Police Chiefs to Obama: Legalize Marijuana!
75The War on Drugs in 100 Seconds
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Breaking Rank: A Top Cop's Expose of the Dark Side of American Policing
Chapter 2 title: Wage War On Crime, Not Drugs
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During every nationally-televised sporting event, we're bombarded with ads for various brands of beer. Beer is "cool"...beer is "fun", they tell us. At many of these events, beer is even sold at the concession stands and hawked in the bleachers, seemingly without regard for the fact that most fans arrived in some type of vehicle, and will leave the same way, a drunk behind the wheel now a much greater possibility than before the event.
As a nod to the dangers of driving while intoxicated, most beer companies include in their ads a reminder to drink "responsibly". Big deal. Beer and sporting events go together like Mom and apple pie. If you get pulled over and can't pass the breathalyzer, you'll get a ticket, pay a fine, maybe spend a few hours or a night in jail. If you agree to enter a diversion program, your insurance company won't even know you were pulled over. Big deal.
So what's wrong with the following?
A college student we'll call Hank, a C+ sophomore who in many states isn't old enough to buy or drink any type of alcohol, gets blotto at a party off-campus. Driving back to the dorm, he runs a stop sign and plows into a car already in the intersection. The man in the other car, on his way home to his wife and three children after his second-shift job, is killed instantly. Hank isn't injured. Because it's his first offense, and because he agrees to enter diversion, he's given a stern lecture by the judge and promises never to drive while intoxicated again. Big deal. Life goes on as usual.
The same night Hank made a wife a widow and three kids fatherless, his roommate Bernie, a straight-A student on the Dean's List with aspirations of beoming a doctor, is on his way back to the dorm after an evening studying at the library. Sober. Doesn't drink, never has, but in his shirt pocket is a joint given to him by a study buddy for later to help him relax after the intense study session. A cop pulls him over for a burnt-out headlight, sees only the tip of the joint peeking out of the shirt pocket, and busts him for possession. Although only a misdemeanor, the charge will stay on his record forever and cost him his full scholarship and any chance of getting into medical school. Never mind he hadn't even lit it.
Several years later, Hank, now a member of the school's coaching staff, is still getting blotto, every night now, but at home where the new "sport" is beating his wife after downing a couple of 6-packs to "unwind". One night the neighbors call the police, who dutifully come and haul him away to jail for the night. The next day he promises to never beat her again, goes home, and life goes on as usual. Big deal.
That same night, a quadraplegic with a legal prescription for medical marijuana for pain, is arrested for possession and taken to jail. Jail facilities being what they are, he isn't allowed to have the respirator he needs periodically to breathe. He dies within 12 hours. But he had a legal presription for the pot, you say. Unfortunately, many jurisdictions still adhere to federal drug laws that decree possession of marijuana illegal under any circumstance. Had the man been drunk and joy riding through the mall in his motorized wheelchair, he would've been taken home, after promising never to do such a thing again of course. Instead he paid the ultimate fine.
Former Seattle police chief Norm Stamper questioned the flawed logic of keeping pot illegal while alcohol is openly advertised as "cool" and "fun". In an interview with reason.tv, he stated that every police chief and law enforcement officer he spoke with while researching his book "Breaking Rank" wants pot legalized. With the exception of the few who mix pot with other drugs, potheads are non-violent. If they get behind the wheel, which historically very few do while stoned, they're more likely to roll gently over a curb than plow into another car at high speed. They don't beat their wives and girlfriends, so there are ZERO complaints of domestic violence by anyone only under the influence of pot.
Our very own president freely admits he smoked pot regularly as a teenager. Lucky for us he was never busted for it, else at the very least he'd never have risen to any high office let alone the Big One, and at the worst, would still be languishing in prison. It's mind-boggling how many of our best and brightest are doing just that, to the tune of $36,000+ annually to keep just one of them behind bars. That's some pretty expensive weed.
Because marijuana is a banned substance, so is its non-hallucigenic distant cousin, hemp. Hemp is a fast-growing plant that will grow where other crops won't. It can be made into a variety of useful goods, fabric and soap being only two of many. But because of our antiquated drug laws, the importation of raw hemp is legal, growing it here is not. Therefore we're forced to buy raw hemp and hemp products from other countries where it's a major cash crop like corn is here. Products we could be making for our own consumption as well as exporting.
For all the reasons I've mentioned and many more in the videos, it is long past time to legalize marijuana. However, because it's no secret pot can be grown pretty much anywhere - in a field, in the basement, in a pot on the patio (excuse the pun) - I don't agree that it should be taxed and regulated like alcohol and tobacco, because that opens the door for taxing and regulating the vegetables and such that we grow in our backyard garden plots.
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The number one request on Obama's Change.org web site was ending the prohibition of marijuana and its non-hallucinogenic cousin, hemp.
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The mission of American Drug War (ADW) is the legalization of marijuana in order that addiction to it may be treated as a medical issue same as alcoholism and addiction to "hard" drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamines.
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Additional information can be found at these sites:
- Marijuana Policy Project (MPP)
The Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), the largest marijuana policy reform organization in the United States, works to remove criminal penalties for marijuana use, with a particular emphasis on making it medically available to seriously ill people. - Law Enforcement Against Prohibition
Criminal justice professionals speaking out against the War on Drugs. - Costs of Marijuana Prohibition: Economic Analysis
Replacing marijuana prohibition with a system of taxation and regulation similar to that used for alcoholic beverages would produce combined savings and tax revenues of between $10 billion and $14 billion per year, finds a June 2005 report by Dr. Jef - American Drug War: The Last White Hope - War on Drugs
35 years after Nixon began it, the War on Drugs has become the longest and most costly in American history...the question has become, how much more can the country endure? - Norm Stamper & Rick Steves to Address "World's Largest Pot Rally" (HempFest 2007)
You'll have to scroll down quite a ways to the blog post dated August 14, 2007. - Seattle Hempfest | August 15-16, 2009
Seattle Hempfest was founded to educate the public on the benefits of the Cannabis plant, including medicinal, industrial, agricultural, economic, environmental, and other benefits and applications, as well as domestic industrial hemp production. - Seattle Hempfest History
Seattle Hempfest started out as a humble little gathering of stoners and has grown into one of the most sophisticated cannabis policy reform events in the world.
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Comments
Hi Bill! I'm a bit puzzled by "no marijuana for recreational purposes". Alcohol has been a legal "recreational" drug since Prohibition was repealed (75 years ago last month, btw). Tobacco has (as far as I know) never been banned, altho nicotine is definitely a "drug". But politicians wanting to appear strong opponents of crime by railing against drugs, including marijuana, is *exactly* why it should be legalized. To put it into its rightful place alongside tobacco and alcohol, instead of wasting dwindling law enforcement resources on trying to catch people whose only "crime" is getting happy using a currently illegal substance.
Good hub! Can you imagine the governement being able to tell us what type of flowers and produce we could grow in our own yards? That's scary,
G'day JamaGenee, I think this Hub gets right to the guts of the matter. Money!!!
Can anybody tell us how much the Tobacco and Alcohol companies are paying to the lobyists to keep Pot from being legalised.
I have not heard of Norm Stamper but he does put foward a very good argument.
I must declare that I have never smoked pot and gave up smoking about 20 years ago.
Fabulous Hub, you voiced my own opinions far better and more eloquently than I ever could have. Well done JamaGenee :)
BTW, I once grew some Cannabis seeds in our conservatory when I lived in England. Sadly the plants all turned out to be male (no buds to dry and smoke), and as a novice at growing them anyway I never pinched out the tips. Result..... a very nice miniature tree about 4 foot tall with a slim straight trunk topped with a lovely pom pom of cannabis leaves at the top, what's more, I had 4 of them. I kept them for months and simply told people who visited they were a tropical palm that I didn't know the name of. In the end the coolness of the Winter weather killed them off, (by now we had moved them to an unheated greenhouse), but it was a shame as they would have made a great decorative houseplant for anyone, and were not actually smokeable due to being males anyway.
PS. I used to smoke Cannabis quite regularly, and my own experience tells me tobacco and alcohol are far more dangerous. Even I can get snappy and short tempered on booze, but on Cannabis, well, you just end up very relaxed and very hungry :) Oh, and of course unlike tobacco it is non addictive and easy to stop.
JamaGenee: I agree 100%, and your information is presented in a straight forward, logical fashion. I'm glad Mr. Stamper is speaking out. It's ashame current Police Chiefs are afraid to do so, and of course the industry the "War on Drugs" has created is a major problem. The absurdity of this situation is mind boggling. Why in the world would we try to repeat prohibition which was a miserable falure in the first place? American philosopher George Santayana said, "Those who cannot remember history are condemned to repeat it." Well, we are, and in a big way. People lives are being ruined in tragic proportions.
Perhaps with more enlightened people coming into positions of power, things will change. I pray they do.
Thanks for an excellent article!
JamaGenee, you obviously couldn't tAX your pot plants or your garden plants, but you could tax resin and pollun brought in from abroad. In fact it woud give some of the Afghan and Morroccan farmers currently growing poppies a chance to return to a traditional crop, one that they always used to grow before the advent of the crazy drug laws. Other than that I woldn't argue with a single word of this hub.
I'll smoke a joint in agreement to this hub.
Just blow a little in my general direction...would you?
Roll up the windows and don't let any of it out.
Buggar, can't you send some in this direction, I haven't had any in several years???? :)
We're enticing you to come visit America for its uh, fine sophisticated culture and the botanical gardening here is good to visit too.
agreed! Though, it is true that the government does tax medical marijuanna growers but the people that grow wont spill the buds on what they are actually giving the government and because it is fed. law prohibiting it, they don't keep books or locations public but it does happen.
Yip, never heard nor seen anyone act violently just smoking pot. I don't think I would mind being taxed on joints cause if they were legal I don't think I would care much while stoned.
Exactly, violence is reduced because people on Cannabis simply can't be bothered to fight. I reckon it should be standard issue in prisons and at UK football matches etc. Far less trouble all round.
agvulpes, darn right it's about money. Money that Alcohol and Tobacco companies wouldn't get had pot been legal all along. But I don't think anyone knows how much lobbyists have been paid to keep it illegal. There was a rumor years ago that it'd be legalized IF Tobacco companies could grow and sell it in packs same as cigarettes. Ditch weed hawked as Maui Wowie. Right....
Thanks, Christoph Reilly! You'd think the dismal example of Prohibition would be reason enough to legalize pot. But again, it's the money thing and who gets the biggest chunk. Oddly, pot is the acknowledged biggest cash crop (albeit illegal) in something like 25 states. Don't ask me how that was determined. Street value?...acreage? At any rate, states and local governments aren't getting a cut of the profits via income tax from the growers' profits. Rather they're *spending* huge amounts of tax money to find and destroy the pot. There used to be public burnings of the booty when a field was discovered - usually just before it was ready for harvest - as an example of 'if you grow it, we will find it'. Stopped when it dawned that the locals who came to watch weren't there to cheer good guys over bad, but for the contact high. ;)
rockinjoe, it IS scary that the government could dictate what we could grow in our own backyards, but in a sense they already do. We're not allowed to grow even one pot plant for our own consumption (but we CAN make our own beer and wine...go figure).
CJ, point well taken. We need to use common sense for the common good, instead of continuing a policy to eradicate the primary source of income for farmers in Afghanistan and Morocco.
goldentoad, blow some my way too!
sandra rinck, "spill the buds". Good one!
mistyhorizon, thanks for a good laugh about your lovely male Cannabis plants, so lovingly grown! Alas, over here even male plants would be a ticket to jail. Same for seeds (which from personal experience I can tell you have *no* THC value, that is if you can get them out of the blender after they're pulverized...) As for the non-violence aspect of pot, only thing I ever "attacked" was a 2-lb bag of Oreos! At indoor concerts in Las Vegas, security guards would conficate any alcohol people tried to sneak in, but ignore pot. A stoned crowd was a happy crowd. Only makes sense to issue it to prisoners and at UK football matches!
The Money Aspect of the drug war is far more complex than most people realize, The drug trade became a currency when Britain used Opium from Afghanistan to pay for goods and services in China. It is a great way to preserve your currency while pushing dope onto a less than colony. Ronald Reagan took this to a new level by using the CIA to channel the drug trade into the US to ensure governments that did our bidding would have open markets while ones that don't get shut out. What a great Idea to fund things that aren't popular, instead of taxes you just simply use all the money our poor and teenagers spend on drugs to finance governments that give great leeway to our Multinational Corporations.
This is how two faced the drug war is in. In Afghanistan we burn Opium Poppies that support the Taliban while helping the Farmers that are loyal to us. We want them to like us by helping them grow and distribute their crop. I wished I was making that up, but I have seen it.
TMG
Jama--you and I spend our best time together laughing. It's my favorite thing to do. But then, you knew that. So this is a little different conversation than any we've had before.
You make excellent points. You ever on a debate team?
I am so against drinking and driving that it's not even funny, but that wasn't the greatest point or even the purpose of this hub, I know. I know thousands of people can be trusted to drink responsibly. I've been known to have limited amounts on occasion. The sad thing about it is, you have to prove you are not responsible before anything is done--and ALOT of the time, not even then. This is not a popular opinion, but it is mine none-the-less: I would not be opposed AT ALL to prohibition rearing it's head again. I know there are major points against my opinion. Just because it's illegal, doesn't mean it will go away. Only the criminals will break the law, and the criminals are the ones we were worried about to start with. I know, I know, I know. But the senseless acts of violence against children, deaths, etc. just makes me so sad--and I DETEST being SAD! I want to laugh. Did I mention that?
Now on to the marijuana. I have never smoked pot or any other form of illegal drug. I have experienced the effects of big-time pain-killers under the care of hospital staff. Although I hated the feeling of not being in control (when I was coherent enough to know it), I can see how people could get addicted to it. Again, these were drugs like morphine, newbaine (sp?), demerol, hydrocodone, and others, not marijuana.
So this brings me to the quandry I have always had. And I'm not asking this out of judgement, only curiosity. What are the reasons for wanting to do drugs, including alcohol to the point of being drunk and yes, marijuana? Is it fun? Is it escape? I'm just curious. I'm curious if there is a way to acheive these feelings by other, less dangerous means. Again, not a judgemental statement whatsover. Plain, honest, everyday curiosity.
The same curiosity as my son has when he asks why the water goes to the right instead of the left when he flushes the toilet. Why a wad of toilet paper, but not a wad of paper towels will go to the right then down the hole at the bottom. Why does mommy laugh hysterically before punishing him when he puts the end of the roll of toilet paper in the toilet and flushes it. (Yes, I laughed--nearly peed my pants--but remember, I DO love to laugh). It's not that he's fascinated by the toilet--okay, maybe he is: it's a fascinating thing if you really think about it--we've just finished potty training, so much of life has been spent focusing on said toilet.
So I apologize if I have offended anyone--ESCPECIALLY you, JamaGenee--with my opinions or questions. Let the beating begin. I can take it--I'm still bundled up from sledding.
I love this hub! The last joint I smoked was 20 years ago at a Rolling Stones concert. I would still smoke it now and then if the idiotic, right wing social Nazis would leave us alone. Pot = 20mph. Alcohol = 90 mph. Choices?
Tom, I love "Pot = 20mph, Alcohol = 90mph"! Even the most thick-headed anti-potter can't argue with that one! In all the years I indulged in pot, I only got behind the wheel once. Figured out real quick it wasn't such a good idea, and never did it again.
Driving while seven or nine sheets to the wind was a different matter - did that wayyy too often. It's sheer luck that I didn't kill myself or someone else in the process. Call me an old fuddy-duddy, but no alcohol whatsoever should be sold (or served) at events that require driving to or from. Our meager law enforcement resources should be directed at those who think driving even a "little" drunk is "cool" or "okay", instead of knocking down doors to arrest otherwise law abiding souls who happen to be kicked back in their own home with a joint, no threat to anyone or anything but a bag of Oreos.
That someone as squeaky clean as Rick Steves publicly advocates repeal of our Draconian pot laws only underscores how far America has fallen behind the rest of the developed world.
"Land of the free" rings rather hollow when more citizens who prefer Perma-grin and the Munchies are locked up (and for longer periods) than ones who prefer alcohol-induced domestic violence, vehicular homicide, and shooting or beating to death loved ones or strangers while in a drunken rage. As you said: Choices??
Love the bag of Oreos! Alcohol creates crime. Crime creates jobs for Judges, lawyers, counselors, police, prisons, etc. Pot, pretty much just creates hunger and horn blowing from someone who is in a hurry. If people smoked pot in place of drinking alcohol, crime would drop, but government funded employment would take a dive.
Alcohol promotes violence and is one major cash cow of the system. It is mind boggling to think of the leeches attatched to alcohol abuse. Sickly and sadly, the bottom line is money. When Billy Bob gets drunk and throws his wife through a window, how many people profit from it? His wife sure doesn't.
You are sooo right! It's ALL about money and who profits from the despair and destruction alcohol causes. Those who make it, those who sell it, and those who stitch up the casualties. To paraphrase Hawkeye in an episode of M*A*SH* "what a terrible thing if PEACE broke out". Which is exactly what would happen if pot were legal. Sounds like a no-brainer to me.
btw, about 25 years ago our wonderful federal government spent $650,000 on a study that determined marijuana increased appetite. Over half a mill for information that could've been obtained for free (or maybe a dime bag) by hanging out at a convenience store on a Friday or Saturday night, or at the concession stands during *any* rock concert.
This "study" also determined pot eased nausea, and would therefore be beneficial to chemo patients. The next logical step *should've* been to amend *federal* law to make medical marijuana users immune from prosecution in all 50 states. But naturally it wasn't.
The irony being the people who *could* amend the law routinely have a drink (or four) to "relax" after a long day in Congress, forgetting that making or possessing alcohol was once as illegal as pot is now. Or the millions (billions in today's dollars) wasted trying to stop the flow of bathtub gin and booze smuggled in from places it wasn't illegal. And then there are the sheep at FDA They have NO problem approving any garbage Big Pharma cranks out, but gawdforbid they do the same for a plant BP can't control or profit from.
Thanks for sharing this vital information and gluing it together with a well-considered argument. "Make love not war." And that goes for the war on drugs. Thumbs up, JamaGenee. (Love your avatar!)
I don't think there's enough pot on the planet to make me drink gin that's been in someone's bathtub!! :-))
What a terrible thing if PEACE broke out". I love that line. I just found out that my older brother, Tim, has cancer. If he wants pot, I will make sure that he gets it. Love is thicker than legislature.
"Love is thicker than legislature"
Now, THAT's a good one!!!!
PM, during Prohibition, people didn't care where alcohol came from, as long as they could get it.
Tom, sorry to hear your brother has cancer, but he's lucky that you believe "Love is thicker than legislature". As for the line from M*A*S*H, I'll see if I can find the episode it was in. I'm sure it's on video or a DVD somewhere.
Thank you JamaGenee, I would love to see the episode.
*take a deep breath and hold...* What a nice smell I sense in this hub :D
I almost can`t remember how good it smells after all this years but I still know it should be legalized. Thanks JamaGenee, it was a very interesting reading and it deserves a big thumb up!
Yes, funride. But are you INHALING?!?!??
Oh, funride (she says sighing...), pot's like riding a bicycle - ya never *totally* forget how good it smells. Same for how permagrin feels. ;D Thanks for the big thumbs up!
Proud Mom, since I know you aren't a smoker and never have been, inhaling and "take a deep breath and hold" (the longer the better) are the same thing in marijuana terminology. However, being a non-smoker, if you ever want to find out how a pot high feels, there's a brownie recipe I can recommend. Or just attend any indoor rock concert and breathe deeply several times during the encore. ;)
Fantastic hub JamaGenee. Accurate, passionate and very well written.
There's really not a lot I can add to what others have said. Being a Woodstock alumnus and a rock musician of the sixties and seventies, I know from years of personal experience that pot is harmless and does NOT lead inevitably to the use and addiction to other, shall we say, less benign drugs.
Wow, CWB! Considering your credentials, I'm honored (and humbled) by your stamp of approval. Pot IS harmless compared to alcohol, is NOT the gateway to addiction to hard drugs, and locking up pot users is a total waste of our potential and productivity!
I agree that using law enforcement resources to track down and lock up pot smokers is a huge waste. I was surprised to see your paragraphs about how DUIs or drunk in publics are handled. Out here in CA, both are not only fined and jailed (at least overnight) they are FORCED to go through -- and pay for -- an alcohol education class. DUIs lose their license for 5 months. It's not just a slap on the wrist.
I must disagree with those who claim pot is NOT addictive. It CAN BE. If you one of those people who are inclined toward addiction, you can become dependent on pot just as you would on alcohol. Does it inevitably lead to harder drugs? No. But repeated us can put you in company with others who are more open to experimentation. Also, the weed out there today ain't nothing like what was smoked in the 1970s. It's way, way stronger. My son's primary drug of choice has always been weed. He is now in his 4th rehab and he is not quite 17. I think it's safe to say in his case he crossed that imaginary line from recreational use into abuse and dependency.
Having said that, there are so many more important issues this country and its law enforcement personnel should be dealing with. Government needs to get its hand out of citizens' lungs and let them decide for themselves...
JamaGenee, please, you overestimate my "credentials". I'm just an aging hippie who wants nothing more than to see the world at Peace before I die.
It is I who am humbled by your proffered respect.
You're so right, Mighty Mom, that government should get it's hands out of citizens' lungs, and focus law enforcement resources on *real* crime. Yes, unfortunately your son being an example, pot CAN be addictive if one has a predisposition to chemical dependency. I've heard today's pot is much stronger than what was around in the '70s, but I've not looked into why that is. Only plants that produce more THC being harvested? Or only pot grown in specific areas reaching the streets? Something else added after harvesting? And hurrah for California taking DUI seriously. Too bad more states don't.
CWB, stop blushing and sputtering! I only meant your "credentials" as one with much more up-close-and-personal" experience with pot users, rather than that of an occasional dabbler like myself.
Those credentials I do indeed have. In one communal band home I was dubbed "The Keeper of the Pipe". LOL It was a hookah with wine instead of water.
I don't support the tax and regulation of home grown herb but like anything else sold for consumption in the market place it would have to be taxed and regulated. I know too many people who have no patience for growing a plant or like a myriad of tasty high potency strains that are somewhat tricky to manage as plants to believe that everyone will grow their own stash. There also has to be an economic gain as seizures and property auctions are going to drop off and that means a lot of police agencies and governments are going to lose money if they don't see an avenue to regain that revenue you can forget about broad support. Other then that I am in total agreement with you.
Fantastic Hub. The law seems to be making a fool of itself when it comes to pot. The benefits to pain sufferers has been well proven for years.
Horatio, how about the $36,000+ a year states are paying to keep ONE pot user in prison? Multiply that times however many are already there and that should be more than enough to offset the loss of revenue from auctioning off seized property. The only loser here will be owners of privately-run prisons banking on the penal system continuing to be a growth industry.
Thanks, danjutsu. You're right - the law does make a fool of itself when it comes to pot. If they spent as much time and energy taking *real* criminals off the streets as they do pot users, our cities would be virtually crime-free.
I still fail to see how not taxing and regulating Cannabis sold to the public makes anymore sense then not taxing and regulating tomatos sold in the supermarket. If the product becomes legal those grow it and distribute it for profit have to come out of the dark and into the guise of selling a regulated and safe product. Which means the consumer knows exactly what they get and taxes paid go to fund usda and fda monitors to ensure product quality and safe and sanitary handling. Otherwise some fundy yayhoo poisons a batch and the prohibiton is back before you can say 'in road to terrorism' Without regulation it would be up to individual growers and sellers to insure that minors did not consume it. You can't sell this deal to the public without putting safeguards to insure kids do not wind up doing bong hits on the play ground. That is just the sort of op-advert you can expect too. Oh and 36,000 is what WE pay the for profit prison to keep the pothead, 8000-12000 goes to the actual upkeep of the prisoner. Those for-profit prisons got there because they have connections and they are going to angry about every 20,000 hole in their balance sheet. The politicians that got them the prison management contract are going to fight to save their contributors from that loss. When it gets proposed you have to be able to shoot down on the paper tigers they will use to attack your Position. They say it'll reduced police jobs; no it'll refocus law enforcement assets to stop hard street drugs and unregulated distribution. They say kids will get stoned at school; They do that already because it's unregulated, under a regulated system selling unregulated product is illegal and selling unregulated product to a kid becomnes a serious felony for which there will be a registration much like sex offenders. Once you have dealt to kids you are no longer trusted with either pot or kids.
As I said, I totally agree; what you grow in your backyard for your use at your home, totally unregulated. If you sell your crop or the crops you buy then to the public then the crop needs to be regulated for publically safety. Let's face it not every one will grow their own. People will want to open cafe's and whole rich market will devolop but if it does so without guidence and regulation and without paying for itself the liberation won't last a year without being declared a national disaster.
Mmmm, it sure smells nice in here!:D
Just to set the record straight, JamaGenee, I do not believe marijauna should be illegal, but I also see no reason to indulge in it. Neither do I oppose prohibition of alcohol, despite the fact that only last night I attended the wake of a VFW member's 35-year-old son who was killed by an allegedly drunken driver. It surprises me, personally, that so many hubbers here endorse smoking marijuana. But I would never suggest that anyone should be arrested for using marijuana "recreationally." At the same time, I totally endorse the use of medicinal marijuana when and if it relieves unwanted symptoms. I smoked cigarettes for many years, and I enjoyed the habit, and I drank my share of alcohol as a youth, but I wouldn't suggest that my grandchildren follow in my footsteps in that regard. Fundamentally, I simply don't think it's wise to take any kind of mind altering drug for recreation purposes, whether it be marijuana, cigarettes, a scotch and soda or rat poison.
Bring Back Prohibition !!! Alcohol Kills!!! a drunk driver killed my best friend. When I do drink I have the good sense to stay home, or walk, unfortuntaley a lot of people do not have that kind of sense. In my experience with pot, it makes you generally to lazy to do much more than watch the grass grow, which can be a very pleasurable experience.
Sandman, prohibition didn't eliminate alcohol use, same for pot. The resources now used on catching pot users could be re-directed to getting drunk drivers off the street, stopping abusive spouses, and generally UN-glamorizing booze.
Alcohol killed my best friend too, although it was self-inflicted over 30 years. I personally prefer watching grass grow from above, not below. btw, pot smoke will make flies *hover*. Another pleasurable experience that kept me and friends entertained for hours!
I agree totally, all the money spent on catching pot users is a total waste. It should be spent on the "legal" substances, such as alcohol, which has been proven time and time again to be more dangerous and harmful to the well being of mankind. It seems to me, when you prohibit something, you give the criminals more power, because they end up controling it, i.e. organized crime, etc. I guess the powers that be kinda like it that way because it's like job security for them or something. Like the bigger the problem gets, the more money and resources they get, and that ends up meaning more and more control over the populace. Kind of makes you think, hmmm............
Too right MD. Just think how much smaller budgets DEA IBE and DHS would have if suddenly the the Drug Cartels had 60% of their profits cut off without having to so much as make a traffic stop. The punch line is that because the Cartels wouldn't have money coming in from pot, cocaine, herion, and meth would all experience a price spike because currently their costly and risk intensive production, transportation, and distribution is being subsidized by the Cartel's cross border grow operations which net something like 500 bucks profit for every doller spent.
I have to agree with everything you've said here. There is another side benefit to this that nobody has mentioned. Think how many more teens will get employment at places like Pizza Hut and Domino's! There could be new Oreo factories popping up all over to keep up with the demand for munchies. Potato chip and cracker factories will be hiring hundreds to keep up with the increased demand.
Legalizing pot could very well supply the economic stimulus we need to drag ourselves out of the depression our world is in!
Then there's the need for paraphernalia. An entire new industry could be built around pipes and hookahs, not to mention really elegant roach clips. Videos that run and re-run for hours with wonderful visual effects that will keep a stoner fascinated. The entire entertainment industry could be revitalized in a new and calmer direction.
There could even be advances in the paranormal research area. After all, everyone knows that when you're high you can levitate a 2lb bag of oreos from the kitchen to the couch! The real mystery is how it got turned outside in and licked clean! LOL
Its sad that people who drink and drive had caused fatal accidents but gets away with it like its just a traffic accident? I had a friend who dated a guy like that. Plus he was bad news to begin with. I'm glad that she finally got the message after he pulled a gun out on her.
'Bad news' is an understatement, mayhmong! A drunk with a gun. Too many of those around these days, but sadly, completely legal. No wonder cops would rather deal with a suspect high on pot....
As an avid gardener, my yard is filled with deadly poison. It's crazy how many average plants and weeds are deadly. I even bought some seeds for castor bean plants from a catalouge, that's what they use to make reisin. But if I had a pot plant I'd be arrested. It's ridiculous.
Dolores, it *is* ridiculous that pot is prohibited as "dangerous" on several levels when average plants and weed are not. Apparently it's okay if a plant can kill you, but not okay if a plant can give you a case of the giggles. Seems to me we need more giggles and less death.
Everyone here has made good points and I have enjoyed reading them. Here's the lowdown: Pot makes you happy and relaxed, it's grown in nature, it's NEVER caused a death, it alone has never caused abuse, it's no different a substance than any other OTC drug (Sudafed and Benadryl that cause drowsiness, hence the warning labels and the fact that not everyone has the body chemistry to handle them), we can never stop children from getting their hands on illegal substances no matter what we do-that's the nature of the beast (reality), need I go on?
This is an awesome hub, you pointed out important facts and figures. I also believe that pot will be legalized soon. Why else would it be such a hot topic right now and not in the past? Great job:)
Thanks, Jamie! You made an equally good case for legalization in your hub too. The more the merrier. btw, the similarity between pot and OTC drugs never occurred to me until you said that. So true. So let's ban Sudafed and Benadryl for awhile and see how well *that* goes over! ;D
Jama, fantastic hub! (starry eyed) will you be my friend?
Only if you bring the Oreos! Oh where are my manners! I'll be your friend even if you don't! ;D (Glad you liked the hub) :)
It's sad that this is even up for debate to the point that you had to write about it. Great hub, here.
J. Kumm, I totally agree. The list of how the U.S. lags behind other developed countries is getting longer every day. Very sad.
Yeah, tell that to the metric system... LOL
Hey, Cricket! You're right. I'm for one am ever thankful that we didn't go metric here. It's our way of getting back at England for refusing to drive on the right (and correct) side of the road! ;D
Not to mention, if we did legalize and tax it, what good would that do for the man? It's legal, I would buy from my suppliers as usual, I wouldn't buy weed with taxes tagged on. That's silly. Once we get all the old thinkers out of power I am sure we will see changes. A new generation of thinkers are taking over and hopefully that will make all the difference. Not only with pot, but everything else that is wrong in this world as a result of our previous world leaders.
I couldn't agree more!
William F. Torpey says:
10 months ago
While I've never tried marijuana, JamaGenee, I agree that it should be legalized. Obviously, the illegality of marijuana has not been successful in ending, or even reducing its use to any great extent. I am not in favor of marijuana for "recreation" purposes, but it especially should not be outlawed for medical purposes. I think I could list hundreds of legal prescription drugs that are far more dangerous than marijuana. I believe alcohol is another matter, but you make some very poignant points on that issue. Many politicians want to appear to be strong opponents of crime by railing against drugs, including marijuana, because they believe it will bring them more votes. They favor capital punishment for the same reason. What we need in government is good motives and common sense. Let's hope the last election has brought us at least some of that.