LaMarcus Wilkerson's story (Lesser of 3 evils, March 13, 2014) got an arrow-splitting bull's eye exposing cannabis (marijuana) prohibition. Another reason to end cannabis prohibition that doesn't get mentioned is that prohibition increases hard-drug addiction rates. Government claims heroin is no worse than cannabis and methamphetamine and that cocaine is less harmful by insisting cannabis is a Schedule I substance alongside heroin, while methamphetamine and cocaine are only Schedule II substances. How many citizens tried cannabis and realized it is not nearly as dangerous as claimed and believed other substances must not be either, only to find themselves addicted to hard drugs? Can the message from cannabis prohibitionists be any worse for vulnerable citizens? Truthfully, Stan White [end]
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 443,000 people die from tobacco each year; 8.6 million live with a life-threatening illness, and approximately 46.6 million Americans continue to use the drug. Like tobacco, alcohol is abused by numerous Americans. Over 80,000 deaths are caused by excessive drinking yearly in the U.S. However, both tobacco and alcohol are legal and sold at a store nearby. Two of the top three killers in America are sold at grocery stores and gas stations. [continues 283 words]
A drug that counteracts overdoses on opioid drugs such as heroine, OxyContin and morphine is now available to the public for free. The drug is called Naloxone, and it isn't a new drug; patients in ambulances and emergency rooms get this antidotal drug when it is required. Though this drug sounds amazing, many have voiced concerns that it doesn't help drug users get clean and instead makes them take higher doses of drugs because they don't have to worry about fatal overdoses. [continues 176 words]
Georgia may be the next state to legalize medical marijuana. So far, there are twenty states plus the District of Colombia that have voted to allow the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes. Senator Josh McKoon recently proposed a bill that legalizes medical marijuana in Georgia. State Representative Allen Peake was approached by a constituent whose child has up to seventy seizures a day. He was touched by the story and believes that marijuana may help alleviate the pain of this adolescent and of children throughout Georgia who battle a similar condition. [continues 172 words]
Students at Linn State Technical College were met with a new and unnecessary drug testing policy on Sept 7. The tests will be included in student fees at a cost of $50 and will test for 11 drugs, including marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamine. Even if it is a technical college, using a drug test to determine whether someone should be able to attend school is creating a barrier to education that has nothing to do with a person's ability to excel in a particular career specialization. [continues 427 words]
And the king said, "Let there be war." Many have fought, many have bled, and many have died; casualties of the battle against the vicious, black hearted, Nazi-Americans who dare to make their own decisions for illegal prescriptions. "Death to those free willed, free skilled, and free illed fooled." The words echo from the black suited king from the white gleaming kingdom. His words voyage throughout the land. His words thunder the smoky gray skies, provided by the gals and guys, high off more than just life. [continues 498 words]
SGA passed a resolution Monday night that requires the Office of Judicial Affairs to notify parents of students who have violated established alcohol/drug policies twice. This only applies to students under the age of 21. Richard Lee, assistant to the dean of students for judicial affairs, introduced to the senate the Actual Parental Notification Policy Resolution composed by the Substance Abuse Task Force. Lee explained that repeat offenses to the alcohol and drug policies may be indicative of a bigger problem and in actuality only affects about two students per school year. [continues 341 words]
If international relations were a movie, Canada would be one of those demure heroines who remains in the background for most of the film but surprises the audience at a pivotal moment by standing up to--or ignoring--the leading man. It's as if we have to be reminded that our closest neighbor is a nation unto itself. But that sovereign state thing never really goes away. And now--just when you thought it was safe to go back to Toronto--our licentious friends to the north are flexing their independence again. [continues 313 words]
Marijuana prohibition is a failed public policy that is wasting valuable law enforcement resources, and needlessly destroying the lives and careers of hundreds of thousands of good, productive citizens each year in this country. The costs of prohibition are far worse than any harm that may be caused by marijuana itself. We spend an estimated $10 billion annually in a futile effort to identify, arrest and prosecute marijuana smokers and those from whom they purchase the drug. This is an almost unbelievably stupid use of resources that should instead be fighting serious and violent crime, including terrorism. Is anyone really more frightened by marijuana smoking than by violent crime? Who decides these priorities? [continues 201 words]
