Quote:
Originally Posted by Nightfox
Drug - (3) A chemical substance, such as a narcotic or hallucinogen, that affects the central nervous system, causing changes in behavior and often addiction.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nightfox
Drug - (3) A chemical substance, such as a narcotic or hallucinogen, that affects the central nervous system, causing changes in behavior and often addiction.
Just to place another opinion on this topic. I have been smoking pot for more than thirty-five years, still grown to this day. I am for decriminalization and completelty again legalization. There is a major difference, with legalization you will get government controls, regulations, and modifications. With decriminalization, it simply removes any and all criminal punishment, for adults over the age of 18, for the growing, cultivation, possession, and smoking of marijuana. At the same time it puts in place a method to where by the government can still bring prosecution against people who deal to minors and who commit other crimes regarding other so called "soft drugs". If more marijuana activist would just listen to this arguement they would understand the fastest and best way to actual legalization would be first through decriminalization and then to legalization. More people would vote for than against. When asked recently why the voters OVERWHELMINGLY voted down legalization, in Alaska, the number one response was always something regarding needing a way to try and keep it away from kids. At the same time they all stated that if it were decriminalized for growing, cultivation, possession, and smoking for adults over the age of 18, while retaining criminal punishment for dealers, they would have voted in favor of decriminalization.Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Horse
Just something to think about.
OK, now you are in for it. I have read the initial post and the conversations that follow. I hardly know where to start. Maybe a compliment (so as to keep your attention). Mattā??s point about the peopleā??s right to self determination and the laws we choose to enact and enforce is good. And yes, commercial production of weed would/could just fall into another big corporation umbrella. I am responding in the hopes of STIMULATING some honest research from you folks. Many comments (temporary taxes from WW2) are accurate but only go HALFWAY!
Matt and I can tell you FIRST HAND that the way to get the governments attention is with the MONEY. Thatā??s how we stopped the Vietnam War. When hundreds of thousands of middle class Americans deducted a portion of their taxes that was being spent to murder people overseas there was not enough jail space to house them all. So they had to pull out of the damn war.
The WAR ON DRUGS is no different. ITā??S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY!
Yes there is 70 years of propaganda telling people that DRUGS WILL KILL YOU and we all know just how far that crap got with US. If you can find a copy of the movie ā??GRASSā? buy it or at least rent it for a weekend and invite a ton of friends. The war on drugs is just another aspect of the larger war on personal freedom. Dear GOD you donā??t want me to go on that RANT for long.
So yes it is the money. PLEASE remember there is more than one side to that coin. There is the income from taxes, but the greater amount of money is the SAVINGS from not having to fund: the DEA, Drug Courts, Prisons, propaganda programs, drug stings, welfare for the left behind, and all the ancillary costs of drug persecution. If you read my article The True Cost of Cannabis Legislation you can do the numbers your self, itā??s stunning. How about $1,000,000,000 (one BILLION) a year to start; TO START!! Thatā??s US dollars we are talking about. Thatā??s just the savings, the SAVINGS!!!!!!!!! The additional income from allowing individual states to regulate cannabis use (like alcohol or gambling or prostitution) is another BILLION a year. Not over ten years not after five but from year 1 and ON. DEAR CREEPING JESUS WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU THINK ITā??S ALL ABOUT?!?! Cops need criminals in order to justify their jobsā??; an efficient police force just puts itself out of business in a few years.
As DAVES19 mentioned the Netherlands has gotten past the initial problems with a simple and elegant solution. Possession of more than five plants gets you a jail sentence. However if you are registered and certified with the Cannabis Producers Assocician ( read Union) and you have a contract to deliver to a specific coffee shop you can have 25 plants. With proper conditions thatā??s about twelve pounds every sixty days, not a misprint: twelve pounds every sixty days. For more info on efficient growing methods go to www.growweed.com and order Cathyā??s book, its real; Iā??ve used it. That is the way Dutch coffee shops provide an average of 20 jobs per storefront. If the 735,000 people imprisoned for cannabis crimes in the US in 2000 each ran a coffee shop that would be 14.7 million NEW jobs. In Amsterdam each coffee shop keeps a couple of hotels and a restaurant or two in business. More jobs. Please read my articles on cannabis legislation scattered through this category.
So while concerns about taxation and corporate cannabis are valid, so are concerns about personal privacy from the grow light squad. HOWEVER if ENOUGH people got off their ass and read up on the subject and spread the truth to the non smoking Americans we would be able to convince the majority of taxpayers that the waste of their money can STOP and stop NOW. We can provide healthcare for all Americans, we CAN provide a quality education for ALL Americans, we can provide good housing for ALL Americans. IT CAN BE DONE.
The only problems are that most potheads would rather get stoned and play video games and BITCH rather than get out the vote and drag their friends to the voter registration tables. REGISTER, PARTICIPATE, VOTE. Itā??s your FREEDOM at stake.
OK enough for the moment, I need to go smoke a thumb sized joint of some White Rhino to get my attitude under control. In the mean time YOU, thatā??s right YOU! Go search out my other articles and read about what you can do to help the cause of personal freedom.
Two last points. The American Colonies supported the revolution with cannabis. Possession of Cannabis is LEGAL if you have an ATF issued TAX STAMP. Yes today in 2006 it is legal if you have a stamp. You never head of this? Read some more of my articles I discuss this more than once. There is an office and a bureaucrat in Washington DC whose job it is to issue the stamps that are still printed and issued. Abit erratically and only a dozen a year but he does have a desk, a phone and a filing cabinet full of stamps waiting to be issued.
To anyone who finished reading this thanks; Iā??m sorry I want off for a bit
Tons of Love to All
Doctor G
I found somewhere, not too long ago, that ending prohibition would save the United States $25 Billion. I'll look for it.
My state, Virginia, would save $5.3 Billion.
This is a really long thread, and I can't be on here for to long because I have a 3 year old so forgive me if someone has already said some things I say.
Making MJ legal would save a ton of money on inmates in prison for one thing. We have a prison in the town I live, and I have known many gaurds out there. Small town, I babysat for a few of them. I know that like half of the population in this prison is in there for MJ. I-80 comes through here too, and TONS of drugs travel across the united states on this interstate. A lot of people get busted for it, and it costs more money than most people make a year to house 1 of these "criminals", "danger to society". It is crazy, legalizing it would SAVE money for sure.
And as far as not legalizing it because it is "fun" to break the law. Some of us have kids whom we love very much and cannot risk going to prison, and some of us smoke because it calms our anxiety, or curbs our depression. We don't get a kick out of being "hidden" at all. I am a very happily married woman, with tons of morals, but I would probably fuck the cop to get out of being in trouble for my sons sake. I cannot go to prison.
Just my opinion on it all :)
lol, sorry about that... :( one of my pissy moments...Quote:
Originally Posted by passionate grower
unfortunately, anything dealing with money is only part of the problem, so dispite my passionate support for NORML, they are coincedentally a part of the problem as well, which is why i am not (and never will be) a finincial supporter (of anything for that matter).
hemp can replace currency, and that's the only way i can be ok wit htaxes and even then, the corperation still poses a huge threat.
once again, sorry, i got all bent out of shape... again... lol
Odds are that if it is legalized several things will happen. The tobacco companies will jump on the bandwagon and switch a large portion of their fields to weed. (several have already admitted to being ready to convert if it is legalized) It will become a large commercial business akin to alcohol, tobacco and firearms. however, it will no doubt be handled the same way, you can reload your shotgun shells or whatever, you can make beer, wine, even whiskey in your basement up to a fairly large amount without being taxed or hassled as long as you don't sell it. I suspect they would do the same thing with weed. It would be taxed, it would be regulated yes, but it would also generate a boatload of revenue for the feds, save a shitload on legal costs and generally no longer be a problem. As for stoners not getting involved in the political process I would venture to guess that their numbers are no greater a percentage than any other group. But Washington has no balls. Only numbnuts.
Lets not forget the forfieture laws. Another reason Gov does not want it legalized. Many , if not most, states have forfieture laws that rake in millions, if not billions a year in homes, boats, cars..etc.
{eace,
HeyDan
Im currently in collage, holding a job, and a frequent smoker. :thumbsup:Quote:
Originally Posted by saleemgreen
You all can argue over facts and whose opinion is better, etc.
For those who do care for decriminalization / legalization / medical / agricultural purpose / what the fuck ever. . . .
I'll see the some of you at Tallahasee, FL for the Marijuana March in May.
Go to your state capitol. Speak. Get yourself heard.
Think this way. If "I" (as in yourself) don't do it, because some one else will... wait... Im that some one else for that some one else. So thusly no ones doing it. *Le~Gasp* But If I, the 'some one else' goes, and speaks out, then there surely will be other 'some one else'(s).
Yeah, i sometimes think that if it were legal that it wouldnt be as fun cuz you wouldnt have anything to hide and ud just be high like everyone else. I dont drink because i know everyone else is doing it so its like "hey i got drunk yesterday" and then everyone else is like yeah so did we big fuckng deal.....