CA. Prop 19

Didn't we already have a thread discussing this or something along the lines of this?

Word. carry on.

Benjichang wrote: I have high hopes for this bill. Pass it, CA!

I too hope this does not go up in smoke.

I didn't exactly expect this bill to roll on through, if I'm perfectly blunt. Hopefully it doesn't get snubbed out, but my hopes aren't very high.

Yes, but that hasn't stopped people from growing in Alaska.  Aside from that, the DEA had announced that they essentially would (and did, to some extent) stop raiding medical dispensaries in California.  

Edited by Glassjaw - 02 November 2010 at 12:00am

High Voltage wrote: oldsoldier wrote: Just like when Alaska did it, the Federal Drug Laws supercede so still a 'crime' but now Federal, whole new can of worms there. Yeah, like saving state money spent on busting and locking up nonviolent drug users, tax money to be spent somewhere else they feel it is better used. Or supporting the States' right to govern themselves. C WUT I DID THAR? Protip: It has been a federal crime this whole time, it's just also been against state laws as well, and local authorities under their own jurisdiction have done most of the prosecuting for personal offenders. Location, location, location. Oh, and amount too. The DEA doesn't give a crap about an eighth of weed. What I think would be a positive step here isn't individual states pushing to legalize at this time, but our democratically elected representatives pushing to abolish mandatory minimum sentencing for drug crimes. Basically taking steps toward decriminalization.

Gatyr wrote: Glassjaw wrote: Decriminalization is an ass-backward idea.  Yes there will be nothing but a fine, but wait...if it isn't criminal, why is there a fine?  Aside from this, under decriminalization you're still unable to cultivate, or even legally possess it. The idea is good, but the naming isn't. That prefix doesn't mean what it is supposed to indicate in the sense of "decriminalization," but there isn't a prefix I can think of that indicates reducing the degree of something.  I really hope Prop 19 passes, but I'm not optimistic. There is still to much of a stoner-connotation associated with weed. If it does, though, I'll be writing to all of the elected officials to whom I'm a constituent of.

little devil wrote: Glassjaw wrote: I think it's good that there would be less of a penalty, however it still makes no sense.  It's like admitting that you're wrong, yet you still punish those for indulging.   Around here when it was decriminalized I believe it had to do with the amount that you had on you. Over a certain amount would put you into the dealer catagory.

Edited by Glassjaw - 02 November 2010 at 2:48pm

I'm in a state that has decriminalized cannabis possession under 1oz. My thoughts so far: Morons will continue to be morons, people who are morons are only making it worse when they get high. The idiots that violated my universities drug policy with open toking then complained that their civil rights were being trampled on are in the same category of retards as those who set fire to veteran's flags on their porch and claim free speech.

People misinterpret decriminalization, basically it means a recreational user over the age of 18 caught with less than 1oz. will face a maximum of a $100 fine for the first offense. Enforcing this is problematic, police quite often will only confiscate the cannabis if there is no other crime involved if they don't want to take the trouble to write a ticket, and it is questionable if you actually would need to give them your information to write the ticket unless you are driving. Basically it will only impact repeat offenders, major potheads and dealers (Congressman Barney Frank wants the legal limit to be 1/2lb, and his boyfriend/husband/whatever has been busted w/ large amounts in the past) and those under the age of 18.

I will admit that I do not have much in the way of hard data to make claims about what it has done in terms of under-age use, but teaching at a public school has led me to believe that too many kids now believe that  weed is:
1: Totally Legal
2: Less harmful than alcohol or cigs ( which may be true, but they also think alcohol is nearly harmless just like motorcycles, energy drinks, and excessive speed in residential neighborhoods
3: May actually be good for you. Especially if you're ADHD.

The last is the worst one, since the potheads are too often the ones who need to either be sober or on prescription meds to get anything out of school. Not only can they not remember crap and be disinhibitied enough to be disruptive, they now have a tool to delude themselves into thinking that they're actually being more effective or to numb themselves to the negative consequences of forgetting to do your homework, forgetting class material, eating half a gallon of icecream, or driving with impaired reaction time.

Not to mention that the whole "Drug use Funds Terrorism" ad campaign has been mocked and dismissed as scare tactics while cartel violence in Mexico has killed 30,000 in the last few years and funds the Taliban and other Afghan insurgent groups. Decriminalization does little to address this.

rednekk98 wrote: I'm in a state that has decriminalized cannabis possession under 1oz. My thoughts so far: Morons will continue to be morons, people who are morons are only making it worse when they get high. The idiots that violated my universities drug policy with open toking then complained that their civil rights were being trampled on are in the same category of retards as those who set fire to veteran's flags on their porch and claim free speech. People misinterpret decriminalization, basically it means a recreational user over the age of 18 caught with less than 1oz. will face a maximum of a $100 fine for the first offense. Enforcing this is problematic, police quite often will only confiscate the cannabis if there is no other crime involved if they don't want to take the trouble to write a ticket, and it is questionable if you actually would need to give them your information to write the ticket unless you are driving. Basically it will only impact repeat offenders, major potheads and dealers (Congressman Barney Frank wants the legal limit to be 1/2lb, and his boyfriend/husband/whatever has been busted w/ large amounts in the past) and those under the age of 18. I will admit that I do not have much in the way of hard data to make claims about what it has done in terms of under-age use, but teaching at a public school has led me to believe that too many kids now believe that  weed is: 1: Totally Legal (Only if...) 2: Less harmful than alcohol or cigs ( which may be true, but they also think alcohol is nearly harmless just like motorcycles, energy drinks, and excessive speed in residential neighborhoods.  (FWIW, it is. Link / Link ) 3: May actually be good for you. Especially if you're ADHD.  (Don't have much to comment on in regards to the latter, but I've found little evidence that cannabis is strictly "bad" for you, at least in regards to your health.  Psychologically, while I am no professional in this matter, I find it hard to believe that cannabis is poor for mental health, as long as it is used in a respected manner.) The last is the worst one, since the potheads are too often the ones who need to either be sober or on prescription meds to get anything out of school. Not only can they not remember crap and be disinhibitied enough to be disruptive, they now have a tool to delude themselves into thinking that they're actually being more effective or to numb themselves to the negative consequences of forgetting to do your homework, forgetting class material, eating half a gallon of icecream, or driving with impaired reaction time. Not to mention that the whole "Drug use Funds Terrorism" ad campaign has been mocked and dismissed as scare tactics while cartel violence in Mexico has killed 30,000 in the last few years and funds the Taliban and other Afghan insurgent groups. Decriminalization does little to address this.