Thread: Conservatives on this site seem to favor legalizing pot but the GOP isnt.

Originally Posted by tessaesque

Money. Criminalized drug use is a means of making money for quite a few groups, the government included.

That is also the reason why no Democrat-led legislative body at the federal level has put forth a serious initiative to decriminalize.

Wrong, Barney Franks and Ron Paul cosponsered a bill that would have elimnated pot from federal drug laws. The Republian led commitee promptly tabled it.

Marijuana laws should be set at the state, not federal, level, Reps. Ron Paul and Barney Frank argued in a bill they introduced Thursday.

The goal of the bill, HR 2306, is not to legalize marijuana but to remove it from the list of federally controlled substances while allowing states to decide how they will regulate it.

"I do not advocate urging people to smoke marijuana. Neither do I urge them to drink alcoholic beverages or smoke tobacco," said Frank (D-Mass.). "But in none of these cases do I think prohibition enforced by criminal sanctions is good public policy.

"Criminally prosecuting adults for making the choice to smoke marijuana is a waste of law enforcement resources and an intrusion on personal freedom," he added.

Frank admitted in a conference call Thursday that he didn't think the bill had a chance of passing, but according to Reason's Hit & Run blog, the congressman was "particularly struck by the hypocrisy of public officials who will themselves talk about smoking marijuana, wink at it, and then make it criminal for other people," which leads to "a very discriminatory pattern of enforcement."

The bill appears doomed on arrival, according to the Associated Press, which reported that House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith said his panel, which the proposed law is required to venture through, would not even consider it.

"Marijuana use and distribution is prohibited under federal law because it has a high potential for abuse and does not have an accepted medical use in the U.S.," said Smith, who like Paul is a Texas Republican. "The Food and Drug Administration has not approved smoked marijuana for any condition or disease."

Smith cited the theory that pot is a gateway drug, and then added the curious belief that legalizing weed would increase the coffers of drug lords.

"Decriminalizing marijuana will only lead to millions more Americans becoming addicted to drugs and greater profits for drug cartels who fund violence along the U.S.-Mexico border. Allowing states to determine their own marijuana policy flies in the face of Supreme Court precedent," Smith said.

Marijuana bill officially introduced to Congress by Ron Paul, Barney Frank - latimes.com

Originally Posted by James D Hill

In NY Gov Como thried to decriminalize pot but the GOP defeated it.A few conservatives seem to be for legalization on this site but overall the GOP still hates pot.Why?Are they still equating pot with the anti war movement or hippies?I thought the GOP was for keeping the government out of our lives.I guess not.

I don't support legalizing pot. It makes "meetings of the minds" unreliable. People don't know when others are intoxicated.

It also leads to social hypercompetition where sensitive personalities become vulnerable to addiction.

Originally Posted by James D Hill

In NY Gov Como thried to decriminalize pot but the GOP defeated it.A few conservatives seem to be for legalization on this site but overall the GOP still hates pot.Why?Are they still equating pot with the anti war movement or hippies?I thought the GOP was for keeping the government out of our lives.I guess not.

Decriminalizing recreational drugs is moronic. That is the worst of both sides. Can you imagine "decriminalizing" alcohol or heroine? Taxtion and controlled sale, just like alcohol, is the best policy. It takes it out of the hands of criminals, lowers the price and raises revenue, yet makes at least an attempt to control the sale to minors.

Originally Posted by James D Hill

When Barney Frank and Ron Paul pushed a bill to legalize marijuana it was the GOP who wouldnt let it come to a vote in the house.Yes there are moderate and PC dem's who are against it but almost all left wingers support legaization along with the libertarians.PC is just as bad as social conservatives when it comes to our right to privacy.

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Democratic Party on Drugs

There remains strong bipartisan support for an aggressive national campaign against drugs although some votes on the severity of penalties tend to be partisan. The 2008 Democratic platform makes only passing reference to the drug problem by urging expanded use of drug courts and rehabilitation programs. The 2008 Republican Party Platform continues to advocate an aggressive anti-drug campaign which includes improved treatment programs and other innovative approaches.

No mention in anything I could find for 2012 democrat policy, except for the Texas Democrat platform, which promotes decriminalization (which is not the same as legalization).

Another issue that highlights the absurdity of a two party system. A person should be able to vote No taxes and Pro Pot or fleece the rich and pro pot. Neither party openly supports pro pot and no other party is viable so "the people" get screwed over. We need about 6- 7 viable parties.

Originally Posted by tessaesque

Money. Criminalized drug use is a means of making money for quite a few groups, the government included.

That is also the reason why no Democrat-led legislative body at the federal level has put forth a serious initiative to decriminalize.

Correct.

It is also why no Republican led legislative body at the federal level has put forth a serious iniative to decriminalize it.

It seems that the only party that wants to end the gang wars, overcrowded prisons, and cartel wars on our border is the Libertarian Party. The other two are fine with it, as long as it provides more money and power to the government.

Originally Posted by Daktoria

I don't support legalizing pot. It makes "meetings of the minds" unreliable. People don't know when others are intoxicated.

It also leads to social hypercompetition where sensitive personalities become vulnerable to addiction.

I fully support, if for nothing other than chilling people out a bit. As for addiction, some people are so inclined, others are not, and pot has nothing to do with it.

All in all pot is a much lesser evil than most other drugs, including alcohol and several classes of prescription medications. Personally I am not a huge fan of it, but I wouldn't oppose decriminalization/legalization.

Originally Posted by Neomalthusian

All in all pot is a much lesser evil than most other drugs, including alcohol and several classes of prescription medications. Personally I am not a huge fan of it, but I wouldn't oppose decriminalization/legalization.

I'm not a huge fan of it for myself, as when I was young, and smoked it occasionally, I never did like the effect it had on me, but I'm already quite chilled enough. I've just never seen any effects on anyone else which I would consider detrimental. Frankly, I've never known an uptight, angry, violent pothead.

Originally Posted by lizzie

I'm not a huge fan of it for myself, as when I was young, and smoked it occasionally, I never did like the effect it had on me, but I'm already quite chilled enough. I've just never seen any effects on anyone else which I would consider detrimental. Frankly, I've never known an uptight, angry, violent pothead.

Potheads can make others uptight and angry though from not taking things seriously.