420 Policies and Laws

[WickedKitchen]

I don't think it will pass.

In fact, I would vote to decriminalize it (I did in MA or at least my name was on the petition) but legalization is another story. There are plenty of people that can handle it but then there are many that can't. We have the same problem with alcohol...or anything else really. I just think that it's much more difficult to detect on people using it at work or what have you. I know...I kept it stealthy for over a decade though I never was high at work. Well, once but the restaurant was closed and we had to clean the grills/fryers/ice cream coolers. Dude...it was a Friendly's restaurant with four stoners in it at 3:00AM. It was heaven...we at soooooo much. Ice cream...burgers...hot fudge. I remember that night fondly. I was 17 I think. Ahhhh.

Anyhoo...we shouldn't be policing the crap out of it, but it shouldn't be outright legal, IMO...though it would be nice to pop into my local CVS and buy a box of joints I don't think I would trust industry. I trusted my suppliers more than big business in the past. who knows?

[devilock76]

I cannot understand why it is illegal and alcohol is legal. Alcohol does more harm (and I thought this before that study). I don't smoke it as I have a government job and it is not worth the risk. If it was legal I would consider using it especially since I don't drink.

Ken

[truthwolf1]

If this one does not pass there is already one in the works for 2012 and will satisfy more people. Something to do with the small time growers being scared of going out of business. Also some differences in how the legal procedure is enacted. For instance currently if you are a medical user you are allowed to smoke in front of your kids, verses this new version that will throw you into jail.

It seems many in the movement are not on board with this bill but I say screw them! I would of voted yes.
You could of always tweeked the law later and I dont really care if Marlboro comes in and takes over with strong head blend or all organic skunk!

[NonServiam]

I think I posted this before, but it gives an interesting overview of the history of marijuana in America, some of the reasons it became illegal, and the benefits of using hemp as a natural resource. Of course, it's with a Jello Biafra Green Party spin, but still a good listen:

[timholian]

To those that are against legalization:

So what other personal liberties would you like to control? I mean I am sure that others and I do other things in our personal time that you would like a say in? I play video games..... and like what others have said about pot, video games if played irresponsibly can make you antisocial and have a distorted sense of time.... you can neglect the things you are supposed to do in your daily life by playing video games irresponsibly.... playing irresponsibly can also lead to neglecting ones personal health inside and out and can affect family.

What exactly are you trying to save us all from?
Not much will change if pot became legal tomorrow....
You still cant smoke and drive
you still cant use in public (public intoxication)
you can still be fired by PRIVATE and GOVERNMENT business for using (they are already starting this with cigarette smokers)
still illegal for anyone under age (Minor in Possession) w/out ruining their record

So, again, what are you saving us from?
The munchies?
Or are you just trying to look out for the cartels and the emerald triangle growers?

[tom502]

If we are not free to smoke a plant, then we are not free.

[devilock76]

If we are not free to smoke a plant, then we are not free.

Agree.

[RobsanX]

If we are not free to smoke a plant, then we are not free.

Agree!

[jamesstew]

I'm all for it despite the fact that marijuana use was a big contributor to the panic attacks I used to get; didn't start out that way. Me would much rather have legal psychedelic mushrooms but don't think that's going to happen.

[tom502]

I think their fear, apart from "the children", is people would flock to it, it it was not illegal. I do not agree with this at all. People who want to smoke it, regardless of age, do smoke it, now. The people who do not, would not, whether it was legal or not. My wife would not, and my 2 best buds would not. They all said they did not like it.

[timholian]

I think their fear, apart from "the children", is people would flock to it, it it was not illegal. I do not agree with this at all. People who want to smoke it, regardless of age, do smoke it, now. The people who do not, would not, whether it was legal or not. My wife would not, and my 2 best buds would not. They all said they did not like it.

BINGO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Its not for everyone.... just like alcohol isn't for some so they don't do it and some that probably shouldn't do it.
Even those who think they will do it after it becomes legal may find out they were right not to smoke all along... but it was their personal choice and they get to make it.

[devilock76]

I think their fear, apart from "the children", is people would flock to it, it it was not illegal. I do not agree with this at all. People who want to smoke it, regardless of age, do smoke it, now. The people who do not, would not, whether it was legal or not. My wife would not, and my 2 best buds would not. They all said they did not like it.

Well than I am an exception to that. Since it is illegal it is not worth the risk to my job to get busted with it so I can live without it. If it was legal than maybe once in a while I would consider it.

Ken

[sgreger1]

So we've been discussing this in my office and the misinformation about it is astounding. First of all, i'd like to say that media here (which oddly enough is usally pretty liberal) has been opposing it prett hard.

26 of California's 30 biggest newspapers have run editorials on Prop 19. All 26 are opposed. Which puts the liberal media to the right of National Review and the Economist

Anyways, the point is simple, this legislation is asking Californians a very direct question: Do you feel that the state should have the right and/or spend the resources required to take that right, from adults 21 and over to decide what they would like to consume.


Let's get some facts out of the way right up front, because i'm sick of seeing this crap about how everyone is going to be high at work (which is a ludicrous claim to say the least)

• Prop 19 will leave in place rules against driving while impaired, so just like alcohol, cannot use while driving.
• Prop 19 will allow employers to continue punishing employees if high on the job, just as they currently do. The law remains the same as alcohol, you cannot show up still under the effects of last night, and you cannot consume it on lunch breaks etc.
• Prop 19 will not affect federal funding for CA, even though state and federal laws would conflict. We know this because medical mj has been legal here for several years and the state has not lost $1 in federal funding.
• Prop 19 would free up police forces to solve real crime, instead of tying up resources attempting to prosecute adults who choose to consume mj. Minors and anyone under 21 will still be held to the current rules which is a zero tolerance policy. Prop 19 actually establishes TOUGHER rules on minors consuming MJ than are currently on the books.

Really there is no good argument against prop 19. It's not like everyone is going to start smoking just because it's legal, that is not how things work. Additionally: ROFL IT'S ****ING CALIFORNIA, it would take me all of 15 minutes to go to any of the hundreds of places I could go to obtain a medical MJ card if I wanted. I could get off work today at 5 & be back in my apartment legally blazing a joint by 6. It's already basically legal, we are just saying let's tax and regulate it, and stop spending money to arrest adults who want to smoke instead of drink.




However: I am making a prediction. If it passes, it goes into effect the day after the election. This means lots of people, some who maybe don't even normally smoke, will be celebrating. I am going to LMAO when employers start doing mass drug testings about a week after elections, and everyon gets pissed when they find out that your employer can still say that this is a drug free workplace. Then again, I think the layoffs would be so massive that companies couldn't afford to do it. Either way, will be good for some lols. Anyone in CA with a job, I would recommend not going straight to it as soon as it gets passed, as we still don't know how everyone is going to react to this, specifically employers.




EDIT: This is going to be the biggest cahs crop of all time for CA, industrial hemp, plus growth for private consumptiona nd commercial applications (maybe even in medicine), this is going to outpace our cotton industry here. This is a job for jobs and for us to get the headstart in an industry where there would be NO competition. Think of the tourism!

[truthwolf1]

26 of California's 30 biggest newspapers have run editorials on Prop 19. All 26 are opposed. Which puts the liberal media to the right of National Review and the Economist

That's exactly why our state will be one of the last to allow Medical MJ or Legalization.
Because it is a liberal do gooder, socialist mentality in one of the most Democratic states in America.
The protect the children excuse is widely overused in this part of the midwest with all the "code pink" ninny nannies treating everyone like schoolchildren.

[sgreger1]

I just don't see on what basis the government feels it can or should regulate MJ. I mean where is this invisible moral line we draw weith our legislator that seperates what should be legla or not?

If you smoke morning glory flowers it has the same effects as shrooms or LSD, same with Salvia. Should we ban morning glory flowers now? Have all the children become addicted to salvia? All the excuses are just so tired and cliche at this point.

It is essentially a plant that grows like a weed in the backyard and it's less harmfull than cofee. With such a whacky scale of what is/isn't acceptable, what will they ban next, mint leave plants?



Then I hear the excuse that "Oh the evil latino unions are for it, it must be evil!". Yah, they are for it for 2 reasons 1) latinos support anything that brings crops (jobs) to their state, b) they kind of want that oppressive drug war that's going on back in their home country to end, and the quickest way to stop it is by cutting off the income to those causing the violence.



Really, can anyone come up with some explanation as to why you would vote against 19?