Tag: terry branstad
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Timeline of Events So Far: #FreeBenton
Benton Mackenzie has been found guilty. Sentencing is August 28th. The Governor, the Supreme Court, OR the Legislature can step in and save this man’s life at any time. Here’s an attempt at explaining what has happened thus far: 2005: Iowa Supreme Court denies medical necessity defense in Bonjour v. Iowa, 694 N.W.2d 511 (Iowa…
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Benton Mackenzie trial postponed. Notes from court this morning:
9:19 am: All rise. 9:20 am: Courtroom #4 is packed to the brim. Courtroom #3 is where County Attorney’s office told me to go. Judge: Asks if defense attorney would like to address court. DA: Says Mackenzie is hallucinating, unable to sit in chair, medication on way, phone call to Charles Mackenzie has medicine on…
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Christian Talk Show Hosts Discuss Medical Cannabis in Iowa on “View From a Pew,” 99.3 FM Boone, Iowa
View From a Pew is talking about medical cannabis again! Video is below. Follow WeedPress on Facebook for more. See also: Iowa Christian Talk Show Host Prays For Medical Cannabis — Urges Iowa Legislature, Christian Leaders to “Do your research.” God made cannabis for a reason, and science shows the recently discovered endocannabinoid system to…
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![[VIDEO] Heated Discussion on Floor of Iowa Senate Last Tuesday: A Glimmer of Hope for Medical Cannabis?](https://weedpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/partisan-poiltics.jpg?w=308)
[VIDEO] Heated Discussion on Floor of Iowa Senate Last Tuesday: A Glimmer of Hope for Medical Cannabis?
Last Tuesday, multiple Senators from both sides of the aisle got into a quibble on the floor of the Iowa Senate. Click here to view the video in the Iowa Senate archives. Discussion begins at 27:35 of the video. Republicans accused Senator Bolkcom of being disingenuous with his leadership on this issue, while Senator Bolkcom…
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VIDEO: Iowa Republican Caucus Discusses Medical Cannabis at Polk County Convention
Today’s Polk County GOP convention discussed supporting medical cannabis. Video is below. See also: Live Blog: Polk County GOP Convention Follow WeedPress on Facebook for more.
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Iowa Republicans Show Historic Support For Medical Cannabis — Senate Minority Leader Bill Dix says “We’re very open to those discussions.”
Busy week. I’m a bit behind in my blogging — follow WeedPress on Facebook for more upcoming articles. This is, in my opinion, the top story of the past week. From The Gazette on Tuesday: “Senate [Minority] Leader Sen. Bill Dix, R-Shell Rock, said Republicans aren’t responsible for blocking the legislation. “We’re very open to…
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“The Governor supports medical cannabis, because that is the official position of his administration”
While Governor Branstad understandably opposes loosely regulated states like California, Branstad’s administration officially supports medical cannabis. If that confuses you, read on. Longtime cannabis activist Carl Olsen opines: George McMahon is one of two Iowans who legally use medical cannabis. George is pictured here outside of the Board hearing in Mason City, Iowa, as he…
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Iowa Cannabis Activists Find Success At Caucuses, Advance Medical Cannabis Resolutions To County Conventions — Bipartisan Supporters Elected as Delegates
Here’s my report about the Iowa Caucuses last Tuesday: Republican mayor of West Des Moines Steve Gaer , with daughter Margaret, who has a severe form of epilepsy. Steve and Sally want cannabis legalized for their daughter as recommended by the Iowa Board of Pharmacy in 2010, which heard testimony from former chair of the…
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Iowan with MS to Iowa Legislature: “It is your job to assist, not obstruct, MS patients and their decision to improve the quality of their lives”
For information on how to submit a medical cannabis resolution at tonight’s Iowa caucus, please see Iowa Caucuses Tonight at 7 pm: How To Submit Medical Cannabis Resolution. Here’s a testimonial from an Iowan with multiple sclerosis: “With MS, the body’s energy is used up by the immune system. For 24 hours a day, the…
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Iowa Pastor: “As a member of the clergy…I hope that Iowa will legalize doctor prescribed cannabis”
For information on how to submit a medical cannabis resolution at tonight’s Iowa caucus, please see Iowa Caucuses Tonight at 7 pm: How To Submit Medical Cannabis Resolution. Here’s a testimonial from an Iowa pastor: Over 1,000 Iowans have signed this petition to support medical cannabis. If you haven’t signed yet, click this picture for…
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Iowa Caucuses Tonight at 7 pm: How To Submit Medical Cannabis Resolution
Voting is great. Caucusing is better. Go caucus. We’re all in this together. Last week’s post, Guide to Iowa Caucuses: Becoming a Delegate, and Introducing Medical Cannabis Resolutions, got a decent amount of shares on the social media sites. Let’s see if that translates into grassroots action tonight. Follow the above link for info on…
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Legislative Session Underway: Top Cannabis Stories Around the State
I haven’t posted in over a week now as I’ve been spending most of my time on the phone or computer talking with people. This activism thing is a full time job these days, with no pay, little to no thanks, and a lot of headaches. I love this job. Here’s some of my favorite…
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![[VIDEO] Iowa City Public Library: A Conversation about Medical Marijuana in Iowa — November 19th, 2013](https://weedpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/iowa-city-hearing.png?w=961)
[VIDEO] Iowa City Public Library: A Conversation about Medical Marijuana in Iowa — November 19th, 2013
If you were unable to attend the medical cannabis hearings around the state over the past few weeks, not to worry — video of the Iowa City hearing is available online here. Huge thanks to Iowa City Cable TV for producing this video! Click the picture to be taken to the video courtesy of Iowa…
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November Sets New Record for WeedPress As Patients Continue to Send Letters About Their Struggles
Last month saw more media attention on the issue of medical cannabis than I’ve ever seen — and it’s mostly due to the patients that have been pushing this issue and coming forward. Senator Bolkcom said we needed to gather patient testimonials, and patients have responded since I put the call out on the Iowa…
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West Des Moines Mayor’s Wife on Iowa Public Radio: “None of these children will ever drive a car or fly an airplane. They just need help for their seizures.”
Meet Steve and Sally Gaer. The Gaer family. Photo source: http://www.gaerformayor.com Steve Gaer is the Mayor of West Des Moines. Steve and Sally attended last night’s medical cannabis discussion at the downtown Des Moines Public Library (see Channel 5 News coverage of the event here.) Last Monday, Sally Gaer called into Iowa Public Radio’s River…
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Anonymous Iowan With Rheumatoid Arthritis: “2 to 3 hits can make the difference between a restless night of RLS and a decent nights sleep.”
Sent yesterday: “I am a 51 year old woman with what my doctors describe as severe rheumatoid arthritis. I have tried most of the known drugs on the market. Celebrex, Cymbalta — countless others. They all have long term side effects to the heart and other organs. Not to mention side effects like mood changes,…
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Iowan Quadriplegic Letter to Editor in Ottumwa Courier: “Branstad, Please Use The Heart God Gave You”
From yesterday’s Ottumwa Courier Letter To The Editor: “To Gov. Terry Branstad of Iowa: Please use the heart that God gave you. I am a senior citizen who is suffering needlessly because you have outlawed the only substance that can take away my horrible pain and discomfort. Pharmaceutical narcotics are ineffective for my condition. I…
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How to Win Medical Marijuana in Iowa, Part 1: Distractivism Issues
I’ve decided to run a series of articles outlining the steps needed to get medical marijuana passed in Iowa. When the country thinks of “Iowa,” they think of two things: corn, and caucuses. Well, unless they’re a football fan, and then there’s the Cyclones (kidding Hawk fans). Seeing as the political reality of Iowa reflects…
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4/20 Rally at Washington DC
There is a rally going on! If there’s ever an example of how much one activist can accomplish with an idea, then is it. I first became aware of this march back when the facebook page for Overgrow the Government. Here’s some information from The rally’s website. Welcome to the official Overgrow the Government website!…
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More information: Lynnice Wedewer, cannabis cancer patient
I’ve posted some of Lynnice’s recent media interviews on here before. Now, she has her own website! Check it out…lots of information. Lynnice plans on speaking at the 2011 Iowa Global Marijuana march. For more information, check the Facebook age for the event! As always, I’ll post about what happens on May 7th here on…
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SSDP’s Justin Kander: Man cures cancer with cannabis successfully
I met Justin in Washington DC in early February while attending CPAC 2011 to volunteer for Governor Gary Johnson. Justin has established himself as a respectable activist in Maryland. Here’s his guest column in the The Diamondback Online from the University of Maryland. Diamondbackonline.com article . The Diamondback > Opinion Guest column: Alternate treatment By…
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Weed’s the next big economic boom. Everyone selling weed is broke. What’s going on?
Two recent media articles have given me some food for thought. Let me know what you think. Something isn’t adding up… No money to be made? Tons of money to be made? Definitely does not add up. We’re broke as a country. How does this make you feel? Send comments to jkarimi2007@hotmail.com.
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Action needed by Friday!
The Senate Human Resources now has only until Friday, March 4 to act on the bill, before we have to wait until next January to try to move it again. Please, will you use this action link to write to all the members of the committee, and tell your story about how medical marijuana has…
WeedPress: The Paper Trail 