RadicalRuss

I am the host and producer of The Russ Belville Show - The Independent Voice of the Marijuana Nation at http://radicalruss.com - live from Portland, Oregon. I am married and the proud caretaker of a Jack Russell Terrorist named Roscoe. I was the winner of The Search for the Next Great Progressive Talk Radio Star and a former host on XM Satellite Radio and Portland's AM 620 KPOJ. I was the Outreach Coordinator for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws from 2008-2012, which included lecturing all across America on marijuana legalization, writing political analysis for HIGH TIMES Magazine, and producing over 1,000 hours of video content for The NORML Network.

Oregon Poll Shows Only One-Third Of 2014 Voters Oppose Marijuana Legalization

 Posted by at 2:18 PM on May 22, 2013  Ending Marijuana Prohibition, Opinion  No Responses »
May 222013
 
Oregon Poll Shows Only One-Third Of 2014 Voters Oppose Marijuana Legalization

Readers of this blog know that there has been an ongoing debate between the Marijuana Policy Project and the marijuana reform organizations in Oregon.  (See: MPP’s Rob Kampia warns Oregon not to try marijuana legalization in 2014 and Will MPP doom a 2014 chance at Oregon marijuana legalization?) Now, a new poll released in Oregon shows that the locals do seem to know more about the political climate for legalization here, with an astounding 57% of likely 2014 voters supporting a specific tax and regulate proposal for marijuana legalization. Shortly after Washington and [Continue Reading]

UFC Punishes Marijuana, Not Violent Threats Against Women

 Posted by at 5:40 PM on May 17, 2013  Ending Marijuana Prohibition, Opinion  5 Responses »
May 172013
 
UFC Punishes Marijuana, Not Violent Threats Against Women

Following up on Johnny Green’s post on the UFC not punishing fighters for testosterone while vacating wins and seizing prize money over marijuana metabolites, we have some updates on the story. It seems that to add insult to injury, UFC President Dana White is taking the $65,000 “Submission of the Night” bonus forfeited by Pat Healy and awarding it to the only other fighter that night to win by submission, Bryan Caraway.  We can’t be too harsh on someone taking a free sixty-five grand after being pummeled, even if he’s [Continue Reading]

Drug-Testing Biz Partner DuPont Says Marijuana Led To Boston Bombings

 Posted by at 1:31 PM on May 17, 2013  Opinion  23 Responses »
May 172013
 
Drug-Testing Biz Partner DuPont Says Marijuana Led To Boston Bombings

The bombings that took place in Boston were a heinous crime carried out by the Tsarnaev Brothers that killed and maimed American citizens.  It seems the older brother had become radicalized in his hatred of US foreign policy and his younger brother, called Jahar, seemed to be along for the ride.  How anyone could wreak such havoc and destruction is beyond the ability of most Americans to comprehend. Unless you’re Robert L. DuPont, one of the principles in the firm Bensinger, DuPont & Associates, which is a major purveyor of [Continue Reading]

Next Thing You Know, We’ll Be Shooting Up Marijuana!

 Posted by at 6:54 AM on May 13, 2013  Marijuana Science, Opinion  4 Responses »
May 132013
 
Next Thing You Know, We'll Be Shooting Up Marijuana!

When you battle drug prohibitionists long enough you’re bound to read some crazy things. The latest comes from a boardmember of Project SAM (Smart Approaches to Marijuana – Kevin Sabet’s anti-pot propaganda organ) named Dr. Christian Thurstone. In his latest blog screed entitled “Higher and Higher”, he laments that the teenagers sentenced to his business, the largest rehab facility in Colorado, are testing with higher and higher levels of marijuana metabolites in their pee. He worries about the new, super-potent marijuana and concentrates, and then, seriously, writes this: It is [Continue Reading]

Low-Level Marijuana Offenders “Pay The Rent” For Law Enforcement

 Posted by at 6:58 AM on May 10, 2013  Ending Marijuana Prohibition  7 Responses »
May 102013
 
Low-Level Marijuana Offenders "Pay The Rent" For Law Enforcement

In Texas Monthly, there is a great article on the subject of “trace cases” that quotes Former DA Pat Lykos’ presentation at the Baker Institute that I was a part of in 2012: To help explain her reasoning, at an appearance at Rice University’s Baker Institute, she held up a package of Splenda, which weighs approximately one gram. She and her predecessors had been prosecuting people for less than 1/100th of that amount. “Sometimes they had a little flake extruding from their nose, a little flake [on a shirt collar] [Continue Reading]

Stoned Driving Limits: You Asked To “Treat It Like Alcohol”

 Posted by at 5:30 AM on May 9, 2013  Opinion  8 Responses »
May 092013
 
Stoned Driving Limits: You Asked To "Treat It Like Alcohol"

With Washington State’s I-502 legalization came a 5ng/ml limit of active THC in blood.  This is now per se evidence to convict on a DUI charge. In Colorado, the governor is poised to sign a bill creating a 5ng/ml limit that has failed to pass in six previous attempts.  This would set a permissible inference of guilt on a DUI charge. To my fellow supporters of marijuana legalization, I’m reminded of the saying, “Be careful what you wish for because you might get it.” Before I explain that, let’s make sure everyone reading [Continue Reading]

Where Do I Go For The Global Cannabis March?

 Posted by at 2:07 PM on May 3, 2013  Major Events  5 Responses »
May 032013
 
Where Do I Go For The Global Cannabis March?

This Saturday, May the 4th (or “Star Wars Day”) advocates for ending adult marijuana prohibition will march in hundreds of cities worldwide.  The Global Cannabis March (or “Million Marijuana March”, “Cannabis Liberation Day”, “J Day”, etc.) was founded by Cures Not Wars’ Dana Beal in 1999 in New York City. A fantastic wiki has been set up to coordinate all the cities that will be participating.  Find yours by visiting http://rad-r.us/MJMarch – the link takes you to the United States’ listings, but you can scroll up and down for the [Continue Reading]

Boise News Covers Medical Marijuana Patients, Child Custody

 Posted by at 7:03 AM on May 3, 2013  Medical Marijuana Policy  11 Responses »
May 032013
 
Boise News Covers Medical Marijuana Patients, Child Custody

The unjust persecution of the Idaho Three has galvanized the cannabis community across the country and had illustrated just how far we still have to go for true equality for the cannabis community.  The plight of the Idaho Three also demonstrates the true courage of cannabis law reform activists literally putting their lives on the line fighting to end a senseless war. Lindsey Rinehart is the chief petitioner for Idaho’s medical marijuana initiative.  She is a multiple sclerosis patient who’s experienced a remarkable recovery by using cannabis to treat her symptoms.  She [Continue Reading]

Call On Washington State Congressmen To Support ‘Respect State Marijuana Laws Act’

 Posted by at 8:39 AM on May 1, 2013  Ending Marijuana Prohibition, Medical Marijuana Policy  1 Response »
May 012013
 
Call On Washington State Congressmen To Support 'Respect State Marijuana Laws Act'

I noticed a funny thing about The Respect State Marijuana Laws Act. This is legislation that would allow states to set marijuana policy free from federal interference.  It has an impressive set of bi-partisan co-sponsors that include Representatives Dana Rohrabacher [R-CA], Justin Amash [R-MI], Earl Blumenauer [D-OR], Steve Cohen [D-TN], Jared Polis [D-CO], and Don Young [R-AK].  Aside from Rep. Cohen, each representative comes from a state that has established either medical marijuana or marijuana legalization contrary to federal law. The funny thing is, I see none of Washington State’s ten representatives [Continue Reading]

Idaho: Where Marijuana Is More Dangerous To Kids Than A Loaded Gun

 Posted by at 10:38 AM on April 25, 2013  Ending Marijuana Prohibition, Opinion  13 Responses »
Apr 252013
 
Idaho: Where Marijuana Is More Dangerous To Kids Than A Loaded Gun

Yesterday I broke the story of Lindsey Rinehart and Sarah Caldwell. They are two young mothers who are very prominent marijuana activists in the Gem State.  Lindsey is the state’s most visible medical marijuana patient.  She suffers from multiple sclerosis and is the chief petitioner for the Idaho Medical Choice Act, a very limited form of medical marijuana initiative.  Sarah is the financial officer for Moms 4 Marijuana International. You can help Lindsey & Sarah with legal fees here: http://rad-r.us/IdahoFund While Lindsey and Sarah were vacationing, along with Lindsey’s husband [Continue Reading]

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