cannabisnews.com: The Return Of Reefer Madness The Return Of Reefer Madness Posted by CN Staff on August 02, 2004 at 10:07:53 PT By James J. O'Neill Source: Hartford Courant I had to laugh the other night as my wife and I walked our dog. We were strolling through our nearly all-white upper-middle-class suburb singing, "No, no, no, no I don't smoke it no more/I'm tired of waking up on the floor," from the "No No Song" by Ringo Starr, when what to our wondering eyes did appear but a neighbor sporting a joint in his pickup truck.Spying us, he finished his drag and quickly slid the roach into his truck's ashtray. It did not take "Dragnet's" Joe Friday to crack this case. Any American who came of age during the last 30 or 40 years knows the telltale signs, especially the slow exhalation and the croaky "hello" he gave us, followed by the smell of smoke, but not quite of the Marlboro variety.What was particularly amusing to me was that this incident occurred a day or two after I read an article stating that the federal government was planning to shift some of its anti-drug funds away from cocaine and heroin to marijuana. According to the report, over the years pot has become far more potent than what was available 20 or 30 years ago. The government is now back to claiming that grass is as addictive as hard drugs. The problem with this is threefold: Federal and state officials lost all credibility about marijuana when millions of kids smoked pot in college and did not suffer the ill effects depicted in such monumentally absurd pieces of propaganda as the 1938 flick "Reefer Madness." That particular attempt at stemming the tide of drug abuse was, in fact, great entertainment at midnight shows in college where most of the audience was high and goofing on the film. The second disconnect is that although marijuana has been lumped in the great pantheon of illegal drugs, its effects are decidedly different from such substances as PCP, crack cocaine and methamphetamines, which have all been shown to produce uncontrollable violence in people. I have yet to hear of someone who smoked pot and then ax-murdered his family. The third problem the government faces is that nobody gives a darn what it has to say on the issue of marijuana. The neighborhood pot smoker we encountered is a 50ish, married father who owns his own business and appears to be living the American dream. He knows, as do I and our contemporaries, that nothing bad is really going to happen to him physically or criminally for the casual consumption of a joint.The night after I saw my pothead neighbor, a couple of buddies and I discussed the issue. We decided that marijuana should be regulated so that folks know the strength of the dope they're smoking. We even came up with an easy way of rating the stuff. Rather than apply the confusing color-coding system used in terrorism alerts, feds should use a ranking system we are all familiar with - like gasoline. Pot could be classified as 87, 89 or 92 octane. On the low end would be 87 for people wanting to relax a little or as a precursor to a romantic liaison. An 89 would be for those who suffer insomnia or migraines. The most powerful dosage, 92, would be reserved for people suffering from painful liver cancer and the like. The eggheads in Washington would be wise to realize that a lot of honest, hard-working people in America like to get high. If it's true that this new stuff is really a danger, the government should provide consumers with truth in packaging and focus their efforts instead on the drugs that result in ax murders.James J. O'Neill was a legislative and regulations specialist for the state from 1991 to 2003. Source: Hartford Courant (CT)Author: James J. O'Neill Published: July 31, 2004Copyright: 2004 The Hartford CourantContact: letters courant.comWebsite: http://www.ctnow.com/Related Articles:Marijuana Prohibition: Who Does It Protect? http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19221.shtmlPot Ban Review is Long Overduehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19200.shtmlHigh Time To Eliminate Drug Laws?http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19118.shtmlAn End To Marijuana Prohibition http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19112.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #17 posted by FoM on August 02, 2004 at 22:31:03 PT Cannabis Enthusiast I'll give you one more time and then I'm going to have to ban you. You seem to come here to cause irritation rather then help us change the laws. I've been tolerant. [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by Cannabis Enthusiast on August 02, 2004 at 22:23:21 PT Witnessing people smoke pot in public... It is _extremely rare_ that I see someone smoke pot in public here in Minneapolis (Minnesota). I have basically only seen it happen ONCE in the 7 months that I have lived here in the midwest.A few weeks ago I saw a couple African-American gentlemen sharing a joint at the Uptown Transfer Station in the middle of the day, and there was even a lot of traffic. (yes I verified it was cannabis, as I was 15 feet from them and it was "dank" smelling smoke, and they were even talking about it) Yes, I know there is a head shop right next to the bus station, but it was still rather amazing how they just completely ignored the fact that ANYONE near them (they were a lot of people around) could have been an anti and could have called the cops. ( Edited) Anyway, I have never seen cannabis smoked in public since then. What was funny though was that an employee was mentioning at work (to a manager) that she likes to smoke pot in her free time. This was a nice older liberal type manager woman though. [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by FoM on August 02, 2004 at 16:22:16 PT global_warming and Nuevo Mexican Thank you. I really mind getting upset. I watched a show on global warming last night and that was good. I need to watch those channels ( Discovery etc.) even during the day now I suppose. [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by global_warming on August 02, 2004 at 15:39:56 PT FOM Comment #8 "I don't understand why they spend so much effort fighting marijuana. Years ago I remember them doing cocaine commercials."The US Government is faced with a problem, that so many states are giving birth to these referendums and state initiatives in support of Medical Marijuana, its like a bunch of little fires, and the Gvnmt is worried that these little fires that they are rushing to put out, might spread into a raging fire that cannot be stopped..The thing that bothers me more, is that so many professionals are willing to jeopardize their careers by supporting this current movement. While the government and its politicians scurry to enact new laws and seek new ways to gain control of this current movement.It cannot be an accident that so many doctors, lawyers, and judges are speaking up. Yet the politicians continue to insist that this relatively new social program called the "War On Drugs" is necessary.This reminds of the same rhetoric that was used by many people to justify the laws that allowed slavery to last so long in this country.I hope that these people that support the continued incarceration of human beings for using and abusing drugs will see the light soon, for this continued barbaric behavior can only further the scars that this great country must heal.-gw [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by Nuevo Mexican on August 02, 2004 at 15:38:12 PT I can't watch either! Best bet, stay away from the cathode ray! With this new Sirius music channel, I can listen to Underground Garage, Jam on Jam bands, left of center indie rock (really!) and 7 other rock stations from the 60s, and on, some Djs', no commercials, and great audio! I'm hoping to wean my news monitor status and just read news on the internet, and get my music from the dish. It seems that the only service 'news' is, in todays corporate media, is fear alerts, stock market reports, and murders, crime, and cheering for bush. I delete all my posts these days FOm, as the media has decided to go all repug, all the time. And I just get disgusted like you and other posters here.Forget subtlety, just blantant brain teasing with murder victims, tragic lives destroyed, titillation with the suffering of others, (the lookyloo syndrome, I'm guilty, anyone else notice how easy it is to succumb to our morbid curiousity?) [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by kaptinemo on August 02, 2004 at 15:23:16 PT: One possible explanation The budgetary axeman cometh.Think abouut this: what is the most easily detected illicit drug as far as smuggling is concerned? Weed. Which has drug metabolites stay in the system the longest, enabling effective testing? Weed. Which drug comprises the vast majority of arrests and incarceratons? Weed. Hence, weed is the biggest component of the DrugWar. It is the largest part of the *raison d'etre* for having it in the first place.The antis can read balance sheets. Fact: in every State where the matter has been put to the people to decide, medical cannabis wins. Fact: in every such State, sooner or later the obvious becomes plain to even the densets of the electorate: weed is not only good medicine, but SAFE medicine. Giving the lie to the antis.I hate to say this, but the antis are now descending to the lowest common denominator: stupidiity. Not on their part, however. No, they are counting on the (contemptuously assumed) stupidity of the electorate. They've lied so much in the past and not been called on it that they feel safe in committing wholesale insulting of the intelligence of the entire American people.When a third of the populace knows the truth.Truly, these are desperation tactics worthy of the old segregationists. The lies have grown so blatant and so wild-eyed and histrionic that it will require even less effort to puncture and deflate them. They've left the rhetorical solid ground' of their past blatherings and ventured into the quicksand of hysteria. One jolt of publicly adminstered humiliation could cause not only public derision but reveal them as having sqaundered billions chasing weed when much more dangerous substances flow beneath their feet. Which would lead to allegations of waste. And in these times, the public doesn't sit well with that. The budgetary executioner is waiting in the wings...As usual, I'd pity them if they weren't so dangerous. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by breeze on August 02, 2004 at 15:12:13 PT Did you know... Did you know that the US government is sponsering an ad campaign in China, deliberately- giving American tax dollars to convince chinese people to drink Jim Beam and Jack Daniels? Its not JUST $62,000- its in the MILLIONs if not BILLIONS!!!!http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-liq27.htmlhttp://www.detnews.com/2004/business/0407/27/d12-223500.htmAnd check this out if your interested in knowing whats NOT being done about heroin...http://www.worldfarming.com/p/92/281496218c98ec.html?id=WNAT8551aba85fec9420d034785deb8f683e [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by FoM on August 02, 2004 at 14:53:39 PT Just a Note I removed my one comment. I shouldn't get that upset about things. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by cloud7 on August 02, 2004 at 13:52:59 PT ... "marijuana is the most violence-causing drug in the history of mankind." It's a shame Anslinger led such a sheltered life he never came into contact with alcohol.billos - "I have not a clue what message they are trying to send anymore."Exactly, and I think what they are doing now is great. They are getting so wrapped up in their twisted lies that they really dont know what they're saying. It was always easy for kids to mock the frying pan type commercials, but now they are making it just as easy to mock every federal narc that opens his mouth. What do you mean marijuana is now as addictive as heroin, didnt you tell me in fourth grade it was addictive as heroin? Was it relatively safe then and only now is becoming such a menace that we should do something about it? What's that? You mean we've been putting people in prisons and doing something about it for the past 30 years? Maybe we should start sentencing them to life? What's that? We've already been doing that to some people and there's still a problem? How many people are dying from overdoses now that it's so potent? None?! But I dont understand, isnt it dangerous? It's not that it's dangerous, but that it's so addictive? Why is coffee legal...... [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by FoM on August 02, 2004 at 13:43:14 PT billos I don't understand why they spend so much effort fighting marijuana. Years ago I remember them doing cocaine commercials. One was a picture of a person's nose and they were trying to show how much cocaine would cost a person. They showed the nose snorting up a boom box, and finally a house. I thought it was probably close to true. Why not one cocaine commercial in these last 4 years? [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by billos on August 02, 2004 at 13:32:17 PT ?????????????????? -"The government is now back to claiming that grass is as addictive as hard drugs."- What the hell are they saying now? I don't recall the govervnment ever denying that it is addictive. Did not they stake this same claim 25 years ago or so? Did not they say that marijuana is addictive and the gateway drug to heroin and cocaine. Now it's "back to" the same claim because MJ is more potent now?I have not a clue what message they are trying to send anymore. Are they really starting to talk in circles?? [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by FoM on August 02, 2004 at 13:02:31 PT westnyc Exactly! [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by westnyc on August 02, 2004 at 12:51:44 PT Hello everyone! FOM - The news makes me upset too. At times I can't watch it and have to "tune-out." I remember a while ago, shortly after Laci Peterson disappeared, a decent and angered commentator showed a picture every second for a period of one minute of sixty black women, who have disappeared under similar circumstances without any consideration or comment from the news channels. Even local news programs where the disappearances occurred give little airtime to these missing women. It's so sad and disrespectful that we have "by the hour" updates on Lori and Laci and their cases; but, another victim who may be black, or especially poor doesn't even make it on the radar. Disgraceful!!! [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on August 02, 2004 at 11:29:18 PT Off Topic I'm sorry but the news on tv has me upset. Why are they telling about another murdered person in such detail when we need to know what's going on in the world? It's very sad about this young woman but it goes on all the time and doesn't effect anyone except the immediate family. The news needs to start paying attention to important issues and soon. Thanks for reading my rant. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by kaptinemo on August 02, 2004 at 10:53:07 PT: One problem with this article And just about everyone reading this knows it:*He knows, as do I and our contemporaries, that nothing bad is really going to happen to him physically or criminally for the casual consumption of a joint.*Lives have been ruined by the legal system for *precisely* that 'reason'...possession of a joint. For the penalties are ratcheted up mercilessly by prosecutors seeking to make a name for themselves. Or some harmless kid gets a chance for a better life ruined thanks to a possession conviction and Representative Souder's insane HEA provision excluding him from attending college.Although the overal tone of the article is laudable, that slip makes it obvious the author hasn't checked into the Gulag that we have assembled here in the US...and who's generally the unlucky inhabitants of it. Namely, people up for possession charges ratcheted to 'trafficking' because they had plastic sandwich baggies in the house. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by ron on August 02, 2004 at 10:49:57 PT It all started with ax murder I have yet to hear of someone who smoked pot and then ax-murdered his family. Victor Licata was prominent in Anslinger's demonization of cannabis. In 1935, when he was 19, Victor used an ax with extreme prjudice on five family members. Anslinger ignored the psychiatric history of the killer and claimed marijuana was responsible for Victor's binge.Testifying (under oath, I presume) before a Senate Hearing in 1937 Anslinger said, "You smoke a joint and you're likely to kill your brother." and"marijuana is the most violence-causing drug in the history of mankind." [ Post Comment ] Post Comment