Georgia Lawmaker Calls For Caning, Executing Marijuana Offenders
-
August 12, 2009
[Editor's note: This post is excerpted from this week's forthcoming NORML weekly media advisory. To have NORML's media advisories delivered straight to your in-box, sign up for NORML's free e-zine here.]State Republican lawmaker Tommy Benton (31st House District) favors “caning” minor marijuana offenders and “executing” those who sell the drug, according to a recent correspondence sent by the representative to a constituent.
In a July 29, 2009 e-mail (which was voluntarily forwarded to the NORML office), Rep. Benton wrote: “Thanks for the email. We will have to agree to disagree on this and whether or not money is wasted (by mandating the state to prosecute minor marijuana offenders). I am opposed to the legalization of marijuana. I think we should go to caning for people caught using and maybe execute dealers. [emphasis NORML’s] That would solve the problem as well. That is what they do in Singapore and they don’t have a drug problem.”
Caning is a form of corporal punishment consisting of up to 24 violent lashes with a long rattan cane that has been soaked in water. The procedure inflicts intense pain and deep, bloody lacerations that can take several months to heal.
Rep. Benton followed up his remarks in a separate e-mail on August 11 (also forwarded to NORML) in which he threatened to turn over the names of citizens who disagreed with his political viewpoints to local law enforcement.
He wrote: “You and your cronies want it (marijuana) legalized so you can get a hit anytime without having to worry about getting arrested. I have forwarded your email to the Lowndes County sheriffs [sic] office so that they can be on the lookout for you. [emphasis NORML’s] Consider this my last correspondence on the the [sic] subject to you or anyone else who shares your similar “conservative views’.”
Benton was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 2005.
UPDATE from Russ Belville, NORML Outreach Coordinator – Please Don’t Threaten Rep. Benton! Just Vote Him Out of Office.Since we began covering the story of Georgia Rep. Tommy “Caning for Potheads” Benton on July 29, the story has spread like wildfire. We issued an official press release today and featured the story here and the NORML front page just yesterday and already the story has been covered from the libertarian/right Reason blog to the liberal/left TalkLeft blog.
However, I am deeply disturbed at some of the nearly 250 comments the story has gotten at the NORML Blog. There are threats of assassinating, shooting, caning, and kicking the ass of Rep. Benton, as well as comparisons to Adolf Hitler. Some have even threatened his wife, children, and family dog and published Rep. Benton’s home telephone number (which I’ve scrubbed).
Stop it! Rise above the level of people like Rep. Benton. Violence and threats of violence not only solve nothing and hurt our movement, but they may be actionable criminal acts.
I understand the feelings of anger and desire for vengeance. For far too long our people have been intimidated, harassed, threatened, assaulted, imprisoned, and killed for our interaction with a plant. Far too many homes have been burst into by armor-clad assault-weapon-armed police. Our people have had our careers shattered, education thwarted, children taken, healthcare denied, civil rights abrogated, dogs murdered, property stolen and destroyed, and voting rights erased in this “Land of the Free” because we liked to use the hemp plant in the same way this country’s Founders did. Believe me, I report stories and read heartbreaking personal emails like this every day.
I considered deleting these comments but have not (though my superiors may overrule me) because I do think they tap into the strong current of “we’re mad as hell and we’re not going to take this anymore” that runs through the cannabis community. Plus I am a strong advocate of free speech on our forums.
But realize that this kind of reaction only empowers Rep. Benton within his community of hateful anti-pot zealots. “See,” he’ll crow to fellow prohibitionists, “smoking pot turns you into a raving violent psycho!” We’re better than that. Cannabis is supposed to be the peaceful plant. Do not sink to this man’s level. Fighting fire with fire only burns down everyone’s house and an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind. Fight this man with peace, education, and voting for his opponents in the primary or general election.
618 Responses to “Georgia Lawmaker Calls For Caning, Executing Marijuana Offenders”
Leave a Reply
maybe Benton should go to the pres.Oboma and tell him
*over a beer of corse* that he thinks that beating people with a cane is a good way to make them mind.
First of all i’d like to say its sad a person who was elected by the people can be so hateful to another human for simply voicing their concern. The world never changes i guess. Not long ago our government punished those who were thought to be witches. It was a very sad to hear the fate of those individuals who lost their lives over something they did nothing wrong. Right now im a little shaky over what I just read. I cannot believe a government official would even bring up physically harming another person when in general most marijuana users are non violent. Ive never harmed any person in my life. I constantly remind my son that a bigger man does not use his fists he uses his words. A man who raises his fist when self defense or protection of another person is not a factor is a coward and not a man. We live in the 2000s americans have often learned violence is not the answer. It saddens me a government offical would rather see people violently punished regardless if they are violent or not. Such a sad day to see people in our government would rather resort to violence still rather than simply talking to his brother or sister even if he doesnt quite agree. We as the human race have always had conflict like this. If it wasnt for people like us we would be forced into thinking the world was flat and witches are why bad things happen. The problem i see is we are scared to confront our peers for fear of our freedom. We need to stand up and FIGHT for what we believe in. I would go to jail RIGHT NOW if they drafted me.. I would ALSO GO TO JAIL over pot and I dont feel bad admitting it because I am a great father, a great friend, a great husband, and most of all a great human being.I’m a good person i even hold open doors for every person who is behind me.(Im not over exagurating that either it is EVERY PERSON ive held doors open for even a half hour. Im always last to go in anywhere. If i see a fellow american stranded I always help if im able to. The other day a lady was stranded in an intersection blocking 2 lanes with her kids because she ran out of gas. Most americans would not help even if its a female with her 2 kids.I know the government official in georgia would have never stopped to help get that family to safty.
If you smoke it and believe in what we all believe in here WE NEED TO STAND UP..DONT BE COWARDS or they will continue to pick us off one by one. We are Americans we stand tall we are respectable and our government NEEDS TO HEAR IT. If we continue to let our brothers and sisters become prisoners of war and we do not have their back and speak up we will fail. We showed our previous government we deserve freedom please do not allow the united states to continue down this path. Punish those who are violent and those who should be rightfully punished but honest hard working non violent Americans is what we need more of in this country. We dont need more good americans ruined by our government. We need to all come together and lend our americans, your brothers,and your sisters our hands. America is about freedom let freedom ring!I’ll go to jail for what i believe in. Ive seen legal things the government approves of ruin lives. My wife was an alcoholic. She was constantly violent i have had so many things broken. I’m thankful she is no longer drinking and ever since then we have not had 1 fight. That was over a year and a half ago. My dad, my step uncle are currently alcoholics. It hurts me everyday to see them like that. My step dad is a recovering alcoholic. I fortunately do not drink, I have in the past but I don’t like the effects it has on my body and I don’t like not knowing what happened the night before.
We Americans need to unclench our fists and lend a hand to our fellow brothers and sisters. We should not hate things we fully do not understand. We should move forward as a country, a family and focus on America the land of the free. Let us show the world differences can unite and continue the path of our founding fathers because we need to show the world our government and our people care about what the united states means….Freedom…We care for so many other countries where violence is first nature yet we are blindsided in our own country. Americans have made a big impact in the world its time to show the world we are united and united we all stand. Millions of americans suffer because of the marijuana law. Millions of americans do not deserve to be in trouble over that. You cannot allow yourself to believe millions of people should be punished. They are your family. Stop all this hate towards another and show them we all have a heart and soul. I do not hate the government official for his remarks. I would honestly still hold the door open proud for him, I would honestly stop and assist him and his family if they were stranded or were in need of it. He is different than I, we both have different views but he is my brother, he is an american and I would lend my hand to him any day of the week day or night. I would die for his family as his family did for me so many years ago. I believe there is good person inside hopefully one day he realizes this and lends a hand to an american in need.
……………BEWARE ………………….
This is one sick , twisted person .
I guess that is another reason why is taking forever to legalize it. Organizations are not willing to get together to organize a bigger organization. What makes you think ppl will follow like that? If everybody selflishly wants to be the one to legalize marijuana and have their name in history, instead doing it as a team, TOGETHER. I hope you guys know that as a team we can move a lot faster and smarter…but what do I know right? Dont get me wrong I would always be for legalizing, I just want to show you a bigger picture. As you know BIGGER ORGANIZATIONS, CORPORATIONS ECT. moves a lot faster.
I will be writing an article on Tommy Benton. I sent him an email with a lot of questions. If he responds I will post the answers on nicksinternet.com
WOW this is amazing! So many posts! This guy has no idea how his stupid remarks could have been bad for him. People are outraged Mr. Benton.
People Please. Dont threaten this guy. It will only make us look bad. Thats what he and others like him want. Be outraged..but…let cooler heads prevail.
#533 meh Says:
August 17th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
…but you people need to chill seriously
acting like rabid lunatics certainly doesn’t
help anything here it makes the holy herb
look bad and you all look like big idiots and I’m
ashamed if those making these threats claim to
be smokers because they do not represent the plant of peace I know.
RE: meh,
- Though I have not been making any threats against
Bufoon Benton, (not that he isn’t deserving of such…),
- I do agree that we do need to chill…HOWEVER….
for some of us, unfortunately, that isn’t possible.
- The Holy Herb cannot be blamed for the
extreme rancour any more than water can
be blamed for causing dehydration…
- Perhaps, like Lea expressed in their letter to
the Georgia rep, perhaps we, I, should, at least, initially,
give him the “benefit of the doubt”;
- Perhaps,
he is unaware of the history and negative side-effects
of MJ Prohibition ITSELF; Perhaps he’s ignorant of the contrasts
and differences between cannabis and hard-drugs, (including alcohol…).
- Perhaps he is angry / p.o.’d at truly-criminal, low-life, shady, scumbags
who just happen to deal in pot because they’re a criminal, and wouldn’t even be
involved in such if it weren’t an artificially-overpriced, lucrative, outlawed-herb.
(These types of persons are a product of Prohibition II,
not of cannabis, per-se…, and would, (counter-intuitively),
diminish in number, under a system of legal, regulated herb-sales)
- Then again…What if Tommy Benton is not ignorant / unaware,
but conciously-complicit in keeping things “as they are”,
a corrupt-player in the drug-war system???
- What are his true-motives for maintaining, escalating and
continuing prohibition against a plant-compound less-deleterious
than alcohol??? What does he have to gain???
How many fingers does he have in the drug-war “pie”???
- If this is the case, let come what may to him,
preferably at the hands of enraged drunks, or better yet,
IRONICALLY, by those who are “straight-edged” / “drug-free”.
#532 BEHIND THE GREEN DOOR Says:
August 17th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
NeuroGenesis1:29
R.o.E.
RickSeymore/Tennessee Activest
Can you believe the response to this repsonse.
I’ve got down time.
RE: What are you referring to exactly?
(Something to do with California, or
something to do with NORML-Blog “downtime”???)
[...] I am deeply disturbed at some of the nearly 250 comments the story has gotten at the NORML Blog. There are threats of assassinating, shooting, caning, and [...]
Facts- pot is not addictive. Alcohol, which is so legal, causes more pain and destruction than any amount of pot will. Not to mention its proven positive effects on cancer, aids, glaucoma and other serious illnesses. I have tried to find a reason why it is meeting with such bad press. Its seems it comes from the people who think of pot smokers as dirty, lazy hippies who just want to get high. I have HIV and smoking pot virtually eliminates the bad side effects of all the drugs and helps me maintain a tenuous weight. I am going to court in Aug. for possession of less than 1/3 of an ounce found in my car, i wasnt smoking while driving, i was feling rally nautious and went to a friends to get a little and got popped on my way home. This is my first offense, second offense gets more of a sentence than morpheine and cocaine. It makes no sense and i am living in fear that ill be jailed along with the overr 800K people in the country for an offense that helps me have a somewhat tolerable existence. Things have to change. I dont drink , but if i wanted to, icould go buy liquour and get all fucked up and thats ok, but to relax and use it for my disease, i could very well go to jail on a very serious drug offense. Yrs ago, i tried to move to Amsterdam but was tied down with red tape. its 2009 for gods sake.. wake up. The same people who are so irrevent about pot, regularly get drunk and sloppy and aggressive. Its like we are living in a alternate universe. And caning? Who is this guy? How did he get elected? Please NORML, keep up the fight.
Your right we should allow these idiots to continue to put us in jail and take our slavery like a man…..NOT
Every time I leave one more comment on this most excellent thread I swear to myself that it’s the last comment. Heavy sigh … here I go again.
#557 – NeuroGenesis1:29: Thanks for the compliment, as that’s the way I see it. When I started to read all the “threats” directed at T.Benton (gag-me-with-a-shovel) I thought about it and decided to write to him to try and level out the emails he was getting. I didn’t want to write to him, but I did it anyway as I do hope most who read NORML did.
This has been an incredible thread and I’d actually like to say Thanks T. Benton you scum bag for reminding us what all the Prohibitionists hold dear to their heart. And that would be to continue to ignore nearly half the Law Abiding Citizens in the U.S.A. who now support Decriminalization and Legalization of Marijuana.
Peace my fellow MJ supporters. Love to all of you. Be Safe, please.
In my personal opinion, I think this guy is fucked..Marijuana should be lagalized; not only is it safe, it would help our economy. The Marijuana plant has many other uses besides being smoked. Furthermore, I think its appalling and disgusting how twisted our government and its officials have become. In a perfect world, marijuana would be legalized…and assholes like Mr. Benton would be shoveling our……..
LEGALIZE IT!
[...] I am deeply disturbed at some of the nearly 250 comments the story has gotten at the NORML Blog. There are threats of assassinating, shooting, caning, and [...]
So, Mr. Benton, when’s the last time cannabis use (not to be confused with the war on cannabis) caused someone to get killed in Georgia? How many people has alcohol abuse killed in Georgia lately? Why don’t you give up your bigotry against marijuana users and focus your crime fighting on dead serious problems like that killer drug alcohol?
No red blooded American is going to give up their cannabis use because they are ordered to use alcohol if they want to get high. Americans don’t take orders, they debate and discuss, and demand fairness.
No need for any threats, that is stupid and self-indulgent, but if he or someone he loved were to be maimed or killed by a drunk driver like so many people are, it might help this sick puppy to understand what is at stake.
Everybody leaving their complaints on here doesnt do any good. Tommy benton and his boss speaker richardson probably wont be reading these. If you want to make your voice heard simply shoot them an email. you dont have to live in georgia. just send them emails letting them know how benton needs to be removed from office by the government or removed by votes this fall. there are links to contact them on this webpage. also, email cnn, fox news, cnbc, all those. enough people demand action and someone will listen. Take the 10 minutes and send the emails. Its easy and it will surely more of an impact than complaining to eathother.
You are quite Roofer, preaching to the chior doesn’t help at all.
549 John I hear you and I hope that is not their true motives to do this. An you know I think the pharma industry should be a non-profit org, cause all they really care is about making money, you know WTF, It should not be that way! An you know I also to though your generation will be the one to take care of this problem after all you guys are from 60′s an 70′s and by now you guys should be in office?
An just to let you know, I will never give this fight up. I will be standing next to NORML, MPP, DPA, and all those other organizations for when the times comes weather is peaceful or in war. I will be there. By the way Im only 22 and a POTHEAD FOR LIF3…….
Thats just funny. I can’t help but laugh at the pathetic guy that comes up with this kind of bull. I almost feel sorry for him, thinks Americans are just going to let that kind of shit happen here.
Hey Dear Deeply Disturbed ,
Take a break .
Send an e- mail to the ” no bullshit Tommy Benton ” , esteemed govt. rep and convey your concerns .
NeuroGenesis
Downtime: Moving and computer crashed. Be back soon
NeuroGenesis
R.O.E.
Rick Seymore
rsvpmanfordmantis@earthlink.net
overcoming much crap. Talk to you soon
#564
Why don’t you get “deeply disturbed over the almost one million young, poor, mainly people of color that have their lives destroyed every year???? Rather than posting your little statement ever 10 post??? Or if your a racist and don’t care if we continue to destroy and enslave our fellow Americans. At least look at the issue of wasting almost 100 billion of our money they use ever year. To allow them to shove their right wing, unpopular, fanatical ideas down our throat.
Or if you wish I can send you stories of people while in their own home have been killed. By drug task forces upholding prohibition laws.
How about losing our rights one by one. A cop can now search your car if you are wearing after shave. Its called probable cause and after shave is considered a masking agent. So if you wear after shave and a cop stops you he can search your car because you are covering the fact you smoke cannabis??? And heaven forbid you give the cop a hard time and his quota is not met. He may plant cannabis on you to insure he has a job.
Or how about the judges convicted for accepting millions in bribes for insuring a for profit jail stays full!!!
I would have to think hard. If caught for growing one cannabis plant in GA you get 5 years in jail mandatory and are labeled a “Drug Dealer”. Maybe caning would be better! Wait no you would be a dealer for growing one plant so per this guy you should be KILLED!!
I here the for profit jails love old hippies they are passive and easy to keep in a cage. At the rate of 45K a year per head they make billions warehousing old hippies..They also share the profits with or lawmakers!! Am I the only on that can see the connection???
I do not advocate violence or will I become violent unless assaulted first. Unlike the laws used against us. But I will respect the right of some to go off on these ass holes. Perhaps they were pressed into slavery using these laws. Maybe they had to serve hard time for making a personal choice, that harmed no one. If that were the case they have a right to ask for an eye for an eye.
I say it is time to end this slavery and selling of our representation to the highest bidder. No one seems to be looking at the personal suffering caused by our leaders/lawmakers….
CFHJ
I just got a call asking me to be state representative for American Cannabis a grass roots group. Anything I can do to end slaver in the 21st Century…
I hope this site will help in our fight to restore our rights and country to us not greedy corporations…
Here is the website more to come….
http://americancannabis.org/
CFHJ
[...] I am deeply disturbed at some of the nearly 250 comments the story has gotten at the NORML Blog. There are threats of assassinating, shooting, caning, and [...]
Norml what happened to that national advertisement? you should air it for the representative benton’s area hell i like to see it on my tv what happened to that norml?I was hoping to see that commercial would have made some people see
[...] I am deeply disturbed at some of the nearly 250 comments the story has gotten at the NORML Blog. There are threats of assassinating, shooting, caning, and [...]
#576; I saw it on Fox, during the Glenn Beck show.
They cling to their guns and their bibles, and to their caning and executing.
Mankind’s only hope is genetic engineering. When people as screwed up in the head as Tommy Benton can make it into public office, it certainly sheds light on just how screwed up the human race really is. This guy should be stripped of his U.S. citizenship and sent to some third world shit hole where they actually have the kind of law he is suggesting.
#577
Why don’t you get “deeply disturbed over the almost one million young, poor, mainly people of color that have their lives destroyed every year???? Rather than posting your little statement ever 10 post??? Or if your a racist and don’t care if we continue to destroy and enslave our fellow Americans. At least look at the issue of wasting almost 100 billion of our money they use ever year. To allow them to shove their right wing, unpopular, fanatical ideas down our throat.
Or if you wish I can send you stories of people while in their own home have been killed. By drug task forces upholding prohibition laws.
How about losing our rights one by one. A cop can now search your car if you are wearing after shave. Its called probable cause and after shave is considered a masking agent. So if you wear after shave and a cop stops you he can search your car because you are covering the fact you smoke cannabis??? And heaven forbid you give the cop a hard time and his quota is not met. He may plant cannabis on you to insure he has a job.
Or how about the judges convicted for accepting millions in bribes for insuring a for profit jail stays full!!!
I would have to think hard. If caught for growing one cannabis plant in GA you get 5 years in jail mandatory and are labeled a “Drug Dealer”. Maybe caning would be better! Wait no you would be a dealer for growing one plant so per this guy you should be KILLED!!
I here the for profit jails love old hippies they are passive and easy to keep in a cage. At the rate of 45K a year per head they make billions warehousing old hippies..They also share the profits with or lawmakers!! Am I the only on that can see the connection???
I do not advocate violence or will I become violent unless assaulted first. Unlike the laws used against us. But I will respect the right of some to go off on these ass holes. Perhaps they were pressed into slavery using these laws. Maybe they had to serve hard time for making a personal choice, that harmed no one. If that were the case they have a right to ask for an eye for an eye.
I say it is time to end this slavery and selling of our representation to the highest bidder. No one seems to be looking at the personal suffering caused by our leaders/lawmakers….
CFHJ
335 Tommy Benton
I want to believe you. What I’m having trouble with is wether “you” wrote this post, or someone is having fun at your expense. If you’re the guy we are all talking about…take care…especially with what you say. “A loose lip will sink a ship.” Sorry for your problem. I wouldn’t want it. If cannabis were legal, this may have been avoided.
[...] I am deeply disturbed at some of the nearly 250 comments the story has gotten at the NORML Blog. There are threats of assassinating, shooting, caning, and [...]
#580 Chrokee Fred Jesus Says:
August 20th, 2009 at 9:59 am
#577
Why don’t you get “deeply disturbed” over…???
RE: Cherokee Fred Jesus,
- I believe you’re taking #577′s
message “out-of-context”.
#577 was posting
an invitation-link to the
Weedmaps Blog
and…
“QUOTING”
Russ Belville’s UPDATE to
the original
Tommy Benton news-story…
I shall elaborate HERE:
“UPDATE from Russ Belville, NORML Outreach Coordinator – Please Don’t Threaten Rep. Benton! Just Vote Him Out of Office.
Since we began covering the story of Georgia Rep. Tommy “Caning for Potheads” Benton on July 29, the story has spread like wildfire. We issued an official press release today and featured the story here and the NORML front page just yesterday and already the story has been covered from the libertarian/right Reason blog to the liberal/left TalkLeft blog.
However, I am deeply disturbed at some of the nearly 250 comments the story has gotten at the NORML Blog. There are threats of assassinating, shooting, caning, and kicking the ass of Rep. Benton, as well as comparisons to Adolf Hitler. Some have even threatened his wife, children, and family dog and published Rep. Benton’s home telephone number (which I’ve scrubbed).”
#581 BEHIND THE GREEN DOOR Says:
August 20th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
”
…335 Tommy Benton
I want to believe you. What I’m having trouble with is wether “you” wrote this post, or someone is having fun at your expense…”
RE: BTGD / MM,
- Considering #335 post’s vernacular,
I believe it’s the LATTER.
(Would / does the real
Tommy Benton talk like that???).
- Sounds more like a brotha from the hood,
rather than a suthurn-bumpkin from Jawjah…
[...] I am deeply disturbed at some of the nearly 250 comments the story has gotten at the NORML Blog. There are threats of assassinating, shooting, caning, and [...]
#585
Why don’t you get “deeply disturbed over the almost one million young, poor, mainly people of color that have their lives destroyed every year???? Rather than posting your little statement ever 10 post??? Or if your a racist and don’t care if we continue to destroy and enslave our fellow Americans. At least look at the issue of wasting almost 100 billion of our money they use ever year. To allow them to shove their right wing, unpopular, fanatical ideas down our throat.
Or if you wish I can send you stories of people while in their own home have been killed. By drug task forces upholding prohibition laws.
How about losing our rights one by one. A cop can now search your car if you are wearing after shave. Its called probable cause and after shave is considered a masking agent. So if you wear after shave and a cop stops you he can search your car because you are covering the fact you smoke cannabis??? And heaven forbid you give the cop a hard time and his quota is not met. He may plant cannabis on you to insure he has a job.
Or how about the judges convicted for accepting millions in bribes for insuring a for profit jail stays full!!!
I would have to think hard. If caught for growing one cannabis plant in GA you get 5 years in jail mandatory and are labeled a “Drug Dealer”. Maybe caning would be better! Wait no you would be a dealer for growing one plant so per this guy you should be KILLED!!
I here the for profit jails love old hippies they are passive and easy to keep in a cage. At the rate of 45K a year per head they make billions warehousing old hippies..They also share the profits with or lawmakers!! Am I the only on that can see the connection???
I do not advocate violence or will I become violent unless assaulted first. Unlike the laws used against us. But I will respect the right of some to go off on these ass holes. Perhaps they were pressed into slavery using these laws. Maybe they had to serve hard time for making a personal choice, that harmed no one. If that were the case they have a right to ask for an eye for an eye.
I say it is time to end this slavery and selling of our representation to the highest bidder. No one seems to be looking at the personal suffering caused by our leaders/lawmakers….
CFHJ
Folks, we are making an impact.
The main reason we cannot officially coalesce our organizations is that a movement without a name, or a leader is much harder to vilify and make into an ‘enemy of the state’ which is what our opposition would do if they could. As I said before, don’t discount the comparisons to fascism. the term “DU” for ‘drug user’, ironically pronounced ‘jew’, is being targeted to be dispossessed, relocated to privately owned (Dick Cheney and Co) concentration camps, oops, prisons. Given a record and turned into ‘prison fodder’ unable to obtain regular employment or credit, recycled through prisons who are paid by the inmate. Law enforcement and prison guard unions as well as those employed in the legal system like this and work very actively to realize and maintain this as the status quo.
On a Mike Cann post I found the organization ‘Just say no to Pot’ (very slick and well organized, likely funded with DEA money) has posted their propaganda all over the place. I posted the following on their website, though I doubt they will publish it.
I invite you all to drop them a line and set the poor deluded people straight, (as it were), gently please, we don’t want to justify any of the other sides claims about us
Let them know what you think.
http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=161119084408&h=HxYTB&u=L7yIR&ref=nf
http://saynotopot.com/contact-us/
(my comment…)
“The continued PROHIBITION of cannabis jeopardizes the health and well-being of Canadians MUCH MORE than does the substance itself.”
• Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs, 2002
It is NOT addictive as you claim.
There has never been any demonstrable justification for prohibition in the first place and it is therefore unconstitutional
People who smoke it religiously are being illegally discriminated against. Some people believe Moses inhaled before he heard the voice of God.
Freedom of every individual to believe and practice whatever doesn’t harm anyone else must become universal
I started smoking joints when I was thirteen. Being a kid, and not knowing any better, it led to more dangerous substances such as alcohol and tobacco. It took me 25 years to become tobacco free. (10 yrs now) As a mentally ill youngster, (severe bipolar disorder), I discovered that marijuana enabled me to function on a higher level. (I have a genius IQ, yet was extremely sensitive and socially retarded). I am currently prescribed very high doses of lithium and quetiapine, which leaves me pretty much useless for 12hrs/day. (Used as directed) Marijuana allows me to use much, much less of the prescribed meds saving me from extreme kidney pain from accumulated lithium in my system. Marijuana is of great health benefit to me, however I do not lobby much for medical marijuana as there is so much ignorance and prejudice educated into physicians. As I said and it bears repeating, Freedom of every individual to believe and practice whatever doesn’t harm anyone else must become universal, whether you have a prescription or not. Why would I ask for anyone’s permission or approval to do what I need to do?
Of course. The Status quo generates so much inertia to slow or prevent change…wouldn’t it be nice if all those police, guards lawyers politicians bureaucrats and otherwise unnecessary social workers, etc., could have jobs that actually contributed value to society instead of being paid out of the values generated by others. None of those people produce any good or commodity, (which is what the GDP consists of) marijuana growers, on the other hand produce billions of dollars for the global economy every year, even if it an underground economy it fuels the ‘legitimate’ economy too. Unfortunately, the ‘prison industrial complex’ consumes even more values than their counterparts produce.
I wonder why i am wasting my breath why would an evil entity publish any comment that was contradictory or disproved its hideously corrupt and malicious, nefariously wicked propaganda that marijuana has EVER been in any way harmful to anyone. Those unfortunate testimonials are from the same types who would develop issues with or without the help of marijuana. In fact in some cases it is clear they were in fact being helped for a time before they were convinced it was bad for them. Other than the effects of prohibition, there is no downside.
I do not advocate abusing any drug or substance, but properly used, drugs of all sorts can be very powerful tools. But a person can gain more damage from getting carried away on the donuts after the toke than from the toke. Want to outlaw donuts too? Why not ? They do more harm.
As I said 35 years of daily use. Lucid enough for you?
Your website full of lies and propaganda will be reported to the PROPER Authorities.
I pray the good Lord grants you wisdom, a heart filled with Peace, and the courage to do the right thing.
God Bless.
[...] I am deeply disturbed at some of the nearly 250 comments the story has gotten at the NORML Blog. There are threats of assassinating, shooting, caning, and [...]
The ideas that have come out of this man’s mouth are statements of ignorance and fear. Harsher punishments for marijuana possession would be a huge waste of money for the government. Whether legalization is currently an option or not these people need to either leave their laws alone or they need to look towards decriminalization. Marijuana is a virtually harmless drug and people need to realize that. However, saying that people should be harmed for posessing a harmless druig is ludicrous. Pot smokers and straight edge people alike are humans and deserve to not live in fear that their government will abuse them in such a way. My faith in this country has died a little inside after reading what this man has said. How he ever came to be in any sort of government office is beyond my understanding. If any sort of these barbaric deeds begin to be used on marijuana posession “offenders”, then this government has lost all of its principles and respect ofor its citizens.
Like we do all the time, let this die. Something needs to be done to keep this alive. This guy needs to taken out of government.
#588
Why don’t you get “deeply disturbed over the almost one million young, poor, mainly people of color that have their lives destroyed every year???? Rather than posting your little statement ever 10 post??? Or if your a racist and don’t care if we continue to destroy and enslave our fellow Americans. At least look at the issue of wasting almost 100 billion of our money they use ever year. To allow them to shove their right wing, unpopular, fanatical ideas down our throat.
Or if you wish I can send you stories of people while in their own home have been killed. By drug task forces upholding prohibition laws.
How about losing our rights one by one. A cop can now search your car if you are wearing after shave. Its called probable cause and after shave is considered a masking agent. So if you wear after shave and a cop stops you he can search your car because you are covering the fact you smoke cannabis??? And heaven forbid you give the cop a hard time and his quota is not met. He may plant cannabis on you to insure he has a job.
Or how about the judges convicted for accepting millions in bribes for insuring a for profit jail stays full!!!
I would have to think hard. If caught for growing one cannabis plant in GA you get 5 years in jail mandatory and are labeled a “Drug Dealer”. Maybe caning would be better! Wait no you would be a dealer for growing one plant so per this guy you should be KILLED!!
I here the for profit jails love old hippies they are passive and easy to keep in a cage. At the rate of 45K a year per head they make billions warehousing old hippies..They also share the profits with or lawmakers!! Am I the only on that can see the connection???
I do not advocate violence or will I become violent unless assaulted first. Unlike the laws used against us. But I will respect the right of some to go off on these ass holes. Perhaps they were pressed into slavery using these laws. Maybe they had to serve hard time for making a personal choice, that harmed no one. If that were the case they have a right to ask for an eye for an eye.
I say it is time to end this slavery and selling of our representation to the highest bidder. No one seems to be looking at the personal suffering caused by our leaders/lawmakers….
CFHJ
seriously now more than ever is when we must use our voices. Goverm’t czars, using the term lightly more like elected dictators, can’t fight the number of the masses.
Don’t worry about words , their lack of intelligence and lack of personal confidence is rained thru the people they can’t control. Write your Congressman, shoot proposals, be active in the political games. Seriously physical harm for a freedom. Yeah that won’t end up in revolt. It’s all about power, they don’t care about money its population control to a molded vision of the twisted and undercover devisions.
People like this Tommy Benton should be taken out back and cained and then then let all the potheads have their way with him.Whatever happens to him, well I guess he gets what he deserves!!! How could this goverment even assholes like this guy into office. I guess this is his freedom of speach and this is mine get this jerk out of office we dont need his fuckink kind. This is one sick fucker!!!!!
Hey Mr,Benton toke up and chill out dude. Maybe if you relax, whatever is up your ass
will come out. As it is your already full of shit, what an idiot.
RE: #591 Chrokee Fried Jeezus,
HOLLOW bee THY NAME..,.
Get a fucking CLUE, CHFJ!!!
You’re ranting against a fucking ROBO-POST
who is QUOTING NORML daily Audio Stashe’s
Russ Belville:
RUSS BELVILLE is the one who is saying that they
are “Deeply Disturbed”…
THIS is SO God damned laughable, except…
Are you really THAT daft???
Get a fucking CLUE…Chrokee Fried Jeezsus!!!
You’re making the rest of us look bad!!!
Really!!! I think its time to march. Time? Place?
[...] I am deeply disturbed at some of the nearly 250 comments the story has gotten at the NORML Blog. There are threats of assassinating, shooting, caning, and [...]
Well , that proves it ! Georgia is just another ignorant Southern state full of HILLBILLIES just like that poor ole’ ugly Mr. Benton . He probally wouldn’t be so ugly if he’d smoke marijuana instead of taking hard drugs like alcohol .Looks like he hasn’t gotten over that hangover from last month . Hey Ugly ! Didn’t you hear that marijuana can actually grow hair ?
[...] I am deeply disturbed at some of the nearly 250 comments the story has gotten at the NORML Blog. There are threats of assassinating, shooting, caning, and [...]
[...] I am deeply disturbed at some of the nearly 250 comments the story has gotten at the NORML Blog. There are threats of assassinating, shooting, caning, and [...]