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New Year's Resolution
That we always strive to maintain peace, respect and freedom
in the cyber community, to ensure the free flow of information & exchange of ideas.
New Link Page
PFPF now has a fairly comprehensive link page. Send additional links to us: click here for contact info.
Activists' Workshop
If you support California Prop. 215 and patients' rights to medical marijuana, visit the PF Activist's Workshop
Link to Workshop
Even if you live in another state (or country), please contact your local media, lawmakers, and the federal government to express your thoughts on this issue.
Voting and the freedom to express your opinion are your rights as an American citizen. The rest of the world is watching us to see if democracy really works. Let's use it wisely and prove that it is good.
Etiquette When Writing to Officials
Courtesy of the League of Women Voters
The fundamental don'ts:
DON'T begin on the righteous note of "As a citizen and taxpayer . . ." Your elected representatives assume you are a citizen, they know we all pay taxes.
DON'T apologize for taking his or her time. If you are brief and to the point, he or she is glad to hear from you.
DON'T say "I hope this gets by your secretary." This only irritates the staff.
DON'T be rude or threatening. It will get you nowhere.
DON'T be vague. Some letters received in congressional offices are couched in such general terms that it leaves the senator or representative wondering what the writer had in mind.
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Canadian Snowboarder Ross Rebagliati Scores Gold Medal |
Rebagliati's unrepentant attitude set off ripples of laughter on TV talk shows, newspaper editorials and radio commentary. Thanks to Rebagliati's confidence and good sense of humor, it's now okay to say you smoke pot. However, please be careful if you snowboard into remote areas, since that can be dangerous.
Medical MJ in Washington, D.C.
Monday and Today, Feb. 23 and 24, medical marijuana patients testified at a public hearing for the the Institute of Medicine (IOM). This was part of an 18-month comprehensive review of the health effects and potential health risks of marijuana use, which IOM is conducting for the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.
"It is important to make the investigators aware that thousands of marijuana-using patients are living in fear of arrest and prison," says Marijuana Policy Project Director of Communications Chuck Thomas.
The following people spoke about their experiences:
* Meg Foster, whose husband is serving a 93-year prison sentence in Oklahoma for growing his own medicinal plants;
* Barb Sweeney, who was arrested in California in 1992 for growing two plants. She will talk about the federal government's recent efforts to punish her for providing marijuana to other seriously ill patients.
* Elvy Musikka, one of eight patients in America who can legally use marijuana. Musikka will testify that before being accepted into the program, she was arrested for growing her own marijuana plants.
Other News from Washington D.C.
Last year, U.S. Rep Henry Hyde introduced HR 1835 hoping to curb unfair U.S. forfeiture laws. However, according to a report in High Times magazine (March 98, p. 70; HT interview with attorney Jeffrey Steinborn), the Justice Department has subsequently sabotaged the bill, so that if it passes now it will make forfeitures even more oppressive than they were before. Tell your representative that you oppose the altered version of HR 1835 and you oppose unconstitutional forfeiture of property.
On another front, lawmakers are considering a medical marijuana bill (HR 1782) that would allow states like Arizona and California to implement their new medical marijuana laws. Tell your representative that you support HR 1782 and patients' rights to use medical marijuana.
Use Your American Freedom
To contact your representative or the media, visit the PF Activist's Workshop.
Read High Times on-line for the latest on legislative controversies and give generously to MPP, our lobbyists on the Hill.
Contact MPP, our lobbiests on the Hill: P.O. Box 77492, Capitol Hill, Washington, DC 20013; Email or visit the MPP web site.
Congratulations to Nora Callahan, named "Freedom Fighter of the Month" in the April 98 High Times. Surf to Nora's website, the November Coalition.
California Mayors Support CBCs
The mayors of San Francisco, Oakland, Santa Cruz and West Hollywood wrote letters to President Clinon on March 12, asking him to keep the Cannabis Buyers Clubs open.
They told the president: "If the centers are shut down, many of these individuals will be compelled to search back alleys and street corners for their medicine." They asked him to "implement a moratorium on enforcement of federal drug laws that interfere with the daily operation of the dispensaries."
Activist Alert:
House Resolution 372 Looms in Congress
The Marijuana Policy Project alerts us of a bill pending in Congress (House Resolution 372) that declares:
"Marijuana is a dangerous and addictive drug and should not be legalized for medicinal use."
"The United States House of Representatives is unequivocally opposed to legalizing marijuana for medicinal use, and urges the defeat of state initiatives which would seek to legalize marijuana for medicinal use."
According to MPP, nine Republican Representatives introduced House Resolution 372 on February 26, the House Subcommittee on Crime approved it the same day, and the House Judiciary Committee approved it on March 4.
We urge you to contact your Representative immediately to denounce this bill. Link to the Pf Activist's Workshop and write a letter today. Tell Congress you support HR 1782, a bill that would allow states to make their own policies regarding medical marijuana.
PFPF News Editorial:
Can Congress Legislate the Medicinal Power of a Plant?
House Resolution 372 would label marijuana a "dangerous and addictive drug." This is a blatantly false and prejudicial statement. Sure, we want kids to stay away from pot and all drugs, but that's a separate issue. The medical marijuana debate is about adults using pot in consultation with their physicians. The plant is an ancient folk remedy that transcends legislation, yet Congress attempts to nullify its healing powers by passing a law.
Just what are the conservatives trying to protect us from? For some reason they perceive innocent people as the enemy and the persecution is severe. The War on Drugs is a war against our own neighbors. It's is destroying our democracy. Our founding fathers drafted the Constitution and Bill of Rights to prevent exactly this kind of situation. What would George Washington say? As a hemp grower, he would have reason to be discouraged with House Resolution 372 and all this Reefer Madness.
Let's write letters and make phone calls this week to speak out for American Freedom. We can bring a peaceful conclusion to this war through a literal "grass" roots effort.
Medical Marijuana on P.I.
Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher, Woody Harrelson and Todd McCormick will air in May. Check the ABC-TV website for local listings.
Pray for Peace News went to the filming today on April 20. The other guests were Dr. Drew Pinskey from M-TV's "Love Line" and Natalie Maines, a country western singer. Dr. Drew started off talking about "marijuana addiction" and how one of the patients in his addiction clinic killed himself because he was "withdrawing" from marijuana. Natalie Maines also attacked Todd, insisting that pot makes you lazy.
Tune in to to see how Woody, Todd and host Bill Maher handled these arguments. By the end, even Dr. Drew admitted that prohibition is wrong. After the show, Woody filmed a scene for his upcoming movie, "Ed-TV," in which the Harrelson character appears on Politically Incorrect to promote his book. After the shoot, local Channel 7 news trucks were waiting in the studio to interview Woody and Todd about medical marijuana. They were the lead story on the eleven o'clock news.
Bhagavad-gita Verse
Chapter 9, Text 16, Lord Krishna says: "It is I who am the ritual, I the sacrifice, the offering to the ancestors, the healing herb, the transcendental chant. I am the butter and the fire and the offering."
Excerpt from commentary: "The oblations offered to the Pitriloka [ancestors' planet] . . . considered as a kind of drug in the form of clarified butter . . . and many other commodities made with milk products."
Pray for Peace News has been analyzing this verse which seems to describe bhang, an Ayurvedic application of the marijuana plant. If there are any Indologists or Ayurvedic physicians who could offer an opinon, please contact the webmaster click here for contact info.
Reply:
On the Soma issue, the best authority I know is Hans Jorge Behr. He's been involved in many Soma ceremonies all around India and says the recipe varies depending on locale. Datura is often used. Cannabis, however, is always the main and principal ingredient. If you want to have some contact with him (his books are written in German).
Internet Links
Please help Pray for Peace generate positive energy through prayer and affirmation. You are invited to link to our web site through the archive page: Archive.html.
To add a web site to our link page, please send the address and a brief description click here for contact info.
Pray for Peace News est. 1995
Pray for Peace News was founded to spread awareness, education and devotion to the Great and Holy Mystery that is God. We accept all paths as true; all religions are but branches of the same tree. We promote interfaith dialogue and exchange programs to develop tolerance between religions.
Pray for Peace News is dedicated to nonviolence (vegetarian diet) and daily meditation. Pray for Peace News editors are committed to the legalization of sacred natural medicines for spiritual healing, for all people.
End the War on Drugs
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