Senator Tom Harkin: Marijuana Makes People Sell Their Children

[meegbear]

It's 2008, and that teenager drug marijuana is still raping our children. But why does that have to be illegal? According to The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), some person wrote to Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin "asking him to justify why medicinal cannabis is still illegal" after the American College of Physicians recommended it shouldn't be. It merited a hilarious reply from Harkin, which noted many of pot's notorious doom scenarios: "the small child whose parents are so addicted to illegal drugs that they sell everything including perhaps their own children to obtain a fix." Harkin knows the routine: smoke up, eat gyro, play Legend of Zelda, sell children to pirates for more pot, repeat. The full, horrifying letter, after the jump.

Dear XXXX:

Thank you for contacting me. I am always glad to hear from you.

I do not believe the answer in solving this country's problem of drug abuse and the violence associated with drug trafficking is to make drugs legal. I have seen too much of the ill effects of these illegal drugs on our nation's young people, as well as this country's law enforcement officers, to believe the solution is to make these drugs more readily available by legalizing them.

Marijuana is often the drug singled out for legalization. However, marijuana is not the recreational drug that many believe it to be. In a study completed by the Drug Abuse Warning Network, the number of marijuana related emergencies has nearly reached the level of cocaine related emergencies. As this statistic indicates, marijuana use often has fatal consequences.

I was deeply troubled when I learned of another recent study which found that nearly one-third of all eighth graders had tried marijuana. As the father of two daughters, it greatly disturbs me that children are exposed to drugs at such a young age. I am concerned that legalization of this drug will only increase the number of children who gain access to its harmful effects.

The victims of the drug war are many - the small child whose parents are so addicted to illegal drugs that they sell everything including perhaps their own children to obtain a fix; the police officer's family which must now learn to cope with the loss of their loved one as a result of a violent drug bust gone awry. These are the people I think of when I say that drugs pose a significant threat to the security of this nation.

In addition to helping to double federal funds for Iowa's anti-drug programs, I am an active supporter of the Smoother Sailing Programs in the Des Moines public schools. This program is designed to help children cope with the violence, confusion and trauma associated with the abuse of drugs in our society.

Legalizing drugs is equivalent to declaring surrender in the war on drugs. However we may differ in tactics, I am hopeful that we can work together to fight drugs in our communities and to make Iowa drug free.

Again, thanks for sharing your views with me. Please don't hesitate to let me know how you feel on any issue that concerns you.

Sincerely,

Tom Harkin

United States Senator

http://wonkette.com/363265/senator-tom-harkin-marijuana-makes-people-sell-their-children

[Warpy]

1. Jesus, what an idiot!

There's someone who needs to be replaced by a progressive.

[Freddie Stubbs]

9. Replaced by a progressive? He is one of the most liberal members of the Senate

[wuushew]

17. No true liberal would have voted for the IWR

n/t

[fascisthunter]

19. .....

[EOTE]

32. The "No True Scottsman" fallacy?

I'd consider both Senators Harkin and Edwards to be 'true liberals'. Yes, they've both done things I disagree with (in some cases, strongly), but I don't think that completely removes their liberal credentials. I'm sure if you look hard enough, you'll find things you strongly disagree with with regards to congress people such as D.K. or even Paul Wellstone. No one can be all things to all people.

[fascisthunter]

18. He May Be More "liberal" than Others

that doesn't make him "a" liberal.

[SteveM]

56. That's what prohibitionism gets you: glazed over eyes and the Zombie walk...

[Warpy]

57. He's not progressive with that viewpoint!

He's an ignoramus. Plus, his voting history is quite spotty. He tends to vote pro corporate subsidy, anti labor rights.

http://www.progressivepunch.org

[EOTE]

69. What?

By your own link, he only fails to receive a 90+% progressive ranking on 4 out of 15 issues. Has a 100% progressive rating in terms of housing and a 96% in terms of fair taxation. He's got a 92% progressive rating overall. Despite the ignorant reply he made regarding marijuana legalization (he does support rescheduling of marijuana btw), I'd still be very proud to have him as my senator.

[ixion]

2. what a bunch of crap

with thinking like this, we'll be going nowhere fast.

[DainBramaged]

3. Selling their children for a fix

I guess he hasn't heard of speed in his Heartland?

Pot, speed, pot, speed which should I choose?

I'll take the pot for $100 Sen Harkin.

[qb]

114. I can't sell my children... I need them for the Ritalin prescriptions

:evilgrin:

[stellanoir]

4. hmmmmm

http://hightowerdownload.com/node/30

[liberalnurse]

5. I agree....

it leads to crack, heroin, oxy, xanax abuse of alcohol and prostitution or drive-by-shooting...

[fascisthunter]

8. uh.... no it doesn't

that's a theory but if it were true, why am I and millions of others not part of your list?

[rch35]

58. does your arm feel different after they took the funny bone out? nt

[fascisthunter]

73. Does Your Concern Endear You to Spin for the Poster?

pssst...that was rhetorical....

[rch35]

126. Well the posters claim was so ridiculous i assumed it was a joke

if im wrong i apologize

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

10. LOL

[DainBramaged]

14. Let's see, I smoked pot from the age of 11 till I was oh, old

NEVER did crack, herion, xanax, Oxycontin never abused alcohol, and never was a prostitute or shot any one.

Guess that shoots your theory to hell.

[liberalnurse]

28. Well...you did select the screen name of:

"DainBramaged"

I'm just saying....not to be rude, honestly....

Now, there is a strong suggestion that the marijuana has had health consequences for you.

:loveya: :sarcasm:

[fascisthunter]

37. personal attack because he put a hole in your theory

just admit you don't know much of what you speak of.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

51. You haven't much business harping on other people's screen names.

Just saying.

[Bluenorthwest]

64. Well your name

Is liberalnurse and both are hard to believe considering your reactionary opinion based on disinformation.

[liberalnurse]

68. If your trying to get a date with me.....

let me tell you, your off to a great start and I love your style . Why don't you PM me ASAP.O8)

[Occulus]

121. !!

And well said. It's a pattern with that one.

I have it on ignore, personally, but even that isn't enough to avoid being aware of what the worst of the Usual Suspects said. Sometimes I play a game: which US said it? and guess, and then log out to see if I was right, but lately, there are just too many to count, and the game's gotten a lot harder.

[DainBramaged]

79. I had TWO brain tumors removed, read my journal

I thought the name appropriate under the circumstances. And they weren't from smoking pot.

[movonne]

27. I know many, many people who smoke weed and do not lead them

to crack, heroin, etc...but on the other hand I do know many who drink and have ended up in jail...I believe you are very naive in the ways of the world..and as far as the so called legal drugs such as oxy, etc...I think that their addiction is brought on by doctors and the pill industry...

[Occulus]

122. The ability of the drug makers to directly advertise

is something we need to completely abolish. The only people who should be making the decision of what patient goes on which prescription drug should be doctors. We need to stop this mania of patients making appointments to ask for drugs that have been advertised, when there's no indication that particular drug is appropriate or warranted.

I won't argue that there aren't legitimate reasons to prescribe drugs to people for condition XYZ, but that decision needs to be made by someone qualified, not someone bedazzled.

[knight_of_the_star]

35. Please don't forget the sarcasm tag next time

It throws people off.

[EOTE]

38. What about milk?

I've heard that nearly 100% of coke, meth and heroin users at one point began with the seemingly "benign" substance milk. If we allow children continued access to this substance, what will become of them?

Seriously though, I'm a frequent user and my IQ has increased since I was tested as a child. I still consistently rank in the 99th percentile in terms of spatial relationships and mechanical abilities. Marijuana has done nothing to effect my ability to learn or apply knowledge.

[frylock]

39. that's fucking crazy..

are you a registered nurse? for real??!

[High Plains]

43. Are you really a nurse? Please go back to school...

...and refresh yourself on how discredited your gateway theory is.

[Lochloosa]

49. BS

[Mojorabbit]

66. If you are really a nurse

then you need to go back and read some research. I am speaking as a retired nurse who learned the positive effects of medical marijuana in the 70's in nursing school. A lot more research has come out since then.Even the American College for Physicians is recommending it be used for medical reasons. http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN15606101

[Warren DeMontague]

67. Oh, for fuck's sake. What a load of giant flaming bullshit.

If I still smoked anything, I would smoke that load of flaming bullshit through a 5 foot graphics bong, and it would be far worse for my health and life than any pot I ever touched in my life.

Here's the deal, lady: Marijuana is "one of the most pharmacalogically benign substances known to man".. that was a DEA Judge who said that... you want to know what drug leads to the most violence, the most idiotic behavior? It's alcohol- and we tried prohibition with that, didn't we? Didn't work out so well. And millions of Americans can enjoy alcohol recreationally and responsibly.

Meanwhile, some 50 million Americans smoke pot at least occasionally, and manage to be intelligent, otherwise law-abiding members of society. We spend $40 Billion a year- not including costs of incarceration- on a "drug war" aimed primarily at pot smoking. Driven by idiotic drivel similar to what you post above.

Like I said; I haven't touched it in years, but for the life of me I can't figure out why my tax dollars need to continue to treat people like Willie Nelson or the Late Carl Sagan (who was an enthusiastic pot smoker, yet somehow never turned any tricks, smoked any crack, or did any drive-bys) as criminals.

[Richard Steele]

70. What's the matter? No taserings for you to applaud today?

Pfft. :eyes:

[GoneOffShore]

87. And bacon is the gateway protein

for vegans - leads them to eating pigs feet and calves brains.

[DainBramaged]

89. ...............

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :spray: :spray: :spray: :spray:

[GoneOffShore]

99. Thank you, I'm here all week!

And don't forget to tip your waitresses.

[scarletwoman]

124. Did you forget the sarcasm tag?

I've smoked pot for 40 years. I've never done any of that shit you're talking about, nor would I ever. I am two months away from owning my current home free and clear -- it is the 3rd house and property I've bought in my life. I have a good job, no debt beyond the last two house payments I'll be making, and I've raised two wonderful, intelligent children who are successful and fulfilled in their own adult lives.

If your post was actually serious, then all I can say is that you don't know shit about marijuana.

sw

[fascisthunter]

6. Either He is a Liar WHo Knows Better or Absolutely Ignorant and Brainwashed

on the issue of medical marijuana and marijuana itself. Just... WOW! This party needs a serious cleaning up.

[spanone]

7. this asshole shouldn't be a janitor let alone a US senator

the war on drugs is a money pit

edit: no offense to janitors

[fascisthunter]

16. "the war on drugs is a money pit"

that seems to be the only logical conclusion I can think of as well. No one is that stupid when it comes to marijuana... if they are, they don't belong in Congress, that's for sure.

[EOTE]

41. That 'asshole' was one of Paul Wellstone's closest friends.

He also publicly supported the rescheduling of Marijuana and endorsed protection for medicinal patients. He's also one of only 2 democrats to support Wellstone's resolution to censure bush. So frankly, I think the senate could use more 'assholes' like Tom Harkin.

[High Plains]

47. That asshole also wants hundreds of millions of dollars for more...

...cowboy drug cops. It's called the Byrne Justice Action Grant program and it funds those out-of-control local anti-drug task forces, you know, the guys who bring us scandals like Tulia. Amazingly, Bush is trying to zero it out, but Harkin and his buddies (and their buddies, the cops) are squealing loud to try to get it restored.

I used to have some respect for Harkin. Not anymore.

[EOTE]

53. Do you have a link for that?

I've googled it and found nothing linking Tom Harkin to a program of that name. Everything I've read of him suggest he's for a toning down of the drug war. I'm not saying you're wrong, I'd just like to see a link.

[EOTE]

83. I call BS.

I found an article about Harkin supporting legislation to limit access to meth making materials in OTC drugs (which I strongly agree with BTW). But nothing to show that he's in favor of throwing money towards the drug war. I think you made that that attack on Harkin.

[High Plains]

84. I call BS on your call of BS. Here's the link:

http://harkin.senate.gov/

The front page of his official web site:

Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Harkin Criticizes Bush Administration For Pulling Rug Out From Under Iowa’s Law Enforcement Community, Slashing Their Support
by Harkin Press Staff


In testimony delivered to the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) described how deep cuts to critical law enforcement funds will impact Iowa. A two-thirds cut to the Byrne Justice Assistance Grants program in last year’s funding bill – a cut which will cost Iowa $3 million – threatens the ability of Iowa’s sheriffs and police to tackle drugs, fight crime and protect our communities. Harkin told the Committee how the cuts will translate into fewer law enforcement officers and less regional cooperation, and how his home-state will need to eliminate 15 of its 21 successful drug control programs.

[EOTE]

88. So you're going from "hundreds of millions" to 3 million?

I think you're off by a few orders of magnitude. And he's talking about local law enforcement, he's saying nothing about federal drug policy here. Try some intellectual honesty.

[High Plains]

90. Dude, are you dense or what? Maybe this will help

http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/522/jag_byrne_grant_budget_cuts_2008_2009


from Drug War Chronicle, Issue #522, 2/8/08

Even as law enforcement and its allies in Congress move to restore funding for the embattled Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program, which is best known for funding the legions of state- and local-level multi-jurisdictional drug task forces that now roam the land, the Bush administration has struck again, this time proposing folding it into a broader grants program and funding it at only $200 million. Now, law enforcement will have to fight a rear-guard action to get back last year's cuts while at the same time having to try to persuade Congress to undo the cuts proposed in this year's budget.



Sen. Harkin leads press conference calling for restoration of Byrne funding


It's not that the Bush administration is averse to funding drug war activities. According to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) fact sheet on Justice Department spending, the DEA is seeing its budget increased slightly to just over $1.9 billion, the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force is also getting a slight increase, to $532 million, and the new Southwest Border Enforcement Initiative would throw another $100 million at drugs, guns, and violent gangs on the border. The 2009 Bush budget also allocates hundreds of millions of dollars for Plan Colombia and its new baby brother, Plan Mexico.

Funded at $520 million last year, the two-decade old JAG program that allows states to supplement their anti-drug spending with federal tax dollars was already down substantially from previous funding levels. For the past three years, as a cost-cutting move, the Bush administration has tried to zero it out completely, but that has proven extremely unpopular with Congress. This year, the House voted to fund the block grant portion of the program at $600 million and the Senate at $660 million, but in last-minute budget negotiations, the White House insisted the funding be cut to $170 million.

While federal funding for law enforcement drug task forces would appear to be a sacred cow in a law-and-order Republican administration, there are several reasons the JAG program is a tempting target for cost-cutters, said Eric Sterling, executive director of the Criminal Justice Policy Foundation and former counsel for the House Judiciary Committee.

"First, Bush is not running for reelection, so there is no political cost in that sense," Sterling said. "And if Congress does listen to the cops, Bush can blame Congress for exceeding his budget."


The second reason has to do with conservative fiscal ideology, said Sterling. "The typical Republican position is to let the states pay for state and local programs. It's a states' rights and states' responsibilities sort of position," he said. "And given the way their budgets have bankrupted the federal government, they have to cut somewhere."

And the pressure of looming cuts feeds into the third reason JAG is now on the line: bureaucratic imperatives. "The budget deficit is a real headache for all agencies," Sterling said. "For a manager within the Department of Justice faced with cuts that would lay off FBI agents or US Marshals or faced with cutting a program that only gives money to someone else, the choice is easy. It's much easier for Justice to say 'let's cut this.'"

That sort of decision is made a little easier by a 2005 OMB report that undoubtedly is one of the underpinnings of the Bush administration's effort to cut the program. OMB described the program as "results not demonstrated," and found that it scored extremely poorly when assessed for planning and design, strategic management, and results and accountability. The same sort of assessments lay behind other drug war programs the administration has cut or attempted to cut, such as the drug czar's youth media program and the National Drug Intelligence Center, which is once again on the chopping block.

As the Chronicle noted in our recent report on the battle over JAG program funding, the drug task forces have been repeatedly criticized by drug reform, civil liberties, and civil rights organizations as out-of-control cowboys responsible for scandals like Tulia and Hearne, Texas. But such criticisms have played no noticeable role in the administration's assault on the program.

Nor have they resonated with a bipartisan group of senators who last week announced they would seek to reinstate 2008 fiscal year funding for the JAG program at a level of $660 million. Led by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), the effort is also being backed by Sens. Kit Bond (R-MO), Joe Biden (D-DE), Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA).

"Without financial support, Iowa communities are forced to combat crime and drugs with fewer and fewer resources. More than 10 Iowa counties have been forced to shut down their task forces because of funding cuts. This gutting of drug prevention programs cannot continue," Harkin said at a press conference announcing the move. "My aim is to restore Byrne Grants to a level that will give local law enforcement officials in Iowa and across the country ample funding for already successful anti-crime and anti-drug initiatives."

The senators' initiative is being supported and prodded by a powerful coalition of law enforcement groups, including the National Criminal Justice Association (NCJA), the National Narcotics Officers Associations Coalition, and the National Association of County Officials.

"Let there be no room for doubt, communities everywhere will see the effects of this bill and its cuts to criminal justice funding," said NCJA president David Steingraber. "A cut to the JAG program is a cut to local law enforcement and victims of crime everywhere. Congress has just made the job of every police officer in this country more difficult. Members of Congress have turned their backs on local law enforcement officers who are now forced to make due without significant federal assistance," Steingraber said. "It is our hope these drastic cuts are not a long-term solution to a federal fiscal problem. The safety of our nation is far too important and deserves adequate funding, with violent crime back on the rise".

But despite the formidable lobbying power of the police and their allies, the future of JAG funding remains in doubt. And drug reformers will unite with fiscal conservatives and the Bush administration in a strange alliance to try to keep the funding cuts intact.

"The reason the JAG funding was cut at the last minute last year was that it was obvious that Bush would veto it, and it remains clear that he pretty much wants to eliminate it," said Bill Piper, national affairs director for the Drug Policy Alliance. "This year's appropriations process is just starting, but what is interesting and hopeful is that because Bush wants to eliminate it completely, that is going to make it harder for the Democrats to restore last year's funding."

But not impossible. As law enforcement proponents of restoring the money told the Chronicle last week, they will try to get it back any way they can, including attaching it to either the economic stimulus package or the supplemental war funding appropriation. It's the latter that has Piper worried.

"The Iraq supplemental doesn't have to fit within the overall budget, and Bush would be reluctant to veto his war spending bill," he said. "I know law enforcement and some senators are already talking about this. Our challenge is to reach out to fiscal conservative organizations and craft a message that funding shouldn't be restored, but if it is, it should be earmarked for treatment. It can already be used for that, but most states don't."

The JAG grant program is but one line item in a record-breaking, deficit-building, $3 trillion dollar 2009 federal budget. But it is one line item that could stand to be completely eliminated. That probably won't happen this year, but it seems likely the drug task forces are going to have to limp along with reduced funding, persuade state and local governments to cough up more money, or go out of business once and for all.

[EOTE]

93. You certainly seem like you are.

Once again, this has nothing to do with expanding the drug war. This is about current spending at the federal level for an initiative that is anti-crime in general. In order to end the drug war we need to get rid of the ridiculous laws on the books for non-violent offenders.

[High Plains]

94. You have got to be kidding. Did you read the article? Did you take your blinders off?

The Byrne JAG program funds multi-jurisdictional anti-drug task forces. It is not an "anti-crime" program; it is a drug war program. Yes, we need to get the drug laws off the books. In the meantime, we need to stop funding the cowboy narcs who prosecute the drug war. Is that really so difficult to understand?

OMB says the Byrne grant program doesn't work. Bush wants to zero it out. I want to zero it out. Harkin, in cahoots with the cop establishment, wants more drug war pork for his cops. Why is that so difficult to understand?

I generally like Harkin, but he's wrong on this.

[EOTE]

96. I agree it should be eliminated too.

And I never suggested it was worthy of funding. I was simply saying that Harkin isn't as bad as you were suggesting. And it's not a specifically anti-drug measure. It covers street gang and other violence issues as well. And we're talking about an initiative that's .02% of this year's annual budget.

[High Plains]

92. The $3 million is just for Iowa's narcs. Is that clear now?

[opihimoimoi]

11. And what are the consequences of ALCOHOL ABUSE? 18 X worse

Not too many pot smokers live on the streets

Mostly drunks and broke GOPers

[madokie]

12. I read this as I take a toke and think, Tom what the hell, where you coming from, boy

[spanone]

23. you'd have to be on drugs to make an asinine statement such as this

kids laugh at this shit, along with their parents.

[madokie]

104. If they hadn't lied to me like a rug back when I was young I prolly never would have tried pot

When I graduated from hs in '66 I didn't even know what pot was let alone smoke it. Navy boot camp is where I learned about it enough to want to give it a try. I figured anything they would lie to me like this has to be good, shore 'nuf it was.;-)

[kestrel91316]

13. Dear Senator Harkin:

I smoked marijuana all through college, and that would be eight straight years. The worst things it ever made me do were drive overly cautiously and eat too much. Oh, and overanalyze quantum theory with the DBF. As a working adult medical professional I am a success and have managed to refrain from progressing to any harder drugs, and have smoked very little marijuana in the past 26 years.

Perhaps you have confused marijuana with METH. Dumbass.

Sincerely,
Dr. Kestrel91316

[Ordr]

15. Jesus, Tom.

Quite the hyperbole, don't you think?

[VP505]

20. Unbelievable that the

Senator would demonstrate such a high level of ignorance on the subject of Marijuana use. Including it in the same category as other hard drugs and all the crime and medical problem associated with them is about as intellectually dishonest and ignorant as it gets. The only thing dangerous about Marijuana use, IMO, is the fact that its illegal.

[spanone]

30. this is partially to blame for 1 in every 100 americans being incarcerated

[EOTE]

45. That's not true.

There's always the risk of dropping the cherry on your lap. That can be quite uncomfortable. Also, spilled bongwater can be very dangerous.

[Betsy Ross]

21. That's where I want to get my drug facts...

from Drug Abuse Warning Network. Obviously a "fair and balanced" source for information. Damn, I guess it's a good thing I never had children. I take that back; I could have sold them for some good weed.
:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:

[Uncle Joe]

22. "The victims of the drug war are many"

"The victims of the drug war are many - the small child whose parents are so addicted to illegal drugs that they sell everything including perhaps their own children to obtain a fix; the police officer's family which must now learn to cope with the loss of their loved one as a result of a violent drug bust gone awry. These are the people I think of when I say that drugs pose a significant threat to the security of this nation."

The government is waging the war against the people, it's not waging war against a drug. You can't wage war against an inanimate object and expect to win. The only thing you can wage war against are people. War in whatever form is nothing but destruction and the government with it's shortsighted intrusive waging of war against the American People's privacy and freedom are creating the victims more than any other dynamic. They're locking many children's parents up and throwing away the key. Non-violent drug addiction should be treated as for what it truly is a medical condition, the same as alcoholism.

Al Capone and his ilk flourished during prohibition because as corrupt as he was, he answered a basic human need, while the government denied it. We have modern day Al Capones because of this so called "War Against Drugs", you can lock them all up, while creating the world's largest prison nation in the so called land of the free; which we have and you still can't win. Today corporations profit from the imprisonment of their fellow Americans, I suspect they will only lobby for more draconian laws because there is no profit for them in freedom for the American People.

[TheWraith]

24. Tom Harkin has clearly smoked way too much marijuana. nt

[MindPilot]

105. Senator Harkin, you're no pot smoker.

I know pot smokers and none of them are that stupid.

[JNelson6563]

25. I strongly disagree with Senator Harkin on this

But I will give him a pass on this. He is of a diffrent time, a different age. An age where the masses were positive brainwashed on the matter of drugs.

I still love Harkin, I think he's a great Senator. He can be terribly misguided on this one thing for the moment. I would be interested to know how he feels about treatment instead of prison for addicts. I'd wager he favors treatment.

Julie

[EOTE]

52. He does.

He's also for a rescheduling of Marijuana. As difficult as this may be to believe after reading a letter like that, he's very much opposed to the way the WOD is being waged.

[High Plains]

85. Then why is he crusading for more money for drug task forces?

That pesky Byrne Justice Action Grant program that Bush wants to zero out. The one thing I agree with Bush on.

[EOTE]

86. I asked you to provide a link regarding that further up the thread.

You have since ignored my request to provide anything backing up what you say. Please either provide a link or stop making accusations that you can't back up.

[High Plains]

91. Read my post #90, I know what I'm talking about.

Read that, and maybe you might begin to, too.

[LSK]

26. there must be a hell of a lot of children for sale in Amsterdam

:eyes:

[mainegreen]

29. "smoke up, eat gyro, play Legend of Zelda, sell children to pirates for more pot"...

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

:thumbsup:

[nykym]

31. I think

The Honarable Tom Harkin has watched Refer Madness way too many times. It's clearly clouded his perception of reality.

[L. Coyote]

33. Oh yeah, "Need a bag, pop a kid" is all the rage with teens.

[pitohui]

34. you are deliberately misreading this and you must know it EOM

,

[spanone]

42. how so?

the victims of the drug war are many - the small child whose parents are so addicted to illegal drugs that they sell everything including perhaps their own children to obtain a fix;

[High Plains]

48. Harkin's words are pretty clear. He's either an idiot or a propagandist.

[jwirr]

36. Just for those who think drug addiction does not lead to this drastic

consequences: I know a lady who has sold at least one child to support her habit. It was not mary jane though. Oxy.

[Sam Ervin jret]

44. which is a LEGAL drug. misused any drug is dangerous even Tylenol

the demonetisation of "weed" has caused us to not only put people in jail who should not be there, but has also caused us to NOT use hemp and hemp related products. All this due to the ignorance like that shown in the Senator's letter.

When H. Ford created the Model T he had the products of hemp in mind not just for the fuel with which to run the engine but also for the "hemp plastic and hemp cotton" that would be used to make the body of the auto. He was crazy in many ways but in this he was visionary.

[Warren DeMontague]

76. Yes, and I know someone who was killed by a drunk driver.... so lets outlaw porn.

Otherwise, we're just not treating the matter as seriously as we should. :crazy:

[kineneb]

77. oxy, not at all like pot

oxycontin is nasty stuff, acts just like heroin, very easy to become addicted.

pot-less dangerous than alcohol or tobacco, and almost impossible to overdose on it, but can't be patented by Big Pharma, so kept illegal...

[frylock]

40. harkin's been smoking too many steak frys..

what a fucking stupid thing to say. FU Harkin.

[Tashca]

46. Wonkette.com

Just google it....subtitle says "A blend of gossip and satire and things the author makes up."

Take a breathe!!

[meegbear]

59. Well after I take a breathe ...

you can go here and see the original posting.

"A blend of gossip and satire and things the author makes up." indeed.

[Tashca]

118. Thanks for the link.

My bad...

I really did google that link and get that result.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

50. We don't want to declare "surrender" in War on Drugs

but we don't mind so much declaring "surrender" in War on Poverty.

Life must be good for Sen Harkin.

[walldude]

54. After watching an old Bill Hicks performance on HBO last night

it makes this even more hilarious. "Marijuana use often has fatal consequences." :rofl: Yeah, I once nearly died after eating a dozen twinkies because of a bad case of the munchies.
Well, Friday, Bush broke the worlds record for most lies told in a 5 minute period. Sunday KKKarl Rove broke that record on Faux News. Now it looks like we need to call Guinness again, and get an official count on this "Harkin Document".

[guitar man]

55. Well then

the guy at the table in the background must not be a pot smoker :rofl:

Jake: How much for the little girl? How much for the women?
Man: What?
Jake: Your women. I want to buy your women. The little girl, your daughters... sell them to me. Sell me your children.

:rofl:

[pleah]

117. LOL! I was just thinking about that!

:smoke:

[KelleyKramer]

60. " ... marijuana use often has fatal consequences."

People have been smoking pot for thousands of years, I defy you to show one documented case of a fatal pot overdose.

To say ... "marijuana use often has fatal consequences."

Thats just total utter horseshit.

[Warren DeMontague]

78. Yes, long-time pot smokers have been known to die suddenly in their 90s. nt

[A HERETIC I AM]

82. Below is a list of every single human that has ever died as a direct result of smoking marijuana;

.

[VP505]

120. Maybe he was referring to

some grower shot by an over zealous cop during a raid on a pot farm.

[DS1]

61. Whisky and coke makes you send other peoples' kids to war

[ourbluenation]

62. shazaam!

[BoneDaddy]

63. Wow

the depths of absurdity.

[DS1]

65. I'd sell more kids for pot, but my selfish wife insists on smoking it all through her pregnancies

[bullwinkle428]

71. He's clearly getting shit loads of $$$ from the Big Pharma lobby -

that, to me, is the most logical explanation for this nonsense. Very disappointed by this, as a long-time resident of the state of Iowa...

[RussBLib]

72. Oh, Lord. I used to respect Sen. Harkin

I take it back. I take it ALL back. Just goes to show that being a Congressperson does not equate to having brains. The guy is sorely confused about "drugs." Could be time to retire, Tom.

[hatrack]

74. I thought it made you sit on the couch, eat Doritos and watch "A-Team" reruns at 1:00 AM

:wtf:

[Richard Steele]

107. I love it when a plan comes together. nm

[Ganja Ninja]

75. "a study completed by the Drug Abuse Warning Network,"

Gee they sound like an impartial group only interested in getting the truth out.

"As this statistic indicates, marijuana use often has fatal consequences."

Wow! How did I ever manage to live as long as I have?

Seriously how stupid can you be? I can't believe Tom Harkin is this wrong headed when it comes to pot.
I think it's long past time for pot users to start being more selective about who we give our votes to and our donations to.

:wtf:

[devilgrrl]

80. Marijuana makes people eat Frito-Lay Products

What a bunch of horse hockey - shame on you Sen. Harkin :spank:

[leftyladyfrommo]

81. Only if the kids are really obnoxious!

Actually, pot probably has saved a lot of lives. You don't notice how bad the kids are and can handle their misbehavior in a calm way.

[NightWatcher]

95. Marijuana could SAVE THE US ECONOMY

if mj were decriminalized/legalized....

taxes could be placed on it
increase in junk food sales
increase in impulse buys at department, electronic stores, and online auctions (I bought a ukulele on Ebay several months ago)

[DainBramaged]

97. The AMERICAN FARMER would return

Cheap pot for everyone!!!


Hi can I have a pack of Headjob?

Sure filtered or unfiltered?

Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

OK, try the filtered, they are on special, two packs for $25, and a coupon for a free bag of Cheesy Poofs.

Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, sure.

[High Plains]

98. I called Harkin's office at 202-224-3254 and...

politely expressed my embarrassment for the senator. I also suggested that he broaden his circle of drug policy advisors to avoid further Reefer Madness-style ridiculousness.

[LeftishBrit]

100. Sounds like some staff member just sent a standard letter about drugs!

I can't see why people are so rigid about medicinal cannabis. It's MEDICINE FFS. People can be given morphine and heroin and lots of other potentially dangerous drugs when they need them - why not cannabis? People can and do commit suicide with paracetamol; yet it's available over the counter.

I know people who are only alive today because cannabis enabled them to tolerate chemo (they used it illegally; but in at least one case some local police knew and turned a blind eye). It's disgusting to deprive people of it out of rigid concern about drug laws.

[DefenseLawyer]

101. He's right damn it! We all saw that "After School Special".

Where that girl was hopped up on goofballs and jumped out the window because she thought she could fly! Like that girl hadn't sold two or three babies before leaping to her death. Come on people. Fear the devil weed.

[MindPilot]

102. For the DU medical professionals

Exactly what is a "marijuana related emergency"? Choking from trying to eat two Twinkies at once? Acute cotton mouth? A life-threating onset of falling asleep in front of the TV syndrome? Bong cough?

[Midlodemocrat]

103. IIRC, it's the danger created whilst racing to the Quik Stop to get

Doritos before they close. It's more of a driving related emergency, actually. A marijuana related emergency would occur when someone knocks over your bong and the seeds and water go with it.

[MindPilot]

106. Oh yeah, like the time the dog knocked the bong off the coffee table

and I had to get out the carpet shampoo machine before the stain set in.

Took selling two kids to raise enough cash for that Hoover Steam Vac. (jokes on them, though; they weren't my kids)

[jlake]

108. I've seen it happen. The dope fiends need to be jailed immediately.

[MindPilot]

109. It also raises the question, who the hell BUYS children?

When it's so easy and FUN to make your own?

[jmondine]

110. Maybe someone so desperate for a kid fix that they'll resort to selling their pot

[MindPilot]

112. DUzy nomination right there!!

:rofl::applause::rofl::applause::rofl::applause::rofl::applause::rofl::applause::rofl::applause::rofl::applause:

[EOTE]

113. LMFAO! That's definitely a DUzy winner you've got there...

You heartless bastard! Selling your own pot? Pot has feelings too, you know?

[Sam Ervin jret]

115. LOL,LOL, ya fun to MAKE!!I can't even GIVE MINE AWAY let alone sell them!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

here are some pics:evilfrown: :evilgrin:

They take after their father, :patriot:

not their mother:smoke:

[MountainLaurel]

123. Aren't people usually trying to get rid of their kids?

And not acquiring more?

[jmondine]

111. Play that piano faster, Tom! Faster!

[asdjrocky]

116. What a tool.

It's sad that this guy is a Dem.

[Javaman]

119. Maybe he's getting crack and pot mixed after all with a statement like that

he sounds like a...wait for it...crackpot!!!

:rofl: Thank you! Thank you! I'll be here all week!!

[SoCalDem]

125. looks like somebody got Gramps a DVD of "Reefer Madness" for Xmas .. and

he just got around to watching it :rofl: