Ryan from Springville Online talks about religion and marijuana
Posted in: General Info, Opinion | Comments (0)
As a Utah native, born and raised in Utah county and as a person who grew up around a lot of prescription drugs, alcohol and tobacco as well, I later experimented with marijuana as a teen and young adult.
My experimentation with marijuana got me in big trouble as a teenager and a young adult.
Some of my consequences were.
1. Loss of my freedom
2. Loss of my money
3. Loss of my job
4. Loss of my friends
5. Loss of my family (in regards to a relationship)
6. Loss of my home
7. Denial for getting into the military
8. A life long drug record
The consequences above are a fair warning to anyone who thinks that they should try marijuana.
Other consequences can include the police busting down your door and possibly shooting your dog, your family members and you, which happens almost daily in the USA.
But this topic is about marijuana and religion. Since Utah is a borderline theocratic state, and 80% of the legislators in Utah are LDS (despite that less than 60% of the population is LDS). I decided to illustrate how marijuana/cannabis/ganja usage is not in conflict with religion, not even the LDS faith as the fundamental level.
First of all, lets go over Bible scriptures and doctrines.
1. Genesis 1:29, basically the very first page of the Bible.
King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.
That scripture should be self descriptive. Nothing more needs to be added to that.
2. Deuteronomy 14:26 KJV
And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the Lord thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household,
3. Then we get into something a little more complicated, which is kaneh bosm .
This Hebrew word comes from Exodus 30:23, and is a part of the ingredients for the anointing oil of Moses.
Not many scholars dispute that this is a reference to cannabis/marijuana/hemp/ganja.
But for those who reject this idea. I refer you do a scholar named who has written about the Holy anointing oil.
In his book The Living Torah: A new Translation Based On Traditional Jewish Sources
Aryeh Kaplan points out that historically based on many sources and Septuagint readings, this Hebrew word means “cannabis”.
In 1 Timothy 4:1-5 we see how the Pharisees were acting like the prohibitionists of today:
1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
(definition of meat in the Bible, look up the verse quoted earlier from Genesis 1:29, plants equal meat in many Bible verses)
Further more we can see how LDS leaders and LDS doctrine evolved to be much like the Pharisees and Sagisees in their sect of religion.
At first tobacco and alcohol were consumed and even sold by Joseph Smith and many of the early founders, even Brigham Young.
From “mormontruth.blogspot.com”
Joseph Smith’s Bar
In Nauvoo Joseph Smith sold liquor. The following ordinance relating to this matter was passed in 1843, Joseph Smith being mayor of Nauvoo at the time:
Ordinance on the Personal Sale of Liquors.
Section 1. Be it ordained by the City Council of Nauvoo, that the Mayor of the city be and is hereby authorized to sell or give spirits of any quantity as he in his wisdom shall judge to be for the health and comfort or convenience of such travelers or other persons as shall visit his house from time to time.
Passed December 12, 1843.
Joseph Smith, Mayor.
Willard Richards, Recorder. (History of the Church, vol. 6, p.111).Joseph Smith’s own son related the following:
About 1842, a new and larger house was built for us … and a sign was put out giving it the dignified name of “The Nauvoo Mansion” …Mother was to be installed as landlady, and soon made a trip to Saint Louis….
When she returned Mother found installed in the keeping-room of the hotel – that is to say, the main room where the guests assembled and where they were received upon arrival – a bar, with counter, shelves, bottles, glasses and other paraphernalia customary for a fully-equipped tavern bar, and Porter Rockwell in charge as tender.
She was very much surprised and disturbed over this arrangement,… “Joseph,” she asked, “What is the meaning of that bar in this house? … How does it look,” she asked, “for the spiritual head of a religious body to be keeping a hotel in which is a room fitted out as a liquor-selling establishment?”
He reminded her that all taverns had their bars at which liquor was sold or dispensed….
Mother’s reply came emphatically clear, though uttered quietly: “Well, Joseph,… I will take my children and go across to the old house and stay there, for I will not have them raised up under such conditions as this arrangement imposes upon us, nor have them mingle with the kind of men who frequent such a place. You are at liberty to make your choice; either that bar goes out of the house, or we will!”
It did not take Father long to make the choice, for he replied immediately, “Very well, Emma; I will have it removed at once” – and he did (The Saints’ Herald, January 22, 1935, p.110).
Brigham Young admits to Word of Wisdom problems:
Brigham Young declared on September 27, 1845: “… I am and ever intend to be the Master of my passions … some may say that I am in the habits of taking snuff and tea yet I am no slave to these passions and can leave these off if they make my brother affronted….” In 1854 Brigham Young drank coffee on a regular basis (see Mormonism – Shadow or Reality? p.408). On April 7, 1867, Brigham Young acknowledged in the Tabernacle that he had chewed tobacco for many years: “… it is not my privilege to drink liquor, neither is it my privilege to eat tobacco. Well, bro. Brigham, have you not done it? Yes, for many years, but I ceased its habitual practice. I used it for toothache; now I am free from that pain, and my mouth is never stained with tobacco” (Journal of Discourses, vol. 12, p.404).
The Mormon Church clearly sold and bought liquor, tobacco, coffee, etc.
Stanley P. Hirshon writes:
In Utah the church dominated the liquor trade. In 1856 Caleb Green freighted six tons of tobacco, rum, whiskey, brandy, tea, and coffee across the plains for Young, and two years later The New York Times reported that the “principal drinking-saloon and gambling-room are in Salt Lake House, a building under the control of the Church and the immediate superintendency of Heber C. Kimball.” …Young tried his best to rid himself of rival brewers (The Lion of the Lord, p.285).
On June 7, 1863, Brigham Young acknowledged publicly that he had built a distillery:
“When there was no whisky to be had here, and we needed it for rational purposes, I built a house to make it in. When the distillery was almost completed and in good working order, an army was heard of in our vicinity and I shut up the works; I did not make a gallon of whisky at my works, because it came here in great quantities, more than was needed” (Journal of Discourses, vol. 10, p.206).
In his sermons Brigham Young occasionally discussed the idea of Mormons producing their own tea, coffee, tobacco and whiskey and making money from it:
You know that we all profess to believe the “Word of Wisdom.” There has been a great deal said about it…. We as Latter-day Saints, care but little about tobacco: but as “Mormons” we use a great deal…. The traders and passing emigration have sold tons of tobacco, besides what is sold here regularly. I say that $60,000 annually is the smallest figure I can estimate the sales at. Tobacco can be raised here as well as it can be raised in any other place. It wants attention and care. If we use it, let us raise it here. I recommend for some man to go to raising tobacco…. go to and make a business of raising tobacco and stop sending money out of the territory for that article…. We annually expend only $60,000 to break the “Word of Wisdom,” and we can save the money and still break it, if we will break it (Journal of Discourses, vol. 9, p.35).
The statement by Mormon Apostle George A. Smith would also lead a person to believe that wine was used to excess: “… after the people had fasted all day, they sent out and got wine and bread…. they ate and drank…. some of the High Counsel of Missouri stepped into the stand, and, as righteous Noah did when he awoke from his wine, commenced to curse their enemies (Journal of Discourses, vol. 2, p.216).
In my opinion those who are denied temple entrance or who are disciplined for consuming mind altering substances share a similar lot in life with Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, Parley Pratt and many of the early apostles who enjoyed mind altering substances as well.
Even up until Joseph Smith’s last moments he was drinking and smoking.
Joseph and Hyrum Smith were murdered in a gunfight in the late afternoon of June 27, 1844. The hours immediately before that gunfight, which Joseph, Hyrum, John Taylor, and Willard Richards spent smoking, drinking, and singing to lighten their mood.
“Before the jailor came in, his boy brought in some water, and said the guard wanted some wine. Joseph [Smith] gave Dr. Richards two dollars to give the guard; but the guard said one was enough, and would take no more.
“The guard immediately sent for a bottle of wine, pipes, and two small papers of tobacco; and one of the guards brought them into the jail soon after the jailor went out. Dr. Richards uncorked the bottle, and presented a glass to Joseph, who tasted, as brother and the Doctor, and the bottle was then given to the guard, who turned to go out.”
(History of the Church, Vol. 6, page 616)
Long after Joseph Smith’s death, in the Salt Lake City temple there were installed spittoons.
https://dialoguejournal.com/wp-content/uploads/sbi/articles/Dialogue_V29N03_9.pdf
(in the PDF above you will see several shots of spittoons in the SLC temple like the picture below)
1911 Photo from inside the Salt Lake City Temple.
It has been claimed the photo depicts white spittoons
at the foot of several chairs.
Now that we have the religious hypocrisy out of the way. Lets just talk about the harm and lack of harm in regards to mind altering substances.
According to many reports including the government managed Center for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov), marijuana kills zero people a year.
Some links for this statistic are:
http://druglibrary.org/schaffer/library/basicfax3.htm
http://www.saferchoice.org/content/view/24/53/
Now lets get to the nitty gritty about Utah. Utah is often touted as having less illicit drug usage and less alcohol usage than many other states in the USA, and this is true. However the danger here is the false sense of safety.
More often than not the fact that Utah doubles the national average in prescription drug abuse and overdose is left out of the claims of how healthy Utah is.
I illustrated this via a recent critique of a Springville Utah PSA video that was released in 2010.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfJl5tQ_vGU
Springville City ASAP and Know Whats True tells lies
Springville fights stigma during red ribbon week
Reference to the March 18th 2008 city council meeting:
http://springvilleonline.com/meetingminutes/ccw_minutes_2008_03_18.pdf
And since Springville recently removed this document from their website, you can also see it in the internet archives here: http://web.archive.org/web/20110427152719/http://www.springville.org/agendasminutes/ccw/2008/ccw_minutes_2008_03_18.pdf
More information on Utah’s out of control mental health issues are at:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/06/03/eveningnews/main510918.shtm
Utah No. 1 in prescription drug abuse | Deseret News
Prescription overdose: top cause of injury death in Utah | ksl.com
This is a video that I made on May 18th 2012
R. Ryan @ May 19, 2012
Springville Online looking for volunteers to film the Springville Art City Days Parade
Posted in: General Info, Police Watch | Comments (0)
Volunteer work description: Be a non-paid journalist to film several areas of the Art City Days Parade
Equipment needed: Camera phone or video camera
Special requests: Camera phone with a data plan so that video can be uploaded to the internet live using www.ustream.tv or www.qik.com
Pay: There will be no pay, but we will gift all volunteers a gift package with shirts / clothing accessories
More details: Springville Online is reporting on the Springville Art City Days parade. In the past protesting and filming the parade has been interrupted by Springville Police and even though there were people filming, getting people to send the film in has been difficult.
In this case, anonymity is optional and you do not need to provide your real name or identify yourself.
You can send the video in to info@springvilleonline.com, or you can upload your video and share it on the net, and just leave a comment on this blog post with a link.
If you would like the free gift basket, you may meet with me in person during the parade or send a mailing address to: info@springvilleonline.com and we will send you a gift package for your efforts.
If you would like to receive the gift package, quantities are limited, so you must sign up ahead of time.
We are looking for between 5-10 people to be at the parade filming. If anyone gets film of police harassing a citizen we will give you a $25 Amazon gift certificate as well.
It is within your constitutional rights to film in public, and you are protected under the first amendment. We ask that you obey all local laws, and be respectful.
More info here:
Court says public has right to video police in public places
http://www.universalhub.com/2011/court-says-state-law-banning-recording-police-offi
R. Ryan @ May 18, 2012
The saga continues with lazy police in the case of elderly abuse
Posted in: General Info, Police Watch | Comments (0)
I wrote this on April 12th 2012.
“Dear Mr. Fitzgerald,
I am having difficulty working with the demands of your police department in this case.
I need to let you know that I have my grandmother’s consent to power of attorney, but I can not get the paperwork notarized because my uncle (the person who took all of her money) took all of her ID.
In fact we learned that he got her new ID last summer, including a birth certificate and social security card, but she no longer has it. All she has is an expired drivers license that I sent over in a previous email.However, I do have my grandmother on video consenting to the power of attorney in this case, and she consents to me handling her financial affairs.
I suspect that my uncle took her identification in order to obtain loans, and possibly other benefits in her name.
He cancelled her AARP insurance, and wiped her out of every single penny that she had, and took 100% of the proceeds from her selling her home just before abandoning her.There is no way that a woman who worked her whole life for what little she had, would give all of it away when she needs it most.
Right now she is in need of a mobility chair, and a handicap bathroom which includes a walk-in bathtub.
These expenses are nearly $10,000. She now has absolutely nothing, except for what little she gets from social security.The crimes that took place in your city are obvious, and I have the perpetrator and his ex-wife confessing on an audio recording that he took the money, and apologizing for doing my grandmother wrong. His ex-wife clearly explains this while talking on the phone with him, in the recording that I sent Springville Police a few months ago.
I also forwarded an email that he sent me, saying that he took the money and he would not be giving it back.These confessions, along with the testimony of my wife, my cousin, my grandma and myself should be enough for Springville Police to pursue this issue. It is a crime to financially exploit an elderly person in Utah.
Chief Finlayson said he will not pursue this case any further unless my grandmother makes a 1400 mile round trip to Utah to be interrogated by him alone in person. I think that is a little be extreme of a request to ask of a 90 year old lady.
I would be happy to be interrogated by your officers, as I have been given power of attorney by my grandmother.
Let me know when we can set this up.
Sincerely,
Ryan Thompson”
His reply was basically “How can we believe you” to paraphrase.
Today I made this video and sent the following email to Springville City Manager Troy Fitzgerald:
Mr. Fitzgerald,
I have been trying to break free to get to Utah, and I believe I have it in my capacity next month to come in.
I want to be able to assist my grandmother in assisting your officers in helping my grandma get her assets back.
I know that they want to interrogate her by herself. But I am sorry, that can not happen.
They can peacefully interview her, but since I am her guardian I intend to be with her 100% of the time.
I know that your police officers are bullies and I have no intention on letting her sit in a room with a bully alone at her fragile age and condition. But your officers can ask her whatever they want, but I will be there to witness and record the conversation with my video camera. We have recorded and signed paperwork authorizing me to be her full power of attorney, so there should be no conflict.
It would be like a parent sitting with a child while a police officer interviews the child.Further more, I intend on being at the Art City Days parade to pass out a non-commercial newspaper that I have created to educate the Springville public about the Springville Police and the experiences that I have had with the police. It is a legitimate newspaper, and I am a legitimate journalist. I need to know what kind of a permit that I need for this. Otherwise I will just use the US postal system to send out the newspaper to every citizen directly. But either way I will be at the Art City Days parade to protest and exercise my free speech, and just so there is no confusion this time, I am bringing two or more people along with video cameras to record any interactions (especially police interactions) while Im there.
If you need to forward this to your public safety officers that is fine. But I am done working with them, they are corrupt and lazy and I have no time to interact with them any more.
Thanks!
According to this section of the Utah code.
76-5-111. Abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a vulnerable adult — Penalties.
(1) As used in this section:
(a) “Abandonment” means a knowing or intentional action or inaction, including desertion, by a person or entity acting as a caretaker for a vulnerable adult that leaves the vulnerable adult without the means or ability to obtain necessary food, clothing, shelter, or medical or other health care.
(b) “Abuse” means:
(i) attempting to cause harm, intentionally or knowingly causing harm, or intentionally or knowingly placing another in fear of imminent harm;
(ii) causing physical injury by knowing or intentional acts or omissions;
(iii) unreasonable or inappropriate use of physical restraint, medication, or isolation that causes or is likely to cause harm to a vulnerable adult that is in conflict with a physician’s orders or used as an unauthorized substitute for treatment, unless that conduct furthers the health and safety of the adult; or
(iv) deprivation of life-sustaining treatment, except:
(A) as provided in Title 75, Chapter 2a, Advance Health Care Directive Act; or
(B) when informed consent, as defined in this section, has been obtained.
(c) “Business relationship” means a relationship between two or more individuals or entities where there exists an oral or written agreement for the exchange of goods or services.
(d) (i) “Caretaker” means any person, entity, corporation, or public institution that assumes the responsibility to provide a vulnerable adult with care, food, shelter, clothing, supervision, medical or other health care, or other necessities.
(ii) “Caretaker” includes a relative by blood or marriage, a household member, a person who is employed or who provides volunteer work, or a person who contracts or is under court order to provide care.
(e) “Deception” means:
(i) a misrepresentation or concealment:
(A) of a material fact relating to services rendered, disposition of property, or use of property intended to benefit a vulnerable adult;
(B) of the terms of a contract or agreement entered into with a vulnerable adult; or
(C) relating to the existing or preexisting condition of any property involved in a contract or agreement entered into with a vulnerable adult; or
(ii) the use or employment of any misrepresentation, false pretense, or false promise in order to induce, encourage, or solicit a vulnerable adult to enter into a contract or agreement.
(f) “Elder adult” means a person 65 years of age or older.
(g) “Endeavor” means to attempt or try.
(h) “Exploitation” means an offense described in Subsection (4) or Section 76-5b-202.
(i) “Harm” means pain, mental anguish, emotional distress, hurt, physical or psychological damage, physical injury, suffering, or distress inflicted knowingly or intentionally.
(j) “Informed consent” means:
(i) a written expression by the person or authorized by the person, stating that the person fully understands the potential risks and benefits of the withdrawal of food, water, medication, medical services, shelter, cooling, heating, or other services necessary to maintain minimum physical or mental health, and that the person desires that the services be withdrawn. A written expression is valid only if the person is of sound mind when the consent is given, and the consent
is witnessed by at least two individuals who do not benefit from the withdrawal of services; or
(ii) consent to withdraw food, water, medication, medical services, shelter, cooling, heating, or other services necessary to maintain minimum physical or mental health, as permitted by court order.
(k) “Intimidation” means communication conveyed through verbal or nonverbal conduct which threatens deprivation of money, food, clothing, medicine, shelter, social interaction, supervision, health care, or companionship, or which threatens isolation or harm.
(l) (i) “Isolation” means knowingly or intentionally preventing a vulnerable adult from having contact with another person by:
(A) preventing the vulnerable adult from receiving visitors, mail, or telephone calls, contrary to the express wishes of the vulnerable adult, including communicating to a visitor that the vulnerable adult is not present or does not want to meet with or talk to the visitor, knowing that communication to be false;
(B) physically restraining the vulnerable adult in order to prevent the vulnerable adult from meeting with a visitor; or
(C) making false or misleading statements to the vulnerable adult in order to induce the vulnerable adult to refuse to receive communication from visitors or other family members.
(ii) The term “isolation” does not include an act intended to protect the physical or mental welfare of the vulnerable adult or an act performed pursuant to the treatment plan or instructions of a physician or other professional advisor of the vulnerable adult.
(m) “Lacks capacity to consent” means an impairment by reason of mental illness, developmental disability, organic brain disorder, physical illness or disability, chronic use of drugs, chronic intoxication, short-term memory loss, or other cause to the extent that a vulnerable adult lacks sufficient understanding of the nature or consequences of decisions concerning the adult’s person or property.
(n) “Neglect” means:
(i) failure of a caretaker to provide nutrition, clothing, shelter, supervision, personal care, or dental or other health care, or failure to provide protection from health and safety hazards or maltreatment;
(ii) failure of a caretaker to provide care to a vulnerable adult in a timely manner and with the degree of care that a reasonable person in a like position would exercise;
(iii) a pattern of conduct by a caretaker, without the vulnerable adult’s informed consent, resulting in deprivation of food, water, medication, health care, shelter, cooling, heating, or other services necessary to maintain the vulnerable adult’s well being;
(iv) intentional failure by a caretaker to carry out a prescribed treatment plan that results or could result in physical injury or physical harm; or
(v) abandonment by a caretaker.
(o) “Physical injury” includes damage to any bodily tissue caused by nontherapeutic conduct, to the extent that the tissue must undergo a healing process in order to be restored to a sound and healthy condition, or damage to any bodily tissue to the extent that the tissue cannot be restored to a sound and healthy condition. “Physical injury” includes skin bruising, a dislocation, physical pain, illness, impairment of physical function, a pressure sore, bleeding, malnutrition, dehydration, a burn, a bone fracture, a subdural hematoma, soft tissue swelling, injury to any internal organ, or any other physical condition that imperils the health or welfare of the vulnerable adult and is not a serious physical injury as defined in this section.
(p) “Position of trust and confidence” means the position of a person who:
(i) is a parent, spouse, adult child, or other relative by blood or marriage of a vulnerable adult;
(ii) is a joint tenant or tenant in common with a vulnerable adult;
(iii) has a legal or fiduciary relationship with a vulnerable adult, including a court-appointed or voluntary guardian, trustee, attorney, or conservator; or
(iv) is a caretaker of a vulnerable adult.
(q) “Serious physical injury” means any physical injury or set of physical injuries that:
(i) seriously impairs a vulnerable adult’s health;
(ii) was caused by use of a dangerous weapon as defined in Section 76-1-601;
(iii) involves physical torture or causes serious emotional harm to a vulnerable adult; or
(iv) creates a reasonable risk of death.
(r) ”Undue influence” occurs when a person uses the person’s role, relationship, or power to exploit, or knowingly assist or cause another to exploit, the trust, dependency, or fear of a vulnerable adult, or uses the person’s role, relationship, or power to gain control deceptively over the decision making of the vulnerable adult.
(s) “Vulnerable adult” means an elder adult, or an adult 18 years of age or older who has a mental or physical impairment which substantially affects that person’s ability to:
(i) provide personal protection;
(ii) provide necessities such as food, shelter, clothing, or medical or other health care;
(iii) obtain services necessary for health, safety, or welfare;
(iv) carry out the activities of daily living;
(v) manage the adult’s own resources; or
(vi) comprehend the nature and consequences of remaining in a situation of abuse, neglect, or exploitation.
(2) Under any circumstances likely to produce death or serious physical injury, any person, including a caretaker, who causes a vulnerable adult to suffer serious physical injury or, having the care or custody of a vulnerable adult, causes or permits that adult’s person or health to be injured, or causes or permits a vulnerable adult to be placed in a situation where the adult’s person or health is endangered, is guilty of the offense of aggravated abuse of a vulnerable adult as follows:
(a) if done intentionally or knowingly, the offense is a second degree felony;
(b) if done recklessly, the offense is third degree felony; and
(c) if done with criminal negligence, the offense is a class A misdemeanor.
(3) Under circumstances other than those likely to produce death or serious physical injury any person, including a caretaker, who causes a vulnerable adult to suffer harm, abuse, or neglect; or, having the care or custody of a vulnerable adult, causes or permits that adult’s person or health to be injured, abused, or neglected, or causes or permits a vulnerable adult to be placed in a situation where the adult’s person or health is endangered, is guilty of the offense of abuse of a vulnerable adult as follows:
(a) if done intentionally or knowingly, the offense is a class A misdemeanor;
(b) if done recklessly, the offense is a class B misdemeanor; and
(c) if done with criminal negligence, the offense is a class C misdemeanor.
(4) (a) A person commits the offense of exploitation of a vulnerable adult when the person:
(i) is in a position of trust and confidence, or has a business relationship, with the vulnerable adult or has undue influence over the vulnerable adult and knowingly, by deception or intimidation, obtains or uses, or endeavors to obtain or use, the vulnerable adult’s funds, credit, assets, or other property with the intent to temporarily or permanently deprive the vulnerable adult of the use, benefit, or possession of the adult’s property, for the benefit of someone other than the vulnerable adult;
(ii) knows or should know that the vulnerable adult lacks the capacity to consent, and obtains or uses, or endeavors to obtain or use, or assists another in obtaining or using or endeavoring to obtain or use, the vulnerable adult’s funds, assets, or property with the intent to temporarily or permanently deprive the vulnerable adult of the use, benefit, or possession of his property for the benefit of someone other than the vulnerable adult;
(iii) unjustly or improperly uses or manages the resources of a vulnerable adult for the profit or advantage of someone other than the vulnerable adult;
(iv) unjustly or improperly uses a vulnerable adult’s power of attorney or guardianship for the profit or advantage of someone other than the vulnerable adult; or
(v) involves a vulnerable adult who lacks the capacity to consent in the facilitation or furtherance of any criminal activity.
(b) A person is guilty of the offense of exploitation of a vulnerable adult as follows:
(i) if done intentionally or knowingly and the aggregate value of the resources used or the profit made is or exceeds $5,000, the offense is a second degree felony;
(ii) if done intentionally or knowingly and the aggregate value of the resources used or the profit made is less than $5,000 or cannot be determined, the offense is a third degree felony;
(iii) if done recklessly, the offense is a class A misdemeanor; or
(iv) if done with criminal negligence, the offense is a class B misdemeanor.
(5) It does not constitute a defense to a prosecution for any violation of this section that the accused did not know the age of the victim.
(6) An adult is not considered abused, neglected, or a vulnerable adult for the reason that the adult has chosen to rely solely upon religious, nonmedical forms of healing in lieu of medical care.
Amended by Chapter 320, 2011 General Session
R. Ryan @ May 17, 2012
Ann Druyan on marijuana consumption and civil liberties
Posted in: General Info, Politics | Comments (0)
Ann Druyan is the widow of the late great scientist and television host Carl Sagan.
She speaks on the issue of marijuana/cannabis consumption and the effects of prohibition.
This is a moving and thoughtful 3 minutes and 43 seconds. A must watch for those who understand or want to understand more about cannabis in society.
From the video podcast series At Home in the Cosmos with Annie Druyan.
You can find the rest of this wonderful series at:
http://www.podjockey.com/members/cosmos/
R. Ryan @ May 17, 2012
John Stossel’s Illegal Everything
Posted in: Police Watch, Politics | Comments (0)
Here is John Stossel’s report on the police state. This broadcast compares different countries, and data on how many new laws are added to the books every year.
I love Mr. Stossel’s work!
http://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2012/02/27/john_stossels_illegal_everything
R. Ryan @ April 28, 2012
Utah County Church – Religious marijuana suit gets new life in 9th circuit court
Posted in: Opinion, Police Watch, Politics | Comments (0)
This is an issue that is deeply disturbing to me, that the USA made the first amendment to address freedom of religion because of how important it is to our country. Other religions freely use mind altering substances for their religious practices, such as Catholics and their use of wine in communion, and Native Americans that use peyote for religious practices. But the use of marijuana is forbidden makes no sense. Cannabis (aka marijuana) has never caused an overdose in all of history, and is one of the safest substances on the planet. It has been used in known history for 7000 years, and especially for religious uses.
See articles about this Utah case:
Cannabis is legalized in Utah for religious use | X Cannabis
Cannabis Religion
Here is the article about the new direction of the case of Oklevueha Native American Church of Hawaii v. Holder
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/11/tagblogsfindlawcom2012-decided-idUS288872313920120411
By Andrew Chow, JD at FindLaw.com
Wed Apr 11, 2012 12:34am EDT
A Native American group will get its day in court, as the Ninth Circuit has revived part of a lawsuit that seeks permission to smoke marijuana for religious purposes.
The Oklevueha Native American Church of Hawaii sued the Justice Department and Drug Enforcement Administration after agents seized a $7,000 shipment of marijuana addressed to the church’s founder in 2009, The Wall Street Journal reports.
The church’s lawsuit demanded the return of, or reimbursement for, the seized pot, which was intended for use during religious ceremonies. The church also sought a declaratory judgment affirming the legality of its members’ religious marijuana use.
The federal Controlled Substances Act allows the religious use of peyote, which church members also use — but it does not create an exemption for religious marijuana. That’s why the church wants a court to declare religious pot use is OK, to protect its members from possible legal action.
A lower court dismissed the church’s religious marijuana lawsuit, and the church appealed. On Monday, the Ninth Circuit revived the suit, but only on one issue: the declaratory judgment.
Because church members were never prosecuted for their religious pot use, the lower court had held there was no controversy for a court to consider.
But the Ninth Circuit disagreed. “The seizure of Plaintiffs’ marijuana that has already occurred creates a justiciable case and controversy about plaintiffs’ constitutional and statutory entitlement to use marijuana for religious purposes,” the court’s opinion states, according to the Journal.
The Ninth Circuit’s opinion sends the case back to the lower court, which will now reconsider the declaratory judgment issue.
As for the church’s demand for the return of their religious marijuana, the Ninth Circuit seemed to agree with the lower court: The pot was destroyed, so it can’t be returned. Reimbursement is also not an option under federal law, the lower court held.
Related Resources:
- Prosecution Not Required for Religious Marijuana Use Lawsuit (FindLaw’s U.S. Ninth Circuit blog)
- Oklevueha Native American Church of Hawaii v. Holder – Opinion (U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit)
- Judge Rejects Marijuana as Holy Sacrament (FindLaw’s Legally Weird)
- The Supreme Court Hears Its First Religion Case with Chief Justice Roberts at the Helm (FindLaw’s Writ)
R. Ryan @ April 11, 2012
Why cooperating with the police violates your rights
Posted in: Opinion, Police Watch | Comments (0)
There are many reasons why you should not agree to speak with the police. We have rights, and the police serve us, not the other way around. If the police feel that they have a case against you, let THEM prove it, do not prove it for them. They get paid to prove that there was a crime committed.
Agreeing to be interviewed by police works against you and not for you. If you are suspected of a crime, the job of the police is to get an arrest. To get an arrest they have to prove reasonable suspicion in which they can prove in court just cause. They are not getting paid to prove your innocence, they are getting paid to prove your guilt, and they have quota’s to meet.
The police departments have many incentives to have as many arrests as possible in their particular department. Federal grants are typically the motivation. X=amount of arrests equals X=amount of federal dollars that the police get.
So if you get questioned by the police, you have a right to not incriminate yourself, and you have a right to a lawyer.
Yes it may take more of your time, and more effort to ask to speak to your lawyer and to refuse to be interviewed by the police. Whether you are guilty or innocent, there are plenty of innocent people in jail right now. So it is simply best to refuse to answer the questions being asked to you by the police under the justified rights under the 5th Amendment. If you are arrested, still do not talk, in fact that is the worst thing that you can do. Ask to speak to your lawyer.
If you get a traffic citation, you are allowed to contest your ticket in court. If you do this, subpoena the office to court, and make them earn their money. If the police officer fails to show up, then the judge is required to drop the charges against you. What can you lose by asking for the witness to be in court? Nothing. But on the other hand, there is a lot to win.
This is your rights in a traffic stop:
“No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.[1]”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution
“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution
Here is a law professor explaining the reasoning above;
This is the right way to handle a traffic stop:
This video below is a demonstration of exercising your right to open carry (in states that allow open carry)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0En_sdsyh1M
R. Ryan @ March 28, 2012
Dear Springville City – A letter about your failed war on drugs
Posted in: Financial, General Info, Opinion, Police Watch, Politics | Comments (0)
Sent to Springville City Attorney John Penrod, Springville Administrator Troy Fitzgerald and the Springville City Council on Saturday March 24 2012
tfitzgerald@springville.org
jpenrod@springville.org,
CityCouncil@springville.org
Dear Mr. Fitzgerald and Mr. Penrod,
I thank you for sending me the detailed information about the city’s financial information. I have also found this information on the city website. I was looking for information in my email tonight in regards to the city and their asset forfeiture revenue, and I found these replies from you. My apologies for only just now getting to this. It has been about a year and a half since you originally sent these documents, and I hadn’t opened them, because I get roughly 150 legitimate emails a day in this email box, since this is my business email box.
I also noticed the request for $32 for the time spent in retrieving these documents. I would like to pay you for your efforts. Can I pay by credit card? Or is check the only option?
I have another GRAMA request that Chief Finlyson has approved and he would like me to also send $5 for that request.
Information is expensive these days. haha
I have completed a series of videos that I have put together from the information that I have gathered both from Springville.org, and from the emails correspondence that we exchanged in fall of 2010.
I will be compiling and releasing this data very soon. In summary, I think that the police are neglecting real crimes in order to focus on the very profitable yet victimless drug crimes. The profitable aspect of these drug “crimes” come from the government grants as well as the civil asset forfeiture that comes as a result of these arrest.
I have one email stating that Springville has not acquired assets from asset forfeiture in the last 5 years.
However I see on the Springville.org website notice of auctions being held to liquidate forfeited assets.
So I see a conflict in data here. Springville doesn’t acquire forfeited assets, but Springville does sell forfeited assets?
Where does Springville get these assets if not getting them from civil asset forfeiture?
I am willing to pay for more information if that is what is needed.
I feel like I have a right to this information since I have been arrested for not only possession of marijuana in Springville (when I was 19 years old), but I also got arrested for holding a sign that said “Legalize it” in 2010.
The drug war ruins more lives than it helps. I believe that the war on drugs has not decreased drug usage in our country, it has only done the opposite. In places like Holland and Portugal where drugs are sold in commercial locations in prime areas of the city, for decades, Holland has a much lower drug usage rate than the USA does as does Portugal. In 2009 due to lack of criminals in Holland, 6 (six) prisons were shut down. (side note: my original letter noted 6 prisons were being closed, but that is incorrect, it is actually EIGHT prisons)
But in the USA, the drug war is very profitable for local municipalities such as yours. Between Federal Drug Grants and Civil Asset Forfeiture, it is more profitable for Springville to arrest the kid who is smoking a joint than it is to help a 90 year old woman who has been robbed of everything including her life savings and her home and left with only $0.47 in her bank account.
I am very concerned with these problems in Springville. My 16 year old brother was harassed by Springville police in the year 2001, just 6 months before he killed himself from prescription overdose.
Springville Police actually visited 6 of his friend’s house’s looking for my brother, and never once attempted to go directly to my brother, or go to his school to find him. After my family contacted Springville Police to find out why this was happening, why they were visiting my brother’s friend’s parents. Springville Police never released the reason as to why.
Springville kids are abusing prescriptions in record numbers, and according to Springville City council meeting 03/18/2008, Springville is rated at 7/10ths of a percent higher in prescription abuse than the county and the state.
Utah state doubles the national average of prescription drug abuse, so that means that Springville is in the top tier of the national statistic for drug abuse. Yet Springville.org spreads misinformation by subjectively listing itself as lower in certain drugs, and fails to address its particular problem with prescription abuse, which is in fact Springville’s biggest and most dangerous issue for not only adults but also children.
I will continue my investigation, and I look forward to working with you in the future.
Sincerely,
Ryan Thompson
This is a list of my recent videos on these topics:
Springville Police Selling Our Children for Financial Gain
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Springville City’s Unreasonable Recreational Facility Proposal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Springville City Corruption
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Springville Utah – The haven for big business and big criminals
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Springville Utah Leads the Nation in Drug Abuse
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Crime in Springville Utah is not being reported as accurately by the city as it should be
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Utah Teen Suicide the Silent Epidemic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
R. Ryan @ March 24, 2012
Lets talk about harm reduction and a reasonable proposal for a rec center in Springville
Posted in: Financial, General Info, Opinion, Police Watch, Politics | Comments (0)
Lets talk about harm reduction and a reasonable plan in Springville Utah for a recreational facility.
I say cut the city budget, stop flagrantly and irresponsibly spending money, and build the recreational center that was proposed in 1977 for FAR less without having to increase taxes!
Springville Recreational Facility Committee video
http://vimeo.com/longwhisker/springvillereccenter
Sutherland Institute Video about Springville City’s Recreational Center
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=917RlrTunGk
Springville City Budget 2011
http://www.springville.org/departments/finance/2011/SPRINGVILLE%20FY2012%20APPROVED%20FINAL%20BUDGET%20for%20GFOA%20F.pdf
Spanish Fork City Budget 2011
http://www.spanishfork.org/dept/admin/finance/pdf/FY_2011_Budget.pdf
Springville’s Most Wanted that I mentioned in the video showing how Springville is not using their available tools appropriately
http://springville.org/departments/publicsafety/most_wanted.php
Springville’s main problems:
http://www.springville.org/agendasminutes/ccw/2008/ccw_minutes_2008_03_18.pdf
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/06/03/eveningnews/main510918.shtm
R. Ryan @ March 23, 2012
Corruption in Utah at a all time high as two police chiefs are decertified today
Posted in: General Info, Opinion, Police Watch, Politics | Comments (0)
I have been reporting on the police corruption in Springville Utah for several years now.
From experiences that I had as a child with the Springville police, and experiences that I have had as an adult with Springville Police. Now with my grandma given wanton disregard for her rights as a Springville resident as her savings account was wiped out with OBVIOUS bad checks and her mobile home was sold without her signature and without her permission. The police have refused to investigate REAL crimes, while at the same time on their website’s “Most wanted page” they are featuring alleged shoplifters and are displaying pictures of their 7 year old children (for 2.5 years so far).
Springville City continues to tout their town as safe and clean, but they ignore and fail to admit that they have the HIGHEST (pun intended) prescription drug abuse in Utah, and one of the highest teen suicide rates in the nation. I have reported on this several times after Springville City, which claims to be in a budget crisis over the last few years, have spent large sums of money to make Public Service Announcements claiming that Springville has low drug use rates, and how Springville is a great place for families, etc.. Basically just very expensive propaganda along with websites and other propaganda to go with it. Instead of spending that money on addressing their problems, Springville would rather spend the money to make media that denies these problems.
These problems are not just limited to Springville. While Springville may ignore problems in their community other cities nearby are hiring people with criminal tendencies that are creating problems. Spanish Fork city police chief and Grantsville police chief both were certified today as police officers based on their criminal behavior.
”
Two Utah police chiefs were decertified as police officers Thursday.
“Spanish Fork Police Chief Dee Rosenbaum was decertified for four years after a police standards review committee determined he shoplifted clothing at the Provo Towne Center in 2010 and then lied about it to investigators.
Rosenbaum has been chief of the department for 25 years.
Grantsville Police Chief Danny Johnson was decertified for 18 months for his conviction of wanton destruction of wildlife.” http://www.ksl.com/?nid=960&sid=19693358
Looks like the wolves are running the hen house in these parts!
I made this video yesterday before learning about these Police Chiefs being decertified:
^ This video illustrates the problems of corruption in the state of Utah and specifically Springville Utah. According to a statewide/nationwide study, Utah is rated with a “D” (below average) in regards to corruption.
Ref: http://www.ksl.com/?sid=19649356&nid=148
I have to hand it to LDS church owned KSL news. They are being upfront and honest about Utah’s problems. Unlike the Springville Herald which only prints fluff. I expect a certain level of community pride. But deception and covering up problems never helps resolve these issues. If you check the article from KSL, exposure helps tremendously!
R. Ryan @ March 22, 2012
