WTF?, you may think.
I sort of agree with you, if you feel that way, but 2 months ago I'd not have written this.
THere is a lot I cannot add in terms of context and how I got here, but it boils down to having tried to provide some helpful consultation to military special operations regarding PTSD. No good deed goes unpunished, it seems. More about this when I feel like it's safe to talk about it. At this point, I have abandoned the project because they are appearing so vindictive.
However, to get on with the story I feel like I can talk about, en route to even being able to talk to the military on the phone I had to go through a very serious background check.
My 'criminal background' is, of course, squeaky clean.
But that turned out to not be remotely enough.
One of the investigative agencies with the DOJ has to review things and they reviewed my internet posting history.
While they - nor anybody else - have spoken directly to me, they talk to my buddy as he is former military and, apparently, far safer to talk to than some commoner civilian they SAY they are dying to talk to.
The 'agency' has advised that my 'writings about marijuana law reform' are tantamount to 'seeking the overthrow of the United States of America'. They are VICIOUSLY serious about this. Please just trust me on that. (Further, I heard they are concerned that the whole USA will become like California. I shit you not.)
And that's what I wanted to bring to your attention for a moment.
Part of a security clearance is taking an oath to "defend the US Constitution". My response to that is "I have been doing that for many years.
All this brings me to a very serious question: Most everybody I mention this agency bullshit to just burst out laughing. They cannot believe it is so serious, but it's true. Ugly true. Fascist, 3rd World police force true.
Marijuana law reform is BASED on using the 'rules' as set forth in the Constitution, specifically the 'right to petiton the government for a redress of laws' and such. Along with Freedom of Speech, something this 'agency' finds 'tantamount to seeking the overthrow of the USA'. I would be expected to uphold the constitution, they are wiping their ass with it.
Of course, I do not see myself as seeking the overthrow of my government nor my country - that's laughable and preposterous, and really, an obscene allegation that could only be made by some paranoid dumbfuck who is not in possession of the facts.
If this 'marijuana law reform' is such a threat to the US Government (even though we want to conform to the rules AS WRITTEN), then what in the fuck do they think about Grover Norquist and his infamous agenda to 'shrink government down small enough to where he can drown it in the bathtub'?
I mean, really...how is that not seeking the dissolution of the government? How is that not wanting to otherwise 'overthrow' the US Federal government?
If not, how is it not? That should be a very entertaining explanation.
Grover Norquist and his anti tax pledge openly seeks to limit the size, scope, and influence of the US Federal government whereas marijuana law reform wants to SAVE the American tax payer countless billions of dollars yearly, free up wasted law enforcement resources and man power to tackle more pressing issue (such as real crime) while shoving a dagger into the heart of black market enterprise, such as the infamous Mexican cartels by cutting out the people's need to buy their marijuana off the street.
One fallacy this agency routinely broadcasts is that "marijuana creates violence'. This is completely untrue: the violence as is seen in Mexico is due to the billions of black market dollars at stake. In addition to saving money here at home we are talking about saving lives there; and human lives are sometimes almost as important as money.
In addition to the vast savings on law enforcement, marijuana REGULATION (the most correct term, implying a role for government) would create a small but welcome revenue stream from the states in the form of .....(wait for it.....) taxes.
A little reported issue here is that marijuana regulation, in addition to saving government money and creating revenue, it would stop billions of dollars from leaving the legitimate economy.
For example: If 1 million people spend $50 each month on marijuana, that's $50,000,000 a month that leaves the economy. It's not taxed, it benefits nobody but the black market. The numbers are likely to be more like 10 million people spending $100 a month, which is a billion dollars. The ONDCP suggests the Mexican cartels make about $8 billion a year off marijuana. We should take that money back while we stab them in the heart, yes?
Furthermore, marijuana law reform would allow farmers to finally grow hemp, again, creating a small but significant boost in a variety of job markets, from agriculture and farming to
manufacturing - which is more than Norquist'z anti-tax jihad is going to do.
So, I end with a simple poll: which is more anti-American: marijuana law reform or Grover Norquist's desire to choke the federal government by denying it tax revenue?
The floor is yours.