Last week Breckenridge Colorado joined the growing chorus of municipalities across America seeking to create a sensible cannabis policy (one, that in principle, is similar to that of alcohol in the recognition between acceptable, responsible adult use and abuse). Even though Colorado is already one of the 13 states that have decriminalized possession amounts of cannabis, following Denver’s lead, Breckenridge voters will soon be asked to make cannabis both a lowest law enforcement priority and the ‘penalty’ for possessing it– nothing. Nada. No fine, no criminal record.
A bright and enthusiastic lawyer with a young and growing family in Breckenridge is one of the chief advocates for this initiative, and in an ongoing ‘The Law and Marijuana‘ series of essays submitted by attorneys from the NORML Legal Committee to be exclusively published by the organization, Sean McAllister opines about why he thinks cannabis prohibition has lasted over 70 years.
-AStP
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By Sean T. McAllister, Esq., Member, NORML Legal Committee (Breckenridge, CO)
Marijuana remains illegal even though public attitudes are clearly changing on this topic. It is illegal even though 100 million Americans have smoked it and suffered little if any negative side effects. It is illegal even though 40% or more of Americans currently support legalization. It is illegal even though it is not physically addictive; you cannot overdose on marijuana; and the dependency rate of marijuana is lower than alcohol.
Marijuana remains illegal even though prohibition is incredibly expensive. The federal government spends at least $10 billion per year specifically on marijuana prohibition. Approximately 60,000 people are in prisons in America on marijuana violations only. If all 15-25 million Americans who smoke marijuana monthly were imprisoned, the country would spend $365 billion per year to incarcerate these people. Considering the country could reap approximately $6.2 billion per year if marijuana were taxed and regulated like alcohol, the war on marijuana easily costs somewhere in the neighborhood of $20 billion per year.
Marijuana remains illegal even though prohibition has miserably failed. After 35 years of a war on drugs largely targeting marijuana, the same number of high school students now say marijuana is easy to get and they had used it as answered those question in the affirmative in 1975. It remains illegal even though the Obama administration has declared an end to the “war on drugs,” while at the same time laughing off marijuana legalization.
Marijuana prohibition continues even though it empowers Mexican drug cartels. Approximately 60-70% of the profit of Mexican drug cartels comes from marijuana sales. If marijuana were taxed and regulated, this black market would virtually disappear, Mexican drug cartels would be much weaker, and our border would be much more secure.
Despite these facts, most politicians continue support marijuana prohibition. Commission after commission and newspaper editorial board after board may endorse marijuana legalization, but it continues to be ignored in state capitals. Grassroots activism does a great job keeping this issue in the press, but politicians continue to ignore it. Few politicians see it in their narrow interests of reelection to come out in favor of legalization of marijuana.
What follows is a brief analysis of some of the factors that continue to propagate the inertia of marijuana prohibition:
Facts don’t matter
When it comes to marijuana, statistics don’t seem to matter. Costs don’t matter. As noted above, no matter how many billions per year it costs to enforce marijuana prohibition, there seems to be no cost too high to prohibit it. Prohibitionist seem to be saying that there is no cost to high to attempt to limit marijuana use.
Overall use and teen use is lower in countries that have legalized (Amsterdam) or fully decriminalized marijuana (Portugal, Spain, Britian) than in the United States. There is no real evidence that marijuana is a gateway drug (in fact research shows that marijuana is largely a terminus drug – meaning people use nothing more than marijuana throughout their lives).
In Colorado alone, 13,000 people are arrested every year on marijuana charges. Another few hundred are in prison on marijuana charges. In total, Colorado spends around $85 million dollars per year on marijuana prohibition. If Colorado taxed and regulated marijuana, the net gain for the state coffers would be $150 million per year.
None of this seems to matter to those in favor of prohibition. Instead, the debate turns on value judgments and justifications not tried to any empirical data. While those favoring legalization should continue to insist that we deal with empirical data, facts alone will not legalize marijuana.
Prohibition is a hangover of the 60s culture war
By far the greatest impediments to living in a world where marijuana is not criminalized are the left over stereotypes and culture wars from the 1960s and 70s. Those where the decades when the counterculture made widespread marijuana use synonymous with alternative lifestyles and an implicit rejection of mainstream traditional American values.
The classic narrative of drug use in America is that while it may have started out as an innocent and idealized behavior in the 60s, the 70s and early 80s saw the “drug culture” deteriorate into a narcissistic world of selfishness and excess. The irresponsibility of some early users saddled the next several generations with the general notion that marijuana users were not good citizens and their lifestyles did not produce healthy communities and families. Simply put, prohibitionist have succeeded in branding marijuana users as irresponsible and not serious. That perception must change, even if it means more people “coming out of the closet” and showing that marijuana use can occur in conjunction with healthy, intelligent lifestyles.
Marijuana Prohibition Criminalizes Youth and Leads to Skewed Electoral Results
The classic pattern of marijuana use is that people begin experiment with marijuana near the end of high school. Experimentation steadily tappers off through their late 20s and for most people by their mid-30s, marijuana use is a rare or nonexistent experience. As people acquire more responsibility (marriage, children, mortgage), they find less room in their lives for marijuana.
This trend also explains why political change is so hard. As marijuana withers from adults’ habits, they are less likely to pursue or advocate for reform. By a person’s mid-30s, he or she has already quit using marijuana so they have no incentive to seek its legalization. This leads to the general atmosphere of marijuana reform, which is that too few people remain directly affected throughout their lifetimes so as to care about changing marijuana laws. Those that continue to “care,” perhaps care too much and are seen as radicals by the establishment. The reform movement needs to engage past users to help change marijuana laws.
Free rider problem and Selective Enforcement
For those that will continue to use marijuana throughout their lifetime (perhaps 6%-10% of users), there also is little incentive to advocate for legalization. As few as 2 in 100 people ever suffer criminal justice sanctions as a consequence of their marijuana use. Because so few stakeholders feel the effects of prohibition, those with the most at stake in legalization are not in the streets demanding change. The difference between the gay rights movement and marijuana proponents is that by advocating for marijuana rights people immediately subject themselves to criminal prosecution – something no longer possible for gay activists.
Related to the free rider problem is the low stakes involved in most marijuana arrests. With the exception of a few states in the deep south and Utah, in most places marijuana arrests result in a small fine and perhaps community service and/or drug counseling. The popular stereotype that our prisons are filled with people who only smoked marijuana cigarettes is not accurate. Small time users generally do not go to jail, but cultivators and distributors do. Therefore, the lack of serious sanctions has also deflated the potential movement against injustice because the stakes are so small. Why would a doctor or lawyer risk his or her reputation seeking to legalize marijuana when the sanctions are already so slight? Again, these free riders need to be convinced that advocating for marijuana legalization is a “gateway issue” to reforming the larger failed drug war and that they may not avoid prosecution forever.
Inability to have an honest discussion about drugs – lack of acknowledgement of responsible use
Another barrier to societal acceptance of marijuana is the inability to have an honest dialogue about the potential positive benefits of marijuana use. Universally, when drugs and marijuana are discussed in public, the frame of debate is that marijuana use is a self-destructive and unhealthy activity. There is little public acknowledgement that for millions of people occasional and responsible marijuana use has greatly enhanced their lives, such as by making a walk in nature powerfully introspective, by resulting in riotous laughter, or by making their sex lives more fulfilling. Instead, those who are usually the most outspoken about marijuana’s positive aspects tend to preach in a manner that makes marijuana use out to be an unmitigated good, refusing to acknowledge any negative consequences of abuse. The message of legalization must be that while legalization may marginally increase some irresponsible behavior, the savings from ending the war on marijuana will far outstrip any harms.
Just say no is an easy message for parents
Parents have always had a hard time discussing drug use with their children. Many parents are conflicted on this issue because a large percentage of parents once experimented with marijuana. Keeping marijuana illegal gives parents an unassailable reason why their kids should not use it: because it is illegal. The simplicity and utility of prohibition is a major reason that many parents passively support it, even if they privately don’t believe marijuana is harmful. Parents need to be shown alternative methods for keeping their children away from marijuana, such as science based drug education.
A long term minority without a constitutional right protecting them
The main Constitutional defense to marijuana prosecution is that it violates rights to privacy under the 5th and 14th Amendment. Unfortunately, other than Alaska, most experts believe that state privacy rights are not strong enough to protect marijuana use in your own home. There are no other significant constitutional guarantees that can be expected to protect marijuana users. Unlike racial minorities or gays and lesbians, it is unlikely that marijuana users can seek refuge in Constitutional clauses for their activities. With only 15-25 million regular users, about 10%-15% of all adults in America, it is unlikely that a majority of American adults will ever use marijuana on a regular basis as long as it is illegal. Without a constitutional right to protect them, it is unlikely they will be able to muster electoral majorities in the next 10-15 years to end their persecution.
Discomfort with Freedom
Despite America being the “land of the free and home of the brave,” in practice there appears to be a significant resistance and discomfort with giving people the freedom to make potentially bad choices. Regardless of how many can use marijuana safely or responsibly, if some abuse it, many will oppose legalizing it. This inherent discomfort with the actual practice of freedom is a major cultural hurdle to legalization.
The many have always paid for the poor choices of the few. Marijuana prohibition is by definition a preemptive war which seeks to criminalize all who use marijuana because a few may abuse it. While America seems to recognizing the futility of preemptive wars, there is still a strong undercurrent of support for this type of reaction.
Discomfort with Marijuana Intoxication Compared with Alcohol
There is no principled distinction between alcohol and marijuana intoxication. The Attorney General of Colorado says that people can drink alcohol in “sub-intoxicating doses,” which seems only possible for those chronic users of alcohol who are not affected by small amounts. Of course, the mild psychedelic or psychological aspects of the marijuana are different than alcohol. The paranoia resulting from marijuana use in a small number of users is among its most common psychological negative effect. While most people experience great insight and pleasure from the use of marijuana, others experience this paranoia. The general discomfort with psychedelic or spiritual experiences related to marijuana use lead many to a conclusion that it should not be widely used. Again, this is the many paying for the negative consequences of the few.
Conclusion
Marijuana legalization is gaining steam. I believe firmly that in my lifetime it will be legal for both medical and recreational purposes. What seems necessary at this point is to build a movement of tolerance for responsible marijuana users’ rights to be left alone. This tolerance will also need to acknowledge that a small minority of people may abuse their freedom if marijuana is legalized and that society will need to deal with those negative effects. Surely all the money saved on incarceration and prohibition would cover the costs of any negative effects of legalization. Rather than spending another generation toiling under a failed system, I hope we can end this failed preemptive war on marijuana soon. However, it will not end until the reform movement addresses the above concerns and transforms the debate back into a human-centered fact-based dialogue which focuses on reasonable solutions rather than ideology.
Sean T. McAllister, Esq.
McAllister Law Office, P.C.
PO Box 3903
Breckenridge, CO 80424
970-453-6594
www.mcallisterlawoffice.com
such a powerful message, i have been saddened that it has taken so long for the lights to start shining on this subject.. but clearly they are now here! and the light is shining!
thank you for fighting so hard for the americans rights
This was a great read! i totally agree.
Smokers need there families who know that life is functioning to also speak up in defense, since they dont smoke and wont be so quickly judged.
Voices are so meek and need to be stronger, but with the constant Federal overrule we refrain from engaging.
and i appreciate your willingness to address the few that make us look bad. we all know there are those who abuse, but until we agree with legislators on this issue it will remain rhetoric to comments.
If anyone is contemplating moving to Colorado, better move fast! The Realty Market is not stupid, they’ll up the price as thousands move to Colorado to be truly FREE. All indicators and market data support the changes to Marijuana Laws on the horizon. Thousands of people are moving to Colorado already, employment is up and construction is in full swing ahead of the legalization movement of MJ. The hell with California, “Colorado” is now seen as the promise land for medical marijuana patients AND personal users of MJ alike.
If anyone can suggest helpful data to new arrivals such as employment (Pot Friendly Employers,) houseing, etc., please post a link on this blog so we can all share the information.
http://www.goodsearch.com/
Let’s raise some funds for NORML, every search gives 1.3 cents to the charity of your choice (NORML anyone?). If every one did this we could raise a good deal together.
Conservatively, lets say 10 searches daily per person, and maybe 5000 people use this. That’s about $36 per person per year, $182,500 a year among 5000 people.
Numbers are fun…
Good article, but he forgot to mention all the money alcohol, tobacco, and pharmaceutical companies pay the lawmakers to keep it illegal.
marijuana is illegal because of its economical potential. the chemical companies (namely DuPont that today has their hands in all GMO and are feeding us crap) stand to loose a lot of money if cannabis was legalized. if you look at how marijuana became illegal you will see that DuPont had a big influence on the matter. this is what you can do with cannabis
* All schoolbooks were made from hemp or flax paper until the 1880s; Hemp Paper Reconsidered, Jack Frazier, 1974.
* It was LEGAL TO PAY TAXES WITH HEMP in America from 1631 until the early 1800s; LA Times, Aug. 12, 1981.
* REFUSING TO GROW HEMP in America during the 17th and 18th Centuries WAS AGAINST THE LAW! You could be jailed in Virginia for refusing to grow hemp from 1763 to 1769; Hemp in Colonial Virginia, G. M. Herdon.
* George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and other founding fathers GREW HEMP; Washington and Jefferson Diaries. Jefferson smuggled hemp seeds from China to France then to America.
* Benjamin Franklin owned one of the first paper mills in America and it processed hemp. Also, the War of 1812 was fought over hemp. Napoleon wanted to cut off Moscow’s export to England– Emperor Wears No Clothes, Jack Herer.
* For thousands of years, 90% of all ships’ sails and rope were made from hemp. The word ’canvas’ is Dutch for cannabis — Webster’s New World Dictionary.
* 80% of all textiles, fabrics, clothes, linen, drapes, bed sheets, etc. were made from hemp until the 1820s with the introduction of the cotton gin.
* The first Bibles, maps, charts, Betsy Ross’s flag, the first drafts of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were made from hemp; U.S. Government Archives.
* The first crop grown in many states was hemp. 1850 was a peak year for Kentucky producing 40,000 tons. Hemp was the largest cash crop until the 20th Century; State Archives.
* Oldest known records of hemp farming go back 5000 years in China, although hemp industrialization probably goes back to ancient Egypt.
* Rembrants, Gainsboroughs, Van Goghs as well as most early canvas paintings were principally painted on hemp linen.
* In 1916, the U.S. Government predicted that by the 1940s all paper would come from hemp and that no more trees need to be cut down. Government studies report that 1 acre of hemp equals 4.1 acres of trees. Plans were in the works to implement such programs; Department of Agriculture
* Quality paints and varnishes were made from hemp seed oil until 1937. 58,000 tons of hemp seeds were used in America for paint products in 1935; Sherman Williams Paint Co. testimony before Congress against the 1937 Marijuana Tax Act.
* Henry Ford’s first Model-T was built to run on hemp gasoline and the CAR ITSELF WAS CONSTRUCTED FROM HEMP! On his large estate, Ford was photographed among his hemp fields. The car, ’grown from the soil,’ had hemp plastic panels whose impact strength was 10 times stronger than steel; Popular Mechanics, 1941.
* Hemp called ’Billion Dollar Crop.’ It was the first time a cash crop had a business potential to exceed a billion dollars; Popular Mechanics, Feb., 1938.
* Mechanical Engineering Magazine (Feb. 1938) published an article entitled ’The Most Profitable and Desirable Crop that Can be Grown.’ It stated that if hemp was cultivated using 20th Century technology, it would be the single largest agricultural crop in the U.S. and the rest of the world.
DuPont was invested in chemicals and lumber he stand to loose a lot of money due to the hemp industry getting bigger. So he had some people put in the right places in government and then strated a propaganda campaign agains cannabis.
I have never before seen the truth of this issue portrayed so clearly. Thank you Mr. McAllister for taking time out of your life to write this, we will win this war if people like you keep bringing this issue up.
-Mike H
While you make good arguments, ignoring the powerful lobbies that actually keep Cannabis illegal is not an answer. Great read for me, but people may be interested in seeing how much money is actually made because of prohibition.
What pharma drugs could be replaced? How many prison guards let go? How many police will lose jobs? How would paper mills and chemical companies deal with legal hemp? How many lawyers and judicial employees would be unemployed?
Legalization of drugs would bring the scale of change that a single payer health care model would bring. Massive savings, and massive needs to shift obsolete employment into new fields.
Very educational. I moved from colorado to kansas 3 years ago for th schools. well if youll exuse me im gona go feel sorry for myself.
Colorado Rocks!
Great article, very informative…I’m going to e-mail this article to many!
Thanks NORML!
Good Story wish Iowa would do something like tht.Its ok tho Grassley is retiring after this
yr i think tht explains y he threw Medical Mj out till 2010
WE R So Close
This man is a genius.
Very interesting article. What it all comes down to is,we are being told we are not responsible and cant make decisions based in facts. Sorry I,as all of you, do not and can not accept that. I am not a child or a thing to be managed. Time to end this unjust law.
And some prohibitionist say that there is no medical properties to MJ lol yea right and I am Rebert E. Lee lol is kind of sad though that other countries either have MJ decriminalized if not legalized yet the US is be hind the 8 ball when it cones to legalization or decriminalization yet our nation is suppose to be land of the free… If that is so then why oh why don’t the issue of MJ not solved through legalization or decriminalized ? I was in Ireland and even there it is not such a big deal being there is more to worry about than MJ like the deaths and violence caused by alcohol and tobacco yet do we see tobacco and alcohol illegal? NO…… what the hell is wrong with our nation for the govt to keep mj illegal yet have alcohol and tobacco legalized which is not only bad for peoples health but also causes violence and even death while MJ NEVER killed any one and can be used for medical porpouses as well …. We need to keep fighting till the stupid war on MJ is banished and it is ligalized if not decriminalized. We have bigger problems to worry about than keeping marijuana Illegal and pursicuting people for using it.. Our time is coming that is a fact also we will prevail in the long run but only if we keep doing what we are doing and keep the fight on for our rights as Americans …. If they do not want to legalize or at least decriminalize MJ I say lets not vote the people who are for prohibition and let our voices be heard….
I say hell with taking pills that have dangerous side effect if their is MJ that does the same thing with out the harmful side effects… Hell with alcohol if we have MJ at least we know that we wont die from MJ vurses taking a chance of dieing when we use alcohol and tobacco….
Where is our damn constitutional right….?
well done Sir, excellent words.
They say Marijuana causes paranoia of corse it does and the reason it does is because it is Illegal when it should never have been, but yet alcohol and tobacco are more dangerous yet are legal while MJ is safer and illegal…. What a messed up logic behind this thinking. I will only be voting for those who are not anti-Marijuana when election time comes back around that is a fact.
well written, makes valid points. great article
I wonder, perhaps those who abuse pot have done so in rebellion of the laws. This provides a cheap thrill which usually is a mask for trying to be cool around your buddies. Fact is as Ive gotten older, this is no longer an issue of anyone with whom I myself partake. Abuse of pot is a relatively harmless way of staving off embarrassment that there’s apparently no place for you to fit in. Put it where you know it belongs. Do what you want. Enjoy Cannabis as it works in mysterious ways such as enhancing the life meant for you all along. Go on the other side of the door and start enjoying yourself. Peace
One other thing. I see post where people seen happy to get cannabis from a government grow source if/when legalized. If you all dont mind,I would feel much better if down the road I can grow my own. I dont trust the government enough to not alter it from its natural state by adding to it. Do you?….Really?
The main reason cannabis should be re-legalized is that not to do so violates God’s will for people to live in freedom with liberty as acknowledged in the Constitution of the United States. The next most important reason is that by keeping it illegal, our current policy guarantees ready availability to the children of this nation. This is because our current policy guarantees and protects a production, distribution and sales monopoly for sociopathic, violent drug profiteers who are selling drugs to our children now. The next reason we must change our current policy is that it has seriously degraded the domestic tranquillity of several allied nations. Some of the many other reasons this disasterous policy must be changed are: corruption and disrespect for law enforcement, the loss of use of industrial hemp (very, very stupid), the waste of more than a trillion dollars of public funds, largely ignored medical research of a common plant that has been used successfully by countless millions of people since at least the dawn of recorded time, prohibition does not work, whenever there is a willing buyer and a willing seller there will be a business transaction, prohibitionists’ hypocritical posture alone renders their position invalid, etc. Cannabis re-legalization is the civic responsibility and duty of every true American patriot. Every freedom loving American patriot has a dog in this fight. This battle is about freedom and liberty, not pot smoking. If I do not say or do anything when they come for my neighbor, it is only a matter of time until they come for me too. I suggest prohibitionists get another hobby, one that does not include trying to run other people’s lives in violation of God’s will. Anyone can make their personal case for re-legalizing cannabis by honestly and completely answering two simple questions. Who do you want to make you, against your free will, take drugs? Why not? Most people have enough common sense to releaze their body is theirs alone, not the states or anyone elses, and what they freely choose to do or not do, as long as it does not violate another’s rightful freedom and liberty, is none of anyone else’s damn business.
Finally, someone took the words right out of my mouth, just with better grammer and word usage.
AMEN
I agree with your thesis 100%, but I’d urge you to take another look at your essay for some edits. In particular, you begin with this:
“Marijuana remains illegal even though prohibition is incredibly expensive. The federal government spends at least $10 billion per year specifically on marijuana prohibition. Approximately 60,000 people are in prisons in America on marijuana violations only. If all 15-25 million Americans who smoke marijuana monthly were imprisoned, the country would spend $365 billion per year to incarcerate these people.”
Later, you state the exact opposite:
“Related to the free rider problem is the low stakes involved in most marijuana arrests. With the exception of a few states in the deep south and Utah, in most places marijuana arrests result in a small fine and perhaps community service and/or drug counseling. The popular stereotype that our prisons are filled with people who only smoked marijuana cigarettes is not accurate.”
So which is it? Is there a huge cost to incarcerating pot smokers, or is the fact that few of them go to jail a reason why people aren’t rioting in the streets?
Again, I’m not disagreeing with the thesis. I think that marijuana should be completely legal, so for me, this essay is preaching to the converted, but I think that by contradicting yourself, you weaken your argument for those that *do* need convincing.
Thanks.
I never put much thought in the lack of support even closet users offer. The statistics speak for themsemves but with no voice behind it, its diluted.
I sure hope for legalization in my lifetime, I don’t look forward to lying to my children about the use of marijuana as our government has requested the ” responsible citizen” do for decades.
I’m not saying I wnt my kids smoking anything, but to instill such damaging and evil description when the topic does come up, I will not do. (added by Mobile using Mippin)
wow, fantastic post. nice work Mr McAllister. i would move to colorado from california if i could get rid of this medical prescription.
It’s to keep the DEA from becoming irrelevant/losing funding. Drug war replaces slave labor with prison labor. tinyurl.com/1mn tinyurl.com/potconviction
more people need to smoke and keep smoking and convince all their beer drinking buddies to pick up some weed and chill the fuck out. if the amount of people who drink were smokers instead then it would already be legal. forget the government and corporate goons. they will never listen to you. change real peoples perspectives about it and they will change other peoples minds. if the gov wants to treat us like a problem then we need to become a really big problem.
more people need to smoke and keep smoking and convince all their beer drinking buddies to pick up some weed and chill the fuck out. if the amount of people who drink were smokers instead then it would already be legal. forget the government and corporate goons. they will never listen to you. change real peoples perspectives about it and they will change other peoples minds. if the gov wants to treat us like a problem then we need to become a really big problem.
keep up the good fight
Wow, more info recycled for some reason. We know all this, this is 2nd nature, the problem isn’t getting info to the masses it’s getting the right people in charge. It’s also for org. like NORML to stop standing on soap boxes and whining about how nobody takes us seriously. Every week it’s the same article posted, whaaa, weed is good, whaaa nobody will take it seriously…whaaa. Snooooore…let me know when those donations go to making a diff. instead of bitching
[Editor’s note: Why so negative? Is Mr. McAllister’s thoughtful essay really ‘”bitchin” and a “soap box” bemoan of prohibition? What pray tell have you ever done to end prohibition John? Look at the other comments from all the other readers…they seemed to get the upshot of the essay. Don’t you feel kind of strange in your singular negativity?]
Great article. I wish we had someone in the legal profession here in the State of Texas to challenge our legal system to either legalize or decriminalize Marijuana. Texas is the most back-asswards State in the Union. It was the last State to change the law for simple possession from a FELONY to a class B misdemeanor. In Austin, our States Capital, the City Council passed an ordinance where people busted in that city with small amounts of MJ are given a ticket and a court date. In San Antonio our DA refused to even consider such an option. Instead, she would rather arrest and waste tax payers money by immediately incarcerating even the most minor offense of simple possession. We are wasting millions of dollars in this State on a war that was lost in the 70’s.
If people took the time to understand what the written American foundation demands, they would find it a priceless ally in ending cannabis prohibition.
According to the U.S. Supreme Court, the sole constitutional basis for cannabis prohibition is if one uses cannabis, one is having a substantial affect on interstate commerce (Gonzales v. Raich).
On the conservative side of the political coin, pointing out the 1937 abrupt and radical change in the judicial interpretation of the Commerce Clause (an obvious failing of the judicial branch in connection with the political left’s New Deal) silences them in my experience at the WSJ comments section.
No conservative will support that change, considering every government interference into the private sector is solely connected to that change.
While there may be no constitutional defense for those prosecuted for cannabis, above that is the fact that there is no constitutional basis authorizing cannabis prohibition in the first place by any sane interpretation of our Constitution, and we need that fact to resonate far and wide.
Our Constitution exists to preserve unalienable Rights (including Liberty) established in the U.S. Declaration of Independence, not replace them.
There is no credible evidence proving an instance of cannabis use infringes upon another person’s Rights, and therefore there is no authority to ban its use by our public servants, the public majority, etc.
Cannabis prohibition results in part due to people continuing to believe that the Constitution is a “living document” subject to evolving generational interpretation.
That belief is undeniably wrong as proven by the existence of a comprehensive amendment process in our Constitution, a process unnecessary if the Constitution was intended to be a living document.
There is no American patriot who will ‘publicly’ stand against the written American foundation. We must do everything in our power to rightfully get prominent drug prohibitionists to reveal their natural opposition against that foundation for that will be their end.
You want passionate public support to a level convincing our government to comply? The solution comes in red, white, and blue.
I am in full support of the legaliztion of marijauna. I also am glad to hear that more people in your field are helping to fight the cause. I live in Illinois and have been writing to my congressman in hopes of a change. The bottom line for me is that as long as this is considered a “Free Society” no one should have the right to tell someone else what to do as long as they are not hurting anybody else.
Great information and insight,,I thought there was alot of useful information that can do well when debating the few(prison complex,law enorcement,big pharma) who want to make money off of those of us who simply smoke a joint!
This is a very good article and what a wonderful and very informative essay! More people need to not only educate themselves by reading articles and essays such as these, but they also need to educate their peers on the facts, lies, and benefits of ending Marijuana Prohibition.
mannn……….. f the po lease
Thank you for being so realistic. After returning from Amsterdam, I still can’t believe it’s illegal here. I’m doing what every responible stoner can do learning Dutch until it’s legal in the land of the free.
McAllister is right about people being afraid of arrest for speaking up…well its time to either put up or shut up. We cant let this momentum slip. I for one am not going down without a fight. I have started at work and with family and friends and I sure hope I have proven myself over the last 43 years. If they ostracize me then F**K them, I dont need that kind of ignorance in my life.
When I read a very well prepared article I am going to forward it to my state reps…every last one of them. I am going to continue to do this until they either arrest me or I start getting them bounced back. I am tired of this prohibition crap and am going to fight for what I believe in. I dont know what good it will do but if enough people do this type of thing the local government might get the clue and start pushing the feds. If they dont then I will vote thier collective asses straight to the unemployment line.
Another well informed intelligent person has the correct sense of where we are politically with the hemp issue. As we see more of this type of intelligent writing come to the mainstream the closer we get to true freedom and the constitutional right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The lost revenue of making industrial hemp illegal has cost this country trillions of dollars. 25,000 known uses for hemp. Natures strongest fiber. Hemp seed oil could be America’s best way to provide much needed food and energy. If 6 percent of our farmland were producing hemp we would not import oil!!!!!
Keep up the great work Mr. McAllister!
YAWN ! I think i heard this something like 374 times before . This is getting a little old , ya ‘ know ?
The guy in the suit and flamming gray tie sure looks like a stoner . ( He was stoned when the pic. was taken of him , too ) Is the sport jacket and tie supposed to look impressive ?
J. of California ( where only fruit cakes dress like that )
[Editor’s note: Your sarcasm and negativity is hardly helpful…Some may ask ‘why don’t cannabis consumers better organize?’…and comments like yours speaks to why prohibitionists are still driving the ship. Did you feel better after demeaning another? You too are invited to post ALL the things you do to end prohibition to NORML’s blog posts…]
I agree with Scott’s post (#34). In effect I would say that the ultimate benchmark for laws of any sort are whether or not they infringe on the inalienable rights of man: life, liberty & the pursuit of happiness.
Any “law” that infringes upon any of the above 3 inalienable rights of man should be abolished. . .ultimately giving back to American’s the Freedom & Liberty that our forefathers fought so desperately to achieve & secure.
And Cannabis Prohibition (along with ALL drug prohibition) most definitely affects these 3 inalienable rights in a most negative way.
End the Slavery of Prohibition now. . .LEGALIZE WEED & FREEDOMIZE THE PEOPLE 🙂
He hit the nail on the head. Im 23 and I was just having a discussion with my dad about legalizing cannabis and his two fallback responses were: “its illegal (it doesnt mattter why it was made illegal) and it should stay illegal” and “it alters your perception so it isnt good for you”, after 2 hours I called it quits since he’s stubbon as all hell. I came up to my room and found this article. After reading for a little while, I found it there staring me in the face:
“Keeping marijuana illegal gives parents an unassailable reason why their kids should not use it: because it is illegal”
I burst out laughing and couldnt believe what I was seeing.
Marcus number 33. My brother ive hrd tales of how bad texas is with pot. But im sad to say kansas could beat texas in ignorance and hatred of our beloved herb. Like ive said before the cops in my town would mow down a nun on her way to mass to possibly catch someone smokin. Keep fightin the good fight brother
July 4 wash DC everyone!!!! We can turn this around in a month!
CANNABIS IS A DOPE..
SOFT AND NATURAL OF COURSE… NOTHING TO DO WITH UNHEALTHY AMPHETAMINES, SPEED ECT, BUT STILL A DOPE. GIVES STRENGTH…
AND WE FACE THE QUESTION : SHOULD WE USE DOPE
IF IT IS TO COMPETE WITH OTHERS IN A ATHLETIC GAME ??MY ANSWER IS NO.. AS YOU COMPETE WITH OTHERS THAT ARE (SUPPOSED TO BE) IN A DIFFERENT (LOWER) LEVEL OF ENERGY.
WHAT ABOUT BEEING DOPED TO STUDIE BETTER IN ORDER TO SUCCEED IN EXAMPS ECT… ??
AGAIN NO AS THE OTHERS ARE AGAIN IN AN OTHER LEVEL..
BUT WHAT ABOUT GETTING NATURAL DOPE TO SURPASS A SICKNESS FOR EXAMPLE?
SCIENCE KNOWS STILL VERY LITLE ABOUT THIS MIRACULUS PLANT…
I KNOW CASES OF PEOPLE THAT PUT BACK IN PLACE BROKEN HEAD BONES OR SPINES BY THEMSELVES WITH AN WONDERFULL INNER FIGHT THAT TOOK THEM YEARS…
I KNOW CASES OF PEOPLE WHO SAVED THEMSELVES FROM DEPRESSION OR TERRIFING ANXIOUSNESS BY GETTING THAT LITTLE <> FROM THE BELOVED PLANT..
SOME PEOPLE FIGHT INNER INVISIBLE FIGHTS IN THE DEPTH OF THEIR SOULS AND FIND THE CLOSEST ALLIE IN THIS PLANT..
TO GIVE A CHILDISH EXAMPLE FOR EVERYONE.. I’D ASK…
WOULD YOU GIVE A SOFT DOPE TO YOUR BROTHER WHO FIGHTS A SNAKE AROUND HIS BODY IN A JUNGLE TO HELP HIM WIN THE FIGHT FOR HIS LIFE OR WOULD YOU SAY TO HIM <> SOME EXTREME SITUATIONS REQUIRE EXTREME MESURES
SOME PEOPLE HAVE TO FIGHT THEIR OWN <> BEFORE THEY ACT NORMALLY AGAIN OR VANISH IF THEY LOOSE THIS FIGHT…
SO HOW CAN WE BE SO CRUEL TO ASK FOR A MAJORITY (!!!) OF PEOPLE TO TAKE A DECISION FOR SUFFERERS… YOU GUYS HAVE 40% OF YOUR ENTIRE POPULATION PRO CANNABIS !!!!!!!MILLIONS!!!! AND SOME TALK ABOUT …MAJORITY!!
EVEN IF ONE , YES ONE OF YOUR PEOPLE NEEDED THE HELP OF CANNABIS ALL OF US SHOULD RUN TO HELP …
MEDICAL CANNABIS SAVES LIVES.
AND ONE MORE THING… DONT WORRY SO MUCH ABOUT EVERYBODY START SMOKING IF YOU LEGALIZE MEDICAL CANNABIS. ALL THOSE WHO ARE GOING TO SMOKE, SMOKE ALLREADY…. BY CRIMINALISING YOU MADE IT A HERO..!!
GRASS AS A MEDECINE… IS NOT FOR EVERYONE.. WHO IS PERFECTLY HEALTHY DOESNT NEED IT.. IT ONLY MAKES HIM OR HER DIZZY…
A YOGI FROM GREECE
Aww, they deleted my comment…now im deleting this website form my faves and all my support…see ya fellas…good luck bitching and moaning about legalization not happening..take the money/donations and keep writing articles!
SORRY THE<> SENTENCES DIDNT SHOW UP…
THE SCENTENCE MISSING IS
SO WOULD YOU SAY TO YOUR BROTHER .. DOPE IS NOT GOOD FOR YOU IT IS ILLEGAL
AND FURTHER DOWN SOME PEOPLE HAVE TO FIGHT THEIR OWN DEMONS..
SORRY FOR THE MISTAKES..
To Editor..no i think the article is great….for the people who already know the truth though its pretty pointless tho. Although I appreciate you telling me my opinion is negative…it’s still valid…NORML not doing ANYTHING is wrong. Posting the same recyled facts accomplishes what? Yeah Fwd. that article to Obama, im sure thats just the info he needs to change his mind about laughing us off. Oh I have to go write a state sen now who will trash my email … good thing you guys r making headway!
[Editor’s note: Your posts are not being deleted…you’re too paranoid…and self-evidently NORML is doing a heck of a lot to end prohibition. Again what SPECIFICALLY are you doing to end prohibition other than disparaging NORML and genuine cannabis activists working in their communities to end prohibition?]
Grassely is retiring? WoW ! What was it you said Mr Grassely about taking a bow and commiting suicide? See ya dont need ya.
Well,I see there are a few unknowing (persons) out there. Let me give you a little info so you can decide the truth for your selves.1.You have a [birth certificate], that has a NUMBER on the surety bond that this registered certificate is. Stamped with,your state seal. This makes you a bonded (person) to the state that has a value from your (worth) in your lifetime. This is why you had better not say anything about the Constitution or the Bill of Rights in a court of law or you will be found in contempt of that court. You may only use that LAW that the court recognizes as the standard of LAW. Which is either Common Law, Admiralty Law, Universal Commercial Code, or Martial Law, is the only LAW, they recognize. The only thing we can do is, free ourselves by papers of writ, That REVOKE there legal jurisdiction of our entity. The {free will man}is staking claim of the property that is in his possession of said claimed right of the state. Or government of your choice
This longstanding unconstitutional WAR on mostly productive citizens is akin to the early witch hunts. As such, since rational arguements seem to breeze by our representatives like the wind, perhaps it is time to use our jury nullification rights when at all possible. I don’t mean when breaking the law is witnessed by the public, etc., but when the often used, “I smelled it…their eyes were red, etc., so I searched them or their car.” Those scenarios are at times a cover for a plant, since prohibition historically promotes corruption, right? This was true in Capones’ day as well as today. Start convicting only when the evidence is beyond the possibility of corruption and ones civic duty is still being done but the change may make prohibition too costly when not as rewarding to the courts.
I thought I’d read no new topics or points, I’m way too plugged into this movement over the last 25 years to be surprised.
Instead, they are all points that made me think. While some may not be new per se, the discussion of each brought forth many new aspects.
Incredibly well written!!
am i being edited? OK, where was I. You carry a drivers License, this gives the power to those who wish to protect everyone from everything that might harm their property. (YOU). A TRULY FREE MAN should not need papers of travel, As you may not know a license is a permission form that is voluntary,as are income tax, a birth certificate, what ever document you (submit) to them for a said privilege granted. YOU ENSLAVE YOURSELVES with these documents then think you have the rights of A FREE WILL MAN, SOVEREIGN, GOD GIVEN LIFE,LIBERTY,and PROPERTY. This is where they don’t want you to believe what you may have a inclination of the obvious. Give the power back to the people. If we can. There are unlawful assembly laws that just kill us, then again NUMBERS will all-ways make the real change, that is forced upon the down trodden (person). A FREE WILL MAN has a right to defend himself when threatened with damage to ones LIFE, LIBERTY, OR PROPERTY. YOU decide how you live, under the rule of commerce or FREE TRADE among fellow FREE WILL MEN. Good luck in your decision. GOD bless. peace luck
Sadly i live just shy of 2 hrs. north up in wyoming. as I was looking throught the locale paper today 21 of 40 police records were for pos.of the plant.I wish Wyoming would follow suit with it’s brother states like colorado and montana and new mexico.I Have become a bigger supportter of this wonderful plant that has helped me in recent years with pain, ptsd, and frightmare resulting from two sever accedents. it has also opend my views in the religon world as well. To bad we must be locked up or looked down upon for our views as free americans.
Please if anyone has info to help us in wyoming let me know for if we need some to stand up in wyoming I will gladly help lead the way all I ask is for some help. (pointed in the right way) Thank you for any and all help
Very ineresting insights.
I know from a personal note that when I was younger and in high school a friend who was making strait F’s until he started smoking MJ and when ever he smoked MJ he hit the books while high . What the result was is simple he went from a F stuident to an A and AB honor stuident. I even did that when I saw what he did and saw the results and I even went from C’s back then to A’s and B’s. It deals with how the mind relaxes my frined told me that when your mind is relaxed it makes it easier to study and get the information down. I am much older today and believe that MJ is a hell of a lot safer and bennifitial to our nation another example is say you have social problems it does helpp with that I know that being I use to not be the social type and now look I am more social even today than I was prior to ever trying MJ.
I am glad we have people who are not afraid to fight to get MJ legalized and taxed… And when/If it does it will do good and will prevent violence and crime while helping out our nation …
Texas has the most back-asswards laws about MJ. A misdemeanor here will get you up to six months jail time, a $2000.00 fine, community service and that’s if you are lucky. Many times for a second offense, you get up to six months house arrest (ankle monitor) and pay them for the priviledge. Jail time is not uncommon. I see cops searching vehicles all the time here. They are actually trying to stiffen the penalties here. The law must change. I saw in the paper recently where a woman got 5 years prison for 5 pounds. Wow. 5 years in prison for possession of A PLANT. Norml and MPP, when are you going to take on Texas??? The sooner the better!
Its weird coming back to Colorado from a state where possesion is 1 year in jail. Things have changed a lot and they are still changing. I’m proud that the laws and society are moving in the right direction. Dispenseries are finally opening even on the western slope. Denver passed that law. I hope this law passes. good work.
Hey John, Are you a prohibitionist? Sure sound like ya are.
The current rhetoric being spewed these days is that cannabis is so much stronger in potency then in the past, and that this is somehow harmful. What we need to do is educate the public to the fact that THC is non toxic. Also, much is made of the harmful effects of smoking in general. Vaporizers solve this problem, but yet, the public is uneducated about them. We need to state these facts far and wide. That’s my best suggestion.
this is madness, more than the people can bear
AS FAR AS PROHIBS ARE CONCERNED.
If any politician thinks they’re going to get re-elected”supporting medical cannabis prohibition,” their re-election interests have become narrow enough to get them voted out of government. They’ve convinced me and everyone I know that they’ve got rocks in their head. We don’t need “rock mentality” making laws. Medicine needs compassion…not “rock mentality.”
AS FAR AS “NO COSTS TO HIGH TO PROHIBIT CANNABIS” IS CONCERNED.
Well there ya go! I/we can’t say it enough. I’ll wager
they would sing a different tune if the bucks had to come out of their own pockets…but…it doesn’t…so
…the flat lander says “let’s spend it.” Now who does that sound like?
Everyone uses cannabis…from the President (many Presidents) to the prisoner…and…everyone in between…including the prohibs. Hypocracy ssems to be the prohibs platform.
AS FAR AS HONEST DISCUSSION IS CONCERNED.
Hearing is believing…and…proceed with caution. Keep in mind…they are the law breakers…they break their own rules.
lets not forget the drug testing..i know more people than i can count on my fingers and toes that because of drug testing it has led them to harder drug use such as Oxycontin or heroin. It is very sad to see this occur because they became completely different people. Such drugs as Oxycontin are only in your system for a few days unlike marijuana which the THC can be detected for almost 1 month. Most of this was caused by simple marijuana charges and were set to probation. A lot of them also constantly took alcohol, ecstasy, LSD, and magical mushrooms very frequently in effect from drug testing as well.
Whoa… That dude in the picture would win a unabomber look-alike contest. He looks just like him!
and “john” your a major douche bag. go find something else to bitch about
I agree with everything in the article. It is well written but
Texas can’t beat Tallahassee, Floridas punishment for simple possession, DEATH! Read about Rachael Hoffman.
There are 64 post at the time i’m writing this and I can almost assuredly state that 80% of these individuals have done “Nothing” to help the cause ie: email government reps, call local TV/newspaper or start a petition. other than whining .
As far as court jury duty goes “I will never convict for anything to do with marijuana” NEVER!
In summary:
The only reason it is still illegal is the government does not want to admitt they were wrong!!!!!!
Just came back from a concert at Red Rocks in Denver. Very cool, smoke was everywhere! I don’t know able Cal. but Colorado is looking better.Maybe it’s time to move to the mountains. You know Rockey Mountain High.
It needs to be brought up that, in fact, big Pharma is playing a big roll in keeping it illegal by lining the pockets of politicians! It is all BS! It’s time that we quit being so sheepish and demand that this happens! Viva la revolution!!!
Greetings
I wanted to thank you for your well thought out article on the NORML web site. I will follow the news from Breckenridge and wish you success in your efforts to make Personal Possession of Cannabis a low priority for law enforcement . I would like to see this type of movement in my small Northwest town of Port Townsend , and will endeavor to make it so.
Another issue I wish would become more of a reality is that Medical Marijuana patients fight back , by filing law suits against law enforcement agencies who persecute them , even though they are in compliance with State Laws. I read all the time about citizens who are busted by the LEO, property taken,sometimes damaged, lives turned upside down. Usually these cases are thrown out , or the defendant wins, which is proper , but I wish there were serious repercussions for out of control over zealous LEO / DEA. If the citizens saw a few large settlements awarded to MM patients maybe they would be more willing to join movements such as yours / ours.. A ongoing case in point is Charles Lynch of Moro Bay Ca.
Well , keep up the good work. Respectfully,
#71 Mike P. Says:
June 24th, 2009 at 11:16 am
I agree with everything in the article. It is well written but
Texas can’t beat Tallahassee, Floridas punishment for simple possession, DEATH! Read about Rachael Hoffman.
RE:
Mike,
– How could I ever forget about Rachael?!?
She died one week after the internationally-acclaimed
Swiss-chemist Albert Hofmann,
(who discovered LSD).
EXCEPT
Rachael died 79 yearas TOO SOON!!!
AND then…
TPD Police-chief Jones had the audacity to
brand her a “criminal”,
when in fact, she was merely an “outlaw”!!!
(For something that ought NOT be illegal in the first place…)
#71 Mike P. Says:
June 24th, 2009 at 11:16 am
I agree with everything in the article. It is well written but
Texas can’t beat Tallahassee, Floridas punishment for simple possession, DEATH! Read about Rachael Hoffman.
RE:
Mike,
– How could I ever forget about Rachael?!?
She died one week after the internationally-acclaimed
Swiss-chemist Albert Hofmann,
(who discovered LSD).
EXCEPT
Rachael died 79 years TOO SOON!!!
AND then…
TPD Police-chief Jones had the audacity to
brand her a “criminal”,
when in fact, she was merely an “outlaw”!!!
(For something that ought NOT be illegal in the first place…)
There is one more reason that the powers to be, like cannibus illegal. When you have enough canni in your possession, you will be a felon. and this is how they hope to circumvent, the right to bare arm’s of the people they bust. Also for a domestic violence charge you will not be allowed to possess a fire arm, usually 2 or more will result in the loss of your ability to protect yourselves from them. So look at it this way, if you are a [FREE WILL MAN] then they have no jurisdiction to say anything to you about anything,except when you damage others or there property. As is should have stayed that way, our history is full of dictators that ruled and made this type of tyranny possible, it’s up to us to MAKE them obey our demand’s as [FREE WILL MEN of the past had to do to get from under the rule of the mother land. Oh by the way, Rome is still in control of the world with there favorites being the rulers. Have faith on the proper day,{Friday, sun down till Saturday, sun down]. This is the true Sabbath of GOD, please take the Lord’s MARK, not the devil’s Mark, by observing HIS day on the wrong day. GOD made pot, Man made beer, whom do you trust, with your LIFE? Peace Al.
Hey Mike P, what have you done for the right to tend to your own self , against the the EVIL empire. Do not Judge, till you judge ones self. GOD be with you brother.
A very well thought out article!!! All who have the right to vote need to know where their legislators stand on ending prohibition of Marijuana first, then all drugs next, to end this war on intoxicants and Religious Plants and all Medicinal Plants as well. Aren’t 2 wars overseas, an economic depression at home and Drug Cartels in all Americas Major Cities not a good enough reason to stop making war on the American People for enjoying life and freedom? Don’t get caught!!! Get yourself a Doctor’s Recommendation to use Marijuana for your chronic Pain like I did and live with more freedom. a friend of mine finally got his legal status only after being busted for not having a Medical Marijuana Card and now he is serving 18 month probation, and yes he will have to take drug testing. So learn by someone else taking the hit. Be smart. Protect your FREEDOM!!!!!
As long as we have Politicians who say they are for Cannibis/ & or medicial cannibis & when they get in Office laugh it off & give the impression of being oppossed to it the Laws will never change. To wit the last Presidential Election.
Gary
why is it never going to be legalized? hmmm
a= maybe it’s all part of the plan, get everybody on the personal freedom of choice bandwagon so the man can secretly do something we would be even more outraged about behind our backs.
b= then again maybe it is as simple as the possible loss of business from so many different industries.
on a separate note, i feel very uncomfortable with the fact that this website had my secret username from a seperate website already in the name field. i do not have my automatic field entry option turned on my computer. now THAT makes me paranoid! so am i on a naughty list for my opinions now or what.
#81 naturehd Says:
June 26th, 2009 at 2:09 am
…on a separate note,
i feel very uncomfortable with the fact
that this website had my secret username
from a seperate website already in the name field.
i do not have my automatic field entry option turned on my computer. now THAT makes me paranoid! so am i on a naughty list for my opinions now or what.
RE:
naturehd,
– Auto-complete / automatic-entry field info is
sometimes stored as one or more browser-cookies.
– You can delete these by opening your web-browser’s
internet options, and delete cookies specifically for
blog DOT norml DOT org, as well as setting your WB
to delete cookies at end of browser-session.
– Additionally,
®avoid Micro$oft IE™.
If possible, use an open-source,
customizable / user-configurable browser,
such as Mozilla, instead.
#81 naturehd Says:
June 26th, 2009 at 2:09 am
…on a separate note,
i feel very uncomfortable with the fact
that this website had my secret username
from a seperate website already in the name field.
i do not have my automatic field entry option turned on my computer. now THAT makes me paranoid! so am i on a naughty list for my opinions now or what.
RE:
naturehd,
– Auto-complete / automatic-entry field info is
sometimes stored as one or more browser-cookies.
– You can delete these by opening your web-browser’s
internet options, and delete cookies specifically for
blog DOT norml DOT org, as well as setting your WB
to delete cookies at end of browser-session.
– Additionally,
avoid Micro$oft® IE™.
– If possible, use an open-source,
customizable / user-configurable browser,
such as Mozilla, instead.
Now see this guy is kikn ass and taking names. Those of us with negative attitudes need to take heart with this guys actions. Ive been a naysayer before here. but guys like this prove thre is still hope for legitimate and peacefull protest.
Thats our government- spend billions of tax dollars to “fight” a war that cannot be won and that the majority of people do not want to fight in the first place. Our politicians need to go, NOW. We the People are the government- they must do what WE choose to have them do or resign.
im 54 i like to burn one a couple times a week Thanks for telling them (prohibs)to leave me alone
I have had muscular dystrophy for a life time of 53 years and used cannabis untill entering my chosen profession and having to go to so called legal meds. sense becoming to handicapped to continue working, I have dropped the so called legal med’s because of the horrible side effects, I HAVE REPLACED 3 MED’S FOR ONE [CANNABIS] AND NO LONGER HAVE MY BRAIN SNAPPING TO THE POINT OF VOMITING FROM MISSING A COUPLE OF DOSES,NO LONGER HAVE DIARRHEA RIGHT AFTER EATING,NO LONGER HAVE SEXUAL PROBLEMS,AND I COULD GO ON AND ON. EVERY SINGLE PERSON SHOULD STRIVE FOR CANNABIS BE PUT BACK IN THE PHARMACYS FOR YOUR AND YOUR FAMILY’S OWN GOOD .P.S.CANNABIS IS TRULY A GATEWAY DRUG IT HAS KEPT ME FROM HAVING TO GO THROUGH THAT GATEWAY TO OPIATE’S AND ADDICTION. INDIGENOUS PEOPLE’S OF THE WORLD DID NOT CARRY CANNABIS AROUND FOR TEN THOUSAND YEARS JUST FOR THE HELL OF IT.
A great message. I too believe that I will see it legalized in my lifetime, both medically and for recreation. I just hope to see it sooner than later.
If these politicians want our vote…and…it’s been said that they would kill their grandmother to get a single vote…they’re going to have to earn our “RESPECT” first.
They are going to have to “EARN THAT RESPECT” in more than just the issue of cannabis. If they can’t get cannabis right…just how many other issues have they NOT demonstrated sound judgment. As Louie says…”Trow da bums out!”
P.S. By the way…tomorrow is the 4th…Independence Day.
You want to tell me just what Independence we are talking about.
Mary Mary Quite Contrary How Does Your Garden Grow?
Hello to Mr. Sean T. McAllister, Esq., Member, NORML Legal Committee…you look like a happy man. It’s nice to at least see your face instead of the Czar’s or Lingle’s popping up now and then as these discussions linger on…and no I’m not malingering neither!
Anyway
People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered, Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motive, Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies, Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you. Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight. Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous, Be happy anyway.
The good you do today people will often forget tomorrow. Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, And it may never be enough. Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, It is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.
From a sign in the wall of Shishu Bhauhn, the Children’s home in Calcutta.
Mother Teresa: A Simple Path, c 1995 Compiled by Lucinda Vardey
(8 Paradaxical Commandments by Kent M. Keith, 1968, c 2001)
If God ever sends me a Grandbaby I will name her
Mary Jane.
The ACLU AND THE DEA FBI AND RESPECTED PRESIDENT BUSH
CITY, COUNTY, STATE, FEDERAL….AND CHURCH
ALL NEED A BIG SHOVE NOT JUST A PUSH.
CANABLISS CLUBS HAVE BEEN TRODDEN ON HARD AND
QUITE CERTAINLY LONG ENOUGH. Amen.
Hello my friends, guess who just drove by my house?
Hey. Hey-e-e-y I noticed the federal emblem on the
truck and just smiled. So did they. Smile American!
We Won!
I am one fourth of the way through my courses to become a legal transcriptionist.
I have come quite far since the Great State of Utah has loaned me this computer and paid for the on-line school.
Manny, these here youngsters now a days…got it made.
They can and magnificantly do train at home and work at home. We are the generations of many.
Yes a home business has always been my dream.
Let’s hear some others….?
Utah Law regarding Cannabis ultimately carries the death penalty. I read it last night.
I mailed my book TORTURE IN THE COUNTY JAIL to some Assemblymen To Congress.
I hoped to spark a nerve somewhere but evidently not so.
Wendy.
Dear Manny:
How’s this?
. . .Farm a Suit iccles
. . .Pharma Suit ICLS
Wendy.
Point: I just saw a commercial for the little blue
pills…need I say more?
This is total propaganda mind control going on.
That is not reality in the least! Now I am ashamed of the media and the so-called medical professionals in this Country’s on-slaught of moods’-altering
mind-addicting drugs!
I am sure. Does a magical blue pill makes us all sing and dance in happy bliss? Does the canned laughter try to make everyone think that something is funny when there’s this blah blah stupid show on t.v. is doeling on and on. That people are happy? And that it is you that is inferior if your opinion differs from theirs? When there is nothing humorous about it????????????
So pharmaceuticaled up little Mary Jane Justice stumbles forward. . . . . I was over dosed each and every day at the hands of the law for a week. I was deprived 144 straight hours of sleep in this pharmed-up condition. THEY POISONED ME FOR CRYING OUT LOUD. CAN ‘YA HEAR ME NOW AMERICA? I was beaten, assaulted, laid on the cold cement of lock-down without an inkling of an idea of what that fucked up charges represented. THIS IS NOT IRAQ! THIS IS NOT NORTH KOREA NEITHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
IN THE NAME OF GOD ALMIGHTY I COMMAND AN ANSWER! Excuse me i demand an answer…anyone?
Wendy ReNae Warr Elorriaga
I had been raped, my daughter had been raped. We were afraid to ‘talk’ about it and if and when we did we really got it in good ‘ole 1998..oh you must remember back in the good ‘ole days of the good ‘ole boys?
Talk about the wild wild west.
Same as a kid with me and all of my little sisters!
We were silenced beaten threatened kicked bloodied ruined for life booted out into this cruel cruel world to look up to our big brothers and fellow man.
In the Name Of All Creation Today I Am Ashamed!
My God America Wake Up!
Point: Salt Lake City is running propaganda.
They have a severely critcally impaired meth addict’s sorrowful year’s of jail house mug shots smeared all over the local news comparing it to marijuana!
This is the anti-Christian’s we are up against in this war of words.
Wendy Warr – TORTURE IN COUNTY JAIL – NORML I HEREBY GIVE YOU PERMISSION TO RUN THEM AS LIBERALLY AS YOU MAY NEED. AMEN. AMEN. Yes You Can Have My Mug Shots Too.
It felt like I was being buried alive.
Check out my Cannabis Friends, the salt lake city’s potrayal of what Mary Jane’s effects have on our society….you!
Yes My Dear Friends welcome to good ‘ole Utah.
Here’s a false prophit moroni a golden idol on top of their stupid temple and Yeah it recently is getting struck with lightening. I’m sure the mormons will try to profit off of hemp as soon as the last band wagons allow them to. Phony hypocrites…their fucking gambling casinos…they provide another fictionary name to “Nevada”. Utah leads in the nation’s task forces (Praise God) in locking them up for life the on-line preadtors.
Yeah Dear Oprah, and My Dear Seantors Hatch and Bennett.
Thank you Sirs, your personal letters will remain on my walls forever. Filthy peophleiles…THEM!!
At least people know now why I’ve lways been sinle; I refuse to be a polygamist. Men from all of these states that I used to work with in the Labor Union. They harrassed me the most in this utah cultured fkg environment that this is the glorious land of opportunity many many many wives and many many many children…I made them EX-Communicate me the summer I saw the tight-fisted connection of churchstate combined. My so-called friend had six DUI’s in this small town. She was risking innocent people’s lives. I even turned them in all of the time. This woman’s husband of whom also comes from a long line of polygamy (Grantsville, Utah check it out) his sister is an upright mormo best friends with Chief of Polices’ wives.
I had come across thirteen pages of numerous more tweisted allegations that reigned supreme in my life for years. My baby sister died in 1996 and it was a very suspicious death indeed. She had just left the sheriff’s house driving 75 mph down a country road. I think she comitted suicide and had tried to before much like me. If I would have died in the coucnty jail they would have covered it saying I came up that way ‘suicidal.’ And those tendancies were given me at birth…maybe the first year after.
Oh yeah, now she’s mad! O-o-o-h it all came down to Wendy’s disorderly conduct as to why she was pounced by six hundred pounds of violent men’s flesh on her fragile mending back. Six innocent children had been drawn into safety that day but then they ran screaming into the street they were clinging to my trees…the six children were kidnapped from their Aunt Wendy No one will listen to me. We have four of the six kids back with us now at Present. Amen.
Maybe I’ll just bail out, sell out, leave this fucking place forever.
H-m-m-m…how’s that sound?
I heard there is freedom in Spain…I have my family there.
#8. money Says: – WOW – it just keeps on building.
This is extreme.
I only knew a few of those facts you have presented.
Thank you from each and everyone of us.
#9 – MikeH – Hear Here.
#15 – Hear Here.
We need to make it known.
We need to gag it down Linda Lingle’s throat.
Put her on her knees.
Amen.
My type-o typeographical error above; the word is single not sinle.
Put that it your pipe and smoke it today Lingle.
Go contemplate with devil.
Amen.
P.S. I refuse to dwell in the depths of darkness with the likes’ thereof.
Amen Amen Amen.
The Human Mind Is The Power Of Our Entity.
Amen Amen Amen.
Dear NORML – Can we please have a normal eagle as our new emblem reigning over Rhode Island today? Thanx.
It truly represents our emotional bondage also.
I blogged on this a.m. regarding the word contra-band.
Excuse me peeps if I am rehetorical;
Contra-Band
The Contrary
Controversial slackers who take up the last in line.
The Band-Wagon that our forefathers’ and pioneers came west from.
The last ones were the ones not ever paying attention until it was too late.
They sat on the fence regarding their choices.
When they could not decide on their own…
..they let the rest decide for them.
So in the final analysis, I think, that is where the term came from.
Then to add the insult to injury these slackers always just jumped on board, lazyily, let the others’ take the lead, take up the slack, make the decision, and then turn around and criticize.
Peons.
Or is it peonia’s?
My little blurb this a.m. I was comparing caffiene for instance.
I grew up thinking that it would rely send me to hell.
It is a natural (manufactured) form a a simple drug.
Take it or leave it – make your own damn choice? Not?
Why therefore pray tell someone please why was not caffiene contra-banded way back then.
It is a mood altering drug.
So Are cigarettes.
So is alcohol, etc.
Privacy is at the helm herein.
And bytheway any moreof you who come onto these blogs with negative comments in the least, I know my Bretheren Coloradians have my back covered now. Amen.
Do you think for one minute it is fun in the least to continue making a mockery of myself.
You chicken~~~cowards please?
Amen.
When Will It All End?
Pray tell.
Amen.
U.S.A. The land of the free
how long have they been saying that, they where saying that even before black slaves.
I personly want eveybody who punished any Marijuana user to pay. I want a law suit against are goverment for making are lives hell and keeping us from getting some jobs for using Marijuana.
I have lost total respect for are laws, F U goverment.