I haven't heard this much talk about legalizing pot in years. What's up?

[Hamlette]

Is it just the election of Obama, a dem, that people who have been silent for so long are speaking out?

Or is it the economy? Prohibition of alcohol went by the wayside during the Great Depression (1933) but I thought it was because it was seen as so impossible. Now I wonder if there is a tie in to economic issues.

Anyone know? Seems I can't pick up a newspaper these days without someone advocating legalization, which I completely favor btw.

[knowbody0]

1. I'm thinking it's a combo

necessary budget cuts, the threat from Mexico dope runners etc., plus just a new logic invading our land.

[Adsos Letter]

5. I agree about the combo, and I think the changing age demographic

certainly plays a role.

[Skink]

6. The baby boomers aren't going to retire without it.

[Cirque du So-What]

29. WTF is your problem?

This post looked very familiar, so I did an advanced search and found several instances where you make random, nonsensical slams against baby boomers. As if we don't have enough provocateurs attempting to stir up shit among Democrats on the flimsiest of pretenses, you see fit to try starting shit on the basis of a person's age. Again I ask, WTF is your problem?

[Fridays Child]

2. Maybe I'm wrong but I think that Michael Phelps' bong photo may have provoked some of this.

nt

[Adsos Letter]

7. I think putting people in jail for marijuana possession...

is becoming more and more untenable, and indefensible.

[Webster Green]

25. Can't hurt to dispel some of the bullshit about the effects of pot..

He isn't the first star athlete to get caught indulging.

It's becoming more obvious that the official line on cannabis is complete bullshit.

Cannabis is one of the most amazing gifts we have been given. It is the most useful plant that exists. :hippie:

[Ishoutandscream2]

3. I remember in the 1970s

All of us saying, "Just wait til we are in power. We'll make it legal." Now there's a president who is one month older than I am, and we are hearing all sorts of talk about legalization/decriminalization. Maybe it's just a coincidence, but perhaps the times they really are a changing.

[Adsos Letter]

4. Overpopulated prisons, deficits in funding for law enforcement...

economic/revenue issues, massive violence and instability growing right across the border, change in voting demographics...

Those would be my guesses.

Prohibition is counter-productive; it's time to legalize pot.

[tridim]

8. I think it's just about to pop in the progressive states.

It's kind of a perfect storm. Phelps, Obama, Holder and California's budget crisis are all part of it.

[moundsview]

9. Possibly because Obama is the 1st President

to admit he smoked and it dosen't seemed to have harmed him.

Just look what Big Dawg did for.... cigars, ya that's it!

[Adsos Letter]

12. Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[Jamastiene]

20. Big Dawg admitted to smoking, just not inhaling.

Welcome to DU. :hi:

[WinkyDink]

27. "Admit"'s being the operative word, of course.

[Jamastiene]

10. I don't know, but I, for one, am WAY GLAD to hear it.

I say legalize it sooner rather than later. :thumbsup:

[Adsos Letter]

13. Me too...

and I quit indulging 25 years ago...with an occasional lapse, here and there...

[Jamastiene]

19. I haven't had any in a long time, but

I remember how it used to help me. Zoloft helped for a while, but now it no longer works. Funny thing is, I remember pot working. It wasn't until I had to quit the pot (for a job) that the depression took over. I don't care what anybody says, pot helped more than anything I have ever had. I didn't get into any trouble either. I was just a regular happy go lucky person who enjoyed a little weed from time to time. I don't see why they don't just go ahead and legalize it. :shrug:

[grantcart]

11. growing consensus among law enforcement that it is a waste of resources

[WinkyDink]

28. But what about all those ridiculous D.A.R.E. boondoggles?!

[NoSheep]

14. States need the money?

[Warren DeMontague]

15. Because right now we don't have money for dumb fucking shit, like a $40 Billion/yr drug war.

Plus, the American people are far more socially libertarian than the powers-that-be want to let on... with the implosion of the Republican party and the libertarian wing over there leaving en masse, the pressure to get the government out of citizens' bodies, bedrooms & bloodstreams is increasing.

[leftstreet]

16. Americans have BEEN talking about it. Question is: why is the M$M?

I've wondered that myself.

:shrug:

[girl gone mad]

18. They're trying to hang on to younger viewers.

The majority of people under 40 are for legalization.

[prolesunited]

17. Tax revenue

Reduced spending on nonviolent crime.

[rcrush]

21. Its coming it has to. Even in Texas we are seeing the signs.

I saw on the news they reported that Bexar County cant affoard to keep all these people in jail anymore. One of the things they are doing to try and help with the problem is that Bexar County sheriff deputys are only issuing a ticket for first time offenders for drugs including marijuana.

In Texas thats a pretty big thing around here for that to happen.

They were talking about legalization on Bill Maher tonight. Its a multi billion dollar industry just waiting for us to tax the shit out of it and reap some benefits. And to stop putting people in jail. I read that California is about to release 7000 people from prison because they cant affoard to keep them in jail anymore. I hope they are releasing drug offenders first! Pretty soon people will get angry enough to where we still stop putting people in prison for chosing to put something in their bodies.

We have an AG now that is enlightend. He's ended the raids on medical marijuana clubs in california and they are talking about legalizing it in CA now. If they legalize it in CA it'll soon happen everywhere else.

[Lakerstan]

22. Maybe the economy is so bad, everyone is just wanting to get high. nt

[TexasObserver]

23. Economic considerations: costs of policing, prosecution, incarceration.

When you look at the resources we have, the ones we really need - the judicial system to deal with real criminals - it becomes pretty clear that we cannot afford criminalizing something that so much of the population routinely does.

[Bobbieo]

24. I see it as a move to counter the Mrxican Mafia - pot is the cartel's

biggest fundraiser.

[WinkyDink]

26. MONEY! Heck, someone I know *cough* might buy some and contribute to the economy!

[TheBigotBasher]

30. I do not think that it will be addressed by President Obama.

In fact the Q & AS on CHANGE.GOV made clear it would not be.

I doubt it would be tackled in the Senate as there are not enough Libertarian Conservative GOP members, all of the remaining GOP members belong pretty firmly in the hang em, send em back and pray for them wing of the GOP as are our DINOs (moderate Dems - moderate my arse - I hate that term).

So if not through the Presidency or Congress, maybe at State level.

However it ends, the War on Drugs is a stupid stupid policy whose time has long gone.

[genna]

31. I think it is the economy. The taxes on cigarettes can be transferred to pot

Think about all those weed convictions that could get overturned if states decide to tax that commodity. Think about the illegal economy that can be overturned and changed if it is regulated.

I would be amazed, but it is possible.

[Occam Bandage]

32. Democratic President. AG ending med-marijuana raids. nt

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

33. BUY AMERICAN!

[JuniperLea]

36. Plant American too!

We could be issued permits... another revenue stream many would be more than willing to pay into!

That, and wouldn't it be nice to be able to call the cops because someone uprooted your plants?

:rofl:

[kiranon]

34. Believe it's Mexico's drug cartel problems spilling over the border

and even the conservative states (check out Arizona's AG)realize that the problem cannot be stopped without decriminalization.

[harun]

37. I think that is getting peoples attention.

[JuniperLea]

35. $$$

Now the fact that it could very well be a multi-billion dollar industry with an amazing tax potential, it's something a lot of people are looking at in earnest. I don't expect it to get past Big Pharma, sadly. They have a massive and well-endowed lobbying force.