I don’t know what ever happened to the campaign. I’m plenty happy about it (in theory), so long as it doesn’t restrict the average Mary Jane from growing or selling her own. The one suspicion I have with such a proposal, is that it might effectively open the channel for commercial exploitation while continuing to criminalize the little guy. If the small-volume grower is protected then I’m all for it.
I don’t think there can be much debate about the need to end the wasteful spending on criminalization of marijuana. I read recently that four out of every five dollars we throw at the “war on drugs” is spent addressing marijuana. Anyone know if that statistic approaches anything like accurate?
I’m assuming in terms of physical and social consequences–long-term medical problems, danger to others when under the influence, etc.
I voted for legalization for those over 21. IMO marijuana should be regulated and distributed in the same manner as alcohol. If (or when, hopefully) the drinking age is returned to 18, the age for pot consumption should be lowered as well.
I think 21 is better than 18 as an age, simple because the frontal lobes don’t finish developing until you’re in your early 20s, so it just seems logical to try to delay any problems until the brain develops as much as possible (same reason I’m for alcohol’s age being 21 and later).
Also, multiple choice makes this poll skewed. People who vote ‘never legalize’ will only vote for that. People who want to legalize partially may vote for more than one option.
This week’s Fortune Magazine has as its cover story an article arguing that, because of medical marijuana laws and a statement made by Obama’s Atty. General Erick Holder last February that stated it’s now the official policy of the Federal Government to not go after medical marijuana dispensaries, reversing the Bush policy.
I chose to let the states decide, as I thought it would be easier than legalizing it nationwide. Otherwise make it legal nationwide for those 19 and over (too many 18 year olds in high school, although we could fix that simply by kicking out all 18 year old students and sending them to community college to finish their studies).
I came close but went with leaving it up to the states.
I sat in on a debate long ago (Nixon was still President) and something in the issue that “decriminalization is better than legalization” really won a place in my heart. What all the factors were I forget (I may have been a little stoned at that lecture series) but I haven’t seen anyone blow it out of the water well enough to change my mind.
I’m ambivalent. On one hand, it seems wrong to allow alcohol and not marijuana, when the former is more addictive. On the other, I’ve seen it destroy lives of people who get too much of it or do it too often. Too many people self-medicate rather than dealing with their problems.
If it were up to me, you’d have to get an actual license or prescription to purchase all psychoactive substances (yes, including caffeine) that are less addictive than alcohol And it would be limited to a certain low amount. You’d have to at least have a physical and mental check up to purchase the stuff.
Unfortunately, this is not one of the allowable answers. Three of the answers are close, though. (Crossed out sections to make exact)
[ul]
[li] Only be legal if prescribed by doctor [del]for medical reasons[/del].[/li][li][del]Don’t legalize it, but make it just a misdemeaner for[/del] under an ounce.[/li][li] Legalize [del]ALL drugs[/del], under strict control.[/li][/ul]
Total:
[ul]
[li]Only legalize if prescribed [or allowed] by a doctor, at quantities less than an ounce, under strict controls.[/li][/ul]
Some people aren’t old enough to remember when brewing your own beer was illegal. Then we got the homebrew laws and any idiot can now brew pretty much whatever the hell they want, although home distilling is still illegal.
So rather than commercialised legalization, let’s have a National Homegrown Law.
You can grow up to 50 plants a year. You can keep or sell the product to others or to local/regional distribution channels. You can possess up to 20 pounds at any given time.
Sales taxes collected by the distribution channels.
To be sure, if Mary Jane Weed sells all her product to people she knows, the state isn’t going to be collecting any sales tax. But if she does so and doesn’t report it as income, then it’s an income tax evasion issue.