I can't believe Pat Robertson of all people would even bring this up, let alone want to fight for it.
I'm on the fence on whether I actually want it legal vs. how things are now. Decriminalization is not an option IMO as it doesn't change anything besides giving a welcome map to organized crime more so than now.
Just looking at BC it's hard to understand why it isn't legal as just in this province it would add $7.5B dollars in tax money and money saved on enforcing marijuana use/sales. You have to ask yourself how well is this prohibition working when in BC 1 in every 100 homes has a grow-op in it. In Kelowna the police chief said they could bust a grow-op every day for a year and wouldn't even put a dent into the "problem". How is it working? What is the purpose?
People say it's dangerous for us. Yet we help 100's of thousands of people die from cigarettes and alcohol each year, and that's okay? What about deaths or addiction from pharmaceutical drugs? Ever heard of someone over dosing from smoking too much weed? No. Hell even caffeine is more addicting and kills more people every year compared to marijuana consumption.
People say it's a gate way drug. The only reason it could be considered a gate way drug is because we force people to buy their weed from drug dealers, most dealers won't just deal pot but will have an assortment of kinds and will offer them to their buyers. If you buy in a store you don't have that run in with hard drugs just to get weed. They say 1 of 104 pot smokers use cocaine and that number is even smaller for heroin. I know more people who did cocaine before smoking a joint. Also on this point because of 9/11 money laundering has become very difficult so now these criminals are bringing down 5lbs of marijuana and trading it for 1kg of cocaine so no actual dollars pass hands. That cocaine comes right back up to Canada.
People say that more people will smoke it if it's in the store. How do you figure? I don't smoke cigarettes or drink anymore and it's on every block. It's also been shown in other countries who have loosened their rules on weed have seen drops in use. Not to mention the fact that a drug dealer doesn't care how old their buyer is as long as they have the money. So that 14 year old who can go down the street to buy it, would have to go through the same steps as buying booze or cigarettes.
People say health care costs will rise. Well if take the idea that less people (or even the same) will continue to smoke it you are gaining billions of dollars in tax revenue for this country and/or provinces. That can be put into health care, schools, roads, etc.
The whole "war on drugs" is a farce. In the USA it started in 1974 where it was was stated that 50% of all high school students have tried marijuana, that same study today shows 48%. Is that 2% really worth the $17B a year the US spends on marijuana crimes? What about the other $17B they could bring in through taxes? Ahhhh hell that country doesn't need tax revenue, they are continuing their tax cuts they're doing so well!
Even in Canada where the budget for drug crimes is set at $500m and they spend $400m of that on marijuana crimes. With all Americans in jail for marijuana crimes, 86% of them are in for simple possession. If the politicians friends didn't own the jail this wouldn't be an issue. Tax payer money well spent!
I just think there are better places to spend money and actual dangerous drugs to spend that money on. You also take away one of the most lenient drug crimes away from the gangs. How many Mexican gangs are killing for and smuggling in beer to the US?
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Originally Posted by henriksedin33
Not at all, as I've said, I would rather start with LA over any of the other WC playoff teams. Bunch of underachievers who look good on paper but don't even deserve to be in the playoffs.
Last edited by HOOT; 12-24-2010 at 09:23 AM.
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The one thing I will say is if they did legalize it, they would have to make it illegal to be high and drive at the same time just like driving drunk. How ever there is no way of testing whether someone is high other than doing a urine test to see if drugs are in your system, and that takes more than a 15 second breathalyzer, a lot longer. It wouldn't be enforceable. That would be my only negative.
Trust me, high driving is fun, but dangerous.
I think after the initial "shock" that Canada has legal weed and having a surplus of people using, it would die down. When I was in Amsterdam, someone told me (who studied the Netherlands) that their % of people using (nationals) is less than some European countries.
Last edited by 3 Justin 3; 12-23-2010 at 04:13 PM.
The one thing I will say is if they did legalize it, they would have to make it illegal to be high and drive at the same time just like driving drunk. How ever there is no way of testing whether someone is high other than doing a urine test to see if drugs are in your system, and that takes more than a 15 second breathalyzer, a lot longer. It wouldn't be enforceable. That would be my only negative.
Trust me, high driving is fun, but dangerous.
I think after the initial "shock" that Canada has legal weed and having a surplus of people using, it would die down. When I was in Amsterdam, someone told me (who studied the Netherlands) that their % of people using (nationals) is less than some European countries.
That's my only issue too.
The only way to really get around that right now would be to give police broader powers and arrest anyone they suspect of being under the influence of marijuana and driving. Most of the time, they would probably be correct I would bet, but they would probably be wrong enough times and some would abuse that power... so it would become a tricky situation.
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"A pessimist thinks things can't get any worse. An optimist knows they can."
Its been a long time since i smoked weed, but I can honestly say that I never got too high to drive on it and i smoked quite a bit. I guess the effects vary from person to person though.
The one thing I will say is if they did legalize it, they would have to make it illegal to be high and drive at the same time just like driving drunk. How ever there is no way of testing whether someone is high other than doing a urine test to see if drugs are in your system, and that takes more than a 15 second breathalyzer, a lot longer. It wouldn't be enforceable. That would be my only negative.
Trust me, high driving is fun, but dangerous.
I think after the initial "shock" that Canada has legal weed and having a surplus of people using, it would die down. When I was in Amsterdam, someone told me (who studied the Netherlands) that their % of people using (nationals) is less than some European countries.
I'm pretty sure it's already illegal. Other than the mouth swabs, there does need to be a better way to measure it though, other than the swabs. I've heard (no first-hand accounts) that said swabs can detect marijuana after 24 hours of use.
I refuse to smoke and drive. I haven't quite understood why people think it's ok to do so.
Really interesting that Pat Robertson was talking about this. He's one of the last people I would have thought to imply advocation of such.
Driving high is illegal and holds the same repercussions (give or take) as impaired driving. CPS has drug recognition experts which can legally determine a) what type of drug(s) the accused has ingested and b)the amount. This is done through various tests, which I believe includes urine.
The only way to really get around that right now would be to give police broader powers and arrest anyone they suspect of being under the influence of marijuana and driving. Most of the time, they would probably be correct I would bet, but they would probably be wrong enough times and some would abuse that power... so it would become a tricky situation.
They do. Its called detention. And as long the police officer believes that "the persons ability to operate a motor vehicle was impaired by alcohol and/or drugs" they can be arrested for impaired driving.
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Google Vantix Biosensor. Thats the future technology which the cops will be using in a couple years. Apparently the sensor can detect a few drugs within 5 mins.
Currently have swabs that change color at which point the police can ask you to submit to a blood test.
The one thing I will say is if they did legalize it, they would have to make it illegal to be high and drive at the same time just like driving drunk.
Agreed. I think they should treat it just like alcohol where you can smoke it in 'pot shops' and/or your private residence. But if you are walking down the street or driving stoned you should be fined and possibly jailed depending on the circumstances. I'm definitely not in the group that wants a free for all.
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Originally Posted by HotHotHeat
It's a gateway drug!
The best part of this argument is according to the US drug administration cocaine (class 2) is better for you than marijuana (class 1), so it's a gateway to a safer drug!
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Originally Posted by SebC
Really?
Ya really because I'm sure the government could somehow screw it all up. IMO the government needs to regulate and tax but let companies control the distribution similar to cigarettes. This way there will be competition, meaning top notch green, where the government would probably grow Mexican swag and people would just grow their own anyways.
I know if you asked most growers and dealers they would want to keep in the same because the government would be taking money out of their pockets. That IMO is the scariest part, criminals fighting for criminalization of a product, the higher the penalty, the higher the price!
For me it's about the economics of the whole thing. Why let all that money sit there when it is clear the mission for prohibition and the war on marijuana hasn't and won't work. In Canada alone you could see taxes and police savings would be in the $20B+.
With a national debt of $550B (and counting) that injection of 10% of the national spending could be huge for this country. All they have to do is legalize something that is already taking over the country. It's the biggest crop in Canada, even more than wheat.
I just haven't heard a good argument about why it shouldn't be legal because compared to the other 'big 3' in caffeine, alcohol & cigarettes it's the lesser of evils and studies are starting to show the effects aren't what was drilled into us growing up.
The criminalization in Canada is thanks to the early US and for them it has always been about control of certain people, not because marijuana is such a bad thing. It goes back to the 30's with the Mexicans, 50's with the African Americans and 70's with the Hippies. Screw the US they can keep spending $17B a year on a fight they can't win but Canada should save it's tax payers money and start collecting that tax money and spread it around the country instead of continuing to cut budgets hurting our future.
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Originally Posted by henriksedin33
Not at all, as I've said, I would rather start with LA over any of the other WC playoff teams. Bunch of underachievers who look good on paper but don't even deserve to be in the playoffs.
Its been a long time since i smoked weed, but I can honestly say that I never got too high to drive on it and i smoked quite a bit. I guess the effects vary from person to person though.
I was never too high to drive, but I often find out that when I drive around I'll think I'm in another community or even city then laugh.
I was never too high to drive, but I often find out that when I drive around I'll think I'm in another community or even city then laugh.
Wait...why am I in Lethbridge, I just wanted munchies at the 7-11.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by henriksedin33
Not at all, as I've said, I would rather start with LA over any of the other WC playoff teams. Bunch of underachievers who look good on paper but don't even deserve to be in the playoffs.
Screw the US they can keep spending $17B a year on a fight they can't win but Canada should save it's tax payers money and start collecting that tax money and spread it around the country instead of continuing to cut budgets hurting our future.
That still doesn't sound like "on the fence" to me.
That still doesn't sound like "on the fence" to me.
Fair enough. I guess what I mean is I wouldn't advocate it either way for personal gain but it just seems silly to miss out on all the tax revenue for the country. It would also depend on how they approached it.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by henriksedin33
Not at all, as I've said, I would rather start with LA over any of the other WC playoff teams. Bunch of underachievers who look good on paper but don't even deserve to be in the playoffs.
Pat Robertson Wants To Legalize Pot...ahhh what?!
