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Taco Chef
I found dead John Cheever



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Ben Masel, long time pot (among other things) activist dies 1
#14378065 - 04/30/11 02:43 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/04/30/971679/-RIP-Ben-Masel?detail=hide
Longtime civil liberties activist Ben Masel, a Kossack for seven-and-a-half years, has passed away as a consequence of lung cancer. He was 56.
He was a fighter to the end, going to the last of hundreds of protests he was involved in during the uprising against Gov. Scott Walker at the capitol in Madison, Wis., where he lived for 40 years:
He doesn't have health insurance and hasn't had a conventional job in a long time. But he has a history of winning false arrest and First Amendment lawsuits, "which is a great hourly rate if you can wait forever to get paid," he joked [six weeks ago].
Masel has also been a constant presence at the Capitol protests over the past month, even defying a doctor's order that he remain in the hospital.
"If I'm going to be deceased today, I can't think of a better place than in the rotunda," he told his doctor.
In short, while many talked the talk, Ben walked the walk, compiling more than 800 pages in his FBI file (the last time he looked).
Often a candidate, but never a victor, Ben had declared his candidacy in the 2012 U.S. Senate primary for the seat held by Democrat Herb Kohl. It was not the first time he challenged Kohl.
In an interview with Ben five years ago, Nathan J. Comp captured his activist essence quite well:
Walking the fine line between activist and troublemaker has earned Ben Masel, since the early 1970s, a fair amount of time in court. A boundary pusher, Masel's legal tussles often stem from his leafleting and sloganeering where such activities are prohibited. Businesses see these anti-campaigning policies as protection for their patrons. However, Masel sees them as impositions on his civil liberties.
Most recently, Masel was gathering signatures on July 3, at the Memorial Union in a restricted area of the terrace. Masel, 51, was gathering signatures in his effort to get on the Sept. 12 Democratic primary ballot. When told he was in violation, Masel challenged the policy, was pepper-sprayed and then arrested. His signature drive, if not his arrest, paid off. Just days after the Union scuffle, Masel turned in nearly 2,200 uncontested signatures, effectively pitting him against Democratic incumbent Herb Kohl (D-Madison) later this summer.
Admittedly, Masel doesn't stand much chance of winning. He's OK with that. Sporting a T-shirt with the word "Vote" transposed over a marijuana leaf, Masel seems to like shaking the system more than playing by its rules. He's had an axe to grind since facing the Vietnam draft and his soon thereafter expulsion from UW-Madison for anti-war shenanigans.
It's an axe he grinds well. ...
Masel, a perpetual anti-hero, underdog and irascible champion of the people, may not be a quality candidate in any election, but the same could be said of many current holders of high office, including his opponent, Herb Kohl. In that regard, what a treat it would be if—by some wonderful misfortune—voters let Masel bring his 35-year-old rebellion to Washington. There, he could team up with Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Madison), to form a dynamic duo in a chamber of cowards, together pushing back the tide of retrogressive legislation sweeping the nation.
His 35-year-long fight against marijuana laws was nearly legendary in Wisconsin. He was repeatedly arrested for protests and spent time in prison for a cannabis conviction. He was state director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws for six years in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and was vice president of the state branch of the organization for nearly a decade before his death.
"I didn't think it would take this long," Masel said about his still-unrealized hope to legalize marijuana.
Mod edit: Added missing text.
Edited by veggie (04/30/11 06:02 PM)
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Coaster
Baʿal



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Re: Ben Masel, long time pot (among other things) activist dies [Re: Taco Chef]
#14378071 - 04/30/11 02:44 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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howd he die he loox healthy as fuck in that video
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Taco Chef
I found dead John Cheever



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Re: Ben Masel, long time pot (among other things) activist dies [Re: Coaster]
#14378085 - 04/30/11 02:46 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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lung cancer
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LightShedder
Trading currencies



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Re: Ben Masel, long time pot (among other things) activist dies [Re: Taco Chef]
#14378147 - 04/30/11 02:59 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Shit that's not gonna help our case!
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InvaderShroom
Ganja;)



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Re: Ben Masel, long time pot (among other things) activist dies [Re: LightShedder]
#14378166 - 04/30/11 03:06 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
LightShedder said: Shit that's not gonna help our case!
definitely not...
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muistrue
Inspired by the mystery


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Re: Ben Masel, long time pot (among other things) activist dies [Re: InvaderShroom]
#14378413 - 04/30/11 03:58 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
InvaderShroom said:
Quote:
LightShedder said: Shit that's not gonna help our case!
definitely not...
I don't think anyone is trying to make a case saying smoking stuff isn't bad for you.
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Coaster
Baʿal



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Re: Ben Masel, long time pot (among other things) activist dies [Re: muistrue]
#14378466 - 04/30/11 04:10 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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wow how ironic so he got lung cancer from weed?!?!?!?!?!?!?
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melfdis
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Re: Ben Masel, long time pot (among other things) activist dies [Re: Coaster]
#14378498 - 04/30/11 04:19 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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R.I.P. Ben
Quote:
Coaster said: wow how ironic so he got lung cancer from weed?!?!?!?!?!?!?
Other things besides smoking can cause lung cancer. Something like 10-15% of people with lung cancer never smoked.
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demon66
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Re: Ben Masel, long time pot (among other things) activist dies [Re: Coaster]
#14378503 - 04/30/11 04:20 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Yes, smoking is bad for the lungs
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demon66
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Re: Ben Masel, long time pot (among other things) activist dies [Re: melfdis]
#14378508 - 04/30/11 04:21 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
melfdis said: R.I.P. Ben
Quote:
Coaster said: wow how ironic so he got lung cancer from weed?!?!?!?!?!?!?
Other things besides smoking can cause lung cancer. Something like 10-15% of people with lung cancer never smoked.
One of my neighbors died from lung cancer around age 60. She never smoked.
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Coaster
Baʿal



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Re: Ben Masel, long time pot (among other things) activist dies [Re: demon66]
#14378516 - 04/30/11 04:23 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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did she have granite countertops?
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LightShedder
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Re: Ben Masel, long time pot (among other things) activist dies [Re: Coaster]
#14378602 - 04/30/11 04:51 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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I mean anyone who he targeted as an activist will now probably say "look where all that marijuana got him". Just sayin. Would have been better for his norml work to have died from a drunk driver or something.
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Humility
Working on it



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Re: Ben Masel, long time pot (among other things) activist dies [Re: LightShedder]
#14378685 - 04/30/11 05:17 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Cannabis has never been proven to cause lung cancer.
Lots of people have gotten lung cancer that have smoked pot.
As mentioned here you don't even have to smoke to get lung cancer.
And finally, maybe this guy smoked cigs or blunts?
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LightShedder
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Re: Ben Masel, long time pot (among other things) activist dies [Re: Humility]
#14378711 - 04/30/11 05:22 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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http://www.ersj.org.uk/content/31/2/280.full
Don't be naive man. Comin from a habitual cannabis user, dont be naive.
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Coaster
Baʿal



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Re: Ben Masel, long time pot (among other things) activist dies [Re: Coaster]
#14378779 - 04/30/11 05:43 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
Coaster said: did she have granite countertops?
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veggie

Registered: 07/25/04
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Re: Ben Masel, long time pot (among other things) activist dies [Re: Taco Chef] 1
#14378867 - 04/30/11 06:20 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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RIP, Mr Masel. You were a good man.
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Alan Rockefeller
Mycologist


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Re: Ben Masel, long time pot (among other things) activist dies [Re: veggie] 2
#14378981 - 04/30/11 06:49 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Too bad, Ben Masel was really cool.
I bought this tshirt from him for $5 at an SSDP conference in Illinois a few years back:

I'll wear it to the party tonight.
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bigmike7104
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Re: Ben Masel, long time pot (among other things) activist dies [Re: LightShedder]
#14379011 - 04/30/11 06:57 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
LightShedder said: http://www.ersj.org.uk/content/31/2/280.full
Don't be naive man. Comin from a habitual cannabis user, dont be naive.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/25/AR2006052501729.html
the largest study on marijuana and lung cancer from the one of the leading experts on the lung, and has done many studies for the government finding the negative effects of marijuana found no connection. and here is his criticisms of the study you posted
Quote:
Tashkin said the New Zealanders employed “statistical sleight of hand.” He deemed it “completely implausible that smokers of only 365 joints of marijuana have a risk for developing lung cancer similar to that of smokers of 7,000 tobacco cigarettes… Their small sample size led to vastly inflated estimates… They had said ‘it’s ideal to do the study in New Zealand because we have a much higher prevalence of marijuana smoking.’ But 88 percent of their controls had never smoked marijuana, whereas 36% of our controls (in Los Angeles) had never smoked marijuana. Why did so few of the controls smoke marijuana? Something fishy about that!”
http://www.otagonorml.com/?q=node/1066
Marijuana Cuts Lung Cancer Tumor Growth In Half, Study Shows
Quote:
The active ingredient in marijuana cuts tumor growth in common lung cancer in half and significantly reduces the ability of the cancer to spread, say researchers at Harvard University
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/04/070417193338.htm
thc has been found to activate a chemical in cancer cells that leads to cell death, while doing nothing to healthy cells. http://scienceblogs.com/scientificactivist/2009/04/thc_gives_cancer_cells_the_mun.php
here's more studies at the bottom of this link http://www.cannabisculture.com/articles/5169.html
-------------------- Over thinking, over analyzing separates the body from the mind Withering my intuition, missing opportunities and I must Feed my will to feel my moment drawing way outside the lines
Edited by bigmike7104 (04/30/11 07:09 PM)
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LightShedder
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Re: Ben Masel, long time pot (among other things) activist dies [Re: bigmike7104]
#14379144 - 04/30/11 07:29 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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All those studies on thc are great. Problem is, burning any plant matter is toxic to the lungs. It's impossible to measure the anti-carcinogenic effects that cannabis' components have individually, what's clear though is smoking plant matter releases carcinogenic compounds. Regardless of what components said plant might have. It's really pretty easy to believe...
No more washingtonpost references eh?
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080123104017.htm
http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/31/2/227.full
It's true you can dig up conflicting data on the subject but anyone in their right mind is going to understand how inhaling burning plant matter does not = less likely to get cancer.
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bigmike7104
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Re: Ben Masel, long time pot (among other things) activist dies [Re: LightShedder]
#14379262 - 04/30/11 07:58 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
All those studies on thc are great. Problem is, burning any plant matter is toxic to the lungs. It's impossible to measure the anti-carcinogenic effects that cannabis' components have individually, what's clear though is smoking plant matter releases carcinogenic compounds. Regardless of what components said plant might have. It's really pretty easy to believe...
No more washingtonpost references eh?
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080123104017.htm
http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/31/2/227.full
It's true you can dig up conflicting data on the subject but anyone in their right mind is going to understand how inhaling burning plant matter does not = less likely to get cancer
all trust scientists and the many studies done on it over just anyone. well yea it releases carcinogenic compounds, but thc which has an anti cancer effect which stops them from turning cells cancerous. i'm not saying smoking it doesn't have any negative effects on the lungs which have found to be an increased risk of bronchitis and wheezing, but it doesn't cause cancer.
as for curing cancer and/or reducing tumor size and slowing the spread of cancer, the studies didn't use smoked marijuana but injected thc.
and that study you posted from ers journals is a flawed study as shown by the criticism i posted above, never mind the fact they only used 79 subjects with cancer. as for the study on science daily, that used 10 patients that weren't randomly selected and didn't use controls which is a joke of a study. the one done by dr.tashkin included 2000 subjects and many of the smokers up to 59 years old and smoked heavily throughout their life. also his hypothesis was that it did cause cancer and is the researcher that found the amount of carcinogens and tar in in marijuana for the government, so you can't say it was because of bias.
and if you click on the cannabis culture link there's more than just from the Washington post.
-------------------- Over thinking, over analyzing separates the body from the mind Withering my intuition, missing opportunities and I must Feed my will to feel my moment drawing way outside the lines
Edited by bigmike7104 (04/30/11 08:45 PM)
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