This is what my rep said about H.R. 5843

[Live_Stoned]

His response after filling out the NORML form-
"Dear Troy:

Thank you for contacting me regarding the legalization of marijuana. I appreciate the opportunity to respond.

After a decade of consistent progress during the Reagan and Bush Administrations, almost every available indicator shows the United States is now losing ground in its efforts to reduce illegal drug use, especially among young people. Since 1992, the number of 12 to 17 year-olds using marijuana has almost doubled to 2.9 million, compared with the 1992 level of 1.6 million. One in three high school seniors now smokes marijuana, and 48.4 percent of the Class of 1995 had tried drugs by graduation day.

Further, according to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) marijuana contains known toxins and cancer-causing chemicals that are stored in fat cells for up to several months. Marijuana users experience the same health problems as tobacco smokers, such as bronchitis, emphysema and bronchial asthma. Marijuana use also causes increased heart rate, dryness of mouth, reddening of the eyes, impaired motor skills and concentration, and frequent hunger. Extended use increases risks to the lungs and reproductive system, as well as suppression of the immune system. Hallucinations, fantasies and paranoia are also occasionally reported. The use of marijuana often leads to the use of other more dangerous illegal drugs. According to a survey conducted by Phoenix House, an organization that runs drug abuse treatment centers and conducts extensive research, 60 percent of adolescents in treatment agreed that using marijuana made it easier for them to consume other drugs, including cocaine, methamphetamines, and LSD.

It is for these reasons I am not a supporter of the legalization of marijuana. The legalization of marijuana would lead to increased use at a time when we are trying to reduce the use of drugs in our nation -- especially among young people. Such an act would send the wrong message. While I appreciate and respect your views on this matter, I do not currently support the legalization of marijuana and believe that if such a law were enacted, it would have dramatic unintended consequences.

Once again, thank you for taking time to write to me with your concerns. The thoughts and opinions of Idahoans are important to me as your Representative in the United States Congress."
My Response to that:
"
Dear Representative,
This is Troy Paulekas of Nampa, Idaho writing in response to a letter you sent my friend Keagan Vestal about the bill H.R. 5843, the legalization of Marijuana to responsible adults.
I read over your response (attached for reference), and would like to say a few things.
As you stated correctly, no, prohibition does not work. It didn't work with alcohol and it's not going to work with marijuana. The numbers of users doesn't decrease with prohibition, but we get a raise in crime based activity, we get drugs lords, and people getting rich while innocent people are shot. I don't feel I need to site any of my source for that, because we have both seen the effects of alcohol prohibition, ex. Al Capone. These are the real criminals, not marijuana users who are other-wise law abiding, tax-paying citizens of America who are punished for not doing any harm to other human beings. Every year people who are innocent are shot to death in police drug raids, alot of which are by accident. PROHIBITION KILLS INNOCENT PEOPLE.
"Further, according to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) marijuana contains known toxins and cancer-causing chemicals that are stored in fat cells for up to several months." -Quote from your response.
When talking about prohibition, why would you ever accept facts from a biased point of view such as the DEA. Extensive research has has dis-proved most of the myths you've provided in your argument. Marijuana research done by the DEA is done in abnormal situations, and is not valid. To back up that argument I will attach a well cited paper to this.
"Marijuana use also causes increased heart rate, dryness of mouth, reddening of the eyes, impaired motor skills and concentration, and frequent hunger."
Please explain to me why any of these symptoms are threatening to the public, aside from impaired motor skills. The truth is, marijuana doesn't impair your driving ability anymore than most medicinal drugs. Alcohol impairs your driving abilities far more than cannabis, and it's available to adults. Road side tests are provided to policemen if they encounter an intoxicated individual, the same would be done for marijuana.
I was surprised to see that you noted the myth of the "Gate-way" effect marijuana has, that using marijuana leads to the use of harder drugs. I know from first hand knowledge that street dealers that provide marijuana, also provide harder drugs. This exposes young users to harder drugs. If we were to legalize marijuana, we would separate the two markets, and this wouldn't happen. It is easier for a kid to get marijuana, than it is to get cigarettes. PROHIBITION INCREASES THE USE OF HARD DRUGS.
You said legalizing marijuana would send the wrong message. But you forger, senator, that the message were sending write now if far worse; that kids are stupid, that drug users are less than human, and that people who do no harm to others deserve to lose their freedom.
Aside from marijuana prohibition, were prohibiting the use of industrial hemp which has the power to do away with harmful petro-chemicals that are putting our nation into intoxication. We're witnessing the largest extinction since the dinosaurs!
Your letter sounds just like every other corrupt senators argument that has been sponsored by pharmaceutical, alcohol, paper, and plastic companies who use prohibition in a sick way for financial advancement.
Yes, I wrote you with my concerns. My concern is that your not saving our nation, but killing it by not supporting legalization. Open your eyes senator. I hope you personally read this, Mr. Mike Simpson, and I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,
Troy Paulekas"

[amsterdamage]

Hey man, that's great. Thanks for posting that!
I'm going to take his reasons for not supporting legalization and write to him and other representatives and senators specifically addressing those reasons that he gave. This is golden man! The more we can address their specific reasons for maintaining the prohibition the better the chance we'll have of getting them to change their voting pattern.

[2MuchSkunk2Nite]

Thanks for sharing that. Great response to his reply too. I still haven't heard back from my state rep. But I'll make sure and post it here when I do. Thanks to everyone out there who is writing in and lobbying for this bill. Keep up the good work

[Live_Stoned]

thanks for the feedback guys!
I'll post his response if I ever get one back.
Right now I'm living away from my hometown, but when I get back here in a few weeks, I think I'm going to see if there is anyway I could actually talk to my senator about prohibition.

[MilkyLep]

Please use spell check next time you send a formal letter to a member of the U.S. government. Besides that, you did a great way of rebutting the DEA'/his point of view without attacking him, nice job!

[amsterdamage]

Originally Posted by MilkyLep

Please use spell check next time you send a formal letter to a member of the U.S. government. Besides that, you did a great way of rebutting the DEA'/his point of view without attacking him, nice job!

I have to agree with that, I use firefox and it automatically spell checks for me as I type.
I don't know if this feature is available in ie?

[effektz]

Don't be surprised if you get the exact same letter you got the first time. I tried "replying" to my congressman three times and everytime I got the exact same reply. Luckily I live close to the fucking capitol

[Live_Stoned]

I have a mac, so I have spell check...but it doesnt work for grammer errors. And I wrote that letter at about 3am... :/ read it the next morning and saw all my mistakes...but, oh well. Its not like he reads them anyways. This summer I plan on meeting with him if I can..

[skatealex2]

it's dissapointing to see that this bill doesn't seem to be getting votes for it as far as I've seen. I think Ohio declined the bill also

[Kelloggs]

well said. I can't believe politicians of all people don't recognize ridiculous government propaganda. they should be thoroughly schooled in government BS by the time they're state representatives

[Talventaivas]

I'll say it again. Why can't politicians realize that this just puts the drug laws in the hands of the states!

[Revolution]

Here's what one of mine said

Thank you for contacting me to express your support for the legalization of marijuana. It was a pleasure to hear from you.



I am committed to the War on Drugs and commend President Bush for his call to combat illegal drug use in our communities. Illegal drug use lowers the quality of life of the individual drug user and damages the wider community. It is for these reasons that I do not anticipate voting for legislation that legalizes the possession or use of marijuana.



Again, thank you for contacting me. It is an honor to serve in the United States House of Representatives, and to have the benefit of your advice. If you would like more information on this or any other issue, please visit my website at http://mikepence.house.gov.



Warmest regards,

Mike Pence
Member of Congress

[MilkyLep]

jesus christ fuck em, who's ready to just overthrow them?

[TheNightGoes90]

Those are called form letters.

Sadly, no one of consequence saw your letter. People like me when I was an intern are responsible for responding to you.

Nothing will change until it there's some sort of incentive for our elected officials to support decriminalization. The truth about marijuana's effects doesn't matter.

Unfortunately, I'm unsure we'll see broad support for a bill like the one you've written to support for quite a while. Generational replacement might be our only hope, and there are still plenty of social conservatives in the younger generations.

[MilkyLep]

Well here's the response I got, guess I'll send another e-mail later today.

Dear xxx:

Thank you for contacting me regarding the issue of arresting marijuana smokers. I appreciate you taking the time to share your situation with me and am pleased to respond.

I share your concern about how drugs and prison can affect a family and our communities. You may be interested to know that I originally sponsored legislation during the 106th Congress, the Alternative to Prison Drug Treatment Act, that would establish grants for drug treatment alternatives to prison programs administered by state or local prosecutors. Please know that I will keep your thoughts in mind as Congress continues to address the problem of drugs in our communities.

Thank you again for contacting me and please do not hesitate to let me know if I can be of further assistance on this or any other matter.

With my regards and best wishes, I remain

Sincerely,



John L. Mica

Member of Congress