Pot possession decriminalization bill approved by Legislative Panel

Norwell Mariner (MA) ^ | February 16, 2006

[Zerano]

Alcohol is the real gateway drug

Don't forget nicotine...which, like alcohol, is physically addictive (I know this quite well, 'cuz I was a tobacco addict for 19 yrs!). On the other hand, marijuana doesn't fit into that category. Oftentimes I go w/o smoking it simply because I either lose interest, have more important things to do, the supply is low, etc.....& it doesn't bother me one bit.

[mugs99]

How is leaving punishment to parents rather than the government "liberal"?

Sounds Conservative to me!

"neither the marihuana user nor the drug itself can be said to constitute a danger to public safety"
March 22, 1972 The "Shafer Commission" appointed by President Richard Nixon.
The commission recommended Congress and state legislatures decriminalize the use and casual distribution of marijuana for personal use.

Nothing has changed since 1972. Marijuana prohibition is nothing more than a tool used by government to nullify the Constitution.

The Commerce Clause of the Constitution now trumps the Constitution itself, and that was done to enforce marijuana prohibition.

The War On Drugs is not about drugs. It never has been.
.

[Supernatural]

ANNUAL AMERICAN DEATHS CAUSED BY DRUGS

TOBACCO ........................ 400,000
ALCOHOL ........................ 100,000
ALL LEGAL DRUGS ................ 20,000
ALL ILLEGAL DRUGS .............. 15,000
CAFFEINE ....................... 2,000
ASPIRIN ........................ 500
MARIJUANA ...................... 0

---

Source: United States government...
National Institute on Drug Abuse,
Bureau of Mortality Statistics

Marijuana does not cause serious health problems like those caused by tobacco or alcohol (e.g., strong addiction, cancer, heart problems, birth defects, emphysema, liver damage, etc.). Death from a marijuana overdose is impossible. In all of world history, there has never been a single human death attributed to a health problem caused by marijuana.

[Mears]

You didn't include the devastation that alcohol plays on the mental health of the family menbers of alcoholics.

I saw it in my own family and it wasn't pretty.

My mother was destroyed by someone else's drinking.

[gleeaikin]

Since the right of states to allow the use of medical marijuana was denied, there was a case in Washington, DC where a severely crippled man who was using marijuana for pain was arrested for possession of a small amount. He spent 10 days in DC Jail, became severaly ill, recived little care and died. All because he had a small amount to deal with his pain. The whole thing sounds like a combination of the drug companies and the prison corporations influencing government to keep their profits up while we pay the bill for courts, prisons, police, etc.

I have done some drug counseling for severely addicted people. I have never known one that did not start with cigarettes. That is the gateway drug!! Since people are given long jail sentences for cocaine and other drugs, it does not make any sense that it is very easy to get those same drugs in prison. I wonder why no prisoner has ever sued the state for failure to protect him from his addiction and allow him to become clean while imprisioned? For that matter I wonder why family members don't sue, since this causes so much sufferingfor them as well.

[Joe Boucher]

The lawyers of America as well as all the others making money off Marijuana won't allow its decriminalization.
Drug counseling, probation, lawyers, etc, all lose if it is not illegal. You think the lawyers are going to let any of their earning potential to erode? Regardless if it good for the country.
Lawyers, the scourage of the world.

[bird4four4]

the use of alcohol and marijuana often leads to the use of more harmful and addictive drugs, jazz and sex with white women, and for that reason, believes the penalties should remain

[Supernatural]

Yes, I could have taken it further with alcohol.

I am very sorry about what happened to your family. Some people are self-destructive and also manage to destroy those around them. The crazy ones start drinking in seventh or eighth grade and usually die an early death.

[Supernatural]

The state of Texas has given the sentence of life in prison to people caught with ONE MARIJUANA SEED! This was 30 to 40 years ago, but it did happen. Certain cases were highly publicized in magazine articles years ago.

[Know your rights]

"It is important that we continue to send a message to young people that drugs are bad for you."

So I guess we should also ban alcohol and junk food, which are bad for you, in order to "send a message to young people." Here's my message to young people: government is a dangerous servant and a fearful master.

[somniferum]

Nah, the WoD cheerleader brigade didn't show up :P

[JCEccles]

Here's my message to young people: government is a dangerous servant and a fearful master.

But "a dangerous servant and fearful master" is just the ticket as long as it is using its coercive power to protect drug dealing and drug abuse?

[Fester Chugabrew]

License its use and tax it. Use the tax proceeds for defense and public works while the economy benefits from another renewable resource. Eliminate property taxes so that land ownership is just that.

[JCEccles]

When you license it, you put those who produce and sell it under the protection of the state. Is that what you want?

[Know your rights]

But "a dangerous servant and fearful master" is just the ticket as long as it is using its coercive power to protect drug dealing and drug abuse?

For government to protect individual rights (such as the rights to sell, buy, and use drugs) is not for it to act as "master" ... "mastering" is what government does when it violates those rights.

[Know your rights]

Nah, the WoD cheerleader brigade didn't show up :P

Stick around ... you may get a chuckle out of Ickles' capering and gibbering.

[JCEccles]

So drug dealers should be protected by the coercive power of the state?

[Know your rights]

So drug dealers should be protected by the coercive power of the state?

Whether the dealer is Seagrams, RJ Reynolds, or a legal, regulated marijuana seller, the answer is yes.

[mugs99]

But "a dangerous servant and fearful master" is just the ticket as long as it is using its coercive power to protect drug dealing and drug abuse?

The 'dangerous servant' is encouraging drug dealing and drug abuse now.
Prohibition has increased, not decreased, drug abuse.
Prohibition has increased, not decreased, crime.
Prohibition has increased, not decreased, violence.
Prohibition is the cause of the disrespect for the rule of law that has become so common today.
Prohibition is the cause of the militarization of the police that has resulted in shootings of unarmed citizens that has become so common today.

Prohibition is a greater danger to our culture than drug addiction.
.

[JCEccles]

Although you might not draw a distinction between a California vintner and a hashish dealer or heroin pusher, the public still does. Your political problem will be to convince them they ought to grant dealers and pushers state protection.

For as long as you can you'll avoid framing the issue that way, focusing instead on some mythical adult's right to responsibly shoot up in the innocent pursuit of happiness. When the public realizes the full parameters of what you're proposing, when they get a glimpse at the unintended (uninformed) consequences of this stupidity, they will resist it.

You will have to defend drug dealers and pushers as worthy of state protection. That's going to be one tough sale. Sucks to be you.