Medical Marijuana States
As emotions over medical marijuana and the locations, and numbers of the dispensaries allowed heats up in every city across the state of California… There is still no greater place to live. In one afternoon a properly documented marijuana patients can visit a marijuana doctor, be evaluated, and with 30 min be on his or her way looking for their new favorite medical cannabis club. Of which there are more than a few to choose from.
The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that on Monday, a 34-year-old Apple Valley, Minn., man was arrested and jailed for allegedly growing more than 1,200 marijuana plants in his home. Police were tipped off when the electric company responded to a burned out transformer outside the man's home and found he had tapped into the electric line ahead of the meter, apparently to power grow lights for his crop without suspiciously affecting his electrical bill.
According to the Tribune, Dakota County Drug Task Force officers removed 1,264 marijuana plants from the man's house on Saturday. On Monday the man returned to the home and was subsequently arrested; charges are pending.
Although this is a significant bust, it does not rival one of Minnesota's largest marijuana busts that took place about eight years ago. In that incident, federal and state agents raided a Vernon County farm and seized more than 4,000 marijuana plants. The husband and wife team responsible for the marijuana crop were ultimately sentenced to prison for 10 years and three years, respectively.
In December 2005, four individuals were arrested in Washington County, Minn., after approximately 2,400 marijuana plants were seized from three separate houses. This marijuana growing operation was estimated to produce about a million dollars worth of pot a year, according to KARE 11 TV.
According to state public health officials, marijuana remains the most commonly used and readily available illegal drug in Minnesota. The importation of bulk marijuana shipments into the state is controlled by Mexican drug trafficking organizations, but large quantities of marijuana are also readily available from local cultivators, who sell to street-level distributors.
Each year thousands of marijuana plants are seized from numerous indoor and outdoor growing operations across the nation. And the major indoor marijuana-growing operations, such as that in Apple Valley, are serious business. Major in-home growers use sophisticated hydroponics cultivation techniques, including high-tech equipment to electronically regulate temperature and light and plant feeding.
According to Drug Science, American marijuana growers produced 22.3 million pounds of marijuana in 2006 with a value of $35.8 billion. These figures include both outdoor and indoor crops. Outdoor marijuana growers produced 56.4 million plants worth $31.7 billion; indoor growers produced 11.7 million plants worth $4.1 billion. California was the top producer of both outdoor and indoor marijuana plants worth more than $1 billion. Most of the marijuana cultivated in the United States is for local, in-state use.
Despite the fact that Minnesota's drug of choice is marijuana, Minnesota is not in the top 10 producers nationwide.
Source:
Minneapolis Star Tribune, Huge pot-growing operation busted in Apple Valley;http://www.startribune.com/crime/story/1255352.html
KARE 11 TV, Four arrested, thousands of pot plants seized; http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=114190
Marijuana…Legal In Ca.?
California electorate is divided over an initiative on the November ballot that would legalize marijuana for recreational use.The Public Policy Institute of Ca. poll out Wed (05/19/2010) found t 49 percent of likely voters would support legalization of cannabis, while 48 percent oppose it. The poll has a margin of inaccuracy of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
The state of California already allows medicinal use of cannabis, but would become the first state to legalize recreational use if voters approve the initiative.The poll found that Democrats and independents are far more likely to support the initiative than Republicans. Not overly surprising. Support also is higher in the Bay Area, while L.A. and the Central Valley remain divided.The survey found that men are more likely to favor legalization than women.
One of the biggest cash crops in the United States is marijuana. Several states have legalized it for sale for medical use. If you compare where “pot” is now to where alcohol was back in the days of prohibition, there are some similarities. Even though recreational use is illegal in most parts of the country, its use, like alcohol back in the twenties, is still very widespread.
The only difference is that marijuana has some use medically while you'd be hard pressed to find a medical use for booze. Back in the twenties, the use of marijuana was primarily confined to Black jazz musicians in the south. Since it wasn't used by many whites, propaganda films like “Reefer Madness” were put out by the government to discourage Caucasians from using it.
The films carried all kinds of dire warnings. Just one little puff on a marijuana cigarette would lead to madness and like the character in the film, murder. Of course, this has been proven not so by scientific research.
But the real reason for it being outlawed was because of DuPont Chemical Company. It was a business decision. Hemp fibers in many ways did a better job for making clothing than cotton and DuPont was right on the verge of developing synthetic fibers like nylon and rayon. They didn't want the additional competition from hemp.
The argument for legalizing marijuana has been around for a long time. Why waste all of those billions of dollars that are going underground when you can legalize it and tax it. It could potentially go a long way towards solving the national deficit.
What is the downside to using marijuana? The only thing that the government has been able to find so far is that excessive use might cause you to become apathetic. At least it doesn't cause an inability to drive an automobile alike alcohol does.
According to CNN, in states where medical marijuana is legal, many families are becoming growers and processors. There are even some mother and son teams.
With more and more states legalizing at least medical marijuana, I think that it won't belong before the prohibition ends. I don't use marijuana anymore. A lot of my friends do. When you get older the thrill of a long afternoon nap outweighs getting that buzz.
It might be a good idea though to legalize the pot and put more restrictions on alcohol, or prohibit its use all together. Then we can go after cigarettes and solve the national health crisis.
How many lives could be saved if people no longer smoked cigarettes and drove drunk? Not to mention the tremendous savings on health cost. At least the tobacco companies don't have the enormous sway with the politicians that it used to have.
Source: http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2010/03/09/spellman.marijuana.family.cnn?hpt=C2
Filed under Uncategorized | Tags: california electorate, central valley, democrats, inaccuracy, independents, initiative, legalization of cannabis, marijuana, medicinal use of cannabis, percentage points, poll, public policy institute, republicans, state of california, survey found that | Comment (0)Will Ca. Pass First Marijuana Legalizations Bill
California electorate is divided over an initiative on the November ballot that would legalize marijuana for recreational use.The Public Policy Institute of Ca. poll out Wed (05/19/2010) found t 49 percent of likely voters would support legalization of cannabis, while 48 percent oppose it. The poll has a margin of inaccuracy of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
The state of California already allows medicinal use of cannabis, but would become the first state to legalize recreational use if voters approve the initiative.The poll found that Democrats and independents are far more likely to support the initiative than Republicans. Not overly surprising. Support also is higher in the Bay Area, while L.A. and the Central Valley remain divided.The survey found that men are more likely to favor legalization than women.
In California, medicinal marijuana has been legal since 1996. Since then there has been an ever growing surge in supporters to legalize and tax marijuana, much the way alcohol and tobacco are. The Tax and Regulate Marijuana 2010 Campaign has just achieved its first major victory in that fight. With over 700,000 signatures, they have gathered nearly double the amount necessary for inclusion on November's ballot.
January 13th 2010, the Sac Bee reported, “Assemblyman Tom Ammiano emerged Tuesday from a victorious committee vote to legalize marijuana proclaiming history was in the making.
It didn't matter that his bill was dead on non-arrival. A separate Assembly health committee won't take up the bill this week, meaning it will miss a legislative deadline for reaching the Assembly floor.
But the political theater Ammiano stirred in winning a 4-3 vote in the Public Safety Committee for pot's legalization raises the curtain on a near-certain November ballot fight and heated skirmishes in the Legislature over the future of marijuana use in California.” For the full story go to http://www.sacbee.com/capitolandcalifornia/story/2457715.html
In the 1920's and 1930's, America clearly learned that prohibition only increased criminal activity, violence and the frivolous spending on a battle that could not be won. Many people feel that our country continues to implement laws that only drive the crime rate up as well as add to our national deficit. The use of marijuana does not affect a person's mental state so as to become violent. The financial and criminal gains cause a person to become violent. Wars over territory bring about violence, murder and theft as well as a host of other crimes. The criminals are the only ones who gain from keeping marijuana illegal. There is an annual $14 billion illegal market. Imagine what would happen if that criminal economy was brought to an end and given to society as legal profits.
Those opposed to legalizing marijuana would have you believe that marijuana is harmful to your health in a way that far exceeds the affects of recreational alcohol and tobacco. Tobacco is single handedly responsible for the deaths of 500,000 Americans each year. 100,000 people die each year from alcohol related causes. To date, no deaths have ever been attributed to marijuana use.
According to the US Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Statistics reported in December of 2008, there are over 600,000 people incarcerated for drug offenses in state and federal prisons. As also reported by the Department of Justice in 2008, the average annual cost of incarceration per inmate is $25,895. That is an annual cost of $15,537,000,000.
The Board of Equalization estimates that legalizing marijuana could generate about $1.4 billion in tax revenue annually.Public support for legalization of marijuana is at an all time high. Nation wide polls range from 44 to 52 percent. In California 56 percent of the population supports legalization of marijuana. It is an exciting and historical time for California as the battle for legalization is nearing an end, with victory lingering around the corner.
Sources:
Sacramento Bee http://www.sacbee.com/capitolandcalifornia/story/2457715.html
U.S. Department of Justice http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/cius2008/about/index.html
Medical Marijuana States
As emotions over medical marijuana and the locations, and numbers of the dispensaries allowed heats up in every city across the state of California… There is still no greater place to live. In one afternoon a properly documented marijuana patients can visit a marijuana doctor, be evaluated, and with 30 min be on his or her way looking for their new favorite medical cannabis club. Of which there are more than a few to choose from.
The Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010 - The Tax Cannabis 2010 Initiative would generate billions of tax revenue by legalizing marijuana. The Initiative could go on the California's 2010 ballot if enough voter signatures are collected. It proposes to tax and regulate marijuana similar to how alcohol is regulated and taxed.
The Initiative would “allow people 21 years old or older to possess, cultivate, and/or transport marijuana for personal use.” Each city/local government would be able to decide independently whether to tax and regulate the production and sale of marijuana. Other key aspects of the Initiative include: prohibiting possession of marijuana on school grounds, public use, or smoking it while minors are present. It maintains current prohibitions against driving while impaired and outlines serious punishment for anyone providing marijuana to those under 21 years of age.
Benefits
Legalizing marijuana would benefit States by providing much needed tax revenue. Take the profit from the underground and untaxed and place it in the hand of government to support libraries, schools, roads, police, firefighters, etc. An immense amount of money and resources would be saved. Prison would be reserved for serious offenders and probation officers could devote more time to serious probation and parole violations.
If passed, the Tax Cannabis 2010 Initiative would create contractor jobs as regulated stores open to market marijuana products. Regulation would make marijuana safer. To avoid the negative effects of smoking, marijuana can be ingested by drinking, eating or taking a pill! Vaporizers could be sold as a safer alternative to smoking. It eliminates tar and other harmful chemicals and emits very little second-hand smoke.
Facts
46% of Americans favor legalizing marijuana for personal use, according to a Views on Legalizing Marijuana polls from ABC News/Washington Post and Time/CNN.
56% of California voters support legalizing marijuana and taxing its sale, according to The Field Poll.
A number of U.S. cities have already changed prosecution priorities making adult marijuana possession for personal use their lowest priority.
Marijuana possession of up to one ounce is currently punishable with a fine of only $100 in California.
Massachusetts Joint Committee on Revenue held a public hearing October 14, 2009 on H2929, An Act to Tax and Regulate the Cannabis Industry. Richard Evans provided notes on the hearing.
The Federal laws on marijuana have little to do with a state decision regarding legalizing marijuana. The Feds only get involved in high-profile marijuana offenses.
Only 434,000 signatures of registered California voters are needed to qualify the Tax Cannabis 2010 Initiative for the November 2010 ballot. Richard Lee, the founder of the Oaksterdam University, in Oakland, California, is backed by former State Senate President Don Perata. Lee has already collected 25% of the needed 434,000 signatures, and he has pledged to spend $1 million of his own money to support the Tax Cannabis 2010 Initiative!
California
California has been known for setting standards in America and most of its residents recognize that a time for change has presented itself. The state is closer to passing the 2010 ballot since medicinal marijuana laws passed over a decade ago, in 1996. Medical marijuana advocates in California are not opposed to taxing the sale of medicinal or legalized marijuana sales. They understand the benefits legalizing marijuana would have for their great state.
Most residents of Oakland, California recognize the benefits their city would reap from legalizing marijuana to tax and regulate sales. “The new tax revenue will help save libraries, parks, and other public services, and that the once destitute area where Oaksterdam now thrives has seen a clear boost,” City Council member Rebecca Kaplan told Newsweek. Medical marijuana in smokeable and edible variations, sold at competitive prices, is available in Oaksterdam at multiple cafes, clubs and patient dispensaries.
Personal views on marijuana
Erin, my neighbor and mother of two, said she would be more comfortable with her kids smoking marijuana than getting drunk. Erin worries about the loss of inhibitions experienced with drinking. Erin recalls doing things she normally wouldn't do while drunk but never doing anything she wouldn't normally do after smoking marijuana. I tend to agree. I also know many doctors who would prefer marijuana over alcohol. In my experience, marijuana users are nonviolent as opposed to alcohol - a legal, highly addictive drug. Drinking often leads to brutal bar or spousal fights or people getting behind the wheel without understanding how impaired they are and take someone's life.
I purport the days of work missed by the alcoholic are much more than that of the chronic marijuana smoker. There is opposition to this point of view but I disagree. I believe in essence, most everything in life that is done in excess has negative effects.
Marijuana is said to be a gateway drug. Is this true or is it political propaganda? I believe it is the latter and found no supporting research. I have seen serious negative effects of heroine users, i.e. stealing, breaking and entering, to get money to support their habit. I have not seen this with alcohol or marijuana users or abusers.
I challenge anyone reading this to offer opposing views on why marijuana should not be legalized. It is legal for medicinal purposes in 13 states. There is a host of indications for the use of medical marijuana; over 250 to be exact. Why are prescription drugs handed out like candy while marijuana, with proven efficacy, remains completely illegal in most states? My answer - politics! Regardless of legality, marijuana is available for those who know the right people; prohibition doesn't work. The law does not stop them from purchasing it. Legalizing marijuana has serious benefits for cities and states through tax revenue and I do not understand why politicians do not get it.
Let's look at the Netherlands as an example
Hard drugs versus soft drugs: Holland differentiates “Hard drugs are those such as cocaine, ecstasy and heroin. Soft drugs are those such as marijuana and psychedelic mushrooms.” Here is a statistic that may surprise those who think legalizing marijuana will lead to increased use - Marijuana use in the Netherlands is lower than in many other European countries and a lot lower than the United States. In Holland, only 6% of had used marijuana in the past year, compared to 11% in the U.S.! The Dutch Ministry of Justice reports that the Nederweit industry (aka Netherlands weed) employs approximately 20,000 people. I found no negative criminal repercussions, such as increased crime activity. Even though marijuana is legal in the Netherlands, there is still an underground marijuana market.
List of Sources:
The Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010, Tax & Regulate Cannabis California 2010
Changing Views on Social Issues: Allemande Left. Allemande Right, ABC NEWS/WASHINGTON POST POLL: HOT-BUTTON ISSUES
Mervin Field, The Independent and Non-Partisan Survey of Public Opinion Established in 1947 as the California Poll, The Field Poll
Ranee Wright, Massachusetts Act to Tax and Regulate Cannabis, Associated Content
Richard Evans, Notes, Materials on Cannabis Taxation & Regulation
Oaksterdam University Faculty Oakland, Oaksterdam University
Jennifer Molina, Welcome to Potopia, Newsweek
Oaksterdam,Wikipedia
13 Legal Medical Marijuana States, ProCon.org
Marijuana and Dutch Law, Amsterdam Review
If Marijuana Is Legal, Will Addiction Rise?, The New York Times
Should the U.S. Legalize Marijuana?, Opposing Views
Californnia Medical Marijuana… Not all are so lucky!
As emotions over medical marijuana and the locations, and numbers of the dispensaries allowed heats up in every city across the state of California… There is still no greater place to live. In one afternoon a properly documented marijuana patients can visit a marijuana doctor, be evaluated, and with 30 min be on his or her way looking for their new favorite medical cannabis club. Of which there are more than a few to choose from.
