FBI Director Taken to School
May 26th, 2009 by RickDirector of the FBI Robert Mueller, is the latest drug warrior to be schooled on the subject of marijuana prohibition, this time by Tennessee Congressman Steve Cohen.
The fact that Mueller and the other drug warriors actually believe that kids in high school and college are having less access to drugs is ludicrous. When that idea was shot down by Rep. Cohen, saying that there are studies saying that more kids and adults are trying marijuana, Mueller has to back peddle and do what every other drug warrior does — avoid the issue at hand and incorporate all the drugs together (including pharmaceutical) and start talking about deaths.
Rep. Cohen stays on point and has Mueller admit that marijuana has of yet caused any deaths. When his argument on that front is squashed, Mueller resorts to the “gateway theory,” saying that if you talked with the parents of those that died from drugs, they would tell you that it started with marijuana.
Rep. Cohen doesn’t skip a beat in dismantling the gateway theory, saying that before marijuana there was probably milk, then beer, then maybe a Bourbon… then they tried marijuana. It’s a reality, not a gateway.
Befuddled State Senators Debate Medical Weed
May 8th, 2009 by Russ
The Medical Marijuana referendum brigade is on the warpath.
Today it’s setting its sights on Illinois, where State Senator William Haine (D) has sponsored the Compassionate Use of Cannabis Pilot Program Act. And, as per usual, some of Senator Haine’s colleagues are playing the role of Cretin’s Advocate, as they argue for the logically challenged.
Soft-brained Senator Patricia Bellock (R) noted:
It is the No. 1 drug that introduces young people to other drugs.
Common knowledge would tell one that a plant doesn’t have the sentience or social skills necessary to introduce people to other inanimate objects. So, unless Senator Bellock is secretly a Herbal Animist Witch (and thus privy to inside information), this argument doesn’t seem to hold much weight.
Simple State Rep Julie Hamos expressed some further concerns about the bill:
…I’m worried about giving plants to patients.
Perhaps Julie is right. It does seem incredibly dangerous to give sick people access to plants. Much better to keep them in sterilized tube-bubbles while they pop rainbow-colored pills that are seventeen steps removed from anything that occurs in nature. We should be pumping as many chemicals into the sick and dying as possible. Giving them access to plants only reminds them that there is a living world outside their hospital cell windows. This could dangerously reinvigorate the suffering.
State Rep. Lou Lang (D) summed the whole thing up pretty well:
The opposition is coming from members… who don’t have the guts to say ‘yes’… They are fearful of their next election and looking for excuses, while people are out there suffering.
Lou’s right on the money. Politicians have a history of being a heck of a lot more paranoid than pot smokers. Rationality can be very hard to come by this time of year.
Million Marijuana March ‘09 Starts Today
April 20th, 2009 by Tracii
Infuriated by President Obama’s reaction to a pot legalization question at a recent Q&A conference, organizers of the Million Marijuana March are pulling out all the stops to make sure the issue is taken seriously by lawmakers.
This year’s goal is to get a bill signed into law by December 31, 2009, fully legalizing possession of up to 10 plants or 10 lbs. of processed plant material per person. Organizers of the march are also giving the “War on Marijuana” a much needed facelift by separating it in name from the broader “War on Drugs”, which includes hard drugs like heroin and meth.
On the heels of a bloody Mexican drug war and the near collapse of our own economy, this year’s march could make an even bigger impact than in years past. Organizers stress the importance of professionalism, order, and peaceful protest among attendees if their message is to be taken seriously. Everyone “except the DEA” is invited, including non-users who support the movement, medical medical marijuana patients, and recreational users.
252 cities around the globe have signed up for the event. The Million Marijuana March is set for 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. on Monday, April 20, 2009 @ The National Mall in Washington D.C.
Tommy Chong Prosecutor Won’t Resign
December 9th, 2008 by Alex
It looks like the soon-to-be outed vestiges of the Bush administration are digging in their claws and not leaving without causing some discomfort first.
Breaking from the custom of leaving service once a new administration takes office, US Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan has indicated she will not resign from her position.
Not sure who Mary Beth Buchanan is? She’s the one who spent $12 million of tax payer money prosecuting Tommy Chong (and other paraphernalia sellers) via the federal government’s Operation Pipe Dreams.
The sting, its effects and underlying causes were chronicled in the award winning documentary a/k/a Tommy Chong – which is now playing on Showtime.
Luckily, US Attorney personnel decisions (including all hiring & firing) are under the full authority of the President. Buchanan’s unwillingness to follow tradition in no way means she’ll be staying at her position for the upcoming years, but she will definitely be a thorn in Obama’s side if he plans to remove her immediately.
We’ll keep you posted.
So No More Marijuana Laws, Now What?
November 6th, 2008 by Perry
Massachusetts law enforcement are now pondering what to do with weed in light of the state’s recent passing of marijuana decriminalization.
C. Samuel Sutter, Bristol County District Attorney, said:
I think it makes it more difficult to convince young people that marijuana is really dangerous.
The new law calls for $100 fines for possession, not arrest. Any juveniles caught with possession of marijuana will have their parents or legal guardians notified and be required to complete 10 hours of community service.
But the law also creates practical problems, such as loopholes for both criminals and police officers, as one legal expert ponders.
Mitch Librett, a criminal justice professor at Bridgewater State College, said:
Case law will have to develop in reaction to the new legislation.
Because marijuana remains illegal, Mr. Librett believes police officers would still be in their rights to stop a vehicle. Although this presents unique problems for both sides of the spectrum – smokers & law enforcement – Massachusetts has taken a step in the right direction.
Now the people are paid to protect and defend us need to adjust accordingly…
Hawaii Says Aloha to Marijuana Laws
November 6th, 2008 by Perry
I should clear that up, since Aloha can mean “greetings” or “farewell.” Technically, Hawaii hasn’t eradicated decriminalized marijuana, but it’s telling law enforcement to look the other way when it comes to cannabis. And if that sounds unclear, it is.
By a vote of 53.1 percent to 38.6 percent, Hawaiian residents voted to make marijuana the lowest law enforcement priority. In my opinion, it’s not necessarily a complete positive because under the new law:
…would put the enforcement of laws against marijuana to each police officer’s personal discretion.
That sounds like a dangerously unclear situation bound to cause legal issues, especially when the district attorney comes out against the law for the right reasons.
Prosecuting Attorney Jay Kimura said that it posed a danger for law enforcement officials:
I’m opposed to passage of this. I don’t believe it’s enforceable as written.
420 Activist Running for LA’s Top Job
October 31st, 2008 by PerryThat’s right, LA’s top job. No, not head valet at the Playboy Mansion, but Mayor of Los Angeles. Antonio Villaraigosa’s recent scandals while in office, including an affair with a reporter from Spanish-language network Telemundo, expect to make this an especially contentious contest in March, when voters head to the ballots.
Enter MMJ’s dark-horse contender: Craig X
The Temple 420 founder, CraigX Rubin has a platform to build desalination plants, more local growing (of mainstream agriculture, not what you’re thinking) and synchronizing traffic lights. I’m not sure how seriously the general public is taking Craig’s political ambitions, as he’s only raised $1,100 in a month of fund raising.
The video above is an 8 minute introduction to Craig, what he’s about and his lifelong goal of legalization.
From the Left, and the Right
September 17th, 2008 by PerryEditors Note: theFreshScent is not a political blog, but politics are a topic of interest to the informed smoker, and something we occasionally like to touch on. I sent this hilarious clip from The Daily Show that was sent to me from YouTube.com, and a friend of mine tried to enlighten me from the Right.
His Comment:
Oh I love the Daily Show and Colbert Report, but I worry when the 18-25 crowd uses these shows instead of cable news, and get brainwashed like zombies to vote for Obama. I realize that crowd is already way more idealistic, help the poor and world peace etc. than older cynics, but it adds a crazy influence. I wish young conservatives could come up with a hip show like that that could make the Founding Fathers’ journey to the Constitution, personal freedom and entrepreneurship cool too and bash some libs in the process but what pop network would carry it…can you imagine MTV doing that…hahaha!!
Yeah Karl Rove is a typical partisan but you have to admit he knows the electoral college challenges and more importantly, what drives the electorate better than most… hence, the “Architect.”
I can’t believe that Dick Morris, Clinton’s top YES MAN throughout his first administration, turned so against the Clintons and Hillary and is an almost complete conservative now… “yukkin’ it up” with Hannity using the term ‘We’ to unite them… amazing… makes you wonder if he did all that for Clinton just for money or if he actually believed half the shit in that administration.
I still wait for the day when Jon Stewart or Steve Colbert do the same for Obama or Hillary… like show Obama one second glorifying the Washington, D.C. handgun ban and then the next clip saying, “As I’ve consistently said, I strongly support the Supreme Court decision to overturn the D.C. gun ban and I always support an individual’s right to own a gun.”
You will never see that!
Actually, Red Eye is kind of the hip conservative pop show of Fox News. It’s on very late but it is quite hilarious… mainly the host Greg Gutfeld.
Even liberals would find it funny!
– Mike
My Response:
Mike makes an interesting point about relying on fake news shows for what’s going on. My only response to Mike is that he mentions Fox News as a cable network news show in comparison to a fake cable news show on Comedy Central. I think that says everything you need to know about the Foxs News Network and the quality of some cable news programs. Go NPR, PBS or BBC if you’re actually trying to get more centrist, objective news coverage.
The bottom-line, none of these candidates are perfect, and it’s important to vote for the person who’s policies will better you and your family’s life. In this country, with people from all walks of life, there’s no perfect answer, but educating yourself in a thorough way is the responsibility of all those with the power to vote.
– Perry
