Marijuana.com

xxdr_zombiexx

Pot users' march urges legalization of drug
We don't need to be putting people in jail for this."

London Free Press | 5.2.2004

TORONTO -- Marijuana users chanted "we love weed" as they marched through downtown Toronto yesterday, smoking their hearts out and urging Ottawa to legalize the drug. About 1,000 demonstrators rallied at the Ontario legislature and later marched through some of Toronto's busiest streets with a police escort.

They were led by Alison Myrden, who suffers from multiple sclerosis and is confined to a wheelchair.

She has long fought for legalized marijuana to ease her pain.

Protest is important to raise public awareness about the medicinal benefits of marijuana, Myrden said.

"People don't understand that sick people still don't have an affordable, quality source of medicine," she said. "Our government is not helping us."
Many Canadians with chronic illnesses have been granted exemptions under the law and can use marijuana legally to ease their pain.

But getting a reliable source of marijuana continues to be difficult for many medicinal users.
[SNIP]

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San Francisco March
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Marching for marijuana in Flint
Dozens push for legalization
WJRT | 05/02/04

By Darla HernandezFlint



The call is to change dope laws. Protestors say they want dope laws changed and marijuana should be legalized and regulated like alcohol.
It was a march unlike any other in Flint Saturday.

The "National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws", or NORML, hosted its third annual Marijuana March.

Dozens gathered to protest for pot. Many said patients with illnesses like glaucoma can benefit from marijuana by relieving pressure in their eyes.
Candace Collins favors legalization. "I very much believe there are the medical indications use of marijuana some people have muscular problems and they have problems, that marijuana helps."

Christopher Kotarski participated in the march. He says legalizing pot would free up cells for real criminals. "It would alleviate (sic) our jail systems. We don't need to be putting people in jail for this."

Jenny Moench has supported this cause for years and says marijuana should have the same restrictions like alcohol. She believes many people agree but are just too afraid to speak out.

"People are afraid they are afraid to say they support it, because, like I said, we live in a police state. So they are going to come in and get you if you do something they don't want you to."

Collins says the march is a way of helping those with serious illnesses in need. "They can do that in the night time in their beds and their not hazardous to anyone else."

There have been some steps taken to de-criminalize Marijuana. A few months back, A California court upheld a ban on medical marijuana raids in nine western states.

Michigan is not one of those states.
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'Cures, not wars,' chant supporters of legalizing marijuana
HERALD-LEADER STAFF REPORT | Sun, May. 02, 2004

Supporters of legalizing marijuana for medicinal use marched through downtown Lexington yesterday, chant-ing "Cures, not wars" at the federal courthouse after a rally in Phoenix Park.

Sixty to 70 people gathered at the park for speeches about marijuana's benefits in easing pain and other symptoms for people with cancer, glaucoma, AIDS and a host of other ailments.

They hope to change the federal designation of marijuana as a class 1 narcotic, meaning it has no medicinal value. Rally organizer Gatewood Galbraith said cannabis was once common in prescriptions, and it has been used for thousands of years.

Galbraith contended that legalizing marijuana for medicinal use would solve Kentucky's budget and health-care crises through savings in prescription costs and the reduction of adverse reactions to more addictive -- but legal -- drugs.
[SNIP]

[zombienote: Gatewood ROCKS! If you EVER have the opportunity to hear him, do so. I saw him speak last year at the Atlanta Pot Festival and those of you who think I am "too intense" need to hear him. I am dull by comparison.]

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Alien Space Signal

There's no money for your issue so long as we're squandering $50 billion a year on the DrugWar. Ben Masel

Fear became the ultimate tool of this government - V.

 

Logos

Ironically it is also:

I'll be out supporting my country by opposing these unjust marijuana laws.

In the words of our illustrious leader, yer either with us or yer again' us...

Logos

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Brother Logos
The more I learn, the less I know.
THC Ministry | The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ | The Reluctant Messenger of Science and Religion
True religion is real living, living with all one's soul, with all ones goodness and righteousness. --Albert Einstein

xxdr_zombiexx

Loyalty Day my @$$!

Bush is an unmitigated fascist, and NO friend of America. Look at what he has done!

Cannabis reform activism is the essence of being American.

He has opposed that day and night.


San Francisco Marijuana March 2004

fight4rights

I'm glad that people are out there supporting the cause.

It's impressive to see so many people who come together, but I think we should also try to educate people.

Someone who is for prohibition because the believe the propaganda about marijuana won't care about a march, they will just shrug it off as a bunch of potheads trying to make it easier to get their next fix. I think if we want to change minds we need to dispel the lies surrounding the sacred herb.

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"Those who do no harm to others should not be harmed by others..." Ethan Nadelmann
"Revolution is not a right, it is an obligation." John Locke
"Do SOMETHING besides argue emotions against the law, because it simply isn't a rational way to affect any type of change whatsoever. No offense intended, but your opinion on things is a moot point unless you take actions to change the law, rather than ramble about how unfair or injust it is." troublemaker_42
"'Just say no' to drugs, except those marketed by big pharmaceutical companies." Ignorant Politicians

Logos

I went to a rally today and ranted to a great bunch of people. Had a great time, and in the process we educated a few people who had no idea.

I ranted on talking to others about this issue, and how everyone needs to understand that this plant is benneficial. I hope others were able to take something away from that and talk about this issue with people.

I'm constantly amazed at who I get into conversations about this with, and I change their perspective every time.

Print out interesting articles from here, and leave them laying around where they will be found.

There are all kinds of things a creative stoner could to to educate people. If it were something we all did regularly, how much faster would these laws change? Simple things sometimes have the most impact, and they don't cost much in money or time, but bennefit the cause a great deal.

Stay active!
Logos

 

Jose Melendez

I want to say the new marijuana.com format works nicely, thanks!

Also, I hope my postings were not the reason this thread got shut down:

http://www.marijuana.com/420/showthr...235#post288235

In no way do I want to give the impression I am LEO bashing, just trying to get them to fight real crimes. In fact, I'm lobbying for a position at Justice, NSA or the State Department myself.

By the way, MUCH thanks and RESPECT to Niteshift for your kind tips. I had hoped you might also have friends in DeLand P.D. to ask personally for the records, instead of filing:

http://pipepeace.com/z

Logos

Hey Jose, nice to see you back. There have been a few changes since you were here last, well, okay, a whole revamp.

I don't think it was your comments, but you'd have to ask Mamabudz to be certain. She made the call.

Other drugs being mentioned outright is one of those taboo things now. Doing contrast work usually gets them to let it slide, but focusing too much on drugs that aren't marijuana (not to imply marijuana is a drug) without proper comparison could get comments edited.

Other than that, I'm happy to have you back, and the request to do some original writing for the site is always out there. Your style has impressed me since I read your first message years ago.

Peace!
Logos

Jose Melendez

Thanks, Logos!
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BTW, I just got back what seems to be the last draft of an interview with Dr. Dupont:

http://www.theweekly.com/news/2004/A...Marijuana.html

The column is in final stages, and any solid stats you can dig up on the social costs of incarceration and increased crime related to the contraband status of Cannabis will help to put things in perspective.

I think, and have been told by someone in the know that this has the potential to be a very widely reviewed, historic article.

http://rxpot.com/

Of course, it is really about jobs, and I'm pushing for settlements for the trauma they create on our side of this profitable (for them) war on (some) drugs:

from: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04/n668/a05.html?397

The exact number of officers covered in the settlement was unclear.* Dr Moodie said it was "the majority" of the 19 former officers.* A police spokeswoman said they understood the number was "in double figures".

Five other former undercover officers were paid about $480,000 last year in a Police Association-negotiated settlement.* The individual pay-outs varied depending upon each case.

All the officers claimed they suffered post-traumatic stress disorder and became addicted to cannabis and other drugs as a result of working undercover.* They claimed it also affected their career prospects.

Logos

Became addicted to cannabis...

Maybe we need to start screening potential undercover officers for addictive personnalities, because the only post traumatic disorder I have ever felt from stepping away from the herb is three days of very mild depression. Never had trouble sleeping, or cravings beyond a mild desire to get high. Cigarettes on the other hand... Run out of those, don't even want to think about that.

I could see them becoming addicted to something that is actually highly adictive. Couldn't the defense find any info out there regarding the level of addictiveness of marijuana? I have seen it 'round here somewhere... Falls somewhere below chocolate if I'm not mistaken...

Heh, Chocolate is a drug and we tell the kiddies to Just say no...

Just say KNOW!
Logos