Editorial: Time To Change Marijuana Laws
There are substantial arguments for and against legalizing the use of marijuana. Opponents of its use strongly believe that marijuana is addictive, leads to the use of hard drugs, impairs short-term memory and motor coordination, and irritates the respiratory system. Despite these objections, on balance, it’s time to seriously consider legalizing marijuana.
Proponents of the legalized use of marijuana believe the following:
Marijuana has some beneficial qualities. It relieves pain, stimulates appetite in AIDS patients, reduces nausea in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, is an antidepressant, and relieves anxiety.
Our present laws are out of date. That is because too many people wish to use marijuana and we know Prohibition didn’t work. The reason Prohibition didn’t work is because an overwhelming number of otherwise law-abiding citizens wished to drink, and government couldn’t afford to stop them. When a very significant percentage of the population wishes to do something, which is not inherently harmful to anyone else, then government is facing a losing battle.
Save the enforcement money and tax it. The economy would be strengthened if government saved the money they spend on enforcement of our marijuana laws, and taxed it just as they do alcohol. Jeff Miron, a Harvard economist, has calculated that marijuana could generate approximately $8.7 billion in national tax revenue per year if legalized. He also calculated that approximately $8 billion is spent trying to fight marijuana. Those numbers can be debated, but it is clear that state governments, and the federal government, spend billions of dollars enforcing our marijuana laws and they don’t tax it (unless they catch someone who has an unreported income). That $17 billion could be better spent on other government programs. In signing a new California law that greatly reduces penalties for people possessing small amounts of marijuana, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger stated: “In this time of drastic budget cuts, prosecutors, defense attorneys, law enforcement, and the courts cannot afford to expend limited resources prosecuting a crime that carries the same punishment as a traffic ticket.” In other words, it is too expensive to enforce the present anti-marijuana laws.
Its use is not morally wrong. The use of marijuana is no more morally wrong than the use of alcohol. Therefore, it should not be a crime. It should not even be a misdemeanor. Each year approximately 750,000 Americans are arrested for possession of small amounts of marijuana. The only valid reason for its criminalization is that government needs to protect people from themselves. Statistically, it is difficult to determine what percentage of the people who use marijuana need protecting because they eventually move on to hard drugs, but one generally recognized range is between 2 percent and 9 percent. That is 2 to 9 percent of new users, because present users are still there even if it isn’t legal. Assuming that this is true, part of the tax revenue raised from the legalization of marijuana could be used for the treatment of alcoholism and drug addiction.
Marijuana laws are not enforced equitably. According to Nicholas Kristof of the New York Times, blacks and Latino men are more likely than whites to be stopped and searched, and when drugs are found, they are prosecuted. He claims that in Los Angeles black men are arrested for marijuana possession seven times more frequently than whites. It is doubtful that blacks use marijuana seven times as much as whites.
Our present marijuana laws empower gangs and violence. The wars in Mexico are an example. Of course, these drug wars also deal with hard drugs, but eliminating marijuana from the illegal drug trade would make these wars less worthwhile. There is no sense encouraging drug cartels or violence.
The time has come to treat marijuana like alcohol, tax it like alcohol, and sell it either in state-controlled stores or in private stores, like liquor or drug stores. Control of our marijuana laws should be returned to the states with the federal government having a limited role, as it does now, with alcohol.
Some states or towns may continue to make marijuana illegal or control it through zoning laws. That would be up to them. But changing the law would not be difficult since government could simply add marijuana to its alcohol statutes and regulations. Once this is accomplished, the states and the federal government could tax it as they see fit. Let’s not kid ourselves. Government has lost this argument as they did with the Volstead Act. It’s time to learn our lesson.
*Commentaries appearing above are produced by the Editorial Board of the Connecticut Law Tribune. The opinions are voted on and passed by at least one third of the members of the board. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of every member of the board, nor of the newspaper
The arguments remain the same, but the voices who shout them grow stronger in volume and number every day. Keep up the pressure, and the wall will fall.
Marijuana is a plant, not a crime!
Finally. There is not another minute to waste. lets get it legalized and lets stat growing hemp all over this country. Hemp can and will empower rural America like no other product has ever done. For the first time in 100 years American citizens can be back in charge of their own destiny.Wont it be wonderful to once again have a crop we can make a living from and not be at the mercy of the corporations in this country. Fianlly, we can breath again.
I was ALWAYS able to buy marijuana as a child growing up in California. Alcohol, however, was a REAL problem to try and buy. We had to find someone willing to go and “score” it for us from a liquor store. I don’t understand why we’re still having this debate. To keep this drug out of the hands of children we MUST regulate/control the distribution of it.
Here in SC it is punishable on first offense by a $500 fine and 1 year in jail. It costs the taxpayers of this state $38.06 a day to house a person in prison. Yet Alcohol is so prevalent here it is disgusting. The tax base generated would offset the expense of retiring “baby boomers” who will deplete the social security fund before I am able to retire. Raising the retirement age to 69 is ludicrous. The legislators who intend to remain this conservative on this issue need to be asked if they consume alcohol and if so is there some in your refrigerator? Is there a bottle in your desk drawer in your office? It means that you consume drugs also Alcohol is a drug and an addictive one. Every time your children open the refrigerator for something to drink do they have to reach past or around your beer or wine? America needs the money because of the lack of oversight by certain people and committees.
Public support of marijuana prohibition is based on ignorance, misinformation and bigotry. The more the public learns the truth, the sooner change will come.
ive been thinking… since its looking like a big uphill battle for legalization, why not try and get some voter initiatives in for decriminalizing personal grows? it could be sold as dealing a financial blow to crime.
Check out this guy’s comments in Florida:
“…Studies have shown that long-term marijuana use may shrink parts of the brain and have lasting impacts on mental health. And despite efforts to pooh-pooh its reputation as a gateway drug, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reports…(http://www.mapinc.org/newsnorml/v11/n031/a01.html)”???? yadayadayada…. He needs to catch up on stuff, doesn’t he? I haven’t had a seizure in 3 months now after having them every other week!!! I think ‘something’ helped my brain, and it hasn’t been the drugs that doctors prescribed me for the last 15 years…
/snip
There are substantial arguments for and against legalizing the use of marijuana. Opponents of its use strongly believe that marijuana is addictive, leads to the use of hard drugs, impairs short-term memory and motor coordination, and irritates the respiratory system. Despite these objections, on balance, it’s time to seriously consider legalizing marijuana.
/snip
Actually, there are no scientifically credible substantial arguments against legalizing the use of marijuana. This has been debunked twice in government funded scientific studies: once in 1939 with the La Guardia Commission Report, and agin in 1971 with the Shafer Commission Report. Both reports are, with a minimal effort, still available on-line.
The only connection between marijuana use and the use of harder drugs can be directly connected to their being made illegal, and hence available from the some of the same “vendors”. These vendors do not “card” for age eligibility thresholds, nor for any proper prescription — only “cash & carry”. But there is anecdotal evidence (and a few scientific studies) that would tend to indicate that marijuana can be utilized as a gateway away from harder drugs.
Problems with short-term memory loss and motor coordination appear to be the exception, rather than the rule. Many, many currently legal prescription drugs from Big Pharma have far worse side effects that rate little more than a warning label.
The argument that marijuana “irritates the respiratory system” is contrary to evidence that smoking marijuana is an effective treatment for asthma. Additionally, correlation of science data would indicate that (1) smoking marijuana by itself, or (2) smoking marijuana & tobacco produces a lower incidence of lung & respiratory diseases like cancer, than (3) smoking of tobacco by itself. The results far exceed the margin of error in the size of the sampled data in confirmation of these results.
The Federal government’s longstanding prohibition and persecution of marijuana is not (has never been) based upon scientific or medical data. If it were, the propagandistic “reefer madness” meme would not be regurgitated regularly and repeatedly even to this day. And marijuana, more properly called cannabis, would not be a Schedule 1 designated drug, let alone be classified as a narcotic.
Very logical and well laid-out. If only logic had some power to change the minds of those supporting Prohibition this would be a wonderful editorial.
I suppose though, if repeating a lie often enough will cause people to believe it, repeating the truth often enough may have the same effect. Would be nice….
GOD BLESS YOU Allen St. Pierre
I am trying to restart the CT state chapter of Norml. If you are a CT resident contact me at the unofficial address nutmeggers4norml@gmail.com we are organizing through out the year in Hartford to assure the success of these critical bills to the movement.
Steve
The War On Drugs has ended
The War On Drugs is too expensive
Another failed experiment
Let us grow our cannabis gardens
I think this is a Major step forward. Our professional Police Officers have much bigger fish to fry, and enforcing Marijuana Laws that doesn’t make sense is a waste of their time, Our tax Dollars, and criminalize other wise law abiding people. The reason for all the Violence is the criminalizing of this drug and if you take away the profit motive, it will disolve the violence significantly. There are standards being worked on by Colorado about the Per Se’ DUID Laws that I believe is fair. 5 ng/ Per ml is a good start and with the Diabetes testing Equipment, it can be done with a Finger Prick and testing Strip, and the Police Officer doesn’t even have to come in contact with the sample. Quick Easy and Effective.
[Paul Armentano responds: If you reside in Connecticut, then please do your part to support SB 163:
http://www.capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=22593501
Bill To Reduce Marijuana Possession Penalties Reintroduced In Connecticut
Tell Your Lawmakers to Support SB 163
Legislation seeking to reduce marijuana possession penalties has been reintroduced in the Connecticut legislature. Senate Bill 163 amends state law so that the adult possession of up to one ounce of marijuana is reduced from a misdemeanor (punishable by one year in jail and a $1,000 fine) to an infraction, punishable by a nominal fine, no jail time, and no criminal record. This measure would similarly reduce penalties on the possession of marijuana paraphernalia.
You can read more about this proposal, and additional legislative efforts to amend Connecticut’s marijuana laws here and here.
Senate Bill 163 has been referred to the Joint Committee on the Judiciary. You may contact the Committee here. You can also urge your member of the House and Senate to support this legislation by entering your zip code below.]
What happens to those growing their own if it’s legalized? Will that become illegal? Will it be considered like making moonshine whiskey? Since there the bud is not altered in any way, unlike making alcohol, people should still be allowed to grow their own.
I’m impressed with this thoughtful article. We can only hope that it helps to open closed minds on the subject…
What a well written piece. This makes so much sense. Too bad our government doesn’t see things that way. They have to know the truth about this. I mean they must be pretty smart because they are running our country. They surely don’t still believe the lies that started 70 years ago. There has to be other reasons for keeping MJ illegal. I hate to think of what they might be.
Criminalizing “victimless” crime is the problem.
Jury nullification is one of the solutions.
http://nhjury.com/
Be sure to check us out and please spread the word.
finally connecticut is realizing this mess i fully support this decision.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. Never again can we afford to live with the narrow, provincial “outside agitator” idea. Anyone who lives inside the United States can never be considered an outsider anywhere within its bounds. […]
We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed. Frankly, I have yet to engage in a direct-action campaign that was “well timed” in the view of those who have not suffered unduly from the disease of segregation. For years now I have heard the word “Wait!” It rings in the ear of every Negro with piercing familiarity. This “Wait” has almost always meant “Never.” We must come to see, with one of our distinguished jurists, that “justice too long delayed is justice denied.” […]
You express a great deal of anxiety over our willingness to break laws. This is certainly a legitimate concern. Since we so diligently urge people to obey the Supreme Court’s decision of 1954 outlawing segregation in the public schools, at first glance it may seem rather paradoxical for us consciously to break laws. One may well ask: “How can you advocate breaking some laws and obeying others?” The answer lies in the fact that there are two types of laws: just and unjust. I would be the first to advocate obeying just laws. One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws. I would agree with St. Augustine that “an unjust law is no law at all.”
Now, what is the difference between the two? How does one determine whether a law is just or unjust? A just law is a man-made code that squares with the moral law or the law of God. An unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law. To put it in the terms of St. Thomas Aquinas: An unjust law is a human law that is not rooted in eternal law and natural law. Any law that uplifts human personality is just. Any law that degrades human personality is unjust. […]
Sometimes a law is just on its face and unjust in its application. For instance, I have been arrested on a charge of parading without a permit. Now, there is nothing wrong in having an ordinance which requires a permit for a parade. But such an ordinance becomes unjust when it is used to maintain segregation and to deny citizens the First Amendment privilege of peaceful assembly and protest.
I hope you are able to see the distinction I am trying to point out. In no sense do I advocate evading or defying the law, as would the rabid segregationist. That would lead to anarchy. One who breaks an unjust law must do so openly, lovingly, and with a willingness to accept the penalty. I submit that an individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust. and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for law.
Of course, there is nothing new about this kind of civil disobedience. It was evidenced sublimely in the refusal of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to obey the laws of Nebuchadnezzar, on the ground that a higher moral law was at stake. It was practiced superbly by the early Christians, who were willing to face hungry lions and the excruciating pain of chopping blocks rather than submit to certain unjust laws of the Roman Empire. To a degree, academic freedom is a reality today because Socrates practiced civil disobedience. In our own nation, the Boston Tea Party represented a massive act of civil disobedience.
We should never forget that everything Adolf Hitler did in Germany was “legal” and everything the Hungarian freedom fighters did in Hungary was “illegal.” It was “illegal” to aid and comfort a Jew in Hitler’s Germany. Even so, I am sure that, had I lived in Germany at the time, I would have aided and comforted my Jewish brothers. If today I lived in a Communist country where certain principles dear to the Christian faith are suppressed, I would openly advocate disobeying that country’s antireligious laws. […]
I have just received a letter from a white brother in Texas. He writes: “All Christians know that the colored people will receive equal rights eventually, but it is possible that you are in too great a religious hurry. It has taken Christianity almost two thousand years to accomplish what it has. The teachings of Christ take time to come to earth.” Such an attitude stems from a tragic misconception of time, from the strangely rational notion that there is something in the very flow of time that will inevitably cure all ills. Actually, time itself is neutral; it can be used either destructively or constructively. More and more I feel that the people of ill will have used time much more effectively than have the people of good will. We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people. Human progress never rolls in on wheels of inevitability; it comes through the tireless efforts of men willing to be co-workers with God, and without this hard work, time itself becomes an ally of the forces of social stagnation. We must use time creatively, in the knowledge that the time is always ripe to do right. Now is the time to make real the promise of democracy and transform our pending national elegy into a creative psalm of brotherhood. Now is the time to lift our national policy from the quicksand of racial injustice to the solid rock of human dignity.
Aquinas: An unjust law is a human law that is not rooted in eternal law and natural law. Any law that uplifts human personality is just. Any law that degrades human personality is unjust. […]
How many laws does this apply to today? Prohibition certainly. The tax code ? Does it not restrict the human personality , the human spirit. Grow and advancement?
Sometimes a law is just on its face and unjust in its application. For instance, I have been arrested on a charge of parading without a permit. Now, there is nothing wrong in having an ordinance which requires a permit for a parade. But such an ordinance becomes unjust when it is used to maintain segregation and to deny citizens the First Amendment privilege of peaceful assembly and protest.
Prohibition most certainly fits here also. We have been living for too many years in times where things that are not crimes are called crimes.It is time for this to end.
It is time for opperssors to ask for forgiveness from the oppressed.That can be done through just actions.
” Such an attitude stems from a tragic misconception of time, from the strangely rational notion that there is something in the very flow of time that will inevitably cure all ills. Actually, time itself is neutral; it can be used either destructively or constructively.
Time is used so well by those prohibitionists. They only stand because men of good conscience let them stand by their silence. Time is their ally, for the longer you tell a lie , the longer it will remain. Men of good conscience need only expose this lie,for it is built on a house of cards and can fall in a day, as all unjust laws should.
Wow the govenor of Conn must of watched that show on NatGeo lastnight. Hopefully others did too
Have you ever wonder why we don’t just see marijuana users only on “Intervention”. Its usually mentioned as the user started with marijuana and moved on to heavier stuff, but I’ve never seen anything just focused only on a marijuana Intervention. Have you ever wondered that. People just can’t seem to get that its not addictive and doesn’t kill anyone. Why can’t our legislators see this. I guess since the US is only 5% of the world population, we house 25% of the worlds prisoners. It just goes to show you the big business the government is making of it. Just think for youself people.
Well stated. I couldn’t agree more. I hope this is widely viewed and accepted.
“The Reformation”
Genesis I;29,30,31
CDXX Communion Revival
San Diego Colony
The key phrase in this article is – “An overwhelming number of otherwise law-abiding citizens want to use – in this case – cannabis.” Government cannot afford to stop cannabis any more than it could stop alcohol – and – it is a losing battle. The question is – how much more and longer is government going to spend on a dead horse.
The sub-key phrase is – “People need to be protected from themselves.” The only thing I have to say about that is – most likely what one is thinking right now -“I’ll protect myself” – and – if government insists on protecting me, it should give serious thought to protecting itself first. I think – We the People should be protected from government.
Last – to use cannabis in the same sentence as alcohol and tobacco is an insult – especially to our Sacrament.
PEOPLE were talking about the illegal law on pot it self, WE need to start there, make them tell the truth about why its illegal, OTHER then a LIE!! STAY focused on the point. we dont need more Cheach and Chong, they r FUNNY, but its NO help to our cause!!!!
In response to #14 and a concern to all in general. Has science found a way to measure active THC in a person’s system? As far as I know they issue DUI’s in all states based on THC metabolites, which are inactive and are not actaul evidence of intoxication. Yet, in the eyes of the law it is.
If legalization happens, then are we not just going to see cops looking for more reasons to test blood and urine in search for THC metabolites? When has a cop ever actually needed probable cause? If legalized, won’t possession be probable cause? Do you know how many times a cop has walked up to my car and said he smelled pot, and searched it when there was NO POT in my car? Most people do not have the money to hire a decent lawyer to fight bogus charges.
A person stops being impaired 2-4 hours after cannabis consumption, but currently in the eyes of the law you are impaired days, weeks, or months after consumption. In our efforts to address the injustice of prohibtion, we must not forget to get fair laws and testing in place with respect to driving after consumption. That is, by all means we SHOULD NOT drive impaired, but we must address the injustice of issued DUI’s based on THC metabolites alone. Legalization will be a much easier process if we find a practical way to measure active THC in a person’s system.
be tuff take a puff, not tobacco, i mean sum pot, we need to scare the old people out of town who try to take our smoke, cuz theyre too old to party! damn prohibitionist!they r assholes!
Message to Editor-in-Chief:
To whom it may concern:
I just finished reading the marijuana law post hosted on your website ( http://www.ctlawtribune.com/getarticle.aspx?id=39356 ) and I must congratulate your team for such a great article. If there is one thing that we can all agree on, it’s that we need to change our pot laws. Thank you for opening your hearts for those who are suffering from this tragic and preventable war.
Thank you,
Brandon – GA, USA
THANK YOU! Finally someone is speaking out in CT again. We have a Democratic Governor now…its time to put it up for vote again…the only reason it has failed (twice) in the past is because it was vetoed….sign me up!
Were getting closer and closer to marijuana becoming legal. We must continue to tear away the taboo that weed is bad and let people know the facts…..WEED IS A PLANT/MEDICINE/ANTIDEPRESANT/FUEL/ and for those who think that marijuana is bad and should stay illegal, well all I got to say is that your getting outnumbered because all of the old folk who were raised during the brainwashing reefer madness generation are dying off and a lot more of the middle age folk who grew up when weed was first used regulary and accepted by a significant number of people are now politicians.
@ Arnold 27 – The question of finding traces of cannabis components in ones system during a traffic stop is a valid and serious one. As I’m sure we all know, 4 or more hours after ingesting cannabis 99.99% of us would be perfectly safe drivers; many of us could safely drive within less than 1 hour (in my opinion). That said, the current method of testing for intoxication for anything is completely invalid. That’s because two people could have exactly the same read-outs in their alcohol or THC Metabolites levels and yet be completely different in how they are able to handle it. One could be foolish and violent and another relatively safe and sober…
Therefore, I advocate not testing for anything unless the driver first fails some standardized test which examines both their mental facility and physical abilities (for example saying the alphabet backwards or a few balancing tricks…). If the person fails, then perhaps they shouldn’t be driving regardless of what drugs (if any) they have taken.
It is stupid beyond belief to charge someone with DUI if, for example, they didn’t come to a complete stop at a stop sign, and are then found with trace amounts of cannabis components in their blood that resulted from ingesting days ago. If someone can pass the standardized test I propose, then no other tests should be done since they are not too impaired to drive.
[Paul Armentano responds: SFSTs have been demonstrated to be sensitive to those under the influence of marijuana; See:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15619106
An evaluation of the sensitivity of the Standardised Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs) to detect impairment due to marijuana intoxication
THC can be detected in blood tests and tends to have a relatively short half life in blood. Some studies have shown an elevated risk of accident associated with THC/blood levels over 5 ng/ml in whole blood. See:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17916224
Addiction. 2007 Dec;102(12):1910-7. Epub 2007 Oct 4.
Developing limits for driving under cannabis.
You are correct that carboxy THC is an inert (non-psychoactive) metabolite (byproduct). Therefore, the detection of carboxy THC in urine, regardless of quantity, is not associated with recency of drug use, driver impairment, or an elevated risk of motor accident. Since THC must be converted to carboxy THC, the presence of carboxy THC in urine establishes that marijuana’s psychoactive compound (THC) has been metabolized, indicating that the person is likely no longer under the influence of THC (unless THC is also present in the blood). NORML opposes these sort of measures, like HB 33 in Montana:
http://www.capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=22580501.%5D
@ Cat Cassie 18 – I think most of us who have been active in promoting legalization and regulation of cannabis are well aware of the reasons it is still illegal. It is because of money. Very rich people/corporations want it to stay illegal because they profit greatly from it’s illegal status. It has absolutely nothing to do with it actually being dangerous – only the stupidest among them continue to believe that lie.
Apparently, too many of our elected officials have chosen to continue to ruin the lives of hundreds of thousands of good Americans so that they can live a richer life themselves (pretty cowardly in my opinion!).
Some of the very rich have invested in private prisons and need to keep them full to be profitable so they’re clearly against legalization; after all, maintaining a prison full of peaceful people is a real easy way to make more money.
Pretty disgusting isn’t it!
tommy@28: Ease up on us old folks ;). We’re not all old farts out protesting Obamacare. My weed is probably better than your weed! I always stay home after bong hits so just because you can’t see us doesn’t mean we’re not toking up! After all us old bastards make pretty good gardeners and some of us have old genetics from the 60’s. A bottle of Tylenol last me for years now (that shit is scary though)!
Great writing by Allen! Hard to argue with that logic even though I’m a little bias.
“They only stand because men of good conscience let them stand by their silence.” amen
Doesn’t anyone else find it silly that you have to have a terminal illness in order to smoke pot and relax? American is totally stressful and very little joy is to be found here. What a hopelessly fascist country this is. Too bad the rest of the world has blocked all american immigration. We’re in it for the long haul in misery here.
Thank you Unjust!!!! Well said and please don’t stop posting that everywhere & anywhere you can. It speaks volumes of truth. If folks will just learn from that well needed movement and apply it to our fight against yet another government injustice against it’s people it swore to protect earliy this month. Reading the Constitution means nothing!, it is in the Action of the people where Liberty and Freedom resides.
The gestapo do not want a drug that enlightens and pacifys. To fight there imperialist wars they need a drug that creates violence and dulls the mind.Enter alcohol and speed[used by military to stay alert on some missions.]
We the people, who believe so strongly on the legalization of all the marijuana laws across our great land, need to continue to move forward together in force to update and change these laws. Power is in the numbers. What can I do to help?
Well, when are the federal legislators going to craft the legislation? What are they waiting for? It’s money you didn’t have before, plus the savings from ending prohibition and the jobs created. I keep hearing the stock market is recovering, but still ain’t seen good jobs being created, good benefits and can’t be sent out of the country.
The drug lords of the alcohol industry became rich after prohibition. Their children and grandchildren continue to be rich.
Marijuana is a plant that God put here for everyone. He didn`t intend for a few greedy assholes to get rich by controlloing it. Taxing is only giving in to the big evil greedy idiots in control of our world. You cannot tax a plant. It is immoral. We need to tax wealthy people for having too much money and power. The more money they have the higher the tax should be on them. Or we could all just get drunk, keep putting people in prison for growing a gift from god and nuke ourselves.
It`s legal to get drunk around children. Hypocrites
It`s legal to get drunk around children. Hypocrites
It`s legal to get drunk around children. Hypocrites
It`s legal to get drunk around children. Hypocrites
It`s legal to get drunk around children. Hypocrites
It`s legal to get drunk around children. Hypocrites
It`s legal to get drunk around children. Hypocrites
ANY QUESTIONS?????????????
They try to claim their protecting us from weed.So i can ride off the top of a cliff on a bicycle.But if i’ve got a joint in my pocket i’ll be arrested when i hit the ground
28 Tommy
“When you get to where you are going – you’ll be where I have gone.” Us old farts have been toking since before you were born. By the way dude – It was us old farts that won the war against the squares and paved the way for you to make such an estute observation. Keep up the spirit – we need that to win this war.
Hey, I agree with you Bud,#36. Im a product of the sixties myself. Old I may be, But I’v advocated for the freedom of pot since 73. I never belived I would have to hide for so long. I’v worked all my life paid my taxes. I’v been a soldier in three wars and still I live in a state where pot laws are harder than murder charges, I loos everything if cout, No second chance. Yet here I sit waiting for my connection to call. Wonder what great stuff I’ll get this time if any. How much longer how many more letters to my so called Reprisinitive. Please free the weed.
I have been holding this Bong Hit for forty years!I guess i can exhale.
@28 & 46 – Marijuana users and prohibitionists know no age limits! By the way, I’m 54 and have been disappointed yearly about it’s continued illegal status since my first puff; around 1972! One huge difference between the younger people and older people of this country is their access to information as they aged.
Growing up, other than my personal experiences with it (which were really fun and part of the social experience), I had two main sources of information. The first was Cheech and Chong, and the other was a prohibitionist Govt.
Now, thanks to the internet and it’s vast resources, the information available is helping change minds fast – old and young!
All you young ones should remember and respect the hippies. They were actually very brave and a great many of them did serious jail time and faced police brutality after trying to change this world in a peaceful way. You should also remember Nixon for crushing them with the DEA.
Stompedonmyrights and anyone else.
Please feel free to copy/paste that everywhere. Kings words are for everyone. If my thoughts can help end this insanity, then please, spread them.
They know elections are two years apart and keep shutting this topic up two years at a time. What no one is saying is this and it need to be brought up… If marijuana is a gateway drug it is ONLY because you have to go to a drug dealer to get it. Drug dealers sell it all… cocaine, heroin,meth etc. When you go to a drug dealer you are exposed to other drugs (especially if they are out of marijuana). This is the gateway, the drug dealer is the gateway not the marijuana. If marijuana were readily available people would not be exposed to the other drugs and would not actively seek them out.
When prohibs tell the “Big Lie” – “cannabis is a gateway drug, it’s addictive, it’s the most dangerous drug in the world, or whatever” – that bell rings in everyone’s ears. Perhaps, prohibs believe that they win by insinuation [that is] if they tell the “Big Lie” long enough – it beomes “believable.” We can look into the motives of prohibs and judge them – but – that would be much like pissing in the wind. When we argue against whatever they say – we repeat what they say – a ring, a ding, a ring a ding ding! and “their remarks” remain the headlines. Why rebute? I’m inclined to “totally disregard” their insinuations and accept Ecclesiastes III:7 [a time to shut up] – that is to say – let their words fall on deaf ears and don’t encourage their bullshit with arguement. I’m inclined to promote the truth only [totally excluding their remarks] – in other words – “If you can’t say something nice [truthful] don’t say anything at all.” Well! here’s the point – “Love and hate are the very same thing – it’s indifference that is impossible to deal with.” Let’s just be indifferent to prohibs.
Connecticut, though small, is an IMPORTANT part in this war that many don’t realize– CT is the last pure prohibitionist state in the Northeast. ONLY Connecticut has done NOTHING to reform drug laws. Changing ANYTHING in CT would be a huge win for the reform movement.
It is a shame NORML Danbury had to be disbanded. The fact that it was disbanded because of an idiot college kid strengthens my argument that constantly focusing on colleges and “hempfests” is counterproductive and, in reality, a WASTE of money & resources.
[Editor’s note: 1) People in CT have nobody but themselves to blame for being slow on the up take regarding cannabis law reforms and 2) NORML does not focus at all, let alone constantly, on hempfests and colleges.]
i would be o.k to legalize it but Monsanto would have their hand in it they already do in our food thanks to lame duck bill s510. plus they have their hands in canada’s hemp production. “monsanto “
Thomas Jefferson believed that each individual has “certain inalienable rights.” That is, these rights exist with or without government; man cannot create, take, or give them away. It is the right of “liberty” on which Jefferson is most notable for expounding. He defines it by saying “rightful liberty is unobstructed a…ction according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add ‘within the limits of the law,’ because law is often but the tyrant’s will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.
?”because law is often but the tyrant’s will” as we now have today. This Constructive Fraud of cannabis placed upon us by the government is a fine example of what Jefferson was talking about.
Comment on #48 The so called Hippies movment in the Sixties faced a tremendis up hill battle with Law enforcment, Government, and they stood firm to their beliefs in the face of major Opposition. belive they even had mohut Gandie who traveled accrossed the ocen to go to address them at wood stock. The peace movmnent was incredible. I pull my hat off to you, Sir. It set pressidence where today we can follow. Thank you
Legalize All Drugs, this will place the illegal industry with no profit
This would destroy all the ‘gang s and force our youth to participate
Let us take back our children, our countries
“The Reformation”
Genesis the Faith
1. Genesists will not be caught half asleep on the couch.
2. Genesists are not going to be next in line when they put up the “Sold Out” sign.
3. Genesists are not cattle, sheep, or donkies.
Having said that – what are Genesists?
1. Thank you for coming. We appreciate what you’ve had to say. But – we are the Faith that is going to have our Sacrament…period! It’s our religious and Constitutional right, given to us by God!
2. We are 3,141 colonies [counties] in the U.S. that collectively “mandate the repeal” of the prohibition of our Sacrament.
3. Genesists morally reject “Prior Competing Governmental Interests” in the Religious Freedom Restoration Act as unconstitutional and void.
3. We Genesists aspire to support the Faith and its Sacrament. Our free will is stronger than an “unjust and immoral law.”
We the rich hold these truths to be undeniable; that all rich people are created above all others & that our superiority is created by our God, the better God, that we derive our rights inherent & inalienable above anyone else who is not of our superior class, we will decide what the preservation of life, & liberty, & the pursuit of happiness is; that to secure our position to these ends, our token government is instituted by the corrupted rich, deriving their just powers with the force of their armies and from the consent of the rich as a whole; that whenever any person(s) shall become destructive of our way of life, it is the right of the rich to destroy, alter or to abolish any rule, law or person(s) that interfere with the rule of the rich, & to institute new definitions at will and without notice, laying ours foundation squarely on the backs of the less inferior humans. We the rich shall organize our powers in such a form, as to keep all the lower classes confused as to what is real and at bay by uses of fear. We shall protect our own safety & happiness by force should the poor and middle class rise up and revolt due to the heavy yokes placed around their necks and the necks of their future generations.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/12088.php
Cannabis extract makes brain tumors shrink, halts growth of blood vessels. Life over Laws Always!!!!!
its good to see things turn some, how many states are participating in some sort of reform? tooo bad fla is not friggen participating . what is rick scotts feelin on this? thank you norml for your work. could you direct me to any recent updates on saliva testing for workplace. i want to keep feeding information to my companies h.r. dept. gingerly , of course. works good for both, they get straight workers and, we got our personal life back again. it sucks that their are many who consume who wont speak up in an appropriate and reasonable manner.especially now that i cannot consume i find myself speakin out without as much fear . cannabis has been good to me in 33 yrs. i damn sure miss it as it was a benefit to my life .peace to you all….
“The Reformation”
Genesis the Faith
Doctrine of the Genesist Faith.
Establishment Clause.“Without exemption (circumscription – qualification) no person(s) shall make any law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Genesists are free to profess and maintain their opinion in matters of religion, and in no wise diminish, enlarge, or effect their civil capacities. Genesists shall not suffer on account of their religious opinions, beliefs or practices; for whosoever would stand on a Genesist’s path of religious freedom [individual freedom] and rattle their sword, such act
provokes “infringement of the natural rights of mankind,” the privileges and advantages to which in common with our brethren we have a natural right.
No law can be sacred to Genesists but that of our nature. The only right is what is after our Constitution, the only wrong is what is against it. When one Genesist loses their religious [individual] freedom, each and every Genesist loses theirs. Individual freedom is the bedrock for freedom for all; for without it, when it is denied, when it is with-held, are we not a controlled mass? “There’s two ways to be fooled.” One [is], to believe what isn’t true, the othe [is], to refuse to believe what is true. Those who will sacrifice freedom for order, will receive neither. Free individuals reject, as an ardent and unforgiving congress, the transgressions of an oppressive government that strips them of their free choices, their pursuit of happiness, their rights, their freedom, and the will of their Creator.
Genesists believe in the American Creed. We believe in the United States of America, as a government of the people, by the people for the people, whose just powers are derived from “the consent of the governed,” a democracy in a republic, a sovereign nation of many sovereign states, a perfect union, one and inseparable, established upon the principles of freedom, equality, justice, and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes. Therefore, we believe it [is] “our duty to our country” to love it, to support its Constitution , to obey its laws, to respect its flag, and to “defend it against all enemies – foreign and domestic.”
“We have a Republic – and we intend to keep it.” Many of our fathers and fore-fathers [patriots all] have sacrificed their lives in defense of that humanity. And – if not for freedom – then for what? “Pray that they have not sacrificed their lives in vain?” History has proven, again and again, that we will do “anything” to be free – we will “risk it all” to be free – we will “fight and die” to be free. History is being re-written in today’s struggle to preserve our Faith, and free our Holy Sacrament from its prohibition.
Genesists believe in the Constitution. “We the People, of the United States of America,” in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of “liberty” to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish the Constitution of the United States of America.
All men and women, are by nature, free, equal, and independent, and submit to government because they find it convenient to do so, [not] because they acknowledge any divine right on the part of any one person, or group of persons. It has become painfully apparent, lacking decent respect for the Constitution, that [this] government has “lost its conscience,” and is not decent enough to rule itself, let alone its fellow citizens. Can man rule himself? Genesists are not cattle or sheep needing tending. No! we can, and we will, by the grace of God – tend ourselves.
Freedom, Independence, Liberty [definition]. These words refer to an absence of undue restrictions and a opportunity to exercise one’s rights and powers. Freedom emphasizes the opportunity given for the exercise of one’s rights, powers, desires, or the like: freedom of speech or conscience; freedom of movement. Independence implies not only lack of restrictions but also the ability to stand alone, unsustained by anything else. Independence of mind and thought promotes invention and discovery. Liberty, though most often interchanged with Freedom, is also used to imply “undue exercise of Freedom.” Under the microscope, “undue exercise of Freedom,” reveals itself as government’s arrogance by “taking the liberty – to take away our liberty.” Freedom is the exemption from external control, interference, regulation, etc. – the power to determine action without restraint – civil liberty, as opposed to subjection to an arbitrary despot government – the power to exercise choice and make decisions without constraint from within or without; autonomy, self determination. The existence of Free Will must be reconciled with God’s omniscience and goodness (in allowing man to choose badly), and with divine grace, which allegedly is necessary for any meritorious act.
Wow. . . I agree. THAT was AWESOME!!!
Amazing Grace as a registered Christian I Pray
I say it is late.
It is late, somewhere in my forgotten place
I remember I demand Justice
This and my world is so screwed up, all the chatter/ blogs cannot erase this disgrace to man, to GOD.
“The Reformantion”
Genesis the Faith
Genesists demand protection from power by a few.
It is with determination that Genesists therefore, rise to vigorously oppose, resist, and [act] to abolish the prohibition of our Holy Sacrament. We reject, with conviction, government’s incessant monopolizing political pretext and its appalling intrusion of our Faith, and demand/mandate impunity in a free and unencumbered way of life guaranteed us in the Constitution. Genesists, by the grace of God, have independence of mind and thought, and the right to move forward in a “free and unencumbered way of life in the pursuit of happiness.” Genesists do not seek to enhance our position on religious liberty, we simply consider religious liberty “sacrosanct.” Genesists recognize that the prohibition of our Holy Sacrament is unconscionable, outrageous, and corrupts the principles of our Faith, [yet] we conceive extraordinary hope that religious freedom will endure eternal. We demand protection of our divine providence. Genesists will not sacrifice our eternal salvation to a corrupt, politically influenced, invalid, unjust law. A mightier hope abolishes despair. “God’s Word [will be] the final word, and God’s Holy Sacrament [will be] the world’s salvation [rescue].”
It is by virtue of the Establishment Clause in the First Amendment of U.S. Constitution, perhaps the most glorious principle of our Constitution, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993, as well as the International Declaration of Human Rights that Genesists claim the “right to practice our Faith,” unobstructed by government’s intent to interfere; also the U.S. Supreme Courts ruling that government [must prove] that damage has been done to the greater community before any action can be taken against using sacraments in the observance of one’s Faith.
Definitions:
Religious Exercise means: 1.) any exercise of religion, whether or not compelled by, or central to a system of religious belief. 2.) any conduct protected as exercise of religion under the first amendment of the Constitution.
Free Exercise means: That portion of the first amendment to the Constitution that proscribes laws prohibiting the free exercise of religion and includes the application of that proscription under the 14th amendment to the Constitution.
Editor– you’re right, we can blame each other here in Connecticut. However, the disbanding of Norml Danbury WAS one guy’s fault. I was there when he made his idiotic actions and quite frankly that was the incident that made me turn off to the whole idea of recruiting on colleges.
I will accept that NORML doesn’t solely do the whole useless-hempfest-thing. But it’s the marijuana movement in general (which is, pardon the pun, grassroots in many areas).
HOWEVER– Connecticut people to blame are not ALL the people in Connecticut. An initiative system similar to those found in other states was proposed in 2008 and rejected because nobody ever actually explained to the public what they were actually voting on. I was one of few who voted FOR the initiative system, and my heart sank about 1/2 as low as it did last November when the vote came back negative.
Please do not mistake my bitterness in these posts as hostility. It’s merely the comments of a lifelong optimist brought to the point of complete cynicism mostly because of the “our loss is a victory” attitude many have taken post-Prop 19. In no way do I want to imply that I BLAME Norml for any of this, despite the way I may sound at times.
Regardless– my comments regarding the state of affairs in Connecticut, that we are the last bastion of pure prohibitionism in the Northeast IS true and as such, given losses in California etc, is not exactly a poor target for any and all attempts to change things.
Unfortunately, without an initiative system the best we can do is write/call representatives or vote for those who claim they will serve our interests (whether or not they do is another story). We’ll see what Malloy chooses to do.
[Editor’s note: You might take a dim view of hempfests, but they can hardly be called “useless” as they’ve been important community building tools, media events, educational outlets and sources of needed revenue for almost 40 years.]
We’ve sparred long enough with obstructionists. We’re on board, and it’s good to go. It’s all good.
Ventura, Ca. Colony of the Genesist Faith.
In my place I wonder, while all the expert legal experts argue about their fees, Cannabis is denied.
I live in such a troubled Land.
http://criminaljustice.change.org/blog/view/family_home_stormed_in_another_botched_swat_raid
Another police raid and yet another innocent family caught up in a failed war that sends heavily armed, masked and hyped up cops in search of largely nonviolent offenders. This time the raid happened in Spring Valley, New York, and left a 13-year-old child vomiting and gasping for air in an asthma attack triggered by the over-the-top and misdirected actions of police and DEA agents.
This is such an amazing entry and I love to read more of it so that I will be able to look over and have it as an inspiration for further articles to write about when it comes to updates on legalizing marijuana stuffs and it’s pros and cons too. I do hope you will get to visit our official website and let us know what you think about it.
Here is the link
http://www.nvnewswire.com/
Thanks ahead 🙂
“The Reformation”
Genesis the Faith
Genesists believe in ourselves.
The purpose of life is “duty to our spirit self and the spirit of God within our individual soul;” to live life to its fullest, to its mortal end. Genesits are self defining, and are grounded in a fervent sense of reality. The antidote to formal government’s abuse of our unalienable religious right is “the influence of private character.” One thing is clear, “a certain personal virtue is essential to freedom.” Therefore, Genesists “pledge our allegiance to religious freedom and individualism,” and should we become a traitor to the cause to which we pledge our allegiance, may our right hand wither on the arm that we raise.
Do you solemnly raise your right hand and testify, some of us laugh and some of us cry.
President Obama on Thursday called drug legalization “an entirely legitimate topic for debate,” but quickly added “I am not in favor of legalization.” my response is simply, Put Up or Shut Up Mr. President! The debate you claim is “an entirely legitimate topic for debate,” is long over due. We the People have been a……sking this Government to give us this debate and debate this issue like reasonable human beings. The government’s response has “shocked the sense of fair play,” they have openly lied and mis-informed the general public for since 1937. Mr. President we want this debate! We dare you to set this in motion and since you clearly stated, “not in favor of legalization”, you and your party should put up or shut up and defend Prohibition. We the People will bring it on, set the ground, we’ll debate who ever you send. All we ask is that it be live and transparent to the public.
A cop calls 911 after eating pot brownies. Click on the link to check out the hilarious video.
http://tinyurl.com/3k692hh