CNBC Interview with MPP’s Bruce Mirken
April 22nd, 2009 by RickBruce Mirken, a communications director at the Marijuana Policy Project, was interviewed on CNBC. Mirken brings up points like; two-thirds of the Mexican cartels’ profit comes from marijuana and that marijuana has consistently been the top cash crop in the United States, which the cartel’s have received the majority of profit from.
Even after he told the CNBC reporter, that two-thirds of the cartel’s profit comes from the distribution of marijuana, she interrupts her guest and asks if the cartels would just move to hardcore drugs. Another guest starts dropping some interesting statistics to the other Guest, John Carnevale, President of Carnevale Associates and asks him why marijuana can’t be legalized.
Carnevale actually has the audacity to say that the answer is quite simple. He adds that the reason marijuana can’t be legalized because there would be a greater demand for it and more people would be doing it.
Even the another reporter tells John about the success in the Netherlands, where the stats show the exact opposite — but Carnevale sticks to his guns and even goes on to claim that the reason marijuana is illegal is because it is a harmful drug and serves no medicinal purposes? I think 13 states and growing would beg to differ, along with all the scientists and doctors that aren’t paid by the government to speak out against marijuana.
Carnevale denies that the prohibition of marijuana is similar to the failed prohibition of alcohol. He even dodges a statement about marijuana being less addictive and toxic than alcohol by bringing other drugs into the discussion. Back-peddling, trying to stand on some firm ground, Carnevale then brings up the point that they all like to bring up — the children. How Carnevale brought this up is sheer lunacy by implying that if marijuana would be legalized then a 3 or 5 year old would have it available to them.
Carnevale goes on to say that alcohol is the leading cause of people going to the hospital and that the social abuse of it has cost $200 billion. He forgot to mention the deaths that alcohol has caused, not just the trips to the doctor. Granted none of these things are good yet alcohol is still legal and marketed worldwide. Saying that marijuana can’t be legalized because we didn’t get it right with alcohol is just purely hypocritical.
Let’s Party Like It’s 1933
January 14th, 2009 by Perry
Comparing the economic and social parallels that Obama and Roosevelt shared in their first 100 days in office, The Free Press recently published an article on why social conditions are right to repeal another prohibition — this one against marijuana.
In a 2005 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services survey, more than 97 million Americans admitted to having tried marijuana at least once.
Not to mention the fact that Reagan, Bush II, Clinton and Obama all smoked, it was cultivated by our founding fathers and, perhaps most importantly — our country could really use the money spent on prosecuting and incarcerating elsewhere, since it’s about to top the trillion-dollar mark in its deficit.
The writers also note the boost in psyche, confidence in government and economy as well as financial gains from the last time a prohibition was lifted… in 1933.
LEAP Speaks Out on Prohibition
December 5th, 2008 by Alex
On December 4th, 1933 the United States government put an end to prohibition – a failed experiment to curb one of America’s (and the world’s) base appetites. We are now seeing reflections of this movement in the present day war on drugs.
A group called Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, which is made up of former law enforcement officials against the war on drugs, is using this anniversary to continue their lobbying on behalf of drug legalization.
In their efforts to get more direct conversation between constituents and federal / state lawmakers, LEAP has created an email form for people to easily contact your local elected officials.
One thing to point out is LEAP supports not just the legalization of marijuana, but also cocaine, heroine and other illegal drugs. It’s hard to find complete literature on their website about each drugs’ potential consequences (if legalized), but there is a provided study about today’s drug prohibition.
We all know this is a complex subject, but it’s even more interesting to see the increase in a push for legalization as a result of the downturn in America’s economy. If major shifts do happen, we will be looking back at this unexpected economic decline as one of the deciding factors.
Let’s finish off with a prescient quote by John D. Rockefeller, Jr., the famous industrialist. He said:
When Prohibition was introduced, I hoped that it would be widely supported by public opinion and the day would soon come when the evil effects of alcohol would be recognized. I have slowly and reluctantly come to believe that this has not been the result. Instead, drinking has generally increased; the speakeasy has replaced the saloon; a vast army of lawbreakers has appeared; many of our best citizens have openly ignored Prohibition; respect for the law has been greatly lessened; and crime has increased to a level never seen before.
Hmmm. Remind you of anything?
Happy Birthday 21st Amendment
September 23rd, 2008 by Perry
The good people of the Marijuana Policy Project point out some interesting irony on the 75th anniversary of the end of prohibition. While they passed an amendment to commemorate the successful regulation of alcohol since its decriminalization, no such motion was ever suggested for marijuana.
Additionally, even though many representatives don’t have strong opinions against weed, they are forced to push for criminalizing offenses because they do not want to be labeled soft on crime or advocating illegal drug use. Hopefully it won’t be 75 years before we’re laughing about a time where you used to be thrown in the slammer for some ganja.
