Or, how the Barr Amendment killed a paraplegic over a single lousy joint…
Happy Valentine’s Day, Jonathan—We have not forgotten you!
By George Rohrbacher, NORML Board of Directors, medical marijuana patient
I love my own children beyond all measure. They range from 33-to-26 years old, three sons and a daughter who’ve returned to me a lifetime of love and four grandkids, with three more on the way. It is from this perspective that I first heard of the death of Jonathan Magbie and continue to think about him today.
In October of 2004, I arrived in Washington DC for a NORML Board of Directors meeting, having just flown in from the west coast. It was late Friday afternoon. In NORML’s office, Allen St. Pierre, our Executive Director, slid the second section of that day’s Washington Post across the desk to me. There, above the fold, was a news story that made me sick to my stomach.
The article was about the death of Jonathan Magbie, a 28-year old black wheelchair-bound paraplegic, a first offender who died while serving a ten-day jail sentence for the possession of one single lousy joint! The year was 2004, it happened right in our nation’s capitol, Washington DC. At the epicenter of the “Land of the Free”, the cops and courts had put a paralyzed man in jail for pot! He died of respiratory collapse on day-four of his ten-day sentence in the custody of our government.
Judge Retchin’s sentence, ‘ten-days-in-the-hole’ was a cruel response to Jonathan’s honest and forthright answers that he used marijuana to help ease his pain and that he intended to use marijuana again, after he was released. After all, the people of Washington DC had voted overwhelmingly for medical marijuana in 1998—it passed with a 69% yes vote! But then, the marijuana prohibitionists in Congress constructed the Barr Amendment, a federal appropriations rider that blocked the implementation of the will of Washington DC’s voters: So, District of Columbia, if you want your operating money from the federal government, to hell with the voters’ say on medical marijuana.
A victim of alcohol, one of America’s lethal but legal drugs, Jonathan Magbie was struck and paralyzed for life by a drunk driver. Shown here with President Ronald Regan, Jonathan Magbie was a national poster boy for MADD, at the age of 8.
Before Judge Retchin was a young man who had been in a wheelchair for 24-years, ever since, as a four-year old child, Jonathan had been hit, with tragic irony, by a drunk driver and paralyzed for life. For two and a half decades, Jonathan was imprisoned inside his own body, a punishment so cruel that no judge’s sentence could ever come close to matching it—until the application of Washington DC “justice”.
As my eyes moved down through the text of the Post story, in this horrible tragedy, I began to see how easily this loss could have been my own. Jonathan was the very same age as one of my sons. When I finished reading and I looked back up at Allen, there were tears streaming down my face. The Washington D.C. courts could just as easily have killed one of my own sons! And over what??? I screamed…Over what??? Jonathan had died in the hands of our government over one single friggin’ joint!!! Jonathan’s family had faithfully cared for him, all his 28-years, despite the horrendous health complications of being paralyzed below one’s chin. But, after just four days in the care of Washington DC’s jailers, they had killed him!
No one took responsibility for the death of Jonathan Magbie. With the help of the ACLU, Mrs. Scott, Jonathan’s mother, successfully sued Washington DC and was recently granted a large undisclosed award. But, as any parent can tell you, no award could ever compensate for the lost of a child.
And, why, oh why, was Jonathan arrested and put in jail, in the first place? MARIJUANA.
Jonathan was just one of the 20-million Americans who’ve been arrested on marijuana charges, and 89% of them, just like Jonathan, for a very small amount intended for personal use. Bush’s Drug Czar, John Walters, recently claimed that jailed marijuana offenders are as rare as unicorns. Well, what about Jonathan Magbie, the Patron Saint of Unicorns, who died for one joint, jailed just blocks from the White House and Drug Czar’s very own plush and cozy office?
The Congressional marijuana prohibitionists continue using the Barr Amendment to tell Washington DC’s voters to take their will and “shove it”. These beltway prohibitionists encourage local D.C. judges that they want to see a lot see more of that good old ‘Retchin justice’. You say a 69% voter approval rating for medical marijuana in D.C.? Well—screw that!! Congress’ pot prohibitionists, like the Republicans’ minority leader, couldn’t care less if DC’s voters had given the measure 99% approval. The arrest, conviction, sentencing and subsequent death of Jonathan Magbie is the ultimate implementation of the Barr Amendment. Jonathan’s blood is on the hands of all members of Congress who voted for it.
The War on Drugs is, in reality, a war on the people who use drugs; coercion and incarceration, the prime tools of the trade. As a way to demonstrate just how tough the courts are with those ‘so-called medical marijuana patients’ in our nation’s capitol, Judge Retchin decided, paralyzed or not, Jonathan Magbie needed to be taught a lesson. Well Judge, what do you think he learned?
And…what should America learn from the death of this innocent and defenseless young man, Jonathan Magbie, Patron Saint of Unicorns?
THE BALLAD OF JONATHAN MAGBIE
© 2006 George Rohrbacher and NORML
Confined to a wheelchair ever since he was four years old,
The life of President Regan’s poster boy has needlessly run cold.
No matter that Jonathan Magbie was paralyzed below his chin
He got a death sentence for using pot as his medicine.
Over a single lousy joint, he got hauled up before the law,
Ten days in the hole! Judge Retchin hammered with her claw.
Up under the jailhouse this first-offender would be sent,
A-Gasping for air, Magbie’s jailtime would be spent.
Chorus
If Jonathan’s story doesn’t break your heart, you ain’t got one
If this family’s tragedy doesn’t cry for Justice, there is none.
What ya’ gonna’ tell a frantic mom how you’ve killed her son
A casualty in the war that can’t be won.
Demented justice…Judge Retchin’s justice…
Prison life is tough, so much tougher when you’re driving with your chin
Officials pointin’ everywhere, “ain’t my fault we killed poor Jonathan”.
Washington D.C.’s voters said medical cannabis was “O.K.”
And then, our stinkin’ Federal politicians blocked the People’s say.
Slowly drowning in a mucus mess
Jonathan’s dead now, let’s call the drug war a success
So what about jailing a cripple, over a little blunt of weed?
Did this cruel and unusual punishment meet some social need?
Chorus
If Jonathan’s story doesn’t break your heart, you aint’ got one
If this family’s tragedy doesn’t cry for justice, there is none.
What are ya’ gonna’ tell a crying mom how you’ve killed her son
He’s as dead as if you’d shot him with a gun.
Demented justice…Judge Retchin’s justice…wretched injustice
When Jonathan smoked the ganja to make himself feel right,
He puffed away his pain with the safest drug in sight.
That one bud could bring a hurtin’ man, ten un-do-able days in jail,
Then compassion, common sense, and Justice–even human kindness fails.
Burying your child is the hardest thing that’s ever to be done in life.
A death caused by those charged “to protect and serve” cuts deeper than any knife.
We’re left with chains of earthly bondage, now that Jonathan’s been set free,
Let’s ask ourselves, is this the world we want for him, or you and me?
Chorus
If Jonathan’s story doesn’t break your heart, you ain’t got one
If this family’s tragedy doesn’t cry for Justice, there is none.
What ya’ gonna’ tell a grievin’ mom how you’ve killed her son
Another casualty in the war that can’t be won.
Demented justice…our country’s Retchin justice… it’s a wretched injustice***
Listen to George Rohrbacher read ‘The Ballad of Jonathan Magbie‘ here.
Wedgwood 2009: People of color are arrested and incarcerated for marijuana at rates hugely disproportionate to those of whites. NORML has updated the world-famous anti-slavery medallion produced in 1787 by Josiah Wedgwood. This medallion was the visual symbol of the first successful movement working to end slavery in the world. This image was about as famous, in the 18th and 19th centuries, as the peace symbol is today. Wedgwood produced 20,000 of these anti-slavery medallions. In the campaign to change public opinion on the issue of slavery, the image became a touchstone. The slave trade was finally ended in England in 1807.
NOTE: Josiah Wedgwood’s daughter was Charles Darwin’s mother. Born 200 years ago and on the very same day as Abraham Lincoln, Charles Darwin’s hatred of slavery shaped his views on human evolution.
The NORML Jonathan Magbie MUSIC CHALLENGE:
NORML challenges other musicians to take this meager effort forward…to write a better song, to record your own version of this song, to perhaps write different music for these words, or produce a hip-hop or rap version, country, blues, or whatever. But—let ART do its part in telling Jonathan’s story.
How can we sit by and not say something about Jonathan Magbie to others? The pain and tragedy of this story is so deep, what else but music could express it? Can you help? Send NORML your recording of “The Ballad of Jonathan Magbie”.
I am sending a copy of this to my Congressman. The Barr Amendment must go.
This is sickening… what type of messed up country do we live in?
What has become of Judge Retchin… she should be reminded of Mr. Magpi’se death every day and sent this poem every year on Valentines Day. The only consolation that exists is that Mr. Magpie is now free and that the good Judge Retchin will herself be judged one day.
Herb don’t kill the evil ones do
how distorted we can be out of ignorance/stupidity.
If only the liers in GOV. die !! i to am a child of the liers!! age 52 R.I.P Jonathan Magbie
This tragedy also highlights one very overlooked complication of marijuana prohibition. To put it plainly, people for whatever reason have showed prejudice and a judgmental attitude towards marijuana users. Whether it be the media, government, or corporate influence, people patronize cannabis users without question or hesitation…and what is worse than prejudicial ignorance has yet to be worldly discovered.
The government is playing God and will use the war on drugs, especially cannabis, as a measurement of your loyalty to your masters and their wonderful ubiquitous cold callous system that always upholds and bases everything it does on how it treats and respects the individual is a farce and it is so far from the truth in application.
Judges have become merely administrators not allowed to judge an individual.
The system itself is inert to destroy the individual and treat everyone like an artificial person.
Most judges have been conditioned and chose to ignore the individual only looking at black letters on the background of white in a rule book. Everyone is getting paid in one form or another, from the top to the bottom is doing well, it doesn’t matter who pays the cost or how much they pay as long as I got mine at the expense of them we can go home after getting drunk on power.
Jonathan and his families are victims of this assembly line of chaos and order.
It is repulsive and incomprehensible what happened to Jonathan.
How many have suffered like him?
How many more? Could you or a loved one be next?
He is not a poster boy anymore he is an individual.
We must remember him on this day forever.
February 14th is The patron saint of unicorns day.
It sucks he had to go that way,,hopefully soon this will end,,,its rediculous that anyone should be jailed for mj……alcohol is so much more damaging..when will they get it,,,,sooooonnnnn
The hypocrisy of our government never ceases to amaze me…………what an appalling miscarraige of justice….all over the possession of the buds of a plant put on earth by God…………..the same God that those corrupt pitiful excuses for human beings exploit again and again in an effort to get votes…….How sad that the ignorant cattle of this country continue to elect the 2 major political parties that have raped our constitution for decades….in a way Jonathan Magbie is as much a victim of voter apathy as he is the victim of the aforementioned corrupt politicians…may he rest in peace and may they see the error of their foolish ways
Another victim in the “War Against the People”
How sad it is the USA has declared war against its own citizens!
The “War Against the People” must end!!!
Thanks George………I wish all sane adults could get over the madness causing such sadness.
WEED HELPS!
2006 AMMA “Rap Song Of The Year”
From the CD “SOMETHING TO SMOKE TO 2” THE INDIVIDUALS
All Pro-Marijuana organizations can get the single at cost. $1.00 each and sell them for $2-$3 to raise money for Medical Marijuana Groups.
As bad as this whole case is, his mother is going to get a lump of money that ” WE THE PEOPLE” will have to pay for. Not the freakin’ judge nor the city of DC. It will be taxpayer paid. Though this is one of the few times that I am happy to pay taxes. As I know it’s going to a good cause.Though I hope it’s spent towards other disabled people and not a phat house or car. It’s like the woman with the 8 new babies, who’s going to be gettin’ government money, or should I say money from “WE THE PEOPLE” again and again.
doug
God bless Jonathan Magbie, and God damn the morally retarded judge that murdered this defenseless man.
For the last several months i have holding my states Congressman Rahall feet to the fire. with every opportunity i bring the cause of medical marijuana to his attention. all the commissions reports, every legislative opportunity. His every reply is answered with the same standard wording. he believes marijuana is a gateway drug. how sad that jonathan was paralyzed for life by a drunk driver and it just so happens congressman rahall was arrested for drunk driving. of course WV is a state where tobacco is a major cash crop and we all know about our moonshine. i cannot help but think those lobbyist dollars outweigh the voters who have continuously voiced anywhere from 65% to 72% approval of medical marijuana nationwide. the only way to “change” the status quo will be by the vote, or so we’ve been taught, but how does the congress and the senate and the judiciary disregard the will of the people so callously. i will remember jonathan.
The sad thing is this is business as usual and
it will go unnoticed by any conventional media outlets.
That’s why it’s so important to support NORML and other
organizations efforts to end this insanity. To support
them you can donate, join or even just write your
congress person and tell them how you feel. That’s
one of the last free things you can do in this country
is express your opinion by email or letter, so make
use of it anytime you get a chance to!
The tragedy is that the war on drugs is not driven by a desire to protect, but by greed. As with most struggles for power, which is what the war on drugs is all about, money (read as “pharmaceutical giants”) is at the root.
This tears my heart out. How can people be so cruel? What ever his family got from D.C wasnt enough.
Words, they make me angry, but they don’t change laws.
Writing to congress doesn’t change laws
Protesting 40 years ago didn’t do a damnm thing.
I wonder if even norml’s lobbyists are getting paid
Because in this world only money means a damn thing.
I agree. This is very sad. We must stand together against the drug war especially when it comes to cannabis!
I say that if weed is illegal then shall be liquor, beer and wine. Liquor, beer and wine does more harm then weed does to the brain and body. Liquor, beer and wine also kills more people on the roads and we allow this to happen. What kind of people have we become now?????? And now the justice system is allowed to legally kill and get away with it in the name of justice….I say HELL NO to this!!!!! Stand up and fight for our rights and let the GOV. know that they have over stepped their bounderies. When will the people stop bitching and do something about it???? All you do is complain about it, stand up and do for once. Get it together and man up for once…….
What a shame.Hello Congress,are ya listening? How loud do we need to yell? We’ll yell,& then when you don’t hear,we’ll yell louder.
Jonathan was not the first casualty in the “War on Drug Users” and will certainly not be the last until extreme measures are taken to reform our nation’s drug laws and end this despicable assault on human liberties.
How Can OuR OWN Government Do Tis To A DisableD Man???
Stop Being Selfish…
That really is heartbreaking and sickening. His story would be great for a pro-legalize commercial though.
Powerful.
If my voice was anything above “dead cat dying” I would be on this already.
I am so sickened, demoralized and saddened to have read this moving story and ballad of Jonathan Magbie. How could he have been treated with such cruelty and negligence? How his heart ached, as he realized he was dying, unable to feel the loving embrace of his beloved family.
I am tortured constantly by excruciatingly painful diabetic neuropathy; my legs are paralyzed and feel like they are being pierced by red-hot needles and nails. I want to use marijuana, but I don’t, as I believe I will be incarcerated and sacrificed as Jonathan was. I vow that I will fight so that Jonathan
did not die in vain, all because he wanted to alleviate his suffering. Sentenced to Death because he smoked some weed!! Why!?!
“But then, the marijuana prohibitionists in Congress constructed the Barr Amendment, a federal appropriations rider that blocked the implementation of the will of Washington DC’s voters: So, District of Columbia, if you want your operating money from the federal government, to hell with the voters’ say on medical marijuana.” – isn’t that unconstitutional. Whatever happened to “for the people by the people”?
we will continue to be the nigger queers of modern american politics until we come out and get uppity. On April 20th of this year wear a marijuana leaf on your left arm. Ask your friends to do it too. Let’s show the politicians just how many of us there are.
Maybe Retchin doesn’t know what it is like to suffer. Maybe one day she will find out and regret her actions.
Then maybe we can get something done and fix this injustice. Of course sooner would be better than later… before anyone else has to needlessly suffer so someone else can line their pockets up and get re-elected.
ugh, that story breaks my heart. 🙁
This does not surprise me. When will the government wake up?
As long as “WE THE PEOPLE” continue to pay these idiots salaries they will continue to bend us, ( WE THE PEOPLE)over. There will nothing done to the judge, or anyone on the judical side. Don’t cost them a dime to ruin someones life. NOW, Al Gore’s son ain’t doing no time. How about Robert Kennedy Jr. and his smack problem. NO FINES there either. I would also like to bitch slap the punk who took Michael’s picture. Gee what a nice friend!!!!!!!!!! No worries about making a buck off another human. That’s part of our troubles is that most people will jump a flaming trench to make a buck off someone else. Work for that money, NO WAY, we’ve go lawyers for that.
Even tho medical cannabis is legal in WA, “my” congressional delegation still vote against cannabis relegalization every chance they get. Time to end their reign of terror against our own people. Time to throw all three of them out.
How do yours act? Time to throw them out, too? Wonder what would change if every congressional district in the nation (except Ron Paul’s) were to initiate recalls against their congressional delegations for crimes against the Constitution and the people?
As for political parties, I’m libertarian and this is what I sent to the LP’s hq (with a link to this article) just now:
This is just one of the many reasons I and many other REAL libertarians could not bring ourselves to vote for Bob Barr. I remembered, during the campaign, this death and the many other non-libertarian actions Barr took in Congress. Next election how about putting up a REAL libertarian for our presidential candidate, someone we REAL libertarians can vote for without holding our noses or betraying our principles?
The original article states police found a gun and cocaine in the vehicle in which Magbie was stopped in April 2003.
I’m assuming he wasn’t driving, but because he was in the car that had the gun and cocaine he was given a stiffer sentence. (The judge is known for giving out harsh punishments)
As tragic as this is, this really isn’t about marijuana. It’s about the jails not being fully able to care for a paralyzed man. He died because of poor care.
Ref: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A63478-2004Sep30.html
The judge that sentenced him deserves to be in the same cell! I feel so much sympathy for this man being pictured by the ones that pertetuated his demise.
What do you expect from the same government that allows gang stalkers to openly and notoriously stalk, harass, torture and murder with poison and radiation?
.
The reason this goes on is that there is a segment of voters who believe that they have the right to impose their own religious and/or moral views on everybody else (it is a sin to get high)and none of our political “leaders” have the stones to go against this group. These are often the same people who are outraged that Christian prayer is no longer allowed in our schools, and call damnation down upon the ACLU. They have forgotten the value of individual liberty and the principles upon which this free nation was founded. The irony is that arrogance, self-righteousness and intolerance drive those who, in the exercise of their own fundamental right of religious freedom, seek to infringe the same rights of others who do not share their views. Let’s say it like it is.
Judge retchin’s = puke
eventully carma will come for Judge Retchin and the payback sentence will be enourmous.
The law is the law. Unless its unconstitutional. An American is an American even if they smoke or posses pot. Anyone that commits or engages in an act of war against American people with witnesses is committing an act of treason as stated in the constitution. Treason is a crime, and “NOBODY IS ABOVE THE LAW”.
I have thought over the yrs. that the laws on marijuana are very stupid… Drinking , smoking cigs kill more people.. It seem our gov. does not work for the people.. only what is good for them.
I am crying as I write this letter. Sometimes I think I cry now that I`m older and don`t care what other people say about a man crying. I suffer from advanced arthritis and degenerative disc disease and several other problems. My pain become so terrible some days I just whant to give up. I`m pretty much on the highest dose of morphine and duragesic I will get. But what Jonathan had to survive for so many yrs. and to be taken down by totally uncaring, sadistic and ignorant judges and jailers, is totally unbeleiving. This man deserves to have a national day for all of us Norml members and all people who do care about one and other, sister, brother, mother, father and all who know what should have been done, instead of what happened. My love goes out to his family and all others who have suffered under what seems to becoming a totalitarianisum country. Enough is enough. I would not mind at all if this published. Michael E Modlin
ONCE AGAIN, MY GOVERNMENT MAKES ME ASHAMED TO BE AN AMERICAN CITIZEN. COULD IT BE THE PROBLEM HERE IS THAT OUR GOVERNMENT LEADERS HAVE SIMPLY NOT READ THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND BILL OF RIGHTS? TO BE FREE, AN INDIVIDUAL’S RIGHTS TO FREEDOM OF CHOICE, FOR WHICH THEY ARE FULLY ACCOUNTABLE AND RESPONSIBLE, MUST EXTEND TO THE POINT WHERE THE FREE EXERCISE OF THOSE RIGHTS INFRINGE ON THE SAME GOD GIVEN RIGHTS OF OTHERS. ANYTHING LESS IS SLAVERY. REGRETFULLY, MOST AMERICANS ARE LIKE SHEEP BEING HERDED TO SLAUGHTER. RARELY IS THERE SO MUCH AS A BLEAT HEARD UNTIL THE EXECUTIONER’S BLADE IS DRAWN ACROSS THEIR THROATS. MOST AMERICANS DON’T EVEN BOTHER TO VOTE. MAY GOD FORGIVE AND HAVE MERCY ON US ALL.
PLEASE DELETE 45. AND THIS MESSAGE. A TYPO, I INITIALLY LEFT OUT THE LETTER “N” IN “GOD GIVEN.”
THANK YOU.
WE ARE A REPRESSED NATION . MOST EVERYONE IS SCARED TO PUT THEIR REAL LAST NAME DOWN BECAUSE WE FEAR OUR GOVERNMENT .
What is sad about this story is that the Drug and alcohol companies are spending millions to snuff out marijuana for fears their sales will drop if marijuana is legal . Regarding , Michael Phelps….if it’s all about sending the wrong message to children then why is nothing said about all those televised ads & billboards along our highways telling us to drink alcoholic beverages ???!!!
ALCOHOL along with PRESCRIPTION DRUGS KILL , not MARIJUANA .
weed is legal in amsterdam but they have less a lower drug addicted percentage than the u.s. How is that? seeing how “weed is a gateway drug” alchol isnt a gateway drug to worse drugs it is a worse drug in itslef. but it is still legal. While the pedifiles and rapists desease our streets canabis smokers and sellers are filling the jail cells of this country. if you were to move into a new home it would be easier to move there if you knew there was a convicted pot smoker on your street than a convicted rapist on your street. they did the same time in jail they pay the sam price of not being able to obtain a job because of there criminal record, but how justified is that? Someone who ruined another persons life and left them with scars they can never forget, pays the same price as someone who tries to live there life the way they want. not harming others, not even harming themselfs with this harmless drug marijuana. how is it in this “FREE” country of ours we arent allowed to smoke a joint when we please, with out being prosocuted for it?
That is horrible! I am so disgusted right now that I can not even think! I am having issues finding contact information for this ‘woman’ (she is not even a human being in my eyes anymore) I want to write a ‘nice’ letter to her to remind her of what she has done.
So lemme get this right. The med-pot law was passed, and then the “barr amendment” just made it ok to say “screw the voters”?!?
I thought they just spent a boatload of money to convince us that our votes actually DID count.
If our votes only count for SOME stuff, it would be pretty dam handy to know in advance which issues came with shredders in the booth instead of polling machines. Just imagine all the gas you could save by not bothering to vote on those issues where they’re not actually counting your vote.
B is a perfect example of – everybody has “ONE”.
The sad part about this story is it isn’t the last time this will happen. Chris Rock was absolutely right, The government doesn’t give a fuck about you. Most comic routines contain an element of truth. Those of us who use marijuana need to keep on fighting. The war on drugs hasn’t change a thing with regards to supply and demand. I can get as much pot as I want, anytime I want. These government parasites want to give the non-users a false sense of security by falsifying information about marijuana and its use thus justifying their methods of search, destroy, and incarcerate. I’ve been watching this shit go on for 40 years and cannot believe the laws for marijuana prohibition are still on the books. For sure this is frustrating but please continue the fight. If you can’t get involved politically, continue to become involve with the supply and demand aspect.
What the hell!?
So, this paraplegic got caught up on the so-called Barr Amendment. Barr? Hmmmm…isn’t that the thick-lipped white boy that was the “libertarian” party’s poster-boy for president in 2008? Bob Barr–a libertarian!!!? Gimme a break.
That’s one reason why, whenever I run into one of those Libertarian Party recruiters–I tell them, “no thank you, I’m a proud Socialist! You see, the Socialist party wants to legalize Marijuana, just like the Libertarians but, they give the working man a break, unlike the Libertarians. Socialists have no “Rerpublican” stench about them.
We the People can have great joy whenever a corrupt cop, lawyer, judge or politician becomes a VICTIM of CRIME.
What’s more interesting, I think, is that Bob Barr, the politician responsible for the Barr Amendment, changed his mind and became a Libertarian that fights against marijuana prohibition. If he could go back in time and repeal that amendment, I’m sure he would do it in a heartbeat.
Thank you to NORML for shedding light on this tragedy. May Jonathan rest in peace and without pain.
What is wrong with the people and the government in great LAND OF THE FREE that we can’t see what the WAR ON DRUGS is really costing us in this country and in Mexico as well…just because our government says drugs are illegal…thousands of people are being killed every day. STOP THE WAR ON DRUGS!!!!!
This story is heart breaking. My heart goes out to the Johnathan and his family. He is the child of all of us who are of age, and we did not protect him from a twisted and sociopathic judge and a warped and fascist legal/political system.
What happened to this judge? She needs to be removed from any public office or position of responsibility. Surely there is some law to deal with such a monster?
What are we going to have to do to stop these kinds of things from happening?
MLK Jr. spoke to a large audience in Montgomery, Alabama on the eve of the Civil Rights Movement.
“I want it to be known-that we’re going to work with grim and bold determination-to gain justice on the buses in this city. And WE ARE NOT WRONG. We are not wrong in what we are doing. If we are wrong-the supreme court of this nation is wrong.If we are wrong-God almighty is wrong! If we are wrong-Jesus of Nazareth was merely a utopian dreamer and never came down to Earth! If we are wrong-justice is a lie! And we are determined here in Montgomery-to work and fight until justice runs down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream! And I want to tell you this evening that it is not enough for us to talk about love. Love is one of the pinnacle parts of the Christian faith. There is another side called justice. And justice is really love in calculation. JUSTICE IS LOVE CORRECTING THAT WHICH WOULD WORK AGAINST LOVE.”
Through our love, we will prevail! Through our love, those who abuse the power afforded their duty will feel justice creep into their hearts and know that what they do is hateful and wrong. There is only one way to overcome the power of oppressive government-and I ask you to let your anger focus your potential into possitive work. There is only one way through this current civil rights crisis. We must work together to put love back into justice, to put passion and consideration into our every duty. As unique pieces of this Nation, each individual must work through a desire for love in order to realize its potential to create change. By coming together as a community-indeed a nation-of lovers of freedom and justice, we can overturn the oppression that works agianst “Liberty and Justice FOR ALL!” We must stop the calculated loving of the Supreme Judges of this land, calculated to keep them in power and wealth; a calculated love of money and status. Let us continue daily forward with a sense urgency toward a pending glory, as we work with our gifts to bring recognition of the Righteousness of Freedom. In the end, love rules over the hearts and minds of us all, and it is our duty to encourage love and personal development. Cheers.
The cannabis community should focus public and political attention on our issue the same that other groups have. We are a significant block of voters, but we must let the politicians know that we are here, that we are paying attention, and THAT SUPPORTING CONTINUED PROHIBITION WILL COST THEM OUR VOTES. I believe that NORML could perform a great public service by making sure that EVERY candidate for public office makes his/her position known regarding marijuana prohibition. NORML has chapters in all 50 states, and should make sure that all candidates are asked the question and that their responses are made public.
We need to stick together and pressure the government to do the right thing if they don’t we need to vote them out. and put people in there that agree with us.
This is sick. And people wonder why some of us say “fuck the government.” God bless Jonathan Magbie and may he rest in peace.
when i first read this story, i was almost brought to tears. i have since then told every one i saw this story. some listened, some didnt. i never knew johnathon magbie, but his story is for ever etched in my memory. so i will continue to tell this story to people until justice has been properly served.
REMEMBER JOHNATHON MAGBIE
This is outrage, really piss me off when i hear a story something like this. Yes, what kind of messed-up country do we live in, Jake? This incident is disheartening and the Obama administration should do something to act it and reform the pot laws. I’m waiting for IL law to be decriminalized cuz I’m from there and Illinois have strict laws, still; never been decriminalized or medical, still waiting 🙁
Weed doesn’t kill people, the government does.
fuck, i cried.
This is the most disgusting thing I have heard in quite some time and I have heard some real tragic tales. We need to stand up and be counted. Write your senators and congreesspersons and DEMAND that Cannabis be legalized for adults and those who use it for the relief of pain. Keep contacting them.
flood their mail and e-mail until they have to acknowlegde us.
Here are a few more casualties of the ridiculous drug war.
http://www.hr95.org/Memorial.html
http://www.druglibrary.org/think/~jnr/botched.htm
<<>>
I almost teared up when reading this… This is yet another powerful post by George Rohrbacher, and I could feel all the pain he did. I will never look at this issue the same again, now I have even more compassion for medical marijuana patients than I ever have before.
I started a Twitter account just for activism, and this story is the first one I posted there. I am True_World.
THIS JUST IN http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090216/ap_on_re_us/swm_phelps_marijuana
REMEMBER TO BOYCOTT KELLOGG
This just goes to show how ugly a Government can get when they don’t represent the people but use us as paydays. They dont care about joe on main st. it’s all about the money. Just like the movie the Matrix were all just batteries for the government machine. But instead of energy were used for money. And the DEA are like the agent smith program. Serving the beast but feeding it’s own agenda at the same time. GOD HELP US ALL
umm… how did he smoke the joint if he was paralyzed from the chin down?
If , Michael Phelps was sending the wrong message to kids then is it OK that kids see all those television ads telling us about alcoholic beverages are cool to drink ? Saw a big bottle of ” Bud ” the other day in Northern California on a billboard . Must of been 6 Ft. high . THESE ALCOHOL AND PRESCRIPTION DRUG ADS ARE REALLY THE ONES SENDING A BAD MESSAGE TO OUR CHILDREN . Alcohol is also a gateway drug to Heroin , Meth , Crack and more .
If , Michael Phelps was sending the wrong message to kids then is it OK that kids see all those television ads telling us about alcoholic beverages are cool to drink ? Saw a big bottle of ” Bud ” the other day in Northern California on a billboard . Must of been 6 Ft. high . THESE ALCOHOL AND PRESCRIPTION DRUG ADS ARE REALLY THE ONES SENDING A BAD MESSAGE TO OUR CHILDREN . Alcohol is also a gateway drug to Heroin , Meth , Crack and more .
This is an outrage. The War on Drugs is a War on the People.
Let common sense prevail!
I am SO TIRED of people being in jail for a plant that GOD gave us. PLEASE GOD HELP OUR BROTHERS & SISTERS
I agree with the article completely, but I don’t understand the irony.
It really is ironic that Bob Barr became a Libertarian; particularly after spewing the typical D.C. propaganda about Cannabis. As a Libertarian myself, I’ve completely lost respect for Bob Barr after reading that.
I’ve got a very simple stimulus plan that has a 100% chance of being successful, and I’m not some dumb-ass politician who’s preaching to the “sheeple” to get re-elected next term:
Legalize (ALL) Drugs
Tax & Regulate the sale of (ALL) drugs
Grant Presidential pardons for all Federal AND state “non-violent” drug offenders (i.e. possession only).
Create an economy comparable to coffee that would generate BILLIONS of dollars annually
Maybe legalization is closer than we think. I mean hey, if we can get a bunch of inexperienced, fast-talking tax cheats elected to high offices of an ever expanding, inept government, surely we can do something remotely intelligent like eliminate the DEA, spend money and resources on more “common sense” initiatives like ridding the planet of scum like child molesters, rapists and serial murderers (and politicians:)
WAKE UP WASHINGTON! It’s time for “real ACTUAL change” and not just more bullshit political doublespeak.
LEGALIZE FREEDOM!!!!!!
Be ready for it! Im making the song!
This case is heart breaking as he was let down by so many different people and government agencies, undermining the effort of the many compassionate people who worked ceaselessly to keep him alive.
In the end, he was a victim of the game of politics, whether it be the representatives that legislated his criminality or the judge that practiced retaliatory justice.
FUCK you u.s. goverment here i am at home with pot and i will keep smoking it your law means nothing to me just like the people mean nothing to you get in your private jet and go on a vacation so you have enough energy to cast a vote next time you feel like showing up at congress I will grow over 200 plants this year try and get me
This is going straight to my congress man. We can not have this happen again. What a stupid thing they did sending to jail for one joint! The Barr Amendment must go!
Question? If he was not in possession of marijuana would he stil have been sent to jail b/c of the gun? from the research I have done on this he was in possession of both marijuana (which he admitted he purchased to ease his pain) and a gun while he was a passanger in a car driven by his cousin. If marijuana was not in the picuture would he not have been sent to jail for illegal possession of a firearm?
What happened to him is unacceptable. No one deserves to be treated the way he was treated, it was just plain cruel. But the story here is not marijuana the story is we need jail reform. Poeple that work in jails need to be properly trained to treat and care for disabled people who end up in their ward. Crucial medical attention should not be denied to anyone.
Society may always be at odds over what should be law and what shouldnt but society should never be at odds on how we treat and care for ohter human beings. Being improsioned shoud not strip you of your right to survive.
WHEN WILL IT END !!!
So sad, so unnecessary…..
Lois
Another sad story of DRACONIAN LAW and BIG BROTHER MENTALITY. The so called drug war against the American People caused another casuality of a sick person to use alternative medicine for pain. What were these people thinking of when they put this man in jail for such a minor infraction. There was no sense of human compassion to the victim (WHAT GIVING HIM TEN DAYS IN JAIL). While the judge and the law have have received a feather in their hats, the victim received a grave marker. My sympathy to JONATHAN MAGBIE another victim to the the war on drugs and his rights as a AMERICAN CITIZEN SPAT UPON. DEAD END ATROCITIES to the American People at their best, WHEN WILL IT END, when half of us are in jail and the other half watching us and who will watch the other half.
My heart aches when I think of poor Jonathon’s last miserable moments on this earth. Atrocious.
It probably will never end until we the people truly start doing something about it, not that we currently arn’t. We just need to do more, get more people involved in writing to lawmakers and protesting. I don’t know how much more I can take, I will never stop smoking,I personally know how cannabis helps with chronic diseases because I have a severe case of crohns disease and cannabis has been the best medicine at relieving my symptoms than any conventional one and with alot less side effects.We need to legalize medicinal cannabis, it does too much for people who are sick, without cannabis I sure as hell would not be writing this letter right now, and i’m sure there are real people who are sick that know what I mean, and we can’t keep letting our government incarcarate people who just want to live there depressing lives a little happier,AND a little longer. WE MUST NOT FORGET WHAT HAPPENED TO JONATHAN MAGBIE, AND WE NEED TO TELL THIS STORY TO OTHERS AND HAVE THEM PASS IT ON AS WELL.I’d write more but i’m just speachless. 🙁
Lets just hope it’s another piece of sickening evidence when those conservative fucks are charged with war crimes and inhumanity.
Shove this Barr Ammendment up their collective asses. What a bunch of bull shit hog wash. This gentleman was murdered, manslaughter pure and simple. Lawmakers gone wild.
to question # 88. why should anyone who is confined to a wheelchair be incarcerated? wasn’t jonathan serving a life sentence already, condemmed for a crime he didn’t commit. no doubt the drunk driver was back on the road if it was his first offense or even his second in some states. by vote will our laws change, stop electing the same people, career politicians. look at the mess we’re in as a nation. where has the wealth of america gone? stolen, we’re broke, says the crocodile tears of senators and congressmen who have spent 20 to 30 years in power. become active in the political process, vote against the thieving sons of bitches, write letters, complain to the media and press, do something besides whine. it may come to this…the tree of liberty must be refreshed with the blood of tyrants…and patriots. our founding fathers would have never stood for marijuana prohibition, and neither would the citizens of america had they said cannabis, because they didn’t know what marijuana was. power grabbing law enforcement used slight of hand to trick people, government propaganda, unheard of or conceived by the voting public in the early 1900’s was used to build a wall around marijuana. it ( marijuana) had far to many uses for the common man and could not be controlled for the tax dollar. it’s about control, how does 65% to 72% of voter approval for medical marijuana go ignored? if we are going to “change” then let out a yell so the deaf bastards who’ve ruined peoples lives for the next generation will hear you. they’ve been in power so long they can’t hear.they’ve grown old and fat, living off the sweat and hopes of every citizen, playing bureaucracy and slapping each other on the back, with a wink and a drink and a snort of coke. now we the people have to pay back the tab accrued by career politicians. vote different next time, hold them accountable, ask them what they stand for on the specific issues. it absolutely amazed me that the people voted for medical marijuana and a governor took it upon himself to override that vote. that’s where (we the people) are.
I agree with disabledvet.comment#97
Sad, especially that this tradedy fades into time; just look at how the posting responses have diminished in number.
He was my brother and bestfriend. Still to this day its hard to comprehend thats he is no longer here. Jon was such a pleasant, nice, man with a great sense of humor. We had alot of fun times together,I will never forget how he changed my life in so many ways. It just pisses me off to think he was takien from so many ppl who love him because he chose to do something that made him feel better and now in 2012 medical marijuana is legal. LOVE YOU ALWAYS ANF FOREVER