Author Steve Elliott ~alapoet~

Spokane City Council Calls For Rescheduling Of Medical Marijuana

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on January 31, 2012 Dispensaries, Legislation, Medical

The Spokane City Council unanimously agreed on Monday that marijuana should be federally legal to possess by people who have a legitimate medical need for the drug.

State voters passed a medical marijuana law 14 years ago, back in 1998, but the city council is concerned about federal raids continuing in Spokane and elsewhere in Washington and other states that have legalized cannabis for medicinal purposes.

The council approved a nonbinding resolution endorsing a letter that Gov. Chris Gregoire and Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee sent to the federal Drug Enforcement Administration in November requesting that marijuana be reclassified from being a Schedule I drug to a Schedule II drug under the federal Controlled Substances Act, reports Jonathan Brunt at The Spokesman.

YouTube Ignores 1st Place Marijuana Legalization Question For Obama

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on January 31, 2012 Legislation, News

How Long Does Marijuana Stay In Your System?

The YouTube/White House “Your Interview with the President” just wrapped up, and unfortunately the web video giant didn’t find time to present President Obama with the marijuana legalization question from a retired police officer that received — by far — more votes than any other video in the contest.

“They did find time, however, to pick the President’s brain on pressing national issues like late night snacks, singing and dancing, celebrating wedding anniversaries and playing tennis,” said Tom Angell of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP).

“It’s worse than silly that YouTube and Google would waste the time of the president and the American people discussing things like midnight snacks and playing tennis when there is a much more pressing question on the minds of the people who took the time to participate in voting on submissions,” said Stephen Downing, the retired Los Angeles police officer and a board member of LEAP.

“A majority of Americans now support legalizing marijuana to defund cartels and gangs, lower incarceration and arrest rates and save scarce public resources, all while generating much-needed new tax revenue,” Downing said. “The time to discuss this issue is now. We’re tired of this serious public policy crisis being pushed aside or laughed off.”

Colorado State Senator Pushing Marijuana DUI Bill Again

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on January 30, 2012 Legislation, Medical, News

The Denver Post

Rep. Steve King seems to cut a few corners ethically when it comes to finance. But you shouldn’t notice that, really! You should notice his great hair and his hare-brained idea to bust you for driving under the influence of marijuana.

For the second time in two years, Colorado state Senator Steve King is pushing a marijuana DUI bill that caps how much THC drivers can have in their system when behind the wheel. There would be zero tolerance for people without medical marijuana cards.

Last year, the bill drew stiff opposition as critics questioned the science of testing how high someone is — and how, exactly, that affects their ability to operate a motor vehicle, reports Don Coleman at KJCT 8.

“I hear this story about well the science isn’t there,” blustered King. “The science is there and it’s written in the blood if innocent people killed by DUI-D [driving under the influence of drugs]drivers.”

Commissioner Claims Crime In Polynesia Linked To Marijuana

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on January 30, 2012 Global, News

Jon Rawlinson/The Global Digital

Reefer madness is alive and well in the South Pacific. The French high commissioner in French Polynesia has announced that “a large part” of the crime in the island territory is “linked to marijuana.”

That’s right, folks. Never mind alcohol or other drugs, it’s that damn wacky weed that’s making ’em crazy — at least, if we’re talking about government officials.

High Commissioner Richard Didier (who should really try living up to his title), made the comments as authorities revealed that last year 67,000 cannabis plants were dug up and seized by law enforcement authorities, reports Radio New Zealand International.

Israeli Study: More Doctors Should Recommend Cannabis To Cancer Patients

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on January 30, 2012 Global, Medical, News

More than two-thirds of cancer patients who were prescribed medical marijuana to combat pain are satisfied with the treatment, according to a comprehensive new study from Israel.

The study involved 264 cancer patients who were treated with medical marijuana for a full year, reports Dan Even at Haaretz. The research was conducted at Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, in conjunction with the Israeli Cancer Association.

About 61 percent of the patients reported a significant improvement in their quality of life as a result of the medical marijuana, while 56 percent noting an improvement in their ability to manage pain. Two-third — 67 percent — were in favor of the treatment, and 65 percent said they would recommend it to other patients.

Cop’s Marijuana Legalization Question For Obama Comes In First Among Videos

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on January 29, 2012 Legislation, News

Decent Community

President Obama to Answer Top-Voted YouTube Questions on Monday

A question advocating marijuana legalization from a retired Los Angeles Police Department deputy chief of police won twice as many votes as any other video question in the White House’s “Your Interview with the President” competition on YouTube this weekend. President Obama is slated to answer some of the top-voted questions on Monday.

The marijuana question, submitted by retired LAPD officer Stephen Downing, a board member for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), is as follows: “Mr. President, my name is Stephen Downing, and I’m a retired deputy chief of police from the Los Angeles Police Department. From my 20 years of experience I have come to see our country’s drug policies as a failure and a complete waste of criminal justice resources. According to the Gallup Poll, the number of Americans who support legalizing and regulating marijuana now outnumbers those who support continuing prohibition. What do you say to this growing voter constituency that wants more changes to drug policy than you have delivered in your first term?”

Former Pot Smuggler Leads “Silver Tour” For Medical Marijuana

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on January 28, 2012 Medical, News

In the late 1970s, Robert “The Tuna” Platshorn was a marijuana smuggler and leader of South Florida’s notorious “Black Tuna” gang.

Now, after spending 30 years in prison, Platshorn, 70, is a book author (Black Tuna Diaries), subject of a documentary film (Square Grouper) — and an activist working to make medical marijuana legal in the Sunshine State.

The goal of The Silver Tour, according to Platshorn, is to educate and inform seniors on the benefits and exciting discoveries in the medical cannabis field, and to encourage activism for legalization and create demand for safe access to medical marijuana.

Marijuana Legalization Qualifies For Washington Ballot

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on January 27, 2012 Legislation, News

KCTS 9

The secretary of state’s office has certified an initiative to legalize marijuana in Washington state, and unless the Legislature acts, the measure will appear on the general election ballot in November.

Secretary of State Sam Reed’s office announced Friday that New Approach Washington, sponsors of Initiative 502 submitted nearly 278,000 valid signatures, more than the 241,153 needed to qualify, reports the Associated Press.

Former Michigan Atty. Gen.: I Smoked Pot, But Let’s Not Legalize

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on January 27, 2012 Dispensaries, News

Norman Yatooma & Associates

Former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox: “I am not for it mostly because I don’t know how you regulate common, everyday things such as driving while impaired … That being said, philosophically I am not against it.” Political much?

Former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox admitted on Friday that he smoked marijuana in high school during the 1970s. (Hey, what a coincidence, so did I!) But during a symposium on marijuana reform, Cox said there are problems with legalizing cannabis, and he wouldn’t support moves to do that in the state.

“I am not for it mostly because I don’t know how you regulate common, everyday things such as driving while impaired,” the Republican former attorney general said, reports Kim Kozlowski at The Detroit News. “If it becomes legal, I don’t think I’ll ever use it again. That being said, philosophically I am not against it. They haven’t come up with a good way to regulate in the workplace or driving to measure it and deal with it.”

Illegal Drug Market Violence in Mexico [Infographic]

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on January 27, 2012 Global

Via: Rehab International

The U.S. prohibition of drugs has led to unprecedented levels of violence between warring cartels in Mexico. The U.S. “War On Drugs” has failed to curtail this violence.

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