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Cheech and Chong help make Maine town councilor's video of cannabis calming a boy's seizure go viral
Cheech and Chong help make Maine town councilor's video of cannabis calming a boy's seizure go viral
By Seth Koenig, BDN Staff • November 27, 2017 4:29 pm
The comic duo Cheech and Chong, who rose to fame in the 1970s and 80s with routines centered around smoking marijuana, shared an apparent Facebook post by a Standish town councilor advocating for the medicinal use of the drug.
With the famous comedians' boost, the video post, which seems to show cannabis oil calming a boy's seizure, has been viewed nearly 13 million times.
The original post was apparently made by Standish Town Councilor Peter Starostecki, who last month was the only councilor to vote against extending a moratorium on retail marijuana shops for another six months.
He was also reportedly one of two to vote against a more permanent ban on Nov. 14. ...
Hundreds of supportive commenters began weighing in after the post was shared, first by a popular Medical Cannabis page, then by Cheech and Chong. ...
Richard "Cheech" Marin and Tommy Chong starred in the 1978 cult classic movie "Up In Smoke," among other films and comedy albums. Marin has gone on to star in the CBS television police drama "Nash Bridges," as well as a number of popular animated movies, such as "The Lion King" and "Cars."
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https://bangordailynews.com/2017/11/27/health/cheech-and-chong-help-make-town-councilors-video-of-cannabis-calming-a-boys-seizure-go-viral/
Standish moves toward ban on retail pot
By Matt Junker -
STANDISH — The Town Council has voted to advance an ordinance change that would ban retail marijuana establishments and social clubs in Standish. ...
Counc ilor Isabel Higgins, who chairs the ordinance subcommittee, voted against the proposal, as did Councilor Peter Starostecki, who also serves on that committee. ...
Starostecki was the lone councilor to vote against the marijuana moratorium extension in October, suggesting that the town could benefit from economic development if it allowed retail marijuana businesses to operate there. He said he has worked on draft ordinances to make that possible.
Starostecki appeared frustrated during the discussion.
"I'm insulted that you would go ahead and pass this ban," he said, adding that the ordinances he drafted were currently in legal review. ...
http://news.keepmecurrent.com/standish-moves-toward-ban-on-retail-pot/
Nibble on these Maine political morsels before the big meal
By Michael Shepherd
... A tribal state representative became a Green and says he'll run for Maine's 2nd District. Non-voting Rep. Henry John Bear of the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians became the second Green in the Legislature on Tuesday. On Wednesday, Bear said in a news release that he'll kick off a run for Maine's 2nd Congressional District later this week, saying he would work toward a "safer and more inclusive world community." U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin, a Republican, already has nine other challengers. Lucas St. Clair and Jared Golden are his most likely Democratic challengers, but a libertarian and two unaffiliated candidates are also running longshot bids. ...
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http://stateandcapitol.bangordailynews.com/2017/11/22/nibble-on-these-maine-political-morsels-before-the-big-meal/
School Board chairwoman: Schools impact 1 in 6 Portland residents
By Kate Irish Collins on November 21, 2017
PORTLAND — A free, public education is essential to our system of government, School Board Chairwoman Anna Trevorrow said in remarks prepared for her State of the Schools address Monday ...
In paraphrasing Thomas Jefferson, Trevorrow said, "Educating the public was the only sure way to guarantee the preservation of our liberty."
"Public education remains a path for our students to achieve their dreams, no matter how humble their beginnings," she said. "Without a free public education, there would be an even greater divide between the educated and uneducated, the rich and poor, the strong and weak."
Overall, Trevorrow said, "public education helps students become better global citizens, ensuring our country's global competitiveness. This is especially true in Portland, Maine's largest and most diverse school district."
Trevorrow also thanked Superintendent of Schools Xavier Botana and his staff, her fellow School Board members, and everyone who works for the School Department.
"I know I speak for (them all) when I say that we do the work that we do because we believe in the importance of public education," Trevorrow said ...
In addition, the School Board is in the process of approving a transgender student policy, which Trevorrow said is "another important next step for inclusion and equity." ...
She said it takes a community to commit to preparing students to succeed in college and careers.
"We are deeply grateful to Portland for being that generous and supportive community," Trevorrow said. "… We strive every day to give this community – its residents, taxpayers, voters and elected officials alike – a grand sense of pride in its public education system."
Anna Trevorrow, chairwoman of the Portland School Board, presented the annual State of the Schools address to the City Council Monday.
http://www.theforecaster.net/school-board-chairwoman-schools-impact-1-in-6-portland-residents/
Jill Stein joins push to save ranked-choice voting in Maine
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Former presidential candidate Jill Stein is joining a push to get Maine to enact ranked-choice voting.
The ranked-choice system is designed to let voters rank candidates on ballots. Proponents say it eliminates spoilers and ensures majority support for the winner.
Voters chose to enact ranked-choice voting in Maine with a 2016 referendum vote. But the system may never be put in place because of delays imposed by state lawmakers who say it conflicts with the Maine Constitution.
Stein ... sent out a mass email on Wednesday urging supporters in Maine to sign petitions that are circulating in support of the veto.
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https://www.apnews.com/d61e6d56dc2e41a6a59811a13ebc6c11/Jill-Stein-joins-push-to-save-ranked-choice-voting-in-Maine
Watch how medical cannabis instantly alleviates this boy's seizures
Watch How Medical Cannabis Instantly Alleviates This Boy's Seizures
Scott O'Reilly
It is tough enough seeing a young person battling a serious medical condition, but what if you have to fight tooth and nail to ensure that your child receives the life-changing medicine they need? ...
To begin with, the Starosteckis lived in Florida when Stefan was first diagnosed. At that time, the Sunshine state had failed to pass a medical marijuana referendum, which might have given epileptic patients like Stefan access to medical cannabis. In fact, Florida only began allowing medical marijuana in November of 2016 and its policies are still considered inadequate and restrictive by advocates of medical cannabis.
As a result, Peter's parents felt they had no choice but to move to a state that offered access to medical marijuana. They choose Maine because that state's program had been in existence for 20 years and offered (they believed) the best and most advanced medical marijuana program in the country ...
To compound matters, the Starosteckis live in a town called Standish, which wants to ban cannabis locally on Tuesday. Peter explained to me that he is on the Town Council, but as a relative newcomer he's perceived as something of an outsider. Fifty-four percent of the town's residents are with him and his family (they support allowing medical cannabis). But Peter says that some officials remain very hostile to the idea ...
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https://www.thealternativedaily.com/watch-how-medical-cannabis-instantly-alleviates-this-boys-epileptic-seizures/
Letter: 'Neither left nor right, but in front'
Letter: 'Neither Left nor Right, but in Front'
By The Forecaster on November 13, 2017
Edgar Alan Beem's engaging "What's Left of Me" a few weeks ago placed me to his left politically. As one of the principal founders of the Green Party, I daily encounter the labels "left" and "far-left." A closer look yields a different view.
For example, I am very strong for conserving. I am strong for local self-reliance. I am strong for decentralization, small business and community values, and that means I strongly oppose big government. I deplore the gospel of perpetual economic growth, the sacred mantra of every party on the conventional "left to right" political spectrum. The Greens are shocked at this. I am aghast at the callous subordination of ecological realities to greedy financial calculations. Climate change is not just a buzz word. Extinction is not just an idle threat. The lives and livelihoods of all of us, rich and poor, are now threatened as never before. A foreign policy based on military might – and shoving killing taxes on the poor and middle class to pay for it – is truly sick.
"Left" doesn't fit. I relate to Petra Kelly's vision for Green Parties, she being a key founder worldwide: "Neither Left nor Right, but in Front."
At lunch the other day, Ed Beem and I came away with a better understanding of each other's politics. Democrats and Greens could work together. Political reforms like ranked-choice voting are crucial for that to happen. More on that as opportunity offers.
John Rensenbrink
THIS LETTER APPEARED IN THE FORECASTER AND IS AVAILABLE AT THE LINK BELOW
http://www.theforecaster.net/letter-neither-left-nor-right-but-in-front/
Legislature delays and potentially repeals ranked-choice voting
The House and Senate both vote to postpone use of the system until 2021, and repeal it if the Maine Constitution isn't amended by then to address legal concerns.
Rep. Ralph Chapman, a Green Independent from Brookesville, spoke at length on the ranked-choice voting measure discussed during Monday's special session of the Legislature. Staff photo by David Leaming
AUGUSTA — A citizen-backed law that made Maine the first state to adopt a ranked-choice voting system will be delayed and possibly repealed following a series of contentious votes Monday in a special session of the Legislature.
The Senate voted 19-10 to delay the law until December 2021 – and then repeal it if a constitutional amendment hasn't been passed by then to address legal concerns raised by the Maine Supreme Judicial Court. The House held six procedural votes, then finally agreed with the Senate on a 68-63 tally. The bill now will go to Republican Gov. Paul LePage ...
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http://www.pressherald.com/2017/10/23/in-special-session-legislature-cant-break-impasse-on-ranked-choice-voting/
Green Party candidate enters Maine's governor's race
By Mal Leary • Oct 17, 2017
Green Party candidate Betsy Marsano announces her run for the Blaine House at an Augusta news conference Tuesday.
Mal Leary / Maine Public
Green Party candidate Betsy Marsano today kicked off her campaign to win the party's nomination in Maine's 2018 governor's race ...
"We are a large state and a very small community," she said, "and it is that community that I will most approach and try to work with as I go forward in this campaign." ...
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http://mainepublic.org/post/green-party-candidate-enters-maines-governors-race#stream/0
Rep. Chapman joins Maine Green Party
Can block calls for special legislative sessions
Rep. Ralph Chapman.
Penobscot Bay Press file photo
Rep. Ralph Chapman (G-Brooksville) has joined the Maine Green Party, he announced on September 20, nearly four months after unenrolling from the Democratic Party ...
"The primary reason has to do with the corporate funding," he said. "We know the problems of corporate funding in campaigns, but what most people don't see is that corporate funding corrupts the system inside the State House, as well…The party leadership is responding to the corporate lobbies that fund their ability to elect people of their party, and therefore purchase the loyalty of those people."
The Green party does not accept corporate contributions, Chapman said ...
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http://weeklypacket.com/news/2017/sep/28/rep-chapman-joins-maine-green-party/#.WgeiLheQxf8
Lawmaker's party switch gives Greens a seat in the Maine House
Lawmaker's party switch gives Greens a seat in the Maine House
By Christopher Cousins, BDN Staff • September 22, 2017 1:52 pm
Linda Coan O'Kresik | BDN
Rep. Ralph Chapman of Brookville
A Maine House of Representatives Democrat who quit the party earlier this year has announced that he has enrolled in the Maine Green Independent Party.
That makes Rep. Ralph Chapman of Brooksville the second Green Independent to serve in the Legislature's history. The only other was former Rep. John Eder of Portland, who was elected in 2002 and served two terms before losing a re-election bid in 2006 ...
"The Maine Green Independent Party offers an alternative" because it doesn't accept corporate donations, said Chapman, who is in his fourth term and will be prevented by term limits from seeking re-election. "In essence, the Maine Green Independent Party is demonstrating, by its actions, how to behave as though the Citizens' United Supreme Court decision were overturned." ...
Jon Olson of Jefferson, who co-chairs the Green Independent Party, welcomed Chapman in a written statement. He referred to the State House as a "toxic political environment."
"We hope that other legislators of either major party will consider following his lead and that new aspiring candidates will do so as well," said Olson ...
CLICK THE LINK BELOW FOR FULL TEXT OF ARTICLE
https://bangordailynews.com/2017/09/22/politics/lawmakers-party-switch-gives-greens-a-seat-in-the-maine-house/
Maine gubernatorial candidates on York County casino: Vote it down
Asked about their positions, all of the 2018 contenders who responded oppose the measure, citing better ways to help the state's economy and concerns about the campaign's backers.
By Scott ThistleStaff Writer
AUGUSTA — They may not agree on much, but the pantheon of candidates now hoping to replace Gov. Paul LePage in 2018 seem to agree that a ballot question that would give one person an exclusive chance to build Maine's third casino is a bad idea ...
Green Party candidate Betsy Marsano of Waldo also opposes the casino, saying it has the backing of wealthy developers who have made no assurances that Maine would reap any benefits.
Betsy Marsano
She also noted that voters and the Legislature have rejected efforts by Maine's Indian tribes to develop casinos and use the profits to protect their lands and waters.
"I would suggest prior to authorizing a new casino, driven by out-of-state developers, we consider empowering and enabling out Indigenous People to move forward with their plan," Marsano said.
Green Party candidate Jay Dresser Lunt and Libertarian Party candidate Richard Light could not be reached for comment.
http://www.pressherald.com/2017/09/21/maine-gubernatorial-candidates-on-york-county-casino-vote-it-down/
Green Party's Jill Stein: Our voting system is wide open for hacking
Green Party's Jill Stein: Our Voting System is Wide Open for Hacking
AMY GOODMAN: This is Democracy Now!, democracynow.org, The War and Peace Report. I'm Amy Goodman, with Juan González, as we continue with Part 2 of our conversation with Jill Stein, the former Green Party presidential candidate of 2016, of 2012 ...
JUAN GONZÁLEZ: Oh, so you're now definitively saying you were not invited to Trump Tower.
DR. JILL STEIN: No, I had no secret meetings, rendezvous. You know, I did not purchase a condo in Trump—you know, no—you know, to me, it's just like so preposterous. We are absolutely at opposite ends politically and, you know, culturally and all the rest. I find it really interesting that there is such an effort, a consistent effort, to try to demonize me and the Green Party. And I take that as a compliment that, outside of an election season, we are being perceived as a threat, as really sort of the opposition party that the—that Democrats and Republicans are very worried about, because they know that there is a political revolt taking place right now, and there's a movement that's looking for a home. And the Green Party does seem to be, you know, opening its doors ...
AMY GOODMAN: How do you respond to those who say you're a spoiler? And also, whether you have any regrets about having run?
DR. JILL STEIN: Right. So, my response is to say that—do the numbers, because Greens don't just vote for Democrats. The numbers are very clear. Sixty-one percent of Greens would stay home if they didn't have a Green to vote for. There were several exit polls that showed that. And conversation with Greens on the street will tell you that, as well. And of the remaining portion of Greens who would come out to vote, a substantial number of them would have voted for Donald Trump and not Democrat in the first place. So, wishing pigs fly doesn't make them fly. You can wish that Greens had voted Democrat, but they wouldn't vote Democrat. If you apply those numbers—and it's something like 15 percent of my votes might have been the differential applied to Hillary Clinton—doesn't make the difference anywhere.
Do I have regrets? You know, I always said that I would feel terrible if Donald Trump got elected, and I would feel terrible if Hillary Clinton got elected. But I feel most terrible about a political system that tried to shove two choices down our throats that people utterly rejected to, the most distrusted and disliked candidates in our history. We need a political system that can do justice to our need for, you know, an economy, a healthcare system, a climate and a world that we can survive in ...
And the bottom line here is that the solution to a compromised democracy, a democracy on life support, is not to suppress the voices of political opposition. Opposition is essential for democracy to function. And if all of the people who are bent out of shape about the "spoiled election," instead of trying to silence political opposition, were just working to create a ranked-choice voting system in your state, that lets you rank your choices—you don't have to worry about actually voting for who you want to vote for—the whole problem would go away. And then—you know, and then we could actually have a political system that reflects our deeply felt needs.
AMY GOODMAN: Explain what you mean, ranked-choice voting system.
DR. JILL STEIN: So, it's a voting system. The state of Maine just passed it in the last election by voter referendum. Instead of just picking one candidate for president, or it could be for mayor or governor, it lets you rank your choices. And if your first choice loses, your vote is automatically reassigned to your second choice. So that way, you know, you can vote for an independent or third-party candidate or an underdog who really reflects the way that you feel, knowing that if that candidate loses, your vote is automatically reassigned to your second choice.
So we can actually solve this problem. Right now, people are being intimidated into thinking they have to vote their fears. But the politics of fear isn't working out so well for us. It's basically producing everything that we were afraid of. So, you know, we can fix the voting system. And I would say, resist the temptation, you know, that tells you that you have to silence yourself, we've got to be good little boys and girls, you know, and just vote for the political system that is throwing us under the bus. Instead, we can change that voting system and be able to open it up and actually have real choice.
CLICK BELOW FOR FULL TEXT OF INTERVIEW
https://www.democracynow.org/2017/8/4/green_party_s_jill_stein_our
Jill Stein says she played a 'critical role' in 2016 election
by Daniel Chaitin | Jul 1, 2017, 3:00 PM
She discussed frustration with the election's two leading candidates from the major parties, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
Jill Stein said Saturday that she played a "really critical" role in last year's election.
The Green Party presidential nominee, who received about 1 percent of the popular vote in last year's contest, was asked on MSNBC to explain how she perceived her role in the election.
"Really critical," was her response. She elaborated on that point by discussing frustration with the election's two leading candidates from the major parties, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump ...
"Really critical," was her response. She elaborated on that point by discussing frustration with the election's two leading candidates from the major parties, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump...
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/jill-stein-says-she-played-a-critical-role-in-2016-election/article/2627636
Greens' Stein faults two-party system
Greens' Stein Faults Two-Party System
Some Democrats blame Jill Stein for "siphoning off" crucial votes from Hillary Clinton and thus helping to elect Donald Trump, but Stein insists that the two-party straitjacket is the real enemy of democracy, reports Dennis J Bernstein.
By Dennis J Bernstein
Former Green Party presidential candidate, Dr. Jill Stein, remains undaunted in her belief that the only real and significant change in U.S. politics will come through a third party that can finally break the headlock that the Democrats and Republicans hold on the electoral system ...
Jill Stein: ...
And even this issue of spoiling elections, and splitting the votes. Well, hello, there's a system called ranked-choice voting which Greens have been promoting forever. The state of Maine just passed it by voter referendum.
[California Governor] Jerry Brown just vetoed it [in California]. There was enabling legislation that was passed by the Legislature and Jerry Brown vetoed it because Democrats are at war with the liberation of our votes. They rely on extortion. They rely on intimidation, and fear, in order to hold people back. Why do they do that? Because they know that they can't earn your vote.
Ranked-choice voting calls their bluff. It allows you to actually rank your choices. If your first choice loses, your vote is automatically reassigned to your second choice. That's a win-win on our democracy. There are win-wins for every issue that faces us.
Right now we're looking at a lose-lose [situation], with this corporate-sponsored duopoly. The Democrats might give us ten more years than the Republicans would, of survival, under Democratic policies. But it's a sinking ship, with the duopoly. It's time to get off the ship. Our lives depend on getting off that ship and launching the lifeboat. We've got it, let's make it happen.
CLICK ON LINK BELOW TO VIEW FULL ARTICLE
https://consortiumnews.com/2017/03/15/greens-stein-faults-two-party-system/