While the Obama Administration continues its crackdown on marijuana, including medical marijuana, New York City is joining other jurisdictions in the decriminalization of possession of small quantities of pot. Last year, NYPD made 50,000 arrests for such small quantities of pot. The welcomed change further detaches the federal crackdown on marijuana from public opinion if not reality.
Possession of small amounts of marijuana is a crime only if the marijuana is in public view or if it is being smoked in public, but these arrests are part of the controversial policy of pat downs by police — the current debate of extensive use of the stop-and-frisk practice by police.
Just this week I was called by a friend whose teenage son was charged with other teenagers after a police raid on a party that generated a complaint over noise. He was simply in a house where officers found a small amount of pot but they still charged everyone upstairs with possession. It is obviously a ridiculous charge but I hear of such cases constantly in Virginia and other states. While some politicians insist that pot is a “gateway” drug to more serious drugs, it is more clearly a gateway to criminal records for teenagers who are torn from their schools and lives to face entirely unnecessary charges.
Source: NY Times
@JC: I am all for full legality. That said, the simple chemistry of combustion ensures carcinogens in pot smoke, wood smoke, fabric smoke, whatever kind of smoke. In the event of full legality and widespread chronic usage of pot, I would bet a month’s salary that a systematic study of 20 or 30 year pot smokers wiould reveal an increased risk of cancers.
But, I do not care, I am a civil libertarian, as I said. I would legalize heroin and LSD, I would legalize professional assisted suicide (and in cases where patients are terminally ill, I would legally classify those as natural deaths for the purposes of any insurance policy).
Everybody dies of something sooner or later anyway, if using drugs relieves some physical or emotional pain and makes life statistically shorter but definitely more tolerable for somebody, I think it is oppression to deny them that relief because they might die earlier. If the alternatives are a long miserable life versus a shorter but happier life, I think the patient chooses.
I always, almost, use hyperbole. Y’all know that. Not excusing myself. But let’s face it, a little hyperbole is a good balance for the baloney they’ve fed us all for many years. Fair’s fair.
And thanks Big Tree for interesting info on
revelation of anxiety issues. My few times have been either laughing attacks, or anxiety attacks. Does he take patients via email sessions (joke).
Interesting on the lack of cardiogenic effects. Practice goes against conventional wisdom (ie burned solids=cancer. But believe that the 200 plus other compounds in tobacco smoke have greater importance than a little THC laden soot. Anybody breathen the city air lately?)
@Tony… I would say that ‘cancer-proof’ is a misnomer. That being said there is more than ample evidence to suggest that Cannabis use does not lead to cancer. There is strong evidence/proof that THC can shrink or inhibit the growth of cancerous tumors. In fact, The American Cancer Society…read that again…a year or two back came out stating that there is no causal relation between Cannabis use and cancer.
Beyond that. Consider the amount of money spent on anti-drug PSA’s; if there were a causal link between Cannabis use and cancer those PSA’s would be all over advertising that relationship, just as anti-tobacco PSA’s are. But anti-pot propaganda rarely, if ever, touches on health implications.
@Bron… I can absolutely understand that smoking Cannabis can cause issues with thinking, heck I’ve been there. But the fact of the matter is that that cognitive delay is a temporary side effect of heavy use in SOME individuals. Most pot smokers only have a couple tokes on the weekend or a little bit before bedtime…they aren’t the stereotypical pot heads. Its the same as with alcohol…moderation is key.
The difference is, if an individuals falls into the trap of habituated Cannabis use, they are far more likely to be able to get out of that habit than if they became addicted to Alcohol.
I had a conversation with a psychologist who specializes in addiction and anxiety issues and he told me what fascinates him about Cannabis is the role it can play in identifiying addiction/anxiety/depression issues. He said that individuals who become ‘addicted’ to smoking pot aren’t addicted to a substance, they are addicted to escaping negative mental states. Whereas an alcoholic may start drinking to self-medicate for anxiety/depression reasons they end up addicted to the substance so that they then need, not only help for their underlying mental issues, but also their physical addiction.
With a pot ‘addict’ he said that the need is for treatment of the mental illness and that the pot ‘addiction’ quickly diminishes. So in a sense, habituated/heavy Cannabis use can highlight mental issues in individuals while maintaining a low risk of long term addiction issues.
All that being stated…while decriminalization is one more step towards revising our draconian drug laws, it does not provide for a means of preventing youth from getting their hands on the product, as do alcohol and tobacco age restrictions which have been proven to work.
Bottom line is that consenting adults should be free to use Cannabis as long as they are not infringing on the rights of others.
Talk about barking up the wrong tree.
The blog blames Obama for being tough on Pot while good ol Bloomberg is easing up. What the Turley Blog is really telling you is vote for Willard. Whats good for Bain Capital is Good For the USA.
Currently, as you said, possession of small amounts is legal. What the change would do is take away an abusive tactic used by police. They stop you and require you to empty your pockets. If you have a legal quantity of grass they arrest you for public display since, well, it’s not in your pocket any longer.
@idealist: Pot is not cancer proof. If a solid produces visible smoke when burned it contains carcinogens, and sucking them into the lungs for absorption into the bloodstream increases the risk of cancer. Some solids when burned produce more carcinogens then others, but pot is not cancer proof.
Bron,
Nice post. Gave me this thought: When you are addicted, to love, to drugs, to whatever—-YOUR need surmounts all else in your life. This has
consequences usually for others. You are in the need of enabling. It takes awhile, sometimes never for others to realize the extent of your need which surpasses most if not all social needs.
So if you are addictive, happy hells, is all I can wish for you and yours.
But do consume, pot before alcohol. More peaceful.
Pot before tobacco. Cancer-proof and energizes after the high goes. Cheaper too if it were legal. And would not have the terrible social consequences of brandmarking for life we see now.
Our government was never set up to restrict or prohibit people from making choices about how they want to live their lives.Weather its a vice, habit, risk taking. It was set up to protect our choices. As usual, our mommy and daddy legislators, wanting votes from the goodie two shoes people, started taking away our rights, one drop of freedom at a time. And our judicial people just sit there with blank looks. Whats a liberty loving person to do?
AY:
I dont know if it is or not. I have seen people I know have serious problems with alcohol, drugs, sex and sugar.
So an addictive personality [if there is such a thing] is the problem not the drug or activity. I am very much against prohibitions of drugs and alcohol, an adult has the right to do what they want with their own body. However they should think about the effects it has on their family.
In my opinion, from my limited experience, I say addicts are very selfish people but being selfish is not against the law. It is just very stupid when dealing with people you love and who love you.
Legalize pot now! It’s a horrid waste of tax dollars when it could become a tax base instead. I’ve only smoked pot once… from 1996 till now.
The idea of pot as a gateway drug is merely propaganda from the Drug Enforcement/Addiction Industry.
This will save NYC a lot of money prosecuting and jailing people unnecessarily.
We lead the world in terms of prison population, and pot is a large chunk of it.
Alcohol is addictive, Tobacco is addictive, sugar and fat are addictive, gambling can be addictive, adrenaline rushes can be addictive, even sex can be addictive.
So what? We have a right to engage in addictive behavior and consumption. Whether it is a gateway drug or not. Is bicycling a gateway to motorcycle riding and a measurable reduction in average lifespan?
Should we outlaw bicycling? Inline skates? Skiing? Motorcycles?
Whether pot is addictive or impairs thinking is none of our business. We should make an effort to protect and education children, as we do with alcohol and tobacco, but beyond that, I do not understand why anybody thinks this is any of their business.
I am not a user of any illegal drugs, alcohol or tobacco, but I think these laws against addiction are just wrong-headed authoritarianism.
I was wondering nal……lol
Bron,
If you think weed is a gateway drug….. Then I respect you for saying so…. But it’s been my experience that it’s not…. It’s psychologically addictive…. Not chemically….It no more leads to other drugs than hugging leads to intercourse…… This is my opinion….
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/29/beto-orourke-marijuana-_n_1554661.html Pro-legalization candidate wins democratic primary in El Paso, Tx.
my wife teaches kids with drug addiction and other problems, she says pot has serious impact on thinking. The societal impact of drug use is patently apparent.
How can Bloomberg justify making pot legal while making pop illegal?
I got that from:
Funniest Comment on the New York Times online
Just don’t smoke the pot while drinking a 24-oz soda.
I agree that this is a good result….. To charge everyone is the norm hoping someone will come forward…… But the feds have other incentives….. If convicted…. No student loans…..