The Story Of Jenny (And Her 'Rights')

[tinybear]

I received this in my e-mail recently. I wonder if the story's true? Anyway, true or not, I think I ought to post it here and share it. Those who think smoking pot is a victimless crime, would you like to re-consider?

Jenny was so happy about the house they had found. For once in her life 'twas on the right side of town. She unpacked her things with such great ease. As she watched her new curtains blow in the breeze. How wonderful it was to have her own room. School would be starting; she'd have friends over soon. There'd be sleep-overs, and parties; she was so happy It's just the way she wanted her life to be. On the first day of school, everything went great. She made new friends and even got a date! She thought, "I want to be popular and I'm going to be, Because I just got a date with the star of the team!" To be known in this school you had to have clout, And dating this guy would sure help her out. There was only one problem stopping her fate. Her parents had said she was too young to date. "Well I just won't tell them the entire truth. They won't know the difference; what's there to lose?" Jenny asked to stay with her friends that night. Her parents frowned but said, "All right." Excited, she got ready for the big event But as she rushed around like she had no sense, She began to feel guilty about all the lies, But what's a pizza, a party, and a moonlight ride? Well the pizza was good, and the party was great, But the moonlight ride would have to wait. For Dan was half drunk by this time. But he kissed her and said that he was just fine. Then the room filled with smoke and Dan took a puff. Jenny couldn't believe he was smoking that stuff. Now Dan was ready to ride to the point But only after he'd smoked another joint. They jumped in the car for the moonlight ride, Not thinking that he was too drunk to drive. They finally made it to the point at last, And Dan started trying to make a pass. A pass is not what Jenny wanted at all (and by a pass, I don't mean playing football.) "Perhaps my parents were right....maybe I am too young. Boy, how could I ever, ever be so dumb." With all of her might, she pushed Dan away: "Please take me home, I don't want to stay." Dan cranked up the engine and floored the gas. In a matter of seconds they were going too fast. As Dan drove on in a fit of wild anger, Jenny knew that her life was in danger. She begged and pleaded for him to slow down, But he just got faster as they neared the town. "Just let me get home! I'll confess that I lied. I really went out for a moonlight ride." Then all of a sudden, she saw a big flash. "Oh God, Please help us! We're going to crash!" She doesn't remember the force of impact. Just that everything all of a sudden went black. She felt someone remove her from the twisted rubble, And heard, "call an ambulance! These kids are in trouble! Voices she heard...a few words at best. But she knew there were two cars involved in the wreck. Then wondered to herself if Dan was all right, And if the people in the other car was alive. She awoke in the hospital to faces so sad. "You've been in a wreck and it looks pretty bad." These voices echoed inside her head, As they gently told her that Dan was dead. They said "Jenny, we've done all we can do. But it looks as if we'll lose you too." "But the people in the other car!?" Jenny cried. "We're sorry, Jenny, they also died." Jenny prayed, "God, forgive me for what I've done I only wanted to have just one night of fun." "Tell those people's family, I've made their lives dim, And wish I could return their families to them." "Tell Mom and Dad I'm sorry I lied, And that it's my fault so many have died. Oh, nurse, won't you please tell them that for me?" The nurse just stood there-she never agreed. But took Jenny's hand with tears in her eyes. And a few moments later Jenny died. A man asked the nurse, "Why didn't you do your best To bid that girl her one last request?" She looked at the man with eyes so sad. "Because the people in the other car were her mom and dad." This story is sad and unpleasant but true, So young people take heed, it could have been you.

[giuliano]

Those who think smoking pot is a victimless crime, would you like to re-consider?

eh? they died from crash injuries, not from smoking pot!

are you sure they didn't have a secret bank account you were invited to transfer the money through?

[tinybear]

Wouldn't have crashed if Dan hadn't taken the drink and drugs though. Now I suppose you'd say it's not the fault of the drink and drugs; it's just Dan's fault. Or you could even say it was Jenny's fault.

[giuliano]

you suppose right!

[tinybear]

It seems everyone and everything is blamed, except the drinks and the drugs. They're innocent. We have a right to take them as and when we feel like it, no? And if some tragedy occurs, it's some person's fault. No, no, it's not the fault of the drinks and drugs. Perish the thought.

[giuliano]

should we punish the weed?

[tinybear]

Yes, why don't we? Banishment and exile would be appropriate, don't you think?

[giuliano]

how about burning at the stake?

[tinybear]

Nah, too much smoke. :)

[Catch 22]

guys can you stop the one sentence posts. if you're going to comment about the topic, have an actual discussion while doing so eh? otherwise the topic will be closed.

[tinybear]

Oh, OK. Why don't you start the ball rolling? You're a lawyer right? What do you think? Is the banning of drugs beneficial to our society and should it continue? Would it save the lives of people like Jenny (and her parents). Have you or your friends done anything like what Jenny did? If so, what were you thinking? That you have rights and you had to exercise them?

[Osborn F Enready]

This entire thread is more anti-drug rhetoric, more blame pushing, more baseless crap with which no intelligent debate can be built, started once again, by Tinybear.

Nice story, convoluted deductions.

[Catch 22]

Firstly, I'm not a lawyer, I'm still in high school. I just happen to understand how law works and it's basic principles.

Anyway I believe this jenny story to be a manufactured piece of garbage that's produced all to many times by some anti drug group looking for spook stories to get at some kids. Aside from the obvious fact that alcohol is perfectly legal (yet we allow it) it’s in dispute if marijuana causes accident at all. Many say that the drug’s affects on perception are counterbalanced by the risk aversive behavior that you have while under the influence of THC. Some links

http://www.norml.org.nz/Marijuana/Driving.htm#age981021

http://my.marijuana.com/Exposing_12_1095.html

[tinybear]

"In high doses, marijuana probably produces driving impairment in most people. However, there is no evidence that marijuana, in current consumption patterns, contributes substantially to the rate of vehicular accidents in America."

One wonders if this pattern will change if marijuana is legalized across the country, becomes more readily available and more people smoke it.

Here's a contrary view:

http://www.kqed.org/topics/news/pers...uana/3yes.html

[Starboy]

There are terrible accidents caused by of all sorts of things. Like 'the sun was in my eyes' or 'I am in love and was daydreaming about tonight' or 'I am hungry and was eating a sandwich while I was driving', or 'I got a phone call'. There are a million reasons why people get into accidents that cause great harm. Most of them have nothing to do with drugs and all of them have to do with people not thinking about what they are doing and not taking the proper precautions or not driving at all. The common denominator here is people not drugs.

But to set the record strait I do not advocate recreational drug use of any kind but I am not a prude and do not insist that no one be allowed to do it. If you want to kill your brain then have at but do it responsibly. Take a gun and blow your brains out, but don't do it while driving of course.

Starboy

[The Dunedan]

Once again, TB prefers to blame an inanimate object rather than the fucktard who consumed said substance in an idiotic way and got in a wreck. TB would rather blame a bunch of dried leaves for what a thinking, rational person did.

This is the same mentality which posits that a gun makes someone a murderer, that the gun is at fault rather than the fuckhead who pulls the trigger. This is the kind of mindset which posits that drugs MAKE people rob, steal, and rape; rather than a person who's naturally predisposed to such things making the conscious choice to commit such an act.

This mindset removes all responsibility from the Perp, and places it on a few pounds of steel, or a few ounces of dried leaves. It's no longer the fault of the asshole who wrecked the car, it was that dastardly pot!! The gun jumped into his hand and forced him to kill someone! The leaves FORCED this fuckhead to drive, and wreck, his car! Ban it all, make it illegal!

Or, we could act like SANE people, like ADULTS, and blame the person who actually commited the crime and harmed people, rather than the unreasoning inanimate object which they used to commit the crime, or the dried leaves which they consumed prior to acting like an ass. If someone wants to kill, they'll kill regardless. If someone tends to drive too fast, they're gonna speed. If someone wants to get high, they'll get high; and it won't matter how. The Saudis just beheaded six people for importing drugs. What was the drug, you ask? Nyquil. You see, alchohol is illegal under Shari'a law, and these people thought that by smuggling alchoholic cold-medicine they could get around the prohibition. Guess what? People will always get drunk, high, stoned, and stupid, by whatever means they feel they must. Wasting money on the "Drug War" has not only drained our coffers and put over 1 million people in prison for harming nobody, it is a grand exercise in denial: denial of personal responsibility.

[ericsp23]

It seems everyone and everything is blamed, except the drinks and the drugs. They're innocent. We have a right to take them as and when we feel like it, no? And if some tragedy occurs, it's some person's fault. No, no, it's not the fault of the drinks and drugs. Perish the thought.

There are many people who are capable of using marijuana responsibly. Just because some can't doesn't mean we need to ban it for everyone.
The same argument can be made against alcohol. Alcohol causes many deaths every year and it ruins people's lives. But we've been down the road of banning it, and it was much worse. It didn't really stop the tragedies from occuring and organized crime bosses reached the peak of their power.
By legalizing it we can regulate it and get rid of much of the crime in this country. It would also lessen the strain on our overburdened prison and judicial systems. It is time for us to admit that our approach to the problem of drug abuse is just not working and that it is time to try something radically different.

[Catch 22]

According to a U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) report, marijuana impairs motor skills, concentration, and coordination. A 1986 DOJ report entitled Drugs of Abuse reported that "Accidents may result from a distortion of time and space relationships. Users may experience shifting sensory imagery, impaired memory, and a dulling of attention despite an illusion of heightened insight. Occasionally, an altered sense of self-identity and paranoia are reported." And research indicates that the disruptive effects that marijuana has on coordination may last for more than 24 hours, which is far beyond the period during which most people "feel high."

This is the only part of the page that relates to accidents caused by marijuana and it’s pretty paltry evidence. The DOJ is hardly the best place to look for info on traffic related deaths and it's definately not looking to justify marijuana use when it puts so many away for it.

In comparison a “U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) involving analysis of nearly 2000 fatal accident cases, found 6.7 % of drivers positive for marijuana. In more than two-thirds of those, alcohol was present and may have been the primary contributor to the fatal outcome” moreover since marijuana metabolites can stay in the body for up to 30 days, there’s no telling what part of the 7 percent was intoxicated with THC at the time.


starboy- marijuana doesn't kill brain cells or anything to that tune. it's far safer than just about all drugs ranging from asperin to booze.

[Milton Bradley]

Isn't ti laready illegal to operate amotor vehicle under the influece?


Ah, I thought so.


So again, more redundant laws that are truly useless, because other lawsalready criminalize the behavior that injured the parties invilved.


Just like all the bogus gun laws, totally unneeded.

[Suburbanite]

Quote by: tinybear Wouldn't have crashed if Dan hadn't taken the drink and drugs though. Now I suppose you'd say it's not the fault of the drink and drugs; it's just Dan's fault. Or you could even say it was Jenny's fault.

Agh this is so stupid.
Firstly: Smoking pot and driving does not cause car accidents. When you smoke pot and drive you're excessively careful and constantly aware.
Second: He was mad and speeding. That ENOUGH can get someone into this situation.
Third: Isn't it really Jenny's fault for not putting out though?