(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Reporting Doug Sovern
DALY CITY (CBS SF)— Even though the federal government threatened a crack down on California’s medical marijuana clubs this week, The Cow Palace is brazenly hosting a Cannabis Expo that includes a job fair just south of San Francisco.
Medical marijuana growers and sellers gathered this weekend with no sign of the feds in sight at the West Coast Cannabis Expo. However, an array of aromas emitting from medicinal marijuanas and their budding entrepreneurs was prevalent as they displayed their wares, almost like a wine-tasting.
KCBS’ Doug Sovern Reports:
At a time when many Americans are looking for any job they can get, medical marijuana is still proving to be a growing industry. Eager applicants showed up as the cannabis fair doubled as the first-ever medical marijuana job fair.
Larry described his citrus-scented cannabis.
“It’s grapefruit. It smells exactly like a grapefruit, right? It’s got a really good nose, really strong grapefruit flavor,” Larry said.
Larry runs the Oaksterdam Bakery in Oakland. He gets 10 job applications a day and he doesn’t even have any openings right now.
“This industry is growing and it’s going to continue to grow. A lot of good things are going to happen for a lot of people,” Larry commented.
In the job fair section of the expo, Bob Calkin, CEO of CannaJobs, and of the Cannabis Career Institute, said this field is awash in, so-called green jobs.
“Most of the people coming to the classes are retired people or people from another line of work, or business that have either crashed like the real-estate market or some other thing they’re leaving and they want to try something new,” Calkin said.
The cannabis crowd remains skeptical that the government will really shut down one of the fastest-growing sectors of the California economy.
(Copyright 2011 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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166 Comments
The whole medical marijuana thing is a scam.
October 9, 2011 at 3:01 pm | | Report comment
Amen to that! I tried it out for pain and I only got high, without any pain relief.
October 9, 2011 at 3:10 pm | | Report comment
https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions#!/petition/legalize-and-regulate-marijuana-manner-similar-alcohol/y8l45gb1
Two weeks ago, the White House launched a project it calls “We the People.”
Americans are invited to post a petition online at the White House’s “We the
People” website. If the petition garners 5,000 signatures within 30 days,
the White House guarantees it will issue an “official response.”
To date, 132 petitions have been posted to the website.
The number 1 issue – Legalize marijuana (with more than 48,000
signatures),
October 9, 2011 at 6:07 pm
Not just about pain,get some kemo and try and eat .
October 9, 2011 at 6:37 pm
48,000 people? That really isn’t very much. That is 0.015% of the population of USA. And it isn’t surprising considernig the fact that there are lots of Americans that smoke dope. I am sure if there was a petition to keep pot illegal, it would get 10x the number in no time.
Further, I am sure if there was a petition to shut stoners up online about legalizing pot and making it a felony to lie about pot online (something all you stupid stoners do on every comment board), it would get millions of people supporting it.
STONERS SHUT UP!!! GO BACK TO YOUR HOLE AND SMOKE DOPE AND LEAVE THE REST OF US ALONE. WE DON”T CARE ABOUT YOUR LIES.
October 9, 2011 at 11:03 pm
are you implying that just because a majority agrees on something, they’re automatically correct?
we’re not lying to you about pot. stop screaming “lies!” and listen for a change.
October 10, 2011 at 1:11 am
I’m sure you’re TRYING to be funny (fail) but it’s not for pain relief, rather to help ones’ appetite after KEMO (and it DOES work).
October 10, 2011 at 11:47 am
The only substance known to regenerate brain cells is: Cannabinoid.
http://www.jci.org/articles/view/25509
The sun never sets on the The Society of Cannabinoid Connoisseurs. We are in every city of most nations on Earth. The individual is the King.
October 10, 2011 at 2:21 pm
Liver Regeneration with Cannabinoids – this is too amazing – let’s do more scientific research now: http://www.pnas.org/content/108/15/6323
October 10, 2011 at 3:04 pm
Hey dude. Does this mean I can’ t smoke weed in a tanning booth any more, duh ?
October 9, 2011 at 3:23 pm | | Report comment
October 9, 2011 at 3:58 pm
Incorrect rico, Medical Marijuana is proven effective and patented by the US Dept. of Health and Human Services (DHHS) for its therapeutic properties: USPTO 6,630,507 – look it up and become a responsible human.
October 9, 2011 at 4:17 pm | | Report comment
Marijuana is a controlled substance. Maybe YOU should THAT up. So, the feds are cracking down on it and when the Reps take over in 2012 [and we all know they will], I foresee all these drug peddlers going straight to the slammer along with the people that work for them.
October 9, 2011 at 5:00 pm
It is a controlled substance by the same authority that regulates non-therapeutic nicotine and alcohol. Get off your high horse Br123 and wake up to the power of States Rights – 10th Amendment – the people of 16 states have spoken, to defy that is to defy America. God bless you, but your hypocrisy is over.
October 9, 2011 at 5:19 pm
Your clueless, like the US dept of health is never wrong! I’m a responsible human being that knows that Marijuana also has more ammonium than any other tobacco product. Sounds good for your lungs, yeah?
October 9, 2011 at 6:51 pm
You can get a patent by claiming something has a use. You don’t need to prove it. They don’t test the truth of your claims before letting you get a patent.
And even if dope has some medical uses, that doesn’t mean the medical marijuana movement is not a scam perpetuated by stoners who just want to smoke dope. Tell me, what other legitimate drug do you smoke? And what other drug do you not buy from a pharmacy or a drug store? I’ll believe that medical marijuana is really about medical conditions when it comes in a pill form and it is prescribed by doctors only and purchased at pharmacies.
Rico is right – medical marijuana is a scam.
October 9, 2011 at 10:57 pm
I bet you didn’t know what it means when the U.S. government grants itself a patent? It means they ALONE have the legal right to pursue the patent or grant license to companies in exchange for royalties. So that means no but companies the U.S. government approves can use that technology without their explicit approval and license.
IE: Marijuana Dispensaries are operating illegally under patent law.
The window is closing major pharmaceutical companies will own this market and every dispensary in the country will be shut down.
October 10, 2011 at 1:49 am
That’s not true. I’ve got a handful of VERY CONSERVATIVE family members that would beg to differ with you. My uncle, a former Marine, had a tumultuous relationship with my cousin because of weed. When he was diagnosed with lung cancer, my cousin taught my aunt to cook with it and it helped him immeasurably. It may affect people differently, but that;s the cse with almost ALL medicine. Just because you disagree, doesn’t make it so.
MJ is also an UNTAXED billion dollar industry. Go drink your liquor, hypocrite.
October 9, 2011 at 7:04 pm | | Report comment
Now let’s look at it’s OTHER uses. Cannabis makes WONDERFUL cloth-far superior to cotton in strength and durability with very similar qualities in softness and color (dye) retention. It’s fibers are far stronger and therefore make better rope and other fasteners.
There are far more uses for this plant than it’s chemical properties-also ignored under the guise of the “war on drugs” that has gotten more police officers killed than ANY other crime category besides domestic violence.
Time to stop the stupid and legalize, tax and regulate it’s use. Case closed.
Oh, and btw, I don’t use it, yet.
October 9, 2011 at 10:08 pm
Medical marajuana is a scam. When it comes in a pill form and is made by a drug company, we’ll know it is legitimate. Right now, it is just an excuse for stoners to get stoned and the first step in the legalize pot movement. Keep pot illegal forever!!!!!
BTW, all those deaths in Mexico related to the drug trade – tens of thousands of them – you stoners caused all that. I don’t know how you can sleep at night with all that blood on your hands. Oh yeah, it is because you are stoned all the time and don’t live in reality.
October 9, 2011 at 11:07 pm
Nice try….the Fed has just been outed shipping rifles to vicious Mexican drug cartels in exchange for tons of coke. So , how do you sleep, you fraud?
October 10, 2011 at 5:35 am
When I quit smoking pot my horrendous cough went away. And when I also quit ingesting alcohol all my gastrointestinal problems subsided! It’s truly amazing what living a clean life gives you, YOUR LIFE BACK! Quit using these substances that are supposed to make you or help you “feel better”. And I used to swear by both MJ and alcohol….”pot helps me relax”, “alcohol makes life more fun”
October 10, 2011 at 11:56 am
You’d probably be afraid of me when my Vietnam combat confusion kicked in and the only thing I had were powerful government drugs to mask the psychotic visions of war
October 9, 2011 at 8:10 pm | | Report comment
It’s therapeutic. It eases symptoms, but does not cure anything.
October 9, 2011 at 11:32 pm | | Report comment
So then, lets do away with all therapeutic medications like aspirin, cough suppressants and pain relievers. After all, they don’t cure anything now do they?
. ,
October 10, 2011 at 10:18 am
AND THE SUN IS NOT WARM RIGHT ?? WHILST KEEPING A STRAIGHT FACE
October 10, 2011 at 4:06 am | | Report comment
At least it doesn’t destroy your liver like almost every LEGAL drug does.
October 10, 2011 at 4:12 am | | Report comment
No the real scam is the pharmaceutical industry
October 10, 2011 at 12:14 pm | | Report comment
Your face is a scam…… BURN!!!!!
October 9, 2011 at 3:15 pm | | Report comment
before uselessly chiming in with a comment like that yucaipadave you should try durban poison or herijuana, those are 2 varieties of cannabis, both indica & sativa, for night time & daytime use. These strains when grown correctly, are as potent as oxytocin 80′s, without withdraw or dependance, or why don’t you try eating it to relieve your pain? pain relief is much effective when taken orally. you would have known this had you researched something before just ingesting it cause you heard “it relieved pain”. Clearly, your comment speaks for your serious concern in the matter.
October 9, 2011 at 3:51 pm | | Report comment
wouldn’t wast your time nick. some people are too stupid or close minded to ever get educated.
October 9, 2011 at 3:57 pm | | Report comment
Proof? References? Evidence?
Oh… forgot… yer pulling all this out of your arse.
October 9, 2011 at 5:01 pm | | Report comment
http://www.projectcbd.org/
October 9, 2011 at 5:53 pm
Someone’s drinking the right-wing haterade. Probably with vodka.
October 9, 2011 at 7:06 pm
Saying you cannot get addicted to pot is a stretch. I should know, I’ve been there. Once you start smoking it your first waking thought is to smoke it to start you day, every day, day after day.
October 10, 2011 at 11:55 am | | Report comment
To shut down medical marijuana in California would be as ludacrous as shutting down the dairy or produce industries. Its the biggest cash crop by far in the state. You just don’t go cutting out an industry that at the end of the day collectivley contribute hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue to the state.
It also employs thousands of people, in a state where unemployment remains one of the highest in the nation, can they really afford to shut down an industry that size? The feds can talk all they want but even they do not have the manpower to shut down the entire infrastructre that has been put in place.
If there are bad apples abusing the laws go after them but leave the law abiding citizens alone. When a liquor store sells booze to minors they deal with the consequences, we don’t shut down every liquor store in the state, liquor stores that you do not even have to be of legal drinking age to enter and that sell candy and soda right next to beer. Marijuana is hear to stay, see the money benefiting us or Mexican cartels. Its your choice.
October 9, 2011 at 4:03 pm | | Report comment
Not true. Make an example out of a few growers and the entire industry will disappear overnite.
Pain relief can be sought in many ways, not just through drugs but also through other methods [electro-therapy, etc.] The first place you druggies want to run when you get a blister on your backsides [because that's all you do is sit on your backsides] is run to the joint.
Sorry.. marijuana is FAR too abused to be used as a pain releiver… I don’t care HOW effective it is… the dangers outweight the benefits, plain and simple… hence why your king, Obummer, is cracking down on it because even left wing loon like him knows it isn’t good.
October 9, 2011 at 5:06 pm | | Report comment
You are a clueless, ignorant, mean spirited and confused buffoon. Put down the alcohol once in awhile and your thoughts may obtain some much needed clarity.
October 9, 2011 at 5:27 pm
Br123 – we all have tumors that grow and shrink in our bodies based on factors in our environment and genetics. UCLA and Harvard performed studies that showed smoking cannabis regularly, for many years, had a protective effect on the human body against cancer. God bless you, find peace my son.
October 9, 2011 at 5:41 pm
its never killed a single person in world history. enough said
October 9, 2011 at 9:12 pm
dreath, are you really this stupid or just a liar? Pot has caused all sorts of car crashes that have taken lives and I am sure has caused lung cancer which has taken lives. I couldn’t even right my bicycle after smoking it. Quit lying.
October 9, 2011 at 11:10 pm
THE DANGERS FROM A PLANT THAT CANNOT KILL YOU,,,YOUR OWN ILLOGICAL THINKING IS THE END RESULT OF BUYING INTO THE GOVERNMENTS LIE MACHINE ,,,,AND YOUR TRUST IN WHITE LAB COATS IS REALLY BLIND FAITH ,,,,,WE WERE BORN FROM NATURE,,NOT SCIENCE LAB EXPERIMENTING
October 10, 2011 at 3:59 am
I agree….pot is not the solution. It is the gateway drug for our youth!!!
October 10, 2011 at 6:38 am
The ignorance is outstanding on this board. Conclusive studies for over 30 years show that cannabis is not a “gateway drug” nor has it killed anyone.
There are over 35 kinds of active cannabonoids in the plant. It has been proven time and time again that a few of them are reasonable for body pain so your argument is null and void. Years of science, blind studies, and evaluation has proven it.
The government has made an example of people for the last 40 years and it has not stopped people from doing what they love and want. It will never go away so get used to it. We have used it in every culture since man was alive.
Cannabis has never killed anyone. It is the same argument as guns. Guns don’t kill people, people kill people. If you want to make the argument about driving, years of cannabis studies in england have also proven that there is no correlation between cannabis and bad driving. Alcohol is proven to be far more dangerous both in the operation of a motor vehicle and to the body.
If you cannot make clear decisions while operating a car or bike on cannabis then perhaps you should not drive or ride the bike. Once again, it up to the person and their responsibility not the drug.
Please stop being so ignorant. This is not the 1950′s anymore and most of your arguments have been proven wrong through time. The fed ended its 30 years study with cannabis a few years ago and the results were conclusive with find peaces’s post. The people who smoked had a 97% drop in cancer and Alzheimer’s. Obesity only ran 16% in that group as well. People were more acute, social, and were on average happier then the people who didn’t.
You must ask yourself, why do we have active cannabonoid receptors in our brains made for tch? I know i won’t change most of the negatives peoples minds, but please stop spitting rhetoric and false logic. Look up the results and tests yourself. You don’t have to smoke or even like cannabis for that matter, but don’t make false accusations and argue against true logic. Once again, this is not the 1950′s anymore and those arguments, like the ones in refer madness, and pure fantasy.
October 10, 2011 at 7:04 am
Br123– You have no CLUE what you are talking about! I have been touched by so many people who have gained their lives back, soley due to their ability to use medical marijuana. Who are you to say how people can or cannot alleviate themselves???
and by the way we are a group of LEADERS not FOLLOWERS!!!
October 10, 2011 at 7:44 am
Marijuana is “hear” to stay? This is what happens when you’re high all day instead of going to school! Hey Max, cocaine is a cash crop too, but it wrecks families, hurts children, and has no constructive use in our society! By the way, it’s “HERE”! (Good thing I wasn’t high in class all day and learned to spell)
October 9, 2011 at 5:20 pm | | Report comment
Hey, Matthew! I guess you have no problem with your alcoholic buddy, Br123, using the wrong form of ‘You’re” and spelling like a drunk monkey?
Make a cogent point instead of pointing out spelling errors. Check out all the misspellings on Tea Party rally signs. (Including “shcool”).
October 9, 2011 at 7:09 pm
Brining up alcohol when discussing legalizing dope is a fallacy. Just because we have a legal harmful substance that is abused and leads to very severe consequences in society, that does not mean we should legalize all such substances. If it is all legal or none, which as I said is a fallacy, I vote for making alcohol illegal too.
October 9, 2011 at 11:13 pm
Why don’t you sit down and explain that all to Obama, and remind him while you’re at it he has domestic oil drilling almost shut down too…
October 9, 2011 at 10:11 pm | | Report comment
“can they really afford to shut down an industry that size” …in support of an already long established agricultural and pharmaceutical industry with employee numbers in the millions?
“they do not have the manpower to shut down the entire infrastructre that has been put in place” … the D.E.A. has 165,000 people on the payroll but look at the bright side, if they cannot do it all by there selves State’s Governor’s and the President can call upon the National Guard to assist, which they did in Northern California under Bush 1.
“liquor stores that you do not even have to be of legal drinking age to enter” .. smoking pot to inebriation before posting is unwise.
October 10, 2011 at 1:55 am | | Report comment
Max your totaly right except one thing you didn’t mention. They want to shut down Harborside which has 91,000 patients will be tring to get there meds from the street. In Oakland need I say more.
October 9, 2011 at 5:02 pm | | Report comment
br123
I.m a conservative and your an idiot.
October 9, 2011 at 5:35 pm | | Report comment
The medical marijuana industry in CA is supplying the rest of the country with 3-5 billion in product each year. However, they are only claiming 0.7-1.2 billion in revenue per year.
IOW, under the guise of medical marijuana, collectives in CA are actually taking over the entire American market and underreporting their earnings.
The reality is that these “collectives” and “dispensaries” are really just drug kingpin dropout druggies turned millionaires.
One such collective is the California Patients Association in Santa Ana, CA. I hear that they sell to kids all the time. I also hear that if you want esctasy, you should talk to one of their “bud tenders”.
Another collective that I hear is a front for other drugs is: Cali Cannabis Collective Group. Not only is it a cinch for teenagers to get weed, you can also find out the best place to buy cocaine, meth, and ecstasy from their “bud-tenders.” I also hear this collective supplies a huge amount of weed to other states and just cooks their books to make it seem like the sales happen in CA from legit patients.
Another serious violator of crime is nuggetry.com, which supplies the collectives. The owner of this establishment used to be a big-time marijuana, coke, and ecstasy dealer in San Diego before becoming a “legit” businessman. I hear that kids are using his youtube video postings to learn the ins and outs of the marijuana business. They are also using his facebook and twitter page to find out where to get the best high in SoCal. He markets and tags his videos so that kids will find them using terms that only high school kids would understand.
If any federal agents are reading this, please investigate these criminals!!!!
October 9, 2011 at 6:19 pm | | Report comment
LOL. this is hilarious. ‘He markets and tags his videos so that kids will find them using terms that only high school kids would understand.”
really? what is this, the 1950′s? the jazz isn’t good enough.
October 9, 2011 at 6:43 pm | | Report comment
He also names his bud strains with kid tags: “Jedi OG”, “Purple Candy”, “Green Candy”, “Bieber’s Dream”, “Miley’s Cooch”, “Disneyland Purple”, “Pandabear”, “Candyland”.
Now, anyone with common sense would know that CPA and nuggetry.com are deliberately targeting kids. Also, I hear that their shops are the place to get other drugs as well.
CPA and nuggetry are supplying high school kids with products that are ruining their lives. I have also hear that you can buy ecstasy and cocaine from their “bud-tenders”.
What does CPA and nuggetry have to do with “medicine”?
NOTHING. They are drug dealing kingpins racketeers who cook their books and avoid taxes on their revenue from underground drug running to all 50 US states.
I have also heard that CPA and nuggetry may be involved with underground sex trafficking. The kingpin of nuggetry used to be a big time dealer in San Diego before medical marijuana becoma legal.
Federal agents…please investigate!!!!!
October 9, 2011 at 7:51 pm
Deciding what to put into your body is your own choice. Not the choice of government. If you want government to tell you how to think, feel, and act there are plenty of despotic countries out there that are more than happy to oblige. Move there. This country was founded on the idea of personal liberty. Freedom. The liberty to decide your own path. The freedom to choose your own destiny without the interference of tyrants.
Would you want the government to tell you what foods you can or cannot eat? What drinks you can consume? What is appropriate attire? Most of us would say no. Prohibition has never worked, and will never work. Since the war on drugs was established by Ronald Regan in the 80′s the number of non-violent drug users sentenced to prison exploded. Who does that benefit? How is putting someone in prison who did something that only affected himself worthwhile?
Crime requires a victim, and drug use is a victim-less crime.
October 9, 2011 at 6:45 pm | | Report comment
Your comment is stupid. If the USA in 2011, if you want to put something in your body that harms your body, or makes you an unproductive citizen, or interferes with your ability to learn, THAT IS EVERYONE’S BUSINESS because the rest of us will have to pay for your lazy stupid-@ss when you get on welfare and pay for your healthcare. In a truly libertarian society, your logic might make sense, but it makes no sense on a welfare state, i.e. USA.
And drug use is not a victimless crime. The victims are just indirect. What happens to a child whose dad wants to sit around and smoke dope all day? They have no provider, they have no role model. And what about when stoners accidentally burn their house down or let their children drown because they are stoned out of their minds? Those things have happened. IT IS NOT A VICTIMLESS CRIME – get a clue.
And this country was not founded on the idea of personal liberty of the type you are suggesting. If it was, why did we have all sorts of laws against gambling, prostitution, and even adultery? And do you really think it is tyrannical to prevent people from smoking dope? Maybe you’ve smoked too much dope already?
Oh, and have fun sleeping tonight while thinking about those 10′s of thousands of murders in Mexico that happened because of your need to get dope. Loser.
October 9, 2011 at 11:22 pm | | Report comment
I am sorry you are so misinformed about the country you live in. We have an F.D.A., A.T.F., D.E.A.,D.H.S.,U.S.D.A. and it is their job to “Would you want the government to tell you what foods you can or cannot eat” along with regulating drugs, providing personal security, stopping crime, controlling and monitoring the food supply. They are doing their job, why insist on berating people who work for your interests?
Because you want to use drugs recreationally which is fine until you start stealing other people’s property to buy them, driving under the influence of them, attacking your girlfriend while high, vandalizing your neighbor’s house cause he called the cops on you, posting pictures of your bongs hits with your five year old on facebook…and on and on and on..
October 10, 2011 at 2:05 am | | Report comment
The Government is already telling us what foods to put in our Body, How to think, (public schools) invoking rules that effect out freedom of religion, fill our minds with so much nonsensical filth that we don’t know the truth anymore. We hear it all day, TV, Radio, Bill Boards and newspaper, Magazines etc…. As for tax evasion by these drug merchants then evoke the Fair tax act, and tax only what they buy. There is always a solution…
October 10, 2011 at 6:02 am | | Report comment
There is a long history in America of using various home remedies for relief of pain, rheumatism, digestive ills, anxiety, depression. There was a time it was legal to purchase morphine mail order for the civil war wounded. Tincture of opium and alcohol mixtures were quite popular in its day. Today we have marijuana, and of course like all drugs it can be overused and dysfunctional. However as an American I do not want my government arresting, criminalizing, and incarcerating people simply because of what they eat, drink, or smoke. Only if they commit a real crime of theft or violence or fraud. Not for lifestyle choices. What ever happened to “don’t tread on me”. What ever happened to our freedom from an onerous police state? Our government should focus on other issues rather than arresting and incarcerating everybody who slightly steps our of the Corporate and right wing line. Pot may make you act goofy after smoking or eating it,, but criminalizing someone ruins their life, thier job prospects, their earning power for their family and its wrong to hurt people so. Why did we give our freedom away?
October 9, 2011 at 7:50 pm | | Report comment
Hmm…Atavan
[or] Medical Marijuana
Wellbutrin [or] Medical Marijuana.
After careful consideration, I realized there was no difference in the drug dealers – except one dealt toxic harmful and sometimes deadly wares – the other did not.
I chose the one with the least side effects and won’t kill me – it was Marijuana – I did my research and I am way better off with mother nature. Legalize it already and stop this nonsense.
October 9, 2011 at 7:51 pm | | Report comment
I was prescribed depression medicine for chemical imbalances in my brain. I use Wellbutrin and generic Zoloft. The side effects of these medicines are worse than Marijuana could ever be. I’ve been a skeptic but having tried marijuana, I’ll stick with it. I feel great, and I can still function like any other human.
People who think getting ‘high’ is soo bad need to stop sucking the gov. tits. I dont know whats worse, being judged for taking a medicine that allows me to feel human again or believing everything our leaders shove down our throats. Peace & pot.
October 9, 2011 at 10:51 pm | | Report comment
Research in England has proven that persons who use marijuana on a regular basis and have metal illness issues are at high risk of inducing schizophrenia.
SCHIZOPHRENIA, good luck with that.
October 10, 2011 at 2:09 am
Dave, SCHIZOPHRENIA? really? Research in the US has not proven such. You’re just spewing lies. This from someone that takes ibuprofen for a headache because the govt. says it ok. Let’s not consider it’s side effects.
If you take any medicine and talk down about MM you’re a hypocrite. Why is MM bad, because the Govt. says so. I’m pretty sure there’s no references in the bible stating it’s a sin. If you can find something that does, compare it to any man made painkillers and see if it still applies.
October 10, 2011 at 9:25 am
“Dave, SCHIZOPHRENIA? really? Research in the US has not proven such. You’re just spewing lies”
The BBC News reported today on a new research study out of New Zealand that highlights the greatly increased risk of mental illness associated with Marijuana use.
“Smoking cannabis virtually doubles the risk of developing mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, researchers say. The New Zealand scientists said their study suggested this was probably due to chemical changes in the brain which resulted from smoking the drug.
The study, published in the journal Addiction, followed over 1,000 people born in 1977 for 25 years.”
The researchers stated that “The weight of the evidence clearly suggests that the use of cannabis may alter underlying brain chemistry and precipitate the onset of psychosis [and therefore schizophrenia]… in vulnerable individuals,” the University of Otago scientists reported in the journal, Addiction.
That is copy/pasted from the article, do your own research to find more. Anyone who has ever done illegal drugs or been around people who do for any length of time already knows that not everyone can handle using drugs on a regular basis. Some people should never use them, especially persons with existing mental illness.
October 10, 2011 at 11:17 am
Unfortunately the GOP have been co-opted by the Christian fundamentalists in this country so they end up going against their own principles of preventing gov’t overreach. On one hand they want the Feds to leave the poor millionaire bankers alone because the government needs to stay out of the economy. They are against govt jobs programs and unemployment benefits in this horrible recession we are in. Yet they gladly welcome crushing states rights and going after med MJ dispensaries and want to tell everyone that they can’t smoke pot because it’s bad, mkay.
Basic hypocrisy. If it was legalized our govt would save hundreds of billions on law enforcement and prisons, and also make hundreds of billions in taxes. We remove a huge underground organized crime element as well. We would see no appreciable increase in use because everyone who wants to do it is doing it now!! There is no logical reason to continue this prohibition, just as there was no reasons for alcohol prohibition. Any argument otherwise is only to deflect from the truth.
October 9, 2011 at 8:09 pm | | Report comment
Hey Paully,
I have a news flash for you Obama is a Democrat, not GOP.
October 9, 2011 at 8:51 pm | | Report comment
Paully, do you really think you can make such broad generalizations about republicans? I’m a republican, I don’t want the government to leave bankers alone. I want the government to enforce the law. If the banks violated the laws, they should be prosecuted. And I want reasonable banking laws that prevent the kind of problems we have because of risky securities being sold as safe. And I am not against unemployment programs but I do think they should only last about 90 days. But you are correct, i am against government jobs programs. And honestly, I don’t want the federal government interferring with California’s laws regarding marajuana. If California wants a state full of stoned people, let them have one. So maybe you should rethink your views on republicans because they are mostly WRONG.
And your idea that more people wouldn’t smoke dope if it were legalized is just wrong. I don’t smoke dope but would if it were legal. There are many many people who cannot risk being arrested for smoking dope, but if it were legal they would do it. You really don’t know what you are talking about.
BTW, you do know that most democrats aren’t on the legalize dope train either, right? And that seems to go more against their philosophy than it does that of he republicans who support traditional values, which don’t include smoking dope.
October 9, 2011 at 11:32 pm | | Report comment
You do know that Pat Robertson of the moral majority has come out for at least decriminalization of marijuana, He believes locking up pot users creates far more problems than it solves
October 10, 2011 at 4:50 am | | Report comment
The other side of the coin is the huge Anti-Drug policing agencies, where many an officer gets paid over 100k a year taxpayer funded salaried to arrest, criminalize and incarcerate ordianary citizens who may smoke, eat, or drink some “deemed” and often misclassified “controlled substance” Police departments across the nation get special equipment, training, and payroll grants to aggressively enforce these laws. I imagine the average plice officer gets nearly 25% of his paycheck off the anti drug laws. The federal government puts marijuana in with heroin which is innacurate and then prosecute people on this inaccuarte classiification. There are literally hundreds of thousand poliice officers, agents of the government, and assorted types employed by the criminal justice system and prison industries who make their living off of the war on drugs, which is really a war on the civilians of the United States. They have a vested interest in making sure none of the antifrug lawas are changed, and in fact in they want to make the war on drus ever more intrusive. Even the theory behind the war on drugs is wrong headed. And no politician will stand up to them, or even try and change anything about them. Witness the Obama administration which is essential prosecuting the anti drug laws just like the bush administration before them and the clinton administration before that. The people of this country face an entrenched war on drugs constituency that makes its living off of aggressively oppressing their rights to basic freedoms. You now are totally vulnerable to these people anytime you drive a car on any road where the war on drugs can be used to do a full field interrogation and totally jam you up. Waiit till the new fbi facial recognition scanners are in place and they can just swoop up anybody on their list walking in any street in America fitted with such cameras. The zero tolerance mentality should scream fascism to people. This whole appraoch has created an environment ripe for the proliferation of criminal gangs who simply do not care about running afoul of the law. Then the police use the same hi powered tactics against hardened criminals on ordinary citizens just going about town They are trained in highly proactive policing rather than true respect of a person’s soveriety from the states control which should ordianarily prevail unless a real crime is witnessed or reported. .What I am saying is that there are deeply entrenched finanical interests in keeping things just the way they are despite of the logic of those who want a less onerous regieme. Its your taxdollars that politicians are spending to finance this war and at this point they estimate all American males born today will be arrested in their lifetime creating criminal records, preventing job prospects as no longer will simply checking the box “no convictions” suffice for more and mroe employers and any kind of government license or work.
October 9, 2011 at 8:17 pm | | Report comment
Brian, lay off the meth. Put the pipe down, and slowly walk away. Clearly your paranoid ditribe highlights your “wired” and/or “blazed” state of mind.
Look out. The DEA is outside!!!!
October 9, 2011 at 9:32 pm | | Report comment
What? You don’t believe that money talks?
Have you ever researched the history surrounding the passing of the Marijuana Tax Act in the ’30′s?
The “evidence” was just about as good as it was regarding Saddam’s WMD. Potheads are just a handy, easy target.
October 10, 2011 at 6:00 pm
Thanks, Brian. Nice post.
Alcohol Prohibition didn’t cause any crime did it? Seems to me the govt. would be wise to legalize it and collect the taxes. I guess they’d rather the illegals and the drug cartels get paid.
October 10, 2011 at 9:33 am | | Report comment
Just to many pot heads on this site!
October 9, 2011 at 9:46 pm | | Report comment
Dude……
wait…….
what?
October 9, 2011 at 10:09 pm | | Report comment
OK so you can’t go to a tanning parlor if you’re under 18, but you can have pot festivals for all to attend. Governor moonbeam is a moron.
October 9, 2011 at 10:15 pm | | Report comment
you dumb slave brain ,,,do some studying ,,,,the tan parlor is going to do a whole lot more damage to you than a bloody weed festival,,,what kind of reality are you prohibitionist types living in,,,,youre running to the poisons like theyre god and detesting nature ,,,youve been conned,on a very large scale,,,,check your beliefs and whos giving them to you
October 10, 2011 at 4:17 am | | Report comment
Bob Marley impersonators must have made a killing over the weekend
http://rhymeandreasonable.com
October 9, 2011 at 10:18 pm | | Report comment
If it’s “medical” marijuana, why is it not being dispensed by a pharmacy?
October 9, 2011 at 10:23 pm | | Report comment
You hit the nail on the head. It is a trojan horse to get dope legalized for stoners.
October 9, 2011 at 11:34 pm | | Report comment
lie spamming machines steeped in bizarre declarations that pot has no medicinal values
October 10, 2011 at 4:19 am
LOL at the neo cons who want government out of their lives and regulations thrown to the fire, but want to tell people what they can and can not smoke (eat, or vaporize).
Effing fools you neo cons are.
October 9, 2011 at 10:55 pm | | Report comment
When you use the term “neo con” you instantly out yourself as an ignorant, left-wing idiot. Republicans and conservatives do no want “regulations thrown to the fire” and don’t want the government out of their lives. They generally want less regulations than the democrats and less government involvement in the economy. Effing fools is what JB is because he doesn’t have a clue what he is talking about.
BTW – there are many democrats who don’t want to legalize dope and this article has nothing to do with republicans. Are you too stoned to realize what the article is about?
October 9, 2011 at 11:37 pm | | Report comment
Of course medical pot is a joke what kind of sane doctor would prescribe the smoking of anything to a patient? Pot does not medically relive pain like opiates do. It is all just a binchnof burnt out potheads wanting to legally smoke thir sick drug.
October 9, 2011 at 10:57 pm | | Report comment
Too true. Stoners want to get stoned and will make up any lie so that they can do it legally.
October 9, 2011 at 11:45 pm | | Report comment
Totally ignorant comment.You don’t know anything about pot, or medicine, or history. Try focusing your anger on the criminals in power instead of regular people minding their own business. Criminalizing this harmless little plant is the real sick joke and if you knew history, you’d know why.
October 10, 2011 at 5:20 am | | Report comment
Dope isn’t harmless and stoners are not regular people. And I focus my anger on the criminals in power everyday, thank you.
October 12, 2011 at 2:20 am
“Stoners aren’t regular people”. What does it mean?
October 12, 2011 at 9:53 am
California is always first in being stupid!
October 9, 2011 at 11:20 pm | | Report comment
stop the ignorance and let’s have a real conversation about marijuana. there is no reason to criminalize it.
oops i got drunk and… got a girl pregnant, killed someone in a drunk driving accident, beat my girlfriend, DIED OF ALCOHOL POISONING, destroyed my liver, found out i’m an alcoholic…
oops i got high and… ate a little too much and fell asleep.
take a stab at that for me, please.
October 9, 2011 at 11:23 pm | | Report comment
Get off your girlfriend’s couch and find a job.
October 9, 2011 at 11:34 pm | | Report comment
actually, i’m sitting on my own personal couch, in my own house, eating some delicious lasagna that my girlfriend made for me. can’t stay up too much later chatting, i have class tomorrow morning. i’m pursuing a bachelor of science! sorry! nice try.
October 9, 2011 at 11:38 pm
Tom, I am pretty sure you haven’t seen your girlfriend in days because she has been under the sheets of my bed for the past week or so. I am fairly certain that she hasn’t had time to make you lasagna because she has been very very busy.
October 12, 2011 at 11:28 pm
Tom,
Why are you lying? Dope doesn’t affect your judgement? You can’t have sex while stoned? And smoking dope doesn’t impair your ability to drive a car? That list of horribles is equally applicable to dope except the part about alcohol poisoning and liver. But smoking dope ruins your lungs and is gate-way drug to much more dangerous drugs such as cocaine and meth. Also, dope is linked to mental illness.
Why do stoners continually have to lie about dope? Oh yeah, because they really really want to smoke it because they can’t deal with reality and because pretty much all of their arguments for legalization are lies.
October 9, 2011 at 11:43 pm | | Report comment
Lying? Want pictures? What kind of assertion is that in an argument? If one side claims “I don’t believe you” how much progress will be made? Sigh… I guess you are going to assume I’m a bad person because I smoke. I can’t change your mind about that.
From personal experience, I would say pot doesn’t really affect your greater judgment. I actually read about a study where drivers were tested while high on pot. Their performance suffered a bit, but most drivers admitted they were too high to drive! If I can find the story again I’ll post a link (because you probably think I’m lying).
Increased risk of lung cancer, even under heavy usage, is a myth. Google “Lung cancer linked to marijuana” for me and tell me what you get. And once again someone is confusing stupid people for pot smokers. If someone chooses to try dangerous drugs, it isn’t necessarily because they smoked pot. I still don’t want to do cocaine, ecstasy, acid, meth (DISGUSTING)… that’s because of who I am.
If you think I’m lying, you’re either in denial or closed-minded.
October 10, 2011 at 1:02 am
…and because they won’t stop at marijuana. The real issue is freedom to use drugs for recreation and as soon as pot is legal methamphetamine, crack cocaine and heroin, LSD, ecstasy all will be next. It is already starting in Europe and England with ecstasy, all the it doesn’t hurt anyone, alcohol is worse, people love each other more what’s wrong with that, it has therapeutic value…
Yeah, suuuuurrreee….
October 10, 2011 at 2:13 am
Here’s my argument for legalization – I’m an adult and I don’t need corrupt Fed trash telling me what I can smoke. Maybe you need Daddy to tell you what’s right and wrong because you have no compass of your own, who knows. Gee, do you care about the hundreds of corporate-pushed medications that ADMITTEDLY promote suicide? Can you deal with that reality?
October 10, 2011 at 5:24 am
Scooch, eliminate all welfare programs so that I don’t have to pay for your healthcare, food stamps, etc, etc with my tax money, and I’ll gladly support decriminalization of dope. Is it a deal?
October 10, 2011 at 8:51 pm
You should support decriminalization for its own merits. And I don’t spend your tax dollars, I run my own business.
October 10, 2011 at 9:35 pm
Scooch, I think I do support decriminalization. I don’t think people should go to jail for having a small amont of dope for personal use. But I do think they should get a fine, and they should go to jail if they don’t pay the fine. When I said decriminalization earlier I should have said legalization. Sorry.
And I’m glad you are part of the left-wing cabal called the “film industry”. Good for you. But I am sure there are many people who smoke dope who aren’t as hard working as you CLAIM you are. And I am sure that the average dope smoker costs the government much more in healthcare, welfare, etc, than the average non dope smoker.
Again, the “I can do whatever I want to my body” logic really only works in a libertarian society. In a welfare state such as the USA, that logic does not work because the unhealthy stuff you put into your body is likely to cost tax payers down the road. You lose freedom but you get your welfare “Safety net”. And yes, I think this applies to everything you put in your body including food and liquor.
October 12, 2011 at 2:18 am
You’re arguing that because of the presence of welfare, we don’t have the rights to our own body. I don’t like the welfare state but I won’t abdicate my self-sovereignty because of it. Btw thanks for lumping me into a “left wing cabal” considering I have no affiliation with left or right b.s.
October 12, 2011 at 9:50 am
If only all these stoners would put their time to something productive instead of making up fallacious and false reasons to legalize dope. They probably could have solved some real problems if they weren’t preoccupied with their “right” to escape reality by smoking dope. Sad, very sad.
October 9, 2011 at 11:49 pm | | Report comment
CANNABINOIDS ARE FOUND IN A)CANNABIS…….B)MOTHERS BREAST MILK…………………SO ALL YOU ZOMBIE LIKE SERVILE SLAVE BRAINS WHO THINK WEED IS EVIL ,,YOU ARE ACTUALLY DETESTING NATURE ,,,HOW SICK AND PHYSCOTIC IS THAT?????????????
October 10, 2011 at 3:52 am | | Report comment
HOW DOES ONE ESCAPE REALITY BY USING WEED? AT WHAT POINT ARE WE ESCAPING REALITY ? MORE INSANE LIES FROM A PROHIBITIONIST STANCE THAT THINKS TRYING TO STOP PEOPLE USING CANNABIS IS EVER GOING TO HAPPEN,,,,THERES MORE HARM IN YOUR WATER SUPPLY AND FOOD CHAIN ,YET CANNABIS USE WILLMAKE THE SKY FALL IN ?
October 10, 2011 at 4:11 am | | Report comment
Hey guess what, I used 20 years, own my own business and work in the movies. Now aren’t you sad for judging other people. What real problems have you solved lately? How about your fallacious and false reasons to spend billions of tax dollars eradicating a simple plant? Complete insanity by primitive lunatics.
October 10, 2011 at 5:28 am | | Report comment
also you are an idiot… explain how legalizing marijuana would cost money… Stupid.
Not only would this make money but it would probably allow us to:
A: Stop borrowing money from communist countries
B: Stop motivating and providind open doors to fuel terrorism and cartels
C: Save some folks lives with Cancer
D: Perhaps take a bit of power away from the alcohol and tobacco Co’s
October 10, 2011 at 8:41 am
Scooch,
You do know that owning your own business doesn’t necessarily make you a great success, right? And knowing that you “work in the movies” would only reinforce my views about you unless you work the popcorn stand at the local theatre? Do you?
And anybody can say anything online – prove that you are successful and own your own busines!!! Give me the name and address of your business. I will call you tomorrow to verify.
And no I don’t feel sad for judging people. I know there are probably lots of successful people who smoke dope. I’ve known a few, but they are the rare exception.
What problems have I solved lately? I’ve tried to help the pro-dope people understand how stupid their logic is and that their evidence is mostly just a bunch of stoner blogs. Sadly, they usually cannot understand – it’s like they are stoned or something.
Later Bbbbbbrrrraaaaaaaa. Keep tokin!!!!!!
October 10, 2011 at 8:48 pm
Again, what have you done in life? Zero.
October 10, 2011 at 9:38 pm
Scooch, I’m a lawyer. Before that, I was an engineer. Is that good enough for you? And BTW, you didn’t give me the name of your business so that I could verify your claims.
October 12, 2011 at 2:08 am
Congrats on passing the bar.
October 12, 2011 at 9:45 am
you probably work for pfeizer…
October 10, 2011 at 8:39 am | | Report comment
I forgot to mention that nobody is lying when it comes to the effects of cannabis other than those who oppose it. You won’t become some burn out who can’t spell and has no motivation except to get more Fritos from the store and buy more weed from your dealer. 48,000 people isn’t that much? Stoners shut up, please shut up. That’s only on one of the multiple petitions which pose similar questions. Also, national polls show that 48 percent of Americans support legalization with 52 percent opposing it so a lot more than 0.015% you idiot. The reason all these “stoners” are coming out of their “holes” is because people told lies for so long they finally got sick of it.
October 10, 2011 at 12:04 am | | Report comment
A lot of control freaks from the right on this site simply spewing their aggressive view of confiscating other Americans rights and freedoms. You do know your just mere control freaks don’t you? Purely antifreedom types. And ignorant beyond belief. Any self respecting European would walk away laughing at your peasant proto-militia mentality. Why dont you joi;n the National Gaurd and maybe you will get a real war trip to Afghanistan where you can show your stuff? Pawns. God save the Republic!
October 10, 2011 at 12:22 am | | Report comment
The real sad thing about the whole medical marijuana movement is that the support for it comes mainly from teenagers and 20 somethings who really only want to be free to smoke pot. They don’t understand that this movement which made pot “medical” in many States has given the pharmaceutical industry something they have been trying to achieve since the 50′s. They would love to sell you THC based pills for any reason you want to consume them, just like Oxycontin and your vigor has put them in the position where they are going to get what they want. The D.E.A. has been ordered to begin licensing pharmaceutical companies to develop, market and sell THC based products as long as they are not in smoking form.
As soon as doctors have an alternative to raw pot readily available in prescription form dispensaries will have no legal ground left to stand on and will be closed. Now to the “sad” part for you young people, EVERY State in the country has a felony law dealing with possession of prescribed drugs. Once these new drugs are on the market States will begin charging you with a felony for simple possession of marijuana- I am talking grams, quarters, joints etc.
Felony possession of a controlled substance or prescription drug. Look it up in your home State. You made marijuana a more serious criminal offense, think “what would I be charged with if caught with opium poppies?”
Felony intent/or manufacture of a controlled substance.
You made it happen, blame yourselves and the medical marijuana organizations.
October 10, 2011 at 2:23 am | | Report comment
One thing that isn’t a lie is that the violence associated with narcotics is a direct result of the fact that they are illegal. Because of law enforcement attempts to curb production and distribution, the price goes up. Just because something is declared to be illegal doesn’t mean that it isn’t subject to the same laws of supply and demand as everything else. The bigger money attracts criminal elements to the trade, and since there is no legal protection of growers and users, the most violent wins. The troubles down on our southern border would disappear quickly if drug prohibition ended. A number of free market, right wing economists will explain it to you, if you care to listen. You’d think we would have learned something from Prohibition. Apparently not. BTW, I don’t use drugs, I don’t even drink, so keep the ad hominem attacks to yourself.
October 10, 2011 at 2:39 am | | Report comment
PEOPLE LIKE RICO ARE NO DOUBT SOCK PUPPET SOFTWARE SPAMMING ON HERE WITH THE USUAL STRANGE STATEMENTS LIKE “MEDICAL MARIJUANA IS A SCAM”…..THESE GOVERNMENT LIE MACHINE TYPES WOULD TELL YOU THE SUN IS NOT WARM AND KEEP A STRAIGHT FACE…..THE GOVERNMENTS HATE WEED ,IT REPRESENTS EVERYTHING THEYRE BOSSES DETEST
October 10, 2011 at 3:47 am | | Report comment
Di they have to put cancer warning labels on the product like alcohol and tobacco? Who pays when someone sues cause they got cancer from smoking the pot? Growers? Distributors? Doctors?
October 10, 2011 at 3:55 am | | Report comment
Cancer? From pot? Citations?
October 10, 2011 at 4:14 am | | Report comment
Sure. It is a carcinogen and people will sue if there is money to be had.
October 10, 2011 at 4:39 am
I am so glad that irrelevant issues like, being broke, high unemployment, gangs taking over, law abiding legal citizens leaving the state by the bus load oh yes and hyper-illegal activity are way down on the list of Gov. Hemp Head. You people need to get a clue. Put the bong down. Sober up and get YOUR house in order.
October 10, 2011 at 6:06 am | | Report comment
Marijuana Job Fair…..LOL. Now there’s a self-contradicting term if I ever heard one.
October 10, 2011 at 6:06 am | | Report comment
I’m sure the Doritos career table was swamped!
October 10, 2011 at 10:59 am | | Report comment
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As a former head, I am 100% behind the personal use of Cannabis. And much less so for poison known as alcohol.
My only thing is, and I know the medical necessity rule has been useful; but just forget the rule, and get the fascist government out of it. Use it openly because you want to, and because the Constitution says you can.
Your messengers are the thousands of freedom fighters currently getting their heads bashed in by Wall Street’s Zionist Gestapo.
October 10, 2011 at 6:20 am | | Report comment
“As a former head…”
Why do you no longer use it?
October 10, 2011 at 10:34 am | | Report comment
“The new report Monday from the Florida Medical Examiners Commission showed that almost 2,300 people died from overdoses caused by prescription drugs last year, up by 7.9 percent from 2009.” Bob LaMendola, Sun Sentinel
I looked up marijuana deaths and articles came up on some scary stuff about synthetic marijuana like k-2… But next to nothing on pot fatalities… I don’t smoke pot, however I feel that smoking pot is far far less of an issue than the prescription pill problem plaguing our country… That is just from the state of FL… I urge everyone to look into your own state’s statistics on this issue… Kids are dying everyday from these high powered pain killers, not smoking pot…
October 10, 2011 at 6:37 am | | Report comment
Legalize whatever drug you want as long as there are no government freebies given away to those who become addicted. Eliminate any penalties for shooting them if they come to rape, rob and pillage. Enhance the penalties for driving under the influence to include the death penalty if fatalities result. Foolish choices should have consequences. Deadly choices should have deadly consequences. For every freedom there is a corresponding responsibility.
October 10, 2011 at 8:22 am | | Report comment
Ah. Commiefornia, home of the fruits and nuts. They are mot even part of the US or this galaxy for that matter. Gov Moonbeam is a worthless POS ans ultra liberal wacko. He should be recalled in dumped in a special election.
October 10, 2011 at 8:30 am | | Report comment
Some people still haven’t gotten the message that Obama is trying to break the US bank and using their vote power to do it. As far as pot goes, try two small puffs. It will either make you fell wonderful and reduce your pain or it will make you feel like you are getting the flu. The flu feeling people are not people that can use pot for medical use and need to leave it alone. The others will never speak evil against it again. If you have never tried it and are speaking against it, then you have been hoodwinked by propaganda and have bought into corporate lies designed to brain wash you into false beliefs spouted by false prophets. Even the religious crowd has fallen for it.Pot is on the same shelf as aspirin in the bad effects catagory and used correctly is on the same shelf as hydrocodone in the pain relief category. Stronger pot means the user doesn’t have to consume as much to get to the less pain level, not that they will want to use more or even as much as they normally would of lesser strength pot. Of course, the politicians that are bought and paid for by Du pont chemical and big pharma are told the truth either.
October 10, 2011 at 8:39 am | | Report comment
I am a conservative. I have smoked pot since 1969 almost daily, weekly for sure. I am 64 years old. I owned and operated a very successful legal business ($1 mil annual sales) which I just sold in order to retire. This obviously does not meet the stereotype portrayed here. Yes I broke the current laws in order to smoke as I do not live in one of the states that allow medical use. I have no medical issues so could not have have participated in that program. I choose not to smoke while driving, working or needing to deal with some of life’s tougher issues. I would be in favor of legalizing it, but that has not even been an issue because I do not take stupid chances and put my self in risky situations. These days it can be purchased without fear of being caught and pretty much it is only a misdemeanor offense in most states to posses 4 ounces or less for personal use ( not bagged for sale) case in point , willy nelsons most recent bust in Texas.
Reading some of the statements made in this comment stream leaves no doubt as to major amounts of mis-information being perpetuated by both sides of the issue. I am also for smaller govt, less intrusion and regulation, less taxes. This is an election cycle and smoking pot is a high profile issue and California is one of the big targets because the state laws are contrary to the federal laws and the Feds ( sitting president) is in trouble and appears to be a do nothing president so this is his “do something moment”. This too shall pass. Just wait it out . Peace.
October 10, 2011 at 9:01 am | | Report comment
“I choose not to smoke while driving, working or needing to deal with some of life’s tougher issues.”
Why?
October 10, 2011 at 10:32 am | | Report comment
Most anti-marijuana commentators on here simply don’t like people who get high, no other reason. People who don’t want marijuana to be legal are very scarred and that is why they are so hateful, defensive and insensitive. The driving argument is simple, people die from car crashes everyday whether they are sober, drunk, high, tripping, or texting (yes texting causes many fatalities) skydiving kills people, coca-cola kills people, hot dogs kill people, sugar kills people. Marijuana doesn’t because it is a natural chemical not manufactured.
October 10, 2011 at 9:05 am | | Report comment
Nice generalization Jon. I can do that too!
Most pro-marijuana commentators on here simply like to get high, no other reason.
Also:
Arsenic doesn’t kill people because it is a natural chemical not manufactured.
October 10, 2011 at 11:04 am | | Report comment
See you are being sarcastic which proves my point. typically sarcasm comes from resentment towards another person. I am sorry that you are so bitter about the fact that some people enjoy marijuana and I feel deeply, deeply sorry for you that your life is so empty you need to pick on other people to feel good about yourself.
October 10, 2011 at 12:56 pm
Jon,
Sarcasm comes from resentment towards another person? You stoners are really crazy, brrraaaaaa. I am sarcastic with my mom and my wife. I guess I need to go to see a psycho-analyst to see what subconscious resentment I have towards them. How dumb.
Jon, I don’t resent stoners. I do resent liars and morons though. And 99% of the arguments put forth by the pro-dope crowd is lies, fallacious reasoning, and/or extreme hyperbole. You’d have to be a liar or a moron to put forth such non-sense, like your arugument about sarcasm.
BTW, I feel sorry for a person who has to get stoned regularly because they can’t handle reality.
October 10, 2011 at 8:38 pm
Marijuana is to California as corn is to Iowa and dairy is to Wisconsin. I’t a perfect fit. Maybe California should make Marijuana it’s state plant.
October 10, 2011 at 9:15 am | | Report comment
My son, a licensed grower in Oregon, is facing 40 years in prison for less than a hundred plants. The Feds are relentless and the law means nothing to thm
October 10, 2011 at 10:02 am | | Report comment
No. The law meant nothing to your son. Everyone knows it is still illegal at the federal level. Your son took his chances to get rich dealing drugs and lost.
October 10, 2011 at 11:26 am | | Report comment
Not a big fan of state laws, are you Dave? Let me guess, you must’ve been the best Hall Monitor in 7th grade, right? The first time you smelled pot in the boys bathroom, you ran to tell the nearest grown-up and guy wearing a badge, didn’t you?
October 10, 2011 at 4:45 pm
If you have arthritis and want to relax and forget about your pain, why not use a little pot. Alcohol only makes you feel worse and pharmaceutical drugs have side effects. Have a little compassion, and let people relax and enjoy life. Why are anti-marijuana people so upset? A large percent of people want it and it doesn’t seem to have any horrible side effects so whats the big deal? If marijuana was legal, you take the profit from the cartels and less money would be wasted in law enforcement and more money could be spent in helping the young people addicted to speed, prescription drugs, etc.
October 10, 2011 at 10:27 am | | Report comment
I am anti-marijuana, anti-alcohol and would like to see prescription drugs used less often. I can understand the use of these substances for physical pain, but I do not understand why they are used recreationally. Why do some people want to purposefully affect their brain fuction?
October 10, 2011 at 10:52 am | | Report comment
The point is it’s none of your or the government’s business. It’s a property rights issue, dude.
October 10, 2011 at 1:07 pm | | Report comment
So for the purpose of having a discussion regarding marijuana, it cannot be explained why a person uses it?
October 10, 2011 at 4:28 pm
Do you understand why beer is used recreationally? Ok, well there you go.
October 10, 2011 at 9:46 pm
Scooch, I’m assuming your comment is in response to mine Iif not, please ignore). I do not understand why people use any mind-altering substances. I have never had the desire and/or need to use them, so I am hoping someone can explain to me why he/she does.
October 10, 2011 at 9:56 pm
Two summers ago, I was at Venice Beach and saw a “medical” marijuana store with a guy out front yelling “fresh hashish, we got fresh hashish here!”
October 10, 2011 at 10:59 am | | Report comment
Maybe these are the “green” jobs Obama has been touting …
October 10, 2011 at 11:08 am | | Report comment
Will the Wall Street protesters complain about those who get rich through their part in the medical marijuana industry? After all, they seem to be very upset with the pharmaceuticals industry.
October 10, 2011 at 11:11 am | | Report comment
From the article: “However, an array of aromas emitting from medicinal marijuanas and their budding entrepreneurs was prevalent as they displayed their wares, almost like a wine-tasting.”
“Budding?” I’ll bet when the stoned supporters read this little joke, they’ll get a major case of the giggles.
October 10, 2011 at 11:14 am | | Report comment
The Govenment cannot regulate what anyone can either grow in their backyard or in their basement, ergo weed will NEVER be legalized. At best it should be decriminalized — that alone would save our country billions every year in legal costs.
October 10, 2011 at 11:51 am | | Report comment
It’s really the only jobs plan out there… and the DEA wants to shut it down.
If anyone will stand up for State’s Rights as provided in the Constitution, California could continue to enjoy the 420 economic boom (and the state to enjoy the sales tax and employment factors).
But the DEA will shut it down. The CA economy will tank even further. The drug cartels will regain power and income from the regained marijuana sales. Oh, and law enforcement will have no other choice than to put more people in prison on drug charges, costing the taxpayer over $40,000 per year per drug-offender inmate.
October 10, 2011 at 11:56 am | | Report comment
TRE, if you’re an advocate of states rights, then you are against Roe vs Wade, correct?
….the left should be careful when citing the Constitution. They end up arguing at a disadvantage.
October 10, 2011 at 12:04 pm | | Report comment
I think it is far better to get drunk and wreck your car or shoot your girlfriend than it is to get stoned and eat ice cream. Also, drunks get to have a blimp at the super bowl!!! So there!.
October 10, 2011 at 12:19 pm | | Report comment
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CA = r.i.p. = nothing but pot heads and illiterate Mexican peasants infesting a broken 3rd world infrastructure, the product of 2+ decades of 100% Progressive governance.
Next stop for Caleeefornia?
See: Detroit
See also: Urban Prarie
October 10, 2011 at 2:05 pm | | Report comment
How many people would open their mouth if you suggested making cigarettes illegal? Pot kills 0 Cigarettes kill how many? Just how many people have to deal with second hand smoke that DOES KILL people? Stop being hypocrites and supporting legal drugs that kill more than all illegal drugs. Prescriptions given to kids that aren’t even tested to see if their safe. People really can be ignorant. By the way I don’t want to pay you or your families health insurance since smokers have put their whole family at risk.
October 10, 2011 at 2:12 pm | | Report comment
Pot can kill dum azz. Car wreck, drownings. I have seen it.
October 10, 2011 at 2:18 pm | | Report comment
MJ saved my life. I’m 50 years old and never leave my moms basement. I have it delivered so I don’t have to get out. I truly believe if I had gotten out in this old world I would have died, maybe murdered, car accident or something. SO KISS OFF ALL YOU HATERS. Leave my MJ alone bone.
October 10, 2011 at 2:17 pm | | Report comment
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Lots of fun watching the ball go bouncy bouncy back and forth, and those who don’t want to know won’t ever know, and those who do will do, yadadad yada.
Fact is, cannabis and its users have been a handy whipping boy for lawmakers seeking election or re-election ever since the “where the hell did This come from?” Marijuana Tax Laws turned tens of thousands of there-to-fore innocent and harmless people into “criminals” overnight.
The biggest problem with potheads is that they tend to believe the best about other people – including the idea that given accurate information, Joe Normal is going to be able to 1) understand it, and 2) be willing to accept it. To Change.
October 10, 2011 at 5:57 pm | | Report comment
Grow Your Own….
SunLitBox.com
October 10, 2011 at 6:03 pm | | Report comment
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