[Marshmello]

By Robert J. Corry Jr.

Today, not much about Colorado's economy moves. The state is broke and releases prisoners because it cannot afford to keep them. The governor slashes the higher education budget 40 percent. People lose jobs, homes and financial security. Our leaders face serious issues.

And what keeps some politicians up at night? That sneaking suspicion that some suffering cancer patient may gain limited pain relief through medical marijuana, coupled with that gnawing certainty that someone, somewhere, actually grew the plant for that patient.

But government cannot repeal the laws of supply and demand, and cannot extinguish the spark of freedom in peoples' hearts. Now, the marijuana distribution chain becomes legal. Responsible entrepreneurs open shops to supply a skyrocketing demand for medicine. These small businesses serve needy patients. They pay taxes. They hire employees. They lease space. They advertise. And the drug war industrial complex can't stand it.

Most elected leaders have a good sense of proportion regarding this issue. A minority of politicians, however, avoid reasonable proposals to tax and regulate marijuana, and instead irresponsibly fear-monger in the worst tradition of Prohibition-era "Reefer Madness" propaganda. We hear racially charged tales of "Mexican cartels" supposedly running the medical marijuana business, when the truth is Colorado homegrown marijuana puts foreign cartels out of business, and it is law enforcement that enriches cartels through hostility to medical marijuana.

We hear local bureaucrats complain about dispensaries, and then in the same breath enact moratoria, thus granting government-enforced monopolies to the very shops that offend them, and shutting out newer entrepreneurs who would do more responsible business. Government can help lower the high cost of medicine, but artificially restricting supply has the opposite effect.

We hear unsupported anecdotal government propaganda about how dispensaries "attract crime," when the truth is these shops, which are generally open only in daylight hours, have security systems and are not open to the general public and only admit registered patients, and are safer than convenience stores, liquor stores, bars, gas stations or banks.

We hear government hysteria about how these shops should not be near schools, without a single documented case of a child obtaining marijuana from a dispensary. On Ninth and Corona streets in Denver is a small liquor store and a pharmacy, both legally dispensing drugs far more potent that marijuana, and both directly across the street from a large public elementary school. And this is not a problem. Children are not wandering in to buy narcotics or liquor. It is another example of an imaginary concern designed to justify irrational restrictions.

We also hear government officials with no formal medical training demonizing and second-guessing private confidential decisions of trained physicians who advise patients. Government should not interfere with private medical decisions.

Some officials even contend that although medical marijuana is legal, it is not legal to actually produce or distribute it. However, the Colorado Constitution legalizes "acquisition, possession, manufacture, production, use, sale, distribution, dispensing, or transportation of marijuana" for medical use."

If "sale," "distribution," and even "dispensing" are legal, then a "dispensary" is legal. And if "manufacture" and "production" are legal, then growing is legal.

Many of these proposals would drive vulnerable patients away from the well-lit, safe, secure, private, confidential medical marijuana dispensary and put them and their wheelchairs back in the dangerous black market.

There are two positive results of this government hysteria: Thousands more Coloradoans are aware that they have the option of being legal medical marijuana patients; and voters continue discussions of the wisdom of continuing Prohibition. This is a debate that freedom wins and government nannyism loses.

Source:https://www.denverpost.com/recommended/ci_13691103

Very strong opinion and I concur 100%.

[pong]

woooohooo!! telllem!

[dmt]

the number one threat to global corporate fascism is an intelligent, educated, self sufficient human. the second is his ally, the hemp plant, in all its entirety, medicine, clothes, fuel, food, plastic, agriculture etc etc etc. hemp is humanities last chance at eliminating corporate middlemanning between us and our natural state with our earth and the cosmos at large. hemp for freedom, victory and fullfillment, d

ps, rad thread dude

[DiscoBiscuit]

dmt is right. Pot is to plants what pork is to the food chain. Industry will be able to utilize the entire plant, seeds and all. Conventional industry will lobby to stifle open growing legalization until they get their tentacles of control around hemp and cannabis.

Conventional industry:

Textiles
Oil
Pharma
Pulp/paper
Feed/seed

oh yeah, candy...gots to have my candy

Pot/hemp will surpass Soybean as THE innovative plant with countless applications. I can't imagine why industry hasn't more successfully lobbied hemp. Probably has something to do with Wall Street needing continued illegal mj prohibition to increase profits. I've been reading too much Matt Taibbi, lol.

[kmk420kali]

This Article displays some of the frustrations I am feeling in an articulate, calm manner...(something I am unable to do...lol)
K++

[oldbob]

It is obvious, we need to unite strongly and make sure the elected officials know, that they will NOT be elected again, if they do not listen to the people they represent. That is their job. When the end of the fight is near, it is not the time to be weak. It is the time to increase the fight and finish strongly. Millions are watching, searching for the course of action that will let to victory for the medical and recreational use of marijuana.
Even though I am not presently a resident of a state that has MMJ, I will do all I can to support those who fight for all people, and to present views that make sense to everyone,except those that gain from the repression of the decriminalization of marijuana.
oldbob

[kmk420kali]

Originally Posted by oldbob

It is obvious, we need to unite strongly and make sure the elected officials know, that they will NOT be elected again, if they do not listen to the people they represent. That is their job. When the end of the fight is near, it is not the time to be weak. It is the time to increase the fight and finish strongly. Millions are watching, searching for the course of action that will let to victory for the medical and recreational use of marijuana.
Even though I am not presently a resident of a state that has MMJ, I will do all I can to support those who fight for all people, and to present views that make sense to everyone,except those that gain from the repression of the decriminalization of marijuana.
oldbob

That is the problem tho-- We are a vast minority in the whole scheme of things--
We are over 50% in the "Cannabis" category...but the same ppl voting for that, are not necessarily voting for Obama's Health Care Package...nor any of the other high profile subjects/Economics--
We cannot let up!! We need to expand the Education of all things Cannabis-- I don't care if it is Recreational use...or Hemp Cultivation...both are good...and should be within our Rights--
Damn....I have some hash here right now...that needs my attention-- Late--

[bterzz]

awesomeness!

[DiscoBiscuit]

Originally Posted by kmk420kali

Damn....I have some hash here right now...that needs my attention-- Late--

How long do you let your hash cure? Mine makes ya cough lung chunks and can't smoke it fresh.

[kmk420kali]

Originally Posted by DiscoBiscuit

How long do you let your hash cure? Mine makes ya cough lung chunks and can't smoke it fresh.

Balls rolled from my fingers while trimming-- Afghani Kush...It was an intimate evening with the Late Great...Mitch Hedberg!!
I love that shyte--