The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that federal officials may arrest and prosecute medical marijuana users and providers even in states where it is legal. The decision in Gonzales v. Raich returns California and other Western states to the situation that held before plaintiffs Angel Raich and Diane Monson won a 2003 injunction at the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco barring federal officials from raiding or prosecuting medical marijuana patients and providers in California and other medical marijuana states within the jurisdiction of the appeals court. In Monday's ruling, the court overturned the 9th Circuit, holding the Constitution's interstate commerce clause could be employed to allow the federal government to claim jurisdiction over medical marijuana through the Controlled Substances Act.

Upwards of 5,000 people gathered on Saturday June 4th to celebrate the Ohio Hempfest on the South Oval of The Ohio State University Campus. It was a lower turnout of festival goers than in recent years, which organizer Phil DeSenze claims was due in part to the campus police?s demands for security costs. This year was the first that student organizers faced extensive mandatory police costs amounting to $2,850.

Students for Sensible Drug Policy named the OSU administration and campus police chief as defendants in an emergency Supreme Court filing last spring when OSU "canceled" the event four days before it was scheduled. With scathing criticism of OSU?s attempt to squash the annual festival, Ohio Supreme Court Judge A. Marbley awarded SSDP a temporary restraining order so that last year's Hempfest could proceed.

On May 26th, the Ohio Reclamation Commission upheld the granting of a permit allowing coal mining under and adjacent to Dysart Woods, one of Ohio?s last ancient forests. The area has been designated as a National Natural Landmark by the federal government, and as an ?Area Unsuitable for Mining? by the State of Ohio.

The Buckeye Forest Council denounced the commission?s decision saying they ignored evidence proving that the permit is illegal and will harm Dysart Woods.

?The Commission?s ruling to allow the mining beneath the old-growth forest at Dysart to go forward demonstrates beyond a shadow of a doubt that the system set up to safeguard Ohio?s environment and public lands for the citizens of Ohio is broken,? said Susan Heitker, executive coordinator of the Buckeye Forest Council. ?The Buckeye Forest Council could not have shown more clearly that the permit issued to Ohio Valley Coal Company is illegal and will harm Dysart Woods.?

Cincinnati, OH. Close to fifty grassroots leaders from around Ohio showed up for a three-hour interactive seminar presented by author, Peter Block, from his Civic Engagement Series. Block is an engaging public speaker who has published six books. The free event was sponsored by independent candidate John Eastman for Secretary of State, the only candidate in any Ohio race with a strong and well-articulated election reform platform.

The day-long seminar broke for about 75 minutes for a varied and well-prepared buffet, assisted by four hard-working teenagers. The afternoon session provided attendees with practical application of the principles raised in “Changing the Nature of the Conversation.” Note-taking was replaced with a 32-page booklet, the cover of which captures an older African American woman indicating her unity and demanding her voice be heard. Block reframes George Lakoff’s “debate” to a conversation, with questions.

Block breaks down civic conversations into six areas, which adequately represent the stages of activism, but

Mr. Wasserman:  

Thank you so very much for this article! I remember being stunned by the revelation that Kissinger had delayed the war so Nixon could be elected. I was furious! I knew many of the young men who were killed in that war, but never in my life time (72 Years old) would I ever have dreamed our own country could be divided so deliberately by the methods of one man as much as Karl Rove has. But here we are!  

When George W. was a candidate, we believed the country would see through this phony. Why couldn't they see he was and still is only a fake Wizard behind a curtain?  

I was appalled and still am, that a Limbaugh could be taken seriously. He also has disrupted our strong moral values. We no longer treat each other with respect. You are either red or blue. to one another. We have been compromised. Ethics, integrity and honesty have been trashed. Look at  corporate America.  

Plamegate holds some promise.  On this little dirty trick, Rove has just stepped in his own "Turd " cow pad and this time he won't be able to get rid of the stink.  

Keep up the good work. I'll look forward to your next article.