Posted on 07/23/2004 7:55:29 AM PDT by cryptical
Marijuana Prohibition: Who Does It Protect?
By Henry Koch
Is marijuana illegal in the United States to protect Americans or to protect a handful of well-connected industries that believe ending prohibition would affect their profits?
Every study, whether privately or government sponsored, has declared the penalties against cannabis far out of line with the substance. Every study has illustrated how tobacco and alcohol do far more damage to individuals and society than marijuana. The draconian laws against this naturally occurring herb have ruined millions of lives. These laws have done far more damage during the current 66-year period of prohibition than the plant has done since its first recorded use and cultivation nearly 6,000 years ago.
Yet today, a cadre of individuals and industries is spending billions of dollars to keep marijuana illegal. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Office of National Drug Control Policy contribute to these private efforts by refusing to acknowledge the validity of reports whose results run contrary to current drug policy. The DEA and the ONDCP even reject studies commissioned by the Congress and other U.S. government agencies.
When the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was passed there was no scientific evidence as to the effects marijuana had on consumers. (The psychoactive component of cannabis, THC, was not isolated until 1965.) The congressional hearings leading to the passage of the Tax Act were held in secret and considered no scientific evidence. Harry Anslinger, director of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics from 1930 to 1962, presented popular fabrications about marijuana as fact to the congressional committees investigating the substance.
Here are a few of Anslinger's more memorable quotes about marijuana:
"Reefer makes darkies think they're as good as white men."
"Marijuana is taken by ... musicians. And I'm not speaking about good musicians, but the jazz type."
"Marijuana leads to pacifism and communist brainwashing."
Industries that have a high interest in keeping marijuana illegal include the tobacco industry, the alcoholic beverage industry, the pharmaceutical industry, the petrochemical industry, the pulp and paper industry, the prison-building industry, the prison guard unions and organizations, and law enforcement organizations.
The tobacco and alcohol industries realize that when people smoke marijuana, they use less tobacco and alcohol. Nicotine and alcohol are both highly addictive. Current research has not shown marijuana to cause physical dependency.
The pharmaceutical industry knows of the medical benefits of the Cannabis sativa plant and does not want individuals cultivating their own medications.
The petrochemical industry knows that industrial hemp and its myriad products could replace 98 percent of our hydrocarbon-based petroleum. Instead of pumping an exhaustible resource out of the ground, we could produce enough hemp seed to provide nearly all the petrochemical raw materials we need.
The pulp and paper industry knows that hemp can provide more fiber for pulp per acre than trees. Plus, hemp fiber can be converted to pulp without the pollutants created by the sulfuric acid process currently used to turn trees into paper. Converting to hemp for fiber would cost millions up front but would save billions in the long run, with the added bonus of greatly improving the environment.
The American prison system is the largest in the world, with more than 2.1 million prisoners at the end of 2003. This has made the prison-building industry one of the fastest growing industries in the country. The major growth of prison population in the United States is due mainly to the war on drugs. Marijuana arrests account for almost 80 percent of all drug arrests. Having the largest prison system also requires the largest prison guard industry, and this industry depends on the current drug policy for its members' job security.
Many law enforcement organizations receive more funding from the war on drugs budget than they do from their respective municipal budgets. If the laws against marijuana were changed to eliminate arrest for possession, almost every law enforcement organization in the United States would be required to eliminate personnel.
Prohibition has never worked, and it isn't working for marijuana. According to a nationwide poll conducted by Time magazine and CNN in October 2000, 80 percent of Americans support the medicinal use of marijuana and 72 percent say that adults who use marijuana recreationally should be fined, but not jailed. Only 19 percent of respondents favored jailing recreational pot smokers. In addition, 40 percent of respondents also said that they favored the legalization of small amounts of marijuana.
Who is marijuana prohibition really protecting? Is it the American public and our way of life or is it protecting the interests of the giants of industry who have friends in high government positions?
Henry Koch is president of the Midlands chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML). For more information on Midlands NORML, visit www.midlands-norml.org.
True, some who are sick are allowed some use by me in California and most people just get a ticket if they have some on them.
My tribe is DU? I am a disruptor...because I disagree with you?
1. You are ignorant about whom you speak.
2. That is quite a naziesque statement, guy. You've proven it better than I ever could.
Alcohol cannot be compared to ecstasy.
Locator.
I have no problem with preventing drugs from coming in over the borders.
Again, correlation is not causation. The conclusion here is that people who break one type of law (drug laws) also have a higher tendency to break other types of laws (violent offenses).
So what?
All those pot users in prison mix the pot with different stuff as do many not in prison.
It's a dangerous drug and all these mixes with it and other things is probably why they call it a gateway drug to other worse uses (much of which are mixed).
Friedman AS, Glassman K, Terras. Violent Behavior as Related to Use of Marijuana and Other Drugs. Journal of Addictive Diseases 2001;20:49-70 [Frequency of use of marijuana was found to be associated with greater likelihood to commit weapons offenses
Did it stimulate you to commit violent crimes?
Please post a link to the post. Anyone can write anything with a keyboard.
Sure, no problem. I'll even cut& paste your own words:
Scientists Say Marijuana Research Blocked
I used to "self-medicate" with reefers but I grew out of that phase.
16 posted on 07/21/2004 9:44:33 AM EDT by cinFLA
Or, do you prefer this copy&paste from your FR homepage:
| Scientists Say Marijuana Research Blocked ^ |
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| Posted by cinFLA to Labyrinthos On The Smokey Backroom ^ 07/21/2004 9:44:33 AM EDT #16 of 37 ^ That is certainly not my experiendce after self medicating with reefer since the late 1970's. I used to "self-medicate" with reefers but I grew out of that phase. |
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We probably would both agree that that should be the primary focus of the government because not only are they doing bad things, they are coming here illegally to do it.
Most little uses of it when caught are usually only a ticket.
Those using more than a little or are distributing or manufacturing it get the orange jump suit.
I was referring to marijuana, not MDMA.
And you're right, they can not be compared. Thousands more die from alcohol than have ever died from overdosing on MDMA.
In addition, these days the liability to an employer who's illegally drugged employee hurts someone or themselves can close a business down.
Where is that? You don't live in the US?
I see you still have a problem with italics.
149 posted on 07/23/2004 11:50:52 AM PDT by Zon
No doubt there are poisons, and no doubt men have the capacity to harm themselves.
Nevertheless, to accept the State's definition of what is 'good' and 'bad' shows a reckless abondonment of God-given reason.
"As for this nonsense about the 'Creation of God'" I will simply aver that it is extraordinary what scientists find in the botanical world.
The medicinal properties of a host of plants are only partially known, and those of many others only supposed, yet there seems to be a marvellous and intricate connection between human biochemistry and that of the plants which already feed and clothe us.
For you to disparage this blessing, and to support the lies of the government instead, is simply appalling.
But do what you please.
"Reefer makes darkies think they're as good as white men."
"Marijuana is taken by ... musicians. And I'm not speaking about good musicians, but the jazz type."
"Marijuana leads to pacifism and communist brainwashing."
You one of the drug users too? Is that why it makes you uncomfortable?
I have found that most of you drug warriors are also users or former users.
As it currently stands, minors now have an easier time buying pot than they do buying alcohol, simply because alcohol is regulated and legal for adults.
I just have to laugh at the mental abilities of the proponents of legalizing drugs.
I just have to laugh at the downright fascism of those who support the war on (some) drugs, and who have no concept of liberty.
You have no right to tell anyone (adults) what they may or may not ingest into their own bodies.
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