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Post by pete1 on Feb 24, 2009 7:04:29 GMT -4
Calif. politician suggests the legalization of Pot to ease the financial problems. Estimates that 14 billion is going up in smoke.
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Post by deputy on Feb 24, 2009 7:26:21 GMT -4
;D
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Post by einebierbitte on Feb 24, 2009 9:06:03 GMT -4
theres your economic stimulas package...
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Post by shadow1 on Feb 24, 2009 9:43:44 GMT -4
Why not Nationally?
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Post by einebierbitte on Feb 24, 2009 10:44:15 GMT -4
Got my vote!! LOL!!! hehehhe!!!
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Post by funnel101 on Feb 24, 2009 13:18:46 GMT -4
YES. That's an economic stimulus plan I can support without reservation.
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Post by emsguru on Feb 24, 2009 17:50:51 GMT -4
If its legal people will buy it and taxes can be made. in the same thought if the police no longer need to spend thousands of dollars prosecuting 16 year olds with dime bags the money can be saved that way too. Sell it in small quantities and prosecute those with huge stock piles.
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Post by RobMoore on Feb 24, 2009 23:55:59 GMT -4
Define "huge stock piles". If it should become legal, you won't want the government deciding what quantity is legal, and what quantity is "stockpiling". Precedences like that tend to spread to other areas.
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Post by pete1 on Feb 25, 2009 5:44:51 GMT -4
robmoore.............If it were legal there would be no need to stockpile. If you did, so what, it's legal.
emsguru..........85% of all the drug bust in the country are for pot smokers. The cops need to go after violent criminals. The next pot smoker that holds up the bank with a gun will be the first.
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Post by emsguru on Feb 25, 2009 7:28:15 GMT -4
robmoore.............If it were legal there would be no need to stockpile. If you did, so what, it's legal. emsguru..........85% of all the drug bust in the country are for pot smokers. The cops need to go after violent criminals. The next pot smoker that holds up the bank with a gun will be the first. 100% agree with you. If the money earned and saved from taxes and not prosecuting pot smokers was put back into law enforcement they could double the budgets of police forces. For instance instead of 3/4 deputies in the county at a time maybe 7 or 8. But this is all a pipe dream. This country will never go for it. There was a documentary that was on demand (for those who have Abb) on Showtime that talked about the war on drugs. It also brought up the notion of the tons of money saved if the criminalization of drugs was ceased. It might still be on there for those who have abb.
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Post by funnel101 on Feb 25, 2009 12:01:32 GMT -4
But this is all a pipe dream. This country will never go for it. I think it's a good sign that everyone here so far agrees with this. The next step would be for the people who agree to contact Congress about it.
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Post by constructr on Feb 25, 2009 15:20:50 GMT -4
It has been studied, to death, that legalizing marijuana would not only substantially increase revenue to not just the federal government, but the state level as well. In addition to that, it would have a MAJOR impacted (decrease) organized crime and drug related crimes as well. PLUS, think of all the jobs it would create nationally with all the "Coffee Houses" . Sad thing is, Congress is too stupid to pass it!! I mean really, did you see the walking dead lastnight? Some, sorry, MOST of them just need to retire!
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Post by jc11 on Feb 25, 2009 15:40:18 GMT -4
This sounds like an outstanding solution to some of our current financial problems. Reduced police and court system costs, increased tax revenue, incresed employment in the "coffee house" industry and a happy, sedated population.
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Post by lynn on Feb 25, 2009 18:13:10 GMT -4
robmoore.............If it were legal there would be no need to stockpile. If you did, so what, it's legal. emsguru..........85% of all the drug bust in the country are for pot smokers. The cops need to go after violent criminals. The next pot smoker that holds up the bank with a gun will be the first. 100% agree with you. If the money earned and saved from taxes and not prosecuting pot smokers was put back into law enforcement they could double the budgets of police forces. For instance instead of 3/4 deputies in the county at a time maybe 7 or 8. But this is all a pipe dream. This country will never go for it. There was a documentary that was on demand (for those who have Abb) on Showtime that talked about the war on drugs. It also brought up the notion of the tons of money saved if the criminalization of drugs was ceased. It might still be on there for those who have abb. I agree with you. I know I am a bit reserved , but I think from all sides this could be a beneficial move if done correctly. However, if this is ever done, the message needs to be made to the children that just because it is legal, it is nothing which is promoted or encouraged. I don't think the government should be involved in the manufacturing or distributions of the marijuana, that would be just one more messy government red tape thing. I think that anyone who wishes to smoke marijuana should be permitted to grow their own small plant. On another note, (I know I will surprise you all with this) I also think that prostitution should be legalized. Once again, taxes could be made on income; the police could spend more time and money on more urgent matters; it could be regulated and keep the women safe from potential abuse; diseases could be more discovered easier and faster; and most importantly the demand for child slaves would go down (I know child slavery is more prevalent in other countries; however if there is another alternative for these type of men - the demand for the children would go down). Also, with legalized prostitution, it would be easier to get more of the kid prostitutes off of the streets. I know some consider marijuana and prostitution "gateways" to further/more serious crimes. I am undecided on this, but I think that if it is a gateway to more serious crimes... some of the larger crimes will not exist if the smaller things would become legal. I think of it this way, if it is a gateway crime than it is like a snowball affect. If you get rid of the core of the snowball, the snowball affect will not happen... the problem won't grow and the problem may not even be a problem anymore. Has anyone been keeping up with what is going on in Mexico? The situation has become so dangerous that US citizens are being strongly warned not to travel there now. The Mexican situation affects us (all Americans) very much because of not only our proximity but of because of the huge border problem. Something really needs to be done immediately. I know many of you are probably surprised to hear me say this, but I think from both an economic and a rational approach of the benefits of each. Just because I agree that these two things should be legalized, it does not mean that I agree with these two things. I believe some politicians have a hard time distinguishing the differences of what is a logical decision, what is a moral decision, and what is the political decision which will get me re-elected next term. Morally, I am against many things; however I realize the world does not revolve around my own personal morals and I am glad of that. I may be morally against these; however, logic and common sense tell me that these should both be legal.
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Post by jake on Feb 25, 2009 18:40:58 GMT -4
Just think of all the billions the Federal and State Governments will be able to collect from the lawsuits against the marijuana growers and producers due to the ill-effects on the smokers!
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Post by funnel101 on Feb 25, 2009 18:45:01 GMT -4
I suspect marijuana is a gateway drug BECAUSE of its illegal status, not because of the drug itself.
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Post by Tommy on Feb 25, 2009 19:55:33 GMT -4
I suspect marijuana is a gateway drug BECAUSE of its illegal status, not because of the drug itself. I agree with that. Back in my college days, smoking pot and drinking beer were part of everyday life and never led to crime or anything harder. The only gateway was acheiving an education.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2009 23:03:14 GMT -4
Legalize it nationally.....don't have a problem with that. Recreational use among adults should be permitted. If it can be taxed just like alcohol and cigarettes, don't have a problem with that either.
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Post by mcbeth on Feb 25, 2009 23:32:48 GMT -4
I agree. Regulate it, tax it, educate about it and make it legal for adults. Amsterdam doesn't have the kind of crime we have, and way too much of our crime is illegal drug-related. (All you have to do it look at Prohibition). I am not "for" drug use but I think that if an adult wants to have a hit or two of pot, it is no worse (and no better) than tobacco use, at least health-wise.
And, Lynn, you are soooo right. Legalize and manage prostitution, too. We have more problems in this country than anyone realizes with the trafficking of women (and also of children), many of them from out of the country who are brought here. In Europe the prostitutes have to be licensed, they have to have regular medical evaluations to prevent passing on serious illnesses. Drug use and prostitution are very much linked in this country, and so much could be done to reduce some serious problems we have by legalizing and managing both. (Not to mention the help we could get for the economy from the taxes....).
Only problem? I still think our government would SKREW IT UP. (Oh, no pun intended...). Oh, and you don't even need to travel to Mexico to see the problems - give it just a little longer, and you will see it spilling over the border on a very regular basis, is my prediction.
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Post by pete1 on Feb 25, 2009 23:35:19 GMT -4
Lynn.....You mention the drug problems in Mexico. Last year 6,000 metric tons of illegal drugs were brought across the Mexican border. This would be an impossible feat without Police, Political, and Judiciary protection. It reminds me of the old time numbers racket. Everyone knew what was going on, but nothing got done. Why? = Protection from the Police Officials, the Politicians, and the Courts.....The only thing new in life is the history we haven't learned.
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Post by cheapshotartist on Feb 26, 2009 0:55:52 GMT -4
www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,500305,00.html Good thing the police today aren't like the police in the 60's and 70's that let the numbers racket run rampant in Baltimore. Funny, there is a picture of the new attorney general in the above article however all of this investigation took place under that evil Bush guy.
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Post by pete1 on Feb 26, 2009 4:43:05 GMT -4
Posted by Dee Lightful on Yesterday at 10:55pm www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,500305,00.html Good thing the police today aren't like the police in the 60's and 70's that let the numbers racket run rampant in Baltimore. Dee Lightful........Police corruption needs the protection of the officials to exist.......Then - Now - and in the Future........No organized criminal activity can operate successfully without the protection of the Police Officials, the Politicians, and the Judicial system.
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