Well, no, but damn, didn’t your heart just leap at that headline? The good ol’ Justice Department issued a three-page statement to federal prosecutors nationwide that it’s not a good use of their time or resources to pursue the arrest and conviction of people who are complying with state laws regarding the purchasing and use of medical marijuana from official distributors.
So all you chronic (ha! see what I did there?) arthritis sufferers can now rest easy. However, “… we will not tolerate drug traffickers who hide behind claims of compliance with state law to mask activities that are clearly illegal,” said Attorney General Eric Holder. As long as you’re in the clear legally, you’re fine. This is clearly a positive step forward in the battle for the legalization of marijuana, but there is still a lot of work to be done.
Some have asked me, “Why are you so keen on getting pot legalized? You don’t even smoke!” This is true, but consider this: I’m from Hawai’i where smoking pot is just about a way of life, nearly on par with Rastafarianism. I have never even once witnessed a case where someone under the influence put himself or others into a position of danger. Furthermore, speaking from a homeboy attitude, if pot were legal, Hawai’ians could become the United States’ number one supplier, turning the local economy away from tourism and toward farming. This money could go toward the restoration of the region’s ecology, which is suffering more and more due to the traffic that tourism brings. Hawai’i is one of the few relatively untouched natural wildernesses left in the US. It’s not too late to turn it all around with the proper funding, and legalizing pot could really help.
But don’t do it for me. Do it for your children. Legalize pot for the kids. The More You Know … rainbow … star!
Comments
Mark
October 19th, 2009 - 2:52:47 PM
Kudos! Marijuana prohibition was based on racism... although I know racism is strong yet in America (the interracial couple who wanted to get married...). We just need to get the old farts to die off... sorry.
Greg
October 19th, 2009 - 4:02:37 PM
marijuana prohibition was based on racism? do tell
hempliscious
October 19th, 2009 - 5:25:28 PM
It wasn't 'based' on racism. They 'used' people's fear of Mexicans and black people in order to fuel their crusade against the hemp plant. If a mexican gets his smelly fingers on a joint, it'll send him on a murderous rampage. If a black guy smokes some pot, he'll think he's as good as the white man and try to rape white women. No kidding; that's what people actually believed back then.
RFWoodstock
October 20th, 2009 - 6:16:04 AM
Valid medicinal value, it’s a victimless crime, the War on Drugs WAY too costly, too many arrests for simple possession, tax it and use the money to pay for health insurance and to reduce the deficit…Need I say more? Woodstock Universe supports legalization of Marijuana for a number of reasons. Check them out and vote in our poll "Should marijuana be legalized?" at http://woodstockuniverse.com Current poll results: 96% for legalization and 4% opposed…add your vote. Poll runs through October. Peace, love, music, one world, RFWoodstock