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| Speaker: Marijuana Smoking Victimless |
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Posted by CN Staff on March 08, 2006 at 08:17:32 PT By Chuck Peterson, Advocate Reporter Source: Advocate 
Granville, Ohio -- Marijuana is about as harmless as a cup of coffee but far less dangerous than alcohol and tobacco, an advocate for changes in marijuana laws told a Denison University audience of about 200 Tuesday night.Allen F. St. Pierre, executive director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, often used the alcohol analogy to make his points favoring general decriminalization of marijuana. St. Pierre, 40, drew a curious contrast between the friendly neighborhood bartender pouring a beer and "pushers" who sell marijuana. "There is no functional difference between a bartender and a drug dealer," he contended. "Some of the most imprudent decisions you make in your life are made under the influence of alcohol," St. Pierre said, noting that alcohol causes 120,000 deaths per year, compared to essentially zero for marijuana. "If you abuse alcohol," he said, "you drink when you drive or pee in somebody's front yard. In our society you have to do something to be labeled as an abuser. This (abuse) doesn't happen with marijuana." NORML, in existence for 35 years, lobbies its agenda chiefly through education, legislation and litigation, but St. Pierre prefers the first two, especially at the state level. It is his hope that change "bubbles" up to the federal level through reforms among the states. St. Pierre observed that use of tobacco, which still claims 400,000 lives a year, has plummeted in his lifetime through educational efforts, not through the criminal justice system. "The war on drugs is really a war on people," he said. "We don't have wars against inanimate objects." St. Pierre said a debate over changing marijuana laws can be won with four words: "No victim, no crime." "If you're smoking marijuana, who's the victim?" he questioned. Marijuana has a lethal-dose toxicity rating of 50, which mean's it's not lethal, period, he said. But despite scientific evidence, he continued, the federal government in 1970 gave the plant "Schedule I" status along with pure forms of heroine and LSD, meaning that these drugs are (1) high in potential for abuse, (2) addictive, and (3) possess no medical utility. St. Pierre maintains that marijuana may be psychologically addictive, but not physically so. NORML favors changing marijuana to Schedule II status, having been proven to be medically useful in treatment for glaucoma, AIDS, cancer, multiple sclerosis and chronic pain. For cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, he said marijuana's tendency to give users the "munchies" helps them to keep down food and remain healthy. Two Denison students lauded St. Pierre's approach to his subject. "The basis of all this is logic and understanding law," rather than emotion and ideology, said sophomore Mike Kalnins, an English literature/history major. "Honest, intelligent discussion of issues is what we need, rather than ridicule and Anne Coulter." Junior media technology and arts major Amber Yoder agreed. "I liked that he approached it from an intelligent and scientific basis," she said. Source: Newark Advocate, The (OH) CannabisNews -- Cannabis Archives Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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| Comment #16 posted by FoM on March 08, 2006 at 18:49:38 PT |
| I just read the thread. Is Up In Smoke in Vancouver or near it? I thought Ontario was in Toronto. I really am sorry. Canada seems in a self destruct mode. Ever since Marc Emery getting arrested and then the other web sites. I feel bad because you are getting closer to our drug war down here now. The Conservatives getting in power might make things really hard for all of you. I hope not. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #15 posted by mayan on March 08, 2006 at 18:28:32 PT |
| Lombar, as the fascists start to lose control they will ratchet up their war on freedom. The U.S. is exporting terrorism into Canada because the Canadian people love freedom just as much as anyone. They can't beat the truth and that is why they fear the truth. Runruffswife, it's wonderful that folks are sending money and letters to your husband! We won't forget about him or you. We must all stick together until this war on people is over. THE WAY OUT... THE BIG,BIG LIE IS THE 9/11 COVERUP: http://www.opednews.com/articles/genera_allen_l__060307_the_big_2c_big_lie_is_.htm KNEE-JERK LIARS: The Legend of United Flight 93: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ucru/20060308/cm_ucru/kneejerkliars Important Petitions: Scholars for 9/11 Truth & Justicefor911.org: http://www.911truth.org/article.php?story=20060307230638467 [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #14 posted by lombar on March 08, 2006 at 18:04:03 PT |
| Hamilton, Ontario. Up In Smoke Cafe Busted. It may have been on the news, nothing in print yet. Another police 'action'. How many people were victimized while the so-called heros were busting a peaceful citizen? We are seeing the importation of the USA drug war into Canada in the media. Helicopters against highschoolers... a bust in the news every day... sad and pathetic. \ [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #13 posted by Hope on March 08, 2006 at 17:43:44 PT |
| Thanks. I went back and added the link. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #11 posted by Toker00 on March 08, 2006 at 14:27:14 PT |
| Urbangrounds deleted your excellent post about Cannabis Cures Cancer w/references. They left part of your post, so could you go post a link to it? I think they are just concerned w/space. Toke. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #10 posted by Toker00 on March 08, 2006 at 14:22:54 PT |
| The time Jerry spent in the hole strengthened EVERYONE's resolve, Linda. It's terrible what a man has to do sometimes to hold fast to his convictions. Jerry is a leader. He will direct his own time from now on. God will help him and we will too. We'll get him out early. We have people thinking all over the country what to do about this Bogus War on Some Drugs. As Cannabis makes us think, we will make THEM think. Person to person, one conversation at a time, one thread at a time. http://www.terryhubbard/Let/LetMyPeopleGrow.html Wage peace on war. END CANNABIS PROHIBITION NOW! [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #9 posted by FoM on March 08, 2006 at 13:09:53 PT |
| I remember that it was common to believe back in the 70s that marijuana, prostitution and gambling were the three victimless crimes. Two of the three are legal in some states. Now if we can change the laws on marijuana in at least a few states then we will be getting somewhere. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #8 posted by FoM on March 08, 2006 at 13:03:46 PT |
| I change the words too and got lots of good information. We are winning! [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #7 posted by dongenero on March 08, 2006 at 13:01:44 PT |
| It is worth noting observer that the prohibitionist Google query you list only brings up 724 hits. I did another search under the parameter, "marijuana is a victimless crime" which brings up 60,700 hits. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #6 posted by observer on March 08, 2006 at 12:49:56 PT |
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prohibitionists' party line to "victimless crime" http://www.google.com/search?q=marijuana+%22not+a+victimless%22+crime+society [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #5 posted by dongenero on March 08, 2006 at 12:38:11 PT |
| It is a sad to see how cruel our country can be to her own people.
Wishing you strength to persevere. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #4 posted by FoM on March 08, 2006 at 11:50:26 PT |
| I wish I had a magic wand sometimes. If I did I would wave it and Jerry would be back home with you in a heart beat. We sent money yesterday so hopefully he will be able to call you more often. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #3 posted by runruffswife on March 08, 2006 at 11:46:01 PT |
| http://www.terryhubbard/J/ [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #2 posted by runruffswife on March 08, 2006 at 11:45:12 PT:
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| Jerry was able to call me yesterday because some sweet souls anonymously sent money to the commissary. Thank you so very much.
I haven't been on lately because I've just been feeling really sad, especially after hearing about Jerry being put in the hole. It's just not right.
Jerry asked me to add some things to his webpage which museman did so please check it out. Jerry wrote a poem a couple of years ago about Crazy Horse. LOVE LOVE LOVE [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #1 posted by FoM on March 08, 2006 at 08:28:13 PT |
| By Bernd Debusmann, Special Correspondent March 07, 2006 Washington - (Reuters) - Despite three decades of upbeat reports on battles won in the war on drugs, cocaine, heroin and marijuana are as easily available as ever and experts say the United States has yet to develop a strategy that works. Just as in previous years, the government's progress reports for this year on drug control point to new records on cocaine seizures and on the eradication of coca plantations in Colombia, the world's top producer of cocaine. The annual reports were issued by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, a 130-member group which sets anti-drug policy and is headed by "drug czar" John Walters, and by the State Department's Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. Complete Article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060307/us_nm/usa_drugs_dc_1 [ Post Comment ] |
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