I love my children. They are grown now and have moved away and begun their own lives as adults, but that love endures. Still, I would gladly give my life to preserve theirs. Anything that I have will always be at their disposal. My limited wealth, my home, any possession or time that I may have is theirs for the asking. I feel the same way about any future grandchildren that God may bless me with. Their family is my family. I can think of no worse punishment for a parent, than taking away their children.
While I realize it is sometimes necessary to remove children from families to prevent further abuse of children from errant parents, it should only be done as a last resort, and only after justification in a court of law. I also understand that sometimes obvious physical or sexual abuse would necessitate a preemptive removal of children to prevent further abuse, but there still must be a presumption of innocence until proven guilty in court.
All too often possession or use of marijuana has been used as an excuse to remove children from a parents custody to further punish marijuana users by harming their family. Would society accept children being removed from the family if wine or beer was found in the refrigerator, or if one of the parents actually drank the alcohol? When one considers that alcohol has a much stronger association with domestic violence and irresponsible activity than marijuana, it makes more sense to remove children from homes where alcohol is present, but that is rarely the case. Our Congress and President insist on continuing this failed war on marijuana. They claim it is no longer called a war, but the only thing that has changed is an increase in the use of paramilitary style raids on medical marijuana distributors and others accused of selling marijuana. The laws governing the use and sale of marijuana are largely ignored, because they are unjust laws, built on lies, racial intolerance and greed. But for those unfortunate enough to come to the attention of authorities, the punishment is severe and vengeful, where laws were written to punish marijuana use even further by declaring any marijuana possession a danger to children, and any possession of a firearm or ammunition an automatic felony.
There are many things in most homes that can pose a risk for children. Knives, hot water, bleach, stoves and electricity just scratch the surface. Children in homes where marijuana is consumed are in no more danger than in homes where beer or wine is consumed. Taking people’s children away is a pretty severe punishment for using marijuana as medicine or choosing a safer alternative to alcohol.
Randy Johnson
http://reason.com/blog/2013/04/25/boise-police-seize-children-of-marijuana
http://reason.com/blog/2013/04/16/hakken-couple-could-face-life-sentences
http://reason.com/blog/2013/04/09/josh-hakken-man-who-kidnapped-kids-after
http://reason.com/blog/2013/04/10/hakkens-back-in-us-custody-children-retu
http://reason.com/blog/2013/04/04/anti-government-couple-who-abducted-thei
http://www.connecticutdcfwatch.com/8×11.pdf
http://reason.com/blog/2013/05/02/colorado-legislators-drop-plans-to-cance
https://itsmycountrytoo.org/2013/01/12/drug-violence-is-increasing-exponentially/
https://itsmycountrytoo.org/laws-built-on-lies/
https://itsmycountrytoo.org/2012/08/08/197/
https://itsmycountrytoo.org/2012/07/29/marijuana-is-safer-than-alcohol-or-tobacco/
itsmycountrytoo.org 