LEGALIZE and TAX NOW !!

Many highly regarded institutes and commissions who have extensively researched the "war on drugs" have said it is a complete and utter failure and the prohibition needs to be ended.

There is far more drug use happening under the war on drugs than there was prior to the war on drugs. The drug cartels have seen to that.

You can no more keep drugs out of the US than you could keep air out of the US.

All drugs need to be decriminalized. All of them. And the only thing we should be dealing with at all is treating those who get themselves PHYSICALLY-addicted to hard-drugs.

And instead of putting these people in prisons where they learn to actually become REAL criminals, we treat them through the medical and mental health system.

The US has completely and utterly failed to learn the lessons of the 1930's Prohibition. That prohibition as well failed. Just like now there was actually more alcohol being consumed under the prohibition than without it.

Right now we are talking about trying to find ways to save money and raise revenues in our country. And here we have a completely failed program called the "war on drugs" that was responsible for massive government bureaucracies at the federal, state and local levels of government.

The war on drugs has cost the taxpayers a mind-boggling $2.5 Trillion dollars. That's 2.5 million dollars A MILLION TIMES !!!

And that does not count the hundreds of thousands of people that have lost their life to drug violence nor the millions of people who have been imprisoned !!

The whole war on drugs is a case study in insanity !!

----

Ten years ago Portugal decriminalized drugs. And guess what happened? Drug use went DOWN.

Drug violence disappeared.

And hard-drug addictions get treated through the medical and mental health systems.

And NO MONEY goes to drug lords or massive government bureaucracies !!

And Portugal taxpayers are saving a bundle.

Two things to add, the government should require a quantity, quality and health statement, suggest that the whole war on drugs is a case study of social insanity driven by christen fundamentalist's perverting the constitution.

Obama has done more damage to California pot industry than Bush ever did.

One more thing to add: The resources being wasted on this so-called war on drugs could either be used to catch real criminals (violent crime types - murder, assault, armed robbery, rape, etc.) or funding entirely stopped in which case taxpayers who are now footing this horrid bill would be relieved of the burden.

Prohibition created the black market and organized crime - the effects of which we are still seeing today. Time to cut off the legs of armed drug dealers - the solution is so simple. Let all who wish to simply grow their own. Grow up America! (Slogan copyrighted.)

I disagree; Marijuana is a drug.

I do believe growth of no more than 3 Plants per household should be legalized.

Not because I think it is harmless, because it is, but because it would take organized crime out of the picture freeing up resources to go after the really harmful drugs and hardened criminals.

Anyone giving it to minors, or selling it should be severely dealt with. Sharing pot should be legal when being consumed.

Driving on it has been proven to cause more accidents

I smoked it for 30 years/ I don't anymore; I can say I think more clearly now.

Those are my thoughts!

Sonar guy, you are way off. You need to look at the stats and see how many people die from alcohol and how many die from pot. stop making up facts.

Ummm where did you find any driving statistics? There are none. Only mixed with alcohol or other drugs. I don't smoke it, I don't even like it, but sorry. It is a plant not a drug. The plant happens to have certain properties like many plants do, not just pot. When a government can regulate a plant they can then regulate any plant...even tea. Once man gets to a natural substance and changes it's composition...then it is a drug. Doctors are allowed to prescribe the worst imaginable substances to even children yet we continue to allow a huge drug cartel and the government to control a plant. Pfffffttt! Legalizing something does not mean everyone will do it. There will always be those who choose not to, just like many of us don't drink. But every single argument for the legalization of booze can be attributed to pot. I agree with you on the legalization and the punishment being to those who provide minors or sell it. Exactly how it should be legalized.

Hate to be that guy..when the other eight arrested get ahold of him.

Sonar, it does not fit the definition of a drug. It is an unprocessed, naturally growing crop. You can disagree, of course, but it's not an opinion so you'd just be wrong.

Also, driving has nothing to do with smoking pot. Until we ban alcohol, cell phones, MP3 players, car stereos and "to go" windows at fast food joints, that argument is irrational. Consuming cannabis does not imply any sort of driving.

Whether something is a 'drug' or not depends on it's chemical content, not how the active chemical was made. Plant or factory, it's still a chemical drug. Semantics. Are you going to tell me that because magic mushrooms are often an unprocessed naturally growing crop that they aren't a drug? You can do that, of course, but you've got your terms from the 'all natural' movement, I think, so meaningless.

Kind of unfair when trying to relate the correlation of THC and alcohol in driving accidents. Alcohol is absorbed by the body and is gone in a matter of hours (related to consumption) Amounts of THC remain detectable in the body for days even though the amount may or may not effect driving. Also THC is not tested for unless evident proof for testing is costly.

Consuming cannabis does not imply any sort of driving.

If you meant that it does not impair driving, you've never smoked a joint in your life. Any number of smokers will flat out tell you that it can and does, depending on how much you smoke.

Meanwhile, the real criminals, Wall St., the banks, mortgage lenders, and investment banks continue to kill the whole country piece by piece, dollar by dollar, and gett away scott free. What a fu*king joke!! I say we need to grow and smoke more weed because while the country goes to hell with the DEA fighting an un-winnable war on drugs, at least we can numb the pain. Seriously it's herb, the healing of the Nation...Smoke Weed--Not Greed

Chester12, you are obviously one of those with the mindset that guns kill people, when actually it's the person using the gun who's doing the killing.

I see we have alcohol readily available, but I don't see everyone who drinks it busy drunk driving. Could it be that those who partake of pot may have the same capability of restraint? Alcohol and pot don't cause accidents. It's the people who choose to drive while using them who cause the accidents. And just like alcohol, pot isn't going anywhere, so my gut tells me.

As far as comparing pot and alcohol: If you're going to Prohibit the one, you might as well prohibit the other. And we all know how well that worked out. Shall we learn from history much?

"But smoke up! Get turned on and KILL!" IT IS YOUR RIGHT!" You are one paranoid person, Chester12. Just sayin.

@republicans or just plain greedy

never , ever , ever , never ever , legalize drug activity in the united states of america !!!!!!!!!!! when dought drives for reason '' LOOK AT MEXICO '' !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Look at Mexico? Mexico is a fcked up mess BECAUSE drugs ae illegal HERE. You're looking at the effect while ignoring the cause.

chester12, your an idiot.

Hope those comments are meant to be funny (hard to tell when they are capitalized or punctuated properly), because that is the main Mexico problem with regard to drugs. The "War on Drugs" approach lumping pot in with every other thing someone might consider to be a drug makes someone who wants a little weed the same as a heroin addict; someone who sells it the same as a coke kingpin. Cannabis prohibition has arbitrarily created millions of "criminals" who, for the most part, are not anti-social menaces to society. Making pot part of the drug cartel operations has just made for a more violent, ruthless world but hasn't done anything to solve real societal problems. IT'S TIME FOR A DIFFERENT APPROACH.

chester12

People who use marijuana before driving are nearly twice as likely to cause a car crash as those not under the influence of alcohol or drugs, according to a Canadian analysis of previous studies

Has anyone EVER made an argument in favor of allowing people to drive while under the influence of pot?

Here is an interesting article regarding medical marijuana states and driving fatalities.

http://healthland.time.com/2011/12/02/why-medical-marijuana-laws-reduce-traffic-deaths/

For those of you that don't want to take the time, mm states do see a increase in pot use and a decline in the sale of beer. This has brought about a general decline in traffic fatalities.

Granted this does not cover the affects of pot on driving ability. That is for another post.

omg just let the pot smokers alone for petes sake. a waste of tax payer money.

While the government incarcerates growers, the Mexican cartels gain strength. Legalize in all 50 states, tax fairly, and stop putting non-violent people in jail, (banksters excluded.) The law is antiquated and contrary to the concept of personal freedoms.

I have seen Christians drink booze and with a beer or cocktail in their hand condemn Marijuana. You know, that sounds so very hypocritical to me. Well 9999.9999% of them are. I think that something like one in one million are true blue sincere and practice what they preach, my grandma was one. She didn't judge or criticize anyone. She loved people and didn't look down her nose at anyone even if she didn't necessarily agree with a persons actions she would say that is between them and God and not for me to have any say in what they do. She would say it is only for me to love and not judge. You would think that so called Christians would be more for a God made plant than man made booze. Self righteous hypocrites.

Man made Booze.

God made Pot.

Who do you trust?

Free the Weed!!!

Legalize Marijuana Unconditionally!!!

I was in the front line in the war on drugs; after 40 years , i retired when I realized the war was over, we lost, because we did not understand what we thought we were fighting, I remember in the high of the hectic heyday, two joints could get you 10 years to life, we made criminals out of a entire generation; hell legalize the stuff and concentrate on the real problem, Meth, heroin, and the angel dust derivatives that is what is killing people, not pot.

Chris, read what I wrote, not what you wanted to see. I said consuming cannabis does not imply any sort of driving. The word "imply" does not mean the same thing as "impair" despite sharing three letters.

Denver, not only are you incorrect about cannabis being a drug, you're incorrect by calling it a chemical as well. Chemicals are, by definition, prepared materials. They are not natural. If it is naturally occurring, it is not a chemical. I get where you're coming from, that the word "drug" has been incorrectly used to label both cannabis and psilcybin (mushrooms) for so long that the incorrect usage (meaning: any consumable that alters the mind or body in a measurable way) should just be accepted. You're correct that English is a living language, but I think that this shifting definition is more propaganda than lingual evolution.

Does that mean I think psilocybin should be legal too? (I'm assuming this is the next question based on your line of reasoning above.) Actually, yes, but not because it's naturally occurring. I believe if people want to make unhealthy decisions behind their own closed doors, that is their right. Give the people black tar heroin if they want it... we're all responsible for the decisions we make and evolution won't continue if we interfere with natural selection in this way.

Chester12, you're using the same ingenuous claim as others. Driving has nothing to do with the legalization of cannabis. Driving has nothing to do with the legalization of alcohol, cell phones, car stereos, and a passenger seat where a talkative person can sit. Drinking under ANY influence is already illegal... and will remain so when we're allowed to consume cannabis freely in our own homes. And by the way... it is not addictive and does not "alter your DNA." No less than a DEA judge said the following: "Marijuana, in its natural form, is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man."

I'm surprised by the number of people here who claim (untruthfully I'd assume) to live in the United States of America, which is apparently built on freedom, and are arguing against freedom and for police intervention in personal matters. Doesn't sound like the United States that I learned about in school.

but of course as long as it is against the law, and everyone knows this, then you should not get caught with it , people play the game, they get caught, and THEN fuss......interesting.......

Kilroy,

Who in the Hell has the right to tell me what is right and wrong if I am not hurting anyone in the process? To you it's a game, to me it's OPPRESSION!! People's lives have been destroyed by "your so called game"...you brain dead sociopathic moron!!!

I didn't do any drugs illegal or prescription until heart surgery. I don't drink and I still don't use illegal drugs but I don't have the right to tell anyone else nor should the Government what to do with their individuals rights. I think it is a waste of money but if that is what you think you need go for it. WAY TOO MANY LAWS AND REGULATIONS that takes the thinking away from the individual.

where do these officers come up with '1 million dollar operation'? 800 plants is about 200k if u got good crop, you would make more money selling em as moms but thats only bout 400k. if these were outdoor plants then i could see it reaching a million dollars.

there is no authority vested within any government entity that allows anyone to tell an individual what they can and cant do with their own body, we have life, liberty and property (happiness) guaranteed by the DoI and backed by the US constitution. why the free people of these united states allow the government to control our decisions is beyond me when we allow a woman to kill an unwanted fetus at whim.

if marijuana was never outlawed we would have seen incredible advancements in almost all fields of science due to the versatility of the plant. this plant has the most uses for us humans than anything we have seen or could ever dream up or create, this very plant could replace 80% of what we create and be pennies to mass produce due to it basically being a weed. we have not seen a limit to what this miracle plant can do and as long as it remains illegal we will only hurt our future.

we are simply repeating history over and over as dictated by nature.

Kilroy,

If the government banned posting on message boards, would you happily quit doing it and then indignantly condemn others who continue to do so?

"Cut and pasted a couple of items about Marijuana becoming illegal. Not sure about accuracy."

The first marijuana law found so far was a 1905 El Paso, Texas law. It, and most of the other laws in the southwest that followed, was motivated by racial prejudice against Mexican immigrants. The first state law was a 1913 California law that received little notice. It was promoted by the pharmaceutical industry that saw marijuana as a competitor. That was followed by a 1914 Utah level that was simply a Mormon religious prohibition enacted into law. By 1930, about thirty states had passed laws against marijuana for one reason or another. In the southwest and south, it was primarily racial prejudice against Mexicans and other racial minorities. In the northern states it was primarily the fear that heroin addiction would lead to the use of marijuana. Marijuana was further regared illegal in 1937 by an act of congress.

From a prohibition-based perspective, marijuana is illegal in the United States primarily for these seven reasons.

1. It is perceived as addictive.
Under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, marijuana is classified as a Schedule I drug on the basis that is has "a high potential for abuse." What does this mean? It means that the perception is that people get on marijuana, they get hooked and become "potheads," and it begins to dominate their lives. This unquestionably happens in some cases. But it also happens in the case of alcohol--and alcohol is perfectly legal.

In order to fight this argument for prohibition, legalization advocates need to make the argument that marijuana is not as addictive as government sources claim.

2. It has "no accepted medical use."
Marijuana seems to yield considerable medical benefits for many Americans with ailments ranging from glaucoma to cancer, but these benefits have not been accepted well enough, on a national level. Medical use of marijuana remains a serious national controversy.

In order to fight the argument that marijuana has no medical use, legalization advocates need to highlight the effects it has had on the lives of people who have used the drug for medical reasons.

3. It has been historically linked with narcotics, such as heroin.
Early antidrug laws were written to regulate narcotics--opium and its derivatives, such as heroin and morphine. Marijuana, though not a narcotic, was described as such--along with cocaine.

The association stuck, and there is now a vast gulf in the American consciousness between "normal" recreational drugs, such as alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine, and "abnormal" recreational drugs, such as heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine. Marijuana is generally associated with the latter category, which is why it can be convincingly portrayed as a "gateway drug."

4. It is associated with unfashionable lifestyles.
Marijuana is often thought of as a drug for hippies and losers. Since it's hard to feel enthusiastic about the prospects of enabling people to become hippies and losers, imposing criminal sanctions for marijuana possession functions as a form of communal "tough love."

5. It was once associated with oppressed ethnic groups.
The intense anti-marijuana movement of the 1930s dovetailed nicely with the intense anti-Chicano movement of the 1930s. Marijuana was associated with Mexican Americans, and a ban on marijuana was seen as a way of discouraging Mexican-American subcultures from developing.

Today, thanks in large part to the very public popularity of marijuana among whites during the 1960s and 1970s, marijuana is no longer seen as what one might call an ethnic drug--but the groundwork for the anti-marijuana movement was laid down at a time when marijuana was seen as an encroachment on the U.S. majority-white culture.

6. Inertia is a powerful force in public policy.
If something has been banned for only a short period of time, then the ban is seen as unstable. If something has been banned for a long time, however, then the ban--no matter how ill-conceived it might be--tends to go unenforced long before it is actually taken off the books.

Take the ban on sodomy, for example. It hasn't really been enforced in any serious way since the 18th century, but most states technically banned same-sex sexual intercourse until the Supreme Court ruled such bans unconstitutional in Lawrence v. Texas (2003).

People tend to be comfortable with the status quo--and the status quo, for nearly a century, has been a literal or de facto federal ban on marijuana.

7. Advocates for marijuana legalization rarely present an appealing case.
To hear some advocates of marijuana legalization say it, the drug cures diseases while it promotes creativity, open-mindedness, moral progression, and a closer relationship with God and/or the cosmos. That sounds incredibly foolish, particularly when the public image of a marijuana user is, again, that of a loser who risks arrest and imprisonment so that he or she can artificially invoke an endorphin release.

A much better argument for marijuana legalization, from my vantage point, would go more like this: "It makes some people happy, and it doesn't seem to be any more dangerous than alcohol. Do we really want to go around putting people in prison and destroying their lives over this?"

Swagganaut, Please forgive me but you are obviously to m-----f--k--g stoned. The million dollar figure the DEA arrived at is street value The miracle plant you are referring to is the Soy Bean,not marijuana. The reasearch of the Soy plant has yielded,acrylic paint,parasitic immune crop seeds,etc.,Google it. Your desire for pot has put blinders on your reality. In your eyes everything is cool,what's the big deal,man,it's just a weed. That is, until your stash runs low and you have a desperate urge to cope more so you don't run out. But other than that, the $hit is harmless,right? You probably can't wait to smoke it with your children, you know, to enlighten them as well? If legal Marijuana is utopia then explain to me what the f--- is so great about being an average Jamaican citizen?

you clowns have been smoking that sh@t too long.......pay attention real slow now.......

smoke all the weed you want.....fine by me.....my point is. that the government says it's illegal......you are not supposed to grow it, smoke it, posses it. right?

now since you clowns all know this for a fact. then you should do whatever you can to keep from getting caught with it but you dont, do you ? you get caught go to jail repeat.....why ?

instead of spending all your time in jail, or fighting the system......get it legalized and then you can smoke all the weed you want, legally.......until then you are beating a dead horse

and kurt.......the only moron here is you......common sense is not something you use very often is it?

since you care nothing about the law you will keep breaking it, you will go to jail and repeat over and over again, and you are calling me a moron? too funny.....

Government is against small business look how they put 9 people out of work and locked them up instead.

But don't worry cause the gov gave Big Pharma a permit to make some GMO pot and it will probably kill people too just like Big Agra's GMO food.

Kilroy - Go cuddle with your bible and sing kumbaya with your Brady bunch family. There is no getting through to someone so close minded as you. You have no thought for other peoples lives, just that everyone should be just like you and do as you do. What a perfect world that would be, were we are all told to do the same things, think the same things and act the same way and that no one can be the slightest bit different... oh wait there is one, its called North Korea. Maybe you would like it over there better.

Kurt-4278264:

"I do." And the rest of society. We have the right. Get over it.

The side effects from common drugs are more lethal than pot. It's time to legalize, put alcohol in the same class and haul everyone off to jail for having beer in their fridge.

I am for legalizing Marijuana! I am opposed to so called medical marijuana dispensaries.

....and haul everyone off to jail for having beer in their fridge.

UGH...how did I know that I'd simply read a bunch of dopeheads opinions here???!!!! lol.

recent graduate ......of what? i never said the law was fair.....i never said that people are getting what they deserve for having been caught with weed on them......what i said is this.....pay attention.....it is illegal so getting caught with it and going to jail is a hell of a way to fight for getting it legalized......and by the way some of my friends have smoked that sh@t for years, and never got caught, i have no need for religion . and i never said anything about not accepting people fro being different....if you think your rights are being threatened here......then you need to go to korea yourself because you have absolutely no clue how good you have it here.....you speak of being close minded......interesting....you are close minded about what you want.....not taking any opinions that do not back up your claim.....in other words....if you agree with me great, if not go away...right? sounds to me like a whining little brat that cannot have his/her way......

They weren't "looking for a plant", they were doing their job and happened to find weed. Would you still whine if they found an arsenal?

No. if they found an arsenal they would be doing their job. Rapid fire automatic weapons are more dangerous than weed

Having an "arsenal" is legal, so what's your point?

"Authorities went to his home in the 7200 block of West Avenue to conduct a probation compliance check"

What part of that confuses you? Or did we not bother to read?

How many drunk drivers they miss at 2 in the morning because they were busy looking for a plant?

Just as many as if the drug was legal. They ain't pulling you over to see what you we're smoking. If they pull you over it's because you're weaving around the lane, missing stop signs, or any other number of traffic infractions which would get you stopped anyways. Finding pot is simply bonus points.

At 2 in the Morning the Cops are Looking for Any Reason to Pull someone over in order for the Police to Bring out their Drug Dogs so they can Get around Your 4th Amendment rights pertaining to Illegal Search & Seizure.Most times when you are Pulled over.They already ran your plates or Your Vehicle was Spotted where known Drug Activity is taking place & If you are found in Possession They Will try & intimidate you into Ratting out your sources in lieu of Lesser Jail/Prison time. More Busts & Feathers in Officer Barney's Police Hat. At the very Least 75% of those on the road are under the influence of Alcohol. So with that being said. They Generate on Average at least $2,500 in Fines & Court costs at minimum to the city & County, Insurance Companies Gain Big $$ By Raising Your Insurance. The Police have Too Many incentives to not Turn Our Country into Hitlers Germany. Please Be sure to have All your Papers in Order for the Gestapo When you Are Pulled over.

^------Acute and untreatable paranoia.

Jerry, As you said don't be out at 2:00 am driving drunk ,or high on drugs! That way you don't have to worry about about,"Andy" or "Barney" pulling you over,pissed off, because you interupted their date with Thelma Lou! Jeez man,a drunk can get sober and figure it out, but a f---ing pothead cannot because what they were high on is just a harmless plant! Jerry any drunk will tell you,call a taxi at 2:00 am,what is your commen sense telling you? Besides it's time you got off that $hit!

Jerry...read your post later...NOT stoned...lol

Im all for - legalization of 'medical' marihuana.

My objection with the CALIFORNIAN MODEL is, it allows public transportation when YOU ARE LEGALLY IMPAIRED.

• I believe 'MEDICAL MARIHUANA" should be consume away from children who might think THAT IT IS OKAY TO GET HIGH.

What a dope, (Pun intended) On Probation and driving with a suspended licnese. Hence, probably no insurance, or the insurance policy would be invalid.

I noticed the onrgoing theme about the police and marijuana arrests. I just felt I should point something out. Cops don't make the laws ! They just enforce them. The elected officials make the laws. The judges impose the fines and sentences. One other point people keep talking about is D.U.I.'s and cannibus, like their exclusive issues. Even if or when pot is legalized, it will still be illegal to drive high. D.U.I. is for driving under the influence . Alcohol is just one source. The hype on marijuana goes to both extremes from ''Reefer Madness " on the right. No your're not going to become an addict, turn tricks, or kill your Grandma . Unless you were planning to kill your Grandma anyway. On the left claims it has no harmful effects, and may even be good for you. Your body requires no smoke. Everyone knows someone who smokes pot continuously and is pretty well burned out. Beavis and Butthead and Cheach and Chong were not just making fun of archaic laws, but burned out potheads. Legal, employment, and health issues will not go away. Employers don't let you drink on the job. Their not going to let you get high on the job. In most cases you can't smoke cigarettes.

I believe 'MEDICAL MARIHUANA" should be consume away from children who might think THAT IT IS OKAY TO GET HIGH.

Lol, okay then people shouldn't take their anxiety/pain medications when their kids are looking either. They might think it's okay to get "high".

I am for legalizing Marijuana! I am opposed to so called medical marijuana dispensaries.

What makes it too much. They are growing the plants for consuming patients or recreational users,

either way it is plants that will be used by American Citizens. It really should not matter how many plants. It should be legalized, and a regulated industry.

travis...By all means. It would seriously interfere with the Mexican drug cartel's business....Can't have that, now can we?

Colorblind - That's waaayyyyy to easy and simple a solution. So easy in fact that I am pretty certain that marijuana is being KEPT ILLEGAL by cartel pay-offs to our leaders. Everyone knows which side their bread is buttered on.

Hope..Uh, huh....Somebody is getting paid to keep the cartels in the MJ business. Good post.

Well, legalization would certainly lower the value. Those 800 plants would be worth diddly then which means every yoyo wanting to get rich quick would start looking for new methods.

Did one more jump in this train of thought - since the leaders accepted the pay-offs they are in grave danger if they now attempt to cut off the cartels profits. The pay-offs would probably be followed with serious threats to their health. We'd see Jimmy Hoffa type disappearances if pot got legalized. The cartels would reach out and touch the 'traitors' who cut off their luxury lifestyles.

Yes legalization would make pot worthless. That's the whole point really isn't it?

What's wrong with that?

The pay-offs would probably be followed with serious threats to their health. We'd see Jimmy Hoffa type disappearances if pot got legalized. The cartels would reach out and touch the 'traitors' who cut off their luxury lifestyles.

I see absolutely nothing wrong with that happening. Might make them think twice in the future about @!$%#ing the American citizens.

Travis: I can promise you that the "street-value" of what they found is far below the $1MM that they attributed to the bust.

If lucky, the DEA can resell this in Mexico or any number of other countries (as they do with ALL drugs confiscated in busts), and MAYBE make $80-100K in the process.

And if any of you lunatics out there don't believe that our own Government doesn't resell what they take from others, then you probably don't believe that BATF used the "Fast and Furious" scam was a ploy to restrict and/or ban the sales of firearms.

Must be some good stuff!

Just think if cannabis were legal they would be PAYING TAXES on that million dollars of cannabis . Instead it's costing us taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars to put those 9 people way for growing plants .

How stupid is that . It's no wonder the country is going broke .

The "$Million" figure is probably some "expert's" estimate of what all of the pot from all of the plants if they had all grown to full size would have been worth at full retail price. Vastly overestimating the "street value" of drugs is a known way to get bigger budgets, faster promotions, etc.

So for 800 plants he will get more time than someone that murdered someone. more time than someone drinking and driving and kills someone. More time than a rapist. More time than an armed robber. yea glad they caught him. they should hang him high. jeeze. leagalize that crap. and worry about the tons of meth coming across the borders instead. 15 tons was coming and mexico found it. guess they stopped playing ball with american government since the government was sending guns to there drug cartel buddies

...yeah and think of the 800 plants that were murdered. It's medieval.

Those 800 plants would have caught on fire in my state.

Yes, as a condition of probation you waive the right. A probation officer can inspect your home unannounced. In this story a guy who had a second chance through probation gets involved in criminal behavior. Some people never learn.

The biggest problem is the ignorant prohibition. It is time to repeal the prohibition, and create a regulated industry that will generate many jobs, and tax dollars. Both of which are greatly needed by our nation.

The problem though, with being a felon is that if you think it's hard to get hired in today's job market, it's virtually impossible as felon on probation. People do what they have to do to survive. There were a total of 9 people arrested here with 800 plants. I figure the wholesale value of each plant at roughly $300. (Final street price is what PD always uses, which is an inaccurate business model.)

So that is $240,000 worth of inventory split 9 ways. Each person gets about $26,000 out of it. That's still not too bad, since they can harvest every 3-4 months. Figure it at perhaps $100,000 per year per person, before expenses.

That keeps them off welfare. And it gives them an income better than knocking over liquor stores or robbing banks. Plus, it's American grown. Keeps the money local instead of siphoning out of our economy.

police can enter any home they want under a 'welfare check', if the have reason to believe someone might be in danger or hurt inside a private residence they can enter, with a warrant though(if the cops view a crime in the private residence, no warrant). not to hard to get a warrant for a welfare check (hour or two) as most judges see this as a safety check, the issue then becomes what if the officers find something illegal, the warrant does not cover the search of illegalities but the cops witness a illegal act, which they would most certain arrest you. the warrant issue can be brought up in court but we all know its a game of money and power after that (there are good judges mind you).

while the cops had the authority to arrest the parolee, i see no legal authority to arrest the others as its not a crime to be 'in the vicinity of a crime'. ultimately i see no vested authority in any governing body to arrest people for growing a plant, a pot operation should be like any other business (depending on use) and regulated/taxed as such. personal consumption (possession and production) is the sole right of the individual, no one else.

:) I think Heaven might be deserted by now. Not sure there are too many of us could get through those pearly gates.

Who wants to be in heaven with Ghandi and Mother Theresa anyway?

I really want to go to heaven because my ex wife and her mother are waiting for me in hell.

thank you bob

thanks again bob , that was funny as hell!!!!!

Legalize pot yes, tax it no. Why should this move from "illegal" to legal with Government getting a reward - i.e. tax revenue.

The benefits to mankind in medicinal value and the redued waste on our prison and legal system are benefits enough.

What's your point?

Yeah, and think if she had just left it at that. For sure, it's not the pot that has her lying a corpse.

Yeah, Bill...what's your joint........I mean point? ;0

Yup: They are both mind altering drugs. Weak people need them, to gather enough strength to face life.

Yes they do.That and religion.

People with cancer need it also. Don't think they are "weak" in the sense that you used the term. There is medicinal value in MJ. Too bad so many people abused the system that it is being taken away from people that really need it.

You have no clue. Yes it can be used as a mind altering drug, but also as an effective pain medication with little or no side effects. Unlike bike pharmacy drugs that have 100's of side effects. It has nothing to do with weakness. Do you take pain medication when you hurt. Of course you do. Aspirin well that's a drug fool.

Tumbleweed - Reality is for people that can't handle drugs.

The gateway drug theory has been completely debunked. Just because someone tries one substance before using another doesn't imply the the former led to the latter. Of course, anyone who is inclined to experiment with drugs will start with a milder, more commonly used one. The fact is, most pot users don't go on to harder drugs. And for those who use meth or heroin, what do you think the chances are that they tried alcohol and tobacco first. Does this means alcohol and tobacco lead to heroin use? Of course not. The late, great George Carlin said it best, "Beer leads to heroin; everybody knows it. In fact, mother's milk leads to everything."

Gateway drug? that is funny. who told you that, the government? did you know that your government has also labeled cocaine a schedule two drug and pot is a schedule one, making pot the more dangerous drug? so cocaine is technically, according to your government, a gateway drug to pot use.

Sugar is the gateway drug .

Breast milk can be considered a gateway drug too, if you want it to be.

How do you feel about the Cannabinoids floating around in your bloodstream right now?

.....what was the question again?

I feel really good about my cannabinoids.

Medical MJ is not legal on the Federal level for anyone and the Feds are arresting people--not for the MJ, but for possessing firearms and ammunition--like hunting rifles that they have owned for generations--and they are not giving them back. They agreed to not prosecute medicinal users at first and now have flipped on that and are arresting anyone. Nice they have a list because the medicinal users went through the legal channels to do it right. The Feds need to back off and let the States decide what is best for them. Instead, they are just making it more profitable for the cartels and gangs to do business here. Why support the cartels? Legalize it. Tax it. Apply the same DUI laws to it and move on. Cut the cartels out of the equation--shoot the hostage.

Tshanny, there was a Safeway directly across the street from my kids' high school that sold alcohol and cigarettes. I would rather my kids smoked pot than use either of those. If you think differently, you need education.

But they won't get their hunting rifles back....It is legal to own firearms and possess alcohol....

Exactly, legalize and tax it. Then the money can go to good causes and not to the cartels. I'm glad you finally saw the light here.

I'm glad too. You finally figured it out, AZ.

Yes: tobacco, alcohol, and precription drugs KILL. We already have enough killers on the market. Don't add more.

World wide the government prescribed drugs kill more people than all the wars ever fought on this earth in a single year.

But lets go after those horrible marijuana growers because everyone knows how many people they kill = zero.

Government hiprocracy at it's finest.

Prescribed drugs are manufactured by American cartels and pushed by doctor/dealers. They make the pharmaceutical companies billions and KILL millions of people. We need to fight them as well as the Mexican cartels.

AZ, give me one incident where pot killed. And don't include ANY where alcohol was a factor.

Well said Cooper. Meth is the scourge of the Earth...go after it with everything you have...But MJ? Cut out the profits for the cartels and tax it.

Coke and even heroin are just hyperrefined natural plant substances, but that is different than just drying a leaf. Meth is based on a chemical that is just a synthetic analogue of a natural plant derived substance, pseudoephedrine. It's made it hard to get real ephedra leaves at a health food or herbal store. It's garbage, and it kills people, even innocent kids who are around while it is being cooked off. I really don't mind a War on Meth. But I mind waging war against a silly little plant.

As someone who uses mj to help me relax and go to sleep I fully support legalizing marijuana. Yes we would gain quite a bit of revenue by taxing it the same as alcohol and tobacco. It is the effect on the Mexican cartels I wonder about. I think they will stay in business by supplying cocaine and and meth. It was just recently I read about the cartels being busted for making and exporting huge quantities of meth. Just a thought.

Yes, they ARE dangerous drugs. Your point is?

Top Gun - And I don't think it's going to get better in the near future. In fact, I believe we're witnessing the end our our American empire. Our country is going down the tubes due to greed, rampant gov't spending, rampant consumption by citizens who feel entitled (welfare, food stamps etc taken by people who really DON'T need them), military spending, and a host of other problems.

These problems make legalization of growing a plant so far down on the list I doubt it ever happens. Sad but true. There are bigger and worse things to deal with. In the mean time we are making lots of drug lords very comfortable and happy. Lots of other violent criminals are happier too knowing that law enforcement money is tied up fighting pot users rather than be applied to violent crime.

It's going to be hard to keep the country together when half of us stay high on pot.

Half of the country already is so What's your point?

Arizona - I guarantee it won't be half. I feel as if you're spoofing anyhow. The food sales from smokers with the munchies will ensure plenty of sales for grocery stores. Heh-heh.

Liquor use didn't skyrocket when prohibition ended. Use of pot won't either. In fact it might taper off. The thrill of doing something illegal/dark/dangerous can make certain things sparkly and attractive to some. Once that thrill is removed so is some of the desire to partake.

My prediction is that levels of use will stay about where they are now.

Chester, why don't they ban alcohol? I am not a pot smoker, but having worked in the field of addiction the devastation caused by alcohol is much worse than with pot.

Pot Smokers, don’t tell me you can't become addicted to Pot, you are wrong. However your social and physical damage from your addiction is usually much less painful than other substances. You will have to suffer the consequences of inhaling the smoke that contains all the carcinogens produced by burning plant material. Not much different than tobacco.

Chester even knowing the problems associated with pot I am in favor of legalizing it and taxing it to cover the treatment of those that are not psychologically able to use the substance without problems. Additionally I believe that Budweiser and all the other companies that produce alcohol should be paying the cost of Treatment centers and emergency room trauma for Alcohol related injury.

Chester - Sorry you're still living the "Reefer Madness" mentality. You are certainly entitled to your opinion naturally but the stance of paranoia died out long ago.

DUIs would be dealt with same as alcohol DUIs are today. But that's a very weak argument to put forward. Got any better ones? (I'm not trying to make you angry - I'm really asking . . . )