Drug War shadow

[mopman]

The US has always cast its Drug War shadow over the rest of the globe, often strong arming nations into participation. That shadow is now shrinking.

It’s been a turbulent few years for the USA. From its persistent wars on some or other nation to the Occupy Wall Street movement, there is a lot of unrest at the moment. It’s getting pretty oppressive for folks in the US with laws such as the National Defence Authorization Act (NDAA), which makes a mockery of their Bill of Rights, and the pending Drug Trafficking Safe Harbor Elimination Act of 2011, which would mean that US citizens who have a joint in Amsterdam or even plan to have a joint in Amsterdam could be prosecuted for this in the US. Heavy shit.

This is once again at odds with what the people of the US want. The various successes of polls and initiatives of 2011 are well behind us, but there are loads more on the cards. Some states are attempting to move past their existing policies of medicinal marijuana and are taking a shot at decriminalizing or legalising the herb for recreational use. Last week, New York gov. Cuomo announced his proposal to decriminilize. Colorado, specifically, will see voters take to the polls in November 2012, with marijuana legalization being on the ballot. This is a second swing at legalising marijuana in Colorado and effectively ending its prohibition in the state. I’m feeling optimistic as all the numbers tell us that public support for marijuana in the US is on the increase and is starting to tip the scale.

Connecticut has recently become the 17th state to permit the use of medical marijuana, testament to the change in public opinion.

DREW BROWN, A VICE PRESIDENT AT ABUNDANT HEALING STORE (LEFT), HANDS OVER A CHECK TO ONE OF HIS MARIJUANA SUPPLIERS ON APRIL 19, 2010 IN FORT COLLINS, COLORADO. ABUNDANT HEALING IS ONE OF COLORADO'S MANY LEGAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES, WHICH SELLS MARIJUANA TO CUSTOMERS WITH A STATE-ISSUED MEDICAL MARIJUANA CARD. (CHRIS HONDROS/GETTY IMAGES)

There are various similar and not so similar initiatives across the rest of the US, but there is still fierce opposition from Federal authorities as they increasingly exert their force on individual states for allowing medical marijuana use to sprout across the country. Innocent bystanders are being killed, legitimate businesses forcefully closed and all round examples being made of those who will not comply with a Federal umbrella law that is at severe odds with the laws of their respective states; marijuana laws that the people have chosen by themselves, for themselves. A shocking realisation of this conflict and lack of logic between Federal and State priorities has been the shooting and killing of at least 7 people at an Oakland Christian school, while simultaneously in the same area a horde of armed Federal law enforcement resources raided Oaksterdam University (a school for growing cannabis). A truly sad and scary example of what happens when the Feds are more concerned with watching the grass grow than putting out the kitchen fire.

The fallout of the US’s War on Drugs has not been limited to within its own borders and is now starting to feel the backlash of pushing its policies onto other countries, as these countries are starting to stand and assert their rights. Many of the current appeals by world leaders to end the War on Drugs typically have the words “Former†in front of whatever title they once held. The significant report by The Global Commission on Drug Policy is a great example of this. Of the 19 people on this commission, 11 of them are “Former†political leaders. The rest consist of writers, businessmen and one active Prime Minister. This highlights the lack of current leadership willingly to publicly acknowledge a truth they all know, “The War on Drugs has been a failure from inceptionâ€. Fortunately, fresh ground is being broken as current political leaders are starting to address this subjective war.

THE GLOBAL COMMISSION ON DRUG POLICY (GCDP) IS A PANEL OF 19 WORLD LEADERS INCLUDING RICHARD BRANSON (VIRGIN), KOFI ANNAN (FORMER SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS), AS WELL AS AN ARRAY OF OTHER WORLD LEADERS AND FORMER PRESIDENTS WHO AIM TO END THE GLOBAL WAR ON DRUGS.

South America has long been the US drug consumers’ bitch. Every year thousands upon thousands of South Americans die in drug related violence. It’s either a case of them offing each other for territory and trade routes or the authorities offing them. This has come at a crippling cost to many South American countries, both financially and emotionally as loved ones are dropping like flies while they try to eke out a living in the chaos of an unregulated industry. All of this while trying to meet the US’s insatiable appetite for drugs. The strong arm tactics of the US are especially evident in South America as many leaders are no longer willing to agree with big brother up north. You can’t keep a good man down though, and there are now active presidents banding together to “Just say no!†to The War on Drugs.

A SOLDIER STANDS OVER AN ALTAR IN A CAMP USED BY MARIJUANA GROWERS DURING A MARIJUANA DESTRUCTION OPERATION IN THE SIERRA DE JUAREZ IN ENSENADA, MEXICO ON THURSDAY SEPT. 30, 2010. ACCORDING TO ARMY GEN. ALFONSO DUARTE MUJICA, SOLDIERS DESTROYED 180 ACRES OF MARIJUANA IN THE NORTHERN REGION OF MEXICO'S BAJA CALIFORNIA PENINSULA IN 2010. (AP PHOTO/GUILLERMO ARIAS)

Barack Obama is a classic example of US politicians playing it cool on the election campaign by publicising their drug use and views in favour of more tolerant drug policies, but then doing an about turn faster than a rattlesnake on crack when they are elected to office. The US is full of contradictions at the moment as Government authorities blatantly refuse to acknowledgetheir failings, whilst numerous sectors inside and outside of the country cry for freedom, more so regarding marijuana than anything else. Holy shit, even US televangelist Pat Robertson is supporting the end of marijuana prohibition. That’s like Archbishop Tutu saying “Hey, it’s okay to smoke grass. Let’s stop sending people to the chooks for itâ€.

Day in and day out the Feds get more desperate in their attempts to cull cannabis and its use. Thing is though, no one likes a bully. The generation of “Just say no†kids has grown up and wiped the shit from its eyes. Firsthand experience trumps propaganda every time and we have millions of tons of firsthand experience.

I smell an intervention on the wind… Let’s hope it’s met with remorse and a change in attitude, instead of more bullets and handcuffs.

http://www.belowthelion.co.za/americas-drug-war-shadow-is-shrinking/

[Dust]

Damn USA, i don't know if we could find a more Skyzophrenic country on this world, all those confusion between the Federal Laws and State laws are just looking crazy from the outside. It is sad cause at same time it is one of the country that is going the faster on the medical use of marijuana, and it has so much potency

And that law you talk about about smoking a spliff in amsterdam and getting trouble ( more or less) man that is another crazy thing! Does a thing like this could stand a chance to really pass? or is it just one of another proposition that will never end?

Anyway thanks for sharing

[HC01]

Breaking The Taboo.

http://youtu.be/rXWdKsA8EFU

[HC01]

That was a really good read. I appreciate the links in the highlighted text. Im sure that under my lifetime we will see America legalize it on a federal level but with alot of rules attached to it. I don´t mind Usa politics as long they keep to there own turf and that is the problem. you can´t chase around half the world in a attempt to make it better until they fix there own country. Every country on this planet have a dark secrets and within borders problems. Would be a great world if we did not try to change each other until we change ourself.

Im sure that if USA work against legalize cannabis that many other countries would follow.

Thank you Mopman and HC01 for the info.

http://www.breakingthetaboo.com/

Peace!!

[Jimmy]

Amazing read buddy thanks for sharing whit us !

Yeah we live in a sick world whit a lot of problems in our own backyard. And the most fuck´t up is that there is no hard evidence that Cannabis is really dangerous, yeah you can get cancer when smoking but still thats my choice right?!! We all need to be able to pick the way we want to live not the government!

Peace & Smoke

[HC01]

Only in Brazil!!!

[ipuljamms]

in my country, DEA have a good watch and spand a lot of money for making weed still ilegal.(DEA have interfention in my goverment drugs war institution BNN)

my country is indonesia, but why DEA is in here too.....?????. it's so far away from USA.