Cali to legalize/tax recreational Mary Jane?

[ThaBigP]

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-pottax24-2009feb24,0,7534269.story

It may surprise some folks to know that I'm actually not opposed to this. The hurdle Cali has to overcome, however, is Federal law.

Now, why am I not opposed to this? Because I believe in the Constitution, and nowhere in that document does it grant the Federal government the authority to arbitrarily decide that this mood-altering drug is OK (alcohol), but that one is not (MJ). If a state wants to make any drug illegal, then that is up to their people to decide through their elected state legislatures. But I cannot stand the double-standard some people have who honestly believe that alcohol is OK because they and enough other people enjoy it, and therefore is blessed under the law. It is, at its core, the very definition of arbitrary. One might go so far as to say it is also the very definition of a double-standard. But the Constitution is clear: such matters are reserved to the states.

On the flip side, I don't belive in federal tax money being funneled to rehab programs, or unemployment or welfare benefits going to those who are marginally employable due to substance abuse. Anybody who decides to pick up the bottle or the joint (or whatever) makes a decision - we're all big boys and girls. You make the choice, you suffer the consequences for good or ill.

[Hoofbite]

They might as well. I know a couple people in California and they say that anyone can get it for medicinal use.

I have never tried it and I am not against it being legalized because of that same reason.

I'd legalize it and tax the ever loving **** out of it. If that happened, we wouldn't have to worry about any bailout money. The US would smoke itself out of debt.

[SkinsFan28]

They might as well. I know a couple people in California and they say that anyone can get it for medicinal use.

I have never tried it and I am not against it being legalized because of that same reason.

I'd legalize it and tax the ever loving **** out of it. If that happened, we wouldn't have to worry about any bailout money. The US would smoke itself out of debt.
But would we end up being the Crack Spider's b****
http://uncutvideo.aol.com/videos/be65bfaf343c1c2d2df86e0862f58a89

[DaBoys4Life]

I think marijuana should be legalized every where in the US and be treated just like alcohol.

[Doomsday101]

I think marijuana should be legalized every where in the US and be treated just like alcohol.

I agree. I no longer smoke it but I don't think it is any worse than alcohol and to some degree less harmful than alcohol

[BrAinPaiNt]

Listening to rick james singing....I love you Maaaary Jaaaaane

[iceberg]

people are going to have their own perspectives and for good reason. the only time i stop listening to people who are against it are when they just get stupid and start throwing out 1950s propaganda on it.

smoking weed leads to harder drugs!!!
no, the desire to alter your mind leads to doing harder drugs.

i know several people who smoke all the time and have never done anything else. conversely i've known people on crack and more who've never smoked. there's no direct corrolation between the two other than people wanna do drugs.

how much is a pack of cigs these days? $4 bucks or so? charge $10 and puts 1/2 as many in the pack and they'd still sell like crazy. if $5 is tax - it would add up pretty quick. : )

[Doomsday101]

people are going to have their own perspectives and for good reason. the only time i stop listening to people who are against it are when they just get stupid and start throwing out 1950s propaganda on it.

smoking weed leads to harder drugs!!!
no, the desire to alter your mind leads to doing harder drugs.

i know several people who smoke all the time and have never done anything else. conversely i've known people on crack and more who've never smoked. there's no direct corrolation between the two other than people wanna do drugs.

how much is a pack of cigs these days? $4 bucks or so? charge $10 and puts 1/2 as many in the pack and they'd still sell like crazy. if $5 is tax - it would add up pretty quick. : )

I think the one tie in they have is the person I bought weed from was the same guy I bought LSD and other drugs from. As you see others doing it and enjoying it is not uncommon to try it yourself. After all the schools lied to me about weed why would they not lie to me about Cocain and LSD?

[iceberg]

I think the one tie in they have is the person I bought weed from was the same guy I bought LSD and other drugs from. As you see others doing it and enjoying it is not uncommon to try it yourself. After all the schools lied to me about weed why would they not lie to me about Cocain and LSD?

could be. if i saw white powder i'd think someone spilled powder sugar. i simply couldn't tell you what the other drugs looked like.

[Doomsday101]

could be. if i saw white powder i'd think someone spilled powder sugar. i simply couldn't tell you what the other drugs looked like.

What I'm saying is you are dealing much of the time with the same person who can get the weed because you trust him you’re not worried this is a setup. You see others doing it and having a great time so many will try it. I know I did, it was not until a few years later and a couple of friends who overdosed and 1 who committed suicide, myself going to jail that I changed my life.

[DaBoys4Life]

people are going to have their own perspectives and for good reason. the only time i stop listening to people who are against it are when they just get stupid and start throwing out 1950s propaganda on it.

smoking weed leads to harder drugs!!!
no, the desire to alter your mind leads to doing harder drugs.

i know several people who smoke all the time and have never done anything else. conversely i've known people on crack and more who've never smoked. there's no direct corrolation between the two other than people wanna do drugs.

how much is a pack of cigs these days? $4 bucks or so? charge $10 and puts 1/2 as many in the pack and they'd still sell like crazy. if $5 is tax - it would add up pretty quick. : )

In jersey cigs cost cost to 7 bucks I don't smoke though but I know that they're expensive. I know people like that I think there is a correlation because they get to the point where weed no longer effects them but they still want that they so they go onto to other drugs. I saw a kid smoking out of a light bulb because he said it get's him higher. I think there is a correlation between the two I also think it depends on how much a perosn smokes. The most I've seen people smoke is 6-8 times I would say that most of them end up on another drug.

[iceberg]

In jersey cigs cost cost to 7 bucks I don't smoke though but I know that they're expensive. I know people like that I think there is a correlation because they get to the point where weed no longer effects them but they still want that they so they go onto to other drugs. I saw a kid smoking out of a light bulb because he said it get's him higher. I think there is a correlation between the two I also think it depends on how much a perosn smokes. The most I've seen people smoke is 6-8 times I would say that most of them end up on another drug.

if it wasn't that it would be something else - period. you're looking at extreme behavior and making it the norm, not extreme. i know people who have used anything they could find. "getting higher" is a state of mind. you're only going to get so "high" and i really don't care how much you smoke.

it has nothing to do with how much they smoke. again, if they can justify smoking then they can justify doing more. but it's not a physical thing it's mental.

[DaBoys4Life]

if it wasn't that it would be something else - period. you're looking at extreme behavior and making it the norm, not extreme. i know people who have used anything they could find. "getting higher" is a state of mind. you're only going to get so "high" and i really don't care how much you smoke.

it has nothing to do with how much they smoke. again, if they can justify smoking then they can justify doing more. but it's not a physical thing it's mental.

I disagree, I don't think someone who smokes once every know and again will turn around and start sniffing coke or something like that. It does matter because after a while you don't get the same high that you would if you did when you first started smoking. So in an attempt to obtain the desired state of mind they will seek other methods.

[iceberg]

I disagree, I don't think someone who smokes once every know and again will turn around and start sniffing coke or something like that. It does matter because after a while you don't get the same high that you would if you did when you first started smoking. So in an attempt to obtain the desired state of mind they will seek other methods.

i'm sure there are people who do that.
i'm sure there are people who hit their own jimmies with a ball peen hammer for fun.

that doesn't make it normal behavior.

you're making it sound like any regular smoker of pot will soon be riding the horse under an overpass and stumbling out into traffic to be a peterbuilt hood ornament.

you're wrong.

people who want to get high and "higher" will do so. what i was saying was if you smoke 1 joint or 10 you're only going to get "so high" - since i've never in my life touched anything beyond smoking, i can't tell you what would happen in that next step.

but since i've never done anything beyond smoking, then it would put a kink in that "gotta have the next high" theory wouldn't it?

it's a personal choice. you can make it more for yourself if you wish, but that doesn't change reality that i've witnessed in my own experiences.

when you start talking like a 1950's phamplet, you don't know what you're talking about and like i said, i quit listening.

[BrAinPaiNt]

i'm sure there are people who do that.
i'm sure there are people who hit their own jimmies with a ball peen hammer for fun.

that doesn't make it normal behavior.

you're making it sound like any regular smoker of pot will soon be riding the horse under an overpass and stumbling out into traffic to be a peterbuilt hood ornament.

you're wrong.

people who want to get high and "higher" will do so. what i was saying was if you smoke 1 joint or 10 you're only going to get "so high" - since i've never in my life touched anything beyond smoking, i can't tell you what would happen in that next step.

but since i've never done anything beyond smoking, then it would put a kink in that "gotta have the next high" theory wouldn't it?

it's a personal choice. you can make it more for yourself if you wish, but that doesn't change reality that i've witnessed in my own experiences.

when you start talking like a 1950's phamplet, you don't know what you're talking about and like i said, i quit listening.

I guess it might depend on the person and if they have an addictive nature.

Which in that case, and with these arguments concerning pot, one could argue that if you drank a beer it is a gateway drug to harder drinks and then to harder drugs.

But we don't see as much said about Beer being a gateway drug.

Odd.

[DaBoys4Life]

i'm sure there are people who do that.
i'm sure there are people who hit their own jimmies with a ball peen hammer for fun.

that doesn't make it normal behavior.

you're making it sound like any regular smoker of pot will soon be riding the horse under an overpass and stumbling out into traffic to be a peterbuilt hood ornament.

you're wrong.

people who want to get high and "higher" will do so. what i was saying was if you smoke 1 joint or 10 you're only going to get "so high" - since i've never in my life touched anything beyond smoking, i can't tell you what would happen in that next step.

but since i've never done anything beyond smoking, then it would put a kink in that "gotta have the next high" theory wouldn't it?

it's a personal choice. you can make it more for yourself if you wish, but that doesn't change reality that i've witnessed in my own experiences.

when you start talking like a 1950's phamplet, you don't know what you're talking about and like i said, i quit listening.

It's has nothing to do with the 1950's...wasn't even alive then I don't even think my dad was but that's not the point. I don't smoke weed I never have, however I know a lot of people who do. Smoking weed is actually pretty normal behavior even though there's laws against it I'd say it was the norm and is pretty accepted socially. If we where to take a poll of how many people smoke weed or have smoked weed or know someone who smokes weed I'm pretty sure it will be the norm.

With that stand there are people who smoke more than others and people who smoke so much that it's harder for them to get high. At least thats what they say. They either smoke more or smoke less or try something else. I'm not saying that if you smoke then automatically you will move on to a stronger drug. I'm saying that the more you smoke the higher the likelihood of you moving to another drug increase.

If you don't feel that way then I guess we will just have to agree to disagree. I don't know what the 1950's have to do with anything though.

[iceberg]

I guess it might depend on the person and if they have an addictive nature.

Which in that case, and with these arguments concerning pot, one could argue that if you drank a beer it is a gateway drug to harder drinks and then to harder drugs.

But we don't see as much said about Beer being a gateway drug.

Odd.

because alcohol itself has been a part of all of our lives since day 1 unless you're over what, 75? and since born, we've been told it's bad.

our beliefs are for the most part handed to us by our parents and surroundings as well as our experiences. if i tell you something is 'this way' enough and you never see the other side, you'll believe it and not want to.

i'm not saying it's heathy, i'm not saying it's good for you - i'm not denying it's impact on our lives as well.

i'm saying it's not the gateway drug to do more. wanting to do drugs, is.

[iceberg]

It's has nothing to do with the 1950's...wasn't even alive then I don't even think my dad was but that's not the point. I don't smoke weed I never have, however I know a lot of people who do. Smoking weed is actually pretty normal behavior even though there's laws against it I'd say it was the norm and is pretty accepted socially. If we where to take a poll of how many people smoke weed or have smoked weed or know someone who smokes weed I'm pretty sure it will be the norm.

With that stand there are people who smoke more than others and people who smoke so much that it's harder for them to get high. At least thats what they say. They either smoke more or smoke less or try something else. I'm not saying that if you smoke then automatically you will move on to a stronger drug. I'm saying that the more you smoke the higher the likelihood of you moving to another drug increase.

If you don't feel that way then I guess we will just have to agree to disagree. I don't know what the 1950's have to do with anything though.

i'm saying on my own experiences, you're wrong. my best friend and brother from another mother smoked joints 3-4 times a day. he held a 6 figure job, didn't drink unless he was in cancun on his annual vacation and was likely high when the wave slammed him down and sent him into a sprial that aggrevated an existing physical condition and killed him a month later.

i know for a fact he never did anything harder. i know family and other friends who are or were chain smokers who never "moved on to the next high".

i know i've smoked and i know i've never done anything harder and yes, the more you smoke the less "high" you get due to tolerances. color me surprised but it does the same for alcohol. let's apply this argument to all, not a segment then, shall we?

wanting to get higher is a choice people will make for themselves. weed isn't the evil road to distruction, inability to control yourself is.

and watch reefer maddness sometime for the 1950s references. i agree with part of what you're saying but i totally disagree on the assumptions you make out of it. it's simply not true and in my entire 43 years of life, i've never seen it happen.

if you've never smoked, then you're speaking by 3rd party experiences, not your own. when doing this you tend to use bullets of the anti-drug side and many of those are born out of 1950s style fear tactics and ignorance.

will some people try something else to get higher? yep. but that's the desire to get high, not weed making them addicted to drugs. their desire to be addicted makes that happen.

i don't think you get the difference here. if not weed it would be something else. period, for those people. smoking pot doesn't propell you onto harder drugs, wanting to do harder drugs does.

there *is* a difference in there.

[Jarv]

I guess it might depend on the person and if they have an addictive nature.

Which in that case, and with these arguments concerning pot, one could argue that if you drank a beer it is a gateway drug to harder drinks and then to harder drugs.

But we don't see as much said about Beer being a gateway drug.

Odd.

You beat me to it, I was going to say the same thing Brain.

[DaBoys4Life]

i'm saying on my own experiences, you're wrong. my best friend and brother from another mother smoked joints 3-4 times a day. he held a 6 figure job, didn't drink unless he was in cancun on his annual vacation and was likely high when the wave slammed him down and sent him into a sprial that aggrevated an existing physical condition and killed him a month later.

i know for a fact he never did anything harder. i know family and other friends who are or were chain smokers who never "moved on to the next high".

i know i've smoked and i know i've never done anything harder and yes, the more you smoke the less "high" you get due to tolerances. color me surprised but it does the same for alcohol. let's apply this argument to all, not a segment then, shall we?

wanting to get higher is a choice people will make for themselves. weed isn't the evil road to distruction, inability to control yourself is.

and watch reefer maddness sometime for the 1950s references. i agree with part of what you're saying but i totally disagree on the assumptions you make out of it. it's simply not true and in my entire 43 years of life, i've never seen it happen.

if you've never smoked, then you're speaking by 3rd party experiences, not your own. when doing this you tend to use bullets of the anti-drug side and many of those are born out of 1950s style fear tactics and ignorance.

will some people try something else to get higher? yep. but that's the desire to get high, not weed making them addicted to drugs. their desire to be addicted makes that happen.

i don't think you get the difference here. if not weed it would be something else. period, for those people. smoking pot doesn't propell you onto harder drugs, wanting to do harder drugs does.

there *is* a difference in there.

I never meet a crack head who started sniffing crack and didn't say that they started smoking weed first. If you read my initial post I said people who smoke 6-8 times a day which is almost twice as much of the people you know which makes a difference in both our of experience and the people we know right?

[iceberg]

I never meet a crack head who started sniffing crack and didn't say that they started smoking weed first. If you read my initial post I said people who smoke 6-8 times a day which is almost twice as much of the people you know which makes a difference in both our of experience and the people we know right?

no, it doesn't. i already said once you smoke to get high smoking more won't get you higher. you're looking for an out here that doesn't exist.

how many crackheads have you met? for someone who's never smoked i wonder how many you know personally to get facts, not what a crackhead tells you.

3-4 joints a day is a lot dude. want me to change it to 30-40 bowl hits a day for effect? my numbers are higher than your numbers now. i win i win i win.

see how silly that argument is? "smoking" on it's own is a relative term.

also, i've told you several times the desire to do drugs leads to doing harder drugs.

so you know crackheads who made the progression to crackhead. take away weed and they'd have found something else to get them there. why?

CAUSE THEY WANT TO!

let's cut to the chase - do you feel if someone smoked 5 joints a day - or even 10, that automatically means they'll be a crackhead soon? on coke? doing acid?

[BrAinPaiNt]

You beat me to it, I was going to say the same thing Brain.

Love is in the air...can you feel it all around you. :p:

On a serious note. I have to admit I am a hypocrite when it comes to the whole alcohol, mary jane and drugs issue.

I think mary jane should be legalized and think it is wasteful to arrest and jail those who are just smoking it and in some cases selling it.

However I don't feel the same what about cocain or meth and some of the harder drugs.

So...I guess I pick and choose which ones I would be ok with legalizing and ones I would rather still stay illegal.

To me Mary Jane is no worse than alcohol...in many cases I say Alcohol is much worse.

[Jarv]

I never meet a crack head who started sniffing crack and didn't say that they started smoking weed first. If you read my initial post I said people who smoke 6-8 times a day which is almost twice as much of the people you know which makes a difference in both our of experience and the people we know right?

How do you feel about alcohol being legal ? It sure has messed up a lot of peoples lives.

[iceberg]

Love is in the air...can you feel it all around you. :p:

On a serious note. I have to admit I am a hypocrite when it comes to the whole alcohol, mary jane and drugs issue.

I think mary jane should be legalized and think it is wasteful to arrest and jail those who are just smoking it and in some cases selling it.

However I don't feel the same what about cocain or meth and some of the harder drugs.

So...I guess I pick and choose which ones I would be ok with legalizing and ones I would rather still stay illegal.

To me Mary Jane is no worse than alcohol...in many cases I say Alcohol is much worse.

this is my mindset also. i've used both and hell my 30s was one long drunken binge. i've let alcohol hurt my life far more than smoking has.

but the key here is "i let" it happen. people use far too many crutches to blame their failures on anyone but themselves.

[DaBoys4Life]

no, it doesn't. i already said once you smoke to get high smoking more won't get you higher. you're looking for an out here that doesn't exist.

how many crackheads have you met? for someone who's never smoked i wonder how many you know personally to get facts, not what a crackhead tells you.

3-4 joints a day is a lot dude. want me to change it to 30-40 bowl hits a day for effect? my numbers are higher than your numbers now. i win i win i win.

see how silly that argument is? "smoking" on it's own is a relative term.

also, i've told you several times the desire to do drugs leads to doing harder drugs.

so you know crackheads who made the progression to crackhead. take away weed and they'd have found something else to get them there. why?

CAUSE THEY WANT TO!

let's cut to the chase - do you feel if someone smoked 5 joints a day - or even 10, that automatically means they'll be a crackhead soon? on coke? doing acid?

The 6-8 times a day I meant blunts so whatever other numbers you want to through out there it's just going to be the double. Yes people choose to get high. They choose to get high to obtain the mood altering feeling. They smoke more to obtain that feeling even more. I'm not saying it's going to make them higher. However, the more they smoke the more they high wears down. Also I'm not trying to win anything just stating the circumstance I've been around and the people I'm come across in my short life. No because someone smokes 5-10 blunts a day doesn't make them a crack heard I never said that I just said that will increase the likelihood of them venturing out to other drugs.

How do you feel about alcohol being legal ? It sure has messed up a lot of peoples lives.

Yeah I know whats your point?

[Jarv]

Yeah I know whats your point?

I'm just asking you if you think alcohol should be illegal ?

[DaBoys4Life]

I'm just asking you if you think alcohol should be illegal ?

Oh no I enjoy it to much.....

[iceberg]

The 6-8 times a day I meant blunts so whatever other numbers you want to through out there it's just going to be the double. Yes people choose to get high. They choose to get high to obtain the mood altering feeling. They smoke more to obtain that feeling even more. I'm not saying it's going to make them higher. However, the more they smoke the more they high wears down. Also I'm not trying to win anything just stating the circumstance I've been around and the people I'm come across in my short life. No because someone smokes 5-10 blunts a day doesn't make them a crack heard I never said that I just said that will increase the likelihood of them venturing out to other drugs.

fair enough and apologies if i'm getting out of hand on this. not my intent.

i feel you're basing it wrong off the how much they smoke. again, smoke a blunt you're high. smoke 3 blunts, you're high. you're not going to get higher by smoking more but you have to smoke more to get high. i won't disagree there. the strength of the pot has a LOT to do with it also. a daily smoker of the general mexican crap can hit some meigs out of ohio and after a couple of hits be down for hours wondering why the glass on their face feels so cold.

there are simply too many variables involved to say "smoking x amount leads to wanting to try something else".

if you want to get high, many will try various forms of drugs before settling on their drug of choice. that's all. smoking, even a lot, doesn't mean you're going to move on.

addictive natures do addictive things - their nature is the problem, not what they're doing. i can only hope you understand the difference i'm saying here.

[DaBoys4Life]

fair enough and apologies if i'm getting out of hand on this. not my intent.

i feel you're basing it wrong off the how much they smoke. again, smoke a blunt you're high. smoke 3 blunts, you're high. you're not going to get higher by smoking more but you have to smoke more to get high. i won't disagree there. the strength of the pot has a LOT to do with it also. a daily smoker of the general mexican crap can hit some meigs out of ohio and after a couple of hits be down for hours wondering why the glass on their face feels so cold.

there are simply too many variables involved to say "smoking x amount leads to wanting to try something else".

if you want to get high, many will try various forms of drugs before settling on their drug of choice. that's all. smoking, even a lot, doesn't mean you're going to move on.

addictive natures do addictive things - their nature is the problem, not what they're doing. i can only hope you understand the difference i'm saying here.

I think I understand what you're saying. I realize smoking 3x blunts is the same as smoking 1 blunt if your high you will be high however, once the high wears down they will smoke another blunt in order to get the feeling back. I'm trying to say that they get addicted to the feeling of being high and want to continue to be high. I think you're saying that they already want to get high will get high no matter where it starts at.

[iceberg]

Oh no I enjoy it to much.....

so did you start out with say some coors light? did that lead to schlitz malt liquor? "ice beer"?

then when did the shots start coming? oh the frilly ones at the bar first. umbrellas in the glass and hell, it tastes like kool aid! but ya know, it just doesn't have the kick i'm looking for. jeagermeister baybe! that fixed me up.

70 proof? hmmmm...now i need to drink 1/2 a bottle of jeager to get me there. let me step it up to some bourbon. need more? wild turkey 101 man! (my mainstay for quite awhile) and when you really wanna get there, bacardi 151 is aroudn the corner for those really bad nights when you just need a friend.

soon you're riding that everclear bus to destruction and having bartenders make you custom shots he jokingly calls a "lethal weapon 5" that you need 3-4 of in double fashions to get near as drunk as your friend who tried one and passed out at the table and you now pour beer on him for drunken humor and fun.

suddenly you're in a ditch and can only afford mad dog and you shake a lot. you're running from the cops cause you robbed the liquor store for that next drink you enjoy too much and hey, they should understand, right? it's just alcohol??? you're running from the law and throwing emty .375 bottles at the cop car chasing you till you finally hit the windshield with the tequila bottle and they had to fire back a real bullet to stop you.

in that ditch. bleeding. the world spinning madly around you as you try to comprehend what's going on but can't so you hope to god you pass out before you're asked a question you know you can't answer without drooling a gallon of drool. they patch you up and take you to the pokey where you shake and dry out for a few days and then you're off to the new and improved betty ford clinic where you share your story with other addicts around the world and you're happy you can play christopher walken on "be your favorite celebrity" day next week.

now, in group therapy, do you blame coors light or yourself?

[iceberg]

I think I understand what you're saying. I realize smoking 3x blunts is the same as smoking 1 blunt if your high you will be high however, once the high wears down they will smoke another blunt in order to get the feeling back. I'm trying to say that they get addicted to the feeling of being high and want to continue to be high. I think you're saying that they already want to get high will get high no matter where it starts at.

im saying if you want another "higher high" that weed won't give, you'll move on. but it's because you want that high, not because weed drove you to it. in the end, weed just wasn't enough for you.

[Doomsday]

people are going to have their own perspectives and for good reason. the only time i stop listening to people who are against it are when they just get stupid and start throwing out 1950s propaganda on it.

smoking weed leads to harder drugs!!!
no, the desire to alter your mind leads to doing harder drugs.

i know several people who smoke all the time and have never done anything else. conversely i've known people on crack and more who've never smoked. there's no direct corrolation between the two other than people wanna do drugs.

how much is a pack of cigs these days? $4 bucks or so? charge $10 and puts 1/2 as many in the pack and they'd still sell like crazy. if $5 is tax - it would add up pretty quick. : )

The people who are currently smoking weed will continue to and the people who dont wont. It isnt like it is hard to get now or something. I use to smoke it when I was in high school but I dont any longer and wouldnt even if was legalized.

People who are smart enough to stay away from that stuff are going to people who arent wont, no different then now.

[ninja]

The big thing is state law vs. federal law. How can something illegal on the federal side be legal in the state law? Something has to give.

[daschoo]

im personally of the opinion that everything should be legalised. takes it out of the hands of the criminal gangs, creates massive amounts in taxes and means people are getting exactly what they are paying for therefor you aren't having people dying from drugs cut with other substances.

[Phrozen Phil]

For me, the dilemma has been in dealing with the damage done via substance abuse in families vs the right to use these substances in a moderate manner. As somebody who has consumed alcohol as well as the "Columbian fern", it would be hypocritical to condemn someone for their use, but in dealing with the issue from a professional standpoint, it is hard to justify the use of this stuff to the extent that it impacts on family and individual functioning.

I've seen a lot less issue with marijuana use than with alcohol abuse, but as alcohol consumption is legal, it is likely easier to see. I would agree with the notion that use of marijuana is not likely to automatically lead to use of harder drugs, but the issue is not as simple as that. People who are struggling in life will self-treat with alcohol or other drugs to numb the emotional pain. Recreational users run the risk of doing damage to themselves, but to some extent they are able to control their use and could be described as moderately healthy individuals. The substance in question, combined with the personality of the user and personal circumstances, will likely dictate an individual's ability to deal effectively with moderate use.

One issue I have with marijuana use pertains to quality control. We don't generally know where this stuff has come from and what has been used in it's production. Did the grower use some toxic pesticides or did they cure the leaves with another nasty substance? It's not like we can check the label for a list of ingredients.

As for myself, I no longer seek the use of the leaf for a variety of reasons. I don't relish the thought of the horrible taste in my mouth the next day and I am subject to testing upon request from my employer, so the risk isn't worth it. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. I know that the law enforcement guys I work with are concerned about consumption that causes risk in the workplace and on the road. They just see it as another opportunity for somebody to get impaired.

[Doomsday101]

For me, the dilemma has been in dealing with the damage done via substance abuse in families vs the right to use these substances in a moderate manner. As somebody who has consumed alcohol as well as the "Columbian fern", it would be hypocritical to condemn someone for their use, but in dealing with the issue from a professional standpoint, it is hard to justify the use of this stuff to the extent that it impacts on family and individual functioning.

I've seen a lot less issue with marijuana use than with alcohol abuse, but as alcohol consumption is legal, it is likely easier to see. I would agree with the notion that use of marijuana is not likely to automatically lead to use of harder drugs, but the issue is not as simple as that. People who are struggling in life will self-treat with alcohol or other drugs to numb the emotional pain. Recreational users run the risk of doing damage to themselves, but to some extent they are able to control their use and could be described as moderately healthy individuals. The substance in question, combined with the personality of the user and personal circumstances, will likely dictate an individual's ability to deal effectively with moderate use.

One issue I have with marijuana use pertains to quality control. We don't generally know where this stuff has come from and what has been used in it's production. Did the grower use some toxic pesticides or did they cure the leaves with another nasty substance? It's not like we can check the label for a list of ingredients.

As for myself, I no longer seek the use of the leaf for a variety of reasons. I don't relish the thought of the horrible taste in my mouth the next day and I am subject to testing upon request from my employer, so the risk isn't worth it. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. I know that the law enforcement guys I work with are concerned about consumption that causes risk in the workplace and on the road. They just see it as another opportunity for somebody to get impaired.

If made legal it would remove a lot of the criminal element behind it and would be easier to know what you are getting and who is growing it, just as they do now with marijuana for Medicinal propose

[Phrozen Phil]

If made legal it would remove a lot of the criminal element behind it and would be easier to know what you are getting and who is growing it, just as they do now with marijuana for Medicinal propose

That's a good point. Up here, the move to "decriminalize" has not done much to deal with the quality control issues, but it has given law enforcement some lattitude and discretion in disposition of cases. My next question would be, "Who gets to sell it?" Does it become a "controlled substance, or does it appear next to Betty Crocker Brownies as a means of enhancing consumption of that product? ;)

[DaBoys4Life]

That's a good point. Up here, the move to "decriminalize" has not done much to deal with the qulity control issues, but it has given law enforcement some lattitude and discretion in disposition of cases. My next question would be, "who gets to sell it?" Does it become a "controlled substance, or does it appear next to Betty Crocker Brownies as a means of enhancing consumtion of that product? ;)

I think it should be handled the same way as alcohol.

[Dallas]

I have had my ups and downs w/ alcohol. I also smoked a lot of MJ. Here in Alaska, it's legal to possess it in your home, as long as it is not for distribution purposes. You can have up to 2oz for personal use. Now saying that.

Alcohol wrecked my life growing up. It was never the pot. The pot didn't make me forget who I was. The pot didn't give me the courage like alcohol did. It didn't make me forget entire evenings of partying w/ friends. Drinking in excess like I did w/ alcohol was a life altering event. Not really physcially. I still worked out and was in perfect shape. It altered me socially more than anything. It got me into so much damn trouble w/ the law that I nearly lost my family and my life to serious jail time. The expense of defending myself from the courts and trying to figure out a way to stay out of jail, was extremely stressing to say the least. I knew I was on a one way non stop ticket to death if I didn't stop drinking.

Please don't think I am saying alcohol made me do these things. I made the choices to drink in excess. What I am saying is that the effects of the alcohol completely changes a person when they are drunked up. It allows you to make decisions you would NEVER make if you were sober.

MJ never did those things to me. I started smoking it when I was in Jr High. It was just something we liked to do w/ friends. We never did anything bad or got into trouble with it. It kept us in most nights. We would just hang out and be silly and watch MTV. We didn't just wake up one day after smoking and say, "I want some crack." That never happened. None of the crew I ran with were hard core druggers. We were just preppy little runts out to have some fun.

Only when I started drinking alcohol did my life start changing. I got a fake ID to get into the bars at 17yrs old. It was legit too. Go figure. When a kid sets his mind to something, it can be pretty astonishing what they can accomplish.

So I was clubbing at 17 and having a good ole time. I dated older women and ran w/ an older crowd. We drank very hard. I got into trouble. Lots of trouble when I was drinking.

It is laughable that pot is ilegal. It doesn't harm half the lives that alchol does. It doesn't create monsters. I wasn't a monster per se, but If I had continued drinking like I did, I certainly wouldn't be here today.

[Doomsday101]

That's a good point. Up here, the move to "decriminalize" has not done much to deal with the quality control issues, but it has given law enforcement some lattitude and discretion in disposition of cases. My next question would be, "Who gets to sell it?" Does it become a "controlled substance, or does it appear next to Betty Crocker Brownies as a means of enhancing consumption of that product? ;)

Evidently according to a documentary I saw on marijuana there are people who legally grows it now that is being used for Medicinal proposes they are not buying from the cartels :laugh2: . I would also say there are many farmers who have been growing it illegally to help make ends meet so they can keep their farms.

[DaBoys4Life]

I have had my ups and downs w/ alcohol. I also smoked a lot of MJ. Here in Alaska, it's legal to possess it in your home, as long as it is not for distribution purposes. You can have up to 2oz for personal use. Now saying that.

Alcohol wrecked my life growing up. It was never the pot. The pot didn't make me forget who I was. The pot didn't give me the courage like alcohol did. It didn't make me forget entire evenings of partying w/ friends. Drinking in excess like I did w/ alcohol was a life altering event. Not really physcially. I still worked out and was in perfect shape. It altered me socially more than anything. It got me into so much damn trouble w/ the law that I nearly lost my family and my life to serious jail time. The expense of defending myself from the courts and trying to figure out a way to stay out of jail, was extremely stressing to say the least. I knew I was on a one way non stop ticket to death if I didn't stop drinking.

Please don't think I am saying alcohol made me do these things. I made the choices to drink in excess. What I am saying is that the effects of the alcohol completely changes a person when they are drunked up. It allows you to make decisions you would NEVER make if you were sober.

MJ never did those things to me. I started smoking it when I was in Jr High. It was just something we liked to do w/ friends. We never did anything bad or got into trouble with it. It kept us in most nights. We would just hang out and be silly and watch MTV. We didn't just wake up one day after smoking and say, "I want some crack." That never happened. None of the crew I ran with were hard core druggers. We were just preppy little runts out to have some fun.

Only when I started drinking alcohol did my life start changing. I got a fake ID to get into the bars at 17yrs old. It was legit too. Go figure. When a kid sets his mind to something, it can be pretty astonishing what they can accomplish.

So I was clubbing at 17 and having a good ole time. I dated older women and ran w/ an older crowd. We drank very hard. I got into trouble. Lots of trouble when I was drinking.

It is laughable that pot is ilegal. It doesn't harm half the lives that alchol does. It doesn't create monsters. I wasn't a monster per se, but If I had continued drinking like I did, I certainly wouldn't be here today.

I have a similar story with out the pot though. I like those drunken nights and don't regret any of them. They were way too much fun.

[Bob Sacamano]

although I agree with the thinking behind making weed legal

it just wouldnt' pass the muster

[WarC]

Marijuana's criminality makes it a gateway drug.

Why? because it is in demand, so it is distributed in the black market.

If coffee was illegal, you'd buy coffee beans from the same guy you bought coke and hard drugs from.

Conversely, if marijuana was legal you'd buy it at the corner gas station or the liquor store.

It is all about demand and distribution.

It is a brutal catch-22...The argument against marijuana almost always includes the "gateway" argument. It is associated with the criminal underworld because its distribution takes place in the criminal underworld.

[Boom]

I hate terrorism and heard that buying pot funds it. Legalize it so I can feel safer.

[Doomsday101]

If they ever do make it legal I know what stocks to invest in. Frito Lay and Hostess :laugh2:

[trickblue]

If they ever do make it legal I know what stocks to invest in. Frito Lay and Hostess :laugh2:

Don't forget frozen/delivery pizza stocks and chocolate chip cookie dough manufacturers... ;)

[Doomsday101]

Don't forget frozen/delivery pizza stocks and chocolate chip cookie dough manufacturers... ;)

Dude we could get rich!!!!!:lmao2:

[jrumann59]

On the flip side, I don't belive in federal tax money being funneled to rehab programs, or unemployment or welfare benefits going to those who are marginally employable due to substance abuse. Anybody who decides to pick up the bottle or the joint (or whatever) makes a decision - we're all big boys and girls. You make the choice, you suffer the consequences for good or ill.


Unfortunately you know its going to happen look at cigarettes most of the cost on them now is taxes, part of those taxes are going to a fund to help with smoking related illnesses.

[Bob Sacamano]

If they ever do make it legal I know what stocks to invest in. Frito Lay and Hostess :laugh2:
and Newport cigarettes

tin-foil