Rare first glimpse into only government ran marijuana farm

April 30, 2009

For the first time ever, a camera crew was allowed into the mysterious government grow house located on the campus of The University of Mississippi in Oxford. St. Paul, Minnesota’s local Fox affiliate was granted permission to film the federal government’s one and only marijuana grow house - used to grow marijuana for research and for four remaining patients on the U.S. government’s now defunct medical marijuana program. Yesterday, the Minnesota Senate passed a bill that would legalize marijuana for medicinal use. Thirteen other states have already legalized medical marijuana, with at least 10 more states voting on similar measures by 2010. The video provides an interesting look at the only marijuana grow and research facility that has been sanctioned by the U.S. government.

“This is the only place in the country that actually has the responsibility of producing marijuana for research. We have very good quality material. We can produce any quality that is needed for the research program,” Dr. Mahmoud Elsohly, the program’s director said.

Carlos Santana tells Obama to legalize marijuana now

April 4, 2009

“Legalize marijuana and take all that money and invest it in teachers and in education. You will see a transformation in America … now we can afford not to be paranoid.”

Hailed as one of the greatest guitarists of all time by Rolling Stone magazine, Grammy Award-winning musician Carlos Santana made headlines this week when he sent a message to President Obama to legalize marijuana. In an interview with the Associated Press, Santana said now we can afford to not be paranoid. Check out the clip below:

20/20’s John Stossel on the case of Charlie Lynch vs the DEA

April 4, 2009

We couldn’t say “medical marijuana” [in court] - Charlie Lynch’s lawyers

20/20’s John Stossel recently reported on the case of Charlie Lynch. Mr. Lynch is the former owner and managing Caregiver for Central Coast Compassionate Caregivers in Morro Bay, California. Last year, he was convicted on five counts of distributing drugs and faces a minimum of five years in prison. This comes despite the fact that Mr. Lynch never once broke state laws by providing medicinal marijuana to patients that need it. In fact, when he opened his dispensary in 2006, many prominent city council members and local business people attended - even the Mayor of Morro Bay was there for the ribbon cutting ceremony. So why was he convicted of a crime if he never broke state laws? Just ask the renegade sheriff who, after the state refused to go after Mr. Lynch, turned to the DEA for assistance. Check out the intriguing video with John Stossel below:

Update: U.S. District Judge George Wu has postponed the sentencing of Charlie Lynch.

CNBC panel: marijuana should be legalized, regulated and taxed

April 4, 2009

“It was a bad year for wine, but a great year for marijuana”

Marijuana is America’s largest cash crop. More money is made via illegal marijuana sales than all vegetables and corn crops combined. Some 25 million Americans use marijuana illegally - meaning no tax revenue is generated. This poses an interesting question: how much money could be made if we legalized, regulated and taxed marijuana? President Obama shrugged off the idea that marijuana legalization and taxation could help boost the economy. Many leading economists (including Nobel Laureates, and economists from top-tier universities across the country), however, believe that taxing marijuana could help save our economy. Continue reading to check out the eight-person round table discussion on whether or not legalization is the path to go down.

California Judge says most harmful thing about marijuana is jail

April 3, 2009

Judge James P. Gray is a trial Judge in Orange County, CA, former attorney in the Navy JAG corps, federal prosecutor in Los Angeles and has been a civil litigation attorney for a private law firm. He has never consumed cannabis in his life, nor does he have any desire to do so. Despite this, Judge Gray recognizes that the prohibition of marijuana is significantly worse than legalizing and regulating. In the following video interview, Judge Gray offers five compelling reasons to decriminalize marijuana.

Many prohibitionists argue that the laws currently in place help protect children from acquiring and trying marijuana, but Judge Gray explains why exactly the opposite is true. Backed up by facts, experience and flat out common sense, he makes the case that marijuana is much easier to obtain by teenagers than alcohol and cigarettes are. This was also noted by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University in a report released last year.

Continue reading for the insightful two-part interview with Judge Gray.

Joe Rogan Explains Why Cannabis is Still Illegal

September 19, 2008

Joe Rogan, former host of Fear Factor, UFC announcer and comedian, goes over why cannabis was made illegal and why it remains illegal to this day.

“Partnership for a Drug Free America is funded by alcohol companies.”

“The declaration of independence was printed on hemp.”

“No one has ever died from pot but it’s illegal.”

Montel Sticking it to the Federal Government

September 15, 2008

Famous talk show host, Montel, exposes the government’s hypocrisy regarding medical cannabis. Irv Rosenfeld, one of the remaining federal patients, stands behind and lends him his tin of joints to help make his point.

Denis Petro, M.D. - Multiple Sclerosis & Medical Cannabis

September 15, 2008

Denis Petro is a medical doctor, clinical neurologist, drug researcher, former FDA employee and consultant, and an expert on Multiple Sclerosis. Speaking at the Third National Cannabis Therapeutics Conference in 2004, Dr. Petro takes a look at a number of recent studies and clinical trials, both negative and positive, relating to cannabis and its effect on MS.

Marijuana: It’s Time For A Conversation

September 13, 2008

Here’s a great video hosted by Rick Steves, travel author and pbs host, where he speaks with experts about the history and truth behind cannabis prohibition.

Drew Carey Speaks Out in Favor of Medical Cannabis

September 13, 2008

Drew Carey did a piece for Reason TV where he visits a dispensary in California that sells medical cannabis and also talks to some medical cannabis users. It helps highlight the fact that people who use cannabis are not your stereotypical stoners.