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The Cannabis War

Supreme Court decides one battle, but activists vow to fight on

By Steven Wishnia

Homegrown medical marijuana qualifies as interstate commerce, the Supreme Court ruled June 6, in the second major setback it has delivered to pot patients. By a 6 to 3 margin, the Court refused to grant an injunction protecting California medical-marijuana users Angel McClary Raich and Diane Monson from federal prosecution. As Monson grows her own and Raich gets hers donated by… return to article

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    just keeping making bombs,maiming people and lying. americans-the world hates you

    Belgium Posted by richard jenjins on Jun 17, 2005 at 9:00 PM

    lies and bombs—lies and bombs—-lies and bombs———-having a difficult time understanding how you spread freedom by incinerating humans? Can anyone explain?

    Belgium Posted by richard jenjins on Jun 17, 2005 at 9:05 PM

    Compassion, as long as it’s a fetus or a brain dead woman. Other than that…the law is the law!

    United States Posted by Robin on Jun 17, 2005 at 9:27 PM

    After lunch my stomach started hurting.  I just smoked a bowl and forgot all about the stomachache.  I just smoked a bowl and forgot all about that stomachache.  Then I uhhh, what was i sayin’...

    United States Posted by Mary Wanna on Jun 17, 2005 at 9:44 PM

    Oh yeah, then I got really hungry and ate some more and my stomach still feels good.

    United States Posted by Mary Wanna on Jun 17, 2005 at 9:45 PM

    This whole situation sickens me. Why in the world is such a hair splitting debate taking place in the Supreme Court in the first place? Isn’t the federal government barred from legislating or ajudicating about anything that isn’t defined as a constitutional responsibility? The interstate commerce argument is transparent bullshit from the get.

    United States Posted by Dr.D on Jun 17, 2005 at 10:06 PM

    We could fuel the planet,clean the air,but first we need to crush all fossil fueled vechicles and build more bicycles so we can ride to the hemp farms for work.

    Belgium Posted by dr hemp on Jun 18, 2005 at 4:03 AM

    “CONSERVATISM - THE CULTURE OF LIES.” - Lefty

    In the mean time, almost 2% of the male population in the U.S. IS IN PRISON - the highest prison rate in the world.  3/4 of those in federal prisons and 1/3 in state prisons are there on drug offenses.  WHAT A F—-ING WASTE OF TIME AND RESOURCES.

    Dr. D., the Supreme Court is where hair splitting debate is supposed to take place.  That’s where most of the actual legal thinking in this country takes place.  Congress can pass any law it wants.  The Supreme Court has sole constitutional jurisdiction to decide if the law is valid, and if so, what the law means.

    The commerce clause is merely one of the underlying constitutional provision that the Supreme Court has cited as the legal basis for federal laws that supercede state laws.  The supremacy clause being another.  If the congress doesn’t like the effect of it’s laws, it’s easy enough to repeal them. 

    The problem with the commerce clause is that the Supreme Court has said if an activity affects interstate commerce, then, the commerce clause gives the federal government jurisdiction to regulate that activity.  What activity does not, in some miniscule respect, impact interstate commerce.

    United States Posted by Lefty on Jun 18, 2005 at 7:26 AM

    i do believe that makes the current score

    u.s. federal government - 2
    marijuana - 3,453,234,910,232

    Brazil Posted by herb johnson on Jun 18, 2005 at 7:58 AM

    it boggles the mind that the only reason for this miscarrige is the all mighty dollar…no wonder I never liked tha stuff..I grow and will continue to grow at my own peril so 4 ppl that can get what they need to get tru the day without much pain and discomfort I’ll tell miss lotti an 81 yr old lady that I cant give her what she needs to help with her glacoma well the govt says screw’em so someone can make a buck or three

    u know big pharma ,the alcohol lobby,texile lobby ,lumber lobby,,ect ect ect can be rest asured that there profit base will not be disturbed by a bunch of sick ppl

    United States Posted by cwazycajun on Jun 18, 2005 at 12:23 PM

    Uh, richard jenjins?  Americans aren’t the ones bombing the world.  That embarassment is due to the current government, not the people of the US.  Most of us oppose it.  And Robin, you’re right, the law is the law.  That’s why the Supreme Court ruling doesn’t apply to the States which have laws allowing regulated marijuana usage.  The US Supreme Court doesn’t actually have the authority to rule on this case.  That authority (as determined by our Constitution) lies solely at the State level.  Unfortunately, the conservative traitors in the US have perverted the justice process and made things difficult for intelligent and compassionate Americans. 

    I find it interesting that even the Supreme Court was effectively apologizing for the ruling.  Given that over 20% of the US has medicinal marijuana laws on the books (and more are sure to follow), the decision is kind of a moot point.  The rhetoric around marijuana is fascinating:  The DEA and “family groups” claim that it’s addictive, yet any first-year medical student will tell you that the active components do NOT act on the conditioning centers in the brain.  Therefore, it’s NOT addictive.  Nicotine: addictive.  Alcohol: addictive.  Cocaine:  addictive.  Opiates:  addictive.  THC/marijuana?  Not a snowball’s chance in hell… 

    Deal with it.

    United States Posted by Gordon Romei on Jun 18, 2005 at 6:15 PM

    Having read the US Constitution front to back a couple of times does not make me an authority on it,but I can’t seem to find any constitutional justification for legislators or judiciary to declare or rule on the legality of any substance or material,whether it be marijuana,heroin (or guns for that matter). My understanding of the document(along with the attached Bill of Rights),is intended to point us in the direction of using moral character and personal responsibility to guide us in our pursuit of happiness.                            A crime cannot be commited by a drug or a gun. How can these things be declared illegal? Crimes are commited by criminals,and are ultimately responsible for their dirty deeds.Why then are innocent people being incarcerated for nothing more than a little bit of personal gratification? How many folks are in the can for having an unregistered firearm in the house to protect the family?                              Think about it.

    United States Posted by Dr.D on Jun 19, 2005 at 1:21 AM

    News Flash:Check out this site: http://www.illuminati-news.com/marijuana-conspiracy.htm

    United States Posted by Dr.D on Jun 19, 2005 at 2:11 AM

    Dr.D,

    Why is it illegal to possess certain drugs without a prescription?  Why is it that certain so called medicines are “controlled substances?”  And why are other controlled substances illegal to possess with a prescription? Could it be conservatives trying to impose their notion of Christian morality on the public?  Could it be that the drug cartel (the pharmaceutical cartel), has bought and paid for our government which is now only their pimps?  Maybe PHARMA doesn’t want competition from the Medellin cartel.

    United States Posted by Lefty on Jun 19, 2005 at 2:44 AM

    Lefty,I hear you loud and clear,and for the most part,I agree.But I do have a problem with labels,I can be characterized as a conservative in many of my views,but liberal in others.In fact I view myself as a libertarian bordering on anarchistic views.Irregardless,in my previous posting,I just wanted to covey to everyone that we still have a government framed by the constitution,but not for long,unless we the people do something about it.NAFTA and the Patriot Act are already on the books,CAFTA and FTAA are waiting in the wings,then Ethel Merman is singing her fat ass off,auf weidershein baby. Not for nothing,I deserve to be able to sit on my porch and smoke a bone every now and then,after I retire from my mega-zillion corporation,after randomly pissing in bottles for the past 15 years or so since I was told that if I didn’t have anything to hide,don’t worry about it. I want real freedom,how about you?

    United States Posted by Dr.D on Jun 19, 2005 at 4:02 AM

    Medical pot cards issued again, with legal go-ahead

    Oregon resumed issuing registration cards for medical marijuana Friday after the state attorney general declared that a U.S. Supreme Court decision last week does not invalidate the program.

    “What we’re happy about is to get clarification that we’re not doing anything in violation of federal law,” said Dr. Grant Higginson, administrator of the state Department of Human Services community health office. “We’re going back to standard operations.”

    http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/111908917813170 00.xml&coll=7

    United States Posted by randy davis on Jun 19, 2005 at 5:53 AM

    lefty and Margaret (if y reading),

    i have some great ones for ya’

    Annoy A Liberal:  Stop Thinking, Keep Talking.

    Conservatives:  Just What Are We Conserving? 

    I Don’t Hate Bush, Just What He’s Done

    Iraq: What Would Jesus Do?

    United States Posted by tw on Jun 19, 2005 at 8:07 AM

    I never would have thought of the Hearst connection to hemp market suppression for the sake of the tree-sellers.  Explains why the South went along, since so much PINE is grown just for pulp down here.  I WAS aware of the timing of the anti-hemp frenzy, just as Prohibition was being repealed.  Thousands of T-men were about to lose their jobs, thousands of Mafiosi were about to lose their market, and thousands of evangelists were about to—well they will always have a job as long as there is a sucker born again every minute.  But subconsciously, the T-men and the Mafiosi got together to make something else that was popular illegal (heroin only appealed to the margins of society, since it puts people to sleep until they need a fix, and has to be injected).  Their plot didn’t work immediately; the Reefer Madness films worked so well the market dried up until the rebellious 1960’s, after the people who pushed for the law were already retired or dead.

    United States Posted by James Allan Richardson on Jun 19, 2005 at 5:40 PM

    smoke weed!

    United States Posted by jenny on Jun 19, 2005 at 6:31 PM

    Well, Lefty’s on here…

    Who’s tw??

    United Kingdom Posted by Liz on Jun 20, 2005 at 6:51 AM

    I personaly use weed to help with my arthritis, my back pain and my migraines.  Weed alot works great for cramps when aunt flow is in town.  I understand why the goverment has not made it legal.  Money, way too much money.  The gov. brings it in sells it then bust the people and put them away.  I saw the newspaper one day and one the same page one article was about a guy killing his wife and beside was an article about a guy who was busted for 3 pounds of weed.  Wonder who got more years????

    The guy who murdered his wife-12 year with parol in 7
    The guy with the pot-20 to life with parol in 15 years.

    Where is justice???

    United States Posted by pot smoker for life on Jun 20, 2005 at 3:49 PM

    TW, I don’t hate Bush either.  I’d just like to see him go through a wood-chipper . . . feet first.

    United States Posted by Lefty on Jun 21, 2005 at 12:43 AM

    Now there’s a bumper sticker I’d like to have!

    United States Posted by Matt H. on Jun 21, 2005 at 1:41 AM

    Did anyone catch that interview with Bush and his dangerously inbread wife (with the mongoloid eyes), where he was asked why he drank so much whiskey, and he answered, “‘caus ah lahked du way it tehsted.”  Since the eunuch interviewer didn’t have the gonads to ask - I infer from that answer that the reason Bush also snorted so much cocaine was because “HE LIKED THE WAY IT SMELLED.

    United States Posted by Lefty on Jun 22, 2005 at 11:33 AM

    Continuing a war on sick people! There’s your “Compassionate Conservatism” for you! God bless the USA!

    United States Posted by SDM on Jun 22, 2005 at 7:03 PM

    Was gone on a business trip to Chicago.  TW, I already know what Jesus would do about Iraq, but the Conservative Right doesn’t want His example to muddle their “mission”.

    This situation is ridiculous.  Having used the stuff myself during cancer treatment, I can tell you first-hand that it definitely makes you feel much better.  Good appetite, no nausea, better sleep…no pharmaceuticals can match it.

    That’s the problem, the pharmaceutical companies don’t want it available when people can basically grow it for free themselves.  Too much Big Money of K Street making sure that Pfizer or Lilly don’t get pennies pinched from them.

    Lastly, if we are serious about the war on terrorism, why aren’t we addressing the gangs that move pot for money for guns?  Just like Prohibition, if we legalize it for those over 21 and sell it from liquor stores, the government gets billions in taxes, and the gangs go broke. 

    I guess some things never change.  I was at Frank Lloyd Wright’s home/studio in Oak Park last week and someone quoted the phrase,
    “People in Oak Park have broad lawns and narrow minds” (they despised Wright and his “weird, liberal” ideas).  I guess some things never change in America, especially the Midwest.

    United States Posted by Margaret on Jun 23, 2005 at 3:57 PM

    wake and bake :)

    United States Posted by ottofumagalli on May 1, 2007 at 1:07 PM
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