medical marijuana
90 Minutes
Why is 90 minutes so important? It is about the average run time of a movie. It is the allotted time for a regulation soccer match. Ninety minutes is probably the length of your bosses lunch break. On Wednesday night, it represents the amount of time Americans have to formulate their opinion on who they will be casting their vote for the United States Presidency.
For political junkies the presidential debates offer a breath of fresh air. This is where the two candidates will actually be face to face and respond to each other. The system is not perfect, but this true reality show offers more than the same campaign speech rehashed over and over again to a receptive crowd. They certainly are not perfect, as many important topics will be skipped over, but in this age of hiding behind talking points, Wednesday’s 90 minutes may be the closest thing we get to an intellectual conversation about fixing this country.
Unfortunately for marijuana activists, it is unlikely that the “M” word will even be muttered during the 90 minutes. Even as politicians and residents remain sharply divided on medical marijuana dispensary raids, this issue will continue to be avoided. Though elections are won and lost on the issues, we never seem capable of moving forward. Roe V. Wade was decided 40 years ago, yet we are sure to hear the two men in suits talk at length about abortion rights. School vouchers, tax rates, the deficit, and tort reform, are all important but have dominated debate questions for many elections now. Instead of tackling a new age issue in marijuana reform, we are likely going to be relegated to hearing about the same old issues.
One would think that in 90 minutes, there surely is time to talk about those who struggling, about compassionate relief. Well if 90 minutes is too short for that, perhaps the wasted money and lives on the war on drugs can be fit in? Hmm,no? Certainly all of the lives (many of them teens) that are ruined by incarcerations linked to low level marijuana possession will get its day in the sun. Again you say no? Then personal freedom, in a country founded on the very principle should definitely spring marijuana into the presidential debate. Of course a discussion on returning rights and liberties to the people likely has virtually no chance of taking place whether the debate is 90 minutes or 90 days.
Click here for a schedule of all of the Presidential debates and a list of the moderators
Applications Now To Be Available for Connecticut Medical Marijuana Program
Federal pressure on state run medical marijuana programs has been increasing over the last year. However, this has not been successful in stopping states from responding to the call from patients and regulation advocates. Vermont is about to open medical marijuana dispensaries and Arkansas is set have its residents vote on a measure that would have them join the other 17 states with legalized cannabis.
Today, Connecticut provides another example of states taking on a new approach to marijuana law. Lawmakers passed a bill to permit medical marijuana several months ago and Governor Dannel P. Molloy signed it into law shortly after. The program is making even more progress today. Starting today, it is expected that patients will be able to apply online to the state’s medical marijuana program.
Although the program seems to be progressing, residents who are concerned about unregulated marijuana availability may be able to relax. The state is expected to have a tight grip on their program. Governor Malloy’s Criminal Justice Adviser, Michael Lawlor recently said “From talking to a lot of people, Connecticut clearly will have the tightest, most restrictive system in the country.” The list of conditions that can qualify patients for the Connecticut program include HIV/AIDS, glaucoma, cancer, and MS.
Analysts may consider Connecticut’s medical marijuana patient application process overly restrictive, however, it is important no to lose sight of the progress that is being made all over the country. Even as federal authorities demonstrate their inability to take action, residents and state lawmakers have decided not to sit idle as patients seek compassionate relief Connecticut will soon be providing relief to patients and activists will have the opportunity to push for patients with underrepresented conditions to qualify.
Rep. Barney Frank Says Supports Marijuana Reform and Personal Freedom
Longtime supporter of marijuana reform, Representative Barney Frank, recently told CNN that he supports marijuana reform and believes in “personal freedom”. When talking to Erin Burnett about individual freedom, Congressman Frank said “I think is a great hypocrisy. I think frankly it contributes to a good deal of the sense of unfairness you have among younger people who are told they shouldn’t do this because it’s got all these negative effects, but then older people are engaging in all kinds of things that have a greater impact on people.” Mr. Frank also said he ate a marijuana brownie that made him “sleepy”. The congressman said he prefers a cigar instead. While he does not smoke marijuana much or gamble, but that others do and it is their right to do so and it should not be the government’s priority to regulate these behaviors. Barney Frank is also an outspoken supporter of same sex marriage and was wed to his partner, James Ready, in July of 2012.
Discussion on Racial Inequality and The War on Drugs
Many of the marijuana decriminalization and legalization efforts have found support due in large part to the demographics of those jailed for drug charges. Even though more whites use marijuana, they are far less likely to be incarcerated for it. Additionally, even as have been groomed to assume that crack is a “black” problem, a discussion on the popular Current TV show, The Young Turks, crack use by African Americans only accounts for 13% of overall use. That stat is very similar to the overall African American population. Below is a video from “The Young Turks” highlighting many compelling issues in the failed War on Drugs.
Medical Marijuana Industry News September 28, 2012
Probation Workers Find That Chris Brown Tests Positive for Marijuana…
It has been an eventful few weeks in terms of marijuana developments in regards to celebrity. Lady Gaga publically smoked a joint onstage in Amsterdam and Fionna Apple was arrested in Texas for marijuana and hashish possession. Enter Chris Brown. The controversial star is again in the news. Because of his conviction in 2009 for assaulting then girlfriend, Rihanna, Chris Brown was placed on probation for 5 years. Mr. Brown failed a drug test in June while performing community service in Virginia. However, the plot thickens a bit because he is medical marijuana card holder. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge, Patricia Schnegg, said that mandatory drug tests were not a part of Chris Brown’s sentence. The judge scolded him and said “You are not an ordinary person who can sit in your living room and do whatever you want to do. More importantly, a lot of people look up to you, a lot of kids. What you do and what you say impacts a lot of people.” It appears this may just be grandstanding by authorities as Brown has not officially done anything that is in direct violation of his probation.
Fore more on this story click here
Momentum Building in New York State For Marijuana Reform…
Several months ago New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that he was seeking to change the controversial “Stop and Frisk” tactics used primarily by NYPD officers. Now it appears there is a growing call to institute a medical marijuana program. New York’s closet neighbors, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Vermont now have all either passed or started medical marijuana programs. Additionally, at a recent forum in Syracuse, many speakers came out in support of marijuana for MS patients. The forum received considerable media coverage and could be important to changing minds of upstate New York politicians. New York City and Long Island residents support medical marijuana with upstate residents and lawmakers a bit more on the fence. Even though the overall population of New York supports marijuana (61%), many upstate politicians work for residents in rural areas that are divided on the issue. The result contributes to Albany’s epic reputation for stalemate politics. The momentum appears to be changing and New York should be joining the growing list of states with medical marijuana within a few years.
For more on this story click here
Arkansas Upholds Ruling for Medical Marijuana To Appear on Ballot…
Medical marijuana has typically been a coastal and Midwest conversation. However, in a testament to compassion, economics, and widespread communication, Arkansas now may become the first state to legalize medical marijuana. The ballot initiative has been successful due in large part to the efforts of Arkansas for Compassionate Care. The group contributed significantly to gathering enough signatures to get the issue to the ballots. This seemed to have been decided months ago, however, a group named Coalition to Preserve Arkansas Values filed a lawsuit to remove the issue from the ballot on the basis that it mislead voters. The Arkansas Supreme Court disagreed and ruled that “We hold that it is an adequate and fair representation without misleading tendencies or partisan coloring. Therefore, the act is proper for inclusion on the ballot at the general election on Nov. 6, 2012, and the petition is therefore denied.” Even if voters pass the measure, there will probably be resistance from the Governor who has previously stated his opposition to the bill. However, as Arizona Jan Brewer has found, it may be a slippery slope to challenge the will of voters.
Will Recent Federal Raids On Los Angeles Marijuana Dispensaries Be Swept Under the Political Rug?
The first presidential debate between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney will be held next week on October 3rd. This debate will focus on domestic policy so we are sure to hear about plans for cost savings and stimulating the economy. Of course, for activists there is always that economic pink elephant in the room that politicians never want to acknowledge.
However, it remains highly unlikely that debate moderator Jim Lehrer of PBS will question the candidates as to exactly why the failed war on drugs is persisting. Earlier this week, there were three raids on marijuana dispensaries located in the downtown area of Los Angeles. Additionally, 68 other warning letters were issued. The efforts build on what is almost a year long target on dispensaries by the federal government. While the raids catch headlines, the collateral damage is rarely covered. Besides compromising safe access to patients, many jobs have been either put in jeopardy or eliminated totally.
We have yet to hear a coherent plan as to how either candidate will put Americans back to work. We do know that our government is perfectly constructed to destroy jobs, as thousands of jobs have been eliminated this year alone due to medical marijuana dispensary raids. However, it may require a new approach to creating jobs in the new age economy.
If other state laws were being targeted by federal authorities, political advocates would come out of the woodwork. With the vast majority of Americans supporting a physician’s right to prescribe medical marijuana one would think a discussion would even be advantageous to lawmakers. This is where the state of politics are. This is a serious issue with economic, safety, and healthcare concerns at stake and we cannot even rely on a full discussion, rather, we are resigned to hoping that a debate moderator asks a single question.
Marijuana Like Compound in Brain Shows Fragile X Syndrome May Be Treatable
The federal government has shown an unwillingness to entertain operational changes. In particular, federal authorities still prefer to suppress the monumental potential of medical marijuana as it is an uncomfortable topic because it may require regulation, rescheduling, and the admission of an almost 100 year mistake.
Medical marijuana breakthroughs are occurring at a frequent rate. Last week alone, marijuana.net reported on a breakthrough that showed cannabis had the potential to fight epilepsy. Perhaps even more groundbreaking was a study that showed components of marijuana had the ability to slow the spreading of cancer cells. Of course this builds on years research that have shown marijuana to be a miracle of sorts, and has demonstrated promise in fighting chronic pain, muscle conditions, MS, complications related to chemotherapy, glaucoma, the spreading of HIV/AIDS, nausea, PTSD etc (it would take too much time to list them all).
Fragile X Syndrome now joins the constantly growing list of medical conditions that may benefit from marijuana research. This complex condition is associated with autism and mental retardation in men and considered the most common cause of both. Fragile X syndrome is a mutation of the FMR1 gene in the X chromosome that is passed on by the mother. This mutation can result in mental disability, hyperactivity, physical disability, and language deficiencies.
The main problem has to do with messages and receptors in the brain. Researchers have now found that 2-AG, a marijuana like compound and endocannabinoid transmitter is showing considerable promise in reducing fragile x syndrome symptoms. Daniele Piomelli, a professor at UC Irvine was the lead researcher of the study and recently said “This compound is so important in regulating neural transmission in the brain that it seemed possible that it might be involved in a disease that is so devastating on brain function.” When the 2-AG signal is boosted, it appears the brain will relay the correct messages, at least in lab mice. Proffessor Piomelli explained “We asked, ‘If we boost a little bit of that 2-AG signal, will it be enough to correct the problems that occur in fragile X mice? The answer was a resounding, Yes. We corrected the physiology, but most importantly, we corrected their behavior. The animals behaved just like normal animals. They didn’t have the fears and movement problems of those with fragile X.”
We are only now seeing the tip of the iceberg as decades of potential research have been lost due to senseless marijuana regulations. However, as groundbreaking discoveries that have eluded modern medicine for decades are coming through marijuana research, how long can we truly afford to look the other way. As politicians are desperate not to admit mistakes (see Mitt Romney Campaign), there is something admirable about those who stand up, admit fault, and reverse a century long problem.
Colorado Governor Accused of Gang Mentality
The gang mentality of protecting your turf and merchandise is not a new concept, it may even be one of our oldest social norms. The idea has been well represented in movies and shows such as The Godfather, Goodfellas, New Jack City, The Wire, and Boardwalk Empire. Corporations in the real world, use lobbyists and economic leverage to accomplish similar goals. However, even if this sounds naïve, we are supposed to expect that our elected officials would refrain from these types of turf wars.
Governor John Hickenlooper of Colorado has actually been accused of operating like a “Drug Dealer Protecting his Turf” in an article appearing on heraldnet.com. The Governor recently made statements against Colorado voters possibly legalizing marijuana in November. Despite a solid majority support for legalization in the polls, he recently said “detracting from efforts to make Colorado the healthiest state” and for “sending the wrong message to kids.” The statement is odd for several reasons. For one, while politicians are not accustomed too (by the looks of how many ballot initiatives are out there they would be well served to get used to it quickly) the people’s voices being accounted for, it may be unwise to lecture and condescend to the electorate. Children are always put in the middle by those defending failed marijuana policy, but does the Governor truly think the majority of his state are terrible and selfish parents who never took their children into consideration? Second, Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol has addressed this for months by making concerned parents a significant part of their message. However, these parents actually WANT a regulated system so they can ensure it stays out of their children’s hands. The current and illegal/unregulated street vendor system can offer such protection.
Another reason why Governor Hickenlooper’s statements are out of place have to do simply with his choice of drugs. The Heraldnet article makes the “Drug Dealer” comparison because Mr. Hickenlooper is an avid brewer of beer. In fact he proudly has said “I’m the first brewer who’s ever been a governor.” When talking about tasty hops and barley the Governor seemed to have no issue with children’s health even as alcohol results in far more fatal car crashes, weight gain, and addiction. Additionally, we have to ask ourselves exactly how try to keep alcohol out of children’s hands. Instead of ignoring it, we as a nation have decided it would be a better idea to regulate, check identification to purchase, and even tax alcohol sales. However, if the Governor does not agree, is he merely protecting himself, and his turf as the facts betray his statements?
Politicians should have seen the writing on the wall and come up with new talking points years ago. The will of the people trumps any political rhetoric the Governor may recite. Challenging the people on a consensus issue seems to be a very nearsighted action. We truly live in a republic, so when the people get to participate in legislation directly, it is the most pure form of democracy offered in The United States, easily nullifying the contradictory statements of one lone Governor.
Indiana may be Next State to Decriminalize Marijuana
As Election Day 2012 quickly approaches, there have been many developments for activists to keep an eye on. Most of that attention is turned toward many of the ballot initiatives that residents across the country will be voting on. As public officials have still been hesitant to fully embrace marijuana reform, residents have found only they typically need to take matters into their own hands to try and change the tides of a losing drug policy.
However, there are several states where lawmakers are pushing for change through the traditional legislative process. Most recently, we learned that an Indiana lawmaker plans to introduce a bill to decriminalize possession of 10 grams or less of marijuana. State Senator Brent Steele is hoping to change the current law, which calls for a Class A misdemeanor for possession of any marijuana up to 30 grams. Mr. Steele noted that many other municipalities and college campuses have enacted decriminalization efforts and “Society didn’t melt down, and we didn’t turn into a drug-crazed culture as a result of it.”
The three state wide marijuana legalization bills (Colorado, Oregon, Washington) have received the most media attention as of late, but decriminalization measures may be equally important. For one, decriminalizing marijuana can have an immediate impact and reduce the time money invested by police officers. Additionally, courts and prisons are also strained by a high amount of los level marijuana charges. There are also broad economic implications as well to decriminalization. These arrests, which impact young non-whites at disproportionate rate have compromised the ability for many people to gain employment.
Even if Brent Steele is not immediately successful in getting this current law passed, new age economics seem likely to only increase calls for marijuana decriminalization. The slowed economy of the past few years has ignited serious conversations on wasteful spending. If the country wants to experience better years in front of it, it will require a new approach to how we allocate government resources.
Med Marijuana Advocates Rally in Front of Many Obama Campaign Headquarters
With the exception of Paul Ryan’s declaration that marijuana should be a state level issue (which was quickly recanted by Team Romney), marijuana reform has not garnered much attention this race. Only Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson has embraced the issue and vowed to legalize marijuana if elected president. Unfortunately he is having a hard time breaking through the two party system and his appearance at the debates seems unlikely. President Obama has certainly disappointed many medical marijuana patients and activists. Mitt Romney has vowed to “fight medical marijuana tooth and nail”, leaving patients with few options. Recent campaign stumbles, including a controversial statement accusing President Obama of “apologizing for American values” immediately following the Libya embassy attacks and a video where Romney claimed he was not targeting 47% of the country in his campaign make it increasingly likely that Barack Obama will remain the president of the United States. Marijuana activists launched a nation wide protest outside of the President’s campaign offices in 15 states. Americans for Safe Access have been helping to organize the rallies. Steph Sherer of the group said “There have been more raids under Obama in three-and-a-half years than eight years of Bush.” Even if President Obama wins, advocates are hopeful that he would reconsider his positions for a second term.