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The fight against legalized pot is being heavily bankrolled by alcohol and pharmaceutical companies, terrified that they might lose market share.
On the heels of a filing last week that revealed that a synthetic cannabis company is financing the opposition to legal marijuana in Arizona comes a new disclosure this week that a beer industry group made one of the largest donations to an organization set up to defeat legalization in Massachusetts.
The Beer Distributors PAC, an affiliate that represents 16 beer-distribution companies in Massachusetts, gave $25,000 to the Campaign for a Safe and Healthy Massachusetts, tying it for third place among the largest contributors to the anti-pot organization.
William A. Kelley, the president of the Beer Distributors of Massachusetts, did not respond to a request for comment, but his organization’s decision to oppose legalization is hardly unique in the alcohol industry.
In Arizona, one of the five states with marijuana legalization ballot measures this November, the Arizona Wine and Spirits Wholesale Association donated $10,000 to a group opposing legalization. In 2010, the last time California considered marijuana legalization, another alcoholic beverage distribution group provided financing to a law enforcement-backed campaign to defeat legalization.
The alcohol industry is nowhere near unified over pot policy, however, with several craft brewing firm welcoming laws that relax restrictions over pot.
Securities and Exchange Commission filings reveal that heavyweight alcohol companies have disclosed to investors that pot could pose a challenge to their bottom line.
The Boston Beer Company, the parent company of Sam Adams, told investors in its 10-K filing that laws that allow the “sale and distribution of marijuana” could “adversely impact the demand” for beer.
The Brown-Forman Company, maker of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey and Finlandia Vodka, similarly warned in its 10-K filing that “consumer preferences and purchases may shift due to a host of factors, many of which are difficult to predict, including … the potential legalization of marijuana use on a more widespread basis within the United States, and changes in travel, leisure, dining, gifting, entertaining, and beverage consumption trends.”
Research about the impact of marijuana legalization on consumer habits is split. Daniel Rees, a professor of economics at the University of Colorado, Denver, has claimed that consumers will substitute marijuana for alcohol when given the chance. But tax revenue in Colorado, which legalized pot in 2012, suggests consumers have continued to purchase alcohol at almost the same rate as before legalization.
Paul Varga, the chief executive of Brown-Forman, told investors during an earnings call in August 2014 that marijuana legalization was emerging as a “big threat.” But four months later, in another discussion with investors, Varga backpedaled a bit. “I wouldn’t say I’m losing sleep over the legalization of marijuana,” he noted. “But I’m paying attention to it.”
Okay! maybe it is time that we make booze, tobacco, and pharmaceuticals illegal, since those are the drug of choice for our government. Clearly this has impaired their thinking, logic, and reasoning. If nothing else shows us how corrupt and out to lunch they truly are.
Tired of paying for hypocrites to go around the world making the decision to kill people while smoking their stogies, popping their prescription drugs, and drinking their martinis. Clearly we have a group of Alcoholics leading the country. Every time you see Obama it is either a golf club or some type of booze. Nothing but a bunch of LUSHES making CRITICAL DECISIONS while impaired. This explains why we are over 5 Trillion dollars in debt. Even Hillary gave us a photo of her tossing one back, after she already looked like she had already had a few too many. HYPOCRITES!
By the logic that alcohol and nicotine are legal, so too should be cannabis?—?and vice versa.
As for the addictive properties of this still Class 1 drug, the two legal ones tried their best to kill me (literally, and possibly bring others along for the ride), but if I could have the same relationship with booze and cigarettes that I have with pot, I’d still be drinking?—?and, perhaps, smoking.
Pot helped me stop smoking in three days with NO SIDE EFFECT! Good smoke and GREAT sex! Who would want to taste a cigarette after that. NOT ME for almost 30 years :)
Talk about pissing into the wind!
What a waste of resources, better that they talk with the people involed and be apart of the process.
Instead of trying to beat it, why not join it?
The simple solution is NOT for the alcohol purveyors to attempt to stop the competition of marijuana. Instead they should be encouraging its legitimacy and use their success and profits to get into marijuana retailing! It’s a win-win for everybody.
Why would the alcohol industry getting into marijuana retailing be a win for “everybody?” I, for one, don’t want the alcohol industry having anything at all to do with marijuana/cannabis in any business sense. And as far as I know, no one is asking for their assistance or input. They’ve proven, once again, by the way they are lying about marijuana in order to keep it illegal that they can’t be trusted and that they are basically self interested scum.
Very valid point. While “legalize, regulate, brand, and compete” may bring some safety and uniformity to the product, who says the “good ol’ boys” have to get the job? Let’s let some new, entrepreneurial blood develop this new industry. If alcohol and nicotine cannot survive alongside, well, disruptive technology/product does come along now and again. And it’s not as if Phillip Morris and AB InBev sell health food.
As for crushing boutique growers/producers, collateral damage comes to all growing industries. Those that aren’t crushed go on to become successful. Capitalism is not an easy game.
I agree I don’t want them involved either. What the booze industry wants to do is set up these smoking lounges where you create the environment where allowing the booze industry to mix with the pot industry won’t mix.
Why not just go to a bar if you want to drink? Pot smokers do not want a bunch of belligerent drunks in their peaceful surroundings. Just like alcohol and pharmaceuticals don’t mix, neither do pot and booze.
‘‘Paul Varga, the chief executive of Brown-Forman, told investors …. “I wouldn’t say I’m losing sleep over the legalization of marijuana,”
Of course not! A bottle of Cannabis Beer is good for 8 hours of complete knocked out sleep.
Nobody better mention anything about Alcohol and Brain Funcionality, either; I SHOULD HAVE PROOF-READ BEFORE SUBMITTING….Peace!
Aargh! That last post should have said Companies; not Comapnies. I should have Proof-Read. Nobody better comment on the supposed relationship between Herb and Brain Functionality. I have been drinking wine, this morning. ????! Herb is good. Wine is good!
Now David, please tell me did you go out and do any harm to anyone other than yourself? If not, what is the problem with having your own RECREATION of your choosing?
Ever since high school when my friends and I would kick back and enjoy some of earths gift to mankind we talked about the illegality of marijuana and the alcohol industry’s successful efforts in that.
Oh, yeah; as far as the Pharmaceutical Comapnies; they seem to all be trash. They seem to have Hi-Jacked the FDA (if the FDA knew what they were doing , in the first place; ever). We have Garbage Products with a host of horrible side-effects; on the market; yet; wholesome Natural Remedies; are maligned and banned; what a horrible situation….
Alcohol Companies that fight against Marijuana Legalization are dumb. I enjoy both and if I find out a company is against Marijuana Legalization; I stop buying their product. I just sent a message to Sam Adams. They have great American Beer. I won’t buy that beer any longer if they are fighting against Herb. The two are good products that shouldn’t be fighting each other for Market Share. People have their own ideas. I enjoy both Wine and Herb on a Daily Basis. Sam Adams is beer; one I used to like; when drinking beer. Now I couldn’t care less….
Alcohol should not be in any community. Alcohol is not for the people. Saving lives is our business, and I refuse to be a part by working for any company that promotes the sale of it. Please!!!! No amount of many can replace a loved one lost by alcohol related deaths. Be a part of the solution . We matter
You’re advocacy for prohibition will only lead to more deaths and rampant crime.
Ryan Donaghy, Chairman of the Board Donaghy Sales, LLC Alcoholic beverage distributer, steadily funds anti-marijuana efforts
Ron Fowler, Immediate Past Chairman Liquid Investments, LLC Alcoholic beverage distributer, steadily funds anti-marijuana efforts
Tom Reyes, Vice Chairman Crest Beverage, LLC; Gate City Beverage Distributors-San Bernardino; Harbor Distributing, LLC-Anaheim, Gardena, Santa Ana Alcoholic beverage distributer, steadily funds anti-marijuana efforts
David “Duke” Reyes, Chief Financial Officer Crest Beverage, LLC; Gate City Beverage Distributors-San Bernardino; Harbor Distributing, LLC-Anaheim, Gardena, Santa Ana Alcoholic beverage distributer, steadily funds anti-marijuana efforts
Peter Heimark, Secretary Heimark Distributing Co. Triangle Distributing Co. Alcoholic beverage distributer, steadily funds anti-marijuana efforts
Terence Fox, NBWA CA Director M.E. Fox and Co. Alcoholic beverage distributer, steadily funds anti-marijuana efforts
Travis Markstein, NBWA CA Director Markstein Beverage Co. Sacramento; Markstein Beverage Co. San Marcos Alcoholic beverage distributer, steadily funds anti-marijuana efforts
Cherisse Alford, CBBD PAC Chair Alford Distributing, Alcoholic beverage distributer, steadily funds anti-marijuana efforts
Jeff Jordano, Management Committee Member Pacific Beverage Co. Alcoholic beverage distributer, steadily funds anti-marijuana efforts
T.J. Louderback, Management Committee Member Anheuser-Busch In Bev Sales Inc. of Pomona and Antelope Valley, Alcoholic beverage distributer, steadily funds anti-marijuana efforts
etc. etc. etc.
The beer distributors mentioned in this article who are donating all that money to the anti-pot legalization PACs are fucking idiots. It is pure stupidity to think that just because you can buy marijuana you will then stop buying beer! I mean, how fucking stupid and paranoid can you get!? So, after they legalize pot in Arizona, on a Friday night party at someone’s house, there will only be pot and soft drinks! LOL! American businesses always have their head up their ass when it comes to topics such as this. They will never get it.
They simply want it all.
Alcohol is not for the people or our best interest.It kills and harms and should not be here at all. Why is it being sold on our land. It destroys, and apparently the statistics, the people affected by its ugly truth, the facts don’t keep it from still being sold. God’s will, does not lead us into temptation and God’s will does not harm or destroy, but protects and serves. Our well being,our community our family, matters…… One life lost is one too many. Especially if it is caused by something we have the power to remove. Alcohol is an enemy to all of us. Vote not to promote. Don’t become a part of the problem, solve the problem, face it. Do the right thing. Say no
Here might be a , perhaps false, logic to their anxiety. Desire for alcohol may not change, but with limited incomes for the majority of US workers and, especially, for the unemployed and alcoholic, there may not be enough disposable income, or so the liquor industry thinks, to biuy BOTH beer and MJ .
It’ may be a false logic because not many people abstain from MJ because it is illegal and many, if not most, of those unemployed alcoholics are probably already toking up.
In fact, if legalization brings the cost of MJ down significantly, I’m sure the extra spending-power will just go to buy more alcohol for many people.
I would think that the local distilleries and breweries really don’t care if folks do weed or not. Weed smokers tend to have more discriminate taste when it comes to beer. They become “beer snobs” which means that Bud, Miller, Jack Daniels and coke, and other forms of “cheap buzz” are not that satisfying.
The World Health Organization just proclaimed that the United States ranked third in having the most depressed population:
ww.usnews.com/news/best-countries/articles/2016-09-14/the-10-most-depressed-countries
Between the income inequality here, terrible schools, a lousy health care system that many cannot afford to use and the choice between Clinton and Trump for President, who would blame Americans for being depressed and wanting to drink alcohol and get stoned?
Agreed about our needing alcohol and pot just to stave off suicide. But please stop with the “choice between Clinton and Trump” business. We have a choice (and a duty!) to vote against both.
Vote third party.
Disband the DEA.
I have to agree, JohnSP. I have long thought the agency name (DEA) held various interpretations that literally are not logical. The “Schedule” for classifying “illegal” “drugs” has long been non-scientific and anti-humane. Medicine is another wildly distorted, yet very important aspect of what “authorities” seem to have chosen to hold humanity in Control. The MAP project is worth looking into, and just may help disband, as you say, the DEA.
Colorado, et al, has been a long time coming, but I for one find solace in seeing this before I kick out.
Many people don’t realize that the DEA is a relatively recent creation, coming out of the Nixon administration. It should be obvious that the DEA has actually done nothing to improve the lives of anyone with the exception of drug producers south of the US border, and those profiting from our privatized prison system.
Plus, as we’re learning in four states, legalizing cannabis doesn’t really increase the number of people using it by huge amounts. Users in the US already have such small penalties that anyone who wants to get high IS ALREADY GETTING HIGH.
This is sick. Pot is nothing like booze. The movement to regulate like alcohol is not a good idea. The two really have nothing in common with each other. I know I wouldn’t drink any more or less if pot were made legal. Have you ever seen a “potoholic” rolling in the gutter? It just doesn’t happen. Alcohol impairs. The same cannot be said about pot. It can be dangerous for inexperienced users but so can a car or power tools in the hands of the inexperienced. I don’t think anyone should outlaw chainsaws and automobiles because of that, however.
Cannabis is a far greater threat to the over-the-counter analgesic and pharmaceutical opiate and antidepressant industries than to the alcohol industry; although if cannabis was shown to be effective in getting alcoholics to stop drinking so much (they drive industry profits), that might change. Consider consumption levels in the top 10% of drinkers:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2014/09/25/think-you-drink-a-lot-this-chart-will-tell-you/
That’s a lot of booze! Three bottles of wine with every dinner, per person (cost: $15-$150 per day). This is comparable to opiate addicts who consume 500 mg/day (at a cost of anywhere from $50 for the cheapest street heroin to $500 for pharmacy-supplied oxycodone); or, for the heaviest hashish users, (cannabis concentrate) as much as 5 grams per day at a price from $100-$250 (medical cannabis rates). It’s easy to see who keeps the profit margins going strong in these industries (as with your top 10% of cigarette smokers, at 4 packs a day, which is what, $40 a day)?
The bottom line? Americans in general do way to much drugs and alcohol, especially binge consumption, but this reflects the miserable nature of life across so much of the United States these days. This is also seen in the suicide rates, which are highest for military veterans, but have increased for all groups over the past decades; as well as the shortened life expectancy statistics for middle-aged whites. Looks rather like East Germany during the STASI era, doesn’t it? There was even a movie about writers in East Germany trying to expose their suicide problem, under STASI surveillance – “The Lives of Others.”
This is in line with various studies that show quality of life is most closely associated with drug and alcohol addiction; unemployed workers develop such addictions at twice the rate of full-time workers, for example. Still, there is an argument that the full-time stoner is at less risk of death and serious disease than the full-time alcoholic or opiate addict; so that is a net positive; but the underlying stresses driving people into such behavior aren’t going to go away just because we legalize cannabis.
However, there are some (still highly illegal in the US) approaches that could be tried – take all the LSD studies (in controlled situations, under therapist supervision) that over had 80% success rates for alcoholics quitting in small studies; similarly, ibogaine has a very successful track record with breaking opiate addiction, and the drug MDMA (again, under controlled conditions) has had a good record of being used to get people suffering from PTSD off daily antidepressants. Quite unlike other drug treatment programs, all these approaches are based on one to a few therapeutic sessions with the drug, not on daily intake of a pharmaceutical product. Big Pharma doesn’t like this model, and it makes the DEA hyperventilate, too.
A healthier American public would be bad for alcohol, tobacco and pharmaceutical profit margins, and yes, the cannabis industry could easily turn into a corporate version of the tobacco industry; but the bottom line is the same: this is a public health issue, not a criminal one.
P.S. Let me add that the majority of people can consume small quantities of various substances all across the board with minimal effects if they do it in moderation; the plunge into heavy addictive behaviors is what the above post is about; that’s the big public health issue the U.S. is facing.
Personally, the drug I consume the most of is caffeine in the form of espresso, though I’ve tried every drug under the sun (and found most of them interesting but not worth getting addicted to, and in general the aftereffects rarely make the experience worth it, particularly with alcohol, in my opinion).
I do find the effects of mescaline, psilocybin, lysergic acid derivatives and similar compounds fascinating, but I really wouldn’t recommend them to anyone as “recreational drugs”, quite the opposite, but they should be available to therapists in controlled settings, certainly. . . . I think someone at the DEA just popped a blood vessel in their forehead. ;)
One of the most amusing things about my own drug-of-choice, however, is that it too has been under edict in the past:
P.S. Notice also, the spread of Islam is probably a much bigger threat to alcohol sales than cannabis legalization. . . hmm. What does that mean? Here’s a bizzare fact: Chinese authorities have been forcing Muslim-owned shops to sell alcohol and tobacco in China:
http://www.ibtimes.com/muslims-china-chinese-shop-owners-ordered-sell-alcohol-cigarettes-weaken-islam-1908739
Fascinating notion. . . perhaps forcing liquor and gun stores to sell cannabis products would cut down on the rates of violence in America? One thing about stoners, they tend not to be too violent.
Imteresting how the 10th decile comsumes 5x as much as the 9th and more than the other 90% combined.
This might be a better reason than health concerns to limit my beer consumption.
Glad to hear the big bad breweries are shakin’ all over, but really now: “Daniel Rees, a professor of economics at the University of Colorado Denver, has claimed that consumers will substitute marijuana for alcohol when given the chance. ” That’s pure bullshit, coming probably from a guy who needs to get out more. I guarantee you that craft beer consumption will go up, and it’s sad to hear that the Sam Adams brewery is scared–they were on the ground floor of the craft beer revolution, as it were.
Another liberal slanted example of noninvestigative sham journalism from the white upper middle class at “The Intercept”
Pray tell how the story is “slanted.” I like how you use the modifier “liberal.” I’m just a middle-class drone here, so go slow.
You need to elaborate.
But that would be so liberal.
Tonight for the second time within two weekends there was a major sobriety checkpoint set up on our way home in Pennsylvania. It gives a police state feel. Many will say it is for the safety of the public. Many will remind us of their belief that driving is a privilege not a right.
If our Pennsylvania governing forces were so altruistic and sincerely concerned about our citizenry’s safety maybe they would have both considered turning down campaign contributions and shunned lobbying efforts coming from the liquor industry. Recent liquor industry efforts have unwisely opened up liquor sales on weekends and Sundays, along with vastly broadening establishments that can sell alcohol related products.
If those which were elected would be proactive leaders open to wisdom’s calling and the interest of their constituents they may have written and passed laws that bans liquor advertising altogether in the state, which would make less people apt to be drinking in the first place, thus freeing up our law enforcement for other police work.
As far as driving being a privilege rather than a right how about considering our basic right to “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness” guaranteed to us in our founding documents. It is pretty hard to find happiness when you cannot avail yourself of a means to travel to work without the right to be able to drive there, especially in a nation that ranks far behind the advanced nations of the world in providing public transportation to its citizens.
Arresting people is not the only answer to stopping people from driving while impaired. Sending them to mandatory sobriety related courses would have much more meaning and less of a hypocritical flair if after the classes the people involved were not barraged with “You will be so very sophisticated if you drink our brand of liquor” type advertising.
The related fines devastate many people already in dire financial straits and the mark on their records that keeps them from obtaining meaningful employment may not be the only, or even a good answer to the problem.
Yes, people are going to drink and the public is entitled to protection from abusive and irresponsible drinkers, but they are also entitled to be protected from the source of greed and political malfeasance that exacerbates the problem.
It is amazing that young people, saddled with student loan debt that puts them in a state of indentured servitude not seen since before the American Revolution, for being under the influence of which that standard is becoming even more restrictive of the alcohol content allowed, can have their lives ruined. But the same most amoral banking class that owns the student loan debt, and brought the nation to its knees due to their criminal Ponzi scheme of the last financial crisis only were forced to pay tax deductible fines of little real significance compared to the twenty trillion dollar cost of their bailout.
Could this grave injustice have stemmed from the same type political corruption, which allows both promotion of, “Loving liquor use propaganda”, and the easiest possible access to it?
It is extremely disappointing that our elected officials’ need to fill their campaign coffers makes it so easy for them to ignore that curbing of access to and passion for drinking would undoubtedly exceed the effectiveness of sobriety checkpoints. They simply selfishly and unwisely choose to legislate the broadening of its access, and continue to allow the related propagandizing of its appeal.
Alcohol kills scores of people through drunk driving and cirrhosis of the liver. Marijuana has the potential to be a life saving drug for some people. New uses such as its role as an anti-epileptic are only now being discovered – because the DEA has created a Catch 22 scenario that has stopped marijuana research for decades. The DEA for many years would not let any groups get approval to use marijuana in medical testing. Why? Because it is a schedule 1 drug. Schedule 1 drugs are drugs that have no medical use. But you can’t prove that you have a medical use unless you do medical testing. But the DEA won’t let you do medical testing because it is a schedule 1 drug. This is why people don’t like the DEA. Meanwhile OxyContin, which is totally legal, is killing tens of thousands of people and getting other hooked on opiates who then resort to heroin when they can’t get their hands on OxyContin anymore.
Makes one wonder how Marinol and other medications that mirror the active ingredient in marijuana have been approved considering that “marijuana has no known medical use”?
It is only a matter of time before the current bone-headed bureaucrats fade away and younger generations take over who are able to see the forest for the trees.
I don’t know about the truth of your final semtence. In every generation there aredyed [n-the-wool, head-in-the-sand conservatives and whoever chooses the head of the DEA won’t be choosing some enlightened hippie from any generation.
The DEA will always be on its witch-hunt even if the witches have already won.
i no longer have to live in the USA, this is the first presidential election i may not vote in(unless jill is on the ballot). i might vote with my feet and leave. what else can i do? live under a corrupt mean ugly government that only listens to the rich, the military, and the nuclear industry. the book “going dark” by guy mcpherson says we are facing near term human extinction, and i believe it.
Thanks for the book tip!
A primo blunt with Jack Daniels Black flavoring would be awesome!
Carry a hefty price tag too.
Let the market determine prices, isn’t that the capitalist way?
Back in college, (circa 1972), the propaganda was that RJ Reynolds (tobacco) had the the Mexican fields plowed, ready for planting.
I first starting smoking pot in June, 1967, to relieve the stress I was going though as a medical corpsman at a base hospital during my tour of duty in Vietnam. And it helped a great deal just hanging out in the hooch with the other heads listening to music on the communal record player and forgetting about the war. But given my nature, I also like alcohol and being stoned and drunk was a great pleasure, especially, when I went body-surfing at one of the secluded coves along the coast near the base. By the way, I haven’t been stoned in at least two decades, and I like to drink now in my retirement. I actually prefer drinking a pinot noir wine or a dark German lager beer or on rare occasions a good blended Scotch. But I’ve always like drinking alcohol even in my misspent youth when I did get stoned a lot. And to be honest, I never smoked dope that reached the quality of the dynamite dope in Vietnam. And that even includes sinsemilla bud from the Emerald Triangle grown in Humboldt County I smoke when I lived in San Francisco (1995 – 2000). So, Lee, I think at least to me, as an old head, the alcohol industry is overreacting about the legalization of grass. People will continue to drink whatever their preference happens to be. After all, we live in a “wet” society. It’s much easier to get alcohol without a hassle. But Big Pharma may have some legitimate worries. I was on Prozac while in California but stopped using it because I went back to smoking some grass and drinking a few beers. It worked much better for me than Prozac which seemed a waste of time. And I threw the Prozac away.
here we go… if pot smoking is the rung up from drinking and heroin is the top rung from pot, then drinking leads to heroin. Or maybe the lobby industry just scammed the alcohol producers for a whole lot of money.
Your seductions this year are insidious, Mr. Fang, and I can’t help myself.
Please – don’t — stop. Please don’t stop!
Living in Colorado I hope more states and citizens tell the federal government, and their anti-science-DEA, we’ve had enough lies protecting the profits of toxic pay-for-play industries. Whether it’s the NRA owning the gun laws, the petroleum industry owning climate change / energy laws, or the MIC / national security / surveillance state trying to own all tech and information everywhere – ALL wheels are primarily greased through lobbyist bundled campaign contributions.
DEA lies recently continued about cannabis, in spite of it already being accepted by science and medicine, and hailed by many as perhaps one of the world’s most beneficial plants. ANYONE believing otherwise should understand even the U.S. Government is so sure it at least partially cures epilepsy they’ve currently granted sole source trials and production of ALL cannabidiol (CBD) epilepsy medicines to the British firm GW Pharmaceuticals, under a US patent the lying drug-war-government illegally granted to itself in 2003 for ALL cannabidiols. That’s 13 years ago, folks.
Again, while keeping cannabis Schedule 1 and still preventing all scientific research everywhere possible, and while supposedly committed to their insane drug war and eradication programs, the U.S. Government granted THEMSELVES a patent on many of the naturally occurring curative compounds in cannabis. Then they conveniently grant exclusive rights, outside the United States, under that patent. How is this not blatant world-market-manipulating fraud – in a seeming effort to corner that world market? I’d suppose “who” matters. It does to me.
If one reads the patent they even blatantly admit CBDs are “found” in cannabis. (Patent No. U.S. 6,630,507)
http://www.tokeofthetown.com/2011/06/worth_repeating_govt_holds_patent_for_cannabinoids.php
So don’t be surprised when a new administration begins all-out war on every business in the many states already producing and selling extracted CBDs, under their States’ medical marijuana programs – or otherwise, because it’s not FDA approved and violates THE patent.
One more, “HA!”: I can’t wait to hear about the “world-saving-need” for GMO cannabis seeds.
(PS I been wondering who paid for the CO GOP Secretary of Treasury(?) ads condemning the proposed single payer health care amendment on this November’s ballot as too expensive.)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US-patent-6630507.pdf
Actually, the page that pdf image links from concenrs a NIH license granted to a Huntington, NY-based biotech company researching the effectiveness of their synthetic cannabinoids on traumatic brain injuries and other encephalopathies.
What’s your point, actually? I’d imagine with the USG/DHHS now owning the patent for 13 years – they’ve granted research and testing to several “insider companies.” I don’t really care where Wikipedia sourced their pdf from because it’s a complete copy of the patent I could post for others to read.
GW Pharmaceuticals is indeed being licensed under this patent and has already reached phase 3 clinical trials of their epilepsy targeting CBDs. They may also be researching synthetic substitutes but they are going to market with the real deal, marijuana produced cannabidiol. That company is trading publicly (GWPH), has huge Wall Street investment behind it and I’m guessing we’ll see its cannabis-based drug receiving FDA approval very soon. Wanna bet the DEA ignores that also when again being asked to reschedule? The DEA history is corruption from beginning to end, and it needs to be eliminated.
The anti-science DEA, the FDA and the USG want their new war against “non-FDA-approved” medical uses of cannabis, particularly extracted CBDs. It’s the empire of greed’s MO.
My point is that you said the US was granting licenses on its patent rights on cannabinoids solely outside the US. The last time I checked, Huntington, NY was inside the USA, making your statement false.
I always drink a lot more when I’m smoking weed compared to when I’m not. They should be paying to get pot legalized.
Baffling when you look at the Colorado drinking stats; I’m glad you included those.
Personally, I’m not really a weed smoker and I drink quite a lot of beer, but if I had recurring pain I’d certainly rather smoke than take medications with a ton of side effects and addiction risks. Only medical marijuana is on the ballot here in FL, and I’m definitely voting for it. Cannabis derivatives work wonders on kids with epilepsy.
It won’t matter how many millions of dollars the alcohol and big pharma spend to stop the marijuana legalization initiative on the ballot in California. The polling for the initiative has been consisting polling way above 50% for quite a while.
http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-pot-survey-20160913-snap-story.html
And when it passes other states will say, “We’ll have what they’re having.”
Hopefully, over time, (especially if ColoradoCare passes in November), California will put a Single Payer health care initiative on the ballot and it will pass as well.
Once California shows the rest of the country that Single Payer health care will deliver the best care at the most affordable cost the rest of the states will follow suit.
California leads the way. (I hope).
Thanks for sharing, Charlene. That was a good read and I hope other states and the federal government take notice of what the people want. There is a myriad of harmful and negative societal effects that occur due to the criminalization of marijuana. The only strong argument against full legalization is Johnny law doesn’t know how to test impairment like they do for alcohol–though the Breathalizer machines are heavily flawed too. I hope it passes!
I have similar hopes. The power of democracy is in the vote. Florida, where I live, is uber conservative. The lobbyists may control them but not us.
Which is exactly why the DEA, carrying water for the vested interests in big pharma and big booze, just placed kratom on Schedule I.
The alcohol industry has been throwing one big party in an environment where their product isn’t even scheduled as a drug. They fear a world where their customers are made aware that alcohol is a drug too. The discussion surrounding cannabis legalization threatens the booze merchants by destroying the idea that illegal means ‘dangerous drug’ while legal means ‘safe beverage’. Big pharma fears the same sort of citizen oversight that causes people to think about what they’re putting into their bodies and why. In big alcohols perspective cannabis needs to be illegal to keep the prohibitionists focused on an imagined threat that keeps them too busy to call for alcohol temperance.
I don’t think lobbying is inherently bad. There is nothing wrong with beer companies lobbying against the legalization of pot. They have just as much of a right to lobby as we do. Those dollars cannot stop an entire state voting on this.
It’s still useful information though, Lee. I’m glad somebody is watching the lobby industry.
They may not “stop an entire state voting on this”, but they most certainly can and do influence voters with their propaganda, which, of course, is their goal. So much dark money flowing into AZ on all levels. It’s quite disturbing to live here and know how much our local policies are being controlled from out of state “investors”.
when wallstreet thieves conjure a way to own or control all the marijuana market via licensing and taxing, then the alcohol industry will suddenly become very elated for being included in a basket of stocks or an index for the intoxication industry.
What makes you think that propaganda works?
Every election season, we see an increase in political ads. Do you decide to vote for somebody based on a 30-second negative ad from an arcane, out of state source? If you can see through it, what makes you think others can’t?
People do not rely on tv ads to make a decision about how he or she feels about weed. A $10000 donation from a beer company to an anti-weed lobby… doesn’t seem like a big deal to me.
$25k??? The ROI must be astounding!
When you smoke you don’t drink as much. On the other hand when you smoke you tend to drink a little. Might even out.
Okay now we’ll make her stop. SEALS
Poison alcohol vs.miracle drug Weed.I vote for weed!
Save the alcohol for the Hell Bitch and other infections.
Any bill that is opposed by police industry and liquor industry and big pharma industry sounds like a good idea to me. All three are legalized criminal organizations.
Individual police are generally honorable, but the leaders are the same ones working to keep private prisons at capacity and work to protect the few offenders that sully the reputation of police.
Big pharma is willing to let people suffer and die rather just to maintain price gouging profits.
Alcohol kills thousands a year and would rather maintain its predominance over a substance that kills none.
When those three agree, you can bet your last dollar they are not doing it for the good of the state.
Your pot industry is turning into something similar to the liquor industry. Big corporations wanting to take the market over small farms. Here in Canada we are fighting over that and so far standing firm. Thousands of small farmers especially throughout BC.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/medical-marijuana-home-growing-law-1.3716860
If I had the option to choose, I’d choose beer even though it’s likely more harmful to me. Companies sooo afraid of consumer choice. My goodness.
Funny the uneducated will say Alchohol is bad and Dope is good. They are ignorant and ignore the FACT cannibus is a psychotropic drug that fits under two categories. It is a depressant in low doses like alchohol, but a hallucinogen in higer doses.
Furthermore the people who claim cannibus is harmless are ignorant of the other serious physiological effects:
Short term effects are anxiety, panic attacks, and even heart attack (from increased heart rate and lower O2 saturation)
Long term usage results in, low testosterone, suppression of the immune system, cardiovascular disease, lack of sexual desire, and nearly everything associated with smoking cigarettes.
Its also curious how anyone can conclude that Alcohol which is water soluble and out of your system in hours is bad, while Marijuana which is fat soluable and can take weeks to get out of a persons body is good. This is not inconsequential!
Why don’t you take some pride in pushing booze and tell us what company you’re working for?
Cocaine and heroin are water soluble. Your point is indeed inconsequential.
Check out some more recent research. The majority of Americans no longer buy this bullshit.
Well my goodness. Ol’ Jim Bob, it’s possible that both “Alchohol” and “Dope” could be harmful to both educated and uneducated — as education has nothing at all to do with their personal biology.
However, drinking too much water may cause your ult demise as well. Hoping to one day see just how controlling the system can become w/ a Water Prohibition Now movement.
All things in moderation folks — know your dosing. Or if you like, don’t be a glutton… w/ anything.
I’ll see your hypothetical harms and raise you 35}{ yrs of daily MJ smoking without bepression, hallucinations, low sex drive, low testasterone, cardiovasscular/pulmonary disease, anxiety or panic attacks attributable to MJ – those were caused by a “perfectly safe nad effective” prescription antibtiotic, anoxia or immune suppression – in fact I have an over-active immune system, which is not mecessarily a good thing, caused, again, by that “perfectly safe and effective” antibiotic.
Funny, how ethanol is water-soluble and out of your system in hours – converted to ethaldehyde, acetic acid and fat deposits in the liver, but is known to cause liver disease, CNS damage and cancers, while fat soluble THC protects liver function, reverses liver disease, is neuroprotective and prevents cancer.
Next time jimbo, skip the “Jack” and don’t pass the bong too quickly, you’ll avoid that mind-numbing stupor and might actually have a desire to,, oh, don’t know, read some modern research on the healthy effects of THC.
Reminded me (minus the secrecy aspect) of the story I heard recently that the sugar industry heavily funded the effort to demonize fats. If your product has negative health consequences, the ‘best way’ to minimize the effect of those consequences on your bottom line is to demonize the alternative, even though (it seems) those alternatives have less negative health consequences.
One of the most outspoken critics of MJ legalization in CO was Governor Hickenlooper, who happens to co-own the Wynkoop Brewing Co. His priority was his own bottom line, and still is.
Your priority is likely with your own bottom line as well. Is that a bad thing? I don’t think it is.
Yah but avelna2001 isn’t representing anyone in an governmental office position. If the CO governor was making decisions for everyone based off of his “personal” bottom line then it is a bad thing.
Conflicts of interest are generally thought of as bad things. You may have noticed many news writers giving “full disclosure” statements to try and avoid even the appearance of a hidden conflict of interest.
Disclosing conflicts of interest is, imo, always a good thing. Whether that be done by the party itself or by another.
I think having a potential conflict of interest is not necessarily bad, but should definitely be be taken into consideration when judging that person’s arguments.
Adamantly supporting a hypocritical legal classification system with numerous ill effects on society, in order to feather your own nest, is a bad thing, I think.
Hypocritically denouncing one intoxicating substance, while you make good money peddling a different one, I also think is bad.
If you knew that avenlia2001 was lying directly to you and too your family and to all others resulting in people close to you or not so close to you risking or aquiring criminal records, losing jobs, spending time behind bars just because avenlina2001’s “bottom line” was his or her only priority, would you think that was a bad thing?
I guess the positives here for folks that support legalization, is that these monies seem pretty small and insignificant. Does $25k actually make a difference on a ballot measure? I mean, as far as PACs go, they still suck, but seem like pretty small peanuts.
The bigger problem in California is the NorCal contingent of growers that is terrified of having to bring their grows above board. If you grow weed but don’t support legalization, in the words of Vonnegut, please go take a flying fuck at a rolling doughnut.
Northern California growers have long been fighting for legalization and organizing to accomplish it in ways that make sense. They work with legislators and the public to educate.
Check out, for example, California Norml “Dedicated to Reforming California’s Marijuana Laws”
NORML doesn’t represent a growers collective, it just fights for legalization. I realize this evidence is only anecdotal but I know several growers from that region and none support legalization.
I am “from that region” and in fact still reside in that region. There is ongoing organized work underway for legalizing marijuana, and the growers in this region are the biggest supporters of, and promoters for, getting that done.
Battle of the Buds.
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=best+marijuana+photos&kae=t&kal=-1&kak=-1&t=hn&ia=images