GUEST COLUMNIST: Reining in DEA will help those who rely on medical marijuana

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October 22, 2009 6:28 PM

Rod Bernsen

In all of nature, the most unnatural act is a parent losing a child.

Our son, Matthew William Bernsen died on Jan. 7, after a six-month fight with a very aggressive type of cancer.

By the time Matt was diagnosed, his cancer was at stage four and the disease had rapidly spread from his lungs, invading his spine, hip and leg. My son was in terrible agony, suffering excruciating non-stop pain, that even the most powerful narcotics could not bring him relief.

My wife and I were blessed to be able to care for Matt, but at the same time we suffered with him, helpless to do anything for him when the pain was overwhelming.

Matt chose to fight with chemotherapy — a polite way of describing ingesting powerful poisons that only added to his misery.

When we learned the devastating diagnosis, Matt asked his physician about medical marijuana to counter the effects of the chemotherapy.

In Colorado, like California, the voters support the use of so-called medical marijuana. His doctor told him that officially he was neutral, but then this doctor when on to give several reasons why Matt would benefit from using what I used to refer to as, “a green leafy substance resembling marijuana.” This is how I, as a career Los Angeles police officer, described marijuana in my arrest reports.

Colorado law enforcement allows the dispensing of medical marijuana by licensed outlets; not so the federal government.

The Drug Enforcement Agency, an arm of the U.S. Justice Department, regularly shuts down these medical pot merchants, citing federal law that prohibits the sale of a simple plant that does bring relief to those in chronic pain — including my son.

Yes, there were pot-laced brownies in the house and green-tinted weed-butter to spread on toast for my son.

As Bob Dylan sang, “the times, they are a changing.” President Barack Obama has directed his U.S. attorneys to no longer prosecute cases where federal agents seize medical marijuana. This reverses the previous administration’s policy, and will help the sick and dying.

Parents whose children are suffering unspeakable pain now no longer have to worry about a gang of black-clad federal dope cops kicking down their down their doors to seize the stash of medical marijuana because even simple possession remains a federal crime.

Reasonable people, including medical professionals, can and do disagree on the efficacy of medical marijuana, but as one father who saw first-hand how much relief this simple plant brought to my dying son, I am grateful for the president’s decision. And yes, in some respects, I deeply regret making all those marijuana arrests.

—

Bernsen is a retired LAPD sergeant and former reporter for Fox 11 News in Los Angeles. He and his wife now live in Monument.

On the next edition of Street Stories: LET OUR WARRIORS WIN OR BRING THEM HOME. Time has come for all of us to prevent another Viet Nam. The president is more concerned about Chicago getting the Olympic than his role as Commander in Chief-- God help our Warriors, their families, all Americans. If the party in power are going to micro-manage the wars based on their "base" or "polling"-- time is now for all of us demand funding for these two wars be cuts off so we can bring our Warriors home.

Also, two comments on the TalkRadioOne website make for great radio. One felony ignorant listener takes me to task over the LAPD-- this coward will never allow facts to get in the way of his beliefs! Another tragic listener ignores the science regards nuclear material-- favoring hysterical myths.

Give a listen to an entertaining hour of talk.

Rod

Today is August 28, 2009 and on tonight's edition of Street Stories, Rod interviews St. Paul Pioneer Press Columnist Ruben Rosario about the national story of Minnesota officers allegedly beating a suspect.

Also, Rod offers some thoughts on federal investigators (note: not detectives) who investigate local and state police departments and their officers.

On this week's Street Stories:

The funeral celebration for a pop singer caused the biggest deployment of LAPD officers since the 1984 Olympic Games! An insider's perspective on the adverse impact of Michael Jackson's wake caused the citizens of Los Angeles-- far more than just their tax dollars.

Plus, comparing what it was to be an LAPD officer back in the 1970's and 80's to coppers today. I explain just how and why I could not longer be an LAPD officer in 2009.

Join me at www.talkradioone.com, on Friday nights, 7:00 pm (Pac), 8:00 pm (Mt).

On the eve of the 4th of July, would you please join me in taking a moment to pray for (or just consider) our men and women of our Armed Forces.

I am fortunate to live in a place where we celebrate our country's birth, are grateful for those who have sacrificed some by serving in the Military and those who sacrificed all-- given their lives for our freedom.

God's Blessing to you and the United States of America.

Rod

U.S. Army, 1966 to 1969

On this edition of Rod Bernsen's Street Stories: Finally, a positive step toward ending decisions based on race-- The Ricci Case. Also, ever get a speeding ticket? I talk about the process and why traffic enforcement is both good and bad. See the next article as proof that there is no such thing as a "routine traffic" stop. Finally, Movie Cops: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. I explain why bad films and television shows really do hurt police. Give a listen, www.talkradioone.com, Friday, 7pm (Pac), 8pm (Mt).

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I was unable to verify at the time of this post that the USMC Pilot really was a reserve who full time job is a: LAPD Street Cop.

Two California Highway Patrol Officers were conducting speeding enforcement on I-15, just north of the Marine Corps Air Station atMiramar . One of the officers was using a hand held radar device to check speeding vehicles approaching the crest of a hill. The officers were suddenly surprised when the radar gun began reading 300 miles per hour.. The officer attempted to reset the radar gun, but it would not reset and then turned off.

Just then a deafening roar over the treetops revealed that the radar had in fact locked on to a USMC F/A-18 Hornet (Northrop Grumman aircraft) which was engaged in a low flying exercise near the location.

Back at the CHP Headquarters the Patrol Captain fired off a complaint to the USMC Base Commander. The reply came back in true USMC style:

~ ~ ~

Thank you for your letter. We can now complete the file on this incident.

You may be interested to know that the tactical computer in the Hornet had detected the presence of, and subsequently locked on to your hostile radar equipment and automatically sent a jamming signal back to it, which is why it shut down.

Furthermore, an Air-to-Ground missile aboard the fully armed aircraft had also automatically locked on to your equipment location.

Fortunately, the Marine Pilot flying the Hornet recognized the situation for what it was, quickly responded to the missile system alert status and was able to override the automated defense system before the missile was launched to destroy the hostile radar position.

The pilot also suggests you cover your mouths when cussing at them, since the video systems on these jets are very high tech.

Sergeant Johnson, the officer holding the radar gun, should get his dentist to check his left rear molar. It appears the filling is loose. Also, the snap is broken on his holster.

Thank you for your concern.

Semper Fi

Back in the day when newspapers ruled, whenever there was a major breaking story someone would cry: "Stop the presses, breakup the front page." I can only wonder if the death of a singer would have caused such a commotion back then?

Today, newspapers are dying and television news from the network to the local station are struggling. Why?

Take a moment to think about the so-called "wall to wall" coverage of the death of Michael Jackson, apparently from natural causes-- still to be determined as of this writing. Again I ask why?

The decision makers, i.e. news directors will claim this is what their viewing audience wants. I believe the truth is elsewhere.

First, the heard mentality. Reporters have always competed with each other, trying to beat each other to advance a story. Nothing new here. What is tragic is the definition of news today and how it is reported.

Second, concerns about what the other stations are doing. Are they live? Do they have a chopper overhead? How many reporters on on the story? True enough when covering something like a wild fire that is consuming neighborhoods, but the death of a singer. Or last years ridiculous coverage of another singer's mental breakdown?

There can be no argument that Edward R. Murrow is the dean of broadcast journalism-- more godlike really. And it is Murrow in his own words who warned us in a speech to the Radio Television News Directors Association 50 years ago that what is happening will happen.

Murrow said, ". . . And if there are any historians about fifty or hundred years from now, and there should be preserved the kinescopes (film machines) for one week of all three networks, they will there find recorded in black and white, or color, evidence of decadence, escapism and insulation from the realities of the world in which we live." I have included a link to Murrow's speech below.

The very definition of decadence is the coverage of Michael Jackson's natural death not just because he was a popular singer-- but also suspected in child molestation's-- never convicted though. The breathless reporting on mainstream newscasts stories that Britney Spears didn't wear panties could only be described as decadent!

Sadly, Murrow's prediction came true in spades-- note that he gave this speech fifty years ago.

Murrow's point was not only to warn, but to push for responsible news reporting; investigative pieces on subjects that while a large audience isn't guaranteed, those who do watch will be better informed or perhaps better warned. So instead of using their considerable resources from the networks including cable news to local stations to gather and present the serious news that truly affects our lives, broadcasters chose instead to go all out so they could out do the competition on the natural death of a singer.

http://www.rtnda.org/pages/media_items/edward-r.-murrow-speech998.php

Critics! Please let us remember what President Teddy Roosevelt said, "It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best , knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."

Next Show, June 26, 2009

Wow! What a line up for my next show.

First, we revisit the Armed Citizen discussion-- this time El Paso County, Colorado Sheriff Terry Maketa speaks for himself. The sheriff blows the lid of of the emotional and hysterical anti-gun nuts arguments for gun control. This is a must hear interview.

Next up, an interview with Bill Rhett, Hi-Caliber Investigations. Bill retired from the LAPD and is now a very successful criminal defense investigator. Some would say, "how could he." Bill can answer that question for himself.

Finally, the second half of Rod Bernsen's Street Stories will deal with the recent so-called investigative report broadcast on Chicago's local Fox station.

This is a perfect example of a totally bogus effort to make the cops wrong when they aren't. Also I will use this story as the poster child with what is wrong with local news-- especially when they cover the cops. Here's a hint: Beautiful women in short skirts. Tragically, that probably got your attention.

Tune in for more, www.talkradioone.com, Friday night, 7:00 p.m. Pacific an 8:00 p.m. Mountain.

Armed Citizens and The Myth of Racial Profiling

Join me Friday night at 7:00 pm (PDT), 10:00 pm (MDT) for the second edition of Street Stories. This week El Paso County Sheriff Terry Meketa joins me with proof that armed citizens make are there when his deputies can't be. Also, like Global Warming, the myth of racial profiling remains alive just because people want to believe there really is such a thing-- but without any credible evidence it even exists.

You can email me at: rods.streetstories@gmail.com

CRIME, GUNS, AND VIDEOTAPE: Chicago Cops Having too Much Fun?

CRIME, GUNS, AND VIDEOTAPE: Chicago Cops Having too Much Fun?

First Show

Tonight will be the first show on www.talkradioone.com-- thanks to Marc Germain who is better know as Mr. KABC and before that as Mr. KFI.

Tonight I will set the tone, give a little background on myself then jump right into it. Off the top, the Ricci case before the U.S. Supreme Court. Hartford, Conn. Fire Lieutenant Ricci brought suit alleging reverse discrimination. With the grace of God and sound reasoning, the Supremes will finally put an end to discrimination of any type and KILL all affirmative action programs--PERIOD.

In the second half of the hour, I take a look at the deplorable condition of the Fourth Estate. From failing newspapers to network news to local television news. Of course I give my thoughts on how it happened, e.g. the mainstream press in the tank for the democrats in 2008 sure didn't help themselves.

Next week: Guns-- why all the good guys should have one and be prepared to use them. Plus razor sharp opinions on news of the week.

Back On The Air

CORRECTED EMAIL ADDRESS:

Join me every Friday night at 7:00 p.m. PST (Los Angeles) for my talk show: STREET STORIES. Go to: www.talkradioone.com. I will be talking about topical issues, especially news that affects police officers. I will compare what coppers were like and had to do back when I was a LAPD officer and sergeant to the complexities coppers face today.

For those of you who know me you will not be surprised to see my expression and hear my opinions on this Blog and on the show.

Of course I invite one and all to comment here or by emailing me directly at: rods.streetstories@gmail.com