Pot Legalization Foe Getting Rich off the Drug War

[DreamSmoker]

The lobbyist who helped kill California's Proposition 19, the 2010 ballot measure that would have legalized recreational marijuana, has constructed an entire business model around keeping pot illegal. While fighting against the proposed law, lobbyist John Lovell accepted nearly $400,000 from a wide array of police unions, some of which he also represented in attempting to steer millions of federal dollars toward California's marijuana suppression programs.

Police unions and their lobbyists weren't the only economic interests with a stake in Prop. 19. The alcohol industry and prison guards also contributed money to fight the measure.

http://motherjones.com/mojo/2012/03/pot-legalization-foe-war-drugs

[alfredo]

1. Why am I not surprise.

[CrispyQ]

2. The War on Some Drugs continues.

[Dawson Leery]

3. Again, this is why I oppose police unions.

"lobbyist John Lovell accepted nearly $400,000 from a wide array of police unions, some of which he also represented in attempting to steer millions of federal dollars toward California's marijuana suppression programs"

[RKP5637]

4. Yep, not surprised. Too many are making big $$$ off of this inane drug war. Much

as with other wars, the profiteers line up to keep the status quo in some sense of false morality while stuffing cash into their back pockets, and bribing congress via campaign financing. And others are concerned about job security as they participate in the insanity.

[felix_numinous]

5. We have to start using more powerful language

--like kickbacks and bribery for this kind of activity--I find it interesting that journalists are too tame to use them. These words used to be in the title of articles back when we had more of a free press.

[truedelphi]

6. Meanwhile, someone in a very high place has

Given the Obama Administration some very bad advice. The recent crack downs, by the DEA, DOJ, and IRS on the voter-sanctioned medical marijuana clinics means that the state of California clearly in Obama's column before these strikes, may not swing so easily for the president.

Obama needs to consider the fate of Kamela Harris. In Nov, 2010, Ms Harris should have been a shoo in for the position of State's Attorney. During the election, she put out a statement that could be read as being unfavorable to the legalize marijuana forces.

So rather than an imposing nine percent lead, she had to have the votes recounted before she could assume the highest legal position in California. And she was running against a very unpopular Republican candidate.

[malcolmkyle]

7. Prohibition Sucks - The End!

As with torture, prohibition is a grievous crime against humanity. If you support it, or even simply tolerate it by looking the other way while others commit it, you are an accessory to a very serious moral transgression against humanity.

* The United States re-legalized certain drug use in 1933. The drug was alcohol, and the 21st amendment re-legalized its production, distribution and sale. Both alcohol consumption and violent crime dropped immediately as a result, and very soon after, the American economy climbed out of that same prohibition engendered abyss into which it had foolishly fallen.

“You can always count on Americans to do the right thing, after they’ve tried everything else.”
- Winston Churchill

[Ohio Joe]

8. What a shock

Fuckers pushing prohibition are making a profit off it... Assholes.