Of all the big-government abuses of Americans' constitutional rights, the war on marijuana perpetrates some of the worst. "Asset forfeitures" such as the Oakview Road resident suffered are, in my opinion, little more than official looting, since they allow police (and informants, who get a percentage) to seize growers' homes and cash prior to a trial, with practically no oversight.
No wonder law enforcement lobbyists oppose every effort in North Carolina to legalize industrial hemp or medical marijuana, despite the abundant evidence of hemp's utility and environmental benefits, marijuana's lifesaving medicinal qualities for many patients, and the millions of dollars that the state would save and collect if either form of cannabis were licensed or taxed.
WNC residents have an opportunity – if we act immediately – to press our powerful Sen. Martin Nesbitt (Martin.Nesbitt@ncleg.net, 252-0490) to allow two medical-marijuana bills, HB 1380 and 1383, to move forward in the legislative short session. Both bills would allow patients access to marijuana with a signed statement from a physician; growers and dispensaries would be licensed and regulated by the state Department of Health and Human Services. HB 1383 would allow voters to decide the issue by referendum. For details, see NC Cannabis Patients' Network, nccpn.org.
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: Asheville Citizen-Times
Author: Steve Rasmussen
Copyright: 2010 Asheville Citizen-Times
No wonder law enforcement lobbyists oppose every effort in North Carolina to legalize industrial hemp or medical marijuana, despite the abundant evidence of hemp's utility and environmental benefits, marijuana's lifesaving medicinal qualities for many patients, and the millions of dollars that the state would save and collect if either form of cannabis were licensed or taxed.
WNC residents have an opportunity – if we act immediately – to press our powerful Sen. Martin Nesbitt (Martin.Nesbitt@ncleg.net, 252-0490) to allow two medical-marijuana bills, HB 1380 and 1383, to move forward in the legislative short session. Both bills would allow patients access to marijuana with a signed statement from a physician; growers and dispensaries would be licensed and regulated by the state Department of Health and Human Services. HB 1383 would allow voters to decide the issue by referendum. For details, see NC Cannabis Patients' Network, nccpn.org.
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: Asheville Citizen-Times
Author: Steve Rasmussen
Copyright: 2010 Asheville Citizen-Times
