Gov. Gary Johnson 'the marijuana guy' takes 2012 pitch to L.A.

The International Drug Policy Reform Conference in downtown Los Angeles might not seem like a sensible campaign stop for a Republican presidential hopeful. There was reggae music blasting, little lapel pins shaped like marijuana leaves, and a speech by California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, the uber-liberal former mayor of San Francisco who is famous for granting marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

But on Thursday, Gary Johnson stood there before an audience of drug decriminalization activists, drawing cheers for his promise that if he wins the Republican nomination and is elected president, he will issue a full pardon for anyone serving prison time for a non-violent marijuana crime.

What Johnson’s shoe-string presidential campaign lacks in resources and media attention—which is a lot -- it has made up for in quirkiness. Consider last month, when the former New Mexico governor showed up to talk economics with protesters at Occupy Wall Street. Or his announcement that he had forgone campaigning in Iowa in order to focus on New Hampshire, where he hopes to make a good showing in the January primary – and surprise those who have dismissed him as a long-shot.

An advocate of small-government and tax reform that would tax consumption, instead of income, Johnson’s libertarian leanings have drawn comparisons to Ron Paul, whom he endorsed for president in 2008.

But he is best-known nationally for his stance on marijuana.

Johnson has been calling for the legalization of the drug since 1999, during his second term as governor. He says he smoked marijuana recreationally when he was younger, and used it more recently to help with the pain after a paragliding accident in 2005. Wherever he goes, Johnson says, people point and say: “That’s the marijuana guy.”

But he says he’s OK with that, since many Americans support looser drug policies. In a recent magazine interview, Johnson said marijuana smokers may be “the largest untapped voting bloc in the country.”

On Thursday, Johnson told the crowd about a Gallup poll last month that found that 50% of Americans favor legalizing marijuana. “Fifty percent of Americans support legalizing marijuana, “ he said. “But zero percent of the universe of politicians support this.” He assailed his Republican rivals, whom he said have overlooked the effect of the so-called war on drugs on the U.S.-Mexico border.

“They all talk about border violence and adding guns to the equation instead of looking at the root of the problem, which is prohibition,” he said.

With the exception of Paul, who believes states should decide whether to outlaw marijuana use, Johnson’s stance on the drug is in stark contrast to most of his Republican rivals. Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, has said that he would not support the decriminalization of marijuana, even for medicinal purposes.

And Newt Gingrich, the former speaker of the House, has sought to expand prosecution of drug-related offenses. In 1996, Gingrich sponsored a bill called the “Drug Importer Death Penalty Act,” which called for life in prison or even the death sentence for those convicted of trafficking large amounts of drugs.

(Source)

Another Great Event at the Oakland International Cannabis & Hemp Expo

Marijuana aficionados and patients alike came from across the country and descended upon this tiny little  five block area of downtown Oakland on Labor Day weekend to celebrate America's first cannabis-themed open air street festival.

In addition to live performances and booths touting everything from paraphernalia to THC-laced chocolate bananas, the International Cannabis & Hemp Expo featured a designated area where card-carrying medical patients could openly smoke weed--right outside Oakland's City Hall.

"Patients need an opportunity to take their medicine," festival chief Kim Cue told the Associated Press.

Individuals with a medical marijuana card can legally consume cannabis in California under Proposition 215, which has been in effect since 1996. Though the drug remains illegal under federal law, according to the blog Oakland North, law enforcement at the expo was few and far between

Even city police officers kept their distance, poised peaceably—and, according to one officer, indifferently—on the outskirts of the festival. Within the event, hired security did little more than give directions and check wristbands at entrances.]


(source)

WeedMaps at the Oakland International Cannabis & Hemp Expo – Oakland – Sept. 3 & 4

To all of our family members--

WeedMaps will be in attendance at this years & Hemp Expo – Oakland – Sept. 3 & 4... stop by their both and register to win one of two iPads that WeedMaps will be giving away.
(Rules Apply ask at booth)

DATE,TIME,LOCATION:
Date: Saturday &Sunday September 3rd & 4th 2011

Show Hours:12.00pm 8.00pm daily

Location: FrankOgawa Plaza,Downtown Oakland,CA
(Google map location: 14th & Clay St. Oakland, CA!94610)

Onsite Contact: Jill Brogan #510-593-9409 or email Jill@TheRubyAgency.com

PARKING:

Parking permits purchased in advance or during check in allow you access to The Expo's private lot located on Clay St. between 14th & 16th St. Any! oversize trucks or vans taller then the clearance height will! be directed to our oversize parking lot. Please note space is limited in this lot and based on a first come, first serve basis With a maximum of one spot per booth. Oversize vehicles will be required to
Have a parking permit as well.


General Show Policy:

• The sale of cannabis or products containing cannabis is strictly prohibited by The Expo and The City Of Oakland. Furthermore there is zero distribution including samples, giveaways or otherwise. You have to consume and medicate from your own stash.

•No smoking or open flame under any canopies or in unapproved areas.

• The use of medical cannabis is permitted only in the designated
Prop 215 area and only by mmj patients with a valid physician's
recommendation. by a non patient, use outside the
designated area and distribution of cannabis are all offenses and
punishable by law.

• All expo attendees are subject to search upon entry. will Not be taken from .

• Only expo affiliates and exhibitors may distribute literature and Only within their own booth space.

• No camera or recording devices are permitted. Please ask for the public relations desk if you want to shoot film. In the Prop! 215 area this will be STRICTLY enforced due to patient confidentiality.

•Follow the rules and obey the signage. Failure to do so may result in Immediate removal from the premises or criminal prosecution.

The Connoisseurs Cup 2010: Winners Angel’s Care GDP X Master Kush (1st runner up, All About Wellness Tangerine Kush. 2nd runner up, Sonoma Patient Group, UK Cheese)

Best CA 7-Star’s GDP wax (1st runner up, Angel’s Care Weapons Grade Sour Diesel. 2nd Runner up, Hopenet 11 Layer Hash)

Best CA Specialty Product Angel’s Care Moss Elixir (1st runner up, Northstar / Alpha Medicinal Cookie. 2nd Runner up, sonoma Patient Group “Lost Boy Joint”)

The VIP area in the Prop 215 section will have entertainment from 1 – 6 daily.

Travel

Hotels & Transportation
WeedMaps Preferred Hotel:

Marriott Oakland City Center
1001 Broadway
Oakland, California 94607
(510) 451-4000
**Please note that this hotel is a non tolerance hotel and does not accept medicating on the premises. If you are caught medicating you may be subject to a $150 cleaning fee.**

Other Local Hotels:
Waterfront Plaza Hotel
10 Washington Street
Oakland, California 94607
(510) 836-3800
Mention “Oaksterdam University” to receive 30% Discount
**Please request balcony**

Clarion Hotel Downtown Oakland City Center
317 13th Street
Oakland, California 94612
(510) 279-1700
**Please note that this hotel is a non tolerance hotel and does not accept medicating on the premises. If you are caught medicating you may be subject to a $150 cleaning fee.**

Washington Inn
495 10th Street
Oakland, California 94607
(510) 452-1776
**Please note that this hotel is a non tolerance hotel and does not accept medicating on the premises. If you are caught medicating you may be subject to a $150 cleaning fee.**

Courtyard by Marriott Oakland Downtown
988 Broadway
Oakland, California
(510) 625-8282
**Please note that this hotel is a non tolerance hotel and does not accept medicating on the premises. If you are caught medicating you may be subject to a $150 cleaning fee.**

Hawthorne Suites
1628 Webster Street
Alameda, California 94501
(510) 522-1000
**Please note that this hotel has only 2 smoking rooms**

Best Western Inn at the Square
233 Broadway
Oakland, California 94607
(510) 452-4565
**Please note that this hotel is a non tolerance hotel and does not accept medicating on the premises. If you are caught medicating you may be subject to a $150 cleaning fee.**

Colorado NASCAR driver suspended medical marijuana use

Ronnie Hults, A NASCAR driver has been suspended indefinitely after testing positive for marijuana. But Ronnie Hults says he got the drug legally, as a prescription for chronic pain.

While the state constitution allows people to smoke and buy medical marijuana, those rules may not apply to your workplace.

More than 127,000 people have medical marijuana cards in Colorado, but all can be suspended or fired if their employer has a policy against drug use.

That is what happened to Hults and now his NASCAR career could be over.

"Since I was a kid I've always told everybody I'm going to be a racecar driver," he said.

(Source)