S.O.F. - Nope, not Soldier of Fortune - just Stoned Old Farts

I remember the day when a $10 bag was called a "can" in So. Calif, and matchbox was a $10 bag in Georgia, and I even vaguely remember 1968. Anyone that says they really remember 1968 - wasn't really there. Hell, I was even a (reluctant) member of Uncle Sam's Marijuana Connoisseurs back then, but of course that was of the day way before drug testing. Shit, I'd have VOLUNTEEREDfor a drug test if it would have brought me back home from hell back in '71-72.

Now as I stare 60 straight in the teeth i realize that I can't be the only "Senile Old Fart" OOPS!! I mean "Stoned Old Fart in here." Remember the day when you had a choice of which papers to use... Zig Zag wheat, Bugler, or Tops? When you bought a pipe at the drug store, just to pull the plastic bit out and thrown that stupid little paper filer away?

So pull up a rocking chair, or turn your walker around and have a seat on it and get comfortable. I brought the bong, and have a bud or two to put in it. What'cha got to add to the reminiscent conversation?

I'll start it off... I'm living in central Georgia and.. hmmmm... uhhh... errr... well... What the hell were we talking about?

That's awesome that you were able to experiene the Corps without having to submit to random drug testing.... But as my Drill Instructors would always say, "You should be happy that this isn't the real Corps, the Corps isn't what it used to be.". They would go on to say that we're lucky it's not the Vietnam era....

CGI::::::

Oh my, GIG--how well I remember!! It was a shame we sprayed the "agent orange' on all that free growing pot in Viet Nam. I wasn't there, but I had friends and family that were and some did not return. It seems, in war, we need do away with drug testing. We have proven, we can't win 'civil wars' for other others. So, our vets might as well have a bit of fun!!

Hope your body isn't letting you down too much from that war. I see the ailments in many from V.N. war. My brother started using pot in Viet Nam and many I know report using it, as it grew in the wild, while there. Guess it would be nice if every war had a field of pot. Now, we secretly hide natural large grows in the wild.

If I ever pass thru Georgia, I will pull up my walker and share a bong with you!!

The days when we all went to group rallies and protested V.N and demanded our troops come home! May your life be enriched for your duty to our country. As we all know, Freedom is not Free! Our protests and daily activities on the 5 o'clock news.

Now, as we creep onto 60-we simply watch, the 5 o'clock news and hope we see: Marijuana Legal in the U.S. of A. !! pr

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Originally Posted by painretreat

Now, as we creep onto 60-we simply watch, the 5 o'clock news and hope we see: Marijuana Legal in the U.S. of A. !! pr

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Georgia was the 5th (or was it the 12th?) state to climb aboard the federal government's prohibition. Being located in the heart of what's called "the bible belt," it will unfortunately probably be the one of the last to recognize the benefits of cannabis and repeal and/or modify the laws to allow for cannabis. Georgia is fractured into 159 ittty-bitty counties, the most counties of any state in the nation; With a bunch of them still being "dry"from the previous prohibition - meaning you can't even buy alcohol in them yet.

I don't see that announcement coming in MY lifetime here in Georgia, but I've been considering the option of moving to Oregon. That announcement has already been issued there. Oh well... I don't feel that personally hearing that announcement as so great a loss. Hearing it HERE I would be ecstatic.

I do wonder though, with the republicans taking over, if we won't start seeing more invasive legislation being written to further erode our personal rights - in the name of national security or some such BS. I see that Rhode Island's governor Lincoln Chafee pulled the plug on the state's nascent medical cannabis dispensary program, despite it having been previously approved 102 - 3 by the state legislature. He caved to the feds claiming he, "didn't want to risk state employees being arrested". What a crock of bullshit! He is intentionally breaking the law, that HE signed into law when it was voted on, publicly, by the people of the state. :wtf: I can't BELIEVE our government, at any level, can just reject a public vote of the people! And I wonder how the feds are going to cover up his actions and call them "legal". I dunno how YOU were sworn in, but I seem to remember something about "protecting this country from threat, both foreign and domestic". His actions certainly seem, at least to me, as "domestic harm to our country".

Just in, (dee da dee da dee dee, a da da dee) from Norml.org, "U.S. Attorneys in California sent warnings to local dispensaries in San Francisco, San Diego, and elsewhere warning that locally compliant facilities still may be subject to federal prosecution for violating federal 'drug free school zones' legislation -- leaving these facilities with no choice but to either move or close.Also, federal attorneys in California have sent hundreds of legal warnings to the landlords of properties that rent to medical cannabis businesses (retail, delivery, cultivation and testing) warning that their properties and assets are subject to swift civil forfeiture proceedings, and that they themselves may be subject to decades in prison. Is it likely that federal attorneys do the same in Colorado, New Mexico and Maine; and to the numerous gray area dispensaries in Oregon and Washington" Wonderful! Simply f/n wonderful!

Our leaders are so determined to see the rest of the world fall in line that we're ready to jump into shooting wars with numerous countries at the same time, ignoring the laws of that country, to enforce our failed "war against drugs". Just to keep YOU from smoking a jurnt, or using medication legally prescribed by your doctor. It wouldn't surprise me to see "civil unrest" to soon be starting up here as it has in so much of the middle eastern countries. And if it does... hey... you can count on my ass being right slap dab in the middle of it. By our oath, to our government, all veterans would be required to be there. Can you imagine??

There always seems to be some one petty politicians, or part of the governing body that wants to puff their chest and consider themselves above the law. Example, a federal law was passed requiring states to accept firearm licensing applications. So they did. And they sat on them at local levels claiming the were required to accept the application, not necessarily to issue the license. Georgia had to pass an additional law, becoming a "shall issue" state, meaning the probate judges, who handled the licensing either issue the registrant a permit within 30 days or show cause to have rejected the permit. Good old Judge Self, in Bibb County (where I live) was the worst offender in the state! Now, under the new law he has to issue within 30 says or he PERSONALLY becomes liable for the attorney fees for anyone that is forced to sue to gain their license.

Hell, the "city council" in Macon is 19 people. Show me ANYTHING that 19 people, each on their own personal power trip agenda, are going to accomplish.

But, I really shouldn't get off on the subject of politics and the loss of personal freedom due to petty officials that think they have the "power" to ignore the law as these are real sore spots subject with me.

Happy tokin' I need to go medicate! :rasta:

:mad: (dee dee da da da dee dee da dee da da da) :mad:

Yesterday, the four U.S. Attorneys from California--along with their respective counterparts here in Washington D.C. from the DEA and IRS--declared that a statewide crackdown against large-scale medical cannabis cultivators and sellers with national implications is currently underway.
Question: Will U.S. Attorneys in the other fifteen states and D.C. with medical cannabis laws pursue similarly aggressive enforcement?
But wait! There's more. Much more.

• Earlier this week, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued a long-awaited $2.5 million ruling against a major medical cannabis dispensary in California. Citing an obscure part of the US tax code meant to target drug cartels, the federal agency is barring dispensaries, even those licensed under state law, from taking any business-related tax deductions and is seeking millions in dollars in back taxes.
  This adverse ruling has the very real potential to stop the regulated sale of cannabis currently underway in California, Colorado, Maine and New Mexico; and planned in Arizona, Montana, Delaware, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C
• The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) issued a heavy-handed one-page memo to every gun and ammunition dealer nationwide informing them that they must, by law, deny sales to lawful patients who possess a physician's recommendation to use medical cannabis--many of whom posses state-issues medical cannabis ID cards--effectively denying their Second Amendment rights to have a gun to hunt or for personal safety.
• Federal regulators cracked down on banks in Colorado, California and Michigan that had previously conduct business with medical cannabis dispensaries, forbidding these financial institutions from allowing cash deposits or processing credit/debit cards from state or locally approved canna-businesses.
• U.S. Attorneys in California sent warnings to local dispensaries in San Francisco, San Diego, and elsewhere warning that locally compliant facilities still may be subject to federal prosecution for violating federal 'drug free school zones' legislation -- leaving these facilities with no choice but to either move or close.
• Also, federal attorneys in California have sent hundreds of legal warnings to the landlords of properties that rent to medical cannabis businesses (retail, delivery, cultivation and testing) warning that their properties and assets are subject to swift civil forfeiture proceedings, and that they themselves may be subject to decades in prison. Is it likely that federal attorneys do the same in Colorado, New Mexico and Maine; and to the numerous gray area dispensaries in Oregon and Washington?
• Rhode Island's governor Lincoln Chafee pulled the plug on the state's nascent medical cannabis dispensary program, despite it having been previously approved 102 - 3 by the state legislature. Why? Governor Chafee cites recent memos from the Department of Justice threatening to federally prosecute employees involved in the state-licensed production or distribution of cannabis.
• Michigan courts, the legislature and the state's Attorney General are steadily dissembling the state's medical cannabis program, despite the law having passed with 63 percent public approval.

Wonderful.. :mad: Simply f/n wonderful!

:420thought:The day after I posted in this thread my brother-in-law shared the few pictures he has from his days in Viet Nam prior to being a P.O.W./M.I.A. Fortunately, he made it home safely (but has many medical problems from it). He has PTSD and doesn't sleep more than a few hours at a time. I went to Las Vegas with he and my sister once. He doesn't know one word of Vietnamese, but he woke up talking in Vietnamese and woke us all up, telling us to "Stay down, I will take care of them!" PTSD is real and all the scares of war. It seemed strange to me, as I did not share this Thread information with him (he believes in 'mind power' over pain-and I let him). Seeing pictures of Viet Nam, I have never seen before and recalling my own brothers pictures he showed me, approx. 10 years after his tour. Seems like something is boiling in me on this issue. Then looking at the 5:00 news to see the new "Hippies" picketing against Wall Street. Except, they have tents, generatiors and all the things they are "green" against. Looks like a formal camping trip with the local pizza place delivering and 'port-a-johns' all around.

:angry3:GIG: How right you are with all the Nomrl info. It is at the local level, it appears-they(the Feds) have started the fight, just like the hunting license. A collective in Riverside, CA (as I am native South. CA) has been fighting local gov't in court for quite some time now. And has lost the first round. At this point, I believe only total legalization will work. Hopefully, we will have it on our ballot next go round and pass it, before we all have white hair. I, as you, for many other medical reasons of liberty in Oregon, have often considered moving to Oregon. Oregon, the spearhead of Euthanasia by M.D.'s: You can choose how you want to die, if you know you are dying! Lord knows, I don't want to be in a painful state of agony and unable to put myself out of my misery!

Georgia sure has a lot of counties and that makes for a lot of chaos. I spent a little time in the 'Bible Belt' this past summer. It is a very beautiful part of this nation and I bet pot grows well there! It is a shame we can't grow what we need without looking over our shoulders. I must admit though, with age-I don't fear so much of the Gov't anymore. If I need to medicate- I simply do, wherever I am (if I have my req. with me). If I can take a pill from a bottle I feel I can eat a medical brownie or whatever it takes. If I sit in my rocking chair on the front porch, I will do as I please! I sit and watch my neighbors getting their mmj delivered to their homes in silence and fear. I have a distaste for it, having to be so secretive about a natural remedy for whatever ails me.

You sort of hit the nail on the head. As far as, what I believe. I think the current Gov't is shifting Right to gain some headway with the 'tea-party' voters to win election next year. Until this up-coming election is over, I expect they will do anything to keep our current 'lame duck' in office. He was hopeful for 2 years in running took oath and did like Bush (until 9/11) and has sat down and rested too much. Almost too late to take any action to improve the situation in this country. He needed to make jobs and headlines well before now. And now, he is choosing 'pot' to divert our attention from the Wall Street Bail-outs. However, a Mitt Romney will never even lean toward legalization. So, there may be some hope, somewhere. Politically looking not so promising on the Federal Front.

Damned if you do and damned if you don't election 2012.

I look at my brother-in-law's flag, he faithfully flies in his front yard, mounted proper with a light and all the goodies. This morning he took my sister to a local restaurant for breakfast and learned the owners son had been killed in Iraq. A burning in my heart, it left. Just another Viet Nam (of sorts) and now we are out of Iraq (as Nixon did with Nam). History does repeat itself. Unfortunately, prohibition on alcohol did not work and if we really had the right to bear arms as they did back before my day, we would not have to work so hard for the freedom to do as we please with our own damn bodies, while we are here.

The Gov't is trying to regulate health. I personally believe: We All Have The Right To Choose How we Want To Die and Live!! If someone wants to smoke a cigarette-they know the consequences-let them! A pack of cigarettes is almost $5. (I only know cause I bought the first pack in 35 years, last month-for my niece). I know milk is so high it is sad. If the Gov't wants people to be healthier, they need to supply good wholesome milk at affordable prices to all. Grow healthier from the conception, so to speak. So many are on medication to prevent additional bone loss (osteoperosis), the best prevention is drinking milk from birth on. Or Calcium, Vit. D, Mag/Zinc and a good daily vitamin. Our Gov't makes no sense in a lot of ways. $4. a gallon of gas to get to work and no super highway for rapid transport. Our nation built bridges, parks and dams during the last great depression and needs to be progressive on the front of rapid mass transport and more energy efficient programs now. Legalize hemp for gasoline, clothing, medicine...etc..

Back to my retired Vet. brother-in-law. He was reading the new Medi-care guidelines to me. Sad, "Wow, the Gov't won't pay for hearing aides or glasses. But, they will pay for male erection pills. "Pretty bad, you can get a boner, but you can't hear or see when the train comes driving in!!" Guess, I am going to stop trying to make sense from what makes no sense at all, politically!

It is looking like it is all coming down to "local" Gov't and I am betting Oregon is the place for all of us, that just want to peacefully live out the last earned years of our lives. Whether it be in the Rocking Chair on the front porch stoned or sitting in our walker seats, pulled aside token for internal peace! We may have to move to Oregon. It is pretty there and a lot of nice fertile ground to tend our tiny little medical crops! :angry3:

Brother died last year from fibrosis in the lungs caused by the agent orange he ingested while over in nam, cambodia and laos. I remember when he came home for a visit and had jungle rot. All of us kids ended up getting it from him.lol He did 2 tours and got out.

It seems the politico's want to stomp on California, but the dispensaries elsewhere are not getting the same attention???...:wtf:

WHY are the feds so all fired determined to fuck with the people of California, but laying low on the other 15 states? Are they making an "example" of California? OR, are they doing this everywhere but only California is getting the news reporter's attentions? Can they not understand they "work for the people" and they do not "control the people"? I guess not.

Am I the only one that sees some type of a discrepancy here?

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Originally Posted by GrowingInGeorgia

It seems the politico's want to stomp on California, but the dispensaries elsewhere are not getting the same attention???...:wtf:

WHY are the feds so all fired determined to fuck with the people of California, but laying low on the other 15 states? Are they making an "example" of California? OR, are they doing this everywhere but only California is getting the news reporter's attentions? Can they not understand they "work for the people" and they do not "control the people"? I guess not.

Am I the only one that sees some type of a discrepancy here?

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Well. . .other states are having some problems, but Calif. most likely, has more collectives, dispensaries and Co-ops, because we have had mmj for almost 15 years now. Plus, they say. . . California asked the Feds to intervene! Most likely, due to funding! Just myho! pr