Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

What should marijuana opponents do when their cause fails? A lesson from Prohibition
The Boston Globe ^ | June 23rd, 2018 | Stephanie Schorow

Posted on 06/23/2018 2:47:03 PM PDT by Mariner

Some day soon, even as sweet, skunky smoke drifts in from the streets outside, US Attorney General Jeff Sessions and other staunch opponents of marijuana may draw inspiration from a true believer named Morris Sheppard. After the repeal of national Prohibition in 1933 and until his death in 1941, the Texas senator embraced a yearly custom. A progressive Democrat often considered “the father of Prohibition,” Sheppard would rise on the Senate floor to rail against alcohol and call for a repeal of Repeal.

“It was a ritual,” Daniel Okrent, author of the 2010 book “Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition,” explained in an interview. “Clearly he didn’t expect anything was going to happen. It was paying homage to his cause.”

Sheppard, a proponent of bank reform and an advocate of women’s suffrage, may have been the country’s most sincere Prohibitionist, but he ended up on the losing side of history. As such, he faced a dilemma that may soon become familiar to another group of prohibitionists: marijuana opponents. When society turns away from a cause, how long should its supporters fight on? After committing themselves to a lengthy, even decades-long struggle, how can they simply let it drop?

On July 1, Massachusetts will join states such as Colorado, Washington, and California, whose voters have chosen to legalize cannabis for recreational purposes. The implementation of the law has been bumpy, not least because Sessions and the federal Justice Department still have the authority to crack down on cannabis use.

(Excerpt) Read more at bostonglobe.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: cannabis; depression; dopefiends; mania; marijuana; mrleroy; pot; potheads; prohibition; schizophrenia; wod
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 121-140141-160161-180181-190 next last
To: TheStickman
You're a drug addicted pot head. That's it. The dope is MAKING you feel that you're "holy". That's what it does. That's why it's dangerous. It's a FALSE peace.

Stop smoking it and see how much REAL peace of God you have.

Oh. And Genesis 1:29 is about food. Not taking dope.

161 posted on 06/24/2018 10:31:59 AM PDT by DouglasKC
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 159 | View Replies]

To: DouglasKC

From the leftie rag you cited =>

“But Sessions, long a believer in punitive anti-drug and “tough on crime” policies, has moved forward anyway — launching a new war on legal marijuana.”

LOL! That was over 6 months ago and fedgov hasn’t done squat. Vermont went fully legal since that time and not a peep. Like I said, you are grasping at non-existent straws.

I side with President Trump. You side with Jeff Sessions.


162 posted on 06/24/2018 10:35:27 AM PDT by Ken H (Best election ever!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 149 | View Replies]

To: DouglasKC

I’m sorry you suffer because others are happy for reasons you are unable to accept.

May the Peace of Our Lord, Jesus Christ be with you always every day.

Genesis 1:29 says, God also said: See, I give you every seed-bearing plant on all the earth and every tree that has seed-bearing fruit on it to be your food;

You see that word “and”? Do you know what a conjunction in a sentence is? You might want to explore that concept till you grasp & understand it & then re-read that scripture. It will do you a world of good.

My offer to meet you after Mass is always open if you are ever in our area. Take care.


163 posted on 06/24/2018 10:39:56 AM PDT by TheStickman (#MAGA all day every day!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 161 | View Replies]

To: DouglasKC

“Stop smoking it...”

Poor thing. I told you I don’t smoke cannabis but ingest it & vape cannabis concentrates.

You continue to try to put me into the official DouglasKC’s Cannabis Box of lies & fallacies & I will never ever fit there. :)


164 posted on 06/24/2018 10:43:54 AM PDT by TheStickman (#MAGA all day every day!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 161 | View Replies]

To: Ken H
“Ga. sheriff indicted for sexual battery in high school drug search”

Yeah, searching for drugs. Entitled kids and helicopter moms thinking that my JUNIOR wouldn't be taking drugs in school.

You're thinking is warped.

165 posted on 06/24/2018 10:44:14 AM PDT by DouglasKC
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 160 | View Replies]

To: TheStickman
I’m sorry you suffer because others are happy for reasons you are unable to accept.

Accept the reality that you don't have peace through Christ. You have peace through dope. They are not the same.

166 posted on 06/24/2018 10:45:40 AM PDT by DouglasKC
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 163 | View Replies]

To: DouglasKC; Ken H

“You’re thinking is warped. “

This coming from someone who earlier dared to suggest God was not in control.

Kettle meet pot & not the kind you can smoke, vape or ingest.


167 posted on 06/24/2018 10:47:58 AM PDT by TheStickman (#MAGA all day every day!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 165 | View Replies]

To: DouglasKC

“Accept the reality that you don’t have peace through Christ.”

I think I will keep following the Teachings of the Catholic Church instead of the gospel of DounglasKC.


168 posted on 06/24/2018 10:51:54 AM PDT by TheStickman (#MAGA all day every day!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 166 | View Replies]

To: DouglasKC

“Yeah, searching for drugs. Entitled kids and helicopter moms thinking that my JUNIOR wouldn’t be taking drugs in school.”

This is the child molesting you are defending =>

___________

WORTH COUNTY, Ga. - A south Georgia grand jury indicted Worth County Sheriff Jeff Hobby on Tuesday for sexual battery, false imprisonment and violation of oath of office after he ordered a school-wide search of hundreds of high school students. Deputies allegedly touched girls vaginas and breasts and groped boys in their groin area during the search at the Worth County High School April 14.

Two of Hobby’s deputies were also indicted Tuesday in connection with the case.

______

“You’re thinking is warped.”

Correction. Your thinking is warped.


169 posted on 06/24/2018 10:53:14 AM PDT by Ken H (Best election ever!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 165 | View Replies]

To: TheStickman
“Accept the reality that you don’t have peace through Christ.” I think I will keep following the Teachings of the Catholic Church instead of the gospel of DounglasKC.

Is the teaching of the Catholic church "Know dope, Know peace?"

170 posted on 06/24/2018 11:00:48 AM PDT by DouglasKC
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 168 | View Replies]

To: DouglasKC

“Is the teaching of the Catholic church “Know dope, Know peace?””

If you’d like to know about the Teachings of the Catholic Church are I recommend you go here & begin your education: https://www.ewtn.com/faith/teachings/index.asp


171 posted on 06/24/2018 11:05:03 AM PDT by TheStickman (#MAGA all day every day!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 170 | View Replies]

To: 5th MEB

The problem with that approach is that there is a set of pathological behaviors that go along with drug abuse, and which have serious effects on non-addicts. Drug addicts who cannot work due to the addiction turn to crime, both to get money to buy their next fix, and because the addiction destroys crucial parts of the brain related to self-control. Many drug addicts end up on the streets as homeless, creating unpleasant and filthy environments that, unfortunately affect everyone. Been to San Francisco lately? You can see exactly what I am talking about there. There is also the effect on families. Many of those drug addict bums once had families that loved them. Imagine being the mother of a drug addict, trying to get your beloved child off the drugs, but no amount of love can overcome the siren song of the next fix.

I would not mind if there were a way to allow drug addicts to dope themselves to death, if only there were ways to shield other people from the effects.


172 posted on 06/24/2018 11:06:18 AM PDT by exDemMom (Current visual of the hole the US continues to dig itself into: http://www.usdebtclock.org/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 128 | View Replies]

To: exDemMom

“I would not mind if there were a way to allow drug addicts to dope themselves to death, if only there were ways to shield other people from the effects.”

You’re all heart Mom. What’s next you gonna come out in favor of gov’t assisted suicide? #HeartlessAuthoritarianProhibitionist


173 posted on 06/24/2018 11:09:42 AM PDT by TheStickman (#MAGA all day every day!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 172 | View Replies]

To: DouglasKC

“I said you fit the textbook definition of a leftist tool. And you do. Your views on pot look like they’re a cut and paste from every leftist pro-drug, anti-family, anti-police, pro-abortion, anti-USA, pro-lqbqtrsfvdr website out there.”

What do these views of mine look like?

‘infesting our nation with the low-skilled and uneducated will bring us all down.’ - https://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3665569/posts?page=9#9
‘This is how you “fact check” what Zero’s administration did: ask a member of that administration?! Even for the lamestream media, that’s pathetic.’ - https://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3664756/posts?page=17#17
‘If “free market” means flooding the country with foreign-born serf laborers, we say the Hell with it. As our President says, hire American!’ - https://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3664179/posts?page=31#31
‘Apparently these lies about Tebow originated with some Fakebook leftist pukes called “The Other 98%” - https://me.me/i/the-other-98-1-hr-3-lets-not-forget-about-tim-22201393. And “rappers” have no better sense than to repeat whatever they read on the internet.’ - https://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/3664150/posts?page=10#10
‘[GOP Immigration Deal: Potentially ‘Biggest’ Amnesty in U.S. History] Every RINO who votes for this should be primaried out of office.’ - https://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3662993/posts?page=42#42


174 posted on 06/24/2018 11:58:47 AM PDT by NobleFree ("law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the right of an individual")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 152 | View Replies]

To: exDemMom
Drug addicts who cannot work due to the addiction turn to crime, both to get money to buy their next fix, and because the addiction destroys crucial parts of the brain related to self-control. Many drug addicts end up on the streets as homeless, creating unpleasant and filthy environments that, unfortunately affect everyone. Been to San Francisco lately? You can see exactly what I am talking about there. There is also the effect on families. Many of those drug addict bums once had families that loved them. Imagine being the mother of a drug addict, trying to get your beloved child off the drugs, but no amount of love can overcome the siren song of the next fix.

So you support banning the addictive drug alcohol?

175 posted on 06/24/2018 12:03:09 PM PDT by NobleFree ("law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the right of an individual")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 172 | View Replies]

To: NobleFree; DouglasKC

““I said you fit the textbook definition of a leftist tool. And you do. Your views on pot look like they’re a cut and paste from every leftist pro-drug, anti-family, anti-police, pro-abortion, anti-USA, pro-lqbqtrsfvdr website out there.”

DouglasKC’s consistent use of fallacy & other progressive debate tactics suggests to me at times he’d be better off at a prohibitionist version of DU instead of FR or perhaps CNN.


176 posted on 06/24/2018 12:16:32 PM PDT by TheStickman (#MAGA all day every day!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 174 | View Replies]

To: DouglasKC
"Look, I'm not an idiot."

I've looked Doug, and yes, you are. Keep it up though, you are seriously brightening my day!
177 posted on 06/24/2018 1:52:15 PM PDT by Garth Tater (What's mine is mine.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 158 | View Replies]

To: DouglasKC
"I didn't call you a leftist tool. I said you fit the textbook definition of a leftist tool."

Stop!  You're killing me here!  I haven't heard a good one like that since sometime around 3rd grade LOL

And just so you know, when I said "Stop" I really meant PLEASE, PLEASE keep it up. This is great!
178 posted on 06/24/2018 1:58:51 PM PDT by Garth Tater (What's mine is mine.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 152 | View Replies]

To: DouglasKC
God doesn't use pot to draw us near him.

God doesn't use laxatives to draw us near Him - so should they be banned, or their use shunned by Christians?

179 posted on 06/24/2018 2:28:43 PM PDT by NobleFree ("law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the right of an individual")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 158 | View Replies]

To: NobleFree

Marijuana is NOT more accessible to teens. Alcohol is far more of a problem of all age groups because it is legal.

Of course dealers sell to kids - they sell to anyone willing to pay. But, the social problems of illegal drugs pale in significance to alcohol— DUI, addiction, physical and sexual abuse - illegal drug usage comes nowhere near the use of alcohol.

Legality leads to accessibility. It’s just a fact. Some people won’t buy illegal drugs because they are illegal. Some people do regardless of the legal issue. Legality removes the stigma.

Teens can’t legally buy alcohol, but teen use of it is far higher than illegal drugs simply because it is in stores, homes, they know adults who can get it for them. It is accessible. Abuse of any drug is always going to happen, legal or illegal - but it’s the access that contributes to the problem of alcohol abuse.

I don’t care if someone wants to smoke a doobie every now and then. I think it’s stupid, but if they’re an adult, they can do what they want - but legalizing it IS going to add to it’s accessibilty. Therefore no way around it. I don’t think the human cost on people’s lives is worth it, but, as I’ve said to another poster, that’’s just my opinion. I’m just one vote. Looks like the culture is going toward legality.


180 posted on 06/24/2018 3:15:07 PM PDT by rusty schucklefurd
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 119 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 121-140141-160161-180181-190 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson