Pat you are awesome. Except I definitely don't put the beer in the fridge and I think my dad usually gets the beer from the fridge himself.

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Can we pretend that airplanes in the night sky are like shooting stars?

ATTENTION SABRES: who are you people??!?



http://sabresbecause.tumblr.com

First, I'm not debating you about anything. I posted my thoughts, and you misunderstood most of them. I've tried to correct those misunderstandings.

Second, I don't need to stereotype cannabis users. As you infer, I see them up close on a regular basis. You're right too, they aren't any different than anyone else that abuses any substance or breaks the law. Some can be responsible users, some can't...I get it.

Third, they aren't any different than anyone else that abuses any substance or breaks the law. I find nothing noble about the cause that so many believe they are on the side of when they defend their pot.

In a perfect world nobody would care, and good people could have a good high without bothering anyone. In our lifetimes though, marijuana is a controlled substance, the source of billions in illegally generated money, trafficked across borders at the risk of thousands of police officers' and federal agents' lives, and the cause of an almost breaking amount of corruption in Mexico. For every one of the hundreds of Mexican police officers muredered each year by a trafficking cartel, there are a bunch of responsible users at the end of that chain.

Is that what you picture when you take a drag and get high, or do you just keep your head in the clouds and think about how you're going to change the incorrect perceptions that some have?

This statement right here is why so many in law enforcement are becoming advocates for its legalization.

It's completely unnecessary for officers to be losing their lives over the enforcement of the prohibition of a substance that does little to no harm to its users.

The crime associated with Cannabis stems from the fact that it's illegal. If it were legalized, there'd be no reward worth the risk of stealing from growers.

Not to mention the incredible sums of money that could be generated through taxation.

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Wheelhouse

I'm not totally against this theory, but I think that it's a bit of a stretch to just assume that all crimes related to the cultivation , transportation, and sale of marijuana would simply disappear should it be legalized in the US. There are large criminal cartels that have been trafficking this stuff for years, and they would not simply say "oh well" and close up shop.

I also don't think that a large majority of marijuana users would pay higher, taxed costs of 'legal' sales over cheaper street deals.

There are indeed some benefits to legalization. But cartels will just traffick a stronger version of what's available legally. If version A-Y is legal, cartels will traffick Z, it's that simple. If MJ is not as profitable as it is now, they'll go back to cocaine. They also now have meth as a viable product due to the prescription now required for sudafed and such. Don't get caught up thinking legalization is the answer...it's not. Besides, cartels in Mexico won't simply allow the gov't to take control of the supply, no matter what the law says. In Mexico it would just cause more death and corruption, in the U.S. their demand would go down some until people didn't like or got tired of the gov't bud. Then it would reverse right back toward the black market.

Edit : yes squanto, you're exactly right.

I had no idea you're in law enforcement; it wasn't a factor.

Honestly, I just don't recognize the governments right to make my decisions for me. I recognize the consequences of them so obviously I steer clear of the vice-gestapo, but I'd rather make up my own mind about things. The discussion shouldn't really be about 'whether smoking is good or bad', rather 'why can't I decide'

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When I was a boy I spoke as a boy, I understood as a boy, and I thought as a boy; when I became a man I took that boy outside and shot him.

Perhaps you should be able to decide....formula a plan, and submit it to get the law changed. Until then, challenge the "system", rebel all you want until you need a good job at which time you may be tested, an accident, drug test, an accident at work, drug test, insurance companies prey on drug users to hand liabilities over to those people at which time you could be liable for millions in lawsuits. Perhaps the use out weighs the risks for you and others, for me, not so much. My job, my freedom, my comfortable way of life, in addition to the clear headed enjoyment of life in general is too important to risk. Like I say, simply change it. Not preaching, simply pointing out some harsh facts.

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I try to think, but nuttin happens.......Curley Howard
There is no past as it exists merely as a slippery bond tying the memories of the past to the dreams of the future.............Me
If we started life as an old person and lived until we were young, we would eventually finish off fucked as an orgasm.......George Carlin

I agree.

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"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hockey Night in Buffalo

Here is my take on the issue...decriminalize it.

$100 fine for anyone caught with less than 1 oz on their person (1 oz is a significant amount for those that are unfamiliar with it)

Generate your revenues that way on it. It's too hard to regulate, and tax when people are capable of growing it in their basement.

Punish those who deal massive amounts of it, and criminally traffic it and other drugs, but dont punish the casual user unless they are risking the lives of others by driving under the influence, or causing issues such as disorderly conduct, or disturbing the peace.

I will openly admit that after a few weeks at college I began smoking a bit, but I've driven under the influence of alcohol more than pot in the past semester.

I didn't drive at all when I wasn't fully aware of my actions, and I always waited roughly an hour or two after my final drink to drive.

The issue isn't who uses it, but how they use it, and how they come to have it in their possession. If you grow your own, and consume your own, you and I will never have a problem. It's the people that deal it in mass quantities and hide the funds they generate from the government that i take issue with. They are making a tax free living by dealing illegal drugs while the rest of us are busting their ass in the real world to pay taxes and keep food on the table.

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"She's like plan C after an 18 pack"

Squanto 7/27/2010

Surprised on the count of "never tried it, never will". VAAAARY

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"...they came down into the stands and asked if I knew how to do play by play. I said...No. But. I'll take a shot at it if you want".- Rick Jeanneret

Then maybe you can clarify this for me. Isn't it legal to possess up to 7/8 of an ounce in your own home?

I understand that you still have to buy and transport it, which is illegal, but I really don't think there is any law enforcement agencies that are going to obtain a search warrant, and spend a lot of money formulating a bust for a couple joints in some otherwise outstanding citizen's home.


You also said that you understand that some people CAN be responsible users. Then why are you against them, or why would you approve of any laws made against them??

/not trying to be argumentative. Just trying to make sense of this.

Me too.

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"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hockey Night in Buffalo

Marijuana is a weed. It basically grows itself. On the street your paying sometimes 20 a gram. The cost gets ridiculously inflated because its illegal. It has to go through so many people and across state/country borders sometimes. Even a taxed version would be cheaper because of the low cost of cultivation and because it would be straight to consumer.

I'm sure many people would grow their own anyway now that they wouldn't worry about the illegal side of things. Its a fun, easy project. You have that plant for life and can continually harvest it. This would mean the government would want it cheap and accessible to combat personal growers. Its like getting an affordable cheeseburger from McDonalds instead of making it yourself.



and to whoever said that we would get sick of the government weed and want something stronger...
Cannabis has been cultivated in Asia for HUNDREDS of years. You can't be that naive to think that the dealers and drug cartels would find a way to make stronger weed than the government is already getting out in certain medical states? The government stuff is perfectly cultivated and alot better than the street shit you can get anyway. If the government was doing it it would be a ton safer because you would know what your getting and wouldn't have to worry about seeing a sketchy dealer and possibly coming in contact with other drugs.

As a nation, we don't want to government to take over our health care, but we're gung ho on wanting them to take over our weed.

That's interesting to me.

To be clear, I don't have a problem with weed. If it was legalized, great. If it's not, great. I don't smoke it, so it doesn't affect me. (I have tried it, years ago, just wasn't my thing.)

I just wish that people directed all that energy try to get marijuana legalized and put it towards something more socially productive. That's not an attack on anyone here at all, just a general statement.

Any amount is illegal to possess, aside from the small amount for medical use in California. And no, police aren't going to bother with a S/W over a few joints unless there might be growing or dealing going on also.

People can be responsible users of alcohol, but there are still very reasonable laws restricting it's consumption. It's not my place to make laws. I know my role in the process. Off duty I still follow laws that I don't necessarily like, and I expect the same out of other people too. There is a legislative process to follow and if the majority of citizens want legal weed it will happen. I'll never use the stuff so I really don't care.

no no no, this I can sympathize with completely, although it personally it isn't a factor for me, i'm not that regular of a smoker. Give me a drug test now and I'd pass with flying colours.

The point i was trying to make was on the issue of legality. It doesn't hurt anyone else, so I think the individual should be allowed to decide whether they want to indulge or not

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When I was a boy I spoke as a boy, I understood as a boy, and I thought as a boy; when I became a man I took that boy outside and shot him.

I went to high school across the street from an Indian reservation. If I wanted a dime bag, I could walk across the street and get it. No cartels, no dealers, you just knew who was growing and would sell it. (Although I wasn't a smoker myself, I hung out with a lot of folks who did.)

Now, I'm sure that ease of access holds true in some areas of the country, but not everywhere. In most areas of the country, there are organized crime syndicates that traffic and distribute the stuff. Ties to foreign drug cartels, other organized crime groups, that's all out there. A good portion of the money made is then used to finance other, non-drug related, activities that do affect people that don't use.

I'm just not on board that it's a victimless crime. The act of smoking it? I'll agree there. But the problem is that by purchasing it you're probably supporting illegal activity somewhere else too.

Believe me, I do also. Mj is what got me active in the government and politics in the first place. It helped me learn to question things and dig deeper. I truly believe that once mj is legal/medical/decriminalized these people will stay involved, or at least pay more attention to what the government does (not just be flocked along with the rest of the herd.)

I'm a couple years into a history education degree, with minors in philosophy and political science. I'm all for actively being involved in your goverment. That is how this nation is suppossed to work. When there is an issue a huge number of people care about, they should lobby for change. This country was founded on the principles of question governmental powers. The ability to change laws and even amend the constitution is there for a reason. If anything, mj has given these people reason to be actively involved in government, something that little else could have done.

We're special here in Cali....

Check this out:
http://www.losangelescannabisclubs.com/ ... ry/#reseda

9 places to legally buy it in my zip code (AKA walking distance)

It's kind of ridiculous actually.

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Hold my beer and watch this...

This seems to me to be another reason why it should be legalized.

Personally, as a university student, i know 5-10 guys in my building who sell. For the most part, they're all very studious individuals with bright futures. But I certainly lack the gumption to get involved with selling, it's not something I'm interested in getting into.

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When I was a boy I spoke as a boy, I understood as a boy, and I thought as a boy; when I became a man I took that boy outside and shot him.