420 Use and Health

[nicodude]

The previous heavy drinking would have definitely made you more susceptible to developing a dependence to benzodiazepine drugs, and alot faster than usual.

Most doctors have little knowledge of the drugs they prescribe. 2mg of alprazolam a day is more than enough to cause withdrawal symptoms. It is possible to get withdrawal symptoms from as little as .25mg a day if you take it long enough, or have a predisposition to it from other benzos or previous alcohol dependence.

When you start to feel that hopeless OMG im gonna die feeling, just think about how much worse it could be, what it would be like if you where on 4-6mg or more a day, where quitting cold turkey could induce fatal seizures.

I know its very painful but you can definitely do it, if you have the access to klonopin than switch over and taper down with that, it will be alot easier, and allow you to taper faster.

I understand you want to be free of the cannabis, I know the feeling, I randomly quit marijuana myself for around a year, just because I was sick of constantly wanting to smoke and be high, I was able to start again once I learned how to control myself, and use it as a medicine and not a drug. You would be better off to continue using cannabis until you completely kick the alprazolam. It is much safer for your body/mental health to be using cannabis instead. If your concerned about the smell, get a vaporizer as badaxe suggested. I have one and it is the most effective way to use cannabis, it is safer on the lungs/body and is no smoke smell at all.

But if that is not an option for you, I understand, just get off the benzos as quickly as you can, you do not want to become addicted to them, benzodiazepine addiction, especially to short acting ones like alprazolam, is worse than being addicted to heroin, in terms of withdrawals and damage done to the body. Taking any benzo daily for a long enough period will kill you eventually.

If you want, I can help you set up a taper plan using either clonazepam, alprazolam or even diazepam (valium). Diazepam also has a long half life, and is a good "taper" benzo, but I would personally recommend the clonazepam.

If your looking for a more 'supportive' community where more people can relate to what your going through, check out bluelight.ru there are many helpfull/knowledgeable people there that can give you some great advice, just make sure you post in the right section if you do visit.

[Crow]

sgreger, have you considered medibles (cannabis food & drink)?

If you'd like, I can send you a recipe book that I picked up the other day.

Here's a sample recipe from the book:

Sweet and Spicy Shrimp

- 3/4 cup mango juice
- 1/3 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
- 1/4 cup sweet Marsala wine
- 1/4 packed cup light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 to 1½ teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
- 3 pounds shrimp de-veined
- Vegetable oil
- Kosher salt
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
- 1/4 cup cannabis oil

In a medium bowl, whisk together the mango juice, soy sauce, wine, sugar, chili powder, and red pepper flakes until the sugar is dissolved. Put the shrimp in a 1-gallon size, resealable plastic bag. Add the liquid to the bag and seal; removing as much air as possible from the bag.

Marinate for 1 hour.

Remove the shrimp from the marinade. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Heat a wok or saute pan to high heat, add vegetable oil, and saute the shrimp until they are done, about 3 minutes on each side.

Meanwhile, put the marinade into a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat to a low boil and cook until thick, about 5 minutes.

Add cannabis oil to the sauce, toss the shrimp in the sauce, and serve over white rice.

If you're too lazy to cook, you could always visit your local dispensaries for medibles. They should have everything from cookies to pizza. Some places also carry beverages (e.g. medicated sodas).

They should also have prepared cannabis oils, butters, and sauces for you to use with your recipes.

Something to consider... I would avoid the pharmaceutical drugs altogether, and take an all-natural approach to getting over your withdrawals and managing your anxiety.

[Crow]

United States

Members of Congress Introduce Multiple Medical Marijuana Reform Bills

A coalition of United States House lawmakers — led by NORML 2011 national conference keynote speaker Jared Polis (D-CO) — today introduced a trio of measures in Congress to reform federal marijuana laws. The measures are:

The Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act;
The Small Business Banking Improvement Act of 2011; and
The Small Business Tax Equity Act of 2011.

Representative Polis has issued the following press release outlining the significance and the intentions of these measures.

Bipartisan Coalition Urges Sensible Drug Policy

Introducing Three Bills to Protect Access to Medical Marijuana

Washington, May 25 – In a sign of growing bipartisan Congressional support for reforming our nation’s drug laws, a coalition of Republicans and Democrats today offered three bills that would ensure fair treatment of cannabis businesses under tax and banking law, and change existing law to reflect the medical efficacy of marijuana. The bills were authored by Congressman Pete Stark (D-CA), Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA), and Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO).

Stark’s bill – the Small Business Tax Equity Act – would allow medical marijuana dispensaries to take the full range of business expense deductions on their federal tax returns, just like every other legal business is permitted to do under the law. It is co-sponsored by Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) and Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX), as well as Frank and Polis.

“Our tax code undercuts legal medical marijuana dispensaries by preventing them from taking all the deductions allowed for other small businesses,” Stark stated. “While unfair to these small business owners, the tax code also punishes the patients who rely on them for safe and reliable access to medical marijuana prescribed by a doctor. The Small Business Tax Equity Act would correct these shortcomings.”

The States’ Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act, authored by Frank and co-sponsored by Stark, Polis and Rohrabacher, would make individuals and entities immune to federal prosecution when acting in compliance with state medical marijuana laws. It would also direct the administration to initiate the process of rescheduling marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act so that it is placed in a schedule other than Schedules I or II.

“The time has come for the federal government to stop preempting states’ medical marijuana laws,” Frank said. “For the federal government to come in and supersede state law is a real mistake for those in pain for whom nothing else seems to work. This bill would block the federal prosecution of those patients who reside in those states that allow medical marijuana.”

Polis’ Small Business Banking Improvement Act, which is cosponsored by Stark, Frank and Paul, would ensure that medical marijuana businesses that are state-certified have full access to banking services by amending the Bank Secrecy Act.

“When a small business, such as a medical marijuana dispensary, can’t access basic banking services they either have to become cash-only—and become targets of crime—or they’ll end up out-of-business,” said Polis. “In states that have legalized medical marijuana, and for businesses that have been state-approved, it is simply wrong for the federal government to intrude and threaten banks that are involved in legal transactions.”

Stark and Polis welcomed Congressman Paul’s support for their bills.

“It is time to get the federal government out of state criminal matters, so states can determine sensible drug policy for themselves,” added Paul. “It is quite obvious the federal war on drugs is a disaster. Respect for states’ rights means that different policies can be tried in different states and we can see which are the most successful. This legislation is a step in the right direction as it removes a major federal road block impeding businesses that states have determined should be allowed within their borders.”

NORML and many of our allied organizations have been working closely with the staff of Reps. Frank, Polis, and others on these measures, and we commend these representatives for courageously standing up for the rights of patients and their providers. NORML will have more information about these bills, and how you can contact your members of Congress in support of these efforts, imminently in our ‘Take Action Center.‘

[Crow]

Arizona (US)

Arizona Gov. Brewer seeks federal shutdown of state medical marijuana program

Funny how when it’s immigration, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer claims states rights and opposes federal interference, but when it’s the state voting for medical marijuana, she invites federal interference.

[Crow]

Poll: Eighty Five Percent Of Grandparents Favor Marijuana Legalization

85% of Grandparent Respondents Favor Marijuana Legalization, According to GRAND Magazine Reader Poll
Online Magazine for Grandparents Releases Response Results to Op-Ed Question Posted in its March/April Issue

St. Petersburg, FL. (PRWEB) May 26, 2011

Attitudes about the criminalization of marijuana may be changing among the elders of our society, as the more than 70 million of the baby boomer generation, one to widely experiment with recreational drug use, have and will become grandparents.

GRAND Magazine, the online magazine for today’s grandparents, released today results from their poll question which appeared in the March/April issue. It asked readers if it was time to legalize marijuana. 85% responded that they agreed it was.

The reader respondents who are pot proponents argued in their responses that it is hypocritical to outlaw pot when cigarettes, alcohol and fat-laden foods are legal but account for so many health issues among our population. They point out that marijuana is used to treat medical symptoms such as pain and nausea, and that in some states it is legal for shops to dispense medical marijuana. The billions that are spent in the U.S. on policing and courts related to this issue could be spent on better schools or infrastructure.

Grandparents who are part of the baby boomer generation [those born from 1946 to 1964] (1) have a unique perspective on marijuana, having come of age during a time when pot use became mainstream. 21st century grandparents are a group with a significant influence on the country’s youth as they are the primary caregivers for more than 6 million children (2). In fact, approximately 75 percent of all non-parental care of children is provided by a grandparent (3), representing a large shift in family dynamics. Now it seems that as they guide and influence new generations, they view marijuana use increasingly as a harmless indulgence rather than a gateway to a lifetime of drug abuse.

Full Story

Among the reader response comments were:

“I am a grandparent strongly in favor of decriminalization. I would much rather my grandkids smoke pot than use cigarettes or alcohol. I expect I will need cannabis for my health soon and don’t want (it) to be illegal. The whole charade needs to stop; we are blowing far too much money on the drug war and have no positive results to show for it. The whole approach is counterproductive,” said D.W., Guysville, OH.

[Crow]

Netherlands

High times in Amsterdam? Not so fast

AMSTERDAM — The Dutch government on Friday said it would start banning tourists from buying cannabis from "coffee shops" and impose restrictions on Dutch customers by the end of the year.

The Netherlands is well known for having one of Europe's most liberal soft drug policies that has made its cannabis shops a popular tourist attraction, particularly in Amsterdam.

Backed by the far-right party of anti-immigrant politician Geert Wilders, the coalition government that came into power last year announced plans to curb drug tourism as part of a nationwide program to promote health and fight crime.

"In order to tackle the nuisance and criminality associated with coffee shops and drug trafficking, the open-door policy of coffee shops will end," the Dutch health and justice ministers wrote in a letter to the country's parliament on Friday.

Under the new rules, only Dutch residents will be able to sign up as members of cannabis shops.

Dutch customers will have to sign up for at least a year's membership and each shop would be expected to have only up to 1,500 members, a justice ministry spokesman said.

The policy will roll out in the southern provinces of Limburg, Noord Brabant and Zeeland by the end of the year and the rest of the country next year, the spokesman said.

Amsterdam, home to about 220 coffee shops, is already in the process of closing some in its red light district. Some officials have resisted the measures, saying they will push the soft drug trade underground.

Some Dutch border towns including Maastricht and Terneuzen have already restricted the sale of marijuana to foreigners.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43197896...nation_travel/

[Crow]

United States

America’s One Million Legalized Marijuana Users

At Least 1 – 1.5 Million Americans are Legal Medical Marijuana Patients
Market for these patients in sixteen states and D.C. estimated at between $2 – $6 billion annually

MAY 31, 2011 - We don’t know his or her name, but somewhere in one of sixteen states and the District of Columbia is America’s 1,000,000th legal medical marijuana patient. We estimate the United States reached the million-patients mark sometime between the beginning of the year to when Arizona began issuing patient registry identification cards online in April 2011.


Between one to one-and-a-half million people are legally authorized by their state to use marijuana in the United States, according to data compiled by NORML from state medical marijuana registries and patient estimates. Assuming usage of one-half to one gram of cannabis medicine per day per patient and an average retail price of $320 per ounce, these legal consumers represent a $2.3 to $6.2 billion dollar market annually.


Based on state medical marijuana laws, the amounts of cannabis these legal marijuana users are entitled to possess means there is between 566 – 803 thousand pounds of legal usable cannabis allowed under state law in America. These patients are allowed to cultivate between 17 – 24 million legal cannabis plants. There may possibly be more, as California and New Mexico “limits” may be exceeded with doctor’s permission and some California counties explicitly allow greater amounts, so there may be as much as 1 million pounds of state-legal cannabis allowed under state law in America.


Yet after fifteen years, one million patients, and a million pounds of legal marijuana, few if any of the dire predictions by opponents of medical marijuana have come to fruition. Medical marijuana states like Oregon are experiencing their lowest-ever rates of workplace fatalities, injuries, and accidents. States like Colorado are experiencing their lowest rates in three decades of fatal crashes per million miles driven. In medical marijuana states for which we have data (through Michigan in 2008), use by minor teenagers is down in all but Maine and down by at least 10% in states with the greatest proportion of their population using medical cannabis.

Full Story

[nicodude]

About to vape up some purple skywalker! Nice looking dank too.

Shown below from left to right is purple skywalker, jack herer, master assassin and a medicated chocolate fluffernutter (which is a fantastic edible, I love these!)

Here is a close up I took of a small yoda OG nug inside an ettan op can, you can see the trichs and the purple in the leaves!

Stay fried my friends!





*The above post is meant for entertainment purposes only and is not to be confused as taking part in any illegal activities

[GODOFSNUS]

That Shit Looks INSANE!!!!! Man, I wish I had some of those tasty Nugzz!!!
LOL!!!

[Crow]

Washington (US)


MEDICAL CANNABIS AMONG THE RUINS
[Source: The Seattle Times]

Medical Marijuana Was the Legislative Disaster the Session. It Is Not Clear What Will Happen Next.

MEDICAL marijuana has been the legislative disaster of 2011. The way out is not yet clear. Prosecutors should tread cautiously, mindful not only of the letter of the law but of the public will.

In 1998 the voters of Washington voted 59 percent in favor of Initiative 692, to allow patients with AIDS, cancer and like diseases to use cannabis to ameliorate pain and nausea. The measure was vague; it was not clear how patients were supposed to get marijuana, because it was forbidden under federal law.

Washington has lived with this contradiction more than 12 years. Most of that time was during the Bush administration, which fought for the right to shut down all medical marijuana, won at the Supreme Court, and then did not do it.

Last year, state Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, D-Seattle, began working on a bill to legalize commercial growers and dispensaries, bringing the entire medical-cannabis network into the open. She talked to all sides, and wrote many drafts. She found a Republican co-sponsor, Sen. Jerome Delvin of Richland.

It was a good bill, and it passed both houses and went to Gov. Chris Gregoire. At that point the Obama administration bared its teeth and Gregoire line-item-vetoed part of the bill before signing the rest into law.

Kohl-Welles' carefully constructed plan was in ruins. To save some of it, she filed a new, less-sweeping bill. Last week it was about to be approved by a Senate committee when one previous supporter changed his vote: Sen. Mike Hewitt, R-Walla Walla. And that killed it.

Now the ruins. The old law, which remains in effect until July 22, allows a dispenser to serve only one patient. Dispensers have said they were serving one patient at a time, the new patient replacing the old one. But a non-vetoed part of the new law will not allow this. It requires any new patient to wait 15 days.

"That really changes the law," says Dan Satterberg, the King County prosecutor.

The new law will allow "collective gardens" in which 10 or fewer patients grow for their own use. But commercial dispensaries, the Republican prosecutor says, "do not have an argument."

What to do with all the dispensaries that now exist?

"I don't know yet," Satterberg says.

"The question is, prosecutorial discretion," say Pete Holmes, Seattle's Democratic city attorney.

The people of Washington, and particularly the liberal voters of King County, do not want dispensers of medicine prosecuted for felony distribution.

The people wanted medical cannabis legal. So did the Legislature. So did the governor, she said.

Prosecutorial discretion should be the order of the day, while political minds think of a way out.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...1cannabis.html

[sgreger1]

Are you kidding me man? But you can continue to take chemicals? Why, for the sole fact that is doesn't smell? Or the legality issue?

I smoked trees every day of my life. My son is 21. I never smoked around him, and when he reached the age he could understand, I sat down, had the drug talk with him, and explained about pot, explained that I smoked it, showed it to him, and explained that I feel there is nothing wrong with it, but I would prefer he decide what he wants out of life before smoking, because at least with me, it can make you a bit lazy and not persue your dreams. He understood, and to this day has not smoked, but has nothing against it.

Don't let having a child stop you from using the cure this planet intended pot to be, and switch over to chemicals, because of the brainwashing and fear mongering over pot, and the pushing of chemicals. You just saw for yourself that chemicals suck.

I don't understand why having a child would stop someone from using the medicine they need, just because of its image, or that its "illegal". You know first hand that there is nothing wrong with pot, so why does having a 2 yr old change that?

Have you seen Run From The Cure? If that is true, then pot (or its oils) are the cure for cancer, and you are saying you can not take the cure for cancer cause you have a child.

Man, get a vaporizer if you are worried about the smell. I have a Da Buddha, and there is little to no smell whatsoever when vaping. I stopped smoking in Feb and vape full time now, and its awesome.

Sorry if I sound worked up over this. I just don't get the "I havea child so I can't smoke" theory. Do you ever have a drink? SHouldn't becuase you have a child.

Nah, take your medicine, you will be a much better person for it. As as for the child, as long as you do your job as a parent (not questioning your parenting sakills in anyway), then your child will come out just fine, and better for it.

Good Luck. Hope you snap out of that brainwashing they just put you under. You were free of it, then you stopped and took chemicals. Now, come on back to us, where you should be, using what this planet intended us to use for our aches, pains, stress, and piece of mind.

Those that laugh at that statement and call me a stoner while they reach for their next drink just will never understand, and thats a real shame. But I don't let it bring me down. Vape on. peace.

I hear your brother and I have no quarrel with your statement, however the answer is much deeper and personal than I care to make on the internet so i'll give you the short version. I could continue using it, or using medibles, but frankly the MJ was only exacerbating the panic attacks. When I used to smoke it 6 years ago this same panic disorder started, I stopped for 6 years and now started again medicinally and the panic issue came back like clockwork, therefore I am cutting it out completely because I feel it contributes to my panic issue, plus, like I said it was a personal choice where I dont' want to be under the inflince of anything, mainly because my sweet wife has always dreamed that I be clean and I share a similar vision. I have nothing against smoking but I have a past riddled with substance abuse and frankly I want to be completely sober just because that is what I feel is right at this time in my life. I have some challenges ahead of me and I need to conquer them with a clear mind, and personally MJ does not provide me with clarity, only with temporary relaxation which is nice but I need to deal with my problems from the inside out and clear up some damage from my past first.


For anyone reading this: Never trust your doctor, and do not ever take xanax. I have successfully weened my dose almost in half, but it is a hard battle and I am on a strict reduction schedule and going through prolonged withdrawals. On the schedule I am currently on I will be free and clear of this xanax bullshit by the end of the month, because if I reduce it too quickly it makes me feel like i'm going to die, so I have to follow the schedule. MJ doesn't help my anxiety any more and no substance will, because my anxiety stems from choices i've made in the past and I need to deal with all of that before I can expect to feel better. I've done some pretty bad things in the past and seen some pretty ****ed up shit, and now having converted to being a good family going individual I have a lot of fixing to do mentally before things will be right again, and that cannot be accomplished while under the shackles of any substance, be it natural or not.


Again, I have no issue with MJ and believe it is much better than any pharmaceuticals, but they think I might have cancer and I need to be free and clear of everything for a while until I stabilize a little bit. Hearing this news at 25 has forced me to have a change of heart as of late and i've decided that I just want to be completely sober from now on. Once i'm off this xanax than that is it and i'm done, and I am so angry that I even took that first pill. Again, never trust your doctor, they are blatant lackeys for the corporate drug pushers and nothing else.



Also, I almost only vaped, and it certainly does smell, but that doesn't matter. It's not really about my daughter, it's about my growing up and doing what I feel is right in my own path, and I will leave it at that.

For the record I will re-state that smoking MJ I was able to stop cold turkey with no problems, but what the Dr's gave me now requires a prolonged tapering plan even after taking the pills for only a week and it's absolute hell. Remember that the next time you go to your doctor and they try and sell you on this "better living through chemistry" nonsense. It is all a lie, stay as far away from it as you can.


@ Nicodude: I got your PM man adn beent rying to respond by my inbox is full and I can't figure out how to delete messages. A reply will be forthcoming once I figure it out. Thanks for all your help brother.





EDIT: To clear up some confusion here, I am taking xanax because the withdrawals (from xanax) are too bad once I stop taking it if I go cold turkey, and I have to show up to work and shit so can't be laying in the fetal position all day. I have to taper down, can't quit it abruptly because it does very bad things to my body. I will be off it in the coming weeks and then I am never taking another pill again in my entire life, this is the worst hell I have ever gone through. I cannot use MJ because MJ lowers your blood pressure abruptly and drastically and that is conflicting with something else I have going on medically, so when I use it (even considering I only vape a .1 at a time) it has very adverse side effects which I am not willing to go through either. Like all things, it is no magic bullet cure all, there are some circumstances where it is best to remain sober. Again, this is a personal choice because I don't want to be under the influence of anything anymore, not some protest against marijuana.

[Crow]

United States

Feds working with states to resolve medical-marijuana issues

In a monumentally historic move made by the Obama Administration via comments from Attorney General Eric Holder, the Feds announced today that they would begin to work with Governors and State lawmakers in seeking a legal compromise that allows for State-sponsored medical cannabis dispensaries to be legal on the Federal level. Holder's comments were brief and somewhat vague, but certainly hugely beneficial news for patients and safe access. Some confusion whether all dispensaries in a state with legalized medical cannabis would be tolerated, or whether only dispensaries in medical cannabis states with specific licensing / authorization provisions for dispensaries in their laws would be acceptable. Or perhaps even only State Owned facilities would be allowed, or some other such condition, what's clear however is that the the old line of zero tolerance and oppressive mass raids completely flying in the face of public will are set to give way to serious negotiation and debate!

The announcement came while Attorney General Holder was in Rhode Island for a tour of The Institute for the Study & Practice of Nonviolence in Providence Thursday. Rhode Island's Governor had just recently been one of the first to receive a threatening letter warning against implementing a new state dispensary system. This move by The White House is a huge victory for patients, providers, advocates and liberty in general; today may prove to be the day that the Federal "Wall" of Prohibition against safe access has finally cracked, and will fall completely from here on. The idea that The Federal Government has stopped it's blatant rejection of scientific evidence and popular will in trying to curtail safe access means that a real compromise is now on the table. The notion that a Federal acknowledgement of the legitimacy of medical cannabis, and a guarantee of equal rights to all patients across America may be coming into reality soon. All bets are off, all the cards are on the table and how the chips fall is going to be the result of the continued hard work and constant advocacy of patients and patriots alike!

It would seem perfectly reasonable to expect the Obama Administration to hold true to this new promise to patients but it is not a certainty, advocates and patients have every right to be doubtful as the DOJ has broken a previous truce via the Ogden memo in January, 2009 vowing to cease prosecutions of patients and providers following state laws. The medical cannabis community must stay vigilant and active in making sure this latest Federal decry regarding respecting and protecting safe access is heeded with all serious intent. Words are a start but actions defines truth when dealing in societal change, the eyes of the world are now on President Obama and the Federal Government to honestly hold true to their pledge of legitimizing safe access Federally! For all in the movement, today is a battle won towards a greater victory in the war, much to celebrate we have indeed!

PFFL Article:
http://www.patientsforfulllegalizati...fe-access.html

Original source (The Providence Journal):
http://www.projo.com/news/content/HO...0.33ae691.html

[Crow]

sgreger, I wish you the best of luck. I know what it's like to have anxiety and depression, it's no fun. It's pure agony.

I completely understand you wanting to live a clean and sober life, and I truly hope you find relief.

Get well soon!

[Crow]

Vermont (US)

Vermont Governor Signs Dispensary Bill Despite U.S. Attorney Letter

Vermont Governor Pete Shumlin – who MPP helped elect – just signed a bill to make Vermont state law the eighth to explicitly authorize and regulate dispensaries where registered patients can purchase medical marijuana. Today’s signing marks the culmination of a two-year lobbying effort led by MPP and the third bill signing we’ve been a part of just this month. Many thanks to Governor Shumlin and the bill’s sponsors, Senators Jeanette White, Hinda Miller, and Dick Sears for their leadership, and the dedicated patient advocates throughout the state who made the case for adding dispensaries to Vermont’s medical marijuana law.

Today’s signing bucks a trend of sorts. Governors in Rhode Island, Arizona, and Washington have all put the brakes on bills or laws to allow dispensaries, after receiving threatening letters from U.S. Attorneys in their states. Shumlin and legislative leaders received a similar letter on May 4, the day before the House of Representative was slated to vote on the dispensary bill. We were able to address concerns in the House and the administration, and the next day the House passed the measure 99-44 – with a copy of the letter on the desk of each representative.

One reason we were able to convince elected officials to move forward is that, despite the letters, there has still never been a raid on any dispensaries in states that explicity recognize and regulate dispensaries and that are in compliance with those laws. On the other hand, it’s unfortunate, but not uncommon, to see raids of dispensaries in places with more ambiguous laws that don’t specifically address dispensaries. In other words, in practice, it seems U.S. Attorneys are abiding by a narrow interpretation of the policy announced in the 2009 “Ogden memo,” in which these attorneys were instructed not to take action against anyone in “clear and unambiguous compliance” with state law.

Ironically, that means the best way to avoid any federal enforcement action is to do exactly the opposite of what Washington, Arizona, and Rhode Island’s governors are doing, and instead embrace state laws that explicitly authorize and regulate dispensaries, like Gov. Shumlin and Delaware Gov. Jack Markell. Let’s hope today’s signing marks the end of this troubling trend.

http://blog.mpp.org/medical-marijuan...tter/06022011/

[BadAxe]

I hear your brother and I have no quarrel with your statement, however the answer is much deeper and personal than I care to make on the internet so i'll give you the short version. I could continue using it, or using medibles, but frankly the MJ was only exacerbating the panic attacks. When I used to smoke it 6 years ago this same panic disorder started, I stopped for 6 years and now started again medicinally and the panic issue came back like clockwork, therefore I am cutting it out completely because I feel it contributes to my panic issue, plus, like I said it was a personal choice where I dont' want to be under the inflince of anything, mainly because my sweet wife has always dreamed that I be clean and I share a similar vision. I have nothing against smoking but I have a past riddled with substance abuse and frankly I want to be completely sober just because that is what I feel is right at this time in my life. I have some challenges ahead of me and I need to conquer them with a clear mind, and personally MJ does not provide me with clarity, only with temporary relaxation which is nice but I need to deal with my problems from the inside out and clear up some damage from my past first.

Not that you owed me one, but thanks for the explanation. And I did not realize that your MJ use contributed to your panic attacks. Sorry to hear that. I understand and completely respect your choices you are making. I truly hope everything works out for the better for you. Good Luck.

Not sure what vape you were using, but I have a Da Budda and a MFLB. I have used the MFLB within 10 feet of people and they have no idea. I have also had friends walk into my room as I wam vaping and state they can not smell anything. Now I know there IS some odor, but its so minimal, especially compared to smoking.

Anyway, good luck to you. Keep fighting the fgood fight.