No need to BRING BACK Neanderthals they are sitting on this court at least 2 of them anyway!!!

"The DEA has long classified marijuana as a Schedule I drug, the most-restrictive category...."

Actually, marijuana had been a Schedule II drug until Elizabeth Dole, acting as US DOT Secretary, included the schedule change as a part of a Transportation funding bill, during Ronald Reagan's Presidency.

Your beloved government at work. Only a matter of time, the fed needs the $.

Damn.............now I have to sell my Doritos stock.

They must have also ignored U.S. Patent #663-0507 issued on 10/7/2003 issued to the USDA Dept. of Health & Human Services for Cannabinoids! The DEA wants to just keep on knocking down doors and shooting peoples dogs and then taking their cars and homes to justify their DEA jobs and budgets! The people of Colorado and Washington, and soon a host of additional states would prefer that they stop the useless war on (some) plants, which is America's longest running War! Time to follow the Portugal model and watch crime and drug use drop while treating drug abuse! I can't wait for Americans to tell the DEA and fundy politicians to go pound sand!

Big pharma can break down MJ reconstruct it and add a bunch of chemicals and sell it at prohibitive prices to patients. But right, it has no medical value.

Haha. I'm not a user of marijuana, but I do enjoy booze sometimes. I have used before and it wasn't special to me. However, I think pot should be legal, but with harsh penalties for abuse.

Yeah this is coming from an ultra conservative, 2nd amendment loving person who really dislikes Obama's policies, enjoys smaller government, low taxes, and personal accountability.

KFNG, I SO wish we COULD tell them all to pound sand, but they'll keep it illegal because they don't want to give up all the money they collect in fines and jail costs. Then you have the Corrections Corporation of America and all its private prisons. "Follow the money" and you'll find some very well-known Republicans have their fingers in THAT pie, and the CCA rewards them with huge donations. With all this dirty dealing, it will be almost impossible to even get marijuana re-classified let alone (gasp!) LEGAL. It's a crying shame.

And so the "oh so effective" war on drugs continues.

One word: Marinol.

Oh. Yeah. Big Pharma makes big bucks off that. Nevermind.

FreedomFighter, it is up to the people of each state to make the difference, as Government and Industry favor the $tatus Quo. The huge benefit to the American economy will actually come from Hemp production for fuel, fibers, plastics and oil. Cannabis prices will drop from $500k per hundred pounds down to produce type prices! Tell your representatives how you feel on this issue by way of your votes and state referendums! Time for a different approach than our current B.S. policy of locking up non-violent drug users in for-profit prisons! "Hemp for Victory" should not just be a WWII Government approved slogan!

thank GOD those justices helped keep marijuana @ $3k per pound instead of a free-growing weed!!!

god bless america!
-the mexican cartels

They should be using Obamacare for a precedent. If states can ignore a federal law and fight Obamacare then states should be able fight the DEA and do what they want with Pot.

Still a conservative right court.. Old fashioned ideas die hard and Reefer Madness is still in these judges minds.

Funny that the Government can somehow issue a patent to itself on a lifeform. Even more odd that the patent isn't on the lifeform itself, but a molecular byproduct of said lifeform's existence. Since they apparently are allowed to patent nature, which asked no opinions and took no effort of any sort from any person to create this particular arrangement of atoms, I wonder if I can can claim patent rights to water. Humans had nothing to do with it's creation either, but damned if I'm going to let all those billions of people get away with a freebie on that account. It's now intellectual my property. No more water for any of you. And don't try to beat me to the punch Feds! I said it here first!

A miracle plant. You can make textiles, building materials, auto parts, paper,, ink, fuel, the list goes on. Why is it a class 1 felony drug? Because we can't go putting 100 people out of work to create jobs for thousands. That would make 5 guys less filthy rich. Those 5 guys paid for the judges too so until all the pot smokers chip in a few billion to the powers that be. The beat goes on. This is truly a savage injustice. Its a weed which means it is one of Gods creatures right. Wow I am finally anti abortion. Unless we are talking about aborting conservative idiots from our statue of liberty's uterus.

Take away the Politicians alcohol and you will see expediency on any movement to reclassify.

Alcohol is the true gate way drug. It is a legal drug, increases aggression, immediately catches fire/explodes and can kill you with even your first time drinking (with only excess of consumption not including all others ways to die)

Marijuana will intoxicate some but not all, doesn't typically increase aggression (most likely opposite), and unless allergic (rare) there is no danger of overdosing.

It seems we have some things back wards in this nation...all in the name of Sin Tax, and political convenience.

Big Pharma will probably forever suppress the truth about M.J. and never allow M.J. to be legalized. Due to the fact that B.P. would lose tons of money if MJ were used on a much larger scale, on cancer treatment alone (radiation/chemotherapy is much more costly--and deadly--than MJ), they'd never let it fly. B.P. will for sure discredit every bit of information presented worldwide to include Harvard Medical School. Run a word-for-word search on this: "Tetrahydrocannabinol inhibits epithelial growth factor-induced lungcancer cell migration in vitro as well as its growth and metastasis in vivo". That's right... even Harvard Medical School found M.J.'s good for cancer! M.J. has lots of medicinal properties! Shoot, humans even possess cannabinoid receptors! Why would "animals" possess cannabinoid receptors if they hadn't been putting M.J. to use for hundreds of thousands of years?!!

I wonder how the Feds will explain how "Marijuana is not a medicine" when Sativex is approved by the FDA this year. Sativex is not a synthetic cannabinoid like Marinol, etc. It's actually made from the plant itself...essentially, a tincture. If the FDA, a Federal agency, approves Sativex, the Feds will have acknowledged that marijuana is, indeed, a medicine.

I'm sure if Big Pharma had an in road to profit and control this they would of passed it without blinking an eye. For the cronies of the old Nixon school who think it is a dangerous drug and should be classified in schedule 1 drugs, well you haven't a clue. You must still have the ads stuck in your mind showing a joint next to a heroin needle. Get a clue.... It's amazing to me that people so clueless can make decisions for a free people in this country. Ridiculous. C'mon Obama and you liberal progressives if you want to do something positive for this country here is your fight.

there was a case in New Berlin wisconsin that was totally illegal because the court used 13 people in the jury when the Law specifically prohibits the court, "not to exceed 12" the court broke the law and the court of appeals became an accessory after the fact of a felony of misconduct in public office, to be to the point the courts are Organized Crime. I.E. Wis stats 946.12 and 946.82s4.

who can trust a corrupt court?

ah, here we go again!!

ah, here we go again!!

Then why does the US government have a patent on cannabinoids (patent #6630507)? If studies don't exist then why does the government own a patent on that science? The fact they have this patent is the most relevant fact here. This patent is an approved method of use of a certain science which is directly related to the cannabis plant, therefore a valid causation for rescheduling and a blatant disregard by the DEA.

It's time for President Obama to step up and do the right thing! We need to start petitions that get the White House's attention. It's obvious that the judges are old miserable pricks who won't budge, so it's up to the President to DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS RIDICULOUS "WAR ON DRUGS"!

Jeanvaljean:

What a stupid arguement. Would you like your highschool student drunk on their way to school? No but that is why we have age limits and even those dont help I remember being drunk in highschool. If people want to get high or drunk they will so lets stop spending billions fighting it and actually have the government make some money for a change by taxing it.

You know how far out of touch the government is when I can look on the internet just about anywhere and find that "most" of the population either wants or could care less if pot were legal. Take away their alcohol and tobacco and see how fast they doa 180.

@ CoRavenFan

And so the "oh so effective" war on drugs continues.

-

...as the "oh so effective" war on our Second Amendment rights continue.

Both driven by the illusion of control over criminals.

I would think grumpy people would be the first ones to want to smoke pot - so they could search their inner souls and ask why they are so grumpy.

Body and mind communication are the best part of marijuana - well, maybe after Dark Side of the Moon on Super 7 speakers. I started medical marijuana 2 weeks ago - my mind was so cluttered with chronic pain from other places on my body, that I couldn't even feel the arthritis in my hip (a usual winter occurrence). After just one puff, I could communicate with my hip again - and start stretching it out - instead of letting it get more restricted.

If the judges couldn't find any evidence that marijuana doesn't help with chronic pain (my biggest benefit is I can now sleep) - then they just plain didn't try. The medical community is told to condone mj- of course they don't have any evidence from them. When I told my Family doctor that I was now a Medical Marijuana card holder - she admitted she knew nothing about the benefits of pot - thankfully she is a Buddhist (balanced and fair) and allowed me to start using mj.

Oh well, been smoking on and off for 38 years - they haven't killed all the seeds and plants, yet.

Marijuana is the flip side of gun ownership - we had our Rights taken away - it ain't so bad...lmfao!

This government is full of @!$%#. But it seems I had overlooked an article of the constitution previously. Basically it states that the government can make any bull@!$%# law they like without the approval of the people. Which is precisly why we need to restart.

I propose the following constitution for the united states bearing in fact that the United States is the people living within the country AND NOT ITS GOVERNMENT.

1. The government shall be comprised of people strictly with no tie to any form of business, voted in to office by the people of the united states directly and not by any other government office.

2. Any persons entering into the government in any branch shall no longer be allowed to vote or dictate law, or be considered as us citizens, but rather us government workers in service to the people.

3. All laws ratified shall be voted on directly by the citizens of the united stated directly. Laws may be proposed by government or the people to be voted on every four years. The people specifically may petition to vote at any time and said petition, if won by majority rule of 60% may be allowed for change of law or government sevants.

4. No law shall violate the following rights given to the people and the following rights shall be considered as basic human rights not up for vote or questioning by the people or the government.

1. We the people shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

2. A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

3. No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war.

4. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, unless cought in the act of unlawfulness.

5. No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

6. In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.

7. In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

8. Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

9. The powers not delegated to the government by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

5. The government shall be allowed the following agencies to help ensure the safety and prosper of the united states of america. And any new agencies to be formed must be voted on by the people to decide the neccesity of their existance.

1. National Aeronautics and Space Agency- NASA shall be used to study space, scan for and defend against or obtain extra terrestial threats or benefactors, forward aeronautical travel technologies, and otherwise attempts to forward and ensure the continued existance of mankind in such time that the earth may no longer sustain life.

2.

Well I think you get the idea, obviously to write an entire governing constitution would take a significant amount of time and thought, but the point is that what is beneficial to the nation should be decided by the people who live here and not some greedy piece of @!$%# who only has his investments at heart. The entire system in current use is geared specifically toward keeping them in control and making sure they can make themselves richer and the average us poorer. As for marijuana ITS A @!$%#ING PLANT THAT OVER A THOUSAND STUDIES DONE BY THE GOVERNMENT AND COLLEGES ALIKE HAVE YET TO SHOW ANY NEGATIVE EFFECTS. The only things they have found is that it is beneficial and naturally produced in the human body anyway. In fact most of the studies have shown that it actually triggers the evolution of the brain and likely the body as well, which is exactly why they dont want it legal. They dont want you to get smarter because then you start seeing how full of @!$%# they are and see thru their lies and attempts to conspire to move the mass public in the directions beneficial to them. I love my country, but its government is a bunch of greedy scumbags looking to benefit themselves at our cost.

Because Med MJ use is prohibited in my state of NC, I was prescribed MARINAL / synthetic MJ in pill form , the cost to tax payers ...... $1068.00 a month . But a weed that cost vertually nothing to grow ,I go to jail for it . VA took away my pain meds and kicked me off chemo, because I refuse to stop smoking . Medical Blackmail is what the VA practices , not what's good for the patient . Just like these sorry judges , LET THESE ASSES spend a day in my shoes. How can anyone look an aids or cancer patient in the eye,

and justify this LUDICRIS LAW is beyond me ,there is no compassion in them ...... and that scares me .But then these are the same people who are taking of freedom from us ... so we should already know they're ruthless .

Just a few thoughts here, Why would the US make it legal?? if it did then the big dealers would lose money and can't have that. If they did they could collect taxes for some of the sales BUT the people would grow their own. The consumption of Alcohol would go down and the brewers would loose out.Farmers could have more dependable crops and higher revenue.

"Jean Valjean" Your kids are all ready going to school high. You are just adding prison and financial burden to the danger.

They want to change our Constitution, but won't change the MED MJ law ? They want to take your guns, so they can turn loose all the nutcases they can't afford keep no more . When Gov't starts forcing UNWANTED LAWS on it's population ,Solomon warned not to yield ,for in yielding cometh great offenses . Know this , if they disarm our populace, the GREAT TRIBULATION will start .

LOL, sorry, have to laugh, all those that voted for the Liberal Politicians, welcome to the wonderful world of "Big Brother".

It is actually a well known fact, Democrat Politicians push for the Fed to the the hub of the nation. Too bad you were too busy getting high and drinking the kool-aid, otherwise, you would have paid attention, especially when Romney was trying to tell you that the plan was to hand the Power down to the States and lessen the Fed...

But, then again, Obama promises absolutly no taxes will be raised, heck, broke that promise before he even was re-sworn in...

Just wait unti you get the huge "Obama Care" tax, will make the Social Security one look like chump change.

Prohibition works! Just look how successful it was with alcohol.

niece 1964 It has not always been illegal WHETHER you like it or not. "You are not supposed to have it" is wrong in so many ways. When the stormtroopers start arresting people for ignorance I am sure your door will be at the top of the list.

Brandon 1.35

You nailed it.

Money talks and the rest of us can go to hell.

Keep the information out there, in the faces, call it like you see it.

Do not give up the fight.

the only thing that can be said, and not just with this issue, is, the federal government and its "1940's Nazi like" enforcement agencies (courts/dea/fed reserve/now the irs with obamacare) are becoming further and further away from the American public...they have become separate from the rest of the world...so elite that they can no longer relate to the majority of humans

we have a government that enforces (is paid off)the force feeding of chemicals your not allowed to question, but will keep you in a metal cell until you die for ingesting nature....

what do we expect....nothing we eat is food anymore, we should all sue the holy mother of pearl outta the FDA for feeding us chemicals worst than mj could ever hope to be....baby formula is nothing but chemicals...

what the heck do you expect....

but let them be drunk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! EVERYONE

First of all, marajuana is'nt a drug! It's an herb like tea! Secondly, I've seen people make better choices on acid, or pcp, than alcohol! Just watch any gone wild, or dumbest crimminals film. In closing, if alcohol is legal and marijuana is'nt, my arguement is, at least on marijuana you can be civil, but on alcohol you can't even control what you say or do...

However, I think pot should be legal, but with harsh penalties for abuse.

Define "abuse". I don't hold a Green Cross card (although it would be easy to get one, legally) but I smoke it frequently. I don't smoke and drive (but I don't drive at all either), do it in the privacy of my own home, and don't advertise that I do (except for these impersonal message boards). So do I "abuse" it? Moot point: I live in Washington state, where it's legal to smoke it in your home.

Ooooh, the folks who can't enjoy life without sucking on a noxious weed are upset again.....too, too bad.

Post something original. This is at least the third marijuana thread where you've posted the same thing almost word for word. No wonder your posts get collapsed...you sound like a "robo-poster".

I think the marijuana users are so blinded by their desire to smoke weed, they're overlooking relevant facts.

Facts? IMO you are the one overlooking facts. I'll give you some first hand facts: I, like J.P. Patches Pal above, have nearly 37 years of pot smoking history (I've known J.P. since I was seven years old; I turn 57 on Thursday), and it hasn't affected my mind, at least not like your so-called "facts" would have you believe. I can still do most math problems in my head, I remember dates like nobody's business, and again contrary to your likely suppositions about pot smoking I am perfectly able to construct a logical argument. These are facts from my personal experience...and if you're getting your "facts" from the link below, look again:

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

I think it should be made legal & taxed. I just don't think it is that big of a deal.

However, it doesn't personally affect me either way since I don't use it. Then again I don't smoke either (never have) & rarely drink. If they also banned cigarettes & alcohol I probably wouldn't even notice. LOL

The point being that the court did not take sides on the issues. The court was not weighing evidences for or against marijuana. The court simply looked at the issue of whether the DEA was within it's scope of authority to not reclassify marijuana. It does not have to reclassify anything until the federal courts overturn the actual ban. People need to fight the laws on their constitutional rights to use and fight the DEA's outdated medical data and possibly go back to when the actual medical studies were done and prove they were simply documented in error as has been done by many criminals who had their cases overeturned after 25 years in prison when they proved the forensic evidences were flawed and in many cases intentionally for the state to be able to prosecute. The DEA can be overturned but not by simply challenging their rightful authority under the present circumstances that led to the ban.

But the issue for the court, he said, "is not whether marijuana could have some medical benefits." Instead, Edwards said, the court's job was to determine whether the DEA acted within the scope of its authority in declining to reclassify the drug,

marijuana had been a Schedule II drug until Elizabeth Dole, acting as US DOT Secretary, included the schedule change as a part of a Transportation funding bill, during Ronald Reagan's Presidency.

I'm not sure what you are thinking of OT @1.2, but Nixon was the one who decided to hurt the "evil potheads" by classifying their drug of choice as being as harmful as heroin.

In 1970, Congress placed cannabis into Schedule I on the advice of Assistant Secretary of Health Roger O. Egeberg.

The conservative bible thumpers have been repeating every fear mongering lie since then. The government chosen winners in the war on citizens free choice have been funding the anti crowd ever since. They don't want to see their gravy train stop so they continue to fight any and all attempts to decriminalize a herb.

Smoking pot is very harmful to your lungs and your body. Medical marijuana is a scam for Stoners to get rich selling dope. People who smoke dope don't have real jobs that would require drug tests. They work at Domino's or Wendy's. Do you morons want your Airline Pilot to be stoned? How about your bus driver, Dentist, Surgeon?

Oh please. Harmful to your lungs and your body? Quantity-wise, a pack-a-day cigarette smoker consumes ten to twenty times as much tobacco as a pot smoker does pot. Hard to compare pot to alcohol, but the negative effects on an alcoholic are visibly evident. Straw-man argument on your part. As I said above, I've smoked it for nearly 37 years and not once have I sold it. Wrong argument by you. And about the biggest stoner in my high school class went on to be a successful airline pilot for United for over 25 years.

Now you sound ridiculous. Or you're a divine saint. Methinks it's the former.

Dave Simpson, Bugfart and the rest that say this is a conservative court action- Please explain how you come to that conclusion. This is another example of the court siding with big government enacting law they have no authority to. They knew this with alcohol and did it correctly with an amendment to the constitution. It didn't work out as planned and it took another ammendment to return the right to the states. Funny how they just took it upon themselves to outlaw pot (and other drugs) This right is reserved for the individual states or the people. Anyone that believes otherwise prove your point. Show where in The Constitution the Federal Government is granted the power to regulate consumption of a common weed. Looks like another liberal activist court action to me.

I guess I'll have to continue taking my alkaloid based pain medication for the rest of my life!

"Smoking pot is very harmful to your lungs and your body. Medical marijuana is a scam for Stoners to get rich selling dope. People who smoke dope don't have real jobs that would require drug tests. They work at Domino's or Wendy's. Do you morons want your Airline Pilot to be stoned? How about your bus driver, Dentist, Surgeon?"

LOL..whether or not its legal, for medicinal use, recreational use. etc. People are going to use it..Tax, and regulate it.

I take you are also a prohibitionist, right? Unless your a hypocrite. Are you a hypocrite? You dont want your pilot, bus driver, surgeon, etc being drunk, right, and yet thats legal. By your own standard, and conditions alcohol should be illegal. I am sure you are arguing for the 18th amendment to be reinstated.

All-around Great! Ruling from the Court. With interesting Dissent, too.

Hummmmmmmmmmmmmm ... "You Can't Fix Stupid ..." and the continuing discrimination against fifty five million (55,000,000) innocent Americans because they choose to ingest a harmless substance that the government has chosen to put on a list "criminalizing" because of its "alleged" potential danger ... is beyond stupid .. it just "Ignorant"

They are discriminating against the largest recognizable majority in American history!

Ironically, the most important question regarding this discrimination has not been addressed .... When did Americans give up their god give natural right to eat, drink, or consume any substance of their personal choice? The US Constitution protects those rights by the tenth amendment & by long standing national practices up until the 20th century .. That is why the original laws began by putting a prohibitive tax on the substance in order to control it ... not ban it!

Taxing any substance has a long standing history in the country since our inception ... please review these decisions history ...beginning with the Whiskey Rebellion in 1791.. with George Washinton ridding at the head of the army to put down the violent uprising over the tax ... The Federal Governments first enforcement of its tax powers and forcing the "westerners"to accept the new Constitution..

(please see Wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whiskey_Rebellion for a complete perspective)

But the Constitution, did not give those same brad federal powers to the control of citizens private lives and, in fact, "The Tenth Amendment states the Constitution's principle of federalism by providing that powers not granted to the federal government by the Constitution, nor prohibited to the States, are reserved to the States or the people." The text reads:

"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."

While this power has rarely been tested .. the majority of cases have focused on the "commerce clause" ( the most destructive, disruptive specious decision in our history) .. not "personal liberties"
ensured by the constitution to the citizenry and deceitfully taken from us by our federal government and the courts..

Unite Marijuana users .. refuse to elect politicians that will no support national legislation to end this tyranny!

Attack this from a different approach ... With legalization in many states .. the tenth amendment comes to bear again .... " nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." ...

What we are experiencing is the long term effects of a extremely conservative judiciary, courts packed with radically conservative judges that have set this nation back 1oo years by these legal flimflams ... filling the prisons with harmless people to show their power ... this is what leads ultimately to disrespect and disobedience of the law ... and ultimately to terrorism ....

it is what it is. They should just leave people alone and all the hiding and stashing would stop. When people

scrammble around to hide SH**, they start making mistakes. In a car, they start driving crazy. They should never smoke while driving but, if they are pulled over they start studdering and acting silly. But because it's illegal they start driving faster and much more dangerous. The person that said they have never seen anyone fall down after smoking. They couldn't be any more right. It's not like some one manufactured a pot seed. They have been here for ever, and that means it's here for a reason. Just like every thing else on this earth. Anyhting thats natural is hear for a reason. And i think it's here to help people with many things and it doesn't make you fall down drunk. People make moonshine. They don't and they can't make a seed. The seed was already hear wheather you like it or not. Maybe the nay-sayers should try it before the knock it. It's not like they would pass out and wake up 3 days later sporting a huge tattoo on their butts.They might find out that for a few hours they forgot about all the sh** thats been going on. GO A HEAD GUYS, GIVE IT A TRY! you just might like it. Unless thats what your affraid of.

I have a black shirt that says DEA in great big capitol yellow letters on the back of it. Right under that it says Drunks Enjoying Alcohol.

Ashtoroth Before you go trying to put a patant on water youo may want to chech out the if anyone already has one. Most states have a right to ownership to water in there states, even the rain that falls from the sky on to your land belongs to them. At one time there was state the would consider it as stealing it you collected rain water.

When I voted yes on the survey the results were at 77% in favor of legalization.

This is clear evidence that the people are not being heard by their elected officials.

The people have had enough of being ignored.

The government is now making enemies when they need to be making friends.

When politicians realize they stand a much better chance of being elected by taking a pro legalization stance, then the change will come.

We already have drunks on the road killing people, we don't need pot heads too.

apparently hemp seed is the highest protein food source available naturally. Secondly, hemp seed doesn't have the psycho active properties that the fiber part has, and that includes all varieties. So you can have the best life sustaining food on the planet and not get that high feeling or the munchies. Add a little THC and you can develop an appetite to enjoy the satisfying fulfillment that this wonderful herb can deliver. Have a nice bowl of hemp today!!

There is a very simple reason it is illegal. The same reason that the gov. once banned alcohol. PRODUCTIVITY. The use of marijuana hurts bug business. A person who uses Alcohol or marijuana on a regular basis will take more days off per year. that's a fact. do the math. one person takes a day off, they lose a days pay but the company loses a days productivity. If ten percent of a work force takes one day more off per week and the company has 50k employees. at 500 dollars production or more, how much did the company lose? alot of money. so what if that ten percent takes two extra days off a year>? or three? etc.

Why do you think most companies are willing to pay you for not taking sick days? the math reveals the reason. The people who made the decision that it will remain illegal are the hidden rich who own the big companies, who own the resources who own the gov. of course they can smoke all the pot they want, on their private islands. you are all nothing but surfs.

It is absolutely idiotic that marijuana is illegal. There is no logical reason to outlaw it, whatsoever. I say, legalize it, tax it, and regulate it. We could save a lot of money by NOT locking people up for possession and sell of something that grows in nature. We could save even more money and resources if police did not have to enforce marijuana laws.

Bob-2558400, you said,

We already have drunks on the road killing people, we don't need pot heads too.

As if they aren't already there? If they are going to ignore laws about possessing and using marijuana, what makes you think they won't ignore the laws about driving under its influence?

I haven't read half the story or hardly any of the post it means nothing to me but I would like to add a opinion! was it right to outlaw the plant in the first place, I'll bet not. so re evaluate, it was a add on for Prohibition prior to that it never was a issue, and the Lindsey Borden connection was a made up situation Pot is not a psychedelicdrug that causes people to go out and commit murder, grow up. hell alcohol is worse then pot a pot smoker doesn't want to hurt or even bother anyone, and if pot was legal then maybe some of the Glue and Toluene sniffers that are out to die will not sniff chemicals like they do, and don't tell me the Washington DC crowd is not on coke, and that is illegal just make it legal if it doesn't work then make it illegal again. next post is better.

The comment about Mrs. Dole rescheduling Cannabis (from Schedule II to Schedule I) during the Reagan Administration is very interesting. I'd never read that. Perhaps someone might know upon what criteria
that decision was made. Was it backed with medical science? Was it vetted in any form? Was it simply an administrative decision? It occurs to me that a legal argument over the authoritativeness of this decision might be the genesis of something…

Ok their is a reason why pot is illegal and that is it will be as bad for the economy as Prohabition was, yes believe it , if pot was legal it would take a bite out of revenue aquired from alcohol sales and cut the profits in beer liquor and wine sales, causing layoffs of workers and related industries most people do 1 beer or wine 2 bong hits and its nap time for most of them, its just not profitable enough. it also makes people lazy so lazy they have difficulty functioning and allot of people become temporarily retarded, well there it is, two post you decide. oh I forgot the use of pot can turn you into a liberal or even a hippie. or worse yet a unemployed liberal hippie resembling a Democrat but not really a Democrat more of a socialist or a communist. Pot the drug of reason or is it the drug of not being able to reason?... sorry about the power nap that happens .

Science VS Corporatism!

Who will win?

Corporatism

I think we are wasting money in the war on drugs... but marijuana is not some perfect plant that has zero side effects when somebody uses it habitually .... anybody I know who has used it for a while is a retard...

A 2 to 1 vote? Shoot, that doesn't even count when doctors take the new experimental drugs, giving some the drug and some a sugar pill. The basis for this vote was absolutely ridiculous. I have Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Fibromyalgia, along with bursitis and a lot of problems with disks in my back. Nothing ... I mean absolutely NOTHING relieves the pain. If marijuina was legal, I would surely be willing to try it. Pain is pain and how do we relieve it without becoming zombies on some of the drugs in the medical field?

lets see based on the comments here you can see exactly which people hear have not expirenced smoking weed,my brother smoked most of his life it helps him focus,kind of like ridlin for hyperactive kids,He's very inteligent,and has had a couple patents,He recently retired from iron working.I have also experienced it first hand,smoked from the time I was 16 till I was 30,I went to work everyday ontime,and was the sole income earner for a family of 4. I have also experienced alcohol,and drank alot!!!! 4 dui's tousands in fines,and a few wreacked vehicals,also stopped drinking at 30. I have also experienced blackouts,which are only brought about with the alcohol,once while driving, I suppose the effects would vary from eprson to person,but based on what it does to me I would have to say that weed was the lesser of the 2 evils!!!

"anybody I know who has used it for a while is a retard..."

I am not a retard, but of course you don't know me. I'll agree weed is not a perfect plant, nor the perfect intoxicant. Excessive usage dulls the mind a bit and tends to make someone a bit less energetic, but anything done to excess has it's drawbacks. Perhaps if I'd never touched the stuff, I'd of been more "successful" on a materialistic basis then I've been, though in all likelihood my net worth is greater then 90+% of the individuals who've posted here. Legalization will occur, through the decriminalizing of it on a state by state basis, this is being driven by the same demographic changes that make gay marriage inevitable. Within a few years the majority of the population will either actively support these changes or will fall into the "don't care" category and as the attitudes change so shall the laws

Get ready Colorado and washinton Obama DOJ is coming to your hometown soon. How is that Hope and Change working out for y'all now.

Actually, pilots are allowed up to a .04 BAC before they are considered impaired. Regardless, if there are still folks out there who believe there is no medical use for marijuana, all of those people should be required to spend a few days in the oncology department of a hospital in a medical marijuana state, then form their opinions. Also, marijuana is one of the only medicines known to man that can rejuvenate and repair brain cells. So much so, that many Alzheimer's patients have been CURED by smoking marijuana, or taking synthetic marijuana preparations. You won't hear that from the DEA, FDA, or any other American Big Business... Hmmmm Educate yourselves people!!

The federal government does not care about "the people".... they are corrupt and do whatever suits the 1%. There would be too much competition for the big pharmaceutical companies, if medical marijuana was legal; so it will remain as it is (unless they see more profit in it).

The federal punishment for possession of marijuana for personal use is just a fine. Like a traffic ticket, it does not go on your criminal record. So us Washingtonians could care less if the DOJ shows up.

Once again, all a cop has to do is speak and the court takes his word as gospel! No medical benefit? Dont tell that to my neighbor who used it to help defeat his cancer! I HATE COPS! Wether its at the federal level or not.

Big Pharm. co's dont want the competition, AND the cops/DEA dont want to lose their holier than thou jobs. Then they may have to work for a living!

Even at an Alcohol Content (AC) level as low as 0.04%, alcohol in your blood system affects driving ability and crash likelihood, according to Special Report 216, "Zero Alcohol" by the Transportation Research Board.

• The probability of a crash begins to increase significantly at 0.05 AC and climbs rapidly after about 0.08%.
• For drivers with AC's above 0.15% on weekend nights, the likelihood of being killed in a single-vehicle crash is more than 380 times higher than it is for non-drinking drivers.

http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/safety/motorist/drunkdriving/factors.htm

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2012/02/09/reefer-madness-driving-high-doubles-likelihood-of-fatal-crash

The researchers from Utah University suggested that cell
phone talking quadruples the risk for traffic accident and conversation on a
hands-free mobile device poses significant risks both to the driver and the
general public. In addition to these data, a study done by the National
Road Administration for the Swedish Government and published in June 2003,
confirmed the results of the Utah University study

http://www.progressiveic.com/n8sept03.htm

What's more, the drivers in the study were not necessarily baking behind the wheel. The study found using marijuana within three hours of driving raised risks for accidents 1.75 times, compared with crash rates among sober drivers.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-57374568-10391704/marijuana-smoking-motorists-twice-as-likely-to-crash-cars/

NORML, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, wrote its own report on stoned driving in 2011. The report concluded that driving high may be riskier than driving sober, but it's much safer than driving drunk, according to HealthDay.

"Unlike subjects impaired by alcohol, individuals under the influence of cannabis tend to be aware of their impairment and try to compensate for it accordingly, either by driving more cautiously or by expressing an unwillingness to drive altogether," wrote the report's author, Paul Armentano, deputy director of NORML.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-57374568-10391704/marijuana-smoking-motorists-twice-as-likely-to-crash-cars/

People are less likely to be involved in an accident while smoking marijuana than people who are drunk or people who talk on a hands free device. We still allow the sale of alcohol, which has far greater health risks and higher driving risks. We also legally allow talking on hands free devices while driving even though it is more than twice the risk of an accident over marijuana use.

Don't use impaired driving as a point for keeping marijuana illegal. I wonder how many people who are against marijuana, because they believe it results in driving deaths, text while they drive?

Texting while driving increases your chance of a crash by up to 8 to 23 times

http://lifebeforetext.com/Statistics.html

Ok Lets put a team together and call them like it is - Team 420. Anybody can try out, and anybody can be on the team over the age of 18 and who Smokes. This team will be given amunity to marijuana laws for life if they make the team. The Gov. is to put together a team to defend "The Why Not " law. In every aspect of what they call life. Everything. Loose and you loose your say. No matter what your drug of choice is it does not give you the right to hurt anybody in anyway. All man is not equel - People are diffrent and like diffrent things, period. Or, let me run the piss testing on all Gov. employee's, anytime any place, at all accidents in gov. vehicals, at the exit of all events... Challenge is made 420 VS Gov.com in a life of challeges for the "The Way Not" law. Oh, and no drinking at any event for anybody, smoking will be allowed for those in the event and there families. Gov can have no cross over families involved. I don't think people are asking for a excuse to be a slacker, they just hate looking over there shoulders for something that is here to stay anyhow. Its not worth the FIGHT! We will win!

Killer .... LMAO ... Just a fine? .... Get your facts straight ...

FEDERAL Marijuana Penalties mandatory
Incarceration Fine
Possession
Any amount (first offense) misdemeanor 1 year $1,000
Any amount (second offense) misdemeanor 15 days MMS* $2,500
Any amount (subsequent offense) misdemeanor or felony
90 days MMS* - 3 years $5,000
*Mandatory minimum sentence.

http://norml.org/pdf_files/state_penalties/NORML_US_State_Penalties.pdf

spreading false information like this is what makes individuals complacent & compliant about what their government is doing

This is clear evidence that the people are not being heard by their elected officials.

Chances are that the elected officials not listening are old, white males. They don't want to hear it because it runs contrary to their past with alcohol, even if that's a couple of martinis after a hard day of "work" in Congress or the state Legislature. Not to say every elected representative drinks, but it remains their culture. Before you say it...I'm a 57 year old (as of tomorrow) white male.

A person who uses Alcohol or marijuana on a regular basis will take more days off per year. that's a fact.

I see no presentation of this "fact"...are we just supposed to take your word for it? You must realize -- and I say this from personal experience -- that people don't get a hangover from pot, at least not in the same sense that you get hung over from alcohol. Back in my drinking days, if I drank too much the night before I had to go to work (or any time, for that matter), I'd wake up nauseous and with a splitting headache, but the number of times I missed work or cut my workday short I could count on one hand. On the other hand, if I smoked too much pot the night before work I'd wake up kind of spaced out, but never so much so that it cost me a day of work. By the time I actually arrived at work the spaciness was gone, and I was ready to perform at the high level (no pun intended) that was expected of me. So me personally, I dispute your "facts".

anybody I know who has used it for a while is a retard

Ridiculous. I've used it for 37 years...do I come across as "retarded"? I think not. As I've said before I'm perfectly capable of constructing an argument to support my case; meanwhile you resort to name calling. Which position do you think has a better case?

Get ready Colorado and washinton Obama DOJ is coming to your hometown soon.

Wrong. The DOJ has already said they will leave it alone, that it's been voted a state law and they won't prosecute anyone over the legal use and sale of marijuana. The "DOJ is coming" rhetoric from your position is merely wishful thinking. So you can take your anti-Obama posts (as if they are relevant in this discussion) and put them where the sun don't shine.

Hope You Had A Great Birthday, DG_W! And no hangover, another benefit!!

Well it was just a couple of judges anyway. Who cares. I think the people voted yes. The DEA just needs to get over it. They make to much money off of it being illegal. They would rather destroy peoples life's.

Burning Brightly,I agree with you.We the people,the majority are for legalizing it,are being ignored by our tax paid representatives.It doesn't sound to me like the Democratic process is at work here in the U.S.

Funny, I would've never pictured WA and Colorado as the first 2 states to allow marijuana use. Not Cali? Not Florida? Colorado?? Let's get high and go skiing. 0.o

DEA--Pot is a schedule I drug---Pot is illegal under federal law---jail time should be given to any one caught with pot

Marijuana is a miracle medicine. Anyone who believes otherwise has had their head buried in an Iraqi desert for decades. Marijuana has been found to rejuvenate and repair brain cells in Alzheimer's patients. Many Alzheimer's patients have been CURED by taking the drug. It's INSANE that the American media is so engorged by American Big Business, that we can't even get information like this out to the public. The American drug companies, American government agencies (DEA,FDA,), American media will not educate you. They rarely even tell the truth. Do the research on your own folks, it is astounding how many diseases that American's believe are incurable, are easily cured in other countries. ABSOLUTELY ASTOUNDING!! Educate yourselves people!!

Heroin, meth, and alcohol are very different from Marijuana in many different ways. The first being you are a complete loser if you do meth or heroin and there is no way the affects of the drug long or short term are anything like those other two manufactured and processed drugs. Marijuana is off of nature's shelf and that should say a little something in regards to all other drugs manufactured or changed compositionally. NO COMPARISON.

I USED to take MARINAL, It has 10/25 % THC is a load of horse hocky , It don't work and it's expensive as hell also .... $ 1068.00 a month for that BS ! I have much better results with NATURAL THC, than the BS the chemists try to force on you .Just like every other MANMADE drug, hard telling what the side effects are .

@FreedomFighter4Evah

you might be suprised when you follow that money trail just how many rich democrats got their hands in the corporate pocket as well, don't think this is a party issue it's a money issue, and not all the money comes from the republicans. How many millionaires are in politics again? How many are democrat? Do the math you might be suprised what you find. Both parties are extremely corrupt and power/money hungry. This is a fight to our freedom not parties.

While I've never taken a drug in my life and I didn't look up the article that posted this before, from what I was told, long term use of high THC counts can significantly lower your immune system, I would say that is pretty dangerous, and while I could care less about drugs or drinking, it does impair you reflexs and stays in your system for some time, this would need to be regulated for certain jobs, I'm a driver, we can't do drugs or drink for good reason, so just because you can doesn't mean you should.

Everything in moderation, we are a society that has forgotten that, look at the drinking, drug, money abuse we have now, I say legalize everything and let the animals all tear themselves apart. Would be good to get rid of the people who have no self control. What is the average debt of a U.S. citizen again. LOL SHEEP, Baaaaaah, Baaaaaah, Baaaaaaaah. Anything to make me feel good so I don't have to deal with the reality of my life.

it will probably kill you anyways....stick with the nature made stuff....you will find it worth living, this life, when its not all chemicals. wonder why your kids dont go outside...well look at the chemicals in the food you feed them!!!!

You'd be surprised, or maybe you wouldn't, that around 1/4 of our politicians have been arrested for one thing or another, mostly DUIs, but also some felony charges, also, around that same amount have been denied credit cards due to bad credit, they are unable to balance their own personal spending - and these are the guys we have hired to balance the US budget!

The federal government is deaf, dumb and blind to the people who feed it.

Geezus! I just cant believe you people, you scream about taxes and then you openly and willingly beg the gov'mint to allow you a "freedom" with the condition that it apply a tax to it! You ignorant sheep should make up your minds before you start altering them!

Gov, I'd like to ask what party you fall under but I have a feeling I know, based on your name. So you're calling people sheep for wanting to have more freedoms? For saying, "yes, let's legalize this and take a huge bite out of the Mexican cartels while at the same time taxing the sale of the stuff (because if it were legally sold, by definition it would have to be taxed) so that the government does have a new source of income to help mitigate the out of control spending" you call them sheep. That seems to be a rather pigheaded statement at best. It seems to me these people are thinking, not following. Whereas you, a raging troll, are doing nothing of the sort. I'd much rather have the option to buy something and pay the rightful tax for it than to be taxed pay that I am given for performing work without any say in the matter. If somebody doesn't want to buy legalized cannabis, they don't have to. But if they do, they know they'll pay for that luxury. Seems to make more sense to give the people the option to fund an out of control spending government than to force it.

It's riduculous to me that alchol is legal and marijuana isn't. How many people are killed each year by drunk drivers as opposed to those who have been smoking marijuana. People who smoke stay home, eat cookies and play video games, hurting no one. Whose to say what is legal and what's not when it comes to recreational use. Alcohol is as accepted to the public as drinking a bottle of water. Almost everyone I know drinks, recreationally, and drives. A glass or two of wine at dinner, a couple beers, and then they drive home. They aren't "drunk" so it's ok?! This country is full of hipocrites and idiots. Sadly I see the movie Idiocracy coming true. Legalize it, tax it, put those DEA agents on the border! Problem solved.

Medical cannibus is legal in DC, how does that work? DC isn't even a state.

May the federal government burn in hell. May those judges burn in hell.

Unforunatly we live in a socity that is Ignorant and alot of them uneducated. What do you think was in a peace Pipe when the Indians smoked it with there allies. Big oil and Henry ford pushed the FBI to make it Ilegal because they knew it would put the crude oil out of buiness. In Europe in the 20's they used it to make fuel and cloths and rope. It's a proven fact that it cures cancer and is a great pain killer. Tobacco is the worst drug you can smoke. It's legal because our Goverment gets big money from the tobacco company's. It fights Depression. There is no documented proof that it cause lung cancer. Infact People with COPD have claimed it opens there Bronciual tubes and find it easyer to breath after caughing up the flem that obstructs the air passage ways. Alot of you people are not well educated on the effects that it has on people with pain and who have kidney and liver damage from all the man made drugs is tremendous. Myth is the #1 drug in this country that is ruining lives and it makes people angry and crazy. They should be going after the treakers and the drug lords instead of wasting money on a Narcotic that has been a god send for the terminally ill and paitents who can't stand the side effects from the man made drugs. Look up Canabnoids. reading some of the comments on here make me sick. You people are rude and vicious. Smoke a big fat one and mellow out!

I don't belong to a party, so any guess you made was based on being a member of the ASSumption club. I wasn't put on this earth just to provide the gov'mint additional sources of income whenever it or YOU want! And if I'm a "raging troll" because I choose not to have the luxury of a certain freedom taxed... then so be it! If you are the opposite then YOU are the follower and as I said before, just another "raging sheep"! You said, "Seems to make more sense to give the people the option to fund an out of control spending government than to force it."... I think you should re-read that back a few times and explain to everyone how increased funding an out of control spending government makes more sense lmao!

As far as you people are concerned if they would just decrimilalize everything they you would be happy right? Just because you and a few hundred thousand people among MILLIONS think it should be legal then we just have to go along with you? I don't think so! It was illegal in the first place, why did you even start smoking it? You didn't care and you were a LAW BREAKER! You will continue to be low life law breakers to normal society!

Gov hater you wont be taxed for it if you dont buy it dumbass. Nobody suggested there should be a tax across the board for everyone whether they use it or not. What the government spends has nothing to with the conversation. yes they spend rediculous ammounts of money on stupid thing, the stupidest of which happens to be calling a plant they have proven to be beneficial with their own studies a narcotic. So yes its better if they make money on it and quit putting people who have commited no actual crime in prison and at the same time stop wasting money to prosecute people who use or sell it. Where dont you see benefit in that? At this point the use of cannibis isnt a freedom, it should be, but isnt and I would gladly pay a small tax to have it be one. Ans the fact is that you being in this country means that like it or not you fund the government even if it and all the money collected from the people is insignifigant to their income. So if you dont want to provide them income move to another country or declare war those are your only 2 options.

Niece I would wager my life to say that the millions belong to those who think it should be legal and the thousands belong to the ignorant like you. The big deal here is that it is just a plant and it requires no process to make it do what it does unlike ANY DRUG in existance. By ALL definitions that makes it just another herb the same as ginseng or echineachea. And also that the government and a hundred ivy league colleges have done thousand of experiments and proven it is NOTHING but beneficial and even promotes the evolution of the human mind. Mankind has used cannabis as a primary natural and insanely diverse medicine for more years than any government has ever existed, so who the @!$%# are they to say it should be illegal?

Brandon, you make my day. Niece, you need to get a grip. Seriously - I absolutely double-dare you to find ANY evidence that marijuana causes ANY of the same problems that 1) alcohol; 2) ED drugs; 3) other pharmaceuticals that are advertised EVERY day, with the caveat that the drug could KILL; 4) cigarettes; 5) botox (for crying out loud - THERE is a poison!!) cause. Criminy, even depilatories can cause more problems than marijuana does.

Marijuana might make you a little run down or lazy, but it won't kill you. It won't make you have an erection that can last four or more hours. It won't cause eye strain, or hives, or rashes, or even very rarely, an allergic reaction. It's a friggin' WEED, like rosemary. A plant made by the same god or nature or whatever you believe made YOU. Why you people all seem to think that because someone wants to make money off of you, that they must have the right to. Legalize and tax the crap out of it.

I find it amazing that it's okay that the drug companies can create a drug that makes your eyelashes grow longer or fuller or something, but a plant that no one has to do anything but allow to grow, harvest, and dry (just like wheat, hay, corn...) to use is illegal. How stupid.

Ashtaroth said

"while at the same time taxing the sale of the stuff (because if it were legally sold, by definition it would have to be taxed)"

Why does something sold have to be taxed? We dont tax food, other drugs, school supplies, all kinds of stuff depending on your state. Some states have no sales taxes.

niece1964 Cannabis was legal in this country and Alcohol was illegal. No we do not want to "decriminalize" every thing we want Cannabis Legal. There is a difference between legal and decrim. The main thing is legal your safe, decrim you won't get arrested but you can be fined and you might have a mark on your record for drugs but you will loose your stash.

Why does something sold have a tax? I live in a state that has a sales tax on food and stuff, but not on prescription meds. Tax is just a compromise to get Cannabis legal again. CA's prop 19 failed and OR's I-80 failed while WA I-502 and CO's 64 passed. If the only way to get it legal is with a tax then fine as long as its legal.

As far as you people are concerned if they would just decrimilalize everything they you would be happy right?

What business is it of yours what people choose to ingest in their own bodies?

okay let me start by saying weed is not a dangerous drug i have ever heard of anybody dying from weed the only way any one would die from it is if it got laced with something like cocain meth crack heroin ect weed is nothing more then a plant that you can grow and another thing this kind of drug helps releive stress and ca keep some one healthy now with that being said if you did research on this drug the only thing that people say is "dangerous" is the names that are give to this substance. but in all reality there is nothing to be afraid of because weed has thc in it and thc short for "tetrahydrocannabinol" what thc does is binds to the cannabinoid receptors in your brain ad this ca help control/reduce pai and nausia and ca help keep aggression under control so in all reallity if you really think about it doctors use thc ad ca put it in pill form but why do this when its already on weed just smoke it either way it will be inhaled so now if there is anything you would like to know about weed follow me o twitter @chestnutftp or add me o face book there is alot to learn people

The federal penalty for mere possession of marijuana?? It is a fine, used to be $100.00. That was 5 years ago. Basically a traffic ticket. The offense does not go on your criminal record. It is basically the same as being decriminalized. They tried to scare all of the Washington voters, but as long as you are not growing it or distributing it, there isn't a thing the federal government can do to the average user, except basically tax you.

It's obvious the federal government doesn't believe its own rhetoric about marijuana being a dangerous drug. They don't want to give up the billions needed to operate the drug war; such as, DEA, prisons, funding for local law enforcement, training, etc., etc., etc.

Always, follow the money.

They just don't want to loose their 'Cash Cow' by legalizing it. They get too much money from the Oil, Lumber, and Big Pharma to keep it illegal.

Too many government agencies, contractors and gangs stand to lose their ass if its legalized. This, despite any definitive proof of harmfulness to the user...all we get from the federal pulpit is the lame gateway drug argument. This is a product whose time has come; it will continue to be produced, distributed and consumed in ever greater volume...no matter what! Get used to it, Uncle Sam !

Relax; its only good guys with guns at your door...

Marijuana won't kill you but the DEA might!

I grew up in Washington. They've been smoking pot there for at least all of my 51 years.

Ah, yes! I remember you, american. You're among the people Emmett Watson warned us about. You moved to Wa with your realestate profits from Cali and started replacing our trees with cul-de-sacs, because they obstructed your view of the green-belt. Brought in the Crips and Bloods, I guess so they could work in the Supermalls you felt you needed, and introduced road-rage to a peaceful, cocaine free population. You are the desease!

I grew up in Washington also. Pot has been around for the 58 years I've been here. Some of the purest, most potent bud has been grown and cultivated outside the Olympia area. Nothing new, it was illegal then but easily accessed. No real change in availability now that it's legal. There will always be a market for the good stuff regardless of state control. More people will buy from their "personal" dealer than from the state operations. I know I will always support the "organic non state controlled grower". Government fks up everything they touch and their pot will have a crap load of additives. I just like buying from my own "farmers market" so to speak.

I'm with you Donna. My wife just survived a bout with cancer and I don't mind telling anyone who will listen (open. rational minds only, please) that marijuana has been an absolute Godsend. Treating nausea from chemothereapy and getting nutrients is most important and I'll argue with my last breath that IT WORKS!

"The United States is a nation of laws: badly written and randomly enforced." Frank Zappa

"Nothing is more destructive of respect for the government and the law of the land than passing laws which cannot be enforced." Albert Einstein

"If a law is injust, a man is not only right to disobey it, he is obligated to do so." Thomas Jefferson

"Man cannot give freedom. He can only take it away." Jacques-Yves Cousteau

Hey, Joe... "legal, but with harsh penalties for abuse." How does one "abuse" Marijuana? No one, and I mean no one, has ever died from an overdose of pot.

Awesome Sam. Thanks for the quotes.

Sam-3910152, 9.1

It easier to remember the truth, then to try and repeat a lie.

Mother Nature gave us the plant, man made it illegal.

Figures do not lie but liars figure.

And what the government is doing is repeating the lie, over and over, they have learned so many years ago as to why it should be illegal.

Go figure.

Keep up the fight.

T.A.F.

Sam, you are correct in that not a single sole has reportedly died from MJ use. However, you neglect to mention many have died from their own stupidity because of the USE of it. I'm for legalization but at the very least you can be a responsible advocate of the use for those in need. The majority don't need it, just like alcohol but many people kill others because of them being irresponsible from their use.

@ Sam... You may never see it (I hardly go back to old conversations), but pot does make you sleepy, slows down your reaction time. Which is if you are about to touch the moon and you operate a vehicle, then you deserve a strict punishment. Marijuana has been deadly before, so please don't tell me this. It can cause lung, breathing, heart and brain issues because of the affect in the blood. It can also cause birth defects.

By the way, pot can cause obesity.

This is where my conservatism comes into play. Personal freedom, personal choice, and personal responsibility.

And so can being tired, smoking cigarettes, drinking, or doing hard opiates. By a factor of ten.

Your point is heard, but not a good one. Which is where my Conservative side draws a line.

The Facts Are The Facts, and ignoring the many beneficial values of Hemp for paper, oil and medicine, as well as good weed to kick back with is well within Americans and Man's Rights. Just another Big Pharma/Drug War/Prison and Justice System folly to keep it illegal. They have way too much to lose.

Peace

The comments are not allowing me to edit, so I will only add, FIX IT, NBC!!

Thank you. Bug report filed.

You know, of course, the LEOs would have to justify themselves by going after murderers, gang-bangers and rapists, bank robbers and drunks ...and that's hard!

TexasMike good point. Its more profitable to keep it illegal than to make it legal. Its all about the money! Money rules!

Keep it ILLEGAL! That way you goobers can't get your hands on the good stuff that I am smoking! Woo Hoo!

mike it would still bring profit & help to those whom truely need it. it would stop some of the drug traffic but not all of it

I think the majority of cops actually want it legalized. They're sick of wasting time having to, by law, bust a pothead if they catch them. I'm sure they'd rather be going after more serious offenders.

Ask yourself, what legal entity stands to lose the most money from the legalization of Marijuana? Who has the money and power to prevent certain laws from being passed? Pharmaceutical Companies.

I am sure many will disagree with this statement. Do some research. You will find a majority of pharmaceutical companies are as corrupt and devious as are oil companies.

I do not carry any resentment towards ethnically large companies. Especially Pharmaceutical companies, they have saved many of life's through there research. What I do care about are companies who put profits before the well being of people.

Cocaine is used as a vasoconstrictor by ENT and ER doctors to control bleeding. Not to get high.

No social problems created by cocaine, huh!?!.

@ ZombiePrepper

I had complications after sinus surgery and had to be rushed to the hospital because of bleeding. The ER doctor kept sticking large cotton swabs dipped in cocaine up my nose to try and stop it with absolutely no affect on the bleeding. After they called my surgeon in he called them idiots for using such a thing and stuck a balloon up my nose and inflated it. Stopped the bleeding immediately.

Later when they prescribed me morphine for the pain and being on it for a few days completely wasted, couldn't eat, and severely constipated, my surgeon suggested marijuana and VOILA! Pain was gone, food could be consumed again and constipation gone!

Yeah... marijuana is more dangerous than cocaine and morphine my @ss!! It was the only thing that helped for goodness sakes!!

Your method of coming to a conclusion is about as scientific as the rest of the advocates for your cause. Anecdotal stories are not an acceptable method in science, however, you were probably too stoned and missed that lesson in 6th grade science. Marijuana is a horrible drug, however, if you can't find a better way to cope in life, have at it. Legalize it, tax it, and regulate it.

@MSNBC is Super!

You're full of @SSUMPTIONS aren't you. I had never tried any marijuana up til that point... it's just called AN OPEN MIND. Something you know nothing about obviously...

How many drugs can you just pick and smoke?? Most every other drug other than tobacco has to be processed, refined, manufactured, chemicals added, etc.

Let nature be. I am not sure legalization is the way, decriminalization maybe, but it should have far less severe penalties in law compared to meth, cocaine, heroin, and pharmaceutical pills. Far worse crimes being committed like those is our government.

h tt p://www.cannabis-med.org/studies/study.php

Remove the extra spaces in http

h tt p://norml.org/library/recent-research-on-medical-marijuana

If something doesn't make sense then you can be sure that thats what the government will do.

First rule of government: If it makes sense, it's a horrible idea.

Well said Theo. - I apologize for that rant, but I'm down to seeds & stems again.

Simple solution ..plant the seeds !

I couldn't have said it better myself.

I wouldn't call it non-addictive. Physically non addictive yeah. I know some smokers that turn into real jerks when they run out.

They were jerks before they ever took their first toke. They are simply reverting to their pre-pot dispositions.

I live in the Emerald Triangle of Nor Cal. Every day a DEA spotter plane flies over the valley circling below 1000 ft most of the time. Sometimes two or three DEA planes fly the same tedious routes over and over or act though as they have a MIG on their tail and they are flying a Sabre jet. Crazy part they do this every day even all winter. I am thinking it is somebodys job and if they don't waste the gas and hourly wages then it woud be cut out of DEA expenses. Then the caravans of DEA followed by state and county task forces roll in with caravans of up to 20 vehicles. And even one National guard unit rolled in with 12 vehicles mostly Hum Vees. Black Hawks fly over and some hovering at 3 am in morning. I amwondering why don't they just use the new high tech space spy stuff instead of spending so much man hours and resources? Having retired from a US Govt job I know you have to expend your whole budget and maybe a bit more to justify your job and financia support it takes. You never want to end up with any savings or your next budget will be cut back minus your savings.

I totally agree LEGALIZE EVERYWHERE!

While I'm a supporter of legalization calling it an herb and natural is a useless argument that so many people keep spouting.

Poison Ivy is natural and so are many other poisonous plants.

But I don't believe they are illegal.

"For that is not the way that Christ has taught you." Ephesians 4:20, The Bible.

The cannabis plant has been hybridized to the point that it's no longer "natural", but a genetically-modified drug delivery system of toxic potency.

Breathing exercises are more effective at pain control and consciousness-raising. Why do something that's illegal? It's a lose-lose proposition.

Gen. Chptr 1, ver. 11: "... and God said, "Behold, I have given thee every herb bearing seed on the face of the Earth. To you, this shall be for meat." ". This has been over-ruled by a higher authority!

Unca Joe, the Deciever can quote Scripture better than the Pope and certainly more cleverly than you. Before you're Ganga riddled brain influences children, consider that the government probably calls Hemlock a poison because it really gets you incredibly stoned.

There is a mini movie called Run from the cure, its on youtube. This guy says smoking it dont cure nothing. But you make oil out of it and put it in your outh 2x a day, it cures cancers and other ailments. skin cancer can be cured by using it topical like a cream. He does interviews with drugs companies that 85% of there buisness is cancer treatment. Do you really think the government wants you to live a long time?I know a lady who cured herself with certain vitamins in high doses. my advice is watch it. if all hope is gone, try it wtf ya have to lose

ohh should say 100% thc oil is the ticket for cure. not smoking it

It is none of your business; keep out of my life.

No gunner it was dog @!$%#. I know a guy who, smoke puff, knew a guy, who smoke puff, used dog @!$%# and it cured whatever it was, smoke puff, he had. Somebody pass the munchies.

It is true, the marijuana is no longer the "herb" it once was. Besides there are a lot of other natural vegitables that help fight cancer. God may have created it but man has perverted its natural use. Besides just because God created plants not all are designed for human consumption.

Well i would like to just thank the DEA for protecting the Giant pharmaceutical Industry. Thank you so much. You will stand by and let these companies prescribe all these pills "ROXYCODONE" which is basically synthetic heroin. After somone uses these drugs they are hooked, then go through painful withDrawls. So then they resort to rehab. So the next doctor says no worries we will help you. So they switch there "ROXYCODONE" to whats called a "SUBOXONE" prescription.(ANOTHER ADDICTIVE PRESCRIPTION) oh what do you know one drug to another. But yea your right Marijuana is the worst drug on earth.

"LETS KEEP EVERYONE DOPED UP SO THEY CANT GET BACK TO REALITY"