Los Angeles alone has nearly 1,000 places where, with a doctor’s note, you can legally buy pot, says National Public Radio. The illegal side of marijuana is also thriving. It’s partly because all the pot clinics have boosted demand. That means the state spends millions of dollars trying to wipe out a plant that’s already sanctioned.
For decades, a task force of lawmen has been parachuting into some of the most rugged sections of California. For a week at a time, they search for and destroy as much pot as they can find. They call it the Campaign Against Marijuana Planting, or CAMP. NPR joined CAMP in a helicopter to hunt for cannabis in Northern California.
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.
This article of only 2 paragraphs shows what is wrong with the “Law Enforcement” view of Medical Marijuana. The first myth is that the dispensaries have “boosted demand”. There is absolutely no proof of that, in fact there are 2 studies that say the exact opposite is true. Next falsehood is that lawmen have been “parachuting” onto the mountains. Our Leaders would never risk the lives of our men in that way and have banned that method on incursion many years ago. We do still do some rather dangerous helicopter drops, and still make use of horses to reach some of the rougher areas.
It is very important that Law Enforcement learn not to inflate the facts. Our children are not as dumb as some believe them to be and every time they see what things lawmen inflate as facts but are more along the lines of Reefer Madness they lose faith in the Law and authority.
As for the Millions spent trying to wipeout the grows, our money would be better spent chasing those smuggling or making the harder drugs. Once Ca. legalizes Marijuana by ballot next yr. it is more likely we will see reduced wilderness grows as commercial farmers take over.
“It’s partly because all the pot clinics have boosted demand.”
Huh???? Wake up prohibition is an expensive FAILURE! Demand has always been there there is NO “boost in demand”. Where do you get bogus info like that???
Tylenol,(acetaminophen) remains the leading cause of liver failure in the U.S., sending 56,000 people to the emergency room annually FDA.http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,529578,00.html
Calling cannabis consumers potheads and drug fiends somehow reeks of Down Syndrome my friends.
A lot of notable people conservative/liberal have weighed in on the cannabis for instance:
From the most trusted man in America, Walter Cronkite and here is what he said about prohibition and our war on drugs: “I covered the Vietnam War. I remember the lies that were told, the lives that were lost — and the shock when, 20 years after the war ended, former Defense Secretary Robert S. McNamara admitted he knew it was a mistake all along. …
“And I cannot help but wonder how many more lives, and how much more money, will be wasted before another Robert McNamara admits what is plain for all to see: The war on drugs is a failure.”
“The prestige of government has undoubtedly been lowered considerably by the prohibition law. For nothing is more destructive of respect for the government and the law of the land than passing laws which cannot be enforced. It is an open secret that the dangerous increase of crime in this country is closely connected with this.” – Albert Einstein quote on Cannabis
“Even if one takes every reefer madness allegation of the prohibitionists at face value, marijuana prohibition has done far more harm to far more people than marijuana ever could.”
- William F. Buckley Jr. quote on Marijuana
“When a private enterprise fails, it is closed down; when a government enterprise fails, it is expanded. Isn’t that exactly what’s been happening with drugs?”
- Milton Friedman quote on Marijuana
“It really puzzles me to see marijuana connected with narcotics . . . dope and all that crap. It’s a thousand times better than whiskey – it’s an assistant – a friend.”
- Louis Armstrong quote on Marijuana
“That is not a drug. It’s a leaf,”
- Arnold Schwarzenegger, U.S. President Wannabe quote on Marijuana 
“Hemp is of first necessity to the wealth & protection of the country.”
- Thomas Jefferson, U.S. President quote on Hemp 
“Make the most you can of the Indian Hemp seed and sow it everywhere.”
- George Washington, U.S. President quote on Hemp 
“When I was in England, I experimented with marijuana a time or two, and I didn’t like it, and I didn’t inhale, and I never tried again.”
- Bill Clinton, U.S. President quote on Marijuana
“When I was a kid I inhaled frequently. That was the point.”
- Barack Obama quote on Marijuana
“There’s been no top authority saying what marijuana does to you. I really don’t know that much about it. I tried it once but it didn’t do anything to me.”
- John Wayne quote on Marijuana
“I think pot should be legal. I don’t smoke it, but I like the smell of it.”
- Andy Warhol quote on Marijuana
“I enjoy smoking cannabis and see no harm in it”.
- Jennifer Aniston quote on Marijuana
“If John Lennon is deported, I’m leaving too…with my musicians..and my marijuana.”
- Art Garfunkel quote on Marijuana
“Forty million Americans smoked marijuana; the only ones who didn’t like it were Judge Ginsberg, Clarence Thomas and Bill Clinton.”
- Jay Leno quote on Marijuana
”
The illegality of cannabis is outrageous, an impediment to full utilization of a drug which helps produce the serenity and insight, sensitivity and fellowship so desperately needed in this increasingly mad and dangerous world.”
- Carl Sagan quote on Marijuana
“I used to smoke marijuana. But I’ll tell you something: I would only smoke it in the late evening. Oh, occasionally the early evening, but usually the late evening – or the mid-evening. Just the early evening, mid-evening and late evening. Occasionally, early afternoon, early mid-afternoon, or perhaps the late-mid-afternoon. Oh, sometimes the early-mid-late-early morning. . . . …But never at dusk.”
- Steve Martin quote on Marijuana
“When you return to this mundane sphere from your visionary world, you would seem to leave a Neapolitan spring for a Lapland winter – to quit paradise for earth – heaven for hell! Taste the hashish, guest of mine – taste the hashish!” – Alexander Dumas quote on Marijuana
“Why use up the forests which were centuries in the making and the mines which required ages to lay down, if we can get the equivalent of forest and mineral products in the annual growth of the hemp fields?”
and
“There’s enough alcohol in one year’s yield of an acre of potatoes to drive the machinery necessary to cultivate the fields for one hundred years.” – Henry Ford
- Henry Ford quote on Marijuana
“If the words “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” don’t include the right to experiment with your own consciousness, then the Declaration of Independence isn’t worth the hemp it was written on.”
- Terence McKenna quote on Marijuana
“Penalties against possession of a drug should not be more damaging to an individual than the use of the drug itself; and where they are, they should be changed. Nowhere is this more clear than in the laws against possession of marihuana in private for personal use… Therefore, I support legislation amending Federal law to eliminate all Federal criminal penalties for the possession of up to one ounce of marihuana.”
- Jimmy Carter, U.S. President quote on Marijuana
“We shall, by and by, want a world of hemp more for our own consumption.”
- John Adams, U.S. President quote on Hemp
“La cucaracha, la cucaracha, Ya no quieres caminar, Porque no tienes,
Porque le falta, Marihuana que fumar.”
- Pancho Villa quote on Marijuana
* Andrew Cohen, CBS News: “It’s not my place to advocate anything – so please don’t write and accuse me of being Cheech or Chong. All I am saying is that the economic case for legalizing marijuana, and for lower the drinking rate, is as compelling as it has ever been and that, in a time of great changes in the interaction between government and the governed, it would not be the worst thing in the world to have a serious national debate on the topic.”
* Alison Stateman, Time: “If passed, the Marijuana Control, Regulation and Education Act (AB 390) would give California control of pot in a manner similar to that of alcohol while prohibiting its purchase by citizens under age 21. (The bill has been referred to the California state assembly’s public-safety and health committees; Ammiano says it could take up to a year before it comes to a vote for passage.) State revenues would be derived from a $50-per-oz. levy on retail sales of marijuana and sales taxes. By adopting the law, California could become a model for other states.”
* Joe Klein, Time: “Obviously, marijuana can be abused. But the costs of criminalization have proved to be enormous, perhaps unsustainable. Would legalization be any worse? In any case, the drug-reform discussion comes just at the right moment. We boomers are getting older every day. You’re not going to want us on the highways. Make us your best offer.”
* Justin Scheck and Stu Woo, The Wall Street Journal: “After years in the shadows, medical marijuana in California is aspiring to crack the commercial mainstream…In February, the Justice Department said it would adhere to President Barack Obama’s campaign statement that federal agents no longer would target med-pot dealers who comply with state law. Since then, vendors who had kept a low profile have begun to expand, and entrepreneurs who had avoided cannabis have begun to invest.”
* Lisa Ling, National Geographic Explorer: “I really think that its time that our lawmakers and drug enforcement officials, perhaps scientists and intellectuals actually sit down and scrutinize this issue and figure out a way to possibly better regulate it, possibly decriminalize it. And there is a way, I think, because relative to methamphetamines and cocaine, its not as extreme a drug. And maybe there’s a way to liken it to our laws vis-à-vis alcohol…I do know that the arguments for legalization are very strong.”
* Roger Parloff, Fortune: “The acceptance of medical marijuana has implications that extend far beyond helping those suffering from life-threatening diseases. It is one of several factors — including demographic changes, the financial crisis, and the widely perceived failure of the war on drugs — reopening the country’s 40-year-old on-again, off-again shouting match over whether marijuana should be legalized. This article is not another polemic about why it should or shouldn’t be. Today, in any case, the pertinent question is whether it already has been — at least on a local-option basis.”
* Mark Jacobson, New York Magazine: “Could it be that, at long last, the Great Pot Moment is upon us? The planets are aligning. First and foremost is the recession; there’s nothing like a little cash-flow problem to make societies reconsider supposed core values. The balance sheet couldn’t be clearer. We have the so-called War on Drugs, the yawning money pit that used to send its mirror-shade warriors to far-flung corners of the globe, like the Golden Triangle of Burma and the Colombian Amazon, where they’d confront evil kingpins. Now, after 40 years, the front lines have moved to the streets of Juárez, where stray bullets can easily pick off old ladies in the Wal-Mart parking in El Paso, Texas, even as Mexico itself has decriminalized pot possession as well as a devil’s medicine cabinet of other drugs. At the current $40 billion per annum, even General Westmoreland would have trouble calling this progress.”
* Gideon Lewis-Kraus, Harper’s: “A great many people who might in another era have cared about illegal foreign wars or grave threats to civil liberties had been outraged into apathy by the unrelenting malevolent ineptitude of their government and had again become preoccupied with their live-work loft spaces and the vesting schedules of options and how best to ‘monetize eyeballs.’ And whereas their forebears, in a bygone time, might have been found in Golden Gate Park scoring grass from which seeds and twigs had to be charily picked, our contemporaries were pleased to take the state of California up on its gracious proposition of Compassionate Use and relieve their chronic white-collar neck pain with top-shelf industrial-grade medical marijuana, purchased semi-legally and with post office-like convenience in the shabby boutiques increasingly blacking out shop windows all over town.”
* Jessica Bennett, Newsweek: “The fact that we now are debating [marijuana decriminalization]–at least in some parts of the country–is the result of a number of forces that, as MacCoun puts it, have created the perfect pot storm: the failure of the War on Drugs, the growing death toll of murderous drug cartels, pop culture, the economy, and a generation of voters that have simply grown up around the stuff. Today there are pot television shows and frequent references to the drug in film, music, and books. And everyone from the president to the most successful athlete in modern history has talked about smoking it at one point or another.”
* David Stout and Solomon Moore, The New York Times: “Polls have shown for years that there is widespread public support for making marijuana available to relieve the suffering of people who are very ill. But repeated efforts in Congress to block federal prosecution of medical marijuana have fallen short, and the new policy was a sharp departure from that of the Bush administration, in which the Drug Enforcement Administration raided medical marijuana distributors even if the distributors appeared to be complying with state laws. The new policy, which reflects positions that Mr. Obama took as a presidential candidate and that Mr. Holder laid out in March, came in a memo from David W. Ogden, the deputy attorney general, to the United States attorneys in the affected states, most notably California.”
Alcohol it’s not a gateway drug because you can’t get any higher than when you’re totally slobber faced drunk! And it’s legal so the collateral damage is acceptable in the eyes of the media.
And for the record Alcohol is much more dangerous than cannabis:
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