Pubdate: Fri, 20 Nov 2015 Source: Trentonian, The (NJ) Copyright: 2015 The Trentonian Contact: http://www.trentonian.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1006 Author: Ed Forchion, NJWeedman.com For The Trentonian FREE ALL POT PRISONERS FIRST AS STEP TOWARD LEGALIZATION This past week has been a memorable week for me for several reasons, but talk of legalizing the substance I enjoy and which has caused the government to ruin me tops the list. Senator Scutari held a public hearing at the state capitol to explore the issue of marijuana legalization, a precursor to his sponsored legalization bill. Scutari, who as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, called the hearing and explained its purpose as "the first step" to introducing his bill (S1896) and "this is the natural next step - to talk about the benefits of legalization and the negative impact prohibition has had." Scutari said that "he was following the lead of Colorado, which netted $2 million in sales tax the first month of legalization." He said New Jersey "could realize at least $100 million in revenue, which he would divide between the nearly broke Transportation Trust Fund, drug enforcement, and women's health programs, which Governor Christie cut in 2010. Now as anyone reading The Trentonian in the last 20 years knows I've been a staunch advocate of legalization. There is no louder voice on legalization in NJ than mine. I've spoken out to the point of ruining my own life for a "cause" many could care less about. I should've been extremely happy, but I wasn't. I admit I was prepared to go to Senator Scutari's hearing not only with a sense of skepticism - I contemplated staging a passive act of civil disobedience. No, I wasn't going to smoke-out the Capitol like I did in 2000, or the Trenton City Hall two weeks ago. I was even jokingly asked by a state trooper if I was going to be on my best behavior, to which I replied "Of course I am," with a sly smile. Nonetheless I almost did something unique, but I decided to just chill and listen. My skepticism mainly stemmed from the list of invited speakers, all of whom are great speakers for the "cause," but I was extremely disappointed the speakers' panel didn't include any "victims." Yeah, I was a bit butthurt, I wish I had the opportunity to speak. I and my family have been victims of NJ's war on weed, as 24,000 others were last year. True victim stories should've been highlighted for the public and press about the consequences of continued pot prohibition. This could've thwarted some of the opposition presented by Senators Killby and Doherty who clearly want to keep victimizing citizens for this beneficial plant, with continued LIES and Reefer Madness mentality. (What morons.) There was no firsthand experience related to the Senate committee, which a real victim could've done. These panelists recited statistics and numbers, but if I or any victim had been invited to speak we would've told stories of blood, sweat, and tears, of how the war on pot harmed us far more than the substance itself. The panel included Udi Ofer, Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey (ACLUNJ); Evan Nisan, director of NORML-NJ (National Organization for Reform of Marijuana Laws); Charles White, director of the NAACP-NJ; Bill Caruso managing director of Archer Public Affairs, an affiliate of the Haddonfield law firm Archer & Greine; Ken Wolski of the Coalition for Medical Marijuana NJ; Jon-Henry Barr, president of the Municipal Prosecutors' Association; Lt Bucci of LEAP (Law Enforcement Against Prohibition), as well as several others. Udi went first and gave an informative speech, delivering great answers to questions presented to him by the senatorial committee. Evan gave the same speech - ditto, they should've coordinated that. Bill Caruso provided an informative presentation as well, but I've been in a cage for this plant and it doesn't sit as well with me that a discussion about money/taxes/ revenue came before a discussion about freeing prisoners. I know he's a lobbyist and the cannabis capitalism being exhibited by California, Colorado, Alaska, and Washington State is what's driving this push for legalization here in Jersey, but... I 100% agree with everything these three said, however I believe this discussion of legalization should start at stopping arrests and freeing the hundreds of persons in NJ prisons/jails for marijuana offenses or the consequences of testing positive for pot. (period.) How can the Senate be talking about money for this substance while lives are wasting away in a cage? Based on lies. Ken Wolski in my opinion gave the best informative speech, he highlighted what was wrong with our current medical marijuana law (Compassionate Use of Medical Marijuana Act of 2010) and pointed out many of the short comings of that legislative act and raised an eyeglass to the obstruction Gov. Christie has engaged in to undermine it. He is a career nurse and gave the most grassroots testimonial of them all. All the panelists touched on the racial disparity, especially Mr. White of the NAACP who was put on the second tier of invited guest speakers. I believe he should have followed Udi on the fist but I'm not a senator what does this pothead know? Mr. White was the panelist I had wished to hear speak the most. In the past I could never get the NAACP to come out against the war on drugs, in the last year or so numerous chapters of the NAACP has done so. African-Americans are disproportionately affected by the criminalization of marijuana which makes passing the law a civil rights issue. "We have empirical proof that the application of the marijuana laws has been unfairly applied to our young people of color." That is what I have always known, so personally this was the greatest meter of my own self analysts. I wanted to yell "I told you so" to everyone at the top of my lungs! Retired NJ State Trooper Lt Bucci who represented LEAP told of how he personally ruined lives enforcing these archaic marijuana laws and his new found position was directly to correct the harms to lives he did in the past. He recited how he spent years as a patrolling trooper and remembers fondly helping people, he also spent most of his career on narcotics and regrets most of it. That was powerful, I almost felt bad for him. I looked over at the trooper in the committee room at the time and I could see he was paying attention to Mr. Bucci - great. Maybe he won't enforce drug laws in the future - lets hope he looks the other way at potheads now. In 5 past Columns I called Mr. Barr a hypocrite for out of his mouth he says "legalization" but in his job capacity as a municipal prosecutor he prosecutes people every week for marijuana. I had a brief handshake and conversation with him. (ugh) I didn't call him a hypocrite to his face and I listened to what he had to say. Wow great speech but I wish he would just stop prosecuting people and encourage others in his organization to also stop. As I told him before He could exercise "prosecutorial nullification" too. That would go a long way towards legalization if prosecutors stopped enforcing the law they clearly see is flawed. P.S. Ironically at the same time this hearing was being held there was a #blacklivesmatter protest going on outside the statehouse. Recently the #blacklivesmatter movement has announced they are joining the call for legalization as they recognize this war on marijuana has caused many of the conflicts between the police and blacks, they too realize it's a civil rights issue. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom