Gingrich calls for more aggressive drug policy
source: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/11/28/gingrich-calls-for-more-aggressive-drug-policy/
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- Anonmaly
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Gingrich told Yahoo! News’ Chris Moody on Saturday that California showed that medical marijuana was a “joke,” where doctors prescribed the drug for nearly anybody who wanted it.
He introduced legislation to legalize the medical use of marijuana in 1981, but has since changed his position on the issue.
“What has changed was the number of parents I met with who said they did not want their children to get the signal from the government that it was acceptable behavior and that they were prepared to say as a matter of value that it was better to send a clear signal on no drug use at the risk of inconveniencing some people, than it was to be compassionate toward a small group at the risk of telling a much larger group that it was okay to use the drug,” Gingrich explained.
According to a report presented at the American Public Health Association Annual Meeting and Exposition, medical marijuana legalization does not increase its use among teenagers.
“My general belief is that we ought to be much more aggressive about drug policy,” Gingrich said.
He would like to see steeper economic penalties for illegal drug use and more drug testing, including mandatory drug testing for anyone who receives unemployment compensation or food stamps.
Florida and Missouri have already approved laws requiring applicants for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program to pass a mandatory drug test. Republican lawmakers in other states have also proposed similar laws this year.
He also supports the death penalty for high-level drug smugglers, noting the “successful” and “draconian” drug policies of Singapore.
Gingrich said he was “very serious” about “minimize drug use in America” but did not think throwing people in prison was the right approach. He favors medical help and drug addiction treatment.
Two of his Republican rivals, businessman Hermain Cain and Texas Rep. Ron Paul, have endorsed allowing state’s to legalize medical marijuana without interference from the federal government.
Although 16 states and the District of Columbia have legalized medical marijuana, the federal government still lists marijuana as a Schedule I substance, a class reserved for the most dangerous and medically useless drugs.
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/11/28/gingrich-calls-for-more-aggressive-drug-po...
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- Not The Next President
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EmperorThan
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Yes because prohibition makes everything you're prohibiting magically disappear, right 1920's America?
- 6 months ago
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EmperorThan
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bike10
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Did you consult Rush Limbaugh?
- 6 months ago
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bike10
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freehit
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Yeah, when I heard him giving his little talk, I was talking back to my screen with language that would get me banned from here. Douche bag is one of the kinder things I called him while listening to him. Thank crappy economics I don't have to listen to T.V. political ads this upcoming season, if it wasn't for that I might throw something large and heavy through the set. Yes siree Neuter, turn up the heat and seal the release valve closed on the pressure cooker. That will make things SO much safer in the "kitchen".
- 6 months ago
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freehit
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CreditFigaro
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Sorry, newt, that won't score you many points.
- 6 months ago
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CreditFigaro
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charliesommers
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For someone who has a degree in history the Newt certainly doesn't seem to know much about it! Does he not realize that organized crime got its major toehold in American society when there was a prohibition on the manufacture and distribution of alcohol? The legalization of drugs, marijuana in particular, would take the control out of the hands of criminals and place it under government control. Weed causes very few problems, the problems are all caused by the vast amounts of money that are involved in its transfer from the source down to the user. Remember Santaya Newt, "those who don't heed history are doomed to repeat it" or, I believe Franklin who defined stupidity as, "doing the same thing over and over while expecting different results."
- 6 months ago
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charliesommers
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FoosMaster
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He is involved in the pharmaceutical and the private prison industries, which would see their profits soar if penalties were drastically increased for marijuana. THAT is his motivation! His only motivation for his stance is MONEY!
- 6 months ago
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FoosMaster
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ilikeike
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Do these parents want their children to be incarcerated for years so that they will be a good example for other children with a penchant for independence? Not likely.
- 6 months ago
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ilikeike
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dugdog47
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Ok kids, its just fine if you wanna kill your liver with booze. All those side effects from pills? Don't worry, the f.d.a. is here to protect us. But never, ever, smoke a harmless plant. The government says it's dangerous and they would never lie to you.
- 6 months ago
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dugdog47
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theoutcrop
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Newt Gingrich's past and present speaks for it self and proves you can't polish a turd.
- 6 months ago
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theoutcrop
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amo42
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New rule: Congress shall not vote nor shall the President sign any bill unless a drug screen and etoh screen is done just before the actions and the Congress and President are observed until the bill is either voted on or signed.
- 6 months ago
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amo42
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Conniepae
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Newt Genrich took on drugs today and social programs. He is going after the easy targets. That's what they always do, go after poor people. The unemployed are poor, or soon to be poor people. Easy targets, while increasing the profits for the companies, which will get the contracts to do the drug tests.
Poor people will be judged by the quality of their pee. Reagan-omics was often times called, 'trickle down economics. Piss on the poor'. Who would have thought it could get worse? Now they want to demand the pee of the poor, while putting government funded profit into corporations, who get the contracts to check the pee. Slick move. Cha-ching! Drug companies will make profit, no matter who is, or is not using drugs! Cha-ching indeed!
Drugs are not what's causing the problems in America. If anything it's the 'cash cow' that keeps on giving. It's even a 'cash cow' for private prisons. Cha-ching. They are justifying their profits, with spin. They are spinning people back into thinking draconian laws against ordinary Americans as just.
The 'war on cannabis', 'IS' an un-just war on American soil and should be ended! Not put of the backs of the poor!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robbie-gennet/on-role-models-and-their_b_164387.ht....
What our 'real' President's had to say about cannabis hemp.
"Hemp is of first necessity to the wealth & protection of the country."
- Thomas Jefferson, U.S. President"Make the most you can of the Indian Hemp seed and sow it everywhere."
- George Washington, U.S. President"We shall, by and by, want a world of hemp more for our own consumption."
- John Adams, U.S. PresidentReal Presidents!!
- 6 months ago
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Conniepae
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ThirdSection
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So, what's that clown smoking?
- 6 months ago
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ThirdSection
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letsliveinpeace
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I bet he smoked marijuana every day. It's always the ones that come out in the public and announce they're against something, find out later they're doing it.
- 6 months ago
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letsliveinpeace
