News & Articles
Teen Highlights the Failure of Prohibition
Banning the sale and consumption of alcohol did not exactly create the moral utopia some expected in the 1920s and 30s. In fact, it created bootlegging and organized crime which still presents major problems almost a century later. Banning and ignoring marijuana has also created an unregulated black market, however our government does not seem to be learning a quick lesson this time around.
Many experts also believe that banned substances can become in vogue. While marijuana happens to be a banned substance with little to no side effects, its chemical copies offer far more devastating consequences. Synthetic marijuana or cannabinoids, can mimic many of the effects of marijuana, but also carry the potential for massive health complications. These include high risk for strokes, heart problems, stomach/intestinal issues, and mental problems. Despite this, synthetic marijuana has become very popular with teens as it can be purchased at local convenience stores. Last year, a federal ban was enacted to stop the sales of products that include these lab created compounds such as JWH-018.
A teen from Cypress, Texas, knows all too well of just how serious the side effects of synthetic marijuana can be. Emily Bauer spent two weeks in an ICU after purchasing and using synthetic marijuana. Two weeks before her ICU stay, she was experiencing persistent migraines. Her symptoms grew worse as her mental state deteriorated. She became violent and when her parents decided to have paramedics take her to the hospital, she fought vigorously and bit guardrails and anybody who attempted to help her. Her symptoms were so severe that it appeared she would not recover. Bauer survived but has endured a traumatic experience. She finds herself part of the group that is most at risk to wind up in the hospital for synthetic marijuana use, those between the ages of 12-17.
Unfortunately, the propaganda and exaggeration machine has eroded the trust between teens and government officials. Teens have heard and found firsthand that marijuana is not nearly the villain that films such as reefer madness have made it out to be. The problem now has become trying to earn this trust back. People are willing to try out dangerous products such as K2 and Spice despite health warnings. Additionally, the bans may never be fully effective as labs can create new synthetic cannabinoids with relative ease. The government has a tremendous credibility issue and has to engage in a realistic conversation on marijuana. It is here, it is not going away, and with proper regulation will be far less harmful than prescription drugs, homemade drugs, alcohol, and synthetics.
Washington State Looking to Keep Tight Legal Marijuana Regulations
The demographics of the United States are changing everyday. The newer generation of Americans no longer wish to see their peers treated unfairly because of who they wish to spend the night with. Even the Boy Scouts of America, an organization that has traditionally banned any gay members, is now reconsidering their position. Last November’s election showed that the country is heading in a new direction as states enacted marriage equality acts, and two states (Colorado, Washington) legalized recreational marijuana use.
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and Attorney General Bob Ferguson met with U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder last week. The meeting was aimed at striking a balance between federal and state regulations. Washington state is moving forward with what their people want, a taxed and regulated marijuana market. However, Washington officials are not abandoning caution, and understand the concerns that opponents have about marijuana leaving state lines. The state is seeking the help of marijuana experts to help ensure that the proper regulations are set in place.
Washington and Colorado are hoping to create the model for how this can be done. Polling and recent voting shows a surge in support for drastic marijuana reform and there are no signs of this trend slowing. Washington’s Liquor Control Board has posted ads that indicates they seeking individuals with “at least three years of consulting experience relating to the knowledge of the cannabis industry, including but not limited to product growth, harvesting, packaging, product infusion and product safety.” Medical marijuana employees will likely be the target employees. The state is looking to determine safety and testing regulations, the proper amount of storefronts. There is time to work this out but the regulations are expected to be in place sooner than later as legal sales are expected to begin in December.
It may be about time for the federal government to start posting their own job advertisements. We are supposed to look to the federal government for guidance and should not have to enact common sense law ourselves years before they will even consider discussion. It is a fast paced, internet and technologically driven world that will soon not tolerate snail paced governing. Tough talk, failed policy, one liners, and bitter partisan politics are no longer in step with what most Americans want. If Washington state can demonstrate a connection to what the people want, we hope that Washington D.C. follows suit.
Parents Find Success in Treating Autistic Son With Marijuana
The medical marijuana movement has gained traction simply because it has produced results. Despite the talking points of politicians who still claim to want more research but also want to block said research, patients testimonials have been strong and heartfelt. Also during this time of medical marijuana expansion we have seen a significant rise in autism diagnoses. One family living Oregon has found that marijuana has done wonders in treating their son’s violent episodes related to his autism.
This story is sure to cause considerable controversy. Those looking in, who are not faced with this difficult situation may be quick to render judgement. However, the parents of Alex Echols seem to want to provide a better and safer quality of life for their son. Traditional medicine and treatments were not effective in reducing Alex’s violent outbursts. As a result the family decided to try something unconventional. They have noticed results and seem pleased with their son’s progress. However, they are not advocating that everyone in their situation try this.
We are only going to get to the bottom of marijuana’s efficacy by research. With the vast majority of the country feeling that the federal approach to this issue is a failure at best, when will we see change? Federal authorities are still hiding behind the red tape. We have heard so much about individual rights from Congressional members, though most members in the House are eerily quiet on the subject. If marijuana is so devastating and deserving of its Schedule I classification, WHY NOT conduct the research and prove once and for all it’s dangers? The federal government owes the American people this protection. We need and must know if this plant, that is available everywhere, is causing the widespread damage authorities claim. We owe it to 11 year old Alex Echols if his reduction in violent behavior carries with it an even greater risk. The only conclusion is that our government is outright lying/misleading on marijuana, or that they have absolutely no concern for our safety.
President Obama Officially Starts His Second Term
Earlier today America watched the President of the United States be sworn in for his second term. There was an enormous crowd on hand to witness the historical event. Unfortunately, in modern day politics, the day would not be complete without House GOP members playing politics with the Presidential Inauguration. Many skipped the event with critics accusing them of making America “look like brats.”
It does not feel as if four years have passed since we lasted watched Barack Obama recite the oath. There was optimism in the air for activists when President Barack Obama became president in 2009. The self proclaimed fan of marijuana took a progressive stance on our failed marijuana policy. He informed the public that marijuana was a low priority and that he did not envision the Department of Justice using significant resources to attack the medical marijuana industry. Over the course of the last year and a half, however, those statements seemed to be challenged by federal raids in California, Colorado, and Montana.
As we have already covered in previous articles, 2012 looks to be serving as a key turning point in the marijuana reform movement. If the recent tax and “fiscal cliff” debate are any example, then finances are going to be a point of contention for some time. It is time for this president to re-prioritize our resources. America wants our children protected and lack of funds for mental health facilities, or additional police officers for schools will be considered unacceptable by the public.
Marijuana.net recently reported that a high profile Obama ally, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, has publicly discussed reforming marijuana laws in his state. Cuomo may be testing the waters for future political action. Since his statements have not resulted in a political suicide, we hope the president takes note. Any president is conscious of his legacy and we wonder exactly what President Obama was thinking as he placed his hand on that bible and said “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” Somewhere in that Constitution we are pretty it says something about protecting the rights of the people.
NY Governor Cuomo Using Spotlight to Highlight State Marijuana Reform
It has been a busy few months for New York state Governor Andrew Cuomo. The Obama ally maintained a high profile during the election (he seems to be poised to make his own run for the White House) and campaigned for the president. Governor Cuomo has also been vocal in his criticism during the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy which includes attempting to break up LIPA’s energy monopoly and has demanded that Congress appropriates money to the region to help rebuild. He has also gotten out in front of the gun debate and is seeking to make pass one of the country’s toughest assault weapon ban.
However, Governor Cuomo has also taken on another important issue. When Mr. Cuomo first ran for governor he maintained a traditional skepticism to marijuana reform. He even sounded harshly against any progressive legislation in this area. Over the course of the past two years his public comments have softened considerably. Last spring, the governor informed the public that he was seeking to eliminate New York’s controversial “Stop and Frisk” policy. This loophole, goes against the spirit New York’s marijuana decriminalization laws that were passed in the 1970s. Possession of under 25g (concealed) is supposed to result in a civil citation ticket. However, if marijuana is in “plain sight”, then the charges escalate to a much more severe misdemeanor.
Earlier this week, Governor Cuomo re-affirmed his stance. On Wednesday, in a public speech he said “The legislature finds that arrests, criminal prosecutions, and criminal penalties are inappropriate for people who possess small quantities of marihuana for personal use. Every year, this process needlessly scars thousands of lives and wastes millions of dollars in law enforcement resources, while detracting from the prosecution of serious crime.” He also said marijuana arrests that “stigmatize and criminalize must end now.”
Advocates for marijuana reform have been pleased to see Governor Cuomo trying to fix the controversial loophole. “Stop and Frisk” is used primarily within New York City’s jurisdiction and unevenly targets Blacks and Hispanics, many of whom are teens. Gabriel Sayegh, New York state director for the Drug Policy Alliance, said “We cannot have the same laws applied differently to different groups of people when the dividing line is race.” While New York City is known as a progressive haven, the rest of the state has been resistant to making any changes to marijuana laws. However, with mounting debt and new financial priorities after Hurricane Sandy, New York can no longer afford to lock up so many people who pose no public threat. Many residents are angry over their tax dollars being used to fill up jails with teens. We are glad to see the Governor take initiative and if the second generation governor (his father is former NY Governor Mario Cuomo) with obvious presidential aspirations feels he can get this done without political turmoil, then it is obvious that the reform movement has turned a major corner.
After an Up and Down 2012, Americans Welcome 2013
The new year represents a fresh start for everyone. Last year was eventful and saw difficult times especially toward the end. The Newtown school shootings (among the other horrific acts which include3 the Aurora movie theater massacre) and Hurricane Sandy have made the end of this year painful for so many. A tense election and the so-called “fiscal cliff” left a sour political taste for many Americans.
However there were many highlights in 2012 as well. The November election saw one of the rarest sights in America. Individual rights were returned to the people in several ways. Several states legalized and/or voted down amendments to outlaw same sex marriage. Children brought here through no fault of their own illegally, will be allowed to stay since President Obama signed an executive order in June. Of course, there were marijuana victories as well. Connecticut and Massachusetts will join the growing list of states that will provide relief for patients through medical marijuana. New Jersey also served its first patient, after years of bureaucratic delays. Of course, the biggest developments in marijuana reform took place in Colorado and Washington where recreational marijuana will now be taxed, regulated, and distributed by state governments.
The ripple effects from Colorado and Washington appears to be putting pressure on the federal government to stand aside. There is much to look forward to in 2013, including the future of a bill introduced in Congress that would prevent federal agents from interfering with state marijuana laws. The bill, which is being referred to as “The Citizens Rights Act” and “Respect States Act”. This bill would allow federal law to remain intact, but it would step aside and not take precedence over state laws. Although 2012 was a wild year, we have high hopes for 2013. We wish everyone a happy and safe new year!
Developing Marijuana Stories During the Holiday Season
We at marijuana.net hope that everyone who celebrates Christmas had a wonderful time and we also wish you a fun and safe New Year. Most of the news is related to the approaching “Fiscal Cliff”, and Congress’ inability to serve their function and run the country. The news out of Washington is a little depressing so check out the links below to some interesting stories related to marijuana.
– Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Finally Receive Approval to Open in Washington D.C.
– New Jersey Woman Makes Her First Medical Marijuana Purchase and Finds Relief
New Study Shows Teen Brain Tissue Not Impacted by Marijuana Use
Lately, much of the marijuana talk has been the historic legal victories in Washington and Colorado. Other stories have discussed New Jersey distributing medical marijuana to patients after years of delays. However, it is important not to lose focus on one of the major reasons why marijuana has gained mainstream acceptance. It is proving to be an incredible medicine.
Opponents of marijuana reform are keen on hiding behind the “what about our children” remarks. In no way do we feel that minors should use marijuana, but we do want to highlight the truth. A new study, conducted at UC San Diego, examined the scanned results of 92 teenage brains over an 18 month period. Half of the group used marijuana and alcohol frequently before on during the 18 months. The other group abstained or consumed very little amounts of alcohol during the period. For teens who drank more than 5 drinks at least twice per week, the scanned images showed a reduction in white matter brain tissue. This could greatly impact memory, decision making, and other mental processes as they become adults.
Those who primarily smoked marijuana yielded very different results. For those who smoked at least 9 times per week, there was no change in brain tissue. The results come at a time where some may fear marijuana’s legalization in Colorado and Washington. Perhaps this will help push forward new plans to reform marijuana policy. Additionally, we may want to continue this research, as alcohol’s impact on the developing brain needs to be more understood.
Those who simply want to keep the status quo, or who hide behind pills and alcohol being legal should pay full attention. The previous century saw propaganda and fear construct our marijuana policy. We have a failed war on drugs, teens being unfairly incarcerated, billions of dollars wasted, and sick patients in need of relief. Their time has passed as information is exchanged more quickly and freely than ever before. Scare tactics will no longer dictate our legislative direction.
After Historic President Obama May Be Ready to Examine Marijuana Reform
Often a politician’s true feelings are not decipherable until after they no longer face the prospect of re-election. While President Obama’s 2008 campaign included a progressive tone to the war on drugs and marijuana reform, his first term drifted away from those sentiments. Federal raids on dispensaries have been at an all time high under President Obama, more so than the Clinton and Bush years combined.
While normally an elected official could risk paying a high price such misleading political statements, marijuana advocates were left with little choice as Republican challenger Mitt Romney stated that he would medical marijuana “tooth and nail”. One year ago, sensible marijuana reform and all the hard work for 15 years seemed to seriously be at jeopardy. Raids were underway in California and Newt Gingrich (who vowed to increase government efforts on the failed war on drugs) was the frontrunner for the GOP nomination. While the atmosphere was starting to appear toxic, activists remained undeterred. Groups such as Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol (Colorado) and New Approach Washington were able expand awareness and help collect enough signatures to get legalization to the ballots. The legalization of marijuana in Washington and Colorado seems to be a game changer
Elections clearly have winners, losers, and consequences. The international community, especially our neighbors to the south have been calling on the United States to alter its approach to the War On Drugs. The Obama administration seemed unmoved by the international pressure. President Obama even sidestepped online forum questions on marijuana several times. Through all of this many kept their fingers crossed that President Obama would take on a softer tone as he likely will never be running for public office again. The second term is here and marijuana activists were thrown a bone recently.
Even as the media coverage is narrowly focused on the so called “fiscal cliff”, the president must have taken notice of what happened in the two now legal marijuana states as he felt compelled to comment on the issue last week. He recently told Barbara Walters that “We’ve got bigger fish to fry,” Mr Obama said in a nationally televised interview. “It would not make sense for us to see a top priority as going after recreational users in states that have determined that it’s legal.” He also went on to say that the Justice Department is researching how they can reconcile the differences between federal and state law. The president does not even have to draft his own legislation as The Respect States’ and Citizens’ Rights Act of 2012 has already been introduced to congress. The bill, which is sponsored by Colorado Rep. Diana DeGette, would amend the US Controlled Substances Act and prevent federal law from taking precedence over state law.
It remains to be seen what exactly President Obama will do in regards to marijuana reform. Unlike previous politicians, President Obama has previously professed his love for marijuana in print. In his 1995 memoir “Dreams from My Father,” the president stated that he smoked marijuana like Dr. Suess wrote about Green Eggs and Ham. Here, there everywhere. Other reports suggest he was part of a pot smoking group named “The Chrom Gang”. This is not to say that he must be forever tied to his actions as a teen and college student. However, for a president that had a personal love for marijuana, and now has first hand experience in the failings of the drug war, it should be expected that he try his very best to fix this mess. While the future is unclear, it is encouraging that marijuana would even get any airtime as fiscal cliff coverage, the aftermath of the Newtown shooting, and a re-energized conversation on gun control is dominating the airwaves.
Tragedy Strikes The Northeast Again as Our Hearts Go Out to the Families in Newtown Connecticut
Fresh off of a natural tragedy, the northeast has been trying to rebuild and heal emotional wounds. Families, homes, and massive infrastructure have been devastated. In no way is the rebuilding in the aftermath of Sandy done, but the 12-12-12 telethon and massive money raised was starting to help everyone feel good during an otherwise sad holiday season. The money raised will be vital to rebuilding efforts as the widely unpopular lame duck Congress is now bickering about whether or not they should help the region. Mitt Romney was not the only loser on last month’s election day. Apparently compassion also was running for another term, but as of now seems to be a few votes short.
We’ll hope that compassion returns because the Northeast just received another unwanted development. By now, we are sure mostly everyone is aware of the tragic shooting that took place at Sandy Hook Elementary School. There is no need to recap the events that transpired earlier today. We at marijuana.net would like to extend our deepest condolences to those impacted by this incident. This senseless act of violence accomplishes nothing more than ripping apart innocent lives and families.
Life will never be the same for so many people that live in this community. Areas such as Columbine, Aurora, and Blacksburg are still trying to get over the pain of those shootings. Connecticut has so much work to do as areas such as Norwalk were hit very hard during Sandy. Even as they try to rebuild Coastal Connecticut, emotional rebuilding may never be complete in Newtown. The region needs everyone’s help. Individuals can send money if they do not live close. They can volunteer and help those in need. However, the most important thing we can do is pay attention. If someone is upset or needs help, a simple conversation may be the most valuable tool. We may not be able to prevent every tragedy (all of the facts of the Newtown shooting are not even known yet) but our only chance is to be good and caring neighbors.