Another World-Class Athlete Gets Punished for Using Marijuana

Twenty-four-year-old American Ivory Williams—one of the fastest 100-meter sprinters in the world—will not be allowed to compete on the U.S. Team for this year’s World Indoor Championships.

His offense? He tested positive for marijuana. Now Williams, who just last month ran the fastest 60 meters in the world, will be ineligible to compete for the next three months and will have to complete an anti-doping educational program.

It’s simply maddening to see a 24-year-old world-class athlete get sidelined from his sport just because he used a substance that is safer than alcohol and isn’t exactly what you’d call a performance-enhancing drug. To add insult to injury, his manager felt compelled to issue a token apology, saying Williams exhibited “poor judgment.”

In a related, possibly even more frustrating story, the defending champion in the Iditarod—where dogs do the racing, not humans—might now be disqualified because he uses medical marijuana to treat the effects of throat cancer.

From
MPP Website

Insurance Agency Becomes First to Offer National Medical Marijuana Coverage

A spokesman for Statewide Insurance Services said the new program will include operations related to medical marijuana dispensaries and growers, including workers’ compensation, general liability, auto insurance, equipment breakdown and damage, and property or product loss—including marijuana spoilage.

As the cultivation and distribution of state-sanctioned medical marijuana proliferates in 14 states (and counting), it is only right that such establishments receive the same protections as other legitimate businesses. By taking this much-needed step, Statewide is helping to send a strong message to the rest of the country that this nearly untapped-market is not just credible, but ripe for new business opportunities, and here to stay.

From MPP Website

Your Tax Dollars

Heres another bit for you that your "unbiased media" hasn't told you, the city of Costa Mesa and several other local cities are using YOUR tax dollars to help the city of Anaheim fight its lawsuit against a group of dispensaries! And we have Firefighters on furlough? WHAT IS THIS?

Keep following your orders and most definitely DON'T think for yourself! 95% of DOCTORS see the benefit, HELLO!!!

How can you stand up for the fight against this with SO MUCH OVERWHELMING evidence contradicting your cause? I guess that kind of answers it for me.

Those oppossed should be ashamed and embarrassed for falling for this!

By the way, is anyone else concerned about the pharmaceutical ads on TV? You know the ones that have side effects like "may lead to Thoughts or sctions of suicide" WHAT? And we're fighting MEDICAL MARIJUANA???

What is going on people? Why do we let those whose children don't have to go to war decide on whether we send OUR children to war or not? Or let those who have health care decide on OUR health care? It's ridiculous, and we sit and watch.

Get up and do something about it! Write letters, talk about it, this is OUR Country too.

How come everyone is so focused on Medical Marijuana?

It's natural and has been PROVEN to have great success at helping a vast amount of ailments. Whether your need is one due to a terminal condition or not, it works and ALL should have access to it.

Why isnt our government concerned about the effects of cigarettes or alcohol? People die from those and yet there are legal. As a matter of fact WE ALL KNOW CIGARETTES KILL so why are they legal? Name ONE benefit from a cigarette? Can you think of one? Didn't think so but keep picking on medical marijuana, that makes sense.

How about the fact that the DEA has a schedule of drugs in which Schedule 1 is the worst and considered to have NO social or medicinal value. Schedule 2 is next and so on... Well, here's the kicker...
Schedule 2
PCP
Crack
Meth
Crank
LSD

Schedule 1 (the worst)
Marijuana

Now, I think we can ALL agree that pot is far less of a threat than ANY of those listed above as a "Schedule 2" drug. Why do we allow this? This is what allows the Government to justify the ridiculous amount of money they spend on the "War on Medical Marijuana"

I we're in a recession! AWESOME!!!

Our cities are cutting back everywhere but they have no problem wasting money pursuing the pot industry when they could be making money from it, that's lame! Think about that. Your property tax money going to wards fighting something that is LEGAL by law of the State but the cities want to ban it and prosecute those involved in this industry, even the ones who AREN'T operating illegally. all the time wasting your money. 56% of California voted for medical marijuana 13 years ago, how many stoners do you think didn't even show up to vote? Remember, that was when college students and such didn't vote in large numbers. Since then, public knowledge and support have grown since then and people are voting now, it's changed. Large amounts of revenue could be generated from regulated medical marijuana, it's a benefit to so many, a threat to none. Why?

Please do the right thing and help us bring the reality of the necessity of medical marijuana to those who oppose our cause.

How can we make this work?!

In response to: Judge orders Eagle Rock dispensary to stop selling medical marijuana

As I sit and watch my wife struggle with the effects of chemotherapy (which kills you quicker than the cancer it is used to fight) I wonder why our Government allows the sale, for cash, of liquor and cigarettes (which have ZERO benefit to society whatsoever) yet Medical Marijuana (which has been legal for 13 years in the State of CA) patients have to hide and scurry about like cockroaches just to get mediocre medicine. Why would our government turn their backs on those who need the most help? Forcing them to get the most beneficial medicine EVER known to man via dangerous means. Why can't dispensaries accept payment, of cash, for the work done and expense incurred from growing and procuring medical marijuana.

Why is this industry the ONLY one that can't use money as a form of payment.

Why do we allow those WE put in office and that WE pay to not do their job and figure out a way to make this work for everyone? We deserve an answer and solution not arrests of people trying to help the sick?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a huge fan of dispensaries, not the way they operate now, but there are some great dispensaries out there that generate massive amounts of revenue for the city and State while giving back to the community as well. "The Farmacy" in Venice is one such place. The City works hand in hand with The Farmacy and it seems to be working just fine.

I think its time we held our politicians and city officials accountable and MAKE them find a solution that works for everyone.

The laws change daily in this industry and that's a definite sign of needed change. Imagine owning a gas station and one day it becomes illegal to sell gas, what do you do? What if the law said you can't accept cash for gas? What are you supposed to do? Trade for goods and services? That's ludicrous! What if the police couldn't be paid in cash because it might foster corruption?

Why, after 13 years, are those involved in the medical marijuana industry still hunted down and persecuted as if it were the spanish inquisition?

Why does my wife and many more have to suffer because the feeble minded can't find a solution.

56% of California voted for medical marijuana 13 years ago, how many stoners do you think didn't even vote? Now, with the wide spread media coverage and the general publics understanding of the benefits of medical marijuana, its safe to say that the 56% is MUCH higher now (no pun intended) meaning those enforcing the laws have decided to take the law into their own hands and that should seriously scare everyone, on both sides.

Why vote if it doesn't matter? Do we really want folks to go back to that type of thinking?

Help us find a safe, acceptable way for everyone to benefit from medical marijuana.

You can't tell folks they can't charge money for a legal product, that's unAmerican. We are not a socialized country so this "bartering" idea is completely unconstitutional. We have a right to our medicine and if I'm okay paying cash for it why should the police or government care? Its legal here!

Poll

According to a 1999 Gallup poll, 73% of Americans are in favor of "making marijuana legally available for doctors to prescribe in order to reduce pain and suffering." In a 2004 poll commissioned by AARP, 72% of Americans ages 45 and older thought marijuana should be legal for medicinal purposes if recommended by a doctor. Also, since 1996, voters in eight states plus the District of Columbia have passed favorable medical marijuana ballot initiatives.

Source: Medical Marijuana - The Facts

Why was Marijuana ever made illegal in the United States?

Many people assume that marijuana was made illegal through some kind of process involving scientific, medical, and government hearings; that it was to protect the citizens from what was determined to be a dangerous drug.

The actual story shows a much different picture. Those who voted on the legal fate of this plant never had the facts, but were dependent on information supplied by those who had a specific agenda to deceive lawmakers. You’ll see below that the very first federal vote to prohibit marijuana was based entirely on a documented lie on the floor of the Senate.

You’ll also see that the history of marijuana’s criminalization is filled with:

* Racism
* Fear
* Protection of Corporate Profits
* Yellow Journalism
* Ignorant, Incompetent, and/or Corrupt Legislators
* Personal Career Advancement and Greed

These are the actual reasons marijuana is illegal.

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