NationStates Jolt Archive


AP Newwire: End Prohibition of Marijuana Worldwide

DJ_Enduro
16-01-2008, 23:23
(AP Local story from Longash, I.S.D)

Cowboy Cop Rides to End Prohibition
To Protect and Serve, Coast to Coast. | BY: VALERIE VANDE PANNE

Former police officer Howard J. Wooldridge rides his 9-year old horse, Misty, across the vast nation of I.S.D, coast to coast, wearing a T-shirt that reads, "Cops Say Legalize Pot. Ask me why."
Woolridge is one of the founders of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), a group of former and retired law enforcement officers speaking out against some nation's "War on Drugs." "DJ_Endurians," he says, "are hungry for an international solution to the drug problem." Cops are too apparently, as LEAP has grown from five members to 700 in less than 2 years.
He speaks with active police officers from nations all over the world on the topic of prohibition and claims not one has ever disagreed with his point--though not active officer has ever joined the organization. "No police officer on active duty will talk about it [publicly] because it's career suicide."
But his shirt dares to provoke an interesting question: Why do cops say legalize pot? People all over the world ask him and Woolridge give them the reasons: "A police officers efforts are to protect and serve his community. Some nation's current policy condemns their children to grow up in a world infested with blood-sucking drug dealers. Every drug dealer that is arrested or killed will be replaced in two days. If you end prohibition, you eliminate the drug dealer and his influence on the children. A legal, regulated market protects our children."
Woolridge spent 15 years in Capitola as a customs police officer aboard an international-traveling I.S.D. trading vessel. before retiring to Longash. During that time he got a firsthand view of many nation's "War on Drugs."
"They put up hundreds of helicopters a year looking for pot," he told Cannabis Culture Weekly, a local hemp related magazine in Longash, "Those detectives are not searching for child molesters or the guy that robbed your house last week. I came to realize there is a tremendous reduction in public safety as a result in prohibition."
Ultimatly, he advocates a "legal, regulated and taxed system where you may cultivate your own." He describes I.S.D's marijuana policies that are similar to most nation's policies on alcohol and tobacco. He points out that people are allowed to brew their own beer and ferment their own wines.
Woolridge also highlights the misuse of certain nation's tax dollars (whom we've chosen to leave out of this article) to arrest, prosecute and incarcerate nonviolent drug offenders: "I don't want to pay for someone who decided to get high instead of drunk one evening."
Not all nation's share his sentiment. "People like you ought to be killed," a fiery war-vet yelled at him while overseas.
Riding during the warm months of nations and in warmer climates he spent nights camping in tents and in the homes of strangers who welcomed the former officer and his horse into their homes and barns. "Because of this great kindness of the people in the world, Misty hasn't lost a pound. People provided food, water and hay."
LEAP now has a speakers' bureau, located in Longash, and during the cold months Woolridge attends local engagements to continue to spread the word. Woolridge estimates he's reached tens of thousands of people on his circumnavigational pony-ride for pot.

(ooc: This is based on a real organization: www.leap.cc)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: I.S.D. (PM Tom Hebert)
To: All nations of the world.
Re: Move to end prohibition of marijuana worldwide.
Message Reads:

Fellow leaders of nations! I have recently spoken with a brilliant young man who has inspired me to reach out to all other nations of the world. His name is Howard J. Woolridge and he is the founder of an organization called Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP). He's told me about his long, arduous journey to other nations in hope to unite all nations on this one matter: to end the prohibition of such a beneficial plant as marijuana.

Science has proven that there are medicinal benefits of marijuana time and time again. Even if there were no such benefits and it was used strictly as a recreational intoxicant it would be far safer than alcohol, which remains legal in most nations. With proper federal regulation and taxation of sales and transport such a substance can also be used to substantially boost a nation's budget.

It is no secret that marijuana is I.S.D's #1 cash crop. We assure you that are intentions are pure and are not fueled by greed. However, we are significantly intelligent and modest enough to realize an excellent economic opportunity when we see one. Therefore we are making an offer of industrial exchange to all other nations: We would like to build federally owned ports in various cities around the world. They would be mutually beneficial as we would be willing to pay a negotiable percentage to the nation that is hosting our oceanic storage facilities. We've sent port request forms to every nation in the world. You should be receiving them shortly.

-Priminster of The Incorporated States of DJ_Enduro, Tom Hebert.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Port Request Form
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please note that all applications will be considered regardless of race, sex, creed, religion, political policy or any other factor which could be considered discrimination against a minority. We do, however, reserve the right to reject any application for any reason.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Port Requirements/Details:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Size: 5 acres landmass, with coastal access.
Accommodations: Must be equipped with two 2-acre humidors, capacity of each humidor being 225,000lbs of botanic material. The remaining acre will have a large office building, 42 stories tall with an additional walk-in humidor with a 50,000lb capacity.
Legislative: The office of the port will be considered an embassy with limited rights. The area surrounding the port must be designated as a district of I.S.D. The reason for this designation is in the event of an attack on our port it will occur on our (legislative) soil, leaving your hands free of the need for retaliation. No foreign personnel (military or civilian) from our nation aside from an appointed ambassador will be employed there. All jobs involving said port will be provided to your people, including the construction of the port. Although remaining residents of your nation, they will be employed by our federal government. We will pay you a monthly sum based on a percentage of profits which will be negotiable indefinitely unless otherwise defined in a previous negotiation.
Economic: Our ports provide around 1200 jobs to the locale of choice, depending on demand in the area. We base our salary payments on the host-nation's minimum wage (if existent). Profits will vary time to time but will always be paid. We will notify an interested party of estimates in profit after our Secretary of Foreign Affairs visits the party's nation accompanied by a 3-man team of our business analysts.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
National Details
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nation's Full Name:
Nation's Leader:
Secretary of State:
Secretary of Foreign Affairs:
Do you have an Ambassador to I.S.D?: Yes/No If yes, please produce name.
Would you be interested in applying for an Embassy in the near future?: Yes/No.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Port-specific Details
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Requested Name of Port:
Alternate Names:
Requested Location:
Alternate Locations:
Requested Percentage:
Special Requests:
Comments/Concerns:
Red Tide2
16-01-2008, 23:48
The news report somehow was noticed by the Red Tidean Intelligence Commissiarat and sent to the Interior Ministry, with a large question mark on the sentence 'He speaks with active police officers from nations all over the world on the topic of prohibition and claims not one has ever disagreed with his point'.

It was not long before every police officer in Red Tide who had ever been to the nation of DJ_Enduro(which wasn't many, given the travel restrictions on regular Red Tidean citizens, of which police officers were considered apart of) had been either sent to the Gulag's or lined up opposite a firing squad.

A quick note was mailed to Howard Wooldridge, telling him 'thanks' for helping to weed out 'Enemies of the State' and explaining how he had helped do so.
Neko-Opolis
16-01-2008, 23:54
Neko-Opolis disagrees with your thoughts but respects your choices to do so. We maintain a strict NO DRUG POLICY. As you have an embassy in our country we are likely to expect marijuana may traverse to your embassy. It must remain there! Any distribution on the streets traced to you will result in your embassy being ejected from the country.

That is all,
Commission on International Relations
Pan-Arab Barronia
16-01-2008, 23:55
The news report somehow was noticed by the Red Tidean Intelligence Commissiarat and sent to the Interior Ministry, with a large question mark on the sentence 'He speaks with active police officers from nations all over the world on the topic of prohibition and claims not one has ever disagreed with his point'.

It was not long before every police officer in Red Tide who had ever been to the nation of DJ_Enduro(which wasn't many, given the travel restrictions on regular Red Tidean citizens, of which police officers were considered apart of) had been either sent to the Gulag's or lined up opposite a firing squad.

A quick note was mailed to Howard Wooldridge, telling him 'thanks' for helping to weed out 'Enemies of the State' and explaining how he had helped do so.

OOC: Totalitarianism FTW. Oh - and those state guardsmen - scary as hell. Ours just look a little like the Life Guards with Nakils and FA/15 Cardinals. It's Civil Protection you want to watch out for in Barronia - good old "knock, knock, break the door down and crack out the stun batons" treatment.

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc61/LordBelacqua/MIAUpload.png
Official Global Civil Service Communications Transmission

We can assure you that marijuana will remain illegal in Barronia. Cannabinoids are used in some medecines, which require strict licences to distribute and possess.

Any attempt to smuggle marijuana into Barronia will be met with due force - any members of any state caught attempting the aforementioned will be dealt with by the Higher Court and the Civil Protection Service accordingly.
Clandonia Prime
17-01-2008, 00:04
Official Company Communication

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/madnukedude/ClandonianEastIndiaCompanyFlag.png

The Clandonia East India Company enjoys the freedom to export cannabis based drugs into many of our friends and allies due to the libertarian attitudes of many. For many years now Clandonia has enjoyed liberal drug laws with a wide variety of products from opium, cocaine to man made pharmaceutical highs. The Company welcomes any new trade opportunities and bases of operation for its narcotics division.

We look down on countries such as Baronia with their fascist laws of socialism and statism. Any threat to Company trade will be met by force due to the 1978 Imperial Crown Merchant Shipping Act.


God save the King


Company Director

Lord Hugh Humperhies Bastlethwaite OCE, KOE, OPC
Pan-Arab Barronia
17-01-2008, 00:17
Official Company Communication

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/madnukedude/ClandonianEastIndiaCompanyFlag.png

The Clandonia East India Company enjoys the freedom to export cannabis based drugs into many of our friends and allies due to the libertarian attitudes of many. For many years now Clandonia has enjoyed liberal drug laws with a wide variety of products from opium, cocaine to man made pharmaceutical highs. The Company welcomes any new trade opportunities and bases of operation for its narcotics division.

We look down on countries such as Baronia with their fascist laws of socialism and statism. Any threat to Company trade will be met by force due to the 1978 Imperial Crown Merchant Shipping Act.


God save the King


Company Director

Lord Hugh Humperhies Bastlethwaite OCE, KOE, OPC

OOC: Heh, here we go again! More "friendly banter" between Clandonia and the Barronian Government - I do love our little chats, ha ha!

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc61/LordBelacqua/MIAUpload.png

These "fascist" laws ensure a healthy, productive populace, for the information of Lord Bastlewaite. If you wish to poison your populace, that is entirely your concern, and your own prerogative to match. Our concern is of the health, both physical and social, of our citizens - they do not deserve to be taken in by the lies of death-dealers, promising such trivialities as five minutes of heightened sensation on the risk of death.

We can assure the Clandonians that, as long as your own ships do not attempt to pass unannounced through Barronian waters, or attempt to dispose of any cargo within Barronian waters, then their ships shall not be approached by anyone other than ships on standard patrol routes. Whilst we see no reason for the Clandonians to send any ships in our direction, no Clandonian ship shall be accosted by any Barronian at sea without sufficient reason within Barronian waters and never in International Waters - at least grant us the ability to respect the property of other nations.

As no state of war exists between us, we would, quite frankly, not be so willing as the Clandonians believe to sacrifice the lives of our citizens on activities we believe could cause a state of war between us - after all, neither side would gain anything save the shedding of ridiculous amounts of blood from such an activity.
DJ_Enduro
17-01-2008, 08:08
(ooc: bump)
Aurum Domus
17-01-2008, 20:25
Official Statement From Aurum Domus Department Of Commerce

Marijuana and several other harmless drugs have been legal in Aurum Domus since ancient times. We fully support the effort to expand the legalization movement globally though we are against any non regulation.
Kanami
17-01-2008, 21:05
Drugs have been and always will be the scourge of society. Anyone who thinks there is a harmless drug is severely kidding themselves. Kanami maintains it's prohibition and will open fire upon any boat attempting to bring drugs into the country.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Eiflegard
17-01-2008, 21:20
Incoming transmission from the Supreme Justice of International Relations:

The benevolent movement of Eiflegard has always held that as long as property rights are not infringed, laws are not broken. Those who embrace Eiflegard owe nothing to it, including their bodies. Their body is there own and so if they choose to modify it with any form of chemicals, it is their legal right to do so, just as it is the legal right of any other to withhold any form of care (including medical) or funding thereof - meaning, if you wish to do an activity, you will absorb 100% of the risk associated, unless charities apply. Eiflegard has no form of direct taxation and is only concerned with matters of private property and liberty. Freedom by power - power by freedom.
Praetonia
17-01-2008, 21:42
HM Board of Trade

Praetonian Statute does not prohibit these goods, and so ships are free to enter and trade in Praetonian ports. The Board of Trade continues to oppose authoritarian trade restrictions in all their forms.
Philimbesi
17-01-2008, 21:44
All forms of Marijuana are considered a controlled substance by law in The United States of Philimbesi and federal law makes it illegal to traffic, store, sell or use any of those substances.

William Bailee
Trade Secretary
The United States of Philimbesi
Aqua Anu
18-01-2008, 16:36
Drugs are strictly prohibited in Aqua Anu. Any attempt to near the shores with substances such as marijuana will result in your arrest.
Vetalia
18-01-2008, 16:40
Although our country does find the use of drugs to be nothing more than a waste of money better invested, we nonetheless have no qualms about providing them for sale to those willing to pay. Your goods are fully welcome in all Vetalian ports and we have abundant land available for use should you be interested in cultivating your crop in Vetalia.

No doubt our markets will be pleased to hear that they now have another choice of marijuana, and we hope your country can deliver the goods our customers demand for a reasonable price.

Regards,
Yuri Pankratov, Proconsul of Trade
Pereine
18-01-2008, 16:57
We did previously state interest in discussing a port. We did not anticipate that this would require us to open our nation to mindaffecting compunds however. This raises a concern for us since the Most Serene Republic considers such substances illegal unless they have been approved by the ministry of health as for medicinal purposes. The substance in question is not one of them.

We would therefore like to forward the question if allowing this substance is a absolute requirement or if negotiations could be pursued to relinquish that requirement.

Signed

Gal-hran of the line of Valdruh
DJ_Enduro
18-01-2008, 17:20
From: I.S.D. (Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Christopher Rock)
To: Pereine Proconsul of Trade, Yuri Pankratov
Re: Negotiations of oceanic storage facility.
Message Reads:
We have received your telecoms regarding the construction of one of our fine ports. As always, are terms are always negotiable as we are more than compliant when it comes to adhering to other nation's laws & legislation. We respect your laws and have no intention of dishonoring the rulings of your nation.

Marijuana is our #1 cash crop and therefore fuels our request for the storage requirements. Because the aforementioned botanical in question is considered a controlled substance in your nation we will allow you to allocate the 4-acres of land into separate warehousing structures however you deem fit. The remaining acre on the front of the property must still house the 42-story structure mentioned in the application.

All legislative issues previously requested concerning the port will still stand, including the payment of profits derived from said port. Since you are unable to receive and, therefore, trade effectively our #1 cash crop we will be slightly less flexible on the percentage that will be payed to you from this port's profits. We will start percentage negotiations relatively low. We are currently offering you 2% of profits (which have yet to be determined).

After we receive your application we will send a small team of business analysts to your nation to survey the situation and acquire estimates of annual capital derived from the port. If your application is accepted we will finance the construction immediately.

We look forward to future economic endeavors with your country and urge you to research more deeply the medicinal benefits of marijuana. We wish you the best of luck on your appplication and hope our great nations can prosper together.

-Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Christopher Rock

-Secondary Minister Jeb Bush

-Prime Minister Tom Hebert
Karshkovia
18-01-2008, 18:34
Karshkovia welcome any diplomatic discussions with those that also participate in the Hemp and Marijuana trade. As it is know, Karshkovia allows growth of marijuana for personal use without a license, however to sell marijuana citizens need a license. The requirements for a license are fair and just, and provide that quality Marijuana is sold. The Karshkovian government also grows six brands of Marijuana for external sales only so not to compete with farms and those who sell Marijuana internally.

However, as Karshkovia has stated before we will not allow other narcotics in our borders. To emphasis this, the Karshkovian Air Command and Naval Command recently sunk a freighter attempting to bring heroin and cocaine into the Volograd port, with all hands lost (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=13381094#post13381094).
Delkor
18-01-2008, 18:40
Nation's Full Name: Grand Imperial Kingdom of Delkor
Nation's Leader: High King Tironus
Minister of State: Damacus
Minister of Foreign Affairs: Thioden
Do you have an Ambassador to I.S.D?:No
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Port-specific Details
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Requested Name of Port: Delkor-Enduro Seaport
Requested Location: City of Enedwaith (http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/nx9100/railmap.jpg) (OOC: 4th port town from top)
Requested Percentage: 5%
Special Requests: Port must be capable of handling Delkorian Navy ships in times of war.
Comments/Concerns: Union Railway, are primary railroad, will build a connection to your port for freight and passenger trains. Also, while marijuana is not illegal in Delkor (not many citizens use it), we do not want this substance to become too common or widespread.
DJ_Enduro
18-01-2008, 20:09
From: I.S.D. (Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Christopher Rock)
To: Delkor
Re: Application for port.
Message Reads:

All terms regarding percentage paid and control of cargo are provisionally accepted and we will have our team of analysts visit the aforementioned city to provide analysis of it's economic situation and generate an estimate of revenue you should expect to see from your newly acquired port.

We will agree to dig trenched paths to our dry-docks to accommodate your larger military ships and allow them access to our port during times of war. In return for this service we ask that we be compensated with monthly payments equal to the last month's earnings you received from our business-venture previous to the necessity of war-time usage. These payments will continue as long as your ships are tenants of said port, restricting our accommodations of business transactions. Please address this issue in your next telecom.

Concerning the issue of marijuana: Marijuana is our #1 cash crop and our port-expansion venture is an attempt to ensure that we have adequate storage a distribution facilities around the world. We are pleased to hear that marijuana is not prohibited in your nation and we respect your requests to keep our marijuana cargo from being sold to the general market. Although we move a great many cargoes aside from marijuana, we will use the port for marijuana storage primarily, allowing for no local-level sales. Federal-level purchases will still be offered if you wish to purchase some of the product. All other products will be dealt with according to your national legislation.

The funds for the construction of the port have been wired to your parliament, totaling $15,000,000. You may go about the subcontracting of construction as you wish. We've also sent over a team of 3 business analysts and our Ambassador to Delkor, Ricky Moralis. We will have some estimates of profits soon.

We are glad to have you aboard our endeavor to pursue economic greatness on the world floor and look forward to future economic opportunities involving your great nation.

-Secretary of Foreign Affairs, C. Rock

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: I.S.D. (Director of ISDDT, Chuck Marquise)
To: Delkor
Re: Railway to port.
Message Reads:

I was very pleased when I saw Delkor's name on one of our port applications. Our recent endeavor regarding the exchange of train motors has pleased our Department of Transportation quite sufficiently, leaving me with a surplus in my department's budget. We would like to offer a "denominational handshake," as it were, by offering to finance (or at the very least, aid in) the construction of your proposed railway addition. Please let us know how much the estimate for the project is and we will wire an amount we feel is reasonable based on the estimation.

We look forward to economic prosperity with your nation.

-Director of ISDDT, Chuck Marquise
Pereine
18-01-2008, 22:14
From: I.S.D. (Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Christopher Rock)
To: Pereine Proconsul of Trade, Yuri Pankratov
Re: Negotiations of oceanic storage facility.
Message Reads:
We have received your telecoms regarding the construction of one of our fine ports. As always, are terms are always negotiable as we are more than compliant when it comes to adhering to other nation's laws & legislation. We respect your laws and have no intention of dishonoring the rulings of your nation.

Marijuana is our #1 cash crop and therefore fuels our request for the storage requirements. Because the aforementioned botanical in question is considered a controlled substance in your nation we will allow you to allocate the 4-acres of land into separate warehousing structures however you deem fit. The remaining acre on the front of the property must still house the 42-story structure mentioned in the application.

All legislative issues previously requested concerning the port will still stand, including the payment of profits derived from said port. Since you are unable to receive and, therefore, trade effectively our #1 cash crop we will be slightly less flexible on the percentage that will be payed to you from this port's profits. We will start percentage negotiations relatively low. We are currently offering you 2% of profits (which have yet to be determined).

After we receive your application we will send a small team of business analysts to your nation to survey the situation and acquire estimates of annual capital derived from the port. If your application is accepted we will finance the construction immediately.

We look forward to future economic endeavors with your country and urge you to research more deeply the medicinal benefits of marijuana. We wish you the best of luck on your appplication and hope our great nations can prosper together.

-Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Christopher Rock

-Secondary Minister Jeb Bush

-Prime Minister Tom Hebert

We are glad we could come to an agreement in the matter. We hereby submit our application:

National Details
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nation's Full Name: The Most Serene Republic of Pereine
Nation's Leader: Mya'yi of the line of Sho
Secretary of State: none
Secretary of Foreign Affairs:Gal-hran of the line of Valdruh
Do you have an Ambassador to I.S.D?: Yes, Rusty Shackleford
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Port-specific Details
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Requested Name of Port: Derunoki
Alternate Names: Seybri
Requested Location: Southeastern Pereine, in the province of Iniya
Alternate Locations: Northeastern Pereine, in the province of Ghala
Requested Percentage: 2%
Special Requests: None beside prior agreement
Comments/Concerns: none

We hope our trade will be beneficial for both of our peoples

Signed

Gal-hran of the line of Valdruh, elected voice of friendship

and

Laya of the line of Valdruh, elected voice of trade
DJ_Enduro
19-01-2008, 00:13
(ooc: excellent follow-up story, karshkovia. I'll post up some more acceptances after work.
The Grand World Order
19-01-2008, 03:49
After this news report had reached the Spire, numerous stations under the GWO began bringing up the topic.

Across the Grand World Order, drug laws are highly enforced. If anyone is found selling or manufacturing drugs, they are executed on-site or otherwise. And if you're found buying it, you go to prison for at least 10 years. Civil Rights don't get in the way of law enforcement; If you're suspected of having even pro-drug signs, the local Civilian Control Unit would be busting in your door and ransacking your house. If they find anything, they'll handcuff you and beat you accordingly before taking you off to a cell. Even if it's "just" marijuana.


Hardly any Civilian Control Officers have sympathy for drug abusers or dealers. They find joy in beating criminals and raiding drug making facilities.

((OOC: lal for asshole cops, they're awesome. And did I see someone with Chris Rock as a government official?))
Dun Eideann
19-01-2008, 04:25
http://s113.photobucket.com/albums/n220/Neo-Erusea/th_deroundelnation.png
Official Government Communique of Dun Eideann

Like drinking Alcohol, a substance illegal by Allah's great words, marijuana and all forms of cannibus-based drugs will remain illegal in the Neo-Erusean Republic of Dun Eideann. Never will this drug be allowed inside the borders of my country. Consider this a warning. Your people do not have rights in my nation, anyone of DJ_Enduro found here smuggling the illegal substance will be shot without hesitation or remorse.

-Khaled Al-Asad