by Joel Connelly

While advocates say it is high time to wipe out penalties for possession of marijuana, a lively discussion Tuesday night before pro-reform Democrats in the 43rd District showed a fork in the road on the path of reform.

“Initiative 1068 is a marijuana-legalization strategy for Washington state,” said lawyer Douglas Hiatt, an organizer in efforts to put a pro-pot initiative on Washington’s November ballot.

Hiatt, State Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Wells, Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes and Washington State Supreme Court Justice Richard Sanders shared the dais before 43rd District Democrats on a date — April 20 — that the marijuana reform lobby has adopted as its own.

“It doesn’t give you any regulation, and it doesn’t give you any taxation,” he added. A ballot-bound initiative in California would tax the weed. But Hiatt warned that federal anti-marijuana laws would preempt state taxes and standards, arguing: “The reason it doesn’t provide regulation is because it can’t.”

Kohl-Wells, D-Seattle, has sponsored legislation to remove criminal penalties for possession of pot for personal use.

But Kohl-Wells was wary of going cold turkey on pot legalization and is not backing I-1068. “I’m not coming out in opposition to this, just staying out of it,” she said.

Kohl-Wells has a point. A nationwide poll, sponsored by The Associated Press and released Tuesday, showed that just 33 percent of Americans support legalizing marijuana while 55 percent remain opposed.

The poll did find a conflicted country. Sixty-one percent support for “medical marijuana,” with nearly 75 percent agreeing that marijuana can be a positive force for easing pain and suffering.

“We don’t have any states that have legalized: To go from nothing to legalization is a really big step,” said Kohl-Wells.

Read the full story: Grass Roots Efforts to Legalize Marijuana

420 Meaning: The True Story Of How April 20 Became ‘Weed Day’

By Ryan Grim
first published last year on April 20

Where does the expression 420 come from?

Depending on who you ask, or their state of inebriation, there are as many varieties of answers as strains of medical bud in California. It’s the number of active chemicals in marijuana. It’s teatime in Holland. It has something to do with Hitler’s birthday. It’s those numbers in that Bob Dylan song multiplied.

The origin of the term 420, celebrated around the world by pot smokers every April 20th, has long been obscured by the clouded memories of the folks who made it a phenomenon.

The Huffington Post chased the term back to its roots and was able to find it in a lost patch of cannabis in a Point Reyes, California forest. Just as interesting as its origin, it turns out, is how it spread…

Read the full story: HuffingtonPost.com – 420 Meaning: The True Story Of How April 20 Became ‘Weed Day’

Remembering the great Jack Herer on this 420 Cannabis Culture Holiday

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At the 1994 Gainesville Hempfest Jack Herer, author of “The Emperor Wears No Clothes”, stopped to speak just before he went on stage. Originally produced with the help of and aired on the Tampa/Hillsborough County Public Access station in 1994. Today that facility and channel is known as Tampa Bay Community Network — www.TBCN.org .

We bade you Godspeed Jack

Wishing everyone a Happy and Safe 420 holiday!!

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NORML Foundation to launch Second Times Square Ad Campaign: ‘NYC Marijuana Possession Arrests’ which is focused on New York City as the marijuana arrest capital of America.

The New NORML ad will start running on April 20, 2010 – in conjunction with the cannabis culture celebratory holiday ‘4/20.’

The Hemperor,
Jack Herer
has Died

By Bonnie King

The global cannabis community mourns the loss of the great Jack Herer.

Jack Herer, author of The Emperor Wears No Clothes and renowned hemp activist who is known and loved around the world, died at the age of 70, on April 15, 2010, in Eugene, Oregon.

Jack Herer suffered a heart attack last September just after speaking on stage at the Portland HempStalk festival. The last seven months have proven to be a huge challenge to the man, with several health issues making his recovery complicated.

Jack Herer’s health has been poor lately, this last week there have been reports of the severity, and an outpouring of prayers on his behalf.

“It’s shocking news, even after these last seven, trying months,” said Paul Stanford, THCF Executive Director.

“Jack Herer has been a good friend and associate of mine for over 30 years. I was there when he had the heart attack at our Hempstalk festival and I know he wouldn’t appreciate the quality of life he’s endured these last months. Still he will be greatly missed. I honor his memory.”

“No other single person has done more to educate people all across the world about industrial hemp and marijuana as Jack Herer. His book is translated into a dozen different languages, it’s a bestseller in Germany,” added Stanford.

“The Hempstalk stage will forever be the Jack Herer Memorial stage. And, a Memorial is planned to be built where he fell that day,” Stanford said.

“His legacy will continue to inspire and encourage for generations to come.”

Source: Salem-News.com – The Hemperor, Jack Herer has Died

Remembering Jack Herer
The Great Cannabis Warrior

“No one has ever died from Marijuana that wasn’t shot by a cop”
– Jack Herer

Jack Herer
June 18, 1939 – April 15, 2010

Marijuana Legalization In Oregon:
Full Speed Ahead

by Steve Elliott – Toke of the Town

Image: Oregon NORML

It’s full speed ahead for the Oregon Cannabis Tax Act (OCTA), a ballot initiative which would legalize and tax marijuana in the Beaver State, as the Oregon Supreme Court has dismissed the only challenge to OCTA’s ballot title.

The challenge — filed by Bradley Benoit from the Beaverton, Ore., area — came from an earlier comment regarding OCTA’s summary explanation. The comment requested the summary of the measure describe in detail the fact that the Oregon Attorney General would be responsible for defending Oregonians, and the law itself, should a federal case arise.

The comment was addressed, and the Attorney General included Benoit’s comments in the revised, certified ballot title, according to OCTA campaign spokesman Kyndall Mason.

“In an attempt to stall the signature gathering effort, Benoit filed a Supreme Court challenge to the title stating his comments were not fully addressed,” Mason explained. “This decision from the Oregon Supreme Court sends a clear message to Benoit that his concerns were adequately addressed in the certified title released after the comment period.”

According to Mason, the decision also marks a crucial step forward in the process to collect signatures for the ballot measure, which would end Oregon’s prohibition on adult marijuana use and industrial hemp.

“A monumental ballot measure like this will send millions to the state general fund for state programs,” Mason said, “including Department of Human Resources and public schools, and jump start an industry that will make Oregon a national leader in ecological innovation and sustainable jobs.”

The measure would permit state-licensed marijuana cultivation and sale to adults through state stores; permits unlicensed adult personal cultivation and use; and prohibits restrictions on hemp.

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Chief petitioners on OCTA 2010 include Madeline Martinez of Oregon NORML and D. Paul Stanford of The Hemp and Cannabis Foundation (THCF).

For more information on the Oregon Cannabis Tax Act, visit www.cannabistaxact.org.

Read the full story: Toke of the Town – Marijuana Legalization In Oregon: Full Speed Ahead

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by: Paul Armentano, Deputy Director NORML

Why Students Hold The Key To Ending Marijuana Prohibition

The following speech was given by NORML’s Deputy Director before nearly 500 attendees on Saturday, March 13, at the opening plenary of Students for Sensible Drug Policy’s 11th International Conference, at the Fort Mason Center in San Francisco. To read full coverage of the conference, please see DRCNet’s report here.

My name is Paul Armentano and I’m the Deputy Director of NORML, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, and I’m the co-author of the book Marijuana Is Safer: So Why Are We Driving People to Drink? Max, Amber, Stacia and the many good folks at SSDP invited me to come here today to talk to you about how and why students have a vital role to play in ending marijuana prohibition.

First let’s talk about the “why”: self-preservation. The federal government has declared war on you.

Since 1965 law enforcement in this country have arrested over 20 million people for marijuana offenses. But when you take a closer look at who is actually arrested you find that, for the most part, it isn’t the folks sitting on this panel; it’s all of you sitting out there – it’s young people.

In short – the so-called ‘war’ on marijuana is really a war on youth.

According to a 2005 study commissioned by the NORML Foundation, 74 percent of the 800,000 or so Americans busted for pot each year are under age 30, and one out of four are age 18 or younger. That’s nearly half a million young people at risk of losing their school loans, or being saddled with a lifelong criminal record at a time when they are just entering the workforce. We’re talking about an entire generation – and that’s you out there – that has been alienated to believe that the police and their civic leaders are instruments of their oppression rather than their protection.

And the sad fact is: you’re right!

The question is: What are you going to do about it?

If we’re going to finally end this 70+ year failed public policy known as marijuana prohibition, then we need students to play a lead role. Obviously those of you in this room have already taken a critical first step in leading this charge by joining SSDP and attending this conference. But there’s a lot more to be done and there’s a lot more that you can do.

I believe that it was Ghandi who demanded that those who are oppressed be a part of there own liberation, and marijuana prohibition is no different. I want you to look around you because it’s you all who will ultimately bring about an end to prohibition.

Read the Full Story:  Why Students Hold The Key To Ending Marijuana Prohibition

MPP Calls For National Boycott of Wal-Mart

Wal-Mart Will Not Rehire Employee Fired for Legal Use of Medical Marijuana

by Mike Hughes

After spraining his knee at work, former Wal-Mart employee Joseph Casias was given a drug test – standard operating procedure following a workplace injury. However, when the results came back positive for marijuana use, Casias was fired despite the fact that he is a legal medical marijuana patient in Michigan and uses cannabis to manage pain resulting from sinus cancer and an inoperable brain tumor.

Despite this, Wal-Mart decided to fire Casias – a former Associate of the Year – setting off a protests and plans for a nationwide boycott of the store.

Unbelievably, Casias, who has been collecting unemployment since his termination, recently was notified that Wal-Mart planned to challenge his eligibility. Thankfully a Wal-Mart spokesperson indicated that the company “will no longer object to Casias receiving those benefits.”

Additionally, the spokesperson called the situation “unfortunate” and offered the following explanation: “We’re sympathetic to Mr. Casias’ condition, but like other companies, we have to consider the overall safety of our customers and associates, including Mr. Casias, when making a difficult decision like this.” The spokesperson confirmed that Casias would not be offered his job back.

The Marijuana Policy Project has called for a national boycott of Wal-Mart. The group’s director of state policies, Karen O’Keefe, added, “It’s despicable that Wal-Mart would fire such a hardworking and seriously ill employee simply for treating his symptoms with a medicine that he is authorized to use under state law.”

Read the full story: High Times – Wal-Mart Won’t Rehire Employee Fired for Medical Marijuana Use

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Graphic by: disinformation.com

Walmart Fired Cancer Patient for Legal Use of Medical Marijuana

by Steve Elliott

Despite medical marijuana being legal in Michigan, Walmart has fired a cancer patient and former employee of the year who tested positive for the drug, which was recommended by his doctor.

“I was terminated because I failed a drug screening,” ex-WalMart employee Joseph Casias told WZZM-13.

In 2008, Casias was Associate of the Year at the WalMart store in Battle Creek, Mich., despite suffering from sinus cancer and an inoperable brain tumor. ​At his doctor’s recommendation, Casias legally uses medical marijuana to ease his pain.

“It helps tremendously,” Casias said. “I only use it to stop the pain. To make me feel more comfortable and active as a person.”

Casias said he went to work every day during his five years at WalMart. “I gave them everything,” he said. “One hundred and ten percent every day. Anything they asked me to do, I did. More than they asked me to do. Twelve to 14 hours a day.”

Then Casias sprained his knee at work last November. During the routine drug screening that follows all workplace injuries, marijuana was detected in his system. Casias showed WalMart managers his Michigan medical marijuana card, but was fired anyway.

Read the full story: Toke of the Town – Nationwide Boycott! WalMart Fired Cancer Patient For Medical Marijuana

Graphic by: Toke of the Town
Also visit: disinformation.com

Let WalMart know what you think about their policy of firing medical marijuana patients.

WalMart Stores Inc.
1-800-WAL-MART
Bentonville, Arkansas 72716-8611

Employee Complaint line:
1-800-WMETHIC

Online comments:
http://www.walmart.com/cservice/cu_comments_onlineForm.do

by drugpolicy.org

What’s Wrong With the Drug War?

Everyone has a stake in ending the war on drugs.  Whether you’re a parent concerned about protecting children from drug-related harm, a social justice advocate worried about racially disproportionate incarceration rates, an environmentalist seeking to protect the Amazon rainforest or a fiscally conservative taxpayer you have a stake in ending the drug war.

U.S. federal, state and local governments have spent hundreds of billions of dollars trying to make America “drug-free.”

Yet heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine and other illicit drugs are cheaper, purer and easier to get than ever before.  Nearly half a million people are behind bars on drug charges – more than all of western Europe (with a bigger population) incarcerates for all offenses.

The war on drugs has become a war on families, a war on public health and a war on our constitutional rights.

Many of the problems the drug war purports to resolve are in fact caused by the drug war itself.  So-called “drug-related” crime is a direct result of drug prohibition’s distortion of immutable laws of supply and demand.  Public health problems like HIV and Hepatitis C are all exacerbated by zero tolerance laws that restrict access to clean needles.

The drug war is not the promoter of family values that some would have us believe.  Children of inmates are at risk of educational failure, joblessness, addiction and delinquency.  Drug abuse is bad, but the drug war is worse.

Few public policies have compromised public health and undermined our fundamental civil liberties for so long and to such a degree as the war on drugs.

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The United States is now the world’s largest jailer, imprisoning nearly half a million people for drug offenses alone.  That’s more people than Western Europe, with a bigger population, incarcerates for all offenses.  Roughly 1.5 million people are arrested each year for drug law violations – 40% of them just for marijuana possession.  People suffering from cancer, AIDS and other debilitating illnesses are regularly denied access to their medicine or even arrested and prosecuted for using medical marijuana.  We can do better.

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Source: drugpolicy.org – What’s Wrong With the Drug War?

Visit these pages on drugpolicy.org to see how the drug war affects all aspects of our lives:

Drug War Funding
Pain Under-prescribing
Terrorism
Informants
Environmental Consequences
Economics
Mandatory Minimum Sentences
Voter Disenfranchisement
Public Health Crisis
Access to Treatment
Higher Education Act
Public Benefits
Forced Evictions
Alternatives to Prohibition