Put down the pot and pick up a text book

[JR180]

Not exactly, but they make great weapons for that little squabble in the back of the classroom.

I agree!! Some of those huge textbooks make awesome weapons when thrown properly! You kind of have to get it spinning like your skipping a stone but if you do it right the range is amazing.

[Rlong1985]

I am surpised none of the pro pot users decided to throw in their two cents.

[PiQF]

Here, here!!!

It's so much easier to join a cop site and whine and complain than it is to actually DO sojmething...

Stoner motivation...

Except for the "stoner motivation" comment I completely agree with your point. We live in a republic where we are free to change the law. While it IS the people's right to tell cops what they can and cannot arrest people for, that right is enforced through choosing representatives who accurately reflect our values and passing appropriate legislation. There was a time when alcohol was illegal to consume in the US, result: Amendment 21.

I am surpised none of the pro pot users decided to throw in their two cents.

Sure I'll bite...
While I disagree with the current law, it has nothing to do with the police.
The Legislative Branch makes the law.
The Judicial Branch interprets the law.
The Executive Branch (Police) enforce the law.

Therefore, changing the law requires changing the legislative branch, not the executive.

Source: Elementary School/ US Constitution




Also, I live in NY... possession is not a crime under 25g ($100 fine).* We had a simple legislative solution... If you deal it you goto jail, if you smoke it you pay a fine.

Source: NYS Penal Law § 221.05

*Does not apply if you are in public view, in a school zone, your marijuana is burning, and a few other misc. exceptions.

[PiQF]

I hope I am not giving away a secret here but you do not have to consent to a search in the United States, if the PC is considerable the Officer will use an on call judge to procure a warrant.

I hope It's not a secret... it's in the US Bill of Rights.

[Rlong1985]

I am surprised this thread was brought back to life but it’s good to see the other side of the argument.

The problem with most drug users in America is the fact they don’t seem to care about the laws and focus on the fact the people can change them, but will continue to break them because they don’t agree with them. Americans judicial system is fine example for the western world but while lawful law is on the books it needs to be followed. You are free to fight for it to be repelled if you do not agree with it but while it is on the books you bound by it.

By New York State law it may be legal but your are mistaken regarding the fact that states have any say in drug law when Federal Law over rides it. Federal Law and the FDA have overall say in any drug and or medication in America. It is still against the law on the federal level and thus you can still be thrown in jail for your 25g.

PIQF I know its in the bill of rights. I did not smoke a joint in 8th Grade History.

[PiQF]

§ 221.05 does not make marijuana "legal", it just makes possession not criminal. It's similar to a traffic ticket. Also I do have a say in Federal Law, I can vote for a Senator and Congress person who agrees with my position. They could easily remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act. However, you are correct that I could be charged federally if the DEA felt so inclined.*
Also there are plenty of organizations fighting for the end to marijuana prohibition through legislative means, the most famous one being NORML.

On a separate issue, I don't think it is wrong to disobey a law that you believe is unjust, provided that you are willing to accept the consequences for your actions. If I'm caught I'll pay the fine, and I won't be bothered by it because I don't believe my actions are immoral, and I can afford the $100.

This is especially true if you are engaged in an act of civil disobedience (which I would not claim to be), where the purpose of your actions is to show the unjust nature of a law, and LE is made aware of your intent before you break the law.

Rlong1985: Well you asked if it was a secret! Also I didn't toke in HS, I've only been living in a logically blurred state since 2005 and I learned almost half of the first 10 amendments! (facetious)

*This I'm assuming based on the medical cases in California, however, I'm not %100 percent sure this applies to simple possession without crossing state lines. Hopefully someone from the DEA/FBI can clarify the issue.

[Rlong1985]

Possession is 9/10’s of the law. If you look at California “medical” Pot Shops (NOT LEGAL) by federal authorities every year. Our current president has put a freeze on certain operations, but currently does not have nor wanting to take the political hit from his “center” supports continues to keep federal law as it is.

I find it amusing that you think its ok to break the law if you don’t agree with it. Its ok to rob a bank as long as the means justify the end result….? Majority rules in this country, just because the minority does not like it does not mean they can justify breaking the law.

[wiwwy027]

I tried smoking weed in highschool. I was a skater, and that is what a lot of my friends did. It was a small 3 month every couple weeks socal thing. I decided (after I got caught by the school) that it wasn't for me. I was dumb enoughf to keep the same friends for abot two months with the rule that they not have any, or be high around me.

One of my friends "bought" a dirtbike and wanted to ride it up at my parents house. I made him show me the sales receipt. Couple days later a Sherrif's deputy showed up, and arrested him for stealing the dirtbike.

I talked with him for a while when I saw him (the deputy) a couple days later. Explained why I associated with idiots (they skated) and he suggested that I get new friends, or a hobby. Then he suggested that I watch what happens to them, and to see if a "good kid" wanted to end up like them. If having somone to skate with was worth it.

Took his advice, I was a sophomore in HS at the time I did. My best friend and I arethe only one's out of my group of friends that graduated. A conversation that changed my life. Now I am doing everything in my power to be a LEO.

Off topic, a little. But it shows the point that Parents play the biggest role. I had GREAT parents. My friends diddn't. They didn't give a ++++ if what they were doing was wrong, or illegal. I did. I would go home.

By the way, how stoned do you have to be to go on a forum for LOE's and talk smack?

[PiQF]

If you look at California “medical” Pot Shops (NOT LEGAL) by federal authorities every year. Our current president has put a freeze on certain operations, but currently does not have nor wanting to take the political hit from his “center” supports continues to keep federal law as it is.

I understand that issue, the Supreme Court ruled on this in 2006 with the most random distribution of votes I have ever seen. Justice Thomas was for Medical Marijuana, Justice Ginsburg against it.* (Gonzales v. Raich)

I find it amusing that you think its ok to break the law if you don’t agree with it. Its ok to rob a bank as long as the means justify the end result….? Majority rules in this country, just because the minority does not like it does not mean they can justify breaking the law.

A) The Majority don't make the law, we live in a Republic not a Democracy.
B) Yes you can justify breaking the law... it's called jury nullification.

By the way, how stoned do you have to be to go on a forum for LOE's and talk smack?

Sorry, what part of my response did you consider "talking smack"? I said:
A) I don't agree with the law.
B) I think that changing the law in my favor requires legislative or judicial action.
In other words, I understand that the police enforce the law, and no one should have a problem with the police for doing their job.
Someone posted earlier they were surprised no "pro pot" people had chipped in, so I offered my opinion. I wasn't trying to disrespect anyone's view.


*It was a State's Rights issue but the distribution of votes was still unexpected to me.

[Rlong1985]

Let me not be understood as saying that there are no bad laws, nor that grievances may not arise for the redress of which no legal provisions have been made. I mean to say no such thing. But I do mean to say that although bad laws, if they exist, should be repealed as soon as possible, still, while they continue in force, for the sake of example they should be religiously observed.
-Abraham Lincoln

Majority in this country decides in which direction laws are made even if they do no have a direct hand in each law that is put on the books; I believe it is called an indirect democracy.

[patchcop]

What scares me is that every american stoner wnat to become a LEO!

[jmac_52]

My wife bought a used textbook here on campus a number of years ago and was amazed at the condition of the book. It looked as though it was never opened.......until, upon examination, the user had evidently opened the book once, because right in the center of the book was evidence that a joint had been rolled there as there were crumbs of pot buried deep within the crease.

The real shame of it was that this book cost someone over $200 (probably the parents) and it was probably never used for the course it was intended. The spine stlill cracked when opened as a new book will.

[PiQF]

My wife bought a used textbook here on campus a number of years ago and was amazed at the condition of the book. It looked as though it was never opened.......until, upon examination, the user had evidently opened the book once, because right in the center of the book was evidence that a joint had been rolled there as there were crumbs of pot buried deep within the crease.

The real shame of it was that this book cost someone over $200 (probably the parents) and it was probably never used for the course it was intended. The spine stlill cracked when opened as a new book will.

Every semester it seems about half the class just stops going 1 week before midterms. It's not always drugs but it's always a waste. I do smoke, but I also think it's sad that education is somehow seen as synonymous with alcohol/drug abuse to some people.

Rlong1985 I do see your point. It reminds me of a debate I had a few years back where someone brought up the idea that if everyone followed the law to the letter, there would be more effort to overturn unjust laws. There is merit in this idea, however the majority of landmark legislation seems to only happen when either civil disobedience happens on a large scale, such as the 1964 Civil Rights Act, or there is widespread general disobedience to the law, such as Amendment 21.
On a second note, I don't really see direct majority rule in the US Government. A great example is the federal executive branch. We've had several Presidential Elections where the person who received the most votes was not the person who was sworn into office. Actually, there is nothing in the Constitution which guarantees your right to vote for the Executive Branch. In the early days of American history, the people voting in the Electoral College could be chosen by caucus election, or the State Legislator. A famous example is the election of John Adams in 1824, who was elected by the House of Representatives.

[MikeG]

The problem with the drug movement is that they rarely come across police doing their "civil disobedience." Every instance that I've heard of usually involves a different crime before the drugs come to light. I have yet to see a "medical marijuana" smoke-in where the police are invited to arrest all the people that are trying to get the law changed. Rather, it seems all the "activists" want it made legal after they get caught driving under the influence of dope or caught doing some other crime.

Want to compare it to civil rights movement, then get a 10,000 glaucoma patients to toke up on the white house lawn. Otherwise, it's just someone who wants a different reason not to go to jail other than "these aren't my pants."

[PiQF]

the majority of landmark legislation seems to only happen when either civil disobedience happens on a large scale, such as the 1964 Civil Rights Act, or there is widespread general disobedience to the law, such as Amendment 21.

I'm not trying to compare Anti Marijuana Prohibition to the Civil Rights Movement. I was adressing another poster's view that it is never morally justifiable to break the law. I agree that civil disobedience means informing the authorities of your intent before breaking the law.
Example: