I doubt it!  I doubt many are really aware of the long term effects of many of the medications on the market today.  I could not believe when I researched how many pills are NOT tested for very long at all.  Some only after a few MONTHS of testing are put on the market for all us lab rats. Even the ones that are tested longer - turns out that the results are not always recorded properly or simply lied about.
 This is murder on a large scale. Really.  Slow murder.  Murder all the same. 
Another problem is that many pills react with each other and the side effects of the combined medications can prove even more harmful - sometimes even causing death. DEATH by pills that are to make you better?  We are so trusting.  Trusting of people who only interest is $$$$$$$. Not our health, Not our future and certainly NOT our children! 
BEFORE you take anything- Educate yourself.  Don't have the time? YOU will wish you did when you have some crazy TWITCH - or even worse lose the function of your liver, kidney  or brain.
If I had one wish today it would be that parents STOP medicating their children with drugs. The poor little tiny brains don't even have a chance.  I have to say Storm and I were talking about this and when he was younger (8)  because of all he was experiencing he was prescribed an anti depressant. HE REFUSED to take them -Thank God - knowing what we do now.  WE NEED to think long term for the safety of our children and our future.
http://www.cchr.org/videos/marketing-of-madness.html
xox <><

More than the fact that we 'LET' Cannabis prohibition continue -we should be ashamed that
we are a race, people, generation that is poisoning our youth! Recently I was reading children as young as 2 are being prescribed Ritalin! W.T.F?  At 2!?  Children are not being allowed to be children - the moment they act out - by that I mean being a kid! The are labeled difficult and prescribed a dumbing down medication !   Medications that cause serious side effects- long term addiction - and even death. Take one hour and educate yourself  by watching either Doc. - The Marketing of Madness   or  Generation Rx < can be seen on Netflix.   Illegal drugs get all the attention as prescribed medications abuse goes un-noticed and casually given to our children.  SHAME on teachers, parents and Doctors! Is your child out of control or perhaps they just need some attention. It is a fact that 20 years ago they got more attention  naturally - why- because we did not have the internet! Well we did - just not as rampant as now.  Life over all is busier but now we have to twitter and Fb and surf and blog. I know how much time it takes me daily and realize if Storm was little I would not have enough time for 1/2 of what I do on the computer. 
I have a friend with 3 young kids  all under 6, and I have noticed that she posts all day - posts her game levels- pot farm accomplishments, plans for the evening..  all the while I wonder what are the kids doing? How much attention can you possibly be giving your kids. FULL attention.  Instead many parents choose to medicate their children - plop them in front of the T.V.  and go about their busy lives. You may think that's fine now. Wait 15 years.
Teachers who suggest - stick to teaching!! Unless you are going to care for the child 24/7- how dare a teacher make such a suggestion that will affect a child on such a level for the rest of his/her life!  Dr.s who prescribe for children - KNOW the facts.  Perents who think it would be easier for them if their child was on Ritalin - 
EASIER FOR WHO? (see toon below)
BEFORE you try a prescribed medication - TRY LOVE - LOTS of LOVE and attention! YOU brought them into this world! LIVE UP to their expectations! These little miracles of life need our love and attention and others to speak up against such crimes! 
IT is a CRIME .  Please share. 
xox <><
 

I know why I do not like to read the paper. I read facts like the above and I wonder - is it just me? IS it NOT common sense that what we are doing is NOT right? LOOK at the numbers. LOOK at the facts. LOOK at our kids who are suffering, too many kids - too few teachers. TOO little funding, loss of ART classes (sad), taking all of the fun stuff out of school because of no $$$$. YET - S.H. (fill in the blanks) is spending $$$$$$$$ (more than I am sure we are being told) on private prisons.  Our criminals are coming out of prison better educated than our children growing up on our streets. Look at Karla Holmolka -now - a.k.a Leanne Teale.  W.T.F???  What is it going to take to get this changed? FACT: Criminals  usually come out of prison better criminals. Surrounded by 100's of your peers - what else would you expect?   
Turn a blind eye... then don't complain in 20 years when all our kids are in prison because they had such a shitty education, and  all they could turn to to survive is crime.
 It is not S.H. we should blame. It is ourselves for not speaking up and demanding change. Change starts with getting rid of S.H. and private prisons in a country that the crime rate has declined - yet we build private prisons-  common sense?  IF your child is one of the few that will receive a great education  because you can afford it - TERRIFIC!!  He/she is still going to to be growing up with the many,  that cannot.  They will feel cheated and disappointed through no fault of their own, by an education system that is clearly failing the masses and are correct. It will not create a better, peaceful world - only an angrier one.
BUT that's o.k. I guess,  S.H. is making room for all of those angry little beings that are growing up. 
xox
Common Sense.

I always add  'Planting the seed of Cannabis education!'  I keep trying to think how can I get this message out  and start them young! It is children what I believe cannabis can benefit the most. Sick children.  They already endure so much, Cannabis as I have witnessed first hand in helping my son with his chronic pain is a miracle medicine!  My son legally using Cannabis now since 15 -he is 19 - Is thriving much like the plant! ;-) Our life turned around finally as he can control his chronic pain. He still has difficult days but nothing like he use to, as long as he is medicated he is able to function and live life like everyone else- and he makes the most of it. Thank God for Cannabis. 
 A Plant.
I am ashamed for those who lie and say there is no medicinal value to Cannabis... all for PROFIT when millions suffer - especially children. Children who have cancer- should be offered cannabis cookies to ease nausea, ease pain.. and that is just the beginning. 
So what better way to start a conversation! 
Awwwwwwwww...  my beautiful model all the way from Pennsylvania  is living proof we need to start them young! NOT with lies but with education for this GENERATION..  NOW.  Plant the seed first in the minds of our children, family and friends  then Dr.s, nurses, teachers..  Feel free to share our story and my comics - good ice breakers ;-)
If it helps than it makes my jobs the most amazing  job in the world! If just one parent learned from us and it eased their child's suffering, as well as their own;   then I have been truly BLESSED.
Tell them the truth. 
End the insanity.  

I will have baby outfits at the Treating Yourself EXPO 2012.  May 25, 26 and 27th
for those of you who are interested in an outfit and will not be coming to the show you can e me.  Thank you to my beautiful little baby and her very smart parents - planting the seed now.     xoxoxo

What a great BUSY day today was.. first I was up early as I was asked to draw my opinion on this Wall St. thing. Well you know how I feel but what I drew is below. I did not know much so I researched and found out the symbol is this huge brass BULL with BIG balls (so typical male mascot) the balls made me laugh s they are so shiny - from all the people that rub them! I guess for luck..  A symbol once standing for pride and power and $$$  .. and it came to me .. the bulls looking a little tarnished these days. So  I could not wait to wake and draw.
My day just got better when Lauren and her mom showed for a visit. I am extremely fond of this young lady ;-) We met because her medicine is Cannabis. Recently deaf - I can't believe how great her lip reading is! It is always a pleasure and a few laughs. I am quite fond of mom too as she makes me laugh and is such a nice woman, very down to earth.  I will admit that I also know this mom knows exactly where I am coming from and both of us are always amazed at the stigma Bull*&^% that we have to deal with, especially from "friends" on top of everything else, BUT we do not care. We love our kids and will do WHAT EVER it takes to help them . ;-) Such positive people. I can't wait to spend time again. Scruffy LOVEs when Lauren visits as does Tequila and Lauren does not realize Tequila growls the entire time. She is not afraid because she can't hear her and Tequila loves being able to vocalize. What I love most is that all you need to do is spend a little time with Lauren and you quickly forget she is deaf - because she is so beautiful - inside and out ;-) funny and talented!! Josh and I will soon have some competition! I think she secretly comes up to spy.. hmmmmmm Cartoon secrets. Storm enlightened us with a story about 'balls'.. but thats another blog! 
Funny my day started with Bulls balls, we talked about HUGE water mellon balls (poor guy) and I showed a Kangaroo coin purse that I just happen to have in my studio  - made from Kangaroo's balls! LOL  One of those days... 
Later in the afternoon I went and checked the mail and got to see my FIRST EVER HALLMARK CARD!! ;-))
It was,  I must admit very cool!  You know that hallmark symbol on the back.. my name and photo! But more so Scruffy on the front! Once again I am reminded how much I love my little 4 legged friends. They continue to inspire me daily.  A few photos below.. 
Time to think of some pet toons.  Cannabis related of course. xox <><

I posted a toon that got the response I was hoping for. Someone said it was "succinct!"  I had to look it up ;-) succinct  adjective;what is your succinct appraisal of our situation? concise, short (and sweet), brief, compact, condensed, crisp, laconic, terse, to the point,pithy, epigrammatic, synoptic, gnomic.  - Somone else said "ouch"  For a cartoonist that is a great compliment. The truth hurts.

To try to get a message across with  few words. Successfully. The sad thing is it is TRUE.
Kids are gifts from God. We are their  protectors, caregivers & teachers. Well.. not always true but- we should be!
They do not ask to be born.  Instead of so many people learning from mistakes and trying to change for the better - they follow in the same steps on a downward spiral. 
The victims are their own children.  I see some parents and I just think those poor kids what chance do they have, what chance did the parents have? Well, we all have choices and they have to be made!
If your going to walk around with a butt hanging out of your mouth, eat a poor diet and abuse alcohol or other drugs and you have a child then you are selfish.  If you chose to F*&^% up your own life - so be it. BUT a child - your own child? You should be ashamed of yourself.  What example is that to set for a little human?  You know booze F*&^%$#d you up so why not give your kid a chance? They are gifts from God. THE ULTIMATE GIFT.
They say your life changes forever when you have a child, well it should. FOR the better! 

As much as I am drawing about cannabis education. This is really about Life. I know how important this is -Legalization- but there are things more important. Hunger. Child abuse, Homelessness...   We can not continue to turn a blind eye, no wonder we are having so many problems with our children.  WE are the gatekeepers if we educate them with words and love then that is the best chance they get in this life! The don't ask for it - they DESERVE IT.

I don't think anyone is trying to say it's o.k. for kids to use Cannabis.  There is a lot of concern over children using cannabis.  I would hope that no kid (- to me a kid is under the age of 18) would use drugs at all, especially alcohol, cannabis or prescribed drugs. It is sad when children do. Kids should be kids as long as they can. Sometimes that is not always the case. Some children are raised in environments that are not always perfect, far from it. It just makes me believe even more that if Cannabis was legalized and children were educated on all drug use - we would all be better off. 
People do not give teens enough credit! I happen to know a few teens, my sons friends, my friends kids and some kids I teach. Teens are smarted today than we ever were! They have the power of the internet.  I believe that they will make the difference.  They are more educated on such topics. They can research, educate & think for themselves. I also believe that they care more about issues than we did when we were younger because they are more aware (again - internet) of what is happening in this world. I asked one girl in particular (17) if she tried Cannabis and she said  no - she knows a few POTHEADS and it does not appeal to her.
THEY can think for themselves.  BUT her mom told me when had a hospital visit recently, they gave her morphine  for pain she was experiencing - why is Cannabis not an option - an all natural one?  Her mom said - I could not stand watching her in pain and said  "do what ever it takes.."
WHAT ever it takes.  I know this feeling all too well.

Stop using it as an excuse.  If a child is raised properly with love and education chances are they will come to their own conclusions and make the right decisions.  I think that  children should not be lied to- you can't just say DRUGS are bad - they know that MANY people use drugs  but inform them on what happens to some people. Show them pictures of Meth users (I still find it shocking to see) Let them see what happens to some people who's lives are taken/destroyed because of drunk drivers...
EDUCATE them. Before someone else does!!! Educate them with respect. They deserve it.

Medicinal cannabis for children ABSOLUTELY!  I read yesterday about a 2 year old with a brain tumor who was not responding well to medications. 
Dr.s put him on medicinal cannabis and he is doing much better!!!  I am so proud of the parents.  I am so happy -THRILLED- to hear that more doctors are doing research and using cannabis for children. My son is living proof!  The past four years have been the best - pain free - he has experienced -ever!!! All other medications ever did was make him feel nauseous, tired and depressed.  I can understand not telling people when you are living with the situation. To watch your child suffer- you feel helpless and you usually need all your strength just to carry on and focus on your child and family.  BUT  once you see the results you have to share the information.

If  a child is dealing with a terminal illness, chronic pain - anything that might bring relief - by a natural medicine - USE it. RESEARCH IT! 
I was amazed to find out how many children are being helped by medicinal marijuana! Parents must admit it, share the news - their experience - Be strong! BREAK the silence and stigma associated with Cannabis. Fear has kept people down for a very long time. When it comes to the health of our children  - no more time to be shy.. Love has given me courage to speak up. It should always be about choice for what is best for our bodies and our children.  xox
to read more about this wonderful little boy :click here