Weed
 

"Santa Cruz is a special place, and today we're letting the world know how compassionate we can be," said Mayor Christopher Krohn. "We're taking a stand."
Krohn and his colleagues on the City Council planned to join workers from the local medical marijuana center at a pot giveaway for sick people today. Their goal: let federal authorities know that, in this town, marijuana is considered medicine for those who are ill.

Marijuana is illegal — as a medicine or as a recreational drug — under federal law. But state law, and county and city ordinances, say it's legal if recommended by a doctor.

In Santa Cruz, and many California communities, local law enforcement works closely with growers and distributors who help sick people obtain marijuana. Krohn said he and his colleagues don't plan to handle the marijuana, but will stand in solidarity with the clinic workers and users.

Solidarity Follows DEA Bust

The City Hall pot distribution comes less than two weeks after agents from the federal Drug Enforcement Administration arrested the owners of a local pot farm and confiscated 130 plants that had been grown for use as medicine at the Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana.

DEA spokesman Richard Meyer said he was "appalled" by city leaders joining the giveaway, and would not discuss whether his agents would show up to make any arrests.

"Marijuana is an illegal drug in this country," he said. "Our job is to enforce the law."

Santa Cruz Police Chief Steve Belcher said his officers work closely with WAMM, and that they did not plan to arrest registered, legitimate members picking up their medicine.

However, he said, "This is not going to be a smoke-out at City Hall."

Not a Smoke-Out for Fun

People who show up to smoke pot for fun, without a doctor's recommendation, could face arrest, he said.

There is no official city sponsorship of the event — council members and medical marijuana advocates simply are acting on their own in a public space, said City Attorney John Barisone.

Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, Oregon and Washington also allow marijuana to be grown and distributed to people with a doctor's prescription. But the DEA has focused its raids on medical marijuana growers and distributors in California.

Community members in this liberal community repeatedly have supported medical marijuana. In 1992, 77 percent of Santa Cruz voters approved a measure ending the prohibition of medical marijuana. Four years later, state voters approved Proposition 215, allowing marijuana for medicinal purposes. And in 2000, the city council approved an ordinance allowing medical marijuana to be grown and used without a prescription.

http://www.abcnews.go.com/sections/u...tner=earthlink

interesting, its already legal for sick people here in T.O. and they have plans to make it legal for EVERYONES (yes you heard me right) over the age of 16.

wow. it looks like everybody is following amsterdam:paranoid:

I think I read something about that recently. That would be interesting. Maybe T.O. would get an increase in tourism :D

It should be legalized. Its a waste of money to be fighting a "War on Drugs". We spend too much money on that bullshit.

Some drugs like cocaine, heroin, meth, etc should stay illegal. You can't claim any usefulness out of any of those (excluding heroin, but I'm not getting into that one).

The California P215 - http://vote96.ss.ca.gov/Vote96/html/BP/215.htm

Sign the petition - http://www.petitiononline.com/Legalize/petition.html

And the facts, no hype - http://www.norml.org

i was talking to cops and they were saying that the guys on weed are not violent at all, even if they are arrested. usually they are calm compared to the guys on alcohool.

i don't think there is anything wrong with weed...personally...i love it...and i'll continue to use it until i feel fit..

weed isnt as bad as alchohal.. no ones violet, you can drive normaly, if not safer, everything is 10x funnyer... its about as bad for you as ciggaretts... but more fun. i bet people getting arrested are just like "awww man... do i have to go..." instead of a drunk "IM GONNA KILL YAAAAAA"

i work with a lot of smoked ppl and the best are the weedmen.

ahhhhhh!!!!! finally a topic up my alley, cos the political part of it i mean...

smoking dope is the only drug you can laugh with your doctor about..no **** next time you go to the doctor, start bsing about something and bring up pot...they will just laugh, now you say you smoke cigarettes then its different. that just goes to show thats its harmless, sometimes cheap and really fun.

but dont work on your honda high, you might do something stupid like buy weapon r coilovers for 175 bucks and think you got a good deal....

i gotta go do something really quick

and one more thing, im not sure on the exact numbers but i believe over six border patrol members were killed trying to stop the illegal flow of marijuana from mexico, two were gunned down by a semi full of cartel members and marijuana, one guy got ran over by a cartel member driving a truck full of bud, and the others shot by the cartel....that was six guys fighting a battle that just gets tougher....i think if we legalize pot we can focus our efforts on stuff like meth and terrorists.

im getting back to my video game good post man good post

lol.....

lol!!

Let that be a lesson. Never shop high....

very true... i went grocery shopping high one time... no one needs a 120 pack of tostino pizza rolls and 2 dozen snack packs.....

ive quit since that though.

you just put it on hold till its legal admit it.....

yup