cannabisnews.com: Officials Unite To Fight Marijuana Initiative










  Officials Unite To Fight Marijuana Initiative

Posted by CN Staff on September 17, 2008 at 11:44:24 PT
By John R. Ellement, Globe Staff  
Source: Boston Globe 

Boston, MA --  Law enforcement officials statewide are uniting against a referendum question they fear will increase marijuana use among teenagers and generate more crime across the state.The state's 11 district attorneys are unanimously opposing Question 2 and are being joined by police chiefs and some community groups, fearing it will undo years of effort to reduce drug use among teenagers. Governor Deval Patrick's administration also is opposed, according to a spokesman.
"Teenage marijuana use is down, and this is a good thing," said Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley. "This is a bad, bad message for our kids."But supporters of Question 2, who are organized under the name Committee for Sensible Marijuana Policy, are striking back. Today, they plan to announce that they have applied for criminal complaints against unnamed district attorneys for alleged campaign law violations, according to Whitney Taylor, the group's executive director.Taylor refused to be more specific about the allegations, which will be the subject of an 11 a.m. press conference outside Edward W. Brooke Courthouse in Boston, about three hours before prosecutors and police hold their own at the State House.Taylor said that if Question 2 passes, marijuana will still be an illegal drug. And, she said, the new approach will increase parental involvement in marijuana cases for those under 18 years old because police will be required to notify parents about the civil matter. She said those under 18 must complete drug awareness training and do 10 hours of community service.Parents "are brought right in, and they get to focus on the young people," she said. "We do not promote or condone marijuana use."Taylor said teenagers would benefit by the change because they would no longer have a record in the state's criminal history databases, one that could haunt them later in life when they apply for jobs.But according to prosecutors, under current law, those arrested with an ounce or less of marijuana automatically have their case continued without a finding for six months, and if they do not violate the law, their criminal file is sealed."Nobody goes to jail today for simple possession of marijuana," said Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett, who is listed as the treasurer for the opponents, who are using the name Coalition for Safe Streets during the campaign.Blodgett said the criminal records are sealed and that most people who have a marijuana possession entry on their the criminal record also have more serious charges, such as gun possession.But Taylor said the phrase "sealed record" on someone's dossier makes people more suspicious - not less - about a person's background.Blodgett and Conley also lashed out at New York billionaire George Soros, who donated $400,000 to the group last year, according to the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance.That pro-Question 2 group has $152,000 on hand, according to the most recent report posted by the state. Opponents have $6,000, with the bulk of the money raised and spent so far having been provided by district attorneys, who donated about $2,000 each from their own campaign accounts, state records show.This weekend, a pro-Question 2 group, the Massachusetts chapter of the National Organization to Reform Marijuana Laws, will hold its annual rally in Boston.Note: Proponents allege campaign wrongs.Source: Boston Globe (MA)Author:  John R. Ellement, Globe Staff Published: September 17, 2008 Copyright: 2008 Globe Newspaper CompanyContact: letter globe.comWebsite: http://www.boston.com/globe/CannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml

Home    Comment    Email    Register    Recent Comments    Help





Comment #29 posted by museman on September 18, 2008 at 21:33:31 PT
natural tobacco
It is inhaled the same as other tobacco, into the mouth to cool before going into the lungs, and as commonsense pointed out earlier, it is traditionally smoked in a mixture with other herbs and things like certain tree bark, called 'kinnikinnick' -which varied from tribe to tribe.
 
Once we actually succeeded in growing some tobacco at the Rainbow Farm, immature, but what we harvested was definitely powerful. One hit not only got you 'buzzed' but if you were a cigarette smoker the craving was satisfied for a few hours.Tobacco is also used a lot in ceremonies that don't involve pipes or direct inhalation, but kind of an 'atmosphere' like in the sweat lodge.It also works as a natural pesticide, a de-wormer for cats and dogs (and humans if you're desperate) but its deadly to cannabis, hops, and tomatoes.The main distinction however, I believe that 'kept the indians from getting addicted' was just as much a factor of their consideration and respect of Sacred things, as it was the tobacco itself. Another fact to consider is the additives that have been put into commercial tobacco to increase the potency and addictive qualities by the tobacco moguls from the last century.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #28 posted by Commonsense on September 18, 2008 at 20:33:53 PT
Uncured tobacco
Uncured tobacco is harsh as can be too. It will make you cough like crazy if you inhale it. It's no wonder that Indians weren't getting addicted to tobacco and smoking it all the time. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #27 posted by John Tyler on September 18, 2008 at 20:00:41 PT
nicotine buzz
Commonsense, you are correct about the early Native Americans not having cannabis for their peace pipes. However, I was looking at this poem as a work of art and as such was enjoying its powerful spiritual imagery and projecting some of my own thoughts into it. For when we smoke the calumet, do we not each connect to the Great Spirit, as we are able? 
By the by, the uncured Indian tobacco was, as I have read, quite powerful and could induce a nicotine buzz itself. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #26 posted by museman on September 18, 2008 at 16:30:05 PT
and..
Tobacco is still Sacred to Native Amercans as well.But they grow it themselves these days, and if given a choice I don't think they'd choose R.J.Reynolds.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #25 posted by museman on September 18, 2008 at 16:27:36 PT
commonsense
You are correct, historicly, up to a point. However, in a more recent update -not 'written in the history books' yet, (owing to the fact that it is the 'victors who write' them). There are other stories.The VietNam war spawned many movements, one of which was the AIM movement.They had a name for the 'tribal leaders' who'd thrown tradition over for the status quo; "Apples." Meaning 'red on the outside, but white on the inside.'Russell Means is I believe the founder of that un-conversed about organization, whose people were literally rescued by them from the 'conquered status' that so many of their fathers had succumbed to alcoholism because of (Listen to 'Drunken Ira Hayes' by Johnny Cash.)The second Wounded Knee came about because of AIM.Russell Means Clarified what was meant by 'white' in the concept of the "Apple." He called it "European Consciousness." And it was directly related to the kind of consciousness that was prevalent on our conquering ancestors. He has further clarified that it is not a 'racist' statement to aknowlege that particularly destructive mentality for what it is.Now I thoroughly understand why many 'white' men could not recognize the Sacred, in the same way as those who lived it only a generation or two ago, the 'white' concept of Sacred is absolutely biblical, with very little evidence of understanding or practicing it.I've seen first hand the phenomenon that is referred to as 'white guilt' in action, at the same place and time that I experienced, and tested the waters of what you, commonsense are speaking of.Now there are special circumstances, in a way, that helped matters, like the fact that I was blood-brother to a Hopi when I was very young. I was given the blue corn in honor of that. My wife is part Osage, and Shoshoni. All my children have native blood to a degree (which is ridiculous to try and measure.) By the time I met AIM, I had gone the Sacred Path of Seeking The Vision, and became a Rainbow Warrior (and by the way wikpedia is way off base on that one).Now when I met the AIM brothers, they had never met me. I could have been any other young white freaky looking guy (though I always dress rather plainly) that was hanging around trying to find way to assuage that guilt thing. Native American people are sensitive to Innocense, sincerety, honesty, and integrity. They are also very sensitve to things of a Sacred and Spiritual nature. They are of course equally sensitive to the negative aspects as well. When I made note of my plans to offer to smoke some of my bud with the AIM bros I was about to meet, every single one of my white friends agreed with the one who said, "Man, whatever you do, do not use your pipestone pipe, because you're going to insult them and get us thrown out."I already knew better, so rather than argue with them, I just waited until the 3 bros (whose names I hardly remember, and would not divulge if I did) came into the bus we were hanging out in.Introductions were made, and as soon as they sat down I immediately pulled out my pipebag (which drew a couple of breath intakes from my friends) and my stash. Watching carefully and getting no sign of affront or mistake, I filled my pipestone peace pipe -made by hand for the smoking of MY kinnikinnick, that I grew myself, as sacrament. I then lit the bowl, offered it to the Four Directions, which is tradition in the offering of the pipe, and passed it to the first brother on my left, which is closest to the heart, and the Sacred Direction on traversing the many Sacred Circles - clockwise.The brother nodded, accepted the pipe, took a toke, himself offering it to the Four Directions, silently, and respectfully showing my slight error of resembling the 'cross-your-heart' thing, and then passed it to the next. We smoked and talked of the business at hand.So, the pipestone is still held Sacred. And the Native Americans (those who have re-embraced their nature)have always known that spirituality is not exclusive to any peoples but just present, or not.Those of us, also 'native' to this land, who have touched the Sacredness of the Earth, can and do perform Sacred Ritual and acts quite often, unbeknownst to FOX news and the like. And CANNABIS IS SACRED to some of us, even if it isn't to all who make good use of it.FREE MARIJUANNA FOR EVRYONE
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #24 posted by Commonsense on September 18, 2008 at 14:27:23 PT
Peace Pipes
You guys know of course that Indians smoked mostly tobacco and sometimes types of bark or nonpsychoactive herbs in their peace pipes, right? Cannabis was first brought to the Americas by Europeans who used the fibers for rope and cloth for sails and clothing and that sort of thing. Tobacco was sacred to the Indians and they used it for religious and ceremonial purposes. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #23 posted by museman on September 18, 2008 at 08:40:40 PT
John Tyler -minnisota pipestone
I never read the poem, and am absolutely amazed at the accuracy of the story, though flavored and embellished to appeal to the white mans sentimentalities.The actual story is a bit more bloody. In fact the color of the stone is said to be because of the sheer volume of blood that saturated the clay of that sacred ground.A misnomer is the concept of 'warpaint.' Though the warriors did paint heir faces before battle, they also used the dust of the pipestone kind of like a white flag; when they went on a mission to get the pipestone, some tribes traveled as far as from the Arizona desert to get to the quarry.There is only one.Those ways are respected to this day.Anyone can go to the quarry and buy pipestone from the natives, but only natives can go in and mine it- at least that was the interpretation... however in the early 80s, while living at the Rainbow Farm, there was an enthusiatic young man visiting at the time, who went by the spirit name of Elkheart who wanted to make a peace pipe. He meant well, and was a good kid, but his constant harranging was a bit annoying, so we devized what we thought would be a good strengthening experience for him. We told him the tale of the pipestone, gave him some dust for painting his face, and sent him off -on foot- (hitchkiking) on a mission to the quarry.We told him that the natives would probably frown on his intentions to go in and cut his own pieces, but he rationalized that he was 'native enough' to do it, so we sent him on his way, half expecting to never see him again.He was gone for a month. But one day he came walking up the road with a heavy back pack.He had gone to the quarry, and just before he went in, he painted his face with pipestone dust, and walked right in, in broad daylight, past the native attendants who looked at him, but didn't stop him. He then found his stone, which was kind of unique. Spent most of the day cutting it out of the quarry, and then walked right back out again. His use of tradition was recognized and respected by the natives. That stone had what is referred to as 'fire' in a layer that made for some interesting pipe carving. I had a wonderful peace pipe made of that stone that the cops in colorado stole from me in the 90s. I still have a few small pieces left.The pipestone is sacred. I always reserved the use of it for special, spiritual occasions. But the cops just totally desecrated that sacredness with typical white-man redneck ignorance. They got my stash, my seeds, and I nearly went to prison, but the loss of that pipe was the biggest tragedy of it all.The idea that cannabis is a sacrament has gotten very little attention.I myself had to make the distinction many years ago, because the WOD was driving me insane; friggin mounted cops and BLM riding around armed to the teeth, riding through your land and yards like they owned them, helicopters flying over your house and hovering way below the 'legal; limit - it was literally a war zone. I was growing at the time, and I was actually starting to question whether or not cannabis was a good thing, spiritually, because of all the negative stuff flying all around it.So I did what I always do when I am up against a wall; I prayed about it.I got an answer.In a dialogue with The Great Spirit (known by many cultural distinctions) I was asked "Is the herb sacred or not?" Because if it is, then the whole 'commodity' 'market-value' concept is a contradiction, a hipocrisy, and continuing to regard the herb as such a material, only gives crediiblity to the prohibitionists, who can't see past the dollar sign, and when you place that kind of false value on a sacred object, or substance, you have degraded it to non-sacred. (Reference Yashua whipping the merchants in the Temple)Some may say, "So what?"So, the Sacred is connected to high Spiritual Magic (not wicca, or sorcery as the white man knows it) and within that Spiritual Magic is protection. That protection is real, but only as real as the belief that is invested in it.I am still here, free, and able to do my small part towards the awakening that is upon us, I am convinced, because I believe in the Sacred and the Magical, and I/we were protected. How else did those dogs miss my pounds of bud that they walked over a dozen times, or the many other pieces of evidence that they absolutely missed on that raid, including some that were hedl in their hands and examined closely, but they were blinded by something and couldn't see what they actually held in their own hands.That battle was won. I stood up to them in court, and though I had to compromise slightly -for the sake of my family, I walked away, charges dropped.This is why I will not support 'regulation' 'Taxation' 'control' or any kind of stipulation that degrades the sacredness of cannabis into a mere commodity for sale.FREE MARIJUANA FOR EVERYONE
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #22 posted by Zandor on September 18, 2008 at 08:32:35 PT
Win or loose, the sick will still be the big loose
Even if this passes, the police will NOT follow the law. They never do if they don't agree. They will even step up prosecution and some pig cops will even plant other evidence on those they catch just to make a point they were right.Remember in 2005 The Supreme Court ruled that the police did not have a constitutional duty to protect a person from harm, even a woman who had obtained a court-issued protective order against a violent husband making an arrest mandatory for a violation. They have to do NOTHING if they choose to.You can't trust the police or the DA they are NOT on your side, they play politics with our law's and only enforce laws they choose to enforce for political gain. 
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/28/politics/28scotus.html?_r=1&oref=slogin&pagewa
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #21 posted by yoshi on September 18, 2008 at 01:49:58 PT:
True Tyler
Take cannabis out of the equation and the drug war becomes a much, much smaller fight that's why the Feds won't budge on this one, it's too important to continuing the control. We will see our rights continue to erode, beware a false flag terrorism event in this country soon so the muslims can be blamed for economic collapse
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #20 posted by John Tyler on September 17, 2008 at 20:58:35 PT
It's a job thing 
The people who make a living from the Drug War are worried about a let up in cannabis prohibition. 85% of the Drug War is about cannabis. Without cannabis there would be no Drug War, and most of these bums would have to find another line of work.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #19 posted by FoM on September 17, 2008 at 20:57:52 PT
John Tyler 
Thank you for the update on the Flashback Tour. I think these times are so serious and that people have too much happening in their lives to relax right now. Neil Young is touring but not in my state. That's ok though. When I saw CSNY in 06 I remember thinking that I will probably never see them together again but I will always remember it well.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #18 posted by John Tyler on September 17, 2008 at 20:45:49 PT
way off topic but maybe interesting
Check this out. This is the first part of the poem Song of Hiawatha published in 1855 by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow , (1807-1882). This first part is called The Peace-Pipe.
It is pretty short. If you have smoked the peace pipe yourself this will give you a feeling.Note: the Red Pipe-stone Quarry is an actual stone quarry in Minnesota. The stone is soft and easy to carve. Calumet is French for reed. Calumet was the term used for the Indian peace pipes, because they had a carved stone bowl and a reed for a pipe stem. Lastly, Pukwana is the curling smoke from the peace pipe. Actually this poem blew me away. In 1855, this guy totally nailed it. Let us then Smoke the calumet together, And as brothers live henceforward!
 
http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/etcbin/toccer-new2?id=LonHiaw.sgm&images=images/modeng&data=/texts/english/modeng/parsed&tag=public&part=1&division=div2On another note the whole Flashback tour, www.flashbacktour.com , has been canceled, due to poor advanced ticket sales. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #17 posted by afterburner on September 17, 2008 at 20:23:16 PT
HempWorld #15 
"Another is the 'election' of Judges and Sheriffs in this (now backward) country."This is an issue that always plagues me at election time. Judges and sheriffs are supposedly non-partisan. However, as drug war activists & victims, we see and experience the political bias that these so-called non-partisan public officials display. Much of this bias is off the public media record and found only in court records and arrest records. In order to vote intelligently, we need Internet resources to inform us of the negative prohibition-based biases of these candidates (judges and sheriffs). 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #16 posted by gloovins on September 17, 2008 at 18:53:33 PT
Last sentence is key...
"Opponents have $6,000, with the bulk of the money raised and spent so far having been provided by district attorneys, who donated about $2,000 each from their own campaign accounts, state records show"MMM, somebody's worried about something...The axiom exposed maybe? The gravy train's valve tightening? Maybe, I reckon... ; )Time always tells. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #15 posted by HempWorld on September 17, 2008 at 18:38:36 PT
Veto
It was not until I came to this country, the mighty big (and then) powerful country of USA! This country is so awesome it invented computers and sent men to the moon.I could go on, but I will confine myself to the 'veto' principle. Before I got to this (once) powerful country, I had not heard of such powers for the politial elite. I've lived in at least 8 countries and I am not aware (maybe blissfully) that these countries the veto power enacted for all the ruling politicians in their legislation. Now that I've seen the veto power (mostly ab)used against the majority will of the people, I think a veto does not belong in a democracy or one that calls itself that. A veto takes the power away from the people and this is precisely how Marijuana prohibition among other things has been perpetuated.Another is the 'election' of Judges and Sheriffs in this (now backward) country. 
On a mission from God!
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #14 posted by ekim on September 17, 2008 at 18:25:36 PT
see or hear a Leap event near you
Sep 18 08 University of Michigan Greg Francisco Ann Arbor Michigan USA 
 Pendleton Room, Michigan Union 530 S. State Street http://www.umich.edu Sep 18 08 Houston Aldine Lions Club Dean Becker Aldine Texas USA 
 This regular meeting is held at: Tony's Country Kitchen 1911 Aldine Bender
 
Sep 18 08 KTAO 101.9 with Marcus Sanders Gary Johnson Taos New Mexico USA 
 LEAP Advisory Board member former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson will be interviewed listen live via the Internet at www.ktao.com/home.php?page=listen_up Sep 18 08 WHFS 105.7 FM: The Ed Norris Show Earl Barnett Baltimore Maryland USA 
 http://www.whfs.com Sep 19 08 WTCM 850 AM: The Norm Jones Show Greg Francisco Traverse City Michigan USA 
 The failures of the War on Drugs as it relates to the upcoming Michigan Medical Marijuana Initiative. http://www.wtcmradio.
http://leap.cc
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #13 posted by FoM on September 17, 2008 at 18:24:57 PT
Sam
You're welcome. This is not a priority for a Democratic Governor who is a serious Obama supporter. The Republicans are looking under every rock to trip up what might happen this November. As far as Biden goes I have looked and looked and haven't found anything said by him about marijuana except he was for medical marijuana. Drugs are an issue but cannabis is my issue. Maybe he doesn't see hard drugs and marijuana in the same light. People I know from around here don't put them in the same category. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #12 posted by Sam Adams on September 17, 2008 at 18:15:39 PT
governor
FOM, thanks, that is interesting. Gov. Patrick had said as recently as last month that he had no opinion on this when asked. He said it was up to the voters to decide.But when the DA's came calling and asked him to oppose it, he caved in. Even though his own father Pat Patrick was the sax player for Sun Ra Arkestra in the 70's and must have done many illegal drugs for most of his life.I hope that Obama has a little more spine. I've read a lot of stuff showing that Biden is a rabid drug war hawk, he personally sponsored many of the harsh laws. I hope Obama can stand up to him and his cronies if they get elected.Apparently the Mass. DA's can threaten anyone they find with MJ with a 6-month driver's license suspension. Instead of going to trial to prove that someone has committed a more serious crime, they just threaten to pull their license because of the MJ and they person just pleads guilty to the more serious crime.Of course that's what WOD is all about. Making life rich & easy for law enforcement. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #11 posted by FoM on September 17, 2008 at 17:59:25 PT
Sam
Excerpt: After saying that he hoped the bill never reached his desk because that was not his priority, Patrick added that law enforcement should emphasize large drug traffickers and that the same person who provided marijuana to his drug addict uncle also provided him with heroin. He concluded his initial response by saying, "I'm very comfortable with the idea of legalizing marijuana. I just don't think it ought to be our priority."The moderator was reduced to asking Patrick directly if he would veto the bill. "I would veto that," he responded.Stop The Drug War: http://drugsense.org/url/gqrnley8
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #10 posted by Sam Adams on September 17, 2008 at 17:56:21 PT
Message for kids
I wonder about messages. What "message" does it send to our kids when the state's bridges are falling apart, and the engineers say it's from "decades of neglect". In other words, they've stolen our tax money that was meant for bridge maintenance. And now we have to pay 10 times as much for new bridges, and "we" don't have the money.What message does that say? The government is corrupt. And yet everybody wants these same guys to have legal control of the food and medicines we put in our body. They want these guys to take our children and educate them for 15 years in a prison-like facility. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #9 posted by Sam Adams on September 17, 2008 at 17:51:33 PT
DAs
Just save all these bleatings from the DA's, they are almost certainly going to lose. It will be fun to look through the scrapbook of liars after election day.To anyone who ever criticized libertarians, take a good look at these idiotic DAs, mayors, and police chiefs in Massachusetts. This is Big Government right here. All the lies, all the guns, the "officials" getting paid $100,000+ per year, the transfer of money from hard-working people - theft in broad daylight. Every single person that will be quoted as being against this incredibly small, incremental reform to a totally useless law is a Democrat. Every single one. So now you know why I never vote Democrat, I've lived here for years.
[ Post Comment ]

 


Comment #8 posted by FoM on September 17, 2008 at 17:38:16 PT

museman
Lookin' for a Leader' by Neil Young 
 ***Lookin' for a leader To bring our country home Re-unite the red white and blue Before it turns to stone***Lookin' for somebody Young enough to take it on Clean up the corruption And make the country strong***Walkin' among our people There's someone who's straight and strong To lead us from desolation And a broken world gone wrong***Someone walks among us And I hope he hears the call And maybe it's a woman Or a black man after allMAYBE IT'S OBAMA BUT HE THINKS HE'S TOO YOUNG (Not so)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioQqUwuN4N4
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #7 posted by observer on September 17, 2008 at 17:22:42 PT

The Marijuana Jail Gravy Train
"Nobody goes to jail today for simple possession of marijuana," said Essex District AttorneyThe government prosecutor isn't telling the truth.Once again, we are told, "nobody goes to jail today for pot."The laws are on the books that allow the goodly government prosecutors like the one above, to send pot smokers to jail. If what he says is true, that nobody goes to jail today for cannabis, then what is the problem with making the laws reflect reality? The government prosecutor doesn't pass the straight face test. Plenty of people are arrested and jailed for the possession of marijuana. We read about it every day. http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/index.cgi?q=cannabis+AND+police_related_news We can watch the arrests pile up. http://www.drugsense.org/wodclock.htm Who knows what kind of forked-tongue fingers-crossed-behind-his-back weaselly equivocation he really meant? "Nobody goes to jail today for simple possession of marijuana," said Essex District AttorneyDo his weasel-words attempt to slither by on the "simple possession" qualification? the following is from Richard Miller's excellent book, Drug Warriors & Their Prey. Escalator laws make the act of possessing a joint multiply into as many "crimes" as the prosecutor can imagine. Here's how:
Another political decision contributing to expansion of prison populations is the decision to include escalator clauses in drug laws. Because of hate propaganda promoted by politicians, the public became dissatisfied with fining a marijuana user $25 for misdemeanor possession. Such a penalty seemed insufficient for someone ostensibly threatening American society. Yet a harsh increase in penalty is difficult to achieve: If a $25 fine was sufficient penalty yesterday, how can the same offense carry a $10,000 fine plus ten years mandatory imprisonment today without lawmakers appearing to violate the ban on cruel and unusual punishment? The answer is to invent new offenses so that a single act can violate multiple laws. Through escalator clauses, a drug violation that starts as a misdemeanor can be transformed into a felony with lengthy mandatory imprisonment.For example, Missouri law says that possessing less than 35 grams of marijuana is a misdemeanor, but under a bill considered by the legislature in 1994, anyone possessing more than 28 grams was defined as a dealer (a felony) if the person had failed to report such misdemeanor possession to state revenue authorities. Failure to pay a state tax on the misdemeanor amount was also classified as a felony.8 Laws of other states had similar provisions. Authorities in Kansas bragged that $500,000 in annual revenue was generated by prosecuting drug offenders for tax fraud.9 Less publicized is the fact that converting a misdemeanor offense into multiple felonies can imprison a harmless marijuana user for years. We have seen how "armed drug offender" clauses apply to drug users never accused of violence and how President Bush sought to define all drug offenses (such as marijuana possession) as crimes of violence. "Violent offender" status implements sentences far longer than those for "nonviolent" crimes (such as illegal arms sales by White House aides), and "violent offender" sentences are also mandatory and without parole.Another escalator is dealer status. Drug dealing is always a felony, but typical "dealers" are users who share supplies with friends, sometimes for small reimbursement, sometimes for free. These felons are "drug dealers" in the sense that a tobacco smoker who hands a cigarette to someone is a tobacco dealer, or a beer drinker who shares a six-pack is a liquor dealer. Another escalator clause boosts penalties for repeat offenses. Police can depend on marijuana consumers to possess the product time and again, just as some sexually active persons routinely possess condoms or birth control pills. Escalating prison terms are unlikely to discourage marijuana use or contraceptive use, but such sanctions are guaranteed to sweep targeted persons off the streets. Legislation promoted by Missouri Governor John Ashcroft in 1992 would have converted a third misdemeanor marijuana possession offense into a felony.10 That particular drug warrior effort failed, but laws already on the books escalated prison terms for repeated possession of felony amounts of marijuana (an amount equivalent to little more than one pack of tobacco cigarettes).In addition to escalator clauses, double jeopardy helps concentrate drug users in prison by reincarcerating victims who have already served one sentence.
Richard L Miller, Drug Warriors and their Prey, 1996, pgs.144-145 http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0275950425/ Nobody goes to jail today for simple possession, my foot. Government prosecutors, like the Essex District Attorney, earn their living off of persecuting cannabis users. They ain't about to stop that gravy train. 

[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #6 posted by observer on September 17, 2008 at 16:54:37 PT

analysis
[1]
Boston, MA -- Law enforcement officials statewide are uniting against a referendum question they fear will increase marijuana use among teenagers and generate more crime across the state . 

(Sentence 1) re: "crime" - Drugs, scream prohibitionists, cause all bad things in life: crime, violence, insanity, etc. If not for prohibition (i.e., jailing drug users), then criminality, violence and psychotic behavior would explode upon the land, the prohibitionist assures us. (Madness,Crime,Violence,Illness (propaganda theme 2) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme2.htm#2 ) re: "marijuana use" - Any use of an illegal drug is deemed to be "abuse," weasels the propaganda of prohibition. (After all - it is illegal!) (Use is Abuse (propaganda theme 4) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme4.htm#alluseisabuse ) re: "teenagers" - "Nothing can so excite an adult population as can anything which appears to threaten their own children." [W.White,1979] (Children Corrupted (propaganda theme 5) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme5.htm#5 ) 
 
 
[2]
The state's 11 district attorneys are unanimously opposing Question 2 and are being joined by police chiefs and some community groups, fearing it will undo years of effort to reduce drug use among teenagers . 

(Sentence 2) re: "community" - Because of prohibition (prohibitionists assure us), society is protected: the community is safe, and the nation is saved. (Survival of Society (propaganda theme 3) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme3.htm#3 ) re: "drug use" - Prohibition propaganda claims that all use of any "drug" is abuse. (Use is Abuse (propaganda theme 4) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme4.htm#alluseisabuse ) re: "teenagers" - Prohibitionists are champions of "the child", "kids", "children", etc. Only continued or increased punishments of all adults caught using "drugs" will send the correct "message" to children. (Children Corrupted (propaganda theme 5) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme5.htm#5 ) 
 
 
[4]
"Teenage marijuana use is down, and this is a good thing," said Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F . 

(Sentence 4) re: "marijuana use" - Prohibitionists try to hammer in the idea that 'all use is abuse.' The rhetoric of prohibition needs to deny that many people can use currently illegal drugs without abusing them. (Use is Abuse (propaganda theme 4) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme4.htm#alluseisabuse ) re: "Teenage" - "Since the Harrison Act of 1914, the user and the seller of illicit drugs have both been characterized as evil, criminal, insane, and always in search of new victims, the victims are characterized as young children." [W.White,1979] (Children Corrupted (propaganda theme 5) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme5.htm#5 ) 
 
 
[6]
"This is a bad, bad message for our kids."

(Sentence 6) re: "kids", "message" - "Chemicals have long been inextricably linked in prohibitionist literature with the ... corruption of young people." [W.White,1979] (Children Corrupted (propaganda theme 5) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme5.htm#5 ) 
 
 
[8]
Today, they plan to announce that they have applied for criminal complaints against unnamed district attorneys for alleged campaign law violations, according to Whitney Taylor, the group's executive director . 

(Sentence 8) re: "criminal" - Prohibitionists claim use of currently illegal drugs causes crime, death, illness, lunacy, mania, melancholy, and all means of sin and degradation. (Madness,Crime,Violence,Illness (propaganda theme 2) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme2.htm#2 ) 
 
 
[13]
She said those under 18 must complete drug awareness training and do 10 hours of community service . 

(Sentence 13) re: "drug awareness" - The war on drugs is a propaganda effort that tries to make people do what the government wants. [http://sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=War_on_Drugs] re: "drug awareness" - Prohibition propaganda rarely misses an opportunity to link crime, violence, and insanity with "drugs". The propagandist insinuates that prohibited drugs cause evil, and if it weren't for "drugs" bad things would not exist. (Madness,Crime,Violence,Illness (propaganda theme 2) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme2.htm#2 ) re: "community" - Prohibitionists assert that the survival of the community, society, the nation, the world, etc. are at stake. Only continued and increased punishments for drug users can be contemplated, because, say prohibitionists, society will otherwise fall apart. (Survival of Society (propaganda theme 3) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme3.htm#3 ) 
 
 
[14]
Parents "are brought right in, and they get to focus on the young people," she said . 

(Sentence 14) re: "young people" - Drug war propaganda plays on parental fears for the well being of their kids. If drug users are not jailed, says the prohibitionist, then your children will surely suffer. (Children Corrupted (propaganda theme 5) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme5.htm#5 ) 
 
 
[15]
"We do not promote or condone marijuana use."

(Sentence 15) re: "marijuana use" - The rhetoric of prohibition will assume that "use" and "abuse" are identical. (Use is Abuse (propaganda theme 4) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme4.htm#alluseisabuse ) 
 
 
[16]
Taylor said teenagers would benefit by the change because they would no longer have a record in the state's criminal history databases, one that could haunt them later in life when they apply for jobs . 

(Sentence 16) re: "criminal" - Drugs, claim the prohibitionist, cause insanity, violence, and terrible sickness. (Madness,Crime,Violence,Illness (propaganda theme 2) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme2.htm#2 ) re: "teenagers" - Prohibitionist propaganda continually whips up parental fear, invoking lurid images of children corrupted by drugs. (Children Corrupted (propaganda theme 5) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme5.htm#5 ) 
 
 
[17]
But according to prosecutors, under current law, those arrested with an ounce or less of marijuana automatically have their case continued without a finding for six months, and if they do not violate the law, their criminal file is sealed . 

(Sentence 17) re: "criminal" - The rhetoric of prohibition asserts that insanity, crime, and violence are caused by drugs, or are controlled by prohibition. (Madness,Crime,Violence,Illness (propaganda theme 2) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme2.htm#2 ) 
 
 
[18]
"Nobody goes to jail today for simple possession of marijuana," said Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett, who is listed as the treasurer for the opponents, who are using the name Coalition for Safe Streets during the campaign . 

(Sentence 18) re: "possession of marijuana" - "This strategy equates the use and abuse of drugs and implies that it is impossible to use the particular drug or drugs in question without physical, mental, and moral deterioration." [W.White,1979] (Use is Abuse (propaganda theme 4) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme4.htm#alluseisabuse ) 
 
 
[19]
Blodgett said the criminal records are sealed and that most people who have a marijuana possession entry on their the criminal record also have more serious charges, such as gun possession . 

(Sentence 19) re: "criminal" - Drugs, the prohibitionist explains, are a wicked bane on modern man. Why if not for the noble drug war (i.e. jailing drug users), exclaims the propagandist, then people will run amok, and violence, death, psychosis, and plague shall cover the land. (Madness,Crime,Violence,Illness (propaganda theme 2) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme2.htm#2 ) re: "marijuana possession" - Prohibitionist propagandists repeatedly assert that "use is abuse." Details about "using" as opposed to "abusing" drugs are ignored. (Use is Abuse (propaganda theme 4) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme4.htm#alluseisabuse ) 
 
 
[21]
Blodgett and Conley also lashed out at New York billionaire George Soros, who donated $400,000 to the group last year, according to the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance . 

(Sentence 21) re: "George Soros", "billionaire" - Because they care so deeply for the kids, prohibitionists are above reproach. Therefore, the evil legalizers who dare question the drug war must be silenced. (Dissent Attacked (propaganda theme 8) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme8.htm#8 ) 
 
 

[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #5 posted by museman on September 17, 2008 at 16:43:53 PT

warn the children
Don't believe your television, ask the experienced, they are around.In a natural human, tribal-community society, the elders would be the recognized authorities on almost everything, because they lived it. In this society, we believe our TV newscasters, and the published works of the staus quo - that back up the orchestrations of the powers that be. Our concept of 'authority' is 'documented,' fixed, dictated and controlled by the 'authority' themselves. Our elders are treated very, very badly. (except the 'accepted' members of the status quo.)Homer once advised the Roman Emporers that "The only ones that should be allowed to lie, are the rulers of the states." Man how they have successfully employed that axiom to support their many conquests since the proverbial garden. Lie, lie, lie.The government is a lie. All governments lie. It is their perogative. That makes its participants liars.'Accountability of the government' is a phrase we've been dallying with since Nixon, but it has yet to truly happen.But as runruff observes; "The reckoning IS coming."We may get to help enable that reckoning along at a faster pace once the Romans, I mean 'republicans' are brought down to manageable size.So in the current race towards the power goal, cast your token into the hat for the only choice even resembling sanity. Hopefully the diebold won't swallow whole blocks of the peoples will like it did before. If it does people, we better do better than Gore did in forcing the recount.And if the chance to exhale comes as the first black man in our history holds the highest office in the land, then breathe deep the fresh air, have our well deserved celebration, and then lets finish the job.
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #4 posted by HempWorld on September 17, 2008 at 15:31:56 PT

Officials Unite To Fight Marijuana Initiative
This, my friends, is called fascism! Back to square one.
On a mission from God!
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #3 posted by tintala on September 17, 2008 at 14:15:41 PT:

It's not ike dealers go to playgrounds and sell
cannabis, when was the last time anyone saw a dealer at a playground selling dope? kids don't have money to buy , and if kids want dope , alcohol, tobacco, pills, condoms,porno , they will get it, regardless of the governments naive position that it will send the wrong message to kids. Media does that daily , the other day i saw on the news after the BRONCOS game, a dude walking thru the parking lot with his daughter on his shoulders, holding up a can of beer in his left hand, ohhhhhh but this is waaaaay ok with everyone, even if he had a cigarette , no biggy, but if he had a joint? The whole world would fall apart. I see this daily , alcohol is in the very social fabric of USA>
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #2 posted by potpal on September 17, 2008 at 13:20:56 PT

addiction
Law enforcement is addicted to cannabis prohibition.Cannabis prohibition is a crime against humanity.Therefore, LEOs are criminals.Warn the children.
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #1 posted by runruff on September 17, 2008 at 12:18:22 PT

The reckoning!
It's coming!
[ Post Comment ]





  Post Comment