Marijuana prohibition. Lives ruined, Billions spent, A loosing battle since 1937.

Marijuana prohibition. Lives ruined, Billions spent, A loosing battle since 1937. Time to end it.
Fri May 8, 2009 2:58 PM EDT
Raymond Max

70 years is a long time . Let's end prohibition today. Take the out law out of pot.

Excepts from the Emerald Triangle Marijuana Wars: As the sun rose in the east, the early morning still was broken by the sound of distant rotors beating the cool of the morning sky.Frenchy had heard the sound many times before. To him it brought back memories of Vietnam flooding into an already crowded, glitchy personal hard drive.

The gates had to be closed, and judging by the distant Helicopters approaching, a few moments remained before he would run down the hill to do so.

Frenchy hazily gazed at the rusted clock on the side table. It was 5.45 a.m. BASTARDS, wanted to sleep in this morning. Looking to the west, the first three choppers appeared over the top of the coastal range.

The year was 1980. The Campaign against marijuana planting had begun. Funded by the Federal government. The war against California pot growers,mostly Hippies, Retired Bikers and Vietnam Vets would change the relatively peaceful world of marijuana farming into a stealth underground battle Field. A war that would rage for over 25 years..

.As a Veteran of the Emerald Triangle Marijuana Wars, I find myself more than qualified to speak of the repeal of Marijuana prohibition in the United States of America.

I know I'm sticking my neck in the wringer by writing this commentary. The truth is, and we all know it. No one will ever win the ongoing debate on marijuana. The scope of debate is too wide.

The plant as we know it,can be used for good or for bad. It can be medically beneficial or turn a productive human being into a lazy sloth.

The issue at hand : We do not require the protection of the United States Government from the evils of Marijuana.

This natural yet illegal substance bridges the barrier of class, color , and financial demographics, and is readily available in every state from Nome Alaska to the sunny shores of Miami Beach Florida.

Roll down the window as you drive through many neighborhoods of our Towns and Cities, You can smell indoor weed growing. Marijuana is largely ignored and treated as a mild nuisance by local and state law enforcement. And yet in 2008, over 800,000 citizens were arrested for pot related crimes. Money runs the show, and both sides of the law are motivated by the almighty dollar.

John Law turning mostly a blind eye to the casual user ,has has not always been the case.

As many can testify, most old school pot heads have a horror story to tell, And all know at least one person that has been arrested, fined or incarcerated for the use, sales, or cultivation of Marijuana.

Million have had their lives altered by antiquated marijuana laws installed in the 1930's by tax revenuers. Millions have tarnished legal records for engaging in the use, Farming or sales of Pot. A prohibition that has had impact on our nations people for over 70 years.. Today government is reviewing these laws in the hope of creating tax revenue. The debate of good and evil has been over taken by the wants and needs of Government.

The people have spoken. Time to listen. Over 100 million Americans have tried pot at least once. Over 30 million are occasional users. 10 million or so are medical or habitual users. These numbers are far to large to ignore. And we can no longer do so under the banner of protecting the citizenry from the hidden dark side of marijuana. Freedom of choice, should be practiced in a FREE NATION.

Last Saturday, as I drove through the down town of Eugene Oregon, I was greeted by a very large crowd gathered in front of the old Federal Building. Driving east on 7th street, I was teleported back to the late 60's.

The kids were dressed as if they had just walked off the Mendocino Hog Farm or a Grateful Dead Show. I swear , I saw Wavy Gravy With a peace sign. Holding protest banners and M.J. leaf flags. The crowd celebrated Normalization of Marijuana day. This seemed fitting to me. After all N.O.R.M.A.L. had it's roots in Oregon, and long ago had moved it's offices to D.C. to lobby for the repeal of the marijuana prohibition.

It was at the moment that it occurred to me that this protest had been going on my entire adult life. Not only were these kids wearing the same cloths hippies of the 60's wore. but they were fighting the same battle.

Over 40 years had passed since the summer of love, Wood Stock. The movement back to mother earth had started in 1968. The Government of my free nation had attempted to control the will of the people for almost five decades to no avail.

What an incredible waste of resources.

Times they are a changing.. In recent weeks the Obama administration through the Attorney General of the United States stated that the D.E.A. would no longer arrest medical marijuana users.

That the D.E.A. would no longer close down medical marijuana dispensaries, and that the Federal government would no longer pursue, arrest and prosecute Medical marijuana users.

While this remains to be seen, I believe it to be a step in the right direction.

Law enforcement on all levels has grown tired of fighting the endless war on Marijuana..As most Cops will tell you ,
Law enforcement must focus their resources on the eradication of Meth and other heinous crimes.

The jails and prisons of our nation are running at 200%. They are dangerously over capacity. The Judicial system is back logged no less than 9 months to a year for most criminal motions..

We are kicking repeat criminal offenders back on to the street for lack of cell space. This is resulting in an increase in Robbery as well as Domestic abuse. Major as well as petty crime runs amok, while the Federal Government continues to pour millions of dollars into marijuana eradication campaigns.

Eradication programs are being over run by Mexican Nationals that have entered the B.L.M. lands of our nation. Proving C.A.M.P. and other Federal as well as state and local marijuana campaigns ineffective. The Government has been extremely effective at keeping the crime in marijuana.

The 70 year prohibition on marijuana has escalated into a fiscal nightmare for Local as well as State and Federal government agency's.

The numbers are staggering, According U.S. government figures, 50% of all persons on probation or presently incarcerated, have been jailed on drug related charges.

Although I am not one to advocate the open smoking of marijuana in public, any more than I condone the smoking of cigarettes in public,or drinking while driving, It is time for we the people to stand up in mass and end the barbaric prohibition of Marijuana.

As State Governors across our land say no more prohibition. Legalize and tax Marijuana today. I ask that you contact your local representative and voice your opinion.

We as thinking human beings do not need the protection of the Federal Government in this issue. Billions of Dollars spent, Millions of lives altered.

Enough, End prohibition today. Raymond Max.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Galaxy

. . . The truth is, and we all know it. No one will ever win the ongoing debate on marijuana. The scope of debate is too wide.

The plant as we know it,can be used for good or for bad. It can be medically beneficial or turn a productive human being into a lazy sloth.

The issue at hand : We do not require the protection of the United States Government from the evils of Marijuana. . . .

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xlent point, its really a much simplier issue than we make it out to be.

great read!! thanks again, galaxy! but i wonder . . . was Frenchy able to save his crop from those BASTARDS :jointsmile: i really hope i can live in the Emerald Triangle some time in my life, it seems like the coolest place.

It would be the end of the great depression of our time. Taxes , jobs and a people that can get along.

Ever seen 2 stoners fight. Well only over the last cookie and that isn't much of a fight. lol