cannabisnews.com: Released Into Limbo 










  Released Into Limbo 

Posted by CN Staff on January 03, 2003 at 21:38:33 PT
Editorial 
Source: Washington Post  

This year more inmates will be getting out of prison than ever before in this country -- about 615,000, more than triple the typical annual number in the 1980s. Though no one warned the offenders, it is also less likely than before that they will be able to go home, or get a job, or do many of the things people with limited resources need to do to reintegrate into normal life. Criminologists call it "invisible sentencing." During the 1990s, dozens of federal and state laws were enacted prohibiting former prisoners from a range of activities. 
Federal law bars them from living in public housing. People convicted of drug offenses can never receive welfare or food stamps. In many states they are barred from voting, or from working in dozens of jobs that provide many of the decent tickets to the middle class: plumbing, teaching, private security, haircutting. At the time these laws were passed, mostly as amendments to bills such as welfare reform, they seemed to be political winners: cost-free, advertised as deterrents to crime and provided as a public service. Public housing residents didn't want drug dealers cycling back. Many of the restrictions were enacted with little dissent from either party.But in retrospect, they don't seem so wise. For one thing, they produce absurd human dilemmas. A man is released from prison and shows up at his mother's door, the only place he can still call home. She now has to choose between making her son homeless and getting evicted. A man goes through teacher training only to discover that a 1973 marijuana possession charge he pleaded guilty to will keep him from getting a job. At the time when society was concentrating on building prisons and locking people up, it was difficult to imagine what that policy would produce at the other end. Now we know: Something of an ex-con nation has developed, with about 5 million men who have served time in prison.Lately there are signs of regret. Some states are reversing their decisions to deny convicted felons the right to vote. The American Bar Association just adopted guidelines calling for states to reveal post-prison consequences at plea-bargain and sentencing hearings, so everyone knows what to expect. In the meantime state budget crunches are forcing some other reversals: California is considering not making parole violation an automatic cause for incarceration; other states are increasing compassionate releases for nonviolent or ill prisoners.Crime rates in most major cities, including Washington's homicide rate, are starting to spike again. Over the next few years, criminologists will debate how much of that is due to this new mass of released prisoners. Whatever they decide, there seems no reason to make recidivism a self-fulfilling prophecy. Released inmates who want to stay on the right side of the law shouldn't be gratuitously discouraged.Source: Washington Post (DC)Published: Saturday, January 4, 2003; Page A16 Copyright: 2003 Washington Post Company Contact: letterstoed washpost.comWebsite: http://www.washingtonpost.com Related Articles & Web Site:DrugSense: Drug War Clockhttp://www.drugsense.org/wodclock.htmA Flood of Parolees Hits Streetshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14869.shtmlAn American Gulag in The Makinghttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14279.shtmlReport: Millions Behind Bars in U.S.http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13878.shtml 

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Comment #18 posted by greek_philosophizer on January 07, 2003 at 04:29:26 PT:
 Nicholas Thimmesch
Is not Mr. Thimmesch a long time
employee of Norml - head of PR
I think? If so that makes two
big anti-drug warrior types here.
How nice. Sincerely Yours Truly with Kindest Regards,   ( you may call me )    Poisoned_for_going_on_7_years_now
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Comment #17 posted by FoM on January 06, 2003 at 15:12:17 PT
Jerr-man
I've been so busy at home and everytime I think I might have time to chat I think of something I need to get done. I'll try to drop in and say hi tonight. 
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Comment #16 posted by Jerr-man on January 06, 2003 at 14:55:37 PT
FoM
yes that is the article.What I found interesting was that even though criminal charges were dismissed in October 2000,she was fired in November 2000.Just is not right.Was very glad the school was forced to rehire her and pay.Although the school should have never dismissed her in the first place,it is nice to see justice.
I understand about articles containing names being posted.
Hope to meet you in chat sometime.j
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Comment #15 posted by FoM on January 05, 2003 at 21:57:45 PT
Jerr-man 
Is this the article? The url was too long to post in the link section so it breaks it. I'm not sure of how many characters fit but pasting it in a comment works. I don't get email for CNews anymore because it was really causing my computer major problems and now since I don't get email for CNews my computer has been working just fine. Posting a link is a good way for me to check it out. If I post it I name the person Newshawk. I don't post articles that mention names of people because I feel I shouldn't and the people in the articles might not like to do a google search a year from now or so and find the article and they would if they looked for it. I've had a few people ask me to remove articles because they were ashamed and were trying to forget it ever happened and start a new life. I think it's important for me to only post bust type articles if I know the person in the article wants their name published. As far as the chat goes we are working out a few things to make it nice for CannabisNews Contributors and will let it develop and then think about times to chat if we want. It's open all the time and we've had a few nice times so far and more will come in the future. I checked in tonight and no one was talking so we watched a movie on tv and took it easy. Maybe in the future we can have a special time set aside for talking but for now we'll go with the flow and see what comes of it.http://www.newsok.com/cgi-bin/show_article?ID=969477
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Comment #14 posted by Jerr-man on January 05, 2003 at 21:36:56 PT
*glimmers of hope*
 FoM,how should articles be sent.I've got this article that reflects the current "rightiousness" of prohibitionist. Is there a way to send to Cnews or is this the best way? Is there sorta a time set for active chatting?
j
school teacher rehired
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Comment #13 posted by FoM on January 05, 2003 at 21:11:16 PT
Jerr-man 
We've seen a lot of injustice that has gone on. Injustice is wrong and always needs to be addressed even if it seems like it is falling on deaf ears. More people are seeing that the war on Cannabis isn't working and isn't right. We just have to keep going and hope for a good year this year. We can remember what didn't happen that we wished would or we can remember what good happened and how much more good there could be to come for us. The latter way gives me hope.
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Comment #12 posted by Jerr-man on January 05, 2003 at 19:10:19 PT
fear & worry
My fear (of our government) was overcome from the tragedy in Michigan (Freedom Farm?). It was the first time i decided to put some money where my mouth is and send some support for their legal struggles.My spouse agreed. I felt as in thier struggles, there was a connection I've never had with anybody I didn't meet face to face.Two people were shot and killed as you know. I cried upon hearing the news of each man getting killed by law enforcment.Killed for a plant.Killed for a plant......killed for a plant. Then anger swelled.KILLED over views that "mainstream" finds repulsive. There used to be a right to life. Clayton's life was snuffed over a plant,killed over a plant,a plant God put on the gardens of his design.Help others to understand the good your plants do,God. God,help them seek the truth above the massive propeganda being smeared on them by the ones they have entrusted with thier well-being. Please help everyone understand that people are dying over your plant,your plant God. That's all i can say right now. I will continue to pray and work for reform to educate others.j
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Comment #11 posted by FoM on January 05, 2003 at 17:21:37 PT
Jerr-man
Thank you very much. I picked that name years ago and just kept it. I also think it means freedom of mind. We need freedom from these oppressive laws against marijuana or cannabis so our mind can be free. Worry, fear and all the negative emotions that we all feel at times needs to be gone. We don't deserve to be treated like our government thinks we should be treated. 
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Comment #10 posted by Jerr-man on January 05, 2003 at 17:12:21 PT
FoM
I always think of you as Friend of Mine. The Friend of Marijuana is good also, because any FoM is a FoM !!! This is one time i don't mind using the word marijuana instead of cannibis .. : ) 
Thanks for all the work you do here. Your a great person.j
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Comment #9 posted by FoM on January 05, 2003 at 15:26:44 PT
Nicholas
LOL! Yes sir re sir!
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Comment #8 posted by Nicholas Thimmesch on January 05, 2003 at 15:20:54 PT:
Oh..
....Martha: a Friend of Marijuana!
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Comment #7 posted by knox42897 on January 04, 2003 at 16:58:59 PT:
"Los Pepe's at Cnews"
"I've "lost" posts "many" times so "I've" "[(learned)]" to do that so it doesn't "happen and it "doesn't" for me "anymore"(never). Just a suggestion." she said."To the contrary", he said from the "future". Because Los Pepes have "infiltrated" the CIA. They have a "special" red buttom, on their "secret" "Cannavourous web browser" that has the new microsoft windows,(code name: Fix-something.harmfullvirsus.exp) that backs every thing up so that nothing is "ever" "lost again." he said."But don't worry FoM this "special" feature although not yet available (to everyone), it will be available to everyone who possess's a "National ID Card" with "free" e-mail servces  DEA.THC.gov, Happy New Year" he said. 
 
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Comment #6 posted by FoM on January 04, 2003 at 11:54:12 PT
knox42897 
I don't have a CNews email anymore. I've had too many problems with email. Anytime I write something I save it in my notepad so I have it. I recommend that you and everyone would do that. I've lost posts many times so I've learned to do that so it doesn't happen and it doesn't for me anymore. Just a suggestion.
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Comment #5 posted by knox42897 on January 04, 2003 at 11:50:18 PT:
Do what you feel needs to be done
"But Please have the Courtesy to email me comment # "1" or please send me a link to its "magical proper place, if there is such a place in this era." he said.
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on January 04, 2003 at 11:41:58 PT
knox42897 
I'm sorry I don't understand what you are trying to say. I removed the post because it didn't seem right to me for here. Sorry about that but I need to do what I feel should be done. 
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Comment #3 posted by knox42897 on January 04, 2003 at 11:38:06 PT:
YOU would know, If You were related to Outlaws!
"Because in the "DrugWar Era" things just "magically" disappear from your computer" he said."But the Tribesmen would always know, even "DrugWar Digital Era, there's always 1 before 2, and 2 before 3." he said."So if you meet me, Have some courtesy, some sympathy and some taste or I'll lay your soul to waste" he's saying.I worked on that for a long time, I would appreciate it if "it would magically appear" in my "magical e-mailbox" so that I can post my admiration ("somewhere in the space of time")for my relatives. he just said."People are always denying the "real" reason" 
Comment #2 posted by Nicholas Thimmesch on January 04, 2003 at 03:51:01 PT, almost "04:20:00 Pablo Time"Snipped:
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Comment #2 posted by Nicholas Thimmesch on January 04, 2003 at 03:51:01 PT:

Good to see...
....someone caught this Washington Post editorial, that on it's face seems intelligent. Yet the Post ignores the real reason behind someone with a 30 year old pot conviction being denied a job: more than 30 years of prohibition.
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