End Marijuana Prohibition Rally

Damn Sam Productions along with C.A.M.P will have a rally before the Grateful Dead show in Albany on April 17th, 2009. If you are going, let me know, I will be there!!!

NYS Governor

I have a friend in Vermont that is given Marijuana for Medical use. He lives around 25 miles from my house in New York. I was talking to him the other day trying to plan my three day weekend. I asked if he would want to come over and get some ice fishing done before the lake thaws. His response was, "Wish I could but I can't take my Marijuana into NY and i have been in so much pain lately I can't go a day without it. This got me to thinking about all the letters I have written to Gov. Paterson over the past 6 months. It reminded me of one specific letter I wrote to him.

Dear Gov. Paterson, I commend you on making a tough decision that you understood would cause a lot of voters to question your ability to take the best interests of New Yorkers State wide. This week you ordered that New York will recognize Gay Marriage that was performed where it is legal. This does not make it legal in New York to get married and when you were asked your response was, "We have to have respect for other State laws." This leads me to my question of why isn't it legal to use medical marijuana in New York state. My friend has been given Marijuana for medical use in the state who borders ours, however he can no longer come to my house for a visit since once he crosses that border he no longer can be in posession of the Medication he needs and is given by doctor recomendation. I urge you to look into the Medical Marijuana laws and ask that you give patients relief here in NY by allowing the medical use of marijuana, however, by your own comments I urge you to support those 12 States that have legalized Marijuana for medical purposes and allow those patients to use their medication while here in NY. Thank you, Dru Utopia

Now of course there is the issue that I send him a letter almost every week so i am probably on his ignore list but I think it made sense.

Received Reply from Senators Office

This looks promising...

Dear Mr. (Dru), I am writing to you regarding your recent correspondence to Senator Bruno on February 1, 2008 concerning Medical Marijuana. Please call me at yourearliest convenience so we can discuss this in more detail. I look forwardto hearing from you and hope that we can be of assistance. Thank you, (Name Removed) Legislative AssistantOffice of Senator Joseph L. Bruno

Letter To NY Senate Majority Leader

I wanted to share a letter I wrote to Joseph Bruno, The Senate Majority Leader for New York:

I first contacted your office over six months ago, after a medical marijuana bill was overwhelmingly passed by the New York State Assembly. I was excited because I have seen firsthand the relief that medicinal marijuana can provide patients. I have also seen and read a lot of information on research that proves this is a valid medication. As a disabled veteran this issue is of great importance to me. The risk of addiction and other dangerous side effects is too great for me to take prescription painkillers on a regular basis, and my doctor believes I could be a good candidate for the medical use of marijuana. In October, you graciously welcomed me to the Capital as a voter in your district to speak with your office about my desire to see the New York Senate pass this bill to give patients the ability to legally use the medication a lot of doctors are suggesting. I wanted to thank you for your continued support for this issue and hope to see it in front of the Senate this year with your support. I am also aware that some have been under the mistaken impression that states are not able to act on this important issue, because of federal law. Currently there are 12 states that have passed laws to allow doctors to do a risk analysis for their patients and recommend the medical use of marijuana. Studies have shown that some patients receive amazing results with the use of marijuana. The earliest of the modern medical marijuana laws passed 11 years ago, and the federal government has never suggested those states lack the power to remove their own criminal penalties for medical marijuana. The only judge to decide the issue, in San Diego, agreed that states are free to enact medical marijuana laws. Senator Bruno, I would once again like to thank you for welcoming me to speak with your staff on this issue and for your continued support. I look forward to New York becoming the 13th state to allow doctors to make this decision for their patients. Please see to it that it happens this year; seriously ill New Yorkers are suffering now.

Marijuana Tax Act of 2008?

Govenor Spitzer had, what he would like to think, a great idea in his New York speech last night. His idea, create a tax on Marijuana of $3.50 per gram. I would actually agree with this tax stamp idea, except it is a bad idea. First of all, in 1937 there was a Marijuana Tax Act created. (Which was disputed by a New Yorker) Each person that wanted to have marijuana in their possession was required to have a Tax stamp on the packaging. The problem was if you were caught for possession of Marijuana without the tax you would be arrested for not paying the tax. If you wanted to be legal and get a Tax stamp then you would have to have the amount in your possession so they could know how much to tax you for your Marijuana. But if you showed up with Marijuana to be a good citizen and pay your tax you would get arrested because you haven't paid your tax yet. It was designed to be a catch 22 and make it illegal to have any Marijuana. Governor Spitzer explains that this tax stamp has been active in 29 States already and could raise an estimated $13 Million next year. My question for Governor Spitzer is why would I pay this tax. If I was going to buy an illegal substance ILLEGALLY then I would not be to worried about the tax side of it. I am going to weigh my risk in this situation. Do I buy a gram of Marijuana and not pay to get the Tax stamp and risk getting busted for an illegal substance plus Tax evasion? Or do I buy my Marijuana and pay my tax on it, but have it on record that I am going to have Marijuana with me at some point? If someone is going to deal with the Black Market then they are not going to be worried about the ramifications of getting busted for two laws. Then again Mr. Spitzer, if Marijuana is illegal and I am required to have a Tax Stamp then would that be considered a violation of the Fifth amendment? Like I started this article, I agree with Taxation of Marijuana and other controlled substances as long as I can not be prosecuted for paying taxes on the substance. The way it looks to me is Governor Spitzer is trying to look like he is doing more than he actually is. Stop with the hollow promises that really can't benefit NY, and lets see something that will help us. Legalize Marijuana, control it, tax it, and allow the Farmers of New York grow their Hemp for industrial purposes Now that will be a boost to the economy along with a great income for New York State.

For all my New York Friends

Please send an email to your Senator to help get this bill passed in a special session. It is a prefilled email and the more they get the better. https://ssl.capwiz.com/mpp/issues/alert/?alertid=9874316 The State Assembly already passed this but the Senate has denied it. Let the Senators know that it is in NY’s best interest and the majority of the population wants this. http://ny.mpp.org/site/c.grKMIYPGIqE/b.1773517/k.BE7A/Home.htm For those of you in other states - Go check out http://www.mpp.org/