Eighty nine percent (89%) of all marijuana violations are 'possession only.'

" Present enforcement policies are costing American taxpayers tens of billions of dollars, ruining the lives of hundreds of thousands of Americans, and having no impact on marijuana availability or marijuana use in this country. It is time to end this failed policy and replace prohibition with a policy of marijuana regulation, taxation, and education." http://norml.org/
NOTE: Above is from NORML.org......I'm not endorsing any 'taxation'......NOT!!!
ANOTHER NOTE: Please consider voting Libertarian. "The thinking Party."

Upset with both major Parties? Unhappy with the bailout? Consider Libertarian Candidates. Check out this discussion..and see where you stand.

To me, this is a brilliant discussion and a better starting point than I'm hearing from the Democrats or the Republicans. So glad I voted for some of the Libertarian candidates:

Below is a post from a Libertarian site. Not that I agree 100% with every word, but I love the discussion, ideas and reasoning. I hope The Libertarian Party will come alive in the months and years ahead as main parties are really ONE in much of what they say and do (BAILOUT OF 2008!!) and aren't doing a whole lot for "the people."

"You have had an opening created with Ron Paul, where many have found themselves upset with both parties, but with no alternative that is either viable or doesn't violate some of their principles. There are disenfranchised fiscal conservatives coming together with people such as myself who are on the left, but are disgusted by the bailout, the federal reserve's policies, the war on drugs, the foreign policy choices, the massive military spending, etc. That is truly strange bedfellows, and you should take advantage of this opportunity while you can. Regardless of who wins (looks like Obama, but who knows), neither is going to be able to stop the coming deep recession/depression that is going to make life harder across the board for all of us. 2012 is your chance , imo. I have been very interested in politics and economics for many years, and have found the Libertarian Party compelling for many reasons, but there are some things I just cannot get behind. To me it seems like the Republicans and Democrats debate about Tier 2 issues, which while still important and effect many people...they do not offer a choice on what I consider Tier 1 issues: The Federal Reserve, The "Bailout" plan, the war on drugs, Imperialism.
I am VERY compelled to the libertarian party because of things I've heard about their views on the federal reserve, our monetary policy, currency issues, and LETTING companies who make bad bets fail. I also agree very much with their stance on the war on drugs, as this is a private issue, and the government has no business involved in it. On Imperialism, what I hear from Ron Paul, about pulling out of all of these military bases around the world, and ending this imperialist "policing" of the world, I agree with. Here are where I have issues with the Party:"

2.8 EducationEducation, like any other service, is best provided by the free market, achieving greater quality and efficiency with more diversity of choice. Schools should be managed locally to achieve greater accountability and parental involvement. Recognizing that the education of children is inextricably linked to moral values, we would return authority to parents to determine the education of their children, without interference from government. In particular, parents should have control of and responsibility for all funds expended for their children's education.
2.9 Health Care We favor restoring and reviving a free market health care system. We recognize the freedom of individuals to determine the level of health insurance they want, the level of health care they want, the care providers they want, the medicines and treatments they will use and all other aspects of their medical care, including end-of-life decisions.
2.10 Retirement and Income Security Retirement planning is the responsibility of the individual, not the government. We favor replacing the current government-sponsored Social Security system with a private voluntary system. The proper source of help for the poor is the voluntary efforts of private groups and individuals." I cannot, and most people will not, get behind the view that the free market is best to provide education. This will undoubtedly leave less fortunate areas, hitting the minorities the hardest, without access to good education. Their chances will be even slighter than they are today. This is completely unacceptable, and in fact radical. You are going to have to take much more moderate stand, where you give ACCESS to those who want to opt out of public schooling to do just what you propose, but you are going to have to accept public education as a necessary evil, I suppose, because (a) it is vital to those who are less fortunate than yourselves to give them at least a basic education and chance to better themselves and (b) because it will NEVER fly politically and you turn people away just on this alone. Period.
Next, healthcare. Again, this free market will solve everything attitude simply doesn't work. It doesn't work because it will get corrupted, and business will exploit it at every turn. Again, this country can afford to give the basic level of care that other industrialized countries all over the world afford their citizens. We can have a healthcare plan, and then have the OPTION to keep your existing "free market" plan. You will never have a chance in hell without accepting this as another necessary evil. You have to pick your battles. And there are many to be had, most of which MANY Americans agree with you on, and the 2 main parties are ignoring.Lastly, The retirement thing. You are going to have to meet halfway on this one. I agree that those who want to take on retiring for themselves should not be forced into any retirement plans, or forced to take money from their checks on Social Security..., but for the vast majority who don't have the time, knowledge etc, there still needs to be those programs. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a safety net such as this, as you will end up paying for their mistakes of misallocating their retirement money anyway, short of letting them die homeless and starving (not exactly a great party platform). Compromise.... you should push to allow those WHO CHOOSE to not be forced to contribute to these programs of retirement (obviously those who chose to do so would not receive any benefits from it either, but they could invest it how they see fit). Whether or not you become a viable alternative or not depends on you making these necessary compromises. You will have pissed off and betrayed republicans coming together with pissed off and disappointed democrats, and you can have an enormous effect in 2012, but in my opinion, you will have to embrace some of the left's values that they WILL not compromise on. If you did, think of what could be accomplished. Massive cuts in spending by cutting back unnecessary wars and bases across the globe. Ending the war on drugs. Dissolving the Federal Reserve, and having our money backed by gold again. Ending foreign economic aid, or at least radically cutting back. Ensuring individual rights and liberties , regardless of race, sex, etc. Putting a wall inbetween church and state, and ending the tax exemption of churches. (real) election reform, ensuring privacy, and more. Those things would be revolutionary. What do you have to do to get them? Compromise on healthcare, education, and retirement. On each, allow the public system to go on, while allowing vouchers, charters, exemptions etc for those who wish to opt out. That is your shot. This is an opening you might not have again, and Ron Paul has gotten the ear of many young , and energized people on the right, but also MANY on the left. Take advantage and do the smart thing.

http://libertarian.meetup.com/388/boards/view/viewthread?thread=5674457

The Drug War on our future...our Youth, especially Urban Youth

This man says it better than I can

"The war on weed endangers the health and safety of our children. It enables young people to have unregulated access to marijuana — easier access than they currently have to legal, age-restricted intoxicants like alcohol and tobacco. It enables young people to interact and befriend pushers of other illegal, more dangerous drugs. It compels young people dismiss the educational messages they receive pertaining to the potential health risks posed by the use of ‘hard drugs’ and prescription pharmaceuticals because kids say: “If they lied to me about pot, why wouldn’t they be lying to me about everything else too.”
Most importantly, the criminal laws are far more likely to result in having our children arrested and placed behind bars than they are likely to in any way discourage them to try pot.
These are the facts, and it’s about time we start shouting them from the rooftops.
For three decades now, our opponents have framed this issue from the standpoint that they care more about the health and safety our young people more than we do — that we’re just a bunch of self-centered pot-heads that are willing to sacrifice the lives of our young people so that we can catch a buzz. Well, it’s time for us to respond.
Yes, we do favor changing the marijuana laws. We care about protecting the health and safety of our children too. And by changing the laws, we are protecting the health and safety of America’s young people. After all, under prohibition it’s America’s young people that are being lied to; it’s our children that are being approached by drug dealers; it’s our children that are smoking pot in cars and putting their lives and others at risk to try and avoid the detection of their parents or the law; and it’s our children that are being busted in unprecedented numbers.
Finally, let me close with one final reason why we as a community must begin acknowledging this reality and that is this. Even though young people suffer the most under our current marijuana laws, they lack the financial means and political capital to effectively influence politicians to challenge them. Young people also lack the money to adequately fund the drug law reform movement at a level necessary to adequately represent and protect their interests.
In short, if we ever want the marijuana laws to change, that we as a community have to better represent the interests of young people, and we must do a better job speaking on their — and their parent’s — behalf.
We must also do a better job allying with organizations that speak on behalf of youth, particularly urban youth — who are most at risk of suffering from the lifetime hardships associated with a marijuana conviction. We must do a better job reaching out, engaging, and recruiting students to continue to take this issue seriously after they graduate college — and that includes offering them internships and employment once they’ve received their degrees. Finally, reformers must do a better job reaching out to the parents of young people, and urging them to become active members and financial contributors of the cannabis law reform movement.
They say it’s the so-called “parents movement” that derailed the “pot-progress” of the 1970s. Well then I say that it’s high time we recruited our own “NORML Parents” movement to finish the job once and for all."

http://www.alternet.org/drugreporter/103513/

http://blog.norml.org/2008/10/20/norml-2008-conference-the-war-on-pot-is-a-war-on-young-people/#more-241

The War on Young People

Did you know that:

Since 1990, more than 11 million Americans have been arrested for violating marijuana laws. Of those arrested, nearly 90 percent are charged with minor possession - not trafficking, cultivation, or sale. Nearly 75 percent of those arrested are under 30 years of age (which makes it difficult for them to find an employer).

According to a nationwide Time Magazine/CNN poll, three out of four Americans believe that adults who possess marijuana should no longer face criminal penalties.

Rep. Frank, along with Reps. William Lacy Clay (D-MO) and Barbara Lee (D-CA), called on lawmakers to support legislation, HR 5843, which would eliminate federal penalties for the possession and non-profit transfer of marijuana by adults. Representatives Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), William Lacy Clay, Barbara Lee, Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Ron Paul (R-TX), and Jim McDermott (D-WA) are co-sponsoring the bill, entitled “the Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults Act of 2008.”

http://www.norml.org/

Artists needed for "World's Largest Joint"

From NORML.org :

Saturday, October 25th 2008. With your help, along with a group of artists, we are hoping to produce a major art and media event called "A Celebration of Freedom." We plan to construct a sculpture titled,"America's Largest Joint" on the plaza along with a Marijuana-inspired mural. All of the mainstream and art-centric media will be invited and there will be live Internet coverage. NORML Foundation will provide entertainment,information about marijuana prohibition and convene a preview press party.We are anticipating a lot of media attention, and a large audience both onFreedom Plaza, and on the Internet. This will be followed by a private exhibition and silent auction of related works of art in a nearby venue. NORML is concerned that the important policy issue of Congress adopting alternatives to marijuana prohibition may not receive enough media attention in the run-up to this historic presidential election and therefore are hoping to accomplish this before November 4th. The purpose of this social justice activism production in downtown Washington, DC is to focus attention on the issue of reforming marijuana laws. In order to ensure a successful venture, we must get commitments from potential sponsors and volunteers by the first week in August.If you would like to be one of the exhibited artists on display or wouldlike more information on being a sponsor, please contact sabrina@norml.org

http://www.norml.org/

Marijuana should be Legal

With the same sort of restrictions as the drug of alcohol. It sends many young people (black men in high numbers) to jail and prison which puts a enormous burden on the rest of their young lives. It's almost impossible to find a job, rent an apartment, buy a car and the like with a criminal record. That in itself leads to more crime because we all (thanks to simple math) have to have money coming in... if money is going out. For other reasons too, but I'll cut it short.

The forgotten people for Obama's Personal Advancement

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hP-YoB5mnZs

Obama '04 at odds with Obama '08 - - The Washington Times

I think this qualifies as a flip flop.

read more digg story

Dude, What? Ex-Narcotics Officer Sells Don't-Get-Busted DVD

The War on Drugs is not working. Prosecute the behavior and not the drug...put responsibility and accountability on the individual, not the drug. That's how to win the "War on Drugs" that we are wasting billions of tax dollars every day (much like the Iraq war). Save a family - legalize marijuana, save a life - legalize marijuana, do more "teaching" in jails, especially for the youth, than you are doing now and start holding parents accountable for their irresponsibility in raising their very young children. Otherwise the taxpayers foot the bill for these children all thru adulthood because these adults end up looking for love in drugs and alcohol (Brittany Spears w/out money)!

read more digg story

Congressman Michael Burgess promoting the Status Quo

It's legislators like Burgess that need to be voted out of office. Below is his reply to my letter to him sent via NORML (Nat'l Org. for Reformation of Marijuana Laws) organization requesting de-criminalizing marijuana:

Dear Friend:

Thank you for contacting me regarding your views on the legalization of marijuana. I appreciate hearing from you on this important matter.
The United States is fighting a costly war against drugs-in terms of dollars and lives that are irrevocably changed by this modern day scourge. Any legalization of substances such as marijuana will undermine the ongoing efforts by the drug enforcement community to curb this epidemic that has consumed so many Americans. Marijuana is a controlled substance and legalizing or relaxing criminal penalties will only open the doors for further illegal activities.
I will continue to support efforts on the part of the federal government to interdict drug shipments into the United States, pursue individuals that violate U.S. drug laws, provide adequate treatment to individuals addicted to drugs, and support public education campaigns that warn against the perils of illegal drug use. The federal, state, and local governments must work together on all these fronts to slow the flow of drugs into the U.S. and to lower the demand in this country for illegal substances.
Again, thank you for taking time to contact me. I appreciate having the opportunity to represent you in the U.S. House of Representatives. Please feel free to visit my website (www.house.gov/burgess) or contact me with any future concerns. Sincerely,Michael C. Burgess, M.D.Member of Congress

PUH-LEEZE! In 1970 Congress put Marijuana on the "Schedule 1" of the controlled substance list for one year, UNTIL the Nat'l Commission on Marijuana and Drug Abuse could study and decide where Marijuana should be classified. The Commisssion came back one year later and said that marijuana should be de-criminalized. Needless to say, marijuana is still sitting on Schedule 1.

Burgess is completely out of touch with the people, with society, with poverty, with root causes of homelessness, and most importantly with the "War on Drugs" in this Country!! Hello, the war on drugs is NOT working.

Here is the recommendation:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Commission_on_Marihuana_and_Drug_Abuse

Thanks for reading.

Favorite Blog Sites & Other places I frequent

http://www.fortworthology.com/ http://www.thecaravanofdreams.blogspot.com/ http://www.cowtownchronicles.com/ http://www.westandclear.com/ http://www.iheartfw.com/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/
http://www.petegeniella.com/blog


And always send money here -- this should be legal just as the drug of "alcohol" is legal. Not to mention the many of our youngsters that the "illegalization of" sends to jail and/or prison. We taxpayers end up paying the tab when they can't get a job because of their "record" for possession of the natural weed, marijuana!!! Send money and please frequent this site: http://www.norml.org/