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California to legalize, how will that impact pharmers?

February 8, 2010 | Author: Reverend Ryan

How will legalization effect the pharmers in California?

Since I have been in Humboldt County this week, I have interviewed several pharmers who are worried about the direction of the law reform movement which is about to take prohibition down, at least in California.  With AB390 having passed a California Assembly committee, then passing the Public Safety committee, and now it’s on it’s way through the Health Committee..  It’s obvious that a new day is dawning for cannabis in California.  [ref = http://slu2.com/?6 ]

A few of the pharmers that I have spoken with here have raised these concerns.

  • Legalized marijuana will drive the price down
  • Legalized marijuana will limit who can sell it
  • Legalized marijuana will flood the market
  • Legalized marijuana could ultimately hurt their livelihood and potentially take food off their child[rens] plates

I can see where this concern comes in.  It does look like pot will be legalized.  It also looks like all of those points above could become true.

My response to them is that if they take precautions now, and work on starting their own dispensary then when AB 390 passes they can potentially get grandfathered in with their legitimate medical marijuana business to then serve all adults (not just patients).
I recommend starting a dispensary, or at very least get a business license now and keep it renewed.

Lets say that a legal market has no potential of helping pharmers out, and may potentially ruin their business as it is.
That is horrible, and I don’t wish for that to happen as a lot of people depend on this crop.

Then lets compare the current effects of prohibition.

  • Prohibition doesn’t stop people from using marijuana
  • Prohibition has hurt or destroyed the lives of almost 20 million Americans
  • Prohibition is now claiming almost one million victims each year
  • Prohibition allows police to violate the privacy and security of a person’s home or person
  • Prohibition fuels the crime in the black market (including violent crime, etc)

When I got arrested for possessing a few grams of weed when I was a kid growing up in Utah, those charges disqualified me from military service and many college and job related benefits.   Having a “drug” charge on your record disqualifies you from many benefits that most Americans take for granite.

My hope is that California will make cannabis a viable and profitable resource and put a lot of people to work.  I hate to be taxed, and I think that the tax should be no more than retail sales tax.  But there is a lot of potential for pharmers, distributors and related jobs with legalization.

Not everyone will be growing weed  It’s difficult, and it takes a lot of patience and investment to get started.  Not just anyone can grow weed.  Similar to tobacco and alcohol, they are not widely produced by individuals. 
About the price being effected.  I believe it will be similar to how it is now.
There will be “work” (commercial bud) and kind icky sticky bud.  Similar to a fine cigar compared to a swisher sweet.

I say if you don’t like the law that is getting passed then start working on some modifications and propose them via ballot initiative.

BTW-  PLEASE do not ever vote for a law that will forbid individuals from growing their own!   It’s a weed, it should be allowed to grow like one.  Like God intended!

Posted in Cannabis Education, Medical Marijuana, xCann News | 2 Comments

CONSCIOUS CULTURE FESTIVAL June 11th & 12th TONASKET WASHINGTON

February 7, 2010 | Author: John Parr


At the famous Barter Faire Site Tonasket, Washington, June 11th & 12th 2010 .  Two days and One night ,….of music culture and beauty. The weather will be AWESOME, and Nature will be at its best.  Follow this link   http://www.consciousculturefestival.com/ Anyone who has been to the fall Okanogan Family Faire knows what a beautiful site this is , and how wonderful of a time everyone has a even in the COLD!     Sensible Washington, will be there gathering signatures for I  1068 , to get   the initiative to  ”  LEGALIZE ”    Marijuana on the ballot this fall, in the State of Washington. Let’s make this ,the summer to remember!

Posted in Cannabis Education, Medical Marijuana, Pothead Parenting, Sermons, xCann News | Leave a Comment

Humboldt California

February 7, 2010 | Author: Reverend Ryan

We are hanging out in Humboldt county this week.  I took my wife and kids to Humboldt to do some exploring.
I had planned on getting some cool pictures but I forgot my camera at home, so all I have is my camera phone.

The first thing that I noticed upon arriving on February 6th, is that several of the local radio stations were celebrating Bob Marley’s birthday, and “The Coast” radio played 3 hours of non-stop Bob Marley’s tunes.  For the whole rest of the day we got to listen to excellent reggae, and listened to radio DJ’s reveal cool facts about Bob Marley’s life.

After that we went to Denny’s and on each of the tables there was an advertisement for “Hemp Ale”  (see the pictures below).
We had a great breakfast, but I didn’t feel like drinking at 11am.  But the waitresses that I spoke to reported that they get great reviews on this brew, and I am excited to get one before we leave.

We have a lot more adventures that are yet to happen.  I will post more photos as we go.  I love this place!

Rev Ryan and Max Amazing surf, rocks and caves Magic Mushrooms growing wild Amazing surf, rocks and caves Max the pup Hemp Ale Sea Cave Lost Coast
Posted in Cannabis Education, xCann News | 2 Comments

Cannabis – Canna-business – and activism

February 5, 2010 | Author: Reverend Ryan

I got reprimanded today by another stoner in a chat room.

I just created a new way to ’spread the herb’ which is via  http://SLU2.com

SLu2.com is similar to TinyURL.com, TR.IM, and Bit.Ly.

I put 2 or 3 links up at  http://stash.norml.org and asked people to help me test it.

This is the response I got:

@xcannabis, I guess I don’t see a reason for me to change to slu2.com. For one thing, tr.im lets me track hits on my links. Are you tracking hits with yours? And just what do you track? Sorry, but other than in here, I don’t know anything about you except that you’re trying to drum up business. Sortof everything you do is a little spammy. :idk:

I respond and say:

@ ******, my site SLU2.com does everything that TR.IM does. One thing that I do that TR.IM doesn’t is that I support NORML with $$. I also organize and attend pot rallies. Do whatever you want. But TR.IM does nothing for law reform.

The entire reason that I am starting these cannabis businesses, is not because I am needing more things to fill my already busy schedule up.  I’ve made enough money each year for the last 4 years that my wife has not had to work, and our bills still get paid and our life is still comfortable.   At one time my wife brought home the bacon.  But due to some good investments and a lot of hard work, I am able to take care of my family without needing a two income family anymore.

I didn’t NEED to start a few cannabis businesses, other than  wanting to be able to contribute more to the cause.

By starting these cannabis related businesses, I am able to donate more money to several of my favorite causes which are all cannabis related.

Last year we donated thousands of dollars between several orgs.
NORML, HempFest, Cannabis Culture and BongTV.

That money came right out of our pockets, and with no material benefit to us what-so-ever.

This year we have created several cannabis businesses and we are starting to advertise them.
We will do all of the same donations to the same orgs as we did last year, but this year we are also adding High Times, and possibly Treat Yourself Magazine.

I couldn’t give nearly as much money to these orgs, if I wasn’t getting something in return.  Meaning I advertise with these groups,  it fuels their agenda and it fuels mine.   This isn’t a take/take relationship, this is a give/take relationship.

Further more.  I am employing people, renting a business location, advertising with several businesses, and paying taxes in my cannabis related business and I am not even selling weed. 
This is all complimentary to the cannabis movement.  It goes to show that cannabis business is good business, it’s good for our whole community and it shows why cannabis can be legal and legitimately fix our economy and restore freedom at the same time without causing mass crime, etc..

I am a business man.  So the best way that I can contribute to the cause is by business.  When I post a link at NORML, or Cannabis Culture, or BongTV, or any of the other sites that I go to, I pay for the advertising.  I don’t just take without giving back.

So the question is.  What do YOU do to help the cause?

Posted in Cannabis Education, xCann News | 2 Comments

Hemp and the Family Farm with Willie Nelson

February 3, 2010 | Author: Reverend Ryan
Join the forum discussion on this post - (1) Posts

Willie uses nothing but common sense. I love his approach. My family for generations were farmers at some scale. Thanks Willie for all you do!

YouTube Preview Image

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EegtyuNAtwI

Here is a NORML PSA with Willie Nelson:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5lP9t9GCig

Posted in Cannabis Education, Pothead Parenting | 2 Comments

Get Up! Stand Up! Don’t Give up the Fight! / Right!

February 2, 2010 | Author: John Parr

This is the year 2010, and if we are ever going to, as the Beatles wrote, ” Come Together “, then the time is now! This next week Wednesday, February 10,Time: 7-8PM, Downtown Spokane at the Community Bldg ( 35 W. Main), Renata Rollins,  The Eastern Washington Field Director for Sensible Washington. She will be here in  Spokane for our signature gatherers  kickoff meeting!   Activist/Songwriter Bob Marley knew that in the end we will win the Fight!  For this journey to end we must put out and extraordinary  effort. With this small sacrifice of time and sweat,   unpaid dues to the effort will be realize, as we get… LEGALIZED!     She need to have those who would like to volunteer to gather signatures the follow this link to sign up before she arrives  http://www.facebook.com/l/13c87;www.sensiblewashington.org/volunteer  http://sensiblewashington.org/volunteer/ One thing I have noticed about the way america is thinking is they are tired of waiting for the ” Government and it’s flawed process ” to fix things while the rest of the WORLD is getting right with Hemp.  We know (and they know! ) that the People can and will solve the problems of our Economy with Industry,  Research, and Good Business! Activist /Musician Human says it all in this inspirational song.   Tree Of Life Which brings me to Jack Herer,,,,,,,, long time activist/hero to the cause. Please let us all Pray for his Recovery! He spent more time, fighting and yelling at crowds, till he was horse, and  then,….. do it all over again the next day! That’s what it takes to get the job done.  Jack needs to realize , his life’s efforts, have not been in vain!   Over 200.000 attended Seattle’s Hempfest last year, and there’s another 600,000 that would of loved attending ,… so know that you are not,…. alone any more!

Posted in Cannabis Education, Medical Marijuana | 1 Comment

OBAMA :WILL HE “LAUGH”..Again, OR WILL HE ” LISTEN ”

January 31, 2010 | Author: John Parr

I like over, 500,000 Americans have been on CitizenTube writing questions for the President of the United States to answer.   The American people spoke last time LOUD! and CLEAR!…..and the answer was a chuckle and a Big smile, and the audience, they laughed with you and then you told the” majority”of the  American People, responding to ” Ask The Nation “ ….. No!    Will this be a repeat insult to the the people of the United States of America, I hope not.  This country has made many mistakes, but to continue  believing in and living  the Government’s  Lie’s is wrong!  The Federal Government and ” Big Business”   has  held back  progress so this nation,can’t be self sufficient , and  “DESIGNED” to be dependent on others for our basic needs. We have  a History of treating the American People wrongly, it’s time to STOP! Have faith in the American People , they will do the work necessary,  to make this land a far better place to live.  With the all tool’s of Industry and our own renewable natural  resources to work with,  ” We the People “ can build the strongest Economy the World has ever seen!     History has shown that letting the System work,  has not worked, so it must be time to do the BEST thing you can for the country and   * LEGALIZE HEMP / CANNABIS * and earn the respect of the American People!    Because ” YOU ” Asked for it, and the American People have spoken!

Posted in Cannabis Education, Medical Marijuana | 2 Comments

California to legalize marijuana? Petition says it will be on the ballot.

January 31, 2010 | Author: Reverend Ryan

I would be so absolutely grateful and humbled if California legalized marijuana!
I am so pessimistic about these things.  I fight, and I hope that freedom and liberty prevails!
For some reason it just seems to simple and too smart all at the same time.  It will confuse voters, because I feel like they expect something complex and full of a bunch of bullshit.

Legalize pot,

  • The police win; less non-violent criminals to have to deal with so they can focus on more serious crimes.
  • The parents win, because marijuana will be kept and sold in a secured and adult environment.(right now more teenagers smoke marijuana than smoke tobacco.  Same with alcohol and pot.)
  • Of course the tax payers win, because there is another great stream of jobs and tax money in a legal market.
    Instead of importing hemp from China, Australia and Canada we could produce and process it here.  That would create a lot of jobs.  Americans wear a lot of hemp these days, even though it’s more expensive than other fabrics.
  • Taking money away from the black market and infusing our community in a positive way would be good for everyone (except maybe the cartels and such)

We need to make sure that cannabis stays legal to grow under our current medical marijuana laws.  But I would love to see complete all out legalization of marijuana for adults.   As long as these adults are allowed to grow marijuana.
I support legislation that promotes these intelligent and sensible ideas that groups like NORML, MPP, and REASON are all promoting.

On the NORML Daily Audio Stash I heard a lot about how there are over 1 million children selling marijuana.
Legalization will run the black market out of business, just like with tobacco and alcohol.
Lower prices, ,more taxes and the community benefits from the taxes and has no need to spend billions criminalizing a harmless plant that has many medical benefits!


California proposes to legalize with TV Ad campaign and over 700,000 signatures from NORML:  http://slu2.com//00

This is from the Stranger:  http://slu2.com//z

Washington activists also filed an initiative that would legalize marijuana. But unlike California’s ringleader who “bankrolled a professional signature-gathering effort,” the campaign leaders in this state are planning an all-volunteer campaign and having a hard time even accepting online contributions.

While we have been doing business in point of sales, we have spoken with many banks.  Bank of America assured us that they would support our clients who run medical marijuana dispensaries!  
We have more information in the forums here at xCannabis.  Emerald POS has it’s own category.

::  Link Shortening Services from SLU2.com ::

Posted in Cannabis Education | 2 Comments

Music from my childhood

January 31, 2010 | Author: Reverend Ryan

When I was a rough tough teen, this was my cup of java.
Social Distortion made it to the top of the 90’s most sought punk rock bands, getting regularly booked at little and large gigs that were the spices of life for thousands of old and young people all over the world.   One of my first tattoos was of the Social D dancing skeleton logo.  I never tattooed any other band’s logo on me.  I never tattooed any other name.   Just symbols, words, fish and my brother Justin’s face.

But Social Distortion inspired me so much that I got their logo tattooed on me, as seen in the picture below.
Social Distortion

I just heard a new song from this band, well new to me anyway.  I really like it.  It’s live, so it’s probably difficult for some to hear it.  But these were the shows I went to all my life, so it comes in quite clear to me.

YouTube Preview Image

Angle’s Wings

This is another favorite of mine from this band:
I fought the law (cover)

I grew up believing my life was hard, and this music helped me vent.
I know of a lot of people who had it a whole helluva lot worse than I had it.
For instance, look at the horror that people are suffering in Haiti right now!

But I wrote about my life story at BehindZionCurtain.com.   While this story doesn’t have
a lot to do with marijuana.  At that point in my life, marijuana was both my pain and my happiness.
Pain from spending nearly 8 months total in jail over a 2-3 year period of time.
For nothing more than possession of marijuana, I got locked up over an over.
This victimless ‘crime’ only fueled my jaded attitude and dark view of the world.

I fortunately survived without killing myself, and I am so glad that I did.
I love my family so much, I have the most amazing kids!
But my youngest brother Justin didn’t make it.
He killed himself at age 16.
See this post that I made in November last year.

Justin was also a persecuted cannabis smoker, and was regularly harassed by the police.
Which didn’t help his attitude or his social life.
Having the police constantly harassing you in a place like Utah
where just about everything fun is illegal, or forbidden by the Mormon church, including the exclusion of coffee and tea!
Makes it hard to get dates, and hard to have friends. 
This is my brother’s memorial site:  http://justin-thompson.com
I miss him, hurts like hell!

In Utah,  where anti-depressant abuse is an epidemic, where studies have shown Utah uses twice as much as the national average of anti-depressants and pain killers.  
All that is fine in Utah.  But medicating yourself with a safe, natural herb is forbidden and shamed.

When I listen to Social D, it brings back so many memories and emotions.

Anyway, time for a fatt bowl!  Cheers to old times, and old friends!

Posted in Cannabis Education, xCann News | 3 Comments

SPOKANE CITY COUNCIL: Lacks Information

January 27, 2010 | Author: John Parr

Apparently, those whom have grown up and are now in charge , need to re-educate themselves to have a more informed knowledge base for making important decisions relating to current Spokane’s current and future  needs!  To make ” CHANGE ”  is to be informed and to make brave new choices based on Truth not LIE’s.   HEMP/CANNABIS has been denied to the world because of the lie’s our country purported!  There are many books, documentaries, and Media reports, scientific research from around the world. Government video/films telling the country to grow “HEMP FOR VICTORY” . From 1941-1943 we grew enough Hemp to supply  the entire war effort!  Take serious my offer to help with this en devour.  Ladies and Gentlemen;   City Council’s around the country are making way for dispensaries and making Marijuana the ” Lowest Priority for Law Enforcement” !  This community needs CHANGE  !   Step up and be counted  with the many!   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jokV8xlJTNE Hemp for Victory.  With the great possibility of being on the ballot to legalize marijuana, all of us are bound to make sure the time is now when we most need it like back in 1941!  so Let’s   ” VOTE FOR HEMP “…………….

Posted in Cannabis Education, Medical Marijuana | 1 Comment
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