Willie Nelson joins Law Enforcement Against Prohibition

[barman]

In addition to their core membership of thousands of current and former police, judges, prosecutors and other criminal justice professionals, my friends at Law Enforcement Against Prohibition http://leap.cc also accept Supporting Members (aka, "Friends of LEAP")

On the day of his 76th birthday, the most influential country musician in my lifetime took a few moments to confirm his ongoing support for the mission of LEAP

The short video clip below is an excerpt from the longstanding radio show hosted by my colleague Dean Becker. It originates on KPFT in Houston TX and is syndicated to over 50 other radio stations across North America.

Becker himself was a MP during the years he honorably served in the military (late 60s/early 70s).

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[quantumleap]

In addition to their core membership of thousands of current and former police, judges, prosecutors and other criminal justice professionals, my friends at Law Enforcement Against Prohibition http://leap.cc also accept Supporting Members (aka, "Friends of LEAP")

On the day of his 76th birthday, the most influential country musician in my lifetime took a few moments to confirm his ongoing support for the mission of LEAP

The short video clip below is an excerpt from the longstanding radio show hosted by my colleague Dean Becker. It originates on KPFT in Houston TX and is syndicated to over 50 other radio stations across North America.

Becker himself was a MP during the years he honorably served in the military (late 60s/early 70s).

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What's the progress on how this group is doing to get other people to realize that prohibition was wrong in the early 1900's and it's wrong today? In other words, what affect are they having on getting drug laws changed?

 

[ScottL]

A tree fell in the forest......

 

[barman]

What's the progress on how this group is doing to get other people to realize that prohibition was wrong in the early 1900's and it's wrong today? In other words, what affect are they having on getting drug laws changed?

Since LEAP's inception in 2004, marijuana possession for adults has been decriminalized in three states, medical marijuana laws (quasi-legalization) have passed in five more states, raising the total to 14; and medical marijuana laws will pass and go into effect within at least six more states over the next 12 months.

Sentencing laws for crack cocaine have been dramatically downturned and for the first time in American history, major policymakers and major print media outlets are calling for examination of the destruction waged by 21st century Prohibition.

As cops and civilians alike are being killed by the dozens each month along the US/Mexican border, major newspapers from The Dallas Morning News to the Wall Street Journal are repeatedly running opinions that the major problem is not "drugs", but rather the major problem is Prohibition.

More specifically, in any kind of national news coverage on the topic of "drugs" and/or "drug control", as recently as two or three years ago, the only "experts" interviewed and cited were professional Prohibitionists - narcotics cops, prosecutors etc

Today, it's far more common to have LEAP speakers cited in both print and television coverage. And those publicly promoting the continuation of Prohibition have for the most part run for the shadows.

A reasonable forecast is that by 2016, marijuana possession by adults will no longer be a federal crime; it will be decriminalized and/or legalized for adults in the majority (25+) states. And public funding for appropriate drug treatment and diversion programs will flip-flop in priority with the current 90% emphasis on arrest and long term incarceration in response to possession of other illicit drugs.

 

[quantumleap]

Since LEAP's inception in 2004, marijuana possession for adults has been decriminalized in three states, medical marijuana laws (quasi-legalization) have passed in five more states, raising the total to 14; and medical marijuana laws will pass and go into effect within at least six more states over the next 12 months.

Sentencing laws for crack cocaine have been dramatically downturned and for the first time in American history, major policymakers and major print media outlets are calling for examination of the destruction waged by 21st century Prohibition.

As cops and civilians alike are being killed by the dozens each month along the US/Mexican border, major newspapers from The Dallas Morning News to the Wall Street Journal are repeatedly running opinions that the major problem is not "drugs", but rather the major problem is Prohibition.

More specifically, in any kind of national news coverage on the topic of "drugs" and/or "drug control", as recently as two or three years ago, the only "experts" interviewed and cited were professional Prohibitionists - narcotics cops, prosecutors etc

Today, it's far more common to have LEAP speakers cited in both print and television coverage. And those publicly promoting the continuation of Prohibition have for the most part run for the shadows.

A reasonable forecast is that by 2016, marijuana possession by adults will no longer be a federal crime; it will be decriminalized and/or legalized for adults in the majority (25+) states. And public funding for appropriate drug treatment and diversion programs will flip-flop in priority with the current 90% emphasis on arrest and long term incarceration in response to possession of other illicit drugs.

"But what about the children??!! What kind of message does legalization send to our children?? That it's ok to do drugs???!!"

This is the argument I heard when Alaska's marijuana laws were decriminalized in Alaska in the 80's. When marijuana laws in Alaska were later made more severe I also heard that it was needed in order to give our kids the message that drugs are bad. All the while that alcohol and tobacco were legal.

I am constantly amazed that people this stupid exist.

 

[barman]

"But what about the children??!! What kind of message does legalization send to our children?? That it's ok to do drugs???!!"

This is the argument I heard when Alaska's marijuana laws were decriminalized in Alaska in the 80's. When marijuana laws in Alaska were later made more severe I also heard that it was needed in order to give our kids the message that drugs are bad. All the while that alcohol and tobacco were legal.

I am constantly amazed that people this stupid exist.

*quick side note...Alaska did not decriminalize, they legalized adult marijuana possession in the home for up to 4 ozs.

---
As for your post, yes that's been a standard rallying cry for the ardent Prohibitionist going back to the inception of 21st century Prohibition.

But it's been nicely countered now for over a decade by smart thinking Americans who decided in the late 1990s to seize control of the public discourse and make the mainstream media more aware of how failed public drug policies harm America.

Today, if someone wishes to bring up "the children", smart thinkers make the following two points:

1) It is only illegal drug dealers who actively market products to minors. Legal, regulated drug dealers do not knowingly sell to minors.

2) It is only illegal drug dealers who actively recruit minors to help sell drugs.
Legal, regulated drug dealers do not knowingly employ minors.

The reader is then invited to take a stand and publicly endorse

a) The policy of Prohibition which empowers illegal drug dealers or

b) A policy of legal and sensible regulation for all drugs, such as that currently employed for literally 99.9% of drugs in North America today.


When presented in the above concise and simple fashion, it is a very rare bird who will publicly stand up and endorse "A".

 

[quantumleap]

*quick side note...Alaska did not decriminalize, they legalized adult marijuana possession in the home for up to 4 ozs.

---
As for your post, yes that's been a standard rallying cry for the ardent Prohibitionist going back to the inception of 21st century Prohibition.

But it's been nicely countered now for over a decade by smart thinking Americans who decided in the late 1990s to seize control of the public discourse and make the mainstream media more aware of how failed public drug policies harm America.

Today, if someone wishes to bring up "the children", smart thinkers make the following two points:

1) It is only illegal drug dealers who actively market products to minors. Legal, regulated drug dealers do not knowingly sell to minors.

2) It is only illegal drug dealers who actively recruit minors to help sell drugs.
Legal, regulated drug dealers do not knowingly employ minors.

The reader is then invited to take a stand and publicly endorse

a) The policy of Prohibition which empowers illegal drug dealers or

b) A policy of legal and sensible regulation for all drugs, such as that currently employed for literally 99.9% of drugs in North America today.


When presented in the above concise and simple fashion, it is a very rare bird who will publicly stand up and endorse "A".

While you make a good point about the marketing aspect, the people I mentioned usually refer to aspects outside of marketing to minors. That being giving kids the idea that drugs are ok if they are legalized and then having them partake once they become an adult.

You see, the main stream media has made such a big deal out of the "drugs are bad" mantra that sheeple are unable to think that current illegal drugs should ever be legalized. They believe it will lead to more deaths of people who partake along with more social decay. They seldom think that there are drugs that are currently legal that are much worse than marijuana.

:toast:

:bong:

 

[barman]

While you make a good point about the marketing aspect, the people I mentioned usually refer to aspects outside of marketing to minors. That being giving kids the idea that drugs are ok if they are legalized and then having them partake once they become an adult.

That's certainly not an uncommon anxiety for many parents of teenagers.

But nonetheless, when the simple tactic I wrote before is employed, even these parents are peaceably confronted with the most pertinent question regarding our current drug policy. That is:

Which is preferable?

a) A drug market which is 100% unregulated and therefore controlled by street criminals, drug cartels and organized crime? Or

b) A drug market which is legal and therefore able to be sensibly regulated by a combination of private business and various government agencies including police when neccesary?

Regardless of a parent's concerns about what their teens might choose to do later in life, it's a very unusual parent who will cast a vote for "A" above.

See once we can get a realistic handle on how drugs are produced and commercially distributed, we'll have much better resources with regard to increasing accurate education about the potential efficacy and also the potential hazards of using any and all drugs.

 

[Dave007inVegas]

A tree fell in the forest......

..... And Barman ran to hug it....

 

[mplastered]

Then, he tried to marry, have sex with, and of course, tried to smoke it.

 

[ScottL]

I would admit to smoking some great tree myself durng my lifetime, but the following post made by Whalewager would order me to admit it wasn't 'Tree' that I smoked, but 'Pole.' So to avoid all that I admit nothing :smoker2:

 

[MightyGinseng]

Robert Anton Wilson called it the War on Some Drugs. I absolutely love that name. The War on Drugs was never about keeping citizens away from substance, its about getting them to buy their feel good drugs at the pharmacy. When you can grow a plant in your backyard, big Pharma doesn't get their cut.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiS75AiIIdE (Carlin on drugs)

 

[ScottL]

Actually it ws about coming up with a cool slogan to fight a battle they knew they couldn't win. It had nothing to do with propping up Big Pharma.

 

[Willie99]

Not sure what to think about an endorsement from Willie Nelson, is that a good thing or a bad thing?

As for me, I'd much rather like to hear what Miss CA has to say. She be more smarter and prettier too.

 

[punter]

Not sure what to think about an endorsement from Willie Nelson, is that a good thing or a bad thing?

As for me, I'd much rather like to hear what Miss CA has to say. She be more smarter and prettier too.

Dont ever set foot in Texas you blasphemous bastard.

Willie is a god here.

 

[Willie99]

Dont ever set foot in Texas you blasphemous bastard.

Willie is a god here.

I actually like some of his music, "You are always on my mind" for example. I'm just not sure his opinion means too much, maybe because I'm from a state that only has one country western station, which I happen to listen to.

Considering his tax history, I think Obama should appoint him to some cabinet position.

 

[punter]

Try not to overpay. Easier to keep it as to try and get it back.

 

[CarolinaKid]

I guess some of these old school people will never grow up and think smoking pot is ok, a mind is a terrible thing to waste and that what pot does to your brain cells, but again these people i guess really dont think clear now after smoking for most of their lifetime.Gee too bad they cant before they die grow up...........ck

 

[barman]

Given the mangled and incoherent syntax in that last post, I agree that you, CK, should never start smoking pot. You've got no room to give.

 

[CarolinaKid]

You know steve when i was young i smoked pot to give in to peer pressure and and over my young years drove drunk many times from bars, but i like to think i grew up and stop doing the young bs that most kids grew up doing, most grew out of it but they are so many kids living in adult bodies that will never grow out it..... a drunk will not tell you he is drunk and and a drug user will tell you that pot will never hurt you too