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Hare gets religious support for medical marijuana Bill would bar feds from interfering in state law

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 22:30:47 GMT

clipped by: KOP1961

Congressman Phil Hare, D-Rock Island, will vote in favor of legalizing medical marijuana for the second straight year.

This time, however, he has the support of seven religious leaders in the 17th district. Clergy from the Disciples of Christ and United Church of Christ are standing by Hare in the push to legalize the Schedule I drug.

“Medical marijuana is an issue of mercy and compassion,” said the Rev. William Pyatt, Carthage United Methodist Church, in a news release. “Being seriously ill is stressful enough already without living in fear of arrest for taking doctor-recommended medicine.”

An additional 55 religion leaders throughout Illinois have added their support to the legislation.

Hare agrees that a patient comfort should come first.

“We want to give patients the best quality of life,” Hare said. “As long as it is done within the consultation of a doctor.”

Group pushes marijuana legalization initiative

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 15:40:07 GMT

clipped by: KOP1961

Clip Source: theworldlink.com

PORTLAND (AP) — Could marijuana ever be sold in retail stores in Oregon?

If supporters of cannabis legalization have their way, that could be a reality as soon as November of 2010.

This week, marijuana legalization activists kicked off a campaign to collect more than 80,000 signatures, enough to put that plan onto the statewide ballot in 2010.

The group says millions of dollars would flow annually into Oregon’s general fund through the sale of marijuana to adults over 21 years old.

The Oregon Liquor Control Commission would manage the program, which would license approved individuals to cultivate the product for sale.

A portion of the taxes collected would go to drug treatment.

Center in Olympia to educate on medicinal marijuana law

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:46:10 GMT

clipped by: KOP1961

Clip Source: www.theolympian.com

Advocate aims to clarify system for legal users

An Olympia man will open a resource center outside Olympia next month for patients who use medical marijuana and for those who want to learn more about the medicinal use of cannabis.

Jeremy Miller, 36, said he wants to help people navigate through the state's medical marijuana law that remains complex despite an effort last week by the state Department of Health to bring more clarity.

"It's a legitimate law just like any law that should be functional and, right now, it's not as functional as it should be," Miller said. "There's several things we can do, but I think it's going to take independent counties throughout the state and possibly independent organizations to take it upon themselves to keep patients out of harm's way."

Miller said he will request that local governments and law enforcements agencies recognize the center's membership cards as legal verification for the holder to use medical marijuana.

Botched FedEx Delivery Leads To Marijuana Bust

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:45:14 GMT

clipped by: KOP1961

Clip Source: wjz.com

BALTIMORE (WJZ) ― A big surprise awaited a Baltimore man. He was expecting a delivery of medical supplies. Instead, he found a lot of marijuana.

The FedEx package that was supposed to be dropped off at an empty house on Belair Road was accidentally left at a home a few streets away.

As Adam May reports, it's sparking a massive marijuana smuggling investigation.

"The day the package came I was home. I heard the FedEx man going up the steps, and I thought, 'wow that package is heavy' because I heard it going 'boom, boom, boom,'" said Kim.

The woman, afraid for her safety, says she was amazed to find out her neighbor got 198 pounds of marijuana. That neighbor called police.

"We posed as FedEx employees, and when he signed it and tried to go to a nearby car with the parcel, he was under arrest," said an official.

The shipping company has no known involvement. Their old advertising slogan, "Relax - It's FedEx" probably doesn't apply to other smugglers still at large.

Joint Rollers Try to Smoke Rivals at NORML Contest

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 19:05:13 GMT

clipped by: KOP1961

Clip Source: www.dailynexus.com

Scores of marijuana enthusiasts packed into Isla Vista’s Anisq’ Oyo’ Park yesterday afternoon to celebrate the fourth annual NORML Joint-Rolling Competition.

Hosted by the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws at UCSB, the contest aimed to promote the decriminalization - and use - of cannabis. High points of the afternoon included musical performances from various local artists, dance competitions and nine different joint- and blunt-rolling competitions, such as the “primo joint” and “fattest fatty.”

NORML club founder and UCSB Alum Loren Vazquez said she was pleased to see the crowd of locals come out in support of her club and its patron plant.

“It was just another great turnout, despite Extravaganza [taking place at the same time],” Vazquez said.

Former aide: Bush should tell all on CIA leak

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 18:35:10 GMT

clipped by: KOP1961

Clip Source: news.yahoo.com

WASHINGTON - Former presidential spokesman Scott McClellan on Friday said President Bush has lost the public's trust by failing to be open about his administration's mistakes and backtracking on a promise to tell all about the leak of CIA operative Valerie Plame's identity.

"This White House promised or assured the American people that at some point when this was behind us they would talk publicly about it. And they have refused to," McClellan told the House Judiciary Committee. "And that's why I think more than any other reason we are here today and the suspicion still remains."

Plame maintains the White House quietly outed her to reporters as retribution for criticism from her husband, former Ambassador Joseph Wilson, of Bush's reasons for going to war in Iraq.

He said the White House "packaged" prewar intelligence to justify going to war.

Bush also backtracked on his promise of accountability in the Plame matter, McClellan said.

Senate approves marijuana dispensaries

Fri, 16 May 2008 05:09:56 GMT

clipped by: KOP1961
clipper's remarks: FINALLY the East coast meets California Type Dispensaries

Clip Source: www.projo.com

PROVIDENCE –– The Senate approved legislation yesterday that would create “compassion centers” where chronically ill patients enrolled in the state’s medical marijuana program could openly purchase the drug.

Despite the 29-to-6 vote, the bill faces opposition in the House of Representatives and is not expected to become law this year.

The legislation would create licensed marijuana dispensaries, or “compassion centers,” that would legally grow and sell the drug at affordable prices to the 359 patients in the state’s program. The centers would be regulated by the state Health Department.

Part of the problem is that federal law still bans marijuana use, even for medical purposes. Dozens of dispensaries in California (one of two states that allows them) have been raided by the federal government, something medical marijuana supporters say they don’t want to see happen in Rhode Island.

Police Find Marijuana Plants Growing in Abandoned Car

Thu, 15 May 2008 03:37:47 GMT

clipped by: KOP1961

Clip Source: hightimes.com

ALEXANDRIA, La. — An investigation into possible drug activity in an Alexandria, La., neighborhood led city police to an abandoned car with 53 marijuana plants growing in it.

Sgt. Newmon Bobb said the plants, which would have an estimated value of $53,000 when fully grown, were seized, and two people were arrested.

Jerome Thompson, 23, and Mahogany Morris, 23, both of Alexandria, were booked with possession of marijuana in a school zone and cultivation of marijuana, police said.

Thompson was also booked with resisting arrest by false information, probation violation and failure to pay a fine, authorities reported.

Toronto Couple May Lose Home if Convicted of Growing Pot

Thu, 15 May 2008 03:32:56 GMT

clipped by: KOP1961
clipper's remarks: CANADA no longer POT friendly. Since the new Prime minister took office (HARPER) he is helping emulate USA Drug Laws

Clip Source: hightimes.com

TORONTO -- Federal prosecutors are attempting to seize the family home of a Toronto couple - both in their late 50s, with no prior criminal record - if they are convicted of running a marijuana grow operation.

Tam Ngoc Tran and his wife Lien Thi Pham were arrested last year and charged with marijuana production-related offences, accused of having a medium sized grow-op in their modest home.

If convicted at their provincial court trial which begins Monday in downtown Toronto, the couple may be sentenced to no more than a few months in jail.

But the federal Integrated Proceeds of Crime Unit has filed notice that it will also be seeking forfeiture of the home the couple purchased in 1997 for about $200,000, under the provisions of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

Malaysian Court Sentences 2 Thais to Hang for Marijuana Trafficking

Thu, 15 May 2008 03:28:40 GMT

clipped by: KOP1961

Clip Source: hightimes.com

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: A Malaysian court sentenced two Thai citizens to death by hanging for marijuana trafficking, a lawyer said Tuesday.

The Kuala Lumpur High Court convicted Masoh Daloh, 35, and Romuelee Yakoh, 46, on Monday of trafficking 75 pounds of the drug, said their lawyer, Naran Singh.

The men were arrested in 2002 after they were found in a car with 34 slabs of marijuana, the lawyer said. The judge ruled the defense failed to cast reasonable doubt on the prosecution's contention that the Thais intended to sell the drug.

Malaysia's use of the death penalty has come under renewed attention after human rights group Amnesty International last month accused Malaysian authorities of being secretive about executions.

The Malaysian government has denied covering up details of executions, and insisted that the death penalty remains necessary to curb crime.

Both men appealed their convictions and sentences but no date was immediately scheduled for a hearing.

Actor Tommy Chong Claims Link To FBI Raids

Thu, 15 May 2008 03:23:59 GMT

clipped by: KOP1961
clipper's remarks: Please leave this man alone. For god's sake. We waste tax payers money on stupidity , when we could use the monies for the common good. Shame on our FEDERAL GOVERNMENT!

Clip Source: hightimes.com

Actor and comic Tommy Chong says he is linked to FBI raids Wednesday in Newport and Clermont County's Union Township.

Chong tells Local 12 federal agents were after thousands of DVD copies of a documentary he recently made.

Tommy Chong, 30 years ago, appeared in the movie that made him famous, "Up In Smoke."

But today, Tommy Chong is 69-years-old and selling a different movie, called "The United States of America Vs. Tommy Chong."

The documentary details Chong's 2003 federal prosecution and guilty plea for distributing drug paraphernalia. He was selling pot pipes online. Chong served nine months in prison.

The companies market "detoxification products," meant to help someone pass a drug test.

But Chong says agents seized 10,000 DVDs of his documentary. Federal prosecutors may be targeting Chong for trying to profit off his prosecution.

Wednesday night, Chong told Local 12 he's the focus of an FBI raid of two, local offices.

Inmate in 'severe pain' without medical marijuana

Thu, 15 May 2008 03:19:01 GMT

clipped by: KOP1961
clipper's remarks: And we are compassionate people?

Clip Source: www.komotv.com

SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash. -- A 35-year-old Shelton man is fighting for the right to use medical marijuana. The problem is that Alex Morris is in the Snohomish County Jail. The state's Medical Marijuana Act does not cover inmates of jails or prisons. Alex is in jail for 30 days.

In 1998, voters in Washington state approved the use of medical marijuana.

His wife says those 30 days will make him very, very sick.

Alex has Crohn's disease and as a result suffers severe headaches. The law covers that and Alex has his doctor's permission; he's registered as a user of medical marijuana.

But jail officials say Washington law clearly states that permission to use medical marijuana does not include correctional facilities.