Arkansas Election Goes to Pot.
Submitted by Hogfan on November 16, 2006 - 12:24pm.
Arkansas | eureka springs | marijuana | norml | News and Links
Tucked away in the Arkansas Ozarks is a town of few more than 2,000 people. Completely surrounded by Northwest Arkansas' predominantly rural, Republican-tonguing, Toby Keith-loving, race-baiting, homophobic, Confederate flag-waving, closed-minded voters, this fair town affectionately nicknamed "Little Switzerland" may now become known as "Little Amsterdam."
Thanks to some very open-minded voters in this odd-duck town, Eureka Springs, Arkansas has passed local marijuana reform. Granted, this newly-passed measure seemingly won't have any real-world legal impact -- the offfense is a state crime, not a local one -- but during a period when progressive voters are hailing their greatest success as Arizona's libertarian-motivated defeat of a gay marriage ban, this vote should serve as a reminder about what progress really means.
Progress is not merely stopping an overreaching, socially conservative agenda, like what happened in Arizona. Arizonians didn't achieve progress. They merely preserved the status quo.
But the Arkansans in Eureka Springs, on the other hand, voted for progress. Real progress. Common-sense progress to stop fighting a losing war on marijuana, a substance doesn't seem to pose a real threat to society in the first place.
Even though I don't smoke pot and never have, I couldn't be happier about this little, insignificant vote in a tiny town tucked away in the hills of Arkansas.
Why?
Not just because it was a progressive move in a strange, little town.
No, I'm especially proud because that strange, little town is my hometown. I spent the first 18 years of my life there. And off-and-on, on short weekend getaways, I've spent another 16 years there. It's where I learned what real morality is. Where I learned open-mindedness. Where I grew to appreciate nature and the arts. Ironically, it's also where I grew restless, looking for the "progress" of big-city life.
Who would've thought, that one day, I would wake up and realize just how progressive my little hometown was -- and still is? I wish I would've appeciated it then like I do now.
I can't wait to go back next week to visit my family and give thanks for progressive minds. Especially in itty-bitty corners of the world like Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Places that can teach us all a thing or two about real progress.
Smoke 'em if you got 'em, Eureka.
It's a wrong-headed concept, I'll give you that.
The concern isn't really about harmful effects, I don't think it really ever has been. What it's about is the trade. Doctor prescribe FAR more dangerous drugs regularly, and alcohol is sold to anybody who can prove their age (and sometimes those who cannot.) Pot smokers statistically get into less accidents that alcohol drinkers, have less domestic violence incidents, etc. etc. No, what is the social problem is the trade, and illegal use. Minors have no business smoking marijuana, it saps their motivation and vision, which we do need. And the trade gets innocent people killed.
Controlled legalization is a two edged sword, we must acknowledge. It provides a route for legitimate use that does not involve breaking the law, but it also reinforces self-prescription by minors and addicts. And, a household with pot smokers with children expose those children to the smoke. Many of these children spend most of their evenings stoned. They aren't even getting a chance to learn how to live a clean lifestyle or deal with emotional problems without getting high.
Who is speaking for the kids? Well, in this comment, I am. The war on drugs is a bad concept, it's a law enforcement issue, and I don't really believe we need to declare it a war to legalize the use of military assets to enforce the law where we have a mandate outside of the territorial US.
Instead, those military assest should be transformed into law enforcement assets, like SWAT. Empower Homeland Security to work with the DEA, build up the Coast Gaurd, who are also law enforcement officers, the list goes on. We have options, it doesn't have to be a war.
I'm on the front lines of trying to teach kids who are likely to be stoned. You are correct: it is nearly impossible, and it begins at home.
Nevertheless, as a measure of success of ridding our society of drugs, a sure sign that what we are doing isn't working is the failure to keep drugs out of the hands of people behind bars.
Anyway, I thought it was a funny observation. Sad but funny.
You have not converted a man because you have silenced him.--J. V. Marley
The ones behind bars are next to the hardcore of the hardcore, that's why it's so hard to keep the drugs out of prisons. In California, during this Republican Administration and Rubber Stamp Congress, the recidivism rate for offenders was over 80%! The vast majority are drug related offenses.
Why? The California Attorney General seems to think that the SUPPLIERS of the drugs, those who PROFIT from selling drugs and those who PROMOTE the use of drugs should be taken to task for their irresponsible research and messages to impressionable minds. I agree.
Towards a rule of law, and not men.
Toby Keith actually labels himself as a 'Democrat without a party'
Kind of like me
I could say the same myself.
But Toby and I are in different boats.
In different oceans.
Patriotic? Provocative? Pissed off? Get your protest on at http://www.cafepress.com/fightinwords
I own property near Eureka Springs. NW Arkansas has always had something of a progressive streak. Fayetteville (University of Arkansas) is only a few miles away as is Bentonville (Wal-Mart HQ). At the turn of the century that was the part of the state where the Socialist Party was very active. Orval Faubus came from that area from a family active in the Socialist Party and was named for Eugene Debs.
If I'm not mistaken, Faubus was from Huntsville, which is another example of the dichotomy of NW AR. Huntsville is a stereotypical, southern farm town. Not a hotbed of liberalism by any means. Yet, there was Faubus right in the middle of it.
Being stuck amongst a bunch of conservatives can be lonely. But I think it's an inspiration - that some ideals just can't be snuffed out.
Patriotic? Provocative? Pissed off? Get your protest on at http://www.cafepress.com/fightinwords
Roseanne Barr was on Larry King the other night and said: How can we be winning a drug war when you can buy drugs in jail?
I'm not much of a Barr-King fan, but I'm waiting for anyone who can answer that. Very funny.
You have not converted a man because you have silenced him.--J. V. Marley