cannabisnews.com: Legalize Marijuana Now Legalize Marijuana Now Posted by FoM on July 05, 2000 at 08:43:58 PT By Kevin Ratterree Source: ThemeStream Americans spend 16 million dollars annually on the "war on drugs", a war which was lost some time ago. Around 8 million dollars of that is spent toward marijuana. Though a majority of Americans believe that marijuana is no more harmful than alcohol, the laws do not reflect this belief. There is overwhelming support to this argument as there has never been a death attributed to the smoking of marijuana. In fact the biggest personal hazard a marijuana smoker encounters is the possibility of going to jail, and having our government help itself to all their personal possessions. Accused murderers don't have their car stolen by the government, but marijuana users do. Seems fair enough. After all, what greater crime is there than sitting peacefully in your living room smoking a joint.NORML reports that in 1998 682,885 people were arrested on marijuana charges. Of those 88% were simple posession charges. The other 12% includes people caught growing their own pot for personal consumption. It costs $23,000 a year to imprison these criminals. There are currently 10 million regular marijuana smokers in the U.S. so for a mere 23 trillion we can lock up every single one of them. Of course, when we do put away a marijuana user we we lock them up with murderers and thieves. Since the government has taken all their possessions it's handy to have real criminals around to teach them the new skills they'll need when they get out. And of course the murderers and rapists are grateful for our marijuana laws. With so many new marijuana convicts every year, parole's get pushed up sooner. So your sister may get raped or killed but at least the guy down the street isn't smoking pot on Saturday nights anymore.The "war on drugs" is and always has been a war on people. Namely the under classes and minorities. Have you ever heard of a rich man doing serious time for smoking pot? I don't think I have. 70 million Americans have smoked marijuana at least once, including our President. Yet, marijuana arrests are now double what they were when Clinton took office. The war has been lost, the emperor wears no clothes, but nobody seems willing to admit it. It's like having an old car that breaks down every week. Do you just keep dumping more and more money in it or do you eventually decide you need a different car. It's that kind of common sense that is lacking in the U.S. drug policies.I have personally known many people during my lifetime that smoked marijuana. The vast majority of them lead incredibly normal lives. They go to work every day without a hangover, they raise families, and pay taxes. The only difference between you and them is that they live in fear of being arrested for smoking the forbidden herb.But nothing is going to change until the non-pot smoking public realizes that the laws are ludicrous. Politicians once in a while have the guts to stand up and say exactly what I'm saying now, but the system has ways of shutting down would be revolutionaries. It will take a mandate from the people to ever get things changed. Until your son or daughter, or a friend of yours has their life destroyed by the current drug laws, you may not care what happens to "those people". But they are out there. The laws in place do not make them stop. And they never will. People have found ways to alter their conscience since the beginning of time. Wasting taxpayers money locking them up and destroying their lives is not the solution. About the author: 36 year old amateur essayist, published in a few local publications in Missouri. I have a somewhat tongue in cheek, in your face style of writing. Published: July 2, 2000© 2000 Themestream Inc.NORMLhttp://www.norml.org/CannabisNews Cannabis Archives:http://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtmlCannabisNews NORML Archives:http://cannabisnews.com/news/list/NORML.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #7 posted by Kanabys on October 13, 2000 at 05:48:23 PT Ha Ha!!! I know this is a late post, but I had to do it anyway. Hey W. Koler, you didn't have to link to this site. It's still a free country as of now and Mr. Marckson has every right granted by the 1st amendment to say what he wants to say. So I say, Mr. Koler, if ya don't like it, stay off this site!!!! (If that's OK with you, FoM.)Peace [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by WILLIAM KOLER on August 16, 2000 at 13:45:51 PT: coment #5 "Disclaimer" Disclaimer, comment #5 Brian Marckson.Brian had no right to express his views on marijauna on my comp.I do not share his veiws on this subject, do not respond to him on my comp. I will not respond !! thanks, William Koler [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by brian marckson on August 15, 2000 at 01:25:37 PT: could make it alot lot worse Look I read all the news, and I agree the pot laws are realy a good way to keep all the cops and all the special task force's with all their imaginative name's in a job.What else would those egomaniac's do,big tough guy's aren't they.Get this I used to be a bad person when I was 16-30,I hert alot of people most by steeling from them or scamming them in some way.I constantly had one or more court dates over my head and was getting no where fast.Then I in about 1978-80 I learned how to grow weed indoors.I was thrilled when my 4 little plants in my harvest garden(a little air drive system)turned into 4 big plants of the best weed I ever smoked, so I smoked it and expanded my system to 40 plants and I had weed so I never had to look for any, and I didn't want to do anything to cause the cops to come so while I was waiting for the weed to finish and during the crop, I kept a low profile. soon years had passed and I realized that I wasn't a total crimanal any more I had a proper licence and insurance,and I never drank boose. after 7-8 years I realized the only crime I commit is growing pot,sure I sold a bit here and there. After all a guy has nesesities and since I could sell a few bags here and there the need to B&E and scam people was gone. Then one day aug.90 I'm in my house in a very remote country area with my g/f and her two kids a couple of dogs and some good friends, ahh life was good, layed back, watch TV,play with the kids I never broke any laws and never hert anyone I just grew a little weed for my girl and I, hell I spent every cent in the local town,one morn.I woke up and someone was realy pounding on the door when I opened it a shot gun was up my nose and down I went,and in come 7 of the rudest most ignorant, arogant, abusive, cops imaginable, the kids were crying their mom was crying and they aressted her and I.They took all our weed and house old belongings,but not before ransacking our home and laughing at us while doing it.I took full blame and they let my girl out after three days of not telling her anything about her children,it took her 3 mos. to get them back from child services, who were convinced they were better for them than their own mother.Now I haven't had a charge for anything at all in 12 years and I go to court and they try to make me out to be as bad as they can, you know how prosacutors are (scum) so first pot charge ever,never been to jail before,so I get 10 mos.they break up a happy home and put my dogs in a spca and a mother of two on welfare,plus our relationship of 6 years ended,and I lost the three people I loved most, and all the while they were smileing at us,pushing us around dehumanizing us and condeming us, all because I grew some pot plants in the basement of our country home keeping to ourselves minding our business, raising our kids.Well thats 10 years ago now. I'm single and I still grow weed.I choose my friends a little more careful these days, I here the guy who ratted on me is dead now huh! imagine that! well we're not kids anymore, its serious shit and if the cops ever kick my door in again, I'll lead the 70-80connections I have throughout canada into the worst crime wave they ever could comprehend in their pea brains.Don't get me wrong I don't have any thing against the cops,just the methods they use and the enjoyment with witch they destroy a family and change peoples lives forever with the aditude that it is a sport, no regard for the human factor.but thats their way and if they choose they, could make things alot worse just remember all you people life is long,there's some things that will never be forgoten, what go's around will come around, you know who you are!!(: [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Kanabys on July 06, 2000 at 08:48:16 PT They get paid well. What a GravyTrain!!! No wonder the Feds don't want to give it up. It pays for their Beemer's, ETC. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on July 05, 2000 at 19:05:33 PT Going Up! I just looked and it now is over 19 billion! My goodness!http://www.drugsense.org/wodclock.htm [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by dddd on July 05, 2000 at 18:39:30 PT reporting figures Zion....I think 16 Billion is way too low......It's true;"Have to be very careful about under-reporting figures."...It's the opposite of theondcp/dea,,which grossly over reports what drug use costs taxpayers. It is an excellent essay.....dddd [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by zion on July 05, 2000 at 16:34:26 PT 16 mil is way too low Good essay, but "16 million" spent on the drug war is not accurate. Try "over 16 BILLION".See http://www.drugsense.org/wodclock.htm -Have to be very careful about under-reporting figures...the vast public is absolutely clueless on just how much the war against drug users is costing society or how much it has violated constitution rights. They don't need any help minimizing the costs or gravity of the situation. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: