Some doctors conveniently claim (Minnesota doctors' views on medical marijuana differ, Mar. 10, Forum) they "don't know the true risks," regarding cannabis (marijuana), however, there is a number of irrefutable facts to lead a rational person to accept the medical use of the God-given plant. In more than 5,000 years of documented use, cannabis has not killed one single person, and it's safer than every pharmaceutical drug that it replaces. Cannabis is labeled a Schedule I substance alongside heroin for purely political, not scientific reasons. Sick citizens should avoid doctors who accept the discredited political scandal regarding the plant and disregard the scientific knowledge, which is available. Stan White Dillon, Colorado [end]
LANCASTER, Pa. - Regarding Ronald Fraser's column, the days when politicians can get away with confusing the drug war's tremendous collateral damage with a comparatively harmless plant are coming to an end ("With time, America's perception of pot changes," Page A4, Jan. 13). If the goal of marijuana prohibition is to subsidize violent drug cartels, prohibition is a grand success. The drug war distorts supply and demand dynamics so that big money grows on little trees. But if the goal is to deter use, marijuana prohibition is a catastrophic failure. The United States has almost double the rate of marijuana use as the Netherlands, where marijuana is legal. [continues 78 words]
FARGO -- A court challenge to put medical marijuana to a vote failed Wednesday when the North Dakota Supreme Court rejected the case. The court's denial means elections officials around the state can go ahead and print an estimated 400,000 to 450,000 ballots for the Nov. 6 election as scheduled. The issue of whether the ballots could be printed in time for absentee and military voters arose when proponents of medical marijuana sued in an effort to put the issue back on the ballot. [continues 408 words]
Montana politicians are misleading the public, including North Dakota citizens. On Sunday, The Dickinson Press published a report about the Montana medical marijuana program as it relates to the upcoming ballot issue in North Dakota, quoting Montana Sen. Donald Steinbeisser, R-Sidney, as saying, "The problem we had in Montana, before the last session, over half of the people that were using medical marijuana cards were 20- to 30-year-olds. You know dog-gone well there's something wrong with that." [continues 344 words]
As Secretary of State Al Jaeger reviews a medical marijuana ballot initiative, a Montana state legislator recommends sending it through the state assembly instead. In 2004, Montana passed a medical marijuana initiative through a general election which was hard to regulate, said Montana State Sen. Donald Steinbeisser, R-Sidney. "The problem we had in Montana, before the last session, over half of the people that were using medical marijuana cards were 20- to 30-year-olds," he said. "You know dog-gone well there's something wrong with that." [continues 754 words]
As Secretary of State Al Jaeger reviews a medical marijuana ballot initiative, a Montana state legislator recommends sending it through the state assembly. In 2004, Montana passed a medical marijuana initiative through a general election which was hard to regulate, said Montana State Sen. Donald Steinbeisser, R-Sidney. "The problem we had in Montana, before the last session, over half of the people that were using medical marijuana cards were 20- to 30-year-olds," he said. "You know dog-gone well there's something wrong with that." [continues 754 words]
North Dakota does not need to become the next state to allow the use of marijuana for medical reasons. An initiative petition is under review by Secretary of State Al Jaeger. If the petition is approved, supporters would soon begin gathering signatures to get the issue on the ballot. If the proposal gets that far, we urge North Dakota voters to reject the idea. Under the proposal, someone with a "debilitating medical condition" may grow and use marijuana, and possess up to 2 ounces of the drug, providing they have a doctor's recommendation. Marijuana would be sold at licensed dispensaries. Some of the "debilitating medical conditions" include cancer and post-traumatic stress disorder. [continues 176 words]
BISMARCK -- Supporters of legalizing medical marijuana in North Dakota turned in a proposed initiative Tuesday to put the issue on the November ballot. With voters' approval, the initiative would allow someone who suffers from a debilitating illness to use marijuana with a doctor's permission. It lists cancer, post-traumatic stress disorder, glaucoma and other illnesses as examples of debilitating conditions. The chairman of the initiative effort, state Rep. Steve Zaiser, D-Fargo, said he believed people with chronic pain would qualify. [continues 331 words]
Finding a job in the Williston area isn't as easy as it might seem on CNN or YouTube, especially if you have a criminal record. Just ask 49-year-old Epifanio Rodriguez Jr., an out-of-work truck driver from Philadelphia who arrived in Williston with his car and a few hundred dollars on April 22. Rodriguez has a commercial driving liscense and more than 10 years of experience in driving dump trucks and tractor-trailers -- which experts say is currently the most in-demand job of the oil patch. [continues 530 words]
A Jury Acquitted Arturas Teras, WHO Was Accused of Possessing Nearly 50 Pounds of Marijuana, After Less Than an Hour of Deliberation Thursday Afternoon at the Stark County Courthouse. Donatas Jasiulionis was supposed to stand trial with Teras, but he skipped back to their native country, officials said. "He voluntarily deported back to Lithuania before the trial," said Kelly Armstrong, Jasiulionis's attorney. "If he ever comes back into the country, they'll arrest him immediately." Tom Henning, Stark County state's attorney, said an arrest warrant was issued for Jasiulionis, but officials will likely not extradite him. [continues 295 words]
Inside North Dakota
