Smart and a cute mug.

I was really reluctant to write some sort of post about the hx of marijuana prohibition on this blog -- just because it's really long and tedious, plus there's so many good ones already out there. But then I saw this frog from our Canadian blogger.

I command everyone to watch.

Iowa Democrats Want All Out Legalization? Apparently So.

I just got finished reading the Iowa Democratic Party Platform for 2008 today and wanted to share with you some interesting things I found.

Line 583: [We support] Taxing and regulating marijuana like tobacco and alcohol.
Line 593: [We oppose] The Iowa Drug Tax Stamp Act
Line 745: [We support] Legalizing Marijuana
Line 906: [We support] Research into the efficacy of marijuana.

Now as I recall, the 2006 platform didn’t outright call for legalization but merely decriminalization – this is something I’m working on verifying by requesting copies of platforms from previous years. I also don’t recall any talk of taxing and regulating marijuana – I would’ve remembered that as well.

The only other information I was able to extract from the internet was from DrugLibrary.net that was apparently compiled by Carl Olsen that stated the following about the Democratic Platform for the year 2000:

On Mental Health: Recognizing substance abuse as an illness and not criminal behavior.
On Healthcare: Medicinal use of marijuana as prescribed by a physician.

No mention of decriminalization or legalization, however that doesn’t necessarily mean it wasn’t there.

If my memory serves me right and I am not hallucinating, then it looks like the Iowa Democrats aren't too worried about political backlash associated with calling for laxer marijuana laws or alienating some of their constituents by going too "pro pot". I’m not too surprised though given the political environment with more and more politicians speaking about the failures of our countries draconian drug policies.

Although this is good news, I think I’ll try not to get too optimistic about this. However, I think this information is especially important to mention when wording correspondence to our representatives if they are Democrats. It seems that we might be able to move past quoting the scientific and economic arguments because, as the platform indicates, they might already “get” that.

As it stands now, there are 32 Democrats in the Senate and 56 in the house. We need to contact our representatives and tell them that we support lines 583, 593, 745, and 906 on their platform and that the issue decides our vote. Tell them that they need to start introducing legislation that coincides with their party's platform.

Even with strong majorities in both the house and senate, it didn't look like the Dems were able to unite and get much done this session. Lets hope they get it together for 2010.

By the way, I also went to the 2008 Iowa Republican Party Platform and nothing was stated on this particular issue. I think however, it might be a good bet that they're opposed to gay marriage. Maybe we need to call them and ask for some clarification about this marijuana thing.

Iowa Pharmacy Board Must Review Medicinal Value of Marijuana

The Iowa Board of Pharmacy must review whether marijuana has an accepted medical use, says a recent ruling by Polk County judge Joel Novak.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090425/NEWS/904250333/-1/ENT05

This forces the board to examine whether or not marijuana is properly scheduled as a Schedule I controlled substance under state law.

Carl Olsen’s blog chronicles his attempts to remove marijuana from its current Schedule I classification at the state and federal level. This is some very important stuff going on right here in Iowa folks.

Schedule I is the most tightly restricted category of drugs reserved for drugs with a high potential for abuse and no safe medicinal value. Removal of marijuana from that classification would facilitate efforts to have medical marijuana here in Iowa. It would also allow easier access for researchers who want to study the drug.

The internet brings us things faster...even progress.

A few weeks ago, the number one question posed by Americans in response to President Obama on his virtual “town hall” forum was “Will you consider legalizing marijuana so that the government can regulate it, tax it, put age limits on it, and create millions of new jobs and create a billion dollar industry right here in the U.S.?”

Fox news called us “a plague of Internet "trolls" -- troublemakers who work to derail cyber-conversations through harassing and inflammatory posts.”

At first I became offended. But then I digressed.

It’s been many years since Google first opened the doors to the vast spectrum of information transmitted through illuminated twenty-inch liquid crystal displays -- our modern day crystal balls.

When I first started trolling the internet, Google was in its infancy. As it became more powerful, my trolling became more efficient, more meticulous. I found people with similar interests and slowly began cutting ties to many of my real life friends. In just the way my friends became more specific, so did my interests. They became limited to only a very narrow range of topics.

A long time ago I came across a statement by someone I can unfortunately no longer recall. That person claimed that ideological differences no longer existed. That the only difference now lay between those who believed citizens should be “property of the state” and those who did not. I believe this statement wholeheartedly.

Marijuana prohibition is unjust because it attempts to protect citizens from their own innate desires. It strips our freedom of choice and is a fantasy that strives for a utopia that can never exist. Ambitions towards such perfections are dangerous. They lead to absolutist ideas.

Justice William O. Douglas once wrote, "The struggle is always between the individual and his sacred right to express himself and the power structure that seeks conformity, suppression, and obedience."

I recently watched MPP’s Bruce Mirken on a CNBC debate and linked it for your amusement.

We only need more idiots like this making the ludicrous argument that we endorse giving drugs to three and five year olds to make our point heard even louder.

I’ll also add another Ron Paul video in for good measure. Please watch and learn from these two master debaters.

Many years ago, the banter around the online marijuana community was that marijuana will never be legalized in our lifetime. This is no longer the case. There is real optimism out there now, and it is refreshing.

Obama calls it transparency. That was his goal with the virtual “town hall” meeting. And he got that whether he liked it or not. The internet makes it easier for the truth to reveal itself. And what is on the minds of Americans? It is not just marijuana, but freedom. Freedom to act on their own desires as long as those desires pose no threat to others.

Now the question is, can we get together and make change or do we want to place change on the shoulders of a single individual because of catchy but empty campaign slogans. It’s not enough to vote and hide in the shadows. We are at a tipping point now and SICK PEOPLE should not have to wait for a STRONGER, more WILLING generation or for the next unfortunate series of world events if it does not go our way now. We need your help.

My goal is to have the first newsletter out to everyone and posted here on this site by next week. I'm so sorry for the delay. I’ve received a lot of positive feedback lately and it makes me very hopeful. I’ll keep working to keep everybody posted.

Medical Marijuana in Iowa? Maybe next year.

Greetings all.

Well, no longer breaking news, nor I guess, was it ever in our little city with big aspirations.

Iowa’s Medical Marijuana bill, SF 293, was shelved but with the following message from Sen. Joe Bolkcom, D-Iowa City:

“The committee members agreed that the bill needed more work and would not move forward this session but that there remains a need to continue to explore this issue. Thirteen states have allowed the medical use of marijuana. Bills have been introduced in 14 more states this year.0.

I have been overwhelmed at the response to this legislation. I have received more than 90 emails from around the state including many detailed personal health stories from Iowans suffering with extremely difficult conditions and seeking relief.

I will be working with other interested parties on an amendment to improve the bill for consideration next legislative session. It would be my hope to see if there is support next year to make progress on this issue.”

Ok Iowa, next year when the legislative session begins, I think we can do better than 90 emails. Remember, emails are good but letters have more of an impact. We have 9 months until the legislative session to get organized and start a letter writing campaign.

I want you all to write letters and then, in turn, find at least five others who can write. It’s not so hard friends, I know you all are social butterflies. I think these letters will have the greatest impact if they’re all delivered simultaneously at the beginning of the session so you guys just worry about writing the letters and finding at least 5 others, who in turn, find others.

I’ll be getting an information packet together soon for those who know me so you can distribute to those who can help. It’ll include facts about medical marijuana and other things pertinent to our cause that’ll help you write the letter. Half of the fight is combating the ignorance and misinformation that runs rampant in our homely little city.

They’ll be instructions for what to do with the letters once you get them together. If you have happened to come across this blog by chance – well lucky you – send me an email and I’ll send you the information packet via email at IMAP2009@yahoo.com (Iowa Marijuana Activism Project 2009).

Here are a few facts to think about for writing your letter. Try to make them as personal as possible, these types of letters will have the greatest impact – perhaps you know someone who uses in order to alleviate pain associated with a medical condition – I know I do.

1. 13 states have laws protecting medical marijuana patients from state prosecution – these laws are operating primarily as lawmakers intended and have not let to widespread abuses.

2. The American College of Physicians supports medical cannabis, stating, “The ACP strongly urges protection from criminal or civil penalties for patients who use medical marijuana as permitted under state laws.

3. The use of marijuana should be a public health issue and not part of the war on drugs so that doctors and patients can determine together the right course of treatment for diseases.

4. A recent national survey of U.S. physicians for the American Society of Addiction Medicine reported that nearly half of all doctors with opinions support legalizing cannabis as a medicine.

5. Some 80 state and national health care organizations, including the American Nurses Associate, American Public Health Association and the New England Journal of Medicine, support immediate, legal patient access to medical cannabis.

It is immoral to deny someone who is severely ill relief from pain and discomfort. Especially if the relief they seek does not adversely affect themselves or the community. As things stand now, people who seek relief with marijuana face criminal prosecution, loss of freedom, excessive fines, property seizure, loss of federal financial aid, job discrimination, loss of parental/custodial rights, their right to bear arms, to vote. The list of injustices goes on and will continue until we do something about it.

A medical marijuana program in our state would benefit everyone, not just the sick and even those misguided individuals who are against it.

On a lighter note, I am constantly thinking of ways to counter the arguments of my poor misguided counterparts. How would someone who was against medical marijuana in Iowa word a letter to Senater Bolkom?. I thought and I thought. Hmmm. What kind of vile, wretched individual would be against this bill? A right wing authoritarian? Maybe a government trusting conformist human/sheep hybrid? I couldn’t think of anything but this:

Dear Senator Bolkom,

It is my understanding that you are the Senator responsible for introducing Senate File 293, a bill that would allow a person in Iowa with a debilitating condition and a medical prescription to legally obtain marijuana for medicinal use. I understand that committee members agreed the bill needed more work and would not move forward this session but that you seek to reintroduce and reexamine this bill during the next legislative session.

I am writing to express my absolute opposition to this bill. You see, Senator Bolkom, I am a local drug dealer operating in the Des Moines area and this bill would negatively affect me in several ways. As it now stands, I profit enormously from current Iowa laws prohibiting the possession of marijuana and its use under any circumstances, even for the treatment of the sick and dying.

These laws insure that I am the most sensible way for many of my clients to obtain marijuana. Marijuana is a hardy, resilient plant, and it is able to grow in a wide variety of climates, even indoors. This program would allow those who qualify for a registry identification card to grow their own marijuana without risk of prosecution. If a medical marijuana program were enacted in Iowa, my business would suffer tremendously.

As it currently stands, I am able to sell marijuana at an enormous profit relative to the bulk rate at which I purchase it from my supplier, a cartel in Mexico. My employer would also suffer from a loss in revenue. Since he spends a fixed amount of money buying weapons, bribing government officials and paying violent henchmen, he will likely be forced to raise his prices on me in order to compensate.

I ask that you stem all ambitions of getting this law, or any law that travels down a similar path passed in the state. I spend a lot of money in the community on property, guns, and expensive designer athletic shoes and apparel. I do not wish to move my operation elsewhere. We must recognize the black market for marijuana is alive and well in Iowa and continue to foster its existence to ensure the survival of my business and the businesses of many of my colleagues.

Thank You.

Sincerely,

Joe the Drug Dealer.

Anyhow, I wanted to get out my first post as soon as possible so here it is. In the very near future I’ll be adding links to a lot more information and posts with varying levels of seriousness. We need to jam as much information into our little heads as possible so we can educate people every chance we get. Nine months until the next legislative session friends…lets get ready.

Oh, and btw, do you know any budding bloggers? Visit the home page of the American Medical Marijuana Society to see how you can help.