cannabisnews.com: Marijuana Prohibition Has Become a Low Priority





Marijuana Prohibition Has Become a Low Priority
Posted by CN Staff on November 13, 2007 at 06:07:39 PT
By Jerry Garretson
Source: Standard
Missouri -- There was a small article in Time Magazine recently about two Rocky Mountain towns (Denver and Hailey, Idaho) that voted to make investigation, citation and arrest of criminals caught with marijuana the lowest priority of local law enforcement. Hailey voters even endorsed usage of the plant for medical use and industrial hemp production.
I'm half afraid to write about this - I know it'll probably cause more than a little eye-rolling. Even my first reaction to many pro-pot pieces is disdain. I'll be the first to admit you hardly ever find someone with enough time or drive to research the subject who can also report it with proper grammar and spelling. Their hearts are usually in the right place, they're just easily distracted. For some reason.But I'm truly offended by anti-marijuana legislation. It's not that I'm a pothead or an ultra-liberal (though I doubt that dispels your suspicion), it's that I can't believe our government pours such a vast amount of money and resources into what is essentially weed killing. What's more, I say anti-marijuana laws cause needless suffering and are a severe detriment to our economy and the battle against other, more harmful, substances. Why aren't more Americans outraged by such irresponsible governing?The War on Drugs (though inappropriately named) is a necessary one, and the $30-some billion annual price tag isn't too steep. Lives are saved, after all. But about $10 billion of that is diverted toward the battle against hemp, instead of battling other drugs, or even just other crimes.The money spent on the pot wars would be excusable if it was even effective, but it isn't. Since it was outlawed, marijuana has very possibly become America's most valuable crop, with some estimates putting market value at around $30 billion. Americans spend as much or more buying marijuana than the government spends fighting all drugs combined.I don't understand why marijuana legislation isn't a Republican issue. From what I understand, Republicans are supposed to stand for smaller, more efficient, more effective government. Most pot legislation seems to show broken government.Here's how backward things are - according to the Drug Enforcement Administration, marijuana is more dangerous and addictive than cocaine, opium, methamphetamine, codeine, hydrocodone and GHB, and it's equal in both to heroin, LSD and ecstasy. To name a few.Strangely, many of the most dangerous drugs - like alcohol and tobacco - are completely exempt from scheduling. I think it's because, were they, they'd be as illegal as heroin or crack. Can you imagine any other highly addictive substance that kills tens or hundreds of thousands of people annually being sold at your local grocery store or pharmacy?Marijuana, on the other hand, is shown to have substantial medical benefit without the danger of overdose, long-term physical damage, or physical addiction. That's more than can be said about even Xanax or Vicodin, two mild corporate alternatives to the dreaded weed.So, screw all the moral aggrandizing and political speculation, sucks to your fears of social decline - the plague is here and it's staying. The sensible thing to do, I think, is not only reduce anti-pot legislation, but eliminate it. Learn a few lessons from alcohol prohibition and trust that adults are going to act responsibly most of the time, that they can get the drug anyway if they want it, and that legalization is the first step toward regulation and taxation. It would eliminate criminal profits, free up $10 billion in annual tax revenue, generate additional sales tax from the undoubtedly considerable trade, and it would make us all a little safer - possibly even helping in the war on terror.Quite simply, it's the patriotic thing to do. Source: Standard, The (Missouri State U, MO Edu)Author: Jerry GarretsonPublished: November 13, 2007Copyright: 2007 The StandardContact: standard missouristate.eduWebsite: http://www.the-standard.org/Related Article:Mellowing Out on Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23465.shtmlCannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml
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Comment #21 posted by FoM on November 16, 2007 at 09:00:15 PT
afterburner 
Those animals sure were silly. That was so cute. Thanks for sharing.
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Comment #20 posted by afterburner on November 13, 2007 at 21:54:00 PT
FoM #11
When I was younger, I was reading Animal Farm and left it lying on the coffee table. My grandmother, a farm lady, bless her heart, saw it and, intrigued by the title, read the book. Her comment when she finished reading was priceless: "Those animals sure were silly!"
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Comment #19 posted by FoM on November 13, 2007 at 18:52:11 PT
RevRayGreen
I couldn't get the other link to load but I tried. My knowledge is limited concerning music to Neil Young practically and other's from my time. I see other musicians that I like on tv but I often can't remember their names. I'm stuck in the 60s and that really does happen to people. I'm an example! LOL!
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Comment #18 posted by RevRayGreen on November 13, 2007 at 18:38:48 PT
The Envy Corps
I dig that sound too.
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Comment #17 posted by FoM on November 13, 2007 at 18:36:39 PT
RevRayGreen
I watched the pictures on the link. I love music so that really impressed me. 
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Comment #16 posted by RevRayGreen on November 13, 2007 at 18:30:33 PT
It is
a paradise. $600 for a 24 hr stay.......my friend had booked some extra time booked to bring Fro down after the show in Ames. Studio was about 30 miles west so we just stayed the night once we got there. I'm bummed cause my camera was full and I didn't delete some that were stored that I thought I had taken took off before I went out :(
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Comment #15 posted by FoM on November 13, 2007 at 18:24:28 PT
RevRayGreen 
On the Sound Farm link it is amazing. It's beautiful.
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Comment #14 posted by RevRayGreen on November 13, 2007 at 18:10:53 PT
Joseph Foreman
aka AFROMAN is a friend of marijuana. My friend is cutting a CD and after the show we went back to this killer studio out in the country and Fro thru down some vocals for a song called "Light em Up" and lays down a line with props to moi "calling Reverend Ray Green to provide my supply" :)cool $#!+http://www.myspace.com/jrshighrollers 
Sound Farm
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Comment #13 posted by FoM on November 13, 2007 at 17:53:58 PT
RevRayGreen 
That's not interrupting that's great! Thanks! I am reading Animal Farm for the first time since I was a teenager. 
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Comment #12 posted by RevRayGreen on November 13, 2007 at 17:41:36 PT
I Interupt this thread
for a picture or two from yesterday rolling with AFROMAN before his show last night in AMES IA.Johnny Reeferseed and AFROMAN jamming at Guitar Center DSM IA...http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e25/RevGreen/111307froreeferseed.jpg
The Green Room
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Comment #11 posted by FoM on November 13, 2007 at 17:10:20 PT
Mike
I didn't know what Animal Farm was about and my reason for reading it was really because I loved animals and I thought I could get into the book. I did but it bothered me that no matter how pure a motive seems it will become corrupt and then in the end we will start all over again. Man is the problem that can take an ideal and twist it time and time again. I don't believe that we will ever see a fair system because man will corrupt it like has always happened. That's why I look so closely at the present and look for the good but know in my heart good will be taken over by bad. Round and round we go.
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Comment #10 posted by Mike on November 13, 2007 at 16:54:30 PT
Animal Farm
Yes. A powerful message for those willing to read it.Its free here:
http://www.gutenberg.net.au/ebooks01/0100011h.html
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Comment #9 posted by FoM on November 13, 2007 at 14:04:35 PT
Mike
Did you ever read Animal Farm? I am not political by nature but when I was very young I read Animal Farm. I don't like reading much as far as books go but that book was hard to put down. I don't know the difference between Hitler and Stalin. I don't believe that using extremes help people look as where we are and where we're going if that makes sense. The person I support is against Blackwater.
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Comment #8 posted by Mike on November 13, 2007 at 13:48:04 PT
FoM
Agreed. Great link, btw. Guess my question is, will the left do anything to stop it, or will they just ride the train and enjoy the scenery? Seems they've gotten good at that with all the practice they've had.It's all about power. I'm against any "authoritarian" rule of governing. Extremes are scary indeed. Right -> Fascism - (Hitler)Left -> Marxism - (Stalin)And the people remain pawns...
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Comment #7 posted by FoM on November 13, 2007 at 13:04:11 PT
mykeyb420 
I believe they go after Cannabis people because it keeps a high level of police on payroll and they make money on forfeitures. I honestly don't believe there are very many people who use hard illegal drugs compared to people who use cannabis. Follow the money and they do.
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Comment #6 posted by mykeyb420 on November 13, 2007 at 12:53:39 PT
here in SF
we have the best pot laws in the country and still the patients are getting busted. Not the crack dealers,,the pot smoking patients.
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Comment #5 posted by FoM on November 13, 2007 at 12:27:12 PT
Mike
This is the way the right wants things done. It doesn't surprise me at all. http://www.blackwaterwatch.com/2007/11/07/blackwater-usa-incident-highlights-governments-use-of-contractors/
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Comment #4 posted by Mike on November 13, 2007 at 12:13:57 PT
Blackwater to enter the drug war
The gestapo are coming...http://www.alternet.org/drugreporter/67727/?page=2
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on November 13, 2007 at 07:57:03 PT
afterburner
I was watching a program on the Bloomberg Network last night and they talked about the decline of the dollar and talked about Canada and Mexico. I guess soon we will be using a money system for Mexico, Canada and the USA is what I got out of it. I think they meant that then our money will be equal in value. It's all over my head though.
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Comment #2 posted by potpal on November 13, 2007 at 07:56:19 PT
spain and portugal
Decriminlized pot a looong time ago and we haven't witnessed the decline of their society/civilization yet. http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A49772-2002Oct18?language=printerCannabis prohibition is sustained by ignorance, prejudice and selfishness. 
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Comment #1 posted by afterburner on November 13, 2007 at 07:27:28 PT
'Montana is dry': Tears for Robin
CN BC: Dollar's Decline Sends Pot Imports Up In Smoke, The Billings Gazette, (12 Nov 2007) 
http://www.mapinc.org/newstcl/v07/n1308/a05.html?176Excerpt: "But whether Canada has enough smokers to puff up this season's entire crop - - it's harvest time in Nelson right now - all agree on one thing: Exports have ceased, Montana is dry, and with California growers located so far away, the stage is set for a homegrown bonanza under the Big Sky."Robin, from the Big Sky to the Heavens, via con Dios, amiga!
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