Re: Article: "Justice For Sale" POT
- From: "Legend" <livinnow@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: 18 Jun 2006 15:18:18 -0700
I've been reading the book "Reefer Madness" by Eric Schlosser(no, it's
not the book that the movie is based on). The part that deals with the
marijuana industry is quite fascinating. Do you know how much said
industry (for that's what it is) adds to our economy?
First, there are the growers. They have to buy special lights,
fertilizer, soil, etc. for the seedlings they grow indoors. Then, when
the plants are moved outside, they have to be mixed with a "legitimate"
crop(usually corn) for cover from everyone from nosy neighbors to DEA
agents in helicopters.
Of course, this gives work to many-some of whom would never think of
smoking a joint;many, in fact, are ignorant of the true nature of what
they are doing. People are needed to watch, water, and harvest the
plants; separate the male from female sprouts (only the females contain
enough THC to be of street value). After harvest, the plants must be
dried and manicured.
Then comes the fun part-finding buyers. they must scrutinize them for
integrity, and be so scrutinized in return(remember, there's no legal
recourse for anyone who buys phony or low-quality pot), and the
original buyers are buying "wholesale" which can run well into the 5 or
6 figure range. By the time it gets to the street, it has provided for
many jobs and much spending cash for the big-time growers.
And, of course there's the other side-those whose job it is to arrest,
prosecute, judge, and incarcerate these naughty people. And don't
forget the defense attorneys! Many a police officer, DEA agent, lawyer
(for prosecution and defense), and even judge would lose a lot of
business without this evil industry.
The book goes on to speak of injustices of the sentencing system (an
example is given of a large-scale growing operation that got busted.
One man-mainly because he refused to name names-ended up getting a life
sentence! (it was later reduced to sixteen years-not because of laws or
justice, anything like that, but because the prosecution had failed to
prove that he knew the extent of the operation).
And there's the "seizure" law. A couple in their eighties lost their
home, which they had owned for 40 years, because their grandson was
convicted of selling pot from their basement. The judge who ordered
this said that people had the responsibility of knowing what was going
on in their homes-and if it was illegal, putting a stop to it. A few
months later the judge's son was arrested for selling drugs out of her
home AND her car. She was transferred out of the seizure department,
but, well after her son's conviction, she still owned her house and her
car. Rank has its priviliges.
And politicians' views on these laws depend almost solely on the
political climate. For example, in the early 80's, a young congressman
was one of the first on the federal level to introduce a bill allowing
marijuana to be grown and used for medical purposes. Some 15-16 years
later, on becoming Speaker of the House, he introduced a bill that
would give a life sentence for importing more than two ounces of
marijuana. The name of said Congressman-Newt Gingrich!
I could go on...but I think you get the picture. And adding in other
drugs only allows for more hypocrisy-and more profit! I didn't even
mention the prison industry that grew up, or the informer industry.
There's even a black market in deals to inform law enforcement of-sold,
by friends and confidantes of dealers, to people facing long sentences
for the sole reason that they know of no other miscreant to inform on.
It's "Let's make a deal"-for freedom! The difference can be between a
long period of probation and life without parole!
That's our justice system for you!
And for those who'd take this post apart-and some will, no doubt-it's
all in the book-which is very well annotated. And I only read the
first third of it!
-Legend
Codeee01@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
This is from DRC NET.
If there were ever any doubt that the War On Drugs, which has sloshed
over into the War on Pain Patients is profitable, and would mean the
loss of funds to state and federal government, this is just one very
small example.
Other examples masquerade as agents of the Justice Department, "Rehab
programs" for the unwilling, while the willing go without, that new
growth industry pee testing and monitoring, and last but not least..
building new jails,prisons, and hiring the staff to man them and
monitor the prisoners once they're out.
Don't even get me started on those who are paid to arrest users,
garnish property as if they were Columbian Drug Lords, and
more meaningful for US....those who keep tabs on prescriptions
written in each state, and make visits to doctors who prescribe
schedule two medications, just so they'll KNOW they're being
watched...and suspected of being "distributors" rather than
doctors.
codeee
As long as there's money in it, I'm afraid it's here to stay, ladies
and gents.
http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/440/forsale.shtml
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