Elvis_Christ

I read this (http://www.mapinc.org/norml/v02/n847/a04.htm) a few days ago, and was inspired to respond to it. My response, via e-mail to the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, is below.


I recently read a Washington Post op-ed piece (supposedly) by
Drug Czar Walters in which he makes several factually FALSE claims.
Such as: That marijuana is now 10 to 20 times more potent than it once was (disproven by studies of effective potency of street cannabis in the early 1970's, and NOT the DEA/government figures of analysis of seized marijuana which was in a substantially degraded condition after a long period of storage in non-climate controlled evidence rooms).

That marijuana is an addictive substance, which implies that it is PHYSICALLY addictive. It isn't. Marijuana may be PSYCHOLOGICALLY addictive, but then so may
eating (many people, particularly females, have been shown to eat to feel better, thus resulting in obesity). Physically, marijuana is a less addictive and less harmful substance than caffeine, alcohol or tobacco.

The claim that marijuana contains carcinogens is true, BUT...so does coffee. (No fewer than sixteen of the chemicals present in roasted coffee have been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals.) And the typical marijuana user does not consume marijuana in anywhere near the amount that the typical tobacco or caffeine user (or should it be abuser? After all, legal or no, these are still drugs) does.

As far as the assertion that marijuana dealers are dangerous criminals...if they are, it is because of the illegality of marijuana.
Not because of something intrinsic to marijuana. The problem of crime related to marijuana is one which has been created by making it illegal, and, quite honestly, as long as marijuana REMAINS illegal, as long as there's a black market for it, as long as there is massive profit potential in it...you will have the problem of drug dealers. Fact. Unarguable.

In closing allow me to say that the lies, factual distortions, and
half-truths put forth by ONDCP and the DEA sicken me, and should sicken any right-thinking individual. The idea seems to be that if you tell people your version often enough, it will become the truth. The fact that
so many people take your propaganda seriously is proof that it seems to work. Of course, the "Big Lie" technique has been known to work in authoritarian/totalitarian societies for decades or centuries...after all, the Germans believed Hitler. And the efficacy of the current anti-drug/anti-marijuana hysteria says to me that H.L. Mencken was right: "No one ever went broke by underestimating the gullibility of the American public."

Panama

I like it, Elvis.

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"This fight against the War on Drugs is not a war in the classic sense of the word, so it's virtually impossible to point to one instance and say, 'That was the battle that stemmed the tide in our favor'. We have had many small victories that have led us to where we are and each day we continue to communicate and educate brings us that much closer to our ultimate goal: The end of marijuana prohibition." -Richard "Panama" Red-
Marijuana.Com Posting Guideline

Logos

I'll look into tying it all together tomorrow.

I like your style Mr Christ...

Any chance you might be interested in doing an editorial or two or three???

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Brother Logos
The more I learn, the less I know. | Truth doesn't change, only our perception of it does.
THC Ministry | The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ | The Reluctant Messenger of Science and Religion
True religion is real living, living with all one's soul, with all ones goodness and righteousness. --Albert Einstein

suede

Welcome E.C. to our happy little community.I also subscribe to http://www.norml.org and I agree the drug czar is totally out of touch with the truth,and the realities of marijuana,and her connoisseursb.s.

If there is no voice to challenge the lies,they grow stronger.
If we allow the opposition to PURsuede the ignorant,we lose.
If we show the ignorant that the opposition's aim, and motivation,is centered on greed,and power,we might have a fighting chance in lessening the injustice that goes unknown by most, as another consenting adult is busted for excersizing a harmless belief,or degraded,and made a criminal, in the eyes of anyone thinking,or believing differently from them.........IS THIS THE MORAL MAJORITY..??........Hey..sorry for the rant.Again,welcome Elvis.......b.suede

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End World Hunger

Conine

Nice work. Glad to have you on our side.

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Freedom is the right to choose the habits that bind you.
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Elvis_Christ

Be happy to write an editorial or three. Always glad to wield my literary sword in the interests of a good cause.

Elvis_Christ

And...thanks to all for the kind comments and warm welcome.

dialcg

Hehe, a few years ago I worked at a Country Club, and Barry Mcaffery, the previous "Drug Czar" came for a talk about drugs. It was crazy because me and all my coworkers were pretty pot smokers. There were Secret Service there that patted us down and stuff, and a bunch of the audience were law enforcement, DEA, ect.... It was weird.

Chris D

Logos

I'll hook up with you soon to discuss details, right now I'm fairly tied up with Robin Prosser's hunger strike.

I will post what you wrote to the front page, but it might not be till next weekend.

http://www.cannabisnow.org/home.html

I wish the drug czar would visit that site!

Oh, and welcome

Elvis_Christ

Understandable that the hunger strike is something absorbing a lot of your attention at the moment. (On that issue, I have to wonder...where's the moral outrage? Where's the news coverage? A sick person puts her life on the line because the only medication that works for her is being withheld from her and thousands/millions of others by a cruel and stupid government, and NO ONE SEEMS TO CARE. And I thought that one of the things we prided ourselves on in this country was respect for the sanctity of human life. Hah.)

Best way to get in contact with me is probably via e-mail (e-mail address is on my profile.)