We will be voting on this in AZ as well this November. It has not been officially announced as the group sponsoring the bill is checking all the signatures themselves to make sure there is no last minute issues with it going on the ballot. It should pass and it is about fucking time. We have a unique problem in that there will be two different measures on the ballot. The one being backed by most groups allows the medical shops to convert to recreational shops quickly since the infrastructure is already in place. They will get most of the licenses to sell. A group of wealthy investment people are backing a second initiative that puts the medical shops on the same priority as everyone else to getting a recreational license. Why, so they can open as many shops as possible themselves.
Tom Brady & Donald Trump, BFF's Fuckus rules all Rob Seattle
I watched a story on History about weed and positive effects on the economy and was really surprised ....and thinking about it on a personal user level (not me, I don't smoke) it's really none of my business what anybody does as long as they don't involve me.
Yeah it's funny how this country looks at this issue . You or I can walk into any liquor store buy boxes & boxes of Booze and after go into any gun shop and buy just about any weapon in their display cases with no repercussions but if I grow a few herb plants and get caught I'll be in jail for it ...
It is definitely perplexing that some people and politicians (lol, I just realized I wrote that as though those are two different things) are still against legalization. It makes no sense. Like Chris Christie for example... although I'm not sure if he really thinks that bullshit he says on the subject or if he somehow thinks that there are still enough dumbos around who are against it for it to improve his political career. If the former, he's a lot dumber than I have been giving him credit for, and if the latter, well.... same diff actually.
Post edited by PJ_Soul on
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
To be honest, I don't care so much about legalization, as it's so damn easy to find it here. I have three phone numbers I can dial depending on whether I want hash oil pens, or any of a number of strains of weed, and they'll be in our store's parking lot waiting for me that day
What frustrates me is the fact that my mom fell off her bicycle, shattered her elbow and suffered a brutal concussion: I know that CBD (the wonder chemical prominent on marijuana) pills would absolutely help her symptoms (trouble sleeping, nausea, migraine-like headaches, anxiety), yet even CBD pills require a medical marijuana license. This is simply absurd, given that CBD has no psychoactive, addictive, or proven negative properties. Of course, they can't test this on humans officially, because it's produced on the marijuana plant. How absurd!
'05 - TO, '06 - TO 1, '08 - NYC 1 & 2, '09 - TO, Chi 1 & 2, '10 - Buffalo, NYC 1 & 2, '11 - TO 1 & 2, Hamilton, '13 - Buffalo, Brooklyn 1 & 2, '15 - Global Citizen, '16 - TO 1 & 2, Chi 2
EV
Toronto Film Festival 9/11/2007, '08 - Toronto 1 & 2, '09 - Albany 1, '11 - Chicago 1
Of course they are. They don't want their drugs regulated. If I was just thinking of myself, I wouldn't want it legalized in Canada either, since I am made in the shade with the way things are now. And obviously dealers don't want it (any grower who isn't selling and is against is lying about not selling it IMO). But keeping it illegal is simply horribly unjust, not to mention the tax revenue. For those two reasons, I have to support legalization. I do have concerns about it though, as someone who currently has a medical card. I'm worried that legalization will increase the price, and reduce the quality. Both of those things would really really suck (although perhaps medical prices will be lower than recreational, who knows).
That said, I VERY much agree that the current illegal sellers and growers, depending on how they currently conduct their businesses, should be very involved in creating the legal market. They are the experts. I'm not talking about fucking Hell's Angels and other slimeballs, lol. I mean the growers and sellers who actually run real, organized businesses (even though they are illegal). There are tons of them. I think they need to be heavily involved, since no one in government or anyone else knows wtf they're doing when it comes to weed.
Post edited by PJ_Soul on
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
Of course they are. They don't want their drugs regulated. If I was just thinking of myself, I wouldn't want it legalized in Canada either, since I am made in the shade with the way things are now. And obviously dealers don't want it (any grower who isn't selling and is against is lying about not selling it IMO). But keeping it illegal is simply horribly unjust, not to mention the tax revenue. For those two reasons, I have to support legalization. I do have concerns about it though, as someone who currently has a medical card. I'm worried that legalization will increase the price, and reduce the quality. Both of those things would really really suck (although perhaps medical prices will be lower than recreational, who knows).
That said, I VERY much agree that the current illegal sellers and growers, depending on how they currently conduct their businesses, should be very involved in creating the legal market. They are the experts. I'm not talking about fucking Hell's Angels and other slimeballs, lol. I mean the growers and sellers who actually run real, organized businesses (even though they are illegal). There are tons of them. I think they need to be heavily involved, since no one in government or anyone else knows wtf they're doing when it comes to weed.
Yeah, I agree with much of what you say here. I think it's important to understand that many of the growers her in CA are good people making a fine product and that what many do not realize is that legalization will cause personal havoc for many growers and a destabilized economy in some areas of the state as well as potential lessening of cannabis quality due to regulation and/or inexperienced "legal" growers. One the other hand, not all current growers are conscientious about environmental impact and water usage in drought areas. This is a complicated issues with many consequences and potential negative affects most people don't know about or consider. It's a difficult issue to be sure.
Over all, to my way of thinking, things are fine here the way they are. Marijuana is common in most parts of California (even in my conservative community I see people smoking it discretely in public), it is decriminalized to the point of already being all but legal, it is easy to procure, and the quality is... well, gosh, how would I know?
“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
Times are a changing. Microsoft signed a deal to partner up with a software company that helps growers track their plants from the beginning of the growth cycle to sale at the store. No one wanted to do any business with marijuana businesses up until now. Microsoft opened that door and many other businesses will jump on board now. People against the legalization for either greed purposes or for other reasons might as well accept that the train has left the station and is not coming back. In the next 20 years it will be legal nationally.
Tom Brady & Donald Trump, BFF's Fuckus rules all Rob Seattle
I believe every American citizen who wants to should be allowed to grow 10 plants for their own personal use not to sell but for personal comsumption , I grew 10 or 12 plants last year I used all of the harvest for my personal use I did share with close friends & family ...
Of course they are. They don't want their drugs regulated. If I was just thinking of myself, I wouldn't want it legalized in Canada either, since I am made in the shade with the way things are now. And obviously dealers don't want it (any grower who isn't selling and is against is lying about not selling it IMO). But keeping it illegal is simply horribly unjust, not to mention the tax revenue. For those two reasons, I have to support legalization. I do have concerns about it though, as someone who currently has a medical card. I'm worried that legalization will increase the price, and reduce the quality. Both of those things would really really suck (although perhaps medical prices will be lower than recreational, who knows).
That said, I VERY much agree that the current illegal sellers and growers, depending on how they currently conduct their businesses, should be very involved in creating the legal market. They are the experts. I'm not talking about fucking Hell's Angels and other slimeballs, lol. I mean the growers and sellers who actually run real, organized businesses (even though they are illegal). There are tons of them. I think they need to be heavily involved, since no one in government or anyone else knows wtf they're doing when it comes to weed.
Yeah, I agree with much of what you say here. I think it's important to understand that many of the growers her in CA are good people making a fine product and that what many do not realize is that legalization will cause personal havoc for many growers and a destabilized economy in some areas of the state as well as potential lessening of cannabis quality due to regulation and/or inexperienced "legal" growers. One the other hand, not all current growers are conscientious about environmental impact and water usage in drought areas. This is a complicated issues with many consequences and potential negative affects most people don't know about or consider. It's a difficult issue to be sure.
Over all, to my way of thinking, things are fine here the way they are. Marijuana is common in most parts of California (even in my conservative community I see people smoking it discretely in public), it is decriminalized to the point of already being all but legal, it is easy to procure, and the quality is... well, gosh, how would I know?
No, I would imagine that if current growers are brought into the industry, as I think they must be, they would be subject to pretty strict regulations, especially when it comes to water usage and environmental impact. Yes, that complicates things for them... well, basically it will mean that many of them won't be able to get a license to grow legally, which means they'll be shut down. Hopefully California would allow them some decent opportunities to bring their operations up to code though. In Vancouver, where the city's government is now starting to license dispensaries, they did allow a pretty long period of time for the operators to conform to their regulations, which are pretty damned strict (in some cases stupid). And many of the operators worked their butts up to meet their demands. However, the government went about fucking most of them over. They kept declining appeals, they rejected applications almost arbitrarily while the operators were trying hard to make things work. So there is plenty of bullshit for these guys to wade through even in the process of legalizing. To me it seems like the government almost feels obligated to make it very difficult, like if they don't drag their feet and put up road blocks they will be accused of being too lenient. Again, that's here where I am and a local issue, but I can imagine larger government doing the exact same thing.
Brian, aren't there still people going to prison over marijuana growing and dealing though, depending on quanities? If so, that can't be just fine the way they are. If not, then yeah, it's just a tax grab, really. But at least people can still grow their own if they want..... not that that is easy.
Post edited by PJ_Soul on
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
We benefit and suffer because of legalization here in Washington State. I have always been pro-legalization, but voted against the legalization initiative that ultimately passed here. I am a proponent of legalization for a few reasons - removing the stigma from a relatively harmless substance, and keeping the drug warriors on a shorter leash. We had an easily accessible black market here so buying weed was never very challenging. The initiative we ended up approving is about to kill the medicinal dispensaries (they become felons if they're operating after tomorrow), added a bogus measurement for DUIs, and slotted the marijuana industry into our antiquated 3-tiered alcohol distribution system that created growers, processors, and retailers - and taxing the pot each step of the way. They've done some streamlining of taxes since then, and now things are getting more affordable in the retail stores. For a while there was no way I'd pay retail pricing for pot. Now, I can walk into my favorite retail store and find grams for $7 or $8 and up, but when the stores first opened up it was tough to find a gram under $25 (and since I was used to paying $25 for an 1/8th I wasn't interested). I think the biggest losers currently are medical patients who will now be paying more for their weed. The state is shutting down medical dispensaries and trying to fold that into existing retail stores, and those patients will now have to register with the state to receive an ID card which will allow them to purchase more quantity than a retail customer, and I believe eliminate some of the taxes from their purchases. But the catch is that even though the state is right on schedule to shut down the dispensaries, they are behind schedule on making the registration and ID cards available.
So my love/hate of legalization continues. I'm glad I can walk into a retail store and buy it. I'm glad I can walk around with weed in my pocket without fear of repercussions. I'm bummed that the government has control over growing and distributing the product, which has influence over price and availability.
"I'll use the magic word - let's just shut the fuck up, please." EV, 04/13/08
^^^ Yeah, there are the things I worry about with legalization. It's basically a bunch of politicians doing a lot of shit wrong. Very frustrating. I do remember seeing that the Washington prices skyrocketed with legalization, but that that didn't happen in Colorado... all depends on what idiots are handling things. I'm nervous to see what our own idiots do with it on a national scale, and how it affects things locally, since the city of Vancouver is in such a unique position as far as all this goes compared to the rest of Canada. Has the quality of the product at least stayed okay?? I keep seeing hysterical editorials about how weed is too potent now, so I worry that they'll basically legislate in shake and that's it.
Post edited by PJ_Soul on
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
That's exactly the problem - politicians and bureaucrats messing things up. The quality was a little hit and miss early on, since there were few producers up and running, which meant no variety of strain, and super expensive. Now that there are plenty of producers, there is lots of inventory, great variety, and the prices have fallen to reasonable levels. Potency is good here - there is a wide range from beginner weed to couch lock, lol. On all of the recreational shop menus I've seen they list THC level, and whether it is indica, sativa, or hybrid, so consumers really can buy what they're looking for out of their high.Here's the menu from on of my favorite local shops: http://www.higherleaf.com/menu so that you can see the variety of strains and concentrations we have access to.
"I'll use the magic word - let's just shut the fuck up, please." EV, 04/13/08
Of course they are. They don't want their drugs regulated. If I was just thinking of myself, I wouldn't want it legalized in Canada either, since I am made in the shade with the way things are now. And obviously dealers don't want it (any grower who isn't selling and is against is lying about not selling it IMO). But keeping it illegal is simply horribly unjust, not to mention the tax revenue. For those two reasons, I have to support legalization. I do have concerns about it though, as someone who currently has a medical card. I'm worried that legalization will increase the price, and reduce the quality. Both of those things would really really suck (although perhaps medical prices will be lower than recreational, who knows).
That said, I VERY much agree that the current illegal sellers and growers, depending on how they currently conduct their businesses, should be very involved in creating the legal market. They are the experts. I'm not talking about fucking Hell's Angels and other slimeballs, lol. I mean the growers and sellers who actually run real, organized businesses (even though they are illegal). There are tons of them. I think they need to be heavily involved, since no one in government or anyone else knows wtf they're doing when it comes to weed.
Yeah, I agree with much of what you say here. I think it's important to understand that many of the growers her in CA are good people making a fine product and that what many do not realize is that legalization will cause personal havoc for many growers and a destabilized economy in some areas of the state as well as potential lessening of cannabis quality due to regulation and/or inexperienced "legal" growers. One the other hand, not all current growers are conscientious about environmental impact and water usage in drought areas. This is a complicated issues with many consequences and potential negative affects most people don't know about or consider. It's a difficult issue to be sure.
Over all, to my way of thinking, things are fine here the way they are. Marijuana is common in most parts of California (even in my conservative community I see people smoking it discretely in public), it is decriminalized to the point of already being all but legal, it is easy to procure, and the quality is... well, gosh, how would I know?
No, I would imagine that if current growers are brought into the industry, as I think they must be, they would be subject to pretty strict regulations, especially when it comes to water usage and environmental impact. Yes, that complicates things for them... well, basically it will mean that many of them won't be able to get a license to grow legally, which means they'll be shut down. Hopefully California would allow them some decent opportunities to bring their operations up to code though. In Vancouver, where the city's government is now starting to license dispensaries, they did allow a pretty long period of time for the operators to conform to their regulations, which are pretty damned strict (in some cases stupid). And many of the operators worked their butts up to meet their demands. However, the government went about fucking most of them over. They kept declining appeals, they rejected applications almost arbitrarily while the operators were trying hard to make things work. So there is plenty of bullshit for these guys to wade through even in the process of legalizing. To me it seems like the government almost feels obligated to make it very difficult, like if they don't drag their feet and put up road blocks they will be accused of being too lenient. Again, that's here where I am and a local issue, but I can imagine larger government doing the exact same thing.
Brian, aren't there still people going to prison over marijuana growing and dealing though, depending on quanities? If so, that can't be just fine the way they are. If not, then yeah, it's just a tax grab, really. But at least people can still grow their own if they want..... not that that is easy.
For sure. There are and always will be people who abuse a situation.
I agree that government intervention in this is going to make a mess of things. That doesn't mean government or regulations are a bad thing in-of-themselves. Government is obviously broken here in the US. I think we all know that.
“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
It shouldn't have to be on any ballet ... It's none of the governments fucking business or anyone's business...booze, tobacco, sugar and a multitude of other legal products cause way fucking more harm than weed. But I would think it'll pass easily in California.
I have certain rules I live by ... My First Rule ... I don't believe anything the government tells me ... George Carlin
"Life Is What Happens To You When Your Busy Making Other Plans" John Lennon
I watched a story on History about weed and positive effects on the economy and was really surprised ....and thinking about it on a personal user level (not me, I don't smoke) it's really none of my business what anybody does as long as they don't involve me.
Godfather.
You just figured that out?
MJ is currently my main soap box issue (and the SS tax cap that literally no Americans seem to know about)
People are so misinformed and brain washed by decades of propaganda... thank god it's slowly changing though
Very interesting article here about Portugal's decriminalization tactics. I don't approve of this tactic with weed - that should just be treated like booze. But for drugs that are more destructive this seems like a pretty good system.
Very interesting article here about Portugal's decriminalization tactics. I don't approve of this tactic with weed - that should just be treated like booze. But for drugs that are more destructive this seems like a pretty good system.
Thanks for posting that article. Portugal's experience is a fascinating and instructive one. I particularly like the last paragraph, which points out that drug use should be viewed in a public health model, not a criminal justice model. Putting the focus on maximizing the health of citizens rather than using the justice system as a hammer is the way out of the futile morass that is current drug policy in most jurisdictions.
my small self... like a book amongst the many on a shelf
Comments
Fuckus rules all
Rob
Seattle
While I smoke for both health and enjoyment reasons, to NOT have this legalized all around is just silly...for lack of a better word.
How anyone could oppose this is beyond me.
(My MMJ place pays all taxes, by the way! And if I need to ante up, totally fine with that.)
Godfather.
Godfather.
You or I can walk into any liquor store buy boxes & boxes of Booze and after go into any gun shop and buy just about any weapon in their display cases with no repercussions but if I grow a few herb plants and get caught I'll be in jail for it ...
The Golden Age is 2 months away. And guess what….. you’re gonna love it! (teskeinc 11.19.24)
1998: Noblesville; 2003: Noblesville; 2009: EV Nashville, Chicago, Chicago
2010: St Louis, Columbus, Noblesville; 2011: EV Chicago, East Troy, East Troy
2013: London ON, Wrigley; 2014: Cincy, St Louis, Moline (NO CODE)
2016: Lexington, Wrigley #1; 2018: Wrigley, Wrigley, Boston, Boston
2020: Oakland, Oakland: 2021: EV Ohana, Ohana, Ohana, Ohana
2022: Oakland, Oakland, Nashville, Louisville; 2023: Chicago, Chicago, Noblesville
2024: Noblesville, Wrigley, Wrigley, Ohana, Ohana
What frustrates me is the fact that my mom fell off her bicycle, shattered her elbow and suffered a brutal concussion: I know that CBD (the wonder chemical prominent on marijuana) pills would absolutely help her symptoms (trouble sleeping, nausea, migraine-like headaches, anxiety), yet even CBD pills require a medical marijuana license. This is simply absurd, given that CBD has no psychoactive, addictive, or proven negative properties. Of course, they can't test this on humans officially, because it's produced on the marijuana plant. How absurd!
EV
Toronto Film Festival 9/11/2007, '08 - Toronto 1 & 2, '09 - Albany 1, '11 - Chicago 1
The Golden Age is 2 months away. And guess what….. you’re gonna love it! (teskeinc 11.19.24)
1998: Noblesville; 2003: Noblesville; 2009: EV Nashville, Chicago, Chicago
2010: St Louis, Columbus, Noblesville; 2011: EV Chicago, East Troy, East Troy
2013: London ON, Wrigley; 2014: Cincy, St Louis, Moline (NO CODE)
2016: Lexington, Wrigley #1; 2018: Wrigley, Wrigley, Boston, Boston
2020: Oakland, Oakland: 2021: EV Ohana, Ohana, Ohana, Ohana
2022: Oakland, Oakland, Nashville, Louisville; 2023: Chicago, Chicago, Noblesville
2024: Noblesville, Wrigley, Wrigley, Ohana, Ohana
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/01/california-marijuana-pot-legalization-initiative-2016
That said, I VERY much agree that the current illegal sellers and growers, depending on how they currently conduct their businesses, should be very involved in creating the legal market. They are the experts. I'm not talking about fucking Hell's Angels and other slimeballs, lol. I mean the growers and sellers who actually run real, organized businesses (even though they are illegal). There are tons of them. I think they need to be heavily involved, since no one in government or anyone else knows wtf they're doing when it comes to weed.
Over all, to my way of thinking, things are fine here the way they are. Marijuana is common in most parts of California (even in my conservative community I see people smoking it discretely in public), it is decriminalized to the point of already being all but legal, it is easy to procure, and the quality is... well, gosh, how would I know?
Fuckus rules all
Rob
Seattle
Brian, aren't there still people going to prison over marijuana growing and dealing though, depending on quanities? If so, that can't be just fine the way they are. If not, then yeah, it's just a tax grab, really. But at least people can still grow their own if they want..... not that that is easy.
So my love/hate of legalization continues. I'm glad I can walk into a retail store and buy it. I'm glad I can walk around with weed in my pocket without fear of repercussions. I'm bummed that the government has control over growing and distributing the product, which has influence over price and availability.
Has the quality of the product at least stayed okay?? I keep seeing hysterical editorials about how weed is too potent now, so I worry that they'll basically legislate in shake and that's it.
I agree that government intervention in this is going to make a mess of things. That doesn't mean government or regulations are a bad thing in-of-themselves. Government is obviously broken here in the US. I think we all know that.
"Life Is What Happens To You When Your Busy Making Other Plans" John Lennon
MJ is currently my main soap box issue (and the SS tax cap that literally no Americans seem to know about)
People are so misinformed and brain washed by decades of propaganda... thank god it's slowly changing though
https://news.vice.com/article/ungass-portugal-what-happened-after-decriminalization-drugs-weed-to-heroin