* SPOKANE CANNAFEST *

January 27th, 2010 | By john

This celebration is about Cannabis / Hemp and Educating the masses on the future uses of Hemp and how this simple renewable resource can save the planet. We need to act now now and not delay. The OIL dependence scam that was forced on this nation so many years ago can and will be STOPPED! The HEMP Industry will flourish with new products that are safe for the environment!….. Seattle has the country’s largest HEMP festival, Spokane should be on board with everyone else about this cause. ….An event Like this will educate, stimulate, and prepare us for the…FUTURE! Having a Cannabis Competition with a ” PROVIDER’S    CUP ” / AWARDS.would bring pride and respect to our Community!….. HEMP Product vendor’s with local business’es  and crafter’s , will bring     ”  Economic Stimulus  ”   Oh Yah!   This is what Spokane needs!  Any and all comments and suggestions are solicited . Lets do it right this time!  Remember the 70’s and the Garbage Eating Goat at Riverfront Park it’s still there!

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Marc Emery Political Prisoner and Jodie his lovely wife

October 2nd, 2009 | By Reverend

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Marc we love you!

http://www.cannabisculture.com/v2/content/marc-emery-political-prisoner

Marc directly inspired xCannabis.com to start last year with his passion and dedication to this movement!

Please show Cannabis Culture, Marc and Jodie Emery, and the future of this movement ONE LOVE!

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Prohibition – Slowly killing the life out of our country

September 4th, 2009 | By Reverend

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I found this story on the NORML Daily Audio Stash: About a Georgia Pastor who was shot and killed by mistaken DEA agents.

When these drug agents are so hyped up on their high of aggression and adrenaline (that they seem to be all to often hooked on), can kill an innocent clergy person, with a baby on the way and who was found with no crime and possibly get away with it. This type of behavior that happens all too often in this ‘drug war’ is unacceptable, and these police better find justice if our system is truly just. Their job status, or importance to the police department should not count for anything in regards to their justice.

It is a sad thing when our country is so hooked on war and when they aren’t satisfied with international war, they turn on the people of the USA. I guess pot smokers are an easy target for these drug warriors. But how can they justify torturing, killing, entrapping, imprisoning peaceful, harmless, pot smokers who just want to be left alone by the law.

This case apparently has something to do with cocaine, but non-the-less this innocent, peaceful, Christian pastor had nothing on him illegal. He was the wrong guy. But they are so insane about crime and punishment, and possibly hyped up on the coke themselves, that they were determined to make someone pay. I saw the video. That guy was just trying to get away from these plain clothed officers with guns and aggression.

This is Jonathan Ayers blog: http://jonathanayers.blogspot.com/

This is killing the life out of our country.

END THE DRUG WAR, NOW!

See more info at these links:

CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/09/04/georgia.pastor.shot/

Surveillance Video of the killing via CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/09/04/georgia.pastor.shot/#cnnSTCVideo

WNEG news (authorities response): http://www.wneg32.tv/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1492:authorities-speak-out-on-ayers&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=18

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Prison Nation, putting people in jail for victimless crimes

June 21st, 2009 | By Reverend

Why is America a prison nation?

In the USA we have approximately 5% of the total world’s population.  Yet we have 25% of the total world’s prison population.
More than 80% of all of those in prison are serving time for non-violent offenses, which are mostly made up of drug offenses.

Our prohibition laws have been in place since 1937, and we are the most strict industrialized country in the world on drug prohibition, and yet our problem doesn’t get better it gets worse.  More people are using, and more people are addicted to drugs than in nearly all of the ‘free world’.

When we look at countries that have decriminalized, like Canada, Australia, Holland, etc..  These countries have less of a crime problem, less of an addiction problem, less users, etc..

Prohibition makes drugs taboo.   When people feel like they are being kept from something without justification it makes people want to use the prohibited activity more often it seems.

Here is a video that I made about how prohibition effected me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7n2bH5YPco

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Law makers working on decriminalizing possession of marijuana

June 18th, 2009 | By Reverend

I try to keep up with major marijuana news, so I often visit NORML and CannabisCulture.

Right now a bi-partisan bill to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana by adults in being reintroduced:

From NORML:

“Washington, DC: Massachusetts Democrat Barney Frank, along with co-sponsors Ron Paul (R-TX); Maurice Hinchey (D-NY); Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA); and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), will reintroduce legislation today to limit the federal government’s authority to arrest and prosecute minor marijuana offenders.”

This bill would potentially save 860,000 lives being ruined each year for getting charged with possession of a victimless crime.
It would stand to end spending on enforcing penalties for a victimless crime, to the tune of 45 BILLION dollars per year.
It would also give room to let states tax and regulate marijuana, which would put it in a controlled liquor store type of environment, and create tax revenue that would potentially amount to 32 Billion dollars per year.

Write your congress reps and tell them to support this bill!  NORML makes it very easy to get this to your congress representatives by using the link below.  (Thanks NORML!)

http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=13568661

See more at this video on HR 2835

Also see this video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bW-KvGe6XuI by Reverend Ryan

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Barack Obama 6/4/2009 The Healing of the Nations

June 8th, 2009 | By Reverend

This is my commentary on Barack Obama’s recent speach on freedom of religion.

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During Barack Obama’s recent speech in Cairo Egypt on 6/4/2009 to the Muslim nations, he spoke about freedom of religion, and respecting each other’s right to their own personal type of religion in the USA.

My commentary has to do with cannabis and the sons and daughters of Abraham.  From Genesis 1:29, to Exodus 30:23 to the cristening oil of Jesus in Mark 14:3-9

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March 26th, 2009 | By Bryant

I bring this to you from Our Friend Paradym

Paradym Says: 

Dear Mr. President,

As I watched the Online Town Hall today I wasn’t expecting you to really address what has been the top ranking subject on every open question forum you have put up during your campaign and now in your administration. I completely understand the subject is a political third rail, and that there are many who have strong interests in keeping the subject as a fringe issue. And yet, I wholly expected that if and when you addressed the issue you would do so in a mature and intelligent matter. I am disappointed.

I have looked at the evidence and the history. It is blatantly evident that the continued prohibition of hemp (or cannabis or marijuana, or whatever one wishes to call it) is not based on science or reason, but on fear and ideology. The drain it puts on America’s resources is immense. The continued growth of incarceration of our citizenry is unconscionable, and that it is disproportionally racially biased should be disconcerting. And the most deeply disturbing idea, that which baffles any reasonable and educated mind, is the prohibition of industrial hemp. That the industrial variety is both visually and chemically different from the medicinal/recreational variety, and that they cannot be grown anywhere near each other without ruining both crops, completely boggles the mind as to why there is any resistance to allowing such an amazingly useful resource to be allowed. The uses for industrial hemp are astounding and completely in line with the goals of the administration in regards to clean energy, renewable resources for many products, and the growth of new industries that can bolster a growing American economy.

Be that as it may, the real reason for this letter is how insulted and embarrassed I was to hear your flippant and belittling response to the growing support for at least opening up the debate on hemp prohibition. I can understand why you would not want to address the specific issues of the debate (the growing evidence of its medicinal efficacy, its safety opposed to alcohol and tobacco, that prohibition is the greater danger than the drug, that there are strong lobbies that want to prevent its legalization for many self-serving reasons, etc.) because there are no rational arguments to defend prohibition any more. But to make a joke of the subject and the millions who are interested in it should be beneath someone of your education and status. Your response essentially was like a parent saying, “No, because I said so.” That’s quite a change from “Yes we can.”

Sincerely,

Citizen

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Philly Chapter Report for 3/16/09

March 18th, 2009 | By slash

Philly Chapter Report

This was my second time attending a Normal meeting.  I wasn’t  going to miss it.  Gone is the fear and nervousness. This was a special event.   Philly Norml was hosting a Cannabis Information Seminar.  I expected a decent turn out and I wasn’t disappointed.  The A-Space was packed to S.R.O.

Chris Goldstein presented a power point presentation on all aspects of our current system of cannabis prohibition.   Explaining from the ‘37 Tax Act to Timothy Leary’s Supreme Court case that proved the act unconstitutional. Next followed 2 & 1/2 yrs of grey area where it was no longer illegal on a federal level but all states still had some kind of criminal law.  Then came the new system of schedules 1,2,3, etc… Marijuana became schedule 1 temporarily.  Because, the then, President Nixon commissioned a blue ribbon panel to put to bed this marijuana issue permanently.  The former Governor of Pa.  ‘The Honorable Raymond Philip Shafer’ was the Chairman. This report argued that that the societal harms from prohibition out weighted the potential damage that would be done from legalizing.   Ultimately Nixon flipped out and buried the report. 

The place where things were gonna change became the state level and now we have 13 states where Medicinal Marijuana is legal.   Many states have decrim, fine only, no jail  laws.  On the other hand a man was just given a life sentence for cultivation here in the states last week  and the Derek Copp shooting?… so things are still bad.

The status of the NJ bill was a hot topic.  The legislators are on break so we’ll see some action on this in the fall.   People asked many questions causing the conversation to wander a little but Chris would always pull it back.

One gentleman was recently diagnosed with glaucoma and he was scared, angry and confused. As to what strain might help him and where does he get good info on his problem? The crowd of people felt sorry for him, but how do we help?   Web sites were suggested,  someone  said  ‘can you move to Ca.?’  I really  wish I could  help this guy.

Ken Wolski was unable to make it. Chris did a spectacular job, and the presentation was not lacking.

Getting people out to these info seminars is important.  Removing the stigma of   ‘pothheads’   through educational outreach from the cannabis community is what it’s gonna take.

The whole shebang lasted 2 hours and was well worth the time to go.

I made a new friend, Got a little learnin’ in. Got out of the house, which is good for me.

Get out to a meeting.   Start a chapter.   Become an advocate.  No one is gonna do it for ya, it’s up to you to make a difference in your community.

Thursday the 19th is the regular meeting and I’ll have a report.

Until next time

Slash, Peace out

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I was denied the ability to serve my country

March 18th, 2009 | By Reverend

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Because of prohibition, I was denied the ability to serve my country! It’s a true injustice!

I was reading Track Snack’s blog about vets, and it got me thinking about my family who were blessed enough to serve this country.

liberty and sovereignty

I was denied the ability to serve in the military because I got busted twice with pot, which actually gave me four separate misdemeanors by the time I was 19.

When I went to the recruiters office, they gave me a practice ASVAB and I passed wth great scores.  When they did a background search, the two marijuana tickets that I told them about turned out of be 4 total violations.

They said that they could work with the ticket that I got before I turned 18, but the one after I turned 18 they couldn’t do anything about.   I tried to get the record expunged, and go back to the recruiter, but I was turned down by the juvenile court.

I was merely possessing herb.  I wasn’t growing, or pushing, or whatever.  I was using pot for recreation, and for teenage things like depression and hormones.

I had been paying taxes on my labor since I was 15, when I got my first real job working for the irrigation company digging ditches.
And both times I got arrested I had been working 1 or 2 jobs and paying my taxes and my bills.

I may not have been the smartest cookie in the cookie jar.  Getting arrested twice is proof of that.  But I was a hard working, honest individual who felt like I should be able to enjoy herb in my private time if I am not hurting anyone else.

I felt like if I’m old enough to work and pay taxes, and join the military and die for my country that I ought to have the right to enjoy some harmless recreation.

I had always planned on being in the military and getting college money and moving out of small town Utah.

But when I was denied that, it changed my prospective on the motives of our country.

We learn now that no one has ever died from a marijuana overdose, and that several large studies by medical groups say that unlike tobacco smoke, marijuana smoke does not lead to death.

http://www.webmd.com/smoking-cessation/news/20030918/marijuana-smoking-doesnt-kill

SOURCE: Sidney, S. The British Medical Journal, Sept. 20, 2003; vol 327: pp 635-636.

So what is liberty if we can’t choose how to medicate ourselves?  What is liberty if we are limited on what we can put in our own body?

Doesn’t liberty mean sovereignty?! Check the Ohio Liberty and Sovereignty Resolution for good logic in this thought.

http://sovereign.ohiofreedom.com/wordpress/files/2009/03/ohio-sovereignty-resolution.pdf

I love what Toby Nixon (Former Rep. in Wa States’ 45th district) said about “fundamental principles” and what our constitution is all about.

See Toby Nixon testify before the judiciary senate committee about SB 5615   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=764ExC7YTqM

I think we are seriously lacking fundamental principles in this country.  Our forefathers had it right, they would flip at the sight of what our ‘liberty’ (so-called) has become.

Thanks Track Snack for inspiring me with your first blog here!  Im honored to know that we have several soldiers in our midsts!

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Veterans – The “Friendly Fire” Casualties of the U.S. Drug War

March 17th, 2009 | By

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 It is not surprising that veterans from the U.S. military services have some of the highest rates of alcoholism, domestic disturbance arrests and abusive behavior of any known job description. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) provides some statistical data on the rates of drug and alcohol abuse with veterans in comparison to civilians. According to Veterans for Medical Marijuana Access (VMMA), 70 percent of veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD.

There is no question that servicemen and women are asked to do things beyond the scope of ordinary citizens that leave indelible marks in their lives, both for the good and bad.  Many of these behaviors could be mitigated through the responsible use of Marijuana, a medication that has safety been used since man first painted its image on a cave wall.

Quite often when marijuana and veterans are mixed into the same phrase, the first image that comes to many people’s minds is the character Strawberry from Cheech and Chong’s movie, Up in Smoke.  I myself have seen the atypical shell-shocked paranoid combat vet while waiting for care at the VA hospital. The condition most associated with these behaviors is called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), with which I have been diagnosed. The wonderful by-products of this affliction include high levels of anxiety, depression, insomnia and lack of appetite to name a few. Common physical problems  caused from the “side effects” of PTSD are numerous. Does it sound like Strawberry the paranoid pothead veteran is having a good time yet?

The reality is that a good portion of vets who struggle with these problems never show up to the doctors because of the stigma attached to their illness. It is hard to find employment if society thinks that you are a tower climber. Many veterans instead choose to self-medicate with alcohol, an intoxicant proven to cause violence and physical deterioration that makes Strawberry’s problems seem like a fun walk down memory lane. If vets do visit their doctors, often times the “cure” they are given has such devastating side effects that, again, employment is hard to attain and keep. The cost to veterans’ personal lives and relationships cannot be measured, but can been recounted with looks of vacant misery by those who are close to the affected.

There are many benefits that marijuana has to offer vets, both to those disabled and the ones who bear the scars of their service quietly in their own heads. The evidence is no longer anecdotal, but well-researched and easy to find out for anyone who bothers to look. Go read the findings of intelligent and well-spoken doctors such as Dr. Phillip Levesque, Mitch Earleywine and Lester Grinspoon, along with numerous accredited government agencies. Not convinced? Do your own test: Ask anyone off the street if they would rather see a combat vet smoke a joint or drink a fifth. You will get an overwhelming response in favor of the joint.

There are other reasons for the legalization of marijuana (MJ) besides the therapy that it can provide to patients with anxiety, depression, pain and other chronic illness associated with servicemen and women. Taxpayers stand to benefit from the integrated usage of MJ with the care the VA provides veterans. Imagine the cost savings to the VA as its patients learned to grow their own medicine. They would suffer fewer side effects from the massive chemical cocktails doled out by the VA and, in some cases, medication loads would be reduced or eliminated. The quality of life would dramatically improve for many veterans with no strain to current resources. Drinking as a side effect of self-medication would most likely be reduced and this would lead to safer homes and streets.  The veteran will also have a hand in their own health care and learn the skill of gardening, which promotes growth and well-being instead of harm and destruction.

Our politicians need to start rethinking how and when we commit ourselves to war and issues of public health. Until marijuana is legalized, veterans will be another victim of a battle that the government has no place waging.  They will continue to suffer disproportionately from arrests, lack of employment opportunities, educational benefits and housing if found using marijuana  to alleviate many of the chronic ailments associated with their service to the very same country that prevents their relief. I find this treatment of those who have stood up for us by the politicians who have served no one but themselves to be un-American and, quite frankly, unpatriotic.

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