Posted on 01/20/2014 3:45:55 AM PST by Wolfie
DEA operations chief decries legalization of marijuana at state level
The chief of operations at the Drug Enforcement Administration on Wednesday called the legalization of marijuana at the state level “reckless and irresponsible,” warning that the movement to decriminalize the sale of pot in the United States will have severe consequences.
Capra’s comments marked the DEA’s most public and pointed criticism of the movement toward decriminalization in several states, where local officials see it as an opportunity to generate tax revenue and boost tourism.
“It scares us,” James L. Capra said, responding to a question from a senator during a hearing focused on drug cultivation in Afghanistan. “Every part of the world where this has been tried, it has failed time and time again.”
Capra’s comments marked the DEA’s most public and pointed criticism of the movement toward decriminalization in several states, where local officials see it as an opportunity to generate tax revenue and boost tourism.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Kids get high, legal or illegal. So do adults, including the glorified sports millionaires and likely a lot of folks who are held up as examples,here, just because they haven’t been seen in the act. In other social venues, that same example is likely more acceptable for smoking or having smoked.
Back in the day,the late 50s-early 60’s, before all the hype and hippies, people with a lot of money got it from their house servants and people with no money got it from whomever had it.
I remember my father, born in 1917, telling us that the pot available in the Sixties was garbage compared to what he personally had experienced in the 1930s.
So, for decades and decades, you have been on the road with pot smokers, listened to the music of pot smokers, used the technology created by pot smokers, read the books written by pot smokers, and probably seen an MD, an attorney or even a cop who occasionally used pot. The only difference I see now is that it is more open and outrageously expensive, both the legal and illegal variety. Most is not adulterated because most of the market wouldn’t buy adulterated. As for stronger: if its stronger, people smoke less to get the desired effect.
Most people take it or leave it. I remember 30 years when someone asked a Dutch exchange student about smoking pot in Holland. That particular student just looked at the older hippie and asked: “Why would anyone want to?” Just that student’s personal opinion.
Prohibition failed. Pot prohibition is failing. Compared to the other problems in this country/world, legal marijuana is nothing at all. There appears to be something to the argument that keeping pot illegal is just another way to make criminals of everyone.
Of course, making it legal also turns everyone using it into a tax slave.
Neither side will win this if it is seen as a war. Probably at some point, there will be all different strengths and flavors available, some at high prices, some at low. Pot prohibitioners will be seen as quaint, like alcohol prohibitionists.
Sure, but if you furnish them ALCOHOL, I will at your doorstep in no time at all.
Ok, when/if it is legal, it is OK with you for me to grow and sell pot to your kids. Check.
Now how could that be??
It's a proven fact that smoking marijuana makes a person stupid, and stupid people vote Democrat, so that explains it.
No, my kids don’t smoke (anything) or drink.
Since God made it, why shouldn’t it be consumed in its God-given strength without additives or cultivation techniques to increase its effects?
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KInd of a funny argument. There are likely no plants that you consume for food that have not been altered through cultivation and selection.
It won’t be legal for minors, just like alcohol.
Reading a news report, I was struck by a head of state’s use of the adjective “THOSE United States” instead of “THE United States.”
We, as a country, are individual States with State’s Rights, that have united together for a common good — as identified by those States.
No State would have ever joined a Union that would have envisioned that Union to usurp their rights and create an entity that would eliminate their independence and dictate (become a dictator) over them — any more than a man or woman would in a marriage.
The key issue is an out of control federal government that needs to be restrained (much like an abusive husband) which is why Retraining Orders and the Constitution exist.
State’s Rights cannot be usurped in this Union (marriage, if you will) unless you also support abdication of individual rights which will be guaranteed to shortly follow.
You do realize that in this respect the States would need to erect fences with border guards to enforce differences in drug laws. Is that what you are advocating?
It's a legitimate argument. Tobacco wouldn't be as bad as it is if it weren't for all of the chemical additives. What do you think corporate America and the feds, hand and hand, are going to do to marijuana?
I'm anti-drug (legal or illegal) and can't figure out why marijuana users want marijuana to be legal. Legal means controlled and taxed. Legal means accepting the fed's authority. And one of my main concerns....legal means worse stuff will become acceptable to those who live just a little bit outside the laws.
I suspect the puppet masters are behind this push for the legalization of marijuana. Have to replace the declining taxes and profits tobacco used to provide. A mellowed-out population will have Grateful Dead type gatherings, but won't get active to change the world. They'll be even more dependent on the government. It'll be a way to get people to pay for their "meds" instead of being provided with pharmaceutical mind-altering poisons.
Soon marijuana will be legal, but growing your own will still be illegal, only the government will pursue with a vengence those growing their own because it's costing taxes and profits.
If I wanted something out of the government's control, I'd prefer to have it ignored, not legalized and controlled.
But, as evidenced on this thread, people LIKE the Federal gov’t to rule in contravention of States’ Rights. At least on some of the issues. There just seems to be something about telling other people how to live their lives that can’t be resisted.
For some reason I imagine the comments of the DEA operations chief with the voice of Roger Rabbit.
“But...but...but... You *can’t* cut my budget and slash the size of my empire! Pleeeeeaaaassse! I *need* that money and power!”
Don’t care. Like illegal immigration, pot heads will eventually find their way to the blue states hastening the Detroitification process.
Will make it much easier to secede.
Except perhaps the original toady, Mr. Anslinger, who testified to total LIES to bring about the criminalization of marijuana - so as to employ his agents whom repeal had forced out of the Prohibition business.
They probably don't want their kids downing a six-pack before school either, but that doesn't mean Prohibition itself wasn't worse than having alcohol legally available.
I’m not advocating anything. Don’t jump to conclusions. I’m asking a question. I answered your question, can you answer mine?
No, you didn't, but I'll let it go.
So, how does a federal government employee get off being critical of the policies of one of the sovereign states?
Every bureaucrat is a king.
Perhaps he is fearful that, if drugs are legalized, he will be out of a job?
Every bureaucrat is a serf.
Because running drugs into the country is the DEA’s job. :-)
Thanks for your answers.
LOL!
Want pot? Ask a kid.
They grow their own or know someone who does.
I know older people who wanted pot to overcome the effects of chemo. Guess who they asked? Their grandchildren!
That is a straw man argument. “It’s for the children!”
I am assuming you don’t have any over the age of 13. Here’s a tip if yours are still younger than that: they will parrot what you tell them up until about age 13 while joining their peers in most behaviors at some point after that. Not all, but most, especially when they can see for themselves that the pot smokers aren’t paying any penalty either under law, socially or health-wise. Tip #2: the same rule applies to sex.
I’m 71, BTW. My own child is 49. You want to sell him pot *when it becomes legal*? LOL, again! The upfront costs to you to get into that business legally, from what I have read from WA and CO, are enormous.
Do you get out much? Pot is already everywhere.
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