The Human Cost of Marijuana Prohibition, Part 2
Comments (17)
July 16, 2008
July 16, 2008
In the second part of this video documenting the real world impact of marijuana prohibition, we hear from medical marijuana patient Bernie Ellis about the potential loss of his home. Then, we speak with Ronnie and Anisha Naulls, California medical marijuana patients and dispensary owners whose family has been dramatically affected by the government’s war on marijuana.
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!
17 Comments, Comment or Ping
Fred Hood
Why are these stories not brought to light in the mass media? Education of the public to counter the lies by our so called leaders is needed. The more I look at the war on drugs the dumber it becomes! What a major waste of our money and an misuse of our American rights. Look at the leaders you vote for very hard if the take PAC money and vote along the lines of corporate needs and against the American people vote them OUT!!!!
Jul 21st, 2008
Gentlemanfarmer
I thank those who have made this film, I hope that it’s use will be more for the mass population of the public who know not the truth than those who as I cry, feeling and knowing the pain and injustice done to those who’s story’s are depicted here. My story does not start 5 years ago, but as i am now, still ended at that time. I hope for a new start. however I fear the nightmares and mental “illness” will never end. I was pulled over late one night for a tail light out, after running my name the officer found two points of interest. one, my suspended license, and second I had been “flaged” by the D.A. as a person who was cought “red handed” growing marijuana but got off due too faults in the search warrant.if only the first was the case the likely action would of been a ticket and a firm instruction to drive straight home. however the car was searched…… an hour later and a drug dog, still nothing found in the car, then the officer and the backup she had called went too the trunk of her car as i sat cuffed and stuffed in the cop car they walked back to my car leaned in the back seat and came out holding a tinfoil pipe with a small amount of marijuana in the bowl. to jail i went. with all cells full i was placed in a dorm stile wing of the county jail. walking in the dark vast room with the pad and pillow in hand i hoped bail would be made before morning. I rolled the mat below the stair case, thinking this would be a spot i could sleep with out fear of the 40 plus inmates who wear not confined by any cells besides the one cement room we all shared. This i still feel was the worst choice in my life. I was out of sight, hidden. But someone was not asleep, watched me lay in that closed to view corner…. and just as soon as i closed my eyes and planned on sleeping till morning when i would be bailed out. i was pulled to my knees by my hair, a hand pulled my bottom jaw down and the genital of my fellow inmate, and attacker shoved in my mouth. my sentence for a tinfoil pipe and less than a hit of marijuana that was planted by pissed off cops was 4 plus hours of oral rape, being gagged till i vomited 5 times. and a life time of waking up in the middle of the night only to grab a knife or other object of pertection to stand gard agenst a fear all night, to some times not sleep for days. I have lost jobs due to my PTSD and have wanted to die seance that night. I live still. I’m a shell of what i was, of what i wanted to become. I correct myself, I did die that night. The laws prohibiting cannabis were my judge juror and exictioner. for if i was not dead… How is it that seance then i’ve been in hell? I ask, is this just punishment for being busted with marijuana. How many others have spent less than a night in jail only to be forever changed. You don’t “recover” you don’t “forget” there is no “learning to live again” the in just law killed who i was five years ago, and i’m not the only one to “live” though this. I wont be the last, I wish i was. I don’t ask empathy for me, I ask that no one else has to try and find a reason to live day to day like i do. ALL of you who see this vidio and who read my story have the power to prevent someone, someday from spending a night in jail that WILL forever change and destroy them. The laws can be changed…. someday, but the rain drop that forms the river of change starts now, with YOU. You (yes you reading this right now) have the power to end this drug war, to end what it does to people like me, and maybe next weekend to you, or your friend. Get involved, someday we can make it so the stories you just watched and my story along with the MILLIONS that go untold are know as “how things used to be” in those insane years.
Thank you
Jul 28th, 2008
charles jetter
legalize marijuana and tax it like cigarettes and alcohol, and quit putting innocent people in jail and ruining their lives for a weed.
Aug 13th, 2008
sillygirl
Im sorry…its not right….things have to change……VOTE….lets find the right people who care and will do proper testing…..we all must help stop the madness……
Aug 19th, 2008
Bob Armstrong
To those who comment that the War on (some) Drugs is a waste of our money are not looking at it from the State’s perspective . It is a 90 year old observation that “war is the lifeblood of the state” . Not satisfied with external wars , it criminalizes even peaceful choices of its own citizens . From the State’s perspective , the Wo(s)D is not a waste of money , it is a cash cow growth opportunity .
Aug 19th, 2008
Sean O'Toole
What a bad joke the “Drug War” is.
I guess no one has told them that they have lost.
Zero tolerance is a big zero!
Aug 19th, 2008
Loretta
I feel this should be legalized and its horrible the way the laws are about medical marijuana, i am a chronic pain sufferer myself and i know what its like day to day to live with it. sure i can take narcotics but there addictive as to where i can smoke weed and feel so much better and still be able to function on a day to day basis as well as sleep better with less pain. i have found in the 2 years i have been going thru this that the pain medications given to me are only a temp. fix and the risk of addiction becomes higher and higher with each pill i take. why .. i mean really why is it put out to be so so bad for you when its been proven to help many people with different medical problems why cant our government just legalize it and stop this non-sense of arresting innocent people whom is only trying to feel better and live a normal life !!!! LEGALIZE MARIJUANA !!!!!!!!
Aug 19th, 2008
Rhubarb
Narcotics laws in general, and marijuana laws in particular, are not about the government having the need and desire to protect society from the use of these substances. These laws function to give the government the ability to invade individual privacy, seize assets, and demonstrate governmental power. Anyone that has not experienced the early morning SWAT raid has not known the false bravado of cops wearing their badges on their crotches, and the terror visited on the unfortunate parties that are rolled out of bed to the floor with an automatic weapon pointed at their head. The pot laws were a direct result of the actions of Harry Ainslinger’s need to provide employment for out of work prohibition cops, and was supported by vested interests that had substantial reason to limit the production of hemp. Lastly, add racism to the mix and it became a force to shape a totalitarian society.
So long as the powers that be continue to have a hidden agenda perpetuating this travesty, we will continue to have more of our citizens in jail than any other country. A marijuana arrest every 28 seconds.
Aug 19th, 2008
EDGAR MAUROZA
BE PROUD OF USA. THE ONLY COUNTRY, THAT SAID, WE ARE DEMOCRATICS, WE ARE FREE. FREE OF WHAT? BECAUSE U THINK YOU ARE FREE, THAT DON’T MEAN U REALLY ARE. THIS WHAT THE GOV. WANT U TO THINK. BACK IN TIME THE ALCOHOL WAS ILEGAL, BUT THE PEOPLE WHO WANT THE ALCOHOL TO BE LEGAL, START KILLING EACH OTHER AND GOVERMENT EMPLOYEES. THEN THE GOV. SAID OK LET’S STOP THIS. AND MUALA WE GOT ONE OF THE WORST DRUGS, IN THE STORE. WITH ALCOHOL U NEED 1/2 GALLON TO KILL OR TO INDUCE DEATH. BUT IS AN ANTIDEPRESSANT, U CAN GET ADDICTED TO IT. BUT THE MEDICAL FORM OF MARIJUANA, IS NOT. PLUS IF OUR FATHER IN THE BEGGINIG, BACK IN TIME BY THE CONSTITUTION. WERE SMOKING AND THEY LIKED, THE MARIJUANA. NOW THE MARIJUANA IS NOT LEGAL, SO THE CONSTITUTION IS NOT IMPORTANT. BECAUSE WHERE ARE OUR RIGHTS, OF FREEDOM, PLUS, ARE WE BACK ON THE 15 CENTURY, THERE U HAVE TO ASK PERMISION TO DO ANYTHING, EVEN TO KILL A DUCK, FROM THE KING GARDEN. TODAY IS THE SAME U HAVE TO PAY FOR U R FREEDOM. WE HAVE NO RIGHTS, WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN SILENCE AND IF U DON’T TALK THEY SAID IS OBSTRUCCION OF JUSTICE, AND BAM U R IN JAIL. IF U THINK U R FREE, GO TO A PUBLIC LAND, KILL A DEER WITH OUT A LICENCE. THEN CALL ME FROM JAIL. IF U THINK U R FREE WALK IN TO A DELI AND PEE ON THE SEATS. I DO BELIVE IN FREEDOM, BUT US,IS FREEDOM WITH RESTRICCIONS OR SHOULD I SAID SLAVERY WITH PERMITS.
Aug 20th, 2008
Dale B.
The drug war will NEVER END! Why not? It is a cash cow to both federal and state government agencies. Think of the money that is earmarked annually for the DEA and ATF to fight just marijuana prohibition. Then what the states get for their part in fighting. To infringe or take away one’s rights for their pursuit of life, liberty, happiness, security in one’s dwelling and so on is tantamount to a communistic state.
Aug 22nd, 2008
Kevin J. Gearhart
H.R. 5843, an “Act to Remove Federal Penalties for Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults,” has been introduced in the House of Representatives by Representatives Barney Frank and Ron Paul.
youtube.com/watch?v=ytvBXpWO_CI
Aug 24th, 2008
Robert
Ron Paul
Sep 12th, 2008
Robert
Th True Defender of The Constitution
Sep 12th, 2008
Robert
The True Defender of The Constitution
RON PAUL
Sep 12th, 2008
RONALD BROWNE
MY COUNTRY TIS OF “THEY”?? SWEET LAND OF” DO AS THEY SAY”
I AM A VIETNAM NAVY VET THIS ANTI-AMERICAN REGIME IS NOT WHAT WE FOUGHT FOR. FEDS. ARE LEACHES ONLY, ALWAYS WERE ALWAYS WILL BE.
. ,WHO THE HELL ARE “THEY”"
300.000,000 OF US ,THE REST ‘THEY[” WE THEIR PEOPLE??
“THEIR GOD SCREWED UP ” MY GOD SUPPLIES ME WITH ALL MY NEEDS. CMDR. RON
‘
Oct 14th, 2008
Xtina
It is about time to stop living in fear of the police. This is our society - we should be able to shape it -we pay for it! And we pay for it. Slimy scumbags like Edwin Meese of the Reagan era started this mess and turned it into a multi billion dollar industry, complete with attorneys raking in thousands of dollars so we can BUY our freedom. Enough. The fight is on. *uck the hypocrites.
Nov 4th, 2008
Katie
I have multiple sclerosis, and smoke to releive pain, anxiety and the depression that is assocaited with this debilating disease.
Nov 8th, 2008
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