Georgia Lawmaker Calls For Caning, Executing Marijuana Offenders

August 12th, 2009 By: Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director
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[Editor's note: This post is excerpted from this week's forthcoming NORML weekly media advisory. To have NORML's media advisories delivered straight to your in-box, sign up for NORML's free e-zine here.]
State Republican lawmaker Tommy Benton (31st House District) favors “caning” minor marijuana offenders and “executing” those who sell the drug, according to a recent correspondence sent by the representative to a constituent.
In a July 29, 2009 e-mail (which was voluntarily forwarded to the NORML office), Rep. Benton wrote: “Thanks for the email. We will have to agree to disagree on this and whether or not money is wasted (by mandating the state to prosecute minor marijuana offenders). I am opposed to the legalization of marijuana. I think we should go to caning for people caught using and maybe execute dealers. [emphasis NORML’s] That would solve the problem as well. That is what they do in Singapore and they don’t have a drug problem.”
Caning is a form of corporal punishment consisting of up to 24 violent lashes with a long rattan cane that has been soaked in water. The procedure inflicts intense pain and deep, bloody lacerations that can take several months to heal.
Rep. Benton followed up his remarks in a separate e-mail on August 11 (also forwarded to NORML) in which he threatened to turn over the names of citizens who disagreed with his political viewpoints to local law enforcement.
He wrote: “You and your cronies want it (marijuana) legalized so you can get a hit anytime without having to worry about getting arrested. I have forwarded your email to the Lowndes County sheriffs [sic] office so that they can be on the lookout for you. [emphasis NORML’s] Consider this my last correspondence on the the [sic] subject to you or anyone else who shares your similar “conservative views’.”
Benton was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 2005.





And other expressions of disgust that the "bad word" censor would edit out!





You should read the comments over at NORML! Suggestions of "tar and feathering" are among some of the kinder comments! If you live in Georgia, be sure to get registered as a voter ASAP!- Apparently he's up for election next year! Be sure to spread this around to your friends!

We cannot allow such a barbarian remain in office!



(My sincere apologies to any Vandals, Huns or Goths for defaming you by putting you in the same category as Benton.)




Granny

__________________
"If the truth won't do, then something is wrong!"
Granny's Grandpa- Rev. J. C. Schwabenland

Need MMJ medical studies? Look here!
http://boards.cannabis.com/medicinal...09-update.html

Granny's Master list- New format- http://cannalink.org/granny/
Want your own free copy of the list? email us-
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i read that granny. disgusting to say the least. he probably knows as much about cannabis as he does about singapore's law and/or national problems. (they sure do love there amphetamines in SE asia!)

even the govt funded anti-cannabis scientists end up pro-cannabis. go figure, then the govt doesn't want to listen. not to mention lord knows how many "experts" they have growing their meds. and they don't bother to look for more. it's the illusion of trying to study.

sorry for ranting.


-shake

__________________
"happy trees"

troubleshooting form

"some of my sweets be tight and some of my sweets be fucked up, but all of my sweets gon' blow so killa smoke gets sucked up..." -Bun B

"But, when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security." -Deceleration of Independence

It just figures that Obama gets into office spewing all this MMJ sympathy throughout his campaign, and then the other politicians start opening their mouths at the state level with some of the most irrational comments I have heard in years.

We are going to give million dollar fines and 25 years for Kush, and now we are going to cane pot dealers in GA. WTF is going on here? I think this whole country is spiraling out of control, it seems that there is no one in power with a clue. No one with their friends hand on the pulse of this nation, let alone their own.

I served a tour in the Marine Corps and at that time I couldn't imagine that I was supporting and defending some of this governments BS hypocritical agendas. I can say now that I don't think I would do it again. I have never said that, but with what I know now, I would NEVER serve our government in any capacity again. Semper Fi

__________________
----------------------
Believe half of what you see and none of what you hear...

E-Thug...Gettin negative rep is better than gettin your ass whooped!!!

Current Grow here: http://boards.cannabis.com/grow-log/...ml#post2012429

So true! I just relocated from GA and the mindset of the people are in total fear of law enforcement. people do not stand up for their rights or beliefs. The "good ole boys" are not a myth, they exist and are still going strong. Even in the bigger sities like Atl. My mom who will be 82 years old this year feel that marijuana should be legalized,,, period. What is wrong with those southern boys and girls? Fear! It isn't just the laws about marijuana, it is most of the outdated laws. It is amazing how people do not stand up for their rights

in the south they use drug laws as replacements for the jim crow laws!

irydyum, what was your MOS? and Semper Fi brother!


-shake

__________________
"happy trees"

troubleshooting form

"some of my sweets be tight and some of my sweets be fucked up, but all of my sweets gon' blow so killa smoke gets sucked up..." -Bun B

"But, when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security." -Deceleration of Independence

2651 Crypto Tech, though most time was spent as a Special Security Officer at 3MAW

__________________
----------------------
Believe half of what you see and none of what you hear...

E-Thug...Gettin negative rep is better than gettin your ass whooped!!!

Current Grow here: http://boards.cannabis.com/grow-log/...ml#post2012429

i was a 6234 (avionics tech) on hueys and cobras in hmla-169!

sorry not trying to thread jack.


-shake

__________________
"happy trees"

troubleshooting form

"some of my sweets be tight and some of my sweets be fucked up, but all of my sweets gon' blow so killa smoke gets sucked up..." -Bun B

"But, when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security." -Deceleration of Independence

wow. someone should execute tommy benton for being such backwards-ass hick believing everything the gov't tells him. no worries. he will burn in hell.

Now I'm in California, so something from me would be totally disregarded. Sometimes you can reach a person through showing them the facts- I doubt if that will be the case here, but we should try. And more people are able to accept medical use than recreational use- polls have shown that many times.

So all of you in Georgia, why not go to my list (link below) and pick an ailment that has meaning for you. Then print up the abstracts (the short summary of a study) and the news articles and send him a copy.

Think of the scene- he gets all these big envelopes filled with how cannabis helps folks with cancer, diabetes, MS and more. All from different areas, all on how GOOD cannabis is for many different ailments.

Best case- he agrees it can be medicine and maybe he was a bit overboard about his statement (that will be a cold day... ).

Worst case- He ignores the facts and we are absolutely certain he is insane. /

Possible case?- He has a apoplectic fit or something from reading the facts?

No matter what, though, you all need to get registered to vote (get friends to come along- make it a party! ) No one who can make statements like that should be in office- we need people who think before they speak! Suggesting genocide is not cool! (How many of you have sold or gave a bit to a friend? You qualify for the death penalty in benton's mind! The US would lose a tremendous number of people!) He should resign in shame. (But that ain't going to happen either! )


If he won't learn, we will just have to replace him by voting him out!




Granny

__________________
"If the truth won't do, then something is wrong!"
Granny's Grandpa- Rev. J. C. Schwabenland

Need MMJ medical studies? Look here!
http://boards.cannabis.com/medicinal...09-update.html

Granny's Master list- New format- http://cannalink.org/granny/
Want your own free copy of the list? email us-
i.wantgrannyslist(at)greenpassion.org

lmao!

maybe we should start caning all crooked polititians? not saying this guy is but anyone that psycho has to make you wonder.

__________________

I fault the people of Georgia; For it was the people who elected such a backwards,idiot into THEIR political process.It is also the Great Georgia People who keep him employed,true?

I'm from the south and have a lot of pride but the laws and people are becomnig outdated to me.

You can complain and write the souther legislators all you want but it's not gonna do any good, imo... because there are too many conservative, brainwashed republicans here.

Well said...whodi....

The whole southern states area is like living behind the Iron Curtain; about the same as Romaina or Bulgaria was during the Cold War years.

1. Harsh sentences/fines for cannabis
2. Extra penalties: tax stamps, confiscation of property, profile stops, choppers flying overhead...(snitches are rewarded)
3. Citizens are treated like enemies of the State...sad...

__________________
"Consider yo' bad self enlightened, homeslice"-StinkyAttic

I agree, DP

A lot of the people around here are very closed-minded and it pisses me off. Seems like the south is very very slow to evolve.. it's good and bad, but when it comes to cannabis it's very sad.

I love in Georgia =(. I find this extremely disgusting and pitiful, to say the very least. I wouldn't mind executing this stupid hick with my bare hands for him saying such primitive things. He is obviously a complete idiot. How he got elected it beyond me!

That is insane, when i lived in knoxville, I knew several dealers that drove to atlanta to re-up.

I didn't know it was that bad down there granny

__________________
"Prohibition . . . goes beyond the bounds of reason in that it attempts to control a man's appetite by legislation and makes a crime out of things that are not crimes . . . A prohibition law strikes a blow at the very principles upon which our government was founded."
-Abraham Lincoln

yeah, the borders around the state of GA are shady, too. Be careful.

I'd still flood that idiot benton with studies- just to bug him! I've even made it easy for you- you can now get your own copy of my list of MMJ studies free! Then you could email him a study a day for the next 2 years+, there are over 1,000 studies to use!

Absolutely Free! Granny Storm Crow's list!

My granny was from Georgia- a McNair from Decatur (any of you kin to me?). It is such a crying shame that Georgia has fools like benton running it. And have you registered to vote yet? You guys have [U]got[/U] to vote him out of office!


Granny

__________________
"If the truth won't do, then something is wrong!"
Granny's Grandpa- Rev. J. C. Schwabenland

Need MMJ medical studies? Look here!
http://boards.cannabis.com/medicinal...09-update.html

Granny's Master list- New format- http://cannalink.org/granny/
Want your own free copy of the list? email us-
i.wantgrannyslist(at)greenpassion.org

im not sure it would do any good granny...people like that wont admit their wrongs...it's too late... he's compromised...your right about voting him out of office though...im just glad i dont live in georgia and have to worry about some inane psycho-babbling retard telling me im going to jail for using medicine. he's probably a severe alcoholic that beats his wife. and most definately a sock-sniffing bog-trotter, like bill O'reilly.

does anybody know if we can get our hands on the email? i think WSB-TV 2, WAGA Fox 5 and WXIA 11 TV news would be interested in seeing that, the news outlets are pretty liberal here I think they would air it or give it a mention....not to mention hehe CNN or MSNBC

lets base our policy off of singapores. they dont have a drug problem and we wouldnt either if it WERE legalized. Clearly he has never experienced cannabis. ignorance is bliss for some, unfortunately its a pain in our asses

Here is Rep Tommy Benton discussing the role of African American soldiers fighting for the confederacy during the civil war. According to Mr. Benton, blacks voluntarily enlisted in the confederate army, and were treated better in the south than in the union.

Sure sounds like blacks were treated well by the south during the good ole'days. They should be happy we brought them over here right??

Fucking ignorant, no way should this man be in office. If the majority of the people in his district really feel this way, that's just sad

YouTube - Rep. Tommy Benton talks about blacks in the Civil War

We have to get this guy stoned.

__________________
Any advice I provide is only to be used by legal medical cannabis growers not acting in conflict with their respective state laws.

Reading this combined with the fact that I just moved to GA kinda makes me sad for the future. To everyone who suggested that we should beat or kill Mr. Benton, that's not the way to go about doing things. I'm not zoned for his district, but there has to be someone here from that area of the world. Also, I've lived in the south my whole life, and yes blows the majority of the time.

No offense to anyone but what do you expect? its the SOUTH!


Anyways all politicians are idiots and we the people elect these idiots so what does that say about the majority of american people.