News & Articles
Gary Johnson in Charlotte During DNC
As the Democratic National Convention occupied most of the headlines this week, another candidate for President was also in Charlotte. Gary Johnson attended several events in the Charlotte area which included a NORML demonstration and a Tea Party event about a half hour away from the DNC. The marijuana reform advocate seemed to enjoy his status as a third party candidate and possible spoiler for either Mitt Romney or Barack Obama. Johnson said “I really do wish I was known as a spoiler on both sides, that the notion that people really do care about the fact that we are in endless wars, the fact that we do care about civil liberties, that we have a growing police state.” While third party candidates have little chance of winning the presidency they can bring attention to their cause. Many feel that Ralph Nader and Pat Buccanan had a significant impact on the 2000 election. Both candidates should probably be fearful but Mitt Romney his campaign in particular seem worried about Johnson upsetting their chances for the White House. Attorneys for the Romney campaign have been filing legal challenges in many states including important swing states such as Virginia, which could be the key to the election. Mr. Johnson is a former Republican and may still have support from voters in the party who are not energized by Mitt Romney.
For more on Gary Johnson and his upcoming appearances click here
Farmer Accidentally Grows Marijuana
If someone plants tulips instead of roses they may be disappointed at the results. However, one would not likely be subjected to police scrutiny and possible criminal prosecution. A man in Germany made a more serious mistake with his planting. An elderly farmer planted marijuana seeds instead of sunflowers. He was very surprised to see the plants grow to 10 feet tall so quickly but did not seem to know they were marijuana plants. Locals noticed the plants and notified authorities. Police came and made the man plough the field. Officials believed that the cannabis was weak and would not have led to “addiction”. Authorities are still trying to determine whether or not to press charges. Under German law it is illegal to “knowingly” grow marijuana. It would seem the 74 year old farmer easily fits the description of unknowingly growing the cannabis plants.
For more on this story click here
Medical Marijuana Industry News September 7, 2012
More and More Evidence Supporting Marijuana’s Ability to Fight Cancer…
Marijuana.net has extensively covered the constant updates on the ability of cannabis to provide medical relief. One of the most promising areas of marijuana medicine is in its potential to reduce and fight cancer. Many simply cannot believe this as the propaganda machine has told a very different story. However, research and even a government study has indicated that marijuana and hemp oils may be the future of cancer medication. A new article on Daily Beast, highlights many of the marijuana medical breakthroughs over the course of the last 15 years, especially in cancer research. The article avoids political talking points and tired discussion, rather, opting to describe studies and research conducted at prestigious educational institutions including Harvard and Lancaster University and research printed in medical journals such as British Journal of Pharmacology and Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry.
For the entire article click here
Jimmy Carter’s Drug Czar Criticizes President’s Handling of Marijuana…
Every four years both major political parties in the United States hold conventions. Jimmy Carter continuously serves as a punching bag for Republicans and a stepping stone to gush over former Ronald Reagan. Decades later, while still perhaps not viewed as a successful president, some forward thinking ideas from President Carter are gaining traction. In 1977, President Carter wrote a letter to Congress urging re-prioritized efforts to focus on heroin and barbiturates as they were accounting for 90% of narcotic related deaths. Redirecting the drug war still has not been properly done but the momentum for this 35 years later is at an all time high. Echoing this are recent statements by Peter Bourne who served as the director of the National Drug Control Policy. Mr. Bourne characterized President Obama’s approach to drug enforcement as “totally insane” and urged the president to enact executive orders if Congress was unwilling to amend laws. The president is familiar with utilizing executive orders as the partisan gridlock of Capitol Hill has prevented many new laws from being passed. The president most recently used an executive order with his new immigration directive, which will allow those who came to this country as children illegally to stay here without fear of deportation. Bourne went on to say that federal raids of marijuana dispensaries and keeping marijuana as a schedule I drug (the same classification as heroin meth and other destructive narcotics) “doesn’t make any sense at all”. Peter Bourne also praised legalization efforts such as Colorado’s Amendment 64 and Washington’s Initiative 502.
For more on this story click here
More Marijuana Doctors than Patients In New Jersey…
The soap opera that is New Jersey’s medical marijuana program continues. It has been well documented and publicized that New Jersey lawmakers have dragged their feet on the issue. Medical marijuana was passed several years ago under exiting Governor Jim Corzine. Still, there has not been one single patient served. The current Governor, Chris Christie who delivered the keynote speech at the Republican National Convention, has tried to delay the program as much as he could. Getting approved as a medical marijuana patient is extremely difficult and seems to require more vetting than becoming an approved doctor to prescribe marijuana. Currently there are 130 approved patients who will eligible to receive marijuana prescriptions when the program finally gets underway. However, there are over 160 doctors who have been approved to issue these prescriptions. Conversely in Arizona, regarded as a tough state to receive a marijuana prescription, issued 700 prescriptions in its first year and has a significantly smaller population than New Jersey. Another issue perplexing patients is even getting an appointment. Of the 160 doctors, many are not even accepting patients.
Kal Penn and Activists Respond to Obama Ad
Yesterday we reported on a new advertisement being used by Obama campaign that highlights the popular “Harold and Kumar” characters. The ad depicts the characters in their typically lazy and “stoned” mindset (though marijuana was conspicuously absent from the ad).
A day later we now are seeing a lot of buzz from the ad. Many cannabis advocates were not pleased and are accusing the president of trying to capitalize off of a group that he has turned his back on. Morgan Fox of the Marijuana Policy Project said “The fact Obama uses these characters to joke about this issue while on the other hand continuing to arrest people he’s appealing to is really disingenuous.” He also went on to say President Obama “conducts more raids on medical marijuana facilities than Bush.”
Kal Penn tried to defend President Obama’s approach toward marijuana by saying “I think that the president’s been pretty consistent with that. He’s not in favor of legalization, we should be open about something like that. But what the president has done is take a really smart look at the Department of Justice and said, given the fact that the federal government has limited resources, we should be allocating them toward violent criminals and not towards non-violent criminals. We can see that not just in things like marijuana but in things like immigration reform where he’s going after and deporting violent criminals and making sure that if you’re a Dream Act eligible student that you know that you can apply for your deferred status. Wherever the federal government has an appropriate role, I think the president’s been very consistent in that. That’s something that I think folks should know.”
Many activists will not be pacified with the remark, especially as the president has used federal resources to go after non violent marijuana dispensaries. Including the Dream Act language in the statement is odd. While the president should be applauded for his decision to help out immigrants who had no say in entering the country illegally, the two issues have little to do with each other. Kal Penn may as well include the auto bailout in his statements or any other unrelated accomplishment by the president.
Marijuana reform supporters may be upset at the feeling that they are only used for political expedience. This election certainly will not focus on the needs of marijuana patients or those impacted by the failed war on drugs. Either candidate could benefit greatly from addressing the issue as they both are eager to outline their plan to fix our economy and reduce the looming national deficit. While the Obama “Harold and Kumar” ad may upset the community, at least the tone toward marijuana still seems friendlier than Mitt Romney’s promise to fight medical marijuana “tooth and nail”.
New Obama Ad Features Harold and Kumar
We are right in the middle of the political convention season as the Republicans concluded their event last week in Tampa and the Democrats just got underway last night in Charlotte. Last night many speakers gave moving speeches including First Lady Michelle Obama, San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, and war hero Tammy Duckworth. We will also be hearing from former President Bill Clinton and of course President Obama as the week continues.
We at marijuana.net recently learned of one surprising twist coming out of the Democratic National Convention. The president has not taken as much of friendly stance on marijuana reform as analysts previously predicted. While President Obama has stayed silent on the issue of dispensary raids, many have been left to think he has become anti-marijuana. A new campaign ad seems to indicate otherwise. President Obama has turned to a close cabinet member, Kalpen Suresh Modi, to help with re-election efforts.
Of course Kalpen Suresh Modi, is better known to movie and marijuana fans as Kal Penn, co-star of the “Harold and Kumar” movies. Kal Penn, or Kalpen has served as Associate Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement and is currently the co-chair for President Obama’s re-election campaign. He will also be hosting the DNC’s online coverage of President Obama’s speech to the DNC on Thursday. In a recent and humorous ad that is circulating on the internet, President Obama is shown making a call to someone requesting help. The camera then cuts to John Cho (Harold) and Kal Penn (Kumar), who appear hazy and lethargic with junk food littered all over. The two do not seemed phased by a call from the president with John Cho simply saying “sweet” when learning the Commander In Chief has phoned them.
The ad makes certain to substitute marijuana with junk food. However, tapping “Harold and Kumar” makes a direct case for comedy and of course cannabis. Pizza is surely not the reason for why the duo is lounging and watching television. The ad may simply be aimed at being comedic, and reminding viewers that Obama has a celebrity actor actively working for his administration. Certainly, this celebrity will offer a much less controversial moment than Clint Eastwood did for Mitt Romney. The ad also will make marijuana activists wonder exactly where the president stands. Is this a subtle reminder that he will protect medical marijuana more than Mitt Romney, who recently stated that he would fight medical marijuana “tooth and nail”? It does seem odd the Obama campaign would utilize marijuana stereotypes as they have come under fire from the community. Only a re-election and the future will tell if this is merely comedy or also a play at a base that previously supported the president passionately.
Mitt Romney: I Will Fight Medical Marijuana Tooth and Nail
Last week the Republicans held their convention and officially nominated Mitt Romney for president. Tonight the Democratic National Convention will get underway. Similar to the RNC, the Democrats will have many high profile speakers, including former President Bill Clinton who will speak later in the week. We hope the bizarre Clint Eastwood chair incident will teach the Democrats an important lesson and stay on message, engaging the public on the issues that are important. As many issues including the economy, abortion, and foreign policy will be discussed, marijuana reform and the war on drugs are not likely to be mentioned.
On the 2008 campaign trail President Obama took a friendlier tone to medical marijuana than the recent federal raids suggests. In all fairness, we at marijuana.net have called him out on what appears to be a policy shift, or at the very least misleading. However, he does still respect patients and has vowed not to arrest any patients. He has kept that promise. While politics as usual will not be enough for patients and activists, that may be what we have here. Many analysts believe a second Obama term would see a friendlier atmosphere toward medical marijuana. Some even believe he could finally reschedule. Of course no one knows for sure what the president may or may not do.
However, we are pretty certain a Mitt Romney presidency could be disastrous for medical marijuana patients and legalization advocates. Mitt Romney infamously walked away from a wheelchair bound patient who was asking if Romney would arrest him for using medical marijuana. Romney sidestepped the question and never fully answered it. However, in an uncharacteristic move Romney stated his views on marijuana reform very directly in a video we recently uncovered. Addressing a crowd Romney utilized the typical and outdated talking points that marijuana is a gateway drug and that leads to an entrance into “the drug culture”. He went on to say that medical marijuana was an excuse to legalize totally. While many activists believe in legalization, there are many patients out there who rely on medical cannabis. Their quality of life would be severely damaged without it.
The issue may not creep up too much as the candidates will surround themselves in very scripted atmospheres. Unless one of the debate moderators decides raise the issue it is unlikely we will get to hear an exchange between Romney and Obama on the issue. While many have not been thrilled with the president’s approach, patients should be terrified of what Mitt Romney has said. Also in the video we mentioned above, is Romney swearing to fight medical marijuana “tooth and nail”. We have not heard him take a passionate stance on much or even address issues directly so it is surprising that this is the issue Romney would take his stance on.
However, can we even be sure he believes in this anti-marijuana stance, as the elastic politician has successfully secured the GOP nomination while simultaneously flipping his position on almost every relevant social issue. Perhaps marijuana will join abortion, TARP, the auto bailout, government healthcare, the stimulus, Ronald Reagan, global warming, and the many other issues Mitt Romney has altered his view on. The Mitt Romney we watched on television Thursday addressing the attendees of the Republican National Convention looks nothing like (except in hair style and choice of suit) the candidate who ran against Ted Kennedy for the US Senate in 1994, won the Massachusetts governorship in 2002, or even ran against John McCain in the 2008 primaries. The silver lining for patients is that Mitt Romney is never married to his words and clearly reads polls. With 75% of the country supporting medical marijuana, there is a good chance he will abandon an anti-marijuana policy.
You can check out the video for yourselves
Labor Day Celebration
Today, Americans across the nation observe Labor Day. This Federal holiday celebrates the contributions of workers. The holiday is unique with anyone being able to partake since it is a celebration not bound to religion or ethnicity. It also can be a bittersweet day as it often symbolizes the end of summer. Many vacation and summer shops close its doors after Labor Day with schools often getting back into session shortly after. Barbeques, parades, and political rallies are all commonplace on Labor Day.
While most people simply think of enjoying a rare three day weekend and some grilling, few may be aware of its history. A machinist named Matthew Maguire, introduced the idea of Labor Day while acting as the Secretary Labor Union in New York. After attending the labor festival that was held in Canada every year, Maguire decided to try and bring the idea back to the United States. Though he was not successful in convincing New York to adopt the holiday, five years later in 1887, Oregon would become the first U.S. state to officially observe Labor Day. In 1894 Labor Day became a federal holiday and has slowly evolved into the holiday we enjoy so much over a century later.
We at marijuana.net wish everyone an enjoyable holiday. As the weekend’s festivities unfold it is a good time to take think about patients. Many will be able to eat, or be active with the help medical cannabis. During a time of year that is dominated by politics and negativity it is nice to take a day off from all of that.
Surprising Casualties in War on Drugs
We often speak of the ongoing “War on Drugs” and all of the casualties associated with it. Typically, most are referring to those who are murdered in Mexico as a result. We at marijuana.net
also speak of the victims in the United States which include non violent incarcerations, families ripped apart, violence associated with gangs, and the jobs and tax revenues lost from our failed policy. Unfortunately, we recently learned of a new tragedy associated with marijuana laws. In Pueblo County, Colorado, two men were searching for illegal marijuana grows by airplane. Sheriff’s Captain Leide DeFusco and former Police Captain John Barger crashed in a plane while searching for the illegal grows. John Barger was reportedly a flying enthusiast and was piloting the aircraft. Many locals volunteered in the search for the two men. The incident is devastating. The two men were doing what they have been trained to do and we hope in the future such risk will not be necessary. Hopefully illegal grows will dissipate and regulation will take it’s place. Marijuana.net extends our condolences to the family and friends of bothy Captain Leide DeFusco and Captain John Barger.
For more on this story click here
Surprising Casualties in War on Drugs
We often speak of the ongoing “War on Drugs” and all of the casualties associated with it. Typically, most are referring to those who are murdered in Mexico as a result. We at marijuana.net also speak of the victims in the United States which include non violent incarcerations, families ripped apart, violence associated with gangs, and the jobs and tax revenues lost from our failed policy. Unfortunately, we recently learned of a new tragedy associated with marijuana laws. In Pueblo County, Colorado, two men were searching for illegal marijuana grows by airplane. Sheriff’s Captain Leide DeFusco and former Police Captain John Barger crashed in a plane while searching for the illegal grows. John Barger was reportedly a flying enthusiast and was piloting the aircraft. Many locals volunteered in the search for the two men. The incident is devastating. The two men were doing what they have been trained to do and we hope in the future such risk will not be necessary. Hopefully illegal grows will dissipate and regulation will take it’s place. Marijuana.net extends our condolences to the family and friends of bothy Captain Leide DeFusco and Captain John Barger.
For more on this story click here
As Convention Politics Dominate It is Important not to Lose Sight of Hemp Developments
Rand Paul, the son of the popular marijuana legalization advocate Ron Paul, has secured a passionate following in his own right. Rand Paul is a U.S. Senator from Kentucky, a state with an extremely rich hemp history. This week he spoke at the Republican National Convention, of course to no one’s surprise he did not bring up hemp and marijuana reform. We will not hold Rand Paul accountable for that as the RNC heavily vetted his speech, perhaps worried he would channel some of the ideas the Paul’s that are not in step with the GOP. However, while August has been a highly national political month as the presidential election kicks into full gear, another issue has gained momentum. Joining Rand Paul is Kentucky Agricultural Commissioner James Comer who is also seeking to reform outdated an ill advised laws restricting hemp farming. The two would like to alter Kentucky law before it becomes fashionable for other states to do so. Kentucky has traditionally been the center of hemp production in the U.S. and the feeling is that economic prosperity could return to Kentucky if they act now.