"I thought the term Jewish-Nazi, or Nazi-Jew, was an oxymoron until Cotler became the Injustice Minister," Mr. Emery's posting said. "What a disgrace he is to his Jewish roots. He should -- so much -- know better."
Granted it was an inelegant and rather stupid remark. If he hadn't used the word Jew, there would be nothing to say about it. But whose words over the course of a lifetime could stand up to such minute scrutiny? He was pissed off. He said something in anger. I understand he apologized. End of story already.
I would say this is a little misleading. While I believe marijuana is not an effective way to treat acute pain after surgery for instance, I do believe it's effective in easing acute pain that occurs as symptom of certain diseases.
However there is one heartening aspect of these guidelines in that they treat pain as a parameter of healing and there is talk of tracking it as a vital sign on medical charts. It's a good start towards acknowledging that treating pain with opiates is not the extreme option it's made out to be by the prohibitionists.
Discovering benefits, after all, would undermine the great anti-marijuana campaign that has taken hold in Washington. Marijuana is deemed to be such a powerful "gateway" to other drugs that it's become the top priority in the federal drug war, much to the puzzlement of many scientists, not to mention the police officers who see a lot of worse drugs on the streets.
Another great piece by Tierney and a special thanks to Ann Althouse for picking up on this story. She says,
...This makes it look as though the DEA is trying to prevent scientists from proving medicinal benefits. ...It's one thing to be against marijuana, quite another to be against scientific research.
Not exactly a searing indictment of the DEA but nonetheless, Ann - although she is no extremist - definitely blogs to the right. It's good to see a conservative of her influence take on the issue at all and especially heartening to see her take a stand against the DEA's self-serving position in preventing this very small but important research program at UMASS from going forward.
I remind you that you can also follow the progress of the case on the Craker blog.
Drug War Chronicle points us to a new report by the The Justice Policy Institute - Efficacy and Impact: The Criminal Justice Response to Marijuana Policy in the United States. Unsurprisingly they find little efficacy or impact on the use of cannabis, while they revel the socially destructive results of the policy. Facts of the day.
...the Justice Policy Institute (JPI) measured the effectiveness and consequences of national drug control policies that have resulted in the U.S. spending 300 times what it did 35 years ago on drug control. Criminal justice responses to marijuana - including law enforcement, judicial and corrections-accounted for $5.1 billion in 2000, according to Harvard economist Jeffrey A. Miron. Despite this increase in spending on drug control from $65 million to currently $19 billion, and the imprisonment of 30,000 people for a marijuana offense, marijuana usage has remained relatively unchanged regardless of arrest rates going up or down.
...In 7 out of 10 states marijuana arrests make up over half of all drug arrests and in almost 3 out of 10 states marijuana arrests make up almost 60 percent of all drug arrests. The U.S. locks up more people for marijuana than the individual prison populations of 8 of the 10 European Union nations—and locks up more people for marijuana than the prison populations of the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Portugal.
It's not a war on drugs, it's a war on selected consumers - responsible or not. It's certainly not a war being waged to the benefit of society when non-violent consumers are locked up for years, while violent criminals enjoy early release to make room in the prisons.
Great feature article in this week's Drug Sense Weekly. Mike Gray, the Chairman of Common Sense For Drug Policy, takes a look at the ongoing interference in the practice of medicine by the DEA. It's short, so read it all. Gray thinks as the boomers age and are in need of this sort of treatment, the public outcry will finally overcome the DEA's irresponsible campaign against medical practitioners, particularly since you have to be deaf, dumb and blind to see they prosecute this aspect of the war on some drugs for the sole purpose of seizing the doctor's significant assets and generating statistics that "prove" they're accomplishing something to "benefit" society - namely the destruction of an entire medical speciality and one that's badly needed by chronic pain sufferers.
As I've said before, the DEA should be disbanded. It has accomplished nothing constructive during the life of the agency. Gray cites Dr. David Brushwood, professor of pharmacy at the University of Florida who puts it more eloquently,
"Interference in medical practice by a federal agency is intolerable. If the agency insists on an approach to diversion prevention that misunderstands medical practice and victimizes pain patients, it has outlived its usefulness."
In fact, it's a big part of the problem. Where do think pain patients will go for relief if they can't find doctors to treat them? At least some will end up dealing on the street to ease their ongoing condition, further expanding the black market which was a lot smaller before the DEA tried to "destroy" it by going after the easiest and least culpable targets.
If we don't eliminate the DEA, the least we should do is eliminate forfeiture. I'd bet money the pain docs would become a lot less attractive a target, if their assets couldn't be seized before they were even tried by the courts.
... Downey's case simply underscores that the drug war is a costly and selective form of government paternalism that has done far more harm than good.
She goes on to cite the CATO Institute, Milton Friedman and Families Against Mandatory Minimums and closes with these words.
Black and white, young and old, famous and nameless -- Americans from all walks of life can identify with the broken soul of Robert Downey Jr. His addiction is his own prison. His public humiliation is its own life sentence. The war on drugs is an expensive quagmire that needlessly punishes people who've already punished themselves beyond repair.
I'm glad to know she was sane once, before she apparently drank the koolaid and decided to become a rabid pit bull for the White House. I wonder if she would write something like this today, in light of the administration's incomprehensible vendetta against cannabis consumers, not to mention pain management doctors.
The good news is, it's not there anymore. I never worked up the nerve to confront it but when I came home from work, it wasn't in its customary spot anymore. The bad news is, it may just have become irriated that I turned the AC unit on a few times in the last couple of weeks and have moved to over the trash can. I couldn't tell for sure in the dusk.
Meanwhile, the Daddy Long Legs have taken over the spot over the AC. Those are funny spiders but I know they're safe because I saw the garden center cashier pick one up. I have lots of those. They kind of come and go but every once in a while they will all pile up in one spot and it kind of looks like a giant dandelion puff.
City Hall was the scene of a marijuana smoke out over the weekend as 300 users lit up to celebrate Canabian Day.
Hamilton police watched from a distance Saturday while protesters -- most of them in their late teens and early 20s -- passed around joints, pipes and bongs.
Despite earlier warnings from police of swift arrests of anyone caught with marijuana, officers barely acknowledged the trafficking of pot happening right in front of them.
"I have an operational plan and I'm following it and it's working well," said Superintendent Glyn Wide. "I'm not interested in any altercation here today. We're just making sure people are going to protest safely and without any injury."
Keynote speaker and pot activist David Malmo Levine handed out more than half an ounce of unpressed powder bubble hashish -- worth about $1,000 -- to protesters who sat cross-legged in circles, pipes and bongs in hand. Bongs are specialized pot-smoking devices.
Isn't it cute that they explained that? There was a reported cacophony of positive response from the passing traffic to the sign, "Honk if you blaze."
This is what gives responsible cannabis consumers a bad name.
Oxford police found ten pounds of marijuana at a day-care center, resulting in charges against the center's owner and her son.
Gloria Rogers faces several charges, including trafficking in marijuana, and possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana. She is owner of Rogers Christian Day Care Home. She was released on $30,000 bond.
Notice this is a "Christian" day care. Is it me or do all the crazy crimes come those faith-based folks. The BTK killer taught Sunday School in one of those churches. The Olympics bomber was a Chrisian. But I digress.
Don't get me wrong, I don't think there's anything necessarily wrong with her dealing in a few pounds of marijuana but it's completely irresponsible for her to being doing so within such close proximity of children. Disgraceful.
News Brief Medical Marijuana Hearings Begin by Brendan Coyne
A hearing into a challenge to federal laws prohibiting research and experimentation with marijuana opened today, with the American Civil Liberties Union charging that the Drug Enforcement Agency’s efforts to fight such privately-funded research posed an unnecessary obstruction that could prevent researchers from definitively finding out whether the plant has legitimate medical uses.
The proceedings cap a four-year battle by a University of Massachusetts professor seeking to grow marijuana for research into the prohibited plant’s medicinal uses. Through its Drug Law Reform Project, the ACLU is representing the plant researcher, Lyle E. Craker, in front of a Department of Justice administrative law judge who will make recommendations to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).
We look forward to the updates and of course wish them the best of luck with the case.
Even former police chief Norm Stamper is a big fan of its time-for-a-change message and endorses it: "I think the scope and magnitude of the damage that's been done by the war on drugs far exceeds the damage of any other crime-fighting public policy in the history of the country."
Many weren't shy about firing up a joint while they lounged in the park. Seattle police were there, but spokesman Sean Whitcomb explained, "Marijuana enforcement is one of our lowest priorities. Keeping the public safe is our No. 1 mission at Hempfest." But as fair warning, he added, "That doesn't mean we don't enforce a crime if it happens in front of an officer." In other words, it's not wise to rub their noses in it.
Meanwhile the Arizona Daily takes a dim view of the festival in particular and cannabis consumers in general. Our Princess of Prohibition, Karen Tandy, could have written that piece for them.
Czechtek is an open-air international and multicultural music festival with 12 year tradition. Not only different genres of music, but also videoart and other art performances take place on this unique event of free culture.
In all history of festival there were no significant damages or problems, participants while leaving clean the land and take responsibility for their action.
Contract with the owner of grass plain was clearly shown to police. There is no indicaion that festival was in any way illegal, every aspect was according to law of Czech Republic.
Police blocked the roads leading into the event and coerced neighbors of the property to sign complaints.
Most of the people did not hear any appeal to leave the place, many of them had drunk alcohol-containing beverages and could not go away with cars, many of them believed that by taking part on legally organized festival they cannot be targeted by police.
The first police action on saturday 30, 16:30PM took several hours and was badly coordinated. On the place was 1000 policemen, water cannon, armoured tank and low-flying helicopter.
The second night attack at 22PM was led with extreme brutality. Police in heavy suits without identifying numbers refused to give identifying information, information about their command and information about first aid location. Police used massive amounts of tear gas and desorientation grenades, in many cases they threw tear gas granade into a car and did not let people inside for long time get out, in other cases they broke car windows by iron bars, threw grenade in and forced people to get out.
All people were beaten up, including teenage girls, which cried in pain. Witnesses described attack on lone staing girl, who was pulled down by her hair and kicked on the ground by four policemen.
There were hundreds of injuries, including cuts, bruises, burnings, broken arms, shock. Many people were in shock still the next day afternoon with red faces from tear gas.
The police then sent all these disoriented kids onto the road and opened the highway to traffic again, resulting in a fleet of delayed trucks, I assume semis, barreling down the road. One concert goer was killed.
I would say thank God we live in America, but considering how similiar this is to the Utah rave, all I can say is God help us all.
Between Ben and the blogosphere, the Trib posted an updated article that was a little more balanced. I won't bother analyzing this one because Pete Guither beat me to this and echoes my thoughts. He also links to a Provo article that indicates despite the cops' contention, the event was indeed fully permitted.
The thing really rankles me is the arrest of the security guards. The sheriff says they busted up the party out of concern for drug and alcohol use and then arrest the guys who are preventing it from being brought in - for holding it. Well what were they supposed to do? Run it down to local PD, baggie by baggie or have a big old bonfire and burn it as they consficate it? A bonfire is probably against the law at this time of year.
Sheer insanity. It's a culture war folks and it's a war on Americans - not drugs.
Outrageous. If you had any doubts that were now living in a police state, read this Kos diary. A fully permitted musical event was raided by armed cops in fatigues with helicopter support. They had no warrant. Their probable cause was alleged prior knowledge of illegal activities at similar events. To my knowledge there were no complaints.
You really have to read the whole thing but here's a couple of money grafs.
No one resisted. That's for sure. They had police dogs raiding the crowd of people and I saw a dog signal out a guy who obviously had some drugs on him. The soldiers attacked the guy (4 of them on 1), and kicked him a few times in the ribs and had their knees in his back and sides. As they were cuffing him, there was about 1000 kids trying to leave in the backdrop, peacefully. Next thing I know, A can of fucking TEAR GAS is launched into the crowd. People are running and screaming at this point. Girls are crying, guys are cussing... bad scene.
...The police were rounding up the staff of the party and the main promoter went up to them with the permit for the show and said "here, I have the permit." The police then said, "no you don't" and ripped the permit out of his hand. Then, they put an assault rifle to his forehead and said "get the fuck out of here right now."
They were beating up young girls. The event hired security guards to confiscate drugs at the gate. They were arrested for possession. The owner of the property was essentially forced at gunpoint to leave her own land. And that's not even all of it.
This is so egregious it demands action. Jeralyn also posted it so one hopes it will get some national attention outside of the reform community. Citizens have the right to assemble peacefully. This should not happen in America and judging by the number of emails I have in the inbox, we'll be talking about it again.
Update: Here's the link to only published story on it so far. It does appear to be a hack job. It's mostly just a steno job from the release but I found it even more appalling that this account puts the attendance at 400 people and they sent in 90 cops?
THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE. Potential sources are sought to provide security for transportation in Arizona of bulk quantities of marijuana for destruction. Individuals working under this requirement shall be qualified to legally carry weapons and able pass a DEA background investigation, as well as have experience providing security for transportation of sensitive items. The work to be performed will be the loading of multi-ton quantities of marijuana at a secure site, providing protection and security enroute to the destruction facility, offloading multi-ton quantities of marijuana at the destruction facility, and providing security until all the marijuana is destroyed.
The wildflowers have been a definite plus about living here. There's a lot that also grow up north but a few really nice ones that don't. Earlier in the season, there were a lot of these moth mullen around. The picture doesn't do them justice and it's fun to see wisteria and passionflowers growing wild on the roadside. I meant to dig one up from the construction site and bring it home but I never got around to it. I think it needs more sun than I have in any event.
Meanwhile, I have this weird little vine popping up in the back yard that I still haven't been able to identify. Kind of tender foliage with a three lobed leaf. They keep getting mowed down before they flower but there's one that just sprang up by the side of the house. I'm hoping that one blooms by the end of the season so I can figure out what it is. These little mysteries drive me crazy.
