'Demon drug' propaganda doesn't cut it anymore

The Providence Journal ^ | May 10, 2006 | Froma Harrop

[cryptical]

Since this would be a "sin tax" (like gambling or alcohol), it would be a hefty tax.

I see this notion all the time, so-called conservatives advocating for new high taxes on a product.

Kind of reveals where they're at, if you know what I mean.

[ArrogantBustard]

We can grow our own.

Miegs County Gold?

[pawdoggie]

Since this would be a "sin tax" (like gambling or alcohol), it would be a hefty tax. I see this notion all the time, so-called conservatives advocating for new high taxes on a product. Kind of reveals where they're at, if you know what I mean.

No. The impetus in my scenario would come from the usual suspects, the Left, where taxes are concerned (as would the inevitable "product safety" lawsuits, and other litigation).

[traviskicks]

"More than 500 economists of every political stripe have endorsed the Miron study. Growing numbers of Americans are beginning to agree with them: The war against marijuana is an expensive failure -- and pointless, too."





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[mugs99]

Harry Anslinger testified before Congress about how cannibis (a long accepted part of the physicians' pharmacopia until 1937) made white women have sex with black jazz musicians.

"Their Satanic music, jazz, and swing, result from marijuana use. This marijuana causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers, and any others."

"The primary reason to outlaw marijuana is its effect on the degenerate races."

"Marijuana is an addictive drug which produces in its users insanity, criminality, and death."

"Reefer makes darkies think they're as good as white men."

"You smoke a joint and you're likely to kill your brother."

"Marijuana is the most violence-causing drug in the history of mankind."

Harry J. Anslinger
Director, Federal Bureau of Narcotics
.

[William Terrell]

As far as I know, Buckley is against the war on drugs. I don't know where the other folks you mentioned stand.

[William Terrell]

The same people who've pushed and profited from the WoD are also pushing federal control of individual consumption or outright bans on everthing from tobacco and alcohol to Big Macs and video games. They even consider gun ownership a "health care" issue worthy of bureaucratic oversight.

I think some of them may actually be drug dealers.

Due to the drug war the price of these chemicals and herbs are artificially high, making them a very profitable market item.

Those that deal in them become millionaires.

It's reasonable to figure that they would want their stock in trade to remain that profitable, which means keeping it illegal.

Therefore, it's probable that they will use some of those millions to lobby legislative branches and put out propaganda to keep the drugs illegal, and some of their time to continually argue for the war on drugs.

How many are here on FR I don't know, but I'll bet there are more than one.

Just a thought.

[tacticalogic]

I think some of them may actually be drug dealers.

One of the biggest proponents of government control of anything you do that can be remotely construed to be "health related" is the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation - a "philanthropic" subsidiary of Johnson and Johnson.

[Hawthorn]

William Terrell wrote:

>>As far as I know, Buckley is against the war on drugs.<<


Correct. And I misread your original post. A sincere apology for my sarcasm.

>I don't know where the other folks you mentioned stand<


They also have critcized the GWOD.

[William Terrell]

Right. The biggest drug dealers in America. But they're "legal", doncha know.

[William Terrell]

Bless them all.

[tacticalogic]

Right. The biggest drug dealers in America. But they're "legal", doncha know.

They have the advantage of sitting down at the table with those who define legality, and being able to help write themselves in.

[winston2]

"More than 500 economists of every political stripe have endorsed the Miron study. Growing numbers of Americans are beginning to agree with them: The war against marijuana is an expensive failure -- and pointless, too."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'll toke to that!

[William Terrell]

And I'll always wonder if some seats are taken by purveyors of "illegal" drugs, writing themselves in in a different way.

[Clemenza]

Remember kids, Officer Friday says that "Marijuana is the fuse, LSD is the bomb!"

[Ken H]

If marijuana were "regulated like alcohol", the Federal and state taxes would soon make dope even more expensive than it is right now.

If mj were "regulated like alcohol", then mj would be reasonably taxed and regulated... like alcohol. Your assertion makes no sense.

Of course, the same drug lords who control pot and other drugs today will find ways to run the bootlegged pot operation (meaning that the crime and violence associated with drug trafficking would continue, legalization proponents arguments to the contrary notwithstanding).

What garbage. How much crime violence was associated with the alcohol trade after the 21st Amendment was ratified?

[Ken H]

Last sentence of previous post should read... "crime and violence"

[UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide]

Federal drug laws depend on the all-inclusive New Deal court interpretation of the commerce clause. Any FReeper who thinks that the idea that wheat grown for personal consumption can be regulated by the federal government (Wickard v. Filburn, 317 U.S. 111, 1942) is anathema to the original Constitution, personal liberty and federalism, but that the same regulation of marijuana is just fine, is inconsistent to the point of irrationality.

[UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide]

Marijuana is the fuse, LSD is da bomb!

[pawdoggie]

Any FReeper who thinks that the idea that wheat grown for personal consumption can be regulated by the federal government (Wickard v. Filburn, 317 U.S. 111, 1942) is anathema to the original Constitution, personal liberty and federalism, but that the same regulation of marijuana is just fine, is inconsistent to the point of irrationality.

Talk about "irrationality". The day that (unfermented) wheat can give you a buzz or cause you to be cited for DUI, is the day that wheat and marijuana will be on the same plateau of "regulatability".