tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34561220204341117362024-03-13T02:13:41.820-04:00That was awkward..."Talking about drugs can be awkward, but talk about them we must."
~ MaryJane Cannabian (With apologies to Yoda)MaryJane Cannabianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10047679366767151464noreply@blogger.comBlogger122125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3456122020434111736.post-60777243564521382202013-04-11T06:01:00.000-04:002013-10-30T16:46:53.476-04:00Mother Nature Trumps "ImPOTsters!"<br />
For those familiar with Facebook you'll know that on the right hand side of the home page is space allotted for advertisements. Last week one promoting the Facebook page for "<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-IZMS/164159170349859?ref=ts&fref=ts">The IZMS</a>" caught my attention so I did what any well informed mama would do and used that ad (under Fair Use, of course) to warn others: "Don't take this fake shit! It is synthetic, a dangerous man-made abomination not meant for human consumption!"<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpJqsgx5PusIySIIX6d-Q4GWV11NCGXNagEY7DXbS94UTEhrYisU2qS9ESBBlMbWonB_Lqfs8uvEIDKIbgcu5DvRTKIeu2-ArLP_erwIV8fM-CxouzdFgAnT833e3I6UDaZ6IwGTi4U-o/s1600/FUCKthisSyntheticCrap!.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpJqsgx5PusIySIIX6d-Q4GWV11NCGXNagEY7DXbS94UTEhrYisU2qS9ESBBlMbWonB_Lqfs8uvEIDKIbgcu5DvRTKIeu2-ArLP_erwIV8fM-CxouzdFgAnT833e3I6UDaZ6IwGTi4U-o/s400/FUCKthisSyntheticCrap!.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Today I was not surprised when a Canadian news station ran this "Parents Beware!" story with accompanying video about a youth taken to the hospital from "Synthetic Marijuana": <a href="http://toronto.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=902994&playlistId=1.1232631&binId=1.815892&playlistPageNum=1">Drug alert: THC-laced lollipop lands teen in hospital </a>The story was also posted on their <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=524006387641292&set=a.213598522015415.50863.194553860586548&type=1&theater">Facebook Page here</a>.<br />
<br />
While I was very disappointed at the "scary THC!" headline and the fact that nowhere in this video did the reporter, doctor, or police officer inform people that this chemical shitstorm stuffed into a lollipop is very different from real cannabis, I was at least thankful for a spotlight being shone on these dangerous "Legals", as some people call them. These products with names like K2, Spice and the above mentioned "IZMS" are man-made, sprayed and laced with who knows what additives and other than the fact that they're smoked the similarities pretty much end there. <br />
<br />
Now I'm not saying that cannabis is 100% completely harmless for every single person but from the reactions reported from the "fake weed" it is safe to say that all natural Mother Nature made cannabis is exponentially safer by leaps and bounds. Cannabis' safety record is one of the reasons it has been utilized by humans for thousands upon thousands of years. <br />
<br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2]"><span class="UFICommentBody" id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0"><span id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[0]"><span id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[0].[3]">Regardless of their different monikers, man-made synthetic (JWH-018) "herbal</span></span><span id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3]"><span id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0"><span id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0.[0]">
blends" are NOT natural cannabis/marijuana/hemp and should not be
compared to the real, non-toxic plant. There has never
been one recorded death from Cannabis. In fact, according to the LD-50 rating system in order to induce a toxic
response from Cannabis use only, a person would have to ingest
approximately 1500 pounds of it within 15 minutes.</span></span></span></span></span> <br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{replies524006387641292_76333070}.[1][2]{comment524006387641292_76333215}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2]"><span class="UFICommentBody" id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{replies524006387641292_76333070}.[1][2]{comment524006387641292_76333215}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0"><span id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{replies524006387641292_76333070}.[1][2]{comment524006387641292_76333215}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[0]"><span id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{replies524006387641292_76333070}.[1][2]{comment524006387641292_76333215}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[0].[0]"><br />Admittedly cannabis
is not for everyone - just like peanuts, lactose or gluten. But don't you think we
need to educate people about the verified possible side effects instead of
letting rhetoric and propaganda muddy the waters so much that kids don't know what to believe?</span></span><span id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{replies524006387641292_76333070}.[1][2]{comment524006387641292_76333215}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3]"><span id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{replies524006387641292_76333070}.[1][2]{comment524006387641292_76333215}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0"><span id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{replies524006387641292_76333070}.[1][2]{comment524006387641292_76333215}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0.[0]"> When real facts about nicotine cigarettes were given smoking rates went
down, all without a prohibition or arresting a single person. Also, pot dealers don't
ask teens for ID like the LCBO does which translates into restricting
access to minors.</span><span id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{replies524006387641292_76333070}.[1][2]{comment524006387641292_76333215}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0.[2]">
<br /><br />I am a parent myself and do not want my kids to ever touch this fake
stuff because through my research I have come to the conclusion that it
is very dangerous. This currently legal stuff is being mass produced
and people are using this instead of natural cannabis because </span></span></span></span></span>it is legal. (While banned in a few places, makers just tweak the chemical compositions and BAM! - they now have a new drug to sell which hasn't been prohibited.)<br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2]"><span class="UFICommentBody" id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0"><span id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3]"><span id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0"><span id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0.[0]"></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2]"><span class="UFICommentBody" id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0"><span id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3]"><span id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0"><span id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0.[0]">I had first researched "synthetic weed" when I discovered people
were using it to avoid arrest and beat employee drug tests. (Thanks,
Prohibition!) As
someone who writes about drug policy I believe it is imperative to be
truthful and not misinform. Having said that I have provided some info
and links from many different websites not to scare you, but so more
people can read about synthetic herbal blends and become more
knowledgeable regarding this "<i>ImPOTster</i>". I hope this information helps, I would honestly hate to hear of anyone else being harmed by one of these brands. <br /><br />In my honest opinion the best thing we can do to address this problem is to re-legalize Cannabis, once people can freely and responsibly use the real thing without fear then products like IZMS will fall out of favour and become obsolete. <br /><br />Ain't nothing like the real thing!</span></span></span></span></span><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{replies524006387641292_76333070}.[1][2]{comment524006387641292_76333215}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2]"><span class="UFICommentBody" id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{replies524006387641292_76333070}.[1][2]{comment524006387641292_76333215}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0"><span id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{replies524006387641292_76333070}.[1][2]{comment524006387641292_76333215}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[0]"><span id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{replies524006387641292_76333070}.[1][2]{comment524006387641292_76333215}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[0].[0]"><br /></span></span><span id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{replies524006387641292_76333070}.[1][2]{comment524006387641292_76333215}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3]"><span id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{replies524006387641292_76333070}.[1][2]{comment524006387641292_76333215}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0"><span id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{replies524006387641292_76333070}.[1][2]{comment524006387641292_76333215}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0.[2]"></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2]"><span class="UFICommentBody" id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0"><span id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3]"><span id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0"><span id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0.[0]"></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2]"><span class="UFICommentBody" id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0"><span id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3]"><span id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0"><span id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0.[0]"><br /></span><span id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0.[3]">"IZMS": </span><a content="http://redcheeked.wordpress.com/2012/10/01/izms/" href="http://redcheeked.wordpress.com/2012/10/01/izms/" id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0.[4]" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://redcheeked.wordpress.com/2012/10/01/izms/</a><br id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0.[5]" /><br id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0.[6]" /><span id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0.[7]">There’s a New Brand of Synthetic Pot on the Market: </span><a content="http://riddellcreative.wordpress.com/2012/09/29/high-on-the-izms/" href="http://riddellcreative.wordpress.com/2012/09/29/high-on-the-izms/" id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0.[8]" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://riddellcreative.wordpress.com/2012/09/29/high-on-the-izms/</a></span></span></span></span>Fake Pot Cited as Cause in 16 Cases of Kidney Damage<br />
<a href="https://www.marijuanadoctors.com/blog/Medical-marijuana-trends/Fake-Pot-Cited-as-Cause-in-16-Cases-of-Kidney-Damage">https://www.marijuanadoctors.com/blog/Medical-marijuana-trends/Fake-Pot-Cited-as-Cause-in-16-Cases-of-Kidney-Damage</a><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuPmO-pawWYBAyiMLKq-CYykbWOdY9FPSBp7CK2jpTH8Pox50G0G-UpezDUfDXjmxPFE6jf8JKMu_NroO94Aa89JItMDhCEW5FCetquNmYPeL-BSahp6QVN9v0K4J_hGyWnIuzIIWNQoE/s1600/Symptoms+Of+Fake+Marijuana.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuPmO-pawWYBAyiMLKq-CYykbWOdY9FPSBp7CK2jpTH8Pox50G0G-UpezDUfDXjmxPFE6jf8JKMu_NroO94Aa89JItMDhCEW5FCetquNmYPeL-BSahp6QVN9v0K4J_hGyWnIuzIIWNQoE/s400/Symptoms+Of+Fake+Marijuana.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Graphic via To The The Maximus Foundation<br />
("Click" to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2]"><span class="UFICommentBody" id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0"><span id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3]"><span id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0"><span id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0.[11]">What Is Synthetic Pot, and Why's It Causing Heart Attacks in Teenagers?</span><br id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0.[12]" /><a content="http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2011/11/18/what-is-synthetic-pot-and-whys-it-causing-heart-attacks-in-teenagers/#.UWEUh1fm3-I" href="http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2011/11/18/what-is-synthetic-pot-and-whys-it-causing-heart-attacks-in-teenagers/#.UWEUh1fm3-I" id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0.[13]" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2011/11/18/what-is-synthetic-pot-and-whys-it-causing-heart-attacks-in-teenagers/#.UWEUh1fm3-I</a><br id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0.[14]" /><br id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0.[15]" /><a content="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JWH-018" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JWH-018" id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0.[16]" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JWH-018</a><br id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0.[17]" /><span id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0.[34]"></span><span id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0.[37]"><br />Synthetic Cannabinoid Exposures Reported to Texas Poison Centers</span><br id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0.[38]" /><a content="http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10550887.2011.609807#tabModule" href="http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10550887.2011.609807#tabModule" id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0.[39]" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10550887.2011.609807#tabModule</a><br id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0.[40]" /><br id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0.[41]" /><a content="https://aapcc.s3.amazonaws.com/files/library/Synthetic_Marijuana_Data_for_Website_2.28.2013.pdf" href="https://aapcc.s3.amazonaws.com/files/library/Synthetic_Marijuana_Data_for_Website_2.28.2013.pdf" id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0.[42]" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://aapcc.s3.amazonaws.com/files/library/Synthetic_Marijuana_Data_for_Website_2.28.2013.pdf</a><br id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0.[43]" /><br id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0.[44]" /><a content="http://www.hdap.org/spice.html#16" href="http://www.hdap.org/spice.html#16" id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0.[45]" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.hdap.org/spice.html#16</a><br id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0.[46]" /><br id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0.[47]" /><a content="http://www.hdap.org/spice.html#14" href="http://www.hdap.org/spice.html#14" id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0.[48]" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.hdap.org/spice.html#14</a></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2]"><span class="UFICommentBody" id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0"><span id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3]"><span id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0"><span id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0.[19]">According
to the American Association of Poison Control Centers, there were 6,959
calls nationwide related to adverse effects associated with "fake pot"
compounds in 2011, nearly 2.4 times the amount of calls in 2010.</span><span id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0.[22]"><br /><br />Health effects from the drug can be life-threatening and can include:</span><br id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0.[23]" /><span id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0.[24]">-Severe agitation and anxiety.</span><br id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0.[25]" /><span id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0.[26]">-Fast, racing heartbeat and higher blood pressure.</span><br id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0.[27]" /><span id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0.[28]">-Nausea and vomiting.</span><br id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0.[29]" /><span id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0.[30]">-Muscle spasms, seizures, and tremors.</span><br id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0.[31]" /><span id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0.[32]">-Intense hallucinations and psychotic episodes.</span><br id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0.[33]" /><span id=".reactRoot[1].[1][3][1]{comment524006387641292_76333146}.0.[1].0.[1].0.[0].[0][2].0.[3].0.[34]">-Suicidal and other harmful thoughts and/or actions.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><u><i><b>Update 10/30/2013</b></i></u></span>: Izms Boss Gets Busted<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/news/fake-weed-ceo-adam-wookey-charged-in-2m-drug-bust-1.2288211">'Fake weed' CEO Adam Wookey charged in $2M drug bust</a><br />
<br />
via CBC News - "The head of a synthetic marijuana company whose product was being
sold in Hamilton is in trouble with the law again after a $2-million
drug bust.<br />
<br />
Toronto police arrested Adam Wookey, 29, of Toronto, on Monday along
with four others. The CEO of the Izms and PurePillz companies is now
facing a host of drug-related charges." <br />
<br />
Here is the comment I left where the story was <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/10/30/adam-wookey-fake-weed-arrested_n_4177535.html">cross-posted at the Huffington Post</a>:<br />
<br />
As an advocate for the legalization and regulation of Cannabis for
adults I am thankful for this development. I'd like to state that we must stop
calling products like The Izms "fake pot", "fake marijuana", "synthetic marijuana" etc.
These man-made concoctions are nothing like natural cannabis and should be
avoided at all costs.<br />
<br />
The popularity of these licit "ImPOTsters" is a direct result of <a href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.ca/2009/06/how-cannabis-works.html">our innate utilization of the now prohibited cannabis plant</a>. Humans have used cannabis for
thousands upon thousands of years, just because it is deemed illegal
does not remove our affinity for it, hence our continued growth and use
of it for medicine and recreation/relaxation regardless of its legal status.<br />
<br />
Once re-legalized, quality tested and regulated for sale; all-natural
weed will obliterate this fake crap out of existence. Until then I
support leo's shutting down its production. I know Mr. Wookey hasn't been charged for selling the Izms but I admit I am thankful that his arrest may lead to his product being shelved for good.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"></script><fb:like font="verdana" href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com" show_faces="false" width="450"></fb:like><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"></script><fb:like href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com" show_faces="false" width="450" font="verdana"></fb:like></div>MaryJane Cannabianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10047679366767151464noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3456122020434111736.post-74981747274034282602013-03-22T09:44:00.000-04:002013-03-22T09:46:18.363-04:00Go Home, Drug War, You're Drunk!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9gMILe5migCxRKu-vkiIFARIj8GtMtEdznWjj9Lt90jH1yQCVRyTCV_42ISD5Sw2fGfo7GCcBREI_ahyphenhyphen3Cmy7twGyG0zmhr9LrbuGkePE5hraOAW6aFdwSjVFciaW5-cEHtuvJ6xBaTE/s1600/NYPD1MillPotHours.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9gMILe5migCxRKu-vkiIFARIj8GtMtEdznWjj9Lt90jH1yQCVRyTCV_42ISD5Sw2fGfo7GCcBREI_ahyphenhyphen3Cmy7twGyG0zmhr9LrbuGkePE5hraOAW6aFdwSjVFciaW5-cEHtuvJ6xBaTE/s400/NYPD1MillPotHours.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Read the story:</span> <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/19/nypd-marijuana-arrests_n_2908285.html"><b><i>NYPD Spent 1 Million Hours Making 440,000 Marijuana Possession Arrests Over Last Decade</i></b> </a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"We cannot afford to continue arresting tens of thousands of youth every
year for low-level marijuana possession,” Alfredo Carrasquillo, a civil
rights organizer with the activist group VOCAL-NY, said in a release.
“We can't afford it in terms of the negative effect it has on the future
prospects of our youth and we can't afford in terms of police hours."</blockquote>
It's bad enough that the United States alone has already squandered over a <a href="http://www.drugwarrant.com/2010/05/drug-war-continues-to-fail-spectacularly/"><b><i>TRILLION</i></b> </a>dollars fighting The <a href="http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/the-union-the-business-behind-getting-high/">War on Drugs</a>; now we get a glimpse of all of the <i>time</i> that is wasted on it as well.<br />
<br />
Just think of all of the other things that could have been properly addressed with this kind of precious time and <b>tax-payer</b> money!<br />
<ul>
<li>Schools</li>
<li>Health Care</li>
<li>Elder Care<br />
</li>
<li>Veteran Support</li>
<li>Early Childhood Education</li>
<li>Mental Illness Support </li>
<li>Substance Abuse Rehabilitation</li>
<li>The Environment & Green Jobs
</li>
<li>Homelessness and Affordable Housing<br />
</li>
<li>Infrastructure<br />
</li>
<li>Fraud</li>
</ul>
Law Enforcement Officers could be solving exponentially more homicides, assaults and cases of child abuse and paedophilia. Instead of <a href="http://networkedblogs.com/AoqJr">building and staffing more jails</a> we could be funding laboratories and skilled workers that process crime scene evidence and expedite the processing of <span class="st">sexual assault forensic exam<i> </i>kit</span>s. (Something that is obviously lost on the likes of Ol' Sheriff Joe!<b>*)</b><br />
<br />
We must evaluate where our priorities lie as citizens of our communities and as members of the Human Race. Ask yourself where <i><b>*you*</b></i> want your hard earned taxes to go. Where do <i><b>*you*</b></i> want police to focus their attention? "<a href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.ca/2009/06/charlie-lynch-366-days-too-many.html">Herbal" </a>offenses? Or on actual crimes that really do hurt us all?<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0EpABsX2GppyYIrIF7ZuFawUDTEvBNeJBjhdHxgevyDvxRhTOtGzIQE7b2wKRk6zplC3yO8Vutsnj7_PvbTXfu9b5GwX4mTCqLYlvcPwePHaHBx_RJ5YXDW6brbjq0inKlcue8jxwz6o/s1600/HelicoptersChasingPlants.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0EpABsX2GppyYIrIF7ZuFawUDTEvBNeJBjhdHxgevyDvxRhTOtGzIQE7b2wKRk6zplC3yO8Vutsnj7_PvbTXfu9b5GwX4mTCqLYlvcPwePHaHBx_RJ5YXDW6brbjq0inKlcue8jxwz6o/s400/HelicoptersChasingPlants.JPG" width="260" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Visit the updated website for the NORML Women's Alliance of Canada and <a href="http://www.normlwomen.ca/get_involved">get involved</a>!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqt7SoGWG3A7bqjbwA2J_ERY3bupURXNJ3PTWz6zr3ccqE9z8q9ZVlHsQd5YMoyK908vC7T5dU-eFPIKx7jDYkZ_3wwTsV-NvYIJM7vppqT36_MFYSr35rrlo8OeLfXcpbazgYHRbyz94/s1600/Wise+Einstein.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqt7SoGWG3A7bqjbwA2J_ERY3bupURXNJ3PTWz6zr3ccqE9z8q9ZVlHsQd5YMoyK908vC7T5dU-eFPIKx7jDYkZ_3wwTsV-NvYIJM7vppqT36_MFYSr35rrlo8OeLfXcpbazgYHRbyz94/s1600/Wise+Einstein.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Along with the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NORMLWomensAllianceOfCanada">NORML Women's Alliance of Canada</a>, there are many, many organizations working to reform and change our drug policy laws. Check them out today!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.momsformarijuana.com/">Moms for Marijuana</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://norml.org/women">NORML Women's Alliance</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://norml.org/">NORML</a> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://norml.ca/">NORML Canada </a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/LEAPinCanada">Law Enforcement Against Prohibition Canada</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.leap.cc/">Law Enforcement Against Prohibition</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://sensiblebc.ca/">Sensible BC</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.drugpolicy.org/">Drug Policy Alliance</a><a href="http://saferchoice.org/"></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://ssdp.org/">Students for Sensible Drug Policy</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.mpp.org/">Marijuana Policy Project</a><span itemprop="name"><br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Dads4MJ">Dads For Marijuana International</a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.uf4a.org/uf4a-Controversial-Treatments.html">Unconventional Foundation for Autism</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.saferchoice.org/">SAFERChoice</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.marijuanamajority.com/">Marijuana Majority</a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>*Sheriff Joe!</b> ~ Maricopa County
Sheriff Joe Arpaio's office spent so much time and money seeking out
non-violent people that he prompted an internal investigation which
discovered at least 32 reported child molestations in which the
sheriff's office failed to follow through, even though suspects were
known in all but six cases. El Mirage, a community near Phoenix,
alleged there were many cases in which sheriff's investigators wrote no
follow-up reports, collected no additional forensic evidence and made
no effort after the initial crime report was taken. Arpaio's office
eventually reopened more than 400 of
its sex-crime cases countywide after finding they were inadequately
investigated or not examined at all. Read about this tragedy here at <i>THINKPROGRESS</i>: <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2011/12/05/381749/arizona-sheriff-joe-arpaio-failed-to-investigate-over-400-sex-crimes-including-molestations-of-undocumented-children/">Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio Failed To Investigate Over 400 Sex Crimes, Including Molestations Of Undocumented Children</a></div>
<br />
<br />
Additional Info<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.countthecosts.org/">Count the Costs - 50 Years of the War on Drugs</a> <br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Unless present policy is redirected, we will perpetuate the same
problems, tolerate the same social costs, and find ourselves as we do
now, no further along the road to a more rational legal and social
approach than we were in 1914.</span></b> - <i>"Drug Use in America: Problem in Perspective</i>", issued 40 years ago today. (March 22 1973 - March 22, 2013) From <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eric-e-sterling/shafer-commission-report-_b_2925777.html">"Shafer Commission Report on Marijuana and Drugs, Issued 40 Years Ago Today, Was Ahead of its Time"</a> <br />
by Eric E. Sterling. <i><b> Please read this, it is an amazing article! </b></i></div>
<br />
"Ironically, these policy failures are often cited by law
enforcement as a justification for continuing current policies.
Just as the costs of enforcing marijuana laws are cited as
a cost of drug abuse rather than public policy, these social
problems are misrepresented to the public as evidence that
marijuana use requires criminal sanctions rather than regulation.
Policy failures brought about by this lack of effective controls
is not a valid justification of current policies. The statistical
data cited in this report on the supply, availability, use,
price, and value of marijuana demonstrate that the amount
of lost taxes and other fiscal costs of current policy are
increasing and proliferating over time."<br />
From <a href="http://www.drugscience.org/Archive/bcr4/7Commentary.html">Lost Taxes and Other Costs of Marijuana Laws</a> by Jon Gettman - Read the full report of the
tremendous annual cost of marijuana prohibition in the October 2007 issue of the Bulletin of Cannabis Reform<br />
<br />
<a href="http://huff.to/10qnU8d">14 Reasons Why Marijuana is Good for the Economy</a> (HuffPo Slideshow, scroll down the page)<br />
<a href="http://www.marijuanamajority.com/"><br /></a>
<a href="http://www.marijuanamajority.com/"><br /></a>
<a href="http://www.marijuanamajority.com/"><br /></a></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"></script><fb:like font="verdana" href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com" show_faces="false" width="450"></fb:like><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"></script><fb:like href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com" show_faces="false" width="450" font="verdana"></fb:like></div>MaryJane Cannabianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10047679366767151464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3456122020434111736.post-1288577392831524682012-07-28T16:20:00.000-04:002013-02-12T15:13:43.284-05:00Making Money Off of Crime: It's Criminal!<br />
"Shabby Justice"<br />
<br />
First, read/watch: <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/07/26/conrad-black-prison-privatization_n_1707573.html">Conrad Black: Privatizing Prisons 'A Catastrophic Idea' (VIDEO, PHOTOS)</a> on the Huffington Post. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzqKJuWDP5wchKpmWDg5qy-t_vdUiX4BA2Lshpng8EvtnC5ONu8WocF9Xk55Jmx5gJ07y6k8yurj-HRmB-ChcwyZEMXOlfD7TcS_8XBWA8JYmDhmCHpGFum9zJ-iFsNr0ylmfClr24Ak/s1600/HuffPoConradBlackComment.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="115" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzqKJuWDP5wchKpmWDg5qy-t_vdUiX4BA2Lshpng8EvtnC5ONu8WocF9Xk55Jmx5gJ07y6k8yurj-HRmB-ChcwyZEMXOlfD7TcS_8XBWA8JYmDhmCHpGFum9zJ-iFsNr0ylmfClr24Ak/s400/HuffPoConradBlackComment.PNG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I replied to "otherguy58" on HuffPo (click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
“He can contribute because he *has* been all of those things. Who better to learn from than somebody who has actually served jail time? It would be stupid to not listen to him, I have before and wrote about it: <a href="http://nblo.gs/4lIby" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://nblo.gs/4lIby</a><br />
<br />
If our goal is to "correct" people then we must continually strive to improve our correctional system. We don't call it "Punishment Service of Canada" because the priority is to rehabilitate people while they serve their sentence and before they reintegrate into society. The majority of jailed offenders are not kept in jail forever, don't you believe that we owe it to ourselves to stop <a href="http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/res/cor/sum/cprs200205_1-eng.aspx">recidivism</a>? I, as a Mother, want people who are released from prison to have been given the tools to never re-offend thus making the country I live in a much safer place for my children. Don't you?<br />
<br />
The worse thing we could EVER do is make our incarceration system private and for profit - this is a public service that our hard earned taxes go to because we like having professionals in Fire and Police Departments, ambulances, jails, hospitals and mental health facilities, public schools etc. These public servants are properly trained to help us live our safest and healthiest lives. The Correctional Service of Canada is a necessary public service with the priority of public safety and therefore should forever be exempt from making profit for privately owned businesses and corporations. Making Money Off of Crime: It's Criminal!”<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>*****</b></div>
<br />
I know taxes suck but where I don't mind mine going is toward healthcare, public safety, (cops, fireman, court and jail workers, probation officers, <b>mental health workers*</b> etc) education (child and youth programming throughout all communities) public transit and infrastructure (roads, highways bridges) and social services for families and people in need as <a href="http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/city_province/story.html?id=07fd48dd-8413-4598-8f65-d9b15bd62ffe">lower poverty rates translate into less crime</a>.<br />
<br />
All of the above aid me, you, and our families every day. Public servants help to keep us healthy and safe and if something does happen to us they are there. Their goal is a job well done, not boosting their funds. All of us benefit when these different service agencies are given support and are at the top of their game. As professionals in their respective fields they contribute to effective work, policies and positive outcomes. <br />
<br />
Private corporations could care less about the people they contain and spit out, after all, they love it when people come back for another stint. Their main objective is to make money, every new and returning prisoner raises their stock on Wall St. and taxpayers end up footing the bill. Canadians deserve to have our safety be a top priority and leaving this task to private companies is just asking for tragedy and economic failure. The Americans have been down this treacherous road, let's be smart and not follow.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>*****</b></div>
<br />
Excerpt from: Private prison companies look to Canada as industry faces lawsuits in US<br />
<div id="main-article-info">
<div class="stand-first-alone" data-component="comp : r2 : Article : standfirst_cta" id="stand-first" itemprop="description">
US states are beginning to rely less on privately run prisons, but Canada may be a land of opportunity for the two biggest firms<br />
<br />
"US private prison firms are targeting Canada for fresh opportunities as pressure builds at home on the troubled multi-billion dollar industry from human rights groups and legal actions, and as more states look to scale back their reliance on them.<br />
<br />
Two of the biggest operators in an industry once regarded as recession-proof, Geo Group and Management and Training Corporation (MTC), have been lobbying various government departments in the Canadian capital, Ottawa.<br />
<br />
With a massive prison overhaul plan already underway – as well as the passage in March of Bill C-10, a suite of crime legislation that most observers agree will see more Canadians face prison time and keep those already locked up behind bars for longer – it seems the American industry's interest in its neighbour to the north could not come at a better time.<br />
<br />
The private industry's lobbying of Canadian lawmakers has some Canadian prison watchers worried. "There is something unethical with having corporations seeking profits from locking people up," wrote a group of former high-ranking Canadian justice officials to the Kingston Whig-Standard newspaper in March." ~ Read the whole article <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jun/19/private-prison-companies-canada-lawsuits">here</a>. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
From "<a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheUnionMovie">The Union: The Business Behind Getting High</a>"</div>
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90% Full Prisons Guaranteed! </div>
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Private Prisons-Commerce in Souls</div>
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For-Profit Prisons Promise Investors Growth</div>
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<br />
Making Investors Rich!</div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
More links: </div>
<br />
<a href="http://404systemerror.com/lobbyists-behind-omnibus-crime-bill-aimed-at-privatizing-prisons/">Lobbyists Behind Omnibus Crime Bill Aimed at Privatizing Prisons ~ 404 System Error Democracy Not Found</a><br />
<a href="http://www.economist.com/node/18744617"><br />
Right and proper With a record of being tough on crime, the political right can afford to start being clever about it</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/15/opinion/15alexander.html?_r=1"> In Prison Reform, Money Trumps Civil Rights By MICHELLE ALEXANDER</a><br />
<br />
<b>*</b>There is a higher rate of mental illness in the poor than in the rich (<a href="http://economics.fundamentalfinance.com/povertycrime.php">source Brill 40</a>)<br />
<a href="http://thetyee.ca/News/2012/05/25/Death-In-Remand-Stacked-Deck/">~ Death in Remand: Stacked Deck</a><br />
"Forty-nine per cent of all prisoners admitted to a B.C. jail between 1997 and 2004 had a diagnosed mental illness. Fully half of those were also addicted to alcohol or drugs. In total, 56 per cent of provincial prisoners in B.C. during that time, both on remand and sentenced, were either mentally ill, addicted to something, or both. There's obviously a spectrum there. "Mental illness" covers a broad swath. But even still, it's hard to overlook the connection. <br />
Remand rates are going up at least in part because of the judicial response to breaches of bail and probation condition. At the same time, the justice system is dealing more and more often with the sort of people most likely to breach.<br />
It has to be asked: Are we setting them up to fail?" <br />
~ <a href="http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/12/06/tory-crime-bill-will-make-matters-worse-for-mentally-ill-expert/">Tory crime bill will make matters worse for mentally ill: expert</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1">
</script><fb:like font="verdana" href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com" show_faces="false" width="450"></fb:like></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"></script><fb:like href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com" show_faces="false" width="450" font="verdana"></fb:like></div>MaryJane Cannabianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10047679366767151464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3456122020434111736.post-5954329496756680332012-06-20T04:20:00.000-04:002013-10-15T17:16:28.404-04:00ENOUGH! Forget Oil - Plant In the Soil!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxDRkVVGyHDwTNlwOkkVGtfb7cl537K0GgyeNBJoyiOFOYvAgB_FHYGzI6obzP8pmCkLjxHz9yB6EEO_kFgsaKsMebv3AMpYu-11xdJtEQpvwszjkWY3U_y6LCRQanpybi3wL2TPAIO00/s1600/ENOUGH!+@MaryJCannabian+%282%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxDRkVVGyHDwTNlwOkkVGtfb7cl537K0GgyeNBJoyiOFOYvAgB_FHYGzI6obzP8pmCkLjxHz9yB6EEO_kFgsaKsMebv3AMpYu-11xdJtEQpvwszjkWY3U_y6LCRQanpybi3wL2TPAIO00/s400/ENOUGH!+@MaryJCannabian+%282%29.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"ENOUGH!"<br />
<br />
Added to the screenshot of <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/06/19/enbridge-elk-point-spill-_n_1610613.html">Huffington Post</a>'s Front Page<br />
<br />
June 19th. 2012<br />
<br />
(click on photo to enlarge)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://thetyee.ca/Blogs/TheHook/Environment/2012/06/19/Another_pipeline_leak/">Third pipeline leak in Alberta in three weeks</a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/43432620?title=0&portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div id="content-header">
</div>
I am sharing this asking Canadians to <i>PLEASE</i> check out <a href="http://www.frankejames.com/debate/?p=12162"><br />Franke James</a>' most awesome Visual Essay "What is Harper <br />
<br />
afraid of?" posted on <a href="http://dogwoodinitiative.org/blog/whats-harper-afraid-of">Dogwood Initiative</a>. Above is<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.frankejames.com/debate/?p=12247">the animated version</a>, go read the original and all of the <br />
<br />
other awesomeness on Franke's website <a href="http://www.frankejames.com/"><br />My Green Conscience</a>, Canada is lucky to have her! Although, <br />
<br />
the Harper Government doesn't think so! <br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.frankejames.com/debate/?p=8431" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Banned on the Hill (and in Europe!)">Banned on the Hill (and in Europe!)</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.vancouverobserver.com/politics/harper-government-targeted-artist-her-green-conscience-internal-documents-reveal">Harper government targeted artist for her green <br /><br />
conscience, internal documents reveal</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3587626">Anti-Gateway comic gathering steam</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/19/activist-artist-vs-pipeline/#more-142827">Activist Artist vs. Pipeline</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Meanwhile...<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/8EsfB4BpPUc?feature=player_embedded" width="420"></iframe><br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/WPRgrfhyPoU?feature=player_embedded" width="420"></iframe><br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/vZvFE53JzDk?feature=player_embedded" width="420"></iframe><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Hemp is our answer to depend less on Big Oil, save our trees </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
and forests, use less water and reduce use of <br />
pesticides. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Hemp has been decriminalized in Canada since 1997, there </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
is no excuse to not utilize this plant <br />
for the benefit of our </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
ecosystems and environmental health. I know we've come a </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
long way since '97 but there's <br />
still much work to do! </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I hope you signed Franke James' letter to your Member of <br />
<br />
Parliament at the bottom of her Visual Essay <br />
regarding Bill C-38. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Also, don't be afraid to ask <br />
your MP: "<i>What about Industrial <br />Hemp?</i>" </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<br />
More on my blog about Hemp, <a href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.ca/search/label/Jack%20Herer">click here</a>.</div>
<br />
<br />
UPDATE: Ecocide in Arkansas!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Huffington Post <br />
<br />
<h1 class="title-news">
Arkansas Oil Spill: <br />Exxon Shuts Pegasus <br />Pipeline After <br />Rupture</h1>
<br />
<br />
NEW YORK, March 30 (Reuters) - Exxon Mobil was working to <br />
<br />
clean up <br />
thousands of barrels of oil in Mayflower, Arkansas, <br />
<br />
after a pipeline <br />
carrying heavy Canadian crude ruptured, a <br />
<br />
major spill likely to stoke <br />
debate over transporting Canada's <br />
<br />
oil to the United States.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Exxon<br />
shut the Pegasus pipeline, which can carry more than <br />
<br />
90,000 barrels <br />
per day (bpd) of crude oil from Pakota, Illinois, <br />
<br />
to Nederland, Texas, <br />
after the leak was discovered on Friday <br />
<br />
afternoon, the company said in a<br />
statement.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Exxon, hit with a $1.7 million fine <br />
by regulators this week over <br />
<br />
a 2011 spill in the Yellowstone River, <br />
said a few thousand <br />
<br />
barrels of oil had been observed.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
A<br />
company spokesman confirmed the line was carrying <br />
<br />
Canadian Wabasca <br />
Heavy crude. That grade is a heavy <br />
<br />
bitumen crude diluted with lighter <br />
liquids to allow it to <br />
<br />
flow through pipelines, according to the <br />
Canadian Energy <br />
<br />
Pipeline Association (CEPA), which referred <br />
<br />
to Wabasca <br />
as "oil sands" in a report.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The spill occurred as<br />
the U.S. State Department is considering <br />
<br />
the fate of the 800,000 bpd <br />
Keystone XL pipeline, which would <br />
<br />
carry crude from Canada's oil sands <br />
to the Gulf Coast. Environ-<br />
<br />
mentalists, concerned about the impact of <br />
developing the <br />
<br />
oil sands, have sought to block its approval.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Supporters say Keystone will help bring down the cost of fuel in <br />
<br />
the United States.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The<br />
Arkansas spill was the second incident this week where <br />
<br />
Canadian crude <br />
has spilled in the United States. On Wednesday, <br />
<br />
a train carrying <br />
Canadian crude derailed in Minnesota, spilling <br />
<br />
15,000 gallons of oil.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Exxon<br />
expanded the Pegasus pipeline in 2009 to carry more <br />
<br />
Canadian crude <br />
from the Midwest to the Gulf Coast refining hub <br />
<br />
and installed what it <br />
called new "leak detection technology". <br />
<br />
Read the rest of the article <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/31/arkansas-oil-spill-2013-exxon_n_2986754.html?utm_hp_ref=green">here</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
And via <a href="http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/03/30/arkansas-residents-evacuate-as-exxon-mobil-tar-sands-pipeline-ruptures/">The Raw Story</a>:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">"The ExxonMobil Pegasus tar sands pipeline spilled around <br />185,000 gallons of tar sands, undisclosed toxi<span class="text_exposed_show">c chemicals and <br />contaminated water in Mayflower, Arkansas yesterday.<br /> <br /><br />
Like many tar sands pipelines, Pegasus was actually an older <br />pipeline <br />
which had its flow reversed. This is also the case for <br />the Seaway <br />
pipeline in Texas and proposed tar sands pipelines <br />East through Canada <br />
to New England.<br /> <br /> Forcing the evacuation of 20 homes and shutting<br />
down sections <br />of the interstate highway; hazardous materials team from <br />
the <br />Office of Emergency Management has contained th</span></span></span>e spill and is <br />
<br />
currently attempting a cleanup.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
1000s of gallons of crude oil <br />
erupted from the breach around <br />
<br />
3:00 p.m. on Friday, spilling through a <br />
housing subdivision and <br />
<br />
in to the town’s storm drainage system, fouling <br />
drainage ditches <br />
<br />
and shutting down Highway 365 and Interstate 40.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Residents were evacuated to avoid health hazards from crude <br />
<br />
oil fumes <br />
and to keep stray sparks from igniting the standing oil. <br />
<br />
Emergency <br />
workers contained the spill by hastily constructing <br />
<br />
earthen dams. Read the rest at <a href="http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/03/30/arkansas-residents-evacuate-as-exxon-mobil-tar-sands-pipeline-ruptures/">The Raw Story</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Can you imagine if this was your backyard? Your <i>HOME</i>?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh87q_uZiGGALoxMrDZfO3ogwSIDxIArDfbZlN8ve1HnZIdCvHXjF0Yd0t2j-n49ddT6g1ZEH3FhAlziRrtVjdcscBc3nFIvu01rr0wIWdjiGWk_FmaRfyKX2Qz0U8uj9_n-BxS8ZuGp8c/s1600/ExxonArkansas1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh87q_uZiGGALoxMrDZfO3ogwSIDxIArDfbZlN8ve1HnZIdCvHXjF0Yd0t2j-n49ddT6g1ZEH3FhAlziRrtVjdcscBc3nFIvu01rr0wIWdjiGWk_FmaRfyKX2Qz0U8uj9_n-BxS8ZuGp8c/s320/ExxonArkansas1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
~Mayflower Arkansas photos from www.facebook.com</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdU_Hv1iEsGQr-yPcrQlUap97oudMf5Ou2uQbdRnsIReIXnxjDxOPuYCfM3BLNve9Bvyim6FDKkEJ_-dSKIDEKd1HKyZlMPV0bgHPLP61olSFpNrirk4WHYiNsEUzfMOHxLtbXYnhyAbQ/s1600/ExxonArkansas2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdU_Hv1iEsGQr-yPcrQlUap97oudMf5Ou2uQbdRnsIReIXnxjDxOPuYCfM3BLNve9Bvyim6FDKkEJ_-dSKIDEKd1HKyZlMPV0bgHPLP61olSFpNrirk4WHYiNsEUzfMOHxLtbXYnhyAbQ/s320/ExxonArkansas2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
UPDATE! 2/4/2013: <b>LOOK---&gt;</b> <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/philip-radford/the-arkansas-oil-spill-ph_b_2998988.html">The Arkansas Oil Spill <br />Photos the Keystone Cabal Doesn't Want You to See</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPMU8xiWAZIM-D9j1bIdmaVS9xMjPMu9rZtKEc2iBri5Tb-7-A268f4XznATiRkloeo1KYSQ7epl-QCT3MoUyXbg4fvKQEmMWd05sPx8GjnEywBdb0JwjF2RR8dBE463qlxZtqz8z3VgU/s1600/MotherEarth.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPMU8xiWAZIM-D9j1bIdmaVS9xMjPMu9rZtKEc2iBri5Tb-7-A268f4XznATiRkloeo1KYSQ7epl-QCT3MoUyXbg4fvKQEmMWd05sPx8GjnEywBdb0JwjF2RR8dBE463qlxZtqz8z3VgU/s400/MotherEarth.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1">
</script><fb:like font="verdana" href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com" show_faces="false" width="450"></fb:like><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"></script><fb:like href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com" show_faces="false" width="450" font="verdana"></fb:like></div>MaryJane Cannabianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10047679366767151464noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3456122020434111736.post-69490758883178351552012-06-08T23:12:00.000-04:002012-11-25T02:47:44.845-05:00Quarters! Nickels! Dimes! Gateway to "Death by Vending Machine!"<br />
Stop sleeping in your bed! <br />
<br />
Steer clear of vending machines! <br />
<br />
And for the <i>love</i> of <i>jeebus!</i> Stay the hell away from the deceptively cute but evil Killer Deer!<br />
<br />
Read "<a href="http://asakite.com/11/what-kills-more-people-than-pot">What kills more people than Pot?</a>"<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi24VMYZR4MowEkGJwvJdNlF4OMKUOMjQJ_DFtnX5VmLj5bfLn3P3ZztZOT73oUyP_l5i2D1iKmZ7zWMuFmUMlO_waKN0RfTfoUwc9MAviziRUGgzCDJxqLc4ytHc_tHldfZ2lqipDb_g/s1600/Best.VendingMachine.Ever.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi24VMYZR4MowEkGJwvJdNlF4OMKUOMjQJ_DFtnX5VmLj5bfLn3P3ZztZOT73oUyP_l5i2D1iKmZ7zWMuFmUMlO_waKN0RfTfoUwc9MAviziRUGgzCDJxqLc4ytHc_tHldfZ2lqipDb_g/s320/Best.VendingMachine.Ever.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>~Pic courtesy of "The Internets"</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
By the way:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-size: small;"><b>"A smoker would theoretically have to consume nearly 1,500 pounds of marijuana within about fifteen minutes to induce a lethal response."<br />
<br />
"In strict medical terms marijuana is far safer than many foods we commonly consume. For example, eating 10 raw potatoes can result in toxic response. By comparison, it is physically impossible to eat enough cannabis to induce death."<br />
<br />
"Marijuana, in its natural form, is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man."</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #20124d;"></span></b></span></blockquote>
~ In The Matter of MARIJUANA RESCHEDULING PETITION<br />
by FRANCIS L YOUNG, Administrative Law Judge<br />
"Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Decision." for the United States Department of Justice and Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) September 6, 1988<br />
<br />
<br />
<script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1">
</script><fb:like font="verdana" href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com" show_faces="false" width="450"></fb:like><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"></script><fb:like href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com" show_faces="false" width="450" font="verdana"></fb:like></div>MaryJane Cannabianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10047679366767151464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3456122020434111736.post-12175956910622817122012-06-04T00:00:00.000-04:002012-06-04T02:56:01.055-04:00JUNE 4 2012: BLACK OUT SPEAK OUT!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_IB8w3kyPvhIMP85lChYcXvghB6AaIP6IIVEgknZszz3_P76HfeYLuC2g6SWWTKVm347xz8u1zjLyPyEcplPf5aGG5DlCkCn_kqywHGt93ao63WKvhb3KwMz5nDW5jsaHvUTQBs9-_oI/s1600/bi-splashpage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_IB8w3kyPvhIMP85lChYcXvghB6AaIP6IIVEgknZszz3_P76HfeYLuC2g6SWWTKVm347xz8u1zjLyPyEcplPf5aGG5DlCkCn_kqywHGt93ao63WKvhb3KwMz5nDW5jsaHvUTQBs9-_oI/s400/bi-splashpage.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.rt.com/news/canada-internet-black-out-418/">Black Out Speak Out</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
While I'm not quite tech-savvy enough to "Black Out" my Blogger Page, I stand in solidarity with</div>
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<a href="http://www.blackoutspeakout.ca/"><b><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />BLACK<span style="color: yellow;">OUT</span>SPEAK</span></span></span><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">OUT</span></span></span></b></a><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>.CA</b></span><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span></span></b></span></div>
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</span></b><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1">
</script><fb:like font="verdana" href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com" show_faces="false" width="450"></fb:like><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"></script><fb:like href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com" show_faces="false" width="450" font="verdana"></fb:like></div>MaryJane Cannabianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10047679366767151464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3456122020434111736.post-20387260180996055222012-05-22T22:31:00.000-04:002012-05-22T22:31:00.288-04:00"Women On A Mission to End Prohibition!" NORML Women's Alliance of Canada at the 2012 Global Marijuana March<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLz-dF3ZXmAqgEZBTNEzEq7sz5AFMWuOipjIGb9Zg-HH19lTXVLiz26I9WscBxOZqfIu6sXI73_FDmhxIAC3IkavjvJeU6Z4FPtkhLC4vBQ5JPXVkvC2_i14g9F-ErpRQAXOafZoUWdj8/s1600/WeAreNORMLWomen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLz-dF3ZXmAqgEZBTNEzEq7sz5AFMWuOipjIGb9Zg-HH19lTXVLiz26I9WscBxOZqfIu6sXI73_FDmhxIAC3IkavjvJeU6Z4FPtkhLC4vBQ5JPXVkvC2_i14g9F-ErpRQAXOafZoUWdj8/s400/WeAreNORMLWomen.jpg" width="305" /></a></div>
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As I wrote about in my last post - <a href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.ca/2012/05/women-will-end-prohibition-again.html">"Women Will End Prohibition (Again!</a>)" - The <a href="http://normlwomen.ca/">NORML Women's Alliance of Canada</a> was selected to be the Grand Marshals of the 14th. Toronto Global Marijuana March. Held on the first Saturday of May every year, the peaceful protest is attended by upwards of 20, 000 anti-prohibitionists and people celebrating the <a href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.ca/2009/06/how-cannabis-works.html">Cannabis plant</a> and all of <a href="http://www.voteindustrialhemp.com/">Hemp's wonderful benefits and uses</a>.
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It was an absolutely beautiful day, after a week of heavy rain throughout Southern Ontario it was quite a relief that the bright and shining Sun had come out to greet us! Preparing to begin our trek throughout the streets of downtown T.O. and before our group had a chance to completely assemble, our Alliance was split up at the launch point - the energy of the growing crowd pushed forward and the marchers were raring to get started! Fortunately it all worked out as those of us not right at the front remained to accompany our Prohibition-era Ford from <a href="http://www.goodfellaslimo.com/">Good Fellas Limo</a>. Complete with our very own "<a href="http://www.history.com/topics/al-capone">Al Capone</a>" Chauffeur, the sweet ride was able to idle throughout the parade route and catch the eye of interested onlookers.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHWQvGR3THekLVFpaOb62acp4nARn1hou-lFC-Y5I1IW3ESu4tHpDWiATL0AuhJqvVzCjx9FPiCuUNICRU9oTcIygwWYKPvVft1kKLKWU4t26BKheSJbJEiDaDeibxicPzF8LzxdVT1CA/s1600/Toronto+GMM+2012+%252812%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="212" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5741569070654686242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHWQvGR3THekLVFpaOb62acp4nARn1hou-lFC-Y5I1IW3ESu4tHpDWiATL0AuhJqvVzCjx9FPiCuUNICRU9oTcIygwWYKPvVft1kKLKWU4t26BKheSJbJEiDaDeibxicPzF8LzxdVT1CA/s320/Toronto+GMM+2012+%252812%2529.JPG" style="display: block; height: 266px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Michelle our Belle - the most photographed woman of the day! <br />And our very own "Al Capone" - Thanks <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/313684358644907">Harold</a>!</span></td></tr>
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The <a href="http://torontoist.com/2012/05/marijuana-marchers-fight-for-their-right-to-party/">Torontoist reports</a>:<br />
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The day’s most creative protest was staged by the National Organization for Reforming Marijuana Laws (NORML) Women’s Alliance. The NORML women dressed up in 1920s costumes and were followed by a car of a similar vintage, driven by a man dressed as Al Capone. According to NORML media spokesperson Andrea Matrosovs, the Women’s Alliance wanted to make plain the connection between the prohibition of alcohol in the 1920s and ’30s—which was a boon to organized crime—and marijuana prohibition today.
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“When women gathered together in the ’20s and ’30s, they made things happen,” she said. “And it was to the benefit of families, and the dis-benefit of organized criminals.”
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Matrosovs was somewhat unique among Saturday’s demonstrators. She doesn’t smoke marijuana at all. Her interest in legalization comes purely as a result of her social-science background and the time she spent as a high school teacher.
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“If we could legalize, regulate, and tax, then we could take those revenues that are currently going to organized crime and direct them to good things,” she said. “My background is as an educator…and it bothered me that our youth were being funneled into alcohol, because that’s legal in our society at age 19, where marijuana isn’t.”<br /><br />
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.myetvmedia.com">MyETVmedia</a>
interview with Jodie Emery of Cannabis Culture and the NORML's Women's
Alliance at the 14th. annual Toronto Global Marijuana March @ Queen's
Park.<br /><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span><object height="315" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Tx6qYKyXbHc?version=3&hl=en_US">
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<span style="font-size: small;">"An estimated 15,000 people gathered at Queen’s Park on Saturday afternoon for the Toronto Global Marijuana March, and <i>The Grid </i>was there to find out why the event is so popular.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i>"Along the way, we encountered members of the <a href="http://norml.org/women" target="_blank">NORML Women’s Alliance of Canada</a>, who gathered in elegant 1920s costumes to protest the current prohibition of marijuana..."</i></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our very own 1920-30's Nurse - On Duty!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Got a giggle...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty pot leaf/CN Tower flying foam </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes we do! That's our Twitter handle: <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/NORML_CWA">@NORML_CWA</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/203003873072859/" target="_blank">Dads for Marijuana</a>" was also there.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The awesome black and neon signs were made by <span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">Jack Skidd.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NORML MariJane GanjaGirl, her smile can light up a room.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitGfXmZGgFuKvEF9FA5goaNBF0A95sxUJQw98DAlg6rXeiGfM-d60_BZYhVhZLHOi4MPg7KB14o4IGLMWmEltWmTiau9yqFOtcJFGSnmIe90j2Al1ztsCU74ggKjv0KAEvHimE3ATO3nc/s1600/Toronto+GMM+2012+%2814%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitGfXmZGgFuKvEF9FA5goaNBF0A95sxUJQw98DAlg6rXeiGfM-d60_BZYhVhZLHOi4MPg7KB14o4IGLMWmEltWmTiau9yqFOtcJFGSnmIe90j2Al1ztsCU74ggKjv0KAEvHimE3ATO3nc/s320/Toronto+GMM+2012+%2814%29.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kelly, our fearless leader!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Clandestine-House/187223381370749">Puff Mama</a> with the <a href="http://www.killintimeband.com/">Killin' Time Band</a></td></tr>
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<a href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.ca/2009/05/cannabis-our-common-bond.html">Once again, my camera failed me</a> but not before I took the above pictures<b>*</b> leading up to the start of the March. I'd like to thank Wendel Grant and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Alison-Myrden-Fan-Page/253446301358234">Alison Myrden</a> for letting me share some of their great photos (below) from the awesome day, Thanks! (To see these great pictures enlarged, "Click" on them.)<br />
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NORML Women getting approval from the growing crowds<br />
and passing motorists.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Grand Parade Marshals!</td></tr>
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Alison's Photos<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX9DlfDpOyFyecEsHVAwjE5338CYfiI21_yuGcviXec8gdXLFks39A1ORwpW8oNOLAuRFoX7Mrlpa_oxGmf6NORUP5Fo2irP7c670oVIQqiLlS-Avt_frpDvpGzgHumjK6tL7k9YYptuw/s1600/530472_10150942006071171_696416170_12319409_1325043493_n(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX9DlfDpOyFyecEsHVAwjE5338CYfiI21_yuGcviXec8gdXLFks39A1ORwpW8oNOLAuRFoX7Mrlpa_oxGmf6NORUP5Fo2irP7c670oVIQqiLlS-Avt_frpDvpGzgHumjK6tL7k9YYptuw/s320/530472_10150942006071171_696416170_12319409_1325043493_n(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOQj-KHkdKpoqdyvK3AjFoIBC86kmZMfo_XwCq8QhcdMbSQ3u00OdVc9_yJZPKmQ24zCSVINXhT_teaPdEfE9p3D3gt059SGFgHVklb717FoARucXfFH6j2_zOGsVb0Tf8Mh3lRnD7_r4/s1600/75264_10150942019321171_696416170_12319492_67634708_n+-+Copy+%282%29.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOQj-KHkdKpoqdyvK3AjFoIBC86kmZMfo_XwCq8QhcdMbSQ3u00OdVc9_yJZPKmQ24zCSVINXhT_teaPdEfE9p3D3gt059SGFgHVklb717FoARucXfFH6j2_zOGsVb0Tf8Mh3lRnD7_r4/s400/75264_10150942019321171_696416170_12319492_67634708_n+-+Copy+%282%29.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
Alison and the NORML Woman's Alliance marching alongside <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/JodieEmery">Jodie Emery</a>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cannabis = Zero deaths. Ever.</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Kelly and Alison - NORML Women inspiring us all!</div>
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It
was a privilege to gather
with such an incredible group of people who honestly care about
our fellow human beings and Mother Earth. Kudos to you, my fellow
NORML
Women, I'm glad to have marched alongside every single one of you.
Just like the Sabine's contributed to end the Noble Experiment all those
decades ago, NORML Women will campaign<b>**</b> to bring about an end to the unjust Drug War today. We're "Women On a Mission to End Prohibition" - <a href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.ca/2012/04/hey-harper-get-off-my-lawn.html">take that, Steve!</a> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZy2llNP53AChxrTC_kqEZsxApTaQUewAVxu7tr2OwsZd4mHXNMwXaTndF0LyucnNyzNYOuk6_DVK5CAeTSVUWE_RqNru7haMWAX6GQkJEAQnLMzXf1k49hcZ2qrIea_2uE0BB9uxYnQM/s1600/Norml+Women%27s+Alliance+of+Canada+%28399x101%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="101" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZy2llNP53AChxrTC_kqEZsxApTaQUewAVxu7tr2OwsZd4mHXNMwXaTndF0LyucnNyzNYOuk6_DVK5CAeTSVUWE_RqNru7haMWAX6GQkJEAQnLMzXf1k49hcZ2qrIea_2uE0BB9uxYnQM/s400/Norml+Women%27s+Alliance+of+Canada+%28399x101%29.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>**</b><i>What's up next for the NORML Women's Alliance of Canada? <br />The <a href="http://www.treatingyourselfexpo.com/features.php">Treating Yourself Expo</a> in Toronto May 25, 26, and 27th. - See you there! Also, don't forget to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NORMLWomensAllianceOfCanada">LIKE our new Facebook Page</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/NORML_CWA">follow us on Twitter</a>.</i></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<i><b><br />*</b>For more than 300 great photos from the event <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cannabisculture/sets/72157629655991824/">see the2012 Global Marijuana March Flickr page</a> by
Cannabis Culture Editor Jeremiah Vandermeer.</i></div>
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<a href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.ca/2009/05/cannabis-our-common-bond.html"></a>
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<fb:like font="verdana" href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com" show_faces="false" width="450"></fb:like></div>
<script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1">
</script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"></script><fb:like href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com" show_faces="false" width="450" font="verdana"></fb:like></div>MaryJane Cannabianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10047679366767151464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3456122020434111736.post-35887635157082386882012-05-08T23:17:00.017-04:002012-05-09T14:08:12.530-04:00I'm Gonna Party With Zach Braff<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSub6aPRtor6ubIZA6W5TUQGEvsph20dhtUcRB0G9rwZzxJf_QHVsUsEua-uqvyFwkE1S29pYqEJUNLA_d5BqOV4GGDnQnvq4lLt6Ale9fO8xfag19XyHNmx5mOBxIMvi0h9B1va-6hyM/s1600/ThanksZachBraff%2521.PNG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 350px; height: 138px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSub6aPRtor6ubIZA6W5TUQGEvsph20dhtUcRB0G9rwZzxJf_QHVsUsEua-uqvyFwkE1S29pYqEJUNLA_d5BqOV4GGDnQnvq4lLt6Ale9fO8xfag19XyHNmx5mOBxIMvi0h9B1va-6hyM/s320/ThanksZachBraff%2521.PNG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5740586317711031090" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Kudos to actor <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/zachbraff/status/199562218315071489">@ZachBraff who "Tweeted"</a> his support for an end to the legal prohibitions criminalizing marijuana and gay marriage. I find that there's a connection to be made about <a href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.ca/2010/10/like-borg-savecalifornia-thinks-you.html">people against both</a> of these <a href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.ca/2010/06/utter-lack-of-compassion-common-sense.html">Human Rights</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(Click screenshot to enlarge.)</span></span><br /><br /><br /><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"></script><fb:like href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com" show_faces="false" width="450" font="verdana"></fb:like><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"></script><fb:like href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com" show_faces="false" width="450" font="verdana"></fb:like></div>MaryJane Cannabianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10047679366767151464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3456122020434111736.post-22519040929102186782012-05-04T16:20:00.000-04:002012-11-01T22:56:33.808-04:00Women Will End Prohibition (Again!)<script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1">
For those of you who may have missed the epicFFF
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For anyone who didn't get a chance to watch<a href="http://www.pbs.org/kenburns/prohibition/"> "Prohibition" - the phenomenal 3 part documentary</a> by Ken Burns and Kim Novick - you're in luck! PBS has gone all out and created an absolutely amazing web experience worthy of sharing so go check it out, and tell your friends!
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Watch <a href="http://video.pbs.org/video/2082534271" style="color: #4eb2fe !important; font-weight: normal !important; height: 13px; text-decoration: none !important;" target="_blank">Women of PROHIBITION Pauline Sabin</a> on PBS. (Click text if video is not displaying) See more from <a href="http://www.pbs.org/kenburns/" style="color: #4eb2fe !important; font-weight: normal !important; height: 13px; text-decoration: none !important;" target="_blank">Ken Burns. </a>
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NORML<a href="http://norml.org/about/item/in-recognition-of-women-s-history-month"> reports</a>: "In May 1929, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pauline_Sabin" target="_blank">Pauline Sabin</a> founded the <a href="http://www.wonpr.org/history.htm">Women's Organization for National Prohibition Reform</a> (WONPR). It was a platform for women who were demanding the repeal of the 18th amendment forbidding the manufacture and sale of alcohol. Known as the Sabin women, the leadership of the WONPR consisted primarily of the nonpartisan wives of leaders of American industry. In a little over a year, almost 1.5 million Sabin Women were publicly calling for an end to prohibition-inspired violence and political malfeasance related to the illegal production of alcohol." ~
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<br />
The <a href="http://www.thenownewspaper.com/Prohibition+seems+have+taught+nothing/6557493/story.html">parallels</a> between <a href="http://library.thinkquest.org/04oct/00492/">The Noble Experiment</a> and The <a href="http://www.drugwarrant.com/2010/05/drug-war-continues-to-fail-spectacularly/">War on Drugs</a> are glaringly apparent. The <a href="http://www.normalwomen.ca/">NORML Women's Alliance of Canada</a> has been chosen<span style="font-weight: bold;">*</span> to lead <a href="http://globalmarijuanamarch.com/">Toronto's 2012 Global Marijuana March </a>and would like to bring attention to the obvious by dressing in attire reminiscent of the 1920's and 30's prohibition era. Women were paramount to the success of repealing Alcohol Prohibition, and we are going to do it again regarding the Prohibition of <a href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.ca/2009/06/how-cannabis-works.html">Marijuana</a>! It's time.
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<object height="315" width="420"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7qipJhOGidw?version=3&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7qipJhOGidw?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="315" width="420"></embed></object> <a href="http://www.vancouversun.com/news/todays-paper/Jodie+Emery+rises+occasion/6535217/story.html">
Jodie Emery</a> is one of the strongest leaders in the cannabis legalization movement. Wife to imprisoned activist <a href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.ca/2009/10/sovereignty-is-dead-how-canadian.html">Marc Emery</a>, Jodie has become a voice to be reckoned with in her own right. Mrs. Emery will also be at the front leading the Global Marijuana March alongside the NORML Women's Alliance of Canada.
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Follow the NORML Women's Alliance on Twitter:<span style="font-weight: bold;"></span> NORMLWomen'sAlliance - <a href="https://twitter.com/NORML_CWA">@<span class="js-username"><span class="screen-name">NORML_CWA</span></span></a> Join and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NORMLWomensAllianceOfCanada">"LIKE" the new Facebook Page for the NORML Women's Alliance of Canada. </a> <b>
* - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - APRIL 27, 2012</b> <b>The NORML Women’s Alliance of Canada Leads </b> <b>The 14th Global Marijuana March</b> <b></b> The <b>NORML Women’s Alliance of Canada</b> is pleased to announce we have been chosen to lead the <b>14th Toronto Global Marijuana March</b> <b>(GMM)</b> throughout the city on <b>Saturday, May 5, 2012</b>. The GMM takes place annually in over 100 cities across the globe and will attract upwards of 20,000 cannabis enthusiasts and anti-prohibitionists to downtown Toronto alone. We believe that women will once again be a successful, driving force towards ending prohibition. In the spirit of the day the NORML Women's Alliance of Canada has chosen to honour those women who bravely campaigned for an end to alcohol prohibition in the 1920s and ‘30s by dressing in attire reminiscent of this era. The peaceful protest will assemble at <b>11 a.m.</b> and launch at <b>12 p.m</b>., north of <b>Queen's Park North </b>at <b>Charles Street</b>. It will traverse north to Bloor Street, east to Yonge Street, south to Gerrard Street and east to Church Street. After the march, the crowd will disperse to several marijuana-friendly events across the city. Members of the NORML Women's Alliance of Canada are mothers, grandmothers, daughters, sisters, and caregivers of this nation. We are calling on the Canadian Government to end cannabis prohibition, re-prioritize spending to focus on our families, education, health care and a mandate to protect Canadians from being damaged any further by this harmful, tried and failed government policy. The NORML Women’s Alliance of Canada is a non-partisan coalition of socially and geographically diverse women from coast to coast to coast who believe that marijuana prohibition is a destructive and hypocritical policy that undermines the Canadian people, sends a mixed and false message to our youth, and destroys the cherished principles of personal liberty, freedom and sovereignty belonging to all Canadians. NORML Women’s Alliance of Canada <script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1">
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</script><fb:like font="verdana" href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com" show_faces="false" width="450"></fb:like><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"></script><fb:like href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com" show_faces="false" width="450" font="verdana"></fb:like></div>MaryJane Cannabianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10047679366767151464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3456122020434111736.post-18635995472172431682012-04-26T05:00:00.000-04:002012-04-27T22:03:25.945-04:00The Smarter Brand of Justice - Actor Russell Brand Solves the Failed War on Drugs in 1 Minute & 35 Seconds<br />
Via George Stroumboulopoulos: <br />
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<a href="http://www.cbc.ca/strombo/health/russell-brands-latest-role-a-defender-of-harm-reduction-drug-strategies.html">Russell Brand's Latest Role: A Defender Of Harm Reduction Drug Strategies</a><br />
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"Addressing members of the House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee in the U.K., Brand argued bluntly that treating drug addiction as an illness rather than as a criminal activity is not only a humane approach, but a sensible one that will "prevent people from committing crimes." (Seriously, go read the whole <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/strombo/health/russell-brands-latest-role-a-defender-of-harm-reduction-drug-strategies.html">Strombo Health post</a>.)<br />
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Forty years after Nixon's War on (People Who Use Certain) Drugs infected countries the world over, the<a href="https://www.google.ca/search?q=speaks+out+against+the+War+on+Drugs&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a#hl=en&gs_nf=1&pq=speaks%20out%20against%20the%20war%20on%20drugs&cp=6&gs_id=5s&xhr=t&q=speak%20speaks%20out%20against%20the%20War%20on%20Drugs&pf=p&safe=off&client=firefox-a&hs=WxI&rls=org.mozilla:en-US%3Aofficial&sclient=psy-ab&oq=speak+speaks+out+against+the+War+on+Drugs&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_l=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=cd205f5ee1312dca&biw=1525&bih=725" target="_blank"> truth is being recognized</a> and shared everywhere; prohibition has failed and government cannot incarcerate people out of addiction.<br />
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Four Decades of overly punitive criminal convictions haven't achieved their goal of reducing recidivism and an ever-expanding mountain of <a href="http://www.children.gov.on.ca/htdocs/English/topics/youthandthelaw/roots/volume5/preventing05_rehabilitation_strategies.aspx" target="_blank">expert research </a>and evidence correlates that Harm Reduction programs like Rehab, Therapy and <a href="http://www.insidetoronto.com/news/local/article/902587--students-learn-about-healing-programs-for-inmates" target="_blank">even Yoga</a>, trumps imprisonment significantly in terms of reaching and maintaining sobriety. Plus, these Harm Reduction strategies also cost less than keeping (primarily non-violent) drug offenders locked up where they are less likely to have access to adequate therapeutic and job skills programs. <br />
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Also worth discussing, what will become of us now with the passing of Bill C-10? I hope Canadians are prepared for the <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/opinion/ottawas-drug-problem-the-penalty-doesnt-fit-the-crime/article2136102/" target="_blank">influx of recreational cannabis users, small time pot growers</a>, and illegal substance abusers (some who are<a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/why-canadas-prisons-cant-cope-with-flood-of-mentally-ill-inmates/article1879501/" target="_blank"> sadly victims of mental illness </a>and childhood abuse) into our taxpayer supported penal institutions. Rehab spots behind bars were scarce before, and I'm afraid we ain't seen nothin' yet! Correctional Service of Canada and the Justice Department might as well change their names to Punishment Disservice of Harperland and the "Tough on Crime!" Ministry respectively. <br />
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Drug abuse, whether it is for illegal drugs, alcohol, prescription drugs, etc. is uniquely personal. Treat the person as a patient and they have a fighting chance to manage and successfully beat their addiction(s). Criminalize and convict them, and it further damages their mental state and exponentially hinders their potential for recovery.<br />
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Just because a person uses drugs does not mean they are undeserving of compassion, and realistically our drug policies <b>must</b> reflect that truth. So Thank You, Mr. Brand, for bringing even more attention to <a href="https://www.google.ca/search?q=the+failure+of+the+War+on+Drugs&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a" target="_blank">the failure of the War on Drugs</a>, your passionate testimony is much appreciated by those of us campaigning for the reform of our national and global drug laws. <br />
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<fb:like font="verdana" href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com" show_faces="false" width="450"></fb:like><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"></script><fb:like href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com" show_faces="false" width="450" font="verdana"></fb:like></div>MaryJane Cannabianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10047679366767151464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3456122020434111736.post-31913910590441013252012-04-16T04:20:00.000-04:002013-08-09T23:47:11.231-04:00Hey Harper! Get Off My Lawn!<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">My response to <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/04/15/summit-of-the-americas-stephen-harper-drugs_n_1427149.html?ref=canada-politics" target="_blank">this article</a>:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">It's time for Canada and all nations to admit that the <a href="http://www.alternet.org/story/154498/75_years_of_a_pointless%2C_disastrous_war_against_marijuana/" target="_blank">War On Drugs</a> is lost, in fact, just like <a href="http://www.npr.org/2011/06/10/137077599/prohibition-speakeasies-loopholes-and-politics" target="_blank">The Noble Experiment</a> it could never have been won to begin with. We do not respect the laws of drug prohibition because they are unenforceable. To prohibit the use of <a href="http://www.jackherer.com/thebook/" target="_blank">a plant that we have used for thousands of years</a> for medicine, relaxation, paper, food, fabric, fuel, etc. is not only unjust, but an impossible endeavor.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">I respect laws that are created to keep society safe from truly violent and dangerous people. As a Mother I believe a majority of police and judicial resources must be focused on those who truly pose a threat to society. But <a href="http://brianbusby.blogspot.ca/2009/03/more-dope-more-danger-fewer-dolls.html" target="_blank">the law of Cannabis Prohibition is so ridiculous</a> that it causes disrespect for the law and law enforcement, which is a shame because there are many great police, lawyers, judges, etc. out there who really do care about people, most notably members of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/CopsSayLegalizeDrugs">L.E.A.P. ~ Law Enforcement Against Prohibition</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Politicians must concede that they cannot legislate human behavior when it comes to what we eat and drink, how we medicate or what we grow in our gardens. It is the ultimate persecution of our freedom(<b>1</b>) of personal autonomy and wreaks of ownership! We're not perfect, we're Human, we use drugs, <a href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.ca/2009/06/how-cannabis-works.html" target="_blank">we always have</a>, deal with it! The mere notion that government believes laws can stop plants from growing in the ground is ludicrous. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">End the Drug War that <a href="http://www.moneytrendsresearch.com/drug-lord-thanks-obama-bush-reagan-for-war-on-drugs/" target="_blank">empowers and enriches cartels and organized criminals</a>. Provide truthful facts to our children about all substances and regulate the sale of drugs to adults. Revive the farming of the Industrial and food grade Hemp plant the world over so we can help our environment and conquer famine and malnutrition. We can concentrate on more important things like our disastrous economy, health care, school boards and old and failing infrastructures. Every taxpayer dollar we spend fighting this unwinnable war is a dollar stolen from proven programs that really do help support the health and safety of all of us. When it comes to paying for helicopters flying through the air searching for plants(<b>2</b>) or schools and hospitals, I know without a doubt where I want my tax dollars to go!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>via YouTube: David Bratzer, a police officer in British Columbia, Canada, says he has seen how marijuana prohibition and the failed "war on drugs" directly lead to the growth of organized crime and cause gruesome illegal market violence. David is a member of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, which anyone can join for free at</i> <a href="http://copssaylegalizedrugs.com/">CopsSayLegalizeDrugs.com<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">"The Law Makes Us Lawless" </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">The awesome Ken Burns and Lynn Novick documentary</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">"Prohibition" can be viewed at <a href="http://www.pbs.org/kenburns/prohibition/watch-video/#id=2082675582" target="_blank">PBS online</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"I, as a responsible adult human being, will never concede the power to anyone to regulate my choice of what I put into my body, or where I go with my mind. From the skin inwards is my jurisdiction, is it not? I choose what may or may not cross that border. Here I am the Customs Agent. I am the Coast guard. I am the sole legal and spiritual government of this territory, and only the laws I choose to enact within myself are applicable."</span></b></i> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">~ Alexander Shulgin PhD, Chemist and author</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(1) The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms: <a href="http://laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/charter/page-1.html">http://laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/charter/page-1.html</a><a href="http://laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/charter/page-1.html" target="_blank">http://laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/charter/page-1.html</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(2) “Globally, the annual risk of eradication is continually below 10% for each crop [of opium poppy, coca bush, and cannabis plant].” <a href="http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2012/sp-ps/PS4-92-2010-eng.pdf" target="_blank">source</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i>“Get off my lawn!”</i></b> - Stay out of my business, my personal life.</span><br />
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</script><span style="font-size: x-small;"><fb:like font="verdana" href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com" show_faces="false" width="450"></fb:like></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"></script><fb:like href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com" show_faces="false" width="450" font="verdana"></fb:like></div>MaryJane Cannabianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10047679366767151464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3456122020434111736.post-53163756695670098032012-03-20T04:20:00.001-04:002012-03-20T17:12:20.285-04:00Contest-y Goodness!<br style="font-family: georgia;font-family:verdana;"><br style="font-family: georgia;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" >Wh</span><span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" >at's b</span><span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" >etter th</span><span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" >an pre-ordering <a href="http://www.markhaskellsmith.com/">Mark Haskell Smith</a>'s new book "</span><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://heartofdankness.tumblr.com/">Heart of Dankness: </a><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://heartofdankness.tumblr.com/">Underground Botan</a><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://heartofdankness.tumblr.com/">ists</a><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://heartofdankness.tumblr.com/">, Outlaw Farmers, and the Race for the Cannabis Cup</a><span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" >"?</span><span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" ><br /><br />Why, that would be <a href="http://disqus.com/forums/heartofdankness/httpheartofdanknesstumblrcompost19412706423/trackback/">receiving a Goodie Bag and contest entry for pre-ordering Mark's new book, </a>Heart of </span><span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" >Dankness!</span><br /><br />Broadway Books is happy to celebrate its new publication and anyone who pre-orders a copy of <em>Heart of Dankness</em> before April 3rd. – via ANY retailer – will receive a Goodie Bag with rolling papers, a signed bookplate, and an entry to win a copy of Jason King’s amazing <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.thecannabible.com">Cannabible</a> boxed set. It's Contest-y Goodness!<br style="font-family: georgia;"><br style="font-family: georgia;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.tumblr.com/photo/1280/heartofdankness/19017527995/1/tumblr_m0mzmm7M9q1r9xxnn"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://www.tumblr.com/photo/1280/heartofdankness/19017527995/1/tumblr_m0mzmm7M9q1r9xxnn" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Pic courtesy of http://heartofdankness.tumblr.com/<br /></span></div><br /><br style="font-family: georgia;font-family:verdana;"><span style="line-height: 150%; font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >"In <a href="http://heartofdankness.tumblr.com/aboutthebook"><b><span style="text-transform:uppercase">Heart of Dankness:</span> Underground Botanists, Outlaw Farmers, and the Race for the Cannabis Cup</b></a> author <b>Mark Haskell Smith </b>guides us through the fascinating world (and underworld) of high-end cannabis. While reporting on the Super Bowl/Mardi Gras of the marijuana world, the international competition held annually in Amsterdam known as the Cannabis Cup for the <i>Los Angeles Times</i><i>,</i> Smith sampled some rare high-grade weed in an Amsterdam coffee-shop, which left him relaxed, happy, lucid, and energetic—anything but stoned. He realized this weed had a superior smell, taste, and high, the “dankness” so sought after by true pot connoisseurs. This intrigued him so much that he set off on a quest for what brings about these qualities.<br /><br />Also, stay tuned for my review!<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 150%; font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><object width="420" height="420"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/OxymyM-46Zk?version=3&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/OxymyM-46Zk?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="420" height="420"></embed></object></span><br /><span style="line-height: 150%; font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >"What does “<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Dank</span>” mean to you?"</span><br /></div><span style="line-height: 150%; font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /><br /></span><br style="font-family: georgia;"><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"></script><fb:like style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com" show_faces="false" width="450" font="verdana"></fb:like><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"></script><fb:like href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com" show_faces="false" width="450" font="verdana"></fb:like></div>MaryJane Cannabianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10047679366767151464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3456122020434111736.post-48890957567075176192012-03-13T17:36:00.010-04:002012-03-13T18:52:58.003-04:00THIS! Is The War On Drugs:<span style="font-size:130%;"><br />"<a href="http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/03/13/dying-cancer-patient-booted-from-hospital-for-medical-marijuana/">Dying cancer patient booted from hospital for medical marijuana</a>"</span><br /><br />The headline screamed at me and my head fell down in horror and sadness.<br /><br />This is what happens when ideology controls our drug policy. No one deserves to be treated like this. Nobody!<br /><br />A request to medicate outside, but still on the hospital campus should have been the solution for UCSF Medical Center - throwing a dying cancer patient out of their hospital is nothing short of pure, Human Evil!<br /><br />I responded:<br /><br />"<span style="font-style:italic;">The Drug War is not, I repeat, it is not a "War on Drugs" - it is a War Against People Who Use Drugs. Especially relating to Cannabis, what better way to appease prescription drug makers than to continue its Prohibition? For thousands of years Cannabis has been used by Humans for medicine, but (Alas! Sighs Big Pharma...) it is a Plant and our gifts from Mother Nature cannot be patented.<br /><br />Further to Anslinger's targeting of minorities after repeal of the 14th Amendment (all those booze chasing Feds in the FBN needed to create another boogeyman to keep their jobs) Nixon tapped into the fact that those damn Hippies, musicians, artists, War Resisters, etc - liked to use Cannabis, what a perfect way to criminalize 'em all!<br /><br />Nowadays, Law Enforcement ("Asset Forfeiture, anyone?)" and Private Prisons LOVE Prohibition. It keeps their arrest rates high and their prison cells filled, no wonder they lobbied so fiercely against Prop 19!!!<br /><br />In North America where patients like Angel Raich are thrown out of hospitals for using natural medicine, we have absolutely no right to proclaim we are "Free". If we were truly free we would not be persecuted for using a plant, the mere notion that government criminalizes us for putting a substance in our very own personal body is insanity! I weep for us.....<br /><br />Be well, sweet Angel, I am so, so sorry you must endure this violation of Human Rights...</span>"<br /><br /><br />When will this end? When will we stop criminalizing people for what they choose to use for medicine and recreation? I am beyond upset. This is unacceptable. This kind of treatment of our fellow human beings is atrocious and just makes me more determined to fight our drug laws.<br /><br />SHAME ON UCSF Medical Center!!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"></script><fb:like href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com" show_faces="false" width="450" font="verdana"></fb:like><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"></script><fb:like href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com" show_faces="false" width="450" font="verdana"></fb:like></div>MaryJane Cannabianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10047679366767151464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3456122020434111736.post-73979348050665067642011-12-05T23:59:00.003-05:002012-03-12T20:08:52.358-04:00"INCARCEREX" - Do Not Mix With The Charter Or Common SenseTonight was so very sad, justice in Canada has suffered a terrible blow!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-mum-on-cost-to-provinces-as-crime-bill-clears-house/article2261210/">Ottawa mum on cost to provinces as crime bill clears House</a><br /><br />Because we all know, the Conservatives are <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px;color:#555555;" >“T</span>ough on Crime!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px;color:#555555;" >“</span><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0PHvxB6zXek?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" height="330" width="330"></iframe><br /><a href="http://youtu.be/0PHvxB6zXek" target="_blank">"INCARCEREX" - Do Not Mix With The Charter or Common Sense</a> - Made before the second last election but still spot on relevant today.<br /><div><br /></div>The Liberals have already <a href="http://www.liberal.ca/newsroom/news-release/liberal-statement-bill-c10-omnibus-crime-bill/" target="_blank">officially responded</a>:<br /><br /><div class="feature_meta" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 3px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">POSTED ON DECEMBER 5, 2011</div><div class="entry-content" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.375em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">OTTAWA – Liberal Leader Bob Rae made the following statement today on Bill C-10, the omnibus crime bill:</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.375em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“I want to salute the hard work of our friend and colleague Irwin Cotler, the Liberal Justice and Human Rights critic, who has worked tirelessly to try to improve this legislation for the benefit of all Canadians. He introduced amendments to get tougher on terrorists. He introduced amendments to incorporate the needs and views of Quebec. Unfortunately, his expert advice and work were almost completely ignored – the only exception being when the Conservatives tried to re-introduce Mr. Cotler’s sensible amendments on terrorism as their own, despite having first rejected them without explanation.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.375em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Mr. Cotler continued:</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.375em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“The Conservatives’ bundling together of 9 bills that warranted independent discussion, their shutting down of debate in committee, and their rejection of all amendments while arrogantly labeling others as supporters of criminals and not victims, undermines Parliament and democratic process. They have rammed through the House of Commons a law and order agenda that is poorly thought-out, rushed and demonstrates the Conservative commitment to governing by ideology instead of facts and evidence.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.375em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">This bill will impose mandatory minimums that will turn young offenders into hardened criminals. It fails the mentally ill, aboriginal people, visible minorities and the poor. It repeats the mistakes of failed, expensive and discredited American crime policy. Police and prisons officials from states like Texas are telling Mr. Harper very clearly: We tried what you are doing but it drained the public coffers and made our communities less safe. Do not go down our failed path.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.375em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">At the end of the day we will have more crime, less justice, skyrocketing costs, prison overcrowding, less rehabilitation for the offenders, less protection for victims and less protection for the public. Liberals are committed to pursuing a crime and justice approach that is evidence-based, cost effective and focused on preventing crime and victimization.”</div></div><br />Please also visit<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: whitesmoke; line-height: 20px;font-family:Tahoma, Arial, serif;font-size:13px;color:#444444;" > <a href="http://www.itcouldgetworse.com/the-omnibus-crime-bill-c-10-is-not-law-yet/" target="_blank">It Could Get Worse</a></span> for different ways you can still help "Kill the Bill".<br /><br />The disappointment in the MP's who voted for this "Everything plus the kitchen sink" Bill has me cranky, up late, and tired. *sigh*.......<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">UPDATE: March 12, 2012</span>: As expected, the Conservatives ignore <a href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com/2009/10/stupid-is-as-stupid-does.html">experience</a>, evidence and experts, they have their ideology, Damnit!<br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span><a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/harpers-promise-fulfilled-as-house-passes-crime-bill/article2367157/">Harper’s promise fulfilled as House passes crime bill</a><br /><br />Sad days ahead for Canada, indeed....<br /><h2 id="articletitle" class="regserif entry-title"><a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/harpers-promise-fulfilled-as-house-passes-crime-bill/article2367157/"><br /><br /></a></h2><br /><fb:like font="verdana" href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com" show_faces="false" width="450"></fb:like><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"></script><fb:like href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com" show_faces="false" width="450" font="verdana"></fb:like></div>MaryJane Cannabianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10047679366767151464noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3456122020434111736.post-65400808599183495612011-11-17T22:15:00.038-05:002011-11-18T13:22:33.569-05:00Fan****ingtastic! MP Pat Martin Just Used The Word I Keep Using!<div>Finally posting this, the baby woke up just before I was finished and then the day went speeding by.....<br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>1:39 A.M. - So at this late, or early depending how you see it, hour, it's up for debate on the validity of some <a href="http://www2.macleans.ca/2011/11/16/and-now-a-word-from-pat-martin-2/">expletive enhanced Tweets</a> sent from NDP MP Pat Martin's Twitter Account. </div><div>Update: Awesome. <a href="http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Martin+sorry+Twitter+tirade/5726346/story.html">It's him alright</a>!) </div><div><br /></div><div>Here's my "just too long to Tweet" response:</div><div><br /></div><div>Imagine that! <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/PatMartinMP">@PatMartinMP</a> is Human! Admit it, you've probably used <a href="http://www.snopes.com/language/acronyms/fuck.asp">that word</a> talking about Politics. </div><div><br /></div><div>I was watching the Bill C10 clause by clause Senate debate on CPAC and a Conservative MP complained about how long it was taking to go through it all. So I say out loud to myself (and to the oblivious baby, who's too enthralled with an Elmo book to take any exception to my cussing) with the sheer gusto that this MP is going to hear my reply to his whining:</div></div><div><br /></div><div>"Well! That's what happens when you mash NINE fucking crime bills into one big whopping wad of FAIL!"</div><div><br /></div><div>Sure he didn't catch my response, but I felt better putting my opinion out there into the Universe. Indeed, the cursing solidified my point.</div><div><br /></div><div>Crime is complex and justice demands that each case is handled individually and fairly. We employ Judicial Discretion because it is imperative to democracy. Bill C-10 is overly broad "You bad! - Go to jail!" Cave Man thinking. It's actually dangerously stupid to treat something as important as our legal and correctional system so recklessly. You know it, Steve knows it, the media knows it, we all know it! I mean, what could be <i>dumber </i>than combining <i>crime</i> legislation?</div><div><br /></div><div><div>There's a reason crime is lower in Canada than in the United States, it's <i>because</i> we've resisted the ideological temptation of locking up non-violent first time offenders for long periods of time when community supervision or probation would be more beneficial. It's called a Correctional System for a reason, the goal is to correct, not to make one's mental state so broken and fragile that it's no surprise when people re-offend. Not only does helping people turn their lives around make our communities safer, it is also exponentially more cost effective. (I could really get into it about the <a href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com/2010/05/hey-canada-its-important-to-save-our.html">Prison Farms</a> program here, but I digress) </div><div><br />Prisons are also increasingly becoming warehouses for the mentally ill and alcohol & drug addicted. With a lack of programming people are released back into our communities without the benefit of medical and psychological attention and they get into trouble all over again. Ask yourself, do you want Canadians to be helped while they serve their sentence so when they get out of prison they stay out? Or do you want people released unstable, angry and ripe for recidivism?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu-WbbNNFZ4x_j2BwoefG8LSIERxvY0gODxsrYCr5N7sVhG3OPUilcTuRdDl56Ecxq_P-rk3WbLFZulx4ydn4gzZljvJlsrHCgTjRUEX2sn36s4cfsEZS7aDP76nB1_zrrcRfB0Z4xAbw/s400/NAACP.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676380167561821074" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 110px; " /></div><div>We've seen the social and economic disaster unfold before our very eyes in the United States over the last four decades from one size fits all persecutions and yet the Harper Conservatives <i>still</i> insist on careening down the same destructive path, our safety and hard earned tax dollars be damned!</div><div><br />Honestly, if the Conservatives had drafted really good separate bills pertaining to violent crimes, especially those committed upon children, then I would wholeheartedly support them. I don't play to party lines when it comes to the best method of keeping our kids safe and reducing crime. I want the smartest, most effective laws on the books for the benefit of my own kids and my fellow Canadians. Alas, because C-10 is a "Everything plus the kitchen sink" omnibus bill the only smart, logical, reality-based choice we have is to fight against it. </div><div><br /></div><div>Anything less would be fucking criminal.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>"It represents a huge step backwards; rather than prioritizing public safety, it emphasizes retribution above all else. It's an approach that will make us less safe, less secure, and ultimately, less Canadian."</i></span> </span>~ From "<a href="http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/association+blasts+tough+crime+bill/5731568/story.html">Bar association blasts tough-on-crime bill</a>" ~ Organization representing Canada's lawyers says proposed Bill C-10 has been rushed, ignores evidence and will create out-of-control costs</b></div><br /><br />Also see: <a href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com/2011/09/canadians-dont-be-tricked-by-safe.html" style="font-family: tahoma, 'Trebuchet MS', lucida, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; font-weight: bold; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 255, 128); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; ">Canadians: Don't Be Tricked by the "Safe Streets and Communities Act" - It's Omnibusted!</a></div><div>and</div><div><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="margin-top: 5px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 17px; color: rgb(6, 62, 63); font-family: tahoma, 'Trebuchet MS', lucida, helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 238); "><a href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com/2009/10/stupid-is-as-stupid-does.html" style="color: rgb(0, 255, 128); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; ">Stupid Is As Stupid Does</a></h3></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/hbmiCW0m9sc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">After Christy Clark said she supports Harper's Crime Bill, a group of 40 concerned citizens organized by </span><a href="http://www.leadnow.ca/" target="_blank" title="http://www.LeadNow.ca" rel="nofollow" dir="ltr" class="yt-uix-redirect-link" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-size: 13px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(66, 114, 219); text-decoration: none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; ">http://www.LeadNow.ca</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> gathered in front of her office to "Just Say NO to C-10!" and show that tens of thousands of Canadians have signed a petition opposed to this omnibus crime bill. As of November 17th, 111,000 Canadians have signed the petition! Sign the petition and get updated on future activities at </span><a href="http://leadnow.ca/" target="_blank" title="http://leadnow.ca/" rel="nofollow" dir="ltr" class="yt-uix-redirect-link" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-size: 13px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(66, 114, 219); text-decoration: none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; ">http://leadnow.ca/</a><br /><br /></div><div>Avaaz also has a <a href="http://www.avaaz.org/en/stop_harpers_cruel_crime_bill/">Petition to stop the Harper crime bill</a>, over 102, 000 have signed! </div><div><br /></div><div>UPDATE: Once again thumbing their noses at democracy, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(53, 53, 53); font-family: Georgia, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span">Tory MP Goguen moves motion to end committee hearings on omnibus crime bill</span></span></div><h4 style="margin-top: 0.8em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span">'This puts the mock in democracy,' says NDP MP Jack Harris about the Conservation manoeuvre ~ </span><a href="http://www.hilltimes.com/news/legislation/2011/11/17/tory-mp-goguen-moves-motion-to-end-committee-hearings-on-omnibus-crime-bill/28825" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-weight: normal; ">http://www.hilltimes.com/news/legislation/2011/11/17/tory-mp-goguen-moves-motion-to-end-committee-hearings-on-omnibus-crime-bill/28825</a></h4><div><br /></div><div>Image Via the NAACP:</div><div><br /></div><div><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(99, 100, 102); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">"The United States is the world's leader in incarceration with 2.3 million people currently in the nation's prisons or jails -- a 500% increase over the past thirty years. These trends have resulted in prison overcrowding and state governments being overwhelmed by the burden of funding a rapidly expanding penal system, despite increasing evidence that large-scale incarceration is not the most effective means of achieving public safety."</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(99, 100, 102); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">"In addition to the extreme human toll this is taking on our Nation, the financial costs are staggering: The National Association of State Budget Officers estimates that states spent a record $51.7 billion on corrections in FY2008, or 1 in every 15 general fund dollars. Adding local, federal and other funding brings the national correctional spending total to $68 billion. This is money that cannot be spent on education, health, transportation, or other projects that benefit society as a whole." ~ <a href="http://www.naacp.org/action-alerts/entry/naacp-supports-legislation-to-help-states-reduce-prison-populations">NAACP Supports Legislation To Help States Reduce Prison Population</a></p></div><div><br /><br /><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"></script><fb:like href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com" show_faces="false" width="450" font="verdana"></fb:like></div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; "><br /></span></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"></script><fb:like href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com" show_faces="false" width="450" font="verdana"></fb:like></div>MaryJane Cannabianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10047679366767151464noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3456122020434111736.post-21531972396610247752011-09-19T00:38:00.007-04:002013-05-11T01:33:45.789-04:00Canadians: Don't Be Tricked by the "Safe Streets and Communities Act" - It's Omnibusted!<span class="cmt clearfix"><cite><i></i></cite><span class="body" style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span>"I would love to have all you soft of crime guys come post after some one close to you was violated for ever. Why do you want criminals out early.<br /><br />You look at the cost to society of keeping them in jail. No one mentions the cost to society of letting them out. </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">" - "Gambitdude2" on CBC Message Boards re: Harper's Omnibus Crime Bill</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: verdana;">The above is just an example of some comments talking about "us Lefties letting criminals run rampant through our streets". Here's my response:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: verdana;">You're missing the whole point, Mandatory Minimum drug laws and much of the legislation laid out in the Tory Omnibus Bill are for *after* a criminal offense has already taken place. </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;">After</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">. While Benjamin Franklins' famous quote "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" was actually fire-fighting advice, it also stands true as a way to fight crime. My bleeding heart doesn't need to "Hug a Thug" - it wants to divert people from becoming involved in the criminal justice system in the first place. That's not being "Soft on Crime", that's addressing the subject of crime realistically and proactively.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: verdana;">As we know, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/joseph-neuberger/canada-crime-rate_b_913426.html">crime in Canada is at a historic 30 year low</a>. If the Conservatives pour billions of hard earned taxpayer dollars during these tough economic times towards building new prisons and the astronomical budgets needed to operate these facilities (along with additional ballooning legal costs to persecute more Canadians entering the justice system, not to mention how much Provinces are going to have to pony up) it diverts funds away from true necessities like hospitals and health care, education, job creation, childcare, mental health supports, the environment, infrastructure, transit and other essential services that benefit all Canadians. The more educated, healthy, employed, industrious, productive and happy we are, the less likely our citizens will engage in criminal activity. This is being SMART on crime.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: verdana;">Anybody who believes every human will be "perfectly behaved" is fooling themselves. Of course Canadians are concerned about crime and we want to be safe where we live, work, go to school, play and socialize. Alas the reality is that no place on Earth ever has been or ever will be Crime Free because we are Human. We are a species driven by emotion - you'll be hard pressed to find someone who actually looks up the sentence of a criminal code violation before breaking a law. (You know it's true.)<br /><br />History has shown throughout our whole existence people have committed crimes fueled by what they feel or by way of mental anguish or defect. No decree, police force or punitive law will stop this reality of Human Nature. Of course hurting others is not acceptable and those who victimize others physically and/or financially should face punishment, but it's reckless to drive crime policy <a href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com/2009/11/calling-tories-out-on-bill-c-15.html">based on fear</a> and an absence of judicial discretion, Canadians deserve better than that! Our very own </span><a href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com/2011/02/con-job-tories-ignore-justice.html" style="font-family: verdana;">Canadian Justice Department has concluded that Mandatory Minimums don't work</a><span style="font-family: verdana;">, cost taxpayers dearly and fail at keeping people safer.<br /><br />Obviously violent, dangerous offenders should be sought out by police and incarcerated - that is the most important utilization of law enforcement and our correctional system. You'll get no argument from me about keeping paedophiles and murderers like Paul Bernardo behind bars and off our streets, but we also must have the common sense to leave ideology, deceiving (Tough on Crime!) mantras and knee jerk reactions out of our legal system as all crime is not "equal".<br /><br />We are smart enough (I hope!) to recognize that a couple of college kids growing 6 cannabis plants should not be lumped in with a bill that targets child molesters, (Seriously, read this about C-10:</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><a href="http://www.oacas.org/news/11/sept/21time.pdf">Child rapist to get less time than pot grower, Incarcerated weed offenders to skyrocket</a>)<span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Section 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms legislates that sentences should be </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">proportionate to an offense. <a href="http://www.npr.org/2009/08/13/111843426/folsom-embodies-californias-prison-blues">The state of California has gone broke</a> because of correctional spending, proving that locking up non-violent drug users and pizza thieves as long as gun-wielding carjackers is superfluous and does nothing to improve community safety. Why would we want to emulate such a disaster?!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com/2011/02/because-we-say-so-conservative-know-it.html">I'm not the only one calling the Tories out</a> on this, if this mish-mashed, rhetoric-laden, incoherent patchwork of an Omnibus(ted) Bill passes through Parliament let's say goodbye to our great country and prepare to suffer the harsh societal consequences of <a href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com/2009/10/stupid-is-as-stupid-does.html">American-style</a> "justice". Git 'er done!</span><br />
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And p.s. to "Gambitdude2" - I HAVE been a victim of crime.<br />
<br />
UPDATE October 26th. 2011: Even <span style="font-style: italic;">Texas</span> says to the Conservatives <a href="http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/youre-doing-it-wrong#.Tqgon3I22UM">You're Doing It Wrong</a>.<br />
<br />
"Republican governors and state legislators in such states of Texas, South Carolina, and Ohio are repealing mandatory minimum sentences, increasing opportunities for effective community supervision, and funding drug treatment because they know it will improve public safety and reduce taxpayer costs," said Tracy Velázquez, executive director of the Washington-based Justice Policy Institute. <br />
"If passed, C-10 will take Canadian justice policies 180 degrees in the wrong direction, and Canadian citizens will bear the costs."<br />
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From the October 18th, 2011 edition of The National.<br />
CBC's Terry Milewski discovers the Canadian government's crime policies - including the building of more prisons - are getting poor marks in Texas.<br />
Please read the accompanying article for this story: <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2011/10/17/pol-vp-milewski-texas-crime.html">Texas conservatives reject Harper's crime plan 'Been there; done that; didn't work,' say Texas crime-fighters</a><br />
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Here's more amazing articles recently published discussing the colossal failure that is Bill C-10:<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Judge deems Harper's crime bill 'strain' on system</span>: <a href="http://www.vancouversun.com/Judge+deems+Harper+crime+bill+strain+system/5468859/story.html">http://www.vancouversun.com/Judge+deems+Harper+crime+bill+strain+system/5468859/story.html</a><br />
"As Justice Bauman said, Parliament and the legislatures have a constitutional obligation to ensure that the judiciary, which is a separate and independent pillar of our government, is able to bring people to justice in a timely fashion and that citizens have access to justice.<br />
Both the criminal and civil legal systems are cornerstones of a civil society and they are both in jeopardy."<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">The mandatory minimum mess</span>: <a class="twitter-timeline-link" href="http://t.co/mUqqk1fL" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/mandatory+minimum+mess/5559692/story.html/" url="ottawacitizen.com/news/mandatory…">http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/mandatory+minimum+mess/5559692/story.html</a><br />
"And remember the phrase "real property that belongs to a third party"? That's what a rented apartment is. Imagine a university student living in a rented apartment with her boyfriend, suggests University of Toronto criminologist Tony Doob. She grows a single marijuana plant. She rolls a joint for her and her boyfriend. And just like that she's a "trafficker" subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of nine months in jail.<br />
Are these outcomes simple, clear, and predictable? Hardly. They're shocking as hell. But mandatory minimums have a nasty tendency to do that.<br />
Remember the infamous case of the pizza thief sent to prison for life in California? The law didn't say "pizza thieves shall get a life sentence." The law said anyone convicted of a third felony would get a life sentence. Pizza theft is normally a misdemeanor. But that poor sap had committed previous felonies and a different law said that petty theft committed by anyone convicted of felonies must be prosecuted as a felony. So misdemeanor pizza theft became his third felony and he was sent to prison for life - an outcome almost everyone thought was insane."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bill C-10 will create the prisoners to fill Conservative prisons</span>: <a href="http://rabble.ca/news/2011/10/bill-c-10-will-create-prisoners-fill-conservative-prisons">http://rabble.ca/news/2011/10/bill-c-10-will-create-prisoners-fill-conservative-prisons</a><br />"Bill C-10 is a massive piece of legislation of roughly 100 pages that rolls nine laws from organized and drug crime, to pardons, to child sex offenders, to migrants entering Canada and young offenders into a single omnibus law. The panel is focusing on how the bill's policy on mandatory minimum sentencing for selling, or even giving away a small amount of drugs, will criminalize a generation and attack some of the most vulnerable people in our society."<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Harper's omnibus crime bill won't reduce victimization rates</span>: <a href="http://www.behindthenumbers.ca/2011/10/24/omnibus-crime-bill-won%E2%80%99t-reduce-victimization-rates/">http://www.behindthenumbers.ca/2011/10/24/omnibus-crime-bill-won't-reduce-victimization-rates/</a><br />"Lorraine Berzins worked in federal penitentiaries for 14 years and was the victim of a hostage-taking. As spokesperson for the Church Council on Justice and Corrections, she says the Harper tough-on-crime agenda “goes so much against all the evidence about what keeps communities safe, and it does so much harm, and they are going to spend so much money, that it’s really surprising that there isn’t more opposition.”<br />
Steve Sullivan of Ottawa Victim Services (and erstwhile Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime) says “victims understand, better than most, that nearly all offenders will eventually be released from prison. . . . The best protection victims, their families, and the community will have is if the offender can learn to modify negative behavior before he or she is released.” In other words, rehabilitation programs are key.<br />
In spite of eloquent pleas by victims’ advocates, the Harper government forges ahead with a retrograde, antediluvian and discredited approach to criminal justice. Its only “solution” for any and all crimes is a long prison sentence."<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Safe Streets and Community Act Will End Real Justice</span>: <a href="http:///">http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/js-vijaya/tough-on-crime_b_1021169.html</a><br />
"Some of my fellow criminal lawyers have cynically pointed out that ultimately we lawyers alone will benefit from the draconian mandatory sentences that are attached to the new legislation. We will now be able to look clients in the eyes and say, "Well, why should you plead? There is no upside to 'making a deal.' Let us put the government up to task and let them prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt. It is not as if the judge will have any discretion in sentencing even if you were allegedly carrying on in the spirit of Mother Teresa!"<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Quebec National Assembly calls for withdrawal of Bill C10</span>: <a href="http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Quebec+National+Assembly+calls+withdrawal+Bill/5580621/story.html">http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Quebec+National+Assembly+calls+withdrawal+Bill/5580621/story.html</a><br />
"The motion, presented by the Parti Québécois, but winning the support of the Charest government and all parties and independents present, says Bill C-10 goes against the values of Quebecers."<br />
<br />
From the Church Council on Justice and Corrections: <span style="font-weight: bold;">CCJC Bulletin – Omnibus Bill</span>: <a href="http://ccjc.ca/2011/10/20/ccjc-bulletin-omnibus-bill/">http://ccjc.ca/2011/10/20/ccjc-bulletin-omnibus-bill/</a><br />
"The CCJC urges everyone to actively and vocally express their concerns about Bill C10. Let us not by our silence condone the suffering of others."<br />
and<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Will the Omnibus Bill Bankrupt Canada?</span>: <a href="http://ccjc.ca/2011/09/19/will-the-omnibus-bill-bankrupt-canada/">http://ccjc.ca/2011/09/19/will-the-omnibus-bill-bankrupt-canada/</a><br />
"The government’s Parliamentary Budget office projected the increase costs related to just one of bills would be more than five billion dollars – more than doubling current expenditures for the corrections system alone. Furthermore, he revealed that the provinces and territories would have to contribute the largest proportion of the increase."<br />
More from the Globe & Mail: <span style="font-weight: bold;">Coalition of churches condemns Ottawa’s justice plan</span>: <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/coalition-of-churches-condemns-ottawas-justice-plan/article1884171/">http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/coalition-of-churches-condemns-ottawas-justice-plan/article1884171/</a><br />
<br />
And lastly, <a href="http://www.leadnow.ca/en/index">Leadnow</a> has created an email campaign for Canadians:<br />
<br />
"The good news is that more and more Canadians are speaking out and public opinion is close to a decisive shift. <b>We need to strengthen each other’s voices to show the Conservative government that they must choose a better path, or pay a serious political cost for a cruel Crime Bill that will make Canada a meaner and more dangerous place</b>."<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>"Our Conservative government is trying to rush through a cruel Crime Bill with mandatory sentences that will fill new prisons. Even conservative Texans think the Crime Bill is too harsh, costly and ineffective. Send a message to Justice Minister Rob Nicholson to stop the Crime Bill from making Canada meaner and more dangerous."<br />
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<a href="http://www.leadnow.ca/keep-canada-safe">Read the rest here and send your letter easily, so far over 15 000 Canadians have! </a><br />
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And just out today: <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2011/10/26/homicides-statscan.html">Canada's homicide rate declines to 44-year low</a><br />
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I will continue to add story links as they are published. Funny that we're not seeing many articles in <span style="font-style: italic;">support</span> of the bill. Where are they, Conservatives?<br />
<br />
*crickets*<br />
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<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">*</span>The<b> </b><b>Church Council on Justice and Corrections (<a href="http://ccjc.ca/">ccjc.ca</a>)</b>is a national faith-based coalition of eleven founding churches incorporated in 1972. We promote community responsibility for justice with an emphasis on addressing the needs of victims and offenders, mutual respect, healing, individual accountability, and crime prevention. It is primarily by education and community development initiatives that we foster healthier communities and crime prevention through social responsibility. CCJC has demonstrated in publications, pilot projects and numerous other initiatives how to strengthen community through its understanding that real justice requires the pursuit of wholeness for all. We work with both multi-faith and non-religious partners and have achieved international recognition for our contributions to creative thinking about criminal justice.<br />
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<span style="font-size: 78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">This post was updated/edited October 26th 2011.</span></span><br />
<script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"></script><fb:like font="verdana" href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com" show_faces="false" width="450"></fb:like><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"></script><fb:like href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com" show_faces="false" width="450" font="verdana"></fb:like></div>MaryJane Cannabianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10047679366767151464noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3456122020434111736.post-41589815436846756582011-05-03T04:20:00.004-04:002011-05-04T18:55:35.876-04:00Please Stand By......The <a href="http://www.fairvote.ca/en/Canadians-cheated-again-by-voting-system">landscape has changed</a>, we need to <a href="http://globalcannabismarch.com/">regroup on Saturday</a> and figure out a new game plan.<br /><br /><br />And hey, at least there's a <a href="http://greenparty.ca/vision-green/p4.8">One Seat Bright Side</a> to this <a href="http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/985066--lots-of-canadians-didn-t-bother-to-vote">head-shaking</a> turn of events.<br /><br /><br /><object width="420" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/s7tWHJfhiyo?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/s7tWHJfhiyo?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="420" height="390"></embed></object><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">From: <a updated="true" href="http://www.youtube.com/redirect?q=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.cgpgrey.com%2Fthe-problems-with-first-past-the-post-voting-explained%2F&session_token=SbjA-iVnPfH4aAMpMRW1j45wRM58MTMwNDU5MDk2NUAxMzA0NTA0NTY1" target="_blank" title="http://blog.cgpgrey.com/the-problems-with-first-past-the-post-voting-explained/" rel="nofollow" dir="ltr" class="yt-uix-redirect-link">http://blog.cgpgrey.com/the-problems-with-first-past-the-post-voting-explained/</a> Watch part two: <a updated="true" href="http://www.youtube.com/redirect?q=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.cgpgrey.com%2Fthe-alternative-vote-instant-runoff-explained%2F&session_token=SbjA-iVnPfH4aAMpMRW1j45wRM58MTMwNDU5MDk2NUAxMzA0NTA0NTY1" target="_blank" title="http://blog.cgpgrey.com/the-alternative-vote-instant-runoff-explained/" rel="nofollow" dir="ltr" class="yt-uix-redirect-link">http://blog.cgpgrey.com/the-alternative-vote-instant-runoff-explained/</a></span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">In the meantime....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqZnnmJMu40-DQSegDhvz2AwxV66e8xEmsutS5vsTgj67AFkWQ2_EK-Ve_yd60lWNpy9UuIcy0zcWLKklc4Xia63K5qWUKA755EdkO4g6a5cCC3ULlxW0miwSYxQCoiafTofQKEwUDLG8/s1600/CalmDown.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 179px; height: 169px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqZnnmJMu40-DQSegDhvz2AwxV66e8xEmsutS5vsTgj67AFkWQ2_EK-Ve_yd60lWNpy9UuIcy0zcWLKklc4Xia63K5qWUKA755EdkO4g6a5cCC3ULlxW0miwSYxQCoiafTofQKEwUDLG8/s400/CalmDown.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602563194380968146" border="0" /></a>We're Canadian, we'll keep fighting, this just makes us stronger and more determined!<br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsbR2dEmHGc">We'll be alright...</a>.<br /></div><br /><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"></script><fb:like href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com" show_faces="false" width="450" font="verdana"></fb:like><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"></script><fb:like href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com" show_faces="false" width="450" font="verdana"></fb:like></div>MaryJane Cannabianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10047679366767151464noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3456122020434111736.post-75344365138159247072011-04-19T16:20:00.004-04:002011-04-19T16:44:04.319-04:00We! Are! Cannabian! And We're Voting Too!<div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;">M<span style="font-weight: bold;">illions of Canadians use Cannabis,<br />and guess what?<br />We're voting too!!!</span><br /></span></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2011/19/c5308.html">Canada's marijuana activists unite against American-style drug laws - 420 vote mobs to be held in over 10 cities across Canada </a><br /><a href="http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2011/19/c5308.html">on April 20th</a><br />"All you have to do is look at the disastrous experience in the U.S. with mandatory minimum sentences to know this is a dumb idea", says Marc-Boris St-Maurice, Executive Director of <a href="http://norml.ca/">NORML Canada</a>.<br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvPwdN8W5GLVCvNnSLEoicvVzXCdNJYArTbaaFposiZpD4N55lswXgcqvoD3ZEJXBohXEKBSHB8tJloRl-jL2oa5EOIdXXTn8C0ufpy2UWcRTU6HBh6rc6Fhtshd5-if4oI2GfqxeIu5g/s1600/420VoteMob.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 367px; height: 340px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvPwdN8W5GLVCvNnSLEoicvVzXCdNJYArTbaaFposiZpD4N55lswXgcqvoD3ZEJXBohXEKBSHB8tJloRl-jL2oa5EOIdXXTn8C0ufpy2UWcRTU6HBh6rc6Fhtshd5-if4oI2GfqxeIu5g/s400/420VoteMob.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596737397760548306" border="0" /></a><br /><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"></script><fb:like href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com" show_faces="false" width="450" font="verdana"></fb:like><br />Attention All Freedom Loving Canadians!<br /><br />As we are all aware, Canada is on the hustings. This election is necessary as Stephen Harper and his Conservatives are the only party in our country's history to be found guilty of being In Contempt of Parliament. Their refusal to be honest and disclose the hit to the wallets of Canadian Taxpayers regarding the cost of <a href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com/2009/10/stupid-is-as-stupid-does.html">American-style</a> <a href="http://tpcp-canada.blogspot.com/2011/04/provincial-territorial-penal.html">superfluous prisons</a>, <a href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com/2011/03/this-truth-ad-brought-to-you-by.html?spref=tw">Stupid-On-Crime</a> bills and <a href="http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Canada+Engines+included/4629251/story.html">engineless jets</a> triggered a motion of Non Confidence in the Harper Government, and rightly so! (Oh, and let's not forget about all the other <a href="http://www.shitharperdid.ca/">ShitHarperDid</a>.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8_bvlCABXX4PCmeWO3a6dXiEIY_R7vrAdyAQmmRSJ1Y6y42hkSQ81UL-_VOnc-nlobfAGy5eecMjTSioRCNTymVWBg_0pZNPraRGAHgmSov6jPO8A_6INVf0NU6oHZrMSDnB4xc5FlYM/s1600/207464_1642349385074_1427019619_31288541_4452319_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 384px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8_bvlCABXX4PCmeWO3a6dXiEIY_R7vrAdyAQmmRSJ1Y6y42hkSQ81UL-_VOnc-nlobfAGy5eecMjTSioRCNTymVWBg_0pZNPraRGAHgmSov6jPO8A_6INVf0NU6oHZrMSDnB4xc5FlYM/s400/207464_1642349385074_1427019619_31288541_4452319_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597366838716599842" border="0" /></a><br />In the age of the Internets, people are <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn5RzQCx7So">using social media</a> to coordinate and then share "Vote Mobs" to reach youth and those who may not realize just how important it is to exercise our democratic right to vote. What is a "Vote Mob" you may ask? According to <a href="http://www.votemob.ca/">VoteMob.ca</a>: "Vote Mobs <span class="thick">encourage</span> friends, families, neighbours, and communities to get out and vote, <span class="thick">together</span>!" So, in the <a href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com/2009/04/420.html">spirit of 420</a> and a concerted effort by the Cannabis Community to get rid of Lock 'em Up Steve, #420VoteMobs will be happening all across our great land. Visit and share the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=166559316733766">Facebook 420 VoteMob Event Page</a> to get the word out to other Canadians.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>Please also visit<a href="http://leadnow.ca/en/vote-mobs"> LeadNow</a>, it's really impressive! They also have all VoteMob videos that have been posted online so far on one page.<br /><br />In times of much needed fiscal restraint, taxpayers deserve to be treated fairly - the Tory plan to spend billions on jails when crime is declining is grossly irresponsible of Stephen Harper. As far as campaigning goes, the smart party in this political race will not shy away from the elephant in the room that is Harper's ideological hunting down of Canadian cannabis users who dare stand up for their own personal autonomy and freedom. Note to the Conservatives: Canadian adults don't appreciate such intrusion into our lives. Bring on May 2nd. and Election 41!!!<br /><br />VoteMobs: Inspired by Rick Mercer!<br /><br /><object style="height: 390px; width: 640px;"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/225Mx6ya7SQ?version=3"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/225Mx6ya7SQ?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="440" height="390"></embed></object><br /><br /><object style="height: 390px; width: 640px;"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/f5fxHSbZWEs?version=3"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/f5fxHSbZWEs?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="440" height="390"></embed></object><br /><br />Thank you, Canadian Youth - <a href="http://nlpost.blogspot.com/2011/04/student-power-will-this-be-fix-for.html">you are inspiring</a>!<br /><br />Meanwhile, Harper is also using social media....<br /><br /><object style="height: 390px; width: 640px;"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/o6hDv6gCe1I?version=3"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/o6hDv6gCe1I?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="440" height="390"></embed></object><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"></script><fb:like href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com" show_faces="false" width="450" font="verdana"></fb:like></div>MaryJane Cannabianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10047679366767151464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3456122020434111736.post-88752624211144487802011-04-10T04:20:00.015-04:002011-05-01T17:51:57.337-04:00Departing Harperland<div style="text-align: center;"><br />"<span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >Whoever controls the media,<br />controls the mind</span></span>."<br />~ <span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" >Jim Morrison</span><br /></div><br />First, READ <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2007/10/15/media-pm.html">THIS.</a><br /><br />And then <a href="http://www.caj.ca/?p=692">THIS</a>.<br /><br />Now, can anyone please tell me where Canada went? Does Stephen Harper ^NOT realize that Section 2(b) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees freedom of the press, along with the right to freedom of expression? Or maybe the query should be, "Does he even <span style="font-style: italic;">care</span>?".<br /><br />You know, at first I wasn't quite sure about it when the other parties started to refer to the Tories as the "Conservative <a href="http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/regime_1"><span style="font-style: italic;">Regime</span></a>", but now I'm certain that the label fits. This is not the Canada I was born and raised in, and it's certainly not the political, social and undemocratic environment I wish for my sons to grow up in.<br /><br />For the <a href="http://canadawry.com/?p=343">love of every single Canadian*</a> and our beautiful country, please realize that <a href="http://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?section=ele&dir=41ge&document=index&lang=e">May 2nd.</a> is a gift to all Canadian citizens of voting age. On this day each one of our voices are equal, in the basic yet effective form of a checkmark on a paper ballot.<br /><br />We have the opportunity to oust the <a href="http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/going+reward+contempt+Parliament/4565800/story.html">Guilty of Contempt Harper led Conservatives</a> from Parliament. Then, we can begin to repair and mend the damage the Tories have thrust upon us, I know collectively we are strong and we can achieve this goal together!<br /><br />In our National Anthem we sing "O Canada, we stand on guard for thee", so let's honour that <a href="http://www.apathyisboring.com/en/the_facts/news/communiqu_de_presse_press_release_je_vais_voter_lection_f_d_rale_2011_i_will_vote_federal_election_2011">pledge</a> and defend this most awesome land from coast to coast to coast.<br /><br />I'm tired of living in <a href="http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/948436--tories-rebrand-government-of-canada-as-harper-government">Harperland</a>, I need my True North Strong and Free!<br /><br /><object width="420" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/iEsXSb_JJSU?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/iEsXSb_JJSU?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="420" height="390"></embed></object><br />Don't let Parliamentary crime pay! Peter Russell, constitutional expert, talks about the Harper Government's contempt for parliamentary democracy and what is at stake in the Canadian Election 2011.<br /><br /><object width="420" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jvE9EN4YPGM?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jvE9EN4YPGM?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="420" height="390"></embed></object><br />2007 From CBC's "The Hour." Stephen Harper and Media Control<br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kqmzLuPEGvA?rel=0" allowfullscreen="" width="540" frameborder="0" height="390"></iframe><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Sing it!!!</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">By therealg8g20: <span style="font-style: italic;">"This is a song that was performed by Richard Underhill in Kensington Market in 2008. I found the raw video on Youtube and asked the author if I could make a new remix with the footage. Perhaps this can become the theme song for those of us who are concerned about the direction this government is taking our country in. I'm hoping that it will inspire those who are not happy with the leadership of the Harper government, but haven't gotten involved yet, to get active, get organized and get involved! Maybe we can make this video go viral!"</span> Vimeo Version: <a href="http://vimeo.com/13803436" target="_blank" title="http://vimeo.com/13803436" rel="nofollow" dir="ltr" class="yt-uix-redirect-link">http://vimeo.com/13803436</a></span><div id="watch-description-text"> </div><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://canadawry.com/?p=343">for the love of every single Canadian*</a> - Seriously. Read it. Please.<br /><br />UPDATE 4/14/2011: Check out more at <a href="http://shitharperdid.ca/">http://shitharperdid.ca/</a><br /><a href="http://www.leadnow.ca" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.leadnow.ca</a><br />and <a href="http://sowhatdidimiss.blogspot.com/">http://sowhatdidimiss.blogspot.com/</a><br /><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" ft="{"type":"msg"}"><span class="messageBody"> </span></h6><br /><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"></script><fb:like href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com" show_faces="false" width="450" font="verdana"></fb:like><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"></script><fb:like href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com" show_faces="false" width="450" font="verdana"></fb:like></div>MaryJane Cannabianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10047679366767151464noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3456122020434111736.post-71737210212141143292011-03-27T14:43:00.000-04:002011-03-28T03:16:51.498-04:00Hey Americans: Want a Job? Just Go To Jail!One of the great things about social media is connecting with intelligent people who you'd otherwise never get the chance to "meet". Facebook and Twitter have brought thousands of new friendly voices into my realm over the past few years and they are what I lovingly refer to as my "Mad Posters" - meaning, they/we love to share news and videos and education regarding not just the Drug War, but injustice in whatever form it happens to take throughout the world.<br /><br />"Posting Links" is one of the best tools that <a href="http://www.web.net/%7Erobrien/papers/netaction.html">social activism</a> has, on any given day I am gifted with personalized judicial and ecological news from Canada, the States and beyond. With the click of a mouse a daily itinerary is before me and I appreciate those who take the time to "Pass It to the Left".<br /><br />While much of what we share is from news outlets and other mainstream media, what I cherish the most are contributions from everyday people passionate about making a difference. On Saturday a "Note" was posted on Facebook and it was so informative that I asked the writer, Lydie Meunier, if she would let me post it here to share with all of you and she graciously accepted.<br /><br />Lydia brilliantly opens our eyes to scheming corporations and the U.S. <a href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com/search/label/Prison%20Industrial%20Complex">Prison Industrial Complex</a> coveting much sought after jobs and profiting greatly from free and cheap inmate labour. It's also a shocking glimpse of what will happen here in Canada if the Conservatives are re-elected and allowed to proceed with their fear driven crime agenda and <a href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com/2009/07/this-is-your-country-on-drugs.html">American style</a> prison plans.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCksm4yi3lwSGGicOUGHqwycGq4TpG-vS52zSy6TogU8fFQbGqDWv7mX3SuDpl9x6Dw143LRnMC7mjuOq0UeHX_DnXH1WqLhhcnP4p6_Sev53gI2uexOuSZ1PNNaZkcG8czK4G8TJhm1M/s1600/monopoly_go-to-jail-1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 219px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCksm4yi3lwSGGicOUGHqwycGq4TpG-vS52zSy6TogU8fFQbGqDWv7mX3SuDpl9x6Dw143LRnMC7mjuOq0UeHX_DnXH1WqLhhcnP4p6_Sev53gI2uexOuSZ1PNNaZkcG8czK4G8TJhm1M/s400/monopoly_go-to-jail-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588887954474023922" border="0" /></a><br /><br />GUEST POST<br />U.S. Unemployment Exacerbated by the Outsourcing of Jobs to Prisons<br />By Lydie Meunier<br /><p><strong>SLAVERY IS BACK IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA</strong></p><p><strong>Call your Congress Members and Ask them to Put a Stop to this Infamy!!!</strong></p><p> </p><p><em><photo 3=""></photo></em><strong></strong></p><p> </p><p>I know that many people don't want to look into prison labor and the impact it has on unemployment figures because this is a disturbing issue. And yet, Jobs are outsourced to prisons, and slavery is being reinstated because corporations are counting on, and taking advantage of folks' apathy and disdains for prisoners... Meanwhile jobs for law abiding citizens are taken away from them to be given to cheap prison labor.</p><p> </p><p>Today, prisoners are being exploited by corporations, paid more or less 40 cts/hour, more often less than more, sometimes paid nothing at all (see current situation in Georgia prisons not covered by the media), in lieu of the minimum $7.25/hour that corporations would have to pay to law abiding citizens. The difference, quite clearly, contributes to major corporate profits, while law abiding citizens are still unemployed and continue to lose their jobs.</p><p> </p><p>On the FREE National market (vs. the WALLED industrial complex market), only 9% of our GDP comes from manufacturing. You can not sustain a middle class lifestyle with a service economy. To turn that 9 % into a much higher number, we need to introduce a new Bill in Congress to stop the outsourcing of manufacturing jobs to prisons (outsourcing to prisons is now called "insourcing"). </p><p> </p><p>When you consider the major corporations that employ prison labor (furniture factories, Microsoft, Boing, IBM, Starbuck, Victoria secret, BP, Sodexo, medical supplies, road signs, military supplies, etc.) you quickly realize that moving jobs back to law abiding citizens would surely help diminish unemployment figures!!!</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The way these prison partnerships typically work is that a manufacturer wanting to increase profits moves their equipment, technology, materials and unfinished goods to a factory setting within a prison industry facility. Once up and running, the same products come off the assembly lines and are shipped as before. The difference is this, private sector employees of the company have been terminated or laid off. A handful of employees are usually kept on long enough to train inmates and prison supervisors in the manufacturing used to make the products. Once that is accomplished, they are also eliminated and their positions taken over by a prison industry supervisor.</p><p> </p><p>This insourcing of labor creates quite a number of unemployed citizens. Burdens are placed on state and community social help programs, unemployment compensation, etc. So while the corporation saves lots of money in labor costs - no more unemployment insurance premiums, less expenses in lease of facilities (usually leased by the prison operators at $1.00 per year), and no more employee benefits such as medical insurance, vacations or paid time off - the communities they vacated are left to fund the unemployed left in their wake. In addition the local government loses taxes that were paid by the corporation, previous landlords of the facilities once leased to the corporations are left with vacant property and local shops and other businesses suffer a drop in sales due to the newly unemployed workers left behind.</p><p> </p><p>Efforts to involve Union officials, management and labor leaders in rectifying this issue have been unsuccessful for some reason. Politicians and Union leaders are too busy arguing about outsourcing of our jobs overseas and seem to not have any interest in eliminating or addressing insourcing. The next time you or your neighbor loses your/their job; before looking toward China or India to see if you can see your job making its way there, look the other way and see if perhaps some criminal that stole your car has just as easily stolen your job and income as well.</p><p> </p><p>Source: <a href="http://sloan-wwwpiecp-violations.blogspot.com/2010/11/insourcing-new-concept-about-private.html">INSOURCING- A new concept about private sector job losses</a>, by Bob Sloan, November 10, 2010</p><p> </p><p>The prison industrial complex shows the fastest growth in profits, with politicians and judges and lawyers, and the top 2% investing in its stocks, which constitutes the most corrupt conflict of interests: for each incarceration, the private prison industry is not only paid big bulks by our tax money, it also disposes of the people as private property subcontracted to corporations. Meanwhile, we keep paying for the prison industrial complex to sustain itself with our tax money, oblivious to the fact that we are also paying with the loss of our jobs!!!! </p><p> </p><p>Wake up folks!!! This is not only a national disgrace, it is a national scandal!!!</p><p> </p><p>The United States has the highest incarceration rate!!!! Do you want to know why? Follow the money!!!</p><p> </p><p>Here is a report for you to read to understand the mess this country is in regarding employment politics by regressing into slavery <a href="http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=8289">The prison industry in the United States: big business and a new form of slavery</a><br /></p><p> </p><p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civilian_Inmate_Labor_Program">Civilian Inmate Labor Camps designed to manufacture army supplies </a> Jobs that used to be performed by law abiding citizens</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9567226">Insourcing - Transfer of Private Industry Jobs to Prison Industry-Made in USA</a><br /></p><p> </p><p> PRIVATIZED PRISONS - PRISON LABOR IS SLAVERY<br /></p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xt6gPZO8XRw" allowfullscreen="" width="420" frameborder="0" height="345"></iframe><br /><br /><p> </p><a href="http://sloan-wwwpiecp-violations.blogspot.com/2010/11/insourcing-new-concept-about-private.html"></a><p> </p>Here are more links related to more recent news in Georgia where prisoners have been forced to work without pay for their labor, a violation of the 13th Amendment, which prohibits slavery and involuntary servitude:<p> </p><p><a href="http://www.deathandtaxesmag.com/41235/the-largest-prison-strike-in-american-history-goes-ignored-by-us-media/">The Largest Prison Strike In American History Goes Ignored By US Media</a><br /></p><p> </p><p><a href="http://criminaljustice.change.org/blog/view/its_only_just_begun_prisoner_strike_enters_new_phase_needs_our_support">Prisoner Strike Enters New Phase, Needs Our Support</a><br /></p><p> </p><p><strong><a href="http://www.wsws.org/articles/2000/may2000/pris-m08.shtml">Prison labor on the rise in US</a> </strong></p><p> </p><p><strong>Corporatocracy can best be described as: "A type of government in which huge corporations, through bribes, gifts, and the funding of ad campaigns that oppose candidates they don't like, become the driving force behind the executive, judicial and legislative branches"</strong>. It explains why prison labor is ignored by politicians and main stream media!!!!!</p><p> </p><p><strong><a href="http://sloan-wwwpiecp-violations.blogspot.com/2010/11/insourcing-new-concept-about-private.html">Federal PIECP and Program Violations: Discussions on the use of prison labor in the U.S. and corporations that eliminate private sector jobs with inmate labor</a> </strong></p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.wpi.edu/News/TechNews/010327/prisonlabor.shtml"><strong>While we are busy believing that prisoners need to pay their debt back to society, corporations are cheating society by "hiring" prison labor </strong></a></p><p> </p><p><strong><strong><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4BOZg-02kA">Prisoner Advocate Elaine Brown on Georgia Prison Strike</a> </strong></strong></p><p> </p><p><strong><strong><a href="http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/americanprospect/20110102specialreport/#/0">Mass Incarceration in America </a></strong></strong></p><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong><strong><strong></strong></strong></strong><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/28/private-prison-industry-h_n_775719.html"><strong><strong><strong>Private Prison Industry Helped Draft Arizona Immigration Law</strong></strong></strong></a><br /></p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130833741"><strong>Prison Economics Help Drive Ariz. Immigration Law</strong> </a></p><p> </p><p><strong><strong><a href="http://criminaljustice.change.org/blog/view/private_prison_lobby_behind_arizonas_immigration_law">Private Prison Lobby Behind Arizona's Immigration Law</a> </strong></strong></p><p> </p><p><a href="http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/rachel-maddow-exposing-private-prison-indu"><strong><strong><strong>Rachel Maddow: Exposing Private Prison Industry Role in Shaping Arizona's Anti-Immigration Law </strong></strong></strong></a> - August 14, 2010 - Corporate Con Game</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2010/12/13/private-prisons-and-the-arizona-anti-immigration-law/"><strong><strong>PRIVATE PRISONS AND THE ARIZONA ANTI-IMMIGRATION LAW</strong></strong></a> - Dec 13, 2010</p><p> </p><p><strong><strong><strong><a href="http://www.nbcsl.org/pdf/prison_privatization.pdf">VALLEY OF THE DRY BONES: HUMAN BODIES FOR PRIVATE CELLS</a> (2002) </strong></strong></strong></p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.prop1.org/legal/prisons/labor.htm"><strong><strong><strong>Prison Labor: A Dynamic Sector - <strong>Covert Action Quarterly #54 - Fall 1995</strong></strong></strong></strong></a></p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.ppionline.org/documents/prison_labor_502.pdf"><strong><strong><strong><strong>Prison Labor - Policy Report 2002</strong></strong></strong></strong></a></p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.thenation.com/print/article/37828/bp-hires-prison-labor-clean-spill-while-coastal-residents-struggle"><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>BP Hires Prison Labor to Clean Up Spill While Coastal Residents Struggle - 2010</strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></a></p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.wpi.edu/News/TechNews/010327/prisonlabor.shtml"><strong>Prison labor cheats society - 2001</strong></a></p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.commondreams.org/headlines/031900-02.htm"><strong>As Prison Labor Grows, So Does the Debate </strong></a>- <em>Published on Sunday, March 19, 2000 in the New York Times</em></p><p> </p><p><strong></strong><strong><a href="http://thinkprogress.org/2010/09/16/sb1070-prison-lobby/">Prison Industry Funnels Donations To State Lawmakers Introducing SB1070-Like Bills Around The Country</a> </strong></p><p> </p><p><strong><a href="http://hubpages.com/hub/Is-The-Prison-Industrial-Complex-A-New-Form-Of-Slavery">The Prison Industrial Complex: Does It Create A New Form Of Slavery? How Much Labor Is Done In The Prison System?</a> </strong></p><p> </p><p><strong>"One might think an enterprise able to pay unskilled workers just 21 cents an hour would be able to manufacture goods it could sell at rock-bottom prices. Unfortunately, that is not so when the enterprise is Ohio's Penal Industries system." </strong> <a href="http://www.theintelligencer.net/page/content.detail/id/551465/Penal-Industries-Costs-Out-of-Line.html?nav=511">Penal Industries Costs Out of Line</a> - <strong>February 3, 2011 - The Intelligencer</strong></p><p> </p><p>"<strong>ACLU 2010 report presents the results of a yearlong investigation into modern-day "debtors' prisons</strong>," and shows that poor defendants are being jailed at increasingly alarming rates for failing to pay legal debts they can never hope to afford." <a href="http://www.aclu.org/prisoners-rights-racial-justice/penny-rise-americas-new-debtors-prisons">American Civil Liberties Unions - 2010 - See 2011 update</a><br /></p><p> </p><p><strong>Last year, officials in McIntosh County, Okla., south of Tulsa, issued about 1,500 debt-related arrest warrants, up from about 800 a year before the crisis, according to a court clerk. </strong>More than 950 borrowers got similar warrants in Salt Lake City courts last year. Maricopa County, Ariz., officials issued 260 debt-related warrants in 2010 <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704396504576204553811636610.html?"><strong>Welcome to Debtors' Prison, 2011 Edition</strong></a><br /></p><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong>Other people's suffering makes such a lucrative opportunity for investment <a href="http://stocks.investopedia.com/stock-analysis/2009/Private-Prisons-Have-Future-Growth-All-Locked-Up-CXW-GEO-CRN1020.aspx">Private Prisons Have Future Growth All Locked Up</a> - Oct 20, 2009</strong></p><p><strong><a href="http://prisonvalley.arte.tv/en/">Prison Valley - A web documentary exploring the Prison Industry</a><br /></strong></p><p> </p><p><em><photo 1=""></photo></em></p><p> </p><p>"<strong>Fascism</strong> should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power." - Benito<strong> Mussolini</strong>.<br /></p><p><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEwbL3HjCaIcMRx-bODTiF66bksvZ5salTBV4k2HzgsyVaIPXOrVbCwCa9l9VSLNM1x333hpMztJe7JOFhu5gd5ZsctbhuhcpzDCbHTM-GqwUHNNWYvfZY2wuQPyr6ISmkWii4-Qa8uWQ/s1600/162828_1787904904257_1438607106_1991703_1361045_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 500px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEwbL3HjCaIcMRx-bODTiF66bksvZ5salTBV4k2HzgsyVaIPXOrVbCwCa9l9VSLNM1x333hpMztJe7JOFhu5gd5ZsctbhuhcpzDCbHTM-GqwUHNNWYvfZY2wuQPyr6ISmkWii4-Qa8uWQ/s400/162828_1787904904257_1438607106_1991703_1361045_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588888927787995442" border="0" /></a><br />The United States continues to have the largest incarcerated population and the highest per capita incarceration rate in the world.<br />- Human Rights Watch, World Report, 2008<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"></script><fb:like href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com" show_faces="false" width="450" font="verdana"></fb:like></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"></script><fb:like href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com" show_faces="false" width="450" font="verdana"></fb:like></div>MaryJane Cannabianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10047679366767151464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3456122020434111736.post-54140031064343459382011-03-16T04:20:00.007-04:002011-03-16T15:21:03.477-04:00This Truth Ad Brought To You By...Me! Okay, while I don't have a big advertising budget to create and air, not an "Attack Ad", (Those are just so.... UNCanadian, to me) but a <span style="font-style: italic;">Truth</span> Ad, I thought I'd utilize the Power of The Internets to share a <a href="http://encarta.msn.com/dictionary_561508104/spot-on.html">spot on</a> video with my fellow Canadians highlighting the Conservative push to replicate the failed <a href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com/2009/10/stupid-is-as-stupid-does.html?spref=tw">American War on Drugs</a>*.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">The following was originally created by the<a href="http://www.drugpolicy.org/global/drugpolicyby/northamerica/canada/"> Drug Policy Alliance</a> in the United States. <a href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com/2009/10/sovereignty-is-dead-how-canadian.html">Marc Emery</a> paid for a Canadian version for the last Federal election as Stephen Harper and the Conservatives have been pushing their Stupid On Crime Agenda for many years now.<br /><br />"INCARCEREX" - Do not mix with The Charter or Common Sense.<br /><br /><br /></span><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0PHvxB6zXek" allowfullscreen="" width="480" frameborder="0" height="390"></iframe><br /><br /><br />Chances are (If we're lucky!) there's an election coming this Spring** and Canadians have to decide just where our priorities lie. Ask yourself: "What do Canadians <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">need</span> more? Money for Education, Health, <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2011/03/07/pol-ywca-childcare-report.html">Child</a> and <a href="http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/March2011/07/c8702.html">Elder Care</a>, Infrastructure, (Which will also create jobs, we all use roads and bridges, lets make them safe & smooth!) the Environment, etc? Or do you want to copy <a href="http://www.drugsense.org/cms/wodclock">failed U.S. Drug War policy</a>, and shovel BILLIONS AND BILLIONS of your hard earned tax dollars towards building and operating prisons, especially at a time when <a href="http://crimeandjusticecanada.blogspot.com/2010/05/crime-rate-hit-30-year-low-in-2007.html">crime is at a 30 year low</a> and we're <span style="font-weight: bold;">SIXTY BILLION</span> dollars in debt? (See the Canadian Debt Clock to your right--->)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/183439_1576543013520_1233953624_31222342_554283_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 420px; height: 400px;" src="http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/183439_1576543013520_1233953624_31222342_554283_n.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> ~Pic from: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1576543013520&set=a.1020528873514.2003358.1233953624">Wall Photos by Jodie Joanna Emery</a></span></span><br /><br />And FYI, for all the bleating the Conservatives put forth about being the only party who care about victims of crime, let us be reminded that <span class="messageBody">in 2010 the Tories slashed Grants for the Victims of Crime Initiative by 43% & the Contributions to the Victims Of Crime Initiative by 34%. </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Please also read the Globe and Mail article: <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/canada-warned-not-to-follow-us-tough-on-crime-mistakes/article1929448/">Canada warned not to follow U.S. tough-on-crime ‘mistakes’</a></span>, although, I'm sure the Conservatives will stupidly continue to ignore the advice from our neighbours to the south. #FAIL<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">*****</span><br /></div><br />"What purpose does it serve the Conservatives to quash judicial discretion? To disregard evidence and research that clearly demonstrates that Mandatory Minimum Sentencing is ineffective, expensive and a fallacious approach regarding drug policy and criminal legislation? I ask my fellow Canadians, "Are YOU comfortable with the knowledge that your government blatantly ignores the findings of <span style="font-weight: bold;">our very own</span> Justice Department?" ~ <a href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com/2011/02/con-job-tories-ignore-justice.html">Con Job! Tories Ignore Justice Department Reports</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">****</span><br /></div><br />*the Conservatives are refusing to allow Canadian taxpayers to be privy to the estimated costs of Bill S-10 along with other crime bills citing "Cabinet Confidence", and the Opposition just may call the Tories out with a vote of non confidence.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />**War on Drugs ~ </span><a href="http://www.thecrimereport.org/archive/ap-billions-spent-had-meager-effect-in-40-year-war-on-drugs/">AP: Billions Spent Had Meager Effect In 40-Year War On Drugs</a> <p>An Associated Press analysis of America's 40-year war on drugs concludes that the country's costly effort has met virtually none of its goals. In 1970, when President Richard Nixon signed the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act, he declared drug abuse "public enemy No. 1 in the United States" and promised to wage an "all-out offensive." His first drug-fighting budget was $100 million. Now it's $15.1 billion, 31 times Nixon's amount even when adjusted for inflation.</p> <p> The AP tracked where that money went and found that the United States repeatedly increased budgets for programs that did little to stop the flow of drugs. In 40 years, taxpayers spent: $20 billion to fight the drug gangs in their home countries, including $6 billion in Colombia; $33 billion in marketing "Just Say No"-style messages to America's youth and other prevention programs; $49 billion for law enforcement along America's borders to cut off the flow of illegal drugs; $121 billion to arrest more than 37 million nonviolent drug offenders, and $450 billion to lock those people up in federal prisons alone.</p><br /><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"></script><fb:like href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com" show_faces="false" width="450" font="verdana"></fb:like><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"></script><fb:like href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com" show_faces="false" width="450" font="verdana"></fb:like></div>MaryJane Cannabianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10047679366767151464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3456122020434111736.post-72510322561267598022011-03-04T04:20:00.007-05:002011-03-04T14:40:43.664-05:00News Flash - People Like Primo Bud<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">"If drug gangs in Mexico are successful enhancing the quality of their product, they can sell the improved marijuana for up to five times the normal price. The going rate for top quality U.S. marijuana is around $2,500 per pound, while Mexican types sell for under $500, U.S. law enforcement officials say."<br />~ <a href="http://drugsense.org/blog/cannabis-hemp/mexico-marijuana-growers-learn-new-tricks-from-u-s">Mexico marijuana growers learn new tricks from US</a></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">My response:<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />"They say its used for pain management, but drinking a bottle of Jack Daniels would have the same effect,"<br /><br />Yes, but the difference is that the bottle of Jack Daniel's can kill you, while the Cannabis can't. That is, unless you can ingest approximately 1500 pounds of it within 15 minutes.<br /><br />Like fine wine, people will pay good money for quality cannabis. The Mexican cartels have recognized this truth and are upping their game to compete in the black market opposite "<a href="http://onlineslangdictionary.com/definition+of/primo">Primo</a>" California bud."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.drogy.net/images/articles/cannabis-tough-penalties-on-way-after-another-change-of-mind_2008_04_07.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 298px;" src="http://www.drogy.net/images/articles/cannabis-tough-penalties-on-way-after-another-change-of-mind_2008_04_07.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />C'mon, we can't be surprised by this - we all know that <a href="http://www.cannabisculture.com/v2/content/2010/10/20/Marijuana-Californias-Largest-Cash-Crop-Worth-About-14-Billion">Cannabis is worth more <span style="font-weight: bold;">because</span></a> it's illegal. The best solution to stop the drug war violence is re-legalization and regulation, a controlled production, quality tested, sales industry much like what already exists for the <a href="http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=1017">previously banned alcohol</a>. The bonus will be tax revenue, legitimate jobs in an already booming, established market, and taxpayer savings through lower legal, court, incarceration and probation costs. Plus, <a href="http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/econ9631">Industrial Hemp</a> is a plant mine eagerly waiting to prosper, so the environment also wins.<br /><br />Why is <a href="http://www.drugwarrant.com/articles/why-is-marijuana-illegal/">this plant illegal </a>again?<br /></div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"></script><fb:like href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com" show_faces="false" width="450" font="verdana"></fb:like></div>MaryJane Cannabianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10047679366767151464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3456122020434111736.post-87945379916654081092011-02-11T21:52:00.083-05:002011-08-03T15:12:24.634-04:00Con Job! Tories Ignore Justice Department ReportsCON JOB: verb-transitive ~ To swindle (a victim) by first winning his or her confidence; dupe.–noun ~ A swindle. –adjective ~ Of, relating to, or involving a swindle or fraud: a con artist.<br /><br />ALARMIST: person or group/organization who needlessly alarms or attempts to alarm others, as by inventing or spreading false or exaggerated rumors of impending danger or catastrophe.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8uUM-4Xz9eVuCjOALf1POfCuscN_jUx7tR75OVFo3p5_vMpCbX7MauxGkTxyLMcJUL5EiCF5oc8BNcmEY3vBNCq3gvW6PRPwkiKfG_R_eh8ToqMHb1Ntp1renO8yYGdMQ5sIqVvJ_qA/s1600/CONMongering.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 431px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8uUM-4Xz9eVuCjOALf1POfCuscN_jUx7tR75OVFo3p5_vMpCbX7MauxGkTxyLMcJUL5EiCF5oc8BNcmEY3vBNCq3gvW6PRPwkiKfG_R_eh8ToqMHb1Ntp1renO8yYGdMQ5sIqVvJ_qA/s400/CONMongering.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576912137637681458" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:78%;">~Pic courtesy of <a href="http://www.cannabisfacts.ca/mandatoryminimums.html">FrankD</a></span></span></span><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /></span></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> </div>Are you scared yet?<br /><br />In a cheap attempt to sway uninformed Canadians into voting for them, the Conservatives continue to be alarmist, trying to convince you that Canada is bursting at the seams with dangerous criminals lurking on every corner like a Boogeyman in your closet. Harper, Toews, Nicholson, <a href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com/2010/11/shelly-glover-is-not4me.html">Glover</a> et al want you quivering, believing that no one can save you and your family from becoming victims except for the "Tough on Crime!" party! The kicker? Crime has actually been declining in Canada, in fact, crime rates fell by about about 3% in 2009 — 17% lower than a decade ago. Joseph Neuberger puts some context to this: "The last time Canada's crime rates were as low as Statistics Canada says they are now, The Sting and American Graffiti played at the movies; Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon ruled the airwaves and M*A*S*H was tops on TV." (<span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Please</span> read the whole awesome article <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/joseph-neuberger/canada-crime-rate_b_913426.html">Tough on Crime Bill Is Tough on Us All</a>)<br /><br />The following is from a previous post I wrote called "<a href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com/2009/11/calling-tories-out-on-bill-c-15.html">Calling the Tories Out on Bill C-15 - "The Politics of Fear</a>". This information is applicable to <a href="http://www.frankdiscussion.net/">Bill S-10</a> and deserves to be highlighted as the Conservatives continue to attempt to label the opposition as *soft on crime and <a href="opinion:%20Conservatives%27%20tough-on-crime%20agenda%20based%20on%20false%20premises%20%20%20Program%20will%20replicate%20what%20has%20failed%20in%20the%20U.S.,%20and%20critics%20say%20a%20study%20that%20supports%20the%20government%20plan%20is%20sloppy%20and%20%27embarrassing%27%20%20Read%20more:%20http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Opinion+Conservatives+tough+crime+agenda+based+false+premises/4344907/story.html#ixzz1FIN7HPQt">pull one over on Canadians</a> who are unfamiliar with the consequences of Mandatory Minimum Sentencing from <a href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com/2009/10/potentially-deadly-alcohol-marijuana.html">drug</a> offenses:<br /><br />On the Canadian Department of Justice website you can find the report: "<a href="http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/pi/rs/rep-rap/2005/rr05_10/index.html">Mandatory Sentences of Imprisonment in Common Law Jurisdictions: Some Representative Models</a>" by Julian V. Roberts With the assistance of Rafal Morek and Mihael Cole. Report prepared for the Department of Justice Canada © GOVERNMENT OF CANADA, 2006-11-09<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Highlights from the 55 page report include:<br /><br />The judiciary in Canada and elsewhere are opposed to mandatory sentences of imprisonment. The Canadian Sentencing Commission (1987) found in their survey of judges that slightly over half felt that minimum sentences impinged on their ability to impose a just sentence and that inappropriate agreement between defense and Crown counsel may result.<br /><br />The future of mandatory minimum sentences in Canada remains unclear. There is some indication that minimum sentences are not an effective sentencing tool: that is, they constrain judicial discretion without offering any increased crime prevention benefits. Nevertheless, mandatory sentences remain popular with some Canadian politicians.<br /><br />Where mandatory sentences do exist, they have been the object of considerable (and growing) opposition from a variety of parties, including advocacy groups, judges, academics and criminal justice professionals. This opposition has led to a number of Bills to amend or repeal the mandatory sentences legislation. While a number of countries have passed mandatory sentencing legislation within the last decade, there is evidence that jurisdictions with the most severe mandatory sentencing laws are beginning to repeal, or consider repealing, the most punitive sentences of imprisonment.<br /><br />Trends in Mandatory Sentencing Legislation - After a decade in which a number of common law countries enacted mandatory sentencing legislation, there is clear evidence that several jurisdictions are now either repealing or amending these punitive laws. For example, in 2002 the Michigan mandatory sentencing laws were significantly amended. The effects of these amendments include the following:<br /><br />• elimination of mandatory minimum sentencing for certain controlled substance<br />violations;<br />• creation of provisions that permit courts to consider important mitigating factors; and<br />• revision of the quantities of drug that trigger certain sentences.<br /><br />This movement towards a more flexible, judge-determined sentencing scheme is a result of several factors with international repercussions including:<br /><br />• a shift in public opinion away from supporting strict mandatory minimum sentencing (see above);<br />• the impact of Advocacy groups such as<br /><a href="http://www.famm.org/">Families Against Mandatory Minimums Foundation</a> (FAMM);<br />• growing public disenchantment with the “War on Drugs” that initially triggered many of the most punitive mandatory sentencing laws (see Eagleton Institute of Politics Center for Public Interest Polling, 2004);<br />• news media coverage of “three-strikes” cases in which offenders whose “third strike” consisted of a less serious felony and stories of offenders receiving lengthy prison terms for offenses such as stealing a bicycle from a garage have undermined public support for this kind of sentencing; and<br />• growing concern among criminal justice professionals that mandatory sentences have played an important role in keeping prison populations from declining, even in an era of falling crime rates.<br /><br />Mandatory Sentencing and Public Opinion - Although this report deals only with the statutory regimes with respect to mandatory sentences of imprisonment, it is worth noting that there is evidence from a number of jurisdictions that public support for mandatory sentencing has declined over the past decade. Mandatory sentences of imprisonment represent the most punitive sentencing reforms of recent years and are found in many western nations. Often justified by reference to public opinion, they have proved highly controversial in practice. Where do members of the public stand with respect to the issue? Few studies have addressed public knowledge of statutory minimum penalties; fortunately, the surveys that exist on this issue have generated the same findings: the general public has little knowledge of the offenses that carry a mandatory minimum penalty, or of the magnitude of the statutory minima. For example, in 1998, members of the public responding to the British Crime Survey (BCS) were asked if they were aware of the mandatory minimum prison term of three years for offenders convicted of burglary (see Roberts, 2003).<br /><br />Even though this mandatory sentence had been the object of considerable media attention, less than one quarter of the sample responded affirmatively. This finding is consistent with earlier research in Canada that found that very few members of the public had any idea which offenses carried a mandatory sentence (Roberts, 1988 - It should not be surprising that public knowledge of mandatory sentences is poor. Opinion surveys conducted in several jurisdictions have shown that the public knows little about maximum sentences, sentencing options, alternatives to imprisonment, sentencing patterns, recidivism rates, or many other elements of the sentencing process (see Roberts and Hough, 2005, for a review). For example, respondents may overlook the fact that mandatory sentences of imprisonment violate important sentencing principles such as proportionality in sentencing. In addition, mandatory sentences of imprisonment may prove expensive by increasing the costs of the correctional system as more offenders are admitted to custody (and for longer periods of time).)<br /><br />There is clear evidence that even in the United States, where support is stronger for mandatory sentences, public support for the concept is declining. For example, in 1995 over half of the sampled public in the US held the view that mandatory sentences were a good idea (Roberts, 2003). In 2001, this percentage had declined to slightly more than one-third of respondents (Peter D. Hart Research Associates, 2002; Roberts, 2003). In fact, over half the polled public in the US now favour the elimination of “three-strikes” mandatory sentences (Peter D. Hart Research Associates, 2002). The most recent polling on the issue of mandatory sentencing comes from the state of New Jersey. When asked whether mandatory jail or mandatory drug treatment was the more effective approach to non-violent offenders, respondents chose treatment over imprisonment by a three to one ratio (Eagleton Institute of Politics Center for Public Interest Polling, 2004). Three-quarters of the sample favoured allowing judges to set aside mandatory sentences “if another sentence would be more appropriate” (Eagleton Institute of Politics Center for Public Interest Polling, 2004).<br /><br />The Future of Mandatory Sentencing - It would be overstating the case to say that the pendulum has swung away from mandatory sentencing to a model of sentencing that privileges judicial discretion. However, it is clear that public and legislative interest in mandatory sentencing laws has declined, and is likely to continue to decline in the near future. Although the public supports tough sentencing measures for violent offenders, the experience with mandatory sentencing legislation in a number of countries has shown that these laws do little to promote public confidence in the sentencing process.<br /><br />This report has demonstrated that while mandatory sentences of imprisonment proved popular in the 1990s across a number of common law jurisdictions, closer examination of the laws reveals that many countries allow courts the discretion to sentence below the minimum when exceptional circumstances exist. This usually means that courts are permitted to consider mitigating factors relating to the offense or the offender, in some cases, as long as the judge provides written reasons for doing so. In addition, while the general public appears to favour the use of mandatory sentences for offenders convicted of the *most serious offenses and repeat offenders, there are important limits on public support for strict mandatory sentencing laws. <span style="font-weight: bold;">When the public is provided with more information regarding the law and the circumstances surrounding the offense and the offender, the tendency is not to favour punitive sanctions such as mandatory minimum sentences.</span><br /><br />*most serious offenses ~ s. 718.1 of the Criminal Code of Canada states: "sentences should be <a href="http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/proportionate">proportionate</a> to the offense and reflect the degree of responsibility of the offender."<br /><br />Another report on the Canadian Department of Justice Website is:<br /><a href="http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/pi/rs/rep-rap/2002/rr02_1/rr02_1.pdf">MANDATORY MINIMUM PENALTIES:<br />Their Effects on Crime, Sentencing Disparities, and Justice System Expenditures</a><br /><br />Thomas Gabor, Professor<br />Department of Criminology<br />University of Ottawa<br />Nicole Crutcher<br />Carleton University<br />Research and<br />Statistics Division<br />January2002<br /><br />An excerpt from section 5.4 Mandatory Sentences for Drug Offenses states:<br /><br />Some of the most sophisticated research in this area has<br />been undertaken at the Rand Corporation (Caulkins et<br />al., 1997). Through various mathematical models, Rand<br />researchers compared the cost effectiveness of various<br />drug prevention/control strategies, including lengthy<br />MMS. Their analysis considered the cost of each<br />strategy and the expected yield in terms of both drug<br />consumption and crime reductions. Their conclusion<br />was that conventional sentences imposed on dealers are<br />more cost effective than long MMS reserved for fewer<br />offenders and that treating heavy users is more cost<br />effective than either approach in lowering drug use or<br />drug-related crime. MMS were found to be the most<br />cost effective strategy only in the case of the highest level<br />dealers; however, the low thresholds at which MMS<br />tend to kick in means that these laws are more likely to<br />ensnare low-level offenders. Also, high-level dealers are<br />more likely to avoid MMS, as they are in a better position<br />to have information to trade for an exemption from<br />these penalties. Finally, these investigators note that the<br />time horizon of evaluations is critical, as MMS become<br />less cost effective over time.<br /><br />Hansen (1999) asserts that the tide is turning against<br />MMS for drug infractions. He notes that they have done<br />little to reduce crime or to put large-scale dealers out of<br />business. Rather, they have filled prisons with young.<br />low-level, non-violent individuals at great cost to<br />taxpayers. Hansen points out that, in Massachusetts,<br />84% of inmates serving mandatory drug sentences are<br />first-time offenders.<br /><br />...MMS fail to discriminate between these hardcore drug<br />dealers and those who feel compelled to sell due to an<br />addiction or difficulties encountered in participating<br />steadily in the work force. The implication is that<br />employment opportunities, more accessible drug<br />treatment, and alternative sentences would be<br />preferable to the “iron fist of the war on drugs.”<br /><br />Harsh MMS and the “drug war” approach in general<br />show little effect in relation to drug offense. Judges<br />routinely circumvent the “mandatory” death sentences<br />for drug trafficking in Malaysia and the tough MMS in<br />the US have imprisoned mostly low-level, nonviolent<br />offenders. MMS do not appear to influence drug<br />consumption or drug-related crime in any measurable<br />way. A variety of research methods concludes that<br />treatment-based approaches are more cost effective<br />than lengthy prison terms. MMS are blunt instruments<br />that fail to distinguish between low and high-level, as<br />well as hardcore versus transient drug dealers.<br />Optimally, it would appear that tough sentences should<br />be reserved for hardcore, high-level dealers, while<br />treatment may be more appropriate for addicted dealers<br />and employment opportunities may be more cost<br />effective in relation to part-time dealers who are<br />underemployed.<br /><br />Conclusion: 9.5 Mandatory Sentences for Drug Offenses<br /><br />Severe MMS seem to be least effective in relation to drug<br />offenses. Studies using a variety of methodologies<br />seriously question the value of the “drug war” approach.<br />The draconian penalties in Malaysia are routinely<br />circumvented by the judiciary and the tough MMS in the<br />US (both at the state and federal levels) have imprisoned<br />mostly low-level, nonviolent offenders. Drug<br />consumption and drug-related crime seem to be<br />unaffected, in any measurable way, by severe MMS.<br />Both mathematical modeling techniques and field work<br />arrive at the conclusion that treatment-oriented<br />approaches are more cost effective than harsh prison<br />terms.<br /><br />9.9 Concluding Remarks<br /><br />From a utilitarian point of view,<br />incarcerating occasional, non-violent offenders, for<br />substantial periods, constitutes a colossal waste of<br />justice system resources.<br /><br />...Therefore, MMS should not be<br />introduced merely to placate a political constituency or<br />without regard to a thorough understanding of the<br />infractions or offenders for whom they are intended. ~ Fin<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">*****<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204); font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">Discretion is a science of understanding, to discern between falsity and truth, between wrong and right, between shadows and substance, between equity and colourable glosses and pretenses, and not to do according to their men's will and private affections.</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">" </span>~ Justice Edward Coke<br /><br />*****<br /></div><br />What purpose does it serve the Conservatives to quash judicial discretion? To disregard evidence and research that clearly demonstrates that Mandatory Minimum Sentencing is ineffective, expensive and a fallacious approach regarding drug policy and criminal legislation? I ask my fellow Canadians, "Are YOU comfortable with the knowledge that your government blatantly ignores the findings of <span style="font-weight: bold;">our very own</span> Justice Department?"<br /><br />Please also be aware that the <a href="http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/Conservatives+keep+cost+crime+measures+secret/4246985/story.html">Conservatives keep cost of crime measures a secret</a> and these ideologically driven bills will <a href="http://www.cssdp.org/our-campaigns/no-mandatory-minimums">criminalize and imprison large numbers of young Canadians</a>. The legislation is also opposed to by <a href="http://www.liberal.ca/newsroom/news-release/liberals-oppose-bill-s10-conservatives-hide-mounting-prison-costs/"> all other Canadian political parties</a>, (Liberals, NDP, Bloc, and Green) the <a href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com/2011/02/because-we-say-so-conservative-know-it.html">Church Council on Justice and Corrections</a>, a 39-year-old coalition for justice reform that represents 11 of the largest Christian denominations, the <a href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com/2009/06/unleash-lawyers.html">Canadian Bar Association</a> and well over 500<a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/health-researchers-slam-tory-mandatory-minimum-sentence-proposal/article1897910/"> Health researchers slam Tory mandatory-minimum-sentence proposal for drug crimes</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.timescolonist.com/opinion/op-ed/Build+families+prisons+reduce+crime/4161343/story.html">Prevention.</a> It's worth more than a pound of Tory rhetoric for Canadian families and hard working taxpayers. Lets ignore the Con Job, Canadians, of course we are all concerned about crime, but lets be brave and approach solutions to keeping our kids and communities safer by being <span style="font-weight: bold;">smart</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">logical and realistic</span> about crime policy.<br /><br />Ignoring evidence that clearly proves that Mandatory Minimum Sentences escalate crime and violence in our neighbourhoods? Now <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">that's</span> scary!<br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/cmFm1kLS7fE" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="345" width="420"></iframe><br /><br /><object height="420" width="420"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/K4hgSS1pKfg&hl=en_GB&feature=player_embedded&version=3"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/K4hgSS1pKfg&hl=en_GB&feature=player_embedded&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="420" width="420"></embed></object><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Fortunately, we can see what has happened in the<br />United States when a government is "Stupid on Crime"<br />because they don't want to be labeled "Soft on Crime".</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">*****<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">“Still, my own personal view is that it’s a mistake to take away discretion from judges, In the last couple of decades, the U.S. has gone the way of mandatory sentencing for a whole bunch of crimes and the result is their prisons are jammed.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I find it hard to understand how the richest country in the world has one of - if not the - highest prison population in the world. There’s something wrong there, and the problem is mandatory sentences. I’m disappointed to see Canada drifting in that direction.” ~ Retired Quebec judge John Gomery</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">*****<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >*</span>soft on crime ~ From: <a href="http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=e7898d78-9071-4c9c-ac3a-640b458401f2">It's a 'myth' Canada is soft on crime</a><br />It is a myth that Canadian courts are soft on crime and that the Charter of Rights is responsible for criminals escaping conviction or receiving light jail terms, says Canada's chief justice, Beverley McLachlin.<br /><br />The Charter of Rights, signed on April 17, 1982, as part of the repatriated Constitution, gave judges the power to not merely interpret laws, but to strike them down if they were found to violate any of the established rights.<br /><br />They include freedom of religion, expression and association, the legal right to life, liberty and security of the person, and the right against unreasonable search and seizure. Equality guarantees, including freedom from discrimination based on age, sex, race, or disability, came into effect in 1985.<br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /></div><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"></script><fb:like href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com" show_faces="false" width="450" font="verdana"></fb:like></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"></script><fb:like href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com" show_faces="false" width="450" font="verdana"></fb:like></div>MaryJane Cannabianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10047679366767151464noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3456122020434111736.post-36862438752540644902011-02-09T13:10:00.018-05:002011-10-03T14:59:11.088-04:00Because We Say So - The Conservative Know-It-All Crime Agenda<a href="http://communities.canada.com/ottawacitizen/blogs/edboard/archive/2009/03/28/it-s-confirmed-these-conservatives-think-you-re-stupid.aspx">Stephen Harper and the Conservatives think Canadians are stupid</a>, and believe they know more regarding health, drug policy & community safety than over 500 professionals in the fields of health, drug policy and community safety. Thankfully there are some very important people speaking up regarding this draconian approach to drug legislation.<br /><br />Letter to Government Expressing Opposition to Bill S-10<br /><p>February 6, 2011 </p><p>Right Hon. Stephen Harper, Prime Minister, Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada<br />Hon. Michael Ignatieff, Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada<br />Hon. Jack Layton, Leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada<br />Mr. Gilles Duceppe, Leader of the Bloc Québécois<br />House of Commons<br />Parliament Buildings<br />Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6<br /><br />Dear Sirs:<br /><br /><strong>Re: Opposition to Bill S-10, the <em>Penalties for Organized Crime Act</em></strong></p>We, the undersigned, are concerned that the federal government is pursuing significant amendments to federal drug legislation, through Bill S-10, which are not scientifically grounded and which research demonstrates may actually contribute to health and social harms in our communities. We join with other individuals and community groups that have previously expressed concerns in their testimony to various Committees and in open letters, and we outline our key concerns, in brief, below.<br /><br />Please <a href="http://uhri.cfenet.ubc.ca/content/view/88Letter">click here to read the whole press release</a> and hopefully you will share this with your fellow Canadians. Thanks! ~MaryJane<br /><br /><h6 style="text-align: center; color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-style: italic;" class="uiStreamMessage" ft="{"type":"msg"}"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span class="messageBody">"When the</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span class="messageBody"> public is provided with more information regarding the law and the circumstances surrounding the offense and the offender, the tendency is not to favour punitive sanctions such as mandatory minimum sentences." ~ <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">"<a href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com/2009/11/calling-tories-out-on-bill-c-15.html">Mandatory Sentences of Imprisonment in Common Law Jurisdictions: Some Representative Models</a>"</span></span></span></h6><br />Oh yes, one more thing, in e-mails sent out to pastors and Church officials, the <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/CCJCCanada">Church Council on Justice and Corrections</a> said their group wants an about face on new prison building and legislation that would fill new jails with more criminals. The council is distributing graphics that lay out statistics about the cost and scope of the crime legislation. The council is asking that their ready-made inserts be included in parish bulletins or otherwise put in the hands of church-goers. They join <a href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com/2009/07/cops-clergy-condemn-war-on-drugs.html">LEAP Members and Clergy who condemn the War On Drugs</a>.<br /><a href="http://www.catholicregister.org/canada/justice-council-shows-bite-taken-by-tories-new-prison-policy"><br />From Justice council shows bite taken by Tories’ new prison policy </a>:<br /><br />"Lorraine Berzins, community chair of justice for the Church Council on Justice and Corrections, said the group wants an about face on new prison building and legislation that would fill new jails with more criminals.<br /><br />“This is a critical time when all this money is about to be poured into something that is so clearly a destructive direction,” Berzins said.<br /><br />The council is trying to get people beyond emotional and theoretical arguments by having them look at concrete facts — including the numbers of prisoners who are mentally ill, addicted or without job skills, said Berzins."<br /><h6 style="text-align: center; color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-style: italic;" class="uiStreamMessage" ft="{"type":"msg"}"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFmWevni0oF5wMW5xCqjixlnWmMt97FOk3SrES2rPFa2gGVQMkr0V4uFvW9hG4YbXZkFyTIWh3DSD5-cn6ieIldx0J9ZvmAUtg67S5QMHhVdyVspstZ6ZWdT78Z47DTjyCFCtaSSZ38cY/s1600/SH_notalistener296.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 277px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFmWevni0oF5wMW5xCqjixlnWmMt97FOk3SrES2rPFa2gGVQMkr0V4uFvW9hG4YbXZkFyTIWh3DSD5-cn6ieIldx0J9ZvmAUtg67S5QMHhVdyVspstZ6ZWdT78Z47DTjyCFCtaSSZ38cY/s400/SH_notalistener296.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593768044589909778" border="0" /></a></h6> And more via The Globe and Mail:<br /><br />"The letter comes weeks after the Church Council on Justice and Corrections, a 39-year-old coalition for justice reform that represents 11 of the largest Christian denominations, wrote a strongly worded letter to Mr. Harper condemning legislation that is expected to increase the number of convicts dramatically and require billions of dollars worth of prison construction.<br /><br />The health professionals say they want drug legislation that is based on sound scientific evidence.<br /><br />“Bill S-10 will put small scale growers of marijuana in jail for a minimum of six months, even though the RCMP's study of some 25,000 cultivation files reveals that violence or the threat of violence among cultivators is rare,” said Neil Boyd, professor and associate director of the School of Criminology at Simon Fraser University. “We will be spending tens of millions of dollars to imprison individuals who represent little if any real threat to the public.” From <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/health-researchers-slam-tory-mandatory-minimum-sentence-proposal/article1897910/">Health researchers slam Tory mandatory-minimum-sentence proposal for drug crimes</a>, - Globe and Mail<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">UPDATE 4</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">/9/</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">11</span>: If the Conservatives get a majority in Election 41 they have <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/what-are-canadians-really-afraid-of-when-it-comes-to-crime/article1978257/">threatened to have all of their ill thought out stupid on crime bills crammed into one huge omnibus bill</a>. Talk about an ideological, close-minded, <a href="http://www.drugpolicy.org/communities/race/educationvsi/">extremely damaging</a> FAIL! Please also remember, the <span style="font-style: italic;">reason</span> the Harper Conservative government was found In Contempt of Parliament was because they refused to release the costs of these crime bills to Canadian Taxpayers.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Picture courtesy of</span> <a href="http://www.frankdiscussion.net/">FrankDiscussion.net</a></span><br /><br /><br />UPDATE: Please be advised that the MMS from Bill S-10 are now being included in Conservative Bill C-10 "<a href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com/2011/09/canadians-dont-be-tricked-by-safe.html">Canadians: Don't Be Tricked by the "Safe Streets and Communities Act" - It's Omnibusted!</a>"<br /><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"></script><fb:like href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com" show_faces="false" width="450" font="verdana"></fb:like><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"></script><fb:like href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com" show_faces="false" width="450" font="verdana"></fb:like></div>MaryJane Cannabianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10047679366767151464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3456122020434111736.post-70334306119696504022010-12-14T16:20:00.006-05:002010-12-15T01:56:46.113-05:00Harper Stacked Conservative Senate Dangerously Stupid On Crime<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS71kGNzXFagjc4twIXacNeN5Xk1o1Bm-mCkuubb3ZlS0DK2WhZF-mMXHNMpoysuxV82fGIbtMKdEf3bhzXT5i1VZc0Ri4YBJvP97XETfDvxANdtVjGcfdozeVnRBvp928NmtoUaNSViE/s1600/KidJailVoteConservative.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 192px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS71kGNzXFagjc4twIXacNeN5Xk1o1Bm-mCkuubb3ZlS0DK2WhZF-mMXHNMpoysuxV82fGIbtMKdEf3bhzXT5i1VZc0Ri4YBJvP97XETfDvxANdtVjGcfdozeVnRBvp928NmtoUaNSViE/s320/KidJailVoteConservative.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544267420564893106" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;">The Canadian (<a href="http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2008/12/22/don-martin-harper-appointments-confirm-senate-role-as-payola-heaven.aspx">Conservative stacked</a>) Senate has obviously disregarded all of the experts who testified against <a href="http://www.blogger.com/maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com/.../bill-s-10-new-name-for-bad-law.html">Bill S-10</a> during Senate Committee hearings, regardless of the <a href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com/2009/11/calling-tories-out-on-bill-c-15.html">evidence and research presented that proves that not only do mandatory minimums for drugs not work </a>- they, along with draconian prohibition laws, cause</span> <a style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);" href="http://www.blogger.com/www.leap.cc">MORE HARM</a> than good to our society!<br /><br /><a href="http://cannabisculture.com/v2/content/2010/12/14/Senate-Quietly-Passes-Bill-S-10-and-Mandatory-Minimums-Marijuana">Senate Quietly Passes Bill S-10 and Mandatory Minimums For Marijuana</a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;"><br /><br />Parents, this is not a bill aimed strictly at cartel kingpins as the Tories would have you believe. No, <a href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com/2010/11/shelly-glover-is-not4me.html?spref=tw">this wolf in sheep's clothing will have our sons and daughters, aka "easy police prey", thrown in prison</a> because they prefer to use cannabis, a<a href="http://www.saferchoice.org/"> much safer substance than legal alcohol</a> and nicotine filled cigarettes. Many college students will grow a small amount of plants for themselves and a few friends so they don't have to come into contact with drug dealers, certainly this is not Organized Crime! Under Bill S-10 the "serious crime" of baking a batch of Pot Brownies will demand a judge hand down a mandatory minimum sentence of <a href="http://letfreedomrain.blogspot.com/2010/12/canada-becomes-america-mandatory.html">no less than 18 months imprisonment</a> (Seriously.) and even the simple action of passing a joint is </span>deemed <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;"> "drug trafficking".<br /><br />I've stated many times throughout my blog that of course we would prefer our youth to not use any drugs at all, be it alcohol, nicotine, <a href="http://www.youngwomenshealth.org/caffeine.html">caffeine</a>, cannabis, oxycondon, ecstasy, etc. But the reality is that many <span style="font-style: italic;">will</span> experiment (as millions of us did in our youth) with different substances. In this case, we certainly wish that if they are unfortunately caught by police, they NOT be persecuted and sent to prison with violent criminals! And if your child fell victim to drug addiction, would you rather them receive counselling and rehabilitative help? Or <a href="http://t.co/yoPU6go">be locked up and punished alongside dangerous felons</a>?<br /><br /><a href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com/2009/06/get-up-stand-up.html">Stand up, Canadian Parents!</a> It's time to <a href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com/2009/04/smtfs-exclusive-interview-with-unions.html">get educated</a> - we must refute ideological drug war rhetoric and defend the civil rights and safety of our children! Prohibition legislation creates and causes violence in our neighbourhoods. Let's be the "Smart On Crime" Generation that demands our government put public safety and common sense first - we can start by defeating Bill S-10 in the House of Commons. </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;">I ask that you please<a href="http://www2.parl.gc.ca/parlinfo/compilations/houseofcommons/memberbypostalcode.aspx?menu=hoc"> contact your Member of Parliament</a> and request that they do the right thing by our kids and fellow Canadians and VOTE NO on Bill S-10!!!</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;"><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/olD1SiKoDVA?fs=1&hl=en_GB&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/olD1SiKoDVA?fs=1&hl=en_GB&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">U.S. Surgeon Gen </span></span>Joycelyn Elders<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-style: italic;">: Legalize Marijuana!</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> "We Criminalize People At The Highest Rate In The World!" </span><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0PHvxB6zXek?fs=1&hl=en_GB&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0PHvxB6zXek?fs=1&hl=en_GB&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />"Incarcerex" - Steve's solution to fill <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-leaves-provinces-on-hook-for-their-share-of-extra-prison-costs/article1745831/">Canadian taxpayer<br />funded</a> prisons with cannabis consumers.<br /><br />To learn more about Bill S-10, please visit <a href="http://www.whyprohibition.ca/s10">http://www.WhyProhibition.ca/s10</a> , <a href="http://www.cannabisfacts.ca/mandatoryminimums.html">http://www.cannabisfacts.ca/mandatoryminimums.html</a> , sign <a href="http://whyprohibition.ca/blogs/jacob-hunter/stop-s-10-petition">the Petition</a> and also read another post I wrote "<a href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com/2010/01/look-over-there-shiny-thing.html">Look! Over There! A Shiny Thing!!!"</a> - written before <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yV8zEjgZ8VE">Stephen Harper stacked the unelected Senate with Conservatives. (so much for "Sober Second Thought!")</a><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">*****<br /><br />"<span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >When the public is provided with more information regarding the law and the circumstances surrounding the offense and the offender, the tendency is not to favour punitive sanctions such as mandatory minimum sentences.</span>" ~ "<a href="http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/pi/rs/rep-rap/2005/rr05_10/index.html">Mandatory Sentences of Imprisonment in Common Law Jurisdictions: Some Representative Models</a>"<br /><br />*****</span><br /></div><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: normal;font-family:verdana;" >"Cannabis use, however, was generally infrequent, with 45.7% of previous-year users reporting use two or fewer times during the previous three months. In addition, most users did not report experiencing serious harm due to their cannabis use."</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: normal;font-family:verdana;" >"For the general population of Canadians, the use of illicit drugs was usually limited to cannabis only. About 28.7% of Canadians reported using only cannabis during their lifetime, and 11.5% used only cannabis during the previous year."</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: normal;">"According to a 2009 report by the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse, health-related costs per user are eight times higher for drinkers than they are for those who use cannabis, and are more than 40 times higher for tobacco smokers. It states: “In terms of (health-related) costs per user: tobacco-related health costs are over $800 per user, alcohol-related health costs are much lower at $165 per user, and cannabis-related health costs are the lowest at $20 per user.”</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: normal;font-family:verdana;" >"The Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA) has also published a document outlining the relationship between the perceived seriousness and the actual costs of substance abuse in Canada. The study found that, while the total social costs associated with alcohol are more than twice those for all other illicit drugs, the public consistently rated the overall seriousness of illicit drugs as higher in the Canadian Addiction Survey.<br /><br />The reasons for this misperception may relate to the fact that alcohol is a legal, socially accepted product that is regularly used by the vast majority of Canadians. While over 90% of Canadians have direct, personal experience with alcohol, only 3% of CAS respondents reported past-year use of the five most popular illicit drugs, so perceptions of risk will likely be inflated for these substances due to the unfamiliarity factor.</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: normal;font-family:verdana;" > <span style="font-weight: bold;">The CCSA also points to the police, concerned citizen groups, political leaders and policy makers as those involved in amplifying the perceptions of the risks associated with illicit drug abuse.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: normal;font-family:verdana;" >**"</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Mark Ertel, president of the Defence Counsel Association of Ottawa, has said that the measures would strip judges of the ability to apply discretion for mitigating circumstances and could turn Canadian correctional institutions and penitentiaries into US-style inmate warehouses.65 Mr. Ertel argues that automatic jail sentences, with no allowance for mitigating considerations, will inevitably prompt the kind of appeal that led to a 1987 Supreme Court of Canada decision (R. v. Smith) striking down a seven-year mandatory minimum sentence under the now-repealed Narcotic Control Act as cruel and unusual punishment. He also argues that </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">the bill targets the wrong problem as almost all violent crime is alcohol-related, yet liquor manufacturers will not be prosecuted</span>**</span>.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: normal;">Some opponents of the mandatory sentencing that is <span style="font-weight: bold;">a feature of the drug bills have noted that the increase in costs to operate prisons will draw funds away from social programs, like those addressing improved education, health care and child poverty, which reduce crime. Incarceration is seen as poor stewardship of both money and human resources.**</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: normal;">Other opponents of mandatory minimum sentencing have taken note of the fact that the United States, which has championed the use of such sentences for many years, is, in some cases, moving away from them. The thinking is that by depriving judges of discretion and forcing them to apply rigid and arbitrary sentencing rules, the United States built irrationality into its justice system. Yet, even though American courts mete out sentences that are double that of British and three times that of Canadian courts, the US violent crime rate is higher than in those two countries.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: normal;">In addition, while crime rates in both Canada and the United States have fallen by almost the same amount in recent years, the incarceration rates in the two countries have followed different patterns: in Canada, unlike in the US, there has been no substantial increase in the size of the prison population.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">One editorial has noted that, despite 25 years of harsh mandatory minimums, disproportionate numbers of the poor, the young, minorities and the drug addicted have been thrown in US jails with no impact on the drug business itself, which has flourished**</span>.<br /><br />Opponents of mandatory minimum sentences point to two Department of Justice studies that conclude that such laws are not effective and are increasingly unpopular as crime-fighting measures in other countries. A 2005 study concluded: “There is some indication that minimum sentences are not an effective sentencing tool: that is, they constrain judicial discretion without offering any increased crime prevention benefits.” </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">A 2002 study, meanwhile, found that mandatory minimum sentences do not appear to deter crime. The reasons for this lack of deterrence include the fact that they bar judges from using their discretion to sentence individuals. As a result, prosecutors and police take up the discretionary role, often choosing not to charge people with offences that would automatically lead to a prison term. Mandatory minimum sentences also sometimes lower conviction rates, as juries refuse to convict accused people facing automatic but seemingly unfair prison terms. Furthermore, while these types of sentences show success in deterring firearms or drunk driving crimes, they appear to have no impact on drug crime.</span> ~</span><br /><a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);" href="http://www2.parl.gc.ca/Sites/LOP/LegislativeSummaries/Bills_ls.asp?lang=E&ls=s10&source=library_prb&Parl=40&Ses=3"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;">No. 40-3-S10E Legislative Summary of Bill S-10: An Act to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and to make related and consequential amendments to other Acts</span></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;">*****</span><br /></div><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;">In terms of social costs, the vast majority of the social costs of cannabis are enforcement-related while the vast majority of tobacco costs are health-related. The social costs of alcohol are about evenly distributed between health care and enforcement.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;">In terms of costs per user: tobacco-related health costs are over $800 per user, alcohol-related health costs are much lower at $165 per user, and cannabis-related health costs are the lowest at $20 per user. On the enforcement side, costs for cannabis are the highest at $328 per user—<span style="font-weight: bold;">94% of social costs for cannabis are linked to enforcement</span>.** Enforcement costs per user for alcohol are about half those for cannabis ($153), while enforcement costs for tobacco are very low.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">The harms, risks and social costs of alcohol, cannabis and tobacco vary greatly. A lot has to do with how the substances are handled legally. Alcohol and tobacco are legal substances, which explain their low enforcement costs relative to cannabis. On the other hand, the health costs per user of tobacco and alcohol are much higher than for cannabis. This may indicate that cannabis use involves fewer health risks than alcohol or tobacco. These variations in risk, harms and costs need to be taken into account as we think about further efforts to deal with the use of these three substances in Canada. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Efforts to reduce social costs related to cannabis, for example, will likely involve shifting its legal status by decriminalizing casual use, to reduce the high enforcement costs. Such a shift may be warranted given the apparent lower health risk associated with most cannabis use</span>.**"</span> </span>~ <a style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);" href="http://www.heretohelp.bc.ca/publications/cannabis/bck/7">Cannabis, Tobacco and Alcohol Use in Canada, Comparing risks of harm and costs to society</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">*****</span><br /></div><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >" The evidence is clear, </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51); font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Cannabis has no lethal dose</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" >**</span></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >, so you can't die from it. The impact on the brain structure for cannabis is nil, but there can be very serious brain function changes with alcohol abuse. Also, more dramatic liver functions are impaired with alcohol. Malnutrition, B-vitamin deficiency, and Korsakoff's Disorder are all linked to alcohol, but not cannabis." ~ </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:verdana;" >Dr. Mitch Earleywine, University of Southern California psychologist, author of</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> "<a href="http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2006/sep/28/book_review_pot_politics_marijua">Pot Politics: Marijuana and the Costs of Prohibition</a>"</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-family:verdana;" >,"Understanding Marijuana: A New Look at the Scientific Evidence" and "Mind-Altering Drugs: The Science of Subjective Experience.</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >"</span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Please also watch this interview with Dr. Earlywine:<a href="http://capitaloutsider.org/mt4/mt-tb.cgi/47"> SHOW 18: Dr. Mitch Earleywine - Parents' Guide to Marijuana</a><a href="http://capitaloutsider.org/mt4/mt-tb.cgi/47">.</a><br /><br />And just a little more "fyi":<br /><br /><a href="http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2010/08/05/kelly-mcparland-stockwell-days-criminal-logic/">Kelly McParland: Stockwell Day’s criminal logic</a><br /><br />I’m trying hard to take Stockwell Day’s warnings about unreported crime and the need for more jails seriously — I really am — but I can’t say I’m having much luck.<br /><br />Maybe it’s the linkage that’s causing the trouble, as in, there isn’t any.<br /><br />Mr. Day maintains that Canada needs more prisons. Specifically, he wants to spent $9 billion building more penitentiaries to hold all the criminals the Harper government intends to round up thanks to its tough-on-crime legislation.<br /><br />But statistics show that crime is going down. The most recent report, released just a few weeks ago, shows a 17% drop from a decade ago, continuing a trend that has shown an ongoing decline in crime figures for the past ten years.<br /><br />The data released by Statistics Canada … shows that the overwhelming number of criminal charges involved nonviolent offences. More than 45% of all offences reported in 2009 were for minor thefts such as shoplifting, or mischief. There were still nearly 50,000 people charged with possession of marijuana.<br /><br />In contrast, homicides, attempted murder, serious sexual assaults and crimes against children, made up less than one quarter of one per cent of all reported offences.<br /><br />Yet another indicator, the Crime Severity Index, which is a weighted average of criminal offences, is down 22% from the level in 1999.<br /><br />So why spend billions building prisons when crime is decreasing? Because, claims Mr. Day, unreported crime is rising. And he knows this because Statistics Canada also has a measure that keeps track of crime victims, as opposed to crime reports, and calculates the gap.<br /><br />The noise you hear is Absurdious, the God of Irony, being stomped to death under the jackboots of Stockwellian logic. First of all, as you may have heard, the Conservatives are in the middle of cancelling the collection of mandatory census data, arguing that voluntary data is just as good. But here we have Minister Day dismissing crime statistics — which are reported voluntarily — as unreliable. (Not all crime stats, mind, just the crime stats he doesn’t like. The crime stats he does like, the ones on unreported crime, are entirely trustworthy.)<br /><br />Second, if the crimes are unreported, the perpetrators must be unarrested, and therefor the construction of prisons to hold them becomes just a little bit redundant, wouldn’t you say?<br /><br />Mr. Day, who had managed to re-establish his reputation after his disastrous turn as Canadian Alliance party leader, is getting killed in editorial pages across the country. Montreal’s Gazette wrote that it was disconcerting to see him “scrape the bottom of the logical barrel -indeed, break right through the bottom of it” in trying to justify his prison budget. “Day’s interpretation of statistics is a crime,” said the Edmonton Journal, woy out there in Harper country. Several blogs quoted Mr. Day’s own convoluted words so readers could try to figure out or themselves what he was attempting to say.<br /><br />Don’t bother. The answer is easy: The Conservatives think tough-on-crime sells well with voters, and if that means building prisons to house non-prisoners for unreported crime, well, who are they to argue? And never mind<a href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com/2010/05/blacks-on-track.html"> the eloquent case put forward by the recently-released Conrad Black</a>, who made a powerful argument against following the U.S. down the road of prisons stuffed with oversentenced underlings wasting away at immense cost, with little benefit to the overall good of society.<br /><br />Nope, logic isn’t going to get us anywhere on this one, folks. You just have to take it on faith. If, that is, you have that much faith in Mr. Day.<br /><br />National Post<br />Shared under Educational Fair Use (See below)<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102); font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >**Cannabis has no lethal dose<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">**</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">:</span><br /><p>"No acute lethal overdoses of cannabis are known, in contrast to several of its illegal (for example, cocaine) and legal (for example, alcohol, aspirin, acetaminophen) counterparts." - Stephen Sidney, M.D., associate director for clinical research at Kaiser Permanente, in an editorial published 9/20/03 in the British Medical Journal (Vol. 327, pp. 635-635) </p><p>"Unlike many of the drugs we prescribe every day, marijuana has never been proven to cause a fatal overdose." - Joycelyn Elders, M.D., former U.S. Surgeon General, in a 3/26/04 editorial published in Rhode Island's Providence Journal </p><p>"The estimated lethal human dose of intravenous Marinol is 30 mg/kg (2100 mg/70 kg). Using this estimation of lethal dose, the equivalent inhaled THC would represent the smoking of 240 cannabis cigarettes with total systemic absorption of the average 8.8 mg of THC in each cigarette. </p><p>"Since absorption is much less than 100 percent, the amount of smoked marijuana required to reach lethality is on the order of one to two thousand cigarettes."</p><p>"The physical impossibility of a fatal overdose using smoked cannabis is obvious." - Denis Petro, M.D., in his 1997 paper "Pharmacology and Toxicity of Cannabis", published in the book "Cannabis in Medical Practice - A Legal, Historical and Pharmacological Overview of the Therapeutic Use of Marijuana", pg 62 </p><p>"Marijuana has been used as a medicinal herb for thousands of years, going back to ancient civilizations in Egypt, India and Africa. In all that time, up to and including the present day, there has never been a report of a fatality directly due to the consumption of marijuana. </p><p>"In contrast, over 1,000 people die annually in the US from an overdose of our most common non-prescription drug, aspirin. In addition, many thousands of deaths result from the legal prescription drugs. </p><p>"After hearing two year's worth of evidence on the presumed dangers of marijuana, DEA Judge Francis L. Young said this: 'marijuana is the safest therapeutically active substance known to man ... safer than many foods we commonly consume.'" - Bill Zimmerman, Executive Director of Americans for Medical Rights </p><p>"Drugs used in medicine are routinely given what is called an LD-50. The LD-50 rating indicates at what dosage 50% of test animals receiving a drug will die as a result of drug induced toxicity... </p><p>"At present it is estimated that marijuana's LD-50 is around 1:20,000 or 1:40,000. In layman terms this means in order to induce death, a smoker would have to consume 20,000 to 40,000 times as much marijuana as is contained in one marijuana cigarette. </p><p>"NIDA-supplied marijuana cigarettes weigh approximately 0.9 grams. A smoker would have to consume nearly 1,500 pounds of marijuana within about 15 minutes to induce a lethal response. In practical terms, marijuana cannot induce a lethal response as a result of drug-related toxicity." - Judge Francis L. Young wrote in a 1988 decision </p><p>"A commonly used over-the-counter product like aspirin has a therapeutic ratio of around 1:20. Two aspirins are the recommended dose for adult patients. Twenty times this dose, forty aspirins, may cause a lethal reaction in some patients and will almost certainly cause gross injury to the digestive system... </p><p>"By contrast, marijuana's therapeutic ratio... is impossible to quantify because it is so high." - Judge Francis L. Young wrote in a 1988 decision </p><p>"No one has ever died of THC [marijuana] poisoning, mostly because a 160-lb. person would have to smoke roughly 900 joints in a sitting to reach a lethal dose." - Time Magazine in a Nov. 4, 2002 cover story </p><p>"Death by overdose isn’t the only danger that drugs present, but it is one important measure. In fact, a study conducted by Kaiser Permanente from 1979-1985 with a follow-up in 1991 found no correlation between marijuana use and death, evidence that even heavy marijuana use for decades does not appear to be associated with major health risks, whereas heavy alcohol users will develop cirrhosis and other potentially fatal conditions." - David Borden, Executive Director of The Drug Reform Coordination Network, wrote MedMJpro/con </p><p>Meanwhile......</p><a href="http://www.naturalnews.com/027794_narcotics_addiction.html">Prescription narcotics cause more deaths than both heroin and cocaine</a><br /><br />TORONTO, December 7, 2009 - <a href="http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-12/smh-drt120109.php">Deaths related to narcotic pain relievers have doubled since 1991: Study</a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><a href="http://www.naturalnews.com/009278.html">Statistics prove prescription drugs are 16,400% more deadly than terrorists</a><br /><a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CBIQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmaryjanecannabian.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F05%2Fside-effects-may-includecoma-or-death.html&rct=j&q=Side%20effects%20may%20include%20Coma%20or%20death%3F&ei=RnTwTNCfLIvLnAevkfyICw&usg=AFQjCNFiAVFCvby9O2f1LAVivsBII_4KIA&sig2=6m9lOp9-ITMeJIOlJsMnaQ&cad=rja"><br /><span class="tl"></span></a><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CBIQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmaryjanecannabian.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F05%2Fside-effects-may-includecoma-or-death.html&rct=j&q=Side%20effects%20may%20include%20Coma%20or%20death%3F&ei=RnTwTNCfLIvLnAevkfyICw&usg=AFQjCNFiAVFCvby9O2f1LAVivsBII_4KIA&sig2=6m9lOp9-ITMeJIOlJsMnaQ&cad=rja" class="l noline"><em>Side Effects May Include</em>...<em>Coma or Death</em>?!</a><br /><br /><a href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com/2009/05/big-big-pharma.html">Big $$$, Big Pharma</a><br /><br />I'm just sayin'...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">**Bolding</span> is mine<br /></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"></script><fb:like href="http://maryjanecannabian.blogspot.com" show_faces="false" width="450" font="verdana"></fb:like></div>MaryJane Cannabianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10047679366767151464noreply@blogger.com2