The old "it doesn't affect you" argument is akin to burying your head in the sand. If it's illegal - it affects me. If it's legal - it affects me. Most everything we do has an effect on many other people.
so whats the answer.....see for me I could care less if you pray till your blue in the face.....and if my actions make you uncomfortable..then thats your problem....now if some ones stoned and is driving down the street..yes that affects you and should be monitored...but this its against my morals so you can't do it....sorry. Give me your solution...I have one....and I'm not being critical...respect your opinion.
The old "it doesn't affect you" argument is akin to burying your head in the sand. If it's illegal - it affects me. If it's legal - it affects me. Most everything we do has an effect on many other people.
What about decriminalization? Not really condoning use, but not condemning non violent offenders to prison?
While this is maybe sort of amicable, turning a blind eye to one of the nations biggest cash crops is kind of stupid. I mean they could tax it now to fund drug rehab programs or whatever.
My Girlfriend said to me..."How many guitars do you need?" and I replied...."How many pairs of shoes do you need?" She got really quiet.
What about decriminalization? Not really condoning use, but not condemning non violent offenders to prison?
While this is maybe sort of amicable, turning a blind eye to one of the nations biggest cash crops is kind of stupid. I mean they could tax it now to fund drug rehab programs or whatever.
drug rehab helps people, why would the government want to help it's people?
Decriminalization would be good, a start anyway. But yeah, the US government likes to waste money, I saw this 1hr show on history channel, goes through the paces talking about how this who "fear of pot" thing started.
drug rehab helps people, why would the government want to help it's people?
Decriminalization would be good, a start anyway. But yeah, the US government likes to waste money, I saw this 1hr show on history channel, goes through the paces talking about how this who "fear of pot" thing started.
yeah I've seen that, they have one for most of the popular illicit recreational drugs.
It's pretty obvious when they get to Dupont fibers objection, and then the racial overtones....
My Girlfriend said to me..."How many guitars do you need?" and I replied...."How many pairs of shoes do you need?" She got really quiet.
so whats the answer.....see for me I could care less if you pray till your blue in the face.....and if my actions make you uncomfortable..then thats your problem....now if some ones stoned and is driving down the street..yes that affects you and should be monitored...but this its against my morals so you can't do it....sorry. Give me your solution...I have one....and I'm not being critical...respect your opinion.
Thanks. I respect yours as well. I don't have a solution. I'm not opposed to legalization of marijuana, but then again I also do not care if it is legalized either. I can see both some valid points on both sides.
The only people we should try to get even with...
...are those who've helped us.
Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
Decriminilize all drug use......imagine the reduction in prison....reduction in laundered money...drug task forces.....it would be immense. Yes there would be some increase due to use when driving..or sales to minors...but that pales in comparison.
Hell the taxes this would generate should make you repugs happy..no??? (-: Isn't pot one of the biggest cash crops in the US???
Sure. But now you got a crapton (perhaps my new favorite word) of drug addicts robbing quicktrips and living on the streets and shit. I said earlier, i'm actually not disturbed by the thought of legal Pot. But all drug use? Thats insane. Absolutely dimwitted IMO.
"When all your friends and sedatives mean well but make it worse... better find yourself a place to level out."
What about decriminalization? Not really condoning use, but not condemning non violent offenders to prison?
While this is maybe sort of amicable, turning a blind eye to one of the nations biggest cash crops is kind of stupid. I mean they could tax it now to fund drug rehab programs or whatever.
There are definitely some merits there. I'm not against pot or legalization.
The only people we should try to get even with...
...are those who've helped us.
Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
o.k. But surely you understand that the same thing could be said of crack, for example. Understand i'm simply playing the devils advocate here. i have no strong opinion either way (Actually, if pressed, i tend to agree, at least somewhat, with the legalization crowd). Legalizing crack would lighten the load on the legal system to an even higher degree. Right? Alcohol is legal, yes, but there are some strict regulations. What would be your proposed age restriction on weed? It would actually tie up the police a bit more with all the tickets they'd be writing tp guys driving ten miles per hour on the interstate or minor in possession of ganja. What about lost productivity in the workplace? As far as cigarettes, one might argue that they shouldn't be legal either, and as a matter of fact, its becoming harder and harder for a cigarette smoker. One is almost restricted to one dark damp closet in the corner of their own basement. As far as health risks, its kind of hard to argue. Pot, alcohol and cigarettes are all considered gateway drugs, none of which are without their own respective health implications.
Furthermore, by your own line of logic, nothing is criminal about, shoplifting, for example, except for the fact "they" made it so, and i'm somewhat sure Wynona Ryder doesn't want people in suits infringing on her right to take shit she hasn't paid for. For any society to function, there MUST be rules and all of are freedoms insist upon the removal of freedoms from someone else. Your right to smoke a joint, for example, just may infringe on my right to drive regulation speed on the highway without being held up by someone crawling along in a pot induced state of oblivion, or my right to not have to carry the extra weight at work of my stoner coworker who doesn't quite carry his own for the same reason.
Again, just playing the devil's advocate. Not trying to start a cyber-fight.
Ok,, whatever.
I need to go back and read the rest of this thread.. Your reply to mine is as far as i've gotten so far.
If pot were legal of course it would be illegal to drive under the influence of it. . .As it is with alcohol as well.... Just because a law is in effect doesn't mean people obey.. Check your local city for your latest alcohol related crashes to know that......... I'm not even sure i've ever heard of a pot related crash (?) (though i KNOW people smoke while driving)...... Laws dont truly dictate peoples behaviors,, that is why they are made.. Some laws may curb some behaviors maybe, dictate absolutely,, never. . . . .
As a matter of fact on some occasions a few tokes on a joint is the only thing that kept me from losing my ever loving mind on the freeways in southern california during the HELL that is known as rush hour traffic. I even paid better attention and focused more. The pot mellowed me out and i didn't feel like i was going to die from stressing out. I would have been more distracted were i not high..... All of my speeding tickets and fender benders happened when i was stone cold sober.... Speeding like a maniac on some occasions (yes i think speed laws ARE a good idea).
The fact that pot is absolutely illegal doesn't stop everyone from smoking it.. Particularily younger people.. In fact pot being a forbidden fruit of sorts may actually encourage some personality types to use it. Yes there would be an age limit etc if legal....... Absolute criminalization NEVER stopped me from enjoying and even selling much pot from age 11 onward up to age 18. I also hear there are alot of people in amsterdam who've never touched the stuff. Legalization doesn't necessarily mean more usage imo... Almost everyone tries pot at some point anyways..Whether they continue usually depends on how well they liked it.. I'm for education and telling people the truth about this substance and letting them make up their own minds. . . I'm not for lying to people and insanely exaggerating things like people believed from the hype that was "refer madness".
Also.. There is a giant difference between marijane and crack or cocaine.
I'm not for legalization of all drugs across the board. Things like meth and cocaine are shown to cause much more extreme and erratic behavior than pot. . .Psychosis in some cases.........
Before you start trying to wave pot down for it's effects please realise that alcohol and blackouts are much more dangerous than a munchy pot buzz ever has been.
My catching a buzz, whether it is from pot OR alcohol is lightyears and galaxies away from a crime such as theft. I dont really understand how you could get to theft from pot. This all has NOTHING to do with larceny.
Pot is somewhere between tobacco and alcohol. It is oxymoronic that the other two are legal and not the one.
Some laws make good common sense. Some do not.
That is truth.
-Outs
"I guess it was the beatings... made me wise
But I'm not about to give thanks, or apologize"
The other day the above lyrics hit me like they never had before.......Almost dizzying....So true, feelings i long recognise summed up in words so beautifully/perfectly.....
Has anyone seen the cartoon one where the guy offers his female friend a puff, she says something like, "not again"...and ends up falling in love with alien/martian...
so, if you don't some pot, you'll fall in love with an alien/martian....at least that's what I get from it....
yeah, i saw one of those ads from the series on tv the other day. pretty silly as usual. thanks for sharing the rest.
i've had some bad migraines the last several days so i just got back from my friendly neighbourhood pot dealer. plan to roll it up, smoke it and take a nap to get some relief. i hope i don't see those aliens..."not again'!
Ok,, whatever.
I need to go back and read the rest of this thread.. Your reply to mine is as far as i've gotten so far.
If pot were legal of course it would be illegal to drive under the influence of it. . .As it is with alcohol as well.... Just because a law is in effect doesn't mean people obey.. Check your local city for your latest alcohol related crashes to know that......... I'm not even sure i've ever heard of a pot related crash (?) (though i KNOW people smoke while driving)...... Laws dont truly dictate peoples behaviors,, that is why they are made.. Some laws may curb some behaviors maybe, dictate absolutely,, never. . . . .
As a matter of fact on some occasions a few tokes on a joint is the only thing that kept me from losing my ever loving mind on the freeways in southern california during the HELL that is known as rush hour traffic. I even paid better attention and focused more. The pot mellowed me out and i didn't feel like i was going to die from stressing out. I would have been more distracted were i not high..... All of my speeding tickets and fender benders happened when i was stone cold sober.... Speeding like a maniac on some occasions (yes i think speed laws ARE a good idea).
The fact that pot is absolutely illegal doesn't stop everyone from smoking it.. Particularily younger people.. In fact pot being a forbidden fruit of sorts may actually encourage some personality types to use it. Yes there would be an age limit etc if legal....... Absolute criminalization NEVER stopped me from enjoying and even selling much pot from age 11 onward up to age 18. I also hear there are alot of people in amsterdam who've never touched the stuff. Legalization doesn't necessarily mean more usage imo... Almost everyone tries pot at some point anyways..Whether they continue usually depends on how well they liked it.. I'm for education and telling people the truth about this substance and letting them make up their own minds. . . I'm not for lying to people and insanely exaggerating things like people believed from the hype that was "refer madness".
Also.. There is a giant difference between marijane and crack or cocaine.
I'm not for legalization of all drugs across the board. Things like meth and cocaine are shown to cause much more extreme and erratic behavior than pot. . .Psychosis in some cases.........
Before you start trying to wave pot down for it's effects please realise that alcohol and blackouts are much more dangerous than a munchy pot buzz ever has been.
My catching a buzz, whether it is from pot OR alcohol is lightyears and galaxies away from a crime such as theft. I dont really understand how you could get to theft from pot. This all has NOTHING to do with larceny.
Pot is somewhere between tobacco and alcohol. It is oxymoronic that the other two are legal and not the one.
Some laws make good common sense. Some do not.
That is truth.
-Outs
Dude, take a bong hit, count to ten, and chill the heck out. i already told you i wasn't trying to start a fight or even necessarily disagreeing with you on some points. i'm certainly not out picketing to "keep pot illegal". Blah, blah, blah. i made that perfectly clear in attempt tp avoid shit like this. The point is your arguments are not without counter arguments. Things that need to be considered. Your (or my) right to get high on marijuana may in fact infringe on someone else's right to not share the highway or work alongside of and do all the work for Shaggy from Scooby Doo. Fact is i agree with you that marijuanna may be in the same category as alcohol and cigarettes, and there may in fact be an hypocrisy there. There is an argument on both sides however. i personally believe cigarettes should be illegal, and i used to smoke them! (still do on occasional moments of weakness when no one i know is looking). Lighten up, Francis.
"When all your friends and sedatives mean well but make it worse... better find yourself a place to level out."
Dude, take a bong hit, count to ten, and chill the heck out. i already told you i wasn't trying to start a fight or even necessarily disagreeing with you on some points. i'm certainly not out picketing to "keep pot illegal". Blah, blah, blah. i made that perfectly clear in attempt tp avoid shit like this. The point is your arguments are not without counter arguments. Things that need to be considered. Your (or my) right to get high on marijuana may in fact infringe on someone else's right to not share the highway or work alongside of and do all the work for Shaggy from Scooby Doo. Fact is i agree with you that marijuanna may be in the same category as alcohol and cigarettes, and there may in fact be an hypocrisy there. There is an argument on both sides however. i personally believe cigarettes should be illegal, and i used to smoke them! (still do on occasional moments of weakness when no one i know is looking). Lighten up, Francis.
and our point is that the counterarguments are by and large very tenuous and weak compared to the arguments for legalization.
i don't see my logic being stretched at all. Point is, if you are going to legalize pot, you are going to have to impose at least the same restrictions as are imposed on alcohol. The Bob Marley wannabe cruisin' down the highway in the VW bus at a speedy 15 mph is a hazard and needs a ticket. (BTW so does the guy hopped up on nyquil, it says right on the bottle). To say that legalization would lighten the workload of police is simply innacurate.
People act as though Pot is a threat to no one, infringes on no one and carries no hazzards. Simply not true. People also argue for the legalization of Pot based on the fact that alcohol and cigarettes are legal, when both have heavy restrictions and cigarettes are moving further and further towards illegal.
It is ridiculous, and sounds a tad bit so when someone says that something should be legal "because i want to do it, damn it"! Again one's freedom always infringes on someone else's freedom. Such is the nature of freedom. Rules have to be drawn and there is more to this argument than the government simply wanting Pot to be illegal "just because".
nobody said legalziation would be without restriction. in fact, if you actually read my post, you'd say that i clearly was advocating heavy regulation and treating it just like alcohol... restricting sales, heavy taxation. driving under the influence would still be criminal, etc etc.
aside from maybe someone impacting your precious commute time (i assume you also oppose smoking in cars, eating, cell phone use, praying, messing with the stereo, and anything else that affects and distracts from driving), what effect does someone getting stoned in their house have on you?
and to say legalization would not cut down on police costs is just plain ridiculous. what planet are you living on? how much does it cost to enforce lliquor laws? to assign licenses and prosecute violations? compare that to k-9 units, drug task forces, SWAT maneuvers to arrest armed drug dealers, time wasted by making police file paperwork and show up in court to nail a 16 year old kid caught smoking a joint in the park. elaborate sting violations to catch dealers. long term, expensive investigations in dangerous neighborhoods. all of this would be replaced by the occasional undercover cop wandering into a coffee shop to make sure they're checking id's before they sell or expanding police search techniques for traffic stops they'd be making anyway. and all that money saved could be diverted to seriously stepping up enforcement of other drug laws... putting some serious teeth behind stopping the cocaine and heroin trade and things of that nature.
this isn't a matter of "i wanna smoke when i want to." i dont even smoke pot. this is sheer economics and me feeling like the prohibition on pot is a tremendous waste of my tax money and police and court resources. it's also a matter of me feeling like pot smoker don't deserve heavy legal sanctions and lifetime consequences for something that is, comparatively, not a big deal. im not into punishing innocent people, and i there's nothing inherently guilty or morally culpable about getting stoned.
there are several underlying theories of the purpose of the criminal justice system. the criminalization of marijuana makes little sense under any of these justifications. even the mda has recommended declassifying the stuff. the only reason it hasn't been done is fringe morality, a lack of understanding of the issues, and politicking.
nobody said legalziation would be without restriction. in fact, if you actually read my post, you'd say that i clearly was advocating heavy regulation and treating it just like alcohol... restricting sales, heavy taxation. driving under the influence would still be criminal, etc etc.
aside from maybe someone impacting your precious commute time (i assume you also oppose smoking in cars, eating, cell phone use, praying, messing with the stereo, and anything else that affects and distracts from driving), what effect does someone getting stoned in their house?
and to say legalization would not cut down on police costs is just plain ridiculous. what planet are you living on? how much does it cost to enforce lliquor laws? to assign licenses and prosecute violations? compare that to k-9 units, drug task forces, SWAT maneuvers to arrest armed drug dealers, time wasted by making police file paperwork and show up in court to nail a 16 year old kid caught smoking a joint in the park. elaborate sting violations to catch dealers. long term, expensive investigations in dangerous neighborhoods. all of this would be replaced by the occasional undercover cop wandering into a coffee shop to make sure they're checking id's before they sell. and all that money saved could be diverted to seriously stepping up enforcement of other drug laws... putting some serious teeth behind stopping the cocaine and heroin trade and things of that nature.
this isn't a matter of "i wanna smoke when i want to." i dont even smoke pot. this is sheer economics and me feeling like the prohibition on pot is a tremendous waste of my tax money and police and court resources. it's also a matter of me feeling like pot smoker don't deserve heavy legal sanctions and lifetime consequences for something that is, comparatively, not a big deal. im not into punishing innocent people, and i dont think there's anything inherently guilty or morally culpable about getting stoned.
there are several underlying theories of the purpose of the criminal justice system. the criminalization of marijuana makes little sense under any of these justifications. even the mda has recommended declassifying the stuff. the only reason it hasn't been done is fringe morality, a lack of understanding of the issues, and politicking.
But is there motivation there to fund the anti-pot ads since government technically can't profit from tax?
keep pot illegal, and you have more people in the system, so there's more jobs. plus putting up ads like that is good for whatever government is in power, the ppl see that the gov has taken a stance on the issue, and if the ppl agree with the gov's position, then they're more likely to vote for that party next time. at least, that's how i see it.
the conversation has probably got past this, i just havn't read through
non believers feel about having our children have to go through school prayer in the morning??? If you don't like it don't do it....if it sooo upsets you get together, buy some land in the desert and live there away from all the immorality.
do you seriously still have school prayers in texas? man, they outlawed that here in 86, one day there was a prayer, the next there wasn't. i think that there's more of an issue with prayer than 'if you don't like it don't do it' i don't want someone else's beliefs crammed down my or my hypothetical children's throats, i don't want to have to listen to some bloody patronizing christian prayer. but about pot, if it is restricted to at home use (like amsterdam), then it won't be so in your face, and other ppl won't have to deal with it, not much will change, you just won't have to call up your sketchy dealer, you'll go to a store, the government will profit, there will be a tax, it'll be great for the economy
No problem can be solved from the same consciousness that created it.
Albert Einstein
my theory, there are two industies that benefit from pot prohibition...one would be the alcohol industry and the other would be gov't/law enforcement...therefore, I think it would be in their best interest to bo anti-pot...
not sure if it's still the same but at one time the 2 biggest sponsors of 'partnership for a drug free america' was phillip morris and anheysuer busch.
john stossel did a good report a couple years ago called 'pot of gold' that covered how they can take your car, house, whatever for certain violations...like 1 guy driving to buy a tractor w/ a lot of cash...had a contract to buy it and his story checked out but the cop that pulled him over said the money was to buy drugs...they took the $ and his truck and the cost to go to court to get them back was insane! the state judicial system gets a cut of the seized money and profits from selling their stuff as well as law enforcement
standin above the crowd
he had a voice that was strong and loud and
i swallowed his facade cos i'm so
eager to identify with
someone above the crowd
someone who seemed to feel the same
someone prepared to lead the way
Comments
so whats the answer.....see for me I could care less if you pray till your blue in the face.....and if my actions make you uncomfortable..then thats your problem....now if some ones stoned and is driving down the street..yes that affects you and should be monitored...but this its against my morals so you can't do it....sorry. Give me your solution...I have one....and I'm not being critical...respect your opinion.
What about decriminalization? Not really condoning use, but not condemning non violent offenders to prison?
While this is maybe sort of amicable, turning a blind eye to one of the nations biggest cash crops is kind of stupid. I mean they could tax it now to fund drug rehab programs or whatever.
drug rehab helps people, why would the government want to help it's people?
Decriminalization would be good, a start anyway. But yeah, the US government likes to waste money, I saw this 1hr show on history channel, goes through the paces talking about how this who "fear of pot" thing started.
haha!
Old school movie,
yeah I've seen that, they have one for most of the popular illicit recreational drugs.
It's pretty obvious when they get to Dupont fibers objection, and then the racial overtones....
Thanks. I respect yours as well. I don't have a solution. I'm not opposed to legalization of marijuana, but then again I also do not care if it is legalized either. I can see both some valid points on both sides.
...are those who've helped us.
Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
Sure. But now you got a crapton (perhaps my new favorite word) of drug addicts robbing quicktrips and living on the streets and shit. I said earlier, i'm actually not disturbed by the thought of legal Pot. But all drug use? Thats insane. Absolutely dimwitted IMO.
There are definitely some merits there. I'm not against pot or legalization.
...are those who've helped us.
Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
Ok,, whatever.
I need to go back and read the rest of this thread.. Your reply to mine is as far as i've gotten so far.
If pot were legal of course it would be illegal to drive under the influence of it. . .As it is with alcohol as well.... Just because a law is in effect doesn't mean people obey.. Check your local city for your latest alcohol related crashes to know that......... I'm not even sure i've ever heard of a pot related crash (?) (though i KNOW people smoke while driving)...... Laws dont truly dictate peoples behaviors,, that is why they are made.. Some laws may curb some behaviors maybe, dictate absolutely,, never. . . . .
As a matter of fact on some occasions a few tokes on a joint is the only thing that kept me from losing my ever loving mind on the freeways in southern california during the HELL that is known as rush hour traffic. I even paid better attention and focused more. The pot mellowed me out and i didn't feel like i was going to die from stressing out. I would have been more distracted were i not high..... All of my speeding tickets and fender benders happened when i was stone cold sober.... Speeding like a maniac on some occasions (yes i think speed laws ARE a good idea).
The fact that pot is absolutely illegal doesn't stop everyone from smoking it.. Particularily younger people.. In fact pot being a forbidden fruit of sorts may actually encourage some personality types to use it. Yes there would be an age limit etc if legal....... Absolute criminalization NEVER stopped me from enjoying and even selling much pot from age 11 onward up to age 18. I also hear there are alot of people in amsterdam who've never touched the stuff. Legalization doesn't necessarily mean more usage imo... Almost everyone tries pot at some point anyways..Whether they continue usually depends on how well they liked it.. I'm for education and telling people the truth about this substance and letting them make up their own minds. . . I'm not for lying to people and insanely exaggerating things like people believed from the hype that was "refer madness".
Also.. There is a giant difference between marijane and crack or cocaine.
I'm not for legalization of all drugs across the board. Things like meth and cocaine are shown to cause much more extreme and erratic behavior than pot. . .Psychosis in some cases.........
Before you start trying to wave pot down for it's effects please realise that alcohol and blackouts are much more dangerous than a munchy pot buzz ever has been.
My catching a buzz, whether it is from pot OR alcohol is lightyears and galaxies away from a crime such as theft. I dont really understand how you could get to theft from pot. This all has NOTHING to do with larceny.
Pot is somewhere between tobacco and alcohol. It is oxymoronic that the other two are legal and not the one.
Some laws make good common sense. Some do not.
That is truth.
-Outs
But I'm not about to give thanks, or apologize"
The other day the above lyrics hit me like they never had before.......Almost dizzying....So true, feelings i long recognise summed up in words so beautifully/perfectly.....
yeah, i saw one of those ads from the series on tv the other day. pretty silly as usual. thanks for sharing the rest.
i've had some bad migraines the last several days so i just got back from my friendly neighbourhood pot dealer. plan to roll it up, smoke it and take a nap to get some relief. i hope i don't see those aliens..."not again'!
Dude, take a bong hit, count to ten, and chill the heck out. i already told you i wasn't trying to start a fight or even necessarily disagreeing with you on some points. i'm certainly not out picketing to "keep pot illegal". Blah, blah, blah. i made that perfectly clear in attempt tp avoid shit like this. The point is your arguments are not without counter arguments. Things that need to be considered. Your (or my) right to get high on marijuana may in fact infringe on someone else's right to not share the highway or work alongside of and do all the work for Shaggy from Scooby Doo. Fact is i agree with you that marijuanna may be in the same category as alcohol and cigarettes, and there may in fact be an hypocrisy there. There is an argument on both sides however. i personally believe cigarettes should be illegal, and i used to smoke them! (still do on occasional moments of weakness when no one i know is looking). Lighten up, Francis.
and our point is that the counterarguments are by and large very tenuous and weak compared to the arguments for legalization.
nobody said legalziation would be without restriction. in fact, if you actually read my post, you'd say that i clearly was advocating heavy regulation and treating it just like alcohol... restricting sales, heavy taxation. driving under the influence would still be criminal, etc etc.
aside from maybe someone impacting your precious commute time (i assume you also oppose smoking in cars, eating, cell phone use, praying, messing with the stereo, and anything else that affects and distracts from driving), what effect does someone getting stoned in their house have on you?
and to say legalization would not cut down on police costs is just plain ridiculous. what planet are you living on? how much does it cost to enforce lliquor laws? to assign licenses and prosecute violations? compare that to k-9 units, drug task forces, SWAT maneuvers to arrest armed drug dealers, time wasted by making police file paperwork and show up in court to nail a 16 year old kid caught smoking a joint in the park. elaborate sting violations to catch dealers. long term, expensive investigations in dangerous neighborhoods. all of this would be replaced by the occasional undercover cop wandering into a coffee shop to make sure they're checking id's before they sell or expanding police search techniques for traffic stops they'd be making anyway. and all that money saved could be diverted to seriously stepping up enforcement of other drug laws... putting some serious teeth behind stopping the cocaine and heroin trade and things of that nature.
this isn't a matter of "i wanna smoke when i want to." i dont even smoke pot. this is sheer economics and me feeling like the prohibition on pot is a tremendous waste of my tax money and police and court resources. it's also a matter of me feeling like pot smoker don't deserve heavy legal sanctions and lifetime consequences for something that is, comparatively, not a big deal. im not into punishing innocent people, and i there's nothing inherently guilty or morally culpable about getting stoned.
there are several underlying theories of the purpose of the criminal justice system. the criminalization of marijuana makes little sense under any of these justifications. even the mda has recommended declassifying the stuff. the only reason it hasn't been done is fringe morality, a lack of understanding of the issues, and politicking.
FUCK YEAH!!
keep pot illegal, and you have more people in the system, so there's more jobs. plus putting up ads like that is good for whatever government is in power, the ppl see that the gov has taken a stance on the issue, and if the ppl agree with the gov's position, then they're more likely to vote for that party next time. at least, that's how i see it.
the conversation has probably got past this, i just havn't read through
do you seriously still have school prayers in texas? man, they outlawed that here in 86, one day there was a prayer, the next there wasn't. i think that there's more of an issue with prayer than 'if you don't like it don't do it' i don't want someone else's beliefs crammed down my or my hypothetical children's throats, i don't want to have to listen to some bloody patronizing christian prayer. but about pot, if it is restricted to at home use (like amsterdam), then it won't be so in your face, and other ppl won't have to deal with it, not much will change, you just won't have to call up your sketchy dealer, you'll go to a store, the government will profit, there will be a tax, it'll be great for the economy
Albert Einstein
not sure if it's still the same but at one time the 2 biggest sponsors of 'partnership for a drug free america' was phillip morris and anheysuer busch.
john stossel did a good report a couple years ago called 'pot of gold' that covered how they can take your car, house, whatever for certain violations...like 1 guy driving to buy a tractor w/ a lot of cash...had a contract to buy it and his story checked out but the cop that pulled him over said the money was to buy drugs...they took the $ and his truck and the cost to go to court to get them back was insane! the state judicial system gets a cut of the seized money and profits from selling their stuff as well as law enforcement
he had a voice that was strong and loud and
i swallowed his facade cos i'm so
eager to identify with
someone above the crowd
someone who seemed to feel the same
someone prepared to lead the way