For the people and by the people - sometimes
Robert Rouse
November 08, 2005
The citizens of Denver, CO have spoken and now others are saying you can't always get what you want. A citywide vote on an initiative to legalize the possession of less than one ounce of marijuana decided in favor of the initiative.
But some people just aren't happy unless they can tell others what to do - or in this case, what not to do. They're saying state law supplants the local law much like the federal laws supplant the many different state medical marijuana laws. I can see the law makers in the state sitting around sipping their bourbon and branch while discussing "those radicals" in Denver.
One of the arguments the pro-pot people are using is that marijuana isn't as unhealthy as alcohol and cigarettes. Then of course, the anti-pot forces counter with "Why not legalize petty larceny because it's not as bad as grand larceny?" and "Is a stoned driver safer than a drunk one?" Of course not. I think the point the pro-pot people are making is if you're going to keep pot illegal, then criminalize the possession and use of alcohol. Wait a minute, they tried that - and it failed miserably.
I believe it would be in the best interest of the country to legalize the possession and use of marijuana for adults everywhere in the United States. We spend way too much time and money chasing and prosecuting simple pot possession. We should be using that money protecting our borders from terrorists or prosecuting politicians who think it's okay to commit crimes. Why not regulate and tax the sale of pot and use the proceeds to repay the victims of people like Kenneth Lay and the other Enron-type cronies. Let's face it and be honest, back in the 1970s people were talking about how marijuana would be legalized in a matter of a few years. Of course, this never happened because no one ever had the courage to stand up to the fogies who opposed it.
Legalization could offer a brand new product for beleaguered farmers (Thomas Jefferson used to grow the stuff). New jobs would be created. A whole new industry would crop (excuse the pun) up overnight. We already know that fiberboard made of hemp is stronger than standard plywood. Hemp can be used in the production of paper (uh, point of fact - our Constitution and the Declaration of Independence were written on hemp paper), cloth and oil. We could save our precious forests and make our wood products from a fast growing and easily replenished pot product. These facts alone should be enough to persuade our legislators. But they're all afraid of what would happen at the polls (except maybe congressmen from Denver).
Does anyone remember when we thought this was a nation "for the people and by the people"? Well, the people have Denver have spoken. The initiative was voted by them and for them. Leave them alone.
But some people just aren't happy unless they can tell others what to do - or in this case, what not to do. They're saying state law supplants the local law much like the federal laws supplant the many different state medical marijuana laws. I can see the law makers in the state sitting around sipping their bourbon and branch while discussing "those radicals" in Denver.
One of the arguments the pro-pot people are using is that marijuana isn't as unhealthy as alcohol and cigarettes. Then of course, the anti-pot forces counter with "Why not legalize petty larceny because it's not as bad as grand larceny?" and "Is a stoned driver safer than a drunk one?" Of course not. I think the point the pro-pot people are making is if you're going to keep pot illegal, then criminalize the possession and use of alcohol. Wait a minute, they tried that - and it failed miserably.
I believe it would be in the best interest of the country to legalize the possession and use of marijuana for adults everywhere in the United States. We spend way too much time and money chasing and prosecuting simple pot possession. We should be using that money protecting our borders from terrorists or prosecuting politicians who think it's okay to commit crimes. Why not regulate and tax the sale of pot and use the proceeds to repay the victims of people like Kenneth Lay and the other Enron-type cronies. Let's face it and be honest, back in the 1970s people were talking about how marijuana would be legalized in a matter of a few years. Of course, this never happened because no one ever had the courage to stand up to the fogies who opposed it.
Legalization could offer a brand new product for beleaguered farmers (Thomas Jefferson used to grow the stuff). New jobs would be created. A whole new industry would crop (excuse the pun) up overnight. We already know that fiberboard made of hemp is stronger than standard plywood. Hemp can be used in the production of paper (uh, point of fact - our Constitution and the Declaration of Independence were written on hemp paper), cloth and oil. We could save our precious forests and make our wood products from a fast growing and easily replenished pot product. These facts alone should be enough to persuade our legislators. But they're all afraid of what would happen at the polls (except maybe congressmen from Denver).
Does anyone remember when we thought this was a nation "for the people and by the people"? Well, the people have Denver have spoken. The initiative was voted by them and for them. Leave them alone.
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