Legalized Marijuana

[The Lurker Below]

there's a business opportunity in this. are any of you chemist enough to remove the odor from weed? or make it's smell mirror tobacco?

[Idaho]

And remove one of its best features? That's like removing the aroma of wine.

[Fisherking]

So what is the latest on this? Colorado’s law was to take effect as soon as the election result was certified.

Anyone know any thing about long lines at Home Depot in Denver, with a run on grow lights and potting soil?

Or is every third guy still on his way back from Oregon with a sack of seeds?

[Idaho]

You jest, but it will be interesting to review the impact on consumption. If consumption doesn't rise significantly in the medium-long term (as suggested by all other studies) then what is the point of the prohibitionist approach?

[Fisherking]

If its legal, who needs grow lights and potting soil? Farm that shiznit! Pot plants can grow as big and thick as trees if you let em.

Read the law.

Each individual is allowed 6 plants. Only three mature plants and they can not be grown where they could be seen. If a home owner can’t grow them on the lawn where do you think he is going to grow them.

The farming operation is different.

[Populus Romanus]

awaiting The Stoners' tThread.

[Kocmoc]

Its pretty stupid to legalize an easy growable "drug".
In Europe you can see the price going downwards or at least dont get up on a moderate scale.

Also, if you consider that tons of heavy drugs a completely legal in most countries, I fail to understand the hype of marihuana anyway.
The only country which almost closed the door is USA, you poor guys cant even enjoy some San Pedro or something similar :D

[Major Robert Dump]

I come from a long line of professional bakers

Based on how the fed responds to this, opening a WEED BAKERY may be the only thing to stop me from moving to the Philippines

[Fragony]

Heh, me and a friend made one we put half an ounce in it, my mom wasn't very pleased the whole house smelled for days

[HopAlongBunny]

A bakery is an excellent idea and the health benefits of ingestion vis. inhaling might make it very popular :)

The problems would be bending the interpretation of personal use and keeping enough pot on hand to do your morning "run" w/o breaking the allowable.

[Idaho]

The Daily Mail (national paper of curtain twitchers and demented reactionaries) is going ballistic about this. Apparently the states that have legalised are, as we speak, turning into dens of idle depravity. It's hilarious.

[spankythehippo]

Gay marriage and marijuana? I guess the Bible had it right, for once.

"If a man lies with another man, he shall be stoned."


By the way, I love marijuana. I don't smoke it as much as I should. I know, I'm a terrible person.

[Idaho]

Apparently a young woman died when run down by a stoned driver. This sad story was used by the Mail as a reason why continuing prohibition was essential. Of course the fact that this happened under prohibition and is dwarfed by the one accident per minute stat regarding drunk driving was not examined. But that's the Mail for you.

[Kralizec]

Heh, me and a friend made one we put half an ounce in it, my mom wasn't very pleased the whole house smelled for days

I once tried to make pancakes this way, but it didn't turn out as as expected. Something about using oil instead of butter as I heard later.

[rory_20_uk]

A bakery is an excellent idea and the health benefits of ingestion vis. inhaling might make it very popular :)

The problems would be bending the interpretation of personal use and keeping enough pot on hand to do your morning "run" w/o breaking the allowable.

I think the solution is a supplier which is heavily regulated. There is already a sort of similar process that takes place with supply of controlled drugs such as heroin, opium and the other opiates.

As supply becomes easy, the transport would not be worth raiding as you can purchase the stuff so cheaply you might as well rob a Tescos delivery van of groceries.

[Fragony]

Apparently a young woman died when run down by a stoned driver. This sad story was used by the Mail as a reason why continuing prohibition was essential. Of course the fact that this happened under prohibition and is dwarfed by the one accident per minute stat regarding drunk driving was not examined. But that's the Mail for you.

More people drink, but driving stoned is just as bad a thing to do.

Edit, this is not meant as an argument

[Idaho]

There are a wealth (pun intended) of industries related to and dependent on prohibition. These people will fight tooth and claw to maintain the status quo. Keep an eye out for stories from the prison rehabilitation industry. A lot of people with a lot to lose.

[Idaho]

More people drink, but driving stoned is just as bad a thing to do.

Edit, this is not meant as an argument

Driving impaired in any way is irresponsible and should be prevented. The actual research about cannabis and driving impairment is mixed. Decent research still needs to be done.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

There are a wealth (pun intended) of industries related to and dependent on prohibition. These people will fight tooth and claw to maintain the status quo. Keep an eye out for stories from the prison rehabilitation industry. A lot of people with a lot to lose.

Quite possibly true. If we were to return all of the non-violent drug offenders to the population, we might actually have enough prison space.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

General question:

Why does any hint/step toward the legalization of marijauna generate such joy on forums such as this?


I myself have never partaken, but favor legalization on grounds of practicality and individual rights -- no research indicates that the stuff is any more deleterious to one's health than is tobacco or alcohol and driving while impaired should be stamped out regardless of the source of the impairment -- yet so many who post on this thread and similar one's seem so avid about it.

In practical terms, legalization won't make it all that easier for any who do partake to acquire the stuff. My 17-year-old assures me that he could get me connected and supplied in under an hour and with fewer than a half dozen phone calls even though he doesn't and his friends don't use the stuff either. Apparently, getting supplied when one is in high school is not a matter of difficulty.

So why?

[spankythehippo]

General question:

Why does any hint/step toward the legalization of marijauna generate such joy on forums such as this?


I myself have never partaken, but favor legalization on grounds of practicality and individual rights -- no research indicates that the stuff is any more deleterious to one's health than is tobacco or alcohol and driving while impaired should be stamped out regardless of the source of the impairment -- yet so many who post on this thread and similar one's seem so avid about it.

In practical terms, legalization won't make it all that easier for any who do partake to acquire the stuff. My 17-year-old assures me that he could get me connected and supplied in under an hour and with fewer than a half dozen phone calls even though he doesn't and his friends don't use the stuff either. Apparently, getting supplied when one is in high school is not a matter of difficulty.

So why?

Can your son hook me up? I lost contact with my dealer.

[rory_20_uk]

General question:

Why does any hint/step toward the legalization of marijauna generate such joy on forums such as this?


I myself have never partaken, but favor legalization on grounds of practicality and individual rights -- no research indicates that the stuff is any more deleterious to one's health than is tobacco or alcohol and driving while impaired should be stamped out regardless of the source of the impairment -- yet so many who post on this thread and similar one's seem so avid about it.

In practical terms, legalization won't make it all that easier for any who do partake to acquire the stuff. My 17-year-old assures me that he could get me connected and supplied in under an hour and with fewer than a half dozen phone calls even though he doesn't and his friends don't use the stuff either. Apparently, getting supplied when one is in high school is not a matter of difficulty.

So why?

I'm not a 17 year old. I have a job. I also have a Medical Lisence. Although I can get smashed and pitch up with a hangover and that is (to a point) A-OK I can not engage in illegal usage.

I am not a pot-head, but I might like the rare use of small amounts. Hence I am happy that some day I might be able to do so.

Plus, the fact it is illegal flies in the face of all evidence (that the scientific committee in the UK got booted for using evidence is a case in point) and hence altering this is a step towards reason.

[Idaho]

Hello everyone. My name is Idaho and I am a pot head. I have a good job in a multi national company. I am to all outward appearances a normal person. Perhaps an outside observer would say I was a bit of a fitness/health food freak and that I didn't go out drinking as much as most in my demographic.

However I love weed. It's a passion for me. I don't grow but I would love to. I love trying new strains just like a wine buff loves to taste wine. I don't partake during the week or if I have important stuff to do at the weekend. I am no more dangerous to myself or others than any other normal person.

So what is the problem? The problem is that I can't be honest about my life. I have to sneak about. I have to worry about what would happen if the company found out. This is in a work environment where drinking to excess is considered healthy and natural.

I would love to go out on the weekend to a cannabis club/cafe. I don't mind going to the pub but after 2 pints I've had enough and want a smoke. Do that in a pub and things can get serious. Most pubs have a "pubs against drugs" sign up - which is laughable.

There are millions of us. Normal people who want to engage normally with society.

[Fragony]

You are not the problem Idaho, weed itself isn't the problem. The problem is the crime that is related to it, which isn't going to disapear but will probably get more cynical. With many shades of grey things can still always get really dark, better to just keep it illegal and turn a blind eye, do you want any recognision because you smoke pot and are succesfull anyway.

[Idaho]

There isn't much crime related to the production and supply of alcohol. Quite a lot from those who have consumed it though.

Make cannabis legal and it will effectively dissappear as a crime and public order issue.

[rory_20_uk]

You are not the problem Idaho, weed itself isn't the problem. The problem is the crime that is related to it, which isn't going to disapear but will probably get more cynical. With many shades of grey things can still always get really dark, better to just keep it illegal and turn a blind eye, do you want any recognision because you smoke pot and are succesfull anyway.

There is no crime with oilseed rape crops, which would be almost the same cost to produce (the only difference being the potential cost of tax). Where would the crime be? True, there could be some with legal crops in the UK going elsewhere - but that is again dealt with by a grown up, evidence based approach across the board - you take away the margins and as if by magic crime stops as it is not profitable. Criminals are in the main business people. They want money.

Are we then left with the risable tale of persons after taking hash cakes for two weeks suddenly get the urge to mainline heroin as if one is taking soft drugs that are legal one will want to take harder illegal drugs (and only recently legalised ones, not any existing legal ones)?

Public disorder is still a criminal matter. Selling things without a license is still a criminal matter. We just have rather pretty fields of hemp and a new source of revenue for the state.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Hello everyone. My name is Idaho and I am a pot head. I have a good job in a multi national company. I am to all outward appearances a normal person. Perhaps an outside observer would say I was a bit of a fitness/health food freak and that I didn't go out drinking as much as most in my demographic.

However I love weed. It's a passion for me. I don't grow but I would love to. I love trying new strains just like a wine buff loves to taste wine. I don't partake during the week or if I have important stuff to do at the weekend. I am no more dangerous to myself or others than any other normal person.

So what is the problem? The problem is that I can't be honest about my life. I have to sneak about. I have to worry about what would happen if the company found out. This is in a work environment where drinking to excess is considered healthy and natural.

I would love to go out on the weekend to a cannabis club/cafe. I don't mind going to the pub but after 2 pints I've had enough and want a smoke. Do that in a pub and things can get serious. Most pubs have a "pubs against drugs" sign up - which is laughable.

There are millions of us. Normal people who want to engage normally with society.

Okay, that is a direct and clear answer to my question. While I had no great grief with Gelcube's five points, I had pretty much acknowledged them as "givens" without the need of restatement. Your response goes to the heart of my question. Thanks.

[TinCow]

There are millions of us. Normal people who want to engage normally with society.

QFT. I have not smoked for four years, but that's simply because it's a pain in the butt for me to get these days and it's simply not worth the effort. I smoked regularly for over 10 years, during which time I managed to write an honors thesis (done mostly while stoned), graduate from college, graduate from law school, pass the bar, get married, and find a successful career. I drink alcohol almost daily and am considered 'posh' by many parts of society because I spend a great deal of money on that alcohol (wine). Yet I am threatened with jail if I take a single toke on a joint. Why am I applauded by many people for consuming alcohol and punished for consuming marijuana?

I have many friends who also do, or used to smoke marijuana. Nearly all of them are employed (those that aren't have nothing to do with marijuana), many of them are married, some of them have children. Amongst them are multiple surgeons, lawyers, judges, accountants, bankers, engineers, professors, filmmakers, video game developers, IT professionals, teachers, and more.

[Fragony]

There is no crime with oilseed rape crops, which would be almost the same cost to produce (the only difference being the potential cost of tax). Where would the crime be? True, there could be some with legal crops in the UK going elsewhere - but that is again dealt with by a grown up, evidence based approach across the board - you take away the margins and as if by magic crime stops as it is not profitable. Criminals are in the main business people. They want money.

Are we then left with the risable tale of persons after taking hash cakes for two weeks suddenly get the urge to mainline heroin as if one is taking soft drugs that are legal one will want to take harder illegal drugs (and only recently legalised ones, not any existing legal ones)?

Public disorder is still a criminal matter. Selling things without a license is still a criminal matter. We just have rather pretty fields of hemp and a new source of revenue for the state.

In the UK it would work fine, but not in the US. As was posted before just one state would mean a net loss of 1.2 billion to the black market. They are not just going to accept that without a fight.

[Montmorency]

They are not just going to accept that without a fight.

The black market (i.e. the cartels) has other sources of revenue. There's a limit to what they'll risk in a reaction.