Hey, DEA, look at the child that you killed.

[RainDog]

Her name was Lydia Schaeffer.

She died on Mother's Day, most likely from a seizure. Her father found her, dead, in her bed.

You, Michele Leonhart, are responsible for her death.

I am SICK of this shit in this nation. This situation needs to change. NOW. Not until another election cycle. How many more people will die because of political posturing in the U.S.?

Haven't any of you any shame? Any compassion? Why should any parent face the death of a child because the govt. is too embarrassed to admit is has lied to us all for 80 years?

We know you've been lying. Now stop.

In February, Wisc. okayed CBD-only marijuana for children with epilepsy. This was in response to Dr. Sanjay Gupta, FINALLY, as someone in a position to do so, who told the nation and the world that the DEA has lied to all of us about cannabis for the entire 50 years of the Controlled Substances Act, and Gupta demonstrated the medical benefit of cannabis for children with Dravet's syndrome epilepsy by the stories of children.

Parents swarmed hot lines to find out information. People picked up and moved their families to Colorado, rather than wait for their sleazy-ass politicians in their states to pass a law that would allow parents to choose the best medication for their children.

I say, now, to any parent with a child dealing with this - Don't wait for the politicians. Don't wait for the smarmy "think tank" jerks to recognize that children do not deserve to suffer just so they can have a job. Move your child. Start an online petition. Get your children out from under the control of a govt. that does not give a SHIT about them if it means they don't get to keep their drug war gravy train intact. Yes. I am livid.

And you should be too.

Lydia's parents thought the American government could be reasonable and responsible - they didn't understand how deeply the reefer madness has saturated this society - among those who get paid to propagate it.

Since the 1930s, Anslinger's FDN engaged in a propaganda campaign aligned with Treasure Dept. Sec. Andrew Mellon (his uncle) to make sure Harry A. had a cushy job after federal prohibition ended. Anslinger was an outright racist son of a bitch. Scum of the earth. A lying piece of scum. And so is everyone else who repeats the lies of the DEA now. To do so, you participate in 80 years of racist attacks.

Our govt. suppressed evidence that cannabis was useful to people with epileptic seizure disorders. I wonder how many people with epilepsy died over the eighty years that the prohibitionists have lied to the American people?

When the House voted to make "marihuana" illegal in everything but name in 1937, the jackasses in the House didn't even know what they were voting for - they didn't know they were voting to make hemp illegal, nor did they know they were making cannabis medicine illegal. Some did. But one upstanding legislator's famous remark was "What is this ah'm voting fowa?" Jackasses.

The doctor who served to represent the American Medical Asso. was ignored when he noted the doctors of this nation did not want Congress to prohibit a useful part of the pharmacopeia for doctors.

Congress wouldn't listen to them - they had the fat cat asssholes like Melon to appease - whose poor widdle nephew needed a job and wanted to carry a gun and beat up on black people. It's the American way - right, Congress? Isn't that what you've ALL done for this entire 80 years of prohibition? Why yes, yes it is.

Why do people who work for the DEA get away with murder and with lying to the American people for this long? Why, because our government ALLOWS THEM TO DO THIS.

It's TIME TO STOP THE DEA before they can kill any more children in this nation. We would have no problem stopping someone in a shopping mall aiming to harm children. Why should the DEA get a pass as it continues to work to kill children from its offices in D.C.?

It's REPULSIVE and it needs to stop now.

It needs to stop now - but our government officials are too scared to do the right thing. Or if they're not too scared, they're too cynical. Or they're too indebted to the campaign contributors and donors. Who will speak for the children of this nation? NOT CONGRESS. Who will stand for the ill and the disabled in this nation, rather than the defense contractors and bureaucrats who make their living by harming the American people?

http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_25974591/despite-law-wisconsin-patients-still-waiting-marijuana-based

Wisconsin epilepsy patients are still waiting for doctors to give them a marijuana-based anti-seizure drug, two months after Republican Gov. Scott Walker signed a bill allowing the drug's use.

Federal law prohibits the use or possession of cannabidiol, an extract derived from marijuana that's also known as CBD. Parents of children suffering from seizures believe the drug could help alleviate their suffering. Federal officials haven't approved the drug's use, but eight states including Wisconsin have passed legislation allowing doctors to dispense the drugs under certain conditions since January, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The U.S. Department of Justice has said it won't challenge the laws if they're followed.

"This law has been named after my daughter but it's not going to go anywhere," said Lydia's mother, Sally Schaeffer. "We're locked up. (The clinical trial requirement) puts everybody between this rock and a hard place."

Doctors are afraid to go against the DEA. Scott Walker doesn't give a shit about the Wisconsin people - as he has demonstrated over and over again. Think tanky twits are repeating their stanky old lies in newspapers all over this nation. Who will stand up to these bullies?

If our govt. knows a life-saving substance exists, but knows it is being withheld from people for political reasons, shouldn't someone in our govt. stand up and stop this? Isn't this contributing to the death of someone by a refusal to assist in a way that could prevent such deaths?

Who will have the courage to stop this abuse of power?

It's not like the stanky liars are ever going to stop their lies. It's time to take away their mandate to do so.

[Mnemosyne]

1. Excellent rant and questions, RainDog! Free the Weed, NOW. nt

[RainDog]

8. My son with autism might benefit from legal cannabis

But he would never break the law to find out.

It's not life or death, for him, but some people with autism have shown great improvements with gastro-intestinal issues with the use of cannabis - again, it doesn't even have to be the kind with THC. It's more than just quality of life - it's about some real problems for people with autism.

One study demonstrated cannabis caused remission of Crohn's disease - and there is no cure for this. But people with autism have some of the same sorts of issues as people with Crohn's disease.

I do think about moving - and that's one reason why.

Why should anyone have to jump through the hoops of the FDA regarding this when cannabis already has more clinical trials than many FDA-approved drugs. The only reason is because the FDA has conspired with the DEA in a "ask them, no, ask them" deflection when people have tried to get approval for studies.

The FDA demonstrated what a sleazy bunch of bureaucrats they are when they suddenly, when Gupta embarrassed them, found a way to make it possible to get cannabis to children via an orphan drug provision.

But no doctors in Wisc. are part of any study for the orphan whole plant cannabis drug from GW pharma. So children still can't get legal access to this medicine.

[Mnemosyne]

12. It is absolutely despicable that this isn't legal everywhere by now. They also fear

the relaxation of the population, if more used it rather than alcohol, imho.

The fact that they withhold it from people that would benefit so much medically is beyond heinous.

[scarletwoman]

2. K&R! Enough of this bullshit!

Thank you, RainDog for your righteous post!

[RainDog]

4. I was reading about the progress of Wisc's law

And saw that Lydia had died. Yeah. I said... enough of this bullshit. I have had it.

[Dawson Leery]

3. Everyone who works for the DEA is a parasite on our system.

[wildbilln864]

7. damned right! n/t

[DeSwiss]

5. K&R

- I think you left someone out.

Here's the reason she and so many others died, and will continue to die:



This is a trillion +dollar industry that is being threatened with non-existence by a humble little weed....

[WillyT]

10. Yep... When I Lived Up On The North Coast Of California..

I remember reading a LTTE from a nurse writing to the Santa Rosa, Press Democrat.

She said... "Look... your have to understand... that if you could grow Aspirin in your backyard, they'd make THAT illegal. It's not about health, it's about money, and competition."

So true...

[liberalhistorian]

22. That could not be more

sadly, sickeningly true and I don't understand why more people don't see that, why they are still so blinded by drug war and DEA propaganda bullshit.

Just recently, driving through a small town, I saw a sign outside of a medical clinic that raised my usually-normal BP to a dangerous level. It said "Pot growers are working for their wealth, not your health". No, you assholes, I thought, it's the OPPOSITE. YOU are the ones preventing so many people from something giving a health benefit because YOU want to protect YOUR wealth. Gah.

[BrotherIvan]

37. Yes

And doctors who are only trained in drug pushing participate in the drug company cartel death and disease for profit. Patients are not told who to heal their problems, just given a drug to mask their symptoms. We have the most advanced "medicine" in the world yet the health of the population is declining precipitously.

[WillyT]

6. And They Wonder Why We Don't Trust Our Goverment...

[ReRe]

9. K&R

Tremendous spot-on rant. Exactly what I thought when Gupta came out with the facts: how many kids/people have died prematurely because our government outlawed MJ. I seen a documentary recently on TV (HBO I think) highlighting families who have literally uprooted their families and moved to Colorado in order to get the "Charlotte's Web" version of cannabis for their epileptic young children. I hope with all my heart and soul that Democrats sweep the Congress this November. That is the only chance of getting something done on this issue.

[Half-Century Man]

11. My daughter has a seizure disorder, it is controlled, now, with ever increasings doses of depakote.

Which causes severe birth defects. She is 22 years old and has a fiance in the Marines.

So by all means, lets skip the effective non-chromosome damaging inexpensive treatment to further institutionalized racism.

[RainDog]

14. It's the American way!

Has your daughter ever tried marijuana for seizure control? Different people respond differently - so what works for one may not work for another.

...but, with the news about Dravet's - so many parents have tried so many medications that didn't work - or made their child's symptoms worse.

Here's the thing about marijuana tho. It's not a drug. It's an herb. Obviously not all herbs have the same impact on people.

But here's what we do know - marijuana in its natural form has not caused one death, ever.

I know two people freaked out in CO who took massive doses - but they were not using cannabis responsibly - neither was Maureen Dowd. And they were using cannabis that has been bred to contain little CBD and a lot of THC (CBD and THC exist in relation to one another in the plant - more THC means less CBD and vice versa.)

We know from studies of synthetic CBD that it, without THC, may cause depression.

But the plant, itself, has not shown any indication of harm for the general population.

If someone has a history of schizo-affective disorder - THC is contra-indicated - but not CBD - in fact, scientists are doing research into the use of CBD to treat schizo-affective disorders.

Aspirin has more potential to harm than cannabis.

But, as Dr. Lester Grinspoon noted, the way that our bureaucracies have defined medicine now - aspirin, one of the most effective drugs, would never be brought to market because it would cost too much and the molecules themselves cannot be copyrighted - but "buffering" can - so, voila - a wonder drug - from the bark of the willow tree.

[Half-Century Man]

32. No, we have not had a practical test.

I want her to get professional medical advice first. I am a medical marijuana advocate and have self studied quite a bit. And from my studies I learned, I'm not a doctor; just opinionated.
I am also a long term cancer survivor. And the time I spent in cancer wards convinced me of one thing...there must be a better way.

[RainDog]

33. Definitely the way to go

with doctors who are informed about medical uses.

what I know about epilepsy is from videos of patients who have posted them online. They're harder to find now than they used to be because dravet's has become such a focus of attention.

while I don't have epilepsy - I do have a long history of migraines. marijuana didn't make me feel drugged, like imitrex. it also acted faster and stopped the nausea.

I would like to be able to choose this for my medication because it doesn't make me feel washed out, the next day, like a headache or imitrex.

[mimi85]

13. I have leukemia

and was told that the THC oil would help. Sadly, it didn't plus it's SO strong. Just a teeny bit like a one piece of rice is all you should take and it's very hard to measure. My contact actually has a govt contract to grow it for dispensaries. It takes about a pound to make the oil. He would only charge me $500 for a syringe full, which was very reasonable considering how much you get, one syringe lasts for months. Some people got it for free, he's a very kind man. I only wish it would've helped me although he said I may not have tried long enough. I have many other auto-immune illnesses as well, so perhaps that interfered.

He is also a good friend of Rick Simpson who was forced to stay overseas when he was there for business or something, but he's the one who really has done the most work with medicinal herb.. For obvious reasons, I can't post his info here.

I know Rick has worked with children; it takes someone who really knows what they're doing.

If you haven't seen the movie yet, you can learn more and see Rick's tale at http://phoenixtears.ca
My heart goes out to this little girl, her family and so many like her. I can only hope someone opens their eyes to see what good the medicine can do.

[RainDog]

16. hugs to you, mimi85

I know you've shared your situation here. Thank you for your bravery.

I'm so sorry to hear you didn't get a better outcome. Does it have to be THC centered oil? Couldn't it be something with more CBD to help with the effects of THC?

I've never seen the oil in person, but I've seen the videos of people who have used it and claimed it has helped them.

What GW Pharma is now selling as a legal prescription for MS spasticity is, at its most basic, Rick Simpson oil. They combine all three species of cannabis (ruderalis, sativa, indica) and created a 50/50 CBD to THC mix suspended in alcohol that is sprayed in the mouth.

I think the emphasis on THC, since the Reagan era clamp down that put the emphasis on hybrids for indoor growing, is shifting somewhat as more people recognize the "entourage effect" of CBD and THC together. It doesn't make people so high, like marijuana bred for recreational use, but I think it has more value for someone dealing with an illness.

If you decide to try it again, let me know. Maybe you could get some CBD-only to see if that might help.

I wish you well.

[mimi85]

47. I don't know if you'll see this,

but many many thanks. I have a good friend and THC oil cured his skin cancer. He has several videos on YT. And, no, he's not the person I got the oil from.

Yes, I know about the CBD. If leukemia was my only problem, perhaps I'd give it a try. Unfortunately, I have a hose of auto-immune issues. The oil didn't react well with the Sjogren's Syndrome. Now that's a disease that I wouldn't wish on anyone.

RainDog, best to you and thanks again.

[RainDog]

48. more hugs - and healing heart love

I don't know the first thing about Sjogren's Syndrome - just what I read via wiki. Since dry mouth is a side effect of mj for so many, not surprised it's not the most helpful for that situation.

I did see that Venus Williams has the same syndrome. Maybe her fame can help bring some attention to the issue and help fund research for relief from suffering.

[mimi85]

49. You are a special person.

Thanks again for the good wishes. Venus is in such good shape that it doesn't seem to have affected her much, thankfully. She has a lot of years ahead of her and I wish her the best.

Be well, RainDog. DU is a better place with you here. In fact, the world could use more people like you. Take good care! Darn, I didn't mean to get so OT. Apologies to all.

[rhett o rick]

15. This breaks my heart. The idea that we could elect a Democrat to right this bullcrap.

But why oh why did Pres Obama appoint Michele Leonhart? Would one of the Obama Group plez explain??

[RainDog]

17. She's a holdover from Bush

but, yes, I think she needs to go away. I think the Drug Czar's office needs to be shuttered, and the DEA needs to put its focus on drug abuse, not cannabis use. And drug abuse needs to be treated as a health issue.

these are all actual things the Obama administration has done, along with other laws that address racial bias in sentencing.

Holder has stepped back while Colorado and Washington State have enacted their laws and, as noted above, stated the DoJ would not interfere with any medical cannabis laws in states since Gupta's program.

The drug war is one of those propaganda wars that has been with us for so long, no one cared to fight the fight to address this at the federal level.

It's the American people who will stop this - and we will do so by telling our govt. to defund the DEA.

I would prefer if the Justice Dept. removed cannabis from the controlled substances act yesterday, or at least move it to schedule IV.

I would rather have the Obama administration in office at this time than any other national candidate that would've been the choice.

there's no way Mitt would've gone this far, even.

So, if you're here to dump on Democrats - you need to first look at the party that created the drug war - and that was the Republican Party. Like so many other wars they've created, Democrats try to repair the damage after the fact. But Democrats are by no means blameless.

But they're the best we've got on this issue in this nation at this time.

[rhett o rick]

18. I am going to dump on anyone that perpetuates this bullcrap. And that includes Pres O.

He appointed Michele Leonhart. She was a favorite of Georgie Bush but Pres O didnt have to appoint her. She is only one of many Bush favorites that Pres O has embraced.

And I am sick of the lesser of evils meme that some here seems to use to rationalize why we cant improve our lives. I see first hand the destruction of families and the Democrats are not fighting to help.

I am not satisfied with the Conservative Democratic Status Quo.

[RainDog]

19. She was left in place

If you don't like what I have to say, you don't have to participate in this thread.

Frankly, I don't give a shit what you have to say if you can't see that progress has been made on this issue with a Democrat in office.

The progress has been in fits and starts.

You're not satisfied - well, I'm sure Lydia's parents are a lot more aggrieved by the status quo than you are, so, if you want to make this thread about you - that's pretty sleazy too.

[rhett o rick]

21. "She was left in place"??? Are you serious? So Pres Obama had to accept her?

Bush nominated her for Administrator of DEA but she wasnt confirmed by the Senate until 2009 after Pres O became president.

No I am not at all satisfied with the glacier movement by this Admin with regard to medical marijuana. The fact that it's better than something else is assign. This Admin DoJ has been dragging their feet for years even arresting medical marijuana dispensers and giving them long prison sentences up until recently.

I sympathize with Lydia's parents and blame the current Admin. The fact that it could have been worse is no excuse for this girl's death.

[RainDog]

25. okay

Your initial comment was an attempt to start a flame fest with Obama supporters.

I don't fall in with either side of that fight here because I will not praise nor condemn everything he's done. But when I dared to say one good thing about the president here, people from your side of the issue attacked me, repeatedly.

That's when I said to myself that it's really about attacking Obama. I've said negative things about Obama, too. I was very critical of the raids in CA early on in the administration. I refuted others here who said the raids were all within the boundaries of the Cole memo stipulation.

But, sure, have your outrage. I feel it at this moment, too - not toward Obama per se, but about the entire structure of our system of governmental lies put in place long before Obama came along.

If you look at the history of this issue - this administration has been more responsive than any in the entire history of marijuana prohibition. Obama is the first president since Carter to speak out for the relative safety of cannabis compared to other legal substances.

H.R. 499 has been reintroduced to the House to remove cannabis from the oversight of the DEA.

Have you called your representative to indicate your support for this action? I hope so. That's something useful people can do - to apply pressure where it can take effect.

This OP doesn't spare Democrats, as anyone can see.

You don't see big time Obama supporters on this thread nodding in agreement because they know this is a call out to EVERYONE in positions of power.

But it's not focused on Obama to the exclusion of the branch of government that is supposed to change the law they created - lots of laws become out of date as our nation advances its understanding. The Controlled Substances Act is one of them.

So, if you want to rant about Obama, knock yourself out.

Maybe that will make a difference. But I would imagine calling your representative would be much more effective, in the short term, because, not only is H.R. 499 in the House, the Senate will be voting on an amendment to defund the DEA. A letter to send your Senator is available at the MMP site here.

There's also a petition online - don't know if it's still active, that calls for Obama to fire Leonhart. She's not too happy with him, recently, btw.

She said it was the worst day of her life when a flag made out of hemp flew at the Capitol - put there by a Democrat, Jared Polis, of Colorado. He's also one of the authors of the original 2013 H.R. 499.

This fight, however, has drawn bipartisan support in the House. Dana Rohrabacker has spoken out and to his Republican colleagues. When he does, he gets the same reefer madness claims from his side.

An overwhelming number of Democrats passed the defund the DEA amendment in the House. But with support from more Republicans than at any time in the history of this issue.

So, just to say - rant away if it makes you feel better.

The OP here was a major rant because, as a mother, I cannot imagine the anger I would feel if my child died because politicians and bureaucrats want to protect their turf and maintain their lies.

I don't see Obama participating in that.

[rhett o rick]

38. First let me say that we are both on the same side of the issue here. We both recognize the

tragedy you described in your OP. Where we part is that I want the Obama Admin to take some responsibility for this tragedy. His Admin has been very active in the prosecution of medical marijuana dispensers even after it was plain that the American public wanted the government to back off. The DEA was very active in California after the state legalized medical marijuana, sending dispensers to prison for 20 years in a state that legalized it. Many of us have been complaining about this for years. And to throw gasoline on the fire, Pres Obama appointed Michelle Leonhart, a very strong advocate for keeping medical marijuana illegal. If he didnt like her aggressive enforcement he should have replaced her or better yet, never have appointed her. As long as Ms. Leonhart is director the DEA will drag their feet.

[LordGlenconner]

41. Nice post

Some folks just never miss a chance to do their thing.

[Uncle Joe]

26. Sometimes

it's better to lose the battle in order to win the war.

The DEA has been and still is the primary villain and that must be the focus of our venom.

President Obama can change this and I believe he will, but honey catches more flies than vinegar.

I also believe by keeping attention on the issue of the injustice and tragedy of Prohibition against both medical and recreational cannabis, we can be much more effective in bringing about long overdue reforms versus bringing scathing criticism against key personalities into the mix, this is especially true when said personality is most critically needed by us to bring about constructive change while accepting our point of view.

[RainDog]

28. Thanks for saying this

What I was trying to get at, but this whole situation made me so aggravated it just carried over to this subthread.

[Uncle Joe]

29. No problem.

Peace to you, RainDog and I hope your son fares well.

[RainDog]

30. ...

[Uncle Joe]

34. ...

[rhett o rick]

39. Sadly the war you are referring to has been a war between the American people and the

government. Pres Obama's Admin has ignored the will of the people and has been very tough on medical marijuana users. Concentrated in states that have approved MM use. This girl's death is a tragedy that didnt have to happen.

[Uncle Joe]

40. Yes it has been a war between the American People and the government.

But from a political standpoint, it's a game of tug of war between progressives, liberals, the enlightened, people suffering from all manner of ailment that could find relief, and small l libertarians believing in individual privacy or freedom against the corporate supremacists, religious fundamentalists, the entrenched police state and conservatives, enthralled with inertia or regressive-ism and racists.

President Obama is the rope being pulled from side to the other, now we can slice or cut the rope with scathing criticism and watch the other side fall on their ass, but they would win, or we can hold on tighter and pull with all our might by focusing on the unjust and tragic policies and strategies of the opposition while being neutral to the rope.

I believe the latter will more likely insure our success.

No doubt there will be other deaths as well.

[Uncle Joe]

20. That's an outstanding OP, RainDog!

Thank you.

[Not a Fan]

23. Epileptic Seizures

Correction of Vitamin D Deficiency Improves Seizure Control in Epilepsy

Correction of vitamin D deficiency improves seizure control in epilepsy: a pilot study.

Epilepsy and vitamin D.

Epilepsy and seizures

Children Who Shun the Sun go to Casualty With Seizures

[RiffRandell]

24. The same crap is happening in GA over petty politics when children

are the ones suffering needlessly. Pro-life my ass; it's disgusting. I saw it on the local news and cried watching the parents of severely handicapped children pleading for the bill to pass. It broke my heart. One set of parents said they were moving to Colorado because their child's life was at stake.

Both measures got hung up and failed to pass as wrangling between different Republican factions in the GOP-controlled Legislature raged all day and into the evening. These disputes in the House and Senate continued even into the waning minutes of the session, which ended at midnight. The House refused to budge on its opposition to a private insurance mandate to cover an autism therapy. The Senate held fast to its insistence that a bill legalizing non-smokable marijuana derivatives, such as cannabidiol (CBD) oil, also had to include a provision for the autism coverage.

They played games with kids’ lives,” said Sarah Caruso of Flowery Branch. She watched the final day’s legislative proceedings with her husband, Anthony, and 5-year-old daughter, Britlyn, who suffers from cerebral palsy and epilepsy.

The Caruso family and parents of other children with seizure disorders attempted to talk with Gov. Deal late Thursday night to ask for his help in persuading House and Senate Republicans to reach a compromise. They waited in Deal’s office, but neither the governor nor his assistants would talk with them.

The medical marijuana bill would have granted immunity from prosecution in Georgia for possession of CBD oil obtained legally in a state that permits the use of medical marijuana.

-
See more at: http://www.georgiahealthnews.com/2014/03/double-impasse-kills-bills-autism-medical-marijuana/#sthash.yFnaBDLS.dpuf

[RainDog]

27. That's why I was so disgusted after that editorial in the Miami Herald

The one where the think tank guy was sneering through the words on the page saying... the only people who really use mj are stoners. He dismissed that anyone, say, a vet, might have chronic pain - or may use cannabis for PTSD, as it is used in Israel.

If someone's state doesn't allow use for PTSD, however, they may talk about another issue, like chronic pain. But our govt. is forcing people to lie, if that's the case, because the FDA refused to consider any studies about this - put them off, over and over - until finally, after all these years, one study is going on at.. U. of Ariz., I think. A scientist there is looking at vets and PTSD. She complained about the ways previous attempts to get permission had been thwarted.

Researchers also are only allowed to use one strain, afaik, of cannabis grown in the one govt. location in Mississippi that is allowed to grow marijuana legally - for compassionate care patients who are still alive, and for research. Again, in reponse to the public learning about this medicinal use, the DEA announced the Mississippi farm will produce more cannabis for studies.

Since different combinations of cannabinoids work differently on different people - it makes no sense to have a generic cannabis - but maybe they don't.

If I had a child with this epilepsy, I would definitely move to Colorado - specifically.

If the federal govt. decriminalized, and this left all enforcement up to the states, I wonder how long people would want to keep current laws when they can't get funded by the federal govt.?

[WheelWalker]

31. End it now. Turn the Wheel.

[Warren DeMontague]

35. Ugh.

What you said.

[Scuba]

36. Excellent rant RainDog. Unfortunately, Mary Burke is no more "evolved" on pot than Walker.

[Enthusiast]

42. "It's not like the stanky liars are ever going to stop their lies."

Stanky liars never stop their lies.

[msanthrope]

43. This is why control of Congress is so damn important...we don't change drug policy until we change

drug law. The DEA is too invested the status quo that keeps their agency funded, and I don't think the Executive branch is empowered to override the CSA. I truly think this will be a state-by-state fight until we get a Congress that is willing to change the law. Voting matters.

[bread_and_roses]

45. Are you seriously suggesting that putting Ds in office will solve this?

I think not. Nor do I think there's a shred of evidence to support such an assumption. Democrats have been so progressive on this issue? Not. Look at Cuomo right now in NY. If I had the time or cared enough - which I don't (not about the issue - that I do care about - but about convincing anyone) I'm sure I could find plenty of Ds willing to scream for draconian "law 'n order" for drugs - including marijuana. Voting will not matter to money & power vs the people until corporations & their lobbyists can't buy the legislators. And they buy the Ds just as easily as the Rs.

[msanthrope]

46. Yes...enough Ds in Congress give you enough votes to change the CSA.

How else would you change the CSA? Do I think the Democratic Party is getting there? Yes. Slowly but surely.

[truedelphi]

44. Heartless whores in government made this possible. Enough is

Enough!

Get rid of the current foot dragging scumbags now in government. That is my mantra. We need a clean slate.

If you are not for legalizing the "evil weed" than get yourself a job as a dog catcher.

But I will not vote in 2016 for anyone not openly endorsing legalization!