We have been discussing the growing support for the legalization of marijuana in the United States. Now, it is being reported that The New York Times will come out on Sunday in favor of legalization — a major endorsement for the movement.
The editors concluded that “the balance falls squarely on the side of national legalization.”
“We considered whether it would be best for Washington to hold back while the states continued experimenting with legalizing medicinal uses of marijuana, reducing penalties, or even simply legalizing all use. Nearly three-quarters of the states have done one of these. But that would leave their citizens vulnerable to the whims of whoever happens to be in the White House and chooses to enforce or not enforce the federal law.”
This is a major development for legalization. However, as we discussed earlier, the greatest factor may be simple economics. Despite what has been alleged to be efforts to slow down the market and supply of legal marijuana (and the Obama Administration’s effort to cut off water to marijuana growers), a huge market has emerged for medical and legal recreational marijuana with the attending tax revenues and investments. Legal marijuana is not just becoming more socially accepted in line with alcohol but it is becoming more profitable. That could be a critical combination.
Source: Politico
Repubs have as their mantra “fiscal responsibility” It seems to me it is fiscally responsible to legalize marijuana. The number of folks imprisoned because of marijuana laws cost $$$$. It is also “pro-life”. As it is now, when you buy it you have to buy it on the street from an unknown person selling what is essentially an unknown product. Legalizing it reduces court costs, prison costs, and safeguards the health of those who are already using it. There is no way to know how many would use it if it was legalized but I personally doubt people who do not want to be drugged will suddenly say “Hey it’s legal. Now we can party”>
(Although I am surprised at how this has become a bipartisan issue, for instance in Pa. it was a dem and a rep who introduced legislation to legalize marijuana for medical use.)
Look @ some pictures of Escobar and tell me is not high on cannabis!
Pablo did not use cocaine. He was a real stoner.
http://www.ibtimes.com/chris-christie-colorado-slams-legalized-marijuana-unlike-rand-paul-his-2016-gop-rival-1639408 “What I said is what I believe,” he told reporters who asked him about an April radio interview in which he slammed the new marijuana law. Ignoring data showing Colorado outranking New Jersey on many social and economic metrics, Christie said in that earlier interview that his state is a better place to live because of Colorado’s legal weed.
“See if you want to live in a major city in Colorado, where there are head shops popping up on every corner, and people flying into your airport just to get high. To me, it’s not the quality of life we want to have here in the state of New Jersey,” he declared.”
George, Absolutely! I worked @ Leavenworth Penitentiary, a maximum security Federal Prison. There are NO 4th amendment rights in prison. But, you can get any drug you desire. The law of where there is demand there will be supply is as true as laws of physics. And then I tell people. You can’t keep drugs out of a Federal prison. Look @ a US map. How could you ever keep it out of this country.
My eyes were opened when I went to Medellin to adopt our son in Jan 1987, the height of Pablo Escobar’s reign. He ran that country. I had a great conversation w/ a Colombian. He said to me, we grow and process cocaine because you Americans demand it. We grow and export coffee to the US. If you people stop drinking coffee we will stop growing it. Very basic economics. And on the economic front. Guys like Escobar were the most ruthless capitalists in the world. Their enemy were bureaucrats, getting paid by the hour. It was no contest. That is until the brave people of Colombia said, “Enough” and took back their country. It was a bloodbath and it took extreme tactics like the use of Los Pepes. The book, Killing Pablo is a great read if this topic interests you.
This country currently looks like obese fascists…just so you all know. Yeah, that’s the non-pretty picture. You may now think about that, I give you my approval to do so.
Another intellectually honest point. The hated tobacco industry is poised to mass produce cannabis smokables. They have purchased remote property in ideal Ca. areas for growing. I discussed the carcinogens previously. That is a concern and can be eliminated w/ the use of vaporizers. A very knowledgeable doc who prescribed me cannabis explained it this way. Cannabis now is exponentially more powerful than it was back in the 60’s. I can take 2, maybe 3 drags and I’m done. Even if you’re a complete stoner, you would smoke the equivalent of 2 tobacco cigs a day. That said, he told his patients to use vaporizers or edibles/drinkables as much as possible. They make vaporizers just like you see for nicotine, specifically for cannabis. This is the last time I’ll say it, the MSM and politicians are WAY behind the public on this issue, as they are on many issues.
Whether alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, THC, morphine, codeine, oxycodone, amphetamines are legal or not there is demand and that demand will be met.
It will be met either by criminal enterprises or by honest decent folk. Folk who will not, as a matter of principle, sell to children. The choice seems obvious to me.
Driving high is a despicable behavior whether high on alcohol, legal medication or THC.
Some alcoholics take a bottle and take to a motel room, harming only themselves. Some potheads take a pipe to a motel room, harming only themselves. Meanwhile social drinkers have a party and social marijuana users mellow out to cool jazz. Teetotalers enjoy either party, too. It is fun to be around others as they lose their inhibitions.
No matter what you use, no matter what you do, please be safe.
Big govt., Big Pharma, the liquor and wine industry have all been part of keeping cannabis illegal. Big govt. looses control, tax money and jobs. Big Pharma makes no money on people growing their own meds, or buying it legally, for pain, anxiety, chemotherapy nausea, etc. The booze industry knows less alcohol will be consumed. One of the worst politicians on this is Diane Feinstein. One of her largest contributors is the Ca. wine industry. A few years ago, she got passed on a voice vote. doubling the federal penalties for sale of cannabis edibles. Of course it was, “Protecting the children.” Now, I am a strong advocate for the legalization of cannabis. But, I am intellectually honest by nature and profession. There are problems w/ kids eating cannabis brownies, cookies, etc. Edibles are very powerful. It is not fatal like pharmaceuticals that are fatal. But is hallucinogenic which has serious psych ramifications. ER’s is Ca., Colorado, etc. see these cases. There are other issues regarding legalization. It has been scientifically established that cannabis used by adolescents age 15 and younger have retarded brain development. Ages 12-15 is a critical stage in the growth of brain cells and cannabis diminishes that growth. There are other risks. But, any objective assessment of this issue says the risks pale in comparison to the insanity of keeping it illegal. Other illegal drugs, other more serious issues. Cannabis is different. No guy beats their wife, kids, girlfriend on cannabis. They do chronically on booze.
The New York Times used to be about All The News Fit To Print. They dub Snowden and Greenwald as traitors. They dub W. as a hero. They want you to pay for the email version. They like pot because if you are stoned you are more likely to agree with their pro Koch Brothers propaganda for the Military Industrial Complex. Cocaine is next, then heroin and then herons. Pink flamingos are right around the corner. Some of us remember the good ol days when the New York Times stood up for Daniel Elsberg and fought the Pentagon Papers battle. New York Times. Snowden is a traitor but pot is ok. Jack Mehoff was just named Editor in Chief.
Mespo: Good catch. First impressions: If you were sentenced to incarceration in Hawaii, would it be better to remain on the islands or be shipped to the mainland. Depending on your point of view, there is a cruel and unusual aspect involved there somewhere.
So much involved in our election cycle comes down to timing – timing is everything, as Hal Blaine used to say.
Another reason for banning money in politics
Paulette: The ability to predict was a key development in the evolution of the human race. Our ability to look at a set of tracks and predict were the animal that made them might be or observe the behavior of animals and predict when they might gather in a certain place enhanced hunting success, and yes, the ability to predict weather events allowed our ancestors to seek appropriate shelter.
In all those events, predictions were never anything more than good guesses. Lao Tzu was referring to the type of knowledge that doesn’t require guessing or predicting, like We know the sun will rise in the east. The fact that Squeeky is completely off base has nothing to do with whether or not the act of predicting indicates her lack of knowledge.
I’m starting to feel like Agent Muldur. The truth is out there but the aliens keep winning.
http://youtu.be/rbBX6aEzEz8
RTC:
You’re right about that. And the party to whom those industries contribute the most in campaign money is ….
http://www.justicepolicy.org/uploads/justicepolicy/documents/gaming_the_system.pdf
Page 19 for the answer.
The biggest objector to legalized pot is the privatized prison industry. If pot ever does become legal, I expect the penalties for jaywalking will get a lot stiffer.
Google search : Bob Marley and Legalize Marijuana. But he starts off with:
Cigarette smoking is dangerous. Hazad to your health.
Does that mean anything to you?
—
And of course it does not. Not to America. Smoke em if ya gottem. Vietnam is a good war. Daddy smoked and I will smoke too. Hustlin round Atlanta in my alligator shoes. Smoking is akin to Todd Akin. Smoking is akin to the one child solution in China. Keep the population down. Even if it means that mom and pop go quicker than need be.
I am warning you humans as an outsider that I have seen similar contrivances in numerous other planets. Condoms are better.
Prohibition of alcohol, the first time the U.S. Constitution was amended to “shrink” individual rights by a morality police, created one of the greatest crime waves in U.S. history. There are legal drugs that are far more harmful than this one but we aren’t outlawing those.
Legalization takes away that criminal incentive and creates tax revenue while reducing police, prison and taxpayer resources – a huge economic boost for any state. Americans sitting in prison for non-violent offenses are not paying income taxes, sales taxes, etc. into the treasuries of the federal, state and local governments.
The drug wars have been about as successful as prohibition.
Church and state do not mix well.
mespo, would giving $51,000,000,000 back to the taxpayers be better? Otherwise, I’m for reassigning all drug law enforcement, prosecutors and judges too, to rebuilding our infrastructure, fixing potholes, bridge building, cleaning up right of ways. Anything would be more productive than what they’re doing now.
On the other hand, who’s to say that by legalizing all drugs, the cost in human terms wouldn’t increase by 1 trillion dollars from what it is now?
And who’s to say that by adopting better culture (clean up Hollywood for starters) we wouldn’t have near zero drug demand/addiction, far less mental illness, drunkenness and social issues?
Sorry, it’s late when I seen this piece.
Oklahoma has a couple of what appears to be pro Cannabis laws headed towards the ballot box in 2014.
I would likely be supportive except from what I’ve read they are Bad Law.
I will not give up my “Rights” as an American just to have access to Cannabis.
I won’t give up an inch of “Rights” not even for Cannabis or Charlie Sheen’s bus load of hookers in cheerleader outfits.
(I wish I’d have thought of Charlie’s idea before I got married & was running loose. LOL;) )
I feel it’s better to vote against bad laws whatever the issue.
So you’re unsure? Just go check out what Tommy Chong had to say on Joe Rogan’s show.
No, I will not trade my Civil Rights for a Bong Hit, it’s a poor trade!!!