Celebrities That Want Legal Marijuana

Paul McCartney

August 28th, 2009 celebrates the 45th anniversary of the day that The Beatles first sampled marijuana at the bequest of Bob Dylan. The story goes that Dylan offered them a joint and had to be told by an embarrassed Brian Epstein that the boys had never sampled pot before. “But what about your song, ‘I get high, I get high, I get high’” proclaimed Bob referring to the chorus in ‘I Want to Hold Your Hand’. It seems that Dylan had been unable to understand John’s Liverpudlian tones and had misheard the chorus ‘I can’t hide, I can’t hide, I can’t hide’. It was that night that the boys first sampled marijuana and so taken was Paul with the drug that he instantly penned the song ‘Got To Get You Into My Life’, which John Lennon later proclaimed was Paul McCartney at his best. Paul has since heavily campaigned to make marijuana legal even going as far as to take out a full page advert in the London Times in 1967 calling for the legalisation of the drug.

Megan Fox

Megan Fox, the Transformers actress has recently admitted that she enjoys smoking cannabis and hopes that marijuana is made legal. In a recent GQ Interview she stated that she regularly receives flack from other people because of her views on legalising marijuana and described the US governments war on drugs as nothing more than propaganda. Megan claims to have tried a range of other drugs but states that marijuana was only one that she actually enjoyed.

Kirsten Dunst

Another Hollywood Starlet that’s also a fan of cannabis seeds is Kirsten Dunst. Kirsten has regularly stated in magazine interviews that she believes the world would be a much better place if marijuana was legal. She even agrees with fellow starlet Megan Fox that the US government’s strict view on cannabis is ridiculous. Whilst Kirsten admits to smoking cannabis, she claims that she would never overindulge in the drug, as it may hamper her creativity.

Melissa Etheridge

Melissa Etheridge turned to cannabis when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004 and now would like to see medical marijuana made legal. When chemotherapy left her feeling like death she didn’t want to turn to yet more prescription pills with their various side effects so she received a prescription for medical marijuana which is legal in the liberal state of California. She claims that the medical cannabis didn’t make her high, but actually allowed her to function normally. Melissa didn’t smoke the legal marijuana but instead used it to make cannabutter which she spread over food dishes. The state of California has over 200,000 registered to receive legal medical marijuana and with celebrities such as Hugh Hefner’s 19-year old twin girlfriends, Kristina and Karissa recently seen emerging from a legal marijuana store there are issues over whether California’s drug laws are too liberal. However, with some stricter states even making the sale of cannabis seeds illegal, we’re all for California’s liberalisation.         

The Legal Issues Behind Medical Marijuana in Colorado

Medical Marijuana is a term used to denote the administration of Marijuana for “debilitating” medical conditions such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, epilepsy, etc., or severe conditions with symptoms that can be eased by use of the drug – severe pain and nausea, seizures, multiple sclerosis, et al. There are important clauses and rules in effect since the year 2000 that the Colorado Marijuana Clinic wants every medical marijuana patient to be aware of, lest the patient or its parent/primary caregiver do something unlawful and punishable.

Before a patient can start the use of cannabis, it is necessary to ask his physician for three things:

1. The risks and benefits of medical use of Marijuana, especially in relation to the patient’s debilitating condition.

2. A written documentation signed by the physician stating that the patient has a debilitating condition that calls for the medical administration of Marijuana.

3. A patient should also never procure marijuana unless he receives the registry identification card.

Without procuring the above, no patient should self-medicate himself with Marijuana, according to the laws of the state, states the Colorado Marijuana Clinic. The section does not provide protection to any patient or caregiver to acquire, sell, manufacture and produce, distribute or dispense, or transport Marijuana for any use which is not medical.

A patient and his caregivers should also remember that Marijuana seized from them by local authorities should immediately be returned once the district attorney proves that the patient is entitled to such protection by the amendment. Confidentiality is a primary concern among many patients, and under not circumstances will any medical facility, marijuana dispensary or the Colorado Marijuana Clinic will reveal the patient’s names and identity.

Once a patient’s conditions are not debilitating anymore, he is required to return his identification card. No patient my posses more than two ounces of medical marijuana, and no more than six marijuana plants, with three or fewer flowering with mature seeds. Use of Marijuana is strictly prohibited in view of the general public or in public places. For patients under the age of eighteen, two physicians have to diagnose debilitating medical conditions. Notwithstanding all of this, the amendment was to provide medical patients with reprieve from their conditions, and most clauses can be “bent”, if and only if the patient’s medically debilitating conditions required so.

5 Countries Where Marijuana is Legal (Almost!)

Marijuana users have always sought legal loopholes in countries where it is illegal to own or smoke it. Many people choose to buy marijuana seeds (which is legal in many places), then grow and smoke their own (which is not!) But every marijuana smoker has probably dreamed at one point or another of living in a country where marijuana is legal – or at least where the “rules” concerning possession are so lax that it is effectively legal.

Most people know about Holland’s famously relaxed laws regarding marijuana (which is why it doesn’t feature on the list below!) While no other country has achieved such high profile recognition for making marijuana legal, a number of places around the world have quietly relaxed their laws concerning possession for personal use. In most of these countries, possession still remains technically illegal, but penalties are not enforced if you are within certain guidelines – this is known as decriminalisation.

So, if living in a country where marijuana possession isn’t punished by the law sounds like heaven, here are five places you should consider emigrating!

Argentina

After a recent court debate about whether or not to punish those who buy and grow marijuana, Argentina has effectively made marijuana legal if it is in small quantities for personal use. A leading judge in Argentina even decided that it was “unconstitutional” to legislate against marijuana possession! Those who buy marijuana seeds and grow their own are also leniently treated, so long as they are growing a small number of plants. The country is also notably supportive of several medical marijuana programs.

Australia

Before you go booking a one way ticket to Sydney, make sure you do your research. Different regions have different rules, but Western Australia, Southern Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Queensland have all decriminalised marijuana to a certain degree. In Tasmania, Victoria and Queensland, police have taken to “ticketing” those caught with less than 50 grams of marijuana rather than arresting them, and Western and Southern Australia have instituted on the spot fines for minor possession rather than official warnings or arrests.

Belgium

Since 2003, the Belgian government has made the possession and use of marijuana legal under the following conditions:

• The amount possessed is 5 grams or less
• You are over 18
• You do not smoke in the presence of minors
• You do not smoke in public

You can buy marijuana seeds and grow them in Belgium without penalty – however, you are only allowed to own one female plant. The purchase and sale of marijuana is still illegal, but most Belgians simply get their marijuana in Holland.

Colombia

Colombia, has had relaxed laws concerning drug possession for over ten years. Possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana, one gram of cocaine and one gram of heroin is not considered to be illegal, although things may change – recent conservative governments have considered repealing this law to combat Colombia’s drug culture.

Nepal

Unlike the other countries on this list, Nepal doesn’t have an actual decriminalisation policy towards marijuana – it’s rather that the laws they have are hardly ever enforced! Marijuana used to be legal in Nepal, making it a hippy Mecca in the 1960’s and early 70’s. It has been illegal since 1973 – not that you’d notice. Marijuana is widely available and used, especially by Nepalese holy men. Note that smuggling and growing are punished, but possession and personal use rarely are – if the police catch you smoking they will stop you, but only to collect a small bribe!