by Floyd Ferris Landrath Oct. 15, 2007, Portland, Oregon - the nation’s boorish index took another jump recently when the Bush administration’s Justice Department announced a record 829,625 arrests (*) for simple possession of cannabis in 2006, a six percent increase over 2005. The news went directly into spin cycle where it was quickly overshadowed by the latest carnage from that other “war” to nowhere in Iraq. Which is just as well if you are pro-drug war. Stop and think about it, because even this record number of arrests for possession doesn’t amount to more than a zit on a flea’s butt. A fact lost on the press and media, and even most legalization organizations. Our government estimates there are about 15 million of us cannabis consumers. So last year’s ballyhooed “record” actually means that over 14 million of us successfully broke this law. Yeah! Team. In other words, unless you are not “white,” or fit some other “profile,” or just plain unlucky, most pot smokers have as much chance of being busted for simple possession, as getting hit by lighting. But stop smiling and put down that bong. There is a terrible cost for all this lawlessness that goes way beyond mere pot smoking. A mostly unenforceable, highly selectable law such as “simple possession” breeds contempt for all laws and those who enforce them. Like a loose thread in the fabric of society, eventually unraveling the entire garment. Yes we have record arrests, but not as much as we have record lawlessness. The real winners are anarchy and brutality. The kids see all this and what do you know, they emulate it. Reformers especially need to pay attention. The legalization movement has grown stale and timid. We need healthy and appropriate outrage over this widespread lawlessness. Essentially we need to show everyone - especially the law and order types - how these drug laws are destroying the rule of law itself. Cops and their unions need to ask why support laws which make an already dangerous, frustrating and often-thankless job even more so? It all comes down to asking a simple question: what is the point of having laws which are A) mostly unenforceable and B) widely ignored?I have no doubt society can withstand legalized drug use. However I know society cannot withstand lawlessness without eventual collapse. Witness Iraq. We have to do a much better job of connecting the dots between these drug laws and the massive, untaxed economic power they create. What is the point of having laws which are not only unenforceable and widely ignored, they also put billions of dollars into the hands of very evil people. We must constantly point out the decline of moral and ethical values as largely a result of our naked hypocrisy on drugs. This is crucial in the education of young people and ending the current schizoid split of what the kids learn about drugs from adults in the classroom, vs. the reality they see everyday on our drug-infested streets. That reality screams “Adults just don’t give a damn!” We need laws that respect our rights and only real criminals need fear. Legalization of all drugs, starting with cannabis, is the only way to save the good and necessary laws from these corrupting and widely ignored ones. It’s the only effective way to take both the drugs and money away from the bad guys. And it doesn’t take an army to do it.The lesson is as simple as it is important; without respect for the law, there is no law. (*) — Costs of enforcement comes to over $11,000.00 for each “simple possession.”

Bedell

Addiction is a mind thing. Take Xanex, a legal "nerve medicine". This drug is prescribed every day, the thing about it is, if you have been taking it regularly, and try to stop cold turkey, any doctor will tell you that it will kill you, your BODY becomes DEPENDENT on it. Stopping smoking pot won't kill you, though it may be difficult because the relaxing effect can become a kind of support for 'bad nerves', but it won't kill you. Many people 'get through the first week' all the time, which is said to be the hardest part, very similar to cigarettes.. As a matter of fact, cigarettes are much harder to quit than pot because of the chemicals, nicotine..etc..etc If mj is illegal because it's addicting,
why are cigarettes legal? the money made everyday.. that's why.
Hard drug use, or 'gateway drug': Do prescription drugs like xanex, loratab, valium, and others lead to morphine patches, which are sold on the street, or ecstasy? The reason mj is considered a 'gateway drug' is because the gatekeeper, or drug dealer, also has coke, crack, acid ..etc...etc. The 'gateway' idea is that a person who is trying to buy pot, and has been, came up to his dealer and this one day the dealer doesn't have pot, so he says "i got this, why don't you try it?" and the person goes for it, then the person gets hooked on coke or crack or ecstacy or whatever. If pot were legal, you wouldn't have to 'go through' a drug dealer to get it. If it were sold in stores like alcohol or cigarettes, or in a pharmacy, the other drugs aren't there to tempt people into using them. Fact is, these 'hard drugs' are there for the taking the whole time, and if someone decides to use them they don't have to start with pot. If pot were sold legally, the person wouldn't need a drug dealer, which means the dealers traps would remain empty, because no one who wanted weed would bother talking to someone with hard drugs, if hard drugs isn't what they wanted in the first place....

this is an answer I gave on my post 'My information on the legalization of Marijuana: The Truth'....check it out...

startover22

I did check it out. Thanks!

startover22

Twinkie was just stating that you have to have permission to do that. Bedell, I was wondering if you smoke pot? If you use it for recreational or medical use? For someone who doesnt do either, they will most always say things to contradict smoking pot. For someone who has or does, they most likely think it would be alright. Many people put Weed and cocain (or other VERY harmful drugs) in the same catagory if they have never tried either. You see my point? You believe in one thing, you have to let others believe in theirs..... As for me, I do not feel the need to spread the word. Sorry

twinkiedooter

Doug Yurchey has his own web page as I stated before. Doug Yurchey's World of Tomorrow
Wes Penre was included as I thought you would be interested in his web page "Illuminati News" as well as there are some interesting articles on his site as well.

I am neither impolite or unhelpful. Sorry. I guess I was unhelpful when I told you who originally wrote the article - Doug Yurchey.

Startover - I'm with you. I don't feel the need to spread the word. It's been spread enough for years by enough people. I don't think we need to spread it here any more than it's already been. Everyone has the right to their own opinion on any subject or topic. I am entitled to my opinon. And by the way, I am old enough to be your grandmother, so I guess I should have called you "honey" instead of "sonny".

Oh, and how did I possibly "slenderize" you? That isn't even a word. And calling someone "sonny" is NOT a potty mouth word either. You are the one who needs to grow up and respect your elders.

startover22

I just unsubscribed to this thread!

Bedell

What, are you telling ME you just unsubscribed? okay, i'm sorry you feel that way.. what do you want me to do? Beg you to stay? It's amazing how one minute you agree, and the next you don't.... They call that fickle. Everyone is welcome to do as they please. Come, go stay, leave. it makes no difference. Read what the article says, and do what you will with the information, and just because you decide you dislike me, or don't want to hear it, doesn't make it false. It's for the other people who don't know what it says to read.. not for anyone to like me or not. Keep your minds on the topic of discussion. please?

Wondergirl

Yes, it is! Most of the diet programs use it.

Bedell

Now that's pretty funny... lolol

and guess who's my newest friend on myspace...? Mr. Wes Penre.

and do you know what he told me? To 'spread the word'..... I told him

how I came across his article, and he said that now that I know to credit it, and throw

a link to his page on there.....

twinkiedooter

Try reading Wes' web page articles and the articles that he has written as well. It will help with your education of how the world really works. He's had that web site for 10 years now. He knows a lot of very interesting people and very interesting things.

Bedell

This is reprehensibly a stab at my intelligence as to 'how the world 'really' works. LEAVE ME ALONE. Isn't their anyone else you can criticize? Notice the poll on my other post? I may not 'know how it works', but I understand that people feel like I do...

it must burn you up they understood, huh? You must have thought he would display the same closed mindedness you have..
Wes isn't like that.. and neither is Doug.