Posted on 01/10/2009 1:17:51 PM PST by IbJensen
Esquire magazine recently reported that representatives from Barack Obama's administration team admit the president-elect will give strong consideration to decriminalizing marijuana by the end of his tenure in office.
Those remarks follow comments issued last summer by Rep. Barney Frank (D-Massachusetts), who introduced H.R. 5843 -- an act to remove federal penalties for the use of marijuana by "responsible adults." According to CNN, the liberal lawmaker "doesn't think it's the government's business to tell you how to spend your leisure time."
Lending the Esquire article additional credence is an interview with Obama, recorded in January 2004, during which the then-U.S. Senate candidate expressed interest in decriminalizing the personal use of pot. (See YouTube video)
As someone who is very much aware of how this drug has harmed so many people from my generation, I adamantly disagree with this "floating" proposal. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency lists marijuana as "a Schedule 1 controlled substance, meaning it has a high potential for abuse."
It's irresponsible for members of the incoming administration to float this idea and to send such a message to millions of young Americans -- although I'm sure many supporters of medical marijuana use would disagree. But I think they should reconsider. Currently more than 50 head shops in San Francisco act as fronts for marijuana distribution in that city. According to The O'Reilly Factor, these shops not only attract petty crime but other non-desirable activity as well.
Anyone who knows anything about drug abuse knows that marijuana has been a "gateway" drug for many of those who use and abuse hard narcotics. Many people are first exposed to that dark world through a few puffs of a supposedly "innocent" marijuana cigarette.
Marijuana desensitizes people -- and its everyday use makes people lazy and unproductive. And it's addictive! I have personally seen this substance harm friends from school days past. Perhaps that's why I am so upset that consideration would be given to decriminalizing its use.
Still, Congressman Frank garnered support from seven other Democratic House members in sponsoring his legislation. Included in that group was Rep. Barbara Lee from California's District 9 (Berkeley and Oakland). By voicing her support, Lee -- a member of the House Black Caucus -- made light of the recreational use of a drug that is destroying the lives of hundreds of her own constituents.
If Lee wants to act responsibly and do something constructive, she should target the drug dealers in her district who are irreparably damaging the lives of untold numbers of people. Ironically, though, Congresswoman Lee's tact is to say that present drug enforcement laws are "inhumane" and "immoral."
Similarly, if president-elect Obama wants to act responsibly, he should immediately retract this reckless proposal being "floated" by his advisors.
Yes. I've only been in Singapore twice and it appears the 'government' is following the Clintonian approach.
It's always best to eliminate the sellers and users.
It would appear that many 'libertarian' minded dolts are posting on this thread who believe that legalization of any drug would be a good thing.
Insulting me by comparing me to a dog indicates the intellectual leval of those who would legalize cannabis.
Southeast Asia’s governments impose the toughest drug laws on the planet. You can’t blame them – the legendary “Golden Triangle”, a patch of real estate bordering Thailand, Laos and Myanmar, is smack in the heart of the region, and is a world hotspot of narcotics production. (The CIA Factbook calls Myanmar the “world's second largest producer of illicit opium”).
In spite of such draconian measures, certain places are flush with illegal drugs. However, you should still defer to local laws when offered a chance to indulge – your status as a foreigner does not make you less likely to be punished for drug use, quite the opposite!
Some general, unsolicited advice:
Don’t bring your personal stash with you. Don’t get conned into carrying drugs for others, whether as personal favors or for profit. The risks far outweigh the possibility of getting away with it. You can bet the Bali Nine or Schapelle Corby (see Notable Arrests below) thought they could get away with it, too.
If you’re bringing prescription drugs with you, play it safe and bring the prescription for these drugs.
Notable Drug Arrests,p> Schappelle Corby - convicted of smuggling almost 10 pounds of marijuana into Bali. She could have received a death penalty – instead, the judge sentenced her to 20 years in prison. (Schapelle Corby – Wikipedia)
Nguyen Tuong Van - hanged at Singapore’s Changi prison in 2008. He had been caught with 14 ounces of heroin at Changi International Airport during a stopover between Cambodia and Australia. The Singapore government denied the Australian government’s request for clemency. (Nguyen Van Tuong – Wikipedia)
It's always best to eliminate the sellers and users.
I thought Singapore's WOD was a "howling success". Would you not consider the Netherlands' approach a howling success compared to Iran and Singapore?
The Netherlands has finally awakened from a deep, Rip van Winkleesque sleep and it may be too late, but they’re attempting serious reforms.
Do you not think that execution is a sure-fire method of control?
They are more tightly regulating "coffee shops" in some districts, but there is no move to reinstitute mj prohibition.
Again, why wouldn't the Netherlands be considered more of a success in the WOD than Singapore?
You also failed to address my earlier question in post #44:
Where does the Constitution delegate to the feds the power to penalize individuals for marijuana possession, in your personal view?
Hey doc, looks like you can dish it out (calling others imbeciles) but when others push back, well no so much. What kind of a doctor are you anyway?
Did you not read post #99?
Iran executed 10,000 drug dealers and has the highest rate of heroin addiction in the world. Singapore had about twice the addiction rate of the Netherlands - and that's using figures which understate the total number of addicts in Singapore.
So who has been more successful in the WOD - Singapore or the Netherlands?
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