Sky isn't falling

Were marijuana really the scourge it's so often portrayed to be, one would think that the opening of the Vallejo Patients Cooperative would have generated significant resistance from the local community .

[gun metal blue]

so what notice of intended opening of a drug supply outlet was available to the entire city? did the whole city know of the store wanting to open or only a select few? if one does not hear of it, they can not have a voice against it.

[Smoke Two Joints]

gun metal blue wrote:

so what notice of intended opening of a drug supply outlet was available to the entire city? did the whole city know of the store wanting to open or only a select few? if one does not hear of it, they can not have a voice against it.

You are always bawlin' about something!

[The Sweede]

At least the city will have more revenue from this small business! Maybe if the city leaders toked a little smoke they could be creative and come up with a few ways to earn money--that's a stretch..even for them.

[zig zag]

Let's not forget what happened to the marijuana shops in S.F. Those turned into nothing more than weed havens for potheads. If marijuana is to be legally used for medicinal purposes, it should be prescribed by doctors and purchased through pharmacies, as are other doctor-prescribed medicines. Selling marijuana from a pot shop turns a good intention into an extremely bad idea. Ask anyone who is a drug addict, and they will tell you 90% of the time, they used marijuana first before they moved on to bigger and better forms of getting high. It's no secret that marijuana is what is referred to as a "stepping stone" drug that often leads to much more serious drug use. Selling pot from a store is just a glorified way of selling pot on the street. The only difference being, the pushers have a roof over their head. I believe that patients should have pot available to them if doctors feel it is an effective drug to treat illness, but having pot shops selling marijuana is a whole different ball game and anyone in their right mind knows this. I say yes to medicinal marijuana, no to pot shops.

[Reefer Madness]

zig zag wrote:

Let's not forget what happened to the marijuana shops in S.F. Those turned into nothing more than weed havens for potheads. If marijuana is to be legally used for medicinal purposes, it should be prescribed by doctors and purchased through pharmacies, as are other doctor-prescribed medicines. Selling marijuana from a pot shop turns a good intention into an extremely bad idea. Ask anyone who is a drug addict, and they will tell you 90% of the time, they used marijuana first before they moved on to bigger and better forms of getting high. It's no secret that marijuana is what is referred to as a "stepping stone" drug that often leads to much more serious drug use. Selling pot from a store is just a glorified way of selling pot on the street. The only difference being, the pushers have a roof over their head. I believe that patients should have pot available to them if doctors feel it is an effective drug to treat illness, but having pot shops selling marijuana is a whole different ball game and anyone in their right mind knows this. I say yes to medicinal marijuana, no to pot shops.

This is exactly the type of crap that has been promoted by the anti-weed crowd since Nancy Reagan claimed "Just Say No". How stupid was that? Rather, "Just Say Yo". I smoked weed for many years and never graduated to harder drugs, and quit when I married and started a family. Some of the best workers I had in a company were pot heads that got high after work and came in fresh the next morning as opposed to the drunks that had to have a beer or two at lunchtime and then often showed up in the morning with a ripping hangover or not at all.

[Vallejo Visitor]

The Sweede wrote:

At least the city will have more revenue from this small business! Maybe if the city leaders toked a little smoke they could be creative and come up with a few ways to earn money--that's a stretch..even for them.

I probably shouldn't tell the story about a Vallejo City Council member standing on the deck behind my home enjoying a party and sharing a bit of weed with the rest of us. So I won't...

The United States would be a very different place if righteous folks weren't demanding of politicians that the pleasures of life should be illegal. Imagine how unhappy all those well paid prison guards would be if drugs were legalized and taxed. Crime would dissolve as dealers would lose their markets and users wouldn't need to break into houses to get money for their next fix. No more drive by shootings over drug territory. Prison population plummeting and guards being laid off...

But no, it is important to the self-righteous to force us to live what they describe as moral lives. So drugs are illegal and everyone gets blotto from alcohol while smoking cigarettes and shortening their lives. Makes sense to me...

[Trashman]

VV again you show your true colors of being a hippy. You have fried one too many brain cells with the reefer. Nobody cares about you puffin the dank with a council member, nobody thinks you are cool. The point of the argument is that the shop has no license to sell "medical" marijuana, therefore it is against the law. I would think you respect the law, whether you like it not. If they get a license from the city, then have it sell all you want. Don't be surprise when the PD comes crashing through the door and get you get face planted while in mid-toke. Don't gag on the smoke!

[Trashman]

VV for someone who is so prove city government, I would think that you would be against the dispensary since it undermines the city governments authority. Since it is an illegal business at its current status.

Remember face down, arms out to the side and don't resist!

[Vallejo Visitor]

Trashman wrote:

VV again you show your true colors of being a hippy. You have fried one too many brain cells with the reefer. Nobody cares about you puffin the dank with a council member, nobody thinks you are cool. The point of the argument is that the shop has no license to sell "medical" marijuana, therefore it is against the law. I would think you respect the law, whether you like it not. If they get a license from the city, then have it sell all you want. Don't be surprise when the PD comes crashing through the door and get you get face planted while in mid-toke. Don't gag on the smoke!

I got a ticket a couple of days ago from one of Marin's finest, for driving without a seat belt. The officer was courteous but I didn't thank him. I paid the $72 fine because I broke a law that to my mind is absolutely stupid. Stupid laws are passed all the time AND police officers are remarkably subjective in which laws they enforce and when they do so. Does anyone doubt that?

So we live in an imperfect world, making the best decisions we can make for ourselves. I don't generally wear my seat belt when driving around my home town and the ticket won't likely change my behavior. I'll be a bit more alert to the presence of a black and white, rather as I did as a youth when I occasionally had a bottle of beer between my thighs as I drove from one party to the next.

Drug laws strike me as very similar to laws requiring private citizens to avoid things because those in power object, such as prostitution, driving without a helmet while riding a motorcycle or wearing a seat belt. If you are in fact an officer of the law, you're in the position to decide whether and when to issue a citation. If the business is illegal, arrest the operators. I'm not a patron, so it is no skin off my nose. In fact, when my friend with a "prescription" offered me some Turkish hashish during my last visit, I opted for the Chivas Regal. My hippy days are LONG gone, sorry to say...

[Trashman]

Cops do have a lot of discretion. But if you or someone else choses not to obey the law because you think it is stupid, you can't complain when you get a ticket or arrested for the same. Yeah, when you friend "offers" you reefer, that is called furnishing and its a felony! Look in the rear view mirror and you might see me. Remember press hard three copies! Your seatbelt fine will now double next time you get one!!!!

[Vallejo Visitor]

Trashman wrote:

Cops do have a lot of discretion. But if you or someone else choses not to obey the law because you think it is stupid, you can't complain when you get a ticket or arrested for the same. Yeah, when you friend "offers" you reefer, that is called furnishing and its a felony! Look in the rear view mirror and you might see me. Remember press hard three copies! Your seatbelt fine will now double next time you get one!!!!

Actually, you have NO police power in Marin so I've no need to keep my eye out for you. I do appreciate the warning about a higher fine for a second offense, however. And I also appreciate that the same officer didn't cite me for the fact I didn't have proof of current insurance in the car. He trusted me when I said my insurance was current and that I'd simply forgotten to put it in my glove box. Technically, he could have cited me but I guess the stack of older certificates, the most recent expiring in June, 2008, demonstrated I wasn't a complete scofflaw. Living in a sleepy little burgh in Marin is not quite the same as living in hotbed of crime and violence like Vallejo... ;-)

And, for the record, I didn't complain about the ticket I received, nor did a grouse about paying the fine. I learned a long time ago that one lives with the consequences of one's actions. That is one reason why I have so little sympathy for the public safety employees in Vallejo who stood behind their union leadership as they kept squeezing the City for one more raise, one more benefit. As they say, you're reaping what you've sown. It was nice while it lasted, but it appears the good times are over. I've no personal animosity toward anyone wearing a blue uniform, but I've little sympathy for what Henke and Davis have been doing lo these many years. I know you've circled the wagons behind them, but you might want to think about giving them the boot... A new day is dawning in Vallejo and it certainly would be in everyone's benefit if a more forthright, congenial labor relations climate could be created. I doubt that Kurt Henke is capable of anything but a stick in the eye.

[Curious]

Vallejo Visitor wrote:

<quoted text>
I got a ticket a couple of days ago from one of Marin's finest, for driving without a seat belt. The officer was courteous but I didn't thank him. I paid the $72 fine because I broke a law that to my mind is absolutely stupid. Stupid laws are passed all the time AND police officers are remarkably subjective in which laws they enforce and when they do so. Does anyone doubt that?
So we live in an imperfect world, making the best decisions we can make for ourselves. I don't generally wear my seat belt when driving around my home town and the ticket won't likely change my behavior. I'll be a bit more alert to the presence of a black and white, rather as I did as a youth when I occasionally had a bottle of beer between my thighs as I drove from one party to the next.
Drug laws strike me as very similar to laws requiring private citizens to avoid things because those in power object, such as prostitution, driving without a helmet while riding a motorcycle or wearing a seat belt. If you are in fact an officer of the law, you're in the position to decide whether and when to issue a citation. If the business is illegal, arrest the operators. I'm not a patron, so it is no skin off my nose. In fact, when my friend with a "prescription" offered me some Turkish hashish during my last visit, I opted for the Chivas Regal. My hippy days are LONG gone, sorry to say...

Can the PD share info about citations among themselves? It must go to a data base somewhere.

[IAFF abuse]

Curious wrote:

<quoted text>Can the PD share info about citations among themselves? It must go to a data base somewhere.

Typical PS union tactics - to find the whereabouts of complainants and harass or threaten them. In addition to the letter that Gomes received from a person who was smeared and insulted by PS employees, I know of a case in South Florida (involving a Mr. Sweeney) where Mr. Sweeney wrote a letter to the editor of a local newspaper called The Ft Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel complaining about FF compensation. The FFs found out where he lived and threatened this man to a point where the Police got involved.

Here are some comments from a reporter (Gantenbein) who wrote an opinion piece http://www.slate.com/id/2090573 about firefighters. His observations (below) came after personal attack responses from FFs to his opinion piece. Here are his observations.

“FFs cannot tolerate criticism. FFs will bully, threaten and intimidate in an effort to “get their way.” FFs believe getting even is a perfectly appropriate way to express displeasure. FFs speak mainly in obscenities. FFs cannot spell.” FFs are a passionate lot; they self-select into this lifestyle. They had a severe reaction to the cruel statements posted in my opinion piece.”“I am sitting here in wide-awake amazement at the world of Firefighting – A few reasonable people, plus a bunch of nuts.”

Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? FFs can’t justify their outrageous compensation when questioned by the very people who fund them, so they resort to personal attacks and insults.

[Trashman]

Cops in CA have police powers throughout the state, so check you six!

[Internal Affairs Division]

That is how Gary Cloutier was set up in San Diego by Steve Gordon, who called in a favor and said watch this guy while he is down there and if he sneezes crooked, book em Dano.

It's called corruption and abuse of authority. It is a felony and can get you jail time.

[Curious]

IAFF abuse wrote:

<quoted text>
Typical PS union tactics - to find the whereabouts of complainants and harass or threaten them. In addition to the letter that Gomes received from a person who was smeared and insulted by PS employees, I know of a case in South Florida (involving a Mr. Sweeney) where Mr. Sweeney wrote a letter to the editor of a local newspaper called The Ft Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel complaining about FF compensation. The FFs found out where he lived and threatened this man to a point where the Police got involved.
Here are some comments from a reporter (Gantenbein) who wrote an opinion piece http://www.slate.com/id/2090573 about firefighters. His observations (below) came after personal attack responses from FFs to his opinion piece. Here are his observations.
“FFs cannot tolerate criticism. FFs will bully, threaten and intimidate in an effort to “get their way.” FFs believe getting even is a perfectly appropriate way to express displeasure. FFs speak mainly in obscenities. FFs cannot spell.” FFs are a passionate lot; they self-select into this lifestyle. They had a severe reaction to the cruel statements posted in my opinion piece.”“I am sitting here in wide-awake amazement at the world of Firefighting – A few reasonable people, plus a bunch of nuts.”
Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? FFs can’t justify their outrageous compensation when questioned by the very people who fund them, so they resort to personal attacks and insults.

I am not PS, just Curious. Really, if a citation for a vehicle code violation is a matter of public record, then the name of the offender can be published here as a public service, just as the salaries of the PS employees are. Is this possible? I'm Curious.

[Curious]

Internal Affairs Division wrote:

That is how Gary Cloutier was set up in San Diego by Steve Gordon, who called in a favor and said watch this guy while he is down there and if he sneezes crooked, book em Dano.
It's called corruption and abuse of authority. It is a felony and can get you jail time.

Was it not then a good thing that they stopped Cloutier from driving? I mean, he was heaving drunk. The alternative would have been to not keep an eye on him, and then he could have possibly killed someone and/or himself. As I recall, the story was that someone called in the fact that he was drunk as hello and trying to drive, so I doubt he was "set up", more like f****d up drunk. Don't you think?

[FF-Cops -Welfare Queens]

Trashman wrote:

Cops do have a lot of discretion. But if you or someone else choses not to obey the law because you think it is stupid, you can't complain when you get a ticket or arrested for the same. Yeah, when you friend "offers" you reefer, that is called furnishing and its a felony! Look in the rear view mirror and you might see me. Remember press hard three copies! Your seatbelt fine will now double next time you get one!!!!

The only way we will ever see you TrashDork is if we live at the Donut Shop.

[FF-Cops -Welfare Queens]

Trashman wrote:

Cops in CA have police powers throughout the state, so check you six!

No they don't you GED educated MORON.

You have police powers in one place and one place ONLY-in YOUR jurisdiction.NO WHERE ELSE.

Hey, I tell you what Barney Fife, you try pulling that BS with me outside your jurisdiction and see how fast I lay you out for the ten count and then slap a federal lawsuit on your GED educated butt.

It never fails to have some GED educated idiot cop going around talking out his butt about how he has police power everywhere he wants to. Stupid moron.

BOOM!

[FF-Cops -Welfare Queens]

Curious wrote:

<quoted text>I am not PS, just Curious. Really, if a citation for a vehicle code violation is a matter of public record, then the name of the offender can be published here as a public service, just as the salaries of the PS employees are. Is this possible? I'm Curious.

Pulbic record and invasion of privacy are two different animals.

If I had a citation for a seatbelt violation, and you started posting my name OR address, I would have a claim for invasion of privacy.

So could you post such info-sure-and then you better have a few hundred grand laying around the house for legal fees.