NBC News: CA considers legalizing pot for recreational use.

[Atman]

Just on the evening news. Of course, met with "sky is falling" hysteria. Police claiming it will not only be devastating to the very fabric of society, it will also introduce a "new" intoxicant onto our roadways. Uh, hello, McFly...there is nothing "new" about pot. What's your fear, that you'll now have to set up SLOW TRAPS in addition to speed traps?

:rofl:

.

[spanone]

1. deserves both threads...k&r

[notadmblnd]

2. they can ticket people for stopping at green lights

[duhneece]

3. I would love to see serious research on impairment

...comparing everything from cannabis to allergy medications to being shortchanged sleep the night before to cell phone use to cigarette smoking to, well, everything.

Wouldn't it be nice if we, the people, could make informed decisions?

[RKP5637]

5. "...informed decisions?" ...in the NEW USA, never. For these types it just

hurts too much to actually think and to make intelligent and informed decisions.

[paulsby]

7. i've read the NHTSA studies on MJ influence on driving

years ago.

in brief, it's less dangerous to driving than alcohol (significantly so) , since it doesn't generally aINCREASE confidence, recklessness, and decrease inhibitions, etc.

it is detrimental to driving performance, but not as significantly as many other intoxicants

interestingly, cocaine in small quantities, IMPROVES driving performance, as does caffeine and most stimulants

[duhneece]

22. That's kinda what I thought

...but haven't seen any actual research results.

[paulsby]

23. i would suspect also that most cops

who encounter people driving under the influence of MJ don't recognize the signs, since it's not like alcohol where you have a smell, slurred speech, etc.

it's much more subtle.

in the research i read, the basic conclusion was that while people should NOT drive under the influence of MJ, it was not the kind of danger to society that alcohol poses.

[paulsby]

4. please don't confuse cop-o-crat administrators with real cops

by "police" are you referring to police spokespeople etc. who are essentially proxies for leadership or ACTUAL cops?

those are usually who get interviewed for these stories.

most cops i know could not give a flying #$(#$( about mj, nor is it OUR fault it's illegal.

you'd be surprised how many cops (i know tons) REAL COPS - street cops - support at least decrim, if not legalization

[OnionPatch]

6. Like these ones

http://www.leap.cc/cms/index.php

They are a national group, but still.

[paulsby]

11. cool

a lot of line cops, even IF interviewed by the media (which almost never happens) either wouldn't speak openly, or are prohibited by dept policy from expressing opinions to the media, while on duty, etc.

[RKP5637]

10. This is good to know (your last statement). Probably many cops are tired of

all of the BS surrounding pot. I've always felt alcohol was far far worse...

[paulsby]

17. i can't remember the last time a pot head tried to assault me

and they usually aren't much for spousal abuse either

stoners just want to eat cheezy poofs and laff at dumb jokes.

drunk people want to kick your ass, be belligerent, etc.

[RKP5637]

21. Yep, that's been my experience too. Too bad there wasn't a way to give a

bunch of Teabaggers pot at their next rally w/o them knowing it... they would be on TV all mellowed out, saying nice things, no hostility, sitting around laughing, probably at Palin hysterically!
:) :) :)

[Tailormyst]

8. I think its just the police higher ups who feel that way

It must have something to do with funding. Every real cop that I know thinks pot should be legal.

[paulsby]

18. i agree

see my other post.

cop-o-crats dont' represent the opinion of real cops. they represent the opinion of those that pull the purse strings

[slay]

9. Oh no - a recreational substance that is less harmful than alcohol - the horror

so stupid.. leave the pot smokers alone.. if alcohol and tobacco are legal how can pot not be?!?! my brain hurts.. :banghead:

[RKP5637]

15. I know the feeling. We can give thanks to Reagan for the excellent war on drugs,

it has just worked so well, but in CF Nation, we just go on and on doing the same. Like with many things, creating blackmarkets for crime. Just like the prohibition era...

[gulliver]

12. Where are they going to house all the new Californians? n/t

[KonaKane]

13. Nacho sales are gonna skyrocket

Beer too. I can't see a downside here.

[Initech]

19. I want to get a cut of the Mac & Cheese business once it passes!

[mopinko]

14. it used to be legal there. why don't they check their own records.

25 years ago, possession of less than an ounce, or less than (i think) 6 plants, for personal use was legal. people smoked joints in public.
here is one thing that meant for the state of california- my brother settled there out of the air force (ok, the next to nothing college tuition helped, but really....) and went on to become a special ed teacher and tax payer. had 2 more tax payers, one who is in the army now. that's the kind of people who want to live where there is no "nanny state", as they say.

[RainDog]

16. Californians can begin the end of the drug war for the entire U.S.

if they vote for this.

other states have already followed the mmj lead. CA has a long history of leading the way for cultural changes.

I hope the majority vote to legalize.

The price will drop but the state can gain revenue with taxes.

And a lot of innocent people will benefit.

[Swamp Rat]

20. I doubt the "Police" would claim such a thing.

Most don't care and/or don't care to comment, and the ones I know don't find pot heads to be any sort of societal menace, like drunk wife beaters, for example.

[paulsby]

24. exactly

police talking head PIO's and cop-o-crat administrators do NOT represent the views of the rank and file any more than the head of GM would represent the average auto assembly line worker