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Category: Opinion

You Can’t Stop Marijuana!!

By May 9, 2009 1


Honestly, I don’t even care about legalization anymore. Maybe, I shouldn’t say that but that’s the best representation of how I feel. It’s just that the debate has become moot to me at this point. I’m not finished with the fight and I still support legalization. I just choose to fight and support in a different way. See, I’m a grower. Yes, I grow marijuana. I have a small closet grow that I am upgrading right now to provide a better environment for my future plants. You’d be amazed at how many of “us” exist in the United States, well under the radar save for the foolish ones who pop up to speak on the issue like myself.

I don’t care because my grow is personal. I grow what I want and yes I do share with friends. The products I buy to grow my marijuana can be found at any typical, run-of-the-mill garden shop – lights, soil/soil-less/hydro, nutrients, etc. The seeds, I can get from any of the other growers I know in the United States – princess diesel, super silver haze, sour diesel, northern lights, and so on. Yes, there are more of us and we’re connected in some way like a large, loose co-op!

The money I spend doesn’t go to any Mexican drug cartels. I don’t buy their cheap marijuana anymore, anyway. The money I spend doesn’t go to any terrorist organizations in the Middle East, either. In fact, the money I spend growing marijuana supports American business and keeps another person employed – Home Depot (lighting, buckets/flower pots, soil, timers, nutrients), Petland (air tubing, stones, pumps), etc. The marijuana I grow isn’t sold to, nor shared with, any children. In fact, all of my friends are well above the age of 21.

So, who am I harming? Who am I stealing from?
Who’s life is being destroyed by my decisions and activities?

NO ONE!

Folks, the future of marijuana under prohibition is small, “undetectable”, personal grow operations – closets, wardrobes, grow boxes, etc. If you want to learn how to grow marijuana as well, just ask me. Or, look for an online grow forums (ICMAG is a great resource). Or, go to your local bookstore. I got my book from Barnes & Noble.

Legalize it. Prohibition has already lost the war. The game’s long over. Even if I get caught tomorrow, I’ve already set up dozens of others and many more know I am available when they’re ready. I’ll continue leaving my mark, one grower at a time.

Each one, teach one – it’s exponential!

Categories: Legacy, Opinion

Marijuana Gives Cancer the Munchies

By April 3, 2009 1

I just came across this article in my RSS from Spain via Cannabis Culture magazine: New Study Shows Marijuana Helps In Battle Against Cancer. I thought it was pretty significant. Yet, another study showing how marijuana can be used medically. When I hear anything like this, I want to know how it works. How does marijuana help battle cancer? I thought the answer was so funny:

The authors from the Complutense University in Madrid, working with scientists from other universities, found that the active component of marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), causes cancer cells to undergo a process called autophagy — the breakdown that occurs when the cell essentially self-digests.

I thought about it. I just repeated that term: “Self-digests!? So, it literally eats itself to death. Then I came to the conclusion that marijuana causes the cancer cells to get really hungry and since it can’t go to the corner store, it has to eat itself.

But, then I got all philosophical about it..

well if it gives cancer the munchies, am I a cancer. don’t we all get the munchies. WE’RE ALL CANCER

..so now I stop.

Take another puff

But, seriously. This nation spends billions on cancer research and billions on prohibition. Isn’t it this nation’s own stupidity and fear that keeps us realizing this potential cure is right under our noses? My mother had her breasts removed because of cancer. Why did we have to suffer? I’m done.

Categories: Legacy, Opinion

Budget cuts? Police first!! Episode 2

By March 11, 2009 5


Episode 1: Budget cuts? Police first!!

I thought I’d relay a comment I left on an article I’d just read: Suspension for 3 Cops in Facebook Flap. In short, a few dumb ass cops were canned from their jobs due to racist and sexist comments on their Facebook pages. Here is my response to that article:

It’s the economy people. You really think these officers would have been fired for these comments if states weren’t looking for ways to cut down on the budget. Some of the greatest costs to cities and states happens to be bad police policy, where crooked cops get slaps on the wrist for the crimes they commit while badged.

Think about it. Look at the Oscar Grant murder. The family is suing the city for $50M. Ask yourself, how many of these lawsuits exist in your city, state, and across the nation? How many of them have been settled or already judged on? How many millions are these areas losing because of police misconduct?? Finally, police are being let go left and right all of a sudden where they’d just be placed on desk duty or something like that. It should have been this way all along.

Unfortunately, it takes a bad economy for people to think straight and start making cops accountable for their actions. Why should innocent taxpayers have to fork over millions to people that should never have been hurt in the first place only to continue paying some creep who was never good at his/her job in the first place?

Truthfully speaking, I hope more terminations of police occur throughout the nation. For far too long, the police have been more of a liability than an asset. It’s time certain officials start taking this burden more seriously. In times when we can’t provide decent school books to our children or afford to keep a hospital open, there’s no reason why any county, city, or state should tolerate the arrogance and willfullness of crooked police officers. How many more millions do we taxpayers have to shell out to victims of police misconduct or outright brutality before we come to our senses??

New York City

  • $8.75 Million for brutalizing Abner Louima – 218 jobs (@ 40k/year for 1 year)
  • $3 Million for the murder of Ousman Zongo – 75 jobs
  • $3 Million for the murder of Amadou Diallo – 75 jobs
  • $3 Million for the murder of Anthony Baez – 75 jobs

Chicago

  • Loevy & Loevy, civil rights law firm, claims to have won $80 Million in settlements – 2,000 jobs

And we’re not even discussing general court costs as well as any other costs associated with incarceration.

If I was getting paid to write these posts, I’d continue looking up this information. But I think my readers get the point. This nation can save a lot of money and a lot of jobs if these “officials” do something about police brutality.

I think Harrison officials are smart for getting rid of these officers BEFORE they create greater liabilities for the town!

Related Links:

Categories: Legacy, Opinion

Why marijuana regulation is important?

By March 9, 2009 3
Intro

There are different kinds of marijuana users around the world. Most people tend to fall into the category of people who don’t really care about what kind of marijuana they smoke as long as they’re getting high. And, most marijuana will cover that part without a problem.

Then there are people like myself, the “marijuana connoisseurs” as I’d like to think. I have been compared to a sommelier (wine expert) more than once. I understand and respect that there are different kinds of marijuana and they affect people differently. For example, Michelle Rainey, a marijuana activist in Canada, prefers Afghani Bullrider to help with her Crohn’s disease. On another note, if you were looking for something that would help with sexual arousal, a nice sativa strain will do that such as Mikado. You won’t find these strains at the “corner market”. Michelle Rainey grows her own medicine and Mikado is available as seed, cheaply because it’s not one of the more famous fast moving strains.

There are plenty of other strains, some “land race”, or naturally occurring, and some created or bred by crossing different strains. Some are pretty much the same while others express different qualities in potency, smell, taste, effect, color, and so on.

Talkin Regulation

This is why I was happy to read this article: Is Cutting-Edge Marijuana Lab the Future of Legitimate Pot?. The tagline beneath the title reads,

“If pot is truly medicine, shouldn’t it be standardized? A lab has big plans to test the potency of Cali cannabis sold in dispensaries.”

The article itself is five pages long. Someone, Stephen DeAngelo, has had the sense to provide potency percents to let people know the potency of their marijuana.

“At downtown Oakland’s Harborside Health Center, the hairy green buds have numbers. The new nomenclature beckons viewers from within seven gleaming glass display cases. Antiseptic white placards boast authoritative black digits. Each stands erect next to a Petri dish of high-octane “White Rhino” or “Afgooey Super Melt.” They read: 7 percent, 11 percent, 18 percent, or 21 percent. Even 80 percent.“

For the most part, we have to go by what we know or what we hear from others. Most of us accept that Mexican-grown marijuana is usually the weakest (more on that later). But, what’s the strongest? I’ve had good experiences with Hempstar and Hush. They were, in my opinion, the strongest marijuana I’ve tried. But, were they the strongest? I couldn’t tell you to be honest. Maybe Stephen DeAngelo can.

Marijuana Safety

He also gives a damn about the safety of the marijuana they sell. Most of us know and accept the fact that marijuana itself is rather safe. However, when we purchase marijuana, we don’t always think about the environment or the grower which directly affects the marijuana we smoke.

For example, on the streets, you’re more likely to find marijuana from Mexico. I don’t know how many times I’ve pointed out how careless Mexican growers are with their marijuana. All of it comes seeded and seeds limit potency so the marijuana they grow naturally comes weak, the absolute weakest on the market. It’s also packaged tightly into large bricks hence the term, Mexi-brick. The process of packing the marijuana so tightly increases the opportunity for mold to form especially if the marijuana hasn’t been dried properly. Forunately, Mexican grown marijuana is usually so dry you have to rehydrate it just to make it smokable. Other problems include the long distances, time it takes to travel, and the conditions the bricked marijuana may go through to get from one point to the other. Anything can happen in that time to affect the marijuana.

The article points out:

“It’s expensive to test every single thing that comes through the door — that’s the price you pay with a decentralized supply system,” Dave said. “But that’s what you’ve got. You’ve got five pounds coming from here and two from there and one individual. I mean, a dog walks in the grow room, and wags its tail — anything can be coming off that dog’s tail. It’s gross. Fertilizers with E. coli. Compost teas that they don’t make right, anaerobic tea that has elevated levels of E. coli and salmonella. It has to come. There’s no way that this is sustainable. All it takes is one story of immune-compromised people dying from aspergillus infection. The myth that cannabis hasn’t killed a single person in 3,000 years is allowed to go on. Well, it’s not cannabis that kills people, it’s all the shit that’s in it.“

Legalize and Regulate

Isn’t it better, smarter, cleaner that someone has the sense to test for these things in the products they sell. Does anyone remember being taught about meat packing reform in the United States. Most people take it for granted these days. However, back then, it was not uncommon for canned meat to be spoiled green, contain whole rats or just parts, and be mixed with various other things that may not even be edible. It took government intervention to bring some safety to the meat packing industry.

Maybe if the US government gets its collective head out of its behind, perhaps it will legalize and regulate the marijuana industry, at least, for the safety of its own citizens. Let’s just hope the government doesn’t go too far.

Categories: Legacy, Opinion

Thought: Petition DEA to schedule alcohol AND tobacco!

By March 5, 2009 2
Intro

In 1970, Congress passed the Controlled Substances Act. At the time, no one knew enough about marijuana (although it has been in use around the world for thousands of years) to know where to schedule it. For the mean time, it would be considered a “Schedule I” substance until more research of the plant could be conducted.

Reference Note
Schedule I is the placement for substances that:
(A) has a high potential for abuse.
(B) has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.
(C) lacks accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision.
There are also Schedules II, III, IV, and V which are just lesser forms where Schedule V substances:
(A) has a low potential for abuse compared to Schedule IV.
(B) has accepted medical use in the United States.
(C) may lead to limited physical or psychological dependence.
This is why the DEA thinks cocaine (Sched. II) is safer than marijuana (Sched. I).

President Nixon commissioned the National Commission on Marijuana and Drug Abuse also known as the Shafer Commission after the chairman Raymond P. Shafer. In 1972, Shafer presented the report, Marijuana: A Signal of Misunderstanding in which recommended that marijuana be decriminalized and treated as a social concern which means its use would, at least, be discouraged.

“[T]he criminal law is too harsh a tool to apply to personal possession even in the effort to discourage use. It implies an overwhelming indictment of the behavior which we believe is not appropriate. The actual and potential harm of use of the drug is not great enough to justify intrusion by the criminal law into private behavior, a step which our society takes only ‘with the greatest reluctance.”

And this was in 1972. We’re still fighting this war almost 4 decades later because the Nixon Administration ignored the very report they commissioned in the first place, not the first nor last time this has occurred.

With all of that information under our belt, couldn’t, or maybe shouldn’t, one agree that if there are any substances or drugs that should have Schedule I status, they would be alcohol and tobacco. Let’s analyze this fairly. According to Schedule I, a substance should have a high potential for abuse, no medical utility, and lack accepted safety for use.
Source: Wikipedia

Petition to schedule tobacco

Is tobacco addictive?

“Yes. Most smokers use tobacco regularly because they are addicted to nicotine. Addiction is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, even in the face of negative health consequences. It is well documented that most smokers identify tobacco use as harmful and express a desire to reduce or stop using it, and nearly 35 million of them want to quit each year. Unfortunately, only about 6 percent of people who try to quit are successful for more than a month.“

Is there any medical utility for tobacco?
I tried to find some information that would promote the use of tobacco for medicinal purposes and I could not find any evidence. However, I found this:

“Cigarette smoking kills an estimated 440,000 U.S. citizens each year—more than alcohol, cocaine, heroin, homicide, suicide, car accidents, fire, and AIDS combined. Since 1964, more than 12 million Americans have died prematurely from smoking, and another 25 million U.S. smokers alive today will most likely die of a smoking related illness.”

Well so far, it satisfies two out of three requirements for Schedule I. Shall we go for a third? I think so!

Is there any accepted safety for use?
I didn’t find much on accepted safety for use but I found this nifty list of surgeon general warnings that may help:

  • Cigarette Smoking May be Hazardous to Your Health
  • The Surgeon General Has Determined that Cigarette Smoking is Dangerous to Your Health
  • Smoking Causes Lung Cancer, Heart Disease, Emphysema, And May Complicate Pregnancy.
  • Quitting Smoking Now Greatly Reduces Serious Risks to Your Health.
  • Smoking By Pregnant Women May Result in Fetal Injury, Premature Birth, And Low Birth Weight.
  • Cigarette Smoke Contains Carbon Monoxide.
  • Cigar Smoking Can Cause Cancers Of The Mouth And Throat, Even If You Do Not Inhale.
  • Cigars Are Not A Safe Alternative To Cigarettes.
  • This Product May Cause Gum Disease And Tooth Loss.
  • This Product May Cause Mouth Cancer.
  • This Product Is Not A Safe Alternative To Cigarettes.

I figure the accepted safety of tobacco would be before you’re negatively affected by any of these ailments and the others that weren’t mentioned.
Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse and Wikipedia

Petition to schedule alcohol

Is alcohol addictive?

“Yes, alcohol is highly addictive. About 18 million adults are addicted to alcohol. This means they need to drink alcohol in order to function normally, and their drinking causes problems in their lives.”

Is there any medical utility to alcohol?

“Various meta-analyses have established alcohol’s causal role in a wide range of physical, mental and social harms, with practically no organ in the body immune from alcohol related harm.”

Is there any accepted safe use of alcohol?

This really all depends on what you consider safe, of course. It takes only ONE drink to be considered impaired. Depending on your weight and history of intake, it may take a lot to actually kill you. But, it can kill you.

Sources: WebMD and World Health Organization (PDF)

But, WHY?

There are numerous reasons why I want the DEA to schedule alcohol and tobacco.

  1. Appropriate: Both alcohol and tobacco fit the definition of a Schedule I substance
  2. Hypocrisy: If the DEA didn’t schedule these substances, they’d be contradicting their own policy
  3. Destruction: Imagine using the Controlled Substances Act to criminalize alcohol and tobacco. Sit back and internalize what would happen if alcohol and tobacco were made illegal!!! It’s my guess that the CSA, along with the DEA, would be dismantled long before alcohol and tobacco were ever made illegal. I fear for my life just thinking about clicking on “publish post”.

Instead of fighting a government that comfortably views and accepts marijuana’s criminalization, force them to confront, not only their own addiction to self-inflicted death, but also the contradiction of this sick, twisted, disgusting, and backward drug policy. The only issue for me to figure out is how does one petition the DEA to schedule these dangerous drugs so they can be removed from society? Just a matter of time before it’s all figured out.

Categories: Legacy, Opinion

Legalization: By Any Means Necessary?

By March 2, 2009 4
After I wrote the last post [link] on why I believe marijuana won’t boost the economy, I got a lot of support and a lot of flack. I got support from people who understand what I am trying to do. I got a lot of flack from people who, I find, don’t give a damn. I find myself between two evils, both stemming from greed. Unfortunately, most people probably won’t bother reading. They’ll ignore common sense because for them legalization is the only thing that matters.

Marijuana legalization advocates, specifically, seem to not care about HOW marijuana is legalized, as long as it is legalized. This exhibition of “weed greed” is a major problem for me. Advocates don’t have a problem quoting big numbers to entice politicians who are suffering from “tax greed”. California Assemblyman Tom Ammiano proves my point. He claims that California can reap in $1.3 billion in tax revenues per year [link]. And, I know this is a number that’s been quoted by legalization groups in the past [link]. I also believe that those numbers are not at all feasible.

Don’t get me wrong. I do believe that legalization will be a boost to the economy. I simply do NOT believe in the exorbitant numbers quoted by marijuana advocates and politicians who believe in those numbers. At the same time, I don’t blame advocates for appealing to political greed on this issue. Greed seems to be the ultimate driving force of this economy anyway.

Assemblyman Ammiano proposed a fixed tax of $50 per ounce of marijuana. While I can appreciate the opportunity that he brings in opening the floor to debate, I find this tax to be completely reckless and a danger to legalization efforts. While it may cause politicians to salivate and froth at the mouth, it’s not an honest number to start with in a real debate. However, that’s what a debate is all about. We can’t have a real debate with people willing to misinform the public.

In my previous post [link], I did something that may have pissed off fans of legalization. I discussed common sense economics. My argument is simple to anyone who has taken freshman level economics. It must have been scary to them to see a serious argument based on real numbers and the precedent of alcohol prohibition. Comments to my post seem to almost make up the idea that potheads will drive this economic revolution.

We seem to forget that potheads are human beings. We seem to forget that marijuana is not addictive. We seem to discount the idea of competition. And, we seem to discount any concept of supply vs demand. It’s these misconceptions that allude to these large numbers. It seems very obvious to me that typical potheads don’t understand, don’t care to understand, or are just willing to misinform anyone on their willingness to pay these prices.

If we adjust pricing for competition and increased supply vs demand, $50 per ounce ammounts to extortion. A commenter mentioned that potheads wouldn’t have a problem paying 75% in taxes, that is, after pricing adjustments. Well I am a pothead and grower and I will NOT pay $50 per ounce extra. While it may seem necessary to keep up that farce to get what we want, it’s a thin veil, easily broken. Once the real economists see these plans, they’re not going to agree at all.

It’s very much legalization by any means necessary.

It’s my view that if marijuana is to be legalized then we ought to legalize it for the right reasons. Greed is never the right reason to do anything. As I’ve mentioned before, there is greed on both sides of the issue. Legalize marijuana because it’s safe. Legalize marijuana because it’s helpful. Legalize marijuana because it’s the smart thing to do.

If we usher in legalization based on greed, we do more harm to national efforts than we will ever realize.

I don’t believe marijuana will bring in over $1 billion in tax revenues to California. Simply read my last post as to why I believe it [link].

  • What will happen if marijuana doesn’t bring in $1.3 billion in taxes?
  • What will happen nationally if California doesn’t perform as expected?
  • What will happen if legalized marijuana doesn’t beat prohibition-era pricing?
  • Would one still pay $50 more if they can get the same marijuana for $50 less?
If I am right, we go back to combating the same arguments as before because we stopped combating them due to greed. It won’t be worth it to legalize marijuana if people still think that it’s a dangerous substance. It won’t be worth it to legalize marijuana if high taxes drive the black market. And, there will be various groups supported by the DEA, tobacco companies, alcohol companies, and pharmaceutical companies as well as others who will make every effort to prove legalization is a failure. Advocates and politicians have been blinded by greed to the point that they don’t even care to further address these issues.

It’s silly that one kind of misinformation, spurred by greed, is overriding another kind of misinformation, spurred by fear. I feel that we’ve come a long way as it pertains to general public opinion. Marijuana is more widely accepted. This legalization for economy push, although in the right direction, is for the wrong reasons. Legalization is going to be based on a weak foundation of money that may not materialize rather than the strong foundation of common sense and intelligence.

I am not an opponent of legalization. I am an opponent of weak policy, greed, and stupidity.

I am for marijuana legalization. It’s the right path for the United States. It will bring in some tax revenue and will also save a lot of money on police expenditures. However, if California messes this up by NOT meeting demands or expectations, I believe it will push national legalization efforts back by a lot. I already believe they won’t meet those expectations. I’d rather have an honest debate about the nature of marijuana than a misinformation campaign about a boost to the economy that will disappoint.

We ought to have an honest debate with doctors, scientists, and researchers instead of this silly war of words we get caught up in between advocates who can only quote unnamed experts. Is it so wrong of me to ask for honesty in the debate. Is it so wrong of me to question motives? Is it so wrong of me to be so honest? I suppose to many fans of legalization, it is wrong of me to be honest. Unfortunately, they sound a lot like the DEA who routinely misinforms the public about marijuana.

I want to be wrong. I need to be wrong. But, I will not ignore history. I will not ignore other precedents. I will not ignore the lessons of alcohol prohibition. Legalize marijuana the right way. This is not the right way.

Categories: Legacy, Opinion

Reality Check: Marijuana won’t boost economy

By March 1, 2009 22
Intro

First and foremost, let me say that I would love to see marijuana legalized in the United States. As a user, with some growing experience, I believe it will be the best thing in the long run for this nation. Let’s continue…Now that I am down from the high – that is, the high I got from hearing that California may legalize marijuana outright and NJ’s attempt at medical marijuana – I realize or at least believe that marijuana will not be that great of a boost to the economy. In fact, I’ll go so far as to say that it’s the worst idea yet regardless of what side your on – for the economy or for legalization. In fact, I believe, if anything, it may be a boost to anti-marijuana groups in the long term when it does NOT work to boost the economy as many expect.

Problem One: Fallacy of Worth

Today, marijuana is the number one cash crop valued at about $40 Billion in the United States alone. No one argues that figure. California alone expects to reap in $1 Billion of that in tax revenues if they are successful at legalizing it. But, anyone with any business acumen, if they think about it carefully, knows that is not true. When gauging the worth of a product, we take in all factors – costs, supply vs demand, taxes, profit margin, etc.

Cost
If we discuss the costs, all one needs to remember is the very reason marijuana is such a high value cash crop is due to prohibition. The fact that it’s illegal drives up the price considerably. Take away the prohibition and the prices plummet from cultivation to trafficking to the final point of sale. No prohibition = no risk = lower operational costs.

Supply vs Demand
Also, it’s a given that growers will not only grow more marijuana but will be less likely to lose crops to DEA/police raids and theft. Factor in the long term potential that marijuana may have foreign suppliers from all over the world. All of this leads to a greater supply and much lower costs of cultivation along with the competition from many different suppliers from around world. Any kid, after a high school economics class, will tell you all about that supply vs demand chart. Granted, once prohibition is lifted, demand will increase but it will be wrong to imagine that competition alone won’t drive down the prices especially if US growers are competing with South Africa or Zimbabwe where you can get damn good landrace sativas for around $20 USD per pound.

Taxes
Califorina Assemblyman Tom Ammiano proposed a fixed tax of $50 per ounce of marijuana. How feasible is this when marijuana prices hit rock bottom? You get more than an ounce of tobacco in a carton of cigarettes which you can buy online for $10-$20. Imagine paying another $50 for marijuana that not only costs considerably less but probably isn’t even rolled for you.

When NY started to increase the taxes on a pack of cigarettes, it opened up a black market. I recently gassed my car at a Hess station off the University Heights bridge and there was a sign stating $7.56 for a pack of cigarettes, “lowest price allowed by law.” You can get the same pack on the street for $4. While I believe in taxation, we need to be equitable and reasonable in taxing policy, something the United States has not done very well intelligently.

All one needs to do is look up information on the 1920 and 1930’s era of alcohol prohibition to understand the TRUE value of marijuana as a cash crop [Wiki].

When [the] repeal of Prohibition occurred in 1933, organized crime lost nearly all of its black market alcohol profits in most states (states still had the right to enforce their own laws concerning alcohol consumption), because of competition with low-priced alcohol sales at legal liquor stores.

We’ve been here before. Let’s not act “new to the game”.

Problem Two: Smoker Beware

As a person with growing experience, I know what it takes to plant, care for, and process marijuana properly. One thing we don’t do as growers is use chemicals in the drying and curing process of marijuana. While I expect that to continue in the short term, in the long term, we WILL have companies like Altria (Phililp Morris/Marlboro) who infest their tobacco products with all kinds of manmade chemicals. This is to be expected if marijuana is actually legalized.

Also, let’s mention the idea that when the regulations hit, the potency will be controlled. As a user and grower, I will NOT be purchasing marijuana when they begin this practice especially when I can grow my own more potent marjuana and it should be legal for me to do so if they’re legalizing marijuana. Or, maybe I’d just get my product direct from the grower. That’s how everyone does it now, technically.

Problem Three: What about hemp?

We’re talking about legalizing marijuana but where’s the conversation about hemp and all of its benefits. It seems as though these politicians are counting on the potheads to rescue the economy without making any mention of the use of hemp as a cash crop. I’d like to assume that if the consumption of marijuana is made legal then also hemp itself, a very low-thc version of marijuana which can be used to produce food, clothing, and a million other things. I just hope my assumption isn’t far from reality.

Problem Four: Greed is always a bad idea

Legalizing marijuana because you think it will be a boost to the economy isn’t a smart reason; it’s a greedy reason. People who are greedy don’t think carefully about the actions they take. While I do believe it will be a boost in the short term as demand will increase faster than supply, in the long term, legalized marijuana will be a huge disappointment.

Legalize marijuana because it’s the right thing to do to repair the backward drug policy that does more harm to the United States than good. Even if people believe marijuana is dangerous, prohibition is a great deal more harmful to society than the substance itself. And I think with the fact that no one has ever died from marijuana use, we can safely assume that it just might be safer than drinking too much water [Water Poisoning].

Anti-marijuana ammo
In forgetting about the safety and benefits of marijuana and ignoring anti-marijuana groups’ concern for the love of money, we may give these fringe groups all the ammo they need to recriminalize marijuana in the future. Why should it be legal if it doesn’t boost the economy? It’s a pitiful backdoor attempt at legalizing marijuana, much like the people who have the audacity to piggy back onto medical marijuana efforts. I am NOT for it. NOT THIS WAY!

One Benefit: Lower Law Enforcement Costs

The greatest benefit of legalizing marijuana is the cost savings associated with the paring down of law enforcement expenditures. I’ve written about this recently [Budget cuts? Police first!]. I’d rather the United States, or California, make the smart decision to legalize marijuana instead of thinking it will be a major boon to the economy.

Perhaps, the short term boost is all this economy requires. But, then what?

Categories: Legacy, Opinion

30 Days, No weed. Can I do it?

By February 26, 2009 8

Intro

Many people think that marijuana is addictive. This idea is very much wrong. The concept of marijuana addiction comes from one of two places: lies/misinformation or addictive personalities. As I am properly informed and I do suffer from an addictive personality, quitting marijuana for 30 days should be no problem for me.

Misinformation is one thing. Lying is another.

Sometimes, we as a people, have to rely on sources that we believe are credible due to their position, title, stature in the community. A great example of this are police officers. Society, in general, usually has the belief that police officers have the community’s best interest in mind. This is usually why most police officers aren’t questioned when they make false statements. No one is saying that this person is lying to us outright. The officer may very well believe what he’s telling the people. This is why we have to question the messenger.

Imagine some random person comes up to you claiming your significant other cheated on you. You’d question them: How do you know? Unfortunately, as it is human nature, we don’t question who we believe is credible. Well, where does this police officer get his information from? We don’t know do we. But, because this person has a badge and blue uniform, we’re supposed to believe him. Right? Wrong. I am not asking anyone to never believe another police officer. I am asking people to question the messenger.

Pseudo-Addiction

I have a friend who told me outright that he couldn’t quit marijuana. I thought this was very weird. I’ve stopped using marijuana in the past personally and without any adverse reactions. I’d go for a week or two and not have any “crave” or withdrawal problem that’s been popularized in the past. My own situation made me think about why my friend couldn’t quit, yet I could with no problem.

In talks with him, others, and reading accounts of fake-addiction, I came to the realization that he was weak. I’ve yet to see someone who admits to being addicted to marijuana not come out and say they’re addicted to other substances as well. He not only smoked marijuana, but he also smoked cigarettes, drank liquor, and had other problems stemming from long before he smoked marijuana. While watching the news regarding California’s legalization issue, a woman called in claiming she was addicted to marijuana. Before I could wonder what other addictions she had, she admitted using a variety of different drugs but didn’t name them all either.

One day, my friend and I were talking about quitting again and I confronted him when he claimed he was addicted to marijuana. He admitted he knew marijuana was not addictive but that he indeed had an addictive personality. In other words, he’s one of those people that has to be attached to something. Once he had a girlfriend, he completely quit marijuana turning it down at one point leaving me to smoke by myself. However, the minute they broke up, he called to tell me that he started back up again. Interestingly enough, the woman who called into the news program was a born again Christian. Let’s be honest, those types scare the hell out of most normal people. They’re personalities are way overboard. But, let’s not get anything twisted, they replaced one “addiction” for another. That’s the sign of an addictive personality, not addiction to marijuana.

Truth? Find out for yourself

Unfortunately, my “truth” about marijuana not being addictive is simply my own personal story, empirical evidence so to speak. It won’t be enough for some people. Most police officers and especially DEA, masters of misinformation in my opinion, would trump up every rebuttal in the book including lies and deceit. I can bring out a million other pot heads, and former pot heads, to help me prove my point but it may still not be enough. Why not trust people of a higher or stronger reputation? “Who?”, you ask. How about doctors and researchers who have actual experience studying marijuana and its effects. And, all I am asking is that YOU get proof from actual studies, not uneducated police officers and not even from marijuana users like me (although we have actual first hand experience). I am very much certain that my information is 100% correct.

Can I do 30 days?

There are some people who are never going to accept this reality. The answer to the question will be a resounding “NO!” They truly believe that marijuana is addictive. Going 30 days without smoking marijuana would be inconceivable.

Their attitudes are HILARIOUS.

For the record, I am currently on day 6 of not smoking marijuana. If anyone knows anything about TRUE addiction, there’s no way in hell I could go 6 days without smoking marijuana unless I am getting “professional” help. I must be going through some serious withdrawal symptoms. Well, no! I do not exhibit any withdrawal symptoms, none at all. I do not have the shakes of a cocaine addict. I do not have the irritability of a caffeine or nicotine addict either. Actually, I am pretty calm, relaxed, and functioning very well if I do say so myself. This is because I know for a fact that marijuana not addictive. Why?

Hold on to your pants folks!

The last time I took a hiatus from smoking marijuana was starting June 1st (technically mid May) and ending November 1st of 2008. Yes, that is 4 months of not smoking marijuana. Why? How? Simply put, I had gotten food poisoning in early May. I couldn’t smoke anything for the whole time that I was sick. Everything pretty much aggravated my stomach. Only thing I could handle was tea and eating very small meals. When it was finally over, I realized that I went about two weeks without using marijuana. I simply didn’t want it anymore. My friend, the same one with the addictive personality, invited me over since I was back from the dead. He had a blunt rolled and waiting. I told him that I wouldn’t be smoking because I didn’t have the urge anymore. He said, “We’ll see about that when you get here!” After hours of XBOX360, I went home as sober as I walked in, as sober as a a born again Christian, which isn’t saying much, I know.

For me, 30 days of not smoking marijuana is as easy as Lance Armstrong riding his bike one New York City block. And, I only have another 24 days to go. It officially ends on March 22nd. That’s when I’ll smoke marijuana again.

Categories: Legacy, Opinion

Budget cuts? Police first!!

By February 24, 2009 2
Perusing the news as I usual do, I come across LA sheriff could free 4,000 inmates due to budget.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca told The Associated Press on Monday it looks as if he’ll have to close two jails and eliminate the positions of the staff at those facilities.

“There’s no way around me cutting $71 million out of the budget that won’t affect having to close a jail or two,” Baca said. “I have to start cutting.”

Baca hasn’t finalized plans, but said he was looking at closing two of the county’s 10 jail facilities: the old central jail, which houses about 2,300 inmates; and part of another facility in Castaic in the north of the county that houses about 1,500 inmates. Violent offenders from the closed jails would be housed in other facilities.

Closing those facilities would eliminate positions for about 400 of the department’s 10,000 deputies and another 200 or so civilian jobs would be lost too. The job cuts would come primarily through a hiring freeze.

Of the inmates that would be released early, Baca said he’d first look to nonviolent offenders who are awaiting trial.

I can only see this as a good thing as it pertains to police AND marijuana reform.

gaining perspective

While I wouldn’t want to see anyone hurt by this economy, it’s an inevitable occurrence and it couldn’t happen to a “better” group of people in my opinion. Let’s be honest here folks. Police departments, along with the prison industry, are the most bloated and costly expenditure to the American taxpayer. Take for example, in 2007, there were about 872,000 marijuana-based arrests [Drug Sense via FBI]. These are the arrests that the former drug czar, John Walters, claims didn’t happen. He called them unicorns because he said they didn’t exist. Obviously, there are about 872,000 unicorns in 2007 alone. At any rate, that’s one dirty, lying cop that I am glad to see gone.

let’s talk numbers

But, I digress. I want people to think about the billions of dollars spent in time, man power, prison, helicopters, technology, and so on. Think about the billions of dollars that could be saved if we stop acting as if the police are doing this nation a great service by arresting and destroying the life of some lowly pothead. Think about the billions of dollars that get diverted away from hospitals, schools, and roads only to support a failed war on drugs.

Imagine that it costs $35,000 to keep a person in prison for one year (don’t get ahead of me). Now, multiply that by 872,000 lowly potheads that were arrested and imprisoned in 2007. That’s $30,000,000,000 per year to hold people who use marijuana. That’s $30,000,000,000 that could have gone to teachers, school books, afterschool programs, nurses, bridge construction, road work, and so on. That $35,000 per person could be used to hire someone for a job. That’s a potential of 872,000 jobs that could be saved nation wide. And these numbers only look at the cost of KEEPING a pothead in prison. In the United States, the war on drugs costs American taxpayers upwards of $70,000,000,000 and that’s before anyone is even arrested. WOW!

big bad pothead theory

My feelings are that if we’re going to start cutbacks here, start with the police and corrections first. Release non-violent criminals who don’t belong in prison in the first place. There’s no reason we should be spending tens of thousands per person to keep them in prison when they pose no harm to the community.

Seriously, how can a marijuana user be any more benign? Who’s afraid of the big bad pothead? Who’s afraid of the of the “deflated” chick in the anti-marijuana ad? Oh no! Watch out! She’s gonna getcha! Riiiiiiiiight! It’s laughable to say the least.

regaining perspective

I believe that this economy is going to define marijuana policy in the future. The United States finally has to prioritize it’s responsibilities to the people because times are tough. While this is possibly the crappiest reason to redefine marijuana policy, it’s about time the United States seriously addresses the incomprehensible madness that is US drug policy as a whole. I simply don’t understand how is it that a pothead, such as myself, cares more about jobs and families than a supposed normal person. How can it be considered normal to believe that jailing a pothead is more important than saving a teacher’s job or lowering the costs of medical expenses for a struggling family?

Am I, a pothead, really the problem with the United States?
You’d have to be in the Twilight Zone to believe that (or an overpaid police officer)!

Categories: Legacy, Opinion

Tug of War over Michael Phelps

By February 3, 2009 2

Introduction

I really wanted to write about Michael Phelps but I had to hold on a minute. I knew the story was too simple to speak about. Superstar athlete gets caught smoking marijuana, supposedly. Immediately, I knew everyone would jump on that; I couldn’t. I felt the story needed some complexity before it was worth writing about. Well, the issue just got good.

Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott says he will charge Michael Phelps with a crime if he determines the Olympics hero smoked marijuana in Richland County…

“This case is no different than any other case,” Lott said Monday. “This one might be a lot easier since we have photographs of someone using drugs and a partial confession. It’s a relatively easy case once we can determine where the crime occurred.”

Possession of marijuana is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to 30 days in jail or a $570 fine, plus court costs.

– Richland sheriff could charge Phelps by Adam Beam @ The State

Two Sides

From what I am reading in comments and other articles, it seems this is good for both sides of marijuana legalization. The prohibitionists want to seem strong against drug use so demonizing Michael Phelps will be a good move. However, Michael Phelps is not just some geeky guy from the suburbs. He’s a world record holding, Olympic swimming champion. He’s a role model to millions and promoted as such. To bring down Michael Phelps is not just some typical everyday arrest. It’s the destruction of American pride. That’s a very hard thing to do and no one wants to see it happen.

While those supporting marijuana legalization don’t want to see another good person, or true role model, go down, it’s not such a bad idea that Phelps will become a victim, or martyr, of an archaic system that has gone awry from day one. People will begin to question the validity of a policy that could place an icon in prison for such a minor infraction. People will question the validity of the arguments that keep this policy in place. Finally, people will want to know, “If marijuana is so dangerous to your health, then how did this guy manage to set world records and win so many medals?”

Racial Element

Just the image of Michael Phelps with a ROOR bong to his mouth alone has brought to light much-ignored conversations regarding the racial disparity of law enforcement, especially when it comes to marijuana use. Matt Fogg, former US Marshal and LEAP speaker, probably said it best when he said, “[Black people] make up 12% of the population, but [they] make up 80% of the drug arrests….” The questions being thrown around in this debate question whether or not Phelps isn’t going to be punished at all simply because he’s white.

But, Michael Phelps is more than just white. While his skin may preclude from a lot of persecution at the hands of law enforcement, there are also other reasons he won’t be persecuted. He’s rich with endorsement deals and various other income streams. That kind of money usually frightens police officers and district attorneys alike. He’s famous. That will definitely haunt some people in the future. He has the support of Octagon. He’s still a role model. Toss in the realities of the many marijuana smokers that have already invaded our society at high levels. Take a look at Celebstoner to get a “whiff” of all the big celebs who toke on joints on a daily basis. President Barack Obama was a pothead. With that too cool and calm demeanor I believe he still gets his high from time to time.

Is Marijuana dangerous?

Is marijuana the dangerous substance it’s claimed to be by the prohibitionists? The easy answer is no. Marijuana is not dangerous. Marijuana didn’t prevent Obama from becoming president nor was it so dangerous to stop Phelps from being a world swimming champion. Should Phelps be punished for marijuana use? According to the current law, he absolutely should be. Not only was he engaged in smoking marijuana but he should also have a paraphernalia charge for having that ROOR as well. Maybe, the Richland Country sheriff should pull a Rachel Hoffman on Phelps so we can all find out the identity of his supplier.

No, No, and No

If Michael Phelps is punished, how far will it go? Will the “righteous” police sheriff arrest and charge Michael Phelps? Will the school officials opt to investigate the situation? Will the IOC be willing to strip Phelps of his medals?

But Lott seems to be the only person talking about making a case against Phelps. Both the USC and Columbia Police Departments said they would not pursue charges.

Meanwhile, on Monday, Phelps’ sponsors — from apparel company Speedo to luxury Swiss watchmaker Omega — issued statements calling the incident a “nonissue.” The International Olympic Committee accepted his apology.

“We have no reason to doubt his sincerity and his commitment to continue to act as a role model,” the IOC said in a statement.

At the University of South Carolina, where Phelps was visiting when the picture was taken, the mood was largely “who cares?”

“He’s young, and he is human. They’ll probably let him off easy because he owned up to it.”

– Richland sheriff could charge Phelps by Adam Beam @ The State

Oh well. Sorry for all of the suspense. It looks like another case where someone who’s rich or famous or white gets away with a criminal act because they’re rich or famous or white. This definitely opens the door to many more questions. If it’s such a “nonissue” and the general mood is, “who cares?”, then why is it such an issue for so many millions of others, mainly African American males?

Categories: Legacy, Opinion
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