06-24-2008, 09:20 AM
Scott, you're making the assumption that smoking marijuana is an escape from reality. But what does that mean? The human brain has a lot of capability. We don't use it all. Drugs like pot AND meditation can facilitate having our thoughts run in different channels than the well-worn grooves we normally operate in. But it is still reality. If you change the lighting in a room so you see it differently, it's still the same room, with a new perspective.
Smoking pot has a very mellowing affect on people. Ice doesn't. Alcohol in excess often does not. I have heard people who've lived here long enough to have seen the changes, note that racism and hostility softened when locals began growing and smoking pot.
Then in its infinite wisdom the government cracked down and now we have an ice epidemic, crazy domestic abuse and murders, rampant theft ... what a great idea it was to make it expensive to smoke pot and cheap to smoke crack and ice. Boy, the war against drugs sure has improved things over the bad old days of the 60's and 70's.
Police here DO prioritize crimes, all the time, as every call to the police here gets triaged. It is not first call, first served. It is violent crimes and accident scenes first. Then I would guess it goes to property crimes. Then to nuisances and infractions ... down on the bottom, barking dogs and neighbor complaints, as we've discussed. If a drug bust happens it's either in the process of handling another issue, or part of a coordinated anti-drug effort.
I have heard too many confirmations from people that the pot-growing and possession laws are not enforced evenly. If you are family, you think your police uncle is going to bust you in Hawai'i? Not unless he's real mad at you ... there are people who grow with impunity and competitors who are harassed ... it is not straightforward law enforcement.
If enough people let the politicians know they are losing votes with this stupid domestic terrorism program, maybe things will change. While I don't smoke pot at this point of my life, I am extremely upset when I get dosed with herbicide by an agency supported by my tax dollars!
Smoking pot has a very mellowing affect on people. Ice doesn't. Alcohol in excess often does not. I have heard people who've lived here long enough to have seen the changes, note that racism and hostility softened when locals began growing and smoking pot.
Then in its infinite wisdom the government cracked down and now we have an ice epidemic, crazy domestic abuse and murders, rampant theft ... what a great idea it was to make it expensive to smoke pot and cheap to smoke crack and ice. Boy, the war against drugs sure has improved things over the bad old days of the 60's and 70's.
Police here DO prioritize crimes, all the time, as every call to the police here gets triaged. It is not first call, first served. It is violent crimes and accident scenes first. Then I would guess it goes to property crimes. Then to nuisances and infractions ... down on the bottom, barking dogs and neighbor complaints, as we've discussed. If a drug bust happens it's either in the process of handling another issue, or part of a coordinated anti-drug effort.
I have heard too many confirmations from people that the pot-growing and possession laws are not enforced evenly. If you are family, you think your police uncle is going to bust you in Hawai'i? Not unless he's real mad at you ... there are people who grow with impunity and competitors who are harassed ... it is not straightforward law enforcement.
If enough people let the politicians know they are losing votes with this stupid domestic terrorism program, maybe things will change. While I don't smoke pot at this point of my life, I am extremely upset when I get dosed with herbicide by an agency supported by my tax dollars!