Weed legalised in 2 USA states

[scumdog]

I ocasionally enjoy a joint in the park with both black and white stoners. I particularly enjoy weed with a small amount of either rum or bourban. Not too much, mind you as it makes me a bit dizzy.

I crack up when in the company of Police who smoke cannabis when I think of the official policy on drugs

Same as me with company of Police who speed when I htink of the official policy on speeding.

We're both easily entertained eh....

[Glowerss]

I know that due to your career you can't openly support legalizing cannabis, but I'm sure that in your experience drunk people seem to cause significantly more problems for you guys than a couple of stoners having a joint in the local park. You must know in the back of your mind that the current cannabis laws aren't always justified. I don't expect you to agree with me either on a public forum.

This is just observation from somebody who hasn't been in NZ too long (only 3-4 years now), but it seem to me that drinking causes NZ more money and causes more grief then smoking weed ever could. I feel genuinely terrible for the Auckland Popo who have to deal with that shit (drinking)on a daily basis. I cringe everytime one of those NZ cop shows comes on TV. It will almost inevitably be 80% of the show dealing with drunk bastards.

I'd be really interested to see what sort of costs in terms of medical/police wages drinking costs the country.

My gut feeling tells me a shit of a lot more then say, smoking does. And they've been banging on the last few months about trying to outlaw smoking in NZ.

Anyway, on topic, I reckon there's a big difference between cigs/alcohol--> weed then there is from weed to say cocaine. People are stupid and will always do stupid shit, but the average person this day and age I reckon knows that cannabis isn't really all that bad for you, and isn't physiologically addictive. And also knows that shit like meth/cocaine/heroine are hella addictive and really fucking bad for you.

[madandy]

I think its fair to say that these guys live inthe real world where its ok to show a little discretion when in the company of trustworthy souls and in a safe environment where boundaries are repected and limits left untested.

I dont have a problem with it as long as the discretion is shared fairly and with just consideration for true risk and safety etc etc.

[jrandom]

But then I probably deal with the loser sector of the pot-smoking world...

Ayup, exactly.

Although, certainly a lot of folk do tend to smoke weed and drink at the same time as a matter of course. I'm not sure that they ever stop to consider whether they're actually having fun, or whether they'd enjoy themselves more if they exercised a little restraint. They just do it because it's the done thing. Like kids who make a habit of drinking booze until they're cross-eyed and vomiting.

Me personally, alcohol + THC just knocks me out. I'm not a fan of the approach.

[SMOKEU]

Does the same logic stand for black and white kids having a joint in the park?

I can't even begin to answer that.

[madandy]

I can't even begin to answer that.

Of course you can. The implication is that the brown child may be x times more likely to be prosecuted whereas the white boy sent home with a warning...

[HenryDorsetCase]

Not surprising... The people who voted to legalise pot probably grew up smoking it, and maybe their parents did too!

Dude I am all for legalisation of it, and if it was legal it would not increase my consumption one iota: from zero to zero.

But from every reasonable and reasoned perspective prohibition simply does not work. So, take all the money spent on trying to enforce the unenforceable, and spend it on education, so people make better life choices, or whatever.

My view is that if you can afford to buy it, and if you dont fuck up anything other than yourself, then you should be free to stick anything in your body you want to. Just don't steal to fund a habit, etc.

The Swedish approach. Oh, you're a drug addict. Come to this clinic every morning, here is your free state supplied drugs, fill in this form,join this queue, here you go, next please. One of the things I read about it was that the deglamourisation of the process (likened to queuing up to renew your driver's licence, EVERY MORNING) had had a marked effect on the numbers of addicts.

[SMOKEU]

Of course you can. The implication is that the brown child may be x times more likely to be prosecuted whereas the white boy sent home with a warning...

I never said the person of colour was innocent.

[HenryDorsetCase]

Only arguement I've seen against it really is that people seem to think that weed is a "gateway" drug. That if you smoke weed, you'll eventually go looking for more serious drugs. Sounds a bit rubbish really.

Waste of time and money trying to stop potheads. I'm glad at least 2 states have figured it out. Hopefully the federal govt. keeps out of it. I doubt it though. Republicans and the christians can't help themselves at times.

the gateway is that to get weed you have to deal with drug dealers. When you realise that you have been lied to all this time, you think "Well shit, if they lied about that, how bad can crystal meth be? - and I know a dude who can get it for me, and the first one is free! - what could possibly go wrong".

the other thing is the "Value pyramid": weed at the bottom, more expensive stuff up the top. So

Think of the fact that the gangs that now make money from dealing have this large chunk of revenue taken away (I am all for it being legalised, taxed, and available for sale in the equivalent of liquor stores) then its a less attractive lifestyle choice, so, fewer and smaller gangs dealing hard drugs, so the po po can (as long as they get the fucking paperwork right and dont forge any search warrants) target those criminals more effectively. bada boom bada bing, everybody wins.

[mashman]

I can't even begin to answer that.

Really? No vid off thatsreallynotverytasteful.com?

[SMOKEU]

Really? No vid off thatsreallynotverytasteful.com?

Not for the time being.

[ellipsis]

...before any soul caves in to the lure of the illicit, they have no doubt been subjected to the infantile horrors of milk...some even in powdered form...could there be any correlation between these two morphic states...hmmmmm...

[ducatilover]

(I am all for it being legalised, taxed, and available for sale in the equivalent of liquor stores) .

Is that realistic though (having it on shelves) with the current anti-towbaccy stuff going on, legalising another drug that's smoked would be plain silly of them (in a political sense), would it not?

I'm not sure at the moment if I could care less, I've seen people ruin their lives over many drugs, incl. weed, alcohol and tobacco, I don't expect this number of people will change dramatically if legalisation occurs (idiots will always be idiots)

It could potentially be a big blow to the illegal growing trade (twats with patches, lower brain powered thugs with a desire to stand over weaker people by using pack hunting) which is a good thing. Then there is the worry of it causing the twats to start making more hard drugs. Put the thinking hats on, and I doubt there would be an increase in that either, shirley, because the market won't suddenly explode and they'll be left out of pocket.

But, I dunno.

[unstuck]

Funny how some people can stop at the pub and have a couple of drinks and then ride or drive on, but if you refuse a drink and just opt for a couple of tokes on a cone or joint, then often you are seen as a social leper or some sort of deviant, drug dealing,lowlife. People are fucked, thats all there is to it, but I like that everyone is a fucken headcase, it makes life so interesting and exciting.

[scumdog]

Funny how some people can stop at the pub and have a couple of drinks and then ride or drive on, but if you refuse a drink and just opt for a couple of tokes on a cone or joint, then often you are seen as a social leper or some sort of deviant, drug dealing,lowlife. People are fucked, thats all there is to it, but I like that everyone is a fucken headcase, it makes life so interesting and exciting.

I can stop at the pub and have a drink or maybe two - not to get any effect from the alcohol (Hell, I even drink Amstel light at times) but just to have a cold drink I like the taste of and in company

Can you have a toke without expecting a buzz?...IS there "Light Tokes' (tm)??
Just saying man...