August 12, 2010

When Activists Allegedly Attack - E-mail from Russ Belville Norml

I will blog more about this later. In the meantime, things are rockin' and rollin' on the Cannabis Scene in San Diego County.

Oh, and congratulations to everyone who took a stand and spoke the truth, despite everyone's advice to just be quiet, don't stir the pot, let someone else do it. Well, I say DEATH TO BULLIES. No one should ban everyone who simply asks them a question.

-----Original Message-----

From: Russ Belville [mailto:russ@norml.org]

Sent: Thursday, August 12, 2010 12:11 PM

To: 'NORML Affiliates'

Cc: dannabis@dannabis.com; 'Kimberly Simms'; 'Steve Lutzke'; 'SoCal NORML'

Subject: Suspension of Southern California NORML

The Southern California NORML Chapter, headed by Craig Beresh, is officially under suspension pending the removal of Mr. Beresh as executive director and formation of a new board for the non-profit, should it wish to apply for reinstatement. This is the culmination of many complaints we have received at National and California NORML about the operation of the chapter and the behavior of its director, Mr. Beresh.

We have attempted to determine the validity of the complaints and addressed them by telephone with Mr. Beresh twice. We were preparing for a fuller discussion of the issues with Mr. Beresh and the board of Southern California NORML by conference call when Mr. Beresh instead decided to bypass my office and call Keith Stroup directly, which led to a shouting match and Mr. Beresh posting an attack on San Diego Americans for Safe Access on his chapter's website (http://www.normlsc.org/wordpress/2010/08/12/1675/).

The chapter's information has been removed from the national listings. The chapter's website, normlsc.org, shall be taken down by Monday or shall constitute unauthorized use of NORML's service mark. No one associated with Southern California NORML will use the NORML name or represent themselves as officers of NORML until the chapter is reinstated.

On a personal note, I recruited Mr. Beresh and approved SoCal NORML, so I must shoulder some of the blame. I will always stand by our chapter leaders first and foremost, unless they publicly betray NORML's mission (former Washington NORML publicly testifying against a legalization bill) or alienate our long-time respected allies (former Beverly Hills NORML threatening to sue people on our side of the battle). Add to that list calling my friend and mentor Keith Stroup and screaming at him on the telephone.

Russ Belville

NORML Outreach Coordinator

Please join me at 'Just Say Now!', NORML's 39th Annual National Conference in Portland, Oregon, September 9-11, 2010. For online registration, accommodations, speakers & schedule, expo tables and conference sponsorship opportunities, check out http://norml.org/conference.

Host - NORML SHOW LIVE - http://live.norml.org Editor - NORML Stash Blog - http://stash.norml.org/

The most amazing thing about cannabis is its ability to addle the brains of those who do not use it.

August 9, 2010

My Half-Assed Attempt at Affecting Mayor Jerry Sander's Political Opinion on Code Enforcement and Cannabis OR My Attempt to Undermine the Campaign for the Eradication of Cannabis in San Diego

I am going to do my best to not bore you with facts and anger and passion, but rather attempt to illustrate to you why it is in your (and the citizens you represent) best interest to permit medicinal cannabis facilities in the county of San Diego. Threatening landlords and using code enforcement to shut down collectives is not allowing the voters access to medicinal cannabis. We know a de-facto BAN when we see one.

As I can only hope your staff has already advised you, we are in a new age. An age where information is no longer controlled by those in power through the mainstream press. More and more people everyday are rediscovering the benefits of the cannabis plant. More people are now choosing alternative and natural medicine than ever before. One simply needs a brief stint in THEIR system to discover why so many people are now searching for a better answer to their health needs. It is difficult to type a health condition/symptom into the Google search box these days without a cannabis result popping up. It's too late. The word is out. I began using it for asthma.

I can firmly state that 90% of the people I discuss this issue with are aware that they have been lied to by their elected officials. Lied to about a plant that has tremendous benefits to human health and is the gold standard of herbal medicine. You cannot stop the research. You cannot stop the facts. You cannot legislate what you think is right. You CAN and SHOULD stand up and let people know that there just might be a "power that be" who is willing to risk it all to protect a dried flower, and in turn, protect health and safety.

When did we stop listening to the patients? The voters? And for what? PROPAGANDA. REEFER MADNESS. Stop the madness and let us get back to living up to our potential. Marijuana deaths: 0. Oh, and that's a government stat.

Take a stand. Leave a legacy. Educate yourself. Science, health and safety led me here. It's been a long, painful and difficult road. A road that has continually led me to one place - compassion. They will not break me.

Most likely the HHS Agency and the DEA will not be able to keep cannabis as a Schedule 1 substance under the CSA for too much longer. The evidence has been piling up for centuries and science is beginning to line up behind the truth. The latest Petition has been under review since 2002. Shouldn't be much longer now. Oh, and Michele Leonhart can't make it a higher scheduled drug than H&HS Agency advises. Let's see how they're gonna get outta this one. Probably more delays, while people suffer.

Twenty states are now challenging the Health Care Bill, thus challenging the reach and scope of the Commerce Clause. Without that nasty little hitch in the way, States will have the final say in cannabis laws. No more Federal funds to circumvent state laws.

Now, go do the right thing. Listen to that voice in your head that knows what is right. I know we all have one. You will have more support than you EVER imagined.

And my last pitch? Imagine the CNN interviews when the news breaks that the mayor of San Diego is taking a stand on the cannabis issue during an election year with a Control, Tax, and Regulate Cannabis Proposition on the ballot? Boy, that dude has balls. Wanna be Governor? The sky will be your limit, just DON'T tax it.

A link to illustrate that all the human carnage has been for naught:

"National Research Council study

In the first-ever government study of its policy on drugs, the National Research CouncilUnited States National Research CouncilThe National Research Council of the USA is the working arm of the United States National Academy of Sciences and the United States National Academy of Engineering, carrying out most of the studies done in their names.-History: (NRC) Committee on Data and Research for Policy on Illegal Drugs published its findings in 2001. The NRC Committee found that existing studies on efforts to address drug usage and smuggling, from U.S. military operations to eradicate coca fields in Colombia, to domestic drug treatment centers, HAVE ALL BEEN INCONCLUSIVE, if the programs have been evaluated at all: "The existing drug-use monitoring systems are strikingly inadequate to support the full range of policy decisions that the nation must make.... It is unconscionable for this country to continue to carry out a public policy of this magnitude and cost without any way of knowing whether and to what extent it is having the desired effect." The study, though not ignored by the press, has been ignored by top-level policymakers, leading Committee Chair Charles Manski to conclude, as one observer notes, that "the drug war has no interest in its own results." Such apathy toward drug policy has continued despite wide support for reform by the economics profession. A meta analysis of surveys conducted from a sample of professional economists, including Nobel laureates, concluded that, "The general consensus that does exist among drug policy researchers and economists as a whole could be characterized as anti-prohibition, but only timidly pro-decriminalization and even less so about the prospects of legalization." Moreover, most economists who publish judgments on the issue favor liberalization."

This is where this battle will end up, the Legislature. Wasting more precious funds through court battles while Social Services in San Diego are cut, and law enforcement is increased under the guise of Public Safety. Thanks Board of Supervisors! And how bout testing those rape kits? and robbery kits where Gardner's DNA was found.

"Commissioners expect the Montana Legislature to take up the issue during the upcoming 2011 session, which could provide further direction for individual city regulation of the substance."

Laura Palfrey Murphy
MerryJaneColitas
lp420

July 26, 2010

The DEA wants you.

Partial transcripts: "Jeffrey Sweetin: "According to him and according to what he's probably seen on the news, he probably believes he is legal."

But the head of Denver's drug enforcement office who ordered today's raid told 9 Wants to Know that while State law allows for medical marijuana, Federal law does not. "Do I enforce State law, no I don't. I enforce Federal Law. And nothing has changed in Federal law. Wanting the federal law to be different is not a great stragedy." Special Agent in charge, Jeffrey Sweetin says his office has and will continue to go after large medical marijuana growers...

We will continue to enforce Federal law. That's what we're paid to do. Until the Federal law changes. And the only exception to that is discretion and department guidance. Even the store fronts selling the medical marijuana are not off limits. I just got off the phone with a Denver Post reporter who asked me "Well, you're certainly not going after dispensaries?" to which I said "Who said I'm not?"...

The DEA's response "We will continue to go after large scale operations."

Whatever the hell that means. James Stacy was open for 10 1/2 weeks.

Petition to Reschedule 'Marijuana' to Recognize Medical Benefits in Final Stages of Review by DEA

Petition to Reschedule 'Marijuana' to Recognize Medical Benefits in Final Stages of Review by DEA

WASHINGTON, April 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following was released today by DrugScience.org:

As scientists and researchers from Israel, Brazil, Canada and the US participate in the Sixth National Clinical Conference on Cannabis Therapeutics, a coalition of medical marijuana advocates is calling on the Obama administration for prompt action on an eight-year-old petition to reschedule marijuana for medical use. The petition, filed in 2002, argues that marijuana should be classified as a drug with "accepted medical use" based on growing scientific evidence and acceptance in state law. Since the petition was filed, even more scientific studies and state laws have recognized the medical efficacy of marijuana.

President Obama's Administration now has the opportunity to reclassify cannabis (marijuana) under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) to make it consistent with state medical marijuana policies and that of its own Department of Justice. After nearly eight years of agency review, including an analysis of existing scientific evidence by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the petition is finally approaching its ultimate phase.

A final decision on the rescheduling petition will be made by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), however DEA can not place marijuana in a more restrictive schedule than recommended by HHS. Recently nominated DEA Administrator Michele Leonhart will make the decision on rescheduling marijuana at some point in the near future.

Jon Gettman, a spokesperson for The Coalition for Rescheduling Cannabis, states that, "Rescheduling marijuana is an urgent priority that needs this Administration's immediate attention. Medical marijuana patients have waited too long for the federal government to catch up to scientific research and state laws that recognize that the therapeutic use of cannabis is safe, effective, and most importantly not criminal activity. We demand that federal policymakers recognize and accept their responsibility to regulate marijuana under the provisions of the Controlled Substances Act."

The CSA classifies marijuana and other drugs in various schedules. Marijuana is currently classified as a Schedule I substance, designating it as having a high potential for abuse, no currently accepted medical use in the United States, and a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision.

The CSA provides a procedure to have scheduling classifications changed in response to scientific research and other relevant factors, such as recognition of a drug's accepted medical use and its dependence liability as compared to other controlled substances. Schedule I substances include heroin, GHB and MDMA (ecstasy). Cocaine and oxycodone are both Schedule II substances, which allows for severely restricted medical use while maintaining the assertion that its abuse may lead to severe physiological and psychological dependence. Marinol® a synthetic form of THC (marijuana) that is widely prescribed medically is a Schedule III substance designating that it has a currently accepted medical use in the United States and that's its abuse may lead to only moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.

The case for rescheduling marijuana has been strengthened by several recent developments. Fourteen states now recognize marijuana's medical use. The Department of Justice (DOJ) has also recognized that marijuana is used medically under these state laws and directed the DEA and US Attorneys not to prosecute individuals for such use in these states. In addition the reclassification of marijuana under the CSA is now supported by the American Medical Association. The Iowa Pharmacy Board, using the same criteria as the CSA, has recommended rescheduling of marijuana under state law. Furthermore, recent studies by the California Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research have documented marijuana's effectiveness in treating a variety of ailments. Most recently, on April 16th and 17th Patients Out of Time and the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine will hold The Sixth National Clinical Conference on Cannabis Therapeutics at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Warwick, RI. This accredited educational event features cannabis/cannabinoid researchers from Israel, Brazil, Canada and the US.

The members of the Coalition for Rescheduling Cannabis include the American Alliance for Medical Cannabis. Americans for Safe Access (ASA), California NORML, the Drug Policy Forum of Texas, High Times, Iowans for Medical Marijuana, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), New Mexicans for Compassionate Use, Oakland Cannabis Buyers Cooperative, and Patients Out of Time.

The petition and supporting research can be found online at http://www.drugscience.org/index.html

July 22, 2010

Dear B-Dum,

‎400% increase in prescription drug deaths. 400% increase in prescribed opiates. 160,000 plus people die from poisoning deaths every year-the majority of those being from opiads. Marijuana deaths = 0. One third of the population reports suffering from chronic pain. That's 1,000,000 peeps in SD county alone. No wonder.

Start listening to the patients. At this point, it would be better to hand the money directly to a "drug dealer" than to a pharmacist. Oh, I just got it. That's what you want. Get em on all sides. Arrested if you do, arrested if you don't.

And could you please train your staff to do actual law enforcement rather than lying to doctors using a false name to get an illegal recommendation. I know, I know, cops can lie. It's all for the greater good, yada, yada, yada. What about the children?

Shirley Sherrod is an excellent example of the spin that has invaded our airwaves consequently ruining people's lives.

You took two full time working taxpaying citizens (we each had two jobs actually), ripped their baby from it's mother's arms, let her crawl under a bed and cry ALL night because I no longer wanted to take the numerous prescriptions they just about forced down my throat. She was still breastfeeding. Oh, and her test came back "neglible". I don't even think it was detected. Nature is funny that way. They told me we could never move back into our house because the "POT" (it's cannabis for the ignorant) was in the walls. Then you told us if we didn't behave in Family Court, it wouldn't fare well in criminal court. What you are doing is criminal.

SAIC's computer tech who processed the most tickets and was beloved, was "let go" after 5 years of employment. He used to clean the "evil weed" out of their keyboards. Hum, who does your guy's tech work? Nevermind. I have more pressing issues.

And why was the Candace Moncayo attack listed as an attempted robbery? If you had classified as a rape, the DNA would not have sat there, untested. He would have been arrested and Chelsea King would have been alive. Oh, that's right. Rape is bad press for a DA. I hope it was worth it. Every single county board said public safety was their number one concern. I ask why then have they NOT offered to pay for testing DNA backlog samples? They have 2 million dollars each a year discretionary funds, oh, except this year it was reduced to 1 million due to SCANDAL, but that's ok, it goes right back up to $2 mil next year. What a punishment. TEST THE DNA!

I'm never done, but alas I must go. I leave you and any other poor sot who is reading this with this link and excerpt:

http://www.kpbs.org/news/2010/may/28/dna-sample-backlog-raises-concerns-sdpd/

"HEARN: Well, the DNA Lab makes decisions on the priorities of samples that it’s going to test. And it takes into account all kinds of things, like if a suspect kind of just touches a public area lightly or something like that where it’s – they don’t think they’re going to get a really good sample of DNA, those samples go to the bottom of the list. If they have a really good, you know, a really good DNA sample of, you know, a cup that someone drank out of, I’m sure that goes to the top of the list. Also, the kinds of crimes. The thing with John Albert Gardner, that jogging case was originally classified as an ATTEMPTED ROBBERY and NOT a sexual assault. If it had been categorized as the latter, it probably would have been at the top of the list.

PENNER: So who determines what’s going to get priority and what isn’t?

HEARN: Well, my understanding is, is the scientists who actually do the testing. Certainly, they’re subject to a certain amount of pressure by the police and the others who might be involved in cases who want their cases pushed to the top of the list."

Wage Reason.

July 19, 2010

The World According to Lily oh and how God got here.

Lily: Mommy?

Mommy: Yes Lily?

Lily: I think God is everything.

Mommy: You do? Why do you think that?

Lily: You know, how we're all made of the same stuff and then we die. I think God was the first person and he made us all.

Mommy: You mean like when he died, his body became the earth and then the earth became us?

Lily: Yes.

Mommy: Well, how did God get here?

Lily: You know. SPACE. He arrived on an Asteroid. (She looks at me as if I am slightly daft, and I just might be).

Lily Murphy Reviews Thomas the Train / I prefer to be a guide.

"Even though Gordon is bossy, he's still nice inside."

She so gets life. When my employees used to call me boss I told them it also meant a boil on your butt and then I called them Slave #7. That quickly eradicated the misuse of language in our department. We won't discuss the other language that was misused at this time. Bosses are merely leaders with hopefully a little more experience. I prefer to be called a guide and I hope someone thinks of me as such.

July 17, 2010

It's all Science's fault.

Science, it's what got me into this whole mess in the first place. It's all its fault. Rock Paper Scissors. They use their power (rock) to compromise the paper (research) to cut us out of society (scissors). And they think there is no purposeful intent as the DOJ uses its authority to silence their dissenters, and once again, at the taxpayer's expense. Brilliant they are. And doomed.

July 11, 2010

Caution: Care Zone ahead. Be careful not to trip over your own words.

Prop 19: I don't care who did or did not write it. I don't care who is or was for or against it. I don't care who thinks what might or might not happen. I don't care who needs "transitional" laws.

I CARE that this is a harmless plant that people want to Regulate, Control, and Tax. All this fighting is just more proof of its effectiveness. I care that the campaign for its eradication has harmed so many and for so long, all for the profits of so few. I care that the Science is ignored and/or manipulated.

Let's all step outside of ourselves for just a teensy moment and listen. Listen to the voice of reason in each of our heads. Now, tell me, what is it saying to you? If it's not screaming "FREE THE WEED", then it's probably trying to convince you why voting for this Proposition of Un-Liberty would serve the greater good. Guess what? It won't. The people are the greater good. Leave it in our hands or step aside.

July 4, 2010

Donate a sign to your Local Public Safety Officer: "Will Raid for Funds."

Strapped Police Run on Fumes, and Federal Pot-Fighting Cash

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703648304575212382612331758.html?KEYWORDS=tom+bosenko

The honesty refreshes me, but alas, I am suspicious. What are those buggers up to now? Oh, yeah, a transfer of power of a commodity - the world's #1 commodity at that. They don't want to look like complete dicks after they spent so much time and money proliferating propaganda and covering up their lies. It will all be a big "Oops we did it again, we played with the truth, got lost in the war...but THEY"RE NOT THAT INNOCENT" Where's my Britney wig? DAN!!!!!!!!!!

Can someone please tell this to the families of Chelsea King and Amber Dubois along with the countless others who mourn the taken? I am sure they would be ecstatic to hear "where the money is". I didn't know public safety was up for bid.

"The reason is simple: If he steps up his pursuit of marijuana growers, his department is eligible for roughly half a million dollars a year in federal anti-drug funding, helping save some jobs. The majority of the funding would have to be used to fight pot. Marijuana may not be the county's most pressing crime problem, the sheriff says, but "it's where the money is.""

July 3, 2010

Bill Horn is extremely unpopular...gruff, arrogant

But, but, but, it's all in the name of public safety.

http://www.kpbs.org/news/2010/jun/14/north-county-election-results-facebook-firings/

"JENKINS: Well, you know, first of all he is an elected official. He’s a councilman. And the votes are going to be in the cities, in Oceanside, you know, Carlsbad, Vista and San Marcos. Oddly, the – not the – Horn is extremely unpopular in the areas where he’s know the best, in the unincorporated areas. And so Gronke has a – he’s got a steep hill to climb but I do believe that if the union support comes in for Gronke, he can make up some of that difference in fundraising ability. Horn is a great fundraiser, no question about it. But I do think that it is a year where incumbents have a built-in disadvantage, and we all have to remember that Prop B was extremely popular when it got 70% of the vote."

May 9, 2010

KPBS - The Rise and Rise of Bonnie Dumanis

http://www.kpbs.org/news/2010/jan/20/rise-and-rise-bonnie-dumanis/

April 30, 2010

Shrimp Nurseries v. Humanity:

There is a piece of plastic in every droplet of water. There is a plastic island twice the size of Texas in the Pacific, and that's just what they found by accident. Our once healthy seafood supply is now one of the most contaminated food sources on earth. Oil is now gushing by the gallons from a hole they cannot close.

If a corporation can be considered an individual, can't an eco-system? It is time for the GREATER GOOD to rise above the needs for people to drive to Wal-Mart. Just because it's easier and convenient tp depend on oil/coal, doesn't mean we have the right to risk so much damage.

I hope it is not too late on the day we realize we are all connected. These "lower" forms of life sustain us. Need we force them to prove it?

March 25, 2010

Let me be clear: No MORE!

We like to think if we ban things, people will behave better. We like to think WE are in control. The only thing we control is our behavior toward our fellow man, and I choose compassion. Health and safety have and will ALWAYS come first, unless or course you write or uphold the laws.

Time to start campaigning all. City council here we come. When one person stands up and authentically from the heart owns their convictions, change can happen. It really doesn't take much. The thieves of the people are on their way out.

And don't worry, when they come for you, we will be there to defend you and your property. We are no longer hiding in fear. We are longer remaining silent. We are no longer going to sit back while you protect and investigate your own. Cheaters will no longer Prosper. NO MORE!!!!

Come ONE, Come ALL. Get your cannabis toking spiritually evolved truth seeking assess out here. San Diego needs you and/or a taco truck.

Asset Recovery is where law enforcement is now going - learning how to seize intangible assets, like your cash, notes, investments. When a State runs out of money, they will go wherever they have to in order to survive. Don't B-Dum.
 
All they have to do to seize YOUR assets is say you were engaged in illegal activity, most likely tax invasion. Like that mobster dude they couldn't catch so they got him on taxes. ALL of us are in jeopardy.


It's what they do to the dispensaries. "We'll just say they were operating for profit, seize all their property, drag them through the court system..." And guess what? You lose everything trying to prove them wrong. If there was so much profit and it was drug dealers running them, don't you think more people would go to trial with a dream team? No, they all plea out of fear or threats to take their children (more Federal funding for states to grasp for, The Mondale Act, Title IV funds).

Eventually they will run out of cannabis users. Asset recovery seminars are popping up everywhere. I don't care if you agree with me, just PLEASE PROTECT YOUR ASSETS!

A commerical real estate fall is imminent and banks are already hoarding money, or is it whore-ding?

http://beforeitsnews.com/story/21123/Elizabeth_Warren_on_the_Coming_Commercial_Real_Estate_Crisis;_3000_Community_Banks_at_Risk.html

p.s. Let me BE clear. What you need to understand at the end of the day is that SILENCE is NO longer an option.

Just working on my campaign, maybe.