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Published on La Voce di Romagna (Italy), 11th August 2005

by Simone Mariotti

"I am an educated woman who graduated with honors with a Bachelor's degree in sociology and a Master's degree in Special Education. I used to teach hearing-impaired children and English as a Second Language in Adult School and at a community college, until I became a full-time drug policy reformer. I am now a writer and social justice activist. I like to exercise, dance, sing, read, keep up with the latest TV shows and movies, and eat good food and travel. I am married to a wonderful man and enjoy time with my family and friends. I have a good driving record and have never been arrested. I maintain a nice home in a good neighborhood, and I recycle. I pay taxes, earn an honest living, don't carry any debt, and I vote regularly. By the way, I am not that different from other cannabis consumers".

That's Mikki Norris, 53, speaking from California, and one of the American leaders of the cannabis ant prohibitionist movement. Three years ago she started the Cannabis Consumer Campaign. She's going to tell about it in today's long interview to The Voice. A hard job in a such repressive (and destructive) legislation like the USA one. And Italy risks to become the same should be the terrible Fini Lex to be approved.
Good morning Mikky. To start with, remove a doubt from us: are cannabis consumers so bad persons as someone says they are?
I look at people who use cannabis, and I'm struck by the fact that they are amongst the most intelligent, talented, interesting, fun, caring, hard-working, successful, honest and decent people that I know. They live their lives just like everyone else. They work, pay taxes, value their families and contribute to their communities. And then I think about how all of these people are considered criminals in the eyes of the law.
It doesn't make sense. We, cannabis consumers, are stigmatized and called names like "pothead", "druggie" and "loser," simply because we choose to partake of the God-given plant, cannabis a.k.a. marijuana. The widely-used chemical analysis or so-called "drug test" now determines whether or not someone is qualified to perform a job, participate in school activities, be a parent, or stay out of jail rather than his or her qualifications, work history, references, and actual performance. In essence, we are judged by our urine, sweat, saliva, and hair, rather than by our actions or behavior. This is discrimination.
Which are the most unpleasant consequences?
Cannabis consumers are banned from jobs, lose benefits and pensions, lose custody of our children and housing, and live our lives vulnerable to arrest, prosecution, and incarceration -- in some instances for many years. The government can seize our money, property, and assets and freedom for growing our favorite plant in our yards.
But the prohibition didn't stop the consumption, did it?
Right. Despite the harsh consequences of marijuana prohibition, millions of people use cannabis everyday. It's considered the most popular drug after alcohol and tobacco. The majority use it on an occasional basis - at a party, to take a walk in nature, or when offered a toke by a friend. Many people use it regularly much like alcohol to help unwind and relax after a day's work, to enhance their appetites, listen to music or watch TV, to stimulate their creative juices, to get in better touch with their spirituality or sexuality, to help them cope with a myriad of ailments, or just for the sheer fun of it. Most incorporate its use into their lives in a responsible manner, without any problems - unless, of course, they get caught by the police for simply possessing, cultivating it, or selling it to someone else.
How Many consumers are there in the USA?
Everyone knows a cannabis consumer, they just don't know it. An estimated 100 million people in the US have tried it, and about 15 million use it regularly. Cannabis consumers come from all walks of life. We are working people and businesspeople, professionals, doctors, lawyers, CEOs, computer programmers, teachers, students, artists, musicians, athletes, and everything in between. We are your friends, neighbors, family members, co-workers, role models, and elected officials. But, you may not know that, because too many of us are afraid and scared to let this aspect of our lives be known.
What is the Cannabis Consumers Campaign?
It's an Internet-based public education project designed to help dispel society's fear surrounding adult cannabis use. Our goal is to repeal marijuana laws and replace it with a system of regulation similar to the way alcohol is treated in society. By challenging the negative stereotypes, myths and depictions of people who use cannabis with real life examples of people who actually incorporate cannabis into their lives in a beneficial manner, we hope to change societal attitudes and lose the excuse for marijuana prohibition. Looking at the various profiles and photos and learning about the lives of admitted cannabis consumers on the web site, www.cannabisconsumers.org, the public, media, and policy makers will realize that criminalizing people who are contributing, functional, productive, normal members of society is an enormous waste of taxpayer dollars and law enforcement resources.
An important component of this campaign is to advocate for equal rights and equal protections of the law for cannabis consumers. While cannabis use is generally accepted to be associated with fewer problems and harms to the individual and society than most legal drugs (including alcohol and tobacco) and pharmaceuticals, its classification as a Schedule I drug in the Controlled Substances Act (same as heroin) can bring severe penalties to the user. There is a great disparity in the rights afforded to the alcohol drinker and the tobacco smoker and those denied to the responsible cannabis consumer. We must alert the public to the unfairness and injustice of our status as second-class citizens. This campaign calls for equal rights and a regulatory system that treats cannabis use and sales like alcohol. We just want to be held to the same obligations, standards and civic responsibilities and behavior as everyone else in society is. We deserve nothing less. This should be inherent to a free society.
But alcohol is forbidden to the minors!
Let me be clear. We are not advocating that everyone use it. Some people do not like it or respond well to its effects. Like alcohol, I personally believe that minors should not use it and resources should be spent discouraging their using it, unless it is recommended by a doctor to treat some medical problem. But, it should be a choice legally available to adults to pursue on their own time, in a responsible manner (not acting recklessly or endangering others), and in acceptable settings.
Why did you create this project?
Through my work with the Human Rights and the Drug War exhibit project (see www.hr95.org), I learned how our government breaks up and destroys individuals and their families by sentencing even first-time, non-violent drug offenders to mandatory minimum sentences of five, 10, 20 years, and Life. In our book, Shattered Lives: Portraits from America's Drug War (Creative Xpressions, 2000), my co-authors and I expose horror stories and photos of people who have been victimized by US drug policies. Looking at the Drug War in the context of the United Nation's Universal Declaration on Human Rights, we have found that the US is in violation of many of its Articles, especially its protections against cruel and unusual punishment, destroying the integrity of the family, search and seizure protections, race and cultural discrimination, religious freedom, and many more.
And this situation has created a big prison problem, right?
Exactly. In dealing with the "drug problem" as a criminal justice rather than a public health issue, the US has created a vast prison population that is feeding into a growing Prison Industrial Complex. There are currently about 450,000 people serving time in prisons and jails on drug offenses (out of an inmate population of 2 million)- a number greater than the EU's entire prison population (and Europe has many millions more citizens than we have). About 750,000 people are arrested for marijuana each year - with 88% for simple possession alone - translating into fines, jail, attorneys fees, job loss.
The Drug War has created much injustice that is found in stories like Jodie Israel's, a young mother who was sentenced to 11 years as a first-time, non-violent marijuana along with her husband who was sentenced to 29 years. The government orphaned their four children, and they were forced to live in four different homes when both parents went to prison. Many low-level offenders (with only minor involvement in a drug transaction) and especially women are often serving the longest prison sentences on conspiracy charges for simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time or for not informing on husbands or boyfriends.
According to a study completed by Harvard economist, Jeffrey Miron, the US spends about $7.7 billion each year arresting and incarcerating people for marijuana offenses. We have to stand up to this injustice and say "enough." Too many people are going to prison. Too much money is being thrown away on this failed prohibitionist policy. Today there are more, cheaper drugs available and many, many more users than when they were outlawed. Young people say that it's easier to obtain marijuana than alcohol, because you don't need an ID to get it in an underground market. Cannabis is a product that should be controlled, taxed and regulated. It has the potential to raise billions of dollars in new revenue to offset budget deficits and pay for much-needed social services, education, and health care.
Can you tell us something about cannabis consumers? Who are they?
I have gathered data from over 1700 surveys submitted about who cannabis consumers. Contrary to the stereotypes, I have learned that we come from all segments of society, all socio-economic and religious backgrounds, ethnicities and races, all political parties, and all age groups. Many earn advanced degrees (like AA, BA, MA, Ph.D., MD, JD) and licenses in a variety of fields. We are interested in learning and helping others. We are well represented in the computer industry, which could explain why many computer businesses have stopped drug testing employees. We work in a variety of fields. We have many interests. Far from being losers, we are doers and achievers.
Can you give us some examples?
TIM is a middle-aged sales executive in corporate insurance. He is a member of an economic club of his city, an athletic club, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Christ Church, and on the Board of Directors for a health plan corporation. He enjoys gardening, yoga, politics, reading, and travel.
DAVID has been smoking cannabis since he was 17 years old in 1946. He is a former television personality who interviewed many well-known celebrities. He's won several awards for public speaking and is currently a writer. He generally smokes at night, and uses cannabis for creativity, sexual enhancement, as a sleep aid, medically (for pain associated with a back injury when racing stock cars while in his 20s and following recent surgery to treat cancer), writing, relaxation, as an appetite stimulant, and for music appreciation.
AMANDA is a graduate student of social work at a prestigious university. She states, "I am an intelligent, highly motivated and academically successful woman and scientist. I have never hit another person; I have adopted three cats from animal shelters and am a vegetarian. I am the accountant for my Home Owner's Association. I own my own home and have no debt. I have a wonderful relationship with my family and I adore them. I have a happy, stable marriage and I have counseled rape survivors and inner city children. I believe in peace and social justice. I vote and I encourage others to do the same. I also smoke cannabis almost every day. I have a digestive disorder that results in horrendous abdominal pain. I have tried various prescription medicines and have had inconsistent relief. Cannabis is the only medicine that consistently keeps the pain at bay. It's [also] like yoga for the mind and increases cognitive and creative flexibility".
AL is a computer scientist and a consultant/entrepreneur. He has been an invited member of two National Academy of Science panels, and sits on the board of a city repertory theatre. He enjoys the performing arts, dance, plays, jazz, blues, science, philosophy, politics, religion.
TONY is a former chief inspector of police from Hong Kong. He speaks three European and two Asian languages, and he's interested in cultural and linguistic studies, healing arts, music, literature, travel and diving. For his service he received a Colonial Police Long Service & Good Conduct Medal (Hong Kong). He is currently a writer and editor-in-chief for trade publishing house and freelance contributor to various publications and volunteers with the disabled. Tony states, "Initially anti-drug in my views, I observed that the people I knew who used cannabis were generally more intelligent, sensitive and articulate than non-users. I realized that if the anti-drug propaganda were true, this was unlikely to be 'despite' their use. I then considered the possibility that it might be 'because' of their use and consequently experimented with cannabis. The experience convinced me that the latter hypothesis was more likely correct and I have been a user ever since.
Have somebody had any problems for being in your web site?
Fortunately not, although there is some risk in "coming out" in today's political climate. A few have asked to be removed when changing jobs for fear it could impact their chances of getting hired. Still, many survey respondents have experienced previous problems - with the law, discrimination at the workplace, or strain on relationships from disapproving loved ones. One nurse lost her license for drug testing positive for THC, despite a respectable work history. Drug testing stops some people from even applying for jobs. We've heard from people who were fired after twenty years of exemplary service to a company due to testing positive for THC on a random urine test.
What do cannabis consumers think of themselves?
A surprisingly common response to the survey question, "How has cannabis enhanced your lives?" is that people believe that cannabis makes them "better people." They say that cannabis makes them more tolerant, patient, accepting of other's flaws, open-minded, in a better mood and able to cope with depression, and less angry. It helps them achieve a different perspective about their problems. They find that it gives them the opportunity to meet new people and bond with a diverse group of friends. Some even say that cannabis makes them better parents. Rather than drinking alcohol after coming home from work all tired and stressed and wanting to be left alone or fly into a rage, they smoke a joint, instead, and become more patient and play with their children or read them a book.
Finally, what do you want to say as an end?
A public image based on reality and not the lies perpetuated by the government, media, or special interest groups will help us achieve this goal. It requires courage for the first ones to come out, but it will become easier and easier as more people follow this example. In time, hopefully, society will look back and realize how ridiculous and sadistic the policies that made criminals out of non-criminals were. We will all be much better off when we recognize the wisdom of Jesus Christ's words, "Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; that which cometh out of the mouth defileth a man." (Matthew 15:11). In other words, let's judge people by their actions and their characters, not by what they consume.

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Data creazione pagina: 2009-01-04 (788 Letture)