Lawmakers to introduce bill to legalize marijuana

**Pete** · 06-23-2011, 04:15

Lawmakers to introduce bill to legalize marijuana

I would say 'Bout Time!

Lets see how the Lefty Lib Left and Personal Responsibility Right line up on this one.

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/lawmakers-i...225335489.html

"A group of US representatives plan to introduce legislation that will legalize marijuana and allow states to legislate its use, pro-marijuana groups said Wednesday........................"

Treat marijuana just like cigarettes. You want to smoke dope then make sure you don't work for a company that drug tests it's employees.

JJ_BPK · 06-23-2011, 04:33

Quote:

The bill, which is expected to be introduced on Thursday by Republican Representative Ron Paul and Democratic Representative Barney Frank, would be the first ever legislation designed to end the federal ban on marijuana.

It will be interesting to see the roll-out on this. If I read it correctly, after the federal "laws" are altered, then each state MAY want to change.

This could take 10 years or more..

Hand · 06-23-2011, 06:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by JJ_BPK

It will be interesting to see the roll-out on this. If I read it correctly, after the federal "laws" are altered, then each state MAY want to change.

This could take 10 years or more..

If I correctly understand, there are already a few states who have done the reverse of this. Im pretty sure California is one of them.

PedOncoDoc · 06-23-2011, 07:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hand

If I correctly understand, there are already a few states who have done the reverse of this. Im pretty sure California is one of them.

Michigan recently changed their marijuana laws as well - Ann Arbor is particularly notorious for lax marijuana rules and has hosted the annual "Hash Bash" for almost 40 years.

A good friend who is a local LEO has stated that they are seeing an increase in the use of hard drugs by teens who seem to get just as much of a thrill out of knowingly breaking the law as they do from exploring recreational drug use.

JJ_BPK · 06-23-2011, 07:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by PedOncoDoc

A good friend who is a local LEO has stated that they are seeing an increase in the use of hard drugs by teens who seem to get just as much of a thrill out of knowingly breaking the law as they do from exploring recreational drug use.

I think this is a key element in the lure of drugs.

If you make them all legal,, someone will start snorting Portland Cement...

sinjefe · 06-23-2011, 07:18

You know, having been in the CN field for a time, I would say that if anyone thinks that there will be a significant reduction in trafficking or any other drug related crime, they are kidding themselves. However, I actually agree. They should legalize it. As a libertarian, I think the government needs to get out of our lives. Negative actions should be criminalized and the act of purchasing a narcotic isn't automatically a negative act. Theft is. We would also need to require, as a prerequisite for receiving ANY type of public assistance, mandatory drug testing. Not a civil liberties issue as receiving public assistance is a privilege and not a right. One can still choose not to accept it and do all the drugs they want.

Geenie · 06-23-2011, 07:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by sinjefe

You know, having been in the CN field for a time, I would say that if anyone thinks that there will be a significant reduction in trafficking or any other drug related crime, they are kidding themselves.

Why would there still be a "need" for trafficking if the drug is legal and anyone can buy it at 7-11 or grow it themselves?

uplink5 · 06-23-2011, 07:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by PedOncoDoc

A good friend who is a local LEO has stated that they are seeing an increase in the use of hard drugs by teens who seem to get just as much of a thrill out of knowingly breaking the law as they do from exploring recreational drug use.

I'm not sure whether pot is such a gateway drug or, as in this case whether association with like-minded people leads to further destructive behavior. I suspect more the latter. Behavior’s, both good or bad loves company regardless of the actions or the crime.

I would disagree with legalization regardless. ..jd

dollarbill · 06-23-2011, 07:51

I agree uplink5. Thus the saying, birds of a feather.

sinjefe · 06-23-2011, 08:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geenie

Why would there still be a "need" for trafficking if the drug is legal and anyone can buy it at 7-11 or grow it themselves?

Organized crime takes advantage of any weaknesses in the legal system. When a particular drug is legalized, as other nations who have tinkered with this have discovered, organized crime shifts from illicit trafficiking into protection, taxation, forgery (licenses), blackmail and extortion (law makers, police, judges, etc) in order to manipulate the judicial system in their favor.

In other words, legalization (as well as any other government effort of any kind) takes away one opportunity but creates another. with different, but often equally, damaging second and third order effects. It is the core reason for having less government intrusion while punishing only core misbehavior (theft, murder, rape, cheating, negligence, etc)

IMHO

R3V3LATIONS · 06-23-2011, 08:45

I am against the passage of this new law. What would the REAL reason be for legalizing marjiuana? becuase we are tired of filling up jails with its users, seeking to eliminate trans-national drug traffic, seeking to undercut criminal enterprises out of one drug market? To me, the call to legalization of marijuana seems like the adoption of a defeatist attitude.

Case example, Red light district in amsterdam, prostitution is legalized, but the criminal elements of organized crime have a foothold in the area and now have one less thing for law enforcement to run them out with.

Also, although certain states allow for the usage of medicinal marijuana, it is stll illegal to use federally. And if caught transporting or misusing "medicinal" marijuana...it becomes a federal offense in which the DEA then becomes involved. I arrested someone for it about 4 months ago.

sinjefe · 06-23-2011, 08:51

Look at my posts. If the intent is to "solve a problem", only new ones will be created. However, what problem has our government ever solved by tinkering with it? I am for it from a libertarian perspective. I think the government needs to leave people to their own devices. I have no illusions that crime will drop or some social issue resolved.

Richard · 06-23-2011, 09:10

allen87 · 06-23-2011, 09:18

I used to be all for its leglaization. It is far less harmful than alcohol and from what I gather its very similar to tobacco. The thing that changed my mind was a tobacco statistic. Don't quote my numbers but cigarette related illnesses cost the country something in the range of 50 billion annually. Even though there would be gains in tax revenue it would be a huuge drain because of medical costs.
Plus I think most people need to be protected from themselves. Tobacco kills millions of people but others still don't care enough to not do it. There's no sense in providing another opportunity

Texas_Shooter · 06-23-2011, 09:25

Marijuana will not be legalized. Period. End of discussion.