Denver Post: Coloradoans Support MJ Decriminalization.

According to polls it looks like Colorado would pass this but personally I think it will get voted down once they realize it will still be illegal at the federal level.

The only poll that's accurate is the one in November.

This is an area I'm still 'grey' on. Apparently there is enough evidence to support medicinal benefits of it which is why there seems to be a ridiculous amount of dispensaries or whatever they're called, but what if someone is driving stoned? (Yes, same could be said of the argument of alcohol vs. mj and driving). Spend enough time around a gas station and you end up seeing all kinds of people you'd probably rather not be behind the wheel of a vehicle. What would be the benefits, if any, to support voting in favor of decriminalization?


Badger

Argument to support decriminalization? Decrease the public expense of jail time.

Saving the money from the arrests and incarcerations is the big one. Driving while intoxicated would still be illegal. People are driving at this very moment drunk, on prescription drugs and yes, on MJ. Alcohol is legal and people are still driving and being arrested for it.

MJ is illegal because of bigotry and corporate greed. It's time for us to stop infringing on the personal liberties of Americans and legalize a plant that no one has ever died from overdosing. It still seems odd to me that Republicans claim to be in favor of personal liberties and less government, yet most oppose the legalization of MJ.

I see a lot of people that I would rather they didn't possess a firearm, but I also realize that that is not my choice to make.

Soulshiner wrote: Saving the money from the arrests and incarcerations is the big one. Driving while intoxicated would still be illegal. People are driving at this very moment drunk, on prescription drugs and yes, on MJ. Alcohol is legal and people are still driving and being arrested for it.

MJ is illegal because of bigotry and corporate greed. It's time for us to stop infringing on the personal liberties of Americans and legalize a plant that no one has ever died from overdosing. It still seems odd to me that Republicans claim to be in favor of personal liberties and less government, yet most oppose the legalization of MJ.

I see a lot of people that I would rather they didn't possess a firearm, but I also realize that that is not my choice to make.

Definitely understand and agree with the decreased cost of jail time, so that's where my vote leans "for decriminalization". The driving thing I suspect will be about as a norm as alcohol. Is there any proof no one has ever died from an overdose? A legitimate question actually, not trying to start a debate. I don't entirely see the MJ debate as a Rep/Dem fight so much as an individual morals debate, but maybe that's just me. I actually know people who are prescribed medicinal MJ, and they get pissed at me because when they're high, I tend to treat them like they have a virus/plague or something. Granted, this is my own dysfunctionality and bias associated with what I perceive as a drug, because I can associate with friends who have been drinking and don't act the same way. True... I won't let them near a firearm or anything that might allow them to win a Darwin award, but again, my own personal experience.

I'll admit to having smoked MJ. Its not for me, I cannot function at all. With all due acknowledgment my worst estimated scenario would be gaining several pounds and staring at the damn TV which I sort of hate as is, but its not for me and I tend to hold a bias toward it. I can drink alcohol and while I won't drive, operate a firearm, or perform many other tasks, still perform routine daily chores with a sense of duty and attention to detail and while friends would perhaps see me as "fit and alert", I'd still refuse to drive and other things if asked, because 1. I don't care for a ticket, classes, or jail time, and 2. My reaction time and judgement might be affected, so I simply refuse. With that said, break into my home when I've had a few and I'm sure I'd still come out a victor... just might be a few more rounds expended rather than a simple target acquisition and "double tap".

As a firearm enthusiast, there are people I'd rather see either forced to take training in how to safely operate what they already own or give up their right and possession there of, and that is precisely what sets me apart from fellow "gun nuts" as we're often labeled. Label me what you will, I can honestly say there are friends in both law enforcement and military that have already said they'd call on me in a heartbeat if SHTF. But that's another discussion.

Badger

You can function while intoxicated on liquor and can't on MJ. Others have the complete opposite situation. I think people would be very surprised if they knew how many of the people around them had used MJ that day.

MJ doesn't work for you. Quite understandable. But for others, it does.

As for the no deaths statement:

http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view ... eID=000145

I am strongly in favor of legalization.

I have no problem with it because it helped me a lot in the last few years and I know for a fact that it has great medical value. I'm not sure what medical value alcohol has and it's definitely not good when overused...same can be said for weed... you can overdo it and be like Spicoli in Fast Times. You can also huff gasoline to get high but we'll never outlaw that. I say let people do to themselves what they want including drinking a 5 gallon big gulp if they so desire. The gene pool needs to be clensed of morons and I'm all for it.

Soulshiner wrote: Saving the money from the arrests and incarcerations is the big one. Driving while intoxicated would still be illegal. People are driving at this very moment drunk, on prescription drugs and yes, on MJ. Alcohol is legal and people are still driving and being arrested for it.

MJ is illegal because of bigotry and corporate greed. It's time for us to stop infringing on the personal liberties of Americans and legalize a plant that no one has ever died from overdosing. It still seems odd to me that Republicans claim to be in favor of personal liberties and less government, yet most oppose the legalization of MJ.

I see a lot of people that I would rather they didn't possess a firearm, but I also realize that that is not my choice to make.

You are quick to criticize republicans but I think your perception may be a bit twisted here. It's the progressive democrat who is big government- pro control, not the conservatives. Sure there are a few social conservative- pro-law enforcement types who are profiting from keeping this illegal, but most conservatives I know are for less control- smaller limited government, and generally keeping the "man" out of our personal business.

I offer you exibit #1- Governor Hickylooper, who is opposed to this amendment. Here we have Colorado's premier progressive- who made his living selling ethanol to yuppies, against legal MJ. Hick is leading the anti-Amendment 64 movement in colorado- backed up by district attorney's and law enforcement officials all over the state.

Then you have exibit #2- all the soccer moms and the entire "save the children" crowd against this proposal. Most of those paranoid moms are of our generation SS- and they are against 64.

So I think you have it wrong- people like me who are libertarian and conservative- are against the state control of individual liberty- it's the people on YOUR liberal team who are leading the charge against Amendment 64. The least you can do is a little research about who is really fighting this- they are mostly on the left, with a few law enforcement types on the right. Most of the district attorney's and law enforcement officials are actually democrats, especially in places like Boulder Denver and Pueblo counties.

So knowing who is against this thing will give you some light- they are on your team!

As a libertarian- I'm against government controlling MJ- always have been. One of my biggest problems is the billions of taxpayer dollars wasted fighting this NON-problem.

I hope you will agree with me that once MJ is legal, billions and billions of dollars can be cut from government budgets, money that is currently being spent at the federal, state and local levels for law enforcement, jailing and imprisonment of "offenders"- community patrols for pot smokers- and radio and TV publicity campains.

All this money that they use to hire those police officers who spend all that time "patrolling" for pot smokers- all that time that is tying up the jails, and the court systems- we tax payers deserve the benefits of smaller - less controlling government, in the form of a TAX CUT.

All I see here is that most of the people right of center on this board are IN FAVOR of Amendment 64 - so your assertion about "It still seems odd to me that Republicans claim to be in favor of personal liberties and less government, yet most oppose the legalization of MJ" is an incorrect/ignorant and mis-informed statement. The opposition I see is coming from the left.

If this Amendment 64 fails- it will be because of people like Hickylooper and the democrat district attorney's and law enforcement officials.

About the driving on MJ issue- it dosn't bother me at all. This is not ethanol we are talking about here, sure there is some impairment- but not as damaging as being a liberal for instance.

The fact is that people have been driving stoned for decades now, and we see very little impact from the practice. I personally know people who suck down a big giant bong hit first thing- and hit the road on the way to work.

And make no mistake- law enforcement and democrat congressman in Colorado and Washington are - as we speak- working on new laws to start testing for THC the same way they are being allowed to stop people and test for ETOH.

I heard on the radio just last friday where Colorado democrats are working on a THC standard of 5 nanograms per liter of blood. This means that law enforcement will be empowered to test our blood- if they suspect us of using MJ or not. I'm against this invasion of privacy for all kinds of reasons.

The fact is- if you are caught after a law like this- you will face the same kinds of draconian penalties as if you were drunk. Now is the time to stop this crap- after the law is passed- it's too late! Virtually anyone who uses MJ will have more than 5 nanograms per liter in their blood - and those who use MJ regularly- they will always have more than that amount in their blood all the time. This will convert virtually everyone who uses MJ regularly into criminals everytime they get in a car.

It's democrats - politicians, law enforcement officials and "save the children" moms pushing for these standards- it will make all users criminals- get caught in one DUI checkpoint, and you will become a "corrections client".

Personally- I don't use MJ, but I know many who do. If you want to go through life stoned- go for it, just don't ask me to support your laziness. I know lots of people who use, it's sad for them because I think they lose motivation to make the best of themselves. They live life in a daze, mostly unaware of what life is like sober. I also know quite a few people who manage to be productive and be a stoner at the same time.

But hey- this is supposed to be a free country- with liberty and all that stuff. If you want to be a lazy stoner, you should have that right- all I ask is that you not be a burden to the rest of us.

So here's yet one more conservative who will be voting in support of Amendment 64, I hope you will re-consider your assertion that we are all against it.