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
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.
very well thank you