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DrugScreening.org


 
Soros Funding Mass. Marijuana Decriminalization Campaign
September 3, 2008

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News Summary

Financier George Soros has provided $400,000 of the $429,000 in funding for a campaign to get the issue of marijuana decriminalization on the November ballot in Massachusetts, the Associated Press reported Aug. 27.

Soros' money enabled the Committee for Sensible Marijuana Policy to spend $315,000 on gathering the 100,000 signatures to get the marijuana question on the ballot. If approved by voters, the measure would decriminalize possession of less than an ounce of marijuana, making it a civil offense punishable by a fine of no more than $100. Currently, minor marijuana possession can be punished in Massachusetts by up to six months in jail and a $500 fine.

"All of us owe George Soros a great deal of gratitude," said Keith Stroup, founder of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.

"[Soros] thinks the (ballot question) is a responsible initiative to reduce the overreliance on criminal justice sanctions in dealing with marijuana," added Ethan Nadelmann, director of the Soros-funded Drug Policy Alliance. "Marijuana should not be a priority of the criminal-justice system."

Soros has funded similar campaigns in other states, including California, Alaska, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Nevada, and Maine.

COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE:

Posted by Sumdood on 04 Nov 08 09:44 AM EST
I believe we should outlaw the drug that causes more deaths and social costs than any other- namely, alcohol. How many problems will that solve? I would really like to see that done as I do not use alcohol or any drugs, therefore, I consider myself morally superior to those who do. Oops, I forgot, that has been tried and lead to widespread contempt of the law and contributed to organized crime. The country wised up after Prohibition, it should wise up about marijuana use and stop lumping it with the far more dangerous cocaine, opiates and amphetamines. After all, decriminalizing is not the same as legalizing! when are people going to see that important distinction?

Posted by thehealer9 on 31 Oct 08 09:13 PM EDT
Where do people get thier statistics? Smoking a joint impairs a driver for 24 hours? What the hell weed are you smoking? 60-120 joints out of an ounce is also completely ridiculous. In addition, i doubt any marijuana reform will allow for underage smoking off marijuana or for people to smoke weed in thier car...those things would still be illegal. And further, a sizable amount of marijuana comes from the U.S. and Canada, and i highly doubt its a huge money maker for Mexico. People need to wake up and see who is really making money off this drug war, which stops no drugs. And as for comparing marijuana use to every other crime out there (this is for you Paul in TN), you know thats just childish. Please look at the problem objectively so we can come to a real solution. Your child may be next in jail.

Posted by Paul, TN Substance Abuse Coalition on 28 Oct 08 10:37 AM EDT
It amazes me the logic that you Stonehill College kids use. Criminals are going to continue to do crime, let's just legalize ALL crime because people are going to do criminal acts even if laws are on the books. I thank God that my kids will not be attending your school!!!

Posted by Mike L@Stonehill College on 30 Sep 08 02:12 PM EDT
Like everyone else, I have the same opinion and agree with all of their statements. People are going to smoke regardless if marijuana is legal or not. Legalizing a small amount will be a small step, but there will still be those people who will ignore the laws and continue holding large amounts. Another benefit to legalizing smaller amounts will the weight that will be lifted off of the criminal justice system; mainly the courts. If the only discipline for less than an ounce is a fine that can be handled by law enforcement and won't take up time that could be devoted to better things. Courts won't be clogged up with minimal cases of marijuana possession. People will smoke regardless of the laws in place so why not legalize it and tax it.

Posted by Justin R @ Stonehill College on 22 Sep 08 08:47 PM EDT
People love to get high. There is no way around it, but drugs like marijuana take away from the value of sober life. The use of marijuana like other drugs changes being. That is to say you are not the same when you smoke it. Having a society that decriminalizes the use of mind altering drugs shows that we value short term euphoria over long term healthy choices. I however am not against the proposal because I believe that the choice to smoke marijuana is up to the individual. I think it should be strictly regulated and that all money from possession offenders should support health care. Life is not about getting high.

Posted by Wayne@stonehill on 21 Sep 08 06:43 PM EDT
I agree with erik's statement that people are going to continue smoking marijuana regardless of legalization. If marijuana were to be legalized there would need to be a large tax so that it would benefit the US. The tax could also help limit underage users (given there would be a smoking age) because of the hefty price and the lack of money kids under the age of 16 have due to not working. Also, the criminal justice system has much more important issues to worry about besides for marijuana, and legalizing it could allow for more focus on other, more important issues.

Posted by Joaquin @ Stonehill on 17 Sep 08 08:32 PM EDT
First, I would like to start by saying that I completely agree with the comment posted by erik@stonehill. I think he makes a valid point in regards to the issue of legalizing marijuana rather then just decriminalizing it. Of course, I think it is a huge step by any government (state or local) to being to think of decriminalizing marijuana, but in reality that it’s just the tip of the iceberg. By legalizing marijuana, just like many deadlier, more addictive goods like cigarettes and alcohol just to name a few, would become another profitable venue for the government. Many politicians would disagree with me of course, but those same politicians have a different agenda then those of us who make up the general public, which means that their idiotic ideology is getting in the way of another potentially profitable market.

Posted by erik@stonehill on 16 Sep 08 05:31 PM EDT
I would go as far to say that legalizing marijuana is just what our economy needs. But more importantly we should be looking at demand. Regardless of legalization, the fact that marijuana is such a big issue shows people want it. Scientists have openly stated that marijuana is NOT physically addictive only mentally. How can one argue about marijuana when cigarette manufacturers openly put addictive and harmful substances on there boxes? I can sit here and tell you that alcohol contributes heavily to all the same things regarding drop out rates, etc...but thats why there is a drinking age. And there will clearly be a smoking age. Kids will still smoke regardless of legalization so we should simply legalize it and tax the hell out of it...Helping America more than hurting it.

Posted by tokerdesigner on 04 Sep 08 05:12 PM EDT
Dear Roger, (1) Re George Soros: anybody Lyndon LaRouche hates is a friend of mine. (2) Law enforcement against marijuana forces children into concealment,alienation from teacher, parents and others tricked by Big Tobackgo into persecuting them. (3) Your talk of "joints" is beside the point-- a 400-mg. joint is an overdose of anything smoked, tobacco or otherwise. The answer is to de-demonize, decriminalize, de-control cannabis and therewith unambiguously legalize 25-mg.-capacity single-toke utensils, the E-cigarette, the Vaporizer and other harm reduction equipment now not safe to own because someone will accuse you of illegal cannabis use. One ounce of riefer, properly sifted, is 800-900 single tokes, any one of which is enough to foster creative imagination without impairing driving.

Posted by Roger Morgan on 04 Sep 08 10:22 AM EDT
Has anyone asked what Soros really gains by financing the legalization of illicit drugs? Maybe he launders money for the $322 billion illicit drug trade, that kills, destroys and inflicts more economic harm on America than Osama Bin Laden. Marijuana contributes heavily to high school drop out rates, lack of academic achievement, crime, suicides, medical problems, loss of productivity and greatly exacerbates the economic burden on all taxpayers. Drivers are impaired 24 hours after smoking one joint. Once ounce of marijuana equals 60 to 120 joints, so that should imperil just about everyone on the highways. Hopefully the voters of Massachusetts will be smart enough to give the druggies the boot. Roger Morgan

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