(AP) - In a former colonial mansion in Jamaica - the land of late reggae musician and cannabis evangelist Bob Marley - politicians huddle to discuss trying to ease marijuana laws. In Morocco, one of the world's top producers of the concentrated pot known as hashish, two leading political parties want to legalize its cultivation, at least for medical and industrial use. And in Mexico City, the vast metropolis of a country ravaged by cartel bloodshed, lawmakers have proposed a new plan to let stores sell the drug. [continues 1033 words]
Many Countries Now Emboldened to Rethink Stance in War on Drugs. (AP) - In a former colonial mansion in Jamaica, politicians huddle to discuss trying to ease marijuana laws in the land of the late reggae musician and cannabis evangelist Bob Marley. In Morocco, one of the world's top producers of the concentrated pot known as hashish, two leading political parties want to legalize its cultivation, at least for medical and industrial use. And in Mexico City, the vast metropolis of a country ravaged by horrific cartel bloodshed, lawmakers have proposed a brand new plan to let stores sell the drug. [continues 1298 words]
After purchasing an Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper on Feb. 21, I read the opinion piece by sportswriter Jeff Schultz, "UGA's policy gets it right." Schultz was referring to the UGA athletic drug policy following the recent dismissal of a key defensive football player. His factual observations, negative feedback from football fans and comparisons with other university drug policies hit the nail on the head when distinguishing between winning at any cost versus the lives of young athletes. Within this sports column, UGA Athletic Director Greg McGarity acknowledged that other SEC athletic directors had preliminary discussions about a conference-wide policy last year. McGarity further stated, "the issue got no traction with presidents." [continues 434 words]
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition Meeting With Legislators This Week When it comes to legalizing pot, you'd think you know which side the police fall on. But one law enforcement group is in Juneau this week advocating for the legalization of recreational marijuana, an issue Alaskans will decide with an August ballot initiative. "Tax and regulate, that's all we're saying," Lance Buchholtz, a 59-year-old retired sheriff from Wisconsin, told the Empire on Wednesday. Buchholtz is scheduled to meet with six state legislators on behalf of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, an international nonprofit organization that calls for the end of the War on Drugs. Its members are primarily current and former police officers, prosecutors and judges who reject a blanket prohibition and propose a tightly regulated system to control the drug market. [continues 683 words]
Nations Consider Following U.S. Lead in Easing Positions on Pot (AP) - In a former colonial mansion in Jamaica, politicians huddle to discuss trying to ease marijuana laws in the land of the late reggae musician and cannabis evangelist Bob Marley. In Morocco, one of the world's top producers of the concentrated pot known as hashish, two leading political parties want to legalize its cultivation, at least for medical and industrial use. And in Argentina, the nation's drug czar, a Catholic priest who has long served in its drug-ravaged slums, is calling for a public debate about regulating marijuana. [continues 1463 words]
Minister of Native American Church Says Religious Rights Prevail LIHUE - In what members are calling a victory for human rights, a narcotics case against the minister of a Native American church who uses ceremonial peyote was dismissed Thursday in 5th Circuit Court. Jesse Shane Johnson, 38, minister for Beauty Way of the Four Directions of the Native American Church of Hawaii, said he was happy that federal laws to protect religious and ceremonial rights prevailed. "I have been praying ceaselessly this whole time and trusting in God that this would come out right with recognizing the laws that are there to protect us," Johnson said. [continues 953 words]
If you put a rat in a cage with a lever that dispenses a drug like heroin, the rat will keep pressing the lever to get the drug and forget to eat. Everyone knows that, but did you know that if you also put some other rats in with him and a wheel and other things to do, the rat will eat and play instead? The original rat experiment is offered as proof that drug addiction is a disease. The disease theory of addiction holds that addiction is a brain disease that is incurable and can only be survived by total abstinence. The preferred treatment for the so-called brain disease is not medical, but a spiritual 12-step program that requires the addict place himself in the hands of a higher power because he is helpless in his addiction! [continues 469 words]
Change in U.S. Policy Spurs Advocates Abroad In a former colonial mansion in Jamaica, politicians huddle to discuss trying to ease marijuana laws in the land of the late reggae musician and cannabis evangelist Bob Marley. In Morocco, one of the world's top producers of the concentrated pot known as hashish, two leading political parties want to legalize its cultivation, at least for medical and industrial use. And in Mexico City, the vast metropolis of a country ravaged by horrific cartel bloodshed, lawmakers this week proposed a new plan to let stores sell the drug. [continues 1171 words]
In a former colonial mansion in Jamaica, politicians huddle to discuss trying to ease marijuana laws in the land of the late reggae musician and cannabis evangelist Bob Marley. In Morocco, one of the world's top producers of the concentrated pot known as hashish, two leading political parties want to legalize its cultivation, at least for medical and industrial use. And in Mexico City, the vast metropolis of a country ravaged by horrific cartel bloodshed, lawmakers have proposed a new plan to let stores sell the drug. [continues 1274 words]
United States' Drug Policy Fuels Big Push for Legal Marijuana Worldwide (AP) - In a former colonial mansion in Jamaica, politicians huddle to discuss trying to ease marijuana laws in the land of the late reggae musician and cannabis evangelist Bob Marley. In Morocco, one of the world's top producers of the concentrated pot known as hashish, two leading political parties want to legalize its cultivation, at least for medical and industrial use. And in Mexico City, the vast metropolis of a country ravaged by horrific cartel bloodshed, lawmakers have proposed a brand new plan to let stores sell the drug. [continues 735 words]
(AP) - In a former colonial mansion in Jamaica, politicians huddle to discuss trying to ease marijuana laws in the land of the late reggae musician and cannabis evangelist Bob Marley. In Morocco, one of the world's top producers of the concentrated pot known as hashish, two leading political parties want to legalize its cultivation, at least for medical and industrial use. And in Mexico City, the vast metropolis of a country ravaged by horrific cartel bloodshed, lawmakers have proposed a plan to let stores sell the drug. [continues 779 words]
Marijuana Legalization Movement Gains a Lot of Traction Across the Globe Following New Laws in Two States. (AP) - In a former colonial mansion in Jamaica, politicians huddle to discuss trying to ease marijuana laws in the land of the late reggae musician and cannabis evangelist Bob Marley. In Morocco, one of the world's top producers of the concentrated pot known as hashish, two leading political parties want to legalize its cultivation, at least for medical and industrial use. And in Mexico City, the vast metropolis of a country ravaged by horrific cartel bloodshed, lawmakers have proposed a brand new plan to let stores sell the drug. [continues 999 words]
(AP) - In a former colonial mansion in Jamaica, politicians huddle to discuss trying to ease marijuana laws in the land of the late reggae musician and cannabis evangelist Bob Marley. In Morocco, one of the world's top producers of the concentrated pot known as hashish, two leading political parties want to legalise its cultivation, at least for medical and industrial use. And in Argentina, the nation's drug czar, a Catholic priest who has long served in its drug ravaged slums, is calling for a public debate about regulating marijuana. [continues 1650 words]
An Overdose Almost Killed Me. but I Couldn't Make Myself Stop. Ben Cimons, 23, writes of his struggle with the seductive drug that almost killed him. Recently I received an e-mail from my mother with a link to the harrowing tale of a 16-year-old Northern Virginia girl who overdosed on heroin and died, and whose companions had dumped her body. My mom wrote that she found the story "terrifying, because that easily could have been you. I thank God every day that it wasn't, and that you are safe and healthy." [continues 1682 words]
It is said that Mother Nature is no fool. She created the marijuana plant, just like she created the coca plant (cocaine) and opium poppy (morphine). But, then again, Mother Nature created tonsils. On Nov. 6, 2012, the states of Colorado and Washington legalized the recreational use of marijuana, thus taking the great marijuana debate to another level. Prior to that, medicinal use was the discussion of the day. But make no mistake, the transition from medical to recreational was carefully orchestrated years ago by marijuana advocates. By that I mean the transition has come full circle. When marijuana proponents realized long ago that the country was not yet liberal enough to gain any traction on their bandwagon to legalize, they quickly adopted the medicinal angle, playing the humanity card with the notion that once medical use was accepted, then legislating recreational use was just a nine-iron away. [continues 546 words]
Any astute observer of the American sociocultural scene cannot ignore the increasing popular momentum for the realistic, practical acceptance of a broad range of non-violent human behavior, whether it be sexual preference or the decriminalization of the sale, possession and use of marijuana as a "recreational" narcotic, comparable to the use of alcohol. A growing number of states are legalizing weed, and I reflect upon my own experience in another age when I zealously became involved in the drug issue. [continues 887 words]
Part 3 (for part 2 refer to this link, http://www.state-journal.com/citizen%20news/2013/10/25/to-end-marijuana-prohibition-for-responsible-adults-or-not ) Recently in the news, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid embraced medical marijuana, political leaders from other countries are beginning to legalize marijuana and even President Obama stated marijuana is no more dangerous than alcohol along with voiced his support to the states which have legalized it already. (If you've missed that last one here is an article about it, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/19/obama-marijuana-alcohol_n_4627740.html ) [continues 644 words]
A St. John's man suffering from prostate cancer that had metastasized is crediting marijuana oil treatment with putting him on the mend. "It makes me feel 20 years younger, that's what the marijuana oil does," said Paul Morrissey, adding he shovelled snow for three hours during the recent blizzard and blackout with no problems. "There was pretty ferocious wind and snow. I came out of it looking like a walking popsicle. However after all that work and so forth I was in excellent condition. Even without cancer, I wouldn't suspect I'd last that long or do that well." [continues 661 words]
ST. JOHN'S - A St. John's man suffering from prostate cancer that had metastasized is crediting marijuana oil treatment with putting him on the mend. "It makes me feel 20 years younger, that's what the marijuana oil does," said Paul Morrissey, adding he shovelled snow for three hours during the recent blizzard and blackout with no problems. Morrissey's prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood levels have improved dramatically and there has been some regression in his lymph nodes and abdomen, said his family physician, Dr. Randy Hart, who was given permission to speak about his patient's case. Hart can't say if the unorthodox treatment helped. [continues 458 words]
In the 1820s and '30s, a wave of religious revivalism swept the United States, leading to calls for temperance until Maine passed the first state Prohibition law in 1846. By 1906, a new wave of attacks began on the sale of liquor. After the United States entered World War I, President Woodrow Wilson instituted a temporary wartime prohibition, and by October 1919, Congress had passed the National Prohibition Act. The Great Depression magnified the tempting potential revenue that liquor represented, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt's election spelled the end for Prohibition. All states had abandoned the ban by 1966. [continues 134 words]
