You want to know how marijuana is going to get legalized? It’s going to happen on the state and local level; and we have California and their defiance of federal law to thank for starting the localization movement. The federal government, which has become nothing more than a finely tuned group of organized criminals, makes far too much on marijuana being illegal that we should just give up hope of them ever legalizing it–at most they’ll legalize medicinal marijuana, even though it looks like the pharmaceutical companies will get to push their THC pills on everyone before that happens. But given all the fines and fees that the government pulls in from every pothead cuffed and processed, it makes zero sense to sit back and hope the aliens in Congress will ever let common sense override greed and tradition. Besides, on the local level people actually have the ability to affect change.
For instance, Oakland voters “overwhemingly approved” of a bill that will place a business tax on marijuana. Civilians in Jacksonville Beach, Florida have proposed an amendment that will decriminalize possession of less than 20 grams, taking it from a civil infraction to a criminal misdemeanor, which would only result in a $100 fine. Similar bills have been proposed throughout the country, some dropping dead on the legislative floor while others passed (Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Ohio and Oregon). However, what this is a sign of is that people are finally starting to realize the federal government really doesn’t give a damn about antiquated laws that are a direct assault on civil liberties. Besides, the federal government has shown their ability to directly affect the lives of citizens is limited to wars and tax cuts/hikes; the money for social programs seems to never be spent effectively as its often a different figure by the time it reaches the project it’s supposed to be funding after going down the line of politicians and lobbyists.
To limit the localization movement to just drug laws would be a incredibly narrow-minded thing to do. Localization is what the founding fathers wanted and it is what all citizens in every state and every town should be working towards. Make your town self-sufficient and it will become a better place to live. It will be a healthier and cleaner place, and one that is more efficient. Politicians like the scum from New Jersey won’t be able to steal taxpayer money if all the money is accounted for by dilligent citizens trying to put a greenhouse in their town or installing solar panels on all the municipal buildings. Localization is the way to America’s prosperity, not a reliance on organized criminals sitting in big, secure buildings waiting for the day they retire to their big, secluded and secure homes that were paid for with our money. Down with Donkeys and Elephants and up with the People. Localize before it’s too late.
July 27th, 2009 at 6:22 pm
Two bills in Congress – the Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act and the Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults Act – could move federal marijuana policy two big steps forward. It’s time to end the government’s senseless and costly war on suffering patients and nonviolent marijuana users.
Tell your members of Congress to support a better marijuana policy:
http://tinyurl.com/decriminalizeMJ
July 27th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
Thanks for that info.
September 8th, 2009 at 10:24 pm
There are many persuasive arguments on why America should legalize marijuana, and the reasons are sound, but despite the fact that many millions of Americans have used pot has not translated into real political pressure on the people who can change the laws. One of the problems inhibiting legalization is that people that smoke a glass pipe are not considered serious or mature. It is This stigma that scares many pot users into hiding that they smoke pot. Therefore the Reality of who smokes pot and how much the smoke is very different than it seems. The last three presidents were admitted pot users and by my Understanding the same is probably true of the first three presidents as well. Marijuana Legislation is very serious and has everything with how we define what it means to be American. What credence do we as Americans give the rights of the individual to the pursuit of happiness as well as a right to privacy? In the end it is up to us to be public about our choices and to Voice our opinions to the ones that ultimately decide what the rules are. Every hand written Letter that makes it to a representative is considered to be the voice of a thousand people who did not take the time to write. Send an email, send a letter make a phone call and get counted.
IMPIart.com
January 15th, 2010 at 10:01 pm
peace…i used to lick challice?? ??huh?? ??i remember when…peace
January 16th, 2010 at 12:52 am
I support the legalization of marijuana, as does most people that read this. But it saddens me that it had to be told by such a dumb ass.
1) Our founding fathers where not about localization only! Do you remember the federalist/anti federalist? Obviously this author needs to retake american history or look up the definition of a federalist.
2) Localization is the battle cry for Republicans. This the number one difference among Republicans and Democrats. Apparently this guy has no idea about politics either, or follows some third party craziness (he sounds like a libertarian to me.) Not that third parties are bad or libertarians are bad, but following third party antics will not change the law in the US. It is a two party system.
3) Legalization and decriminalization are two completely different things. If Marijuana was just legalized as he is advocating, then it would be run by the government. It would be a luxury just like alcohol and tobacco, and would therefore follow under the same type of rules/taxes. I do not think this is what the author wants, seeing how he thinks all the government is corrupt and just waste our money. Decriminalization is far more likely. This just means the government doesn't care, but it is still “illegal.” This is my personal hopes for the future or america, though I would not mind paying a tax on marijuana if it is used for the right things, such as fighting harder drugs and getting drunks off the road.
March 1st, 2010 at 5:42 pm
Question. What right does my neighbor have to tell me whether or not I can grow or use a plant? You freedom sir ends at my nose. No victim no crime. It's the Common Law and it still applies to free men.
March 2nd, 2010 at 1:11 pm
I believe that it should be decriminalized at least to the level that Jacksonville Beach, FL is proposing. Under 20 grams give a ticket. The county in FL where I live there is a maximum sentence of one year in jail, $1000 fine, and loss of driver's license for two years. Is that ridiculous or what? So much wasted tax payers money when we have so many homeless.
April 14th, 2010 at 5:35 pm
I loved your column, in sitting in north georgia in the “bible belt.” Fannin County is so far behind in the times. we just got our license to serve beer and wine in the city! Whose to say smoking marijuana is wrong~ didn't god give to us fannin county?