It's time for the federal government to catch the hint. Pot Prohibition is dead. The war on drugs has been an abismal failure, mainly because they wasted time and money on pot smokers that they could have been putting towards drug education and rehabilitation.

I served 4 years in state prison for posession of a nickel bag of pot back in the late 60's. I still smoke today and have lived a full, responsible and productive life all this time. I'm just lucky that the prison time didn't change that as it well might have.

The drug czars in Washington will probably meet after work at the bar and discuss over their double scotches how to handle this situation.

The revenue it will generate for schools, healthcare and state programs will be a big plus to the states. Not to mention as well as the cost of jailing pot smokers and carriers will also be reduced. It is time for the federal government to admit it .. more good can come from this then harm. This will allow police to focus on the serious drug dealers like the coke,heroine and crack dealers. it is time do get rid of this prohabition...the people voted on it and they want it. The cost of trying to enforce all these anti-drug departments is way out of control and this could help alot at reducing the cost to the country.

Jem, someone has to support the Cartels & gangs at the federal level, I have always wondered what type of deals our government has made with the ruling class of mexico & latin america. I say this because I can't think of any other reason why the federal gov hasn't take Marijauna of the illegal list since it is lest harmful then alcohol or prescriptions drugs & has no physical addiction elements.

@Sees,

The problem for the federal government is not so much one of PR, but of legalities. The federal government cannot have one set of laws/rules for California, Washing, Oregon, Colorado, Montana and other states that have legalized marijuana to some degree and another set of laws for everyone else. This is something that is simply not doable legally. So the federal government is stuck trying to enfore the same laws everywhere unless Congress changes them.

What it is going to take is pretty much a vast majority (30+) of states to legalize it and the federal government will have to act.

While the states have relied greatly on federal law for marijuana sanctions, undoing the mess at the state/local level is much easier and will result in direct savings in law enforcement and imprisonment costs, not to mention any money brought in by taxation. Nearby states will likely strike their own legalization poses because they don;t want to miss out on the revenue/savings and figure, "What the hell. Might as well legalize it because people will just go to the next state and buy it there."

Washington did a very well-thought out approach in allowing a year for the state to fully regulate the use and purchase of marijuana while redacting the criminal penalties right away. Very thoughtful and smart.

Out here in CA the feds have been systematically shutting down the medical marijuana dispensaries. They are not doing it through direct action, they are doing it by sending letters to the dispensaries' landlords telling them that if they do not kick out the dispensaries that the feds will seize their property as being part of a criminal enterprise. They are using statutes meant to seize the proceeds of criminal drug activity to threaten the seizure of private property because they do not like who they are renting to. They are claiming that renting to the dispensaries is a violation of federal law. Most landlords, because of fear of losing their buildings, are kicking out the dispensaries so that they have no where to operate. This despite the fact that Obama initially sad that he would not use the federal government to go after medical marijuana in states where it was legal. I guess we see how much Obama's word can be counted on. Obama could care less about states right any more than he cares about the constitution. He will do whatever he feels like doing, and that includes going after the states that have legalized marijuana. I would bet that the next thing we here from Obama is that he is cutting off federal funding for various things from any state the legalizes marijuana. I would bet that federal highway funds go first since that is one of the feds favorite weapons.

JD I just realized that you weren't from South Dakota, thought so all along, so are you from San Diego rather?

The continuing of pot prohibition is the epitome of frivolous lawsuits and the misuse of power and tax payer dollars by the Federal Government that we supposedly own through our vote which made pot legal yet the Federal Government turns around and refuses to honor the vote! That's treason people!

What ever happened to "by the people for the people"? The PEOPLE voted to legalize this relatively benign herb and who are the stinking FEDS to try and deny them that right? Since when did this turn into a dictatorship where our 'supreme leaders' have the final say in all matters?

Also here's another thing to consider. Lots of people think 'hey I don't use it personally so why should I care'? Well here's why you should care.
-Less of your tax dollars spent prosecuting nonviolent mj users in the courts.
-Less of your taxes spent locking them up.
-Less of your taxes spent funding DEA operations and task forces.
-LOADS of taxes brought in from legalized sales.
--It would help lots of people with medical conditions+less money for big pharma.
-Your friends and family wouldn't have their lives screwed up big time for enjoying a better and safer alternative to alcohol.
-Legalization largely would eliminate the whole gateway theory.
-Better education for your kids on the issue.
-Regulation would make it HARDER for your kids to get it. Drug dealers don't ask for ID. Liquor stores do.
-Alcohol use would probably go down(always a plus)
-Industrial hemp has huge applications. It would improve loads of everyday products that we use and make them better/cheaper. It has potential for bio-fuels, clothing, paper, construction materials and much much more./
-We could redirect the resources spent fighting mj to really crack down on the dealers and producers of the harder stuff like meth/heroin/coke.

Or hey let's just waste another trillion dollars fighting the 'devil weed' and ruin the lives of millions more.

I see people comment on here about how the feds are shutting down dispensaries in California, but it has been small and ineffective to say the least. To date, there are still 5 stores within walking distance of my apartment whereas there used to be 7. How has this effected me? Not at all...

Jem, someone has to support the Cartels & gangs at the federal level, I have always wondered what type of deals our government has made with the ruling class of mexico & latin America.

It's not deals with the cartels the Fed is making. It's deals with the private prison corporations. Marihuana laws are key to their profits. They're pushing for tougher laws in their own best interest.

Drug Laws make Foreign Drug Lords Rich.

Legalized Marijuana makes US Farmers Rich.

Things that are legal can be regulated and taxed.

• Legalize It!

Obama has been a huge disappointment regarding Pot. What the hell is wrong with him?

I agree Obama has been a disappointment when it comes to an individuals rights.

Why do they want to control grown ups?

Why do we allow them to?

We should start forcing them to do crazy stuff!!!

Lord knows they don't protect us from corporations that The supreme court protects as well as all law officials.

They will kill you for their corporations and kill you for your rights.

But, when it come to doing the right thing and protecting people from corporations that steal from the citizens they tell you to file a complaint with the BBB.

That won't get you your money back.

This government is losing it's reputation as an effective entity for the people & fast.

Drugs aren't killing us...

They and their corporations are....

With their crazy laws.

It should be that if everyone can't vote on laws that affect them then they can't be introduced into our society.

FREAK NATION!!!!

PHOENIX RISING....

Don't understand why the reefer madness mentality still exists. Also, where it came from. It'd make a great film. A filmmaker should tackle this topic. It's a timely idea. Anyone out there interested? Hope to see it aired on PBS in the near future. Perhaps some calm truth will help quench the ignorance over this plant which actually has many uses (beyond smoking).

I suspect some sort of payola from big crime and big pharma to our public servants in high places to keep it illegal. Too much at stake to lose all the graft money I suppose.

Peel layer and others- the reason the feds 'control' these sorts of things is that they have guns to back them and people paid to fire those guns. If you/we/I/ get too far out of line the people with the guns arrive and kill or incarcerate at gunpoint. It boils down to that. I for one am grateful for the gun lobby to keep that legal.

Don't understand why the reefer madness mentality still exists. Also, where it came from.

Where it came from was a former prohibition agent by the name of Harry Anslinger. Why it still exists is due to powerful interests such as the drug, tobacco, and alcohol lobbies, as well as the DEA, for-profit prisons, and right-wing religious groups. These people still have a ton of clout at the federal level, but they're slowly losing control...

There are several movies out there; check the NORML website for titles...

Ah Yes.....Soon there will be a Constitutional Crisis of which Obama and the Wall Street Corporate "Powers That Be" don't want to have or see happen!

Say what you will at least 17 States and the District of Columbia have said Medical Marijuana is LEGAL and now 2 say it is LEGAL anyone over the age of 21 to Possess Marijuanna....

Besides isn't the DOJ suppose to be out looking for "Terrorist" or something to "Protect" US?

Wow talk about a "Mega Corporate" Buzzkill!

Anheuser Busch and Al Capone are rolling over in their graves and Obama is / was a "Dope Smoker" anyway so where do these people get off putting other American Citizens in Jail for Crimes they too have committed?

http://www.cannabisculture.com/content/2012/05/29/New-Biography-Says-Obama-Smoked-Pot-Lot

Best let it go Mr President just let it go.....She has better things to be doing on YOUR TIME!

“You are not entitled to your opinion. You are entitled to your informed opinion. No one is entitled to be ignorant.” ~ Harlan Ellison

Hmm. Living in a so-called democratic society, one would assume that if the majority votes that one thing or another should be legal or illegal, said law would be respected by the feds? Different states have different laws on sodomy I'm sure, but the feds are not busting down doors in those states. Maybe they are though. Who really knows how far up all of our @sses the feds are going to remain, regardless of what we vote for.

Them is us!!!! We are the government! Politicians just try to do what we elected them to do.

Morons elect morons, who would you expect them to elect?

" ... Obama has been a huge disappointment regarding Pot. What the hell is wrong with him? ... "

The USAG swiped his stash. And the Secret Service Agents won't go out and get him another bag.

*toke* dudes! whass wrong with a little pot now and agian? Damn!

Just kidding. Seriously, when was the last time somebody who was stoned knocked over a liquor store, went on a rape and pillage rampage or took a baseball bat to a car? Unless there is a chocolate brownie involved, stoned people are pretty darned harmless ... a hell of a lot more so than drunks.

Legalize it everywhere, tax it like booze or cigarettes, make some revenue to help defray the federal debt, unburden the legal system and free up a bunch of cells in the prisons for the real criminals ... Wall Street bankers, investment brokers and corrupt CEOs.

Okay, now stop bogarting and pass it on over to me! = )

ever been at a stop sign to long...wait'n for the stop sign to turn green...wooo dude stop signs don't turn green...smoke'em if ya got 'em...

When one looks at total dollars made by players on both side the DEA thru wages paid to agents and pproperty seized ( mostly from joe the plumber types )then they both are muti billion dollar industries

drug use is the driving force behind the issue and making the use a crime that demands 30 yrs in jail does nothing to dry up demand

Drug enforment is a job that can pay 6 figure salries was 6 figure pensions so it only natural they fight to maintain the war on drugs

How about mandatory treatment for the evil drug crime at 1/10 the cost verses 100k a year that mostly hardens the addict

One big example of big government. Those who voted for Obama are getting what you voted for. When a state votes for their own laws and it has nothing to do with the Feds they should not be involved. When a government grows too big with so many with nothing to do what do you think would happen. Time for all the people to wake up and squash what authority the Feds think they have over state laws. the Feds have one purpose to protect the sovereignty of the United States that is all.

I'm from Washington, and I must say that I'm a bit confused. I'm supposed to pay a tax on my stash, but who do I pay? My dealer? Yeah, right!

Guess what, feds? You have no authority to override these laws, so why don't you crawl back into your holes and find some other rights to repress.

I hit my pipe today in honor of this state finally legalizing weed!

Marijuana is new??? Are you sure about that State Trooper Coon?

Ummm...I think he knows pot is not new, but law enforecement determining what level of marijuana intoxication should constitute impaired driving is. In the past they just locked people up, or here more recently they just confiscated their stash and maybe gave them a ticket. They've never quantified pot intoxication.

But then my guess is you like being ignorant. You like being afraid. You like hating. And your Bible says that it is ok to be that way.

Wow. Mass assumptions and outright bigotry. Who likes hating here?

justoneguy, Your otta your friggin mind !!I've never heard of anyone going to the er for smoking pot !! Maybe these idiots who are buying those bath salts are , but no one smoking weed goes to the er !! Hahahahaha how stupid a remark is this ????? You are an idiot first class !!

spider --

Not everyone gets "goofy" from smoking weed. That's a Hollywood stereotype used to make stupid movies. Many very successful people smoke the stuff responsibly.

So, some of you think that state law takes president over federal law? It don't work that way, however there is such a thing as citizen disobedience and peaceful protest. I envision a million person smoke in, in front of congress. Maybe a band stand for speeches and Willie Nelson. We can change the nations mind. We can stop being persecuted for the ingestion, manufacture, or simple possession of a harmless herb thats only side effect is it makes you feel better. If you get caught, plead not guilty, ask for a jury. One person on it will find that what ever you did wasn't bad enough to warrant the state taking your freedom or your money. At worse you tied up their court, taken the prosecutor to task. And if you do get caught don't feel guilty about anything. You haven't done anything but break a law that is worse then the crime.

justoneguy that little link, its called being bought and paid for...of course healthcare has an issue with this...they wont be able to prescribe Oxycontin for a headache anymore...

does this mean you can pull over and have the state highway patrol roll ya up a JOINT...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_wLVCLPx0M

I remember decades ago, it was so cool to smoke cigarette and they were featured in every movies. The reality is a deadly consequences and the same with pots being portray now.

I believe more in stats and so far there are far more dead with smoking and drinking than there are with potting.

Johnm-1308966

justoneguy, Your otta your friggin mind !!I've never heard of anyone going to the er for smoking pot !!

roadlesstraveled

justoneguy that little link, its called being bought and paid for

Ummm...sorry folks, the link on 10s of 1000s hospitalized for weed were from an MSNBC article...just today...

total BS Random... millions of us have smoked marijuana for many years and most of us never had a desire to try other stuff. You, Spider and several others here are apparently high on low-info opinions

justone, nice try. I've been on these forums all day (because classes are done and I go back home tomorrow). Link it or it didn't happen.

Geezus, how pathetic are you when your main concern in life is being able to get goofy from smoking a noxious weed?

Jeezus - how pathetic are you when your main concern is in a bottle of alcohol... It's better to make TEA and DRINK it - smoking is bad for your health (pizza also works well - "special oregano")

ever heard of someone going on a killing rampage while high on weed,overdosing on weed or getting cancer from smoking too much?whats the governments problem.somewhere theres an uptight control freak in the government that feels they just must tell us what to do

Well They'll Stone You When You Live All Alone ... Everybody Must Get Stoned !                    W hashington has gone from from spending $100 million dollars a year fighting herb to making $100 million a year fighting the Feds. Net profit of $600 million dollars a year! how do you spell DOPE???? W a s h i n g t o n  D C

One big example of big government. Those who voted for Obama are getting what you voted for. When a state votes for their own laws and it has nothing to do with the Feds they should not be involved. When a government grows too big with so many with nothing to do what do you think would happen. Time for all the people to wake up and squash what authority the Feds think they have over state laws. the Feds have one purpose to protect the sovereignty of the United States that is all.

Guess you never herd of the supremacy clause....go back and take a Civics class

"The continuing of pot prohibition is the epitome of frivolous lawsuits and the misuse of power and tax payer dollars by the Federal Government that we supposedly own through our vote which made pot legal yet the Federal Government turns around and refuses to honor the vote! That's treason people!"

I think maybe a better word would be tyranny.

Drug Dealers are a gateway to other drugs. Legalize, tax and sell Marijuana in stores and drug dealers won't convince idiots to try something else instead.
No one would buy Marijuana from a dealer if they can get it at a smoke shop. Why buy it from a thug on the street that might rob and murder you when you can get in stores like a pack of smokes.
Locking up close to a million non violent drug offenders a year is a travesty. Prohibition doesn't work it just creates more victims and makes criminals richer.

One big example of big government. Those who voted for Obama are getting what you voted for.

If only they would have voted for Romney things would be different.... That was sarcasm.

FYI, Veeco, Dan Coon is not a trooper. He is a civilian working in Government and Media Relations at the WSP. But you're right. Troopers have been identifying drivers impaired by MJ use for years. Making it legal will do nothing to make that job harder. Impaired driving is impaired driving, the nature of the impairment is not relevent.

Wha'd I tell ya, hopheads. Looks like you'll have to keep your narcissistic self indulgence indoors.

The DEA will not quit unless Congress tells them to. Without Congress, you don't have jack sh!t.

Too bad, hopheads. Too bad.

But look on the bright side. You still have jumpsuit orange or Joe Arpaio pink you can wear.

LOL...

When a federal agent bust one person for smoking a doobie then I am going to call TYRANNY at its highest level.

Lets not forget our governent ran cocaine from south america to pay for weapons in foreign nations...IRAN CONTRA AFFAIR ANYONE??

Who the heck are they going to send to bust the dude with a joint from the feds??? Ollie North????

I totally agree with Random.

Pot smoking leads to other stronger drugs like it did for my long time best friend because he got so used to it he wanted stronger drugs and now hes dead at age 26 because of it and the pot smoking drug was just the beginning of the end for him and many others.

This is just an excuse for people to get closer to other stronger drugs and those who say nope not me only weed for me, never say never.

I'm proud to say i don't drink alcohol or do drugs and I'm in my 40's and I probably will live a longer life because of it and my best friend that I miss so much which was like a brother to me I don't have. If my best friend didn't smoke pot and do other drugs he would probably be in his 40's now enjoying a longer life like me.

Think about it real hard before you make the biggest mistake and a bad habit, once your addicted to alcohol, pot smoking or any drugs you are hooked till the death like my best friend and many others.

Be wise not a fool.

@justoneguy

|

Your link leads to site about SPICE which is SYNTHETIC pot not the real plant and is LEGAL....Now spice is not only addictive but deadly as well...... this has nothing to do with pot WHAT SO EVER...so your point is invalid.

Hey "JustoneGuy"...

Maybe you are one of the 1,000's that ended up in the E.R. like a Dumbass because you cant handle a little THC. You should not smoke pot its bad for you.

@ justoneguy

Ok, I read the article you linked to. It was all about synthetic MJ (aka Spice), which IS very dangerous. However, the quote from the story you posted was the entire reference to ER visits due to "actual" MJ use.

There was NOTHING else in the article that elaborated on this statement. No source reference, no reasons attributed to the ER visits, nothing explaining this little fact they slipped into the middle of the article. So, yes it does state there are 461,000 ER visits as a result of MJ use, but gives no basis for this claim.

I realize that if it is on the internet it MUST be true, but I would really like to be able to delve a little deeper into this. If you have anything else that could help shed some light on this incredible claim, I for one, would love to see it.

I may not be as smart as some, but I cannot think of any circumstance that would send a pot smoker to the emergency room.

Gateway drug.

In my case, my first drug was alcohol, then pot. I'd bet most people first used alcohol. As the gateway drug to pot, then beyond....shouldn't it be illegal also.

Oh, that's right....they tried it....it turned Chicago into a violent gang-ruled place.

Since we found out that Prohibition dramatically increased crime and turned tax revenue into criminal income.....why can't the Feds figure out 2+2=4 for both alcohol and pot.

Wire557, It wouldn't surprise me if you were an alchoholic

Tax it and move on , we have bigger problems to face as a country

@justoneguy

Looks like someone missed the HUGE identifier of what type of drug people were admitted to the ER for. Without even clicking I read the word "synthetic" so lets see here... Stand beside your sheeple and further prove our points. Why we are stereoptyped as stoner hippie retards? I have not a clue, but it's people like YOU who are the root of the problem because you can only read half of a sentence, skip the rest of the article, and pick out your newly found four letter word, Marijuana.

I suggest doing some actual research (no wiki or msnbc), or maybe try simply reading the news articles before posting your nonsense, just sayin..

@ Ronson

You're so f_cking dilluted it's not even funny. Just because someone smoked pot and tried a different drug didn't mean that pot caused it. GET A CLUE!

People always want to blame everything on pot. Did your friend ever drink? Because I bet you 10:1 he drank before he ever smoked pot. But would you blame alcohol for being the "gateway" drug? No, because it's legal, right?

The idea of "gateway drugs" is just a load of horse hockey. I've smoked pot for quite some time now and I can GUARAN-F_CKING-TEE you than I have NEVER had the notion that doing coke/heroin/meth or anything else would be a better idea that smoking pot. I've never touched them.

It's not the drug that causes the problem - it's the dumbass who uses the drug that causes the problem. Anyone with half a brain would look @ crack and turn away. Your friend was a dumbass and it wasn't pot's fault.

You said you're 40...so I think it's time you grow up now. Ok?

100 out of 100 heroin users drank milk as children.

Let's make milk illegal !!!!

BigBennyBenassi - It is a matter of "freedom of choice." People should be free to smoke whatever they want. Everyone on the planet knows about the dangers of smoking tobacco, yet cigarette sales still are a very big part of the economy; and cigarettes are available in almost every grocery store, mini-mart, or gas station convenience store.

The bottom line is, people should be allowed to smoke rareified goat manure if they think it will ease their pain.

I often wonder about, whatever became of "State's Rights" and why State's RIghts is such an important matter. This is a clear situation where the Feds need to mind their own business, and not interfere with the laws of a state.

Oh, I get it, if the state of WA legalized and taxes marijuana, but there is no income to the feds... So, like a child that cannot get its way, the Feds will do whatever they can to make it difficult.

Across the United States, there are many people in jail and prison, due to convictions involving pot. The costs of maintaining these prisoners is enough to almost bankrupt most cities, counties, and states. (Consider that it might average about $100+ per day, (exception being Sheriff Arpaio), to incarcerate the average inmate. That would include, correctional administration and officer wages. food and medical for the inmate.) Someone getting a sentence of 364 days, is a very expensive situation for the taxpayers - $36,400. Is is worth it? I do not believe it is worth it.

It does not make any economic sense to prosecute and incarcerate minor offenses involving pot. I live in WA, but I am not a pot smoker. However, I have heard that eating the raw leaves and tender stems, as in added to a green salad, helps ease arthritis pain. The regular opiate based pain medications have the side effect of severe constipation. Pot would not do that.

Therefore, the dietary intake of pot will keep you off the pot.... eh?

Most people who are suffering with arthritis pain have a short temper. The feds better be careful about whose toes they try to step on, in restricting the use of pot for easing pain. A riled up senior citizenry will doom the feds. !!

The "Powers-that-Be" just love "Democracy" and Mob Rule...

Until the MOB decides on something the Powers-that-Be don't want - and then there's hell to pay.

Can't have it both ways, Washington.

Retired Police Captain demolishes the War on Drugs

www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8yYJ_oV6xk&feature=player_embedded#!

Search youtube if link will not show up above.

Heather-2356707

@justoneguy

|Your link leads to site about SPICE which is SYNTHETIC pot not the real plant and is LEGAL....Now spice is not only addictive but deadly as well...... this has nothing to do with pot WHAT SO EVER...so your point is invalid

Dry up Heather and READ THE ARTICLE......http://healthyliving.msn.com/health-wellness/synthetic-pot-sending-thousands-of-young-people-to-er-report-1 - gawd.....ROFL

health risks associated with the growing use of synthetic marijuana. The report also puts such use in context, observing, for example, that actual marijuana use accounted for far more ER visits (exceeding 461,000) in the same time frame.

Can you say DEA is on its way, soon federal prosector will pad their comviction rate. Y'all have just handed DEA its dream no contest drug convictions. smart you also put WA at risk to lose its federal transportation funds. the federalis will soon come in and clean up Wa politics.

sorry, but reading through all the liberal minded posts just has me all tickled. After all, it is the Democratic agenda that "Government knows best". It is also very much the agenda that the Federal Government is the hub of all society in the US.

Well, the Federal Government, as voted by the people, says marijuana is bad... and who is to argue with the Savior, Barack Obama?

It's got to really suck, especially when you realize that the Fed control versus State control was a key campaign point by Mitt Romney. How many times did he say that laws and regulation should be held at the State level and less "Big Brother"... funny how people just really would rather have more goverment, less money and more Feds telling you what is right/wrong for you and everyone else.

Welcome to the Socialistic view. You don't know what it right, and you are not capable of making rational choices, unless government tells you. And only thing stopping anyone from saying otherwise is the protect under the Constitution. Soon as they can get that tired old rag out of hte way, should be free sailing to total control.

I love weed I smoke everyday. I live in CA and everyone does. No discrpencies with age, sex, religion, and race. We all smoke lol. Having said that, alcohol without a doubt way my gateway. It's that first feeling of being intoxicated that get you. I only do natural things including mushrooms. If its from the ground its good. There is absolutely nothing wrong with grown adults making decisions to do natural drugs. The govt needs to let the people decide what is right for them in social issues. No one will tell me what to do or put in my body ;)

I see a lot of people stating about the tax revenue that could be generated from this and how it can help, and the government is beating up on people about a 'failed war'.

Everyone seems to be forgetting 1 important industry in this country that the end of the war on drugs, especially against pot will be almost a death nail to: Big Prison.

You've got so many States who have farmed out their facilities, especially the lower security facilities, to private corporations that people are forgetting they have a vested interest in making sure pot keeps getting you thrown in jail. Either by the feds, or by the States via DUI law violations, or public 'intoxication' laws modified for pot usage. We've got over 2% of our population within the prison system now, and most of that is non-violent offenses with a majority of those offenses being drug use, again mostly pot.

The system, and prison industry, isn't going to give up wrecking people's lives without a very long and dirty fight. Way too much money and power at stake.

RANDOMPENNSYLVANIAN, this is one of the silliest things I've ever heard:

"Marijuana is legalized. Eventually, people will get tired of it and start turning to other drugs. Then people are going to want to legalize super dangerous drugs like heroin. If you give a mouse a cookie, he'll want a glass of milk..."

First of all, I have never had a mouse come after me for milk after giving it a bit of cookie, or even for some wine after a bit of cheese. But, seriously, there is a lot wrong with your statement. Yes, there are those that will look for an elevated high when pot just doesn't do it for them, but A) that is a problem that needs to be addressed by a psychologist/substance abuse counselor, not you or I. B) Those people that do "get tired" of pot and look for an elevated high will do it whether it is legal or not, so legalizing marijuana has absolutely no bearing on that. In fact, legalizing it will actually have a discriminatory effect which does not exist when it is illegal. C) Your follow up comment about it being proven that people who drink often seek stronger alcohol? Yes...they are called alcoholics. Please refer back to point A. D) The slippery slope argument of people eventually wanting to legalize stronger drugs is an old and tired scare tactic that has been proven invalid over and over again. The liklihood of the majority of people not recognizing the difference between a relatively harmless herb and a life destroying drug like heroin and making it legal is a pretty far fetched idea. E) Can I assume that you are not a hypocrite and that you would be 100% in favor for a return to alcohol prohibition as it has been proven to be MUCH more harmful to self, family, and others than marijuana?

I read that in colorado if you have over 5ng in ur system you are DUI. That amount will normally show up for weeks or months after you smoke. So basically, if enforced stoners will need to stop driving or they'll all be going to Big Prison. A lot! Yippee! Right now i am not all that worried about driving while high but would never drink & drive. In CO or WA i'd be terrified to drive high now.

I do not use marijuana in any form, but I think it is immoral to deny people who need it,to use it for medical purposes. I also think it is foolishness to keep it illegal. Why? The government both at the federal and state levels are crying about being broke, yet they continue to spend money going after the pot users and the pot trade. They waste millions on investigations, prosecution and incarceration. They would not only save a ton of $$ by legalizing it, and they could regulate and tax the heck out of it, which would generate $$. I do not think it is any more dangerous than alcohol or more addictive.

The old argument that it leads to stronger drugs is ridiculous and untrue.

@ LegalizeItALL

Don't lie cause your screen name gave it away, your screen name is saying legalize all drugs etc.

Your a pot head fool who never grew up cause you still acting like the teenager you was back in school when you thought it was cool to smoke pot with your friends and you never out grew it and you still smoke pot cause you think it makes you cool but really your a immature fool like the others.

I'm the one who grew up very mature not you. Your the one who needs to grow up you immature fool.

johnQcitizen

"ever heard of someone going on a killing rampage while high on weed,overdosing on weed or getting cancer from smoking too much?"

Cancer yes,

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/CancerPreventionAndTreatment/marijuana-tied-testicular-cancer-risk/story?id=17183711

http://www.ukcia.org/research/SquamousCellCarcinoma.pdf

Remember that smoking anything introduces carcinogens into the body and can increase the likelihood of cancer among other things.

I don't smoke or drink alcohol, they are gateway to stronger stuffs. I say let's BAN them all.

Ban Beer too while we are at it.

See what I did there, just because I don't use it, doesn't mean I have to make it illegal so everyone else can't use it either.

Marijuana anything from the Government will be not a patriot decision, but a business decision.
Whatever gives them the most profit, whatever takes the least out of the bottom
line is what major companies opt to do and our Government operates like an
major company.

To John130....

So you never heard of anyone high on MJ go to the ER eh? Well being a Firefighter and EMT, I've seen plenty of victims killed by MJ smokers who've gone to the morgue because of those dopes.

Dinky_Dau

The Feds carrot, dollars..... If ya do something we both want done we will fund the
project partially and in return you do something for us, how about it States?
And of course our fine fellow electies who secretly have pledges to others,
other than the allegiants to the flag, figure since the project needs done we
may as well get Fed dollars. How many have witnessed our elected officials
scrambling around like mad men trying to get the money needed for a project
because Fed dollars are at stack. It’s almost criminal. Look how they are
really pushing the control of growers. If a person grew their own who would
profit? If they grew for their friends and gave it to them when asked, who
would profit? If eventually they sold some and reported the sell as income to the
Feds and sales tax to the State, who would profit?(this would still be illegal)

The power I think you’re talking about is the power to grow.....because the first
two scenarios aren’t making anybody any money.

I vision home invasions by police under DEA order breaking down a door going into the home
weighing a pot plant and ripping out of its little pot pot, hand cuffing the
home owner and hauling them down town, as they say, then letting sweating it
out awhile and letting them go, later that evening have good laughs and stories
of the day. Remember if your plant is growing too fast and gets over an ounce
ya better smoke faster or find more friends,

Anyone else see the contradiction in the Federal governments behavior? Arizona passes laws that mirror Federal law to deal with the illegal alien problem the Federal government refuses to deal with. So the Federal government sues them.

But here we have states passing laws that are in direct contradiction to Federal law and the government "fires a warning shot".

I guess suing the states might cost the Democrats too many votes.

You care to present any proof of that Back East? One case that we can verify through a news article or something? Reference to just one case where it was attributed to marijuana directly?

Also being an EMT, I'll give you numbers from my experience that can be backed up by statistics and studies. Based on serious or fatal injuries through accidents or acts of violence that can be directly connected to a substance:

Alcohol: 95%

Other drugs ie. coke, inhalants, meth etc. : 3%

Prescription meds : 2%

Next.

The 70's are back!!! Quick, all you hippies run out and get Volkswagon buses! Then drive them to Colorado and Washington ! (The rest of you stay armed and ready to nuke Both states and California).

Just sayin'. As much as I enjoy my tin foil hat and all anyway.

EM-1989317 The Obama administration has been cracking down on "State Legal" medical marijuana dispensaries over the past 4 years. In fact, the Obama administration has been far harsher on marijuana than Bush ever was.

The Obama Justice Department has decided to reverse a Bush administration policy involving the enforcement of federal marijuana laws in states that allow medical marijuana. In other words, the feds will not enforce marijuana laws in such states.

"The guidelines to be issued by the department do, however, make it clear that agents will go after people whose marijuana distribution goes beyond what is permitted under state law or usemedical marijuana as a cover for other crimes," the officials said.

EM, you want to rethink that post?

There are two ways to change the Constitution

1 If Congress takes it up.

2 If 2/3 of the states demand it. And if 3/4 of the states demand it, it becomes ratified.

It is about time the states start to take power back from failed federal policies ruled by lobbyists. Hemp being made illegal was largely due to the cotton lobbyists and now the largest importer of hemp in the world is the US. I would like to see it made legal by demand from the states just for the sake of proving that "We the People" are running the US. Imagine what federal policies we could change once they realized that the people in the states do have power over them.

Proposition on the ballot in two years in every state to legalize Marijuana demanding a repeal of federal law. Then we move on to the Sixteenth Amendment.

The drug czars in Washington will probably meet after work at the bar and discuss over their double scotches how to handle this situation.

Double scotches?!? Hell, they're probably doing lines of coke off a prostitutes a$$ while they quibble over how to arrest pot-smoking college students in washington state...

All the b*tching Obama bashers are complaining because his administration is enforcing Federal laws. How about you go after the people who WROTE those laws? Want weed legal? Go tell that to the people in Congress YOU elected. THEY write the laws. THEY determine what is legal and what is not. You want to whine and cry because you elected a guy and he's doing his job? Enough with the hypocritical bullsh*t already. I suppose you want him to pick and chose only certain laws to enforce. The moment he does that someone else will jump up b*tching about that too.

Ummm...I think he knows pot is not new, but law enforecement determining what level of marijuana intoxication should constitute impaired driving is. In the past they just locked people up, or here more recently they just confiscated their stash and maybe gave them a ticket. They've never quantified pot intoxication.

I'll help law enforcement out. As a general rule, if you're TOO stoned to be driving, chances are you aren't on the road anyway as you're at home ordering pizza or eating Oreo's.

:)

I wonder if the smokers realize that it changes nothing for their employers. Fail one drug test and you’ll could find yourself unemployed and possibly unemployable for a while. MJ shows up in urine tests for up to 13 days. Then of course there is the hair follicle test which can show a positive result for up to 3 years.

Guess the states can use all that extra cash to help with the extra welfare they may be handing out to folks who are fired for testing positive. They won’t be eligible for unemployment because they will have been fired for cause, so welfare will be the only thing on the table for them.

Chris from Yucaipa

"I suppose you want him to pick and chose only certain laws to enforce."

I hate to argue, but we haven't had a President in decades that enforced our immigration laws.

I feel the war on drugs should be concentrated on stopping the smuggling of drugs into the country and stop punishing the small users. It is idiotic to put someone in jail for a long term when all they're doing is using it on themselves. Pushers and smugglers on the other hand should be stopped at any cost to insure the safety of young kids who may be caught in the drug trap.

As for drug enforcement within the state... that should be like alcohol. If the state wants to make it illegal then they should pay for enforcing the laws they pass. If a person smokes marijuana then he/she should be treated like a person using alcohol. Too much and you go to jail and are subject to lose your license.

Smoking in public should be treated like smoking tobacco. Not allowed. I don't want to smell the crap. I never knew just how offensive tobacco smoke was until I quit so now I apologize to those I offended.

States rights are the way america should be ran..........screw the feds.....liars.......self serving scum.....wasteful.........CROOKS...........16,000,000,000,000 and growing.

Caused the death of 750000 americans that was not necessary as well during the war of northern AGGRESSION.

oblama obamao care will ruin health in america.......look at the VA hospitals for what it will be like.......by the way if you are a vet i recommend you AVOID going to VA hospital as i have worked at one before........after they drug you up they'll do what ever they want to and it is the treatments that causes them the least amount of paper work and hassle. Almost always that is not what you NEED!!!!!!!! And they do it at a SNAILS PACE ON PURPOSE to boot.

If you trust the feds and the history they wrote you are misguided at best, too bad IQ is a gift most people think they possess but reality proves otherwise.

What I find humorous is that those individuals who voted for Obama think he's going to turn a blind eye towards the federal law breakers in Washington and Colorado. Far from it. Obama's ideology of a supreme centralized federal government will not cotton to any upstart state flouting federal law. A word of caution to you pot smokers in those states. Don't make the mistake of of thinking you're home free. More than likely you will be made an example of to deter any other state from thinking it can usurp federal authority.

Pat Edmonson, 67, of Whidbey Island, Wash., was in Seattle with her daughter to celebrate the legalization of the possession of marijuana.

That's one hot pot smoker...Not!

@Pennsylvanian

It's a scientific fact that marijuana is a gateway drug to other drugs. If you take a lot soft drugs, you'll eventually want harder drugs. It's like alcohol, if you drink a lot of light drinks, you will probably want a heavier drink. If you don't believe me...

That theory, that marijuana leads to harder drugs, has been dispelled years ago. The truth is that some people will progress to harder drugs, but it has nothing to do with marijuana.

The logic of your argument is flawed. You say people who use heroin started with pot, ergo pot leads to heroin use. Well, everyone who uses heroin started life drinking milk so, using your argument, milk leads to heroin abuse. It is not cause and effect, it is a correlation. Just like the correlation that most people with genital herpes have the call-waiting feature on their phones. Does call-waiting CAUSE herpes? No. Marijuana use does not cause heroin use either.

The only reason it is illegal is because DuPont and Wm. R. Hearst demanded that it be made illegal and the distillers didn't want the competition. DuPont, because hemp cut into his synthetic fabric business, Hearst because it was hurting his pulp wood business and the distillers because of the obvious competition. Paying off politicians is a time-honored tradition.

In 1936 Pennsylvania passed the Noxious Weed Act which placed a bounty on hemp plants, which were indigenous to the state. That act also made chicory and stevia illegal. Chicory was a coffee substitute and stevia was a sugar substitute. That bill was lobbied for by DuPont, Hearst, the wealthy coffee importers and the sugar cane moguls. The politicians were bought and those naturally growing plants were made illegal. It was all about the rich maintaining control of and increasing their fortunes at the expense of the 'regular folks'.

Just legalise pot, license growers, maintain standards, put people to work, tax it and get the hell over the Reefer Madness mentality.

john-737278

Chris from Yucaipa

"I suppose you want him to pick and chose only certain laws to enforce."

I hate to argue, but we haven't had a President in decades that enforced our immigration laws.

John, I'm not sure how you come to that conclusion but all presidents have enforced the immigration laws. It's just that some enforce them more strongly than others. Obama has exported 1 1/2 times more illegal immigrants than Bush but if you listen to Republicans that isn't good enough.

WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration set a new record for deportations, removing nearly 400,000 undocumented immigrants in the last fiscal year, Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced on Tuesday.

The agency removed 396,906 undocumented immigrants from the United States in the 2011 fiscal year, a slight increase from the previous year's 392,826 removals. Administration officials said the increase is the result of a continued focus on policing undocumented immigration, a rebuttal to claims by GOP presidential candidates and others who say the president has been too soft on unauthorized immigration.

So much money and effort is wasted on combating pot. I think the Fed’s need to relax and see if it really is the demon they think it is. Alcohol didn’t destroy the country, pot won’t either. And smokers… relax, trying to rub it in people’s faces that you “won” will only move more people to try to get it banned again.

Larry-2260635

I hate to tell you this but it is the Federal governments job to control our borders. I don't care how many are deported when they should not have been allowed to be here in the first place. We are all around the world protecting other countries borders while ours is a sieve.

Ok time to give a few facts here.

ONE: The 400k ER visits related to mj were most likely people who went to the ER for something else and just TESTED positive for mj in their system. Very few if any people went to the ER just for mj. The government just LOVES to use statistics like this to confuse and mislead the unwary.

As for the GATEWAY THEORY, that's long debunked bs. Some people will always struggle with an addictive personality and will always be looking for the next biggest thrill or high. Whatever drug they start with means nothing. They'll move to harder things. They could start with alcohol, tobacco or even those stupid energy drinks. Personally I've enjoyed cannabis responsibly for 3 years now and NEVER tried any other drugs. I never use it in the morning or before work and I don't drive high either. I might have some at 4 after work and then GASP eat dinner, watch some tv/movies and fall asleep. Horrifying I know ;)

I used to smoke back in the late 60's and 70's and pot is harmless. You have the people spouting off about how dangerous it is but they have never tried it. If people could grow it here and sell it just think of how it would affect all the weed coming in from Mexico and columbia. Besides show me the statistics were pot has caused anyone to kill,rob or commit any crime. Let it be tried and then after a few years see what happens. Im sure there will be some lawyer some where that will try and use it in a case to get his client off. Hey let's see what happens.

The only conceivable way someone would end up in the ER from pot is if they're a completely new smoker who smokes way too much and then freaks out and has a panic attack from it. In the end they'll be completely fine, but they'll possibly suffer from paranoia and worry "omg I feel numb and can't focus on things right I hope I'm not dying".

There will be NO criminal convictions for marijuana in any state that has decriminalized marijuana.

The Feds may as well give up in those states and go after real criminals.

Here's a clue for where the Feds can look for the real criminals, they usually show up in blue or grey suits and the places they work usually have the name "bank" in them.

Is really only three places I enjoy partaking of the cheeba: Flyfishing in the mountains, on the ski lift and in my living room. Have as much interest in walking down the street smoking a joint as I would brown bagging a bottle of jack, none. Am happy about the new law in my state and will respect it. The only buzzkill I can foresee are the people who feel the need to flaunt it in front of law enforcement, drive around with a bong in the backseat or smuggle Colorado weed into Wyoming or Kansas.

You want less illegals crossing the border John? Then tell your Congressmen to give Homeland Security more money to do it. Obama has done more to prevent border crossings and has deported more of them that made it in, in 4 years than Bush did in 8. Maybe we should work more on that fence, But hey, those Repubs in Texas don't want it on their land. Not to mention the last thing Republicans would vote for is to give Homeland Security any more money. That's just more Big Government that they are fighting against. As it is, Obama has almost doubled the number of Border Patrol agents from 11,000 under Bush to 18,500 as of 2011. When Congress demanded he send troops to the border, he did. 1,200 of them. At a cost of $160 million dollars. And they pretty much had no effect on those sneaking across.

Washington is going to save 100 million a year, and on top of that, looks to bring in several hundreds of millions in tax revenue. sounds like a no brainer to me, even if someone doesnt smoke weed, they sure as hell like money.

@Rizter I realize you are an avid smoker so you must know it all, but here are my responses to your earlier list.

-Less of your tax dollars spent prosecuting nonviolent mj users in the courts.
-Less of your taxes spent locking them up.
-Less of your taxes spent funding DEA operations and task forces.

I would rather my tax dollars go to locking up criminals and drug users than go to welfare programs for people too lazy to work. Sadly, most of those too lazy to work also smoke pot, so I guess I am paying one way or another.

-LOADS of taxes brought in from legalized sales.

Except there is NO legalization of SELLING pot, and it would take federal legalization to be able to tax it. This argument is not even close to valid.

--It would help lots of people with medical conditions+less money for big pharma.

So you want less money going to actual research for drugs that can cure diseases and help people with real medical problems, all so you can smoke pot to cure your insomnia or anxiety? I am all for a terminal cancer patient going through chemo using pot to control nausea, and even chronic pain treatment is acceptable in my mind, as long as it isn't just an excuse to use it recreationally, which it almost always is.

-Your friends and family wouldn't have their lives screwed up big time for enjoying a better and safer alternative to alcohol.

I do know friends and family with drug problems but nobody with an alcohol problem that actually affects anyones lives. They all seem to think it is safe to smoke pot and drive, which it is not, but they are all adamant about not drinking and driving. I don't know any abusive drinkers, so I don't have experience in that. However, I do know plenty of 16, 17, 18, and 19 year olds, my son included, who have seriously screwed up their lives with pot. Nothing legal, just the side effects of the drug and the lifestyle behind it. But I guess we need more ditch diggers and dishwashers, so it isn't that bad, right?

-Legalization largely would eliminate the whole gateway theory.

OK, up until this I considered you just a fan of pot and using the typical smokers arguments to make you sound like you knew what you were talking about, but this makes me realize you know nothing about this. Here is the reason pot is a gateway drug: Everyone has a "normal" emotional level.. it goes up and down from day to day due to various reasons, including hormones, social events, general health and diet, and the amount of sleep you get. Call it your "mood". It averages out and if you graphed it you would see a fairly straight line the goes up and down a little over time. If you feel depressed or a little "blue" one day, your mood is down, if you are having a good day or doing something fun you feel a little "higher" and happy. When you smoke pot, you get a high. It isn't extreme, but it elevates the natural state higher than average and in combination with things you enjoy, will give you a far higher state than normally possible. However, as you come down from that high, your mood will go lower than normal. Much lower. It is a physiological response to the drugs. Repeated use of pot will begin to bring your average mood down to a lower level. This brings on two problems: First is that it takes more drugs to get the same high, and second is when not intoxicated, your lows are far lower, and your "normal" is still a low. To "feel better" you need a hit now and then, and to feel great, you need a lot more. But pot is a mild drug, and even really good pot can only do so much for your highs. A large percentage of people in this state will turn to stronger drugs to enhance the high and get back to that euphoria feeling they had in the beginning. This is why it is called a gateway drug. The only way legalizing pot will affect this aspect of pot is in the idea that you are already breaking the law doing pot, so the stigma of harder drugs is dulled. Alcohol is a gateway as well, but being a depressant it isn't as effective at training your body to desire stronger drugs.

-Better education for your kids on the issue.

How does making it legal to grow and possess drugs educate my kids? Trust me, starting around 12 years old they are already being offered the drugs in school. It is my responsibility as a parent to not only educate my kids but to be proactive in teaching them the harmful side of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco as well as be as vigilant as possible in making sure they are not using.

-Regulation would make it HARDER for your kids to get it. Drug dealers don't ask for ID. Liquor stores do.

Not at all. Legalization makes it easier to acquire. In Montana when the medical legalization was passed under the radar, before the state could get a handle on it, over 35,000 people suddenly had cards, and over 50% of those with "debilitating" medical conditions were under the age of 25. There were at least two dozen 18 year olds in my son's high school that I knew of who used their cards to buy and then sell at the schools. On top of this, nobody is regulating anything. Even the states of CO and WA admit they have no plans yet on how to manage this.

-Alcohol use would probably go down(always a plus)

It is possible but again subject to a lot of speculation. In extreme cases people might trade addictions, but keep in mind that driving while intoxicated with any substance, legal or not, puts lives at risk. I don't know anyone who casually drinks who will stop casually drinking and start casually smoking pot if it is legalized. I do, however, know a lot of people who will continue to drink and add smoking to the list if legalized. Great, now we have two drugs in the system to worry about.

-Industrial hemp has huge applications. It would improve loads of everyday products that we use and make them better/cheaper. It has potential for bio-fuels, clothing, paper, construction materials and much much more.

Perhaps, but the industrial uses of the plant material have nothing to do with the recreational use of the drug in the plant. Fields of drug plants that are easily accessible to kids and impossible to patrol and monitor is hardly a comforting thought to a parent.

-We could redirect the resources spent fighting mj to really crack down on the dealers and producers of the harder stuff like meth/heroin/coke.

Except smoking is a lifestyle, and given the physiological properties of this gateway drug, harder drugs go hand in hand. It is inevitible that "legal" dealers will always have some connection to the harder stuff. In Montana, the DEA monitored the legal medical dispensaries, and almost every single one of them was tied to drug traffiking and money laundering. Just as gambling and alcohol have long been associated with organized crime, pot would be no different.

Your points all assume that you could regulate pot like you can alcohol, but the fact is it would take massive amounts of consideration to even come close. One of the biggest issues right now is the ability to determine intoxication. A test will come up positive long after the person is no longer affected by the drug, so how does an employer determine if his employee is under the influence or if he used the night before? Alcohol is easy, it is legal for a commercial driver to drink so many hours before driving, and you can determine if he is fit to drive with a simple test. DOT regulations would have to be adjusted, testing procedures would have to be invented (think breathalizer for pot), limits in every state, city, and county would have to be set based on this instant testing capability. Laws for violations would all have to be rewritten, businesses would have to write in legal clauses and have massive considerations for liability issues regarding accidents inside and out of the workplace. This is no simple matter and just like Obamacare, the burden on businesses to figure out how to implement and make sure they are not adding a liability to their company will end up costing businesses billions of dollars.

Just the CO and WA situation has already cost my Montana based business thousands of dollars in legal research to figure out how to implement policies for drug use for employees in those states. With a DOT number at stake as well as dozens of machinary operators in the warehouses and out on the highways, there is a huge liability issue at hand. If an employee makes a safety mistake at work and injures someone and it turns out he has pot in his system, are we liable? The answer is yes, if we don't have a proper policy in place that the employees are aware of and have been trained for, then we are liable, even if the accident is not directly related to the pot he smoked the night before. DOT is all federal, and the book of rules you have to follow is already 4 inches thick.. There is nothing other than "it is illegal" in there regarding pot. So we have to follow that continue with random drug testing and follow the law.. if you test positive, you are terminated.. if you test positive while driving a commercial vehicle, you could be fined or jailed.

This isn't just a simple situation, the implications are far reaching and will cost BILLIONS of dollars, both privately and in tax dollars.

All one need do is look at what happened when the Feds started making wholesale raids on dispensaries in California... crowds gathered, larger and larger, and booed the Feds as they confiscated weed, records, computers, office equipment etc. Those protesting crowds will continue to grow, all the while being captured by a million hand-held video recording devices to document even the tiniest of Federal misstep. Eventually, the Feds will have no other option but to back down because this is a democracy and it's how democracy works. The people of the U.S. have spoken, are speaking and will continue to speak out against this outrageously moronic war on pot. The Feds will not be able to stand up to the growing crowds, and the prohibition on pot will end once and for all. Sooner or later, this will be the outcome, of that I have no doubt. The Feds, through trying to enforce laws currently on the books, are mired in an unwinnable situation.

those protesting crowds will continue to grow, all the while being captured by a million hand-held video recording devices to document even the tiniest of Federal misstep. Eventually, the Feds will have no other option but to back down because this is a democracy and it's how democracy works.

I beg to differ. Democracy is not an angry crowd booing the Feds. A Democracy means we elect people who reflect our values. Those are the people who then decide what should be legal and what shouldn't. If you disagree with their choice, then you replace them on the next election.

How are you going to compare an apple to an orange.. They are talking about synthetic pot, not even remotely close to real pot.. But keep up the propaganda it suits your cause..

But though it's varying ingredients are typically sprayed in liquid form on top of plant materials, such so-called "fake" marijuana is exactly that: an entirely synthesized and unlabeled chemical concoction, rather than a naturally grown plant

Here is how I see it.. Privately owned jails (big business) are pissed they wont get the funds to house the pot offenders.. They are putting pressure on lobbyist, who are pressuring senate, who is pressuring congress, who are pressuring the feds, who are now trying to bully Washington.. But the awesome thing is, don't piss off the people- they will elect who will go for the people's causes and concerns. So now Washington gets to push back, the people have spoke, screw us and we screw you in all elections. Now it's a game of tug of war.. I think Washington will come out ahead..

And lets see the feds try to pop someone for smoking weed in their own home.. People will get so pissed the feds are taking federal money and trying to federally prosecute some small ass case.. As I see it, you try to prosecute me for smoking weed in my own home I am going to make sure you spend MILLIONS and MILLIONS of dollars trying to prosecute me.. That way I can go to the country and say look what the feds are trying to do, spend millions of dollars of EVERYONES money to prosecute me.

I think after the tug of war has calmed down, Washington will give the feds some pull and say you can prosecute the ones trying to remove money from the economy, such as the Mexican drug runners and the larger grow sites who will be direct competition for state ran programs. I think the feds will say okay that is good enough for us and you can keep your small time pot smokers who aren't trying to break the new law..

I say wooowhooo Washington, I wish it was us Oregonians...

Chris from Yucaipa

Perhaps if we make the country not worth living in then 10% of Mexico's population would flee back across the border? I understand that the President is your god( which God might find offensive), and that Congress may be partially to blame, but when 10% of a foreign population has invaded a neighboring state it is an invasion.

The Washington marijuana legalization also brings up an interesting dilemma. The state recently passed a law banning smoking in all public buildings, including bars and bowling alleys. So, if drinking is legal in those establishments, and if marijuana is to be treated like alcohol, does that some smoking would then be ok? Damn, this is getting confusing!

Really?

"OK, up until this I considered you just a fan of pot and using the typical smokers arguments to make you sound like you knew what you were talking about, but this makes me realize you know nothing about this. Here is the reason pot is a gateway drug: Everyone has a "normal" emotional level.. it goes up and down from day to day due to various reasons, including hormones, social events, general health and diet, and the amount of sleep you get. Call it your "mood". It averages out and if you graphed it you would see a fairly straight line the goes up and down a little over time. If you feel depressed or a little "blue" one day, your mood is down, if you are having a good day or doing something fun you feel a little "higher" and happy. When you smoke pot, you get a high. It isn't extreme, but it elevates the natural state higher than average and in combination with things you enjoy, will give you a far higher state than normally possible. However, as you come down from that high, your mood will go lower than normal. Much lower. It is a physiological response to the drugs. Repeated use of pot will begin to bring your average mood down to a lower level. This brings on two problems: First is that it takes more drugs to get the same high, and second is when not intoxicated, your lows are far lower, and your "normal" is still a low. To "feel better" you need a hit now and then, and to feel great, you need a lot more. But pot is a mild drug, and even really good pot can only do so much for your highs. A large percentage of people in this state will turn to stronger drugs to enhance the high and get back to that euphoria feeling they had in the beginning. This is why it is called a gateway drug. The only way legalizing pot will affect this aspect of pot is in the idea that you are already breaking the law doing pot, so the stigma of harder drugs is dulled. Alcohol is a gateway as well, but being a depressant it isn't as effective at training your body to desire stronger drugs."-----------------------------------

Honestly I've never had the urge to go try a bunch of harder drugs. Furthermore I know lots of people who use or have used pot and they've never done harder drugs. Just because some people are total mentally weak screwups with no self discipline doesn't mean that things like pot should be taken away from everybody.

Also alcohol being a depressant is irrelevant. Alcohol can make you happy by releasing the brains pleasure chemicals and therefor can have the exact same effect that you claim pot has. Also to make matters worse alcohol drastically impairs your judgement which can lead to trying harder stuff. IE I had an uncle who started out as a big binge drinker at parties until one time someone offered him some lines of coke at a party. From there he went to being a big coke user till he finally burned out from that and just started doing heroin. Now he's dead. If Alcohol isn't a 'gateway' drug IDK what is.

I should also mention that 'hemp' isn't a field of drugs. Hemp has hardly any THC at all and there's almost no realistic way to get high from it. So NO, your kids wouldn't be tempted to get high by that pretty field of hemp plants.

Anyway I'm hardly even an 'avid stoner'. I usually might smoke it 3 times per weak after work. My belief is that drugs should enhance your happiness rather than create it.

Geezus, how pathetic are you when your main concern in life is being able to get goofy from smoking a noxious weed?

Define "noxious". Do you think it smells funny? Avoid it; leave the room. Do you think it's "harmful or injurious to health or physical well-being" (dictionary definition)? I'm 56 years old and been smoking it since I was 20. I'm still here.

Eventually, people will get tired of it and start turning to other drugs.

Oh, please. Marijuana is not a "gateway drug", that's a fallacy left over from Reefer Madness. If it was I should have died in the gutter from a heroin overdose years ago. I can count on my fingers the number of times I've used cocaine, never done meth, never done heroin, haven't done speed in 25+ years, don't like prescription painkillers...I don't even drink alcohol except for the occasional sip of Irish Creme. Explain that!

Calling cannabis a gateway drug is the same as saying that milk will lead to alcoholism. That is an absurd statement that is totally illogical and totally unproven. In fact 90% of the so called bad effects of cannabis are totally unsubstantiated by science. Oh sure there are some out there who act like scientists and speak the jargon of science but their research in usually not valid because it cannot be duplicated by their peers or serious flaws existed in their methods.

http://worldtruth.tv/cannabis-oil-is-a-highly-efficient-natural-cancer-cure-2/

If you are really interested then watch the videos and listen to what science is saying about cannabis. Besides all of it other uses as nutrient, making fabrics and rope, making bio fuel, making synthetics of all kinds, it is also an execellent medicine, a fact that doctors have known since Biblical times. Even the so called 'hard drugs' mostly originated in the medical field and were and still are used in treating the sick, wounded, and dying.

The facts are that we have mis-handled all of our drugs in this country and are now paying the price for it. And the reasons behind such mis-handling generally relates to the dollar and those who are making a killing from the illegality. It is much the same as the alcohol prohibition era where some of America's largest fortunes were created by smuggling alcohol into the U.S. from foreign sources. It is no secret that the Kennedy family fortune was largely made smuggling Canadian whisky, gin, and rye into the U.S.

Many of today's most prominent distillers were bootleggers during prohibition and simply went public once prohibition was lifted. They along with the various mobs were the cartels of their day. So the feds can fire their warning shots but I think that they will mostly be duds in the face of a nation that is mostly in favor of eliminating the criminalization of cannabis and a re-evaluation of our handling of all other drugs. Thanks to the web anyone with a true interest can read about the studies and research being done in other countries and our handling seems downright arcane in comparison. The only reason for it has to be corruption and after the Iran/Contra affair and our dealings with Manuel Noriega in Panama that seems to be rather obvious. It is said that the CIA is the largest dealer in the U.S. today. Could be. LOL A lot of dark money can be generated that way.

If you are really interested then watch the videos and listen to what science is saying about cannabis.

What science says about cannabis:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54xWo7ITFbg

Oh, wait...

Don't forget,"by the people" etc,corporations are people too.Who knew!

Real power comes from the barrel of a gun, adn the federal government has most of the guns.

Also, politicians are not nearly as stupid as the voters who elect them. The Libertarian party
has been offering honest candidates for decades but the voters seem to prefer liars.

No, the voters just don't prefer whacko's who want to do things like shut the entire government down, or try to take our country back to the mid 1800's. Libertarians do have some good ideas but they are usually trumped by the really bad ideas the also want to do.

illurian

It is odd how the POS feds think that they are the sole owners of USA.

They are, because of their power to tax. I find it interesting that all the colleges and universities in Colorado still ban marijuana on their campuses .... because they don't want to lose Federal grant money.

Another problem lurking in the weeds:

The Gun Control Act (GCA) makes it unlawful for certain categories of persons to ship, transport, receive, or possess firearms. 18 USC 922(g). Transfers of firearms to any such prohibited persons are also unlawful. 18 USC 922(d).

Under indictment or information in any court for a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year;

Who is an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance;

What I want to know is when these laws go into effect and tax revenues start flowing in, is the federal gov't going to be receiving any of those tax dollars? If so, that makes it okay on a federal level, right? Since when did the federal gov't let loose a chance to collect more money?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxation_of_illegal_income_in_the_United_States

Best sentence in the article: While embezzlers, thieves, and the like are forced to report their ill-gotten gains as income for tax purposes, they may also take deductions for costs relating to criminal activity.

illurian,Great post.Prohibition didn't work for alcohol and it's not working for pot.Washington and Colorado are smart enough to know this.I'm in California and always thought that we'd be the first state to legalize recreational marijuana use.

If you look at world-wide history of marijuana use, an argument could be made for marijuana use as a religious freedom issue.

Don't fret Cleaning Lady. You'll get another chance in 2014.

JEM-1989317

Real power comes from the barrel of a gun, adn the federal government has most of the guns

In China maybe, but not here. Because for that "real" power to be wielded, those guns would have to be turned on average Americans as dictators do to their own people. That's never going to happen here in America, not over pot, that I can guarantee. As Americans, we would never stand for it, even if it means staring down the barrel of a gun.

You can talk all you want about liars; but all lies unravel when exposed to time and verifiable facts in a true democracy.

Governments are put here to serve their interests; not yours.

Listen, we wouldn't be in this situation if states weren't coming up with crazy ass sh*t like SLAVERY or child workers putting in 13 hour days (and maybe losing a finger or two). We are one nation and will abide by one law not 50. But with that being said, this marijuana thing is the only thing that I think should be left up the states. It is a true states-rights issue that doesn't harm anyone but the smoker themselves not others, just like drinking and smoking (which is allowed all 50 states).

"We are one nation and will abide by one law not 50"? What country do you hail from. We are a Republic of States which already has their own set of laws along with feds. The fact is the majority of voters passed the law to legalize marijauna in their states so the feds need to back off or use common sense & legalize at federal level. Problem occur when the self glorified people of DC wants to rule the whole country. In some states marijauna users or those who grow for themselves serve more time then child rapists or murdering parents. 7 years for marijauna convictions, 3yrs for child rape because victim was too young to testify. Federal Justice???

Problem is you can't use your reason for legalizing pot but not other laws that states vote on. There are plenty of states that would make abortion illegal. I am sure that you would be screaming for the feds at that point to protect that individuals right. Can't have it both ways. Federal laws overide state laws for a reason. Poll tax anyone? Civil rights? I am sure all of the pot smokers would have no problem with states voting against gays getting married.

rab2774,

Valid points but law enforcement was never a black and white type of process. The founding fathers wanted to make sure that federal law enforcement was "interpreted" in a manner which allowed maturity and flexibility. This is why they assigned the responsibility to the president. He holds sway over how these laws are enforced.

Additionally, If Obama decided that the federal prohibition of marijuana was unconstitutional, he could legally cancel all federal enforcement. There are numerous reasons to consider these laws unconstitutional. They deny the rights of those in medical need, the federal government has failed to justify why this law is necessary, they victimize religious minorities, they unfairly limit free choice, etc.

The founding fathers wanted to make sure that federal law enforcement was "interpreted" in a manner which allowed maturity and flexibility.

I completely agree - But we'll never get the court system They intended as long as the nice folks in Washington have those photographs of where John Roberts' hid the bodies, or whatever it is that he did which required him to sell his soul. He's just flat-out Owned.

Mr. Miller-447368

Agree that Roberts is owned, but sadly I don't think it took getting evidence of him committing a murder. He's just 100% in the Right Wing bag (notice I don't say Republican as there is a difference).

How many who are for the states being able to write their on laws for their citizens regarding marijuana are opposed to states writing laws to deal with their illegal alien problem?

Pot is not food, so no. Twit.

Dont be a smart arss Rj!

Glad somebody (Elaine) got my point.

I think what you really wanted to ask is if you can buy a gun and a bible with your food stamps.

Can I use my food stamps to buy pot? What a great country!!

Yes, but only the special brownies will qualify.

The food stamps might have to be increased due to munchies

No, but you can grow your own for free. Food Stamps are designed to keep farmer's afloat by providing a market for excess crops, and to make Americans healthier, but distributing food to the needy. Food stamps keeps food stores busier, distributors and producers profitable, and it keeps poor people from lives of crime.

Count your blessings!

Be joyous that you do not have to live on food stamps, but do not disparage a good program. Letting people get sick and go to the hospital would cost you more in taxes. Food Stamps, therefore, enriches the whole economy and keeps taxpayer costs down.

That's the problem with this mess.

Not a pot smoker, never will be; but no pot laws eventually = less cops on the streets = less prison cells = more tax money the government can't ask for and hide. In the 'burbs outside of any metropolitan area, a big pot bust is akin to saving a thousand children's lives in Detroit /Chicago/ etc. Really.

Arrests = prison = more tax money.

The gov needs it regardless, so one less law on the book means less revenue.

I'm much, MUCH more interested in arresting jaywalkers in my area. Sometimes I wait 10 minutes because the stupid crossing guard protects them! Talk about danger...

the dealer say's...can only take canned goods...for he ain't set up to swipe the food stamp cards...and he likes spam...what did you expect him to say...pothead meat...'POTTED MEAT'...

I'm not sure of exact synonyms.Flout is dang near archaeic[:)].but close-I like it better than flaunt.Any etymology experts here?

According to Merriam-Webster, flaunt (in this sense) means "to treat contemptuously." Flout means "to treat with contemptuous disregard." Kind of sounds the same to me. :-)

Flaunt is *possibly* from Scandinavian origin, akin to "flana", meaning "to rush around." Flout is from the Middle English "flouten," meaning "to play the flute."

All Hell

...Pat Edmonson, 67, of Whidbey Island, Wash., said as she smoked marijuana in Seattle's City Center with a crowd of about 100 others who were lighting up, flaunting the no-pot-in-public rule.

Did they flaunt it or did they flout it?

They flaunted their pot to flout the rule.

@All Hel,

They flaunted it. Flaunt = "Display (something) ostentatiously, esp. in order to provoke envy or admiration or to show defiance."

If they had flouted it, they would have just openly broke the rule without trying to provoke admiration or to show defiance.

Being in a less progressive state, I shall defiantly blow a bowl to express my admiration for the way they take advantage of their fist opportunity to flaunt their flouting of the "no fun in public" misdeminor.

Charles-

We need to exchange stories.

Floccinaucinihilipilification, worlds longest but appropriate onomotopeia. Bam.

Huh!

Luci-1356914

Floccinaucinihilipilification, worlds longest but appropriate onomotopeia. Bam.

Moderately impressive. Could have been improved by the correct spelling of onomatopoeia and the knowledge that just because a word is constructed from several Latin roots doesn't make it an example of onomatopoeia. I give it a 6.

some did, some didn't.

Conservatives are being driven to the Democratic party by Teabagger extremists. The funny thing about states legalizing marijuana one at a time is this. The states with the most fanatically fundie leadership will be the last to legalize. This will result in these states being the centers of Mexican Cartel activity, in the US. Violent crime in the Reddest states is going to skyrocket as the cash starved Cartels battle over smaller and smaller peices of a shrinking illegal pot pie. I look forward to seeing which states cross over line in 2014.

Actually in a true Republic the federal government would not be empowered to dictate personal choices or infringe on a states ability to decide such matters.

So you may find that although split on the matter of legalization Tea party members will likely agree that it should be decided by the states... not the feds.

Bobby, there's no point trying to discuss true conservative values with someone who goes on about "teabagger extremist" and think that real conservatives subscribe strictly to the one party system with two "sides."

Maybe the rest of the country will learn from this when WA and CO become prosperous thriving states while the rest of the country continues to faulter from antiquated laws that are obsolete and should have been overturned years ago. The tax money wasted trying to fund these old laws could be used to help their states recover from their economic hardships and go toward education and other programs that could rebuild their states. Billions have been wasted trying to chase the small guys when they could have been going after the real criminals like coke and crack and heroin dealers. The people voted this in and it will be hard to try to reverse something the people voted for.

colorado's amendment 64:

(d) the general assembly shall enact an excise tax to be levied upon marijuana sold or otherwise transferred by a marijuana cultivation facility to a marijuana product manufacturing facility or to a retail marijuana store at a rate not to exceed fifteen percent prior to january 1, 2017 and at a rate to be determined by the general assembly thereafter, and shall direct the department to establish procedures for the collection of all taxes levied

any tax has to be approved by the voters. imagine the kerfuffle if they reject the tax.

Thy passed the amendment, they agreed to the tax. It will be taxed 3 times, from the grower to the processor, from the processor to the store, from the store to the consumer. That, along with the savings from not prosecuting and jailing people for growing and selling marijuana should make Colorado a pretty economical place to get an education at a state supported school.

To reject the tax would be to shoot themselves in the foot, especially over 15%. It seems a bit steep, but not nearly what they could have made it.

First 40 million in tax revenue only and it goes to the public school capital construction assistance fund.

Regardless voters still have to approve the tax.

Colorado's TABOR amendment restricts revenues for all levels of government (state, local, and schools). Under TABOR, state and local governments cannot raise tax rates without voter approval and cannot spend revenues collected under existing tax rates if revenues grow faster than the rate of inflation and population growth, without voter approval

http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/Treasury_v2/CBON/1251592160342

The "War on Drugs" is really a "War on Our Children".

Legal drugs would cause less suffering than the black market caused by drug laws. All drug law does is make drug lords richer while directing US dollars to foreign countries.

Buy US! Say no to Foreign products.

The United States is now the "Prison Nation" of the world. I doubt if the Feds are bluffing.

The "commerce clause" has been interpreted to allow the Federal Government to regulate anything that even affects commerce even if no actual commerce takes place.

In the case of Wickard v. Filburn, the government was allowed to prevent the growing of wheat for use as animal feed because if the farmer had not grown the wheat than he would have had to purchase it and therefore that affected interstate commerce.

Government is put here to serve ITS interests; not YOURS

Excellent response JEM.

Also look up Gonzales v. Raich, which is similar to the Wickard v. Filburn case except much more recent and directly applicable to (medical) cannabis.

I'll tell you what really concerns me is that clearly other states are next in line to reevaluate their pathetic and immoral prohibition of a nearly 100% harmless plant that has now recently been shown to basically be the cure for cancer... (recent studies suggest the marijuana somehow "attacks" cancer cells and tumors.... meaning they need to get some scientists in a lab and figure this out...) Anyways, once these other states jump into the fray as well, there will obviously be some sort of "divide" with the unintelligent and wrong people trying to say marijuana is "dangerous" or whatever even though alcohol is legal and kills thousands of people each year and marijuana kills 0... in history. I just hope that with the federal government acting the way it tends to do sometimes, they don't somehow create some sort of environment where states then start trying to secede from the union and such... in fact I believe people are already doing silly stuff like that already, there seems to be petitions online for like 40 states who want to secede, for completely different reasons... But, when your in the United States, certain things were supposedly guaranteed, I remember reading something about "life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness"... Meaning if I want to smoke a little weed while watching a kung fu movie or something, at what point does the federal government enter into this...... why don't people SERIOUSLY just get a life.... If your life is so pathetic that you have to sit there and LIE to people, LIE to children about a plant, I really don't know what kind of sick basterd you really are... I can remember the first time I smoke the stuff myself, I was about 13, my friend had some or whatever and offered me a hit, I resisted at first, after all, they had taught me so aggressively in school "just say no" or whatever the cathphrase was... eventually I did accept a hit, and the feeling it gave me was to say the least "interesting" I felt "good" this may seem unremarkable to some people but I was a person who had struggled with severe clinical depression, rage issues, etc. So to be sitting there in the woods feeling this "euphoria"... It was amazing. Colors were brighter, peoples faces were more detailed, MUSIC SOUNDED BETTER. My 13 year old brain immedetly starts racing- "if they've been 100% lying about this "pot" stuff, then what else are they saying that is actually completely false?"

Don't lie to the children. Don't lie to the adults. Marijuana is a plant that grows naturally. Human beings have been smoking it and using for other purposes for thousands of years, and literally the only side effect I can even think of is short term memory loss, which does not really occur to that bad of an extent (obviously it varies) But just to wrap up here... Your on the interent, do the research, know the truth.... its helpful in treating over 100 different ailments and symptoms, and not only that, its fun and virtually harmless. Lets remember, anything can be done in excess... But as long Alcohol is legal, and as long as my government claims that I am supposed to be able to pursue my happiness, logcially, marijuana must be legalized. If only for financial purposes... lets stop giving the money to the criminals....

and why do they classify it as more dangerous than booze???

According to the FEDS mj is more harmful than Cocaine, meth, opium and a whole lot of other psychoactive drugs. Clearly it's time see this 'war' as what it us. A war to protect the interests of prohibition based industries.

Andi, that's a good question. I've known many many families destroyed by alcohol, lives ruined and or taken because of misuse/abuse. Plus it has a real penchant for being addictive. I've yet to meet or know anyone who was really harmed by pot. And I know first hand it's not addictive. The only people hurt by it are those who are caught selling it, for the most part

The argument of people will grow their own can only go so far. Everyone can grow their own tomatoes yet they are still sold in the grocery store. Not everyone wants to grow their own or don't have the space/ability to grow their own. Plus to get a pot head through a year of smoke, it's gonna take a significant amount of plants. WA, I believe, doesn't allow growing and CO, I believe, only allows 6 plants. (feel free to correct me if I'm wrong) The people who grow their own would likely supplement with buying some.

I've grown it in the past. It takes much less time and effort to make your own beer and wine. Most people won't bother, if they can buy it.

Making the beer does not take much effort, but cleaning out all the bottles to reuse again is a real pain.

Not too many cigarette users growing their on tobacco, and it is just as easy to grow as MJ.

Please Steve, you don't know how many time I couldn't get a joint when I was young not because I didn't have the money but because everybody ran out. You just ended up doing without.

WTF are you blathering about Steve? its quite clear you dont have a clue what your talking about.

Sure, b/c it's crack right? Oh wait...

The President toked it so he know, know he has to make us think he has gotten all of these morals. Ya like he's a politician.

Looks like bubba is hitting something harder than the ganja, maybe like his head with a rock.

Pot smoking drivers are easy to spot. They are the people driving 25 MPH up the freeway in the left hand lane. Just taking it casual.

No, that's old people. The potheads are in the right hand lane, doing 55. Pot makes you more cautious, not more stupid.

Possession of pot, under an ounce, has been a $50 traffic ticket in Colorado for almost 20 years.

It will show in the state budget, though.

lol, Not everyone. I know someone in CO who would not use it while it was illegal but is looking forward to smoking it now that it is legal. So "rocky mountain high" didn't mean the elevation? lol

Here in the state of California, living in the L.A. county. I drive on some of the busiest highways in the nation. I have been a A.A.A. Emergency Road Service Provider for the past 18 yrs.. Not only am I helping out people who's vehicles breakdown. I also provide service to all the local law enforcement agencies, mainly C.H.P.. I have personally experienced the senseless mayhem from the result of drinking and driving. Whole families killed, needlessly, because of a substance that is legally consumed in our great country. And I could estimate approximately in 75-80% of these occurences, the impaired driver will walk away with just minor scratches and bruises. Never, not once have I experienced the same results from the use of marijuana. I'm not even gonna go into the problems alcohol creates off the highway. But its probably fair to guess that just the divorce rate alone in the U.S. would plummit. Why do you think the native Americans called it the "peace pipe"? So my vote would be not only to legalize MJ, but more importantly to make alcohol consumption as illegal as MJ used to be.

Well spoken with truth and facts from your experiences and seeing things first hand in your line of work.

Big pharma and alcohol lobbyists take a hike, or better yet, grab some painkillers and some alcohol and hit the road, literally.

They have already set multiple studies as to what constitutes passive inhalation and they can tell by the level of marijuana metabolites whether it is passive or active levels of cannibinol in the body.

As long as they are Federal and not state laws I've no care....lol. The Feds need to keep their nose out of everybody's business and concern themselves with balancing their ridiculously funded purse!

Pot never killed a soul. People only kill over it because it is illegal and they don't want to go to jail. Legalize it, which purges the criminal element, tax it and treat addicts. If you want to know why it is not legal ask the alcohol and tobacco producers. They are the ones fighting and funding the fight against it because it will steal market share from them.

Alcohol and tobacco are 10 times worse than weed. Again, I am not a pot smoker but I'll take a dumba$$ stoner staring at a trippy poster or rocking out a guitar over a slurring drunk any day of the week!

@american#1

Your implication seems to be that there are loads of people out there who desperately want to smoke a joint but refrain from doing so simply because it's illegal. I doubt that's the case.

McGee,

It is not. The Floridians I know who smoke weed will do it regardless, 'cause f--k the fed anyway, and will always find and smoke it. Most of them are actually worried that the price will go up when it is legal...lol.

I've been around all types of people who have substance abuse issues and the pot heads are the most predictable and least likely to be violent...unless you are a pizza or a cold bottle of soda....the drunks, coke heads and methheads are the real problems. These people would kill their own mothers for 20 bucks!

Troy

I believe that the largest lobby against legalization, in terms of money spent, is the pharmaceutical industry. They are extremely worried that if weed is legalized, people will stop using over the counter meds like aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen.

What if the kids like the people laughing, having fun ,interacting with each other. Instead of you peeking out the window wishing you could call the funpolice and have them jailed fer nothing ? oh no ! human interaction without keyboard.

Lol...you make it sound like the Johnsons are having a ganja bonfire and everyone will need to Stop Drop and Roll! LMAO

I have not smoked pot in over 20 years. I have no desire to smoke pot. My 70+ mother has never smoked pot, nor has my father. My wife smoked pot (3) times in highschool and has not tried it since. Between us we have multiple degrees and have countless hours of college +. We are 50/50 democrat and repulican. We all agree just legalize it, tax it, and "shut the @!$%# up". Why are we abiding by a law put into effect 90 years ago that is certainly not relevent to society today? My step dad spit in the street today and should (by same age laws) be put into jail. (Best example I could think of but hopefully point made) Anyway, legalize it, and please move on to things that matter.

i agree, I am against drug testing but however I understand it is a necessary evil

All you potheads need to organize and protest. Weed is way less dangerous than tobacco or alcohol....way less addictive as well.

If organizing and protesting actually worked, Egypt wouldn't have gone from one dictatorial regime right to another one.

Or in the U.S. we would have stopped Wall St from proposition betting and calling it "derivatives."

...and those are just recent events.

You are under the influence of propaganda. Energy drinks make a person more scatter brained. Pot helps a person focus on the task at hand. You have probably worked with many people who were stoned without realizing it. You just thought they were really into their job.

I once overheard the CEO of an electronics manufacuring company demand the supervisor of his cableing department to explain a sudden decrease in prodution and quality. Her resonse? "You hit my entire department wiyh a piss test last month. I always lose all my best help for marijuana." He stood there, red faced, with his jaw working for about a minute. All the ass chewing, and blame on her head, he had planned to heap, suddenly denied him. Then he seemed to sag and just turned and walked away.

back in the 60's....I had two great girl friends ...and then they smoked pot....they thought they were more focused as well....then they got their report cards....yep...they were focused all right...their grades dropped so bad...they got in trouble...for bad grades....parents never knew they were heavily smoking pot and smilling all the time..acting like dopes....I didnt fit into that dope laughing stupidity....then later when we went to see them with my family...they were splitting pills...they had moved on to harder drugs...well, the moral of this story is....dont do drugs..or even pot..it dulls the mind ...it doesnt help you focus..it gives you a false high ..and also it brings out other things...like anxiety after awhile...it makes you crazy eventually....but at that time they had a false sense of security...imagine everyone smoking pot and driving on the road...same as alcohol....it dulls the normal senses and gives you a wrong vision....not good..like I said....if you cant lick them join them...is that what we are coming to....its wrong no matter how you slice it...

Exactly, CP from PA. I'm betting that if you ask any cop who they would rather confront, a stoner or an aggressive drunk, they will pick the stoner everytime.

What the hell is the difference if either kill an innocent person...sheez, drugs are drugs.

and sleepy drivers are a major cause of accidents, too. Let's make it unlawful NOT to SLEEP

For every 10,000 drunks on the road, by the way, is saying it lightly; there are maybe a dozen stoners. How can you tell the difference? By their speed, drunks speed while stoners slow... errr drive really really slow.

Here's the bottom line, if the Feds prosecute people in states where Pot's made legal then they are not allowed to apply any taxes on pot sales.

Mr. Prizzi, that's utter hogwash. Go search bay for "illegal drugs tax paid stamps."

skyhammer1

in many states sleeping behnd the wheel is like a DUI or DWI, Furthermore I don't want to work with someone screwed up on pot or booze. it is my life and other who depend on someone with their heads on straight

jutifying the use of pot, by using booze. Ban it all

Yes sir! That's the ticket. Lets ban everything. Ban guns, ban drugs, ban alcohol, ban archery equipment, ban table knives and forks along with all sharp pointy things, ban sex, ban birth control in case someone breaks the previous ban, ban cholesterol, ban sugar, ban butter, Whew I am gettin tired of bannin. LOL

Lets see. Everyone gets one slice of bread and one glass of water per day and is not allowed to set foot out of their three foot by three foot square. That will solve everything. HEH HEH HEH HEH Of course our species won't last very long that way but all our problems would indeed be over. Then the apes and cock roaches can take over the place.