74 replies to this topic

[Pot Odds RAC]

The U.S. should stop arresting responsible marijuana users, Rep. Barney Frank said Wednesday, announcing a proposal to end federal penalties for Americans carrying fewer than 100 grams, almost a quarter-pound, of the substance. "The vast amount of human activity ought to be none of the government's business," Frank said.

Full Story Here: http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/07/30/fra...uana/index.html

[Suited_Up]

Don't smoke it, but it'd be nice.

Will never happen, but it'd be nice.

[grocery_mony]

No money in pot if its legal and it would take big bites out of the liqour, pharmaceutical industries so nope, wont happen.

[Mercury69]

What kind of a Republican IS this guy lol?

I completely agree, though, that way too much time, effort and money is wasted on marijuana related "offenses". When was the last time you heard of a marijuana caused car crash or hold up job? The smokers are too freakin' chilled out for that. The worst I've heard, lately, is that story about the guy who wanted to use pot to bet at some casino...

Go after the cocaine, heroin, meth, exctasy, etc...Or maybe the CIA has too much invested in those areas...

[CaneBrain]

No money in pot if its legal and it would take big bites out of the liqour, pharmaceutical industries so nope, wont happen.

There would still be money in pot. Gov't could tax it like cigs.


Barney Frank has been on this kick for a while now. Other places that have decriminalized pot have been success stories (Amsterdam, parts of Canada).

The costs to police pot are too high. Salaries of cops, costs from paying judges, court clerks, probation officers, jail cells, etc......when the gov could be making money off it instead.

This change is long overdue and yet I am sure it wont happen for a long time if ever. Never forget this country was founded by Puritans and not a lot has changed.

[solderz]

No money in pot if its legal and it would take big bites out of the liqour, pharmaceutical industries so nope, wont happen.

Seriously one the dumbest statements I've read in a while. Are you trying to state that the government currently makes money by pot being illegal? The only argument for this I could even conceive of is government seizures, but if you think that the assets seized is greater than the assets spent in enforcing the laws, you are sadly mistaken.

Legalize it. Tax the hell out of it. You solve two problems: help shrink the the current state budget shortfalls occurring due to property values decreasing and you've removed some of the profit making ability from gangs and organized crime.

[Sal Paradise]

What kind of a Republican IS this guy lol?

the kind thats a democrat.

[YonYonson]

should happen, but i doubt it ever will.

[runthemover]

organized crime.

mmmmmmmmm. organized crime

[CaneBrain]

Seriously one the dumbest statements I've read in a while. Are you trying to state that the government currently makes money by pot being illegal? The only argument for this I could even conceive of is government seizures, but if you think that the assets seized is greater than the assets spent in enforcing the laws, you are sadly mistaken.

Legalize it. Tax the hell out of it. You solve two problems: help shrink the the current state budget shortfalls occurring due to property values decreasing and you've removed some of the profit making ability from gangs and organized crime.

qft

[vbnautilus]

The bill does not legalize the sale of marijuana. It only decriminalizes possession of small amounts.

Would be a funny situation to be able to have it but not to buy it, but this is probably an easy place to start with a law since it doesn't run into some of the economic issues people have raised here.

The resolution would not address laws forbidding growing, importing or exporting marijuana, or selling it for profit. The resolution also would not speak to state laws regarding marijuana use.

[timwakefield]

What kind of a Republican IS this guy lol?

Rep. = Representative


It should really say Rep. Barney Frank (D, Mass.). Yeah, he's from Massachusetts alright. Oh and he also is the guy for legalizing online poker.

[AmScray]

Just wondering- has anyone ever made a compelling case as to why alcohol should be permitted but marijuana not?
Ever?

Like, OK, we have to concede right off the top that 75% of the population are retards and will support whatever is most familliar to them. Since marijuana has been illegal since before our grandparents time and they don't have the requisite critical thinking skills to formulate an opinion based on logic and reason, we know where the opinion of the "masses" will fall.

Presuming that the remaining 25% of people who actually posses some modicum of intelligence can be divided politically about equally- I'd say 11% Conservative, 14% Liberal- and these are the people who comprise the intelligentsia in this country and formulate opinion thusly, for the life of me, I cannot figure out how pot has remained illegal for this long and is likely to remain so for the foreseeable future.

[LongLiveYorke]

for the life of me, I cannot figure out how pot has remained illegal for this long and is likely to remain so for the foreseeable future.

Easy solution: 75% is waaaaaay overestimating the general public. I'd say it's over 90%. Really, there are a bunch of frickin morons out there.

[no not baxter]

one timeeeeeee

[Tparks86]

No money in pot if its legal and it would take big bites out of the liqour, pharmaceutical industries so nope, wont happen.

I completely agree that cannabis could and should take a huge bite out of liquor and pharmaceutical industries if it were legal. I also understand why you would assume that it will never become legal for those reasons. However, it is that kind passive negativity from everyone that will keep it that way. If you care at all (which I obviously do) about this issue, then write letters to your congressmen and learn more about representatives that will vote in favor of ending the drug war and legalizing cannabis.


It's going to happen eventually, IMO.

Cannabis is the number one cash crop in California and it's not even legal. Too many states are starting to open their doors to medicinal marijuana and that is the fast track to legalization.

I don't mean to sound cheesy. I just think its important that you don't give the establishment what it needs to grow - passive, grumpy, and cynical citizens.

[grocery_mony]

Seriously one the dumbest statements I've read in a while. Are you trying to state that the government currently makes money by pot being illegal? The only argument for this I could even conceive of is government seizures, but if you think that the assets seized is greater than the assets spent in enforcing the laws, you are sadly mistaken.

Legalize it. Tax the hell out of it. You solve two problems: help shrink the the current state budget shortfalls occurring due to property values decreasing and you've removed some of the profit making ability from gangs and organized crime.

Of course the government doesnt make money off of it but they sure make money with the competition(alchol, pharamceuticals). This tax the hell out of it wont work because any retard can grow pot. Hence no money in pot if its legal. Legal pot would take to much money out of to many peoples pockets.

[Tparks86]

Of course the government doesnt make money off of it but they sure make money with the competition(alchol, pharamceuticals). This tax the hell out of it wont work because any retard can grow pot. Hence no money in pot if its legal. Legal pot would take to much money out of to many peoples pockets.

Yeah, I just can't agree with that. There would be an entire industry created around it. You obviously have no idea the endless products that can be made with THC in it, and if hemp were to follow - that's a whole new ball game.

Taxing marijuana would be an insane revenue booster, and the economy would thrive from the industry that would replace the street corner and gas station deals done by teenagers and high school dropouts all over the country.

[Jeepster80125]

Seriously one the dumbest statements I've read in a while. Are you trying to state that the government currently makes money by pot being illegal? The only argument for this I could even conceive of is government seizures, but if you think that the assets seized is greater than the assets spent in enforcing the laws, you are sadly mistaken.

Legalize it. Tax the hell out of it. You solve two problems: help shrink the the current state budget shortfalls occurring due to property values decreasing and you've removed some of the profit making ability from gangs and organized crime.

Think harder then. What about the cost to the offender who gets a ticket, etc. It's the same way that police departments get a lot of their budgets from DUI arrests.

Also, it is my belief that you have no factual basis whatsoever with your claim about government assets in seizures versus money spent enforcing laws. Care to cite a source?

[Tparks86]

check it here


Estimated (in 2006) 35 BILLION dollar cash crop. Keep in mind that is with its ILLEGAL status.


Last year there was almost 1 Million people arrested for Marijuana related offenses.


Your arguments fails because even if there are 30 million more people ticketed for possession and fined - that money can't compensate for the tax dollars spent to house these 980,000 "criminals".