SUPPORT SCOTT LAUGENOUR! HOLD A SIGN ON NOVEMBER 2nd

          A GREAT CANDIDATE DESERVES YOUR SUPPORT!

We have endorsed Green-Rainbow Scott Laugenour’s campaign for State Representative in the 4th Berkshire District.  Scott is in a two-way race against the incumbent. We like his campaign because, in a sense, he's part of the family. We know he's for real! I'd like him anyway, but we just heard that he worked with my son, Ben Nicotera, a few years ago,  campaigning for single payer health care. And here's a link to Scott's statement on Marijuana Legalization;
http://www.greenmassgroup.com/showComment.do?commentId=338

For having the courage to take a timely, progressive stand on these and so many other issues close to our hearts, we gladly offer our support.

The 4th Berkshire District is geographically large and extends into the southwestern towns of the Pioneer Valley.

The district includes the following 18 towns.  Great Barrington has two polling stations.

Alford
Blandford
Chester
Egremont
Great Barrington
Lee
Lenox
Monterey
Mount Washington
New Marlborough
Otis
Pittsfield (Ward 5B only)
Sandisfield
Sheffield
Stockbridge
Tolland
Tyringham
West Stockbridge

A Deviation From The Norm

Who -- Who's the one that
-- let Supreme Court be taken by outback hicks?!
Sue! -- Sue the Senate!
-- They know better than that! That's malpractice!
It's time for distortion -- of the Constitution
-- it's nothin' but a waste of paper any ol' way --
Time for its contortion -- and convolution
-- these right-wing flunkies could write a better one any ol' day!

The ignorant are always being used
-- by the fascist forces running the machine.
Idiots stand up and fight against rights for the accused!
-- When anyone can be accused --
Why can't it be seen
-- that limiting their own freedom
-- -- -- is what it's gonna mean?!

Am I safe from Invasion of Privacy?
-- Walking on the Bayshore, can I be sure?
There USED TO be a Fourth Amendment
-- to protect me from Illegal Search and Seizure
That was when the Bill of Rights could pass the test!
-- when it use' t' have ten Articles!
But if you ever have the inconvenience of arrest,
-- it's reduced to just two Particles:

Sit Down! and Shut Up!
-- You have the right to remain silent.
If you give up the right to remain silent,
-- anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.
You have the right to speak with an attorney
-- and to have that attorney present during questioning.
Do you understand these rights as I've explained them to you?
-- You have two rights:
-- -- -- SIT DOWN! and SHUT UP!

(p)(c)2010 Norman Schulerud Bie, Jr. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED! (c)1986 Norman B (part of collection: Deviations from the Norm). First broadcast in 1986 on WMNF 88.5 FM Tampa Community Radio. First performed live in 1986 at the Songwriters' Forum at Rough Riders restaurant in Ybor City section of Tampa.
This poem has a long history for me: About eighty live performances in twenty-four years, half on stage, about half on the radio, a couple on Public Access TV.
On the original recording of this song, Line 8 said "Reagan's flunkies" instead of "right-wing flunkies;" because Supreme Court Justices are appointed for a long time (for 'life or good behavior'), therefore, long after Ronald Reagan packed the Court with an evil gang of right-wing morons in the 1980s, they remain entrenched restricting freedom for a many years -- one just left on the eve of NATIONAL FREEDOM DAY four years ago, on Jan. 31, 2010; the other two Reagan appointees (Scalia & Kennedy) are still there.
A reviewer named Tom Roe wrote in the 1990s in two different newspapers that I was irrelevantly attacking Ronald Reagan after he was no longer President. Mr. Roe was obviously unaware of how the Government works: Reagan's right-wing flunkies are STILL running the Supreme Court, one of them wrote the Court's official opinion in last week's corrupt & insane decision claiming that: (1) Corporations are Persons; (2) Money is Speech; (3) Foreign Corporations have more Freedom of Speech than American citizens; & (4) We are Fucked. What a bunch of crooks!
Line 2's "outback hicks" does not refer to the Australian Outback; what I meant was more like gruff ignorant American he-man woman-hating bullheaded bullies, like the KKK or Antonin Scalia. Sometimes on some stages I have self-censored this poem, leaving out "fascist" in line 10, sometimes stuttering the "f-f-f-" sound in its place. Censorship in Line 11 consisted of changing the word "Idiots" to "They;" because it is wrong to call people "idiots." The Bible says don't call people "Thou fool!" which may be interpreted to mean "Don't call people names," or "Don't call people anything." (NOTE -- Ignore the above line numbers when reading the following notes on rhythm.)

LAYERS OF RHYTHMS:
SAPPHIC RHYTHM or a Sapphic Stanza is typically 3 or 4 lines followed by a Sapphic Appendix, which is a fraction of a line. Sappho's stanzas were 3 lines. In English, Sapphic Stanzas are often 4 lines.
CAESURAS (pronounced "si ZYOO ruz") are pauses in the rhythm of a line: In this poem, the first, third & fourth stanzas are actually not eight lines each, but four with a caesura, or pause, in the middle of each.
RAPIDLY ADVANCING AND MUTATING SAPPHIC RHYTHM: Instead of repeating the rhythm of line/line/line/partial line, in this case, RAMSR goes stanza/partial stanza/partial line; stanza/stanza/partial line.
INTERNAL RHYME, both inter- & intraline, adds to the layering.

Jello Biafra's Rap

Worcester State Rep Candidate, Civil Liberties Hero, Struck by Car

To Mass Activists,

    Long time worker for marijuana reform, Ron Madnick, was recently hit by a car as he was crossing the street.  He has a missing tooth, leg pain, and some stitches.  I am glad it is not worse.
He was active in helping put marijuana reform on a Worcester district ballot several years back.  As head of the Worcester County ACLU chapter he has promoted the cause of medical marijuana as well as defended the rights of marijuana activists when they are abridged as well as all the other right on political work that he does.  When I was talking to him this Spring and found out that he was running as an independent for the 13th Worcester State Rep district (west side of Worcester and Paxton) seat, I wanted to make sure we had a medical PPQ on the district ballot at the same time and went and put one together.  I knew there would be no better advocate during the campaign than Ron.
    This accident has slowed him down a bit and he could use some help.  Non-profit groups can't help him as organizations but individuals on their own volition can.  I urge anyone in the area with any time or resources to spare to get a hold of Ron at: rmadnick@...   or  508-982-1722   and offer that help.

                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                                                  John Leonard

A CALL FOR HELP From CALIFORNIA PROPOSITION 19

Talk to Voters - Predictive Dialer

Getting started | Talking to voters | The Script | Talking points

Getting started

The predictive dialer is a tool that allows you to call five times as many voters as traditional hand-dialing. All you have to focus on is asking voters to mail in their ballots!
The dialer's hours of operation are from 5PM-9PM PT on weekdays, 10AM-9PM PT on weekends.
Here's how you get started:

• Call 1.877.475.4589
• Type in your phone number, then press #. It'll then ask if you have an extension for your phone; if you don't, just type # again.
• Type in the Agent ID number, which is: 1371057#
• Type in the PIN number, which is: 8675#
• You'll then be asked to hang up. The tool will call you back in 30 seconds, and you'll be ready to make calls!
• Be sure to review the talking points.

Talking to voters

• You will hear a beep when you are connected to a voter. Say hello as soon as you hear the beep. Follow your script.
• When you are finished with the call, press star (*) on your phone keypad to disconnect with the caller. Do not hang up your phone!
• After pressing *, you will hear “Please Enter the Disposition” which just means to press the number on your phone keypad which represents the result of your conversation. You do not need to press * a second time. Here are the disposition codes:
  PRESS 1….. Yes
  PRESS 2.…. Undecided
  PRESS 3.…. No
  PRESS 4….. Not Home/Call Back
  PRESS 5….. Already Voted
  PRESS 6….. Wrong Number
  PRESS 7….. Deceased
  PRESS 8….. Other Language
  PRESS 9….. Refused

The Script

Remember to begin as soon as you hear a beep!
Hi! My name is __________ and I’m a volunteer for Yes on Proposition 19, the initiative to control and tax cannabis in California. Our records show you're a permanent absentee voter. Have you mailed in your ballot yet?

IF YES: Great, have a nice day! (end call)

IF NO: Have you heard about Prop 19? (Pause for response)Prop 19 offers a common sense approach: under Prop 19, it will no longer be a crime for adults over 21 to possess small amounts of cannabis. Prop 19 will save hundreds of millions of dollars and enable police to focus on preventing real crime. Prop 19 will also generate billions in revenue to fund what matters in California, as well as provide hundreds of thousands of jobs. Will you commit to support Proposition 19?

IF YES: Great! I see that you're on the vote by mail program; don't forget to mail in your ballot as early as possible.

IF UNDECIDED: Ok, let me tell you a little more about Prop 19. It contains strong safety controls to keep our communities safe, maintains strict criminal penalties for driving under the influence, increases penalties for providing marijuana to minors, and bans smoking it in public, on school grounds, and around minors. These safety controls, and the fact that Prop 19 will enable police to focus on preventing violent crime, is the reason why many police officers, judges, and sheriffs support Prop 19. Can we count on your Yes vote?

IF NO: Thanks for your time; have a great day!

Join the Campaign

Donate

Make your secure contribution today, so we can win in November.

Volunteer

The key to winning this election and reforming California's cannabis laws will be the passion, support, and engagement of people like you.

Like an increasing number of law enforcers, I have learned that most bad things about marijuana - especially the violence made inevitable by an obscenely profitable black market - are caused by the prohibition, not by the plant.– Joseph McNamaraFormer San Jose Police Chief

• About Prop 19 • Contact Us • News • Voices • Video • Contribute • Volunteer

Yes on 19. Tax Cannabis 2010. Sponsored by S.K. Seymour LLC, a Medical Cannabis Provider, dba Oaksterdam University, a Cannabis Educator

HEY RACHEL

Hey Rachel - it's Michael from Just Say Now. I just got this news and need to share it with you.

A new poll from California has Prop 19 down by several points. See below for an email from my colleague Jon explaining what’s up.

Bottom line: it’s all about turnout. Prop 19 is actually WINNING among young people, and people who haven’t yet voted. If we can bring more young voters to the polls, we can win this thing.

We can’t afford to let up. Please chip in $10 to our campaign for Prop 19.

We’ve already made more than 9,000 calls to young voters. We’re running a big outreach effort that won’t let up til the polls close. But we still need to raise $32,000 to pull off our plans to contact enough voters and make up the difference for Prop 19 and legalize marijuana in California.

As Jon said in his email to me, the only way Prop 19 passes is because of a big turnout. There’s just 12 days left. This is it.

Please donate $10 or more right now to pass Prop 19.


Thank you for everything you do.

Michael

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jon Walker
Date: Thu, Oct 21, 2010 at 11:09 AM
Subject: New poll for Prop 19
To: Michael Whitney
Cc: Jane Hamsher

Hey guys -

New poll came out last night. Prop 19 is down, 44% to 49% among likely voters.

Here’s the thing. I took a look at the data; Prop 19 is actually WINNING among people who haven’t voted yet. These are people most pollsters don't include in their "likely" voters models. That means it’s all going to be about turnout.

Polls have been up and down, but two things are for sure:

1. it’s going to be a very tight race, and
2. if Prop 19 wins, it will only be because more people turned out to vote than anyone expected.

Michael - can you forward this to our Just Say Now supporters? Looks like we’re at 20% of our goal for GOTV for Prop 19. It’s going to be so critical to turn out the vote.

https://secure.firedoglake.com/page/contribute/gotv_1

We need every vote we can get.

- Jon

Medical Marijuana Stakeholder's Meeting Location Announced

Medical Marijuana Stakeholder's Meeting
Saturday, November 13
10am - 4 pm
Boston Public Library Orientation Glass Room
700 Boylston Street McKim Building, First Floor
Copley Square Dartmouth St. entrance
Boston, MA 02116
What are our goals for the next year?
How can we work as a group to be most effective?
Why have some states passed laws that don't allow patients to grown their own medicine?
What is happening in other states and how does if affect Massachusetts?
Americans for Safe Access
Mass. Patient Advocacy Alliance
RSVP to mjpatients@gmail.com

OCT 30th RALLY IN DC TO RESTORE SANITY

[wmdp] More info on DPA's plans for the Restore (drug policy) Sanity Rally in DC on Oct 30
Wednesday, October 20, 2010 10:27 PM
From:
"Terry Franklin"


* DPA has ordered 400 “Legalize Pot” signs which will be delivered to DPA’s DC office on 10.27.10. The Washington, DC office is located at: 925 15th Street NW, 2nd Fl.

* Distributing signs before the event is encouraged. To pick up signs on Thursday or Friday please contact Derek Rosenfeld at the DPA DC office - 202-683-2991 - email is drosenfeld@drugpolicy.org

* Sign making/distribution party on Friday, October 29th, 2010, organized by SSDP. Contact Stacia@ssdp.org for more information.

* DRCNet suggested making “Legalize Pot” signs on the front of posters and Vote Yes on Prop 19 on the back. Since DPA’s signs are already printed this is not a possibility for the first 400. However, additional signs made or ordered by partners can definitely have such a message.

* SSDP was given 50 tickets and invited to sit near the front of the rally. Opportunity to highlight our issue. Stacia will take 50 signs with her group to their seats.

* The DPA and friends’ bus leaves NY at 6:00am, and arrives in DC by 11am. Rally participants will gather at the center at the National Mall on 4th St. The bus is first come, first serve with limited seating. Please contact Yair at ytygiel@drugpolicy.org to reserve a seat from NY.

* SSDP and DRCNet to organize phone bank party post rally at their office/s to mobilize voters in California. This is to be included in the press release.

* Partners were encouraged to spread the message far and wide to their members and constituents especially to fans on Face book, Twitter and etc…

* ABWF volunteered to join the phone bank as well from Connecticut. ABWF also offered volunteers to help with pre rally logistics

As Goes California, So Goes The Nation: MaMaMoJo Supports

Rachel,

As a mom, there's nothing I care about more than the well-being and safety of our kids. That's why I'm part of the Yes on 19 Moms Coalition -- and today, I'm asking you to join me.

By strengthening our Yes on 19 Moms Coalition, we'll send a strong signal to the press, the pundits, and undecided voters that ending our failed marijuana policies will make California safer for our kids. This is an incredibly important message to deliver -- so if you're a mom like me, I hope you'll stand with me right now.

Click here to join the Yes on 19 Moms Coalition!

If you're not a mom, please forward this message to all the moms you know -- make sure they join our coalition and help show the strength of our campaign.

Thanks for your help,

Cindy Gaffney
Volunteer & Mom, Yes On 19

An Open Letter To My Readers (All Two Of You)

THE POLITICAL GETS PERSONAL

Esteemed Readers,

MaMaMoJournal is not quite a month old and we've already received almost 500 hits, with a small but growing roster of contributors and readers checking in daily and sharing articles  far and wide, across the country and around the world. Each day I surmount another  logistical challenge, learn a litttle more about the art and craft of blogging. Each day I hit a new, confounding technical wall in my efforts to make this blog look as good as it can and each day I strive to carry the most cogent and useful information I'm able to elicit and share. I sure would love to hear  something from each of of you, Dear Readers, a shout out from your  neck of the woods, a word of assent or respectful dissent, I'd welcome any and all who come in peace and solidarity to this journal. Positive feedback, anyone? Constructive criticism? Thoughts of your own or news of the marijuana movement in your part of the world?
There is so much I would love to know about you. Who are you anyway, when you're at home? Are you actively a marijuana movement supporter, or just a curious observer? What brought you here? What matters to you? What would you like to see when you come to a site like this? What would prompt you to write in?
Who's viewing us across the USA, our biggest audience thus far?
But too, I'm fascinated and intrigued; What part of the country do you hale from, dear readers from Russia?  What's it like to be a marijuana activist in post Soviet Russia, I really wonder!
What's "the haps" with our across-the-pond movement in the UK?
Que Pasa, quiero saber, con la lucha in Spain?
Tell me how things are looking these days in Canada, eh? Does your single payer medical plan cover medical cannabis? I'd be fascinated to learn.
It would be especially wonderful, a real honor to receive word from my viewers in Singapore and Senegal. So far away...how did you find us? Hello! And welcome.
You can't know what a thrill it is  for me to know you are out there.

For Your Education, Edification, Entertainment and Enlightenment

                                              

 Meet Our Candidate

To be Fair, To be Well Informed Voters, we invited them ALL to come. 

Only One Massachusetts Gubernatorial Candidate Responded with a Prompt Commitment to speak here in Amherst.

The U MASS Cannabis Reform Coalition Is Honored to Present:

GREEN RAINBOW GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE
JILL STEIN

SPEAKING AT THE U MASS AMHERST STUDENT UNION BALLROOM

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28th, 2010

AT 4:00 PM

                                                                                                                      Followed By

  

*PROTEST PG*

Pashtun Genocide Pariah Gases Prison Guantanamo Pinocchio Government

Prohibition of Ganja
Please Give
(to Pakistan flood relief, Haiti etc.)
Protect Gaia

A One Man Multi-Media Rock Opera Written and Performed by Norman B

(Deviations From The Norm)

From Norman B:

The Republicans lied to us and ripped us off for 8 years! Now, the Democrats have been lying to us and ripping us off for 2 years! What a bunch of crooks! At this point, 70% of Americans reject Democrats and 80% reject Republicans. The two corporate puppet parties are obviously working together, and against us! This is the season for PROTEST! This is the Time for IGLO to rise up: Independents, Greens, Libertarians & Others. As Norman Mailer once put it in similar circumstances: No More Bullshit.


VOTE LIBERATIONIST! Your Country Needs You! ~ Peace ~ Freedom ~ End Prohibition ~ Restore Habeas Corpus & Bill of Rights


                CANDIDATES

for Massachusetts Governor: JILL STEIN, Green-Rainbow Party
for Mass. Lieutenant Gov: RICK PURCELL, GRP
for US House of Representatives: MICHAEL ENGEL, Independent democratic Socialist
for Amherst/Granby State Rep: DAN MELICK, Independent
for Pittsfield State Rep: SCOTT LAUGENAUR, GRP
for State Auditor: NAT FORTUNE, GRP


            VOTE TO FULLY LEGALIZE MARIJUANA
(Voting YES on the following Public Policy Questions instructs your representatives to support full Legalization of Marijuana)

QUESTION 4 in Amherst, Belchertown, Ware* & Plainville; QUESTION 6 in Sunderland & Whately;
QUESTION 5 in Chesterfield, Conway, Deerfield, Goshen, Granby, Leverett, Montague, New Salem, Palmer, Pelham, Shutesbury, Wendell, Williamsburg & Huntington

*Ware seeks to Legalize Medical Marijuana only.

TRUTH, JUSTICE,

& REFRESHMENTS WILL BE SERVED                                 

A Call For Action

From: "Alex Arsenault"

Add sender to Contacts

To:

wmdp@yahoogroups.com

  Hello WMPD!  Alex Arsenault here, current deputy field director for Yes on 19 in California, although many of you know me from my active role in the Umass Cannabis Reform Coalition.  I am emailing all of you to encourage you to help support Prop 19 from the east coast by making calls from your home.


You just need to go to www.yeson19.com/call, make an account and and start making calls to California voters.  The system is very simple to use and includes a training video.  I also know that many of you on this list are leaders in the reform movement in Mass and have your own extensive email lists.  I encourage you to get this link out to your groups and ask as many folks as possible to help Prop 19 by making calls. 

I moved to California from Mass over a year ago to work on Prop 19 because I knew that the best hope we had to legalize cannabis in other states (including Mass) was to start with California. My experiences here has shown me that California is ahead of Massachusetts on this issue, but not by a long shot, and that by legalizing it here first it will become much easier to pass similar ballot initiatives in other states. 

I know that many of you are busy with your own projects in Mass but I hope you can find some time in your schedule to make some calls and help out our efforts in California.  Even more importantly, circulate this link among your email lists and put it up on your sites and blogs to encourage activists across the state to get involved.  The world is watching Prop 19 now and I can tell you from campaign HQ that things are looking great.  We really do have a good chance of legalizing marijuana in the largest state in the country this November and changing the conversation about cannabis policy on a global level, but we need all the help we can get to do it.

Thanks to all of you for your hard work and dedication.  The PPQ's were a great project and I really hope they go well this November!

If any of you have questions about Prop 19, the calling tool, or anything else please do not be afraid to email me back.



Alex Arsenault
Yes on 19, Deputy Field Director.

Where Were You On 10/10/10?

October 10, 2010, a beautiful, jewel-like day here in New England, was slated to be a day of action, with eco-conscious Work Parties world wide coming together to draw attention and to take concrete measures tackling the issue of global warming. For the day, hundreds of thousands of people gathered to think globally and come up with constructive strategies for stopping the destruction of our environment in the shrinking time we have left to try and do this.

Locally, Norman was down at Puffer's Pond showing local Work Party attendees how to remove japanese knotweed, an ornamental planting once introduced by landscapers for its bamboolike aesthetic appeal but which, wildly proliferating on its own, became a nuisance, an aggressive, opportunist plant which overgrows and chokes out native species. An apt metaphor for the unchecked proliferation of planet-choking greenhouse gases.

Thanks to the efforts of a small but intrepid crew who worked all afternoon with Norman, battling down a stubborn thicket of the invader plant, Puffers Pond's knotweed infestation is at least temporarily defeated, and Norm had fun showing anybody who'd pay attention his Actual Size chart, which shows the current carbon footprint, that serious threat to our ecosystem which spurred the 10/10/10 350 Work Party movement: teeny, compared, in a scale described in the United Nations' study of greenhouse gases and their relative contributions to global warming, with the rampantly growing impact of the gases NF3 and SF6 now being profusely developed and used in the manufacture of so called "Smart Grid" solar panels and wind farm switchgear boxes.He came home exhausted but exalted, because a few people seemed to get what he was talking about.

I didn't go anywhere on 10/10/10. I slept profusely, but in spurts, awakened time and again by searingly sharp cramps in my legs and shoulders,my eyes ached, my face was scary, a swollen mask. I was in so much physical pain when awake I prefered to do as little moving as possible and did my "work" that day almost entirely on the dream level, therein restlessly battling stubborn infestations of choking doubt and crippling tangles of self criticism that appeared as monsters and thickets of thorn and dank labyrinths in my dreams.

This is the first time in days I've felt well enough to move around, to sit up and type.
Thank goodness this movement doesn't depend on me. I got an email this weekend from Terry Franklin, sharing a video of young 10/10/10 activists who showed up at one of President Obama's weekend pitstops:

Sativa Means Useful

October 6, 2010 By Christine Buckley

(PhysOrg.com) -- Industrial hemp, which grows in infertile soils, is attractive as a potential source of sustainable diesel fuel.

Of all the various uses for Cannabis plants, add another, “green” one to the mix. Researchers at UConn have found that the fiber crop Cannabis sativa, known as industrial hemp, has properties that make it viable and even attractive as a raw material, or feedstock, for producing biodiesel – sustainable diesel fuel made from renewable plant sources.
The plant’s ability to grow in infertile soils also reduces the need to grow it on primary croplands, which can then be reserved for growing food, says

Richard Parnas, a professor of chemical, materials, and biomolecular engineering who led the study.
“For sustainable fuels, often it comes down to a question of food versus fuel,” says Parnas, noting that major current biodiesel plants include food crops such as soybeans, olives, peanuts, and rapeseed. “It’s equally important to make fuel from plants that are not food, but also won’t need the high-quality land.”
Industrial hemp is grown across the world, in many parts of Europe and Asia. Fiber from the plant’s stalk is strong, and until the development of synthetic fibers in the 1950s, it was a premier product used worldwide in making rope and clothing.
Today, there are still parts of the world that rely on Cannabis stalks as a primary fiber, mainly because of its ability to grow “like a weed,” without requiring lots of water, fertilizers, or high-grade inputs to flourish. But the seeds, which house the plant’s natural oils, are often discarded. Parnas points out that this apparent waste product could be put to good use by turning it into fuel.
“If someone is already growing hemp,” he says, “they might be able to produce enough fuel to power their whole farm with the oil from the seeds they produce.” The fact that a hemp industry already exists, he continues, means that a hemp biodiesel industry would need little additional investment.

With his graduate student Si-Yu Li and colleagues James Stuart of the Department of Chemistry and

Yi Li of the Department of Plant Sciences, Parnas used virgin hemp seed oil to create biodiesel using a standardized process called transesterification. The group then tested the fuel for a suite of characteristics in the Biofuels Testing Laboratory at UConn’s Center for Environmental Science and Engineering.

The hemp biodiesel showed a high efficiency of conversion – 97 percent of the hemp oil was converted to biodiesel – and it passed all the laboratory’s tests, even showing properties that suggest it could be used at lower temperatures than any biodiesel currently on the market.
Although growing hemp is not legal in the U.S., Parnas hopes that the team’s results will help to spur hemp biodiesel production in other parts of the world. UConn holds a patent on a biodiesel reactor system that could be customized to make biodiesel from a range of sustainable inputs, hemp included.
“Our research data could make buying a reactor system with our technology more attractive,” says Parnas. “If we have data for the production of many different feedstocks, we can tailor the system to meet the company’s needs.”
Parnas, Yi Li, and colleagues Steven Suib of the Department of Chemistry, Fred Carstensen of the Department of Economics, and Harrison Yang of the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment are preparing to build a pilot biodiesel production facility using a two-year, $1.8 million grant from the Department of Energy.
The reactor will be capable of producing up to 200,000 gallons of biodiesel per year, and while this production rate is small in comparison to commercial biodiesel reactors, the main use of the facility will be to test new ways to produce biodiesel, including catalysts and feedstocks. Ultimately, the team will perform economic analyses on commercializing their methods.
As for other industries that utilize Cannabis plants, Parnas makes a clear distinction between industrial hemp, which contains less than 1 percent psychoactive chemicals in its flowers, and some of its cousins, which contain up to 22 percent. “This stuff,” he points out, “won’t get you high.”

Provided by University of Connecticut (news : web)

From Williams College: Students for Sensible Drug Policy

Steve Luther, President of the Students for a Sensible Drug Policy  chapter at Williams College, writes:

"I started a discussion on a Williams online forum about marijuana vs. alcohol and the justification for legalization.  It has so far been a very civil and well-reasoned debate":
http://wso.williams.edu/discuss/comments.php?DiscussionID=2691

Here is Steve's post, which spearheaded  a lively, intelligent discussion.


"On any given weekend, a portion of the student body will be smoking pot and/or drinking. To some, this is obvious, inevitable, part of the college experience. To others, it may be morally objectionable. Because of the vastly differing views on drug use, I think it is important to come to an understanding about the safest way to do them that reflects the best interests of all students.

In my opinion, alcohol abuse poses the greatest risk to student safety on campus, but it enjoys a sort of special protection from both criticism and punishment because of its widespread social acceptance. Both nationally and in the Williams community, there is a clear double standard regarding attitudes toward alcohol and marijuana reflected in the disciplinary response to the respective substances.

Why do the laws and law enforcement policies punish marijuana use more readily than they do alcohol use? The obvious answer is that one is illegal, the other legal. This is not a satisfactory answer. Alcohol is not only a highly toxic substance that is responsible for the deaths of thousands every year, but it contributes to societal problems like domestic violence, disorderly behavior, and texts that you wished you hadn't sent. Marijuana is far less harmful comparatively; the toxicity of marijuana is so low that there has never been an overdose on marijuana, the effects are generally calming and relaxing, and you are able to function like a human being the next morning. Yet the recreational use of pot is met with harsher punishments and a higher level of social stigmatization than the drug responsible for the stale vomit smell lingering in your hallway? Hard to believe.

Assume for a second you're convinced that alcohol is more harmful than marijuana. What is the law enforcement response? The Williams handbook is clear that it is illegal for anyone under age 21 to possess or purchase alcohol and illegal to provide alcohol to minors, just as it is against the law to possess illegal drugs (including the decriminalized but still illegal marijuana). Offenders of these rules will be dealt with according to state and federal law. The WPD only made 39 arrests for liquor law violations last year, while Campus Safety and Security reported 81 alcohol violations. In contrast, there were only 37 drug violations reported on campus and 64 arrests made for drug charges on campus and in areas contiguous to campus. Forgive my rusty statistics skills, but it seems to me that the college policy is slipping through the cracks when it comes to enforcing state laws regarding alcohol. The administration is, however, making the police very happy by calling them up every time they get a wiff of marijuana in the air; this is clearly evident in the ease in which they cooperated with the police in changing their drug enforcement policy dealing with 'On Campus' iliicit activities. Can one students actions jumping out his window with a bong really be enough to change the laws of a prestigous university?.

My issue is that alcohol abuse poses a greater health risk and causes greater damage to society than illicit �hard drugs� like marijuana- yet alcohol abuse as reflected in the prevalence of underage binge drinking does not incite disciplinary action by the school, while the mere act of possessing a device used for smoking marijuana requires the involvement of state authority. If the college (and our national government) had public health and safety foremost in their mind, alcohol and marijuana would at the very least be equals in regulatory status. If the administration was to enforce underage drinking laws with the involvement of police as they do with marijuana possession, there would be an uproar. So again I ask- why the double standard?

Let me be clear. I do not want Security to start issuing citations for underage possession or opening investigations into who provided the booze at a party. Rather, I am advocating a policy of harm reduction. The college should recognize the reality of student drug and alcohol use on campus and seek to prevent negative consequences. In the case of alcohol, this means a shift in the campus culture towards safer practices and moderation. I'm not a prude or a hypocrite asking you to cease all drinking immediately. But let's at least stop convincing ourselves that blacking out � not remembering part of the night � is a good way to occupy the weekend hours. People should also find ways to enjoy themselves in Williamstown without abusing alcohol- an admittedly difficult task come January.

A harm reduction strategy targeted at illegal drugs should take the form of honest and open education, ample resources providing for the safest use possible, and a Medical Amnesty clause explicitly stating that students will not be punished if they call for help during an emergency situation related to drugs or alcohol. As I've tried to point out here, I think the most harmful consequence of marijuana use are not the effects of the drug, but rather the consequences imposed on people by irrational laws.

I understand that Williams is constrained in its actions by federal laws. Drug policy is consequently a local issue that requires national lobbying efforts. To get involved with Students for Sensible Drug Policy and help end counterproductive prohibitionist laws, contact me at sll1@williams.edu.

Thoughts?"

From The UMASS Collegian

Christian says:

September 29, 2010 at 12:32 pm

Jesus said to treat other people the way we would want to be treated. I know I wouldn’t want my college kid to go to jail with the sexual predators, or my parents to have their house stolen by the police, if they used a little marijuana.
Let’s change the world. Let’s get registered and vote.
Citizens and college students in Massachusetts can register at: http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elestu/stuidx.htm
In California:
w w w . sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_vr.htm .
(just fill out the form and mail it in).
And you can request a ballot by mail at
w w w . sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_m.htm .
In other states, Google your state name and the phrase, voter registration. Print off the form and mail it in (or drive it down to City Hall).
Five minutes. Register to vote. Change the world. Right now.
Pass it on

[wmdp] 2010 Election Guide for Marijuana Voters in the Northeast

Sunday, October 3, 2010 6:32 PM

From:

"Terry Franklin"

To:

wmdp@yahoogroups.com

 

  California, with its Proposition 19, is the place to vote this year. If you have moved there recently, please do so. If you are from there, and still vote absentee, please do that. If you have a friend out there, make sure they are registered to vote. Call them on Election Day with a reminder, friendly or pesky, whichever the case requires.

  But for us voters in the Northeast, I've put together this list of candidates in our own area who support marijuana legalization.

  Not everyone is a single issue voter, but please keep this issue in mind when making your decision. Most of these people are "3rd party" candidates -- Libertarians have been on board for decades -- and it's heartening to see a number of Greens joining them this year. Even without winning, minor party candidates can have an effect: One or both of the major parties see themselves losing voters, and will try to shift their platform in an effort to get them back in the next election.

  I tried to make the list as comprehensive as possible. However, there is no doubt I have missed someone -- especially in the more local races. Carefully evaluate the positions of all the candidates on your ballot before going to the polls on Election Day. Even if someone has not come out for legalization, they may have a position on a lesser issue such as medical, decrim, or hemp which is better than their opponent.

******************************************************

Please Distribute This List Widely

******************************************************
 
Party Designations:

(D) = Democrat
(R) = Republican
(L) = Libertarian
(G) = Green
(M) = US Marijuana Party
(A) = Anti-Prohibition Party
(I) = Independent
(S) = Independent Socialist

******************************************************

CONNECTICUT

Comptroller     (G) Colin Bennett
Congress        (G) Kenneth Krayeske  1st C.D.
Congress        (G) Charlie Pillsbury 3rd C.D.
State Rep.      (I) Jason Ortiz        54th Dist.

MAINE

State Rep.     (D) Anne M. Haskell District 117
State Rep.     (D) Mark N. Dion  District 113 (North Deering, Falmouth)

MASSACHUSETTS

Governor        (G) Jill Stein
Congress        (S) Michael Engel 1st Congr.Dist.
Congress        (D) Barney Frank 4th C.D.
Congress        (R) Sean Bielat also in the 4th
State Sen.      (D) Cythia Creem Newton area
State Sen.      (R) Craig Spadafora   Melrose area
State Rep.      (I) Daniel Melick     Amherst & Granby
State Rep.      (I) Jonathan Loya     Hopkinton area
State Rep.      (I) Ron Madnick       Worcester area
State Rep.      (G) Scott Laugenaur Pittsfield area

In addition, 73 towns in MA have non-binding, but important, advisory questions, "PPQs," on the ballot, concerning either legalization or medical marijuana.  See the very bottom of this mailing for the Question number for each town.*

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Governor        (L) John Babiarz
Senate          (L) Ken Blevens
Congress        (L) Phillip Hodson     1st C.D.
Congress        (L) Howard Wilson      2nd C.D.
State Rep.      (L) Brenden Kelly      Rockingham area
State Rep.      (L) Lisa Wilber        Goffstown area
State Rep.      (L) Rich Tomasso       W.Manchester area
State Rep.      (L) Steve Couture      Tilton area

NEW JERSEY

Congress        (L) Russ Conger        3rd C.D.
Congress        (L) Joe Siano          4th C.D.
Congress        (I) David Meiwinkle    also in the 4th
Congress        (L) Jim Gawron         11th C.D.

NEW YORK

Wow -- 3 gubernatorial candidates are pro-legalization!

Governor        (L) Warren Redlich
Governor        (G) Howie Hawkins
Governor        (A) Kristin Davis
At. General     (L) Carl Person
Comptroller     (L) John Gaetani
Senate-6yr      (L)+(A) Randy Credico
Senate-6yr      (G) Colia Clark
Senate-2yr      (L) John Clifton
Senate-2yr      (A) Vivia Morgan
Congress        (L) Elizabeth Burney    5th C.D.
Congress        (L) Tom Vendittelli     13th C.D.
Congress        (L) Dino Laverghetta    14th C.D.
Congress        (L) Ernest Bell         24th C.D.
Congress        (L) Marc Romain         25th C.D.
Congress        (L) Dean Sandstrom      27th C.D.
St. Rep.        (L) Anthony Librera     60th Dist.
St. Rep.        (L) Dave Narby          61st Dist.
St. Rep.        (L) Danny Panzella      63rd Dist.
St. Rep.        (L) Bill Gouldman       90th Dist.

PENNSYLVANIA

Congress        (L) Etzel Vernon        5th C.D.
State Sen.      (L) Betsy Summers       14th Dist.
State Sen.      (L) Edward Gately       28th Dist.
State Rep.      (L) Michael Robertson   63rd Dist.
State Rep.      (L) Vance Mays          64th Dist.
State Rep.      (L) Erik Viker          85th Dist.
State Rep.      (L) Thomas Anderson     109th Dist.
State Rep.      (L) Brian Bergman       119th Dist.
State Rep.      (L) Tim Mullen          120th Dist.
State Rep.      (G) Hugh Giordano       194th Dist.
State Rep.      (L) Willian Kohler      196th Dist.
State Rep.      (L) Michael Muhammad    203rd Dist.

RHODE ISLAND

Governor        (I) Ronald Algieri

VERMONT

Governor        (M) Cris Ericson
Senate          (M) Cris Ericson        She's running for both
At. General     (L) Karen Kerin
State Sen.      (I) Larkin Forney       Chittenden County