ALBANY - Legalization of marijuana for medical use may have a shot at legislative approval this year because Democrats, who now control the state Senate and Assembly, are sponsoring identical bills on the issue. State Senate Health Committee Chairman Thomas Duane and Assembly Health Committee Chairman Richard Gottfried, both Manhattan Democrats, are backing the legislation, which would allow patients to have up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana and 12 mature plants. "There are thousands of New Yorkers with serious debilitating, life-threatening, painful ailments who would benefit from the medical use under physician supervision ... of marijuana," Gottfried said yesterday. "The medical science is very clear and very well established that there are many patients for whom marijuana will ameliorate their symptoms or help them to tolerate their treatment, where other medications do not work." [continues 586 words]
There is a new blood diamond in international politics. This new product is enjoyed by 25 million Americans on a regular basis. It has led to the death of 6,300 people in one country alone last year. In one city, 1,600 have already been killed this year. Many have been beheaded and placed on display for all to see. The country with the largest problem is becoming the kidnapping capital of the world, and is one of two countries our government has classified as being in threat of complete government collapse. [continues 576 words]
Edmonton Conservative MP Peter Goldring said he's firmly opposed to decriminalizing marijuana. The bottom line is prohibition wastes tax dollars, subsidizes organized crime via massively inflated black market value, usurps Canadians' rights to choice, increases crime, deprives Canadians of a source of medicine and tax revenue, and makes drugs more easily available to kids. That isn't opinion, it is fact. Russell Barth (Yep, pretty much.) [end]
The B.C. Marijuana Party May Have Taken Its Final Toke. Party leader and local pot activist Marc Emery says he is considering shutting down the party. "It's quite possible I'll fold the B.C. Marijuana party and put my energy into the B.C. Greens after this election," Emery, a.k.a. the Prince of Pot, said. The Marijuana Party has been active in B.C. politics since May 2001 when the party ran a full slate of candidates during the contest that elected Premier Gordon Campbell by a landslide. [continues 60 words]
PHOENIX -- A doctor's note will allow Arizonans to buy marijuana -- or even grow the drug in their home -- if a national group seeking voter approval gets its way next year. The group has drafted a measure they hope to get on the 2010 ballot that would legalize medical marijuana here and set up a system of non-profit "dispensaries." Supporters say marijuana use has great benefits for people suffering from serious illnesses ranging from cancer to HIV. But critics have long argued legalizing medical use is a step towards full legalization of a drug they see as a "gateway" to more serious addictions. [continues 494 words]
Brunswick County sheriff's Deputy Adam Stanley says being a D.A.R.E. officer is the best job in the world. He gets to keep his badge while directly inspiring students to stay on the right path, building mutual respect and trust, he says. The county sheriff's office has assigned Stanley and fellow deputy Bradley Huggins as full-time D.A.R.E. officers, talking to the county's fifth- and seventh-graders about social responsibility and the harmful effects of drugs. But in Leland, the commitment to D.A.R.E. is holding up needed police resources, according to town police Chief Timothy Jayne. Jayne said if the town continues to fund Leland Middle's D.A.R.E. program, the ability to handle crime out in the streets could suffer. Cash-strapped Leland isn't hiring police officers right now. "We need extra personnel in the field," he said. [continues 616 words]
ALBANY - Legalization of marijuana for medical use may have a shot at legislative approval this year because Democrats, who now control the Senate and Assembly, are sponsoring identical bills on the issue. State Senate Health Committee Chairman Thomas Duane and state Assembly Health Committee Chairman Richard Gottfried, both Manhattan Democrats, are backing the legislation, which would allow patients to have up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana and 12 mature plants. "There are thousands of New Yorkers with serious debilitating, life-threatening, painful ailments who would benefit from the medical use under physician supervision ... of marijuana," Gottfried said Tuesday. "The medical science is very clear and very well established that there are many patients for whom marijuana will ameliorate their symptoms or help them to tolerate their treatment, where other medications do not work." [continues 532 words]
Re: "New worry: Who will step into the big boys' shoes?" (Gazette, April 17). So it seems that by arresting the drug lords of the Hells Angels, our police forces have simply cleared the market for the Hells' competitors - and all at the cost of millions of dollars and thousands of wasted police hours. When will this absurd war on drugs end? Don Ellis Montreal [end]
Cheech and Chong fans be warned, authorities aren't seeing the funny side of wacky weed, busting several fans for cannibis possession interstate. The irreverant US comedians and hippie culture advocates Cheech and Chong's Sydney stand-up show was the target of a police drug operation. The '70s stoners, who are part-way through their Cheech and Chong Light Up Australia tour, had to delay the start of their show at the Enmore Theatre in Sydney's Newtown on Wednesday, while police carried out the search with sniffer dogs. [continues 90 words]
Re "Catch and release" by Janelle Weiner (SN&R Feature, April 2): Catch and release" didn't quite land the big shark, though we see his teeth as he glides by in the third paragraph, where Weiner notes the resistance to deincarceration and changing "three strikes" among those who have a financial conflict of interest, including the [California Correctional Peace Officers Association] and all kinds of politicians (not to mention drug lords in Mexico and Afghanistan). But why have voters clung to three strikes? Why are they more interested in vengeance than justice? Why are they acting just like an abused wife, clinging to a possessive husband who has brainwashed her into fearful compliance with his protection racket? [continues 267 words]
The Answer Depends On Your Living Situation, And Just How Much You Trust Your Mom Editor's note: This is a guest column on privacy issues by local lawyer D. James Anderson. Last week he looked at whether police can search your home if they smell pot. This week he looks at who can let the police into your home or room. Here's the question: can a roommate, a parent, or a landlord let the police search your room or apartment without your consent? [continues 705 words]
Re: " 'Need dope? Come to Chico!' " (Downstroke, CN&R, April 9): My idea for selling pot would involve a city meeting where they auction off stalks of the plant to the highest bidder. That way the city would make tons of money! Darral Good Shoreline, Wash. [end]