Legalized Marijuana -- The way is clear

[RobinFinderson]

So AG Holder has announced that the Federal Government will let individual states establish their own marijuana laws. Soon after, a state legislator introduces a bill to legalize marijuana in CA (which would legalize it more than it is currently legalized... currently anyone can buy weed with a doctor's note, and an entire cottage industry of pro-marijuana doctors has emerged. For a couple hundred bucks, they will write a note for just about anyone with any problem where the symptoms can be managed with weed... which is just about everything that causes stress, pain and sleeplessness.)

With the state budget in such terrible condition, the promise of massive tax revenue from legalized marijuana could be too hard to pass up. Marijuana is already the biggest cash crop in the state, but the state doesn't benefit from much of the tax revenue.

Aside from the tax benefits, I doubt there has ever been a time in this nation's history when marijuana has been more widely accepted by the general populace. The partial legalization the state has experimented with over the last few years has not resulted in doom.

Also, with all of the crazy stuff happening over the drug trade in Mexico, it wouldn't hurt to domesticate a bit of the drug trade. It is better that CA benefit from this nation's love of the ganja than violent drug cartels south of the border. It would be interesting to see what legalization would do to the illegal drug trade.

So the time is right for a bunch of reasons. Legalizing marijuana might be one of the new changes to American culture brought about, in large part, by these hard fiscal times. Want to know who will oppose it the most? Anyone who benefits from the prison industrial complex (the prison guard unions are going to go ballistic... f-them.)

[Katy Lied]

Alcohol is legal but you still can't bring them into the prisons.

Anyway, I thought what was illegal in CA up until recently was the method of delivery, not the THC chemical composition. Injectible=yes, tablet=yes, smoking=no. If memory serves.

[RobinFinderson]

Alcohol is legal but you still can't bring them into the prisons.

Anyway, I thought what was illegal in CA up until recently was the method of delivery, not the THC chemical composition. Injectible=yes, tablet=yes, smoking=no. If memory serves.

I wasn't talking about alcohol or weed being brought into prisons. I was talking about the way that marijuana has contributed to the overcrowding of prisons. Overcrowded prisons means lots of overtime for prison guards, which is what, to a large extent, allows a prison guard to make a pretty fair salary.

And medical marijuana has been legal in CA since 1996, but has become widely used and available since 2003 when Prop 420 established guidelines for how much weed a 'patient' could possess and/or grow. As far as I know, smoking has always been the preferred way to ingest THC, though from what I hear through the grapevine, 'tinctures' of marijuana (cannabinoids extracted from the plant by soaking in alcohol, the same way they make vanilla extract) are becoming very popular, especially since they can be easily made at home, and because they can be ingested easily in public places.

[8BR]

I wasn't talking about alcohol or weed being brought into prisons. I was talking about the way that marijuana has contributed to the overcrowding of prisons.

To be clear: You're implying that marijuana convictions are driving the growth rate in prison populations. Is that correct?

If this is indeed your position, the statistics do not support it.

[RobinFinderson]

To be clear: You're implying that marijuana convictions are driving the growth rate in prison populations. Is that correct?

If this is indeed your position, the statistics do not support it.

To be clear, if anyone has had a third strike that was related to a casual marijuana possession conviction, then marijuana convictions are contributing to overcrowded prisons. I'm not saying that it is a primary cause of prison overcrowding, but possession of small amounts is one of the many ridiculous ways that cops get suspicious people booked into the system.

[UtahDan]

California has certainly led the way on expensive social programming whilst simultaneously remaining solvent. It will be interesting to see California break new ground on this front as well.

(Gratuitous slap at California; I actually think that enforcement cost outweighs enforcement benefits on this drug).

[CJF]

If weed is ever broadly legalized, I wonder what official stance the Church will take. I've had doctors suggest it to me multiple times over the years but always declined. If it had been legal at the time, I would have probably seriously considered it.

[8BR]

To be clear, if anyone has had a third strike that was related to a casual marijuana possession conviction, then marijuana convictions are contributing to overcrowded prisons. I'm not saying that it is a primary cause of prison overcrowding, but possession of small amounts is one of the many ridiculous ways that cops get suspicious people booked into the system.

Three strikes laws pertain to felony convictions. Casual marijuana possession is a misdemeanor.

I'm reasonably libertarian on social issues. I don't care if marijuana is decriminalized, but that said, some of the arguments for its legalization don't seem genuine. It will not substantially reduce prison populations and it will not be a panacea for revenue shortfalls.

[RobinFinderson]

Three strikes laws pertain to felony convictions. Casual marijuana possession is a misdemeanor.

I'm reasonably libertarian on social issues. I don't care if marijuana is decriminalized, but that said, some of the arguments for its legalization don't seem genuine. It will not substantially reduce prison populations and it will not be a panacea for revenue shortfalls.

Right, but selling any amount on the street (if you aren't part of a club) is a felony, and will count as a third strike. There are a lot of very small-time dealers who work a job and supplement their income by selling a little weed on the side. If you go to Santa Monica, there are cannabis clubs on every street. In South Central, where I live, people buy their drugs on the street. What is the difference? The ability to afford a $200 doctor's referral? Knowledge about the law?

Anyhow, it sounds like you are reasonably libertarian about the issue, which is about where I am as well. You mentioned some statistics about felony possession, and whether or not it was contributing to prison populations. I would be interested in taking a look at what you are reading.

[8BR]

Recent BJS estimates based on prisoner surveys show that at midyear 2002, approximately 8,400 state prison inmates were serving time for marijuana possession (any amount), and fewer than half of them were firsttime offenders.
The point here is inescapable: Of the more than 1.2 million people serving time in state prisons across America, only 3,600 individuals were sentenced on a first offense for possession of marijuana. Again, this figure includes possession of any amount.

http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/..._the_stats.pdf

and

http://www.albany.edu/sourcebook/pdf/t600012004.pdf

italics are mine

[Hsaru]

I wouldn't be surprised if Nevada legalizes marijuana to try and pull them out of the deep swoon they are in, another prop 8 situation for the church I'd imagine *sigh*.

[BlueHair]

It's time to legalize it. The pharmacuetical lobby is going to go nuts. The drug makers can't afford a cheap, relatively safe, non-addictive herb to replace their toxic chemicals.

[KillerDog]

I hope the legalize it but I know the Church will freak out if they do. We tend too much toward reactionary. I would love it to be legal. Most people liked me better when I smoked out. I was less angry.

[Solon]

I wouldn't be surprised if Nevada legalizes marijuana to try and pull them out of the deep swoon they are in, another prop 8 situation for the church I'd imagine *sigh*.

I'm glad to see you here, Hsaru.

[cougjunkie]

If it is legalized, I have a feeling the churches stance will be similar to that of drugs and alcohol. I am sure it will be against the WOW.

Wont make any difference in Utah as it will never be legalized here.