Cannabis Legalization

[SHRED]

I favor marijuana legalization for individuals over 18 to be able to grow, transport, sell, and barter a certain amount.
No driving while intoxicated.
Develop a test for real-time intoxication rather than the inaccurate urine testing done now which only tells if you have used it in the past.

I tend toward more of the Dutch model for legalization.
If this happened the price would plummet and eliminate the need for commercialized, advertised, corporate farming. Of which I am really not in favor.

Plus I think if we did not allow commercialization then it would be easier to get it legalized.
Many straight people fear it being sold to children "at the local convenience store".

As far as industrial hemp goes I favor full and complete legalization immediately.
Industrial hemp is where the large tax revenues will come from to satisfy the governmental needs.
Plus the tax dollars saved by not incarcerating people through our justice systems and prison systems would be enormous.

The above model (or slight variation), I believe, would be the most reasonable in convincing any doubters.
I don't think we need any commercials on TV.
Just give the plant back to the people.



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[Cooley Hurd]

1. No argument from me...

:smoke:

[stellanoir]

2. To illustrate your point. . .

http://hightowerdownload.com/node/30

[ellisonz]

3. The Dutch haven't actually legalized, they just don't enforce criminalization.

[ixion]

5. they refer to it as "tolerated"

that's the word they used when I was over there...

[KharmaTrain]

4. The Alcohol Lobby

Back in the 70's I recall reading a story from NORML about how the major distillers and tobacco companies saw weed as a threat to their monopolies...people would prefer getting high than drunk and they were behind a lot of the demonizing of weed and put out rigged reports (anyone remember about growing boobies if you got high too much...if that was the case, I should look like Dolly Parton by now).

The hypocrisy on this issue is only compounded by the misinformation. Somehow that if you smoke a joint, the next thing you're gonna do is mainline heroin, yet having a 6-pack a night was the "All American" thing and surely alcoholism was far more desirable to having our city full of pot-smokin' hippies. Sadly, that view still predominates.

It's all about the Benjamin...

[gateley]

10. Yep. It IS all about the Benjamin. I'm assuming that's why prohibition was

appealed. Can't let those money grubbing moonshiners get their hands on money which should be going to the liquor companies. Wonder if the lobbyists got their marks drunk.

[ixion]

6. something like this, or similar would be the rational thing to do

although it sometimes takes our society several decades to understand why something is rational. :-(

[BB1]

7. The Dutch model isn't holy,

yet. We still struggle with legalization.
As it is now, shops (coffeshops) are 'allowed' to sell small quantities (up to 5 grams) to individuals. You pay about 10 bucks a gram. That's what we call our 'frontdoor-policy'.

Now, the 'backdoor-policy' is something else. Since it's illegal to grow large amounts, posess large quantities or sell weed exceeding quantities over 5 grams, the government has to turn a blind eye to the producing and distribution. That's where our problems arise, and that's also where the difference can be made.

For years I've been trying to figure out a model that could actually work.

Bottom line is: production, distribution and selling of marihuana should always be government-controlled. Just like care for elderly people.
Marihuana can most easily be grown in greenhouses. Great ratios on plants per square yards.
From the greenhouses' drying dens, the marihuana is picked up by moneytransfer-trucks (I'm sure they have a name). They're going out of business slowly anyway because of the growing trend of using computers instead of bills and coins.
In every town or city populated with more then 10.000 people, we get ourselves a local coffeshop. The owner is an government official. Show ID only to prove you're over 18.

Now, the money.
As it is now, everybody is profiting from the so-called 'gedoogbeleid', the 'allowing-but-not-approving policy', except for the government. Yet they have to clean up the streets, provide healthcare for sick and addicted people, and raid illegal greenhouses. There's no money in it for them.
In a new system, the government is the top dog in the drugs business. (They are now, too, but they don't admit it.) They call the shots.
Since we have the elderly taking care of growing the stuff, government should get away with paying them a monthly allowance. Productioncosts are kept low.
The franchiser pays his fees to the local authorities for setting up shop. Here they benefit, plenty.
And third, consumers pay a DH-tax (Drugs and Health) of 25 percent. That way, with some much federal income, healthcare can be free for all (and of high quality), drugs can be easily controlled and turned into a profitable crop instead of evil weed, and we can all relax and smoke a joint.

which I will do now, after re-reading my post and deciding all is well.

[druidity33]

9. that's too sensible!

I'd love to see Time Dollars used in the production. And maybe local currencies popping up around their production areas. Purchase and sale of weed grown in Philadelphia limited to transfer only with PhillyBucks (of which a certain percent is pre-taxed toward the municipality the currency originated). Barter and the transfer of goods without aid of currency should also be encouraged.

Check out No More Throw-Away People by Edgar Cahn
Small is Beautiful EF Schumacher
Cradle to Cradle McDonough, Braungart

cheers!
:)

[Canuckistanian]

20. Sound like you've put a lot of thought into this

I'm not sure the "government-controlled" idea will work in the U.S., but it might be an option in countries where government is largely trusted.

We have a government medical marijuana growing operation here in Canada, but it's a total failure.

Seems that the government weed is as effective as "twigs and seeds", so the people who need it are STILL buying from their "usual sources".

I think an ideal solution is a private-public partnership. Let the experts (private cultivators) produce and the government can control, distribute, restrict and tax the product.

Hey, that sounds exactly like the alcohol control model here in Canada!

[zabet]

8. A friend with weed...

is a friend indeed!

Legalize!!! Decriminalize!!

FREE THE WEED!!!!

:woohoo::woohoo::woohoo:

K & R

[gateley]

11. I am so for this and I don't get high. I think the war on drugs is an

incredible waste of energy and money.

When I DID do drugs -- for 25 years of my life -- the illegality certainly didn't stop me. And the reasons I don't use now have nothing to do with what the laws say.

This country just needs to get a clue.

[the other one]

12. Why no driving? Its not alchohol.

Alcohol affects the central nervous system and motor coordination; it makes sense that drinking and driving is illegal. Pot does not affect driving, except perhaps to make one drive more slowly and more carefully. And because pot lasts 30 days in the system and can be detected, you might as well say no driving at all within 30 days of smoking.

If you are going to be consistent, then there should be no driving while on any prescription medication, or driving while smoking cigarettes.

Pot is not alcohol, and it shouldn't be compared to it.

[Warren Stupidity]

16. Even though it is only a mild hallucinogen

operating under the influence is not a good idea. Pot does not correlate with auto accidents - there isn't a stoned driver problem like there is a drunk driver problem - but still, cars are dangerous enough as it is. It seems a minor concession, even though I agree with your point re: cigarettes, pills, cell phones, lipstick, lunch, electric shavers, newspapers, and other idiocy that drivers do while allegedly operating a vehicle.

[intheflow]

18. Or coffee or soda.

Caffeine is a powerful drug. Any drug taken in excess is a danger on the road, and unfortunately, I think the majority of pot smokers smoke far more weed than is necessary to get high.

I'm not saying that as a derrogatory statement against pot smokers. I'm saying that culturally smoking pot IS like drinking, where people just do it to get blotto to forget whatever's ailing them. In my experience, moderation is largely missing from the pot culture.

[Froward69]

13. not to mention

all the uses for Hemp besides getting stoned. Oil, Gasoline, Rope, Fabric. George bush themselves would not be here today if it werent for Hemp seed oil in George bush sr fighter plane during WWII.
the major contributers of criminalization efforts are. Big OIL, Tobacco, and Liquor. :smoke: :smoke: :smoke: :smoke:

[gateley]

14. EXCELLENT point! nt

[allisonthegreat]

17. good reply indeed--spare the weed--decriminalize and legalize!

now...

[ms liberty]

15. K&R. I agree. n/t

[provis99]

19. nice thought. Ain't ever gonna happen

There ain't a big legalize pot crowd out there in the American heartland. Might as well try to get a law passed legalizing Martians. They're both about as likely.

[Mythsaje]

21. Not yet...

The numbers are starting to crawl that direction. More people support legalization, percentage wise, than ever before.

Some of the politicans need to grow a spine on the subject.

[Ghost in the Machine]

22. K&R