Can Marijuana Help Rescue California's Economy?

[ziggy]

I hear ya.
I do, however, know successful people, doctors and lawyers that occassionally use on weekends. Seems they are recreational users and don't roll over and take a bong hit first thing in the morning. I'm not condoning it, just saying, it doesn't seem to affect their productivity anymore than alcohol (hey maybe less, no hangover).

 

[Danaya]

I hear ya.
I do, however, know successful people, doctors and lawyers that occassionally use on weekends. Seems they are recreational users and don't roll over and take a bong hit first thing in the morning. I'm not condoning it, just saying, it doesn't seem to affect their productivity anymore than alcohol (hey maybe less, no hangover).

I guess but I don't think just because you have four years or more of university education means you are immune to being a raunch. I could get into a debate but really don't like to over the internet, just wanted to put in my two cents, that's all.

 

[shadowraiths]

I would totally vote for this as I am exceedingly tired of wasting tax payer money to arrest people for marijuana possession when there are so many other types of crimes that really need LEO attention. And just think, instead of us paying to help lock up people who are growing/selling pot, they would be paying taxes to help us lock up the real criminals. And that, imho, would be sweet justice indeed!

 

[Buzz Mills]

Schwarzenegger: Pot Legalization Should Be Studied
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Tuesday that California should study other nations' experiences in legalizing and taxing marijuana, although he is not supporting the idea.

He said it was time to debate proposals such as a bill introduced in the state Legislature earlier this year that would treat marijuana like alcohol. State Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, a San Francisco Democrat, said legalizing marijuana for adults over age 21 and taxing it at $50 an ounce would help the state as it faces annual budget deficits.

Ammiano cited a California Board of Equalization estimate that the tax could bring in $1.3 billion a year, depending on various assumptions. "It's time for debate. ... I'm always for an open debate on it," Schwarzenegger said in response to a question during a news event.

He was in Davis, a university town just west of the state capital, to promote wildfire safety. Schwarzenegger also cautioned that some other nations have had negative experiences. "I think we want to look at all that," the governor said. "Just because of raising revenues, we have to be very careful not to make mistakes at the same time."

http://cbs5.com/local/schwarzenegger.marijuana.legalization.2.1002086.html

 

[Buzz Mills]

Guv: Time to consider pot legalization

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said today it is "time for debate" about legalizing marijuana for recreational use in California as support grows nationwide for relaxing pot laws. The governor's comments came days after a poll of California voters found a majority for the time backing legal marijuana and as a San Francisco legislator aims to regulate and tax marijuana to bring the state up to $1.3 billion a year in extra revenue.

Schwarzenegger was cautious when answering a reporter's question today about whether the state should regulate and tax the substance, saying it was not time to go that far. But, he said, a debate on the issue would be appropriate. "I think all of those ideas of creating extra revenues - I'm always for an open debate on it," Schwarzenegger said, adding that California should look to the experiences of other nations around the world in relaxing laws on marijuana. Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, D-San Francisco, has introduced a bill to regulate marijuana like alcohol, with people over 21 years old allowed to grow, buy, sell and possess cannabis - all of which is barred by federal law. California voters in 1996 legalized marijuana for medical use with permission from a physician.

Ammiano said he was pleased the governor is "open-minded" on the issue and added that he was sure the two could "hash it out." Under Ammiano's proposal, the state would impose a $50-an-ounce levy on sales of marijuana, which would boost state revenues by about $1.3 billion a year, according to an analysis by the State Board of Equalization. Betty Yee of San Francisco, who chairs the Board of Equalization, supports the measure. "This has never just been about money," said Ammiano, who has long supported reforming marijuana laws. "It's also about the failure of the war on drugs and implementing a more enlightened policy. I've always anticipated that there could be a perfect storm of political will and public support, and obviously the federal policies are leaning more toward states' rights."

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/05/05/MNO617F929.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea

 

[Angels_Not_Forgotten]

I will say I am Head of a Department in the company I work for. It's a very cut throat business. I like the hustle and bustle and "baptism by fire" if you know the phrase. I smoke. I am not "sort of raunches." or at least I don't think so, not sure what raunches means. I can tell you that without it, yes i am fine, I don't NEED it, there aren't many things I have that I NEED, but I do feel more calm, more balanced, and not ask icky as I do when I take my Valium.

 

[Tricia]

If you had to chose between driving with someone who is drunk or a person who smoked a Marijuana cigarette give me the stoned person.

It's a losing battle we are fighting when it comes to Marijuana and trying to stop its use in the US.

 

[Buzz Mills]

Funny how a little Depression, or Recession, can change how one perceives alcohol, in 1933, and now, marijuana.

 

[Buzz Mills]

A budget cure: Marijuana taxes?

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.co.../a-budget-cure-marijuana-taxes.aspx?gt1=33002

 

[songline]

I posted the same topic on the economy thread ealier today.

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.co.../a-budget-cure-marijuana-taxes.aspx?gt1=33002

JUST A SNIP...LOL
"Cannabis is good for the economy," he said. "It's been here the whole time, but it's had a bad rap the entire time."

 

[southcitymom]

Great article regarding the face behind the push for new marijuana laws in Georgia:

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/me...rijuana_law.html?cxntlid=homepage_tab_newstab

 

[Buzz Mills]

Medical-pot advocate-grower gets 10 years

SAN FRANCISCO -- A medical-marijuana advocate who grew 32,000 plants on his land in Lake County was sentenced to 10 years in prison Monday by a federal judge who criticized the law she was applying.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/05/18/BASQ17MLBA.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea

 

[songline]

YES! It can stimulate our federal economy, too!

I agree and think they are letting Mexico benifit from that trade.
I would have no problem with Goverment selling weed as long as they do not lock up people in the US selling it while they are giving Mexico trade a pass.

 

[songline]

Legalizing mary jane and taxing and monitoring it like alcohol would be one of the smartest things we could do economically. That's just a fact. Now because it has been illegal for so long, many people have a moral issue with it and so this is unlikely to happen very soon.

If I were Queen of the USA, I would make alcohol illegal and legalize pot! But no one voted me in, so y'all are safe from my craziness! (For now.....)

I am all for legalizing pot, :crazy:
Keeps the cops looking for criminals and it would help the economy.
AND I would want it to be regulated so it is not going into the hands of children.
But go easy on the alcohol Southcitymom, I love my glass of wine with dinner.

 

[songline]

Medical-pot advocate-grower gets 10 years

SAN FRANCISCO -- A medical-marijuana advocate who grew 32,000 plants on his land in Lake County was sentenced to 10 years in prison Monday by a federal judge who criticized the law she was applying.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/05/18/BASQ17MLBA.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea

This is an outrage!!!!! 10 years?????
There are people with AIDS and CANCER who get prescriptions, because it settles their stomach.
I HOPE THIS GETS A RETRIAL .

 

[songline]

Great article regarding the face behind the push for new marijuana laws in Georgia:

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/me...rijuana_law.html?cxntlid=homepage_tab_newstab

WELL I did read it and in part it is funny.
Here is a snip:
“I think we would be a lot better off if marijuana was the drug of choice rather than alcohol,” he said. “There would be a lot less violence, a lot fewer traffic fatalities and people would’t be ruining their lives… . Marijuana is a wonderful drug.”

LOL...Don't believe it... OK so he is right a lot less violence.
but fewer traffic accidents? - NO... more stoned people driving into things. hmmmm Maybe too out of it?
LOL...People would not be ruining their lives? NO... more stoned folk forgetting to handle stuff and letting time ride by.

Marijuana does have its short comings and it is not a fix our country drug...it will put too many to sleep....it is dangerous in the wrong hands. But is should be made legal, and LE should be removed from that industry LE should focus on destructive drugs, Missing kids and real crimes. NOT pot
And if it is regulated to protect children it is just another vice that should be monitored.
So that kids do not find it accessible.
It can be a very good income for the US.

 

[southcitymom]

I am all for legalizing pot, :crazy:
Keeps the cops looking for criminals and it would help the economy.
AND I would want it to be regulated so it is not going into the hands of children.
But go easy on the alcohol Southcitymom, I love my glass of wine with dinner.

Fair enough, songline!

 

[gman20001969]

LOL! you know my first nickname used to be Gr8ful_greg after I was a long time fan of the Grateful Dead. That comes with it's own stigmatisms and stereotypes. But now that I'm 40, older and wiser...well, definitely older... I'd say that I'm very against "mary jane" being legalized. It just wouldn't be used in moderation.

 

[L L & S]

With all due respect gman, do you feel lke alcohol is used mostly in moderation? No. What about perscription drugs? No. And both of those are worse for you than MJ.

 

[southcitymom]

All legal drugs run the risk of being used immoderately. I'm not sure why that would stop us from decriminalizing a substance which clearly should not be illegal.