Driven by the Drug War, the U.S. prison population is six to ten times as high as most Western European nations. In 2000, more than 734,000 people were arrested in this country for marijuana-related offenses alone.
The US war on drugs places great emphasis on arresting people for smoking marijuana. This is an increase of 800 percent since 1980, and is the highest ever recorded by the FBI.
646,042 Americans (88 %) -- were for simple possession. The remaining 12% (88,456 Americans) were for "sale/manufacture". These new FBI statistics indicate that one marijuana smoker is arrested every 45 seconds in America. Taken together, the total number of marijuana arrests for 2000 far exceeded the combined number of arrests for violent crimes, including murder, manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault.
Responsible marijuana smokers present no threat or danger to America. Responsible marijuana smokers are not the problem and it is time to stop arresting them. Once all the facts are known, it becomes clear that America's marijuana laws need reform.
ANNUAL AMERICAN DEATHS CAUSED BY DRUGS
TOBACCO ........................ 400,000
ALCOHOL ........................ 100,000
CAFFEINE ....................... 2,000
ASPIRIN ........................ 500
MARIJUANA ...................... 0
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Source: United States government...
National Institute on Drug Abuse,
Bureau of Mortality Statistics
A 1997 UCLA School of Medicine study (Volume 155 of the American Journal of Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine) conducted on 243 marijuana smokers over an 8-year period reported the following: "Neither the continuing nor the intermittent marijuana smokers exhibited any significantly different rates of decline in lung function as compared with those individuals who never smoked marijuana." The study concluded: "No differences were noted between even quite heavy marijuana smoking and nonsmoking of marijuana."
The US war on drugs places great emphasis on arresting people for smoking marijuana. This is an increase of 800 percent since 1980, and is the highest ever recorded by the FBI.
646,042 Americans (88 %) -- were for simple possession. The remaining 12% (88,456 Americans) were for "sale/manufacture". These new FBI statistics indicate that one marijuana smoker is arrested every 45 seconds in America. Taken together, the total number of marijuana arrests for 2000 far exceeded the combined number of arrests for violent crimes, including murder, manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault.
Responsible marijuana smokers present no threat or danger to America. Responsible marijuana smokers are not the problem and it is time to stop arresting them. Once all the facts are known, it becomes clear that America's marijuana laws need reform.
ANNUAL AMERICAN DEATHS CAUSED BY DRUGS
TOBACCO ........................ 400,000
ALCOHOL ........................ 100,000
CAFFEINE ....................... 2,000
ASPIRIN ........................ 500
MARIJUANA ...................... 0
----------------------------------------
Source: United States government...
National Institute on Drug Abuse,
Bureau of Mortality Statistics
A 1997 UCLA School of Medicine study (Volume 155 of the American Journal of Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine) conducted on 243 marijuana smokers over an 8-year period reported the following: "Neither the continuing nor the intermittent marijuana smokers exhibited any significantly different rates of decline in lung function as compared with those individuals who never smoked marijuana." The study concluded: "No differences were noted between even quite heavy marijuana smoking and nonsmoking of marijuana."
I think this is such an important message b/c...
Posted 06-09-2008 at 08:06 PM by kittykiwi
i have gone through something mind altering that has changed my view point on the judicial system totally. I used to have some support towards it, but after you read my story....you might not either. When I was 17 I met a boy...Matt. We dated seriously for 3 and 1/2 yrs. He never showed any signs of abusive or violent behavior until the end of our relationship. See...I had broken up with him about 6 months before we ended up meeting at a bbq. By that time I was 21. I had broken up with him b/c he had just gone down the wrong path...a path I did not want to follow. He got in with the wrong people and stayed out of his mind messed up 24/7. We met up at the bbq and I knew he was going to be there...we did have some of the same mutual friends. Well...he came just as I was leaving. I told him hello, and that I was leaving. He stomped off saying I didn't want to talk with him or even be friends with him anymore. I told my friends to hold on and went to go check on him. He was in the bathroom. As he was washing his hands, I saw he had a gun in his pants. I asked him what that was for, and told him I never wanted to see him or hear from him again. I went to get my friends to leave. He came to the passenger door were I was seated and opened the door. He asked if that was it...meaning it between us. I said yeah..thats it! He slammed the door so hard it hit my shoulder causing a huge blow. Then he fired the gun from the back aiming at me. This is were the miracle happened. The bullet was lodged into my neck after it mushroomed. It was 2 cm. from my spine and 2 inches from my skull. I still have it in me till this day b/c it was too risky to remove. He got 17 years. Which in my judicial system is comparable to the amount of time served for people possessing marijuana for distribution or if its a multiple offense. Is this fair?
Total Comments 3
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Damn I'm sooo sorry that this happened to you. There is a lot of evil in this world and its a fucked up place sometimes. But its good to see you made through and youre okay. As far as this being fair HELL FUCKIN NO. the judicial system is complete BULLSHIT. Like the statistics you posted above---the laws need to be reformed and re-evaluated. Arresting 646,042 Americans for a 100% nonviolent "crime" as possession of ganja is ridiculous. The law makers have their heads so far up their ass that their living in complete darkness. There are a million and one studies showing the benefits of marijuana as medicine, shelter, and food. It could save the current situation of the world- but the current lawmakers are morons. Theyd rather let violent and dangerous people stay roaming the streets for their next victim. Its a sad sad situation that we live in right now.Posted 06-10-2008 at 02:16 AM by TexasSmoke
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that is not good at all he should have way more time than that attempted murder or something like that. 17 years is just a slap on the hand for an act like that. i hate our system.Posted 07-23-2008 at 04:20 PM by MeinZeit
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I am so sorry to hear what happened to you, their is nothing I can say about an injustice that could make you feel better. However, this person and the judge needs the local towns people running after them like and old Frakenstein movie, yelling kill the monsters.
Posted 08-27-2008 at 11:23 AM by Ultrabudda
