The medical pot issue aside, I'm not a fan of Sands but this sort of harassment from the Feds is troubling and I stand with her.

I will say, if the Feds think they can intimidate Sands or any other lawmaker from MT they got a another thing coming.

I really wish I knew of a way to find out who the lobbyists are who back the "anti-drug, tough on crime, pro- law-enforcement" group. This kind of intimidation doesn't happen over a little buzz.

Not to fall into the MJ as an universal panacea category, but this is a plant that has great potential - far better than the near useless corn - in the bio-fuel industry, an indefinite number of chemicals big pharma would love to synthesize, patent, and control, a healthier buzz than alcohol, better use for paper and clothing than wood and cotton, oils in some demand by the beauty industry, and even some use in food products, and all in the form of a rather rapidly grown weed no one company can stop people from growing in their basement or back yard.

The type of hate the feds have for a plant that hasn't managed to kill as many people as aspirin doesn't come from just a few old puritans backing a useless blue law.

"I really wish I knew of a way to find out who the lobbyists are who back the "anti-drug, tough on crime, pro- law-enforcement" group. This kind of intimidation doesn't happen over a little buzz. "

Those who would stand the most to lose by legalization:

Big Pharma
Prison Industry
Liquor Industry
Trucking (Liquor is very heavy)

...oh, and Law Enforcement.

zeropointnrg: "I really wish I knew of a way to find out who the lobbyists are who back the "anti-drug, tough on crime, pro- law-enforcement" group. This kind of intimidation doesn't happen over a little buzz. "

Dan4th: Those who would stand the most to lose by legalization:
Big Pharma
Prison Industry
Liquor Industry
Trucking (Liquor is very heavy)
...oh, and Law Enforcement.

Sadly, THIS.

All of it.

*sigh*

Deck is stacked against sanity.

Be Well.

We should be investigating the DEA not the other way around, that's where the real criminals are.

Well its fucking clear to me any pro war on drugs asshole is a racist pro slavery fuckhead (some relatives included). People are going to burn in hell for promoting law over inalienable rights. Sure the evil SOBs aren't done yet. Like Newt wants death penalties - while his fucking drugie voters take Dr Pusher pills of OPIUM.

This is good----equal rights for the left---about time the gubment goes after them. Throw the worthless bums under Obama's bus.

the tobacco and booze lobbiest are right.... weed is a threat to them. i have quit both since getting on medical mj
i guess i am lucky that oregon doesn't allow sales/dispenseries with our program... get a card, get a grower or grow your own...done
all i see of government is my once a year renewal payment.
sad that the main problem seems to be making a profit on weed sales.... yet nobody cares how much profits come from overproducing oxycontin and oxycodone.

#3 | POSTED BY DANFORTH AT 2012-01-30 02:41 AM | REPLY | FLAG:

#4 | POSTED BY DETHSPUD AT 2012-01-30 03:20 AM | REPLY | FLAG:

This is known. Perhaps as Deth would say it, my google-fu is weak, but I would like to find actual figures, how much specific companies within these industries are pumping into this sort of lobbying, and see it made public.

"yet nobody cares how much profits come from overproducing oxycontin and oxycodone."

Not true, I have complained about that problem right here for years. Thousands of people die every year due to these drugs which BigPhama purposely overproduces so that they can profit from death.

#10 Danni, don'ta think the war for the poppies in Afghanistan is over the top? Or is it for that pipeline they've not been able to build yet? Or do we really care about their women while watching them fuck the little boys? Haven't you heard the stories?

The DEA has become like the FBI and CIA-a permanent self-sustaining Government within the government. Too much money and too many careers to eliminate.

GoBama!

Pot laws are the dumbest on the books.

RE#12 Exactly.

The DEA thinks it is more powerful than Congress now.

The DEA's budget is over 2.415 billion dollars a year. That's a lot of wasted taxpayer money Tea Baggers!

This is a states rights issue.

If the State doesn't ask for their help they have no business in the State.

I guess the question is...Are Montanan's (sp?) man enough to stand up to them?

The main reason I dislike Obama.

The main reason I dislike Obama.
#16 | POSTED BY KREATOR

I second that notion.

We should be investigating the DEA not the other way around, that's where the real criminals are.

#5 | Posted by danni

That is actually a really good idea. Who in the DEA is trying to intimidate a sitting Senator?

What's frustrating about this situation is the fact that the black market is run entirely on the back of marijuana sales. If you remove the marijuana from the black market, the drug lords won't have the ability to widely distribute the harder and less popular drugs that actually cause significant societal damage. The only correlation marijuana has with societal damage is through its prohibition and the criminal sentences imposed upon those who wish to use a nonlethal, non-carcinogenic alternative to legal drugs (alcohol and tobacco).

Something like 60-70% of Mexican drug cartel profits come from cannabis. If you remove those profits, you're removing the most justifiable reason for anyone to take the risk in smuggling or dealing illicit drugs. The popularity for "harder" drugs is not strong enough to sustain a black market like the one that currently exists.

Unfortunately, Washington is fully aware of this. They are also fully aware of the billions of dollars that Mexican Drug Cartels deposit into American bank accounts - making bank executives richer every year. This Web in Washington extends from Mexico to Afghanistan and then back to Canada. Once you hear politicians talking about legalizing hemp for industrial use is when the reality of logical drug policy could be realized. All this other talk about "rights for the people" is a lot of empty talk looking to drum up socially liberal political support. There is MONEY to be made in hemp - and that's why government wants to maintain status quo - to make sure the "right" people (those who spent the most during election cycles) succeed in specific areas of commerce.

"So now, if you're a state legislator who has been working on medical marijuana laws, you are somehow part of a conspiracy?" said Sands. "It's ridiculous, of course, but it's also threatening to think that the federal government is willing to use its influence and try to chill discussion about this subject."

*head-desk*

Wanna save some money?

Want to find a government department you can starve until it's small enuff to drown in a sink?

Try the fucking DEA.

Fuck those fascist biatches.

With a pointy, pointy, stick.

Wanna save money *and* make money?

Legalize and tax it.

Not just medical.

Shoulda done this 20 years ago.

There'd be a lot less headless bodies in Mexico by now.

Be Well.

Hay there's that guy who defended the cheerleader!

Go Death
Go Death
Go Death!

GoBama!

#13 | Posted by JOE

The main reason I dislike Obama.

#16 | Posted by Kreator

How is this Obama's Fault?

So do you REALLY think the Republicans would let Obama get away with making any overt moves towards a reasonable and rational legalization effort?

So it's the Republican's fault that Obama is directing the DoJ and DEA to raid dispensaries and threaten them with indictments if a state moves to legalize it?

The first step is to get Herb changed from a Schedule I (The drug or other substance has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States) to a Schedule II substance (The drug or other substances have currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, or currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions), especially in light of a British company attempting to get marketed a medically certified Herb inhalant in the US.

The next step is to get the world (as in 180 signatories) to rescind or, at the very least, amend the Single Convention of 1961.

Until those two hurdles are jumped, there will be no movement for any type of legalization, medical or recreational, at the US Federal level and the Feds can (and will) continue to apprehend and fine/incarcerate Herbies at their whim.

Whine away, y'alls. Good or Bad, The Law still be The Law.

Yeah this one lands squarely at Obama's feet, and I am not one of those "Obama can do no right" kind of people either.

This is one issue in which he has blatantly flip flopped.

How is this Obama's Fault?
#22 | POSTED BY DONNERBOY

Obama has full control over his lap dogs. You should know this.

It was his move to first tell DoJ not to raid the CA dispensaries, but then again it was his move to allow the DEA move in on dispensaries in CO.

He has control over this damn war. His support to end the war would drum up enough support from other Dem leaders (because they are present). Obama has more control over this issue than you think.

#25 | POSTED BY KREATOR

Well said and I agree. Obama is worse than Romney on this issue.

I think that there oughta be a good and thorough investigation. if she's pushing for rights for stoners, then she is likely a stoner or a pusher. if she's a pusher, better to know up front lest we be corrupted from the inside out. i think we should start with a simple drug test - folical- style, then onto some questioning down at the station.

#28 | POSTED BY SOMOCO

She's not a welfare recipient. And drug testing of political candidates was deemed unconstitutional in 1997, didn't you here from the other thread? Big topic....big topic.

So just where exactly to you get off making statements like that? :-P

Posted by ZOT at 2012-01-30 04:23 PM | Reply

Probably just as impossible is a president that would just pardon every pothead currently in a rape cage. That is one power he actually DOES have.

#29 I'm OUTRAGED at the thought of this being an unconstitutional drug testing. there oughta be drug testing of ALL Democrats. We'll root out the problem. it won't be because she's a candidate. It'll be because there is reasonable suspicion based on her legislative goals regarding drug legalization.

He has control over this damn war. His support to end the war would drum up enough support from other Dem leaders (because they are present). Obama has more control over this issue than you think.

#26 | Posted by rstybeach11

He has less control than YOU think.

It was his move to first tell DoJ not to raid the CA dispensaries, but then again it was his move to allow the DEA move in on dispensaries in CO.

And you think that Obama was in his office one day and thought to himself..."hmmmm...today..why don't I send the DEA to raid Colorado's dispensaries and investigate their legislators".

You do have to know it was the DEA's idea to take this war to another level right? They have to convince us how horrible cannabis is so they can keep the funds rolling in.

I am not saying Obama is blameless either. He needs to take afirm stand now. I did like his initial stance. But, that was when he was still on his Honeymoon with Congress. That was over pretty quick and this issue fell to the bottom of the barrel. The war on drugs was out of control long before Obama got here so you cannot blame him for the mess it is. And just like Prohibition it will take an act of Congress to end it. I don't Obama will have much choice soon. He needs to take a stand but I bet he will avoid it until after he elections if he can. And can you really blame him? Can you imagine how the Republicans beat him over the head with it?

Having said that I do believe that Obama, once he gets his Mojo back, (and I see him doing just that) could help solve this dilemma once and for all as you said by taking a firmer stance in support of ending the foolish "war" on drugs and this huge waste of taxpayer money.

We've already announced over 500 reforms, and just a fraction of them will save business and citizens more than $10 billion over the next five years. We got rid of one rule from 40 years ago that could have forced some dairy farmers to spend $10,000 a year proving that they could contain a spill -- because milk was somehow classified as an oil.

Reclassify Cannabis.

We farmers don't need any government regulators to tell us how to grow our weeds.

We farmers don't need any government regulators to tell us how to grow our weeds.

#32 | POSTED BY DONNERBOY AT 2012-01-30 05:03 PM | REPLY | FLAG grows nothing but skank.

The sooner the people of this country realize that the Dems vs Reps bullshit is a sham and the real war is between government daddy types and the smaller government types the sooner we will be able to rid ourselves of the DEA government parasites.

He needs to take afirm stand now. I did like his initial stance. But, that was when he was still on his Honeymoon with Congress.
#32 | POSTED BY DONNERBOY

Follow the money. He is beholden to the same corporate interests that put cannabis prohibition in place in the 1930s.

The DEA is simply a reformulation of the Bureau of Prohibition, which had created a vacuum with it's demise after prohibition was repealed and the DEA filled adequately. Obama has no interest in shortening their reach, let alone amputating the long, prejudice arm of the cannabis law.

Political interest and corporate profit remain the specific reasons for prohibition of cannabis. I don't think Obama will be able to remove himself from such interests. Therefor I have no faith in Obama reforming any drug laws.

It's ironic when the people of CA see more beneficial drug reform out of the Republican Governator than we would from the liberal, socialist Dem President.

liberal, socialist Dem President.
#36 | POSTED BY RSTYBEACH11

BTW, I was being sarcastic. I don't believe the president to be a socialist. If he was, he'd make an incredibly bad example of one.

.... Thars' Gold in Them Thar Zombies!

**** The DEA,Homeland Security and the Obama Govt are really nothing but Greed Driven CROOKS & THUGS...luckily the majority of the US Public consists of Passive,Brainwashed ZOMBIES...which makes them the Perfect Undefended & Exploitable Prey!!!

Fuck the DEA, fuck the ATF

They are what happens when everything in Government is operated for profit, like our Justice and prison systems.

once again Maplight.org is used to pull the pud...er... curtain away...

do a seach on MMJ and there is actually a bill to reschedule it and there is some opposition.....

H.R. 2835 - Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act

Medical Marijuana, State Rights, Drug Enforcement - Health. 111th Congress (2009-2010) View bill details
Sponsor: Barney Frank Summary: To provide for the medical use of marijuana in accordance with the laws of the various States and to reclassify marijuana as a Schedule II drug. (by CRS) Status: The bill has been introduced.
There have been no votes on this bill.

Total contributions given to House members from Police & firefighters unions & associations, which…

opposed this bill

Police & firefighters unions & associations

$1,929,530

$1,929,530!!!!!!!!! your union money at work!

"your union money at work!"

No, their union money at work. You paid them for their work; they chose how to spend their money.

If instead they spent their paychecks on hookers and blow, you couldn't say your money went for hookers and blow. Your money went for police and fire protection. Their money went for whatever they want...the American Way, and all....

well perhaps not all of the unions of FF ans Po Po...just Norbert the Narc's union /association....

4 organizations supported this bill
Americans for Safe AccessChange.orgDrug Policy Alliance NetworkNational Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws

1 organization opposed this bill
National Narcotics Officer's Associations' Coalition

Now we can be called narcheads?

the white zone is for loading and unloading only if you have to load please go to the white zone...you'll love it....it's a way of life...

ok dan that'z wahdiment...tanks

but I am sure they are required to pay union/association dues if they wanna play FF and POPO...

This plant - as far as scientist and archeologist can determine has been smoked by the Human species for well over 10,000 years. So along comes Randolph Hearst, DuPont and Several other known backers during a Puritanical period in our history - and they see the possibility of removing this plant as a competitor to products that they themselves own and sell.

The power that was given up to the DEA to control this plant ( and this is as stupid as anything this Government has ever done) will not be abolished until there are clear and concise laws from the Congress and Senate to do so.

The cost of control is Billions. And thousands of people are incarcerated for non violent crimes for smoking a plant. The economic swing on this would be +billions and the idiots in Washington still push for control. The People would vote to legalize it if it were made into a referendum for it to occur.

We need to remove Marijuana Prohibitionist Laws.

obummers dea hard at work.

Hope and change

SUCKERS

Follow the money. He is beholden to the same corporate interests that put cannabis prohibition in place in the 1930s.

Sorry. I don't buy that as THE problem. I do buy the fact that the DEA has billions of dollars of our money to lobby Congress each year with to keep those billions of taxpayer dollars flowing into their coffers each year.

#48 Eat your meat, drink your milk, burn ethanol, click it or ticket...

Government paid advertizing is illegal abuse of taxes and stupid compliance to advertizing IS THE entrenchment problem, a Big Problem (BP).