California Democrats have approved a party platform including a plank calling for marijuana legalization, marking a major shift for the state party.

As the San Francisco Chronicle reports, state party delegates moved Sunday to adopt a platform that includes support for "the legalization, regulation and taxation of pot in a manner similar to that of tobacco or alcohol." The platform was adopted by a near-unanimous voice vote.

California Lt. Gov Gavin Newsom, formerly the mayor of San Francisco, made the case for the position change during the Democrats' 3-day convention in Los Angeles.

"It's time for all of us to step up and step in and lead once again in California, just as we did in 1996. We did just that with medical marijuana," Newsom said during his Saturday address to the convention. "But for almost 20 years now, we've sat back admiring our accomplishment while the world, the nation, and states like Colorado and Washington have passed us by. ... It's time to legalize, it's time to tax, it's time to regulate marijuana for adults in California."

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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/09/california-democrats-marijuana_n_4931114.html


There are at least 2 initiatives that are currently gathering signatures for legalization. This time I'm almost sure it will pass.

I sat on this board in 2001, 2002 and 2003 and watched the debate about whether or not to invade Iraq. To a person, TO A PERSON, EVERYONE on DU agreed that this was a terrible idea and it was all about oil and that we were being lied to about the reasons for ILLEGALLY invading another country having nothing to do with 9/11. TO. A. PERSON.

It's more than amazing, it is, as others have said, VOMIT-INDUCING that now, since President Obama is defending it, NOW it's justified. If there is any better definition of hypocrisy by those who defend PO whether he's right or wrong to now try and justify this invasion just because the president says so then I don't know what it is.

THIS is what blind loyalty does. You throw out your own common sense, your own integrity of thought and belief, your own logical conclusions just to throw blind allegiance to a person/ideology. It's nothing less than despicable and that's being kind.

I often hear people decry the loss of the local family farms to big agra. Well, if you're serious about doing something about that I have a possible solution for you AND your local farms: CSAs. CSA stands for Community-Supported Agriculture. Here's the rundown:

A farmer offers a certain number of "shares" to the public. Typically the share consists of a box of vegetables and/or fruits, but other farm products may be included. Interested consumers purchase a subscription and in return receive a box (bag, basket) of seasonal produce each week throughout the farming season.

I signed up with a local family farm that is certified organic. A few days before delivery, I e-mail in my order. The produce is delivered to a central location (some of them will deliver them straight to your house). The box contains fresh, ripe, LOCAL, organic veggies and fruits. When I pick up my produce, I hand in last-week's empty box which gets used again and again. So, the food has traveled less than 15 miles, I've used no plastic bags, I've used no more gas going to pick up my box than I use going to the grocery store, I'm supporting a LOCAL organic farmer and I get good, LOCALLY-GROWN produce. I'm eating healthy and being environmentally responsible all at the same time. AND, the farmer has a guaranteed stream of steady income. If you're interested, you can go to the website below, enter in your zip code and find CSA's in your area. If you're serious about wanting to save local farms, this is one way you can do it.


http://www.localharvest.org/

I know the C & B group LOVES Trader Joe's, but, as one who supports the buy-local campaign, I'd like to promote CSA's, or Community-Supported Agriculture. This is where you sign up with a LOCAL farm who is a member of a LOCAL CSA and we as consumers sign up to have fresh (hopefully organic) LOCAL produce delivered either to your home or, most likely, a central location for pick up.

Here's the one I belong to but I'm sure there's one in your area:

http://www.smithsfamilyorganicfarm.com/Home_Page.html

I get a once-a-week delivery of fresh, LOCAL, organic produce which is contained in a cardboard produce box. When I pick up my produce, I hand in last-week's empty box which gets used again and again. So, the food has traveled less than 15 miles, I've used no plastic bags, I've used no more gas going to pick up my box than I use going to the grocery store, I'm supporting a LOCAL farmer and I get good, LOCALLY-GROWN produce. I'm eating healthy and being environmentally responsible all at the same time.

If you're interested, here's a website in which you can type in your location and they will give you local CSA's:

http://www.localharvest.org/

She used to be a fairly prolific poster and I haven't seen her for awhile. Although she was always helping others I know she was going through some struggles herself. Anyone know what happened?

I finally got around to taking my first sewing class. Oh, I've been sewing off and on for many years but didn't really know what the hell I was doing. Anyway, our first project was a "burrito pillowcase." I found a video that I thought might be interesting. I know you sewers out there are going to look at this and think this is pretty easy stuff and it is, but it's the first I've seen of it and I thought it was cool.