I don't play much here.
Unknown "Maria " Surprised - 16 years, 6 months, 27 days ago

Yesterday, California's medical marijuana patients and caregivers were dealt a victory when the Assembly Committee on Public Safety passed A.B. 2743. The bill, authored by Assembly Member Lori Saldaña (D-San Diego) and spearheaded by MPP, would direct state and local law enforcement officers not to assist in federal raids on medical marijuana patients and providers. The 4-3 committee vote to allows the bill to continue on to the appropriations committee.


Thanks to all of you who took action by writing or calling members of the committee in support of this legislation. Your participation is crucial to our efforts to provide further protections for California’s medical marijuana patients.

This victory is significant because local and state officials have assisted the federal war on patients and providers in more than three-dozen cases, including by calling in federal agents. Despite intense opposition from some segments of the law enforcement community, seriously ill and injured patients prevailed when the committee voted to move the bill forward.


Our efforts to improve protections for patients and caregivers are funded entirely by our supporters. MPP has retained a skilled lobbying firm in Sacramento and has a full-time California organizer. If you are able to, please make a donation today to help fund this effort.

The committee heard testimony from MPP’s Aaron Smith; raided dispensary operator Addison DeMoura; Deborah Pottle, a disabled former corrections officer who received her medicine from DeMoura’s collective; and Dr. Mollie Fry and her husband Dale Schafer, who have both been sentenced to five years in federal prison for medical marijuana. Several patients and caregivers from the Sacramento area also attended to show their support for the bill.

This legislation is supported by MPP, the American Civil Liberties Union, Americans for Safe Access (ASA), California Public Defenders Association, Californians for Tax Reform, the Drug Policy Alliance, and the Lambda Letters Project.


A.B. 2743 is now in the Assembly Committee on Appropriations. Please watch for future alerts on how you can help make sure state money isn’t spent to undermine state law and to imprison patients and providers.

If you want to get more involved in our efforts in California, contact MPP California organizer Aaron Smith.


Sincerely,


Karen O’Keefe
Assistant Director of State Policies
Marijuana Policy Project
Unknown "Maria " Surprised - 16 years, 8 months, 12 days ago

The Seven Gods of Luck
In the Japanese language, the seven gods of luck are called Shichi Fukujin, which means "seven happiness beings".

Benten
The Goddess of luck, love, eloquence, wisdom and the fine arts. Benten is the patron of the geishas and the art folks. She is shown with eight arms riding on a dragon.

Bishamon
Bishamon is the patron of the warriors. Therefore he is shown in full armor with a spear in his hand.

Daikoku
He is the god of wealth and the patron of the farmers. His attributes are a sack of rice and rats and he is shown as a fat man (for prosperity and wealth).

Ebisu
Ebisu is the son of Daikoku and the patron of the fishermen. He is shown with a huge carp and a rod for fishing. He was worshipped by the fishermen and had a temple in the coastal region near Osaka.

Fukurokuju
The god of wisdom, good luck and longevity. He is shown with a very high forehead. Mostly he is accompanied with a stag, a symbol of longevity, sometimes by a tortoise and a crane.

Hotei
Like Daikoku, he stands for wealth. But he is also the god of laughter and happiness by being content with what you have. He is depicted as a laughing fat man with a bag of rice over his shoulders and kids. On some pictures, he is shown sitting in a cart drawn by children.

Jurojin
The god of longevity and happiness in your old days. The attributes in his company are a tortoise and a crane. And he is depicted with a smile on his face. Another happy old man!
http://www.artelino.com/articles/japanese_gods_and_goddesses.asp
Unknown "Maria " Surprised - 16 years, 10 months, 9 days ago