So California is going to vote on legalizing marijuana for recreational use. I'm just wondering what your thoughts are on the impact this will have on other states. Obama has already stated that the Feds are staying out of States business regarding marijuana laws, but if this passes do you think that will change? And why is it that Republicans are all for smaller Federal government and states rights except when it comes to weed?

8/4/2010 1:54:33 PM

I don't smoke, but I would like for them to do this.

8/4/2010 2:01:40 PM

Quote :

"I don't smoke, but I would like for them to do this."

8/4/2010 2:04:13 PM

And why is it that Republicans are all for smaller Federal government and states rights except when it comes to weed anything they want to control?

Quote :

"I don't smoke, but I would like for them to do this."

I think it will take a couple of years for states to notice the effect to the fiscal bottom line, but they will probably follow suit.

8/4/2010 2:15:47 PM

Quote :

"I'm just wondering what your thoughts are on the impact this will have on other states."

Hopefully they'll move in the same direction.

Quote :

"Obama has already stated that the Feds are staying out of States business regarding marijuana laws, but if this passes do you think that will change?"

Hopefully not.

Quote :

"And why is it that Republicans are all for smaller Federal government and states rights except when it comes to weed?"

Because most Republicans are hypocrites.

8/4/2010 3:07:12 PM

Obama doesn't strike me as the kind of person who would give a shit about marijuana, but he wouldn't waste political capital fighting that fight (the fight to legalize it on a federal level). It's easier to just not enforce the law.

[Edited on August 4, 2010 at 3:11 PM. Reason : .]

8/4/2010 3:10:48 PM

Quote :

"Obama has already stated that the Feds are staying out of States business regarding marijuana laws, but if this passes do you think that will change?"

I bet if there is money to be made via taxes/permits, then the fed will do a 180 pretty fast. Every level wants thier piece.

8/4/2010 4:26:20 PM

Quote :

"I don't smoke, but I would like for them to do this."

8/4/2010 4:28:25 PM

Quote :

"I don't smoke, but I would like for them to do this."

8/4/2010 4:28:48 PM

^^^

agreed, but the financial benefits from that shouldn't be a new revelation. Anyone who has a middle school level of history should know this from what we learned about prohibition.

8/4/2010 4:38:19 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWmqfyE4M6o

8/4/2010 4:58:51 PM

Quote :

"I don't smoke, but I would like for them to do this."

8/4/2010 5:42:59 PM

Quote :

"I would like for them to do this."

8/4/2010 6:25:03 PM

Aside from the regulate and control bit, sounds like a good idea to me. Though I do find this amusing in light of california's continued efforts to prevent people from smoking in general.

8/4/2010 6:45:53 PM

i agree it is a bit wacky for them to be all about smoking weed but tobacco is bad and at the same time banning gay marriage (well that just got overturned).

8/4/2010 6:48:08 PM

But tobacco is pretty God damn lame, as far as things you can smoke. A little bit of a buzz and an ass load of carcinogens.

8/4/2010 6:59:48 PM

I do wish them luck. Off year elections tend to turn out on average an older voting populace. Hopefully they are planning for 2012 in case this doesn't work out.

8/4/2010 9:35:00 PM

Quote :

"I don't smoke, but I would like for them to do this."

I wish there was some way to advocate for the legalization of marijuana without risking your reputation. Cause I think that's a big part of why this has trouble getting off the ground. People smoke weed in college, and they think it's great and should be legal...but then you get old, and you quit smoking weed or you have to hide it...and legalization drops further and further down your political priority list.

Despite growing old, legalization is still a huge deal! We still pay millions and millions of dollars a year to prosecute and "rehabilitate" marijuana smokers. And there's soooooo much more, but I'm kinda tired...

Anyway, we gotta find a way to retain our dumbass college kid vigor when it comes to legalizing the weed. Just because we don't smoke it, it doesn't mean these laws don't affect us in a big way.

8/4/2010 10:21:11 PM

Quote :

"why is it that Republicans are all for smaller Federal government and states rights except when it comes to weed?"

It seems consistent that republicans want to use the gov't to control your social freedom, while democrats want to use gov't to control your economic freedom.

8/4/2010 10:24:43 PM

can't wait to light up on the street gonna be pretty sweet to see a bunch of mad motherfuckers who can't do anything about it

8/5/2010 2:12:16 PM

I wonder if people are going to be so eager to hate on Big Tobacco after they become our weed dealer.

8/5/2010 2:15:09 PM

maybe after they become YOUR weed dealer

8/5/2010 2:17:19 PM

I typed "their" initially but thought that it still might be misread. By "our" I mean America's.

8/5/2010 2:26:33 PM

<-----Republican totally in favor of this passing...nationwide even.

8/5/2010 2:51:59 PM

Quote :

"can't wait to light up on the street"

That's never gonna happen. You can't even do that in Amsterdam.

8/5/2010 3:02:02 PM

yeah being able to posses it or grow it is vastly different then being able to smoke it on the streets. you can't even drink beer on the streets in most places.

8/5/2010 3:25:45 PM

Quote :

"That's never gonna happen"

Never say never.

8/5/2010 3:36:00 PM

Quote :

"That's never gonna happen. You can't even do that in Amsterdam."

Yes you can, I've had a conversation with a police officer in Amsterdam while smoking a joint

It's almost like ... the posters ... they make up facts ...

8/5/2010 3:59:12 PM

Quote :

"yeah being able to posses it or grow it is vastly different then being able to smoke it on the streets. you can't even drink beer on the streets in most places."

Another stupid rule that is followed nowhere else in the world practically

8/5/2010 3:59:59 PM

By the time the vote comes around, all the potheads will have matured enough to want it banned.

If the hippies of the 1960's decided against legalizing it when they came to power, no one will ever legalize.

8/5/2010 4:12:39 PM

I would be surprised if within a decade pot ain't legal in nearly every state.

And then within another decade marijuana will have induced widespread positive cultural change.

8/5/2010 4:16:20 PM

Quote :

"Yes you can, I've had a conversation with a police officer in Amsterdam while smoking a joint"

Ok well I've been there too and the tour guide in my group said the cops might take your shit if you smoke it on the street.

Quote :

"It's almost like ... the posters ... they make up facts .."

Oh fuck off with your cocksucking snark. I thought you stoners were supposed to be relaxed and chill.

8/5/2010 4:29:46 PM

Sure, our generation had a great time smoking weed...but do you really trust today's teenagers with it? Driving while high? Becoming even more lazy? No, today's kids are not as responsible as we were. It's in the best interest of society to continue banning this harmful substance.

8/5/2010 4:35:13 PM

^grandpa is that you?

dang kids these days

8/5/2010 6:08:12 PM

Quote :

"Sure, our generation had a great time smoking weed...but do you really trust today's teenagers with it? Driving while high? Becoming even more lazy? No, today's kids are not as responsible as we were. It's in the best interest of society to continue banning this harmful substance."

first off it will be regulated like alcohol and no one under the age of 21 will be allowed to purchase it.

secondly, are you really so narrow minded to think that teenagers now don't already have easy access to weed?

i think people will be more responsible on weed then booze!!



[Edited on August 6, 2010 at 8:59 AM. Reason : /]

8/6/2010 8:58:45 AM

I wonder how much money a state would even make off of this; a huge portion of the user-base for this kind of stuff are people who are probably under whatever age limit they will end up setting. That group will just keep getting it illegally anyway like they do now.

Sure, with underage alcohol consumption, the state does get money from the sale of the beverages, before they get sold/given to minors. However, with this, I don't know that a lot of the people supplying it to prospective-underage people now care whether it is legal or illegal to do and probably don't see a huge incentive to conduct their business properly even when things are legalized and regulated. Heck a lot of the dealers are probably under the age limit they'll set themselves.

Quote :

"first off it will be regulated like alcohol and no one under the age of 21 will be allowed to purchase it."

I'd bet almost 100% of the underage people who acquire it now would have no problem acquiring it once it is "regulated." I don't think regulating it would do squat in that regard.

I don't really care either way really since I have no interest in doing it (which in that case I suppose I fall into the category of "I don't do it, but think they amount of time and money they spend prosecuting people for it is silly"). On one hand it has left a bad tastes in my mouth because the only friends of mine who ever really used it definitely got hooked, noticeably changed personality, and got to the point where they only wanted to hang out with other people who did it and just kind of became lazy & aloof. On the other hand, I don't know that anyone else really doing it affects me (besides the few friends I lost over the years because of it - not because they did it since I didn't care about that, just because they changed).

8/6/2010 9:25:18 AM

Just a thought.

If they use this law to tax marijuana; Has anyone thought about the effect this might have on crime. The street dealers that were selling pot will now have to move to another activity to make ends meet.

8/6/2010 9:30:30 AM

the street dealers were selling it under the radar/illegally now. Depending on pricing and costs from taxes through legal vendors, it is not inconceivable they would continue to sell this illegally.

8/6/2010 9:34:53 AM

Yeah, but are there street dealers dealing booze to kids now?

I mean, I imagine there's a difference in the logistics of smuggling alcohol vs. pot, but I still think it's useful to observe.

8/6/2010 9:38:51 AM

yea, i feel like it would be pretty different between the two. I could be completely wrong though.

8/6/2010 9:45:22 AM

Quote :

" I'd bet almost 100% of the underage people who acquire it now would have no problem acquiring it once it is "regulated." I don't think regulating it would do squat in that regard."

I agree! My point was that legalizing it would not make it any more available to those under the age of 21 then it already is.

8/6/2010 10:49:01 AM

^
this

Quote :

"but do you really trust today's teenagers with it?.....It's in the best interest of society to continue banning this harmful substance"

Ahahahahaha!!!!!!! wow. (we know you're a troll, but still...)


Yeah, pot is illegal, therefore teens don't have access to it.


Also, undocumented immigration is illegal, therefore illegal immigrants aren't in America.


Also, blowjobs are illegal, therefore partners don't give or receive them.


[Edited on August 6, 2010 at 11:24 AM. Reason : (just, wow.)]

8/6/2010 11:21:40 AM

so does "you're a troll" really mean anything in soapbox anymore or does it just mean, "I'm annoyed that you don't agree with my worldview"

Because seriously... Calling someone a troll because they said marijuana is dangerous and should stay illegal, well, that's just a new low for the anti-"troll" advocates.

8/6/2010 11:43:39 AM

^
A troll is someone who posts "bait" for others to respond to. As in, asserting something unpopular like, "NC BBQ sucks!!", and then hoping that others get worked up and respond.

That he actually believes that "marijuana is dangerous and should stay illegal" is extremely unlikely.
The far, FAR, FAR more popular position is that marijuana isn't dangerous and should be legal. He posted that, not because he really believes it, but for the purpose of trolling others into responding.

I'm glad to have cleared that up for you.

8/6/2010 11:49:49 AM

Quote :

"The far, FAR, FAR more popular position is that marijuana isn't dangerous and should be legal."

lolwut

if it was "far, FAR, FAR" more popular then I think MJ would have been free and legal for years now.

self pwn.

8/6/2010 11:54:46 AM

Quote :

"then I think MJ would have been free and legal for years now."

Yeah, you'd think....

Quote :

"self pwn."

so does "self pwn" really mean anything in soapbox anymore or does it just mean, "I disagree with your worldview."

Because seriously... Saying that someone is self pwnt because they said marijuana legalization is popular despite it still being illegal, well, that's just a new low for the anti-"self pwn" advocates.

[Edited on August 6, 2010 at 12:09 PM. Reason : ]

8/6/2010 12:08:27 PM

I think of myself more as a devil's advocate. After all, if everyone agrees this isn't a debate, just a circlejerk. I argue for the people that aren't here to argue for themselves. As for my real feelings on this subject and others...they don't matter. No one cares what my true beliefs are, so why should I tell you?

8/6/2010 12:23:52 PM

^
Respect.
But, of course, there's a fine line between devil's advocate and troll...

8/6/2010 12:28:59 PM

there's a difference between your immediate peer group and the U.S. society as a whole, indy.

8/6/2010 12:33:40 PM

^
Straw-man

8/6/2010 12:34:21 PM