Comments on: Marc Emery and the Seedy War on Pot (and drugs in general) http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2006/03/06/marc-emery-and-the-seedy-war-on-pot-and-drugs-in-general/ Life. Liberty. Property. Defending individual freedom and liberty, one post at a time. Wed, 22 May 2013 18:26:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: Fred Mallach http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2006/03/06/marc-emery-and-the-seedy-war-on-pot-and-drugs-in-general/#comment-802 Fred Mallach Fri, 10 Mar 2006 05:15:39 +0000 http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2006/03/06/marc-emery-and-the-seedy-war-on-pot-and-drugs-in-general/#comment-802 I do not know about the United States but in Canada most individuals support the legalization of marijuana. As a Marijuana Party candidate in the recent federal election I advocated for the legalization, regulation and taxation of the marijuana industry.

In British Columbia, (the home of world famous BC Bud) it is estimated that the marijuana industry is worth 7 billion dollars a year. In a recent column in the Wall Street Journal ‘Musing About The War On Drugs’(February 21, 2006), George Melloan estimates the US War On Drugs costs 50 billion dollars a year in direct costs alone. Simply put, that works out to one billion dollars a year per state. Money that could be used for other things.

During the election the word I used to describe this approach was ‘squander’. As societies what opportunities to improve the lives and fortunes of our most vulnerable have we squandered? How many people must struggle with poverty, poor education, limited employment, and lack of health care?

We must ask ourselves the question regarding the ‘War On Drugs’: Is it really worth it? And the second question should be: Just who is ‘winning’ under the present regime?

Fred Mallach
836 Reed Street,
Victoria, BC
V8X 2P2

(250) 389-1992 evenings
(250) 388-5588 work

fred.mallach@shaw.ca

]]> By: davis greene http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2006/03/06/marc-emery-and-the-seedy-war-on-pot-and-drugs-in-general/#comment-800 davis greene Fri, 10 Mar 2006 02:52:50 +0000 http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2006/03/06/marc-emery-and-the-seedy-war-on-pot-and-drugs-in-general/#comment-800 There’s a slight mistake in the article since ME didn’t sell marijuana, just seeds which are completely free of all “active ingredients.” Shame on you, USA.

]]> By: David Wanner http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2006/03/06/marc-emery-and-the-seedy-war-on-pot-and-drugs-in-general/#comment-791 David Wanner Tue, 07 Mar 2006 19:48:09 +0000 http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2006/03/06/marc-emery-and-the-seedy-war-on-pot-and-drugs-in-general/#comment-791 One person mentioned the alcohol industry is a group that is totally against legalization. They are right but I haven’t heard anyone mention the prison guard unions and the law enforcement unions. They are almost violently anti legalization. I guess I can’t blame them. Which would anyone want to arrest, someone who is peacefully stoned or someone who is a dangerous criminal. How many million $ did 60 Minutes say the DEA has spent pursueing Marc. I guess that is one way for me to get the health insurance I haven’t been able to afford, get busted for herb use.
How come our legislators don’t have to be drug tested?

]]> By: Ken http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2006/03/06/marc-emery-and-the-seedy-war-on-pot-and-drugs-in-general/#comment-787 Ken Tue, 07 Mar 2006 15:31:53 +0000 http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2006/03/06/marc-emery-and-the-seedy-war-on-pot-and-drugs-in-general/#comment-787 The problem is that we have ample evidence what happens with Prohibition, yet we continue to ignore it.

Prohibition does two things extraordinarily well:

1. It breeds contempt for the law (hence corrodes the domestic tranquility).

2. It breeds corruption in law enforcement (thus tending to promote tyranny…and also corroding domestic tranquility at no extra charge).

]]> By: rosey http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2006/03/06/marc-emery-and-the-seedy-war-on-pot-and-drugs-in-general/#comment-785 rosey Tue, 07 Mar 2006 08:18:10 +0000 http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2006/03/06/marc-emery-and-the-seedy-war-on-pot-and-drugs-in-general/#comment-785 I think Mark was wrong to sell M seeds to the people in the US given their strong legal stance against the drug.  He should respect the laws of that country like we want them to respect our laws.  We, as Canadians are much more lenient in our perspective on Pot.  I hope we do soon legalize it but that is up to us.  The States has their own agenda and as a democratic country, they can choose which way their laws should go.  I don’t think we should let the US control our drug laws either. Mark should keep his zealous activism to this country.  I certainly hope he does not get extradited but there is the saying, “if you want to dance to the tune, you have to pay to the piper”.  In this situation, it will be a high price to pay.  I don’t think any Canadian wants that for one of it’s own.

]]> By: allan http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2006/03/06/marc-emery-and-the-seedy-war-on-pot-and-drugs-in-general/#comment-784 allan Tue, 07 Mar 2006 05:10:31 +0000 http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2006/03/06/marc-emery-and-the-seedy-war-on-pot-and-drugs-in-general/#comment-784 Nice to see one who is “squeeky clean” understand the injustice perpetrated by the War On (some) Drugs.

The shame is that Marc Emery’s 20 minutes is a miniscule soundbite when compared to the hours of anti-drug hysteria/lies the government has been spreading as “truth” for decades.

A policy like the drug war (Prohibition II) allows the shredding of the Constitution and is defacto martial law. A system of laws, founded upon utter racist BS and perjured testimony before Congress (Harry Anslinger) is a crime by the government against the people.

]]> By: la dude http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2006/03/06/marc-emery-and-the-seedy-war-on-pot-and-drugs-in-general/#comment-783 la dude Tue, 07 Mar 2006 04:20:56 +0000 http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2006/03/06/marc-emery-and-the-seedy-war-on-pot-and-drugs-in-general/#comment-783 I saw that segment on Marc Emery too and just shook my head the whole time. What a colossal waste of energy, money, and lives this drug war has been. I have grown marijuana hydroponically in the past. Although I do not now, I would not hesitate to grow again if anyone close to me fell sick with something that pot could help out on. Once you’ve grown, that knowledge never leaves you. What is not often mentioned is just how many medicinal qualities pot has; it’s no mistake that pot is one of the mainstays of ALL ancient medicines (see Wikipedia).

]]> By: jackl http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2006/03/06/marc-emery-and-the-seedy-war-on-pot-and-drugs-in-general/#comment-782 jackl Tue, 07 Mar 2006 03:43:41 +0000 http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2006/03/06/marc-emery-and-the-seedy-war-on-pot-and-drugs-in-general/#comment-782 Thanks for your blog remarks. Hopefully the 60 Minutes piece on Marc Emery opened some eyes on how cruel and mindless the US drug policy on marijuana is.

I agree the Drug Policy Alliance is a great organization, with a pretty cool blog on its site (D’Alliance – blog). Two individual blogs on the drug war which are also excellent are Pete Guither’s DrugWarRant (drugwarrant.com) and Libby Spencer’s Last One Speaks blog (lastonespeaks.blogspot.com). Marc Emery’s Cannabisculture.com site is interesting too.

]]> By: Lone Pony http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2006/03/06/marc-emery-and-the-seedy-war-on-pot-and-drugs-in-general/#comment-781 Lone Pony Tue, 07 Mar 2006 03:20:49 +0000 http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2006/03/06/marc-emery-and-the-seedy-war-on-pot-and-drugs-in-general/#comment-781 Kay, I too am about as squeaky clean as they come. I had always believed Marijuana should stay illegal until my father was so ill and dying from cancer. I would have loved to get my hands on some for him.

]]> By: John Newman http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2006/03/06/marc-emery-and-the-seedy-war-on-pot-and-drugs-in-general/#comment-780 John Newman Tue, 07 Mar 2006 02:48:17 +0000 http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2006/03/06/marc-emery-and-the-seedy-war-on-pot-and-drugs-in-general/#comment-780 Harry Anslinger. Eliot Ness and the G-Men had to have a new boogeyman – to keep there jobs – once Prohibition ended.

]]> By: Cris Ericson http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2006/03/06/marc-emery-and-the-seedy-war-on-pot-and-drugs-in-general/#comment-779 Cris Ericson Mon, 06 Mar 2006 22:18:42 +0000 http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2006/03/06/marc-emery-and-the-seedy-war-on-pot-and-drugs-in-general/#comment-779 Alabama Governor Candidate, Loretta Nall,
Libertarian, gave excellent reasons for
marijuana legalization in a speech before
the Black Mayors’ Conference recently.
Apparently, in Alabama, a small drug
record results in losing voting rights,
and many, many Black persons in Alabama
have lost their voting rights.
Black persons fought hard to get their
voting rights and freedom.
Then the law changed, making
marijuana, which was formerly legal,
illegal, and now Blacks are in prison
in chains instead of being slaves in
chains, and their voting rights
are taken away.
Please use this link to locate her
speech. It’s great.
http://2006candidate.com

]]> By: Kirk http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2006/03/06/marc-emery-and-the-seedy-war-on-pot-and-drugs-in-general/#comment-778 Kirk Mon, 06 Mar 2006 22:00:14 +0000 http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2006/03/06/marc-emery-and-the-seedy-war-on-pot-and-drugs-in-general/#comment-778 It seems to me that in order to properly evaluate our nation’s drug policies, we need to compare and contrast our drug policies with those of another nation with very substantially different drug policies. I suggest that we use the Czech Republic for out comparison.

In the Czech Republic, citizens can legally use, possess, grow, buy or sell small quantities of marijuana.

In the United States, many otherwise law abiding citizens, are locked in prison cages for possessing, growing or selling various amounts of marijuana.

The Czech overall drug arrest rate is 1 per 100,000 population. The U. S. overall drug arrest rate is 585 per 100,000 population. The Czech robbery rate is 2 per 100,000 population. The U. S. robbery rate is 145.9 per 100,000 population, according to the F. B. I.

According to our drug war cheerleaders, tolerant marijuana laws cause people to use other, much more dangerous drugs like meth and heroin.

Obviously, this doesn’t happen in the Czech Republic. Why not?

Could it be that when people can legally obtain marijuana at an affordable price, they tend not to use or desire any other recreational drugs?

Could it be that marijuana legalization actually creates a roadblock to hard drug use–not a gateway?

]]> By: David http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2006/03/06/marc-emery-and-the-seedy-war-on-pot-and-drugs-in-general/#comment-777 David Mon, 06 Mar 2006 20:29:56 +0000 http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2006/03/06/marc-emery-and-the-seedy-war-on-pot-and-drugs-in-general/#comment-777 I know Marc Emery because I joined the BC Marijuana Party. He has been a tireless crusader against the Prohibitionists.
The problem stems from America’s Right-Wing Evangelicals; your country is as caught up in that nonsense as the Middle East is in Islam.
If Emery gets extradited, Canada will definitely become hostile towards the U.S.
Marc Emery is trying to help Americans do what they can’t seem to do for themselves.

]]> By: brandon steele http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2006/03/06/marc-emery-and-the-seedy-war-on-pot-and-drugs-in-general/#comment-776 brandon steele Mon, 06 Mar 2006 17:32:49 +0000 http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2006/03/06/marc-emery-and-the-seedy-war-on-pot-and-drugs-in-general/#comment-776 I would just like to say thank you for your support. The greatest thing that that should be done is to let people know that Cannabis people are just like every one else and on a side note i find alchohol causes me to lose far more self control then cannabis ever could in any quantity.

]]> By: Kay http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2006/03/06/marc-emery-and-the-seedy-war-on-pot-and-drugs-in-general/#comment-775 Kay Mon, 06 Mar 2006 17:29:58 +0000 http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2006/03/06/marc-emery-and-the-seedy-war-on-pot-and-drugs-in-general/#comment-775 Hehehe! I like that one – hadn’t heard Dennis Miller’s take – but that sounds about right!

]]>