A major operation to confiscate marijuana in eastern Fresno County is currently underway. Save Our Sierra (SOS) is, according to Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims, targeting growers who are affiliated with Mexican drug cartels. These growers, again according to Mims, are destroying public lands with their drug operations. When questioned, Mims would not name one Mexican drug cartel involved or say how many of them were active in growing marijuana in Fresno County. Skeptics think operation SOS is more about justifying bloated law enforcement budgets by scaring people into thinking that an environmental calamity is being perpetrated by violent Mexican drug cartels.

On June 23rd, the Santa Cruz City Council passed a 45-day moratorium on new medical marijuana dispensaries in the city limits. Councilmembers said they needed the moratorium because they claimed there was a flood of daily inquiries to the city's Planning Department about opening medical marijuana centers. The are two pending applications for dispensaries on the Westside of Santa Cruz.

Champaign County Health Care Consumers (CCHCC) is once more asking you to take action to help Illinois join the 13 other states that currently allow the seriously and terminally ill to use medically prescribed marijuana to alleviate their pain and suffering when other forms of medication fail. Suffering patients have already waited for years and cannot afford further delay.

The time seems ripe to change America’s attitudes towards the criminalization of drugs, and the behemoth prison system which grows from current drug policy and feeds on society. The failed war on drugs has created a 1200% increase in drug incarceration rates since 1980 (from 41,000 people incarcerated to over 500,000), and has disproportionately hurt African Americans. Further, a significant percentage of those who are locked up have no history of violence or high-level drug activity.

Hundreds of New Yorkers gathered outside of Governor Paterson's Manhattan office today to call on Paterson, State Senator Malcolm Smith, and other legislative leaders to repeal the 70s-era Rockefeller Drug Laws.

Oregon Representatives and Senators are making an end run attack and back door prohibition attempt on Oregon Medical Marijuana patients.
Oregon State Representatives Maurer, Tomei, Thompson, Harker, Barker, Bentz, Berger, Bruun, Garrett, Gilliam, Gillman, Greenlick, Hanna, Jenson, Kotek, Krieger, Olson, Richardson, Schaufler, G Smith, Sprengger, Weidner, and Senators Burdick, Kruse, and Metsger have filed House Bill 3274 that would make the State of Oregon take responsibility for building and operating a facility to grow medical marijuana and provide it to patients through licensed pharmacies. It will charge a tax of $98.00 per ounce to patients obtaining it. It will disallow private grow operations.


Please, please, please - Yes, I'm begging you - contact your Representatives and Senators to oppose this sneaky, slimey attack on a program that only serves to offer some relief to persons suffering from debilitating illnesses and medical conditions.

During the 2008 presidential campaign, Barack Obama, along with other major Democratic candidates, promised to stop the federal government's raids on medical cannabis dispensaries. Federal medical cannabis-related raids continued in January and February. On February 25th, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder told reporters that Obama's pledge "is now American policy." However, no laws have been changed.

SAN DIEGO, February 13, 2009 - The situation for medical marijuana users is loosening up just about everywhere in the country — or at least in the 13 states that have laws allowing it — except in San Diego County and elsewhere in southern California. That was the message Don Duncan, California director of the nationwide organization Americans for Safe Access (ASA), brought to the local ASA chapter in San Diego February 10. For years medical marijuana users have been bedeviled by federal raids ever since the U.S. Supreme Court’s rulings in 2001 and 2005 that state medical pot laws didn’t protect patients, caregivers and growers from federal anti-drug law enforcement — but, said Duncan, the Obama administration has sent signals that these raids may soon end. Full Story: S.D. Cracks Down on Medical Pot as Feds Loosen Up by Mark Gabrish Conlan

The U.S. Attorney today dismissed charges against Steven Dixon, a disabled veteran and a legally authorized user of medical marijuana. Mr. DIxon had been arrested by the U.S. Border Patrol at an inland checkpoint.

Marijuana, It’s NOT Legal, But Decriminalized

Although Massachusetts voters have passed ballot question 2, decriminalizing marijuana, most public places will not change their rules or regulations on the illegal substance.

College campuses deal with a large number of drug and alcohol violations during the school year. Many students enter with a sense of “Animal House” in their minds, using the time to experiment (outside of the classroom). Many kids test the waters and never get caught; others continue their habits and eventually are sanctioned for their violations...

These sanctions aren’t changing anytime soon for schools. Local campuses such as Worcester State College or WPI, acknowledge alcohol and marijuana use by the students, many whom voted in favor of question 2, but also remind residents and commuters alike that presences, possession, and/or use on campus will still NOT be tolerated.

Barry Cooper, a former Texas police officer with eight years of specialty in drug interdiction, first made waves when he released the film "Never Get Busted Again," a how-to guide for evading police drug seizures. Austin, Texas-based Cooper's latest project, 'KopBusters,' is not nearly so benign, and sparked an immediate response after RAW STORY covered a news brief of their first sting.

I have posted an important question on Youtube and MySpace to Barack Obama, roughly in the third person. It pertains to Obama's known support for a controversial federal grant program that has funded anti-drug task forces notorious for lacking accountability and transparency while stomping all over people's rights. read more

The U.S. Attorney today dismissed charges against Steven Dixon, a disabled veteran and a legally authorized user of medical marijuana. Mr. Dixon had been arrested by the U.S. Border Patrol at an inland checkpoint.

As a fervent supporter of marijuana decriminalization, I looked at the actual text of the proposed legislature recently and was horrified by what I saw. Although the proposition delivers on decriminalization, as promised, it appears to open up a new way in which people can be charged and fined with possession of marijuana. With support for marijuana decriminalization gaining in momentum, and the national election less than a week a way, I had relatively high expectations that Massachusetts voters would be able to create some positive change in the state on Tuesday. However, this all changed recently when I read the actual text being introduced.

Coverage of the 19th annual anti-drug prohibition rally. Listen to Keith Saunders, the current President of MassCann, the Massachusetts Cannibals Reform coalition, and sponsoring organization of this, the 19th annual Freedom Rally, which took place Saturday, September 20 on the Boston Common. Some people described it as a day of Utopia; beautiful weather, free eclectic music, food and culture vendors, and the ability to light up in public without paranoia. Although the Boston Globe reported 6 arrests, which is way down from years past. LISTEN TO AUDIO

Many people throughout Worcester were knocked over by news of the lastest salvo against poor people and people with addictions from City Councilor Haller and Billy Breault "Anti-OD grant triggers alarm - Adopting Narcan plan feared" which appeared in Saturday's T&G. An EMT, Buck Paxton, has already responded with a harsh response, "William Breault: Stupidest man in Worcester, part 2" Unsuccessful at getting a copy of the original letter from Councilor Haller, I was able to secure a copy from one of the recipients. Here's the letter in full.

ALBANY, NEW YORK - On June 18, the New York State Assembly passed a bill (A.4867-B) that would protect New Yorkers with life threatening or debilitating conditions from arrest for using medical marijuana when their doctors believe it would be the best treatment option, 79-48. The bill is similar to the medical marijuana bill the Assembly passed last year. The version passed today was modified to address concerns voiced by members of the Senate, who have until June 23 to pass the bill before the legislature recesses.

Ask your state senator to call for a prompt vote on medical marijuana: Take Action

More Information: Marijuana Policy Project

California Court Says that Since Voters Didn't Determine Limits, Section of Law Not Legal

On May 22nd in Los Angeles, the California Court of Appeals ruled that the state limits on medical marijuana possession and cultivation that were established under state law SB 420 are unconstitutional. In the case People v. Patrick Kelly, the court overturned the defendant's conviction for possessing 12 ounces of dried marijuana, saying that the prosecutor had improperly argued that the defendant was guilty because he possessed more than the 8-ounce limit established in Health & Safety Code Section 11362.77 and did not have a doctor's recommendation that authorized more. The court wrote, ""The prosecutor's argument was improper... because the CUA [Compassionate Use Act] can only be amended with voters' approval."

On April 29th, California's Assembly Committee on Public Safety passed A.B. 2743. The bill, authored by Assembly Member Lori Saldaña (D-San Diego) and spearheaded by the Marijuana Policy Project, or MPP, would direct state and local law enforcement officers to not assist in federal raids on medical marijuana patients and providers. The bill will now continue on to the appropriations committee.

from the open publishing newswire: Tuesday, I drove down to Lake Jackson and met with folks from Ron Paul's office about the concerns that we have as members of Friends of Brad Will about The Merida Initiative, also known as Plan Mexico because of its similarities to Plan Colombia, another problematic anti-drug militarization package.

Ron Paul's Deputy Director Dianna Kile and District Scheduler Tracee L. Tollett seemed interested and engaged in the idea of stopping the Merida Initiative, aka Plan Mexico. Ron Paul can be counted on to oppose just about anything that entails the federal government spending money on something, especially something so unlikely to do any good. This is an issue appealing to both left and right politicians for many reasons, and therefore may be the kind of thing that a small but dedicated grassroots effort can help derail.

A Comment: We must stop this 'drug war' scheme, $ for military helicopters used against people in Oaxaca & Chiapas! No! - Another act to make: Global Exchange Petition
John Ross: From the Folks Who Brought You Plan Colombia - The Annexation of Mexico