Thinking about the weed

[John]

Had to jump this ove here before some other thread went too HIGH . . .

. . .  there are people in prison for drugs.  And, that's realy all they did: they had drugs . . . and some of them like weed.
The government doesn't like weed you know, and I don't much care for weed either.  The big problem is that when the government doesn't like something, well, they get realy stupid about it . . . so stupid that they are worse than people on drugs.

People who are addicted to power are much more dangerous than people who like weed.

Personaly (even though I don't like weed) I would rather let people have more weed than more government.  People who have more weed usualy leave others allone.  People who have more government usualy put more people in PRISON.

I think putting people in Prison sucks - much worse than weed.  But then again my job doesn't depend on controling people so I like more freedom.  If I had a job where I had to bust people - and bust their balls - I would hope that SOMEONE (like maybe Russell) would remind me to quit and get a real job.  But then I'm just funny like that.

So be very carefull.  Don't say anything about Freedom.
If you try be free, someone who is addicted to power may not like it.
They put people in Prison for acting like they are Free you know - after all, this is a Free country, right?

[Kat Kanning]

Wow, what changes this arrest has brought about.  All those poor people in jail just for drugs...it's like they have a face now.  We've been talking about doing some outreach to those guys.  Get the Keene Free Press into the jails.  Caleb's apparently a minister of some sort.  He was talking about going into the jail to talk to those people.

Other ideas?

I hope you don't mind if I move this out of Whining and into Projects.

[aries]

I know people who have spent time in jail for drugs... mostly jail, not prison... but it's still unjust. In a state like NY it's a petty offense to posess.. I'd like to see NH overhaul the laws making it, at most, an infraction to posess or manufacture privately, and at most a misdemeanor to do anything else with it.

It's just not that dangerous

[Kat Kanning]

What are you going to do to make that happen?

[d_goddard]

Aries is doing an extremely powerful thing that requires a great deal of patience and perserverance: he is running for State Rep.

If we can get 200 people like him, we can empty the State's jails of these nonviolent people.

[maineiac]

Nice post, John!

(and I even like weed!)

[aries]

Even if I don't win I'll draft a bill email Scott (I think he will be reelected) and ask him to submit it. He won't be a freshman anymore so he'll have some swing down in Concord.

[srqrebel]

. . .  there are people in prison for drugs.  And, that's realy all they did: they had drugs . . . and some of them like weed.
The government doesn't like weed you know, and I don't much care for weed either.  The big problem is that when the government doesn't like something, well, they get realy stupid about it . . . so stupid that they are worse than people on drugs.

People who are addicted to power are much more dangerous than people who like weed.

Personaly (even though I don't like weed) I would rather let people have more weed than more government.  People who have more weed usualy leave others allone.  People who have more government usualy put more people in PRISON.

Wow, very well stated, I couldn't have said it better.  That would be a great statement to print on a protest flyer... contrast the State with the so-called criminals and reveal the real criminals for all the world to see!

[d_goddard]

(and I even like weed!)

Karma for you!

(see, I don't always bitchslap you, manieac )

[FTL_Ian]

Matt, forget allowing the state to dole out ANY penalties.  We should push for the principled approach:

The state gets out of the drug business, period.  Let the compromise be made from there.

[d_goddard]

The state gets out of the drug business, period.  Let the compromise be made from there.

Maybe you should help him get into office first. Then maybe even move into his district.
Then he'll be your Rep, and more inclined to listen to you 

[citizen_142002]

Ian, we should push for a principled solution, but the bottom line is that every day people are going to jail for possesing a plant that doesn't harm anyone else. If the penalty was reduced to a fine, the fine would certainly still be unjust, but you do have to consider the difference in the severity of injustice.

I want those people free as soon as possible, and if that requires a slight comprimise I would make it. You wouldn't be stuck with a mediocre solution forever either. After you win one victory, that's when you should start going for the next one. We won't win if we always throw up Hail Mary's.

[Rocketman]

Bingo, Citizen.

[d_goddard]

Bingo, Citizen.

I second that.
Nothing gets people off the fence and into the Free State faster then real, demonstrable victories -- of any kind, be they political (Katrina bill, homeschooling, nixed smoking ban) or moral (Michael & Russell)

[FTL_Ian]

Of course increments should be accepted, but the increments will be larger if we ask for what we want: true personal Liberty.