Global war on drugs 'has failed'

[sandinista]

speaking of ganj and three martini lunch's.



I wish you well on your travels
My friends I wish you well along the way
This is the story of how I came to be
In jail for a night and a day

Well I'm driving my '88 Olds Cutlass
It's raining and it's dark
My wipers are beating slow and steady
Like the thump, thump, thumping of my heart
I'm rolling down from up in Colorado
Some little town in Texas tonight
When my rear view flashes blue, blue, blue
It's a cop; my license plate's missing a light
He smells sweet green Colorado
Hidden in the lining 'bove my head
Next thing I know there's four cop cars flashing
And around my wrists are bracelets of lead
Well, take my license, take my fingerprints
Take my wallet that I'll no longer need
Take my belt in case I want to hang myself
For a nickel bag of weed
Then put me in a cell on an old mattress pad
To measure out in minutes this night
One cup of water in styrofoam
Four walls and one fluorescent light
And this is my one phone call
And baby I'm calling you
You tell me, "stay strong boy"
I say "well, I'll do the best I do"

And I wish you well on your travels
My friends I wish you well along the way
This is the story of how I came to be
In jail for a night and a day

Now at first I'm thinking, man, I'm such a fuck-up
My head is lonesome and bowed
Figure I'll join some program, get religious
My abstinence will make my mother proud
And I stare at the stone cold floor
I guess that's what you do in the pen
Then I get to thinking what I'd really like to do
Is to come back here and fight this to the end

Your honor, think of Johnny Cash
And Elvis and Hank Williams too
Whatever it took to go get those songs
Those good old boys would do
If it's illegal, then throw out Blonde on Blonde
And every Beatles song since Hard Day's Night
Go ahead and burn Walt Whitman
Unpaint Starry Night
Coltrane, Louis Armstrong, let 'em burn
Kerouac, Thelonious Monk
Alice in Wonderland, Picasso
Burroughs, Blake, Ginsberg, throw it out, it's junk
Then throw out all your favorite records
Throw your books of poetry away
Close the museums, burn the paintings
Restore us to Galileo's Day
Then to the drug store we will go
For Vicodin and Chloraseptic spray
Scarf a couple Darvocets and Xanax
And then we'll go floating away
Dear Governor, dear Governor, dear Governor
The ultimate enforcer of my fate
Did I interrupt your three-martini lunch?
Are you off on your cigarette break?

Well, I wish you well on your travels
My friends I wish you well along the way
This is the story of how I came to be
In jail for a night and a day

Next day, my buddies bail me out
Toward late afternoon
And the grass, it never smelled greener
Sun drips honey like from a golden spoon
I jump in the car and drive on out of there
Soon I'm miles away
And I get to thinking what awaits me
When I come back some not-so-distant day
Will I stand before the judge
And say, "Your Honor, this law, it is wrong"
Or do I just do the time and pay my fine
Shake this town from my boots and be gone

I wish you well on your travels
My friends I wish you well along the way
This is the story of how I came to be
In jail for a night and a day

[Xamonas Chegwé]

I think the real fear is a fear of not being reelected! Governments know that the "War on DrugsTM has not worked, is not working and will never work;...yet they have spent so many decades saying exactly the opposite that they are shit scared to take any steps in that direction!

That may be right for older politicians who actually have spent years saying "drugs are evil" or whatever, but they could always say they were wrong and have changed their minds. Besides that, what about politicians who haven't been spinning the "evils of drug" yarn for decades. Take obama for example, whats his issue? What of any newer politicians? It seems like this has become somewhat of a non issue with actual citizens. Everyone (of course not 100%) but the majority of people (in canada anyway) would agree that marijuana should be legal. Politicians in our last election wouldn't touch it. It's such an immense issue, but it's still not brought up. The elephant in the room for government leaders and bureaucrats.

I think the trouble is that the people that believed the anti-drug rhetoric are the very people that tend to vote. In the UK and the US, the demographic for those that regularly vote is heavily skewed towards the older citizen. And while the legalisation of cannabis is a non-issue (even a shoe-in) with those in the 18-35 bracket, those in the 58-75 bracket, that far outweigh them in terms of election clout, have spent decades being brainwashed into believing that cannabis is a "gateway drug". Perhaps in another 20 years time, things will change. I'm not holding my breath.

[sandinista]

I think the trouble is that the people that believed the anti-drug rhetoric are the very people that tend to vote. In the UK and the US, the demographic for those that regularly vote is heavily skewed towards the older citizen. And while the legalisation of cannabis is a non-issue (even a shoe-in) with those in the 18-35 bracket, those in the 58-75 bracket, that far outweigh them in terms of election clout, have spent decades being brainwashed into believing that cannabis is a "gateway drug". Perhaps in another 20 years time, things will change. I'm not holding my breath.

I don't know about that. Someone who was a teenager in 1967, say 19, would be 61 right now. These are the people who believe that weed is a "gateway drug" or some shit? I really don't think it has much to do with the electorate. Even seniors who were teens or mid 20's in the 60's would be for legalization. Politics and politicians are too corrupt to legalize, too much cash being made by individuals high up in government agencies, whether it be by choice or through threats of violence. I find it really hard to believe that the "drug" war is being continued to please the 80-90 year old people in the west. Really hard to believe. The amount of people who benefit from this "war" have too much clout and power. The police, the "justice" system, the prison system, politicians, the military, the cartels etc. The "drug" war is a cash cow for all of them.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I love that "gateway" idea. Beer is a gateway to wine is a gateway to rum is a gateway to Everclear? I did some grass in my time, and some acid. But nothing else, they didn't interest me.

BTW, I was 16 in 1967, and I'm 60 now.

[Ian]

I'm not sure how much the "gateway drug" logic still impacts voters. Some no doubt still cling to the idea, but a bigger issue may be a certain stigma attached to marijuana culture. In thinking about the people I knew in my youth who got stoned on a regular basis, I could use terms like lackadaisacal, unreliable, apathetic, stunted, etc. on quite a few of them, though I was never worried that any of them were someday going to turn in to heroin or crystal meth addicts. So the reticence among many may be the idea that legalizing marijuana will cause that sort of behavior/culture to become more widespread. I disagree with that reasoning, but it may help explain a few things.

[Robert_S]

There's corruption, but mostly it's fear of not being taken seriously that keeps the thing going.

That, and lots of people are scared of the libertarian wing of NORML.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Ah, the danger of "stoners"! "Ted and Bill", for example. I think it's Darwin in action if they fall flat on their faces from being too stoned to hold a job.

[Ian]

Ah, the danger of "stoners"! "Ted and Bill", for example. I think it's Darwin in action if they fall flat on their faces from being too stoned to hold a job.

Ditto. The same already goes for alcohol, and that's been the case for ages. If you don't have enough discipline to stay sober enough to get and hold a job, that's your problem. Or maybe you're an alcoholic. And if you're such a stoner that you can't get or hold a job, that's your problem too, whether weed is legal or not. The hangup here is that many people get through their youth learning how to handle their drink, whereas experience with marijuana isn't quite as common. It's also a different sort of intoxication, and a different sort of culture surrounding it.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I knew a guy in boot camp who said he'd joined the Navy to dry out. He went through the DT in boot camp and managed to graduate, one of the most surreal things I've ever seen. Then he was assigned to the same base I was, in a different area. I went looking for him when I reported and they said he was AWOL. He turned up a month later, unaware that he was late for reporting.

[sandinista]

In thinking about the people I knew in my youth who got stoned on a regular basis, I could use terms like lackadaisacal, unreliable, apathetic, stunted, etc. on quite a few of them, though I was never worried that any of them were someday going to turn in to heroin or crystal meth addicts. So the reticence among many may be the idea that legalizing marijuana will cause that sort of behavior/culture to become more widespread. I disagree with that reasoning, but it may help explain a few things.

That sounds much like the same kind of reasoning used during prohibition. That if alcohol was legal everyone would just end up being drunken lunatics. If that is the reason marijuana is still illegal that would really go to show how out of touch and, actually, ignorant politicians are. To a certain extent, just to expand a little on what you're saying, I would say, perhaps, weed is seen as an "anti capitalist" type of drug. It may lead people to the realization that making money, growth, economic success etc is not really the desired, or only goal in life. This I could see as a reasoning for criminalization of a plant. I still think it has way more to do with cash money though.

There's corruption, but mostly it's fear of not being taken seriously that keeps the thing going.

Not sure what you mean there. Taken seriously? By whom? Legalization is one of the most serious issues facing humanity presently. How many societal and global problems are caused by the illegal drug trade!

The hangup here is that many people get through their youth learning how to handle their drink, whereas experience with marijuana isn't quite as common. It's also a different sort of intoxication, and a different sort of culture surrounding it.

Really? Not in canaduh anyway. Experiences with weed for the youth is as widespread as alcohol, or at least pretty close. It is definitely a different intoxication, a much more peaceful and relaxed one. Culturally, I think weed crosses cultures, everyone from your typical hippy stoners to teachers, businesspeople, parents, musicians etc use marijuana.

[Robert_S]

There's corruption, but mostly it's fear of not being taken seriously that keeps the thing going.

Not sure what you mean there. Taken seriously? By whom? Legalization is one of the most serious issues facing humanity presently. How many societal and global problems are caused by the illegal drug trade!

I mean that the politician has an interest in not looking like a smelly hippie stoner. Mentioning support for legalizing pot leaves you wide open to being painted as one.

The hangup here is that many people get through their youth learning how to handle their drink, whereas experience with marijuana isn't quite as common. It's also a different sort of intoxication, and a different sort of culture surrounding it.

Really? Not in canaduh anyway. Experiences with weed for the youth is as widespread as alcohol, or at least pretty close. It is definitely a different intoxication, a much more peaceful and relaxed one. Culturally, I think weed crosses cultures, everyone from your typical hippy stoners to teachers, businesspeople, parents, musicians etc use marijuana.

but most of these people keep it discreet and you wouldn't know that the smoke to look at them. The Duuuude: Four-Twenty!! kids who make a social identity out of it are the ones who unfortunately represent marijuana to general non-smoking public.

[sandinista]

I mean that the politician has an interest in not looking like a smelly hippie stoner. Mentioning support for legalizing pot leaves you wide open to being painted as one.

Well, that's just ridiculous. What, are these people 5 years old? Grow up already, act like an adult.

but most of these people keep it discreet and you wouldn't know that the smoke to look at them. The Duuuude: Four-Twenty!! kids who make a social identity out of it are the ones who unfortunately represent marijuana to general non-smoking public.

again though, what difference does that make. It's called a stereotype, something...apparently, the "liberal" west wants to do away with.

[Robert_S]

I mean that the politician has an interest in not looking like a smelly hippie stoner. Mentioning support for legalizing pot leaves you wide open to being painted as one.

Well, that's just ridiculous. What, are these people 5 years old? Grow up already, act like an adult.

but most of these people keep it discreet and you wouldn't know that the smoke to look at them. The Duuuude: Four-Twenty!! kids who make a social identity out of it are the ones who unfortunately represent marijuana to general non-smoking public.

again though, what difference does that make. It's called a stereotype, something...apparently, the "liberal" west wants to do away with.

Yep, and it's utterly stupid and I have nothing but contempt for those attitudes. But since we have one of those representative republics, our politicians are scared of the general public's irrational fears.

[sandinista]

I mean that the politician has an interest in not looking like a smelly hippie stoner. Mentioning support for legalizing pot leaves you wide open to being painted as one.

Well, that's just ridiculous. What, are these people 5 years old? Grow up already, act like an adult.

but most of these people keep it discreet and you wouldn't know that the smoke to look at them. The Duuuude: Four-Twenty!! kids who make a social identity out of it are the ones who unfortunately represent marijuana to general non-smoking public.

again though, what difference does that make. It's called a stereotype, something...apparently, the "liberal" west wants to do away with.

Yep, and it's utterly stupid and I have nothing but contempt for those attitudes. But since we have one of those representative republics, our politicians are scared of the general public's irrational fears.

so...are you insinuating that the general public in the US is irrational and perhaps stupid, since you would have to be stupid to behave or think in the above ways.

[Robert_S]

I mean that the politician has an interest in not looking like a smelly hippie stoner. Mentioning support for legalizing pot leaves you wide open to being painted as one.

Well, that's just ridiculous. What, are these people 5 years old? Grow up already, act like an adult.

but most of these people keep it discreet and you wouldn't know that the smoke to look at them. The Duuuude: Four-Twenty!! kids who make a social identity out of it are the ones who unfortunately represent marijuana to general non-smoking public.

again though, what difference does that make. It's called a stereotype, something...apparently, the "liberal" west wants to do away with.

Yep, and it's utterly stupid and I have nothing but contempt for those attitudes. But since we have one of those representative republics, our politicians are scared of the general public's irrational fears.

so...are you insinuating that the general public in the US is irrational and perhaps stupid, since you would have to be stupid to behave or think in the above ways.

Stupid inhabits every region on earth, with the possible exception of Antarctica where Holy Darwin is quick to pass out awards.