Idea - Realistic Regulation Of Marijuana!

[Smaerd]

This is just an idea I brewed up that I think we could all push for. It is equally not perfect to all marijuana smokers, and the government; but we both get what we want out of it!


The American Government cannot sufficiently tax marijuana nor regulate it because anyone can grow it, and turn over profit thus the capitalism in marijuana cannot work like that. We live in a capitalistic country.

How about we make both ends meet, add more jobs to our country and let those who are educated fully about marijuana and prove mental stability can use, marijuana medicinally AND recreationally under certain guidelines nation-wide.

At the age of 18(maybe we should shoot for 21?), you can apply for a Marijuana License. Which would require a total of forty eight hours of marijuana education. Including a guided Marijuana use session with "baby-sitters" as the final test. Prior to this test all those involved in the classes must pay for(the marijuana) and take standard drug tests.

These licenses must be renewed every year and cost 50 dollars. The renewal of the license would only require a notorized doctors approval, and a new photograph of the user. If one is to be caught with marijuana after two-weeks of their licenses expiration they would get charged for not being as if these laws were not in place.

Using cannabis while driving or in public would still be illegal. If marijuana paraphenalia(roaches , resinated pipes, etc however not, unsmoked joints or blunts) where to be found the drivers license would be suspended for a mandatory minimum of six months(already like that in Ohio). However there would be certain specified shops where everyone can use marijuana medicinally or recreationally in these designated places including and their homes only.

If one were to be caught with marijuana or to be using marijuana without these cards would be subject to fines. Also fines would apply for those caught using in public.

Paraphenilia for marijuana is not allowed to leave your home unless it is entirely cleaned. Because there is no proof you don't use your pipe for crack or pot without a huge hassle for the police department.

However, marijuana would still be free trade, and so would it be to grow four female plants per year and one male, unless you acquire a marijuana distribution & production license(similiar to a liquor license).

This would lower the prices of marijuana and reduce risk of acquiring it, and increase safety to all users. This would also allow production of all hemp products.

The gov't get's their money, and still is responsible; while we get our weed unscrutinized, cheaper, and safer, and the rest of the public receive's the benefits of hemp products, more government/agricultural/shipping jobs, and organic medicine.

Does anyone think this could pass in legislature? If so should we get together and form a group? I think it's a good shot!

[Dozer McDozer]

meh... i'm too lazy right now

[bradleykerr]

It's a nice thought, but you must realize that 90% of pot smokers are worthless bums who smoke pot and plays video games (I really do wish I was being facetious). Most people who smoke pot are not contributing members of society, that is the main hurdle to any realistic marijuana legalization.

I dunno, sorry for the tirade but it's just I have smoked a great deal of marijuana in my life where it's time to move on. What I have said is harsh but it is true.

[Smaerd]

Wow...That's depressing. Anyways anyone else got an opinion on this idea?

[jsknow]

This is constructive criticism, my thoughts on what to do and how I think we can best use our manpower and resources, it’s not an attack. I appreciate the effort every person makes toward improving drug policy!

I don’t think your plan will work. The vast majority of those that favor legalizing are not going to participate in anything they have to put that much effort into. It takes way more work than it should to get a small percentage of my pro-legalization associates to send an email to their elected representatives in support of favorable bills that are in the process of being decided right now.

The best chance for success is getting all the pro-legalization groups united. Then mobilize the members they have who are willing to BE ACTIVE involved in a blitz campaign. Make sure every state and federal representative gets flooded with office visits, letters, phone calls and email. Don't let up until the job is done. When that happens you'll see policy change very quickly. Think about it, a crowd of concerned citizens visiting every politician every day, phone lines jammed, US mail and email boxes flooded. Most of the politicians would be screaming for policy change just to get their life back to normal.

I don't agree with your driving rules either. Driving under the influence of cannabis is NOT the same as driving drunk. There are way more mind altering drugs approved by the FDA that have a warning on the pill bottle that says "Do not drive or operate dangerous machinery until you determine how this medication effects you". That's all people need to do with cannabis and machinery too. If someone is speeding or driving to slow or driving recklessly we already have laws to deal with that.

Focus on ending prohibition it must end and be replaced with sensible regulation. Cannabis should be regulated like tobacco. The same ability to smoke outside or in your car or where ever tobacco can be smoked and you should have the right to grow a certain amount for personal use just like tobacco.

Remove the money and you remove the crime.

That's my thoughts and I'm sticking to them.

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[Smaerd]

I totally agree with you, I guess I just feel like there is no progress and we're already trying this. Because marijuana is a behind the curtain type thing in our society, hate to say it. Hence why my Whole name isn't my user-name on Yahooka.

Most people also don't understand you can drive on cannibis. I am just trying to make ammends to both sides. Erase the money? Sir, do you know where we live? Even our environmental concerns are governed off of fat quakers pocketing change. Let alone our freedoms? Money probably should be there so that way there can be a compromise, and eventually as it's introduced into our society as normal. People will then be more prone to allow full legalization.

I understand what your saying though good points!

Your website is full of a nice collection of data, however. The government IGNORES facts if there is none of the $$$ other green stuff involved. Even if we'd like to believe it not to be true.

[stoneric]

Originally Posted by bradleykerr

It's a nice thought, but you must realize that 90% of pot smokers are worthless bums who smoke pot and plays video games (I really do wish I was being facetious). Most people who smoke pot are not contributing members of society, that is the main hurdle to any realistic marijuana legalization.

I dunno, sorry for the tirade but it's just I have smoked a great deal of marijuana in my life where it's time to move on. What I have said is harsh but it is true.

You must be talking about a specific age group when you talk of "worthless bums". There are people who continue to smoke througout life who indeed are contributing members of society. You think you've outgrown pot, fine. Just don't let it distort your perceptions.

[JcP]

Originally Posted by bradleykerr

It's a nice thought, but you must realize that 90% of pot smokers are worthless bums who smoke pot and plays video games (I really do wish I was being facetious). Most people who smoke pot are not contributing members of society, that is the main hurdle to any realistic marijuana legalization.

I dunno, sorry for the tirade but it's just I have smoked a great deal of marijuana in my life where it's time to move on. What I have said is harsh but it is true.

do you have any factual basis for this 90%, or are you just talking out of your bum using hyperbole?

why does contribution to society = whether or not pot should be legalized?

Should we outlaw alcohol because it decreases productivity? How about require everyone to be on sleeping pills to increase rest?

I recognize you're playing devil's advocate here a little, but I don't see why productivity is a coherant argument to be made by those against pot being legal.

[DubStyle311]

Originally Posted by JcP

do you have any factual basis for this 90%, or are you just talking out of your bum using hyperbole?

why does contribution to society = whether or not pot should be legalized?

First of all I dont think he said that. He said thats the biggest hurdle.

I think 90% is probably a little high. But its generally true. I base that on my experiences in the pot smoking community.

[Smaerd]

Okay well all my friends work atleast 40 hours weeks. Alot of my pot smoking friends are in college I'd say some 90%. So you should probably better understand what JcP said that has nothing to do with it. If the idea makes sense and the government has good enough cash flow incentive why the heck wouldn't they.

80 million americans have smoked pot x $50 = a lot of bread homie?

Stop hopping around the forums I'm in being a contrarian because your bored. If you don't support legalization why are you on yahooka?

[DubStyle311]

Originally Posted by Smaerd

If the idea makes sense and the government has good enough cash flow incentive why the heck wouldn't they.

80 million americans have smoked pot x $50 = a lot of bread homie?

I'm going to tell you exactly why your idea will never work. The government is not one entity. It is thousands of different departments and people all with different jobs and budgets. Yes, regulating and taxing pot would being in a lot of moeny to the government. And say for the sake of argument, the money coming in from taxes is much more than is currently comming in from drug enforcement.

The problem is that the money would be going to different people.

Right now, municipalities and local police and the DEA and other government entities are getting tons of cash from whatever it is theyre doing with drugs.

Legalizing and taxing pot would shift the money coming there and move it to the federal gov't. There would be winners and losers. And you can bet the people who are getting the money now dont want to see that go to some other jerkoff.

It works the same way with budgeting. There are thousands of poeple who's jobs rely on the current legal status of pot for their paycheck and their departments budget. Far too many people have a vested interest in pot to ever see the type of legalization you are talking about.

Basically - even though it would be bringing in tons of money, it would be going to different places than the money coming in now. Both cash flows are mutually exclusive. Thats your problem.

[SublimeStylez]

But does it make it right?

[Dozer McDozer]

*sigh* dub is pretty much right..,

[jsknow]

Originally Posted by Smaerd

I totally agree with you, I guess I just feel like there is no progress and we're already trying this. Because marijuana is a behind the curtain type thing in our society, hate to say it. Hence why my Whole name isn't my user-name on Yahooka.

Most people also don't understand you can drive on cannibis. I am just trying to make ammends to both sides. Erase the money? Sir, do you know where we live? Even our environmental concerns are governed off of fat quakers pocketing change. Let alone our freedoms? Money probably should be there so that way there can be a compromise, and eventually as it's introduced into our society as normal. People will then be more prone to allow full legalization.

I understand what your saying though good points!

Your website is full of a nice collection of data, however. The government IGNORES facts if there is none of the $$$ other green stuff involved. Even if we'd like to believe it not to be true.

We're making progress, there are two important Federal bills in Congress right now. Can you tell me what they are? Have you contacted your federal reps. and asked them to support the bills?... Again this is not an attack, I'm trying to get folks thinking and taking action.

About your driving comments and mine...:
Honesty really is the best policy. Sometimes people don't like to hear the truth but the truth can be proven.

About "Erase the money? Sir, do you know where we live?":
Yes I know exactly. We live in a country where worthless weeds cost more than gold. We must work toward making pot plants like tomato plants, grow a few enjoy them yourself maybe give some to your friends... that's fine. If you want to sell on a business scale you have to have a permit be inspected and other such regulations just like tomatoes. My point is we must remove the inflated black market pricing caused by prohibition, that will end the crime. Al Capone didn’t kill people because he was drunk, he killed people that got between him and his money. Alcohol prohibition made that money available to him. Sorry for not making that clear before.

Re: " Your website is full of a nice collection of data, however. The government IGNORES facts..."
If you only get one point from everything I ever say please get this: Change your thinking about the government. We are the government, "We the people..." remember? Politicians will do everything they have to do to keep their job and they are elected by us. If you want your motion to carry all you have to do is represent the majority of the voters, so recruit everyone you possibly can into the drug policy reform movement. Get them to support it with actions and finance. Pester everyone you see about taking action until you get the job done. Pretend like you are the only soldier in a righteous war and you must recruit reinforcements. Explain the problems with prohibition and then present a solution that is good for all, costs far less money than the drug war and does no harm; (1 regulate instead of prohibit, 2 honest drug education for all and 3 medical treatment not jail if there are any drug related problems).

One thing I learned early about this movement was if you present the data correctly most prohibitionists can be swayed to our side and they are a lot more apt to take action than users (sad but true). Not because pot smokers are lazy, that's a complete farce. It's because non-users aren't afraid of getting busted, so they are WAY easier to get help from. I've even talked to churches and had good response, it's all in how you present the facts, just make sure you can prove what you say.

Can't we all just get abong?

[Smaerd]

Valid retort dub. You forgot to mention the cops will still make loot off of the pipes in peoples cars, regulating age of users all those underage (undr 18 or 21 not decided) will still be charged the same way as prior to this would be in tact(underagers are probably 50% of the mj users). And other drugs are still illegal?

I understand the money wouldn't be going to the same places, that is capitalism. New idea, the revenue flow changes. So you want the people who are getting the money right now to keep getting the same money. Get out of this board, dude. Really. You support those who are banking off drugs being illegal. This is a drug board, get out dub-style. Or maybe you don't understand the premiss of how the police would still be used? Didn't actually think into what I said? Then why did you post? Also I already stated more employment, and alternate hemp fuels and products. I think it would far over balance whats going on right now. Cops still are useful and can hassle kids, search cars, dea can still make drug busts to those who don't have the permits to have the baggage they might be carrying. It'd all be a better reality.

Instead of the police force worrying about pot, they'd be doing real damage to the heavy drugs.

Yeah the government wouldn't 100% want this, but it's more comprimisable and realistic then "pot is free for everyone and legal, the end."

YOU CAN'T HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT TOO kiddo.Everyone I know supports legalization or at minimal decriminilaztion. However getting people motivated to incriminate themselves? I was about to send a letter from norml but you knwo all those people just delete them. Politicians lie to get into their power then do what they want. It's been like this since America was founded... Wanna hear something else funny? I sent a e-mail to even norml, no response no consideration. For all I know their just some adults who looked at demographics and want their chunk of $$ too. Just like Al Gore did for the environment and no writes checks to himself and is a multimillionaire off of a movie that held minor fact, and the media he attracted from his prior election.

I am not the government. I have to be 35 and mad ties to become the president. I need the hook and a law degree to become a senator. You want in the supreme court? Wait tell one of them dies, and their gonna give it to the dude with more ties. Our government is the old and dieing. We won't be the government until our kids grow up raised by our ideals and are in a wealthy position for the education and power to make a difference. I love the wishful thinking but the government is impeccable to change and praises tradition because it is easier.

PS I have been to peace rallys and other such things I don't sit on the sidelines. I just don't have faith in the government.

[jsknow]

Originally Posted by bradleykerr

It's a nice thought, but you must realize that 90% of pot smokers are worthless bums who smoke pot and plays video games (I really do wish I was being facetious). Most people who smoke pot are not contributing members of society, that is the main hurdle to any realistic marijuana legalization.

I dunno, sorry for the tirade but it's just I have smoked a great deal of marijuana in my life where it's time to move on. What I have said is harsh but it is true.

Do you have any idea how many succesful pot smokers there are?

Several US presidents, numerous members of the US congress, governors, state legislators, city legislators, doctors, lawyers, very successful business people and professionals have admitted using cannabis.

[jsknow]

Originally Posted by Dozer McDozer

meh... i'm too lazy right now

Don't know if you smoke, don't really care but for all those that do smoke... Take drug policy reform action when you're not being lazy or you may have more time to be lazy than you'd like, within a very confined amout of space, with bars on the doors and windows. Think it will never happen to you... Almost a million US pot smokers thought that too, just last year... THEY WERE WRONG!

[Smaerd]

That is good motivation jsknow!