The John Doe Radio Show

Anyone involved in Marijuana Reform in my opinion MUST have leaders on their side who do not partake in recreational or medical use of Marijuana.  In the article linked below I encourage you to read and think very carefully about the importance of having those on our side who see the basic idea of freedom that is in jeopardy with prohibition and who can see clearly the eyes of those who have had their lives stripped of their basic freedoms.  If you could see the suffering of every Medical Marijuana user.  Or feel a fraction of their pain.  Would you let them take care of themselves in any way they choose?  Would you fight to prevent children being taken from parents who use Marijuana, but don’t drink or smoke tobacco?  Those parents, and responsible adults whose only crime is using a substance that has been proven to be less harmful than almost any other comparative recreational substance.  Would you take away something most Americans value with their life?  Would you take away their pursuit of happiness and continued freedom?  These are the questions we now ask of those who would.  But, this time we ask them with more power, and with more determination than the past 30+ years of The War on Drugs has seen from our side.

I have been fortunate to see Jessica Peck-Corry speak on multiple occasions.  And, her husband Rob Corry, who is my lawyer and obviously I have had a chance to speak with privately and publicly about Marijuana and other topics.  Both Rob and Jessica speak very clearly about Freedom, and Jessica in particular during her talks and articles speaks very clearly about how it is important for us to realize how our rights as a whole are affected.  I encourage you if you get the chance to head to any major reform event in Colorado you will probably have the privilege to see the intensity and fire this couple has to offer.  I don’t think I’ve been to any public or private event where Rob or Jessica hasn’t been included on.

We have many fighters in Colorado who are willing to step up to the plate and crack off any curveball the drug warriors toss at us, as we proved during the attempted patient/caregiver limits the Colorado Board of Health proposed recently.  I feel extremely fortunate to live in a place where FREEDOM is so highly regarded and that we have people on both sides that are willing to fight for their right to express their opinions.  But, I feel even better knowing we have people who bring the winning argument to the table like Rob and Jessica Corry, Brian Vicente, and Warren Edson, and ALL the other independent freedom fighters who bring rationality, and sensibility to the discussion.

We are well past the time for change in The War on Drugs.  And, I think its about time one side see how much they’ve harmed and lost during that time…

Republican moms for marijuana: ‘Time to legalize is now’

It will take conservatives and women to help turn tide against pot prohibition

By Jessica Peck Corry, For the Colorado Daily

Sunday, July 26, 2009

BOULDER, Colo. — As a Republican mother committed to legalizing marijuana, political life can be lonely. But while many in my party whisper about the Drug War’s insanity, we should shout it from the rooftop…  (READ THE REST HERE)

And, the wheels just keep on turning.  I had an interesting conversation with Rob Corry this week about the next step in correcting The War on Drugs.  AFTER, we legalize Marijuana.  To give amnesty and wipe clean the records of those who have been branded criminals by an un-just system we have created.  Good times when you are talking about solutions to the intense problem, and moral dilema created by a senseless and failing War.

~JDR

Podcast: >Click to Listen or Download (Duration: 1:44:01 — 95.2MB)

I feel proud as an American today because I witnessed the power of the people overcome ‘The Power’.  I had reported in the days leading up to the Colorado Board of Health Hearing on Medical Marijuana that the proposed changes to Amendment 20 had looked like all but a done deal.  And, in fact in the moments leading up to the Board’s executive session recess and vote it was looking like to not only me, but to those sitting around me that the Board was going to vote some kind of drastic change into Colorado’s Constitutional Amendment 20.  The day started for most of us at 8:30am or earlier, Mile High Time.  And, despite other priorities on an early Monday morning an already packed house was inside of the  Denver Tivoli Student Union auditorium.  The friendliness and sense of goal among everyone involved from the start of the Hearing never left the building.  With over 500 people showing up to defend their rights to safe and effective medicine, and 8 signing up to trample all over those rights it was truly an awesome experience.  The feeling that one gets when surrounded by your peers who are genuinely fighting for their right to a better quality of life and the right to choose a treatment they feel best works to relieve their ailments is second to none as an American.  Especially when that gathering and collective voice leads to the successful defense of a people enacted piece of legislation.  I wont lie about the process and say it was an easy task to take on.  I personally spent close to 14 hours at the hearing.  I watched those who could stay all day, shuffle and stand and pace during breaks, waiting for their moment to address some of the most respected members of the health community in Colorado.  I watched those who couldn’t stand at all, and those who couldn’t stand for long grimace in pain and agony because of the debilitating ailment they were there to defend medicinal care for.  They all sat and stood together in one of the most inspiring events and acts as an American citizen.  We together today in Colorado moved a mountain.  We stepped up as a whole and said enough is enough and we as Medical Marijuana Patients will take it NO MORE!  And we did it all with our voices and presence.  Thank you Colorado for letting me witness an event that many lose hope for in American society.  The free thinking will of a person.

No caregiver limits.

The legal definition of a caregiver is now “A person who provides Marijuana…”

And, The Colorado Board of Health will be just a little more careful about how it administers the Medical Marijuana program in Colorado.

The system worked!

Good times.

MMJ lives in Colorado.  Lets get your State involved next.

~JDR

The media coverage was awesome!  National News, and local top story…

While hanging out on twitter and looking for News to cover on this weeks show.  I ran across a story from the Weird News tweet feed.  “Undercover cops arrest an undercover cop posing as a dealer “ I thought to myself, funny.  Definitely worth the read.  “Click“  And as I began to read the story I became more and more horrified at how deep the system goes.  A depth that most of us, and even myself and other activists never troll down to even.  In the article you will notice first, the story of the deputy being arrested because when suspicion arose that the guy the cops were arresting was a Sheriffs Deputy, they called it in and were told that he in fact was NOT an officer of the law.  After clearing things up a little more because the situation was about to get a lot stickier, and I quote from the story,

“Technically, you have an officer committing a felony, so to prevent the possibility of an officer being tried for a crime, all of these steps have to be followed,”

Said the arresting agencies Police Captain.  In other words they had to clear up the arrest before ACTUAL CHARGES WERE FILED.  And, to end the story it adds a thought into your head about drug busts.  Remember, a drug task force charged with “snuffing out dangerous drugs” burst through my door and pointed machine guns at my head for Marijuana.  Can you imagine if this situation were to play out on two counter drug operations and Officers were injured because one agency had no clue the house was packed with automatic weapons Law Enforcement uses to burst in on and arrest Marijuana users/offenders with?  The scariest quote of the article…

…incidents of this type can be common when several agencies are working drug operations at the same time

Not a thought that even crossed my mind till this article.

Read it all here …  Arrest mix-up raises questions

People are being denied serious medical care because of their use of Marijuana…  Makes perfect sense.  Right!?  Wrong.  And, now the political center of America is drawn into the Medical Marijuana spotlight.  More and more people will have the ability to learn the truth about pot and how it can assist people in many ways.  Not to mention the East Coast needs more attention and legislation directed towards positive Marijuana reform, in both decriminalization and patients safe access to quality Marijuana.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JULY 16, 2009

U.S. Congress Ends Decade-Long Obstruction of D.C. Medical Marijuana Law

Medical Marijuana Law Passed in 1998 May Finally Be Implemented

CONTACT: Dan Bernath, MPP assistant director of communications

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. House today passed legislation that removes a decade-old provision that has prevented Washington, D.C., from implementing the medical marijuana law passed by 69 percent of capital voters in 1998.

Known as the Barr amendment, the provision has forbidden the city from extending legal protection to qualified medical marijuana patients and has been derided by advocates for years as an unconscionable intrusion by the federal government into the District’s affairs.

“Today represents a victory not just for medical marijuana patients, but for all city residents who have the right to determine their own policies in their own District without federal meddling,” said Aaron Houston, director of government relations for the Marijuana Policy Project. “D.C. residents overwhelmingly made the sensible, compassionate decision to pass a medical marijuana law, and now, 10 years later, suffering Washingtonians may finally be allowed to focus on treating their pain without fearing arrest.”

Although Congress had passed the Barr amendment every year until now, the provision came under greater scrutiny after the high-profile case of Jonathan Magbie, a D.C. quadriplegic man who died in prison in 2004 from lack of medical care after being convicted for using marijuana to treat his pain.

“Had the District been able to implement its medical marijuana law when it passed in 1998, Mr. Magbie may well be alive today – and free to treat his pain as he and his doctor saw fit,” Houston said. “Perhaps now nobody in the District will ever have to suffer as he and his family did simply for using the medicine that works best for them.”

With more than 27,000 members and 100,000 e-mail subscribers nationwide, the Marijuana Policy Project is the largest marijuana policy reform organization in the United States. MPP believes that the best way to minimize the harm associated with marijuana is to regulate marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol. For more information, please visit http://MarijuanaPolicy.org.