Loretta Nall on Uncle Henry Show at 8 am today

If you missed the show you can listen to the podcast of it HERE

Many, many thanks to Uncle Henry for having me on for the entire hour this morning and for being such a great host. I look forward to the next time.

I will be a guest on The Uncle Henry Show this morning at 8 a.m. to discuss medical marijuana in Alabama. You can tune in at the link above.

Yet another Clay County Drug Bust

From the Clay Times Journal

Routine stop leads to bust

Thursday, February 25, 2010 3:00 PM EST
Recently, while on routine patrol, Clay County Sheriffs Deputy Sgt. Henry Lambert noticed a suspicious vehicle in the Millerville area.

Because of the suspicious nature of time, and the fact that Sgt. Lambert didn't recognize the vehicle, he stopped to check the vehicle out. After a brief interview with the occupant, Sgt. Lambert asked and received consent to search the vehicle.

During the search Sgt. Lambert found an unlicensed pistol, drug paraphernalia, alcohol, and marijuana.

The driver of the vehicle was arrested and charged with 1- carrying pistol without a permit, 2- violation of the prohibition law; 3- possession of drug paraphernalia; 4 - possession of marijuana 1st degree.

Arrested was Benjamin Jordan Powell, 36, of Alexander City, Alabama.
Mr. Powell was transported to the Clay County Jail and released to corrections staff for booking.

Except this wasn't a 'routine stop'. I refuse to believe that just because an officer does not recognize an automobile that he has grounds to make a stop. It would be near impossible for any cop to memorize all vehicles within a town....even a small one like Millerville. What happens when someone gets a new car or truck? Do they get stopped and searched? What about all the different people from various parts of the state driving through Millerville, which is located on Hwy. 9. Since when is it illegal for a cop to not recognize a vehicle? And why would that be illegal?

Any lawyer worth his/her salt ought to be able to get this case thrown out due to lack of probable cause. However, this is Clay County we are talking about.... home of The Rochester Clan and a place sorely lacking in competent legal minds.

Riley to be Alabama's Next US Senator????

Word on the street (a couple of different streets actually) is that Senator Richard Shelby is going to retire from the US Senate after he wins the upcoming election. The reason I have heard for his pending retirement is that he is in ill health. He will run again in the upcoming election and he will win. He has too much money and political influence to lose. The only reason he is running again is that he wants to hand pick who gets appointed to replace him. Which takes me to the next point...

It is being said that if Bradley Byrne becomes the next Governor of Alabama (and I certainly believe that will be the case...barring some huge and embarrassing scandal) that he will appoint current Governor Bob Riley to fill Senator Shelby's seat.

And that really ticks me off! Why can't we have a special election so that the people get the chance to fill that seat instead of it being given to Riley? Seems Alabama citizen's can't be trusted to vote on bingo, constitutional reform or even who gets to represent us in the US Senate.I guess when Riley said he was self-imposing term limits that only applied to his former seat in the US House. I don't know about y'all...but I've had about enough of Bob 'Elvis' Riley.

Aging MeMaw's & PePaw's frequently turning to Marijuana

Fascinating story on MSNBC about baby boomers more frequently turning to marijuana to ease their aches and pains. Great read.

Largest drug bust in Clay County History?

The Clay Times Journal is reporting the largest drug bust in Clay Count History. That is a title I thought for sure was held by Clay County Circuit Court Judge John E. Rochester's son, Alex Rochester who was arrested in the Ashland City Park in March of 2008 after he was found to be in possession of the following;

1. Two baggies, envelope, one vial, crack cocaine, powder cocaine Total: 32 grams (1 ounce give or take)
2. Two 1 gallon bags containing marijuana
3. 5 sandwich baggies containing marijuana. 4 were corners of bags packaged for resale.
4. 1100 Extacy pills in 11 baggies (Alex said he had bought 2500 in Atlanta the week before and had already sold 1400 at $10 a piece)
5. 2 straws, 2 rolled up dollar bills and two pipes.
6. 26 Xanax pills


The online version of today's Clay Times Journal article does not list amounts of drugs recovered...only that there were 34 arrests. I'll be in Clay County later today and will pick up a copy and see what other details are available.

Alex Rochester only got his name mentioned in the police blotter after his arrest. He also was only given 5 years probation even though he admitted dealing, interstate drug trafficking and was caught with all those drugs at the park and within three miles of schools, churches, daycare centers and public housing facilities.....each of which carry an additional 5 year mandatory minimum sentence. There was also a 19 year old in the car with him. He was not charged with anything in connection to his passenger.

I hope that the lawyers for these defendants will use the Alex Rochester defense in John E. Rochester's courtroom.

I plan to write a letter to the editor about the unfair and downright unethical 'journalism' practices taking place at the Clay Times Journal. At any real newspaper the story of the Judge's son getting busted for that amount of drugs and the preferential treatment he received would have been front page news for months. But, in the Alex Rochester case, that is a story that was never written. Yet, every other person to be arrested for drugs in Clay County since that time has been front page news. I encourage all of my readers to send them an email as well.

Here are the contact email addresses. I tried to use the online form for sending an LTE, but it has never worked and does not work today.

Ray Stansell - claytimes@centurytel.net

Sherry Mattox - timesjournal@centurytel.net

Tammy Griffin - timesjournal@centurytel.net

HB253 & HB483 Pass Judiciary Committee

I've just learned from a member of the House Judiciary Committee that both HB253 & HB483 passed the house judiciary committee yesterday with relative ease.

HB253 is the bill that mandates that any public agency testing urine or blood samples of probationers and parolees for drugs hold those samples for a longer period of time to allow for independent testing when a positive result occurs.

HB483 is the records expungement bill that will allow people who have been arrested/charged with a crime but never convicted to have all court records, fingerprints, photos etc removed from the criminal offender database.

Many, many thanks to all of you who took action on these bills and helped them pass. That's three bills this week that have passed because you, readers, took action. Together we can do great things.

HB407 "Stop Starving AL Prisoners" bill passes committee

Many thanks to all of you who wrote/called/visited your legislator and asked for their support on HB407, the "STOP STARVING ALABAMA INMATES" bill, which was, believe it or not, sponsored by police officer/legislator Re. Allen Treadaway (R- Jefferson). HB497 passed the House County and Municipal Government committee today. We did it! Later, I will post updates about what action needs to be taken next to get this bill on the Governor's desk.

Currently, all I know about HB253 (drug testing bill) and HB483 (criminal records expungement bill) are that they were both read a second time in the house of origin....and to be perfectly honest I am not sure what that means exactly. The Tuscaloosa News and other newspapers generally post a legislative action summary around this time of day, so, hopefully I will know more soon.

Alex Nall Accepted to Auburn University Honors College

I am one extremely proud parent today (again!). Not only did my son Alex earn a full tuition 4 year scholarship to Auburn University a few months ago, today he learned that he has been accepted into the Auburn University Honors College. That is an amazing accomplishment! Only 200 students are selected each year into Honors College each year. It's more challenging than just regular curriculum and a certain grade point average has to be maintained in order to remain in...but Alex never met a challenge he didn't like.

Congratulations Alex! You have made your mama the proudest human being on the face of the earth.

Troy's Statement on Bingo..

Interesting speech Attorney General Troy King just gave on the armed standoff bingo raids that have been carried out at the behest of Governor Riley's task force. The first five minutes were spent with Troy kissing Riley's ass so hard that he now has bits of un-chewed corn stuck between his teeth.

The last five minutes were spent condemning the strong arm tactics and the use of 'force, fear and intimidation' to settle this issue. He also indicated that he had the power and to superintend John Tyson and the task force and hasn't used it...YET...which means he will if this situation continues to deteriorate. Then he wouldn't say he would use it when the media questioned him....you know how it goes...

However, all I could think about while watching Troy give his spiel was his own participation in a gambling hall raid by armed storm troopers in Troy, AL back in 2004. Wonder when Troy changed his mind and decided that 'force, fear and intimidation' were the wrong tactics to use to settle misdemeanor infractions of state law.

Here is the story from 2004.


HEADLINE: Officers raid Troy gambling hall; AG says more may follow

BYLINE: By PHILLIP RAWLS, Associated Press Writer

DATELINE: TROY, Ala.

BODY:
Law enforcement officers raided a plain metal building on the outskirts of Troy Friday, seizing 60 video gambling machines and surprising customers who were feeding dollar bills into the machines.

"Bad day. Friday the 13th," customer James Johnson said as he left.

Johnson, a retiree, said he played the games for recreation. "I guess I'll have to start fishing," he said.

District Attorney Gary McAliley said officers arrested Ray Grant, 58, of Troy. They accused him of being one of the operators and charged him with misdemeanor possession of gambling devices and possession of gambling records. Each is punishable by up to a year in jail and a $2,000 fine.

McAliley said the case will be reviewed by a grand jury and more charges are possible against Grant and others.

Attorney General Troy King, who participated in the raid, said his office has received complaints about similar businesses in other parts of the state, and his office will work with local law enforcement to review the complaints. He indicated the Troy raid would not be his last.

"This sends an important message to people who have machines that pay out in cash and violate state law," he said. "Illegal gambling will not be tolerated in Alabama."

Police Chief Anthony Everage said his department seized 47 video gambling machines in raids in July 2003. After several months of quiet, he started getting complaints about a new operation about two months ago, he said.

Among those complaining were people who had operated video gambling halls, citing an Alabama law, but had to close them last year after a state appeals court ruled that games of chance were illegal.

"Other people have asked us, 'If these people can reopen, why can't we?"' McAliley said.

The business was in a normal-looking metal building with no sign and a grass parking lot. A handwritten piece of paper on the door listed the hours of operation for the six-day-a-week business but gave no indication what was inside. Officers said customers learned of the business through word of mouth.

Inside, 60 video gambling machines - named Queen Bee, Funny Fruit and Alabama Nudge - were arranged in four rows. A counter offered free soft drinks and snacks.

Troy officials said proving gambling charges is difficult and that's why they relied on the attorney general to bring in two gaming experts - one from his staff and one from New Jersey - to examine the machines and prepare evidence for court.

As D.R. Sertell took apart the first machine, he carefully pulled out pieces of paper folded behind the money container and said, "This is the smoking gun."

Sertell, chairman of Casino Horizons Corp. in Vineland, N.J., unfolded the manufacturer's directions, which he said described how to set the payout between 65 percent and 90 percent of the money put in by customers.

"That proves the computer controls the outcome," rather than the skill of the player, which is illegal in Alabama, he said.

If you support Public Transportation in Alabama TAKE ACTION

From: Patricia Todd
Sent: Tuesday, February 16, 2010 3:06 PM
To: Patricia Todd

Subject: IMPORTANT NOTE ON TRANSIT FUNDING! Please distribute to your lists

My bill that would amend the state constitution to allow for road funds be
used for pubic transportation is on the calendar in the Government
Appropriations Committee and the Road Builders have called for a public
hearing.

THIS IS THE TIME FOR YOUR VOICE TO BE HEARD!

Call the members of the Committee and let them know that you support my
bill, you can call the main number, fax them, email them and better yet,
come to Montgomery for the hearing tomorrow. It is 1:30 p.m. in Room 617.

Members of the Committee are:

And these are the members of the Committee:
John Knight, (77 - Chair)
Jack Page (29 - DeKalb/Etowah)
Gerald Allen (62 - Tuscaloosa),
Locy Baker (85 - Henry/Houston)
Billy Beasley (84 - Barbour/Bullock/Russell)
Greg Canfied (48 - Jefferson)
Ron Grantland (9 - Cullman/Morgan)
Laura Hall (19 - Madison)
Charles Newton (90 - Butler/Conecuh/Crenshaw)
Jody Letson (7 - Lawrence)
Jay Love (74 - Montgomery)
Yusuf Salaam (67 - Dallas )
Tommy Sherer (13 - Walker)
Elwin Thomas (34 - Blount/Jefferson)

The main number of the House where you can leave a message for members is
334-242-7600.

Look at that MONSTER DOG!

From a story in the Clanton Advertiser

Super Dog Found Along Jemison Roadside

Click on the pic...you won't believe the size of this big boy!



I'm not so sure about the American Tundra Shepherd dog theory. He just looks like a massive German Shepherd to me. There is a breed of German Shepherd called King Shepherds that are huge like that. The sire of the female German Shepherd I bought last year was about that big though colored differently. He was only a year old and weighed 120 pounds. Largest GSD I have ever seen. The female turned out to be a monster dominate/aggressive beast who almost drove my Saul crazy so I had to get rid of her.

Someone commenting on the story at the Clanton Advertiser website thinks this may be their dog that went missing last year. I'm hoping that's the case and that there will be a happy reunion. I'd go crazy if my Saul went missing.

Another Good Bill to Support this Week

HB407 would put an end to the disgraceful practice of county sheriff's getting rich by starving prisoners. Currently in Alabama there is a law (it's in the Alabama Constitution) that whatever money is left over from feeding inmates the sheriff gets to put in his pocket. Morgan Co. Sheriff Greg Bartlett pocketed over $200,000. Since there is only a $1.75 day allowance per prisoner per day one wonders how any money would be left over at all. That $1.75 covers all three meals. Can you eat or feed your family members three meals a day on $1.75?

In Jan. on 2009 Judge UW Clemon locked up Morgan County Sheriff Greg Bartlett in his own jail for starving the inmates under his care.

HB407 would mandate that any monies left over be deposited into an account to be used ONLY for feeding inmates.

Please contact the County and Municipal Government Committee and ask them to pass HB407.

Two Very Important Bills to Support This Week

There are two very important bills coming up in the House Judiciary Committee this week that I need all of my readers to write/call/visit about.

The first bill, sponsored by Rep. Steve Hurst is HB253. This bill would require any public agency testing blood or urine samples to determine if an individual is in compliance with the terms of his or her parole or probation to retain the samples for a certain period of time to allow independent testing at the cost to the individual when the samples test positive.

Currently, if a probationer or parolee test positive for drugs or alcohol they are immediately sent back to jail with no recourse to get an independent test conducted on their urine sample. Here is a link to a page that lists all of the different things that can cause a false positive on a urine screen. The long list is near the bottom of the page. According to Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb's recent address to the joint session of the House and Senate there are 1,600 in Alabama prison for technical violations such as a false positive on a drug screen. That is costing Alabama taxpayers nearly $25 million a year just to house them in prison. Also, here is an excellent article by the BHAM News in 2004 that is being used by the Alabama Sentencing Commission which covers this very subject.

Next up is Rep. Chris England's records expungement bill. HB483. Existing law does not authorize the criminal record related to a charge to be sealed or expunged if the person is found not guilty of a crime or if the charges are dismissed or for a conviction record to be sealed or expunged.
This bill would authorize a person charged or convicted of certain felony or misdemeanor criminal offenses, a violation, or a traffic violation to petition the court in which the charges where filed or in which the conviction occurred to have his or her records expunged, including, but not limited to, arrest records, fingerprints, photographs, or index references in documentary or electronic form, relating to the arrest or charge, or both, and conviction in certain instances.

The House Judiciary Committee contact info is here.

CBS 42 News Coverage of Medical Marijuana Rally

Group urging legalization of medical marijuana rallies in Birmingham

About two dozen members of Alabamians for Compassionate Care, a medical marijuana advocacy group, staged a march from Caldwell Park to Five Points South in Birmingham this afternoon.

The group was urging the public to support a bill that aims to legalize the drug's use by patients suffering from seizures and chronic pain.

The Michael Philips Compassionate Care Act, which the group hopes will be introduced to the state Legislature in early March, would allow doctors to prescribe marijuana for seriously ill patients in Alabama. Similar to laws in effect in 14 states and the District of Columbia, the bill also would provide protection from arrest under state law for doctors who recommend it and patients who use marijuana as medicine.

"Patients in Alabama should not be locked in prison for trying to ease their pain and suffering," said Loretta Nall of Alexander City, executive director of Alabamians for Compassionate Care. "We shouldn't have to buy marijuana on the streets. Alabama needs to join the other states that recognize the benefits of marijuana for medical purposes. It's better than all those legal drugs out there for pain that have terrible side effects."

The group, many holding signs saying "Stop arresting patients" and "Support legal marijuana," staged a rally in Five Points South for 30 minutes before marching back to Caldwell Park.

GO LEAVE COMMENTS!!!

Come Celebrate International Medical Marijuana Week with ACC

UPDATE: Due to inclement weather conditions the time of this event has been pushed back by one hour. We will meet at 2330 Highland Avenue at 2 pm and begin our march to the Fountain at 5 Points South between 2:30 and 3:00 pm. The Birmingham News has confirmed that they will be coming out to report on our event. If road conditions are still problematic in your area at noon then do not attempt to attend. However, if you can safely make it to this event please come and bring as many people as you can.


Dear Friends and Supporters of Medical Marijuana in Alabama,

On Feb. 13, 2010 beginning at 1 p.m. members of Alabamians for Compassionate Care will kick off International Medical Marijuana Week with a celebration in Birmingham, Alabama with a pot luck dinner, fellowship, speakers and a short demonstration. If you plan to attend please bring a covered dish to share with other attendees. Later on we plan to have individual patients tell their stories about why they use medical marijuana, what they have to endure to get their medicine and how such obstacles have negatively impacted their lives. We will conclude our event by marching from 2330 Highland Ave. down to the fountain at 5 Points South and the back to the Hwy 280 overpass. Please make and bring signs about medical marijuana. Possible slogans include

I am a PATIENT not a criminal

My other medicine is addictive

STOP ARRESTING PATIENTS

MAKE MEDICAL MARIJUANA LEGAL

Please feel free to make up your own sign slogans so long as they have to do with medical marijuana.

The address of our celebration is

2330 Highland Ave. South (on Southside)

This location is right next to Caldwell Park. Should our group become too large for the location we have selected we can and will spill over into the park, weather permitting.

Load your cars and trucks up with as many people as you can find and we look forward to seeing you there.

If you have questions or need further information please feel free to email me at lorettanall@gmail.com. You can also contact our Outreach coordinator Christie O'Brien at 205-907-6131 reederchristie@yahoo.com or by contacting our Web Coordinator Penny Vaughan at 256-276-0083 or luvlavender@yahoo.com

Political Snow Woman

Click and the pics get much bigger...

Major Career Change for Me

As most of my readers know I have been trying to get into nursing school for the last year. For the last three semesters I have been taking the prerequisites in an attempt to acquire one of the coveted nursing school spots available every term.

But, truth is I never wanted to be a nurse. I respect the profession. My mother was a nurse for over 30 years and two of my best friends are nurses....but I wasn't cut out for that profession. I have no desire to handle fecal matter and other bodily fluids of strangers...or anyone else for that matter. My heart isn't in it.

So, after giving it a great deal of thought I have decided to follow my dream and become a lawyer. It is what I have wanted to do since I was a kid. Either that or be a rock star and, since the rock star thing hasn't panned out and never will, it looks like law school for me.

Starting next semester I will be changing my major to law. Not sure where I will go or how I will get it done...but I will. The current plan is to take as many pre-law courses as I can at the community college I attend, then transfer to a four year university for my minor, which will either be political science or journalism, and then attend nigh classes at Faulkner or Jones School of Law.

I am very excited about my future as a defense attorney in the State of Alabama.

Striking Parallels Between Drug War and Gambling War

The meth lab/bingo hall analogy has been brought up in a few different media sources recently. The argument goes like this;

(quote from Mobile Press Register) We've heard the governor say several times that the state wouldn't condone a meth lab even if it provided 500 jobs. That comparison doesn't work, because no one disputes that meth is illegal and no law-abiding citizen would work for a meth lab."


Unfortunately, for those bringing it up, what it does is point out parallels between the failed drug war and this stupid bingo war.

Adult drug users/alcohol drinkers and people who like to gamble aren't much different in many respects. Most of them use/drink/gamble responsibly and do not harm anyone else or deny anyone else in their pursuit of life, liberty and happiness by doing those things. A small percentage of both drug users/alcohol drinkers/gamblers do become addicted or exhibit other problems that cause harm to others. But you will always have idiots in every group of people. However, making behaviors such as using drugs/drinking alcohol/gambling illegal punishes all those who engage in these behaviors responsibly and not just the idiots. That is why our prison system is so horribly overcrowded. Alcohol prohibition failed because our ancestors finally realized the simple fact that you can't punish everyone for the bad behavior of a few. It's time those of us in the 21st century revisited that simple lesson that history taught us and that we have ignored.

Drug use and gambling will never be eliminated and the negatives of both could be reduced with regulation of the industries with the monies from tax revenue going to our deplorable education system and other worthy programs in Alabama. Both would create jobs. Thousands of Alabama farmers could be back in business tomorrow if marijuana were legalized for adult use.

As for meth....that's nasty stuff and I don't use it. However, if it were regulated and controlled then there would be no people with enough deadly, toxic chemicals in their basements (or car trunks) to level six city blocks. No children would be around the manufacture of it because all of that would be done in a safe, laboratory environment with trained chemists....just as is done now with Desoxyn...that's prescription meth. People who became addicted would have more options for treatment and chances to recover from addiction and put their lives and families back together. And, when you look at the numbers the 'meth epidemic' is way overblown. It is estimated that there are 1.4 million meth users in the US. The US has a population of 308,664,392 That comes out to 0.45%

I Volunteer

There is a war of words and threats emerging in this retarded Bob 'Elvis' Riley bingo dispute. Yesterday the sheriff of Greene Co. Thomas Ison and Senator Bobby Singleton stated that, should the state sanctioned armed goons show up to close down Greene Track that the sheriff would deputize citizens to stand them down.

While a lot of people are completely freaking out over those statements I think they are fabulous! So fabulous, in fact, that I have written both the Sheriff and Sen. Singleton and volunteered to be deputized in the event that the armed state invaders show up.

That would be grand fun.

Bills to Support This Week

Coming up on this week's House Judiciary Committee Calendar are the following bills that need our support.

HB270 sponsored by Rep. James Fields (D-Cullman) would allow for a judge to use discretion when handing down a sentence for a third felony offense. Under current law someone who has three felony convictions for writing bad checks would receive a mandatory life in prison without parole sentence. There have been a few high profile cases where people convicted of non-violent felonies have been sentenced to life in Alabama with no parole. One such case involved a mentally ill man whose third felony was taking a bicycle off of someone's porch. Please read more about the bill HERE Also, Equal Justice Initiative is working to pass this bill and has numerous examples of those who were sentenced under Three Strikes You're Out laws that EJI has helped available online.

Another excellent bill is HB441 sponsored by Rep. Marcel Black (D-Tuscambia). Under existing law, there is no prohibition on the imposition of consecutive split sentences or the stacking of split sentences to require a defendant to serve more than one mandatory imprisonment portion of a split sentence for more than one offense.

This bill would expressly prohibit sentencing a defendant to serve multiple consecutive incarceration portions of split sentences upon conviction for more than one offense at the same sentencing event.

This bill would clarify that for a split sentence of 15 years or less, during the maximum term of imprisonment imposed, which is up to three years, a defendant would not be eligible for good time or parole.

This bill would apply the maximum probation limitations of 2 years for misdemeanor convictions and 5 years for felony offenses to sentences imposed under a split sentence.

The probation limits are major. Currently a judge can sentence someone to 10 or more years of probation for something as minor as marijuana possession. Probation, as it is currently meted out, is not designed for successful completion. It is designed to make people fail and return to prison. This bill is a major step in overhauling our antiquated probationary system.

Finally we have HB442 also sponsored by Rep. Marcel Black.

This bill would include the boards of nonprofit entities in the definition of board under the act. The bill would also authorize county commissions to provide liability coverage to authorities and nonprofit entities under the act.

Under existing law, persons convicted of selling drugs are excluded from participation in the programs.


The bill would delete the exclusion of persons convicted of selling drugs from participation in the programs.

This is an important bill because it would allow non-profits to be on the board of any community corrections association. That means that citizens would have a direct say in how things are run. Another major component of this bill is the inclusion of those charged with selling drugs in a community corrections program. Since police generally only go after small fish who sell quarter bags to their friends or who sell to support their own habit. These are not drug trafficking king pins. They are are sons, daughters, college and high school students and by all means they should be able to participate in community corrections instead of rotting away in a government cage.

Please take a moment and call/write the members of the House Judiciary Committee. That information can be found by clicking on the link above and then by clicking on each individual name.

Marijuana Nonsense

And yet another fabulous medical marijuana letter in today's Opinion pages round up. This one is a masterpiece from Don Seibold of Wetumpka and appeared in today's Anniston Star. Don is 74, a war veteran and suffers from chronic pain. However, he will not break the law in order to see if medical marijuana would alleviate his suffering.

Way to go Don!!

Readers, please read the letter on the Anniston Star website, leave a comment and then write your own letter to the Star at speakout@annistonstar.com

Marijuana Nonsense

Marijuana nonsense
by our readers
Feb 08, 2010
Re “Drugs lead to more drugs” (Speak Out letter, Jan. 28):

Tonya Curvin wrote in her recent Speak Out letter to The Star, “There are other ways to live a painful life without drugs: Therapists, chiropractors, counselors, pastors and exercises are examples. It’s also sad to say, but some chronic pain sufferers got hurt under the influence of drugs and that’s why they are now in chronic pain.”

Note that she said “live a painful life” instead of “alleviate their pain.”

I’ve tried most of the examples she cited plus prescribed pain relief drugs, and none of them helped me. The only relief I get is from a non-prescribed legal drug called alcohol, which probably does more harm to my body than marijuana ever could, and I imagine it costs more, too.

My chronic pain didn’t come about as a result of being under the influence of drugs. It came about while I was serving in the military protecting Curvin’s freedom and her right to spout her nonsense.

Don Seibold

Wetumpka

Medical Marijuana: Bill would legalize use

My close friend, medical marijuana patient, and Outreach Coordinator for Alabamians for Compassionate Care, Christie O'Brien had an excellent letter published today in the Birmingham News.

Way to go Christie!!

Readers, read the letter at the link below, leave a comment on the BHAM News website then please write a response and send it to
epage@bhamnews.com

Medical Marijuana: Bill would legalize use

Ballot Access Editorial in BHAM News

The Birmingham News has a great editorial on ballot access and Rep. Cam Ward's bill HB142 to change it.

Go Read it Here and leave a comment when you are done. Also, please call/visit the members of the Constitution and Elections committee and ask for their support of this bill when Rep. Ward brings it back up in a few weeks.

Thanks BHAM News for supporting desperately needed changes in Alabama's ballot access laws and thanks to Rep. Cam Ward who is courageous enough to bring this bill back year after year. It will eventually pass.

Favorite Super Bowl Commercial

Snoot!

Just thought I'd share a pic of my wonderful, delightful, fuzzy companion. He's great!

SB295 in Senate Health Committee...Please Write/Call

Today SB295 (the senate companion bill to HB214)a bill which would allow those convicted of drug felonies to be eligible for food stamps and TANF once they get out of prison is coming up in the Senate Health Committee. Please take a moment and send and email or call the members of the Senate Health Committee and ask them to pass this bill. Below is the letter I sent along with the email addresses. Please feel free to copy mine or write your own.

Dear Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee,

I am writing today to ask for your support of SB295, which would allow those convicted of felony drug charges, who have served their time in prison, to be eligible for food stamps and TANF. Currently, under federal law, those convicted of drug offenses are the only persons denied food assistance. Child molesters, murderers and rapists are eligible for food assistance upon release from prison but not someone whose crime involved taking a substance and not harming anyone else in the process.

When the laws keep people starving it raises the chances that they will resort to crime to in order to simply survive. If that happens they will go back to prison where it will cost taxpayers far more to house them for one year than it would have if we had enabled them to eat to begin with. This law also adversely affects children. Children have no control over what their parents might do, but under current law, they too, are denied food if their parents can't get state assistance while they struggle with reentry and readjustment to society after spending time in prison.

Please do the compassionate, humane, Christian thing and pass this bill.

Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter.

Loretta Nall

lindacoleman60@bellsouth.net,
senbutler@aol.com,
larry.means@alsenate.gov,
senbedford@aol.com,
larry.dixon@alsenate.gov,
priscilla.dunn@alsenate.gov,
steve.french@alsenate.gov,
hinton.mitchem@alsenate.gov,
myron.penn@alsenate.gov,
quinton.ross@alsenate.gov,
harriannesmith@graceba.net,
zeb.little@alsenate.gov,
jabo.waggoner@alsenate.gov

WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?

From a story about a marijuana bust in Tuscaloosa

when figuring that individuals pay mid-level dealers around $380 for one ounce.

What planet are cops from? No one I know in Alabama pays anywhere near $380 for one ounce of weed unless it is certified-kick-ass from Canada or California/West Coast. And, I NEVER see that kind of weed in Alabama.

Even worse than the cops jacking of the prices is the fact that another young man, 25, will now be sent to rot and be sexually assaulted in an overcrowded, dangerous and inhumane Alabama prison....all for selling something that grows naturally on this earth.

Where do these mother fuckers get off outlawing nature?

Mobile Press Register: Alabama a Police State

Editorial: Raids are embarrassing and didn't accomplish anything

The Mobile Press Register issued a scathing rebuke against Governor Riley and Mobile DA (and anti-illegal gambling task force commander) John Tyson over the failed raids last week of Country Crossing and Victoryland. I especially liked this line;

If they had been hunting down bomb-toting terrorists instead of trying to shut down electronic bingo machines, the show of force might have made sense. As it was, the attempted raids of Country Crossing near Dothan and VictoryLand in Shorter looked like an abuse of power more suited to a police state than the state of Alabama.

And this one;

Their justification for the massive raids is that electronic bingo gambling is illegal. So is entering and trying to confiscate property without a search warrant.

I've never seen the Press Register say anything negative about Riley. Nor have I ever seen them use the words Police State.

I can't help but be reminded of the failed drug war and the parallels with this issue of bingo/gambling. The 'crime' of gambling is victimless. In the drug war the police show up at 3 am with a hundred armed men in balaclavas, break in doors, throw flash bang grenades and do not identify themselves.....all over a joint or two. The money being wasted on that failed policy is in the hundreds of millions a year just for Alabama. Talk about police state........