cannabisnews.com: 4/20 Bogus, Dude





4/20 Bogus, Dude
Posted by CN Staff on April 17, 2008 at 06:39:33 PT
By Clay Evans 
Source: Daily Camera 
Colorado -- In 2006, 738,915 Americans were arrested for simple marijuana possession -- no dealing, no associated crimes of property or violence -- according to FBI statistics. In the decade prior to that year, some 6.5 million Americans were arrested for marijuana violations, 85 percent to 90 percent of them for simple possession.That law-enforcement fixation on pot has led the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws to proclaim that the expensive, long-running and continually failing "war on drugs" is more a war on weed than more dangerous drugs.
"These numbers belie the myth that police do not target and arrest minor marijuana offenders," said NORML's Executive Director Keith Stroup in response to similar stats from 2002. "This effort is a tremendous waste of criminal justice resources that should be dedicated toward combating serious and violent crime, including the war on terrorism."Stroup is right. Marijuana enforcement is clogging prisons with people for using a drug that is demonstrably safer than alcohol. That's not to say pot addiction isn't a problem and doesn't sometimes carry with it consequences for the user, from lung disease to lassitude. Marijuana should be decriminalized.But we still think the revelers at this Sunday's annual "4/20" smoke-in on the University of Colorado campus will be participating in what is mostly a juvenile stunt. At such counterculture gatherings, held across the nation each April 20, participants get stoned in numbers sufficiently large that sensible law-enforcement agencies, such as those in Boulder, mostly let them have their fun.Contrary to a persistent myth, 4/20 does not refer to a police code for marijuana use. The moniker seems to have originated in the early '70s, from the time when a group of San Rafael, Calif., high school students met to spark up.Sunday's gathering on Farrand Field will be the centerpiece, and "organizers" say they expect up to 10,000 puffing participants -- more than three times as many as last year, because it's taking place on a weekend day.The campus chapter of NORML is also offering a program of educational and politically more meaningful events, from a film showing to speakers who will address the legalization issue.Sadly, the risk-free rebellion of lighting up will get most of the media attention.One CU police officer has pointed out that "breaking the law ... to change the law is not how our democratic society works."He's right. But he misunderstands the intention of 4/20. Yes, the law needs changing. And NORML's program for the day is one small effort to change the law through legitimate means.Uh, officer? Of the thousands who will gather on Farrand Field, few will be interested in democracy or changing laws. They'll just be there to thumb their noses at "the man" while getting baked, dude.Clay Evans, guest editor for the editorial board.Note: Juvenile event not about change.Source: Daily Camera (Boulder, CO)Author: Clay Evans Published: Thursday, April 17, 2008 Copyright: 2008 The Daily CameraWebsite: http://www.dailycamera.com/Contact: openforum dailycamera.comRelated Articles & Web Site:NORMLhttp://www.norml.org/ Let's Be Blunthttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23830.shtmlCapitalist Buzz Surrounds Stoner ‘Holiday’http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23829.shtml Preparing for 4/20 Pot Smoke-Outhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23823.shtml
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Comment #15 posted by John Tyler on April 17, 2008 at 17:38:26 PT
how democratic society works
One CU police officer has pointed out that "breaking the law ... to change the law is not how our democratic society works." Excuse me. That is how the US became an independent nation. That was how Ghandi freed India from British control. And lastly, even this cop should remember this, that is how African Americans gained their Civil Rights. They broke the law by sitting in the front of a bus, and at a forbidden lunch counter. So, sometimes breaking the law to change the law is the only way to get change, and that is how a democratic society works too.  So party on you 420 celebrants. You too are making history. Have a good time and be excellent to one another.
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Comment #14 posted by Hope on April 17, 2008 at 15:36:37 PT
Donald B Parsons Comment 12
Thank you!Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!Barney Frank! My hero! It will be a miracle if it passes through the House and the Senate and dodges a veto... but I'm not going to stop believing in miracles now!
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Comment #13 posted by Hope on April 17, 2008 at 15:31:34 PT
mydnytmover Comment 10
Wonderful!I knew someone had said that, and tried to remember this morning, but couldn't, nor could I remember the exact words enough to do a search. Thanks so much. I want to memorize that. Perhaps, we all should."One may well ask: How can you advocate breaking some laws and obeying others? The answer lies in the fact that there are two types of laws: just and unjust. I would be the first to advocate obeying just laws. One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws." -- Martin Luther King, JrRight on! 
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Comment #12 posted by Donald B Parsons on April 17, 2008 at 14:20:11 PT:
RE-LEGALIZE CANNABIS
ABRAHAM LINCOLN once wrote:"PROHIBITION... goes beyond the bounds of reason in that it attempts to control a man's appetite by making a crime out of things that are not crimes... A prohibition law strikes a blow at the very principles upon which our government was founded."Go to MPP.org to send a pre-written letter to your congress men and woman urging them to support Rep. Barney Frank's (D-Mass)legislation introduced to congress today to legalize up to 100 grams (3.5 ounces) of cannabis. Now is the time to act cause your congress will vote the way THEY feel if they don't hear from enough constituents to the contrary. YOU WILL NOT GO TO JAIL FOR LETTING YOUR CONGRESS KNOW THAT ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
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Comment #11 posted by dongenero on April 17, 2008 at 12:36:00 PT
Excellent mydnytmover!!
Great quote!
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Comment #10 posted by mydnytmover on April 17, 2008 at 09:46:21 PT
Martin Luther King, Jr
"One may well ask: How can you advocate breaking some laws and obeying others? The answer lies in the fact that there are two types of laws: just and unjust. I would be the first to advocate obeying just laws. One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws."
-- Martin Luther King, Jr
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Comment #9 posted by augustwest on April 17, 2008 at 09:45:00 PT:
civil diobedience
Let us not forget the boston tea party.
contrary to what the officer thinks civil disobedience is sometimes the only way to bring attention to bad laws and start the process of change. 
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Comment #8 posted by FoM on April 17, 2008 at 09:07:27 PT
Hope
It is amazing.
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Comment #7 posted by Hope on April 17, 2008 at 08:51:33 PT
Clay Evans's poor education...
Apparently, he never heard of Rosa Parks, Mahatma Ghandi, The Underground Railroad, Sit-Ins, Tiananmen Square, Freedom Riders... and the list goes on and on. I've actually met a couple of seemingly half way educated people who had never heard of Mahatma Ghandi.It's hard to imagine... but it's too true.
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Comment #6 posted by Yanxor on April 17, 2008 at 08:32:57 PT
Changing the law
"Breaking the law ... to change the law is not how our democratic society works."Said officer has never heard of the civil rights movement - smoke-in anyone?Also emphasis on the DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY (rather than democracy) and that's mostly because we don't live in a democracy. When a majority of the nation votes for one person, and the judicial branch gives the presidency to an delussional alcoholic coke-head, that's when you know that you're not a democracy.
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Comment #5 posted by FoM on April 17, 2008 at 08:14:49 PT
Free Spirits
How many good things might have never happened in the history of the world if people didn't stand up and say I don't believe that way? Most people in the states have read or at least heard how Jesus was a rebel and He has been admired for his stand over the centuries. I believe good change won't come without a little bit of a rebel spirit. Without a rebel spirit bad laws will never be changed.
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Comment #4 posted by dongenero on April 17, 2008 at 08:01:24 PT
exactly right Hope!
This is at least the second article in as many days to quote this ignorant statement: "breaking the law ... to change the law is not how our democratic society works."Hope got it right, and as someone posted yesterday ( I don't recall who, sorry), sometimes it's the only way to change unjust laws.In fact, the founding of our country is based on such action.  How out of touch and uninformed does one have to be to make such an ironic statement?
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Comment #3 posted by Hope on April 17, 2008 at 07:41:00 PT
Civil Disobedience
Apparently, these guys never heard of the power of Civil Disobedience, especially by large groups, as a powerful thrust aimed at changing unjust laws. 
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Comment #2 posted by Richard Zuckerman on April 17, 2008 at 06:59:19 PT:
CORRECTION: SENATOR REID, NOT READ. 
The correct spelling for the last name is: Harry Reid, NOT Read, (Toll free telephone number)(866) 340-9281. Mea culpa.Richard Zuckerman.
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Comment #1 posted by Richard Zuckerman on April 17, 2008 at 06:57:25 PT:
CONTACT SENATOR HARRY REID FOR S. 344?
U.S. Senate Bill 344 would require recording and broadcast of all Supreme Court sessions, with few exceptions. U.S. Senate Bill 344 has been passed by the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee and awaits further action in the full Senate. Please contact U.S. Senator Harry Read to post it for a vote in the full U.S. Senate?Richard Zuckerman, (Phone)(732) 354-4063, P.O. Box 159, Metuchen, N.J., 08840-0159, Buck Private Paralegal;   Diploma in Paralegal, New York University, 2003.
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