Legalizing Marijuana

[ProgMatinee]

I don't really have any moral hangups about drug use, I just think its an incredible waste of time and resources.

You legalize it and more people will do it.

People think that legalizing pot will be a sudden influx of spending. What? WHAT? Americans are broke right now because the service industry bubble has burst and America doesn't have a raw materials or production industry that supplies the rest of the world with hard product. So we have a negative trade gap and Americans go unemployed.

The MJ industry isn't going to solve this. And WORSE its going to make it easier for people to STOP spending money on other stuff that employs people. instead of a new car every 5 years, you're going to have people driving around in 20 yr old vehicles because they rather support their drug habit. You're going to see kids going to school in worn out clothing because mommy and daddy would rather get high than buy them cloths. Quite literally the pot industry would be money going up in smoke.

That is, unless you want America to become a front runner in production of marijuana. In which case you need to get other countries on board AND you have to convert farm land into marijuana farms. Which means less food product from America and food prices go up (just as they are due to corn being used for fuel).

Introducing pot into a legalized economy is just begging for people to make stupid choices.

Yes, thats their choice, but if I as a tax payer or neighbor have to put up with the endless side effects, sorry I rather not.

 

[Deckard]

Look I'm not an idiot, I don't think that taxing it would solve America's problems, but it would be a small step in trying to make back some of the money were hemorrhaging. Obviously the real answer here is lets cut back our defense budget.

People think that legalizing pot will be a sudden influx of spending. What? WHAT? Americans are broke right now because the service industry bubble has burst and America doesn't have a raw materials or production industry that supplies the rest of the world with hard product.

Thats why unemployment is going up.

I completely agree, but people are already and always have and always will spend money on alchohol, and drugs. Or other stupid stuff they dont need like action figures or statues *wink*. Would more people do it, maybe, probably, but I don't think it would doom us to a nation of child abusers. Unfortunately it does happen sometimes, but its usually more then pot at play to destroy a parent. Personally if I'm high I think I'm more likely to tell someone I love them then fly off the handle and physically assualt them.

 

[Shatterer of Dreams]

Sounds like someone needs to smoke a joint and relax. Maybe touch a ______.

And legal or not it doesn't matter to me. It'll be about the same price. I don't think you understand the overall guidelines of if it were legal, as like most you have never read the prop. I'm not going to start living at McDonalnds and getting high in the bathroom.

Get a fix? Its not heroine, I never have gone through any kind of withdrawl because I couldn't smoke a joint.
QUOTE]





Clearly you were too high to get the quote tags right.

hey when you're at work sometimes you do things too fast.

 

[user 1190]

Bob Saget said that? Wow.



Really? I know that a cop is fully capable of determining whether a driver is under the influence of marijuana. If an accident occurred, and the driver at fault was under the influence, I'm pretty sure most DUI laws already cover it.

If this Prop gave immunity to such drivers, then I concur. What I don't understand is why is it so difficult to simply repeal the prohibition of illicit narcotics wholesale, with minor addendums to the effect that 1) one may not collect disability because they did too many drugs, 2) one will not be eligible for taxpayer financed rehabilitation, and 3) abuse of the drug, per operation of motor vehicles, etc. will be treated the same as alcohol.

This situation is really too dangerous at this point for people to keep ____ing around the way they are. There's no excuse.

The problem is that with out being able to put a number on the amount of a substance in a person blood stream then it makes it much harder to get a conviction. There is no such test for pot. If they didnt need a hard number to help with conviction then why do they use breathalyzers or blood tests to BAC for alcohol?

 

[Deckard]

You can test the THC level in a person. Swab test, and I think a piss test can as well if its sent to a lab as opposed to the PH card.

 

[ProgMatinee]

People don't understand economics. For every $59.99 that Americans spend on a video game, do you realize that those Japanese companies are investing it in American SOIL!

Americans traded actual physical PROPERTY. For a 1mm thick disc of 10 hrs of entertainment. Time is endless. Land is not.

I enjoy my entertainment like everyone else, I'm just saying this is reality of American economics. Money is going out and not coming in.

If America legalized pot and no other country did. That means that people will be expending even more money on the most wasteful investment you can imagine all the while every other country continues to buy up our real estate. In 50 years every American would be under a foreign land lord, but hey we got pot! We would become slaves in our own country to foreigners, but we'll be happy and mellow slaves.

 

[DiFabio]

I see what you mean Deckard.

The only time any of us are intelligent is to defend marijauna? You sir, did not goto college. The majority of kids have gotten high at some point, your the minority here. I would venture in fact that you get in debates every single day with someone who's high and just don't even realise it.

Get a fix? Its not heroine, I never have gone through any kind of withdrawl because I couldn't smoke a joint.

I said potheads as in slack ____s that eat, live, breathe and ____ cannabis. I hope it didn't seem like I was generalizing including ALL marijuana smokers because that wasn't my intent.

I'm talking about the types that don't care much about anything other than pot, but when the subject of it is brought up they're on their feet and alert. I don't know if you're that type of user or not so I hope I didn't offend you. There are defenders that bring up valid points that I think I even mentioned (economy, tax it etc.).

And you're right. I'm currently in college and I am in the minority of kids that don't smoke weed. In fact, that may have been the ____ that caused me to be such a anti-social, recluse, ____ in the first place. I have zero friends here and my once social life is at an all time low ever since I attended school. It might have started when I was a junior in high school when that's all anybody wanted to do, my friends at that time included.

I agree with you about the amount of people that smoke it too. Tons of people do it. I know my family members have, including my parents.

I was just saying that it doesn't matter to me. It's not like people NEED to smoke it (sicknesses and prescriptions aside). That second part of my initial post was a jest to the reactions from hardcore smokers that I've seen, that's all. Do I wish them ill will? No.

 

[Shatterer of Dreams]

I don't really have any moral hangups about drug use, I just think its an incredible waste of time and resources.

You legalize it and more people will do it.

People think that legalizing pot will be a sudden influx of spending. What? WHAT? Americans are broke right now because the service industry bubble has burst and America doesn't have a raw materials or production industry that supplies the rest of the world with hard product. So we have a negative trade gap and Americans go unemployed.

The MJ industry isn't going to solve this. And WORSE its going to make it easier for people to STOP spending money on other stuff that employs people. instead of a new car every 5 years, you're going to have people driving around in 20 yr old vehicles because they rather support their drug habit. You're going to see kids going to school in worn out clothing because mommy and daddy would rather get high than buy them cloths. Quite literally the pot industry would be money going up in smoke.

That is, unless you want America to become a front runner in production of marijuana. In which case you need to get other countries on board AND you have to convert farm land into marijuana farms. Which means less food product from America and food prices go up (just as they are due to corn being used for fuel).

Introducing pot into a legalized economy is just begging for people to make stupid choices.

Yes, thats their choice, but if I as a tax payer or neighbor have to put up with the endless side effects, sorry I rather not.

Last i checked our founding fathers grew hemp and they founded a country. To characterize pot users in the generic bad Hollywood movie way is lazy (yes pun intended) on your part. You obviuosly know nothing about who actually smokes pot and what it actually does to people. Did you even know that ther are 2 kinds of MJ and that one is actually a stimulant and not a relaxent?

People who smoke MJ don't just lay around all day (there are always ones who do but they are not the majority contrary to the propaganda you've been fed) and actually work, pay taxes and have new cars. Oh yeah their kids have clothes as well. At least these are the people that I know.

 

[Deckard]

I see what you mean Deckard.

I said potheads as in slack ____s that eat, live, breathe and ____ cannabis. I hope it didn't seem like I was generalizing including ALL marijuana smokers because that wasn't my intent.

I'm talking about the types that don't care much about anything other than pot, but when the subject of it is brought up they're on their feet and alert. I don't know if you're that type of user or not so I hope I didn't offend you. There are defenders that bring up valid points that I think I even mentioned (economy, tax it etc.).

And you're right. I'm currently in college and I am in the minority of kids that don't smoke weed. In fact, that may have been the ____ that caused me to be such a anti-social, recluse, ____ in the first place. I have zero friends here and my once social life is at an all time low ever since I attended school. It might have started when I was a junior in high school when that's all anybody wanted to do, my friends at that time included.

I agree with you about the amount of people that smoke it too. Tons of people do it. I know my family members have, including my parents.

I was just saying that it doesn't matter to me. It's not like people NEED to smoke it (sicknesses and prescriptions aside). That second part of my initial post was a jest to the reactions from hardcore smokers that I've seen, that's all. Do I wish them ill will? No.

This post is much more realistic, thank you for being honest. You didn't offend me, its the generalizations that are bound to upset anyone though. And I just can't stand people who like to watch others suffer, I actually know people like that and they are human garbage.

Prog again, I understand but your going to the most extreme, so agree to disagree, taxing its not the answer but its not going to cause the death of America either.

 

[ProgMatinee]

So you're saying that pot has a magical quality that instead of depleting the pocketbook it makes it fatter? Is that like the propoganda churches tell you about tithing? Give it away and you'll be repaid in multiple.

Does this stimulant pot make driving a forklift or stocking shelves better? Will it make a concrete guy pour a better home foundation? Can people drive to work after doing it?

If drugs don't help people be more efficient then it hurts. If drugs aren't free, then all things being equal it means less money for other things. This is just math.

 

[Star Puffs]

I would imagine even if Marijuana becomes legal, companies still have the right to test you and fire you for a positive, and I think companies that are drug free will stay so regardless if its legal.

That is an interesting issue. If marijuana is legal then why would it be a basis to fire people? Can you fire someone for drinking in moderation outside of work?

Further would legalised marijuana qualify under laws like America's Drug Free Workplace Act? There are countless prescribed pharmaceutical that can affect performance/mental acuity, that are not screened for, nor fall under that law.

Of course nothing is rational about drug policies. Prohibition hysteria tends to rule, so I would expect a huge fight before 'drug free' companies let pot get a pass.

 

[Shatterer of Dreams]

you're missing the point. You were going way overboard in your generalizations. No one said "hey smoke pot and go drive somewhere" I don't understand why the same laws for Alcohol cannot be applied to MJ (with adjustments that would have to be made of course). What's the difference?

You're also only focusing on smoking and not that if it's legal Hemp can be grown and used for a whole plethora of things. It's actually a stronger rope, the constitition is written on Hemp paper. It's a much more versatile plant than anything else out there, believe me we could make lots of money off of Hemp worldwide.

 

[ProgMatinee]

As long as its not for "protected" reasons, companies can fire people for anything, including being a drunk.

 

[ProgMatinee]

Shatterer, I just think legalization would open the door to a lot more use than people seem to think.

Its not just going to be the people already doing it.

I honestly foresee disasterous consequences. Not immediate, but eventual.

Edit: I honestly don't think people have that much self control to know when to say when in terms of people spending baby formula money on pot and so on. We already seen what people do these days over Facebook games. Now throw pot into the mix. I know people should be free to chose what to do themselves, but I am not free from their consequences.

 

[Shatterer of Dreams]

well, i can respect that and obviuosly we will never agree on this so like Deckard said "agree to disagree"

the stoned peace guy is for you.

 

[BadMoon]

As long as its not for "protected" reasons, companies can fire people for anything, including being a drunk.

There was even one company that gave their employees one year to quit smoking. The ones that didn't were let go.

 

[Deckard]

well, i can respect that and obviuosly we will never agree on this so like Deckard said "agree to disagree"

the stoned peace guy is for you.

In other news I think its show your ****s on Twitter day so I think we can all agree thats awesome.

 

[Shatterer of Dreams]

there really is no debating that!

 

[ProgMatinee]

i regret not having a cell phone at this time.

 

[Star Puffs]

Shatterer, I just think legalization would open the door to a lot more use than people seem to think.

Its not just going to be the people already doing it.

I honestly foresee disasterous consequences. Not immediate, but eventual.

As opposed to the peace and harmony created by drug prohibition. Ask some Mexicans, Columbians or inner-city Americans about the wondrous effects of American drug policy. Or let's analyse the cost of prosecuting and incarcerating hundreds of thousands of users.

Prohibition of narcotics has done the same thing as prohibition of alcohol: it breeds organised crime, made particularly violent and powerful by the sheer demand/money involved in drugs, whether coffee or heroin.

It further creates a romaticised attitude towards said criminals as exemplified by gangsta rap in modern America. But think of films like the Godfather or people on this very board who want own Al Capone figures. The recklessness of prohibition of any kind makes violent thugs into anti-heroes.

And finally did re-legalising alcohol tear apart society the way the temperance crusaders at the time would have had people believe?