I goofed up in the preceding post in which I presented/discussed Peter Hitchens’ views on dope legalization and what it means for the West. Hitchens’ article appeared at The American Conservative yesterday, and with it there also appeared a sort of brief op-ed that presented the core of what Hitchens’—in a more diffuse or impressionistic way—was trying to communicate. That op-ed is here—I had meant to include discussion of it in my previous post:
I can not vouch with first hand knowledge. Purely second hand. But I was informed by a coworker whose previous job was at a major cannabis grow facility here in Central Illinois that that particular massive grow operation was controlled by Pritzker money. Even then I wasn’t surprised and found it totally believable. This was almost three years ago now. Too much money involved with big government/big cannabis for there not to be collusion and fraud. It’s a scam. Like everything else the government promotes and pushes today. I ask myself what the consequences would be if I decided to open up a pot shop. I’d be thrown in the clink and probably be held with bail in the no-bail state of Illinois. Gangster government. Any threat to their money or power is now dealt with by a complicit judicial system.
Illegal to even grow your own here in Illinois unless you pay for a medical card. And even then, only a small stash. For your safety of course. You might hurt yourself if you grew your own. Better to leave it to the experts of course. What a corrupt scam. Protection racket.
If you watch video, it's hard not to be disgusted by the cops and their behavior. I used to be law and order. I guess I still am. But, not all cops are the good guys. Of course we know that at the federal and state level. It's true, too, at the local level. It conflicts me as I know how much they go through dealing with Antifa. BLM, etc. To see them arrest teens exercising their First Amendment rights is disconcerting.
There ought to be penalties when cops do this stuff. There ought to be penalties when California, New York or Illinois pass blatantly unconstitutional laws trampling the First and Second amendments.
I can not vouch with first hand knowledge. Purely second hand. But I was informed by a coworker whose previous job was at a major cannabis grow facility here in Central Illinois that that particular massive grow operation was controlled by Pritzker money. Even then I wasn’t surprised and found it totally believable. This was almost three years ago now. Too much money involved with big government/big cannabis for there not to be collusion and fraud. It’s a scam. Like everything else the government promotes and pushes today. I ask myself what the consequences would be if I decided to open up a pot shop. I’d be thrown in the clink and probably be held with bail in the no-bail state of Illinois. Gangster government. Any threat to their money or power is now dealt with by a complicit judicial system.
Illegal to even grow your own here in Illinois unless you pay for a medical card. And even then, only a small stash. For your safety of course. You might hurt yourself if you grew your own. Better to leave it to the experts of course. What a corrupt scam. Protection racket.
I can’t remember where I read, but legalized drugs have led to a spike in crimes in Vancouver bc.
Another article that mentions crime issue, but ignores causes:
https://globalnews.ca/news/9868440/jjbean-closing-woodwards-building-vancouver/
I have noticed an increase in paranoia among some users.
And may be there is one with mass shooters:
https://nypost.com/2019/08/07/the-link-between-pot-and-mass-shootings-may-be-closer-than-we-think/
LE is reluctant to release that kind of info. Almost like the Nashville trans shooter's manifesto.
Off topic here but inspired by the two prior comments.
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2023/08/03/its-an-honor-christian-teens-arrested-for-protesting-wisc-drag-event-say-theyd-do-it-all-over-again-1383268/
If you watch video, it's hard not to be disgusted by the cops and their behavior. I used to be law and order. I guess I still am. But, not all cops are the good guys. Of course we know that at the federal and state level. It's true, too, at the local level. It conflicts me as I know how much they go through dealing with Antifa. BLM, etc. To see them arrest teens exercising their First Amendment rights is disconcerting.
There ought to be penalties when cops do this stuff. There ought to be penalties when California, New York or Illinois pass blatantly unconstitutional laws trampling the First and Second amendments.