Canadian Anti-DEA Conference

[Stokes]

Let's Get Ready to Rumble !!!

Who's up for a good old fashioned PROTEST? ... naturally, we're not allowed to do it on American soil but what the hey. This thing's gonna make the NORML conference look like 'Leave it to Beaver'.

The DEA is having a Conference in Montreal at the beginning of May to congratulate the RCMP on their fine job of boot-licking and conformance to the US War on Drugs.

At the same time, the Canadian Cannabis community is planning an Anti-DEA conference (May 8-11) to voice their disapproval. What an opportunity for exposure it would be to have Roger there to speak. The Canadians have more support and attention up there right now than they ever have had.

I hope these guys send the message loud and clear, and kick the DEA out on their asses.

Emery, Goodwin, and others discuss the plans on this forum: http://www.cannabisculture.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=1224331
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Where love is, there God is also.

-Mahatma Gandhi

[Stokes]

PROBLEM WITH A PLANT? OUTLAW IT!

The story was about a stupid idea, but at least the reporter allowed some critics to point out that the idea was indeed stupid.

USA Today published an article a few days ago by Oren Dorell about a bill to prohibit Salvia divinorum in Delaware - see http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20060403/a_salvia03.art.htm

It starts off as a bad story with all the hype. Salvia, a psychoactive plant which is still legal in most of the U.S., is characterized as "the most powerful natural hallucinogen known." From there, Salvia use is tied ( very tenuously, I think ) to the suicide of a teenager.

The second half of the story is closer to fair, with comments from a person who sells and uses Salvia. He doesn't sound unreasonable, but he describes a mild experience with Salvia involving "fairy-like beings hovering around the hillside."

A more down-to-earth sounding voice comes, strangely, from the federal government. The head of Psychoactive Drug Screening Program for the National Institute of Mental Health says he sees a need for regulation, but that prohibition would hinder medical research on Salvia.

I appreciate USA Today's attempt to present both sides in its Salvia story. I doubt that would have happened if the Office of National Drug Control Policy stenographer who also reports for USA Today ( see this other USA Today story from the past week - - http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06/n419/a05.html - for example ) had been assigned this story.

While the Salvia article shows why prohibition might be bad in this particular instance, unfortunately, the broader illogic of prohibition still isn't challenged.

If prohibition really worked, kids wouldn't use illegal drugs. But they do.

Delaware Sen. Karen Peterson, a supporter of the Salvia ban, unwittingly explains one of the major flaws of drug prohibition while trying to make a case for it.

"Kids fall into a false sense of security because it's legal," Peterson said about Salvia. If Peterson is right, we only have the ideology of prohibition to thank. Do we need the government to outlaw something before young people understand it can be bad for them?

Right now police don't have enough time or resources to consistently enforce drug laws already on the books. If we outlawed everything potentially harmful to young people, few activities beyond breathing would be legal.

Even then, we could still count on a few busybodies like Peterson to crusade against the dangers of releasing all that carbon dioxide into the environment, especially too close to the children.


http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06/n433/a05.html
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Where love is, there God is also.

-Mahatma Gandhi

[Stokes]

Good report on Marc Emery:

http://www.pot-tv.net/archive/shows/pottvshowse-4211.html
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Where love is, there God is also.

-Mahatma Gandhi