The poll number aside (I really don't like polls, they are about as accurate as measuring a mile with a ruler, by hand), what's the problem with getting the Feds to legalize across the board? Joe Schmo can get lit on percocets and booze in his off time, and with a doctors note he can do the first one ON THE JOB, along with anything else his doctor prescribes. I say, legalize it, tax it, make a lot of different things out of hemp and lets get stoned without prosecution or loss of job baby! (For those of you not in "the know," you can't get high off of hemp).
When we get a govt that let's people run their lives....that information may become relevant.
A majority of Americans smoke pot and an even larger majority don't give a crap about what anyone else in the country thinks...but absolutely know what is best for everyone else and will force it on them using whatever henchmen they can find.
A majority of Americans smoke pot? I find that hard to believe. I do think more Americans than not have smoked pot.
I welcome more legalization at the national level, but it will be interesting to see the culture change. The Denver Post this morning was talking about what are condo managers supposed to do when people start smoking and it stinks up the hallways.
In college, we used to put bleach soaked towels at the door to cover up the smell of lighting up. No more need to do that.
And pretty funny with more and more places limiting cigarette smoking like Boulder's outdoor malls...but go crazy on pot permissiveness.
One of my friends got busted smoking pot before going on stage at a gig in Fort Collins last week, but the police just let her go after showing ID,, even though smoking pot in public is supposed to be illegal under the new rules.
Thomas Sowell: There are no solutions, just trade-offs.
Come on Jekyll, just think about all the jobs that government "created" chasing the growers, smokers, and sellers. The good news is that even if the gov't got rid of enforcement officers, they could train these people to be gun magazine police or health care "navigators"... which we apparently need now.
The left is angry because they are now being judged by the content of their character and not by the color of their skin.
Rick wrote: Come on Jekyll, just think about all the jobs that government "created" chasing the growers, smokers, and sellers. The good news is that even if the gov't got rid of enforcement officers, they could train these people to be gun magazine police or health care "navigators"... which we apparently need now.
That's something often overlooked, Rick. There are many politicians and members of law enforcement that want to keep it illegal for one simple reason: Money. The War on Drugs is a cash cow for many and job security for some. Gotta have a large amount of funds to buy the toys to fight that war.
Fred got it right (left....uhhhh right.....) legalization will permit the termination of thousands of cops, prosecutors, jailers......etc. Since 911 this gaggle has exploded......a return to sanity post illkegl pot is a goal. The clerks will fight to find some other trivial laws to pursue......common. Maybe we can LOWER taxes and return to the people what is fair.
Rick wrote: Come on Jekyll, just think about all the jobs that government "created" chasing the growers, smokers, and sellers. The good news is that even if the gov't got rid of enforcement officers, they could train these people to be gun magazine police or health care "navigators"... which we apparently need now.
That's something often overlooked, Rick. There are many politicians and members of law enforcement that want to keep it illegal for one simple reason: Money. The War on Drugs is a cash cow for many and job security for some. Gotta have a large amount of funds to buy the toys to fight that war.
@ Rick: Guaranteed people would be re-trained for other jobs, but I think quite a few would still be around. Think about it. You'll need security for large grows, and people will still go to jail for everything under the sun. Besides, government isn't gonna just *poof*, go away, so we might as well get weed off the table as a "dangerous" drug and go back to when we made things out of it and make money off of it. I'm sure there's plenty of capitalists in this country that would relish a chance to build a company off of cannabis and hemp.
@ Omniscience: I totally agree. Lots of greed, however, more and more of the medical community is saying that there are more benefits than harmful effects from marijuana, as long as people don't start smoking when they're in their early teens. Course, this is kind of objectionable because I started smoking it at a young age (don't any more) and I've turned out just fine (oh boy, que it up! lol ). If enough influence from the Medical community is created, there will be more pressure on the Feds to side with us on the issue. Especially if politicians use legalization and decriminalization as part of a campaign? Anyway, there are still plenty of other harmful drugs to keep the pork choppers busy, so lets move on from pot shall we?
Cops finding new crimes after legalization? After alcohol became legal the ATF and Congress started writing new laws against silencers fully automatic guns and sawed off shotguns.
Thomas Sowell: There are no solutions, just trade-offs.
