Section 2: Legalization

Section 2: Legalization

Purpose:      To allow for adult individuals to possess, cultivate

and use Cannabis without fear of prosecution;

The Private Citizen should be the one to decide whether or not they need or would like to use Cannabis as a Recreation or Medicine of choice without fear of Federal, State or Local prosecution.

"Prohibition... goes beyond the bounds of reason in that it attempts to control a man's appetite by legislation and makes a crime out of things that are not crimes. A prohibition law strikes a blow at the very principles upon which our government was founded."

~ Abraham Lincoln, December, 1840

The use of Cannabis as a recreation of choice should not be prohibited or restricted in any fashion through Federally based controls.  Being that Cannabis is a naturally occurring substance and that the active chemicals therein are historically confirmed through millennia of recorded use with no known social or health detriments, the use of Cannabis as a recreation of choice should not be restricted through Government force or coercion.  Also, no Industry has the right, in a free society, to dictate the parameters of personal recreation consumption choices to ensure their own monopoly on such options when they themselves produce for financial gain competing, as well as debilitating, substances.  The use of Cannabis as a personal choice in recreation or other personally chosen roles (such as medical, religious or self-development reasons) should not be restricted for the benefit of a financial monopoly for limited Corporate concerns.  Being that Cannabis has known psychoactive properties which contain, in and of themselves, no detrimental nor addictive qualities but instead many beneficial qualities such as creative stimulus and non-narcotic relaxation properties among others, it is unjustified that naturally occurring Cannabis should be considered a ‘controlled substance’ when other, non-natural, addictive and debilitating chemical substances (alcohol) are allowed to be marketed for profit.

Purpose:      To establish the amount of Cannabis to be either

Cultivated or Possessed by a Private Citizen for

personal consumption;

Recommended amounts would be sufficient either in form of product weight and/or live plants to allow for lack of ambulation and/or inability to acquire Cannabis for Medicinal or Recreational use.

"Congress should definitely consider decriminalizing possession of marijuana... We should concentrate on prosecuting the rapists and burglars who are a menace to society."

~ Dan Quayle, U.S. Representative and Vice president

   under President Bush March 1977

To allow for a set amount of Cannabis to be either cultivated or possessed by the private citizen for personal use at an amount allowing for lack of ambulation and/or ease of ability to acquire without facing recriminations for possession with intent to sell. Recommended amounts would be roughly one half of a pound or up to a half dozen live plants per adult individual to be allowed within a private residence.  Statements as to recommended amounts here made are arbitrary and not based upon anything more than the generosity of the author.  The reasons for any limits would be to both allow an adult Citizen the ability to keep on hand a sufficient amount of Cannabis in it’s natural form without the worry of diminished personal supplies wherein potential lack of ambulation or financial restraints would prevent procurement of Cannabis.  Any upper limits placed would be set to discourage private individuals from engaging in commerce with Cannabis as a commodity without a recognized license to do so, thus depriving the State and Federal governments of potential tax-revenue to be associated with the purchase and sale of Cannabis.

Purpose:      To establish an immediate Amnesty for all individuals

currently incarcerated on non-violent Cannabis related charges;

It is cost prohibitive as well as morally suspect to incarcerate a single Citizen at the taxpayer expense, both in costs associated with incarceration, loss of tax revenue and destruction to the core concept of the American Family.  Issue immediate release and complete pardons for all Citizens currently incarcerated in the United States on Cannabis related charges.

“Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless.”

~ Isaiah 10:1-2

Being that it is morally reprehensible to incarcerate any individual due to non-violent personal choices in the spheres of personal morality, lifestyle or choice in non-invasive or victimless recreation, there should be an immediate cessation to all criminal prosecutions involving the personal use or possession of Cannabis or Cannabis related paraphernalia.  It is further recommended that an immediate amnesty be issued for all individuals currently incarcerated on non-violent cannabis related charges or charges stemming from the possession or sale of Cannabis or its related paraphernalia.  Being that to keep an individual incarcerated on charges, which, upon passage of the U.S.H.E.M.P. Act would no longer result in criminal prosecution, individuals who are currently serving time for such ‘offenses’ should be released and have their records expunged of such charges.  Such action is not only morally imperative, it would have the result of freeing prison space for violent or victim-based crimes as well as freeing an over-strained court system from having to suffer an excess of pointless Cannabis related cases.  Financial savings to the State through both the release of non-violent, victimless Cannabis prisoners as well as court costs should be more than sufficient themselves to justify such an amnesty without even considering the moral aspects of imprisoning Citizens for lifestyle choices.