cannabisnews.com: A Case for Legalization





A Case for Legalization
Posted by CN Staff on November 19, 2004 at 22:37:17 PT
By Holly Moszenberg, New Voices
Source: Orlando Sentinel
In Alaska, the gap is slowly closing between the voters for legalizing marijuana and those opposed. Wouldn't it be great if voters in all 50 states could come together and tell their government officials that they are sick and tired of all the violence and wasteful spending associated with drug crimes?Do you honestly think legalizing drugs, specifically marijuana in this case, would lead to a dramatic increase in drug use? Maybe it would slightly increase, but there are generally three types of people out there when it comes to drugs: those who are addicts, those who are occasional users and those who will never try it.
I am a member of the last type. I have never and will never put anything nasty like drugs in my body. However, I know I have easy access to them if I ever changed my mind. Knowing that, it's hard for me to justify the laws we have banning drugs. Wouldn't the government rather regulate the use of drugs, as it does so many other items?We could clean out our prisons and send those behind bars for drug crimes home to move on with their lives. Maybe some would return to the business of drug dealing, but it would not be as profitable as it was before.Here's the scenario: The United States legalizes marijuana. The government decides to put an age limit on it, as we have for cigarettes and beer. The government also dictates the packaging for it: brown-paper wrapping with no pretty pictures or alluring writing.Obviously, those interested in supplying marijuana are going to begin to increase their production. Because of increasing supply, prices would be forced down, and according to supply and demand, the quantity of marijuana demanded would increase. There is a misconception here. Who knows the true number of sellers and users of marijuana right now? Are you willing to admit you have used or do use marijuana?Again, addicts will always be around. Look at cigarette smokers and alcoholics. We may see an increase in those who occasionally use it, but if they use it after the legalization, they were probably using it before. And there will always be those of us who never put a joint in our mouth.Let us decide.Holly Moszenberg, 22, of Davenport attends Valencia Community College. Source: Orlando Sentinel (FL)Author: Holly Moszenberg, New VoicesPublished: November 20, 2004Copyright: 2004 Orlando Sentinel Contact: insight orlandosentinel.com Website: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/Realted Articles:Legalize It - The Battalion http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16640.shtmlLegalizing Marijuana Would Benefit Manyhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10106.shtml
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Comment #17 posted by John Tyler on November 21, 2004 at 10:05:40 PT
Everybody uses drugs
This is a nice article from a youngster. I must say with comments like “have never and will never put anything nasty like drugs in my body,” it appears she does not fully comprehend drugs. She has taken drugs all her life, from her baby shots, her polio vaccination, her small pox vaccination to cough syrup, aspirin, and antibiotics, etc., etc. These are all drugs. She is already a drug user. We are all drug users. This is drug-using world. It is not going to stop no matter what. We would be in sad shape without drugs. 
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Comment #16 posted by siege on November 20, 2004 at 15:25:55 PT
legalizes marijuana 
government decides to legalizes marijuana what type of ""ditch weed"" are they going to sell, To get what we nead we will have to grow it our self to get good MMJ people, or still buy it from the Black Market,, So we are still had either way.. unless we make them put the amount %% of THC on the packs or bags. and them it will be like beer or whiskey 
so low in grade that it wont be any good any way,, so they can say they have given it to the people..
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Comment #15 posted by dr slider on November 20, 2004 at 13:57:49 PT:
lombar
I also wonder if she drinks coffee or coke, takes aspirin, tylenol, or ibuprofen, treats infection with antibiotics, or consumes processed sugar. Drugs all.I guess all drugs aren't all "nasty"
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Comment #14 posted by lombar on November 20, 2004 at 13:37:41 PT
I wonder...
"I have never and will never put anything nasty like drugs in my body."I wonder if she drinks?
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Comment #13 posted by FoM on November 20, 2004 at 10:20:52 PT
About The Vote Counting
John Kerry is interested in the vote count. I'm sure many people don't get this e-mail so I thought I should post this part. Here it is.John Kerry said:Regardless of the outcome of this election, once all the votes are counted -- and they will be counted -- we will continue to challenge this administration. 
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Comment #12 posted by FoM on November 20, 2004 at 10:16:21 PT
Here's The Link To The Video
http://www.johnkerry.com/petition/everychild.php
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Comment #11 posted by FoM on November 20, 2004 at 09:58:39 PT
Just a Note
In the e-mail from Kerry was a video too. It's nice to be able to see what he is saying. The Internet is our liberator! That's all for now!Have a nice weekend everyone!
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Comment #10 posted by FoM on November 20, 2004 at 09:28:00 PT
The GCW
Last night when I got the e-mail from John Kerry it made me happy. When Al Gore lost he went away and didn't try to do anything to help us. John Kerry is a fighter. He doesn't take losing very well but he does take it gracefully. He will work to bring change. I really like John Kerry. I wonder if Bush will serve 4 years or will something surface where he could be Impeached. My goodness they tried to Impeach Clinton over his own personal moral issue and nothing much more. Bush is doing things that effect the whole world. Just my thoughts.
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Comment #9 posted by The GCW on November 20, 2004 at 09:13:11 PT
Kerry is needed to stop Bush from making things
worse.Bush is simply not goint to turn things around. He is not capable; He can only go devil.Kerry will limit the extended damage Bush will inflict if allowed to continue.Bush is not done screwing the Sons of God.Bush is not done serving the devil.Stop Him.Recount. Recount Florida and the last 4 years, stop Him.The vicious dog in Bush needs spiritual attention.
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Comment #8 posted by FoM on November 20, 2004 at 08:26:56 PT
mayan
I received an e-mail from John Kerry yesterday and in the e-mail he said that all the votes will be counted. I don't know if that was word for word but he did make that point. If I was John Kerry I wouldn't want to be president with how bad Bush's war is going. I say let Bush go down in history for what he has done to us and the world. History will show how bad he really is. They are extending the tour of some troops in Iraq that have already been there 10 months! Here comes the draft. It's just a matter of time. If I had a child around 15 to 18 years old I would be very concerned.
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Comment #7 posted by The GCW on November 20, 2004 at 07:11:21 PT
Let Us teach.
US AL: PUB LTE: Time to Rethink Drug PoliciesThank you for your recent editorial "Drug laws may need reforming." Drug policy reform, while a very controversial and complicated subject, is a critical one that merits discussion and input from the entire community. You have my sincerest thanks for opening the dialogue on your pages. Let's talk about marijuana prohibition. Your position that prison time for personal possession should perhaps be eased but not prison time for trafficking ( selling a quarter bag to your buddy ) or manufacturing ( gardening/growing your own ) is misguided, and does not address the issue of demand. As long as there are people who choose to consume pot there will always be people willing to supply it. Locking up the suppliers will only produce more suppliers while increasing the black market profit margin. It will not reduce demand, keep it out of the hands of children, ease our overburdened prison system or make us any safer. Prohibition has done the exact opposite for the last 30 years. I would also like to address the notion that responsible adult consumption of marijuana merits any type of punitive response. Why should anyone be punished for what they consume? If it is consumed willingly and without harm to others, then why make it a criminal offense? People should only be penalized when they commit acts that harm others. It's high time we regulate it, tax it and make it legal for adult use. Use the money to fund treatment for hard drug addicts, and for a real scientific-based drug prevention education program for our kids. Loretta Nall Alabama Marijuana Party 
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Comment #6 posted by The GCW on November 20, 2004 at 06:58:18 PT
Let Us learn.
US VT: U. Of Vermont Pays $15,000 To 2 StudentsPubdate: Fri, 19 Nov 2004
Source: Chronicle of Higher Education, The (US)U. OF VERMONT PAYS $15,000 TO 2 STUDENTS WHO WERE ARRESTED IN PRO-MARIJUANA RALLY The University of Vermont has agreed to pay $7,500 each to two students who were arrested at a campus rally last spring in support of legalizing marijuana. The students asserted that their First Amendment rights had been violated and that the university had pursued disciplinary action against them even after local criminal charges had been dropped. The event, known as the "420" rally , has been held at the university almost every year for nearly a decade. At 4:20 p.m. on April 20, students have gathered on a campus lawn and displayed their devotion to the cause of making marijuana legal. Past rallies have attracted more than a thousand students and have included formal speakers and discussion groups. In recent years the event became "one big party," said Gary J. Margolis, the university police chief. "There is a difference between a political rally and an all-out party with purposeful violation of the law." Cont.Webpage: http://chronicle.com/prm/daily/2004/11/2004111906n.htm
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Comment #5 posted by goneposthole on November 20, 2004 at 06:30:10 PT
the 'good' drugs
FDA approved drugs are the ones to avoid.Vioxx, Serevent, Accutane, Meridia, etc.  The 'good' drugs that manufacturers like Merck defend and consider them 'safe'. Yeah, right. "Merck withdrew Vioxx when a study it sponsored found that after 18 months of use the drug doubled the risk of heart attack or stroke."http://yourlawyer.com/practice/news.htm?story_id=8880&topic=AccutaneThese 'drug' companies probably deserve the bums rush. They're addicted to money, the worst drug of them all.Be safe and smoke your cannabis. Forget about 'FDA approved' drugs, they can kill you.
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Comment #4 posted by mayan on November 20, 2004 at 05:11:27 PT
EXPOSE OHIO!!!
At least the third parties are trying to expose the massive vote fraud that occured! Where in the hell is Kerry? He doesn't even know he won! Actually, he's just acting like he didn't win!Congratulations, You Did It! The Ohio Recount is Going Forward:
http://www.votecobb.org/Ohio Recount Must Start Now:
http://www.commondreams.org/news2004/1118-08.htmComplete US Exit Poll Data Confirms Net Suspicions:
http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0411/S00227.htmYou know it's all rigged when Kerry blames losing the election he actually won on the fake Bin Laden tape in which Osama looks years younger than he did in previous tapes and photos! Kerry Says UBL Tape Cost Him Election:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,139060,00.htmlBWAHAAHAAAHAAAAHAAAAA!!!
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Comment #3 posted by mayan on November 20, 2004 at 04:44:42 PT
Misc.
Sorry if this has been posted...Calaveras supervisors to weigh in on pot clubs:
http://www.calaverasenterprise.com/articles/2004/11/19/news/news02.txtThe U.S. has succeeded in turning Afghanistan into a narco-state! "Mission accomplished"... Afghanistan may become state built on heroin:
http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=1332502004Opium production surging in Afghanistan:
http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2004/11/18/opium041118.htmlHere's some news...the British Parliament will table it's first impeachment motion in almost 200 years!Commons motion to impeach Blair gets go-ahead: 
http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardianpolitics/story/0,,1354571,00.html
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Comment #2 posted by The GCW on November 20, 2004 at 03:54:50 PT
Drug?
The author thinks cannabis is a drug.He makes His point, but imagine His point if He could see cannabis is a plant.And His quote, "I have never and will never put anything nasty like drugs in my body," is suspect... 420NOW People thinking about cannabis prohibition ills.420NEXT People sense it is IMPORTANT to stop the cagings. 
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Comment #1 posted by Craiig on November 20, 2004 at 02:31:20 PT
superb article
i read this with one of the worst hangovers i've had for a very long time. I got into a bit of a pub brawl as well. Nothing serious, just a Peter Kay look-a-like who took some comments the wrong way and tried to slap me. He'd been drinking since noon. KIDS, DON'T DO ALCOHOL!!!
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