Ammiano: Pot Can Fix the Budget Mess

[docstew]

Tom Ammiano wants to effectively legalize-- and tax -- California's trade in cannabis.

AB 390 "would remove all penalties in California law on cultivation, transportation, sale, purchase, possession, or use of marijuana, natural THC, or paraphernalia for persons over the age of 21," Ammiano's press secretary Quintin Mecke told the San Francisco Weekly.

Ammiano, a rookie state legislator and former San Francisco supervisor, may have a unique opportunity to win support for the bill in the wake of the state's budget debacle.

"California has the opportunity to be the first state in the nation to enact a smart, responsible public policy for the control and regulation of marijuana," he said.

Link

Great, let's just ignore the fact that dealers DON'T REPORT THEIR SALES.  On the plus side, we know that all the DUmmies will be moving and jobs will be created there for the building and staffing of a new cheetos factory.

[LC EFA]

The DU has already discovered this idea

Link Discussed here Link

and

Link

[BlueStateSaint]

I think they're missing a couple of words:

"You have to be using pot to think that the Dems can fix this budget mess."

There!

[TheSarge]

Beautiful idea!  Let's get everyone so freaking stoned they could care less that their state AND their country is rocketing towards socialism.

Who cares as long as "The Man" isn't gonna be able to interrupt your 420 time anymore right?

[Rebel]

Yeah, that'll fix it! Let's all get stoned out of our f'n minds and be collectively lazy.....legally! That'll bring back the economy! 


EXTREME!!!!!!!!! 

[NHSparky]

And people still ask me why I left Cali.

[Zeus]

I am hesitant to say so but will anyway. I some what wonder if Legalization of marijuana would be less harmful on society than current prohibition.

[Wineslob]

One other thing the idjits forgot, once it's legal, the price drops, growers get out, and the whole thing tanks, just like anything the Gov gets their hand in.

[Zeus]

One other thing the idjits forgot, once it's legal, the price drops, growers get out, and the whole thing tanks, just like anything the Gov gets their hand in.

One of the reasons the Govt isn't in favor of legalization. Lower tax revenues.  Although tax revenue would be lower with legalization more would comply with tax law there by increasing collected tax revenue.

[djones520]

Opening California's land to further oil drilling will also erase the deficit, and some good would actually come from that.  Not suprisingly though, this Pot thing is receiving more consideration...

[debk]

I know many here will not agree with me....but I do think it should be legalized.

A friend of mine and I were just discussing this on Saturday.

Think about it, unemotionally for a moment.....if legalized...

1. jobs could be created for the growing, harvesting, packaging, legal distributing into the marketplace

2. tax the hell out of it....here in TN, liquor has a 17% "sin tax" on it. (as do cigarettes, movies and concerts)

3. get a lot of people out of jail, and keep a lot from going to jail...yet still have a penalty like DUI only it would
    be DWS (driving while stoned)

4. any marijuana coming into the country would have import taxes put on it....just like liquor does.

 
Alcohol and cigarettes are both physically addictive. Marijuana isn't...while it may be emotionally addictive...it is not physically.

People are attracted to the "illegal"....remember drinking when you were under age? It would be the same with marijuana....once legal, it loses some of it's attraction.

Those who become "addicted" to marijuana, have addictive personalities. If it's not pot, it's going to be something else...not necessarily a drug per se, but alcohol, cigarettes, even gambling and playing video games can be addictive.

Unlike an alcohol addiction...which can not only kill a person from the addiction, one can also die during detox from it if not done properly .... stopping marijuana use does not kill a person.
 

[thundley4]

I know many here will not agree with me....but I do think it should be legalized.

A friend of mine and I were just discussing this on Saturday.

Think about it, unemotionally for a moment.....if legalized...

1. jobs could be created for the growing, harvesting, packaging, legal distributing into the marketplace

2. tax the hell out of it....here in TN, liquor has a 17% "sin tax" on it. (as do cigarettes, movies and concerts)

3. get a lot of people out of jail, and keep a lot from going to jail...yet still have a penalty like DUI only it would
    be DWS (driving while stoned)

4. any marijuana coming into the country would have import taxes put on it....just like liquor does.

 
Alcohol and cigarettes are both physically addictive. Marijuana isn't...while it may be emotionally addictive...it is not physically.

People are attracted to the "illegal"....remember drinking when you were under age? It would be the same with marijuana....once legal, it loses some of it's attraction.

Those who become "addicted" to marijuana, have addictive personalities. If it's not pot, it's going to be something else...not necessarily a drug per se, but alcohol, cigarettes, even gambling and playing video games can be addictive.

Unlike an alcohol addiction...which can not only kill a person from the addiction, one can also die during detox from it if not done properly .... stopping marijuana use does not kill a person.
 

I've never smoked the stuff, but seen lots of people do it.  One thing I noticed is the effect it  has when mixed with alcohol. I've seen people drunk off their a**, but be wide awake, then take a few hits, and in less than an hour they are stone cold passed out. Then there is the paranoia that some people exhibit after smoking which can also lead to problems.  As for driving stoned being less dangerous than drunk driving, that maybe so, but many people combine the two. 

Then they'll need to find some method of testing for pot intoxification and determining levels .

[debk]

I've never smoked the stuff, but seen lots of people do it.  One thing I noticed is the effect it  has when mixed with alcohol. I've seen people drunk off their a**, but be wide awake, then take a few hits, and in less than an hour they are stone cold passed out. Then there is the paranoia that some people exhibit after smoking which can also lead to problems.  As for driving stoned being less dangerous than drunk driving, that maybe so, but many people combine the two. 

Then they'll need to find some method of testing for pot intoxification and determining levels .

I've never smoked the stuff either....but like you have seen a lot of people do it....mostly when I was in college.

I'm sure if legalized, the government would rapidly figure out a way to test for pot intoxification.

I just remember one of my college roommates coming in stoned and going after my M&M's that were on the shelf behind my bed. I finally got to the point, that if I was going to sleep and she wasn't in yet...I'd just set the M&M jar on her bed....kept her from waking me up.

Maybe just check someone on a "Munchie Meter"?

[Rebel]

I know many here will not agree with me....but I do think it should be legalized.
 

I do as well. My problem wasn't with the legalization of marijuana, but the asinine assertion that legalizing it will get us out of the economic situation.

[Thor]

DUI is not only related to alcohol, but ANY controlled substance...... (jus sayin)

[DumbAss Tanker]

Well, it may not fix California's budget mess, but nobody will give a shit about it anymore.

 

[debk]

I do as well. My problem wasn't with the legalization of marijuana, but the asinine assertion that legalizing it will get us out of the economic situation.

It won't get us out of the extreme economic situation, but think of the resource expenses that could be cut down.....court time, law enforcement officers time, jail/prison expenses for housing prisoners in for marijuana use/selling, DEA investigation expenses. Plus once the taxes are added on...small business, sales, sin, etc...eventually it would add to the coffers of city/county, state, federal.

[Miss Mia]

Interesting posts Deb. 

[Peter3_1]

Troubles LEMAR might cause, but is would get MANY libdems to stay home election day would it not? tHAT MIGHT BE WORTH IT, it is to me anyway. nO MORE "BLUE STATE" cALIF., A BLESSING INDEED.

[LC EFA]

I've never smoked the stuff, but seen lots of people do it.  One thing I noticed is the effect it  has when mixed with alcohol. I've seen people drunk off their a**, but be wide awake, then take a few hits, and in less than an hour they are stone cold passed out. Then there is the paranoia that some people exhibit after smoking which can also lead to problems.  As for driving stoned being less dangerous than drunk driving, that maybe so, but many people combine the two. 

Then they'll need to find some method of testing for pot intoxification and determining levels .

In our nanny state, the police have the ability to pull any motorist over and perform not only a "random" breathalyzer test but also a saliva test for other drugs. Alcohol has an blood alcohol limit of 0.05% and there is a zero tolerance policy on other drugs.  In both cases you are taken to the police station and administered a test on a calibrated accurate machine after testing positive on the roadside kits.

As the "other drugs" test is a saliva test it may well generate false positives in that people who had a big night will still test positive for THC metabolites up to a week after consumption.  That the consumer is no longer intoxicated isn't really relevant as that's the risk they take and expose other motorists too.

I will note in passing that the while a consumer may no longer feel "stoned" several hours after their hit, reflexes and thought processes are still dulled somewhat , especially in a regular consumer for some days after.

[thundley4]

In our nanny state, the police have the ability to pull any motorist over and perform not only a "random" breathalyzer test but also a saliva test for other drugs. Alcohol has an blood alcohol limit of 0.05% and there is a zero tolerance policy on other drugs.  In both cases you are taken to the police station and administered a test on a calibrated accurate machine after testing positive on the roadside kits.

As the "other drugs" test is a saliva test it may well generate false positives in that people who had a big night will still test positive for THC metabolites up to a week after consumption.  That the consumer is no longer intoxicated isn't really relevant as that's the risk they take and expose other motorists too.

I will note in passing that the while a consumer may no longer feel "stoned" several hours after their hit, reflexes and thought processes are still dulled somewhat , especially in a regular consumer for some days after.

That doesn't seem much different than a totally sober, but hungover person.  I've had hangovers that felt like they lasted for days, or at least until I had some hair of the dog.

[9outof10]

1. jobs could be created for the growing, harvesting, packaging, legal distributing into the marketplace

Hmmm. I am sure that after Cali purges itself from all the illegals, an American might actually get one of them jobs.

2. tax the hell out of it....here in TN, liquor has a 17% "sin tax" on it. (as do cigarettes, movies and concerts)

Remember, we are for smaller government and less taxes. TN needs to get rid of that 'sin' tax. Claim seperation of church and state.

3. get a lot of people out of jail, and keep a lot from going to jail...yet still have a penalty like DUI only it would
    be DWS (driving while stoned)

How many people do you know in jail for possession of pot? Would be a very small percentage. Almost minuscule.

4. any marijuana coming into the country would have import taxes put on it....just like liquor does.

Well, if we are importing it, foreign labor is cheaper and would also kill point number one.

 
Alcohol and cigarettes are both physically addictive. Marijuana isn't...while it may be emotionally addictive...it is not physically.

'Emotional' addictions can be just as difficult to recover from.

People are attracted to the "illegal"....remember drinking when you were under age? It would be the same with marijuana....once legal, it loses some of it's attraction.

Could also stop pedophiles from molesting little girls. Make it legal. It will lose its appeal.

Those who become "addicted" to marijuana, have addictive personalities. If it's not pot, it's going to be something else...not necessarily a drug per se, but alcohol, cigarettes, even gambling and playing video games can be addictive.

Cocaine, heroin, and crack are also addictive, just like gambling and video games. Make them all legal. you just opened the door.

Unlike an alcohol addiction...which can not only kill a person from the addiction, one can also die during detox from it if not done properly .... stopping marijuana use does not kill a person.

No, but the dealer is now collecting unemployment because his revenue dropped once his client quit smoking.

[Peter3_1]

I still think that, in Kali, the democrat voters sitting stoned on  their couches on election day might well offset social damage. 

[The Village Idiot]

It won't get us out of the extreme economic situation, but think of the resource expenses that could be cut down.....court time, law enforcement officers time, jail/prison expenses for housing prisoners in for marijuana use/selling, DEA investigation expenses. Plus once the taxes are added on...small business, sales, sin, etc...eventually it would add to the coffers of city/county, state, federal.

it won't change anything. they will still bring it in, laced with cocaine and heroin. It would still be illegal to sell it to kids, their new marketplace. Kids will want it since it will be everywhere and they aren't allowed.