Mountain Hopper Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 With the economy showing no signs of recovery is it time to legalize marijuana? The state of California makes over 10 million dollars a year from medicinal dispenseries. Imagine the money that could be made countrywide if it was legalized. We're talking hundreds of millions of dollars generated by sales that would be taxed, not to mention all the jobs created for farmers and people to run the shops. I always thought one of the biggest reasons for the "war on drugs" (which has been a miserable failure) was that the government wasn't getting their piece of the pie. Instead they want you to take their drugs. The kind that killed Michael Jackson. It's not a war on drugs, it's a war on personal freedom. Look at Amsterdam and Vancouver. They don't seem to have a problem. When's the last time you picked up a newspaper and read, "Man smokes weed and goes on massive killing spree"? The answer is never. I think it's time. The number of annual deaths caused by marijuana=0. Legalize. Regulate. Educate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mountain Hopper Posted June 29, 2009 Author Share Posted June 29, 2009 I forgot to mention that the only people probably opposed to it would be dealers. Dealers that are selling to kids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Del Zeppnile Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 It should not be legalized. The state does not need to be in the business of selling drugs anymore than it already is. If anything to could be 'decriminalized' to the point where a person who chooses to could grow it and consume it in their own home. But never allowed to sell or distribute it. It makes no sense to look for solutions to budget deficits by encouraging the selling of more drugs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mountain Hopper Posted June 29, 2009 Author Share Posted June 29, 2009 It should not be legalized. The state does not need to be in the business of selling drugs anymore than it already is. If anything to could be 'decriminalized' to the point where a person who chooses to could grow it and consume it in their own home. But never allowed to sell or distribute it. It makes no sense to look for solutions to budget deficits by encouraging the selling of more drugs. That's the problem, decriminalizing doesn't allow you to grow your own. Besides, I never really considered it a drug. It's just a plant for God's sake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deborah J Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 I forgot to mention that the only people probably opposed to it would be dealers. Dealers that are selling to kids. I have debated this for some time. I agree that the only reason this is not legal is they have not found a way to tax it. It would cut down on a lot of crime and would contribute a lot of revenue for states. From the age of 20-25 I had a second job as a bartender in New Orleans. You could always tell the difference in the drinkers and the smokers. The drinkers were the loud ones, the smokers were the ones relaxed and generally in a good mood. I agree that more and more people are dying of the pharm drugs. I do not advocate any hard drug. I have lost many close friends to drinking and a few to the harder drugs, but none to just marijuana. I do know that something different needs to be done, since it's the gangs that now control most of this. Sad thing is they usually have better guns than the police! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mountain Hopper Posted June 29, 2009 Author Share Posted June 29, 2009 I have debated this for some time. I agree that the only reason this is not legal is they have not found a way to tax it. It would cut down on a lot of crime and would contribute a lot of revenue for states. From the age of 20-25 I had a second job as a bartender in New Orleans. You could always tell the difference in the drinkers and the smokers. The drinkers were the loud ones, the smokers were the ones relaxed and generally in a good mood. I agree that more and more people are dying of the pharm drugs. I do not advocate any hard drug. I have lost many close friends to drinking and a few to the harder drugs, but none to just marijuana. I do know that something different needs to be done, since it's the gangs that now control most of this. Sad thing is they usually have better guns than the police! I know from working concert security for years, I'll take the stoners over the drunks ANYDAY! Case in point, when working the grateful dead and widespread panic shows it's not my type of music or scene but the people attending the show could not have been nicer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zosodude13 Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 The failure of "The War On Drugs", the money we have spent and the total lack of progress we have made, makes legalizing the hippie lettuce a tempting idea. Combine that with the faltering of the economy, it seems like a sure-fire solution. You could even argue that the depression happened and was made worse because of prohibition. All three are legitimate points for legalizing wacky tobaccy. I can guarantee the majority of Americans would not support this on federal legislation. On a state level... it may happen. I do think medicinal Marijuana has a future and will be used more and more through out the country. But widespread legalization is not a plausible idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eternal light Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 (edited) As much as I love the song, Free Eddy Lepp, and I'll miss hearing it when the law changes, maybe they could tax the product and regulate production. He certainly has a very nice farm. I kind of feel sorry for him though. He seems very nice, not like someone who belongs in prison for 10 years. Edited June 29, 2009 by eternal light Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Del Zeppnile Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 (edited) That's the problem, decriminalizing doesn't allow you to grow your own. Sure it would. There are already many forms of decriminalization of the drug already. Although in some jurisidictions it is still illegal to posess; an arrest with a limited amount is only equal to a speeding ticket. No jail time for certain. What decriminalizing would do, would be to avert all law enforcment away from arresting and prosecuting people for the marijuana that they grow in their own homes for their own use. Sort of a don't ask don't tell sitution. Then the only crime would be if a person was trafficking in the drug for profit. Law enforcement would then be able to focus on more dangerous drugs and not waste time on the individual pot smoker in his home. Plus it would deny drug cartels in Mexico of one part of their business without firing a shot. When people who buy marijuana do so from dealers, most of the profit goes to some very evil people who are responsible for thousands of deaths in Mexico. I have always argued that it makes no sense to arrest people and tie up police and court time for the individual use of the drug on a small scale even if I am against the drug myslef. But legalizing it for commercial sale and distribution would be a mistake in my opinion. Decriminalization keeps the government, the drug dealers and pharmaceutical industry out of the picture. At that point it becomes just a choice between you and what you can grow naturally in your home with your own soil, water and sunshine. Call my view a libertarian approach, but I think it makes good sense.. for this particular drug. Of course how you aquire the seed stock would need to be resolved. Maybe that would be the limit of where commercial sales and government taxing could be involved. Edited June 29, 2009 by Del Zeppnile Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mountain Hopper Posted June 29, 2009 Author Share Posted June 29, 2009 Sure it would. There are already many forms of decriminalization of the drug already. Although in some jurisidictions it is still illegal to posess; an arrest with a limited amount is only equal to a speeding ticket. No jail time for certain. What decriminalizing would do, would be to avert all law enforcment away from arresting and prosecuting people for the marijuana that they grow in their own homes for their own use. Sort of a don't ask don't tell sitution. Then the only crime would be if a person was trafficking in the drug for profit. Law enforcement would then be able to focus on more dangerous drugs and not waste time on the individual pot smoker in his home. Plus it would deny drug cartels in Mexico of one part of their business without firing a shot. When people who buy marijuana do so from dealers, most of the profit goes to some very evil people who are responsible for thousands of deaths in Mexico. I have always argued that it makes no sense to arrest people and tie up police and court time for the individual use of the drug on a small scale even if I am against the drug myslef. But legalizing it for commercial sale and distribution would be a mistake in my opinion. Decriminalization keeps the government, the drug dealers and pharmaceutical industry out of the picture. At that point it becomes just a choice between you and what you can grow naturally in your home with your own soil, water and sunshine. Call my view a libertarian approach, but I think it makes good sense.. for this particular drug. Of course how you aquire the seed stock would need to be resolved. Maybe that would be the limit of where commercial sales and government taxing could be involved. I always thought it is kinda funny that the companies that sell seeds have the disclaimer, "Acquisition of cannabis seeds in the US is illegal. Payable in US dollars from around the world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evster2012 Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 (edited) What was that bumper sticker I had in the 80s? Oh yeah: Taxation, Regulation, Legalization, Education. Regardless, I am for cultivation of hemp as a cash crop. The yield vs investment is 10 to 1. I'm not talking smokable stuff, I mean textiles and fuel. Beats the hell outta cotton, wheat, soy or corn hand over fist! In fact we cleared whole states of the stuff that grew here naturally. Now we irrigate and fertilize at great cost for far smaller useable yield thanks to McCarthyism and so-called "reefer madness". The "demon weed" was the "fabric of our lives" for centuries. I'm not suggesting planting Nebraska with da kind Indica. Like I said, textile grade hemp isn't smokable and won't get you high. But it's an industrial goldmine. Soon as you erase the erroneous drug stigma. It's like outlawing ethanol because the government is convinced we'll start drinking it. A nation run on hemp is a greener nation than one that runs on corn. Pun not intended. Edited June 30, 2009 by Evster2012 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickZepp Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 (edited) I doubt it'll ever happen because the government couldn't regulate it. Same reason they don't like online poker. It doesn't matter to me though because I don't smoke anything anyway. Edited June 30, 2009 by NickZepp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Del Zeppnile Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 What was that bumper sticker I had in the 80s? Oh yeah: Taxation, Regulation, Legalization, Education. Regardless, I am for cultivation of hemp as a cash crop. The yield vs investment is 10 to 1. I'm not talking smokable stuff, I mean textiles and fuel. Beats the hell outta cotton, wheat, soy or corn hand over fist! In fact we cleared whole states of the stuff that grew here naturally. Now we irrigate and fertilize at great cost for far smaller useable yield thanks to McCarthyism and so-called "reefer madness". The "demon weed" was the "fabric of our lives" for centuries. I'm not suggesting planting Nebraska with da kind Indica. Like I said, textile grade hemp isn't smokable and won't get you high. But it's an industrial goldmine. Soon as you erase the erroneous drug stigma. It's like outlawing ethanol because the government is convinced we'll start drinking it. A nation run on hemp is a greener nation than one that runs on corn. Pun not intended. I'd say I would agree with you on that Ev. But haven't ever even tried to smoke industrial hemp? I'm sure somebody in the 60 must have given it a try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roblindblad Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 yup it should be legalized Dupont Chemical "convinced" governments worldwide to make marijuana an illegal substance because at the time Dupont Chemical had invented a chemical needed to turn trees into paper and since marijuana was an environmentaly sound paper product that didn't need the chemical invented by Dupont Chemical Dupont decided to eliminate the competition by "convincing" governments around the world to make the use of marijuana a crime. With the world patent for the chemical used in paper production and the use of marijuana made illegal it saw a gold mine. The Declaration Of Independence was written on marijuana paper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jahfin Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 There was another thread about this exact same subject just a few weeks ago: Should Marijuana Be Legalized? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ally Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 I don't partake anymore and haven't for many many moons but there is no question in my mind that it should be decriminalized. There are plenty of great reasons to take advantage of a viable hemp industry. Paper products alone would go along way to saving some of our old growth forest. The big one for me though is eliminating the dealers. Last I heard, for every pound of BC bud that goes down to the states, the dealers are receiving a pound of cocaine. Our pot is also being traded for assault weapons. Grow ops and the criminal element that comes with them are in almost every neighbouhood of the lower mainland. The industry is out of hand and lately the turf wars have proven to be, quite deadly. Nothing like having your kids witness a good old gangland slaying. Decriminalizing would not be the total solution but certainly it would go a long way to eliminating the dealers who by the way, are the same scumbags that are supplying the poor folks in the downtown eastside and the kids in our neighbourhoods with all the candy they can afford. God damn the pusher man. Grow it yourself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Rover Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 Marijuana legalization, should we do it? Why yes, of course..... In fact, I'm for a complete reversal..... Pot Legal... and alcohol illegal..... It's time to put those "bubbas" in the "system"... behind bars.... Outside Looking In.... Inside Looking Out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mountain Hopper Posted June 30, 2009 Author Share Posted June 30, 2009 Marijuana legalization, should we do it? Why yes, of course..... In fact, I'm for a complete reversal..... Pot Legal... and alcohol illegal..... It's time to put those "bubbas" in the "system"... behind bars.... Outside Looking In.... Inside Looking Out I too would be in favor of marijuana legalization and making alcohol illegal. Booze destroys far more lives than weed. I also think you should have to be 18 to get a drivers license (imagine all the road fatalities we could avoid by taking dumbass kids from behind the wheel) and I also feel that you should have to be 21 to access porn and tobacco. Having to wait 3 more years is no big deal, it will still be there waiting for you when you turn 21. I'm also kinda surprised that they don't try to lower the legal gambling age of 21 to 18. Each state with casino's can't wait to take your money. That brings me to another point, here in Colorado there is a statewide smoking ban, no smoking indoors anywhere except casinos because they don't want to lose the revenue brought in by the smokers. Can you say double standards? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evster2012 Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 I also think you should have to be 18 to get a drivers license (imagine all the road fatalities we could avoid by taking dumbass kids from behind the wheel) I personally don't think 18 year-olds are vastly more responsible behind the wheel than 16 year-olds. What makes for a safer driver is experience. Lack of experience is the larger cause of minor fatalities than actual age. The best drivers in the world started in go-karts before they were ten years old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mountain Hopper Posted June 30, 2009 Author Share Posted June 30, 2009 I personally don't think 18 year-olds are vastly more responsible behind the wheel than 16 year-olds. What makes for a safer driver is experience. Lack of experience is the larger cause of minor fatalities than actual age. The best drivers in the world started in go-karts before they were ten years old. I hear ya, I'm just saying I see a lot on the news about 16 and 17 year old kids doing stupid shit in their car trying to show off and sometimes they take the lives of other innocent motorists with them. This law will never happen so........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evster2012 Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 I hear ya, I'm just saying I see a lot on the news about 16 and 17 year old kids doing stupid shit in their car trying to show off and sometimes they take the lives of other innocent motorists with them. This law will never happen so........ Trust me, I was still showing off well after I was a teenager! But I actually went to a performance driving school, so I learned car control on the track and slick track. My dad knew I liked to go fast, so he wasn't putting me in the "Driver's Ed" class in High School, or some Acme Driving School. He sent me to Bob Bondurant School of Driving. I was doing four wheel drifts under instructor supervision at Sears Point Raceway before I had my license. I would highly recommend even the basic safety course for any student driver. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hotplant Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 California needs the dough. Let's do it! Could go up for a vote. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hotplant Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 Holland and Canada have massive cradle to grave welfare programs so the pot smokers are being subsidized by those who work for a living. You'll never see it legalized in the United States because Big Business can't/won't tolerate the work force being lawfully permitted to get high. Well, the US has cracked down on "welfare" since Clinton. No longer can someone just stay on any program. There are now limits on total months, anyone here in Utah must work I think it's 20 hours a week to get any benefits. So...pot smokers do have to work in the USA. And at the cost of good bud, you have to to afford it. I believe we are very close, and California will lead the way. People should be able to choose their vices and pay the taxes for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Dawg Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 Conan's toke on this subject - http://www.tonightshowwithconanobrien.com/...070809/1133871/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reswati Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 Holland and Canada have massive cradle to grave welfare programs so the pot smokers are being subsidized by those who work for a living. I don't know which movie you base your opinion on, but what you write there is absolute kaka! We do have welfare programs here in the Netherlands, in case you might lose your job.....and it is getting more and more difficult to get that welfare, lots of paper work. Also once you get welfare here, you have to try to find a job a.s.a.p.else you will get less and less money. As far to drugs: it is still illegal to have more than 5 grams of softdrugs, it is also illegal to transport drugs, harddrugs are completely bad stuff to have. It is illegal to grow more than 3 plants. And as far as beeing subsidized as beeing a pot smoker: bollocks......most smokers I know, including myself do work. With sober regards from the Netherlands (yes, I am not always high) (and also yes....the Netherlands are not Holland, Holland is just one province in the Netherlands) Reswati. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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