I’m curious to see if the anti-big-government-controlling-our-lives folks are ready to put your principles where your mouths are. California has a ballot initiative which will accomplish three things which we should all agree on: lower crime, help balance the budget, and get the government off peoples’ back. The initiative is to legalize marijuana in small amounts for recreational use.
#1) Like the repeal of Prohibition, it will greatly undercut the drug cartels and remove a huge source of their profit which fuels crime. #2) Taxed like cigarettes and booze, it is estimated it will raise over $1B in taxes and save countless billions in law enforcement costs, and #3) it will get the government off of people’s back and allow them the freedom to pursue “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
Marijuana has been used recreationally and medicinally (cramps, insomnia, stress, appetite loss, etc) for thousands of years. It was legal when my dad was young. The main reason it is illegal relates mainly because:
a) it competed with cotton (hemp) and the cotton farmers didn’t like that;
b) competed with alcohol (the liquor companies funded “Reefer Madness” when sales didn’t rebound as much as they thought after Prohibition was repealed);
c) racism (quote from the Director of Narcotics circa 1930′s “Reefer makes darkies think they’re as good as white men”)
d) and now competes with Big Pharma (drugs for appetite stimulant, stress reduction, insomnia).
It is far less toxic than alcohol, in fact the ratio of it’s “kill you level” divided by “its get you buzzed level” is infinite, where as with alcohol that ratio I think is something like 14 to 1. Believe it or not, water is potentially more lethal than marijuana because you can drink enough water to kill yourself (lowers your electrolytes levels), but you can’t smoke enough marijuana (in one sitting) to kill you.
And I don’t buy the “gateway” argument, the statistics are bad. I could say, “People using heroin, also ate a Big Mac first” and come away with the same gateway argument. It may be a stepping stone, but so is beer, wine, or Jack Daniels.
So, legalize it, tax it, get the cops focused on more important things, and take away a major source of drug cartel profits, all the while giving us back are freedoms.
Full disclosure: I smoked my share in college, but far less than I drank. The last two times I indulged was at my 20th and 25th college reunion at the fraternity house, and it just made me fall asleep. I’d might use it if it was legal as an alternative to those nights when I take Ambien or Xanax because of work-related stress, but the days of toking up and putting on a Pink Floyd record are long gone, but then again so are the days of Wednesday night 3 for $1 Little King specials……
Sam you could be right, but I have read other articles which discuss the supply and demand issue. Currently, there is good (but illegal) money to be made because the supply is kept low due to the risk involved in raising and selling marijuana. Make it legal, supply can go up, but the the price will go down. Is there then an economic motive to sell it? I dont know, just a thought.
Personally I dont care what people do in their free time as long as they keep it off the roads, be it alcohol, pot, or any other drug that can impair their ability to keep from killing me!
I for one have no interest, but then again I have never had a desire to smoke anything since my 14 year old experience of smoking one cigarette and nearly passing out!
As Mr Hand from Ridgemont High would say “What are you people? On dope?”
TM…Please let me know where I may find some of those smokes you had when you were 14….and SAM, if this is passed, will move to the Left Coast and apply for a pizza delivery position
Sam…I think you’ll find more opposition on the left than the right. I’m sure the nanny state nutritionists who are currently trying to take away pizza and cheeseburgers will be afraid that this will be the cause of increased diabetes and subsequent kidney failure patients. As for me, I would make it a felony to knowingly sell to a minor. As for driving, the same penalties for impairment as alcohol. Other than that..live it up.
And don’t remind me about those damn do-gooder nutritionists. I tried to order a medium rare cheeseburger in the state of Washington last year while on vacation and it is illegal to sell one. I asked why, and the waiter (snottily)said, “Because it isn’t safe.” And I said, “yes because thousands of people in Illinois are dying daily from medium rare hamburgers.”
I am just going to have to concede to the TM that Samantha is the hottest 1960′s TV sitcom fantasy babe of all time. Well played Sir, well played….
Now, as far as 1960′s TV drama…….Peggy Lipton from the Mod Squad or Linda Evans from Big Valley? Or the gal from Mission Impossible?……I think we should have a TM convention in California after this ballot iniative passes and have that on the agenda….
Jeff: you mean Karen Valentine?!!?!? Ok, we are going to let you off the hook entirely since Room 222 didn’t start until 9/22/69….so more of a 1970′s sitcom. And if we go 1970′s she has to compete with the Marcia and Jan (older version)……..
But I will offer a an interesting sociological comment: the 1970′s sitcom women where nowhere near has hot as the 1960′s (excepting of course Valerie Bertenelli)…..
Jeff: I have known you for 12 years, and respected your opinion even though we vote opposite, however I just google imaged Karen Valentine and all I can say is: Really?! Karen Valentine?
Really?
Elly Mae from the Beverly Hillbillys; Barbara Feldon (Agent 99), Marlo Thomas (That Girl), Dianne Carol (Julia). Mary Ann, Ginger, shit, even Mrs. Howell beats Karen Valentine….
If you want edit me? just go to your profile than add description text as many you like. ^_* 
I completely agree! I think the economy will really benefit from legalizing marijuana!
1Sam you could be right, but I have read other articles which discuss the supply and demand issue. Currently, there is good (but illegal) money to be made because the supply is kept low due to the risk involved in raising and selling marijuana. Make it legal, supply can go up, but the the price will go down. Is there then an economic motive to sell it? I dont know, just a thought.
Personally I dont care what people do in their free time as long as they keep it off the roads, be it alcohol, pot, or any other drug that can impair their ability to keep from killing me!
I for one have no interest, but then again I have never had a desire to smoke anything since my 14 year old experience of smoking one cigarette and nearly passing out!
As Mr Hand from Ridgemont High would say “What are you people? On dope?”
Aloha!
2I suspect there is plenty of money out there to be made. Plus I suspect the demand would go up if it was legal.
Hopefully people will drive responsibly. I suspect that this will be a boon to pizza delivery drivers….
3Their may not be many pizza delivery guys left if pot is made legal.
4Extra large with pepperoni and pot, please.
5TM…Please let me know where I may find some of those smokes you had when you were 14….and SAM, if this is passed, will move to the Left Coast and apply for a pizza delivery position
6They were called Winston’s and I coughed so much I nearly had a convulsion!
7Sam…I think you’ll find more opposition on the left than the right. I’m sure the nanny state nutritionists who are currently trying to take away pizza and cheeseburgers will be afraid that this will be the cause of increased diabetes and subsequent kidney failure patients. As for me, I would make it a felony to knowingly sell to a minor. As for driving, the same penalties for impairment as alcohol. Other than that..live it up.
8I’m good with all those restrictions.
And don’t remind me about those damn do-gooder nutritionists. I tried to order a medium rare cheeseburger in the state of Washington last year while on vacation and it is illegal to sell one. I asked why, and the waiter (snottily)said, “Because it isn’t safe.” And I said, “yes because thousands of people in Illinois are dying daily from medium rare hamburgers.”
Then my wife kicked me and I had to shutup………
9Now Samantha would have twitched your nose and you would have had that burger!
10I am just going to have to concede to the TM that Samantha is the hottest 1960′s TV sitcom fantasy babe of all time. Well played Sir, well played….
Now, as far as 1960′s TV drama…….Peggy Lipton from the Mod Squad or Linda Evans from Big Valley? Or the gal from Mission Impossible?……I think we should have a TM convention in California after this ballot iniative passes and have that on the agenda….
11The problem is one hour into the convemtion we would forget what it was all about.
12Hello????? Goldie Hawn on Laugh-In in the bikinis? She doesn’t even get an honorable mention?
13Drama!!! She gets the node for one hour comedy special….
14Ok, how about the young teacher in Room 222?
15Lets hear it for TM’s You Tube selection today..”Roadhouse Blues”…let roll baby,roll,let’s roll, all night long !
16That one may have to stay up for awhile.
17Jeff: you mean Karen Valentine?!!?!? Ok, we are going to let you off the hook entirely since Room 222 didn’t start until 9/22/69….so more of a 1970′s sitcom. And if we go 1970′s she has to compete with the Marcia and Jan (older version)……..
But I will offer a an interesting sociological comment: the 1970′s sitcom women where nowhere near has hot as the 1960′s (excepting of course Valerie Bertenelli)…..
18That’s it…Karen Valentine..was that 1969? It’s a bitch getting older..I can’t remember anything! I’m surprised I remembered the show.
P.S. I was in love with Marcia…still am.
19Jeff: I have known you for 12 years, and respected your opinion even though we vote opposite, however I just google imaged Karen Valentine and all I can say is: Really?! Karen Valentine?
Really?
Elly Mae from the Beverly Hillbillys; Barbara Feldon (Agent 99), Marlo Thomas (That Girl), Dianne Carol (Julia). Mary Ann, Ginger, shit, even Mrs. Howell beats Karen Valentine….
20Both of you guys are idiots! How can you leave out Partridge Familys Susan Dey? Geeezzzzzzz!
211960′s….Partridge Family was 1970′s……she was ok, but no Marcia Brady
22Your getting way too technical Sam. Brady Bunch started in late September, 1969
23Lets settle this here! http://twistedmuser.com/?p=919
24Ok, I forgot about Ginger. She’s my vote, hands down.
25