Medical Marujuana Valuable Tool

Penny Vaughan, who is web coordinator for Alabamians for Compassionate Care, as well as a patient had an excellent letter published in today's Montgomery Advertiser about medical marijuana.

Medical Marijuana a Valuable Tool

Medical marijuana is a popular issue. A recent ABC/Washington Post poll shows that 81 percent of Americans support legalizing marijuana for medical use, and state medical marijuana initiatives have been repeatedly endorsed by voters.

Studies have shown that marijuana relieves debilitating symptoms including nausea, appetite loss and severe pain. I have been a chronic pain patient since 2002, following a failed back surgery.

In my case the doctors prescribed fentynal and hydrocodone, both of which are very addictive opiates that have serious adverse side effects and may even cause death. Many otherwise illegal substances, such as Oxycontin and morphine, can legally be prescribed by doctors. The same should be true for marijuana, which is less dangerous and addictive than any of these substances.

Medical marijuana would be a wonderful alternative for someone like me. However, since it is not yet legal in my home state of Alabama, I must become a criminal if I choose to use cannabis to alleviate my symptoms.

I strongly believe the decision of what medicine is best for an illness should be left up to the patient and the doctor, not to police and prosecutors. Our state should use tax money to prosecute violent crime, not punish medical marijuana users.

The Michael Phillips Compassionate Care Act is set to go before the House of Representatives this session. This bill will protect physicians who recommend medical marijuana (cannabis) for their patients, and protect patients who use it.

Penny Vaughan
Lineville

Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb's State of the Judiciary Address

The following is Alabama Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb's address to the joint session on the State of the Judiciary on Jan. 26, 2010. I will post more on my thoughts on it later.

My Apologies to Rep. Steve Hurst

I've been doing a lot of thinking about my coverage of Rep. Steve Hurst's accident near my home a few weeks ago and I have decided that I owe him an apology. I have called him and personally apologized over the phone, but the readers of my blog need to know that I have apologized as well.

Since there was no way to prove whether or not Rep. Hurst was drinking I should never have stated that he was. I did hear, from what I consider a reliable source, that alcohol was involved, but, for all I know that reliable source could have a vendetta against Rep. Hurst and could have been willing to put out false information regarding his condition at the time of the accident.

Sometimes, when I see a chance to jump on a member of the legislature I take it. The majority of them are so corrupt one could believe almost anything about them. They are the people we love to hate in Alabama. But, from here on out I won't make serious trouble for any member of the legislature unless I know for absolute certain that my information is irrefutable. That's a promise.

Now, Rep.Steve Hurst has a very good bill up for consideration this session that I would like all of my readers to get behind and push very hard for. It is HB253 and it would mandate that 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 someone on probation or parole fails a urinalysis they are immediately arrested and taken back to jail or prison and the urine sample is destroyed thereby leaving them no chance to have an independent analysis done. Plus, there are hundreds of over the counter medications and prescription medications that are non-narcotic that can cause a false positive on a drug screen. According to Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb in her address to the joint session yesterday 1,600 people are in an Alabama prison for the technical violation of a dirty urine. That costs Alabama taxpayers $24,365,800 a year just to house in prison. Wonder how many of those 1,600 are there because of a false positive on a drug screen?

This bill would clear those 1,600 out of prison and provide a safeguard for everyone else on probation or parole from immediately returning to prison because of a dirty urine.

I am not sure when this bill will be coming up in the Judiciary Committee but Rep. Hurst said he would let me know as soon as he got a better handle on the time frame. I hope that all of my readers will help to get this bill passed. It's a really good one.

A Very Bad Bill....KILL IT!

Alabama Legislature bill would allow civil damages against convicted drug dealers

Rep. Blaine Galliher (R- Rainbow City) has introduced a bill in the legislature HB358 that would allow for civil action to be taken against convicted drug dealers if a death by overdose is caused from the drugs they sold. However, according to the article Galliher says....

“I'm not trying to cause any harm for doctors who prescribe drugs illegally,” Galliher said. “This is for the persons who have been convicted of selling illegal drugs.”


So, Rep. Blaine Galliher wants the doctors who are ILLEGALLY prescribing drugs that make their way onto the streets and wind up in the hands of people like this young man to not be harmed by this bill??? Perhaps Mr. Galliher has a doctor prescribing drugs for him illegally? Sure wouldn't want to mess that up.

This is a ridiculous bill. No one made the guy take the pill. He bought it of his own free will, took it of his own free will. Maybe if drugs were legal then we could better educate people who might be considering using them to the real facts and dangers. But, since they are not we will just have more people dying that could have been saved if only they'd had the right information.

Are we going to start suing alcohol producers, too, because somebody got drunk, wrecked their car or maybe died of alcohol poisoning?

This is an issue of personal responsibility. Passing this law (which will be unenforceable because no one will be able to prove who got drugs from whom) won't stop people from selling, using, manufacturing, or transporting drugs. Not to mention that if the person has already been convicted of dealing drugs the state or feds have already stolen anything of value under the asset forfeiture laws.

I wish this family would realize that the government failed to save their sons life with current prohibitionist laws and adding another prohibitionist law to the mess we already have won't help others in the least. I am sorry for their loss but this is just silly and unproductive.

Section D of this bill is really interesting...It states


(d) A law enforcement officer who acts in furtherance of an official investigation or a person who acts at the direction or in cooperation with a law enforcement officer in an official investigation is not liable under this section.

Does that mean that a narc or undercover cop who sells drugs in furtherance of an official investigation, and those drugs kill whomever they were sold to, would not be liable for that death because they were breaking the law to enforce the law? BULLSHIT!

There is an excellent discussion of the bill happening here. Join in...

Ballot Access Bill

This Wednesday Jan. 26, 2010 HB142 the ballot access bill is coming up in the Constitution and Elections committee. This bill, sponsored by Rep. Cam Ward, would reduce by half the number of signatures a third party or independent candidate would have to collect in order to be placed on the ballot. We really need this bill in Alabama. The political system here is locked up by Democrats and Republicans and you see the mess we are in because of it. Fresh faces and new ideas are badly needed if Alabama is to ever move forward.

Please take a moment and write/call/visit the members of the members of the Constitution and Elections committee and ask them to support this bill. Everyone should have the right to participate in the political process and the Democrats and Republicans have no business making rules that cut everyone who is not a Democrat or Republican out of the process by demanding such an outrageous number of signatures for ballot access. They DO NOT OWN the political process....the people DO.

J.D. Crowe is RUTHLESS...

And that's why I love him. Check out his latest masterpiece.....

Viewpoints: National Survey shows Drug War failing Alabama Teens

The following editorial, written by me, is in today's edition of the Birmingham News. Many thanks to Joey Kennedy at the News for getting this placed for me. Please write a response.

By Special to The Birmingham News
January 24, 2010, 5:33AM
By Loretta Nall

National Survey Shows Drug War Failing Alabama Teens

According to a recent Pride Survey, Alabama teens are more likely than teens in the rest of the country to have recently used drugs, especially marijuana. These survey results expose a truth that's becoming harder to hide: Alabama's war on drugs is failing our youths and our communities.

Our current approach to drug policy is a distortion of our priorities: We invest more to incarcerate people for nonviolent drug offenses than we invest to educate our children. Every year, our elected officials spend $132 million just to warehouse drug users in our prison system. That's $15,223 in tax money spent for every drug prisoner. However, we spend only about $9,000 per pupil for education. The disastrous consequences of this policy are evident as Alabama continually ranks near the bottom nationally in education.

But we rank at the top of the class in prison overcrowding and a broken criminal justice system. Alabama has the harshest punishments in the country for minor marijuana offenses, paralyzing our courts with a flood of marijuana offenders. Our prison system is notoriously overcrowded, in large part because of incarcerating people for nonviolent drug offenses. According to the Alabama Sentencing Commission, nearly 30 percent of our prison population is behind bars because of low-level drug offenses.

And yet, none of these disastrous drug policies are keeping drugs out of the hands of young people. In fact, Alabama teens are using more marijuana than teens who live in states where medical marijuana is legal and in states where the penalties for marijuana are much less severe. That's because prohibition makes it easier for any child who wants to experiment with drugs to acquire them.

Some argue that if we legalize marijuana, then kids everywhere will be able to get it. But that is the current reality in the illegal, unregulated market. On the black market, any kid who wants to experiment with drugs can obtain them. There are no well-lit storefronts with clerks to check ID, and drug dealers don't ask for ID. The very policies we enforce are putting our children in greater peril. As a parent, that deeply concerns me.

Even when Alabama's drug policies improve, we, as parents, will always want effective strategies to keep our kids safe. Unfortunately, the "Just say no" approach is not enough -- we've used that approach for nearly 30 years, and even today drug use by teens is on the rise.

One alternative approach, employed by parent-teacher organizations in other parts of the United States, is Safety 1st, a comprehensive, reality-based approach to teen drug use that encourages abstinence while acknowledging the fact that not all kids will listen to or follow the abstinence-based approach.

No parent wants her child to use drugs. We, as parents, want our kids to grow up safe, but they often experiment and do dumb things. When they do, we need them to be honest with us so we can keep them safe. It's OK to tell children to not do drugs, but we should also tell them: If you do, please don't drive home; call me so I can get you, or, if you use drugs, let's talk about it first so you can be as safe as possible.

That may sound crazy until one considers what happens to teens who use drugs in an unsafe manner. They die. That's why Safety 1st and other models that emphasize honesty are so important. (For more information on the Safety 1st model, please visit www.safety1st.org.)

It doesn't matter whether you love drugs, hate drugs or don't care about drugs at all, the drug war is a failure. It's time to take a new approach to drug policy in Alabama. Through educational campaigns, alcohol and tobacco consumption rates have declined among teens in Alabama without resorting to locking up everyone who uses alcohol or tobacco. We need an approach that focuses on health and safety and not on incarceration.

Marijuana needs to be legalized to better keep it out of the hands of children. The $132 million we spend annually to lock up nonviolent drug offenders, even though it does not prevent others from using drugs, could be redirected to education, where it is desperately needed. Some of the tax revenues generated from the sale of marijuana to adults could also be earmarked for education.

Marijuana will never be eradicated, no matter how many people we lock up or how many millions of dollars we waste year after year in pursuit of that unobtainable goal. Staying the course on this clearly failed policy can no longer be justified at the very high cost of our children's education and, sometimes, their lives.

Loretta Nall is an Alabama parent and director of Alabamians for Compassionate Care. E-mail: lorettanall@gmail.com

Good News! Good News!

I just spoke with a member of the House Judiciary Committee and I was informed that HB214 the bill that would allow those who have drug convictions to be eligible for food stamps and TANF passed overwhelmingly out of the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. This is EXCELLENT news and a huge step in the right direction. Many, many thanks to all of you who wrote, called or visited the committee and urged them to pass this bill. GOOD JOB FOLKS!!

Also, Rep. Mac Gipson's bill HB194 which would allow the county sheriff in any Alabama county to stand down the feds at the county line also passed out of Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. Again, thanks to those of you who wrote, called or visited on behalf of this bill.

I have to say that the House Judiciary Committee is off to a great start this session. Here's hoping they keep it up throughout the session.

Sen. Webb's Criminal Justice Act Passes Unanimously!

Stop The Drug War

The Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday approved Sen. Jim Webb's (D-VA) National Criminal Justice Commission Act of 2009 on a unanimous voice vote Thursday. The bill would create a commission to conduct a top-to-bottom evaluation of the country's criminal justice system and offer recommendations for reform at every level.

Webb has been a harsh critic of national drug policies, and has led at least two hearings on the costs associated with current policies. The bill could create an opportunity to shine a harsh light on the negative consequences of the current policies.

An amendment offered by Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) and accepted by the committee stripped out the original bill's lengthy list of negative drug policy "findings" and replaced them with blander language, but left the bill's purpose intact.

Passage out of committee was applauded by sentencing reform advocates. "Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM) commends the Senate Judiciary Committee for recognizing that the American criminal justice system needs an overhaul," said Jennifer Seltzer Stitt, FAMM federal legislative affairs director. "Any comprehensive reform of our criminal justice system must include eliminating mandatory minimum laws. One-size-fits-all mandatory drug sentencing laws enacted in the 1980s are responsible for filling prisons with low-level, nonviolent drug offenders, wasting millions in taxpayer dollars, and destroying public trust in the criminal justice system. The National Criminal Justice Commission can help right these wrongs by recommending mandatory sentencing reform."

The bill's prospects are uncertain. It faces a crowded calendar in the Senate and has made little progress in the House.

Into the minds of future cops 2

This is the second installment of comments made by my classmates on the Criminal Justice discussion board.

This weeks question is....

Which of the following would you prefer to work for? ATF, IRS, DEA, FBI, Secret Service
Explain your answer.


I would like to work for the DEA. I would like the thrill of knowing my life is on the line and that it could end within any moment because I am doing something to help the community be a safter place. Also, who wouldn't love being able to tear peoples houses inside out and it be legal? That is the one thing I plan on going into after college.


CHRIST!!

And you know I just had to respond to that one.

I wouldn't love to tear people's houses inside out and have it be legal. It's that mentality that makes people mistrust law enforcement. Why, do you think you would find invading people's homes and destroying their property enjoyable? Would you enjoy it if someone (legal or otherwise) did that to you? You sound more like a burglar wanna be than someone who wants to protect and serve.


I chose Secret Service because they are the least offensive group of those listed that I could work for.

Medical Marijuana in Alabama

ACC member and medical marijuana patient Chris Butts had an excellent letter published in The Anniston Star today. Way to go Chris!!

Medical Marijuana in Alabama

Medical marijuana in Alabama

Again this year, a medical marijuana bill (HB 207) is before the Alabama Legislature. Year in and year out, it seems we have a bill introduced that could drastically transform Alabama patients' lives.

That bill, in turn, usually gets moved to committee, where it sits ignored throughout the session and dies. There are now 14 states, as well as the District of Columbia (near 30 percent of the country), that have adopted medical marijuana legislation and given their residents the option of using marijuana as medicine under their doctor's care.

People hear the word "marijuana" and immediately get images in their head of poorly groomed individuals wearing tie-dyed T-shirts dancing in a circle and smoking pot. Let me assure you that is not what this bill is about.

As a chronic pain sufferer, I am prescribed the legal equivalent of heroin (Oxycontin). This product is evil and very addictive and comes with a multitude of possible side effects, including death. Marijuana has proven to be a safe and useful alternative to my prescribed medications, and the side effects are getting hungry, a dry mouth, feeling well and sometimes getting a little sleepy. Those are side effects I can live with.

No matter where you stand on the issue of "drugs," it makes no sense to allow Alabamians who could benefit from this medicine to suffer or become addicted to the narcotic pain prescriptions being handed out freely.

Chris Butts
Cullman

Goddamn Idiot!

TSA screener plants white powder on passenger....as a JOKE!

A joke.....This happened at the same airport where the underwear bomber had been just days before. I might potentially rip someones head off for doing something like that to me. That shit ain't funny! How fucking dumb can you be? And where do they find these jackasses that man TSA security checkpoints? The joke shop? They round them up off the street? I've always suspected the latter. I hope this young lady sues the absolute dog shit out of TSA and wins.

Barnyard Update

Got this shot yesterday while everyone was out playing. We've recently started letting the pig out to play and hunt for tasty things to eat. He stays right in the yard and woods and doesn't seem at all interested in running away. There is some serious testosterone competition between the pig and the buck goat, Ervine. The pig is madly in love with the doe goat, Fig, and chases her around the yard. Ervine, being the boyfriend of Fig, cares for that not at all. So, he and the pig get into scuffles. The pig starts most of it by running up to Ervine and having a grunting, squealing fit. Ervine lowers his horns to butt the pig but the pig bites Ervine's horns. Ervine did get in a few good licks the other day though. He won't be able to handle piggy much longer though, as piggy will get much bigger than an African Pygmy goat. Hopefully they will get things worked out. Ervine may be small but those damn horns are serious. Right now I have a huge bruise stretching from the top of my left calf nearly to my heel where Ervine got me the other day at feeding time.

Anyway, the pig is a super neat animal. He loves his belly scratched and he is just so damn cute.

Major Wardrobe Malfunction

A UK Olympian getting ready to go sledding gets a blast of cold air.

SB153 Homebrew Bill

Correction: This is not a Free the Hops bill. It is being pushed by a network of Alabama Home Brewers. More information can be found at Auburn Brew Club

Here is another bill that I will be supporting this year and that I hope my readers in Alabama will support as well. SB153 is being pushed by a network of Alabama home brewers and sponsored by Senator Larry Dixon (who knew he could do anything progressive that allows more personal freedom?) This bill would allow anyone over the age of 21 to brew beer, mead, cider and wine for personal use. It does not allow for home brew to be sold.

I hope it passes. I've always wanted to try my hand at wine making. I know I am damn good at wine drinking :)

High Support for Medical Marijuana

ABC News has a new poll out which shows that 81% of those surveyed support medical marijuana and nearly 50% support decrim.

READ IT HERE and then send it to your elected officials in Montgomery.

Contact Judiciary Committee on HB214

I've just sent the following letter to the members of the House Judiciary Committee regarding HB214, a bill that would allow those convicted of drug felonies to be eligible for food stamps and TANF when they get out of prison. Please take a moment and send one of your own or copy and paste mine if you like. Email addresses are below the letter. This bill is coming up in the Judiciary Committee tomorrow (Wednesday) so please write TODAY!

Dear Member of the House Judiciary Committee,

I am writing today to ask for your support of HB214, 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

camjulward@aol.com
cengland1@hotmail.com,
jamie.ison@alhouse.org,
howard.sanderford@alhouse.org,
yusuf.salaam@alhouse.org,
spencer.collier@alhouse.org,
marcel.black@alhouse.org,
laura.hall@alhouse.org,
paul.demarco@alhouse.org,
priscilla.dunn@alhouse.org,
Tammy.Irons@alhouse.org,
marc.keahey@alhouse.org,
steve.mcmillan@alhouse.org,
charles.newton@alhouse.org,
john.robinson@alhouse.org

Bills to watch this session

I've spent some time going through the bills that have been introduced this legislative session. Here is my current list of bills, both good and bad, to either support or oppose.

Bills to Support

HB207 The Michael Phillips Compassionate Care Act would protect doctors who prescribe and patients who use medical marijuana for debilitating medical conditions. The bill number will change later on when we introduce a slightly different bill that HB207. However, now is the time to begin calling and visiting your elected official about this bill.

HB142 The Ballot Access Bill would reduce by half the number of signatures a third party or independent candidate would have to collect in order to be placed on the ballot. We really need this bill in Alabama. The political system here is locked up by Democrats and Republicans and you see the mess we are in because of it. Fresh faces and new ideas are badly needed if Alabama is to ever move forward.

HB8 is a bill that would require the clerk to record and preserve all legislative sessions as well as committee meetings. Many people are not able to listen to the legislature in session via the internet because the time conflicts with their work/school and recording the sessions and committee meetings would enable them to listen to their tax dollars at work when they have time. Plus, with some of the crazy things said by our elected officials it makes for great comic relief. HB12 is the companion bill in the Senate.

HB17 would prevent someone who serves as an officer of the court from serving in the legislature.

HB54 would grant subpoena power to the Ethics Commission. They are pretty much neutered without it.

HB61Under existing law, the personal representative of a deceased person whose death was caused by a state employee or official may file a claim with the Board of Adjustment for damages resulting from the wrongful act, omission, or negligence which caused the death of the decedent. This bill would provide that the estate of a person whose death was caused by the wrongful act, omission, or negligence of a state employee or official would receive monetary compensation from the State of Alabama with no more than 25 percent of the compensation to be used to pay the attorney's fees for representing the decedent.

HB81 This is the court records expungement bill that would allow those arrested but never convicted to have their record expunged from the courts.

HB118This bill would require lobbyists to disclose all expenditures on public officials, and require those persons who lobby the Executive Branch to register with the Ethics Commission.

HB152 Under existing law, when the Board of Pardons and Paroles revokes parole, it may require the parolee to serve all or a portion of the original term to which the parolee was sentenced. This bill would give the board that authority only when the revocation is based on the commission of a new crime and would provide that if the revocation was not based on the commission of a new crime, including non-serious traffic offenses, the board could require the parolee to serve 90 days in prison, after which parole would automatically be reinstated.

HB194 This is a fascinating bill. It would give the Sheriff of any Alabama county the right to stand down the feds and deny them entry into said county. I thought this was already the case. It may sound scary to some but think about it like this. Say we pass medical marijuana legislation here in Alabama and later on there is an administration change in Washington DC and the new President wants to start sending the feds after medical marijuana patients again...this bill would enable the sheriff to deny the feds entry.

HB209 This is the term limits bill. It would mandate that a member of the Alabama House or Senate only be allowed to serve 3 terms. Currently a house or senate member can serve as long as they continue to be elected...which is sometimes for life. This is another reason Alabama is in such horrible shape. There are never any fresh ideas if the same people are elected time after time after time.

HB232 This bill would make the Board of Pardons and Paroles more diverse.

HB253 which is being sponsored by Rep. Steve Hurst would mandate that 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.

HB201 Initiative and Referendum. This bill would make Alabama the 25th Initiative and Referendum state. That means instead of depending on our do nothing legislature and hug lobbying firms to direct said legislature we could gather signatures and put issues directly on the ballot bypassing the legislature altogether.

Bills to Oppose

HB39 would require that no abortion can be performed without voluntary and informed consent of the woman. Basically that means any woman going in to have an abortion would be subjected to images of aborted fetuses. It is being sponsored by Dr. Robert Bentley who is running for the Republican nomination for Governor.

HB40 This bill would outlaw abortion except in cases of rape, incest or the mothers life is in danger. It is also being sponsored by Robert Bentley of Tuscaloosa who is vying for the Republican nomination for Governor. He's also a dermatologist and not a gynecologist and since he can never give birth to a child he has no business dictating to women whether or not they have to continue with a pregnancy. Why do Republicans always want to stick their noses up the asses of women....literally?

HB41 Another bill by Bentley which would allow health care providers and pharmacists to refuse a medical procedure or medication based on their delusional religious beliefs. What that means is that is a condom fails or some other method of birth control fails a woman could be denied Plan B to prevent pregnancy or RU486 to abort very early in the pregnancy. Bentley is far too concerned with the female reproductive system. He should mind his own business.

HB45 would prevent publicly funded education institutions from providing same sex benefits to employees. It's a dumb, mean spirited bill based on homophobic stupidity. It reminds me of the military right after the second Iraq invasion. They had only a handful elite members of the military who could speak Arabic and the threw one (or more)of them out of the military because he/she was gay. Brilliant, huh? If an instructor does an excellent job at educating their students then we want to do everything we can to retain them in Alabama where we have some of the worst, if not the worst, education system in America.
SB247 is the companion bill in the Senate.

HB247 would allow other states to access your prescription information through the Alabama Prescription Monitoring Database. I oppose the database period and certainly oppose those outside the state to monitor what medications I might be taking. Whatever happened to medical privacy? SB151 is the Senate Companion Bill

SB57 would outlaw salvia. This bill is again being sponsored by Hank "God sent Katrina to kill the niggers and gamblers in New Orleans" Erwin. He is also running for Lt. Governor. I can't wait to see him get trounced and hopefully leave Alabama politics forever. He is such an embarrassing dinosaur.

These are just the bills I have had a chance to look at. There will be others as the session goes on and more bills are introduced.

In the Interest of the People

Tonight between 7:30 and 8:00 p.m. I will be a call in guest on Larry Barton's 'In the Interest of the People' to discuss the Rep. Steve Hurst story. The show recently went statewide. In the Alexander City area it can be viewed on Charter cable Ch. 80 ACN Local Programming. The show begins at 7 p.m. and the first guest will be Congressman Mike Rogers.

Euthanize me now!

Kay Ivey campaigns at gun show

My readers know I don't like Kay Ivey because of an incident that happened a few years ago involving my son and her insistence on cramming GAWD down his throat. And, there is virtually NO CHANCE Ivey will win the Republican nomination for Governor of Alabama and go on to win the race. PACT took care of that.

However, since she has put herself out there we might as well take shots at her while we can. I don't disagree with Ivey on the Second Amendment....but her folksy gibberish makes me want to vomit.

From the article...

“I do carry a gun, and I dang sure know how to use it.”

Asked about her official position on gun control, Ivey said there should be no doubts about where she stands on that matter.

“Oh honey, we’ve got to protect the rights of our folks to hold and bear arms and be responsible in doing it,” said Ivey, who showed up in a leather jacket with a colorful National Rifle Association patch on it. “We’ve got to protect ourselves."

Just euthanize me now...I can't take much more of the bullshit known as politics in Alabama.

Teen Drug Use; Educate, not incarcerate

Fellow drug policy activist Gil down in South AL had a magnificent LTE published in the BHAM News on Jan.2 that I missed. Here it is.


Teen drug use: Education, not incarceration

The recent article on teen drug use in Alabama highlights the failure of our drug policy to reduce teen drug use. As our experience with tobacco has shown, education works better than putting people in jail.

The News interviewed Carissa Anthony, who blames medical marijuana, saying "the legalization of marijuana in some states for medical use may be breaking down psychological barriers and making marijuana appear less harmful than it is."

How does Anthony explain the lower rate of teen use in these states? Their laws are making our kids more likely to use marijuana while at the same time making their kids less likely. This is a silly assertion.

Overall use and teen use are lower in countries that have legalized (The Netherlands) or fully decriminalized marijuana (Portugal, Spain) than in the United States.

How harmful does Anthony think marijuana is? The Drug Enforcement Administration's own administrative law judge concluded marijuana is "one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man" and is "safer than many of the foods we commonly eat."

To reduce teen use and overall use, we must educate not incarcerate.

Gil Joiner
Gulf Shores

Two ACC Patients Tell Their Story

Couple Discuss Reasons for Medical Marijuana Use

Many thanks for Chris and DJ for being brave enough to do this interview with WAFF 48 in Huntsville. Also, many thanks to Robyn McGlohn for doing this story in such a respectful way.

Couple discusses reasons for medical marijuana use
Posted: Jan 14, 2010 5:32 PM CST Updated: Jan 15, 2010 5:37 AM CST

By Robyn McGlohn - bio | email

CULLMAN, AL (WAFF) - The debate over medical marijuana use will soon be a topic on Alabama lawmaker's agenda. A state lawmaker from Birmingham is again pushing a medical marijuana bill.

Chris and DJ Butts are both users of medical marijuana because they both suffer from illnesses. They say it dulls the pain, and it's the healthy alternative to what they are prescribed.

Chris and DJ have been married for 12 years and have three children. They tell their story in hopes House Bill 207 passes through the 2010 Legislative session.

The bill, sponsored by representative Patricia Todd of Birmingham, wants Alabama to recognize certain illnesses, like cancer, anoxeria, and chronic arthritis, are alleviated by the effects of marijuana.

The bill also states if passed, doctors will not be penalized for discussing or recommending the use, and those who qualify will be allowed to grow no more than 12 marijuana plants.

But for the last 4 years it's failed in the legislature. Which means the Butts do what they can to get it.

"Right now it's a drug deal. It's a street transaction just like anything else," said DJ.

They know their actions are not right, feel the choice to smoke is a better alternative than what their doctor's prescribe.

"First of all there are about 535 pills per month that I'm supposed to put into my body, opiate based," said Chris.

"It's a snowball, and before you know it you're taking 10 pills a day and most of them are to counteract symptoms from the original pill," said DJ.

The Butts want to make it clear they're not hippies or pot heads looking for a good time. They belong to a church and they say they're Alabama citizens who want the right to make their own decisions with their doctors.

A bill to support this session

Here is an excellent bill that is up for consideration during this legislative session. Please get involved to ensure its passage.

HB214 sponsored by Rep. Chris England (D-Tuscaloosa).

HB214 would allow the state to opt out of the federal law which dictates that those convicted of felony drug offenses are not eligible for food assistance from the state government.

I've have wanted to see a bill that addresses this issue for years. Drug offenders are the only citizens that this law applies to. A child molester can get food stamps as can a murderer etc..Drug offenders also aren't eligible for public housing.

When the laws keep people homeless and starving it raises the chances that they will resort to crime to in order to simply survive.

You know for a former prosecutor, Rep. England is turning out to be an excellent legislator! Please keep up the amazing work Rep. England!

I'm just now beginning to sort through the massive amount of legislation for this session. Stay tuned for a post detailing the good stuff to support and the bad stuff to kill.

Ok...That's effin CREEPY!!

Lamb in Turkey born with Human Face



I'm not sure what to make of this other than it is creepy as hell. Look at that thing! How does such a thing happen? I hope there will be some scientific studies carried out on the carcass.

Into the minds of future Alabama cops

So, this semester I am taking Introduction to Law Enforcement...just for shits and giggles. It is an online course, which allows me to see the answers to questions that my other classmates give. The following is directly from the minds of those who are going into law enforcement as a career.

Here is this weeks question.

What do you think William Parker meant when he referred to the police as a 'Thin Blue Line'?

And here are some of the unbelievable answers given to this question by those who will soon be carrying a gun in public.

I believe that William Parker meant that the good of society should always come before anything else, including individua rights. Other oficer should not mistreat any prisoners since they are innocent until proven guilty. Officers cannot carry ou their own form of judgment. Even if evidence in an investigation was obtained illegally, it should still be submittable to a court in order to get a criminal off the streets.

When William Parker referred to the police as the "Think Blue Line" he basically meant, police are so well trained and disiplined that they would stay on that blue line. They followed a thin line. There wasn't anymore police brutality or anything of that nature.

i belive that mr parker was refering to the fact that law enforement officers have to think like the criminals that they are try to stop while not cross over the boundrys of the law themselfs making them no better than the criminals ,but if any one else has a differnt view i would love to hear it


My favorite word is.........drumroll please........themselfs. Don't you feel so much safer knowing that one day soon one of these illiterate goons could be pointing a gun at you?

Vote on medical marijuana in Alabama

WAFF Channel 48 in Huntsville is covering medical marijuana in Alabama. The dropping of bill 207 was actually an accident. We are writing a slightly different bill which will be introduced in mid-February. WAFF has up a poll on medical marijuana with this story. Please take a moment and cast your vote.

If you are in the WAFF viewing area tune in tomorrow where two of our ACC patients will be interviewed for this story.

Pat Robertson..."Haitians cursed...Swore pact with devil"

IN a new video religious ignoramus and complete blowhard Pat Robertson claims that the country of Haiti made a pact with the devil and the earthquake that has caused untold death and suffering is the result of that pact.Now that's the Christian Spirit!! (video)

And...if I may ask...how does an entire country make a pact with the devil? Do they get to vote on it?

Up next...Alabama Senator Hank Erwin uses his twitter account to ditto Pat Robertson (j/k...for now). He's got the market on enlightening the rest of us to God's will and the real cause for natural disasters....no need for science or anything.....cause Hank and Pat think science is the work of the devil.

These people SUCK!

Listen if you dare

The Alabama legislature goes into session at noon which is about 7 minutes from now. Listen live if you can stomach it.

Alabama Legislature back in session today

Today the Alabama Legislature begins the 2010 session. I was gonna say something witty but Joey Kennedy at the BHAM News took care of all that for me. If you read nothing else today go read

The legislature is going into session. RUN! RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!

I laughed so hard I almost lost consciousness.

Palin signs deal with Faux News

Former Vice Presidential nominee and former Governor of Alaska and laughing stock of most of the nation Sarah Palin has signed a deal with Faux News to be a commentator.

I never watch Faux News but will now just to see how magnificently Palin can massacre the English language. She is a never-ending parade of gut-busting laughs. This oughta be real good. It'll be like a female version of Ann Coulter.

OK....I'm sick of this cold weather

I don't know about y'all but I've had about a gut full of this Arctic blast. One of the reasons I choose to stay in the South is because of the mild winters. I'll never understand how people survive in the northern states where the winter temps are often below zero and almost always below freezing for at least 4 months out of the year. In North Dakota and Nebraska last week it was an astounding -30 (at least). How can one live in temps like that? Geez....imagine their winter energy bills!! Seems like if you went outside in temps like that you'd freeze and shatter on the spot.

And a better question....WHY would anyone live where it gets that cold? I, and probably a lot of other people in the South, don't even have a wardrobe for this kind of cold and I can't seem to get enough cover on my bed.

Anyway...I'm ready for this mess to be over.

Mobile County Commissioner Stephen Nodine Busted for Marijuana

This story broke a week or so ago and I am remiss in posting about it.

Tests show substance found in Commissioner Nodine's car is marijuana

In short Nodine took his county issued truck into the county garage for servicing and the mechanic claims to have spotted marijuana scattered across the floor board as well as in a prescription bottle bearing Nodine's name. At our Compassionate Care meeting yesterday in BHAM one of our members from Mobile said the prescription bottle was for hydrocodone.

The whole thing seems weird to me. 1) If you are a county commissioner who smokes marijuana in private but carries on the 'law and order anti-drug' stance in public you probably aren't going to carry your weed around in a county vehicle. 2) What are the odds that sheriff's deputies just happened to be on hand at the county garage when this went down? But, how would someone come by a prescription bottle with Nodine's name on it? Did someone steal it from his home? His trash? Was it a fake?

I wonder if Mr. Nodine, assuming the marijuana is his, is a medical marijuana patient? If he is using hydrocodone then he obviously has some pain issues. If this is the case it would be mighty fine of him to step up, say he is a medical user, and call for comprehensive medical marijuana legislation to be passed in Alabama.

Yeah...I know...I'm dreaming. In the event he is charged with possession it will be a constructional possession charge because he was not actually caught with the marijuana on him. Chances are this whole thing will disappear and he will never have to face the music....unlike the normal, everyday people and medical marijuana patients he represents.

Must be nice to be an aristocrat.

Roll Tide!

I'm actually a huge Auburn fan....but this morning I just gotta say

ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!

Oh Yeah...That's Just What They Need

Chicago police may scrap entrance exam to bolster minority hiring.

More stupid people with guns and badges in positions of authority....yep, that's just what we need in America. Why would anyone with half a brain want to make someone a cop if that someone couldn't pass a cop entrance exam? Isn't the exam there for the purpose of determining who is qualified and who is not? They might as well start rounding up homeless people and mental patients and deputizing them.

I think it should be a requirement that any cop anywhere in the US possess at least a four year college degree.

Remind me never to visit Chicago.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to all of my readers. May 2010 bring us closer to freedom.

How's that drug war working out for y'all?

According to a report in today's Birmingham News Alabama teens use drugs at a rate higher than the national average.

How's that drug war working out for y'all? How has arresting and imprisoning everyone ever caught with a joint or any other illicit drug kept drugs out of the hands of kids? It hasn't. That's what I have been saying for years. What it has done is destroy our criminal justice system, corrupt our police officers, turn non-violent people into violent animals, destroyed families and bloated our prison system with people who do not need to be there to the taxpayer tune of $132 million a year.

Overall, alcohol and tobacco use has de­clined among Alabama teens, but marijuana use appears to be on the rise.

See how we've managed to decrease alcohol and tobacco consumption without locking up everyone who uses alcohol and tobacco? We used education to do that. We can do the same with marijuana and other drugs.

And this has to be the most ass backwards thinking I have ever encountered.

Carissa Anthony, coordinator of the Hoo­ver Coalition Promoting a Safe and Healthy Community, said the legalization of mari­juana in some states for medical use may be breaking down psychological barriers and making marijuana appear less harmful than it is.

So, other states making forward progress on marijuana laws is responsible for teenagers in Alabama smoking more pot? I'd like her to explain why marijuana use rates among teens are LOWER in states where it has been legalized for medical purposes, but here in Alabama, where it has not yet been legalized for medical purposes, teen usage rates are HIGHER. That's funny. In the most PROHIBITIONIST state of them all marijuana use rates are higher among teens than in states where it is legal for medical use and has been decriminalized for non-medical use. The clear solution is to legalize marijuana and use education campaigns to decrease use rates....just like we have been able to do with alcohol and tobacco.

See, if we want to decrease the number of our children who use drugs, the clear solution is to legalize drugs and use education to help kids make safe, healthy choices.

Drug Offenders: War on Drugs a Failure

The following letter from my friend Don Seibold appeared in response to my letter which was published a few days ago.

Drug offenders: War on drugs a failure

The recent letter about a way to save Alabama taxpayers millions of dollars yearly by releasing nonviolent drug offenders is spot on.

The so-called "war on drugs" has been a miserable failure that has cost our nation's taxpayers probably billions of dollars -- if not more -- of wasted money. It's past time to stop wasting our money on a failed effort and to use it in a more productive way, both nationally and here in Alabama.

Don Seibold
Wetumpka

Don's letter also appeared in today's Mobile Press-Register

I hope that if you are reading this you, too, will write a letter.

More Ink

My letter to the editor regarding the massive budget shortfall at the Alabama Dept. of Corrections was also published in the Mobile Press-Register and the Tuscaloosa News.

A funny thing about the title of the letter in the Press-Register.....even though neither of the words "legalize" or "marijuana" appear anywhere in the letter the Press-Register titled it 'Save money by legalizing marijuana'.

Corrections: Release Inmates to Save Money

I had the following letter published in today's Birmingham News.

Corrections: Release inmates to save money

Much has been written recently about the dire financial circumstances of the Alabama Department of Corrections. According to a story in The Birmingham News, Commissioner Richard Allen said there will be a $15 million shortfall in 2010, which could lead to early releases and layoffs. The state's General Fund is ailing, and it isn't likely the $15 million will come from there. However, I have a simple plan that would provide the $15 million with gobs of money left over.

According to the department's Web site, there are currently 8,641 prisoners serving time for drug violations at a cost of $15,223 a year each. That costs Alabama taxpayers around $132 million a year. If the nonviolent drug offenders were released, that $15 million would be readily available, plus an additional $117 million left over. It's really a no-brainer.

Locking people up in our prison system because we disagree with their intoxicant of choice is responsible for the financial crises. What it hasn't done -- and never will do -- is stop people from using drugs, reduce violence associated with the drug trade or keep drugs out of the hands of children. Think of all the other worthy programs that $132 million could be used for.

Loretta Nall
Alexander City

Pig!

Piggy continues to do well. He got loose yesterday. You would not believe how fast that little devil can scoot! I didn't bother chasing him because, even if I could have gotten close enough to grab him, there is no way to hold him. They are a lot stronger than they look and there is no way to get a good grip because of the way they are shaped. So, I made him a Hansel and Gretel trail of dog food around the pen which lead back in. After he got tired of be-bopping through the yard and around in the woods looking for acorns he picked up the dog food trail and went back in his house.

He is such a happy little fellow. Makes all kinds of cute noises and is always happy to see me whether I am bringing him food or not. He wags his tail like a puppy and runs up to be scratched and loved on. He is a mess. Loves attention and loves to interact with the other animals. The other day we filled his barrel up with fresh hay. Now when I go out and call him the first thing I see is a moving mass of hay, then a nose comes poking out and the rest of him follows. There is a piggy shaped impression inside the barrel. It's so cute!

Alex City Drug Task Force Commander Admits Drug War is a Failure

Needless to say I am SHOCKED! Jay Turner was one of the pigs who raided my house back in 2002.

Drug bust nets four arrests

Turner said although Hill is only classified as mid-level, he is actually one of the most prominent dealers in the area. His arrest should put a short-lived dent in illegal drug operations in Camp Hill, according to Turner.

“It won’t stop it, but it should be something that stalls it for a while,” Turner said. “Others will pick up the slack where he leaves off.”

Jay Turner said, “It won’t stop it, but it should be something that stalls it for a while,” Turner said. “Others will pick up the slack where he leaves off.”

Wow I think that may be the first honest words that have ever come out of his mouth. Thanks Jay for admitting in writing that the drug war is an abject failure that does not meet any of its stated objectives.


Now if only Jay Turner would say, "I, Jay Turner, don't want the drug war to be over because I would be out of a job."

What other justification can be given for continuing a failed and costly policy?

UPDATE: Alex City Cop Given Slap on Wrist

According to the Talladega Daily Home former Alex City police officer Mitchell Ray has been sentenced to 9 months, split, with 30 days in jail for assaulting a race fan, who he had in handcuffs, so badly that the guy had to be airlifted to UAB. Here is the original story and blog entry.

Hollingsworth sentenced former police officer Mitchell Ray, 36, to nine months, split, 30 days in jail and two years probation, for assault in the third degree. Ray was indicted for felony assault against a race fan while working as a security guard, but was convicted by a jury of the lesser included offense.

How come cops can commit felony assault and attempted murder and get a mere slap on the wrist? I am so sick of this double standard. I am also sick of having to find out news about my local police force from a newspaper that is two counties over. Would be nice if the Alex City Outlook would cover LOCAL NEWS.

A priceless moment

Yesterday was the last day of Fall semester at CACC. Our last assignment was a gripe speech for speech class. It could be done on anything in the world that gets under your skin that you want to complain about. I knew there would be some doosies...but I was completely unprepared for what happened near the end of class. The assignment was designed like this..

My biggest gripe about blank is blank....

I heard everything from gripes about the workplace to gripes about bad drivers to abortion to bad service at fast food restaurants. My gripe speech was on the news not actually being news anymore.

Near the end of class one little country, redneck girl got up and delivered the following gripe speech.

My biggest gripe about my Uncle ________ is his wife _______. Her full name is _____ _________. She is a nasty, filthy, rotten, whore who writes bad checks and has herpes, which she is spreading around to everything that walks in Coosa, Tallapoosa, Clay, Elmore and Talladega counties. She even slept with her first cousin. She cheated on my uncle in his bed, on his couch, and even in his truck. I ain't even gone set in it no more cause it's got leather seats and y'all know how stuff sticks to leather. Don't want to catch them herpes. Their house got repossessed cause she didn't make the payment cause she spent all her money on lingerie to show off for her boyfriend. Stay away from her. She works at _______ in _______, has a huge butt about this big (demonstrated by holding her hands about 10 ft. apart) and walks like this ( demonstration was also given). She used to drive a ______ but it got repossessed so now she drives a ________. Again, her name is _______ ______. The herpes.....she's got'em . She is a nasty bitch whore and I hate her.


I don't believe anyone in the class, including the instructor, was prepared for that. The instructor counseled her on the terms libel and slander to which she replied, "Yeah her and her momma has already called the cops on me for it twice."

Fuck...the whole thing was priceless.

PRIDE!

What a complete Crock of SHIT!

2nd grader sent home for drawing Jesus on the cross

TAUNTON, Mass. (AP) - An 8-year-old boy was sent home from school and ordered to undergo a psychological evaluation after he was asked to make a Christmas drawing and came up with what appeared to be a stick figure of Jesus on a cross, the child's father said Tuesday.

Chester Johnson told WBZ-TV that his son made the drawing on Dec. 2 after his second-grade teacher asked children to sketch something that reminded them of the holiday.

Well, according to Christian tradition Jesus is the reason for the season, right?

An educational consultant working with the Johnson family said the teacher was also alarmed when the boy drew Xs for Jesus' eyes.

If my memory serves me correctly Jesus was DEAD on the cross so the X's for eyes were a proper depiction. What did they want from the kid...a picture of a live, suffering, stick-figure Jesus?

There is nothing wrong with what this kid did. According to the story his father said they had just visited some holy place where there were statues of the Crucifixion. And Christians are constantly bitching about "takin' Christ out of Christmas." This kid drew Jesus instead of Santa Claus, thereby putting the Christ back in Christmas, and he got sent home and commanded to undergo a psychological evaluation.

What am I missing here?

Scholarship Baby!

Yesterday my son Alex was awarded a full Spirit of Auburn Founders scholarship that is worth almost $30,000. I cried. I am so incredibly proud of that kid for all of his amazing work through school. He has earned it. However, MIT is sniffing around and, if they offer him a scholarship, then he will be going to MIT.

Dumbest thing I have ever read

I lost a few IQ points after I read the following letter in this morning's Montgomery Advertiser


Why Should Schools Start Teaching Chinese?

Did you hear that two Montgomery public schools are going to add a new foreign language? Guess which language? Why, Chinese, of course.

It makes perfect sense -- if you live in liberal la-la land. Let's see, Montgomery has a Korean car manufacturing plant; the new county school superintendent recently visited Korea, but the educational bureaucrats decided to spend tax dollars on teaching the Chinese language.

It makes no sense trying to teach Chinese to teenagers who can barely communicate in English. But the liberal educators will never accept the fact that spending more and more money on more and more jazzy classes and snazzy programs does not produce young adults who are ready to contribute to society.

To see if the taxpayers are getting their money's worth, here is a public challenge for the new superintendent, Ms. Thompson. Please publish a report of the Sidney Lanier High School senior classes of 1958 and 2008.

Please compare the following: the number of students; the cost to educate each student (broken down into state and federal dollars); the percentage of students who graduated; and how much the spending and graduation rates have increased or decreased between 1958 and 2008.

Stan Alexander
Deatsville

What is it with Alabamians and their fear of an education? My husband used to work at a wire harness factory. One day he heard a redneck female co-worker say, "If any of my young'uns come home uh speakin' at Mexican shit I'll bust'em in the mouth."

Mr. Alexander let me explain to you why someone in the US and in Alabama needs to learn Chinese.


THE CHINESE OWN US! We owe them about $800 BILLION dollars. Perhaps it would be a good idea if we were able to communicate with them, no? There was a spectacular Saturday Night Live skit a few weeks ago about that. Watch it HERE
(h/t to ttownfeen for the link)

My Son Has Been Accepted to Auburn!!

I am an extremely proud mom today! My handsome, sweet, and incredibly brilliant son Alex (pictured below with his girlfriend Livi at the ASMS Winter Formal) got his first college acceptance letter today from Auburn University. I opened it and immediately started crying. On his last ACT attempt he made a 31. On his frist try he made a 29. I expect he will go on a full scholarship. I'm so proud of him.


Larger picture at THIS LINK

Congratulations my AWESOME SON! (Although I am still holding out for MIT or Harvard)

FINALLY..I am done with Biology 201!!!

Took my final in Biology 201 Human Anatomy & Physiology today and I am extremely happy to be done with that class. I enjoyed it but the amount of information one has to soak up in 15 weeks is INSANE!!

Despite having bathed my brain in marijuana for some 23 years now I got out of that class with a 91! I am also on track to have an A+ in English 101 and and A- in Speech.

Next term I am taking Introduction to Psychology, Political Science, World History and, you'll love this one...Introduction to Law Enforcement. I plan to have a blog section devoted to the secrets of police tactics. Should be an absolute hoot!

HYSTERICAL!!

The police arrested a bank robbery suspect. Watch what happens to the hold up note.



The expressions on the suspects face are priceless.

My Piggy is Awesome!

Here is a video of me playing with my completely spoiled rotten piglet!



This little pig is just amazing. He's a very social animal. Every time a goat or chicken or cat gets close to his pen he runs up and starts talking to it. A week ago he would run hide every time I went to feed him. Now, he runs right up to me and wants his first bite out of my hand. Not only that....but I found his special spot...right under his front right (hoof?...paw??...arm?) I've spoiled him so rotten that he will lay down for a belly rub with his head in his food bowl and eat and get scratched at the same time, as you will see near the end of the video.

He is absolutely precious!

Every single day this little animal becomes more fascinating! I have never owned a pig. My Uncle Shelton used to raise them to eat when I was a kid. I clearly remember two giant pigs that I helped raise from babies. Every day at feeding time I would go with Unc to feed them and they would roll over and want their bellies scratched with a stick. One day they were gone and a few weeks later the news that they were now the breakfast on my plate was given to me in a less than considerate manner. That's devastating to a kid...the first time they find out where meat comes from. It was devastating to me anyway. Word of advice...DON'T DO THAT TO YOUR KIDS!

Shit that's HILARIOUS!

According to AL.com a Mobile, ALTwitter fed billboard BACKFIRES after the pictures of three local news personalities appear next to the following Twitter feed

Snuffleupagus

That is the name we decided on for our little porcine friend.

I absolutely love this pig! He is the coolest critter I have ever had the pleasure of owning. He wasn't handled at all before I got him so I have been spending lots of time with him every day. A few days ago I chased him down and picked him up. He proceeded to bite the shit out of me. I promptly put him back down. He bites a lot harder than you'd think.

So, I decided to look up the best way to tame them and of course it was food. Dog food to be exact. I tried it out a few days ago and he loved it. He is so damn cute. I made him a little Hansel and Gretel trail and every time he would find a piece he'd give this happy little victorious grunt. My sides hurt from laughing so hard.

Yesterday I actually got him to eat out of my hand and let me scratch him. He loved the scratching. He got so comfortable with me that he laid down on his side and wanted me to rub his tummy. He would push his little head into my hand when I found a particularly happy spot.

And, despite what people think, pigs are very clean animals who are also very intelligent. This little guy, I noticed yesterday, will back his rump up to the holes in the chain link fence and make his turds fall outside the pen. Amazing!

He is indeed a very cool critter and I am glad I got him. He is going to make a great addition to the Nall family farm.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

I hope you all have a wonderful day filled with the love of family, friends, and spectacular food. My crew will be heading to my moms in a few hours with our batches of cranberry congealed salad and deviled farm fresh eggs. My sister is bringing the turkey and mom is providing the rest of the fixins! A large, satisfying nap will ensue.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING Y'ALL!!!

ENOUGH!!!

During my daily newspaper scan this morning I came across the following stories.

130 Alabama High Schools Score Poorly on Reading, Stumble on Bedrock of Education

Kelan Staffney reads a passage to his class from a nonfiction story cho­sen by his teacher. The two-paragraph excerpt is riddled with words such as "indigent," "manifest," "meditation" and "abyss" -- words as elusive to grasp as a butterfly to Kelan until his teacher pronounces them for him.

Kelan, a ninth-grader at Montevallo High School, will turn 15 this month. He's been to various schools and got­ten himself kicked out of some, and his attendance rate at Montevallo is less than stellar.

He used behavior problems to cover up a secret, he says. A secret so shameful he shouldn't have made it to ninth grade, says his mother.

Kelan reads on a third-grade level.

A Birmingham News analysis of the 2008-09 Ala­bama High School Gradua­tion Exam shows that 130 public high schools either failed reading or were clas­sified as "borderline" fail­ing, based on 11th-graders' performance on the Ala­bama High School Gradua­tion Exam.

So, our kids can't read. And then I saw this one...

Tuscaloosa Deputies find 255 pounds of marijuana during traffic stop

Arek and his handler, Deputy Marcus Bell, were called to the Fosters area of I-20/59 northbound at about 10 p.m. after Sgt. Jeremy Franks and Deputy Daniel Morales stopped a white Dodge van for what the sheriff described as a “routine traffic violation.”

Once there, Arek alerted deputies to the back of the van. Inside, the authorities discovered 11 bundles of suspected marijuana in two large, black duffel bags, Sexton said.

Sexton said the destination of the driver was still under investigation. Daniel Liceaga, 27, of Prospect Heights, Ill., was taken into custody.

He faces one count of first-degree trafficking marijuana and remained in the Tuscaloosa County Jail on Tuesday on $1 million bail.

And that got me thinking again about how out of line our priorities are in Alabama. See, according to the Birmingham News in 2007 Alabama ranked 41st, spending $9,509 per pupil, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Yet, we spend over $13,000 a year to lock up a person for possessing, using, growing or selling a plant. We spend more money per person fighting this stupid, unwinnable drug war than we do to educate our children.

Guess what happens to children who don't get a good education? They wind up in poverty and make up a large portion of the people who later become prisoners.

If we legalized and taxed marijuana in Alabama we could give each of those 130 schools who are failing reading a minimum of $1 million dollars. I know this because a few months ago I crunched the numbers to see what Alabama could rake in if we took that simple, no-brainer step. Here is the formula that I used. We'd also save an estimated $117 million if we stopped warehousing drug offenders in our dilapidated, dangerously overcrowded and inhumane prison system.

Why do we keep allowing our elected officials to so vigorously pursue failed drug war policies at the expense of our childrens future? At the expense of public safety? Our prisoner to guard ratio is 200:1. There could be a prison break at any time. It can and will only get worse if we continue down this destructive path.

It's time for Alabama citizens who are tired of this nonsense to stand up and demand that the right thing be done. It doesn't matter if you love drugs, hate drugs, or don't care about drugs at all, you have to realize that what we are doing is NOT WORKING and WE have to CHANGE IT.

If you are interested in working with me during the upcoming legislative session to educate our elected officials about the real consequences of the failed war on drugs then please get in touch with me via email at lorettanall@gmail.com

A new farm baby

Just got him yesterday from a friend up the road. Haven't named him yet. He is so dang cute! Not very tame though as he hasn't been handled much so I have my work cut out for me. He hates to be picked up....squeals like you are killing him...and he is loud to be such a little fella. We put him in with the chickens for the night. He rooted around under their hay....looked like a mole.

Any readers out there have a pot bellied pig? Got any tips for me?

Ouch!

I was in New Mexico for most of last week for the Drug Policy Alliance conference. I wish I had a lot to report but unfortunately I contracted the flu, got sick on the plane ride out, and spent about 80% of the conference confined to my hotel room in an attempt not to make anyone else sick. I was able to get out on the last day and see my friends and co-reformers. To all of you who were looking for me and asking about me THANK YOU! I love you and am sorry I missed you in New Mexico.

Yesterday I returned home. I felt bad and did not want to fly but had no choice in the matter. I certainly didn't feel like driving for three days either. So, I got on the plane. I usually have bad problems with my ears hurting when I land. They refuse to change in pressure. Had no problems landing in Denver, since Denver is at a very high altitude. Had no problems taking off from there or landing in St. Louis. However, when landing in St. Louis I noticed that my right ear was not changing in pressure like the left one. I thought that might be a problem...but I really had no idea how much of a problem it would be. As we were taking off from St. Louis my right eardrum ruptured completely. I mean there was blood and fluid and whatever else is inside an ear. It was slow torture. I could feel it swelling and when it popped I screamed and scared half the folks on the plane. Talk about painful! I just got back from the doctor who said it was really bad and that I might need surgery.

JOY!

I feel like I've been eat by a bear and shit off a cliff.