Bad American

Paul Armentado, Alternet

At a time when we’re going down the financial shit tubes in this country, we still haven’t done ourselves a big favor and legalized marijuana because Bill O’Reilly, assorted prejudicial church ladies, and blue suited fascists don’t like the people who smoke pot.

What’s the current price for a bag of weed? According to the latest figures from the FBI, the human cost is roughly 739,000 a year.

That’s the number of American citizens arrested in 2006 for possessing small amounts of pot. (Another 91,000 were charged with marijuana-related felonies.) The figure is the highest annual total ever recorded, and is nearly double the number of citizens busted for pot fifteen years ago.

Those arrested face a multitude of consequences, primarily determined by where they live. For example, most Californians charged with violating the state’s pot possession laws face little more than a small fine. By contrast, getting busted with a pinch of weed in Ohio will cost you your driver’s license for at least six months. Move to Texas — well, now you’re looking at a criminal record and up to 180 days in jail. Or if you happen to be a first-time offender, possibly a stint in court-mandated ‘drug rehab’ (one recent study reported that nearly 70 percent of all adults referred to Texas drug treatment programs for weed were referred by the courts), probation, and a hefty legal bill. And don’t even think about getting busted in Oklahoma, where a first time conviction for minor pot possession can net you up to one year in jail, or up to ten years if you’re found guilty of a second offense. Thinking of growing your own? That’ll cost you a $20,000 fine, and — oh yeah — anywhere from two years to life in prison.

Yes, you read that right — life in prison.

Again, perhaps someday, the United States of America will become a civilized nation. Until then, remember that people who smoke this weed freely grown around the world, are EVIL - FAR MORE  EVIL than the bandittos on Wall Street that rob people of their life savings and get a few years in country club prisons. No sir, smoke the evil weed and Jesus himself cries bitter tears.

Read the whole article without getting furious if you have a heart AND a brain. I had to get up and calm down several times while reading it. And make sure you read the comments at the tail end from Alternet readers. I especially loved this one:

While serving as an active duty Army drill sergeant I was diagnosed with cancer. After surgery and radiation treatment I was placed on seven different medications, then three more to treat the side effects of the previous seven. I was depressed, losing weight rapidly and constantly in pain. A freind gave me a joint and it changed my life. No nausea, no pain, hello appetite, I was happy again. I threw away all the other meds.

You can spend your money imprisoning me but I will excercise my God given rights until my death. I spent my career defending your rights why do you deny me mine?I couldn’t add anything more to this than AMEN!

But there’s more.

There’s the corrupting influence on the police and other lawmakers which the illegality encourages.

In my little town we have someone literally operating an open air drug emporium (mostly pot from what I can see) right on Main Street - selling to high school kids (I don’t want to see this person busted for using - just selling to kids). And right under the nose of the local cops who could bust the operator with a police explorer cadet and a wire, if they wanted to. Other prominent people seem to have connections with this drug trade and allow it to continue, possibly being on the take. I see this rot consuming cops, judges and other public officials who look the other way for whatever reasons. As long as their is big money in illegality, you will continue to see law and order made a mockery of by those who are sworn to uphold it.

End the stupidity and ruined lives. Legalize it. Now.