MS Patient Gets 5 Years For Medical Marijuana

by Joseph Klare, Sat Mar 20, 2010

" A New Jersey man with multiple sclerosis was sentenced Friday to five years in prison for growing marijuana -- which he said was for medicinal purposes --  in his back yard."

This is not going to be a long blog post; it is not a complex issue.

There is a certain level of human decency that is ingrained in all of us (except serial killers and nutjobs).

A man grows marijuana in his back yard because he's poor, and it relieved a debilitating disease he suffered with every day. He broke the law, he got caught, and the minimum sentence he could receive is 5 years in the READ MORE

tags: medical marijuana, busted, new jersey 1    « add a comment

Wal-Mart Fires Medical Marijuana Patient

by Joseph Klare, Mon Mar 15, 2010

"I was terminated because I failed a drug screening," says former WalMart employee Joseph Casias.

It's not like Wal-Mart doesn't get enough bad press. The big, bad corporation that crushes poor little mom and pop stores into the dust as they roll on to world domination. So they decided that the firing of a state-licensed medical marijuana patient was a great cause to champion.

Maybe they're legally in the right, maybe they aren't. Either way, why cause an uproar by standing by the firing of a man who is, by all accounts, a great and loyal employee?

"In 2008 …READ MORE

tags: activism, drug test 2    « add a comment

Prohibition STILL Doesn't Work

by Joseph Klare, Sun Mar 14, 2010

"It will soon be illegal in Kansas to possess or sell two chemicals used to turn herbs into synthetic marijuana."

There are all kinds of dangerous things out there. Things that will harm you. I could sit here for the next 6 hours and list them, but I won't. We all know this is true. Death lurks around every corner.

I'm not a synthetic marijuana expert; in fact, I've never tried it before. All I know is the anecdotal evidence I've heard on the news. Suffice it to say, synthetic marijuana (or K2 or Spice) has gotten a bad rap in the press. Apparently it's not as safe as real marijuana. So be it.

We have tried prohibition time and time again in this country. We do it because it makes us feel better; this stuff is bad, so you can't do this stuff anymore, so now you're safe. But we don't stop doing the …READ MORE

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WTF Am I Smoking?

by Joseph Klare, Mon Mar 8, 2010

The question I get most, whether it be on Myspace, Facebook, or Twitter, is what kind of weed am I smoking? And my answer is always the same: Whatever my dealer brought me.

In Kentucky we don't have dispensaries, with clearly marked weed strains. We have to sneak around, buying weed while at the same time looking for cops. Around here weed is dark green, or light green, or brown dirt weed. Sometimes it has little crystals on it, and when you see those, you know it's going to be good.

But my dealer doesn't have the faintest idea what he's selling me. I don't mind; it's consistently good, and has been for almost ten years. Sure, I wish I had a cool strain name to go with my high, but it is what it is. If it's light green with crystals (and little red hairs), I know I'm going to be stoned.

When asked, I would love to say I'm tokin' on some Kush or say it's a nice …READ MORE

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Smoking Alone

by Joseph Klare, Wed Mar 3, 2010

I've met hundreds of stoners in my life, and almost every single one of them has said they prefer to smoke with others, as opposed to smoking alone.

I'm just the opposite. Maybe it's because deep down I'm essentially a loner, but I prefer to smoke alone, just me and a fat bowl.

Most stoners I've known have thought that kind of weird. They like to get high and shoot the breeze with their homies, making each other laugh and even think about deep stuff every now and then. There are times when that's enjoyable to me, but mostly I like to blaze up, then work on my writing, which has always been a solitary task for me.

I'm sure many things contribute to my …READ MORE

tags: activism 22    « add a comment

The Bipolar DEA

by Joseph Klare, Wed Feb 17, 2010

"Sweetin’s stance on the issue has seemed to soften a bit."

I'm not a grower. I know a lot about the issue, but personally, I don't have the patience or the money to do it. Even more than that, I live in a state with a severe lack of medical marijuana laws. Growing would get me jail time, no questions asked.

What the marijuana grower fears above all else, including dust mites, is the Drug Enforcement Agency. Men dressed in black, with bulletproof vests and assault rifles can bust into your home in the middle of the night, drag you out of bed and...well, I guess after that it's a matter of how abusive the agents decide to be. The bottom line is your going to jail, and your house will be ransacked as a little bonus.

Last week a man in Colorado went through exactly that.

"Chris Bartkowicz was conducting a …READ MORE

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Patient's Marijuana Seized: Update

by Joseph Klare, Mon Feb 15, 2010

Cops Seize Patient's Marijuana

I recieved a friend request the other day from Christopher Frizzo, the subject of the story linked above. We talked for a few minutes on Facebook IM, and he sent me the letter and stories linked below. He seems like a really cool dude, and a human face on what our government does everyday in violation of our rights.

We have to remember that these are real people being hurt. It is them that we fight for.

ACLU Medical Marijuana Letter

Royal Oak Must Follow Medical Marijuana Law, ACLU Says in Letter

ACLU to city: Return medical …READ MORE

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Weed and Freedom

by Joseph Klare, Sat Feb 13, 2010

Freedom is popular. Causes has long decided that hitching a ride on the shooting star of freedom was a good idea. Marijuana is no different.

A cynic would tell you that we are opportunists; that stoners are only interested in freedom so they can legally get stoned. But I submit that marijuana and freedom go hand in hand because freedom is universal.

It's no coincidence that stoners are generally laid back and believe in minimal involvement with authorities. It's not just the fear of jail, but something in us that drew us to Mary Jane in the first place. A yearning to be unrestrained.

Freedom is inherent in mankind itself. That it finds an outlet in so many causes should be no surprise. So many causes are worthy of the mantle of freedom.

See my blog at http://potheadpundit.blogspot.com

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My Life's Quest: To Write for High Times Part 2

by Joseph Klare, Mon Feb 8, 2010

Part 1

My girlfriend asked me a great question today: Why would High Times pay you for writing, when you already write for them for free?

First of all, I could write a few blog posts a day for HT.com if I wanted to; I choose not to, because as they say, always leave them wanting more. As a paid writer, I would write all day, every day for High TImes to the exclusion of everything else, even my own blogs.

Second, I'm just that good. Please don't think me arrogant; writing is about the only talent I have. I believe I would bring a lot to the High Times staff, in terms of my work ethic and ability.

Third, I'll work for cheap. Sure, cheap isn't as good as free, but I've been poor all my life. It doesn't take much money for me to survive.

Last but not least, I'm passionate about marijuana reform, and what the …READ MORE

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Medical Marijuana Momentum

by Joseph Klare, Sun Feb 7, 2010

The Medical Marijuana movement gains new momentum every week. State after state introduces bills, or says they are planning to. Here's the latest run down, so if your state is up, get involved.

Even if your state has a current medical marijuana law, there is still more work to be done.

Wisconsin

Hawaii

Kansas

New York

Missouri

READ MORE

tags: activism, medical marijuana 1    « add a comment

Cops Seize Patient's Marijuana

by Joseph Klare, Wed Feb 3, 2010

source: dailytribune.com

"ROYAL OAK — Christopher Frizzo has a state-issued card to use medical marijuana, but it wasn't enough to prevent police from seizing his leafy relief for multiple sclerosis during a routine traffic stop."

I think it's fair to say that even though many states have medical marijuana laws in place, many of them are convulted at best. Restrictions, rules, barriers, etc. keep many people from obtaining the medicine they need.

Don't get me wrong, the gains of the past 14 years have been amazing. But until the barriers have been removed nationwide, it will always be an imperfect system.

"The 46-year-old Royal Oak man isn't listed with a registered caregiver — someone authorized to grow marijuana for patients — so police said they had no choice …READ MORE

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L.A. City Council Tells Sick People to F*** Off

by Joseph Klare, Sat Jan 30, 2010

"LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles City Council has given final approval to an ordinance that caps the number of medical marijuana dispensaries in the city and shuts down dozens that have slipped through the cracks over the years."

Why not shut down hospitals and doctor's offices too?

I'm not being sarcastic, this is a serious question. Instead of equating medical marijuana dispensaries with places of healing and health care, they equated them with strip clubs and the homes of pedophiles. My question is simple: Why?

How many L.A. residents have been harmed by these dispensaries?

I don't live anywhere near Los Angeles, and I am just plain fed up. I'm tired of sick people who use marijuana to ease their pain being treated as outcasts. We see momentum in our movement in a lot of areas, but it just means …READ MORE

tags: medical news, medical marijuana, california 6    « add a comment

CA: Get Ready!

by Joseph Klare, Fri Jan 29, 2010

"California appears headed for a rollicking November ballot fight over whether to legalize and tax marijuana cultivation and use for adults 21 years and older."

In November, it's on. If you live in California and are old enough to vote, you need to be ready. No excuses. They tried to work the system and were rebuffed. Now is the time for the people to speak.

Politicians don't care about us. Some make efforts on our behalf, and they mean well, but they simply don't have the power to effect real change. Those that do have power are used to covering their butts and not making waves; that's how they got their power in the first place.

So as it's always been in this great country, it's our turn. The ballot box is where we hold the power.

"Proponents of the "Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act of …READ MORE

tags: activism, legalization, california 2    « add a comment

My Life's Quest: To Write for High Times Part 1

by Joseph Klare, Fri Jan 29, 2010

I know what you're saying: hey moron, I'm reading this on HighTimes.com. Duly noted, but I'm talking about being an employee of High Times, writing full time.

I don't believe I'm talking out of turn when I admit I write these blogs for free (if you don't count the link to my blog at the bottom of each post). I badgered the fine folks at High Times to give me a shot on the blog, and in their infinite wisdom, they did. So I write blog posts and submit them for review and hopefully publishing to the site.

Trial run, audition, minor league tryouts, whatever you want to call it, I have a chance for the stuff I write to be noticed by the higher ups at High Times (see what I did there with the "higher" ups?...nevermind). An amazing opportunity for a pothead who's only real talent is writing.

But life is nothing without goals. And I like money, it's useful for many things. So what better way for a writer/pothead …READ MORE

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The Pothead Pundit

by Joseph Klare, Fri Jan 22, 2010

I'm a writer and a pothead. I've ran a few blogs and have contributed to a few sites, including hightimes.com. I've always wanted to create a blog that covered marijuana from every angle on the internet. Opinion pieces, news links, videos, the whole nine yards.

The Pothead Pundit is that blog. I search the internet for everything weed-related, so you don't have to. And if I have opinion on it, you can be sure I'll let it be known. So tell your friends, and blaze one for me while you check it out.

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