Legalize Weed?

[Mule]

U.S. Legislators Barney Frank & Ron Paul Introduce Bill to Decriminalize Marijuana

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/07/30/frank.marijuana/index.html

CNN) -- 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.

http://www.breakthematrix.com/Government/U-S-Legislators-Barney-Frank-Ron-Paul-Introduce-Bill-to-Decriminalize-Marijuana

[onewhippedpuppy]

I'm glad to hear they're doing something productive this year.

[m21sniper]

It would sure as hell clear out a lot of prison and court space, and it would sure as hell put a dent in the pockets of drug dealers and cartels...as well as our own domestic LEO INDUSTRY.

Therefore, because it makes PERFECT sense, it will never be enacted.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Seriously, who the f cares. If a bunch of stoners want to blaze up, who really gives a rat's ass. We've got way more important issues in this country than to waste the resources we currently do going after a plant.

EDIT: Just saw Sniper's post. Agree 100%. It'll never pass. The only thing that politicians like more than your money is being able to tell you what to do. Control freak paradise. It'll never be passed, unfortunately.

[Pazuzu]

But...legalizing pot will bring MORE money in to the feds...which is the one thing that they enjoy more than power. You'd think they'd be all over it.

[HardDrive]

[m21sniper]

Is that the guy from the "Leave Barrack alone" thread?

[IROC]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

The only thing that politicians like more than your money...

Ah, but they could tax it...

That's why cigarettes will never be outlawed - too much tax revenue.

[Tobra]

Think of the tax revenue, and the amount of dough we would save on non-violent offenders out of jail

[The Gaijin]

How many non-violent offenders are in jail for smoking, possessing or even dealing small amounts of pot anyway? I have always wondered..

That whole wing of Texas State Prison full of lifers caught with one seed under the back seat urabn legend comes to mind.

[cairns]

....about freaking time.

[BeyGon]

Tax it? how are they going to do that, you can grow it in your yard, in the house, in the closet, in the basement, it is easier to grow than it was to make moonshine.
Anyone with a couple planters can grow what they want.
I can see if the government could tax it they would legalize it, but they know better.

[Dantilla]

Shouldn't have been federal jurisdiction in the first place, IMHO.

[ramonesfreak]

all fingers and toes crossed

[Mule]

Originally Posted by The Gaijin

How many non-violent offenders are in jail for smoking, possessing or even dealing small amounts of pot anyway? I have always wondered..

That whole wing of Texas State Prison full of lifers caught with one seed under the back seat urabn legend comes to mind.

If it's one it's too many. But it's not. 65,000 to 85,000 is more like it. Don't you feel safer knowing that a guy who sold some weed is taking up a space that could be filled with an armed robber or rapist?

[dhoward]

Originally Posted by dantilla

shouldn't Have Been Federal Jurisdiction In The First Place, Imho.

+1

[Pazuzu]

Originally Posted by BeyGon

Tax it? how are they going to do that, you can grow it in your yard, in the house, in the closet, in the basement, it is easier to grow than it was to make moonshine.
Anyone with a couple planters can grow what they want.
I can see if the government could tax it they would legalize it, but they know better.

If it was that easy to grow your own, then we wouldn't have this problem, would we? There would be no one buying and no one selling, just people puttering around their little illegal gardens for a few hours on the weekends.

But that's not the case, because (1) it's not that easy to grow, and (2) people don't want the ditch weed that they might pull off growing in the window box in the back yard, they want the sticky from BC or Cali, and they will pay for it, tax and all, just as they pay for it now.

[Mule]

Originally Posted by Pazuzu

If it was that easy to grow your own, then we wouldn't have this problem, would we? There would be no one buying and no one selling, just people puttering around their little illegal gardens for a few hours on the weekends.

But that's not the case, because (1) it's not that easy to grow, and (2) people don't want the ditch weed that they might pull off growing in the window box in the back yard, they want the sticky from BC or Cali, and they will pay for it, tax and all, just as they pay for it now.

Dean is correct. A small closet can grow enough top notch hydro bud to keep you & all your friends unconscious. But they could make growing illegal, just like whiskey making is illegal. That's still a better deal unless they tax it too heavily. At least we save the prison money and eliminate the black market.

[Pazuzu]

Originally Posted by Mule

Dean is correct. A small closet can grow enough top notch hydro bud to keep you & all your friends unconscious.

Then why does anyone anywhere buy and sell it???

Because people either do not have the time, skill, or resources to grow their own like that. Those are 1 percenters, and they will be the 1 percenters that continue to grow their own if it's legalized/taxed. That it. The other 99% will buy it just as they do now.

[Tishabet]

Also consider the legal ramifications of being caught with under X amount of marijuana (legal wrist slap) vs. the penalties for being caught growing (serious). I don't think I know anyone who has actually grown any, but in terms of your green (or in my case, purple) thumb, I've heard it's on par with growing tomatoes.