ANOTHER DEFEAT FOR RIGHT WING STUPIDITY; ANOTHER VICTORY FOR MEDICAL MARIJAUNA PATIENTS

Of course you know I am in favor of the legalization of Marijuana. Not ALL drugs right-wingers, so calm the hell down. I have been a medical MJ patient, and I believe people would benefit from the use of herb. My parents were Cutty Sark Scotch addicts (alcoholics) they never left home without it. Whether we were heading to South Carolina, or Wisconsin, or wherever, that damn green bottle with the yellow label came with. No wonder I have had problems with alcohol.

Another comment: My mother was an individual that could have used marijuana. For instance, if she would have just smoked a joint instead of drinking, maybe she would not have slammed my head against walls so often. Maybe she wouldn't have pulled my hair out in tufts. Maybe she wouldn't have beat me and my sister with sticks or belts or hairbrushes or shoes. Maybe she wouldn't have slapped me in my pre-adolescent face so often. And Daddy-o, you lazy bastard, maybe if you smoked a little weed you would have insisted ole Barbara gotten some psychological counseling. Surely after your wife violently attacked your daughter at the dinner table that night when she was in 7th grade (but truth be told it was just another incident in a long line of years of out of control behavior by our mother and father)....and what did you do Stanny? Sit and watch and plaintively whine, "Barbaraaa."


Yes, my parents should have smoked weed, but they were all about obeying the law, except, of course, when it came to beating up their children.


Legalize it, period.

From the Philly Inquirer, Josh Meyer, L.A. Times, author


U.S. eases prosecutions on medical marijuana


WASHINGTON - The Obama administration told federal authorities yesterday not to arrest or prosecute medical-marijuana users and suppliers, paving the way for some states to move forward with plans to create officially sanctioned dispensaries to provide the drug as relief for a series of maladies.


The move by the Justice Department ended months of uncertainty over how far the Obama White House planned to go in reversing the Bush administration's stance on the issue, which held that authorities should continue to enforce federal drug laws even in states with medical-marijuana laws on the books


In new guidelines circulated yesterday, the Justice Department told prosecutors and federal drug agents that they had more important things to do than to arrest people as long as they were obeying the laws of states that allow some use or sale of medical marijuana.

In new guidelines circulated yesterday, the Justice Department told prosecutors and federal drug agents that they had more important things to do than to arrest people as long as they were obeying the laws of states that allow some use or sale of medical marijuana.


The move clarifies what some critics had said was an ambiguous position of the Obama administration, especially in California, where authorities raided numerous clinics and made arrests over the years. Some of those raids followed Obama's inauguration in January, after, as a presidential candidate, he had pledged to stop them.

The American Civil Liberties Union and other advocacy groups welcomed the move as an important step toward a comprehensive national policy on medical marijuana because it will allow states to implement their own laws without fear of interference from the federal government.


In all, 13 states have some form of medical-marijuana laws. But some, like New Mexico, Rhode Island, and Michigan, have been reluctant to implement programs amid fears they would be struck down by courts or shut by authorities, said Graham Boyd, director of the ACLU's California-based Drug Law Reform Project.

In New Jersey, the state Senate approved a medical-marijuana bill in February, with bipartisan support. An amended version, tightened to address concerns that marijuana could become too readily available, awaits a floor vote in the state Assembly. If approved, it would return to the Senate for a second vote. Gov. Corzine has said he would sign the bill if the Legislature approves it.


Under the amended bill, the state would issue identification cards to patients diagnosed with a "debilitating medical condition." Those patients would be permitted to obtain marijuana from authorized nonprofit alternative-treatment centers, in person or via courier or delivery.
Roseanne Scotti, director of Drug Policy Alliance New Jersey, which favors medical marijuana, said of yesterday's Justice Department move: "We're thrilled.. . . We think it bodes very well for the future of medical marijuana in New Jersey."

Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. said the new guidelines were adopted, in part, because federal law enforcement agencies had limited resources and need them for more pressing priorities. One of those priorities is countering the spread of violent Mexican drug cartels, which use the vast profits from their marijuana sales in the United States to support other crimes, the guidelines say.


The new guidelines stress that authorities should go after those who improperly abuse or obtain medical marijuana or use clinics as a cover for drug dealing and other illegal activity.
In particular, the Justice memo urges authorities to pursue cases that involve violence, illegal use of firearms, sale of marijuana to minors, excessive financial gains, and ties to criminal enterprises.

The change in policy was criticized by many law enforcement advocates, and some conservative groups and members of Congress. (who gives a shit? that's my comment, not the author's)
Rep. Lamar Smith (R., Texas), ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, said the decision undermined the administration's get-tough plan to attack the Mexican cartels, which he said were fueling drug-related violence along the U.S.-Mexico border.

One comment regarding Lamar Smith of Texas, in the Pacific Northwest, at least on the wet side of the mountains, all of our herb is local, it doesn't come from a Mexican cartel. We here in the PacNorth believe in local sustainability, supporting our local farmers, microbrewers, and small businesses, and smoking only the best around...

Peace-take care, HEALTH CARE FOR ALL NOW!
Mike

CAPE DISAPPOINTMENT-AT THE CONFLUENCE OF THE COLUMBIA AND THE PACIFIC

COMMITING MYSELF TO A CRUSADE (JIHAD) FOR CHANGE

Over the past 15 years or so I have had the distinct pleasure of dealing with the Office of Child Support Enforcement in the state of Arkansas. It has been a rocky and contentious decade and a half, with corruption, discrimination, bureaucratic bullshit, and general apathy from the government toward families. This is going to change. I cannot devote this blog exclusively to the child support problem but I will give some place to it.

I spoke with Dan McDonald today, administrator of the Office of Child Support(Extortion) Enforcement for the State of Arkansas. We had a 40 minute conversation with me outlining the issues working families face when the Government steps in and robs working families of at least 50% of pre-tax income. In this particular situation, the money that is taken from my paycheck is used to pay down a debt acquired by the custodial parent when the custodial parent applied for and received certain types of state aid.

As Mr. McDonald indicated the C.P. is required by law, that is forced, coerced, etc., to give up rights to any child support collected by the state. In other words, the state is robbing one family and taking the money and putting it in the state coffers. This policy is reprehensible especially coming from such an obviously Christian state. Hell they're right in the middle of the bible belt yet they extort money from families to give it to the greedy bureaucrats.

I also spoke briefly with state Senator Paul Miller, and bless his heart he sounds like a confused old man, the equivalent of John McCain wandering around the stage during the Presidential debate, just a guy on the verge of dementia. Don't get me wrong, his picture makes him look nice enough, but it was like talking to your old grandpa that just isn't firing on all cylinders

I have attempted to contact state Senator Tracy Steele today to no avail, back after it tomorrow.

Over time I will identify more and more my stances on issues regarding the OCSE. Suffice it to say, I believe a consensus can be reached that will benefit families, although the state will definitely lose revenue, because it isn't about the state you dumb asses, it is about the families.

I full believe that the current policies in place by the Arkansas Office of Child Support Enforcement lead to:
1. Increased alcohol abuse

2. Increased drug use.

3. Mental health issues

4. Physical health issues

5. Domestic violence.

By his own admission, Mr. McDonald doesn't agree with parts of the 34 year old system but until I get reform pushed through, he made it clear that he is, in fact, just another mid-level bureaucrat interested in maintaining the status quo.

As stated earlier, I will be contacting various elected officials around the State of Arkansas as well as Washington State, as Washington has a reciprocity agreement with the other 49 to commandeer paychecks and keep working families trying to obtain an education in abject poverty. This is a fact, a despicable one, and it is a discriminatory practice, an injustice I intend to rectify.

Stay tuned, Searchers-
Peace and Onward!

Post Script-for the future I am going to refer to non-custodial parents as NCP's and custodial parents as CP's...peace

DIABLO LAKE, WASHINGTON