Marijuana paranoia

[rodeodance]

"Illegal drugs have condemned thousands to lives of poverty, crime, and despair. That is no reason to compound the suffering of the seriously ill."

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2004/11/30/marijuana_paranoia/

GLOBE EDITORIAL

Marijuana paranoia
November 30, 2004

SURELY THE federal government has better things to do than harass desperately ill people seeking relief under their states' medical marijuana laws. A reasoned decision by the US Supreme Court, which yesterday heard arguments involving California's therapeutic marijuana law, would help to regulate and monitor these programs rather than driving them underground.

Unfortunately, national and local antidrug campaigns have discouraged reasoned thinking about most proposals involving drugs. The government's contention that controlled medical use of marijuana would "swell the illicit drug market" is a good example. Morphine, far more dangerous than marijuana, has been prescribed by doctors for years with no corresponding surge in its availability on the street.

Eleven states from California to Montana have passed laws allowing marijuana to be prescribed for diseases including cancer, AIDS, and glaucoma. The active ingredient in marijuana has been shown to relieve symtoms caused by these diseases and their treatment by reducing nausea and vomiting and improving appetite.......

[ixion]

1. Illegal drugs have not condemed people

the people who made the drugs illegal, the government, has condemed people and thus ruined their lives, all in the name of 'helping'.

[rodeodance]

3. yes-nicely said!!

[winston61]

2. Follow the money

The war on drugs has become a major industry in the U.S. and those on the gravy train don't want it to stop. Just look at all who profit from just the ban on marijuana. You think the brewers and distillers want weed to be legal? How about the drug testing industry? The petro chemical industry will fight industrial hemp tooth and nail. There's a long history here. The prescription drug industry certainly does not want us growing our own medicine in the backyard. Easing of restrictions on pot will never come from the fed. This would amount to an admission that the dangers of pot preached by the fed has been nothing but a veil of lies. In the 1930s Fiorello La Guardia, then mayor of New York has his own study of pot done. Guess what? It was not threat to public health. Do you remember Nixon's study of pot? Dick did not like the results (again, pot harmless to public health) so he refused to release it. Let's be devil's advocate for just a minute. Let's say the pot may have some negative effects. So what? Every day people across this country and the world make responsible decisions about the use of potentially dangerous substances. If I have a bottle of liquor in my home does that mean I'm an alcoholic? If I have a packet of cigarettes in my home does that make me a nicotine addict? If I have a bottle of legally prescribed morphine in my bathroom cabinet,does that make me a hop-head? Yet we're told that pot could lead to God knows what kinds of social problems? How many people has pot killed? How much does the abuse of pot cost in medical and social monies? The Fed's own statistics tell us that hundreds of thousands die each year from the effects of tobacco and alcohol, but how many die from pot? None. You watch, our so called 'Federalist' Supreme court will come down against medical marijuana, states rights be damned. It's all about money and the denial of self-determination. Our 'leaders' are scared shitless of democracy

[teryang]

4. The whole law enforcement state power edifice

...to a very large degree depends on the "war on drugs." The amounts of money involved are huge.

[clutchcargo]

5. MARIJUANA PARANOIA

IN MOST WAYS WE ARE LOOKING AT THIS ALL WRONG MARIGUANA USE IS A VICTOMLESS CRIME LETS MAKE DRUGS LEGAL DEFINE THE DRUGS THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE AND THEN SELL THEM IN REGULATED PLACES THAT WAY WE KNOW THE STUFF IS GOOD--NO BAD STUFF---WE TAKE ALL THE MONEY OUT OF DRUGS BECAUSE THEY WOULD BE CHEAP AND ACCESSABLE THIS WOULD KILL THE DRUG DEALERS--THE STREET GANGS--EVEN THE PERSON WHO COMMITTS A CRIME TO GET A FIX---IT TAKESALL THE MONEY(PROFIT) OUT OF DRUGS WE USE ALL THE MONEY THAT WE SPEND ON ENFORCMENT AND TRYING TO STOP THE IMPORTS ON DRUG EDUCATION AND COUNCILING IN 10-15 YEARS WE WOULD HAVE A SERIOUSLY DECLINING POPULATION WHO USES--MUCH LIKE SMOKING TODAY -- PLUS WE WOULD DO AWAY WITH ONE M0RE VICTOMLESS CRIME --I COULD WRITE A THESIS ON VICTOMLESS CRIMES AND HOW MUCH MONEY AND ENERGY WE PUT INTO STOPPING PEOPLE FROM DOING THINGS WE DO NOT AGREE WITH BUT DO NOT AFFECT US WE HAVE MUCH MORE TO WORRY ABOUT CLUTCH CARGO

[winston61]

6. Another side to the drug trade

A lot of side wealth is made from the illegal drug trade. The kid peddling weed in the neighborhood hasn't got a fleet of planes to bring the shit in. The same kid does not have bankers on the payroll to launder money. The same kid has no influence with domestic and foreign law enforcement to protect those at the top of the trade. This is the reason that only small time dealers and users go to jail. Rule Number One: Follow the money.

[Gyre]

7. Hey Clutch

I'm with you 100% but you DON'T NEED TO YELL! Welcome to DU.

Gyre

[ernstbass]

8. Legalize it!!