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| 40 Years of Reefer Madness |
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Posted by CN Staff on February 19, 2006 at 09:44:28 PT By Rick Holmes Source: Milford Daily News 
Massachusetts -- Save us from politicians sending messages. They were at it again this week, debating a bill that would provide civil fines, instead of criminal records, for those caught possessing small amounts of marijuana. "That’s the wrong message to send to our kids," Attorney General Tom Reilly said. "We have to keep them out of drugs." State Rep. Karyn Polito, R-Shrewsbury, agreed, saying the bill "sends the wrong message." Let’s get real: Politicians don’t send messages, especially to kids, who couldn’t name their state representative if their iPods depended on it. For 40 years, politicians have been "sending messages" to kids about the dangers of pot and for 40 years, the kids have been ignoring them. State legislators and attorneys general don’t send messages; they pass laws and prosecute people caught breaking them. The law they have now says they can send you to prison for six months and fine you $500 for possession of a single joint -- on top of your lawyer’s fees, of course. Another law makes anyone convicted of marijuana possession ineligible for federal college loans or grants. Nice message they are sending: Anyone who smokes pot shouldn’t be able to go to college. Reilly is worried about sending messages to kids, but the law he supports applies to adults as well. A federal study released last year found that 12 percent of adults in the greater Boston area had smoked marijuana in the previous month. Twelve percent broke the law by choosing this relatively benign alternative to a cocktail. What message are the politicians sending to millions of adults? That they can’t decide for themselves which mild intoxicant to enjoy. That their government believes they must be treated like children -- or criminals. The adults aren’t listening to the politicians’ message any more than the kids are. Some of them have been laughing at "reefer madness" propaganda for 40 years, and the passage of time hasn’t made it any more convincing. In fact, the aging of the baby boomers has given science its first opportunity to measure the impact of long-term drug use. In a recent review of the research, Time magazine reported that, while cocaine and heroin are as dangerous as originally thought, "the so-called demon weed turned out to be a lot less devilish than advertised. "The popular image of the goofy, smoky slacker notwithstanding, a 2003 study in the Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society found that even among regular users, there is no proof that pot causes irreversible cognitive damage," Time writes. Long-term use can affect memory, but those effects fade if the user stops. Marijuana can be addictive for some, says psychologist Peter Provet, president of Odyssey House. "But a lot of people who use pot don’t become addicts." Forty years doesn’t seem to have changed the politics of drug laws. State legislators all seem to have this Nixon-era belief that if they support any marijuana reform bill the voters will decide they are hippies and the narcs will search their sock drawers. But the voters are way ahead of them. Over the last five years, voters in 26 Massachusetts districts -- including those represented by Sen. Richard Moore, D-Uxbridge, Rep. Debby Blumer, D-Framingham and Rep. Jim Vallee, D-Franklin -- have been asked in ballot questions whether they support a reform bill similar to the one now before the Legislature. In every case, voters supported the reforms by a healthy margin. Moore, Blumer and Vallee all promptly said they would ignore the wishes of the voters in their districts. Something about sending a message, if I recall. Vallee, who was then chairman of the criminal justice committee, said it probably didn’t have the votes to pass, so he wouldn’t allow his committee to consider it. But something has changed. Vallee’s criminal justice committee was eliminated and a new committee on mental health and substance abuse was created. The new committee is concerned with getting effective treatment to people who are addicted and ill. It approaches substance abuse as an issue of public health, not public morality. It’s more interested in helping people than in sending messages by locking them up. That committee this week endorsed the decriminalization bill, but given the wimpishness of the other legislators, it may go no further. Asked about the bill, Rep. David Linsky, D-Natick, declined to take a position. "I’m not sure the bill will get to the floor," he said hopefully. Even this bill, which would change the penalty for possession of less than an ounce of marijuana to a $250 fine, is a weak compromise with common sense. The common sense approach would recognize that, by almost any measure, marijuana is no worse than beer. And the legitimate concerns about pot -- purity, potency and abuse by children -- could most easily be addressed by treating it exactly like beer. Kids have told me it’s easier to get hold of pot than alcohol. There’s a reason for that: Alcohol is sold by liquor store owners who face heavy fines and lost business if they are caught selling to anyone under 21. There’s also a reason why the jump to hard drugs is easier for pot-smokers than drinkers: The man at the liquor store might want to talk you into a finer wine or fancier brew, but he doesn’t stock cocaine or crystal meth. Why not let him put some regulated, taxed marijuana in his humidor along with the cigars? But common sense and sound public policy go out the window when politicians fall under the sway of reefer madness. They are too busy sending messages no one is listening to and locking up otherwise responsible citizens. Rick Holmes’ column appears on Sundays. Source: Milford Daily News, The (MA) Related Articles & Web Sites: MassCann Bid To Decriminalize Marijuana is Debated Pot Bill Lights Up Debate Legislative Panel Backs Bill To Decriminalize Time for Serious Talk About Pot Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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| Comment #14 posted by Hope on February 19, 2006 at 14:23:53 PT |
| Everyday that passes, it seems, I never cease to be amazed and awed at the Internet. Here we are...people all over the world...able to contact one another instantly in a few keystrokes or mouse clicks. Not to mention all the information available to us in a matter of minutes. It is amazing. I feel so lucky to have been born at a time to be able to participate. Cool invention. Really cool. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #13 posted by FoM on February 19, 2006 at 14:22:16 PT |
| Politicians have way to many issues to try to figure out. Having knowledge about many things means they can't be a master of anything I believe. They don't have any depth in issues whether it's our issue or any issue. They always have to think about who not to offend or they might not give them any money to further their political careers. That's why I don't believe politicians. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #12 posted by Hope on February 19, 2006 at 14:13:18 PT |
| I may be getting "mean" again. I'm not saying they should be physically harmed or locked up ...just get them out of American government. They don't belong in it. They are exactly the types this country was formed to be a refuge from. Nobody in their right minds would ever vote for these guys again after reading that statement. Prohibitionists would of course, but I said, "right mind" and I've never met a prohibitionist that was in that "right mind" place. They like dictating to others and tyranizing those they dislike. That's not a "right mind". [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #11 posted by Hope on February 19, 2006 at 14:08:06 PT |
| "Moore, Blumer and Vallee all promptly said they would ignore the wishes of the voters in their districts". What's it going to take for these guys to recall that we are supposed to be a "government by the people.....". Personally...I think they should be investigated for criminality because of betraying their pledges to serve the people, and kicked out and kept out of government because they forgot the initial tenant....they are working for the people. Who are they working for when they say they "...will ignore the wishes of the voters...". Fire 'em! Fire 'em fast and fire 'em hard and don't let them back in the public buildings they are profaning with their little dictatorships. Creeps. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #10 posted by global_warming on February 19, 2006 at 13:26:15 PT |
| that can rock you into this 'world, stand before, become a 'witness, [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #9 posted by global_warming on February 19, 2006 at 13:21:41 PT |
| Why do I have shame? [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #8 posted by global_warming on February 19, 2006 at 13:09:49 PT |
| this portal is open for business, [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #7 posted by global_warming on February 19, 2006 at 12:55:22 PT |
| " Moore, Blumer and Vallee all promptly said they would ignore the wishes of the voters in their districts..." Seems to me, that it is time to get that sharp guillotine ready, these people who stand above 'law and in this time and very day oppose the 'will of the people, shall easily be forgotten, on the trail, that Glory Trail. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #6 posted by global_warming on February 19, 2006 at 12:09:22 PT |
| " But something has changed. Vallee’s criminal justice committee was eliminated and a new committee on mental health and substance abuse was created. The new committee is concerned with getting effective treatment to people who are addicted and ill. It approaches substance abuse as an issue of public health, not public morality. It’s more interested in helping people than in sending messages by locking them up." It was always the public health, that was never respected, by putting a human being into some prison system, who? is served? [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #5 posted by FoM on February 19, 2006 at 12:01:53 PT |
| Massachusetts is a really pretty state. It's very congested but a number of years ago I saw college kids up there when they were getting out of classes and I had to smile. They look like they will be the ones to help bring change to the current way things are. Some of the best activist type musicians came from that area of the USA. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #4 posted by global_warming on February 19, 2006 at 11:55:08 PT |
| can we have a motion to ratify? [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #3 posted by Hope on February 19, 2006 at 11:40:22 PT |
| Beautiful "Message". The blessed ones will hear it , no doubt. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #2 posted by museman on February 19, 2006 at 11:07:01 PT |
| CRAP on their 'messages.' Here's a message for all you power mongers; "You are all a bunch of liars, thieves, war criminals, the REAL 'terrorists,' and in general sorry excuses for human beings. Stop what you are doing now while you still have a chance to ask forgiveness of all the people you harm, and have harmed. Get off your thrones, and come join the rest of us in making life a sweet thing instead of the imposed terror you inflict on the entire world every day." Hows that for a 'message?' [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #1 posted by FoM on February 19, 2006 at 10:19:10 PT |
| What message are the politicians sending to millions of adults? That they can’t decide for themselves which mild intoxicant to enjoy. That their government believes they must be treated like children -- or criminals. The adults aren’t listening to the politicians’ message any more than the kids are. Some of them have been laughing at "reefer madness" propaganda for 40 years, and the passage of time hasn’t made it any more convincing. In fact, the aging of the baby boomers has given science its first opportunity to measure the impact of long-term drug use. In a recent review of the research, Time magazine reported that, while cocaine and heroin are as dangerous as originally thought, "the so-called demon weed turned out to be a lot less devilish than advertised. [ Post Comment ] |
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