Teh Answers

The Anti Cannabis Agenda

Posted on 12:21 AM

I live in California. I don't smoke marijuana and I understand the potential problems that Marijuana causes for religious and conservative groups. All the more reason imo to rally on my Facebook account and vote Yes on Prop 19.

Prop 19 is known as the "Regulate, Control & Tax Cannabis Act" Despite what you may have heard from self interest groups and lobbyist, the law was very well written and would have initiated the healing process for decades of failed drug policy here in the states. The benefits of Marijuana both medicinally and recreationally far outweigh any unfounded fears that make it seem so scary.

Legal drugs end illegal drug trade

Marijuana represents 60% ^[1] of illicit drug trade profits. Legalizing drugs would rip the carpet out from under the illegal network.

If you put drug violence against a very simple economic principle, the first thing you notice is that prohibition is its own self perpetuating catalyst. By that I mean a decreased supply causes an increased demand for drugs ,making them an even more lucrative prospect for criminals. No brainer right? Instead of drugs having the value of a head of lettuce, it can become worth it's weight in gold (simply illustrating a point). If you eliminate the lucrative nature of the drug by increasing supply, it only makes sense that it's no longer worth it for criminals to do horrific deeds to protect their markets. If it were finally and wholly legal, the money and motive would be gone and the violence spilling over the borders into our country would cease. The second thing you realize is that drugs aren't the problem. We all know how alcohol prohibition played out in the 1920's. Prohibition is the root cause of the mess that grows more sophisticated and complex each day.

Innocent Victims Caught in Drug War Violence

With violence often comes innocent victims. I'm not saying legalization is some kind of panacea that will end all violence, but it would likely go a long way to help curb stray bullets.

Inconceivable Tax Savings

One in six federal inmates are incarcerated for non-violent Marijuana related offenses ^[2]. Now get this. This means that if we adopted a legalized stance on Marijuana, nearly one hundred and ten thousand inmates are no longer a burden to U.S. taxpayers. Consider each prisoner costs this country roughly $22,500 annually ^[3] we're talking about a savings of roughly six and a half million dollars PER DAY!!! I know it sounds crazy but do the math. ($22500/365)*110000. Nearly $2.5B annually.

Regulation keeps drugs away from children

Under prop 19, vendors of Marijuana are responsible for carding as with alcohol and tobacco. Adults are subject to huge penalties if they expose young adults and children under the age of twenty-one to drugs. This includes certain currently vague situations for smoking in public and in the same room as minors. Prop 19 has stiff penalties for furnishing drugs to minors. This means parents, guardians, relatives. As well as drug dealers who have an agenda to ensure children get high. Prop 19 would make it a crime to furnish Marijuana to minors and legalization replaces dealers with vendors who lose their livelihood if they disobey the regulations.

Regulated drugs are cleaner and safer

This argument has two main points. The first is some dealers will lace marijuana with small amounts of addictive drugs like cocaine or methamphetamine's to get people hooked and buying more drugs. Regulated drugs would ideally be created to pharmaceutical standards, packaged and delivered by companies with legal and personal liability. Legal drugs would also be free of random harmful additives that are carelessly mixed in during cooking or cut to increase quantity. I saw once in a documentary where someone cooking meth tossed in a package of allergy medicine (the box, cellophane wrapper and pill crate). I'm convinced this isn't uncommon.

Addicts fear fallout of seeking professional help

This is one of the most disheartening side effects of criminalizing drugs. I have seen many people in my life refuse professional help, when they clearly needed and wanted it, because they feared the repercussions of the harsh reporting requirements placed on hospitals and doctors. Failure to report treatment of substance abuse is a crime. So when you take your best friend to the hospital, the doctors call the police. The police come and arrest her and she ends up with a criminal drug record. Now some hiring managers won't accept her and this rules out many professions for her probably indefinitely.

Medicinal users claim it's better than pharmaceuticals

I go into this in detail below, but many people I know suffering from chronic pain have found that the only drug that helps them is Marijuana. Besides the horrible way the pharmaceuticals make them feel, the addiction risks involved and so on, pot gives them more relief than prescription drug counterparts.

Empowers people and sends a message to law makers

Had Prop 19 passed it would have sent a message to law makers in not only our own state, but other states and eventually on the federal level. I understand we are a long way from the laws that have proven successful in Amsterdam. ^{[4] (Drug use in Amsterdam is waning while drug use in America is rising)} But any law passed to legalize marijuana for personal recreational use would prove unequivocally that America was ready for change and give us the necessary tools to address recreational and medicinal drug use and addiction in a forward thinking manner. I think it's crucial we start looking at drug use as a medical problem instead of addressing it as a criminal problem.

Close another loophole/unfair privilege.
Legalized for EVERYONE over 21

Marijuana is generally considered harmless and if legal could be grown in your backyard. I hear of people pretending like they have chronic pain to get a medical card or receiving prescription over the phone from ads placed in the metro. It's downright silly. I've been prescribed pain drugs like Vicodin over the years and I only use what I need to alleviate the pain. The rest I keep around for later when I really need them. I am always very careful when I use any medication. If pot were legal I might have some laying around for these occasions. Maybe I have big meeting the next day that's causing insomnia, maybe my sciatica is acting up and I'm uncomfortable. It should be everyone's right to grow, store and administer it to themselves when they need it.

Same or stricter laws for DUI, workplace, and offenses relating to minors

Read the law: This Act is not intended to affect the application or enforcement of the following state laws relating to public health and safety or protection of children and others: Health and Safety Code sections 11357 [relating to possession on school grounds]; 11361 [relating to minors as amended herein]; 11379.6 [relating to chemical production]; 11532 [relating to loitering to commit a crime or acts not authorized by law]; Vehicle Code section 23152 [relating to driving while under the influence]; Penal Code section 272 [relating to contributing to the delinquency of a minor]; nor any law prohibiting use of controlled substances in the workplace or by specific persons whose jobs involve public safety.

Under prop 19 if you are stoned, it is still illegal to have it near schools, drive a car, come to work, give it to kids. These were the basis of many lies that were spread by opposition groups. As you'll see later these groups are protecting their turf by spreading malicious untrue propaganda that misled many voters during the 2010 elections. It's sad when cannabis growers, brewers, big tobacco, pharmaceutical companies, drug enforcement agencies and other self interest groups are more concerned about their profits than the powerful positive change legalized marijuana would have on our country.

Safer than alternative medicines and vices

Recreational alternatives are far more dangerous. For instance, did you know that alcohol is so addictive, once you're hooked, it could kill you if you try to quit cold turkey? Many prescription drugs that help with the same problems associated with medicinal marijuana have extraordinary side effects, like addiction, thoughts of suicide, etc. Look at this chart showing the Annual Causes of Death in the United States.

Finally, Even Pat Robertson gets it.

I have to admit. After his comments on Haiti I never thought I would hear something that makes sense come from that mans mouth. But this interview posted on YouTube shows that he is compassionate about the effects the drug war has on people. Although he supports decriminalization, I still believe it makes more sense to regulate and control it, because you gain the added benefits I've listed here. There is no sound reason to make any part of the drug supply chain illegal. Period.

The reason I am here today

Im not here today to talk about why I voted or why I feel legalization is the appropriate choice. I want to spread the truth about who is behind the campaigns to *keep our country drug free.* I couldn't find relevant data for D.A.R.E and other anti-drug organizations, if you know where they are and can point me to those I'd be grateful for the lead, but The Partnership for a Drug Free America has disclosed their tax statements on their website and to me the information is damning.

Prior to 1997 Tobacco and Alcohol was the biggest funding partners of the organization. I think this says alot about the agenda of these corporations and how the partnership is being used as a tool to suppress marijuana. Today it's big pharma and the DOJ, which to me is even more sinister. Here is a short list of the contributors that appear on the 2010 tax statements. There are some names on the list which I don't completely understand, but some first hand research seems to indicate a round about relationship back to pharmaceutical companies. I've taken what appears to be the mission statement for each to quantify my assertion.

CHPA "is the not-for-profit association representing the makers of over-the-counter medicines and nutritional supplements, and the consumers who rely on these healthcare products."

Abbott Labs "Discovers, develops, manufactures and sells pharmaceutical and nutritional products such as drug delivery systems, antibiotics and prepared infant formulas"

King Pharmaceuticals:"King is now a part of Pfizer Inc."
Pfizer Inc.: We dedicate ourselves to humanity's quest for longer, healthier, happier lives through innovation in pharmaceutical and consumer health products.

Purdue Pharma L.P., "a privately held pharmaceutical company founded by physicians, is focused on meeting the needs of health care providers and the patients"

Apparently the tax statement don't include donations under $90,000. As of 1997 they claim on their website that they no longer take donations from tobacco and alcohol. I have no data to prove otherwise. Should we allow ourselves to interpolate the source of unclaimed amounts based on the reported numbers? Is it safe to say that a large percentage of these companies are either related in some way to pharmaceutical companies or the money feeding into the drug war effort? I'll let you decide.

This is just one case, most of the support for the anti prop19 campaigns were from companies and government agencies that earn their bread and butter on the recreational vices, medicinal cannabis and The Drug War. They said that people would drive stoned, they said they would go to work stoned, they said it would stop medicinal efforts and they spread a whole slue of other lies during the election season to extort people into voting against prop 19.

Don't get me wrong. I am convinced there are a few sheeple that believe in their hearts they are doing the right thing, and they are being herded by large self interest groups. Groups that don't care about drugs and violence spilling into our country, about improving our financial outlook, keeping drugs away from kids and getting dirty homemade drugs off the street. There is no place in their agenda to end the toll that drug related violence has on the innocent, or those seeking professional help to cure their addiction or find a better, free, non addictive drug for chronic pain. The last thing they would ever do is provide a safer recreational alternative to prevent addiction before it starts.

With all this going for it, I am at a loss for words as to why the measure failed.

Even if you are against smoking Marijuana, I hope you join me:
* Find out who is funding the campaigns.
* Consider the agendas of those involved.
* VOTE to "Regulate, Control & Tax Cannabis"

GMO Food Labeling

Posted on 12:48 AM

Whenever I get confronted with someone who says there is no evidence against GMOs and that labeling products with GMOs is silly I give them the following response. Sorry, but I'm not buying it if I know about it. Which is the real reason they don't want to label a food "Genetically Modified."

Sorry for the "debate", but I'm always glad to share what I know, to a fault. I'll start by saying there are several current peer review studies that show GMO food is harmful to humans. I'm only current to a few months ago because I gave this up out of frustration and peer pressure, but Google "MON 863 lung" "gmo sugarbeet" "maize kidney liver" "GMO genocide" Lots of recalls on dangerous GMO's. Google "GMO Food Recall". Peanut Butter, Soy, Canola, Corn, etc... Lots of dead lab animals. Google "GMO death rats mice hamsters"

I don't feel right about going into detail about GMO evils here. There is just too much information. "Food Inc." is a good opener with many facts ( available on Netflix unlimited streaming [$8.99 is a steal].) "Fed Up" and "The World According to Monsanto" free on youtube : http://bit.ly/S2hiE . Dr. Shiva exposes my biggest problems with GMO in "The Future of Food" on youtube http://bit.ly/12EZDF The fact that farmers are successfully prosecuted as thieves when their GMO free crops are cross-pollinated with GMO seeds turns my stomach. She says 1500 lawsuits were filed by Monsanto against U.S. farmers alone. Food, Inc. talks about a guy named Moe Parr who was bankrupted by one of these lawsuits. It's an incredible story Also, there is growing concern that the die off of millions of bees in the United States is linked to bt corn as well. http://bit.ly/cehJX Scary stuff. Many are resolved that if the bees die off our food production comes to a near stand still within four years. Watch for the the suicide gene that could contaminate almost all of our plant food sources across the globe within a few short years. Finally watch the movie "The Future of Food" on Netflix it goes into great detail about many issues from the lawsuits, government corruption, and so much more.

Finally there is a movie coming out that exposes Monsanto and the carcinogenic toxins they produce. Glyphosate (aka RoundUp) is allegedly linked to two cancers that killed my dad and is taking my grandfather as well. Pop doused that stuff around the house like it was going out of style. http://www.japanesepopsongs.com/idiotcycle/play_trailer.html I haven't seen this movie, but it's going to be shown at UC Davis on Jan 26. I'm heading up there to see it.

If you aren't pissed about Monsanto, I hope this changes your mind. Never considered myself a granola eating hippie, but I am begging you to become informed and stand up against what is happening.

Peace

Please, by all means, find yourself copying this text and adding your own thoughts.

Herbicides

Posted on 5:37 AM

The last thing I am is an environmentalists, but when you find out they spray herbicides on both sides of the highway and our jogging trails and all over public schools and that they know these chemicals are a huge risks to public health*** I get miffed.

I tried to tell them about Hydromechanical Obliteration and other... safe alternatives to pesticides and they were wholly unresponsive. Like its some kind of black hole up there. The chemicals they're dumping on us and in our food supply are reconstituted, repackaged and relabeled hazardous materials.

As a group we just don't seem to care. We're like a bunch of sheep and we're having a plethora of health problems as a result. I personally know people dead AND dieing from RoundUp use **.

Now Obama puts a Mansanto lobbyists at the head of our food supply and I find it DEEPLY concerning. Seriously, wtf is going on up there?

SVRA and Management Area Closures

Posted on 9:03 AM

Let me start by saying I'm not a friend of environmental protection groups like the Sierra Club. I think that Sierra Club Members, though well meaning, are mindless sheep who inadvertently rob society of a better world by sending this powerful lobby millions each year. They truly mis-understand the consequences of their actions. Back in the day when these organizations were created they served nature and society with genuine causes, but money and corruption have ended that.

Today the Sierra Club is a self interest group that uses random frivolous environmental issues and funds from enormous coffers to thwart progress. They block inter-structural development and technological/ scientific advances by throwing out legal caltrops causing projects that would normally benefit both society and nature to come crashing to their fiery death. These obstructions halt Bart (Bay Area Rapid Transit) extensions, extinguish reduced-fuel-burns, knock the wind out of clean power, and destroy crucial measures that would otherwise augment an eco friendly society. I hope you consider this the next time you stuff that envelope with a fat check.

Now that this is out of the way, let's talk about SVRA's and Management Areas. The reason these were created was to curb the footprint of off road recreation and concentrate it in vastly smaller regions with reduced ecological and monetary value. There was a time, believe it or not, that you could go just about anywhere on a dirt bike or four wheeler and no-one cared, but bills were passed and these designated areas were set aside to provide safe places for OHV recreation. It not only prevented destruction on a mass scale, it truly changed our behavior into something more friendly to our good Mother.

Now the environmental groups have declared war on these areas. But is it really in the best interest of nature to make these areas even less accessible? No. It rolls back our progress 30 years and defeats the whole concept of these designated spaces.

Where will these enthusiasts go when these parks close? A field near their home? Littered with glass, furniture and appliances? Potentially right through the home of the Burrowing Owl, Desert Tortoise, or California Condor?

When you really think about the consequences of what they are doing, you begin to wonder if they are interested in the preservation of nature at all.

Links:
Save Carnegie SVRA
Save the CCMA
Share Trails
AMA (pay close attention to this one)

'Naked Scanner' detects 'Underwear Bombers'

Posted on 12:47 AM

When I first heard of the 'naked scanner' I was in turmoil. So much so that I had to write down my feelings and get it off my chest. After taking a moment to write my list of reasons why I hated this thing, I sat down to expound each item on my list.

Privacy: I don't want anyone seeing my naked body!
Now, I didn't like the idea of this thing, but despite my immediate hatred for this machine, my arguments are really more emotional than based on any kind of factual evidence. The only one that still stands is privacy. No I actually don't care if someone see's me naked. Poor bastards. But my children are another story. It's an issue of indecency that I just can't get past. I don't want any stranger, except my child's doctor, seeing my children naked. Period.

I might change my mind when they improve the technology so that the scan only shows the items that are not part of the body. Until then, I won't fly. True it's an emotional argument, none the less very tangible. All the better, I hate to fly anyway.

Encroachment: one step at a time, they're stealing our freedom!
This is true. From gun control to motocross park closures, the lobbies in Washington are telling our leaders what we can and cannot do. But there are already rules in place that make concealing weapons / explosives illegal. Also, as soon as you drive into the parking lot at the airport you are subject to search without cause. This doesn't change anything.

Health Risks: backscatter x-ray radiation unzips the dna chain!
Really?

Fourth Amendment: This violates our protection against unreasonable search:
I will readily admit, I had a very strong knee jerk reaction that the 'naked scanner' was an outrageous violation of our fourth amendment rights. Now I feel a bit silly for getting so worked up. Because when I really thought about it I realized the search is wholly optional, and this is key because you agree to a search when you enter the airport. You're not forced to go there. Just as you give up your right to bear arms when you enter a courthouse lobby or your right to yell 'fire' when you enter a crowded theater or the hundred other ways we willfully relinquish our rights to gain certain privileges. Your fourth amendment rights are never violated because the search is optional. If you don't like being searched, don't go the very specific places or do the very specific things that require you to give up that right.

Orsen Wells: omg! next things you know they'll read our minds and send us to room 101!
Everyone knows the government has been tracking us and reading our thoughts via satellite since the Carter administration. Where have you been?

I do think its mildly ironic that our fundamental problem with a 'naked scanner' is that along with our privacy, our personal preferences are being 'stripped' at every turn. IMO, if our leaders would see our personal choices as technical challenges instead of something you toss to recycle, we could find the technical solutions to overcome these challenges and put more people at ease.