Anderson Cooper’s Special Investigator Says Legalization is For Losers
If you just drove by this house, you would never know what’s inside that walled off garage. But under a stifling Florida sun, the garage is a cool 70 degrees, a constant flow of cool, nutrient-rich water flowing throughout the floor, and illuminated by golden glowing lamps whose radiance bounces off reflective aluminum walls. It is all designed to provide maximum growing potential for the 42 mature marijuana plants evenly spaced in this factory of pot.
After seeing this, my initial reaction is that the fight to eradicate marijuana in this country is hopeless. But does that mean we should give up and legalize pot?
For two weeks, knowing I was assigned to this story, I have been asking that question to the many prosecutors, DEA agents and police I’ve encountered. The overwhelming answer is no. There is no doubt, in the minds of these people who come in contact with users, growers, smugglers and junkies, that marijuana use is terrible for the individuals who engage in it. It is not just a pathway to stronger drugs; it is, in and of itself, a recipe for losers. People who call themselves ‘casual users,’ in the minds of law enforcement, are deluding themselves into believing they are not affected by this drug. They compare it to the drunk who believes he can actually drive better with a few drinks inside.
The bigger question is how to stop marijuana use. The DEA agents who raided this home, could raid similar homes everyday, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and still the marijuana would grow. Which is why there may need to be a huge strategic change in our so-called drug war. Anti-smoking campaigns work for tobacco. Why won’t they work for marijuana?
That should really be the focus of our efforts. We shouldn’t be laughing at the lame jokes from comedians talking about harmless weed; we shouldn’t allow rappers to glorify the wonders of living high. If nothing else, we should be telling our children that no matter what it is, putting smoke into your lungs is unhealthy, uncool and in the case of pot, a first step towards a life of a loser.
OK all you pot heads, let me hear it!
Ah, the luxuries of being a “serious journalist” like 360 blog contributor, Drew Griffin. I can’t wait until I can use anonymous sources in a baseless smear piece about a very important issue like the War on Drugs. You, reader, don’t need to know the names of any of these very anti-legalization prosecutors, DEA agents, and police, okay? Just know there are “many” of them, and they’re all sniggering about your desire to legalize marijuana, you Cheetos-eating, pothead loser.
And don’t give Drew all this nonsense babble about overcrowded prison systems and the failed War on Drugs. He doesn’t have time for it, people! Nor does Drew have time to recognize the many former law enforcement officers who have recently stepped forward to speak against the failed War on Drugs. These enforcement dissidents include Jack Cole, a member of LEAP (Law Enforcement Against Prohibition,) a 26-year veteran of the New Jersey State Police who served 14 years undercover in the Narcotics Bureau, and who I interviewed last month about the issue of drug legalization.
Other “shamelessly, self-promoting potheads” include Senator Jim Webb, who bravely put his political career in jeopardy by publicly stating that the issue of legalization is a “very legitimate question.” And that legendary stoner, Barney Frank, recently introduced a bill that would allow states to make their own medical marijuana laws free of federal interference.
Who knew the country had such prominent potheads?
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when a Mainstream source talks about marijuana it always seems like they watch the 1936 film Reefer Madness like a documentary or like it contains scientific facts of some kind, but it isn’t and it doesn’t. But this man’s general ignorance about marijuana is typical for people of his position. He shows this by saying that marijuana leads to stronger drugs; well this has never been proven, in fact the evidence is overwhelmingly against the “Gateway Drug” theory, because very few users of stronger drugs have also used marijuana. Also his assertion that its “a recipe for losers” is quite wrong; one only has to point to the famous scientist Carl Sagan who in fact used marijuana and also the “Beat Generation” writers like Allen Ginsberg and William Burroughs who are not losers at all. His designation of marijuana users as junkies is completely unjust, because its not true in fact William Burroughs wrote a book called Junkie where he addresses marijuana and says; “In 1937, weed was placed under the Harrison Narcotics Act. Narcotics authorities claim it is a habit forming drug, that its use is injurious to mind and body, and that it causes the people who use it to commit crimes. Here are the facts: Weed is positively not habit-forming. You can smoke weed for years and you will experience no discomfort if your supply is suddenly cut off. I have seen tea heads in
jail and none of them showed withdrawal symptoms. I have smoked weed myself off and on for fifteen years, and never missed it when I ran out. There is less habit to weed than there is to tobacco. Weed does not harm the general health. In fact, most users claim it gives you an appetite and acts as a tonic
to the system. I do not know of any other agent that gives as definite a boot to the appetite. I can smoke a stick of tea and enjoy a glass of California sherry and a hash house meal.” and as a man who has experience using many types of drugs I think he should be trusted. Its insulting when he thinks that the only people who advocate the legalization of Marijuana are “pot heads” because I as someone who does not smoke marijuana(but I have a couple of times like most people have) and I support the legalization of it. And finally I would like this guy to look up the horrible things that the “War on Drugs” has caused such as the escalation of violence between rival gangs over drug profits just like what happened in the 1920’s with the prohibition of alcohol. You would have thought everyone would have learned from that huge mistake.
Justin — All good points. Yes, reading Drew Griffin’s summary of “the marijuana” was a bit like being lectured by my grandfather. Very out-of-touch.
In response to another comment. See in context »This queer seriously committed pot head finds Anderson Cooper oh so disappointing on oh so many levels. Anderson does a real fine job of exploiting safe issues like Katrina or animal poaching in the rain forest, but anything that actually requires him to stand up and show he has a set he becomes totally MIA. Anderson’s pot series was about as potent a nickle bag of schwag purchased from the kid on the corner.
Other countries, which do not have frivolous billion dollar budgets, have realized that regardless of legislation their citizens will do with their lives and bodies what they wish… why has it taken our nation so long to begin to catch on to this concept…?! Although I am no longer a marijuana consumer myself, I would definitely advocate decriminalization. When I did use marijuana regularly, i did experience minimal with drawl symptoms, but nothing compared to some of the substances which are regularly prescribed to patients. Then there are my peers who use marijuana with the utmost consideration for health and safety… by vaporizer.
The issue of legalization is a very intricate subject because it goes well outside of simple recreational use. Legalization of cannabis sativa would also constitute an ability to use hemp for many other things (http://www.lightparty.com/Energy/Hemp2.html) much more efficiently than what our society currently consumes. This would essentially outsource or potentially force many corporate giants to adapt…
Hopefully, on a large scale we will begin to take inventory or at least become more considerate & mindful of what we are doing with our energy. And more importantly, why we fight what we fight. The illusions of control are pretty much a self perpetuating cycle in any context. Moreover, who gets to decide what defines a loser, and why. It seems as though everyone is a loser in one way or another, because we have been perpetually subjected to such status quotas. either/or… us/them…etc.
And you’re not alone. What I found so offensive about Griffin’s blog entry is the assumption that only “pot heads” think legalization is a good idea. That’s an insulting stereotype, and it undercuts an important dialogue that is only just beginning to take place in America.
In response to another comment. See in context »I don’t do drugs, but doesn’t the advocation of marijuana legalization preclude the legalization of all drugs? Or is this just meant to be pragmatism?
Because it kind of reminds me of U.S. unions in the 60s getting healthcare for their union members as opposed to trying get healthcare for everyone.
It may kind of work, but the position is still principally wrong. Because while the legalization of marijuana might be more likely than the decriminalization of drugs, the criminalization of any drug is absurd to begin with.
Lady, you just don’t know what relief cannabis can bring to someone with MS, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, AIDS, or cancer. Marinol won’t do it. Obviously, you have never been really ill and take your health for granted. Just wait until the day your doctor has to tell you, or a loved one, some very depressing and terrible news.
Then let’s see how you feel.
My sister has cancer in California, and has safe, legal access to medical grade cannabis tincture. It helps her enormously. And I’ve seen this with hundreds, maybe thousands of other patients, too.
If you are so callous, so uncaring, so lacking in compassion that you would call them all ‘losers’, then I think you should look in the mirror and really see what a true loser looks like.
I wonder if counterfeit ‘people’ like you even have a soul. You’ve obviously lost all remnants of your humanity. Maybe you’re the sickest of us all.
How’d you like it if I pulled your glasses off and broke them ? And you’d go to jail if you wore them? How would you drive, how would you read, how would you live ??
Don’t call these people losers because they need a similar device; a crutch, a prosthetic limb, insulin, or some potion to live.