So now can we legalize?

fugawzi

I don't know if this has been discussed here. With all the bad financial news about our shitty economy, I was thinking last week about whether or not now would be a good time to legalize Marijuana. It could become a huge industry that could be taxed and would generate profitable revenue. Sure enough while watching Real Time with Bill Maher (one of my faves) Bill brought up the same point. Now can we legalize? I know to a lot of people it falls on deaf ears, and some will say there are way more important issues at the moment, which there are, but still legalization could and would generate a new profitable industry if taxed, which would help our economy. Any thoughts? Anyone think Obama could be the just the right person to do it? He's new, fresh, unconventional. Here's Bill's monolgue from Friday night check it out, it's pretty funny.

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

godpt3

yeah, like we need any MORE stupidity in the world right now.

VINNY GOOMBA

The gross domestic product would triple on the sales of junk food alone!!!

Tell you what though... I think I'd like to see decriminalization rather than legalization. I think with actual legalization, it would never be fully legalized-- I don't think they'd let you grow it, or buy it from your friend. It'd be heavily taxed, and it'd turn into cigarettes: expensive, and full of unnecessary addictive chemicals.

Now, if they legalized it, and you could either buy a pack of Marlboro Greens or get it from your buddy the farmer up the road, that'd be pretty sweet. Somehow, I think the government is going to want as much of their cut as possible.

prytoj

VINNY GOOMBA wrote:

The gross domestic product would triple on the sales of junk food alone!!!

Tell you what though... I think I'd like to see decriminalization rather than legalization. I think with actual legalization, it would never be fully legalized-- I don't think they'd let you grow it, or buy it from your friend. It'd be heavily taxed, and it'd turn into cigarettes: expensive, and full of unnecessary addictive chemicals.

Now, if they legalized it, and you could either buy a pack of Marlboro Greens or get it from your buddy the farmer up the road, that'd be pretty sweet. Somehow, I think the government is going to want as much of their cut as possible.

right on the money, excellent post.

fugawzi

godpt3 wrote:

yeah, like we need any MORE stupidity in the world right now.

Yea you're right we don't, so don't post uniformed replies on the forum. Pot=Stupidity. Riiiight. I'm sure every one who smokes it is stupid, that's what you're saying? Talk about stupid. I won't even get into it, whole separate issue.

VINNY GOOMBA

prytoj wrote:

right on the money, excellent post.

Thanks!

fugawzi

VINNY GOOMBA wrote:

The gross domestic product would triple on the sales of junk food alone!!!

Tell you what though... I think I'd like to see decriminalization rather than legalization. I think with actual legalization, it would never be fully legalized-- I don't think they'd let you grow it, or buy it from your friend. It'd be heavily taxed, and it'd turn into cigarettes: expensive, and full of unnecessary addictive chemicals.

Now, if they legalized it, and you could either buy a pack of Marlboro Greens or get it from your buddy the farmer up the road, that'd be pretty sweet. Somehow, I think the government is going to want as much of their cut as possible.

I see what you're saying, but there would be good grades just like there's higher quality beers than others. Taxing it would be the idea to generate revenue, but hopefully not heavily taxed. Government usually gets their cut out of anything, especially drugs but it'd be better than the current situation.

godpt3

fugawzi wrote:

Yea you're right we don't, so don't post uniformed replies on this forum. Pot=Stupidity. Riiiight. I'm sure every one who smokes it is stupid, that's what you're saying? Talk about stupid. I won't even get into it, whole separate issue.

It impairs brain function. This is scientific fact.


I'm a person just like you
But I've got better things to do
Than sit around and fuck my head
Hang out with the living dead
Snort white shit up my nose
Pass out at the shows
I don't even think about speed
That's something I just don't need

I've got the straight edge

I'm a person just like you
But I've got better things to do
Than sit around and smoke dope
'Cause I know I can cope
Laugh at the thought of eating ludes
Laugh at the thought of sniffing glue
Always gonna keep in touch
Never want to use a crutch

I've got the straight edge

ediger

I think it could work if they treat it as they treat alcohol. Obviously they will never just let you grow your own without any restrictions. That may be the dream, but it just isn't happening. Selling marijuana in the same fashion as alcohol (liquor marts that are age restricted, bars and such) I think is a great way for a government to make money.

It isn't the social problem some people make it out to be. I know it's a tired argument, but if alcohol is legal, keeping pot illegal is somewhat of a stupid double standard. As someone who both drinks and smokes pot, I can say 100% certainly that I am more out of control when I'm drunk. Just try getting to that really rowdy stage by smoking a bunch of weed. You'll just end up eating a jumbo bag of Doritos and taking a 12 hour nap.

Then again, this is the opinion of someone who has lived his entire life in a very liberal area of Canada. Totally different environment, especially when drug laws are taken into consideration.

godpt3

ediger wrote:

but if alcohol is legal, keeping pot illegal is somewhat of a stupid double standard.

Doesn't that imply that we should go back to prohibition, rather than legalizing pot? The harms of both are clear.

ediger

godpt3 wrote:

It impairs brain function. This is scientific fact.


I'm a person just like you
But I've got better things to do
Than sit around and fuck my head
Hang out with the living dead
Snort white shit up my nose
Pass out at the shows
I don't even think about speed
That's something I just don't need

I've got the straight edge

I'm a person just like you
But I've got better things to do
Than sit around and smoke dope
'Cause I know I can cope
Laugh at the thought of eating ludes
Laugh at the thought of sniffing glue
Always gonna keep in touch
Never want to use a crutch

I've got the straight edge

godpt3 wrote:

Doesn't that imply that we should go back to prohibition, rather than legalizing pot? The harms of both are clear.

Like anything, marijuana can both be used and abused. Simply smoking weed doesn't make you stupid.

VINNY GOOMBA

godpt3 wrote:

It impairs brain function. This is scientific fact.


I'm a person just like you
But I've got better things to do
Than sit around and fuck my head
Hang out with the living dead
Snort white shit up my nose
Pass out at the shows
I don't even think about speed
That's something I just don't need

I've got the straight edge

I'm a person just like you
But I've got better things to do
Than sit around and smoke dope
'Cause I know I can cope
Laugh at the thought of eating ludes
Laugh at the thought of sniffing glue
Always gonna keep in touch
Never want to use a crutch

I've got the straight edge

I've never heard this song before, but I'm pretty sure it sucks.

fugawzi

godpt3 wrote:

It impairs brain function. This is scientific fact.

I'm a person just like you
But I've got better things to do
Than sit around and fuck my head
Hang out with the living dead
Snort white shit up my nose
Pass out at the shows
I don't even think about speed
That's something I just don't need

I've got the straight edge

I'm a person just like you
But I've got better things to do
Than sit around and smoke dope
'Cause I know I can cope
Laugh at the thought of eating ludes
Laugh at the thought of sniffing glue
Always gonna keep in touch
Never want to use a crutch

I've got the straight edge

Oh are you a scientist? Maybe you can show me where scientist's are conclusively saying it makes people stupid. I'd like to see that. I like your little poem about straight edge, especially since it really doesn't even reference weed, just nasty hardcore drugs. Good job of lumping all those drugs together though. Man it's hard to believe some things coming from Pearl Jam fans, you'd think they be more open minded, not like some Christian band fan or something.

godpt3

fugawzi wrote:

I like your little poem about straight edge, especially since it really doesn't even reference weed, just nasty hardcore drugs. Good job of lumping all those drugs together though. Man it's hard to believe some things coming from Pearl Jam fans, you'd think they be more open minded, not like some Christian band fan or something.

Dude, with "Fugazi" for your name, I would've thought you'd recognize Minor Threat when somebody beat you over the head with it.

jwillmo

VINNY GOOMBA wrote:

I've never heard this song before, but I'm pretty sure it sucks.

I really don't give a shit whether pot is legal or not, but I'll be damned if I'm going to sit here and listen to Minor Threat bashing.

Anyway, I'm pretty sure EV's a fan of everthing Ian Mckay's ever done, and aren't we legally required to like everything PJ likes?

fugawzi

godpt3 wrote:

Doesn't that imply that we should go back to prohibition, rather than legalizing pot? The harms of both are clear.

Yea I'll make that argument. Either go back to both being illegal or make both legal. The harms of a lot of drugs are clear, they're still legal. Boner pills can cause heart attacks, depression pills, sleeping pills, etc. all these legal drugs that can cause harmful things to your body and harmful behavior. That's off topic though, legalization would generate revenue.

fugawzi

godpt3 wrote:

Dude, with "Fugazi" for your name, I would've thought you'd recognize Minor Threat when somebody beat you over the head with it.

No, I don't care about Minor Threat sorry and I really didn't think that was an original poem. Just dumb lyrics.

ediger

ok, I'm sorry, but Minor Threat sucks. lol

But besides that, I'm willing to keep this civil

VINNY GOOMBA

jwillmo wrote:

I really don't give a shit whether pot is legal or not, but I'll be damned if I'm going to sit here and listen to Minor Threat bashing.

Anyway, I'm pretty sure EV's a fan of everthing Ian Mckay's ever done, and aren't we legally required to like everything PJ likes?

I've got respect for Fugazi, the Who,...

then there's Sleater Kinney.

So I will politely disagree

YieldInHiding

Legalize it and tax it.

Nevermind

godpt3 wrote:

It impairs brain function. This is scientific fact.


I'm a person just like you
But I've got better things to do
Than sit around and fuck my head
Hang out with the living dead
Snort white shit up my nose
Pass out at the shows
I don't even think about speed
That's something I just don't need

I've got the straight edge

I'm a person just like you
But I've got better things to do
Than sit around and smoke dope
'Cause I know I can cope
Laugh at the thought of eating ludes
Laugh at the thought of sniffing glue
Always gonna keep in touch
Never want to use a crutch

I've got the straight edge

A second grader could write those lyrics.

_Crazy_Mary_

Yes!
I say legalize it and tax the shit out of it! Anybody growing w/o a business license and paying taxes gets twice the punishment they would incur right now. I'm all for it!
Added benefit: Marijuana would cost so much more, maybe less people would smoke it.

saveuplife

I think it should be legalized. That said, I think it should not be pushed (advertised). The problem with legalization is the fact that big business will get behind it and attract it to more people via ads. The plus is it would probably be filtered better, so it would be slightly less of a health risk. I also think it should be heavily taxed, if ever legalized.

It's a tough issue. And the other main problem is... why can't you legalize (you name it) other drug if you do so for pot?

I will be honest.... I think it may be best to just keep it the way it is. The truth is, if you want it and act responsibly, you can get it, use it and will not get in trouble. So, in a way, the law is OK as is.

fugawzi

_Crazy_Mary_ wrote:

Yes!
I say legalize it and tax the shit out of it! Anybody growing w/o a business license and paying taxes gets twice the punishment they would incur right now. I'm all for it!
Added benefit: Marijuana would cost so much more, maybe less people would smoke it.

I don't think it would cost more, being a "black market" drug probably causes it to be more expensive. Twice the punishment sounds a little harsh, but some is appropriate.

Nevermind

_Crazy_Mary_ wrote:

Yes!
I say legalize it and tax the shit out of it! Anybody growing w/o a business license and paying taxes gets twice the punishment they would incur right now. I'm all for it!
Added benefit: Marijuana would cost so much more, maybe less people would smoke it.

You know Eddie Vedder smokes pot?

YieldInHiding

_Crazy_Mary_ wrote:

Yes!
I say legalize it and tax the shit out of it! Anybody growing w/o a business license and paying taxes gets twice the punishment they would incur right now. I'm all for it!
Added benefit: Marijuana would cost so much more, maybe less people would smoke it.

Why is it a benefit if less people smoke it?

It's my opinion that people should be able to smoke whatever they want. Why would you want to limit freedoms?

_Crazy_Mary_

Nevermind wrote:

You know Eddie Vedder smokes pot?

really???

godpt3

YieldInHiding wrote:

Why would you want to limit freedoms?

To protect the rest of society from the consequences of the actions of a few people.

_Crazy_Mary_

YieldInHiding wrote:

Why is it a benefit if less people smoke it?

It's my opinion that people should be able to smoke whatever they want. Why would you want to limit freedoms?

That isn't limiting freedoms. If smoking pot is so important, people will come up with the extra money for it.
We need the tax revenue.
Personally, marijuana is harmful to my health, so when I said it would be an added benefit if less people smoked it, I meant people to whom it is harmful.

lalalalaaaaaaaa

godpt3 wrote:

It impairs brain function. This is scientific fact.


I'm a person just like you
But I've got better things to do
Than sit around and fuck my head
Hang out with the living dead
Snort white shit up my nose
Pass out at the shows
I don't even think about speed
That's something I just don't need

I've got the straight edge

I'm a person just like you
But I've got better things to do
Than sit around and smoke dope
'Cause I know I can cope
Laugh at the thought of eating ludes
Laugh at the thought of sniffing glue
Always gonna keep in touch
Never want to use a crutch

I've got the straight edge

hahaha!

Yea, weed impairs brain function...so does breathing in and out really fast, or having too much glucose in your system, or watching too much TV.

And that song you're quoting is about drug abuse, not weed-smoking

inmytree

godpt3 wrote:

To protect the rest of society from the consequences of the actions of a few people.

great concept...

people in my area can't drive for shit, we have the highest accident rate in the state...

let's make cars illegal...I want to be protected...