If everyone who smokes pot would get off their damn ass and call or write a simple letter of support for this California Bill, especially to the 'swing vote' democrats listed below, maybe we could begin to get somewhere with this issue. How many of you KNOW how and why marijuana was made illegal in the first place? (See excerpts from Judge Whitebread's speech after the NORML ALERT below.)
Everyone knows MJ should be as legal as beer. WHY ISN'T IT? Two reasons: First of all, because the war on drugs is BIG BUSINESS. Keeping drugs illegal keeps big bucks pouring into the coffers of the criminal class and the policing agencies given government money (your tax dollars) to 'fight' them (wink wink, nudge nudge). Yes, it is a RACKET. Second, people, even people who smoke pot, won't stand up for themselves and demand that their elected representatives reclassify marijuana. Currently MJ is a "Schedule 1" (most prohibited) drug along with heroin. However, time and time again it has been shown that there is simply neither a SCIENTIFIC nor a SOCIOLOGICAL justification for this classification. And yet nothing changes and over 100,000 people are arrested in the US every year for simple MJ possession. This isn't just NUTS, folks, the MJ laws are themselves CRIMINAL and are doing REAL HARM to otherwise law abiding pot smokers.
Pass the information below on to your friends who smoke or are at least open minded on the subject. Yes, MJ is a drug and, as with all drugs, should only be used in moderation. But keeping it "Schedule 1" only INCREASES the social problems associated with its use. Get everyone motivated TO DO SOMETHING about this other than complain.
If not HERE, where? If not NOW, when?
BMU
---------------------- Cal NORML ACTION ALERT - URGE CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY TO PASS DECRIM BILL SB 131
To California NORML Friends & Supporters:
The California legislature is about to take a crucial vote on marijuana decriminalization. The State Assembly is reconsidering a bill by Sen. Byron Sher, SB 131, which would downgrade possession of one ounce or less of marijuana from a misdemeanor to an infraction, like a parking ticket.
SB 131 would spare minor offenders the trouble of a court appearance and criminal conviction. It would also save taxpayers the court costs of trials for petty pot violations.
Last year, SB 131 passed the Senate but fell 5 votes short of passage in the Assembly, due largely to lack of support among 'swing' Democrats (Republicans voted solidly against it).
Now, SB 131 is up for reconsideration by the Assembly. Passage is essential for the progress of marijuana reform in Sacramento. If SB 131 is approved, it could open the way for more ambitious proposals, such as a bill to decriminalize personal use cultivation. If it fails, marijuana reform will be dead in Sacramento.
Californians are urged to contact their Assembly members in support of SB 131. NORML has created pre-written letters that you can send to your legislators by visiting:
EXCERPTS FROM The History of the Non-Medical Use of Drugs in the United States by Charles Whitebread, Professor of Law, USC Law School
<long historical snip>
The Marihuana Tax Act of 1937
<snip>
When we asked at the Library of Congress for a copy of the (Congressional) hearings (on the prohibition of Marijuana), to the shock of the Library of Congress, none could be found. We went "What?" It took them four months to finally honor our request because -- are you ready for this? -- the hearings were so brief that the volume had slid down inside the side shelf of the bookcase and was so thin it had slid right down to the bottom inside the bookshelf. That's how brief they were. Are you ready for this? They had to break the bookshelf open because it had slid down inside.
There were three bodies of testimony at the hearings on the national marijuana prohibition.
The first testimony came from Commissioner Harry Anslinger, the newly named Commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics (son-in law of the DuPont family, by the way).
<long, interesting snip>
So, over the objection of the American Medical Association, the bill passed out of committee and on to the floor of Congress. Now, some of you may think that the debate on the floor of Congress was more extensive on the marijuana prohibition. It wasn't. It lasted one minute and thirty-two seconds by my count and, as such, I will give it to you verbatim.
The entire debate on the national marijuana prohibition was as follows -- and, by the way, if you had grown up in Washington, DC as I had you would appreciate this date. Are you ready? The bill was brought on to the floor of the House of Representatives -- there never was any Senate debate on it not one word -- 5:45 Friday afternoon, August 20. Now, in pre-air-conditioning Washington, who was on the floor of the House? Who was on the floor of the House? Not very many people.
Speaker Sam Rayburn called for the bill to be passed on "tellers". Does everyone know "tellers"? Did you know that for the vast bulk of legislation in this country, there is not a recorded vote. It is simply, more people walk past this point than walk past that point and it passes -- it's called "tellers". They were getting ready to pass this thing on tellers without discussion and without a recorded vote when one of the few Republicans left in Congress, a guy from upstate New York, stood up and asked two questions, which constituted the entire debate on the national marijuana prohibition.
"Mr. Speaker, what is this bill about?"
To which Speaker Rayburn replied, "I don't know. It has something to do with a thing called marihuana. I think it's a narcotic of some kind."
Undaunted, the guy from Upstate New York asked a second question, which was as important to the Republicans as it was unimportant to the Democrats. "Mr. Speaker, does the American Medical Association support this bill?"
In one of the most remarkable things I have ever found in any research, a guy who was on the committee, and who later went on to become a Supreme Court Justice, stood up and -- do you remember? The AMA guy was named William C. Woodward -- a member of the committee who had supported the bill leaped to his feet and he said, "Their Doctor Wentworth came down here. They support this bill 100 percent." It wasn't true, but it was good enough for the Republicans. They sat down and the bill passed on tellers, without a recorded vote.
In the Senate there never was any debate or a recorded vote, and the bill went to President Roosevelt's desk and he signed it and we had the national marijuana prohibition.
1. Your posting it at the wrong time, not much action after midnight
Edited on Wed Mar-10-04 03:01 AM by Zinfandel
around here on a week night.
However, I will write...there has to me some kind of mass writings and sending site used to make sure the swing Democrats get flooded with email...like send a letter to Jim Harris at Progressive Secretary Jim@ProgressiveSecretary.Org and other sites.
seriously vote in favor of decriminalizing MJ. Reason number 1: My sister smoked MJ recreationally and had no other health problems. None. Not even depression. My sister didn't even drink. No alcohol at all in her body. She lived a good life, but one night, she drove home from a friends house after a little innocent partying and took out a family of three. Ages 25, 24 and 2 months old. They were just out strolling their daughter along in the warm summer air. Now, my sister is in jail for the rest of her life. As she should be. As she feels she should be. Gave up a 65,000.00 a year job just to have a little fun. Every time I tell this story, I think of that family. My sister is paying with hers.
That was all about money. Your arguements are not standing up. You are obviously not seeing what I am saying. People who use MJ are not always going to be able to use their best judgement. My perfectly normal sister chose to drive UNDER THE INFLUENCE and killed a family. I only said I didn't support this bill. Not that I don't support regulation of MJ. I want to see it used for medicinal reasons only. But securely regulated. That's all.
I will suppose you are using MJ to "get away" from it all. From what? What is it that is so bad in your life that you need to smoke something like MJ or whatever and "get away"? Sounds like therapy would be a better choice, albeit more expensive. At least your insurance would help pay for it.
26. well, your "sister" suffered from poor judgment. Blame that, not pot.
Edited on Wed Mar-10-04 04:50 AM by thebigidea
"I will suppose you are using MJ to "get away" from it all. From what?"
you assume a lot. I don't use anything but insomnia and sheer spleen.
But feel free to dispense advice. I suppose I could reciprocate and give you a stream of condescending advice as well... have you considered aluminium siding? How about jumping jacks followed by a lobotomy?
But, it was my sisters choice to use the drug. She also made the choice to go out and drive. She had done it before for years and nothing ever happened.
5. So are you working hard to make alcohol and pharmaceutical judgment
Edited on Wed Mar-10-04 03:31 AM by Zinfandel
impairing drugs illegal as well, these are real killer drugs...
You've never seen someone lying in the gutter begging for a joint? I've seen many who beg for alcohol, crank, heroin and pharmaceutical "legal" drugs.
So a person should NEVER consume anything to relax if they choose? It's a know fact humans need unwinding with what gets away from their own reality and everyone has their drug of choice.
Some choose the drug of the killing manipulating guilt pushing of Christianity.
My partners sister-in-law has to have MJ every 30 minutes or she becomes a monster. She has real problems if she stops using it. She says she can't even eat. Interesting that someone who claims she has no real health problems has to use MJ just to be able to eat? Isn't that an addiction??
Also, she grows her own MJ legally. However, she is risking her license because she is giving the stuff to her friends in smokable form. Her license is only to distribute to people who have a prescription. So, in effect she is risking the entire legislation in the State of Oregon. We all know that it takes only one person to make a mistake and have it snowball. I am all for giving it to AIDS patients and such, but to have it regulated. I am totally against recreational use. I have a really stressful job but I am able to wind down in my own way. A way that is not harmful, even temporarily to my body. I don't need to smoke something in order to wind down as you say. Yoga is best for me.
Also, I have asthma and I can't even smoke or be around it. I had an attack this past weekend that nearly ended me up in the ER.
11. Right that's best for you and yoga is your drug of choice, that's what
Edited on Wed Mar-10-04 04:27 AM by Zinfandel
stretching and postures do for you it's your high and you don't ever want to stop.
You sound very young, I don't really know.
There are ten of thousands of people in jail right now as you sleep tonight, free...and they are locked up...for simply enjoying pot their drug of choice.
You mention "My partners sister-in-law" and her pot intake...well I know people who have the same problem with food...should we make food illegal, obesity is the second leading killer in America, (the drug tobacco, is the number one killer).
Not all people are like the addictive personalties you know...there are millions and millions of intelligent, produtive, creative, responsible, caring people who choose to smoke pot...yet you can't see it to be liberal enough to let one make ones own decision to smoke pot or not.
I have off and for over 32 years...I enjoy it sometimes other times I'm bored with it and may not smoke a joint for month's at a time...or smoke only when I'm listening to music or maybe if I'm watching a cool cool film and then again not smoke while doing the exact same things...it doesn't matter, I choose when I want to or don't want to smoke and have been for over 32 years. And millions of others have as well and longer than I...many go years and not smoke a joint and then enjoy a joint or two and then go years again before they decide they want to enjoy, relax or just plain laugh and have fun.
I am 40 years young, thank you. This incident happened a couple years ago. My sister was 40 at the time this incident took place.
People who have the same problem with food have a personality disorder. Not the same thing as an addiction. Most people who are overweight and have a hereditary pre-disposition for that are not eating themselves to death. Those people who are starving themselves or who have other eating disorders have serious mental health problems. My sister did not. In fact, most people who use MJ are not mentally disturbed. I know that fact.
Your argument does not stand, sorry. Most people I know who I know smoke pot are people who could lose their jobs if they were subject to a random drug test. I know I could lose my job. Yes, I have been subjected to random drug tests. I have also had to be the one to fire people for violating company policy. I hated it, but I had no choice.
Those people who are in jail, I am sad they chose to obviously break the law. They would have had to if they weren't responsible.
People like you would probably taunt me just like my partners sister-in-law does. She is a whole hearted advocate. Let me tell you what she did. She had me, my partner and her partner in the car, knowing my story, full well. She decided that she would drive down a pitch black country road and smoke a joint. Just to get to me. I in turn vomited in the back of her brand new Plymouth PT Cruiser. Needless to say, she doesn't talk to me anymore.
19. THANK YOU you made our point...IT NEEDS TO BE DECRIMINALIZED!
Edited on Wed Mar-10-04 04:55 AM by Zinfandel
That's ALL we are asking.
People losing their job because they choose to smoke a joint and going to prison for smoking pot and since you don't care about every other responsible persons choices...but
I love how you use the crutch that all obesity is hereditary which is bullshit, there's some fat people out there, who just love and are addicted to stuffing their faces..how come you don't have the same compassion for those who choose to smoke a joint, let them make their own choice...
THAT'S WHAT'S BEING A PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRAT IS ALL ABOUT...LETTING PEOPLE MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS IN THEIR LIVES.
Perhaps if everyone in the world just did the drug of choice yoga to get high, it would be fine with you.
You know some very sick additive personalities in your life...you should get out more and see that there are millions who do NOT have addictive personalies...do you want gambling, lotteries, etc. illegal as well, because the are degenerate addicted gamblers out there?
You did not fully read (or understand) my message. I said MOST not ALL overweight people are hereditary. It is a known fact. Yes, there is a food addiction disorder, but it's still a mental health disorder.
Let's see, would you like to have the pilot flying the next plane your on, smoking a joint why in the air? Or worse yet, on alcohol? Yes, these people should lose their jobs. I do not have a drug of choice. I use yoga moves to relax my muscles. That's not like or comparable to using a drug.
The reason I know some sick personalities is because I study Psychology. Not as a career, I'm a writer.
Attacking me for having my own opinion is so un-dem of you.
Besides, I worked for Clinton in DC. Guess what his view is.
If a drug or substance rather, adversely alters our brain activity, and we drive a car...we are subject to a DUI even for prescription drugs. Doesn't that tell you that the person using the drug was not able to tell if they themselves were "okay" to drive? It's the same with alcoholics. They are so intoxicated that they can't tell the difference. For the most part they feel good. That was what happened to my sister. The only reason my sister knew she'd hit "something" in the road was because a tree stopped her, she got out of the car and saw a baby blanket attached to her hood. The family she hit was three blocks down the road behind her. Her license plate number was pressed into the mans back.
I am saying that the use of MJ impaired my sisters judgment. The levels of THC in her system were high, but not as if she'd been smoking it all night long. She thought she was fine to drive. She thought she was fine even after she had hit the family. She never even mentioned to the officers that she had had MJ that night. Even though they did ask. They told her she was under the influence when the blood test came back. Then she fessed up. She said she never saw the family, but somehow, her tires marked up the sidewalk they were walking on. It was the next day when she finally realized the magnitude of what she had done. Marijuana ruined four lives and really sadly hurt my parents. Both my parents have been in hell since this happened. My 83 year old father aged almost overnight when he heard.
I got to see the videotape of her arrest. The one taken from the cruiser. Well, it wasn't even apparent to me she was anything but normally upset that she had wrecked her car.
When the officer asked her if she thought she might have hit anything else, she replied "No, but what's this blanket stuck in my hood?" The officer looked at her and you could see my sister realize why he had asked the question. She went hysterical.
23. I'm in favor of criminalizing pranayama - yogic breathing excercises...
... are KILLERS of our young, cloggers of lungs. I've had enough of those damn meditators corrupting our youth with strange foreign practices. Its time this evil came to an end!
28. Why should they be able to get high and then proselytize the
Edited on Wed Mar-10-04 05:07 AM by Zinfandel
the wonders of their yoga drug...personally I think it's really just black magic. We should stop them and make it illegal before this yoga thing gets outta hand!!!
29. its really taken hold of our youth... I tell you, its DIABOLICAL!
Edited on Wed Mar-10-04 04:55 AM by thebigidea
My 92 year old aunt got hooked on the lotus position - "oh, just 5 more minutes, man... I just need 5 more minutes..." - soon she was doing it for days at a time, and seemingly aging in 2 week installments...
yoga is a gateway discipline, it leads to things like macrame.
and people who choose to use it, would not be properly educated as to it's effects. The truly educated person makes the best choice. Or one would hope...see my sister sitting jail...she's an educated person. But I think you get my point.
how easy is liqour to get? how easy is it to get cough syrup? valerian? what about prescription drugs? xanax? valium? paxil used to make me sleepy. i seriously doubt the legalization of marijuana wouldn't come with some stipulations, i seriously doubt it will be available in every drug store over the counter, in every discount store on the corner, etc.
personally, I can't agree with it because it drives Mexicans to RAPE our precious white women... the fiendish devil drug "marihuana" is nothing more than an escalator STRAIGHT TO HELL...
you remember Satan, from the Bible? Well, he's the INVENTOR of Marijuana. Levitcus II, 4: "And if a man lays down with a marihuana, he is unclean. Thou must break all thy clay pots."
I'm sorry to hear about a family killed by someone under the influence. I'm equally sorry to hear about the thousands upon thousands of individuals and families that are significantly harmed every year by fallacious drug laws and ignorant attitudes towards drugs THAT DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD.
Human beings can use recreational drugs RESPONSIBLY. I've been smoking pot off and on since I was 18 years old (1966). I've never run over ANYONE. In fact, I seldom drive when I'm high. My preference is to sit at home and enjoy a movie or make art or screw around on the computer writing. I get stoned maybe twice a week. I go through phases when I smoke more, phases when I don't smoke at all. And I don't smoke cigarettes and I don't drink alcohol.
I understand not everyone is like me. Some people seem to have addictive tendencies. But there's the problem--such people are going to become addicted to SOMETHING. Does making that "something" illegal prevent the addiction? The answer is a blazingly obvious NO. There may be ways to deal with addictive personality disorders, making whatever is used to feed the addiction illegal is NOT the way to go about it.
But such discussions get us WAY off track. The central issue here is Marijuana and its current scheduling and regulation. If you read the history of how MJ became illegal in the first place it is a very clear that it was a con job by the DuPonts, the Hearsts and others who wanted to eliminate commercial HEMP production. The "dangers" of pot inebriation were a sham cover story for the REAL intention. That this prohibition gave the state another reason to arrest blacks, Hispanics and "social deviants" (like jazz musicians and "communists") was an added bonus. The point is, the AMA testified before Congress in 1937 that it knew of no reason to make this drug illegal.
What has changed is not the science or the sociology. The only difference now is that we've had seventy years of pot prohibition and said prohibition has become the corner stone of the "War On Drugs" (the fore-runner of the "War On Terrorism"). It is a BOGUS SOCIAL POLICY! As I said in the original post, drug prohibition puts MONEY in the pockets of the CRIMINAL CLASS and then our tax dollars are used to "fight" them (but not really). It is a RACKET and that is the central issue here.
Our fundamental rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness have been taken away, little by little. Some even GIVE our rights away in exchange for a false sense of security.
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