The Franklin Youth Initiative Speaks Against Cannabis Decriminalization

February 5, 2012 by Free Concord
Filed under: Free Concord, New Hampshire, Politics, Video

As the NH house and senate return to a full schedule for public hearings, I’ve made an effort to maintain camera coverage for certain bills. Last week was a house hearing on HB 1705, which would heavily restrict, but effectively legalize home consumption of cannabis in the state of New Hampshire. The ‘tax and regulate’ bill was complimented with a decriminalization bill. The decrim bill, heard on February 2nd, would have set the penalty for cannabis possession of under an ounce at a $100 fine. The bill was amended to criminalize the third possession, so in a sense, this bill only decriminalizes cannabis possession for one’s first two offenses. The bills are imperfect, as all are, but both represent a very progressive step forward for cannabis policy reform in New Hampshire, a state which is far behind all other New England political subdivisions in this sense.

As is to be expected, those that escalate the drug war, the enforcers who invest their consciences into the fight, will speak at hearings impassioned to continue what they consider to be important work. Occasionally, those who are invested in such work recognize it to be harmful in nature, and separate themselves from the job that they do to speak out against the ill caused by the role that they play. Such rejection of the standard rally cry to continue the war on drugs is voiced by Richard Van Wickler, who in his day job is the administrator of the Cheshire county jail. He comes to the hearing acknowledging that he is not representing the role he plays at his job, and that he has taken a vacation day to express his personal feelings before decision makers in Concord. Richard is one of the few speakers on behalf of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition who is currently employed in the criminal justice industry, showing how unpopular holding such a viewpoint is while actively working in the field. Below is a link to his testimony favoring the legalization legislation, as filmed by Biker Bill.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=vKVpBk9OHbM

Prohibition’s latest warriors

At the restricted-legalization hearing on HB 1705, the chief of police of Franklin appeared before the committee in full uniform representing the NH Chiefs of Police Association, who always send a representative to speak against any drug policy reform. In the past, an Enfield police chief was the usual spokesman. Since appearing on an episode of NH Outlook in which he was schooled with information on medicinal cannabis, that chief has not appeared at committee hearings. At the decrim hearing, HB 1526, the room appeared populated with the normal handful of lobbyists and concerned citizens. But in glancing at the blue sheet, a form which expresses generic support or opposition for those present, there was a significant population of names in opposition who were not in the room. Alongside their names was listed the Franklin Youth Initiative, and all had marked themselves as in opposition to the bill.

After the representatives and a few government officials spoke both for and against the bill, the call was made for the next speaker by the committee chair. The Franklin Youth Initiative was summoned. The crew of five high school students and a health teacher from Franklin High School proceeded in and stood at the table for testimony. The teacher and one student had prepared statements, and all responded to some questions by legislators.

Arguing in favor of strict cannabis enforcement, FYI didn’t try to acknowledge the failures of prohibition in preventing drug use. Their plea focused on the aura of fear associated with the black market and the importance of retaining that aura of criminality. The harsh punishment they consider a necessity in exchange for a perceived deterrent effect that strict laws may have. They submitted written testimony to the committee on the dangers of cannabis use. The written testimony consisted of an inconclusive study published by the Psychiatric Times investigating a link between cannabis use and schizophrenia.

Though the committee asked them some wise questions, I wanted to learn more about the motivations of the Franklin Youth Initiative. After they had finished speaking, they left the hearing and went out into the often busy hall. Instead of a camera, in my hand was a notepad, and I recorded responses from the group. I began by confirming that they opposed the decriminalization of all drugs, which they affirmed, except alcohol. Though the group discouraged the use of alcohol, none of them supported the prohibition of the drug. When I asked if they could account for the violent crime associated with prohibited substances and what becomes of that crime when the substance is legalized, I got the impression that this may be the first time many of the students were hearing factual points in favor of drug legalization and against prohibition policy.

When I inquired into whether they would support the sick having access to cannabis as medicine, they cited synthetical marinol being an ample substitute. I didn’t want to much venture into the realm of educator from interviewer in pointing out that cannabis is often smoked as medicine to stimulate appetite in cancer patients. The pill form marinol is not only less tested than natural cannabis, but it also may not be consumable by those whose problems are digestive in nature. In speaking further on the benefits of medical alternatives to cannabis, one student reported that approved medicines are safer in that the toxic substances in the cannabis are removed. No scientific research has uncovered any substances within cannabis that could be classified as toxic, as it is one of the safest consumable substances known to man, being less toxic than many natural foods which would never be considered dangerous.

Early in the video, the health teacher mentions that “the FYI is working with the Franklin mayor’s drug task force”. It is likely the trip was organized by the bureaucratic opponents of cannabis reform, using the participation of young people to draw attention to the bill. Their testimony seemed as though it would have been more appropriate at the legalization hearing, though strategically they may have chosen to appear at the decrim hearing because the less extensive measure is more likely to pass.

I hope that the young people of the Franklin Youth Initiative keep an open mind to what it is that they are encouraging by advocating non-violent actions be treated as criminal, and responded to violently. See the footage of their appearance before the house criminal justice committee embedded below.

This article was originally published at freeconcord.org.

McD

"…using the participation of young people to draw attention to the bill."

Hmmm… Who else make use of naive, young people, arguably suppressing seditious enlightenment and encouraging aggressive ignorance, for propaganda and bullying purposes? Remember Hitler Youth? What about the Young Pioneers of the Soviet Union?
http://www.nevertakeaplea.org Clyde Voluntaryist

The "health" teacher is against the decriminalization of cannabis because of its health risks, as I understand her, but yet she seems quite obese as does at least two of her students. I would say that her obesity and that of those two students is more of a health risk than cannabis. More people die of obesity and its consequences per year than cannabis (none).
enslave keene

I have to laugh at this insistency of no marijuana related deaths, year in year out. The fact (and I apologize for bringing facts into the discussion) is that marijuana along with obesity are both "ROOT" causes of many deaths a year.

Obesity itself causes no harm, however as a root cause it promotes illnesses such as diabetes, artery stiffness, cardio illness, and high blood pressure.

Likewise marijuana causes no harm either. Yet again the use of marijuana promotes illnesses and death VIA (By way of) Gateway into severe narcotic use, compramised thought process leading to carelessness and wrecklessnes. Nobodody goes straight to things such as heroin and coke, crack, meth, etc etc.

The health risks associated with marijuana are not even debatable. But you go on and keep claiming zero deaths year in and year out. It's laughable!!
enslave keene

For that matter using your logic clyde, there hasnt been one person ever killed because a plane, auto-mobile, gun, knife, or any means to an end.

Hell! Death and sickness are all just imaginary~~….
MaineShark

If that's your position, then you should be calling for a prohibition on alcohol. In every category you've mentioned, alcohol is far worse than marijuana.

Alcohol is the true "gateway drug." It leads to far worse compromise of "thought processes," resulting in many, many deaths each year. Pot smokers are mellow – last I heard, they are actually safer drivers than the average driver out there, simply because they won't take risks. It might be annoying when the stoner ahead of you won't make that left turn for three minutes, but he poses less of a safety risk than the guy who cuts out into traffic because he's sure he can make it through that hole…

No drug of any sort is without risk. But marijuana is safer than thousands of legal drugs. Once you've demanded that alcohol, Tylenol (far more of an overdose hazard than cocaine or heroin, for two examples), and all those other far-more-hazardous drugs be banned, /then/ you can support a ban on marijuana without being a hypocrite. Until then, you are engaging in rank hypocrisy.
enslave keene

Is that totally rank dude!

Gnarlllyy man!!!!

Wow dude!
name

mainedork, what is the arbitrary 'age of consent' in your hypocrisy free world?
http://www.jraxis.com/ J’raxis 270145

Ever notice at these hearings how 100% of the people who come out against these bills are State officials or employees*? The same was true with the cultivation bill hearing on the same day, and the DUI checkpoint abolition bill.

* Or in this one case, a bunch of impressionable, manipulable children one of the State employees dragged out with her.
david

enslave,

shut up and go away.
MaineShark

name: in my world, there are no /arbitrary/ rules. Rules are based upon objective reality, not arbitrary standards set by sociopaths. In cases where consent is an issue, it's up to the complainant to prove that consent was not present. In any /actual/ case where that was true, it will be easy to prove – no sane individual is going to accept a 40-year-old schoolteacher's word that his six-year-old student was able to consent to sex.
Bob Constantine

Enslave, NBA

Stick to 1970s NBA lore, you're better at it. As an aside all time NBA great Kareem Abdul Jabbar, is a proponent of Cannabis.

Cannabis according to GOVERNMENT studies is far less harmful than both alcohol and tobacco.

As well in 1988 after reviewing both sides of the evidence presented Judge Francis Young (a DEA judge no less) stated in a ruling that Cannabis is far safer than many foods we commonly consume. The Docket number is 86-22, the ruling is dated 9/6/1988.

As far as behavior related deaths or anti-social behavior alcohol is hard to overlook.

There's an easy answer for those who prefer the more harmful drugs pushed by the state, consume them and don't consume cannabis. What is it that makes some people think they can control other people anyway?
enslave keene

Bob my all time starting 5

Center- Bill Russell

Forward – Kevin Mchale

Forward – Magic (as a forward) He played everywhere.

Guard – Nate Archibauld

Guard – John Stockton

All time bench

Center – Akeem Oliajuwon

Forward – Tommy Heinson

Forward – Sir Charles

Guard – Dennis Rodman

Guard – Isiah Thomas

Notice anyone missing, yes mr overrated himself!
ZeeBako

Enslave, as to your argument against Cannabis, are you kidding me?

No, seriously, you must be joking. Nobody, seriously still believes the propoganda of the 50's regarding cannabis. If you decide to stick to real facts, based on the words of the people themselves who initially pushed to criminalize hemp and by extension cannabis, the reason it was criminalized was due to the threat hemp posed to multiple established industries. This gateway drug argument holds no water in my eyes and I'm not alone. It's an argument with no standing and no scientific measurement as any evidence you could produce in its favor would be nothing but speculation. It's quite funny actually, as the establishment, dinosaur media, law enforcement community, and general supporters of Cannabis prohibition have lost the highground arguing the health aspect of cannabis, so they cling to this gateway drug thing like madmen. It's almost worthy of pity if you ask me.

Maybe the world would be a better place if more people reached for the bong instead of the gun.
enslave keene

Im serious.
Bob Constantine

Enslave,

The wonderful thing about sports talk is we can all express our opinion and it doesn't hurt anybody. When we lock up others for self ownership it does hurt people. You are a real person and despite some of your comments here, I think you understand that.

One could argue the following players would erm "smoke" your selections. Although any team with Bill Russell and Magic could find a way to win.

F – Larry Bird

F- Kareem (hey why not at forward?)

C – Wilt

G- Michael Jordan

G- Jerry West or Oscar

back on topic…

I respect the choices other people and these kids want to make, I just wonder why they don't respect other persons rights to make their own choices…that doesn't seem supportive of freedom does it?
name

I gotta go with your team bob. Only one caveat, it would have to be a young Kareem & Wilt. To play forward, it might be best to get Lew Alcindor. Then, I don't even think you'd need a bench.
david

my fave basketball player is Kareem Abdule Jabaar and the SKY HOOK… Oh also…I like Dr. J
david

Plus I like robert parish because I met him once and he was in the next urinal next to me..he was nice
david

WHAT ABOUT BILL WALTON……he was great….
Bob Constantine

Bill Walton was another NBA great that enjoyed Cannabis….keep 'em coming.
gatekeepers-legion

Yeah, that old lie about cannabis being a "gateway drug" just won't die, will it?

Truth is, weed is a GATE-KEEPER "drug", if it's anything at all…

Think of it like this: To date, almost 1/3 of the US population has at least TRIED smoking weed…

If it really WAS the "gateway" drug, that all you Statists claim, then we should have 10's of MILLIONS of "hard drug" users…

But that is NOT the case…

Actually, cannabis KEEPS people from doing most "harder drugs"…

@"enslave keene – you're full of shit, as usual…
enslave keene

Oh gatekeeper, you rock!! and youre full of shit too