See other Activism Articles
Title: War Against Marijuana Consumers
Source:
NORML
URL Source: http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=3400
Published: Jun 5, 2006
Author: NORML
Post Date: 2006-06-05 13:31:49 by IndieTX
Ping List: *LEAP* Subscribe to *LEAP*
Keywords: NORML, MARIJUANA, WOD
Views: 491
Comments: 8
Our country's war on drugs places great emphasis on arresting people for smoking marijuana. In the last decade, 6.5 million Americans have been arrested on marijuana charges, a greater number than the entire populations of Alaska, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming combined. In 2000, state and local law enforcement arrested 734,498 people for marijuana violations. This is an increase of 800 percent since 1980, and is the highest ever recorded by the FBI. As has been the case throughout the 1990s, the overwhelming majority of those charged with marijuana violations in 2000-- 646,042 Americans (88 %) -- were for simple possession. The remaining 12% (88,456 Americans) were for "sale/manufacture", an FBI category which includes marijuana grown for personal use or purely medical purposes. These new FBI statistics indicate that one marijuana smoker is arrested every 45 seconds in America. Taken together, the total number of marijuana arrests for 2000 far exceeded the combined number of arrests for violent crimes, including murder, manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault. Like most Americans, people who smoke marijuana also pay taxes, love and support their families, and work hard to make a better life for their children. Suddenly they are arrested, jailed and treated like criminals solely because of their recreational drug of choice. State agencies frequently step in and declare children of marijuana smokers to be "in danger", and many children are placed into foster homes as a result. This causes enormous pain, suffering and financial hardship for millions of American families. It also engenders distrust and disrespect for the law and for the criminal justice system overall. Responsible marijuana smokers present no threat or danger to America or its children, and there is no reason to treat them as criminals, or to take their children away. As a society we need to find ways to discourage personal conduct of all kinds that is abusive or harmful to others. Responsible marijuana smokers are not the problem and it is time to stop arresting them. The ultimate goal of NORML and The NORML Foundation is to end the criminal prohibition of marijuana. We do not believe otherwise law-abiding citizens who smoke marijuana should be arrested and treated like criminals. Adults should be permitted to smoke marijuana in private. Federal prohibition of marijuana should be abolished and the states should be encouraged to experiment with different models of decriminalization.
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
#1. To: All, LONER.JETHRO TULL, LODWICK (#0)
This fascist PoliceState [see the vid on what the fringe on the flag indicates in courtrooms] ain't worth one drop of blood. IMO, nothing can save it. It's too far gone. This from someone who went to public schools, has a degree from a liberal university and is an ex major metro area police officer. Are YOUR eyes open? Think how many innocent lives have been destroyed by the CriminalJustice[SIC!]System using the draconian "War on Drugs" mantra...all incarcerated for NOTHING. [Hey but Shrub's gonna replace these inmates, 40 million aborted babies, and dead soldiers from Iraq with illegals to keep that income flowing into the IRS, so no sweat] /extremely pissed off rant
"I tell you, freedom and human rights in America are doomed. The U.S. government will lead the American people in -- and the West in general -- into an unbearable hell and a choking life." It's all about feeding the borg, which has developed a ravenous appetite.
Superstitious witchhunts seem to be a fact of human society.
I don't think most Americans are aware of these stats.
No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare. – James Madison
Most Americans don't know SQUAT, and furthermore they don't give a damn about anything except their newest techno toy, their new yuppie car, and what a "free" and "Jaysus blessed" country we live in. /puke
"I tell you, freedom and human rights in America are doomed. The U.S. government will lead the American people in -- and the West in general -- into an unbearable hell and a choking life." A bowl will help you out with that nausea you're experiencing :)
"That's libertarians for you - anarchists who want police protection from their slaves." Kim Stanley Robinson, "Green Mars" p318
LOL!!! Yes it will!! :)
"I tell you, freedom and human rights in America are doomed. The U.S. government will lead the American people in -- and the West in general -- into an unbearable hell and a choking life." Well said, the drug wars are one of the key tools the globalists are using to destroy the USA. Out of the close to three million wretches languishing in amerikan gulags some 700,000 are locked up for marijuana related "crimes".
Truthseeker
--Osama bin Laden
#2. To: IndieTX (#1)
Well said.
#3. To: IndieTX (#0)
I've already said too much.
#4. To: IndieTX (#0)
As has been the case throughout the 1990s, the overwhelming majority of those charged with marijuana violations in 2000-- 646,042 Americans (88 %) -- were for simple possession. The remaining 12% (88,456 Americans) were for "sale/manufacture",
#5. To: robin (#4)
I don't think most Americans are aware of these stats.
--Osama bin Laden
#6. To: IndieTX (#5)
Most Americans don't know SQUAT, and furthermore they don't give a damn about anything except their newest techno toy, their new yuppie car, and what a "free" and "Jaysus blessed" country we live in. /puke
#7. To: peteatomic (#6)
A bowl will help you out with that nausea you're experiencing :)
--Osama bin Laden
#8. To: IndieTX (#1)
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest