happythoughts 0 #76 December 21, 2009 Gambling is pretty much legal everywhere. There is always church bingo games. In Fla, we have gambling at dog tracks, horse tracks, slots, BJ, roulette. Prostitution seems to be ok in certain states. Odd that it is only illegal if you pay for it (immediately ). People consuming beer will continue to do more of all types of damage to society than pot smokers do. Of course, there will always be criminals, but they will have to find new stuff to do. My favorite thing in Mexico happened just a few years ago. Some Mexican Federal Police tried to carjack the son of the Mexican president. (The protection detail in the following car were not amused.) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stratostar 5 #77 December 21, 2009 QuoteIf we grew some marijuana for personal consumption, who would it affect negatively? The Mexican cartels & Canada's exporters and so called biker gangs as well as your local greenhouse grower who sells an ounce of 180.00 dollar shit for 400.00 and ounce, near as I can tell.you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
karenmeal 0 #78 December 21, 2009 QuoteAlso, I wonder what would happen if skydiving was outlawed? Its not always understood by the general public, its an addiction (or can be viewed that way) that costs plenty and can take you away from the "world" to get your "fix". Its a good thing it is understood by at least those who can understand it. The more I think on this weed legalization, the more I favor its "regulated acceptance" on a moral and legal level... not to mention the benefits of the hemp material. Good or bad, weed aint going nowhere (so to speak). I almost made that point on skydiving as well. I have lived in a tent in the past to afford more skydiving, I have left bills unpaid to afford more skydiving, I moved across the country and away from my family to afford more skydiving. My husband ended up with a $10,000 hospital bill from skydiving. Does anyone on here think that skydiving should be criminalized to protect us from ourselves? "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rynodigsmusic 0 #79 December 21, 2009 Yeah, that sounds like bolas to me! But your right, to address his initial post, I would say that the reason there is a "separation" of smokers and non-smokers, seemingly anyway, is because of the lack of understanding. The smokers, at the time understand what they're doing and enjoy the atmosphere and comradarie of other smokers (whether the others are smoking or not), and the non-smokers dont always understand, but some of them have been known to tear into a bottle pretty deep I think. I think its a little beyond paranoia caused by the "high". If weed was as socially accepted as alcohol, there would be little "separation" or judgement. As it is, mostly because an envioronmentally and socialogically induced ignorance, there is an appearance, of "smokers" and "non-smokers" not understanding one anothers habits. And understanding goes way beyond just tolerance. Still, this is an intriguing discussion. Even I take miss jane to the dance from time to time"We didn't start the fire" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rynodigsmusic 0 #80 December 21, 2009 Quote Does anyone on here think that skydiving should be criminalized to protect us from ourselves? "It aint me babe, no, no, no, no, it aint me babe!" Passions take an enjoyment in hard work, and hard work usually doesnt earn much money these days unfortunately... unless of course your (not you personally, but you know, one, a, they..) the exception!"We didn't start the fire" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy9o8 2 #81 December 21, 2009 QuoteQuoteWhat people don't think about, are the number of people that touch that marijuana before it is broke down to that ounce or less that you have in your pocket. Estimates put the amount of marijuana grown in country (the US) is only about 5% of the total marijuana in the country. So the marijuana is crossing the boarder is typically coming from Canada or Mexico. When it is coming from Mexico, its coming from the Cartels. When its coming from Canada, sometimes its still the Mexican Cartels, but then its sometimes other sources. The violence that is occurring in Mexico from the Cartels is staggering. That violence has spilled over into border states. Most people try to ignore these things. They also tend to ignore it, thinking that it is only a Mexico problem. Coming from Canada, you get another set of gang problems and violence. The "biker wars" that have been going on with the Bandidos and other 1%'er clubs have been for controlling territory and the drug trade. So for everyone that believes that marijuana is a harmless drug, please look outside of your immediate bubble. You've provided a great argument regarding how drug laws are more dangerous than the drugs they prohibit. All of the violence you cited is from the drug laws, not the drugs. Agreed. The "before", "during" and "after" of Prohibition are an excellent historical analogy. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freethefly 6 #82 December 21, 2009 QuoteWhy, do all pot smokers talk like 'Chong' ?Sly Chuck It makes you really intelligent!! LaughLaughLaugh I got straight "A's" back in high school in the 70's and I am a perfect 4.0 student here at Pitt State. I have smoked pot since 1972. I do very well. No problem. So much for the "This is your brain on pot" commercial. If people want to worry about what is really wrong, stop the worry about the little things and focus on the real problems. Meth, heroin, cocaine... Alcohol was an illegal drug at one time in this country... seems not too many want to harp on that fact, because it is legal now. That must mean it is alright. Most people used alcohol and tobacco before they ever used pot, therefore alcohol and tobacco are the gateway drug to pot! Pot may not be the healthiest substance to put in your body but, neither is the alcohol that many anti-marijuana people use... That said, don't bitch about what another does that does not affect you and others will not bitch about what you do that does not affect them. To each his/her own. Just be careful to not cross the line."...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skyrider 0 #83 December 21, 2009 WOW.......... I just go smoke one bowl, and look at all the post....I will never catch up.... who has me dogs collar? ........................wait...........I don;t have a dog! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freethefly 6 #84 December 21, 2009 QuoteSo for everyone that believes that marijuana is a harmless drug, please look outside of your immediate bubble. OH, how our recent history fades further from view... in just less than 100 years of America's history blood ran down the gutters of America's streets for a controlling interest in the illegal alcohol trade, only because of the legislation. The same became reality when the marijuana stamp tax act became law, making 1000's upon thousands criminals... just because some one (Anslinger) decided that smoking pot is immoral. Their thinking does not make it so. There is far more to concern ourselves about than someone smoking a joint. Now, do not get me wrong, Dave. I do respect you and respect what you do. My nephew is the K-9 officer on a multi-district drug task force. Most cops that I have talked to agree that the law is the main problem. They are forced to target pot smokers because it is an easy bust. It's all about numbers."...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skyrider 0 #85 December 21, 2009 Never mind,..... I found ,My dog, ....I guess I did have one! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy9o8 2 #86 December 21, 2009 QuoteI got straight "A's" back in high school in the 70's and I am a perfect 4.0 student here at Pitt State. I have smoked pot since 1972. I do very well. No problem. So much for the "This is your brain on pot" commercial. Reminds me of a good friend in college who was a pre-med student. Every night he'd get totally wasted, and then sit down and do his physics homework. His test grades in all his classes were consistently so high that he'd screw up the curve for everyone else. He went on to med school and a successful career. As an aside, I wouldn't advise some people to be so open about admitting illegal drug use while online. A lot of prospective employers, etc. do quite a bit of online investigations of applicants' names. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skyrider 0 #87 December 21, 2009 Quote Quote I got straight "A's" back in high school in the 70's and I am a perfect 4.0 student here at Pitt State. I have smoked pot since 1972. I do very well. No problem. So much for the "This is your brain on pot" commercial. Reminds me of a good friend in college who was a pre-med student. Every night he'd get totally wasted, and then sit down and do his physics homework. His test grades in all his classes were consistently so high that he'd screw up the curve for everyone else. He went on to med school and a successful career. As an aside, I wouldn't advise some people to be so open about admitting illegal drug use while online. A lot of prospective employers, etc. do quite a bit of online investigations of applicants' names. Fuck that, If they are on this forum, they have no hope for a job anyway....fuckin morons jump out of airplanes! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stratostar 5 #88 December 21, 2009 Quote I wouldn't advise some people to be so open about This will go down on your permanent record! *** After the ordeal, we went back to the jail. Obie said he was going to put us in the cell. Said, "Kid, I'm going to put you in the cell, I want your wallet and your belt." And I said, "Obie, I can understand you wanting my wallet so I don't have any money to spend in the cell, but what do you want my belt for?" And he said, "Kid, we don't want any hangings." I said, "Obie, did you think I was going to hang myself for "littering?"smoking a joint? Obie said he was making sure, and friends Obie was, cause he took out the toilet seat so I couldn't hit myself over the head and drown, and he took out the toilet paper so I couldn't bend the bars roll out the - roll the toilet paper out the window, slide down the roll and have an escape. Obie was making sure, and it was about four or five hours later that Alice (remember Alice? It's a song about Alice), Alice came by and with a few nasty words to Obie on the side, bailed us out of jail, and we went back to the church, had a another thanksgiving dinner round of Bong hit's that couldn't be beat, and didn't get up until the next morning, when we all had to go to court.you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freethefly 6 #89 December 21, 2009 QuoteFuck that, If they are on this forum, they have no hope for a job anyway....fuckin morons jump out of airplanes! And besides, when I get my bachelors degree, I plan on building, maybe five bikes a years to take to Daytona and Sturgis ( Yeah, I know, said I'll never go back after spending a night in the jail there (1992) but, hey, there are many morons that will pay $50,000 for a "custom" bike that that cost no more than $5000 to build). So... how you doing Gypsy? Oh, I asked my Norton if she remembered you and she shudder and shook and then commenced to cowering in the corner of the garage. She went on to wimpering about untold atrocities of sexual deviation and degradation. After all of these years... one would think that it would be a memory faded firmly in the past... The least you could had done was knock her up... just think how much cash I could had made selling her offspring... little baby Norckles (cross bred Nortons and Knuckles). Hey, if your Knuck is up to it, my Norton is still hot to trot!"...And once you're gone, you can't come back When you're out of the blue and into the black." Neil Young Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
justinb138 0 #90 December 21, 2009 QuoteWhat people don't think about, are the number of people that touch that marijuana before it is broke down to that ounce or less that you have in your pocket. Estimates put the amount of marijuana grown in country (the US) is only about 5% of the total marijuana in the country. So the marijuana is crossing the boarder is typically coming from Canada or Mexico. When it is coming from Mexico, its coming from the Cartels. When its coming from Canada, sometimes its still the Mexican Cartels, but then its sometimes other sources. The violence that is occurring in Mexico from the Cartels is staggering. That violence has spilled over into border states. Most people try to ignore these things. They also tend to ignore it, thinking that it is only a Mexico problem. Coming from Canada, you get another set of gang problems and violence. The "biker wars" that have been going on with the Bandidos and other 1%'er clubs have been for controlling territory and the drug trade. So for everyone that believes that marijuana is a harmless drug, please look outside of your immediate bubble. Want to get rid of the drug cartels? Get rid of their money. How do you do that? Easily - legalize domestic growing and sales, and let the market work. 1. Costs would plummet as supply increases and suppliers compete for business - reducing the income of the drug cartels. 2. Demand for foreign-grown product decreases due the increased domestic supply, driving their business, and therefore income down even further. At this point, the cartels would have to compete with (legal) domestic suppliers, leaving them at a great disadvantage, as importation carries with it increased costs, and increased risk, effectively pricing them out of the market. The only downside I can see to it is that it's not going to win any elections. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
virgigirlie 0 #91 December 21, 2009 QuoteThe other funny part of all this, is let look at how many billions of dollars we've spent after Nancy & Ronnie started "just say no", did it stop shit from coming in this country? NO! And now we have a much bigger problem to worry about coming across the border then weed, it's called towel heads who want to kill as many of us at they can, and you want me to believe that this cycle of dumping tons of money to fight weed/drugs is working, hell you law enforcement guys have not and can not stop the flow of drugs and people coming across the border and I'm to think the really bad towel head guys are not coming in the same way to blow us up..... Yea right! I don't know you and I hope there's some sarcasm I'm missing, but I have to say that I was with you right up until you started sounding like an ignorant jackass who is opposed to the stereotyping of marijuana users as lazy pot heads but seems to be okay with stereotyping an entire region, derogatory slang and all. Please correct me and accept my apology if I'm mistaken."If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning." ~Catherine Aird Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #92 December 21, 2009 I am a student of history, that's what I studied in college, its a passion of mine, so I promise you that its not lost on me. The downside is that I don't think that simply legalizing marijuana and taxing it will instantly solve our problems. Anyone can easily go get a prescription for Z-bars or Hydrocodone or Viagra from a doctor. However, there is still a HUGE illegal trade coming up from Mexico of prescription meds. The amount of money involved would show that simply letting it be won't end the violence and it won't end the cartel's grip on the border states (and Mexico).--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stratostar 5 #93 December 21, 2009 Well sorry there is no sarcasm face icon. Those who use terms like "dope heads" I thought would better understand the term "towel heads" better then an educated term of "radical islamic fundamentalist", but hey could have been worse I could have sounded like a racist redneck retard and said "sand niggers".(are you reading the sarcasm?) you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
normiss 801 #94 December 21, 2009 The illegal meds are more directly tied to the over-priced product available in this country. If we could grow our own Viagra, that illegal trade would also vanish. I seriously think legalizing weed would indeed change the evironment tremendously. It would seriously impact your business to be sure. Imagine, no more kids in prison for a bag of weed serving more time than violent criminals. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #95 December 21, 2009 Quote no more kids in prison for a bag of weed serving more time than violent criminals. You know, I see that statement all the time and every single "good kid with a little bag of weed" that I've ever seen gets time served and a fine. Time served is typically an overnight in county while bond is being set and met. The fine is many times paid with community service hours being completed. The others that I've seen that get real prison time are ones that have a previous CCH of what you would consider "real" crimes or were committing those "real" crimes while caught with the marijuana. Not the "good kids" that everyone seems to reference. Then again, what would I know about criminal histories and "real" crime?As for impacting my business, it won't change all that much. There are still bangers that need a new cot to sleep on, burglars, etc. HS481.121 covers Marijuana. That's less than one page in a book I use that has over 1000 pages. So yup, drastic change for me.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #96 December 21, 2009 Quote Never mind,..... I found ,My dog, ....I guess I did have one! He was tied up outside of Alice's Restaurant! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
happythoughts 0 #97 December 21, 2009 I know a local jumper whose job is busting down doors. He deals with career criminals. I am amazed at how busy he is. Personally, I believe that pot should be on a legal par with alcohol. Same age restrictions and fines for stupidity. Kids will continue to be caught underage with beer and pot. The legal impact should be the same. Laws should protect you from yourself or others. If both were legal, pot would be as readily available as alcohol and similar in cost. Once alcohol was legalized, the criminal empire vanished. The parallels are obvious. Criminals will move on to the most damaging drugs. I see far more societal problems with alcohol. Imagine a bar where one side serves each. Bar fights? Driving recklessly home at 90mph? Domestic violence? I would think that society would welcome a move from alcohol to pot as the method of self-medication. In your day-to-day work, I'm sure you would rather deal with 50 really stoned people than 5 really drunk ones. Think of all the situations that you could resolve with a bag of Cheetos instead mace and an armlock. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
muff528 3 #98 December 21, 2009 Quote Quote Never mind,..... I found ,My dog, ....I guess I did have one! He was tied up outside of Alice's Restaurant! Nope!.......he was in the courtroom! ~ ".....Obie looked at the seeing eye dog, and then at the twenty seven eight-by-ten color glossy pictures with the circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one, and looked at the seeing eye dog. And then at twenty seven eight-by-ten color glossy pictures with the circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one and began to cry, 'cause Obie came to the realization that it was a typical case of American blind justice, and there wasn't nothing he could do about it, and the judge wasn't going to look at the twenty seven eight-by-ten color glossy pictures with the circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one explaining what each one was to be used as evidence against us." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jcd11235 0 #99 December 21, 2009 QuoteAnyone can easily go get a prescription for Z-bars or Hydrocodone or Viagra from a doctor. However, there is still a HUGE illegal trade coming up from Mexico of prescription meds. Comparing the potential market climate of legalized marijuana with the current market climate of prescription drugs (which are controlled substances, i.e., illegal, just like pot is now) is in no way relevant in a discussion about what might happen if cannabis was legal. A much more realistic comparison is alcohol during and after prohibition. Ending prohibition had a significant effect w/r/t reducing crime and violence related to alcohol distribution.Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelpdiver 2 #100 December 21, 2009 QuoteI am a student of history, that's what I studied in college, its a passion of mine, so I promise you that its not lost on me. The downside is that I don't think that simply legalizing marijuana and taxing it will instantly solve our problems. How'd you miss Prohibition in this study? Quote Anyone can easily go get a prescription for Z-bars or Hydrocodone or Viagra from a doctor. However, there is still a HUGE illegal trade coming up from Mexico of prescription meds. Don't know what you mean by Z-bars. Hydrocodone has an illegal trade because people get addicted to it and need amounts greater than their doctor will provide. Viagra is pricey - the illegal trade there is over price, not quantity as it is for vicodin and the like. Pot is not addictive - at least not in any degree that presents the same issues as with painkillers. And it's not costly to make if it's no longer a felony to do so. Mexican drug cartels cannot change basic economics. Unless the gov tax is so high that they can still make a living killing each other to supply potheads while selling at a lower price point, they will have to move on to other illicit trade or business. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites