Cannabis // Current

We’ve Cut Cigarette Smoking By Half and We Didnt Have To Arrest 20 Million Americans To Do It

November 17th, 2008

According to a new report released by the Centers for Disease Control, fewer Americans are smoking cigarettes than at any time in modern history.

The number of U.S. adults who smoke has dropped below 20 percent for the first time on record, Reuters reported. This is less than half the percentage (42 percent) of Americans who smoked cigarettes during the 1960s.

Imagine that; in the past 40 years tens of millions of Americans have voluntarily quit smoking a legal, yet highly addictive intoxicant. Millions of others have refused to initiate the habit. And they’ve all made this decision without ever once being threatened with criminal prosecution and arrest, imprisonment, probation, and drug testing.

By contrast, during this same period of time, state and local police have arrested some 20 million Americans for pot law violations ‹ primarily for violations no greater than simple possession. And yet marijuana use among the public has skyrocketed from an annual rate of 0.6 million new users in 1965 to some 2.5 annual new users today.

There’s a lesson to be learned here, of course. Tobacco, though harmful to health, is a legally regulated commodity. Sellers are licensed and held accountable by federal and state laws. Users are restricted by age. Advertising and access is limited by state and federal governments. And health warnings regarding the drug’s use are based upon credible science.

By contrast, marijuana remains an unregulated black market commodity. Sellers are typically criminal entrepreneurs who, for the most part, operate undetected from law enforcement and are free to sell their product to any person of any person. Unlike tobacco, marijuana’s packaging carries no warning label, and government ‘education’ campaign’s regarding pot’s use are based almost explicitly upon hyperbole, propaganda, and laughable stereotypes.

Is it any wonder why use of one drug is going down at the same time that use of the other is rising?

If federal lawmakers truly wished to address marijuana use, they would take a page from their successful campaign to reduce the use of cigarettes. This would include taxing and regulating cannabis with the drug’s sale and use restricted to specific markets and consumers.

While such an alternative may not entirely eliminate the black market demand for pot, it would certainly be preferable to today’s blanket, though thoroughly ineffective, expensive and impotent criminal prohibition.

Paul Armentano is the Deputy Director of NORML and the NORML Foundation in Washington, DC. He may be contact by e-mail at: paul@norml.org.November 17th, 2008 According to a new report released by the Centers for Disease Control, fewer Americans are smoking... more

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The Real Million Marijuana March on DC - July 4th 2009

There are plans for a Million Marijuana March on DC for July 4th 2009.

I've been talking with the organizer who had some interesting things to say about support he has gotten. This could be a pretty big deal if he pulls it off!

Here's what he said about the initial plans and who's involved:

"Ask Larry Lippert of American Cannabis, or Richard Rawlings from Norml, Or Casper from Time for Hemp, all people I have associated with and are collaborating with me on this.

... I am willing to give up my freedom, even my life, so that others can be free, that I was able to confidently coin myself in the phrase and context of a civil rights leader... Fear cannot drive freedom. Only spur on tyranny. So be not afraid brother. There is no greater an action in a man's life then to be a martyr of freedom, and many have sacrificed to do so, I am not afraid to sacrifice.

Also me and my counter-parts in NORML, American Cannabis, The Marijuana Policy Project, and artists like the Individuals and DJ Slim are currently contacting Willie Nelson, Cheech and Chong, Cypress Hill, ZZ Top and Woody Harrelson personally, to help us promote the march. The Million Man March only had Snoop Dog as they're main artist helping them promote, and they acquired nearly 750 THOUSAND marchers. Imagine what we can do with the artists we are acquiring.

There is nothing to fear but fear itself. Be brave my brother, the world needs you too."

-Tom D. (TRM3)

We need more freedom fighters like Tom. The media won't cover it unless it's impossible to ignore it. A million people in DC would certainly draw some attention. Especially with headliners like DJ Slim, Willie Nelson, Cheech and Chong, Cypress Hill, ZZ Top and Woody Harrelson!

Here's the TRM3 mission statement:

WHAT IS TRM3 THE REAL MILLION MARIJUANA MARCH: TRM3 The Real Million Marijuana March is a grass-roots organization based out of Salt Lake City Utah, who's aim is to gather one Million protesters in D.C. July 4th of 2009 for the worlds largest sit-in and protest of marijuana being illegal!!! Being as it is the worlds largest sit-in, it is a great act of civil-disobedience, and though we may get permits for our routes there and to arrive there, there is no permit issued by the U.S. government for a sit-in with no end date. We want a million activists to gather and STAY in D.C. until the United States government legalizes marijuana. This massive act of civil disobedience will cause the United States government to react in one of three ways: They will ignore us (which is highly doubtful) or; They will remove us (probably by force which will most likely end in rioting and martyr our cause further like the civil rights riots of African Americans in the past) or; Legalize it. These are the only options we give our government if we can accomplish one million people in D.C. next year. So help spread the news, help spread the word, and those that believe in personal freedom and the right for everyone to choose for themselves, I ask for a dedication to be there and protest with us in non-violence. Thank you! -Tom D. (TRM3)
There are plans for a Million Marijuana March on DC for July 4th 2009. I've been talking with the organizer who had some... more