cannabisnews.com: Harsh Punishment Is No Way to Solve Problem!





Harsh Punishment Is No Way to Solve Problem!
Posted by FoM on March 11, 1999 at 06:31:42 PT

ANN LANDERSBy Ann LandersDear Ann:This is in response to the letter from "A Sad Mother in Va.," whose son was arrested for marijuana possession. You said our laws on possession are too harsh.
You sure got it wrong. Marijuana is not the benign, innocuous drug that many believe it is. People use it to alter what's going on in the brain. It impairs one's ability to think, to move, to remember, to drive, to study and so on. Would it bother you if your doctor were a regular pot smoker? Your police officer? Your teachers?Ask people in drug treatment if drugs should be legal. They'll tell you that if drugs were legal, they never would have been able to quit. I admit I am biased. I've been a police officer for 22 years and have seen the damage drugs do, including marijuana. Please reconsider your position on this one, Ann.-- Pasadena, Calif.I agree that marijuana can alter one's judgment, and I do not advocate its use. However, I see no point in harsh jail sentences for users. They need help to get off the weed. It can be a tough battle. Read on for more:From Evanston, Ill.: Thank you for your courage in taking such an unpopular stand. I was injured in a train accident three years ago and have been in constant pain ever since. Marijuana helps, but it is illegal. How sad that I am a criminal just because I am struggling to survive.Baltimore, Md.: Your comments on the legality of marijuana are right on. Marijuana, like alcohol, should be legal, and people should be held fully responsible for their actions while under the influence.Boulder, Colo.: I do not understand how the government can justify spending my tax dollars pursuing and arresting citizens for participating in an activity that harms no one. Alcohol, which has caused so much pain, suffering and death, is legal. Yet marijuana, which has proven medical benefits, is not.Akron, Ohio: I'm disappointed in you, Ann. To relax the laws on drug possession would be a huge mistake. When I was in high school, I saw kids unable to sit still because they were high. Many of these same students failed classes on a regular basis. I do not want my children to grow up thinking it's OK to smoke pot.Corvallis, Ore.: Three days after your column on marijuana appeared, the residence adviser in my dorm called the police, and I was arrested for possession of pot. My stash was confiscated, and I had to go to court and pay a small fine. The police officer who cited me was the same officer who had pulled over a drunk friend of mine earlier that week and allowed him to continue driving.Roanoke, Va.: "Sad Mother" said her son was a good kid. Aren't they all? She said he wasn't hurting anyone but himself with his drug use. What happens when he is stoned? Is his judgment sound? I have smoked pot myself, and grew up with an alcoholic father. I know what drugs can do. This "good kid" is a threat to society. Knowing pot smokers are driving cars scares me to death. I have no problem paying taxes to prosecute and incarcerate people who break the law.Bethel, Conn.: Marijuana has not contributed to nearly as many deaths, injuries or diseases as other perfectly legal substances such as alcohol and tobacco. I realize your comments do not make you an advocate for pot, and your approach sounds reasonable to me. Thank you.Tampa, Fla.: I am certain many Americans share your view about decriminalizing possession. It is totally senseless for our government to make this plant illegal. Marijuana may be bad for you, but 30 years of incarceration is insane. Let's not throw the baby out with the bath.http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/front.htm
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Comment #5 posted by Sheila Day on September 03, 2001 at 10:51:45 PT:
VERY LIBERAL VIEW ON MARIJUANA
I Get sick and tired of ready comments by people who DON'TKNOW WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT. It amazes me at the inputpeople have when they know absolutely nothing on the subject. I SMOKED pot in High School I am a baby boomer from the 70s. MANY MANY MANY of the baby boomers smoked potat one time or another. Some picked the habit up as a life long way to relax after a hard days work rather than drinka scotch and water. Many others such as myself choose notto smoke on a regular basis. Not saying I wouldn't sociallytoke a joint in the right social setting and environment.I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE A PERSONAL CHOICE. A RIGHT TO CHOOSEISSUE. And that people that know nothing of the subject should keep there pig headed mouths shut. ANYONE WHO HASEVER USED MARIJUANA to any extent in there lives know thatit is a passive drug. The users are non agressive, drivelike little old ladies when there stoned and about as threatening to those in society as a lightning bug. Marijuana smokers are among some of the most PEACEFUL wellgrounded, accepting, nonjudgemental, non opinionated peopleon earth. THEY MIND THERE OWN BUSINESS AND FIND IT HARD tounderstand those who don't. AND FOR ANY CHILD Or personto pay the harsh penalties that this so called governmentchooses to impose on our people for there choice to endulgeis a crime far greater than any marijuana smoker could evercommit. AND IT IS ANNUAL RETENTIVE PEOPLE WITH SELF SERVINGOPINIONS WHO ARE RUINING THIS COUNTRY FOR THE FREEDOM LOVINGREST OF US. SO MIND YOUR ON BUSINESS AND LET EACH OF USLIVE OUR LIVES IN PEACE AND HARMONY WITHOUT YOUR JUDGMENTS.It is you communist loving people who try to tell the restof us what to do that should be in jail. THIS ALL COMINGFROM A DEVOTED CHRISTAIN WOMEN WHO LIVES BY GODS LAWSNOT MANS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Comment #4 posted by observer on March 24, 2001 at 22:40:30 PT
links -- Cannabis/Driving 
UK: Cannabis May Make You A Safer Driver (2000) http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n1161/a02.html University Of Toronto Study Shows Marijuana Not A Factor In Driving Accidents (1999)http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases\1999\03\990325110700.htm Australia: Cannabis Crash Risk Less: Study (1998) http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v98/n945/a08.html Australia: Study Goes to Pot (1998) http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v98/n947/a06.html
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Comment #3 posted by fuscia on March 24, 2001 at 15:47:46 PT
drivin
marijuana does not effect your driving skills very much studies have shown that out of all those drugs (alcohol, cocaine and such)marijuana was the least affectant on driving the only thing the testers had trouble with was driving in a figure 8 which is prettyhard for a lot of people of course if youre ever under influence of pot it would be safer for you not to drive just in case
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Comment #2 posted by Heather on April 29, 2000 at 12:25:07 PT
I dissagree
I am a highschool student that goes to a highly regarded high school. I see students everyday who are so burnt out that they can't walk straight. They are in my classes, where I work, and some of them are even my friends. I choose not to do drugs, and I hope that they all get caught and get sent to prison, simply for pushing drugs on others, and pulling people in to these horrible habits they have. How can anyone that doesnt do drugs not want these people in jail? Do you honestly want your kids doing drugs? Do you even know how many people in schools do drugs? At least 70% have tried it at one time or another. I personally think this is horrible and I think youre a horrible person if you dont want people to be punished for their irrisponible actions. Shame on you for being that way. 
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Comment #1 posted by Ginny on November 21, 1999 at 13:14:53 PT:
Thirty years is insane!!!
To the person who said that they are scared to death that pot smokers are driving, perhaps you should check on things before state them. Recent studies have proven that the use of marijuana does NOT have much to do with the accident rates. And to the poor mother that is facing this situation with her son, I am truly sorry. This is insane what the government is doing to citizens. 30 years?? are you kidding? There are murders out there that don't end up with HALF as much time as this is!! Get real.
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