I'm not paranoid, it's true

I am back

2006-11-26T09:43:00.000-08:00

Sorry I have been out of my head here recently.

Life and Love will do that to you sometimes.

It is amazing at how much we can control some things in our lives while are emotions can take control of us.

Our emotions are one of the most powerful drugs we deal with. When I say that keep in mind both drugs and emotions effect the brain similarly. Drugs and emotions both cause receptors in the brain to fire which in turn makes us feel a certain way.

The thing is that both can cause someone to act stupid and forget things we should remember and keep us from doing what we are supposed to.

My head has been consumed by love and still is.

But now I have to regain some control on my head.

A Question?

2006-10-24T15:51:00.000-07:00

Why When schools fail do we take away money, when prisons fail why do we give them more money?

What do I mean by that our schools are subject to mandatory tests that determine their funding. While with prisons when they fail to rehabilitate someone they end right back up in jail. Which in turn gives them more funding because now they have to house that prisoner plus what ever new ones. They are even the ones who lobby for mandatory minimum sentences.

Above and beyond that most people are in jail for non-violent drug offenses. And, we can't even keep drugs out of are jails.

The Federalists "Drug War"

2006-10-16T14:45:00.000-07:00

Alright I made my first music video. It is by The Federalists and it is called "Drug War." Check them out on myspace they have a link to download the entire album.
Here it is.

A drug war story

2006-10-15T22:43:00.000-07:00

Still getting used to talking to a webcam.
But here is a drug war story from the CATO raidmap

Battle of the 10 foot plants

2006-10-15T09:49:00.000-07:00

Here is a great story of troops running into a marijuana forest and the taliban using it for cover, over at Weed For Thought. They seemed to have found that

Even successful incineration had its drawbacks.

9/11 Truth: The Complete Media Blackout of the WTC7 Collapse

2006-10-15T08:12:00.000-07:00

Alright, here is the thing I know I have been stuck on 9/11 a bit. But the implications involved are much more far reaching than just one day.

The media is a perfect example.

The reason I say that is I remember back, to shortly after 9/11 the media saying that Americans have a short attention span and that 9/11 would be out of our minds soon.

So did we have a short attention span about that day because we do or did the media use that as a reason not to report about it. I have been talking to people about 9/11 and quite a few of them didn't even know about World Trade Center Building 7 collapsing. There truly has been to an extent a blackout of media coverage on WTC 7.

Then and know.

To me WTC 7 seems to be the smoking gun that something is wrong and we don't know the truth of what happened on that day.

So it comes to the fact I don't completely trust the media anymore, I used to trust them to watch out for us. But who's interest do they serve?

I remember hearing back shortly ago when it came out that the media was showing unedited videos produced by the government and corporations and passing them off as news stories. Since then as I watch the news, I see stories that I question all of the time now wondering if they where produced infomercial or where they truly news stories.

So who do you trust? Can you even trust me?

I don't ask for people trust me. I must earn your trust.

All I ask for you to do is listen and decide for your self.

If you don't know, ask questions.

Even those you are not supposed to ask.

Everything I know About Drugs and the Drug War

2006-10-13T15:33:00.000-07:00

aint it funny

2006-10-13T12:09:00.000-07:00

my first vlog enjoy

Busted Flex Your Rights

2006-10-09T18:06:00.000-07:00

Because as the saying goes ignorance of the law is no excuse.

Remember that works both ways.

Law enforcement in enforcing drug laws in America uses ignorance of the law to their advantage. So it is important to know what your rights are so that you are able to use them.

When Police Riot

2006-10-08T10:32:00.000-07:00

When I first watched this video I watched it with a friend and she had a completely different response to the video then I did. I thought that the police had gone to far in they way they dealt with the issue and she thought they where right in the way they dealt with the issue. Here is the direct link to youtube so you can read the comments on the video because it seems that we where not the only ones that had a difference of opinion on it.

The video comes from a group called copwatch they are citizens who have decided to try and police the police. They film police stops to have a record of what is happening and well to me there seems to be a need. Police involvement in drugs and corruption have become so commonplace that we almost seem to give them the same media attention that everyday drug arrests do.

The thing is our drug laws keeps things like this happening.

The way we fight the drug war for the most part has been centered on poor black inner city communities and this is the fall out from it. The stop that started it all was a a drug stop. The crime in our violence on our streets is related to our drug war.

The thing is when you look at the statistics. Thanks to DrugWarFacts.org.

According to the federal Household Survey, "most current illicit drug users are white. There were an estimated 9.9 million whites (72 percent of all users), 2.0 million blacks (15 percent), and 1.4 million Hispanics (10 percent) who were current illicit drug users in 1998." And yet, blacks constitute 36.8% of those arrested for drug violations, over 42% of those in federal prisons for drug violations. African-Americans comprise almost 58% of those in state prisons for drug felonies; Hispanics account for 20.7%.

You see how the drug war has been fought and the way it serves as a route to continue racism in America without giving it that name.

Crack the CIA

2006-09-30T20:17:00.000-07:00

Here is the thing when you look at the drug trade remember that it was bumped to Richard Nixon's "all out offensive" in 1972.

Shortly after that in 1975 George H. W. Bush was put in as head of the CIA by President Gerald Ford.

It is said by William Blum that the CIA was has been involved with the international drug trade for quite a while.

For instance in the 70's and 80's the CIA was involved in the drug trade in Panama with large payments going to the Manual Noriega. Here is the thing in 1989 under the first President Bush we used Noriega's involvement in the illegal drug trade as a reason to invade Panama in Operation Just Cause.

Bush was only head of the CIA for 355 days and from what I have found in the Church Committee done in 75 and 76 about America's intelligence agencies nothing is shown about the CIA's involvement in drug trafficking.

Bo Gritz however has made allegations all the way back in the 80's that Bush Sr knew of the CIA's trafficking in drugs and helped cover it up along with Reagan.

So here is the thing.

If this is true that would mean that we have had from 1981 through 2001 we have had a president who was in office that knew of CIA involvement in the international drug trade. The thing is also the Apple usually doesn't fall far from the tree. So it may be longer. All the while they have been using these tactics they have had "Just say no" programs and continuously stepped up the drug war.

Once again I say partnership for a drug free America they don't mean it.

Just a thought on reality.

2006-09-28T20:35:00.000-07:00

So what is reality?
When it comes down to it, what is real?
We think what we see is reality but we only perceive a small percentage of the world around us. We do not even see everything that is in the same room as us. Even then our mind can play tricks on us.

So how do we decide what is real when we are not even there?

I wish I knew how to answer that.

The Mena Connection

2006-09-25T15:08:00.000-07:00

Alright here is the thing if you have seen "Who Killed John O'Neill?" ty rauber and ryan thurston this is going to have a much deeper meaning to you.

Have you ever heard of Mena Arkansas? I hadn't but apparently they had a pretty busy airport. The residents even complained about low flying airplanes at night that would go over head with no lights on. Well they had a few killings related to this. All of which where covered up with help from then governor Clinton.

They caught the medical inspector lying about causes of death in his reports.

For one poor guy he listed he died from an ulcer.

How did he die?

He was decapitated.

How did he explain the lack of a head he simply stated that the dog ate it.

They head was later recovered.

After being forced to resign.

He received a created position with the state health board thanks to Clinton

Enjoy "Obstruction of Justice"

9/11 Mysteries (Full Length, High Quality)

2006-09-19T19:56:00.000-07:00

This is a brand new public domain 9/11 Truth documentary about the controlled demolition of the World Trade Center complex. It's excellent. Pass this link on!

World Trade Center WTC twin dowers controlled demoltion thermate thermite explosions 9/11 911 9-11 september 11 11th truth conspiracy theory theories theorist george bush dick cheney donald rumsfeld paul wolfowitz doctring PNAC project for a new american century NORAD FAA FBI CIA NSA cutter charges molton steel WTC7 building 7 larry silverstein pull it BYU physics professor steven jones loose change alex jones NIST pentagon flight 77 missile flight 93 shanksville PA lets let's roll put options gold emma e. booker elementary jersey girls

"Listen carefully don't destroy the oil wells"

2006-09-13T18:39:00.000-07:00

9/11 Truth: What's the Real Motive for the "War on Terror"?

What the hell is wrong with them?

2006-09-12T16:07:00.000-07:00

The Word is psychopharmaparenting.
Have you ever stopped and thought about how close of cousins ritalin and methamphetimine are?
They always talk about a drug free America. They don't actually mean it.

A moment, to remember Sept. 11, 2001.

2006-09-11T15:31:00.000-07:00

I remember being called that morning By my ex's brother and told to check out the news that a plane had just hit one of the towers. I sat and talked to him and watched in amazement and fear that morning. I watched till I had to go to work. Working in a electronics store I got to watch it on the Big Screen. I was living in Boca Raton at the time just north of Ft Lauderdale. The store I worked at was on I-95 We were just off the exit. So we got some traffic from people driving north because of the grounding.

I remembr the Flight attendent who had to stop for a cell phone charger and then she remembered boarding a couple of middle eastern men that morning. She was calling the FBI as she left.
After work at home I sat and watched with baited breath the rest of the evening.

But that was just the beginning. That Day was a big rock thrown out in to water. The ripple effects keep going today.
I remeber the fellow employee who was interviewed by the FBI, because Muhammad Attahs credit cards showed he shopped there.
I remember his neighbor coming in to by a camcorder and she complained about all the camera trucks in her front yard.
I remember, one of my good customers who told me how he was scared because he was from Trinidad and had the last name Mohhamed. He was a pediatrician.
I remember the lady who came in later on and told me how here office was is in the towers and how she had gone in and dropped her purse off. Then she left for a doctors appointment that morning.
But the the one thing I wish I could remember is the name on the red SUV that was in my parking lot. It was their family member who died in the towers on 9/11. It was on the side of the truck for six months.

And, that I cannot remeber.

WKJO: Who Killed John O'Neill?

2006-09-10T18:02:00.000-07:00

One Actor, One Room, Seven Characters: 9/11.

Traumatized by the September 11th attacks, one man struggles to dismantle official history, at the expense of his sanity and even his life. Grappling with multiple realities - and multiple personalities - he must retreat into his mind in pursuit of the truth. In a fictional film about non-fictional events, there is a place where belief and faith will blind you, where nothing is sacred, and to get there all you have to do is ask:

"Who Killed John O'Neill?"

a dead art film by ty rauber and ryan thurston

Another try

2006-09-06T18:01:00.000-07:00

Well I went to the library yesterday to try and pick up the 9/11 commission report there.

But.

They didn't have it said the might be able to get it in on loan in 2 weeks.

Oh Well.

Orwell Rolls In His Grave

2006-09-06T17:57:00.000-07:00

Orwell Rolls in His Grave

"Could a media system, controlled by a few global corporations with the ability to overwhelm all competing voices, be able to turn lies into truth?..."

This chilling documentary film examines the relationship between the media, corporate America, and government. In a country where the "top 1% control 90% of the wealth", the film argues that the media system is nothing but a "subsidiary of corporate America."

Director: Robert Kane Pappas - Run Time 1 Hour 46 Minutes

9/11 Commission Report: Omissions and Distortions

2006-09-04T17:00:00.000-07:00

This video is of David Ray Griffin an author of 2 books on 9/11, in this lecture he picks apart the 9/11 commissions report. As you saw from earlier I haven't gotten to read it for myself yet but the questions he brings up here need answering. These are also many of the questions that have brought me to the search for truth on 9/11.
The video is almost an hour long and it will I hate to say it make you laugh at moments.

To watch directly from google
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6837001821567284154&q=911+commission+report&hl=en

Start at the Beginning

2006-09-04T07:21:00.000-07:00

So here is the thing I definetly believe there is more to 9/11 then we have been told. So what do I do? Well for me i decided to start at the beginning which means going and buying the "the 911 Commision Report." So I packed up yesterday and drove 35 minutes to my closest Books-a-Million in Tupelo. So I was unsure of to even start looking for it in the bookstore. So I did what I always do I ask the information desk. Well they had someone take me over to where it was supposed to be and we start looking. To no avail, they where out.

The thing is aa I went over to look for the book aparrently the people left at the desk where confused and surprised that someone would even ask for that book. My friend over heard them talking bout how delicate of a topic it is. So here I am trying to get a copy of the official government version of what happened and people seemed nervous and surprised.

So when I get a chance I will go and check the local library and see if they have it. Of course under the Patriot Act that puts me under suspicion as a terrorist just for wanting to read the governments version of the events. Yes under the patriot act they can monitor what books you check out at the library. It is just another way of profiling. Just as they racially profile they also profile reading habits. Think about that next time you use your 10% discount card that links your address and your name to what you buy.

To get back on point so far we know we have been lied to about WMD's in Iraq along with the implied ties of Iraq to 9/11 how many of you still believe we are in Iraq to get the terrorists? We have been lied to before and there is a possibility of another lie. The Big Lie, was there government involvement in 9/11, we really must ask questions of our government they may just tell us not to pay attention to conspiracy theories and even more so not to talk about them. But the problem is they have been caught lying before we need to know if they are lying again.

So to start at the beginning it is time to read the 9/11 Commission Report and to hear their side of the story.

Roger and me

2006-09-03T18:16:00.000-07:00

It is time again for me to write my elected official out of Tupelo Rep. Roger F. Wicker. I told him that I would post his response to my first letter on my Blog here it is. Followed by my response

Dear Ryan,

Thank you contacting me to express your support for legalizing marijuana for medicinal purposes. Although we do not agree, I am glad to benefit from your views.

On June 15, 2006, during the Fiscal Year 2007 Science-State-Commerce-Justice appropriations bill, Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) offered an amendment related to this issue. The Hinchey Amendment would have prohibited the use of any federal funds for the Department of Justice if the agency prevented the states of Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont, or Washington from implementing state laws authorizing the use of medical marijuana. The Amendment failed by a vote of 163 to 259.

Some physicians believe that marijuana can alleviate the pain that results from illnesses such as cancer, glaucoma and AIDS. However, many other physicians disagree and support marijuana’s continued classification as a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act. According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Schedule I is reserved for dangerous drugs that have no currently accepted medical use in the U.S., have a high potential for abuse, and have a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision.

On May 4, 2005, Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) introduced a bill in the House of Representatives that would legalize the use of marijuana for the treatment of life threatening or sense-threatening illnesses. Currently, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce is considering this legislation.

Though we do not agree on this particular topic, I hope you will keep me informed about issues of concern to you. Please contact me if I can ever be of assistance.

With best wishes, I am
Sincerely yours,
Roger F. Wicker

So here is my response:

Dear Representative Roger Wicker

I thank you for your response to my letter on your recent vote on the Hinchey amendment. But, I think you missed the point of my question entirely. I was not asking you to make marijuana legal for medical purposes; the voters of those states have already done so. I personally feel that is a state’s right to decide, as it was when they originally agreed with drug enforcement laws. Secondly I feel it is the patient and doctor’s right to determine what the best treatment for each individual patient is.

As far as the research goes on medical marijuana unfortunately our laws currently prevent real research from occurring in the US, held up by the DEA. As far as the dangers involved in marijuana, I ask you about alcohol and tobacco? A recent study done by the United Kingdom’s House of Commons committee on Science and Technology looked into both the physical harms and social harms of drug use and actually listed alcohol and tobacco as more dangerous than marijuana, lsd, ecstasy and steroids. So why is there not an outcry to make them illegal?

The point of my original letter was as an elected official of the American people, I thought your job was to follow the will of the people. As I said before the polls show the majority of Americans to be in favor of medical marijuana. Unfortunately I think you listened to the drug industry lobbyists, who have given you over $24,000 during your career in office. Unfortunately that is more than I make in a year especially after taxes come out that are used to pay your salary and arrest medical marijuana patients.

As I originally said “It crowds jails and wastes resources.”

I am not saying that drugs are good, what I am saying is our system in which we deal with illegal drugs is bad.

It is called a War on Drugs and it is fought as a war on the American people. As a country we spend over 50 billion dollars a year fighting this war on Americans to what end.

Are there any fewer drugs on the street? Are our neighborhoods any safer?

Unfortunately the answer to both of those is no.

So I will leave you the three questions former Baltimore Mayor Kurt Schmoke asked in 1988:
"Do you think we've won the Drug War? Do you think we're winning the Drug War? If we keep doing what we're doing now, in 10 years, will we have won the Drug War?"

Thank you for your time and as before I am doing this as an open letter that will be posted on my blog.

Ryan Breedlove
Breedlove_ryan@hotmail.com
http://imnotparanoiditstrue.blogspot.com
Amory, MS

Finally the news starts to look at the truth

2006-09-01T19:27:00.000-07:00

It is not as easy as some think it may be to talk aloud about things you are not supposed to. There is a time when the truth must be spoken even if it goes against the grain. It is not saying the easy things that makes people stop and listen it is saying the hard things that make people stop and feel emotions.

Conspiracy Theory 101

2006-09-01T12:53:00.000-07:00

To begin with I don't know, and I am going to stick to that until I know for sure one way or the other.

Alright I have touched on it briefly before and now I am going to go into a little more detail. I am sure all of you remember the events of 9/11 2001. Pretty much all of us have heard the government story that 19 people hijacked four planes and flew them into the buildings and one crashed into a field in Pennsylvania. According to the government story they where mainly from Saudi Arabia (although we never attacked there) all part of Al-Qaeda led by Osama Bin Laden.

In the pariotic days after 9/11 everyone pretty much heard that story and went okay. I mean we had just had the worst attack on American soil ever and as Americans we where angry and we wanted someone to pay and then Osama was offered up with Al-Queda and we had a target.

Here is the thing in all the rush and all the commotion many things where swept under the rug many questions that people had where never addressed.

So now here we are almost 5 years after the fact and suddenly in America there are a growing number of Americans who believe that 9/11 was an inside job carried out by our own government and not by 19 guys living in caves.

I know that is hard concept to swallow and even scarier if you start to believe, but is there any reason to believe?

From what I have seen alone it seems to be time to reinvestigate what happened that day 5 years ago in September.

Have you ever heard about able danger? Able Danger was 2.5 terabytes of data that was destroyed identifying Muhammad Atta and the rest of the investigation did this before 9/11. This information alone could contradict the 9/11 commission report wrong.

In the history of modern steel frame skyscrapers only 3 have ever fallen from fire.

Buildings 1, 2 and 7 of world trade center plaza. Building 7 was not even hit by a plane and the farthest away.

Then there is the quote from Larry Silverstein where he says building 7 was "pulled" which is a slang word used by the demolition industry for destroying a building.

These 2 facts alone should be enough to reopen an investigation.

After all, under the Patriot Act we are all suspects and can be investigated for no reason..

Why does the governemnt want a black market?

2006-08-21T16:41:00.000-07:00

Alright here are three choices for a drug marketplace.

one legal weed

two other legal highs

third our current system

any questions?

fcc fu

2006-08-17T14:51:00.000-07:00

Free speech? Yeah right

2006-08-17T13:09:00.000-07:00

So here is the thing I know I have been silent here lately both in my blog and in the newspaper.

Well it boils over from the real life to internet. Here I have just been frustrated with the real world and I have had writers block.

The real world is another story entirely.

You find that free speech isn't free it always has costs associated with it. The thing is for me I had accepted and prepared for whatever they may try to do to me. I had even been told that if I kept it up they would try and run me out of town. My response, try it see where that gets you.

So they decided to take another route.

One of my family members was recently laid off and has started his job search and is trying to pick up different side jobs and stuff.

So basically they have now said if I keep it up and send more letters to the editor, they would make sure my family member won't get any more work.

So that leaves me really pissed off and in a tough situation.

How do I try to effect change locally when I am not even allowed to use my voice locally.

They say what do you expect it is a small town, you have the people with money and they want to keep things the same way. They don't want any new ideas they don't want people to be able to move up to a higher class. They don't want someone speaking opposing or unpopular views. They don't wanna hear others speak they are to busy listening to them self.

They say that is just the way small towns are. Unfortunately that seems to be the way America is right now. You have some people with all the money and they make the all rules and they say fuck everyone else. Prove me wrong.

The funny thing about rights is once you take them away from someone you lose them yourself too.

And since I was told to read Benjamin Franklin after I was told I would be run out of town

"anyone who would sacrifice essential liberty for temporary safety deserves neither"

Am I crazy enough

2006-08-16T19:40:00.000-07:00

I hope so it needs help

partnership

2006-08-16T19:10:00.000-07:00

Sometimes

2006-08-16T17:56:00.000-07:00

Pearl Jam "Sometimes"

Large fingers pushin' paint
You're God and you got big hands
The colors blend
The challenges you give man

Seek my part
Devote myself, my small self
Like a book amongst the many on a shelf

Sometimes I know
Sometimes I rise
Sometimes I fall
Sometimes I don't
Sometimes I cringe
Sometimes I live
Sometimes I walk
Sometimes I kneel
Sometimes I speak of nothing at all
Sometimes I reach to myself, dear God

Sometimes I lose the words to say
Sometimes I am not allowed to say the words
Sometimes

There are words in my head but... but sometimes free speech isn't always free.
Sometimes I must keep the higher ground.

Prison Tycoon

2006-08-13T06:22:00.000-07:00

Directly from the back of the box.

"FROM CHAOS COMES ORDER.
Private prisons have become the new growth industry. You will construct and run an efficient rehabilitation facility with nothing but money on your mind. There's no escaping under your watchful eye as you oversee every detail of prison life."

From the same people who brought you "Zoo Tycoon," comes "Prison Tycoon" take all you learned about keeping animals in cages and apply it to people.

Unfortunately it is true about prisons being a huge growth industry and of course the only goal is money. Do we really need prisons to be a growth industry in America?

The things is who are we arresting at a higher rate than anyone else in America? Non-violent drug users. So I wonder how many pot-heads will be playing this game oblivious to the fact that the prison industry is based on arresting them?

In America today we have a private prison industry that lobbies for longer mandatory minimum sentences. Prison is not about rehabilitating people or putting them in a position to come back out into society as productive members. It is as most things in America about money.

Between the private prison industry lobby and the drug testing lobby we have created an industry that doesn't want people to be rehabilitated. The entire system is set up that way from laws to hiring practices. People seem to wanna think once a criminal always a criminal.

What if prisons made more money on how well they rehabilitated people? I mean place measures on it to where if a certain percentage of people ended up back in prison they would lose their funding or have there funding cut.

Right now if you look at the prison and arrest statistics in America the whole industry thrives on non-violent drug offenders and the War on Drugs. Yet when people come out of jail most end up right back in. Studies show that treatment is around 7 times more likely to get someone off drugs then jail is.

But then again are prison about keeping people out of prison? With only money on your mind I don't see why it would be. They are designed to keep people in even after they are let out.

Penn and Teller: Bullshit! War on Drugs

2006-08-12T13:14:00.000-07:00


Penn and Teller make the argument that the war on drugs is plain and simple worthless bullshit.

Wow she was ahead of her Time

2006-08-11T17:20:00.000-07:00

How much longer do you think that commercial will be on TV for?

Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometime 1.0 - High Resolution Version

2006-08-10T21:06:00.000-07:00


There are questions that need answered.

WTF?

2006-08-10T20:23:00.000-07:00

Roger and Me

2006-08-10T19:39:00.000-07:00

I finally got a response from my elected official Roger Wicker. Well no surprise it looks to be a form letter. The only reason he gave for not supporting it was that the DEA said it was bad and that some physicians do not see medical benifit in it. I will Retype his response and put it online tomorrow. As soon as I got the letter I of course went straight to word and did a rant of a response, I am going revise it and send it to him. Because to summarize all he said was he didn't support legalizing marijuana for medical purposes, well my response is he completely missed the point of my letter. So I will post my response when I send it.

so tomorrow I will retype or scan his letter and post it.

Ad Nauseam

2006-08-07T18:07:00.000-07:00

Notice how with illegal drugs the violence is the cartels selling an illegal product while with alcohol the violence is associated with actual intoxification. Yet we can still sell alcohol legally. There was recently a new study done, thanks HoT.

It was done in the UK showing the drugs classified based on there social and physical harm based off of science. But is it any surprise that alcohol and tobacco where so high on the list?

Why can't we have a drug policy based on science and research not off of lies, myths and morals

Meet your new pusher.

2006-08-03T12:20:00.000-07:00

If she took me out to lunch I would do about anything she wanted.

2006-08-03T12:19:00.000-07:00

I had all the things in my head that I wanted to say. Then one brief conversation and suddenly I am searching for new words.

911 Cover Up

2006-08-01T19:05:00.000-07:00


Loose Change 2nd Edition - Korey Rowe / Dylan Avery / Jason Bermas For your consideration.

I didn't know

2006-07-30T07:10:00.000-07:00

Reverse legal system

2006-07-29T12:56:00.000-07:00

Did you know that under mandatory minimum sentences it takes a nickels weight in crack to get the same prison sentence as a hundred nickels worth of cocaine?
Do you know why?
Because, blacks use crack and whites use cocaine. Our whole legal system is filled with disparities like this and well the war on drugs is no exception

Does this bother anyone else?

2006-07-29T12:20:00.000-07:00

Statewide Roundup of Drug Offenders Kicks Off

"Law enforcement agencies around the state are cracking down on drug offenders.

Thursday morning the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics launched phase one of a statewide round-up of suspected drug offenders.

It's part of a national drug enforcement initiative.

The Operation code-named, Burn Drugs, teamed together government agencies such as the state highway patrol, Mississippi Bureau of Investigation and even the Mississippi National Guard."

Did I just catch that right we used the Mississippi National Guard was used in drug raids. So the Military is getting involved in drug raids? Do we really need this to happen? Drug offenders are for the most part nonviolent yet we use military tactics in arresting them. Often with disastrous consequences

"Chickasaw County Sheriff Jimmy Simmons says they are already seeing success with the operation.

Thursday morning, 30 arrests were made in Chickasaw county alone.

Simmons says he's pleased with the success so far since about 90 percent of the crimes he sees are drug related."

Since about 90% of the crimes he deals with are drug related would it not be surprising that probably about 90% of his budget would be used in fighting the drug war, and that is still not enough. He needs to bring in the Mississippi National Guard.

For 30 arrests which will accomplish what? Absolutely nothing within 2 months new dealers and users will fill the void.

So this is where the rabbit hole gets deeper.

I wondered if this was standard operating procedure.

Well according to "Drug Wars, Counterinsurgency, and the National Guard," written by Major Reyes Z. Cole, California Army National Guard, Governors have the ability to use the National Guard troops to "quell domestic disturbances." Apparently the National Guard has been involved in this role since 1989 as the National Guard Counterdrug Support Program (NGCSP). To quote

"Clearly, the strategic goals of counterinsurgency operations and those of the drug war are largely the same".

So are drug users the insurgency in the US? The US sure seems to want to treat them that way.

"The NGCDSP, which has supported the war on drugs since 1989, has vital experience that the United States should harness in Iraq, Afghanistan, and counterinsurgency (COIN) operations around the world. Field Manual-interim 3-07.22, Counterinsurgency Operations, defines an insurgency as "an organized movement aimed at the overthrow of a constituted government through the use of subversion and armed conflict. It is a protracted political military struggle designed to weaken government control and legitimacy while increasing insurgent control." although the drug war is not an insurgency, insurgencies are often funded by drug sales. One only has to look at the Revolutionary armed Forces of Colombia and the former Taliban regime in Afghanistan to see this."

First off the reason the insurgents are funded by the sale of drugs is because they are illegal if made legal suddenly they lose funding. I will not even get started on what is going on in Afghanistan with the poppy farmers being driven back to the Taliban for help because of the US's action there.

Although he says that the drug war is not an insurgency then why is it fought as one? As he said The NGCDSP has vital experience to be used to fight the insurgencies. So it would reason to me that they have treated the drug war as an insurgency, or as a training ground to fight an insurgency.

We have also armed them with military weaponry that can be used for fighting the war on drugs or insurgencies:

"The NGCDSP also owns and operates specialized equipment located throughout the United States that is dedicated to supporting drug law enforcement. This equipment provides enhanced reconnaissance abilities and drug-detection capabilities. Equipment that could be of value in COIN operations includes-

Counterdrug RC-26B fixed-wing reconnaissance aircraft equipped with infrared thermalimaging systems, TV spotter scopes, moving map displays, digital and wet-film cameras, and Global Wulfsburg radios capable of providing multiband command and control communications.

Counterdrug RAID OH-58 helicopters, which can be flown while using night-vision goggles and are equipped with infrared sensors, TV cameras, Wulfsburg radios, Global Positioning Systems, and 30-million-candlepower searchlights.

Light armored vehicles (LAVs), which are 8-wheeled vehicles that can hold 8 to 12 people, are equipped with a variety of radios, and are used primarily as mobile command centers for tactical operational control but can also be used as transport/cover vehicles.

Mobile vehicle inspection systems, which are self-contained inspection systems that use low energy X-ray and Gamma-ray imaging to identify anomalies that might indicate concealed cargo, narcotics, or explosives in a targeted object.

The NGCDSP also has an extensive federal program that uses ARNG personnel and assets in a Title 10 (Armed Forces) status to augment and support U.S. Combatant Command in aerial reconnaissance, signal intelligence, and radar employment (although ARNG Special Forces (SF) units have also been used and other ground forces are being considered)."

The Department of Defense is even involved and in control of this War on Americans:

"The 1989 national defense authorization act identifies drugs as a clear and present threat to U.S. security and designates the department of defense (DOD) as the lead agency to detect and monitor illegal drug shipments into the country; to integrate certain command, control, and technical intelligence assets to ensure they are dedicated to drug interdiction; and to approve and fund state plans for using ARNG soldiers and air National Guard (ANG) airmen to support law enforcement agencies (LEAS) and community-based organizations (CBOs)".

The war on Drugs and the war on terrorism it is amazing how much they are alike. Mainly beginning with the fact they are not wars against country or a state they are wars against ideas. Unfortunately wars like that can never be won they just keep going on forever.

Most days I say I am not paranoid it's true, well today I hope I am just paranoid. We have already trained the military and police to think of and treat their fellow Americans as the insurgents thanks to the drug war. Under the rule of Bush unfortunately they seem to pass laws that make us the terrorists just for standing up for our rights as Americans.

Oh Crap! 2 more things to kill us.

2006-07-27T15:21:00.000-07:00

Someone go grab the law books we got 2 more things to kill us. Both can be abused for recreational purposes. And we know anything that can kill us and can be used for fun we need to immediately make illegal we don't want us to hurt ourselves.

The first is one that is sold throughout the world in stores everywhere until this story broke no ID was required to buy them but once a lawmaker and a scared mother hears of this they will quickly be locked up if not made illegal. Kids have discovered if they sniff the bag for 10 minutes they can get a high from it or they can chew on it. So what is this new mystery drug? Mothballs.

Now the real problem is, is once this hits the media how many kids will hear of it and go try it?

The next substance is very dangerous it kills an estimated 60,000 people a year. It is also probably one of the most widely abused things in our galaxy. People are known to suffer from depression and become lethargic when they are away from it for to long. While overexpose can be very painful often causing users discomfort for several days following a large dose. Most users are very happy when using it although some don't enjoy as much. Doctors however do preach moderation for anyone who will be out in the sun.

Please don't make the sun illegal I just don't think I could live without it.

People surprise me every day

2006-07-27T11:49:00.000-07:00

Alright I heard the stupidest damn thing since I have started trying to reform Drug policy.

"I think we should just shoot them"

About people smoking marijuana.

Well that's what China did with people smoking opium thank god where not China because if we where China we would have

The government monitoring our phone calls. Oh wait that is happening.

Well at least they don't try to monitor or social networks, Oh wait they do that to.

Well at least we still have a free media, actually I am not so sure about that either anymore.

well the government doesn't check our search history, wait they are trying to do that to.

well at they don't watch what books we check out then, wait no they do that to.

well at least they don't assume we are all terrorists, wait under the patriot act they do.

Well at least they don't round up people just for protesting the government, wait a minute dammit that's happening to.

At least we don't have a dictator, wait dammit with all those signing orders bush keeps using.

Wait a minute they do end up shooting people when they raid there homes for drugs.

Wait a minute I don't remember moving to China.

hello

2006-07-27T11:41:00.000-07:00

how are things in DC?

so what do you think?

2006-07-26T19:26:00.000-07:00

So would the FDA approve caffeine if it came up today?

So what makes Legal Drugs safer?

2006-07-20T16:13:00.000-07:00

Prescription Errors Kill, Injure Americans, Report Says

By Marc Kaufman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, July 20, 2006; 11:06 AM

At least 1.5 million Americans are sickened, injured and killed each year by avoidable errors in prescribing, dispensing and taking medications, the influential Institute of Medicine concludes in a major report released today.

Mistakes in giving drugs are so prevalent in hospitals that, on average, a patient will be subjected to a medication error each day he or she fills a hospital bed, the report says.

Alright this is why I say no drugs are really that safe, it doesn't matter if a doctor gives them to you or not. Mistakes can be made. Now is for the part where I relate this nice little story to the drug war.

Inlander said that the IOM panel sought information about how many people may have died as a result of drug errors, but said the estimates were so different -- ranging from 7,000 to 50,000 a year -- that they were not included in the report.

Here is the scary thing the illicit drugs which are not made by labs, not given out by care givers and have zero controls over their use and distribution only resulted in an estimated 17,000 deaths in 2000 including deaths indirectly caused by the drugs according to the American Medical Association (drugwarfacts.org). Many of those could have even easily have been prevented if the drugs where legal and regulated. Someone overdosing on a legal drug is not going to call for help.

On top of that there have been 0 confirmed cases of someone dying from Marijuana.

Why do we continue to make a distinction between the two. Legal or illegal they are still drugs. Why do we treat those who take them in such different ways.

And finally:

The report did not address the equally controversial question of whether some drugs should be pulled from the market because of their intrinsic risks or whether the Food and Drug Administration does an adequate job of ensuring that approved drugs are safe for general use. That is the subject of another Institute study expected to be released soon.

You know the really bad thing is that the advertisement at the side of the page that happened to be there while I was reading this story was one for Lipitor and well lets just say I had a good friend who almost died from taking Lipitor. The ad is even asking people to sign up for a trial voucher. So who says it is just the guy in the back alley pushing drugs that can kill you?

Roger and Me

2006-07-20T15:55:00.000-07:00

Hello everybody!
Yes I am a little excited. First of all I got my return receipt back from DC.
Yeah I know I shouldn't get that excited about that. The part that actually gives me hope of getting an answer is when I checked my sitemeter statistics today I had 2 visits from house.gov the isp was listed as th house of representatives so maybe someone from his office decided to check my little blog out and maybe just maybe an answer will be forthcoming. I am trying not to get my hopes up to much I will give it till Monday then I will send another letter.

2006-07-19T17:17:00.000-07:00

Bush Vetoes Stem Cell Research Bill
July 19, 2006
Mark Schannon
July 19, 2:45 President Bush just issued the first veto of his presidency, legislation that would have made it easier to get federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.

Does anyone wonder why America keeps falling behind the rest of the world in science?
I used to but this pretty much somes it up.

Prohibition Movies

2006-07-19T14:22:00.000-07:00

Alright some of you may think it is a little early to start thinking about the 2008 Presidential Election. OK, those of you who follow third party politics may not think so. And you are probably wondering what prohibition movies have to do with politics. Well George Phillies is currently seeking the Libertarian Party Presidential election and well yes he is right to start now. I suggest you go check out his site you can get a lot more details there. I want to talk about one of his platforms when it comes to health, I will quote his website:

Prohibition - When I was a little boy, television was filled with gangster prohibition movies. My parents, who were very wise people, told me that there were two certainties about prohibition: It was a total failure. No one would ever be dumb enough to try it again. Now we have drug prohibition, a total failure that wastes tens of billions of dollars, gives criminal records to millions of Americans, and can't even keep drugs out of our prisons. It's time to treat marijuana the way we treat alcohol. Yes, we do have people with alcohol problems. We live in an imperfect world. Sometimes the best we can do is contained in the Hippocratic oath of ancient physicians: At least, do not make matters worse than when you started.

So what are your favorite prohibition movies?

First one that comes to my mind is Scarface, I mean would he have ever built his empire if it wasn't for the illegal drug trade.
The second one that comes to my mind is Half Baked, I mean come on all he wanted to do is feed butternuts I mean buttercup how was he supposed to know the horse was a diabetic.

There are a ton of drug prohibition movies out there it is just a matter of watching them with the right perspective just like we do when we watch alcohol prohibition movies.

Because they already make drug prohibition movies set in the future just watch Robocop 2 they even got cool robots and cyborgs trying to stop people from using drugs.

So just keep you eyes and your mind open.

As seen on TV

2006-07-18T18:47:00.000-07:00

When talking about drug policy in America it is important to keep in mind that it involves the pharmaceutical companies to. They are the drug pushers that can advertise. Just because they are legal doesn't make them any safer. I wonder how much money they give to politicians and the FDA? And we wonder why politicians wont listen to us.

Roger and Me

2006-07-16T20:16:00.000-07:00

Well it has been even longer and I still have not heard anything back from Representitive Roger Wicker yet. I still haven't even got the return reciept back from it yet. Oh well, My LTE got published in a paraphrased version in the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal today this sunday here is a link to it. The Daily Journal is actually based out of Tupelo, MS where his local office is. I will wait till I get the return reciept back before I send him another. Maybe in a few days I might here something. But I will keep up with the LTE's at the moment.

Cigarette butts

2006-07-16T11:44:00.000-07:00

You know I pick up a lot of cigarette butts at work. I always said if I had a nickel for every cigarette butt I picked up I would be retired. Since, I am not picking up any nickels, we will talk about cigarettes instead.

Did you know that tobacco falls under the Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms or ATF division of law enforcement. Yet cigarettes contain nicotine which is a drug, so why is it held to a different standard than other drugs? Well most say it is because it is legal. But why is it legal? Is it any safer than the illegal drugs? Or it is actually because we know if it we made them illegal we would have a really big mess on our hands?

How many people do you know that have died, or have gotten sick because of smoking cigarettes? How many do you know that will die or get sick? How many of you will die or get sick? How many of you will die or get sick from secondhand smoke? How many of you have gotten sick from second hand smoke.

Think of how with the meth problem people have started cooking in vehicles and littering the countryside with disposable one step labs. Think how many people today throw cigarette butts all over the ground. Try looking down some times you might be surprised. Think of the damage that is done to nonsmokers bodies from being in a smoking environment.

According to CDC numbers an estimated that 20.9 percent of Americans currently smoke cigarettes. So this is 20.9 percent of people in America that are addicted to a drug that is killing them selves and the people around them. Men in Mississippi actually run at the second highest use in the country at 29.1 percent. And people say they are not addicted right now, yet they know the dangers involved, but they won't stop smoking. Tell them the horrible things they are doing to themselves and the people around them think any of them will stop? Just as a comparison a study done for the 1994 book "Is Nicotine Addictive? It Depends on Whose Criteria You Use." (drugwarfacts.org) people rated nicotine as the drug that had the highest dependence rating compared to (in order highest to lowest) heroin, cocaine, alcohol, caffeine and marijuana. Sorry no study was shown comparing crystal meth. But nicotine is one of the most addictive substances we know and it is killing 350,000-450,000 of Americans every year.

Is there a reason to keep cigarettes legal?

Yes, There is.

Already in America smuggling of cigarettes has already begun. Did you know that states with low cigarette taxes have more cigarettes shipped to them, than their population will consume. Because they get sold and smuggled to another state. How many of you live on state lines and see the difference in the prices and wait to go there before buying your next pack?

So what would happen to America if we banned cigarettes? What do you think that 20.9 percent of Americans addicted to nicotine would do? Would they all quit right then and there or would black market sales begin? I think a black market would happen we already see it at work right now. Imagine how many people would have to be taken to jail, think of the crime that would arise. How many cigarette deals would go bad and someone be killed because someone was shorted 1 or 2.

In America we still treat people, that are addicted to nicotine as people and patients. When they get sick from their addiction they are allowed to go see a doctor they can be offered alternatives, they can be warned of the dangers and they can be given support. They get treatment. They aren't fired from their jobs, they are not put in jail for their addiction and they are not forced to quit cold turkey. They are offered help. They are treated as humans not criminals.

So why do we treat drugs differently. People who are addicted to crystal meth are sick and dying. We can see it happening just by looking at them. They don't need to be thrown in prison it does them absolutely no good. We can't even keep drugs out of our prisons. Why not give them an option for treatment. Because they need our help and they can not get better unless we offer our support.

Isn't the point of making drugs illegal to stop their use? We have seen that it doesn't work; we keep cigarettes out of our children's hands by keeping them legal and regulated. With drug prohibition we have made the drug marketplace take place with no regulation. Do you think if your child went to the local convenient store and asked for a pack of smokes, do you think the clerk would sell them to them. Chances are if that clerk is doing their job they will be asked to show proof of age. But if they go to a black market crystal meth dealer do you think they will bother to ask for proof of age.

I am not saying that either cigarettes or crystal meth should be used; they are both horribly dangerous substances. But why not give the people who are addicted to crystal meth the same amount of dignity you give someone addicted to cigarettes. Because most of the crime and danger of crystal meth comes from the fact that it is illegal.

To quote the Amory Advertiser

Nearly all of the NMNU's(North Mississippi Narcotics Unit) officers work on crystal meth or crack cases. The difficulty lies in the fact that a meth lab usually involves a small number of people. Therefore, a single arrest or discovery of a single meth lab does not rid the area of a large percentage of meth users.

It is obvious the approach we are using won't work it is time we try something else.

I would rather not have to pick up cigarette butts, but unfortunately to take away the ability or right of a person to do something you take away their right of personal choice, responsibility and free will. Laws do not stop people from doing things they shouldn't. I mean if that was true nobody would ever speed.

Marijuana #1 Gateway Drug...You check the Facts!

2006-07-16T07:55:00.000-07:00

Recently in the Amory Advertiser they did a story about crystal meth. And well the part I wanna talk about today is where Ray Blaylock, Investigator with the Amory Police Department said that marijuana is the number one gateway drug of use for crystal meth. Well I very much have to disagree with that and well I always like using other peoples research because well they are the ones smart enough to do it. Thanks Drugwarfacts.org:

In March 1999, the Institute of Medicine issued a report on various aspects of marijuana, including the so-called, Gateway Theory (the theory that using marijuana leads people to use harder drugs like cocaine and heroin). The IOM stated, "There is no conclusive evidence that the drug effects of marijuana are causally linked to the subsequent abuse of other illicit drugs."

The 2002 federal National Survey on Drug Use and Health provides an estimate of the age of first use of drugs. According to the Survey, the mean age of first use of marijuana in the US in 2000 was 16.6 years. The mean age of first use of alcohol in 2000 was 16.2 years, and the mean age of first use of cigarettes that year was 16 years old.

Hmmm. Interesting and what effect has prohibition had on this

The World Health Organization noted the effects of prohibition in its March 1998 study, when it stated that "exposure to other drugs when purchasing cannabis on the black market, increases the opportunity to use other illicit drugs."

The do not list a study on this question, But I am curious under current drug testing marijuana is pretty much the main drug tested for. The reason for that being that under urynalysis Marijuana will show up on a drug test for quite a bit longer than most others. From wikipedia drug testing time frames all based off of urinalysis the most common type of dug testing:

drug	detection time
alcohol	24 hours
marijuana habitual use	up to 30 days
Marijuana single use	2-3 days
Methamphetamine	2-5 days
Cotinine (a break-down product of nicotine)	2-4 days

So my question is. If people know that they are more likely to get caught for smoking marijuana then wouldn't they be likely to try something harder like meth where they would be clean sooner. So do we really want drug testing in our schools from the DATIA

President Proposes More Student Drug Testing Funds in 2007 Budget

The White House released its 2007 budget proposal this week, which includes an additional $3.5 million for new student drug testing grants through the Department of Education.

This initiative provides competitive grants to support schools in the design and implementation of programs to screen randomly selected students and to intervene with assessment, referral, and intervention for students whose test results indicate they have used illicit drugs.

DATIA was instrumental in protecting the 2006 funding when it was endangered, and happy that several members are grant recipients. We will continue to support this important federal initiative as the legislative process continues.

In Case you didn't know what DATIA stands for is Drug and Alcohol Testing Industry Association. They are the ones lobbying for more money for drug testing.

Lastly I included cigarettes into the drug testing list there for 2 reasons 1 it is a drug that more people have tried than marijuana. And 2 Cigarette smokers cost more on health insurance premiums. I have heard of a company making cigarettes a banned substance for there employees.

America's other war

2006-07-15T09:29:00.000-07:00

I will also be sending this in as a LTE lets hope it gets published, maybe a shortened version will be sent.

Today in America if you start a conversation about war it is usually about the War in Iraq or the War on Terrorism. Everyone seems to forget the one we have been fighting on ourselves for a long time.

It is time to remember.

According to Wikipedia it began in Nov. of 1880 when the US and china prohibited the shipment of opium. Then much later in 1971 President Richard M. Nixon started his “all-out offensive” or, our modern day “War on Drugs.”

And what have we won?

Are there any fewer drugs on the street? Are our neighborhoods any safer?

Unfortunately the answer to both of those is no.

We have created a dangerous and lucrative black market for drugs. Because as we know
People will always do drugs and we don't do a good job of controlling people no matter how hard we try. And what has that accomplished? We lead the world in prison population. We currently have over 2 million people in jail in America. With over half of those in Jail for non-violent drug offenses. Here in Mississippi we jail at the third highest rate in America at 669 per 100,000. We kick violent criminals out of jail to make room for drug offenders who are in jail under mandatory minimum sentences. With one of America's fastest growing industries being prisons, do you see a stop to this in the future?

All of this is financed with our tax money. When we pay taxes for a road to be built we get to see the road eventually finished. Are we ever going to see the drug war finished? Can we even finish it? So far this year as a country we have spent over 27 billion dollars, and that means by the end of the year we will be up over 50 billion dollars in money spent. And that is an every year number that keeps growing as law enforcement keeps saying well if you throw more money at it we can do a better job at stopping drug use. Have they?

The reach and scope of the drug war is far reaching, with illegal drug trade accounting for up to 8 percent of international trade, the same as the textile industry. That is a Five hundred billion dollar a year black market. Some will argue that the drug trade supports terrorism, they are right but that is because with drugs being illegal it puts the control of them in the hands of cartels and terrorists. Think of the smuggling routes that exist because of the drug trade. Think how easily these routes could be used to smuggle weapons around the world into the US.

On top of that, we do things in other countries in the name of the drug war that we would never even think of doing here. We use airplanes in South America to spray insecticides on cocoa and marijuana plants contaminating the water supply and not always hitting the right target. The government has even discussed the possibility of releasing a genetically engineered fungus into the jungles of Columbia to eradicate the species of plants. Does this not sound like an attack on god and nature. Many of us who garden know that a weed killer and fungus don't always just destroy what they are supposed to.

It even affects us at the gas pumps. Under the drug war hemp is an illegal plant. Described by many as the anti-marijuana because of its low THC content and chemicals that actually block brain receptors. Hemp is touted by many as a great bio-mass for this planet that can be used to produce among other things ethanol, and plastics that require oil in their production. But in America we are unable to even conduct scientific research into this plant because of the war on drugs.

I will leave you the three questions former Baltimore Mayor Kurt Schmoke asked in 1988

"Do you think we've won the Drug War? Do you think we're winning the Drug War? If we keep doing what we're doing now, in 10 years, will we have won the Drug War?"

Roger and me part 2

2006-07-12T15:56:00.000-07:00

Well, I have checked But I haven't heard anything yet back from representative Roger Wicker yet I know his office got the letter in Tupelo I am still waiting to see about DC. Here is a scan of the return receipt.

No I can't read the signature either.
The Amory Advertiser ran my letter today. Much thanks to them, and those of you who came here from that welcome. It was actually a good issue that well will probably result in more letters and many more posts here. To start with in the article on crystal meth it still lists marijuana as the number one gateway drug which has been disproved. People always seem to forget about the legal gateway drugs such caffeine sugar nicotine and alcohol just to name a few. Just because drugs are legal doesn't necessarily make them any safer. Yes that includes over the counter and prescription drugs also. Yes there is a rising meth problem in Monroe county and the US but when it comes down to it is forcing a drug onto the black market a good thing for any drug.
Look at production, the story is right. There are serious dangers involved in cooking meth, both cooking, disposal and the end product. So I ask what would be better someone who doesn't know what they are doing driving down the road cooking, or someone trained working in a controlled lab environment. And think of the market place. While being on the black market suddenly you have people willing to do anything for money doing anything for money. That means most black market drug dealers are not going to check ID's before they sell to someone, so by keeping drugs illegal we make it easier for kids to get access. If you have an honest and open relationship with a kid ask them what is easier for them to get alcohol, cigarettes, or illegal drugs. The other thing is drug dealers don't settle disputes with lawyers and words they usually use guns and violence. So think about it most of the gun violence in America today is from violence associated with the drug war and every gun death is someone's ammo for taking your gun. Notice I did not say drugs because drugs and the drug war are 2 separate things it is usually not the drugs that cause most of the problems is drug prohibition itself. The story quoted the price of crystal meth at about $100 a gram or about $1,000 for an ounce. So why is the price that high? Because of the risk involved in producing and selling it not in th cost of production. When ever a cop busts a drug dealer another takes his place and those who are out there raise their prices. So why should we care that the price of meth is really high. Because what happens when someone who doesn't have the money to get there next fix? How much property crime do you think is related to someone wanting there next fix? When an addict can't afford their next fix they will usually find a way if it is stealing from someone they won't care. drugwarfacts.org #21

"NDTS 2003 data show that 31.6 percent of state and local law enforcement agencies nationwide identified methamphetamine as the drug that most contributes to violent crime in their area, ranking second to cocaine (50.1%). Furthermore, methamphetamine was identified as the drug that most contributes to property crime by 29.8 percent of state and local law enforcement agencies nationwide. Agencies in the Pacific region were more likely to identify methamphetamine as the drug that most contributes to both violent crime (86.3%), and property crime (80.2%) than were agencies in any other region. The West Central region ranked second, with 72.6 percent and 73.3 percent of agencies identifying methamphetamine as the drug that most contributes to violent crime and property crime, respectively."

And think of the life that could be saved by one phone call that never gets made. When someone is overdosing and they need help most wont even think of calling a doctor because then they would have to explain what they where doing.

Yes Crystal Meth is a drug and it should not be used but unfortunately we have learned that drug use is just part of the human condition, and even people know the risks they will still use it and anything else. We know prohibition didn't work once why would it work again.

The billions upon billions of dollars spent in America today to fight the drug war have gotten us where? Did you know that the state of Mississippi is third in the nation in prison population per 100,000. These are your tax dollars at work. Did you know that America is by far and away number 1 in prison population. These are your tax dollars at work.

Ending the drug war is not a way to fix our drug problem it is a way to bring compassion and caring back to what is a medical problem not a political or criminal one. I will go with retired Capt. Peter Christs, of Tonowanda NY a member of LEAP, words

"Drug legalization is not to be construed as an approach to our drug problem,
drug legalization is about our crime and violence problem
once we legalize drugs we then gotta buckle down and start dealing with our drug problem."

I tell you what if you haven't seen the video watch it LEAP Law enforcement Against Prohibition. I may just be some guy, listen to what some members of Law enforcement have to say

Roger and me

2006-07-04T06:23:00.000-07:00

So how many of you have heard of the movie Roger and me by Michael Moore. Well I have my own Roger now and his name is Rep. Roger Wicker he is my congressman who voted to keep arresting medical marijuana patients. And well being one of his constituents I wanted to know why. So I have decided to ask him. I sent him a letter to both his Tupelo office and his D.C. office, both with signature confirmation to be returned to me once they are received. I am also making it an open letter which I am also going to send to the local newspapers as a letter to the editor. I am also posting it here and I will also post his response here or lack of response if that may be the case. This is only the first attempt for an answer I will keep trying till I get one, but anyways here is my first open letter to my congressman.

Dear Representative Roger Wicker

My name is Ryan Breedlove and I am a constituent of yours here in Amory Mississippi. I am writing to you today in regard to your recent vote on the Hinchey-Rohrabacher Amendment (roll call 333). I understand you voted no on the Amendment. As I am sure you have your reasons for making such a vote, I would very much like to hear them.
You see, Representative Wicker, I am a person who listens. And I believe those who hold positions of leadership must first listen before they speak (through the voice of their vote) if they are to be effective in their positions.
Do you believe you have listened to the voters? I feel you have not. The following information you may not have heard but I pray you will.
Every single poll and poll initiative since 1995, 80 in total, has come back pro for medical marijuana. Even though Mississippi based poll initiatives have yet to be done, does that not sound like the people are trying to tell you something?

Some recent national polls:

From the MPP National Poll Done by Mason-Dixon Polling in June 2005.

A. "Should the federal government prosecute medical marijuana patients now that it has been given the okay to do so by the U.S. Supreme Court?"
68% pro medical marijuana
16% neutral medical marijuana
16% con medical marijuana

B. "Do you think adults should be allowed to legally use marijuana for medical purposes if their doctor recommends it, or do you think that marijuana should remain illegal even for medical purposes?"
65% pro medical marijuana
15% neutral medical marijuana
20% con medical marijuana

The AARP National Poll Done by ICR Polls in Nov. 2004.

"Should adults be allowed to legally use marijuana for medical purposes, if a physician recommends it?" They returned a 72% pro response for medical marijuana. The other responses where not reported.

If you would like to get the full details on these and the other 78 polls, please go to http://www.medicalmarijuanaprocon.org/pop/votes.htm. You can see both sides of the argument while you are there.
I think it is time that we stop wasting tax payer money on locking up cancer and AIDS patients, along with anyone else who gets a recommendation from their doctor. It crowds jails and wastes resources.
I also think it is time we started an open and honest discussion about the issue of drugs in America because before we can fix our drug problem we must address our drug war problem. Drugs are a medical issue. They shouldn't be made into a criminal one.
I am sending this to you as an open letter which I will also be sending to local newspapers. It is already on my blog where I will be posting your response. If you choose not to respond, I will be posting that as well.

Thank you in advance and I await your answer.

Ryan Breedlove
http://imnotparanoiditstrue.blogspot.com

So does anyone think I will get a response?
Or do you think I will get hot soup thrown in my face.

A short vaction

2006-07-04T06:21:00.000-07:00

I am heading out on vacation the 5th through the 10th so I don't know how much I will be able to post this week but I will be back.
Thanks Ryan

Who else has done it?

2006-07-04T05:40:00.000-07:00

The MPP recently announced this week that they will be starting a series of radio ads asking for the legalization of marijuana. I just got listen to it and it calls out some major politicians about their past marijuana use. Here is a link to the actual release from the MPP it includes an mp3 of the ad. The thing is with estimates showing that 40% of Americans have actually tried weed doesn't it seem that prohibition isn't working. The thing is it is not only politicians that have used and not just everyday people here is a great commercial I found on youtube talking about the different celebrities that have used marijuana.

Show me the money

2006-07-04T04:58:00.000-07:00

Here is a great clip uploaded by calicheese about the MPP Marijuana Policy Project when Rob Kampia went on CNBC's On The Money.

13.9 billion per year, damn that almost makes me feel like Dr. Evil when I say it. Imagine a 13.9 billion dollar a year swing in the government spending. If I can save $13.90 I usually will do it. Do you still think it is just about people wanting to get high?

Who do they represent?

2006-06-30T12:42:00.000-07:00

Well it happened again. Congress decided not to listen to its constituents again. Yep imagine that. It's not as if we are putting cancer patients in jail. Oh wait we are, and AIDS patients to. Recently the Hinchey Rohrabacher bill came up for a vote in the house of representatives. It was a bipartisan bill brought forth by Congressmen Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) and Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), that would have barred federal funds from being used in arresting medical marijuana patients in the 11 states that have passed laws. Although it gathered more yes votes than ever before it still fell well short.

Here is the part where you ask who congress is listening to the people who voted them into office or those who line there pockets. What do I mean they aren't listening to the people?

Every single poll done of the American people either as a state or national in the last 11 years has come up pro for medical marijuana.

Did that sink in? Let me say it again to just make sure EVERY SINGLE POLL DONE IN THE LAST 11 YEARS HAS COME UP PRO FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

Don't believe me go check it out. I tell you what why you are there go ahead and check out both sides of the argument and see which side you take.

So why again have our elected officials refused to listen to the American people who have elected them to office. Do they just not care? We are supposed to have a representative government and well if that was true would they have looked at the polls. As I have said before and I will say again all drugs are NOT a criminal or a political issue they are a medical issue. It is time for congress to listen to its voters and do the right thing.

How did your representitive vote?
So go ask why they voted nay

Everyone says

2006-06-28T18:27:00.000-07:00

Everyone I know always seems to say that nothing is going to change until the old die off.
Why?
Why must we wait?
The sooner everyone starts the sooner we will see change. We have the numbers if the youth of today got out and started doing something well. There would be no reason to wait. We are the future it is time we step up and show it.

Me I am a little older and I have gotten tired of waiting around for change. Imagine what would happen if we all stood up to. It's not going to come around until we make it. We don't need them to die we can just make our government go to the nursing home.
I remember a few years back trying to teach an executive how to send an e-mail, it was not a fun experience. We have grown up with the computers and video games. They have not and they have no clue what seems to be going on. As shown by the government hearings on video games isn't that evident?

When was the last time anyone us played PONG, How many just went what's PONG? How many voters today where born after PONG? Pong came out in 72 it is 34 years old. To give a bit of a perspective on that super Mario Bros for the NES came out in 1985. It is already 21 years old. The gameboy and the genesis will be old enough to vote in 2007. The playstation just 12. The PS2 is only 6 years old. The old always say the children are the future isn't it time we make it true.

and just because this cracks me up

Rep Fred Upton (R-Michigan): IÃ’m a gamer myself. I used to be an expert in Pong. That was a great game. Boop! Boop! Boop boop!

Countdown to Doomsday?

2006-06-25T20:31:00.000-07:00

Alright here I am watching "countdown to doomsday" on the scifi channel and all of a sudden I hear:

Circincione: "Former Senator Sam Nunn jokes that if a terrorist wants to smuggle a nuclear bomb into this country. He should stick it in a bail of marijuana we know we can't stop that."

How true is that, no matter what we try it still finds it's way in. By keeping Drugs illegal we insure the creation of illegal smuggling routes. Because of 2 things
1 people will always do drugs.
2 Some people will always do anything if the money is right. Think how often do we hear of tunnels coming in to America being used to smuggle drugs. By keeping drugs illegal america causes smugglers to get more and more creative every day. I will quote Jack Cole From LEAP in his paper "End Prohibition Now"

"So, how much money am I talking about here? Enough money to bribe a cop? Enough to buy a judge or a politician? Enough to convince legitimate bankers to wash that dirty money through their banks? In just the banks of the Southern half of Florida in one year over seven billion dollars washed through. I’m not saying the money spent around the world on illicit drugs each year is enough to bribe a cop. I’m saying it’s enough money to buy a whole country. Over 500 billion dollars is spent each year on illegal drugs. That amounts to eight percent of the world’s total international trade, about the same amount as spent in the international textile trade."

So our War on Drugs is an international issue that threatens our Homeland Security. We Create over a FIVE-HUNDRED-BILLION-DOLLAR black market drug trade, that is developed on the basis of not getting caught. So yes that could be open up our borders to those who would want to do us harm. What's worse is it actually creates people who are being harmed by America's policy of drug prohibition. Instead of trying to treat the addicts we decide to lock them in jail, and we decide to fight a war on the plants that grow the drugs, with no concern for collateral damage.
I will go with Loretta Nall's (you know whe is running for Governer of Alabama and could use your support) story she wrote about our eradication efforts on cocoa and marijuana in Columbia. She talk's of America's policy of flying planes in South America and fumigating fields that they think are illegal drugs. Lets just say they don't always hit their desired target, but either way they are destroying the landscape and adding poisonous chemicals to the water and food supply. Let's not forget current mention of releasing a engineered fungus into the enviroment. (Mycoherbicide Spraying is Bio Warfare). Since, I have not been to South America I will use the work of someone who has. Once again thanks to Loretta Nall for this:

"That something is U.S. foreign policy.

While I was traveling in Colombia, I met with various leaders and members of communities directly plagued by the poisonous aerial fumigation efforts of a foreign nation. The following quotes were obtained during those meetings."

Donde Cecilia, Camposino Union Leader: "We watched on TV when September 11th happened and we understood why it happened. We couldn’t understand why Americans didn’t."

Donde Ishmael, Camposino Union Leader:

"I am a farmer, not a criminal. What is the U.S. doing about demand for cocaine? We do not care about cocaine because it is not a part of our culture or religion. We grow it because it is the only crop that we can export and make enough money to care for our families. As long as there is a demand, there will always be a supply. The U.S. says they give us alternative development crops, but these are often fumigated. Even what escapes fumigation is worthless because there are no roads to transport it to the market."

So this is why America needs to rethink our Drug War policies that are creating great harm in the U.S. and abroad. We do what we do here, with some checks and balances under our judicial sytem and through the media. Even then we have huge problems. Now just imagine what goes on whe we don't have our judicial system to stand for peoples rights and when the media decides to overlook the truth. So once again this brings us to the truth we have a disastrous policy that creates harm to our own people and to people of the world. So yes something does need to be done. To go back to "countdown to doomsday"

Announcer Matt Lauer"with weapons of mass destruction under wraps we should also think a bit more seriously what's behind the terrorist threat"

?? "we cannot kill everybody that means us harm its impossible we have to change the thinking, that creates the hatred, that spurs the violence, that kills americans"

Prison Song

2006-06-24T17:09:00.000-07:00

The other day I had this grand and great idea to make this really cool anti-prohibition video using "Prison Song" by System of a Down I was thinking pictures of inmates and prisons and statistics to go right along with the song. And well I was searching youtube the other day and

Somebody beat me to it and did a hell of a lot better than I could have done. I love youtube.

And this is where I will talk about politics, propaganda, and the new media. Our two party system is broken and needs to be fixed we need stronger 3rd parties. And this is what we need to do be stronger.

Why was marijuana originally made illegal? It was through use of propaganda, racism and scare tactics while the scientific data was over looked (he gets a minor tankman for presenting the truth). So why don't we Use our propanganda that is based on scientific fact?
It is there people are already making great videos all the time. The more they get played linked and chain mailed around The higher chance of more people that will see the truth. The content is ever growing on youtube and video.google.com. How many of us watched the evolution of dance and wanted your six minutes back. The growing levels of people with broadband internet in their homes the more and more people's computers will become their TV's. So I ask you to come check out my anti-prohibition playlist on youtube, watch, commentand tell your friends about the videos just by doing that you can help spread our propaganda of truth?

So would you rather watch the dude dance or would you rather end the war on drugs?

Driving Under the Influence?

2006-06-23T15:49:00.000-07:00

Recently judges in Michigan ruled for a zero tolerance policy for driving under the influence of Marijuana because of the chemical 11-carboxy-THC in their bloodstream They have said any concentration of the chemical is grounds for a DUI . What they have essentially have done is made random drug testing part of the requirement to drive in Michigan. What is going to stop police from profiling "stoners" just as they do with drug traffickers, all the officer would have to say is that the driver was driving erratically, and pull him over for a DUID. Their reasoning was that Marijuana is still a schedule 1 drug and therefore completely illegal and shouldn't be consumed. Well lets look at that for a second

(1) Schedule I. --

(A) The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse.

(B) The drug or other substance has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.

(C) There is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision.

(A)true but also look at alcohol.
(B)what is the current accepted medical use of alcohol?
(C)How many people die every year because of alcohol? How about for marijuana?

So basically Alcohol seems to fall under the same drug schedule (but it is not illegal because we figured out that didn't work) yet the test for it actually tests for sobriety. There is nothing about testing someone for marijuana that actually indicates impairment. Especially if a urine test is used which is currently used in most states for testing.

But here lets look at science for a moment how bad does marijuana impair a person while driving? How much of a risk factor is driving under the influence of marijuana?.(Drug War Facts)

"Both Australian studies suggest cannabis may actually reduce the responsibility rate and lower crash risk. Put another way, cannabis consumption either increases driving ability or, more likely, drivers who use cannabis make adjustments in driving style to compensate for any loss of skill (Drummer, 1995). This is consistent with simulator and road studies that show drivers who consumed cannabis slowed down and drove more cautiously (see Ward &amp;amp; Dye, 1999; Smiley, 1999. This compensation could help reduce the probability of being at fault in a motor vehicle accident since drivers have more time to respond and avoid a collision. However, it must be noted that any behavioral compensation may not be sufficient to cope with the reduced safety margin resulting from the impairment of driver functioning and capacity."

Source: Laberge, Jason C., Nicholas J. Ward, "Research Note: Cannabis and Driving -- Research Needs and Issues for Transportation Policy," Journal of Drug Issues, Dec. 2004, pp. 980.

and

A literature review of the effects of cannabis on driving found, "Another paradigm used to assess crash risk is to use cross-sectional surveys of reported nonfatal accidents that can be related to the presence of risk factors, such as alcohol and cannabis consumption. Such a methodology was employed in a provocative dissertation by Laixuthai (1994). This study used data from two large surveys that were nationally representative of high school students in the United States during 1982 and 1989. Results showed that cannabis use was negatively correlated with nonfatal accidents, but these results can be attributed to changes in the amount of alcohol consumed. More specifically, the decriminalization of cannabis and the subsequent reduction in penalty cost, as well as a reduced purchase price of cannabis, made cannabis more appealing and affordable for young consumers. This resulted in more cannabis use, which substituted for alcohol consumption, leading to less frequent and less heavy drinking. The reduction in the amount of alcohol consumed resulted in fewer nonfatal accidents."

Source: Laberge, Jason C., Nicholas J. Ward, "Research Note: Cannabis and Driving -- Research Needs and Issues for Transportation Policy," Journal of Drug Issues, Dec. 2004, pp. 980-1.

Yet any use of the substance is no matter if 5 minutes before or depending on the use and body type of a person up well over a month.

So in other words this seems more like an a way to catch more smokers and make them more paranoid, because like the studies say the average Cannabis smoker drives more cautious. So suddenly driving the speed limit leaving good following distances not being as fast to pass someone and just all in all carefully driving are suddenly indications that you are driving under the influence.

Wow, you gotta love the drug war!

It's not just about weed

2006-06-22T21:33:00.000-07:00

Many people will look at the legalization movement as people just wanna be able to get high without having to worry about the law. Well here is the thing people do regardless of the law. So what we find is that the law isn't working.

So what is it about?

It is about our rights as individuals. First off our right to a pursuit of happiness, and that does not mean one thing for all people. Then there is our right to privacy which everyday erodes just a little bit further, and whats worse is most people give that up without a fight. It is about our fourth amendment right to protect us from unreasonable searches, which when most people are don't even realize that they are giving up when consenting to a search. It is about our right to free speech, how many people are afraid to speak up against what is happening for fear of what may happen. Even the mention of it to someone makes us guilty untill proven innocent. And I could go on and on and on. All in the name of the drug war. I tell you what go here.

It is about Leading the world in prison population (wow doesn't it feel great to be a world leader). According to Bureau of Justice Statistics 1 out of every 138 Americans where in prison at the end of 2004, with 6.6% incarcerated in private prisons (damn business is good). Why are those numbers important? because in 2003 55% of people sentenced to federal prison where drug offenders. With 21.4% of state prisoners in jail for drug offenses. And lets not forget about the crime caused by people trying to get money for drugs because of the overinflated prices because of the black market. Speaking of the black market how do drug dealers settle disputes with a friendly conversation or something else. And let's not forget about the collateral damge of children with their parents in jail for drugs.

How about the money the government spends every year on fighting the drug war. So far just this year The federal and state government has spent $24,313,873,412 Go check the drug war clock and see where it is at now. Think about it what else could our tax dollars go for. How about education that would be nice wouldn't it.

I wont even start to go into the uses of hemp at this time, I will save that for another day.

When you start talking to people about legalizing drugs it's time they realize that it's not just about getting high. It is about fixing the problems related to prohibition, not the drugs themselves. That is why I feel that Once we suceed in legalizing Marijuana, they will see how big of a farce the Drug War really is.

What you are saying.

2006-06-21T13:36:00.000-07:00

We still need more signatures to get to our goal of 3,000 and I still say that is just a start so keep telling others about the petition to Legalize it!

Remember It's not what others do, it's what you do!
It's not going to be one voice that changes the law, it is going to be the thunder of thousands.

So that is why I want others to hear what you are saying:

Number 347

i believe that smoking weed should be up to the individual person not to the goverment to decide

number 343

i dont smoke marijuana but i feel that people should be allowed to do so. the drug was made into a demon by conservative propaganda decades ago, when it really is not all that bad of a drug.

number 331

Marijuana prohibition is ridiculous, how about the government spend some time and money eradicating plants that aren't any fun-like poison ivy.

I personally have poison ivy all over my arms right now, I agree it's not fun.

number 330

THC (the active substance in cannabis) must be consumed in outrageous quantities to be lethal. There are no recorded deaths due to cannabis. People have the right to do what they want to themselves. It's like crimanlizing sodomy or rough sex. The argument that it's for the publics own good just dosen't cut it. I don't necessarily condone smoking pot, but it should not be a crime. Getting high should not be a crime. Getting high and driving, well, that's a different story. I'm not saying there shouldn't be rules, but what good is clogging our prisons with non-violent offenders going to do?

number 326

I don't know how you can sleep at night, lying to the public the way you do.

number 320

STOP THIS WAR ON YOUR OWN PEOPLE

number 315

To begin with I am not an active marijuana smoker or user, and feel that all drugs must be closely regulated and almost all belong within the status they are currently in, IE, illegal controlled substances and are very harmful to individuals and the public. But I feel marijuana does have social and medical benefits and is in fact a deterrent to hard drug use, not a motivator to use harder drugs or engagement in criminal activities. I also believe taxes and other monetary values of the plant, as well as other potential uses well documented are beneficial to this country, and this alone could help alleviate the stress on our already overcrowded prison system and would almost eliminate the black market sale of it as a controlled substance, thus diminishing crime. Just take all it's benefits into serious consideration and research these options with intelligence and the possibility that it is in fact the most logical choice in the war on drugs to decriminalize this substance, if not finding a way to in fact make it legal, but still under controls and laws, much like alcohol or tobacco. Thank you for your time and consideration on this matter. Sincerely, Matthew E.Watson

number 305

Alcohol kills thousands of people a year but it brings in the tax dollars so it remains legal. I haven't heard of one pot related death. Cigarettes are legal they kill thousands per year as well but the tax dollars sure do flow. Personally I don't smoke pot I just feel it shold be legal before alcohol because of the deaths alcohol causes and the senseless fighting and families ruined. Pot people seem to be more mellowed out and wanting to have a good time rather than go out and get "SMASHED" If I had any kids I'd let them smoke pot before I would let them drink alcohol. Alcohol is there and people want it so it will always be there. Pot is there as well and people want it so people will always get it. It's time we stop wasting tax payers dollars putting people in jail over marijuana related charges and put the real "dangerous" criminals in jail.

number 297

Medicine should not be denied to anyone who truly needs it. Don't let the pharm. companies dictate the will of the American people!!!!

number 291

I feel that the more they make it hard to smoke marijuana, Their will be more people breaking the law to get it. So many States and countrys have already made it legal, Why cant we? It is not a gate way drug, it is a medication!!!!!!!!!

number 283

Marijuana is not a bad substance. It's horrible that it's grouped with Meth, Coke, and Heroin. It's absolutely ridiculous that everything is strapped together in one bill, when Pot is the lesser of all the evils, though to me it's not considered an "evil" its considered a sanity saver...I have a chronic pain syndrome that effects my sleeping patterns, and my CNS is competely messed up...I'd rather smoke pot than take prescription pain killers and deal with the risk of getting hooked, besides there aren't any side effects to marijuana compared to every prescription drug out there! What's wrong with something that's all natural? Anyone who thinks Marijuana is bad needs to re-think their priorities and pull their heads out of their asses and realize that if you're gonna wage a war on drugs, take on Meth or Coke, Crack or Heroin, leave the only drug that's natural and non-addictive the hell alone!

number 278

For too long we, the peoeple have let big business rule over us. We must stand together and let our voice be heard. the FDA continues to denigh evidence that cannabis has medicinal qualities, even as 3 seperate institutions publish findings of its cancer combating qualities. How much longer must the disabled suffer? I can't tell you, but if Weed had no medicinal qualities, why do the pill companies make a sythetic form of Weed called "Marinol"?

number 271

Farming only 6 percent of continental U.S. acreage with biomass (hemp is the #1 biomass on Earth) crops would provide all of America's gas and oil energy needs, ending dependence upon fossil fuels. Hemp is capable of producing 10 tons per acre in four months. There are so many products that can be produced from this resource. It can also help us to stop polluting the environment. Not to mention the positive impact legalizing pot would have on the prison systems, law enforcement, medicinal uses, and tax revenue. Hemp is only illegal because the paper companies in the 1920's wanted a monopoly... the got it and a world in trouble!

number 265

dont you all wanta chance to tax us some more?

number 262

You are putting innocent people in jail. Focus on the real wrongdoers. If cannabis was legal (or tollerated Like in HOLLAND), crime, and actual drug use would almost certainly decline. Herb is a beautiful plant. Let it be free and use the time to bust crack or meth dealers. Legalize It ! (instead of ruining peoples lives, help them out)

number 255

If Marijuana were legal it would be easier for the Government to control and they could tax it. As of now the Government has no control. Legalization would take the power away from some drug cartels and make the streets a little safer.

number 242

It's like alcohal. Allow adults to use it responsibly. Legalize it.

number 234

Make Drugs Legal. End Prohibition

number 232

Despite the current laws against marijuana being based on BAD science that is almost eighty years old; despite the fact that it has more positive medicinal purposes than negative side effects; despite the fact that the stalks, not the flowers, have countless textile uses; despite the fact that even after being arrested for possesion of it, most users will still possess it; despite the fact that it has spawned it's very own, and rather large, niche market in the economy; despite the fact that it has made a joke of the war on drugs, our government is still not big enough to admit that it was wrong back in the 1920's.

number 230

Alcool killed my father when he was 50 if he had been smoking pot instead he would still be here.

number 226

The corporations and the drug companies also make too much money from prohibition. By keeping marijuana illegal the pharmaceutical companies keep their markets open on the pain, nausea, and cancer drug fields....No matter how many times the FDA and the government deny it; MARIJUANA DOES TREAT PAIN...STOP MAKING INNOCENTS SUFFER!...I suffer from chronic, never ending, and uncontrollable pain due to a complete lack of cartilage in my jaw. I am also completely immune to pain killers and was born that way. I have taken every prescription and over the counter pain medicine available and not one of them has had any effect on me. I can take handfuls of hydrocodone, Demerol, oxycodone and instead of putting me into a comma like they should they have no effect what so ever. Marijuana is the only thing I have found on the face of this planet that has given me any relief from my pain. I cannot deal with the pain; it makes it impossible to do anything productive or even go out into public. With marijuana I can live a real life. WHY THE HELL WOULD YOU WANT TO KEEP THAT FROM ME?

I head to cut that one down a bit but it is worth reading the whole thing

number 218

they should legalize marijuana ( its less harmfull than cigs ) and use the tax to support meth, crack and heroin addicts rehab centers

number 212

Man has created stress. God created the cure. It calms and sooths whats next Advil?!

number 191

How can a plant be a crime

number 185

The illegal status of marijuana is all due to the competition it poses to corporations, both for its psychoactive abilities and the potential of hemp use and the fact that it may force people to think outside of the box and question how right the government truly is.

number 137

It is time we do something. We can not wait any longer.

alright that one was me.

I could go on and on but this what we need to do, we need to keep using our voices let others know about the petition.

So I ask you what else can you do to help? Can you join the party? Can you write a blog to help our message reach more people? Can you make videos to use as commercials? Can you search the internet for information? Can you run for office at any level? Can you talk to your family and friends? Is there a chapter in your state? Can you start one?

There are so many things you can do find one and lets make the world change.

Legalize it!

2006-06-18T20:18:00.000-07:00

Isn't it about time that we did?

The US Marijuana party has on it's website a petition to Legalize Marijuana. The make three simple arguments:

Drugs are not a political issue- they are a MEDICAL ISSUE.
Would you really rather have people buy ANY drug from a back alley dealer?
How dangerous is marijuana there has never been a confirmed case of an overdose death.

I tell you what here is a link to Read the full petition and I recommend you sign it if you agree and tell all your friends. If you sign up and everything it will take less than 10 minutes to do it. So what's stopping you.
Their goal is 3,000 signatures I don't think that we be enough but it would be enough to get mainstream media attention. And then more signatures will probably be needed.

Why do I think this will work because I am sure a lot of you have heard about how President George W. Bush signed into law the Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act raising fines from $32,500 to $325,000, for broadcast TV. But have a lot of you heard how that happened. They sent 4,211 complaint letters to the FCC Every single one was the same. Then there was one other letter. And that was enough to get there attention.

So we will be honest this is a petition to our government to change its policies if enough people sign it they should have to listen to us. At least that is what they are supposed to do.

Fescue

2006-06-17T22:18:00.000-07:00

Welcome,

I think the video speaks for itself.
So I will talk about something else, There is a book out there call God's Debris: A thought Experiment, by Scott Adams the creator of Dilbert. (Here is a link to a free pdf version of it) The book is completely different from Dilbert, it was loaned to me as a book that would "Mess with your head" Which it did. The part that is important tonight, is the part where he talks about the mind and how we perceive. The example he uses in the book is the word fescue(I think), and how once you have a conversation about it your mind is more tuned in and you will notice it more.
Its all about a matter of tuning if you write your goal down 10 times a day you will be more likely tuned into events that will help you reach your goal. I haven't been doing that but I have been spending at least thirty minutes a day working towards it.
And the signs keep telling me that I am on the right path.
Fescue, see you read it three times today. Think you will notice it again in the next few days?

Tainted Drug Deaths

2006-06-16T19:27:00.000-07:00

So it happens again. There is another outbreak of tainted drugs killing people. And the DEA manages to break another 130 people of their drug addiction.
Around Chicago their has been heroin tainted with the painkiller fentany l, and there has been a rash of deaths. This is another example of the failure of prohibition. Anytime you put a drug onto the black market you raise the risks of this type of thing happening. Cutting agents are common to help drug dealers make an extra profit and is a common cause of drug related deaths and overdoses.
You can have a situation like this where something is added that can be lethal in small quantities. Another possibility is with unqualified people doing the mixing, you never have an exact idea of what your getting. As an example say you usually take 2, 200 mg ibuprofren to cure a headache or body ache. But since ibuprofren is regulated you know what your getting. What happens on the black market is someone will get a shipment of drugs and will have 100 pills. But to turn an extra profit they will you some sort of cutting agent so they now have 200 pills, and say they are good and they get a 50% mix all the time. So the person who used to take 2, 200 mg pills suddenly needs 4 to get the same affect and starts doing so on a regular basis. Still only getting the 400 mg total. Now what happens is say they get a new dealer and suddenly get a purer product. And suddenly they take twice as much(800 mg) as normal and that is what leads to overdoses.

Unfortunately these drug deaths where because of prohibition itself because with an unregulated black market there are no safeguards against people adding extra substances to their goods. With a regulated market the safety of people can be insured, and with heroin mainanence programs there are ways to cure addiction other than death.

The part of the Medical News Today report of the story I found most interesting was

"Of more concern is that addicts are not heeding the police warnings. When laced heroin was found in one street corner, the police warned all the addicts in the area. Rather than move elsewhere, many stayed in the hope of getting some free giveaways."

It is time America starts looking at its drug policies because there has to be a better way.

World's Wildest Police Videos

2006-06-15T16:04:00.000-07:00

You want proof to the futility of the drug war. Just spend an hour watching World's Wildest Police Videos. Start listening to why people are running, I was just watching and the first chase I saw was where the police stopped a vehicle and where starting a search. Well the man decided to flee and was shot in the chin by the officer as he took off. That is when the high speed pursuit started. One of the main things they always talk about on these shows is how dangerous police chases are and how many innocent lives are put at risk. So why was the man running because he was smuggling cocaine. You may say that is his own fault it wasn't for personal use it was for profit. Well that is what prohibition does it puts people who are willing to do anything for money running drugs.

But then again there was another chase later, this one the guy on a motorcycle fled when he got blue lighted. And then began the dangerous chase. Why did this guy run? According to the show he had $50 worth of pot. Its amazing that drug possession laws are so strict that a man would rather risk his life and endanger the safety of others, then get caught with $50 worth of pot.

Then there was the officer who got shot after pulling over a car with a broken headlight and finding pot in the trunk.

None of these life threatening situations where because of the drugs themselves. They where because drugs are illegal. The question I also had how many of the quick dumb convenient store robberies where someone trying to get money for drugs.

The failure of prohibition is right in front of our eyes we just need the perspective to start looking at it that way. Watch an episode with the thought that the drug laws are bad. You suddenly be watching a new show "World's Wildest Drug War Failures."

Prohibition didn't work once and it wont work again. Its time to stop the insanity.

Scary Thought

2006-06-11T19:24:00.000-07:00

My dad tells me that I shouldn't worry about privacy that much that taxes are the bigger issue. The thing is he hasn't grown up in a network world where all information travels everywhere. And our social circles become public And then I read about this:

NSA said to be eyeing MySpace to pinpoint possible terrorists by ZDNet's Russell Shaw -- New Scientist magazine reveals that the National Security Agency is funding research into how to add information from social networking site MySpace listings to profiles of individuals garnered from banking, retail and property records.As detailed in a footnote to a paper entitled Semantic Analytics on Social Networks, data from online social networks and other [...]

And suddenly who are friends are can make us guilty by association.

So do we need to watch who is on our friends list?

It wouldn't be that hard to match the phone records to peoples profiles on myspace and with most people have there photos on their page. We have already heard of companies checking out perspective employees profiles and not hiring based on pictures they found.

Now it comes to the scary thought, I am sure some of you have at least heard of some of the conspiracy theories I am more going to talk about Alex Jones and his movie Martial Law 9/11: Rise of the Police State. In the movie he is at the 2004 GOP convention in New York and he films cops walking around taking pictures of protesters. So how hard would it be to match up facial recognition software from pictures taken on the street to a social networking site like myspace. So how far away would we need to be, not to be guilty by association.

Whether or not you believe the conspiracy theories, I have my questions I think there is more to the picture then we are shown. But the one thing that is certain we live in a world where everything we do or say can be a matter of public record. The big question is whether or not we can still be proud of what we have done, and is it something we are willing to put our reputations on the line for.

Lovin, is what I got

2006-06-05T19:33:00.000-07:00

Take a small example, take a tip from me
Take all of your money, give it all to charity
Love is what I got
It's within my reach
And the Sublime style's still straight from Long Beach
It all comes back to you, you'll finally get what you deserve
Try and test that you're bound to get served
Love's what I got
Don't start a riot
You'll feel it when the dance gets hot

Sublime, What I Got

I went The first annual GIlmore Foundation awards Ceremony tonight They gave away over 1.5 million to charity tonight. Ranging in projects for a new auditorium for Amory High School and money for improved computer labs at other local schools there was a lot more. $400,000 went to the county to build a storm proof building for it's 911 services. Among many others great and needed grants. It was a very nice event it was there first and next year they will have there own building which they have broke ground on but haven't started. Hopes are it will be ready by March next year. The plans make it look like it will be a very nice and much needed addition to the community.

And Danny Spreitler executive director of the Gilmore Foundation finished with a challenge.

"good is not enough."
"great is only acceptable."
"When you think about your community think how can not just be good but how it can be great."

I think I will try to take him up on that challenge. But I have moved around the country some and I haven't lived my life in one place, my whole life. The whole is United States is my community.

As a fledgling Libertarian this is where private charity gives to all who are in need including the government. This is a perfect example of a charity giving out funds where it is badly needed instead of the government. They looked at the need and gave out what they thought best.

I have decided to do the same, I have started listening to Dave Ramsey when I have the chance and he makes sense. But one the things he says is to give 10% to charity usually in the form of a tithe but I don't to a church so I decided that I am going to start 10% of what I make and give it to charities or groups that I support. That way maybe I can help make a difference in my community. I can also give it out where I find best. I think it is also time to start volunteering again

Lovin', is what I got, I said remember that
Lovin', is what I got, I said remember that
Lovin', is what I got, I said remember that
Lovin', is what I got, I got I got I got

Tank Man

2006-06-02T20:54:00.000-07:00

Programmer 2: If your not holding us hostage then open the door and let us out. This stuff is terrorfying

Doctor Who: That the same staff the who execute hundreds of contestants every day

programmer 2: it's not our fault we just doing our jobs

Doctor Who: And with that sentence, you just lost the right to even talk to me

That was Doctor Who the other night episode "Bad Wolf" Reality TV had taken over and whenever someone gets evicted they get killed you can guess how it goes from there I wont ruin it because it is worth watching. But it got me thinking of how similar of a situation we have going on in the drug war.

LEAP states that most of time they will find officers who agree about their stands but are unwilling to say anything for fear of losing their job. I have that same fear.

We have such demonized the issue over the years that most aren't willing to speak about it an open manor. This is our free speech this is what we have to make changes when things are harmful and wrong. We need to use it proudly

I wanna talk about it.

Its time to talk about something

2006-06-01T19:28:00.000-07:00

The drug war needs to end it is time. I am not saying that drugs are good but that a war on your own people is worse.

I was able to get the good folks at LEAP to allow me to post their video on video.google. com, thanks Allison.
It is time for people to really start looking at and talking about somewhat of a taboo subject. The drug war as it stands in America is one of the worst policy failures in history, a policy that does nothing but make criminals out of good everyday citizens. Jack Cole, a Retired Narcotics Undercover Officer, wrote about it in End prohibition Now, and makes a great argument that more people would be willing to listen to then me. But, I will make my argument anyways using some information and data from his paper.

Violence from the drug war is not from the drugs themselves it is because of the fact they are traded on the Black Market. Most overdoses occur because of it being on the black market. Most of the bad that comes out of the drug war is because of the war itself not the drugs.

Most will argue that legalizing drugs will make them easier for our kids to get . That is flat out WRONG. Ask any teenager you know if it is easier for them to get alcohol and tobacco or marijuana, you wont like the answer. With our current system we have people who are already breaking the law what's going to stop them from selling to anyone who has the money.

Others say we will become a nation of addicts. That is also wrong we treatment available for addicts instead of incarceration they have a much better chance of quitting. If you go with what Jack proposes of free government administered doses you will eliminate 60% of property crime in one fell swoop. Why you may ask because people with a drug problem are suddenly getting much needed treatment and instead of going out and stealing and robbing from people just to get their next fix. And countries like the Netherlands show a lower rate of addiction, homicides, and overall lower level of use.

Americas drug Policy is just not an American problem it is a world wide issue that affects America's foreign relations all over the world and the illegal drug trade amounts to 8% of the world trade. Do you really think this is just our problem.?

Lets stop treating a health issue like a crime. Would you put someone in jail if they had cancer?

I will go with Jack Cole's words to sum it up:

After nearly four decades of fueling this war with over a trillion dollars of our taxes and creating increasingly punitive policies toward drug users, what are the results? Our court system is choked with the escalating number of drug prosecutions and our quadrupled prison population has made building prisons this nation's fastest growing industry; with 2.2 million incarcerated today and another 1.7 million arrested every year for nonviolent drug violationsÂmore per capita than any country in the world. Where will it end? The United States has 4.6 percent of the worldÂs population and 22.5 percent of its prisoners Âright here in this Âland of freedomÂ! There is something wrong with this picture.

Damn it I'm too young.

2006-05-31T19:10:00.000-07:00

Can't run until you are thirty five but thanks to the 2 people who told I should run even before they heard of Unity08.

Since I can't do it what are we going for an election in 2008

I have said it before and I say it again we need a third party. Unity in 08 has an interesting strategy they are going to have an open debate system with the internet polling on issues and things the like, they will even decide on their candidate. I wonder if they can get there voting methods secure enough or are we going to have a thirteen year old hack in and change the results. They will probably end up having a more secure method and paper trail of their results then the machines the government has come up with. I think the online system will work better for these reasons

The online secure transactions have been happening for years with credit card numbers safe over the internet, so they have been tested and refined.

By actually involving the people who work with the internet everyday will be able to give them feedback on the system, hackers love a challenge tell them try to hack it in test runs with a prize for those who succeed.
The current government system by Diebold doesn't seem to have all the bugs worked out of it

Both of these reasons come from it being developed in a free market, where if yours didn't work or a lot where getting ripped off, you wouldn't use it.

The other issue I see with what they are doing is very centralist and I think a stronger candidate would be one that is a little more extreme. Right now a lot of people in America are really start to think the Government is to big, me included, would motivate more voters to actually go out and vote for someone new. I think that we need a bigger shake up then a Centrist would be. Plus the names I see being thrown around like McCain, Lieberman, Feingold. But these are people I didn't vote for the first time and I probably wouldn't vote them again I almost think an outsider may have a better chance, because isn't the thing we are all tired of is politics as usual? They have allowed for the chance of an outsider anyone who is eligible can run. But would they have a chance or would we wind up with Jesse from MTV.

They have also given a list of crucial issues terrorism, oil crisis, health care, national debt , emerging, global warming and the list goes on. One reason I think that we have such a polarization in politics right now is because of litmus test issues, so having them be debated in an open forum would be nice but would it really allow us to settle on a middle ground? Or would those whose choice didn't win just turn around and vote for their old party almost ensuring that party a win. I think what would be best for individuals like me to campaign for the issues they feel are important to hopefully change public view enough to make it more of a consensus. I still stick to the fact I think that the war on drugs should be a major issue, and its time we started talking about it. We will all agree that war is wrong. So why do most agree that a war on our own people is good?

Violence and the War on Drugs

2006-05-29T09:56:00.000-07:00

See the war on drugs does cause violence.

Many May look at this DEA agent and laugh (be careful he's armed with a lawyer), maybe we should run when someone comes to talk to us about drugs. But how many innocent victims have been casualties of war? If a DEA agent in a controlled environment can't even control his gun, what are the chances of something going wrong when six or seven of the go into a house in a high intensity situation. Then what about the homeowner? What if they hit the wrong house (what you think it has only happened once)? And what if that homeowner has a gun? What if they do hit the right house (what you think it has only happened once)? In a high intensity situation it is sometimes judgment goes out the door.

In the end it is us the taxpayers who pay for this, we have a drug war that creates more violence then it prevents. We need to wake up and rethink our solutions.
Really should any cure do more harm than the illness?

Shit or get off the pot.

2006-05-27T18:53:00.000-07:00

As Randle from Clerks so eloquently put it.
There has been an ongoing discussion over at the Hammer of Truth on The LP. I wanted to raise the question if people thought there where quickly winnable issues. I also wanted to ask people what measures they think would be necessary to make it happen if the LP splits or not it is important either way to have some good talking points for friends or other sites out on the web.

Personally I think one of the more winnable issues is the drug war. I think to do it we must to do it is
First: Get people to look at drug use as a health issue and not crime issue because once that happens people will hopefully be friendlier towards the issue.
Second: Start showing the people the true costs of the drug war not just in police costs but in Us foreign policy around the world. That fact that the Anti-drug ads do not help they also contribute to the problems of causing. The fact that by keeping drugs illegal we are helping the black market grow and increasing violent crime which also hurts gun control issues by bring that into the spotlight we may be able to get some gun lovers to join the fight. We Also have the truth about the reasons most where made illegal in the first place because of racism.

How using viral video It is supporting a new form of free speech, And it is using free market technology through what's been termed crowdsourcing actually using a distributed area producing cheap videos . Use video, YouTube and other internet based web technology, by simply using open source materials. Can be done cheap and effectively. It will also target new voters because often, early adopters of new technology. You could use any song off the libertarian rock list that you find open source or a lot of times they may be willing to allow use for there songs . And just think how many other issues This technique would be useful on. We use developing marketplaces to our advantage. You could even use the marketplace to gain funds to pay for content by advertising. This would be very similar to Al Gore's current.tv channel but we could use the google (EFF Applauds Google Resistance to Government Subpoena) and youtube service free. It is the emerging markets that we need future government regulations. Once people see that a market will thrive and grow without government interaction.

If we feel that America should be a free market we should use what is left of it to our advantage.
It is time to adapt.
Any one else got any suggestions?

A quick blurb about me

2006-05-27T18:44:00.000-07:00

I have just recently decided to start following politics because I see what is happening in the US and well it worries me I think that we need to get away from the 2 party system and get people back in power who actually care about our freedoms. The Libertarian Party is the party that to me seems like it has the best chance of making a change. The best chance I see to help is by getting out and trying to spread the word Talking to friends and engaging whoever is willing in conversation to try and get the message out to more people.
That is also why I started a blog and I know there aint much to it right now but I plan on changing that in the next several weeks, any ideas or suggestions would greatly be appreciatted.
Thanks
Ryan B.

I found My rage again, and so can You!!

2006-05-25T21:14:00.000-07:00

here's my three step proven method

Step 1 wake up
Step 2 open your eyes
Step 3 See what the hell is happening

There don't you fell better I know I do.

The Two Headed Monster

2006-05-24T20:25:00.000-07:00

I am sure everyone has seen the news about Democratic Rep. William Jefferson and the bribes that has taken ( I will not say allegedly because there is video evidence), and I am sure that you have also heard all about the Republicans all in uproar about the searching off his office. Have you stopped to ask why? Could it be that they probably have something to hide. I am sure file shredders are working some overtime this week, they will be glad to get Memorial day off after all that extra overtime they are putting in.

But that brings me to what I really want to talk about doesn't it seem that the 2 party system is broke? I mean we have 2 groups of people that can't seem to agree on anything except they are better than us because they are in office, and deserve extra protection from the law. These are the same people who have given law enforcement more rights to intrude on everyday American's rights. They seem to care more about where there money comes from and less about the people they represent everyday. I remember about a year ago Alan Greenspan was talking about how he thought that a third party candidate would make a major impact on the 2008 presidential election. The the other night I was watching Larry King and there was talk about a need for a third party and well today everywhere I looked I kept seeing comments online about people being fed up and us needing another party.

Well I think I found one I have recently became a Libertarian (a what you may ask) . More so I ask you to find out what you are by taking the World's smallest political quiz and find out where you stand. Because if we don't start standing up for ourselves it will be too late

I'm not paranoid, it's true

2006-05-21T06:06:00.000-07:00

I was talking with a friend a month or so ago about being paranoid, and he made the comment "I'm not paranoid, I'm just careful."

Well I liked that saying and started using it. Then about a week go The USA today broke the story about the NSA collecting a database of phone calls of everyday US citizens. Then there was the warrentless eavesdropping reported by the times.

Then Gen. Michael Hayden's confirmation hearing I heard a news report we he talked about that wasn't the only program the NSA had going but he couldn't talk about them because of security questions. So we found the rabbit hole now just how far down does it go?

And I thought wait a minute I'm not paranoid, it's true.

Tank Man

2006-05-19T23:29:00.000-07:00

Have you ever heard the story of Tank Man? If you lived in China there is probably a good chance you haven't. It is actually one of the most famous image from the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, where a death toll ranges from 400-800 reported by the Chinese government or up to 2,000 reported by hospitals in the area. Why do I mention this because recently I watched an episode of Frontline in which they showed 18 year old college students at Beijing University the above picture. Their reply? They had never seen it before. Some asked if it was abstract art they had no idea it was real or the context of the events that shaped their world. These where students at the university that where a major part of the protests. Do you think that if we showed students at Kent State University the pictures of Kent State shootings they would have the same reaction or do you think they would know what happened?

Why? You may ask. Why don't the students in Beijing know about what happened. Well there is an answer, the government of China controls all media access in the country from TV to radio and including the internet. If you where to google Tiananmen square here in the US would be able to find out all about what happened. But in China through Google you find nothing about it.

Why? You may ask. For US internet companies to operate in china they must follow Chinese law on internet access to where any information they find inappropriate must be filtered out of search results, any emails that are sent are also monitored by the state, there was a case of a dissident sending an email through Yahoo shortly after that he was arrested and tortured by the Chinese government. Because of this Google, Cisco and Yahoo all had to go before a senate hearing committee about their business practices in China. Telling them if they where to censor media and turn over search records and emails to the Chinese government they should stop operating in China.

But wait isn't the US government trying to get google's records of your searches your emails and your browsing sessions.