Pat Robertson Says Marijuana Use Should be Legal
Of the many roles Pat Robertson has assumed over his five-decade-long career as an evangelical leader — including presidential candidate and provocative voice of the right wing — his newest guise may perhaps surprise his followers the most: marijuana legalization advocate.
“I really believe we should treat marijuana the way we treat beverage alcohol,” Mr. Robertson said in an interview on Wednesday. “I’ve never used marijuana and I don’t intend to, but it’s just one of those things that I think: this war on drugs just hasn’t succeeded.”
“I believe in working with the hearts of people, and not locking them up,” he said.
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Mr. Robertson, 81, said that there had been no single event or moment that caused him to embrace legalization. Instead, his conviction that the nation “has gone overboard on this concept of being tough on crime” built up over time, he added.
“It’s completely out of control,” Mr. Robertson said. “Prisons are being overcrowded with juvenile offenders having to do with drugs. And the penalties, the maximums, some of them could get 10 years for possession of a joint of marijuana. It makes no sense at all.”
...........................He attributed much of the problem of overpopulated jails to a “liberal mindset to have an all-encompassing government.”
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For his part, Mr. Robertson said he was “not encouraging people to use narcotics in any way, shape or form.” But he said he saw little difference between smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol, a longstanding argument from far more liberal — and libertarian-minded — leaders.
“If people can go into a liquor store and buy a bottle of alcohol and drink it at home legally, then why do we say that the use of this other substance is somehow criminal?” he said.
Mr. Franklin, who is a Christian, said Mr. Robertson’s position was actually in line with the Gospel. “If you follow the teaching of Christ, you know that Christ is a compassionate man,” he said. “And he would not condone the imprisoning of people for nonviolent offenses.”
...................................So, the ................... sections are where I deleted parts of the document. You can go read it in it's entirety online.
What I got from this was the following:-
a) Some people will do anything to get votes!
b) This clown equated the use of dagga with drinking alcohol - where is the connection?
c) Overpopulated jails are because of a decline in the respect of the countries laws by it's citizens!
So, why stop at dagga? Why not legalise all of the "chemical drugs" currently doing the rounds? What makes them different? In fact, why not decriminalise traffic violations? Who should say what speed I can drive at? And why do I need all my lights working, and tread on my tyres? Hey, who decides the legal age for sexual consent? And, if my witchdoctor says that raping babies will cure my AIDS, why shouldn't I be allowed to do so? (OK - it's a bit over the top, but you get the idea!)
The bible says "An eye for an eye" - right? So, if someone knocks down my son on his bike / drives into my wife in her car, and there is a death because of the incident, why can I not go after the person responsible, and take him out? Come on - make up your mind!
You want to legalise dagga, but not the word in the Bible? (OK - I know that it should be read in context, and I am not doing so right now, but I just want to get an opinion across).
Overall, I don't care one way or another if they decide to legalise dagga, other than I know I could make a small fortune growing the shit (no pun intended) on my mates farm. Problem is, once it's legal, the market price will plummet, and everyone will grow their own dope (no - it's not a reference to a midget Irishman).
Then we will have to find "new" strains of the stuff - maybe graft it to a grape vine / peach tree / orange tree to grow flavoured variations.....
Ah well, needed to get that off my chest.
Salagatle!
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