Gasp! MJ use on the rise...time for fear over reason.

[Euripides Eumenides]

http://www.qctimes.com/internal.php?story_id=1023978&t=Local+News&c=2,1023978

Special Report: Marijuana use on the rise
By Cherie Black

Lowlights:

For critics who question DARE’s effectiveness, Hardesty insists the program is making a difference.
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“It’s very easy to show statistics on how many teenagers are using drugs,” she said. “It’s very hard to measure our success and how many times they say no.
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“We know we’re making progress. Go to a DARE graduation and you’ll see what we have done.”
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Rushton said parents and educators need to be aware of the warning signs and take action if they suspect a child is abusing drugs.
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“Bloodshot eyes, increased appetite, a marijuana odor on clothing, lack of concentration and marijuana posters or keychains are just some of the warning signs,” she said. “We’ve got so many resources and information. Parents and school systems really need to educate themselves since this is the leading drug of choice for kids.”

Obviously dangerous people.
They're using specious reasoning and passing it off as success.
"It’s very hard to measure our success and how many times they say no.
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“We know we’re making progress. Go to a DARE graduation and you’ll see what we have done"

If legalization, or even decriminalization were adopted, parents and children might be able to discuss the ramifications of early consumption honestly free from D.A.R.E. propaganda and a new wave of "snitches" being programmed. This program spreads the "snitch" mentality by using positive reinforcement on children who are desperate to fit in and encouraged to report alleged users to "authority" figures.
The program is being dishonest with our children, and fear of being able to discuss the plant with our children at the most important age - teenage years - hinders responsible discussion. And American taxpayers happily fund the bill without asking for accountability and honest statistics to see if the D.A.R.E. program is even effective.
You tell a child not to do something, they will invariably test their boundaries. You educate them openly and they will make the right decision more often than not...

Cuts in special education budgets from schools are being made on a federal level, while the drug war chugs on. No results, no accountability, no quarter given.

 

[angrydyke]

the drug war is not about eradicating drugs. the wod is basically a govt funded industry. it doesn't matter if d.a.r.e. is effective, or if any other drug program is for that matter. it's not about how many people they 'cure', it's about keeping the industry rolling. if drugs were to be eradicated, then what would all the drug counselors, rehab doctors, drug testing labs, dea agents, d.a.r.e. propagandists, et al, do with their lives? the wod is a gravy train for them and their organisations. easy money, and no one questions their motives. and the more they pump up the dangers of drugs, the more money and power they get. sad how schools have to struggle to find the money to pay for learning tools for students, but always seem to find the cash to drug test every student they possibly can...

the wod is used to scare kids, to turn them into snitches, and to adapt them to being sheep for the rest of their lives. it is also used to enrich the finacial and prestige elements of certain organisations and individuals. the wod is multi-functional that way. winning the wod will never be about educating the public or showing that mj can be profitable in the (legit) marketplace. the majority of the public understands that mj is really no big deal, and the govt is well aware of the commercial value of both high grade bud and commercial hemp. the wod will only be won when it becomes unprofitable for society to treat mj they way they do. as of now, there are millions of people in the u.s. (and other countries) that make a nice living keeping people scared of mj or trying to cure their 'addiction' to it. find a way to make their jobs obsolete and you'll win the wod, or at least the war on mj...

 

[Euripides Eumenides]

The part that gets me the most is that we know this. Americans know this. Yet many are just complacent to let it ride for now. It's the same old song and dance.

Where are the counter-tactics to the D.A.R.E. program, or the "Partnership for a drug-free America"? If it's about money - which it is - counter it in the lobbies and halls of government. Advertise.

I think there are two or more pressing problems facing this side of the argument - i.e., why we can't get it together.

There is little unity on our part. It's obvious many have their own agendas and some get tainted by the $$ signs and forget the issues we're all supposed to be forwarding.
The vindictiveness on a macro- and micro-level is destroying the cohesion needed to counter the government line properly. It works to their favor. Bureaucracy is easy to continue - stamp, pay and repeat. There is no room for dissent as it's ruled from above, by a "czar" no less.

The schisms disallow our voices from being heard effectively because we're consigned to internet boards and occasional staged events and articles to promote our cause(s). Again, it speaks to the fractured nature of the cause.

What is needed, IMO, is a dedication by those profiting from the trade and those "potsenalities" to forward the cause where it needs it the most: finance and union.
A Cannabis union, so to speak. There are schisms upon schisms (from what I can see from my perch) in this movement with bluster about nothing in particular.

It may be far-fetched, I'm sure I don't have the facts as I'm relatively new to this, but it's an idea. Something different for a change.

I know that I will counter the D.A.R.E. programs at home, but of course as a grower, I'll wait until my kids are old enough to understand both me and my message.
But that's not going to be enough. That's just two kids...

 

[Laurus Lamas]

what can we learn from this?

most of the americans isn't cabable to run that country... stupid enough to not argue with the information they learn at schools & news... but this is not only with the americans... it's all around this world. Human cattle...The Drones...worker class...

 

[angrydyke]

the thing is, mj just isn't that important of an ussue outside of our little world. i think most of the public knows, but there's a large, vocal group of people that truly think mj is evil. they're the ones who get the most press. it's hard to speak up for mj when you've got 10 rabid parents screaming 'think of the children' everytime someone suggests legalisation. the anti-drug crowd has their act down, and they push prohibition as the social prefered choice. facts are irrelevant to them, as their propaganda shows. nor do they need them, as their effectiveness at keeping mj down is evident...

the problem with advertising is that very few publications or media outlets are willing to accept pro-drug ads. the wshington dc subway system recently placed ads advocating decrimming mj in some of their subway cars. the ads were paid for by map inc (i think it ws them). well, some congressman saw them got offended, and is pushing for legislation that would prohibit ads advocating illegal activities like drug use. that's why advertising doesn't work. the few times when someone actually runs the ad, all hell breaks lose and shit like this happens. like i said, the anti-mj people are strong and vocal. they have all the power, we have none...

i've often wondered why mj smokers can't get it together. never came up with an answer. norml was doing good until the mid-'80's, then it wilted under reagan's 'just say no' campaign. not sure why, because that ws a sad campaign, but mj advocacy really went to shit arond then. and then in the '90's, when clinton took office, everyone thought things would get better. they got worse. clinton passed anti-drug legislation and gave billions to groups in order to fight drugs. he did it more quietly than republicans usually do, but he still did it. by the time clinton left office, his 'liberal' admin had done nothing to lessen mj prohibition. in fact, under him dems pushed for the anti-meth act, which would have made sites like this and og illegal as it made even the discussion of drug production illegal. that got stopped only by the likes of henry hyde, an annoying conservative, but one dedicated to the 1st admendant. unlike the 'liberal democrat' diane feinstein who sponsored the bill and pushed hard for it. funny how politics work, huh?

i could go on and on and on about the politics within the mj community, but i don't feel like being here for another 6 hours. let's just say they're numerous and hard to overcome...

i like the idea of a cannabis union. interesting. an organisation that would be dedicated to ending mj prohibition around the world. get some money behind something like that, do some lobbying, then maybe somethng could happen. lots of logistics to figure out, but such a thing is not un-feasable. that's an idea that needs to be fleshed out...

 

[Euripides Eumenides]

I hear what you're saying.

Essentially - correct me if I'm wrong -

A) Nearly impossible odds over regular, uneducated (regarding MJ) folk
B) Nearly impossible odds within advertising
C) Nearly impossible odds even with liberal politicians - the obvious choice for our last best hopes.
D) Nearly impossible odds within our own ranks.

We need to attack it like D-B-C-A

D requires a commitment above egos, dollar signs, feuds, provincialism and partisanship.

Until D comes together, B cannot be financed on the scale and scope it needs to be done. C and A can't respond without effective advertising.

People seem to forget that many libertarians, and other noted "righties" believe strongly in decrim. - usually from the perspective of taxpayer savings, but who cares the reasoning if we can stay essentially on macro-message. There seems to be numbers, but splintered rather than whole.

Unity. Education. A willingness to move past our own foibles and dalliances. The way I personally see it, as a recreational user only (for now) I owe it to the needier to help however I can. My fight is for fun, theirs may be for comfort and dignity in their pain-filled lives.
The seed vendors owe it to them, not to me. Tithe as necessary to a union. Move forward and line the halls with placards and people instead of special-interest type maneuvers that match almost exactly the mindset of politicians.

Either we're serious, or we're not.

 

[Guest]

In all honesty, marijuana is not as harmless as those of you make it out to be. I have seen marijuana have dramatic effects in personality and thought process's in alot of people, sometimes for the worse. You should not go to prison, or even get a record for possession or use of cannabis......but its not a harmless substance either. Change is necassary, but as JJ has pointed out.....its an uphill battle all the way.

 

[Euripides Eumenides]

Hey Outlaw...

I have seen marijuana have dramatic effects in personality and thought process's in alot of people, sometimes for the worse.

Sure, but so does alcohol. It needs to be studied and honestly reviewed.

Sigh. Sometimes the road looks really long and lonely, doesn't it?

 

[Guest]

Yes, alcohol....but the same can really be said about ciggarettes, soda, capaccinooh yeah baby....lol.

It is an uphill battle, lives are ruined because of cannabis and I think we can all agree that is unacceptable.