C-Span TV: Marijuana Legalization and California Ballot Initiative Prop. 19 To Be Debated and Discussed This Saturday; NORML Director Allen St. Pierre vs. Former DEA Administrator Asa Hutchinson
Update: Watch today’s program here. The 45 minute discussion on legalizing cannabis starts at the 2:19:30 mark. Like the many current commentators’ lament, I too wish more questions were directed to the reform side and/or allowed some rebuttal to any number of Mr. Hutchinson’s misdirections and contradictions. However, unlike AM radio or cable TV news shows, guests on C-Span are encouraged not to talk over each other, keeping answers short, and to try to take as many calls as possible from viewers.
As noted, as has been the case every single time I’ve appeared on C-Span, most of the callers are critical of the current policies and favor law reform.
I’ve been invited back to C-Span to debate and discuss the topics of cannabis legalization, and specifically California’s upcoming vote on Prop. 19, a measure that if approved by the voters will effectively legalize cannabis in America’s most important state politically and economically.
Former Drug Enforcement Administration chief and Republican congressman from Arkansas Asa Hutchinson has stepped up to argue in favor of the status quo and continuing into a ninth decade of Cannabis Prohibition.
The live interview is scheduled to broadcast Saturday morning (10/9/10) on C-Span TV, 9:15am – 10:00am (eastern…sorry west coasters!). Like most C-Span shows, the public is invited to ask questions or make short commentary.
This C-Span interview is likely the result of the Wall Street Journal publishing an unprecedented jointly signed letter earlier this week by every previous DEA administrator predictably calling for the Obama administration to actively oppose politically viable cannabis legalization voter initiatives in places like California (just the way they did).
Is the body politic (and the mainstream media that has so aptly aided and abetted these technocrats’ blatant disregard for democracy, science, compassion and common sense) really, really nervous about the cataclysmic blow that California voters are about to level on a self-evidently failed federal government public policy—another ‘war’ lost by government?
As one overexposed, former half governor is known for saying all too frequently: Youbetcha!
See you on the Groove Tube!
In this country founded on Democracy, are the choices we make at the ballot box going to be ignored by the loosing side? Does the same apply to the politicians who lose to their opponents?
nail him allen ,u wont have to make him look supid he will do that on his own these prohibitionist just wont give up and let us legalize it how stupid and absurd they are or do they just want the govt. to keep them with jobs lay all the drug warriors off and let them get realjobs instead of harming smokers, i hope prop 19 passes and spreads to other states
I will help spread this video as far as I can just as I did with the last ABC News Nightline video. As long as I wake up early enough tomorrow morning…
Anyone know if C-Span archives videos in the case that I miss it?
“Is the body politic and the mainstream media that has so aptly aided and abetted these technocrats’ blatant disregard for democracy, science, compassion and common sense really, really nervous about the cataclysmic blow that California voters are about to level on a self-evidently failed federal government public policy—another ‘war’ lost by government?”
That’s right brother and sisters, it worth saying over and over.
Drive the spear of truth DEEP into the belly of this evil bitch and lets put an end to this 70 plus years of bullshit and wayward government behavior.
Vote yes on prop 19, get the word out, don’t let up until the landslide vote is in and done. Get the word out, we have them and their lies on the run. Push harder with each day left. Do not let them up or out, we have them for the first time, lets make sure it not the last State but the first of many.
GO CA Citizens, the entire planet is praying and hoping for your victory in Nov.
Tear Down That Wall, we know your vote can do it and will.
In the name of Duke Nukem, may you kick ass and chew bubblegum…
dea = fascists
asa hutchinson was the smoke blower for mena arkansas cia drug hub. clinton was gov during the drug smuggling.
why doncha ask him about it?
Allen,you always do a great job at these debates, just make sure he can’t get away with grouping pot in with heroin or crack.I was so impressed with the way you handled that Darling idiot from the Heritage whatever, but he got cornered and kept calling you a hypocrite for not supporting hard drugs. Everyone needs to know the history of cannabis and ALL of its benefits. Keep up the good work! – Pete
I agree with Rick. He will make himself look stupid. I wish I could hold him down while you hold the hammer. (figuratively) I know you will be prepared, and that will make the difference. But to win an argument the single most important thing you need to be is right. And right you are.
I thank everyone who contributes to Norml.org as I have learned a lot, and feel better about my decisions in the past to smoke. Cannibus helps me sleep with a rod in my back, and the prescriptions given to me could have killed me due to my heart condition and since been taken off of the market. Not to mention help me deal with the stress of current society. Stress alone almost killed me a year ago. I now choose not to smoke as I can’t afford quality (most importantly know it hasn’t been tampered with something, like for example formaldehyde. I now roll my own ciggerettes due to FSC. Just look on Youtube or Google…). I can’t afford to grow it, and lose my right to vote or defend myself with a firearm.
Cannabis is the pink elephant in the room. Everyone knows someone who does it, and if they thought they should be in jail, then many would in fact get them sent there. This shows that even if they disagree with it, something isn’t right about jailing someone over it.
To me, it is an important issue about freedom. All anyone has to do is look at the history and say this is outrageous. Not to mention that, as we are reminded on this website often of, the prohibition “experiment” has failed and we are much worse off for it. It is an example of the supreme tyranny we face in this country. All we have to do is say enough, and we can take back our rights, including growing an exceptionally harmless plant with many benefits, many of which we may not have even been allowed to research and discover yet. I am an emotional person, but I have been jaded. I haven’t cried in a long time. But if this passes, I do believe the hope it will give me will make me weep.
I love how Rob Kampia said in a debate “if you think its all that bad, then why wouldnt you want it regulated” he left Glenn Beck speechless, you might want to use that if Asa Hutchinson is getting out of line with the lies he spews.
those in support of it are being a tad narrow minded in the view that those who aren’t are being selfish, or are “stupid”…there are a LOT of people with serious medical conditions who have major issues with this prop…so much so that they will be voting “NO”. Considering MMJ is a joke concept to many, what will be said when a county decides to opt out of this? The integrity of medical marijuana goes out the window. the hopes of it being seen as medicine goes out the window.
dont be too upset when the outcome is not positive…as if it doesnt pass many will be upset, but if it does, you still will be upset when its stuck in court over the many many issues that include the financial side of money from the government for the state.
rick…you do realize that sometimes a problem needs a solution that works, not just a solution because you think it needs one.
vague. power in the hands of those who dont view it as medicine
there are FAR more people who use MMJ against this bill than you may realize.
Why was my comment deleted?
Anyway I was just saying that I will help spread this video as far as I can to spread the truth! And that I hope C-Span has video archives if I miss it.
Funny enough on an episode of Judge Napolitano’s show on Fox News Sarah Palin and Ron Paul together both supported legalizing marijuana. I was shocked that she actually had a non-contradicting statement for weed. She maybe unqualified for office, but at least she got that right!
Other wise the key to debating the DEA is to exploit the fact that they are legally obligated to negatively promote marijuana even at the expense of the truth. Just bring up the lack of scientific research allowed to the FDA to prove they base there facts on nothing but bad scientific process.
Vote yes 19 Vote yes to freedom and peace hell Vote for war in weed if ya want WAR and peace and weed and freedom !!
O boy i hope i can see this show.
I don,t get the swipe @ Palin ? Was that necessary ?
Hey will this be on the radio or there tv
legalize it
Cannabis is less physically addictive than caffeine, while the so-called “gateway drug” theory is a complete fantasy, and it was just recently called “half-baked” as a result of a scientific study. CNN reported that Cocaine use has dropped sharply, by 30% since 2002, which is really good news. I worked in addiction medicine for years, and this is what I can advice on the matter: Any suppression of Cannabis use will be immediately followed by an increase in alcohol/hard drug/prescription drug abuse! You don’t believe me? Then maybe you will believe the Big Alcohol lobby that is financing the Cannabis Legalization opponents for exactly this reason. Right now Cannabis is just simply perceived as a much safer alternative to alcohol/hard drugs, which is precisely how it should be perceived. To have a society in which there is NO psychoactive substance use is an illusion, and it will be good for our government to realize this. So then, it becomes a matter of “safer choices”, just like with the sex education. And Cannabis is, without a shadow of a doubt, a much safer choice than alcohol or hard drugs! Just very recently a research study in addiction medicine has determined that Cannabis may actually serve as an “exit” substance for recovering alcoholics/hard drug addicts! And there is another extremely important property of Cannabis that the prohibitionists would love to keep secret: Cannabis use suppresses violent urges and behaviors and, as one prestigious textbook says, “Only the unsophisticated think otherwise” Then, of course, there is a potential of Cannabis in chronic pain, where other drugs may be ineffective (or physically addictive), with very important potential consequences for our wounded veterans, many of whom have chronic pain. It is also worth noting that Cannabis may have certain preventative value for such devastating conditions as cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. And all this comes with no danger of overdoses or induction of a physical dependence! Let’s be very happy that the cocaine abuse rate is dropping. Let’s not interfere with these dynamics, and then we can possibly achieve what has already been achieved in the Netherlands where the drug overdose rate is 85%(!!) lower than in the US, and that is with much more liberal Cannabis possession laws than in this country! Maybe it is time to give up “dogma” about Cannabis, and to start listening to the experts, if we really want to lower the alcohol/hard drug use in this country, and the accompanying dependencies and overdoses!?
I’m watching currently on cspan’s website. This is such a huge issue for the freedom of our country! I don’t smoke marijuana but I believe that it should be legal. I would love to see prop 19 pass and let the people’s voice be heard! Go get ’em Allen!
If you’re stoned, please stop calling in 🙂
O i hope yal print this up i can only get a few words then it has to load then 2 or more word are spoken then it has reload pleas print it.
After listening to the lies disseminated by governmental officials for 40 years, I have sadly come to the conclusion that I cannot believe anything they say. Hence, as I watched the program, I resisted hearing anything Mr. Hutchinson had to say. Unfortunately, this distrust now extends to anything our government expounds.
hutchinson completely ignored the best questions, by making up his own questions to ask himself and then answering himself with a big crooked smile
a caller had a good question involving tobacco, and hutchinson completely changed the question around by replacing tobacco with alcohol, and then he answered his own revised version of the question,
plus
C-Span cut off callers once they started to make great points about cannabis, as if C-Span itself was afraid of callers spreading great truths to the public, and after the callers get cut off by C-Span, Hutchinson then proceeded to completely ignore whatever was brought up by the caller
one of the callers that was cut off was just getting to the great medical qualities of cannabis
C-Span says that “we lost a caller”
when in reality they just hanged up on that caller to stop the truth from getting out
Allen nicely done! Kudos to the callers, who if I’m not mistaken, ALL spoke in favor the re-legalizing cannabis. Mr. Hutchinson relied on the same old arguments of fear-mongering. VOTE YES ON PROP 19 and move the ball down the field for national sanity.
Just watched the program,and as usual ,Mr. Hutcheson went with the old “fear” reasoning tactic to keep Cannabis illegal.In my thinking,if they want to keep Cannabis illegal,they should at least should come up with an original and new reason. As somebody said if you repeat something long enough ,it will be believed,in the case of prohibition,it is just not the case. Great discussion Mr. St. Pierre!
Well that was an interesting program. Everyone who called in was FOR the end of marijuana prohibition.
One of the funny things was that the former DEA administrator was saying that even if marijuana is taxed and legalized, there will still be an underground black market for cheaper marijuana and crime would continue. HAHA that is crazy! When was the last time you’ve heard of a drug dealer that also had some moonshine for sale by the gallon, or home brewed beer by the six pack? Or maybe you have heard of a drug dealer that also supplied tobacco at a discounted price? That’s right, it doesn’t happen…
To say that there would still be a black market for marijuana if it was legal is ludicrous. I’ll tell you what would happen… People would grow a few different types of plants, harvest the buds, then GIVE IT AWAY to their friends because they are proud of it and want to share it.
Anyway, that’s all I have to say about that. Good job NORML, keep it up!! And all you Californians, get out and vote yes on Prop 19!
Allen made clear, logical points when he had the chance, but since most of the calls were directed at Mr. Hutchinson, his comments dominated the program. He feels that if Prop 19 passes it will be not be allowed to go into effect because of conflict with Federal law. Yet, for some reason the same isn’t true of medical marijuana which is equally in conflict with Federal law. He actually seems to concede that medical marijuana is acceptable. That is a remarkable shift for him from his tenure at the DEA.
If Prop 19 passes, it will really shake up the Feds. It will be an amazing thing to watch how they respond.
Darn, just missed this (on the west coast). Can anyone provide a link to where I can watch this?
[Editor’s note: Today’s show begins at the 2:19:30 mark here.]
Help, have been all over the internet looking for this interview, can some one get the link to me, you rock Allen, this I know before seeing the video, have seen you in previous debates, and I know you did NORML proud!
#24,bob, if the call u were refering to was the one about busting heads it even made St.Pierre grimace,the callers “stupidity”need not be in a reasonable discussion about Cannabis.
# 24,bob,if you were referring to the callers comment about busting heads,it even made St. Pierre grimace,it should not have been in a reasonable discussion about Cannabis # 28 they don’t want to mess with “medicine”,even if it is the same plant ,(Cannabis sativa),just as Industrial Hemp is the same genus,but he said even “medical marijuana” was contrary to federal policy.
I just watched the debate via my DVR and, not surprisingly, Allen did great! Asa, again not surprisingly, came off like a politician doing everything possible to not answer the question at hand and to try to change the subject slightly to avoid giving a straight answer. At least that was my take…
Him (Asa Hutchinson), and others like him, are the main reason why so many of us don’t trust our own Government! He pretends to be doing something good for this country when what has actually been accomplished has been bad – really really bad!
Great job Allen!! This country needs to open their eyes and learn the truth about this natural plant that has been used for medicine and recreation for thousands of years. Prohibition is a failed policy and has been proven time and again that it just does not work. I am a member of norml and I donate every month. The people that are against these failed laws need to come together and help donate to the cause. Even if it’s only a few dollars, it’s what allows organizations like norml to help us end this war on cannabis once and for all!!
Excellent Job Allen! Just more propaganda from “the other side.” When are they ever going to learn. The scare tactics are no longer there. Once they were voodoo. Now they are doo doo.
#26 – There is no more reasons. That is why they are myna birds…peet and repeat.
#28 – That is what Mr. Hutchinson is afraid of is what will happen when prop 19 becomes a reality and shakes up the feds? I just wish the feds would see the big picture with Hemp farming, medicine, cannabis all means more jobs and more revenue.
http://weedaclaus.com/
Weeda Claus says nothing but coal for Asa Hutchinson this Christmas. Asa Hutchinson is a criminal and has no concept of what self ownership means. His kind are dangerous people and will harm you for daring to own your own body. How many lives did this evil person stick his nose and his guns into and ruin?
I kept waiting for Allen to quote the DEA’s own Judge Francis Young as saying, “Marijuana in its natural form is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man”…but he never did. I really wanted to see Hutchinson wriggle out of that one.
Here is a link to the 1988 ruling. (pg. 58 item #16)
http://www.erowid.org/plants/cannabis/cannabis_law1-4.shtml
The only reasons Mr. Hutchison gave for keeping marijuana illegal are because it’s illegal and harmful. But he did not list any ways in which it is harmful. Using that logic alone the govt has no business criminalizing marijuana but that’s not all. Not only is it not harmful it is helpful in many ways which I don’t have room to list here. The fact that it is not harmful means we have a right to do what we choose in our own homes. Weed has never been proven to cause the death of a single person and 100% of expenses due to weed come directly from it being illegal. If it were legal I could grow my own that would be about $150 per month every month going back into the economy and I am only one person.
Well, it seems like all the callers that called in want change. Big change comes from big crops like corn, Big dollars will come from the Cannabis crops. People are starting to really see the dollar signs. He said himself the DEA wants what the people want. Well, lets take that Federal Law and change it after prop 19. It is not written in stone.
I especially liked the caller who was an ex smuggler It was so Clear that the DEA agents and Mexican Presidents are paid off, therefore, if Prop 19 becomes legal, they will loose their profits. The people are understanding that the US are making Mexico rich by all of the Pot. Do you think the President of Mexico wants that to end? NO WAY! Does the DEA want less money too, no, that is why they want to keep prohibition alive. Clearly scare tactics no longer work. If you want to see the video its in 3 parts and starts here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZzLqfkQTAs
damn. i wish this sort of thing was announced a little bit more ahead of time. I would have liked to call in. I still seek an answer to how it is better for the average harmless pot smoker to be imprisoned and relegated than it is to just leave them alone.
Also, I don’t understand why he kept going on about increase in overall use. Are we caring about that? The only way I can see an increase in use is with people who currently would like to use it but don’t because it is illegal. Why is the government proud that it successfully scares people out of having harmless fun?
Cannabis is less physically addictive than caffeine, while the so-called “gateway drug” theory is a complete fantasy, and it was just recently called “half-baked” as a result of a scientific study. CNN reported that Cocaine use has dropped sharply, by 30% since 2002, which is really good news. I worked in addiction medicine for years, and this is what I can advice on the matter: Any suppression of Cannabis use will be immediately followed by an increase in alcohol/hard drug/prescription drug abuse! You don’t believe me? Then maybe you will believe the Big Alcohol lobby that is financing the Cannabis Legalization opponents for exactly this reason. Right now Cannabis is just simply perceived as a much safer alternative to alcohol/hard drugs, which is precisely how it should be perceived. To have a society in which there is NO psychoactive substance use is an illusion, and it will be good for our government to realize this. So then, it becomes a matter of “safer choices”, just like with the sex education. And Cannabis is, without a shadow of a doubt, a much safer choice than alcohol or hard drugs! Just very recently a research study in addiction medicine has determined that Cannabis may actually serve as an “exit” substance for recovering alcoholics/hard drug addicts! And there is another extremely important property of Cannabis that the prohibitionists would love to keep secret: Cannabis use suppresses violent urges and behaviors and, as one prestigious textbook says, “Only the unsophisticated think otherwise” Then, of course, there is a potential of Cannabis in chronic pain, where other drugs may be ineffective (or physically addictive), with very important potential consequences for our wounded veterans, many of whom have chronic pain. It is also worth noting that Cannabis may have certain preventative value for such devastating conditions as cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. And all this comes with no danger of overdoses or induction of a physical dependence! Let’s be very happy that the cocaine abuse rate is dropping. Let’s not interfere with these dynamics, and then we can possibly achieve what has already been achieved in the Netherlands where the drug overdose rate is 85%(!!) lower than in the US, and that is with much more liberal Cannabis possession laws than in this country! Maybe it is time to give up “dogma” about Cannabis, and to start listening to the experts, if we really want to lower the alcohol/hard drug use in this country, and the accompanying dependencies and overdoses!?
Meg Whitman said she will repeal the will of the voters by overturning Propostion 19 should it
pass … then she should repeal the will of the voters if she gets elected .
The Christian Science Monitor sponsors are WalMart , Drug Companies along with those that produce Alcoholic beverages ( ever seen those cases of beer at
WalMart ? ) WalMart peddles drugs and alcohol .
” Christian ” ? Ha Ha He Hee Ho Ho
He who says , ” i know God & does not keep his commandments is a liar & the truth is not in him ” .
The mention of , Christian Science Monitor was mentioned because in their poll Proposition 19
is losing .
” Their will be many false religions in those days “
Great debate. Just wish I had heard of it sooner.
Also a point I would like to have seen Mr St. Pierre emphasize more is that : Norml and DEA agree that cannabis is not intended for minors and would like to see less minors use cannabis as well. Prop 19 will only help to facilitate that.
I had to work and missed it. How did it turn out? Who won the debate?
I think you did well Allen. I would say I was disappointed in the program, but I went in knowing you would never receive the time that the former DEA agent would. I am embarrassed by some of the callers, mainly the one talking about busting heads. But I understand his frustration, and is completely understandable if your life has been turned upside down by the atrocities of prohibition.
Asa Hutchinson (Former DEA) stated that the issue was whether you wanted use to go down or not. That is not the issue. The issue is whether you want to tell individuals what they can and can not do, at the costs that society is paying. Anyone who does any research and doesn’t have a stake of profit will tell you it is not. It is a shame that profit will motivate people to hold others down by their necks, but such is life. I can not or ever will be a part of that. That is why I support NORML.org. Not just for the issue of Cannabis, but for what it embodies as a whole to our country.
Will use go up if it is legalized as Asa suggested? You betcha, if only due to those wanting to try it. But the majority of surge of use will likely be in fact as Allen suggested, people feeling they can finally be honest on a survey and not in such fear of prosecution to make their own decisions.
Hopefully soon these circular arguments will be over, at least for California. But there is in fact still more work ahead. Prop. 19 in my humble opinion sucks, and I fear that it seen as just enough rope to hang ourselves with. Only with true legalization, will the true test of Cannabis’s success be able to be measured.
please someone post a link to the interview.
Okay, I watch the show live this morning, saw all kinds of news cast covering cannabis. I thought those pro cannabis folks blew the liers out of the water. The DEA guy did not want to talk about medical use, no no he was scar to go there. He lied about RAND report but then I am use to them doing so.
I wanted to ask him in what world does the employees tell the employer how to do things.
CA Voters! You have the government running scarred and they only have fear to work with. Slam it to them! Not long now you folks are going to shake the world. This is one smoke that going to be blown right up their ass.
We are winning and the government knows it. Get the vote out in CA and lets make them dance to our tune.
Prohibition is losing!
Allen killed it; and the public was in my view 100% supportive of ending cannabis prohibition in their questions and comments. The DEA guys best argument that marijuana consumption would go up if legalized; is this it? I think CA business is counting on this!
Just say yes on Prop 19 CA!
The data collected clearly shows that in thse Countries that made all or most drugs legal did not see a large rise in Cannabis use. The DEA guy mis-spoke the data again, check RAND report. CA is engaged in a much bigger fights that involves the peoples rights to use or abuse this plant is their liberty, it is their constitutional right under liberty that this vote, this fught must go forth. Medical Cannabis is not going away, freedom is return to your land and mine. Liberty is in our hearts, it is us who must express that liberty upon our government, thank god it is in the form of a vote and not blood shed, this is the peaceful way to gain these lost liberties. The bottom line is this, If what i do does not harm you, then it is not a crime and I can be at my liberty to do so, no government, no law is going to move me from my liberty. If I, if we give up the liberty then those who have died for this country, do die in vain. So VOTE, I say vote Yes, but I believe in the vote of the people, so vote no if that your heart. I would beg you to vote yes and make this a land slide vote that tells this government who is boss.
Great Job Allen!
@ Everyone who wants to watch the entire thing, Go to Youtube and type in: C-SPAN Prop19 . You’ll see the 3 part videos there. Good job Allen!!! And good job America for calling in and standing up to the tyranny!!!
Hutchinson sold his own point when he said that law enforcement capabilities would go down. Of course they would go up. Thinking about just local law enforcement, if they weren’t concentrated on arresting marijuana users, and less so marijuana dealers they would be able to concentrate on harder more devastating drugs.
What do you think the percentage of marijuana arrests is for the DEA? If they weren’t concentrated on marijuana illegalities as much, they too would be able to concentrate more on harder drugs. Obviously they don’t want to take the hit on quota and also pride, but even the stupidest person, government or otherwise, can see the social impact of focusing on more harmful drugs. No?
Good job st pierre, your a perfect example of a speaker for the legalization movement.
I would like the opponents of legalization to explain why they want to turn this country into a dictatorship by suggesting the feds do something about voters voting on prop 19.
I wanna punch that DEA guy in the face for being so naive.
*face palm*
no wonder he was the administrator.
Excellent job on CSpan Pierre for what it’s worth. It’s ridiculous that this issue has even come to this point. When it’s 40% of the voters saying yes or 49% saying yes, it’s still a ton of people that are saying yes!!!!!!!!! IT’S TIME TO PULL OUR ANTIQUATED IDEALS OUT OF OUR ASSES & MOVE ON TO BIGGER & BETTER THINGS!!! For instance, taking the easy $$$ out of dealer’s hands (marijuana) and arresting the junkies that peddle meth, speed, oxycontin, crack, etc… I’m all for the DEA. They just need a much more focused direction. Marijuana is the “dogfish” of ocean fishing or the easy A. Our towns are being overrun by so many other problems & a lot of them seem to be funded by such an easy crop. These insignificant @$$holes wouldn’t make it if they didn’t have marijuana (the bread & butter) funding them & keeping them alive. I looked into becoming a police officer but I enjoy my marijuana more than their criteria would allow. Better wishes for the future & for my growing family.
I was a little disappointed that no one talked about how industrial hemp could boost the economy and quite possibly save the country.
I know you would liked more time to tear him apart but I think the callers did a pretty good job of balancing out the Pro-Reform side. It seemed the only one defending the current policies was Hutchison. There was the one guy who called and complained about his friends all turning into druggies but you did a great job countering that. Perfect repsone.
I kept wishing you or the callers would bring up the point that ‘DRUG DEALERS DO NOT CARD” when talking about marijuana access to kids. Still, you got your point across with statistics!
What the Govt has to look at is the waste of money, time and energy that has been spent on 70 years of WAR. The DEA man, spoke often of looking at History. His history books are different from mine, i guess. Prohibition has never worked.
Great job Allen. Hutchinson got more speaking time, but only because his side has got so much more explaining to do. Of course it still didn’t stop him from dodging some of those caller questions.
What I want to know is why no one is bringing up the point..Who cares if use of marijuana goes up, it’s been proven that it can help detour people from other drugs, such as tobacco and alcohol.. and I’d much rather have a very high cannabis use rate, for a lower tobacco and alcohol use. I’m all for use going up, who cares! I’m mad at myself for missing this and not being able to call in.
Watched it. No time to comment right away.
Item: Rise in use after legalization compared to under prohibition is at least in part attributable to people coming out of the shadows and honestly reporting usage on surveys.
Item: Direction federal government is going as current law exists is wrong direction. Asa is flat out wrong about it going in right direction. The direction is from sourcers to the retail consumer. That is the direction to control things on the supply and demand chain. Can’t do that if everything is underground and intended to be invisible.
Item: Federal law still puts the brakes on people like the woman from Nebraska who uses marijuana medically for glaucoma and must procure it as an illegal commodity, although Asa acknowledged 14 states and experts have realized legislatively medical value. They want the market to be visible for quality control of the product, the environment and in the society.
Item: Cannabis is a part of the culture now. It has been for decades now. There is no effective way to remove it from the culture without revising history. That is not likely. It’s too popular. A bunch of people in D.C. thinking they can create a document and sign off on it themselves, then think the rest of the culture will sign off on it too is just too good to ever be true. People who don’t agree with you prohibitionists are not going to change for you. Just worry about running your own lives.
You are right about that mark, no one can successfully prohibit peoples appetites, has never worked and never will, with all the things we could do with hemp in addition to smoking it we ought to have a world economy based on that wonderful little plant, if we did that we could have plastic cars that are more structurally sound then if they were made of steel, sounds like a pretty good reason for legalization, I must say if George Washington were alive to see what we have let happen he would weep.
p.s. I like how the DEA guy just tried to use fear by saying that it would be in conflict with federal law, what are they going to do arrest everyone in California?
I think the reason Obama has not come out and said he’ll do anything if prop 19 passes is because he will let it be a test state. I mean, on AZ, he quickly threatened to sue the state but he hasn’t said anything about this prop. Lets HOPE. If he decides to let it slide, he has won my vote for the next election (unless Ron Paul runs again).
hahahaha, like everyone is waiting to smoke marijuana till it’s legal… is this guy for real? how can you understand so little and be the head of something based on the subject.
please give your thoughts on petition
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/decriminalizemarijuana/
Piece o’ cake, eh Allen? I actually wondered if Asa even wanted to be there. Poor guy didn’t stand a chance, especially after the calls started coming in. (giggle)
3 weeks 2 days till voting time. 3 weeks 2 days till I move to Cali lol Please pass Prop 19! And set an example for the rest of the nation!
Hutchinson is a fear mongerer at best. He beats his “use will go up” drum in a painfully contrived manner. Great job Pierre, but wish you would have mentioned the extraordinary amount of violence taking place in Mexico fighting over the rights of providing the United States its hierba. 28,000 people have been killed in Mexico alone since Calderon was elected in 2006. Eventually that violence is going to spill over into the United States and I’m afraid that’s what it’s going to take for a national change.
@ Redspit: I think the reason Obama has not come out and said anything regarding prop 19 is because he’s hoping it doesn’t pass so he won’t have to deal with it. I suspect he sees himself losing political capital no matter which side he takes on the issue, so he’s keeping quiet and hoping it doesn’t pass, so he won’t have to take any side.
@68 – I’m not signing the petition since I don’t like the way it’s written! When you click the petition tab the first thing it says is: “The reason that marijuana is, and should remain, illegal is that the drug itself is harmful to the individual and to the community.”
This is not a good start. Reading further, it is full of spelling and grammar errors. I’m all for legalizing marijuana like most Americans, but I can’t see our Congressmen taking this seriously even if we got 10 million signatures the way it’s written.
I suggest getting someone with a law degree to rewrite it and then let us all take another look at it.
If I smoke weed, and I do just about every day, it is no one’s business but mine. Then there is the economy. If it were legal I would be putting the $150 I spend on weed every month and grow my own. What about all the uses there are for hemp? People are stupid. They just sit back and let some corrupt jackass tell them what they can do in their own home and then either say we can’t do that it’s illegal or live their lives, many times hiding their personal habits from family, employers, and sometimes non-using friends. I live my life how I choose according to what God’s word says is right and wrong not what some jackass who votes the way he is paid to vote not by what is right or wrong or even according to what we want. I don’t hide my habits from anyone. If anyone asks me I tell them straight out I smoke.
he kept going to the arguement usage will go up usage will go up usage will go up…number one yes it will BUT its only because the people who grew up with prohibition will be able to “reach the cookie jar” so to speak think of it like this when your a kid and you see that cookie jar you know whats in it you want whats in it but you cant reach.. once you can reach you probably will eat a lot of cookies but eventually its not so exciting anymore its there everyday all the time and the excitment is gone and thats how our future generations will look at marijuana there will not be a forbidden fruit effect to where some ppl may decide to use it while others dont.. but it wont be something that illegal and makes you want it more because you shouldnt have it.. in the netherlands they have a lower usage rate than we do and the shit is legal there really open your eyes at first usage will go up but i think eventually will go down and stabalize. marijuana is a victimless crime when used responsibly keep in mind. and in that aspect no matter what you do there will be somebody who uses irresponsibly but that is human nature.. usa wake the fuck up
Facebook Founders Donate $170K
http://medicalcannabisinstitute.com/classes/another-facebook-co-founders-give-170k-to-back-prop-19/
Clearly, all Mr. Hutchinson had to rely on was old, fear-based reasoning, as one of the latter callers pointed out. The real issue that is of interest to me – since the actual debate is clearly over – is how the federal government is going to deal with the will of the CA voters. It is an interesting time! Also, it was great to see Mr. St Pierre on video, putting a face to his reasoned and sensible words. Good job on the debate.
I also think Mr. Hutchinson is a pretty nice guy, after watching him talk. I have a lot of compassion for him and those of his generation who have tried to make a square peg fit in a round hole for a long time.
Debated and discussed? what is there to DEBATE??? ENOUGH ALREADY!!! It A F666ING PLANT PEOPLE….IT HAS BEEN USED MEDICALLY BY TRIBAL CULTURES FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS!! IT IS A CURE ALL AND COULD PROVIDE US WITH “NON-ADDICTING”, “NO SIDE EFFECTS” TREATMENTS FOR MOST DIS-EASES. HEMP COULD BE GROWN HYDROPONICALLY IN INDOOR GROW HOUSES AND USED TO REPLACE MANY OF THE NON BIO-DEGRADABLE GARBAGE (TEXTILES) WE ARE DESTROYING THE ENVIRONMENT WITH AND SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT FROM OUR RAVAGES OF IT. NO MORE DESTROYING FORESTS AND JUNGLES FOR PENCILS, PAPER GOODS AND COFFEE TABLES!!
STOP PUTTING CHILDREN OF GOD INTO CAGES FOR THE USE AND DISTRIBUTION OF A GOD GIVEN PLANT FOR HEALING!!!…
Tobacco 435,000
Poor Diet and Physical Inactivity 365,000
Alcohol 85,000
Microbial Agents 75,000
Toxic Agents 55,000
Motor Vehicle Crashes 26,347
Adverse Reactions to Prescription Drugs 32,000
Suicide 30,622
Incidents Involving Firearms 29,000
Homicide 20,308
Sexual Behaviors 20,000
All Illicit Drug Use, Direct and Indirect 17,000
Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs Such As Aspirin 7,600
Marijuana 0
http://drugwarfacts.org/cms/?q=node/30
I absolutely love how he cites the supremacy clause over and over again.. I would really like to know when “No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States.” was twisted to mean the ‘federal government’ and not the citizens.
The people in these government organizations don’t seem to realize that the Constitution was made for US the CITIZENS and not for THEM the GOVERNMENT! It really makes no sense how these people can twist what our constitution means to suit their needs whenever they’d like… It makes me sick to think that these people can act all high and mighty while at the same time purposely turning a blind eye towards the big picture.
Legalization of cannabis WILL increase revenue to the local/state governments, it WILL reduce the amount of tax dollars that WE have to spend on enforcing these ludicrous laws, it WILL cause the current law enforcement organizations to focus on the ‘harder’ drugs and it WILL allow citizens to make their own choices. If the government was truly worried about the social impacts of cannabis and other ‘drugs’, they wouldn’t allow the multitudes of alcohol and pharmaceutical ads on television that are played EVERY DAY during PRIME TIME when CHILDREN are sitting there watching TV.
Until they decide to crack down on alcohol and big pharma indoctrination much like they did to tobacco, they have no reason nor right to continue arguing against the legalization of cannabis.
Sorry I forgot to call in I would of loved to nail a DEA guy they pick such odd balls. Someone needs to ask how pot can be act 1 schedule 1 w/o science infact science is in favor of reclassification. Also its less harmful than alcohol everyone who doesnt belive in also banning alcohol is an oppressive and hypocritical
I personally am not democrat or republican. More of an independant or will vote for the one that I have an idea that will do the USA the best job while in office.
I have tried marijuana myself in highschool; however, I was allergic to it, and am unable to use it. I later went to alcohol, cocaine, and harder drug usage like opiates, prescribed by doctors, that are supposed to be a highly controlled substance. Thus through gov’t paid for rehab, after jail time, through a program called “Drug Court” in Tennessee, led me to decide on my carreer. I went to school to become a nurse.
I have worked as a nurse in the drug/alcohol/behavorial health hospital setting. The gov’t dumps tons of money each year in the mental health program for drug addiction and behavorial health issues. In this type of setting it is the gateway to the use of other illicit street drugs because it can have certain other drugs mixed with it, or the person will go on to a “bigger high”. I have also worked in geriatrics where the canibis pill has been issued for certain medicinal uses. In this type of setting the gov’t is still dumping money into the care of those people, which they need. Still another program that seniors can’t help in nursing homes, but the gov’t still dumps tons of American dollars into in order for these seniors to obtain the proper treatment and healthcare. Also working part-time as a home health/homemaker, I had patients that would slip and buy off the streets, from the persons that the DEA Associate hunts, enough canibus to give them appetite for certain medical conditions they had. Under the HIPPA ACT, I will not mention any names. If these seniors/patients get caught with possession, they are not only charged with possession, but possession of paraphenilia, intent to manufacture for resail, jailed, fined, probated (under supervision) which is very costly, and if unable to afford or meet the probation rules are violated and re-jailed, thus taking away from their best interest of medical care and starting a cycle of them entering the system. All because of “self-medicating” was the best choice that they had found to help them along with their medical condition, but couldn’t find a doctor to enforce the canibus for medicinal purposes for them. All of which having there good effects and bad effects on a person’s life.
As watching the debate on CSPAN, I understand that it is a matter of putting certain stipulations on it if legalized, and controlling it to keep the under-aged community from having a way of getting a hold on the drug itself. Then having a way for the gov’t to make money off of the legalization of it.
After hearing the callers comments and questions towards each administrator, it raised certain doubts in my mind, but at the same time sounds like a good idea as long as it is properly introduced and controlled. However prescription drugs, alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine are legal, controlled, taxed, and if sold/distributed, and/or used while driving under the influence (excluding caffeine and nicotine), the person/persons are lawed and fined with some jail time and lossage of driver’s license. Plus the pharmaceutical companies. alcohol companies, and tobacco companies dumps a lot of money into elections to keep it legalized.
Getting to my points, if it had the proper growing techniques to help out the American farmers like the tobacco industry, and not imported to help out another country (OK). if it is controlled like tobacco and taxed like tobacco (OK), if it is controlled like alcohol and prescription drugs while driving or operating machinery at work, due to it’s potential of lack of cordination and reflexes (OK), etc, etc…, but if it is just thrown out on the table with a few stipulations against it, and not taxed like these other products that we buy everyday, THEN (NO).
Lastly, it has been proven that alcohol causes more recks and deaths due to recks, and that alcohol and Xanax (a benzodiazepine) prescribed by psychiatric doctors or controlled by primary care physicians or pain management specialist, is the only drug that can actually cause death while in DT’s/withdrawls. They are legal, and questionaires have also showed that canibus helps to slow a persons thoughts down enough to help them through the DT’s/withdrawl effects. So I would have to vote YES if it had the proper stipulations for medicinal purposes and to help boost the American economy.
Mr DEA still never made his point visa vi, why is alcohol ok, but not pot. Why is the DEA not involved in the billions of dollars the alcohol industry brings in LEGALLY, and why didn’t alcohol prohibition work, and what is the difference that alcohol gets a pass? They can’t make any argument and we should have pushed that point mo betta Allen…save your seeds, hide your weed
also..I wonder if Mr DEA enjoys a cold refreshing beer now and again? …is he an alcoholic, probably not point made. Can we get him back and ask him?
Colorado seeks to track medical patients:
http://medicalcannabisinstitute.com/recent-news/colorado-seeks-to-track-medical-marijuana-patients/
That petition is horrible. It doesn’t even agree with itself. What kind of six year-old wrote that?
Would I be able to find a transcript of the debate somewhere? I have no sound.
Someone (I don’t remember who) said insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. The U.S. Gov’t’s drug policy is insanity at its finest.
The article that was mentioned on Amsterdam from the Washington Post was stating the problem is not the drug and the coffee shops but the criminal that surround the environment because of it illegal status. Make it legal and no more criminal…problem solved.
i watched it and to be honest i cringed every single time a call was made, after the first few questions, where each opponent got an uninterrupted chance to argue their case i think st. pierre and prop 19 looked very good…after that it became a travesty
it honestly seemed like somebody intentionally screened all the calls for the most burnt out, paranoid, delusional morons in the bunch!!! every single caller was pro marijuana and 9 out of 10 questions were directed at hutchinson, the dea agent, and they weren’t even questions but wild accusations, barely legible amongst the babbling, stuttering, and stammering. frankly, i have a lot more respect for the man than i did previously for his restraint in not calling the callers out for the fools that they at the very least sounded like.
st. pierre had science, statistics, common sense, the backing of the majority of the public plus a good deal of charisma but i think from an undecided voters standpoint it was a draw at best.
had all the questions been directed by the host and each side given time to speak i think it could have been extremely educational and helpful to the movement but having asa hutchinson politely brush off a mob of moronic stoners (3 of which had to be cut off after going off on a tangent/rant!)for an hour while allen st. pierre sat silent off camera didn’t help us at all!
Regarding obviously ” Bribed ” drug Czar’s statement ….” Our opposition to legalizing marijuana is grounded not in ideology but in facts and experience ” .
Facts & experience in what ? Lies ?
I just wish that Allen St. Pierre had more educated callers to help direct the debate more in his favor! I personally couldn’t stand listening to them any longer.
Pierre held it down.
@ JDuganz: You said everything I have been thinking in my head but not sure how to put down into logical wording… Thank you for being so intelligent & aware. -Michelle, Seattle WA
I watched C-Span as long as I could, until the “professional smuggler” called in, and then I bailed.
Here’s the way the FED works folks. They (the DEA, etc.) can ONLY send a retired agent (open shirt, no tie allowed) to “debate” on a public forum for one reason, and that is to “sit-in” for the FED as a devil’s advocate FOR Prop. 19. The DEA is FOR Prop. 19, but the retired DEA agent is NOT allowed to comment on anything EXCEPT the Federal position on Pot that was current during his administration. Period.
Having the retired DEA agent debate NORML is ONLY way the FED can “sell the idea of legalizing pot” to a scared mom and pop who are “sitting on the fence” about this issue, while they’re sitting at home over in Burnt Stump, USA.
The federal government has to “act the part” of the un-informed buffoon on T.V. and make comments that force NORML to explain their opinions on pot (for mom and pop’s Pot education benefit) and in doing so, the public can then make up their own mind. If enough negative-minds get re-opinionated in mass by education on T.V., and California legalizes pot; then the other 13 states will start feeling left out and begin petitioning their states for legalization.
And that my friends and voters is how alcohol got repealed and Pot will too.
You can’t expect the FED to wake up one day and legalize pot. It has to come from the public’s opinion.
Simple as that. Have more debates and always tell the truth. That’s all the FED expects, but they have to appear as though they are against you.
Get it?
We voted absentee last week at home in our pajamas. Yes on 19.
Warren Osborn, that was Albert Einstein. 🙂
Perhaps we can accept the continuation of keeping the public possession and illegal sale as a civil offense, but if and only if, and we insist only if, the part of the intrusive drug tests, which target the users of marihuana, also be made illegal. It is now a known fact that marihuana does have medical properties, and the minority who see this as necessary medication, do have the right to have their health history and status to be a private matter beyond the scope of employers right to intrude into human privacy, and to protect the few, we have established constituional rights, which the Supreme Court of theUS has distorted to exclude marihuana users, on account of such personnas such as the evil Richard Nixon, i.e., who had some hand in making new laws to target the users of marijuana since war protests also included marihauan usage as an expression of civil disobedience and rebellion against an oppressive governemtn who drafted our loved ones to send awy to die in some cases. This created intense bitterness in some that still exists.
For many the issue is invasionof privacy and viloation of our fundamental human rights and right to choose our form of stress relief and relaxtion in own home.
Private users frown upon public drunkeness as well as public irresponsible use. WWe can compromise, but it does not seem the prohibitionist have compromise in their vocabulary. Instead they use zero tolerance and relentless attempts at law enforcement of an unenforceable law. It is well known that marihuana prohibition is a major source of funding support for many law enforcement outfits, since we can see from the numebr of marihauan arrests each year, which simply shold not be that numerous. Such an observation confirms the factt hat marihuana legistlation is in massive need of reform.
In cash strapped cities, the legal sale can produce much needed revenue as well as provide a boost to the entertainment industry. Naturally alcohol will object to such an intrusion to its monopoly on public evening entertainent drink and dining menu.
To some this is plain common sense, but in an opinionated society where facts seem to be unimportant. there is consideerable resistance from those who have an innate desire to control the lives of others.
We could go on forever about this, and it seems that the oppositon would love to oppress otheres forever as well. Hence we have a completely unnecessary conflict between “reasonable men, whch needs to be resolved in a reasonable and mutual acceptable manner.
Lazarus Cain
just so you know the link does not work all it says is.
THIS VIDEO IS NOT AVAILABLE TO VIEW OR PURCHASE.
bummer as I am a big fan of norml and their efforts Good job guys keep up the good work 🙂
btw i’m thinking Botany is a great career choice for the developing hemp industry.
[Paul Armentano responds; The debate is archived on youtube in three parts:
California’s OFFICIAL BALLOT reads ;
MEASURES SUBMITTED TO THE VOTERS
STATE
PROPOSITION ,
19
LEGALIZES MARIJUANA UNDER CALIFORNIA BUT NOT FEDERAL LAW . PERMITS LOCAL GOVERNMEMENTS TO REGULATE AND TAX COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION , DISTRIBUTION , AND SALE OF MARIJUANA . INITIATIVE STATUTE . Allows people 21 years old or older to possess , cultivate or transport marijuana for personel use . Fiscal impact : Depending on federal , state and local government actions , potential increased tax and fee revenues in the hundreds of millions of dollars annually and potential correctional savings of several tens of millions of dollars annually .
Seems to favor our side with facts & not fiction , lies or fallacy .
” and I just voted ” .
I tried to watch the debate, and it said that it was not available to purchase or view.
Meanwhile back in California ……
Recreational Marijuana Ordinance Proposed For Humboldt County Marijuana farmers
[Press release.]
Graduated Fees Will Encourage Small Farmers and Boost County Income
The Humboldt Medical Marijuana Advisory Panel (HuMMAP) is proposing commercial cannabis regulations today to the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors. HuMMAP Chair Syreeta Lux says that “This proposal is designed to stabilize our county’s rural economies with a tax policy that encourages families to stay on their land, while increasing county tax yields. Recognizing that a greater number of small farmers contributes more to our county’s economy and culture than fewer large growers can, our proposal also reduces crime and police concerns.”
HuMMAP proposes that county licensing fees be levied based on mature plant canopy area. They suggest a yearly fee of $200 to be paid for the first 100 square feet of cultivated area per parcel, with graduated fees increasing for larger cultivation areas up to one acre, as in this table:
100 square feet, annual fee of $200
200 sq. ft. ” ” ” $500
300 $800
400 $1200
500 $1500
1000 $3500
2000 $8000
3000 $13,000
4000 $19,000
5000 $25,000
10,000 $60,000
20,000 $140,000
40,000 $300,000
HuMMAP also suggests that a plan for responsible water use accompany all permit applications, with a countywide cannabis trade association and/or Supervisorial Task Force working cooperatively to encourage compliance, and to address enforcement and evolving policy issues. Non-compliance would be punishable by civil fines.
In her statement to Humboldt Supervisors Tuesday, Lux said “As our elected officials, we ask you to pass a resolution to state officials urging them to adopt these or similar standards statewide, in support of the many small rural counties also dependent upon cannabis farming. We also urge you to work with private industry and county agencies to protect our appellation, and to brand values and practices no less than location, so that Humboldt becomes ever more synonymous with healthy and sustainable small-scale agriculture.”
In return for program compliance, growers would receive an official Humboldt-Grown tax stamp/certificate of provenance affixed to fee-paid production in various unit sizes. Growers smaller than 1000 square feet could receive a distinctive Humboldt Home-Grown certificate. HuMMAP asked that this permitting structure be put in place by March 1^st , 2011.
# # #
/The Humboldt Medical Marijuana Advisory Panel is a community-based nonpartisan policy group created to foster comprehensive approaches to legal marijuana policy, integrating health, safety, economic, and regulatory issues in Humboldt County, California and the United States. Formed by a public meeting process, HuMMAP speaks for the interests of legal marijuana growers, patients, caregivers, distributors and support services across Humboldt County. See more at http://www.HuMMAP.org/
Hell! there’s nothing to debate – we got the numbers. Let’s just push the clock to 11.02.10, and let the prohibs go shit in their hat.
why do prohibitionists keep bringing up alaska in debates as somewhere that recriminalized pot and try to leave the impression that it was a failed experiment?
allen should always rebut with “Possession of 1 ounce or less in a residence or home holds no criminal penalty” thank you very much.
Just a heads-up, the program link in the blog post is dead. It can now be viewed here: http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/id/234976
P.S. to 95
While we are on this band wagon to liberate the people from governmental stupidity and aggressive crap – just tell them to leave – nobody likes them anyway. In more clearly stated terms – “get the fuck out of my face, and take your little act down the road – Bozo.”
Kirk right on! I think if we had a longer notice we could have stacked the deck with questions directed at his agency and the main topic. I heard many responses which said we do not handle that therefore I will not answer it. So the questions have to be more direct. I think NORML should have a survey on the best questions to ask each government official opposing the legalization of marijuana.
Speaking of drug tests, how many are aware that in August 1997 the state of Georgia passed a law forcing their state legislators, that right I said state legislators, to take drug tests? The ones who voted against it refused to submit to drug tests and even took it to the supreme court. They decided drug tests are invasion of privacy and illegal in other ways too. I just don’t remember them all. Anyway, as long as they are the ones taking drug tests they are illegal but when our butts are on the line it’s ok.
Just to comment on what another person had to say and wasn’t sure where the information came from: they stated that “Someone (I don’t remember who) said insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. The U.S. Gov’t’s drug policy is insanity at its finest.”
That comment is used in from psychological handbooks in alcohol/drug/behavorial health clinical/hospital settings and in the Rooms of Narcotic Anonomyous/Alcoholics Anonomyous. Meaning that if you are an addict to a certain drug/drugs (alcohol included) you can’t keep trying the use of that drug or a different drug and get different results out of using drugs. That is the insanity of it. Once you are an addict, it lies dormant until the next time something wakes it up. Then the “beast” is unleashed again to create a cycle of usage and downward slide to rock bottom again.
I can see where the person has used the insanity part of this saying of the gov’ts illegal drug usage/distribution laws because they too have tried to keep the drugs and alcohol out of the hands of these types of persons with addictive personalities. Not just saying a user is an addict, but a seller can become an addict to $$$ just as a gambler. Their laws isn’t working from my experience alone, and my experience as a nurse working in an alcohol/drug/behavorial health setting. That is the insanity part of those laws.
Like I stated before, if the gov’t is going to use this as a medicinal type of drug. It just can’t be thrown out on the table written like the Propeganda 19 Bill. It is going to have to be thouroughly reviewed, re-written, and then thrown out there for the American people to vote on. The right stipulations put into the bill.
Farmed in the United States, somehow guarded in these farms to prevent underaged persons entering these farms to steal from the plants and farmer (that would boost the farmers and workers to farm/guard it), harvested (more jobs but seasonal), taxed, and sold like ciggerettes to a certain age group (puts money in the gov’ts economy). Then that’s where the fines and jailing comes in on the stores that sell it without carding the buyer, and if someone is buying for the underaged and caught then properly fined, jailed, and probated from the stipulations that is set on the law. I don’t see where one or two plants at home couldn’t be stipulated also in the bill, again as long as it is stipulated and not allowed to get out of controll. Which we already have the police and military helocopters that patrol to make sure this is not happening already.
PLease Get Out The Vote.
Please work hard the next few days so the rest of the country can follow your lead.
Please California get the truth out.
The whole World is watching.
Vote, you’ll feel better once you do.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
November 3, 2010
Congratulations! Prop. 19 passed. So, now that MJ is legal, please know that Asa Hutchinson, and the DEA and Pres. Obama, all the senators, and all of the congressmen and congresswomen WANT YO LEGALIZE MJ.
Every single one of them – Republicans, Democrats, Independents, everybody in the United States and Mexico wants MJ legalized.
But, again, the FED cannot legalize it (in public).
The FED has to prop-up old Asa in his sport shirt, sitting in front of the cameras like a blown up balloon repeating OLD (2007) opinions of the FED, because that’s DEA federal policy:
NO NEW-NEWS ON MJ from the FED, until the next head of the DEA has settled in. The new head of the DEA is a woman! Cool!
Yes, by all means, do keep a log of our next NORML questions when the MJ issue goes BEFORE the Congress and Senate, meeting in May 2011 for hearings on the medical benefits to science of Marijuana.
(What in the heck does Marijuana mean anyway? Who named it that? J. Edgar Hoover).
Let’s find a new name and put Hoover’s name down.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Now that it’s November 3, lets review the DEA as an organization that we as citizens pay for.
First off, we have Pres. Obama to thank, who every American owes a debt of gratitude to. He’s been stuck with overseeing a couple wars back-to-back and hee’s the ONLY president that can “Tear down that wall of MJ bad-will”. Only a Democrat or Independent can do that.
Believe us, my Republican Party, we will not allow our party to support MJ or Abortion, for one reason only, the FED does not want to end-up paying for weed or abortions. The church has nothing to do with it. It’s about the money spending by the FED and my Republicans will not stand for it. That’s why were republicans. Get it now? 🙂
We few, here in North County, are the lead contacts for the Republican party in San Diego, California. We oversee (R) Brian Bilbray and advise him on what and what not to say about MJ and his instructions are now just to keep quiet and deal with immigration, which he happily accepted.
Brian Bilbray’s office informed me that the West Coast chapter of the Republican party is willing to abstain from negative responses to MJ, AS LONG AS NORML CAN CONTINUE ON THE SAME COURSE OF TRUTH ABOUT MJ. AND NOT GET INTO NAME CALLING.
THE REPUBLICAN ADVISE FOR NATIONAL MJ LEGALIZATION IS TO: “Stay on the same course we’re on now.”
The “winking republicans” of my political party (my brother in law was the energy czar for Grey Davis (through Edison Electric, L.A.), and he’s providing a CINDUIT of information from the Orange County Conservative Republican Party.
The OCCRP thinks Allen St. Pierre is presenting a calm analytic objective view to MJ, by letting the viewers make up their own minds (pretty much like you see on T.V. right now……. no commercial’s, just the facts).
NORML will pay money to run ads, once the Prohibbies launch the first T.V. salvo. NORML is ready, and their powder dry.
Nothing happens unless you make it happen! The great thing about that is – we can make anything happen. That means – you gotta vote.
I had to laugh at Hutchinson’s characterization of Amsterdam. When he mentioned that he went to the “distict” to see the coffeeshops, I can only guess that he meant the Red Light District and the City Center, as there are probably more coffeeshops concentrated in those areas than other districts. Was Mr. Hutchinson also looking at the girls in the windows during his “exploration”?
In truth, the coffeeshops are located in nearly every area of Amsterdam. Some of them are pretty “heavy” looking, but some look like quaint little book shops or real “coffee” shops. Some of them are quite antiseptic-looking–you wouldn’t know you were in an MJ shop but for the smell of the MJ.
Then he says someone came up to him and offered him exstasy. Yep, that’s really believable. He looks like someone who would get high.
It would have been nice if the moderator had bothered to ask Mr. St. Pierre a few more questions–the man was sitting right next to him! Seemed he was more interested in getting Hutchinson’s opinion on every question. Had I been in St. Pierre’s seat I probably would have been less polite and more sarcastic by the moderator’s lack of balance.
Tuesday Oct. 19, 2010
NOTE:
Todays report of the record MJ bust in Tijuana is A MEXICO-USA SCAM against PROP. 19.
Read the San Diego Union story. (The Union is heavily biased and now owned by a religion-backed conglomerate from the East Coast).
The news-story clearly states that “MEXICO has not announced who owned the weed.” 🙂
That’s because MEXICO and the DEA are working in concert.
Look at the bales they have on display. The different wrappings and the floor-arrangement of the bales indicate who the processor of the weed in MEXICO is.
The processors in MEXICO will get their weed back after the USA Nov. 2, 2010 elections.
These weed-bales were collected over the past few years for this October 19, 2010 election specifically.
Do you see those fellows that were captured and “roughed up”? Each one of those guys were paid $150,000. US to pose as lackeys.
Grow a brain. We wouldn’t smoke Mexico’s commercial rag-weed if you gave it to us. MEXICO can’t grow quality bud.
Many of those bales are owned by Flaco (not real name), a hotel owner and 35 year heroin-sniffer addict near on the mainland penn. who fronts plane loads of MJ to smugglers. Sometimes Flaco gets ripped off, sometimes not. The DEA knows all about Flaco and does nothing about it. Not in 35 years.
We will never see theses bales destroyed. Notice there was No Heroin or Cocaine or Meth bags. NOT EVEN ONE. 🙂
This weak display is what the Federal government had planned and staged for Prop. 19 and we knew it was coming.
As always, I’m open to DEA and FBI discussions about MJ and we’ll post the results right here.
The voting machines don’t have mental telepathy. They don’t know what you want unless you tell them. So! vote. Not voting is like pissin’ in the wind.
The video appears to have been taken down, is there anywhere else I can watch it?