October 26, 2010
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The Most Important Vote
It is that time again. Californians will vote next week whether to legalize marijuana. Here is the link: Link
Legalize marijuana.
Yes or No?
It is that time again. Californians will vote next week whether to legalize marijuana. Here is the link: Link
Legalize marijuana.
Yes or No?
Comments (67)
Second?
@aznspartan94 - congrats! lol
Sure.
First?
I still think people who want to are going to do it whether or not it’s legal. Might as well save the time.
No.
for those who need it, it is…other wise All I can think of is…OH geezz JUST what we need the country to get even dumber…
Why not?
Might as well. I’ve seen no legitimate arguments that it’s more dangerous than alcohol, which is legal.
YES!
Maybe if they did there wouldn’t be so much death and mayhem across the border
Yes.
No.
In my experience, stoned people are much more pleasant to be around than drunk people. Go for it, California. Throw a wrench in the smuggler’s plans.
States that legalize marijuana will see a negative financial impact, especially in their major cities.
I’ve never tried marijuana, but I say yes.
@squeakysoul - in TX its not pot, it’s coke & The Gangs…making the borders bad.
@crystal_air - Haha you too
I am not sure about legalizing it on a federal level. However, California does not have the power to legalize pot. There is a federal law against it.
Yes!
@saintvi - Really? @obamawatch - Actually, they do. The state police won’t be busting people anymore, and it would be up to the federal government to regulate it. Which will cost a lottt of money to do effectively, and will not be their top priority.
No. It just makes government an even bigger organized crime syndicate than it already is.
Saving the economy = HEMP
Where you been? This post is so last month… Quit stealing other peoples posts…
We should stop the entire useless wasteful ridiculous failed war on drugs.
Starting with legalizing marijuana in California is a good experiment to try. The justifications for mairjuana’s illegality are amongst the most flimsy and pitiful I’ve seen on any issue.
And more importantly the basic core UNFAIRNESS of marijuana being illegal should be more than enough of a justification to see it become legal. When you have what? 4? 5? Presidents who are known to have smoken pot and tons of other people in power who have done the same, it’s just plain wrong for anyone in this country who is less connected or less powerful than them to face any kind of punishment for doing the exact same damn thing.
If we want to really reduce drug use, we should start by making all of it legal and regulated. That could create an initial spike in use as lots of people who otherwise wouldn’t have decide to “try” it. But most of those who are likely to be steady users are already steady users. The next step then is to start focusing on spending money on treatment and counseling which is the only thing proven to reduce drug use. Illegality seems to have little to no real effect.
Taxing it is another question. I am generally against taxes, especially for things that aren’t obviously net harmful, and I don’t believe taxing marijuana will save california’s economy. However, reduced expenditure on law enforcement and prison sentences will likely in the long run save the state of California and the country a lot of money.
But don’t have unrealistic expectations. Those savings will take a long time to realize. Likewise the effect on defunding gangs that get a large portion of their money from pot will be a long term process. It’s not like gangs will just be like “eh Pot’s legal now, let’s all go work at Walmart!!” It will hurt them, and likely hurt them a lot over the long run and it will force them to diversify but it won’t eliminate gang violence.
So yes, absolutely legalize it. It’s a more fair, and doing so has a good chance of having net positive effects on our society over the long run. But let’s not build everyone’s hopes too high. It’s not a miracle drug that cures all ills and it’s not the cure to all the country’s financial woes and the end to all gang violence.
Yes.
I see no reason why it should’ve been illegal in the first place.
Yes
Of course not.
It’s whatever to me.
meh. it’s such a trivial vote if you ask me, it’s as well as legal here in Québec, and we haven’t gone to ruin. I don’t think it changes much.
I honestly don’t care if they do or not.
What @nephyo said.
Yes.
Decriminalize. And tax the crap out of.
I say legalize it. Weed is safer than alcohol and not addictive like tobacco. It has plenty of health benefits and may even help the economy. I think that when used in moderation, the pros really outweigh the cons.
CA is doing it for deficit control reasons (lower cost of enforcement and new tax revenue) and the promise of reduced drug related violence. However, as long as it’s illegal at the federal level, it’s illegal in CA regardless of prop 19. I’m with Soros. Legalize it country-wide.
if you can tax it, you can legalize it. given california’s current budget deficit…
Yes.
Yes, so the stupid pot heads can shut up.
Nope.
Prohibition does not work, yes, make it legal and save the bankrupt state of California the expense of trying to criminalize a plant.
@nyfemme - True, but many pot-advocates are hoping California will have an effect on neighboring/liberal minded states in America, and eventually enough states will have it legalized that it will pressure the federal. In Oregon, they’re planning legislation if it passes in California.
I vote yes.
@smilesandsunshinebones - It will be interesting to see how it plays out at the federal level and w/other states.
no
@Made2sing4Jesus - for those who need it, it is…other wise All I can think of is…OH geezz JUST what we need the country to get even dumber…
This is as pointless as calling ciggerattes, chocolate, or alcohol dumbing.
You should realize, though, that much of the potential tax money would be allocated to education and substance abuse treatment.
@nephyo - <– I second.
Yes.
There are so many more important issues right now. It’s a state law – if California wants to legalize it, let them.
@LoBornlytesThoughtPalace -
No. It just makes government an even bigger organized crime syndicate than it already is.
Were you born mentally retarded? The drawing back of rules and regulations, enforcement and prosecution would accomplish exactly the opposite of what you charge.
@obamawatch - …California does not have the power to legalize pot. There is a federal law against it.
Just as it hadn’t the power to leglaize medicinal marijuana, right?
Yes.
But I live in California and didn’t register by the due date so I cannot vote on this issue. Even though it’s important to me.
it’s rediculous. whether they pass it or not, it would still be illegal. But in typical California fashion, they will simply say “screw you, we will do what we want” and let the rest of the country pay to enforce the law.
Same ol issues, same ol points of view. eh, it works for amsterdam. goia
Yes.
YES. marijuana doesn’t make people dumber. it puts them in a more relaxed state while high. once it wears off, it isn’t as though it 10 points off your IQ. and marijuana is so much better than alcohol. drinking alcohol is like sipping poison…and alcohol makes people more aggressive.
as long as the government can control the sources of marijuana, i really don’t see a problem with legalizing it. i actually think legalizing it is a great idea because you can tax it.
personally, i think people who say NO should try it before deciding.
@Made2sing4Jesus - As a Texas native, and former pot smoker…
Its also pot. I wont deny coke’s part in the drug war…just as I wont deny heroin’s. But… the drugs are all just a cover. They cover the human trafficking. And don’t think for one second that the humans they’re trafficking are adults.
At Topic: Empty up jail cells for real criminals who have done more than smoked/possessed a plant. Regulate it, and grow in in AMERICA. Use the female plants for marijuana, and the males for hemp (hemp oil is one of the few I’m not allergic to, its literally a life saver). Tax it for all I care. DUI it for the morons who don’t know not to smoke and drive. Let those who are responsible enjoy it just as we do alcohol (which by the way does kill brain cells, while marijuana only does if smoked as smoking anything kills brain cells due to lack of oxygen). I’d rather consume something that doesn’t have the same reaction in my brain as heroin and morphine (alcohol). Anything that helps with pain management, osteoporosis, GI tracts, and cardiovascular disease (though smoking wont help so eating/vaporizing is best), makes you feel good, comes from nature, and so much more is good by me.
No. I mean I live in California and I’m not trying to be a party pooper or anything but I would much rather prefer that marijuana not be so wide spread for only one reason, the smell. I like every other taxpayer, should have a right to walk down the street and not have to smell it either permeating from a person or from a home growing it across the street. Just like how smoking outdoors in SF is virtually banned, yes it’s cigarette smoke is much more toxic than breathing in the smell from marijuana but no I don’t want to smell it and then have it stick on me.
I’m all for big pharmaceutical companies isolating the active component of pot, multiplying the dosage of cannabinoids 1000X and then selling it over the counter and keeping the price relative. It’s not hard, they already do it, just now user don’t need a prescription. At the end of the day, everyone can be happy.
no.
i wouldn’t like to see my little brothers nor my future kids to do it.
Im not against it,it’s cool but I am more than sure they won’t,for everyone that is.
No. It serves a great purpose to keep marijuana illegal, and that is to have an illegal drug that is much less dangerous than others. If it were legalized, a new illegal drug would emerge for our children to use in order to “do wrong” and rebel – and they might not live through it. There will always be illegal drugs, necessarily so. Additionally, I hate the idea of putting it in the hands of the government, giving that government yet another way to manipulate and exploit us, to its profit. Not only financial profit, but by controlling us.
If one is stupid enough or unlucky enough to get caught possessing or smoking marijuana, he ought not to be smoking or possessing it.
Yes!
@squeakysoul - there will still be plenty of death and mayhem. Most of our meth comes from Mexico
@obamawatch -
10th Amendment Resolutions
In 2009-2010 thirty eight states have introduced resolutions to
reaffirm the principles of sovereignty under the Constitution and the
10th Amendment; Nine states have passed the resolutions. These
non-binding resolutions, often called “state sovereignty resolutions” do
not carry the force of law. Instead, they are intended to be a
statement to demand that the federal government halt its practices of
assuming powers and imposing mandates upon the states for purposes not
enumerated by the Constitution of the United States of America.
@Rob_of_the_Sky - here here rob
Nope.
No
Since I think it would be easier to control if it were legal, yes. Also, I feel like it might even benefit the economy.
But what the hell do I know, I’ve never even set foot in the states. Except once when I was five.