cannabisnews.com: Bruce Ramsey Lights Up, Makes Pro-Marijuana Case
function share_this(num) {
 tit=encodeURIComponent('Bruce Ramsey Lights Up, Makes Pro-Marijuana Case');
 url=encodeURIComponent('http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/27/thread27121.shtml');
 site = new Array(5);
 site[0]='http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u='+url+'&title='+tit;
 site[1]='http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit.php?url='+url+'&title='+tit;
 site[2]='http://digg.com/submit?topic=political_opinion&media=video&url='+url+'&title='+tit;
 site[3]='http://reddit.com/submit?url='+url+'&title='+tit;
 site[4]='http://del.icio.us/post?v=4&noui&jump=close&url='+url+'&title='+tit;
 window.open(site[num],'sharer','toolbar=0,status=0,width=620,height=500');
 return false;
}






Bruce Ramsey Lights Up, Makes Pro-Marijuana Case
Posted by CN Staff on October 10, 2012 at 07:18:53 PT
By Bruce Ramsey, Times Editorial Columnist
Source: Seattle Times
Washington -- The arguments for Initiative 502, the ballot measure to legalize and tax marijuana for general adult use, are remarkably impersonal. People make health arguments, economic arguments and legal arguments. Who will say, “I just want to smoke it”?A few weeks ago, I smoked it for the first time in 20 years. It was a quiet happening. I lounged by a campfire, entranced by the flames. Bugs gathered on the firewood, spooked by the smoke and heat. Some jumped to safety and some jumped into the flames. I pondered this for quite a while.
Afterward I thought, Why is this illegal? To protect the children? No children were present. And I am 61 years old. Why should I be subject to the laws for children? The public concern over children is overdone. In the current “liberal” regime of marijuana for use as medicine, dispensaries are not allowed within 1,000 feet of a school or playground. It is a stupid rule. Within two blocks of my house a 7-Eleven dispenses tobacco, wine and beer directly across the street from a park with play structures and ballfields. There is no problem for children. The 7-Eleven does not entice the children to buy cigarettes and beer. They buy Slurpees.Is addiction the problem? I know addiction; I was addicted to cigarettes. Marijuana is not like that. The few people who continue to argue otherwise all seem to be in anti-drug work. They are making a living from prohibition, and they are seeing the worst cases. Their world is not representative and their view is not fair.They are correct when they say that today’s cannabis is stronger than the twigs-and-seeds stuff of decades ago. I had no problem with it: I used less.The smoking mixture was called Thor’s Hammer, and it had been “diverted” from a medical dispensary. I suspect this happens a lot. It is what people do. During liquor prohibition, when churches were allowed to have wine for communion, the sale of “religious wine” went up.In the matter of intoxicants, demand creates supply. It has always been so. The question for government is, do you send in the tax man or the police? It depends on what you want, revenue or prisoners. It depends also on the drug. It’s hard to imagine a company with liability insurance, tax accountants and a membership in the chamber of commerce marketing methamphetamine. With marijuana you can imagine it. We are practically there now, and in Initiative 502 we are offered the further steps of state licensing and taxation of growers, processors and shop owners. I-502 is the next step toward cannabis as a regulated commercial product. Not the last step, but a big one. I’m for it. I’ve been waiting a long time for this.A final caveat. I am not arguing here for a “drug lifestyle.” I had a taste of that in the summer of 1970. I smoked a lot, then not so much and, by and by, none at all. I had other things to do. A marijuana life is a wasted life — but so is a wine life, a beer life, or a chips-and-dip-with-TV life.We live the lives we choose. And if from time to time I want a bag of Doritos, a schooner of Hale’s Cream Ale or a hit of Thor’s Hammer, what difference should it make to my government, so long as I pay its tax? Bruce Ramsey's column appears regularly on editorial pages of The Times. Source: Seattle Times (WA)Author: Bruce Ramsey, Times Editorial ColumnistPublished: October 9, 2012Copyright: 2012 The Seattle Times CompanyContact: opinion seatimes.comWebsite: http://www.seattletimes.com/URL: http://drugsense.org/url/7E4OvmV5CannabisNews  -- Cannabis  Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml 
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help 
     
     
     
     




Comment #10 posted by Hope on October 29, 2012 at 12:41:37 PT
Now there's a different link!
Maybe it's the computer I'm posting on. I don't usually post on this computer and maybe it has some sort of link setting going on.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #9 posted by Hope on October 29, 2012 at 12:40:07 PT
A comment on this article.
I agree with this, from the article, "And I am 61 years old. Why should I be subject to the laws for children?"And something else. FoM, on my computer there are links... in bright green, showing up within the posted article... and now I see there is one in my comment... and I did not purposely do that. I only wrote plain old "agree". In the first preview... I see the link.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #8 posted by Hope on October 29, 2012 at 10:33:02 PT
And of course... Johnobonno
one of the situations and acts of atrocities by misled government that loudly called for people to speak up.Will Foster.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #7 posted by Hope on October 29, 2012 at 08:34:46 PT
Being careful....
There's a sneery looking narc facing two wheelchair bound patients in the main picture on that medical campaign site. It's scary. But as long as you aren't carrying, growing, or selling... you should be free to appear and say something in the effort. You may have to do without to be able to do or say something about the injustice of it all. I have. I want to save people from jail and injustice... I don't want to go to jail though, and suffer injustice. It's bad enough suffering other people's suffering.Knowing about how effective some cannabis is on some cancers... breast cancer is one that it seems to inhibit from what I read... I've wondered if I hadn't had to NOT use to feel free to speak up... if I might have been spared cancer. I'll never know. But I had to speak up for the sake of the people suffering terrible injustice and even death because of cannabis prohibition. The injustice done to them was staggering and hurt my very soul to see it happen. Whatever. I had to do it and I had to do it the way I did it because of where I live. You may be too ill to do without your medicine and help. That's understandable.You don't have to tell Reps and Senators that you actually use cannabis to be supportive of changing the laws. Of course, nearly everyone thinks you do if you speak up for changes... but that's part of the bloody crap that must be waded through to help the world get to a better place.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #6 posted by Hope on October 29, 2012 at 08:22:04 PT
Johnobonno
Be careful. It's Oklahoma.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #5 posted by Hope on October 29, 2012 at 08:21:25 PT
Johnobonno
Looks like a site worth checking out.http://okmedicalmarijuana.org/Looks like an interesting article.http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20120729_16_A20_CUTLIN472685Google: Medical Marijuana OklahomaI got lots of interesting looking hits.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #4 posted by afterburner on October 28, 2012 at 21:36:26 PT
Johnobonno #3
If OK HHS grants a hearing:I would recommend doing whatever you feel comfortable with deep in your heart. It is terrifying to tell your truth in the face of paid liars, but you will meet others with the same healing stories and the same fears. You will gain the respect and support of others too timid to speak out. You will feel better and more courageous after you make a stand and make contact. God bless and good luck!It's no cake walk. Some will hate, criticize and fear you, but even that can increase your determination.Much love, afterburner.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #3 posted by Johnobonno on October 28, 2012 at 20:57:52 PT:
I'm jealous. 
I wish there was more organization in Oklahoma for medical marijuana. I've been using it illegally here for more than ten years and have concluded that while 'street' pot is inconsistent and sometimes not as effective as it should be, it beats the heck out of nothing. Nothing else I have access to will keep me from gagging when I brush my teeth. Nothing works well enough to make my muscles work for me instead of against me when I do chores. I'm already too sick to work for any length of time, but a couple of hits and I feel like I can move around somewhat normally, get things done. I contracted Hep C from injections the Army gave me when I entered, the VA doesn't recognize that and I have no insurance. I now have cirrhosis of the liver and most days it's all I can do to get out of bed and go sit in front of the tv. A bit of marijuana seems to change everything. Please tell me some day I'll get to be legal, buying it here is a huge risk for me. My wife would be of even more benefit than I, but she is terrified of the illegal status, and we fight constantly over my use of it. Recently I've noticed a bit of activity in my state, the senate is looking at the medical efficacy of cannabis. I am hopeful, but not optimistic, there seems to be obstacles between people like me and any ability to openly declare and advocate for cannabis without being subject to ridicule and prosecution. Do any of you think I should risk contacting this state senator? Thanks for the input. 
http://www.newson6.com/story/18994380/oklahoma-senate-leader-approves-study-into
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #2 posted by afterburner on October 11, 2012 at 19:23:46 PT
Why We Must Re-Legalize!!!
Drugs. 
Online Publishing Company / By Barry Scott Sussman.
59 COMMENTS.
10 Years in Prison for Legally Growing Medical Pot? The Feds' Insane Assault on Perfectly Legal Activity.
The DOJ is aggressively pursuing medical marijuana cases in direct contravention of earlier pronouncements on the issue.
 October 9, 2012 
http://www.alternet.org/drugs/10-years-prison-legally-growing-medical-pot-feds-insane-assault-perfectly-legal-activity?akid=9519.313040.X0kspf&rd=1&src=newsletter724984&t=10&paging=offElection 2012.
AlterNet / By Lynn Parramore.
92 COMMENTS.
The Romney Men: 6 Filthy Rich Moguls Who Will Do Anything to Elect Mitt.
This is what plutocracy looks like. 
October 10, 2012
http://www.alternet.org/election-2012/romney-men-6-filthy-rich-moguls-who-will-do-anything-elect-mitt?akid=9519.313040.X0kspf&rd=1&src=newsletter724984&t=2&paging=offElection 2012. 
AlterNet / By Adele M. Stan.
171 COMMENTS.
9 Things That Show Mitt Romney Is Morally Bankrupt. 
It’s not that hard to be good to your family and friends. If true morality is evidenced by how one treats strangers, Romney’s reputation as a moral actor should be under water.
 October 9, 2012 
http://www.alternet.org/election-2012/9-things-show-mitt-romney-morally-bankrupt?paging=off
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #1 posted by ekim on October 10, 2012 at 11:12:08 PT
OR rally
http://www.tokeofthetown.com/2012/10/womens_rally_save_our_children_end_marijuana_prohi.php#more
[ Post Comment ]


Post Comment