Jim Corbett of USA Today Sports put out the most clueless piece today regarding the legalization of marijuana in Colorado and Washington, with assistance from Lindsay Jones and Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today Sports: Amendments don’t change leagues’ stances on marijuana
Now there’s one huge glaring omission in the entire article that completely invalidates any meaning. As you read some quotes from the article, I’m going to supply the missing element for you in pictures.
NBA spokesman Mike Bass told USA TODAY Sports that the amendments won’t impact the league’s substance-abuse policy: “Marijuana is a prohibited substance under our collectively bargained anti-drug program,” he said.
So, the message is simple: No matter what state law says, light up a joint and a sports career can go up in smoke. […]
Former Broncos tight end Shannon Sharpe, a member of the Hall of Fame, told USA TODAY Sports that loosening the league and NFLPA’s collectively bargained substance abuse policy that mandates suspensions for using the drug won’t change any time soon because it sends the wrong message.
“That will never happen. Not in our lifetime, because of the way kids follow what NFL players do,” said Sharpe, a CBS analyst. “If you look at Little League football, kids who play want to wear the pink towels and shoes for breast cancer awareness … they follow everything the big guys do.
“The voters have spoken in Colorado. They don’t think to a certain degree, the amount is a big deal. They voted and said so. But I don’t see the NFL, basketball or baseball condoning it.” […]
“There are a lot of things that are legal outside of the NFL — Ephedera, Adderal. There are certain things you can take as a normal citizen walking around the street that are legal,” Sharpe said. “It sends the wrong message.”
There is so much wrong here that all I can say is that these guys haven’t got the message, so I don’t know why they are so concerned about “sending the wrong message”. What is the message – Coors Light?
I have been to plenty of sports events and the picture accompanying the article says it all.
What is wrong with this picture?
These guys don’t have anything but reefer madness mouth and not a lick of sense. Apparently this is not one of their better read subjects in the sports world. Too much money in the beer, I am betting. Could be a bad career move to tick off one of the big boys selling the booze.
Their hypocrisy is so glaring it hurts.
I would also like someone to ask of them this question:
“What is the difference between consuming coffee beans for healthful reasons and consuming cannabis leaves for healthful reasons?”
And
You notice Shannon Sharpe(Even though i like him) brought up”The Kids”
That magical Madusa’s face”The Children”
Ohh btw
To Colorado and Washington when you say politicians can tax weed.
The DEA has declared War on Us.
And
If they can’t get those legalization laws repealed or the Pot Shops closed down.
One of their secret weapons is Politicians lobbying on their behalf get elected and Tax the holy dog shit out of Weed.
It ain’t no secret,,,we figured it out long ago,,if they can keep marijuana prices in a legal market high enough then the black market stays in place,,the black market stays in place and they get to say that they were right about legalization not stopping the criminals.
As long as WA does not allow personal grows,they will be the main target,,,watch the tax rates and licensing fees go through the roof.
Interesting development in WA, all pending misdemeanor possession cases will be dropped in King County.
Ok, so booze will remain the official recreational drug of the NBA and NFL, great. The leagues’ continuing hypocrisy isn’t surprising, but in a way, the statements are, i.e. the fact that they felt the need to even address the issue. Before Tuesday, I thought that getting legalization passed in one or more states would be a game changer. But now that it’s actually happened, it feels like the impact will be even more significant than I’d hoped.
NFL players in particular should smoke marijuana due to the plant’s clinically proven neuroprotective effects. Repeat concussions lead to traumatic brain injury. It’s cumulative. The more concussions, the greater the risk.
fundamental economics….
HEMP would end the
monopoly on mandatory stupidity
enforced by the Talmudic Terrorists that print the currency
OWN the media,
and operate a KOSHER BROTHEL called CONGress
GAG & MAGAG
you people want to be free…
Outlaw stupidity in your county
If stupidity was an American only problem,,,we would outlaw it,,but it’s pretty much all over the earth.
truly, cannabis is a camp follower. I’m sittin; here thinkin’ that those of us who consume cannabis and are active in protecting our natural right to use it do so because we have great respect for the herb.
I remember the first time I went to a rural temple in the hills east of where I was stationed in Thailand (Takhli) and saw Thai sticks among the offerings. Cannabis use there is ancient… a stoned GI was not an abnormality. Thai cannabis grew alongside many farm homes and the plants were nearly as tall as the houses raised on stilts a good 6′ and more above the ground…
The initial criminalization of cannabis and its users created a crime where none exists. And those who were the crusaders for criminalization had not a speck of fact behind their push. Pot as an intoxicant was relatively new to the broader public but hemp was, well, hemp. Cordage and OTC medicine, cloth and feed and fuel…
There is no “danger” in cannabis. Judge Young’s statement was truly a summation of thousands of years of previous users’ experience with the plant. Truly cannabis deserves respect and honor. But we have those today who it seems would clothe themselves in cloaks and carry scepters who bear only lies and lack the fundamental capacity to accept they can be wrong.
And those thousands of years of experience say that cannabis is a valuable agricultural staple, its intoxicating effects are beneficial, medicinal in fact. And generally my experience is that some folks try it, don’t like it and never pick it up again. But my friends among those don’t care a whit that I do. I’m smart, I work my ass off and I’m a generally respectful, happy person.
We have indeed given the prohibs a hard kick in the ass. LEAP is all over the media as reporters are scrambling for pro-legalization wonks.
Mainstream media can no longer avoid the M word. And the comparison of the drug war to alcohol prohibition will continue to grow in the public eye. There is a storm brewing…
Well, the authoritarian vacuum skulls have begun their blathering: Kudlow: Is the left ‘trying to weaken America’ with legal pot?
(Facepalm at the stupidity) Anslinger must be laughing his arse off in Hell right now…
jeez these guys cant even blame it on old football injuries. theyre just natural morons
For those who didn’t know, that was Anslinger’s volteface; after saying for decades that cannabis was a violence-inducing drug, when the Cold War began, he started saying it didn’t cause violence but lethargic passivism. Anything to keep is little bureaucratic satrap going…
These goofs are completely out-to-sea on this. They don’t even know they are repeating the nonsense of a long-dead, discredited, mendacious, scheming racist cracker.
Oh, the stupid! The stupid! It burns! It burns!
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“Never let the facts get in the way of disseminating an effective piece of hysterical rhetoricâ€
~~The motto of the Know Nothing prohibitionist
Our man Harry J. was a strict adherent to that motto. Heck, he might even be its creator. So what else is news?
Mr. A is definitely the source of the “gateway” theory. Of course when he first floated that nonsense heroin was the gateway drug to merrywanna. Continuity and consistency have never been the prohibitionists’ strong suits.
———-
…Kudlow. Gosh I never could stand that son of a bitch. Give some people a net worth and they think it’s validation of their own personal philosophy. It sure doesn’t surprise me that Mr. Kudlow regurgitated this garbage. I don’t believe that man ever had an original thought in his head. Buttonhole him at a party after he’s had a few belts and you’d be shocked at the crap that comes out of his mouth. I do mean those of us who have heard it all before would still be amazed. I think that he may well have given lessons to Rush Limbaugh.
If you will note, both Mr. Kudlow and his guest are admitted alcoholics in recovery.
Okay, I’m happy that they both have found sobriety through the twelve steps of AA, however, addicts of any ind can’t seem to grasp the fact that there are plenty of people (actually, the addiction rate to ANY substance seems to average about 11% of the population…be it food, opiates, alcohol, cocaine, sex…etc.) The majority of people are able to safely use their substance of choice. I hate to use the word responsibility because addiction is truly a disease in which an individual CANNOT control their use of a substance.
Look, Live and Let Live is the best AA slogan there is. If a person can use the substance they like (or for that matter NEED such as pain medication for those with chronic pain) leave them the fuck alone if they aren’t infringing on your rights!!!
shannon sharpe “it sends the wrong message” i wonder if this guy ever had an original thought in his life? sounds like he played a little too much football in his youth. these guys are so stupid they cant even see how hypocritical they appear to everyone else. sad
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This story reminded me of that infamous quote from Senator Morris Sheppard of Texas, now deceased:
I went to a football game a couple of years ago. The drunk fans from one team got into a fight with the drunk fans from the other team.
I sat quietly, enjoying my buzz obtained earlier, while mayhem and carnage exploded in front of me. I didn’t enjoy the violence (nor the language!), so I left and drove safely home.
Explain it to me, again, why I am the criminal here?
It’s because, while those red-blooded Amerkins were getting their carnage on, you were succumbing to Socialist-Communist Passivity induced by Pot (S-CPibP), which is what will allow the Chinese to take over.
“Too much freedom”
That statement has me dumbfounded. Nice post Kaptinemo.
I expect NASCAR will be right behind. How about it NASCAR? Care to double down on the stupidity, then one up the hypocrisy?
I never listen to guy’s whose only advice is “turn right”
Left. They turn Left.
see
having driven 20′ flatbeads carrying tons of lumber… left turns really do work better. I took out a fire hydrant making a right turn into an alley after I had missed it as the left I was supposed to make. Embarrassing… lord, the taste of humble pie… something the Prohibitionists will continue to have on their plates in days ahead.
Congressional Medical Cannabis Champions Win Big in Reelection & Senate Bids
November 9th, 2012
Posted by Mike Liszewski
http://tinyurl.com/a5jcga5
One of the least reported stories coming out of this year’s Election Day results was the strong showing that medical cannabis champions had in their reelection bids this year. Even better for medical cannabis patients, 2013 will mark the first time that the public supporters of safe access will be joining United States Senate.
Overall, the 40 strongest safe access champion candidates received 66.7% percent of the vote! What makes these victories more impressive is that they came in an election season when President Obama refused to come to terms with his current anti-safe access policy on medical cannabis.”” ‘snipped’
ASA is keeping track,,we are strengthening our position in our congress,,maybe by the time 47 states have legalized they will have the balls to say something in session. What is it going to take for several legislators standing up and demanding congress deal with marijuana because of the expense and strife it is causing our society?
OT
With all the hoopla about President Choom’s first visit to Myanmar/Burma as a reward the country’s move “towards democracy,” it’s worth remembering that President Thein Sein fits the classic mould of drug warrior.Shortly after coming to power he announced that Burma would be drug-free by 2014, to the total ridicule of the Couch. He has now extended the deadline to 2019; what a surprise. Needless to say he is courting and being courted by the usual drug war suspects like UNODC and the DEA, but what is more remarkable is his long history of involvement with Burma’s drug lords who control the country’s large opium growing territory in the Golden Triangle. It seems that he is making the usual drug war noises while clearly maintaining prohibitionist policies which primarily benefit the black market and the drug lords who put him in power. He and Choom should get along just fine.
http://tinyurl.com/b2u964f
“For me, it’s going to be live and let live. If people want to come to Colorado because pot is legal — and that’s the sole reason — it’s up to them,” Pitkin County Sheriff Joe DiSalvo told The Aspen Times. “I am not the lifestyle police.”
http://tinyurl.com/c4o9tt2
Harry and Gil are both chokin.
NOTE: This is going out everywhere,,but Denver,,I smell something fishy,,my response at the article will suffice,,
and there are some big cracks showing up in the wall next to that hole CO and WA blew in it:
2 Indiana lawmakers consider pot decriminalization
Jon Stewart hilarious on Fox News’ reaction to CO and WA ballots: http://tinyurl.com/by89myp
http://www.foxbusiness.com/government/2012/11/09/regulatory-catch-22-legalized-marijuana
Reefer madness on Fox News. Implies that marijuana increases aggravated assault and robberies because of serious brain damage and quotes a deputy DEA administrator who once said “The fact is that most drug-related crimes are committed by people whose brains have been messed up with mood-altering drugs.†And so much more.
oh yeah, that seems “fair and balanced…”
O/T
One possible response by the Feds to the developments in CO and WA would be to threaten prosecution of any civil servants issuing licenses to produce and distribute marijuana. Anyone working for the state that issues a license could be charged with conspiracy. The threat of prosecution could basically shut down any licit market before it even gets off the ground. I think this is a real possibility, the feds have had no respect for states rights in the past. Anyone else have an opinion?
To my knowledge, and many others, no state employee has ever been prosecuted for following state law. They will volley the threat but I think if they actually tried to follow through there would be a realistic chance of jury nullification.
correct,,they may be able to convince a jury of 12 citizens that a vote by the majority of it’s voters means nothing,,,but I don’t think so.. No matter what state they move the trial too,,except Joe Biden’s bathroom.
The state employees would not actually have to be charged with a crime, the mere threat of prosecution may be sufficient to deter them from issuing licenses. You may be correct about jury nullification, but how many state employees would take the risk? There are a lot of different avenues the feds may explore in their campaign to subvert the will of the people, it will be interesting to see how this will play out. My guess is that they will try to make an example out of whoever is first to open a store. I expect more DEA raids over the next year, they know marijuana legalization is the beginning of the end of the drug war. They won’t stop their campaign of terrorizing people who use the “wrong” drugs regardless of what individual states do.
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You’ll have to get Congress to make that criminal before we’re going to see any threats of prosecution. This argument has been in front of the SCOTUS and they weren’t even interested in hearing arguments.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=4405
@Duncan, thanks for that. You are probably right that County of San Diego v. San Diego NORML would also apply in this circumstance.
So, I wonder if it’s been long enough. I mean, long enough since OUR GLORIOUS VICTORY ON ELECTION DAY.
What do you think, guys? Who wants to bet on whether it’s been long enough for Kevin Sabet to finally get out of his pajamas, shave his five o’clock peach fuzz and open the drapes?
and we chased away the Rmoney…
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Oh c’mon DC, the last couple of days Mr. Sabet has been busier than a cheap hooker at a Louisiana Shriner’s convention on the day before Ash Wednesday getting to see the media quote his fantasies as if they were factual.
…all the stuff I’ve seen is recycled snips of his last one to NBC news.
Okay, many here have been bickering over what I-502 means for driving and DUI. Here it is from the Seattle Police Department themselves. Their policy on DUI and Cannabis: “What happens if I get pulled over and an officer thinks I’ve been smoking pot?
If an officer believes you’re driving under the influence of anything, they will conduct a field sobriety test and may consult with a drug recognition expert. If officers establish probable cause, they will bring you to a precinct and ask your permission to draw your blood for testing. If officers have reason to believe you’re under the influence of something, they can get a warrant for a blood draw from a judge. If you’re in a serious accident, then a blood draw will be mandatory.”
http://spdblotter.seattle.gov/2012/11/09/marijwhatnow-a-guide-to-legal-marijuana-use-in-seattle/
So. Unchanged. This is the exact procedure in place before.
I had been explaining this to people for months… many still, unfortunately, believe that there are police officers with mobile blood analysis kits wandering about, waiting to test any driver with a hint of redeye.
My response was and still is this: in order to get pulled over and charged, you actually have to be driving in a way to warrant a stop. If you are not driving erratically, then you are in virtually no danger of this applying to you — if you must drive under the influence, and I in no way advocate it, be bloody careful.
And perhaps some visene would be in order. This isnt rocket science. Daily users probably already knew all this stuff. The idea that cops have bloody telepathy concerning marijuana is just stupid.
Another article with Kevin Sabet spreading lies and misinformation.
Former Obama drug policy adviser predicts weed war if states legalize
“Once these states actually try to implement these laws, we will see an effort by the feds to shut it down,†he reportedly said. “We can only guess now what exactly that would look like. But the recent U.S. Attorney actions against medical marijuana portends an aggressive effort to stop state-sponsored growing and selling at the outset.â€
“The question voters should be asking themselves before voting on these initiatives is this: Is your right to buy pot from a store down the street worth the risk of increased teenage drug abuse, increased enforcement action by the feds, and increased problems like ‘stoned driving?’†Sabet said.
As usual Sabet ignores the costs of prohibition while speculating on possible consequences of legalization. His assertions are highly questionable anyway, but all his arguments rest on the assumption that prohibition actually works in keeping drugs away from people. The prohibitionists’ arguments always assume our drug laws work in the sense that people cannot access these substances under prohibition, but legalization will be a free-for-all.
It’s also not clear that legalization would lead to increases in drugged driving accidents — in fact, two professors who examined that question in 2011 found that accidents actually decreased (PDF) in states that legalized medical marijuana.
Supporters also point to similar data that shows teenage drug use went down in Colorado after the state legalized medical marijuana, arguing that requiring an identification to buy the drug is a more effective control than outright prohibition.
This is of course nothing new to those of us in the reform movement, but if you need to cite a source when making your point in Ed/Op’s or whatever see the pdf I linked to below.
Medical Marijuana Laws, Trafï¬c Fatalities, and Alcohol Consumption
Kevin Sabet is like one of those people who join a doomsday cult and then commit suicide the day after the apocalypse was meant to come but didn’t.
He’d rather die than confront the thought that he is totally batshit insane.
in re-reading I see that point – Kevin Sabet is like one of those people who join a doomsday cult – as a damn good one. But not “like a doomsday cult,” they ARE a doomsday cult. Listen to ’em… they’ve been preaching the apocalypse since Anslinger and Hearst (and before). Hell, they’ve even predicted – many times – the end of the supply of illegal drugs but it never happens.
The donkey pulling the drug war cart appears to be going on strike…
King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg is dismissing all 175 pending misdemeanor marijuana cases because of Tuesday’s vote to de-criminalize small …
Satterberg decided to apply I-502 retroactively.
That is awsome. I cant imagine the amount of money the tax payers just saved. And will continue to save.
Obama faces Latin America revolt over drugs, trade
O/T but I want to read this without paying for it
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/10/opinion/blow-election-data-dive.html?ref=opinion&gwh=4B5BD82B21A9A88C56D98916A85D322B
pay for it?
wow… just caught Eugene Jarecki (the House I Live In) interviewed on Tavis Smiley. Wow… most excellent. They mentioned that Michelle Alexander’s book, the New Jim Crow, has been on the NY Times’ best seller list for 40+ weeks in a row.
It was interesting listening to Jarecki. He’s a newcomer more or less to the WOD but he’s well schooled. He mentioned FAMM and the words prison industrial complex rolled off his tongue as they talked and showed clips from the film.
Check your local PBS listings. I’m going to re-watch it at midnight’s repeat. Must send Mr Smiley a thank you. He’s been one of my (and others’) projects. Seeing Jarecki on there tonite (I didn’t know until 1/2 an hour before the show started who the guest was gonna be) added to my belief that we’ve got a real snowball rollin’…
Again… once the Berlin Wall began to go, it just went, gates opened, never to close again and hammers beat it down… (and Ronald Reagan had nothing to do with it, he was just opportunistic). Lord, let this wall fall…
Oh… another thing about the Smiley – Jarecki interview… a couple of times Tavis was very cognizant of those who have been at this for a long time, “the long distance runners” he called them. If you wear that hat, put a feather in it because it was a first class nod of appreciation. And that’s been a rare gig in this bidness…
Look it up! Watch it!
Oh heck, it’s the 21st century, it’s prolly already online…
Here it is.
muchas gracias senor…
A disturbing thing about the Washington legalization issue is that the Liquor Control Board is stepping in to manage cannabis marketing in the state.
After watching the booze lobby fighting us for years we have to let those drug dealers monopolize the weed market.
Don’t seem right to me.
It probably doesn’t seem right because the Liquor Control Board isn’t the booze lobby.