Don Brash: "We should decriminalise marijuana"

[sidecar bob]

Id kind of prefer it was illegal to be a dumb angry munter.
Ive yet to meet a smart long term pot head.

[Zedder]

"Prime Minister John Key has waded into the cannabis debate by saying it would be a step in the wrong direction to relax the law.

According to his logic, the Law Commission inquiry into the Misuse of Drugs Act and a similar inquiry by the Global Commission were wrong in their conclusions."

heh heh heh

John? John's not here man!

[Mad-V2]

Id kind of prefer it was illegal to be a dumb angry munter.
Ive yet to meet a smart long term pot head.

You may already know some smart long term pot heads, but because it's illegal they would never admit to using it.

[mashman]

That's why we have insurance, namely ACC.

But hard core libs would love to ditch it and let people get their own insurance/sue etc.

I'm in the middle, as are most people I dare say. We want freedom of choice, but at the same time we don't want a free for all.

It's about finding the middle ground.

If people wanna put that shit into their bodies go for it. I don't want it though, have lived next to a half way house and have seen what it does to people.

-Indy

Are you saying that ACC should only be given if it's under certain conditions?

I agree the middle ground is tricky to find, but when the Right are screaming that it'll kill off NZ, I'd hardly say they're trying to find the middle ground in any way shape or form... even though they know the practice is common place across the country. So why not make some money out of it? the tourism $$$ alone will be worth it... then there's the boost to the economy from local taxation, after all the criminals already grow the stuff, so the supply chain is already there, as is the demand. The only thing not in place is the legality.

aye, it'll be cannabis that put the people in the halfway house It may well be something that they use, but it doesn't mean that that was the "cause" of their being in the place?

Don't get me wrong, I know it affects people in different ways (have seen it) and I'm not saying noone will be hurt because a person is using cannabis, but the negative hype that surrounds its use is drastically overstated.

As for freedom of choice, it is exercised every day, sometimes for "good" sometimes for "bad" and I'd venture that 99% of the "bad" things that go on around us aren't cannabis related...

[mashman]

Sounds good mate,,but it's not.
I know people that smoke and abuse both their partners and their kids.
I've walked into a heavy pot smokers house 5 minites after he'd scored a 50 and had his 10 year old son ask me if I would buy him some food,,,then had to watch his old man hit the fucking roof because his kid was so rude to me,,,his words not mine.
I see a lot of pot heads and "a few" of them are just normal people that like a buzz now an then,,,but most of them are puting their weed before their familys welfare at the lest,,,and a lot of them are just burnt out fucking clowns that spend most of their time stoned an bitching about life not being fair.

If they were allowed to grow their own, they wouldn't have to shell out to buy any and the kids would get fed/clothes etc...

[mashman]

John? John's not here man!

Have you seen Dave then?

[scumdog]

You may already know some smart long term pot heads, but because it's illegal they would never admit to using it.

Sooo...the ones that admit it on here ain't so smart eh?

Ohhhh-kaaayyy...

[Mad-V2]

Sooo...the ones that admit it on here ain't so smart eh?

Ohhhh-kaaayyy...

You should put togeather a huge operation to have those people busted mate.
should only cost taxpayers a few grand, and you'll get a gold star for your effort

[Zedder]

Have you seen Dave then?

Why? Are you Sgt Stadanko?

[puddytat]

Bullshit is this vote-buying. It's 100% consistent with the principles that ACT was founded on.

Now in hindsight I agree with what your saying about vote buying.....'cause it certainly hasnt worked & will I think, be the death knell for them
I thought when he said it that man!!, that was dumb.
Founding principles are one thing....Banks,Brash & Douglas are Hollow men who's principals change when it suits them.Brash is the master of "Squirm" & he is usually the most competent politician i know at never giving a straight answer IMO.
Now we have a Govt. thats struggling to get the retro surveillance bill through who is relying on a party with no elected candidates left ,to help the passage of that Bill.
Doesnt sound overly libertarian to me.
Im not bashing Libertarians !! Just the Terrible Trio.
Finally, I will say that what he did say was DECRIMINALISATION NOT LEGALISATION

[Mad-V2]

So who saw the Campbell live txt poll?
73% of voters thought it should be decriminalised...........

[scumdog]

So who saw the Campbell live txt poll?
73% of voters thought it should be decriminalised...........

'Cos stoners kept forgetting they had already voted so voted again...and again...and again...

[mashman]

Why? Are you Sgt Stadanko?

No such luck.

[Oakie]

So who saw the Campbell live txt poll?
73% of voters thought it should be decriminalised...........

Would be interesting to see the same poll run on say
TV1
TV3
Maori TV
National Radio
and compare the results. You need to bear in mind the source when doing polls ... like running a poll asking 'Are motorcyclists good road users" and having it on KB and say the AA website would give different results I'd imagine.
Txt poll means a greater perecentage of TXT savvy (younger) people respond
TV3 ... IMHO a more sensationalist news slant probably attracting less conservative people than TV1.

(And before anyone takes offence at me mentioning Maori TV ... no, I meant nothing by it. Just a counterpoint to TV1 and TV3)

Oh, and I think Don Brash has single handedly ensured ACT will be eunuchs after the next election.

[mashman]

So who saw the Campbell live txt poll?
73% of voters thought it should be decriminalised...........

and 58% say no on the yahoo poll... turn on tune in dropout

The annoying thing is that this is already happening. People are already "smoking". On the face of it it looks far less damaging than alcohol going by Law Commissions recommendations, some Global Commissions recommendations and the findings from the last 10 years in Portugal. I'm not saying that cannabis has a perfect record by any means... but it would seem that decriminalisation (i'm happy for it to be legalised) is the ONLY sensible way forwards, and in more ways than just letting stoners get their "kicks".