cannabisnews.com: Marijuana Lines Drawn





Marijuana Lines Drawn
Posted by CN Staff on September 11, 2002 at 19:29:23 PT
Commentary - The Monitor's View
Source: Christian Science Monitor 
Legalization of marijuana is on the march again, with a ballot issue in November for Nevada voters and a committee of Canada's Senate recommending pot-without-punishment in that country. The arguments for legalization are essentially the same in both settings – that it's a relatively mild drug and that laws penalizing possession clog courts and prisons.
In Canada, the senators recommend legalizing sales to people 16 and older and government licensing of dealers. Nevada's proposal would allow adults 21 and up to possess and use – in private – as much as three ounces of the drug. The state would grow the marijuana and dispense it through licensed outlets.It would be just like the regulated sale of alcoholic beverages and tobacco, say proponents. They add that marijuana is less harmful than either of those substances.But do those arguments really justify legal changes that would make another addictive drug easily available to more people at cheaper prices?Research indicates that 34 percent of Americans 12 and older already say they have tried marijuana. Legalization would doubtless expand that figure, with more children exposed to pot use by parents. Law enforcement officials worry about increased hazards on highways from people high on the drug. Longtime health effects also have to be understood and weighed.Without question, attitudes are changing about the use of this illicit drug. More people see it as a health issue, rather than just a criminal problem. Nine states allow so-called "medical marijuana" as a painkiller. A number of states have reduced penalties for possession and use of marijuana. Overseas, Britain recently "decriminalized" its use by reclassifying marijuana as a low-risk drug.But outright legalization is an unwise step beyond those measures. Making marijuana available courtesy of governments – which would reap considerable revenue through licensing and sales taxes – has a pungent odor of moral and social irresponsibility. May voters and legislators keep the line drawn against legalization.Source: Christian Science Monitor (US)Published: September 12, 2002 EditionCopyright: 2002 The Christian Science Publishing SocietyContact: oped csps.comWebsite: http://www.csmonitor.com/Related Articles:Canadian Panel Backs Legalizing Marijuana http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14010.shtmlBritain is Right To Ease Law on Pot Possessionhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13391.shtml
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Comment #15 posted by JR Bob Dobbs on September 12, 2002 at 16:49:57 PT
Super-quick LTE
Sirs,  How does the idea of ending the war on marijuana users have "a pungent odor of moral and social irresponsibility"? Does this mean that turning over the production, distribution, and sales of marijuana to criminals is socially responsible?  I'm no fan of alcohol or people who are using it - but you'll never hear me advocate a return to the speak-easy era of gangsters versus G-Men. When is the last time you heard of somebody going blind because they got a bad bottle of bourbon?
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Comment #14 posted by cltrldmg on September 12, 2002 at 09:50:28 PT
The most addictive drug - power
The evidence seems to suggest that it's the War on Drugs (actually any war on society) not cannabis that is addictive. The politicians and media started it and can't make themselves stop, the moralists are hooked to the power it gives them and the police/prison/education system is dependent.
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Comment #13 posted by monvor on September 12, 2002 at 08:58:19 PT
Oxymoron
Christian Science is an oxymoron. Science and Faith do not mix. Nor does Religion and Politics. IMO
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Comment #12 posted by gloovins on September 12, 2002 at 08:15:40 PT
im dumb
May voters and legislators draw the line finallt & vote... finally i mean ,,,, i call typos finger farts,,,gloovins gotta run
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Comment #11 posted by gloovins on September 12, 2002 at 08:09:07 PT
err it should read like this --that last paragraph
*So common sense prevailing, outright legalization is a very wise step now. Making marijuana available courtesy of governments – which would reap considerable revenue through licensing and sales taxes which could be used to fund self help programs & aid social programs – has a sweet aroma of moral and social responsibility. May voters and legislators draw the line finallt & vote for legalization once and for all -- the time has come.yea hope thats mas clear all.
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Comment #10 posted by goneposthole on September 12, 2002 at 07:00:58 PT
Cannabis is not addictive
However, Bush is hooked on attacking Iraq.If he could just get Osama, the evil-doer, then evil will be gone.Then, after that, Saddam; then evil will be conquered. Wisemen say: legalize cannabis. 
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Comment #9 posted by JR Bob Dobbs on September 12, 2002 at 06:27:58 PT
Irritable? Sure, at my government...
When I'm dry, I can stand our current fascist regime even less. As for nausea... ask Peter McWilliams.
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Comment #8 posted by kaptinemo on September 12, 2002 at 06:23:08 PT:
Time to take the CSM to the woodpile for a whuppin
But do those arguments really justify legal changes that would make another addictive drug easily available to more people at cheaper prices?OK, one more time: read the Institute of Medicine's 1999 report on the matter:http://www.nap.edu/html/marimed/ch3.htmlConclusion: A distinctive marijuana withdrawal syndrome has been identified, but it is mild and short lived. The syndrome includes restlessness, irritability, mild agitation, insomnia, sleep EEG disturbance, nausea, and cramping.Now, I don't know about you, but I've never had any of these symptoms happen to me when circumstances caused me to become 'dry'...as I have been for the last week. So I have to assume that this is purely anecdotal. Or they are taking their samples from some extremely high strung people to begin with. In any event, it is definitely not addictive, not like, say, nicotine or opiates are.So, is it actually worth it to use that argument to cage human beings and treat them like animals? Hardly.I believe that VitaminT's assessment of the mindsets of those publishing the CSM lately is bang-on target. You'd have to possess the narrow-minded, monomaniacal arrogance of the Church Lady to publish this drivel as if it were Gospel.
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Comment #7 posted by gloovins on September 12, 2002 at 06:08:37 PT
this article is okay
if they they made this paragraph:*But outright legalization is an unwise step beyond those measures. Making marijuana available courtesy of governments – which would reap considerable revenue through licensing and sales taxes – has a pungent odor of moral and social irresponsibility. May voters and legislators keep the line drawn against legalization.This:*So common sense prevailing, outright legalization is an wise step now. Making marijuana available courtesy of governments – which would reap considerable revenue through licensing and sales taxes which could be used it countless help programs & social problems – has a sweet aroma of moral and social responsibility. May voters and legislators draw the line drawn & vote for legalization once and for all -- the time has come.christiansforcannabis.com btw 
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Comment #6 posted by JR Bob Dobbs on September 12, 2002 at 05:49:25 PT
Whole lotta people behind OUR side of the line...
If there is a line drawn, I guess we know which side Shaquille O'Neil is on. Has nobody informed him of the racist nature of the WOD? Wonder if they'll ever invite Darryl Strawberry out on a narc-raid?
http://wbrz.com/stories/091102/new_moshaq.shtml
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Comment #5 posted by FoM on September 11, 2002 at 22:38:02 PT
My 2 Cents
They said: But outright legalization is an unwise step beyond those measures. Making marijuana available courtesy of governments – which would reap considerable revenue through licensing and sales taxes – has a pungent odor of moral and social irresponsibility. I understand wanting to keep the government out of it but let people grow their own and the government wouldn't have to be involved. That would work. I know this is a very simple answer but it is a solution.
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Comment #4 posted by p4me on September 11, 2002 at 22:33:00 PT
Answer me this
The arguments for legalization are essentially the same in both settings –a) that it's a relatively mild drug and that laws penalizing possession clog courts and prisons.b) that there never was a good reason to make marijuana criminal in the first place and that 65 years of lies and deception on the part of the federal government is past retirement age for such wicked laws that kill sick people and take people's homes from them because the government wants the black market to continue.c) that the issue of drug addiction and harm is warped by an insane demonization on marijuana that all but ignores the gorilla and elephant of drug problems which is T&A and obliterates reason and debate and the search for solutions to real drug problems created by truly addictive drugs.d) that the real definition of freedom needs to be addressed and the reasons for supression of thought and debate and hardcore tactics by the DEA need to be publized to inform the American people that the lives of tens of millions were somewhere between diminished and ruined so that an elite group could prosper only to want more fascism to create even more wealth for their greedy group.1,2
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Comment #3 posted by VitaminT on September 11, 2002 at 21:52:29 PT
Looks like the flame's gone out at the CSM
When I was in High School I would read the Christian Science Monitor in the library. It always seemed distinct from other papers because of their rational editorials and intelligent reporting. Now it reads like some small-town weekly with Church Lady heading up the Editorial board.What a shame.
What a sham.
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Comment #2 posted by druid on September 11, 2002 at 20:09:47 PT:
I don't understand
Why would a sin tax on cannabis have a pungent odor of moral and social irresponsibility but a sin tax on other substances not? I don't get the reasoning behind that statement at all.
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Comment #1 posted by The GCW on September 11, 2002 at 19:45:48 PT
Time for a sentance...
quote: "But do those arguments really justify legal changes that would make another addictive drug easily available to more people at cheaper prices?"Answer: Yes all the combined arguments to Re-legalize justify ending the gross policy of caging a human for using a plant.Cannabis is already easily available, and the only real change is that We stop caging Our brother for using it.Addictive? The charts, stats etc. indicate it is half as addictive as coffee. http://www.drugwarfacts.org/addictiv.htm, which also shows nicotine (legal) is more addictive than heroin. Legal booze and cigarettes are choices way more addictive than cannabis.
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