cannabisnews.com: Author Urges Pot-Lovin' Crowd To Think Author Urges Pot-Lovin' Crowd To Think Posted by CN Staff on April 29, 2004 at 18:17:52 PT By Daniel Haier - Staff Writer Source: Daily Nexus Even Eric Schlosser was surprised when the vast majority of Wednesday night's packed Campbell Hall audience raised their hands to admit having smoked marijuana. "I have to tell you, that's slightly higher than the national average," said Schlosser, author of the best-selling book Fast Food Nation.Schlosser - on a lecture tour for his new book, Reefer Madness: Sex, Drugs, and Cheap Labor in the American Black Market - said the American black markets for marijuana and illegal immigrant labor are indicative of problems posed by blind allegiance to the "free market theology" that has dominated American political culture for the past 20 years and now threatens the country's future. "The black market is interesting to me not for its sensational aspects - and sex and drugs and cheap labor are certainly sensational subjects - but I'm interested in the black market for what it says about the rest of the economy and this country," he said. "In looking at the underground, I'm really trying to understand the mainstream. In my mind it's like the yin and the yang and how the dark and the light are actually part of one thing."He said a pure free market as described by economist Adam Smith is a myth because government spending takes the place of Smith's "invisible hand," which theoretically creates prices by perfectly matching what people want to buy with what people want to produce."It's kind of like the tooth fairy and Santa Claus," Schlosser said. "There is no free market."Schlosser used the example of high marijuana usage rates - citing data showing 54 percent of college-aged students have smoked it despite its illegality - to show how the American government's promotion of a free market is hypocritical when compared to its practice of heavily subsidizing major industries through government spending."That means by definition that over half of America's young people are criminals - people who have been involved in criminal activity," Schlosser said. "This raises a question about the free market. Here's something that millions and millions of people not only want, but buy and indulge in, yet the free market doesn't allow."He said the government restricts marijuana consumption based on a moral judgment, not a scientific evaluation, since marijuana is many times less toxic than alcohol. He also said during the night's Q&A period that he would rather have his kids smoke pot than have them take shots of hard alcohol."There is no known fatal dose of marijuana. Nobody has ever died of a marijuana overdose, although I know some people who have tried, and I also know some people who have been convinced that they were about to die," Schlosser said to a laughing audience. "Scientists have estimated you would have to smoke 100 pounds [of marijuana] a minute for 15 minutes [to take a fatal dose], so it just can't be done."In addition to manipulating the marijuana market through prohibition, Schlosser also said the American government heavily subsidized the Internet and the railroad, automobile and airline industries in their infancies, contrary to a free market doctrine."When you start looking closely, the government is intervening in the economy every single day, and I think that's good," Schlosser said. "I think there are ways the government could intervene by building roads, subsidizing high-tech - that's very good for this economy, but if it is going to intervene on behalf of these industries, it can also intervene on behalf of the poorest, weakest people in this society."The weakest people in American society, Schlosser said, are the illegal immigrant field workers, who are exploited throughout the country."It's in California, where we are right now, that a labor model of exploiting illegal immigrants and recent immigrants was perfected in ... agriculture," Schlosser said. "If left to its own devices, the free market always seeks a workforce that is hungry, desperate and cheap - a workforce that is anything but free."Schlosser said he is not trying to tell people what to think."I have kids and I've seen very early on that telling people what to think just does not work," he said. "What I'm trying to do as a writer is to make people think."Several members of the audience who lined up to have Schlosser sign copies of his book said they enjoyed the presentation and agreed with his arguments."I liked the way he presented his information ... very objectively," said Alex Melelian, 20, a second-year political science major. "He wasn't trying to preach a platform."David Pricco, a 19-year-old Santa Barbara City College student, asked Schlosser one of about a dozen questions the author fielded after his lecture. Pricco said he enjoyed the lecture but was skeptical of some of Schlosser's reasoning."It was really enjoyable," he said. "I felt he was kind of like Michael Moore. He used some flawed logic about the rest of the world [prohibiting marijuana] because the U.S. is telling them to. Countries in the Middle East aren't doing it because we're telling them to. But he made a lot of good points."Note: Social Critic Analyzes Economies of Black Market in United States.Source: Daily Nexus (CA Edu)Author: Daniel Haier - Staff WriterPublished: Thursday, April 29, 2004 Copyright: 2004 Daily NexusContact: opinion dailynexus.comWebsite: http://www.dailynexus.com/Related Articles:Make Peace With Pothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18731.shtmlThe Last Word: Eric Schlosser http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16485.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #15 posted by Jose Melendez on April 30, 2004 at 16:51:50 PT coral reefer madness YES! [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by FoM on April 30, 2004 at 16:03:41 PT Thanks afterburner I don't think we get that program down here. Heck we probably miss a lot of good tv. I get one BBC channel but I don't know what is on it. The last show I watched was Absolutely Fabulous and it cracked me up! LOL! [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by afterburner on April 30, 2004 at 15:52:35 PT In Case You Haven't Met the Trailer Park Boys Yet Prince of Pot: Trailer Park Boys Prince of Pot with Pot-TV Running Time: 6 min Date Entered: 27 Jan 2003 'Ricky, Julian and Bubbles from the Trailer Park Boys travelled across the country looking to score some "dope". They found the Golden Pot at the end of the rainbow when they walked into the BC Marijuana Party Headquarters and met the Prince of Pot!' The Trailer Park Boys Are Coming...on BBC America http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/18/thread18615.shtml#4They're kind of like Cheech & Chong meets the Three Stooges: good for a laugh, but not exactly role models. [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by Dark Star on April 30, 2004 at 14:26:29 PT Jose So, does that make you a "Coral Reefer?" [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by Jose Melendez on April 30, 2004 at 13:21:41 PT grok this, fellow Earthlings: Let's just ditch the Empire part.I'm a dual citizen: American and Conch Republic:" established by secession of the Florida Keys from the United States of America, on April 23rd, 1982 in response to a United States Border Patrol Blockade setup on highway U.S.1 at Florida City just to the north of the Florida Keys. This heinous act effectively isolated Keys Citizens from the U.S. mainland . . . " http://www.conchrepublic.com/history.htm [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by FoM on April 30, 2004 at 12:48:51 PT goneposthole How prophetic your words seem to be...You said: Aren't the waning days of the American Empire fun?I say: These days aren't fun and I know you were kidding but I agree we are in serious trouble. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by goneposthole on April 30, 2004 at 12:42:09 PT speaking power to truth: apply power Roman General Sulla: Stop quoting the law, we have swords. http://www.rraymond.org/epil.htmIf the second amendment is shredded, there will be no law. Just swords.Aren't the waning days of the American Empire fun? [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by agog on April 30, 2004 at 12:02:52 PT: From Ayn Rand.... The following quote fits well here... Remember the Guvmint isn't really interested in our welfare...just our control.MAKE EVERYBODY A CRIMINAL"There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals, one MAKES them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens? What's there in that for anyone? But just pass the kind of laws that can neither be observed nor enforced nor objectively interpreted - and you create a nation of law-breakers - and then you cash in on guilt."- Government functionary Dr. Floyd Ferris in Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged"agog [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by Jose Melendez on April 30, 2004 at 08:41:28 PT Speaking truth to power: Apply the law. " . . . law enforcement officials stack it as high as they can when they burn illegally confiscated cannabis . . . "(d) Whoever transports or receives, or attempts to transport or receive, in interstate or foreign commerce any explosive with the knowledge or intent that it will be used to kill, injure, or intimidate any individual or unlawfully to damage or destroy any building, vehicle, or other real or personal property, shall be imprisoned for not more than ten years, or fined under this title, or both; and if personal injury results to any person, including any public safety officer performing duties as a direct or proximate result of conduct prohibited by this subsection, shall be imprisoned for not more than twenty years or fined under this title, or both; and if death results to any person, including any public safety officer performing duties as a direct or proximate result of conduct prohibited by this subsection, shall be subject to imprisonment for any term of years, or to the death penalty or to life imprisonment. (h) Whoever - (1) uses fire or an explosive to commit any felony which may be prosecuted in a court of the United States, or (i) Whoever maliciously damages or destroys, or attempts to damage or destroy, by means of fire or an explosive, any building, vehicle, or other real or personal property used in interstate or foreign commerce or in any activity affecting interstate or foreign commerce shall be imprisoned for not less than 5 years and not more than 20 years, fined under this title, or both; and if personal injury results to any person, including any public safety officer performing duties as a direct or proximate result of conduct prohibited by this subsection, shall be imprisoned for not less than 7 years and not more than 40 years, fined under this title, or both; and if death results to any person, including any public safety officer performing duties as a direct or proximate result of conduct prohibited by this subsection, shall also be subject to imprisonment for any term of years, or to the death penalty or to life imprisonment. (m) A person who conspires to commit an offense under subsection (h) shall be imprisoned for any term of years not exceeding 20, fined under this title, or both.(n) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person who conspires to commit any offense defined in this chapter shall be subject to the same penalties (other than the penalty of death) as the penalties prescribed for the offense the commission of which was the object of the conspiracy.(o) Whoever knowingly transfers any explosive materials, knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that such explosive materials will be used to commit a crime of violence (as defined in section 924(c)(3)) or drug trafficking crime (as defined in section 924(c)(2)) shall be subject to the same penalties as may be imposed under subsection (h) for a first conviction for the use or carrying of an explosive materialhttp://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18/844.htmlTITLE 18 > PART I > CHAPTER 113B > Sec. 2332b.Sec. 2332b. - Acts of terrorism transcending national boundaries (a) Prohibited Acts. - (1) Offenses. - Whoever, involving conduct transcending national boundaries and in a circumstance described in subsection (b) - (A) kills, kidnaps, maims, commits an assault resulting in serious bodily injury, or assaults with a dangerous weapon any person within the United States; or (B) creates a substantial risk of serious bodily injury to any other person by destroying or damaging any structure, conveyance, or other real or personal property within the United States or by attempting or conspiring to destroy or damage any structure, conveyance, or other real or personal property within the United States; in violation of the laws of any State, or the United States, shall be punished as prescribed in subsection (c). (2) Treatment of threats, attempts and conspiracies. - Whoever threatens to commit an offense under paragraph (1), or attempts or conspires to do so, shall be punished under subsection (c). (b) Jurisdictional Bases. - (1) Circumstances. - The circumstances referred to in subsection (a) are - (A) the mail or any facility of interstate or foreign commerce is used in furtherance of the offense; (B) the offense obstructs, delays, or affects interstate or foreign commerce, or would have so obstructed, delayed, or affected interstate or foreign commerce if the offense had been consummated; . . .(5) the term ''Federal crime of terrorism'' means an offense that - (A) is calculated to influence or affect the conduct of government by intimidation or coercion, or to retaliate against government conduct; and (B) is a violation of - (i) section 32 (relating to destruction of aircraft or aircraft facilities), 37 (relating to violence at international airports), 81 (relating to arson within special maritime and territorial jurisdiction), 175 or 175b (relating to biological weapons), 229 (relating to chemical weapons), subsection (a), (b), (c), or (d) of section 351 (relating to congressional, cabinet, and Supreme Court assassination and kidnaping), 831 (relating to nuclear materials), 842(m) or (n) (relating to plastic explosives), 844(f)(2) or (3) (relating to arson and bombing of Government property risking or causing death), 844(i) (relating to arson and bombing of property used in interstate commerce), http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18/2332b.htmlDrug war IS crime:" the U.S. Constitution defines treason as waging war on Americans, or providing aid and comfort to our enemies. Also, the antitrust law known as the Sherman Act clearly deems illegal any price fixing, bid rigging or collusion between persons or corporations that inflate prices of inferior products, cheat the customer, restrain trade or commerce, or any attempt "to monopolize any part of the trade or commerce among the several States, or with foreign nations." Yet news media, law enforcers and politicians alike consistently omit such relevant and material facts even as they turn a blind eye to and even promote foods, food supplements, drugs, deadly and defective drug delivery devices and alcohol products that are irrefutably associated with more than 1 million American deaths each year. According to Title 21, Chapter 22, Section 1712, on Sept. 30, 2003, the chapter and the amendments in U.S. Code that funded John Walters' agency were repealed, including the provisions in Section 1713 that authorized the secretary of state, attorney general, secretary of agriculture, secretary of defense, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy and administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to collude with multibillion-dollar conglomerate chemical manufacturers and private military contractors to develop and spray herbicides to "eliminate illicit narcotics crops," specifically coca, cannabis and opium poppy in the United States and foreign countries. "http://pipepeace.com/terror/potusHint.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by goneposthole on April 30, 2004 at 07:57:32 PT I refuse to think "Scientists have estimated you would have to smoke 100 pounds [of marijuana] a minute for 15 minutes [to take a fatal dose], so it just can't be done."So that is why law enforcement officials stack it as high as they can when they burn illegally confiscated cannabis, I see. They're actually attempting suicide. It never dawned on me until now. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by afterburner on April 30, 2004 at 07:19:07 PT Not Banned in Toronto "Million Marijuana March Billed as a peaceful celebration of cannabis and its culture, 3M will be marked in more than 200 cities worldwide this Sat., locally from noon-7 p.m. Entertainment will be provided by Two Stone Throw, Jeff G. & the Four Heads, Rhythmicru, and The Pylons, as well as DJs M7 and Offbeat, plus numerous exhibits and a hemp garment show. Parade gets underway at 2 p.m. North Queen's Park, University Ave. north of Wellesley St. W." --Toronto Star Apr. 29, 2004. 01:48 AM What's On: Events http://tinyurl.com/2gjwg [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by E_Johnson on April 30, 2004 at 01:42:49 PT Hemp march banned in Moscow http://www.moscowtimes.ru/stories/2004/04/30/003.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by RasAric on April 29, 2004 at 19:59:09 PT Well Done!! (Regarding David Pricco's comment in the last paragraph):A lot of countries in the east are beginning to clamp down on marijuana partly because of the US position as the Crusading World Bully and partly because the prohibition here is driving the so called "drug-tourism" in places like Spain and the Netherlands. Either way American Prohibition is creating adverse effects globally.If anyone doubts the influence we have on prohibition in otherwise canna-tolerant countries consider the latest excu...er, reason for banning certain cannabis in dutch coffee shops: High Potency Cannabis.Oh please! IF this were true the hash/kiff trade in europe would have caused a major uproar, because it is essentially pure trichomes. The potency arguement in the Nederlands only recently came alive after Johnny "Drug Czar" Walters had propagandized "B.C.Bud" as the crack cocaine of marijuana. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Jose Melendez on April 29, 2004 at 19:42:40 PT yes . . . THINK "We are living at a time, not the first, of collective fear - fear that is encouraged by the U.S. government and exacerbated by the media. This fear has its origins in the shocking events of September 11, which horrified and mesmerized the nation and many across the rest of the world. Over and over, we watched the planes smashing into the World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon, and we saw the buildings collapse, as the tapes were played and replayed endlessly on our television screens. A nation that had seemed impervious to attack from the outside suffered grievously at the hands of a small, determined band of fanatics who saw us as the great Satan. We were no longer invulnerable, and our vulnerability required a swift and decisive action. This sense of vulnerability and the fear it engendered quickly became the justification for so much that has been done by our government ever since, in the name of protecting us. Two wars have been fought and our constitutional protections have been slashed away at the core, all in the name of fighting terrorism. Now is the time to step back and reflect upon the political uses and abuses of fear. What can we learn from looking at other times in our own history, or in the history of other places, when fear was the order of the day?"Fear: Its Political Uses and Abuses Vice President Al Gore: Keynote address http://www.dialnsa.edu/nsou_frameset.cfm?link=special_events&sanchor=fear [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by rchandar on April 29, 2004 at 19:35:18 PT: schlosser's lecture such an assessment from a writer is very good and perhaps overdue, at least in the immediate sense. People are so blind---they lie to themselves and say they appreciate prohibition, but secretly they know it only creates bigger problems.the current government is completely ignorant and enslaved by the moral tough-talk that it "inherited" from previous generations. that means prohibition can draw upon many different moral "voices" in defense of prohibition.if we had a real voice in the mainstream press, things would be very, very different. not true, our journalists--MAP and some others excepted--are uniformly brainwashed and government-controlled in so many ways.and if MORE THAN HALF of our educated people are "criminals," wouldn't that mean that we don't have any democracy? Countless pollings & surveys have shown that Americans--a small majority--disfavor much of the Drug War. but like i said, politicians have many voices they can call upon, and that's tragic. it's also tragic that most of us listen to what they say without effecting any proactive scrutiny.--rchandar [ Post Comment ] Post Comment