cannabisnews.com: Reefer Madness ... Marijuana Controversy Remains Reefer Madness ... Marijuana Controversy Remains Posted by CN Staff on June 30, 2003 at 18:12:55 PT By Clyde Johnson, Daily Sun Columnist Source: Corsicana Daily Sun Anti-drug forces are warning that summer time is marijuana time for teenagers. Reminds me of the time I first saw the old Hollywood movie, "Reefer Madness," produced in the depression days of the '30s. Viewed in today's culture, the movie is a comedy with its exaggerated portrayals of the drug's evil effects on human behavior. But it wasn't funny to the school kids in my day. The popular "hemp plant," smoked by untold millions in America, is known by 400 or so slang equivalents such as "weed," "pot," "tea," "gage," "grass," "hash" or "joint," and many other names.Long before today's generation of "Mary Jane" smokers, the euphoria-producing marijuana cigarette was called a "reefer," and I grew up scared screwy about it. We kids were told that marijuana was "the devil's hell," and we wanted nothing to do with it. I don't recall ever seeing one."It'll make you kill someone you love," I was told. "Even your mother!"We were warned that the "reefer" was worse than bath tub gin, and we knew that was bad because poisoned bootleg liquor was always killing some of the grownups. "Prohibition" opened up an incredible criminal underworld opportunity in the "roaring '20s." Some say we have the same thing going today with drugs. Police tell me that $500 worth of cocaine can bring $100,000 on the streets. A police chief, once asked why the drug peddlers were so prevalent, replied:"It's the money, stupid!"Drugs not only make the underworld dealers rich, but confiscated cash and contraband -- including vehicles -- fatten the coffers of local government. The forfeited police seizures from drug busts are "the best things about the war on drugs," a sheriff's deputy recently remarked.Our prisons are filled with drug addicts who rob and steal to finance a habit that has become the state's burden. Half of the million prisoners in American jails are there for drug-related offenses -- mostly involving young people with marijuana -- at a cost of $20 billion a year. Countless kids are put in prison for possessing "pot." The cost in law enforcement and judiciary trial time is mind-boggling.Many authorities believe the drug war is a failure, that more effective weapons -- with education, rehabilitation and prevention programs -- are needed. A growing number believes in taxing and regulating some drugs -- marijuana in particular -- like the regulatory laws on alcohol and tobacco which take far greater tolls than narcotics. About 400,000 cigarette smokers in America die each year from use of tobacco, the most addicting of all drugs. You never hear of anyone ever dying from smoking marijuana, but its mind-altering manner is known to cause casualties in other ways.Anyway, we're told it's that time of year -- the summer time -- when the smell of pot might be more noticeable at teenage gatherings.The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that "new users" of marijuana are increasing. For example, the number of eighth graders using marijuana doubled in the decade between 1991-2001. Since the smokers don't file statistical reports with the government, or otherwise make known their pot-smoking preferences, accurate estimates are hard to come by. However, estimates for Americans range from a minimum of 5 million on up. It's probably four or five times that. Some 2 million first time users come on the scene each year, and that was "volunteer" date from national household surveys as reported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.On the other side of those favoring regulation and taxation, with emphasis on education, treatment and prevention, are those calling for more law enforcement activity and stiffer prison penalties. Crop destruction of hemp and poppy plants in South America, Mexico and Afghanistan is a favorite program of the U.S.A. war on drugs that costs taxpayers $75 billion per year.These are somewhat extremist positions between the staunch "prohibitionists" and those who would liberalize drug laws, eliminate the profits of dope-dealing, and even "decriminalize" marijuana.Recent published polls show that a majority of Americans -- 54 percent -- favor decriminalization of marijuana. Certainly that wouldn't reflect Corsicana people, where voters have consistently kept the town "dry" by outlawing beer and liquor. But laws have been passed in some areas -- California for example -- to make marijuana available for medical use.I have my own theory: Fertilize the poppy plants and marijuana fields! Spray them with plant food instead of eradicating them with herbicides. The resulting bumper crops would deflate prices, send the drug dealers into bankruptcy, clean up widespread corruption and bribery among public officials, including some police, and destroy much of the criminal drug underworld -- like we did Al Capone with repeal of prohibition in 1933.We've made some progress since the days of "Reefer Madness," but it wouldn't hurt to mobilize some fresh thought on the costly drug problem.Clyde Johnson is a Daily Sun columnist. His column appears Sundays. Complete Title: Reefer Madness ... Marijuana Controversy Remains a Burning Topic 70 Years LaterSource: Corsicana Daily Sun (TX)Author: Clyde Johnson, Daily Sun ColumnistPublished: June 29, 2003Copyright: 2003 Corsicana Daily Sun Contact: dailysun airmail.net Website: http://www.corsicanadailysun.com/CannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #4 posted by Lehder on July 01, 2003 at 05:34:07 PT summer time is planting time Summer time is marijuana time for teenagers and sexual experimentation time for their unsupervised younger siblings, but it's planting and seed scattering time for responsible adults. If marijuana becomes extinct, relegalization becomes moot!Marijuana seeds are small, brown round things loaded with wisdom. If you see some, plant them. In the woods, along the roadside, in public gardens, parks, nature trails, any place where marijuana might grow.But, please, do not throw your seeds in the lawn in front of the police station thinking that you're really gonna show those cops! Those plants will be mowed down and never impress anyone. Plant your seeds only in places where they have a chance of growing to maturity. July is a great time for planting marijuana seeds. When the plants mature in September or October they'll be too small to spot from alien helicopters. These late plantings have a much better chance of eventually enlightening someone instead of being ripped from the ground and burned in ritual sacrament to Bigotry.So carry your seeds with you all during July, Marijuana Month. Plant a few here and there as you mingle and sleaze about. People will never notice. They'll think you've stooped to pick up a penny or some chewing gum, but will never suspect you're planting revolution. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by freedom fighter on June 30, 2003 at 20:11:11 PT Interesting Corsicana Poll What is your favorite summer activity? Little League baseball or softball 22.5% Visiting a pool 4.2% Boating, fishing or swimming at a lake 26.8% Camping 12.7% Other 33.8% Total Votes: 71 Your Vote: Other I know it's tad bit off the topic, but it present me an interesting paradox box so to speak..The poll asked what is your favorite summer activity?and 33.8% answered other..Can anyone tell what the "other" may be?:)pazff [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by freedom fighter on June 30, 2003 at 20:01:38 PT Corsicana? Oh, right in Texas... "Certainly that wouldn't reflect Corsicana people, where voters have consistently kept the town "dry" by outlawing beer and liquor. But laws have been passed in some areas -- California for example -- to make marijuana available for medical use."But you can buy some beer next town and bring it back to your house. No foul! .. You won't spend a day in Jail. I do'nt suppose they would do this to someone who happens to be a med pot user from calif. visiting this town. Correct me if I am wrong?Down in Texas, they sure have strange laws.. but hey, I do have a healthy respect in their system..I do not know where exactly is Corsicana(or Corsica?), TX at. If US gov. are going hardball on med. pot why then, cannot the government go hardball on the city of Corsicana for having a law enforcing ban on beer?Glad to hear an article coming right out of this "dry" town..pazff [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by ekim on June 30, 2003 at 19:27:59 PT Dick Cowan says something simular http://www.marijuananews.com/news.php3?sid=698 [ Post Comment ] Post Comment