And, here's one more for the new year: CA City Charged with Contempt for Refusing to Uphold Medical Marijuana Law Montebello fails to return medicine despite obligation by landmark court decision Los Angeles, CA -- Medical marijuana advocacy organization Americans for Safe Access (ASA) filed legal briefs today accusing the City of Montebello of contempt of court. A request for the Los Angeles Superior Court to issue contempt proceedings was filed in response to the refusal by the City of Montebello to return medical marijuana and other property wrongfully seized by its local police department. On October 15, 2004, local police seized marijuana plants, growing equipment, and personal correspondence from the Montebello home of Terry Walker. Police criminally charged Walker, irrespective of his status as a medical marijuana patient. Walker's criminal case was soon after dismissed and a court order was subsequently issued for the return of his property. However, despite Walker's court order, the City of Montebello refused on several occasions to return any of his property. "Given recent case law requiring police and local officials to respect state law and return any wrongfully seized medical marijuana, the City of Montebello has a clear obligation to adhere," said Joe Elford, Chief Counsel with ASA, the organization representing Walker in his contempt claim. "This blatant contempt for the rule of law is unacceptable and cities like Montebello will be called out if such conduct continues." In November 2007, the California Fourth District Court of Appeal issued a 41-page decision rejecting the argument that the state's medical marijuana law is preempted by federal marijuana laws. The court of appeal ruled that "it is not the job of the local police to enforce the federal drug laws." The case City of Garden Grove v. Superior Court involved medical marijuana patient and Garden Grove resident Felix Kha who was charged after a routine traffic stop and 1/3 of an ounce of medical marijuana was seized. As a result of the appellate court decision, the City of Garden Grove, and all other localities in California, are now obligated to return wrongfully seized medical marijuana. In December of 2008, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to review Garden Grove's appeal. "We are going to file contempt charges against cities and counties that run afoul of their obligation under the state's medical marijuana law," continued Elford. "The indiscretion of city's like Montebello will not be tolerated, especially more than twelve years after the passage of Proposition 215, California's Compassionate Use Act." The brief filed today points to the California Code of Civil Procedure, which makes punishable by contempt of court "disobedience of any lawful judgment, order, or process of the court."  In addition, the brief states "courts have the inherent power to punish acts that interfere with the orderly conduct of proceedings," such as those in Walker's case. Further information: Today's contempt brief filing with the Los Angeles Superior Court: http://safeaccessnow.org/downloads/Walker_Contempt.pdf Decision by the California Fourth Appellate District Court: http://safeaccessnow.org/downloads/GardenGroveDecision.pdf

Yo Ho, Reefer Pirates! Remember me rant several months ago about how reasonable it is to allow us reefer heads to smoke and drive? Wasn't I just awful again?? Seems like your humble narrator has company! The entire state of Califonia seems to have come on board the good ship Bush and passed some law changes. How nice. Medical Marijuana Advocates Get Calif. DMV Change Qualified Patients No Longer Subject to Arbitrary License Revocation The ASA legal team saw the fruits of another big victory for patients in March, when the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) issued a new policy on driver's licenses that ends discrimination against state medical marijuana patients. ASA Chief Counsel Joe Elford As of March 2, the DMV Driver Safety Procedure Manual now says that "use of medicinal marijuana approved by a physician should be handled in the same manner as any other prescription medication which may affect safe driving." The change means that medical marijuana use now "does not, in itself, constitute grounds for a license withdrawal action," as it had in the past. The change in DMV policy stems from a lawsuit filed by ASA on behalf of Rose Johnson, 53, whose driving license was revoked because she uses medical marijuana on the advice of her doctor. Despite having driven for 37 years without an accident or a ticket, the DMV revoked Johnson's license last July. According to the DMV, Johnson was no longer able to safely operate a motor vehicle "because of...[an] addiction to, or habitual use of, [a] drug." Their evidence? Her doctor's recommendation for medical marijuana. ASA filed suit on Johnson's behalf in November, and DMV announced their new policy in January, before her case was heard. Johnson was given a driving test, which she passed, and DMV reinstated her license. "The new DMV policy is a significant change," said ASA Chief Counsel Joe Elford, who handled the action. "Drivers will no longer have their licenses suspended or revoked simply because of their status as medical marijuana patients." ASA had reports that the DMV had targeted medical marijuana patients in at least eight California counties, including Alameda, Butte, Contra Costa, Glenn, Merced, Placer, Sacramento, and Sonoma. License suspensions and revocations by the DMV were done under cover of calling the drivers "drug abusers," though they were based on nothing more than the person's status as a state-qualified medical marijuana patient. "This DMV policy change represents a victory for patients, which puts us closer to full implementation of California's medical marijuana law," said Elford. My friends, isn't this just great? Ha! I take morphenyweenies and percocets and methadone.... yech! But, I am a real bad boy if I also smoke weed? I think NOT! And now a news flash: senator Chaz Grassley has switched sides in the marijuana debate and decided to stop being a drug warrior and general puke with a great big mouth. Ahh, no. He is commited to being a dinosaur and will likily remain so to his death. Why is it that we are stuck with leaders who can't or won't change their minds when the people who put them in want something different? and better?? More on this issue later, right chuck? Hey Senator Chucky Grassley! Have you been paying attention to Illinois and Minnesotta? They have red hot pro-cannabis issues coming before the full senate of these two states bordering Iowa! You are getting more and more isolated, drug warrior moron. Dinosaurs are not remembered for the bridges they got us. They are remembered for telling the cops and child protective to come into our bedrooms all gunned up and take our precious children by violent force because Mommy smoked a joint. You Will be remembered senator grassley. For being a nazi puke. I am the bush and you can kiss it, drug warrior morons. Legalize our smoke at All levels and give us our children back!

I bet this guy is Great. This is the sort of business we grower/tokers need to start seeing prosper right through the hard ground of the current stock environment. If our cannabis can become an investment by the mainstream of our business culture then our legalization just CanNOT be too far behind. I asked the Chinese girls I was in college accounting class with (and these girls worked hard and this was a knee-buster of a college class ) if they ever had Coka Cola over there in the homeland. When they excitedly said, "Yes!" I knew capitalism was not too far behind. Same applies here with a pot-based business. Once they start getting used to us being around and not being distant and murderous alien lifeforms they only hear about from the pukey politicians then we are on our way to acceptance and legalization. Here is the next installment of the thin edge of the wedge, pot haters. Brought to you by: the scientific community and your local marijuana grower's community. From: "Steve Kubby" <STEVE@kubby.com> Sent: Tuesday, April 07, 2009 2:16 AM Subject: KUB: "Are these guys nuts? They'll NEVER get FDA approval for their cannabis-based medicines." Dear Friends, Last week, Gulf Onshore, a  publicly traded, over-the-counter, oil leasing company acquired the assets of Cannex Therapeutics, a cannabis research and development company that was started by Dr. Robert Melamede, Richard Cowan and yours truly. In simple terms, the owners of Gulf have decided to exit the oil business, sell off their oil leases and merge with Cannex.  For them, our venture is just the ticket for an environmentally friendly, 21st century company.  Best of all, we acquired controlling interest and, with their full support, replaced their team with ours. Hopefully, people will appreciate that in merging our two companies, we recycled an ugly old oil company, into a cannabis-friendly company instead. Fox News and other financial networks covered the event, as did Bio Century, a $4,000 per year trade magazine for the biotech industry. Meanwhile, many of our friends and most of the drug policy reform movement was left scratching their heads and wondering, "Are these guys nuts? They'll NEVER get FDA approval for their cannabis-based medicines." Of course, when we explain our plan, the lights go on and people understand why we are confident we can succeed. For example, the FDA has already approved phase 3 human trials of another cannabis based product by a pharmaceutical company.  We believe our product is very similar in formulation and much more effective.  In fact, we conducted tests in Canada that confirmed that our product was more desirable.  However, the important point here is that the precedent has already been established for us. Another objection that we hear is that our venture is too risky and uncertain.  Yes, our venture is a risk and investors could lose everything, but where is there a "safe" investment these days?  Let’s say we had a deal with Lehman Bros. It was guaranteed by AIG and funded by RBS and our cash is managed by Madoff & Co. Think how safe that would have looked! Meanwhile, in the real world, we attempted to launch our new endeavor, while we confronted a stock market crash and a collapse of the credit markets.  Despite such overwhelming challenges, we have persevered and we have made business history. So, for us, right now, acquiring a publicly traded company is a significant accomplishment, not just for us, but for all who believe in this miraculous, healing herb. Everyone congratulates us, but then they go out of their way to inform me that the odds are just too staggering for me to pull this off. Well, excuse me, but I have a proven track record of repeatedly defying enormous odds and still succeeding: --No one has ever survived my form of cancer for more than a few years, yet this is my 35th year of surviving this deadly disease and cannabis is the only medicine I use.  For most of those 35 years people laughed at me when I told them the cannabis was keeping my cancer under control.  Today, our company has a database of 510 scientific, peer-reviewed studies showing that cannabinoids kill cancer cells. --No one believed me when I promised to deliver the half million dollars we needed to collect signatures and qualify Prop. 215 for the ballot, but I did.  Everyone said we would never succeed, but I knew we had the polling numbers and the element of surprise.  I told our wealthy sponsors, "It will never be easier or less expensive than NOW."  Fortunately, they listened and gave us the money. --No one believed I could fight off 19 felony charges with a minimum of 40 years in prison, but I did AND so did you, because you supported my battle with the Blue Meanies and many of you even contributed to my defense fund. --No one, not even my closest friends and family, believed me when I insisted that I would ultimately be vindicated, my convictions dismissed, and my record expunged, yet that is exactly what came to pass. As you can see, I have an extraordinary track record of overcoming seemingly impossible odds. I ask that you respect my track record and join our venture.  Vote with your wallet, so we can work together to show the world that we mean business. Even if you are only investing $100 through an online brokerage site, you'll still be making a statement and you'll be investing in a prosperous future of your own values and beliefs. It amazes me how excited my friends and fellow activist become about paying the government $100 million in taxes.  How about creating a $100 million cannabis-based medicine company instead?  Personally, I find that far more exciting and creative. Can we actually create a viable, cannabis-based pharmaceutical company with FDA approved medicines that are nontoxic, organic, and highly effective?  All I can tell you is what I tell everyone else: "It will never be easier or less expensive then NOW." If it would be a suitable investment for you, we are a publicly traded, over-the-counter (Bulletin Board, not Pink Sheets) stock, you can look us up with our current symbol NASD OTCBB: GFON and invest and own a stake in a future world where cannabis is accepted and approved for medical use. But what about the name?  Don't worry, we will be announcing a change in the company name to Cannabis Science Inc. (CSI), later this week. Call me if you have any questions. Let freedom grow, Steve Kubby, CEO, Cannabis Science, Inc.

American Indian wants

smoking ban exemption

for religious ceremonies

HAMILTON, Ill. — Larry Cooper is not a smoker. The Hancock County man couldn't care less that the state's 14-month-old Smoke Free Illinois Act prevents lighting up in restaurants or restricts smoking in public areas. Cooper is an American Indian, visibly proud of his heritage, and his concern is that the legislation makes it nearly impossible to conduct indoor tribal religious ceremonies. Those ceremonies include using smoke from burning prairie grasses, herbs and pure tobacco and the use of ceremonial pipes. Cooper, a member of the Standing Bear Council, is seeking an amendment to the state act that exempts such religious practices. "It (would mean) nothing to the general public," he said. Illinois Sen. John Sullivan, D-Rushville, introduced the state act amendment in February. It will be heard in the Senate's Public Health Committee on Tuesday. If it passes, it will go to the full Senate for a vote. Sullivan said if the necessary approvals are then gathered from the Illinois House, it could be May before the amendment becomes part of the act. The language in Senate Bill 1685 reads, "'smoke' or 'smoking' does not include smoking that is associated with a recognized religious ceremony, ritual, or activity." Sullivan said the issue with the law was brought to his attention by Cooper. He added that he's also met with opponents of any change to the smoke-free act. "It should be a good argument," he said of the committee discussion. Smoke is a large part of American Indian ceremonies and celebrations. One practice, called smudging, is a cleansing ritual before American Indians go into the "circle" to dance. Sage is burned to cleanse the spirit as part of the practice. "We're not just out there dancing," Cooper said. "The circle is a sacred place, and you don't enter it without being cleansed. We try to teach traditional things, so why would we ... do it untraditionally?" Grasses such as prairie sage, lavender and black cedar are crushed and steeped in a stone bowl for at least some of the ceremonies. The process appears similar to burning incense, which Cooper said is also not allowed under Illinois' new smoking act. "Different herbs are used for different processes," he said. "There are no chemicals in any of the herbs." Since the smoke-free act was passed, Cooper said he and other practitioners have been told the ceremonies must be conducted outdoors. He likens that to members of a church having to go outside to take communion. "This is not right," he said. "We shouldn't have to do that. We have to draw a line somewhere." Cooper said he knew seven months before the act was passed by state legislators that it would infringe on the religious rights of American Indians. "I tried then to get the amendment," he said. There was a similar issue when Iowa passed a smoking ban recently. But Cooper said it took just a few telephone calls and a few weeks to get an amendment passed through the Iowa Legislature. Cooper said he has been contacted by an attorney for the American Cancer Society about his requests. He said the attorney asked him not to pursue the amendment and told him a federal law protecting such religious practices should usurp the state law. But Cooper argues that most everyone in Illinois is familiar with the state ban but few know about the federal allowance. "By federal law we have the right," he said. "But it's not our job to try to explain this to people. We shouldn't have to debate what we can and can't do." While Cooper waits for a state legislative decision on the proposed amendment, he's busy at his home office making calls to American Indian groups around the country. He's no longer asking for amendment support but is asking American Indian groups to no longer donate to agencies such as the cancer society that oppose the amendment. "I'm just asking them, but I've had a very good response," he said. An attorney for the cancer society did not return a message seeking comment on the amendment. "I'm looking for a means of coming back and putting pressure on the ones coming at us," Cooper said. "Our people have been very generous. There are enough of us nationwide - I'm sure we can put a stop to it. We'll (hold back) money from the ones creating the problems." Your humble narrator is Sioux as well as veddy English unt German. Personally, I am For getting rid of the damned fags as I watch my friends who puff the evil weed of tobacco cough their lungs up after bonging it up with the bush. I cough, too, but it is soo much different for me because I don't suck down them cancerettes. But, for religious purposes, state law must yeild for the religious execption. period. Lots of such gatherings do not inhale. Did you know that? We don't inhale the peace pipe, folks. Well, uh, some of D0, but no one seems to notice lol bush

Govie pukes give me a migraine... think I'll medicate, as my American Indian brother in law calls it just before we get bonged up. Hey! Tired of being a reefer grower and getting all that fake shit the federal gov of the USA passes out for information on pot? Why not try the unfettered/lesser fettered science from other nations? Like this: On Wed, 4/1/09, Adam Krause <fight_for_freedom_420@yahoo.com> wrote: From: Adam Krause <fight_for_freedom_420@yahoo.com> Subject: MINORML-TALK: Active Ingredient in Marijuana Kills Brain Cancer To: minorml-talk@norml.net Date: Wednesday, April 1, 2009, 6:54 PM HealthDay News Source: Forbes Magazine HealthDay News -- New research out of Spain suggests that THC -- the active ingredient in marijuana -- appears to prompt the death of brain cancer cells. The finding is based on work with mice designed to carry human cancer tumors, as well as from an analysis of THC's impact on tumor cells extracted from two patients coping with a highly aggressive form of brain cancer. Explaining that the introduction of THC into the brain triggers a cellular self-digestion process known as "autophagy," study co-author Guillermo Velasco said his team has isolated the specific pathway by which this process unfolds, and noted that it appears "to kill cancer cells, while it does not affect normal cells." Velasco is with the department of biochemistry and molecular biology in the School of Biology at Complutense University in Madrid. The findings were published in the April issue of The Journal of Clinical Investigation. The Spanish researchers focused on two patients suffering from "recurrent glioblastoma multiforme," a fast-moving form of brain cancer. Both patients had been enrolled in a clinical trial designed to test THC's potential as a cancer therapy. Using electron microscopes to analyze brain tissue taken both before and after a 26- to 30-day THC treatment regimen, the researchers found that THC eliminated cancer cells while it left healthy cells intact. The team also was able, in what it described as a "novel" discovery, to track the signaling route by which this process was activated. These findings were replicated in work with mice, which had been "engineered" to carry three different types of human cancer tumor grafts. "These results may help to design new cancer therapies based on the use of medicines containing the active principle of marijuana and/or in the activation of autophagy," Velasco said. Outside experts suggested that more research is needed before advocating marijuana as a medicinal intervention for brain cancer. Dr. John S. Yu, co-director of the Comprehensive Brain Tumor Program in the Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, said the findings were "not surprising." "There have been previous reports to this effect as well," he said. "So this is yet another indication that THC has an anti-cancer effect, which means it's certainly worth further study. But it does not suggest that one should jump at marijuana for a potential cure for cancer, and one should not urge anyone to start smoking pot right away as a means of curing their own cancer." But that's exactly what many brain cancer patients have been doing, said Dr. Paul Graham Fisher, the Beirne Family director of Neuro-Oncology at Stanford University. "In fact, 40 percent of brain tumor patients in the U.S. are already using alternative treatments, ranging from herbals to vitamins to marijuana," he said. "But that actually points out a cautionary tale here, which is that many brain cancer patients are already rolling a joint to treat themselves, but we're not really seeing brain tumors suddenly going away as a result, which we clearly would've noticed if it had that effect. So we need to be open-minded. But this suggests that the promise of THC might be a little over-hoped, and certainly requires further investigation before telling people to go out and roll a joint." More information: For additional details on the risks and benefits of marijuana use as it relates to cancer, visit the American Cancer Society. Newshawk: Cheebs1 Source: Forbes Magazine (US) Published: April 1, 2009 Copyright: 2009 Forbes Inc. http://cannabisnews.com/news/24/thread24666.shtml The doc is high on medical model control boolshit, isn't he? I don't tell my ill friends to smoke joints. I tell em to eat> cannabis grease from extracted oil. This is apparently illegal in california! unless you use an Ice o Lator or somesuch. Personally, the Bush LIKES butane. lol