Marijuana Reform. (an interesting article.)

[cassanova]

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...19&sc=fb&cc=fp

Personally, I think it should be legalized for recreation use. I've done much research on Marijuana and every bit of it supports that it's not nearly as bad for you as certain legal substances such as cigarettes and alcohol. I'm not saying it's entirely good for you, just that it's not nearly as bad for you as the government would have us to beleive.

[Barkless Dog]

It seems to be well on its way to being legal in many states.

I never thought it should be criminalized.

I saw an interesting special on the history channel about drugs in the US.

For a long time there were no drug laws. Half of the population was hooked on opium, which was in every medicine. The industrial revolution came along and it was discovered that giving factory workers cocaine increased production, so it was widely given to workers. Then a couple of instances where African Americans went crazy and articles claimed it made them super human, taking many bullets to bring them down.

White American was terrified and drugs became illegal in this country. Not because they are bad for your health or religious reasons. Much like why priests can't marry (land ownership), things are done for reasons most do not know about or are neglected to be taught.

I remember the what Zappa said about Pot. It does not empower people, but makes them lazy & passive.

[Nikoubis]

I never got why this is such a big deal. If someone could explain, I would be truly grateful.

[Woodchuck]

Pot is a multi billion dollar cash crop in California. It brings in more money than citrus. They spend over a millions to fight it. California is going broke. Take the LE officers that used to enforce pot laws, and stick 'em on the border. Connect the dots, Arnold.

[megadan]

It isn't a big deal. Every logical adult who's aware of the basic facts can't really believe that marijuana is an evil, destructive weed, compared to alcohol or tobacco.

The thing is, it's just a matter of momentum. Politicians are too afraid to take a major stand on something that isn't seen as crucial, and has the potential to make them seem like 'loose, pro-drug weedies' despite the opinion of most of their constituents (a few bad apples make them nervous).

Once it hits 'critical speed' in the next few years - with, say, a plurality of states decriminalizing, and someone like Pres. Obama gets behind it - things will change fairly quickly, I think, probably within a decade (which is pretty fast for a long standing social attitude shift).

It's not a matter of science or understanding at this point, it's just a political waiting game. No one wants to make the first move, but once we do I think it will go fairly quickly. Of course some places (China for example) will always officially prohibit things, just to keep their grip on power (social, not political, as they seem to be one and the same)

[cassanova]

Originally Posted by Nikoubis

I never got why this is such a big deal. If someone could explain, I would be truly grateful.

It all began back in 1937 with the Marijuana Stamp Tax Act.

Short answer: Several wealthy people, Andrew Mellon, Randolph Hearst, and the Du Pont family didn't like it because hemp became an inexpensive substitute for paper pulp and this in turn threatened the above mentioned peoples wallets because they would/were losing money over it.

[stratovani]

Originally Posted by cassanova

http://http://www.npr.org/templates/...19&sc=fb&cc=fp

Personally, I think it should be legalized for recreation use. I've done much research on Marijuana and every bit of it supports that it's not nearly as bad for you as certain legal substances such as cigarettes and alcohol. I'm not saying it's entirely good for you, just that it's not nearly as bad for you as the government would have us to beleive.

Hey, cassanova, could you correct the link in your post? You've got two http's in your URL.

[Bigjohn]

I think weed is way worse than people think. At minimum it makes people slower, dumber and unmotivated and I've seen it make people paranoid and crazy.
But I think it should be legalized or decriminalized because the drug war is a total failure and too expensive. All it's doing is wasting money, making drug mafias rich, getting people killed and destabilizing governments.
Anyone who wants to do drugs is already doing them.

[Jim Campbell]

Originally Posted by cassanova

http://http://www.npr.org/templates/...19&sc=fb&cc=fp

Personally, I think it should be legalized for recreation use. I've done much research on Marijuana and every bit of it supports that it's not nearly as bad for you as certain legal substances such as cigarettes and alcohol. I'm not saying it's entirely good for you, just that it's not nearly as bad for you as the government would have us to beleive.

maybe now that the boomers have aged
......40 years of grinding people through the prisons hasn't given us a lot of positives,and many jurisdictions are releasing criminals they cannot afford to keep any more....

[i_got_a_mohawk]

I say why not legalise it, but I'm not a fan of it.

Most people I know drink. None of them drink to the levels where it gets in the way of work or whatnot.

Many people I know smoke. Doesn't interfere much with the day to day.

I only know a few people who smoke weed regularly. Of them, the majority can't hold down a job, couldn't stick to a university/college course etc. They just spend all day, every day, getting high.

I dare say, that is probably more a question of certain individuals who are attracted to the idea of using dope to help them be lazy. So probably not directly the drug, as they would have found something else. Just an observation tho.

A higher level of control would certainly be a good thing tho. I remember when I was back in high school, one of the dealers who sold resin was busted and found to have been lacing it with heroin. Granted, something that isn't likely to happen with green tho.

[DigMe]

When I think about this issue I think of my 4th graders and many of their deadbeet parents sitting around smoking weed and getting their kids high on secondhand smoke. It just doesn't strike me as a good thing for kids and future generations. To me it seems like a narcissistic and worthless legacy to leave to our descendants.

bc

[MakiSupaStar]

I think the proposition that's hitting the ballots in November is not thought out enough. There hasn't been a lot of press on it, and if you read the general language from it, I don't think it goes far enough to spell out all the details. I'm an advocate for it, but I don't think I can vote for it based upon what I've seen so far.

[CapnSev]

Originally Posted by Woodchuck

Pot is a multi billion dollar cash crop in California. It brings in more money than citrus. They spend over a millions to fight it. California is going broke. Take the LE officers that used to enforce pot laws, and stick 'em on the border. Connect the dots, Arnold.

I doubt weed is the crippling factor for debt in California.

[Deluge Of Sound]

I'll take this a step further and say that the fact that any mind altering substance is illegal is mindboggling.

Now, before anyone leaps on me for that, I'd like to clarify that: due to the nature of these substances, why on earth would you allow them to be products of the black market/organized crime? If people are going to use (and history tells us they will) why wouldn't we want the use to be regulated and taxed?

[Jim Campbell]

Originally Posted by CapnSev

I doubt weed is the crippling factor for debt in California.

no but the cost of enforcement, prosecution, incarceration,and parole is definitely a huge drain on state coffers....

[sloasdaylight]

Originally Posted by CapnSev

I doubt weed is the crippling factor for debt in California.

Yea, I'm gonna have to agree with this lol.

[cracker75]

What I would like to see is a complete (federal) legalization here in the states just to put a dent in the revenue our southern neighbors enjoy.

Weed costs $300 and something an ounce> Why ?
Because the risk is priced-in.
Take the risk out. It's a plant. Watch the price drop.

I think Mexico's government would have a much easier time pretending to control their state if they weren't up against organizations with substantially more resources.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Originally Posted by cracker75

What I would like to see is a complete (federal) legalization here in the states just to put a dent in the revenue our southern neighbors enjoy.

Weed costs $300 and something an ounce> Why ?
Because the risk is priced-in.
Take the risk out. It's a plant. Watch the price drop.

I think Mexico's government would have a much easier time pretending to control their state if they weren't up against organizations with substantially more resources.

Doubt that would happen.

People buy it at the high price, so government would make the cost up to that price through taxation.

[Woodchuck]

Originally Posted by CapnSev

I doubt weed is the crippling factor for debt in California.

Uh, no. I'm saying that they could use the money that it brings in.

[Deluge Of Sound]

Originally Posted by cracker75

What I would like to see is a complete (federal) legalization here in the states just to put a dent in the revenue our southern neighbors enjoy.

Weed costs $300 and something an ounce> Why ?
Because the risk is priced-in.
Take the risk out. It's a plant. Watch the price drop.

I think Mexico's government would have a much easier time pretending to control their state if they weren't up against organizations with substantially more resources.

That's the problem with legalizing only one of Organized Crime's cash crops, though. Get rid of weed, and you'll see cocaine and heroin coming in at a much higher rate.

About half-an-hour from where I live, you can buy a hit of heroin for six dollars (note-I'm not a user, this was reported in the local paper). You can get smacked up for less than a sixer of beer... and you have no idea of the potency, etc.