Marijuana Legalization

Discussion in 'Political Discussions' started by Kizmet, Oct 31, 2016.

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  1. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    There's an NDP joke in there somewhere.... ;)
     
    Phdtobe likes this.
  2. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    Then let me give you some. :)

    "Ain't No More Cane on the Brazos" is a well-known prison worksong. (There's no more cane because generations of prisoners have cut it all. ) Among the artists who have recorded it are Lightnin' Hopkins (my favourite), Leadbelly (Huddie Ledbetter) and Bob Dylan and the Band. Their lyrics, which are often attributed to Leadbelly, are here:

    Ain't no more cane on the Brazos
    It's all been ground down to molasses

    You shoulda been on the river in 1910
    They were driving the women just like they drove the men.

    Go down Old Hannah, don'cha rise no more
    Don't you rise up til Judgement Day's for sure

    Ain't no more cane on the Brazos
    It's all been ground down to molasses

    Captain don't you do me like you done poor old Shine
    Well ya drove that bully til he went stone blind

    Wake up on a lifetime, hold up your own head
    Well you may get a pardon and then you might drop dead

    Ain't no more cane on the Brazos
    It's all been ground down to molasses.


    Whole story here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ain't_No_More_Cane
     
    Phdtobe likes this.
  3. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    In Massachusetts, cannabis has been leagalized for recreational use and the state began accepting applications for retail licesure just a few days ago with July 1st being the earliest possible start of business. Some towns have passed ordinances prohibiting sales, some are still in debate and some have given the green light. No one really knows what to expect.
     
  4. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    If only a bunch of other states had done it already, so you could feel more confident about it....
     
  5. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    I have to admit that I'm unclear about the extreme caution they're showing. The cynic in me thinks that they're just taking some extra time in order to insure that the shmillions of dollars of revenue will wind up in the right pockets.

    [​IMG]
     
  6. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

  7. decimon

    decimon Well-Known Member

  8. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

  9. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

  10. decimon

    decimon Well-Known Member

    Suck it up, buds.

    You know, exporting it to China would help with the trade deficit.
     
  11. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

  12. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

  13. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

  14. Abner

    Abner Well-Known Member

    I think weed is a better alternative than opiates. Especially in the case of cancer patients.
     
  15. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

  16. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    (CANADIAN STATS)

    Deaths per year from smoking tobacco - 37,000
    Deaths per year from excessive use of Alcohol* ~5,000
    Deaths per year involving marijuana* - around zero.

    * - excluding traffic fatalities involving impaired drivers, about 1,300 per year, marijuana and alcohol combined

    I'm OK with legalization. Unfortunately, some people drive drunk or high. They're the ones who should be punished severely. I knew a guy (dead now) who was convicted of impaired driving 4-5 times (alcohol). The worst punishment he ever got was license suspension (a year, I think) and once he also got 30 days, served on weekends. If nobody gets killed -- the impaired driver gets off far too easy.

    I'm told that here, tax revenue from alcohol does not exceed the net social cost associated with alcohol. Plus, in Canada, alcohol causes more hospital visits than heart attacks (80,000 vs 77,000 yearly). Yet we continue to sell it. I can't see marijuana presenting anything like the overall danger of alcohol. My only real worry (besides high drivers) is that the Provincial Government will screw up the legal sale of marijuana so badly that it will cost us all, in lost revenue, if purchasers find they have to revert to illegal private dealers, for a fair shake.
     
  17. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    In my neighborhood recreational cannabis has been legal for a few months but it's not yet available in a retail market. That's supposed to happen sometime soon. They keep shifting the dates around. In any case, the word is that the kids will continue to buy from illegal dealers because they're not old enough to buy in stores. There are licensing issues affecting the retail stores and it's not clear if some towns are going to pass ordinances against retail sales. The question is,will towns with stores see a lot of people coming into town to buy weed and then shopping at other store, restaurants, etc. while they're at it. Some towns are hoping it will spark the retail economy and other towns are concerned about "attracting a bad element."
     
  18. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    No doubt they will. Here, there's going to be a humongous penalty for supplying marijuana to the under-age. Maximum will be 14 years in jail! Supplying alcohol - still a maximum 6 months and/or $10,000 fine. I can't understand the difference - or how the Draconian pot-penalty will scare any seasoned dealer, who knows how not to get caught. I think we have a case of "Government-by-the-Least-Intelligent."
     
  19. decimon

    decimon Well-Known Member

    Have children make the deliveries.
     
  20. Phdtobe

    Phdtobe Well-Known Member

    “Cotton picking mind”, never heard that one before. https://www.mediaite.com/tv/joel-payne-reacts-to-bossies-cotton-picking-remark-on-msnbc-par-for-the-course-in-trumpworld/
    Unfortunately keeping people in that mindset for political gains are mostly institutions like CNN and the Democratic Party. I am not picking any cotton. However i am not sure if i am call cotton picking mind, how i would react. Nevertheless , when blacks try to get away from the slavish mentality others blacks are the first to put them down, like calling them sellout, playing white, or uncle tom etc.
     

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