Posted on 05/06/2003 10:09:33 AM PDT by MrLeRoy
RENO, Nev. (AP) - A Superior Court judge sharply criticized the drug war and renewed his call for the decriminalization of marijuana at a pro-marijuana rally Saturday.
Judge James Gray of Orange County, Calif., said the drug war has cost billions of dollars and resulted in the United States having the world's highest incarceration rate - with no end in sight to rampant drug abuse.
The former federal prosecutor said he has never smoked marijuana, but supports the strictly controlled distribution of pot to adults.
"We have made an illness into a plague. (This is) a failed and hopeless system," Gray said.
"I believe people should be entitled to do what they want to their bodies, but that they should be held accountable," he added.
Gray, 58, a lifelong Republican until he became a Libertarian earlier this year, has been a judge for 19 years. He's the author of "Why Our Drug Laws Have Failed and What We Can Do About It."
More than 60 people attended the "Rally for Cannabis Liberation" at Reno's Idlewild Park.
The rally was sponsored by Cures not Wars, a pro-marijuana group that was to hold similar rallies around the country this weekend.
Group spokeswoman Michelle Buck of Reno said the purpose of the rally was to raise awareness that tens of thousands of Americans are in prisons for non-violent drug crimes.
Of particular concern, she said, are thousands who have been arrested for legally or illegally supplying medical marijuana.
Some people held signs that read "Free Ed Rosenthal." The Oakland, Calif., man's arrest last year was among a string of federal raids of medical marijuana suppliers in California.
A 1970 federal law does not recognize any medical purposes for marijuana. A federal judge refused in January to allow Rosenthal to tell jurors he was operating under state law.
Jurors convicted Rosenthal. When they learned the details they were not told during the trial, several jurors said they regretted their verdict.
"We're here to show our support for people like Ed," Buck said. "Marijuana is not the evil drug the federal government has made it out to be."
In November, Nevada voters rejected a measure to legalize possession of up to three ounces of marijuana by a margin of 61 percent to 39 percent.
Gray, appointed by Gov. George Deukmejian to the bench, was the keynote speaker at a Libertarian Party of Nevada dinner Saturday night in Virginia City.
We'll never know because they weren't asked that question. They were mislead by the statements that "real" crime would be reduced (not reduced faster) if pot were legal.
Yeah, I'm sure they'd feel completely hornswoggled.
Reduced faster? C'mon, you're reaching.
It's common sense (and uncotroverted by data): apply more enforcement resources and cause a decrease in crime, over and above any decrease that may already be taking place.
Provide evidence for your claim.
What are you, maybe 17? Certainly no older than a relatively immature 25. Wisdom has no part in your discourse.
Since the judge took an advocacy position, he should be impeached. I know that judges are little more than politicians wearing robes, but this was over the top. And this isn't just about drugs - judges have far too much power as it is.
Can you imagine a judge attending a NRA rally and what would happen to him? I would probably agree with him, but he would be hanging out his career to dry.
The judge is obviously supported by George Soros! Actually Maurice Strong is a much more dangerous figure than George Soros. Strong is the power behind Kofi Annan (sp?)
Actually, it is addictive - psychologically. As far as deadly, I would suspect that inhaling smoke on a regular basis into your lungs is not very healthy.
Q: Why is Rachel Corrie a bad poker player?
A: She always "folds".
I TOLD you I found a new job! (Just kidding)
This is a perfect example of why I don't like this sort of humor. I read your joke and chuckled. Now I feel all guilty about it. Personal insecurity I suppose.
Well, I think she was an idiot - but I regret offending you. After reading more of your posts, I saw your point.
Provide evidence for your claim.
LOL
Your contempt for truth is duly noted.
Because I notice lies and identify them as such? Wisdom has no part in your discourse.
Ditto.
So Chief Justice Rehnquist shoul also be impeached for speaking out against laws imposing minimum sentences.
I do not know the circumstances. Did he attend a political rally?
As a complete aside, do you know of any CICS resources? Please freepmail me if you do.
I do not know the circumstances. Did he attend a political rally?
So you claim that judges can be impeached for taking advocacy positions---but only when they do so in certain locations? Provide evidence for your claim.
I didn't make a claim - I asked if he (Renquist) attended a political rally to state his position. You are mistating what I posted. I believe that a judge is free to express his personal beliefs - but when one attends a political rally under the banner of a judgeship, we are all headed for trouble. Such a judge should be impeached, as an impartial ruling can not be expected. I would say the same thing if a judge spoke at the "million" mom march. By doing so, a judge would give whatever political group, by his presence, intrinsic support of the judiciary.
Judges are supposed to be apolitical. I know it does not work that way, but they could at least try.
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