Closer Than Ever to Legalization?

Ten years ago, the thought of marijuana becoming legal across the United States was absurd. These days, however, it seems as though politicians, lawmakers, government officials, the media, and even your average citizens are entertaining the idea of making Marijuana legal for both medical and recreational use. Yes, I know only a handful of states have even legalized medical marijuana. Yes, I know President Obama isn't for the legalization of marijuana, or so he says to the public. But am I the only one who feels the tables are beginning to turn?

I hate to base my argument solely on videos, but that's all I have at my disposal at this time. In terms of my everyday experience and conversation about marijuana; it seems as though many of those close to me are starting to come around. Whether it's the media persuading them or just common sense, it seems like just about everyone I know is at least with it when it comes to the basic truths of marijuana and the idea of legalizing it. What do I mean? Well...the basics....

-0 Deaths
-Much safer and less toxic than both Alcohol and Tobacco, both of which are legal
-Sick people deserve to take medicine which they SAY makes them feel better
-Legalizing would put the sale of Marijuana in safer, more trustworthy hands
-Legalizing would make the government MAD money $$$

Just to name a few.

I've been seeing more and more coverage of Marijuana on the news as of late.

If February CNN allowed its viewers to call, email, text, etc their opinions of legalizing Marijuana. Now, polls are polls, but the CNN viewers voted an impressive 95% in favor of legalization. Check it out here: YouTube - 95% Want Marijuana Legalized! CNN Poll

Here's CNBC showing the public a little look into how medical marijuana is sold in California and why it is the largest cash crop in California. YouTube - CNBC SAYS - MARIJUANA = LARGEST CASH CROP IN CA

Another good segment from CNN that aired this April: YouTube - 90% Of CNN Viewers Want Marijuana Legalized!

Rep. Steve Cohen taking care of business in a recent debate regarding the legalization of marijuana: YouTube - FBI boss loses marijuana legalization debate Video

And of course, the video discussing the recent bill introduced in California regarding legalization: YouTube - California Marijuana is almost legal

And there are SO many more videos. Not just on Youtube. Just search 'Marijuana' on CNN.com, CNBC.com, MSNBC.com, and other news sites. The content is endless.

The War on Drugs is finally beginning to subsist, which is a big step. Many bills are being introduced all around the country. We, the cannabis supporters, are beginning to be treated like we deserve to be. Our voices are being heard and we are making a difference. How much? We can only wait and see. At this point, all we can do is let our voices be heard. Go to rallies, write to congress, donate to pro-legalization organizations, anything! We're on the right track. This isn't entirely in our hands, but we can definitely have an impact.

Will we see Marijuana legalized soon? We can only hope and pray. Realisticly, it's probably going to be longer than I think but who knows. I just have this strange feeling like we're inching closer. I'd like to hear your thoughts.

Peace and Love :stoned: Keep smoking

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Originally Posted by Sir Bliss

Ten years ago, the thought of marijuana becoming legal across the United States was absurd. These days, however, it seems as though politicians, lawmakers, government officials, the media, and even your average citizens are entertaining the idea of making Marijuana legal for both medical and recreational use. Yes, I know only a handful of states have even legalized medical marijuana. Yes, I know President Obama isn't for the legalization of marijuana, or so he says to the public. But am I the only one who feels the tables are beginning to turn?

I hate to base my argument solely on videos, but that's all I have at my disposal at this time. In terms of my everyday experience and conversation about marijuana; it seems as though many of those close to me are starting to come around. Whether it's the media persuading them or just common sense, it seems like just about everyone I know is at least with it when it comes to the basic truths of marijuana and the idea of legalizing it. What do I mean? Well...the basics....

-0 Deaths
-Much safer and less toxic than both Alcohol and Tobacco, both of which are legal
-Sick people deserve to take medicine which they SAY makes them feel better
-Legalizing would put the sale of Marijuana in safer, more trustworthy hands
-Legalizing would make the government MAD money $$$

Just to name a few.

I've been seeing more and more coverage of Marijuana on the news as of late.

If February CNN allowed its viewers to call, email, text, etc their opinions of legalizing Marijuana. Now, polls are polls, but the CNN viewers voted an impressive 95% in favor of legalization. Check it out here: YouTube - 95% Want Marijuana Legalized! CNN Poll

Here's CNBC showing the public a little look into how medical marijuana is sold in California and why it is the largest cash crop in California. YouTube - CNBC SAYS - MARIJUANA = LARGEST CASH CROP IN CA

Another good segment from CNN that aired this April: YouTube - 90% Of CNN Viewers Want Marijuana Legalized!

Rep. Steve Cohen taking care of business in a recent debate regarding the legalization of marijuana: YouTube - FBI boss loses marijuana legalization debate Video

And of course, the video discussing the recent bill introduced in California regarding legalization: YouTube - California Marijuana is almost legal

And there are SO many more videos. Not just on Youtube. Just search 'Marijuana' on CNN.com, CNBC.com, MSNBC.com, and other news sites. The content is endless.

The War on Drugs is finally beginning to subsist, which is a big step. Many bills are being introduced all around the country. We, the cannabis supporters, are beginning to be treated like we deserve to be. Our voices are being heard and we are making a difference. How much? We can only wait and see. At this point, all we can do is let our voices be heard. Go to rallies, write to congress, donate to pro-legalization organizations, anything! We're on the right track. This isn't entirely in our hands, but we can definitely have an impact.

Will we see Marijuana legalized soon? We can only hope and pray. Realisticly, it's probably going to be longer than I think but who knows. I just have this strange feeling like we're inching closer. I'd like to hear your thoughts.

Peace and Love :stoned: Keep smoking

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When that day comes, there will be dancing and smoking in the streets. :jointsmile:

[quote=gypski]When that day comes, there will be dancing and smoking in the streets. :jointsmile:[/QUOTE

Oh that's an understatement, my friend.

we are closer than ever. im an lod stoner first toke was in the mid seventys, and the attitude of the people has gone almost 180. and the bud is much better.

but the money generated from prohibition is goin to be our biggest hurdle. when we look at who and why it was made illegal in the first place and then look at who making the money off of prohibition you will see a very stong enemy to decrimalization. the biggest part off making it illegal in the first place came frome dupont and dow chemicals. by pressuring the govt to tax to the point of it being unprofitable to grow hemp it remove a source of natural material that could be use to provide everything from oil paper. wich they wanted to produce synteticaly. thats just the chemical industry. dont forget the logging and oil industrys.

now a days we also have one other industry wich is quite sad but its the prison industry. im mean the privatly owned prisons that receive millions of dollars a year of our tax money to house crimanals.

so you see with that much money behind them they have the means to buy our politicians to see that they get their way. legalization is not an impossible task but the hardest part is yet to come i fear.

See, I was always under the impression that legalizing and taxing marijuana would bring in more revenue than we really imagine. I mean, last year alone California raked in some 10 billion in taxes (maybe more) from medical marijuana. Our government is all about greed and money, I understand this...so why is it so difficult for, at the very least, our President to realize the benefits of legalizing the plant all together. It's just depressing.

Sometimes I think it's just the persona, the idea, of what marijuana is and always has been. It has been labeled as a dangerous drug for decades and decades. Maybe all it takes is the turning of another generation. These old fart politicians just won't have it. Makes me sick.

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we are closer than ever. im an lod stoner first toke was in the mid seventys, and the attitude of the people has gone almost 180. and the bud is much better.

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This is good to know, at the very least. And really...that's all we can ask for at this point. Legalization is an enormous step, but being able to recognize it's not as harmful as it is made out to be is very good. It's nice hearing this from someone who has been smoking since the 70's. You, more than anyone, would know if we're closer than ever.

The sad thing though...we may be closer than ever...but how close is close?

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now a days we also have one other industry wich is quite sad but its the prison industry. im mean the privatly owned prisons that receive millions of dollars a year of our tax money to house crimanals.

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Where I live, they say it costs around $38,000 a year to house a single prisoner. :wtf: Such BS.

On another note. I always hear people say that when they decriminalize that it's not going to boom as much as if it were still illegal. I'm calling BS on that one. No matter how you look at it, ALL this weed is STILL coming through and will continue to do so no matter if it's legal or not. Only difference will be the governments control over it. If the governments don't allow certain imports of cannabis, then it will simply be smuggled in just like some alcohol still is to this day. So these government officials are absurd to believe that cannabis won't boost our economy. I have yet to here a plausible reason why it wouldn't work.....Anybody?!

You got me, man. That's a good question. If I had an anwser, I'd give it to you.

None of this makes sense to me. It's just so unbelievably frustrating.

CNN is biased towards the left. That's probably why it was so high. There's a liberal viewer base.

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Originally Posted by fdsaasdf

CNN is biased towards the left. That's probably why it was so high. There's a liberal viewer base.

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It's not just CNN, but I agree. CNN is definitely biased towards the left. However, even news channels such as FOX are beginning to cover more and more Marijuana stories.

Here's another interesting debate shown on what likes like CNBC.

YouTube - Marijuana Reform Activist Destroys Former DEA Head. Funny Pot DEBATE!!!

It's the former DEA Ambassador being TORN UP by a number of different people including a Marijuana Reform Activist. Never have I seen such support from the unlikely news crew. I'm not sure when this aired, but damn. :thumbsup: Good stuff. Very encouraging to watch.

the day that marijuana becomes legal will be a glorious day lol, but after that huge smoke-fest they may just make it illegal.
for the average person on that day, you go to stop and shop and some guy will be riding the carts around the parking lot stoned lol.
go to a drivethru and get your food and notice the person working there ate them all because of the munchies, SO MANY people just wont come to work that day..
i seriously think if it just one day suddenly becomes legal it will be illegal within a week, we need to make it completely medically legal, spread some good propaganda, even make commercials for medical marijuana, then in a couple years i can see it being legalized.

Cannabis will never be legal.

Too many people (if you can still call them that) have submerged any inkling of what it is to be this beast capable of thought, emotion; to feel. Nay, merely a shell of man is what I see; as hollow and ominous as disingenuous.

The horns have been sounded, the call to those who control. All dismissed on a whim of pure gluttony.

One man said it best, "Only when the power of love overcomes the love of power will the world know peace."

\

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Originally Posted by lamapot

Cannabis will never be legal.

Too many people (if you can still call them that) have submerged any inkling of what it is to be this beast capable of thought, emotion; to feel. Nay, merely a shell of man is what I see; as hollow and ominous as disingenuous.

The horns have been sounded, the call to those who control. All dismissed on a whim of pure gluttony.

One man said it best, "Only when the power of love overcomes the love of power will the world know peace."

\

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i have no idea what that means but . . :rasta:

maybe they should come up with a baked to english translator web app. :stoned: :jointsmile:

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Originally Posted by yokinazu

we are closer than ever. im an lod stoner first toke was in the mid seventys, and the attitude of the people has gone almost 180. and the bud is much better.

but the money generated from prohibition is goin to be our biggest hurdle. when we look at who and why it was made illegal in the first place and then look at who making the money off of prohibition you will see a very stong enemy to decrimalization. the biggest part off making it illegal in the first place came frome dupont and dow chemicals. by pressuring the govt to tax to the point of it being unprofitable to grow hemp it remove a source of natural material that could be use to provide everything from oil paper. wich they wanted to produce synteticaly. thats just the chemical industry. dont forget the logging and oil industrys.

now a days we also have one other industry wich is quite sad but its the prison industry. im mean the privatly owned prisons that receive millions of dollars a year of our tax money to house crimanals.

so you see with that much money behind them they have the means to buy our politicians to see that they get their way. legalization is not an impossible task but the hardest part is yet to come i fear.

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that really sums it up well, I think. I think this thread is great in that it is focused on the media. It is a war for the hearts and minds in the media and we must stay focused on it but I think Yoki really nails it.

Our oppenents will fight to the end to protect their way of living and we should expect no less. This battle has nothing to do with cannabis really. We all know there is no logical reason for its prohibition. The only logical reason is the vast sums of money being made by prohibition.

That said, I agree. I think we are winning. A vote for herby is a vote against the crooked system we have now.

i think the problem is how they teach kids never to smoke in school.
we are trying to FORCE a generation into thinking smoking is bad, primarily tobacco but the "Hugs not drugs" or whatever its called really isnt right..
what they focus on is alcohol, ciggarrettes, and marijuana. maybe calling these companys that go to the schools and asking them to update a few points on the marijuana thing would help a bit.

dude legalization is a fantasy get over it, it"ll be just like in the movie Children of Men. In the last years of society after global collapse the government will be handing out suicide kits and antidepressants like candy at a parade and weed will still be illegal.

If we can get medical laws passed in FL & NY like Cali currently has, I believe the tide will turn very quickly. Then it would be a very short matter of time until we have full medical legalization on a national level. Just my 2 cents. :hippy:

it will never be legal.i would like to see it to be legalized but it wont happen..medically maybe and is happening as we speak just not with all states i know connecticut will never be legal.even though one state away it is..hmmm..but to be be totally legal i dont see it happening in my lifetime.plus its much funner being illegal because it makes us people badasses haha. obama is a joke and lies just like the other presidents...i wonder if he gets drug tested?we all know his brother/cousin is a stoner...

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Originally Posted by boaz

maybe they should come up with a baked to english translator web app. :stoned: :jointsmile:

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boy, that's the truth :thumbsup: :D

cool, i cracked up the IR man! :jointsmile: your posts are always cracking me up!

say, lamapot, i was just kidding around, brother, please continue. i liked the quote "Only when the power of love overcomes the love of power will the world know peace." who said that? My guess would be that cool dude who cleansed the temple. :smokin: