Tommy Chong addresses NORML conference

The Times Standard ^ | 4/22/2006 | Chris Durant

[Number57]

The Times-Standard

SAN FRANCISCO -- Actor and comedian Tommy Chong entertained more than 500 National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws conference-goers Friday.

”If more people were stoned there would be less violence in the world,” Chong said.

Chong was introduced by NORML Executive Director Allen St. Pierre.

”It was Tom Chong the man that was wrongly sentenced to nine months in jail when everyone else paid a fine,” St. Pierre said. “I'm so proud and happy that Tommy is joining us today.”

Chong took the stage to a standing ovation.

”I would like to thank what's his name,” Chong joked.

He began by talking about his time in prison, saying the rumors about prison are wrong.

”It doesn't hurt,” Chong said. “But it does hurt when the government is doing it to you.”

He talked about politics, too.

[Number57]

Well, I can't expect all of my boyhood heros to remain heroic. Tommy Chong & Cheech Marin were the rebels in the 70's. But they lost the rebellious attitude and chased the commercial carrot.

[Inyo-Mono]

”I would like to thank what's his name,” Chong joked.

At least he still has a sense of humor.

[zarf]

Cheney smokes pot too. Bush does coke and Condi pops ludes.

OK, everything from now on will be a let down.

[PetroniusMaximus]

Note to Chong:

There's more to life than cannabis.

It's been 30 years.

Move on.

[cripplecreek]

Oh man I am so high.

[CAWats]

”If more people were stoned there would be less violence in the world,” Chong said.

”If more people were [stoned, drunk, in jail, asleep, dead, at the movies, at work, shopping, watching TV, doing yoga, doing community service, etc] there would be less violence in the world,” Chong said.

Chong is a moron.

[Echo Talon]

[Number57]

WRONG! Condi drinks the crack, Bush smokes the ludes and Cheney shoots the pot.

Now... don't you feel better, knowing the truth?

[Number57]

Appropriate :)

[RichInOC]

So did Tom at any time during the speech utter the two little words that made him famous...

"Wooooow, maaaaaaan...."?

[kinoxi]

i know i'll get burned for this but, some people are better off stoned (marijuana).

[cripplecreek]

BREAKING NEWS

Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong have been captured by insurgents in Iraq. The Insurgents demand that all American Troops leave Iraq within one week or they will let the duo go free.

[Reaganesque]

”If more people were stoned there would be less violence in the world,” Chong said.

Yeah, we'd all be dead, killed by stoned motorists, bus drivers, airline pilots, train engineers, doctors, nurses, police, firefighters...

[Phocion]

In my opinion, having a person like Tommy Chong who won't be taken seriously talking (and defending marijuana use instead of simply marijuana legalization) is not the way to go. Even the acronym NORML screams out "hippie freak!" to the mainstream.

I support legalization of all drugs. I just wish my brethren knew how to better sell the issue to the average American. The spokespeople should be those who care deeply about individual liberty, not well-known potheads.

[Number57]

I support legalization of all drugs. I just wish my brethren knew how to better sell the issue to the average American. The spokespeople should be those who care deeply about individual liberty, not well-known potheads.

Legalize drugs, and you'll have a drugged nation. It's bad enough that cigarettes are legal (I smoke, and am addicted, and have a problem with the taxes imposed on smokers), and the government will only get richer while reducing the quality of your drugs, and limiting usuage and taxing the hell out of you.

What do you want legalized? I might disagree.

Do we want the g'ment to decide for us, or do we actually set aside a date for a popular vote?

[teenyelliott]

Legalize drugs, and you'll have a drugged nation.

Like we don't now.

I for one would not do heroin if it were legalized. Would you?

If drugs were legal, people would not be getting shot up in the streets trying to sell them.

Personally, I say legalize it and tax it. Alcohol causes far more damage than all other drugs put together. Prohibition didn't work for alcohol, and it doesn't work for any other drug, either.

People who want to do drugs are going to do them whether they are legal or not.

Take the criminal element out of it, and the profit goes out of it for drug lords and the fifteen year old boys they use to sell it.

Not only that, but we would spend a whole lot less money on cops trying to stop it, which is futile, and putting non-violent offenders through the court system and into prison.

[Number57]

Your name suits you.

The minute you legalize cocaine, heroin & pot, you open the door to political scrambling for the biggest chunk of taxation. You think it's bad now?

We cannot legalize illicit drugs. If we do, we will only be taxed further and ours will become a socialist society.

Then, when we're under control, they take away the drugs, then the rights. Then guns.

What do you do then? You're addicted.

[teenyelliott]

Your post makes NO sense.

[Number57]

Ok.

Do you want drugs legalised?

[Number57]

I for one would not do heroin if it were legalized. Would you?

If drugs were legal, people would not be getting shot up in the streets trying to sell them.

Personally, I say legalize it and tax it.

Well then. Legalize suicide, but tax the Hell out of the surviving family.

Legalize private ownership of an MI Abrams tank, and the use thereof on public streets & highways. Be sure to tax it ;)

Tax tax tax. Bah.