Yay! Its time to Think smart about dangers- This is not one of them!

In Calif., Medical Marijuana Laws Are Moving Pot Into the Mainstream

Entrepreneur Richard Lee founded Oaksterdam University in Oakland, Calif. It offers training for workers in "the cannabis industry." (Vance Jacobs - For The Washington Post)

By Karl Vick

Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, April 12, 2009; Page A03

LOS ANGELES -- With little notice and even less controversy, marijuana is now available as a medical treatment in California to almost anyone who tells a willing physician he would feel better if he smoked.

Pot is now retailed over the counter in hundreds of storefronts across Los Angeles and is credited with reviving a section of downtown Oakland, where an entrepreneur sells out classes offering "quality training for the cannabis industry." The tabloid LA Journal of Education for Medical Marijuana is fat with ads for Magic Purple, Strawberry Cough and other offerings in more than 400 "dispensaries" operating in the city.

Los Angeles officials say applications for retail outlets surged after Feb. 26, when U.S. Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. announced that the Drug Enforcement Administration will no longer raid such stores. Those pressing for change in drug laws regard the announcement as a watershed in a 40-year battle against marijuana's official listing as a dangerous drug -- a legal fight that, in California, is being waged on ground that has shifted dramatically toward acceptance.

All told, 13 states have legalized medical marijuana, a trend advocates credit in part to growing openness to alternative healing. As a "Schedule 1" drug under the 1970 federal narcotics act, marijuana officially has "no currently accepted medical use." But doctors have found it effective in reducing nausea, easing glaucoma, and improving appetite and sleep in AIDS patients.

Marijuana use is widespread -- government surveys show that 100 million Americans have smoked pot or its resin, hashish, in their lifetimes, and 25 million have done so in the past year. Yet polls show that the public is still wary of legalization. As President Obama recently said when asked about legalizing marijuana, "I don't think that's a good strategy to grow our economy."

But in California, pot is such a booming growth industry that lawmakers are being asked to consider its potential as a salve to the state's financial woes. Betty Yee, chairman of the California State Board of Equalization, endorsed a bill in February to regulate the estimated $14 billion marijuana market, citing the state's budget problems. California currently collects $18 million in sales taxes from marijuana dispensaries, and Yee said a regulated pot trade would bring in $1.3 billion.

"I think the tide is starting to turn in terms of marijuana being part of the mainstream," she said. "The pieces seem to be falling into place."

In Los Angeles, Councilman Dennis Zine warned that half the city's sales outlets might be forced to close, but only to control the growth of what the city now regards as an accepted business. "We're not getting complaints about people smoking marijuana," said the retired motorcycle policeman. "We're seeing complaints about the proliferation of facilities. They opened up right down the street from my district office, in the same complex as a liquor store. Got the big green leaf in front."

The new reality can be disorienting. In Mendocino County, the heart of Northern California's "Emerald Triangle," marijuana farming has been openly tolerated since the arrival of counterculture refugees in the late 1960s. But elected officials say they are being forced to crack down on growers who offended neighbors with aggressive farming after medical marijuana laws hastened pot's shift from the black market to a gray zone.

"Prop. 215 opened up a new world for people who had been underground," said Scott Zeramby, referencing the 1996 ballot proposition that legalized pot for medical users. By 2007, Zeramby's garden supply business in the town of Fort Bragg was doing $2.5 million in business amid a land rush by new growers eager to cash in.

"Things were getting a little crazy, even out of hand," Zeramby said. "What happened? A critical mass."

At the other end of the supply chain, some 200 dispensaries have opened using a legal loophole in an L.A. moratorium on such outlets, some making only the thinnest pretense of operating as "caregivers," the legal justification for providing cannabis directly.

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CARE President Obama's Call for Increased Focus on Food Security

CARE Applauds President Obama's Call for Increased Focus on Food Security:

"CARE Applauds President Obama's Call for Increased Focus on Food Security
Humanitarian agency urges public support for fight to end global poverty

WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 2, 2009) - The international poverty-fighting organization CARE applauds President Barack Obama's focus on alleviating chronic hunger and lifting global communities out of poverty. At the G20 summit, the president called for doubling assistance for food security and increasing foreign assistance projects to alleviate chronic hunger that affects nearly one billion people worldwide.

'We know that the cycle of poverty will never be broken unless people are given the tools to end chronic hunger and become self-sufficient so they can provide adequate food for themselves, their families, and their communities. The fact that the president and concerned leaders on Capitol Hill understand this gives us hope for ending the crippling hunger that keeps so many people mired in dire poverty,' said Dr. Helene Gayle, president and CEO of CARE.

A few years ago when CARE took the bold step of pulling back from the historical practice of selling U.S. food on the open market in poor countries to fund development projects, the questions poured in. Why would any humanitarian agency essentially turn away money for its programs? There is a plain answer to that complex question. Simply put, CARE believes that humanitarian aid should serve the long-term purpose of ending poverty. U.S. food aid policy fell far short. It needed to be changed.

The president has made it clear that food security, a key priority for his administration, means setting policies and programs that contribute to safety and prosperity for developing nations as well as ours. When we address the underlying causes of food insecurity and malnutrition, we are well on the way to tackling the root causes of extreme poverty.

We encourage Americans to support the president's request for increased foreign assistance. We also call on fellow citizens to support provisions of the Global Food Security Act of 2009, authored by U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar and Sen. Robert Casey (D-PA) and approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on March 31.

The legislation authorizes additional funding for agricultural assistance. It also calls for a comprehensive strategy that takes a whole of government approach to address global food insecurity.

CARE played an integral role in drafting the 'Roadmap to End Global Hunger' a collective effort by the NGO community which lays out a vision for U.S. leadership to end global hunger. Both the Food Security Act and the president's call today address key concerns raised in the Roadmap.

The Politics of Being Illogical

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The Politics of Being Illogical

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As I argued in a previous article, it makes no sense whatsoever to continue to criminalize and wage a costly battle against the cannabis drug. In an online forum with the public, where President Obama answered unfiltered questions sent in by millions, he would've been remiss to ignore the popularity of the one topic that kept popping up in different areas of discussion: the legalization of marijuana.

(It is inconclusive whether the popularity of the marijuana-related questions were the result of a voting campaign by particular interest groups, or in fact, the public at large is finding the issue of legalization much easier to digest given the condition of our economy.)

To his credit, President Obama did ultimately address the issue of whether marijuana should be legalized, albeit with a statement the U.S. Supreme Court would be proud of. Although the President did not explicitly state his opposition to the decriminalization of marijuana, he instead relayed his belief that it was not a "good strategy for our economy".

I can fully understand that Mr. Obama's primary concern, as it should be, is to lead our nation out of this deep financial crisis and use all the influence and negotiating acumen he possesses to create and pass the legislation that is probably necessary to keep our economy from falling much further.

It might appear to some, at least given the words from most of their members, that the Republican Party might be somewhat hesitant to give their full approval to all that President Obama seeks from Congress. Given the stress and opposition already in place, had he come right out and announced his support for the legalization of marijuana, his efforts to work with Congress for all of these economic and mortgage packages would've been made that much harder.

That's not to say the savings and revenue realized from such decriminalization and resulting taxation would've been fictional or insignificant in any way. Just the opposite.

But in the world of politics and Washington, D.C., negotiations and conflict are a daily occurrence, and the microscope is so trained on the opposition, by both parties, that everything said or done can be used positively or negatively. Elections for 435 members of Congress are every two years, which essentially means they are constantly running for office. Good or bad, polls in their district will largely dictate what they say and do as Representatives. Even national polls may influence the talking points of national candidates.

For instance, it is definitively Unconstitutional to prohibit same-sex marriages, yet most politicians, including President Obama, have failed to support such a right, maybe because most polls show a lack of support nationally. Add in the factor of an opponent whose most vocal supporters would be energized by such an issue, and it instantly becomes a topic to largely avoid, regardless of how wrong it is.

This could be tied to the backlash against several Republican legislators in California I noted in another previous article. They decided, on their own, to act in a way they thought was best. Yet, because of their party, and a few vocal constituents, they could face political retribution.

This is politics. Speaking with vagueness; acting with polling support; rarely saying and doing the right thing before everyone else believes it to be the right thing as well.

GlobalSecurity.org - SITREP Situation Report

GlobalSecurity.org - SITREP Situation Report: "Are the US and Russia Playing Nuclear Games
Posted by James Jay Carafano on 03/16/2009 :: Permalink :: Comments

US-Russian disagreements over the proposed deployment of land-based missile defenses in Poland and Czech Republic have renewed the debate over the impact of defenses on arms control. In an article posted on the Centre for Research on Globalization web site, former US intelligence and arms control official Scott Ritter asserted, 'If the members of the Obama administration would bother to take a stroll down memory lane, they might recall that once upon a time there was a document called the anti-ballistic missile treaty, signed in 1972 between the United States and the former Soviet Union, which recognized that anti-missile defense shields were inherently destabilizing, and as such should not be deployed.' Ritter's statement bears closer scrutiny.

During the Cold War the Soviets deployed the world's only active ballistic missile defense system. Today, Moscow is still protected by a Missile Defense System. This system never played a relevant role in destabilizing competition between the super powers. Additionally, although the issue remains hotly debated, some scholars (see, for example, William Odom, The Collapse of the Soviet Military) contend that the proposal to develop the Strategic Defense Initiative by US President Ronald Reagan accelerated arms control agreements with the Soviet Union.

Research at The Heritage Foundation employing game theory also suggests that missile defense, rather than being destabilizing, actually contributes to limiting the likelihood of nuclear confrontation. Heritage analyst Baker Spring developed a game theory application that studied the affects of missile defense on nuclear competition in a 'proliferated' environment where several countries (with independent foreign policies) had access to ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons. According to Spring the outcome of his research suggests that 'the presence of defenses in a multi-player setting not only does not feed instability, but also may contribute to stability.'

First, the outcome of the games generally showed that the more widespread the presence of defenses, the lower was the propensity to ready offensive (nuclear) arms and fire shots with these arms. It also showed a greater propensity to aban¬don offensive arms (disarm) as defenses became more widespread.

Second, the more widespread the presence of defenses, the lower the propensity to adopt hos¬tile attitudes toward one another or move to threaten each other.

Third, the more widespread the defenses, the less likely an aggressive actor's conclusions favored aggressive actions.

For full results of the nuclear games, see Nuclear Stability Working Group, Nuclear Games: An Exercise Examining Stability and Defenses in a Proliferated World (Washington, D.C.: The Heritage Foundation, 2005), at www.heritage.org/upload/NuclearGames.pdf.
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Facebook Plans to Make Money by Selling Your Data

Written by Lidija Davis / February 1, 2009 9:51 PM / 30 Comments

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The Telegraph is reporting that social networking giant Facebook has new plans for generating revenue; offering its 150 million user database as a market research tool to corporations.

Starting this spring, companies will be able to selectively target Facebook's members in order to research the appeal of new products through a polling system called Engagement Ads as demonstrated at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

The Evolution of Engagement Ads

Engagement Ads are not new to Facebook. Last year, The Wall Street Journal reported that Facebook had begun "quietly testing" the product in August and was hoping to roll it out by the end of November.

Engagement Ads, said the WSJ, would appear on the home page of Facebook when you first log on and prompt you to interact with an ad. If you did interact with the ad, Facebook would then attempt to share your action with your friends thus "getting the ad in front of more eyeballs."

At the time, Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg said that ads systems are "built over time through continual tweaking." She added that Facebook's existing ad offerings were doing well but "undersell Facebook's broader opportunity."

If the Telegraph report is correct, Engagement Ads have had a massive tweak; companies will be able to pose questions to and receive feedback from selected members in real time based on user information that Facebook provides.

Randi Zuckerberg, Facebook's Global Markets Director told the Telegraph that companies are excited about this new polling system. "It takes a very long time to do a focus group, and businesses often don't have the luxury of time. I think they liked the instant responses," she said.

Facebook's Advertising Attempts

Facebook's foray into advertising over time has been weak at best. Forrester's Jeremiah Owyang has called Facebook's marketing toolset 'confusing', adding that brands will only succeed with engagement advertising if they lean on user behaviors like communication, self-expression, and social exploration.

When Facebook launched it's much hyped advertising strategy in 2007, we had hoped it would not be met with backlash. Unfortunately this wasn't to be the case and the Beacon saga came to an end the following month with Mark Zuckerberg apologizing for the way Facebook had dealt with the situation.

It appears Facebook has run the gamut when it comes to advertising efforts. What began with fliers, display banner ads and even the very similar Facebook Polls have not yet inspired marketers to run in droves to the popular social networking site.

But could this be the year things turn around for them? Maybe. Change certainly is in the air at Facebook. Zuckerberg had noticeably dressed up for Davos, telling blogger Robert Scoble it was to denote that this was Facebook's 'intense' year. The Facebook founder bio page has had a recent addition. And as for Engagement Ads? Well, we'll just have to wait and see. What do you think?

European Press Review: Welcome, President Obama!

Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Like those in Britain, Europe's newspapers had one cover boy on Wednesday

Europe's media praised Barack Obama's inaugural speech for setting the right tone at the right time. But commentators pointed out that the new president had his work cut out for him. Obama is, after all, just a man.

European papers agreed that Barack Obama was breathing a fresh breath of air onto the world political stage. Yet many warned that he would have difficulties meeting the tasks ahead of him.

French daily Le Figaro said that the majority of US citizens and millions of people around the world have been gripped by a "frenetic-benevolent, but also a naive Obamania." They believe "a single man can change the fate of the world." (France missed the point -AGAIN. Obama inspired many of US to change the world, COLLECTIVELY- are YOU your part?)

But the Paris paper wrote, the realities of a world characterized by various interests would also impose themselves on the new president. George W. Bush and his advisors -- who had been blinded by the "axis of evil" -- had lost control of these realities for too long.

Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Most Europeans are relieved that Obama has taken over from George W. Bush

"Barack Obama would be well advised to meet this new world by accepting that the revision of the rules for the world economy must be established with the whole of all players around the globe," it said.

The Danish newspaper Berlingske Tidende said a task "of historical dimension" lay before President Obama.

"His inauguration speech showed that he is aware of this fact," the Copenhagen paper wrote. "That is why he set recreating America as a goal. One must hope, not only for the good of the US but for the entire world, that he can now turn his words into deeds."

Obama's inauguration speech included a number of tasks to tackle. Yet Austria's Der Standard said it was not decisive that Obama didn't offer a master plan to do so.

"If it's true that psychology is one of the most significant reasons for the crisis, then Obama can also be the right president for these difficult times without a master plan," the paper said. After all, Ronald Reagan already once inculcated optimism into the buckled Americans in the 1980s.

"And who would be better suited for that today than the adept mass psychologist and cheerleader of hope, Barack Obama?" it wrote.

Germany's Frankfurter Rundschau warned, though, that Obama should set himself apart from the people.

"He is now president. He is no longer a part of this 'we' that is the people," the paper said, adding that it was crucial for Obama to realize this quickly.

"A government is based on checks and balances and not on this lofty, direct access to the will of the people," the paper said. "It's good that he stresses the danger of the United States' demise. It's good that he also makes clear that he believes he can avert this demise. But this will only succeed if he stops depicting himself as the speaker of the people's will."

Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Some two million people crowded onto the National Mall for the inauguration

The Dutch paper de Volkskrant welcomed Obama's conciliatory tone and said the president made it clear that the US would not force its ideals on others with force. Obama had said that America is stronger precisely if it employs its military force with caution and in accordance with the ideals which the country itself strives for.

"These are welcome words after years in which the rift between the US and the rest of the world appeared to get ever larger," the Amsterdam paper said. "The concrete realization of his intentions remains to be seen."

Switzerland's Basler Zeitung said that Obama's small mishap during the inauguration ceremony, in which he began speaking his oath too soon, showed that he was not the "infallible redeemer" the masses believed him to be during his campaign.

"He is also just a human being," the Basle-based paper wrote. "In that his call to us all to support him in his task appears even more authentic."

Britain's Guardian said that the inauguration ceremony so "brimming with tradition" was a platform for a president who is anything but traditional.

"Obama delivered a message that was anything but conservative, offering a thorough rebuttal of his predecessor's foreign policy and signaling a break in the nearly 30-year grip the notion of limited government has exerted on US politics," the paper wrote. This suggested an approach that could come to characterize the Obama presidency.

"It is conservative in style, radical in substance," the daily said.

Italy's Corriere della Sera said Obama's speech completed his rhetorical cycle from his campaign. He had led his country "out of the joyous days of hope into a new era of responsibility."

"The hope has thereby not been laid to rest: the change we can believe in is still way at the top of Obama's agenda," the Milan-based paper said. "But his sky has a metal color, it is full of clouds and the horizon is no longer clear."

Demand a full investigation into U.S. detention and interrogation policies. Support our 100 Days Campaign.

		Watch this video and see what we’re fighting for. Dear Kathy, Today, we expect President Obama to announce a plan to close Guantánamo Bay prison. This is a major victory in restoring our values and rehabilitating America’s image worldwide. I want to personally thank you for being part of this fight with us. However, you and I know that there is so much more that needs to be done — so many wrongs that still need to be righted. Alex Gibney’s Academy Award-winning documentary Taxi to the Dark Side showed in stark terms what you and I are fighting for. When I heard the stories of those tortured prisoners, it made me feel ashamed and angry, and made clear why we must demand accountability for all abuses committed in the “war on terror.” With your financial support , we can restore America’s commitment to justice and take our place, once again, as a human rights leader around the world. Make a tax-deductible donation to our 100 Days Campaign and help us seize this unprecedented opportunity to make human rights a centerpiece of the new Obama administration. In addition to closing Guantánamo Bay prison, in his first 100 days in office, we are calling on President Obama to end the use of torture and other inhuman treatment and fully investigate U.S. detention and interrogation policies, including holding accountable those responsible for torture. Please watch this disturbing video clip from Taxi to the Dark Side. Then, make a donation of $35, $75 or $100 — whatever you can afford — to help us end the use of torture and restore America’s reputation around the world. Amnesty members like you have always remained vigilant in the protection of human rights. I am counting on your continued leadership and commitment as we demand a full investigation into all aspects of U.S. detention and interrogation policies and usher in a new era of respect for human rights around the world. Your steadfast commitment has helped us reach today’s remarkable victory for human rights. Thank you for your continued support as we work together to restore the America we believe in.
		Sincerely, Larry Cox Executive Director, Amnesty International

The Sea of Humanity

News Americas World leaders congratulate Obama Barack Obama's inauguration drew hundreds of thousands of people from across the US and the world to Capitol Hill [AFP] Nelson Mandela, former South African president "Your election to this high office has inspired people as few other events in recent times have done. Amongst many around the world a sense of hopelessness had set in as so many problems remain unresolved and seemingly incapable of being resolved. "You, Mister President, have brought a new voice of hope that these problems can be addressed and that we can in fact change the world and make of it a better place.'' Gordon Brown, British prime minister "He is a man of great vision, he is a man of great determination and energy and he is a man of great moral purpose. And I think all these qualities are ones that will stand him in great stead for facing up to the changes ahead of him." Angela Merkel, German chancellor "I believe today is a very special day not only for the United States of America but also a special day for billions of people all over the world. The fact that a black president is inaugurated and the fact that we are looking at an intensive trans-Atlantic co-operation is something that not only moves the heads and thoughts but also the hearts." Silvio Berlusconi, Italian prime minister "Many hopes and expectations have been piled on him, not just by the American people but also the rest of the world. The thing to do is to send him the most affectionate and cordial wishes so that he can fulfil these expectations." Salam Fayyad, Palestinian prime minister "We wish him well, and we look forward to active engagement on the part of his administration in cooperation with important members of the international community, notably, the European Union. Ehud Olmert, Israeli prime minister "The greatest democracy in the world has again proven that it is a beacon and example for many countries. The entire State of Israel rejoices with the United States and welcomes President Obama, who took the oath of office this evening. "Barack Obama's journey to the White House has impressed and inspired the entire world. I am convinced that the United States' deep and abiding ties with Israel will strengthen further. The values of democracy, brotherhood and freedom that constitute the building blocks of American society are also shared by Israeli society, together with the faith in man's power and ability to change and influence his surroundings. "We wish the incoming President success in his office and are certain that we will be full partners in advancing peace and stability in the Middle East." Nicolas Sarkozy, French president "With your election, the American people has vigorously expressed its confidence in progress and in the future, as well as its resolve to have an open, new, strong and caring America that you embody. "As you are entering office, I should like to convey to you, on my behalf and on the behalf of the people of France, my very best wishes for great success at the head of the American nation." Hugo Chavez, Venezuelan president "Today is a day which has particular importance internationally because a new President of the United States takes office but nobody should raise their hopes. "We are still talking about the American empire and as our colleague Brazil's president Lula [Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva] said a few days ago, hopefully Obama [will] look towards Latin America in a new way with a new focus with regards to democracy and change processes." Mwai Kibaki, Kenyan president "On behalf of the government and the people of Kenya and on my own behalf, I extend our message of best wishes on the auspicious occasion of your inauguration as the 44th president of the United States of America." Kevin Rudd, Australian prime minister "I believe from everything I have seen, read and heard and from the conversations that I have had with him that the American people have chosen well in their new president." Source: Al Jazeera and agencies AMERICAS News

Collectively We- the Majority of USA and the World say Amen

Dear Friend,

Today, Americans in all 50 states answered President-elect Obama's call to service.

Thousands of people stood up to renew America together, doing everything from working in homeless shelters and mentoring young people, to assembling more than 80,000 care packages for our troops at a service event here in Washington, D.C.

Thank you for a great day of service.

Tomorrow, Barack Obama and Joe Biden will be sworn-in as President and Vice President of the United States.

You can watch the Swearing-In ceremony live on our website beginning at 11:00 a.m.

http://www.pic2009.org/live

In the evening, we will be throwing the first-ever Neighborhood Ball, a nationwide celebration of change -- and you don't have to be in the nation's capital to join in the festivities.

ABC will broadcast the Washington, D.C. Neighborhood Ball beginning at 8:00 p.m. EST, and people at Neighborhood Balls across the country will be sending in photos and videos of their celebrations. Some may even be featured in the official Inaugural book.

I encourage you to share your own photos and stories:

http://www.pic2009.org/celebrate

You can also text OBAMA to 56333 for instructions on how to send in congratulation messages and pictures from your mobile phone.

This inauguration is more than just the beginning of a new administration. It is the beginning of a nationwide spirit of unity and service.

I hope you will stay involved in the effort to renew America together.

Thank you,

Emmett

Emmett S. Beliveau
Executive Director
Presidential Inaugural Committee