Without a doubt the question I’m most often asked professionally is this: “Why is marijuana still illegal?”
The common inference behind this question is that there must be some behind the scenes cabal of Big Pharma, Tobacco, and Alcohol executives conspiring to keep cannabis illegal. By contrast, the real culprits behind pot prohibition are far more overt.
Law enforcement organizations — including cops, district attorneys, prosecutors, prison guard unions, sheriffs, and narcotics officers associations — remain the primary force working against sensible marijuana law reform.
Case in point? Look no further than these two egregious examples:
Los Angeles County D.A. prepares to crack down on pot outlets
via the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley said Thursday he will prosecute medical marijuana dispensaries for over-the-counter sales, targeting a practice that has become commonplace under an initiative approved by California voters more than a decade ago.
“The vast, vast, vast majority, about 100%, of dispensaries in Los Angeles County and the city are operating illegally, they are dealing marijuana illegally, according to our theory,” he said. “The time is right to deal with this problem.”
Cooley and Los Angeles City Atty. Carmen Trutanich recently concluded that state law bars sales of medical marijuana, an opinion that could spark a renewed effort by law enforcement across the state to rein in the use of marijuana. It comes as polls show a majority of state voters back legalization of marijuana, and supporters are working to place the issue on the ballot next year.
Even prior to the passage of California’s passage of Prop. 215, cannabis dispensaries — the same sort of dispensaries that D.A. Cooley now unilaterally defines as a “problem” — operated openly, and without incident, in L.A. County. Today, over 1,000 such operations exist in Los Angeles. District Attorney Cooley has now arbitrarily declared that “100%” of these dispensaries are acting illegally based not on a court decision, but rather on his own personal anti-pot bias.
Do a majority of public of L.A. county share D.A. Cooley’s view that open market, regulated medi-pot transactions are, in fact, a “problem?” Not at all. Does the will of the voters actually matter to their District Attorney? Not at all.
According to a separate story from the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, D.A. Cooley “was one of dozens of guests at a recent conference … in which the topic was the ‘eradication of medical-marijuana dispensaries in the city of Los Angeles and Los Angeles County,’ according to a flier advertising the event hosted by the California Narcotics Officers’ Association.”
This, of course, would be the same California Narcotics Officers Association that just last month issued the white paper: “California Police Chiefs Association Position Paper on the Decriminalization of Marijuana.” You can read the entire position paper here (Have a potent anti-emetic handy!), but here’s some excerpts.
“Proposition 215, the Compassionate Use Act, was passed by California voters in 1996 on a ballot initiative promoted by those who subscribe to the idea that all drug use should be legalized.”
“It has become clear, despite the claims of use by critically ill people that only about 2% of those using crude Marijuana for medicine are critically ill. [Editor’s note: Predictably, no statements, including this bogus percentage, are actually cited with any supporting documentation.] The vast majority of those using crude Marijuana as medicine are young and are using the substance to be under the influence of THC and have no critical medical condition. … Marijuana is being abused by people who have no serous medical condition and simply like to be intoxicated on Marijuana.”
“Marijuana as a smoked product has never proven to be medically beneficial and, in fact, is much more likely to harm one’s health.”
“The thought of decriminalizing Marijuana or allowing taxation of Marijuana is bewildering. The thought that a group of individuals would want to advocate for decriminalization of a substance that the state of California has deemed to be carcinogenic is alarming. [Editor’s note: Alcoholic beverages and aspirin — along with over 300 other substances — are also included on California’s Prop. 65 list of official carcinogens. I suppose the CNOA would argue that these substances ought to be illegal as well.] “The use of intoxicating and addictive substances fuels crime and destroys lives by creating addiction and dependency. Children are victims of abuse and neglect at the hands of parents or caretakers who live in addiction. Young adults are particularly vulnerable to addiction. Relaxed attitudes toward drug use place them at greater risk of addiction. Clearly legalization of Marijuana will lead to great use by those who would not use if it were not legal. [Editor’s note: Virtually every study on this subject finds just the opposite outcome. You can read summaries from a couple dozen or so here, here, and here.] This increased use will lead to negative outcomes.”
“Much as we see in the use of other controlled substances,
people who become addicted to Marijuana and cannot afford to maintain their addiction will turn to crime in order to supply themselves with their drug of choice.”
“Marijuana is not and never will be good for the success, education, and well-being of our society. When a person examines the two known abused drugs in our society, alcohol and tobacco, from a Public Health standpoint, those two substances would be recommended today to be banned. [Editor’s note: And apparently the CNOA would be in full support of such a ban.] The California Police Chiefs Association clearly understands that this will not occur. But, the discussion of Marijuana is important especially in light of the money being infused by the Drug Alliance [Editor’s note: Who are they?] and their ability to prey on unsuspecting compassionate people of our great state.”
Who is really behind marijuana prohibition. The answer should be obvious.
This is the problem with most cops. They became police officers because they have a basic need to impose their will upon others, by the use of force if necessary. They cannot stand the idea that people have a right to decide for themselves how to live. They have appointed themselves as the arbiter of everybody else’s morals and lifestyles. This is why cannabis remains illegal. Remember, the constitution and bill of rights came into being to protect the people from the government. This is an issue of basic individual liberty, and nothing less.
Isn’t it sad that the violent and overbearing side of this argument call it a War On Drugs.
I highly doubt cops, amongst other law enforcement officials, are the main reason marijuana isn’t legal. I am a cop, and have been for eight years. I have yet to cite anyone or arrest them for marijuana related offenses. I believe pot should be legal in all 50 States. I think the crime rate would decrease if it were. Please, just because you had a bad experience with a law enforcement officer, don’t think that all cops are the same.
[Paul Armentano responds: While you may personally hold progressive views (and I thank you for that stance), the establishment that represent you and lobby on crime-related legislation almost universally do not. This is not based on my experience with an individual cop, but based on my decade-plus experience as a lobbyist for this issue. LEOs are the chief lobbyists against drug law reform legislation — in every state, on every bill, whether it be decrim, hemp, medical marijuana, etc. In Massachusetts last year every single D.A. in the state publicly opposed Question 2, as did local law enforcement. this was not an exception — it is, unfortunately, the rule.]
Ignorance will never be tolorated! Listen to Peter Tosh!
these cops are just afraid of losing their meal ticket. there is big money and big corruption to be had in the anti-drug business. cops bust a dealer with 10 kilos of weed. snatch 1 and lock up 9 as evidence. that’s a pretty quick few thousand dollars. unless of course there’s no corruption in law enforcement.. ya right.
This is like a broken record. Despite the overwhelming evidence that debunks almost ALL of the claims made by prohibitionists, the same garbage is continually regurgitated.
I love the comment about how “those addicted to marijuana who can not afford their addiction will turn to crime” A laughable statement to those who actually know anything about anything about marijuana.
The fact is that more crime comes from forcing the product underground than from the drug itself. People don’t rob other people for marijuana, they rob other people for money, anything with demand and no legal supply venue is basically money on the street.
Keep on fighting, we can tear this wall down if we keep on pushing.
The people behind marijuana prohibition are being paid by us… the American tax payer. These people have the right to uphold laws passed by our ways of doing so (through ballot, Congress, etc.). They however do not become automatically “experts” when it comes to law making because their job is to uphold laws.
This is why it makes me sick to read opinions of “Police Officer” “Sheriff” when it comes to people and marijuana. Of course they are going to be against legalizing or even decriminalizing marijuana.
1. They lose the arrests that minor users and growers of marijuana create.
2. They lose the ability to claim property of people growing marijuana (trucks, guns, property, etc).
3. They have to go into fighting hard drug use (cocaine, heroin, meth, PCP, etc.) They is hard because there are so few people that use these drugs when you compare it to marijuana and alcohol.
4. It is a lot easier arresting people for smoking dope than it is for arresting people drinking or high on cocaine. Face it, “potheads” just don’t think it is worth fighting a law enforcement officer over.
5. Trust me, LE officers will not give up this fight until they have exhausted every second and dime they have. This is a huge cash cow for them and their friends (lawyers and prosecutors).
***Remember in NJ where the police officer had sex with a calf’s mouth and video taped it… while in trial the same judge didn’t punish the officer for bestiality… but punished a man for speaking out for marijuana legalization so that the NJ’s “WEEDMAN” couldn’t see his daughter!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
***I’m sick of Law Enforcement Organizations lobbying and keeping this prohibition of marijuana going on. LEAP has made strides, but nothing huge. We need the national media to take a look at the main pillar of marijuana prohibition (LE Orgs.).
f-ing police scum…Go do something productive. Stay out of people’s business. Your the real bad guys.
I’m not saying all police are like this, but possibly the majority.
to hell with the current approach-this drug war will never end until the pigs that enforce it are afraid for their own and their families’ safety.all we have to do is bring the war home to them,after all, pigs are NOT people and neither are their families.when the drug war really affects them and is a danger to them- they will stop…pigs should fear reprisal from us when they say some shit like this in public…does the district atty. have a listed phone number???
The only people who are really against legalization are those who profit from prohibition.
1. Law enforcement (as you mentioned)
2. Pharmaceutical companies
3. Drug treatment centers
Who then lobby and bribe:
4. Politicians
the real crimnals here are police they are dispicable profiteeres in human misery .who only honor laws they like fire them all get new people who will follow the will of the voters they discust me .with thier lies of dont blame us we only enfoce the law /a firing squad is i order for these anti american activites.
only thing law enforcement is concerned about is the effect leagal marijuana will have on is thier bottom lineand a fat retirement these guys need to get real jobs and do something that will benifit other than thier pay checks .they are crimnals who should be punished .for thier crimes against the american tax payer im sick of watching my tax money wasted on these losers.police work is nothing but goverment make work for the cronicaly unemployable
I believe that people should have the right to free will… That is not to say that I agree with the use of illicit drugs such as: cocaine, extacy, heroine, crack, etc… No, I am saying what a person does to their own body is their own choice. We all know that it is a “Fact” that alcohol kills more each year then that of marijuana, yet no one has a problem taxing that along with the sales of tobacco. Whether people are using cannabis to get “high” or to ail their pain is no worry to those that are not using the HERB… What people need to do is stop pushing their “Beliefs” onto others and worry about them selves, this is the benefit oh having free will, You have the ability to choose what is right for you… What the DA needs to do is keep his nose out of the business of others and worry about the bigger problems that face the great state of California. Everyone is so scared of the illegal drug trade between Mexico and the US because it is funding the criminal organizations in and out of Mexico. Legalizing marijuana for responsible recreational use would cut these traffickers funding and end this problem at the source. Instead the government would rather throw away billions of dollars of “OUR” tax monies to keep the problem alive. “The War on Drugs” is a joke and needs to stopped, it is an un-winnable battle.
Well Californians you guys know what you got to do!!! Protest and also get these people outta office. Apparently they love living in a broke state and upholding old tired prohibition laws that never work!!!!
yes it is clear… ignorance is the clear culprit here. especially for those who dont care to learn all the facts, they just stand by their ignorance and preach ignorance.
“Law enforcement organizations — including cops, district attorneys, prosecutors, prison guard unions, sheriffs, and narcotics officers associations — remain the primary force working against sensible marijuana law reform.” Because it profitable!
These folks were suppost to be our employees from the executive branch of government who swore to protect us, the people, from injustice and harm.
These folks have been corrupted by these unjust laws on Cannabis and have become criminals in this Nation.
Mr. Harry Anslinger rose up among these unlawful folks, mislead them into harming the public, and set in motion the Constructive Fraud now being used to destory our secured liberty. It is these criminal folks that continue to mislead our Congresses throughout this country.
This executive branch of government has failed and continues to fail to unhold the Constitution of the United States inwhich they swore under oath to uphold first and formost.
Shame on them all for not protecting the people of America from injustice.
Shame on those who just stand by and let their co-worker continue this constructive fraud upon the people.
Shame on them for wanting their jobs to the point they would betray the founding fathers dream of a country without tyrants.
They have a duty to act on our behalf, a duty to the Constitution they swore to uphold, a duty to the people they swore to protect and serve.
I don’t know about the rest of you folks out there but I certainly don’t feel protected or served by the executive branch of our government. That is why I am working with a group who plan to attack by writ this branch and the legislative branch from within the judicial branch of government. This is why the three branches of government were created by founding fathers. They knew about tyrants and the agents of the government that would become abusive towards the people. Now it is up to us to use these branches of government to protect ourselves from this unlawful actions. We need to vote, we need to be active in and with our legislation, and we must use our Court system to protect ourselves from abusive government agents. It seems to me that their unlawful actions, continous lies, and harm to our society should be seem as high treason.
I for one will not rest until their Constructive Fraud is undone and history records what these criminals have done to the poeple of America.
I will not rest until the legislators write some sort of bill that prevents this type of Fraud upon the people from happening again.
I will not rest until every person in prison for cannabis is released and their records corrected not erased for historians will need the information about this criminal act upon the people to educate future generations. Each prisoner should be seen as a victim of this Constructive Fraud / crime. Those who have died at the hands of this treason shall be seem as murder victims, killed during the commission of this unlawful act.
The evidence to this Constructive Fraud / Crime keeps piling up and it’s full weight will be brought into the light and used against this Constructive Fraud in the highest court in the land.
It’s all Nancy Reagans’ fault. By going into schools and talking to children about the “evils” of drugs like marijuana, she has brainwashed those who have grown up into the current leaders of the country into thinking all drugs are bad. Maybe that’s the reason some people freaked out when President Obama spoke to kids this summer. So his “ideas” wouldn’t influence the next generation of leaders to do rational, thought out things for the good of the country.
I think this is clearly a conservative backlash. These conservatives have the law on their side, and they are trying to backlash at Obama and all of the people who use pot legally in California. This backlash is only going to strengthen the resolve of pro-pot activists and users to end the “drug war” for good!
I don’t think it’s about money, rather than about a truly misguided fear of marijuana, at least for some, and for those that do have an ulterior motive they use those myths to keep stoking the fears of public opinion.
What the public needs to be educated on is what a gentle high marijuana really is, what the withdrawal symptoms AREN’T-and now self-limiting it is. Honestly nobody I have ever known that’s smoked pot has ever stolen. A) it’s not that expensive and B)if you smoke too much you only smoke yourself straight so honestly, who’s going to get addcted to that?
And #6 you were dead on. that’s how the Berlin wall came down. Everybody likes to credit REagan with that one but acually it was a group of citizens who started to tear it down right after Reagan said “tear down that wall.” I mean, would the East Germans really have shot that mamy people with the whole world watching?
If we were all to march down to washington on a set date and everybody fire up a spliff, and keep the whole event peaceful, what could they do?
“Law enforcement organizations — including cops, district attorneys, prosecutors, prison guard unions, sheriffs, and narcotics officers associations — remain the primary force working against sensible marijuana law reform.”
These people should be ashamed of themselves. Their paychecks are derived from harvesting users from the greater drug using society. These people should go thru a round of layoffs like the rest of us. Legalize pot to free the people from this human rights abuse. This is the new American slavery.
If you want to see who’s behind the prohibition, just follow the money.
Much of law enforcement’s drug enforcement budget relies on marijuana busts. If you make marijuana legal, it will put a lot of officers out of work.
The District Attorneys also rely on marijuana busts for much of their budget.
The prison industry is also against marijuana legalization because legalization will drastically reduce prison budgets.
Ironically, the illegal dealers, themselves, are against legalization because it will bring marijuana profits down.
The real addiction involved in marijuana prohibition isn’t marijuana. It’s the money made from prohibition. The actors involved in marijuana prohibition are more addicted to the money made from prohibition than a mainline heroin addict.
Jebus!!! All these lies and misinformation to perpetuate their losing position in the War on American citizens who us a little flower that grows everywhere… which incidentally is good for medicine, is not physically addicting, and you couldn’t overdose on it if you smoked your weight of it in 5 minutes, grows naturally almost everywhere on earth, hasn’t killed anybody since… FOREVER and, woe upon woe, has the side effect of making you feel good.
“All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.” –Arthur Schopenhauer
Which stage are we in now?
Fucking law enforcement. Excluding our friend up top. All they wanna do is utilize that 49 percent arrest rate for marijuana users to make their own job easier. In my small sized city here in kansas its well known the cops leave known violent gangmembers alone while harrasing the more ‘hippie’ lookin citizens. All the time. Scared bastards… get a real job.
#15 got it RIGHT! All you Proud Cali Citizens need to Protest your ASSES OFF! Vote these jokers out of office. PLEASE, Blaze the trail for the rest of US Americans stuck in up-side down backward states who don’t even have medical pot. This is coming from someone who is HIV poz and without health coverage. Please Stand UP for your RIGHTS! Peace and Joy to ALL!
1. Law enforcement (as you mentioned)
2. Pharmaceutical companies
1. The Feds and some Law Enforcement
2. Pharmaceutical companies
3. Alcohol Industry (Biggest)
4. Tobacco Industry
Add all those lobbiest and you have a big number majority. These people pay your Congressmen to keep it out of the limelight. Obama even refused not to talk about it. It’s a tabu subject and won’t be adressed until someone famous debates the facts and not the propaganda. This is my final answer.
even police are people and their families make sacrafices for them to do their jobs i was busted for growing in colorado 2 felonies possession and manufactureing i got a year mail in probation after a 3 yr fight on reduced charges they didnt seem to be as hard up their as they are here in tx. it dose those who represent aour cause a disservice to take on an an atittude of violence. i dont know exactly who is behind the conspiracy but marijuana prohibition puts the cartels in a power struggle with mexico destabilizeing their government causes murder and locks up people of all walks of life tearing apart their families drug companies dont want to compete and privatized prison benifit from those locked up tax payers bear the but of the cost while local law enforcement profits on all levels includeing the crooked cops who as one person said scrape a pound off the top and sell it im not a black man sympathiser but blacks distribute most of it and get arrested so i wouldnt be supprise if holding back the black population dosnt have something to do with but one thing is for sure its bullshit my advice is to plead not guilty and go to trial everybody everytime so the cops wont be so quick to make frivolous arrests with weak cases knowing most people will just pay the fine or take a plea to getit over with that is why they get away with it i dont agree with them on this issue but acorn had the philosophy to overwhelm the system with welfare recipients we could do the same by creating to much cost to try and convict everyone by jury trial…do your part if busted plead not guilty fight it all the way no matter the cost financial emotional orphysical ask for a jury trial always and support norml and keep smokin and growin and be an american and buy from home growers it worked with prohibiton of alchohol it will work for us keep fighting and we will be loved like those who fought another cause before us Go norml tyhanks guys and if your in denver and need an attorny Robert Corey is a bad ass i foun him through norml and again thanks guys i love you
Yes. The police, prosecuting attorneys, prisons, are a big force of prohibition. But other big supporters cannot be denied.
One is the mainstream media. It seems that in most of the stories about marijuana reform, these “journalists” think the most important resource are narcotics officers. Any real journalist would know they have no background to qualify them on whether or not marijuana should be re-legalized. They should be interviewing scientists, doctors, social planners, and especially, organizations that represent cannabis consumers. It is bizarre that marijuana policy is the only major issue where the key stakeholders are excluded from the debate.
While we’re looking at corporate media, we may as well step back and look at the corporatocracy in general. More than 90 percent of all major corporations do drug testing – which is primarily, marijuana testing. I’m sure all here know these tests don’t indicate current intoxication, but only if marijuana has been consumed some time in the last few weeks – or months, if they’re doing hair testing. – So it’s not impairment on the job they’re concerned about. They enjoy being able to legally screen out people who are free thinkers and don’t bow to the arbitrary law of marijuana prohibition – on their own time, in their own homes. So add the vast majority of corporations to the list of those who support the persecution. Plus, the number of corporations who only exist because of the laundered cartel money they channel is much larger than most people suspect.
We can’t forget drug “rehab” and drug testing companies. Since marijuana sales make up 85 percent of all “illegal” drug sales, most of these parasitic companies would wither also.
I have talked to people who knew pharmaceutical company managers. They report these employees will not give their names and only talk off the record, but state that yes, Big Pharma definitely lobbys against marijuana reform.
So yes, greedy, power-mad law enforcement is a huge part of the problem, but the forces arrayed against marijuana re-legalization go far beyond just these goons of the American Inquisition.
Hey everyone: Call this number: 1-973-409-3274 then press pound. Im not fully sure whats up but somthin on CNN about if 1 million people call this number and then
push pound theyll put a bill before Obama tryin to legalize. Quick friends!
[Editor’s note: The phone number does nothing to help reform cannabis laws…it is a marketing tool that makes $ off the wants of cannabis consumers.]
How about it. Let’s keep this train rolling. I still have not seen any billboards for NORML.COM in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. That would definately help to start some interesting conversations in our area with all the Old Republicans. Give Willy Nelson or someone a call, there has got to be someone very wealthy out there who is in favor oflegalization/decriminalization to donate large amounts of money for Marketing and Advertising only! Everyone donate to NORML whenever possible or re-new your membership. Once we reform California I am looking forward to seeing NORML in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. Thanks and Have a Great Weekend!
[Editor’s note: NORML is not going to plop a pro-reform billboard willy-nilly in Bedford, PA….because NORML is a grassroots organization financially and spiritually supported by cannabis consumers–not celebrities or billionaires–billboards ads and other types of localized advertisement campaigns are paid for by local NORML chapters and/or supporters.
So if you really want to see NORML billboards in the Bedford area of PA, you and your like-minded peers will need to raise and spend the $3,000-$10,000 per month for a billboard size ad (cost of billboard depends on location). NORML provides the artwork and ad buying, supporters of cannabis law reform provide the funding.]
D.A. Cooley you are a traitor! Read the Constitution buddy, you that thing you swore to up hold at all cost. I hope the voters of LA send you packing. Perhaps you can work in Kansas where backward uneducated dipshit can find jobs screwing the public.
Marijuana; the intellectual’s choice
bongwater I understand your anger, it is dispicable what they are doing to our sub-culture but violance and fear will not fix anything. It is they who has acted from their unfounded fear which created this fraud before us. It is them who act with violence when they attack our sleeping families in the dead of night. They are government grown terrorist bullying us out of our secured rights for profit. Please don’t take our wonderful peaceful educated culture down that ugly evil path of destruction, don’t ask us to behave like our wayward employees, vote! educate! legally fight this fraud, use up their resources, but please let them be the only ones to draw blood and cause human suffering. We the people are getting stronger by the second and we will undue this fraud. History will remember what was done to our culture. There will be a time when they will have to explain why they betrayed the people with this lie.
Plant your seeds in every government pot, planter, lawn, alleyway, flower gardens, lane partitions, highway partitions, indoor flower gardens, and capital grounds you can find. Get it in there face with it. Make them spend money pull plants, give them something to do, to take up their time and resources. Seeds thousand and thousand of cannabis seeds spread them everywhere in their face. Protest without being there, seeds can and will march for us.
Q:”Who is really behind marijuana prohibition. The answer should be obvious.”
A:Everyone, to bad but someone is fueling that prohibition now only if obama would use the prohibition while it’s still there before he gets rid of it for legalization to go after some republican votes. You know what i mean, maybe go after some bad guys about some wars instead. Just my opinion though.
Yes We Cannabis.
Jay Leno said it tonight. He said, “California is trying to legalize marijuana and their slogan is ‘Yes We Cannabis'”.
No jokes followed, just cheers from the audience.
The forces of prohibition have always used the high ground to justify their oppression of those who do not harm others. This is a simple case of those in power abusing their power & unconstitutionally taking away the rights of others to freedom of choice. How reasonable & concerned they always try to sound. How they are the defenders of the faith. The faith being the continuation of prohibition. The major difference is they now know that cannabis prohibition is on it’s last legs & behind their mask of civility lies an undying hatred for those who dare rebel against their evil & ruthless system which breeds more evil everyday it continues. Prohibition has always been violent, racist, & meant to oppress the monorities. Prohibition creates violent drug cartels in turn. Here we have a very shaky & scared prohibition community. Now they know how it feels that they are the powerless ones. Should they exert their obviously abusive force & try to drive cannabis under ground, the results will be organized crimes greatest dream come true. Limitless power, money & corruption. These DA’s know not what they do. Imagine the most violent Mexican cities right in the State of California. All the forces of oppression/prohibition have to do is leave cannabis users alone, as long as they harm no one. Let cannabis be regulated like alcohol & tobacco & organized crime will greatly diminish over night. But, these people think they will simply put out a little fire. In reality, they will ignite a firestorm which will make all the previous evils of prohibition look minor by comparison. Perhaps this is what the prohibitionists think they want. A very uncivil war, far beyond they ability to comprehend or deal with. Now, we will see which way this will go. The prohibitionists have never stopped at anything to oppress cannabis users. Now they have a chance to really see the damage that their unlimited prohibition war will reek. Oh yes, they will make names for themselves & they will go down in history with the perverters of justice, like Harry Anslinger. History will judge them, for the President of the USA & the US Congress will really have a very serious, & avoidable emergency to deal with & ‘Health Care’, ‘Cap & Trade’ & all their nefarious rights oppressing legislation will quickly become irrelevant & forgotten. Now is the time for someone to make the decision. Give back the freedoms American have had stolen by the bogus war on cannabis users, & free the political prisoners. Or, ignite a true holocaust that the forces of prohibition & oppression will lose in a stunning & predictable defeat. If these small minded men think cannabis use is an issue now, wait until no one obeys any laws due to their oppression. Rockefeller knew when to back off on alcohol prohibition. Unfortunately, today’s prohibitionists have no voice of reason to guide them away from their own annihilation. I do not use alcohol, tobacco, or cannabis. But, I can clearly see that the forces of prohibition are lost, due to their leader lessness. President Obama will float ideas on how to deal with this artificially created crisis. The American people have been shouting loudly at their elected official. End cannabis prohibition, now. Mr. President, you shouldn’t have laughed off the repeatedly #1 most asked question. It’s not just cannabis users who have had enough. The majority of Americans want the war on cannabis users ended, today. They want the prisons opened & those who are non-violent political prisoners of the drug war returned to their families, today. What don’t the leaders of this nation understand about the will of the American people, from whom their power flows? Let’s see if Mr. Obama has even one perceptive person who can reach him in time to defuse this situation, while there are still a few days left. God bless us all, we will need it.
We will fight this. Spread support through information and education. Check out CannabisTV.org for movies, links and other resources.
No big surprise. I mean really, who stands to lose the most from decriminalization? It is a fact, if marijuana became legal in every state the DEA would face a major reduction in force. These folks are losing ground and they know it. The latest polls show not only that the American people are tired of the same old trash talk but also the medicinal genie is out. We know now about the benefits and it is just too late to put the genie back in.
A quote from the LA Times:
“In addition to prosecuting dispensaries, Cooley said he would consider going after doctors who write medical marijuana recommendations for healthy people. Medical marijuana critics argue that some doctors freely recommend the drug to people who are not ill.”
So Cooley is a doctor too? HE gets to decide who needs it? HIS opinion and not the voters is what matters?
This guy has a serious ego problem.
I sure am glad he is the only guy in office who thinks like that! Oh wait…
This is just getting ridiculous. These fucking cops are just spitting out the same shit the health teachers tell those kids.I can’t believe that they say marijuana is affecting our countries education. How are America’s children supposed to be properly educated if the teachers are feeding them false knowledge? It is quite frustrating how ignorant some people are.
Not all law enforcement, what about L.E.A.P
President Obama can put a stop to this maddness, but why he is not doing it, and why is there so much hate in our law enforcement?
I did mentioned awhile back that California Narcotics Officers Association is a cult and it serves no purpose other than making sure that all of its members remained loyal by expressing their hatred towards marijuana.
Would it be nice if we all could just get along.
Why isn’t NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN, FOX and all the other TV and print media included in those supporting prohibition? How long whould prohibition have lasted if the Press published the truth daily?
“The use of intoxicating and addictive substances fuels crime and destroys lives by creating addiction and dependency.”
And the only reason for that is because Marijuana is typically bought in an underground for the reason being that it is illegal. People settle disputes with violence, for the reason being that if someone screws someone over, they can easily get away with it since the person can’t settle the dispute legally.
I like what some people have touched upon previously, the debate to legalize Marijuana is a debate on how much control our own Federal Government has been given to limit our ‘god given rights’.
#7 Marcus: It would seem that the thing to do is not cooperate with police IN ANY MANNER. If you are on the jury at a marijuana trial, JURY NULLIFICATION
#11 Lucas: Don’t forget the alcohol pushers who would lose lots of sales if their poison had to compete with pot.
Wouldn’t these people be considered “enemies of the state”?
That would put them in a position of being arrested by citizens on the spot. I think we should do it.
What I find hilarious is ““those addicted to marijuana who can not afford their addiction will turn to crime” … when in reality it should read “those addicted to marijuana who can not afford their addction will turn to gardening.”
THAT IS JUST UNAMERICAN..
I FIND IT HARD TO EVEN TRUST THE POLICE AT ALL ANYMORE…..
Whoa there. Now first off, I agree completely with Paul. That the strongest force holding back legalization is law enforcement lobbying groups. But we really have to be careful. This isn’t really directed so much at Paul as to some of the people who commented. First off police officers do not prescribe to one solid mentality. There are a variety of different opinions within the law enforcement community when it comes to this issue. THERE ARE GOOD COPS OUT THERE. We need to brig those from LEAP into the fold more to help combat LEO’s that are trying to derail legalization. They are a valuable ally. We mustn’t forget that.
It’s one thing to have a political disagreement with someone. But when our response is “Fuckin’ pig cops just want to control people”, we aren’t helping our cause and we aren’t making a point. Really that’s bordering on hate speech. And that’s the kind of rhetoric prohibitionists want us to engage in. That’s all we need is to be painted as anarchists. We only help the other side with talk like that so let’s show a little more maturity.
In the risk of government shutdown in Michigan, the government lawmakers decided to take a vacation on Mackinac island. Days later an underage intern accused these govt employees of providing minors with alcohol,it`s on You-tube….But wait!!! There`s more! After their drunk baby-raping weekend on the island they decide the best thing for Michigan is keeping bars open til 4am!!!! This is more Government/Alcoholic pedophiles continuing the tradition of getting drunk raping babies and making stupid laws that get them and their scum friends and family rich.
I have said this online before and I`ll keep saying it till it`s legal. Alcohol companies,drug dealers,Pharmaceutical companies, judges, lawyers, police, and government employees all profit from marijuana prohibition. Follow the money and you find the enemy .
#49 Rick, you have my heart. what you said needs to be said over and over, “If you are on the jury at a marijuana trial, JURY NULLIFICATION!”
Again we should be shouting this from the roof tops, saying it every chance we get, JURY NULLIFICATION
That by it’s self will change the laws, it will force the will of the poeple upon this dipshit government.
But wait, our government will just import the jury from China and pay them.
#50 iblogleft, they are enemies of the People and our constitution. They have no sense of fair play, none at all.
My career was destroyed because I grew a plant. I couldn`t care less if these idiots that work for alcohol companies,prisons, law enforcement, Pharmaceutic,govt. etc.; all lose their jobs. People are sick and tired of seeing family’s destroyed because they had a plant growing in the garden. While the neighbor next door gets 3 babies drunk , rapes them, and 2 years later is free and drunk again. I believe if he would have had marijuana in the house he would have got 10 years. But since he is a drunk they went easy on him because the judge likes his booze and baby party’s too.
Ziggy, my response to the “those addicted to…” statement would be something like this.
Authors of the 1999 Institute of Medicine report wrote, “Millions of Americans have tried marijuana, but most are not regular users [and] few marijuana users become dependent on it … Although [some] marijuana users develop dependence, they appear to be less likely to do so than users of other drugs (including alcohol and nicotine), and marijuana dependence appears to be less severe than dependence on other drugs.” In raw numbers, the report noted that fewer than 10% of those who try marijuana meet the clinical criteria for “drug dependence,” compared to about 15% of those who try alcohol.
…and this from the *National Institute of Health. Symptoms associated with so-called “cannabis withdrawal” among marijuana “dependent” subjects are relatively mild, short-lived, and “may only be expected in a subgroup of … patients,” according to the results of a prospective clinical study to be published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence.
* http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19783382
Having read “California Police Chiefs Association Position Paper on the Decriminalization of Marijuana.”it is more than obvious whos really behind pot prohibition:Cops,cops and more cops.The never ending story…It is unfortunately beyond my humane comprehension that an organism like NORML would seek to collaborate with any cops, be it repentant cops belonging to LEAP ,working to reform marijuana laws.
The COPS are THE Real ENEMIES and they should be held responsible for all the violence and misery their actions bring.
reply to 53.Mikey
“THERE ARE GOOD COPS OUT THERE”
Hey Mikey, who paid you to say that ?
I dont think that bringing in TAZERs USERS and people like you in the picture will help marijuana cause
It all trickles down to one thing and it called GREED. MARIJUANA PROHIBITION creates jobs for LAW ENFORCEMENT and spends billions of dollars every year of Federal tax dollars going down the drain to eradicate marijuana and the users which creates UNICORNS. MONEY FOR NOTHING AND THE PAYCHECKS ARE FOR FREE. The BIG GREEN FOOT PRINT is making the big corporations nervous and that when marijuana is legal, they will be losing ducats and the coffers will not be full as before. What ever happened to the power of the people and will of the people? THE FEDERAL OVERLORDS OF THE FEDERAL LAWS.
I just want to say that if the goverment legalized marijuana we would be out of debt within the next ten years. They spend millions to keep it illegal,but if they legalized they could tax it and create jobs. So what are they waiting for?? Booze is legal and it kills thousands every day. Cigarettes are even worse they are addicting and contain thousands of harmful cemicals and yet they are legal. See my point?
They will be the ones behind the hysteria of DUI of marijuana as well. I have seen some of the most tyrannical bills being sponsored right now in my state. A lot of calls for manditory 2 to 5 year minimums if caught with any amount while in a vehicle. Imparment, or lack there of, is not even a concideration.
Every step forward me make they (people in the criminal justice system) create a new way to destroy a life with an insane law.
If we don’t get some rational people offering up some opposing facts on the topic of driving and marijuana we will find ourselves continued victoms of insane warrentless laws.
I submit this. I believe that drinking a large coffee will impair your driving more negatively than any amount of marijuana. If we are going to bemoan about marijuana use on public roads then I wasnt to see a full on ban of coffee. I want to see 2 year manditory minimums for anyone caught with any prescribed pain killer while in a vehicle (passenger or driver)
Marijuana and driving needs to be allowed the due process of cause and effect. We should not be writing laws that effect liberty without having VERY good reasons to do so. To date I see no cause to call for DUI of marijuana laws. Where are the deaths and accidents that can be attributed to marijuana use? I don’t believe there are any.
Look recently at how the “Robo-Cops” at the G-20 meeting in Pittsburg acted when met with a little dissent. It was like a scene from a bad sci-fi flick. How can you reason with these people? Our country is swiftly heading toward a brutal, fascist police state. Keeping weed illegal is just one more device they use to control us and propagate fear. Our government lies to support unnecessary wars, including the war on drugs.
How is it not legal when there is nothing wrong with it. Its the best part about life and its so sad that people cannot buy it.
We got another Politcian ( Meg Whitman ) calling for ” new “changes for ; California yet , when it comes to marijuana she turns a blind eye .She also likes , John McCain whose wife was a Drug – pusher ( beer ) & McCain wanted to raid & shut – down the Dispenseries.
DON’T VOTE FOR – MEG WHITMAN or we’ll be turning back the clock .
Secondly , i heard yesterday that traffic accidents ( fatalities ) are down 6 % . Instead of telling you that Alcohol sales are decreasing & marijuana use is increasing ( two leading reasons why ) they’d rather say it’s because of the economy or it’s because of the price of gas and this & that . They refuse to tell you how cannabis is turning the clock around .
Dear , Sober and Free ,
Alcohol Kills , causes health problems , makes you agressive leading you to criminal activity , auto accidents . Alcohol causes more deaths than all drugs combined .
Then when someone such as , Michael Phelps gets caught toking a little hit from a Bong they tell us that this sends the wrong message to kids . Whose sending the wrong message to kids ?
You know they could legalize cannabis and (the police and such) still keep their jobs! There is plenty of harmful drugs out there. Oh nevermind that means they would actually have to work for their arrests and probably actually have people that would fight back when they come banging on their doors.
Well, speaking about plants (Cannabis, in particular, as far as this site goes) being prohibited, everyone needs to become aware of what’s called “codex alimentarius” Coming soon…12/09…1/10, or so, at a country near you…worldwide control/takeover by the science dictatorship of all natural(things?) plants. Just try and wrap your mind around this tyranny against the people…things natural…,being implemented around the world, created by the science dictatorship, backed by the criminal corporate-tocracy, we call our government.
If you would like to see a predictive report on “The shape of things to come”, check out Clif High’s site http://www.halfpasthuman.com. The $10 report might be a game changer for what your immediate priorities need to be/become. Lots of things happenning, not only politically, but galactically(sp?), as well. Sure expanded my mind! Check out his past internet radio interviews, also; helped me grasp a more comprehensive view of our predicaments…well folks, I think we are running out of time.
The Police do not make the Laws . They are paid to enforce the Laws . If Marijuana was legalized than Pot users would have a better relationship with Law enforcement such as the Police . I’m sure that there are Law enforcement officials that smoke Pot themselves and many more who may not even like arresting Pot users . We need to give our Police a lot of Credit .They work hard saving lives . Marijuana needs to be decriminalized .
the tobacco industrt and the booze industry and republicans and the good moral christian groups… wait these things cause a lot of socal problems HOLEY HASH BRICK!!! THEY SHUD BE MADE ILLEGAL THEN WE CUD ALL GET ALONG AND PUFF PUFF PASS HELL IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR KIDS AT SCHOOL IT WUD MAKE THE LUNCHS NOT TASTE LIKE ARMPITS
I know this doesn’t belong here but I’m known for posting things where they shouldn’t be. :] Why again did GM sell the Hummer brand to China? Our own military utilizes this vehicle. So wouldn’t this mean that GM just sold sensitive specs to another form of govt.? Albeit they do own most of our countries debt and is also a country that, even though most don’t want to admit it, has ties with our country. We want to know why other countries are catching up with us and in some cases surpassing us. Because anything and everything is for sale here. I know some will see where I’m going with this but then again I could just be blowing smoke.
It will end people. Go back and read #39 – Markmy Words. Mark My Words.
What needs to happen NOW is that every supporter really use their imagination and believe we’ll be reading newspaper headlines soon that say:
Marijuana Legalized! Prohibition Over
——————-
Not to throw a monkey wrench in the works here but wanted to share a billboard I’ve been seeing. They’re also on a few buses:
TO DO LIST:
1. Get High
2. Shoplift
3. Get Help
whatever happened to inteligence, rather than ignorance? whatever happened to truely honest cops??whatever happened to having politaticians do what they were put there to do (follow the will of the voters not their bribers!!)?????!!!!!!!
this is supposed to be a “FREE” country so why do we continue to be ignored, arrested and manipulated by those who were supposed to be OUR VOICE (politicians,attourneys, and even the majority of the medical community)???!!!!! the ONLY “PROBLEMS” I see is exclusively the prohibition and the stigma that goes along with it but it looks like uncle sam has done a fairly good job of brainwashing the ingnorant
LEGALIZE IT!!!!!!!
Fuck a vote…..BOYCOTT(it’s more effective). Remembr women’s Sufferage. Women didn’t have the right to vote…..but wanted it. THEY got it, too…by boycotting. Oh yeah!! FreeKeene.com
Freemindstv.com…….apparently the Fed. Gov’t is willing to spend 6 mnths worth of tax-payers money 2 stake out and ARREST(by way of S.W.A.T.) an elderly couple for selling ORCHIDS!?! WTF??? That is not some slang term either….I’m talking about flowers… Orchid flowers. Anyway…the old man spent 2 yrs in jail…..for selling a F&%#ing flower out of his home.
If I’m not mistaken…I believe that kind of situation is referred to as—FUBAR(are my words not correct?)
When I worked at a large company headed by Meg Whitman, cannabis use by the employees was widespread and totally ignored by the company. I was high every time I met her. I can also confirm that she is a person who has no conscience and has an odd tendency to make up bizarre lies (which can be easily disproved) on the spot if it furthers her interests.
Thank you for pointing out the role law enforcement and all its “subsidiaries” are playing in this racket. The public is not well informed how we are taken for a ride by the law and order crowd. We are no safer for all the people they put behind bars for inordinate lenth of time. We are poorer for education, treatment and rehabilitation. Let us stand up to this nonsense of fear mongering.
(Editors Note)
Hey man chill out! Thank you for the information regarding Marketing/Advertising in my local area but it is apparent that you need to smoke one and relax! I am an avid NORML supporter, member, and activist for Marijuana Prohibition. I can assure you I meant no harm by my e-mail regarding Bedford County, Pennsylvania and our rich pot smoking friends. I simply am optimistic regarding the activism in our Nation regarding marijuana reform at this time, and hope to see more activism in my local area! My simple comment regarding Willie or any other well off pot-smoker was that I hope they are helping the cause financially because the more money we have in these NORML Ogranizations, the more Marketing/Advertising we can do, and the more effective we will be. If you would like to discuss this in further detail please shoot me an e-mail. Thank You!
It’s because the federal government/DEA wouldn’t have a leg to stand on if cannabis were legal and regulated. it’s 99.999% of their workload. They’d have to lay off about 99% of their force.
I’m sure Mr. Armentino is correct too, that pigs would rather bust nonviolent tokers than actually do their job arresting violent people.
A whole lot of agencies, committees, projects, partnerships, and divisions would be eliminated with re-legalization. Heres just a few to get you started….
California Narcotics Officers Association
Partnership for a Drug-Free America(annoying T.V. ads)
sectors of D.A.R.E.
N.O.R.M.L. (a job well done!)
divisions of the D.E.A. (my favorite)
National Institute on Drug Abuse
Marijuana Policy Project
A multitude of task forces both state and local
And if anyone knows anything about politics, think of all the random political groups(from local to federal) that convene to discuss the bureaucracies of marijuana….a lot.
The list is big and getting bigger as hopefully the alleged democratic gears of our country reflect a growing reality.
FREE MARC EMERY
Ahh yes, the american dream is what i dream, the one where the gov. squashes on our very liberty as citizens and tramples upon our rights. We sold out this country to the corporate interests long ago. One of the main reasons cannabis was made illegal in the first place is that the industry of hemp posed a threat to the paper industry and the textile industry. So those industries lobbied congress to make hemp illegal. It wasnt until WW2 that the gov. had to ask farmers to grow hemp for rope because there supply was cut off in the philippines. For the very least people with medical or health issues should be able to use cannabis as there are no known adverse side effects that would lead to or could lead to death or other health issues. On the contrary it is very safe. So safe in fact maybe a little too safe for the drug companies who do nothing but peddle their “LEGAL” drugs to the american populace. These drugs such as oxycontin, vicodin, etc, kill people. Just look at all the rash of hollywood celebs who have fallen to the legal pill. We dont see police raiding the god damn LEGAL pharmacies do we. These corporations are nothing but greedy slime. We pay for that slime and they do nothing but spit on our own humanity in every way.
Interesting where Cooley stated, “The vast, vast, vast majority, about 100%, of dispensaries in Los Angeles County and the city are operating illegally, they are dealing marijuana illegally, according to our theory…”
Since when did taking life forcible action on innocent civilians become an ok thing to do according to the theory of a cult of “renegade mavrick” cops? Oh, damn. forgot about the double standards of law enforcement.
DARE TO WIN!!!.
ORGANIZE:
None violent sit ins at Marijuana bust trials, TV studios,the white house co ngress state legislatures
Boycot is our only answer. Alcohol tobacco and pharmas’
Come the day eveyone can grow and be free from these burdens we are imposing on ourselves.
The fact it cures and prevents cancers gotta be on our side hey?
these pathetic, lying pigs and politicians have been repeating their “war on drugs” mantra for decades.
now, they finally have a REAL drug war,
with the bad guys fighting back,
and KICKING THEIR ASSES,
in both mexico and afganistan.
and that scares them sh!tless,
and they have no clue what to do,
except more of the same. (a proven failure)
and every poll shows increasing support for legalization !!
(allready 54%, next poll should be well over 60%)
that is why you see such desperation and lies in their retoric.
they know they are loosing !!
HA HA, PIGS !!
the harder you fight us,
the more people wake up, and come over to our side !!
try doing something benificial to society for a change.
arrest the bankers for fraud.
I don’t really put all the blame on the police,I mean who out there doesn’t know that theres a cop in their town that smokes. I think the reasoning for pot being illegal is because it would take over the wood industry by making things out of hemp and the government wouldn’t know how to tax it. But the biggest question is “Why doesn’t the government make pot legal?” Answer? Because they are afraid to lose all the money they get by putting pot trafficers in jail and reclaiming land. But if the government actually had a smart person in it, then they would know that they would make double what they are now if they made canibas legal.
The most dangerous creature the world has ever known is someone who thinks they know what is better for you than you do, and has the power to do something about that inclination, particularly if they mean well and just want to help. These sociopathic prohibitionists coutinue to commit crimes against humanity deserved by the sheeple that allow themselves to be enslaved. Law enforcement’s legitimate role is to enforce the will of the people, not enforce their will on people.
It seems as if this group is taking matters into their own hands. Who do I contact to express my extreme displeasure at what they are trying to do ? These guys sound like “cowboys” out to enforce their opinions on people. Who can rein these guys in ? It’s scary !
AskDOJ@usdoj.gov
Here’s the Attorney General’s email address. PLEASE write them if you’re concerned about this vigilante behavior by law enforcement. This is frightening !!!
Its amazing that these organizations still use excuses such as “the legalization will make more people use”.
I am an avid marijuana smoker, my mother is highly against me smoking she’s smoked a couple times early in her life but is not interested in smoking in smoking it. Though even though she does not smoke and would not smoke it if it was around her, she still thinks it should be legalized. What does that say about the actual peoples opinion? Maybe that it doesn’t really matter to our government. They ignore all the pros of legalization and focus on the falsities of the campaign they’ve been pushing for so long. Maybe this is so they don’t lose face to the few citizens that still believe their lost cause. Maybe if they showed the stats of what this drug war costs the Americans now versus the profit the government COULD make on legalization. They would rather yank our hard earned cash away through fines and legal fees, then to take up taxes on a plant that could very well pull our economy out of this recession.
I’m glad there are a few intelligent people posting here.
Again, not every cop is against marijuana. It should be legalized for many reasons, which you all know. Replace trees for paper, coffee filters, etc with a renewable, and compound the amount produced with out harming the environment. For the hemp oil which could assist with pollution, gas shortage, etc. For the medicinal and recreational therapeutic effects of it and may other reason, which we all know.
As a cop, I have never taken weed from anyone for personal use or to sell to someone else. When I encounter someone with weed, they dump it out on the ground themselves. I do have a job to enforce laws, and although I think it is a waste of good bud, it is a law which is being broken, so it is handled then and there without any court or DA looking into the matter nor any money or jail time for the person possessing the amount.
Cops aren’t the bad guys, and as someone posted above, the members of LEAP, which I am, is or can be a very beneficial help in the movement for marijuana reform. Instead of Clinton, who said he didn’t inhale, we have Obama who admits to inhaling multiple times.
Griping on a public forum about what could/shoulda/woulda been isn’t doing much except for voicing your opinion to someone who most likely shares it. Writing an email or letter to your senator, congress, state representative and even the president would be more useful..
Also useful would be getting out there and voting or submitting laws/petitioning for laws to be added to an upcoming ballot. Something I did for NORML years ago for the medicinal marijuana in Colorado. It passed, but took some time. It doesn’t have to be on the state level either, start locally in your city or county. They make their own laws as well!
You people who say all cops are bad, we steal your bag, or call us pigs really need to lighten up. I’m not pointing the finger, but maybe your attitude towards the cops you’ve encountered has a big role in how they react to you? Maybe the cop was just an asshole to begin with, whether he/she wore a badge or not. No one, nor nor organization is perfect.
There are many different types of people on this planet. Cops are people too and there isn’t a mold we are stamped with when graduating the academy so we are all the same. Office Discretion is a big part of the legal system, and mine is very pro-marijuana. Did you know that most DA’s Offices will listen to the officer, and even ask officer how he/she wants to pursue a case? If I arrest someone, the DA has the ultimate say in charges, but our local DA is more than happy to dismiss charges, give probation, or the least amount of fines if I give a thumbs up to the suspect I’ve arrested.
Seriously, get out and go to your local Law Enforcement Officer, ask him or her if you can do a ride-a-long with them. If you do, you will likely see that all drug related calls have little to do with marijuana, but have more to do with harsher drugs such as meth, coke, heroin.. being used around children, while driving, etc. Drugs are about a 5% part of my day while on duty, if even that. Domestic violence, traffic accidents, reckless endangerment, suicide/homicide, theft, burglary and other crimes take up the majority of each shift.
We need all the help we can to legalize marijuana, so don’t put a person who believes in your cause on the outside just because they wear a badge. I smoked many years longer than I’ve worn a badge, and that won’t change. I don’t smoke so long as I employed as a Law Enforcement Officer though.
Also, thank you Paul Armento for the response and detail in my initial post on this topic. I do understand the hurdles and “mainstream”.
After reading all these comments with all that hatred toward Law enforcement i can’t imagine what life is like outside of California . We simply do not have hatred as you have . The Police in California are well respected for who they are and they fine job they do . I don’t travel outside of California because i don’t like
it outside of here . It sounds like a whole different World outside of California . A place I’m too scared to visit . This is just one more reason to decriminalize Pot .Maybe you people will actually like the Police when marijuana is legal .
Our officials have lost their minds. What was once a campaign to help and save people has become a war on the people. They have killed countless numbers of “drug users” and have no accountability for the trillions of dollars they have been given.
Its clear why pot is illegal and thats because of corporations and politicians… Oh and old people who got brain washed with mindless propaganda.
Hemp isnt even legal so you know they are just full of themselves. They are pathetic, worthless, and I will never ever follow that unjust law. I smoke when I want to, come arrest me.
Carcinogenic? I’m sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo CONFUSED. I have used cannabis oil to treat, and cure Basal Cell Carcinoma. Did my body anticipate my use of cannabis oil, and create these lesions from that anticipation? Did these carcinogens leap off the cannabis onto my head, neck, and face just so I would use the oil to cure them? I can’t understand why three of these lesions disapeared, and the other five are in remission, soon to disapear also, when I applied cannabis oil topicaly. Shouldn’t application of this highly carcinogenic substance, well that’s what they say, have accelerated the growth of these eight lesions so that my head, neck, and face should be one big bleeding sore? Being a recreational user of cannabis for 41 years, shouldn’t it have given me lung cancer by now? Recent chest X-Ray, I DO NOT have lung cancer. Blithering Idiots, they haven’t got a clue, just job scared.
One parrot is taught to repeat a lie. It teaches another parrot the same lie. That lie is passed down through generations of parrots, all repeating the same words. Not one of the parrots involved has a clue as to what it’s saying, nor are any of them interested in finding out. Good parrots repeat what they were taught to say, don’t they?
#60
So I must be getting paid by the police to go and leave a comment on the NORML site saying that there are cops out there that don’t have their heart in the drug war, despite what these lobbying groups say. Yeah! That makes a whole lot of sense. You know, I used to think like you. Cops are all tazers and riot shields. They are all programed the think the same. When I was a mohawked 14-year-old anarchist. Then I grew up and joined the real world. I suggest leaving the serious legalization debate to the ADULTS because your immature ideology only hurts our cause. It would actually be far more likely that prohibitionist groups would be employing folks like you and Bruce Cain to preach legalization but to do it in a way that makes our side look extremist, dangerous or hopelessly out-of-touch.
Law enforcement is just that. They enforce the current laws. Yes, law enforcement lobbying groups are strongly opposing legalization, but the opinion of the bosses doesn’t necessarily reflect the opinion of the cops on the street. My opinion on this matter doesn’t come from financial contributions from police officials, as some would suggest. This comes from my personal interactions with the police. I’ve had my fair share of negative expiriences with the police, but I’ve had far more positive expiriences with police. It was an on-duty, in uniform police officer that taught me about my consent-to-search rights so many years ago. He taught me what cops look for and supplied my with a lot of valuable information. I credit him for me never having been busted.
I now work in the tattoo industry. Many local police officers frequent our shop. Over time the “predator and prey” mentality fell away. We were just people with a love for body art. This over time led to nights out at the bar and eventually, perhaps foolishly, total disclosure of my cannabis use. None of them were very surprised. One of them put it to me something to the effect of… “If you’re out being stupid, smoking a blunt in your car, dealing or flashing it out in public, we’re gonna bust ya. We HAVE to. It’s our job. But really when I go about doing my job, I view marijuana much like alcohol. I’m arresting a drunk on a daily basis. Alcohol causes a lot of harm. It doesn’t mean I personally have a problem with people who use alcohol. Hell I’m half-drunk right now. I’m taking a cab home and I’m not going to be beating my wife when I get there. That’s the difference between responsible and irresponsible use. That’s the gauge that most of us use when it comes to non-violent drug use, at least around here. You’re a good guy and we never have has any problems with you under the influence of alcohol or pot. If it stays that way we will never have any problems” He specifically told me his job would be so much easier if people we out smoking pot on a Saturday night as opposed to drinking.
Just like it’s not the gun that kills people, it’s the person using it; in the end it’s not law enforcement that’s the problem, IT’S THE LAWS! The existence of groups like LEAP should be evidence enough that law enforcement can be allies instead of enemies. We can’t draw lines in the sand; US good, THEM bad; and expect to get anywhere. That’s Dick Cheney/Bill Bennett style ideology, only applied to our side and our beliefs. That doesn’t help us. Legalization is everyone’s best interest. Even cop’s. We need to make that case in an adult and mature manner. If we can’t then forget about ever seeing marijuana legalized.
Not all people join the police force to serve and protect. Some do it to dominate and control. These are some of those people. They are the enemy. They turn one American against another. They are the problem, and I will never yeild to their police state.
I am an American. I have the right to freedom. I will die defending that right. They can take their Gestapo tactics straight to hell.
All I hear is whining and never a solution it is that simple why weed will never be legal…
“The Drug Alliance” probably refers to The Drug Policy Alliance (http://www.drugpolicy.org/homepage.cfm).
Call COOLEY and COMPLAIN: (213) 974-3512
Most likely you will get an unnamed female that will direct you elsewhere as if you are a mere fly! Oh the nerve of these people!
It’s not fair to blame law enforcement for the prohibition of cannabis. Law enforcement does not write the laws. But once the laws are written, people who decide they want to become police officers have to agree, enthusiastically, to enforce the law. When people start standing up and refusing to become police officers because of a bad law, we may see some action. But meanwhile, those most enthusiastic about prohibition will be the most enthusiastic about becoming police officers. And enforcing drug laws is strictly doughnut gobbling territory, not much skill in law enforcement is required and prosecution is always easy to achieve. It becomes a vicious circle. Those most successful at finding and busting drug offenders, become the most successful police officers.
But who is really taking in the money in drug prohibition? Why organized crime, of course. Police officers don’t make all that much money. We need police officers, even if we can end the Drug War. Organized crime hates law enforcement with a passion for reasons having nothing to do with cannabis. Profits are so huge for organized crime, it is easy to imagine it is a conspiracy hatched by organized crime in the wake of the hugely profitable Prohibition of Alcohol.
Hi. I’m a fellow who has blogged Foreign Policy, news and a whole bunch of wild stuff for years. Many of you don’t seem to know the first thing about getting information out of the wildest information system around : the online library that is the internet.
I’m alone in the country and decided to find my way around. I’ve been at it for years.
First. Who remembers Air America ? Mel Gibson, hokey airplane cargo runs, etc ? That was Vietnam. What was the cargo ? Pot.
Fast forward a few decades. Do you know what really grows well in Afghanistan ? Poppies. Morphine production should be up : but there’s a shortage of it in hospitals in India.
War Against Drugs. Sounds like a good way to run the competition out of town if you own the distribution network.
Think about it. Organized Crime has had so much money for years they can buy anything they want. Would you seriously take a position that they haven’t ?
Here are a couple of shockers that go against all sentiment I have heard so far in this thread.
http://www.leap.cc/cms/index.php
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition
http://www.michaelparenti.org/MonopolyMedia.html
“Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley said Thursday he will prosecute medical marijuana dispensaries for over-the-counter sales, targeting a practice that has become commonplace under an initiative approved by California voters more than a decade ago.”
If the voters approved it and he’s personally taking it away, why don’t the californians use their voice and remove him from office. He’s a public servant, who works for the state, which is made up of the people. If you don’t like what he’s doing then remove him from office.
Is there any way to defund the DA’s office?
District Attorney’s Office
County of Los Angeles
210 West Temple Street, Suite 18000
Los Angeles, CA 90012-3210
Telephone (213) 974-3512
Fax (213) 974-1484
TTY (800) 457-7778
(8:30am – 5:00pm M-F)
District Attorney’s Office
County of Los Angeles
210 West Temple Street, Suite 18000
Los Angeles, CA 90012-3210
Dear District Attorney Cooley,
I am highly disappointed and extremely dismayed at your immorally misplaced priorities!
As you know, the city of Los Angeles has a backlog of over 3,000 untested rape kits and is facing myriad law enforcement and budgetary cuts, as well as overflowing prisons! Yet you put medicinal marijuana at the forefront of eradication and enforcement. Why?
Can you explain the methodology, which allows you to utilize tax payer funds in such an egregious and inappropriate manner?
I look forward to a reasonable response based on scientific evidence and rational thought.
Regards,
THE PROHIBITIONIST FINDS NO SOLID GROUND TO STAND ON.
Consciousness raising , awareness, reality are wiser than the culture from which they arose. “THE TRUTH ALWAYS PREVAILS.” It complicates the “OSTENSIBLE MORAL CERTAINTY” of prohiitionists…and…once again, when we closely examine the facts, i.e. the truth, “THE PROHIBITIONIST FINDS NO SOLID GROUND TO STAND ON,” only a platform of childish indignation riddled with untruths, delusion, and deception…and
…to prohibs, the means justify the end…or…is it the other way around.
If…”THE TRUTH HURTS”…it’s only logical that these trespassers must be in severe and excruciating pain from the outrageous lies they profess to be the truth. Within them, a moral imbalance exists.
Genesists know “THE TRUTH”…and…we can prove it. Genesists are willing to risk harm for the “TRUTHS SAKE”…i.e. liberty. We know…it’s all too easy for Genesists to see ourselves as fighting on God’s side, to identify our ideology with “WHAT’S BEST FOR THE WORLD,” and use it to justify our actions…’WHAT’S GOOD FOR GENERAL MOTORS/BULL MOOSE, IS GOOD FOR THE U.S.A.” Projecting evil onto the world makes Genesists unassailably right, a position as dangerous in politics, as in marriage. “THE STRUGGLE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL IS A PRIMAL DISEASE OF THE MIND.” Yet,
we Genesists are fully confident that we have an appointed place in the divine order of things.
Prohibs are motivated to deny…or…refuse to accept the truth…and…”FINDS NO SOLID GROUND TO STAND ON.” There are two ways to fool one’s self. One is to believe what [isn’t] true…the other is to refuse to believe what [is] true. Prohibs honor both with their allegiance. For these two reasons alone…these trespassers should never be allowed to “PASS JUDGMENT…OR…MAKE LAWS.”
the war on weed is a disgusting waste of money that is not only unpatriotic but seriously treason, if you take into account the two facts that hemp/cannabis is the only plant capable of rapidly enough producing nough biomass to reverse the at the very least semi catalcysmic pollution situation we have caused, the second being that this country was founded on the pursuit of happiness and this plant was a major part of our founding fathers lives and goals for the country. 1
“THE PROHIBITIONIST FINDS NO SOLID GROUND TO STAND ON” while stomping on our liberties which is outside the scope of the Constitution and the will of the people. Be at liberty and use Jury Nullification and send those wayward lying folks packing.
Don’t throw your seeds in the trash, plant them for all to see, right out on main street USA. Let your cannabis seeds march in your stead, let the plants stand up by the millions in the face of the enemy. The government wants to rip cannabis plants from the ground, lets give thme something to do with their time, plant your seeds and give law enforcement something to do. Seed every foreclosed property, every public flower pot or planter, every divided highway right away, in and outside every government building. Show this government who is boss, take control of this issue and stop this unjust law in it’s tracks.
JURY NULLIFICATION will express the will of the people in a way our government can not ignor.
Plant your seeds and bring them to their knees.
If 40 million cannbis uses throw just one handful of seeds each, well then, the planet will look and smell wonderful even though we are in deep shit with all that we have done.
TEND YOUR BISCUITS
In this manipulated culture, bloated with puritan consciousness, it seems appropriate to initiate these primitive prohibitionists into humanity. We shout to their face…”WE ARE THE MIGHTIEST, WHO MAKE THE WORLD TREMBLE.” There is no homeric subtlety or eloquence here…just Genesists speaking for the will of our creator…and in doing that…nothing can bring us out of our challenge mode. We are filed with moral outrage at prohibitionists, and are here to balance their oppression, and their rebellion against the divine orders of our creator.
When it comes to our sacrament, this whole world is out of balance, and if it is ever to become balanced again, it will be up to Genesists to overcome and conquer the injustices of the prohibitionist’s “EXCESS OF MORAL CERTAINTY.” There are priciples of justice to be upheld, there is our Constitution to honor and protect, and there is a duty to our creator. We Genesists will stand at each other’s side until we have won victory…and…prohibitionists can “TEND THEIR BISCUITS.”
It is the Genesist’s ultimate objective to strike a balance…to balance each other perfectly…so our great country can find peace, and once again live in vibrancy, and embrace the vision of a truly civilized festive society. God is in his heaven, and for the time being, all is not right with the world. We Genesists are pledged to make it right…for our creator’s sake.
GREAT I’ll move to cali soon! but do the engineering companies out there drug test?
Bud will be obtained and it doesnt matter if those means are illegaly or legaly. So why doesnt our Government kill 2 birds with one stone and legalize and tax it helping to reduce our national debt and at the same time they would be taking the drug money out of the hands of criminals who would use that money to potentialy buy guns and other weapons in order to harm others. Legalizing it could not only help our economy but it could save lives and boost national moral to possibly an all time HIGH!
the police office(was stationed in Germany in the Army) at my school stated the other day at lunch, “all those people that want to legalize pot should go to Amsterdam to see all of the trash, needles and panties that are left everywhere” I laughed and said, “What, is it like some sort of Tom Jones concert?”
If that is all he (cops) could come up with, the end is near!! I guess he hasn’t driven down an Atlanta interstate lately to see all the trash, or counted the beer cans and cups left at Univ of GA football game.
Alright, I understand that law enforcement is the biggest threat to the legalization of marijuana, but I’m still thouroughly confused as to why. It doesn’t matter how you feel about the drug itself, it still costs law enforcement mass amounts of money to seek out and punish the useres, so again I ask why? There is nothing beneficial about marijuana being illegal, to anyone as far as I’m concerned. Any legitimate study will prove that, so where are all these statistics suggesting that pot is nothing but harmful coming from? I just don’t understand who is benefiting from its prohibition, in fact it seems like we’re all suffering from it (considering how quickly this economy would turn around if it was legalized and taxed). This is a legitimate question, so please if you have a legitimate answer I would be sincerely interested to hear it.
You know what the real BS is? Im currently in my 7th month of probation from having LESS THAN A GRAM OF WEED in one of my coat pockets. It was litterally about the size as the head of a nail. When the drug dogs do their random searches of high schools they came to mine and i got caught with that, the judge gave me a 50,000 bail and a class B felony. Thanks to my attourney the charge was reduced to a class B misdimenor, But i still had to dish out about 3500 for bail/bond. Now I went through a treatment program beacuse i was supposedly “addicted” to marijuana. Funny right? Any who i got out of that program and made the mistake of smoking a joint. So after that came back in my tox screen for probation i decided continuing to do the thing i love most wasnt worth the 3-9 months i would spend in jail and i stopped smoking weed about 3 months ago. NOW probation wants me to go and repeat the program THAT I GOT THROUGH AND COMPLETED WHILE SMOKING WEED now that i have STOPPED SMOKING WEED. I’ve been getting clean toxes for 2 months now and i think ive proven that TREATMENT PROGRAMS DONT DO JACK SHIT BUT TAKE YOUR MONEY, TELL YOU YOUR AN ADDICT, AND WASTE YOUR TIME LYING TO YOU ABOUT THE HEALTH RISKS OF SMOKING WEED. I stopped smoking weed of my own accord and will not be going back to it untill all this mess with probation is cleaned up and im a free man. I may not be an active member of the weed smoking community but ill be damnded if im not going to continue to support it. remember people YES WE CANNIBUS.
THERE’S A LIMIT TO HOW MUCH A “FREE PERSON” WILL PUT UP WITH.
Prohibs have annihilated our tolerance level. This is the result of prohibs utter disregard for our Constitution, and their “NOT PLAYING BY THE RULES”
THERE’S A LIMIT TO HOW MUCH A “FREE PERSON” WILLL PUT UP WITH.
Prohibs have annihilated our tolerance level. This is the result of prohibs utter disregard for our Constitution, and their “NOT PLAYING BY THE RULES”…
but rather…playing by their dominating morals and idealism…”A FLAGRANT WACK AT LIBERTY.”
Prohibs…”CAN’T BUILD A WALL HIGH ENOUGH”…to separate Genesists from their Holy Sacrament. Prohibs have perpetrated absolutely hideous attempts to do that, and will bear God’s displeasure…but…not before prohibs experience ours. “WE DEMAND OUR POUND OF FLESH.” Too many…of us have lost our lives to the prohibs “CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY.” Too many…lives and families have been disrupted and destroyed. Too many…have lost their freedom to incarceration, and their civil rights to criminalization/felonization. Too many…
constitutional rights have been trampled on and violated.
Instead of caving in to what prohibs want us to be…we have to be who we want to be…and are. “MANNA IS OURS”…we want it…and…we’re taking it…like it or not. So!…get lost prohibs…ya bother me. “TEND YOUR BISCUITS.”
Manford Mantis
99 GAIL MCLEAN
There are more that agree with you than disagree…for more reason than cannabis. I am a McLean of Murray…
Clan Gunn…Aut * Pax * Aut * Bellum…peace or war. “Prohibs are scheduled for an ass extraction.”
There’s a whole bunch of angry Americans that wouldn’t hesitate for a minute to grab a handful of their uncut cake, pop their balloons, spit in their punch, and duct tape their ass to the wall.
Yes!…we are in a revolutionary mood, and have declared our grievances. Accordingly, we hold a stone in one hand, but have yet to cast it. We have yet to cast our vote…which we hold in the other hand…and are prepared to cast as a vote of non-confidence.
We should also realize this. When playing football with rhinos, hippos, and elephants…the power can be as little as a squirl in a zebra’s uniform, pointing his finger, and blowing his whistle. So it is with cannabis! That “little squirl” has all the power. But…if that squirl doesn’t make the right call he might just get his finger jammed up his nose, and that whistle shoved up his ars, as he’s chased out of the stadium.
Being a former partaker of the BUD, I will always believe that the people(Big $$) who grew Hemp for the Gov in U.S. are still the ones who are profiting from it being illegal. When Ronald Reagan cracked down on the borders, the price doubled, but there was more Marijuana available than ever. The price increase allowed for more money to be paid to the corrupt gov. officials, so they would overlook the contraband coming across the border. Remember Ollie North and Iran/ Contra. The gov made money to use for covert operations!
“SOMEONE HAS TO LOSE.”
Make no mistake!…Because prohibitionists have
“DECLARED WAR”…against cannabis…visa vis Genesists
…”SOMEONE HAS TO LOSE.” This because…neither is going to give up.
God is not happy in his/her heaven because…his/her children are dishonoring and waring over his/her “GIFT OF MANNA AS HOLY SACRAMENT.” Neither is he/she thrilled over the prohibition of his/her medicine. There is but one thing to say about God’s medicine
…”IT WORKS.”
So!…We are forewarned of the impending results of war…”SOMEONE HAS TO LOSE.” Genesists declare: “IT’S NOT GOING TO BE US.”
I agree with previous comments that the police are the main force behind keeping marijuana illegal. How many “Cops” television shows have you seen where the cops set up stings to trap dime bag dealers on the street corner or they spot a car with a tail light out and then search for marijuana. Makes me sick every time I see that happen but strengthens my will for legalization.
P.S. TO 123
FURTHER RELATIVE POSTS
FOX MEWS SAYS YES TO LEGALIZATION
15 To all elected representatives.
87 Without a weave a thread is just a piece of string.
I drink and dont smoke cigarrettes, they are poison to me but alcohol is crammed down your throat on a daily basis thru advertising. I do weed and not ashamed of it. I dont look to harder drugs nor will i consider it. our elected folks are real jerks. here in ga. they want to cane you if you smoke and kill you if you deal it. what jerks we have they would rather push on you a pill that makes a hard on. come on what is the deal with these people they are the true idiots of the world. they would rather see you drunk and smoking a cig. instead of trying to figure out a way to better our lives. they make laws for people to break such as the weed and yea it is pushed by big business and there right about the drug testing for the only 1 they can catch is the mj. It is ashame for them to push there pills like they do and say it is legal but then have a 4qtr. profit. unbelievable. what a bunch of crooks that run our state and nation.
suppose to read i dont drink or smoke cigs.
The latest pro-drunk anti pot idiot law on the table in Michigan now is if you call 911 about drunk children you won`t get busted. In short our government wants to make it easier to get children drunk. But every day the search helicopters and planes keep looking for marijuana while the pedophiles that make the laws enjoy their drunkenness now almost legal to get children drunk now. Our government has clearly shown where they stand. Kill all the potheads and give the drunk baby rapers more children to play with.
The latest pro-drunk anti pot idiot law on the table in Michigan now is if you call 911 about drunk children in your house you won`t get busted. In short our government wants to make it easier to get children drunk. But every day the search helicopters and planes keep looking for marijuana while the alcoholic-pedophiles that make the laws enjoy their drunkenness now almost legal to get children drunk now. Our government has clearly shown where they stand. Kill all the potheads and give the drunk baby rapers more children to play with…….. This is for anyone who lost their career or family because of marijuana law. Do you care if the drunk flying the search plane/helicopter loses his job? Do you care if the liquid drug dealers and their liquid drug pushing employees; can`t name alcohol companies because they are protected by the drunken government, lose their jobs? Do you care if the drunks in government and law enforcement lose their job? How about all the freakin drug sniffing dog`s that make more money than you created by a stupid law that protects alcohol,pharmaceutic,drug lords, government etc. etc. I hope their children become victims of alcohol abuse. May your family get ran over by an endless stream of drunk drivers. Maybe then , when everyone is dead, except for the drunk idiots in control, they will realize what hypocritical idiots they have become. They say it`s about the children but the people in charge just want drunk children for their amusement. This war on marijuana has been fought with no resistance from the users. I want the world to see how evil alcohol is compared to marijuana. Legalize marijuana for 2 years. Meanwhile, make alcohol illegal for the same period of time. I guarantee that the drunks won`t be “peaceful” like the potheads are. The drunks will take up arms and kill. Don`t believe me? Let`s try it. Put your whiskey where your mouth is drunk!!!!
Question. If the federal government treats marijuana as legal for medical purposes in some states why isn’t it automatically legal in all states. If a drug company puts out a new drug they don’t get it approved state by state. Why can’t we follow this same logic?
The government gave up the right to regulate marijuana when they outlawed it.
I have drank till I couldn’t walk and snorted cocaine till I passed out but as much as I tried I could not harm myself with marijuana.
G.B.
It seems like this whole pro-drug movement over the U.S. lately, and no one has the balz to say anything anti-drug. People are scared of sugar, animal products…not drugs…No one has trouble getting them, there is no shortage…I like medicine when I’m sick, but to medicate myself all the time, no thanks…Well even cigarettes were pushed on everyone for years..even re-marketed to get a female following ” You’ve come a long way baby”…
I am an avid supporter of your cause, as well as someone who drums-up support for reform, investigates civil and human rights violations and blogs about opression and censorship. In many ways, you are my mentor. More power to you!