On a side note....There is a proven medical aspect to marijuana that doesn't
apply to us, but with which I' very familiar with and is often not discussed.
I have many, many dear friends and comrades who have CP, MS, are people with
quadplegia, or paraplegia. My brothers and sisters with these and other
conditions are often racked with uncontrollable spasms. Conventional
anti-spasmatic but legal and high priced drugs have many negative side effects,
sometimes worse than the spasms themselves.
But, pot is highly effective in mitigating spasms and is widely used in this
community whether legal, technically or not with great effect.
I've witnessed the impact over years now and can attest to the effacy.
Now, truth be told I'm not all that big of a pot smoker myself though it is
readily available and I could even get a medical marijuana card here. It's just
one of those things I don't pursue too much for a variety of reasons, mostly
logistics and money wise.
A few years back I grew my own as well as others I know of.
But, that said pot has been effectively de-criminalized since the early
seventies here. If one was white and not ttraficking one didn't get busted.
Note the white part here?!
Basically though even in the black community cops are loath to go after pot
busts for simply long ago they decided they've got more important things, even
in the criminal realm to consider.
And, for the record over the past several years I've literally been around
campfiers where off duty cops themselves toked along with the others when a
joint was passed around.
----- Original Message -----
From: Bob Hachey
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Saturday, January 30, 2016 4:47 AM
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: Federal Drug Policy Softens as Whites Become
Face of Heroin Addiction
Hi Joe,
No doubt today's grass is a good deal more potent, (and expensive) than the
weed I smoked back in late high school and college. A small joint usually lasts
me two days.
Never mind driving, I wouldn't think of going out for a walk by myself with a
guide dog or cane while under its influence.
Bummer that your CD player is broken.
I've switched over to playing music on the victor stream or the iPhone.
My cds are all copied onto my computer.
Someday, when I get an extra few hundered bucks, I'm going to get one of
those new receivers that connects wirelessly to the PC.
AS our infrastructure crumbles, our technology does improve.
Bob
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of joe harcz Comcast
Sent: Friday, January 29, 2016 7:06 PM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: Federal Drug Policy Softens as Whites Become
Face of Heroin Addiction
No doubt that I agree and mind you I like to drink ....
But, again you make my point here Bob and so does Chuck.
People should not be prosecuted for consumption of intoxicants of any sort
but, rather for behaviors that are empirical, demonstrable, etc. and given due
process and equal protection under law.
Moreover, people with substance abuse issues alone, not actions based upon
substance abuse, should be given the incentives, supports and appropriate
treatments free of any state penalty.
Regardless, back to drinking and driving, I've long thought that the programs
for giving or making available transportation to and from bars is a good, and
pragmatic thing.
And even though a "libertarian" of sorts I think that for those who drive
that it might be an appropriate form of regulation to have the same sorts of
"breath ealizer" locks on ignition systems for all as are required for those
out on probation for prior alcohol offenses.
the bottom line is that all impaired drivers impact other people's rights.
Let folks get as drunk as they want. I'm not opposed and, in fact am working
on beer number six myself as I'm writing this.
But, I'm not driving anything more dangerous than this keyboard.
There is a "balancing act" here between the known rights of the individual
and those of society. But, they really aren't all that complicated in my mind.
BTW this should go to all intoxicants including those I favor legalizing,
which nowadays includes all drugs. Again, people have the right to kill
themselves even with drugs. But, they don't have the right to endanger others
in the public domain and don't have the absolute right against criminal
exposure for acts conducted "under the influence".
And though I'm for legalizing pot I must say I know that it is much more
potent than the old Mexican dirt reefer of my youth. I again believe it should
be legalized mind you. But personally I smoked some pot a couple of months ago
that literally put a stagger and a stupor on me that a simple six pack of bud
couldn't do.
It was a full body buzz, and while mind was relatively placid and ccool the
body did not respond to what it should have by a long shot. In other words I
was really impaired and should have never been behind the wheel, period even if
I could see and had a license, and, if indeed I could have staggerred to the
car, turned it on, and tried to drive it down the road.
Fortunately I am blind and I just went to bed and layed back and listened to
some tunes.
For the former I should have been arrested in my mind and for the latter
should not have been so.
Bottom line is what folks do in their own homes when alone isn't any of the
state's fucking business and isn't something we should ever sanction.
Now, I must end this rant to go and suck down another Labatt Blue.
My pot is gone and my CD is broken.
So I guess I'll drink some Canadien beer and have some hockey fantasies or
something....
Stupid, yes. Socially harmful no.
Illegal, this should never be.
lol.
----- Original Message -----
From: Bob Hachey
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Friday, January 29, 2016 5:12 PM
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: Federal Drug Policy Softens as Whites Become
Face of Heroin Addiction
Hi Charles and all,
While there's no doubt we have way too many people in prison and are in
badly in need of criminal justice reform, one group I'd crack down harder on
are drunk drivers. Same goes for drivers impaired by other substances be they
legal or illegal. Impaired driving kills too many people and ruins too many
lives.
I have no problem with folks who want to get drunk or stoned, but don't get
behind the wheel when you're impaired.
Bob Hachey
