California’s Govinator is for debating it. A majority in a US poll favor legalizing it. And then there’s Oaksterdam.
While there might be additional costs for dealing with those who can’t handle responsible toking — just as we now have with alcoholics, etc — they are vastly outweighed by the savings in then unneeded prisons, law enforcement, and so on, plus there’s the potential windfall in tax money for ailing local, state and fed governments.
If there should be changes, how far should we go? Simple decriminalization or full legalization? Should it be taxed like cigarettes and booze, both of which are far more dangerous, but legal? You know where Crackpot and Buzzkill stand. Where do you?
Are Americans really ready to consider legalizing marijuana? This week, California’s governor said it was time to debate the issue, and a new nationwide poll suggests a majority of voters favor decriminalizing the drug.
While legalization advocates say they’ve never seen such widespread public support for reforming marijuana laws, they still don’t expect drug policy to change overnight. But, they say, the country appears to be at tipping point in how it views recreational use of marijuana, which is now legal in 13 states for medically-approved use.
“We are actually talking about historic highs when it comes to public support of taxing and regulating marijuana for adult consumption,” says Paul Armentano, deputy director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML). But, he adds, “the most difficult task is how you convert public sentiment into public policy.”
In Washington, Mr. Armentano says, politicians are still not ready to rethink US drug policy.
I want to be able grow my own supply of marijuana without having to worry about prison time … just pests … like teenagers.
it is unbelievable that it hasn’t already been legalized. never trust anyone over 30. the flower children turned into greedy bastards.
Crackpot and buzzkill! Too funny.
A responsible drug user, now if that isn’t an oxymoron?
How is crime going to drop? I’m supposed to believe that because it’s illegal to do drugs and the crime rate is high………….once they are made legal, crime will drop? Is this due to the fact that these doing the crimes won’t get busted for the drugs now? Is that the drop that is being put forth?
This is one of those issues that carry with it a great many unintended consequences.
With all the drunks and stoners already driving the roads it seems like a death wish to legalize pot.
And the teenagers… what can I say? You have seen today’s teenagers haven’t you? Most have trouble functioning as is. Can’t wait to get more of those on the highway stoned. Sure it’s illegal to drive impaired but that doesn’t seem to stop the untold numbers that do now.
You guys can drive around in an Obama/Gore green car if you like but if pot is legalized, I’m buying a Hummer.
#6 Youv’e more to worry about with drunks on the road. Perhaps there will be less of those as an ‘unintended consequence’.
#7 Hugh Ripper
Maybe, but I wouldn’t count on it.
#5, look at the prohibition of alcohol in the United States as an apt example of how making drugs illegal increases violent crime.
#5: Prices drop when legal, so less crime to get money to buy it. But that really applies more to hard drugs. Honestly, when was the last time you heard of someone being busted for stealing to buy weed?
#6: What you don’t realize is that you have made a valid reason to legalize it. Hint: just as with Prohibition, legal or illegal, people no matter age are going to get it and use it. Criminalize dangerous usage (eg, driving) just as with alcohol, but ignore normal usage, just as with alcohol.
I am curious as to why some voted only to decriminalize rather then completely legalize. In my mind pot should be bought and sold the same way as alcohol is and treated the same when it comes to public intoxication
I always find it funny when conservatives who otherwise want government out of their personal lives want things like drug laws, sex laws, etc. I believe the term is cognitive dissonance.
First of all I think we need to keep in mind the effects of marijuana. Anti-anxiety/anti-stress, sounds better than alcohol, nicotine, or caffiene. What would you rather deal with a room full of drunks or a room full of potheads? Sure there are health concerns, but that’s true about everything.
Doesn’t matter though, still plenty of toehead conservatives out there. They’d fight anything that isn’t ‘conservative’, thanks to Bill OReilly these guys think they’re fighting a cultural war against the liberals who are threatening their ‘values’. Fact is, there just aren’t enough free thinkers in the US to make a change like this possible.
We have an out of control govt. with out of control spending, and my guess is more people are writing their congressman about legalizing pot? Go figure!
#12 – and home-grown should be as legal as home-brew.
Overdue.
# 11 Uncle Dave said, “when was the last time you heard of someone being busted for stealing to buy weed?”
Busted? Yes, & on death row now. I do know someone that was killed during a home invasion by 3 guys trying to steal pot in his home. The druggies will eventually need more money than they have and will start turning to crime to get it.
#11 Uncle Dave
>>just as with Prohibition, legal or illegal, people no matter age are going to get it and use it.
Yeah I know, people have no self control. Just like the heavy price we as a society pay for those who abuse alcohol, the same will go for pot.
I’m for full legalization, so long as EVERY person behind bars due to possession and use of the drugs get immediate retroactive quashing of their sentences and it wiped from their criminal record.
#17 paddy-o
Do we have alcoholics stealing to fuel their addiction? If pot is legal is the same thing.
Y’all have to understand the breadth and depth of a question means nothing to egregious little fops. If they have an ideological cousin who’s been negatively affected by anything – well, that’s more important than any democratic decision.
Or that fighting for democratic change is worthwhile. Their tiny little world is all that counts.
That’s why we have Republicans and religion.
Sorry, sorry, sorry, any legalization of this aforementioned weed is one toke over the line.
Some quotes from Norm Stamper, former chief of police in Seattle and member of LEAP, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition:
“Alcohol-related traffic accidents claim approximately 14,000 lives each year, down significantly from 20 or 30 years ago (attributed to improved education and enforcement). Figures for THC-related traffic fatalities are elusive, especially since alcohol is almost always present in the blood as well, and since the numbers of “marijuana-only” traffic fatalities are so small. But evidence from studies, including laboratory simulations, feeds the stereotype that those under the influence of canniboids tend to (1) be more aware of their impaired psychomotor skills, and (2) drive well below the speed limit. Those under the influence of alcohol are much more likely to be clueless or defiant about their condition, and to speed up and drive recklessly.
Hundreds of alcohol overdose deaths occur annually. There has never been a single recorded marijuana OD fatality.
Over the past four years I’ve asked police officers throughout the U.S. (and in Canada) two questions. When’s the last time you had to fight someone under the influence of marijuana? (I’m talking marijuana only, not pot plus a six-pack or a fifth of tequila.) My colleagues pause, they reflect. Their eyes widen as they realize that in their five or fifteen or thirty years on the job they have never had to fight a marijuana user. I then ask: When’s the last time you had to fight a drunk? They look at their watches.”
#13,
I always find it funny when Liberals confuse libertarianism with conservatism.
As an aside, I don’t even know how responsive somebody like John Locke would be to recognizing a right to cause damage to god’s work either.
#17 Paddy ho ho,
sounds more like the “home invaders” were after the plants to sell,,,unlikely anyone would “invade a home” just to get high and play xbox
The ironic aspect to this is that most law enforcement officers either ignore personal marijuana (as opposed to a hydroponics lab or having 50 kilos in a semi) or simply use it as an excuse to bust someone they believe is guilty of other crimes for which they have insufficient evidence.
I have always contended that the core issue preventing the legalization of marijuana is DUI. Until there is a way of prosecuting someone for driving under the influence of pot, it will remain illegal.
Totally Legal? Tough questions without a doubt. Personally I feel that the government would be screwed if they decided to legalize it entirely and tax the sale of Mary Jane. The reason is simple, there is already a HUGE black market perfectly established which would entirely undercut the tax incentive of this move. Currently the government can more easily justify the expenses and the jobs by keeping it illegal. Legalize it and suddenly there is no justification for those jobs, however there would have to be a creation of additional jobs for monitoring, distribution, researching, etc.
Secondly there should be penalties for irresponsible use similar to DWI.
Thirdly there would be a sudden transferal and increase of lawyers from criminal to liability, do we really need more personal law suits filling the court system?
Are these pluses or minuses, I don’t know but I believe it would be a huge change, and only time would tell if it was good or bad. There would to be a few very wealthy people from this change if it were to happen, as well as a large amount of loss (personal & property) from such a change.
Historically are there more benefits of detriments of prohibition?
Legalization of marijuana in some form is something I wouldn’t object to if done conscientiously.
Other drugs like shrooms, meth, LSD, heroin … um no.
#25: I guess I should have said ‘old school’ conservatism. Or old school Republicans.
And who you calling a liberal? Don’t assume that just because I disagree with pretty much everything the current Republican party stands for means I’m a liberal. I disagree with quite a lot of what the Dems stand for, too.
Eh … maybe they could legalize most all drugs on second thought.
And then heavily regulate it combined with warnings on packaging.
The main issue behind legalizing drugs is knowing why you are doing it and the reasons I could associate with are:
1. Reduce crime by eliminating the black market.
2. Raise the standard of living for the addicted by not complicating their efforts to get help if needed or being taken advantage of if they don’t want help
3. The government would be able to keep an eye on it better, get stats and at least collect better data to help people.
# 20 Hugh Ripper said, “Do we have alcoholics stealing to fuel their addiction? If pot is legal is the same thing.”
Irrelevant. In CA where this took place you can get a doctors note for chump change and buy all the pot you want. So, we can already see that changing the law won’t have an effect in that matter.
#30, the point is that it is perfectly consistent for conservatives to be advocates of liberal ideas, like economic liberty, and yet not recognize a right to engage in behavior that they see as self destructive, if their view of natural law and rights is that they are derived from god’s will and we are his belongings (hence the Locke reference I made).