cannabisnews.com: Common Sense on Marijuana





Common Sense on Marijuana
Posted by CN Staff on March 30, 2008 at 06:02:23 PT
By Rick Holmes, Opinion Editor
Source: Metrowest Daily News
Massachusetts -- Now that we've settled the casino thing, anybody for a joint?Marijuana decriminalization is the next hot-button social issue moving through the state Legislature. But unlike casino gambling, marijuana reform can't be stopped by House Speaker Sal DiMasi. If the Legislature doesn't enact it, voters will see it on the November ballot.
The initiative is simple. Possession of marijuana is now a criminal offense, punishable by up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $500. A single joint can get you a criminal record, a CORI file that can keep you from getting housing or a job and that makes you ineligible for a student loan.The initiative proposes reducing possession of less than an ounce of marijuana to a civil offense, punishable by a fine of up to $100. The laws concerning manufacturing or trafficking in pot wouldn't change, nor would the law against driving under the influence of marijuana. Juveniles would be fined, sentenced to perform community service and attend a drug education course.Sound radical? It isn't. Eleven states already consider possession a civil offense, including New York, Maine, Nevada and even Mississippi. In those places, lower penalties have been in place for as long as 30 years. Several studies could find no significant difference in marijuana use in those states as opposed to states with criminal penalties.Decriminalization has public support, with 72 percent of respondents in a 2002 CNN/Time Magazine poll in favor of fines, but no jail time, for marijuana possession. Over the last eight years, non-binding decriminalization proposals have won voter approval in 30 Massachusetts legislative districts - with an average "Yes" vote of 62 percent.But reefer madness persists in the dusty corners of the State House."I do not know a thing about this piece of legislation," Rep. Martin Walsh, D-Boston, told the Judiciary Committee at a hearing on the initiative earlier this month, "but it doesn't make sense. It's not good policy."Walsh isn't going to let ignorance stop him. "I intend on doing everything in my power as an elected official to fight this legislation," he said, according to a State House News Service account.That's the kind of thinking that has kept the war on drugs going since the Nixon administration. There are two types of politicians: Those who think all drugs are equally evil - except for alcohol of course, without which all life would be drained from Beacon Hill - and those who know marijuana is no big deal but are scared to death they'll be branded soft on drugs by the likes of Martin Walsh.Then there's Barney Frank, the exception to the rule. Back in the 1970s, when he was a Massachusetts state representative, Frank filed a bill that would have rescinded the criminal penalties for simple possession of marijuana.Now Frank is one of the most powerful members of the U.S. Congress. As chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, he has big issues on his plate, like the home foreclosure crisis and the regulatory lapses that brought down Bear Stearns, threatens other Wall Street giants and is plunging the nation into recession.But Frank is also filing legislation that would repeal all federal laws against the possession of small amounts of marijuana."It's time for the politicians in this one to catch up to the public," Frank told Bill Maher on the comic's late-night talk show. "The notion that you lock people up for smoking marijuana is pretty silly."Silly and costly. According to the Committee for Sensible Marijuana Policy (CSMP), the group behind the referendum effort, last year 7,500 Massachusetts residents were saddled with criminal records for possession of marijuana.But they aren't the only ones who pay for it. Harvard economist Dr. Jeffrey Miron has calculated that taxpayers spend $29.5 million a year just to arrest and process offenders caught with an ounce or less of pot.Frank told Maher he plans to name his legislation the "Make Room for Serious Criminals" bill.Frank isn't the only politician talking common sense on marijuana. In the last two legislative sessions, the House Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse has voted favorably on bills filed by Rep. Pat Jehlen, D-Somerville, on which the ballot question are based. But the bills never made it to the floor of the House. Only one vote counts in that chamber, and Speaker DiMasi isn't onboard.That's why this is headed to the ballot. CSMP has already collected more than 81,000 signatures in support of the initiative. If the Legislature fails to enact the law by May 6, the organization needs to collect 11,099 more to put it on the ballot in the fall. With help from billionaire philanthropist George Soros, CSMP should have no problem clearing that hurdle.Then the Bay State will have a lively debate, whether the politicians are comfortable with it or not. They weren't comfortable taking up gay marriage until the Supreme Judicial Court forced the issue, and most legislators did their best to avoid taking a stand on casinos.Debating marijuana will be tricky. Some media types over at the Boston Herald, in the juvenile end of the talk radio dial and among lifestyle-obsessed local TV news anchors, can't seem to talk about marijuana policy without giggling.But getting busted is no laughing matter, and this is a topic a lot of voters are familiar with. A federal agency reported a few years ago that 12 percent of metro Boston residents had smoked marijuana within the past month. Millions more have tried it sometime in their lives.They knew they were breaking the law, and they know the law didn't stop them from doing it. Come November, they'll get to help decide whether that offense is serious enough to result in a jail term or a criminal record that lasts a lifetime.Rick Holmes, opinion editor of the MetroWest Daily News, blogs at Holmes & Co. -- http://blogs.townonline.com/holmesandcoSource: Metrowest Daily News (MA)Author: Rick Holmes, Opinion EditorPublished: March 30, 2008Copyright: 2008 MetroWest Daily NewsContact: mdnletters cnc.comWebsite: http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Committee for Sensible Marijuana Policyhttp://www.sensiblemarijuanapolicy.org/Should Marijuana Be Decriminalized?http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23786.shtmlTime To Legalize Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23778.shtmlFrank Defends Proposal To Decriminalize Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23774.shtml
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Comment #7 posted by Donald B Parsons on April 01, 2008 at 04:48:57 PT:
"OUR "GOVERNMENT is KAPUT!!!(broken)
I as an AMERICAN "VOTER" am VERY concerned with ALOT of ISSUES going on in "OUR" little AMERICA and GLOBALLY.
1.) Immigration reform- KEEP OUT and CAGE the CRIMINAL elements ie:( gang members and TERRORISTS) coming across ALL borders North and South with U.S. LEAVE the HONEST WORKERS looking to better their life's alone. WE NEED THE WORKERS just ask ALL THE FARMERS who will be suffering and guess what? WE WILL SUFFER SEVERELY because "OUR" GOVERNMENT is unable to SOLVE "OUR" BIGGEST and most TROUBLING PROBLEMS we face daily.("THINK" GUEST WORKER PROGRAM)
 
ALL I SEE "MY" GOVERNMENT doing is PLAYING "GOTCHA" POLITICS. HE said this , and SHE said that and HE did this or SHE did that , I AM SO SICK OF IT ALL.
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO "COMPROMISE and BIPARTISANSHIP for "THE GOOD OF ALL MANKIND and (WOMANKIND). It's all about how Republicans can stop the Democrats Legislation and vice-versa. WHO SUFFERS? "WE THE PEOPLE" DO!!!
 
2.) STOP the DEA and ANY other agencies involved in THE UNCONSTITUTIONAL RAIDS on LEGAL , VOTER INITIATIVE DISPENSARIES. 
I am TRUELY SICK of "MY" HARD EARNED TAX DOLLARS GOING TOWARDS LEGISLATION AND PROGRAMS THAT I DISAPPROVE OF. I NO LONGER WANT MY TAX DOLLARS GOING TOWARDS THE 18 BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET FOR THE "DRUG CZAR'S" TO IMPRISON MORE THAN 700,000 PEOPLE IN JAIL FOR DRUG OFFENSES AND 80 PLUS PERCENT FOR SIMPLE POSSESION. I'M SICK OF THE ADVERTISEMENTS FOR PROHIBITION. 
I'M TIRED OF ALL THE MONEY AND RESOURCES BEING WASTED ON THE "WAR ON DRUGS" WHEN MOST AMERICANS ARE SUFFERING IN ALL OTHER AREAS. 
 
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS WOULD BE SAVED BY REFORMING DRUG POLICIES AND LAWS.(SAME AS ALCOHOL IS ALL "WE" ASK.) BILLIONS OF DOLLARS WOULD BE GENERATED BY TAXATION AND REGULATION PER YEAR .
 
WE ARE HAVING BUDGET CRUNCH PROBLEMS ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY, ALL STATES , ALL COUNTIES , ALL CITIES AND YES EVEN ALL US little towns in MAINE, (everywhere) DECRIMINALIZE/RE-LEGALIZE MARIJUANA and that leads me to my next issue.
 
3.) ALLOW FARMERS TO GROW INDUTRIAL HEMP (it is NOT marijuana).
 
It doesn't surprise me that "OUR" government's approval rating by "WE THE PEOPLE" is below 20%, there are a few things that could be done and all I see "OUR" GOVERNMENT doing besides playing GOTCHA politics is calling up BALL PLAYERS to THE HILL to get caught in STEROIDGATE (there's a good WASTE of "MY" money).
Then you have ALL the SEX scandals and $MILLIONS of TAX PAYERS dollars going to cover them up IF POSSIBLE, ie: Spitzer , Kilpatrick, Craig, etc............ 
Then you have "ELECTED"officials(JEFFERSON) with close to $90,000 in CASH in his FREEZER and he is still in office, and the CORRUPTION LIST goes on and on from both sides of the isle. UNNESSASARY EARMARKS on both sides, DO I NEED TO GO ON?
80% of AMERICANS have NO PROBLEM with doing something that at least 12 states have already done on behalf of "VOTING" AMERICANS. 
 I STILL HAVE FAITH IN "MY" LOCALLY "ELECTED" OFFICIALS who seem to be DOING THEIR JOBS and PASSING LEGISLATION THAT "THEIR" CONSTITUENTS have REQUESTED of THEM.
IF "OUR" FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS UNABLE and/or UNWILLING TO DO THEIR JOBS THEN AT LEAST FREE UP "OUR" LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO DO IT FOR YOU, AND NOT SEND IN THE GOON PLATOON (DEA) WITH THEIR GESTAPO TACTICS.
 
 
STOP THE MADNESS AND GET SOMETHING DONE . YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO STOP THE WAR IN IRAQ SO AT LEAST STOP A WAR HERE IN THE U.S. (THE WAR ON DRUGS)
I THINK HUGE COMPANIES ie:ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, INUSTRIES (who pollute ALOT) PHARMACUETICAL COMPANIES and DuPONT like COMPANIES who wish to keep marijuana illegal RUN "OUR" COUNTRY via all the $$$$ in political contributions given to certain politicians who SHARE "THEIR" views.
 
IF YOU CAN NOT make "OUR" country a better place to live at least allow "WE THE PEOPLE" to decide "OUR" recreational and MEDICINAL drug of choice to MAKE IT SEEM more TOLERABLE and LESS PAINFUL. RESPONSIBLE ADULTS SHOULD NOT be thrown in jail for USING at home, but once you choose to get behind the wheel under the influence THEN PUNISH people for THAT. SAME AS ALCOHOL IS ALL WE ASK.....
 
WHAT "OUR ELECTED" OFFICIALS need to remember is "WE THE PEOPLE" run this COUNTRY THROUGH "OUR ELECTED" OFFICIALS that's why your approval ratings are so low is that "OUR" GOVERNMENT has forgotten "WE THE PEOPLE"once they are in office. I am becoming alarmingly aware day by day that it is easy to get elected but unfortunately for "WE THE PEOPLE it takes an ACT OF CONGRESS to get rid of a BAD SEED and "WE" can't seem to GET CONGRESS TO ACT, at least on "OUR" behalf.
Remember FOR THE PEOPLE and BY THE PEOPLE TO FORM A MORE PERFECT UNION and all that...
 
That's enough for now but I want ALL "ELECTED" OFFICIALS to know that I AM PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION NOW.. 
 
MORE TO FOLLOW
 
                                             Sincerely,
                                          Donald B. Parsons
                                           Bangor, MAINEThis is a letter I tried sending to Nancy Pelosi yesterday and got two different replies after trying for a couple of hours. One E-mail address said thanks for writing but you are not a constituent, if you would like to contact Nancy Pelosi in her capacity as Speaker of The House write to this address
This is an automatically generated Delivery Status Notification.Delivery to the following recipients failed.    AmericanVoices mail.house.govFinal-Recipient: rfc822;AmericanVoices mail.house.gov
Action: failed
Status: 5.2.2
X-Display-Name: American Voices
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Comment #6 posted by Hope on March 31, 2008 at 00:42:26 PT
Afterburner
I so agree with your comment.
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Comment #5 posted by afterburner on March 30, 2008 at 21:03:25 PT
Stop Look & Learn
"Some media types ... can't seem to talk about marijuana policy without giggling."But getting busted is no laughing matter"It's time to stop the puns. Stop the euphemisms (that were only created by undergrounders afraid of the excessively punitive laws demonizing cannabis). Stop the lazy reporting which repeats disproved assertions. Be honest and let's have a frank discussion! 
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Comment #4 posted by unkat27 on March 30, 2008 at 12:21:45 PT
Greed and Ignorance Rule 
""Walsh isn't going to let ignorance stop him. "I intend on doing everything in my power as an elected official to fight this legislation," he said, according to a State House News Service account.""What a piece of rancid dung this guy is. He admits to knowing "nothing" about the legislation but intends to fight it anyhow. This is the kind of representative that needs to be booted out of congress yesterday.Of course, the one thing he probly does know that he was unwilling to admit is that his pockets get lined with the tax-payers $$ that his ilk get for opposing cannabis reforms.
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Comment #3 posted by Hope on March 30, 2008 at 11:56:00 PT
Most certainly, Museman.
"... their 'lust' for power certainly is part of the dynamics."
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Comment #2 posted by museman on March 30, 2008 at 07:37:30 PT
that is...
(J)ust another scam of the rich. Though their 'lust' for power certainly is part of the dynamics.
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Comment #1 posted by museman on March 30, 2008 at 07:35:44 PT
who gets the money?
" Harvard economist Dr. Jeffrey Miron has calculated that taxpayers spend $29.5 million a year just to arrest and process offenders caught with an ounce or less of pot."Bankers get the money. Who are the bankers? Same folks that made it illegal in the first place. Same folks who own the prisons, and the prison supply companies. Same folks who have all the politicians in their pockets. Same folks who have invented the whole system of weights and measures that they use as power tools and goads to control the populations.Lust another scam of the rich, folks. Time to wake up now.
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