Marijuana.com

Bellatrix

3 Western States to Vote on Pot Proposals

Sun Oct 10, 1:12 PM ET | U.S. National - AP | By DAVID CRARY, AP National Writer

PORTLAND, Ore. - The Bush administration's war on drugs stretches deep into Asia and Latin America, yet one of its most crucial campaigns — in the eyes of drug czar John Walters — is being waged this fall among voters in Oregon, Alaska and Montana.

In each state, activists seeking to ease drug laws have placed a Marijuana-related proposal on the Nov. 2 ballot as part of a long-running quest for alternatives to federal drug policies they consider harsh and ineffective.

If all three measures are approved, Montana would become the 10th state to legalize pot for medical purposes, Oregon would dramatically expand its existing medical-Marijuana program, and Alaska would become the first state to decriminalize Marijuana altogether.

Walters has been campaigning in person against the measures, taking a particularly aggressive role in opposing Oregon's Measure 33. It would create state-regulated dispensaries to supply Marijuana, let authorized growers sell pot to patients for a profit, and allow patients to possess a pound of it at a time instead of the current 3-ounce limit.

Bellatrix; isn't it against the law for a member of the gov't to use tax dollars to influence a vote like this? It strikes me as a serious conflict of interest.

"They use medical Marijuana as a Trojan horse," Walters said of the measure's supporters. "People's suffering is being used for legalizing drug use beginning with Marijuana and moving forward."

Bellatrix; it's amazing that Walters has so much nerve, considering what just happened to Jonathan Magbie (thanks again Sue, for posting this the other day). He talks about suffering but he obviously doesn't really understand the meaning of the word. Also typical how he raises the spectre of full-legalization. People react in fear automatically without even thinking of the consequences, but the truth is that drug legalization would be very beneficial to society in a lot of ways. The neo-cons also threatened that the sky would fall when gay marriage was legalized, but, here we are.

Oregon and Alaska are among nine states which, since 1996, have adopted laws allowing qualified patients to use medical Marijuana. The others are California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, Vermont and Washington.

The U.S. House defeated a proposal in July to stop the federal government from prosecuting people who use Marijuana for medical reasons in states that allow it. A case raising that same issue is to be considered soon by the Supreme Court.

Oregon and Alaska activists say their ballot measures would eliminate problems patients now face in obtaining enough Marijuana to ease their suffering.

In Oregon, for example, the 10,000 patients enrolled in the current program must grow their own pot or get it from designated "caregivers" who cannot be paid.

"It takes knowledge, money and everything going right to grow high-quality Marijuana," said John Sajo, 48, a longtime drug-reform activist who runs the Measure 33 campaign from a cramped office. "Most patients suffering debilitating medical conditions just aren't able to grow their own."

Madeline Martinez, a former prison guard, does manage to grow Marijuana at her Portland home. She appreciates the chance to legally use pot, rather than powerful prescription drugs, to ease the discomfort of her degenerative disc and joint disease.

"Instead of being in a drug-induced stupor, I can interact with my grandchildren," said Martinez, 53. "It's given me the quality of life I wanted."

The Oregon Medical Association differs, calling Measure 33 bad public health policy. Oregon's prosecutors also oppose the measure, which trails in statewide polls.

"There's enough stuff out in our world to lead young people astray without adding another one," said Benton County District Attorney Scott Heiser.

Bellatrix; Won't SOMEBODY please think of the gravy train...I mean, the children! I'm sure the district attorney knows that there are already of plenty of kids that can already get pot, and that it's illegality actually makes it easier for them to get. I think he's more worried about his office getting a budget cut.

Alaskans will vote on a measure even more far-reaching than Oregon's — to prohibit prosecution of anyone 21 or older who consumes, grows or distributes pot for private personal use. It would allow authorities to regulate Marijuana along the lines of alcohol and tobacco — for example, taxing it and barring its use in public.

Even a leading foe of the measure, former U.S. Attorney Wev Shea, believes it might pass, thanks partly to sophisticated advertising backed by national Marijuana-reform organizations.

"They've got a lot of money behind them and they're running a very professional campaign," Shea said in a telephone interview. "It's difficult for us on the other side — we don't get paid a penny."

Bellatrix; HA HA HAAAAAA!!!! How much money did the DEA alone suck out of the pockets of US taxpayers in the past year? How much money is John Walters using to go out and stump against these initiatives? The image that Prohibitionists project - as if they're just doing this out of the goodness of their own hearts because they are deeply concerned for our well-being - is laughable.

Under a 1975 state court ruling, Alaskans already have the tacit right to possess up to four ounces of pot in their homes for personal use. Shea said decriminalization supporters suggest in ads that any crackdown on at-home pot use might be followed by a crackdown on gun ownership.

Shea contended that the state's top elected officials, and Alaska-based federal authorities, have been too reserved in challenging the measure, apparently because of concerns that they shouldn't actively take sides in a referendum campaign.

"They're so worried about offending the so-called freethinkers in Alaska," Shea said. "But you've got to stand up for what you believe in."

Bellatrix; "so-called"? Meaning if you think Marijuana legalization means freedom, you are wrong? Gee Shea, nobody has died in jail lately on "your side" either. Real freedom is doing everything the gov't tells you, I guess. Then she says "you have to stand up for what you believe in." Well, what if you believe in a gov't policy that kills people and/or makes them suffer? And how come the people who are backing the bill don't have the same right that you do? Oh right, they aren't "people" - they are "so-called freethinkers" and "outisde groups."

Walters acknowledged that Alaskans' libertarian attitudes might benefit the other side — but feels approval would be a disaster.

"I don't think there's another state that's suffered as much from substance abuse as Alaska," Walters added. "It's shocking that we'd have outside groups working to make this problem worse."

Bellatrix; first, Walters offers no evidence for his claim that "substance abuse" is such a huge problem is Alaska, as if we're just supposed to take his word for it. Then he alludes (like his colleugue Shea) that it is mostly rich people from other places suporting the bill.

In Montana, a recent poll indicated the medical Marijuana measure would be approved, and few top officials have campaigned vigorously against it. The chief spokesman for the measure, investment adviser Paul Befumo, is aware that such proposals have always prevailed when going before voters in other states. "You don't want to be the first that loses," he said.

National drug-reform groups hope state medical-Marijuana programs will proliferate, and have produced studies asserting that existing programs don't trigger increases in youth Marijuana use or other feared problems.

"It's slow and cumbersome to go state by state, but when you do get closer to the people, it seems you have a better chance," said Bruce Mirkin of the Marijuana Policy Project. "If people keep supporting reform measures, at some point a light bulb will go off over Congress and we'll see changes at the federal level."

Bellatrix; it never ceases to amaze me how long people will keep on lying to your face, nor how long their tricks will work on the uninformed or just plain guillible. Walters and his cohorts have not only been sent to kill the bill, but to demonize anyone who supports it.

I don't understand why people don't spit at John Walters as he walks down the street. He's a disgusting excuse for a human being.

__________________

Marijuana.com Community Posting Guidelines
Marijuana.com Article Submission Guidelines

FREE MARC EMERY

 

Higher Logic

You know that part of yourself that laughs at cruel and unusual things; well, after reading that I must admit I had a good laugh. It must have been the visual in my head. Picture this: Walters enters, stage right. Men, children, and women walk up to Walters hocking loogies all over him as he is booed out of town and office as he drags his tails between his pathetic legs while shouting "druuuugs are just bad, mmmk?!"

__________________
Crucial Web Hosting · Garden's Cure · Marijuana Recipes · Drug Testing Facts

Dilution · Substitution · Urine Testing · Hair Testing · Drug Testing FAQ

Herb Ninja

I doubt Walters casually walks down the street.
I imagine bureaucrats as hated as him are very discreet, especially if not protected by government agents. Peace, HN-

__________________
Ron Paul for the Long Haul

cassiusclay

People like Walters don't accept input from anyone who disagrees with them, and with his power he'll always be able to shield himself from all of them.

Stephanie S.

That reminds me of chasing down the Suburban Senator Tob Coburn was riding in near my hometown and finally catching up to flip him my middle finger. As my friends and I raised our hands, he smiled and waved...as we raised our middle fingers, his face fell in such a comical way we must've laughed about it for an hour.

Unfortunately, flipping the bird and hocking loogeys isn't going to change the mindset of this terribly misguided fellow.

peace

__________________
"See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda." —George W. Bush, Greece, N.Y., May 24, 2005 (Listen to audio)

 

SinsemilaStreet

The state of Idaho could use an extreme marijuana makeover.

Most of Idaho (with the exception of the greater Boise metro area) is very agricultural based. Many of our farmers like those in other primarily agriculture states have to survive on a kind of government welfare subsidy because their crops simply do not make them the kind of money to keep farming profitably. Idaho has a perfect temperate weather that grow marijuana nearly year-round witht he exception of winter.

If we were able to grow industrial hemp in our rich soil it would not only airate and clean out the soil with its deep root system, but it would invigorate the healing (from its hemp food lawsuit with the government) hemp industry and be a leader in the new hemp agriculture movement.

Additionally, unlike many of our Western state neighbors (heck, even Montana has an initiative going now) we are in dire need of medical marijuana initiatives, general drug law reform, and doing away with our minimum mandatory sentences.

I know that Boise and the rest of Idaho may look 'dry' but a lot of hemp and cannabis is grown all over this great state and half the city of Boise are closet pot-smokers, or have smoked in the past.

As a frequent visitor to Seattle I can tell you there is a distinct difference one feels when in public. I can enjoy a spliff in downtown Seattle while sight-seeing and shopping without the slightest paranoia about law enforcement.

However, I would never attempt that here in downtown Boise. I would have to be much more discrete.

I am currenty involved in starting sort of Boise Hempfest to rally our causes. Anyone with any information on starting these, or is a vendor, or can help provide speakers or entertainment can feel free to PM me personally. I would gladly like some advice.

__________________
"...marijuana is one of the safest, therapeutically active substances known to man." ~DEA Law Judge Francis Young

"Don't do drugs because if you do drugs you'll go to prison, and drugs are really expensive in prison." ~John Hardwick

mikey_c_tx

[quote]
Bellatrix; first, Walters offers no evidence for his claim that "substance abuse" is such a huge problem is Alaska, as if we're just supposed to take his word for it. Then he alludes (like his colleugue Shea) that it is mostly rich people from other places suporting the bill.


I live in alaska and yes, we do have huge issues with alcohol abuse. Its a rough state to live in and a lot of people that live here are running from something. alcohol abuse is a big problem we have.

what we dont have a problem with is pot use. Its been a part of most alaskans life since first arriving here. pot was legal from 1975 until 1994, then from 2003 it was legal to have up to 4 ounces in the home. all this really does is provide the government with the tools it needs to regulate pot to keep it out of the hands of minors.

if you live in alaska, vote yes on prop. 2 on nov. 2

__________________
"-they have taken my right to freechoice. a godgiven right. So i must take it back by force. I am defying a law that I do not believe in, made by a government I do believe in. Peaceful coexistence is what I desire. I fear I shall never see it."--Me

DaDornta

Mikey...I'll be at the polls to cast my vote nov 2nd...glad to see another AK'er on here!

__________________

Bluee

g0g0g0 Measure 33 in Oregon.

__________________
Pessimism is being content when things go bad, while enjoying life when proven wrong.