I hope I don't rub your udders the wrong way on this one. I used it frequently growing up, more to escape the trauma of my past, then quit for a lot of years. Then my physical pain got worse and my doc at the time refused to help so I stared back using it, it truly help me to function. Since I finally got pain meds I haven't use any since. I know of a lot people from all walks of life including cops, lawyers and judges. It helps many people, yes there's a problem with our youth using, yet I believe the war on drugs should be stopped and issue a war instead on the breakdown of family and societies values, mental health, poverty, the exploitation of children/ youth, the violations that big corporate America/Canada does to its people, on and on I could go. I truly believe it was made illegal because it would cut into the profit margins of big pharma since people could grow there own medicine. The native people have used it for thousands of years and so have many other cultures. It's a billion dollar industry and making it legal would put money in the public coffers, well......, more money into the politicians pockets is actually a more truthful statement. I know it will be a struggle until good workable practises and controls are in place. I'm just tired of big brother always telling us what is good for us and what is bad, and how we should lives are lives. Especially since they "set" such a wonderful example themselves, Hugs, Blaine

I have to say as a former user who went into REEFER MADNESS I could never smoke or use it again...I got my schizophrenia because of my use of drugs including pot...pot kept me schizophrenic until I quit and got the right medication...

but right on for those who can and have the needs...also going to be a challenge to the federal controllers who still claim it illegal....

anyway I will just bow out of this controversial topic because for me it is a never....just cannot get myself sick again.

buffalo... rub my udders in the wrong way..... LOL! Got a question... I read your post a couple of times and Im not sure how it would rub em ( still lol) the *wrong* way... I * think* if I read you correctly .. I agree with you... ;)

bill-- I can't tell you how much I respect the fact that you know what your limits are when it comes to keeping yourself healthy... I admire that a lot. :)

There are many sides on this issue and Bill--admire your tenacity.

Blaine, the whole MJ things is something I understand. I can get medical MJ and my son and family live in WA. It helps with nausea and pain. Don't smoke, just eat. It has downslides like anything and the upsides. Legailizes the collection of taxes and stopping the illegal activity is one legal upside.

My son is now 26 and was adopted with many medical issues. he ended up with bipolar disorder, also. This is my husbands area and did know the right therapist for treatment. Unfortunately the only drug that has really helped our son have some semblance of normalcy is pot. In Florida where he lives he gets arrested and the fact he is African American/Native American puts him at a greater risk for getting busted. Unfortunately we would witness this phenoma every time we went to court with him.

Sooooooooooooooo, my thoughts are yes.
Just a Mom and Medical Marijuana

Here's the kicker, it's legal to use it, but it's still illegal to sell it, so good luck with that production schedule!

Kat -

Good luck with what?
So when you go to the MJ store ... who exactly is going to *do* the arrestin'? The "production schedule" and R&Rs are being discussed right now- they need to figure out *who* will supply and *where* it will be sold ( what kind of establishment -- just like picking up a 6 pack- readily available to those over 21.)

They guesstimate sometime after next year it should be up an running. That was last I heard-- on the radio-- meeting for guidelines-- done in Yakima/ Wa.

LOL...it's a conflict of interest between State and Federal laws. MJ is still illegal on a Federal level, yet it's legal at a State level, yet it's illegal at a State and Federal level to sell...so how exactly will they be able to produce it for peolpe to buy? And who always does the arresting? I believe that would be the police? But you can't be at a store arresting when the store doesn't exist because it can't get licensing when it's not legal to sell the product.

lady,
For me,if it was legalized in NJ, I'd be first in line for a script.
I used pot recreationally in college (sorry to burst your bubble again, Blaine) and preferred it over drinking because I got mighty sick from alcohol and never had a hangover with pot.
Now I take 2 narcotics for pain and one controlled substance for anxiety. All chemicals. I'd prefer something more natural that would kill both the pain and anxiety.
California has a pretty fairly well run system at least that's what I've read. Maybe WA and CO will model their programs on CA's.

I have a pm doc apt tomorrow and I think i'm going to ask him his views on MJ for pain mgt. It's a loooonnnngggg way off from being legalized here but it would be good to know his ideas on the subject if the need ever arises.

I still don't know how I feel about the legalization for recreational use. I don't think I'd want my son smoking pot (at least not now at 14, although there are kids in his class who smoke it). As I said to him, yes, it's considered a mild drug but it's the whole pot lifestyle that can get you into trouble. As when you only want to smoke pot and do nothing else in life. I still know people from my HS class who are stoners in their 50s and haven't accomplished anything.

But like I said,it's a long way off for legalization in NJ. But I've read enough literature that shows it helps chronic pain and anxiety so I'd definitely try it.

Sandy

Thank you moon dancing -- for your comments--

You said--
"In Florida where he lives he gets arrested and the fact he is African American/Native American puts him at a greater risk for getting busted. Unfortunately we would witness this phenoma every time we went to court with him. "

Thats awful and I would guess very HURT FULL in so many ways! I would want to stand up and scream... "YOU DON'T KNOW HIM!" They have NO right to assume anything...!

Your comments about MJ is how I see it as well. The main point being there are down sides and upsides - just like ANYTHING else. I'm very curious to see what they come up with as far as taxing... lol

What a coincidence. I am going to retire to Washington State. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm............ :-)

Kat - .

Washington joined Colorado last fall in becoming the first states to legalize recreational marijuana for adults over 21, and to allow the sale of taxed pot at state-licensed stores. Washingtons Liquor Control Board has been devising rules for the industry, covering topics such as how the plants will be grown, how marijuana products will be tested for strength and quality, and how many retail stores will be allowed.

Issuing all the licenses at once will help growers because theyll have a better picture of the industry before they begin growing, Smith said.

If you were interested in becoming any of our licensees, youd want to have a good idea of what the business landscape is going to be, he said. For example, if you want to grow, how much competition will you have? How many retailers will there be? Youll be able to get a sense of that right from the beginning.

The official timeline announced Wednesday was based on input from public forums that the board held around the state regarding its implementation of Initiative 502.

The board will begin vetting draft rules for all license types with stakeholders in mid-May. The rules are expected to become effective in August, and the board will begin accepting applications for growing, processing and retailing licenses in September.

Jamen Shively, a former Microsoft manager who is working to create a high-end marijuana brand called Diego Pellicer, after his great-grandfather, said the board is acting prudently.

What were doing here in the state of Washington is something of monumental importance, he said. All eyes are going to be on Washington. Lets make sure we do this right. source:

----------------------------------------------------

That means ... yup. Stores will exist. Maybe the state liquor control board should be in jail... lol... They're gonna be pissed after all that work.

Good points Sandy... Yeah I asked my pain doc about it ( out of curiosity) and he said he had no problem with people using it if it helps.

Titanium ... LOL.... gonna retire here huh? HA HA gooooood plaaannnn ...

Will be interesting to see what kind of names they will come up with -lol-

"Jamen Shively, a former Microsoft manager who is working to create a high-end marijuana brand called Diego Pellicer, after his great-grandfather"

Ummmm yeah... how about some ..."Mr. P" OR "Microsoft Mellow" A Blend of ( giggly- mellow - pain reducing - with a twist of warm fuzzies) ??

I guess that cleared it up.