"Radical" Russ Belville

I am the host of the NORML SHOW LIVE and The NORML Stash Blog. I'm married, live in Portland, Oregon, and I am a registered medical marijuana caregiver in this state. I've worked days as an IT geek and nights as a professional musician. Previously, I have been the host of my own political talk radio show on satellite radio. I've been the High Times "Freedom Fighter of the Month" for my work producing Oregon NORML's TV show, "A Cannabis Community Forum", and for helping to institute Portland's wildly successful medical marijuana cardholders meetings, where we help sick and disabled Oregonians acquire cannabis plant starts, learn gardening, and understand the medical marijuana law. I've dedicated my life to bringing an end to adult marijuana prohibition and re-legalizing cannabis hemp, and I'm honored to be chosen by NORML to be our daily voice.

59 responses to “GA Rep. Tommy “Caning” Benton: “I have forwarded your email to the sheriff to be on the lookout for you””

  1. Randal

    Shoot me , Big Boy

  2. Randal

    I think the guy who wants to cane should be caned within an inch of his crummy,corrupted life while we get to watch before they send somemore 18 yr olds to some sandbag country to fight for more oil for their big lobbyists.

  3. Harris

    I am a New York City agnostic Jew, and generally an extreme social liberal. I support same-sex marriage, women in all branches of the military and in the church, et cetera. That said, I like this idea. I’m tired of marijuana smokers defying the law rather than merely protesting. The precedent of Martin Luther King, Jr., is not an excuse, in my opinion. Put them to the sword.

    1. Negatron

      Good job Harris,
      Lets apply your reasoning to another type of social situation to see if it fits.
      Currently there are many countries (and the state of virginia according to sodomylaws.org) worldwide that have declared sodomy illegal. Now, your support of gay marriage also implies that you are ok with the idea of sodomy (at least for homosexual males). Would you put these people to your “sword” for expressing themselves before going through the process of changing the laws in their land?
      If your answer is still yes, consider this: Could you be the one to personally take this “sword” to them for violating the laws of their land?
      If the answer to that question is yes, then you, sir, are a monster with no regard for human rights in this country or anywhere in the world.

  4. Angel

    I wonder if Mr. Benton also advocates the same caning punishment for women who commit the same offense as men? personally and I say this from a feminine perspective, caning may be wrong but countries like Singapore that do it should punish the females equally the same as men complete with the full nudity the full force lashing of bare skin etc. I dont think pot smokers should be caned but this sisnt a marjuana issue for me its an equality feminist issue. I’m from the southern states where they spank unruly school children with wooden paddles and I was given no priveledged treatment based on my gender and my ass got paddled as hard as any boy’s. The same standard should apply in all cases of corporal punishment.

  5. Hey

    I know Georgia. And the kops are korrupt. It seems like every year kops get kaught committing crimes against US Citizens.

    In GA, it is expected that any kop you meet is korrupt. It’s due to inbreeding, I fear. The people even look different, as from another country.

    I would encourage every citizen to install hidden cameras in their vehicles… to catch these evil people and expose them on youtube. GA kops are krimals hiding behind their uncanny ability to destroy as many human being as possible.

    When these monsters from hell present their ugly faces to you, be polite, but press Play. Cameras are the only way to stop these evil people.

  6. Michael

    Well, lets see. Now let me know if I’m wrong, but the pictures I’m looking, wouldn’t this be considering torture? So this asshole thinks that “canning” is legal? We are oppose to torturing terrorists and yet he thinks this is a solution? Is he a quack? Benton, your head is not screwed on tight and you need to be out of office and out of a job…

  7. 420 roofer

    This guy is a total nutjob! I live in georgia and there has been nothing at all said about this in the news. I have and urge all to do this, emailed all the local news stations through norml, telling of how he spouts evil communistic views and the voters in the state dont know what he is saying. Norml is the only site I can find anything about this. Urge the media, cnn, fox news, A/C 360 anything to get this story out there and lt georgians and the nation know what kind of evil fanatic they voted in office and make sure it doesnt happen again.

  8. Bill Dake

    Several things:

    Benton is a product of his environment and means well wantingsto be ‘tough on crime’. Unfortunately he does not see the big picture or relize that he appears to be ‘foolish on crime’. He needs to do research and instead he refuses to deal with it and that is most disturbing.

    Radical Russ should (as we should) check our letterfor whether or it seems personal or not. When we say you or your it can be conceived as confrontational and invites a negative response. We can say the same thing and have the same effect by saying it in a less personal way. For example Russ’ first paragraph could be done as so (sugested deletions between quotation marks) INSERTIONS CAPTALIZED.

    As a voter and proud citizen of these United States, I am very disappointed to read that (you and your constituents are continuing to waste more and) more taxpayer dollars (as you continue) WILL BE WASTED IN the impossible effort to eradicate marijuana from this country through (your) THE failed “War on
    Drugs”. (effort.)

    I have been an activist for 37 years and I notice that anything perceived as confrontation or blame almost always invites a negative response. I have learned this the hard way. I wish I wrote letters as well as Radiacl Russ as it is well done and hits the nails on the head.

  9. okinkun

    Wow, that congressman’s opinions are EXTREMELY unconstitutional. Horrible that such people are allowed into office. I hope his area sees that, and votes him out.
    IMO, This ignorant moron clearly doesn’t understand the issue, let alone our own country’s laws. -_-

  10. Hats Radio » Post Topic » Georgian Lawmaker T. Benton, Starts Day W/Cup O’ Crazy

    [...] Presumably after another heaping helping of crazy, Benton followed up his remarks in a separate e-mail on August 11 (also forwarded to NORML) in which he threatened to turn over the names of citizens who disagreed [...]

  11. djdp

    I am ashamed that this guy is from my state, but also not very surprised at all. If legalization happens state-by-state I’m positive Georgia will be one of the last states to do it, maybe after they see all the money other states are making.

    I don’t think people like him should be allowed to speak this trash

    1. TxSpade

      “I don’t think people like him should be allowed to speak this trash”

      Although I COMPLETELY disagree with the gentleman from Georgia and his views on this subject, he has the right to say whatever he wants.
      Freedom of speech is for every American citizen, not just the ones who agree with us.

      As Voltaire said, “I do not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”

  12. Illegal Smile

    Harsh punishments will lead to DEA (Dead Enforcement Agents.
    This legislation was attempted in NYC during the 70’s and was bitterly opposed by the Police Benevolent Assn and the F.O.P as wellas the unions who said that these harsh punishments (death penalty for heroin users)would result in people who have nothing to lose killing police officers who try to arrest them to face a death penalty.

  13. Thomas Richardson

    Eh, not saying that he has any standpoint near hitler so to speak… the ideaology of his words proves the american idiot is still thriving and needs to be stamped the fuck out. We are in need of desperate change and need to crumble up our old ways and move forward, not backward.

    Legalize, Regulate, Educate, Medicate.
    and most of all, peace to all people. :-P

  14. DieSoonAH

    Murderers and rapists on death row are put to death as quickly and as painlessly as possible and this asshole wants to torture Americans for smoking a harmless substance. You must be on crack you scumbag. I hope the drug cartel has this scumbag kidnapped, cained and tortured as a crowd of pot smoking hippies watch and enjoy the show. Now that would be poetic justice for such a clueless tyrant. Please get Tommy Benton’s comments out to the national media. :greenmj:

  15. Flathead Fran

    First: Drug testing is backward. ALL politicians should be drug tested randomly by it’s state citizens before any employee of any company should. Second: Mr. Benton should apply to become a citizen of Singapore since he so strongly believes in individual lack of freedom. I spent 8 years in the US Navy, sworn to defend the Constitution from enemies both domestic and foreign. Tom Benton is a domestic terrorist. Though I disagree with what’s rolling around in his head, sadly, I will defend his right to say it.

  16. Tim

    People should contact the Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives to demand an investigation into the ethics violations of Tommy Benton.

    Speaker Glenn Richardson

    Room 332 State Capitol
    Atlanta, Georgia 30334

    404.656.5020
    404.656.5644 fax

    PO Box 1750
    Hiram, Georgia 30141

    770.445.4438 – Office

  17. Norman Lepoff, M.D. ret.

    Rep Benton is a disgrace to all of humanity.

  18. Garrett Anderson

    you werent too clear on what the emails that you sent him said… can you guys put it up? if it was a ‘kind, polite email’ i dont beleive he would have said that. this article seems a little biased. i completely disagree with what he was saying, though…

  19. rebelrev

    what a fool,this benton
    running his own ship of fools
    his ship has a leak
    he says,help me,help me
    I do,as I throw him a chunk of lead
    go to the bottum
    as you are fish food
    davy jones says,cane him
    till he dies fiftynine times
    but that might be to good!!!
    my sick wife and I will smoke a biggy
    in his ignorance,stupid politicians
    must be taken away,maybe to gismo
    and live with their new found friends!
    enough,burn em,if you got em!!

  20. Thomas Richardson

    People who have the ignorance enough to inflict pain upon others… simply the matter of the being that they have different beliefs than this one person, should take in consideration about HOW MUCH MONEY WE SPEND EACH YEAR to “cane” people or murder people who thrive of the natural resources our earth provides. Let me ask you a question Rep. Benton… What should we do about people who commit actual crimes such as rape, theft and murder?
    a slap on a wrist?
    This man is the new age Hitler

  21. David A. Brose

    Rep. Benton is indeed a violent and clueless man. I don’t agree with his viewpoints politically, which means he will turn my name in to local law enforcement. Good, because I m respected in this community and they would laugh in his fascist face. What an idiot. what a complete fruitcake——”take a whiff, take a whiff, take a whiff on me” Benton, you clueless SOB

  22. High East

    He claims that caning would solve the problem.

    I agree. IF this kind of law were to be passed in the United States It would surely lead to the people taking serious action. The problem of scumbag leaders and tyrannical laws would come to an end real quick. Riots in the streets would be putting it mildly.

    You can write a law and keep arrests off the publics radar, so to speak, but start public caning and these sick disgusting “leaders” would get a reality check that the people do NOT agree with their depraved leadership. They do NOT want it anymore. No way the media sweeps that under the rug like they do with all the lives destroyed by the police over marijuana.

    I hope this guy never lives this down. He is the kind of person that society needs to be protected from.

  23. High East

    It’s on the voters in that district. Will this Communist run unopposed? That is the issue in my county out here in Mass. We have a rengade lawmaker out here and he will run unopposed next elections.

    This kind of language should be political suicide. Are the voters out there really on board with this sick idology?

  24. The Daily Bru » Blog Archive » Georgia Lawmaker Calls For Caning and Executing Marijuana Offenders

    [...] Caning is a form of corporal punishment consisting of up to 24 violent lashes with a long rattan cane that has been soaked in water. The procedure inflicts intense pain and deep, bloody lacerations that can take several months to heal. [...]

  25. Georgia Representative Recommends Caning and Death Penalty for Marijuana Offenses « Legal.Now

    [...] give you an idea of how brutal this punishment is, we have some pictures, courtesy of NORML and CORPUN. (Warning: Pictures are located after the jump due to their extremely graphic [...]

  26. macdog

    we need to impeach this fool!

  27. Roman Red

    It is actions like this that keep more people from getting publicly involved. Rep. Benton needs to be fired. Not removed from office through a long drawn out argument or court battle, but just voted out of a job.

    1. richard haynes

      yea he needs to be fired for he is not representing the people but his own self interest. If he ever shows up in my church I will make a scene. come on down to barnesville, ga. The rock and I will see you there there are many christians that smoke weed and dont drink you.

  28. wolf

    To every action there is always opposed an equal reaction – Sir Isaac Newton

    (Tommy Benton)He is getting older and none the wiser – We are are getting stronger. As lawyers, builders architects, doctors, judges, senators, electricians, creators, enforcers, mayors, detectives,farmers, the people that keep buisness going and surviving.

    Threating us with such nonsense… I pity him for thinking in such ways. I’ve helped my local sheriff’s family, he is aware of my moderate cannabis use, he’s smart enough to realize I am a good person for my actions, when I could have turned away, that is why he thanked me without blinking an eye. So your threats.. Tommy Benton, keep them.

    I thank you for your ignorance, you have only shed light to the weak and blind ways of the majority of your generation.

  29. musclecarfreak

    This is a true sign that those that support cannabis prohibitionist policies are totally responsible not only for all the black market driven violence but are truly murderous at heart! They want to kill non-violent cannabis consumers? WTF! They are obviously scared of the progress cannabis regulation and taxation is making over ideology and fear driven propaganda. They will go as far as the sheeple will let them in order to protect the slave base incarcerated in privatized prisons, the profits in the tobacco industry (like in Georgia), the alcohol industry and Big Pharma that support their corrupt political agenda.

    I think I am going to throw up!

  30. Fidget Truittelli

    I believe John English and this guy would be best of friends!

    I am currently working on draft letter to send to the major media outlets and one for Rep Benton. I believe he is creating his own demise on this issue, and like John English – doesn’t know when to shut up. I hope for a response, but Im not holding my breath! (not without a good puff at least) 8-)

    1. fallibilist

      I’m not a fan of John English. John English has his facts wrong.

      But there’s a world of difference between thinking that marijuana is a harmful substance (which is mistaken) and wanting to use the force of law to beat people for the crime of smoking a different type of cigarette or eating a different type of brownie (that reaction is bigoted, cruel, harsh, and uncivilized).

      Honestly, I think one exception to free speech ought to be for people who want to use the law to infringe on the right of others.

      I, for one, would not feel the least bit illiberal for putting Tommy Benton in jail. Separating him from any place where he can make laws is a useful step in making all of us safer.

  31. Winder

    This guy has gone off the deep end, maybe broken some laws himself with that last email he forwarded to the sheriff with a BOLO for a concerned citizen asking reasonable questions of his state representative. If he’s convicted, I have the perfect punishment, since he’s all for the cruel and unusual: knock a big ole bud of Nebraska’s finest ditchweed up his butt, then drop him off in Singapore. Of course, gotta tip off the local cops he’s smuggling some bud in his butt…see how he likes caning then.

  32. fallibilist

    I don’t know if anyone is local to his district in Jefferson, Georgia. It’s in Lowdnes County.

    District Address
    177 Martin Street
    Jefferson, GA 30549
    Phone: 706-335-5519 (Office)
    Phone: 706-367-5891 (Home)

    It would be great to get together a bunch of people simply to “petition our our government,” as guaranteed by the 1st Amendment to the United States Constitution, and harass the living shit out of this guy.

    If I lived down there, I would start “Conservatives for Cannabis.” We’d picket a lot. We might call press conferences featuring an MMJ patient in a wheelchair publicly smoking a joint. We might make the occasional phone call to the good representative’s home during dinner time. We’d hold weekly meetings where we ate barbecue, drank cold tea and colder beer, told dirty jokes, played some bluegrass, smoked a nice local strain from the Peach State and we’d raise money for a candidate who would oppose this representative.

    And on Election Day, we’d can his ass–at the ballot box.

    1. UNITEDWETOKEDIVIDEDWECHOKE

      I am in Lowndes. Lowndes is Dist 1. Jefferson is in Dist 31 in north GA. I believe above Atlanta.

  33. Dude

    Here is Tommy Benton’s contact information:

    706.335.5519 – Office
    706.367.5891 – Home
    tommy.benton@house.ga.gov

    1. ray

      Dude, thanks for mentioning his office number…he delivers lumber for a living by the way, I called, and talked to him, they had to get him from the yard, I told him that I’m a 5th generation Georgian and I am shocked at him wanting to beat people for marijuana, all he could say was to keep repeating, “are you for the legalization of marijuana”…to which I replied marijuana is one of the safest medicines known to man and I’M NOT FOR BEATING PEOPLE FOR MARIJUANA USE!….he hung up the phone…at the lumber yard…I hope other people will also call.

  34. BigDfromWA

    This asshole should be kicked out of office. Impeach him. If the people of Georgia are willing to put up with this shit, I’m going to make damn certain I never step foot in that state. In fact, after he’s kicked out of office, he should be caned with a copy of our constitution! Maybe that would make an ‘impression’ on him.

    1. UNITEDWETOKEDIVIDEDWECHOKE

      caned with hemp reeds. lol

  35. fallibilist

    Oh, look, there’s even MORE contact information (e.g., district office Phone number) at vote-smart.

    Use it wisely!

    http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=31470

  36. Bear Bait

    i have a sick feeling in my stomach :whoa: those pics are disturbing

  37. fallibilist

    Here’s some information on Tommy Benton from freedomspeaks.

    It includes the address of his district office.

    Why not give him a visit? Why not let him know what an asshole he is?

    http://www.freedomspeaks.com/official/20685/georgia-(ga)-state-representative-thomas-tommy-benton-%5Bga-house-of-representatives%5D

  38. WakeUpDead

    Oh and I wrote the Gov. Perdue of GA also and asked him if he feels the same way or if he relizes how horrible this is? I asked him to get Rep. Benton to apologize, to take back his threats and to ensure these email writers dont get in trouble for asking a question.

    Hope it helps, dont let this go till justice is done!

  39. todd

    I cant believe this Guy represents Georgia. That fella should show up at one off his Town Halls and Let everyone hear that letter out loud. I cant see anyone who says that winning an election in future. I wonder if he reported Barny Frank and Ron Paul to the sheriff as well.

  40. Dave Clark

    Looks like our various calls for mass emails to the good assemblyman have gotten under his skin. So to speak.

    Maybe we need to stage a mock caning in front of his office in Jefferson.

  41. WakeUpDead

    I have emailed CNN, MSNBC and FOX about this.

    Had this been any other group of discriminated against citizens there would be hell to pay. Its like he said to Kill gays or Hang blacks or Gas jews or Beat women, but where is the outrage? I wonder when or if this story will see the light of day, it better!

  42. DPS3Putt

    Perhaps someone should send a copy of his letters to law enforcement. He’s the one that is a danger to society. The ironic thing is that this jackass probably subscribes to Rush Limbaugh’s (the oxycotton addict) school of thought.

  43. itistime

    “You and your cronies want it legalized so you can get a hit anytime without having to worry about getting arrested.”

    This is such a silly statement, I assure you we “get hits” all the time, and I assure you “getting arrested” doesn’t even factor into the process.

  44. DocMedPot

    Indeed this kind of outrageous behavior in an elected official should not be tolerated and be brought to light to the constituancy! :pissed:

  45. wow

    That peach has gone bad.

  46. WillSan

    I’m in shock and disbelief. This has to be sent to the national media. This kind of response is disgusting behavior by an elected representative. We need to establish a mass protest outside of his district office. PLEASE Let’s do SOMETHING to make this Son of a Bitch Pay!

    1. UNITEDWETOKEDIVIDEDWECHOKE

      It’s a 4 hour drive for me, but that’s worth it!

  47. UNITEDWETOKEDIVIDEDWECHOKE

    I will not be terrorized!-Margaret Cho

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