Michigan is one of 14 states to straddle that line

by Andy Balaskovitz

Los Angeles County officials seized marijuana at a Palm Springs collective Wednesday as they served search warrants in four counties across Southern California, a sheriff’s captain said.

“We had a long-term investigation of a certain organization,” said Los Angeles County sheriff’s Capt. Ralph Ornelas, who oversees the multiagency Marijuana Dispensary Task Force. “Today was a culmination of this investigation where we served 16 search warrants.”
One of the dispensaries searched was The Holistic Collective of Palm Springs, 2235 N. Palm Canyon Drive.
Authorities arrived about 11 a.m. to serve the warrant, said Lt. Joseph B. Nuñez of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Narcotics Bureau.
“It’s a search warrant for illegally operating dispensaries,” Nuñez said.
By about 2 p.m. Wednesday, authorities had carried at least half a dozen small boxes out of The Holistic Collective.
Ornelas said authorities took marijuana buds and other products made with the substance.
Authorities also searched a dispensary in Riverside, but none of the 11 arrests were made in Riverside County, Ornelas said.
Names of the people arrested were not immediately released.
Ornelas said the dispensaries searched Wednesday in Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego and Riverside counties were all tied to an organization that operated under various names to make a profit.
“Basically, it’s a money-making organization, not what the Compassionate Use Act was meant to be,” he said.
State law allows qualified patients to collectively grow marijuana for medical purposes but does not allow marijuana to be grown or distributed for a profit.
Palm Springs is the first and, so far, only Coachella Valley city to allow medical marijuana dispensaries, but a city ordinance limits the number and location of dispensaries.
The city filed a complaint against The Holistic Collective in April 2009, saying the business had violated the city’s 2006 moratorium on marijuana dispensaries and that it later operated without the proper permits. The collective legally challenged that ordinance.
Three people who identified themselves as volunteers at the collective but did not give their names said authorities took patient files and personal property during Wednesday’s search, and the disruption would likely keep the collective shuttered for days.
A person reached by phone at the collective said an owner or manager was not immediately available for comment.
An attorney who had represented the collective as it challenged Palm Springs’ dispensary ordinance was also unavailable Wednesday afternoon.
The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office assisted with Wednesday’s operation, and Palm Springs police had a unit on standby in the area at the outset of the search, spokespeople for those agencies said.

Police using  military helicopters raided a New Mexico school looking for marijuana growing in a greenhouse last month, but all they found there were a bunch of tomatoes.

To All Of Our Native American Indian Relations, Political Representatives, Religious Teachers, Chiefs, Councilmen and women, Elders, Shamans, Medicine societies, Fortune Seekers and Educators-
According to history books and treaties to date. Somewhere along the line we became Federally recognized. Are all people Federally recognized or just the Native American Indians or when you work for the Federal Government or become Federally incarcerated? We are not recognized as people unless we are Federally recognized. No matter if your from Canada or United States of America
As people of a community or tribe when exactly do we practice our Federal Rights or our recognition? During elections when all politicians need our votes. But when issues arise hands are tied, because we are Federally recognized. By the very same offices we elected in. Is it a privilege or a mockery of our heritage?. Do we as tribes or Councils use and practice our rights as being Federally recognized? I’ve participated in marches every year in the late 60’s and 70’s across the U.S. and Canadian border in Niagara Falls in honor of the Jay Treaty.
I now would like to speak out to all and for all of our Native American People.
This Federal recognition, exactly what is this meaning for Our People, Land and Traditional Cultures?. I myself, feel this Federal is an (excuse the term, expression) a Chinese jump rope. If anyone has ever played Chinese jump rope the competitors can put the rope anywhere they would like and you have to jump it.
There are certain ideas and proposals in regard of Native American Indian issues that are automatically refused because we are Federally recognized. There are tribes that were allowed to build casinos to help the tribes revenue, while others were denied.
To see a future where our elders, council and communities would rather see oil wells and our land have the natural minerals and oils sucked from the Mother Earth. What I’ve witnessed is certain landowners getting prosperity, wealth lining their own pockets only too become failed alcoholics and drug addicts, most not all. How does this help the tribes economy?.
For everyone to be so quick and judgmental about medical marijuana, to refuse the rights to grow and industrialize it to profit our people and the land is unthinkable.
Our ancestors fought centuries to protect the Mother Earth from the natural resources being stripped and drained from the very soil that provides our daily bread and other vitalities to life. To be drilled and have gases and oils on the face of the earth to which there is too much of to where there’s billions of dollars spent on cleanups mishaps and etc.
Understand-Medical Marijuana has been one of the many medicines our ancestors implied for centuries. The difference between the yrs is this, our medicine Shamans only used the medical marijuana when needed. Unlike the people outside our culture are the ones that made it recreational and misused it and misrepresented the medicinal use. Our well respected Shamans did not pass a bag of so called joints or peacepipes filled with Marijuana and stated it’s Friday night here distribute to all Tribal members teenagers elders and whoever wants to party. No! No! No! that is not the way of our people or our medicines, like the land and the people of our medicines are also sacred. This is why, it was not spoken of because only people of the medicine societies were allowed to grow, care for and distribute the medicine to those that were ill and needed the medical marijuana to survive.
Let’s be real – Look what we allowed society to do with Our Sacred Tobacco. Whether it is acknowledged or not this also was worthy for our prayers and healing. But the Federal government overed, capitialized on our tobacco. Down the road theyadded additives, filters etc., which now they are claiming causes cancer.
Today it is a multibillion dollar industry-which spreads to all revenues.
According to the law, we the Federally recognized Native American Indians are the only ones that can legally grow this, or once again shall we again wait for the government to over on the whole idea of us as people can too make a legal and financial contribution too the people of and these countries and communities.
How many times have at one tome or anther a non native told us how lucky we are because we get free education healthcare and land. News flash, not so, we have student loans to pay back, health bills, medicine bills etc.. Sounds Good! But Not So.. There are societies out there that do believe we get everything free.
Our ancestors made use and purpose or our tobacco. I don’t ever remember hearing of our great or grandmothers or fathers dying of cancer, this disease became known in the early 60’s.
There are too many graves of all races because of alcohol, prescription drugs and street drugs. But none that say smoked one too many marijuana cigarettes. If we were to take a walk with a knowledgeable medicine elder through a pharmacy and checked the ingredients I wonder how many of those were plants their elders had used one time or another too heal. Our ancestors planted, cultivated, nourished, picked, preserved and passed down to those worthy and respectful of the medicines.
Instead of rotting our land with oil and gas drills. Let’s cultivate the land the way it was intended for the people of the creator and the mother earth. Let’s heal and cultivate and grow medical marijuana.
I grew up in eastern Canada on a tobacco farm at a very young age watching my elders work. I do have an idea of how the process needs too be from planting, priming, hanging and curing in smoke houses et..
We need to at least took into the whole idea of doing something for ourselves our children, land and the future of our people.
Realize there are doors that will be opened for all. We’re not talking about giving drug dealers business. Were actually putting them out of business.
This type of industry requires educated professional of all different fields from chemists to horticulturists, doctors, lawyers, accountants, receptionists, laborers etc. the list goes on. Job opportunities for the children that we’ve been sending to school to educate them for professional needed jobs.
Before the federals over on the whole industry again! Let’s practice our Federal Rights, Land and Businesses. Our elders please at least seek out education about the medical marijuana issue before totally closing that door.
My mother went back to school after she already obtained her hairdressing license. She continued to further her education, completed college and university graduated to be a teacher to only have gone blind before she could enter a classroom. Before her blindness her and a colleague went to council to ask permission to build a day care. The council than refused. They claimed that mothers were leaving their children too much and this would give them reason to leave them more. The same with the nursing homes, no way, no how was that to be approved. Now look ten yrs or more there’s day cares, nursing homes, radio stations, police, jails etc. on the federally recognized reservations.
The question is are we Federally recognized Native American Indiand gonna let the Mayflower sail by us again, once again enriching themselves with the medicines that were given to us by the creator for healing and medicinal use that will prosper the land, provide jobs and well being of peace of mind. Our land will be useable for centuries to come.
It’s our choice, Federally recognize-RIGHT! My name is Jacqueline L. Nicholas I am a full blood Oneida, Iroquois. My Oneida given name given to me by my greatgrandmother a well respected medicine woman and fortune seeker named me Kuwanhl. Which english meaning is “One Who Speaks the Word”, Wolf Clan.

Lexington, KY – “I’m a farmer, and that’s why I’m here tonight,” said State Senator Joey Pendleton, Hopkinsville-D, speaking at the Lexington Public Library after a showing of a documentary film, The Hemp Revolution, sponsored by the Good Foods Market and Cafe. Pendleton has represented Kentucky’s Third District since 1992, and that district’s economy is largely based on agriculture.
“The time is right for industrial hemp in Kentucky,” he said. On stage with him was Republican gubernatorial candidate Phil Moffet, who has made industrial hemp a major issue in his campaign. Craig Lee, appointed in 2001 to the Industrial Hemp Commission, sat between them.
Pendleton said that, just a few years ago, he would have never thought he would be advocating for the reintroduction of hemp into Kentucky agriculture. Education about hemp, he added, is key. He now sees the potential for a $400 million to $500 million hemp industry in the state.
“I’m for the agriculture end of it, for industry and putting people to work,” he said. “The ethanol plant in Hopkinsville told me that within a week they could be making ethanol from hemp, and we’ve got harvesting equipment in place.”
Hemp, he said, would provide at least twice the amount of ethanol per acre when compared with corn, and it could produce two crops in a year’s cycle. Hemp also has the advantages of growing pesticide-free and leaving a more enriched soil.
Holding up a postcard that had side-by-side images of an industrial hemp fiber crop and a crop of marijuana, Pendleton said, “Anyone who can’t tell the difference between the two doesn’t belong in law enforcement.”
Industrial hemp is grown in tight rows to maximize stalk yield, the part of the plant that is rich in the long bast fibers that line the outside of the stalk and is rich in cellulose in the stalk’s inner hurd. Marijuana or seed crops are grown with more space between them to favor the flourishing of leaves and flowers. Different strains of the same plant, cannabis sativa l., have varying amounts of THC, the psychoactive component. Industrial hemp, whether grown for industry or seed stock, has less than one percent THC, making it a non-drug crop. Marijuana strains of the plant can range from five to 20 percent THC content.
Pendleton has pre-filed a bill containing a plan for the reintroduction of hemp into Kentucky agriculture, should the federal government end its prohibition of industrial hemp cultivation.
“It’s actually the same bill that we had last year,” he said. That bill was titled “An Act Relating to Industrial Hemp,” and it never made it to the floor.
“I think there’s a lot of support there (for industrial hemp) from other members of the Senate,” said Pendleton. “I think if they ever had the opportunity to have a committee hearing and get it to the floor to vote, I think it’d be something we could pass in the Senate.”
State Senator Jimmy Higdon was in the audience that night at the library.
“Kentucky farmers are suffering and looking for alternative crops to tobacco,” Higdon said. “We understand it (hemp) has great potential, but it really needs to be researched.”
He would like to see the University of Kentucky and Kentucky State University conduct research on industrial hemp. He would also like to see the Industrial Hemp Commission, which was formed in 2001, funded and activated.
According to Pendleton, many law enforcement officials in the state, particularly in Western Kentucky, see the potential of industrial hemp farming and would be willing to deal with any enforcement issues. He said he has toured farming communities, speaking about industrial hemp, and was accompanied by a Pennyrile Narcotics Task Force officer, who also voiced support for industrial hemp. In eastern Kentucky, Pendleton said, the view is much dimmer on industrial hemp, and he thinks that’s because hemp may be seen as competition in the energy sector.
Pendleton also has the support of his constituency, which includes many farmers.
“All of them I’ve talked to are very much interested in it (industrial hemp),” said Pendleton. He cited Phillip Garnett, of the 20,000-acre Garnett Farms, the largest farming operation in the region, as having a keen interest in hemp.
Moffet, like Pendleton, never foresaw himself as an advocate for hemp.
“When I got into this race, I had no interest in advocating hemp,” he said. “I got asked about it and started doing research.”
He now sees it as a leadership issue for the governor’s office. “There are 31 countries that have legalized hemp,” he said. “We need to start the fight at the state level and start pushing back (against federal prohibition).”
Outside the library theater, a display table showed an array of products made with hemp: diesel biofuel, particle board, roof shingles, automobile parts, a plastic Frisbee, animal and fish feed, horse bedding, tennis shoes, hats, clothing, cosmetics, shampoo and conditioner, cereal, milk, ice cream, energy bars and nutritional oil.
“This piece right here is a $250,000 piece,” said Lee, holding a molded piece of hemp composite that represented a tremendous investment in research and development. He explained that it was an armrest designed to fit the door of a Chevrolet Luma, part of a project with hemp fibers in Canada in the late 1990s. This harkens back to Henry Ford using hemp and soy in automobiles. He had a vision for the wedding of agriculture and industry. The petrochemical industry came to displace that vision. Now concerns about peak oil, national security in regard to dependence on foreign oil, and the environmental impact of fossil fuels have made plant-based fibers, oils and cellulose more attractive. British car-maker Lotus has reinvigorated Ford’s vision with the Eco Elise, a sports car that uses hemp fiber in body panels, interior door panels and seats.
Kentucky-grown hemp once provided rope and sailcloth for ships and canvas for covered wagons. It was hemp paper upon which the first drafts of the Declaration of Independence were written. Pendleton’s bill will seek to return industrial hemp to Kentucky agriculture in the hope of reinvigorating farms, boosting the state’s economy and adding tax revenues to a strapped state government.

Russ Jones, who has spent more than 30 years fighting the War On Drugs, has something to say about his life’s work: it is a complete failure that should be ended.

Peanut, Almond, Cashew, and Macadamia nut butters, are familiar to most Americans. It is safe to say that Peanut butter is the most favored of these, used in traditional ways handed down by generations of caring parents, who were concerned about their children having good protein in their diet. The problem is that some proteins are potential allergens, which include soy, and dairy, as well as peanut proteins. Peanuts may also carry unacceptable amount of a potent carcinogen found on other field crops as well. They are known as Aflatoxins, and are derived from the presence of mold before they are harvested.

The good news is that hemp butter is made from hemp seeds, and no hemp seed allergies have ever been reported. Although most nut butter users have not heard of Hemp Butter, times are changing, and hemp butter is now available in the marketplace. Not the least important fact about hemp butter is that it is a dark green color due to the rich content of chlorophyll,which is a powerful antioxidant.
However, what makes hemp butter so important is its unusual proteins. They are edestins, and are globular in structure. Biologically active proteins in our bodies are mainly globulins, and include such things as hormones, hemoglobin, immunoglobulins (antibodies), and enzymes. Although the human body can make globular proteins out of any protein, it is much easier to make globulins out of globular starting material.
So then, hemp butter is rich in the globular proteins that are precursors to some of the most vital chemicals in the body:
a)hormones, which regulate body processes
b)hemoglobin, which transports oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nitric oxide
c)enzymes, which catalyze and control biochemical reactions
d)antibodies, which fend off bacterial invasion, many pathogens, as well as toxins or antigens as they enter the body
The total protein content of hemp seed is about 65% edestins. Even more remarkable, the other protein found in hemp seeds is albumin, which is highly digestible because it too has a globular structure. It is a major free radical scavenger, and the industry standard for protein quality evaluation. As the hemp seeds are ground adding hemp oil to create a smooth butter-like spread, there is nothing lost in the process. There is more good news.
Hemp protein contains all twenty-one known amino acids, including thenine essential ones adult bodies cannot produce. Proteins are considered complete when they contain all the essential amino

Why would it be “hard to legalize marijuana with a Mormon majority population” (SSDP petitions to legalize marijuana, Sept. 30)?

Another reason to stop caging responsible adults for using cannabis that doesn’t get mentioned is because it is Biblically correct since Christ God Our Father indicates he created all the seed bearing plants saying they are all good, on literally the first page, see Genesis 1:11-12 and 29-30. The only Biblical restriction placed on cannabis is that it be accepted with thankfulness, see 1 Timothy 4:1-5. Caging or punishing responsible adults for using what God says is good is immoral and just plain wrong.

Stan White,

MADISON: Sunny skies and pleasant fall-like temperatures combined with low winds to bring thousands of marchers to the annual Harvest Fest parade Sunday.
Smoke billowed over blocks of marchers making the annual trek from Library Mall at one end of State St. to the Wisconsin State Capitol on the other. Longtime Harvest Fest organizer Ben Masel estimated that around 3200 people paraded this year. Not only were crowd numbers up, but attendees seemed very enthusiastic about flexing the activist muscles gained in the fight for medical cannabis in Wisconsin.
Before heading to the Capitol, attendees warmed up with live music from Venice Gashouse Trolley and Nama Rupa. Rocker-T, returning to Harvest Fest from the West Coast, joined Nama Rupa onstage part way through their set. Speakers included Ben Masel, Jim Miller, Jacki Rickert and Gary Storck, Charmie Gholson of the Michigan-based Midwest Cultivator, SAFER’s Mason Tvert, T. A. Sedlak and State Supreme Court candidate Joel Winnig. Sedlak reprised his Saturday speech about having to leave Wisconsin because of a recent cannabis bust and the need to change the law so people do not have to live in fear as well as the brain drain cannabis prohibition is triggering.
March organizers made certain that the 2010 parade pace was a leisurely one. Medical users in wheelchairs and other medical cannabis patients marched at the beginning. Farther back, the scene was festive as marchers, chanted slogans, drummed and toked their way towards the Capitol, enjoying the fall weather and sun.
The Milwaukee reggae band Recalcitrant was in place playing as the march walked and rolled the last few blocks to the Capitol. In the first speaker break, Jim Miller led off, exhorting attendees to stay active, particularly for the Tuesday Oct 5 protest at a Madison fundraiser for State Sen. Julie Lassa. The Stevens Point Democrat, who is attempting to move up to the congressional seat being vacated by Rep. David Obey, joined Senate Health committee Republicans in killing state medical marijuana legislation earlier this year. Miller literally had the crowd roaring as he revved them up for action.
Miller was followed by fellow Medical Marijuana Commando Squad colleagues Jacki Rickert and Gary Storck. Both talked of their long personal battles with both health problems and to obtain legal access to medical cannabis. They noted how they recently traveled to Oregon to take advantage of the program’s availability to out of state patients. Storck noted that he had just uploaded a video he made of Rickert registering for the Oregon medical cannabis program on YouTube. Attendees cheered loudly as he urged they continue to keep up the pressure on marijuana prohibition.
Storck also noted how Sunday – Oct. 3 – was the 38th anniversary of the date he smoked cannabis before a glaucoma checkup, discovering that it lowered his eye pressure to normal levels. He also recalled Rickert’s battle for legal medicine and how it will be 20 years Dec. 20, 2010 since federal authorities approved her for legal federal marijuana supplies, a contract they broke. He also urged support for the MMJ advisory referendums on Dane County and River Falls city ballots Nov. 2.
UW alumni and current NYC resident Dan Goldman, the former Director of Outreach and Alumni for Students for Sensible Drug Policy, added some more fire after the MMJ Commando Squad, talking about how marijuana prohibition is in NYC a war on young minority men and how it had to change, inciting the crowd to roar in approval.
After more music, the day was closed out with speaking from Charmie Gholson, Mason Tvert, Joel Winnig and Ben Masel. By then most of the 3200 paraders had drifted off into the fading afternoon sun.
Ben Plunkett, who organized a voter registration effort for Harvest Fest reported over 200 new voters were registered with an additional 100 forms passed out over the weekend.
Clearly, Harvest Fest 40 can be proud of a great event and the many volunteers from those who made it happen, individuals, bands, sponsors, etc. are to be both thanked and commended for a very memorable 40th Annual Great Midwest Marijuana Harvest Festival!

When consumed, kanna decreases anxiety, suppresses the appetite, causes euphoria and enhances the effects of other psychoactive herbs.