Weather
The Pine Tree, News for Calaveras County and Beyond Weather
Amador Angels Camp Arnold Bear Valley Copperopolis Murphys San Andreas Valley Springs Moke Hill/West Point Tuolumne
News
Business Directory
Weather & Roads
Sports
Real Estate
Search
Weekly & Grocery Ads
Entertainment
Life & Style
Government
Law Enforcement
Business
Wine News
Health & Fitness
Home & Garden
Food & Dining
Religion & Faith
Frogtown USA
Calendar
Polls
Columns
Free Classifieds
Letters to the Editor
Obituaries
About Us

Coming Soon...
Friday, Mar 22
03:30 PM Bear Valley Adventure Company's Trailblazers Youth Ski Program
Saturday, Mar 23
All Day Saturday, March 23: Green Sand Molding & Foundry Practice Workshop at Knight Foundry
All Day Calaveras Gem & Mineral Society's Gem & Jewelry Show is March 23 & 24
10:00 AM Calaveras Gem and Mineral Show 2024
10:00 AM Calaveras Gem & Mineral Show 3/23 & 3/24
Sunday, Mar 24
All Day Calaveras Gem & Mineral Society's Gem & Jewelry Show is March 23 & 24
All Day Our Sunday Edition with Local Features, Local Specials & More Every Sunday All Day Long!
Until 05:00 AM Calaveras Gem and Mineral Show 2024
Until 05:00 PM Calaveras Gem & Mineral Show 3/23 & 3/24
Tuesday, Mar 26
01:30 PM Calaveras Community Blood Drive, Tuesday March 26
Friday, Mar 29
03:30 PM Bear Valley Adventure Company's Trailblazers Youth Ski Program
Sunday, Mar 31
All Day Our Sunday Edition with Local Features, Local Specials & More Every Sunday All Day Long!
03:30 PM Bear Valley Adventure Company's Trailblazers Youth Ski Program

Log In
Username

Password

Remember Me



Posted by: thepinetree on 01/05/2018 12:27 PM Updated by: thepinetree on 01/05/2018 12:27 PM
Expires: 01/01/2023 12:00 AM
:

Is Cannabis Evil? ~ By Al Segalla

Copperopolis, CA...If it is, then a ban seems to make sense, even if we would violate the Constitution with its protection of the individual rights to Life, Liberty and Property. On the other hand, considering our experience with the ban on alcohol, whereby it was discovered that booze was not evil or bad, but could be abused with bad consequences to the participants and society, it seems cannabis is also not evil or bad - no more than alcohol or smoking. There can be bad consequences with irresponsible use of all three.





The purpose of regulation should only be to protect public safety. The war on alcohol was a horrible disaster as is the war on drugs today. 

Who would want to reason with a self righteous lady with fire in her eyes and a hatchet in her hand?  Fortunately, alcohol prohibition was enacted by constitutional amendment and, after its horrible destruction to our society was obvious, was repealed the same way. 

Another thing we learned about prohibition is that black markets are created by government, because the black market is responding to a ban by government of something wanted by the people. Black markets attract crime because only self defense is available to fight thieves, etc.

Black markets can also be created by regulations intended to suppress an industry rather than protect public safety. This obviously is happening now.

In Calaveras County, we have a past history of cannabis "grey market" because the farmers were not suppressed, and according to the late Sheriff Gary Kuntz, law enforcement would protect the rights of the farmers on private land. They still have the problem of being excluded from banking requiring cash only.

The Calaveras County emergency ordinance, passed in reaction to an increased influx of cannabis farmers, was a mixed blessing because the growers who were successful in getting permits were in a position of competition and opposition to those who were not registered. The Cannabis tax, promoted by the industry and approved by Calaveras voters, was used by the County for law enforcement and code enforcement to suppress those in the black market.
We also have had transient irresponsible growers who would trespass and pollute. We have laws to address this – they need to be enforced. Suppressing the market makes the situation worse because it expands the black market with its crime. It’s like trying to put out fire with gasoline.

So what now?  Maybe we need less government involvement and allow our normal land use planning process work as it has for other industries. This could mean allowing the emergency ordinance to expire, returning the money taken and allowing State regulations on cannabis to prevail. In the event of zoning changes, existing use would be grandfathered in. If the County is responsible, it will not attempt to control the growers. On the other hand If it continues policies of suppression, the black market will prevail – with its inducement to increased crime. Due to the new increased regulation from the state, a return to the grey market may not be likely.

The cannabis stigma will likely disappear when the federal drug war is repealed, or cannabis is removed from the false dangerous federal drug listing, as recommended originally by the Shafer Commission and currently by H.R.1635.
Perhaps then, we can enjoy peace and prosperity again.


Comments - Make a comment
The comments are owned by the poster. We are not responsible for its content. We value free speech but remember this is a public forum and we hope that people would use common sense and decency. If you see an offensive comment please email us at news@thepinetree.net

What's Related
These might interest you as well
Local News

phpws Business Directory

Photo Albums


Mark Twain Medical Center
Meadowmont Pharmacy
Angels & San Andreas Memorial Chapels
Bear Valley Real Estate
Gerard Insurance
Bank of Stockton
Fox Security
Bistro Espresso
Chatom Winery
Middleton's Furniture
Bear Valley Mountain Resort
Cave, Mine & Zip Lines
High Country Spa & Stove
Ebbetts Pass Scenic Byway
Sierra Logging Museum Calaveras Mentoriing
Jenny's Kitchen

Copyright © The Pine Tree 2005-2023