ACLU and Rick Steves, Part 3 (non-MPP video)

Comments (7)
July 7, 2008

The final installment of Marijuana: It’s Time for a Conversation.

The opinions expressed below by our viewers and posters do not necessarily represent the opinions of the Marijuana Policy Project. These views are those of the individual authors alone. MPP does not condone or support the illegal use of marijuana. We do encourage open and frank discussion, but if a comment has been posted that is in some way significantly inappropriate, please e-mail us at socialnetwork@mpp.org to report it. Thank you, and we're looking forward to what you think!

7 Comments, Comment or Ping

  1. jerome sweeney

    I believe that the government is missing a good bet. There are taxes on alcolhol and cigarettes and who knows howmany other items sold to consumers yet the Fedeal and many state governments continue to criminalize marijuana and let the revenue go to the illegal dealers. I’m sure that the national and state governments could design tax laws to control the growing distribution and sale of marijuana and thereby increase the revenue to the federl and state coffers. That seems like a good idea and I am surprised that no tax hungry political leader has sseen the gold mine right before his eyes.

    Jul 15th, 2008

  2. Denice maddox

    The government does not realize the ease of mind they would have by making marijuana legal. People who actually need it consider it a healing herb. It is not a manufactured drug. It is grown from a seed planted and nutured from Gods green earth.
    Alcohol and cigarettes make you sick. Weed Is Healing..

    Jul 31st, 2008

  3. Robert Owens

    Thanks for the excellent information!

    Sep 11th, 2008

  4. LadySidhe

    I agree with Jerome Sweeney’s above post. If substances were made illegal on the basis of how dangerous they were, on how many people the substance actually KILLS in a year, then many drugs that are now legal, including alcohol, would be illegal now.

    Marijuana is emotionally, but not physically addictive. One will not have physical withdrawal symptoms if they do not get the drug, unlike many legal drugs, including alcohol.

    It would be simple and more lucrative for the government to treat marijuana in the same ways it treats alcohol and cigarettes: sell it in packs for the same price one would pay for a quarter, and if you’re caught driving under the influence, you get fined in the same way you would for a DWI.

    Dec 5th, 2008

  5. Doug Johnson

    What an excellent program. I was beginning to think America is full of morons. It was refreshing to see and hear people that can think.

    One issue that always get’s me is the “slippery slope”, where the use of marijuana will lead to the use of more potent drugs. In fact it can. Any person using the substance for the first or subsequent time would realize that authoritarian figures had lied to them about the dangers of marijuana, and try the more potent substances under the assumption that they were lied to about those as well. It’s a natural and common human reaction. The solution is not to lie.

    I really don’t appreciate the information our children are being brain washed in public schools regarding the marijuana issue either. This “drug education” seems more akin to religious dogma than factual information, and I resent it. Don’t lie to my kids, that’s my job. When they are old enough and mature enough to try alcoholic beverages or even marijuana, I’ll let them know. I don’t need the government’s help in this regard.

    I’m 53 years old, sound of mind and body. Don’t tell me I can’t smoke a marijuana cigarette on Friday night if I so desire. Those that feel that they are justified to tell me I can’t, have philosophies that are contrary to fundamental principles of American freedom and liberty. Besides that, it’s none of their damn business.

    Feb 10th, 2009

  6. Bryan Brady

    Why isn’t this on TV

    How are we as a country going to get up to date in the medical field if the Government continues with its “War on Drugs” targeting the marijuana issues. The disease we are fighting is CANCER. It was found by research that it battles cancers.

    The war is a peaceful one by the people, we are trying to peacfully resolve the war with the People of God versus the United States Government and local state, county, and city governments.

    Why do they continue to ignore the response of the American People?

    It is the duty of every free American to end this violation of Gods law and the law of this nation.

    Specifically, the law that govern the use and aquisition of cannabis sativa, and herb declared by scientist, that bears seed. Now I would refer you to the scriptures reguarding the origins and uses by man; Genesis chapter 1 verses 29 and 30:

    29 And God said, Behold, I have given you everyherb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree in the which is the fruit of a tree yeilding seed; to you it shall be for meat.

    30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.

    This is God’s LAW and man has violated that law by incarcerating and killing people for using an herb that God made and placed in the Garden of Eden to help mankind get along and live long lives.
    Cannabis sativa was developed by God.

    Who is so blind that they cannot see the results of taking an intricate part of our DNA. There are THC receptors built into our systems, and when you take that natural process out you shorten the life.

    Look at what you learn from scientists.

    Now is the time to make reparation to these people that have been violated by the Law.

    Repentance proceedures, as set forth in the Bible are expected by the People of God, to the U.S. Government for this clear violation.

    The Laws governing cannabis sativa were done so by perjurious information, citing specifically the lies made popular by the movie “Reefer Madness” produced and developed the U.S. Government. The Leguardia report stated the real scientific results and yet the information being sent to mainstream America were complete lies.

    And now we see the results of the U.S. Government trying to keep the one thing that supresses violent tendancies of mankind.

    The results are a scourge upon the earth that we know as CANCER. What will stop it is simple. My words are simple.

    Legalize Marijuana NOW or the scourge will be tenfold, Thus Saith The Lord.

    Now is our time to make the reparations necessary for humanity to enjoy the real freedom that one has in life if their diet is in direct relation to what we learn in the Scriptures from God.

    Those who oppose on this issue oppose also God, I’m merely a messenger.

    Forward to 3 friends and President Obama

    Mar 4th, 2009

  7. Rhayader

    Hey Bryan, while I completely agree with your conclusion regarding legalization, there is no reason to bring God or Jesus or Allah or whoever else into the debate. This is about a pragmatic approach to public policy, which according to the constitution must be derived by secular means. It has no more to do with God than traffic laws or income taxes do. While you obviously can believe whatever you choose regarding God’s opinion of marijuana, it is of no relevance to the national discourse.

    It is time to forget about morals and religion; that is what got us into this mess to begin with. What we need to do is convince our public officials to embrace science and reason and fact. We seem to be pandering to some gut-level, visceral reaction to the idea of our children becoming addicted to drugs. While that reaction is certainly understandable, it is not a carefully considered position and should not serve as a directive to public policy.

    The scientific and academic communities have made it clear that marijuana prohibition is not an effective or justified strategy. Now we just need politicians to pay attention.

    Mar 10th, 2009

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