‘Legalize Louisiana’ effort creating a buzz in Lake Area

LAKE CHARLES, LA (KPLC) –

“Legalize Louisiana” supporters met in downtown Lake Charles on Thursday to rally for marijuana legalization.

The meeting was aimed at creating a buzz in the community about the effort, according to medical marijuana activist Timothy Myers.

The turnout on Thursday was low, but supporters said they are hoping to organize a larger event later.

“Just legalize it,” Myers said. “I think there are people that actually need it and there’s a quality of life it can provide people that no other drug can provide.”

However, not everyone is for the legalization of the plant. Diana Drake, chief executive officer at New Beginnings Lake Charles, a drug treatment center, said legalizing marijuana will ruin the quality of life in the state.

“You’ve got people with three kids in a three bedroom house and they have an acre of land outside and they’re growing marijuana, and the parents are selling marijuana and it becomes an underground world that is just dark,” Drake said

It’s dark and underground because it’s illegal.  It’s dark because they have to hide.  If people could just go up to the store and buy it like Alcohol few people would be tempted to grow or sell it.  How many people really go to the trouble to make their own beer or grow tobacco?

It’s the laws that tear families apart, not the drug.  How many DWI’s do you need to get before they take your children away?

 I know of someone who has been pulled over twice with their child in their car and taken to jail for DWI.  This person wound up doing a short time in prison for it, but she still has her child.

 In most cases a raging Alcoholic has no fear of their kids being taken from them as long as it is obvious the kids are taken well care of, but get caught with a rolling paper and  a marijuana seed – well you get my point.  The double standard is mind boggling.  Some of the arguments against legalization are just demonstrably false.  Let’s have an honest debate about the issue, not the tired out worn out fear inducing arguments and tactics that we have heard for decades.

I know cancer patients and people suffering from depression that this horrible plant has helped personally.  I don’t want those folks thrown in jail over something that clearly has helped them, but again and again they are bashed over the head with laws that do not fit the crime.

You don’t like it?  Don’t use it.  Stop playing Nanny for everyone, and live your life.

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