A really excellent OpEd at CNN.com by the Drug Policy Alliance’s Bill Piper.
It’s titled Time to end the war on marijuana, but clearly he’s talking about more than just marijuana.
Here are a couple of really outstanding quotes that give you an idea of the piece:
It is long past time to abandon the silly notion that America can be a drug-free nation. The inconvenient truth in drug policy is that Americans love drugs — alcohol, caffeine, marijuana, cocaine, and prescription drugs for everything from anxiety to fatigue. Although some people develop problems with their drug use, most do not. This holds true for both legal drugs like alcohol and tobacco, and illegal drugs like marijuana and cocaine. Decades of evidence shows that the average user of any drug doesn’t get addicted and doesn’t create problems for anyone else.
and…
What matters most is not how many people use marijuana, alcohol or other drugs, but what’s the best way to reduce the problems associated with substance misuse without creating more harmful social problems. Drug use rates rise and fall almost independently of what politicians say and do, but criminalizing drug use makes the situation worse. Prohibition doesn’t stop drug use; it makes drug use more dangerous while filling prisons with nonviolent offenders and making crime lords rich.
And again, nice to see such an OpEd featured at a place like CNN.
Meat,sugar,and caffiene are a bit addicting to and thats like saying we will have a meat,caffiene and sugar free nation,Oh I know some would like to ban the above also,but call me crazy I actually believe inFREEDOM PEOPLE.
Some more thoughts,the carnage of death and imprisonment is astounding,some say stigma of pot use I think that’s changing more everyday with folks,like DOC.Andrew Weil reporting on cannabis on TV and on line etc. Hell even crazy Rush Limbaugh said he believes cannabis will be legal in ner future.
As the latest LEAP email says, “The smirks are gone.”
That damnable ‘titter factor’, that allowed the MSM to make light of a deadly serious subject, is waning. It’s a sign that the Media is beginning to realize the truth about the amount of public support re-legalization has…and that they risk the anger of scores of millions of people if they don’t continue to take this issue seriously. Anger that could be transformed into both political and economic actions (remember Kellogs?) against those who continue to deride the subject.
Speaking of economics, I have kept my word each week to donate to the Yeson19 Website. I can only ask that others do the same…for each dollar donated acquires a razor edge to cut through prohib BS and get the facts to the electorate. It’s a mighty nice feeling to know that some prohib is acquiring a case of indigestion at the thought of re-legalized cannabis…and that those small donations from who-knows-how-many people are making their taxpayer-funded efforts seem like Goliath versus David. The fact that we’re winning despite all our tax money that’s been used against us only shows the bankruptcy of their positions.
Go Nemo! My tally since the money bomb….$360. Sending another twenty at your prompt, sir!
Piper states, “polls show the issue running 50% to 50%”. Yet a few days back, here on Open Thread, the polls were said to be running 48% yes, to 39% no, with 13% undecided. I predict that California voters go 58% yes, to 42% no. My own poll has to be as accurate as any. Either way , how can so many people be so stupid as to want the prohibition to continue? Must be the ‘conditioning’. Say YES to donating.
Very encouraging. Gave a nice amount that the girlfriend matched for the money bomb. Will give 25 dollars more after the good news. Here’s hoping for a reverse Bradley effect to put it over the top in November.
Bill said this on corporate media?! Hope he is still employed tomorrow. If California legalizes via prop 19 and other states follow suit how will we lead the world in prison population? How will Anusville, USA towns survive without private prisons overflowing with non-violent drug offenders?
now if only DPA will finally get the balls to go for the fence.
Ethan nadelmann has stated that legalizing recreational marijuana use is the third priority for DPA.
bottom line: send your donations to LEAP and write a letter to DPA letting them know why you didn’t send it to them.
Prop 19 analysis by Dennis Peron’s own lawyer: http://sjcbc.org/2010/09/11/an-open-letter-on-prop-19/
“Prop 19 is the best thing to happen to medical marijuana patients since Prop 215”
madcap, that problem could be solved by putting politicians, prosecutors, media moguls, and LEO drug warriors in prison for their unconstitutional actions in creating and maintaining the war on drug(user)s, and the lying they did to the American people (and juries) throughout the term of that war.
Windy, our country does not punish war criminals.
The comments are now touching 2300 over at CNN
http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/09/28/piper.decriminalize.pot/
Some prohibitionist lovers posting on that CNN blog…
One poster wrote , “So if we get a large spike in larceny, assault and murders, we should legalize them so they won’t be such a financial burden on our judicial and prison system? This may be an unfair comparison but I think the authors logic is similarly flawed. Plus, I don’t think the “war on drugs” is lost. I think……”
Comparing Cannabis use to murder and assault? WoW. Another person wrote that Alcohol is safer therefore we should just use that instead? And then they love reinforcing all the old stereotypes of how Cannabis consumers are , ” LAZY, LOSERS, WITH No JOB who just want to sit in Momma’s basement and get high. ” Can’t wait for the day when these prohibitionist scumbags have no high ground to stand on.
The comment rate is now running at somewhere over 200 an hour with at least 95% favoring legalization.
“that problem could be solved by putting politicians, prosecutors, media moguls, and LEO drug warriors in prison for their unconstitutional actions in creating and maintaining the war on drug(user)s, and the lying they did to the American people (and juries) throughout the term of that war.
This should be a priority some day very soon!
Like wow…2741 comments and counting. By contrast, the opinion peice about Chaves in Venezeula gleaned a whopping 141 comments. Not even a gross. Shit, I don’t think any of us had anticipated this buzz…
The Yes on 19 message is definitely getting out to the public. However, I’m still feeling that there’s a surprise ahead. All those who can’t say outwardly they approve can now do so behind the closed curtain. I’m not just looking for a “YES,” but, rather, a “YESSSsssssss!”
It just seems right to expect the “Covert Vote.” The one you won’t admit to, even though you know it’s right.
The supporters of prohibition are running on fumes,while they are mostly working for prohibition industries or organization that receives funding from the WOD,they do not actually believe in the bill of goods they are selling.
Look at Kerli’s face when he goes into his drugged driving spiel or “Smoked marijuana is not a medicine” speech.
I have never seen anyone look so lost.
While we are for the most part secure in our goals and
confident in our truths,they have no goals that are attainable following their own recommendations and
(stolen from you know who)the prohibs wouldn’t know truth if they kicked it’s door down and shot it’s dog.
Vote Yes on PROP 19 to begin the end.
Kapt said:It’s a sign that the Media is beginning to realize the truth about the amount of public support re-legalization has…and that they risk the anger of scores of millions of people if they don’t continue to take this issue seriously. Anger that could be transformed into both political and economic actions (remember Kellogs?) against those who continue to deride the subject.
Hell ya they risk angering millions, bout damned time they take this serious. As for boycott of Kellogs…I still am, as well as the beer companies and wal mart and I will til these corporation realize we are serious.
Pot story: 3137, President Chavez 151. Winner by a shutout. The powers that be notice this trend and they are scared.
Whoops I thought it said Bill Piper of CNN. Should have known nothing like this would be spoken on that network. Bill’s job security is in good order.
And you have to wonder how many of those commenting there came here first?
Oh, yes, it’s getting noticed. I expect that CNN will have Mr. Piper on regularly after this; the volume of comments in the short amount of time since the article’s advent make it clear that this is a hot-button topic now. The prohib forces are going to be placed under greater pressure to counter-attack, and since all they have are stale old lies, they face public humiliation.
Let them taste ashes…
Crash and burn prohibition, crash and burn…
Even more ludicrous is the argument that California will be sent to Hell in a handbasket if the fine of $100 is removed. When you get down to brass tacks, that is the argument that the know nothings are making.
In California the fine for parking in a space reserved for someone with handicapped tags without having the required permit is almost $1000.
Know nothings like to argue that their position is derived from the best of intentions. Well I heard that Mr. Lucifer got some of the stimulus money handout and is building a new highway to Hell. The know nothings have an opportunity to make some money, because Mr. L will need paving materials for his new highway.
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