Search Results: bachara (12)

globalcannabismarch.com


What began in 1999 under the name Million Marijuana March, with events in 30 cities across America, is now, 15 years later, a global initiative for the advocacy of marijuana reform with marches, rallies, and events happening in 160 cities across 35 different countries this Saturday, May 3rd.
These days referred to as the Global Marijuana March (GMM), the multinational event is traditionally held on the first Saturday of each month. New York City, Atlanta, and Boston, along with cities like Toronto and Vancouver in Canada and Mexico City in Mexico, are just a handful of the cities that will be rallying for cannabis on behalf of North America on Saturday. Joining them will be nations from Central America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and more.

Oregon Medical Cannabis Awards

The Oregon Medical Cannabis Awards (OMCA) will be held on Saturday, December 15, at the World Famous Cannabis Cafe in Portland. The day event, from noon until 5 p.m., includes a variety of vendors, seminars and speakers and is open to the public.
 
An awards banquet — which starts at 6:30 p.m. — is where the winners are announced. Todd Armstrong, a local comedian who is gaining national acclaim, will be the master of ceremonies, and it all takes place at 322 SE 82nd Avenue, Portland, OR 97216.
In a blind taste test, judges are given 28 samples of Oregon’s finest medical cannabis to sample and judge in the privacy of their own homes (I need in on this gig). They score each strain on appearance, aroma, taste, smoothness, potency and medicinal effect. Judging is open to registered Oregon Medical Marijuana patients only.

With Hempfest just over a week away, I’m looking forward to once again having an opportunity to see old friends and make new ones at the protestival, and to maybe reach a few folks from the stage as well (I’m once again scheduled to speak all three days; the exact speaker schedules aren’t yet released).

This video is from last year’s event, on the Main Stage, from which I was speaking about the lies of prohibitionists and the value of cannabis as a neuroprotectant.

OCTA 2012

Initiative 9 Signature-Drive Completion Press Conference Set For Friday, July 6
 
Friday, July 6 marks the deadline for Oregonians to submit signatures in order to qualify an initiative for the November ballot. The Oregon Cannabis Tax Act campaign will be submitting its final group of signatures to the Secretary of State and discussing next steps for allowing Oregonians to vote to support common-sense cannabis and hemp policy.
Initiative 9 will regulate cannabis for adult use, license cannabis for commercial sale, and re-allow Oregon farmers to grow hemp for biofuel, food, sustainable fiber and medicine.

Ellen Rosenblum
Ellen Rosenblum, candidate for Oregon AG: “As Attorney General, I will make marijuana enforcement a low priority, and protect the rights of medical marijuana patients”

​​By Michael Bachara
Hemp News Correspondent
As Oregon moves closer toward marijuana legalization in November with the Oregon Cannabis Tax Act 2012 (OCTA 2012) and the Oregon Marijuana Policy Initiative 2012 (OMPI 2012) petition drives, the race for Oregon Attorney General on May 15 between Appeals Court Judge Ellen Rosenblum and former acting U.S. Attorney Dwight Holton will be crucial to the implementation of the cannabis legalization initiatives.
Earlier this month, in a debate at the Eugene City Club, Rosenblum said she supported the state’s current medical marijuana law as one that “provides vulnerable citizens with the medicine they needed to cope with their diagnoses.”
On the other hand, Holton said the law is actually “a train wreck, putting marijuana in the hands of people, kids, who are not using it for pain management purposes. Of 50,000 card holders, 30,000 got them from 10 clinics. We’ve got a broken system.”
Just last summer, Holton issued a letter to Oregon medical marijuana collectives, co-signed by 34 district attorneys, the head of the Oregon State Sheriffs’ Association and the head of the Oregon Chiefs of Police. The letter stated, “The sale of marijuana for any purpose — including as medicine — violates both federal and Oregon law and will not be tolerated.”

Goliath’s GAW News Bureau
Kentucky’s new medical marijuana bill bears the name of the great Gatewood Galbraith

By Michael Bachara


Legislation that would make cannabis a Schedule II drug — and thus legal for doctors to prescribe — was introduced on January 31 in the Kentucky State Senate. Senate Bill 129, sponsored by Senator Perry B. Clark (D-Louisville), is being titled the “Gatewood Galbraith Memorial Medical Marijuana Act.”
Galbraith was a prominent lawyer from Kentucky and an avid supporter of cannabis legalization. He dedicated more than 40 years to the restoration of the cannabis plant. He died last month from complications of pneumonia.
“Marijuana has positive medical benefits for patients dealing with illnesses like cancer, multiple sclerosis, and AIDS, to name a few,” Sen. Clark said. “I want to allow this as another treatment option for those individuals.”

Lex18.com
Gatewood Galbraith (1947-2012)

​The legendary Gatewood Galbraith, colorful Kentucky political figure known as “The Last Free Man In America,” died quietly in his sleep at home Tuesday night. Gatewood, a perennial candidate for public office and a lifelong marijuana advocate, changed the cannabis movement forever with his homespun wisdom and plain-spoken honesty.

Gatewood, who defended individual rights in the streets, in the courtrooms and on political stages around the country, was perhaps best known for his advocacy of hemp farming and the legalization of marijuana, along with his sense of humor.

Galbraith had run for governor last November, finishing third in a three-candidate race won by incumbent Gov. Steve Beshear.
“Dear Friends I have just been notified that Gatewood passed away last night,” his running mate, Dea Riley, posted on Facebook this morning. “I am heading to Lexington to be with his family. Please say a prayer for his family and friends and all those who loved him. I am heartbroken.”

After years of dreaming about it, last Friday — a week ago today — I spoke for the first time at Seattle Hempfest.

Yeah, it was as much fun as I had imagined. I packed all I possibly could into my allotted five minutes.
“Toke of the Town editor Steve Elliott speaks to the Seattle Hempfest crowd about ‘Big Pharma’, prohibitionists telling a lot of lies and cannabis as a neuroprotectant,” YouTube uploader RestoreHemp said. “He urges people to seek out the scientific truth about marijuana for themselves and join the fight to end prohibition.
“Elliott finishes by showing how cannabis connects us to the past and to each other and also unites us with our human cultural history.”

Photo: StoptheDrugWar.org

By Michael Bachara

Lifelong activist Ben Masel died on Saturday after a battle with lung cancer. As the hemp and cannabis community and many others mourn this great loss, we must also remember what Masel spent most of his life fighting for, and continue on the path he helped to blaze.
Over the course of his life, Masel traveled countless miles and spent innumerable hours voicing his ideas and fighting for the rights of his fellows. Even in the face of opposition, he continued to speak out in favor of hemp and cannabis legalization, freedom of speech and the ability of people who take a stand to make a difference.
Masel’s lifelong passion, the Great Midwest Marijuana Harvest Festival in Madison, Wisconsin, began as a marijuana smoke-in in 1971. The Harvest Festival, now marking its 41st year, has a long history of promoting cannabis/hemp legalization and free speech while providing an annual celebration for like-minded people.

Photo: Oregon NORML
About a dozen members of Oregon NORML proudly marched in the 19th Annual Susan G. Komen “Race For The Cure” in Portland on Sunday.

As long as breast cancer exists, the finish line has not been reached, but each year’s Komen race brings it closer
By Michael Bachara, Hemp News
Inspiration was in the air on Sunday, September 19 at the 19th Annual Susan G. Komen “Race for the Cure” in Waterfront Park in downtown Portland, Oregon. An estimated 40,000 people, including over 3,500 breast cancer survivors, walked, raced and ran, bringing awareness and raising millions in the name of breast cancer research.
Showing their pride as the emcee acknowledged their participation, about a dozen marchers were from the Oregon Chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML). Their slogan was: “It’s NORML to Race for the Cure.”
“This is Oregon NORML‘s first year to have a team in the race,” said Anna Diaz of Oregon NORML. “As a team, we are going to do the untimed one-mile walk.”
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