The other is the largely unknown former governor of New Mexico: Gary Johnson. A young, active, perhaps more progressive version of Ron Paul, Johnson has gained notoriety (and respect) for having climbed Mts. Everest, Elbrus, McKinley and Kilimanjaro, performing impressive 140+ mile triathlons, and a 100 mile run through the Rocky Mountains. He also survived a 50 foot fall from a paragliding accident and treated his pain with medicinal marijuana.

No, he is not a myth, though he might sound too good to be true. He is highly vocal about his disdain for the War on Drugs, specifically the War on Marijuana. In fact, he has been firmly (and loudly) of this opinion as far back as 1999, long before the argument was part of public discourse.

Nowadays, he is trying to gain footing to stage a serious presidential run, likely in 2016. Just today an op-ed piece authored by none other than Johnson was published in Big Government – a strictly right-leaning website. In the article Johnson argues for the end of the War on Drugs, citing the fiscal, social and international benefits that could come with it. And… well, I’ll let you read it for yourself:

http://biggovernment.com/gjohnson/2012/01/16/its-time-to-end-the-war-on-drugs/#more-408344

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“The researchers followed more than 5,000 people over two decades and found that regularly smoking marijuana — the equivalent of up to a joint a day over seven years — did not impair performance on a lung function test.

“In something of a twist, the researchers found that compared to nonsmokers, marijuana users performed slightly better on the lung function test, though the improvement was minuscule.”

Epic. I think I’ll go take some puffs of this finely crafted BHO in celebration! While I do that, check out the rest of the article:

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/11/marijuana-smoking-does-not-harm-lungs-study-finds/

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And while you’re there, check out their overview of the Mexican Cartel situation. What’s going on in Mexico is really appalling, and we’re more responsible than you might think.

Lotus

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While it’s fairly unlikely that any repercussions will befall the individual officers involved in this case, it is possible that the infuriated professor, Clark Freshman, will see some sort of monetary compensation. It is historically a fruitless venture to take on any wing of the American government, especially the judicial sect. And for obvious reasons. But then again, this is not the ordinary citizen, and he probably has some friends in high places. I’ll be interested to see how this one turns out.

You can view the full story here.

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Every election season, both parties get caught up in hype, and each time, at least one side is left disappointed. This year, a modestly funded, *ahem* grassroots effort gained arguably more popularity for a cause than anything on the ballot. It clearly wasn’t enough, as 55% of the voting population decided that it wasn’t a worthwhile option for the state of California. And so, the revolution will have to wait a bit longer.

The 19 advocates returned hopeful from the polls, some confident that they would be a part of a new wave of rational drug legislation. But when they checked the outcome, looking upon their computer and TV screens in dismay, it is easy to dismiss the concept altogether. Many may think, ‘this country is beyond hope, the average American is no more capable of rational or logical thinking than the TV that displays their favorite propaganda machine’s rhetoric.’ And this would be a perfectly reasonable mindset, considering the direction the major American media has turned.

However, it is at this time, directly after a bitter defeat, while your opponent is basking in his glory, and you’re still dusting yourself off from a hard-fought uphill battle, that is the most important. And take it from me, someone who refuses to even cast a vote; someone who is so jaundiced by the sad state of affairs we call American politics, that if I even mention politics it is to laugh at the absurdity of it all.

Politicians on all sides are in it for nothing more than why you might wake up and sit in a cubicle all day. They are no more interested in what’s “good for America,” as you might be with your own company’s third quarter profits. As long as the company doesn’t go down in flames, whatever makes you more money is the better option. The man with a fistful of money most likely gets your attention more than a man who could use your help on something that benefits you in no tangible way whatsoever. Greed is the most useful trait in the evolution of modern society, and intelligent greed triumphs over all.

Of course, there are the people who legitimately care. People do volunteer at animal shelters, or for various community projects. There are politicians who genuinely look out for what’s “right,” over what’s profitable. Unfortunately, in politics, the only winner is money. If you have no money, you will be absolutely nothing. Many might argue that’s true for America in general, but that’s a topic all its own.

So, why bother voting? That’s the question I’ve asked myself over and over again. With politics, if someone powerful enough really wants something to happen, it will happen. And if someone powerful wants it to not happen, it will not happen. Ballots are forged or lost, money is thrown, and by next week nobody even remembers or cares who Al Gore is. And then four years later, everyone gets all excited, claims that they’ll get more people to the polls, and the same exact thing happens again. Plus, with millions of people involved, the voting process becomes more of a symbolic gesture than a legitimate political tool.

I suggest, don’t vote. Let the country run itself into the ground politically, and leave no trace that you ever even voiced an opinion. Don’t associate yourself with the pitiful condition the country insists on putting itself through over and over. But don’t necessarily give up hope on turning things around. The most important thing in America is the public opinion. And with federal elections hovering around 50-60% since the 70s, the polls don’t necessarily represent the public opinion.

This time in America is the most important of all, for drug legislation reform supporters. You must take this defeat and say, “what did we do that made this ineffective?” I don’t mean what made the vote ineffective, I mean what made the public opinion of marijuana remain ignorant and uninformed. What were the opponents of Proposition 19′s only real arguments? That marijuana shouldn’t be used in the workplace, drugged driving is dangerous, and that marijuana can lead to addiction and use of other drugs (token, “think of the children!” argument).

While these are all excellent concerns, no, they’re actually absolutely ridiculous an blatantly wrong concerns. There have been numerous studies showing that marijuana likely has little to no effect on driving capabilities, and even if they did we already have laws against that so it’s a non-issue to begin with. You are not legally allowed to drive intoxicated in any fashion. Just because you’re not allowed to text in a car doesn’t mean we should outlaw cell phones.

The concept that for no apparent reason people will suddenly show up to work unable to perform their daily tasks due to drug abuse is completely absurd and clearly an argument obtained by simply grasping at straws. It is no more likely that people will be smoking on the job than it is that people will be drinking on the job. People who don’t care about their jobs and don’t value their work will drink or smoke or shoot up heroin at work. This will not be affected by legal concerns.

Finally, the ‘gateway drug’ theory has been addressed and beaten into the ground so many times it’s not even worth more than a light chuckle, but I’ll give it a paragraph. If a magical marijuana gateway (great band name) even exists, it is completely due to the illegal nature of the drug. When a kid hears all his life that smoking a joint is just as bad as using heroin, it’s only logical that he might equate all drugs as equal danger. So, when he finally does smoke one, he may assume the mild effects are shared across the spectrum. If real drug education existed (not just drug-propaganda), teens might realize that heroin, methamphetamines and cocaine are highly addictive and deadly.

Clearly the answer to uninformed citizens is to educate. I think the whole “money” issue will eventually be immaterial here, as there is, in fact, money to be made in America with marijuana. A vast number of corporations are already aware of this, and completely prepared to take advantage of a juicy new market, but wouldn’t risk the negative image of “pot supporting company.” So, when the stigma of marijuana is removed, change will happen. When Obama can say, “I support marijuana reform,” as proudly and confidently as he says, “I support healthcare reform,” marijuana reform will happen. But at this point in time, no politician with any real hope to be elected will ever say that, even if they desperately want it just as much as the biggest stoners in Humboldt.

Now, the time is ripe for the educating. Everyone will have forgotten about showing anti-marijuana ads, and marijuana will be out of the public sight and mind. So what we need is for people to be as active as they possibly can. Take from the Tea Party and make marijuana advocates so loud and obnoxious the country can’t help but listen. Hint about it to your friends and family who aren’t wholly opposed. Bring it up to people who are against it, but in indirect, non-aggressive ways. If your grandpa says, “man I wish Obama and the government would get out of our lives,” say, “yeah I know! I say, if you want to drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes or smoke marijuana in your own house you should be able to. I hate those politically-correct liberals telling me what to do!”

Don’t worry about the politics. The wins will come later on. You wouldn’t win a marathon by practicing sprints right before a race. You consistently work and work and work, and eventually, years later, you might find yourself atop the podium. Only when you can confidently walk up to the starting line, without any concern whatsoever for the competition, will you have successfully trained. And afterwards, you’ll run over to hug the trophy girl, champagne in one hand, joint in the other.

Lotus

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A new rule determining how much pot constitutes a 60-day supply for medical marijuana users was finalized today, a decade after Washington voters passed an initiative legalizing marijuana for people suffering from terminal and debilitating illnesses.

The new state rule, which goes into effect Nov. 2, sets the supply limit at 24 ounces of usable marijuana plus 15 plants.

The 24-ounce amount is unchanged from an earlier draft of the rule. Some states allow more, others less. It’s the same amount in Oregon.

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In Oregon, legally smoking “green” requires a green thumb, or knowing someone who does.

Medical marijuana cardholders — even those who are terminally ill — must grow their own marijuana or find someone else to grow it for them, according to state law.

But some local activists are aiming to change that. Voter Power, a medical marijuana activist group with an office in Medford, plans to put a measure on a 2010 ballot to create dispensaries in Oregon, similar to those in California.

“Currently, we have the grower-caregiver patient system, but a lot of patients do not have access to their medicine,” said Alex Rogers, outreach coordinator for Voter Power, who works in Jackson County. “They don’t have the time or money to grow their own, nor are they connected to someone who does.”

Voter Power, which led efforts to legalize medical marijuana 1998, hopes to create a limited number of nonprofit dispensaries where cardholders can receive marijuana.
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Looks like a good plan to me. Leave your views by commenting below.

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By C. Bryson Hull

COLOMBO (Reuters) – Sri Lanka’s government wants to grow its own marijuana.

Facing a lack of the fresh weed for use in traditional Ayurvedic medical preparations, the government ministry responsible wants to be excepted from laws that have made marijuana illegal on the Indian Ocean island since the 1890s.

The Ministry of Indigenous Medicine this month broached a plan to grow 4,000 kg a year of marijuana, also known as cannabis, on a proposed 20 acre farm.

“We are interested in getting some approval to grow some cannabis with government sponsorship, but there must be controls. It is under study,” Asoka Malimage, secretary at the Ministry of Indigenous Medicine, told Reuters on Thursday.

Ayurveda is a traditional medicine with roots in the early Hindu era which makes wide use of herbs and natural remedies with the goal of healing the body and mind. In Sri Lanka, ayurveda practitioners outnumber Western-trained doctors.

Fresh marijuana fried in ghee, a form of clarified butter, is used in about 18 different traditional medicines for treating a wide variety of ailments, Malimage said.

“At the moment they are getting some stocks from the courts of law, because there are people who grow this cannabis illegally and they have been raided by the police,” Malimage said.

But the problem with that weed is that it is old and dried out, said Dr. Dayangani Senasekara, head of state-run Bandaranaike Memorial Ayurvedic Research Institute in Colombo.

“You can’t get the fresh juice from old cannabis. What we get now is the powdered form and it’s not effective,” Senasekara said.

The institute is making preparations that use marijuana to treat high cholesterol, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and skin discolorations, and soon will formulate one for treating cataracts, Senasekara said.

The use of marijuana to treat glaucoma, nausea, pain and the loss of appetite from diseases like cancer and AIDS has been the subject of great medical debate in the west.

Some countries and parts of the United States have permitted its use to treat those conditions, after some medical studies showed it was effective.

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