Caught with a Bag of Weed? It Could Cost You More Than You Think

[Peikko 1,575]

Gotta catch 'em first, fast little critters.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Gotta catch 'em first, fast little critters.

[GabachaYucateca 0]

I've had several friends get arrested for teeny tiny amounts of pot. Almost invariably, they are non-white people who live in poorer neighborhoods. None of my seemingly squeaky clean white friends have ever had issues, even though many are also stoners.

Hate to plug a page, but I literally just this morning wrote a blog post about a conversation I had at work with a kid about pot smoking. Link in siggie if you're interested.

[AnewKINDofFEELIN 0]

I can see why you wouldn't want to be the guy that legalized it, though. It would end up being what you were known for.

This could keep Bush from being known as the guy that invaded Iraq. Go Dubya!

[DeadPoolX 9]

While I've never tried marijuana (and have no urge to do so) I can't see the point in keeping it marked as an "illegal substance." Doing so helps no one. Instead, I'd like to see it legalized, regulated and taxed -- this way, those who want it can get it without fear of a prison sentence and the government (Federal, state or perhaps both) would receive income for it as well. Maybe put to use some of that money on something worthwhile, such as education or even roadwork, which is sorely needed in many areas.

I don't know if it's been mentioned in this thread already (I'll admit that I haven't read the entire thing), but if you have on record a conviction for marijuana possession (or any other drug), you probably won't be allowed into a foreign country. I know this is going on between the U.S. and Canada right now, since there have been numerous instances of people who were turned away at the border for having run-ins with the law back in the 1970s due to marijuana.

Of course... the one caveat to all of this pro-marijuana commentary is that it's relatively safe so long as the person or persons remain in their home or someplace similar. If someone under the influence of marijuana were to attempt operating a car (or boat or plane or whatever), the situation might turn out quite badly. Perhaps if there was some mechanism installed in all vehicles that rendered them inoperable if the user was "under the influence" of whatever substance that could make them a danger to society...

[AnewKINDofFEELIN 0]

While I've never tried marijuana (and have no urge to do so) I can't see the point in keeping it marked as an "illegal substance." Doing so helps no one. Instead, I'd like to see it legalized, regulated and taxed -- this way, those who want it can get it without fear of a prison sentence and the government (Federal, state or perhaps both) would receive income for it as well. Maybe put to use some of that money on something worthwhile, such as education or even roadwork, which is sorely needed in many areas.

As it stands now, the only people earning taxes on the stuff are drug cartels. If it is legal, the cartels will lose grip.

[Jenn! 918]

http://www.norml.org

[Miranda&James 8]

I agree with everyone else in that it should be legalized but I've got another question. Why is it that substances like Salvia remain legal when they induce similar "altered" states? It seems to me to be pretty similar to marijuana (but I don't really know much about it) so I don't understand why it is legal and pot is not.

[AnewKINDofFEELIN 0]

I agree with everyone else in that it should be legalized but I've got another question. Why is it that substances like Salvia remain legal when they induce similar "altered" states? It seems to me to be pretty similar to marijuana (but I don't really know much about it) so I don't understand why it is legal and pot is not.

Salvia is a COMPLETELY different animal. Very different effects, apparently.

Salvia is actually being outlawed as we speak. Within the last 2 years it was made illegal in Louisiana. Other states have done or are doing the same.

[Miranda&James 8]

I agree with everyone else in that it should be legalized but I've got another question. Why is it that substances like Salvia remain legal when they induce similar "altered" states? It seems to me to be pretty similar to marijuana (but I don't really know much about it) so I don't understand why it is legal and pot is not.

Salvia is a COMPLETELY different animal. Very different effects, apparently.

Salvia is actually being outlawed as we speak. Within the last 2 years it was made illegal in Louisiana. Other states have done or are doing the same.

Ok, I don't really know anything technical about it besides the experience it gives one that uses it!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Of course... the one caveat to all of this pro-marijuana commentary is that it's relatively safe so long as the person or persons remain in their home or someplace similar. If someone under the influence of marijuana were to attempt operating a car (or boat or plane or whatever), the situation might turn out quite badly. Perhaps if there was some mechanism installed in all vehicles that rendered them inoperable if the user was "under the influence" of whatever substance that could make them a danger to society...

Isn't this the exact same issue with alcohol?

I think, if you have a DUI conviction that you can be given a breathalyser to determine whether or not you're fit to drive. They're commercially available I believe.

[doodlebugg 10]

At the very LEAST it should be legal for those who are in medical need of it. Cancer and other patients who live with daily nauseau shouldn't have to go underground to a street dealer to get the only medicine that can help them.

[AnewKINDofFEELIN 0]

Of course... the one caveat to all of this pro-marijuana commentary is that it's relatively safe so long as the person or persons remain in their home or someplace similar. If someone under the influence of marijuana were to attempt operating a car (or boat or plane or whatever), the situation might turn out quite badly. Perhaps if there was some mechanism installed in all vehicles that rendered them inoperable if the user was "under the influence" of whatever substance that could make them a danger to society...

Isn't this the exact same issue with alcohol?

I think, if you have a DUI conviction that you can be given a breathalyser to determine whether or not you're fit to drive. They're commercially available I believe.

It's not the exact same issue. Alcohol is involved in 45% of fatal crashes. That doesn't leave much room for marijuana.

More than 100,000 U.S. deaths are caused by excessive alcohol consumption each year. Direct and indirect causes of death include drunk driving, cirrhosis of the liver, falls, cancer, and stroke.

Alcohol kills 6½ times more youth than all other illicit drugs combined.

source: http://www.gdcada.org/statistics/alcohol.htm

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Of course... the one caveat to all of this pro-marijuana commentary is that it's relatively safe so long as the person or persons remain in their home or someplace similar. If someone under the influence of marijuana were to attempt operating a car (or boat or plane or whatever), the situation might turn out quite badly. Perhaps if there was some mechanism installed in all vehicles that rendered them inoperable if the user was "under the influence" of whatever substance that could make them a danger to society...

Isn't this the exact same issue with alcohol?

I think, if you have a DUI conviction that you can be given a breathalyser to determine whether or not you're fit to drive. They're commercially available I believe.

It's not the exact same issue. Alcohol is involved in 45% of fatal crashes. That doesn't leave much room for marijuana.

More than 100,000 U.S. deaths are caused by excessive alcohol consumption each year. Direct and indirect causes of death include drunk driving, cirrhosis of the liver, falls, cancer, and stroke.

Alcohol kills 6½ times more youth than all other illicit drugs combined.

source: http://www.gdcada.org/statistics/alcohol.htm

Yes I know that... What I was getting at regarding the quoted passage above was why one intoxicating substance should be treated any differently from the others - in terms of having safeguards built into cars to prevent them from being operated under the influence.

[pedroh 21]

hey hey hey

smoke weed every day

-chapelle