Federal Election Called for Oct 19, 2015

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Dion

Alcohol is not being taxed normally. Have you checked the price of beer lately That said I do understand the point you are trying to make.

Making the black market redundant is going to be very difficult. It will be much easier to sell weed when it's a legal product and will require constant policing and monitoring of how it's sold.

Yep, that's why I said taxed normally like alcohol, and I didn't try to make a point, I made a point.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

Ha ha ha. Christ, there must be a lot of embarrassed people in that "newsroom" right now.

Haha, holy crap I skipped over that when I read the paper today, thinking "Oh, they had an interview with Trudeau and they feel he dodged some of their questions, or gave flakey answers".


That article is pretty much a doppelganger of Clint Eastwood's conversation with the chair.

[Kavvy]

Originally Posted by Dion

Making the black market redundant is going to be very difficult. It will be much easier to sell weed when it's a legal product and will require constant policing and monitoring of how it's sold.

Are you arguing that legalizing weed won't have a massive positive impact on the black market (as in reduce it), even if legal weed is tax extremely high, or just arguing that as small as the black market may be after legalization, the market will continue to exist?

[Mathgod]

Originally Posted by adc

No I do not drink.

I do remember junior high and high school it was not that easy to get it (I went to school in Calgary so not some isolated tiny village or anything) and it was much easier to get the legal and regulated alcohol. Marijuana is much worse in my view than alcohol.

I think legalizing pot will definitely do more to legitimize so yes I think it will be harder to prevent my children from doing it.

Personally I think the better way to stop the criminals from selling it is to make the punishments real punishments not the weak punishments they have now. If you are caught selling you are in jail for life no parole. Caught with any marijuana even as little as one joint, ten years in jail minimum.

Tell you what, let's make homelessness illegal, because we're practically glorifying it by not criminalizing it. If you're caught sleeping outside it's life in prison for you.

Caught downloading a copyrighted song? Life in prison.

Caught speeding? Life in prison.

Caught riding the train without a fare? Life in prison.

Caught wearing something tacky? Life in prison.

Caught looking at a rich person the wrong way? Life in prison.

Caught inconveniencing your life in any conceivable way, shape, or form, or so much as hurting your feelings? Life in prison.

That'll teach them filthy criminals!!!!!!!!!!

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Kavvy

Are you arguing that legalizing weed won't have a massive positive impact on the black market (as in reduce it), even if legal weed is tax extremely high, or just arguing that as small as the black market may be after legalization, the market will continue to exist?

It will continue to exist even if it's reduced.

[Drak]

Originally Posted by Dion

I'm hoping the Liberal govt is paying attention to what is happening in Colorado.

Such as crime rate being significantly down and money rolling into the state.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Drak

Such as crime rate being significantly down and money rolling into the state.

No. It's about learning from the mistakes Colorado has made in the legalisation process. Making the transistion to a legal high much easier.

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by Dion

It will continue to exist even if it's reduced.

Just like all those bootleggers out there in the shadows even now...

[Dion]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Just like all those bootleggers out there in the shadows even now...

People mass producing/growing it in their homes and elsewhere, then selling it.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Dion

It will continue to exist even if it's reduced.

I'm not sure I'm following. If legalization reduces the black market for marijuana and gives the majority of users a safe, legal way to purchase, what's the issue?

Are you saying if it doesn't 100% wipe out the black market than we shouldn't do it? I guess I'm a little confused by your approach to the discussion, you seem to be saying legalization is okay when you're pressed, but yet you're dedicating post after post to conservative style fear mongering over weed.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Dion

Regulations and all the overhead costs of running a legalised business of selling weed is a big reason why the black market exists. You will never eliminate the black market.

The ciggerette black market exists as well right now too. The fact you can't get rid of all illegal weed isn't a reason not to legalize

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by Dion

People mass producing/growing it in their homes and elsewhere, then selling it.

I don't get this. That is exactly what is happening right now. Are you saying that legalization won't change anything?

I think the bootlegger comparison is spot-on. When booze was illegal, it went underground and became exclusively a criminal enterprise. When it became legal again, that all went away.

Why would this be different?

Funny thing is that from what I've read/seen, some of the most strident anti-legalization people are the real potheads who worry the quality will go down, and from criminals who know they'll literally lose their entire market.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Dion

People mass producing/growing it in their homes and elsewhere, then selling it.

That's an issue for the CRA to deal with and not the RCMP. People mass producing without a license and selling without paying taxes. I trade that strait up for our current system. Still keeps the guns out of it

[Drak]

Being able to grow your own weed hassle free, much like brewing your own beers and wines, is also appealing.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by GGG

The ciggerette black market exists as well right now too. The fact you can't get rid of all illegal weed isn't a reason not to legalize

I never said it was a reason not to legalise it.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Drak

Being able to grow your own weed hassle free, much like brewing your own beers and wines, is also appealing.

I have no doubt it will be. The problem for the CRA and the police will determing who is doing it for personal use and not to sell on the black market.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by Dion

I never said it was a reason not to legalise it.

What exactly is your point then? You continue to post articles lamenting the legalization of weed, but don't post any comments of your own. Why?

[Jets4Life]

Justin Trudeau is poised to move back into 24 Sussex Drive following Canada’s 42nd federal election Monday, as the newest Ipsos poll suggests the Liberals have staked out a seven-point lead ahead of the Conservatives.

The new poll conducted on behalf of Global News suggests 38 per cent of decided voters prefer the Liberal party. Thirty-one per cent of voters are planning to cast a ballot for a Conservative candidate, while 22 per cent of voters support the NDP. The Bloc Quebecois and the Green Party are tied with four per cent national support.

“It looks like the Liberals are going to win. We’re going to have a Trudeau at 24 Sussex again; the question is how big will they win?” Darrell Bricker, the CEO of Ipsos Public Affairs said in an interview Sunday. “Right now it probably looks like a minority but it’s all going to come down to turnout and actually getting those votes in the ballot box for the Liberals.”

http://globalnews.ca/news/2284021/prime-minister-trudeau-ipsos-poll-suggests-liberal-win-but-margin-of-victory-hinges-on-turnout/?hootPostID=20c3df2fc4bcbfbc801084609b24d576

[Drak]

Originally Posted by Dion

I have no doubt it will be. The problem for the CRA and the police will determing who is doing it for personal use and not to sell on the black market.

Not really. Growing in large quantities would require a business license to operate - like any other business. If you violate that you get shut down. If you're growing small amounts the black market doesn't have much use for you. Regardless, if legalized I suspect people are going to prefer buying from legal dispensaries and with competition the prices will be competitive.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

What exactly is your point then? You continue to post articles lamenting the legalization of weed, but don't post any comments of your own. Why?

It's not about lamenting the legalization of weed, but merely pointing out all the challenges Colorado has had selling weed. If the Liberals are serious about legalising weed I would hope they are following what is happening in Colorado so they can learn from the pitfalls Colorado has encountered.