The Eureka Standard

Middle Class Collapse

2011-07-17T08:40:00.000-07:00

Another video art interpretation of Vermont Senator, Bernie Sanders.

Canned Food And The Decriminalization Debate

2011-04-25T13:54:00.000-07:00

Here’s something on the marijuana decriminalization debate.

Last week as the Washington state legislature gutted the decency from a pending medical marijuana bill, the City of Eureka was finally at a point to permit a marijuana dispensary to operate in town (the biggest hang-ups over what can be advertised now resolved), and one of the medical marijuana shops in Bakersfield continued to sponsor a popular canned food-for-marijuana program.

Certainly progress on the decriminalization front. Arcata doesn’t even have a food-for-marijuana program. And I haven't heard of a similar program in Denver, where it's said more cannabis consumption goes on than drinking Starbucks coffee.

It’s a fact that Washington’s governor, Chris Gregoire, requested special opinions from the two U.S. attorneys in her state on the legal repercussions of a state law violating federal rules against marijuana. They advised against it because of the legal liability that the law would impose on state employees as they violated federal law. Although fifteen states now have decriminalized marijuana to some degree, with what seemed to be a meme- cake-like belch, Ms. Gregoire announced that she will not sign the bill.

Legal marijuana in Bakersfield has turned out to be a good thing as six cans of chili is the exchange rate for one joint - "up to forty eight cans a month". Yet food for the needy aside, in a place where it’s illegal to have an outside barbecue because of the unhealthy quality of the air, drug trade violence is rampant, and where people are employed by the county to drive around in little white trucks with thermo detection devices ready to give citations to homes using fire places illegally, the continued normalization of cannabis use there I bet will be exciting to watch.

Here’s to the day when our lives are no longer impacted by the marijuana prohibition trade. On that day we’ll think about other things, like maybe how hemp can be used to make cars that run on batteries.

A Video Art Interpretation of Vermont Senator, Bernie Sanders

2011-04-13T11:58:00.000-07:00

“This budget moves America in exactly the wrong direction,” Sanders said. “While there is no question that we must reduce soaring deficits, it must be done in a way that is fair, which protects the most vulnerable people in our country, and which requires shared sacrifice. I will not support a budget that will cut programs for struggling working families, the elderly, children and the poor while expanding tax breaks for billionaires, maintaining corporate tax loopholes and increasing military spending. That is just plain wrong.”

-- Bernie Sanders
Link

Mr. Sanders' press release on the current federal budget deal: Link

TV Ad - Police Chief McNamara: Vote YES On Proposition 19

2010-10-25T21:34:00.000-07:00

I wondered if we were going to be treated to any TV spots from the proposition 19 campaign. This is the first, to be aired Tuesday.

The text from the ad:

"Let's be honest: The war against marijuana has failed. I know from 35 years in law enforcement. Today, it's easier for a teenager to buy pot than beer. Proposition 19 will tax and control marijuana just like alcohol. It will generate billions of dollars for local communities, allow police to focus on violent crimes, and put drug cartels out of business. Join me and many others in law enforcement. Vote YES on Proposition 19!"

McNamara, who served as San Jose's chief of police for 15 years, is now a research fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution. He previously served as chief of police in Kansas City and as a beat officer in New York City. McNamara is just one of the many veteran law enforcers who have endorsed Prop. 19. A letter signed by dozens of police officers, judges and prosecutors who support ending prohibition can be read at -
http://www.YesOn19.com/endorse/enforc...