USVI NORMAL SNUBBED BY AVIS

Obviously you don't grasp the difference between legalizing pot (would need to be done Federally) and legalizing medical cannabis. Not just anyone can get the documentation they will need to legally be able to use, etc medical cannabis.

Medical cannabis frees many people of their medical symptoms and allows them to be much more productive - not as you say "high everyday". They are fighting to remove the stigma that is still associated and enforced by comments such as yours.

linda from michigan - i am quoting you to emphasize that legalization is not the same as decriminalization. i would like to see marijuana available for use in the medical profession and also for religious practice. as for recreational use, i will leave that to the people who permit both alcohol and tobacco to flourish (and be taxed and regulated)... two toxic and intoxicating substances when used to excess. it's hypocritical when the government permits these two and not marijuana.

no, i don't smoke and i don't intend to, not my thing. neither is drinking to excess, nor do i smoke cigarettes. when i was younger i tried marijuana and cocaine, and drank some. these days i am pretty much a teetotaler, but i have discovered flavored martinis and have had at least 4 in the past two months. so sue me!

honey you need to try a espresso martini from zebos,,or go to herve over there

Don't be naive. If marijuana were legal in the VI of course it would attract the "wrong people".

In fact those "wrong people" would be so attracted to the VI that they would certainly move here. They couldn't have a steady job. Work is hard enough to find here plus they are high everyday!

So they have to break into peoples homes to support their habit. I guess if it ever becomes legal, I'll buy stock in security systems.

This is just another example of your closed-minded ignorance, Uttica...the 13 States that have Medical Marijuana Laws in effect have not seen an influx of new residents, so why would the VI? USVINORML isn't trying to 'legalize' marijuana...we are trying to reform the laws so that the benefits of cannabis can be made available to those that have a medical need for it, verified by a doctor, WITH a prescription. I believe Uttica has 'experimented' with too many illicit drugs in the past...seems to have the mentality of a rock...make that a pebble.....JMHO, mind you.

Uttica is far from the only person that believes that. You guys think you are the norm and you maybe in the USVI(were more smoke then don't) but generally people don't want another harmful drug to be legal. And yes I know you think you can prove that its not harmful and I don't even argue anymore because you guys don't listen to anything but your own agenda.

In a way the USVI could be a model for why pot is harmful. With our horrible crime and terrible apathy could all be symptoms of our high drug rate. And the ones that do crack don't start with crack or cocaine.

Although you (Marty) don't know my past, thank you for seeing my point,

I believe Uttica has 'experimented' with too many illicit drugs in the past...seems to have the mentality of a rock...make that a pebble...

Illicit drugs do,in fact, have an impact on one's health!!!

But, I do disagree with you when you said,"the 13 States that have Medical Marijuana Laws in effect have not seen an influx of new residents, so why would the VI?".

Are you just stupid, or blind also? Of course they have seen an influx of residents. I have a sister in CA who is doctor. She is thinking about getting a license to prescribe marijuana. She says that with all the influx of hippies and "oh, I have a new religion that requires MJ", she would be richer without all the hours.

Just look at all the kids who come here from the States just because the legal age to drink here is 18.

(Oops, I'll bet I get an, "I'll kick your butt because you disagreed with me", PM from Marty). I just wish that there was an 18 year old mentally required before one posts on this board.

Uttica,
I understand you are against marijuana legalization for any purpose. I respect that. But please provide me with some backup to your claims.

According to California law any physician licensed to practice medicine in California may write a recommendation for medical cannabis. Doctors are not allowed by Federal law to write a prescription for marijuana. All 13 states require a recommendation from a physician to have the use come under state medical marijuana law. Each state has guidelines for the medical conditions that are valid. A "new religion that requires MJ" doesn't cut it anywhere.

This information comes from http://www.canorml.org/

California Physician Locator - Find the closest California physician by zip code or county at MCCDirectory.org
On Seeking Physician Approvals
Prop. 215 patients should begin by consulting with their own physicians about medical use of cannabis. If you don't have a medical record of treatment for serious illness, you may not be eliigible for marijuana under Prop. 215. To qualify, patients must obtain a physician's "recommendation" or "approval" (NOT prescription) to use marijuana (SAMPLE recommendation form ). No official registration is required. Marijuana can be recommended for ANY serious condition for which it provides relief; over 250 uses have been reported.
Many physicians wrongly fear that they can be prosecuted under federal law for recommending marijuana medically. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a permanent injunction by the U.S. District Court in Northern California forbidding the government from punishing California doctors for recommending marijuana, provided they do not get involved in its distribution or sales. The US Supreme Court has upheld the Ninth Circuit's ruling (Conant v. Walters: Oct. 15, 2003). Physicians are accordingly free to recommend marijuana for their patients, so long as they don't actually assist them in obtaining it (see California NORML's Medical Marijuana Guidlines for Physicians). Over 1500 California physicians have recommended medical marijuana under Prop. 215. None have been federally prosecuted for doing so.

WHAT ILLNESSES CAN MARIJUANA BE USED TO TREAT?

Prop. 215 lists "cancer, anorexia, AIDS, chronic pain, spasticity, glaucoma, arthritis, migraine, or any other illness for which marijuana provides relief." It qualifies this by stating that its purpose is "to ensure that seriously ill Californians have the right to obtain and use marijuana." A recent appellate court decision in People v. Spark ruled that the question of whether the patient's medical condition is "serious" is to be made by a physician only. Physicians have recommended marijuana for hundreds of indications, including such common complaints as insomnia, post-traumatic stress, PMS, depression, and substance abuse.

Betty,

Just to not be pigeonholed into the "you guys" group, let me go on the record to say that I don't think doing drugs are a good idea. I think they are all harmful, even alchohol which I partake in. But I do feel that the war on drugs is not compatible with the ideals of a free country. Most/many here who talk of legalizing drugs also say they don't do them. If they aren't harmful then why aren't they doing it when there is almost no chance of being "caught?"

Drugs and alchohol are generally not a good thing to be involved in. In general neither is gambling, wonton sex that can inflict disease with whomever and many other things that many of us enjoy from time to time. I understand the desire to create a utopia in which "bad" things are illegal. But it seems that there is growing evidence that effects of criminalization is actually more harmful than the drugs themselves, both in practical terms with drug gangs that mirror prohibition gangs, and in moral terms for what they've done to injure our freedoms in a free country.

If we can't keep drugs out of prisons how could we ever think that we could keep them out of society in general without turning society into a prison?

Sean

Well said sir!

Linda, I am not sure how to answer this, as I think you answered it for me when you wrote ...

Uttica,
I understand you are against marijuana legalization for any purpose. I respect that. But please provide me with some backup to your claims.

According to California law any physician licensed to practice medicine in California may write a recommendation for medical cannabis. Doctors are not allowed by Federal law to write a prescription for marijuana. All 13 states require a recommendation from a physician to have the use come under state medical marijuana law. Each state has guidelines for the medical conditions that are valid. A "new religion that requires MJ" doesn't cut it anywhere.

We, in the VI, are not bound by California Law. We are covered under federal Statutes.

Good luck to you if you feel you are correct and can make positive change. This was written not sarcastically.

The amount that gets into prison is a pretty small amount and much much less then most prison would want. Of coarse I'm not talking about the stx prison. What they get and have had in their prison would make me laugh if I was reading out some other city in some other state.

If you're not doing drugs or something illegal your freedoms will not be taken away. Short of making it legal what would you suggest? As an adult I don't resent my parents for punishing me. Once or twice I didn't deserve the punishment but there were a WHOLE lotta times I got away with things I shouldn't have.

There are always rules, unless you own your own country and get to make the rules like this guy. 😉

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principality_of_Sealand

http://www.norml.org/pdf_files/NORML_Crimes_of_Indiscretion.pdf

This a report of arrest data of marijuana offenders. It's 20 pages long and was written and researched by John Gettman of Howard University. The data is only through 2005 but there are some eye opening statistics.

This is a link to a graph that measures the number of arrests for marijuana.

http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=7042

Just some information for your consideration and enlightenment.

http://www.alternet.org/drugreporter/142556/over_100_million_americans_have_smoked_marijuana_--_and_it%27s_still_illegal_

In Amsterdam right now...so much more civilized on this issue. Coffee shops are nice, well kept places. The other night I was with a group of business associates and 2 are Muslim. They always go out with us and drink water while the rest of us have our awesome Dutch Heineken since their religion bars alchohol explicitly. I knew they occasionally smoked MJ/hash so when we were deciding where to go I recommended "Cafe Smokey's" because they sell beer and MJ. They were stoked...we were able to enjoy our beer and they were able to get a nice little MJ buzz which led to a very fun and nice night out with the co-workers.

Sean

I wonder how long it will take us to develop and accept the concept that cannabis can be used by responsible adults without causing the end of the world.

Hey Bombi,
You talking nice little MJ buzz or medical or both? btw what and or who determines "responsible adults"? Slippery Slope NO?

Lizard, A responsible adult would be someone of the age of consent similar to the alcohol consumption and voting rules, when you are considered to be able to make responsible choices. It's a reality that cannabis is widely used by some for relaxation or to enhance a social or cultural experience. My interest is in the relief that cannabis provides from neuropathic pain, fatigue and involuntary muscle movements (spasms) associated with Multiple Sclerosis and IBS without the side effects of prescription medicines like neurontin, requip and provigil.

Bombi,
I don't think the age of consent has anything to do with alcohol consumption or voting rules. I think you meant to say the legal age requirement by law for your examples. I hope they never make it legal for social or cultural experience. If one needs it for medical purposes it should be treated like any drug by prescription and pharmacy outlet only. The recreational use of "cannabis" for social and cultural experience is laughable, did you ever try to talk to somebody when they are stoned. Yes the same thing for a drunk, so why bother to compound the problem.

Lizard, Norml is planning to:

We are planning to offer temporary use permits for visitors to the VI once the laws are passed.
That will truly make America's Paradise - Paradise!

Trade,
LOL! I guess when you land on the island you can get your rum punch and dope card at the same time.

There has been discussion about the tourist issue. This is a concept I don't embrace. My main focus is on the medical use with a doctors advise and recommendation as an alternative to pharmaceuticals.

Hey Bombi,
I have said controlled medical use is fine with me. However you guy's want to farm it at home for "Cost Factor and Quality Control" who are you kidding.

I'm not trying to kid anyone. What is the difference between growing MJ or Kava or mushrooms. Or for that matter any other herb. There are several different strains of cannabis some have more medicinal value than others. An experienced home grower can get the desired results for a specific condition at a relatively low cost.
I can brew my own beer, make my own wine or distill my own rum if I choose to.

Bombi,
You're a funny guy, not good with smoke and mirrors, "moonshine grass" ROTFLMAO! Do you think your Doctor will be able to tell if it's the good stuff?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufekh_SwZd0