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  • Posted by term2 6 years, 10 months ago
    Drugs should never have been criminalized in the first place. It caused untold damage to many people, and clogged the courts.

    Let people take whatever drugs they want and bear the consequences of it. THAT is the only way people will realize the folly of being drugged up all day.
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    • Posted by Dobrien 6 years, 10 months ago
      Make them legal and cheap .Take the money spent on enforcement and use it for rehab and education. The war on drugs has resulted in countless billions to the smugglers , gangs roaming and killing with innocent bystanders often victimized and oh yes and an opiod crisis.
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      • Posted by term2 6 years, 10 months ago
        Absolutely. Its really a sin what our government (with the approval of the voters I might add) has done with the war on drugs. I would even stop the spending on rehab. Make the individuals who take the drugs face the consequences. Maybe that would do more to "rehab" them than some classes.
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  • Posted by $ Abaco 6 years, 11 months ago
    When I read the proposals for regulations on the new "legal" pot in California it became obvious to me that it would be more regulated than when it was illegal. For all those users who thought they'd get relief from the new laws "legalizing" it, I think it's likely they'll have to establish (or re-establish) an underground market. I don't use it. But I marvel at how this State manages to screw things up.
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  • Posted by TomSwift 6 years, 10 months ago
    Always find it ironic that America constantly declares itself the freest country in the world yet locks up a huge percentage of its population (the highest percentage in the world) with a large amount of those people incarcerated for putting things into their own bodies that the State does not agree with. Absolutely bizarre.
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  • Posted by Dobrien 6 years, 11 months ago
    What a surprise that it took so long to grab money
    From the lucrative black market.
    But The supply is endless and unlimited.
    The price will likely fall and the loot and subsequent looting will be less than expected.
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  • Posted by Herb7734 6 years, 10 months ago
    I love the word "recreational." What are the Maryjane users "recreating?" The loss of keeness of their senses. Perhaps they're poor eaters and want to sharpen up their appetites. Or perhaps, slow down their reflexes so they can be more mellow while driving. We are cautioned to not have one single drink before we drive, should we now add one single toke to that?
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  • Posted by wiggys 6 years, 10 months ago
    the tax benefits are not good in the long run when eventually the whole population of the state just sits around laughing. also the auto accident rate in Colorado is up about 5 percent
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  • Posted by DrZarkov99 6 years, 10 months ago
    The problem with legalizing addictive substances is that the cost of licensing, inspection, and enforcement of the legal substance always makes the "street" version much cheaper. Colorado and Washington state are experiencing this effect, with the cartels' black market profits exploding.

    The problem of enforcement also explodes, because with so many legal users in possession of a substance that may or may not be legal, identification of the illegal substance becomes much more difficult. The evidence chain becomes nearly impossible to follow, giving the illegal distributors easy cover.

    Giving up on finding the illegal sellers of the substance helps reduce the law enforcement burden, allowing them to focus on crime that may or may not be an effect of the substance users' abuse. However, because it neglects the law enforcement role of revenue producer as a result of catching the illegal distributors, and allows tax avoidance, government will not permit this sensible strategy. We're seeing this civil war between an overstretched law enforcement community and state politicians disappointed in less tax revenue than expected, particularly in Colorado.

    Legalizing drugs also compounds the medical issues and stresses medical resources. One medical community enhanced by increased drug use is the research members. New, unanticipated conditions are cropping up in a bigger population of users. Screaming and vomiting ("scromiting") is a heretofore unrecognized condition of heavy marijuana use, and it's finally being realized that a small number of heavy users do in fact become much more violent with use of marijuana.

    There are always unexpected surprises when reality hits the fantasy of exuberant expectations.
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  • Posted by NealS 6 years, 10 months ago
    In our little rural community here in E.WA. the people blocked a huge grow operation under the pretense that it would increase crime in the area. They also managed to block a retail operation in a strip mall, only to just recently have a portable building brought in to open another marijuana shop next to a landscape business up the street. We'll see how that goes, the community seems to be against it, but now that it's here sales will have to determine whether it stays or goes. Since there are shops all over the major city of Spokane perhaps this shop will not draw any outsiders to keep it going. Crime is extremely low in this area, even with limited law enforcement, which we attribute to the fact that almost everyone carries legally. Of course we all only carry to protect ourselves and our families from the diversity of the wildlife in our little rural town.
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  • Posted by KRUEG 6 years, 10 months ago
    It makes it much easier to "control the people" when they are stoned. -Come on in for this joint at your local polling place-Vote (the right way) and get a free pizza! WHAT A GREAT PLAN!! N-O-T-E.
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  • Posted by $ allosaur 6 years, 10 months ago
    Me dino noticed in the article that pot is also legal in Las Vegas.
    Just know the casinos are all for that.
    A casino was serving me free wine the only time I passed through that city and stayed overnight.
    Wonder why. Wonder why.
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  • Posted by chad 6 years, 10 months ago
    Drugs have the same affect on the human body and mind no matter what kind they are. Interesting how the drug itself insidiously lies to the consumer that it is needed and provides benefit when it fails and always creates harm. Depending on the drug it may be minimal or extreme. While the argument can be made for not using drugs there is no reason to forcibly tell others they can't use them or control or tax (extort) them. Very few people in the world do not use some form of drug. I wonder why it is that humans need an escape from reality or a shock to the nervous system to face the day.
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    • Posted by $ Abaco 6 years, 10 months ago
      The one exception that comes to mind is marijuana being used to successfully treat pediatric seizures.

      You raise an interesting point. I'm one of the few in my family and social circle without what I call "an addictive personality". I don't use anything. However, I do love a good IPA on a regular basis.

      As a father, and an observer, I think that our society, in many facets holds people down. Public schools create great misery in kids. The work culture here in America causes a lot of anxiety. Our culture, being puritan-based, really goes against people's natural behaviors. These things, IMO, likely result in people seeking medication. Do you know that 1/4 of American women are on a psych med? I find all of this very fascinating. If anything...it's made me more of a rebel.
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      • Posted by 6 years, 10 months ago
        Coffee, chocolate, ice cream, cabernet, stout/porter.
        All have an effect on mood. What constitutes accecptable, moderate use? Some have side effects, e.g., sugar encourages some cancer growth.
        1/4 American women on mood altering med? From my experience, more than 25% need their moods altered . More than 75% need to improve rational thinking ability- men and women, including myself.
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