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Can Marijuana Help Rescue California's Economy?

Well, let's suppose for the sake of argument that marijuana were legalized. How would it be done?

I don't think anyone believes we'd be selling or smoking it at the ballpark next to the beer stand... so fill me in on the details...

Coffee shops?
At home only?
Designated pot smoking centers?

Would it be okay to drive stoned? If you were just 'slightly buzzed' for instance?
Would it be okay to be stoned at work? One hit at lunchtime while your buddy has his beer?

Could one be arrested for 'stoned in public' similar to a 'public intoxication' for alcohol?

Would the legal age be 21 or 18?

Would all forms of pot be legal? Aren't some varieties more potent than others?

Just curious how you see this working.

:confused:
 
Well, let's suppose for the sake of argument that marijuana were legalized. How would it be done?

I don't think anyone believes we'd be selling or smoking it at the ballpark next to the beer stand... so fill me in on the details...

Coffee shops?

No, Barristas are bigger pansies than bartenders. They sue.

At home only?

More than just home.

Designated pot smoking centers?

Sure, like bars, but exempt from non-smoking laws.

Would it be okay to drive stoned? If you were just 'slightly buzzed' for instance?

No, but how would know when someone actually was stoned empirically? It stays in your system even after the effects wear off.

Would it be okay to be stoned at work? One hit at lunchtime while your buddy has his beer?

It depends on the job. Minimum wage, yes. All the rest, no.

Could one be arrested for 'stoned in public' similar to a 'public intoxication' for alcohol?

No, it's not a public nuisance.

Would the legal age be 21 or 18?

18. It's not like you can OD on the stuff.

Would all forms of pot be legal? Aren't some varieties more potent than others?


Yes. Just let me grow my own. :mrgreen:
 
Well, let's suppose for the sake of argument that marijuana were legalized. How would it be done?

I don't think anyone believes we'd be selling or smoking it at the ballpark next to the beer stand... so fill me in on the details...

Ummm why not? What exactly makes somebody who smokes weed more/less dangerous then somebody who drinks?

Coffee shops?

Do they sell beer at coffee shops? Not in America? Next.

At home only?

Ummm...everywhere alcohol is sold.

Designated pot smoking centers?

Are there any designated drinking centers?

Would it be okay to drive stoned?

It isn't now. Why would it be okay once it becomes legal? :roll:

If you were just 'slightly buzzed' for instance?

If you're slightly drunk do you not get DUI?

Would it be okay to be stoned at work?

Is it okay to be drunk at work?

One hit at lunchtime while your buddy has his beer?

Unless you weigh 80 pounds. You're not getting high off a single hit. Weed doesn't work that way.

Could one be arrested for 'stoned in public' similar to a 'public intoxication' for alcohol?

Public intoxication encompasses drugs in most states doesn't it?

Would the legal age be 21 or 18?

18

Would all forms of pot be legal?

Are all forms of consumable alcohol legal? To my knowledge the only one that is even remotely illegal is Absynth but that is thanks to Christian fundis of America Inc.

Aren't some varieties more potent than others?

40% Vodka. 5% Beer. I don't know of any weed cultures that can be 8x more potent then other weed cultures. Seriously I don't.

Just curious how you see this working.

:confused:

Your questions seem answerable if you just use a little common sense. But for some reason I think you have an agenda.
 
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I'm sorry, exactly how is it good for your health? Unless your a cancer victim and refuse to eat or surffer from another illness that weed is already certified for, then it is not beneficial to your health. Smoking anything is bad for you, it's common sense. Weed is especially harmful because people exhale deeper, longer, and hold it in their lungs to let it sit for a while before exhaling
Marijuana increases your appetite, is a mild pain reliever, a very good sleep aid, it is an amazing anti-bacterial substance helping preventing you from becoming sick, and overall helps your mood which more often than not has much more effect on our health than many realize.

As for the effects from smoking, if that is such a hassle I suggest making cannabutter and using it to cook with. Technically a average cannabis smoker will inhale much less than average cigarette smoker, but if that is a big deal, use marijuana to cook with.
People can laugh all they'd like. But even in a country such as the Netherlands... pot-smokers are consigned to their 'coffee houses.' In essence, the freaks are still segregated. Smoking weed is not socially acceptable in the way that alcohol is.
How about cigarette smokers, they are not socially acceptable, confined to fewer and fewer places every year where they can smoke and the cigarettes they do smoke are becoming so expensive people are spending thousands every year to support there habits.

Should cigarettes be banned?

No, what should happen is the majority should have less power to rule minorities lives in this country.

Substance users have rights to, and just because you do not agree with it, does not mean you should have to right to say it is not ok.

That is how the founders wanted it, and that is how it should be, drug legislation should be confined to the states to decide, and not the federal government to throw it's weight around.

Just because something is not socially accepted does not mean you have the right to decide if it is right or wrong.

If you are worried for your children, I suggest you support legalizing the substance, it is harder for a child to obtain a legal substance(alcohol) than a illegal substance(marijuana).
 
Marijuana increases your appetite, is a mild pain reliever, a very good sleep aid, it is an amazing anti-bacterial substance helping preventing you from becoming sick, and overall helps your mood which more often than not has much more effect on our health than many realize.

If you are worried for your children, I suggest you support legalizing the substance, it is harder for a child to obtain a legal substance(alcohol) than a illegal substance(marijuana).

Cons:
Not surprisingly, marijuana intoxication can cause distorted perceptions, impaired coordination, difficulty in thinking and problem solving, and problems with learning and memory. Research has shown that marijuana’s adverse impact on learning and memory can last for days or weeks after the acute effects of the drug wear off.2 As a result, someone who smokes marijuana every day may be functioning at a suboptimal intellectual level all of the time.
Research on the long-term effects of marijuana abuse indicates some changes in the brain similar to those seen after long-term abuse of other major drugs. For example, cannabinoid withdrawal in chronically exposed animals leads to an increase in the activation of the stress-response system3 and changes in the activity of nerve cells containing dopamine.4 Dopamine neurons are involved in the regulation of motivation and reward, and are directly or indirectly affected by all drugs of abuse.

weed is like alcohol, it is a depressant. so if you had a mental disorder, it would just make you more depressed and you can hallucinate if you mix it with alcohol. a mental/emotion addiction to weed can develop. though, as so many fervent pot smokers always say, it is not physically addictive and you can't overdose... keep in mind I support legalization, but I don't support consistent use. If your 40, you smoke weed, and your sitting on a beanbag chair right now, YOU FAILED!

Lol, i just felt like saying that
 
Your questions seem answerable if you just use a little common sense. But for some reason I think you have an agenda.

No. These are serious questions. I don't have an agenda. But I do believe that many of those who advocate legalization haven't thought through the details very carefully.

I've just perused the marijuana laws of most countries. Wikipedia: Legality of Cannabis

It's not at all clear that legalizing marijuana would be easy to do. It's not clear that the answers require simple 'common sense.'

Under your plan, for instance, would citizens be able to grow their own weed? Would there be a maximum amount they could possess? Which country's model do you find most appealing?

Is there a 'common sense' answer to that?

:confused:
 
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Well, let's suppose for the sake of argument that marijuana were legalized. How would it be done?

I don't think anyone believes we'd be selling or smoking it at the ballpark next to the beer stand... so fill me in on the details...

Nope, in general I'd say the best way to view it is the availability of Alcohol with the usability of Cigarettes.

Coffee shops?

If a Coffee Shop wanted to do it I'd say it'd need to be like Alcohol. ID check for whatever age is required to have access to it.

At home only?

Definitely, purchased from likely an ABC store type scenario if its 21 and up (which I'd suggest). Same penalties as Alcohol if its found you're giving it to a minor in the home.

Designated pot smoking centers?

I imagine that places specifically designed for pot smoking would spout up, thus adding to the economy, much as there are those Designated Alcohol Drinking Centers known as "Bars". Places probably specializing in the sell of marijuana in various types and forms, and marketed towards people who don't mind being around the smoke as I imagine, much like cigarettes, it should be banned from standard bars.

Would it be okay to drive stoned? If you were just 'slightly buzzed' for instance?

DWI, driving under the influence. No more "okay" than driving "slightly buzzed" from alcohol

Would it be okay to be stoned at work? One hit at lunchtime while your buddy has his beer?

Depends on the work place I guess. Every work place I've ever worked at had a policy that you couldn't show up to work intoxicated and you couldn't drink, even on your break, while working.

Could one be arrested for 'stoned in public' similar to a 'public intoxication' for alcohol?

I'd imagine yes, in much the similar way. IE, rarely enforced unless its grossly over done.

Would the legal age be 21 or 18?

I'd suggest 21 due to the fact that it has significant mood altering affects like alcohol rather than like cigarettes.

Would all forms of pot be legal? Aren't some varieties more potent than others?

I'd imagine it'd get regulated if it was legalized, thus assuring that things laced with more dangerous ingredients would not be allowed. But simply more "Potent" forms would probably be fine, much like Bacardi 151 and standard Bacardi both have a home.

Just curious how you see this working.

Alcohol in its sale and oversight, cigarettes in terms of its places of use.
 
Under your plan, for instance, would citizens be able to grow their own weed? Would there be a maximum amount they could possess? Which country's model do you find most appealing

I'd imagine the rules in regards to growing your own weed would be akin to the rules on brewing your own alcohol, ditto for the sales. Ditto for maximum amount of possession.
 
No, what should happen is the majority should have less power to rule minorities lives in this country.

Substance users have rights to, and just because you do not agree with it, does not mean you should have to right to say it is not ok.

That is how the founders wanted it, and that is how it should be, drug legislation should be confined to the states to decide, and not the federal government to throw it's weight around.

So you don't have a problem with marijuana being illegal... you just want it done on a state by state basis?

;)
 
So you don't have a problem with marijuana being illegal... you just want it done on a state by state basis?

;)

Not necessarily, he could think that every state should make it legal, but it is the states rights to decide it not the federal government.

I don't believe there should be abortion legal save for the cases of rape, incest, or the woman's life is clearly in danger. That said, I'm against any out and out federal ban of it because its the states right to decide that, not the federal government.
 
I'd imagine the rules in regards to growing your own weed would be akin to the rules on brewing your own alcohol, ditto for the sales. Ditto for maximum amount of possession.

How does the law in Portugal sound to you? Reasonable?

Personal consumption limit is 2.5 gram per day of marijuana[citation needed] and 0.5 gram per day[citation needed] of hashish. One may possess not more than 10 daily doses, otherwise it may be categorized as trafficking. Consumption still has a penalty that may be a fine or other penalty. Cultivation, even if for personal use, is still totally illegal and cultivation of even one plant is assumed to indicate involvement with trafficking. Possession of seeds is also illegal and despite there being several "head shops" or "grow shops" in Portugal, they are not allowed to sell seeds. It is also true that the number of grow shops has increased over the past few years, which seems to indicate that cultivation for personal use (in Portuguese: auto-cultivo) is becoming a more common practice. There is also a forum, named hortadacouve, formed by people who cultivate for personal use.

It is very common in Portugal to see young people smoking in concerts and other party areas. There has also been, in the last decade, an increase of cafés where it is possible to smoke, although it is never an "open" experience, because there is still a lot of intolerance to public consumption of cannabis as a day to day practice.
Wikipedia: Legality of Cannabis
 
Well, let's suppose for the sake of argument that marijuana were legalized. How would it be done?

I don't think anyone believes we'd be selling or smoking it at the ballpark next to the beer stand... so fill me in on the details...

Coffee shops?
At home only?
Designated pot smoking centers?

Home, designated locations, much like businesses need to attain alcohol license to sell alcohol. Bars and nightclubs can possibly have a designated smoking room.

As far as distribution, states issue to decide, but I would think the liquor store would be the logical venue.

Would it be okay to drive stoned? If you were just 'slightly buzzed' for instance?

No, it is not ok to drive stoned, nor is it ok to drive impaired by anything but it also is not ok to drive after drinking, nor should it be for any kind of impairment. How will this be enforced? I don't know. It would have to rely on impairment testing instead of chemical tests such as urine or blood. THC content is present long after the impairment is over. There is a device called EYECHECK that measures the dilations of the pupils in response to flashes of light, I am not entirely sure of its accuracy, but it is purported to be within +/- 3%. This in conjunction with field battery tests should be reliable to make a judgment of impairment, followed by a collaborating blood test perhaps, although this still does not detect THC, just it metabolites, but that could back up the field test indications of impairment and rule out false positives to a degree. Eye movement in response to stimuli is definitely effected while intoxicated by marijuana, the trick is to get it to stick in a jury trial with well seasoned DUI lawyers. Or develop more reliable and comprehensive detection measures, there are also detection devices in the works based on monitoring brain wave activity.


Would it be okay to be stoned at work? One hit at lunchtime while your buddy has his beer?

entirely up to the employer, or as safety code would dictate. same rationale for is it ok to have a beer with lunch, or several. A hit is not going to really impair you.



Could one be arrested for 'stoned in public' similar to a 'public intoxication' for alcohol?

If you are being disorderly, then a disorderly conduct charge would apply, but as Independant Thinker said, being high does not make you a public nuisance.

Would the legal age be 21 or 18?

For the sake of consistency and feasibility to get the laws to fly I would say 21. I do however feel that if you are old enough to sign your life over to the government you should be able to do whatever you damn well please in regards to your body, and putting it at risk.

Would all forms of pot be legal? Aren't some varieties more potent than others?

Not really forms per say, just different genetic makeups. Corn is not the only cash crop where there has been extensive manipulating and selecting of genes to get desired traits :p

For legalization to work there must be NO black market incentive, this means that it will be of the highest quality available, at prices akin to black market low grade marijuana. So yes that means the stuff packing 20-25% THC is available, that just means dosage is lower than the pot checking in at 8% much the same way as you can drink a half gallon of beer, or 1/8th that volume of scotch to attain the same net result.

Can there be lower grades available at generic prices? sure there can be.
The motivation for the producer and the vendor to produce the lower quality strains will not be there however, since any and all tax would be based on wieght, as exemplified by Ca's AB 390.

Marijuana consists of more psychotropic chemicals than just THC there are numerous other cannabinoids which effect you as well. a higher ratio of connabinol for example leads to a more lethargy sedated feeling (lower quality [THC content] weed tends to be higher in this.) So there will be a market for different strains. The ratio of cannabinoids can be tweaked and controlled by genetic makeup, time of harvest, curing technique, and exposure to light and heat as well, so even high grade pot can be tailor made to attain a certain "flavor" of buzz in lieu of low grade mexican schwag.

So yes, just as there is a market for beer, wine, and scotch as well, there should be a market for different grades of pot as well, but the THC laden selectively bred genotypes will dominate.





Just curious how you see this working.

:confused:

very well thank you :D
 
Yes. Just let me grow my own. :mrgreen:

AMEN to that!!!

One problem, this would eliminate the governments revenue. Unless pre-germinated sexually differentiated females were sold at exorbitant prices so the state could get their tax money out of the deal (you can clone that female indefinitely ya know).

The cost for a pampered set up could be prohibitive for many though, so it might not bust sales that much, it is legal to make your own beer, but that is done on a MUCH less widespread basis than I would anticipate at home marijuana cultivation.
 
No. These are serious questions. I don't have an agenda. But I do believe that many of those who advocate legalization haven't thought through the details very carefully.

I have. Trust me. I have.

I've just perused the marijuana laws of most countries. Wikipedia: Legality of Cannabis

It's not at all clear that legalizing marijuana would be easy to do.

It's not clear because you don't want to make it clear. I just answered all your questions without really having to think twice about any double standards or the models of other countries just common sense.

It's not clear that the answers require simple 'common sense.'

Ummm yes. It is.

Under your plan, for instance, would citizens be able to grow their own weed?

Yep. Same as people who brew their own alcohol.

Would there be a maximum amount they could possess?

No. Is there a maximum amount of beer that you can posses? :roll: No? Then no.

Which country's model do you find most appealing?

None. Total legalization is the only answer for me.

Is there a 'common sense' answer to that?

Yes. Marijuana is no more dangerous then alcohol. Nobody has EVER died from smoking marijuana. How many have died from alcohol poisoning? Your attempt to make this seem like a cloudy issue that needs to be thought out before dealt with is see through.
 
AMEN to that!!!

One problem, this would eliminate the governments revenue. Unless pre-germinated sexually differentiated females were sold at exorbitant prices so the state could get their tax money out of the deal (you can clone that female indefinitely ya know).

The cost for a pampered set up could be prohibitive for many though, so it might not bust sales that much, it is legal to make your own beer, but that is done on a MUCH less widespread basis than I would anticipate at home marijuana cultivation.

They could do something like they did when cassette tapes came out and people recorded songs off of the radio. Blank tape tax.

Papers tax. Hydroponics tax. Pipe tax. Bong tax. Hitterbox tax. Smoking lounges tax/license fees etc.

Or they could do like they initially did. Make it illegal without a tax stamp. Charge for tax stamp.
?
?
Profit.
 
I want weed shops in every corner.

I want 'Kiss Me, I Smoke Weed' t-shirts.

I want a national holiday dedicated to weed smoking.

I want little old ladies smoking weed.

I want songs dedicated explicitly to weed to be #1 on the Billboard charts.

I want Bob Marley to be made the Patron Saint of Cannabis by the Catholic Church.

I want presidential candidates walking into weed shops and sitting down with everyday American weed smokers and talking about how great weed was in the 60s and 70s.

I want weed to be included in the essential food groups.

Now tell me how our society hasn't already done this with alcohol and why it's easier to do it with a beer glass in your hand then with a joint.
 
This is really interesting. Do any of you who support legalization have a single country that serves as a model for what you'd like to implement in the U.S.??

:confused:
 
They could do something like they did when cassette tapes came out and people recorded songs off of the radio. Blank tape tax.

Papers tax. Hydroponics tax. Pipe tax. Bong tax. Hitterbox tax. Smoking lounges tax/license fees etc.

Or they could do like they initially did. Make it illegal without a tax stamp. Charge for tax stamp.
?
?
Profit.

I thought about that when I was posting, hydroponics tax would adversely effect a lot of tomato and basil grows though.

Tightly reign in the breeding program, charge a hefty tax for the latest greatest must have genetics? If you want in on the latest and greatest pay dearly for it, make it illegal to distribute clones to friends and peers? I am not sure I like that last idea, or any of it for that matter, but I am sure there will be some controls in place to discourage home growing, it is too easy to grow, and too many people have dreamed of doing it for too long (a few have at one point in time acted upon it though).

For public consumption venues, yes a hefty licensing fee.

paraphernalia tax is ineffectual to, there are too many people well versed in bong making/glass blowing ect. out there who have been doing it under the radar for ages.

I kind of like the tax stamp for the grow, but how does it get enforced, and how do we insure it is not a corrupted scam with no real stamps to be had like other ploys.
 
This is really interesting. Do any of you who support legalization have a single country that serves as a model for what you'd like to implement in the U.S.??

:confused:

Why would we need a model for what we'd like to implement in the U.S.? I support total legalization. What kind of model would I need to provide for that? Again. You fool nobody here. Your questions were answered and you seem to still not get it. I don't care about the Netherlands model for weed. I support complete legalization. I don't care about Canada's model for weed. I support total legalization. Why would I need to provide a model when the only model I support does not yet exist? Or is your argument that because nobody has totally legalized weed then it's because of the dangers in total legalization of marijuana?
 
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This is really interesting. Do any of you who support legalization have a single country that serves as a model for what you'd like to implement in the U.S.??

:confused:

AB 390 seems a reasonable model. Lets let the test pilots fly!!!!!!!!!!!
 
This is really interesting. Do any of you who support legalization have a single country that serves as a model for what you'd like to implement in the U.S.??

:confused:

Yes, the U.S. A modified version of the system we have with alcohol
 
Cons:

weed is like alcohol, it is a depressant. so if you had a mental disorder, it would just make you more depressed and you can hallucinate if you mix it with alcohol. a mental/emotion addiction to weed can develop. though, as so many fervent pot smokers always say, it is not physically addictive and you can't overdose... keep in mind I support legalization, but I don't support consistent use. If your 40, you smoke weed, and your sitting on a beanbag chair right now, YOU FAILED!

Lol, i just felt like saying that
Nobody is saying that marijuana does not have drawbacks, it's just the pros heavily outweigh the cons.

The mental disorder thing is a exaggeration, there are three main different types of Marijuana.

Strains that are Sativa dominant, strains that are Indica dominant and strains that are Sativa-Indica mixture.

If you are worried about a mental disorder and just want a relaxing marijuana the suggested strain would be indica which is what they use for most medical marijuana. It is this way because it has high CBD content, which is the substance in marijuana that gets you stoned

It has much less hallucinating abilities than Sativa.

Sativa is considered almost a caffeinated marijuana, it is pretty hallucinogenic and is much less stony high because it has higher THC content. THC is the substance in Marijuana that gets you high.

A person with a mental disorder that smoked indica would most likely just sit on the couch, relax and not care about problems they were having prior to smoking.
So you don't have a problem with marijuana being illegal... you just want it done on a state by state basis?

;)

Of course, America is a very heavily populated country, we are so large that in fact many of our states are the size of most countries.

Something that is socially accepted in California might not be socially accepted in Ohio or Florida.

Millions have signed petitions in California to legalized Marijuana, and same with Oregon. Those people in these states should have the right to vote for legalizing the substance if they do so please.

I live in Florida, if majority of Floridians disagree with Marijuana than ok, but I don't want the whole country deciding what is right for people in Florida do you catch my drift. That being said I have much more ability for legalization by convincing people who live near me to vote in my favor with petitions and such than how the federal government goes about doing things.

The whole system of governance is set up so states can decide things like this, it was never meant to have the federal government control the whole god damn thing.
 
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