Demonstrations by marijuana users who want legalization have stepped up in Keene. Do these pot protesters make a good point, or should they all be thrown in jail?
Sam Adams 11/1/2009 9:17:58 AM socially conscious individuals who have realized that if we don't grab for liberty now, it may not be up for grabs much longer. Our government is buying hugh corporations and the biggest banks and already owns or backs uncounted mortgages, which means homes in America. Somewhere has to shine the light, say "come here" be free, live according to your conscience and volunteer to help your neighbors. Own what you've worked for and take the hand of the autocrat out of your pocket and out of your lifestyle.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquillity of servitude than the animating contest of freedom--go from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen!"
Samuel Adams
honor 11/1/2009 6:23:00 AM Even for the honor of the nation, that is thought of around the world as (somewhat?) free, and keep at least one place where people start to live what is right for them and asking the government only to protect the lives, liberty and property of all citizens.
Are you surprised to hear that a very large percentage of the free state activists had already been home, living in New Hampshire long before any sort of migration had started? That's true, it's the New Hampshire born and bred who carry the day for liberty.
Also, even if as many as hoped move to NH some day, it's still less than 2% of the voters. The New Hampshire tradition of libery will prevail once again. It won't be anything that didn't grow on this soil. So let the rebirth of true liberty be right here. The voters shall carry the day.
Civil disobedience is startling at first, with people saying "go through channels, take your time". How much time is there when we need to redirect our energy to economic recovery and cannabis is a big engine for economic recovery! Dozens of our best economists declared it publicly 3 decades ago, for starters.
California will vote on legalizing cannibus next year, and we're destined to lead the east coast. America might fall if we don't work together once again. Live and let live, and stoke the engines of the dynamic American spirit, free men and women tolerant, helpful, and protective of one another.
Civil disobedience can raise awareness, and sadly a few rude words when armed deputies begin dragging some away.
The police want and should have honor too, the warriors of our free society. Most policemen and women didn't sign up to be an agent of repression. Experience knows.
Tens of millions of successful decent Americans like cannibus. Let's grow up as a society. If you're worried about the kids, talk to them, educate them, show them you care and they'll be fine. After all, they are Americans like you and I.
Dave 10/31/2009 7:38:55 AM A relative, one of the best people known to me personally in my fifty some years, just married her beloved partner. This is the one person known to me in a gay marriage and she is hard working, capable, honest and a veteran...so if she came to Keene, married or not, it doesn't look like a desaster of any proportion. Also, of the several pot smokers in my life, all of them are successful productive citizens. Norton, look inside of yourself, where are your fears coming from? Are you afraid of losing some position of authority if Keene becomes more tolerant or are you afraid of your own appetites? The world evolves, live and let live.
Norton 10/30/2009 10:52:26 AM These are all stepping stones to disaster. Legalize pot, Legalize gay marriage,legalize nudity, next................ legalize prostitution in Keene. Its already here and thriving why not legalize it? It will be here soon
Paisley 10/29/2009 2:13:09 PM Kim, I disagree that regular users are more likely to drop out or be unemployed. I think the dropouts and unemployed are more visible and they would be so whether or not they were smoking. That's not the type of folk I hang out with, all of my friends work very hard and live affluent lifestyles (which they can actually afford, btw, not on credit).
crackpot 10/29/2009 11:12:56 AM City officials try to demonize and cage the pot protesters partly because they know they are free state advocates that also raise awareness that property taxes are miles too high.
Divide and conquer has always been the strategy of such city rulers.
If you have a protest against unreasonably high property taxes, look to the right and to the left, you will see some of the same people who are protesting cannabis laws.
Call the protesters crackpots then, or call me one, and keep payin your high tax bill. Bureaucrats rule.
Kim 10/28/2009 8:05:16 PM Decriminalizing so people aren't arrested for small amounts in their own homes is one thing; legalization is another. We shouldn't get our jails filled with minor users, I agree. Public usage could be a fine. However, I also don't think we should outright legalize it. California is having a mess with it. Regular users are more likely to drop out, be unemployed, etc. Those people arguing that it's natural are ridiculous. Go have some shrooms and poppy while you're at it then. Geez!
Gramps 10/28/2009 7:49:08 PM Someone wrote in the Sentinel letters recently that marijuana "can impair your judgement and function",when driving an automobile. Duh! So can alcohol, prescription medicines, cell phones, screaming babies and fighting toddlers. Maybe we should make them all illegal! Legalize marijuana, tax the hell out of it and then arrest, fine and revoke drivers licenses for being behind the wheel impaired!
rebutt 10/28/2009 6:50:21 AM Good Doctor Olsson: 1)That's a nice orderly little world you have there. Yet most Patients would prefer choices.
2)Come on, who didn't drink before they tried pot? Almost everyone had milk before that too.
3)The treatment process is hit and miss at best. Education and open discussion should lead to the best choices for individuals with serious disorders.
4)Subtle thought derailment? Cognitive slipages? Is it that pot users aren't able to use such fine Words? But yes, real research with honest results should be ongoing and cannabis continues to get good reports from the medical research.
5)Turning off the lights can cause panic anxiety or hallucinations in some people. If turning off the lights makes you anxious, then just don't switch off the lamp.
6)Some call it lack of motivation, others call it enjoying what is going on rather than what someone else thinks ought to be going on. Stay tuned for more information.
Dave 10/26/2009 9:38:49 AM Remember that America is something that we can do whatever we want with, within reason. The protesters have fun and blow off a little steam about being a repressed 'minority'.
Tyranny of the majority can occur right up to 51% legislating and enforcing over the rights of the other 49%.
There is a pretty even mix of civil libertarians vs lifestyle police, the outcome over time favoring our constitutional guarantee(?), let's say 'proposal', of liberty.
Chuck 10/23/2009 12:35:20 PM If you really want to peeve-off a Free-Stater, legalize pot and then tax it!
vinny 10/22/2009 5:52:07 AM the way the protesters stick together is cool. like my old man used to say "you touch one, you touch whole"
Jean 10/22/2009 5:12:57 AM Nobody should be thrown in jail for having an idea. I don't agree with legalizing pot, but I don't want to squash their right to gather, protest peacefully or complain. This is the United States, afterall.
Paisley 10/21/2009 9:36:10 PM Norton, CA qualifies drug addiction as a disability and gives general assistance- food stamps and cash benefits. I don't think there is a credible comparison between their communities and ours.
Norton 10/20/2009 8:40:11 PM Look what is happening to california, they have legal medical MJ and have about 7 growers every mile. Even the ones that are trying to be legit are frustrated because its out of hand. You can get a prescription for pot if you have a backache, toothache , just about anything. Its a joke. and the towns people are leaving. Crime is up, pot is growing everywhere, Is that what we want here in Keene????? Google it and see what I am talking about. YOu really believe that making it legal people are going to be more respectful and less in your face? As the red neck comic says "HERES YOUR SIGN"
Anonymous 10/20/2009 4:39:13 PM those guys arrested at the Pumpkin Festival looked like idiots and are NOT helping the cause. As someone who partakes, they should have given it a rest at the festival, loaded with kids, etc. They pretty much looked like derelicts imho.
Support House Bill 648 10/20/2009 1:05:08 PM 8 days left- NH residents can contact your reps via this link:
Derk 10/20/2009 6:55:55 AM I agree with Norton about trying to raise children with smokers in the heart of town not being a great influence for the children.
However, I must say that it wouldn't be such an in-your-face event if it were to simply be legalized.
Legalize it, and people will tend to be more respectful about when and where they smoke it.
Nobody should be arressted for it.
Maybe if would be nice if the parents, non-smokers, and ill-informed took a moment out of their time and simply asked the smokers questions or held a friendly discussion instead of just blindly bashing the other side. (Not saying Norton is blindly attcking or ignorant on the subject.)
Doc Olsson - Marijuana as a gateway drug - Where do pot smokers get their drugs from? A drug dealer, right? Isn't it feasible to say that it just makes access to other drugs easier? Legalizing MJ would bring more dignity to the drug and help cut down on the use of harder drugs by many of people.
If anybody would like to discuss my stance via email (read next paragraph for why), feel free to email me. I will try to reply to anyone.
As I am not a resident of Keene, or even the great state of New Hampshire, I know my two cents are only worth about a penny. Still, good luck to both sides on how this one plays out.
I am looking forward to come visit Keene sometime around the New Year an possibly make my stay permanent.
silence 10/19/2009 3:24:08 PM If 6 peaceful activists for free speech and sovereignty over one's own body fall into arrest by gestapo agents in the pumpkin forest and no one hears of it, did it make a sound?
Six were thrown in jail Sunday, and they made their point courageously. If the crowd's festival day was ruined because of their point as some town resident's had feared, it's a surprise to me.
And jailing the peaceful when there are so many violent criminals out there, defies logic.
COLLEEN HARPER 10/19/2009 1:37:51 PM I guess I'm confused. You can't smoke cigarettes in most places because it's not healthy yet they are considering letting the ones that want to smoke pot. Is that more healthy? Also it has not been legalized as yet so why aren't they being arrested? You can't drink alcohol in public without being arrested and that's legal if you're over 21. Also confuses me that an ex-police officer would back the legalization of this when he made any arrest he could for this and less.
gramps 10/18/2009 2:50:07 PM The protesters have had their day and would soon disappear if the media would drop it instead of keep trying to stir the pot (pun intended). Move on to the Pumpking festival and the next big positive event coming to Keene.
bill b 10/18/2009 5:07:06 AM civil disobedience is the catalyst for real progress, more arrests make the thirst for liberty grow and the hearts and minds of America come to Keene
sue 10/17/2009 8:16:59 PM smoking pot in a school zone in downtown Keene makes no more sense then standing in the same spot with an open alcoholic beverage. throw these morons in jail for breaking the law. get a clue KPD!
Paisley 10/16/2009 1:17:47 PM I don't think people have to be sneaky, I certainly am not. I am, however, respectful of others because that is my nature.
I remember a while back when towns were cleaning the 'blue' laws from their books. One nearby community had a standing law that anyone driving an automobile into town was required to send someone ahead to warn the community- that sort of thing.
Laws fade as they become unimportant to communities. Marijuana laws will also, provoking prolongs the process.
Having said that, I believe the medical marijuana bill is important because these folk need easier access, similar to the way we care for them by delivering their food and cleaning their homes.
mckate 10/15/2009 4:23:18 PM smoking is dumb. period.
anonymous 10/15/2009 3:22:26 PM Don't put them in jail where tax payers have to feed them........hit them with a taser. Save money.
bill b 10/15/2009 11:06:10 AM Cannabis prohibition has made it so that everything from growing to distribution to use IS criminal. So the legal system is set against a vast criminal undertaking that almost half of American adults alive have participated in. Are we Insane?
If it were Legal, we could treat it as a medical issue rather than a legal one. Then, at least, the medical benefits of pot would be available Too. As everyone points out, there is no addiction with pot and people drift in and out of current use according to what Their life has going on at any given time. Some people Retire from a career and then take up smoking weed Again like mabye Before their career. Other people must see cases of this in friends or family as well.
What is certain, is that the continuing criminalizatin of cannabis keeps pitting the police against a mass segment of normal society. When an average of 8 Hundred Thousand Americans Per Year for the past decade are arrested for cannabis crimes, we are not discussing something unimportant. That's almost a million Americans every year turned against our legal system and our police forces, if that isn't a national tragedy, what is?
If smoking smeaky and not getting caught seems just fine to someone, then how about when it's their turn to be one of the 800,000 or so arrested for pot every year? How is your personal freedom then?
So why don't police chiefs and city councils just say Enough, that the cannibus prohibition laws are simply the very lowest priority of all our written laws for now. There are so many laws that are rarely or almost never enforced. What's the big deal and all the anger for?
Then we just let sensible people take the laws off the books little by little working through the system, while the big struggle of police against pot smokers melts away first in enlightened enclaves and then society wide.
plain common sense
Who was rude to whom at the central square and who started it are a seperate matter for debate. Easy to fill a book about people taking "sides" in such issues, here we find pot smoking libertarian thinking writers criticizing those taking a public stand on legalizing it, but let's not forget all the generational issues and "newcomer" to the area issues blowing in the wind. Fear, suspicion, accusation, counter accusation. The rattle and hum.
Norton 10/14/2009 9:23:55 PM Tom, Yes marijuana grows in nature, so does poppies and cocaine,etc. Every drug has its origins from nature, well almost every drug. That doesnt mean its legal.Coca cola in the beginning had cocaine in its soda, but that did not work out to well, everybody was high and soon adictied. Good for the Coke company, bad for the population. The money saved by not putting pot smokers in jail, Which they rarely are. How about the money spent for Unemployment and dead beat dads who are busy getting high and not supporting their family, or the rise in lung cancer from the intense carcenogens in pot which we will all pay for in healthcare costs, shall I go on? A peacefull drug, perhaps but thats also like saying that every drunk is a happy drunk Wish my father knew about that, he would drink and beat us all up. Pot is a drug and the only one who profits from this is the dealers who will next start introducing Other products they have to offer. Wake up
Paisley 10/14/2009 2:42:59 PM The folks at the square seem to be counter-productive in their efforts. They're inciting the community to activate against them.
I don't think they should be thrown in jail, but that they should face the usual legal consequenses for the actions they choose. And I do mean usual, not maximum, penalties.
I've been smoking pot when and where I please for the past 35 years. Why have a big to-do over the possibility of prosecution? I'll save my energy for the time when my personal freedom is actually jeopardized.
Paul 10/12/2009 9:46:19 PM Every once in a while we look back at our youth and remember times we thought we were cool but we were pathetic idiots. Anyone with a few years behind them knows exactly what I’m saying. That’s exactly what these kids will be doing 20 years from now. The “screw you” in your face display of disrespect did not help with the general populations prospective. You should have been more organized and goal oriented. Looking from the outside, your display was counterproductive and childish.
I’m 100% for legalization but also realize certain limitations will be needed as it is with alcohol. I don’t see it happening until a test similar to alcohol’s breathalyzer can be invented for THC levels. Until this happens, it looks like we’re going to be out of luck.
The real shame is, I know for a fact that a few good hits would help this old guy with a racing mind get to sleep much quicker than typing these stupid responses on the internet.
bill b. 10/12/2009 10:30:28 AM Norton, you ask good questions. Forty one percent of Americans as current or past users comes from the US Dept. of Health and Human Services 2008 annual survey; that's at least 101 million Americans who have broken the cannabis laws so far. Researchers say it's a Low estimate because it relies on self reporting to representatives of the Federal Governement who come to the door and ask. Ten percent Report using pot in the past year, that's 26 million people in the US who say it openly in the survey.
There is a broad consensus that minors don't have the same social perogatives as adults, there is no disagreement for me in this.
Legalizing means repealing the laws against cannabis, much like the repeal of prohibition that used to be on drinking before most of us were born.
As far as Where it's grown, we won't plant it on your property whether it's legal or not, fair? Kidding aside, some countries allow pot to be grown in a person's yard and that works just fine.
tom 10/12/2009 9:15:10 AM This whole debate is so stupid! A plant that grows naturally in nature can be made illegal? Think of the billions this country could save by not putting pot smokers in jail and instead taxing (just like the other natural plant-tobacco)
Norton 10/11/2009 7:42:48 PM Hey Bill, Lets look at details, ok? What huge numbers? and what is the age group asking for this legalization. What do you mean by legalizing? NO age requirements, smoke anywhere you want, grow it freely without any restrictions, what do you mean by making it legal? You say 41% have smoked or are still. Where did you get that number? Are these people still smoking all the time or did they try it and moved on to more important things in life than getting high and being stoned and wasting life because you cant remember things that well anymore and you lost your job because you just forgot to show up?
bill b. 10/9/2009 11:58:51 AM Their point is so important to them that they willingly risk up to a year in prison to do it. Let's focus then on the point they make. Forty one percent of adult Americans are past or present pot smokers, shall the other fifty nine percent then be the ones keeping them all in cages?
When huge numbers of people dont' believe in the law, there is something wrong with the law. Incidently, cops will be the good guys once foolish people stop making them enforce terrible laws.
gramps 10/7/2009 4:28:31 PM The best way to reduce the consumption of marijuana is to legalize it and tax the hell out of it, like is done to other tobaccos. Look at the reduction in gas comsumtion due to high prices and taxes which have lead to more car pooling and the taking of the bus.
Norton 10/6/2009 8:24:32 PM First of all let me say that I grew up in the Woodstock era and as a matter of fact I was actually at the concert, so trust me I am aware of the effects of pot. Whick by the way comes in many varieties and even mixed with other more potent goodies. This mention of taking the protest to a new level was from your protesters, sorry pal. Look, the central square is ours, the residents of Keene past and present paid for it with our taxes and the military monument is dedicated to the men and women who died from this town in the war, which you so nicely stuck a a poster in it. Nice, real class. We as residents, voted for our officials to have a town the way we all enjoy for our families, we like it the way it is and we are proud of it. Now, the free staters come along and smoke pot right across the street where our kids go to school, You carry guns and the women walk half naked down our main street where we bring out kids to get candy at the candy store or to the movies at the colonial or to the YMCA across from the park. You do all this right in front of a church that many of us are members. We do not feel comfortable in our own town because of what you might be doing next. Dont come here and change our town, dont bring your friends to change our town, if you want to live here, great, welcome but live by our rules and go through the right channels to make suggestions or express new ideas, or leave. Love it or leave it. How about you get your followers together and buy up some land and start your own community with no laws or government, pot in every household, what a great reality show that would be. We had communes in the 70's and they were great, but as you can see , they are not around anymore,Why? People grow up and become responsible. Look it man, your going to grow out of this phaze, but dont destroy us, actually this town is only going to take so much. Stay and live as a member of our town, we welcome you. Or get out.
What constitution? 10/5/2009 1:13:34 PM I see that this discussion has taken a wrong turn and is edging on the "is the use of pot good?" question. The actual question posed is summed up as - "Do american citizens have the right to peaceful demonstration as guarenteed in the constitution?" If you are against or for the topic being demonstrated is not in question - this is for our elected representitives to decide. The demonstrations held on the Keene common are legal (like it or not) and are in fact directed to our present and future lawmakers, hopefully allowing them to realize that a LARGE portion of NH residents are, have been, and will be pro-marijuana. Only a very small portion of the actual pot-smoking populous are willing to demonstrate for fear of incarceration - we will find out the actual feelings of the general public in the next upcomming elections. People will use examples in states such as Mass. as a baseline as they see the drop in crime and other pros and cons come to light.
Gramps, These protestors are not a minority trying to harass "you" (thought to be the majority), they are trying to let you know that they in fact are NOT a minority and because of what you have expressed, they may be there even longer trying to make their point. The keene common is their chosen place to protest and have just as much right to be there as yourself - don't let them chase you off - expect that they will be there and proceed with your plans, the protestors will not stop you from being there -They are trying to show that a portion of the MONADNOCK REGION is counted in the #s of pro-marajuana - the officials in Concord have heard of these protests and the need to demonstrate on the statehouse lawn is not necessary. Letters have been written to the state representitives as well.
Mr. Norton, You are obviously uneducated on the effects of marijuana if you think these protestors will turn violent. Your ignorance is feeding your paranoia (fear) as the county prosecuter's radio broadcast was designed to do.It has had its proposed effect on you and I would love to hear the source of these alleged statements of "stepping it up a notch". I believe you may have misheard or misinterperted the statment that the police were going to in fact "step it up a notch", not the protestors.
My next points are directed to Mr.(Dr.)Olsson - I strongly agree with the gateway drug theroy and have personally seen it in action! If a drug dealer sells a person pot (an illegal substance) then they will be more prone to offer up harder drugs to this person because they have already supplied them with an illegal substance. But what if this gateway drug was not illegal? Would this dealer look at his prospective "client" in the same light? Perhaps the legalization of pot would take it off the "gatway drug" list. That being said, I feel that many of your points are conjecture and unsupportable - being that you are spread pretty thin in your occupation as a physician, psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, that your experiences are very limited to abnormal behavior opposed to the general "healthy minded" populous. Heck, you are even creating you own syndromes to support your opinions.
As for mr stonhendge, you are obviously a person opposed to marijuana posing as a young pro-pot demonstrator. If you wish to take a stand on this subject, stop hiding behind this mask and have the courage that these protestors are demonstrating. Your narrowminded opinion and your way of demonstrating this opinion does not make you look "reel" smart or strengthen your position.
In closing, Although I am for the decriminalization of marijuana and for the RIGHT these protestors have to gather peacefully (wherever in the USA they choose), I don't think that smoking it in public should be condoned - let the protests continue for they (the demonstrators) have this RIGHT but detain and fine the people actually smoking the marijuana in public eye. It is in fact still illegal
anonymous 2 10/5/2009 11:18:59 AM I think they way the (freedom Fighters) are going about this is wrong would difinately have to agree all the way with DEP on that. I think the real heroes here are the teenagers mind you not adluts who went to the square and stood up for thier rights not to do DRUGS what a great group of kids !!!!!!!!
anonymous 2 10/5/2009 11:18:12 AM I think they way the (freedom Fighters) are going about this is wrong would difinately have to agree all the way with DEP on that. I think the real heroes her are the teenagers mind you not adluts who went to the square and stood up for thier rights not to do DRUGS what a great group of kids !!!!!!!!
STONEHENGE 10/3/2009 4:04:13 PM Man, you gies are a total buzzkill. I been tokin since i was 12 and im reel smart. I get hi before i go to school and it makes me reel smart. the teecher still gives me Fs. I cant get a job cuss i cant pass the piss test, but i dont want to werk anyway. Im way too smart to be a cop. they cant get high. how stupid is that. everybudy should go away an leeve us alone. i'm gonna get rich doin music..i sound reel good when im stoned and everybudy i smoke with think it sounds reel good too. i will show all of you when i get rich like on tv. i gut to go. i'm reel hungry. munchies rule!
DEP 10/3/2009 1:39:43 PM Tomorrow, I'm going to drive my car at 65 miles per hour on main street. If others don't like it, they can stay off the streets. Then I'm going to urinate in a public swimming pool. If others don't like it, they can swim somewhere else. I also plan on leaving my rusty old unregistered car in front of my condo. If others don't like it, they don't have to look at it. I'm going to drink a bottle of scotch at the local elementary school, yell fire in a movie theatre, leave my trash on the side of the road, and spray graffiti wherever I want to. I think I might even host an orgy Sunday morning in a local church. Finally, I'm going to central square, light up a bowl, and blow smoke into the face of an 8 year old (to teach her/him how to express freedom in this town). How I love Keene NH! With all this "change" going on, Rules, Laws, and Civility have become nothing more than suggestions! Hmmm. Let's see. Now I can.......
Aldene Fredenburg 10/3/2009 12:42:31 PM Martin Luther King and others who broke what they considered to be unjust laws were willing to go to jail for their beliefs. I think the police need to oblige these protestors, who are deliberately flouting the law knowing the consequences of their arrest, and put them in jail, thus giving the protestors another venue for their protests: a court of law.
I have one question: how are these protestors getting home after their demonstrations? If any of them are under the influence of marijuana when they get behind the wheel of a car, and then drive while under the influence, are the cops keeping an eye on that? I can imagine the headline in the Keene Sentinel the day after one of these pot smokers commits vehicular homicide after toking on Central Square. It won't be pretty, and it certainly won't reflect well on the Keene Police Department.
Jean 10/3/2009 6:02:39 AM I think until it is legal, this is a moot subject.
Unbelievable 10/2/2009 11:38:53 PM After reading all these post, I am just blown away by the lack of knowledge that 90 percent of you have regarding this subject. This alone goes to show that many of us are very ignorant. I love how alchol is widely accepted and there is so much of this poison everywhere you turn your heads, on billboards, in stores, on television, etc. The mention of something that grows out of the ground and we see wide spread panic and ignorance. Although I am a firm believer and support of legalization, I do not agree with the people gathering around central square to protest this. This is scaring alot of folks, and it really is ruining our downtown. I know that regardless of what happens with it being legal, I know that I will always smoke it in my own home. Nothing will change that. I don't feel the need to light up in public. Many of these people that are sitting on central square are very young of age, and are followers. If you people want to make a difference, goto our capital, don't ruin our beatiful downtown! Something that makes me laugh hard is the fellow, or fellows that said they will do this daily until people are let out of prison, or marijuana is legalized. I laugh very hard at you! We will see who wins this battle. lol...
Unbelievable 10/2/2009 11:38:30 PM After reading all these post, I am just blown away by the lack of knowledge that 90 percent of you have regarding this subject. This alone goes to show that many of us are very ignorant. I love how alchol is widely accepted and there is so much of this poison everywhere you turn your heads, on billboards, in stores, on television, etc. The mention of something that grows out of the ground and we see wide spread panic and ignorance. Although I am a firm believer and support of legalization, I do not agree with the people gathering around central square to protest this. This is scaring alot of folks, and it really is ruining our downtown. I know that regardless of what happens with it being legal, I know that I will always smoke it in my own home. Nothing will change that. I don't feel the need to light up in public. Many of these people that are sitting on central square are very young of age, and are followers. If you people want to make a difference, goto our capital, don't ruin our beatiful downtown! Something that makes me laugh hard is the fellow, or fellows that said they will do this daily until people are let out of prison, or marijuana is legalized. I laugh very hard at you! We will see who wins this battle. lol...
NORTON 10/1/2009 9:06:24 PM mY FEAR IS THAT THIS SO CALLED PEACEFULL PROTEST IS GOING TO GET VIOLENT. DID YOU HEAR THE RADIO INTERVIEW WITH THE COUNTY PROSECUTER? HE SAID THAT THERE WAS TALK THAT THEY WERE GOING TO START BREAKING WINDOWS AND STEPPING IT UP A NOTCH. THE PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATORS ARE GETTING BORED AND WANT TO HAVE SOME EXCITEMENT AND THEN IT WILL GET OUT OF HAND
G Washington 10/1/2009 7:04:11 PM I`m wondering if Dr Olsen could tell us all about the "dark side" of the products of Big Pharma?
T Jefferson 10/1/2009 6:54:16 PM They should be protesting. The War on Drugs, cannabis specifically, has NOTHING to do with public safety and everything to do with the massive public trough that prohibition feeds. And it is just like all the other phony "war`s on". Impossible to win.
And among the prohibitionists are the dealers who love it when the woefully ignorant American sheople continue to support policy/laws that are against there own best interest and enrich, they, the dealer.
For those of you who are so offended by the cannabis protesters consider this; Any 12 year old in any public school in this country can buy cannabis, and probably anything else from someone they know in their school. Do you think the dealer who sells to the kid is asking for ID?
Get smart people. All the unpleasant side effects of the War on Drugs, the wasted money, the corruption of the criminal justice system, the gang wars, the drive-by shootings, the lives destroyed by incarceration, and on and on....would end if "We The People" say NO MORE!
Toke free or die. My name is Jenna, I’m 18 and am from the Keene area. I stand with my fellow “stoners” at 4:20 when I can on my days off from work. I read the paper and keep up with the media on this topic everyday. As to the article in September 30ths paper, “Weeding out lawbreakers”. I was appalled as to what some of the residents feel should happen to us protesters. Such as one resident called for the police to use tear gas, riot batons and Tasers on us. Those sorts of actions have no place at the rally that is held at the common. It is a peaceful protest and there has been no violence. Why should we have those used on us when we are simply standing for what we believe in. And to that resident if the police were to use tear gas, riot batons and tasers on us when we are not out of control it would be police brutality. This protest will continue and we will all stand together for what we believe in. Some say what we are doing is a mistake. Well if it is a mistake, let it be our mistake to make. What some people don’t understand is that marijuana is not a drug. Marijuana is no different then tea, coffee, or even tobacco. The chemical in tea and coffee is caffeine. The chemical in tobacco is nicotine. The chemical in marijuana is thc. Caffeine and nicotine have effects on the mind and body similar to marijuana. Except caffeine can be addicting and your body has physical withdrawals. Nicotine is addicting and has effects on the brains as well. I’m not a doctor so I can not get technical but marijuana is not addicting like caffeine or nicotine and there is no physical withdrawal from the “drug”. People drink coffee to give them energy. People smoke cigarettes for relaxation. People smoke marijuana because it is calming, similar to tea. I am speaking as someone who has been doing all of the 3 since I was about 11 years old. How often do you hear of someone smoking a joint and going out and starting a riot? Or how often do you hear of someone lighting up then going home and beating their wife? But how often do you hear of people doing these things while drinking alcohol? Alcohol is a more worse substance then marijuana but is legal to those over the age of 21 in the state of New Hampshire. Also in the article “Weeding out lawbreakers” a resident stated “my prediction is that if you allow this to continue, someone is going to get hurt, Either from a fed-up citizen or from the junkies”. Excuse me but since the protest has started there has been no violence so if someone is to get hurt its not going to be because of us “junkies”. This is a peaceful protest and if a fed-up citizen were to try and hurt one of the protesters what could anyone make of it, except someone needs to hand that citizen a joint light it up and take a walk in our shoes and free their mind of the negative feelings they have towards us and the plant. And for you to call us junkies is out of line. A junkie is somebody who is addicted to a substance and lets the addiction control their lives. Marijuana is not addicting and it does not turn people into junkies like actual drugs can do. I feel they mis-categorize marijuana by calling it a drug. A drug is a man made substance not a naturally grown plant. Maybe alcohol should be placed in the drug category and marijuana taken off of the list. . I believe in what I stand for and I’m thankful to those who started the 4:20 gathering at the common. It’s about time we speak out and express to those who are uneducated about the harmless plant marijuana.
Anonomous 9/30/2009 5:39:36 PM I think that people should not be fined or arrested for the use of Marijuana. But if they commit a crime while under the influence of Marijuana, then they should be tried alike any other crime. If they shoot someone while high, try them as you would a person who was not high. IT;s their choice whether they use the drug, but let them suffer the consequences of any wrong doings that they do while under the influence.
DEP 9/30/2009 4:34:16 PM Let the idiots continue to make fools of themselves. Reality is that they are at least getting off the couch and doing something! They will soon learn that the majority of the population, the ones who are sober enough to make the laws, have a limited amount of patience. If they are trying those responsible for law enforcement on for size, they surely will not be dissapointed. If they think getting arrested is going to help their cause, they must be smoking something...oh yeah...they are! Once they get hit with a criminal record and very heavy fines, they may re-think their views. A $1500.00 fine would certainly bite into their pot budget wouldn't it. If they have money to "burn", and want to blow it in our face, than I say let's grab that cash through legal fines, and use it for something productive like the food bank or the elderly in need. Personally, I find this whole thing entertaining as hell. It is very sad however, that they are rudely taking the park away from law abiding citizens. Arrest them? Absolutely! Then fine the pot out of them!
Norton 9/30/2009 10:41:08 AM Look lets face reality, marijuana is a drug. Tylenol is a drug and we have to give permission to the school nurse to give it to our children. Smoking cigaretts is harmful and look what that has done to our society and the increase in cancer. One joint = 20 cigs. Think of the rise in cancer with that fact. There is at present a movement in this country to stop smoking cigaretts in public place because of health reasons. And you want to allow Pot smoking??? This is a college town and kids want everything they cant have legal. Parents, you understand. As far as adults, If your over 21 and you smoke pot at home, thats your buisness. Give it to a minor and your going to jail, just like alcohol. Drive while stoned, jail. YOu can kill someone just like alcohol or other drugs. Also first its a small amount of pot, ok then a small amount of cocaine, then what heroine, mushrooms, LSD, Crack. Once you open the door, you will not be able to shut it. Think about it. As far as the demonstrations on the square, they are just mocking us, the town and the police, The police should have at least detained them and did urine tests. Dont let the kids run all over you.
Norton 9/30/2009 10:25:07 AM Medicinal Marijuana: Yes, I agree it would be helpful,however did you know it is already being used medically and has been for along time. Giving some one a bag of weed and sending him home is not the answer. First of all smoking is not a good delivery system. One joint is equal to 20 cigaretts. (excuse my spelling) And you do not know the strength of the pot. Maybe it has bacteria or a plant fungus you are not aware of. If it is done right in a capsul form and regulated for strength and quality and the right dosage , that would be good. Thats like saying if you have a headache, get bark from a willow tree and chew on it. Even though that is where asperin came from, it is not the right delivery system into your body. Just because it is a plant doesnt put it in the same catagory as herbal tea.
Jean Coutu 9/29/2009 9:12:46 PM I organize the LFOD Rally often having to resort to repeatedly having to retain the NH ACLU with taking the Town of Jaffrey to task to secure permits for our rights to gather as with having been very active in recent years through proper channels with the NH medicinal marijuana legislation. After thousands of hours of work over many years by many organizations with a majority of support by NH citizens & legislator's supporting HB 648 only resulted in Lynch vetoeing it. So much for rights,the system or the failing war and prohibition on marijuana. I certainly agree that there's arguments to both sides of this issue. I may not condone or condemn the smoke ins or the potential to them being counter productive,however, I certainly can relate and share in their frustration.
Gramps 9/29/2009 2:26:13 PM I believe in freedom of speech, right to orderly protest, right of assembly in a peaceful manner. However, I do not believe that rallying and assemblying in Central Square and depriving residents who normally go there to relax and read and meet with friends and talk, access to the park is right. Contact your State Representatives and/or take your group(s) to Concord and rally on the State House lawn. Why hassel and goad our local police, by smoking everything except marijuana, into arresting you. Our police are there to uphold the laws that your State Reps make. Police do not make, and do not necessarily agree with all of these laws, but it is their duty to uphold the laws and protect us from harrassment from the minority.
DP 9/29/2009 10:11:30 AM Go ahead. Legalize it. Your body, huh? Sure. I mean, I'm a firm believer in Darwin's "Survival of the Fittest" theory. Works for me.
Maybe marajuana is harmless to those who smoke it. Maybe it wont lead to a life of abusing black tar heroin and crack cocaine. But it's still a narcotic. Does this mean you're making a statement smoking at the center of Keene? No, it means you're being selfish.
Marajuana, similar to alcohol, can pose long term health effects. To add insult to injury, when you are intoxicated by these substances you don't learn anything new. But alcohol is still legal, right? (I know, free staters, they are two completely different things, but for all intents and purposes, follow me here). That does not mean that I, despite my liking to Wild Turkey bourbon, can simply pour a glass while I am sitting on a park bench watching families walk by. I have to drink it at my home, a restaurant, or a bar.
I am a libertarian. Legalize the stuff. Like I said, and you've said, it's your body. And hey, if the government wants to grow it in country and tax it (like tobacco products and liquor), than fine. It might even inspire some quality control! I am sure you're "good bud" that you see every Thursday afternoon does not care about your health as much as he cares about the money s/he just pocketed.
It must feel cool and enlightening to defy the law with no consequence. It must be cool to protest because, let's face it, with all of the trials and tribulations going on in our earth, country, region, city, and own back yards, the first thing I think of is, "Let's smoke downtown and beat on some bongos." Jesus totally rolled that way.
One more thing. If you want to feel better than me for protesting downtown, please use the crosswalks. When you walk out in front of me while I am in a motor vehicle, it puts you and a lot of others at risk.
dee 9/29/2009 7:48:32 AM Neither! If these people really want to make changes in the law, they need to present their case to people who can actually make a difference. Standing on the square smoking pot - what does that accomplish? I think this is a group of people who have attached themselves to a cause so they can light up in public.
Peter Olsson 9/28/2009 8:20:31 PM MARAJUANA’S DARK SIDE Legalizing marijuana might result in increased tax revenues as some suggest. It might lead to less violent crime. But, frequently the popular press and media seem to minimize or completely ignore the dangers of marijuana. As a practicing physician psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, I wanted to express my concerns and opinions about cannabis use. (1) Medical Use of Cannabis---Rarely is cannabis necessary to assist terminally ill cancer patients with nausea or pain. If other measures have failed and a qualified physician or nurse practitioner is supervising then oral cannabis preparations are appropriate. Marijuana never is useful as an antidepressant, tranquilizer or psychiatric medication though many people use it that way. (2 “Gateway Hypothesis”---This cogent concept contains the idea that marijuana is often an early gateway towards the future use of harder drugs by a middle school or high school aged person. Many research studies convincingly support the “gateway” domain of cannabis and before long I think it will be regarded as scientific fact when further confirming repetitions of the research are complete. (3) Marijuana use is very destructive to the treatment process for persons with Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, and Major Depression. Not only does marijuana’s effects make it difficult or impossible for a psychiatric clinician to assess the therapeutic effects or side effects of psychiatric medications; the false sense of security which is really mental dissociation, causes psychotherapy communications to be difficult or ineffective. (4) Subtle Brain Perturbations---Particularly in persons under thirty years of age, marijuana causes, subtle thought derailment, cognitive slippages, or poor focus of attention or memory. The source of this subtle brain damage is related to the impact of marijuana during the incomplete process of myelinization in the preadolescent, adolescent and late adolescent brain. Myelin is the insulation sheath around brain nerve fibers that is essential to full functioning of key areas of the adult brain. (5) Cannabis can occasionally cause panic anxiety or hallucinations. More commonly, it causes a false sense of calmness or illusionary perceptions of being more creative or intelligent than academic or practical reality testing can establish. (6) Loss of Motivation---Even more ominous is the well-established observation that cannabis interferes with long term motivational domains that are necessary for long range career planning. This is often called the “Amotivational Syndrome”. In my practice I have worked with young people who chronically smoked marijuana and thought they were very cool. In fact, they were dodging the normal mild anxieties and stress associated with dating, test-taking and social, community or family gatherings. I call this the “Alice in Wonderland Syndrome”. It probably accounts for many “Roads Too Commonly Traveled to Mediocrity”.
tom rogers 9/28/2009 3:54:05 PM it's is disturbing to me that so many people are okay with arresting, fining and imprisoning people for marijuana. that isn't the way jesus rolled.
Anonymous 9/28/2009 2:47:13 PM drive 20 miles south , enter MA and possession is just a small fines, not a crime. Do the same here and the city/state could make a ton of $$$$$ by fining everyone who lights up
What do you think?
Note: Article comments are not posted immediately to the Web site. Each submission must be approved by the Web site editor, who may edit content for appropriateness. There may be a delay of 24-48 hours for any submission while the web site editor reviews and approves it.
11/1/2009 9:17:58 AM
socially conscious individuals who have realized that if we don't grab for liberty now, it may not be up for grabs much longer. Our government is buying hugh corporations and the biggest banks and already owns or backs uncounted mortgages, which means homes in America. Somewhere has to shine the light, say "come here" be free, live according to your conscience and volunteer to help your neighbors. Own what you've worked for and take the hand of the autocrat out of your pocket and out of your lifestyle.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquillity of servitude than the animating contest of freedom--go from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen!"
Samuel Adams
11/1/2009 6:23:00 AM
Even for the honor of the nation, that is thought of around the world as (somewhat?) free, and keep at least one place where people start to live what is right for them and asking the government only to protect the lives, liberty and property of all citizens.
Are you surprised to hear that a very large percentage of the free state activists had already been home, living in New Hampshire long before any sort of migration had started? That's true, it's the New Hampshire born and bred who carry the day for liberty.
Also, even if as many as hoped move to NH some day, it's still less than 2% of the voters. The New Hampshire tradition of libery will prevail once again. It won't be anything that didn't grow on this soil. So let the rebirth of true liberty be right here. The voters shall carry the day.
Civil disobedience is startling at first, with people saying "go through channels, take your time". How much time is there when we need to redirect our energy to economic recovery and cannabis is a big engine for economic recovery! Dozens of our best economists declared it publicly 3 decades ago, for starters.
California will vote on legalizing cannibus next year, and we're destined to lead the east coast. America might fall if we don't work together once again. Live and let live, and stoke the engines of the dynamic American spirit, free men and women tolerant, helpful, and protective of one another.
Civil disobedience can raise awareness, and sadly a few rude words when armed deputies begin dragging some away.
The police want and should have honor too, the warriors of our free society. Most policemen and women didn't sign up to be an agent of repression. Experience knows.
Tens of millions of successful decent Americans like cannibus. Let's grow up as a society. If you're worried about the kids, talk to them, educate them, show them you care and they'll be fine. After all, they are Americans like you and I.
10/31/2009 7:38:55 AM
A relative, one of the best people known to me personally in my fifty some years, just married her beloved partner. This is the one person known to me in a gay marriage and she is hard working, capable, honest and a veteran...so if she came to Keene, married or not, it doesn't look like a desaster of any proportion. Also, of the several pot smokers in my life, all of them are successful productive citizens. Norton, look inside of yourself, where are your fears coming from? Are you afraid of losing some position of authority if Keene becomes more tolerant or are you afraid of your own appetites? The world evolves, live and let live.
10/30/2009 10:52:26 AM
These are all stepping stones to disaster. Legalize pot, Legalize gay marriage,legalize nudity, next................
legalize prostitution in Keene. Its already here and thriving why not legalize it?
It will be here soon
10/29/2009 2:13:09 PM
Kim, I disagree that regular users are more likely to drop out or be unemployed. I think the dropouts and unemployed are more visible and they would be so whether or not they were smoking. That's not the type of folk I hang out with, all of my friends work very hard and live affluent lifestyles (which they can actually afford, btw, not on credit).
10/29/2009 11:12:56 AM
City officials try to demonize and cage the pot protesters partly because they know they are free state advocates that also raise awareness that property taxes are miles too high.
Divide and conquer has always been the strategy of such city rulers.
If you have a protest against unreasonably high property taxes, look to the right and to the left, you will see some of the same people who are protesting cannabis laws.
Call the protesters crackpots then, or call me one, and keep payin your high tax bill. Bureaucrats rule.
10/28/2009 8:05:16 PM
Decriminalizing so people aren't arrested for small amounts in their own homes is one thing; legalization is another. We shouldn't get our jails filled with minor users, I agree. Public usage could be a fine. However, I also don't think we should outright legalize it. California is having a mess with it. Regular users are more likely to drop out, be unemployed, etc. Those people arguing that it's natural are ridiculous. Go have some shrooms and poppy while you're at it then. Geez!
10/28/2009 7:49:08 PM
Someone wrote in the Sentinel letters recently that marijuana "can impair your judgement and function",when driving an automobile. Duh! So can alcohol, prescription medicines, cell phones, screaming babies and fighting toddlers. Maybe we should make them all illegal! Legalize marijuana, tax the hell out of it and then arrest, fine and revoke drivers licenses for being behind the wheel impaired!
10/28/2009 6:50:21 AM
Good Doctor Olsson:
1)That's a nice orderly little world you have there. Yet most Patients would prefer choices.
2)Come on, who didn't drink before they tried pot? Almost everyone had milk before that too.
3)The treatment process is hit and miss at best. Education and open discussion should lead to the best choices for individuals with serious disorders.
4)Subtle thought derailment? Cognitive slipages? Is it that pot users aren't able to use such fine Words? But yes, real research with honest results should be ongoing and cannabis continues to get good reports from the medical research.
5)Turning off the lights can cause panic anxiety or hallucinations in some people. If turning off the lights makes you anxious, then just don't switch off the lamp.
6)Some call it lack of motivation, others call it enjoying what is going on rather than what someone else thinks ought to be going on. Stay tuned for more information.
10/26/2009 9:38:49 AM
Remember that America is something that we can do whatever we want with, within reason. The protesters have fun and blow off a little steam about being a repressed 'minority'.
Tyranny of the majority can occur right up to 51% legislating and enforcing over the rights of the other 49%.
There is a pretty even mix of civil libertarians vs lifestyle police, the outcome over time favoring our constitutional guarantee(?), let's say 'proposal', of liberty.
10/23/2009 12:35:20 PM
If you really want to peeve-off a Free-Stater, legalize pot and then tax it!
10/22/2009 5:52:07 AM
the way the protesters stick together is cool. like my old man used to say "you touch one, you touch whole"
10/22/2009 5:12:57 AM
Nobody should be thrown in jail for having an idea. I don't agree with legalizing pot, but I don't want to squash their right to gather, protest peacefully or complain. This is the United States, afterall.
10/21/2009 9:36:10 PM
Norton, CA qualifies drug addiction as a disability and gives general assistance- food stamps and cash benefits. I don't think there is a credible comparison between their communities and ours.
10/20/2009 8:40:11 PM
Look what is happening to california, they have legal medical MJ and have about 7 growers every mile. Even the ones that are trying to be legit are frustrated because its out of hand. You can get a prescription for pot if you have a backache, toothache , just about anything. Its a joke. and the towns people are leaving. Crime is up, pot is growing everywhere, Is that what we want here in Keene?????
Google it and see what I am talking about. YOu really believe that making it legal people are going to be more respectful and less in your face? As the red neck comic says
"HERES YOUR SIGN"
10/20/2009 4:39:13 PM
those guys arrested at the Pumpkin Festival looked like idiots and are NOT helping the cause. As someone who partakes, they should have given it a rest at the festival, loaded with kids, etc. They pretty much looked like derelicts imho.
10/20/2009 1:05:08 PM
8 days left- NH residents can contact your reps via this link:
https://ssl.capwiz.com/mpp/issues/alert/?alertid=13958906
10/20/2009 6:55:55 AM
I agree with Norton about trying to raise children with smokers in the heart of town not being a great influence for the children.
However, I must say that it wouldn't be such an in-your-face event if it were to simply be legalized.
Legalize it, and people will tend to be more respectful about when and where they smoke it.
Nobody should be arressted for it.
Maybe if would be nice if the parents, non-smokers, and ill-informed took a moment out of their time and simply asked the smokers questions or held a friendly discussion instead of just blindly bashing the other side. (Not saying Norton is blindly attcking or ignorant on the subject.)
Doc Olsson - Marijuana as a gateway drug - Where do pot smokers get their drugs from? A drug dealer, right? Isn't it feasible to say that it just makes access to other drugs easier? Legalizing MJ would bring more dignity to the drug and help cut down on the use of harder drugs by many of people.
If anybody would like to discuss my stance via email (read next paragraph for why), feel free to email me. I will try to reply to anyone.
As I am not a resident of Keene, or even the great state of New Hampshire, I know my two cents are only worth about a penny. Still, good luck to both sides on how this one plays out.
I am looking forward to come visit Keene sometime around the New Year an possibly make my stay permanent.
10/19/2009 3:24:08 PM
If 6 peaceful activists for free speech and sovereignty over one's own body fall into arrest by gestapo agents in the pumpkin forest and no one hears of it, did it make a sound?
Six were thrown in jail Sunday, and they made their point courageously. If the crowd's festival day was ruined because of their point as some town resident's had feared, it's a surprise to me.
And jailing the peaceful when there are so many violent criminals out there, defies logic.
10/19/2009 1:37:51 PM
I guess I'm confused. You can't smoke cigarettes in most places because it's not healthy yet they are considering letting the ones that want to smoke pot. Is that more healthy? Also it has not been legalized as yet so why aren't they being arrested? You can't drink alcohol in public without being arrested and that's legal if you're over 21. Also confuses me that an ex-police officer would back the legalization of this when he made any arrest he could for this and less.
10/18/2009 2:50:07 PM
The protesters have had their day and would soon disappear if the media would drop it instead of keep trying to stir the pot (pun intended). Move on to the Pumpking festival and the next big positive event coming to Keene.
10/18/2009 5:07:06 AM
civil disobedience is the catalyst for real progress, more arrests make the thirst for liberty grow and the hearts and minds of America come to Keene
10/17/2009 8:16:59 PM
smoking pot in a school zone in downtown Keene makes no more sense then standing in the same spot with an open alcoholic beverage. throw these morons in jail for breaking the law. get a clue KPD!
10/16/2009 1:17:47 PM
I don't think people have to be sneaky, I certainly am not. I am, however, respectful of others because that is my nature.
I remember a while back when towns were cleaning the 'blue' laws from their books. One nearby community had a standing law that anyone driving an automobile into town was required to send someone ahead to warn the community- that sort of thing.
Laws fade as they become unimportant to communities. Marijuana laws will also, provoking prolongs the process.
Having said that, I believe the medical marijuana bill is important because these folk need easier access, similar to the way we care for them by delivering their food and cleaning their homes.
10/15/2009 4:23:18 PM
smoking is dumb. period.
10/15/2009 3:22:26 PM
Don't put them in jail where tax payers have to feed them........hit them with a taser. Save money.
10/15/2009 11:06:10 AM
Cannabis prohibition has made it so that everything from growing to distribution to use IS criminal. So the legal system is set against a vast criminal undertaking that almost half of American adults alive have participated in. Are we Insane?
If it were Legal, we could treat it as a medical issue rather than a legal one. Then, at least, the medical benefits of pot would be available Too. As everyone points out, there is no addiction with pot and people drift in and out of current use according to what Their life has going on at any given time. Some people Retire from a career and then take up smoking weed Again like mabye Before their career. Other people must see cases of this in friends or family as well.
What is certain, is that the continuing criminalizatin of cannabis keeps pitting the police against a mass segment of normal society. When an average of 8 Hundred Thousand Americans Per Year for the past decade are arrested for cannabis crimes, we are not discussing something unimportant. That's almost a million Americans every year turned against our legal system and our police forces, if that isn't a national tragedy, what is?
If smoking smeaky and not getting caught seems just fine to someone, then how about when it's their turn to be one of the 800,000 or so arrested for pot every year? How is your personal freedom then?
So why don't police chiefs and city councils just say Enough, that the cannibus prohibition laws are simply the very lowest priority of all our written laws for now. There are so many laws that are rarely or almost never enforced. What's the big deal and all the anger for?
Then we just let sensible people take the laws off the books little by little working through the system, while the big struggle of police against pot smokers melts away first in enlightened enclaves and then society wide.
plain common sense
Who was rude to whom at the central square and who started it are a seperate matter for debate. Easy to fill a book about people taking "sides" in such issues, here we find pot smoking libertarian thinking writers criticizing those taking a public stand on legalizing it, but let's not forget all the generational issues and "newcomer" to the area issues blowing in the wind. Fear, suspicion, accusation, counter accusation. The rattle and hum.
10/14/2009 9:23:55 PM
Tom, Yes marijuana grows in nature, so does poppies and cocaine,etc. Every drug has its origins from nature, well almost every drug. That doesnt mean its legal.Coca cola in the beginning had cocaine in its soda, but that did not work out to well, everybody was high and soon adictied. Good for the Coke company, bad for the population.
The money saved by not putting pot smokers in jail, Which they rarely are. How about the money spent for Unemployment and dead beat dads who are busy getting high and not supporting their family, or the rise in lung cancer from the intense carcenogens in pot which we will all pay for in healthcare costs, shall I go on? A peacefull drug, perhaps but thats also like saying that every drunk is a happy drunk
Wish my father knew about that, he would drink and beat us all up. Pot is a drug and the only one who profits from this is the dealers who will next start introducing Other products they have to offer. Wake up
10/14/2009 2:42:59 PM
The folks at the square seem to be counter-productive in their efforts. They're inciting the community to activate against them.
I don't think they should be thrown in jail, but that they should face the usual legal consequenses for the actions they choose. And I do mean usual, not maximum, penalties.
I've been smoking pot when and where I please for the past 35 years. Why have a big to-do over the possibility of prosecution? I'll save my energy for the time when my personal freedom is actually jeopardized.
10/12/2009 9:46:19 PM
Every once in a while we look back at our youth and remember times we thought we were cool but we were pathetic idiots. Anyone with a few years behind them knows exactly what I’m saying. That’s exactly what these kids will be doing 20 years from now. The “screw you” in your face display of disrespect did not help with the general populations prospective. You should have been more organized and goal oriented. Looking from the outside, your display was counterproductive and childish.
I’m 100% for legalization but also realize certain limitations will be needed as it is with alcohol. I don’t see it happening until a test similar to alcohol’s breathalyzer can be invented for THC levels. Until this happens, it looks like we’re going to be out of luck.
The real shame is, I know for a fact that a few good hits would help this old guy with a racing mind get to sleep much quicker than typing these stupid responses on the internet.
10/12/2009 10:30:28 AM
Norton, you ask good questions. Forty one percent of Americans as current or past users comes from the US Dept. of Health and Human Services 2008 annual survey; that's at least 101 million Americans who have broken the cannabis laws so far. Researchers say it's a Low estimate because it relies on self reporting to representatives of the Federal Governement who come to the door and ask. Ten percent Report using pot in the past year, that's 26 million people in the US who say it openly in the survey.
There is a broad consensus that minors don't have the same social perogatives as adults, there is no disagreement for me in this.
Legalizing means repealing the laws against cannabis, much like the repeal of prohibition that used to be on drinking before most of us were born.
As far as Where it's grown, we won't plant it on your property whether it's legal or not, fair? Kidding aside, some countries allow pot to be grown in a person's yard and that works just fine.
10/12/2009 9:15:10 AM
This whole debate is so stupid! A plant that grows naturally in nature can be made illegal? Think of the billions this country could save by not putting pot smokers in jail and instead taxing (just like the other natural plant-tobacco)
10/11/2009 7:42:48 PM
Hey Bill, Lets look at details, ok? What huge numbers? and what is the age group asking for this legalization. What do you mean by legalizing? NO age requirements, smoke anywhere you want, grow it freely without any restrictions, what do you mean by making it legal? You say 41% have smoked or are still. Where did you get that number? Are these people still smoking all the time or did they try it and moved on to more important things in life than getting high and being stoned and wasting life because you cant remember things that well anymore and you lost your job because you just forgot to show up?
10/9/2009 11:58:51 AM
Their point is so important to them that they willingly risk up to a year in prison to do it. Let's focus then on the point they make. Forty one percent of adult Americans are past or present pot smokers, shall the other fifty nine percent then be the ones keeping them all in cages?
When huge numbers of people dont' believe in the law, there is something wrong with the law. Incidently, cops will be the good guys once foolish people stop making them enforce terrible laws.
10/7/2009 4:28:31 PM
The best way to reduce the consumption of marijuana is to legalize it and tax the hell out of it, like is done to other tobaccos. Look at the reduction in gas comsumtion due to high prices and taxes which have lead to more car pooling and the taking of the bus.
10/6/2009 8:24:32 PM
First of all let me say that I grew up in the Woodstock era and as a matter of fact I was actually at the concert, so trust me I am aware of the effects of pot. Whick by the way comes in many varieties and even mixed with other more potent goodies. This mention of taking the protest to a new level was from your protesters, sorry pal. Look, the central square is ours, the residents of Keene past and present paid for it with our taxes and the military monument is dedicated to the men and women who died from this town in the war, which you so nicely stuck a a poster in it. Nice, real class. We as residents, voted for our officials to have a town the way we all enjoy for our families, we like it the way it is and we are proud of it. Now, the free staters come along and smoke pot right across the street where our kids go to school, You carry guns and the women walk half naked down our main street where we bring out kids to get candy at the candy store or to the movies at the colonial or to the YMCA across from the park. You do all this right in front of a church that many of us are members. We do not feel comfortable in our own town because of what you might be doing next. Dont come here and change our town, dont bring your friends to change our town, if you want to live here, great, welcome but live by our rules and go through the right channels to make suggestions or express new ideas, or leave. Love it or leave it. How about you get your followers together and buy up some land and start your own community with no laws or government, pot in every household, what a great reality show that would be. We had communes in the 70's and they were great, but as you can see , they are not around anymore,Why? People grow up and become responsible. Look it man, your going to grow out of this phaze, but dont destroy us, actually this town is only going to take so much. Stay and live as a member of our town, we welcome you. Or get out.
10/5/2009 1:13:34 PM
I see that this discussion has taken a wrong turn and is edging on the "is the use of pot good?" question. The actual question posed is summed up as - "Do american citizens have the right to peaceful demonstration as guarenteed in the constitution?" If you are against or for the topic being demonstrated is not in question - this is for our elected representitives to decide. The demonstrations held on the Keene common are legal (like it or not) and are in fact directed to our present and future lawmakers, hopefully allowing them to realize that a LARGE portion of NH residents are, have been, and will be pro-marijuana. Only a very small portion of the actual pot-smoking populous are willing to demonstrate for fear of incarceration - we will find out the actual feelings of the general public in the next upcomming elections. People will use examples in states such as Mass. as a baseline as they see the drop in crime and other pros and cons come to light.
Gramps, These protestors are not a minority trying to harass "you" (thought to be the majority), they are trying to let you know that they in fact are NOT a minority and because of what you have expressed, they may be there even longer trying to make their point. The keene common is their chosen place to protest and have just as much right to be there as yourself - don't let them chase you off - expect that they will be there and proceed with your plans, the protestors will not stop you from being there -They are trying to show that a portion of the MONADNOCK REGION is counted in the #s of pro-marajuana - the officials in Concord have heard of these protests and the need to demonstrate on the statehouse lawn is not necessary. Letters have been written to the state representitives as well.
Mr. Norton, You are obviously uneducated on the effects of marijuana if you think these protestors will turn violent. Your ignorance is feeding your paranoia (fear) as the county prosecuter's radio broadcast was designed to do.It has had its proposed effect on you and I would love to hear the source of these alleged statements of "stepping it up a notch". I believe you may have misheard or misinterperted the statment that the police were going to in fact "step it up a notch", not the protestors.
My next points are directed to Mr.(Dr.)Olsson -
I strongly agree with the gateway drug theroy and have personally seen it in action! If a drug dealer sells a person pot (an illegal substance) then they will be more prone to offer up harder drugs to this person because they have already supplied them with an illegal substance. But what if this gateway drug was not illegal? Would this dealer look at his prospective "client" in the same light? Perhaps the legalization of pot would take it off the "gatway drug" list. That being said, I feel that many of your points are conjecture and unsupportable - being that you are spread pretty thin in your occupation as a physician, psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, that your experiences are very limited to abnormal behavior opposed to the general "healthy minded" populous. Heck, you are even creating you own syndromes to support your opinions.
As for mr stonhendge, you are obviously a person opposed to marijuana posing as a young pro-pot demonstrator. If you wish to take a stand on this subject, stop hiding behind this mask and have the courage that these protestors are demonstrating. Your narrowminded opinion and your way of demonstrating this opinion does not make you look "reel" smart or strengthen your position.
In closing, Although I am for the decriminalization of marijuana and for the RIGHT these protestors have to gather peacefully (wherever in the USA they choose), I don't think that smoking it in public should be condoned - let the protests continue for they (the demonstrators) have this RIGHT but detain and fine the people actually smoking the marijuana in public eye. It is in fact still illegal
10/5/2009 11:18:59 AM
I think they way the (freedom Fighters) are going about this is wrong would difinately have to agree all the way with DEP on that. I think the real heroes here are the teenagers mind you not adluts who went to the square and stood up for thier rights not to do DRUGS what a great group of kids !!!!!!!!
10/5/2009 11:18:12 AM
I think they way the (freedom Fighters) are going about this is wrong would difinately have to agree all the way with DEP on that. I think the real heroes her are the teenagers mind you not adluts who went to the square and stood up for thier rights not to do DRUGS what a great group of kids !!!!!!!!
10/3/2009 4:04:13 PM
Man, you gies are a total buzzkill. I been tokin since i was 12 and im reel smart. I get hi before i go to school and it makes me reel smart. the teecher still gives me Fs. I cant get a job cuss i cant pass the piss test, but i dont want to werk anyway. Im way too smart to be a cop. they cant get high. how stupid is that. everybudy should go away an leeve us alone. i'm gonna get rich doin music..i sound reel good when im stoned and everybudy i smoke with think it sounds reel good too. i will show all of you when i get rich like on tv. i gut to go. i'm reel hungry. munchies rule!
10/3/2009 1:39:43 PM
Tomorrow, I'm going to drive my car at 65 miles per hour on main street. If others don't like it, they can stay off the streets. Then I'm going to urinate in a public swimming pool. If others don't like it, they can swim somewhere else. I also plan on leaving my rusty old unregistered car in front of my condo. If others don't like it, they don't have to look at it. I'm going to drink a bottle of scotch at the local elementary school, yell fire in a movie theatre, leave my trash on the side of the road, and spray graffiti wherever I want to. I think I might even host an orgy Sunday morning in a local church. Finally, I'm going to central square, light up a bowl, and blow smoke into the face of an 8 year old (to teach her/him how to express freedom in this town).
How I love Keene NH! With all this "change" going on, Rules, Laws, and Civility have become nothing more than suggestions! Hmmm. Let's see. Now I can.......
10/3/2009 12:42:31 PM
Martin Luther King and others who broke what they considered to be unjust laws were willing to go to jail for their beliefs. I think the police need to oblige these protestors, who are deliberately flouting the law knowing the consequences of their arrest, and put them in jail, thus giving the protestors another venue for their protests: a court of law.
I have one question: how are these protestors getting home after their demonstrations? If any of them are under the influence of marijuana when they get behind the wheel of a car, and then drive while under the influence, are the cops keeping an eye on that? I can imagine the headline in the Keene Sentinel the day after one of these pot smokers commits vehicular homicide after toking on Central Square. It won't be pretty, and it certainly won't reflect well on the Keene Police Department.
10/3/2009 6:02:39 AM
I think until it is legal, this is a moot subject.
10/2/2009 11:38:53 PM
After reading all these post, I am just blown away by the lack of knowledge that 90 percent of you have regarding this subject. This alone goes to show that many of us are very ignorant. I love how alchol is widely accepted and there is so much of this poison everywhere you turn your heads, on billboards, in stores, on television, etc. The mention of something that grows out of the ground and we see wide spread panic and ignorance. Although I am a firm believer and support of legalization, I do not agree with the people gathering around central square to protest this. This is scaring alot of folks, and it really is ruining our downtown. I know that regardless of what happens with it being legal, I know that I will always smoke it in my own home. Nothing will change that. I don't feel the need to light up in public. Many of these people that are sitting on central square are very young of age, and are followers. If you people want to make a difference, goto our capital, don't ruin our beatiful downtown! Something that makes me laugh hard is the fellow, or fellows that said they will do this daily until people are let out of prison, or marijuana is legalized. I laugh very hard at you! We will see who wins this battle. lol...
10/2/2009 11:38:30 PM
After reading all these post, I am just blown away by the lack of knowledge that 90 percent of you have regarding this subject. This alone goes to show that many of us are very ignorant. I love how alchol is widely accepted and there is so much of this poison everywhere you turn your heads, on billboards, in stores, on television, etc. The mention of something that grows out of the ground and we see wide spread panic and ignorance. Although I am a firm believer and support of legalization, I do not agree with the people gathering around central square to protest this. This is scaring alot of folks, and it really is ruining our downtown. I know that regardless of what happens with it being legal, I know that I will always smoke it in my own home. Nothing will change that. I don't feel the need to light up in public. Many of these people that are sitting on central square are very young of age, and are followers. If you people want to make a difference, goto our capital, don't ruin our beatiful downtown! Something that makes me laugh hard is the fellow, or fellows that said they will do this daily until people are let out of prison, or marijuana is legalized. I laugh very hard at you! We will see who wins this battle. lol...
10/1/2009 9:06:24 PM
mY FEAR IS THAT THIS SO CALLED PEACEFULL PROTEST IS GOING TO GET VIOLENT. DID YOU HEAR THE RADIO INTERVIEW WITH THE COUNTY PROSECUTER? HE SAID THAT THERE WAS TALK THAT THEY WERE GOING TO START BREAKING WINDOWS AND STEPPING IT UP A NOTCH. THE PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATORS ARE GETTING BORED AND WANT TO HAVE SOME EXCITEMENT AND THEN IT WILL GET OUT OF HAND
10/1/2009 7:04:11 PM
I`m wondering if Dr Olsen could tell us all about the "dark side" of the products of Big Pharma?
10/1/2009 6:54:16 PM
They should be protesting. The War on Drugs, cannabis specifically, has NOTHING to do with public safety and everything to do with the massive public trough that prohibition feeds. And it is just like all the other phony "war`s on". Impossible to win.
And among the prohibitionists are the dealers who love it when the woefully ignorant American sheople continue to support policy/laws that are against there own best interest and enrich, they, the dealer.
For those of you who are so offended by the cannabis protesters consider this; Any 12 year old in any public school in this country can buy cannabis, and probably anything else from someone they know in their school. Do you think the dealer who sells to the kid is asking for ID?
Get smart people. All the unpleasant side effects of the War on Drugs, the wasted money, the corruption of the criminal justice system, the gang wars, the drive-by shootings, the lives destroyed by incarceration, and on and on....would end if "We The People" say NO MORE!
And you could reclaim your precious park.
10/1/2009 6:47:35 PM
Legalize It
Toke free or die. My name is Jenna, I’m 18 and am from the Keene area. I stand with my fellow “stoners” at 4:20 when I can on my days off from work. I read the paper and keep up with the media on this topic everyday. As to the article in September 30ths paper, “Weeding out lawbreakers”. I was appalled as to what some of the residents feel should happen to us protesters. Such as one resident called for the police to use tear gas, riot batons and Tasers on us. Those sorts of actions have no place at the rally that is held at the common. It is a peaceful protest and there has been no violence. Why should we have those used on us when we are simply standing for what we believe in. And to that resident if the police were to use tear gas, riot batons and tasers on us when we are not out of control it would be police brutality. This protest will continue and we will all stand together for what we believe in. Some say what we are doing is a mistake. Well if it is a mistake, let it be our mistake to make. What some people don’t understand is that marijuana is not a drug. Marijuana is no different then tea, coffee, or even tobacco. The chemical in tea and coffee is caffeine. The chemical in tobacco is nicotine. The chemical in marijuana is thc. Caffeine and nicotine have effects on the mind and body similar to marijuana. Except caffeine can be addicting and your body has physical withdrawals. Nicotine is addicting and has effects on the brains as well. I’m not a doctor so I can not get technical but marijuana is not addicting like caffeine or nicotine and there is no physical withdrawal from the “drug”. People drink coffee to give them energy. People smoke cigarettes for relaxation. People smoke marijuana because it is calming, similar to tea. I am speaking as someone who has been doing all of the 3 since I was about 11 years old. How often do you hear of someone smoking a joint and going out and starting a riot? Or how often do you hear of someone lighting up then going home and beating their wife? But how often do you hear of people doing these things while drinking alcohol? Alcohol is a more worse substance then marijuana but is legal to those over the age of 21 in the state of New Hampshire.
Also in the article “Weeding out lawbreakers” a resident stated “my prediction is that if you allow this to continue, someone is going to get hurt, Either from a fed-up citizen or from the junkies”. Excuse me but since the protest has started there has been no violence so if someone is to get hurt its not going to be because of us “junkies”. This is a peaceful protest and if a fed-up citizen were to try and hurt one of the protesters what could anyone make of it, except someone needs to hand that citizen a joint light it up and take a walk in our shoes and free their mind of the negative feelings they have towards us and the plant. And for you to call us junkies is out of line. A junkie is somebody who is addicted to a substance and lets the addiction control their lives. Marijuana is not addicting and it does not turn people into junkies like actual drugs can do. I feel they mis-categorize marijuana by calling it a drug. A drug is a man made substance not a naturally grown plant. Maybe alcohol should be placed in the drug category and marijuana taken off of the list. . I believe in what I stand for and I’m thankful to those who started the 4:20 gathering at the common. It’s about time we speak out and express to those who are uneducated about the harmless plant marijuana.
9/30/2009 5:39:36 PM
I think that people should not be fined or arrested for the use of Marijuana. But if they commit a crime while under the influence of Marijuana, then they should be tried alike any other crime. If they shoot someone while high, try them as you would a person who was not high. IT;s their choice whether they use the drug, but let them suffer the consequences of any wrong doings that they do while under the influence.
9/30/2009 4:34:16 PM
Let the idiots continue to make fools of themselves. Reality is that they are at least getting off the couch and doing something!
They will soon learn that the majority of the population, the ones who are sober enough to make the laws, have a limited amount of patience. If they are trying those responsible for law enforcement on for size, they surely will not be dissapointed. If they think getting arrested is going to help their cause, they must be smoking something...oh yeah...they are! Once they get hit with a criminal record and very heavy fines, they may re-think their views. A $1500.00 fine would certainly bite into their pot budget wouldn't it. If they have money to "burn", and want to blow it in our face, than I say let's grab that cash through legal fines, and use it for something productive like the food bank or the elderly in need.
Personally, I find this whole thing entertaining as hell. It is very sad however, that they are rudely taking the park away from law abiding citizens. Arrest them? Absolutely! Then fine the pot out of them!
9/30/2009 10:41:08 AM
Look lets face reality, marijuana is a drug. Tylenol is a drug and we have to give permission to the school nurse to give it to our children. Smoking cigaretts is harmful and look what that has done to our society and the increase in cancer. One joint = 20 cigs. Think of the rise in cancer with that fact. There is at present a movement in this country to stop smoking cigaretts in public place because of health reasons. And you want to allow Pot smoking??? This is a college town and kids want everything they cant have legal. Parents, you understand. As far as adults, If your over 21 and you smoke pot at home, thats your buisness. Give it to a minor and your going to jail, just like alcohol. Drive while stoned, jail. YOu can kill someone just like alcohol or other drugs. Also first its a small amount of pot, ok then a small amount of cocaine, then what heroine, mushrooms, LSD, Crack. Once you open the door, you will not be able to shut it. Think about it. As far as the demonstrations on the square, they are just mocking us, the town and the police, The police should have at least detained them and did urine tests. Dont let the kids run all over you.
9/30/2009 10:25:07 AM
Medicinal Marijuana: Yes, I agree it would be helpful,however did you know it is already being used medically and has been for along time. Giving some one a bag of weed and sending him home is not the answer. First of all smoking is not a good delivery system. One joint is equal to 20 cigaretts. (excuse my spelling) And you do not know the strength of the pot. Maybe it has bacteria or a plant fungus you are not aware of. If it is done right in a capsul form and regulated for strength and quality and the right dosage , that would be good. Thats like saying if you have a headache, get bark from a willow tree and chew on it. Even though that is where asperin came from, it is not the right delivery system into your body. Just because it is a plant doesnt put it in the same catagory as herbal tea.
9/29/2009 9:12:46 PM
I organize the LFOD Rally often having to resort to repeatedly having to retain the NH ACLU with taking the Town of Jaffrey to task to secure permits for our rights to gather as with having been very active in recent years through proper channels with the NH medicinal marijuana legislation. After thousands of hours of work over many years by many organizations with a majority of support by NH citizens & legislator's supporting HB 648 only resulted in Lynch vetoeing it. So much for rights,the system or the failing war and prohibition on marijuana. I certainly agree that there's arguments to both sides of this issue. I may not condone or condemn the smoke ins or the potential to them being counter productive,however, I certainly can relate and share in their frustration.
9/29/2009 2:26:13 PM
I believe in freedom of speech, right to orderly protest, right of assembly in a peaceful manner. However, I do not believe that rallying and assemblying in Central Square and depriving residents who normally go there to relax and read and meet with friends and talk, access to the park is right. Contact your State Representatives and/or take your group(s) to Concord and rally on the State House lawn. Why hassel and goad our local police, by smoking everything except marijuana, into arresting you. Our police are there to uphold the laws that your State Reps make. Police do not make, and do not necessarily agree with all of these laws, but it is their duty to uphold the laws and protect us from harrassment from the minority.
9/29/2009 10:11:30 AM
Go ahead. Legalize it. Your body, huh? Sure. I mean, I'm a firm believer in Darwin's "Survival of the Fittest" theory. Works for me.
Maybe marajuana is harmless to those who smoke it. Maybe it wont lead to a life of abusing black tar heroin and crack cocaine. But it's still a narcotic. Does this mean you're making a statement smoking at the center of Keene? No, it means you're being selfish.
Marajuana, similar to alcohol, can pose long term health effects. To add insult to injury, when you are intoxicated by these substances you don't learn anything new. But alcohol is still legal, right? (I know, free staters, they are two completely different things, but for all intents and purposes, follow me here). That does not mean that I, despite my liking to Wild Turkey bourbon, can simply pour a glass while I am sitting on a park bench watching families walk by. I have to drink it at my home, a restaurant, or a bar.
I am a libertarian. Legalize the stuff. Like I said, and you've said, it's your body. And hey, if the government wants to grow it in country and tax it (like tobacco products and liquor), than fine. It might even inspire some quality control! I am sure you're "good bud" that you see every Thursday afternoon does not care about your health as much as he cares about the money s/he just pocketed.
It must feel cool and enlightening to defy the law with no consequence. It must be cool to protest because, let's face it, with all of the trials and tribulations going on in our earth, country, region, city, and own back yards, the first thing I think of is, "Let's smoke downtown and beat on some bongos." Jesus totally rolled that way.
One more thing. If you want to feel better than me for protesting downtown, please use the crosswalks. When you walk out in front of me while I am in a motor vehicle, it puts you and a lot of others at risk.
9/29/2009 7:48:32 AM
Neither! If these people really want to make changes in the law, they need to present their case to people who can actually make a difference.
Standing on the square smoking pot - what does that accomplish?
I think this is a group of people who have attached themselves to a cause so they can light up in public.
9/28/2009 8:20:31 PM
MARAJUANA’S DARK SIDE
Legalizing marijuana might result in increased tax revenues as some suggest. It might lead to less violent crime. But, frequently the popular press and media seem to minimize or completely ignore the dangers of marijuana. As a practicing physician psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, I wanted to express my concerns and opinions about cannabis use.
(1) Medical Use of Cannabis---Rarely is cannabis necessary to assist terminally ill cancer patients with nausea or pain. If other measures have failed and a qualified physician or nurse practitioner is supervising then oral cannabis preparations are appropriate. Marijuana never is useful as an antidepressant, tranquilizer or psychiatric medication though many people use it that way.
(2 “Gateway Hypothesis”---This cogent concept contains the idea that marijuana is often an early gateway towards the future use of harder drugs by a middle school or high school aged person. Many research studies convincingly support the “gateway” domain of cannabis and before long I think it will be regarded as scientific fact when further confirming repetitions of the research are complete.
(3) Marijuana use is very destructive to the treatment process for persons with Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, and Major Depression. Not only does marijuana’s effects make it difficult or impossible for a psychiatric clinician to assess the therapeutic effects or side effects of psychiatric medications; the false sense of security which is really mental dissociation, causes psychotherapy communications to be difficult or ineffective.
(4) Subtle Brain Perturbations---Particularly in persons under thirty years of age, marijuana causes, subtle thought derailment, cognitive slippages, or poor focus of attention or memory. The source of this subtle brain damage is related to the impact of marijuana during the incomplete process of myelinization in the preadolescent, adolescent and late adolescent brain. Myelin is the insulation sheath around brain nerve fibers that is essential to full functioning of key areas of the adult brain.
(5) Cannabis can occasionally cause panic anxiety or hallucinations. More commonly, it causes a false sense of calmness or illusionary perceptions of being more creative or intelligent than academic or practical reality testing can establish.
(6) Loss of Motivation---Even more ominous is the well-established observation that cannabis interferes with long term motivational domains that are necessary for long range career planning. This is often called the “Amotivational Syndrome”. In my practice I have worked with young people who chronically smoked marijuana and thought they were very cool. In fact, they were dodging the normal mild anxieties and stress associated with dating, test-taking and social, community or family gatherings. I call this the “Alice in Wonderland Syndrome”. It probably accounts for many “Roads Too Commonly Traveled to Mediocrity”.
9/28/2009 3:54:05 PM
it's is disturbing to me that so many people are okay with arresting, fining and imprisoning people for marijuana. that isn't the way jesus rolled.
9/28/2009 2:47:13 PM
drive 20 miles south , enter MA and possession is just a small fines, not a crime. Do the same here and the city/state could make a ton of $$$$$ by fining everyone who lights up