I agree Mooseberryinn, we haven’t even come close to keeping people, alcohol and cars from being all to common and now we’re thinking about giving the irresponsible among us another intoxicant.

I’m not necessarily against legal pot—-to each his own and I don’t really think it’s that harmful—-AS LONG AS YOU DON"T DRIVE STONED! 

If they do, propose legalization, I wish they would pair it with very stiff(ened) penalties for DUI.  We need far greater enforcement and punishment of DUI offenders…it’s disgusting how lax society is about drinkin’, dopin’ and drivin’.

Mooseberryinn,
I as a caregiver know that pilots, Train engineers, Doctors, Ambulance drivers, Semi drivers,Teachers, Etc.,Etc, Already go thru the day medicated (not stoned).
Your idea of how this works is still in the old days when Americans were brainwashed and lied to.
It is time to think for ourselves.
The AMA just reversed its 70+ yr policy on Cannabis (Marijuana is a derogatory term like nig*er we dont use it).
I hope you will be able to go outside and see the world has not come crashing in around you.
2000yr or 5.4 Americans (avg.) DIE every day from over the counter aspirin.
Should you not address that issue if we are to be saved from ourselves and a plant created for us to use?
Please do some real research.
We will have our collective open in your area as soon as next week.
So we are all clear I do not need a business license to provide for my patients in a commercial location.
You can not zone me out.
That was my attorney that stopped billings from doing what Whitefish is trying to do.
The patients (citizens) of Montana have this right to privacy guaranteed in our constitution and I will never stop fighting for them, the sick and dying.
Thank you Mike@ www.thehealingcentermt.org

Firebeam,
Those laws for intoxicated driving already exist.
That what driving under the influence means.
Any intoxicant ie, oxycotin, loratabs, vikoden, whiskey, cannabis.
The law does not see any difference.
You are protected.
Thanks Mike@ thehealingcentermt.org

mooseberryinn,
The repeal of alcohol prohibition did not lead to a massive rash of alcohol-related disasters.  Its greatest impact was on organized crime…reducing it.  Legalization of cannabis would allow for the regulation making access by minors more difficult.  85% of high school students say pot is easier to obtain than alcohol.  Dealers don’t card.  It’s time to take cannabis control away from the cartels.

It is important to note the original instances that created our current problem.  A racist push for department finances and special interests were the original reasons for marijuana prohibition.  Alcohol prohibition had ended.  The head of what equaled the DEA 70 odd years ago, needed tax revenue.. This is the original mindset and process that criminalized marijuana…


Harry J. Anslinger - most direct founder of marijuana prohibition:


“There are 100,000 total marijuana smokers in the US, 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.”
“...the primary reason to outlaw marijuana is its effect on the degenerate races.”
“Marijuana is an addictive drug which produces in its users insanity, criminality, and death.”
“Reefer makes darkies think they’re as good as white men.”
“Marihuana leads to pacifism and communist brainwashing”
“You smoke a joint and you’re likely to kill your brother.”
“Marijuana is the most violence-causing drug in the history of mankind.”


William Randolf Hearst - H.J.Anslinger’s Yellow Journalism partner, San Francisco Examiner:


“Marihuana makes fiends of boys in thirty days - Hashish goads users to bloodlust.”
“By the tons it is coming into this country - the deadly, dreadful poison that racks and tears not only the body, but the very heart and soul of every human being who once becomes a slave to it in any of its cruel and devastating forms…. Marihuana is a short cut to the insane asylum. Smoke marihuana cigarettes for a month and what was once your brain will be nothing but a storehouse of horrid specters. Hasheesh makes a murderer who kills for the love of killing out of the mildest mannered man who ever laughed at the idea that any habit could ever get him….”


Other nationwide columns:


“Users of marijuana become STIMULATED as they inhale the drug and are LIKELY TO DO ANYTHING. Most crimes of violence in this section, especially in country districts are laid to users of that drug.”
“Was it marijuana, the new Mexican drug, that nerved the murderous arm of Clara Phillips when she hammered out her victim’s life in Los Angeles?... THREE-FOURTHS OF THE CRIMES of violence in this country today are committed by DOPE SLAVES - that is a matter of cold record.”


Furthermore:


“Hearst and Anslinger were then supported by DuPont chemical company and various pharmaceutical companies in the effort to outlaw cannabis. DuPont had patented nylon, and wanted hemp removed as competition. The pharmaceutical companies could neither identify nor standardize cannabis dosages, and besides, with cannabis, folks could grow their own medicine and not have to purchase it from large companies. “

After completing a two year plan to brainwash society using these sensationalist reports fostered by racist ideology and funded by special intrest, all these guys needed was evidence..  They of course did find their evidence - A two year campaign of manipulated media-opinion coverage was presented as documented evidence to a government committee..


The committee passed the legislation on. And on the floor of the house, the entire discussion was:


Member from upstate New York: “Mr. Speaker, what is this bill about?”
Speaker Rayburn: “I don’t know. It has something to do with a thing called marihuana. I think it’s a narcotic of some kind.”
“Mr. Speaker, does the American Medical Association support this bill?”
Member on the committee jumps up and says: “Their Doctor Wentworth came down here. They support this bill 100 percent.”


And on the basis of that lie, on August 2, 1937, marijuana became illegal at the federal level.


At this point the enforcement bodies are using similar tactics to maintain negative opinion on marijuana…  Current public remarks, ads, and press releases do not contain the same racist sentiment - that is true..  usually… unless indirect… Although…  the use of marijuana among users of all races here in the USA are proportionate, but for some strange reason arrests for possession is considerably varied when viewed by race…

No, it is FEAR they still publicly use…  Disjointed ads that depict someone neglecting a child or whatever horribly bad imagery they can muster to hold your moral fiber hostage..  Tools of fear, these things are not directly related with marijuana use.  There are plenty of people that neglect children with no influence of marijuana.  Those are the same people whether they excessively watch TV, play some mmorpg, drink alcohol, abuse steroids, coach a high school football team - what ever - eat pizza every weekend.. the correlation might as well be any of that…  Fact is, you would not want intoxication and care of a child together… General opinion supporting this is twisted into acceptance that marijuana makes this happen…  Irresponsibility is the fiend, and marijuana did not create the irresponsibility.  Imagine the same message blaming beer for causing the child neglect…  Excluding propaganda, a seemingly more plausible scenario anyhow, blame seems naturally assigned to the drinker and not the drink…  The changing factor is the shroud of “Reefer Madness”.  Just as in the start.. same old “Earth will plunge into Hell” fear mongering arguments…  Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.


Of course, there are entities that benefit from marijuana prohibition and are also sworn to uphold it as part of their very job description. 


To quote the DEA, the last time I was at their site:


“The short term effects of marijuana use include:
Memory loss, distorted perception, trouble with thinking and problem solving, loss of motor skills, decrease in muscle strength, increased heart rate, and anxiety.”


Now lets look at short term effects with alcohol, only briefly though because the list just goes on and on:


The short term effects of alcohol use include but not nearly limited to:
Reduced Inhibitions,Loss of Muscle Control, Memory Loss and/or Blackouts,  Trouble with Thinking and Problem Solving,  Nausea, Vomiting ,Headaches, Hangovers, Stupor, Distorted Perception, Decrease in Heart Rate, decrease in Muscle Strength, Suicidal Tendencies, Anxiety, and Coma.


To put it mildly ..I personally do not think marijuana is addictive.  Sources supporting otherwise say marijuana is addictive on a psychological level and not a physical level…  So, you think you need it, but your body, including the brain, is not truly addicted..  Negative effects of detoxing for marijuana are as bad as anxious behavior/less patience..  Negative effects of detoxing for alcohol are as bad as death…


Rational individuals, who are agenda free, can not deny the dangers of alcohol.

With further investigation, the prohibition on marijuana is much worse for society than that of its legalization.


Suggest, if you will… Normal everyday citizen… They go to work, balance their check book, pay for things, raise children.. you know, live a normal life with one exception.. they ingest marijuana..  Barring any excessive usage/abuse, (which is clearly the same case as with many already legal substances), these people function fine… except respiratory issues when smoked…  Do I need mention it is legal to “smoke”!  Now lets look at when that same normal everyday citizen gets arrested for possession:


Prohibition can cause in short:


1) job loss
2) criminal charges
3) loss of children
4) denial of federal aid
5) financial downfall
6) life endangerment
7) loss of freedom


The cruel and unusual punishment list goes on… Point is, again, marijuana prohibition is worse for the individual/society than legalization…  and not for a moment should we accept this “gateway drug” propaganda…  Those whom do, think this plant is essentially the stepping stone to harder drugs..  This bothers me, the marijuana plant is really the first step of drug abuse, and punished as the worst class of drug?  Seems to me, these already invalid arguments contradict themselves anyway…  This is cruel and unusual punishment at its finest…  You get caught with the first step, and you get punished as if you were on the last step..  Yes, the broad arm of enforcement claims it is favorable in the struggle to discourage usage of marijuana… so it wont draw you in, suck you up into a crazy world of drug culture, and expose you to other harder illegal drugs..  Even pretending this is real.. People still end up paying the exaggerated punishment while campaign results are grim.  Prohibition is the fiend, and marijuana did not create the prohibition.  Eliminate the black market distribution and good people will no longer need to be exposed to the black market..  Eradication and prohibition efforts have not accomplished this, and I dare say will not..  You have to give it up to the enforcement agencies though .. They are charged with upholding this law and to do anything they can that will accomplish that.  It is our job to change the laws.. then enforcement will be sworn to uphold the new ones.

In conclusion it appears to me there is big money at work - alcohol, textile, oil, enforcement agencies, drug cartels, etc, all benefit.  The rest of us seem to be the pawns who pay… that is:


Unless we speak up and let our voice be heard for change in the current law, and against any individual that would have you believe “A law is a law - it does not matter if it is wrong or right!”.


The latter happens to be against a founding principle of this great country.  Stop wasting resources on this plant.  Record eradication every year - as well as - record growth and availability.  This is a money pit for something that is no worse than alcohol.


To those whom are against marijuana - free your mind of arguments attached to fear mongering please.

chmmrx,
Wow!
I like it!

In the graphic that accompanies this article, note the percentage of people in the West who favor a legal market for marijuana: 53%!

Some 100,000 Montanans consumed marijuana last year. It’s already mainstream, and I look forward to hearing about legislation to make the required changes in 2011.

chmmrx; Great job. All that remains is for the hemp seeds to be put in every available acre and for every family to be able to have their own medical herb garden. Industrial hemp could be a viable product especially for the earth conscious consumer.
Will the ignorant law and order and punishment crowd ever learn. Is it time to petition the Sheriff?

Marijuana prohibition has been a total failure and is perhaps this country’s greatest mistake. Not only has it created criminals out of nearly a third of the country’s populace, it costs our society billions of dollars every year, creates a strain on our prison system, and has little or no effect on marijuana use in the US. In some cases, prosecuting marijuana use has turned non-violent, middle class kids into violent and unpredictable, career criminals. Once a person has a criminal conviction on their record, they are far less likely to find a good job and become a useful member of society. Other countries with more liberal drug laws have much lower rates of drug addiction among their people. I invite you to my web-page devoted to raising awareness on the assault on our civil liberties: http://freethegods.blogspot.com/

“Complaints have dramatically increased from parents and schools who think this is definitely not a good idea,” says Lt. Paul Torrence of the LAPD’s Gang and Narcotics Division. “They are concerned about the physical safety of their children around these establishments, as well as the signal it sends ... that marijuana smoking is morally okay.”

I’m puzzled by the “morally okay” comment.
Just what “moral” issue is at stake here?
The issue of using a ‘substance’ to relax?
Perhaps the morallity of experiencing plesuarable sensations?
or the moral quandry of disobeying a law?

The intense effort to appeal to some internal standard of supposed moral outrage is curious. It presupposes a common ‘moral ground’ which has some broad and far reaching tenets. It suggests the existence of a commandment which declares “Thou shalt not feel good”, yet in typical schizophrenic fashion ignores the most commonly used euphoriant - alcohol.

That observation that law enforcement feels so threatened by the movement towards decriminalization deserves much closer scrutiny that it has received. Someone (the media) should start requiring the spokepersons from the prohibition ‘industry’ to explain their comments. They should not be permitted to lay such self-serving statements on the chest of society as if the protection of society’s morals were their exclusive domain and charge. They are behaving as the agents of the ‘old church’ once did. Challenge us and we will destroy you!!

I neither use nor encourage the use of cannabis or alcohol, but I will defend to the death an individual’s right and freedom to experiment or habitually use any substance - providing they maintain the ‘moral responsibility’ to to do no harm to any one. That was covered by “Love thy neighbor as thyself”.

Freedon

Billy,
We are in the production of hemp seeds now.
My partner Laura Murphy is the 1st to pull hemp permit in Montana.
Google Laura Murphy hemp or
www.Montanahempfarmers.org
We are currently looking for more farmers wanting to farm hemp on there land.
Michael J. Smith

Good luck medicineman. I am a consumer and supporter.

Billy,
  Thanks Mike and Laura

Moralists, the DEA, and concerned parents are not the truly effective opposers of relegalization.  We must look at the wealthy business interests who stand to lose profits if repeal is successful.  They possess the most influence in Washington, therefore it is they who are responsible for the continuation of the unconstitutional ban.  Who profits from continued prohibition?

Pharmaceutical companies
Distilleries and brewerys
Drug testing companies
Drug treatment centers
Insurance companies
Law enforcement agencies
Privatized penal institutions
Chemical companies
Drug cartels

As long as these entities hold the puppet (purse) strings in Washington, cannabis will continue to be portrayed as a demonizing danger to society.  America loves to embrace fear, and what creates more fear than reefer madness?

BluzGuy; I just read the Alberta ARC is going all out for hemp production in Alberta. Go to Medicinemans link.

A very lucrative crop.
http://thegatewayonline.ca/articles/news/2009/11/23/vegreville-centre-sheds-light-industrial-applications-hemp

Alberta has been growing hemp commercially for years—actually pretty much everyone has except the USA!

Valid medicinal value, it’s a victimless crime, the War on Drugs WAY too costly, too many arrests for simple possession, tax it and use the money to pay for health insurance and to reduce the deficit…Need I say more?

Woodstock Universe supports legalization of Marijuana.

We will giveaway a Woodstock Universe Prize Package to the best member blog on “Why we should legalize marijuana?”

Prize package includes Woodstock Universe T-shirt and magnet, WDST decal, Radio Woodstock Live in Woodstock CD and Woodstock 3 days of peace and music Director’s Cut DVD.

Join Woodstock Universe to blog or just vote in our poll.

Add your vote in our poll about legalization at:
http://www.woodstockuniverse.com

New poll started 11/25…currently 95%...for 5% against.

Peace, love, music, one world,
RFWoodstock

You mean drugs like cigarettes, beer, and Oxycontin?
Those are the problem drugs.
I wonder if anyone considered how much crime is associated with the collapse of the economy?
Or this unending war?
How much money is squandered away by alcoholics that should be spending that money on food and diapers?
Definitely not as much money as what was stolen by the boys on wall street, maybe you should go get us that money back.
And leave my legal medicine ALONE !!!

The heart of the issue here, and the heart of the entire “war on drugs” is; does man have a right to live his own life (so long as he does not violate anothers life)? You can’t be more hypocritical then do have cigarettes, alcohol, and caffeine legal, and yet make illegal cannabis. Adults have every inherent right as humans to recreate, medicate, and celebrate as they see fit. This is an issue of individual rights at its core. The state is only a protector of liberty, it should never act as tyrant or slave master over people.

I strongly recommend reading Peter McWilliam’s “Ain’t Nobody’s Business If I Do” (it’s available, free,  in its entirety online…google it).  It’s a very good look at the unconstitutionality of consentual, victimless crime laws, including the ones focused on drug use.

So those that non-violently disregard the drug law ? code? whatever it is, is a form of disobedience. And even if no one is harmed, (a lid of grass),  the district attorney would/could/might want to prosecute you on a complaint from a law enforcement officer, who found it during a traffic stop. Then you go before the judge and you are deep in their system. This is where the crime begins. The system of justice will hold you hostage/take your freedom/take your money/ and create jobs for bondsmen, lawyers, judges, swat teams, armored assault vehicles salesmen, an entire prison system and a line of broken families. How many hours and dollars has their stupid laws taken out of our economy and put into theirs.
Is that a high five for the good guys. Puke on you .

This country was founded on disobedience… to unreasonable laws. One of our great early writers, Thoreau, titled an entire essay after it (Civil Disobedience), calling it our “duty” as Americans. That same essay inspired some famous people to stand up for their freedoms, most notably Ghandi and Martin Luther King Jr. 

I find it interesting that while we are distracted by two wars in faraway lands, most Americans are ignorant of the war created by criminalized drugs that rages on our own continent and slowly spills over the Mexican border.  There are more important things we should fear than laws.

If the support for the pro marajuana body grows large enough we can drive out those leeches who make their living persecuting us. Drive them and their pig philosophy out of our lives and put their reasoning up for eternal public ridicule. Perhaps the new citizens Grand Jury can get the facts about their drug running police state they use to terrorize our once peaceful countryside.

“
Medical-marijuana advocates call the trend progress, but opponents view it as an alarming first step on the road to outright legalization. States such as Massachusetts have already decriminalized possession of less than an ounce of marijuana.
“[I]t’s basically the same thing as the government being in bed with drug traffickers. It sends the wrong signals to children – not just that it’s OK to use marijuana, but that it’s OK to use all drugs,” says Gregory Lee, a retired Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent and author of “Global Drug Enforcement.” 
“

Sure, Drug trafficking is bad. Why not grow it locally and not export. Than legalization would help prevent importation of the drugs. Cigarettes are legal. So is alcohol. By these being legal, is it sending the message that it is ok to use them irresponsibly? I don’t believe so. Having drugs illegal sends the message that the government can tell you what you can and can’t do with your free time and body. It should not be ok to go to work inebriated when operating heavy machinery, or when you are entrusted with people’s lives.

Decriminalization IS helping drug traffickers. Legalization is putting them out of business. If the government required all marijuana come from domestic growth, we wouldn’t have an issue with it being imported.

“
Some say it’s only a matter of time before the US treats marijuana as a recreational drug that is taxed and regulated like cigarettes and alcohol. In California, several coalitions have already gotten 200,000 signatures for a 2010 initiative that would give cities and counties more options to do just that. And on July 22 this year, Oakland, Calif., became the first city in the US to approve a tax on marijuana.
“
Taxation and regulation is the only way to stop the drug related crimes. There will be a spike in crime for a bit, gang members looking for other sources of revenue, but these other methods are not likely to be sustainable.

“
“Complaints have dramatically increased from parents and schools who think this is definitely not a good idea,” says Lt. Paul Torrence of the LAPD’s Gang and Narcotics Division. “They are concerned about the physical safety of their children around these establishments, as well as the signal it sends ... that marijuana smoking is morally okay.”
“
So Prozac is morally ok to take because it is prescribed by a doctor? How about morphine?  These do not send the wrong message yet pot does? Interesting. Cigarettes are also everywhere but people have become accustom to the smell. They my notice it and not like it, yet they know it is pointless to call the cops for someone smoking tobacco. Marijuana’s smell is distinct, like tobacco. You know what it is, and you do not want your kids smelling it because the media and government have demonized it for 50 years. You feel it is illegal so you are motivated to act.
Smoking marijuana should be morally ok. When used in moderation, the feelings of euphoria help relieve stress. The abuse should not be ok, but that is the same as alcohol and tobacco. Tobacco started with the Native Americans as an occasional indulgence for celebrations. This is a similar case with the Indians. It was not used as a daily crutch. They did not smoke several bowls a day. You may drink wine as a sacrament, and that is seen as ok, what is the difference with marijuana?

chmmrx on 12-05-09
  Rational individuals, who are agenda free, cannot deny the dangers of alcohol.


Just because alcohol is bad and pot is a bit better is a bad argument. Pot is still not a necessity for life. The argument should be the freedom to choose. Smoking pot does not hurt anyone but me, so why is it illegal? Cheeseburgers kill people with high cloistral, and people are physiologically addicted to them, but that doesn’t mean the government should put Burger King out of business. America just needs to learn some self-control.
And to your second post. I agree, Let the punishment fit the crime. How about cruel and unusual punishment for the tax payers? I cannot just choose to live the rest of my life in my room and not contribute to society. Why do I have to pay for someone else to sit in his or her cell and leach off society? Prisoners (aside from the Charles Manson’s of the world) should have to contribute to the cost of their incarceration. But that is a whole different issue, for now, let us just stop trying to legislate morality.
Your third post mentions those who benefit. You forget a few major contributors that should not be lumped in with “etc”. Looks like bluzguy covered them though.
I agree. People who know about marijuana need to educate those believing lies told by the government.

Billy on 12-5-2009
All that remains is for the hemp seeds to be put in every available acre and for every family to be able to have their own medical herb garden. Industrial hemp could be a viable product especially for the earth conscious consumer.


Prohibition of hemp is also ridiculous. It will grow where other plants do not (plenty of real estate in Nevada), it will produce more pulp for paper than trees, and more, stronger, fibers than cotton, not to mention hundreds of other uses.

Bluzguy on 12-6-09
As long as these entities hold the puppet (purse) strings in Washington, cannabis will continue to be portrayed as a demonizing danger to society.  America loves to embrace fear, and what creates more fear than reefer madness?


I disagree. I think if the American people want it bad enough we can sway the government. We must, however, stand together and all at once. Our congress men and states representatives must listen to us, or we need to take them out of office.

By Roark on 12-08-09
The heart of the issue here, and the heart of the entire “war on drugs” is; does man have a right to live his own life (so long as he does not violate anothers life)? You can’t be more hypocritical then do have cigarettes, alcohol, and caffeine legal, and yet make illegal cannabis. Adults have every inherent right as humans to recreate, medicate, and celebrate as they see fit. This is an issue of individual rights at its core. The state is only a protector of liberty, it should never act as tyrant or slave master over people.


I agree. However, we live in a world where it is against the law to kill yourself if you want. If I was dying, and could not be comfortable in my remaining days, I would like to get let go in my sleep. That should be a matter of personal choice. Sadly, we are still trying to legislate morality on all sorts of issues.

By Patriot on 12-11-09
This country was founded on disobedience… to unreasonable laws.

Agreed. We should be disobedient to the things we disagree with. However, Americans are not aware of much anything anymore. The government feeds them crap, telling them its candy, and they eat it up. Why wouldn’t they? They have lives to lead, and if nothing looks suspicious, why suspect? Americans have been willing to trade a bit of freedom for a bit of security. It has gotten us to where we are today.

TJ on 12-14-09

To me it does matter the difference between the two..  Alcohol is far worse from what studies indicate, not just a bit.  I mention why I think this is important in number 3 below.

I recently, (about a week ago), had a prohibitionist claim what I wrote did not give the reasons why marijuana should be legal.  Just like then I must insist, it should not be illegal and that is the reason it should be legal.  Since that would not fly, I made a list of 8 of the main reasons from my piece.

1)
Marijuana prohibition was founded on racist lies to benefit special interest greed.  As a “free” society, we should not allow this kind of behavior from our government.  To do so is not only promoting an erosion of our own freedom, it is doing so to line the pockets of fear mongering hate spreaders, and private companies.  Doing away with this law illustrates how we will not, and should not ever stand for this.

2)
Enforcement is charged with upholding these laws, so their propaganda is widely spread, biased, largely unfounded, and will undoubtedly say anything to accomplish their desired end result.  Our government in general has an effectiveness largely determined by public sentiment.  Look at any war.  Obvious exaggerations and out right lies publicly spread using hard earned tax dollars is not the way to garner positive opinion.  It has worked in the past, but is quickly losing it’s credibility with regards to marijuana.  Removing the prohibition will be a stand against our society being ruled by fear.

3)
Legal substances, alcohol mentioned here - also things like water and aspirin - kill more people per year, marijuana being a historical 0 death rate.  The amount of danger involved with using this plant speaks to my previous point.  It also means, with effects less than that of other unscheduled already legal substances, it can only be a law dictated from opinionated hyperbole.  Justice is supposed to be blind.  If a judge is to rule on these issues, by proxy they are forced to peek underneath the blindfold with unfounded bias in their eyes.  Repealing laws influenced in this way would restore at least that faith of just causality in the government for a vast group of people.  .

4)
The addiction, according to most studies, is the same kind you would get if you were addicted to TV or food.. It is in your head, and not a trait of marijuana.  With no threat of physical addiction, we are supporting a system of behavioral control.  That is against a founding principle of the United States of America.  Dropping this kind of legislation ensures personal choice over draconian laws.

5)
Propaganda largely addresses lack of responsible behavior which is not a trait of marijuana.  Social awareness programs that address responsible decision making is the tool best suited for this issue.  There is a gateway issue here though.  It is the doorway to criminality.  Public health policies enforced by incarceration of non violent, responsible adult participants, is known to create criminals out of otherwise law abiding citizens.  The institutions responsible for holding marijuana offenders perpetuate further criminal endeavors substantially.  Legalizing marijuana will drop crime while enhancing public safety and health.

6)
The punishment for possession is cruel and unusual punishment by the government’s own definition, i.e. it is the first step of use and scheduled as the worst.  While this is another example of the government “protecting” our safety from our own behavior using persecution, it also denies the Bill of Rights.  Marijuana should not be scheduled at all.  Obvious signs of this is that same inability to define the plant one way or the other.  Without this prohibition we will empower personal restraint as well as responsible behavior. 

7)
The gateway drug theory has been time and again disproved with personal behaviors and prohibition being the real culprits.  Just as my last point states, personal behavior should not be dictated by law when possibly avoided.  Scientific disapproval in most cases will point mostly to a few possible factors explaining the true gateway effect.  The substance being illegal actually thrusts the individual at the criminal element, the link of harder drug usage could be drawn between other examples of comparable numbers, (say cigarettes,alcohol, .. or ice cream), people that have addictive personalities tend to not need a physical addiction to be addicted, and while in jail any individual is far more likely to pick up other criminal habits as well as a criminally enabling self image.  Ending the war with this plant will drop drug usage, crime, and deny junk science.

8)
Current laws are unjustly forcing a prison state - not working - costing us vast amounts of money in lost possible tax revenue, as well as the cost of punishment, enforcement, and propaganda etc.  I have personally heard public officials say marijuana will kill you.  They are corrected and accept the correction.  Further stating that they are not aware of any individual that ever died from marijuana use.  These employees are on our payroll.  They are to be representative of the people. 

Prisons are over populated and it is very expensive work to care for inmates.  Year to date, the federal spending for enforcement ends up around $20,000,000,000 , state and local being around $30,000,000,000 , with total drug arrests at 1,743,767 , ones related to marijuana 827,000 , and 10,244 of those imprisoned this year laughs in the face of budget crisis.  Combining enforcement budgets and averaging cost comes to $28,674 per arrest, and 47% of the total arrests are for marijuana.  Using this per arrest average, $23,500,000,000 this year on marijuana arrests.  There is a conservative $21,000 a year average for an inmates imprisonment that comes to $215,124,000 added this year alone for marijuana inmates.  Considering a 6 year average turn over, there is a $1,290,744,000 growing annual bill to be paid.  Disregarding any appeals or cases taking several days to complete we can say each court case would easily be more than $3,000 each on average.  For a year of court cases against the possession of a plant, $2,481,000,000 is spent at least.  Taking surface numbers of just enforcement, inmate housing, and court costs alone, comes up to $27,271,744,000 this year. 

Total marijuana prohibition financial costs are far greater than this.  Getting rid of the marijuana prohibition can save substantial money, as well as provide tax revenue for real social health programs that successfully educate about marijuana, create jobs related to the market, and prevent the horrible atrocities that happen to these non violent people while in jail.

Wow, chmmrx.

Considered running for office? Or joining with the reformers in Montana like Montana NORML?

Nah, I am just a regular Joe who knows he is not a bad person.  Thank you very much for the compliment though.

Please look @ www.montanahempfarmers.org
We are the 1st. in Montana to grow industrial hemp.
We are a non profit.
We are always looking for farmers with land and Tanitansy that want to profit from our emerging industry.
Thanks Laura Murphy

Mechanical Engineering Magazine (Feb. 1938) published an article entitled ‘The Most Profitable and Desirable Crop that Can be Grown.’ It stated that if hemp was cultivated using 20th Century technology, it would be the single largest agricultural crop in the U.S. and the rest of the world.
************
It seems to me there is something fishy going on. Why they didn’t let this crop grow. It almost seems criminal. Some kind of protection racket for the polyester jacket manufacturer??

Medicinal Cannabis is effective in a wide variety of conditions ranging from glaucoma to pain, to muscle spasms to nausea of chemothera­py, to malnutriti­on… The list can go on, including recent scientific findings that Cannabis can even be an “exit substance” for recovering alcoholics or hard drug/presc­ription drug abusers. Cannabis is not physically addictive as it lacks a documented physical withdrawal syndrome, and the so-called “gateway drug theory” is invalid and was recently called “half-bake­d” by a scientific study. Research also determined that there is no connection between smoking Cannabis and lung cancer (which to me demonstrat­es that Cannabis has anti-cance­r properties­), that is also being confirmed by the ongoing studies. Cannabis also may be helpful in treatment, and even in prevention­, of Alzheimer’­s disease. I really believe that all the fear mongering should be rejected, and Medicinal Cannabis should be legalized in all 50 States ASAP!