Pubdate: Wed, 11 Oct 2006
Source: Lovely County Citizen, The (Eureka Springs, AK)
Contact:  2006 The Lovely County Citizen
Website: http://www.lovelycitizen.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4333
Author: Bill King
Cited: Eureka Springs "Low Priority" Marijuana Initiative 
http://norml.uark.edu/
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Eureka+Springs
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Marijuana)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

JUST VOTE YES

In a few weeks, Eureka Springs voters will have an opportunity to 
make an important statement. While some believe voting to make 
enforcement of marijuana laws in the city a low priority is pointless 
because state and federal laws trump city ordinances, the point is to 
make a long overdue point. The point of voting for this measure is to 
announce to the world that the people are wise to the hoax of this 
war on marijuana, and that they are no longer going to sit by quietly 
and allow the government to squander resources and ruin lives for no 
actual purpose.

The war in Iraq is not the only war-based-on-lies our government is 
fighting: For more than 60 years, this silly war on a harmless and 
helpful herb has been waged. In that time, millions of good and 
honorable Americans have been made into criminals and billions of 
dollars have been wasted. The winners in this war are the black 
marketeers, who reap huge profits from prohibition; the politicians, 
who use this war to highlight their (self-)righteousness; the 
medical-pharmaceutical industries, which make billions selling 
expensive, patented chemical drugs, frequently with nasty 
side-effects, when often a simple plant would be more effective and 
less harmful; and the "criminal-justice" industry, including the 
lawyers, court systems, police departments and jail builders who are 
enriched through the persecution of marijuana smokers.

It's the profit made by these winners that keep marijuana illegal, 
just as it was profit motives and greed that led to the demonization 
of the herb in the first place. In his carefully footnoted expose, 
The Emperor Wears No Clothes, Jack Herer documents the conspiracies 
that led to marijuana prohibition and the ongoing drug war. Anyone 
wishing to cast an informed vote on the subject is advised to read 
this well-documented and entertaining account of the prohibition scam.

Despite what was taught in government propaganda films such as Reefer 
Madness, there is no evidence marijuana turns users into raving 
maniacs; that it is addictive, a "gateway drug"; or that it causes 
harm. Millions of upstanding citizens have used marijuana for 
medicine, for relaxation and for creative inspiration over many years 
without adverse effects on themselves or society. Contrast that to 
the harm caused by alcohol, tobacco, prescription (and even 
over-the-counter) drugs, and the ludicrousness of prohibition becomes 
quickly apparent.

Because of the bang-up job done by the government's propaganda 
machine, few politicians and few in the media are willing to chance 
questioning the rationality of marijuana prohibition, even though 
many of these politicians and media personalities have used, or 
continue to use, marijuana. Jimmy Carter knew the truth and was 
poised to push for decriminalization before "Just Say No" Reagan 
knocked him out of office. Nixon appointed a blue-ribbon presidential 
commission to study marijuana, but when the commission saw no reason 
to continue prohibition, Nixon buried its report. The government 
argues that even medical marijuana can't be considered until studies 
are done, but then it does everything in its power to thwart and 
suppress research.

Other countries, most notably The Netherlands, have decriminalized 
marijuana without ill effect. Drug use there has not increased, crime 
has decreased, and it's been a boon for tourism. The studies and 
experiments have already been done, and the results, hands-down, 
support decriminalization. Why not tax marijuana and use the money to 
benefit the people rather than organized crime and a corrupt bureaucracy?

A small, southern town in Arkansas voting to de-prioritize marijuana 
law enforcement will make a huge statement and will, no doubt, 
attract national media attention. Eureka Springs being among the 
leaders in this movement can only be good for the city and for 
tourism: It will re-enforce the notion that we are a city of 
tolerance and give us priceless exposure. It will also tell the 
government that the emperor's nakedness is beginning to be noticed 
even in the "red states."

As more cities and states stand up and just say no to bogus marijuana 
laws, the politicians will eventually follow. Or, maybe it will take 
the courts. In any honest examination, marijuana prohibition would 
clearly be found unconstitutional. We are purportedly secure in our 
homes from unreasonable searches and seizures, and rights not spelled 
out in the Constitution as belonging to the government are supposedly 
reserved for the people. With no compelling reasons to prevent the 
people from growing or consuming marijuana, the government should 
butt out and let the people pursue happiness as they choose.

Sometimes the people need to lead. The vote on Nov. 7 is an 
opportunity for the people of Eureka Springs to be true leaders. 
While marijuana may not be the most pressing issue of the day, 
repealing prohibition is nonetheless a worthy and obtainable goal.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake