U.S. Drug Policy Would Be Imposed Globally By New House Bill

[highplainsdem]

Source: Huffington Post

The House Judiciary Committee passed a bill yesterday that would make it a federal crime for U.S. residents to discuss or plan activities on foreign soil that, if carried out in the U.S., would violate the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) -- even if the planned activities are legal in the countries where they're carried out. The new law, sponsored by Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) allows prosecutors to bring conspiracy charges against anyone who discusses, plans or advises someone else to engage in any activity that violates the CSA, the massive federal law that prohibits drugs like marijuana and strictly regulates prescription medication.

"Under this bill, if a young couple plans a wedding in Amsterdam, and as part of the wedding, they plan to buy the bridal party some marijuana, they would be subject to prosecution," said Bill Piper, director of national affairs for the Drug Policy Alliance, which advocates for reforming the country's drug laws. "The strange thing is that the purchase of and smoking the marijuana while you're there wouldn't be illegal. But this law would make planning the wedding from the U.S. a federal crime."

The law could also potentially affect academics and medical professionals. For example, a U.S. doctor who works with overseas doctors or government officials on needle exchange programs could be subject to criminal prosecution. A U.S. resident who advises someone in another country on how to grow marijuana or how to run a medical marijuana dispensary would also be in violation of the new law, even if medical marijuana is legal in the country where the recipient of the advice resides. If interpreted broadly enough, a prosecutor could possibly even charge doctors, academics and policymakers from contributing their expertise to additional experiments like the drug decriminalization project Portugal, which has successfully reduced drug crime, addiction and overdose deaths.

The Controlled Substances Act also regulates the distribution of prescription drugs, so something as simple as emailing a friend vacationing in Tijuana some suggestions on where to buy prescription medication over the counter could subject a U.S. resident to criminal prosecution. "It could even be something like advising them where to buy cold medicine overseas that they'd have to show I.D. to get here in the U.S.," Piper says.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/06/us-drug-policy-war-congress_n_998993.html

[Bloke 32]

1. Ah, yes, the Empire

Unfortunately, it can no longer afford New Clothes.

[dogmoma56]

15. that is "Fascist Empire" . toe the line peasant, got your money, your freedom, now we got your weed

:evilgrin:

[saras]

2. All kinds of stupid, too many to count.

[pansypoo53219]

77. screaming to use the word

RETARDED.

[nobodyspecial]

3. So much for government being too big.

What are these idiots smoking?

[dipsydoodle]

14. What are these idiots smoking ?

Good way of expressing the situation.

[timtom]

22. Quite obviously, crack!

nt

[OwnedByFerrets]

138. Its only too big when its trying to help folks

:eyes:

[caseymoz]

4. Apparently, we haven't got enough prisoners yet.

We need an excuse to put more people behind bars. This is getting to be absolutely Stalinist. Why do I get the feeling I get the feeling our privatized prison industry is behind this?

[DocMac]

5. We just need a better mouse trap.

Shit, they are always breaking down the wrong doors. I wouldn't call these people smart.

Invest in technology!!!

[Jackpine Radical]

45. There is no such thing as a "wrong door."

Whatever door you break down, you will attain your purpose of terrorizing the citizenry, and that is the point.

[RKP5637]

79. I'm far more concerned about the terrorists within our own gov. than those over there we

are told to perpetually fear. The latter is camouflage.

[tecelote]

9. You've got that right.

If 2,000 prisoners net Xm in profit, then 4,000 prisoners will net 2Xm (or better - based upon the economy of scale). The only problem is where do we get 2,000 more prisoners?

Ah hah! Political contributions! That's the ticket. 5% of the profit to the People's representatives should give us a new law or two.

Hey - they're all unemployed bums as it is. Society is better off and we're better off.

We're so damn good!

--

The U.S. is broke in so many ways.

[Auntie Bush]

49. Beat me to it! My first thought was they're already looking for prisoners to

fill up all those private prisons. Making sure the profits keep coming in without thoughts or concerns of how many lives they ruin.

[RKP5637]

69. Yep, follow the money trail! n/t

[sarcasmo]

160. Bingo! The new privatized prison system will need many more bodies.

[buckrogers1965]

6. Good news everyone.

No matter where you go, American Law applies to you. So no matter how ridiculous things get here in the States you can't get away no matter where you go. Soon leaving America with no intention of returning is going to be a felony.

[Xicano]

7. WTF? Our country seems to be accelerating into an autocracy

So let me get this straight. If someone here discusses plans to do something outside of our country which is unlawful activity within our country, but, not unlawful within the country being discussed. You're still guilty of conspiracy of that unlawful act even though you'll be in a country where that activity is lawful?

Ok so the government discussing murdering, torturing, kidnapping or holding a person prisoner without due process of law even if those activities are not unlawful in the country being discussed. They're guilty on conspiring to commit these acts like as if they were doing it here?

Or if someone in the government orders the murder of a U.S. citizen on foreign soil without due process of law, he's committing murder because that's what it would be considered here? If they just discusses plans about it, he's committing conspiracy to commit murder?

Or is that different, like as in there's two sets of laws, one for us and a different set of laws for government?

[No Elephants]

23. Were you under the impression you actually had rights?

[Xicano]

27. It seems like every time you turn around there's a new outrage

Wonder what nazi shit they're going to come up with next?

[RKP5637]

81. One day I expect to see tanks rolling up and down the streets enforcing nazi shit. n/t

[Kievan Rus]

163. APCs in Minneapolis 2008 and Pittsburgh 2009; it's already happened

[shanti]

168. and Los Angeles n/t

[bbgrunt]

38. except that IOKIYAR and "laws only apply to the little people"

but nice try.

[CanonRay]

122. Don't forget; different set of law for the rich, too.

Now you're getting the idea.

[Devil_Fish]

149. actually, this only applies to weed. they are still free to do all the stuff you mentioned. NT

[Scottybeamer70]

8. Why don't they just go ahead

and put a camera and a microphone on every human being on the planet?
I'm sure that is what it is coming to........or so they think.
Have they not seen the protests going on???
Wow.......just wow..........just when I think they can't get more
heavy handed, they do.

[No Elephants]

24. No need. That's why God made Google Maps.

[Matariki]

10. Insane. They're completely insane.

Congress needs an intervention.

[silverweb]

11. Absolute insanity.

Imagine the institutionalized snooping and bureaucracy that enforcement of such a law would require.

Gotta love all that reTHUG idea of freedom, liberty, and small government. :crazy:

[ixion]

12. wrong way, dumbasses. End the drug war. Escalation is pointless.

idiots.

[clixtox]

13. NOW is the time!

These days the world, and we, will discover if the USA really is the land of the brave, and the home of the free!

Or not...

Patriots?

Or "sheeple"?

Nothing changes until masses of people are in the streets.

Nothing

[NuttyFluffers]

16. piece by piece the evil unmasks.

eventually there'll be no reason for pretenses.

such blatant overreach is a hallmark of dying empires. i will not mourn its loss upon the heap of history; it wore out its welcome.

[LuvNewcastle]

17. This country is even more

fucked up than I thought. Congress can't put people to work, but they can get together and pass this piece of filth. What a disgusting state of affairs.

[MedicalAdmin]

42. What do you mean. This is a job bill. N/t

[KansDem]

18. This is the best they can do?

With all the problems we face in the country, this is the best they can do?

Record numbers of unemployed, foreclosures, sick, and homeless, they come up with this?

[w0nderer]

19. k&r for reading later n/t

[barbtries]

20. as if they don't have better things to do.

this is disgusting. but then THEY are disgusting.

[No Elephants]

21. a crime to discuss? Nothing vague or overbroad about that!

Put all them discussing fuckers in jail, says I!

[goforit]

25. Boy, these almighty Republicans have it all. McCarthy all the way.

[Dokkie]

89. hold your horses

the democrat controlled senate may just bring it up for a vote and pass it. Btw dont count on Obama vetoing this, he is just as invested in the drug war as the rethugs

[otohara]

92. Already Has Two Senate Sponsors - Conrad/Graham

I can't see the libertarian Rand Paul voting for this. But Kent Conrad is for sure.

[truedelphi]

131. Every word of yr post rings true.

Tyranny doesn't care if its supporters have a "D" or a "R" after their name.

BTW, if memory serves, at least one of the Republicans, Lungren, was decent regarding the marijuana issue when he served as Attorney General for California.

And here is a link where the membership is revealed (All current day Judiciary members, with one vacancy)

http://judiciary.house.gov/about/members.html

Waters, Conyers and several other Democrats are radically progressive on the drug issue.

[Flatulo]

26. I know - let's build more prisons to house these menacing criminals! nt

[Tsiyu]

28. This is really a bad time to be taking away more rights

when Wall Street criminals run free, those who torture are rewarded, when people are at the ends of their ropes.

Thank your for-profit prison lobbyists for this special new bill. They need those shiny prisons FULL! (And "druggies" are fair game.)


But, hey, politicians, just push people to their absolute limits and see what happens!

[Lucky Luciano]

29. Burning stupid. Fascist shitfucks. nt

[tsuki]

30. How much of this draconian law is to close medical marijuana

clinics to shore the liquidity of banks laundering the drug cartels' money?

When I read that medical marijuana clinics in CA brought in 1.6 billion, I wondered how much that was converted to street cash, and how that would affect the banksta gangstas.

[Kurmudgeon]

31. When you vote right wing, this is what you get.

[Bluenorthwest]

37. What you mean is when Texas votes right wing, this is what they

force on the rest of us. My entire region, not just my State, but the whole region did not elect any new Republicans in 2010, lots of Democrats. But no matter how many good people we elect, there will always be other states sending Radical Rightists to Congress.

[otohara]

90. Senator Conrad (D) Is Sponsoring in the Senate

along with Senator L. Graham.

The final vote in the committee was 20 - 7 - some dems voted for it, I'm trying to find which Dems voted yes to this BS proposal.

[krabigirl]

113. lol this is a bipartisan bill.

[Kurmudgeon]

165. I don't see any Dems on the left supporting it, do you?

[Butch350]

32. Another WTF! moment - brought to you by your friendly Government.

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

33. Didn't I hear that the RepubliCONS want smaller government?

[RC]

102. Only for themselves. For the rest of us, not so much.

[obxhead]

34. Small government in action.

It just amazes me how many people believe R's are actually for small government.

The only "small" government they want is on taxes for the elite and regulations on banking and corporations. As for the common people they want to invade and control every portion of our lives.

The scariest part is I see this administration doing NOTHING to stand in the way of this type of legislation.

[waddirum]

91. Michele Bachmann

Michele Bachmann wants to shove ultrasonic wands up the hoohas of women seeking an abortion. Not only that but the patient has to wear headphones to listen to it. This is Republican FREEDOM.

[think]

35. they hate our freedom......

[BumRushDaShow]

36. Where are the Libertarians? Hello? Ron Paul? Rand Paul? *crickets*

[stockholmer]

59. you are kidding, correct? Paul will rail against this so hard, I do not agree with Paul on many

things, BUT, there is no way you can say the man is not a bulwark of consistency over decades when it comes to ending the empire, and pushing an agenda of constitutionally-defined liberty via rolling back what he perceives to unconstitutional governmental overstretch.

[krabigirl]

111. Yeah, I think they will be against it. Lol, Paul had a petition with Frank to legalizethe stuff.

It was Lamar who rejected it.

[bbgrunt]

39. It's their jobs plan: more police, more jailers, more judges...

[Beartracks]

93. Look at all this employment!

Just look at all the employment in this photo!!


Federal troopers board massive battle ships to search for citizens planning to visit coffee shops in Amsterdam's Der Wallen.


======================

[LiberalLovinLug]

121. LOL

Now that would make a stoner paranoid

[nadinbrzezinski]

40. Thus the empire is trying to do what other empires have done

at the end... impose their will globally...

[RKP5637]

76. I think during our lifetime we well might see this country turning into

something resembling Hitler or Mussolini. Each day freedom, equality and democracy become a fading memory. I don't even know which party I belong to anymore.

As a person once inspired by America, I find it all pretty distressing and depressing. All of the ingredients are ripe for a massive upheaval, I see the handwriting on the wall, I just don't know which direction, anymore. I hope Americans are truly waking up. OWS is an excellent indicator.

We have ominous politicians and power brokers today of all stripes, and many of them are highly dangerous IMO.

[defendandprotect]

135. It's already happening and delivered to us by the same families/corporations which

which supported Hitler/Nazi's the first time around -- !!

Same with our corporate-press -- under the control of the same people --

that's why it looks so much like Goebbels' style news!!

[RKP5637]

140. I have no doubt in strategy sessions they are definitely following Goebbels' style news. Many

times I've noticed one news release quickly released by supposedly competing news sources with the same talking points, per agenda. Sometimes I convince myself that periods of time are bound to eventually repeat because of gaps in generational knowledge plus naivety by the citizenry. I hope not.

[defendandprotect]

144. Well, they were studying old Nazi propaganda films in Nixon's White House ...

and you can certainly see evidence of that type of propaganda appearing in the

Repug Party from that point on --

Later they were taping daily recordings for members to memorize -- to "stay on point."

Some of the press, I think, have tried to resist -- mainly they left, imo.

Even Walter Cronkite talked about being involved with a documentary on JFK coup specifically

concern the head wound and witnesses to it -- where the conclusions were to be very specific

that the Warren Commission findings were wrong -- but by the time he was reading the

"dummy cards" at the end of the program those conclusions were being turned around and what

he was reporting was untrue according to the evidence that had been presented in the program!

Walter also had a military intelligence background --


:hi:



and never heard him alert us to rising fascism in America -- !!

[drm604]

41. Is this something that is likely to pass?

It's sponsored by Lamar Smith. Is this something with wide support or is it just a few crazy Republicans? I can't tell from the article.

[pasto76]

43. I didnt know a committee could pass a law.

oh, so this is speculative. ridiculous and insane, but still not a law.

[PatSeg]

44. Well, can't say they're a "do nothing congress"

They just keep "doing" stupid crap. No matter what people say they need or want, Congress gives them stuff they never even dreamed of.

[JackintheGreen]

46. First thing I think of

even though not directly apropos, Phil Ochs' "Ballad of William Worthy":


William Worthy isn't worthy to enter our door
Went down to Cuba, he's not American anymore
But somehow it is strange to hear the State Department say
You are living in the free world, in the free world you must stay

[Amonester]

47. Oh... that absolute horse-sh*t emanates from the 13% congress...

suRpRi$e suRpRi$e

theRe'$ no low they won't go

and they don't caRe

[sulphurdunn]

48. This is just 2012 campaign meat

for the goose stepping social thugs and other authoritarian busy bodies who are the Republican base. This bill will die quietly either in the House or the Senate. What amazes me is that the republican majority on the judiciary committee has time to piss away on nonsense like this.

[Joey Liberal]

50. More proof that republicans are batshit crazy. nt

[They_Live]

51. Conspiracy charges?!?

For just discussing something??

F**k these a**holes.

[Turbineguy]

52. Maybe it's time

for a freeway sign that says "Miss me yet?" But with a picture of Hitler.

[Tutankhamun]

53. As the masses hit the streets, congress throws a big

"fuck you" to the people.

[FarLeftFist]

54. A politician from Texas fucks us again!

[Tutankhamun]

55. "They hate us for our freedoms."

The freedoms we can enjoy by leaving America.

[Celefin]

56. You'll have to apply for that soon enough.

Or maybe you'll have to sign up for the military.

[Dutchmaster]

57. I have 4 years til I can expatriate.

Starting to wonder if that is going to be soon enough, or too late.

[RKP5637]

83. The border fences are to keep people in, not out. n/t

[Dokkie]

98. OMG

I heard Ron Paul say something like that in the last debate and I was like what a batshit thing to say but the way things are going, I dont think it is ridiculous anymore

[RKP5637]

99. Yep, same here when I first heard it, but damn, anymore, some of the

batshit things appear to be becoming reality. Alex Jones is even starting to make more and more sense to me anymore.

[krabigirl]

114. I'm seriously considering options for our family as well.

[2Design]

58. thought they didn't want the govmt in their business - yea right -

[shireen]

60. ridiculous!

I sure hope someone challenges this in court!

Marijuana drug policy in this country is just stupid.

Now, will we be breaking the law criticizing this stupid legislation, and supporting marijuana users, particularly those with medical need for it?

[bemildred]

61. One is reminded of Caligula making war on the North Sea. nt

[blackspade]

62. So much for the rethug 'small government' memo.

These drug 'warrior' folks are disgusting.

[DreamSmoker]

63. U.S. Government has gone Insane

So now its escalating the so called Drug War in a way never ever seen by the Planet....
And the U.S. Government is heading it....
NOW THATS INSANE....
Spend Spend Spend that Money on this Bottomless Hole in a time when this is absolutely no reason to do so...
Its also apparent today in my local Paper that the DOJ has lied to the Press and the Public and is going all out in California to shut down the Medical Cannabis access all together..
It was not a few Notices either for Local Dispensaries to close..
Its a Blanket Order across the State and includes all..
Not just those they say are in violation of any laws...

So the Federal Government just raised the Anti Big Time..
It the Feds way to say F--K us all..

[Andy823]

82. Get the FACTS right

This post says it's the REPUBLICANS in the house judiciary committee who are pushing for this, not the entire government. You also need to get your facts right about the Medical marijuana clinics. It's NOT ALL of them that are being targeted, only the ones where drug dealers are involved and making millions illegally. The facts are out there if you are willing to look for them.

[Kolesar]

64. Maybe this is to f-with the Canadian seed sellers like Marc Emery

So any Yankee who meets with him can be persecuted.

[stockholmer]

65. More evidence that the US government looks at all the citizens as chattel, I think that if you take

this, and add it to all the other myriad issues wherein the constitutionally-protected civil liberties are being shredded, you start to foresee the future. The debts of the government are pledged upon the citizens' heads. They will hold you, the citizens to account, and use whatever manner of collection it takes to keep the system flowing. Combine this with a hyper-refined level of financialisation and commoditising of all aspects of human interaction, and you get the beginning of the big picture.

Prisons will be completely run for profit, and the more inmates, the more profit. The war on terror has ushered in a surveillance/tattletale police state mentality that will make the Stasi proud. The US is one of only a handful of nations that taxes foreign-earned income. Now they will apply the long quasi-global reach of the state in other legal areas. Even if this attempt at global, American-selective drug prosecution is thwarted, it already is serving its purpose of embedding the concept of 'you can leave the borders, but the borders follow you' into your collective zeitgeist.

The fences and border crackdowns going up and on the borders will be used eventually to keep you in, as will the mass brain-washing (ie falsehoods that 'the whole world wants to come to USA' , 'all other countries are actually worse off than the US' etc etc) via your media already has.

Many will scoff at this, many will call this hyperbole and alarmism, but just step back, and look at the differences that have occurred in the US in just the last 20 years, especially the last 10. This tyranny and compression of basic liberty is subtle at times, brutal at others, but it is most definitely grinding, it is methodical, it is bi-partisan, it is systematic, and it is relentless.

[RKP5637]

85. You are exactly correct. As this country melts down what you say will occur to

protect the wealth and to perpetuate the system even if at the expense and servitude of almost the entire citizenry. The foundation was reinforced significantly during the Bush years and IMO Obama has carried forth the same. "This tyranny and compression of basic liberty is subtle at times, brutal at others, but it is most definitely grinding, it is methodical, it is bi-partisan, it is systematic, and it is relentless."

[defendandprotect]

66. JFK: "Not a Pax Americana enforced by American weapons" -- !!

Ah, yes -- the superpower nation, leading the way with WMD, drones, torture and

wars of aggression on other nations!

[RKP5637]

67. Welcome to Police State USA. And we will follow with surveillance drones and

kill you and your family if you violate the police state. God what a place this is turning into. Wake up America. Vote all of these idiots out of office before it's too late.

[Devil_Fish]

150. As if they actually count your votes. Ha ha joke is on you. NT

[RKP5637]

156. Yep, we have the privilege of voting, but "they" have the privilege of counting. n/t

[lunasun]

157. Yes it is not who votes but who counts the votes! - Joseph Stalin said that I think

[Kievan Rus]

162. Stuff like this is precisely why I plan on leaving this country permanently as soon as possible

Crap like this makes me want to get out of this joke of a country even more. When I'm lucky enough to do so, I won't even look back.

[RKP5637]

167. One is smart to do so if an opportunity presents... I had that chance once, but

choose to work in the US. Now, I would think far differently.

[Odin2005]

68. This is evil!

:grr:

[RKP5637]

70. American continues to try to take over the world and establish the American Empire worldwide. n/t

[RevStPatrick]

71. So does this mean...

...if I smoke a joint in Amsterdam, that I can be arrested once I come back to the states?

[Amonester]

101. Maybe they'll go as far as send a drone to take care of your...

"s.i.n" there... why wait?

[jwirr]

72. I doubt this is constitutional. And IMO it is opening the door for

intervention into countries over drug issues - another everlasting war.

[defendandprotect]

137. We've for decades been "intervening" into countries over drug issues ....

many countries -- !!

Here's news of Costa Rica from summer of 2010 -- !!

Anger in Costa Rica over deal to ‘invite’ 46 US warships
By Daniel Tencer
Sunday, July 11, 2010

Costa Ricans suspect ‘ulterior motive’ in permitting large numbers of US troopshttp://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/07/11/anger-costa-rica-deal-invite-us-warships/

Opposition leaders in Costa Rica are up in arms over an agreement between the country and the United States that reportedly allows 46 US warships and 7,000 US Marines to enter the country as part of an anti-drug effort.

According to several Costa Rican news sources, the government there signed an agreement with the US last week to extend an 11-year-old cooperative program aimed at eradicating the maritime drug trade.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/07/11/anger-costa-rica-deal-invite-us-warships/


Evidently, the world is ours to do with as we please --

Wasn't that what Hitler/Nazis were thinking?

See Operation Paperclip -- Allen Dulles --

[jwirr]

143. I was thinking in terms of Iraq, Vietnam, Korea. Wars.

[defendandprotect]

147. And we've done those already --- !! Next up, Iran -- ????

[newspeak]

73. it amazes me that these repugs preach to their constituents

about less government in your lives and have enacted draconian policies against the plebes. Also spent taxpayer monies to enact said policies. What they really mean is we want to control you, your every move , your body. Only corporations have rights, because we trust them to police themselves.

My ancestors were not puritans. Quite a few came over right after the mayflower, but not for the "religious straight jacket shite." Some of these congresscritters are down right scary!

[tomg]

74. I have a good idea for this.

Fuck off. And if what I just said is illegal - fuck off again.

[tomg]

88. Forgot to mention: I am on foreign soil.

[BadGimp]

75. WHO is behindd this??

The other day we learn that the IRS is being used to shut down medical marijuana dispensaries

there is NO hue and cry from American by minority or majority asking for tougher laws on drug use.

So WHO is driving the Government?

there is clearly a well funded and well organized government entrenched movement. But who?

[bemildred]

78. There are quite a large number of people whose jobs and profits depend on the drug war.

And they live on both sides of the law.

[Andy823]

80. This is coming from REPUBLICANS!

It says in the article was sponsored by Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas). It is being pushed in the house judiciary committee. Republicans are the ones pushing this insane idea. We need to get the facts straight before we jump to any conclusions. As for the other issue on shutting down medical marijuana dispensaries, it is NOT all dispensaries. There are other post on DU that state that, but for some reason there are those here who want to jack it all out of proportion instead of stating the facts. Do your own research on these things and don't listen to the right wing trolls that come here and try and make "EVERYTHING" Obama's fault.

[krabigirl]

115. there are Dems on that committee btw

[Samantha]

128. Would this by any chance happen to be the same Lamar Smith who received

the campaign donations in the amounts and from the pharmaceutical interests itemized at this website:

http://maplight.org/us-congress/interest#industry=Pharmaceuticals/Health%20Products

What a coincidence.

Sam

[Lorien]

87. Big pharma, the prison industrial complex and corporations who use their slave labor

(such as Walmart, who uses 0.20 an hour prison slave labor to pick and pack their produce). Our prison population would be a tiny fraction of what it is without casual or medical marijuana users.

[RC]

103. The bu$h administration did a top to bottom clean-out and replace in the bureaucracies

that Obama left in place. Stuff like this is the result. So is shutting down the medical Marijuana dispensaries in California.

The take over is going almost according to plan. The have not figured out what to do about OWS - yet. But they will and it could get bloody

[Divernan]

130. O's bffs - Big Pharma and private prisons. Think he'd veto this?

[Devil_Fish]

151. big pharma. NT

[subterranean]

84. Exactly what problem would this law solve?

As far as I can tell, all it would do is create more jobs for Federal agents and prosecutors, and send more Americans to prison for victimless "crimes."

[RKP5637]

86. Yep, follow the money trail. Plus, it enables the authoritarians to continue their

suppression/repression of the American citizenry as we morph into a police state to main the status quo for the powerful and wealthy.

[elleng]

94. IDIOTS! That's all I can say.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

95. Oh great, now if I'm in a European pharmacy and buy the only medication

that cures my sinus headaches in any reasonable length of time (acetaminophen/paracetamol with pseudoephedrine, formerly known as Tylenol Sinus)*, I'm a criminal?

I bought some in England in 2007 and made it last two years by saving it for only the worst sinus headaches. Unfortunately, I forgot to buy any when I was in Scandinavia. :-(

*(I have been unable to find a reliable source in the U.S. since the requirement to sign for purchases of meds containing pseudoephedrine, and unfortunately, Advil Sinus, while still available, upsets my stomach.)

[krabigirl]

117. Lol no, even worse, the crime would be planning to buy the meds while still here in the US

scary huh?

[lunasun]

158. arrested for 'pre crimes'.... no longer just in fiction books !!!

[demigoddess]

96. love this guy! we call that grit!!

:patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot:

wrong thread! how did I do that!?

[Taverner]

97. okay NOW is it fascism yet?

Fuck

America

[madrchsod]

100. this guy`s district consists of northern san antonio, austin,and

a whole lot of nothing....

http://lamarsmith.house.gov/District/InteractiveMap.htm


who gave this nit wit the idea or did he think this up all by himself?

[Dokkie]

104. Now lets wait for the

outrage from our democratic party representatives and those so call limited govt republicans. If I dont hear anything and this passes and becomes law them we cant just sit and blame republicans for this. Republicans in the minority will fight tooth and nail against bills that goes against their beliefs and win but democrats just sit on their hands and point fingers.

You cant just stand for the good policies but you should be able to fight in support of those policies

[Initech]

105. WTF!!! We should be ending the war on drugs, not escalating it!!!

[progressoid]

106. Less government regulations!!11!

Or something.

[williesgirl]

107. Looks like those big pharma bribes, aka campaign contribution, are paying off handsomely. Pricks.

This is nuts and should be against our Constitution. Talk about criminalizing your thoughts, words, deeds legally in another country and having problems in the "free" US. this has to be stopped NOW.

[ZombieHorde]

108. Republicans are so lame. I hope they never win another election.

When Republicans talk about small government, they are lying, or they are deluded.

The Republicans are the party of massive, oppressive government.

[Auntie Bush]

109. Neither the President nor the Senate would sign such a f***ing bill.bill.

I'll say anything I want to anyone I want...except pushing terror. When did we lose freedom of speech? Who's going to tell me what I can say? I call this whole thing total BS.
These congressional Rethugs are a crazy scary bunch of lunatics!

[krabigirl]

116. Obama most certainly would, yes. And yeah, I will say what I want too.

[arcane1]

110. I guess this doesn't apply to torture or rendition, does it? n/t

[krabigirl]

112. of course not. the government loves violence

[Lyric]

118. Dear Democrats: please attach an amendment that replaces "Controlled Substances Act" with

"Federal Law".

There's no way in hell that it would pass, of course, but it would be AWESOME to watch the 'Pubs scrambling and sputtering to explain to the American people why it's okay to break SOME laws overseas (Halliburton, Blackwater, Exxon, etc.), but not others. People will figure out pretty damned fast that overseas lawbreaking is only acceptable if you're rich, and that'll feed those OWS fires rather nicely.

[SavWriter]

119. Stupid

Simply stupid

[cstanleytech]

120. I can foresee some potential first amendment challenges if this stupid law is passed.

[CanonRay]

123. Kent Conrad has lost his mind

Graham I can see, he's a warmongering facist. But Conrad?

[Uncle Joe]

124. This smells of dumb ass Karl Rove strategy

"attacking your opponent's perceived strength."

They know the Democratic Party; at it's core is the party of the people and they're afraid that if enough Democrats come to power 2012, we will have cannabis reform at the very least and that will firmly turn the national momentum away from the fascist loving, Republican wet dream of corporate supremacy.

They also view candidate Ron Paul as a Libertarian threat in the Republican Party, so this is aimed at him as well.

If Paul loses the primary and the Democratic Party marches in lock step with the fascist Republicans on this issue, there will be fewer numbers of Paul's Social Libertarian voters tempted to jump ship and vote for Democratic candidates.

The opposite will occur should Paul lose the primary and the Democratic Party firmly side with their strength; that being the people on this issue.

This strategy is aimed at separating the Democratic Party from the people, just more "divide and conquer," that's the only thing the Republicans know.

Thanks for the thread, highplainsdem.

[pam4water]

125. That is a ridiculous proposal for a law! K&R

[bongbong]

126. What repigs love

Repigs LOVE Big Government! As long as they are making money off it, any size government including infinite is WONDERFUL with them!

[Solly Mack]

127. K&R

[Broadsword]

129. AHA! The 'small government' people, hard at work.

Bunch of Fascists. And yes, lurkers - that means the confluence of State and Corporate interests.

What douchebag sponsored this?

[moondust]

132. All your national sovereignty are belong to us!

Buffoons. :crazy:

[soryang]

133. Consistent with renditions, torture, drones, summary murder...

... invasions based on false pretexts and other hallmarks of US policy. In other words, completely lawless.

[Auntie Bush]

134. Another AssholeTexas Republican!

I live in fear these guys ever get control of our country. Then you will really see Rebellion! It won't be pretty!

[hourglass1]

136. arrogant putzes

buy and become addicted to the concoctions of 'our' big pharma or rot in one of 'our' big houses ...

[OwnedByFerrets]

139. Fascism, pure and simple

[orbitalman]

141. These F*ckers are SICK. n/t

[DFW]

142. This is really revenge on France for not joining us in invading Iraq

Now underage Americans who accept an offer of wine in France could start world war III over it.

*on edit: from the OP: "The new law, sponsored by Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) allows prosecutors to bring conspiracy charges against anyone who discusses, plans or advises someone else to engage in any activity that violates the CSA..."

This was from a Texas Republican, so I thought for a moment that CSA meant the "Confederate Sates of America."

[libodem]

145. OMG

That sux. Fascists. :wtf:

[northoftheborder]

146. disturbingly wrong on so many levels.

How on earth would you enforce such a law??????? :mad: :mad: :crazy: :crazy: :silly: :silly: :wtf: :wtf: :argh: :argh: :dunce: :dunce: :grr: :grr: :thumbsdown: :thumbsdown: :thumbsdown: :thumbsdown: :thumbsdown: :thumbsdown:

[Demeter]

148. You Mean, They Are Going After "Poppy" Bush?

Hallelujah! I thought I'd never see the day, and the old bastard would die free and filthy rich.

[Juche]

152. Fuck em

Who says they have to find out. Small government my ass.

[99th_Monkey]

153. Oh Goodie!! Just what we need.

Yet more "US Policies" to "impose" on other nations and peoples.

Give me a freaking break. :mad: :puke:

[benld74]

154. HOW CAN THEY ENFORCE the damn thing in this first place?

[shanti]

169. just ramping up the fear

and tightening the screws...

[tblue37]

155. That is the fascist mindset at work. nt

[sarcasmo]

159. I think they need to make a World Police 2 .

The Empire continues to grow beyond belief.

[Kievan Rus]

161. Cue the Imperial March

[McCamy Taylor]

164. This is all for the drug companies.

[JDPriestly]

166. Is this what Republicans mean when they talk about deregulation

and reducing the size of government?

How much would it cost to investigate and prosecute people for crimes they committed in other countries that would not normally be crimes in those other countries?

I don't think it would be cheap.

[Blue_Tires]

170. Wouldn't this bill end the CIA as we know it?

If in some magical alternate world it was enforced across the board?