Category Archives: Politics

It wasn’t democracy that forced dangerous pot option on communities

By Barbara Shafer

Editors Note: The Opt Out groups in Illinois have educated themselves to see through the smokescreen of marijuana legalization.  We thought this article in The Daily Herald touched on every major reason why states shouldn’t legalize marijuana. Heather Steans is the state senator who introduced the bill.  It passed in a shell bill, avoiding much discussion.

Sen. Heather Steans couldn’t be more wrong, answering the question (re: cannabis legalization HB1438) “Is democracy a bad thing?” by stating the bill’s co-authors “don’t think so.” It wasn’t democracy. It was representation gone awry with 104 Illinois legislators speaking on behalf of 12.8 million Illinoisans.

With 60 out of 104 legislators having received a total of $630,000 in marijuana lobbyist money in 2017 and 45 voting yes, is it interesting? Yes. Comped? Maybe. Democracy? No. Continue reading It wasn’t democracy that forced dangerous pot option on communities

Lowell Protesters demonstrate against pot dispensaries

“Prohibitionists” against marijuana are alive and well in Massachusetts. They’re a growing army.  Hundreds of people participated in a Peace March from Lowell Auditorium to Lowell City Hall on September 28 to demonstrate concerns about marijuana in the city.

Many people held signs, proclaiming “We have a Dream,” and “Keep Kids Safe.”   One sign proclaimed a “War on Addiction.”  Organizers planned the march to express problems associated with the  marijuana stores in the City of Lowell.

Many in the immigrant community joined the group.   How can anyone live the American dream, if a community promotes drug use?

After the march, several people gave speeches in front of city hall, explaining their opposition to marijuana.  They talked about psychosis and suicide, and the deaths of young people.  

We found many photos on the website for Citywide Ministries Network of Greater Lowell.   Other groups joined in the march. The turnout was huge. 

Lowell, the fourth largest in Massachusetts, lies 30 miles north of Boston.   

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker took a courageous step last week, banning all vaping products, for four months. The CDC warned that 77% of the lung illnesses from vaping were from marijuana vapes, some of which were mixed with nicotine.

Senator Harris’ bill, like Prop 64, is another gimmick

Yesterday Senator Kamala Harris and Representative Jerrold Nadler introduced the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act, a bill to federally legalize, commercialize, and tax the use of marijuana.

Senator Harris owns much responsibility for the marijuana problems that plague the state of California.  When she first ran for Attorney General in 2010 she promised not to go after the marijuana industry.  She kept the hands-off approach, allowing illegal growers whose plants continue the destruction of the environment in California. Four federal district attorneys still prosecuted marijuana growers, despite Harris’ opposition. Continue reading Senator Harris’ bill, like Prop 64, is another gimmick

WHO’S REALLY IN PRISON FOR MARIJUANA?


by David G. Evans, Esq.

Drug legalization advocates claim that prisons are overflowing with people convicted for only simple possession of marijuana. This claim is aggressively pushed by groups seeking to relax or abolish marijuana laws. A more accurate view is that the vast majority of inmates in prison for marijuana have been found guilty of more than simple possession. They were convicted for drug trafficking, or for marijuana possession along with other offenses. Many of those in prison for marijuana entered a guilty plea to a marijuana charge to avoid a more serious charge. In the US, just 1.6 percent of the state inmate population were held for offenses involving only marijuana, and less than one percent of all state prisoners (0.7 percent) were incarcerated with marijuana possession as the only charge. An even smaller fraction of state prisoners were first time offenders (0.3 percent). The numbers on the US federal prisons are similar. In 2001, the overwhelming majority of offenders sentenced for marijuana crimes were convicted for trafficking and only 63 served time for simple possession. [FN1]

Continue reading WHO’S REALLY IN PRISON FOR MARIJUANA?