Tag: Marijuana Reform (page 11)

A new U.S. study finds that marijuana potency has increased in recent years. The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy responds like Henny Penny claiming the sky is falling. :

[Drug Czar John Walters] cited the risk of psychological, cognitive and respiratory problems, and the potential for users to become dependent on drugs such as cocaine and heroin.

A more rational view: [More...]

The San Francisco Chronicle has an article today on the presidential candidates and their positions on federal raids of marijuana dispensaries. It gets it somewhat right, but is a little misleading in my view. With the Oregon vote coming up, it paints Barack Obama as the only true friend of the medical marijuana user. (None are a friend to the recreational user,although Obama once said he was.)

Here's what I've found over the past months:

• Hillary and Obama on Assisted Suicide and Medical Marijauana
• Obama Withdraws Support for Marijuana Decriminalization
• Obama 04 vs. Obama 08 (with video of his comments)
• Obama Backs Decriminalization
• Obama Campaign Retracts Statement Supporting Decriminalization and Obama Used to Favor Decriminalization
• Obama and Medical Pot: More Research Needed [More...]

What would happen if marijuana were legal? In the LA Times today, "This Bud's For You."

I always wondered what would happen if marijuana were legalized for anyone over 18. It seems it already has been, and nothing happened.

Except, people still get busted and go to jail.

Which reminds me, NORML founder Keith Stroup's trial for smoking a joint at a press conference in Boston begins Monday. Keith and his codefendant, High Times associate publisher Rick Cusick are challenging the constitutionality of the law criminalizing adult pot possession and use. They also requested a jury nullification instruction. [More...]

Via NORML on the death of Timothy Garon:

The medical records will show that he died due to complications associated with massive liver failure. He would have likely survived longer if he received a timely organ transplant but was denied access because he followed his physician’s recommendation, used medical cannabis during his treatments for liver disease, therefore testing positive for THC metabolites and rather than receive the gift of a potentially longer life—instead doctors at the University of Washington deferred to federal prohibition laws and mores, handing Tim a death sentence.

There are no pharmacological or physiological reasons why Tim Garon, or any medical marijuana patient, should logically be denied access to life-saving or life-enhancing organ transplants.

Here's more on Tim Garon’s plight. You can watch this video with a moving news account of Tim and his family.

Here's a prewritten letter you can send Congress in favor of federal legislation that would prevent tragic stories such as these.

Back in September, I wrote about the arrest of NORML Founder Keith Stroup in Mass. at a rally for smoking a marijuana cigarette.

The case is headed to court Thursday morning. Keith and his co-defendant are challenging the constitutionality of the law criminalizing adult pot possession and use, and are requesting a jury nullification instruction:

[Their motion asks] the trial judge to inform the jury of their right to return a not-guilty verdict if, in their view, the defendants’ actions did not amount to criminal conduct.

This long-held traditional power of a jury — to refuse to convict if its members agree that such a conviction would create an injustice — is fundamental to the jury’s role as the bulwark of American individual liberty.

A copy of their motion to dismiss is available here. There will be a press conference at Boston's Batterymarch Conference Center after the hearing.

Cheers to Sen. Chris Dodd for introducing S. 2627 this week. The bill would amend the Higher Education Act to end mandatory elimination of financial aid to students with drug convictions. Loss of financial aid would only occur if the state or federal judge sentencing the student orders aid suspension.

The bill adds a new paragraph to the aid loss section of the statute that reads:

This subsection shall only apply to a student if the Federal or State court that convicted the student of an offense described in paragraph (1) has ordered that the student's eligibility for assistance under this title be suspended in accordance with this subsection.'.

Students for a Sensible Drug Policy says:

Although the penalty should be repealed outright, the judicial
discretion bill would tremendously reduce its impact by turning it into an opt-in punishment instead of an automatic one. Take action now by spending one minute to edit and send a pre-written letter to your senators!

The bill has been referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. So far there are no co-sponsors.

ACLU Washington executive director Kathleen Taylor has an op-ed in today's Seattle Times, Let's Talk About Marijuana. It begins:

A College student loses his financial aid because of a youthful indiscretion. A woman coping with the ravages of ovarian cancer lives in fear of being arrested for using what best eases her suffering. Across town, a front door bursts open and police rush in to handcuff a man relaxing in his living room.

These events have one thing in common: marijuana. Whether it is being kicked out of college for a youthful mistake, being denied relief from pain as a cancer patient, or getting arrested for personal use in one's home, marijuana laws have far-reaching consequences.

The consequences greatly outweigh any danger or risk posed by marijuana. [More...]

First Barack Obama was for decriminalization of marijuana. Then he was against it. Then he said he was for it, explaining he raised his hand by mistake at a debate.

Now he's clear: he opposes decriminalization of marijuana.

What accounts for this latest switch? His campaign says he didn't understand what decriminalization meant.

A spokesman for Obama’s campaign blamed confusion over the meaning of decriminalization for the inconsistencies, and said that while Obama does not support decriminalization, "we are sending far too many first-time, nonviolent drug users to prison for very long periods of time, and that we should rethink those laws."

More on Obama and his limited progressive crime positions here.

During the October 30, 2007 presidential debate, Barack Obama raised his hand to say said he opposed decriminalizing marijuna.

In 2004, he supported it. Video here.

"I think we need to rethink and decriminalize our marijuana laws," Mr. Obama said during a debate at Northwestern University. "But I'm not somebody who believes in legalization of marijuana.

So, which is it?

When confronted with the statements on the video, Obama's campaign offered two explanations to The Times in less than 24 hours. At first, Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor said the candidate had "always" supported decriminalizing marijuana, suggesting that his 2004 statement was correct. Then after The Times posted copies of the video on its Web site yesterday, his campaign reversed course and declared he does not support eliminating criminal penalties for marijuana possession and use.

He flip-flopped the wrong way.