Cannabis Career Institute Workshop May 23-24

The Cannabis Career Insitute is going to be hosting a workshop on May 23 and 24, 2009 on how to safely own and operate a Medical Marijuana Dispensary. As the Charles Lynch case has shown us, the DEA seems intent on ignoring State's Rights, and the laws passed by states who have legalized Medical Marijuana. With 14 states having legalized Medical Marijuana, and with several others (including my own state of New York), it is imperiative that Medical Marijuana growers, suppliers, caregivers and patients have reliable sources of information so that they can take every step possible to be safe against the DEA's war on Medical Marijuana, which amounts to a war on innocent American Citizens. The Cannabis Career Institute is helping to fill a void that needs to be filled.

If you cannot make this workshop, they have a online course available through their Cannabis Career Institute web site.

Medical Marijuana Dispensary/Business Work Shop

Time: May 23, 2009 at 11am to May 24, 2009 at 11am
Location: Los Angeles, Ca
Organized By: George Grimes


Event Description:

Learn what it takes to safely own and operate a medical marijuana dispensary business and enjoy all the benefits of the medical cannabis industry.

For Additional Information Join the Weedworks Network.

Cannabis Career Institute

Must Watch Medical Marijuana Court TV-Charles Lynch

Sunday, April 26, 2009

The Charles Lynch Interview...Medical Marijuana Must Watch TV

Up on YouTube and embedded here is an interview with Charles Lynch. It is worth the watch, and I would ask each you, "Is this the kind of man that deserves prison?" Judge Wu is on the cusp of DOING THE RIGHT THING, or doing as close to the right thing he can when his hands are tied. Let's push for freedom for Charles Lynch, and this continue to push Obama for two things...1) a full and complete pardon for Charles Lynch and all those who are in a similiar situation, and 2) much clearer and WRITTEN guidelines on his administration's Medical Marijuana policy.

Washington DC...Senator Webb Puts Marijuana Legalization on Prison Reform Table

The times they are a changing, and I am sure the DEA and the drug industry are pulling their hair out by the fistfulls. In what can only be earth shattering news, Senator Webb of Virginia has stated that Legalization of Marijuana must be on the table as he and others in Washington tackle Prison Reform. With 14 states seeking to Legalize Medical Marijuana, with 13 states having already approved Medical Marijuana, we are moving every closer to getting our Civil Rights back. If you think about it, how can you make criminals out of 20 percent of America's population under the false quise that Marijuana is a Gateway Drug.

Webb: Pot legalization ‘on the table’ in prison reform effort
via The Hill

The leader of a congressional effort to reform the criminal justice system said Thursday that all issues — including drug legalization — need to be on the table.

Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.), who has made criminal justice and prison reform a signature issue of his this year in Congress, is the most high-profile lawmaker to indicate openness to drug decriminalization or outright legalization.

“Well, I think what we need to do is to put all of the issues on the table,” Webb said this morning on CNN if asked if marijuana legalization would be part of his criminal justice reform efforts.

“If you go back to 1980 as a starting point, I think we had 40,000 people in prison on drug charges, and today, we have about 500,000 of them,” the first-term Virginia lawmaker said. “And the great majority of those are nonviolent crimes — possession crimes or minor sales.”

4/20 Day After Reflections

First thing I found interesting about 4/20 was the almost exclusive blackout of NEWS COVERAGE of the day and events. When you think about it, think about how much marijuana and the drug war have been in the news lately, and all of a sudden yesterday, there was NOTHING about 4/20 day. You hate to say planned media black out, but it does seems as if that was the case. I will qualify that by admitting I do not watch local news. To all my fellow smokers, those who do it recreationally, and those that do it for medical reasons...how can we ever win this fight, get Cannabis legalized when so much APATHY exists? Illegal Aliens are on the brink of getting AMNESTY because they MARCHED. Gays are starting to get their civil rights, Gay Marriage almost a reality...can we say Gay Pride Day parades? Equal Rights would NOT HAVE HAPPENED without MARCHES AND PROTESTS. Ending the Vietnam War...same thing, protests and marches. Peaceful protests, exercising our civil rights and having large enough events that the MEDIA HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO COVER THEM is what we need.

Was fun being on Twitter with other smokers...made the day less isolating, as I do not live in a community where I can walk down the street to my friend's house and get my BUZZ on. At 53, I am tired of having TO HIDE who I am, tried of having to hide the fact that I smoke from my neighbor's and many of our friends, and tired of having to feel ashamed because I like to get high every once in awhile. It is funny, but how can President Obama talk about illegal aliens being given Amnesty, being allowed to come out from the shadows, but he is fine with making 25 million pot smokers live in the shadows. Why should be have to feel like criminals, why should we have too hide our behaviors...seriously, how many of you have your little STASH hiding place at home, freak out now and again when you forget to put STUFF AWAY and suddenly a neighbor stops by and you are rushing to stuff your pipe in the coffee table drawer?

I am working on a BIG painting job here in my house, so need to finish this article up, swig down my last gulp of coffee and get to work. Hope every one has a nice 420 day, and hope everyone does something in the coming year to move us close to the day when we can come out of the shadows.

420 Community CALL TO ACTION

Monday, April 20, 2009

Obama White House, Eric Holder's Department of Justice Targeting a Holocaust Against Medical Marijuana Caregivers, Growers, Suppliers and Users.

The Department of justice has made it official that they intend on cracking down on anyone involved in the Medical Marijuana industry, regardless of the states laws on Medical Marijuana.

Needless to say, this is seriously bad news...question is, can the Medical Marijuana Movement do anything if we continue to sit on our hands...letter writing is NOT WORKING, while media coverage WILL WORK. We wrote letters, contacted our elected officials, prayed, and that DID NOT END THE VIETNAM WAR...taking to the streets, being in the NEWS EVERY FREAKING NIGHT ended that war. It will take that same effort to end the wrongful WAR ON DRUGS, and the sooner we come to this realization, the better off we will all be.

We have 25 million cannabis smokers across America...it is my belief, my contention that we are not going to get any POSITIVE forward movement on Medical Marijuana or on cannabis legalization any time soon unless we organize and MARCH, and I am talking in LARGE NUMBERS. You put half a million people on the streets in say five major cities...New York, Washington, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago would work...and you will see movement and action. You have smaller groups of us picking up our protest signs and taking to the streets, and we will get action. You call a million person Woodstock like SMOKE IN down on Washington, DC, and YOU WILL PUSH THE ISSUE.

How many more people need sent to prison before we all wake up to the reality that drastic actions are required here? The war on drugs has lasted SEVENTY YEARS because WE HAVE ALLOWED IT TO LAST. If states have voted to have LEGAL Medical Marijuana, then they have a duty to PROTECT those citizens in their states that did everything by the books according to state law, and that includes using local, state police, and if necessary the State National Guard to evict the DEA from their cities, to chain shut Federal Court Houses. Arnold has the ability in California to DRAW THE LINE IN THE SAND, but he does not have the balls to do it. That leaves it up to the 420 Community to demand real change, to MARCH FOR OUR CIVIL RIGHTS.

Showing up for sentencing on the 23rd of Charles Lynch...that is all nice and well, but it is NOT GOING TO DO ANY GOOD, he is still going to be handcuffed, dragged up to prison for up to ONE HUNDRED YEARS...chain shut the court house, encircle it in PEACEFUL PROTEST with so many people that the courthouse has no choice but to SHUT DOWN, that will get attention on this issue, give these victims of the goosestepping agents of the DEA a fighting chance for justice. Face it people...in WAR YOU FIGHT, OR YOU LOSE.

Obama is not scaling back the war on drugs, HE IS TURNING UP THE HEAT, the DEA and Eric Holder's Department of Justice are looking for the easy to pluck low hanging fruit, and that low hanging fruit makes every Medical Marijuana user, grower, supplier and caregiver A TARGET in all 13 states that have laws allowing Medical Marijuana use. Charles, Tom Kikuchi, Stephanie Landa, Dustin Costa...how many more of your friends, your compatriots are going to be scooped up by the BLACK HAND of the DEA before you realize this is a HOLOCAUST aimed at and against ten percent of Americans Citizens?

We have how many Pot Smokers on TWITTER? Where are my Budding Bloggers, at least one in every state so that we can network and have INSTANT communications to get stories out? Where is every smoker on Twitter joining up and participating in the Medical Marijuana Society Network? We need to GET SERIOUS PEOPLE, and I hope this Blog Message is the start of a NATIONAL CALL TO ACTION.

Sign up, volunteer, get involved...we need ACTIVIST, and being an ACTIVISTS MEANS DOING SOMETHING BESIDES LIGHTING UP A BLUNT.

Places You Can PLUG IN TOO...we can build the tools, but if 420 Folk do not join and use them, what good are they?

Medical Marijuana Society
Medical Marijuana Society Network
Medical Marijuana Message Board
Budding Bloggers
NORML
ASA (Americans for Safe Access)

Track Marijuana News...follow us on Twitter!

Sigh Our Petition

Link to this message, cut and paste it to your blogs!

Before you say you are too busy to get involved...what if you are next on the DEA's list as they TARGET OUR COMMUNITY? Short on time...then GIVE MONEY, as it takes money to organize and advertise! Think about it...if every Pot Smoker in America DONATED TEN DOLLARS A MONTH TO THE CAUSE, we would have $250 Million EACH MONTH to wage war against our oppressors...that buys a lot of advertising, hires a lot of lobbyists, and could FUND OUR MARCHES! Yes, I am ANGRY...this war has lasted seventy years, and it is time WE END IT.

California Medical Marijuana...Is April 29th Sentencing of Charles Lynch A Ruby Ridge Moment For The 420 Community? Should It Be?

Friday, April 17, 2009

President Obama, Eric Holder Sell Out Medical Marijuana Distributor Charles Lynch In California, HAVE LIED TO AMERICA

On April 11th I asked people in the Bloggosphere and on Twitter to write letters of support for Charles Lynch, a Medical Marijuana Shop owner who has wrongfully been STALKED by the DEA, even though he was in full compliance WITH ALL CALIFORNIA LAWS. It was the hope of many within the Medical Marijuana community that the Obama Administration's public statement on Medical Marijuana would see victims of criminal persecution by the DEA would see their cases dismissed. In a letter just released, the DOJ basically tells subordinates that Eric Holder is fine seeing this man hung up by his balls as an example to every other Medical Marijuana Care facility in America...the 13 states that have LEGALIZED Medical Marijuana are encouraged to take a stand, encouraged to ORDER DEA out of your states even if it requires ordering out your State Highway Patrol and State National Guard troops to accomplish the eviction, order all Federal Courts chained shut until such time as this important State's Rights issue is resolved in favor of the states. (DEA Propaganda...you people are cocksuckers, plain and simple.) (Judge for yourselves...newspaper article.)

In this breaking news just out we have learned that President Barack Obama, Eric Holder and the entire United States Department of Justice are back stabbing two faced, snake tongued sleaze bags who are promising to leave states who have made Medical Marijuana legal alone, while in reality turning up the heat and attempting to visit a Holocaust upon the Medical Marijuana Caregivers in the hopes of killing this budding industry,leaving millions of patients suffering in the wake of this Federal Persecution of Business people and Medical Marijuana Caregivers who have gone to GREAT EXTREMES to operate within the FULL EXTENT of their local and state laws, including paying their taxes.

For the 420 Community, this is a Ruby Ridge level crisis...Charles Lynch, a law abiding citizen of the state of California (which has legalized Medical Marijuana) and hundreds of other citizens just like him are facing up too 100 years in Prison because of an unfair and unjust DEA Witch hunt. If there was ever a time where citizens should exercise their First Amendment Rights, that time is April 29th in the Courtroom of Judge Wu, on the steps of his Federal Courthouse, and in the front of EVERY DEA OFFICE IN CALIFORNIA...take your digital cameras, and get photographs, put the faces of the DEA agents online, identify them, know them, keep them OUT OF YOUR SHOPS, OUT OF YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS. Once you identify them, protest in front of their homes until this DEA, Department of Justice sanctified WITCH HUNT IS PERMANENTLY STOPPED through the full nationwide legalization of Medical Marijuana.

Friday Thoughts on Monday's 420 Celebrations

Friday, April 17, 2009

Just a Couple of Friday Hemp Factoids

The Cannabis Community is all abuzz as we approach April 20th (4/20) and the various and assorted planned activities around that day. Myself...I am leery as I watch the American News media beating a rather ugly sounding anti Marijuana Drum since Barack Obama took office...I see it as a "Custer's Last Stand" on the part of the DEA who does not want to lose what has been a very profitable enforcement run for them...as example, legalization of Medical Marijuana would see enforcement issues and inspection handed over to the FDA, and Industrialized Hemp oversight would probably go to the USDA. The just say no message is being tweaked and amped up, and we have some heavy hitters (Hillary Clinton, Janet Napolitano, Eric Holder) in the Obama administration blaming the Mexican Drug War on American Pot Smokers.

Some Factoids (Hemptoids)

1. At least 2/3's of American Marijuana Consumption (both legal and illegal) is grown right here in America, and we could easily grow 100 percent of our consumption if Cannabis and Hemp were legalized.

2. The Drug Cartel's and their war is not really about Marijuana, but instead is about Heroin and Cocaine and the routes needed to get their products into America.

On 420, have fun, CELEBRATE OUR DAY, but I would ask each and every one of my fellow Budsters out there in 420 land to remember the goal of Legalization, and consider signing up to do some volunteer work for the cause. We need state and city bloggers ourselves. ASA (Americans for Safe Access) and NORML probably have lots of volunteer work waiting for a set of hands that wants to pitch in.

We cannot realize our dream without every Cannabis Friendly American doing their part for the cause, and while we are on the subject, lets not forget that our friends in Canada are dealing with many of the same issues and harrassments we ourselves face.

Tags: 420, cannabis, dea, friendly, hemp, legalization, marijuana, medical, obama,

Hemptoids-small, sometimes rarely known facts about Hemp and Cannabis.

Government Must Rely On SOUND SCIENCE In Public Medical Marijuana Statements

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Government Must Rely On SOUND SCIENCE In Public Medical Marijuana Statements

GOT BUD?

Today is a huge day for the Medical Marijuana community. (ASA) Americans for Safe Access will be in the Ninth Circuit Court arguing an interesting case that could begin unsnarling the nasty bale of entwined lies that is the government's Medcial Marijuana Propaganda Campaign. There is a little known law called the Data Quality Act (DQA) which requires public information to be BASED ON STRONG SOUND SCIENCE.

We all know that the government's position that Marijuana has no medical benefits is not supported by sound science. A court ruling in favor of ASA could send shock waves through the War On Drugs community, would require them to rethink their strategies...meanwhile, with some major fund raising drives, the Legalization Community could blitz the airwaves with THE REAL TRUTH

Can you imagine forcing your elected officials to offer up letters to their constituents admitting that Marijuana has medicinal value. Here is the way I see it. ASA wins this case in the 9th Circuit Court. The 420 community using case sites write our Elected Officials with a "Dear Member of Commerce...blah, blah, blah, based on Case# xxxx the government must publish true and accurate information, and I notice you have publicly issued statements embracing governmental positions on Medical Marijuana that are not based upon Sound Science.

We should all be keeping and eye on this case. Here is the article I found on the issue.

I find myself wondering...could we force the government to PAY FOR AN AD CAMPAIGN to correct their lies? A PSA or three paid for with government funds that hails the virtues of Medical Marijuana.

Ninth Circuit Court hearing arguments tomorrow on the accepted medical use of marijuana in the United StatesMonday, April 13th, 2009 at 7:20 pm By: Radical Russ

Americans for Safe Access
For Immediate Release: April 10, 2009
Contact: ASA Chief Counsel Joe Elford 415-573-7842 or ASA Media Liaison Kris Hermes 510-681-6361

Federal Position on Medical Marijuana Put Before Ninth Circuit Tuesday
Federal hearing is latest battle on whether policy is based on science or politics

San Francisco, CA — Medical marijuana advocates will get to argue before the federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday, April 14th, the right to challenge an outdated position held by the federal government: “marijuana has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.” The national advocacy group Americans for Safe Access (ASA) filed a lawsuit in February 2007 demanding that the federal government cease issuing misinformation and correct its statements on medical marijuana. “We welcome the Obama Administration’s recently stated commitment to making policy decisions based on science, not politics,” said Joe Elford, Chief Counsel with ASA. “This case is designed to ensure that the federal government’s policy on medical marijuana is not politically motivated.”

What: Oral arguments in a case before the Ninth Circuit that challenges the government’s position on medical marijuana

When: Tuesday, April 14, 2009 at 9:30am

Where: Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, Courtroom 4 at 95 Seventh Street, San Francisco, CA

In order to challenge the government’s position, advocates are using a little-known law called the Data Quality Act (DQA). The DQA requires federal agencies such as Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to rely on sound science when disseminating information to the public. One of the main issues in the case is whether citizens have a right to challenge government information believed to be inaccurate or based on faulty, unreliable data.

“The science to support medical marijuana is overwhelming,” said ASA Executive Director Steph Sherer. “It’s time for the federal government to acknowledge the efficacy of medical marijuana and stop holding science hostage to politics.” On March 9, 2009, President Obama issued a memorandum to the heads of executive departments and agencies stating that, “The public must be able to trust the science and scientific process informing public policy decisions,” and calling for “transparency in the preparation, identification, and use of scientific and technological information in policymaking.”

Join Us May 5th For National Hemp DARE Day 2009

Friday, April 10, 2009

Operation Strikeback-National Hemp DARE Day 2009

OK, I admit I might be just a tad to over the top, or maybe this latest herb is a bit better than I realize at the current moment as I listen to Janis wailing out of my speakers about having only ONE DAY. Talk about a fabulous Friday Afternoon! Not sure about the rest of you, but Obama's declaring April 9th National DARE Day has not set well with me...as in it seems to me that 25 million supporters of Legalization need to STRIKE BACK...I offer the Twitter and Blog community a way that we can take back the word DARE, put and end to the DARE Propaganda machine by taking the word and the premise for our own.

Do

A

Reefer

Event

NATIONAL Hemp D.A.R.E. DAY, 2009 May 5th,
2009

Invite your friends, order in some really CHOICE Mexican Smoke (it is also Cinco_De_Mayo day), maybe order in a couple cases of Corona!

So, Obama wants to distance himself from the Medical Marijuana issue, wants to side step the Legalization question put forward to him during OUR INTERNET TOWNHALL. He basically slaps 25 million American Pot Smokers in the face by declaring April 9th DARE DAY...well, it is time for that Double DARE SMACK DOWN!

Tuesday (after work) May 5th, 2009, a super TWOFER Tuesday event. Start spreading the word, invite your friends to come join you in a moveon.org style citizen action event, lets fill our American Living Rooms with the smell of Nature's Best as we celebrate National Hemp DARE Day 2009!

DARE-Do a reefer event! That's right, lets take back the word DARE, lets give it a WHOLE NEW MEANING with the FIRST ANNUAL Hemp DARE Day! Send a clear signal to Washington DC by holding your own small DARE DAY event, filming it and uploading it to YouTube...make sure you bring it to the attention of MarijuanaUSA so we can gather the videos in one place.

This only works if we all VIRALLY start spreading the word, so get your TWEETS in action and lets run with this! OH MY GAWD...we could all also be tweeting from our Hemp DARE Day events (Hey, I'll launch a new blog!...send me pictures), we could make May 5th National Twitter Hemp DARE Day, turning the day into the biggest VIRAL Legalize Medical Marijuana event on Planet Earth!

Twitter Hummingbird...A Great Activist Tool If You Can Afford It

Just in from Green Smokers Lounge is a review report on the new software Hummingbird. Shaq has over ONE MILLION followers on Twitter, and the Twitter Elite have instant accessibility to followers that number upwards of 50,000. Talk about a MUST HAVE TOOL for Medical Marijuana Activist. The cost is well worth the $200 bucks it is going to set you back when you realize what you are paying on a per contact basis. Here's the article:

Hummingbird for TWITTER Has Arrived

First, you can order Twitter Hummingbird by clicking on the links that say Hummingbird! Throw me some love and I will be so appreciative. Here is the skinny...

How many of you have been browsing Twitter Members, drooling over those that have 20,30 even 40 thousand followers? The Shaq (as in NBA great Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal)has over one million people following him on Twitter! OMFG...share the wealth Dude! Seems someone with far more tech ability than I had the very same thought, wanted to climb the ranks of the Twitter Elite. Some script, some testing and then more script and we now have Hummingbird, the software platform for Big and Small business owners (Or Medical Marijuana Society) to build a base of people they can reach out to with the click of the enter button as your message races out to a list of Twitter Followers numbering into the tens of thousands!

This is a COOL TOOL...anyone want to sponsor the cost of the program for Marijuana_news so we can build our activist army of supporters as we push to legalize marijuana? Six sales from the link in this post or on the side bar, and we have Hummingbird, so show us some love folks!

It's OFFICIAL, Michigan Begins Registering People For Legal Marijuana

This past Monday morning, Michigan officially because a Medical Marijuana state as the first people stood in line to get registered as patients. Hugging, kissing, rejoicing, and that's just at my house, and I live in New York. Seriously though, here is the press release from the fine folks at THCF.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Press Announcement: Monday, April 6, 2009, Michigan Medical Marijuana Program Begins

Today, Monday, April 6, 2009, is the first day the state of Michigan Community Health Department's new Medical Marijuana Program office will begin accepting applications and fees for a state permit to legally possess, use and grow medical marijuana.

THCF Medical Clinics has approved 400 Michigan patients with qualifying conditions for medical marijuana permits since the law went into effect on Dec. 4, 2008.

Some of THCF Medical Clinics' patients will be meeting in Lansing on Monday morning to first prepare their paper work to turn in to the state, then they will go to the Health Department's door at 9 am to be the first to complete Michigan State’s new medical marijuana application process.

Fifty patients will be meeting to complete their paper work at 8 AM, Monday, April 6th at:

Gone Wired Cafe

2021 East Michigan Avenue

Lansing, MI 48912

At 9 AM, patients will be turning in their medical marijuana application forms, their physician's statement and a fee of $100 to:

Michigan Medical Marihuana Program

Bureau of Health Professions

Department of Community Health

611 W. Ottawa Street

Lansing, Michigan 48933

THCF staff will be available at both locations to answer questions and provide information regarding the new Michigan Medical Marijuana Program.

THCF Medical Clinics contact info: Paul Stanford, Executive Director, THCF Medical Clinic; Phone: 800-723-0188

Website: http://www.thc-foundation.org/

Press Release .doc http://www.thc-foundation.org/press/thcf-press-release-040609.doc

Press Release .txt http://www.thc-foundation.org/press/thcf-press-release-040609.txt