When questioned about the escalating violence in Mexico due to the illegal drug trade to the U.S., [Iowa Congressman Tom] Latham said he hasn’t heard a serous discussion about the legalization of drugs to deal with the situation.
“That certainly could come up this year. The big concern today is securing the U.S. from overflow violence from Mexico along border communities. As far as the safety and security of Americans, it has not been a major issue,” he said.
If the violence associated with the drug trade continues, there could be some discussion of legalizing marijuana, but Latham said it would be difficult to gain support for such a measure, since the drug is a “precursor to methamphetamine, heroin and other very addictive forms of illegal drugs.”
Then Rep. Latham, how come there are 22 million annual marijuana using adults, yet only 350,000 heroin-using adults? Once again, slowly for the minds of Congressmen: Marijuana… does… not… make… you… want… to… do… other… drugs, any more than cigarette smoking leads you to drinking alcohol. You suffer from post hoc ergo propter hoc thinking – that one thing followed another thing doesn’t mean the first thing caused the second.
Most illegal drug users try marijuana first, but the only thing marijuana has in common with illegal drugs is illegality. Nobody notes that most illegal drug users’ first intoxicant is alcohol and then proclaims, “Aha! Alcohol is a gateway drug to heroin!” Rep. Latham, the Institute of Medicine debunked this gateway crap ten years ago, and every study since has confirmed the conclusion. Please update your reefer madness files accordingly.
When asked about a group of former law enforcement agents who support legalization, Latham said “they’re probably a bunch of old potheads.”
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) is made up of current and former members of law enforcement who believe the existing drug policies have failed in their intended goals. LEAP’s mission is to reduce the multitude of unintended harmful consequences resulting from fighting the war on drugs and to lessen the incidence of death, disease, crime and addiction by ultimately ending drug prohibition.
Rep. Latham, are you suggesting that there are “potheads” working in law enforcement? And are you suggesting that anyone who supports legalization, like your colleague Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX), is a “pothead”? Or do you just reflexively engage in ad hominem attacks against those with whom you disagree?
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The 2 groups of people we need to focus education on is doctors and holders of office at every level . Police will not like this but it will save many lives and enhance the government coffers if it is taxed and regulated. They will be able to treat it like policing alcohol as they do now.
Wow, this guy must be a chemist!
-ED
In my day it was, “heathen hippies!” These fossils haven’t changed one iota.
What is sad about this, is that this closed minded social bigot is an elected member of our House of Representatives.
Calling law enforcement officers “a bunch of old potheads” speaks volumes, makes it clear that Congressman Latham is a very closed minded person who has wrongfully prejudged 22 million Americans.
I can’t wait to pass this around…..
Is there something about Iowa. Their senator grassley (no pun intended) also suffers from sativa dementia. Here is a great response I read in a blog responding to some of grassley’s madness.
“Just when you think we’ve gotten the smell of old men out of the Republican Party comes another one reeking of camphor and Old Spice. Respect for the law begins when the law is worthy of respect, and targeting marijuana as some sort of monstrosity out of “Reefer Madness” is pathetic. A real Republican wants government out of the business of parenting the nation’s adults. Beat it, Grassley, you and your kind of Presbyterian Republicanism is hereby repudiate.”
Once prohibition is repealed I will support War Crime Tribunals to prosecute all drug warriors with penalties of reparations for all victims of the War on Drugs, ie Prohibition.