Get high and shrink the deficit...

brianlux

...what do you think?

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/power-playe ... 08225.html

What if the United States could shrink the federal deficit and get high at the same time? Two congressmen calling for the legalization of recreational marijuana say it's not such a trippy idea.

Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) and Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) say marijuana legalization is a common sense fiscal policy that could save the government billions of dollars through a combination of tax revenues and savings from not pursuing costly enforcement and incarceration.

“We are trying to rationalize federal drug policy,” Blumenauer tells Top Line. “We're spending too much money on enforcement for something most Americans think should be legal, and we're losing revenue. And we're going to create federal train wreck if we don't fix it.”

They say the federal government is behind the curve of states like Washington and Colorado, where recreational marijuana is regulated and taxed.

"Colorado and Washington voters agree, as do I, that the proper policy with regard to marijuana is to regulate it rather than ban it," says Polis.

Polis makes the case that marijuana should be treated no differently from "other unhealthy substances" like tobacco and alcohol. But that’s not such an easy sell in the halls of Congress, where Blumenauer and Polis face an uphill battle in getting legislation passed.

Godfather.

great idea but our government federal and local have already proved that they are not responsible enough to handle the money correctly....the tax money would end up in suit cases and back packs or plastic bags droped off at the afgan palace or spent on presidental vacations or our local politions over seas bank account.

Godfather.

hedonist

Well...one, I don't consider pot "unhealthy". It's a far cry from booze and tobacco.

Two, I agree with GF in that those who currently handle our taxes/money aren't well-equipped to do so. In fact, ill-equipped to do so - these people are fuckups of the nth degree, from my perspective. Nice to have additional income or revenue - it'd be huge and fuck knows this state could use it - but I don't want that precious value thrown in with most every other toss to the coffer to be frittered away.

(also, for some, it's not just about getting high, it's about the other benefits this "gateway drug" provides)

brianlux

At the very least, it's an interesting thought and I've heard a wide variety of takes on it among people who do not oppose the use of marijuana. One said it would be great for the music industry because music would become more interesting again. Another said growers strongly object to legalization because that would dig into their profits and they don't like the idea of it being regulated. Others say legalization would reduce crime. The viewpoints are all over the map and that alone could bog down the process of legalization.

BinauralJam

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxRVhgbVN9o

hedonist

I wish that it could be seen and treated as beneficial. I'm floored by the quickly-spoken (almost embarrassedly-stated) side-effects during commercials for antidepressants, diabetes medication, heart issues, and the list goes on. Yet those are not only legal, but encouraged!

"Sure, you may become suicidal from these drugs, but they'll take care of your depression!"

So much space to be freed in our jails & prisons, much court time relieved from pissant charges.

I think it should be legalized for the personal and medical uses alone. If taxes can be gleaned as well - and USED RESPONSIBLY - even better.

mikepegg44

hedonist wrote:

I wish that it could be seen and treated as beneficial. I'm floored by the quickly-spoken (almost embarrassedly-stated) side-effects during commercials for antidepressants, diabetes medication, heart issues, and the list goes on. Yet those are not only legal, but encouraged!

"Sure, you may become suicidal from these drugs, but they'll take care of your depression!"

So much space to be freed in our jails & prisons, much court time relieved from pissant charges.

I think it should be legalized for the personal and medical uses alone. If taxes can be gleaned as well - and USED RESPONSIBLY - even better.

my favorite is the increased urge to gamble that comes with restless leg syndrome treatment.


I don't get why marijuana is still illegal (well I do, but I would think the tobacco lobby would start to support it and then start to grow it)

hedonist

mikepegg44 wrote:

my favorite is the increased urge to gamble that comes with restless leg syndrome treatment.

Jimmy legs!
:P

2010 Watch It Go To Fire

Other than Congress being so behind the times, the real reasons this would not go through are:
1) Too much money is made by the prison systems;
2) Too much money is made by lawyers who deal with these cases;
3) Too much money is made by the individuals who have been fighting the "Drug Wars"; and
4) Too much money is being used to lobby against this, by tobacco and alcohol (and probably other groups too)

The reality is that the only way the Federal law changes is if the states all make the change. There is too much money being passed around to keep it illegal.

brianlux

2010 Watch It Go To Fire wrote:

Other than Congress being so behind the times, the real reasons this would not go through are:
1) Too much money is made by the prison systems;
2) Too much money is made by lawyers who deal with these cases;
3) Too much money is made by the individuals who have been fighting the "Drug Wars"; and
4) Too much money is being used to lobby against this, by tobacco and alcohol (and probably other groups too)

The reality is that the only way the Federal law changes is if the states all make the change. There is too much money being passed around to keep it illegal.

Yep.

And this related to what Hedonist said:

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

StillHere

Been saying it for years
EXCEPT that I don't agree that it should be considered unhealthy
I mean, we see all over the place that marijuana is being used more and more as medicine
The ancients always knew this, and some of us do too
How many times have you seen the states give you a special card to use alcohol or tobacco as medicine?
Marijuana is a totally different animal.
I agree that the government could regulate it and tax it similar to alcohol and tobacco, I can see it in the same category for casual users, I don't expect them to agree that its not in the alcohol and tobacco category, but not some of us need this for quality of life
As far as the govt actually using the revenue in the "right" way, well we all know how that goes
When the regulations come, the bills should include specific terms on the revenue
I know if its done right, it could help the country out

Godfather.

mikepegg44 wrote:

hedonist wrote:

I wish that it could be seen and treated as beneficial. I'm floored by the quickly-spoken (almost embarrassedly-stated) side-effects during commercials for antidepressants, diabetes medication, heart issues, and the list goes on. Yet those are not only legal, but encouraged!

"Sure, you may become suicidal from these drugs, but they'll take care of your depression!"

So much space to be freed in our jails & prisons, much court time relieved from pissant charges.

I think it should be legalized for the personal and medical uses alone. If taxes can be gleaned as well - and USED RESPONSIBLY - even better.

my favorite is the increased urge to gamble that comes with restless leg syndrome treatment.


I don't get why marijuana is still illegal (well I do, but I would think the tobacco lobby would start to support it and then start to grow it)

I'm willing to bet that is one reason it's not legal,who else has the money to and resorces to jump start an operation big enough to cash in on the weed farming and cig(joint) production ? and government has been fu**ing the tabbaco companys for years and probably don't want them running the show on weed production....just a wild out of the blue guess

Godfather.

pandora

pot is unhealthy

I would love to see a movement away from all unhealthy living and
a new generation that takes personal responsibility to heart.

I think this can be done but it's going to take a few generations...
maybe more.

BinauralJam

pandora wrote:

pot is unhealthy

I would love to see a movement away from all unhealthy living and
a new generation that takes personal responsibility to heart.

I think this can be done but it's going to take a few generations...
maybe more.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I LOVE MY WEED!!!

hedonist

BinauralJam wrote:

pandora wrote:

pot is unhealthy

I would love to see a movement away from all unhealthy living and
a new generation that takes personal responsibility to heart.

I think this can be done but it's going to take a few generations...
maybe more.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I LOVE MY WEED!!!

Irresponsible :P

Our backs were wrenched most of last week - can only take so many pain and anti-spasm pills.

What helped more than anything?

Yup.

Guitar92player

I did a speech on his in my speech class this semester.

It possibly could generate a bunch of revenue, it will prevent people going to harmful drug dealers and locations (especially in the south), and it will save a lot of money through justice system.

Pot may be unhealthy, but so so smoking and alcohol. So choose your poison I guess.

Last-12-Exit

hedonist wrote:

Well...one, I don't consider pot "unhealthy". It's a far cry from booze and tobacco.

Two, I agree with GF in that those who currently handle our taxes/money aren't well-equipped to do so. In fact, ill-equipped to do so - these people are fuckups of the nth degree, from my perspective. Nice to have additional income or revenue - it'd be huge and fuck knows this state could use it - but I don't want that precious value thrown in with most every other toss to the coffer to be frittered away.

(also, for some, it's not just about getting high, it's about the other benefits this "gateway drug" provides)

I've been all for legalizing pot for the better part of my adult life, but I definitely do consider it as unhealthy as cigarettes. How is it not?

hedonist

Last-12-Exit wrote:

hedonist wrote:

Well...one, I don't consider pot "unhealthy". It's a far cry from booze and tobacco.

Two, I agree with GF in that those who currently handle our taxes/money aren't well-equipped to do so. In fact, ill-equipped to do so - these people are fuckups of the nth degree, from my perspective. Nice to have additional income or revenue - it'd be huge and fuck knows this state could use it - but I don't want that precious value thrown in with most every other toss to the coffer to be frittered away.

(also, for some, it's not just about getting high, it's about the other benefits this "gateway drug" provides)

I've been all for legalizing pot for the better part of my adult life, but I definitely do consider it as unhealthy as cigarettes. How is it not?

For one, it doesn't have all the additives that tobacco does...and that's looking only at the aspect of smoking it.

Small aside - my guy's had three lung surgeries over the last several years. Nothing to do with smoking, it's something his gender & body type are prone to: blebs form around the lung and pop, resulting in a collapsed lung. Despite his smoking weed for 20 years, his lungs (according to his doc) are those of a non-smoker.

I suppose anything can be (considered) unhealthy, but no way would I put pot in the same realm as cigarettes or alcohol.

Last-12-Exit

hedonist wrote:

Last-12-Exit wrote:

hedonist wrote:

Well...one, I don't consider pot "unhealthy". It's a far cry from booze and tobacco.

Two, I agree with GF in that those who currently handle our taxes/money aren't well-equipped to do so. In fact, ill-equipped to do so - these people are fuckups of the nth degree, from my perspective. Nice to have additional income or revenue - it'd be huge and fuck knows this state could use it - but I don't want that precious value thrown in with most every other toss to the coffer to be frittered away.

(also, for some, it's not just about getting high, it's about the other benefits this "gateway drug" provides)

I've been all for legalizing pot for the better part of my adult life, but I definitely do consider it as unhealthy as cigarettes. How is it not?

For one, it doesn't have all the additives that tobacco does...and that's looking only at the aspect of smoking it.

Small aside - my guy's had three lung surgeries over the last several years. Nothing to do with smoking, it's something his gender & body type are prone to: blebs form around the lung and pop, resulting in a collapsed lung. Despite his smoking weed for 20 years, his lungs (according to his doc) are those of a non-smoker.

I suppose anything can be (considered) unhealthy, but no way would I put pot in the same realm as cigarettes or alcohol.

So there's no additives. Lol. Ingesting smoke into your lungs is not healthy. Is there really an argument about this?
It doesn't matter. Legalize it. Across the board.

aerial

2010 Watch It Go To Fire wrote:

Other than Congress being so behind the times, the real reasons this would not go through are:
1) Too much money is made by the prison systems;
2) Too much money is made by lawyers who deal with these cases;
3) Too much money is made by the individuals who have been fighting the "Drug Wars"; and
4) Too much money is being used to lobby against this, by tobacco and alcohol (and probably other groups too)

The reality is that the only way the Federal law changes is if the states all make the change. There is too much money being passed around to keep it illegal.

I agree these are the reasons legalization is stalled. I do think one day it will become legal. I am ready.
I have been telling my BF when it does we have to get in the business. I have enough stock to sell to start a growing farm. I have a BIG green thumb, he is a Connoisseur and a numbers guy. How could we go wrong? My friend told me today his uncle moved to Colorado and is growing medicinal marijuana bringing in thirty grand a month. Not sure of the over head but that's a lot of dough.
What I would love to grow is the old school pot. I haven't smoke in forever because the stuff out there now is way to potent.
I do know from Personal experience it helps nausea and cramps.

pandora

BinauralJam wrote:

pandora wrote:

pot is unhealthy

I would love to see a movement away from all unhealthy living and
a new generation that takes personal responsibility to heart.

I think this can be done but it's going to take a few generations...
maybe more.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I LOVE MY WEED!!!

Me too BJ, me too... but it's not good for us but it's also too late for us

Not for the kids though, future generations might have a chance at less disease.
If pot sticks around like cigs and alcohol abuse has we will see just how unhealthy it is.

I'm still wondering if that's what the rise in pancreatic cancer is all about.
I read some articles about pot studies, researching awhile back,
they are all relatively new and few.