist Clifford
    Geertz's words, antiquated though his language may be, that "man is an
    animal suspended in webs of significance he himself has spun," and
    therefore, he writes, "I take culture to be those webs, and the analysis of
    it to be therefore not an experimental science in search of law but an
    interpretive one in search of meaning."
     
    The moral reprobation of cannabis has everything to do with the webs of
    words that have been spun around the various terms for it, and the
    "intertextual" links between discourses of race, sin, and the matter /
    spirit divide are what give substance and texture to the positions we find
    articulated in talk about it. There is, in my view, much more than a
    question of competing labels for the same objects at stake here.
     
     
     
    On Tue, Jun 19, 2012 at 9:13 AM, Michael Backes
     
    —
    Matthew Meyer
    PhD Candidate
    Anthropology Department
    University of Virginia

     

    Mickey Martin <s..[email protected]> Jun 20 07:22AM -0700  

    What the fuck are we fighting for anyway?
    Posted by Mickey Martin on June 20th, 2012
    The longer and harder I try to figure this out, the further I always seem from finding an answer. What the fuck are we fighting for anyway? Who knows any more?
    I always thought we were fighting for cannabis freedom. Real cannabis freedom….you know, grown-ass people being able to use weed for whatever they want whenever they want. Pretty simple stuff, right? How do we get more people to be able to use and grow weed legally without the fear of going to prison, losing their rights, or being considered an outcast? How do we get our society to quit taking people to jail for weed?
    But somewhere along the line shit has gotten complicated. The first real reforms passed that allowed for a certain class of people to use cannabis without going to jail, or suffering consequences, were medical cannabis laws. It was easy to see how sick and dying people that found relief from cannabis should be allowed to use weed without fear of being arrested or losing their position in society. Medical cannabis is a no-brainer. The reason medical marijuana support is around 70-80% of our society is because only a real asshole would think that a sick person should be arrested for using weed if it helps them to feel better. Medical should be a given. And in some states it was for a minute….kind of, sort of, not really…..but close enough.
    But then EVERYONE got hella sick. All of the sudden any and every ailment ever had by a person was an ongoing and chronic condition that only cannabis could heal. We convinced ourselves that if we justified every cannabis use as a medical procedure that we would be afforded the same glorious protections as the sickest chemo patient.
    Now all of the sudden the Choom Gangs were no longer choomed out, but instead they were very ill and in need of some serious medicine. Fire up the fat-ass blunt so a brother can get his medicine on already.
    Six-foot bong rips are medicine. Check.
    My doctor’s office is at a Cypress Hill show. Check.
    I eat 500mg THC brownies (as much as an ENTIRE BOTTLE of the strongest dose Marinol) because I am so sick that only a dosage that makes me drool on myself will suffice. Check.
    I fire up mad torches and hit the one gram globs because I have such a severe medical condition that only ridiculous amounts of pure concentrate to the face will work for my pain. Check.
    “What are you saying, Mickey?”….I am saying that we are full of shit…..
    We have been half brainwashed by the allowance of medical cannabis and have forgotten what the fuck we are fighting for. Medical cannabis has been successful in advancing our cause, and in no way am I demeaning the real medical effects cannabis has on MANY people who truly need it. I am not saying everyone is full of shit, but I am saying that much of the activity that we have deemed ”medicating” is just way the fuck beyond medical dosages, applications, and use. If I have a bottle of Nyquil, and I take the 2 tablespoons of Nyquil before bed because I feel like shit, then I am medicating. If I drink the entire bottle of Nyquil in an effort to get fucked up and pass out “so I can rest” then I am not really medicating any more at that point, am I? I have gone beyond a medical application to a choice of wanting to be more fucked up and to just go to sleep. But I do not think there is a doctor alive who would recommend drinking a bottle of Nyquil
    so you could get the spins and pass out for 12 hours…..
    Yet, this is what we see in our “medical” industry. The usage rates and common practices do not coincide with the realities of our medical standards for treatment. Why? Because most of us, even people with legitimate medical concerns as I have, often use cannabis for much more than our medical afflictions. It is a social thing, no doubt. I do not ask my buddies if they want to share my antibiotics, or even my pain meds (though some I am sure wish I would). We do not stand in a circle and pop Vicodin together and discuss them. I do not load up as many Ibuprofen as I can and see if I can finish them all.
    Cannabis is different…..and I can hear the diehard medical only fanatics now….”Cannabis is a plant, Mickey. The social benefits of using it are also medical.”
    So we can say the same about booze, and even coffee then, right? So every bar is now a medical dispensary because they dispense social well-being and liquid courage? Is shopping medical, because I do feel beter when getting new shit. Does my insurance cover that?
    Where I am going with this is that we have lost our focus and have allowed for the watering down of what is medical, and what is not, interfere with reality. The result has been an ongoing effort to crackdown on the “medical” industry, and to regulate the shit out of it similar to other medicines in our society. We have continued to declare that patients rights are the only rights we need for cannabis users, and have gotten tunnel vision. Now that tunnel vision is being used to kill us off.
    There is no shortage of media and news coverage questioning the legitimacy of our medical industry. It is the big joke in our society. Everyone gets it. We can see pretty clearly that a lot of people also do not think it is funny.
    So we are losing our place in society and our seat at the table. Our industry swelled in 2010 after the Ogden memo, and is rapidly shrinking as the crackdown continues. Great operators are losing their position and livelihood from landlord letters, sanctions, lawsuits, and raids. Dispensaries, growers, producers, and patients continue to watch as the industry they once knew becomes a shell of itself. Dedicated and passionate soldiers are turning and walking away in disgust and frustration. Some will not be back.
    I cannot say I blame them either. This industry can drive a person nuts, no doubt. I think you have to be a little nuts just to even get into it. Who wants to work hard and fight daily to barely survive in a cut-throat environment when you also have to risk a decade in prison at the same time? Fuck that shit. And who the fuck wants to continue to fight under the same weak-ass pretenses that our side has been putting forth to no avail for decades? It is incredibly frustrating on the surface, but as you dig deeper it is easy to see how maddening the reality of cannabis reform is these days. Fuck it…
    I am pretty sure that most in this industry/movement, and out of this industry/movement, have NO IDEA what the fuck we are fighting for any more. I know I don’t, and I am knee deep in this shit. All I know is I want our society to quit taking people to jail for weed. I think we have overplayed the medical hand, and we must begin to work on the larger goal of making cannabis available for adult use. If we continue to make concessions in order to comply with what is medical and who is a patient then we lose. We see more people going to jail for weed, not less.
    Right now we are losing. We are getting our asses handed to us daily, and many are scrambling to try and figure out how to stop the bleeding. Good for you. We will never put up points constantly playing defense, and frankly, our defense kind of sucks some times. We must begin to attack the larger societal issues and begin to use our voices to actually create real and meaningful change. Progress can happen, but we have to figure out what the fuck it is we are really fighting for first….
    If we are fighting to place further limits on an already severely abused and somewhat misunderstood medical cannabis industry to maintain some semblance of what we currently have, then count me out.
    If we are continuing to build off of our succeses in the medical cannabis industry and developing a powerful voice for true cannabis freedom that demands we quit taking our friends, neighbors, and mostly poor people to jail for weed, then count me in. I will get my ass-kicking shoes on.
     
    Mickey Martin
    T-Comp Consulting Director
    Author of Medical Marijuana 101
    www.cannabiswarrior.com
    www.tcompconsulting.com
    s..[email protected]
    (phone#-removed)
    http://twitter.com/micKEYmarTIN
    http://twitter.com/CANNABISconsult
     
    ***The views expressed in this communication are not necessarily the views of T-Comp Consulting, Tainted Compassion, Cannabis Warrior any other group I am affiliated with.***

     

    "Axis of Love SF, Shona Gochenaur" <s..[email protected]> Jun 20 04:02AM -0700  

    ———- Forwarded message ———-
    AMEND AB2312
     
    Dan ? Please stop the rhetoric as well. Ab2312 ive read and read again
    I understand that it will give write offs to large corps like sparc
    and harborside for some socailly conscious prgms which are good things
    . No doubt. but the fee and fines ? Will defitinely squash small
    collectives. Yes thats nice that already permitd mdcs will have three
    years to apply but that doesnt apply to the cultvation nor strorage n
    trim sites your requesting that everyone register. The price of meds
    will go up . Becuase guess who gets paid once again and a couple times
    over? The permit lawyers . Why would we have growers register in
    current climate of doom you paint?? Whats going to happen this week? I
    didnt get the memo . Why dont you take a reasonable aproach to the
    suggested areas of amend? Ive never said do nothing. Thats outrageous
    ive said do something accountable and balanced with everyones survival
    in mind and considering everyones protection. Dont attempt to pigeon
    hole me . Love ya too bro .
     
     
     
    —
    Shona Gochenaur
    Executive Director
    Axis of Love SF
    http://www.facebook.com/axisoflove
    http://www.twitter.com/axisoflove

     

    s..[email protected] Jun 20 12:58AM -0700  

    Here are just a few credentials which qualify Clauder as an expert on
    initiatives:
     
    Clauder has worked as a volunteer (1971-1990) and as a professional
    (1990-2010) on more than 200 initiative campaigns, collecting, verifying
    and paying for more than 50,000 signatures a week from more than 500
    subcontractors throughout the state.
     
    Clauder is one of only two individuals in the cannabis prohibition reform
    movement to have been a proponent of, and written and financed an
    initiative which made the ballot when he placed Prop 66 on the November,
    2004, ballot. Richard Lee is the other.
     
    Clauder has worked within all levels of state and county Democratic
    parties, the legislature, and several elected officials.
     
    Clauder has a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree from one of the top ten
    journalism schools in the nation in Communications/Journalism with a
    specialty in Political Communications.
     
    Clauder political articles have been published in hundreds of newspapers
    throughout the state and the nation.
     
    You want to know who Sam Clauder is?
    This is an LA Times Sunday Magazine front page article.
    Read it carefully and you will find a reference to Jack Herer embedded deep
    within.
     
    http://articles.latimes.com/2004/sep/19/magazine/tm-threestrikes38
    They Changed Their Minds on Three Strikes. Can They Change the Voters'?Cover
    story
    Ten years ago, these men wanted to see three strikes become the law in
    California. Now they're leading the fight to reform it.
    September 19, 2004 <http://articles.latimes.com/2004/sep/19>|Joe Domanick | Joe
    Domanick last wrote for the magazine about Los Angeles Police Chief William
    J. Bratton. He is a Senior Fellow at USC Annenberg's Institute for Justice
    and Journalism, and the author of "Cruel Justice: Three Strikes and the
    Politics of Crime in America's Golden State."
     
     
    Mikki Norris & Don Duncan were deleted, as requested, fromm this thread.
    ————————–
    Sam H. Clauder II
     
    In tribute to those whom dedicated their lives to cannabis prohibition
    repeal (CPR), have passed on, and whose shoulders we now stand on
    as we carry the campaign (in consecutive order of our loss) — Edwin M.
    "Captain Ed" Adair III, Leo Paoli, Mary "Brownie Mary" Rathbun, Peter
    McWilliams, Dr. Tod Mikuriya, Virginia Resner, Eric Heimstadt, Jack Herer,
    Alan Bock, Ralph Sherrow, Grant Wilson, and many, many others.
     
     
     

     

    Letitia Pepper <s..[email protected]> Jun 19 11:38PM -0700  

        Please pass the following concerns about AB 2312 on to the members of the Senate.  Thank you.
         I have been an attorney for not quite 30 years, during much of which time I worked for appellate court justices analyzing cases and legislation from a neutral perspective.
     
       I have been a medical marijuana patient (for MS) for about five years.
         I am also the Director of Legal and Legislative Analysis for Crusaders for Patients Rights,. a non-profit corporation based in
    Sacramento, CA that supports people legally using cannabis as medicine.
        I am opposed to AB 2312, which purports to turn the individual rights held by individual patients under Prop. 215, who have the right to collectively organize, pursuant to the state and constitutional right to freedom of association, into a right that can be held by a limited number of entities. Ity also purports to allow local governments to ban collectives and to tax cannabis. These provisions are all clearly contrary to Prop. 215, and will lead to litigation, which the State will lose, based on Prop. 215's status, as a People-enacted initiative, as controlling over contrary legislation by the People's elected officials.
         I am also opposed
    to all efforts to tax cannabis as medicine, which is the only legal use of cannabis allowed under state and federal law.  While some people may be smirking about using the medical marijuana laws to use cannabis "recreationally," their deceptions have nothing to do with the only actual legal use of cannabis — as medicine.  People get doctors to write prescriptions for prescription drugs which they are actually using "recreationally," yet no one is trying to tax prescription medications as a consequence.  No more should the presence of recreational users among the flocks of patients be used as justification for taxing cannabis.
         In my considered legal opinion, California patients cannot legally be taxed on cannabis as
    medicine.  Here is why.
        
    (1) Prop. 215 did not provide for a tax on it, and it says that any
    laws passed to implement Prop. 215 must further its purpose: safe and
    affordable access. Taxes do not increase safety and they reduce
    affordability.
          (2) The CA constitution forbids taxes on growing crops, so you can't tax it as it grows in people's yards.
          (3) CA doesn't tax prescription medications, and Prop. 215 was
    passed so people would have cannabis as a legal alternative
    to prescription meds (because prescription meds were killing people —
    and still are).  So, if the state doesn't tax prescription meds, then it's a
    denial of equal protection to tax cannabis.  That's true under both state and federal constitutional laws.
         (4) The People
    delegated the task of adopting implementing legislation for Prop. 215 to the
    Legislature.  The Legislature could therefore pass a law that included delegating the
    making of nitty gritty regulations to carry out the law adopted by the Legislature (SB 420) to the Attorney General,
    another elected official.  Can the Legislature, under AB 2312, delegate
    regulatory authority to a commission, not referenced by Prop. 215, whose
    members are not elected, and hence not answerable to the People?  No, it cannot.
        AB 2312 violates Prop. 215, and is therefore going to be unconstitutional if
    adopted.  This was why the quantity limits in SB 420 were struck down, as unconstitutional under Prop. 215, by the California Supreme Court in People v. Kelly. 
         Americans for Safe Access is actually a very small group. It is controlled by, essentially, one person, and its stance on AB 2312 was not developed in consultation with patients, but instead is being promoted "from the top down" with e-milas from ASA urging patients to call and say "vote yes" without reading the bill for themselves. 
          AB 2312 might be "better than nothing" in another state with bad medical marijuana laws, but it does not represent the interests of California
    medical marijuana patients, whose individual rights under Prop. 215 are far better than those of all other Americans in other medical marijuana states.
           In terms of the impact on California's economy, legal cannabis, without taxes on its sales, is very beneficial.  It is far more beneficial to local economies than are prescription drugs.
          For example, I am saving $300 a month in the cost of the co-pays I used to pay, to out-of-state companies, for my MS drugs – drugs that made me sick.  My health insurer is also saving the thousands of dollars in costs, every month, it was paying to out-of-state pharmaceutical companies.  That money is now instead being spent in California — to pay
    for goods and services here. I can buy home improvement items, attic insulation for example, instead.   Money paid in salaries to people working to grow and distribute cannabis legally is also fueling local economies.
        AB 2312 is a bad law.  Please vote no.
     
    Letitia E. Pepper
    P. O. Box 55560
    Riverside, CA 92517
     
        
         
     

     

    "Bill McPike" <s..[email protected]> Jun 19 09:11PM -0700  

    From: J Nunes]
    Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2012 9:07 PM
     

     
     
    Evening Bill,
    Just want to let you know Dr. King passed away in his sleep last night due
    to cancer in his bones. He will be greatly missed.
    I will let you know when the services are. God bless.
    J
     
    Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android
     

     
    _____

     

    Mendocino Medical Marijuana Advisory Board <s..[email protected]> Jun 18 10:56PM -0700  

    Shona,
     
    Ayers is a consultant to the committee. Phone number shown below.
     
    The CA Senate Standing Committee on Business, Professions and
    Economic Development has a website: http://sbp.senate.ca.gov/
     
    Here's the info from the committee's website, including list of
    members & links to their district webpages, which have contact info:
     
    Business and Professions meets every Monday at 1:00 P.M. in Room
    3191. However, always check the Senate File for any changes.
     
    JURISDICTION: Bills relating to business and professional practices
    and regulations other than bills relating to horseracing, alcoholic
    beverages, oil, mining, geothermal, or forestry industries.
     
    Members
    Senator Curren Price (Chair)
    Senator Bill Emmerson (Vice Chair)
    Senator Ellen Corbett
    Senator Lou Correa
    Senator Ed Hernandez
    Senator Gloria Negrete McLeod
    Senator Tony Strickland
    Senator Juan Vargas
    Senator Mark Wyland
     
    Addresses & Staff
    Chief Consultant: Bill Gage
    Consultants: G, V. Ayers, Sarah Mason
    Assistant: Kathy Sullivan
    Phone: (916) 651-4104
    Room: 2053
     
     
     
    On Jun 18, 2012, at 9:27 PM, Axis of Love SF, Shona Gochenaur wrote:
     

     

 

 

June 19, 2012 – Digest for s..[email protected] – 25 Messages in 10 Topics

    Jacob Secret <s..[email protected]> Jun 18 09:43PM -0700  

    In the mid 1800's cannabis was in 30 different medications here in the U.S..
     
    The medications stated "cannabis".
     
    "Marihuana" was used to disguise the 'cannabis' tax, even the AMA representative did not know what "marihuana" was so he did not object to the taxation.
     
    The following day the AMA was up in arms that they were deceived.
     
    Its Cannabis.
     
    I would like my previous email sent to this list to thoroughly explain my position.
     
    Thanks ahead of time.
     
    Jonathan Lustig
    Social Crusader
     
     
     
    Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android

     

    Matthew Meyer <s..[email protected]> Jun 19 07:49AM -0700  

    We are caught between our grounding in American culture as knowers, in an
    intimate and personal sense, of this plant, and our advocacy before the
    public (actually perhaps mostly amongst ourselves, but OK), in which we
    seek to use discourses that derive legitimacy from other sources, chiefly
    science. How much each of us bases our advocacy vocabulary on each of these
    sources is bound to vary, and code-switching is completely normal. Around
    here we just puff some herb, or maybe take some tincture.
     
    Some people probably think that words are just labels that we attach to
    things in the world. I'm an anthropologist, though, and I know that
    language makes our worlds in profound ways. Words and themes ("tropes")
    link to others, presume others, take certain stances for granted. Watch
    out! You'll get caught in a trap. (The care Rastas take with Iyaric can
    provide neat clues to trying to take Babylon out of the language, and never
    to put the speaking subject in a subordinate position, e.g., "overstand,"
    the avoidance of the objective case pronoun "me" in favor of the active
    subject "I," etc.)
     
    I would never enter a conversation with a prohibitionist, at least in
    anything approaching a formal setting, and allow a term like "pot," "dope,"
    or "weed" to become a touchstone in the dialogue. It just gives too much
    framing power away. People already think they know what it means.
     
    On the other end, I think Mickey's overly strong reaction to this
    discussion bears a relationship to criticism of the DeAngelos' and others'
    attempts to "swap out" commonsense perceptions of pot for a whole new set
    of understandings based on "wellness." To go too far in that direction is
    to generate the sense that "we all know" that it's just X, but we're going
    to call it Y. People tend to think that's puffery, not honest engagement.
     
     
     
     
    —
    Matthew Meyer
    PhD Candidate
    Anthropology Department
    University of Virginia

     

    Matthew Meyer <s..[email protected]> Jun 19 07:55AM -0700  

    John / Jacob, I'd like a cite on that AMA bit.
     
    Here's what Charles Whitebread wrote on the tax act hearings:
     
     
    > go home?"
    > That's an exact quote. The next Congressman said, "Doctor, if you haven't
    > got something better to say than that, we are sick of hearing you."
     
    http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/history/whiteb1.htm
     
    So it would appear that the AMA knew what substance was under discussion.
     
    (This is not to contest your claim that Anslinger purposely used
    "marihuana," although I think it was more to evoke Mexican criminality than
    to confuse the AMA.)
     
     
    On Mon, Jun 18, 2012 at 9:43 PM, Jacob Secret <s..[email protected]>wrote:
     
     
    —
    Matthew Meyer
    PhD Candidate
    Anthropology Department
    University of Virginia

     

 

 

    PeaceLove <s..[email protected]> Jun 19 09:56AM -0700  

    My understanding of the AMA's role in the Congressional hearings is that
    they only showed up on the last day because they didn't know until then
    that the "marihuana" being considered for a ban was in fact the safe and
    effective medicine commonly known as "cannabis." So the AMA was very late
    to the game in denouncing the ban and was unable to mount an effective
    defense.
     
    Can any historians out there confirm or clarify?
     
    Regardless, I agree with Jonathan and Matthew. Terminology is important.
    Among non-users — our critical target demographic — "cannabis" does not
    have all the negative associations of "pot," "weed" and other terms
    (including "drug"). As far as "marijuana" goes, I think that term once had
    negative, possibly racist connotations but it seems pretty neutral now.
    Nevertheless, all the common terms other than "cannabis" have been smeared
    by a century of steady propaganda so I think it behooves us to adopt the
    one that's still relatively fresh and clean.
     
    Compare:
     
    *Pot is a safe and effective tonic for the mind, body and spirit. Legal weed
    threatens several multi-billion-dollar industries. Drug laws
    disproportionately target blacks and Hispanics, and mainly the poor.*
     
    *Cannabis is a safe and effective tonic for the mind, body and spirit.
    Legal cannabis threatens several multi-billion-dollar industries. Anti-cannabis
    laws disproportionately target blacks and Hispanics, and mainly the poor.*
     
    Which version sounds more authoritative?
     
    PeaceLove, Jonathan
     
     
    ——————————————-
    *There is nothing more agreeable in life than to make peace with the
    Establishment – and nothing more corrupting. *
    *-A.J.P. Taylor, historian (1906-1990)*
     
     
     
     

     

    Jacob Secret <s..[email protected]> Jun 19 01:18PM -0700  

    Wow even after years of countless hours of research there is still much to learn.
     
    Thanks for sharing.
     
    Jonathan Lustig
    Social Crusader
     
     
    Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android

     

 

    KC <s..[email protected]> Jun 19 04:49PM -0700  

     

 

    "Patient Advocacy Network" <s..[email protected]> Jun 19 03:52PM -0700  

    And so it is…
     
    Los Angeles City Council Agenda
    Friday, June 22, 2012
    John Ferraro Council Chamber, Room 340, City Hall – 10 am
     
    Items for Which Public Hearings Have Been Held – Items 1-6
     
    ITEM NO. (2)
     
    11-1737
    11-1737-S1
    CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION, PLANNING AND LAND USE MANAGEMENT and PUBLIC SAFETY
    COMMITTEES’ REPORT and ORDINANCE FIRST CONSIDERATION relative to amending
    the Los Angeles Municipal Code (LAMC) in response to recent appellate
    court decisions concerning medical marijuana.
     
    Recommendations for Council action, as initiated by Motions (Huizar -
    Englander) and (Parks – Perry), SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE MAYOR:
     
    1. FIND that this action is categorically exempt from California
    Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under State CEQA Guidelines sections
    15301, 15305, 15308, 15321, 15060(c)(2) and (3), and the corresponding
    City CEQA Guidelines, because it will not result in a direct, or
    reasonably
    foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, for the reasons
    set forth in the CEQA Narrative prepared by the Planning Department.
    (Exhibit Two of the City Attorney report dated May 25, 2012, attached to
    the Council file). [ENV-2012-1273-CE]
     
    2. ADOPT the May 24, 2012 FINDINGS of the Los Angeles City Planning
    Commission (LACPC) as the Findings of the Council.
     
    3. PRESENT and ADOPT the accompanying ORDINANCE, approved by the Director
    of Planning on behalf of the LACPC, repealing and replacing Article 5.1 of
    Chapter IV of the LAMC in response to recent appellate court decisions, by
    prohibiting medical marijuana businesses, while preserving the limited
    state law medical marijuana criminal immunities, until such time as the
    California Supreme Court rules regarding what cities can and cannot
    regulate and the City enacts new medical marijuana legislation consistent
    with that judicial guidance, transmitted by the Office of the City
    Attorney on May 25, 2012.
     
    4. NOT PRESENT and ORDER FILED the Ordinances transmitted by the Office of
    the City Attorney on January 6, 2012 and by the LACPC on May 15, 2012.
     
    5. DIRECT the Department of City Planning to file a “Notice of Exemption”
    with the County Clerk immediately after the proposed Ordinance is approved
    and passed in final by the City Council.
     
    Fiscal Impact Statement: None submitted by the City Attorney and the
    Planning Department. Neither the City Administrative Officer nor the
    Chief Legislative Analyst has completed a financial analysis of this
    report.
     
    Community Impact Statement: Yes
    For proposal: Sunland Tujunga Neighborhood Council
    East Hollywood Neighborhood Council
    Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council
    Greater Griffith Park Neighborhood Council
     
     
    *********
     
    Sincerely,
     
    Degé Coutee
    Executive & Program Director
    Patient Advocacy Network
     
    @PAN4Compassion
    www.CannabisSavesLives.org
    (323) 334-5282
     
    PAN is a charitable 501(c)(3) organization

     

    Gary <s..[email protected]> Jun 18 10:07PM -0700  

    What was the outcome?
     
    Change the world for the better!
     

     

 

 

    Denise <s..[email protected]> Jun 19 10:48AM -0700  

    It was a set up from the Police Department from the beginning with their distorted facts about guns, money, stealing electricity, and how the dots all connect to medical cannabis. The staff was well prepared and instilled fear in council members who considerered holding their vote waiting disposition of AB2312 or the Pack decision.
    Council Member Jim Prola was passionate about cannabis patients access in San Leandro. He stood his ground to encourage a vote for his motion. We need to keep him in politics representing our rights. His wife, Diana, a member of the school board also spoke about the difficulties for patients safe access in San Leandro and recognizing children can get cannabis anywhere.
    I wrote all council members a letter prior asking them to not fall victims to the refer madness mentality The Patch news reported they were relying on for their decision. It was another modern day refer madness scenario being played out in cities that try to place fear in their citizens over distribution. The only ones buying it are the officials and cops!
    Denise
     
     
     
     
    Sent from my iPhone
     
     

     

    Jacob Secret <s..[email protected]> Jun 19 10:56AM -0700  

    Lets all remember that they need a second reading to impliment the ban.
     
    I've been down in LA all week and I will make an appearance at their next city council meeting.
     
    I hope some of you are with me.
     
    Jonathan Lustig
    Social Crusader
     
     
    Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android

     

    Bud <s..[email protected]> Jun 19 03:28PM -0700  

    This may not be especially legal, should any locals wish to consult an
    attorney.
     
    For starters, this wasn't listed as an action item on the agenda, rather a
    recommendation for a council motion to direct staff to prepare a permanent
    ban in the form of a city ordinance. Had they done that, the permanent ban
    would have appeared on a later agenda as an action item, with a staff
    report that included the text of the proposed permanent ban along with a
    required environmental finding of no significant impact. The "action" part
    of the action item would be to vote on the proposed ordinance and the
    required Gov. Code 65858 findings.
     
    What happened instead, apparently, is that the council voted to extend the
    temporary ban another year. That's not kosher for two reasons: a) it wasn't
    agendized properly as an ordinance passing a moratorium extension, nor did
    the council vote pertain to a draft ordinance and required findings, and b)
    you can't keep passing "temporary" bans forever. The city has already used
    up its allotment of time permitted for so-called urgency ordinances: The
    45-day kickoff, the 10-month, 15-day extension, and a one-year extension
    after that.
     
    As background, Gov. Code Sec. 65858 authorizes cities and counties to pass
    urgency ordinances pertaining to new development threats, so it was used a
    lot to enact instant dispensary bans, sometimes before anyone even had a
    permit application in the pipeline. (The dreaded "Planning staff have
    received inquiries pertaining to medical marijuana.") If cities jumped the
    gun a lot, at least they were in the ballpark because dispensaries
    generally constitute a new or uncategorized land use in a particular city's
    zoning ordinance.
     
    That's quite different from growing bans, which try to erase an existing
    land use, i.e., personal cultivation on private property. Because personal
    cultivation does not involve new development or zoning approvals, I would
    argue that Gov. Code 65858 cannot be used to pass an urgency zoning
    ordinance that bans all outdoor growing, for example, nor can such
    permanent growing bans escape at least an initial environmental review
    under CEQA. Not that my opinion counts, so look for urgency growing bans to
    become the new rage.
     

     

    "Axis of Love SF, Shona Gochenaur" <s..[email protected]> Jun 18 10:16PM -0700  

    YES . On respecting labor and workers and their inclusion to
    regulation. However lets think this thru a minute here Dan there are
    workers at every level who could be impacted if not downright
    unemployed if ab2312 squashes our family run collectives and small to
    mid size MDCs . Yes i agree planation like realitys exist but even the
    huge brand name big box MDCs that are footing the bill for ab2312 ?
    Are not union members? Why? They must have more than twenty employees
    and if you include all their grows? Wow. Many more and thoose employee
    probably could use a union break ! But the pay play scheme here in
    ab2313 will leave only a few on the map and push most underground? How
    does that truly benefit our workers if only a few huge commerical
    shops exist? Small business and family business and farms must remain.
    And I doubt they will with this bill as it stands and the price for
    your averarge consumer goes up and the qaulity goes down without our
    cottage growers . Ab2312 -simply will not protect from feds.

     

    "Jonathan Hughes" <s..[email protected]> Jun 19 06:20PM  

    Here is one reason…
     
    Unions do not organize, people do. I think you are asking the wrong person the question. The union can't answer the question because we are also asking that same question. Local 5, at this time, is not going force a union contract on any operator. It has been collabortive but we (the union) can't understand why all of you and your workers are not signing up with Local 5. Belonging to a union will allow the worker to participate in a fair and democratic process to collectively gain better wages, benefits and retirement. A negotiated and voter approved (by the workers) contract. Jon
     
    Jonathan Hughes
    UFCW Local 5
    240 South Market St
    San Jose, CA
    Office
    1(phone#-removed) ex.5629
    Direct Line
    (phone#-removed)
     
     
    –
    Jonathan Hughes
    UFCW Local 5
    240 South Market St
    San Jose, CA
    Office
    1(phone#-removed) ex.5629
    Direct Line
    (phone#-removed)

     

    "Axis of Love SF, Shona Gochenaur" <s..[email protected]> Jun 19 11:55AM -0700  

    pls post widely. No need for blind faith . Lets open our hearts and
    minds and take a look and hopefuly re assemble this into a fair and
    balanced law. support comunity based cooperatives and protections for
    our growers . Last but not least accountablity from a board with
    oversight.
     
     
     
     
     
    —
    Shona Gochenaur
    Executive Director
    Axis of Love SF
    http://www.facebook.com/axisoflove
    http://www.twitter.com/axisoflove

     

    Jacob Secret <s..[email protected]> Jun 18 09:50PM -0700  

    The LA police chief stated that there was no correlation between an increase in crime and dispensaries.
     
    Our violent crime rate here in California increased until 1996 and since then it has plummeted to a 40 year low.
     
    Los Angeles reported a 50 year low in 2010 while having the most dispensaries in the state.
     
    In 2006 the attorney general reported that the government survey shows youth usage was at its lowest level since they begun giving out the anonymous test to 7th, 9th and 11th graders.
     
    What is going on??!!
     
    Jonathan Lustig
    Social Crusader
     
     
    Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android

     

 

    Mendocino Medical Marijuana Advisory Board <s..[email protected]> Jun 18 10:28PM -0700  

    Shona,
     
    I'm not getting any google results at all for the search terms "CA
    State Senator Ayers" What's up with that? Nor for the search string
    "CA State Senate business and economic development committee". That
    being the case, I must say I can't regard the email address you
    kindly sent as being reliably associated with CA state senate
    hearings on AB2312.
     
    I will research it myself and let you know the results.
     
    Tom
     
    On Jun 18, 2012, at 9:27 PM, Axis of Love SF, Shona Gochenaur wrote:
     

     

June 12, 2012 – Digest for s..[email protected] – 8 Messages in 8 Topics

    Terry Colorado <s..[email protected]> Jun 09 01:27PM -0700  

    ———- Forwarded message ———-
    marijuana
     
     
    http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/inside-politics/2012/jun/7/holder-no-effort-shut-down-all-medical-marijuana/
     
     
    Holder says no effort to shut down all medical marijuana
     
    Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. said Thursday that the administration
    is only targeting marijuana operations that have exceeded state laws,
    countering claims of marijuana advocates that President Obama is breaking
    his campaign promise not to go after operations in states that have
    legalized the drug's use for medical purposes.
     
    Mr. Holder said federal officials are not going after those who are staying
    within the confines of their states' medical marijuana laws, but said some
    have "come up with ways in which they are taking advantage of these state
    laws."
     
    "We limit our enforcement efforts to those individuals, organizations that
    are acting out of conformity with state law," Mr. Holder told a House
    Judiciary Committee oversight hearing.
     
    Mr. Holder's department oversees the Drug Enforcement Administration, which
    has conducted the raids.
     
    During the 2008 campaign Mr. Obama promised to make marijuana use a lower
    priority, and early in 2009, after the first DEA raid during his tenure,
    the White House issued a condemnation and said it was a holdover of the
    George W. Bush administration policy.
     
    But in recent months, marijuana advocates contend the administration is
    stepping up its law enforcement efforts, including a raid by DEA and IRS
    agents on Richard Lee, a prominent marijuana activist in Oakland, Calif.
     
    At Thursday's hearing Rep. Jerrold Nadler, New York Democrat, questioned
    Mr. Holder about the administration's policy and Mr. Holder said his
    department tries to focus on marijuana operations that stretch state laws
    or, in the case of raids in Colorado, where distribution centers were
    placed near schools.
     
     
    Karen O'Keefe, Director of State Policies
    Marijuana Policy Project
    West Hollywood, California
    Phone: (phone#-removed)
    Virtual fax:(phone#-removed)
    s..[email protected]
    http://www.mpp.org
     
    Please visit http://www.mpp.org/subscribe to sign up for MPP's free e-mail
    alerts.
     
    "For certain persons, the medical use of marijuana can literally mean the
    difference between life and death." — Lymphoma Foundation of America, HIV
    Medicine Association of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, and
    American Medical Students Association, Supreme Court amicus brief, 2004

     

    Chet Jenkins <s..[email protected]> Jun 08 11:51AM -0700  

     Oops, I sent the message below to the wrong address Thursday night, I meant to put it out to the Save Cannabis List Community. I apparently just replied to Steele Smith, who I don't know.
     
    Even though the links in his email are good links, I found zero evidence (even on FBI websites) of his claim of raids on City Hall & Police Department.
     
    Questionable behavior.
     
    Concerned, Yet Still Cheerfull,
    Chet

    Sent: Thursday, June 7, 2012 9:05 PM

    Someone may be exploiting/misusing this list, or ?. I find no info on such raid, & received same alert tonight with STEELE Smith as GOCCA organization. ?
     
    — Original Message —
     
    Sent: June 6, 2012 6/6/12
     
    THE FBI IS RAIDING LONG BEACH CITY HALL & POLICE DEPARTMENT NOW! SPREAD THE WORD!
     
     
     
    Steele Smith 
    National Director 
     
    ASA   
    http://www.asanational.org
    http://www.twitter.com/safeaccessnow
     
     
    By: Daminique 'Dee' Velazquez
          Media Specialist

     

    "Axis of Love SF, Shona Gochenaur" <s..[email protected]> Jun 08 12:15PM -0700  

    Thank you Angela Ed and Jane . For all you do ! And fighting the good fight .
     
     
    —
    Shona Gochenaur
    Executive Director
    Axis of Love SF
    http://www.facebook.com/axisoflove
    http://www.twitter.com/axisoflove

     

    Michael Levinsohn <s..[email protected]> Jun 08 07:50PM -0700  

    The Mentch decision requires a primary caregiver to "consistently assume responsibility for the housing, health or safety" of a qualified patient. This relationship must be based on caregiving first, and providing cannabis second. It must pre-date, or start no later than the first provision of cannabis. Merely providing cannabis through a collective is specifically negated.
     
    Sent from my iPhone
     

     

    "Axis of Love SF, Shona Gochenaur" <s..[email protected]> Jun 08 12:28PM -0700  

    :interesting point . Can members of this list send me a list of
    concerns and benefits re ab2312! Our city comitte of patient advocates
    will be reveiwing pros and cons for patients and patient cultivators .
    And we want to compile a neutral of personality or organizational
    input . Just concerns about implemention ect . And this incld the pros
    as well. Mtg is this wends and full taskforce nxt friday . Will email
    both agendas to all. Im the chair of full taskforce this month .
     
     
    —
    Shona Gochenaur
    Executive Director
    Axis of Love SF
    http://www.facebook.com/axisoflove
    http://www.twitter.com/axisoflove

     

    "Axis of Love SF, Shona Gochenaur" <s..[email protected]> Jun 08 01:53PM -0700  

    Honest question. What im hearing so far? Nothing that wouldnt have
    check n balances and oversight . So no appointed board without
    overisght. Nothing that would toss out the little guys and promote
    commerical production as the only state legal option. Nothing that
    would be a list of growers names and address. Nothing that would
    create new crime or fees. And?

     

    Matthew Meyer <s..[email protected]> Jun 08 11:30AM -0700  

    Since some of the accusations in these messages seem subject to easy
    verification, I looked into it quickly.
     
    Here is what ASA says about the San Diego NORML case:
     
     
    On July 7, 2006, ASA, DLRP, and DPA filed a motion to
    intervene<http://www.safeaccessnow.org/downloads/SD_Intervention_Motion.pdf>,
    which was granted on August 4. Then, on September 1, the parties filed
    their motion for summary judgment on the
    pleadings<http://www.safeaccessnow.org/downloads/SD_Motion_for_Summary_Judgment.pdf>.
    Attorneys for ASA and the ACLU argued the case in San Diego Superior Court
    on November 16, 2006, and secured a tremendous victory for patients in
    California.
     
     
    (The case had been filed in January of 2006.)
     
    So they did intervene, but it appears to have been more substantial than
    attaching an amicus brief to the case. This is from the counsel listing in
    the docket record of the case's appeal:
     
    Americans for Safe Access and Joseph D. Elford for Interveners and
    Respondents Wendy Christakes, Norbert Litzinger, William Britt, Yvonne
    Westbrook and Americans for Safe Access.
     
     
    I don't have any connection to ASA and for all I know they are the Devil
    incarnate; however, some of the accusations on here seem like they're
    getting a bit fast and loose.
     
    On Wed, Jun 6, 2012 at 10:03 AM, Rodolfo rudy Reyes
     
    —
    Matthew Meyer
    PhD Candidate
    Anthropology Department
    University of Virginia

     

May 31, 2012 – Digest for s..[email protected] – 22 Messages in 13 Topics

    Terry Colorado <s..[email protected]> May 30 04:21PM -0700  

    AB2312 is bad news for medical cannabis patients; and here is why:
     
    This bill would establish the Medical Marijuana Regulation and Control Act
    for the purposes of regulating and controlling medical marijuana activities.
     
    This legislation is a desperate response to a "Red Herring." According
    to Wikipedia:
     
    A *red herring* is a clue which is intended to be misleading, or
    distracting from the actual issue. A false
    protagonist<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_protagonist> is
    another example of a red herring.
     
    The federal crackdown is a false protagonist and our leadership
    is ostensibly fighting the good fight. the protagonist in the name of a
    chosen few. Be honest with yourself; do you really believe, that if AB2312
    becomes law that, somehow our cannabis movement is somehow safer from the
    big bad wolf (Fed's). Why does our movement cling to this failed notion;
    false hope? Anyone have a brick house to hide in because i'm feeling like
    the little pig, being led to slaughter?
     
    Case in point: Oakland challenged the feds with the grand scheme to allow
    "… warehouses of cultivated medical marijuana." The feds responded with a
    big "slap" you very much, please make our day. What did Oakland do? Bless
    their lil hearts. Where are those big ole' warehouses now? They don't exist
    because Oakland said ".. uhh fuggetaboutit " If you receive nothing
    else; *receive
    this*; the DOJ does not respect ANY legislation in California; and as such
    do not feel compelled to follow it outside their discretion.
     
    Why should the Feds respect local law? There is nothing compelling in these
    criminal self-serving regulations; Its clear; restrictive permitting is the
    strategy we are up against. Restrictive permitting under the guise of
    "wanted regulation." Wanted regulation? Who wants regulation? Who "wants"
    to be taxed? Do you feel more validated if you can be regulated and taxed?
    The Great Jack Herer said "… not a fucking dollar!" Some of the best
    words ever spoken. Its Gospel; amen.
     
    The Pack decision makes in clear; Decriminalization is fine … permission
    to break the law is not. Our local governments do not support
    decriminalizing; NO MONEY THERE. local regulation establishes significant
    "permit fees" … in the ten's of thousands of dollars is most common, and
    when you count the money earned from this BS cannabis tax ~ typically four
    to ten percent ~ depending upon the City. Don't forget … BOE gets 7 – 10
    percent as well for the State.
     
    Furthermore the city with the help of local opposition possible groups in
    our own movement; destroys local competition, thus keeping the cost of
    medicine high. Local opposition approaches the city with promises of tax
    and permitting money; offering … nay … gifting and begging for
    restrictive permitting and going so far a to provide the language for
    the severe regulation to be placed in the ordinance.
     
    Once the regulation is passed; the city deceptively uses its new found
    gifted authority (where none existed before; gifted regulation) to limit
    patient access and practice precision "restrictive permitting," which is
    basically passing and enforcing zoning regulation so restrictive that if a
    collective loses an a location exemption for whatever reason or has to move
    (fed letter) it is impossible for a collective storefront to re-open and
    operate in the city because there is nothing available in the proper zones.
    they might be too near a "cigarette shop" or "theater" …etc,.
     
    Let's face it; the fed's know they CAN'T shutdown medical marijuana; its in
    16 states now; more this year. So the fed's may have said fuck it; can't
    beat em … join em. So what if this Fed Crackdown is some is some grand
    Red Herring to get our movement … like little pigs being lead to the
    slaughter to accept AB2312; "restrictive permitting?"
     
    Local regulation unnecessarily establishes federal battlegrounds;
    challenges; excuses … IN YOUR FACE challenges pushing the Fed's to target
    patients and caregivers. This is all Predatory Government Action (PGA):
    Predatory Government is government that feeds on the resources of its
    citizens to the point of malicious greed; like vultures or cannibal's.
     
    Regulation(tax) is clearly defined to benefit predatory governments; that's
    all well and fine … i guess … but if you pay the mafia for protection
    … don't you get protection? Don Coreleone … i ask on this day of your
    daughter's wedding day … etc,. … you get my point? Okay … the City is
    tickled purple to take your permit money and look the other, while the
    Fed's hunt you down. But that's not all; that's right … this hits just
    keep on coming!
     
    The City Gang absolutely will not be held responsible if the Fed's shut you
    down and takes you to jail. The City Gang does'nt even have the decency to
    feel bad about it. Oh, What's that; you're landlord received a letter from
    the DOJ and city zoning and regulation is so restrictive you can't find a
    place to move too? Hmmm … well be sure to pay the measure b tax, BOE, and
    give to the police fund. Thank you; come again. Hmmm … just one minute.
    Oh what's that … oh hhaha … right .. patient access; hmm what's …
    that … isn't that ASA, or something? Did you pay your measure b and BOE?
     
    Regulation is not about patient and caregiver access; its about dilution of
    rights; dilution of Prop 215; its alot about limiting competition to keep
    prices artificially high. The pro-tax, pro-regulation cannabis crowd would
    have you believe you "want" to be taxed and regulated; is that right ….
    do you really feel a need to be taxed and regulated? I DON"T … and i
    don't get those people who do .. does being taxed and regulated somehow
    validate these people? I am taxed; therefore i exist? lol, suckers!
     
    Local ordinances are intentionally ill defined and contain time bombs with
    dangerous agenda. I believe AB2312 is the same such regulation. Regulation
    does not exist for the goodwill of our citizens; regulation does not
    promote Safe Access; instead local regulation has failed miserably to
    promote safe access; and our so called leadership has failed us by not
    holding these predatory bodies accountable; instead allowing the opposition
    to feed on our collective carcass; to what purpose? To limit competition.
    We have all heard the rumors; it hard to believe? But what if its true? The
    damage could be happening right under our collective noses.
     
    Do this people really believe we need to buy legitimacy … buy local
    government support (regulation) … we already have legitimacy … the
    American people are behind us 74% … local government and regulation is
    not our friend; as the State Supreme Court will soon declare; local
    regulation is powerless to do anything other then take your money. City
    government is only concerned with the dollar and the corruption it buys;
    empowering these Narco Warriors to further dilute the rights of patients
    and put them in jail.
     
    AB2312 or any state regulation will not save us folks. We must be our own
    hero, to save the day. City government is not our savior; Kamala Harris and
    "their heads in up their ass state legislature" is also not going to save
    us; example: People v Kolvin Congress … nope … not gong to save us;
    De-scheduling or rescheduling … is just not going to happen … hello,
    pipe dream … nope not even defunding. The President is chicken-shit;
    he's not going to save us either; and finally apparently our own movment
    doen't have the balls to save ourselves.
     
    Mired down by infighting; and fixated on regulation our leadership can't
    even save themselves much less our movement. If you want to truly save
    cannabis … we must put aside this notion of regulation and taxation …
    we must unite under a new flag … we must engage the nation … the
    majority of American's favor legalization; they … WE want a national
    debate … and yes, i believe WE are big enough to MAKE IT HAPPEN despite
    ourselves.
     
    We can save ourselves … we are big enough … we have much more
    legitimacy with the people then we have been led to believe; mostly because
    we listen to the pro-tax, pro-reg crowd tells us we must not assert
    ourselves … else we piss off our friends like Kamala Harris who recently
    argued against us in "People vrs, Kolvin); or we must continue to support
    President "Backstab"Obama because despite him selling out; he's the only
    friend we got. Yeah well my mamma always told me with friends like that …
    you don't need enemies. I listen to my mamma; i suggest you listen to my
    mamma too.
     
    AB2312, really only serves one purpose; providing the pro-tax, pro-reg
    crowd a restrictive statewide monopoly. The Fed's doesn't respect
    California Law and won't respect AB2312. Our movment will waste our
    "fighting chance" on this lame ass ineffective bullshit law … IT IS
    INTENTIONAL DISTRACTION; RER HERRING.
     
    Our best fighting chance is to take legalization straight to the American
    people and force the Presidential candidates to debate the issue
    nationally. Force the discussion! Hold Obama accountable for false hope and
    broken promises.
     
    We need to focus on public awareness; staying friends with Mr Joe P.
    Public. Instead of relying on ineffective or bad regulations let's rely on
    the wisdom of the State Supreme court to decide the law; and not let
    politicians decide our fate.

     

 

    Heidi <s..[email protected]> May 30 06:11PM -0700  

    Okay now whats the next step? We need to be out in our society going door
    to door daily educating people on cannabis…. Getting a group together…
    grassroots activism. Persuasion conversations are motivating, and ground
    the daily marijuana smoker who is wrapped in the bubble of marijuana
    culture, where mj is as common as the air we breath. I fall into that
    bubble daily.
     
    Cannabis is a 'soft issue' compared to say, 'gay marriage' in the
    political realm of public support. Most people in our society have a firm
    grasp on there stance on gay marriage. However, public opinion shows that
    the percent of people who support marijuana varies GREATLY from poll to
    poll & day to day because of current issues in our media, news & society.
     
    If every person on this list went out & educated people on the benefits of
    cannabis, rather then re-stating & spreading false promises, failed
    missions etc, we would see more change of consciousness in our society .
    This community is educated, now we need to spread education to the rest of
    the millions that this list does not touch. Based on my own experiences
    going door to door, there are a lot more people in our society who
    have absolutely no idea of the benefits of marijuana then we really
    think….
     
    Anyway, lets all stop hiding behind our computer screens & go into the real
    world & truly help free cannabis. I'm in San Diego if anyone wants to meet
    up & get a group together to spread educational awareness on cannabis.
     
    "walk it like you talk it"
    – Heidi Cady Whitman
     
     
     
     
     

     

    Andrew Merkel <s..[email protected]> May 30 09:41AM -0700  

    Just a heads up RABO bank has just canceled our accounts based on the fact that we support the medical/legalization of cannabis.
     
    Please be informed they are trying on every level to stop us!
     
    Make sure you are prepared, if necessary contact Robert Mackineze Land Law at(phone#-removed).
     
    Use Trust accounts.
     
    Keep up the pressure….
     
    Butte County No On Measure A
     
    Andrew Merkel
     
     
     
    Sent from my iPad

     

    "andrew garret" <s..[email protected]> May 30 07:23PM -0700  

    Do you have any proof? Something like a letter from the bank or at least
    a contact number.
     
    We are almost ready with our website on the matter of bank censorship.
     
    antique andy
     
     
     
    —————————————–
    Sent via Catholic Online Webmail!
    Use Catholic Online Webmail to proclaim your faith to the world.
    http://webmail.catholic.org/

     

    "Axis of Love SF, Shona Gochenaur" <s..[email protected]> May 29 07:00PM -0700  

    FYi starchild is a dude. And a very sweet person who in the past has
    acknowlegde some of the short comings of libertrian policy and social
    justice for lowincome people when in convo with me. He means well. But
    yep im with the only two thing i agree w RP on is medicine and peace
    everything else is ugly . Come on!
     
     
    —
    Shona Gochenaur
    Executive Director
    Axis of Love SF
    http://www.facebook.com/axisoflove
    http://www.twitter.com/axisoflove

     

    "Dr. David Bearman" <s..[email protected]> May 29 10:03PM -0400  

    Did you not get the memo. Ron Paul is a Repub;ican. It will be way too latew for him to get on the basllot in most states. Johnson is a two term governor. Both he and Gray have very strong positions on marijuana. The point is to support them and vote for them so that both the Demsa and Republicans will see that they are missing out on millions of votes and a winning issue.
    david bearmasn,M.D.
    —- "Axis of Love SF wrote:

     

    "s..[email protected]" <s..[email protected]> May 30 03:12PM -0700  

    That's one scenario. The other goes back to 2000 when Ralph Nader's candidacy cost Al Gore the White House. Is your protest vote worth the risk of a GOP win this fall?
     
    Put simply, the answer is no. We may not like Obama much, but we'll hate Romney in ways we haven't even imagined yet. We need 4 more years to get a Supreme Court pick, maybe two, to help balance the Bush appointees. The only people who really salivate at a split Dem vote are the folks drinking caffeine-free soft drinks at Romney Central.
     
    —–Original Message—–
    Cc: "Axis of Love SF, Shona Gochenaur" <s..[email protected]>
     
    Did you not get the memo. Ron Paul is a Repub;ican. It will be way too latew for him to get on the basllot in most states. Johnson is a two term governor. Both he and Gray have very strong positions on marijuana. The point is to support them and vote for them so that both the Demsa and Republicans will see that they are missing out on millions of votes and a winning issue.
    david bearmasn,M.D.
    —- "Axis of Love SF wrote:

     

 

    Starchild <s..[email protected]> May 30 06:14PM -0700  

    Thanks, Shona. However you may have somewhat misunderstood me. The shortcomings with regard to low income folks and social justice are not with libertarian ideas themselves — I believe there is ample evidence that freedom does indeed improve the lives of the poor and the socially marginalized.
     
    Rather the shortcomings I was referring to occur in how libertarian organizations and individuals who identify as libertarians sometimes *go about* advocating for freedom — the emphasis and priorities we choose, the language we use, the assumptions we make, etc.
     
    For instance, you may have heard conservatives or conservative-influenced libertarians complaining that 47% of Americans (generally those with lower incomes) don't pay any taxes. This claim is false on the face of it — the 47% statistic is only about *federal income tax*, and there are tons of other taxes that poor people pay in this country, both directly and indirectly, including Social Security taxes, sales taxes, property taxes (often passed along in the form of higher rents and less availability of affordable housing), the hidden tax of inflation, parking and other vehicle taxes (aka parking tickets, registration fees, moving violation taxes, etc.), and many others. But libertarians who accept arguments like the 47% claim at face value may be misled into thinking that government in this country unfairly favors poorer people over wealthier people, and this may lead them to adopt misplaced priorities such as putting greater emphasis on getting rid of taxes and regulations that burden the wealthy than on getting rid of taxes and regulations that burden the poor, such as laws against people sleeping in their own vehicles, permit fees for people wanting to start small businesses, laws against people feeding the homeless without a permit, etc.
     
    Sometimes libertarians have been too reactionary on issues like criminal justice, corporations, and the environment. For instance when we see self-identified environmentalists attacking property rights and proposing big-government solutions to environmental problems both real and exaggerated, it is easy for less thoughtful and perceptive libertarians to assume that environmentalists are the enemy and assume that *all* environmental problems are being exaggerated as part of an anti-freedom agenda. While I believe that some environmental issues have been falsified and pushed in this manner, I also know that there are many real environmental problems which are critically serious — loss of wilderness habitat leading to extinction of species, depletion and pollution of groundwater, overfishing, etc. Global warming, not so much.
     
    But the more that people on the left respond to these shortcomings of the libertarian movement with reactionary reflexes of their own by attacking libertarianism and libertarians as racist, uncaring, or what-not, the more it tends to drive libertarian-oriented people and groups into the conservative camp. Libertarianism is *not* conservatism any more than libertarianism is leftism, but the polarization of politics in this country makes it easy for independents (including libertarians) to get swept up into one of the two opposing mainstream factions if we are not careful to maintain their ideological independence and stay true to our ideas.
     
    Libertarians today are perhaps the main group of proverbial "swing voters" in this country, allying with the right on some issues and with the left on others. How much we gravitate toward one side or the other in terms of which freedom issues we emphasize most, spend most of our time working on, etc., will be determined to a large extent in the aggregate by which of the two mainstream sides is more willing to work with us, and which side treats us like the enemy. So even people on the left who dislike many libertarian ideas would be wise to focus their attacks on conservatism and not on libertarianism. If you support and encourage folks like Ron Paul, they will be more likely to give more emphasis to the parts of the freedom agenda that mesh with the leftist agenda, including of course ending the war on cannabis and other drugs, whereas if you attack and criticize them and call them conservatives, etc., they're more likely to focus on supporting aspects of the freedom agenda where they have allies on the right who are willing to work with them.
     
    Love & Liberty,
    ((( starchild )))
     

     
    On May 29, 2012, at 7:00 PM, Axis of Love SF, Shona Gochenaur wrote:
     

     

    <s..[email protected]> May 30 01:45PM -0700  

    Hello all, I've stayed out of the fray and spend my time focusing on measure
    D up here in Lake County.
     

     
    One of the arguments that have been used against us here in Lake County is
    the right to farm. I think that this is a very easy argument to make for
    cannabis/hemp. Here in California the legislature has repeatedly tried to
    make hemp a farm crop. These laws have passed the legislature and been
    vetoed by the governor only because of federal policies.
     

     
    I buy and eat hemp seed at nine dollars a pound that is stamped "USDA"
    approved. Very few crops in the world retail at nine dollars a pound let
    alone single seeds at $1-$50 each (look up Soma seeds, DNA seeds or some of
    Mr. Nice seeds). The right to farm laws original intent was to protect and
    allow Americans to grow and market their own food; we have allowed this food
    to be excluded. If we were to focus on just the dietary benefits of
    hemp/cannabis we might be able to draw in all the 'back to basic living'
    people. The mom-and-pop farmers no longer have a voice, all the Farm Bureaus
    have been taken over by agribusiness. Look at all the back to nature people
    and literature. You won't have far to look, in most cases you can look in
    the mirror.
     

     
    As Dan Rush has tried to indicate, we need to organize! I too came from the
    labor movement and it saddens me to see organized labor falling for the
    exact same thing that's going on here. The labor movement is not failing, it
    is fighting against itself. Union workers against nonunion workers; one
    union trying to take the work of another union; labor fighting against
    itself and not being unified on the basic issues that protect them all. It
    is exactly the same thing here! Dispensary folks against collectives; indoor
    growers against outdoor growers; little groups against big groups; cannabis
    against hemp; we are fighting against ourselves and we are excluding a lot
    of potential allies or fragmenting ourselves.
     

     
    If we really want to make this a national issue we have to give up
    exclusively owning this plant. We have to allow the Monsanto's in this world
    to grow thousands of acres of hemp. We have to be willing to allow dollar a
    gram bud. We have to allow Kmart to sell six-pack cannabis seedlings. We
    have to allow the full spectrum, not pick and choose like some smorgasbord.
    Only then will this movement takeoff worldwide! Both your and my bullshit
    meters (along with the rest of the world's) have become sensitive to hidden
    agendas. The people of the world are ready for leadership that tells the
    truth; we should stop the bullshit and simply do that!
     

     
    Well that's my rant thanks for reading. Nobull56

     

    William West <s..[email protected]> May 30 07:08AM -0700  

    Today should tell you what they won't. If A.S.A. is for the gentile ban, my
    money is on Don Duncan's made another back-door deal and will be given a
    free ticket to keep his shops open. How? He isn't a grower/ user/ like prop
    215 and SB-420 allow for, To me A.S.A. is a cover for Teflon Don Duncan's
    drug cartel. Why are Teflon Don Duncan's shops never raided? Noriega use to
    have a similar deal.
     
    On Tue, May 29, 2012 at 10:53 AM, Patient Advocacy Network <
     
    —
    *
    *
    *
    *
    *William W. West*
    *William W. West Productions*
    *www.theweedlynews.com*
    *www.myspace.com/williamwwest*
    (phone#-removed)*

     

 

    William West <s..[email protected]> May 30 07:01AM -0700  

    A.S.A. has been and will continue to deceive, sideline, and blanket what
    they are really about. For 2 years we have shown and proven that A.S.A.=
    Teflon Don Duncan is only setting up *his own Pot Monopoly.* Look at what
    they haven't done to help anyone in this movement move forward, Thinning of
    The Herds/ Restrictive Permitting/ Stricter Guidelines. (*A*merican *S*heriff
    *A*ssociation). Everyone seems to find legal problems once associated with
    them, Take your heads out of the sand and question them, our enemy is among
    us, let their records show. What they say and what they do it totally
    different and not to help patients, but to control them.
     
     
    —
    *
    *
    *
    *
    *William W. West*
    *William W. West Productions*
    *www.theweedlynews.com*
    *www.myspace.com/williamwwest*
    (phone#-removed)*

     

    Deedee Kirkwood <s..[email protected]> May 30 10:45AM -0700  

    My cannabis themed stage play TOKE is opening May 31, running Thursday, Friday, Saturday 8 pm at the Ooley Theater, 2007 28th Street, Sacramento, through June 30. $10. Hope to see you there. Deedee Kirkwood www.toketheplay.com

     

    Mickey Martin <s..[email protected]> May 30 11:53AM -0700  

    Weed for the WIN!
    Posted by Mickey Martin on May 30th, 2012
    To continue my weed zeitgeist theory, I shift gears to the political impact we have seen lately from PRO-WEED candidates. Last night an unknown candidate for the House of Representatives, Beto O’Rourke, defeated an 8-term sitting Congressman, Silvestre Reyes, on a pro-legalization platform in El Paso, TX. Let us just say that El Paso, Texas is not the most liberal minded place in America for argument’s sake. But here is a young man who had the sack of nuts to call a spade a spade and confront the madness of our failed drug war in a very public race for the US House of Representatives. In years past, most would have told you being pro-cannabis is a suicide mission if you are running for public office, but not this year…and likely not in the years to come. Weed is in, and this is the second race in the past few weeks that has centered around cannabis reform issues, and where the weed supporting candidate came out on top.
    Earlier this month in Oregon retired Judge Ellen Rosenblum defeated an interim US Attorney, Dwight Holton, for the seat of Oregon Attorney General, and the major issue that drove her to victory was weed. Holton made the huge mistake of declaring his desire to continue the crackdown on medical marijuana and called the medical marijuana law a “trainwreck” (and not the sativa). His opponent, and the Drug Policy Alliance, seized upon the moment and made the campaign a referendum on this issue. DPA donated heavily to the pro-cannabis Rosenblum, who stated her desire to make marijuana enforcement a low priority. She ended up trouncing Holton, getting 64% to Holton’s 36% of votes.
    These are just two races where we have seen weed make an impact on victory. What is interesting is the different natures of these races, and the support that communities have had for this issue. In Texas, Beto O’Rourke’s platform was more based on the incredible violence that we have seen happening on the Mexican border, and the need to end cannabis prohibition to stop it. Here was his statement in a recent interview:
    The drug war is “a failure,” O’Rourke told HuffPost in April, adding that marijuana is “the cornerstone of the cartel economy” and thus fuels the violence in El Paso’s sister city.
    And even after his opponent tried to smear him for “encouraging drug use among children,” O’Rourke still withstood the false accusations and handed this loser his ass.
    In the Oregon race, the “low enforcement priority” was a big deal, especially when juxtaposed next to a candidate who, as a US Attorney, was actively participating in heavy handed enforcement tactics and creating a major stir in the cannabis community. Oregon is a much more liberal-minded area than El Paso, Texas. It was almost as if the Oregon race was framed in the pro-cannabis theory, whereas the El Paso race was more about anti-drug war and violence argument. Yet, both candidates used weed to help propel them to victory at the ballot box.
    Hopefully these races, and more like them, will begin to wake up candidates for public office that weed is no longer taboo. Maybe, just maybe, in the coming months and years, we will see more candidates with the balls to state they are pro-weed without the fear of being labeled soft on crime or as a child molester of sorts who wants to drug our nation’s youth. Those arguments are tired and have been used for decades to keep a stranglehold on any reform of our failed drug laws. The big business lobbying groups have used these threats effectively to subdue support for weed, but hopefully we are seeing those days come to an end.
    It is time we have an adult conversation and quit wasting billions of dollars enforcing made-up crimes involving safe, enjoyable, and helpful plants. We can no longer afford to base our politics and policies on this issues on a rash of fear aimed at scaring the bejeezus out of people by invoking fears of their kid using drugs. Here is a newsflash for parents out there…your kid will likely smoke weed at least once. The question they need to ask themselves is, “Do I want my kid to go to jail for weed?” No…you do not. Your baby will become a much worse person from prison than pot. That is just a fact. So quit voting for assholes who want to take our kids to jail. We live in a country where we have made it profitable to lock up poor people for weed. It is not okay any more. Not only can we not afford it, but it is just plain EVIL.
    What these races have shown is that pro-cannabis candidates can win. As cannabis users and providers WE MUST VOTE. If you are not registered, get registered. Not having jury duty is no reason to let our nation go to shit. Get registered and continue to let our voice be heard at the ballot box. We have the support of the public and we need to do our part to make sure that weed continues to be an important issue in selecting those who run our government.
     
    Mickey Martin
    T-Comp Consulting Director
    Author of Medical Marijuana 101
    www.cannabiswarrior.com
    www.tcompconsulting.com
    s..[email protected]
    (phone#-removed)
    http://twitter.com/micKEYmarTIN
    http://twitter.com/CANNABISconsult
     
    ***The views expressed in this communication are not necessarily the views of T-Comp Consulting, Tainted Compassion, Cannabis Warrior any other group I am affiliated with.***

     

    William West <s..[email protected]> May 30 06:35AM -0700  

    interesting to watch unfold, getting harder and harder to keep the truth
    hidden
     
    On Mon, May 28, 2012 at 10:39 PM, Axis of Love SF, Shona Gochenaur <
     
    —
    *
    *
    *
    *
    *William W. West*
    *William W. West Productions*
    *www.theweedlynews.com*
    *www.myspace.com/williamwwest*
    (phone#-removed)*

     

    "Axis of Love SF, Shona Gochenaur" <s..[email protected]> May 29 09:20PM -0700  

    hope link attchd?
     
    Committee Approves 'Gentle Ban' of Marijuana Dispensaries, On its Way
    to Full Council Vote
     
     
     
    rob (s..[email protected]) thought you would be interested in this:
    Committee Approves 'Gentle Ban' of Marijuana Dispensaries, On its Way
    to Full Council Vote
    (http://northhollywood.patch.com/articles/committee-approves-complete-ban-of-marijuana-dispensaries-full-council-to-take-next-step)
     
     
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    "Axis of Love SF, Shona Gochenaur" <s..[email protected]> May 29 08:15PM -0700  

    If you can donate pls do ! The motown performances are super! And
    supervisor Olaque is indeed a star for us….

     

    "Axis of Love SF, Shona Gochenaur" <s..[email protected]> May 29 06:53PM -0700  

    here is what I was fliping out about late last nite. Dege says
    whatever PLUM does will probably cause more law suites. She is funny
    she says thats basic inner skinny of last couple of years from this
    land use comittee…ligition.
     
     
    Greetings -
     
    PLUM is hearing the gentle ban today along with Huizar's motion for an all
    out ban. There will also be closed session to discuss ongoing litigation.
    I'm going to attend the hearing and will report more later.
     
    The agenda is attached for your information.
     
     
    Sincerely,
     
    Degé Coutee
    Executive & Program Director
    Patient Advocacy Network
     
    @PAN4Compassion
    www.CannabisSavesLives.org
    (323) 334-5282
     
    PAN is a charitable 501(c)(3) organization
     
     
    —
    Shona Gochenaur
    Executive Director
    Axis of Love SF
    http://www.facebook.com/axisoflove
    http://www.twitter.com/axisoflove