Community | September 26, 2010 | 32 comments

Big Alcohol's decision to squash cannabis law reform to protect its bottom line

source: http://www.alternet.org/drugs/148213/alcohol_lobby_now_openly_spending_against_ca

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Conniepae
Alcohol Lobby Now Openly Spending Against CA's Legal Pot Initiative in Alliance with Police Industrial Complex

It is said that politics makes strange bedfellows, but there are arguably few stranger than the emerging alliance between two of California's most powerful political players: the police-industrial complex and Big Alcohol. Campaign finance reports from the Golden State disclose that the California Beer and Beverage Distributors -- a trade organization that represents over 100 beer distributors statewide -- is one of the primary backers of the lobby group Public Safety First, sponsors of the No on Prop. 19 campaign.

According to the California Secretary of State's office, the beer lobby donated $10,000 to Public Safety First on September 7, 2010. The donation came just days before PSF issued an online mailing alleging that the passage of Prop. 19 -- which would legalize the private adult use and cultivation of limited amounts of cannabis, and allow local governments the option of regulating its commercial production and retail distribution -- would inevitably lead to stoned school bus drivers and crossing guards, and will cause California public schools to "lose as much as $9.4 billion in federal funding." (Needless to say, passage of the measure would do none of these things.)

While it's hardly astonishing that the corporate beer lobby would oppose efforts to legalize marijuana, a non-toxic, ostensibly safer alternative to alcohol, it is surprising to see how quickly the law enforcement lobby -- to date the largest supporters of PSF -- is willing to get into bed with big booze. So far, the Cal Beer and Beverage Distributors $10,000 appropriation is one of the largest monetary donations received by Public Safety First, third only to the $30,000 donated by the California Police Chief's Association and the $20,500 donated by the California Narcotics Officers Association. (Overall, PSF has had a notoriously difficult time raising money for its effort. Last month, the East Bay Express reported that total financial contributions to the Prop. 19 campaign were well ahead of those reported for Public Safety First, which at that time had only raised $61,000, with just one citizen donor.)

There's no doubt that police officers know firsthand the social toll caused by alcohol. Federal government estimates indicate that alcohol consumption costs the nation some $200 billion annually in hospitalizations, criminal expenditures and lost productivity. (Ironically, the nation's top drug cop, Drug Czar Gil Kerlikowske, has specifically highlighted the staggering social costs of alcohol abuse in his rhetoric against Prop. 19.) Government figures further indicate that alcohol is a contributing factor in at least 25 to 30 percent of all violent crime in America, including between 30 to 60 percent of homicides and perhaps as many as half of all sexual assaults.

continued at link ...... http://www.alternet.org/drugs/148213/alcohol_lobby_now_openly_spending_against_c...'s_legal_pot_initiative_in_alliance_with_police_industrial_complex/
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32 comments // Big Alcohol's decision to squash cannabis law reform to protect its bottom line

  • budmayne
  • JoplinShawn
    • 0
      JoplinShawn  

    • ayipis, sorry, but the "medical excuse" is not an excuse but fact! " Why would anyone need this dope anyway?" Ask any of the thousands of people who use marijuana under a Drs. care, like chemo patients and people with many other conditions. There are thousands of legal uses for the hemp plant in the US, and it's illegal to grow here. We have to import the finished products. How ridiculous, especially considering our founding fathers among many other farmers grew it for it's varied uses then. We've come so much further today, through science, and know of it's increased value. Why not use it instead of a drink for a harm reduction strategy? Don't get me started on the facts comparing cannabis effects to alcohol's.

    • 1 year ago
  • Conniepae
    • +1
      Conniepae  
    • JoplinShawn:

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ne9UF-pFhJY

      'Hemp for Victory' a government documentary! While politicians spin 'Reefer Madness', they ignore 'Hemp for Victory'. Why? Campaign contributions come from the very industries who are threatened by the competition of a plant.

      Money talks in America. Buying politicians doesn't hurt either. So far they have perpetuated the war on American soil, with no consequences. It's time for that to change!

    • 1 year ago
  • fun_size
    • 0
      fun_size  

    • Well duh. Who do you think funds the "Partnership for a drug free America" that creates all the anti-pot ads? Its the Tobacco, Alcohol and Pharmaceutical companies... the "legal" drug dealers!

    • 1 year ago
  • ayipis
    • -1
      ayipis  

    • okay quick questions..

      WHY THE FUCK WOULD ANYBODY NEED THIS DOPE ANYWAYS??? just like alcohol..YOU DONT NEED IT...

      (and spare me the "medical" excuse...)

    • 1 year ago
  • Conniepae
    • 0
      Conniepae  
    • ayipis:

      Why throw people in jail? Do you want to pay the costs of private prisons to warehouse non-violent cannabis consumers? Don't you think it's a waste of your tax dollars? Couldn't that money be spent more wisely? The cost of the war on cannabis is passed along to you. Do you think your tax dollars a being spent wisely?

      (spare me the 'Reefer Madness')

    • 1 year ago
  • fun_size
    • 0
      fun_size  
    • ayipis:

      Not many people need to smoke weed... they just like to. Do you like watching TV? You dont need to do it but its a fun activity right? Same thing goes for weed. Nobody needs to drink either but its a socially acceptable activity. So why the double standard for weed? Especially since weed is faaaar better for you from a health standpoint and kills thousands less people per year when compared with alcohol. So again why the double standard?

    • 1 year ago
  • noxidereus
    • 0
      noxidereus  
    • ayipis:

      People have been trying to explain this to your for a long time now. It's simply no use. You don't get it and you never will.

      If you don't like it then don't smoke it!

      The bigger question is do you think it's moral to stick someone in a cage for an extended period of time because they choose this plant for themselves?

      Do you think it's moral for the government to have that much control over our personal lives?

      Why are you on an ignorant crusade against marijuana? What the hell is wrong with you? It is far more moral to have an innocent vice than it is to get up on your soap-box and ignorantly point the finger and condemn people that you don't understand.

      Love the new racist avatar by the way, it helps people realize that you are not one to be taken seriously -- but honestly I think your words are more than enough to give people that impression of you.

    • 1 year ago
  • budmayne
    • 0
      budmayne  
    • ayipis:

      Some people need Medical marijuana.
      Most people who say they need marijuana really just prefer it.
      Some prefer it because things like oxycontin percocet & morphine, can be extremely addictive & can and usually lead to other minor health problems like death & overdose.
      Or maybe it's the prices of oxycontin....
      Something Like $80/80mg of oxy isn't as great as $200/OZ of blueberry kush.

      But medical marijuana only kills minor pain. In the end pharmaceutical companys win.

    • 1 year ago
  • EmperorThan
    • +2
      EmperorThan  

    • Funny that an industry that was once in the same prohibition position against the police is now siding with the police.... Wait 70 more years and marijuana lobbyists will be siding with the police for continued prohibition of LSD.

    • 1 year ago
  • ayipis
  • noxidereus
  • budmayne
    • 0
      budmayne  
    • EmperorThan:

      UM.. I'd have to say I support the prohibition of LSD. Seeing as how it's LSD and all. It's not like a plant or anything. Believe it or not I also support the prohibition of meth. and crack cocaine.

      On the other hand from a medical standpoint 2-bromo-LSD is alright it my book... But that's just my opinion

    • 1 year ago
  • Mark701
    • +4
      Mark701  

    • I don't know anyone smoking weed who ever careened into oncoming traffic, shot someone, got into a fist fight they started etc. Additionally if they want to stop the marijuana black market the best thing to do is legalize it, just like they did ALCOHOL. The benefits would be immediate, not the least of which would be billions in additional state and federal revenues.

    • 1 year ago
  • Conniepae
    • 0
      Conniepae  
    • Mark701:

      Voices of reason, are not heard in the war on cannabis. Profit before people is what moves the war on cannabis along. It really is time to change that. Every time politicians give ordinary Americans a chance to voice thier views for change, cannabis comes up in the top 5, things needed for change. It's time they start listening to the 'voices of reason' and stop the war on cannabis hemp. Hemp is included in the war on cannabis. Cannabis hemp could be industries unto them selves. Leading to jobs, jobs, jobs!

    • 1 year ago
  • remanns
  • irie_ojo
  • Conniepae
    • 0
      Conniepae  

    • The war on cannabis has been a war based on spin and disinformation. Richard Nixon knew when he started the war on cannabis, it was based on lies, but chose to use it for political purposes none the less.

      Politicians today, know it's not the 'danger' they portray it to be. But as long as facts are denied, or spun, they will continue to use the issue for political purposes, people be damned.

      We have more people in prison than any other country in the world. Due in large part to the criminality of cannabis. It's time to change the dialog, away from spin and disinformation. Cannabis hemp could be an industry unto it's self. America needs industry and jobs! Our environment needs 100% biodegradable hemp, instead of the polluting plastics being used today.

      Honest dialog, not money motivated spin!

    • 1 year ago
  • Blind_Watchmaker
    • +2
      Blind_Watchmaker  
    • Image

    • I don't get what they're so worried about, there are plenty of people, (myself included), who both drink alcohol and smoke weed.

      It's not like the legalization of weed would suddenly stop me from drinking beer....

      P.S. Best protest ever!

    • 1 year ago
  • themotivateddropout
    • +5
      themotivateddropout  

    • That's what this has always been about. Too many existing companies would be harmed by the legalization of marijuana because they would no longer be able to charge what they do now. Let them waste their money; we shouldn't allow them to make it a problem for a responsible adult to cultivate a plant but say it's okay to brew your own beer.

    • 1 year ago
  • remanns
  • ayipis
  • themotivateddropout
    • +3
      themotivateddropout  
    • ayipis:

      Well let me answer that question with a question:
      WHY THE HELL DO YOU NEED TO POST ON CURRENT for anyways???

      What would your answer be? That you don't need to? That you only do it when you want to? The truth is pot is no more addictive than using your computer, playing video games, or even something simple like collecting something you fancy. It's all about personal responsibility, and literally nothing else. It's about managing your time and money so that your recreation doesn't affect the lives of you or your loved ones. This is not different than alcohol, but what is different is that pot is not a gamble. I have never seen pot destroy the lives of my friends or loved ones, but alcohol has claimed many of their lives and ripped their families apart. The only plausible threat to come from pot is an allergic reaction, which is less damaging than a allergic reaction to peanuts.
      You think me being against the war on pot means I need it? Well I don't, but don't pretend for a second that no one needs it. My friend in Denver is in a business with his father to grow and distribute medical marijuana to AIDS and cancer patients. I've met people so sick they couldn't answer their front door and couldn't eat, but the second they smoked a joint they walked into the kitchen, ate a full meal, and were finally able to take their medication.
      "Medical excuse"? Shame on you and your willful ignorance.

    • 1 year ago
  • s_peak
    • +1
      s_peak  

    • This system is so broken, it's ridiculous.

      Fuck what the people want! The massive multinational corporations with trillions of dollars will TELL YOU what you get, and then you will pay taxes for it and thank them.

      If any of you still think we have a democracy, then you are straight-up wrong. Even the Athenians knew that democracy requires education of the people and a large quorum of common men to form the system of law. Their system STILL inevitably fell to corruption... But we have neither of those democratic prerequisites... I've said it before and I'll say it again:

      When you can spend money to change the law, that's not democracy, that's closer to aristocracy. Isn't it? The needs of the few outweigh the needs of the many, I guess.

    • 1 year ago
  • sudopinion
  • idealist
  • Nephwrack
  • Proud_Progressive
    • +3
      Proud_Progressive  

    • Of course. Business will protect its interests. It was the cotton industry that led the charge against hemp a century ago. Why would it suddenly be embraced?

    • 1 year ago
  • s_peak
    • +1
      s_peak  
    • Proud_Progressive:

      Now that we know (Although Henry Ford knew this decades ago) it can be used to make fuel and alternatives to plastic that are, at the very least, much less toxic (or not at all)... it starts to make sense why hemp's illegal, too. It's a very good source of energy... plus it's cheap and grows fast.

      Personally I would make my own fuel just as a "fuck you" to the gas companies... but that's just me... but the medicine part is pretty sweet, too.

    • 1 year ago
  • remanns
  • idealist
  • hunzedog
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