Sen. Cory Booker's national marihuana legalization act - a bad idea

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Conversely, this is a good idea because prohibition has proven to be a disaster as evidenced over the last century by the 50 billion spent, countless lives lost to cartel violence, and the disparate impact on communities of color who are 5x as likely to be arrested and prosecuted than their white counterparts who use drugs in equal proportion. Additionally, cannabis - not the term "marihuana" that was implemented as a scare tactic in the 20's as part of the reefer madness campaign to paint cannabis smokers as black and Mexican deviants - has proven to be a much more benign substance than alcohol or pretty much anything else drug wise. The science shows it. There is also no way to overdose on it, hence no deaths like the 30,000 each year alcohol causes.

Anyway, just some thoughts. This is a parenting forum, of course, so I anticipate a good amount of pearl clutching. Maybe try and take one hit, in the multitude of states where it's now legal and see if you change your mind. You won't get a hangover and it won't make you crazy. Just do it in moderation, as you should with all things.

You won't get many takers (tokers?) here, due to an Obama-era memo from the DOJ under Holder reminding ALL federal employees that they are specifically banned from illegal drug use (including marihuana), on the job or off the job, while in the USA or anywhere.

The memo specifies that federal law supersedes any state claim of "legality" of marijuana.

In short, .gov employees are banned from using pot.

Many here, if not most, work for .gov.

I don't use cannabis, but am 100% behind what the person you are quoting posted.

[Anonymous]

So glad I'm not a government employee.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Legalized pot has devastated Colorado. National legalization would be a disaster.

Here is a good article explaining why this bill must fail:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2017/08/07/marijuana-devastated-colorado-dont-legalize-nationally-jeff-hunt-column/536010001/?siteID=je6NUbpObpQ-gV9oYJUjsc.zSwD55oCsUA

Opinion piece based on thin air and no facts, making your claims fake.
http://www.denverpost.com/2016/02/17/marijuana-legalization-unlikely-to-blame-for-denver-crime-increase/

Doctors pushing opioids for bigpharm are a real problem.

USA Today is now "fake news"???

Who are you? Garry Trudeau??

Do you not understand the difference between a news story and an opinion piece????

[Anonymous]

Did you understand the meaning of "fake news" or were you just too stoned?? Dude!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My personal opinion: we would make huge strides in properly dealing with marijuana if the FDA just reclassified it properly. There is no scientific excuse for the continued schedule I classification, and everybody knows it. It's a lot easier to get people to accept and follow rules and regulations if they actually track with reality.

Perhaps you had too much pot?

PP here. I don't understand your point. Marinuana's classification as schedule I is indisputable fact. The fact that science doesn't support this classification is also clear - the evidence for medicinal uses of marijuana is overwhelming, although not as developed as it should be because the Schedule I classification makes research much more difficult. The idea that people are less likely to support the law if it doesn't match with reality is opinion, though supported I think by psychological evidence.

On the anecdotal side I am a scientist, but know a number of prosecutors and DEA agents who support marijuana's reclassification as well. I don't know anyone who understands the issue who honestly believes marijuana belongs with Heroin and LSD or that it is WORSE than cocaine (a schedule II drug). The classifications simply don't track with reality.

[Anonymous]

I've never touched the stuff in my life and I support legalization. And definitely the reclassification as the PP mentions

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did you understand the meaning of "fake news" or were you just too stoned?? Dude!

So in other words, you don't know the difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did you understand the meaning of "fake news" or were you just too stoned?? Dude!

So in other words, you don't know the difference.

You are the one who is confused. "Fake news" does not include every opinion with which you disagree, dumb ass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Legalized pot has devastated Colorado. National legalization would be a disaster.

Here is a good article explaining why this bill must fail:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2017/08/07/marijuana-devastated-colorado-dont-legalize-nationally-jeff-hunt-column/536010001/?siteID=je6NUbpObpQ-gV9oYJUjsc.zSwD55oCsUA

When you start with an outright lie, why should I bother reading the rest of your BS, much less waste my time with your link?

[Anonymous]

Counterpoint:

http://www.thecannabist.co/2016/10/26/colorado-marijuana-economic-impact-billion-2015/66105/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This guy isn't going anywhere. He's trying really hard to stay relevant, but he doesn't have what it takes. He's a professional politician who craves power. He's dedicated his life to being a politician...so much so that he's single and childless (and my friends from NJ swear he's gay but will magically time an engagement if he decides to run for president).

I think this is a political stunt. While he's built a name for himself on bipartisan efforts aimed at decriminalization (which is admirable), he actually seems very conservative IRL. I've been in small rooms where he's talked candidly about his political beliefs, and he comes across far too conservative (especially when he goes off script to comment or field questions). This guy will not be embraced by the Democratic Party.

Agreed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This guy isn't going anywhere. He's trying really hard to stay relevant, but he doesn't have what it takes. He's a professional politician who craves power. He's dedicated his life to being a politician...so much so that he's single and childless (and my friends from NJ swear he's gay but will magically time an engagement if he decides to run for president).

I think this is a political stunt. While he's built a name for himself on bipartisan efforts aimed at decriminalization (which is admirable), he actually seems very conservative IRL. I've been in small rooms where he's talked candidly about his political beliefs, and he comes across far too conservative (especially when he goes off script to comment or field questions). This guy will not be embraced by the Democratic Party.

A. I am not voting against someone based on hearsay from an anon.
B. I don't mind someone who is conservative in some ways. I am conservative in some ways. Where it counts, on policies he advocates, I am good
C. Anyone running for POTUS craves power. Live with it. Even "non professionals"
D. I hope we are past caring which gender pols sleep with.

[Anonymous]

Bottom line: either you believe that people who smoke marijuana should be imprisoned or not.

If you do not believe that they should be imprisoned, then it's time to legalize. That doesn't mean that you think it's "good for you." Just that people shouldn't be thrown in jail over it.

[Anonymous]

I thought Trump supporters wanted jobs? They currently can't get jobs because they are failing drug tests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So glad I'm not a government employee.

I have been a government employee for 20+ years and never been drug tested.