--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We see the corrupt prison system, we see…" description: "\"We see the corrupt prison system, we see the corrupt police system, we see the corruption in the government, from the top on down. You know, it's built..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efc/tommy-chong-4039_built_we-see-the-corrupt-prison-system-we-see_3235285.png" --- # We see the corrupt prison system, we see the corrupt… ![“We see the corrupt prison system, we see the corrupt police system, we see the corruption in the government, from the top on down. You know, it's built based on lies. However, the marijuana industry itself, because it was an underground industry, showed us the way we could exist on this planet.” quote by Tommy Chong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efc/tommy-chong-4039_built_we-see-the-corrupt-prison-system-we-see_3235285.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efc/tommy-chong-4039_built_we-see-the-corrupt-prison-system-we-see_3235285.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efc/tommy-chong-4039_built_we-see-the-corrupt-prison-system-we-see_3235285.png) > “We see the corrupt prison system, we see the corrupt police system, we see the corruption in the government, from the top on down. You know, it's built based on lies. However, the marijuana industry itself, because it was an underground industry, showed us the way we could exist on this planet.” [Tommy Chong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-chong/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He highlights systemic corruption in prisons, police, and government, and contrasts it with the marijuana industry's underground origins that offered alternative ways to live. **In simple terms:** Corruption pervades institutions; marijuana shows a different path. Key Takeaway Explore alternative economies beyond corrupt systems. Themes corruption economy counterculture Mood skeptical hopeful Type opinion social critique When to use this quote - activism - policy reform - community building - entrepreneurship Key Concepts institutional failure grassroots movements legalization social change Questions to Reflect On - What lessons can be learned from the cannabis industry? - How can society replace corrupt structures? A Different Perspective Underground origins may romanticize illegal activity, overlooking risks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Corruption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corruption/) [Corruption Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corruption-government/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Industry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/industry/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Marijuana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marijuana/) [Police](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/police/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Prison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prison/) [Prison system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prison-system/) [Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wine/) ## Related quotes > [“Chapter 3 - How To Invest In Marijuana After evaluating the risks and returns associated with investing in the marijuana industry, many of you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cannaglobe-consulting/chapter-3-how-to-invest-in-marijuana-after-evaluating-the-risks-and/) CannaGlobe Consulting > [If I were money-motivated, I would spread insidious lies that marijuana is dangerous and addictive and leads to dancing with white women, that your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/if-i-were-money-motivated-i-would-spread-insidious-lies-that/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [It's very simple. If the American people care about a lot of things including corruption in government, then, in fact, if you use the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrell-issa/it-s-very-simple-if-the-american-people-care-about-a-lot-of-things/) [Darrell Issa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrell-issa/) > [The time has come to tell the truth about the corruption of the government employee unions in this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/the-time-has-come-to-tell-the-truth-about-the-corruption-of-the/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [Government Picking Winners and Losers = Corruption. When government tries to pick winners and losers, the inevitable consequence is corruption. Yes, corruption. If not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/government-picking-winners-and-losers-corruption-when-government/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [Corruption is government intrusion into market efficiencies in the form of regulations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/corruption-is-government-intrusion-into-market-efficiencies-in-the/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [The state is obliged to fight corruption within the government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrique-pena-nieto/the-state-is-obliged-to-fight-corruption-within-the-government/) [Enrique Pena Nieto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrique-pena-nieto/) > [Corruption in government is an overwhelming problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-fitton/corruption-in-government-is-an-overwhelming-problem/) [Tom Fitton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-fitton/) > [Luxury, or a refinement on the pleasures and conveniences of life, had long been supposed the source of every corruption in government, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/luxury-or-a-refinement-on-the-pleasures-and-conveniences-of-life-had/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [New York voters agree on this: There is too much corruption in government - federal, state, and local.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-long/new-york-voters-agree-on-this-there-is-too-much-corruption-in/) [Wendy Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-long/) > [Why does corruption in government always surprise us? Why do we expect anything else from it? Government is organized force. It takes our wealth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-sobran/why-does-corruption-in-government-always-surprise-us-why-do-we-expect/) [Joseph Sobran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-sobran/) > [There are wars, there's pestilence, there are plagues, there is corruption in religious circles, corruption in the government, when was it not?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/there-are-wars-there-s-pestilence-there-are-plagues-there-is/) [Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/) > [The real cost of corruption in government, whether it is local, state, or federal, is a loss of the public trust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-quigley/the-real-cost-of-corruption-in-government-whether-it-is-local-state/) [Mike Quigley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-quigley/) > [To oppose corruption in government is the highest obligation of patriotism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-edward-griffin/to-oppose-corruption-in-government-is-the-highest-obligation-of/) [G. Edward Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-edward-griffin/) > [Whites have more than eleven times the net worth or wealth of African Americans. They make greater salaries. Our unemployment rate is twice theirs.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-robinson/whites-have-more-than-eleven-times-the-net-worth-or-wealth-of-african/) [Randall Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-robinson/) ## More by Tommy Chong > [I've always known, all my life, that I was going to be something special. I never knew what it was, but I always had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-chong/i-ve-always-known-all-my-life-that-i-was-going-to-be-something/) [Tommy Chong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-chong/) > [People try to put ownership on things: 'That's mine, that's my joke.' No such thing. Like if you tripped or stumbled and people go,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-chong/people-try-to-put-ownership-on-things-that-s-mine-that-s-my-joke-no/) [Tommy Chong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-chong/) > [We survived Nixon and Reagan and George Bush, and so we can survive anything that comes along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-chong/we-survived-nixon-and-reagan-and-george-bush-and-so-we-can-survive/) [Tommy Chong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-chong/) > [The Shades never recorded anything, Little Daddy and the Bachelors recorded a couple of records, ya.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-chong/the-shades-never-recorded-anything-little-daddy-and-the-bachelors/) [Tommy Chong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-chong/) > [I believe that all marijuana is medical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-chong/i-believe-that-all-marijuana-is-medical/) [Tommy Chong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-chong/) > [I look on everything with a very optimistic eye. 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Energy is a bit low but other than that, I feel really good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-chong/i-am-off-all-the-cancer-meds-energy-is-a-bit-low-but-other-than-that/) [Tommy Chong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-chong/) > [When they put me in jail, that's when they turned me into an activist. Up until the time I went to jail, I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-chong/when-they-put-me-in-jail-that-s-when-they-turned-me-into-an-activist/) [Tommy Chong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-chong/) > [Marijuana grows everywhere in the world. And it really is currency, if you think about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-chong/marijuana-grows-everywhere-in-the-world-and-it-really-is-currency-if/) [Tommy Chong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-chong/) > [More than anything, the weed really helped with my mental state, because marijuana works on the brain. And if anything, it soothes the brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-chong/more-than-anything-the-weed-really-helped-with-my-mental-state/) [Tommy Chong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-chong/) > [I never did smoke that much pot; never was a big pothead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-chong/i-never-did-smoke-that-much-pot-never-was-a-big-pothead/) [Tommy Chong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-chong/) > [I converted a family-owned strip club into an improvisational acting theater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-chong/i-converted-a-family-owned-strip-club-into-an-improvisational-acting/) [Tommy Chong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-chong/) [Explore all 117 Tommy Chong quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-chong/) ## More Built quotes > [It's really fun and challenging to build things that have never been built before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mason/it-s-really-fun-and-challenging-to-build-things-that-have-never-been/) [Hilary Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mason/) > [Astronomers have built telescopes which can show myriads of stars unseen before; but when a man looks through a tear in his own eye,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/astronomers-have-built-telescopes-which-can-show-myriads-of-stars/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [So I concentrated on the rhythmic side of things, and therefore left a lot of holes. 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