• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Can Marijuana Help Rescue California's Economy?

That is basically the gist of it, better products at lower prices = no more demand for the black market, and the ability to regulate it and control it. A bit of taxation to fund treatment, and education (not lies however), and a bit more taxation to help feed the government spending monster and we have a much more realistic approach to our drug problems.

We can tax drugs HEAVILY and still be well below black market prices.
 
marduc said:
Many of the questions you have asked here you have asked previously and have had many people answer.
Click to expand...

But the answers have frequently been wildly inconsistent.

These answers are all speculation on our part.
Click to expand...

Which is why they've been wildly inconsistent. That's been the thrust of my argument all along.

Do you want the pro-legalization DP members to form a committee and develop a master plan for marijuana legalization that will be the guiding light for the future of our country??
Click to expand...

I don't care who does it. But those who want marijuana legalized nationally will need such a plan.

This seems like a good plan to me:

AB 390 Assembly Bill - INTRODUCED
Click to expand...

Thanks. I'll look at it.

;)
 
This entire thread is based on that legislation (AB 390), part of why it seemed odd you kept asking for a plan.

different people have widely disparate thoughts on any given subject, so it is only natural you would get varied answers.

There have been numerous so called plans and ideas presented over the years at how it would get implemented, but ultimately it is the state legislating the control measures, and they are the ones who have to devise and vote upon a specific plan.

Just as with alcohol and tobacco and traffic laws, and taxes, and countless other issues each state will have its own plan. It is silly for us to devise a specific plan. I am for a balanced budget, but it would be idiotic of me to attempt to write the budget.
 
marduc said:
This entire thread is based on that legislation (AB 390), part of why it seemed odd you kept asking for a plan.
Click to expand...

No more odd than the fact that few if any of the posters supporting legalization have bothered to reference it in their detailed responses. In fact, I imagine few of the supporters of legalization have read it through from beginning to end.

;)
 
Grateful Heart said:
No more odd than the fact that few if any of the posters supporting legalization have bothered to reference it in their detailed responses. In fact, I imagine few of the supporters of legalization have read it through from beginning to end.

;)
Click to expand...

True, i did not hear of it until Marduc posted it here.
 
:slapme:

From the OP:

If passed, the Marijuana Control, Regulation and Education Act (AB 390) would give California control of pot in a manner similar to alcohol, while prohibiting its purchase to citizens under age 21.
Click to expand...

I have made several reference to AB 390, as well as linking to its status page yesterday (Bill List ).

Nice to have you all on board with the discussion now instead of swimming alongside the boat :p

:wcm
 
Last edited:
Truth Detector said:
Not an insult at all, just stating the OBVIOUS. You’re the one calling us “idiot conservatives.” You pretend not to read the people who I respond to and selectively focus on that which you desperately try to defend. There's nothing rational, honest or intelligent in your arguments.

It's the same desperate nonsense you attempt to frame by believing that giving the Government MORE revenue will solve society’s problems. But in order to have such a faith, one must willingly suspend disbelief and reality.

The ONLY thing that occurs when Government gets MORE of your money is that they eventually will need MORE of it. Government has NEVER been the solution, yet all the potheads on the forum argue that it is and if we legalized POT, it would help balance budgets.

You can't make up this level of ignorance. Carry on. :rofl
Click to expand...

Your avatar says "no whining" yet here you are, the master of slandering all liberals with single sentence assaults, whining about a user saying "idiot conservatives."

Right about now one of your famous "irony" comments would be really fitting.
 
49 pages and still not one coherent argument as to why marijuana should be kept illegal.
 
Hatuey said:
49 pages and still not one coherent argument as to why marijuana should be kept illegal.
Click to expand...

sad isn't it? I've been waiting, Captain Courtesy did put up a good fight with me over one side issue; however he is not arguing to keep it illegal.

It would be nice to have someone from the other side put up a decent argument to refute.
 
Last edited:
marduc said:
sad isn't it? I've been waiting, Captain Courtesy did put up a good fight with me over one side issue; however he is not arguing to keep it illegal.

It would be nice to have someone from the other side put up a decent argument to refute.
Click to expand...

Well there is really no place for intelligent people to argue against this. Of the two issues I could see right and left agreeing on...and I know you'll think I'm crazy...but it's illegal immigration and legalization of marijuana.
 
nope don't think you are crazy at all on that, I agree, which is why I just sat back and let it pass when I saw partisan crap attempted to get brought into this thread, it is not a partisan issue, other than those who are against it due to extreme social conservatism, and that is just not worth the effort to even attempt to overcome.
 
Pookie said:
I never understood why it's illegal when the most-abused drug is legal: alcohol.
Purrs,
Pookie
Click to expand...





Wouldn't that be an argument to keep weed illegal? Just sayin..... :2wave:




(i am for the legalization as I don't care)
 
Goldenboy219 said:
Without cannabis, many parts of Northern California would collapse. There are a few counties that are heavily dependent on the proceeds form the illicit and legal sale of cannabis.
Click to expand...


Come now, do you have proof of this? A youtube propaganda piece is hardly it....

:rofl
 
Last edited:
Reverend_Hellh0und said:
Come now, do you have proof of this? A youtube propaganda piece is hardly it....

:rofl
Click to expand...

It was CNBC's documentary about cannabis (marijuana inc.), specifically the operations in northern California. Check it out on CNBC this weekend, as it is the highest rated show in their history, and they play it all the time.:mrgreen:
 
Truth Detector said:
I am not the one making the specious assertions; I have yet to see you set forth a valid argument suggesting it will reduce the illegal drug trade or increase State Revenue.

Basically what we have here is a lot of emotional babble, speculation and conjecture.

I on the other hand can show you nations that have experimented with the legalization of drugs and have since rescinded them because their notions about legalization, much like yours, were false and naive.

Can you show me nations that have legalized Pot and are now reaping the benefits of it? I didn't think so; all you have is speculation, hyperbole and conjecture.

Carry on.
Click to expand...

1. Mexico brings in 23 billion dollars of revenue from illegal drug trade, a sizable portion of that being from marijuana. Being that the drugs are not even taxed,if it were taxed, Mexico would bring in much much more revenue from it. If America were to legalize cannabis, that would be a sizable hit to cartels and bring in billions for states economies. As long as you are hurting cartels you are reducing the illegal drug trade and just the fact Mexico brings in 23 billion from the substances untaxed, if we were to tax it there would be much more revenue cirulating around the substance.

2. You can show nations on either side of that coin. In Indonesia for example you can get the death penalty for Marijuana which is just as false and naive as anything you could show. Millions of Americans smoke this substance regularly and this substance is unfairly and unconstitutionally crimnalized by the commerce clause in the 10th Amendment, that makes your argument false and naive in my eyes.
 
Last edited:
thabigred said:
1. Mexico brings in 23 billion dollars of revenue from illegal drug trade, a sizable portion of that being from marijuana. Being that the drugs are not even taxed, if they were Mexico would bring in much much more revenue from it. If America were to legalize cannabis, that would be a sizable hit to cartels and bring in billions for states economies. As long as you are hurting cartels you are reducing the illegal drug trade and just the fact Mexico brings in 23 billion from the substance untaxed, if we were to tax it there would be much more revenue cirulating around the substance.

2. You can show nations on either side of that coin. In Indonesia for example you can get the death penalty for Marijuana which is just as false and naive as anything you could show. Millions of Americans smoke this substance regularly and this substance is unfairly and unconstitutionally crimnalized by the commerce clause in the 10th Amendment, that makes your argument false and naive in my eyes.
Click to expand...

Excellent post Big Red!

:applaud
 
marduc said:
nope don't think you are crazy at all on that, I agree, which is why I just sat back and let it pass when I saw partisan crap attempted to get brought into this thread, it is not a partisan issue, other than those who are against it due to extreme social conservatism, and that is just not worth the effort to even attempt to overcome.
Click to expand...

I guess I'm now lumped in with 'extreme social conservatives' for daring to ask questions. Many of which, btw, are not answered by AB 390.

However, I find it odd that none of the pro-marijuana posters challenged the following post. In fact, several applauded it. Which gives me, and others who want to look at this rationally, grave concerns.

Goldenboy219 said:
Drug possession and use is a victimless crime. The consumption of potentially harmful substances via the long run is not illegal. Therefore the entire premise as to why it is even legal is in fact unsound and invalid. The marijuana tax act was not democratically invoked. Why do some believe populist regard is relevant in the legalizing?

Personally, i believe all drugs should be legalized, and allowed to be manufactured by firms to provide quality, purity, and lower prices. Of course there should be some guidelines set forth to achieve these goals, and the most efficient mechanism should be through simple excise.
Click to expand...

:shock:
 
Grateful Heart said:
I guess I'm now lumped in with 'extreme social conservatives' for daring to ask questions. Many of which, btw, are not answered by AB 390.

However, I find it odd that none of the pro-marijuana posters challenged the following post. In fact, several applauded it. Which gives me, and others who want to look at this rationally, grave concerns.



:shock:
Click to expand...

I was not lumping you in the category of extreme social conservative, I was making a general statement. Had I that impression of you I would have done just as I said, not wasted my time with you.

It may be of grave concern for you, but think about it long and hard, which is better, drug Anarchy as we currently have, or drug control.

I posted this earlier, do take the time to read it, it is a great article:

LEAP - Publications › Publications - Jack Cole › End Prohibition Now!


And for the record, I am not a heroin fiend, crack addict, meth head, nor do I ever intend to be, nor for that matter do I smoke marijuana except on very rare occasions.
 
Last edited:
marduc said:
And for the record, I am not a heroin fiend, crack addict, meth head, nor do I ever intend to be, nor for that matter do I smoke marijuana except on very rare occasions.
Click to expand...

I doubt anyone on this thread is. But I do take these issue seriously. I smoked cigarettes for over twenty years so understand the power of addiction. I've watched family and friends literally drink themselves into the grave... despite all the best education, intervention, and medical assistance money could buy. I've witnessed first hand the downhill spiral of a meth addict. And I've seen minors popping pills handed to them by strangers.

One of the most powerful arguments FOR legalization of marijuana, at least in my mind, is that it's less dangerous and less addictive than alcohol or cigarettes.

But it seems we've now moved to another level altogether.

:cool:
 
I as well take this issue seriously, I have smoked cigarettes for 25 years, have at one time at the age of 17 been addicted to cocaine, and have witnessed firsthand many people who's lives have been destroyed through drug addiction, both friends and family. A theme all too common throughout our country.

If you do take the issue very seriously then you should realize that it is a problem, and it is not getting better, and an open minded evaluation of all positions and steps we could take to alleviate or help remedy the problem should be considered. Do not dismiss viable and realistic options when we know the position we have currently is a total failure.

If you have not, read the article I posted with an open mind, and think about it. anarchy, or control?
 
Last edited:
Well they could distribute it statewide and just forget about the bad economy. For a few hours anyway.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom