Dear Mr. Ashcroft, Malaysia Blows and So Do You

A Malaysian man by the name of Razali Ahmad, a courier company clerk and first time offender, was sentenced to death for possession of less than two pounds of marijuana. This is considered trafficking in Malaysia and death by gallows is the mandatory sentence.

While I'll be sure to stay the fuck away from such a country, this event raises a few questions about the ongoing drug war, many of them specific to America.

The most obvious issue is that if being hung for getting high doesn't deter someone from either the trade or use of drugs, then what will? The Drug War is an obvious hoax, fascist-like in its focus on non-white offenders, and a pathetic left-over of two shit-head presidents. Nothing is going to stop people from victimizing themselves; if you can even refer to drug use as that.

If you are an advocate of the War on Drugs and are finding solace in the idea that America hasn't yet incorporated capital punishment for drug offenders and instead warehouses their ever-multiplying numbers, read the next paragraph.

In Texas alone, 120 murderers have been sentenced to probation since 2000. We like to refer to that as "misdemeanor murder". On the other hand, George Mortarano, a first time offender, was sentenced to life without parole for 2,600 pounds of marijuana. He has been incarcerated since 1982, giving him the honorary title of "Longest Serving Non-Violent Federal Offender In United States History". An American president given to grant clemency in such cases would be very refreshing, but I wont be holding my breath. If his niece is, I hope her lung capacity is better than mine. (Click here to subscribe to my feed!)