cannabisnews.com: Arrests for Marijuana Use Ruins Lives Needlessly





Arrests for Marijuana Use Ruins Lives Needlessly
Posted by CN Staff on August 12, 2006 at 06:28:37 PT
By George W. Iliff, Guest Columnist 
Source: TCPalm 
Florida -- Our war on drugs literally makes me nauseous with disgust. On June 20th, 18-year-old Eli Strunk of Fort Pierce was arrested for having less than an ounce of marijuana in his car. He faces a felony conviction that will follow him for the rest of his life and a possibility of spending five years in prison. Each year, there are 700,000 marijuana arrests made in this country, mostly for possession or low level sales. As a result, hundreds of thousands of young people are sent to prison and their lives ruined. Our justice system and our police should hang their heads in shame for this injustice.
I am not alone in my views. Walter Chronkite has declared that "The war on drugs is now causing more harm than the drug abuse itself." Other sources, including many newspapers, the mayor of Chicago, the former governor of New Mexico, federal judges, police officials and even Dear Abby have expressed dismay over our war on drugs. The Wall Street Journal's editorial on March 7 stated: "Its (the war on drugs) collateral damage is fostering anti-Americanism throughout the globe, particularly in South America, and at home, it has trashed the Fourth Amendment and is filling our jails with people whose only crime is to find pleasure in ways that other people don't like." The Arizona Republic Newspaper in Phoenix did extensive research on illegal drugs and reported that "Alcohol is the most widely used and most commonly abused drug in the United States. It's detrimental impact on society is far greater than that of illegal drugs." Canada and Mexico were close to making small quantities of drugs legal but changed their minds because of intense pressure from the United States. The Netherlands has virtually no drug problem even though it has legalized drugs. Alaska has legalized the use of marijuana. Rhode Island just became the 11th state to legalize medical marijuana. And last November, Denver citizens voted to make possession of small amounts of marijuana legal. John P. Walters, our current drug czar, has said that 16 million Americans regularly use marijuana. Thus, if the horrible effects claimed for this drug were true, we should be seeing our hospitals filled with desperately ill addicts. We should be seeing thousands of highway accidents due to crazed addicts driving under the influence. We should be seeing untold amounts of violence by the pot-heads. But this is not happening. The truth is that virtually all of the government's adverse claims about marijuana are false or greatly exaggerated. Of interest, one of Dr. Peter Gott's columns stated "Marijuana is now viewed by many authorities as being a relatively minor hazard to health." Yes, there is violence associated with illegal drugs but that is simply a result of their being illegal. Our $50 billion drug appetite fuels the criminal aspects of the drug trade resulting in clashes between rival drug cartels and the dealers and the police. From our experience with prohibition, we know this would end if drugs were legalized. A long-term review of the "police blotter" in the Port St. Lucie News shows that more arrests are made for simple non-violent "drug possession" than for theft, assault, rape, murder or other violent crime. No wonder there is overcrowding in our jails. No wonder we don't have the resources to protect abused wives. No wonder we don't have the resources to investigate child abuse. No wonder we don't have the resources to keep track of sexual predators. Now for a serious question for you to ponder: If the police suddenly were able to prove marijuana use by the 16 million people referred to by Mr. Walters, would you want all of them arrested and sent to jail? Would you want Bill Clinton sent to jail because he admitted smoking pot? If not, why should Eli Strunk or any other young man be the fall guy? Iliff, a retired engineering manager and a member of MENSA, is a Port St. Lucie resident. He is author of the handbook, "The War on Drugs, or Rx for Failure." Newshawk: MayanSource: TCPalm (FL)Author: George W. Iliff, Guest Columnist Published: August 12, 2006Copyright: 2006 Scripps Treasure Coast NewspapersWebsite: http://www.tcpalm.com/Contact: Feedback tcpalm.com CannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml
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Comment #9 posted by Wayne on August 12, 2006 at 21:22:15 PT
amen George
"Each year, there are 700,000 marijuana arrests made in this country, mostly for possession or low level sales."We know this is true now, because of all the recent stories about grow-op busts. They're not even bothering going after the people who run them, they're just destroying the plants. They're focusing all of their resources on "demand reduction." So you can bet that that number will only go up, as it has every year since 1970."If the police suddenly were able to prove marijuana use by the 16 million people referred to by Mr. Walters, would you want all of them arrested and sent to jail?"Actually, Walters is way off, as usual. The number is closer to 60 million, but you can bet his answer would still be 'yes'. But what if we can't fit 'em in? 'Build more prisons, damnit!!'How embarassing it must be for politicians to have to brag that one of their country's most profitable industries is putting people in cages. 'Advanced society' my ass..
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Comment #8 posted by unkat27 on August 12, 2006 at 11:39:32 PT
Profits for the PIG (Prison Industrial Giant)
""Its (the war on drugs) collateral damage is fostering anti-Americanism throughout the globe, particularly in South America, and at home, it has trashed the Fourth Amendment and is filling our jails with people whose only crime is to find pleasure in ways that other people don't like.""Well said. "...filling our jails with people whose only crime is to find pleasure in ways that other people don't like."Good points in this article. If cannabis is so bad, why aren't all the people who use it a real social problem like drunk-drivers and violent criminals? Anyone who learns enough about the drug war knows that cannabis is it's major scapegoat and catalyst. By forcing cannabis users into the same category as heroin and crack-cocaine addicts, the drug warriors are able to add millions of otherwise harmless common people to their list of demonic enemies, thereby exaggerating the war and increasing their demand to fit the "need" as they make it sound. All this spells HUGE PROFITS for the DEA and the PIG (Prison Industrial Giant).
Mad Krow's Drug War Pages
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Comment #7 posted by FoM on August 12, 2006 at 09:28:17 PT
Off Topic: For Entertainment Purposes Only
Roel from Amsterdam is broadcasting the CSNY Freedom of Speech Tour this weekend for those who might not get to go but want to hear it. Enjoy.http://www.rustradio.org/
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Comment #6 posted by mai_bong_city on August 12, 2006 at 09:21:20 PT
yes, refreshing, this one
really excellent that's all i can say about this piece and i hope it is read by many, truth indeed.
i'm sad to see what's going on in canada afterburner. they made so many steps forward and it seems now someone wants to turn them many more back. it's the US influence and just....damn. bad governments or pols are taking such control over the will of the people and the right and good thing. sad.
i wish ca and us citizens the best in this wrong war against the peaceful. we're all in this together.
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Comment #5 posted by afterburner on August 12, 2006 at 07:36:11 PT
Up In Smoke Is Now Closed
Aug 12, 2006.Pot cafe butts out for now. The Hamilton Spectator. http://tinyurl.com/pk5vz
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Comment #4 posted by afterburner on August 12, 2006 at 07:30:29 PT
Canada Reacts to Cannabis Crackdown & Backlash
CN BC: PUB LTE: Reducing Accidents - Pot Is Not The Real Problem, Langley Advance, (11 Aug 2006) http://www.mapinc.org/newstcl/v06/n1057/a06.html?176CN BC: New Forfeiture Act 'Outrageous End Run' Around Legal Rights, Victoria Times-Colonist, (11 Aug 2006) 
http://www.mapinc.org/newstcl/v06/n1056/a08.html?176CN BC: PUB LTE: Holy Smoke Bust Is 'Out of Step', Nelson Daily News, (10 Aug 2006) 
http://www.mapinc.org/newstcl/v06/n1056/a02.html?176Why is Up In Smoke, a cannabis cafe, serving peaceful cannabis folk, demonized by the media, the politicians and the police? Meanwhile alcohol abusers and violence get the kid gloves approach. I'm tired of it, fed up, had enough.Cannabis, safer. Prohibition, based on junk science and bigotry, destructive to society!
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on August 12, 2006 at 07:16:35 PT
boballen131313 
It's good to see you. I noticed you registered a couple of times and I thought you might be having trouble posting. I'm glad you aren't.
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Comment #2 posted by boballen131313 on August 12, 2006 at 06:50:15 PT:
I am dumbfounded!
Best column for many moons! Gosh isn't the truth beautiful to behold? peace
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Comment #1 posted by potpal on August 12, 2006 at 06:48:20 PT
Well said.
Dear George,Join us. We're all disgusted with the war on some drugs. Thanks for putting it into words.[No wonder there is overcrowding in our jails. No wonder we don't have the resources to protect abused wives. No wonder we don't have the resources to investigate child abuse. No wonder we don't have the resources to keep track of sexual predators. Now for a serious question for you to ponder: If the police suddenly were able to prove marijuana use by the 16 million people referred to by Mr. Walters, would you want all of them arrested and sent to jail?]
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