cannabisnews.com: A Message on Marijuana
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A Message on Marijuana
Posted by CN Staff on November 08, 2010 at 05:04:37 PT
From The Sacramento Bee
Source: Daily Breeze
Calif. -- Buzz kill though it may be, California voters sent a message last week: They are not comfortable with the state triggering a confrontation with federal authorities over recreational use of marijuana. Leading up to Tuesday's vote on the much-hyped Proposition 19, the federal government made crystal clear that while it is willing to abide medical marijuana in California and other states, it will not accept complete legalization.
There needs to be a national debate on whether to continue to criminalize marijuana, and Proposition 19 has helped spur that discussion. But California would be wise not to quickly come back with another go-it-alone initiative to legalize pot. The state has too many other pressing problems that need attention. Unfortunately, the leading proponent of Proposition 19 - decisively defeated 54 percent to 46 percent - is already talking about trying again with a ballot measure in 2012. Richard Lee, founder of the Oaksterdam conglomerate in Oakland, should save his breath and his money. It would be much more helpful, for instance, to use that cash to subsidize medical marijuana for poor patients. If time and energy is to be spent on pot issues, it needs to be directed to making sure medical marijuana is regulated and taxed effectively and fairly. Californians, at the ballot box with Proposition 215, have made their peace with medical marijuana. And through their elected representatives in the Legislature, they have come to terms with the fact that marijuana use is widely accepted. This past session, lawmakers approved, and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed, a bill that further decriminalizes marijuana. Simple possession of an ounce or less was formally reduced from a misdemeanor to an infraction with a $100 fine. Because of these reforms, patients in California can obtain pot to help relieve their pain, and those who choose to use it responsibly are not going to get a criminal record, even if they somehow get caught. On marijuana, that's not a bad place to be. Source: Daily Breeze (Torrance, CA)Published: November 7, 2010Copyright: 2010 The Copley Press Inc.Contact: letters dailybreeze.comWebsite: http://www.dailybreeze.com/URL: http://dailybreeze.com/ci_16550472CannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml
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Comment #6 posted by museman on November 09, 2010 at 07:13:39 PT
kapt
Indeed. Well said.LEGALIZE FREEDOM
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Comment #5 posted by FoM on November 08, 2010 at 19:24:00 PT
kaptinemo
You said: Make no mistake: the prize isn't monetary, as in cheap weed; it is, for want of a better word, spiritual.I really like that! Thanks and I agree.
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Comment #4 posted by kaptinemo on November 08, 2010 at 19:13:06 PT:
This is sickening
"This past session, lawmakers approved, and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed, a bill that further decriminalizes marijuana. Simple possession of an ounce or less was formally reduced from a misdemeanor to an infraction with a $100 fine.Because of these reforms, patients in California can obtain pot to help relieve their pain, and those who choose to use it responsibly are not going to get a criminal record, even if they somehow get caught.On marijuana, that's not a bad place to be. "Oh, yes, be good little serfs. Don't demand your freedom back. Don't ruffle feathers, and maybe the DrugWar monster will only lift an eyelid and snort a few noxious fumes in your direction instead of immolate you. God, that makes me sick. This country wasn't settled by gutless sorts such as that.Samuel Adams had some sharp words for such as they:"Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen!”Make no mistake: the prize isn't monetary, as in cheap weed; it is, for want of a better word, spiritual. As in an unchained human spirit standing up to tyrannical government, and saying "No, you have no claim on my person or my property, not now or ever. You serve us, not the other way around. Forget that at your peril." And, in the larger sense, that is what cannabis law reform seeks to achieve...and that's why those who pay lip service to the ideals of freedom and liberty work so hard to abolish both, in the name of 'protecting' future victims of that tyranny.
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on November 08, 2010 at 18:23:35 PT
Vincent
The Republicans have been angry since they lost control and they were determined to have their voice heard. We heard it over and over again. I say let them be under the spotlight and they better fix everything they complained about. They won't though. They really only care about being in control. 2012 will be our year to get our issue further down the road when Obama is up to be re-elected.
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Comment #2 posted by Vincent on November 08, 2010 at 18:16:31 PT:
The Feds
Y'know, I don't believe all that bull about the Federal reaction to Prop 19 that doomed it. It was just a bad year--a Republican year. Now people will tell me that Libertarians are allied with Republicans, so I shouldn't be so down on them. BUT I AM! Democrats may be jellyfish on the issue but, when it comes to Marijuana use, Republicans are scumbags! They are thew ones that increased that evil drug war back in the Eighties. The problem with the Democrats was that they got all spooked by Jerry "roasting in hell" Fallwell, that they let the Republicans frame the issue. Just as they did this year!
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Comment #1 posted by schmeff on November 08, 2010 at 09:37:40 PT
Californians Feared the Feds?
I doubt it.As for the last sentence, as long as Johnny Law has 'discretion' to criminalize our behavior, with regard to marijuana or any other issue, it's a bad place to be. Harvey Wasserman explained it best in an AlterNet article farther down the CNews home page: "Pot Prohibition Is Cornerstone of a Police State".
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