Decriminalization considered

Banned · Post by **Banned** » Tuesday Dec 23, 2008

Esquire Magazine is reporting that Obama is considering decriminalizing the use of marijuana. He might actually do one good thing for this country.

http://www.esquire.com/the-side/richard ... ion-122308

metalchurch · Post by **metalchurch** » Tuesday Dec 23, 2008

I have a joke for this, but I'm refraining.
But this really is a good thing in my opinion...
They need to regulate it and tax it though. It might help get us out of debt.

BDR · Post by **BDR** » Tuesday Dec 23, 2008

I LIKE BEANS!!!

r:>)

HurricaneBob · Post by **HurricaneBob** » Tuesday Dec 23, 2008

Great! I can order the dashboard mount for my hookah now.

JackANSI · Post by **JackANSI** » Tuesday Dec 23, 2008

metalchurch wrote:I have a joke for this, but I'm refraining.
But this really is a good thing in my opinion...
They need to regulate it and tax it though. It might help get us out of debt.

Just the savings on the enforcement side of the law would pay for at least 2 or 3 more poorly managed bail-outs...

whitedevilone · Post by **whitedevilone** » Tuesday Dec 23, 2008

Finally some Change i can support

coffin feeder · Post by **coffin feeder** » Tuesday Dec 23, 2008

Good idea, but it'll never happen. Not in our lifetime.

bassist_25 · Post by **bassist_25** » Tuesday Dec 23, 2008

I'm rather skeptical about the tax revenue and regulation aspect, since growing marijuana is a lot less involved than brewing quality beer. A lot of people are going to opt to grow their own plants rather than drive down to Choice to buy a pack of joints. But then again, maybe I'm wrong. Most people probably buy their tomatoes at the supermarket.

Regardless, I'm glad to see that there has been some consideration to quit thinking backwards in this country. The idea of outlawing a plant is just asinine to me. Terrance McKenna is probably sitting with a bong on a cloud somewhere with a big smile on his face. The positive thing for the economy that this might bring is a renewed interest in hemp production, which is almost like a gift from God when considering all of the industrial uses its production and refinement brings. The textile industry fat cats have long been opposed to decriminalization and legalization because they realize what an inferior product they have compared to hemp. Also, it would be nice to see our criminal justice system be relieved, and hopefully we can get back to prosecuting real criminals. Unfortunately, the organized crime and gang scenes will probably still survive due to demand of hard drugs like cocaine, but at least marijuana won't be a commodity regulated to the black market.

slackin@dabass · Post by **slackin@dabass** » Tuesday Dec 23, 2008

10 to 14 billion dollars saved annually... i don't see the downside... regulate weed like alcohol. dosn't mean minors won't get their hands on it... but that's where the parents step in and be parents.

probably won't happen in my lifetime, though... what a bummer, dude...

RamRod 1 · Post by **RamRod 1** » Tuesday Dec 23, 2008

Nathen Edelman of the Durg Policy Alliance has had his name submitted for drug czar. I signed a petition for him last week. That would be a step in the right direction.

Banned · Post by **Banned** » Tuesday Dec 23, 2008

Hurricane wrote:Great! I can order the dashboard mount for my hookah now.

Hope you aren't talking on the cell phone at the same time, could be dangerous.

lonewolf · Post by **lonewolf** » Tuesday Dec 23, 2008

Sorry to burst everybody's bubble, but there are 40-some state laws that criminalize weed and PA has one of them. The feds can modify existing federal law, but they don't have the constitutional power to tell a state what to do with their criminal statutes.

Ya think Harrisburg will go along with it?

Gallowglass · Post by **Gallowglass** » Tuesday Dec 23, 2008

metalchurch wrote:...They need to regulate it and tax it though. It might help get us out of debt.

F.D.R did the same thing w/ alcohol. Look at the deplorable state of that now. Screw the feds, deregulate & no tax.

JackANSI wrote:...Just the savings on the enforcement side of the law would pay for at least 2 or 3 more poorly managed bail-outs...

Isn't that the truth...

bassist_25 wrote:I'm rather skeptical about the tax revenue and regulation aspect, since growing marijuana is a lot less involved than brewing quality beer. A lot of people are going to opt to grow their own plants rather than drive down to Choice to buy a pack of joints. But then again, maybe I'm wrong. Most people probably buy their tomatoes at the supermarket.

I think you're somewhat right about that...another thing to consider is that like growing tobacco there is no reason to think they will automatically make producing it legal.

bassist_25 wrote:... Also, it would be nice to see our criminal justice system be relieved, and hopefully we can get back to prosecuting real criminals. Unfortunately, the organized crime and gang scenes will probably still survive due to demand of hard drugs like cocaine, but at least marijuana won't be a commodity regulated to the black market.

That's exactly why all drugs should be legalized and deregulated.

lonewolf wrote:Sorry to burst everybody's bubble, but there are 40-some state laws that criminalize weed and PA has one of them. The feds can modify existing federal law, but they don't have the constitutional power to tell a state what to do with their criminal statutes.

Ya think Harrisburg will go along with it?

Bullseye.

Banned · Post by **Banned** » Tuesday Dec 23, 2008

I Think Your F**KING Nuts !!!!!!!!

Gallowglass · Post by **Gallowglass** » Tuesday Dec 23, 2008

deathdealer1000 wrote:I Think Your F**KING Nuts !!!!!!!!

What, ...you must be high or something.

Colton · Post by **Colton** » Tuesday Dec 23, 2008

Maybe obama is getting support in hope of recruiting a hippie army...

Guess that wouldnt do any good, they wouldnt fight, and could be driven away easily with slayer.

Baceman Spiff · Post by **Baceman Spiff** » Wednesday Dec 24, 2008

Wow that sure would be nice. But I'm thinkin its just a pipe dream. I used to think that if it was legalized and taxed, that would help the economy. (even if all of the states would go along with it) But they way I see this Govt waste money these days, it wouldn't make difference.

Hate to be negative on christmas eve...but I gotta be me.

f.sciarrillo · Post by **f.sciarrillo** » Wednesday Dec 24, 2008

Think of the possibilities. We could share a joint with our brothers, and instead of throwing fists we can hug and love each other while singing kumby ya and talk about the satisfaction of curing the munchies.

There are states that allow it for medical purposes, but I don't see it ever get legalized nationally. Although there is a plus side and a down side to it, just like with alcohol.

I can see the Tommy Chong commercials now ..

Post by **Ron** » Wednesday Dec 24, 2008

lonewolf wrote:Sorry to burst everybody's bubble, but there are 40-some state laws that criminalize weed and PA has one of them. The feds can modify existing federal law, but they don't have the constitutional power to tell a state what to do with their criminal statutes.

Ya think Harrisburg will go along with it?

If the decision was made by popular vote like the props in other states, it probably would pass.

JackANSI · Post by **JackANSI** » Wednesday Dec 24, 2008

bassist_25 wrote:I'm rather skeptical about the tax revenue and regulation aspect, since growing marijuana is a lot less involved than brewing quality beer. A lot of people are going to opt to grow their own plants rather than drive down to Choice to buy a pack of joints. But then again, maybe I'm wrong. Most people probably buy their tomatoes at the supermarket.

Do you really think after half of the people that do grow it and start smoking their first harvest, are going to be able to get up and start a second crop?

PS:
Obama just wants to destroy the last truly free market on earth.

RobTheDrummer · Post by **RobTheDrummer** » Wednesday Dec 24, 2008

Decriminalizing would get rid of the street dealers and get tax revenue.

songsmith · Post by **songsmith** » Wednesday Dec 24, 2008

JackANSI wrote:Do you really think after half of the people that do grow it and start smoking their first harvest, are going to be able to get up and start a second crop?

Yep. Acquiring pot is the one thing potsmokers can be motivated to do that requires any effort.

Otherwise, they go without, sober up, and realize they were unmotivated.------>JMS

Banned · Post by **Banned** » Wednesday Dec 24, 2008

There is a statistic somewhere that states that 1 out of every 3 Americans in jail is drug related. Seems to me that the only thing drug laws do is make criminals out of millions of American citizens.

Take away all the wasted money on drug interdiction efforts, local and state and federal policing, and also drug incarceration, you would be able to start balancing the budget.

What would happen if they stopped the drug laws? People would do drugs. How is that a different outcome than what is going on now, people do drugs now. The outcome would be BILLIONS in savings and thousands of lives not wasted with criminal records.

lonewolf · Post by **lonewolf** » Wednesday Dec 24, 2008

Ron wrote:
lonewolf wrote:Sorry to burst everybody's bubble, but there are 40-some state laws that criminalize weed and PA has one of them. The feds can modify existing federal law, but they don't have the constitutional power to tell a state what to do with their criminal statutes.

Ya think Harrisburg will go along with it?
If the decision was made by popular vote like the props in other states, it probably would pass.

Yeah, it probably would pass in Centre county and parts of Philly.

I seriously doubt about the rest of Pennsylbama.

bsaller · Post by **bsaller** » Wednesday Dec 24, 2008

Hurricane wrote:Great! I can order the dashboard mount for my hookah now.

Hey Bob! Where can I get one?