Fourth marijuana conviction gets Slidell man life in prison

PrintSmith wrote:

Soulshiner wrote: The question begs to be asked:

Do you believe that MJ should be completely legalized?

Personally I do not, I have seen it stunt the progress of too many lives to take the position that it should be added to the list of legalized recreational drugs. I think it does have a place in the realm of medicine and I would not hesitate to avail myself of its medicinal qualities were I to find myself in CB's shoes one day. But I think that is where it should stay. It's not important enough to me one way or the other to become an advocate one way or the other though. It falls within the realm of apathy for me. If you want to spend your life in a fogged state of consciousness, who am I to tell you you can't.

You waste a lot of words on something you're so apathetic about.

The problem, of course, is that most of the "sick individuals" the Obama administration claims to be sparing are not up to the task of growing their own marijuana. When DEA raids or threats to landlords shut down dispensaries, Hermes notes, "patients wake up the next morning wondering where they're going to find their medication." Obama's position is that patients can have marijuana; they just can't get it anywhere.

Jacob Sullum is a senior editor at Reason and a nationally syndicated columnist."

http://reason.com/archives/2011/05/11/f ... ance/print

The reason that marijuana should be decriminalized and regulated is because of the criminal society that has grown up around it. The people who are going to use it do not care about whether it is legal or not.
Regulation will not increase its use or make it more accessible to kids.
It WILL eliminate the multitude of Al Capone type of gangsters that we currently create. They will have to make their living selling the hard stuff.

Medical MJ is a joke.

My wife works in security at a Jeffco HS MB. She will tell you that since the passage of the MMJ laws accessibility and usage has increased among the students. It also contributes to the perception that other prescription drugs are less harmful when abused than they really are.

I agree with you that in its current incarnation, MMJ has become a joke. It is quite clear to all that the intention was not to provide relief for those with debilitating conditions, but to allow anyone who wanted to get high recreationally an avenue by which to do so. Incremental steps on the path to the desired goal of legalizing marijuana for recreational purposes. What the people who want marijuana legalized have done is essentially the same thing the progressives have done in their march to consolidate all power of governance in the federated government. Put the frog into a pot of cold water and turn up the heat slowly so that it doesn't realize it is being cooked until it is too late to avoid that fate.

PrintSmith wrote: My wife works in security at a Jeffco HS MB. She will tell you that since the passage of the MMJ laws accessibility and usage has increased among the students. It also contributes to the perception that other prescription drugs are less harmful when abused than they really are.

I know quite a few people in the District, as well as in Security too PS. I agree that more and more students are getting their "cards" for what? To get stoned dude, that's why. It's now an "in" thing. What a joke. However, there are still plenty of students that don't allow it to interfere with their studies (as did I when I was in HS) and will graduate accordingly. A fine line indeed, especially cause now there's pot that's so high in THC it could stop a charging elephant. On the other hand though, I would rather see someone smoking JUST MJ to get a medicinal effect or for recreation, such as quelling nausea and creating appetite, versus taking several name brand drugs that are proven to be highly addictive with debilitating side effects, or getting a ginormous bottle of Wild Turkey. Although it's not good to smoke pot day and night, it's a lot less harmful (IMO) than taking a crap load of oxycodone, percs, valume, zanex, etc. So, before I get all sidetracked, we need stricter screening processes for people wanting their "card." For example, an eighteen year old HS student wouldn't be eligible without previous (years worth) medical history proving they would like to try MJ as an alternative to whatever they'd been taking, and a guardians consent, unless they can also prove they are living on their own and without any kind of social assistance. This can be modified later down the road during retirement, but I would hope by then that they could supplement their "medication."

Jekyll wrote:

PrintSmith wrote: My wife works in security at a Jeffco HS MB. She will tell you that since the passage of the MMJ laws accessibility and usage has increased among the students. It also contributes to the perception that other prescription drugs are less harmful when abused than they really are.

I know quite a few people in the District, as well as in Security too PS. I agree that more and more students are getting their "cards" for what? To get stoned dude, that's why. It's now an "in" thing. What a joke. However, there are still plenty of students that don't allow it to interfere with their studies (as did I when I was in HS) and will graduate accordingly. A fine line indeed, especially cause now there's pot that's so high in THC it could stop a charging elephant. On the other hand though, I would rather see someone smoking JUST MJ to get a medicinal effect or for recreation, such as quelling nausea and creating appetite, versus taking several name brand drugs that are proven to be highly addictive with debilitating side effects, or getting a ginormous bottle of Wild Turkey. Although it's not good to smoke pot day and night, it's a lot less harmful (IMO) than taking a crap load of oxycodone, percs, valume, zanex, etc. So, before I get all sidetracked, we need stricter screening processes for people wanting their "card." For example, an eighteen year old HS student wouldn't be eligible without previous (years worth) medical history proving they would like to try MJ as an alternative to whatever they'd been taking, and a guardians consent, unless they can also prove they are living on their own and without any kind of social assistance. This can be modified later down the road during retirement, but I would hope by then that they could supplement their "medication."

I'm not certain whether you are saying that your activities did, or did not, interfere with your schooling Jekyll - but regardless of which it was, we can both agree that for a large percentage of the regular users, it does interfere with their education. Retention of information is degraded when one is intoxicated when they are presented with the information. Memory and recall of information is degraded as well. A very intelligent student may be able to overcome that handicap, especially if they are gifted in certain areas, but average and below average students generally are not as successful in doing that.

I personally don't think anyone without a history of a chronic and debilitating condition should be able to obtain a MMJ card. "I get bad headaches a couple times a month" shouldn't qualify, nor should "It is my opinion that the patient may experience some relief from their allergy symptoms". If you've been on a narcotic for pain over an extended period of time, fine. I think it is probable better for you to have the MMJ than it is to continue to take an addictive opiate derivative of any type. Been on a sleep inducer for a while? Another good one. Undergoing chemo or radiation therapy? No question. Diagnosed with glaucoma or macular degeneration? Good enough for me. But simply walking into the office of an accommodating doctor with vague descriptions of elusive conditions should require further diagnostic attempts before the card is issued. And like I said earlier - have that prescription dispensed from a licensed pharmacy just as other narcotic substances are. Have it grown specifically for the medicinal market and have the consumption tracked. Someone who gets their card because the get migraines once or twice a month shouldn't be going through a half pound of the medicine a month.

I don't think I care who you think should or should not get their card. It is not up to you.

I don't think I care what you think either, so there. tongue:

PrintSmith wrote:

Soulshiner wrote: The question begs to be asked:

Do you believe that MJ should be completely legalized?

Personally I do not, I have seen it stunt the progress of too many lives to take the position that it should be added to the list of legalized recreational drugs. I think it does have a place in the realm of medicine and I would not hesitate to avail myself of its medicinal qualities were I to find myself in CB's shoes one day. But I think that is where it should stay. It's not important enough to me one way or the other to become an advocate one way or the other though. It falls within the realm of apathy for me. If you want to spend your life in a fogged state of consciousness, who am I to tell you you can't.

I am surprised. It is a manifestation of the nanny state and seems inconsistent with your sig line. If people want to stunt their life's with MJ it should be there right to do so. Why not be apathetic on the side of freedom.

Freedom huh? How about do it the ole fashioned way and find you a homegrower that isn't on the grid and get stoned that way. There's your freedom. If you want to go through the medical system, and play it like a fool, then expect to get served some strict guidelines. At least that's the way it should be if your in it for recreation. If your in it for medicine, then you should go through some red tape until it suddenly becomes totally legal. Otherwise, stay out and get it the ole fashioned way. Or grow your own.