Marijuana, Legalize It??

[enthusiast24]

wuddya think?

 

[fredhe12]

Don't criticize it...legalize it...yeah, yeah!

Actually, it's not that hard to get. Why fix it if it ain't broke.

Seriously though, I hate to make light of such a controversial topic, but it's a very complex social, economic and political issue. It's not as easy as saying, okay, it's legal now. Great strides have been made in making it accessible to those who benefit the most: people with debilitating pain from illness or disease. Even that is kind of a cluster, but at least it's a start.

Like I said, if you like to get high (and I do on occasion) it's not hard to acquire.

my 2 cents

 

[ayabe]

Originally posted by: fredhe12
Don't criticize it...legalize it...yeah, yeah!

Actually, it's not that hard to get. Why fix it if it ain't broke.

Seriously though, I hate to make light of such a controversial topic, but it's a very complex social, economic and political issue. It's not as easy as saying, okay, it's legal now. Great strides have been made in making it accessible to those who benefit the most: people with debilitating pain from illness or disease. Even that is kind of a cluster, but at least it's a start.

Like I said, if you like to get high (and I do on occasion) it's not hard to acquire.

my 2 cents

I won't disagree with what you say, but lots of people still go to jail for it, that's the problem.
Even in California they are constantly raiding the pot clinics where people go to get their medicine legitimately.

 

[Mxylplyx]

legalize it. The thought of someone sitting in jail because they smoked some weed makes me sick to my stomach. I laugh at those around here that are so afraid of weed, simply because they've been told to be afraid their entire lives. I was the same way once, and then I tried it and couldnt believe what the big deal was about. I'm pretty sure the old farts in Washington criminalized it because all the hippies were doing it, and it's likely still illegal because the government doesnt want any kind of vice drug available that people can easily grow themselves.

 

[fredhe12]

I won't disagree with what you say, but lots of people still go to jail for it, that's the problem.
Even in California they are constantly raiding the pot clinics where people go to get their medicine legitimately.

Yeah, you're right, and that's why I said it's a cluster. My brother in law had back surgery (spine fusion) and has tremendous pain from it. He went through all the proper channels to get his medical use card and nearly got caught up in one of those raids. The two clinics that he frequented both were shut down and now he's back to getting his herb from illegal sources. This is in San Diego where the local authorities have taken it upon themselves to challenge the state on this issue. I certainly empathize with those that really need it, but can't get it.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: enthusiast24
Topic Title: Marijuana, Legalize It??
wuddya think?

Yes, but at an extremely high sin tax and make cigarettes nearly the same tax rate as well.

 

[Mxylplyx]

Originally posted by: fredhe12

I won't disagree with what you say, but lots of people still go to jail for it, that's the problem.
Even in California they are constantly raiding the pot clinics where people go to get their medicine legitimately.

Yeah, you're right, and that's why I said it's a cluster. My brother in law had back surgery (spine fusion) and has tremendous pain from it. He went through all the proper channels to get his medical use card and nearly got caught up in one of those raids. The two clinics that he frequented both were shut down and now he's back to getting his herb from illegal sources. This is in San Diego where the local authorities have taken it upon themselves to challenge the state on this issue. I certainly empathize with those that really need it, but can't get it.

Funny how the government wont let you use non-addictive and harmless MJ for chronic pain, but is perfectly OK with you taking highly addictive opiates. I guess thats what all the political contributions they receive from pharma companies gets you.

 

[BoberFett]

I thought you were for freedom Dave? Doesn't the phrase "sin tax" go against the principles of freedom? Would you support a Republican sponsored tax on homosexuals? One man's desire is another man's sin. Literally.

 

[Moonbeam]

Originally posted by: BoberFett
I thought you were for freedom Dave? Doesn't the phrase "sin tax" go against the principles of freedom? Would you support a Republican sponsored tax on homosexuals? One man's desire is another man's sin. Literally.

So you want free sex from a prostitute too. Forget the tax then and have the government sell weed directly to the consumer. They can take the money and do treatment for drug addiction. I for one am more than happy to pay for sin, I mean satisfying my desire and I always do, seems like, one way or the other. You don't value what you don't pay for. That's why they have a value added tax, no?

 

[jonks]

As an atheist I reject the concept of sin. There's wrong, illegal, and immoral, but the only use I have for sinful is in describing chocolate.

As for mary jane, it is creeping its way towards legality, and hopefully the next generation will be able to take the steps this one couldn't.

Not that it's relevant, but I don't use. Only because it's smoked though. When they have the MJ pill, I'd probably rather take that then get wasted on beer. Fewer calories too.

 

[ericlp]

Jeee, maybe we can tax alcohol and caffeine too at the same rate... They are drugs too. I'm waiting for HS to come rushing in to tell us all MJ is gonna give us 50% chance of going psycho. Then again, I think half this country is nuts already. Must be from smoking MJ I'd gather...

I say, if you gonna legalize one drug and not the other is just plain stupid. Either do or don't.... You can't have it both ways... The only bad thing about a "SIN" tax is that instead of the money going (profits from the drugs) that would go to support the end of the drugs use it goes to a church and lines of the pockets of the evil doers!

 

[SirStev0]

Originally posted by: Moonbeam

Originally posted by: BoberFett
I thought you were for freedom Dave? Doesn't the phrase "sin tax" go against the principles of freedom? Would you support a Republican sponsored tax on homosexuals? One man's desire is another man's sin. Literally.

So you want free sex from a prostitute too. Forget the tax then and have the government sell weed directly to the consumer. They can take the money and do treatment for drug addiction. I for one am more than happy to pay for sin, I mean satisfying my desire and I always do, seems like, one way or the other. You don't value what you don't pay for. That's why they have a value added tax, no?

I would not object to the gov putting a tax on the herb. Very much like cigarettes and lotteries. Put the money into the schools. Better than lowlifes and gangs.

 

[ayabe]

Originally posted by: Mxylplyx

Originally posted by: fredhe12

I won't disagree with what you say, but lots of people still go to jail for it, that's the problem.
Even in California they are constantly raiding the pot clinics where people go to get their medicine legitimately.

Yeah, you're right, and that's why I said it's a cluster. My brother in law had back surgery (spine fusion) and has tremendous pain from it. He went through all the proper channels to get his medical use card and nearly got caught up in one of those raids. The two clinics that he frequented both were shut down and now he's back to getting his herb from illegal sources. This is in San Diego where the local authorities have taken it upon themselves to challenge the state on this issue. I certainly empathize with those that really need it, but can't get it.

Funny how the government wont let you use non-addictive and harmless MJ for chronic pain, but is perfectly OK with you taking highly addictive opiates. I guess thats what all the political contributions they receive from pharma companies gets you.

Bingo. Most people can't make vicodin in their house but they could grow a pot plant in their backyard and there's no money to be made from that. Not to mention all of the other potential side affects of prescriptions aside from the whole serious addiction thing.

The number one drug abused by teens is not alcohol, or pot, or cocaine, it's pills swiped from their mommy's medicine cabinet.

A few weeks ago there was a post about some study that thinly linked pot use with higher rates of schizophrenia and surpringly the two researchers were funded by Big Pharma.

I saw the movie Children of Men this weekend and the government in this movie is pushing a drug called "Quietus" which actually made me giggle. However bleak that movie is the sad part is that some of that is happening as we speak. We really don't know a lot of the long term effects of some of these medications, it could cause us all to be sterile one day.

 

[Aimster]

no please no

it is obvious some members in here smoke excessive amounts of pot on a daily basis.

making it easier for them to obtain only leads to more non-sense threads

 

[imported_Shivetya]

Originally posted by: enthusiast24
wuddya think?

Yes, Legalize it. Then tax the daylights out of it.

Also, increase penalties for driving under the influence of it as well.

Do not make it a crime to grow your own.

 

[ayabe]

Originally posted by: Aimster
no please no

it is obvious some members in here smoke excessive amounts of pot on a daily basis.

making it easier for them to obtain only leads to more non-sense threads

Iranians :heart: hashish.

 

[Mxylplyx]

Originally posted by: Shivetya

Originally posted by: enthusiast24
wuddya think?

Yes, Legalize it. Then tax the daylights out of it.

Also, increase penalties for driving under the influence of it as well.

Do not make it a crime to grow your own.

Oh trust me. If it's taxed heavily, it will be a crime to grow it on your own. They'll probably start a campaign claiming home grown pot isnt safe or something.

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

http://www.leap.cc/cms/index.php

 

[Hacp]

Never!

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: ericlp
Jeee, maybe we can tax alcohol and caffeine too at the same rate...

-snip-

Where I live, we already have an alchohol tax.

But otherwise, it's just crazy to put pot smokers in prisons and tie up the court system and police depts.

IMO, it's long past due to decriminalize it (it remains "illegal" but there is no penalty like in Holland. Doing that let's you make the *official* statement that it's use is *bad*) or legalize and tax it.

I wish somebody would ask the Dem candidates that in a debate. I see no need to ask the Repubs. I know what their answer will be.

Fern

 

[Hacp]

Originally posted by: Fern

Originally posted by: ericlp
Jeee, maybe we can tax alcohol and caffeine too at the same rate...

-snip-

Where I live, we already have an alchohol tax.

But otherwise, it's just crazy to put pot smokers in prisons and tie up the court system and police depts.

IMO, it's long past due to decriminalize it (it remains "illegal" but there is no penalty like in Holland. Doing that let's you make the *official* statement that it's use is *bad*) or legalize and tax it.

I wish somebody would ask the Dem candidates that in a debate. I see no need to ask the Repubs. I know what their answer will be.

Fern

I'm pretty sure most sane democrats won't be for pot.

 

[daveshel]

Originally posted by: sirjonk
As for mary jane, it is creeping its way towards legality, and hopefully the next generation will be able to take the steps this one couldn't.

In what sense is it creeping towards legality?

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: BoberFett
I thought you were for freedom Dave?

Doesn't the phrase "sin tax" go against the principles of freedom?

Would you support a Republican sponsored tax on homosexuals? One man's desire is another man's sin.

Literally.

You're looking at it wrong as usual, big surprise.

I wasn't neccessarilly refering to "sin" as a Republican morality issue.

I was more refering to the medical problems associated with smoking in general which is why I included cigarettes.

You are free to kill yourself with smoking whatever you choose but put enough money into the kitty to pay for your medical expenses related to your killing yourself slowly.

 

[alchemize]

Originally posted by: Fern

Originally posted by: ericlp
Jeee, maybe we can tax alcohol and caffeine too at the same rate...

-snip-

Where I live, we already have an alchohol tax.

But otherwise, it's just crazy to put pot smokers in prisons and tie up the court system and police depts.

IMO, it's long past due to decriminalize it (it remains "illegal" but there is no penalty like in Holland. Doing that let's you make the *official* statement that it's use is *bad*) or legalize and tax it.

I wish somebody would ask the Dem candidates that in a debate. I see no need to ask the Repubs. I know what their answer will be.

Fern

Actually the last meaningful vote in the house of reps was pretty recent - late July I think. The Hinchey Amendment (ceasing funding of the DEA raids on med marijuana states) could have easily passed without even full democrat support, but alas the do-nothing dems are spineless as usual.

(It even got 18 republican votes.)

 

[BoberFett]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: BoberFett
I thought you were for freedom Dave?

Doesn't the phrase "sin tax" go against the principles of freedom?

Would you support a Republican sponsored tax on homosexuals? One man's desire is another man's sin.

Literally.

You're looking at it wrong as usual, big surprise.

I wasn't neccessarilly refering to "sin" as a Republican morality issue.

I was more refering to the medical problems associated with smoking in general which is why I included cigarettes.

You are free to kill yourself with smoking whatever you choose but put enough money into the kitty to pay for your medical expenses related to your killing yourself slowly.

What do you think a sin tax is? It's the taxation of something that people deem immoral in order to curb it's use. You're as anti-freedom as the worst of them Dave, you're just too stupid to realize it.

And on this topic, why are citizens looked at as merely an income source by politicians? It's degrading and disgusting to think that our representatives view us as nothing more than a way to increase their wealth and power.