Of Mainstreaming Marijuana

By

Neal Smith

It had to happen. And in one sense, it is a good and natural consequence of the coming relegalization of Marijuana. In another sense, there’s a risk of the malfeasance of big business super-controlling, super-marketing Marijuana for no other reason than to maximize profits.

Regardless, relegalization is coming. Constantly it seems, yet another state makes progress towards that end. So far, as of March, 2010, no state has relegalized for personal use, but 14 (And the District of Columbia) now allow medical possession, sale and cultivation. California will have a ballot question on its November, 2010 ballot. Massachusetts has a bill pending. Other states are mulling the idea.

Part of the trade-off for relegalization is allowing government to tax sales of Marijuana. That means government will be taking its share of the profits, in addition to setting some sort of limits on sale, possession, production and probably ideas to be a pain in the ass that we haven’t even thought of. Meanwhile, business people will be thinking of ways to make money off of a “New” product.

They already have.

For 40 years or so there have been products available for the Marijuana smoker: Pipes, bongs, rolling papers, roach clips, ashtrays, one-hitters, books, magazines, clothing, safes, air fresheners, scales, a myriad of growing equipment and more.

Government is most likely going to want some standards in delivery of medical Marijuana. Never mind that simply filling a pipe or rolling a joint will continue to be quite sufficient. Government will want a pipe that holds a precise amount…maybe a different size pipe for different prescription amounts. You know how government is. For example, during the “Space race” in the 1950’s and ‘60’s, the U.S. government, desiring a writing instrument that could write in space, spent several million dollars developing a pen that would write upside down in zero gravity. The Soviets simply used a pencil.

At least at first, government will demand minute accountability. They will demand reports, quality standards, tax stamps, and Creator-knows-what-else. As usual, they will create a bureaucratic nightmare for those supplying Marijuana for either medical or personal use. What’s a stoner to do?

There’s an ap for that!

Since March of 2009, Medical Marijuana Inc. has been consulting with various dispensaries and compassion clubs to ensure accurate compliance with government regulations.

They’re a public corporation, an over the counter stock market participant with an identification code of MJNA. According the company’s website, they have “…developed a suite of solutions to deliver an efficient and secure infrastructure for the Medical Marijuana Industry which provides the tools to industry operators to effectively manage their business with the confidence that they are in full compliance.” They at least have the foresight to know what the future holds: “Medical Marijuana Inc. recognizes the vast and unequaled opportunities that exist in the rapidly expanding medical marijuana industry. The scientific recognition of cannabis has brought legalized marijuana use to the forefront of mainstream discussion, thus opening the door for safe and lucrative investment opportunities.”

What, you don’t want to invest in a third party to do your work for you? There are a few institutions of, er, higher education. Oaksterdam University in California offers training in how to grow medical Marijuana, how to run a cooperative and other necessary training that such honored standard universities aren’t yet up to speed on. Of course, much of what we know about Cannabis/Hemp has come from mainstream universities, and as long as research dollars are available, they’ll break even more ground. But as far as growing, distributing and the boots-on-the-ground battles of medical Marijuana, Oaksterdam is the best and most well-known. Other institutions include Greenway University, Medical Marijuana Education and Training. Cannbe, whose CEO founded Harborside Management Associates in California and ran one of the early dispensaries there, is getting good media coverage. All are teaching would-be entrepreneurs such things as: Dealing with government, finding a good location for a dispensary, setting up delivery services, marketing, growing the medicine and other aspects of getting needed medicine to patients.

Media coverage has been rampant, much of it very positive to relegalization. Business Week magazine in November, 2009 ran a positive piece on the education. Even comedians are now joking about pot in a positive way. There are frequent passing references to pot in talk shows, even some game shows. Drew Carey, the host of “The Price is Right” is a well-known advocate for medical Marijuana, as is Montel Williams.
There is still a lot of trite expressions and graphics being used in the media, like plans that don’t work “Going up in smoke,” and pictures including a pot leaf with a needle and line of cocaine. It will be awhile before that changes.

There is a forum occurring this week (March 23, 2010) in Humboldt County, California between local business people, politicians and those in the Marijuana industry to discuss that county’s economic lifeline: Pot. The meeting centers around the relegalization of Marijuana. Organizer Anna Hamilton, who says she is “Intimately involved” in the Marijuana trade, says there is negative economic impact for those who grow, process and sell pot on the black market due to changing laws. ”I've lived here 20 years and every time there's been a discussion, an open discussion, about marijuana, it has emboldened people to grow more pot with less fear,” she said. “As it's become more widely grown, the prices dropped. The effect on our local economy is harsh.”

In 2009 a study shows $35.8 Billion dollars worth of pot was grown in 2006 in the United States, with California growing $13.6 Billion of that amount. The only way out, Hamilton says, is to “…embrace marijuana tourism, marijuana products and services -- and marijuana has to become a part of the Humboldt County brand,” Hamilton said.

It’s a foregone conclusion that the cost to the consumer upon legalization will be lower than it is now. In the Indianapolis area, an ounce of top quality Marijuana is running about $450-500. After relegalization with tax, it will run about $200-$300, maybe less. But, gone also will be the threat of going to jail, having your property confiscated, losing your job, your home, maybe your children. Gone will be threats of or actual violence over crooked deals and low quality at an outrageous price; organized crime will be dealt a serious blow. Quality will be guaranteed. No more inconvenience in trying to buy. Growers will still be employed, as will retailers. Plus, someone will have to quality test, package, market and transport. While a few jobs might be lost in the transition, more jobs will be available. Police will be free to deal with real crime, keeping us safer. With Hemp, we can end our dependence on fossil fuels, reduce hazardous pesticides to produce clothing, paper and other items. We can have biodegradable plastics, and earthquake-resistant building materials.

By far, relegalization will outpace illegalization…as long as we can control the bureaucracy that will climb on board to suck money off the world’s premier plant.

Sorry to be gone for so long

Been busy working on other things, particularly relegalization of Marijuana.

I'll be adding more content soon.

Meanwhile, On Monday, MSNBC put up a poll on relegalization.I just checked it on Thursday, 13,301 people have voted.13,012 voted to relegalize, or 97.8%. There are 289 demented souls who voted against, for a whopping 2.2%.

Obviously not a proper study, or even a proper poll, but that's a pretty significant number on a spur-of-the-moment poll,

You watching, Obama?

Are the Democrats Growing a Set?

Alan Grayson, Democrat Congressman from Florida, is one of my new heroes. The Ed Show, on MSNBC has the video and a good discussion of the statement.

An apology was demanded from the Republicans. Grayson refused to apologize for his statements, but did apologize to the 42 thousand people who are dying every year for lack of medical treatment because of no or inadequate health insurance.

It's about time some Democrat grew a set and told it like it is. It's about time ANYONE in government tells the truth and doesn't apologize for it. Grayson has done that.

It has gotten to the point that a reasonable person can not believe a word anyone on the right can be believed on much of anything. The right has no constructive plan to fix anything. They have no vision. They have no constructive leadership. The Democrats have limited vision and little courage to do the right thing. The Greens have the vision and the intellect to accomplish great things for our people, but they have little power.

The Left has heart, humanity. It's not in our genome to be hateful. Much more gets done when reasonable and intelligent people discuss an issue with a goal of solving a problem. The Right has no heart, no humanity. They worry about money and power, who and how many can they bend to their will to the end of only increasing their money and power and to hell with the rest of us.

I'm glad Grayson said what he did...and has refused to apologize for it. It's a taste of the Right’s own medicine and has caused a number of people on both sides of the aisle to call for a more civil debate. Brilliant strategy from the Democrats: Give the R's that taste of their own medicine, showing them howling about it to the point it's obvious they can dish it out but they can't take it, and demonstrating that while the hatred knife can cut both ways, so can the loving velvet caress.

Now lets see if the Democrats can find their courage and forthrightness in other issues as well: Healthcare, Iraq/Afghanistan, economy, environment…relegalization of Marijuana, all issues that need to be positively addressed.

Million Redneck March

The stupidity of the right wing continues and seems to be spreading like a rampant disease.

I find it particularly disturbing that these bozos don't know the difference between Communism and Fascism, as they persist in accusing Obama of being both.

Communism and Fascism are polar opposites. Simplified, for the Republican mind: Communism is the concept of all property being owned by all people. Fascism is the concept of corporations and business controlling everything in a society. The world has seen few, if any, real Communist regimes, though several have claimed to be Communist. We have seen several Fascist governments: Italy, Germany, Spain and, sadly, the U.S.

September 12th's demonstration contained the best of the worst. Disinformation flowed like water. Hatred spilled into the Potomac, and I suspect a large amount of that hatred is racially based.

And do the Republicans have any viable alternatives? Not a one.

They like to complain about the deficit. Obama didn't cause a deficit. That was the legacy of G.W. Bush, the darling of the right wing, the national idiot. It wasn't Obama that has spent 12 Billion dollars EVERY MONTH fighting needless wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It wasn't the Obama administration that tortured innocents. If you recall, former Vice President Dick Cheney took glee in defending torture. Very disturbed people, these right wingers.

Healthcare has been an issue since the late 1940's. Except for the untoward influence of the insurance cabal, we might have made some progress in fixing health care. Nearly every Republican who has vocally opposed health care has received donations from big insurance. Of course, to the right wing mind this is normal and doesn't mean collusion.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) the U.S. ranks 37th in quality and availability of health care in the world. Costa Rica outranks us. This is a national disgrace. We are supposed to be the best, the model for the rest of the world. Yet the right wingers can't fathom this concept. They can trick their puny little minds into thinking we're still number one by sticking their hand in a big foam rubber hand, forefinger extended. They think that makes a difference.

We all want smaller government. Left, right and center want as efficient a system as possible. Were we to actually eschew special interests, we might cut the size of government and still meet essential services.

In a society as diverse as ours, there has to be a centralized authority to coordinate the delivery of governement services from maintenance of national parks, the roads to them and even down to the roadside rest areas dotted around the interstate system. Someone has to control the water, the power grid, even the internet with standards of performance.

Lack of regulation is what let the greedy bankers and financiers run away and wreck our economy, coupled with the constant drain of funds by the Bush misAdministration. Health care regulations are next to nothing. Big insurance doesn't want to pay for the damage they've done to the people, so they are hoodwinking the incredibly stupid right wingers into thinking they'll lose something if Obama gets his way on health care.

As I've said before, I'm no fan of Obama nor of the Democrats. They are too willing to play too nice with the right. The right doesn't understand cooperation. They only understand brute force. The Democrats, having a bit more gray matter collectively than the Republicans, understand cooperation works much better than heavy handed force. But the Democrats have no balls.

I'm glad I'm a Green.

Skywolf.

More of the Same

The right wing keeps on swirling down the pipeline of idiocy, hypocrisy and disingenuous. now they're claiming President Obama is trying to brainwash school kids by addressing them via television, in the classrooms.

Obama is urging school kids to stay in school and study hard. School districts in seven states have vowed to block Obama's speech.

There is a grain of truth to the objection by the Right Wing. The education system is a shambles. Kids are being taught to pass tests, not to learn how to find what they need to know. There are some good reasons to shun public education, though not education in general. But that's as far as the truth goes.

The move to block Obama's address is rooted in the same disruptive mentality as the town hall meeting debacle, the "Death panel" bullshit and the rest of the right wing's garbage.

Now if Obama can explain why kids need to study and work hard, on a level they can understand, it might cause a few who would otherwise shun learning to be curious about the world around them. That's what it takes to create thinking, caring people.

Skywolf.

The following is a letter I emailed to IN-07 Congressman Andre Carson. He is a Democrat. Not particularly progressive, much more moderate than I would like. He is opposed to relegalization of Marijuana.

In his weekly newsletter, he is carrying the ball for the Democrat's health plan.

I am astounded at the cowardice and timidity of Democrats in general. Here they have control of the White House and control of both houses of Congress, and they still let themselves be bullied by the right wing. This is incredible.

He, and other politicians, refuse to rock the insurance/pharma cabal. Screw the corporations. It's past time for the people to take precedence!

Skywolf.

Dear Rep. Carson:

I am a supporter of Single Payer, maybe with some slight modifications of what that idea entails. I support Single Payer as it gives a level playing field in health care, and eliminates many of the concerns that plague our current U.S. healthcare system.

My knowledge of the political process is broad, having been an activist for social change for 40 years. I understand the climate of compromise, though I think the Democrats are missing a good opportunity to advance the social agenda that calls for health, peace and healthy prosperity.

It is highly embarrassing to me as an American that according to the World Health Organization, the United States ranks 37th in health care. Yet, our spending for healthcare is outrageous.

I have noticed that President Obama has switched his phraseology from “Health care reform” to “Health insurance reform.” I am assuming that President Obama has fallen prey to the lobbyists and special interests he has so eschewed during his march to the White House. According to several mainstream media reports, most of the Obama healthcare critics in Congress have received major campaign contributions from either the healthcare industry or the pharmaceutical industry. I am pleased to note their contributions to your campaign were small. Nevertheless, there is far too much influence among your colleagues on the part of big insurance and big pharma and that is quite seriously affecting the healthcare debate in this country.

I could live with President Obama’s healthcare package as he has presented it, but only with the public option. And there should be a goal of transitioning to Single Payer within a very few years. Unless President Obama and all Democrats stand up, grow a set and out-shout the right wing, we will get nothing worthwhile out of this healthcare proposal.

Above, I mentioned my support of Single Payer with some slight modifications. What would be the impact of a non-governmental, though governmental-regulated, not-for-profit organization to coordinate Single Payer? This would remove the stigma the right wing is trying to put on Single Payer, claiming it would cause us to be a Socialist nation, which of course it would not. It would allay somewhat valid fears of a bureaucratic nightmare being played on a national level to administer health care on such a broad scale.

It would also guarantee quality health care to all regardless of race, sex or social station. Canada’s situation is not intolerable. France has a good system, though the French are taxed heavily.

Personally, I would not object to paying more taxes so that all people could have quality health care. But this must be done with the good of the people, not the good of the corporations, in mind. Can you and the Democrats do that?

Insurance Industry Funded Fascism

Does anyone remember the debacle that happened in Florida in 2000? Right wing terrorists, led by James Baker and others threatened physical violence to those who were recounting the votes from the stolen 2000 election that put Bush and the fascists in power for eight years.

They're using similar tactics to keep their buddies in the health care industry rolling in the bucks.

The August 6, 2009 edition of the Rachel Maddow show quite adeptly connected the dots on who is behind the skirmishes at the town hall meetings.

Funny how the right wingers pull out the stops to squelch Democrat or left wing protests, but think they have the only right to protest. It's more evidence of a mass disconnect of rational thought on the part of the right, not to mention mass hypocrisy and nothing but lies.


Below is an Alternet link about the violence of the right wing.

http://www.alternet.org/healthwellness/141833/right-wing_turncoat_explains_why_conservatives_are_rampaging_town_halls/?page=entire

Will the left grow a set and counter this? Obama sure doesn't seem to have the courage to do so.