Comments on: Cops Lie, Voters Listen http://blog.norml.org/2008/10/27/cops-lie-voters-listen/ Working to reform marijuana laws Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:58:52 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Dennis http://blog.norml.org/2008/10/27/cops-lie-voters-listen/comment-page-1/#comment-5109 Dennis Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:55:51 +0000 http://blog.norml.org/2008/10/27/cops-lie-voters-listen/#comment-5109 Law enforcement is crooked, plain and simple. There are record numbers of police and prosecutors losing their jobs and going to jail. So it should come as no surprise when they campaign against an initiative on the tax payer's time. Can these organizations and individuals be sued? Anyway, at least they're burning money and time. We'll beat their collective heads against this wall until they learn. Stop criminalizing marijuana use! Law enforcement is crooked, plain and simple. There are record numbers of police and prosecutors losing their jobs and going to jail. So it should come as no surprise when they campaign against an initiative on the tax payer’s time. Can these organizations and individuals be sued?

Anyway, at least they’re burning money and time. We’ll beat their collective heads against this wall until they learn. Stop criminalizing marijuana use!

]]> By: Mike http://blog.norml.org/2008/10/27/cops-lie-voters-listen/comment-page-1/#comment-5080 Mike Wed, 29 Oct 2008 00:08:12 +0000 http://blog.norml.org/2008/10/27/cops-lie-voters-listen/#comment-5080 Older people tend to be more easily swayed by law enforcement and government officials because they're overwhelmingly conservative. It's hard to get them to vote for marijuana reform because they still believe marijuana is a dangerous, addictive drug. My late father didn't believe the facts that I read to him from NORML. He thought it was the "drug dealers" lying to me. It's that kind of ignorance that is prevalent among older voters and unfortunately it is very difficult to change their minds on this issue. Older people tend to be more easily swayed by law enforcement and government officials because they’re overwhelmingly conservative. It’s hard to get them to vote for marijuana reform because they still believe marijuana is a dangerous, addictive drug. My late father didn’t believe the facts that I read to him from NORML. He thought it was the “drug dealers” lying to me. It’s that kind of ignorance that is prevalent among older voters and unfortunately it is very difficult to change their minds on this issue.

]]> By: David Carlson http://blog.norml.org/2008/10/27/cops-lie-voters-listen/comment-page-1/#comment-5078 David Carlson Tue, 28 Oct 2008 23:54:22 +0000 http://blog.norml.org/2008/10/27/cops-lie-voters-listen/#comment-5078 It is very true that those of us who are fighting for marijuana legalization face an enormous battle. There are so many individuals, companies, etc. that benefit from marijuana being illegal, and we should not be surprised when things like this happen. But we also cannot give in, and we won't. The truth is bound to come out - lies can only be propped up for so long. http://www.davidcarlsonpolitics.com It is very true that those of us who are fighting for marijuana legalization face an enormous battle. There are so many individuals, companies, etc. that benefit from marijuana being illegal, and we should not be surprised when things like this happen. But we also cannot give in, and we won’t. The truth is bound to come out – lies can only be propped up for so long.

http://www.davidcarlsonpolitics.com

]]> By: Anthony from Miami http://blog.norml.org/2008/10/27/cops-lie-voters-listen/comment-page-1/#comment-5076 Anthony from Miami Tue, 28 Oct 2008 23:22:07 +0000 http://blog.norml.org/2008/10/27/cops-lie-voters-listen/#comment-5076 If people think the law in Mass. is bad you should check out Florida's policy towards mary jane.. The most harsh in the United States!!! Penalties for minor possession is ridiculous. These laws in Florida need to change. If people think the law in Mass. is bad you should check out Florida’s policy towards mary jane.. The most harsh in the United States!!! Penalties for minor possession is ridiculous. These laws in Florida need to change.

]]> By: Rick http://blog.norml.org/2008/10/27/cops-lie-voters-listen/comment-page-1/#comment-5075 Rick Tue, 28 Oct 2008 22:29:00 +0000 http://blog.norml.org/2008/10/27/cops-lie-voters-listen/#comment-5075 Yet another reason to distrust the police. Yet another reason to distrust the police.

]]> By: Urbs http://blog.norml.org/2008/10/27/cops-lie-voters-listen/comment-page-1/#comment-5074 Urbs Tue, 28 Oct 2008 21:46:59 +0000 http://blog.norml.org/2008/10/27/cops-lie-voters-listen/#comment-5074 Of course the cops and mainstream media are going to propagate lies to the public about marihuana. This is something that has been going on for over 70 years. They used to say that pot would make you want to kill your brother, and now its said that there will be an increase in traffic violations. It is getting ridiculous, and the only way to stop it is to realize the facts and spread them variously to people that live in ignorance and have been succumbed by the lies. Every great change in this country happens due to the people and their voices. It is time for us to establish our voices and put it all on the line for this greater cause. I seriously think that legalizing pot can do wonders for this nation. It really could formulate a solution to the many problems that this country is facing. The great thing about America is the freedom of speech, now is the time to use that freedom and give back to a country that is ran by greedy, manipulative politicians and heartless lawyers and CEOS. Desperate times call for desperate measures. It is time to decrimilaze marihuana and recognize it as a personal choice just as cigarettes and alcohol. Of course the cops and mainstream media are going to propagate lies to the public about marihuana. This is something that has been going on for over 70 years. They used to say that pot would make you want to kill your brother, and now its said that there will be an increase in traffic violations. It is getting ridiculous, and the only way to stop it is to realize the facts and spread them variously to people that live in ignorance and have been succumbed by the lies. Every great change in this country happens due to the people and their voices. It is time for us to establish our voices and put it all on the line for this greater cause. I seriously think that legalizing pot can do wonders for this nation. It really could formulate a solution to the many problems that this country is facing. The great thing about America is the freedom of speech, now is the time to use that freedom and give back to a country that is ran by greedy, manipulative politicians and heartless lawyers and CEOS. Desperate times call for desperate measures. It is time to decrimilaze marihuana and recognize it as a personal choice just as cigarettes and alcohol.

]]> By: Asemili http://blog.norml.org/2008/10/27/cops-lie-voters-listen/comment-page-1/#comment-5067 Asemili Tue, 28 Oct 2008 17:54:18 +0000 http://blog.norml.org/2008/10/27/cops-lie-voters-listen/#comment-5067 Holy cow the story Paul linked to a couple posts above, in the Gloucaster Daily Times is great! Go read it here: http://www.gloucestertimes.com/puopinion/local_story_301202559.html?keyword=secondarystory The best part is, they let you post comments on their stories, and there is only about 20 posts so far so go light it up. Every post I've seen so far favors the bill. Holy cow the story Paul linked to a couple posts above, in the Gloucaster Daily Times is great! Go read it here:
http://www.gloucestertimes.com/puopinion/local_story_301202559.html?keyword=secondarystory

The best part is, they let you post comments on their stories, and there is only about 20 posts so far so go light it up. Every post I’ve seen so far favors the bill.

]]> By: homebrew83 http://blog.norml.org/2008/10/27/cops-lie-voters-listen/comment-page-1/#comment-5066 homebrew83 Tue, 28 Oct 2008 17:39:01 +0000 http://blog.norml.org/2008/10/27/cops-lie-voters-listen/#comment-5066 "I have listened to parents who have lost their children, who told me how their sons and daughters started with marijuana at young ages. Marijuana use was only the first step on the road to tragic endings. Will everybody who smokes pot become addicted to cocaine or heroin? No. But for many, it is indeed a gateway drug. Do you want to roll the dice on the health and lives of your children?" The 'gateway drug' card has been played too many times. You want to protect your children from hard drugs? Then think about how children really become exposed to other drugs like cocaine, heroin, and meth. Your kid doesn't try marijuana and then automatically reason that they should take the next step up. The drug-infested environment you're thinking of is a direct result of prohibition. Black market drug dealers often sell multiple substances, and the chances are VERY high that your child will be exposed to hard drugs when they go to purchase marijuana. Now think about how that situation would change as a result of marijuana decriminalization or legalization. The drug dealer who was previously selling your kid cocaine along with marijuana will no longer profit from selling weed because it is freely available. Marijuana, which is practically harmless if used responsibly, effectively becomes separated from hard drugs if you remove it from black market status. Look at all the people who use alcohol. Alcohol, a freely available, and potentially harmful/addictive substance is used by millions and millions of people. Do you see the drinkers in this country shooting up heroin or snorting cocaine? Nope. So why try to rationalize that marijuana is a gateway drug...it is scientifically proven to be less toxic and addictive than alcohol. Alcohol is just, if not more, likely to be a gateway drug than marijuana. It is obvious here that the drug is not the gateway, the black market is the gateway. If marijuana were to be decriminalized, I would personally feel much better about my child's decision to smoke marijuana because they would not face legal consequences and their chance of being exposed to a hard drug environment would be drastically reduced. Think about it. “I have listened to parents who have lost their children, who told me how their sons and daughters started with marijuana at young ages. Marijuana use was only the first step on the road to tragic endings. Will everybody who smokes pot become addicted to cocaine or heroin? No. But for many, it is indeed a gateway drug. Do you want to roll the dice on the health and lives of your children?”

The ‘gateway drug’ card has been played too many times. You want to protect your children from hard drugs? Then think about how children really become exposed to other drugs like cocaine, heroin, and meth. Your kid doesn’t try marijuana and then automatically reason that they should take the next step up. The drug-infested environment you’re thinking of is a direct result of prohibition. Black market drug dealers often sell multiple substances, and the chances are VERY high that your child will be exposed to hard drugs when they go to purchase marijuana.

Now think about how that situation would change as a result of marijuana decriminalization or legalization. The drug dealer who was previously selling your kid cocaine along with marijuana will no longer profit from selling weed because it is freely available. Marijuana, which is practically harmless if used responsibly, effectively becomes separated from hard drugs if you remove it from black market status.

Look at all the people who use alcohol. Alcohol, a freely available, and potentially harmful/addictive substance is used by millions and millions of people. Do you see the drinkers in this country shooting up heroin or snorting cocaine? Nope. So why try to rationalize that marijuana is a gateway drug…it is scientifically proven to be less toxic and addictive than alcohol. Alcohol is just, if not more, likely to be a gateway drug than marijuana. It is obvious here that the drug is not the gateway, the black market is the gateway.

If marijuana were to be decriminalized, I would personally feel much better about my child’s decision to smoke marijuana because they would not face legal consequences and their chance of being exposed to a hard drug environment would be drastically reduced.

Think about it.

]]> By: Asemili http://blog.norml.org/2008/10/27/cops-lie-voters-listen/comment-page-1/#comment-5065 Asemili Tue, 28 Oct 2008 17:38:08 +0000 http://blog.norml.org/2008/10/27/cops-lie-voters-listen/#comment-5065 Thanks for all that great info Paul. I for one am going to get in contact with at least masscann and at least get a donation out to them today. I hope at least 1 other member takes a few minutes to give even $5 to one of these groups supporting this bill. I live in Texas, and when my state gets a bill like this I sure hope people around the country donate to the groups pushing the reform in my state someday. Thanks for all that great info Paul. I for one am going to get in contact with at least masscann and at least get a donation out to them today. I hope at least 1 other member takes a few minutes to give even $5 to one of these groups supporting this bill. I live in Texas, and when my state gets a bill like this I sure hope people around the country donate to the groups pushing the reform in my state someday.

]]> By: Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director http://blog.norml.org/2008/10/27/cops-lie-voters-listen/comment-page-1/#comment-5063 Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director Tue, 28 Oct 2008 16:51:03 +0000 http://blog.norml.org/2008/10/27/cops-lie-voters-listen/#comment-5063 Example of the typical 'no on 2' lies; 30 percent average THC, huh? http://www.gloucestertimes.com/puopinion/local_story_301202559.html?keyword=secondarystory Published: October 28, 2008 04:55 am My View: Vote 'no' on Question 2 — for health, safety and our children My View Jonathan Blodgett "It should also be noted that the marijuana of today is far more dangerous and addictive than the pot of a generation ago. In the 1970s, the average amount of THC in marijuana was 3 percent. Today, it is 30 percent. Why? Because drug dealers are the ultimate capitalists who want to create more addicts to fuel their business. They care nothing of a child's health or a parent's heartache. ... Before you cast your ballot on Question 2, ask yourself, whom does this benefit? In the view of law enforcement, this initiative benefits no one but drug dealers. In the interests of public health and safety, and for the sake of our children, I urge you to vote "no" on Question 2." Jonathan W. Blodgett is the Essex County district attorney. Example of the typical ‘no on 2′ lies; 30 percent average THC, huh?

http://www.gloucestertimes.com/puopinion/local_story_301202559.html?keyword=secondarystory

Published: October 28, 2008 04:55 am

My View: Vote ‘no’ on Question 2 — for health, safety and our children

My View
Jonathan Blodgett

“It should also be noted that the marijuana of today is far more dangerous and addictive than the pot of a generation ago. In the 1970s, the average amount of THC in marijuana was 3 percent. Today, it is 30 percent. Why? Because drug dealers are the ultimate capitalists who want to create more addicts to fuel their business. They care nothing of a child’s health or a parent’s heartache.

… Before you cast your ballot on Question 2, ask yourself, whom does this benefit? In the view of law enforcement, this initiative benefits no one but drug dealers. In the interests of public health and safety, and for the sake of our children, I urge you to vote “no” on Question 2.”

Jonathan W. Blodgett is the Essex County district attorney.

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