OpEd of the Week

Posted on October 8, 2012 by Pete

Vote to end the insanity of marijuana prohibition in The Register-Guard (Eugene, Oregon)

Outstanding piece written by our own Allan Erickson

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14 Responses to OpEd of the Week

  1. darkcycle says:
    October 8, 2012 at 2:01 pm

    Hey! Watch where you swing that hammer!!!

  2. Duncan20903 says:
    October 8, 2012 at 3:12 pm

    .
    .

    Well speaking of the Chinese “justice” system I think most of us here know that they’re not shy about using the death “penalty” and that the most frequent reason for imposition are for drugs law violations. But how many people reading this know that the number 2 reason is for Chinese gov’t employees convicted of corruption?

  3. Byddaf yn egluro: says:
    October 8, 2012 at 3:29 pm

    Great article, Allan. I’ve been having a travelling sabbatical, so wasn’t planning on posting anything anywhere for at least two full weeks. Your’s was worth breaking that silence for.

    Love & Light
    malc

  4. stlgonzo says:
    October 8, 2012 at 3:33 pm

    OT:

    I have my doubts about the judge letting this defense proceed, but I hope it does.

    Dispensary Owner Faces “A Very Difficult Situation” Says Lawyer on Day Before Medical Marijuana Trial

    http://reason.com/blog/2012/10/08/aaron-sandusky-faces-a-very-difficult-si

    “Diamond’s new legal approach is in some ways more interesting, though perhaps equally challenging. He intends to make an entrapment case against the federal government. He hopes to introduce this 2008 video of Eric Holder into evidence and argue that the Obama administration clearly signaled that it would no longer prosecute medical marijuana sellers operating within state law.

    In addition, Diamond wants to introduce a 2009 memo from then-Deputy Attorney General David Ogden that directed DOJ officials not to focus federal resources on “individuals whose actions are in clear and unambiguous compliance with existing state laws providing for the use of medical marijuana.”And finally, he hopes to use this video of FBI agents visiting Sandusky’s store to help prove that when Sandusky cooperated with the Feds on a successful corruption investigation of Upland’s mayor, they assured him that the federal government was not interested in his marijuana-related activities, thus giving him the greenlight to keep on growing and selling without fear of federal prosecution.”

  5. stlgonzo says:
    October 8, 2012 at 3:36 pm

    OT:

    Want permission from the government to commit crimes? Become a DEA or ATF informant.

    http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2012/10/07/informants-justice-crime/1600323/

  6. claygooding says:
    October 8, 2012 at 7:23 pm

    Great one allan,,when is the sequel coming out?

    A note on China’s death sentence for drugs,,,they kill more every year,,so even the death sentence can’t stop people from seeking pleasure.

    • allan says:
      October 8, 2012 at 10:27 pm

      thanks clay… actually I’m hoping to get in at least a couple more around Orgone before the election.

    • Byddaf yn egluro: says:
      October 9, 2012 at 4:29 am

      The Singapore CNB (Central Narcotic Bureau) announced in September 2011 that the the 5% drop per year, which they often proudly proclaimed as proof of the effectiveness of their tough drug stance, was totally inaccurate. Arrests it seems have actually increased since 2008 contradicting Singapore’s assertion that being tough on drugs (even with mandatory death sentences) has ever been effective.
       
      From January to June 2011 there was a 20% increase in arrests compared to the previous year. This not only indicates that drugs are entering Singapore but also that the amount of people in Singapore using drugs is steadily and surely increasing.
       
      This isn’t just a problem Singapore can claim is due to chronic drug users, as a large percentage of those being arrested are first-time users — 41% in 2008, 45% in 2009 and 46% in 2010. This clearly shows that threats of caning, harsh prison sentences and even death does nothing to deter either ‘chronic users’ or ‘first time users’.
       
      The government has promised to “look at the problem afresh and comprehensively”, but they’ve also pledged to maintain Singapore’s ‘zero-tolerance policy’. So no change there then, which is what we’ve come to expect from people who’s livelihood depends on an historically failed and dangerous policy.

      The Singapore government, and those who blindly support them, now have no proof whatsoever that their laws are curtailing drug smuggling or drug usage rates.

      http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC110923-0000304/Actually,-drug-arrests-were-on-the-rise

      Due to the embarrassment this has caused to the Singapore authorities, the original article from the above link has recently been removed. Kindly google: Central Narcotics Bureau blames under-reporting of statistics on migration to new computer system in 2008

  7. allan says:
    October 8, 2012 at 11:08 pm

    and thanks Pete, I’m honored at the recognition… and as much as anything I do it in the spirit of bodhisattva, teaching by example, offering a helping hand.

    My drug policy writing started w/ MAP’s lte program after I had seen a copy of the DrugSense Weekly in Conde’s office and read about Zeke Hernandez. That story made me a believer. I saw the letters that folks like Cliff Schafer and Jim Gierach and others were putting out and had to give props – such brevity on drugs!

    As a free range editor on my college paper I loved being a flea under the collar of the local fish-wrap’s editor. So I naturally joined MAP’s lte list and here I am almost 15 years later…

    Oh, speaking of MAP – everybody loves us but we’re so quiet! – if you’re one of those that donates, MAP is the threadbare org that is still chugging along, doing what MAP does, so if you can? drop some change in the old, lonely propina jar: http://www.drugsense.org/cms/donate

    So… just do it. C’mon, get them qwerty’s clicking. The printed word reaches beyond the planes of the wwwebdom, to those that perhaps have no interwweb (shocking I know). 150 words is nothing, make one good point, insert a jab or two and one direct swing at the wall and bingo! yer an author. There’s a month left… to guarantee publication before then, tie your drug policy letter/oped to the election.

    and if you need contact info for your paper, MAP provides that too: http://www.mapinc.org/media.htm

  8. Thinking Clearly says:
    October 9, 2012 at 1:08 am

    Allan that was an awesome article.

  9. ezrydn says:
    October 9, 2012 at 8:34 am

    Good one, OM. Spot on and crystal clear. Next time, capture the Christian mindset buy changing it to Prohib III.

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