Two reactionary General Assembly bills

On the 11th two reactionary bills were filed in the NC Senate.

S138 (see www.ncleg.net/gascripts/BillLookUp/BillLookUp.pl?Session=2009&BillID=S138) would make Salvia divinorum a Schedule I controlled substance. S. divinorum is a hallucinogenic plant from tropical Central America (much more at www.erowid.net/plants/salvia/salvia.shtml). Instead of ending the failed Drug War, some politicians want to criminalize a rarely used, non-addictive plant, making a new set of people political criminals. I tried Salvia once and nothing happened. There are many hallucinogenic plants and fungi growing here wild, in gardens, or available legally here, and the government cannot stop people from using plants like this, as people have done for thousands of years.

On the 12th the bill was referred to the Judiciary Committee and it was highlighted in the News & Observer Tuesday. The bill is sponsored by William R Purcell and co-sponsored by four others.

S155 (see www.ncleg.net/gascripts/BillLookUp/BillLookUp.pl?Session=2009&BillID=S155) would create a basis in State law for barring undocumented immigrants from attending community colleges. Before they were forced out for political reasons, there were only about 112 such students in the system, according to the Independent Weekly, out of tens of thousands, and they were treated as out-of-state students and paid more tuition than most NC students. Barring them is another example of marginalizing people for political gain and to create an extra exploited labor force, which can then be used to undercut wages and benefits. Then people blame immigrants for economic problems and the ills of poverty.

Also on the 12th, the bill was referred to the Education Committee. It is sponsored by Philip E Berger, with four co-sponsors.

If these bills aren't buried in committee, I will at least let my representatives know where I stand, and I hope some readers care enough to oppose them as well. I already responded to the DBORDC's call for people to contact the president of the community college system.