Leading pot decrim pol visits town
Until Virginia's own senior senator, Jim Webb, announced an effort a year ago to study it, perhaps the nation's boldest exponent of decriminalization of marijuana–- something that's now the law of the land in Portugal–- was former New Mexico governor Gary Johnson. Richard Sincere reports on Johnson's Monday visit to Charlottesville.
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23 comments
Sadly, drugs will not be legalized for a long time. I wonder how many more people will have their lives ruined before they realize the war on drugs has failed. Drugs are cheaper, more widely used, of better quality, in higher demand and easier to purchase since the war on drugs began. So what does the war on drugs accomplish besides increasing gang power and violence? I'm glad Webb is apparently looking into the facts.
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Like WOW! MAN
was the writer of this article high when it was written?
Would you agree that there is a "lag time" between the effects of the first "hit" and subsequent "hits". For the experienced dope smoker, this may not be a problem because they may know whats comming and put down the bong.
Factor in a young first time teenager, trying to fit in with his or her experienced dope smoking buddies and add a spring break in Daytona Beach florida.
Add a little first time alchohol and some girls gone wild and next thing you know, this first timer is attempting to climb from balcony to balcony at a beachfront hotel.
Splat!!!
I spent three years in Daytona beach florida, went to college at Embry Riddle, every spring for the three years I was there it happened in the same way. Honor student falls to death, drugs and alchohol involved.
I never said dont legalize, I see the merits in that. I was only stating a fact that the pot these days is dangerous.
"Why would a Republican conservative, opposed to abuse of government power, government intrusion into personal behavior and restriction of commerce, be opposed to marijuana legalization?"
Republicans pay lip service to notions like individual liberty and self-determination. But it's the Party's social conservatives who are really calling the square dance, and they have no problem using the boot of government to enforce their puritanical values.
There's really only one problem with legalization, the stuff these days is dangerously strong.
Don't be so defensive, it is a fact, the pot these days is dangerously strong.
"the stuff these days is dangerously strong."
More potent...yes. Dangerously strong...give me a break! Please, sir, enlighten us all on how dangerously strong the stuff is these days. Are people ODing off of marijuana? Are people smoking it and getting so messed up that they harm others? I think that statement is absurd.
Legalize it, don't criticize it! End this ridiculous drug war! Save our economy by legalizing the plant which causes no harm.
:-) Thanks!
It's about time. It's ridiculous that it is still classified as Schedule 1 in this time and place.
When's the last time you heard about someone getting stoned and then beating their wife or girlfriend or making an ass out of themselves in public and not remembering it? Doesn't happen. This stuff is definitely no worse for you than booze. Legalize it. Tax it. Move on.
And further, crozetette, I don't smoke it now, haven't in the past, nor have any real desire to in the future.
So put that in your pipe, and... well, you know the rest.
MIKEY MIKEY MIKEY Try it you'll like it !!!!!!
@ Ken Jamme
I'm not being defensive. I would like for you to back up that statement. Where are you getting these "facts"?
WTF a republican for a liberal idea. Michael your 1 in a million
Republicans for marijuana decriminalization!
Here's another conservative vote for legalization.
Why would a Republican conservative, opposed to abuse of government power, government intrusion into personal behavior and restriction of commerce, be opposed to marijuana legalization? We can either continue the failed war on drugs and guarantee the opportunity for profit to organized crime, or we can legalize and tax it. Expansion of commerce is a Republican standard, do we want the profits to go to organized crime and foreign criminal organizations or to struggling farmers and families in the U.S.A.?
durtburglar - I agree with you, and that is why I posted my argument as a question. There is a lot of "speaking with forked tongue" by republicans, I was always incensed by W's purely rhetorical use of the word "freedom". I, as a conservative, would like to see the Republican party move toward a more honest enactment of their principals of limited government, personal responsibility, and free enterprise, and in my opinion a realistic analysis of the "war on drugs" is in order.
ken, hashish has been made for a very long time. it was very easy to obtain back in the 70's and 80's when its importation helped to fund "freedom fighters" in afghanistan as we called them back then.
it would take a lot of today's weed, the stuff you call "dangerously potent" to add up to the power of a moderately sized chunk of halfway decent hashish from back then. no one was overdosing from that when it was readily available, and no one is overdosing from today's weed either.
people smoke until they get the buzz they're comfortable with. all that powerful smoke means is that instead of smoking 3 or 4 joints of low grade mexican weed like we did in jr. high, today's pothead saves his lungs by smoking a single bong hit of a high quality and professionally grown agricultural product which in many cases comes from his hometown or at least somewhere not far away.
C'ville Native - the answer is Reefer Madness II starring Nancy Grace
The nation's boldest "exponent" of decriminalization? I also believe in decriminalization, but please folks, don't let your buzz interfere with the primary duties of your job, especially if your job involves producing coherent sentences.