Further Light and Knowledge

I understand that pot is illegal. But why is the Obama administration prosecuting/threatening to close medical marijuana dispensaries? It doesn't make sense to me. There are plenty of other things to focus on. The dispensaries brought in millions in tax revenue for local and state coffers. And California needs that revenue at the moment.

It just seems like a politically unpopular move. With that said, it's not as if most Republicans wouldn't also attempt to close the dispensaries - with the exception of the libertarian Ron Paul wing that favors all legalization.

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Just one more reason for me to dislike this presidency.



ETA: I hope Bill Maher get's his $1,000,000 worth.

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All views expressed by jahedgpeth are the sole property of jahedgpeth inc. and subject to change by edit without notice.

I know this is a sidebar from the original topic, but as I read an article in the newspaper the other day about a rolling shoot out where 6 people were killed in a beach town in Mexico where we used to keep our boat, was considered Arizona's beach, was a very safe, up-and-coming resort town providing very good jobs for thousands of the locals, but now no one dares go anymore because of the fucking narcos, I just want to scream "LEGALIZE THE SHIT and get the criminals out of it!" I want the old Rocky Point, Mexico, back! I want to be able to go camp and hunt in my favorite area of So. Arizona without having to worry about taking a side arm with me on hikes or hope that someone doesn't break into my trailer while I'm away from it.

And for the love of dog, leave the medical marijuana states alone!

If people had any idea how helpful marijuana can be for cancer patients they would DEMAND it remain available to us. It helps with pain, helps with increasing appetite, decreases nausea, calms anxiety, and has a variety of ways to use it. You can get oil to put in tea, or smoke it, or eat it, or a lollypop, or a cookie. My patients who use marijuana have much better pain control, especially when they combine it with small amounts of narcotics. They use far less morphine or other opiates, and are more awake in the day.

If Obama or someone he loves ever has cancer, I hope marijuana is freely available to them.
It's a cheap, renewable medication. Absolutely useful for cancer care. But more importantly, I hope it remains available to me, and my family if we need it.
Otherwise, I'm heading to the beaches, and shooting it out for my fix.

Yeah, it doesn't make sense. I believe his Mom died of cancer (her name is Ann Dunham for anyone who wants to wikipedia her). Also, in "Dreams From My Father", he admits to smoking as a teen. So that makes it even more confusing to me.

HMM, I'm on the same page.

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I have a lot of chronic pain (several auto immune things that hurt like hell) and have had for over 20 years after a bad accident with a semi. I have used pot to augment my morphine, help me sleep and it just helps the mind tolerate what pain cannot be controlled. It is the only way I am able to work in my art studio at all hours of the day and night. My sister sends me cookies and stuff from a Colorado store but I have found that the quality control is not very good. I prefer my own brownies, which I keep in the freezer. Use a mini cupcake pan, make your brownie mix and just put the stuff in each cup. Works great and lasts for a very long time and saves your lungs at the same time. I don't know if it will ever be legalized but doesn't the government remember prohibition?? That didn't work. If anyone wants to use any substance of their choice, it should be their choice, not the government who is always trying to take our rights away anyway. I'm kind of like Nurse in Black, if I can't get it, my husband will go to the beaches and shoot it out to get me some!


Today is a gift; that is why it is called the present.-anon

I've decided I'm not going to vote for Obama again. I think he's wrong on this subject, wrong on immigration, and almost as bad about military adventurism as Bush. The Atlantic article about our undeclared drone war in Pakistan was chilling to me.

I think there's an opening for Republicans here, but not if they keep running every campaign as though it's 1980 and they need a massive military buildup, more tax cuts, and a culture war that should be relegated to the rubbish bin of history. For now, I won't vote for them, either.

Recently I talked to a friend about all this.
She is voting, but not for either party.
She is writing, "no suitable candidate" on the ballot.

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Said in a hushed whisper: My temple name was (pause for effect) Joan.

I think both parties are out of touch with what America really needs. It's turned into a war between the Republican Party and the Democratic Party, the conservative movement and the liberal movement.

As a moderate, I really don't feel as though there is a place for me in this country. I'm certainly not represented by any elected official.

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"To those seaching for truth - not the truth of dogma and darkness but the truth brought by reason, search, examination, and inquiry, discipline is required. For faith, as well intentioned as it may be, must be built on facts, not fiction - faith in fiction is a damnable false hope." - Thomas Edison

On NPR this afternoon, they were mentioning the anonymous donations of up to $10M - per person for the super pacs or other legally acceptable "anti-other-side" campaign advertising.

The cost of the campaigns is staggering - I don't comprehend or understand it.

And . . . um . . . I'm really fine with leaving it that way.

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It's good to talk about these things and to sort out the messed up mindfuck we were in.
- SIMS

It's actually on the ballot this year to fully legalize marijuana in both Colorado and Washington State this year. It will be interesting to see if the amendments pass in those states and the subsequent court battles. If those states both pass it and are able to defend it successfully, then I think the days of marijuana being illegal are numbered. Pushes to legalize will shortly follow in other western US states.

I am very surprised at how aggressive he has been on [medical] marijuana. I have been disappointed in a number of his choices but with most of them I can at least understand why. My [wishful] thinking is that the current policy is a political move. Because of his aggression, it is an issue that Republicans can't (reasonably) use against him. If he is reelected I predict that he will reverse course on this and be able to say, "We have been aggressive, it didn't work, it is time to change course."

I think he will do something similar with the policy on deporting Latin American immigrants. The Obama administration has been deporting immigrants at a higher rate than the Bush administration and this gives Obama a sort of "high ground" on the issue. He has essentially taken immigration off the table; Republicans can't easily use it as a campaign issue because they can't make the case that they are tougher on immigration. (I realize that Obama has enacted some non-conservative policy, but those are in areas that are not as clear cut and as simple as a deporting more people.) I also expect a dramatic shift in policy on this issue if he is reelected.

It may pass in most states but the bible belt (most of the south, including TX) will never stand for it even tho everyone I know uses it! Cops in TX, if they catch you with under 4 oz, they have the prerogotive to toss it out or let you keep it, depending what kind of cop it is or if you are a pretty girl, or a black man/woman, or a hispanic man/woman, etc. It is not based on the law, it is up to the individual cop. The rules suck and it is best to just NOT GET CAUGHT!

Actually, letting you keep under 4 oz or destroying it is a relatively liberal law. I can see how cop's discretion could be a problem, though. In California, it's literally different in every jurisdiction. Here in SF there's an unofficial policy that the cops don't care about recreational use, but they technically can give you an "infraction" ticket which is 100s of dollars, for under 4 oz.

I believe this will pass in our state (WA state) this time. Most people here are for it, and we have stores openly selling paraphernalia. Medical marijuana is also allowed here, so it's not seen as a criminal issue. This is how far we have come on this issue, and this cracked me up:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xja72pL-ZEM