Cypress Hill smokeout
Colorado Collectives Warned by US Attorney
The early part of this week has delivered mixed news for medical marijuana patients. Those who attended the Cypress Hill Smokeout were treated to an excellent day long music festival and community gathering. There was one unfortunate development regarding Colorado, where the federal government has put their collectives on alert however.
Colorado has taken extraordinary steps to ensure patient access including a state wide licensing system for patients (which is what many advocates are hoping to see in California after the state Supreme Court takes on the issue later this year) and a tighter grip on dispensaries operating under state law. Additionally, a ballot initiative was successful and voters will get the chance to legalize marijuana for recreational use this November. As we mentioned last week, 23 of the over 700 collectives in Colorado were closed down, which only represented approximately 3% of all dispensaries.
A U.S. attorney in Colorado, John Walsh, does not want anyone to feel comfortable as they seek medical relief. The 23 collectives were shut down because they were not in compliance with state law. In most cases it involved collectives being too close to schools. President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder (who may have his hands full explaining his position on the US government’s right to target and kill US citizens overseas in the name of anti-terrorism) have said several times since their time on the 2008 campaign trail that they are not seeking to interfere with collectives and patients abiding by state law. Eric Holder even reiterated this idea as recently as December. However, John Walsh is saying that no collective should feel safe and that it is in his office’s discretion to go after any and all collectives in Colorado. Of course his office has to answer to the White House so we can wait and see if team Obama plans on keeping their word during an election year.
While we do not want to see patient access restricted, we should all take into consideration that a U.S. attorney may not want to describe a scenario where they basically green light a medical marijuana program that follows state laws, but is still under violation on a federal level. While John Walsh says everyone is on notice, they did only carefully select 23 to shut down. A spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office mentioned that dispensaries can be shut down for other non cannabis related violations such as possession of firearms and possessing marijuana when they are not in compliance with state laws. It sounds as if the U.S. attorneys are letting everyone know that they will go after any violation they can uncover. This should not be news as we know the feds are salivating to flex their muscle. However, with a vast majority of the country supporting medical marijuana, voters will have quite a bit to say in only a matter of months. It is important that advocates take action and make it out to the voting polls this November and support patient compassion and relief.
CypressHill Smokeout Brings Community Together for Memorable Event
Marijuana.net aims to be supportive of our community gatherings. The past week has been eventful as the community stood up and demonstrated their opposition the Los Angeles City Council’s threat to ban collectives. We also had the Cypress Hill Smokeout over the weekend which treated the community to full day of music, art, food, education and fun.
Those in attendance were treated to excellent performances by more than 20 artists on three stages. Cypress Hill has long been known for its great live performances and on Saturday they more than lived up to expectations. Fans were treated to many of their hits and of course loudly sang along to “Insane in The Brain” which, to no one’s surprise was one of the major highlights of the day. Korn also performed well as their signature deep base could be felt throughout the venue. For those who ventured to the stage inside, they were treated to unique sounds of Wolfgang Gartner. Sublime with Rome also put the crowd into a frenzy as they mixed up their playlists with both old and new hits. For a complete list and information on the 2012 Cypress Hill Smokeout performers click here.
There was also much more offered at the event other than just music. The vendor village included tents selling apparel as well as providing education and awareness for patient related issues. Marijuana.net would like to thank everyone who stopped by our tent in the vendor village. We found those who stopped by receptive to our shared goals of patient safety and awareness. There was also a designated patient area and of course, plenty of food.
As per the recurring theme, we at marijuana.net witnessed a very peaceful environment with law enforcement and attendees getting along well. Our diverse community knows how to handle a large scale concert festival without much of the issues that trouble sporting events or clubs. We look forward to seeing everyone at the next community event. Check back later as we post the winners of our raffle! Good luck and welcome to all of our new patients!
Cypress Hill Smokeout for Safe Access Protest Shows Huge Support for Patients
Although a vast majority of Americans support physicians prescribing marijuana for medical relief, the federal government and now Los Angeles City Council have targeted medical cannabis collectives. As marijuana.net reported yesterday from the rally, patients and advocates took action and protested the recent actions by local and federal municipalities.
Those in attendance gathered at city hall and marched to a local federal building in order to show opposition to the actions of both city and federal agents. The march occurred with almost no legal issues. Witnesses did observe one patient being arrested for medicating as the crowd gathered before the march. So far we have no indication that there were any further issues between law enforcement and attendees. The hundreds who took part in the march displayed their passion and enthusiasm as chants of “DEA, GO AWAY” were directed toward local federal offices. Drivers passing by acknowledged their support by pressing loudly on their horns
The event even boasted celebrity credentials as both Tommy Chong and B-Real of Cypress Hill took part in the protest. Tommy Chong serenaded the crowd with a song as they recognized his long term dedication to marijuana reform by chanting “Patient #1”. Cypress Hill and Americans For Safe Access helped to organize the event that serves as a precursor for the sure to be popular Cypress Hill Smokeout this weekend. The event will feature Korn, Mobb Deep, Sublime With Rome, Wolfgang Gartner as well as many other artists and surprise guests. Marijuana.net will also be there so come visit our tent.
Music artists and Marijuana
Music and marijuana are a couple of stuff that go together. Whether it’s using the Harlem jazz nobleman in the 1930’s, or Black Sabbath singing “Sweet Leaf” in 1971, or perhaps Dr. Dre’s The Chronic from 2001. Beats and buds complement one another, like peanut butter &lifier jelly or seafood and chips. Why? There’s the classic response, “Oh guy, the background music is really far better when I am high.” That’s simply not true. Cannabis doesn’t have impact on music, movies, or literature. A crappy song it’s still crappy once the listener is applying marijuana. However it does alter brain chemistry, so someone can also enjoy it more when they’re high. Marijuana induces excitement as well as affects perception and physical input. So, when one is on cannabis, they might have the ability to concentrate on the music more, towards the exception of other prevailing stimuli. Customers will expend more brain energy on hearing the hooks and grooves. Riffs appear more amazing and background sounds “pop” more.
How can music artists experience marijuana? To begin with, the background music market is exactly that, a business for music and cash. So, many music artists could use marijuana within the tunes and marketing speech like a draw. It’s questionable, edgy and also the youth like to observe that. How can you differentiate between your posers and also the real men? Pay attention to the lyrics, and give consideration towards the bands when they are offstage. Will the band offer the decriminalization/legalisation/professional-medicinal marijuana movement? If they have existed, making music and touring lengthy enough, will they still utilize it? Many bands happen to be bitten hard by substance abuse, and men usually either sober up or drop dead. Once they are clean, could they be still in support of use?
Cypress Hill is among the foremost rap bands recognized for their use and lyrics about marijuana. How can they think about this? For a long time they’ve located the annual Cypress Hill Smokeout in San Bernadino. This Year, Sen Dog spoke to hiphopwired.com about his use and just what he feels that society ought to be doing. He’s in support of legalisation to release our jails and enforcement divisions to focus on true crime. “Should you consider the prisons and jail, it provides extensive individuals there which were place in for any cent bag of weed. Therefore we support the liberty for police to create less tickets and arrest a lot of serious crooks.” Although he’s professional-marijuana, he does not have confidence in a carte blanche method of legalisation. Sen Dog laments his early teenage usage, remembering the way it broken his education and prospects at sports. It’s something that needs to be stored from children and teens, until they’re of sufficient age to know making intelligent choices about this.
Another music artists for the professional-marijuana actions include Snoop Dogg, Willie Nelson, Tommy Chong (yes, he and Cheech Marin together with like a music/comedy act so that they count), Warbringer (Heavy Metal And Rock), and most of the entertainers which have performed the Smokeout through the years. Allows find out if any artists cite marijuana in their capability to creative, perform, and feel great at tonight’s Grammy Honours.