"Legalization is not the answer?" Huh?By Tim Redmond
Bizarre story in the Chronicle today about gangs of pot growers using state and federal land for their crops. First of all, this is nothing new -- there's been pot growing on public land for years. And for years, it's caused environmental problems (and also safety problems; nasty operatives defending crops have been known to shoot at innocent hikers walking through national forests).
But the strangest part was the line at the conclusion. After exlplaining how budget cuts have damaged enforcement efforts and Mexican gangs are getting $3,200 a plant for good bud, writer Peter Fimrite tosses in this:
Legalization is not the solution, Johnson said, given that most of the pot is being grown illegally on public parkland by foreign citizens who cannot be taxed.
Huh? Why, exactly, do these cops and Chronicle reporters think the Mexican gangs are here? Why do they think these guys are getting $3,200 a plant? Isn't this exactly what happened during Prohibition, when rum-running created the Mob?
"It was the falsest conclusion possible," Assemblymember Tom Ammiano, who has a bill to legalize marijuana, told me this morning.
Folks: Legalization is the quickest and surest way to get rid of the drug gangs screwing up public land. Think about it: We don't really have a problem with illegal moonshine in this country. We don't have a major problem with criminal gangs growing and selling tobacco on public land. Make pot legal and this problem goes away, too.
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Comments (6)
I definitely do not think Peter Fimrite, our Drug Czar, Obama, or many of the other people holding the prohibitionist status quo are ignorant about legalization. It's time we take over the status quo and its done by holding them to the fire, writing pieces like this. thanks.
Posted by Kris | July 28, 2009 12:59 PM
This will be handled when the time is right, the politicians, especially obama! can not possible be the countries leader and not know these facts by now, if he doesnt then he needs to be fired. I'm giving him the benifit of the doubt based off of how he answered the online town hall meeting's question, and how he stated the question....that things arent right for this to happen yet...idk, maybe there invested in grow season and they want to get a last ditch profit off of what theyre growing, who knows???
Posted by P.O.W. | July 28, 2009 01:19 PM
I would like to see OUR farmers growing cannabis in the central valley. I don't see how "gangs" can compete with them or am I missing something? It would be great crop rotation and planting where other produce doesn't flourish well. Sure, the price will come down but jobs will be created and the tax base will swell. Not to mention that our forest lands will once again be vacant from foreign grows.
Posted by moldy | July 28, 2009 02:26 PM
Moldy, that's the exact point: The criminal gangs can't and won't compete once it's legal.
Posted by tim redmond | July 28, 2009 02:38 PM
One thing there is no shortage of is articles like these and bloggers commenting on them. Try a google news search with just the word "Legalize" to see what I mean. All of these articles and the comments that follow seem to reach the same conclusion, this being that legalization is the only sane solution, and that prohibition is not only expensive, but is the root of drug related violence, and overall it is not curbing use anyway. The only question is when will something happen to end this prohibition? We have multiple bills filed in CA and one federal which most people (even at mpp.org) think is destined to fail due to way MJ is currently scheduled. It would be refreshing to see more states submitting bills for legalization not only for the tax/budget benefits but for the simple fact that prohibition has never worked, is not currently working, and is just plain wrong.
Posted by Fotwenty | July 28, 2009 03:24 PM
Time for the Legalization of Marijuana is way overdue. VOTE!VOTE!VOTE!
Posted by todd | July 29, 2009 06:11 AM