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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

DEA thinks cocaine is safer than marijuana!

By February 26, 2009 0
Intro

I received an update from @NatlNORML on Twitter regarding Attorney General Eric Holder’s statements during a press conference today. The press conference was meant to give America an update on the progress of Operation Accelerator which targeted the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico, the US, and Canada [link]. Afterward, Eric Holder answered any questions. I wanted to share some of the responses I had to the post on NORML’s Daily Audio Stash.

My first response

Did anyone notice he didn’t mention how much marijuana was retrieved? Listen to how he lays out the numbers in the first 2 min of the conference.

  • 50 members of sinaloa cartel
  • 21 months
  • US, Mexico, Canada
  • 750 ppl
  • $59,000,000
  • 12,000 kilos of cocaine
  • 1200 pounds of meth
  • 1,300,000 extasy pills
  • 160 weapons

But, there was no mention of marijuana. Maybe it was a slip? But, these guys are smart. This is not the Bush administration. I think he may have left out that figure on purpose. Maybe an early attempt to disconnect marijuana from big drug cartels in a way to eliminate ammo of anti-marijuana groups.

I think too much. What do you guys think?

“Radical” Russ responded to my comment

No, I think you’re on to something – the lack of a marijuana mention was notable. I think it may be more that it isn’t positive PR to note that you’re spending money eradicating weed.

Cocaine is less harmful than marijuana!

Later I came back to read any new comments and one stood out to me from Robert Petricci (NIMO):

I hope it is true but It seems to me Carl makes a lot of sense. The scheduling law doesn’t pass the smell test. It is obvious that marijuana has had and does have medical use in the United States. That being the case legally it can not be a schedule one drug by the governments own definition. That brings us to how do you trust a government that harshly enforces laws that are not legitimate? Courts continue to find excuses to send people to prison in obvious violation of the law. Obama and Holder simply need to enforce the law not pretend to do us a favor wink wink. The entire justice system in the U.S. operates in an unjust manner, it appears to me to be broken. This just shows one example of that.

It made me think about how the DEA’s posturing on marijuana may be more harmful than they realize. So, I responded:

I think this brings up deeper issues as it pertains to drug use in general. If the government is absolutely lying about marijuana and blatantly so, what’s one to think about other substances, especially those that are schedule 2. This goes directly to individuals who don’t know any better.

It’s only in practice a person NOT in the know would ever find out that marijuana is not the demon weed the DEA makes it out to be. If marijuana isn’t that dangerous yet is considered dangerous, it’s not exactly far fetched for one to extrapolate that cocaine or even heroin is not only not dangerous but most likely safer than marijuana.

It’s my opinion that the DEA’s erroneous prohibition classifications do absolutely more harm to the American public than any drug pusher ever could. If I was a drug dealer wanting to move cocaine and heroin, I’d use the DEA’s own argument to push that drug harder.

“Hey no one’s ever died from marijuana use and millions of people are saying that marijuana isn’t addictive, look at your friends. Come over here and try this cocaine. I’ve got some heroin for you as well. Remember, even the DEA thinks cocaine and heroin is safer than marijuana. Try it out!”

Of course I caught my mistake:

I goofed, heroin is schedule 1.

US Citizens need some perspective

Outside of the heroin flub, I believe my point is still valid. Does the DEA believe that cocaine is safer than marijuana or less harmful? If so, isn’t it a logical conclusion to believe that, if anything, that cocaine should probably be legal before marijuana?

Let’s stretch this even further. In the United States and rest of the world, tobacco and alcohol are legal. Both are addictive, both are carcinogenic (cancer causing), and both are responsible for millions of deaths around the world every year.

AND THEY ARE LEGAL KILLERS.

Yet, no one – no agency, no doctor/scientist/researcher, no police officer, no FBI/DEA/CIA agent, no community leader, no anti-drug organization, AND no government official – can point to, in the history of human marijuana usage since before and INCLUDING the times of Jesus Christ, ONE death attributed to marijuana use. NOT ONE!

One has to ask if there’s something very wrong with this picture. How is it that marijuana is considered a dangerous substance, Schedule I, according to the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 [DEA | Wiki], yet all of these other substances enjoy not only lower classifications as in the case of cocaine (Schedule II) but complete legalization and regulation as is the case with alcohol and tobacco?

Am I wrong to ask such a question? Is it even more wrong for the DEA to let American citizens believe that cocaine, a chemical concoction that I have personally seen destroy entire communities, is safer than marijuana?

The citizens of the United States needs some perspective and common sense on this issue.

Categories: Legacy, Prohibitionist Idiots

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

How dumb can a cop get?

By February 2, 2009 1

How about…

…a police officer can so be so dumb that they’d consider a 14 year old child “savvy” to impersonate a police officer for five hours. Don’t believe me? Here’s the article: 14-year-old boy impersonates cop, police say. Now, this part of the article had me laughing and in tears, literally:

The boy identified himself as an officer from another district but was detailed for the day to Grand Crossing and also was savvy enough to sign out a police radio and a ticket book, according to a source. The source also said the boy went on traffic stops with the officer he went on the street with.

This wasn’t some kid who came just upon a uniform in some way, shape or form and went out on his own. No! He went to the damn station, greeted everyone, ate some donuts, took a dump, and even joked about O’Malley’s wife. He got partnered up with another police officer including getting a radio and ticket book and made traffic stops. And they didn’t figure out a damn thing until the “tour” was over. What tipped them off?

After his tour was over, a ranking officer became suspicious of the boy. Police said the officer discovered the teen was not a real police officer when he couldn’t produce any credentials. The boy was wearing police-issued pants, shirt, vest, sweater and skull cap, police said. He was missing his police star, but that was not discovered until after he returned from traffic patrol.

So, it took all of those clues to figure out that this child was NOT a real cop but:

Police said the 14-year-old’s partner on the traffic assignment did not recognize the boy was underage.

And, it doesn’t seem anyone knew a damn thing either. So, this child, this 14 year old baby, went truly undetected at a police station full of people who are charged with the safety of other people. I want to see a picture of this child. He’d better look like a grown man. Unfortunately, because he is a minor, we won’t get those images unless waived by the parents.

This is not surprising for me

I know sometimes on my blog it seems I keep track of police officer stupidity but I really don’t. It’s just so damn prevalent, I can’t help but come across something stupid done by police officer. In this case, it’s a whole police station. Imagine the stories we aren’t hearing in the news.

However, it does surprise me that police officers, well the smart ones at least, don’t do more for the integrity of their own profession. They should be out there pointing out police officer stupidity, writing up these guys, and helping the community promote better policies for handling corrupt police officers. But, I guess if any police officers were smart, police stupidity wouldn’t be so prevalent. If it was up to me, these guys would have those bright orange leashes for children attached to their backs and permanently lead around by people in the community.

Why would you listen to a police officer?

One thing I take issue with in the news is when they interview police officers about anything, especially marijuana. They all point out how marijuana is dangerous with flubbed statistics, outright lies, pseudoscience, and pure bullshit. But, if you didn’t know anything about the topic at hand, you’d think they were an expert at something. Truth is, they aren’t experts at anything. The smart cops (they do exist) know and understand topics better, present themselves more professionally, and do the job much better. The problem is that they’re usually disrespected by the police officers because of their education and intelligence (see: $815,000 settlement for fired Mountlake Terrace cop). It’s like that thug “friend” who tells you, “school is for fools” or some other ignorant anti-education cliche.

All I realize is that the policy on how police are treated and allowed to interact with the community needs a severe adjustment. Police need heavier restraints and real penalties to counter this Judge Dredd attitude and vigilante tactics. I’d like to, at one point in my life, have some respect for law enforcement officers these days. But, with frequent stories in the news only showing the tip of the iceberg of police stupidity, corruption, and malfeasance, I don’t think I’ll ever have that privilege. Maybe we need another grand disaster for the humanity in any police department to show itself.

Categories: Legacy, Opinion

Blogging While High Ep 4: I Miss the Muppets

By January 30, 2009 2
This Blogging While High episode was brought to you by PHD.
Read Blogging While High Ep 3: Ten Friends vs Free WhopperIntro

I’ve never been one to follow the crowd completely. I’ve always liked the “other” things people don’t normally give much attention. It’s like finding a gem that others may have ignored because it wasn’t big enough. In the situation of Jim Henson’s Muppets, I’ve always felt a few characters didn’t get their due respect. So, here are some videos of those guys

Swedish Chef

This guy has probably been my number one favorite of all time because you can’t understand a damn thing he’s saying but you really do.

 

Bunsen and Beaker


My favorite muppet scientists. Bunsen is always devising some crazy thing and Beaker gets to deal with the pain of trying it out for him. And, who could ever really get over Beaker’s “language impediment”.

Statler and Waldorf


I think anyone will recognize these two old men but I am sure if I went around by name, I’d get blank stares. They are the reason I want to be a crotchety old man one day. It seems like so much fun.

And Just for fun

Strain Report

When I sat down in the car with my connect, she told me that this PHD is really good, even better than the PHD from before. I didn’t think anything of it to be honest. The PHD was always good. I should have known something was up when she asked me about the smell in her car. She was never really concerned about the smell before. But, none of that registered to me. I went to my friend’s spot, rolled a decent sized blunt, and began kicking his ass in Fight Night 3. No, I am NOT to be reckoned with in Fight Night 3. I did let him knock me out once while I used Roy Jones Jr. But, that was the 3rd match or 2nd rematch so I had to let him get it. LOL.

We then switched to Ranbow 6: Vegas 2 and that’s when it happened. My eyes were closing and I couldn’t keep them open. It could very well be that I hadn’t slept at all since I woke up around 1am that morning and it was, then, around 10pm. My friend continued playing while I caught myself drooling, literally. I realized this PHD is REALLY GOOD. My connect was NOT bullshittin.

Earlier this afternoon, as I was writing another post after smoking half a joint, I noticed the screen of my laptop start.. hmmm.. wiggling! I thought to myself, “THIS PHD IS REALLY GOOD!” Then I fell to sleep again. It’s great because I haven’t been put on my ass since the Pink Bunny Hallucination of (November) 2007.

The PHD is pretty strong. I wish that my sense of smell was better so I could relate the scent better. However, I can smell the freshness in it. As I look at it, the light causes the “diamonds” to sort of dance. When I crack open a bud, it’s like a jewelry store, everything just glistens. It’s not as frosty as other buds I’ve tried. For example, a friend had some Bubble Gum that was just dripping diamond dust, very white, and very strong. I say that because I didn’t want to over-praise the PHD.

Anyway, if you’re in New York City and you hear someone has PHD, you won’t be let down. Also make sure you try the Headband and the Nebula if there’s any left. I missed out on it. The Blueberry Kush tho.. eh.. pass on it!

Categories: Blogging While High, Legacy

Politicians Guide to Marijuana Policy

By January 27, 2009 0

Introduction

Recently, I read a post on theFreshScent in regards to medical marijuana in New Jersey: MMJ Called into Question by N.J. Rep. This particular NJ Rep is Mary Pat Angelini. I was disturbed by the amount of misinformation that she spreads about marijuana and its usage. NJ Rep. Angelini really doesn’t know much about marijuana. I find that her situation is not something new or isolated. Most politicians do not know much about marijuana. This rampant ignorance comes from decades, nearing a century, of misinformation starting with Henry Anslinger’s racist remarks back in 1937:

There are 100,000 marijuana smokers in the U.S., and most are Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos and entertainers. Their Satanic music, jazz and swing, result from marijuana use. This marijuana causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers and any others.

– Henry Anslinger, U. S. Federal Bureau of Narcotics Commissioner, 1937

I won’t say this was enough for Congress to pass the Marijuana Tax Stamp Act in 1937 but I’d say this is where the banning of marijuana started. For more on the criminalization of marijuana, feel free to read: Marijuana Mondays: Ep. 5: Why is marijuana illegal?

Before I get started, I wanted to address the problems that many politicians and people in general have with being educated about marijuana. The number one problem that I find with misinformation is not so much the source but the actual respect given to the source. Usually, the most vocal sources of misinformation come from police officers, DEA agents, and others like anti-drug organizations who pass themselves off as experts.

But, do we ever hear from a doctor, scientist, or a researcher? It amazes me that people who don’t have any direct experience or information with marijuana somehow know so much about it. However, if you LISTEN to most true authorities, they’ll tell you that marijuana is far from dangerous. Also, we need to study marijuana more because there is still so much we don’t know. Most importantly, we don’t listen to the people who actually use marijuana on a daily basis. However, I think that voice is getting louder and louder.

Politicians Guide to Marijuana Policy

So, before I start, I need one thing from the reader: a clean slate. If you’re big on prohibition, anti-prohibition, or just in the middle not know who to believe

Note About Smoking
Anything burned and inhaled is bad for you. I don’t think this is up for argument. As people have died from smoke inhalation in a burning home so it should be extrapolated that introducing any smoked material, including marijuana and tobacco, will be harmful to a person’s body. However, marijuana does not have to be smoked to be consumed. It can be made into a tincture which can be used in drinks. It can also be used in foods. There exists safer options for consumption of marijuana.

In Favor of Common Sense Marijuana Policy

La Guardia Committee Report, 1944 [Drug Library | Wikipedia]
The Marihuana Problem in the City of New York
“The report was prepared by the New York Academy of Medicine, on behalf of a commission appointed in 1939 by New York Mayor Fiorello La Guardia”

  • The practice of smoking marijuana does not lead to addiction in the medical sense of the word.
  • The use of marijuana does not lead to morphine or heroin or cocaine addiction and no effort is made to create a market for these narcotics by stimulating the practice of marijuana smoking.
  • Marijuana is not the determining factor in the commission of major crimes.
  • Juvenile delinquency is not associated with the practice of smoking marijuana.
  • The publicity concerning the catastrophic effects of marijuana smoking in New York City is unfounded.

National Commission on Marihuana and Drug Abuse, 1972 [Drug Library | Wikipedia]
Marihuana: A Signal of Misunderstanding
“The National Commission on Marijuana and Drug Abuse was created by Public Law 91-513 to study marijuana abuse in the United States.” President Nixon completely disregarded the findings of his own commission.

  • The 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.

Marijuana Rescheduling Petition Docket No. 86-22, 1988 [Drug Library]
DEA Administrative Law Judge Francis L. Young in support of rescheduling marijuana said, “In strict medical terms marijuana is far safer than many foods we commonly consume. For example, eating ten raw potatoes can result in a toxic response. By comparison, it is physically impossible to eat enough marijuana to induce death.” (page 58). The DEA completely disregarded the findings of their own judge.

Other Sources
Myths and Facts About Marijuana, 1997 [Drug Policy Alliance Network]
“This collection of myths and facts is based on the book Marijuana Myths, Marijuana Facts: A Review of the Scientific Evidence . A decade after the book was published, the latest scientific evidence continues to support the original findings.”

  • Myth: Marijuana is Highly Addictive.
  • Fact: Most people who smoke marijuana smoke it only occasionally. A small minority of Americans – less than 1 percent – smoke marijuana on a daily basis. An even smaller minority develop a dependence on marijuana. Some people who smoke marijuana heavily and frequently stop without difficulty. Others seek help from drug treatment professionals. Marijuana does not cause physical dependence. If people experience withdrawal symptoms at all, they are remarkably mild.

NORML’s Marijuana Health Mythology, 1994 [NORML]

  • Myth: Pot Kills Brain Cells
  • Government experts now admit that pot doesn’t kill brain cells… It is worth noting that other drugs, including alcohol, are known to cause brain damage.

These are only a few resources that can be used in your effort to come up with a common sense marijuana policy that can work. Listen to the advocates for marijuana reform and listen to the advocates for prohibition. But, when you do listen, be sure to ask for references of the information. You’ll know who’s telling the truth when that information is backed up by science and not hearsay.

Who wants to keep marijuana illegal?

I do believe there are some people out there with honest concern about marijuana use, albeit very few. However, I believe that it comes from misinformation. I do respect their concerns which is why I try to educate and inform people about the truth of marijuana. When you realize the truth about marijuana, you get organizations like NORML, MPP, SSDP, ASA, and many more.

So, who wants to keep marijuana illegal and WHY?

Law Enforcement
They are charged with protecting us, right? Well guess how much money it costs to “protect” us from drugs. Try $70,000,000,000. Yes, that’s BILLION. But, wait a min. Marijuana is the most prevalent drug as well as the easiest to “sniff” out. If marijuana, at some point in the future, becomes legal, how much funding would law enforcement need to cover helicopters to spot marijuana farms, infrared devices to spot “hot” homes, the massive amount of man hours spent arresting millions of users, and the prison costs incurred by jailing over 800,000 people per year for things as small as a marijuana joint. Now, take that all away and how much money does law enforcement get to play with? Definitely not that much.

Alcohol & Tobacco
We all know these are the legal drugs allowed by the law. Alcohol has the job of inebriating people. Tobacco has the pseudo ability to calm people down. Introduce marijuana. A substance that can be smoked, mixed in a drink, or made into food. It not only inebriates but it also has the ability to relax you. If marijuana were legal, there would really be no reason to smoke tobacco nor drink alcohol. You better believe they do NOT want legal competition. Imagine corner stores selling packs of marijuana cigarettes, marijuana shops, and marijuana bars. Legal marijuana is a real threat.

Pharamceuticals
A lot of people try to dispute the medicinal value of marijuana. It’s funny because marijuana was used medicinally in the United States before it was used recreationally (or industrially, I think). At any rate, the medicinal value of marijuana is immense. While the United States continues to pretend that marijuana isn’t medically useful, the rest of the world is studying marijuana intensely. They’re doing so for a reason. There is a lot of scientific evidence the proves marijuana does relieve pain which is bad for drugs like tylenol, ibuprofen and harder drugs like hydrocodone and oxycontin. But, nations such as Spain and Israel has done studies that show marijuana is helpful in reducing cancer as well as other ailments.

In fact, I’ve writtin a post hoping that Senator Ted Kennedy would use marijuana for his glioma, brain cancer (see: Post #41). Science has already proven that marijuana can do a lot of what pharmaceutical companies chemical concoctions do WITHOUT the detrimental side effects (unless you consider sleepiness and hunger detrimental).

Criminals
Think about this one hard. If you were a criminal, it would be obvious that marijuana prohibition actually does you a favor in allowing you control the pricing of your own product. You don’t have to pay taxes because it’s illegal. Where’s the line on the tax form where you can state how much illegal profit you’ve made in the previous year? It doesn’t exist. Do you think Al Capone would advocate for legal alcohol, especially when it was the backbone of his fortune? Do you think drug cartels would want to give up the massive profits and control by legalizing marijuana? Absolutely not.

The Point

The problem with marijuana prohibition is that people continue to believe that marijuana is a dangerous substance. Yet, the only proof that marijuana is dangerous comes, not from science or any empirical evidence but, from people who want to keep marijuana illegal for financial reasons. It’s a gold mine. To legalize marijuana is to send a lot of people scrambling for new revenue streams including drug cartels.

These people don’t care about the citizens. Law enforcement didn’t care about Rachel Hoffman when they got her killed trying target a small time dealer. Alcohol and tobacco are directly responsible for the deaths of millions. Pharmaceutical companies have proven they don’t care by consistently pushing through medication that does more harm than healing. And the real criminals couldn’t care any less as long as the profits keep coming in. The only people that care about THE PEOPLE are the advocates and users of marijuana.

We want it legal because…

  • we don’t want to get arrested by overzealous agents and police who lie to obtain search warrants.
  • we don’t want to use alcohol or tobacco (I get violently ill around tobacco smoke and I don’t like the effects of alcohol)
  • we don’t want to continue placing our lives in the hands of man made chemical sludges
  • we don’t want to have to keep dealing with shady characters with fake names and throw away cell phones
  • the high from marijuana is enjoyable
Categories: Guide, Legacy

Police Corruption: Victims R Us

By January 23, 2009 3

Are Black and Hispanic folks safe?


White folks have it easy?


What about news reporters, women, children???


Things are much easier around the world, I bet.


The Cost of Bad Police Policy

This just really shows that it’s never going to matter how much money is involved or the training given, police are bad for one reason: they’re allowed to get away with it. And, even if they don’t fully get away with it, very few actually will do any time in jail for the crimes they commit against innocent people. As long as they’re protected, the people remain unprotected and we all deserve equal protection under the law.

And, who gets the bill when police officers get a slap on the wrist? Do you think police departments have “Oops We Hurt/Killed Another Citizen” insurance plan? Yes they do actually. That’s what the tax payers are for, you and me. Every time you hear about a court case against a police officer, think about the funds it takes to prosecute/defend that criminal cop. That’s some number of potholes the streets could fill. Think about all of the cases settled for five- and six-figures. That money represents the teachers we could hire, in quality and quantity, books for school, and music and arts programs. Now think about all of the seven- and eight-figure settlements. Cities could easily support new infrastructure programs, create more jobs, help strengthen the economy. Think about the toll on society as even decent law abiding citizens are more frightened of police than the criminals they’re supposed to catch because they’re one and the same.

Categories: Legacy, Opinion
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