Your views.

[Wafflesomd]

So I have to attend court on the 19th for...

Marijuana charges.

I'm being charged with possession of paraphernalia. The maximum punishment for this crime in my state (Ohio) is 30 days in jail, and a 6 month - 5 year license suspension.

I've been dealt a pretty crappy hand these past two years. I have not been able to get a job due to the economy and the work available in my town. I attended a quarter of college, but was forced to drop out, due to an error with my federal aid.

One fateful night I decided to do what I do every night. Roll a joint, and enjoy it with a friend out back. Someone decided to call the police, and I was charged shortly after.

I of course had been opposed to this awful drug war long before I took my first puff of cannabis. After I started smoking regularly, seeing the real effects of the drug, and becoming very interested in others (but never actually taking them), I saw how stupid drug laws are.

It really upsets me that I'm going to punished for doing nothing wrong. I was not harming anyone. I was not causing any trouble. Hell, people are allowed to drink alcohol on their porch, and that is far worse than what I was doing. It just blows my mind that the government has a 'right' to tell me what I can and cannot put into my body.

If this ends up on my record, I can pretty much call it quits. This will keep me from getting a job for however long it stays on my record. It's been a major blow to confidence and morals. I do not have the money to pay any sort of fine. My family has basically decided to shun me because of this. So I have no support on that side. It's all been great fun.

Now that you know these crappy laws are potentially going to ruin another persons life, what is your stance on our nations policy?

 

[Matt34]

My brother has gone through some tough times a few years ago, dropping out of HS, parents sent him to Boys Town in Omaha where he ended up leaving with a couple others only to get caught during a B&E at a hardware store which he went to jail for four months and recieved a class "D" felony on his record. He was smoking MJ (who knows what else) and stealing my parents percription drugs. Very depressed and looked like he was going nowhere.

Four years later he is now drug free, has his GED, is taking meds for his depression and has more welding certifications than you can shake a stick at. He was welding for a company called Force Protection building the "Buffalo" armored vehicle up untill a couple months ago but has now found another job at a dock, welding on ships.

Moral of the story....you might feel like a **** sandwhich now but don't give up, find something your passionate about and set some goals.

 

[lsiberian]

So I have to attend court on the 19th for...

Marijuana charges.

I'm being charged with possession of paraphernalia. The maximum punishment for this crime in my state (Ohio) is 30 days in jail, and a 6 month - 5 year license suspension.

I've been dealt a pretty crappy hand these past two years. I have not been able to get a job due to the economy and the work available in my town. I attended a quarter of college, but was forced to drop out, due to an error with my federal aid.

One fateful night I decided to do what I do every night. Roll a joint, and enjoy it with a friend out back. Someone decided to call the police, and I was charged shortly after.

I of course had been opposed to this awful drug war long before I took my first puff of cannabis. After I started smoking regularly, seeing the real effects of the drug, and becoming very interested in others (but never actually taking them), I saw how stupid drug laws are.

It really upsets me that I'm going to punished for doing nothing wrong. I was not harming anyone. I was not causing any trouble. Hell, people are allowed to drink alcohol on their porch, and that is far worse than what I was doing. It just blows my mind that the government has a 'right' to tell me what I can and cannot put into my body.

If this ends up on my record, I can pretty much call it quits. This will keep me from getting a job for however long it stays on my record. It's been a major blow to confidence and morals. I do not have the money to pay any sort of fine. My family has basically decided to shun me because of this. So I have no support on that side. It's all been great fun.

Now that you know these crappy laws are potentially going to ruin another persons life, what is your stance on our nations policy?

The problem is Marijuana is a hallucinogen from what I understand. And I've met people that smoke it. They act in a different way than normal people. Doesn't make them evil or bad, but it does mess with people's heads.

I hate to tell you this, but even if there is nothing wrong with doing it it's still illegal. We should respect the police, judges, and government and seek to change laws in cooperative intelligent ways. I urge you to come clean and get clean. There are plenty of other ways to experience the feelings drugs give you. Go for a run. Or build your own speakers You can have a beer or a wine legally. Why fight the system? Just go with the flow bro. Take it easy.

Remember be kind and nice to everyone involved in the process. They are just doing their jobs. Legislatures and Congress make laws. Everyone else enforces and interprets them.

And Congressmen agree with you, but politically they can't change it. I personally had a discussion with my congressman about this several years ago. I wasn't arguing a side, but he said that it's just one of those things that a politician can't push.

FYI I take nothing except Tylenol on a rare occasion. I don't trust any drugs, herbs or anything else. I think a lot of the effects are placebo. In fact I wish they would use placebos more. Could help our medical system a lot.

 

[Davemcc]

The war on drugs is completely misguided and perhaps the single greatest policy failure in the history of western society. MJ is not harmful, not addictive and can be grown by anybody in a window pot. Yet gov't policy has created a culture that's filled our jails, created and enriched entire ciminal networks and spent massive public funding on increased police budgets...all for something that my grandmother could grow on her balcony.

Here's an example of the stupity that underlies the policy. Canada has legal medical marijuana but you have to get a scrip and buy it from the government source. The gov't grows it in a secure facility. That is to say that the gov't has created one of the most secure sites in the nation to grow something that you can find on almost any street corner...senseless.

As for your present situation, I suggest you look online at some of the MJ advocacy groups and contact them for strategies to assist in your defence. Perhaps they can even suggest a lawyer or legal assistance on a pro-bono basis to help you out. The law may be the senseless, but it is the law and it would be best if you didn't have a conviction to deal with.

 

[avaserfi]

If anyone is really curious about the roots of the legal status of Marijuana it isn't a big secret, just like opiate stigmatization. Both were made illegal not because of their effects on the human body, but as a means of immigration control.

MJ wasn't made illegal right away, rather a special tax was placed on it. The government would sell stamps to those who were legally allowed to sell it. Of course, no stamps were sold. This was done to marginalize those who used MJ the most at the time immigrants from Mexico.

The same idea, but I believe outright illegalization occurred with opiates and Chinese immigrants during the railroad construction.

These drugs are illegal because of a mix of racism, ethnocentrism and xenophobia. Eventually the war on drugs spiraled out of control to what it is today explaining why America has a huge prison system of what amounts to non-offenders.

This being said there are repercussions to use of illegal drugs so there is an inherent risk to their use especially in public spaces. Dave gave good advice and next time keep it in your home.

 

[Davemcc]

These drugs are illegal because of a mix of racism, ethnocentrism and xenophobia.

That's a new argument to me...and a good one. I haven't thought of it in those terms.

 

[avaserfi]

That's a new argument to me...and a good one. I haven't thought of it in those terms.

Glad to hear it. There are cooperate connection and other issues that helped make MJ illegal, but for me and the education I am recieving the reasons I outlined previously stick out the most.

 

[MidnightSensi]

One look at my username and you probably can guess where my stance is on this.

I feel for ya man, I wish you the best and keep us updated.

Marijuana has benefited me in the toughest of times, given me perspective on life, friends, family, materialism, and so many other things... including sometimes just a laugh, that I don't think I can ever repay it for. It's inspired me, motivated me, and made me think from all different angles. The fact that it is illegal, is criminal in itself.

 

[alexwakelin]

The problem is Marijuana is a hallucinogen from what I understand.

Only a very mild one, and it had better be some potent stuff, or you need to smoke a lot of it. I haven't indulged in several years, mostly because I am focusing on finishing up my degree at the moment. I see no reason why MJ should be illegal. IMO, it is far less harmful than alcohol. All joking aside, I've never heard of a stoner abusing their wife or children. Like alcohol though, it should be used responsibly.

 

[Shock]

From those previous posts I know my stance isn't going to be a popular one. If you commit a crime then you have to deal with the consequences. It's not a debate on whether or not pot should be illegal, it IS illegal. Whether anyone thinks it should be legal has no bearing on it's present illegal status.

If you want to do pot then you take on certain risks, and if you get caught you have to face a punishment for them.

Do I think you should go to jail for having a pipe on you? No.
Do I think you should get fined for having a pipe on you? No.

Will you go to jail for having a pipe? Most likely not.

I drink on occasions, luckily for me I have the state of mind not to do anything idiotic. If my drinking ever got to the point where my family didn't want anything to do with me I'd take a serious look on how it impacts not only myself but people around me.

 

[Wafflesomd]

The problem is Marijuana is a hallucinogen from what I understand. And I've met people that smoke it. They act in a different way than normal people. Doesn't make them evil or bad, but it does mess with people's heads.

Problem?

I hate to tell you this, but even if there is nothing wrong with doing it it's still illegal. We should respect the police, judges, and government and seek to change laws in cooperative intelligent ways. I urge you to come clean and get clean. There are plenty of other ways to experience the feelings drugs give you. Go for a run. Or build your own speakers You can have a beer or a wine legally. Why fight the system? Just go with the flow bro. Take it easy.

What a total BS thing to say. "Obey the law because it's the law". If alcohol were illegal I'm pretty sure people wouldnt exactly go by the law. Oh wait, we already experience what happens when you make alcohol illegal. I personally do not like alcohol. It's a pretty stupid, pointless drug.

Last I checked, running does not put THC in your system.

Why fight it? Because its wrong and I'm being punished for something that I should not be punished for...

And Congressmen agree with you, but politically they can't change it. I personally had a discussion with my congressman about this several years ago. I wasn't arguing a side, but he said that it's just one of those things that a politician can't push.

Why not? Oh, because they like their triple figure income...

FYI I take nothing except Tylenol on a rare occasion. I don't trust any drugs, herbs or anything else. I think a lot of the effects are placebo. In fact I wish they would use placebos more. Could help our medical system a lot.

You might want to read up on the actual chemical compounds in the medicine you take. They're scientifically proven to do what they say they will. Science kind of wins here.

One of the reasons I use marijuana is due to severe joint paint in my wrist. About 7-8 years ago, I broke my arm/wrist. I year later, I broke it again. My bone never properly healed. On occasion, I will experience horrible pain that causes my arm to be practically useless for the next hour or so. I've tried many different treatments, usually pain killers. Oxy, Vicodin, etc. So far the only thing that stops the pain from even happening is THC. If I ever have to stop using, I'll be experiencing the pain again, everyday for the rest of my life.

 

[avaserfi]

From those previous posts I know my stance isn't going to be a popular one. If you commit a crime then you have to deal with the consequences. It's not a debate on whether or not pot should be illegal, it IS illegal. Whether anyone thinks it should be legal has no bearing on it's present illegal status.

If you want to do pot then you take on certain risks, and if you get caught you have to face a punishment for them.

What about residents of California who can currently smoke MJ legally? The constitution states that state law supersedes federal (Amendment 10) yet the DEA does not respect this issue with raids costing millions in legal money and arresting those who are doing what is perfectly legal in the state yet not so according to federal law. This will be an even larger problem if California Measure AB390 is passed.

This boils down to an issue of unjust laws limiting agency away from individuals within this country. Issues such as this are not as clear as they seem especially when the root of these laws is essentially a lie and their continued existence is one or more groups morals being pushed on the other(s).

 

[jamie2112]

I myself would call someone here http://norml.org/ It has helped many people I know..

 

[MidnightSensi]

I didn't have time to respond to this earlier, but....

The problem is Marijuana is a hallucinogen from what I understand.

Marijuana isn't a hallucinogen. I just makes you chill. It pretty much goes happy, hungry, sleepy.

And I've met people that smoke it. They act in a different way than normal people. Doesn't make them evil or bad, but it does mess with people's heads.

How do you know if everyone you have met smokes or not? There are tons of people that smoke, plenty that don't look like stereotypical stoners. Two drops of Roto-V's and they might even be high in front of you.

There are plenty of other ways to experience the feelings drugs give you.

Here we go...I love alternative recommendations....

Go for a run.

Dude, if when I ran I felt like I just smoked a joint I'd be in the Olympics.

Or build your own speakers

I like projects, but, i love projects high.

You can have a beer or a wine legally.

Beer and wine is harsh and gives you a hangover. I like beer and wine, but, not as much as herb. The amount to die per effective dose of alcohol is greater than cocaine. Basically, to get drunk you are closer to dieing than if you snort a line. And I'm not gunna snort a line, so, I probably shouldn't drink either. Marijuana you can't smoke enough to die.

Why fight the system?

Just go with the flow bro. Take it easy.

That's what he was trying to do.

 

[krzywica]

Not to make light of your situation......but I'm just going to sit back and watch this...these things always get so ammusing.

You always have the one side that doesn't quite undestand the other because of either their lack of experience, or maybe they have tried but its just not their cup of herb or I mean tea.

Stimulatory substances can go many, many, different ways. Most of the time it is different from person to person. And I mean with ANY substance....coffee, booze, both prescription and nonprescription drugs......

It all kind of goes back to how backwards a lot of the things in American culture are. The drug companies that are cramming drugs down people's throats to make them feel better about themselves.......basically if it can't be taxed then it will become illegal.

I don't do any drugs (not to say that I never have) but I do drink pretty frequently within moderation and 9 times out of 10 enjoy myself thoroughly.


What I'm trying to say is sound principles rarely go hand in hand with a lot of the laws in our country today.

 

[lsiberian]

\You might want to read up on the actual chemical compounds in the medicine you take. They're scientifically proven to do what they say they will. Science kind of wins here.

How do you know they are releasing all the facts? Science is just one way to study something and is by no means the only way to understand things.

What if they don't know the negative effects of something?

 

[avaserfi]

What if they don't know the negative effects of something?

That could be argued about the food we eat (especially in America with the relatively high ratio of processed food), the air we breath, the clothing we wear and virtually anything else that comes into contact with our bodies.

 

[Davemcc]

What if they don't know the negative effects of something?

Life is a sexually transmitted disease that is 100% fatal. Everything is simply going to kill us sooner or later.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I THOUGHT DOPE WAS FOR DOPES

If anyone is really curious about the roots of the legal status of Marijuana it isn't a big secret, just like opiate stigmatization. Both were made illegal not because of their effects on the human body, but as a means of immigration control.

MJ wasn't made illegal right away, rather a special tax was placed on it. The government would sell stamps to those who were legally allowed to sell it. Of course, no stamps were sold. This was done to marginalize those who used MJ the most at the time immigrants from Mexico.

The same idea, but I believe outright illegalization occurred with opiates and Chinese immigrants during the railroad construction.

These drugs are illegal because of a mix of racism, ethnocentrism and xenophobia. Eventually the war on drugs spiraled out of control to what it is today explaining why America has a huge prison system of what amounts to non-offenders.

This being said there are repercussions to use of illegal drugs so there is an inherent risk to their use especially in public spaces. Dave gave good advice and next time keep it in your home.

 

[avaserfi]

I THOUGHT DOPE WAS FOR DOPES

I don't smoke personally, I prefer booze, but am 100% against the current legal status of MJ.

As far as the propaganda goes: