Let's Talk About Drugs

SSDP at CPAC 2011

2011-02-06T16:20:00.005-05:00

Hey readers, hope your year is going well. I haven’t posted on this blog before, so here goes.

This week KSU SSDP as well as members from many different chapters will converge onto the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington DC. Here we will be voting in a straw poll for Gov. Gary Johnson. Gov. Johnson has been a strong voice in the movement for reforming current drug policies. In 1999 during his second term as Governor of New Mexico, Johnson took a strong stance on marijuana legalization, and has said that the other illegal drugs should be treated from a health issue instead of a legal one. He has been quoted as saying "I came to the conclusion that 90 percent of the problem was prohibition related” when talking about his stances on the drug war issue, with Myrtle Beach Tea Partiers (see link at bottom). His stances on this issue have even garnered the support of famous republican figures such as William F. Buckley.

Should this man become president, I believe that he would take America out of the downtrodden economy that we have now. For proof, I present his only held elected position. When he came into the gubernatorial position in New Mexico the state was suffering from a yearly budget increase of 10%. Through his policies and his strong use of veto power, Johnson cut this increase out and in fact left the New Mexican Economy with a large surplus. His economic policies are driven by his business minded approach, which stems from his years in college where he would make money by being a door to door handyman. That business grew and became a multimillion dollar business and provided him with the capital to be elected in the first place. He has since sold that business and is concentrating on activism; Sitting on the advisory board for our own SSDP and also Students for Liberty, a student political organization. He has also started his own 501(c) (4) committee called Our America Initiative (http://ouramericainitiative.com/) whose mission statement reads “OUR America Initiative seeks to broaden the parameters of the public policy debate of current topics in the national arena. We look to enlighten the population about civil liberties, free enterprise, limited government, and traditional American values. It is our aim to increase the amount of discussion and involvement regarding all-important issues.”

On other Issues, Johnson pushed to give school vouchers to all K-12 students in New Mexico, in order to allow them to go to school where they and their parents wished. He attempted this twice during his second term, but was unsuccessful in pushing it through the democratically controlled congress of the time. (See link at bottom)

Read more: http://www.thesunnews.com/2011/02/01/1955144/mb-tea-party-hears-from-presidential.html#ixzz1DD8JQcDJ

http://www.nytimes.com/2000/01/31/us/parents-lead-way-as-states-debate-school-vouchers.html?pagewanted=1&src=pm

Dave Goldshtein is a member of Kent State SSDP

Food for Thought

2011-01-24T13:17:00.001-05:00

The following blog written by KSUSSDP member Steve Larson:

Food for thought…hmmm maybe just fees please

Fresh foods are a great way to bring your mind and body to a healthier state, but sometimes their cost keeps those who need them the most from enjoying their benefits. So let’s say you take matters into your own hands and grow your own vegetables in your house to supply your family with a healthy substitute to the heavily processed chemical-laden foods that are sold in super markets. Seems like a good idea, but what if you were fined thousands of dollars because the municipal inspectors thought you were growing marijuana instead? Sounds like something that can only happen in a bad dream, right? Wrong. Len Gratto of Missions, British Colombia is one of the many citizens who have been fined $5,200 or even up to $10,000 in fees and repair orders for not growing marijuana. All Gratto did was grow cucumbers in his basement.

These marijuana grow-op searches, which are sometimes done illegally, are made possible through Grow-op bylaw programs that allow municipal inspectors to enter homes with abnormally high hydro usage — about 93 kilowatts per day or more — and look for evidence of illegal marijuana grow-ops for public safety reasons. The sad part of about this is that the evidence they find does not necessarily mean the household is or has grown marijuana. For instance, Gratto stated “the ‘laughable’ evidence against him consists of pictures of some ‘dirt’ on the basement wall and ‘a furnace pipe going up into the chimney, where it should be.’” This is just outrageous. I am pretty sure that dirt does not equal marijuana. There are many people that bring inside potted plants that cannot survive the winter or grow vegetables and cooking herbs indoors, all of which I will reiterate are not marijuana. Thankfully, Gratto, among many others, is not going to let his rights be abused like this and is willing to start an "imminent class action" law suit against Mission.

From 2008 to 2010, there were 362 Public Saftey Inspection Team searches of which 275 of them were given the fees of $5,200! Councilor Jenny Stevens of Missions, who initially supported this program, believes that around half of these homeowners were innocent. She says, “My biggest worry is about 50 per cent of these people were subjected to embarrassment and innuendo. I’m very concerned about the threat of litigation.”

These laws do not just embarrass and damage the reputation of the town citizens, but can even lead them to the usage of prescription drugs. For instance, in another innocent victim’s case in which Drew Smith said that he had to get sedatives because he couldn’t sleep at night with the stress and embarrassment in the neighborhood. Thank you drug laws for ruining even more innocent lives, as if the drug cartel violence in Mexico and overcrowded prisons in the US were not enough.

http://www.theprovince.com/news/Mission+homeowner+fined+growing+cucumbers/4083756/story.html

Former President Vicente Fox Urges Mexico to Legalize Drugs

2011-01-20T11:47:00.002-05:00

Vicente Fox, Mexican president from 2000-2006, has been advocating for Mexico to legalize all drugs in order to curb the absolutely disgusting amount of drug related violence in his country.

Fox, who was once a strong proponent of the drug war, now acknowledges that the prohibitionist model does not work. He cites the loss of tourism, of talented and professional people over the border to the United States, and the state of fear as costs too great to bear.

The death toll topped 12000 in 2010 and intense conflict continues as the cartels vie for power.

"...it is not only in people's income, in investment, but also in the collective psychology. There is fear in the country. And when you have an environment where there is no harmony, no peace and tranquility then no human being can make the best of themselves."

-Vicente Fox

Santa Fe Police Raid School Greenhouse: Find Tomatoes

2010-11-30T23:04:00.002-05:00

http://www.santafenewmexican.com/localnews/Pot-raid-at-school-turns-up-tomatoes

The war on drugs strikes again, this time at the Camino de Paz Montessori School and Farm in Santa Fe County, New Mexico.

On September 21 a low flying unmarked helicopter surveyed the school's property for 15 minutes, so low that the students could see gun barrels on its outside. These students were just innocently eating outside while this was happening, not to mention that the students’ ages ranged from 11 to 14. As the helicopter disappeared a state police van arrived accompanied by a few other vehicles in the driveway of the school.

From the vehicles appeared four unmarked men wearing bulletproof vests wanting to inspect the schools greenhouses and did they find the marijuana that they were looking for? Of course not, all that was growing in the greenhouse were tomato plants.

This was a part of a number raids ran by the Region III Narcotics Task Force in Santa Fe County, of which only one was proven to be fruitful. They found a whopping 35 plants after 10 hours of surveillance, such an efficient use of time and tax payer dollars. These raids are not making local residents very happy either. They are saying that the helicopters are scaring livestock, disturbing the peace in the rural areas and resulting in invasions of private property without search warrants.

It is hard for me to believe that these raids are making the community safer if they are just angering its residents, invading their privacy and as Patricia Pantano, education director of the Camino de Paz Montessori School and Farm states "we're sitting here as a teaching staff, always short on money, and we're thinking, 'Gosh, all the money it takes to fly that helicopter and hire all those people, it would be great to have this for education. "

Steve Larson is a member of KSU SSDP

Conference time!

2010-10-08T08:33:00.003-04:00

Hey everyone!

A few quick updates from Kent State SSDP about the midwest conference we'll be hosting on November 13-14.

First off...we got funding!!! KSUSSDP wishes to thank Greg Jarvie, Dean of Students at KSU for his assistance throughout this whole process. This conference would not be at all possible without his hard work!

Secondly, registration for the conference is now open! Go to: https://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1259/event/midwest to sign up!

The Student Movement to End the War on Drugs, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Fight the Drug War.

2010-09-29T09:24:00.006-04:00

I was surfing youtube the other day when I stumbled across the above video and it really got me to thinking. I've been a member of Kent State Students for Sensible Drug Policy for a little over a year now, and I think it's time to take a step back and look at all of the things we as a chapter and I personally have experienced in this past year.

When I first joined SSDP, it was my first full week of classes as a new transfer at Kent State. I had heard about SSDP before my time at KSU, however, I had never participated in, or thought much about the organization. I walked into the meeting room in the student center, and to my surprise, it was packed with students that were like-minded to me.

Chris Wallis (former president of the KSU chapter), I think, was also surprised at the size of the group, considering they had only started the chapter a semester before with a total membership of 3 people. The professionalism in which Chris handled the meeting and articulated the chapter and organizational victories was remarkable.

Kent State SSDP in the year prior to my joining passed a Good Samaritan Policy, which has already saved multiple lives on campus, giving students the peace of mind and security to not be afraid to call for medical attention. The chapter also brought a large showing to the Midwest conference.

I was hooked on SSDP from the start.

However, when I joined SSDP I thought I was in for an hour long meeting every week to talk about drug policy activism and leave it at that. I couldn't have been more wrong. SSDP introduced me to my best (and sure to be lifelong) friends. Being responsible for the going-ons in SSDP (as every member somewhat is) has also helped me become a more responsible and mature adult.

And then there was San Francisco. SSDP's International Conference was held in San Francisco, California on March 12-14, 2010. It was there that my life was totally and completely changed. Meeting like-minded individuals from across the nation and world was a truly incredible experience. San Fran also allowed for my chapter to bond and solidify the lifelong friendships we had been tending the semester before. Nothing helped us more to bond than earning the Chapter of the Year award from SSDP national. It was a moment that none of us will ever forget, I'm sure of that.

Waiting in the airport for my plane out of San Francisco and back to Kent was one of the major turning points in my life. I knew that I had made great friends and. learned about nearly every facet of drug policy. And it was through that experience, I am the person I am today.

This year, the dynamics of drug policy and SSDP have begun to change. SSDP national has a new Executive Director and has experienced some changes in staffing. KSUSSDP has a new set of officers, led by Tom Zocolo and a multitude of new faces are showing up every meeting. Drug policy reformers around the nation are working hard on initiatives to bring a greater sense of fairness, sensibility and justice to our nation's drug policy. What a year to look forward to!

Now as I sit in bed, sick at 2 in the morning, I realize how much I've changed. I look at all the friends I've made and the impact we've made on our university and on the world. The future is in our hands SSDPers, now let's change the world even more!

Magic mushrooms ingredient may ease end of life anxiety

2010-09-08T10:34:00.002-04:00

'Magic mushrooms' ingredient may ease end-of-life anxiety
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/09/06/magic.mushrooms.ease.anxiety/index.html#fbid=K34l3diZN1a&wom=true

By Anne Harding, Health.com

September 7, 2010 -- Updated 0047 GMT (0847 HKT)

A new study shows that psilocybin, the active ingredient in "magic mushrooms," may help terminally ill cancer patients get some relief from anxiety.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Terminally ill cancer patients may get some relief from a guided "trip" on the drug psilocybin
One to three months after taking psilocybin, patients reported feeling less anxious
Patients said their experience gave them a new perspective on their illness

RELATED TOPICS

(Health.com) -- Terminally ill cancer patients struggling with anxiety may get some relief from a guided "trip" on the hallucinogenic drug psilocybin, a new study suggests.

The study included 12 patients who took a small dose of psilocybin -- the active ingredient in "magic mushrooms" -- while under the supervision of trained therapists. In a separate session, the participants took a placebo pill, which had little effect on their symptoms.

By contrast, one to three months after taking psilocybin the patients reported feeling less anxious and their overall mood had improved. By the six-month mark, the group's average score on a common scale used to measure depression had declined by 30 percent, according to the study, which was published in the Archives of General Psychiatry.

Can psychedelic drugs treat depression?

In follow-up interviews with the researchers, some patients said their experience with psilocybin gave them a new perspective on their illness and brought them closer to family and friends.

"We were pleased with the results," says the lead researcher, Charles Grob, M.D., a professor of psychiatry at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, in Torrance, Calif.

Notably, the psilocybin did not aggravate the patients' anxiety or provoke any other unwanted effects besides a slight increase in blood pressure and heart rate.

Health.com: 7 types of therapy that can help depression

Grob's findings are "important because he's showing that you can administer these compounds safely to cancer patients with anxiety," says Roland Griffiths, Ph.D., a professor of psychiatry and neuroscience at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, in Baltimore.

"They're not substances that should be used recreationally or casually, but nonetheless it appears that we can conduct research with these compounds safely," adds Griffiths, who was not involved in the study but has researched the therapeutic effects of psilocybin. (He and his colleagues are currently enrolling patients in a similar study that will use larger doses of the drug.)

Researchers investigating the therapeutic potential of psilocybin and other hallucinogens have been keen to demonstrate the safety of the drugs in clinical settings.

Health.com: Supplements for depression: what works

Psychiatrists and psychologists began exploring the effects of hallucinogens on the mood and anxiety of dying patients in the 1950s, but the research stopped abruptly when psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), and other mind-altering drugs were outlawed in the 1970s.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a handful of small studies involving hallucinogens since the 1990s, but the field is still emerging.

Grob's study is the first of its kind in more than 35 years. It was funded by private foundations and the Heffter Research Institute, a nonprofit organization based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, that has been a major sponsor of the second-generation hallucinogen research.

The patients in the study were all close to death (10 of the 12 have since died), and they had all diagnoses of anxiety or acute stress relating to their prognosis.

"We were really looking for people who were really struggling with the predicament that they found themselves in," Grob explains.

Health.com: What an anxiety disorder feels like

During the psilocybin sessions, which lasted six hours, the patients lay on a couch and listened to music through headphones.

Although they spoke only briefly to the therapists while under the influence of the drug, they continued to meet periodically with the research staff for six months to discuss their experience and to fill out questionnaires assessing their mood and anxiety levels.

"I think we've established good grounds for continuing the research," Grob says. "That's the goal right now, just to develop more studies."

Pro Wrestling Drug Abuse and the Cannabis Healing

2010-08-28T07:12:00.008-04:00

Literacy Practices and Interpretations of Professional Wrestling

In our daily lives there are many forms of entertainment that distinguish themselves through particular literacy practices. Some forms of entertainment make us use our emotions based on our own interpretations. The way we interpret events can make us react in laughter, sadness, shock, and even anger. To understand the form of entertainment there may be literacy practices or rules that must be followed for others to understand what is happening. Professional Wrestling is a form of entertainment that follows a set of literacy rules for an audience to understand what is happening. Professional Wrestling is very much like a play we may see in the Broadway scene following similar literacy practices like catering to an audience and dialogue incorporating storylines in matches just like there are storylines taking place in a play. The audience watches and cheers clapping for their favorite wrestlers just as they would clap for an actor’s performance in a play. The actions that a professional wrestler does must impact the audience and make their actions seem important to the audience just like an actor draws their audience in by their actions. In professional wrestling a wrestler’s main stage is the wrestling ring commonly a four sided platform with three layers of rope surrounding each side of the ring tied to four poles at each corner surrounded by an audience while in a play it the actor’s main performance area is the stage.

While it is a form of entertainment and Professional Wrestling may have similar qualities to actual plays they are not the same. There are specific rules to Professional Wrestling matches. Pinning an opponent for the count may be a confusing message for one who is not familiar with professional wrestling. One would have to understand the action of pinning an opponent and holding down enough weight on the opponent so that they can’t lift their leg or arm up showing that the opponent’s force is not enough to counter the pin for a referee’s 3 seconds count. A submission is another literacy practice in professional wrestling. A submission is a hold or maneuver used to lock an opponent’s limb in place while applying pressure so that they cannot escape making them helpless and forcing them to give up to save themselves from enduring more pain from the hold. However if there is enough might left within the opponent’s strength to reverse or counter the hold, they can be released. If the opponent does not have enough strength to counter the submission hold than the opponent must tap out by tapping their hand on the wrestling ring canvas, signifying that they lost the match. Another literacy practice in professional wrestling is called a rope break. To an individual who is not familiar with professional wrestling a rope break could be misunderstood for the act of physically breaking or tearing a rope or wrestling ring rope, but that is not what that literacy practice means. A rope break happens when an opponent is being pinned or in a submission hold. If the opponent can reach the wrestling rope with their arms or legs then they must be released from the pin or submission hold continuing the match. A disqualification is a literacy practice where a wrestler is penalized for using a weapon on his opponent when he is not allowed to or bringing in other wrestlers to help weaken an opponent when they are not scheduled to be in the match. Disqualifications can only be counted when a referee sees the unfair action-taking place, but if the referee doesn’t see it than it can go unnoticed and heels usually take advantage of this. If the referee does notice the action taking place then he can call for a disqualification and the opponent who did not break the rules of the match can be awarded with the win.

As with specific rules of professional wrestling there are also literacy practices used to identify a wrestler. Professional wrestling journalists who write about wrestling news and are not typically employed by a wrestling promotion as well as a number of wrestling promoters use the term baby face or face to describe wrestlers who are playing the role of a fan favorite or a “good guy”. The baby face’s goal is to play off the audience’s emotions and generate a reaction of cheering from the audience. The term heel is used to describe a wrestler who is playing the role of a villain or “bad guy”. The goal of a heel is to generate a heated reaction from the audience against that wrestler so that the audience’s support is behind the baby face. The term neutral is used to describe a wrestler who is neither baby face nor heel. They may not have developed their character yet and are not well known making it hard for the wrestler to draw reactions from the audience, or the wrestler’s reaction from the audience might be mixed with some fans supporting him and others booing. A wrestler does not always remain a baby face, heel, or neutral. They change their character direction in the interest of drawing the audience into new story lines. In my own observations I’ve seen wrestlers such as AJ Styles who currently wrestles in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling go through many character changes where he started out as a baby face in the company always showing off acrobatic moves that looked hard to pull off, but also using a clean style of wrestling. Using a clean style of wrestling means that the wrestler is not using unfair tactics like striking in the foreign areas, using weapons for an advantage when the other wrestler is not, or using other wrestlers for back up protection so they can get involved in the match when they are not scheduled to take part in it. Years later the same AJ Styles that had been playing the role of a baby face and using clean tactics to win his matches switched to the role of a heel and began using unfair tactics without the referee seeing him. He would use chairs as weapons and use them on his opponent when the referee was not looking in order to avoid a disqualification of the match. He would bring in allies to help inflict more pain and damage to his opponent to make it easier to get the win by pin or submission. However there where times where his dirty tactics cost him the match because of the disqualification he received for using a weapon when the referee saw him.

While disqualifications are a piece of a literacy practice in professional wrestling some organizations change the literacy practice by catering to different age groups of wrestling fans. One organization called Extreme Championship Wrestling from 1992-2001, which was more of a regional urban wrestling organization catering to older teenagers and adults decided to ignore disqualifications completely and add a new style to the wrestling ring. Their style was barbaric using dangerous weapons like staple guns, fire, barbed wire, flaming tables, and much more. This graphic hardcore wrestling style does not match the modern Extreme Championship Wrestling from 2006-present, that is under a different ownership today than it was years ago as they cater to younger fans now by watering down the violence. The reason that the new ownership of today’s Extreme Championship Wrestling has been toned down compared to the previous owner might be because the new owner may be avoiding the confrontation of the media about increasing violence in schools. Participatory culture is seen in and outside wrestling when a fan might emulate a move on their friends that they saw on television and they might put it on youtube or somebody might get hurt in the process of the move. Participatory culture can be seen in skateboarding too when a person might want to attempt to do a move that his favorite skate boarder does. He might record it on video and broadcast it on youtube of his attempt of the move. Participatory Culture is responsible for individuals who may not have experience in how to do something properly and as a result of lack of experience might cause serious issues attempting to perform an act based off of another individual’s achievement. When tragedies happen because of these participatory culture related events a mainstream company could be blamed and risk judicial affairs to be involved. As a result the company might not be as willing to show the same graphic content and in the process of toning down the content might have to face catering to younger age groups. Another organization in the independent wrestling scene is Ring of Honor. Their literacy practice regarding their organization is not necessarily about violence, but putting on competitive wrestling matches, showcasing the art of professional wrestling and featuring experienced, skillful in ring action. In this organization I’ve seen fans cheer for wrestlers that could put on great matches and shaking hands before and after the matches following a literacy practice of the organization called “the code of honor” and not messing up moves. The code of honor is the literacy practice of Ring of Honor where wrestlers are required to shake hands before and sometimes after the match, although heels sometimes break this literacy practice. One well-known mainstream wrestler under the name Jeff Hardy, who wrestled for the World Wrestling Entertainment, an organization seen on television around the globe, went to Ring of Honor for a brief period and messed up a certain amount of moves. In the mainstream company he wrestled for it would not be a huge issue for him to mess up a small amount of moves, but in Ring of Honor when he messed up the moves he was booed out of the building by the audience causing an ordeal just like if a comedian was to have objects like tomatoes thrown at him if he delivered a poor performance on stage. I think that this incident tests Ring of Honor’s literacy practice of performing great matches and showcasing the art of wrestling because it doesn’t matter who you are or whom you work for. When a wrestler steps into a Ring of Honor wrestling ring and delivers a poor match their performance determines the reaction they will receive in Ring of Honor. Is a wrestler at fault for messing up a move when their working schedule requires such a large amount of time of their lives and when each performance is a risk that the wrestler takes by putting their body on the line and crippling themselves for the appreciation of the fans?

Unlike the literacy practice of baseball or basketball, the literacy practice of the professional wrestling industry does not have an off-season. This may force the wrestler to continue working, further damaging his body, continuing to possibly abuse drugs both legal or illegal so he can keep up with his work, and missing his family as he travels to the next show, or finding a new occupation away from the wrestling industry. Having been a wrestling fan for many years, I saw many experienced veteran wrestlers like Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero have their lives taken from them at an early age through the hardship of having to work without an off-season, turning to legal and illegal drugs affecting their in ring performance, and resulting in serious injury and death.

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In my previous assignment I discussed the literacy practices of professional wrestling. I also made interpretations based on my observations of the culture and structure of professional wrestling and how its seasons hold no limits allowing for drug abuse to take place leading to fatal tragedies as well as social concerns in the lives of families. First I will explain and back up my claims as to how the content in professional wrestling leads to social concerns in the lives of families.

In the previous assignment I talked about how participatory culture is influenced by professional wrestling using the example of an individual without any experience and often imitating a wrestler’s move on another individual who also lacks experience of professional wrestling resulting in one or both of the individuals getting hurt. To back up my claim I will use the case of Lionel Tate, a twelve year old boy at the time who was imitating moves he a had seen on a professional wrestling television show and performing the moves on a six year old girl who he had accidentally killed. According to CBS News, a television news program, “the defense in the Lionel Tate court case wanted to argue that professional wrestling, a theatrical entertainment sport populated by cartoon like characters in colorful costumes, promoted violence without regard to the sport's influence over children.” I believe that the tragedy that took the life of a six-year-old girl in the Lionel Tate case was negatively influenced by professional wrestling’s violent content. However it is the parents of the child who are to blame for allowing their child to watch violent content without concern for the consequences of how the content will influence their child. What if the individual is of college age and there is nobody who has the responsibility to watch for the negative consequences of the violent content? According to Richard A. Serrano, Bob Drogin and David Zucchino, staff writers from the Los Angeles Times the student responsible for the Virginia Tech Massacre was a television wrestling fan, watching it night after night alone by himself. While Seung-hui Cho, now labeled the Virginia Tech Killer was not body slamming his innocent victims, could he have been negatively influenced by the violent content that he observed from television professional wrestling shows or was the media simply attempting to blame a vulnerable industry?

Moving away from my interpretation of the participatory culture of professional wrestling negatively influencing individuals and families, I would now like to look at my interpretation of professional wrestling lacking seasons, contributing to serious injuries and drug abuse. First in order to understand what leads wrestlers to serious drug abuse one would have to understand the literacy practice of the hidden role of a professional wrestler. This role is known to professional wrestlers, but is not aimed at fans. According to research conducted by R. Tyson Smith a Ph.D. candidate of Sociology at Stony Brook University, he says that in professional wrestling, solidarity and dominance through pain is involved. He explained how in a wrestling ring the responsibility by the professional wrestlers is to make sure that each of them is protecting their opponent from pain and injury. This determines if a wrestler is experienced to be able to perform a move or land a move being performed on oneself. If that wrestler cannot fulfill this responsibility than they should not be in that ring. However there are instances where another literacy practice called a “shoot” takes place where a wrestler works on his opponent stiffly ignoring this responsibility in order to make an example of a cocky, over confident rookie, or make sure that a rookie wrestler is paying their dues in the eyes of a veteran wrestler who went through the same pain when they were rookies. This could be seen as a bully tactic, but it is engraved in the tradition and literacy practices associated with professional wrestling. This type of shoot can lead to respect amongst other wrestlers showing that a wrestler can take pain. Tyson explained how a shoot may also take place when a wrestler accidentally throws a real strike and their opponent losing trust in their competitor, revolts by a legitimate attack back at them. This is often dangerous, but rarely happens. In an intentional shoot both wrestlers are expected to work stiff in order to gain respect from their peers in the business. Tyson also mentions that if one wrestler doesn’t defend themselves by working stiff against their opponent than the other wrestler will push them around and manhandle them. I think this is a perfect example of dominance through respect and pain in the ring because one who does not defend themselves is bound to face pain. In his research Tyson acknowledged speaking to a wrestler that told him about several injuries he received in the past causing him to miss multiple weeks of wrestling. When he returned he would avoid medical assistance at the first sign of pain or injury. Tyson mentions how this avoidance of medical assistance at the first sign of pain or injury becomes routine for wrestlers that work through the pain ignoring their injury. Keeping in mind that wrestling does not have an off season like professional sports such as basketball and football where athletes can finish their season and rest their bodies, imagine the routine procedures of pain and its long term effects on a wrestler’s body. How can human beings take this kind of beating, and make it a routine procedure without burning themselves out?

In 2003 a documentary on HBO called Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel: Deaths in Pro Wrestling showed the nightmare of a pro wrestling lifestyle as Louie Spicolli stumbled around a hotel hall way looking for his room while on many prescription medicines. Two years later he passed away at age 27 of an overdose from mixing the pills with alcohol. In the same documentary wrestling legend Roddy Piper explained how he has seen wrestler after wrestler break into the industry and leave their fans, friends, and families at early ages. Piper explained how he has outlived 30 of his closest friends as a result of the pro wrestling number one killer, drug abuse of steroids and pills.

In the same documentary Vincent Kennedy Mcmahon, Chairman of the World Wrestling Entertainment denies any responsibility for the deaths of his fallen former employees who passed away as a result of their drug abuse. Vince stated that the World Wrestling Federation, the company he ran before they changed their name to the World Wrestling Entertainment had a drug testing policy from 1992-1996. The drug policy at the time was criticized as only being established for public relation reasons, but the policy was stopped because it was too costly.Vince claimed the drug testing policy was banned at the time because he had not seen any more syringes and roid rage. The policy was eventually brought back after more wrestlers died and the World Wrestling Entertainment's drug problem was the talk of many evening news programs.

According to Jon Saraceno, a sports reporter from USA Today said, “from 1997 to 2004 more than 60 wrestlers under 45 died. More than a third did so from coronary-related causes.” Jon lists several deceased wrestlers who passed away at early ages as a result of drug abuse. Eddie Guerrero, 38, Davey Boy Smith, 39, Rick Rude, 40, Curt Hennig, 44, Bam Bam Bigelow, 45, Sensational Sherri, 49, and Chris Benoit, 40. This list shows that drug abuse lead to their early deaths, but what lead the wrestlers to taking the drugs? The answer can be found in the diary of Chris Benoit. According to Jon Swartz, a sports reporter in USA Today, the contents of Benoit’s diary described painful hits to the head, a hectic endless traveling schedule on the road that isolated him from his family, and a cryptic message foreshadowing his own death to his best friend Eddie Guerrero who died in 2005 two years before Benoit as a result of drug abuse. Regarding the cryptic message from his diary, Benoit wrote "I will be with you soon." Moments later he killed his seven-year-old son, his wife, and hung himself as a result of drug abuse.

In November of 2007 after the tragedy of Chris Benoit, CNN ran a documentary similar to HBO's Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel: Deaths in Pro Wrestling, called Death Grip: Inside Pro Wrestling. The Chris Benoit tragedy put Vince Mcmahon and the World Wrestling Entertainment back into the radar of fishy business practices. Vince Mcmahon had been charged by the United States Federal Government in 1994 during an investigation of his business in a steroid scandal. He was under investigation for distributing steroids to his own wrestlers. Terry Bollea, former World Wrestling Entertainment employee and current Total Nonstop Action Wrestling personality who wrestled under the name Hulk Hogan admitted in the 1994 investigation that he used steroids, estimated that at least 80% of the talent on Mcmahon's roster where using steroids, and claimed Mcmahon knew that his wrestlers where on steroids while Mcmahon himself was taking steroids for his own personal use.

According to an article reported on ESPN.Com by senior writer Greg Garber, former WWE wrestler and Harvard graduate, now founder of the Sports Legacy Institute diagnosed the death of Chris Benoit and Test "Andrew" Martin as CTE also known as Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. The Sports Legacy Institute is an organization dedicated to furthering awareness of and research on sports-related head injuries, while also increasing the safety of contact and collision sports worldwide. Chris Benoit was known as the first case of CTE, Andrew Test Martin became the second case of CTE findings. This does not only affect Professional Wrestling, but universally any sport where head trauma is associated. In the same ESPN report it was acknowledged that, "Terry Long, a Steelers guard, died in 2005 at age 45 after drinking antifreeze. He was Dr. Omalu's second confirmed case of CTE in an NFL player. Philadelphia Eagles safety Andre Waters, who died of a self-inflicted gunshot to the head, was the third in 2006." The WWE's response to these findings came from Vince Mcmahon who tried to deny the findings of CTE in Chris Benoit and Andrew "Test" Martin where real claiming that his company had been asking for the research for years, yet Nowinski invited him on countless times to review the data. The NFL's response was the same as McMahon’s. I believe this is an issue for the risk of the players and wrestlers lives. Back in the day when Professional Wrestling was much different it toured through the carnivals. Wrestlers were treated like freaks and promoters only cared about making money. Wrestlers do not have a Union looking out for their safety. As of right now the only piece of a Union that they have is Wrestler's Rescue founded on September 14, 2008 by former WWE and ECW female wrestler Dawn Marie who formed the nonprofit foundation that looks after retired wrestlers. Dawn Marie who was close friends with both Andrew "Test" Martin, and Chris Benoit said, "I grew up with these people," Dawn Marie said. "It's devastating to think that their career choices -- and their passion, which is the same as my own -- destroyed them from the inside out, literally." She also mentioned that in the Professional Wrestling business, wrestlers are often experiencing head pain and while she hasn't wrestled as much as wrestlers like Benoit and Martin she still feels the pain every day and can not imagine what it was like for them.

While the contribution of steroids and other drugs have been an issue in professional wrestling for countless years I feel that the case of Chris Benoit has elevated the situation to a level where more is being done about the problem, but not enough is being done.

Another wrestler had passed away on Friday December 4th. According to Emanuella Grinberg from an article on CNN former WWE and former TNA wrestler known as Umanga passed away from a double heart attack at the age of 36. It was reported that his contract with the World Wrestling Entertainment had been terminated on June 11th, 2009 after his second WWE wellness policy violation and refusing to enter a drug rehab after being advised to do so by the WWE. When his wife found him after passing out in front of the television after returning from Hulk Hogan’s Australia tour he was not breathing and bleeding from his nose.

According to a US Government document written by Henry Waxman, California Democrat formerly the Chairmen of the House Oversight Committee. Now the Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee wrote a report after investigating the drug problem in professional wrestling to John Walters, Director of the President’s National Drug Control Policy. Mr. Waxman stated, “Chris Benoit’s testosterone levels were ten times the normal level when he committed suicide.” This piece of evidence alone clearly shows that Benoit had been abusing the use of the drug. Another piece of shocking evidence in the report was that when the World Wrestling Entertainment began their drug-testing program in March of 2006, 40% of their 186 wrestlers tested positive for drugs including steroids even with the knowledge that they would be tested later. The report also showed the World Wrestling Entertainment’s competitor Total Nonstop Action Wrestling with 15 out of 64 of their wrestlers at 25% testing positive for steroids and 11 others for different drugs. In the conclusion to his report Mr. Waxman stated, “over 3 million children and teenagers watch professional wrestling and there is a widespread use of steroids in professional wrestling that sends the wrong message to youth.”

While I believe that Mr. Waxman’s attempt to stop the drug problem in professional wrestling was a much-needed start to rid the industry of this conflict, I also believe that it is a long overdue outcry as more wrestlers have been passing away at younger ages. I agree with Mr. Waxman’s position on being concerned with public figures, in this case professional wrestlers sending the wrong message to youth regarding pill drug abuse because it is another negative influence from professional wrestling that could be picked up by youth. At the same time I feel that not enough was done and that during the period of time that many of these wrestlers passed away, the media was only there to exploit the industry at the expense of television ratings on shows like Nancy Grace. According to an interview conducted by Micahel G a writer for The Heyman Hustle.com former WWE and TNA wrestler Shelly Martinez recalls her experience when she realized that she was addicted to prescription pain medicine. She said, "I realized I was an addict after I had a near-fatal overdose. I almost died," and I am here to give credit to what saved my life. Cannabis saved my life!" Shelly states in the new video entitled The Weed Chronicles seen below. After battling her pain killer addiction and replacing it with cannabis Shelly said, "I was going to die," Shelly stated, "No doubt about it. I was on the wrong path. Now, I'm healthy, happy, pain free, and here to sing the praises of how my life is so much better today because of Cannabis!" In the Shelly Martinez's Weed Chronicles directed by LZ Bowie and Mike Hall, Shelly Martinez explained why she chose cannabis over her prescription pain medicine. Shelly also takes us around Los Angeles, California and shows us around the Cannabis Clubs of L.A.

In the episode of the Weed Chronicles with Shelly Martinez, Shelly mentions a co-worker from the WWE who told her about cannabis being able to save her life and stop her pain killer abuse. Former WWE/ECW wrestler Rob Van Dam has been known to be outspoken over cannabis reform. Rob was busted for possession of 18 grams of marijuana on a police stop in Ohio. He advocated cannabis use on Fox New's Geraldo Show in a video recently removed by youtube. Rob Van Dam also supports NORML having attended the 2009 NORML Conference joined by MMA fighter Toby "Tigerheart" Grear, and former NFL Dallas Cowboys player Mark Stepnosk as they discuss the negatives of the failing US Drug War and how it has affected them in the video below.

On November 27 2006 wrestling legend Roddy Piper was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a cancer that attacks blood-filtering tissues. Doctors discovered the cancer early on while performing back surgery after Piper suffered an injury while on a wrestling tour overseas at age 52. The surgery also revealed a damaged disc that threatened to end his wrestling career. Piper commented on the life threatening situation, "This doctor put me on the slab, and it turned out, I had a bone about the size of a potato chip, and about that thin. And it was starting to cut the nerves inside my spine. It was just a matter of me moving too much one way or the other, and I would have been paralyzed.” Piper quickly began radiation therapy. Piper continued “I’ve got a 30 per cent chance of the radiation not working. Well shoot, those are good odds to me. This radiation treatment, it kicks the stuffing out of you a little bit, but I’m a fighter. It’s picked on the wrong guy this time.” Piper’s official web site confirmed that Piper finished radiation therapy on January 15, 2007. In 2008 a video spread around the internet showing Piper smoking marijuana from a bong in front of a crowd cheering him. He later commented on his use of medicinal marijuana, “To alleviate the symptoms associated with cancer. That’s funny tasting tobacco, man!”

Finally the literacy practices of professional wrestling help individuals understand key terms that are imperative to fully understand the subject, and there are other literacy practices used to demonstrate how its brutal schedule included with its culture among wrestler’s lives inside the industry are affected.

Works Cited

CBS. "Wrestling' Case Draws Life Sentence May Punch Hole In Mandatory Sentencing Laws.” 9 Mar. 2001. CBS News. 5 Dec. 2009 .

Christensen, Davin. "The Rowdy One Bong Hits Beat Cancer | 420wrestling.com." 420wrestling.com | Bong Hits & Body Slams. 25 July 2010. Web. 28 Aug. 2010. .

CNN Death Grip: Inside Pro Wrestling. Dir. WWE, WPIX, WADF, WGCL, WXIA, and CNN. Perf. Drew Griffin, Vince Mcmahon, CM Punk, Hulk Hogan. CNN, 2007. CNN Death Grip: Inside Pro Wrestling. Cnn.com, 7 Nov. 2007. Web. 28 Aug. 2010. .

G, Michael. "Shelly Martinez: "Cannabis Saved My Life!"" Heyman Hustle. Crave Online, 10 Sept. 2009. Web. 05 Dec. 2009. .

Garber, Greg. "Andrew "Test" Martin suffered from postconcussion brain damage, researchers say - ESPN." ESPN: The Worldwide Leader In Sports. 9 Dec. 2009. Web. 10 Dec. 2009. .

Grinberg, Emanuella. "Wrestler 'Umaga' Edward Fatu dies of heart attack, friend says - CNN.com." CNN.com - Breaking News, U.S., World, Weather, Entertainment & Video News. 5 Dec. 2009. Web. 05 Dec. 2009. .

Piper, Roddy. "The Official Site of Roddy Piper!" RowdyRoddyPiper.com. 2010. Web. 28 Aug. 2010. .

Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel: Deaths in Pro Wrestling. Dir. Jeff Winn. Perf. Bryant Gumbel. HBO, 2003. Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel: Deaths in Pro Wrestling. HBO.COM, 26 June 2008. Web. 28 Aug. 2010. .

Saraceno, Jon. "Wrestling: Too many sequels to this tragedy." USA Today 7 Feb. 2007. USA Today. 5 Dec. 2009 .

Serrano, Richard A., Bob Drogin, and David Zucchino. "MASSACRE AT VIRGINIA TECH: THE FIREARMS Shooter plotted in silent rage 18.” Apr. 2007. Los Angeles Times. 5 Dec. 2009 .

Smith, R. T. Pain in the Act: The Meanings of Pain Among Professional Wrestlers. Publication. 12 Apr. 2008. Springer Netherlands. 5 Dec. 2009 .

Swartz, Jon. "Doping still an issue in wrestling." 19 Nov. 2007. USA Today. 5 Dec. 2009 .

The Weed Chronicles Pilot Web Show. Dir. LZ Bowie and Mike Hall. Perf. Shelly Martinez. The Weed Chronicles Pilot Web Show. Youtube.com, 20 Aug. 2009. Web. 5 Dec. 2009. .

United States. Cong. House. Oversight and Government Reform. Chairman Waxman Releases Letter Regarding Illegal Steroid Use in Professional Wrestling. By Henry A. Waxman. 110th Cong. H. Doc. 2 Jan. 2009. Committee on Oversight and. Government Reform. 5 Dec. 2009 .

Medical Marijuana Advocacy Project

2010-04-28T23:13:00.012-04:00

Medical marijuana is controversial issue to many individuals as a result of several complications. One problem about the controversies of medical marijuana is the lack of education and understanding regarding its use as a medicinal option. Another issue is the stigma that it currently has as a result of cultural beliefs, misinformation, and the consequences of geographic isolation. According to procon.org there are currently fourteen medical marijuana states in the United States of America as of January 26, 2010. These states include Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington. There are some states like Arizona and Maryland that have favored medical marijuana, but the big picture is the contradictions between state laws and federal laws. According to Marijuana Medicine & the Law Volume II by R.C. Randall despite the fact that the Drug Enforcement Administration's own administrative law judge Francis Young attempted to change the stance on medical marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule II, medical marijuana still remains a schedule II substance in 2010. A schedule I controlled substance like medical marijuana is paired with drugs like mescaline, heroin and other Schedule I drugs that the Drug Enforcement Administration does not consider the substances of having medicinal benefits. As a result each of the Schedule I controlled substances are given penalties in the form of a felony by federal law. While medical marijuana does not have medical benefits and is considered a felony by Federal law, Schedule II drugs that do have medical benefits include cocaine, methamphetamine, morphine, several opium substances, and more. According to the documentary The Union: The Business Behind getting High, directed by Brett Harvey and produced by Adam Scorgie, the Drug Enforcement Administration's Law Judge Fracis Young stated, "Marijuana in its natural form, is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man, however despite this the Drug Enforcement Administration overruled Francis Young's decision to reclassify medical marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule II controlled substance. There are however synthetic THC capsules that are meant to mimic the effects of medical marijuana and are approved by pharmaceuticals. This drug is called Marinol and is a schedule III controlled substance according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. THC is one of the main ingredients in marijuana that gives its patients psychoactive effects. As explained in The Union: The Business Behind Getting High pharmaceutical companies can not make money off natural forms of medicine which is why the smoked use of medical marijuana is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration. As a result of smoked medical marijuana being a natural form of medicine pharmaceutical companies could not patent medical marijuana in its natural form.

As a result of the Drug Enforcement Administration's unwilling decision to reclassify medical marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule II substance patients like Greg Cooper who suffers from multiple sclerosis and ataxia risk prosecution by federal law even though his state's law may accept medical marijuana as a medicinal option. As seen in the independent Showtime film in, Pot We Trust directed by Star Spice, Stock Broker Irvine Rosenfeld explained how ironically there is a federal medical marijuana program and he receives his medicine in pre-rolled marijuana cigarettes every 25 days directly from the federal government. As a result of being in the official medical marijuana federal government ran program Mr. Rosenfeld does not risk being prosecuted by the federal government even though federal law does not consider medical marijuana as a medicinal option. Mr. Rosenfeld was diagnosed with a congenital disease. Medical Marijuana helps Mr. Rosenfeld's condition by relaxing his muscles so that they do not tear. Mr. Rosenfeld became the second person ever to receive medical marijuana directly from the federal government as a result of this program. Mr. Rosenfeld explained how George Bush Sr. closed the federal program down, but grandfathered the existing medical marijuana patients of the official Federal medical marijuana program in an effort to protect the federal government from a lawsuit.

It is evident that there needs to be more progression in the rescheduling of medical marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule II controlled substance with attempts made by numerous medical organizations including The New England Journal of Medicine. Is the federal government's unwillingness to reschedule medical marijuana result of a cultural stigma? Oftentimes when one thinks of the word marijuana images of a hippie with long hair who is unshaven wearing Tye dye shirts are depicted. This stigma needs to be changed in order for the opposition to accept it. Individuals like actor and comedian Tommy Chong who was arrested by federal agents in Operation Pipe Dreams lead by former Drug Enforcement Administration head Karen Tandy have been targeted as a result of their involvement in the marijuana culture. Tommy Chong explained in The Union: The Business Behind Getting High that he was arrested for shipping paraphernalia to one of two states that criminally punish for this offense. Those two states are Pennsylvania and Iowa. Mr. Chong explained how it was not his company though he let the company use his name for the family business. In Karen Tandy's official statement of the raid it was written that Tommy Chong should be sent to jail because his popular films have been influencing children for over thirty years.

Then Karen Tandy set her focus on a Canadian Citizen who never entered the United States of America. She targeted cannabis activist and entrepreneur Marc Emery. Mr. Emery had been paying federal taxes that the Canadian government knew all about for his marijuana seed selling business. There were several similar marijuana seed selling businesses throughout Canada that unlike Emery's business did not pay federal taxes. Medical Marijuana patients in Canada turned to their government to find their medicine, which they were then sent to Marc Emery's business. Once the United States Drug Enforcement Administration pressured the Canadian government to do something about Mr. Emery, the Canadian government raided his store. Mr. Emery also ran a glossy magazine company called Cannabis Culture magazine and used the majority of the money he made from his business endeavours to donate to numerous legalization organizations in countries around the world. The Drug Enforcement Agency has attempted to extradite Marc Emery to the United States of America for life in prison with the intent to hurt the marijuana legalization community. In fact in the official statement of the raid Karen Tandy wrote "Today's Drug Enforcement Administration arrest of Marc Scott Emery, founder of a marijuana legalization group is a significant blow not only to the marijuana trafficking trade in the United States and Canada, but also to the marijuana legalization movement. Drug legalization lobbyists now have one less pot of money to rely on." This statement alone clearly shows that the Drug Enforcement Agency is not after Marc Emery for his crimes, but rather for political reasons, which is illegal to extradite an individual for political reasons according to the US-Canada Extradition treaty.

It is apparent that the Drug Enforcement Administration does not consider medical marijuana as a viable medicine and seeks to go after individuals who leave long lasting affects in our culture that oppose the federal government's view of marijuana. With many states already having their own medical marijuana laws and some opening facilities where patients can have access to their herbal medicine called dispensaries. One has to wonder if there is a stigma also associated with it. I decided to do my own research and attend the 11Th annual Student for Sensible Drug Policy International Drug Conference in San Fransisco, California. Students from all around the globe came to the conference to learn about marijuana as an initiative from recreational use to medical use in terms of education of drug policy reform. While hearing from several politicians including Tom Ammiano; who showed that the resulting stigma of medical marijuana is not a political career suicide, but rather an opportunity. Oftentimes we hear a politician asked the question about medical marijuana. There are many politicians who have tried to dodge the question by using tough on crime stances afraid of what their constituents might do if they support the issue.

Representatives from CannBe, an organization that works with dispensaries to properly serve medical marijuana patients in cooperation with state law work with dispensaries and other individuals on how to become a legit business. Representatives like James Anthony and Steve DeAngelo explained that when dispensaries originally started popping up in California after voters passed medical marijuana in 1996 they were not properly ran. Many had inappropriate use of bouncers as if it was a nightclub, barbed wire was used for security purposes, and other issues needed to be considered like not being a nuisance to the community. Steve DeAngelo, C.E.O. of Harborside Health Center, a medical marijuana dispensary explained how these issues needed to be handled. For security purposes Harborside Health Center is equipped with many cameras to ensure who is on the property and that the medicine is not being used in the wrong locations. Many of these dispensaries are located nearby a daycare center or other businesses in the community and dispensaries like Harborside Health Center must operate as good neighbors to the community. There is a business plan that identifies dispensaries as non profit organizations. This ensures that the dispensary is about catering to the patient to provide them with their medicine and not take advantage of them financially. Those who break these rules are not complying with state law in California. One thing I found fascinating was that of all the herbal medicine Harborside Health Center is equipped with the majority of their product is not used because it fails the satisfactory condition of the product regulation. Medical marijuana that contains spider mites, mold, or has been grown with pesticides will not be sold in the facility and will be discarded to ensure that all the products are up to standard code. Imagine a state without medical marijuana where individuals consume marijuana without knowing what is in the product. This is a problem that is caused by our own federal government's decision to continue a prohibition on cannabis, the scientific term for marijuana. Individuals who do not live near a medical marijuana state are misinformed of how they operate and this is contributed to geographic isolation.

With this new information I have discussed the stigma against medical marijuana, which is becoming a property of the past like outdated ideas of the Earth being flat. Do dispensaries only offer medical marijuana as a service to their patients? When speaking to representatives of the Berkley Patients Group, a full service dispensary that allows cannabis to be sold and used in designated areas of the dispensary also provides a range of other services not commonly thought of in regards to services that most dispensaries offer. Such services that the Berkley Patients Group provides includes literacy workshop programs, several forms of therapy from massage to art, and much more as seen on the Berkley Patients Group February calendar. Like Harborside Health Center, the Berkley Patients Group also strives to be a good neighbor of the community. On April 20th, 2010 the Berkley Patients Group worked with other organizations of the community to hold a food and fund drive for several women's shelters in the area. Many dispensaries including the Berkley Patients Group and Harborside Health Center raised money to renovate an old theater in the community and ran a concert inside raising more money for the community. This is another example of how dispensaries are giving back to the community and doing so are operating as good neighbors.

Although there is much progress for medical marijuana are patients still being ignored and discriminated? In regards to several current events that answer is yes. Patients are still being ignored, discriminated and even given the death sentence. According to Cheryl Shuman, Executive Director the Beverly Hills National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, medical marijuana patients are being discriminated over organ transplants all over the United States of America. Medical marijuana patients who live in states that have medical marijuana laws are being ignored having their lives taken from them. States that allow medical marijuana respect a physician’s authority to prescribe medical marijuana to a patient of a qualifying condition, but as a result of the strict wording in the transplant program all medical marijuana patients are still considered substance abusers and are left to die when they are in need of an organ transplant. The result of the transplant rules are blatant hypocrisy. Medical Marijuana patients are not only being discriminated from organ transplants, but employment as well. According to Tahman Bradley, from ABC News reported, Joseph Casias, a medical marijuana patient from Michigan who was fired from his employer Walmart for being a medical marijuana patient. "Casias, 29, who took great pride in his job, once earning the honor of Associate of the Year." Casias was prescribed medical by his physician treating him of his diagnosed condition. Casias was suffers from sinus cancer and a brain tumor. Individuals like Mr. Casias are being discriminated by their employers for being medical marijuana patients, being licensed by their state's medical marijuana laws, obtaining a medical marijuana card after having permission from their physician to be prescribed medical marijuana. Once again the discrimination of these cases are purely driven by hypocrisy. Unfortunately the discrimination continues in academic institutions. According to Chelsi Moy, a reporter for the Missoulian, a disabled medical marijuana patient who is licensed by the state of Montana to posses a medical marijuana card by authority of his physician that prescribed him medical marijuana was penalized by the University of Montana for growing marijuana on campus in his dorm room. As a result the university had to rethink their policy regarding medical marijuana. Like most universities, first year students are required to live in dorms on campus, but the University of Montana is allowing waivers for medical marijuana patients who are students to live off campus. Even though the student had all the requirements that make him eligible for medical marijuana the University of Montana under the Student Conduct Code does not allow any illegal use possession or distribution of any controlled substance. Allen St. Pier, Executive Director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws commented on the case explaining how he is not aware of any university or college to accept medical marijuana on campus and doing so is possible to have any public academic institution's Federal funding taken away. Having studied the discrimination and hypocrisy of our medical marijuana laws I decided to explore the state of Michigan to see for myself what other type of discrimination occurred. I attended the 39th annual Hash Bash on April 3rd, 2010 in Ann Arbor, Michigan taking place on the University of Michigan. It was explained by speaker from Hash Bash that an individual with a medical marijuana card could be charged criminally if they used it on the campus of the University of Michigan, but an individual without a card just across the street in full sight of the university off campus would be issued a civil infraction equivalent to a parking ticket. I understand that the universities that must deal with issues like this because they are located in medical marijuana states act the way they do in policy because they fear federal funding being taken away, however this is only another sign that our Federal laws need to be reexamined to fix counterproductive policies that are not working.

As more states follow through on the medical marijuana issue geopolitics will become apparent. For instance the state of Michigan became a medical marijuana state in 2008 and there are more states following the steps of Michigan, even Ohio. According to the Ohio Patient Network, a medical marijuana bill was introduced into Ohio legislature earlier this year. The bill was introduced by state representative Democrat Kenny Yukko and has several other co-sponsors. The bill is currently referred to as House Bill 478 and would include cancer, HIV/AIDS, glaucoma, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis. Some are considering including Sickle Cell Anemia to the list which is currently treated with heavy opiod use, Dr. Rucknagel, the former director of University Cincinnati's Sickle Cell research center explained that Sickle Cell patients who use medical marijuana reduces the amount of opiods in their medication. I discussed Harborside Health Center earlier in my blog. The facility also offers a Substance Use and Misuse Clincal Services Program with Jennifer Janichek, John Caldwell Lorenz, and Jim Dickey. Each of these individuals are educated about harm reduction which has helped decrease the spread of certain sexually transmitted diseases, but also includes a practice called substitution. Using substitution patients who suffer from illnesses that require them to take heavy opiods can be countered by using marijuana to decrease the amount of opiods in their medication. The same method of substitution has been used on alcoholics to help them defeat their addiction. College students nationwide have a culture around social drinking and some believe that college students are being driven to drink. Mason Tvert, Executive Director and Co-founder of SAFER, Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation and Co-Author of Marijuana is Safer: So Why Are We Driving People to Drink explains how our current prohibition and lack of school funded education of marijuana is endorsing individuals to drink alcohol which killed 13,050 Americans in 2006 for alcohol liver diseases and killed 22,073 Americans of alcohol-induced deaths, not including accidents or homicides according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. According to Bruce Mirkin, a writer for Alternet.org explained, there have been no reported deaths directly attributed from marijuana. In an effort to spread the word of Ohio's medical marijuana bill H.B. 478 and also mentioning how college students are being driven to drink, members of the Kent State University Student for Sensible Drug Policy appeared on Action 19 News. According to Action 19 News, "Along with distributing information about the relative harms of alcohol and marijuana on campus, students will also visit the office of University President Lester A. Lefton to deliver him the "Emerald Initiative" which they will urge him to endorse the book, Marijuana Is Safer: So why are we driving people to drink?" The SAFER organization explained the Emerald Initiative as calling on college and university presidents and chancellors as well as others to support "informed and dispassionate public debate" on whether allowing students to use marijuana more freely could reduce dangerous drinking on and around college campuses. While Brian Duffy from Action 19 News painted Kent State University's Students for Sensible Drug Policy for legalizing marijuana, Chapter President Chris Wallis stated, "That is simply untrue to our entire purpose the reason we are out here is to inform students the dangers of alcohol compared to the dangers of marijuana. We're wasting billions of tax payer dollars every year locking up non violent offenders for marijuana possession. If there is one medicine that you can grow yourself making you live pain free, why should you be a criminal?"

Work Cited

Belville, Russ. "Health Tragedy: Patients Denied Life-Saving Transplants for Their "Abuse of Illicit Substances" | Personal Health | AlterNet." Home | AlterNet. 26 Jan. 2010. Web. 28 Apr. 2010. .

BPG. "Welcome to BPG." Berkley Patients Group. 2010. Web. 28 Apr. 2010. .

BRADLEY, TAHMAN. "Walmart Fires Michigan Man for Medical Marijuana Use - ABC News." ABCNews.com - Breaking News, Politics, Online News, World News, Feature Stories, Celebrity Interviews and More - ABC News. ABC News, 17 Mar. 2010. Web. 12 Apr. 2010. .

CannBe. "CannBe : Our Team." CannBe : Home. 2010. Web. 28 Apr. 2010. .

Cleartest. "Drug Test Solutions » Pot Smoker of the Month » November 2002 » Irvin Rosenfeld." Drug Test Solutions - Beat, Marijuana, Hair, Urine, Saliva Drug Testing Kit - Pass a Drug Test. Books Etc., 2008. Web. 28 Apr. 2010. .

DEA. "DEA, Drug Scheduling." Welcome to the United States Department of Justice. 2010. Web. 28 Apr. 2010. .

DEA. "Drugs of Abuse Publication, Chapter 7." Welcome to the United States Department of Justice. 2010. Web. 28 Apr. 2010. .

Dinan, Stephen, and Ben Conery. "DEA Pot Raids Go On; Obama Opposes - Washington Times." Washington Times - Politics, Breaking News, US and World News. 5 Feb. 2009. Web. 28 Apr. 2010. .

Drug Enforcement Administration. US Department of Justice. Major North American Marijuana Trafficker Self Proclaimed "Prince of Pot" Marc Scott Emery Arrested Today. FreeMarc.Ca. DEA Public Affairs, 11 Aug. 2005. Web. 28 Apr. 2010. .

Drug War Chronicle. "Weekly: This Week in History | Stop the Drug War (DRCNet)." Raising Awareness of the Consequences of Drug Prohibition | Stop the Drug War (DRCNet). 19 Mar. 2010. Web. 12 Apr. 2010. .

Fox, Steve, Paul Armentano, and Mason Tvert. Marijuana Is Safer: so Why Are We Driving People to Drink? White River Junction, VT: Chelsea Green Pub., 2009. Print.

HHC. "SUBSTANCE USE & MISUSE CLINICAL SERVICES PROGRAM." Cannabis Club HHC | Medical Marijuana Dispensaries In Oakland & San Jose. 2010. Web. 28 Apr. 2010. .

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The Union: The Business Behind Getting High. Dir. Brett Harvey. Prod. Adam Scorge. BKS-CREW PRODUCTIONS & SCORE G PRODUCTIONS, 2007. DVD.

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Drug War Awareness Week: A Wrap-Up

2010-04-26T17:00:00.002-04:00

The past week saw a lot of exciting events happen with Kent State SSDP.

Monday we held an original adaptation of the Marijuanalogues, performed by Brian Reimer, Dave Goldstein, and Garrett Orlandi. Their delivery was fantastic, as the crowd bursting into laughter certainly proved.

Tuesday night we held Let's Talk About Drugs: Marijuana. Held on the ever-enigmatic day of 420, Brian Reimer, Emily Haft, and Steve Larson gave an insightful talk about the history, popular culture, and chemical reality of the plant.

Wednesday night we held an open mic night at the Euro Gyro. We had a great time with a lot of great acts, including the blessings of the happy drumcircle often found in and around the bus stop in Risman Plaza.

Thursday night we held a showing of The Union: The Business Behind Getting High. If you didn't get a chance to see it, it's freely available on google video. It's full of hard-hitting facts and it's most definitely worth your time.

Thanks to everyone who made last week absolutely awesome!

The Ohio Medical Compassion Act : House Bill 478

2010-04-17T16:57:00.002-04:00

You can read the entire bill here.

Okay folks, the Ohio Medical Compassion Act introduced by state representative Kenny Yuko is officially a bill in the house thanks to co-sponsors Representatives Hagan, Foley, Okey, Sykes, and Stewart. If you see these people anywhere, please hug them. (Or you could write a nice thank-you letter)

The bill will allow for doctors to prescribe Marijuana as a medicine for numerous symptoms, including:

Cancer; glaucoma; positive status for human immunodeficiency virus; acquired immune deficiency syndrome; hepatitis C; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; Crohn's disease; agitation of Alzheimer's disease; nail patella; multiple sclerosis; injury or disease to the spinal cord, spinal column, or vertebra; mylomalacia; celiac disease; sickle cell anemia; or the treatment of these conditions;
(2) A chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition or its treatment that produces one or more of the following:

(a) Cachexia or wasting syndrome;

(b) Severe or chronic pain;

(c) Severe or chronic nausea;

(d) Seizures, including those characteristic of epilepsy;

(e) Severe or persistent muscle spasms.

(3) Any other medical condition or its treatment added as a debilitating medical condition pursuant to section 3728.37 of the Revised Code.

The bill also allows for the ownership of 200 grams of cannabis or 12 mature cannabis plants. It allows for registration as a primary caregiver for a medical cannabis patient provided the caregiver registers where they will begin to grow the cannabis, reports any drug related offenses they have been convicted of or pleaded guilty to (which if present will likely lead to application denial) and is at least 21 years of age.

Things explicitly not allowed are the possession of cannabis or paraphernalia in prisons or schools, transportation of cannabis across state lines, and numerous other stipulations.

2010-04-14T13:09:00.002-04:00

Hey everybody! I'm excited to see and proud to share that my fine SSDP chapter is working hard to prepare for drug war awareness week next week. The week will be choc full of events including a Let's Talk About Drugs presentation on marijuana, a student performance of the marijuanalogues, a screening of The Union, and video chat sessions with Tonya Davis, a member of the Ohio Patients Network and Rick Doblin!

Amidst all of the excitement and planning, Anne Carey, a dedicated member of our chapter managed to stumble across an interesting article that I wanted to share with you all. Earlier this week the New York Times published an article discussing the recognition of psychedelic studies in the medical community, and presents the info in a such positive light that I was surprised to see from such a massive publication. It's truly worth reading yourself!

Hallucinogens Have Doctors Tuning in Again

After reading this I mass emailed it to everyone. I encourage you to do the same!

Modern Tragedy - Kent State SSDP's High Times article

2010-04-10T15:14:00.004-04:00

Hey everybody,

Above is the scanned copy of the High Times article, and the picture is from our 2010 State Summit hosted here at Kent State. Go out and get a copy of the June 2010 High Times and have it for yourself!

Chris Wallis

Say Hi to the Camera

2010-04-08T19:33:00.003-04:00

So today, we the people of Kent State SSDP, got together in Risman Plaza for the SAFER day of action. Due to the rainy weather the turnout wasn't quite as large as we had hoped, but we still had in my mind a very successful time talking to people about the disparities between marijuana and alcohol legislation.

19 action news was there to film us, and the article as well as their footage is available here.

Notably they included one of our objectives as walking into president lefton's office and presenting him with a copy of The Emerald Initiative, which we did not do. They snuck in some "stoner spin" but we definitely got airtime for all of our main points thanks to Chris, and I really feel like this was an overwhelmingly positive press experience.

But I'm intersted in how everyone else feels about this. I know we'll probably all be talking about it face to face, but if you happen to read this share your thoughts in the comments section!

Injustice on the Beat

2010-04-04T22:30:00.001-04:00

Well, I've finally had a personal experience demonstrating the irrationality and incompetence of the drug war foot soldiers. This past week i was in my home town, an Eastern suburb of Cleveland, OH for spring break. Naturally, I spent some time visiting friends I hadn't seen in months. While driving home early Thursday morning, I was going a bit over the speed limit, so I was disappointed yet unsurprised.

The officer came to my window, white flashlight glaring. He explained that he'd pulled me over for speeding. I was quite polite with him and handed over my drivers liscence, which he thoroughly inspected under his light. He flashed the light in my face a few times and asked me to roll up my window.

"Is there something wrong?" I asked, confused by his request. He only repeated himself, as if I hadn't said anything. I supposed that there was no harm in me doing so, and knew that arguing wasn't a good idea, so I put the window up. I waited for my ticket for several minutes and then realized that the red and blue lights flashing behind me seemed to become more intense. I would eventually find that three more police vehicles had arrived to the scene.

The officer who pulled me over returned.

"We have a K-9 unit here," he said. "do you consent to a search of your vehicle for narcotics?"

I was bewildered by this, and asked him why I was being searched. He told me that because I was "close to hitting the curb (a new development)" it gave them reason to search the car.

I could tell that this wasn't quite standard procedure, but I knew that I had nothing to hide, so I stepped out of the car and was told to go stand on the curb next to another officer, a white haired gentleman with a belly and a comb over. He smiled at me.

"Is there a reason I'm being searched?" I asked. The officer sort of chuckled and threw both his arms out towards the scene of my little chevy cobalt that was being torn apart by two latex-gloved german shepherd wielding men with badges. He said something under his breath about standard procedure, and then said:

"You're sure you don't have anything on you?" I was sure, so I remained silent.

After some time, the original officer who had pulled me over joined us with his flashlight and my wallet. He questioned my Green Cross pin, rolling papers, and hemp seeds that I had in my glove compartment for snacking, and asked if I realized that marijuana's illegal.

With the utmost respect, a said that I knew marijuana was illegal, and explained that I got the button at a Students for Sensible Drug Policy conference in San Francisco, where medical marijuana is legal. Friends of mine roll their own cigarettes, so I have papers on hand. The tasty hemp seeds are high in essential proteins, which I lack as a vegetarian, and can be bought at several coffee shops in the area.

"You can try one," I offered, "they're quite delicious!"
"No thanks,"the officer scoffed "I can't be seein' funny stuff when I'm on the road."

After getting patted down by two male officers, and trying in vain to explain the lack of psychoactive product in my hemp seeds, the fuzz realized, to their chagrin, I think, that I had nothing on me. I was thoroughly upset though, to have my hemp seeds taken away. The ticket I received, a warning, claimed that I was "weaving through traffic."

My experience with the Lyndhurst police department made me confused and upset. They took my property and treated me like some sort of Johnny Potseed out to defile their jurisdiction. It seemed as though they were going out of their way to find something wrong with me. I'm sure four police cars and a canine unit were not standard procedure for apprehension of a speeder. When I called the station the next day to inquire about my hemp seeds, in hopes of getting them back, I spoke with Detective Jim Fiore, who accused me of possessing drug paraphernalia and also asked me if I knew if marijuana was illegal.

This demonstrates the hostility among some members of the law enforcement that is directed towards people who are against the drug war. The fact that they took food from me was a violation of personal freedom also exemplifies the ignorance present in some police departments regarding non psychoactive hemp.

This situation is frustrating, but it gives you all the more reason to encourage change in your local law enforcement. If you come across an opportunity to speak with an officer of the law, ask their opinions on the drug war, and share your knowledge with them. Go to town hall meetings and express interest in alternative harm reduction policies. Call your mayor and ask what they think. Most importantly, if you ever find yourself feeling wronged by officials in your area, write a letter and report it. If you know of any law enforcement officials who are in favor of sensible drug protocol, direct them to Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, or LEAP. Their website is a great resource for discussion of this sort of thing, so be sure to check it out.

Tax Cannabis 2010 Makes the Ballot in California

2010-03-25T14:50:00.003-04:00

Oh lord, I just found out about this via facebook and I AM PUMPED!

This november could possibly be the greatest victory the drug reform movement has ...ever... had.

Go to www.taxcannabis.org to read more about it!

Americans Fall Victim to Mexican Drug War

2010-03-21T01:57:00.002-04:00

Yet another heart wrenching story has come out of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, a border city known for the violence and corruption caused there by drug cartels.

Last Saturday, Lesley Enriquez, 35, a U.S. Consulate worker attended a child's birthday party in Ciudad Juarez with her husband Arthur Redelfs, 34 and their 7 month old daughter. As they headed home for El Paso, Texas authorities say that a car began to follow them, and soon laid fire on the innocent family. Authoritied say the car was riddled with bullets. Witnesses say that Redlfs, who was driving, seemed to try to escape the barbaric onslaught via one of the bridges that cross the Rio Grande to find safety in America, his homeland, but could not outrun the gang. Enriquez and Redelfs were found dead, their terrified young daughter unharmed in the back seat. Family explains that the couple, expecting a second child were innocent victims of the escalating violence in Juárez," and "had unblemished records where they worked and were not involved in anything wrong whatsoever. They will be deeply missed."

No arrests have been made, but authorities say that the murders were committed by a local gang called Los Aztecas. The gang is allied with the notorious Juarez Cartel according to Mayor Jose Ferriz.

In response to these slayings the White House released a statement claiming

"We will continue to work with Mexican President Felipe Calderon and his government to break the power of the drug trafficking organizations that operate in Mexico and far too often target and kill the innocent"

While "working" with the Mexican government sounds like a good plan, it should be noted that the problems with drug cartels in border cities like Ciudad Juarez have been escalating for years. As the estimate of wholesale illegal drug earnings ranges from $13.6 billion to $48.4 billion annually it should come as no surprise that people will fight both each other and the government to gain control of the market. The only solution to the drug war in Mexico is for America to legalize and regulate current illicit drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana as these drugs are largely supplied to Americans through Mexican trafficking.

The tragic deaths of Americans Lesley Enriquez and Arthur Redelfs should serve as a call to action to all Americans who are fed up with the senseless violence in Mexico, and should serve as a call to action to demand change. Regulation of illicit drugs would save countless lives by taking power away from the drug cartels, who are benefiting from our failed policies.

cnn coverage

Walmart fires cancer patient: Whaaaaaaaa?

2010-03-20T07:21:00.008-04:00

Hi again everybody, today I'm here with a little bit of news that's pretty widely circulated, but here I go regurgitating it for your pleasure. Momma bird!

Joe Casias, 29, of Michigan was terminated from his job at Wal-Mart last November after testing positive for marijuana. What the company failed to recognize was that Casias was prescribed medical marijuana for... Sinus Cancer and a Brain Tumor.

Yes, they fired somebody with brain cancer for using medication prescribed by their doctor to relieve sinus pressure and tension. He was also an exemplary employee earning associate of the year during his time with the company, and no mention of unsatisfactory performance was given as a reason for his termination.

Casias is discussing his options with an attorney, and thanks to all of the negative attention they have earned, Wal-Mart has issued a statement that they will not contest his rights to employee benefits.

But this is still grossly inadequate, why was this man fired at all? Michigan law explicitly states that :

A qualifying patient who has been issued and possesses a registry identification card shall not be subject to arrest, prosecution, or penalty in any manner, or denied any right or privilege, including but not limited to civil penalty or disciplinary action by a business or occupational or professional licensing board or bureau...

This incident is proof that the ongoing dialogue about marijuana and work to alleviate the social stigma connected to it must continue.

If you'd like to leave Wal-Mart a comment about how this makes you feel: click here.

You might start your complaint off like... "The termination of Joe Casias for his medical marijuana use was a poor decision, and I am appalled by the company's lack of compassion in dealing with this issue."

But then again, that's just a suggestion. You could also email them at ethics@wal-mart.com

ssdp protest on facebook

ABC News Article

Confrence Reinforces Youth Movement Against Drug War- Brian Reimer

2010-03-19T12:30:00.002-04:00

Every time the prevailing zeitgeist of a civilization shifts, it is often times been by the hands of a well-organized youth movement. In fact, in the past one hundred years, every single political and social change that has occurred is due in part to student movements. Youth activist groups like the SDS in the 1960s and the National Union of Students in the United Kingdom have been striving for the advancement not only youth, but humanity as a whole.

In the tradition of such great organizations, Students for Sensible Drug Policy has been making great strides and winning major victories in the drug policy reform movement. Last weekend in San Francisco, California, students from around the globe gathered at the Fort Mason Center for SSDP’s 11th annual international conference. The results were nothing short of ground breaking.

With an attendance of several hundred students from chapters around the world, one could feel energy and excitement for activism everywhere SSDPers met. With the congregation of so many excited student activists it is without a doubt in my mind that the drug policy reform movement will never end until every single law and poorly organized policy in the United States and Worldwide are changed to reflect commonsense and compassion.

Attending the conference has been a life-changing event for many others and myself. Not only were we enlightened on the current state of affairs in the drug policy movement; we also were given the tools of action to bring back to our chapters and communities. The SSDP conference in San Francisco will be documented in history as a great turning point in this nation’s policies.

The future of this movement rests at the hands of every single SSDPer that attended the conference and those who are enlightened by those who attended. We are at a crossroads in our nation and history will look back upon this time as the beginning of the series of events that Students for Sensible Drug Policy was a highly responsible party. History has proven that, with an energetic base of students that is united under a common banner, nothing is impossible.

SSDP International Conference: Brains + Drugs Do Not Make Fried Eggs

2010-03-18T00:59:00.004-04:00

What happens when enough people focused on a singular goal manage to gather together in one place? New expressions of the collective inevitably emerge whether they come as pieces of artwork, breakthroughs in thought, or in magnificent cities. I often found myself wondering as a child what it would be like to stand at the epicenter of a pivotal moment in history as I leafed through stories about the American Revolution, Vietnam, the Civil rights movement and countless other times and places. I have the understanding and intuition now that I am much closer to knowing what this feels like. The conference at San Francisco was easily the most sensational gathering of like minded activists, researchers, lawyers, students, and politicians I could have ever hoped to attend. From beginning to end I felt that this movement was not only alive but vitalized and thriving. I need to emphasize how encouraging and powerful this experience was. This change is happening now, and we are engulfed completely in the fluctuating current of its unfolding.

We all arrived in San Francisco on Thursday March 11th. We were excited to explore the city, meet people, and see what the conference had in store. We didn't know what was waiting for us.

On Friday I took a tour with many of my fellow students and colleagues to the Oaksterdam district of Oakland just outside San Francisco. We were there to visit Oaksterdam University – which teaches the cultivation of medical marijuana plants as a course of study. All of my expectations were surpassed as we entered this place.

The university is split between a few buildings in the district, all within 2 blocks or so of one another. It is well maintained and operated by very knowledgeable and passionate people. The construction of the main building is very simple, with a large lecture hall and a horticulture lab as well as the usual office rooms on the lower level. It was all very professional and clean as one would expect of any educational institution.

When I walked into the horticulture lab my jaw hit the floor. They were growing some of the most beautiful, largest, well taken care of plants I have ever seen. Not only this, but there was such an incredible number of the plants – over 4 dozen by my guess. I don’t even know how much smoke-able marijuana that would yield, but it’s a seriously large quantity by anyone’s standard.

So of course I had to figure out how this was done so flagrantly but kept completely legal at the same time. I had visions of the DEA swinging by ropes from helicopters and smashing through the windows as we walked around. Apparently it’s operated under the same conditions as a dispensary anywhere else. A group of patients and caregivers who are legally allowed to grow marijuana under the current state legislation get together and form a collective. The exact names of the laws and fine print details evade me, but I will link to their website at the end of the article if you would like to do your own research.

We visited a few of the coffee shops and got a little bit of background information about their impact on the area. Currently the city of Oakland allows 4 coffee shops/dispensaries to exist by permit. In the past there were as many as 16, but the others were shut down because of this policy. Even with only these 4 however, an economic rejuvenation has taken place in the Oaksterdam district. Not only are the coffee shops themselves successful, but they stimulate other businesses such as restaurants and shops of various sorts. From what I understand this part of town was quite run down and unseemly to hang around before Mary Jane moved into the neighborhood.

Although marijuana is not technically legalized for casual use by anyone, current legislative policy in the city of Oakland prioritizes enforcement of marijuana laws below minor offenses such as jaywalking. Under this circumstance there are establishments that sell marijuana for casual use to persons over the age of 21.

On this microscopic scale, we have clear evidence that drug policy reform not only allowed the effective treatment of people with a wide variety of ailments, but also breathed new life into a struggling economy by building a university, opening businesses, and drawing in tourists such as myself. This place is the absolute cutting edge of a new drug policy that envisions scientifically proven beneficial substances as a tool for the alleviation of common suffering and reinvigoration of dilapidated communities.

This is so huge for the reform movement. This is proof that, at least on some scale, a near analogue to the Amsterdam model of marijuana policy works in America. I am so tired of hearing people talk about cultural incompatibility with marijuana use as opposed to alcohol. I’m going to say it again to let you know how juiced I am. THE. MODEL. WORKS.

“You mean they aren’t all a bunch of schizophrenic nut bags robbing each other and committing acts of adultery in the missionary position?”

“Not at all Uncle Sam, hell they just pay taxes and listen to music that tells them not to pay their taxes now!”

We also got to see a presentation on what is undoubtedly the next step in drug policy reform in California. There was a man whose name I cannot recall speaking on behalf of the tax and regulate initiative which will hopefully be on the ballot this fall. They plan on making marijuana legal for all adults age 21 and over for casual use. They projected that the tax revenue could be as much as 1.2 billion dollars alone, not to mention that this would facilitate the success of dispensaries all over the state and invoke all the peripheral economic benefits that go along with this flourishing.

The day kept rolling along and we were treated to a few incredible speakers before the first part of Congress began. Ethan Nadelmann, executive director of the drug policy alliance, gave an especially moving speech. Afterwards a few resolutions were put before the voting representatives, but none of the resolutions were revolutionary exactly and seemed to be more mincing words than anything else. The candidates for the board of directors presented themselves and gave introductory speeches one by one, and this closed the day’s events at the conference.

Day two was devoted to “drug war education” which entailed many speakers talking about a variety of the aspects of the drug war. Ethan took the stage again to fire everyone up (which he did with much success). Some of the staff repaid him in kind with a birthday wish video, and all of us students were more than happy to sing to him in a glorious cacophony on his special day. Paul Armentano of NORML, Steph Sherer of Americans for Safe Access, and Aaron Smith of the Marijuana Policy Project all spoke as well.

Now at this point there were several panel discussions for much of the day. I first went to a panel titled “Could psychedelics become accepted medicine?”. Three speakers sat on the panel, Rick Doblin of the Multi-disciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, Matt Baggot of UC Berkeley, and Alicia Danforth of the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology. They each spoke passionately and informatively about their research and their field of study. Rick Doblin especially captured my attention. His organization, MAPS, has been conducting research with mdma to alleviate post-traumatic stress disorder with quite a bit of success. Alicia spoke of her research regarding end of life therapy with terminal patients in order to soothe their anxieties. I feel that this was probably the most ground breaking panel of any I attended.

After panels were over with, we got to see California Representative Tom Ammiano talk about marijuana legislation in the state and what it was like to be on the inside of things. His outlook was very optimistic if he did stress the difficulty he faced in persuading other state congress members to jump on the bandwagon.

The party and awards ceremony thrown that night was out of this world. Everyone had a great time getting together and cutting loose a bit. The bands, Pandacon and Roots of Creation, were pretty awesome and lots of people, including myself, danced their asses off.

One of the most unexpected moments at the conference struck when everyone representing the Kent State chapter was called up on stage to win the outstanding chapter award. It felt great to receive that sort of recognition - we were and still are so happy to have that honor.

The next day was filled with workshops regarding the development of different advocacy skills, and it was all really informative. I feel like I’m dragging this article out now so I’ll leave specifics alone.

So all in all the trip was a major jump off point to get a better picture of what this movement really looks like and understand the impact we could all have working as a concerted whole. Hope you guys enjoyed the article and that you can make it out next year if you didn’t go.

To all my fellow ssdper’s: I love you all so much and I hope your lives are filled with ssdpness. :)

Maps Website: www.maps.org
Oaksterdam University: www.oaksterdamuniversity.com
California Tax and Regulate Initiative: www.taxcannabis.org
SSDP official website: ssdp.org

Drug War Condemned by Roman Catholic Bishops

2010-02-16T12:32:00.001-05:00

Over the weekend, The Mexican Council of Bishops released a report condemning the militant drug war policies of the Calderon administration.

Since becoming president in 2006, Calderon has deployed thousands and thousands of troops through Mexican border cities in order to control drug cartel activity. Since his avowal to wrestle territory back from the cartels, however, gang violence has become more vicious and prevalent. Citing international human rights groups, the bishops noted in their report abuses made by these military forces including arbitrary killings, false accusations, and other misuses of power.

The Catholic bishops call for reform in their government, and stated that Calderon ought to improve education and tackle unemployment instead of wasting resources on this violence, and believe that the thousands of troops can return to more suitable duties if focus was put on cleaning up police.

The Union: The Business Behind Getting High

2010-02-04T13:31:00.008-05:00

I've had the good fortune of coming across this great documentary today about the history and reality of the marijuana industry in the US and Canada. It's a bit long, but it's absolutely worth your time.

Edit: Having problems with embedding the video, you can watch it on google here.

From TheUnionMovie.com

Ever wonder what British Columbia's most profitable industries are? Logging? Fishing? Tourism? Ever think to include marijuana? If you haven't, think again. No longer a hobby for the stereotypical hippie culture of the ‘60s, BC's illegal marijuana trade industry has evolved into an unstoppable business giant, dubbed by those involved as 'The Union'. Commanding upwards of $7 billion Canadian annually, The Union’s roots stretch far and wide. With up to 85% of all 'BC Bud' being exported to the United States, the BC marijuana trade has become an international issue with consequences that extend far beyond our borders. When record profits are to be made, who are the players, and when do their motives become questionable?

- Why is marijuana illegal?
- What health risks do we really face?
- Does prohibition work?
- What would happen if we taxed it?
- Medicine, paper, fuel, textiles, food, etc. Are we missing something?

Follow filmmaker Adam Scorgie as he dives head first into Canada's most socially acceptable illegal activity. Along the way, Adam demystifies the underground market and brings to light how such a large industry can function while remaining illegal. By interviewing experts from around the globe, including growers, clippers, police officers, criminologists, economists, medical doctors, politicians and pop culture icons, Scorgie examines the cause and effect nature of the business behind getting high.

Massacre in Mexico fueled by Drug War

2010-02-03T14:12:00.006-05:00

This past Saturday, a shooting happened in the city of Juarez, Mexico along the border with Texas. It was the most recent of killings in a series of turf wars waged by powerful drug cartels. The victims were largely high school and college students, with thirteen dead at the scene, some as young as age 15.

There was no apparent connection between any of the victims and the drug cartels. The children were gathered together to watch a boxing match. In the past year there have been up to 2500 killings related to drug violence.

Huffington Post

-Tom Zocolo
Kent State SSDP

Canada's Bill C-15 a copy of US Failing Drug Policy

2009-11-30T23:44:00.004-05:00

Article: Just Say No to Bill C-15 on December 2nd

Article Source: http://www.cannabisculture.com/v2/content/just-say-no-bill-c-15-december-2

By Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy - Monday, November 23 2009

On Wednesday, December 2, 2009 CSSDP chapters across Canada are going to be demonstrating against the introduction of mandatory minimum sentences, sending the message that young Canadians need education not condemnation. Mandatory incarceration will not help young Canadians!

In Ottawa young Canadians will be handcuffed on Parliament Hill to represent the negative impacts on those caught up by this bill. We will be distributing handouts and engaging with folks on the hill and in the streets to get people to speak out against Bill C-15.

Go to http://whyprohibition.ca/content/vote-no-bill-c-15 for more ways to help stop Bill C-15

Bill C-15 is a copy of the failing US Drug Policy implementing mandatory minimums (jail time) under the "tough on crime" approach. I find this step by Canada a step back in the wrong direction after the decriminalization that the country has experienced over the past decades. In the mind of a prohibitionist this is clearly a sign of US government's pressure on criminalizing the drug on a harsher level so that Canada's marijuana culture does not step over the border, but could it be more than that? According to the article from http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=867 the prison industry is one of America's most profitable industry. If you want to make lots of money that is the industry you want to get into, but at what cost? In the same article it is reported, "Roughly half of the industry is controlled by the Nashville-based Corrections Corporation of America, which runs 46 penal institutions in 11 states. It took ten years for the company to reach 10,000 beds; it is now growing by that same number every year." The top of the prison industry players are clear that CCA is the dominant company that has been growing as a result of the financial success of the profitable industry. Is growth for the prison industry a good thing for the American people? Why has this industry been growing so quickly? These answers are in the article as well. As reported, "The rate for most serious crimes has been dropping or stagnant for the past 15 years, but during the same period severe repeat offender provisions and a racist "get-tough" policy on drugs have helped push the US prison population up from 300,000 to around 1.5 million during the same period. This has produced a corresponding boom in prison construction and costs, with the federal government's annual expenditures in the area, now $17 billion. In California, passage of the infamous "three strikes" bill will result in the construction of an additional 20 prisons during the next few years." It is known that the prison industry uses lobbyists just like the marijuana legislation organizations, but what benefits the people? These prison guard lobbyists support harsher punishments for less serious crimes so that there will always be another prisoner in need of a facility like a private prison who looks for ensuring that there are no vacancies similar to a hotel's business objective. I believe the urge to implement Bill C-15 comes as a result of Conservative Canadian government under Prime Minister Stephen Harper and individuals associated with the prison industry who seek more financial success this time in Canada. The irony is that as we see state laws changing in many states in the US for the better, Canada is being led back in the dark in regards to drug policy reform.
- Felix Pavolotsky
Kent State SSDP

Wiretapping for Drug Crimes Exposed

2009-11-30T23:35:00.004-05:00

Feingold Questions Department of Justice Officials on PATRIOT Act

Senator Feingold questions Assistant Attorney General David Kris and Inspector General Glenn Fine at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on reauthorizing the USA PATRIOT Act on September 23, 2009.

Former Dept of Justice official under the division of the Drug Enforcement Agency head official, Karen Tandy, the same person who decided to spend our tax dollars on going after Tommy Chong for his family's bong business as well as "The Prince of Pot" Marc Scott Emery decided to step down from her position from the DEA for a head position in the Motorola cellular phone company. Does something sound suspicious here? I think so! ^ KAREN TANDY

Especially after this video was released of Senator Feingold questioning Assistant Attorney General David Kris and Inspector General Glenn Fine at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on reauthorizing the USA PATRIOT Act on September 23, 2009. What they found out was that the unpopular Patriot Act created by the Bush Administration was being utilized to wiretap individuals for a majority of crimes not related to terrorism. Only on 3 occasion where secret sneak and peak operations where used for terrorist related crimes while the other over 700 cases did not involve terrorist activity. Senator Feingold mentioned that of these sneak and peek searches a majority was used for drug crime not related to terrorist activity. He mentined that in these sneek and peek operations home owners where not notified of them until months later and acknowleged that the notifications where supposed to be sent out within 7 days for criminal drug cases that where non related to terrorist activity. As a result Feingold suggested making safeguards that would protect the American people from the abuse of power that was implemented in the Patriot Act.

- FELIX PAVOLOTSKY
Kent State SSDP

Marc Emery Vs The US Government

2009-11-30T23:16:00.004-05:00

Embed Video Code:

Video Description: Originally released on August 14th, 2005. The title of this video was changed to removed possible confusion regarding content. This video was originally titled "SMOKE OUT AT THE USA CONSULATE IN VANSTERDAM! Sept 10th" rallying support for the upcoming protests that were being planned.

Video clips detailing the raid on Emery Seeds, thanks to Newshawks Fran and Orion.

A meeting to form a planning committee for the September 10th rally will take place at the BCMP Bookstore in the basement on Thursday August 4th at 4pm, anybody who wants to get involved and have a say in what happens is welcome. No Narcs Please.

In reaction to America's recent attack on Canadian Sovereignty through the raid on Marc Emery Seeds a HUGE Smokeout at the US Consulate in Vansterdam is being planned for September 10th. It is time to Smoke Out the USA and get the DEA out of Canada. Stay Tuned to Pot.TV for more details. Free marc Emery, Free Michelle Rainey, Free MarijuaMan, Free Renee Boje, Free Marijuana Prisoners Everywhere!

We encourage activists in other Provinces to hold sister rallies at US Consulates on this same day and our American Brothers and Sisters to organize events at local Canadian Consulates to tell them not to listen to the Bush Administration.

My Thoughts: I feel that it is unconstitutional that our United States Government is seeking action against Marc Emery at the cost of our wasted tax dollars. We wasted our tax dollars to apprehend Tommy Chong for his family's bong business and now we are going after a seed seller who paid his federal taxes to the Canadian government and they knew about him the entire time. There are many seed stores that currently operate like the one that Marc once owned, but few if any pay their federal taxes for their business. The Canadian government would be pestered by medical marijuana users in Canada and the government would send them to Marc. Now our United States Drug Enforcement Agency decided to pressure and bully the Canadian government into going after him.In the statement seen here (DEA Statement http://freemarc.ca/sites/default/files/Tandystatement.jpg) made by former DEA head official Karen Tandy. She said, "Today's DEA arrest of Marc Scott Emery, publisher of Cannabis Culture Magazine and founder of a marijuana legislation group is a significant blow not only to the marijuana trafficking trade in the US and Canada to the marijuana legislation movement." She goes on to talk how hundreds of thousands of dollars that he sent to marijuana legislation organization throughout the world will now have less money to rely on. These statements are blatantly against his political activities which according to the US- Canada Extradition Treaty is illegal to go after an individual for political motivation.

What do you think? Shoul We go after Marc for his seed business and political activities like the DEA wants to? Do you think that spending our tax dollars on capturing Marc is a good move? Do you think that using our tax dollars on going after Tommy Chong was beneficial for stopping violent drug crime? Let me know your thoughts on this blog

What can we do? There are several things we can do from passing out fliers about Marc with facts about himself regarding this case seen at http://freemarc.ca/ or e can contact important government officials as seen below like Seattle, Washington Judge Ricardo Martinez or US President Barack Obama.

Contact Judge Ricardo Martinez in Seattle, Washington and tell him that he should let Marc Emery return home to Canada sentence instead of the 5-year term in a US prison according to the plea deal.
Mail: Honorable Ricardo S. Martinez
U.S. Courthouse
700 Stewart Street, Suite 13134
Seattle, WA
98101-9906
USA

Or Contact President Barack Obama and tell him that he should pardon Canadian citizen Marc Emery and let him return home to Canada.

Phone: (202) 456-1414 (switchboard) and (202) 456-1111 (comments)
Fax: (202) 456-2461
Mail: The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC
20500
USA

-Felix Pavlotsky

New School Opens in Michigan!

2009-11-29T12:03:00.004-05:00

Michigan recently opened a new college; Med Grow Cannabis College. This college runs on a six-week program and will cost $485 to attend. It was opened by a 24-year-old that thinks that pot-growing can stimulate Michigan's economy and bring jobs to many people that remain unemployed. The program covers everything from growing techniques to pot-food recipes. They offer continuing education which includes workshops once a month, so that alumni can stay up-to-date on the latest techniques. Their curriculum includes classes in cannabis history, legal education, horticulture, cannabis as medicine, cooking, and caregiving.

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Med Grow Cannabis College website: http://www.medgrowmi.com/

Newser Article: http://www.newser.com/story/75000/school-of-pot-opens-in-michigan.html

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Check it out and let me know what you think!

Do you think this will happen in Ohio in the future? If so, how long do you think it will take?

Till next time,

Angelica

agagliar.blogspot.com

2009-11-24T18:58:00.000-05:00

According to: http://www.dosenation.com/listing.php?id=6825

This graphic illustrates the popularity of marijuana consumption, the federal tax dollars spent to keep marijuana illegal, and the possible tax revenues that could be generated if marijuana production were legalized and taxed like any other agricultural product.

history of cannabis

2009-11-24T18:45:00.002-05:00

Let's Take A Look At Drugs!

2009-11-24T13:00:00.008-05:00

Hey guys,
I found this video on Oxycontin and prescription drugs in the state of Florida. It's a piece of Journalism from the site/television network Current (http://current.com/). This series is called Vanguard and there's another video on the selling and creation of Ecstacy. If you folks want I can find that one and post it too. I encourage all of you to take a look at this video and see what the effects of prescription drug abuse can be. I'm sure that not only will this be quite educational but eye-opening as well. Once again SSDP never condones drug use. So after watching this I hope the only ideas you start getting are those of drug regulation, drug taxation, and creation of rehabilitation facilities!

____________________________________________________

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This video reflects once again the amount of people we're putting in prisons.
In this video alone we see rooms full of drug users along with drug arrest after drug arrest. As shown in my last post and more to follow, our answer to the Drug War does not include prison use. Hopefully through more and more educational articles and videos on the importance of the drug war and trafficking we can show the harmful truth of the our failing drug policies.

Until next post,
Taylor (Kent State SSDP)

The Government and Medical Marijuana

2009-11-23T01:24:00.005-05:00

Irvin Rosenfeld, a 56-year-old Floridian with a painful bone disease called multiple congenital cartilaginous exostoses is sent marijuana every month to help him live a pain free lifestyle. Not from his "dude", but from the U.S. Government.

Rosenfeld became a patient in the federal Investigational New Drug Program in 1982, and has received 300 joints every 25 days for the past 27 years, consuming about 10 to 12 per day, says NBCMiami. The marijuana is grown and delivered by the same government that ended support for medical marijuana in 1992.

Why do Irv Rosenfeld and the handful of others still on the government's INDP list get their medicine directly from the same entity that imprisons others for getting their medicine on the street? In one state, you may be a patient; in another state, a criminal. Medical marijuana should be available to all who need it, without worry of jail time.

Of course, NBCMiami only covered the story because the day it ran Irv was allowed to smoke his 115,000th joint legally. The article did a good job of inlcuding Irv's story in his own words, which by itself is a plight for the legalization of medical marijuana on a federal level. However, the rest of the article was filled with your run-of-the-mill pot references. When will the media start taking a real look at the pain and suffering of those who are not afforded the comfort of being able to take their medicine legally in their own home?

More smokers or more honesty?

2009-11-20T00:16:00.002-05:00

With the American Medical Association recently rethinking their view on pot, we can see that the stigma behind the drug is changing. For those baby boomers that grew up in a more relaxed culture, hearing that their friends smoked was no shock. But what about in today's society?

According to newser.com, http://www.newser.com/story/74090/boomers-enjoy-new-whatever-tude-on-pot.html, "The number of marijuana smokers in the 50-59 age group has doubled over the past decade." The only questions is, have the number of smokers doubled or the amount that are willing to talk about their smoking habit? With medical marijuana being legal in 13 states, the first cafe recently opening, and the Feds promising to back off of the dispensaries, pot has taken on a new light in American culture. More and more people that are husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, employees, managers, etc., are coming out and saying that they smoke marijuana and lead a perfectly normal life.

The more marijuana is accepted into the American culture, the more people will realize that the drug is mostly harmless (aside from the smoking aspect). The AMA is calling for a review of the Schedule of marijuana. (Read more at: http://rawstory.com/2009/11/ama-review-pot-prohibition/) As it stands now, marijuana is a Schedule 1 drug. For those that are unaware, schedule 1 drugs are those that are thought to have no medicinal use. In this category as well: meth, heroin, ecstasy, LSD, and GHB, just to name a few. If marijuana were to be reviewed and rescheduled, as it rightfully should be, this would open all new doors for drug policy reform.

Do you think that marijuana will be reviewed? If so, do you think the scheduling will change? If they do move marijuana from a schedule 1, what do you think that will mean for drug policy?

-Thanks

Angelica Gagliardi

Vice President

Kent State SSDP

An Example Lies Across The Ocean!

2009-11-18T19:08:00.009-05:00

Hey guys, Taylor here. A few months ago I remember running across an article from Economist.com. The title of the article, as you will see, is Treating, Not Punishing. A theme that is the backbone to my belief on the war on drugs.
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http://www.economist.com/world/europe/displaystory.cfm?story_id=14309861

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This article deals with new studies done in Portugal, a country that in 2001 decriminalized all mainstream drugs. Many believed that Portugal's decriminalization laws would only bring about vast amount of "drug-tourism" and higher rates of drug usage throughout the country. Yet, the studies show that this has not been the case and in fact the opposite has occurred.
Studies from a Libertarian American think-tank, the Cato Institute, have shown that there has been no evidence for such claims; Portugal has not become a relaxing tourist spot for drug users. The study also shows that drug usage rates of children and young adults have not risen. The only numbers that show any increase are those concerning rehabilitation and disease treatmeant. All in the favor of the Portuguese.
Please take a look at this eye-opening article. This article and facts in it only support my fight against the American Drug war. This article can show not only America, but the rest of the World, how to combat the Drug war. It is great to see a strategy that is none aggressive. A strategy that uses education and health as its main concern. This is a country that sees drug abusers as patients not criminals. This is how everyone should see them.

Until next post,
Taylor (Kent State SSDP)

Cannabis Cafe opens in Portland Oregon

2009-11-15T18:51:00.004-05:00

Taken from OregonLive.com-> http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2009/11/cannibis_cafe_opens_in_a_haze.html

Cannabis Cafe opens for medical marijuana patients in Northeast Portland

Oregon opened another chapter in U.S. marijuana history when at 4:20 p.m. Friday, about three dozen people christened the nation's first cafe for licensed residents to sit down, sip coffee and smoke marijuana.

"Welcome to a place of our own," said Madeline Martinez, a leader in the state's medical marijuana movement and the leading force pushing to open the Cannabis Cafe in Portland. "Welcome to freedom."

Excited patrons spilled down the outside steps at 700 N.E. Dekum St. as the cafe prepared to open at the appointed hour -- "420" being slang for using marijuana. In line were military veterans, grandmothers, young workers, men and women, old and young, black, white and Latino.

Gordon Cederholm, 45, of Milwaukie has lived with HIV for 25 years and said he was skeptical about using marijuana as medicine when he got his Oregon card less than a year ago.

"At first, I thought: What does being a pothead have to do with it?'" he said. "I didn't know the benefits in marijuana. Now, I find that I'm a better person when I smoke."

Kris Koa, 57, a retired nurse from Gresham, rode the bus from home to see the cafe for herself. She has been using medical marijuana for fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis.

Torsten Kjellstrand/The Oregonian
Jars of donated pot line the shelves behind the bar at the Cannabis Cafe, waiting to be smoked by licensed users. Oregon law says medical marijuana may not be sold.
This cafe means I now have the freedom to take my own health into my own hands," she said. "This is just the most fabulous thing to happen."

The cafe, in the space that once featured Rumpspankers restaurant, looks like nearly every other coffeehouse in town, except that shiny silver Volcano vaporizers are plugged into outlets lining the tiled bar. Wi-Fi is available. Coffee, soft drinks, trays of Marsee Bakery pastries and sandwiches are also offered as ammunition against the inevitable attack of the munchies.

The only people permitted in the Cannabis Cafe are those licensed to smoke who also hold membership in the lobbying groupOregon NORML. Patrons will be charged $5 a day. They can bring their own or smoke donated marijuana. Oregon law says medical marijuana may not be sold.

Before the opening, Martinez unloaded a large box with a dozen jelly jars full of marijuana of various strains that had been donated to the cafe. She opened one jar and held it out for a sniff; the contents smelled sweet, even fruity.

"It's called Blueberry," Martinez said, smiling. "It's really good for pain."

The cafe had long been a dream of Martinez, executive director of Oregon's chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. But long-standing fears of federal arrest "kept us ostracized and turned us into criminals just for using our medicine."

Then last month, Attorney General Eric Holder announced that authorities would no longer prosecute licensed users in the 13 states with medical-marijuana programs. Oregon's 10-year-old program is the second in the nation, after California's.

Giving heart to smokers this week was the American Medical Association's change of position on marijuana: Having proclaimed for years that it had no medicinal value, the AMA instead said marijuana does have benefits that warrant further study.

In Oregon, more than 23,000 people hold medical-marijuana cards and another 14,000 are registered as caregivers or growers. The overwhelming majority of patients are treating chronic severe pain.

For about a year, Oregon NORML has hosted twice-monthly meetings of cardholders on the second floor of the Northeast Dekum Street building. Eric and Shelly Solomon, who ran the now-closed Rumpspankers, offered the downstairs restaurant space for the cafe.

After last week's announcement of the cafe's opening, the neighbors in the Woodlawn neighborhood weren't happy. At a crowded neighborhood association meeting, people complained, among other things, that they could smell smoke from the meetings. Martinez promised to install air filters.

Friday afternoon, patients made themselves comfortable on the soft furniture. "Budtenders" at the bar ground up small portions of marijuana for the vaporizers. A cafe volunteer went to the cafe's front door and opened it for a woman in a wheelchair.

-- Anne Saker

Is Ohio capable doing something like this?

Or how about passing the medical marijuana law?

"I don't even know what drugs are"

2009-11-05T09:27:00.000-05:00

As I have probably stated before, I babysit. My most long-term family consists of a 5-year-old red-headed little boy, a seven-year old girl that can slip into a 15-year-old mindset, and two wonderfully quirky and accepting parents. I love this family, and their kids I sometimes talk about as if they were my own. I fit in here because there is no judgment being made and whether or not I get drunk on the weekends is never a concern, as long as the little rascals are taken care of.

It was a typical Friday after-school routine: get kids off bus, walk kids up driveway, feed snack, talk about school, and so on. During the "talk about school" portion of the day, Lily pulls out a pretty red ribbon that flaps so beautifully in her hand. She shines it over my way and it reads "Drug free 24/7 365." Lily holds it proudly, then her pride-filled face transfers to a bit of confusion.

"I don't even know what drugs are," She states as she seemingly regrets being so prideful about something she didn't really understand. Then from the background I hear, "They are making you promise not to do drugs when you don't even know what they are?" This statement is coming from the bedroom of the most understanding and accepting mother out there. (Read her blog, and find out for yourself why I think so highly of her... chagrinandbearitall.blogspot.com)

This little exchange of words made me think even more about the drug education system in our schools. Being a future teacher, it bothers me that schools are letting children make these promises that they don't even realize they are making. A drug, according to the true definition is, "any substance that, when absorbed into the body of a living organism, alters normal bodily function." I am wondering what kind of promise the DARE program hopes to get out of 2nd grade children; that they will never drink coffee? eat too much sugar? take the medications their doctors prescribed them? What is it that DARE is looking for?

It is proven that the DARE program is not working and has no affect on whether or not a child is going to use drugs in the future, so why not present the facts? I am not saying that there are not drugs out there that are definitely scary and life-threatening, but instead of using scare tactics, why don't we have a little faith in the children of our nation and tell them the truth. "Just Say No" is not realistic and has proven this throughout the years. Good try Nancy, but the truth is, people are curious, and by not telling them the whole truth it makes them want to experience it and find out for themselves.

Students for Sensible Drug Policy (ssdp.org), takes a "Just Say Know" approach. Why don't we teach about the actual drug, what it does to your body, how much is too much, the addiction level, and so on and so forth. Why don't we get rid of what doesn't work and try something new. Worst case scenario, it'll turn out just like our current DARE program, unsuccessful.

-Angelica Gagliardi
Vice President Kent State SSDP
agagliar.blogspot.com

2009-10-07T15:26:00.001-04:00

2009-10-07T15:20:00.003-04:00

Front-line: drug wars: thirty years of America's drug war | PBS Source: www.pbs.org

2009-10-07T15:13:00.003-04:00

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/drugs/cron/

What is everyone's thoughts on the progress or lack of that the drug war has made?

What do you think the next 30 years will look like regarding the drug war?

Stiletto Stoners

2009-10-03T23:35:00.008-04:00

Welcome to "Let's Talk About Drugs"- a blog brought to you by Kent State Students For Sensible Drug Policy. This blog serves to educate the public about different aspects of drugs and drug policy. Next semester we are planning on giving monthly presentations for "Lets Talk About Drugs"on KSU's campus. This blog is an on going project. Please stay with us and share your thoughts and ideas!

Here is a video from stopthedrugwar.org about professional woman smoking pot. It was considered breaking news. Is it socially acceptable for women with careers to smoke marijuana?

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Send me anything related and i'll post it up.

Send to : ghipolit@kent.edu

Keep it real.

-Gwen (Kent State SSDP Blog Director)