Arizona Prop 203

legalizing medical pot. hmm, unless you have a condition that "might" need this, then it does't apply to anyone else, only them. who cares.

 

I get and appreciate that it should only be for the necessary people, but we have the voters have to vote it in. If only all the potential patients voted it would not be enough to be the majority, so with that, voters need to be aware so they can vote accordingly

Some other interesting information

Netherlands closing down prison

 

Yep and they also don't have mexian drug cartels with 100,000 foot troops trying to smuggle pot, cocaine and other hard drugs accross international boarders on the backs of illegal immigrants.

And here is a legitimate question, what does another country shutting down 8 prisons have to do with legalizing pot here?

 

I'd be for it, also I think it should just be legalized flat out... better than half the shit you can buy over the counter anyway. I personally don't/wouldn't do it because it's not my thing... but your body isn't mine... I could care less how you use it.

 

I've been hearing on the news lately the efforts the Mexican government is taking big steps in reducing their drug rings. Just the other day like 38% of the police force was let go cause they could not pass a polygraph test. Again, I don't think we need to be afraid of drug cartels, and fear should never stop us from doing what is right in the first place, thats called being brave. With the image I posted, of the 847,000 that were arrested in 2008 89% were for simple possession, that means 750,000 people were arrested for simple/small possession. If those 750,000 people weren't viewed as criminals our legal system would have a LOT more resources, a LOT more space, a LOT more time to re-rehabilitate the violent offenders.

True Netherlands doesn't have Mexican cartels, they aren't geographically next to Mexico for starters, but I wonder if they don't have drug cartels pushing drugs into the country because of the way their system is. Its like wondering why we don't have the organized crime rings running alcohol around anymore after prohibition. Speaking of which, prohibition is often considered the reason we have organized crime in this country to begin with.

 

I was gonna clean my room............but I got high.......oooooooh ooooooooh..............I was gonna go to class but I got high.........la da da ...da da da......I was gonna vote yes for 203 but I got high........... JK

Just couldnt pass it up.

I vote NO.

I heard in the past from NHTSA 1 in 6 DUI fatalities tests positive for Marijuana. DUI Drugs is against the law in AZ and the Metabolite stays in your system for 24 hours after smoking it. Thats right its not presently psychoactive in the system. It would suck to get in an accident where you rear end someone and get charged with Assualt with a Deady Weapon (Felony so prison is possible). Have I sent people to jail and prison for it, YES.

After pulling people out of vehicle and watching kids get killed by impaired driver's I think its should stay illegal and while they are at that get rid of alcohol. I am sure people will disagree with me and point out faults to prove their point, its a debate isnt it. But this AZ Cop says NO.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7K5oYlqMXw&feature=player_embedded#!

 

Wow, look, a propaganda video citing no sources. Who would've thunk it?

I don't smoke marijuana, or tobacco, and have no interest in either, but all the fear, uncertainty, doubt about drug legalization is a hilarious load of manure.

Alcohol is plenty mind altering and damaging to the body. Tobacco the same. They're legal because they have big lobbies that write big checks to big senators. If weed is legalized, it'll do the same...and laws delineating it's acceptable use (it's illegal to drive drunk, if you recall) will be put in place.

Personally, I figure let 'em go ahead and legalize it. Tax it hard. It'll create jobs, and the Big Bad Fed'ral Guvmint can give me an income tax break and still maintain its present revenue levels.

 

It may create jobs but not employees! This is one area I do agree with the President on... Legalizing weed is not a step in the right direction. Just my 2c.

 

Genuinely curious, why don't you think so? And I mean real reasons, not the made up shit in the video.

Employees don't need to be created. We have about 10% more than we can employ right now. Let's get that under control before we start worrying about producing more people.

The President is saying legalizing weed is a step in the wrong direction because big money (Tobacco, Pharma are the two biggest players) is telling him to.

 

My reasons -

It never helped anyone I know build better lasting relationships - other than the type that would otherwise get drunk together

Not opposed to people smoking it that much

Don't think it helps young kids put a map together for what life is about

Causes compromised judgement

I know people that put it in front of their spouses and children

I just think that if we could get away from self, or pharmacutically medicating one self, and working on being better friends, parents, teachers, neighbors, mentors, etc, our world would be better.

Like I say, I don't worry about people getting high occasionally but it doesn't make the higher person in my mind (pun partially intended)

Would you rather just have your mom and dad wave to you? Or would you rather feel truly loved for being the unique individual that you are?

I grew up with a mom that was medicated nearly her entire life. We would have fleeing moments of connecting. I see people that do the same with weed. In my opinion, I am sure it is as easy as it ever was to obtain, cops really don't focus on it a bust when you are cool with it. For us to have a 'Need' to change those laws - I think there are other things to focus on.

Do I think there are people in prison for smoking a joint - no. Do I think there are idiots in Prison that if not for weed, it would be something else. Yes.

Jus Sayin'

EDIT:

For years I managed people in business. Most of the time I knew a stoner from a runner. Both were addicted. I would rather higher a runner than a pot head. Not saying I didn't higher pot heads, I did. Just if I had my choice, I would rather have the runner everyday.

I also see some guys that smoke pot to have pot hangovers. You may say it's bullshit but it is not. I would love to see the correlation between 'on the job' injuries between weed smokers and non weed smokers. And yes, I know, there's the whole alcohol thang too.

 

All the same can be said about alcohol. Do you oppose its legality as well?

Not quite sure what you're getting at here? That drugs will lower the quality of relationships? Yes, but so will obsessions, step-parents, bad weather, bad flatulence.

I would argue that people who are wastes in life happen to smoke weed because they're wastes in life. Weed didn't put them in prison, idiocy did - which also helped them select a habit that is not healthy, if not overly harmful.

And you bring up another point I would make: Not only is the economy for marijuana in this country not *remotely* slowed by it being illegal, but it sucks up quite a bit on money policing and imprisoning people for trafficking, posession, use...all without doing anything to stop the cartels that are profiting from it's sale.

SOMEONE *will* make that money. It might as well be someone who can then lower MY taxes so that OUR SOCIETY benefits, not a Mexican druglord.

Most employers have a no drugs/alcohol policy, legal or not, and this wouldn't be affected by legalization of marijuana. As you aptly pointed out, employers don't want their employees on ANYTHING, legal or otherwise, while on the job because of the huge risks (legal, monetary, bodily, property, and more) associated.


I'm not really trying to change anyone's mind here, but my position roots back to what I stated above: Someone WILL make the money. We know this because it's been happening for roughly 50 years now with no change. Once again, I'd rather it benefit us (pay for an income tax break. pay for veterans' benefits. pay for improved internal infrastructure or schools. pay for economic stimulus) in some way rather than just going into the pockets of the guys currently turning Mexico into a war zone.

FWIW, you're not the only person with personal experience regarding "medication". A member of my immediate family has largely ruined her life self-medicating (the number one culprit? Alcohol, although often with "helpers") - you're right, the world could be a better place - but I don't think legalizing weed will cause any kind of downtick.

While we're on the subject, if anyone here hasn't seen this flick:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traffic_(film)

Do yourself a favor and do so.

 

Stay stoned.

 

Once again, I don't smoke anything. Got any meaningful discussion to add, or just don't feel like it?

 

So not to get my head ripped off or anything but I felt like adding one bit that was touched on but not really discussed. First off I would vote yes if given the chance for many reason, there are also many reasons to vote no but when compared for me personally the yes wins.

To the point, from the standpoint of a farmer, where the government pays you to grow more corn than we will ever need and then tries to come up with ways to use it all. Where milk cost more to produce than you will earn so you lose money on every gallon. And where growing crops in general is difficult enough without huge corporations suing you for not buying from them (look into monsanto if you want a screwed up read, my cousin works for them). The possibility of a crop that can be harvested like hay, will grow damn near anywhere, and can be used for clothes, cattle feed, hell the model T was designed to run on ethanol made from...not corn...hemp. Yes with all this I'm talking Hemp which is just a weak form of marijuana but just the boost it would give to farmers and tons of other industries is hard to ignore.

No I'm not some sandal wearing hippy saying "Smoke weed grow hemp man" I'm just a guy who's been kind of interested in the stuff since I realized they used to run engines on the stuff. The problem with banning pot is it bans all forms of cannabis. Hell I say go ahead and smoke the stuff too if it makes you happy but theres a ton more reasons to leagalize it for ALL purposes than just personal consumption.

 

So whats the difference between Pot and Alcohol




Alcohol is a drug and it's responsible for more deaths in the U.S than coke, heroin and meth combined...again, I don't smoke pot...i'm just sayin'

 

http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/10/18/former.surgeon.general.marijuana/index.html?hpt=Sbin&ref=nf

Former Surgeon Generals stance on the legalization of marijuana

 

i support it completely. the effects of alcohol and cigarettes are so much worse than marijuana. in the words of katt williams the only side effects of weed are happy hungry sleepy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWhUqo9Aivs?fs=1

 

Good points and I agree.