Tag Archives: The War on Drugs

From the Left and Right, Marijuana Legalization Faces Opposition

At this point in time, there is reason to be optimistic about the legalization of recreational marijuana use. If it does become legal then you may be interested in checking out a site that offers indica cannabis, however, there are plenty of other websites that you can check out. Obviously, you have to wait until it is legal before you can purchase, check out the law of your region before purchasing. Once legal, you might enjoy growing your own cannabis plant. For this, it’s best to buy seeds from Royal-Seed-Bank and to research the best growing methods thoroughly. This is a great way to know the exact product you are smoking and is an enjoyable process for a lot of people. Andrew Napalitano was able to get Sarah Palin to back the “lowest criminal priority” position on his show, while Oakland, California seems to be positioning itself into a future marijuana growth mecca with a local ordinance allowing industrial marijuana production in the city:

Oakland’s City Council passed a resolution late Tuesday night, which could make it the first city in the state to give official permission to the industrial marijuana production, using equipment like a rosin press for example to produce high quality solventless cannabis extracts. If Oakland does decide to go ahead with this change in the law, they’ll need to be able to cope with the demand, as marijuana is a huge market so industrial machinery is a must. The move is considered groundbreaking as it will ensure commercialization of a crop that is mainly cultivated in hidden gardens. “This is a monumental step forward,” said Dale Gieringer, an Oakland resident and the longtime head of California NORML, which backs the legalization of marijuana. “It really means moving into the era of industrial-scale operations, and Oakland means to do it big.”

Meanwhile, liberal politicians from California, predictably disappointing on this issue, such as Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein, are coming out in opposition to legalization:

Democrat Dianne Feinstein, California’s senior U.S. senator, has thrown her weight behind the effort to defeat Proposition 19, the Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Initiative of 2010. Apparently Feinstein believes that California’s present pot prohibition, which was initially enacted in 1913 yet has done nothing to reduce the plant’s availability or use, is worth keeping.

If the double-headed behavior of the Left weren’t enough to give marijuana legalization supporters an aneurysm, the support of Ron Paul, Andrew Napolitano and maybe even Sarah Palin isn’t enough to guarantee right-wing support to a final end to the failed drug war:

“Angry old Republicans are not our friends,” warned Dale Gieringer, executive director of the California chapter of National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML). He predicted “a very tough campaign” ahead for Tax Cannabis 2010, even without a right-wing rally. As libertarian and small government as they purport to be, the Tea Party-types are all-but-guaranteed conservative votes, votes that could tip the balance against Tax Cannabis 2010 — which in latest polls is scoring about “50-50,” according to Gieringer, who dropped the news Sunday during day two of the International Cannabis & Hemp Exposition at the Cow Palace on Saturday.

It’s unfortunate to see how unpredictable this initiative is. For bureaucratic educational reasons, I can’t vote while I’m here in California. I’m still registered in Washington state, so I have no voice on this issue except to urge people to go out and vote for Proposition 19. Our state already failed on same-sex marriage. We’d better not fail on this one.

Weird stuff happening today in Republicanville

This one isn’t too much of a shocker.  SC Governor Mark Sanford, who is often pretty good on most things (except for that little evolution thing, McCain endorsement, etc.), is taking Republicans in his own state to court.  Here’s the scoop:

South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford is suing his own attorney general and accusing state legislators of breaking the law as he continues to block his state from receiving federal bailout cash aimed at struggling schools.

The Republican’s federal lawsuit, posted online Thursday, says requiring him to take the money would violate the state and federal constitutions.

It “would require his agreement to these onerous federal educational mandates and unsustainable spending commitments, would further burden South Carolina’s economy and substantially increase the state’s debt in the future and therefore is contrary to the welfare of the people of South Carolina,” the governor said in his court filing, which also asks the court to block the money from heading to the state until it rules.

The lawsuit says the governor is the highest executive authority in the state and asks the federal court to declare the Legislature violated the South Carolina Constitution by requiring him to request the money.

“This is about balance of power,” Sanford, also chairman of the Republican Governors Association, said during a morning news conference.

Now Cato reports that former Representative and prez wannabe Tom “The Mexican Slayer” Tancredo wants to legalize drugs.  You may think you’ve just dropped a few hits of acid after reading this one:

Admitting that it may be “political suicide” former Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo said its time to consider legalizing drugs.

He spoke Wednesday to the Lincoln Club of Colorado, a Republican group that’s been active in the state for 90 years. It’s the first time Tancredo has spoken on the drug issue. He ran for president in 2008 on an anti-illegal immigration platform that has brought him passionate support and criticism.

Tancredo noted that he has never used drugs, but said the war has failed.

“I am convinced that what we are doing is not working,” he said.

Tancredo told the group that the country has spent billions of dollars capturing, prosecuting and jailing drug dealers and users, but has little to show for it.

“It is now easier for a kid to get drugs at most schools in America that it is booze,” he said.

What’s next?  Are Dick Cheney and John Yoo going to hit the public speaking circuit to rail against torture?

UPDATE: Here’s some Tancredo video on the topic, courtesy of Stoner Jesus.

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