Park's Pot Problem Explodes (Mex. cartels linked to Mideast Terrorists)

L.A. Times ^ | 5-14-03 | Julie Cart

[txdoda]

SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK, Calif. — On the brink of the summer tourist season, officials here are confronting an ominous reality — multimillion-dollar stands of marijuana tended by armed growers who have menaced visitors, killed wildlife, polluted streams and trashed pristine countryside.

The pot fields are financed by the Mexican drug cartels that dominate the methamphetamine trade in the adjacent Central Valley, drug enforcement officials say. The officials say there is evidence that the cartels, in turn, have financial ties to Middle Eastern smugglers linked to Hezbollah and other groups accused of terrorism.

[eno_]

Sorry, I didn't realize that Anheuser-Busch was funding Terrorist orgs.

It's the Papist-Illumanti-Soros axis of the Pro-Drugertarian Conspiracy that keeps the running gun battles between beer distributors out of the news, doncha know?

[MrLeRoy]

Just about everyone here, including the people in favor of drug legalization, want also to reform Medicare/Medicade.

I don't---I want to abolish them.

[=Intervention=]

And what of the day after? I'm still waiting to hear a coherent, rational response to what legalizing pot will bring upon society.

[=Intervention=]

I'm sorry, but that's not true. Here's a timeline:

Now: illegal gangs and cartels harvest and traffic dope into the U.S.
Law is passed legalizing pot.
Future: the very same people harvest and traffic dope into the U.S. Their classification has changed, but the people have not. The same exact people with the same exact criminal connections continue doing business the same way (with the exceptions of paperwork requirements).

Legalization does not make magic wonders just because the day before the business owners were criminals. Any shift on behalf of the businessmen will be long-term. Look how long it took for beer manufacturers to be responsible. The same kind of progress would happen with potlords.

[MrLeRoy]

Look how long it took for beer manufacturers to be responsible.

How long did it take? How were they irresponsible?

[MrLeRoy]

I'm still waiting to hear a coherent, rational response to what legalizing pot will bring upon society.

A reduction in the following effects of the War On Marijuana: deaths of innocents in drug-turf wars; deaths of users due to impurities or unexpectedly high potencies; enrichment of criminals; corruption of the justice system by enriched criminals; and lessened respect for the law in general.

[MrLeRoy]

deaths of users due to impurities or unexpectedly high potencies

Er, scratch that one. Paste in haste, repent at leisure ....

[eno_]

Hence the continuing gang violence in the beer, wine, and liquor trades.

Oh, wait, you mean that doesn't happen?

[txdoda]

seems to me someone posted an article followed a by a couple of links to an azatlan group in california. some follow up on the posts showed pictures of these guys in the middle east posing with some hezbollah terrorists in lebanon

it would be way cool if we could find those links at free republic >>>>>>>>

Yes, I'd like to see the pic's....

[txdoda]

LOL!! The doughnut-gobblers figure it's all Mexican cartels and Hezbollah!! HAHAHA!! >>>>>>>

So you think the 'locals' growing for 'personal use' are
paying illegals 4K a month to stand guard over a "few plants" ??

[MrLeRoy]

Hence the continuing gang violence in the beer, wine, and liquor trades.

Oh, wait, you mean that doesn't happen?

It seems we've given him something to think about.

[q_an_a]

The difference is that todays version of POT is 10 times as strong as in the 6os and 70s and his every bit as "addictive" as an oppiate, not because they are the same, but because the JOY is addictive. Anyone that thinks that being addicted to pot, that is easy to get, would not lead to heron or crack is kidding themselves.

The willing market would be huge and with our VALUEs, such as family, community, and honesty much different now than prior to WWII is also kidding themselves. The sales of opiates which would be the next easy drug for a large market would be off the charts. the 2% number would be 15% easy.

[dennisw]

The fool also wants to legalize heroin and other hard drugs. How stupid is that?

[dennisw]

Legal heroin, crack, LSD and meth is your thing. Plus you're so loony and obsessed that just about the only time you post here is on drug threads.

[MrLeRoy]

is every bit as "addictive" as an oppiate

Rubbish. According to research cited by the Institute of Medicine, of all those who have ever used heroin 23% of them became dependent, whereas for marijuana the corresponding figure is 9%.

Anyone that thinks that being addicted to pot, that is easy to get, would not lead to heron or crack is kidding themselves.

Recent studies by the RAND Corporation, and by economist Steven Pudney of the University of Leicester, have deflated the "gateway theory."

[MrLeRoy]

Legal heroin, crack, LSD and meth is your thing.

My "thing" is reducing the following effects of the War On Some Drugs: deaths of innocents in drug-turf wars; deaths of users due to impurities or unexpectedly high potencies; enrichment of criminals; corruption of the justice system by enriched criminals; and lessened respect for the law in general.

Not to mention upholding the principle that adults should be free to make their own non-rights-violating choices (even if the choices they make are stupid).

[Wolfie]

The average THC content today is about 5%. That was the average back in the 70's as well. Yes, there are more potent varieties, just as there were back in the 70's. The folks testing the stuff back then just didn't happen to run into a whole lot of it, since most of what was tested was street schwag. In fact, when the Drug Warriors talk about increased potency, they're purposely comparing the highest quality pot of today to the lowest quality of yesteryear.

The Myth of Potent Pot

[MrLeRoy]

Nice! "ONDCP contradicted the boss's 30-fold nonsense in its own anti-drug media campaign, which features an essay titled, 'Kids and Marijuana: The Facts.' It states that THC levels 'rose from under 2 percent in the late 1970s and early 1980s to just over 6 percent in 2000.' (It was actually never under 2 percent in the '80s and was 4.88 percent, not 6 percent, in 2000, but hey close enough for government work.)"

[eno_]

There is not historical support for your scaremongering about hard drugs. And there is no difference between today's anti-drug propaganda and pre-Prohibition anti-alcohol propaganda. The Drug War and Prohibition are peas in a pod: Expensive, counterproductive, and an excuse for government intrusion into the lives of a supposedly free people.

[MrLeRoy]

The Drug War and Prohibition are peas in a pod: Expensive, counterproductive, and an excuse for government intrusion into the lives of a supposedly free people.

Amen!