***CANADA'S NEW MEDICAL MARIJUANA LAWS: 
      WHAT ARE THEY REALLY ABOUT?


On March 13, 2014 the current medical marijuana laws in Canada will end and an entirely new system of laws concerning medical marijuana will take effect. The current laws allow those registered as medical marijuana patients to grow their own marijuana or to buy government produced marijuana from authorized pharmacies. Under the new laws that go into effect in a few months, medical marijuana patients will no longer be permitted to grow their own marijuana and the government will no longer produce marijuana, nor will pharmacists be involved in the sale of medical marijuana to patients.

The legal reasons stated for this drastic change in the medical marijuana laws in Canada are listed as public health, safety and security issues. Despite reading many articles and trying to discover these alleged public health, safety and security issues, one is hard pressed to find a single article describing exactly what those issues are. There were a few (very few) growers who had fires break out. Those were all related to poor wiring. Electrical issues are easy to cure and simple compliance inspections of grow operations would remove that issue from the table. As for public health and security, there was nothing describing exactly what they are, just the generic legal umbrella under which the politicians are able to enact new and stricter laws.                                                                         So why the need to fix that which is not broken?

There are currently 37,359 registered medical marijuana patients in Canada. That number is much higher than the 477 registered medical marijuana patients in 2002 evidencing the need for medical marijuana. Of those 37,359 registered medical marijuana patients, 25,600 are licensed to grow their own medical marijuana. Of those 25,600 licensed to grow their own medical marijuana, only 4,200 are specifically licensed to grow for one (and only one) other registered patient besides themselves. All of these rights will be stripped away from Canadian medical marijuana patients as of March 13, 2014.

Under the new laws there are currently 156 applications awaiting approval to grow medical marijuana on a much larger scale in huge warehouses. These warehouses will be owned and operated by those entrepreneurs with enough money to buy the licenses, the warehouses, the property on which the warehouses sit, the massive costs of filling that space with the maximum lighting possible and to employ a staff large enough to grow, trim and prepare the medical marijuana for public sale and to distribute it. With private sector businesses, profits tend to be the overriding priority rather than producing a high quality product that is organic and safe.

Under the new laws patients will be permitted to purchase medical marijuana from these massive warehouse farms. All sales will be through a mail order system and thoroughly regulated. The regulations only apply to the amount of marijuana sold and the income the entrepreneurs take in. These strict regulations will not cover the quality of medical marijuana grown nor the non-organic fertilizers and pesticides used to grow the marijuana to produce ever larger and more profitable plants. This puts unsuspecting (and already burdened with health issues) patients at further risk of ingesting marijuana and medical marijuana products that essentially contain poisons detrimental to their already deteriorating health.

Health Canada's current average price of medical marijuana is approximately $5 per gram. The projected cost of private sector medical marijuana after the new laws take effect in March is expected to be about $7.60 per gram. CannaMed, the first licensed distributor in the private sector is currently advertising their medical marijuana at a cost of $9 to $12 per gram once the new laws go into effect. Keep in mind that the current black market cost of marijuana in Canada is approximately $10 to $15 per gram. No matter how one tries to make sense of these new laws, they fail to address any alleged public health, safety or security issues. They also have the added disadvantage of driving up the cost of medical marijuana for patients. These patients are often already financially strapped due to their varying medical issues. 

So why the sudden change in medical marijuana laws that seemed to be working so well according to the patients who are the intended beneficiaries of these medical marijuana laws? It is simply a desire for profits. Health Canada has projected that by 2014 there will be 58,000 registered medical marijuana patients. They further project that by 2024 there will be 450,000 registered medical marijuana patients in Canada. Health Canada has estimated that by 2024 the medical marijuana industry will be a 1.3 billion dollar per year market. That 1.3 billion dollar per year market will all be taxed at a higher rate, a luxury tax, and not as a medical necessity. 

It appears to be obvious that the only reason for the change of the current medical marijuana laws in Canada is related to revenue collection and has little (or nothing) to do with any issues of public health, safety or security. Sadly, this massive change of the current and well functioning medical marijuana laws in Canada is more about a healthy economy than about a healthy population of Canadian citizens.


 Georgia:  AMEN! *Well said as always! Thank you Lisa! I am the first to admit - I know what I want to say, but often it is difficult - just as cartooning is difficult for many!  She once again put it perfectly IMO. Are you paying attention Canadians?  

Guest Blog * By Lisa B 

CHILDREN & MEDICINAL CANNABIS 
There are certain rights and privileges given to us by the universe that human lawmakers have deemed illegal. Being deemed illegal by human laws does not negate the rights and privileges given to us by the universe. Deeming something legal or illegal does not make it moral or immoral. The legality of something is not a true test of right or wrong. Right and wrong are issues that are better addressed by an inquiry into whether or not the illegal act does any actual harm to anyone. Does breaking a particular law harm either the individual or society as a whole? The list of such laws is countless, but here I am referring to the use of marijuana. 

Anti marijuana laws are based solely on unscientific and untrue propaganda stemming from the 1930's. The purpose of the anti marijuana laws was to diminish the competition with leading corporations at the time that produced inferior products ranging from pharmaceuticals to textiles and fuel. Despite the fact that all of the propaganda was false, the anti marijuana stereotypes  still persist today. These anti marijuana laws have the effect of making otherwise law abiding citizens hailed as criminals. This is especially true of parents who choose to utilize medicinal marijuana to treat their child's illness. Rather, parents are expected, even pressured by doctors, to utilize the more "traditional" (using the term loosely) methods of medical treatment. 

Traditional methods include, but are not limited to, surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, bone marrow transplants, prescription pills, experimental drugs and of course, general anesthesia to undergo some of these treatments. Since traditions are passed down over time, it is actually more sensible to consider medicinal marijuana the traditional treatment and to consider these newer and deadly treatments and their life draining side effects more experimental in nature. If nothing else, these newer methods are extremely profitable to the healthcare industry in ways that medicinal marijuana could not be. The healthcare industry is a 2.6 trillion dollar a year industry. That allows for more than enough lobbyists and politicians to benefit from anti marijuana laws than is possible with marijuana legalization. 

In spite of this obvious motivation of financial gain that keeps anti marijuana laws on the books, lawmakers continue to insist that the only real motivation for anti marijuana legislation is to protect the public from the supposed harms of marijuana use. But those alleged harms from marijuana use are unfounded and untrue. Anti marijuana laws are what is harmful to individuals and society. Medicinal marijuana is harmful to no one, not even children. Parents facing such a decision have to sum up massive amounts of courage in the face of being arrested, charged, jailed and worst of all, the possibility of having their child taken away from them based on alleged child endangerment.

Medicine is supposed to be based on facts, test trials and their outcomes. Propaganda and lies are neither medicine nor fact. The medical facts about medicinal marijuana and children have proven that marijuana is safe for use with children and that there are no long term side effects. The only side effects noted were dizziness and disorientation that lasted only a few hours. Such side effects are nominal at most and allow parents to give their child the best possible medicinal option without the life draining side effects of the more profitable options available through the more common and dangerous medical treatments listed above.

There are countless anecdotal stories of children being treated with medicinal marijuana. Most had already gone through the current medical treatments and the agony and side effects of those treatments prior to turning to medicinal marijuana. Story after story recounts the tragedies of current methods and the life saving effects they finally obtained with marijuana use. Children as young as 8 months old have been successfully treated with medicinal marijuana where all current treatments had failed. I could recite them all, but instead I refer the reader to articles such as US NEWS AND WORLD REPORTS article entitled "Medical Marijuana is Safe for Children" and GROWING MEDICAL's article entitled "Studies Show Benefit of Medical Marijuana for Children" as well as ABC NEW's article entitled "Marijuana as Alternative Treatment with OCD and Autism" just to name a few.

The medical facts about medicinal marijuana are that, "The cannabinoid acids in cannabis have been found to have anti-proliferative, anti-neoplastic, anti-inflammatory, anti-epileptic, anti- ischemic, anti-diabetic, anti-psychotic, anti-nausea, anti-spasmodic, antibiotic, anti-anxiety and anti-depressant functions. The anti-neoplastic action of cannabis (inhibiting development of malignant cells) was recognized in the 1970's and patented by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services  in 2003". (cited from William Courtney M.D.)

The gist of the various articles is that medical peer reviews that reject medical marijuana are profiting from the current 2.6 trillion dollar healthcare industry. Parents who chose cannabinoid concentrates or other medicinal marijuana options for their child were able to spare their child the horrifying experience of currently accepted treatments. The healthcare industry lost out on a million dollar sale each time a parent chose medicinal marijuana over the million dollar treatment options. The outcome in each testimonial was the same. Medicinal marijuana is safe for use with children. Tumors shrunk, epilepsy became manageable, cancer and scar tissue disappears, OCD evaporates, and the list goes on. 

People once believed that the earth was flat. Time and experience have proven that theory to be wrong. Slavery was once legal and helping a slave run away for freedom was illegal. Today we know that breaking such a law was the right thing to do despite it's illegality. The anti marijuana propaganda that supports anti marijuana laws was once commonly accepted as true. People believed marijuana was dangerous to both body and mind. Today we know that propaganda is untrue and unacceptable. 

It is not enough to rely on propaganda and lies in order to secure monetary profits. It is not enough to say it is wrong because it is illegal and therefore inappropriate for medical use. It is not enough to say that the doctor said it was dangerous or wrong. What is enough is to educate one's self on the real medical benefits of medicinal marijuana and if it is right for your child, to choose that option over all others. No one will protect your child more ferociously and more lovingly than you will. If medicinal marijuana is right for your child, use it. It could be the one thing that will change their life for the better and could even save their life.
 
❤

I met William on Fb  a long time ago... I don't know who became who's (WHOM?)  friend, but I can tell you I have grown fond of him. I knew him before Ryuu ;-)  He makes me laugh. I'm not always sure why. I find him honest and upfront.
He has had me slightly 'ticked' to put it nicely, a few times! Once about breast feeding.  He gets me thinking.  I like his wife and I have never even seen her, usually only what banter William decides to share.  I think he is one of my favorite dads. It has been interesting for me watching and seeing the posts of a stay at home dad.... anyhow I am thankful for meeting them and look forward to watching the family grow 
;-) .  Ask and you shall receive, and he did. G

It Has Been A Year and My Baby Is Not Even Broken. 
By William F. Steele

On April 17th Ryuu Dio Steele will be turning over his first leaf. My child will be one years old. It will be a joyful day filled with all kinds of grilled meats and cakes. Let us also not forget it will be a day of swollen egos. You see I suffered through many “talks” being told too many times on how I am one of those who will never really understand what it is like to truly raise an offspring just because, you know, I have male parts. Because of all those little talks I am overly ecstatic to be here with my testosterone filled battle cry “the babe lives! Ye woman folk can move along now RawR!”

As my baby boy’s birthday nears I find myself looking back at all the little “talks” I had gotten from parents-in-the-know. Some ranged from what brands of diapers to get while others explained how colors of cups will dictate my child’s sexual preference. Some I listened to most I ignored and in the end other than a few scrapes I have made it through the first year with an intact child. You may applaud now as I take a bow. Thank you! Thank you!

Before I get feedback of “well you had it easy your wife worked and did chores” I would like to bring up during my first year as the main caregiver I was going through some drama of my own. Short version of a long story: A few months before my son’s birth my mother dies in front of me. Being a huge momma’s boy I really miss my mother. It’s funny. I can’t touch bacon anymore because I can still taste it from when I was doing CPR on her on a morning a few days before my birthday. Now no dwelling let us move on to a month before my son’s birth my house was invaded by 20 or so combat ready individuals because a friend decided to make a snitch’s paycheck. He knew being the cannabis activist that I am I would most likely have a few cannabis plants here and there plus he knew just what to say to get me to hand one over. Thirty two years old never been arrested the first time a cannabis plant leaves my home a friend gives me up for some drug money. Isn’t that just funny let me tell you once I realized who had snitched me out my cell mates all looked at me a little worried as I laughed so hard I could not breath. Oh ya before I forget about how I also was stuck playing nice to my father’s other family as she moves into my mother’s house and drives my mother’s car. No comment move along nothing more to see here. Now throw in general bad luck stuff like how I threw my back out getting out of bed when my wife’s water broke and that pretty much sums up the disadvantage parts going on during the first year or so.

I do not bring up these woeful times to glum your day I bring it up to show off my brilliance as a stay at home parent. During this time when it would have been understandable to just shut down I put on a smile, did a little laugh, and pulled up my big boy pants so I could play the role that was set before me.

And these are a few random things I’ve learned. Over these past months.

Changing Diapers Suck! And I still have not decided yet what is worse: breathing through my nose or through my mouth. Tough call do I just want to smell it or smell it and taste it in theory if I breathe through my mouth. Even if you try to go all rodeo and get it done at record speed it still sucks. As soon as the rugrat was able to sit up on his own bathroom training began. It has been a long slow road but the outcome will be its weight in gold.

This bit of advice I will have to give credit to mother’s worldwide. “When the baby sleeps you sleep!” That is such a golden rule it would be wise to burn it in to your memory if you’re a first time parent.

It does not matter what color, cloths, or if I love hello kitty my child has an even chance of becoming straight, gay, or cross gender. It irks me to no ends when a parent-in-the-know tries to push the idealism that he must conform. I have no time for this foolishness because in the end it is not the neon pink and purple sippy cup that could make him gay. Pretty sure it would be the interest in other males he develops on his own time through his own experiences that does it.

The day will come when he finds some one he wants to share his love with and it will be a happy day that’s all I know. The idea where the option of shaming him to change to the “norm” causing confusion and self loathing that can very well drive him out of our lives or worst lead to one day where we find him hanging in his own closet is just unheard of in this house hold. The king of the castle has spoken so be it ordered.

Anyone can learn a lot by listening to the advice from another. But there was this one statement that I would hear every now and then that would just drive me right up the wall. “He is too young for that.” Well of course he is too young to understand physicist Brian Cox talking about whatever he seems to be excited about that day. I don’t expect him to. Nor do I feel my baby has to be able to grasp all of the sign language we practice throughout the week. The goal is to lay down the tracks for when he is at the point where he should be able to understand it. It’s a pity that so many parents will limit their child just because they are too young. 4 months into Ryuu’s life he was responding to me with simple nods and crude signs of yes or no. Once we had this crude way of communicating I knew right then age limit is just a limit of the mind. I still believe in this theory as I practice math on chalk boards with Ryuu sitting on my shoulders.

On a side note when Ryuu learned that if he signed “up” he will get thrown into the air great for him but for me I ended up doing reps of thirty lifts a day as he grew heavier. But as time went on we started to branch out into other feats of daring acrobatics like now of days he is practicing how to stand on my shoulders as I walk around. We have so much fun that all started with the American Sign Language sign for “up”.

Yes I have a child, yes I am worried about going to prison, no I will not stop being an open cannabis activist. As of a few weeks ago we have decided to up my game and try my hand with politics at a local level. The idea of leaving these unjust cannabis prohibition laws where they are scares me more than prison. The idea that my child might have to go through an arrest like I had experienced sends chills down my spine that fuels an anger inside of me.

No one has ever died from an overdose of cannabis and it’s a plant with thousands of uses. With hard work I’ll be able to show my child that if the people stand up against unjust practices they can be stopped. This will be one of the most important lessons I teach my child I believe.

Now if you happen to live in Alabama don’t forget to vote for William F. Steele in 2018. Your support would be greatly appreciated. https://www.facebook.com/WilliamFSteele

To leave you hungry for more I will brush up on the topic of food. Most understand it as one must eat to live but around here it is live to eat. My fear from all of the “talks” was I would be doomed to serving nothing but chicken nuggets and hotdogs. As a hobby chef and a cookbook author I was terrified let me tell you. I am just that skilled or I must have lucked out. No lie I have a little food disposal unit. It does not matter, veggies, seafood, sweets, meats, he is willing to eat it as long as it is offered to him. The fact that he was willing to eat anything opened the doors for so many healthy dishes without much fuss but plenty of adorable messes.

Seeing that rugrat gobbling up a simple chicken stir fry with a huge grin and smacking those lips is one of my favorite feelings. The simple joy of knowing I won’t ever need to offer Ryuu over processed foods just so he will eat is the greatest. One of my favorite cooking tips is to add hemp seeds to your meals. Those little seeds are packed full with so much healthy goodness its foolish not to add them.

Rugrat Approved Chicken Stir Fry
Can server 2 adults 1 child
1 pound of thinly sliced chicken breast or 2 deboned chicken thighs thinly sliced up
½ a cup of chopped onion
4 crushed and diced garlic cloves
Pinch of red pepper
1 table spoon of hemp seeds
½ a cup of sliced mushrooms
½ a cup of sliced bell peppers
½ a cup of (veggie of choice)
Splash of cooking oil
Soy sauce to taste (I usually use about 1/3 cup of soy sauce)
1-2 teaspoon of honey (optional)
1teaspoon of corn starch dissolved in a little water (if you want a thick sauce)

Let us start by pre heating the oil in a large wok or frying pan over a med high heat. To this we need to add the garlic giving it enough time to release its flavor without burning.

The chicken will go in next along with the soy sauce, pepper and add the honey if you want a sweet twist. Allow it to cook for about 10 minutes stirring occasionally. Now it is time for the veggies and depending on how you enjoy your vegetables depends on when to add them. I generally add them all in at the same time just allowing them to heat up throughout. I love keeping the crispiness of vegetables when I am cooking for myself but to each their own.

Once the vegetables are cooked to your liking you’re done unless you would like the sauce to be thicker. Lower the heat to a simmer then stir in the corn starch water mixture. The sauce will turn milky for a minute but will clear up as it mixes in so don’t panic. Allow it to simmer allowing the sauce time to thicken up to almost a syrup texture.
Serve on top of rice and Enjoy!

William sent me his cookbook! Probably not knowing I don't cook. BUT I figure IF I do cook - It will be from this book, and I will let you know how it went ;-) . William is also ambitious and hey WHY NOT! We have one shot at this life- I wanted to be a syndicated cartoonist, I have people who share my cartoons all over the world. ;-) And TEACH RYUU to reach fro the stars too!  You can get his cook book at:   http://www.amazon.ca/Cannabis-Cuisine-Whipping-Some-ebook/dp/B0053YQEMG

Today's Guest Blog is from Jeff, a young man that friended me on FB.  I talk to many people about Crones, from what I have learned, it is serious discomfort and often situations where life is 'interrupted' because of it.  I was so thrilled when I got Jeff's e mail and more so the fact that he is 26 and gets it! He is looking after his health and his own body -and he helped educate his Dr.s.
Speak up! It is your health, I think Jeff is lucky - he appears to have figured out early, how to do what is best for his body.. too many of us don't 'get that' until much later and too much damage done. 


I started using cannabis in grade 9.
 Then for the next few years I was your average 'rebellious' pothead teenager, or so I thought. Also around the beginning of high school I began having a lot of issues with my tummy. Okay, that is an understatement; SHIT was bad and getting worse! After telling my family doctor three times that I was often in pain and getting bouts of bloody diarrhea, he decided I should see a specialist. 
My first appointment with the specialist I was told I probably had crohn’s disease. 
After a bunch of tests no person should have to go though, it was confirmed I had a severe case of crohn’s. The next couple years I did a lot of research and tried many different medications to control my symptoms.

 Around the time I was diagnosed with crohn’s, marijuana for medical issues seemed to be in the news more, I saw AIDS and cancer patients getting relief from many of the same symptoms I was suffering from.  After googling ‘marijuana & crohns’, I found Michelle Rainey (R.I.P). Her website really inspired me to view the cannabis I had been smoking for years as the medicine it truly is. I realized for many years I had been mainly smoking it before eating or when I felt 'crappy' and would conserve it better than most teens. 
After that realization I spoke to my family doctor on many occasions and three gastrointestinal specialists about the Health Canada medical marijuana access program (MMAR), they all had similar opinions that cannabis has no medical value for my condition. 

How could I be denied the only thing that brings some relief from terrible symptoms caused by this nasty disease? I did eventually find a specialist who at the time was only seeing patients in similar situations to sign their MMAR paperwork. Then after two years of 'monitored' use my family doctor finally agreed with me enough to start signing my yearly renewals. Even with my MMAR I still don’t have reasonable access to medicine.
 I am glad to have a doctor that will sign, but he still doesn’t understand that I need much more than 3 grams per day to be able to make strong enough extracts to effectively control my disease, and then the issue of MMAR not allowing those extracts.  Until very recently I have not been able to grow myself because I rent and can’t find a grower wanting to grow for a small prescription. As of right now (03/03) I am waiting on my first production license(PPL), but I am stuck trying to decide if it’s worth setting up a grow now because Health Canada is taking away PPL’s on April 2014. Unfortunately, right now cannabis is the only thing keeping me able to work, yet a large portion my income is going to cannabis. 

 The main symptoms I treat with cannabis are abdominal cramping, nausea, diarrhea and low appetite.  There has been many times where cramping and diarrhea have been so extremely painful, and then just a couple of puffs will sooth my stomach to the point I am able to eat and continue living.   In addition to the symptoms cannabis helps, I also find it very useful in minimizing some of the side effects of many prescription drugs I have been on.  When I was on Remicade, I would get extremely stiff and sore joints and muscles after every injection for about 2-3 days, cannabis would help reduce the pain to get me though those days.  At the end of last year I decided to stop taking Remicade because it was only giving me a couple weeks of partial relief every two months, and has way too many potential side effects that I am terrified of. Although I may not be in complete remission yet, my disease is fairly well controlled with cannabis alone.  I am now taking a small dose of RSO every night, and use medibles during the day and vaporize or smoke for immediate relief as needed. 

Recently after meeting a few cannabis activists that were touring from the west coast, I felt driven to get more involved. Now I am helping to arrange more cannabis friendly events and protests around my hometown, Kitchener. My dream is to one day be more involved in medical cannabis by owning or working for a local compassion club or vapor cafe.   I am constantly meeting many great people in the ‘cannabis community’ and I am genuinely proud to be involved in it.   I hope one day everyone who needs cannabis has access to it.

 Jeff 

https://www.facebook.com/pot.forpain 
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crohn's_disease -General info about Crohn’s disease
http://www.michellerainey.com/     >  Michelle Rainey’s website

I received a letter recently from this gentleman asking if I could help him, he is a patient & grower looking for a couple patients to also grow for. He asked me to refer some people to him.                      I explained that because of my knowledge from the past few years... I do not hook up patients with growers. I wish I could!   
Why don't I? 
Simply because I do know know this person- personally, he seems like a really nice man and we can relate to what he is dealing with, but - I am also aware of all that can and does go wrong with growing. I have heard the stories and witnessed the results.  
If I said - let this guy grow for you, and for what ever reason his crop was not successful (due to bugs, mold, many things can lead to a bad crop- sometimes out of control of the grower) and the grower could not provide the medicine the patient needed,  I would feel terrible!  Recently, I heard of a grower who could not provide all the meds. to a patient because he needed to sell some for his vacation!!   WTF?
I was very angry when I heard this. That is bullshit. I told my friend to SPEAK up! 
He is a very nice, easy going, laid back person (one of my favorite people ;-) 
It appears to me his grower is taking advantage of his good nature. That is not right.

SO, I will not refer any growers, to bad..  I really like most people I know that grow,
I have only met a handful that I would not trust myself, for my own reasons.  
YOU have to make the decision yourself!  IT IS your medicine!  Be aware.

THERE are many GREAT growers, providers who do help and keep their patients happy and medicated. I even know of a few who go above and beyond, one in particular provides medicine and 'GIVES' Cannabutter (made with trim) also so they might try baking their medicine.  AWESOME! 
Get to know your grower! Ask questions - what if? 

 With that being said, I can relate to this gentleman and his plea and he wants to help others and himself.  I hope that he does find a couple of patients and is able to provide for them. I hope he lives up to his promises because- he is dealing with peoples lives. 
I hope this from all growers.  Thank You to Mark for sharing his story below!  
Contact him if you need a grower and come to your own conclusion.  ♥


Do Your Best, Never Quit, Have Fun

I went blind and almost died from the fight or flight response to pain, the year was 2000 and I had a ten year old son and an eight year old daughter. I am still with my wife of almost 25 years, our son has graduated Waterloo Engineering and now Teachers College, and our daughter who was Student Council President and graduated with honours is now a hairstylist. This is a story of love, hope and pain.

My diagnosis, previously asymptomatic congenital spondylilolisthesis with insitu articulation and 5% of all caucasians are afflicted. I was also post-operatively diagnosed with spina bifida occulta and seven years later with failed back surgery. What about our children! If you are born with the first disc above your tailbone incompletely formed and connected to your tailbone when this breaks you and your immediate family live in shame.

It is a general school of thought amongst the medical community that if the patient will not be able to return previous employment the most cost effective management is pain control until death. This will normally occur within 5 years. SEE THE BREAKING SPINE www.iofbonehealth.org/breaking-spine-report-2010

 So by day I did my best to be Dad; I worked as much as possible and when I didn’t work I volounteered at the kids’ school. I also coached soccer and hockey as well as furthered my education. During the night I would and still do, pull a Casper, walking and moaning. After my back surgery my doctor of fifteen years asked me,  “Please do not sue me Mark.” and I answered, in my naiveté, “Oh no that’s not what I am about, I just want you to be a good family doctor for my family.”.  Well, that didn’t last long. Two years later when my son fainted at work and doctors at an unnamed hospital tried to illegally hook him on anti-seizure medication my beloved doctor refused to help. This meant that my son, to whom we gave an insured vehicle, lost his driver’s license and was no longer able to be the designated driver for his university friends.

The only meds I take are medicinal cannabis; most often sativa during the day and indica at night. Sativa will speed you up and because it has amazing effects on neural systems i.e. pain, ms, seizures, encourages the very important minor accomplishments such as doing the dishes or cutting the lawn. These minor accomplishments are the building blocks of mental health. Being useful leads to earned pride.  At a time when I was legally blind, very crippled and all I could accomplish was the dishes, as it took me all day up and down, I felt a need to understand, accept and not give in to depression.
 Do Your Best, Never Quit, Have Fun was born. While the sativa cannabis helps you manage your pain and push yourself,  when you are finished and it is time to relax you can consume indica strains. These indica strains can be very heavy and in conjunction with an overall plan will overcome the fight or flight response. In my case I exercise regularly to burn off norepenephrine and epipenephrine, otherwise known as cortisol.

 I learned, Do your best, Never Quit, Have Fun. Basically we all need to fit our skins and accept others as they or their circumstances shape their realities.  I have spent time in the classroom on both sides of the desk. I taught Consumers Gas technicians refrigeration and air conditioning. I did this in Toronto and St. Catharines. I also have the hours in the field and am a licensed; refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic, sheet metal worker and gas fitter 2, I also have a small commercial air system design license.                   

I am a user of medicinal marijuanas and grow for myself as well as one patient. You can see an article about me at northumberlandtoday.com, it was written by Valerie MacDonald and published January 17, 2013.  Thank you Valerie.
I am looking for two more patients who are Health Canada licensed to possess and consume between five and ten grams of marijuana per day. Hopefully we can get set-up in time to be grandfathered in as a going concern.
Thank you Georgia!
Mark


You can contact Mark @ : [email protected]

by:Jane Grey

Cannabis. To some, it’s medicine, or a drug, or a way to relax. To others, they are indifferent, skeptical about it’s use, or choose not to believe a natural plant that does no harm could do so much good. I used to be one of the skeptics. 

    

Two years ago, my husband was diagnosed with a terminal form of cancer called Merkel Cell Carcinoma found at Stage 4 in his lymph nodes. Merkel Cell Carcinoma is a rare and fast-growing form of skin cancer that only 1000 people get diagnosed with in North America per year. Doctors know very little about this form of cancer. Normally, a patient's prognosis is grim because 90% of people diagnosed with Merkel Cell Carcinoma are over the age of 60 and are too ill or old to go through extensive chemotherapy or radiation treatment to slow down the rapid growth of Merkel Cell Carcinoma. My husband at the time was only 35 when he received his diagnosis and was expected to only live 3 months.

   

After several chemotherapy treatments his condition worsened, I suggested he try cannabis in hopes it would help him. He was skeptical it would be beneficial, but knew it was no worse than his monthly chemotherapy and medications since I did not have to wear a haz-mat suit to hand him a joint. He found cannabis not only helped pre-existing back pain, but eliminated nausea for up to 4 hours, gave him energy, appetite, helped his depression caused by his diagnosis and was able to re-gain some independence again. I saw cannabis take a man off his death bed quicker than he was put there. Though, cannabis could not help him with recovering between chemotherapy treatments but made life more bearable while going through it. Even years after his chemotherapy is over (and he’s still alive) he is left with a chronic ‘bone ache‘ common with people who have been through chemo, and a loss of energy and appetite he once had prior to his treatments. 

    

Adam found no supportive doctor who would sign his MMAR. Even his oncologist, the doctor that told him he only had 3 months to live suggested he “buy off the street” because what cop would arrest a man with cancer? Well, this doctor was mis-informed. Because they do, violently. Sure, we found some doctors who wanted $500 for a signature, but it was far beyond what we could afford. It made us wonder who exactly could afford $500 a year to have their paperwork signed? Doctors don’t even get paid $500 a visit by Health Canada when you see them. Health Canada’s wages for doctors are posted publicly. Depending on the doctor or circumstance, they receive $60-$120 per visit. Something along these lines are more fair and affordable to someone on a reduced income from CPP Disability, ODSP or a pension. Most people looking to obtain a MMAR are usually on a fixed income, because they’re ill! It shouldn’t be held against them. Also, I think it would be illogical for a doctor to risk their practice and license over $100, even $200. The risk far outweighs the gain, regardless of how much they would make annually from it. However, a doctor that charges $500 up to $1000 to fill out paperwork- which doctor would be more likely to turn a blind eye to someone who is.. not so sick? And, who would be more likely to have this kind of money readily available to pay said doctor?
    
    
Health Canada is considering making changes to the MMAR to take away a patient's right to grow because of criminals. But, how exactly did these criminals obtain a MMAR? I think some of the statistics could be falsified. In Canada, our Charter of Rights and Freedoms gives us freedom of association. And, regardless of what a person does or who they know, because they are a ‘criminal‘ doesn’t make them immune to illnesses, diseases, and getting common conditions associated with age. So if they did actual research, how many would be left out of 20,000 exemptions that are actually using and abusing the system. That paid a doctor to turn a blind eye only to take advantage of the system. And how come, because of so few taking advantage- why are thousands left to suffer?

    

The average monthly income for someone on assistance from disability or retirement ranges from $700-$1500 per month depending on the province, circumstances and where the income is coming from.  Cannabis can currently be grown outdoors for essentially free less the costs of  some nutrients. It can also be grown indoors very inexpensively. However, Health Canada wants to take away this affordability and charge patients $8/g [$500-$2480 per month based on the average prescription of 2g-10g/day]. Most indoor growers will find that they are paying no more than $200/mo additional hydro for a larger indoors grow operation- and someone with a 2g/day prescription and only 10 plants will not generate $500 worth of hydro or nutrients per month. 

    

Health Canada’s proposal is not only inconsiderate, but goes against some basic human rights. If I need medicine- Most have benefit plans or can purchase third party health plan. Depending on the province, if you have low income and would qualify for a provincial disability plan- you can get free health coverage from your own government. If you choose to use holistic remedies, many can be grown in your backyard, or a window ledge for free. But Health Canada has no intention of issuing a BIN number for cannabis, and they are taking away a patients right to grow their own holistic and beneficial medicine for free. Implementing these new regulations will only cost our government more money, because those who receive a lower income will be arrested for continuing to grow because they cannot afford to buy their medication. Daily, cannabis related charges are being withdrawn because many qualifying patients cannot afford or find a supportive doctor and the government does recognize this and does withdraw charges based on health conditions. Should new laws be implemented, the courts would have to recognize and provide the same respect and consideration since a person should not be arrested for being poor. 

    

I think these new regulations would have very little legal standing when brought to court. This does not stop violent police arresting sickly people, and crown attorneys dragging cases out in hopes of finding ‘something’ because they don’t want to lose. But when the decision comes to a judge or jury, no human being could ever send a sick person to jail for not having enough money, even if it was brought as far as a trial. These new regulations would also cost the government more money. I have no doubts people would still continue to grow- and eventually be arrested by police, and have a case dragged out by a crown attorney, and be represented by a legal-aid funded lawyer. All this excess time, efforts and money so a small percentage out of 20,000 people would not be able to sell cannabis. Wouldn’t that same money be better spent on funding efforts on stopping meth and crack dealers, illegal gun sellers, or heck.. Education? 

  

 I have personally been using medicinal cannabis for a year. I had an unsuccessful knee surgery leaving me with chronic pain and difficulty walking; leaving me to rely on the assistance of others just to live.  I also have a nerve disorder causing tremors and chronic nerve pain in my hands, legs and face. Simply typing out this blog post sharing my ideas, experience and opinions is a struggle- without cannabis. I have to use a walker or cane to get around. I also have a digestive disorder that causes sensitivity to almost all medication, and a year prior to using cannabis, I was chronically ill just from taking medications to help some symptoms and in turn would create new ones or worsen pre-existing conditions. Cannabis is the only medicine I have ever taken that helps all my health conditions, and does not make me sick. 

     

There was a me before I was disabled. Everyone had a them before they landed where they are. I had a great job, happy and comfortable lifestyle and just thinking back to when I was able to walk easily where ever I wanted is something I truly miss. One of the last freedoms I have, that I am still physically able to do is grow my own medicine. Do not take away our freedom to grow and access affordable medicine. 

Jane Grey is the author of My Criminal Cure detailing her husband's struggle with cancer, using cannabis as medicine and their legal battle. 


Georgia : Well said Jane! Jane is a friend of FB , I can not wait to read this book. So sad that so many people are suffering and dealing with this crap. I am sure it is just the beginning  of a POTlitical nightmare to come,  thanks to The MMAR program. 
Stay tuned and tooned.. 
xox <>< 

Niki sends me messages from time to time. More support and smiles.  It is friends I have made online that have shared experiences that continue to make me more determined on helping them share their story! Niki made my day when she told me that part of helping her own family understand the issues they are dealing with - they shared Storm's story with their family!
 It made family members have a new outlook. - THAT is why we do what we do. 
Simple ❤ 

Women leading in alternative medicine education
Posted by Niki Smokes

Mainstream media has taken a grip on all of our minds and injected the paradigm of moral medicine. How did we go from drinking teas and eating nutritious foods to care for our organic bodies to accepting manufactured magic bullets as cure-alls? Sad?! ..there's a pill for that. In pain?! ..there's a pill for that. Not ready for parenthood? ..there's a pill for that too.

Cher Kore, AromatherapistAlternative Medicine has been around longer than Big Pharma. Literally thousands of years of prescribed teas and tinctures verses less than hundred years of pills and injections. Why are the pharmacies winning? They have marketing committees yet to be matched. Because media and government are selling you their magic pills and fear of the unknown, we are neglecting to discover the true potential of the ever healing human body.

Today women are taking on that challenge and bringing it to the next level. Emerging in the independent and mainstream media is a new acceptance of natural health care and its ability to assist patients through their most dire struggles. We hear the stories and can briefly catch them in the local news before they are quickly buried under the weather.

Survivors, caretakers and advocates want you realize the miracles happening all over the world. They are here to change your perspective of combining the alternatives with modern medicine.

From Storm's Story in Treating Yourself Magazine Georgia's son Storm was born with a painful and debilitating syndrome called multiple stenosis. Sometimes conventional medicine can be too demanding on a human body.. especially a growing one. Left with very limited choices Georgia decided it was time for an alternative. Cannabis is now Storm's medicine of choice.
"From the first puff, we saw the results, and that is what mattered most to US! Results we had not ever seen with any other medication. Not to mention we did not have a fear of overdoses or liver damage or organs shutting down! From a PLANT!" - Georgia Peschel
Click here to read Storm's Story written by Georgia Peschel in Treating Yourself
Georgia enjoys drawing cartoons chronicling life's fleeting moments and uses her talent to educate about cannabis as an alternative medicine. Check out her blah blah blog!
From "Storm's Story" in Treating Yourself Magazinewww.georgiatoons.com

Cheryl Shuman.. Survivor and advocate.
Cheryl made history with Ricki Lake and brought legal cannabis products to mainstream daytime television onThe Ricki Lake Show. She's a survivor of stage four ovarian cancer and this fighter is not backing down until everyone understands their right to choose.

Cher Kore.. Aromatherapist.
Owner and Scentstrodinaire of Kameleon Healing Aromatherapy, Cher Kore has taught me so much about Aromatherapy and other natural remedies that I use everyday. Local to Boston, Cher is a contributer at FreeMassMedia.com where she blogs about new approaches to alternative healing.

See the actual LINK here: http://www.mikecann.net/2013/01/women-leading-in-alternative-medicine_10.html

I had the pleasure on the weekend to draw for this lovely little lady ;-). I have been paying close attention ever since I read; Mykayla's mom decided to get her daughter a prescription for Cannabis  to help her daughter who is suffering from Leukemia.  I remember, I was pissed because someone said - "that didn't take her long" soon after learning her daughter had Leukemia .
                            Knowing what I know now, I would be in line the next hour.

I wrote about her before - when It started in the news people whould make - RUDE, un-educated comments regarding moms decision. But that is exactly what they are - and we must remember this, with decades of reefer madness pummeled into our brains. 
No one, especially another parent - who understands the circumstance would dare to differ. Either way I would RESPECT their choice. 
 
WHO is anyone to say what these parents should or should not do when it comes to the decision of their child? Most parents I know would die for their children (I  know I would) and we want to do what we believe is best for them. Cannabis for seriously ill children in my opinion should be the first CHOICE!  Especially, when we read kids are being prescribed OXY as young as 6.  

Mykayla was on the television show Ricki Lake -  you can watch it here: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsNd85kQwMM&feature=player_embedded
It is about time that this is reaching main stream!  The more people that know the more can help. What this little girl must endure - Cannabis I pray, will help her and make this experience as pleasant as it can possibly can be. There are too many children who are already going through treatment that makes them terribly ill. 
Cannabis can make them feel normal. I know - and am amazed myself how it works for nausea! AND it makes them feel better!!!! There is nothing wrong with feeling good!

Pain - I see everyday living proof (thank God)  on how amazing cannabis is for pain. 
I see it to the point I sit here now defending a plant.  ;-) 
I am so proud of these parents and the many more that are starting to speak up and speak out! No one has the right to tell us how to care for our children or pump them with pills.
Dr.s,  DO NOT know everything - they are learning also - I remember being a kid at the Dr.s looking at his huge crystal ashtray on his desk full of butts!   That was then.... 
WE are all here to learn. No ONE is an exception.
Here is how they make Mykayla her medicine:
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TRc99VhHRY&feature=player_embedded
To learn more and read about Mykayla, check out their  web page:http://www.bravemykayla.com/  
also on FB:  https://www.facebook.com/BraveMyKayla?fref=ts

 - perhaps you know someone who is dealing with the same thing.
SHARE! You could help save a life, ease pain  and correct a HUGE injustice done to too many over this plant. Cannabis.
Please go show them some love and support if only in your mind! It is a start!

As you might guess I went through several emotions doing this drawing,  I did allot of thinking about what they're actually dealing with daily, mentally, physically, financially.. it starts to feel like a HUGE weight on your back you have no idea....    then    - click - 
you look over into the eyes of your child and none of it matters.  NONE.
You will give it all away to keep the love of your child. 

Let me start today's guest blog by saying that I in fact, have the opposite of the blog you are about to read. I have been blessed with an incredible Dr. who has always taken the time, asked questions, listened and made decisions based on how we both felt about what is ever going on.   I have a couple of terrific Dr.s - I am blessed, BUT I am no stranger to the treatment of others from time to time and I hear the stories from almost everyone we talk to. 
Waiting HOURS to see your Dr., rushed appointments, confusion & of course Dr.s who will NOT EVEN discuss Cannabis as an option. 
It can be cold and uncaring experience at a time when we NEED care & compassion most.  I have read several of Blains Blogs  - a common thread has brought us together- some of his blogs I don't always agree with but there are people that do and we ALL need to be heard to solve this problem that has been going on for far too long. 
Blain and I have exchanged a few e mail and he is always polite, interesting and expressive- and has a lot to say - that come with experience and he has it. He also has a flair with words. 

M.D.?  Medical Doctor? = Mental Defective? = 
Morally Destitute? 

Character
Trustworthiness. Respect. Responsibility. Fairness. Caring. Citizenship.

The Six Pillars of Character are ethical values to guide our choices. The standards of conduct that arise out of those values constitute the ground rules of ethics, and therefore of ethical decision-making. 

Doctors! Who are they?
The Canadian Medical Association represents the 67000 modern doctors practicing in Canada. To introduce you to my concept of what Medical Practice should be, I’m simply going to compare the conduct of the majority of those members, to that of just one man of character, a real Doctor, still in practice at the beginning of the decline. His name was Dr. T.W.E. Henry and he was the local physician in Ft. Saskatchewan, Alberta where I grew up. At that time the town was about pop. 250 and we were a community who considered him next to Jesus for his Samaritan conduct, common sense and good advice. 

Dr. Henry was the center of our social system, he was trusted above all others and he knew every secret and personal detail about every one of his flock. He was a part of every family in town and often if he happened to make a house call at lunch or tea time he would stop for a coffee or to share a meal and take the time to get updated on the family history. He was a skilled interrogator and asked personal questions in such a manner that he created a desire to answer because he would understand and never condemn.

One evening near Christmas I and my family were visiting and just as supper hit the table TWE got a call and he was needed by a sick child. 10-15 degrees below zero, snowing like hell, winds harsh and gusty, driving clouds of icy particles that skin your face like sandpaper. No bloody way I was going out in that! Not!

Blaine! Get with it! I might need a push and you’re it! Crap: on with all the layers, boots, scarves, gloves! All the bulky crap that make wading though powder snow like wading through a swamp and then the open door and Holy Shit its nasty out here. Naturally the damned car won’t start so I harness the team, hook up his runabout sleigh, load the old fart up grab the reins and off we go into nowhere.

You don’t really drive horses in a blizzard: you just sort of aim them and trust them to figure out where the center of the road is. You just sit there and squint and squint trying to pick out landmarks in the little gaps between white sheets of snow. Fortunately it was a straight 5 mile run and only took about an hour and a half to get to the destination.

Modern people have no idea what kind of rotten conditions a lot of poor farm families lived in the 50’s. This was one such family and they were toughing out the blizzard in a two room clapboards shack heated by two stoves, one in the kitchen and a barrel type wood stove in the main room. Unless you have felt it you cannot imagine the drafts in a shack built of planks, you don’t know how cold the air is inside a house with iced up single pane windows. Stand next to one and suddenly your arm is radiated with cold from the glass.

It was a little guy about three and he was sick, you knew he was simply by looking. I don’t know what was wrong but after a long examination by TWE he was given a tablespoon of some syrup, handed back to his mother and she was told that he didn’t think it was serious but he’d like that fever to break. “Take that goose grease you have on the front stove warmer, warm him up, rub him down with it then wrap him up in that flannel blanket and put him to bed. He’s already so tired he’ll fall asleep quickly. He should feel better in the morning but if he doesn’t give me a call and we’ll take care of it.”

We got ready to leave and the husband came over to TWE and explained they were a little short on cash, would he take a couple of chickens as payment. TWE simply told him “John you’ll need them more than I do right now. Tell you what you’re good with a hammer and saw. Come over when the weather gets good in the spring and I’ve got a back porch that needs some repair. What do you say to an Even Steven deal?” John simply looked at him and I thought he would cry, but he just swallowed hard, nodded his agreement and shook TWE’s hand. We left

That was one example of his character at work: it is also the reason why he represents the best aspects of the generations of his predecessors. His position as a respected and admired man of character made him worthy to bear the title Doctor

Once again to stress: The Six Pillars of Character are ethical values to guide our choices. The standards of conduct that arise out of those values constitute the ground rules of ethics, and therefore of ethical decision-making. 

Cannabis has been prescribed by Doctors, Medicine men, Shamans for now 4800 years. For 4750 of those years this medication was freely prescribed by a person of trust who had the best interest of the patient in mind. The witch doctor was trusted because he knew every aspect of his patient’s life. He was part of a tight community that no longer exists, and his reward was not financial gain at patient expense but a position of respect and trust far above that of any other profession. The current crop of medicine men, and I call them that because they do not deserve the title of Doctor, are simply skilled technicians who lack the moral and ethical quality to earn the respect they are granted as physicians.

From that point in the past, we fast forward to the present and it is only men of my age has the knowledge of what the title Doctor Represents in terms of how it is earned and expects little from his current Physician. We knew a Model for Comparison and there is no Expectation of Samaritan acts that demonstrate the qualities inherent in the 6 Pillars of Character: Trustworthiness. Respect. Responsibility. Fairness. Caring. Citizenship. These have been lost by the Profession.

The Destruction of Ethical Medical Practice
The practice of medicine has gradually changed into a commercially structured and oriented system designed to derive maximum profit. This was created from the sheer volume of patients that became available as a result of post WWII urbanization. Instead of a couple of dozen or hundred patients in his community, every doctor had a chance to bag any number of visits from the occupants of the hundreds of tenements surrounding them. 

Appointments got shorter and further apart separated by many intruding and competing strangers’ entries into a doctor’s capacity to remember his diagnosis and previous treatment for the new volume of patients. Thus came into being the Personal Medical Record to serve as a reminder when a physician’s memory failed. The natural result was simple neglect to bother to remember Mickey Mouse details: a one minute skim of the patent’s last visit began to serve as the entire content of a physician’s knowledge of his patient. There began the complete lack of empathy now apparent in the profession at large and its absence was accompanied by the eventual loss of all character from the profession. That is simple fact.

A modern day patient with any problem needing medical attention assumes that when they make an appointment with their physician they are going to see a Doctor. They are not: they are making an appointment with an M.D. (Medical Doctor) a university graduate who had the minimal qualification to join a College of Physicians with lack standards and qualify to open an office. 

His first act after qualification to practice was not to do Samaritan work at the local shelters, but rather, a call to his lawyer and accountant and to approve the creation of his new practice, Dr. False Front, MD, Inc. Shyster and BeanCounter  Consulting already had the necessary plans approved, the forms got filed and the fees got paid. From this point on the man across the desk; the MD in the modern medical office, presents himself as worthy to wear the honorific title Doctor and expects all the respect and trust due him for a title based on Character. He is actually talking to President CEO of the TYMAR Corp acting as the sucker mechanism for the TakeYourMoneyAndRun machine.

To clarify the difference between a Doctor and President, MD, only one simple comparison is required. Imagine wandering down a deserted wasteland road and encountering a man with a severe wound needing medical help. His wound is not fatal but without treatment soon will be if not helped. How would each react to that situation? 
I think: 
The Doctor would stop, assess the situation, accept the man as a a patient, pack the wound, stop the bleeding and then arrange for his care until recovery.

The President, MD would stop, frisk the man to see if he had the cash or credit to pay for treatment, if not kick him in the ditch. It would probably never occur to him to call an ambulance to get charity involved. That would take too much time and he already had a cash customer waiting for the sales pitch. “Sorry. I can’t be bothered guy, die in peace.

If I am disillusioned it is rightfully so. The machine has no recognition of the patient, only his symptoms are used to maximize the medical billing opportunities and tap them all. Office visits = Prescriptions benefits = repeat = referral to higher priced care of specialists= over-reliance on technology= excess testing = everybody happy and rich = CMA.

The President, MD across the desk does not know his patents, has no idea how they live, or anything about them beyond their ability to pay and the chart details of the last visit.  They do not want to know or be bothered by their patients outside of Office Hours. They move in invisible circles away from the common herd, superior circles by virtue of greed! Away from the place of business they do not exist and cannot be found. They have no addresses, unlisted home phones, and undisclosed and rigidly guarded e-mail. They long ago abandoned house calla and after hour phone calls are answered by recorded direction to go to emergency.

Suddenly the majority of these 67000 MD’s fly in the face of common sense and are balking at allowing Medical Cannabis, and its benefits, on the basis that they don’t have sufficient knowledge of the long term harmful effects of smoking it.

Bullshit! They discount 4750 years of testimonial evidence passed down by all the preceding generations of real Doctors who freely advocated it for its curative power and lack of risk in its use.
Bullshit!

Today’s Doctors all claim to honour what was the primary tenet of the Hippocratic Oath: “FIRST, DO NO HARM”. Nobody reveals that this guiding principle has been removed from the Hippocratic Oath Modern Version and has not been replaced by an equivalent prohibition.. 

I find it interesting that given the respect they are sworn to hold for their predecessor’s intelligence, in another part of the oath they dismiss all the traditional knowledge that Cannabis has shown no harm from occasional or even lifelong use. They swear: “I will respect the “hard-won scientific gains” of those physicians in whose steps I walk, and gladly share such knowledge as is mine with those who are to follow”. 

To claim harm for a product all preceding generations of doctors recommend is to hold their collective intelligence in contempt. To dismiss all of it in favour of the hard-won scientific gains of last 50 years of billing possibility experts, who don’t even know who their patients are, is probably the grossest display of the lack of simple common sense I could have imagined from any profession. They have completely lost touch with the populace they are supposed to be serving.

I hear no outcry from the medical ethics experts: Where are they? because the ethical deficiency list is horrendous! I could keep on ranting forever but I don’t have to. Following is a simple listing of the components of Character from 

Making Ethical Decisions: The Six Pillars of Character

Simply reading the Index is enough to awaken almost anyone to the manifold shortcomings of the Profession. It seems every little word harkens memories of little things noticed that didn’t add up until now

Character:
• Trustworthiness
     - Honesty
     - Integrity
     - Reliability (Promise-keeping)
     - Loyalty
• Respect
     - Civility, Courtesy and Decency
     - Dignity and Autonomy
     - Tolerance and Acceptance
• Responsibility
     - Accountability
     - Pursuit of Excellence
     - Self-Restraint
• Fairness
     - Process
     - Impartiality
     - Equity
• Caring
• Citizenship

Can you smell the rot too?

Blaine Barrett

To read more of Blaines Blog >>>  http://goan-smee.blogspot.ca/
You can e Blaine here: [email protected]

I know today's hero personally.  Asked to remain as "D" for fear of backlash from others in the industry. This is a shame, I completely understand it.  I have witnessed it over and over again and it must stop. 

Today's hero Is Wayne Phillips,  just one of many who I imagine will be reaching out and trying to educate the masses. This is just one petition started. 
This is  how most  Canadians feel on the MMAR program. How sad that those who need this medicine and worry about life - with pain and troubles already - will have to start to deal with this. Human Rights - made wrong. Thank you Wayne for taking the time to speak up and educate.


The proposed changes to MMAR will make it far more difficult, if not outright impossible, for people choosing to utilize their constitutional rights to use cannabis (marihuana) according to what their medicinal requirements necessitate. The proposed Marijuana for Medical Purposes Regulations (MMPR) won't help control illegal activity, if anything, this proposed model will contribute to illegal activity by forcing sick, disabled, and dying Canadians, who won't be able to afford to bear the exorbitant costs entailed in the proposed model, as well as those whose pain levels exceed what the limits proscribe, back into the streets and the realm of criminal activity.

The proposed model will negatively affect medicinal cannabis exemptees in the following ways:

- It unduly limits the amount of cannabis (marihuana) those Authorized To Possess would be legally entitled to possess. 
- It interferes in the amount a physician is allowed to prescribe; moreover, how that (interference) relates to pain management needs to be considered. 
- Being on a fixed incomes, the costs which the proposed model would incur – assuming no subsidization occurs – would far exceed what most would seeking access would be able to afford. 
- Currently, those Authorized To Possess minimize and or nullify expenses incurred by opting for either PPL's or DG's to provide monthly allotments of cannabis.

Currently, hundreds of thousands of dollars (across Canada) are saved every month in pharmaceutical prescription costs alone thanks to those who opt to use cannabis medicinally. That does not even begin to take into consideration costs incurred such as office visits, E..R. treatment and/or hospitalization as a result of the side effects of the pharmaceuticals (once) prescribed. The proposed model offends both the integrity and sanctity of holistic well-being for both ATP holders and the various Provinces that make up Canada.

The idea that the proposed Marijuana for Medical Purposes Regulations (MMPR) will allow for easier access for patients is meant to impart the idea that by broadening the category of who gets to authorize the use of medicinal cannabis it would effectively provide a comfort zone wherein doctors shed their existing concerns about prescribing medicinal cannabis and get on board. Nothing could be further from the truth! According to an article (Globe and Mail, Mon. Dec. 17) entitled “Medical marijuana move angers health professionals” Anna Reid, president of the Canadian Medical Association, which represents Canada’s 76,000 physicians summed it up by saying, “The federal government established the program and is now abdicating its role as a regulator of medical marijuana.” She also said that doctors still have real problems about being asked to prescribe a drug that is not rigorously tested and that will continue to grow worse under the new regulations. “It’s the equivalent of asking doctors to prescribe while blindfolded,” Dr. Reid said.

Claims (by the Minister of Health) that the current medical marijuana regulations have left the system open to abuse is more an indictment of your supervision/management of the current regulations, as directed by Health Canada, than it is an indictment of the current regulations. After all, to have mismanaged the program to the extent that it received complaints from other stakeholders is one thing, having MMAR deemed unconstitutional on eight occasions by the courts (in just over a decade) is quite another! Together, however, they constitute a a clear and irrefutable indictment. It is small wonder that legislation pertaining to the possession and production of cannabis is even recognized by law today.

Considering Health Canada is currently embroiled in court actions where issues of constitutionality regarding MMAR are at stake, the idea of promoting such a severe remedy as outlined in the proposed model only serves to demonstrate that the health and welfare of those Authorized To Possess who rely on PPL's and DG”s as established under the current model are of no consequence to Health Canada or the current Government.
Wayne Phillips

Please feel free to sign the petition!! 

http://www.change.org/petitions/end-the-bureaucratic-disentitlement-being-waged-on-canada-s-mmar-recipients?utm_campaign=friend_inviter_modal&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition&utm_term=permissions_dialog_true

J.D is another friend I have made via FB, every now and then you 'click' with someone, the way J.D. writes and speaks is music to my ears. 
I get it. I am entertained by him and he often makes me laugh.
He is in the U.S.A and very passionate about Hemp!  I often listen to his youtube video's for material.  I am so excited that he will be traveling to Toronto with his lovely companion Pam this summer to attend Toronto's Treating Yourself Expo! He will educate no mater where he is - as it is his passion and from the looks of his students, friends and from what I have learned  he is an awesome teacher - with a good heart &  enthusiasm that is contagious. 
You can't beat that.   Enjoy:

Potheads are lazy!  -- Weed ruins your memory! --  Just say no! -- Studies prove that marijuana smoke kills brain cells! -- Reefer is a gateway drug! -- Smoking the chronic will give you lung cancer! -- Women, if you smoke that blunt,  you will lose your  honor! --  The police can’t tell the difference between hemp and marijuana! --  This is your brain on drugs! -- The Devil’s Lettuce causes low sperm count and will give you “man boobs!” -- Legalization sends the wrong message to children! -- Smoking that Mary Jane  makes you violent! -- Hemp is a niche crop! -- Buying weed funds the terrorists! -- Wacky Tobaccy makes  you crazy AND schizophrenic!

If you’re like me, these statements really angry up your blood.  For more than 70 years, these absurd “facts” and slogans have been force fed to the public without  any opposing arguments or rational discussion whatsoever.  The government makes up the lies and the mainstream media all too happily parrots the message over and over until the vast majority of people actually start believing this tripe.  The sheer number of lies repeated for so many years has left a seemingly indelible mark on society’s psyche.  Many people just can not fathom the fact that cannabis sativa is a relatively harmless herb.  Most are members of the older generation, but many are young.  

Reefer Madness is a rampant  disease that has infected the halls of justice.  Hundreds of billions of dollars have been wasted demonizing, harassing, stigmatizing, arresting and incarcerating millions of non-violent individuals (disproportionately minorities).  Unbrainwashing society is a very tall order and that's why I’m doing what I'm doing.  Even if prohibition ended today, we still have so much more to do to fully utilize the amazing therapeutic properties of cannabis as well as the numerous environmental and economic benefits of industrial hemp.  We need to reintegrate prisoners back into society.  We need to turn Reefer Madness into Reefer Gladness!

The age of enlightenment is upon us.  Thanks to the mass communication capabilities of the internet, people are finally able to openly discuss the benefits of cannabis hemp and better document the devastating effects that its prohibition has on society. We need to take the debate to the media.  They have owned the issue for far too long and it is time for the hyperbolic hysteria to be replaced by rational discussion. This goes for the pro-canna side too.  Cannabis by itself will not solve all of our problems and we have to make sure our statements are verifiable.  We don't want to be dismissed out of hand for making unfounded claims.  This is a tall order especially considering that its illegality prevents many things from being verified (see Catch-422 below).  Fortunately, despite government's best efforts, more and more positive medical marijuana studies are coming out and lots of really great new hemp products are hitting the market all the time.  

People could care less about apathy.  We need to make people care.  Tens of thousands killed fighting over drug profits. Hundreds of thousands arrested each year.  Where's the moral outrage?  It seems like society has been desensitized to the rampant violence (think Grand Theft Auto on steroids).  Where did the "peace, love and bell-bottoms" ethos of our hippy forefathers go?

One person can't everything, but we can all do something.  That's the key.  I'm not a full time activist. I've got a "square" job.  I do research and write in my spare time.  The important thing is to determine what you can do.  Try not to overextend yourself or over-commit yourself because then you may disappoint others and/or burn yourself out.   We all want to do so many things, but we just don’t have the time or resources.  It is important to build credibility.  Don’t commit to things you can’t do.   And try as hard as possible to fulfill the commitments that you do make.

This is going to be a long battle and we need each and every one of you for the long haul.  Society wasn’t brainwashed overnight and unfortunately, we can’t just flip a switch and enlighten everyone all at once.  But  we can all  educate ourselves and others.   Facebook is a great tool to learn about what's going on all over the world.  I've got "friends" in Australia, South Africa, Europe and even Canada, eh?  You can also receive a daily listing of news articles by setting a Google News alert or visit the Media Awareness Project’s Drug News Archive.   

We need to rebut Reefer Madness.  Write letters to the editor, call in to talk radio, talk to your friends, parents and doctors.   Work with an activist group like NORML, SSDP, ASA or Vote Hemp.  Or, start your own group!  Each  is a part of the church of cannabis.  But I don’t want to be preaching to the choir here.  I want to preach to the preachers!  I want YOU to become a cannabis ambassador and let others know about this ancient plant with so many modern uses.  

Reefer Madness dies hard.  Such an entrenched narrative is very difficult to overcome.  That's why every word, picture and thought is a baby step toward a better society.  Are we close to the time when society finally has its "aha!" moment and sees cannabis prohibition for the absurdly cruel and unusual punishment that it is?   The house of cards that prohibition is built on is about to fall.  Will there be a watershed event that acts as a big gust of wind that blows their house of cards away or will we need billions of baby steps?  Just reading this blog is a big baby step because it shows that you give an aeronautical intercourse about cannabis, hemp and humanity.

Kudos to Colorado and Washington state for legalizing cannabis and striking a huge blow against prohibition.  A big "atta boy" to the states that have passed laws allowing medicinal marijuana or industrial hemp.  The curtain of Oz is being pulled back.  The camel is getting its nose under the tent.  But, we are still being persecuted.  Even in Canada, patients are made to jump through numerous bureaucratic hoops EACH YEAR showing that they “need” medicinal cannabis.   

I call myself a "Hempologist" because I study cannabis hemp. I was a typical “hemp friendly” young man doing a lot of the typical things.  Attending a  Mass Cann/NORML meeting over 20 years ago, I was inspired by the phrase:  “If not you, who?  If not now, when?” I  decided that it was the time for me to do something.  But what?  I started out tabling at events, helped organize a few of the annual Freedom Rallies on the Boston Common and even started giving speeches about  hemp even though I am deathly afraid of public speaking.  I figured that if I make a mistake, so what, at least I’m trying.  I saw that most of the activists wanted to legalize marijuana and free the prisoners which is great.  Others were interested in helping patients get their medical marijuana, which is awesome.   After becoming aware of all the great “green” things that hemp could do, my environmental side took over.   Biodegradable plastic, tree free paper, concrete, insulation, lightweight and strong composite materials, ethanol, diesel fuel.  These are just some of the things that can be made out of hemp.  It’s also a freakin’ super food!  High in Omega 3 & 6 essential fatty acids, high in protein & fiber, no cholesterol and no known allergies.  What’s not to like about that?   Living in New England, I was also lucky enough to be somewhere where hemp has a very rich and deep history, so I started documenting and writing about it and about "modern hemp history" in various publications and on my website, Hempology.Org.

A friend of mine is in prison right now.  He was sentenced to 5 years and during his trial, the prosecution could not even produce the drugs that he was alleged to have sold!  Talk about being railroaded.  And yes, my friend is black.  Sadly, minorities are arrested and imprisoned at a disproportionate rate.  An excellent book about this subject is called the New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander.  Everyone should think about how much money is being wasted and how many lives are being ruined because of the war on (some) drugs.  

I have a disabled relative that lives in America’s deep south who must spend each day either in bed, in a chair or electric scooter.  Talk about being confined and depressed!  I used to take the simple act of walking for granted but I now appreciate what I have and try to keep that in mind with every step I take.  Since he lives in such a close minded, bass-ackwards state, medical marijuana is not even close to being legal.  So, he “gets” to take all sort of super powerful pain drugs that “eff” him up nice and good.  They make him groggy and nauseous.   He enjoys having a little puff every now and again because it makes him feel better and helps reduce the number of numbing pain pills he takes.  But he is so afraid of getting arrested and possibly going to jail that he errs on the side of caution.  This makes me so mad I could spit.   

If you ever wanted to get in on the ground floor of anything, the hemp industry is it!  The possibilities for growth are absolutely staggering.  Almost 30,000 acres of hemp were grown in Canada in 2012.  This may seem like a lot, but when compared to 300 MILLION acres of corn, wheat, cotton and soy grown annually in North America, it is 10,000 times less!  That is a lot of room for growth if you ask me.  Thanks to Reefer Madness, the entire American hemp industry has been decimated.  We are literally building an industry from the ground up.  The challenges are enormous, but the potential payout  boggles the mind (think trillion dollar crop).  

Hemp really is the Green Buffalo!  In order to survive, Native Americans used the entire buffalo: hair, snoot, balls ‘n all!  And, like the buffalo, you can make many essentials out of hemp: food, clothing, shelter, fuel and medicine.  We need people to invent new hemp products.  We need people to start new  hemp companies.  But keep in mind that until American farmers can grow hemp, the deck is stacked against you.  One thing that everyone can do is support Vote Hemp, a non-profit organization that lobbies congress and educates the public about the beneficial uses of hemp.  And, the more hemp products we buy, the more pressure we’ll be able to put on our legislators to let American farmers once again grow hemp.  We all need to work to de-stigmatize the humble hemp seed.  

If you are in school or just a “student of life,” the Cannabis Curriculum is for you.  It doesn’t matter what class you are taking or what really piques your interest, you can apply it to cannabis hemp and its prohibition.  Topics such as History, Biology, Chemistry, Engineering, Nursing, Nutrition, Sociology, Political Science, Architecture, Economics, Environmentalism, Theatre/Arts, Geography and Legal Studies all have components related to cannabis hemp that need additional study.   There is so much research that needs to be done documenting all of the beneficial aspects of hemp.   Hopefully, one day I can give my Cannabis Curriculum presentation at your school or at  one of your group’s events.  

Why don't patients have access to a safe, effective, natural and inexpensive medicine?  Why can't American farmers grow an environmentally friendly and economically beneficial crop?   Why are thousands killed each year in gang violence?   Why are our prisons overflowing with non-violent offenders?  The resounding answer to these and many related questions is:  It's the prohibition, stupid!!   Prohibition is the key concept that I want to drive home.  The prohibition of cannabis, the stigmatizing of its users, the way that the entire cannabis culture is derided.  In order to fight against this, we need to learn as much as possible and we need to share our knowledge far and wide.  Sow the (hemp) seeds of education, enlightenment and empowerment.   

Our government has created a phenomenon that I call Catch-422 (tip of the hempen chapeau to Joseph Heller).  They put up as many roadblocks as possible in an effort to stifle our progress.  For instance, the DEA classifies marijuana as a Schedule I narcotic which, by definition, means there is no currently acceptable medical use.  Everyone knows this is total bullshit, but when researchers ask for cannabis to perform studies, they're told they can't have it because, of course, marijuana has no medical use: Catch-422.  This circular logic jerks patients around to no end.  

Our government says that hemp is the same as marijuana.  They claim that growing hemp will confuse the police even though this is not an issue in Canada or Europe where it is legal to grow industrial hemp: Catch-422.  United States Department of Agriculture studies call hemp a niche crop without fully investigating its myriad uses: Catch-422.  

Another Catch-422 is the institutional hypocrisy that  prevents people from coming out of the cannabis closet.  Consider this:  Mere possession of marijuana is a violation of federal law!  It is very difficult for someone to promote an illegal activity.  You expose yourself to public ridicule or worse.  For many, testing positive could result in the loss of their job, children or government benefits.  Similarly, the IRS has ruled that medical marijuana dispensaries cannot deduct business expenses because possessing and distributing cannabis is against federal law: Catch-422.    Banks and credit card companies are refusing to do business with dispensaries for the same reason:  Catch-422.   We need to recognize this for what it is:  a blatant and callous effort to impede our progress.  Fortunately in the privacy of the voting booth, people are electing to choose cannabis and give a collective middle finger to the powers that be.  

Do you want to be a pioneer?  A trendsetter? A visionary?  A leader that seeks only fairness and opportunity?  You have a unique opportunity to become a member of a small (but growing!) vanguard that is working peacefully against a vicious opposition that thinks nothing of imprisoning our brothers, poisoning our sisters and killing our offspring.  We know that  prohibition is immoral.  We know we are right.  The truth is on our side.  It's not very often that one has an opportunity to become part of a movement and actually make history, but that's what we're doing.  Other epic social revolutions also involved individual rights:  slavery, women, LGBT.  There are many similarities between these struggles and the fight for cannabis rights.  Constant vigilance is needed to ensure that the advances we have made are not eroded and that we continue to move in the “right” direction.  

Positive changes are happening at a frenetic pace on all fronts. We are at a tipping point.  This is great!  We can and will win.  However, fully removing the stigma associated with cannabis will take time.  The derisive pothead references will remain long after marijuana is legalized.  We need to keep the historical perspective of Reefer Madness in mind as we move into the future.  It’s time to make cannabis prohibition history!  

Many thanks to GeorgiaToons for the opportunity to share my story with you on her blog.  Her cannabis cartoons are drawn with love and dedication and I draw strength from her and her drawings.  Keep up the fight, peace and all the bast!

I am, 
JD

Articles written by JD:
1996 Cannabis Cup
http://hempology.org/JD%27S%20ARTICLES/96CANNCUP.html
1997 Bioresource Hemp Conference
http://www.druglibrary.org/olsen/hemp/IHA/jiha4118.html
Hemp's Harried History
http://www.hemphasis.net/History/harriedhemp.htm
Hemp Food Article
https://www.facebook.com/notes/john-dvo%C5%99%C3%A1k/helping-hemp-foods-help-humanity/425796981452
Hemp, A Concrete Solution
https://www.facebook.com/notes/john-dvo%C5%99%C3%A1k/hemp-a-concrete-solution-to-humanitys-pollution/10150110993421453
Hemp, The Green Buffalo
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ISTShMN1lKnARTDj_PbD1Dy0wU7Lt_K--cmOM1ldggs/edit
2010 National Clinical Conference on Cannabis Therapeutics Report
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fWZDa-Ubl1r_Y6H7GdGrsNgbyYIWQEAqkvAcqP-VeSA/edit
It’s the Prohibition, Stupid!  
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1b59R66GnTLofVAAEfEfoYRRYAGvzWEx5PCPTF_L6Ee8/edit
Cannabis Curriculum @ Harry’s Hill in Maine - August 2012
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TWDJjZn2xuiQ4AblUqw5jAvE0nGHdHs0QqUnvsAqv9A/edit
A Day in the Life of a True Hempster
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Oz0tAglf9HW6dUL3aTp2QLW6f0i0JEatEHUOSi8rZUs/edit

Videos:
Cannabis Curriculum @ 2012 CannaMaineia Expo (21 mins)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJJnajm4Tsk&list=UUd-CbPPfF3N6uemm57UiLog&index=4
Cannabis Curriculum @ 2011 Maine Homegrown (Medicinal emphasis - 20 minutes)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nzr0qxjBcfQ&list=UUd-CbPPfF3N6uemm57UiLog&index=9
Cannabis Curriculum @ 2011 Boston Freedom Rally (5 mins)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyYrn6mb35U&feature=youtu.be
It’s the Prohibition Stupid @ 2010 Live Free or Die Rally in New Hempshire (17 mins)
http://blip.tv/the-weekly-show/hempology-with-john-dvorak-4085899
Let’s Talk Hemp @ the 2009 Live Free or Die Rally in New Hempshire (11 mins)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=az0Qmq16sec
Boston's Hemp History (10 mins)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usoMCyfEanA&list=UUd-CbPPfF3N6uemm57UiLog&index=22
Hemp Interview (11 short parts) with Susie Codie of hempirestate.org
http://vimeo.com/48269645
2012 Hemp Video Shorts with Francis Fu of Northwestern SSDP
Hemp Ice Cream:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eixoqNLh4xk
Hemp Houses:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vM0SrMixql0

Websites:
Hemp History:  http://hempology.org/
Cannabis Curriculum:  http://hempology.org/CANNABISCURRICULUM.html
Please “like” my Cannabis Curriculum Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cannabis-Curriculum/299727610052925

Today's hero is Miguel.  We are friends on FB and I have come across the 'Weed Blog' once in a while and enjoy reading. 
I do let people use my cartoons for newsletters, web pages, etc and feel grateful that they feel my cartoons compliment their words.  The above toon was in the following blog: 
xox G


My name is Miguel. I figured I should introduce myself as an adult that shouldn’t need to be in hiding since I am not a criminal. 

Now that two states have “legalized” marijuana, I feel no safer today than I did before (even though I live in one of those states). I do feel rest assured that my peers here are tolerant of a certain lifestyle choice. I feel no safer since I could still be a victim of circumstance just like what happened to me in Wyoming.

Whenever I advocate for marijuana rights, I hate being considered an activist; to me it’s just plain common sense. When one inquires about the many travesties in life, alcohol can be found to be part the root cause, and that’s legal!

Instead of an activist, I would like to consider myself more of a realist. We are not going to feed all the starving, nor fix any other fu**ed up scenario that is a cause, but we can end a failed drug war that has real casualties and implications on millions of American lives. As a realist, I believe we won’t end racism, but we can sure dull its sharp sting by eradicating laws based off of racial propaganda that now affects all. I am not an activist; I’m a father, a husband, and son – A friend, a neighbor, a co-worker, an object of affection, a god damn fu**ing American citizen.

As an American, it’s a shame that we have to fear our fellow countrymen; this can be undercover cops and/or bitter douche bags with vendettas. Not everyone is against marijuana; as a matter of fact, you can’t judge a book by its cover. Marijuana crosses all boundaries; race, economic, and health condition – marijuana is medicine, it doesn’t just help fight major disease but also tummy aches and insomnia, different strains for different folks.

I don’t promote smoking and driving (which was what happened in my case), but I do promote cannabis and all I’m saying is there is a potential for somebody to get stopped for bogus reasons, and if said person happens to have a stinking pound in their trunk than there is probable cause. It’s unfortunate that hard drugs don’t emit the order pot does, that law enforcement officials feel they are doing the community a service by arresting cannabis users.

We’ve come along so far in my lifetime; more than I thought was even imaginable due to my distrust and lack of faith in the system, but medical marijuana has turned that around. Some activists want to polarize the issue by rejecting medical marijuana, but the truth is medical marijuana has created the conversation along with providing statistical support that the zombie apocalypse does not occur due to safe legal access to marijuana, it’s as simple as that.

I started writing this with one thing in mind “What is the cause or movement?”- We each have our own term. Isn’t it the same one that’s been going on for years since the 60′s? It just seems disconnected to me these days. Early on it was the likes of Keith Stroup, Tom Forcade, Steve Hager, and Jack Herer that started the question “Why is marijuana illegal?” They are the original voices for the legalization of marijuana, but legalizing marijuana means more than smoking a joint and buying Cheetos. Its freedom vs. incarceration, its grants and scholarships vs. ineligible, its innocent vs. not guilty, crime vs. a night cap, the war on drugs has done more harm than good.

The legalization of marijuana is choosing nature while still agreeing with science, morality, and capitalism. It’s the integration of the free market with democracy, if done right. How many things in life that you know of that marijuana is the root cause of destruction? Accidents and bad nightlife choices are mostly alcohol induce (not saying stoners don’t do stupid shit) but statistically marijuana isn’t that bad and once legalized and legitimized, it might not even be a concern. When there’s no temptation, generally there’s no abuse that’s why Germany has a lower alcoholism rate and Amsterdam a lower drug use rate.

Early in our American history during the civil rights era, many groups popped up supporting the individuals being wronged with legal and financial support, the only thing I see going on these days in support of marijuana front-line soldiers are law suits. I saw such a thing here in Washington when the City of Kent voted on a moratorium, Steve Sarich served the council papers stating the council was going against the will of Washington State voters. Now this is all well and good but to me this didn’t help the dispensary owners at the time.

Dispensary owners aren’t the only ones fighting alone. On my travels I met the owner of a head shop known as The Grateful Shed in Bozeman, Mt. When Montana first embarked on their medical journey the feds were hot to imprison and close all that they could. The Grateful Shed was raided for having marijuana posters in their back room. Let me say that again The Grateful Shed was raided for having marijuana posters in their back room. After a long and expensive trial The Grateful Shed proved to be justified and set different precedents in support of marijuana, they are still recovering from these expenses.

Now I’m not asking for us to subsidize people’s lives as they battle the legal system but you would think an organization based off of lawyers could provide free legal aid to the likes of The Grateful Shed, NJ Weedman, Joe Grumbine, Chris Wiliams, Eddy Lepp, Marc Emery and RandyLeibenguth. Instead we support them with well wishes and lawsuits that do not support the individual. I think this is where things can change. I’m grateful for new organizations like SSDP and MMP but in the long run the farmers and wanna-be store front operators are being buried under legal mumbo jumbo.

I spoke to Joe Grumbine before he went to prison and he agrees with me that the revolution has been commercialized and broken. That’s why he started The Human Solution. The Human Solution tries to help spread the word on jury nullification and tries to garner local court support for individuals facing trial. This isn’t a complete solution, but it does more for the individual than suing any institution.

People are standing up for marijuana for their own self-interest which is fine, but if you make a profit off of this beautiful plant try and give a little back to those that brought it to you. People who never consider fighting for marijuana education have learned the hard way that it is medicine or that any criminal implication from this plant is not justice. I got excited when I-502 passed, merely for what it means about my state: That the moral majority have some sort of common sense in this perverse world where fucked up shit happens every day the re-legalization of marijuana and the lie it represents does more harm than good.

When the law passed my wife got mad at me because I started investigating on how I could get involved with the new marijuana industry. Looking into how I could make an honest living off of something I truly care and respect. I can’t blame her for getting upset; I have an obsession with marijuana. If weed were legal this obsession probably would never exist for there would be no mass injustice.

Even though two states have legalized marijuana we have so much more work to do and ignorance to face. Personally I’m tired of being one of the usual suspects because I’m a dark brown smoker. I am not a criminal, I’m a father, a friend, a neighbor, an occasional writer, a daydreamer, that guy that lets you get into the lane when you’re driving – I’m everything else but the bad guy criminal. The guys here have given me an outlet that has turned into a support group for marijuana reform, we are the people.

I encourage every single one of you to write one letter to our prisoners of war, to donate a dollar to awareness groups like NORML, SSDP, MMP or even donate to a project like Gone To Pot The Movie or any other any other pro-marijuana Kickstarter project. Marijuana is still illegal in 48 states where 2 grams might as well be 2 lbs, a marijuana conviction can still alter your lively hood and any other future prospects – this shit needs to end.

There are bits and pieces of enlightenment after the two states legalized it; when Randy Leibenguth went in for his trial he was not imprisoned like Chris Williams. Instead I was fortunate enough to talk to him after his trial and he had this to say “the judge even said he was disturbed with the difference between state and federal and it was hard for him to actually put any of us in jail due to the changing times. He said he did not want to regret putting people in jail for something that 4 to 5 years down the road maybe something that is accepted normally” Now judges are realizing incarcerating people for a plant is ridiculous.

Marijuana is medicine, natural medicine for adults and children; there are people with money interest that don’t want you to treat yourself, to be thy own physician. Marijuana is medicine just like the pills big pharma sells, how does marijuana differ? It doesn’t, simply put the fat cats of pharma and alcohol are afraid of competition. Marijuana extracts are good for treatments; they just don’t want you to try and get to know yourself better. Better yet a chance to help yourself, help your family, help your children.

Even if you don’t want to believe thatmarijuana fights cancer, if there was a chance why not listen to those that say their life has improved because of it, its only humane. If you ever lost a loved one from cancer you would know that you would try anything just for 5 more minutes with them, one more hug, one more anything to do with them. I wonder if my dad’s end would’ve been better off if I was able to get him a joint. Cancer kills, not marijuana.

My present existence is based off of the essence of what is wrong with America, corporate cuts and lies, if I wasn’t doing it there’d be someone else. Socio-pshychopath that’s how I pay my bills and I’m not the only one. As a technician everything takes a certain amount of time, you can’t squeeze blood out of a turnip but that’s what I do, make money for “sober” people. We cut corners in quality to make money for our corporate masters and that’s why I was against 502, I didn’t want quality and Monsanto to take over my weed but I hope somehow to get involved with the new upcoming situation.

Maybe I am a hopeless hippie romantic but I do believe in the power of the plant over almost a hundred years of man made lies but we need to stop dissenting and hating upon one another. We all need to agree that cannabis is medicine but it’s also recreational the whole thing is a conundrum but truth non-the-less. We are now in an era where cannabis is the responsible choice over booze but as humans we choose to have our escapes. It’s human nature to want to be on another level.

Donate, debate, educate, doing what you can makes you an activist. I don’t want to live in a world where gardeners and shop keepers are treated like pedophiles, rapist, murderers or any other piece of shit in society. When good men and women serve longer sentences (when they shouldn’t be serving at all) than people that have kidnapped and violated others. In our society and country there should be a pecking order of wrongs and rights and marijuana isn’t even in the same category as wrong. We are not criminals, we are patients, we are adults that choose a night smoke as a night cap, we are people who no longer believe in the man behind the curtain.
Miguel

 I  have my own blog http://brothercanyouspareadimebag.blogspot.com/, where I put down some of my writings and odd ball shit I find on the internet. 
One love.Miggy420 

Today's Hero...  Grant Higgins
I met Grant on FB - bringing the world closer one post at a time ♥
I do not know him, chances are will never meet him but he had my curiosity then my attention ;-) I peeked at his profile and posts and see: a dad, foot ball lover, funny guy and Cannabis activist- who just seems to make too much common sense in my opinion - while still making me laugh and smile. I e mailed him to thank him.  Another FANTASTIC thing is he is on another continent. WOW - Worlds apart (I do not travel much) but we have the same passion and desire to help educate. As always he is BLUNT and to the point- he inspired the toon above and I thank him for speaking up!  
Grant Higgins
Is silence always Golden? Hi im Grant Higgins uk cannabis consumer
i am not apart of anything or any group! 
im just "diffrent" because im a 33 year old recreational cannabis user.
i walk my dog, support my football(soccer) team tottenham and raise my kids.
im a member of the public and i like to think of myself as a NormlUK Citizen.
im surrounded by people of varying ages who consume cannabis everyday.
the oldest consuming friend being in their 60's! 
all working in many different professions and they all use cannabis!
everyone would admit to it freely behind closed doors.
hiding safe in their shelters praying the fate of others does not befall them!
seeing people living in fear almost as if they are ashamed of who they are is saddening.
no victim! no crime!
at this present time in our lives the global comission for the war on drugs and many governments are breaking the taboo and talking about the war on people that consume some drugs.  they are saying it has failed and i hope our government listens.
we all need to be breaking the taboo! and now is that time!
http://www.breakingthetaboo.info/ 
people are dying! and together we have the power to stop this!
cannabis consumers need to come out of their cannabis closets! 
a lot like all the gay people did and stop hiding away!
demand to be treated equally the way black people did!
burning spliffs in public like women did their bras!
as the victimization and prejudice heaped upon cannabis consumers is much the same!
some people are so far in their cannabis closet they are in Narnia!
would they continue with their silence if they were aware of the suffering that it caused?

when children are being stolen from loving parents for consuming a plant?
when a patient is locked away for consuming a safe medicine that works!
or when someone hangs for possessing cannabis?
would none of this make you speak up?
people are dying!

i had a relative die recently.
she had cancer but that is not what took her she was on dialysis also.
rather than suffer and have cancer ruin her the way it did her husband and other family member.  she stopped dialysis and slipped into a coma... 
3 people have had cancer in my family and died.
being a parent myself these days i figured it best to start doing what is best for my health.
i knew that inhaling cigarette smoke can give you cancer and had already quit.
i reasoned that inhaling cannabis smoke would be a probable cause of cancer also.
if this was true then it would give me the insentive i needed to quit inhaling cannabis smoke. to google i took and typed in 'cannabis cancer'.... and waited for the writing to appear on the blank white page

CANNABIS CURES CANCER AND THE US GOVERNMENT HAS KNOWN SINCE 74! was one of the first statments i saw. 
this couldnt be true could it!
my government wouldnt cover up information and research as valuable as that surely!
Would they? i mean if the US knows the uk would know too!
i had to know more! .....keep digging.
turns out most of the evidence was destroyed. 
i then came upon a documentary called RUN FROM THE CURE 
the 2000 study in spain madrid that produced the same results as 74.this has been confirmed in many studies since.
how could a plant that has never killed anyone and have so much potential medically be labled Toxic and lethal in the UK?
why was this not headline news around the world? 
id never heard of cannabis's anti-cancer anti pain properties before!

why are people dying? why is more research not being done!
i felt very alone!
they die because they do not know.
i started posting the links i came across on facebook.
how long has prohibition been getting in the way of research and why is cannabis prohibited?  youll have to make your own minds up.

the responses i got were mixed.  some were upset with me as they didnt want to hear it.
others wanted to know more  some mocked but dont they always?  your just a stoner(and proud!)  and then there was them that have helped me learn what i needed to know.
a big thank you to anyone whose encouraged me kept me grounded and educated me!!
we can do this!
after i posted the links to my profile everyone knew.
even them which deleted me knew and that knowledge can never be undone.
things are changing.the world is changing
together we are breaking the Taboo!

special thanks to -
- Mike Hyde and family for being brave enough to share their life. one love! r.i.p. Cashy
- all the LCA 
- Winston Watthews for standing up for uk cannabis patients and consumers 
- everyone at NormlUK and the UK Cannabis Social Clubs
http://norml-uk.org/ and http://cannabiscure.co.uk/ukcsc/ 
- All the scienists around the world that are researching and utilising cannabis to its fullest potential  and everyone whose sharing their findings.
- georgia toons for all the toons, laughs and seeds of education

dont ever believe you dont make a difference posting, commenting and signing online petitions. you can, you are and you do! 
make some noise and break the taboo!
____________________________________________________________
hope this is what you were looking for. i gave it my best shot. one love.

^^ It is exactly what I was hoping for and I thank Grant! 
My everyday Hero. 
ONE LOVE  ♥☮☯... 

Georgia <><

I want to celebrate an 'EVERYDAY HERO!'

 If you ask "who is a hero?"-  For example in the Cannabis movement - you might hear the same names over and over again. I have come to the realization through this AMAZING - gift the internet that:  Cannabis is not a Canadian/American problem, it is WORLD wide problem!  There are far too many heroes that we do not see and hear about.  People who suffer daily from debilitating disease and pain and use Cannabis to help make life liveable.  Or worse - there are too many, soon forgotten after losing the war and paying the ultimate price - their lives. 

It is these heroes that I hope to bring attention to, pay tribute to and thank! 

I am blessed and thankful for FB, that has introduced me to people from all over the world these past couple of years. I have even found that my former limited knowledge has gone through a rude awakening. We are punishing, hurting, jailing, torturing and even murdering our fellow humans - over a plant.  Shame on us. 
We need to speak up! We who have the power – through access of the internet- the power to write, speak, draw and share as parents, educators, motivators, reporters- everyday people...  need to set an example and end this insanity over a PLANT.  A PLANT that HELPS the sick and suffering and soothes the mind and soul of millions more. 

This awakening came with a recent post(s) I saw. It made me simply - sad. Two posts that appeared right after each other on my FB news feed that left me feeling a moment of shame,  as a fellow Canadian cannabis activist.  

The first post was a photo of Cashy Hyde,  his tiny coffin being put into the ground - we truly lost a huge little hero. My heart aches and I pray that the family is healing and surrounded by all the love possibly mustered.  The second post was by Jodie Emery.          It said, if you’d like to send Marc money you can find the instructions at… 
I do not believe Marc should be in jail.  It was a sad day as a Canadian when they sent him to a US prison. And WE let it happen.

We see Marc Emery in jail - who appears to be a rock star, preforming shows, learning songs, reading magazines and asking for money to be sent to them.  I cannot help but think to myself; the average person who goes to jail for simple possession will not become a rock star, will not be out in a few years, will not be able to have family visit even just once, for crimes regarding Cannabis - less serious crimes like simple possession... those people I read about all the time and many hardly get any attention -other than from families or friends. For whatever reason the two posts haunted me and it got me thinking. There are many heroes in this battle. I only wish the ones that are truly suffering would get as much attention, if not more than the “Rock Stars."

People lose their jobs, homes, families and go to JAIL for enjoying what others BRAG about. 
                         THAT IS THE REALITY OF CANNABIS prohibition. 
Get busted for cannabis and you won't be in jail learning how to play in a rock band -chances are you will be in jail and become a new 'bum buddy' for someone.  When and IF you get out of jail you will have to start all over again. Sadly, THOSE are the facts for our every day heroes.  That is closer to reality than coming out a celebrity.

Keep in mind this punishment is all for something millions do and admit to daily!  Just like PRESIDENT OBAMA - self admitted Cannabis consumer.  Clearly it did not ruin his future. Hmmm? THINK ABOUT IT!  It is not fair and I for one will not 'celebrate' it any longer knowing how many are truly suffering. The law needs to change.

Celebrate ALL those who help - the famous together with the every day person who is posting and sharing - every bit helps. Post the truth of what happens to every day people.  If not, it will never change. 
There are criminals in the cannabis industry - just like every other industry and many are forced to be criminals. Patients should NEVER be made to feel like a criminal for something that provides a quality of life.

Do not forget the everyday hero - who is not getting fame or fortune but still puts it out there every chance they get in order to make a difference.  To those of you out there - I salute you and thank you. 

Starting tomorrow,  (every Monday) I will compile a GUEST blog from someone that I have either contacted- because they inspired me or who has contacted me with something to share. Some do not care if I mention their name while others choose to remain anonymous - mostly because their story is often too painful and they do not want people to know what they have endured. ;-(   
Please support and think carefully the next time you salute YOUR hero. 
Some are from around the world! It is nice to see how and what they think and feel. 

Beautiful songs and yes I agree... Police and firemen & Women  ♡♡♡ True Heroes :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pm3eHZnfjPI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWfAIDVltuQ

As I've said on this journey - I get by with a little help from my friends. AND yes I get HIGH with a little help from my friends. Friends who have shared wisdom, taught us what to look for, showed us the many different options and shared stories and lessons - in hopes that we might be able to avoid some of the harsher lessons.. why? Because they know how much this means to us. It is our life. I can not imagine my son without his medication. WILL NOT
I have met some really special people, some I see just in passing others I've worked up a bit of a friendship with through e mail. I have asked a few to share with me and in hope that I might share with you. Perhaps if we all could get past the negative stigma and meet some of the real people  you will understand why this issue is so important to so many people.
 
                                                                My Friend Patti:my story
 I've been smoking Cannabis for 35+ years. Looking back, it seems that I used it for different reasons depending on my situation at the time.
 I was born with Spina Bifida ( "split spine")
 Spina bifida is a neural tube birth defect (NTD) which occurs within the first four weeks of pregnancy. The spinal column fails to develop properly resulting in varying degrees of permanent damage to the spinal cord and nervous system. Nerve damage is permanent. This results in varying degrees of paralysis of the lower limbs.
 Because of Spina Bifida I developed Scoliosis and in my 30's Tethered Spinal Cord Syndrome
Myelomeningocele/Lipomyelomeningocele
 Tethered spinal cord syndrome is a neurological disorder caused by tissue attachments that limit the movement of the spinal cord within the spinal column. These attachments cause an abnormal stretching of the spinal cord
 I first tried Cannabis in my early teens. I liked it right away, and became a weekend thing. As soon as I was able to find it on my own, I was a daily smoker. Before during and after school.
 The world does not treat you right when you look different, so for me cannabis helped me thru my teens feel better about who I was, no matter what people said or did to me. I didn't realize it at the time, but I had panic attacks at and about being at school.
 I continued to smoke Cannabis thru my 20's daily as it just made me feel better and helped me get through my work day as well as home life. I always looked forward to every joint I smoked.
 When I was 32 my mom died unexpectedly. I was very close to her and at the time I didn't think I could survive thru the grief. Suffering from what I think was p.t.s.d with nightmares never ending tears, and depression......Cannabis was there for me. Helped me do what I had to do to survive.
 Life went on .... at 44 broke my hip in 4 pieces. Again cannabis was there for me through the recovery. I was given Oxy's but didn't take them. Recovery took over a year.
 From then on because of the "tethered" spinal cord, and my repaired hip I am now am in chronic pain. I was told by the doctor that my walking would get more limited and pain would get worse.
 So for now.....the Cannabis help dull the pain, and helps me function and get through my days. Special mention to: Thanking Blaine and MedCannAccess for making it possible to get good meds.

*** The toon above I drew for Patti and it was a pleasure to know I've made her smile. I thank her for sharing her e mail and photos and positive words. She has inspired me to work harder at what I do.